News
Hard Numbers: Greenland's zombie ice, Sudanese journos unionize, India’s 5G plan, "Man of the Hole" dies
Greenland's melting glaciers
NASA via Reuters
10.6: Greenland’s rapidly melting ice sheet will add 10.6 inches to already-rising sea levels in the long term, according to a new study. This deluge is because of “zombie ice,” which is essentially still attached to thicker areas of ice but not getting fed by larger glaciers due to low snow levels.
30: Sudanese journalists have created the country’s first union in more than thirty years. Former longtime dictator Omar al-Bashir (1993-2019) was notorious for torturing and imprisoning reporters, while press freedom has again come under siege since the military took over in a coup last fall.
25 billion: Indian billionaire Mukesh Ambani announced a $25 billion plan to launch 5G throughout parts of the country within the next few months, with hopes of rolling it out nationwide by Dec. 2023. Tech companies including Meta and Google have struck deals with Ambani’s telecom company to try and expand their market share in India, on track to become the world’s most populous country next year
1: The last member of an Indigenous tribe in Brazil was recently found dead, marking the first confirmed loss of one of the country’s uncontactable tribes. He was known only as the "Man of the Hole'' because of the dozens of trenches he’d dug in his territory over the years. There are estimated to be 114 Indigenous tribes in Brazil, but only 28 have been identified.
From shopping to services, consumer spending is showing strength across categories. Holiday shopping got an early start, and it’s not just higher earners filling their carts. Bank of America Institute sees continued spending growth recovery for lower- and middle-income households. See what’s driving the trends.
Garment workers in Bangladesh have taken to the streets over the past week, demanding higher wages and forcing more than 600 factories to shut down nationwide.
As AI creates new opportunities, the people who understand a community best play an important role in determining how those opportunities take shape. Across the US, Microsoft is supporting AI literacy classes as part of a new program developed in collaboration with the Public Library Association, working through trusted local institutions to help people build practical AI skills. By pairing new technology with local knowledge, the initiative is helping communities explore how AI can support their needs and open new possibilities, while putting local leaders and organizations at the center of that work. Read the full story here.
We’re breaking down the three main issues that could help decide tomorrow’s elections: the cost of living, Israel, and AI.