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Archive for the ‘government’ category: Page 156

Jan 30, 2019

Scientists relieved but wary as US shutdown ends

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, government

The shutdown dragged on two weeks longer than any other in US history, and its effects on science have been profound. It has interrupted studies of everything from California’s coastal fisheries to clinical trials of experimental drugs, and key federal data sets have been pulled offline. Employees at many science agencies were forced to stay at home without pay for more than a month, and academic researchers have been deprived of key research funding.


Federal researchers head back to work after politicians approve deal to reopen government for three weeks. Federal researchers head back to work after politicians approve deal to re-open government for three weeks.

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Jan 26, 2019

​Filipino IT experts hope NASA announces Space Challenge winners as U.S. government operations resume

Posted by in categories: government, law, security, space

This is the first time that an entry from the Philippines has made it to the global finalists. http://verafiles.org/articles/filipino-it-experts-hope-nasa-…lenge-winn #SpaceApps #SpaceAppsPH


Filipino Information Technology enthusiasts are hoping that the temporary reopening of U.S. government operations after a 35-day shutdown would pave the way for the announcement of the winners in the NASA Space Apps Challenge, where one of the finalists is an app developed by a group of Filipino IT experts.

The announcement of the winners in the global competition was supposed to have been made in mid-January but has suffered a delay due to the federal government shutdown caused by a standoff over border security.

Continue reading “​Filipino IT experts hope NASA announces Space Challenge winners as U.S. government operations resume” »

Jan 23, 2019

We’ll Likely See a Rise in Internet Blackouts in 2019

Posted by in categories: government, internet

https://paper.li/e-1437691924#/


We’ll likely see a rise in internet blackouts in 2019, for two reasons: countries deliberately “turning off” the internet within their borders, and hackers disrupting segments of the internet with distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks. Above all, both will force policymakers everywhere to reckon with the fact that the internet itself is increasingly becoming centralized — and therefore increasingly vulnerable to manipulation, making everyone less safe.

From a report: The first method — states deliberately severing internet connections within their country — has an important history. In 2004, the Maldivian government caused an internet blackout when citizens protested the president; Nepal similarly caused a blackout shortly thereafter. In 2007, the Burmese government apparently damaged an underwater internet cable in order to “staunch the flow of pictures and messages from protesters reaching the outside world.” In 2011, Egypt cut most internet and cell services within its borders as the government attempted to quell protests against then-President Hosni Mubarak; Libya then did the same after its own unrest.

Continue reading “We’ll Likely See a Rise in Internet Blackouts in 2019” »

Jan 20, 2019

Utopistics, explained

Posted by in categories: futurism, government, sustainability

Utopistics is an emerging field in political science, dealing with the creation of an alternative social system or civilization with different values and priorities from the dominant ones today. Learn about it with this video:

Is there a viable alternative to the neoliberal economic consensus?

Is the nationalism and protectionism of Trump and similar politicians the only alternative?

Is another world possible?

Continue reading “Utopistics, explained” »

Jan 20, 2019

China pharma must swallow that jagged little pill called R&D as government slashes profit margins of generic drugs

Posted by in categories: biotech/medical, government, policy

As Beijing’s pilot reform spreads nationwide to cut prices of drugs and improve their efficacy and safety, companies are under mounting pressure to invest in innovative drugs development and reduce reliance on low profit products that are the same copies of original drugs.


New policy environment demanding cheaper drugs adds pressure to innovate.

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Jan 18, 2019

Astronomers aren’t pleased about a Russian plan to put billboards in space

Posted by in categories: government, mobile phones, satellites

This is a horrible, horrible idea. The company wants to create a series of satellites that can unfurl, which will reflect light, and that can be manipulated to send messages to earth. The entire collection, comprised of CubeSats, will provide an area of about 50 sq. km. and create a whole new kind of orbital debris.

According to the website, “When phones don’t work, during zero visibility, power cuts and catastrophical emergencies – government can use the display for urgent notifications for the population.” We can ignore the idea of them being seen during zero visibility, but can you imagine a message floating in the sky that you can’t just turn off?


It was bound to happen.

Continue reading “Astronomers aren’t pleased about a Russian plan to put billboards in space” »

Jan 15, 2019

Nine disability claimants die every day while waiting for their benefits

Posted by in categories: government, neuroscience

To be approved, government figures have shown.

More than 17,000 people have died in the past seven years while waiting for their disability benefit claim to be approved, according to figures obtained by The Independent.

The claimants, who were in the process of claiming a type of benefit named the Personal Independence Payment (PIP), were reportedly suffering from a mixture of terminal illnesses and disabilities, including anxiety and depression while they waited for their benefits to be paid.

Continue reading “Nine disability claimants die every day while waiting for their benefits” »

Jan 14, 2019

Russia might Invest Billions into Bitcoin to Mitigate U.S Sanctions

Posted by in categories: bitcoin, economics, government

https://paper.li/e-1437691924#/


Amidst various sanctions by the United States, Russia might buy Bitcoins in the Billions as a way to mitigate these sanctions.

According to Vladislav Ginko who is a lecturer at the Russian Presidential Academy of National Economy and Public Administration, the Russian government which sits on $466 Billion of reserves is planning to invest heavily into Bitcoin. He told Micky that he believes the government could start investing Billions in Bitcoin as early as next month which could potentially trigger a bull run.

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Jan 13, 2019

NASA furloughs from government shutdown impacting surrounding businesses

Posted by in categories: business, government

My report: http://www.fox26houston.com/news/nasa-furloughs-from-governm…businesses

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Jan 13, 2019

Finland’s grand AI experiment

Posted by in categories: government, robotics/AI

Originally started as a free-access university course, Finland’s “1 percent” AI scheme is now being rolled out nationally with the support of private companies and the government.


Inside Finland’s plan to train its population in artificial intelligence.

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