Campaigners on Friday warned Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer that the Democratic Party is on the cusp of rendering far-reaching antitrust legislation “a historical footnote” if the congressional leader fails to prioritize the passage of several bills that would rein in Big Tech before the new year.A coalition including the Tech Oversight Project, Accountable Tech, Fight for the Future, Public Citizen, and a number of other groups sent a letter to the New York Democrat intensifying their call to take “this historic opportunity to reinvigorate competition risks.””We’ve long been promised a Senate vote, and with mere days left on the…
Author: World News Intel
The advice marks a significant departure from earlier practice, reflecting the immense health benefits of ensuring caregivers – generally mothers – and preterm or small babies, can stay close after birth, without any separation. WHO recommends that skin to skin contact, also known as “kangaroo mother care”, should begin immediately after these little ones take their first breath, without any initial period in an incubator. Tiny gamechangers “Preterm babies can survive, thrive, and change the world – but each baby must be given that chance,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO Director-General. “These guidelines show that improving outcomes for these…
Launched by the International Labour Organization (ILO), UN Environment Programme (UNEP) and International Union for Conservation of Nature at the UN’s Biodiversity Conference (COP15) in Montreal, the Decent Work in Nature-based Solutions report underscores the need for greening the economy in a way that is fair and inclusive, creating meaningful work opportunities for all. “It is critical that as we scale up the use of Nature-based Solutions (NbS) we make sure we do not also scale up decent work deficits, such as the informal work, low-pay and low productivity conditions that many workers in NbS currently face”, said Vic van Vuuren,…
Every year somewhere between 25 million and 30 million Christmas trees are sold in the United States. If you’re one of the people who decorate for the holiday with a freshly cut Christmas tree, you might be wondering how to keep it looking good all the way through Santa’s visit – and maybe even a little beyond. Curtis VanderSchaaf is a forestry specialist at the Mississippi State University Extension Service who knows a thing or two about conifers. The Conversation U.S. asked him for guidance on how to keep a fresh green Christmas tree from becoming a giant pile of…
Aviation is an essential part of the global economy, but it’s also a major source of damaging greenhouse gases. The first-ever hydrogen jet engine could be a step towards solving that problem. Unlike ground transport, aviation’s stringent weight requirements mean it can’t be easily decarbonized using batteries. Despite huge progress, the energy density—a measure of how much power you can pack in per pound—of today’s most advanced lithium-ion cells is still far below that of conventional jet fuel. That’s a problem for aircraft, because it means that adding more batteries to boost range doesn’t provide enough extra juice to cancel…
“Racism, xenophobia, and discrimination are fundamental determinants of health globally.”That’s the conclusion of a series of research papers published Friday in the eminent British medical journal The Lancet examining how “historic systems and structures of power and oppression and discriminatory ideologies have shaped policy and practice today.”The studies show that racial discrimination “leads to poorer health outcomes and quality of care” while converging “with systems of oppression, including those based on age, gender, and socioeconomic status to exacerbate or mitigate experiences of discrimination.”According to the research:In a study of over two million pregnancies across 20 high-income and middle-income countries, neonatal…
Mama Fatima Singhateh, Special Rapporteur on the sale and sexual exploitation of children, concluded an 11-day visit to the country on Friday, where she met with government officials, UN agencies, civil society representatives, faith-based leaders, diplomats, and local boys and girls. She commended a recent law that requires social media platforms and internet service providers to step up efforts to counter sexual abuse of young people. System for crime detection Ms. Singhateh also was encouraged by good practices, such as the operation of a centre which provides one-stop medical, psychiatric and social welfare services, but highlighted the need for more…
A cold snap of Arctic weather dubbed the “Troll from Trondheim” has hit the UK. The combination of an energy price crisis and very cold weather has left many people worrying about how to keep their homes warm and manage energy bills that have already gone through the roof this winter. The government has provided some support, but it simply won’t be enough to cover rising costs for many people. What can we do at home to try and keep warm during a cold snap? Beyond simply putting the heating on 24/7, there are some things that can help. And…
Converse launches a new pair of crushed velvet sneakers, just in time for the holidays, and the silhouette is elegant and eye-catching. The model, however, goes beyond looks as it was entirely made out of old, discarded clothes. In order to achieve this, Converse partnered with the British vintage retailer Beyond Retro. The two companies collected “more than 500 pounds of velvet and transformed it into thousands of pairs of sneakers.” These collaborations for upcycled fashion come at a time when “the world is drowning in clothes” and companies in the industries are looking for ways to curb their own…
On November 25 2022 Sadiq Khan, Mayor of London, announced plans to expand the Ultra Low Emission Zone (ULEZ) to cover the whole of Greater London. According to Khan, this will “ensure 5 million more Londoners can breathe cleaner air”. While there have been significant improvements in London’s air quality in recent years, 99% of the city’s residents still live in areas that exceed World Health Organisation limits for air pollution, specifically particulate matter (PM) 2.5, which is emitted by vehicles, among other sources. In December 2020, an inquest into the death of nine-year old Ella Adoo-Kissi-Debrah concluded that the…