APTN National NewsOne of the world’s largest oil companies says they are running out of oil.In its annual financial report, energy giant Exxon Mobil says that for every 100 barrels of oil it has in reserves, it can only replace 95.The Alberta government sees that as its ace in the hole.APTN National News reporter Noemi LoPinto has more.
Rabat – Nineteen people were killed and 1,588 were injured, including 72 seriously, in 1,230 traffic accidents that occurred in urban areas on April 10-16, national police said.These accidents were mainly ascribed to non-control of vehicles, non-respect of priority, excessive speeding, pedestrian and driver errors and driving under the influence of alcohol, the source pointed out in a statement.Over 39,859 traffic tickets were issued by the police during the same week. The sum of fines paid by road traffic violators stood at around 5.6 million dirhams, the same source said.
Companies in this story: (TSX:STLC)The Canadian Press HAMILTON — Stelco Holdings Inc. says it saw a significant earnings boost in the fourth quarter as both shipments and steel prices rose while it reduced tariff costs. The company says it had a net income of $110 million, or $1.23 per share for the quarter ending Dec. 31, up from $15 million or 21 cents per share for the same quarter a year earlier.Adjusted net income came in at $100 million or $1.13 per share, which was up from $52 million a year earlier but below analyst expectations of $142 million or $1.36 according to Thomson Reuters Eikon.The company says it has been using a flexible model that allowed it to reduce costs from the U.S. metal tariffs by 41 per cent from the third quarter to $23 million.Stelco says it continues with efforts to reduce tariff exposure into 2019, and supports the Canadian government’s efforts to eliminate the tariffs as well as measures to safeguard increases of foreign imports into the Canadian market.It says it has issued a special dividend of $100 million or $1.13 on top of its regular quarterly dividend on the strength of its results.
21 January 2009Water supplies for over a billion people around the world are under threat from increasing populations, expanding cities, industrialization, climate change and even the rising demand for food, warned the United Nations, as delegates from more than 60 countries kicked off a meeting today in preparation for the upcoming World Water Forum. The three-day meeting in Rome continues negotiations on a global plan of action for adapting to the challenges that affect how countries manage freshwater resources, in preparation for the World Water Forum, slated for March in Istanbul.Industrial development requires more water, and as the demand for energy increases, more water will be diverted to generate hydro-electricity, noted the World Water Council, the organization that stages the triennial Forum, in a press release. The pollution of lakes, rivers and underground reservoirs reduces the amount of clean water available and along with climate change adds further pressure to the mounting strain on the stability of water supplies.In addition, “agriculture accounts for around 90 per cent of the consumption of the freshwater and is by far the biggest water user,” said Alexander Müller, Assistant Director-General for Natural Resources Management and Environment of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO). “Generally, it takes between 2,000 to 5,000 litres of water to grow enough food for one person per day,” he added.As the world population is set to grow from around 6.5 billion to over 9 billion by 2050, demand for food production will increase along with the competition for scarce water resources from industry and private households.“Feeding the world in a sustainable way, also responding to growing climate change threats, requires new concepts and a strong political will to solve the world’s growing water problems,” stressed Mr. Müller.Because agriculture consumes such a large proportion of freshwater, maintaining harvests with just a one per cent decline in water consumed would create a 10 per cent increase in water availability for other sectors.“We have to radically rethink our ideas about the relationship between food, water and the environment if we are to deal with water scarcity and achieve the Millennium Development Goals [MDGs] targets,” said Pasquale Steduto, Chief of FAO’s Water Development and Management Unit.“The World Water Forum, by bringing together government officials from different sectors, civil society, private sector, consumer organizations and universities, presents a tremendous opportunity to ensure that the international agenda on water management reflects this new way of thinking,” he added.Global drought, which in part is responsible for the recent food price crisis, are predicted to become more frequent in many important food producing areas already coping with water scarcity, including the Colorado River in the United States, the Indus River in southern Asia, the Yellow River in China, the Jordan River in the Middle East, the Nile Delta in Africa and the Murray Darling River in Australia, all of which are “closed” with no possibility of using more water.“The recent food crisis has caused world leaders [to] refocus their attention on the global food system and the issue of hunger. At this meeting we hope to impress upon world leaders that sustainable water management is inextricably connected to food security,” said Mr. Steduto.“By fully integrating agriculture into the global policy debate on water, we can address a wide range of development issues, including food security, poverty reduction, environmental sustainability, clean energy and rural and urban sanitation,” he noted.Senior officials attending the meeting in Rome are expected to conclude negotiations on a global action plan, to be finalized and approved by the Ministerial Conference at the World Water Forum in Istanbul.
