Moscow hit by heat not seen in over a century


By AFP
July 3, 2024

People sunbathe in the midday heat in central Moscow - Copyright AFP Alexander NEMENOV

Moscow and the surrounding region sweltered Wednesday as temperatures soared to levels unseen in over a century, with the state weather monitor warning of dangerously hot nights.

Temperatures in the Russian capital hit 32.5 Celsius (90.5 Fahrenheit) Wednesday, beating a record established in 1917, the director of Rosgidromet weather service, Roman Vilfand, said.

Vilfand told RIA Novosti news agency that in the next few nights, the temperature will not fall below 24.5 degrees, saying these “Egyptian nights” were dangerous because they did not allow people to recover from high daytime temperatures.

He said he expected the temperature to go down by 10 degrees in the following days, with storms and strong winds, before the heat returns next week.

Muscovites tried to cool down in public fountains and parks.

“It’s very hard,” 70-year-old Monira Galimova, who looked tired, told AFP as she sat at a bus stop.

“We do not sleep at night… It’s very difficult, especially for our age group.”

Olga Kryshina, a 34-year-old working in property refurbishments, sat to cool down by a fountain near the Bolshoi Theatre.

Unlike many Muscovites who have escaped to their traditional summer “dacha” country houses, Kryshina said she had to stay in the city for work and was only “dreaming of travelling” outside of urban areas.

Abnormal temperatures “more than 7 degrees above the climatic norm” are expected until the end of the week, Rosgidromet said on its website.

The heatwave has hit the Moscow region as well as the southern and western Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh regions.

Germany, Sweden arrest eight over Syria crimes against humanity


By AFP
July 3, 2024


Suspects were arrested in Sweden and Germany over alleged 2012 abuses over Syrian protests, similar to the one shown in this image - Copyright AFP Alexander NEMENOV
Jastinder KHERA, with Nioucha ZAKAVATI in Stockholm

Investigators in Germany and Sweden on Wednesday arrested eight suspects allied with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s government over alleged participation in crimes against humanity in Syria, prosecutors said.

The arrests, five in Germany and three in Sweden, represent the latest attempt to pursue justice for the victims of abuses committed in Syria’s civil war.

The suspects detained on Wednesday are accused of taking part in a “violent crackdown on a peaceful anti-government protest” in the Al-Yarmouk district in Damascus on July 13, 2012, Germany’s Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office said.

It said the four stateless Syrian Palestinians and Syrian national detained in Germany were “strongly suspected of killing and attempting to kill civilians, qualified as crimes against humanity and war crimes”.

It named the Syrian Palestinians as Jihad A., Mahmoud A., Sameer S. and Wael S. and said that they were part of a pro-Assad militia called the “Free Palestine Movement” (FPM).

The Syrian national, identified as Mazhar J., is believed to have worked for Syrian military intelligence.

“They and other accessories specifically targeted the civilian protesters, shooting at them”, resulting in six deaths and other serious injuries, the prosecutor said.

The war between Assad’s troops and armed opposition groups, including Islamic State, erupted after the government repressed peaceful pro-democracy protests in 2011.

It has killed more than half a million people, forced millions to flee their homes and ravaged Syria’s economy as well as its infrastructure.

Wednesday’s arrests took place as a result of work carried out by an investigation team named “Caesar” after a defector who worked as a photographer for Syrian military police.

In 2013 he smuggled more than 50,000 photographs out of Syria, many of them documenting the deaths of prisoners in detention centres or military hospitals.



– ‘Severe and repeated’ abuse –



German prosecutors said that those arrested in Sweden also belonged to the FPM and participated in the crimes on July 13, 2012.

Ulrika Bentelius Egelrud, the Swedish prosecutor in charge of the investigation, said the suspects were arrested thanks to “good cooperation with Germany, Eurojust and Europol”.

German prosecutors say the four Syrian Palestinians also “physically abused civilians from Al Yarmouk severely and repeatedly” between mid-2012 and 2014, including at militia checkpoints on the outskirts of the district, inhabited predominantly by Palestinians.

Mahmoud A. is accused of turning over one individual to Syrian military intelligence to be incarcerated and tortured.

Prosecutors also say that he threatened a woman at a checkpoint with rape and that he forced her “to pay with family jewels for the release of her minor son”.

Three people arrested at a checkpoint in Yarmouk and turned over to military intelligence by Mahmoud A. and others were allegedly killed as part of “a scheduled mass execution” in April 2013.

