Gabriele Porrometo

Google's new 55-inch touchscreen whiteboard, Jamboard, will be launched in the United States in May at a price of $4,999. The device, aimed primarily at businesses, features a 4K display, multi-point touch system, handwriting and shape recognition, and integrates with Google services like G Suite and Chromecast. It also supports video conferencing through the business version of Hangouts, with an additional annual subscription fee of $600. The product will be available in other countries at a later date.

Annually, whales migrate from Antarctica to give birth off the coast of Eastern Cape, South Africa, in the warmer waters of the Atlantic Ocean. In the vicinity of the small town of Hermanus, dozens of whales can be observed each day.

Two new Omicron sub-variants, BA.4 and BA.5, are driving a surge in Covid-19 cases in South Africa, according to the World Health Organization. Despite a decline in global Covid-19 cases and deaths, the WHO emphasizes the importance of continued testing and genetic sequencing to monitor virus mutations. South Africa, which has been significantly impacted by Covid-19, is experiencing a resurgence in cases after lifting restrictions in early April. WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus highlights that vaccination remains crucial in preventing severe disease and death.

Desmond Tutu, the Anglican archbishop and a symbol of the fight against apartheid in South Africa, passed away at the age of 90, prompting a wave of tributes from global leaders. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, former U.S. President Barack Obama, European Council President Charles Michel, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Queen Elizabeth II, Pope Francis, and the Dalai Lama all expressed their condolences and admiration for Tutu's work. Tutu was known for his peaceful protests against apartheid and was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 1984. He chaired the Truth and Reconciliation Commission after the end of apartheid and was a vocal critic of the ANC government's policies. Tutu leaves behind his wife, known as 'Mama Leah,' and four children.

The World Health Organization (WHO) warns of a 'toxic cocktail' of low vaccination rates and insufficient testing, exacerbated by the spread of the Omicron variant, which has reached Brazil and the United States. The European Commission is considering mandatory vaccination, while the OECD warns Omicron could threaten global economic recovery. The first Omicron case in the U.S. was detected in California, and Brazil has reported three cases. South Africa is experiencing a significant increase in cases due to Omicron. The UN and African Union criticize border closures as unjust and ineffective, with the UN Secretary-General António Guterres calling them 'unjust' and 'ineffective.' Concerns are raised about the reduced efficacy of current vaccines against Omicron, with Moderna's president warning of a potential significant decrease in vaccine effectiveness.

Windows 10's file explorer now includes advertisements for Microsoft's OneDrive cloud storage service. This move is part of a broader trend of increasing ads within the Windows 10 system, including in the Start menu and taskbar. The ads encourage users to subscribe to OneDrive and related software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for 7 euros per month. While Microsoft claims these notifications are meant to enhance user experience, they can be disabled. However, this strategy is seen as intrusive and potentially disadvantageous to competitors like Dropbox and Google Drive.

Wellington, the capital of New Zealand, is offering an all-expenses-paid trip to 100 tech professionals to boost its tech sector. Selected candidates will spend four days in May for job interviews with local startups. The initiative aims to address recruitment challenges despite a 14% annual growth in the sector. Candidates must apply by March 20, and 12,000 have already shown interest. The project, funded at $588,000, has garnered significant attention, with David Jones, one of the organizers, noting the unprecedented interest. Similar initiatives are seen globally, such as Estonia's e-residency and special visas in France and Lithuania.