28 October 2009The two most senior officials of the United Nations war crimes tribunal set up to try people accused of committing the worst offences during the Balkan conflicts of the 1990s have been elected to another stint in office, the court announced today. Judge Patrick Robinson of Jamaica and Judge O-Gon Kwon of the Republic of Korea (ROK) were re-elected on Monday as President and Vice-President by the permanent judges of the International Criminal Tribunal for the former Yugoslavia (ICTY).The tribunal, which is based in The Hague, elected President Robinson and Vice-President Kwon by acclamation to new two-year terms starting on 17 November. Both judges took up their posts on the same date in 2008.Since its establishment in 1993, the ICTY has indicted 161 people suspected of war crimes. While proceedings are ongoing against 41 of the accused, including the former Bosnian Serb leader Radovan Karadžic, proceedings have been concluded against 120, with two suspects – Bosnian Serb military chief Ratko Mladic and the ethnic Serb politician Goran Hadžic – still at large.
TORONTO — The union representing Bombardier’s production workers says employees at the company’s aerospace plant in Toronto will walk out Wednesday — a move meant to pressure Boeing to drop a trade complaint against Bombardier.Unifor national president Jerry Dias said in a statement that the rally is intended to give workers a voice during the ongoing dispute between the two companies.He said Bombardier workers “are well aware that Boeing has no case, and that workers will end up paying the price as corporations fight this out.”Boeing has filed a trade complaint accusing Bombardier of selling its C-Series passenger jets to a U.S. airline at an unfairly low price with help from government subsidies.The U.S. International Trade Commission will release the preliminary results of its investigation next week, and a finding against Bombardier could result in fines or tariffs.Last week, Dias and Boeing officials met in Washington, D.C., where Dias encouraged Boeing to drop the complaint and seek a resolution with Bombardier.
Following flash flooding that caused at least 69 deaths, the United Nations has dispatched a disaster assessment team to the Bolivian capital, La Paz, to coordinate emergency relief efforts, a UN spokesman announced today. The five-person team, led by UN Regional Disaster Response Adviser Ricardo Mena, is responding to a request from Bolivian President Jorge Quiroga for help, following heavy rain and a massive hail storm that caused the Choqueyapu River to burst its banks on 19 February. Initial estimates put the cost of the damage caused by this flooding at well over $1 million. The UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) has provided an emergency grant of $20,000 to address problems caused by the flooding, and has released a further $30,000 from trust funds under its control. The UN World Health Organization (WHO) and the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) have made additional contributions of $10,000 each.
In response to the provincial government’s directive requiring each Ontario university to put in place a free speech policy by Jan. 1, 2019, the President has established an Advisory Committee on Speech to provide advice regarding Brock’s policy and implementation.The committee, which is chaired by Professor Scott Henderson and includes faculty, staff, students and senior administrators, has worked with University advisors (including Human Rights and Equity, Campus Security services and legal counsel) to develop a preliminary draft policy. Members of the University community are invited to provide feedback on the policy through the feedback form or by email to policy@brocku.caDue to the provincial government’s deadline, all feedback must be submitted by 5 p.m. on Monday Nov. 5. The Committee will consider all feedback received by that date before finalizing its report to the President.
