November 26, 2022 - The 2022 Bali G20 declaration: did success really stem from Indonesia's diplomacy?

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The 2022 Bali G20 declaration: did success really stem from Indonesia's diplomacy? Head of the International Relations Department FISIP Universitas Indonesia, Universitas Indonesia This year’s G20 Summit, held in Bali on November 15-16, successfully produced a joint declaration. This was somewhat surprising, yet welcome, considering that the high-level conference was held amid the unstable geopolitical situation and rising tension between major powers. Continued here

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Should pharmacists be able to prescribe common medicines like antibiotics for UTIs? We asked 5 experts HERA Program Director - Health Workforce Optimisation Centre for the Business & Economics of Health, The University of Queensland Victoria is the latest state to move towards pharmacist prescribing, with Premier Daniel Andrews promising a trial allowing pharmacists to prescribe antibiotics for urinary tract infections (UTIs) and medicines for other conditions if re-elected. Continued here

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Silkworms Spin a Potential Microplastics Substitute “Intentionally added microplastics” in pesticides and cosmetics could be made from silk instead Millennia have passed since humans discovered silk and began harvesting it from silkworm cocoons, but scientists are still finding new uses for this remarkable material. Now researchers say it could help tackle a growing environmental and health concern: microplastics, the minuscule plastic fragments that have been found everywhere from mountaintops to the seafloor—and even in the human bloodstream. Continued here

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What Awaab Ishak's death says about the state of social housing in the UK – expert Q&A The inquest into the death of a two-year-old-boy, Awaab Ishak, in Rochdale, has found that black mould and the landlord’s repeated failure to fix the problem, was to blame. Delivering her verdict, senior coroner Joanne Kearsley said: “I’m sure I’m not alone in having thought: how does this happen? How, in the UK in 2020, does a two-year-old child die from exposure to mould in his home?” Current government guidance covering housing disrepair states that landlords (both social housing and private) have several obligations. These include repairing obligations in the tenancy agreement imposed by the Landlord and Tenant Act 1985; legal duties of care, as set out in section 4 of the Defective Premises Act 1972, which are owed to the tenant, the tenant’s family and to visitors; and statutory nuisance (control of health), as covered by the Environmental Protection Act 1990. Continued here

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Does kindness get in the way of success? We can probably all agree that it is good to be kind, moral to be kind, nice to be kind, but does it lead to success in life? After all, isn't kindness about putting other people's interests first? Doesn't it require self-sacrifice? Yet consider these well-known people: James Timpson, boss of the Timpson chain of shoe repairers; Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister of New Zealand; and Gareth Southgate, one of the most successful managers that the England men's football team has ever had. All three of them are clearly "winners" in their fields, and yet all put kindness at the heart of their strategies for success. Continued here

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Conflict in the DRC: 5 articles that explain what's gone wrong For nearly three decades, the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has been embroiled in violence. Millions of people have been killed, and an estimated 5.6 million others displaced by civil wars, local feuds and cross-border conflicts. Studies have identified several reasons for the persistence of war, especially in the volatile east of the country. These include ethnic intolerance, the illegal exploitation of the country’s vast natural resources and a Congolese elite that benefits from the chaos. Continued here

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Profound grief for a pet is normal – how to help yourself or a friend weather the loss of a beloved family member It’s been three weeks since my partner and I lost our beloved 14.5-year-old dog, Kivi Tarro. It’s impossible to describe what Kivi meant to us, or put words to how his death has affected us. As I am still working through what life without Kivi means, there’s perhaps no better time to examine how grief impacts those who have lost an animal. This is also what a new review of scientific literature, published today, explores. Continued here

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AI-generated creatures that stretch the boundaries of imagination Can AI help us see beyond our human capabilities? Through a kaleidoscopic blend of technology, nature and art, neural artist Sofia Crespo brings to life animals that push the boundaries of creativity and imagination. Her artistic renditions of chimeras combine images of real-world endangered species to create something totally new -- with the intention of inspiring real-world conservation. Witness a speculative study of creatures that never existed, brought to life by AI. Continued here

