Author: Aidan
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Berlin’s plan for driverless magnetic trains derided by climate groups
A 5-7km pilot stretch of magnetic levitated railway (maglev) at an estimated cost of €80m-€85m (£70m-£74m) could be in use within two years, Dirk Stettner, the parliamentary faction leader of the Christian Democrats (CDU) has said, citing the advantages of a magnetic train above the existing, extensive underground and overground networks. At a time when…
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Toyota-owned automaker halts Japan production after admitting it tampered with safety tests for 30 years
Daihatsu, the Japanese automaker owned by Toyota, has halted domestic production after admitting it forged the results of safety tests for its vehicles for more than 30 years. The brand, best known for manufacturing small passenger cars, has stopped output at all four of its Japanese factories as of Tuesday, including one at its headquarters…
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AI-created “virtual influencers” are stealing business from humans
Pink-haired Aitana Lopez is followed by more than 200,000 people on social media. She posts selfies from concerts and her bedroom, while tagging brands such as hair care line Olaplex and lingerie giant Victoria’s Secret. Brands have paid about $1,000 a post for her to promote their products on social media—despite the fact that she…
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The ‘wealth transfer’ from boomers won’t save gen X and millennials
The “generational wealth transfer” has become a media fascination, both for its eye-popping size and because it might help younger generations as they face doubts about their financial security. That shift is already in the works, and will continue for a couple of decades. According to wealth management firm Cerulli Associates, some $53 trillion will be passed down from boomers to…
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Argentina’s main union calls for general strike against Milei’s reforms
Facing rising protests, Milei’s government has warned demonstrators they will lose their right to social assistance and will be billed for the cost of security. Thousands of protesters on Wednesday demanded the courts intervene to invalidate the mega-decree they say would carve away at worker and consumer protections. Love to see unions fighting back against…
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South Africa brings case to top UN court accusing Israel of genocide
South Africa has been a fierce critic of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza. Many there, including President Cyril Ramaphosa, have compared Israel’s policies regarding Palestinians in Gaza and the West Bank with South Africa’s past apartheid regime of racial segregation. South Africa asked the Hague-based court to issue an interim order for Israel to immediately…
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The New York Times sues OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement
The New York Times has sued OpenAI and Microsoft for copyright infringement, alleging that the companies’ artificial intelligence technology illegally copied millions of Times articles to train ChatGPT and other services to provide people with instant access to information — technology that now competes with the Times. The complaint is the latest in a string of…
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2023 will be the hottest year on record. Is this how it’s going to be now?
Though temperature records from December have yet to be finalized, climate scientists at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration have found there’s a more than 99% chance that 2023 will have the hottest recorded global average temperature, beating out 2016, the previous leader. The record-breaking year helped fuel climate-driven disasters around the globe – from extreme heat…