Germany let in hundreds of thousands of Syrians during the 2015-16 refugee influx and has arrested several Syrians since on its soil over crimes committed in their country.

It has used the principle of universal jurisdiction, which allows the prosecution of certain serious crimes — regardless of where they took place — to try Syrians over atrocities committed during the country’s civil war.

One of the most high profile cases to be brought to trial was that of a former Syrian colonel who was found guilty in January 2022 of crimes against humanity committed in Damascus.

In recent years there have also been several investigations in Germany, Austria, Norway, France and Sweden targeting people suspected of crimes in Syria’s civil war — particularly those committed by pro-Assad forces.

Last month a Swedish court acquitted a Syrian former general of war crimes charges, saying prosecutors had not proved his involvement in the army’s “indiscriminate attacks”.

Former brigadier general Mohammed Hamo, 65, was one of the highest-ranking Syrian military officials to stand trial in Europe.

Sweden was the first country to sentence a former Syrian soldier for war crimes in 2017.

New lithium plant inaugurated in Argentina


By AFP
July 3, 2024


Eramet CEO Christel Bories said the plant would produce up to 24,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year at full capacity - Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP ALEX WONG

French mining group Eramet and China’s Tsingshan on Wednesday inaugurated a lithium production plant in Argentina to supply the booming electric car industry.

The site in the northwestern province of Salta represents an investment of $870 million dollars, Eramet said.

The plant is not a traditional mine nor one of the environmentally damaging salt flats from which the metal used in electric batteries is normally extracted in South America’s so-called lithium triangle of Argentina, Bolivia and Chile.

Instead it uses an innovative “direct extraction” method, according to Eramet.

The plant is expected to produce up to 24,000 tons of battery-grade lithium carbonate per year at full capacity, Eramet CEO Christel Bories told AFP — enough for 600,000 electric vehicle batteries.

In 2021, when Eramet announced it was reviving the project with Tsingshan, delayed by the coronavirus pandemic, Bories said the plant was expected to meet 15 percent of Europe’s lithium needs.

Production is planned to start in November with 350 employees.

Argentina is the fourth-biggest producer of the so-called “white gold”, after Australia, Chile and China.

Under-fire Kenya govt says to review state salary hikes


By AFP
July 3, 2024

Riot police fired tear gas during the anti-Ruto demonstrations - Copyright Venezuelan Presidency/AFP Wendys OLIVO
Tanya WILLMER

The Kenyan presidency said Wednesday it had ordered a review of salary increases for public servants in an apparent move to defuse tensions after a wave of sometimes deadly anti-government protests.

Public anger is running high over what protesters see as rampant government extravagance in the face of the economic hardships and high cost of living confronting ordinary Kenyans.

Demonstrations led mainly by Gen-Z Kenyans over proposed tax increases have spiralled into a wider campaign demanding President William Ruto’s resignation and action against perceived corruption and profligate spending by his administration.

Dozens of people have been killed since the initially peaceful rallies began more than two weeks ago, with the police accused of using excessive force against protesters.

It is the most serious crisis facing Ruto since he took office in September 2022 in the East African nation often touted as a beacon of stability in a turbulent region.

The latest demonstrations on Tuesday again descended into mayhem, with police firing tear gas at rock-throwing crowds.

There were reports of widespread looting and property damage particularly in the capital Nairobi and the port city of Mombasa, an opposition stronghold.

Ruto’s spokesman Hussein Mohamed said in a statement on X that the presidency has ordered the Treasury to review pay and benefits for state officials and lawmakers.



– ‘Live within their means’ –



The move follows Ruto’s decision last week to withdraw the finance bill containing the deeply unpopular tax hikes after the deadliest day of violence on June 25 that saw crowds ransack parliament as police fired live bullets at protesters.

“The president has emphasised that this is a time, more than ever before, for the executive and all arms of government to live within their means,” Mohamed said.

Ruto has also pledged to scrap allowances for the office of the first lady and the deputy president’s wife, a move media reports said would save 1.2 billion shillings ($9.3 million).

The new salary structure for national and county public officers was scheduled to take effect on July 1 but details of the increases were not immediately available.

“It is not sustainable to have 900,000 public servants from both levels of government consume 1.1 trillion shillings ($8.5 billion) annually,” Public Service Minister Moses Kuria said in a statement.

