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DeepSeek sanctioned for security concerns – but who else is sharing our private data?
With the Artificial Intelligence tech race in full swing, China and the US continue to compete for AI dominance. Since being released to the public in January 2025, China’s DeepSeek AI model has rocketed …
The Liberation of Vienna by the Soviet Army on 15 April 1945
On 15 April 1945 the city of Vienna was liberated from the Nazis by the army of the Soviet Union, the Red Army. The Battle of Vienna claimed tens of thousands of lives …
Notable Quotes
“
I believe in God – not in a Catholic God; there is no Catholic God. There is God, and I believe in Jesus Christ, his incarnation. Jesus is my teacher and my pastor, but God, the Father, Abba, is the light and the Creator. This is my Being.
“
Pope Francis, (17 Dec. 1936 – 21 April 2025)
Picture © IMAGO / ZUMA Press Wire
What Ever Happened To?
The northern white rhinocerus: Sudan, the last male died on 18 March 2018 at age 45. The northern white rhino is considered extinct since the death of Sudan. The last females, Najin (35) and her daugher Fatu (25), are the only remaining members of their species on the planet. They live in Kenya and are guarded 24/7 by armed guards. Photo © IMAGO / Xinhua
Space Pic of the Week
The Sun’s glint beams off a partly cloudy Atlantic Ocean just after sunrise as the International Space Station orbited 263 miles above on 5 March 2025. © NASA
Vienna Diplomatic Academy World Press Freedom Day 2025
Moderated by iGlobenews Editor-in-Chief Diana Mautner Markhof.
Ambassador Jan Braathu OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Torokul Doorov Director of Kazakh Service at Radio Free Liberty, Edith Meinhart “Die Dunkelkammer”, Scott Griffin IPI and Sebastian Rosenauer Ö3 discussed safeguarding journalism in the age of AI.
Poem of the Week
No man is an island,
Entire of itself.
Each piece of the continent,
A part of the main.
If a clod be washed away by the sea,
Europe is the less.
As well as if a promontory were.
As well as if a manor of thine own
Or of thine friend’s were.
Each man’s death diminishes me,
For I am involved in mankind.
Therefore, send not to know
For whom the bell tolls,
It tolls for thee.
For Whom the Bell Tools by John Donne (1572 – 1631)
Picture © Wikimedia Commons
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SPOTLIGHT ON ANIMAL EXPLOITATION
Dietrich Bonhoeffer’s Death on 9 April 1945: “Whoever I am, thou knowest, O God, I am thine.”
80 years ago, Dietrich Bonhoeffer, was executed without trial in a Nazi concentration camp for allegedly plotting Hitler’s assassination. Hitler himself committed suicide two weeks later. Bonhoeffer, a steadfast …
The Panda: The World’s Most Political Animal
China’s panda diplomacy, a strategy as unique as the animal on which it centers, has long symbolized goodwill, conservation and mutual benefit in the eyes of the global public. However, beneath this charming façade …
No Reparations for the Commonwealth
The 2024 Summit of Commonwealth Heads of State was held in Samoa with an emphasis on the environment. However, many attendees also wished to discuss …
Egypt and Sudan Reject New Nile Cooperation Framework
Egypt and Sudan have long opposed the Nile Cooperation Framework Agreement. Regional tension has escalated as Egypt claims Ethiopia’s construction …
PRC’s Taiwan Blockade: A Response to President Lai’s Provocative Speech
For Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te there are two sovereign Chinese states: the PRC and Taiwan. The PRC position is the One China principle: there is only one sovereign state, China, and Taiwan is an inalienable part …
“No Arctic Without Russia”: Flashpoint or Cooperation with the West?
