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While the house of Asad collapsed, I may have had the busiest week. This semester, I have two undergraduate courses and, some weeks, a doctoral seminar on Mondays. After a busy day and an online interview on AI and society, I was ready for the Tuesday event. German, Dutch, and Swedish consulates celebrate Human Rights … Read more
It looks like the Axis of Resistance lost an important member. Syrian President Bashar al-Assad has left Syria. The Russian Foreign Ministry has confirmed that Assad has stepped down from his presidential post and departed the country[4][5]. This development comes amid a rapid advance by opposition forces who have seized control of Damascus, the capital … Read more
From groundbreaking news to financial struggles, learn about VICE’s bankruptcy filing. If you were tuned to pop culture in the 2010s, then you know that it was impossible to escape Vice. No, we don’t mean drinking, drugs, and partying, though that’s going to come up later in this video, don’t worry. We mean Vice, the … Read more
Visiting fellows lists at CAS can be found here. I will visit Munich as a fellow in January 2025, and Sinem will accompany me. Our Research group led by Prof. Udupa: Below the Radar? Messaging Apps, Encryption and the Enticement of Extreme Speech Online extreme speech and disinformation have emerged as a major problem for … Read more
…because he is currently friendly to the some powers’ interests. Abu Mohammad al-Julani, the US’s Specially Designated Global Terrorist who used to run the now-dismantled Al-Nusra Front, al-Qaeda’s Syrian branch.…
Amnesty International accused Israel of committing genocide against Palestinians in Gaza. On December 5, 2024, the human rights organization released a comprehensive 296-page report titled “‘You Feel Like You Are Subhuman’: Israel’s Genocide Against Palestinians in Gaza”[1][2][3]. The report concludes that Israel’s actions in Gaza since October 7, 2023, meet the legal threshold for genocide … Read more
The issue with David Mayer and ChatGPT revolves around a peculiar glitch that occurred in early December 2024, causing the AI chatbot to crash or refuse to respond when asked about the name “David Mayer”[1][3]. This phenomenon quickly went viral, sparking curiosity and speculation among internet users. The Glitch When users attempted to ask ChatGPT … Read more
On November 29, 2024, nine pro-Palestinian activists were arrested in Turkey for protesting against President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s ongoing trade relations with Israel amid the Gaza conflict. The incident occurred during Erdoğan’s speech at an international event organized by Turkish state broadcaster TRT in İstanbul[1][2]. The Protest Two activists from the Direniş Çadırı (Resistance Tent) … Read more
Biden has pardoned his son Hunter. Trump has just appointed another son-in-law. In recent years, several alleged nepotism cases have emerged in American government, raising concerns about ethical conduct and the abuse of power. These cases span various levels of government, from local to federal, and involve both Republican and Democratic officials. Congressional Nepotism … Read more
I saw the news that Manisa’s ‘mesir paste’ gains EU geographical indication I guess I only tried it once. What is Mesir Paste? Mesir paste, also known as mesir macunu in Turkish, is a traditional sweet confection with a rich history and cultural significance in Turkey. Here are the key aspects of mesir paste: Origin … Read more
Remember BeReal? Back in 2022, BeReal took the world by storm as the anti-social media platform. Instead of encouraging filters and edited photos, BeReal encouraged users to take off-the-cuff pictures of their lives. While this was a novel concept though, the reality was that not many people actually cared about sharing their normal lives. It … Read more
In recent days, Syria has witnessed a significant escalation in military activity, particularly in the northwestern region. This surge in conflict represents the most substantial shift in territorial control within Syria’s ongoing civil war in several years[1][2]. Rebel Offensive On Wednesday, November 27, 2024, rebel forces launched a major offensive in northwestern Syria, dubbed “Deterrence … Read more
Last week, Turkey witnessed a significant crackdown on journalists, with multiple arrests and detentions across the country. Here’s a summary of the key events: Mass Detention Operation (November 26-27, 2024) Turkish authorities conducted a large-scale operation targeting individuals suspected of having ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) or alleged offshoot organizations[3]. This operation resulted … Read more
I saw the news Probe launched into counterfeit dollar banknotes in Turkish market and i heard that even in the famous Grand Bazaar circles, store owners refrain from trading with cash dollars. The amount is supposed to be big! Recent reports indicate a significant rise in counterfeit U.S. dollar banknotes, particularly $50 and $100 denominations, … Read more
I am glad that there is a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah. I am not sure about the details. Israel could not succeed in destroying Hezbollah; the latter will continue to exist. However, the organization lost nearly all its leadership and got humiliating blows. Still, it kept attacking Israeli cities, causing military and economic damage. … Read more