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Mind the gaps: the world needs to radically transform its educational systems, not just upgrade them Director, Development and International Relations, Learning Planet Institute (LPI) Head of Partnerships at LearningPlanet Alliance, Learning Planet Institute (LPI) Continued here

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The 11 best electric bike accessories every cyclist needs Commuting on an electric bike is a great alternative to driving or riding public transportation which can often be unreliable. But while riding an e-bike can save you money in the long run, worrying about car traffic and not having adequate space to cart around your essentials aren’t exactly what most people would consider perks. Luckily for e-bike riders and holiday gift givers, there are plenty of accessories that can make owning an electric bike a much better experience. From added safety gear to more luxurious add-ons like Bluetooth speakers and bags, there’s an e-bike bonus on this list for everyone. Continued here

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Why Social Media Makes People Unhappy - And Simple Ways to Fix It Research suggests platform designs make us lose track of time spent on them and can heighten conflicts, and then we feel upset with ourselves Disrupted sleep, lower life satisfaction and poor self-esteem are just a few of the negative mental health consequences that researchers have linked to social media. Somehow the same platforms that can help people feel more connected and knowledgeable also contribute to loneliness and disinformation. What succeeds and fails, scientists say, is a function of how these platforms are designed. Amanda Baughan, a graduate student specializing in human-computer interaction at the University of Washington, studies how social media triggers what psychologists call dissociation, or a state of reduced self-reflection and narrowed attention. She presented results at the 2022 Association for Computing Machinery Computer-Human Interaction Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems. Baughan spoke with Mind Matters editor Daisy Yuhas to explain how and why apps need to change to give the people who use them greater power. Continued here

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We're told to 'eat a rainbow' of fruit and vegetables. Here's what each colour does in our body Program Director of Nutrition and Food Sciences, Accredited Practising Dietitian, University of South Australia Nutritionists will tell you to eat a rainbow of fruit and vegetables. This isn’t just because it looks nice on the plate. Each colour signifies different nutrients our body needs. Continued here

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Why Saudi Arabia Is So Quiet About Iran’s Protests The kingdom’s rulers may have managed their own social pressures better, but they’re wary of the tumult that’s shaking their neighbor. Expressions of support for Iranian protesters have been pouring in from around the world—from leaders such as President Joe Biden, the former first lady Michelle Obama, French President Emmanuel Macron, and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern—as the protests, well into their second month, remain defiant and have even gained in intensity. But aside from some media coverage, those nations closest to Iran, its Gulf neighbors, have remained conspicuously silent. Most striking of all is the lack of any official response from Saudi Arabia—which one would expect to be cheering along the popular revolt against a regime that Riyadh considers its archenemy. Continued here

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Is Food Getting Better? The Thanksgivings of yore featured overcooked turkeys and Jell-O salad. Surely we’ve evolved. Maybe your turkey is drier than a World Cup fan in Qatar, or maybe you overcommitted and nothing is ready by 8 p.m. Maybe you’re making the same exact menu as last year. But if you round up every single Thanksgiving dinner in the United States—all the birds and pies and mac and cheeses and green-bean casseroles—on average the meal will be just marginally, imperceptibly tastier than last year. On average, it will be noticeably better than a decade ago, substantially better than two decades ago, and night-and-day better than 40 years ago. Expand that out until, let’s say, the ’50s, and the average Thanksgiving dinner then versus now is like comparing Little Caesars to Eleven Madison Park. If the arc of the moral universe bends toward justice, the arc of home cooking bends toward yumminess. Continued here

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Orion completes Moon flyby and more: Understand the world through 7 images NASA’s Orion spacecraft reached a historic goal the week of November 16–23, as scientists peered into Earth’s ancient climate and the composition of the early Universe. Continued here

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Inside the scientific quest to future-proof corn, America's favorite side dish Taking cues from cacti and orchids, scientists are trying to hack corn’s natural abilities. This past summer, a widespread drought across the United States lowered crop yields by as much as one-third as corn, wheat, barley, and other plants suffered from too much heat and too little water. It’s a scenario that will likely become more common as climate change makes much of the world a hotter, drier place. Continued here