Russia has called on the other Arctic states to develop cooperation for the joint peaceful use of the resources of the Arctic. The Arctic Council, an intergovernmental forum set up to develop the circumpolar Z …
Nuclear Blackmail Can Escalate the Israel-Iran Conflict
Israel could threaten to use its nuclear weapons if Iran retaliates for the killing of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh while he was in Tehran. The nuclear option would the worst-case scenario for the US, which is trying …
Israel Targets Palestinians With Lethal Autonomous Weapons and Killer Robots
Israel has increased its use of AI and lethal autonomous weapon systems (LAWS) in its Gaza campaign, causing grave international concern. These systems are largely unaccountable and increase civilian death …
Russia’s Economic Influence through the Eurasian Economic Union (EAEU)
The EAEU has played an important role in Eurasian economic relations since its foundation in 2015. Although it is officially focused on economic matters, critics have argued that the EAEU serves as a tool for Russia …
EU-Mercosur Deal: Dream Come True or Neoliberal Nightmare?
After 25 years of negotiations, the European Union and Mercosur have agreed to a deal which would create the largest free trade area in the world. With fewer restrictions and imports on many goods, South American …
Mario Draghi’s Future Plan for Europe: Reality or Chimera?
Mario Draghi’s strategy to boost European competitiveness is both bold and forward-thinking. However, its success is contingent upon navigating substantial regulatory, financial, and political obstacles …
Silicon Valley Sells its Soul
Silicon Valley is swapping turtlenecks for armored vests. What was once an oasis of innovators and entrepreneurs championing utopian views of the future, has turned into a major player in high-tech weapons’ innovation …
New Technology Manages Nuclear Waste and Produces Clean Energy
The use of nuclear waste for energy production is emerging as a potential breakthrough in both waste management and sustainable energy generation. The technology involved in bombarding …
Game City 2024: Austria’s biggest gaming event hits record number of visitors
Vienna’s city government has created a mecca for the local gaming community with the “Game City” gaming fair. With free admission, numerous providers invite gamers of all ages and demographic groups …
Dark Oxygen Discovery: The Origin of Life Reconsidered
The recent discovery of “dark oxygen,” which is produced deep in the ocean where sunlight does not reach, challenges previous beliefs that oxygen was created solely through photosynthesis. This finding has …
Fighting the Blue Screen of Death and the Power of Big Tech
The modern structure of big businesses has led to a peculiar situation of offloading IT security onto independent organizations. July saw the largest IT outage in history when one IT security update by Crowdstrike …
Fighting for Women’s Rights in India
The Gulabi Gang is helping Dalit women stand up for their rights and fight for justice and equal treatment under the law. Armed with bamboo sticks and dressed in pink sarees, they have taken justice into their own hands …
Taliban Reaping the ‘Rewards’ of Rape
The recent gang-rape of a human rights activist in an Afghan jail, filmed to silence her, underscores the ongoing horrors faced by Afghan women under Taliban …
The Pros and Cons of Universal Basic Income or Why Work
The concept of states giving their citizens a set amount of money has existed since Ancient Greece. Originating in Athens, the concept of Universal Basic …
The Friendly Face of Religion: Vienna’s First Festival of Religious Minorities
The spirit of interreligious dialogue was rekindled in Vienna on 26 May 2024 during the Festival of Religious Minorities and Cultures. In a world where religion is …
Sweden Still Needs Books
Reversing a 15-year policy, Swedish schools will be favoring the use of analog learning tools over digital ones. The decision comes after a noticeable decline in Swedish students’ reading and writing skills …
Fulbright Austria: Interview with Executive Director Dr. Hermann Agis
Each year students, teachers and researchers travel from Austria to the US and vice versa on a Fulbright scholarship. The Fulbright Program, which has existed for over seven decades …
International Birnstiel Award 2023 at Vienna BioCenter
The Birnstiel Award for Doctoral Studies 2023 was presented at Vienna’s Research Institute of Molecular Pathology (IMP) in November. The Award celebrates early achievement in molecular biology …
270 Years of Diplomatic Education
Ambassador Emil Brix, Director of the Vienna School of International Studies (DA), gave iGlobenews an exclusive interview to discuss the history, present and future of the academy. The year 2024 marks …
Fentanyl in Gulf of America Kills Dolphins: Threatens Ecosystem and Human Health
