In the spotlight
Commissioner hints at enforcement details as EU Parliament adopts DSA and DMA
euractiv-en, 05.07.2022
The European Parliament voted to adopt the Digital Markets Act (DMA) and Digital Services Act (DSA) with a broad majority on Tuesday (5 July).
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For the 1st time ever, the European Commission will become the #supervisor of “gatekeepers” and very large platforms & online search engines.
Here is a sneak preview of how the #DSA & #DMA enforcement will be organised 🔜https://t.co/FxoJHjUgdO
— Thierry Breton (@ThierryBreton) July 5, 2022
Meta’s platforms have dominated our social-media lives for over a decade. That seemingly unshakeable rule appears to be over—thanks to TikTok. I wrote about what this means, for @TheEconomist https://t.co/PQ7P4gqRWF
— Hollie Berman (@hollieberman) July 7, 2022
Google, Facebook, Twitter & other tech companies will have to take measures to counter #deepfakes & #fakeaccounts on their platforms or risk hefty fines under an updated European Union code of practice – via @Reuters #disinformation #fakenewshttps://t.co/pFrIF6XsS6
— European Disinformation Observatory (@SOMAObservatory) June 14, 2022
Digital transition
Inside the war on fake consumer reviews
time, 06.07.2022
When Kay Dean turned her keen detective’s eye on the reviews for a Toronto dental clinic, she quickly discovered something alarming. The reviewers behind the clinic’s glowing testimonials had also reviewed an array of obscure small businesses across North America and Europe.
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Is AI good or bad for the climate? It’s complicated
alphagalileo, 29.06.2022
As the world fights climate change, will the increasingly widespread use of artificial intelligence (AI) be a help or a hindrance? In a paper published this week in Nature Climate Change, a team of experts in AI, climate change, and public policy present a framework for understanding the complex and multifaceted relationship of AI with greenhouse gas emissions, and suggest ways to better align AI with climate change goals.
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European tech firms suffered more than their American counterparts after the global financial crisis of 2007-09. They may weather the storm better this time around, however https://t.co/aXytbchZ0H
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 7, 2022
News is just a small part of the digital subscriptions market and age is a huge factor
💸 Subscribers to TV, music, and audio books skew younger. Subscribers to news skew much older. People who subscribe to news are more likely to subscribe to other services and vice versa 6/7 pic.twitter.com/AdipP7jxNh
— Reuters Institute (@risj_oxford) July 8, 2022
How natural language processing can help relieve the healthcare worker shortage https://t.co/5LdUpwuuLM
— World Economic Forum (@wef) July 5, 2022
Environmental sustainability
Drought and heat: How is climate change hitting Europe?
deutschewelle-en, 07.07.2022
Lots of sun, little rain: Europe is grappling with another summer of record temperatures and low water levels. Countries like Italy are struggling to fight climate change, and keep the cost of food and energy down.
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For the first time since whaling was banned, dozens of southern fin whales have been filmed feasting together in a "thrilling" Antarctic spectacle, hailed by scientists as a sign of hope for the world's second largest animal. https://t.co/TIjPaI5ytq by @Kelly_Macnamara
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 7, 2022
Over 80 million people in the greater Horn of Africa region are food insecure & resorting to desperate measures to feed themselves and their families.
As people leave their homes in search of food, they no longer can access health services. The risk of disease outbreaks increases pic.twitter.com/ruqkqXkQtX— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 7, 2022
Is this a contemporary art painting 🖼️🎨 ? 🤔
⛔️No‼️
It is a massive phytoplankton bloom in the Black Sea as seen by #Copernicus #Sentinel3 🇪🇺🛰️ on 4 July#EarthArt 🧑🎨 pic.twitter.com/zlyszGdbMa
— Copernicus EU (@CopernicusEU) July 6, 2022
Mobility & Energy
Europe is preparing for Russian gas to be cut off this winter
economist, 11.07.2022
Russia is throttling Europe’s supplies in revenge for its support for Ukraine. German energy bills are expected to rise dramatically.
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Already in 2020, about 36 million Europeans were unable to keep their homes adequately warm
What can the EU do to help alleviate energy poverty?https://t.co/05m19rmyPe@EP_Industry @CristianSBusoi @EP_Economics @itinagli @jvanovertveldt— European Parliamentary Research Service (@EP_ThinkTank) July 8, 2022
Used cooking oil, synthetic fuel or even hydrogen should gradually become the norm as aviation fuel to help EU become climate neutral by 2050, said MEPs. Press release: https://t.co/SGCmKTclRx pic.twitter.com/9lBAwo3g1m
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) July 7, 2022
Are underwater turbines the next big clean energy source? https://t.co/cqSrwDPInz
— World Economic Forum (@wef) July 6, 2022
Agriculture & Food
Scientific evidence that people get ‘hangry’
deutschewelle-en, 07.07.2022
Researchers have found a link between hunger and anger, giving credence to the popular term “hangry”.