He said this was equivalent to 47 percent of national revenues, “leaving the rest of 54 million Kenyans with 53 percent, with debt servicing and development to cater for, among other expenditure”.

Under legislation adopted in 2012, the public wage bill should not exceed 35 percent of the national budget, Kuria said.

“This is more of a moral and ethical issue than an economic issue,” he added.

Activists using the hashtag “RutoMustGo” have urged more rallies on Thursday, although it was not clear how widely their calls would be followed after Tuesday’s violence.

Some protesters have alleged the violence was stoked by “goons” who hijacked the demonstrations.

Police said they had arrested more than 270 people masquerading as protesters who went on a criminal rampage on Tuesday.

“Security forces across the country singled out suspects found engaging in criminal activities in the guise of protesting, and took them to custody,” the Directorate of Criminal Investigations said in a statement posted on X late Tuesday.

It said a total of 204 suspects were arrested in the Nairobi area and another 68 in other parts of the country.

The police themselves have been accused by the Kenya National Commission on Human Rights (KNCHR) of using “excessive and disproportionate” force against the protesters.

On Monday, KNCHR said that 39 people had been killed and 361 injured during two weeks of rallies but has not given an updated toll since then.

The bloodshed has further angered the demonstrators, who have not been mollified by Ruto’s U-turn on the tax hikes or his call for dialogue with young Kenyans.

Ruto has insisted that the financial measures taken by his administration were vital to keep the wheels of government rolling and to service a huge public debt of some 10 trillion shillings ($78 billion), or about 70 percent of GDP.

VP Harris does high-wire act as Biden wobbles


By AFP
July 3, 2024

Kamala Harris, 59, is the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of Asian origin -- her mother was from India -- to hold the job that puts her a heartbeat from the presidency - Copyright AFP Elijah Nouvelage
Aurélia END

US Vice President Kamala Harris is engaged in a delicate balancing act, playing cheerleader for President Joe Biden while standing by as a leading contender to replace him if he ends his reelection bid.

Biden’s dismal performance in last week’s debate with Donald Trump has triggered panic in much of the Democratic Party as people question whether Biden is physically and mentally able to beat Trump and serve another four years.

Former congressman Tim Ryan, while professing his admiration for Biden, wrote in a piece for Newsweek that “the Democratic nominee in 2024 should be Kamala Harris.”

Jim Clyburn, a senior House Democrat and Black leader, told MSNBC: “We should do everything we can to bolster her — whether it’s in second place or at the top of the ticket.”

Harris herself has not publicly voiced any desire to replace Biden.

“Look, Joe Biden is our nominee,” she said in an interview Tuesday with CBS News. “We beat Trump once, and we’re going to beat him again, period.”

She said she was proud to be on the current ticket with the president.

Shortly after the debate, Harris rushed onto TV to defend Biden, admitting he had started off slowly in the clash with Trump, but saying he ultimately finished strong.

The official schedule for Biden on Wednesday said he had lunch with Harris, which is not a regular event, though it was a weekly fixture for Biden when he was vice president under Barack Obama.



– One heartbeat –



Harris, 59, is the first woman, the first Black person and the first person of Asian origin — her mother was from India — to hold the job that puts her a heartbeat from the presidency, as Americans like to say.

Harris would become president if Biden died in office or became incapacitated.

But she would not necessarily replace Biden if he were to end his candidacy, and Biden has insisted he has no plans to do so.

“For three and half years there has always been this drumbeat that someone other than the VP should be the Democratic candidate,” said Ange-Marie Hancock, professor of political science at The Ohio State University.

Hancock said it was possible an “undercurrent of racism and sexism” was at work against Harris.

For years Harris has been less popular among Americans than other Democrats seen as possible candidates, such as California Governor Gavin Newsom or his Michigan counterpart Gretchen Whitmer.

US media have reported extensively on mistakes she made early in this administration, mainly on the diplomatic front, and on tension among her staffers.

But Hancock said things could turn in Harris’s favor, because she has spent time out visiting battleground states, in particular to promote abortion rights as it came under repeated fire from conservatives judges and governors.

Flickers of that turn could be seen on social media, where supportive Harris-related memes have begun going viral under the hashtag #KHive.

Harris is sometimes criticized as disappointing as an orator. But she got a warm welcome recently when she made a tour of universities that was focused on schools with high numbers of minority students.

