Beijing’s digital economy hits 2 trillion yuan in 2024
A staff member demonstrates his interaction with a virtual human during the Global Digital Economy Conference 2024 (GDEC 2024) in Beijing, capital of China, July 2, 2024. (Xinhua/Ren Chao) BEIJING, Jan. 15 (Xinhua) — The added value of Beijing’s digital economy totaled 2 trillion yuan (about 278 billion U.S…
German robotics startup raises $120m for AI robots
Its humanoid robot, 4NE-1, can perform tasks like unloading washers, ironing clothes, and pouring drinks…
‘Heinous crimes’ in Gaza conflict must be punished, regardless of truce: HRW
Human Rights Watch on Thursday called for punishment for the “heinous crimes” committed “on and since October 7, 2023,” in Israel and Gaza, after the announcement of a fragile ceasefire deal in the conflict.”While yesterday Israeli officials and Hamas agreed to a multi-phase ceasefire, the heinous crimes committed on and since October 7…
Gaza’s destruction in numbers
The war in the Gaza Strip between Israel and Hamas, which on Wednesday agreed a ceasefire, has killed tens of thousands of people and created a humanitarian disaster.The fragile ceasefire deal is due to start on Sunday, but still has to be approved by Israel’s cabinet.The sheer scale of bombardment and violence of the fighting…
Plans for bauxite mine in Suriname reignite Indigenous land rights debate
Plans for a major mining project in western Suriname have sounded alarms in nearby Indigenous communities, who say that the project will destroy local ecosystems, violate their land rights and encroach on their traditional ways of life. A bauxite mine run by Chinese corporation Chinalco could begin operating in 2026…
Should mining companies consider no-go zones where isolated Indigenous peoples live? (Commentary)
As the demand for critical minerals intensifies with the energy transition, the need for a rights-based approach to mining, focused on respect, is more relevant than ever. This approach relies on meaningful and inclusive engagement and participation of affected Indigenous peoples’ in decisions about if and how mining should occur on their lands and how…
Over 50 migrants drown en route to Spain
Over 50 migrants trying to reach Spain by boat from West Africa have drowned. A migrant rights group, Walking Borders, said on Thursday. Moroccan authorities on Wednesday rescued 36 people from a boat that had departed from Mauritania on January 2, the group based in Madrid and Navarra said…
LA fires: Why fast-moving wildfires and those started by human activities are more destructive and harder to contain
The causes of the wind-driven fires that burned thousands of homes in the Los Angeles area are under investigation, but there were no lightning strikes reported at the time…
LA fires show human cost of climate-driven ‘whiplash’ between wet and dry extremes
These cycles can worsen wildfires, like in California, where rapid vegetation growth is followed by drying – and also exacerbate flooding when unusually heavy rains hit baked ground The post LA fires show human cost of climate-driven ‘whiplash’ between wet and dry extremes appeared first on Climate Home News…