June 2022
International headwinds offset Thai economy’s gains
Despite the fast-rising inflation driven largely by food and energy costs, some economic research houses have recently revised upward or at least maintained their economic growth projections for Thailand for the year. Siam Commercial Bank’s Economic Intelligence Center (EIC) recently revised upward its economic growth forecast to 2.9 percent this year, up slightly from the […]
10 Tips for Making Digital Materials More Accessible to Students With Disabilities
Many teachers and schools are falling short of federal requirements for digital accessibility, posing undue challenges for students with a wide range of disabilities, two accessibility experts argued Tuesday during a virtual panel at the annual International Society for Technology in Education conference. Most K-12 professionals know that federal law requires school buildings to be […]
Thailand : Cannabis-infused food and drink products are not for everyone
Anyone can now grow cannabis plants at home following registration with authorities via a mobile app as well as use and sell them in Thailand. The change in the law comes after the country decriminalized cannabis and hemp on June 9, making it the first country in Asia to remove the plant from its narcotics […]
NI teachers taking industrial action could have pay deducted
Teachers in the NASUWT union taking action short of a strike could have pay deducted for breaching their contract. That is according to a letter from the teaching employers to school principals, seen by BBC News NI. Members of the NASUWT in Northern Ireland began industrial action short of a strike in May. The action affects […]
Mental health negatively affecting almost half of UK students, according to study
Universities need “immediate improvements” so students get the mental health care they need, according to a new survey. Out of 7,200 students surveyed by charity Humen, nearly half felt mental health difficulties negatively impacted their university experience. The research also revealed only 4% of staff received “adequate training”. Support should be given “just as much […]
Education Department Approves $8 Billion in Public Service Loan Forgiveness
The 2008 public service loan forgiveness program had been mired by complicated eligibility rules and servicing errors that made it nearly impossible to benefit from until a Biden administration overhaul. Education Secretary Miguel Cardona testifies at the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on Labor, Health and Human Services, and Education, and Related Agencies. Hearings to examine proposed […]
El Salvador’s abortion ban: ‘I was sent to prison for suffering a miscarriage’
The news from the US that women face tighter restrictions on abortion has been felt in El Salvador, which itself has very strict laws preventing access. In February, four women sat down before the full glare of El Salvador’s press. Between them, they had served nearly 50 years in prison. Their crime was to have […]
Nearly a quarter of Earth’s seafloor now mapped
Slowly but surely the proportion of the global ocean floor that’s been properly mapped is rising. It’s now up to just shy of a quarter of the total area under water – at 23.4%. Better seafloor maps help us with navigation and conservation, among many other uses. Some 10 million sq km (3.8 million sq […]
UK government told to insulate more homes
The UK government must drive down energy bills and reduce climate-warming emissions by insulating more homes, a report says. Official advisors the Climate Change Committee says the government’s current insulation programme is “shocking”. It says consumers are paying £40 extra a year on bills because of previous cuts to the home renovation programme. The committee […]
UK-built Forum satellite will measure greenhouse effect
A spacecraft measuring Earth’s warming ‘greenhouse’ effect in its greatest ever detail will be built in the UK. The Forum satellite will be assembled by aerospace giant Airbus at its factory in Stevenage. It will monitor far-infrared radiation coming up from our planet’s surface. It’s this particular type of light that makes molecules of gases […]
UK decides AI still cannot patent inventions
The UK’s Intellectual Property Office has decided artificial-intelligence systems cannot patent inventions for the time being. Patents assign the ownership of a new invention to its creator. A recent IPO consultation found many experts doubted AI was currently able to invent without human assistance. Current law allowed humans to patent inventions made with AI assistance, the […]
Heathrow Airport announces more flight cancellations
Heathrow Airport has asked airlines to remove 30 flights from Thursday morning’s schedule because it is expecting more passenger numbers than it can currently cope with. In total, 1,200 flights were scheduled to leave throughout the day. The airport claims the cancellations are necessary for both safety and to ensure as many passengers as possible […]
