Zoom CEO Yuan is feeling the pressure

Ghana's digital innovation week brings together pacesetters, entrepreneurs and investors all seeking to use technology for real social change.

The CEO of mortgage company Better.com has apologised for firing 900 of his employees on a Zoom call. The video of Vishal Garg announcing the layoffs went viral online, and he has now published a statement admitting he "blundered" through the move, and that the manner of his announcement "made a difficult situation worse." Also today, Turkey's president appeals for patience over his economic policies, as Turks face spiralling inflation and a plunge in the value of the lira.

A mayor in Greece is using smart technology to make his city future-proof. Electric vehicles and an e-complaint system are part of Trikala's innovation strategy, but the Greek government is interfering with the plans.

Shunned in the Global North due to privacy and security issues, Huawei is a front-runner in Africa. But the Chinese giant's data collection methods may also appeal to authoritarian regimes as a way to cling to power.

In northern Ghana, farmers lose some 25% of their animals to diseases every year. Feed and water shortages are also a problem. A startup has developed an app to help farmers get their animals vaccinated to reduce losses.

A rise in demand for air conditioning and refrigeration has pushed up emissions around the world. A project in Kenya is looking into alternative natural refrigerants and is training women to be specialized technicians.

In northern Ghana, farmers lose some 25% of their animals to diseases every year. Feed and water shortages are also a problem. A startup has developed an app to help farmers get their animals vaccinated to reduce losses.

With its joint expertise in security and technology, Israel has become a cyber security powerhouse over the past decade. The former head of Israeli cyber policy, Eviatar Matania, was key in that evolution. He founded and led the Israel National Cyber Bureau under former prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu and recently co-wrote "Cybermania," a book tracing Israel's cyber revolution.

Will India make the move to electromobility? Will robots rule the factory, farming, and even our own kitchens? Who will live in virtual space? And can genetic engineering make the meat, fish and dairy industries more sustainable?

Carbon removal technologies promise to help meet the world's emissions targets and keep climate change in check. But there are downsides.

This week, tensions between the US and China spiked further after an alleged spy balloon was shot down by Washington. Beijing later said it would firmly defend its interests after President Joe Biden vowed to protect the sovereignty of the United States. China continues to insist the balloon was for civilian purposes and had veered off course.

In an environment reshaped by digital change, many legacy publishers and wider media organisations are racing to transition to new business models as they fight to secure their future sustainability.