The Gulf of America is facing a crisis due to fentanyl pollution, with traces of the opioid found in dolphins, signaling widespread contamination. This pollution stems from improper medication disposal …
Fighting Extinction: US Includes Giraffes on List of Endangered Species Act
On 20 November 2024 the US Fish and Wildlife Service has proposed to include four subspecies of the giraffe on the list of the US Endangered Species Act. Giraffes are silently disappearing from the Earth …
Timber Wars: Old Growth Forests under Attack in British Columbia and the US
Old growth forests in British Columbia and the US are under threat of extinction. The power of logging corporations and the pellet industry is erasing these ancient witnesses, some of whom are thousands of years old …
EU Fails Farmers As Protests Continue
With EU parliamentary elections approaching in June 2024, the EU Commission and the EU Parliament have desperately tried to win over farmers’ votes. Farmers are unimpressed by the proposed review of the EU CAP …
Vienna 1900 at The Leopold Museum
Vienna at the turn of the 20th century was famously a cultural stronghold of its time. Although the Habsburg monarchy was already on the wane and the individual states of the Austro-Hungarian Empire …
Calculated Destruction of Palestinian Identity to Achieve a Greater Israel
The IDF invasion of Gaza is doing irreparable damage to Palestine’s cultural heritage as countless historic sites are now damaged or destroyed from …
Wien Museum: A New Museum in the World’s Most Liveable City
The Wien Museum is a must when in Vienna, Austria. The newly renovated and expanded museum offers visitors an insight into the historical impact …
The Devout Revolutionary – The Austrian National Library illuminates Anton Bruckner’s Genius
To celebrate his 200th birthday, an impressive exhibition reveals the complex mind and life of one of Austrian’s most underrated composers. Showcased are …
EU Approves Mealworm for Human Consumption
Insects could soon become part of your morning toast or bowl of pasta. While first reactions may be of disgust, food-tech companies and legislators are working on producing acceptable ingredients …
Spice & Vice in India
Spices from India draw upon a rich cultural and regional heritage that delight food lovers the world over. The spice industry is a strong contributor to India’s exports and GDP. However, in April 2024, Hong Kong’s …
Alarming Pentagon Report: Suicide is Leading Cause of Death for Active US Soldiers
Suicide is the leading cause of death among US active-duty soldiers according to a new report released by the Pentagon. More needs to be done to provide help …
Western Diets Can Kill: Big Food and the Chronic Disease Crisis
Food and diets are rarely out of the public eye or the media. Whether we are overeating red meat or consuming unhealthy amounts of sugar through carbonated …
Phygital Games of the Future in Kazan
The landscape of sports is undergoing a transformative shift, ushering in an era of innovation epitomized by phygital games. This new sport is a fusion of traditional athletic disciplines with elements …
International University Sports Games in China’s Chengdu
This summer Chengdu – China’s fourth largest city – hosted the FISU games. In addition to bringing a young global community of athletes together, the International …
FINA Bans Transgender Athletes from Women’s Elite Swimming Competitions
FINA’s new policy on who can compete in women’s sports will effectively bar transgender athletes such as Lia Thomas and CeCe Telfer from competing against biological women …
Saudia Arabia’s LIV Golf: Sportswashing Decades of Human Rights Violations
The Saudi government is offering incredible sums of money to the world’s best golfers to join the new LIV (54) Golf tour. Is this an attempt to grow the game of golf around the world or an effort to “sportswash” Saudi Arabia’s reputation …
Jane Austen – 250th Anniversary of One of the First Great English Novelists
Austen is one of the great novelists whose books and their film versions continue to mesmerize audiences around the globe. Bridget Jones Part 4 was released on 12 February 2025. Bridget’s character …
The Adams Presidential Dynasty and Visionary First Lady Abigail Adams
Abigail Adams (1744-1818) was the First Lady of the US to John Adams, the second President and also the mother of the sixth President …
Tribute to Italy’s Assassinated Anti-Mafia Crusaders: Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino
From their childhoods in Palermo to their work in the historic Maxi Trial, Falcone and Borsellino dedicated their lives to battling organized crime. They were heroes fighting for justice against an all-powerful enemy …
Bruno Kreisky: Austrian Leadership and Diplomacy at its Best
Austrian Chancellor Bruno Kreisky has made his mark on history. He was a builder of bridges and strongly believed in diplomacy. Kreisky was a staunch defender of Austria’s neutrality, which many observers today …