Google sign-up a ‘fast track to surveillance’, consumer groups say
Google is facing action from a coalition of ten European consumer organisations over the company’s account sign-up process. A Google account is essential in order to use a number of its products and services. But the coalition alleges the sign-up process steers users toward options which collect more data. Google told the BBC it welcomed […]
Steel import tariffs extended for two years
Tariffs on steel imports that were due to expire will be retained for a further two years, the government said. International Trade Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said the plans departed from the UK’s “international legal obligations” but was in the “national interest” to protect steel makers. She added the decision was made due to “global disruptions” […]
Why business is still optimistic about Hong Kong
On a cloudy June day, the Jumbo Floating Restaurant was towed out of Hong Kong’s Aberdeen harbour. The giant six-storey structure – in the shape of a Chinese imperial palace – crept past yachts a fraction of its size earlier this month before a foghorn signalled its entry into the open sea. The mega restaurant, […]
Hajj travellers unable to fly due to ticket delay
Some British Muslims who booked pilgrimages to Mecca have been unable to board a flight as problems with a new Saudi registration system continue. About a dozen people were told they could not fly from Manchester on Saturday as e-tickets covering flights and the Hajj were not issued in time, the Council of British Hajjis said. […]
How orange juice took over the breakfast table
Orange juice used to be a treat you had to squeeze out yourself. More than a century ago, an overproduction of oranges helped create the morning staple we know and love. The staid carton of orange juice has long sat next to tea and coffee at the breakfast table. It’s bright, but somewhat boring, and […]
What parents need to know about online safety
“Parents think a child is safe because when they’re online they’re quiet, but they don’t know what they’re watching,” says Nic Wetton, the head teacher of JH Godwin Primary School in Chester. She warns their silence is often misleading. “Children can be traumatised by horrific videos they see online,” says the head teacher who has […]
Will electric motorbike sales take off across Asia?
The term “electric vehicle” in the UK immediately conjures up images of a Tesla, or another similar car, but across Asia the battle for EV dominance is being waged on motorbikes. Visit most Asian countries, and you’ll immediately notice that motorcycles swarm and buzz about everywhere. Often functioning much like a family car – only […]
Royal Mail workers to vote on strike over pay
More than 115,000 Royal Mail workers will begin voting today over whether to go on strike over pay. Ballot papers will be dispatched to the Communication Workers Union (CWU) members, with the result on 19 July. Should workers vote in favour of industrial action, the CWU said it could amount to the biggest ever strike […]
Credit Suisse bank found guilty over money laundering charges
Credit Suisse has been found guilty and fined for involvement in money laundering related to a Bulgarian drugs ring. Switzerland’s criminal court found that the bank did not do enough to prevent members of the crime syndicate from profiting off the trafficking of cocaine in to Europe. It was fined around £1.7m and ordered to […]
Sainsbury’s pressed to pay more to subcontracted workers
Pressure is mounting on Sainsbury’s to ensure all its workers are paid the real living wage. Sainsbury’s already pays its direct employees more than the rate set by the Living Wage Foundation, which is higher than the government-set minimum wage. But some investors are calling for it to sign up to the Living Wage Foundation’s […]
Roe v Wade: US firms pledge to pay staff travel expenses for abortions
Major companies including Disney, JP Morgan and Facebook owner Meta have told staff they will cover employee travel expenses for abortions, as millions of US women face restricted access. It follows a landmark ruling by the US Supreme Court that overturned the constitutional right to abortion. The judgement paves the way for individual states to […]
Could flat tyres soon be a thing of the past?
The sight of a car limping along on a near-flat tyre, or a roadside wheel change are still common. So is the expense of replacing tyres that have worn out prematurely, perhaps because the driver may not have been checking the pressure as regularly as they should. Sometimes it’s difficult not to feel tyres are […]
Ukraine war: UK joins ban on imports of Russian gold
The UK, US, Canada and Japan will ban imports of Russian gold in an effort to hit Moscow’s ability to fund the war in Ukraine. The UK PM said the move would “strike at the heart of Putin’s war machine”. Gold exports were worth £12.6bn ($15.4bn) to Russia in 2021, and the UK says their […]
How do zoos get over star animal deaths?
