Month: August 2021
Human Driven Global Warming
The assessment from the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) paints a stark picture of the impact humans are having through activities such as burning fossil fuels – and the future the world faces if it fails to rapidly tackle the crisis. Humans are unequivocally driving global warming – with impacts from heatwaves to
Covid-19 Pass a requirement in France
The special pass is issued to people who are vaccinated against Covid-19, who have proof of recent recovery from the virus or who have a recent negative test. People in France are now required to show a QR code proving they have a special coronavirus pass to enjoy restaurants and cafes or travel across the
EA Sports on Gaming Safety
A new campaign to help parents better understand gaming safety issues has been launched with the backing of video gaming giant Electronic Arts. The Play Together/Play Smart initiative comes as almost six out of 10 adults (58%) revealed they are unaware of the parental controls available on consoles, according to an Internet Matters survey of
Virtual Reality Leaves Some Users With Itchy Faces
Facebook said last week that given the reports of skin irritation, it was voluntarily recalling the Quest 2’s removable foam facial pad and pausing sales of the headset until Aug. 24. When sales resume, a silicone cover that fits over the foam will be included in every box. People who already own the headset can
opioid epidemic
In late 2020 Purdue Pharmaceuticals settled a lawsuit for $8 billion, pleading guilty to three criminal charges related to the opioid epidemic. Purdue Pharmaceuticals will become a public benefit company and run by a trust that is responsible for running the company to the benefit of American public health, without involvement from the founding Sackler
antiquities trafficking
Theft of antiquities has been a problem since antiquity itself, its pace has increased during the pandemic, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa – areas rich in heritage sites. As many societies remain in a forced standstill because of the pandemic, looters and smugglers are reducing ancient sites to rubble. The illegal digging
African Union- Israel Condemnation
Israeli leaders have doubled down on what international human rights organisations have called war crimes and have persisted in their colonial policies, despite African condemnation. For decades, African countries have supported the Palestinian liberation struggle against Israel, seeing in it parallels with their own anti-colonial movements. Likewise, the African Union has not hesitated to criticise
Wild Fires
Scientists say average temperatures are on the rise. Wildfires seem to appear more often and more destructively and Europe has seen its worst floods in a generation e.g. Last month, a small village in western Canada set that country’s highest record, with nearly 50 degrees Celsius. Countries around the world are seeing unprecedented changes and
China tech crackdown
China’s campaign to rein in its giant internet industry is entering its 10th month, a roller-coaster ordeal that’s prompting nervous investors to ponder the longer-term ramifications of a crackdown on firms from Jack Ma’s Ant Group Co. and Alibaba to food delivery giant Meituan. Xi Jinping’s government is trying to strike a delicate balance between
The poor get poorer and social unrest and geopolitical tensions grow
The International Monetary Fund warns of a global economic recovery where ‘the poor get poorer and social unrest and geopolitical tensions grow’. The global economic recovery continues, but with a widening gap between advanced economies and many emerging market and developing economies due to coronavirus vaccine inequity and a lack of fiscal support. Rich, emerging