NEWSROOM
The EU is poised to ban products made with forced labour, in a move seen as directed at China
The EU has approved a provisional ban on products made with forced labour. Despite denials from EU representatives, this has been perceived as a move against China, the Financial Times reports. This follows the US’ 2022 ban on products from Xinjiang, where it has been widely reported that China is carrying out a genocide against the indigenous Uyghur people. Evidence suggests the existence of camps and detainment centres in Xinjiang, where Uyghurs are forced into mass labour. The EU’s move, which still requires final approval, signals growing discontent and puts pressure on an already faltering Chinese economy.
To learn about efforts being taken to bring justice for the Uyghurs, see The Conduit’s event on the Uyghur Tribunal here.
Tech’s gender gap narrows as the industry expands, according to new research
The proportion of women working in tech in the US, UK and France has dramatically increased over the past four years, The Financial Times reports. The three major causes are said to be flexible working options, growing demand for talent, and more robust gender equality policies. Although men continue to dominate the industry, Cambridge University’s Athene Margaret Donald suggested that the rise of AI – with its inherent biases – has given rise to a better understanding of the need for diversity in tech development. In the US alone, the proportion of women in tech has risen from 31% in 2019 to 35% by the end of 2023.
Scientists grow replica organs to help heal foetuses in breakthrough treatment
Researchers at University College London have created ‘replica organoids,’ The Economist has reported. Using stem cells taken from amniotic fluid, the UCL team has been able to grow simplified kidneys, intestines, and lungs outside of the womb to test their responses to treatments for illnesses that appear during pregnancy. This is the first step in a multi-year process before clinical use can begin, but the breakthrough has been praised as a pivotal moment in medical research.
Experts row over when the ‘human age’ began, refusing to accept 1952 as the beginning of the Anthropocene era
After 15 years of debate, the International Committee on Stratigraphy has narrowly voted down a proposal to agree a start date for the ‘human age.’ The Anthropocene refers to the planetary epoch brought upon by human behaviour and has been increasingly recognized by the scientific community. If passed, this would have signaled the end of the Holocene era, a period of stability in Earth’s history, which allowed humanity to thrive. The Guardian described the Committee’s impasse as a “giant row” between those who opposed the motion, and those who see this as a failure to acknowledge the impact that human actions have had on the planet.
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