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Tempting people to eat more Asian carp could boost biodiversity in rivers across America’s South and Midwest. With a new campaign, officials in Illinois hope to lure diners https://t.co/P7CnksfBbE
— The Economist (@TheEconomist) July 8, 2022
MEPs have agreed to provide financial help to EU fisheries and aquaculture sectors dealing with the economic consequences of the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Press release: https://t.co/XdPQxpydhE pic.twitter.com/rUdZD4xCKI
— European Parliament (@Europarl_EN) July 7, 2022
Evidence suggests that if governments repurpose the resources they are using to incentivize the production, supply & consumption of nutritious foods, they will contribute to making healthy diets less costly, more affordable and equitably for all https://t.co/Wx7oPRGSZS pic.twitter.com/33RYGrGqXE
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 7, 2022
The ongoing war in #Ukraine, involving two of the biggest global producers of staple cereals, oilseeds & fertilizer, is disrupting intl supply chains, pushing up the prices of grain, fertilizer, energy & ready-to-use therapeutic food for children with severe malnutrition. https://t.co/aUm3FKpODh
— World Health Organization (WHO) (@WHO) July 7, 2022
Health
Dangerous incidents at UK laboratories ‘potentially exposed staff to Covid’
guardian, 05.07.2022
Dangerous incidents at UK laboratories, hospitals and Covid test centres potentially exposed staff to coronavirus and other hazards over the course of the pandemic, according to official reports obtained by the Guardian.
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Summer's here & there are a lot of opportunities for people to gather & enjoy themselves 🙂
With @WHO_Europe we have prepared a toolkit for event organisers & communities to reach out to people attending events, including at-risk groups, about #monkeypox.
Take a look ⬇️⬇️⬇️
— ECDC (@ECDC_EU) July 6, 2022
#ProstateCancer is the most commonly diagnosed cancer and the leading cause of #cancer deaths in non-smoking European men.
The risk of overdiagnosis and overtreatment can be reduced with multiple but limited rounds of PSA testing!
⬇️More details: https://t.co/WTlVIN6dJA
— Science Advice for Policy by European Academies (@SAPEAnews) July 8, 2022
Disruptions to health services in #Ukraine left millions in need of life-saving support. The war is expected to cause long-lasting effects on infectious & chronic disease programmes.
Here’s how @WHO will support Ukraine’s recovery for the next 6 months: https://t.co/cqxdLYu6QA
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) July 7, 2022
Science policy & Communication
Is free speech under threat in Irish universities? A UCD audit raises concern
irishtimes, 07.07.2022
Free speech on college campuses has become a major international issue.
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📱 A new WHO/Europe policy brief calls for cooperation across society to improve the public health response to the #COVID19 infodemic as well as ensuring that we are ready for future infodemics during health emergencies
Find out more 👇 https://t.co/3kDtRs1rnj
— WHO/Europe (@WHO_Europe) July 6, 2022
"This year we’re seeing news fatigue setting in – not just around COVID-19 but around politics and a range of other subjects – with the number of people actively avoiding news increasing markedly"
📱 Read #DNR22 executive summaryhttps://t.co/5BaaVSlGcO
— Reuters Institute (@risj_oxford) July 6, 2022
Trust in news has fallen in almost half the countries in our #DNR22 survey, and risen in just seven.
📊 On average, 42% of our global sample say they trust most news most of the time.
🇫🇮 has the highest levels: 69%
🇺🇸🇸🇰 have the lowest: 26% https://t.co/5BaaVS45lg— Reuters Institute (@risj_oxford) July 7, 2022
EU initiatives
Parliament backs EU plan to award ‘green’ label for gas, nuclear investments
euractiv-en, 06.07.2022
The European Parliament voted on Wednesday (6 July) in favour of plans to award a green investment label to nuclear and gas projects amid loud protests from green activists, who denounced the “betrayal” of MEPs’ climate commitments.
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Policymakers deliberate on who should qualify for EU support from researchers at risk programme
sciencebusiness, 05.07.2022
MEP Christian Ehler is pushing for a pilot of an EU programme to support researchers at risk, but the European Parliament and the European Commission currently do not see eye to eye on the criteria for defining “at risk”.
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Curious news
World Chocolate Day: Any occasion, gift dark chocolates for all ages [Many benefits]
ibtimes-in, 07.07.2022
Are you the kind of person that feasts on chocolate when celebrating something? Or do you reserve this comforting superfood for days when you need something to light up your mood? Either way, if you’re a chocoholic, it’s time to celebrate World Chocolate Day with no guilt.
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This robo-fish is helping save our ocean from plastic pollution.
Learn more about keeping the planet's water sources clean: https://t.co/eTfZw1PCXG pic.twitter.com/YM2H25sdr9
— World Economic Forum (@wef) July 4, 2022