She’ll make more stops in July to speak with African American audiences, particularly women, with three trips to Louisiana, Texas and Indiana.



– Polling –



A CNN poll released Tuesday had Harris doing better than Biden against Trump, although not beating him.

This poll gave Harris 45 percent of voter intentions against 47 percent for Trump, while Biden scored 43 percent to 49 percent for the Republican former president in a race between the two men.

In the event Biden were to drop out, Harris, thanks to her name recognition, her ties to powerful people in the government and the prospect for brisk fundraising, would go into the Democratic convention next month in a position of strength.

But the Republicans are ready and waiting.

“Kamala Harris is very much on the GOP’s radar,” Hancock said, referring to Trump’s party.

The Trump campaign on Wednesday broadcast a video montage of Biden suffering falls and other embarrassing moments, and questioned whether he can serve another term.

It concludes with the question, “And you know who is waiting behind him, right?” and footage of Harris laughing.

Preventing further cyber-disruption on the US’s troubled auto sector


Dr. Tim Sandle
DIGITAL JOURNAL
July 2, 2024

Tesla faces increasing competition in the electric vehicle sector, with a growing number of Chinese makers as well as traditional auto firms such as General Motors and Volkswagen - Copyright AFP/File SAUL LOEB

Many car dealerships in North America have been hit by a cyberattack. In the wake of major disruptions many have resorted to pen and paper in order to keep their businesses running. The cyberattacks were directed at a company whose software is used widely in the auto retail sales sector.

Looking at the incident is Mike Toole, head of security and IT at Blumira, who begins by describing what happened with the attack: “As of June 9, auto dealerships handling sensitive customer financial information must comply with the updated FTC Safeguards Rule.”

However, the learning points should lead to a more robust auto sector emerging: “This new rule presents an opportunity for the industry to come together, share best practices and ultimately enhance the cybersecurity posture of individual organizations.”

Yet how to approach these necessary improvements? Toole advises: “For auto dealership decision-makers wondering where to start when implementing robust security measures, here are some industry-wide best practices to consider…”

Toole presents the following ideas:

Identify Critical Vendors and SystemsInventory: Conduct an inventory of all third-party systems used in your dealership.

Critical Systems: Assess which vendor systems are critical to your daily operations (e.g., DMS, CRM, inventory management). Prioritize these systems based on their importance and potential impact if compromised.

Assess Security MeasuresVendor Security: Check if your vendors have basic cybersecurity measures in place. Ask them about their security practices and if they have any certifications (like ISO 27001).

System Security: Ensure that your critical systems are protected by strong passwords, regular updates and antivirus software.

Limit the Blast RadiusNetwork Segmentation: Divide your network into separate segments. For example, keep your sales and financial systems separate. This way, if one part of your network is compromised, the others remain safe.
Least Privilege: Use the principle of least privilege for vendor access to your systems. Use multi-factor authentication (MFA) wherever possible. Regularly review and update access controls for vendor accounts.

Monitor: Monitor vendor systems and implement threat detection and response capabilities.

Backup and RecoveryRegular Backups: Ensure that all critical data is backed up regularly. Store backups in a secure, off-site location that is still easily accessible. Consider having redundant systems or alternative vendors for critical functions.
Recovery Plan: Create detailed business continuity plans for each critical vendor system. Establish alternative processes or manual workarounds for key functions.
Testing: Test and update these backup processes annually.

Toole add: “As you adapt your business to these policy changes, it’s crucial to view the new policies through a lens of collective progress. Each new security measure implemented, each lesson learned from a simulation, and each collaborative effort between dealerships contribute to the overall resilience of the automotive industry.

His concluding advice is: “Looking ahead, the true measure of success will not be in avoiding every possible threat – an unrealistic goal in today’s digital world – but in how swiftly and effectively you respond when challenges arise. By fostering a culture of openness, continuous learning and mutual support, auto dealership decision-makers can protect individual businesses and strengthen the entire automotive ecosystem. In doing so, industry leaders can safeguard operations and reinforce customer trust.”

Stuck in the slow lane: Typical commute times across the globe revealed

ByDr. Tim Sandle
DIGITAL JOURNAL
July 1, 2024

Farmers have been blocking roads including the A64 motorway in the southwest - Copyright AFP Kirill KUDRYAVTSEV

Denmark is at the top of the list for countries with the shortest commute time, with an average commute of only 17 minutes, according to a new assessment of work-related travel.