Senior guard Shannon Scott (3) follows freshman guard D’Angelo Russell (0) down the court on a fast break during an exhibition game against Walsh on Nov. 9 at the Schottenstein Center. OSU won, 77-37.Credit: Patrick Kalista / Lantern photographerLess than a week before its season opener, the No. 20 Ohio State men’s basketball team dispatched Walsh University, 77-37, behind the play of a pair of freshmen.Freshman guard D’Angelo Russell led the Buckeyes with a game-high 17 points while freshman forward Jae’Sean Tate added 10 points in the Sunday evening exhibition at the Schottenstein Center.Tate said making his first appearance in front of the Columbus crowd was something he’s dreamed of as a Pickerington, Ohio, native.“I’m from here, this was a dream come true,” he said after the game. “This was a good first game to get all the butterflies out and we are just ready to go and get this season rolling.”Russell and Tate each tallied eight rebounds, while Russell had six assists.OSU coach Thad Matta said Russell has shown throughout preseason practice that he has the ability to make an impact in a variety of ways.“That’s kinda what he’s done to this point,” Matta said after the game. “I think that he’s got a different pace about him, he sees things like a lot of freshmen don’t see them. And that’s good.”Russell said he came to OSU with a chip on his shoulder, and added he’s prepared to do anything the Buckeyes’ coaching staff asks of him this season.“Whatever coach needs me to do, I am going to do it,” he said after the game. “If he needs me to score, I’m gonna score. If he needs me to get everybody going, I am going to do it. Rebound, defend, I am going to do it.”Matta added that Tate can play bigger than his 6-foot, 4-inch frame would suggest.“Jae’Sean Tate plays big for his size, there’s no doubt about that,” he said.Senior forward Sam Thompson chipped in with 13 points in just 20 minutes of action.Russell and Tate were among five new faces for OSU coach Thad Matta, as three true freshmen, one redshirt-freshman and a redshirt-senior transfer took the floor for the Buckeyes. Russell started the game while Tate, freshman forward Keita Bates-Diop, redshirt-freshman guard Kam Williams and Temple transfer forward Anthony Lee came off the bench.“It’s good for these guys to get through that,” Matta said of the young Buckeyes making their debuts. “I think from the standpoint of first time they’ve ever worn the jersey, I think they’ll be at a little bit more at ease as we move forward.”Because of an offensive rebound from senior center Amir Williams, OSU had two chances to score on its first possession of the game, but Thompson and senior guard Shannon Scott each missed three-pointers. From there, the Buckeyes shot seven of 13 from beyond the arc and added a buzzer-beating tip in by Tate to close out the first half with a 48-19 lead.Russell — a Louisville, Ky., native — finished the opening 20 minutes with 16 points on four-of-five shooting from three-point range.Through the first 10:11 of the second half, OSU opened up a 38-point advantage before closing out the game.But despite the 40-point win, Matta said the OSU offense could have run with a higher tempo at points in the second half.“I thought for the most part, that was the biggest thing,” he said. “We just stopped. We became very stagnant offensively there in the second half.”Behind Russell and Thompson, sophomore forward Marc Loving added 12 points and seven rebounds for OSU. Scott tied Russell for the game-high with six assists, while Thompson added three blocks. The 10 players to see the floor for the Buckeyes scored at least two points each.Tate said any player on the roster can make an impact offensively in any given game.“We just try to share the ball and get the win,” he said. “I think the team as a whole will carry the offense.”Junior guard Jesse Hardin Jr. had 10 points to lead Walsh.Sophomore center Trevor Thompson, senior forward Jake Lorbach and freshman center David Bell were the only players listed on the Buckeyes’ roster not to appear in the exhibition. Thompson has to sit out the season per NCAA transfer rules after coming to OSU from Virginia Tech. Lorbach is a senior walk on while Matta said Bell will likely redshirt this season. Neither Thompson nor Lorbach dressed for the game.OSU’s regular-season schedule is set to begin Friday against the University of Massachusetts-Lowell at the Schottenstein Center. Tip is scheduled for 7 p.m.“It’s the season now, practice this week, play a game,” Matta said. “It’s on us.”
