Month: September 2022
Elizabeth the second era is over
The death of Queen Elizabeth II marks the end of an era. We explore her long, dutiful reign and how it shaped the modern monarchy. The country has changed substantially during her time, but one parallel remains. her successor, King Charles III, will also take over at a time of uncertainty for the country and
G7 to cap russian oil prices
The Group of Seven (G7) countries launched a new attempt to regain the advantage in the West’s energy confrontation with Russia: imposing a price cap on purchases of Russian oil and oil products, probably to take effect on December 5th. The idea is to allow Russian oil to continue to flow, keeping global markets supplied,
The digital currency effects on the dollar
new state-run digital currency and payments systems are, at last, gaining traction. China’s e-yuan now has 260m users and the technology involved might eventually allow China to run its own global payments network while maintaining capital controls, which it regards as necessary to maintain stability. That could make it all but immune to American sanctions.
The fight in Kharkiv provicne
On September 6th Ukraine announced a surprise offensive in north-eastern Kharkiv province, throwing Mr Putin’s creaking army into turmoil. All eyes had been on a long-awaited Ukrainian offensive in southern Kherson province, which began on August 29th. Russia had thinned out its forces in the east to reinforce the south. On September 6th Ukraine’s army
Brazil bans iPhones without USB adapters
Apple stopped including power adapters and headphones in iPhone boxes with the launch of iPhone 12 in 2020.It said the move, which came after first ditching power adapters from new Apple Watch boxes, would help reduce Apple’s carbon footprint, by making packaging smaller. Brazil says it is banning the sale of iPhones which do not
Twitter Circle goes live
Twitter Circle the social media platform’s tool that allows users to tweet to smaller groups of people has become available to all users for the first time. Users can now choose whether a tweet is visible to everyone or just a select group of up 150 people in their Twitter Circle. The feature has been
Declining democracy over social media
Tech companies should put time limits on social media use to help combat declining support for democracy among young people, Support for military rule or authoritarian leaders among young people has risen over the last two decades, with the proportion of those saying a strongman leader would be good roughly doubling since 1999, according to
Google Maps launches ‘eco’ route option for motorist
Google Maps has rolled out its ‘eco’ option for UK drivers, allowing motorists to select the route that uses the least fuel to help them save money and reduce carbon emissions. It enables drivers to choose a route optimised for lower fuel consumption, even if it is not the fastest. The update allows motorists to
iPhone 14 launched
Apple has launched its “most advanced” smartphone yet with the iPhone 14, which features battery life and camera upgrades over its predecessor. The technology giant unveiled four new models retailing at up to £1,199. The iPhone 14 and 14 Plus feature an upgraded 12MP camera, while the Pro and Pro Max have a 48MP camera.
Pakistan authorities struggling to stop lake from flooding
Floods in Pakistan have affected some 33 million people and killed at least 1,314, including 458 children. Estimates suggest the floods have caused at least $10bn (£8.5bn) of damage. Sindh province produces half of the country’s food supply, exacerbating fears of serious food shortages in a country already struggling with an economic crisis. Pakistani authorities