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The Taliban Is Flogging People In Football Stadiums For ‘Adultery and Gay Sex’ The Taliban has brought back public floggings for what the group says are “moral crimes,” with people lashed in football stadiums after being convicted by the judges of the Islamist group.   A group of 14 people, including three women, were lashed in a football stadium in front of a crowd on Wednesday in the eastern Logar province. A Taliban official told the BBC that they were being punished for sins “including adultery, robbery, and gay sex.”  Continued here

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Does Overindulgence Make You Happy? “How to Build a Life” is a weekly column by Arthur Brooks, tackling questions of meaning and happiness. Click here to listen to his podcast series on all things happiness, How to Build a Happy Life. La Grande Bouffe is a 1973 French Italian dark comedy about a group of four friends who shut themselves up in a villa and eat themselves to death. Although mostly unknown to American audiences, the film is a cult classic in Europe. I learned about it in November 1991 shortly after marrying my Spanish wife. Living in Barcelona at the time, I treated my new in-laws to a full Thanksgiving feast: multiple turkeys, stuffing, mashed potatoes—the works. I even somehow procured pumpkin pies. Continued here

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The Titanium Economy: Emerging stronger in the face of disruption The Titanium Economy is a linchpin in America’s path to sustainable and inclusive growth. So far, we’ve explored how the US industrial technology sector (what we call the Titanium Economy), though often overlooked, has become a strong engine of economic growth—creating millions of well-paid jobs and revitalizing entire communities across the country. 1 1. Kimberly Borden, David Ebenstein, Inga Maurer, and Asutosh Padhi, “The Titanium Economy: An introduction,” McKinsey, October 21, 2022. These companies have consistently delivered strong financial returns, in many cases equaling or surpassing the performance of tech giants that the public has come to equate with business success. But to secure their future, industrials must continue to fill new technical jobs and capture emerging opportunities in the energy transition. Continued growth of the industrial sector—and indeed the US economy—is far from guaranteed. Geopolitical tensions, such as the Russian invasion of Ukraine, and macroeconomic headwinds highlight the unpredictability of the future competitive landscape and promise to shift the behaviors of all stakeholders. Continued here

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184 years ago, an American poet created a Thanksgiving myth we still believe today Have you ever wondered why Thanksgiving revolves around turkey and not ham, chicken, venison, beef, or corn? Almost 9 in 10 Americans eat turkey during this festive meal, whether it’s roasted, deep-fried, grilled, or cooked in any other way for the occasion. Continued here

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The COVID-19 pandemic has made the impacts of gender-based violence worse Every November the United Nations marks a 16-day campaign against gender-based violence. It begins on Nov. 25, the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women, and ends on Dec. 10, Human Rights Day. This year’s theme is “UNiTE! Activism to end violence against women and girls.” This theme aims to highlight the impact of COVID-19 on gender-based violence, as well as inequalities in accessible housing, services and resources. Continued here

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World Cup concussion rules may be putting players' lives at risk Deputy Head Of Department in Department of Sport & Event Management, Bournemouth University In the eighth minute of their Fifa men’s World Cup match against England, Iranian goalkeeper Alireza Beiranvand collided face-first with a teammate. The clash left the keeper bloodied, unsteady on his feet, and apparently disoriented - in no state to play. Continued here

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This Carnivorous Plant Has a Rain-Powered Trap Carnivorous plants’ peculiar strategies for snagging live prey have long captured the public imagination. But even within this strange group, in which food-trapping mechanisms have evolved multiple times independently, some oddities stand out. For example, the visually striking pitcher plant Nepenthes gracilis, native to Southeast Asia, can harness falling rain’s energy to ambush animals. A new study in Biology Letters demonstrates how the structure of the plant’s pitcher component, itself a modified leaf, makes the unusual strategy work. “This is the only case we know where a plant actually exploits [external energy] for a purpose,” says study co-author Ulrike Bauer, an evolutionary biologist and biomechanist at the University of Bristol in England. But how does this rain-powered trap function? Continued here