President David Granger, today (Wednesday), met with Mr. John Hess, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HESS Corporation, the exploration company that holds a 30 percent interest in Exxon Mobil’s offshore drilling operations in the Stabroek Block, according to the Ministry of the Presidency. The CEO was accompanied by the company’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Greg Hill, Executive Vice President at Exxon Mobil Exploration Corporation, Mr. Mike Cousins, Country Manager, Mr. Rod Henson and outgoing Country Manager at Esso Exploration and Production Guyana, Mr. Jeff Simons and Exxon’s Public and Government Affairs Manager, Ms. Kimberly Brasington. Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman was also present at the meeting, which was held at State House.From left: Esso Exploration’s Public and Government Affairs Manager, Ms. Kimberly Brasington, HESS’s President and Chief Operating Officer, Mr. Greg Hill, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HESS Corporation, Mr. John Hess, President David Granger, Executive Vice President of Exxon Mobil Exploration Corporation, Mr. Mike Cousins, Country Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana, Mr. Rod Henson, Minister of Natural Resources, Mr. Raphael Trotman and Outgoing Country Manager, Esso Exploration and Production Guyana, Mr. Jeff Simons.During their discussions, President Granger told the visiting delegation that while the country is eager to have oil production come on stream, this must be done in the context on Guyana’s ‘green’ development trajectory and as such protection of the environment is critical. “We are very concerned about the preservation of the environment… We want the extractive industries to be developed in a sustainable way,” he said.Meanwhile, Mr. Hess said that the corporation is investing billions of dollars in Guyana and that they are committed to ensuring that this is done in a transparent manner. “We are committed to your country. We are committed to being here… HESS is a long-term investor and we are very proud of the partnership with Exxon Mobil and Nexen [Nexen Petroleum Guyana Limited] as well… We hope this development of Liza first and hopefully other prospects will transform your country and we will try to help you the best way we can to ensure that oil wealth is spent in the best way possible,” he said.President David Granger emphasised environmental protection during discussions with Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of HESS Corporation, Mr. John Hess at State HouseHe also spoke of importance, which his company attaches to social responsibility and assured the Head of State that they stand ready to work with the Government to address priority areas. “We are ready to work together to help you with your vision for the country to ensure that the oil treasure really becomes the people’s treasure,” he said.Founded in 1933, the Hess Corporation is a leading global independent energy company engaged in the exploration and production of crude oil and natural gas. Share this:Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)RelatedPresident receives courtesy call from ExxonMobil’s Senior VPJuly 12, 2018In “Business”ExxonMobil reaffirms commitment to continued exploratory workSeptember 3, 2015In “Business”Actual resource size of 5th oil discovery yet to be determinedOctober 11, 2017In “Business”
Updated 2.35pm Saturday 4 JanuaryCOASTAL AREAS AROUND the country took a battering overnight, and unfortunately the bad weather is set to continue.Cities including Cork, Dublin, Clare, Belfast and Galway and their surrounding areas have all seen roads and buildings affected, in some cases badly, by last night’s high tides and storms.More high tides are due this weekend, so people are asked to be on alert. For the latest on road closures, floods, and how to stay safe on the roads, see our earlier article.Here are some photos our readers have taken of the incredible waves and terrible impact of the bad weather around the country.
Stefano Pioli has praised his players and expressed his happiness after Fiorentina demolished Chievo 6-1.Fiorentina thrashed Chievo Verona 6-1 at the Stadio Franchi. Marco Benassi scored a brace and there was late Giovanni Simone nutmeg. Pioli was delighted with the performance of his team. Football Italia reports.“I am happy, but there was more to it than the result. Chievo still caused us a lot of problems and at least it means we are capable of suffering under pressure in difficult moments,” Pioli said.“We started the season earlier than usual actually, as we hoped to play the Europa League preliminary rounds, but then Milan won their appeal and were reinstated.
Karsdorp reveals he had too much stress at Roma Manuel R. Medina – September 14, 2019 The Dutch defender has been with the Gialorrossi since 2017, but he has not enjoyed his time in the Italian Lega Serie A.“We had a lot of friendlies and trained well, but there’s always the doubt in your mind on how it’ll work in a competitive match. This was the big test and Chievo did cause us problems, but we remained a unit and that’s what I wanted to see.“The midfield is where we made the most changes, but we had eight of the old guard starting, so I was confident. Edimilson has been training with us for two weeks and there’s a lot of potential in the team.“What we’re trying to do is provide entertainment for the fans and some beautiful football, because those are the characteristics we have.”
Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsAppProvidenciales, 10 Dec 2015 – Out of date equipment and little investment in professional training are what the police force faces among other things says former Chief Minister and Progressive Democratic Alliance leader, Oswald Skippings. Skippings in criticizing the Police Force executives for relocating officers from Grand Turk to Provo, says the move has left 23 officers in the nation’s Capital. In the news release, the report is there are mounting frustrations amongst the Police, including contention over a reported salary disparity. Skippings reveals that foreign officers are getting $3,000 per month for living allowance, while local police redeployed to Provo receive only $650 according to Oswald Skippings. The PDA is the second political party this week to speak out on the re-deployment; the PDM earlier said it got a report confirming the move from the Police Force. Opposition Leader Sharlene Robinson said the PDM would continue to monitor the situation. The PDAs Skippings in a media release is not interested in waiting, he slammed the PNP Administration.“The government is of no use to its people and seems totally out of touch with the oppression and abuse of our people.” Earlier in the week we asked Oswald Skippings if he was secretly recording potential candidates for his party; we still have no reply on that issue. Recommended for you PDA to hold Provo rally tonight Related Items:bahamas police force, oswald skippings, progressive democratic alliance Facebook Twitter Google+LinkedInPinterestWhatsApp PDA takes rally to Five Cays PDA Leader calls for Ministry of Health to be more visible in their fight against Zika
The Narendra Modi government is set to kick off its disinvestment programme on Friday, 5 December, with a 5% stake sale at a floor price of ₹83 in the state-run Steel Authority of India.The auction method, used for this round of disinvestment, will see the government raise around ₹1,700 crore. The stock closed on Thursday at ₹85.25. The steelmaker’s stock has risen just over half to 18%, of the 36% growth experienced by the broader market.The Centre has set for itself a target to raise ₹43,425 crore ($9.5bn) through disinvestment for the current fiscal, a figure that might just turn out to be a bit too high. Resistance from staff unions and investor worries about certain company-specific issues has slowed down the pace.However, the government needs the disinvestment measures to succeed, if it has to meet its budget deficit target of 4.1%.So far, the government has been able to raise about $8.1million, a miniscule part of the projected figure, through stock sale of two state-run institutions limited to the respective employees.SAIL, 80% owned by the state, plans to offload 206.5 million shares through an auction on the stock exchanges on Friday, according to a filing on Wednesday.The Centre is keen to gauge the response of investors through the SAIL auction, after which it plans to sell another 5% stake in ONGC, 10% in Coal India Ltd, 11.36% in NHPC Ltd, as well as list firms including RINL and Hindustan Aeronautics Ltd.Retail investors get a 5% discount on the floor price, with 10% of the offered stock reserved for them. HSBC Securities, Deutsche Equities and JP Morgan India are among the six merchant bankers advising the SAIL stake sale.Modi’s plans for 100 smart cities and a possible cut in interest rates in 2015 could help steel firms build up a significant order book, in the face of increased infrastructure building activity.
Meghan MarkleGetty ImagesMeghan Markle is expected to give birth any day now. And the British public is getting restless, especially with all the secrecy surrounding the birth of the Royal baby.Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have remained tight-lipped over details of their baby, but it looks like the Duke and Duchess of Sussex will make a formal announcement when the baby arrives. Apparently, It is expected that the Royal Family will release a statement and post the information on Twitter in a similar fashion to Meghan’s sister-in-law’s, the Duchess of Cambridge’s past royal births.The statement said: “Their Royal Highnesses have taken a personal decision to keep the plans around the arrival of their baby private… They look forward to sharing the exciting news with everyone once they have had an opportunity to celebrate privately as a new family.” Meghan MarkleGetty ImagesAs of now, information is limited as to where Meghan Markle will choose to give birth. Since Meghan has made it clear that she isn’t quite keen on a hospital birth, Frogmore Cottage seems to be a possible location. What Meghan has planned for her labour is still up in the air, as hypnobirthing and a doula may be assisting the Duchess during the process.The absence of doctors from Meghan’s plans may be a cause for concern, but it is unlikely that the Royal Family would allow Meghan to give birth without an army of doctors present. Meghan Markle is on maternity leave and had previously announced that she will be skipping the photo session on hospital steps. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have recently moved to Frogmore Cottage to prepare for the arrival of the Royal baby.
