China internet, consumer discretionary, insurance stocks favored, BNP Says

The Taliban say that they want to ensure internet access in Afghanistan, but they could face substantial technical and financial challenges to keep it running. Afghans say they fear more surveillance and censorship. 

Google CEO Sundar Pichai announces that the tech giant will invest $1 billion over the next five years to allow for faster and more affordable internet access and support entrepreneurship in Africa. Internet reliability is a problem in Africa where less than a third of the continent's 1.3 billion people are connected to broadband, according to the World Bank. But the continent, where nearly half the population is under 18, is a promising market.

The internet is an essential resource for daily life. We use it to stay informed, for school and increasingly for work. But major inequalities in terms of access to the web persist. Africa lags behind much of the rest of the world in terms of connectivity, deepening existing inequalities. The spread of misinformation is also a major issue across the continent. For more on what's being done to address these challenges, Nnenna Nwakanma from the World Wide Web Foundation joined us for Perspective.

How does the internet work from space? Could every far-flung corner of the Earth actually receive internet from satellites? How fast is satellite internet? What are the disadvantages and is it good for the environment?

At the start of Russia's invasion of Ukraine, hackers brought down tens of thousands of satellite internet modems across Ukraine and Europe. This week, Reuters revealed that the same attacks are still underway.

The European Union agreed on new regulations that require social media companies and online marketplaces to remove illegal content. Advertisement targeting minors will also be banned.

Insurance policies are indispensable for most consumers and businesses around the world. But with the cost of living soaring, so has the price of insurances. A survey of households in the United States and Europe suggests nearly half of them have seen their insurance premiums go up in the last year, but nearly eight in 10 have nevertheless stuck with their existing policies.

Jerome Ngutor had trouble with a persistent stomach ache but like many Nigerians, he did not have money to see a doctor. Then he heard about a novel idea to get health insurance - collect waste material and trade it for cover.

This week, the UK's seminal piece of internet regulation, the Online Safety Bill, moved from the House of Commons to the House of Lords after being amended. It now includes a provision threatening tech bosses with two years in prison if they don't keep children safe online.

The nine US Supreme Court justices will hear arguments in two cases opposing individuals to large internet platforms this week. In both of them, the plaintiffs are the families of terror attack victims, who argue that internet giants should be held responsible for the content on their platforms.

India has topped the global list of states that cut off the internet to their citizens for five successive years. Critics say shutdowns paralyze daily life and the economy.

Soso Care, a Nigerian health-tech startup, is trying to offer health insurance to those who don't have it. All people have to do is bring in recyclable waste. This helps pay for an insurance card that let's them see a doctor.