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How a Drug Smuggler Moved Cocaine Around the US and Sent $56 Million to Mexican Cartels MEXICO CITY — A drug trafficker is going to prison after sending an estimated $56 million back to Mexican cartels, the profits from cocaine that he helped smuggle through a “sophisticated network of warehouses and front companies” around the United States. Luis Eduardo González García, 61, pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 years in a federal prison after being busted running the scheme for years, hiding the cocaine in trucks that he used to import legitimate products like laundry detergent, furniture, and Mexican snack foods to the U.S, according to the Drug Enforcement Agency. He made millions through his smuggling network working with various Mexican drug cartels and used it to fund a lucrative life of yachts, horses, and luxury cars. Continued here

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Star Wars has finally mastered George Lucas' biggest weakness When you think about your favorite Star Wars moments, what do you picture? The medal ceremony? The reveal of Luke Skywalker’s parentage? Qui-Gon vs. Darth Maul or Obi-Wan vs. Anakin? These are all memorable moments, but unlike in many other sci-fi franchises, they’re famous because of what happens, not what’s said. Granted, what happens is awesome, but Star Wars isn’t exactly known for great action and great dialogue. For every “Tragedy of Darth Plagueis the Wise” there’s “I don’t like sand.” Andor’s final episode changed that. Star Wars finally has the last Infinity Stone in its proverbial gauntlet of epic storytelling: The monologue. Continued here

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People Shopping for 'Meaning' Buy Cheaper Goods People who prioritize “meaning” when they shop may unwittingly convince themselves to buy cheaper goods, services and experiences During the early months of the COVID-19 pandemic, Danone Portugal introduced a new yogurt named Juntos, which means “together” in Portuguese. For every pack of yogurt that a person bought, Danone Portugal would donate yogurt to a family in need. Continued here

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How Companies Can Partner with Nonprofits In today’s ESG-focused world, there is no taboo about corporations seeking advice and partnership opportunities with nonprofits. Unfortunately, many corporations don’t know where to start. What contact they have had with nonprofits has usually been through their corporate giving or corporate social responsibility programs. Three main opportunities exist for collaboration: using nonprofits to support product launches, going to market through a company’s nonprofit arm, use nonprofits to help form coalitions with other companies. Continued here

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Is the world ready for mass migration due to climate change? I've had an obsession with maps ever since I first sought my bearings in Winnie the Pooh's "Hundred Aker Wood", trying to discover where was "nice for piknicks", and the locations of the characters' houses. My childhood was spent studying and drawing treasure maps, charting imaginary lands and plotting routes to faraway places I longed to visit. Today, my home is plastered with the maps I've collected or been given – reminders of places that are special to me. By my desk, I have a large world map, the continents distinguished from the oceans by their mosaic of colours. Each coloured patch is a country, separated from its neighbour by a neat line drawn onto this two-dimensional representation of our world. Continued here