News | September 09, 2014 Accuray Signs Exclusive Radiation Therapy Solutions Contract With Premier Inc. The MD Anderson Proton Therapy Center expansion is expected to be completed in 2023. Rendering courtesy of Stantec. News | Radiation Therapy | August 02, 2019 Varian Showcases Cancer Care Systems and Software at AAPM 2019 Varian showcased systems and software from its cancer care portfolio, including the Identify Guidance System, at the… read more News | Proton Therapy | August 08, 2019 MD Anderson to Expand Proton Therapy Center The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center unveiled plans to expand its Proton Therapy Center during a… read more News | Radiation Therapy | August 16, 2019 Drug Accelerates Blood System’s Recovery After Radiation, Chemotherapy A drug developed by UCLA physician-scientists and chemists speeds up the regeneration of mouse and human blood stem… read more Catalyst PT image courtesy of C-RAD News | Patient Positioning Radiation Therapy | August 07, 2019 Qfix kVue One Proton Couch Top Validated by Mevion Medical Systems Qfix and Mevion Medical Systems announced that a special version of the kVue One Proton couch top is now both validated… read more News | Radiation Therapy | August 15, 2019 First Patient Enrolled in World’s Largest Brain Cancer Clinical Trial Henry Ford Cancer Institute is first-in-the-world to enroll a glioblastoma patient in the GBM AGILE Trial (Adaptive… read more The top piece of content in July was a video interview explaining how Princess Margaret Cancer Center is using machine learning to create automated treatment plans. This was a hot topic at the American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM) 2019 meeting in July. News | Patient Positioning Radiation Therapy | August 15, 2019 Mevion and C-RAD Release Integration for Improved Proton Therapy Treatment Quality Mevion Medical Systems and C-RAD announced the integration between the C-RAD Catalyst PT and the Mevion S250i proton… read more September 9, 2014 — Accuray Inc. announced it has been awarded a new exclusive three-year group purchasing agreement with Premier Inc., covering the CyberKnife M6 and TomoTherapy HDA product portfolios. The Accuray and Premier partnership brings together two companies committed to driving improved patient care through meaningful technical innovation.”Our goal is to help healthcare providers offer the best treatment option for their patients. The Premier agreement is important because it enables us to partner with a large sales force that has long-standing relationships with hospital-based clinicians and administrators to significantly increase visibility of the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy systems,” said Kelly Londy, executive vice president and chief commercial officer of Accuray.Premier has one of the nation’s largest group purchasing organizations (GPOs). Under the new contract, Accuray’s precise, clinically proven tumor treatments became available starting Sept. 1 to Premier member hospitals and providers. Premier unites an collective of more than 3,000 hospitals and 110,000 other providers, including oncology centers. In addition, the contract provides Accuray with access to key Premier integrated delivery network partners, where Accuray has had limited historical business presence.”We believe the Premier agreement will provide improved deal visibility to radiation equipment purchasing decisions earlier in the process and, ultimately, result in new opportunities for Accuray equipment and services,” said Joshua H. Levine, president and CEO of Accuray. “The partnership also validates our focus on service excellence and technology performance, and demonstrates the confidence the radiation oncology community has in the unique benefits of the CyberKnife and TomoTherapy Systems.”For more information: www.accuray.com FacebookTwitterLinkedInPrint分享 News | Brachytherapy Systems | August 14, 2019 Efficacy of Isoray’s Cesium Blu Showcased in Recent Studies August 14, 2019 — Isoray announced a trio of studies recently reported at scientific meetings and published in medica read more Feature | August 05, 2019 | Dave Fornell, Editor Most Popular Radiology and Radiotherapy Topics in July 2019 August 5, 2019 — Here is the list of the most popular content on the Imaging Technology New (ITN) magazine website fr read more News | Proton Therapy | August 06, 2019 IBA Signs Contract to Install Proton Therapy Center in Kansas IBA (Ion Beam Applications S.A.) recently signed a contract and received the first payment for a Proteus One solution… read more News | Radiation Oncology | July 31, 2019 Laura Dawson, M.D., FASTRO, Chosen as ASTRO President-elect The members of the American Society for Radiation Oncology (ASTRO) elected four new officers to ASTRO’s Board of… read more Related Content Following radiation, the bone marrow shows nearly complete loss of blood cells in mice (left). Mice treated with the PTP-sigma inhibitor displayed rapid recovery of blood cells (purple, right). Credit: UCLA Broad Stem Cell Research Center/Nature Communications
