At Squirrel News, we’re wrapping up the week talking about Pakistan’s unexpected solar energy surge, a sharp decline in US cervical cancer deaths thanks to the HPV vaccine, and how an Argentine prison has effectively ended recidivism among newly-former inmates.
Pakistan’s rapid solar growth surpasses expectations
Pakistan has rapidly expanded its solar energy capacity, with the industry seeing quite substantial growth in a relatively short period – helping residents better navigate frequent blackouts.
US sees 60% drop in cervical cancer deaths among young women
A sharp decline in cervical cancer deaths has been observed among young women in the United States, coinciding with the introduction of the human papillomavirus vaccine in 2006. A new study provides the first evidence of this impact on mortality rates among the first cohort eligible for vaccination.
Green signal given for first UK cooperatively owned railway service
The Office of Road and Rail has approved a bid from open-access operator Go-op to run several new services and compete with Great Western Railway on the line. Go-op, which is based in Somerset, will be owned and managed by staff and the local community, with all profits invested back into improving the service.
Australia to ban under-16s from social media in world-first law
The legislation responds to concerns raised by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, who highlights a “clear, causal link” between the rise of social media and the growing mental health challenges faced by young Australians.
TikTok to block teenagers from beauty filters over mental health concerns
Teenagers are facing wide-ranging new restrictions over the use of beauty filters on TikTok amid concern at rising anxiety and falling self-esteem. Under-18s will, in the coming weeks, be blocked from artificially making their eyes bigger, plumping their lips and smoothing or changing their skin tone in a way that makeup cannot.
Breakthrough asthma attack treatment is the first in 50 years
A new injection targets and calms an overactive immune response – a key driver of asthma flare-ups and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Already approved for severe cases, the drug, benralizumab, could now become a routine option, potentially giving the green light for use in the two million asthma attacks annually in the UK.
UK declares end to new coal mines in net zero push
UK Energy Secretary Ed Miliband has announced plans to ban new coal mines across the country, taking Britain one step closer to hitting net zero emissions. The Labour government also intends to amend the 1994 Coal Industry Act to prohibit future coal mine licenses.
Once dominated by Italy’s largest automaker, the former manufacturing hub of Turin is going through a big change as the industry declines: the city is investing in more and more bike lanes as well as improved public transit.
AI tool sparks a new sense of independence for the visually impaired
Devices like Alexa, Google Home, and Siri assist with everyday tasks such as setting alarms and checking the weather – but now, the visually impaired community is discovering the benefits of a new tool called Be My AI. Powered by ChatGPT, the app provides detailed descriptions of images and reads them aloud to the user.
How an Argentine prison cooperative ended recidivism
Although Argentina lacks official data on recidivism, estimates suggest that 70% of those released from prison reoffend within a year. At Batán prison, however, more than 1,000 inmates have joined the Liberté cooperative programme – and of the 104 participants who have been released, none have committed new crimes.
