Blog masonry

Akutagawa Prize draws controversy after win for work that used ChatGPT

[ad_1] In recent years, the Akutagawa Prize has diversified its recipient pool: In 2022, the shortlist was all female writers, last year Saou Ichikawa was the first author with a severe physical disability to win and this week marked the first time artificial intelligence walked away with a piece of the prestigious literary award.On Wednesday evening, Rie Qudan won the country’s most important prize for early career writers for “Tokyo-to Dojo-to,” or “Sympathy Tower Tokyo.” The novel is about an […]

January 19, 2024

Africa

Africa: Revolutionist Returnees – Fulfilling Dreams, Finding Freedom

[ad_1] How the Year of Return 2019 in Ghana led to one of the largest transatlantic African-American homecomings in history The UN designated the International Decade for People of African Descent, from 2015 to 2024, to promote the recognition, justice, and development of individuals of African descent worldwide. Through various programs, events, and awareness campaigns, the Decade seeks to create a platform for dialogue, understanding, and positive change in the lives of the African diaspora. Africa Renewal will publish 'In […]

January 19, 2024

Japan

TSMC’s second factory in Arizona delayed as U.S. grants remain in flux

[ad_1] Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. (TSMC) announced another delay to its $40 billion site in Arizona, dealing a further blow to the plan of President Joe Biden's administration to boost manufacturing of critical components on U.S. soil.Executives said their second plant in Arizona, whose shell is now being built, will start operations in 2027 or 2028, later than TSMC’s prior guidance of 2026. That’s after the company in July announced a delay to the first site, now due to start […]

January 19, 2024

Japan

North Korea says tested ‘underwater nuclear weapon system’

[ad_1] SEOUL – North Korea said Friday that it had tested an "underwater nuclear weapon system" in response to joint naval exercises by Washington, Seoul and Tokyo that involved a U.S. nuclear-powered aircraft carrier.The drills were "seriously threatening the security" of the North, so in response, Pyongyang "conducted an important test of its underwater nuclear weapon system 'Haeil-5-23' under development in the East Sea of Korea," according to a statement from the defense ministry carried by state news agency KCNA.Early […]

January 19, 2024

Japan

Village revisiting craze of phantom creature for local promotion

[ad_1] Kashihara, Nara Pref. – Almost four decades ago, a phantom creature of ancient Japanese folklore captured the public imagination in a craze that would rival sightings of Scotland's Loch Ness Monster.It began with a remote western village appealing to the rest of the country for volunteers to join a hunt for a snake-like being called the "tsuchinoko." A feverish but short-lived boom followed with offers of cash prizes that appeared to reflect the zeitgeist of the bubble economy, then […]

January 19, 2024

Japan

Singapore minister quits after biggest graft case since 1986

[ad_1] Singapore’s Transport Minister Subramaniam Iswaran has resigned after being charged with corruption in the biggest political scandal in almost four decades, which has cast a pall on the city-state known for clean governance.Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong accepted Iswaran’s resignation as a cabinet minister and lawmaker, according to a statement from Lee’s office. Iswaran, who’s out on bail, rejected the 27 charges against him, including allegedly obtaining tickets to musicals and soccer matches in the U.K."I am determined to […]

January 19, 2024

Japan

Enduring pain keeps public support for Gaza war strong in Israel

[ad_1] TEL AVIV – Life in Tel Aviv appears normal for Rhona Ukrainsky three months after Hamas killed 1,200 Israelis on Oct. 7, but the pain and fear are just under the surface, causing her to cry when the subject is mentioned and flinch when she hears a loud noise.The trauma inflicted by the deadliest day for Jews since the Holocaust has not faded. She feels distraught over the hatred directed at her country by Hamas and its allies, and […]

January 19, 2024