“Technology, in general, and computer science in particular, have been hyped up to such an extreme level that we’ve ignored the importance of not only security but broader notions of ethical computing.”-James Mickens We like to think that things are going to get better. That, after all, is why we get up in the morning and go to work, in the hope that we might just be making a difference, that we’re working towards something. That’s certainly true across the technology landscape. And in cybersecurity in particular, the belief that you’re building a more secure world – even if it’s on a small scale – is an energizing and motivating thought. However, at this year’s USENIX Conference back in August, Harvard Professor James Mickens attempted to put that belief to rest. His talk – titled ‘Why Do Keynote Speakers Keep Suggesting That Improving Security Is Possible?’ – was an argument for scepticism in a field that is by nature optimistic (not least when it has a solution to sell). So, what exactly does Mickens have against keynote speakers? Quite a lot, actually: he jokingly calls them people who have made bad life decisions aand poorrole models. Although his tongue is firmly in his cheek, he does have a number of serious points. Fundamentally, he suggests developers do not invest time in questioning anything since any degree ofintrospection would “reduce the frequency of git commits”. Mickens argument is essentially thatsoftware developers are deploying new systems without a robust understanding of those systems. Why machine learning highlights the problem with computer science today Mickens stresses that such is the hype and optimism around modern technology and computer science that the field has largely forgotten the value of scepticism. In turn, this can be dangerous for issues such as security and ethics. Take Machine Learning for instance. Machine learning is, Mickens sayss “the oxygen that Silicon Valley is trying to force into our lungs.” It’s everywhere, we seem to need it – but it’s also being forced on us, almost blindly, Using the example of machine learning he illustrates his point about domain knowledge: Computer scientists do not have a deep understanding of the mathematics used in machine learning systems. There is no reason or incentive for computer scientists to even invest their time in learning those things. This lack of knowledge means ethical issues and security issues that may be hidden at a conceptual level – not a technical one – are simply ignored. Mickens compares machine learning to the standard experiment used in America since 8th grade: the egg drop experiment. This is where students desperately search for a solution to prevent the egg from breaking when dropped from 20 feet in the air. When they finally come up with a technique that is successful, Mickens explains, they don’t really care to understand the logic/math behind it. This is exactly the same as developers in the context of machine learning. Machine learning is complex, yes, but often, Mickens argues, developers will have no understanding as to why models generate a particular output on being provided with a specific input. When this inscrutable AI used in models connected with real life mission critical systems (financial markets, healthcare systems, news systems etc) and the internet, security issues arise. Indeed, it begins to raise even more questions than provide answers. Now that AI is practically used everywhere – even to detect anomalies in cybersecurity, it is somewhat scary that a technology which is so unpredictable can be used to protect our systems. Examples of poor machine learning design Some of the examples James presented that caught our attention were: Microsoft chatbot Tay- Tay was originally intended to learn language by interacting with humans on Twitter. That sounds all good and very noble – until you realise that given the level of toxic discourse on Twitter, your chatbot will quickly turn into a raving Nazi with zero awareness it is doing so. Machine learning used for risk assessment and criminal justice systems have incorrectly labelled Black defendants as “high risk” – at twice the rate of white defendants. It’s time for a more holistic approach to cybersecurity Mickens further adds that we need a more holistic perspective when it comes to security. To do this,, developers should ask themselves not only if a malicious actor can perform illicit actions on a system, but also should a particular action on a system be possible and how can the action achieve societally-beneficial outcomes. He says developers have 3 major assumptions while deploying a new technology: #1 Technology is Value-Neutral, and will therefore automatically lead to good outcomes for everyone #2 New kinds of technology should be deployed as quickly as possible, even