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Human-free farms could solve a major food problem It may not sound like a very sexy invention by today’s standards, but after its debut in 1892, the gas-powered tractor had ripple effects that Silicon Valley startups could only dream of. Suddenly, farming became far quicker and more efficient, allowing growers to drastically increase their yields. But it also reduced the need for farm laborers, who began flocking to cities for new factory jobs. In 1910, nearly a third of workers in the United States were part of the farming industry. By 1950, that number had fallen to 10 percent. Continued here S31 Outdoor Air Conditioning Cools the World Cup - but Is It Sustainable? In an ever warming world, the health benefits of stadium air-conditioning may not outweigh the climate risks In 2009, when Qatar placed its bid to host the men’s World Cup, many wondered how a country so hot—summer temperatures can exceed 110 degrees Fahrenheit—could host a soccer tournament. To quell those concerns, Qatar built air-conditioned outdoor stadiums. This move could inspire other sporting venues to use such technology to protect the health of athletes and fans. But this is a flawed solution that is not environmentally sustainable, experts say, despite efforts to power AC systems with green energy sources. Continued here S25 Does Your Board Need an Executive Chair? Companies like Amazon, Google, and Iron Mountain have opted for an executive board chair in recent years. Separate from the CEO, the executive board chair is typically responsible for both oversight and strategic decision-making. The authors studied S&P 1500 companies from 2002 to 2020 to understand what a board chair does, and when such a position might be beneficial to a company. They found that companies that used the executive chair position for a limited period during a CEO succession significantly outperformed those that did not. Continued here S13 Why France, Germany and the UK relate to their Muslim communities so differently Docteure en Science politique - Chercheure associée au Laboratoire interdisciplinaire de Polytechnique (LinX), École polytechnique Jeanne Prades works as Senior Consultant at Technopolis Group where she evaluates public policies. Continued here S17 Why the UK needs to stop exporting plastic waste The world produces a vast amount of plastic. Global plastic production increased from 2 million metric tons in 1950 to 348 million metric tons in 2017. Yet much of this plastic is wasted: 86% of the world’s plastic waste in 2016 was either incinerated, sent to landfill or leaked into nature. Many countries use international trade to manage their plastic waste. The justification for this is that plastic waste can be treated in destinations with better capacity for waste treatment. The UK, lacking capacity itself, exports 60% of its plastic waste abroad. But in a recent report, the House of Commons Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Committee – the group of MPs responsible for improving and protecting the environment – have called on the government to stop the export of UK plastic waste by the end of 2027. Continued here S30 Space Elevators Are Less Sci-Fi Than You Think I’ve been working on space elevators for almost 20 years, and though we still have issues to solve, we are getting closer to making them reality Space elevators are often dismissed as a science fiction dream, but I believe they will exist soon—perhaps in two or three decades. Throughout my career as an aerospace engineer and physics professor, I keep coming back to the concept of a cable stretching from Earth to space, along which people and cargo can easily travel. In recent years I and other researchers have found new ways to tinker with designs and answer questions about how space elevators could work. Continued here S7 China Just Sentenced One of Its Biggest Pop Stars to 13 Years for Rape A court in China has sentenced Chinese-born Canadian star Kris Wu to 13 years in prison after finding him guilty of rape and another sex crime. Wu, also known as Wu Yifan, was found guilty of raping three women between November and December 2020, the court in Beijing’s Chaoyang District said in a social media post on Friday. For this the court sentenced him to 11-and-a-half years of imprisonment. Continued here Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom) Followers Blog Archive ►  2024 (7) ►  August (1) ►  May (2) ►  April (3) ►  March (1) ►  2023 (432) ►  December (9) ►  November (25) ►  October (20) ►  September (33) ►  August (72) ►  July (6) ►  June (77) ►  May (12) ►  April (2) ►  March (8) ►  February (85) ►  January (83) ▼  2022 (115) ►  December (13) ▼  November (10) November 30, 2022 - In praise of research in funda... November 27, 2022 - Media go for drama on Victoria... 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November 7, 2022 - The Great Pandemic Hand-Washing... ►  October (2) ►  September (12) ►  August (25) ►  July (1) ►  June (15) ►  May (13) ►  April (8) ►  March (12) ►  February (1) ►  January (3) ►  2021 (111) ►  December (21) ►  November (7) ►  October (17) ►  September (24) ►  August (18) ►  July (2) ►  June (20) ►  May (2) ►  2020 (388) ►  June (58) ►  May (17) ►  April (74) ►  March (89) ►  February (118) ►  January (32) ►  2016 (11) ►  August (1) ►  June (1) ►  March (2) ►  January (7) ►  2015 (6) ►  December (3) ►  November (3) ►  2013 (7) ►  May (1) ►  April (5) ►  March (1) ►  2012 (4) ►  October (1) ►  May (2) ►  March (1) ►  2011 (7) ►  August (7) About Me Rijo Stephen Cletus Bangalore, Karnataka, India BE Medical Electronics, PGD Hospital and Health Care Management, CMT and MBA Finance. Pursuing MBL from NLSIU. Experienced in Domestic and International Consulting. View my complete profile