Public opinion on zoos is mixed but their supporters argue they play a vital role in conserving vulnerable species, with keepers saying they develop a close bond with the animals. So how does the death of a long-time resident affect a zoo, its animals and its staff? Last year was a sad time for the […]
Galboly: The Glens of Antrim’s hidden village
Hidden away in the Glens of Antrim lie the ruins of a small village recently brought back to life for a blockbuster TV series. Nestled in the hills along the east Antrim coast road is the Hidden Village of Galboly. Once home to about 60 people, the final resident was a Cistercian monk living a […]
Boris Johnson ‘actively thinking about’ third term as PM
Boris Johnson has said he is “actively thinking” about a third term, amid criticism of his leadership. The prime minister was asked if he would like to serve a full second term in office – to 2028 or 2029. “At the moment I’m thinking actively about the third term and what could happen then, but […]
Afghanistan earthquake: hospital struggles to help survivors
Eight-year-old Shakrina’s face contorts in pain and she cries as she tries to turn on her side. She has multiple fractures on her body and her left leg is bandaged from the knee down. From the hospital bed next to her, her mother Mira extends her arm, trying to comfort her. Mira’s right eye is […]
The Big Plastic Count: Consumers confront their plastic footprint
It’s hard not to feel guilty about the price our planet pays for plastic. But when most affordable products come with plastic packaging, are we as consumers really in control? For one week in May, more than 100,000 people in the UK carefully counted their plastic waste at home in a national investigation into plastic […]
Pompeii: Ancient pregnant tortoise surprises archaeologists
When Mount Vesuvius erupted nearly 2,000 years ago Pompeii’s ancient residents were frozen in place by ash. So too it turns out were the city’s flora and fauna – including a pregnant tortoise with her egg. Archaeologists found the reptile’s remains buried under ash and rock where it had laid undiscovered since 79AD. The tortoise […]
Why the Ukraine war may power Asia’s green energy shift
For years there have been calls for Asia – which is home to some of the world’s biggest CO2 emitters – to ditch fossil fuels to help tackle climate change. Countries in the region – including its three biggest economies China, Japan and India – were criticised last year for not making a bigger commitment […]
Japanese man loses USB stick with entire city’s personal details
For many, after-work drinks are a common way of relaxing after a busy week. But one worker in Japan could be nursing a protracted hangover after he lost a USB memory stick following a night out with colleagues. Why? It contained the personal details of nearly half a million people. The unnamed man placed the […]
Instagram: Video selfies trial to verify age of teens
Instagram is exploring new ways for teenagers to verify their age and comply with platform rules. The Meta-owned app is testing video selfies with facial analysis software as a new age-verification method. Some users on Instagram try to skirt its 13+ age rule by editing their date of birth to make them appear over 18. […]
USS Samuel B Roberts: World’s deepest shipwreck discovered
Explorers have found the deepest shipwreck ever identified, a US navy destroyer sunk during World War Two. The USS Samuel B Roberts went down during the Battle of Leyte Gulf off the Philippines’ coast in October 1944. It lies in 6,895m (4.28 miles) of water. Texan billionaire and adventurer Victor Vescovo, who owns a deep-diving […]
What is monkeypox and how do you catch it?
