The assisted dying debate has been about safety not sanctity – here’s why I think the bill passed the test: KieferPix/Shutterstock British MPs’ approval of the assisted dying bill made history – and revealed a rare kind of parliamentary debate. While the bill must still pass through the House of Lords, it is now widely …
Virtual churches are popular in Ghana. But what about online safety?: Many churches have been holding worship services online via live-streaming platforms in recent times. This is unsurprising since many congregants use digital technologies. The COVID-19 pandemic also pushed churches to swiftly embrace digital platforms. This allowed them to continue with religious activities when physical …
Owning a gun in South Africa offers some safety, but risks run high for users and society – expert: South Africa has one of the highest homicide rates in the world, eclipsed only by Honduras and a handful of Caribbean island states. Furthermore, South African police crime data shows that South Africans experience above average …
Grenfell should have been a wake-up call – but the UK still doesn’t take fire safety seriously because of who is most at risk: In March 2023, a fire in Tower Hamlets, east London, claimed the life of Mizanur Rahman, a 41-year-old father-of-two from Bangladesh. Five fire engines and 35 firefighters attended the call to …
Phishing scams: 7 safety tips from a cybersecurity expert: Phishers are crafty and their scams are always evolving. weerapatkiatdumrong Recently, one of my acquaintances, Frank, received an email late on a Monday afternoon with the subject line, “Are you still in the office?” It appeared to come from his manager, who claimed to be stuck …
Bletchley declaration: international agreement on AI safety is a good start, but ordinary people need a say – not just elites: In November, the UK government held the first AI (artificial intelligence) Safety Summit in the historically resonant setting of Bletchley Park, home to the legendary second world war codebreakers led by the computing genius …
Online safety bill: why making the UK the ‘safest place to go online’ is not as easy as the government claims: fizkes/Shutterstock The government’s online safety bill, a reform years in the making, will now become law. Among the bill’s key aims is to ensure it is more difficult for young people (under the age …
The UK just passed an online safety law that could make people less safe: Tero Vesalainen / Shutterstock The UK’s long-debated online safety bill (OSB) has been approved by the House of Lords, clearing the way for it to become law. But it has pitted the government, which proposed the bill, against tech companies that …
Safety First: The Evolution of the Smart Home Security System: In an age where technology touches every facet of our lives, ensuring the safety of our homes has taken on a new dimension. Gone are the days when a simple lock and key sufficed. Today, with the advent of the smart home security system, homeowners …
South Africa’s great white sharks are changing locations – they need to be monitored for beach safety and conservation: South Africa is renowned for having one of the world’s biggest populations of great white sharks (Carcharodon carcharias). Substantial declines have been observed, however, in places where the sharks normally gather on the coast of the …
The sniff test is not reliable for food safety – here’s why: I should know better, but I admit that I do it too. I’ve just pulled some sliced chicken out of the fridge, as I set out to make up some sandwiches. I notice the chicken is within its use-by date, but I’m still …
Food safety policy neglects informal markets in developing countries – 3 ways this can change: The informal sector poses great challenges for food safety. Steven Jaffee The food industry in many low- and middle-income countries is dominated by the informal sector. Numerous micro and small businesses, which are not legally registered and mostly compete on …
AI could democratise nutritional advice, but safety and accuracy must come first: Antonina Vlasova / Shutterstock When you search online to see how people are using artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT, you will quickly find that food requests are popular. More specifically, users are seeking help with menu planning to meet their personal …
Cycling could be a boon for Lagos – but people fear for their safety on bikes: A cyclist participates in World Car Free Day in Lagos. Adekunle Ajayi/NurPhoto via Getty Images With an estimated 16 million residents, Lagos is the most densely populated state in Nigeria. It’s under immense pressure to transport its huge population. …
Some refugee girls are forced into early marriage for safety – here’s why: Rates of child marriage increase in communities displaced by conflict as well as communities affected by natural and environmental disasters. The current crisis in Sudan is just one place where this could be an issue. The recent earthquakes in Turkey and Syria …
Power cuts and food safety: how to avoid illness during loadshedding : Keep as little food as possible in your fridge and freezer. Shutterstock South Africa has been grappling with power cuts for 15 years, which have worsened in recent years. The persistent power outages have disrupted every facet of life, including food safety. The Conversation …
Libya lost, then found, 2.5 tonnes of uranium – a red flag for nuclear safety: Uranium processing plant in Utah, US. RJ Sangosti/MediaNews Group/The Denver Post via Getty Images Earlier this year the International Atomic Energy Agency Director General Rafael Grossi reported that about 2.5 tonnes of uranium ore concentrate had gone missing from a …
Online safety: what young people really think about social media, big tech regulation and adults ‘overreacting’: timelineguru/Shutterstock Don’t say ‘just don’t go online’ because adults wouldn’t do that if something happened in the real world. If you got followed home, it’s not like [they would say]: “Hey, stop leaving the house.” Help the person understand …