Russia condemned for aggression against Ukraine at G20 summit

Western foreign ministers condemned Russia for its invasion of Ukraine at the G20 meeting in Brazil, citing Reuters.

"Russia must be made to pay for its aggression," British Foreign Minister David Cameron told the closed session, according to his office.

Norwegian Minister Espen Barth Eide told reporters that Lavrov calmly responded to Cameron's remarks with "a set of alternative facts" regarding events in Ukraine.

"We have to support Ukraine until it emerges as a free and independent sovereign country without another army on its soil," said the Norwegian foreign minister, speaking at the meeting.

High-ranking diplomats from the US, Australia, Canada, Germany, Italy, and France made similar remarks on the first day of the two-day meeting.

The meeting was aimed at preparing the agenda for the G20 summit in November.

Brazil, which chairs the G20 this year, opened the meeting of foreign ministers, blaming the UN and other multinational structures for their inability to stop conflicts that result in the deaths of innocent people.

Grand opening MINIBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL in London

A month has passed since the opening of the MiniBoss Business School International and BigBoss Business School International branches in the heart of the UK.

The Grand Opening of the MiniBoss London Business School for children at the prestigious London Business Club was magnificent.

"It was an event filled with excitement, anticipation, and a sense of great significance," - Olga Azarova, founder of the brand MINIBOSS, says.

Only one month has passed since the opening, and two groups of students have already been assembled who have begun studying and who will receive the first portion of business theory and practice in February, and master classes will begin in March, and the Business Incubator and Startup Forum will begin in April . The first students are already getting serious.

"The MiniBoss Business School Internationalwould play a pivotal role in shaping the minds and aspirations of young learners. It was a momentous occasion that heralded a new era in education, one that would empower children to become confident, creative, and entrepreneurial leaders of tomorrow," - Andrew Azarov, founder of the IBA, says.

Why Business Education for Kids is so important?

Preparation for the Future

Business education equips children with essential skills and knowledge that are increasingly valuable in today's rapidly changing world. By understanding the basics of business principles, children are better prepared to navigate the complexities of the modern workforce and entrepreneurship.

Encourages Entrepreneurial Thinking

Business education encourages children to think critically, analyze problems, and develop innovative solutions. These critical thinking skills are not only beneficial for business success but also for tackling challenges in various aspects of life.

Promotes Financial & Business Literacy

Teaching children about business introduces them to financial concepts such as budgeting, saving, investing, and managing resources. Developing financial literacy from a young age empowers children to make informed decisions about money and prepares them for financial independence in adulthood.

Franchises of Additional Business Education Programs and Talent Development: The Key to Success for Educational Institutions

In today's world, education extends beyond traditional academic disciplines, focusing on the development of skills necessary for successful business management and personal talent identification. Franchises of additional business education programs and talent development have become a key tool in the arsenal of general education schools, universities, and primary education institutions. They offer structured and proven approaches to learning that can be integrated into the existing educational environment, enriching it and providing students with the necessary knowledge and skills for a successful future.

Choosing the Right Franchise: An Analytical Look

When selecting a franchise for integration into the educational process, several key factors must be considered. Firstly, the program must match the age and intellectual characteristics of the students. For example, MINIBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL is aimed at children and teenagers, offering them the basics of entrepreneurship and business in a playful manner, making learning not only beneficial but also engaging. For high school students and university attendees, more serious programs such as BIGBOSS BUSINESS SCHOOL, where training is focused on developing management skills and understanding global business, would be appropriate.

Innovation and Practical Significance

The second important aspect is the innovativeness and practical significance of the program. Franchises like the International Business Academy Consortium offer updated approaches to business education, emphasizing international aspects of business and collaboration. This allows students not only to acquire theoretical knowledge but also to develop skills necessary for a successful career on a global scale.

Talent Development and Creative Skills

OpenAI can't register "GPT" as a trademark

The term GPT was deemed too general for OpenAI to claim as its own.

The US Patent and Trademark Office (PTO) has denied OpenAI’s application to register the word GPT, which means generative pre-trained transformer, saying GPT is too general a term to register and can prevent competitors from correctly describing their products as a GPT.

This was reported by The Verge.

OpenAI argued in its application that GPT is not a descriptive word - that GPT isn’t such a general term that consumers would "immediately understand" what it means.