This is based on data crunched by AHTI Games, who researched daily commute times across the globe to find out which countries offer the shortest commute lengths. Aside from the commute length, the research also focuses on short work week hours and average monthly earnings above $2,000 (after tax), with the results normalised by expressing the salary in U.S. dollars.

The summarised results reveal:

N	Country	Average Commute Time (minutes)	Average Work Week Hours	Average Monthly Salary (USD)
1	Denmark	17	34	$3,500
2	Sweden	20	35	$2,570
3	Switzerland	24	35	$6,150
4	Norway	25	34	$3,250
5	France	25	35	$2,430
6	United States	26	37	$4,670
7	Austria	27	33	$2,460
8	Netherlands	28	30	$3,400
9	Luxembourg	29	37	$4,900
10	Germany	40	35	$2,950

As well as a shortened commute time, the Danish workforce enjoys a high monthly salary with a standard working week averaging 34 hours.

Sweden follows closely in second in terms of commuting efficiency. It has a daily commute of 20 minutes. Although working an hour more per week compared to Denmark, the Swedish population earn slightly less, with a monthly average of 2,570.

Switzerland claims the third spot, where the average journey to work takes 24 minutes. The Swiss enjoy the highest monthly salary on the list, amounting to $6,150 while working a 35-hour week like Sweden.

Ranked fourth is Norway, where citizens usually spend 25 minutes commuting. With a 34-hour workweek, which is one hour less than the Swedes, they take home a lower average monthly salary.

Following closely in the fifth is France, where people take an average of 25 minutes to get to work, which is the same as in Norway. However, the French work slightly longer, 35 hours per week, and earn an average of $2,430 monthly.

The U.S. is in sixth place and has an average commute of 26 minutes to work. Americans work 37 hours a week, which is two hours more than in Denmark. In exchange, they earn an impressive monthly average of $4,670.

Just behind at seventh, Austria has an average of 27 minutes, slightly longer than the U.S. Austrians work a shorter 33-hour workweek, four hours fewer than Americans, and earn a lower average monthly salary.

The Netherlands ranks eighth, with an average commuting time of 28 minutes and the shortest work week of 30 hours. The Dutch earn more than the Austrians, even though they work 4 hours less.

Luxembourg is ranked ninth in terms of commuting time, with residents spending an average of 29 minutes traveling to work. Despite having a 37-hour workweek, they work the same hours as Americans, receiving a significantly higher monthly salary of $4,900.

Germany rounds out the top 10, with an average commute of 40 minutes. This is balanced by a 35-hour workweek and a monthly salary of $2,953.

The results show considerable variance across the countries, in terms of both time and with the remuneration offered.

Robot dog simulates heat stroke symptoms and warns of the dangers of a hot car

By Dr. Tim Sandle
DIGITAL JOURNAL
July 2, 2024

Robotic dog on show at the Barbican. — © Image by Tim Sandle.

Many people think it is fine to leave their dog in the car if they are parked in the shade or the windows are open. However, a car can become as hot as an oven, even when the weather does not feel that warm.

Dogs with their fur coats are prone to heat strokes even in milder temperatures. Dogs should never be left alone in the car during summer, because the temperature inside a car can get dangerously high even on cloudy days.

A Nordics petcare brand called Musti Group has launched a campaign warning dog owners to never leave their dog alone in a hot car. The campaign features a custom-made robotic dog that simulates the symptoms of a heat stroke.

The robot is placed inside a car and its movements are triggered by changes in temperature.

With the new campaign, Musti Group seeks to educate both dog owners and passers-by, who might come across dogs left in a car during summer. The campaign features a fully functioning robotic dog, which shows how fast a car turns into a death trap for pets.

The robot simulates the symptoms of a heat stroke, and its movements are triggered by the temperature inside the car it is placed in.

According to Eveliina Rantahalvari, Musti Group’s Head of Nordic Marketing: “When it comes to recognising dangerous situations, real life experience is the best form of education.”

In terms of the aims, Rantahalvari says: “By creating a tangible, cautionary example that people witness with their own eyes, we hope to increase awareness of how and when to act in these situations both as a dog owner and a passer-by.”

Rantahalvari also states that dogs have a higher risk of suffering a heat stroke, because they are not able to regulate their body temperature by sweating through the skin.