Cases of monkeypox – a rare, little-known disease – are being investigated in European countries including the UK, as well as in the US, Canada and Australia. In the UK there have been more than 750 confirmed cases in recent weeks. Infections are usually mild and the risk to the general population is low, but […]
Endurance wreck: Nations look to protect Shackleton ship from damage
A 500m perimeter is being implemented to aid the protection of Endurance, the ship famously lost in the Antarctic by explorer Ernest Shackleton. The vessel’s position on the Weddell Sea floor was finally identified in March, 107 years after its sinking. Member states of the Antarctic Treaty have already declared the wreck, which lies in […]
Europe told to prepare for Russia turning off gas
The head of the International Energy Agency has warned that Russia may stop supplying gas to Europe this winter. Fatih Birol says he believes a complete shutdown is not the most likely scenario but that Europe needs to work on contingency plans just in case. In recent weeks, several European countries said they received significantly […]
COP15: UN biodiversity summit moved from China to Canada
Published3 days agoShare Major UN talks aimed at striking a deal on safeguarding nature have been moved from China to Canada. The COP15 UN Biodiversity Conference began as virtual, online talks in October last year. Negotiations were meant to reconvene in Kunming, China in April but that was repeatedly postponed due to Covid. The talks […]
Five planets line up in rare planetary conjunction
Five major planets in our solar system are lined up in a row for a rare planetary conjunction visible with the naked eye. In a clear sky, Mercury, Venus, Mars, Jupiter, and Saturn can be seen shining before dawn. It’s a special opportunity to see Mercury, which is usually obscured from view by the Sun’s […]
Record bacterium discovered as long as human eyelash
You’re supposed to need a microscope to see bacteria, right? Not Thiomargarita magnifica. This giant cell is clearly visible to the naked eye, having the size and shape of a human eyelash. Now classified as the world’s biggest bacterium, T. magnifica was discovered living on sunken, decaying mangrove tree leaves in the French Caribbean. Fear not, the […]
UK red kite success story sees chicks sent to Spain
British-born red kites are being flown abroad in a mission to help rescue the dwindling Spanish population. The birds of prey are threatened in parts of Spain by factors including poisoning and a lack of food. Experts have been given special permission to take 30 red kites from England and release them in the remote […]
Netflix cuts 300 more jobs after subscriptions fall
Netflix has announced another round of job cuts as it grapples with slowing growth and increased competition. The streaming giant said it was cutting 300 more jobs – roughly 4% of its workforce – mostly in the US, after axing 150 people in May. The moves come after the company reported its first subscriber loss in […]
How human-like are the most sophisticated chatbots?
Chatbots have hit the headlines over the past few days after a Google engineer claimed that the firm’s most advanced system has developed human-like feelings, or become sentient. Simply put, a chat bot is a computer program deliberately designed to mimic and respond to human speech. But just how lifelike are the best on the […]
Caviar sales soar as more people get a taste for posh fish eggs
When high-end restaurants around the globe had to close their doors during the Covid lockdowns, things didn’t look good for the world’s caviar producers. Add glitzy events being cancelled, and cruise liners not being able to leave port, and you might think that it spelled disaster for the sellers of wincingly expensive fish eggs. But […]
Nike latest brand to leave Russia permanently
Nike has announced plans to leave Russia, becoming the latest Western brand to quit the country since the invasion of Ukraine in February. The US sportswear giant halted online orders and closed the stores it owned in the country in March. Shops run by local partners continued to operate, but the firm is winding down […]
US parents turn to black market due to formula shortage
Mum Lauren Galvin needed to get extra milk into her baby. He was spitting up so much after nursing that he wasn’t gaining weight and had to be taken to hospital, twice. But, with the US in the grips of a severe national shortage of infant formula, she couldn’t find any to buy. So Lauren […]
Toyota recalls electric cars over concerns about loose wheels
Motor industry giant Toyota is recalling 2,700 of its first mass-produced all-electric vehicles over concerns their wheels may fall off. A spokesperson told the BBC that bolts on the bZ4X’s wheels “can loosen to the point where the wheel can detach from the vehicle” after “low-mileage use”. The recall comes less than two months after […]
Juul: US bans all products from leading vaping company
The US is banning the sale of all products sold by Juul, one of the country’s top e-cigarette companies. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it did not have enough data to be sure that marketing the firm’s products was “appropriate for the protection of public health”. Juul said it would challenge the move. […]
Two killed as Nio electric car falls from third floor office in Shanghai
Chinese electric carmaker Nio says that two people were killed when one of its vehicles fell from the third floor of its headquarters in Shanghai. One member of staff and a person from a partner company died in the crash. The incident took place on Wednesday at around 17:20 local time, the firm said. The […]