The PTO wrote in its February 6th decision that it doesn't matter if consumers don’t know what GPT means - because those who do use the technology understand GPT refers to a general type of software, not just OpenAI products.

Since the rise of generative AI, many other AI services have added GPT to product names. For example, there’s an AI detector startup named GPTZero. Other companies often refer to their foundational AI models as GPTs because they literally are.

Global oil companies see record profits due to war in Ukraine - Global Witness

European and American oil companies have made record profits of more than $281 billion since the start of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine. This is according to an investigation by Global Witness, Euractiv reports.

According to the analysis, the five largest Western oil and gas companies - Shell, BP, Chevron, ExxonMobil and TotalEnergies - have made more than $281 billion (€261 billion) in profits since the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

Global Witness noted that since the COVID-19 pandemic, wholesale energy prices have risen significantly due to the war in Ukraine. The economic sanctions imposed on Russia for its aggression against Ukraine, as well as Moscow's decision to stop importing gas to a number of countries, have led to an increase in gas prices in Europe, which has provoked a global energy crisis, the report says.

As a result, American and European oil and gas companies have seen a rapid increase in profits.

One of the Global Witness researchers, Patrick Haley, said that "regardless of what happens on the front lines, the main winners of the war in Ukraine are fossil fuel companies".

BAFTA Awards 2024: See the List of Winners

“Oppenheimer” was a big winner at the 2024 BAFTA Film Awards, which were presented Sunday at the Royal Festival Hall in London, England.

The Christopher Nolan-directed award season favorite led the nominees with 13 nods this year and won seven awards, including director, lead actor and the coveted best film award.

Winning his first-ever BAFTA, Nolan expressed his thanks to studio Universal, “for letting us take on something dark, and seeing the potential for that” during his acceptance speech.

“Poor Things” was the other stand-out winner of the ceremony with five wins, including Emma Stone’s award for lead actress.

“The Holdovers” star Da’Vine Joy Randolph continues to dominate the supporting actress category through this award season cycle. Thanking her co-star Paul Giamatti while accepting her BAFTA, Randolph said, “Gosh, I cry every time I say your name. You represent everything that is great and good in our craft.”

The chilling Holocaust drama “The Zone of Interest” by director Jonathan Glazer took home the prestigious award for outstanding British film, as well as best film not in the English language. The “Barbie” movie, “Saltburn,” “Maestro” and the Martin Scorsese-directed epic “Killers of the Flower Moon,” meanwhile, came away empty on Sunday.

Best Film

• “Anatomy of a Fall”
• “The Holdovers”
• “Killers of The Flower Moon”
• “Oppenheimer” – WINNER
• “Poor Things”

Europe concerned about risk of weakened US support and Russian attack - Bloomberg

Leaders of the North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) countries are concerned about a potential Russian attack on one of them. Their apprehensions stem from doubts about the United States maintaining its traditional role in defending Europe as part of the Alliance, informs Bloomberg.

The agency noted a growing concern among European allies of US President Joe Biden. They are aware that, at a time when Russia is emboldened by its successes on the battlefield in Ukraine, the US might reduce assistance to NATO countries. Additionally, leaders and governments of these countries have done too little to prepare.

Such pessimism dominated discussions last weekend at the Munich Security Conference, where leaders and representatives of defense agencies gathered to assess the most significant geopolitical threats in the world.

High-ranking representatives of defense agencies expressed concern about the inability of the US to provide Ukraine with billions of dollars in funding. They stated that they are planning scenarios in which this public deterioration of support could push Russia towards a direct attack on a NATO ally.

One anonymous official noted that, compared to the decisiveness of previous meetings, there was a sense of uncertainty at this year's Munich conference.

The agency highlights that pessimism and heightened concerns about a Russian attack at the Munich conference were fueled by a series of recent events, including the occupation of the town of Avdiivka in the Donetsk region by Russian forces, the death of Russian opposition figure Alexei Navalny, and the US Congress delaying the approval of a financial aid package to Ukraine, Israel, and Taiwan.

Republican Senator from Ohio, JD Vance, who opposes assistance to Ukraine and is a close ally of Donald Trump, expressed an opinion shared by many members of his party. He stated that the US needs to redirect its foreign policy towards Asia, allocating fewer resources to support its allies on the other side of the Atlantic.