“The temperature inside the car rises dangerously high faster than many people realise. Even leaving the car’s windows open is not enough to ensure the dog is not at risk,” she adds.

In terms of best advice, Rantahalvari proposes: “If you notice a dog left in a hot car, the first thing you should do is try to get in contact with the owner. For example, in a store or shopping centre, you can ask the staff to make an announcement to try and alert the owner”.

The symptoms of a dog’s heat stroke include, among other things, severe lethargy, dark redness of the tongue and oral mucosa, convulsions and tremors. The situation might be very serious, if the dog is no longer panting or showing signs of restlessness, but instead lies still apathetically. If the owner of the car cannot be found quickly, the helper must contact the emergency centre and ask for instructions to help the dog.

Threads hits 175 mn users on first anniversary

AFP

July 3, 2024


Promoted through their Instagram accounts, more than 100 million people downloaded Threads within a week of its launch in 100 countries

- Copyright GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP/File JUSTIN SULLIVAN

Threads, Meta’s alternative to X (formerly Twitter), has hit 175 million monthly users a year after its out-of-the-blue launch.

“What a year,” Meta CEO and Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg said Wednesday on Threads in announcing the platform had reached the threshold.

Threads, which hit app stores on July 5 last year, is a spin-off of Instagram and is intended to be a rival to X, formerly known as Twitter, after that platform alienated many users and advertisers following Elon Musk’s purchase in 2022.

Threads was rushed out after Musk threatened to limit the amount of posts on X for non-subscribers.

This was the latest in a long line of chaotic announcements by the mercurial Tesla founder and Zuckerberg tried to seize the moment.

Promoted through their Instagram accounts, more than 100 million people downloaded Threads within a week of its launch in 100 countries, though the EU had to wait until December over regulatory concerns.

The push from Instagram helped Threads become the fastest downloaded app ever, crushing the previous record held by AI sensation ChatGPT.

The initial enthusiasm waned however, and Threads has more gradually grown usage, with a big help from the Instagram crossover and exiles turned off by Musk-owned X.

Threads chief Adam Mosseri said he hoped the platform would become more independent from Instagram over time and intends to open it to advertisers in the not so distant future.

Getting bigger than Musk’s X “will take some time, but I will consider it a failure if we don’t get there,” Mosseri told the Platformer news website.

Threads has drawn flack for Meta’s decision to downplay news and politics in an effort to become a more friendly site than X at the risk of dulling engagement.

“A year after launch, we know what Threads isn’t, but we don’t know what it is,” said Emarketer principal analyst Jasmine Enberg.

“The lack of a unique identity is one of its biggest hurdles to achieving real staying power,” she added.

Now privately owned by Musk, X no longer releases industry metrics; the company insists that its user base is growing and more engaged than on other platforms.

“Threads was launched during a time when X was struggling, but since then, X has been surprisingly resilient,” said Debra Aho Williamson, chief analyst at Sonata Insights, a research firm.

“Sports and political discussion are still very active on X, and considering that we have the Olympics, Euro 2024 and the US presidential election this year (among other major events), X will probably continue to attract users,” she added.

Google greenhouse gas emissions grow as it powers AI

AFP
July 3, 2024


Power hungry datacenters needed to power artificial intelligence are making it more challenging for tech giant's to meet goals of curbing greenhouse gas emissions from their operations - Copyright INDONESIAN PRESIDENTIAL PALACE/AFP Handout

Google, despite its goal of achieving net-zero emissions, is pumping out more greenhouse gas than before as it powers data centers needed to support artificial intelligence, the company said.

Google’s climate-changing emissions have increased 48 percent in the past five years, at odds with a touted goal of becoming carbon neutral for the sake of the planet, according to an annual environmental report released on Tuesday.

Total greenhouse gas emissions in 2023 were 13 percent higher than they were the prior year, primarily driven by increased data center energy consumption and its supply chain, the report stated.

The increase came even though Google has been ramping up use of solar and wind generated clean energy.

“In spite of the progress we’re making, we face significant challenges that we’re actively working through,” chief sustainability officer Kate Brandt and senior vice president Benedict Gomes said in the report.

“As we further integrate AI into our products, reducing emissions may be challenging due to increasing energy demands from the greater intensity of AI compute, and the emissions associated with the expected increases in our technical infrastructure investment.”

