Tag: World

  • How big data is reshaping aging research and education

    How big data is reshaping aging research and education

    The age of big data is here: The world has created more data in the past two years than in the entire previous history of the human race. USC Leonard Davis School of Gerontology researchers are dissecting treasure troves of information—from sources as diverse as brain scans and the human genome—to fuel groundbreaking research on improving how we age, and to reshape gerontology education to enable future scientists to make an impact in a changing field.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-big-reshaping-aging.html

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  • Not all young people are ‘digital natives’ – inequality hugely limits experiences of technology

    Not all young people are ‘digital natives’ – inequality hugely limits experiences of technology

    There is a belief that younger people are fully engaged with the digital world. But I am currently leading a project exploring people’s knowledge and use of online data, and the preliminary findings from our research has found that data literacy is not uniformly high among younger people, as is often assumed. Instead, some young people have very low levels of data literacy.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-young-people-digital-natives-inequality.html

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  • Why people delay software updates, despite the risks

    Why people delay software updates, despite the risks

    In May 2017, around a quarter of a million computers around the world running Microsoft Windows were attacked and infected with malware that would later be named “WannaCry.” Victims found their computers locked and unusable, but could free them if the victims transferred Bitcoin—typically an amount equivalent to $300-600 USD—to the people behind the attack.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-people-software.html

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  • ICC-WHO Joint Statement: An unprecedented private sector call to action to tackle COVID-19

    ICC-WHO Joint Statement: An unprecedented private sector call to action to tackle COVID-19

    In a coordinated effort to combat the coronavirus COVID-19 pandemic, the International Chamber of Commerce (ICC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) have agreed to work closely to ensure the latest and most reliable information and tailored guidance reaches the global business community.

    The COVID-19 pandemic is a global health and societal emergency that requires effective immediate action by governments, individuals and businesses. All businesses have a key role to play in minimising the likelihood of transmission and impact on society. Early, bold and effective action will reduce short- term risks to employees and long-term costs to businesses and the  economy.

    To aid this collective effort, ICC will regularly send updated advice to its network of over 45 million businesses so that businesses everywhere can take informed and effective action to protect their workers, customers and local communities and contribute to the production and distribution of essential supplies.

    ICC will also contribute to enhancing information flows on the coronavirus outbreak by surveying its global private sector network to map the global business response. This will both encourage businesses to adopt appropriate precautionary approaches and generate new data and insights to support national and international government efforts.

    As an immediate priority, businesses should be developing or updating, readying or implementing business continuity plans. Business continuity plans should aim to reduce transmission, including by: promoting understanding of the disease, its symptoms and appropriate behavior among employees; setting up a reporting system for any cases and contacts; preparing essentials; limiting travel and physical connectivity; and planning for measures such as teleworking when necessary.

    Calls to Action

    • ICC strongly endorses WHO’s call on national governments everywhere to adopt a whole-of- government and whole-of-society approach in responding to the COVID-19 pandemic. Reducing the further spread of COVID-19 and mitigating its impact should be a top priority for Heads of State and Government. Political action should be coordinated with actors in the private sector and civil society to maximize reach of messaging and effectiveness.
    • Governments should commit to making available all necessary resources to combat COVID-19 with the minimum of delay and to ensure that cross-border medical and other essential goods supply chains are able to function effectively and efficiently
    • ICC and the WHO encourage national chambers of commerce to work closely with UN country teams, including WHO country offices where they exist, and to designate mutual focal points to coordinate this collaboration.
    • ICC encourages its members to support their country’s national response efforts and to contribute to the global response efforts coordinated by the WHO through www.covid19responsefund.org.

    As the pandemic evolves, ICC Secretary General John W.H Denton AO and WHO Director General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus will continue to coordinate their efforts.

    Essential information on the COVID-19 pandemic can be found on the WHO’s dedicated site.

     

    ICC-WHO Joint Statement: An unprecedented private sector call to action to tackle COVID-19
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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/16-03-2020-icc-who-joint-statement-an-unprecedented-private-sector-call-to-action-to-tackle-covid-19

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  • Water and Climate Change

    World Water Day 2020 is about water and climate change – and how the two are inextricably linked. This year’s campaign shows how our use of water will help reduce floods, droughts, scarcity and pollution, and will help fight climate change itself. By adapting to the water effects of climate change, we will protect health and save lives. And, by using water more efficiently, we will reduce greenhouse gases. Our key messages are clear:

    • We cannot afford to wait. Climate policy makers must put water at the heart of action plans.
    • Climate change effects water supplies and human health.
    • Health systems need to prepare for more water-related disease associated with climate change.
    • Water can help fight climate change and protect health. There are sustainable, affordable and scalable water and sanitation solutions.
    • Everyone has a role to play. In our daily lives, there are surprisingly easy steps we can all take to address climate change, and protect health.

