AI-powered meet-up apps fight ‘epidemic of’ loneliness
San Francisco, United States -- On a summer evening in San Francisco, JT Mason went to dinner with five complete...
Arts & Culture
US no longer recommends Covid shots for children, pregnant women
Washington, United States - The US will no longer recommend Covid-19 vaccines for children and healthy pregnant women, Health Secretary...
Geostrategy
The US towns that took on ‘forever chemical’ giants — and won
Washington, United States -- No corner of Earth is untouched. From Tibet to Antarctica, so-called "forever chemicals" have seeped into...
- Tainting food, water and wildlife, these toxic substances have been linked to ailments ranging from birth defects to rare cancers.
- Yet if it weren't for the efforts of residents in two heavily impacted American towns, the world might still be in the dark.
Science
AI tool selfies predict biological age, cancer survival
FaceAge, a deep learning algorithm described Thursday in The Lancet Digital Health, converts a simple headshot into a number that...
- FaceAge, a simple headshot into a number that more accurately reflects a person's biological age rather than the birthday on their chart
- Trained on tens of thousands of photographs, it pegged cancer patients on average as biologically five years older than healthy peers
Science
Experts seek to legitimize AI mental health care
Researchers at Dartmouth College believe artificial intelligence can deliver reliable psychotherapy, distinguishing their work from the unproven and sometimes dubious...
- Their application, Therabot, addresses the critical shortage of mental health professionals.
- The Dartmouth team recently published a clinical study demonstrating Therabot's effectiveness in helping people with anxiety, depression and eating disorders.
Science
Cat sole survivor of 115-meter fall at Bryce Canyon National Park
Los Angeles, United States - A cat that fell alongside a couple into a 115-meter-high canyon was the only survivor...
- The feline "was found in a black soft-sided carrier that was dirty and torn, but seemed to have weathered the fall fairly well," the Best Friends Animal Society said
- It added that cat's bloodwork showed no signs of abnormality but that staff was awaiting x-rays to determine whether there were any other injuries
Geostrategy
AI companions present risks for young users, US watchdog warns
New York, United States -- AI companions powered by generative artificial intelligence present real risks and should be banned for...
- The watchdog, Common Sense, tested several of these platforms, namely Nomi, Character AI, and Replika, to assess their responses.
- While some specific cases "show promise," they are not safe for kids, concluded the organization, which makes recommendations on children's use of technological content.
Geostrategy
Abu Dhabi launches $500mn maternal health fund for Africa
Nairobi, Kenya -- A $500-million fund aimed at improving maternal and neonatal health in sub-Saharan Africa was launched Tuesday in...
- The Beginnings Fund brings together philanthropists including the Gates Foundation and the Mohamed bin Zayed Foundation for Humanity, run by the UAE president.
- It set a deadline of 2030 to reach the $500-million target and has already reached $450 million in pledges, organizers said in a statement.
Geostrategy
WHO countries strike landmark agreement on tackling future pandemics
Geneva, Switzerland -- Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how...
- Negotiators stumbled over the agreement's Article 11, which deals with transferring technology for pandemic health products towards developing nations.
- During the Covid-19 pandemic, poorer states accused rich nations of hoarding vaccines and tests.
Science
Accord reached ‘in principle’ over tackling future pandemics: negotiating body
WHO members on Saturday reached agreement over how to tackle future pandemics after three years of discussions, the co-chair of...
- The approval came after a marathon discussion session stretching for almost 24 hours after which delegates broke into enthusiastic applause lasting several minutes
- The United States were absent from the negotiations, after Trump said on his return to the White House that his country will leave the WHO
Geostrategy
Trump – oldest elected US president – undergoes physical
Washington, United States - Donald Trump had his first annual medical checkup Friday since returning to power, putting focus on...
- Republican Trump has repeatedly boasted about his own vigor since starting a second term in the White House
- He has mocked his 82-year-old Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as decrepit and mentally unfit for office
Science
Pig kidney removed from US transplant patient, but she set record
Washington, United States - Doctors have had to remove the pig kidney implanted in an American woman after her body...
- Towana Looney, a woman in her fifties from the southern state of Alabama, had received the genetically modified pig kidney on November 25 in New York
- The highly experimental procedure had fueled optimism that animal kidneys might prove a usable source amid a chronic shortage of available human kidneys
AI-powered meet-up apps fight ‘epidemic of’ loneliness
San Francisco, United States -- On a summer evening in San Francisco, JT Mason went to dinner with five complete...
Arts & Culture
Company News
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IMF says Omicron could slow global growth
According to the economists, Omicron's threat to economy will likely be less severe than the previous waves.
Proof of Covid-19 vaccination, PCR test needed to enter Expo Dubai
Expo 2020 visitors will need a coronavirus vaccination or a negative PCR test to enter, organisers in Dubai has said....
12 die in Saudi Arabia from Covid as infection lingers
Twelve people have died in Saudi Arabia from COVID-19, taking the total count of people having succumbed to the disease...
Experts seek to legitimize AI mental health care
Researchers at Dartmouth College believe artificial intelligence can deliver reliable psychotherapy, distinguishing their work from the unproven and sometimes dubious...
Science
Cat sole survivor of 115-meter fall at Bryce Canyon National Park
Los Angeles, United States - A cat that fell alongside a couple into a 115-meter-high canyon was the only survivor...
Science
AI companions present risks for young users, US watchdog warns
New York, United States -- AI companions powered by generative artificial intelligence present real risks and should be banned for...
Geostrategy
Most Read
Geostrategy
WHO countries strike landmark agreement on tackling future pandemics
Geneva, Switzerland -- Years of negotiations culminated early Wednesday with countries agreeing the text of a landmark accord on how...
- Negotiators stumbled over the agreement's Article 11, which deals with transferring technology for pandemic health products towards developing nations.
- During the Covid-19 pandemic, poorer states accused rich nations of hoarding vaccines and tests.
Science
Accord reached ‘in principle’ over tackling future pandemics: negotiating body
WHO members on Saturday reached agreement over how to tackle future pandemics after three years of discussions, the co-chair of...
- The approval came after a marathon discussion session stretching for almost 24 hours after which delegates broke into enthusiastic applause lasting several minutes
- The United States were absent from the negotiations, after Trump said on his return to the White House that his country will leave the WHO
Geostrategy
Trump – oldest elected US president – undergoes physical
Washington, United States - Donald Trump had his first annual medical checkup Friday since returning to power, putting focus on...
- Republican Trump has repeatedly boasted about his own vigor since starting a second term in the White House
- He has mocked his 82-year-old Democratic predecessor Joe Biden as decrepit and mentally unfit for office