Google is not alone in facing the challenge of feeding power-hungry AI data centers, while trying to curb creation of climate-changing greenhouse gas.

Microsoft said in its recent sustainability report that its greenhouse gas emissions last year were up 29 percent from 2020 as it continues “to invest in the infrastructure needed to advance new technologies.”

Microsoft and Google have been front runners in an AI race since OpenAI released ChatGPT in late 2022.

AI has been a theme for the rivals in blockbuster earnings performances quarter after quarter.

Meanwhile, Google and Microsoft have each pledged to be carbon neutral by the end of this decade.

Microsoft has an added goal of being carbon-negative, taking climate-harming gas out of the air, by 2050.

Amazon, also an AI contender with its AWS cloud computing division, has said it is aiming to be carbon neutral by 2040.

“A sustainable future requires systems-level change, strong government policies, and new technologies,” Google said in its report.

“We’re committed to collaboration and playing our part, every step of the way.”

‘Google is broken’: How an algorithm tweak cost livelihoods


By AFP
July 2, 2024


Alphabet and Google CEO Sundar Pichai. — © AFP Sajjad HUSSAIN
Joseph BOYLE

Google made major changes to its search algorithm and spam filters earlier this year to get rid of low-quality content — but the effects have proved devastating to some smaller websites.

Online businesses have been left considering layoffs and even site closures after Google’s massive upgrade in March and April caused catastrophic drops in traffic.

Gisele Navarro is one of the unlucky ones whose website got caught up in Google’s dragnet.

The 37-year-old Argentine runs the HouseFresh website with her husband, and they had been building a healthy niche in product reviews for air purifiers since 2020.

There were no ads, no product placements and no soft-pedalling — if a product was bad, the site’s reviewers would say so.

They earned commissions from clickthroughs to Amazon.

But Google’s update changed all of that.

“We found that we went from ranking number one — because we were one of the only people who had actually done a review — to not even showing up,” she told AFP.

HouseFresh used to get around 4,000 referrals from Google search a day, but this has since collapsed to around 200.

The dropoff in business has been so bad that Navarro said she had been advised to shutter the site and start over with a new domain name.

– Updates ‘helpful’ –

Underpinning the frustration for Navarro and many other sites is the lack of clarity over how Google ranks results.


Image: – © GETTY IMAGES NORTH AMERICA/AFP Anna Moneymaker

The US firm is notoriously secretive about its algorithms — so much so that an entire industry known as “search engine optimisation” has grown up trying to game the algorithm to get more clicks.

The latest update sent SEO experts into a tailspin, desperately trying to unpack why some sites were boosted and others getting downranked.

Google told AFP in an email that its update was designed specifically to give users “fewer results that feel made for search engines”.

“The only changes we launch are ones that our experiments have shown will meaningfully improve results for people. And we do believe that these updates have been helpful,” Google said.

Yet Navarro showed in a widely shared blog post in May that people searching for product reviews were increasingly being fed ads and content that appeared to be AI-generated or SEO-maximised.

– ‘Tough market’ –

Other material boosted by Google’s update included user-generated content from websites like Reddit and Quora.

Google defended this approach saying “people often want to learn from others’ experiences”, adding: “We conduct rigorous testing to ensure results are helpful and high quality.”

But staff at one European news website said their articles were now being routinely outranked by largely irrelevant content from Reddit.

The site publisher, who asked for anonymity because of the sensitive nature of the topic, said referrals from Google had plummeted by between 20 to 30 percent since the update — and cutbacks would be inevitable.

“In an already tough market this is a serious problem for independent publishers like us,” they said.

All the businesses AFP talked to said they were now urgently seeking ways to avoid relying on Google search — whether by writing newsletters, making podcasts or finding other ways to attract audiences.

The boss of a fintech news outlet, who spoke to AFP anonymously fearing adverse effects on their business, said their competitors all employed SEO firms “to buy traffic”.

“We don’t do that but it’s getting harder to hold that position as those sites didn’t fall anywhere near as much as ours after this Google update,” they said.

Navarro, who has had to reduce her staff drastically, has pivoted to video reviews and newsletters to try to reconnect with her audience.

And despite her experience with Google, she remains an optimist about the web.

She has been heartened by the many messages of support, and an uptick in referrals from alternative search engines like DuckDuckGo.

“The entire knowledge of humankind is on the web — and that’s worth something,” she said.

“I don’t want to give up on it just because Google is broken.”