Month: October 2022
Rising global emissions
The global energy crisis triggered by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine has prompted a scramble by many countries to use other energy sources to replace the natural gas supplies that Russia has withheld from the market. Growth of solar and wind power in 2022 likely averted about 600 million extra tonnes of CO2 emissions. Global greenhouse
Philippines asked to honor helicopter purchase deal
Former Philippine Defense Secretary Delfin Lorenzana and Ambassador to Washington Jose Manuel Romualdez first confirmed the government’s decision to terminate the deal to acquire the Russian helicopters in interviews with The Associated Press in July. Russia now wants the Philippine government to honor a signed contract to purchase 16 military heavy-lift helicopters, which the administration
Gulf states green agenda
The COP conference takes place at the Red Sea resort of Sharm El Sheikh. Some of Saudi Arabia’s most high profile regeneration development work is based in the Red Sea, which it shares with Egypt. Saudi Arabia and other Gulf states are promising action on climate change and sustainability as they gear up for next
New era of air defence in Ukraine
In the days since the missile barrage, which left energy infrastructure damaged and killed at least 14 civilians, the United States and its Nato allies have pledged deliveries of advanced air defence systems. The US had approved the delivery of eight NASAMS in August, following repeated requests from Zelensky. The first two of which were
Black history
The responsibility of grounding Black children in their heritage should lie not only with parents and elders, but with teachers too. Non-Black students may not understand how our society came to be, but they should. Non-Black students may not respect their peers’ cultures and traditions, but they should. With Black history woven throughout the tapestry
Amazon to compensate shoppers
Started as an online bookseller, Amazon is now the biggest e-commerce company in the world. More than 80% of purchases on the site are made via featured offers in the “buy box”. Amazon shoppers in the UK could receive a share of £900m in compensation, once a legal claim is submitted against the technology giant.
Google Lamda Chat tech
Google has launched an app that lets users interact with the artificial-intelligence system one of its engineers has claimed is sentient. The company has always maintained the technology, used to power chatbots, has no independent thoughts and feelings. People can download and register for the AI Test Kitchen App, using a Google account, on either
TikTok to ban children from livestreaming
TikTok is raising its minimum age for livestreaming from 16 to 18 from next month. In future, only adults would be able to “send virtual gifts or access monetisation features”, TikTok said. TikTok’s rules say you must not directly solicit for gifts and must “prevent the harm, endangerment or exploitation” of minors on the platform.
Netflix Big hits
Netflix has stopped losing customers, after struggling to hold on to them in the face of competition and pressures from the rising cost of living. That reversed the losses it suffered in the first half of the year after raising its prices in key markets. The company said it expected to continue to add subscribers
Meta to sell Giphy
Meta had bought Giphy the largest supplier of animated gifs to social networks such as Snapchat, TikTok and Twitter in 2020. Meta had hoped its purchase of Giphy would improve finding gifs and stickers on its social networks Instagram, WhatsApp and Facebook. The CMA investigated the sale and published its original decision in November 2021,