if we lack a general idea of how the technology works, or what the societal impact will be #3 History is generally uninteresting, because the past has nothing to teach us According to Mickens developers assume way too much. In his assessment, those of us working in the industry take it for granted that technology will always lead to good outcomes for everyone. This optimism goes hand in hand with a need for speed – in turn, this can lead us to miss important risk assessments, security testing, and a broader view on the impact of technology not just on individual users but wider society too. Most importantly, for Mickens, is that we are failing to learn from mistakes. In particular, he focuses on IoT security. Here, Mickens points out, security experts are failing to learn lessons from traditional network security issues. The Harvard Professor has written extensively on this topic – you can go through his paperon IoT security here. Perhaps Mickens talk was intentionally provocative, but there are certainly lessons – if 2018 has taught us anything, it’s that a dose of scepticism is healthy where tech is concerned. And maybe it’s time to take a critical eye to the software we build. If the work we do is to actually matter and make a difference, maybe a little negative is a good thing. What do you think? Was Mickens assessment of the tech world correct? You can watch James Mickens whole talk at Youtube Read Next UN on Web Summit 2018: How we can create a safe and beneficial digital future for all 5 ways artificial intelligence is upgrading software engineering “ChromeOS is ready for web development” – A talk by Dan Dascalescu at the Chrome Web Summit 2018
0 Comments Share Le Floch-Prigent was accompanied by his Togo Lawyer Rastico Lawson- Banku.The French businessman looked tired and refused to talk to the press as he was escorted into the judge’s chambers.The purported scam against Abass Al Youssef was for $48 million. Earlier, the businessman lodged a complaint against Togolese businessman Bertin Sow Agba in the case. Sow Agba is a cousin of former Togolese Interior Minister Pascal Bodjona, who was also arrested after the Emirati businessman implicated him in the scam.The case has rocked this small West African nation. In early September, hundreds of Bodjona’s supporters besieged police headquarters and were dispersed by police firing tear gas. Bodjona has been charged with being an accomplice in the financial scam and has pleaded not guilty.Le Floch-Prigent, who was convicted in France in several cases relating to his 1989-1993 tenure at Elf and handling of its finances, was extradited on Saturday from Ivory Coast. His court appearance in Togo was expected to happen on Monday or Tuesday.In the older cases of wrongdoing, an investigation in the 1990s revealed a system of bribes and kickbacks in Elf’s international business dealings. Elf later merged with another French company, and the new entity was renamed Total. Construction begins on Chandler hospital expansion project Top Stories Mary Coyle ice cream to reopen in central Phoenix Sponsored Stories Associated PressLOME, Togo (AP) – Loik Le Floch-Prigent, the former chief executive officer of the French oil corporation Elf, appeared in a Togo court late Monday for a preliminary hearing on charges that he abetted efforts to defraud an Emirati businessman.Le Floch-Prigent was extradited to Togo from Ivory Coast over the weekend and has been held in custody.He arrived at the Palais de Justice in the capital, Lome, at 18:00 hours GMT where he heard to appear an Instruction Judge read the charges of financial fraud leveled against him and two other suspects by Emirati businessman, Abass Al Youssel. (Copyright 2012 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.) Men’s health affects baby’s health too Former Arizona Rep. Don Shooter shows health improvement Quick workouts for men Parents, stop beating yourself up Bottoms up! Enjoy a cold one for International Beer Day
A total of 1.7 million tourists visited Croatia in the first four months of 2017, which is 22% more in comparison with the same period in 2016. The weekend’s flooding of visitors has further enhanced the prospect of 2017 being a record year for the Croatian tourism industry.According to the data from the Ministry of Internal Affairs, 285,000 foreign tourists entered Croatia. Among them, a large number of tourists were from Italy, Austria, Slovenia, and Germany.Records were also achieved at Split Airport recently where, 94 planes landed. In total, there were 23,000 passengers coming through the airport, which is a record in one day for 2017.In May 2017, Split Airport welcomed 25.8% more passengers than in the same month last year. Zadar, on the Dalmatian coast, also saw record 7,000 tourists arrive by three cruise ships.Last year 16.6 million tourists visited Croatia, and this year too, prospects seems promising.
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