PRESS REVIEW – Tuesday, August 5: As the plastic pollution summit begins in Geneva, Libération highlights the little-known but devastating scourge of plastic pellets ravaging the planet. Also, Silicon Valley’s shift into a new “hard tech” era reflects a changing political climate; former CNN journalist Jim Acosta sparks controversy after interviewing an AI avatar of a school massacre victim. And, the press pays tribute to Stella Rimington, the first woman chief of MI5.
Negotiations kick off in Geneva today, aiming to establish a global treaty to end plastic pollution. As the talks begin, French newspaper Libération shines a light on a lesser-known pollutant: plastic pellets, also called “mermaid tears.” These tiny pellets are deliberately small to ease transport and are classified as primary microplastics, used in products ranging from single-use water bottles to televisions. Often released en masse from industrial sites via pipes or land spills, these pellets accumulate on coastlines and riverbanks worldwide. In the EU alone, around 184,000 tonnes of plastic pellets escape into nature each year. One particularly devastating incident occurred in 2021, when a cargo ship sank near Sri Lanka, releasing 11,000 tonnes of industrial plastic into the sea. The environmental impact was severe – sea turtle eggs were crushed beneath the weight of the plastic debris. As these pellets travel, they attract toxic chemicals on their surfaces, which are then ingested by fish and crustaceans, entering the food chain and ultimately affecting larger animals and humans.
In tech news, The New York Times explores why Silicon Valley has entered a “hard tech” era. Veteran tech reporter Mike Isaac explains the ideological shift happening today. A decade or so ago, Silicon Valley was dominated by Web 2.0 – consumer internet businesses like music streaming and photo sharing – famous for its counterculture vibe with colorful beanbags, free meals, and flexible schedules. That era is now mostly “ancient history”. Today, tech is more hardware-focused and serious; perks are fewer, hiring has slowed, and employees work under closer scrutiny. The political landscape has shifted too, moving toward a socially conservative stance combined with an anti-government approach to business regulation.
Former CNN journalist Jim Acosta has sparked debate after releasing an interview with an AI avatar of Joaquin Oliver, a young man killed in the 2018 Marjory Stoneman Douglas school shooting. Acosta, who once had his White House press credentials revoked by Donald Trump, posted the video on his X account yesterday. The Guardian reports the video was created by animating a real photograph of Oliver with generative AI. In the interview, Oliver – wearing a beanie – is seen responding to questions about his death, though his movements are unnatural and jerky. The AI interview was made to commemorate what would have been his 25th birthday and was conceived by his grieving parents to raise awareness about gun violence. However, the project has drawn criticism for choosing an AI avatar instead of featuring living survivors.
Dame Stella Rimington, the first woman to head MI5, has passed away. The Daily Express obituary highlights her trailblazing career. Appointed director general in 1992, she was globally recognized as the first female head of an intelligence agency. Rimington joined MI5 in 1967 as a part-time typist at the British High Commission in New Delhi, transitioning from what she described as a “bored housewife”. Throughout her career, she confronted Russian spies, the IRA, and domestic subversives, including leaders of the 1984 miners' strike. After leaving MI5 in 1996, she became a successful spy novelist and even worked briefly at Marks and Spencer, where she amusingly eavesdropped on customers discussing products. Rimington is also believed to have inspired the character “Q” in the James Bond films.
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