Twoafros

Article without signing up: https://archive.is/cYRJI

From the article:

Meta faces a $2.4bn (£1.8bn) lawsuit accusing the Facebook owner of inflaming violence in Ethiopia after the Kenyan high court said a legal case against the US tech group could go ahead. The case brought by two Ethiopian nationals calls on Facebook to alter its algorithm to stop promoting hateful material and incitement to violence, as well as hiring more content moderators in Africa. It is also seeking a $2.4bn “restitution fund” for victims of hate and violence incited on Facebook.

One of the claimants is the son of Prof Meareg Amare Abrha, who was murdered at his home in Ethiopia after his address and threatening posts were published on Facebook in 2021 during a civil war in the country. Another claimant is Fisseha Tekle, a former researcher at Amnesty International who published reports on violence committed during the conflict in Tigray in northern Ethiopia and received death threats on Facebook.

Meta has argued that courts in Kenya, where Facebook’s Ethiopia moderators were based at the time, did not have jurisdiction over the case. The Kenyan high court in Nairobi ruled on Thursday that the case fell within the jurisdiction of the country’s courts.

cross-posted from: https://sh.itjust.works/post/35457157

Accra – Ghana has launched West Africa's largest floating solar project, marking a significant step towards increasing its renewable energy capacity. The country aims to raise its share of renewable energy from the current 1% to 10% by 2030.

The pioneering 5-megawatt floating solar installation is situated on the Black Volta River and was engineered by Ghanaian engineers from the Bui Power Authority (BPA). This innovative project showcases Ghana's commitment to leveraging clean energy and reducing its carbon footprint.

The floating solar power plant is a groundbreaking solution that utilises photovoltaic modules on water bodies, optimising land use while enhancing the efficiency of the solar panels.

Additionally, it helps conserve water by reducing evaporation from the surface. This technology can be deployed on ponds, lakes, reservoirs, or other water bodies.

The successful completion of this project aligns with Ghana’s National Energy Plan, supporting the goal of increasing renewable energy penetration by 10% by 2030.

Deputy Director of Renewable Energy at the Bui Power Authority, Peter Acheampong, stated “We have completed the 5-megawatt project, and it is already generating power.”

Acheampong further revealed plans to expand the floating solar project: “There are plans to scale it up to approximately 65 megawatts. At BPA, our expansion efforts are guided by the country's renewable energy master plan,” he explained.

The Bui Power Authority (BPA) has made remarkable progress in the renewable energy sector. Before the floating solar project, the BPA commissioned its solar farm in 2020, which is generating 50 megawatts of power. The two projects cost US$48 million.

These solar plants are playing a crucial role in diversifying Ghana's energy mix and increasing its renewable energy production.

Other notable solar power plants successfully commissioned and operational in Ghana include the Kaleo Solar Power Plant (13 megawatts), Lawra Solar Plant (6.5 megawatts), and Navrongo Solar Plant (2.5 megawatts). The three projects cost €50.8 million.

Individuals are increasingly investing in renewable energy. Helios Solar Energy has commissioned Africa's largest rooftop solar installation, a 16.82-megawatt photovoltaic (PV) plant financed by the International Finance Corporation (IFC) of the World Bank Group at a cost of $17 million.

The Bui Power Authority (BPA) has designated six locations for future solar projects: Bawku, Yendi, Tumu, Sawla, Buipe, and Zebilla, all in the northern part of the country.

Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, outlined Ghana’s strategic focus on renewable energy, emphasising the development of solar, wind, and mini-hydro projects to meet the nation’s growing energy demands.

“To support our expanding economy and drive sustainable development, Ghana is prioritising solar, wind, and mini-hydro projects as part of our broader energy transition plan,” Jinapor stated.

He highlighted that increasing renewable energy consumption is essential for lowering the country’s carbon footprint, improving energy access, and fostering industrial growth.

"We will establish the Renewable Energy and Green Transition Fund. This fund will support research and development of home-grown green technologies, provide solar-powered solutions for various sectors, and ease the financial burden of electricity tariffs on state institutions."

He added, “Solar, wind, and mini-hydro present immense opportunities for Ghana to meet its energy needs while minimising the environmental impact of fossil fuels.” He also noted that Ghana is well-positioned to harness these resources, with abundant solar energy potential, a vast coastline ideal for wind power, and multiple rivers suitable for mini-hydro power generation.

First few paragraphs:

JUBA, South Sudan (AP) — South Sudan’s main opposition party said its leader Riek Machar has been arrested as the U.N. called on all parties to uphold the 2018 agreement that ended the country’s civil war.

The U.N. had warned on Monday that the country was teetering on the edge of a renewed civil war after fighting in the north between an armed group allied to Machar and government forces.

Machar was “in confinement by the government” and his life was “at risk,” opposition spokesperson Pal Mai Deng said in a video address to the media Wednesday night.

The head of the U.N mission in South Sudan, Nicholas Haysom, said following reports of the detention of Machar, all parties should “exercise restraint and uphold the Revitalized Peace Agreement.”

South Sudan’s five-year civil war, in which 400,000 people were killed, ended in a 2018 peace agreement that brought President Salva Kiir and Machar together in a unity government.

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.ml/post/24640093

The Video Game Industry Is Unionizing

cross-posted from: https://lemmy.zip/post/29428294

The first congestion charge scheme for vehicles in the US has come into effect in New York.

Car drivers will pay up to $9 (£7) a day, with varying rates for other vehicles.

Archived version: https://web.archive.org/web/20250105121822/https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cjr2wn3zvqvo

SpinScore: https://spinscore.io/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.bbc.com%2Fnews%2Farticles%2Fcjr2wn3zvqvo

From the article: In December 19 thousands of Amazon workers organizing with the Teamsters launched a cascade of unfair practice strikes from coast to coast at the logistics giant.

At the picket line in Queens, New York, police arrested and released Anthony Rosario, a Teamsters organizer, and Jogernsyn Cardenas, one of the striking workers, and then threatened mass arrests before breaking the line in two to allow vans through.