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    https://www.who.int/news-room/detail/17-03-2020-water-and-climate-change

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  • Study shows widely used machine learning methods don’t work as claimed

    Study shows widely used machine learning methods don’t work as claimed

    Models and algorithms for analyzing complex networks are widely used in research and affect society at large through their applications in online social networks, search engines, and recommender systems. According to a new study, however, one widely used algorithmic approach for modeling these networks is fundamentally flawed, failing to capture important properties of real-world complex networks.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-widely-machine-methods-dont.html

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  • Global airlines slash almost all flights as virus spreads wings

    Global airlines slash almost all flights as virus spreads wings

    Major world airlines on Monday axed almost all flights on a temporary basis as the worsening coronavirus crisis sparks travel bans, ravages demand and sends shares into freefall, triggering pleas to help carriers survive.

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    https://techxplore.com/news/2020-03-global-airlines-slash-flights-virus.html

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  • Why is the UK approach to coronavirus so different to other countries?

    Why is the UK approach to coronavirus so different to other countries?

    The UK’s stance, to try to manage the spread of immunity among people while protecting those most at risk, appears at odds with the World Health Organization’s call for urgent action
    Why is the UK approach to coronavirus so different to other countries?
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    https://www.newscientist.com/article/2237385-why-is-the-uk-approach-to-coronavirus-so-different-to-other-countries/?utm_campaign=RSS%7CNSNS&utm_source=NSNS&utm_medium=RSS&utm_content=home

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  • Singapore reports 14 new cases of coronavirus, in biggest daily jump

    Singapore reports 14 new cases of coronavirus, in biggest daily jump

    Singapore reports 14 new cases of coronavirus, in biggest daily jump 1

    SINGAPORE: Singapore today confirmed 14 new cases of the novel coronavirus, its health ministry said, marking the biggest daily increase of the infection in the city-state.

    Singapore has confirmed a total 226 cases of the virus so far, with 105 having fully recovered. Nine of the cases confirmed on Sunday are imported. — Reuters

    Singapore reports 14 new cases of coronavirus, in biggest daily jump
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/world/singapore-reports-14-new-cases-of-coronavirus-in-biggest-daily-jump-MI2129358

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  • Singaporeans should avoid overseas travel, government says

    Singaporeans should avoid overseas travel, government says

    Singaporeans should avoid overseas travel, government says 2

    SINGAPORE: Singapore’s health ministry on Sunday urged its citizens to defer all non-essential travel abroad in an unprecedented move for the Asian transport hub, as part of new measures to control the coronavirus that is fast spreading around the world.

    Singapore will also tell all entering the country with recent travel history to the Asean group of nations, Japan, Switzerland or the United Kingdom to quarantine themselves at their place of residence for 14 days, the ministry added.

    The Association of Southeast Asian Nations (Asean) comprises Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Brunei, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam.

    Countries, such as the UK and Switzerland have “abandoned” any attempt at containing the spread of the infection, said Lawrence Wong, a minister who co-heads Singapore’s virus fighting taskforce.

    “That’s why we are more concerned that Singapore may well be exposed to a new wave of infections, which is potentially larger than what we have seen previously.”

    The majority of new infections being reported in Singapore, an island nation with a population of 5.7 million, over the past few days have been people returning from overseas rather than local transmissions.

    At least five cases of Singaporeans have been linked to a large religious gathering in Malaysia that was attended by more than 10,000 people from several countries.

    Short-term visitors who are nationals of its Southeast Asian neighbours will also have to seek prior approval from the health ministry before their journey to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed.

    The restriction comes after a number of cases that entered Singapore with the specific purpose of seeking healthcare, the health ministry said. There have been two cases of Indonesians who had coronavirus symptoms at home before arriving in Singapore, known for its superior healthcare facilities.

    The measures will be reviewed after a month. They will not apply to sea and land crossings with Malaysia, which will have separate precautions. Wong said 300,000 people a day move across the land checkpoints with Malaysia.

    The Asian travel hub has previously announced bans on visitors from several coronavirus-hit countries, including China, Italy and France.

    Singapore has won international praise for its painstaking onslaught on the virus since it initially emerged with one of the highest tallies of infections outside China. But other nations have since outpaced it.

    Singapore has reported 212 infections, but no fatalities. Globally, more than 150,000 people have been infected while over 5,800 have died, a Reuters tally shows. — Reuters

    Singaporeans should avoid overseas travel, government says
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    https://www.thesundaily.my/world/singaporeans-should-avoid-overseas-travel-government-says-XI2129044

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