We respectfully commemorate our citizens who lost their lives in the hotel fire in Kartalkaya, wish a speedy recovery to the injured, and hope that those responsible will be punished in the most severe manner.
SUSTAINABILITY
A group of major European companies, investors and industry associations published a letter to European Commission leaders, expressing concerns that the upcoming “Omnibus” package coordinating the EU’s key new sustainability reporting and due diligence laws could end up weakening the new rules, undermining business certainty and investment. DETAY
Tech giant IBM and global beauty company L’Oréal announced the launch of a new collaboration aimed at leveraging generative artificial intelligence (GenAI) technology to advance the creation of cosmetics using more sustainable materials and reduced energy and materials waste. DETAY
Amazon announced that it was the largest corporate purchaser of renewable energy globally in 2024, citing Bloomberg NEF data, and marking the company’s fifth consecutive year in that position. DETAY
The U.S. Federal Reserve announced on Friday that it has withdraw from the Network of Central Banks and Supervisors for Greening the Financial System (NGFS), a global coalition of central banks aimed at working together on climate and green finance issues. DETAY
A recent CDP Corporate Health Check reveals that 80% of companies on track to meet climate targets now tie executive pay to achieving these goals, underscoring the importance of governance and strategic action in driving environmental progress. This inaugural report will be presented at the World Economic Forum in Davos, shedding light on how large corporations are addressing the growing climate and nature crises. DETAY
Atmospheric carbon dioxide levels rose faster than ever last year, according to scientists who say the rise is “incompatible” with goals set by the Paris Agreement, the United Kingdom’s Met Office said, as reported by BBC News. DETAY
Companies are finally making real progress on one of the trickiest problems for climate change: cow burps. The world’s herds of cattle belch out methane as a by-product of digestion, as do sheep and goats. That powerful greenhouse gas makes up the single biggest source of livestock emissions, which together contribute 11% to 20% of the world’s total climate pollution, depending on the analysis. Enter the cattle burping supplement. DSM-Firmenich, a Netherlands-based conglomerate, says its Bovaer food supplement significantly reduces the amount of methane that cattle belch. DETAY
Anti-climate change groups are more likely to develop in countries with strong environmental plans, according to an analysis drawing on 30 years of data published in PLOS One. DETAY
Arctic “ice roads” – temporary roads formed from the build up of snow that act as lifelines for isolated communities – have reduced because of climate change and are likely to decline further this century, according to research in Communications Earth and Environment. DETAY
HEALTH
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is going dark, along with other federal agencies within the umbrella of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. This week, the returning Trump administration told these agencies to stop talking to the public—for how long, no one knows. DETAY
On January 20, his first day in office, US president Donald Trump signed an executive order to withdraw the US from the World Health Organization. The US is the biggest donor to the WHO, and the loss of this income is likely to have a significant impact on the organization, which develops international health guidelines, investigates disease outbreaks, and acts as an information-sharing hub for member states. But the US will also lose out. DETAY
Researchers at Case Western Reserve University, University Hospitals, and Houston Methodist are embarking on a groundbreaking initiative to harness artificial intelligence (AI) for predicting heart failure and other cardiovascular events with unprecedented accuracy. Their efforts aim to estimate not only the likelihood but also the timing of such adverse events by developing an AI model that “learns” from patient scans. DETAY
A new study, from Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Faculty at Harvard Medical School, Boston, has found that it may not just be having excess body fat that increases heart disease risk, but where fat is stored, even in those of a healthy weight. DETAY
DIGITAL / TECHNOLOGY / SCIENCE / ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE
It was announced that a marathon run will be held in China in April, in which both humans and robots will participate. The 21-kilometer marathon, which will be the first in the world, will be held in Daxing, Beijing. Approximately 12,000 humans and more than 20 humanoid robots will participate in the marathon. The top 3 will receive awards. DETAY
Scientists at Carnegie Mellon University in the USA introduced the “Power-Over-Skin” technology, which allows wearable technology products to operate without batteries by receiving energy from the human body. DETAY
Amazon has paused US drone deliveries following a crash involving two drones in Arizona. As Bloomberg reports, the drones reportedly crashed during rainy weather at the company’s testing facility in Pendleton, Oregon, in December. In another incident in September, the company’s testers accidentally launched two test flights at once, causing the drones to collide. DETAY
Following the official resignation of Gary Gensler, known for his strict stance on the crypto market, as the chairman of the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the SEC's approach to crypto has begun to change rapidly. Mark Uyeda, who assumed the role of Acting Chair, announced on Tuesday that the agency has established a crypto task force dedicated to developing a comprehensive and clear regulatory framework for crypto assets. DETAY
Global investment firm Goldman Sachs is ready to start replacing its employees with AI. The company announced that it's rolled out a "GS AI assistant" to around 10,000 employees as part of its longer-term effort to introduce AI-powered "employees," as CNBC reports. https://futurism.com/goldman-sachs-starts-replacing-bankers-ai
A ketamine-based nasal spray is officially the first and only standalone therapy available for treatment-resistant depression in the US. DETAY
ENERGY / TRANSPORTATION
On Monday, Tesla joined the ranks of Alphabet, Microsoft, Apple, Amazon, and Facebook as companies that have traded with a market capitalization of $1 trillion. Tesla was followed by Toyota, Xiaomi, BYD and Ferrari. Ford Otosan, with a market value of $9.1 billion, ranked 38th, and Tofaş ranked 47th with $3 billion. DETAY
China has achieved another milestone in nuclear fusion research. Its Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak (EAST) reactor, nicknamed the “Artificial Sun,” broke a world record by maintaining plasma temperature above 100 million degrees Celsius for 1,006 seconds (16 minutes and 46 seconds). DETAY
CYBERSECURITY
Think twice before signing up for a TikTok competitor. I took a look at the types of data that popular social apps are collecting about you, and they aren't much better. DETAY
The European Commission has asked social media giants including Facebook, TikTok and X to take part in a test to see whether they are doing enough to counter disinformation in the run-up to next month's German election, an EU spokesperson said on Friday. DETAY
CURIOSITY
A cafe called "Rain Report" in South Korea offers visitors the opportunity to experience a rainy day every day, thanks to immersive installations. DETAY
