Tag: COVID-19

Renewable power is defying the Covid crisis with record growth this year and next

Stuart Mitchell

Renewable power is growing robustly around the world this year, contrasting with the sharp declines triggered by the Covid-19 crisis in many other parts of the energy sector such as oil, gas and coal, according to a report from the International Energy Agency. Driven by China and the United States, new additions of renewable power capacity worldwide will increase to a record level of almost 200 gigawatts this year, the IEA’s Renewables 2020 report forecasts. This rise – representing almost 90% of the total expansion in overall power capacity globally…

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Former child refugee helps connect digitally excluded elderly, refugees and homeless in Lockdown through free laptops scheme

Stuart Mitchell

Former refugee Peter Paduh, whose life was transformed when he received a free computer as a child, has been helping hundreds of people stay connected during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Laptops for the Homeless and Elderly Initiative has seen 1,000 people receive a free laptop or tablet since its launch, as Peter Paduh’s social enterprise SocialBox.Biz has been working with charities to serve those in need. Charities include Age UK London, the British Red Cross and Centrepoint. SocialBox.Biz founder Peter Paduh, who now lives in London, said: “I was there…

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Apple expands partnership with (RED) to combat HIV/AIDS and COVID-19

Stuart Mitchell

As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Apple is offering more ways than ever for customers to support (RED)’s fight against HIV/AIDS in Africa while simultaneously protecting those communities from COVID-19. In 2006, Apple joined (RED)’s mission to end the HIV/AIDS epidemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Over the last 14 years, Apple’s partnership with (RED) has led to almost $250 million in donations for the Global Fund’s HIV/AIDS programs that offer prevention, testing, and counselling services. Since 2006, Apple-supported grants have provided over 10.8 million people with care and support services, helped with…

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GSK Consumer Healthcare Partners with Direct Relief to Donate $1 Million to Support Frontline Healthcare Workers

Stuart Mitchell

GlaxoSmithKline have announced a donation of $1 million to Direct Relief on behalf of consumers who have purchased its consumer healthcare products since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. According to the COVID Tracking Project, hospitalizations have more than doubled in less than two months. GSK recognizes that with cases rising so rapidly, there is a critical need to continuously support health care workers. The monetary donation will be used to purchase personal protective equipment (PPE) and essential medical items for U.S. health workers on the front line dealing with…

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UNICEF and Microsoft launch improved, scalable technology to protect vulnerable children and women amid rise in domestic and gender-based violence due to COVID-19

Stuart Mitchell

UNICEF and Microsoft Corp. launched a new version of Primero called Primero X — an open source case management web application that helps social service providers coordinate critical support to vulnerable children. Key interventions include providing access to lifesaving services, such as family reunification and tracing, while still adhering to physical distancing and movement restrictions due to COVID-19. The launch of Primero X comes amid an increase in the rates of domestic and gender-based violence linked to the COVID-19 pandemic. Millions of children are now more vulnerable to violence, abuse…

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