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Blake, Wm. "He Cast Him Into the Bottomless Pit, and Shut Him Up." 1800.

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Germany has banned former Greek Finance Minister Yanis Varoufakis from speaking at a Berlin event and participating digitally due to his pro-Palestinian stance. The ban also extended to other prominent figures, including a British-Palestinian surgeon and an academic.

Varoufakis intended to address the Palestine Congress in Berlin, advocating for universal human rights and criticizing “genocide” by Israel, but German authorities shut down the event. His speech, which he posted online, criticizes the treatment of Palestinians and accuses some critics of “antisemitism” for conflating Israel’s actions with the rights of Israeli Jews.

Yanis Varoufakis, former Greek Finance Minister: “Germany’s Interior Ministry has issued a ‘Betätigungsverbot’ against me, a ban on any political activity. Not just a ban on visiting Germany but also from participation via Zoom. Universal human rights are either universal or they mean nothing.”

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Blake, Wm. The Chimney Sweeper. 1789.

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Milan will display a new exhibition titled “Yohji Yamamoto. Letter to the Future” from May 16 to July 31. The show explores the Japanese designer’s impact on fashion, blending iconic runway pieces with upcoming collections.

Set in the Galleria space of 10 Corso Como, which has been redesigned to reflect its industrial origins, the exhibition will offer a visually immersive experience that highlights Yamamoto’s signature black garments. This staging complements the thematic continuity between Yamamoto’s past, present, and future works.

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Blake, Wm. Canto IV. 1803.

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Digital “clones” are now attending Zoom meetings and answering emails. This technology allows businesspeople and influencers to maintain a virtual presence without actual involvement.

These “clones” are AI-powered avatars designed to emulate their user’s speech and thought patterns precisely. They are trained with personal data such as voice recordings and videos and prices for the services can range from $19 to $399 a month. 

Jodie Cook, AI engineer: “It's clear that coaches and thought leaders cannot ignore AI. As technology improves the digital clones will be more accurate and capable of performing complex tasks and holding very high-quality conversations.”

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Blake, Wm. The Three Maries at the Sepulchre. 1780.

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Voters globally are losing faith in democracy, with a new poll revealing widespread doubts about election integrity and governance. Less than half of the participants in 11 of 19 surveyed countries believe their latest elections were free and fair.

The survey included three of the largest democracies: Brazil, India, and the United States.

In the U.S., only 47% of respondents expressed faith that the country had credible electoral processes. Denmark was the only country whose majority of citizens trusted the courts.

In eight countries, “more people have favorable views of ‘a strong leader who doesn’t have to bother with parliament or elections,’” the report noted.

The report concluded that “democratic institutions are falling short of people’s expectations.”

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Blake, Wm. The Wrath of Elihu. 1805.

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A California man is suing over 50 women for $2.6 million after they shared negative dating experiences about him in a Facebook group called “Are We Dating The Same Guy?” Stewart Murrey claims their posts were false and defamatory.

One of the women who was sued recounted feeling threatened when Murrey personally delivered the lawsuit to her home, an act she found “creepy.” “My heart started pounding, as I thought: This man knows where I live,” she told the Times of London.

Murrey isn’t the first man to have filed lawsuits against women who have given negative reviews in the group. In January, a man filed a lawsuit against 27 women in Chicago after they described him in their posts as “very clingy” and as a “ghoster.”