News Minimalist

24 Oct 2023 17:34

[7.6] Accelerating ice losses in West Antarctica are "unavoidable," causing sea level rise. — The Washington Post [$], Reuters

New research suggests that accelerating ice losses in vulnerable West Antarctic ice shelves are "unavoidable" this century as waters warm around them, potentially leading to more than the predicted 1 to 3 feet of sea level rise by 2100. Even under the best-case scenario of 1.5 degrees Celsius of warming, the ice will melt three times faster this century than it did last century. The collapse of the West Antarctic Ice Sheet is one of nine global climate 'tipping points' and could lead to catastrophic consequences for life on Earth.

News Minimalist

23 Oct 2023 15:57

[7.1] Chinese drugmakers use endangered animals in products — Reuters

Three publicly traded Chinese drugmakers have been found to use parts of endangered animals in their products, according to a report by the Environmental Investigation Agency. The report identified 72 firms that use body parts of threatened leopards and pangolins in at least 88 traditional Chinese medicine products. The agency called on global investors, including major banks and financial institutions, to divest from these companies.

News Minimalist

22 Oct 2023 17:36

[7.1] Zika virus infection model used to develop vaccines and treatments — Reuters

Researchers at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health in the United States have successfully infected human volunteers with the Zika virus in a controlled human infection model. The study aims to learn more about the disease and develop vaccines and treatments. Zika is a viral infection spread by mosquitoes that can be dangerous for pregnant women and cause birth defects, but there are currently no vaccines or treatments available.

News Minimalist

22 Oct 2023 17:36

[7.4] Insurance sector underestimates climate change impact amid rising losses — Financial Times [$]

Lloyd's, a British insurance and reinsurance market. has alerted insurance entities that the full ramifications of climate change have not yet been fully realized in claims data, despite the sector experiencing an estimated $50 billion in losses from natural catastrophes during the first half of this year, marking the second worst start to a year since 2011.

Insurance prices are escalating as companies aim to recuperate their margins following substantial losses, further strained by the inflation in reconstruction costs. The price hike by reinsurers of up to 200% in January has initiated a domino effect, with some insurers like State Farm ceasing to underwrite new home coverage in certain areas like California.

News Minimalist

20 Oct 2023 18:15

[7.2] Dengue fever epidemic in Burkina Faso, WHO warns of spread. — Reuters

Burkina Faso has declared a dengue fever epidemic, with over 200 deaths and 50,478 suspected cases reported this year. The majority of cases and deaths have occurred in the urban centers of Ouagadougou and Bobo Dioulasso, with a 20% increase in cases and deaths recorded in the past week alone. The World Health Organization has warned that dengue fever will become a major threat in new parts of Africa due to climate change and the spread of mosquitoes carrying the infection.

News Minimalist

20 Oct 2023 18:15

[7.2] China to require export permits for graphite products, citing national security. — Reuters

China has announced that it will require export permits for certain graphite products in order to protect national security and control supplies of critical minerals. China is the world's top graphite producer and exporter, refining over 90% of the world's graphite used in EV battery anodes. The move comes as foreign governments increase pressure on Chinese companies over their industrial practices, with the EU considering tariffs on Chinese-made EVs and the US widening curbs on Chinese companies' access to semiconductors.

News Minimalist

19 Oct 2023 16:45

[7.7] WinRAR vulnerability exploited by government-backed hackers. — The Verge

Multiple government-backed hacking groups have been exploiting a serious security vulnerability in WinRAR since early 2023, according to Google's Threat Analysis Group. The vulnerability allows attackers to execute arbitrary code when a Windows user opens a file within a ZIP archive. WinRAR versions 6.24 and 6.23 include a fix for the vulnerability, but the app does not have an auto-update feature, so users must manually download and install the patch.

News Minimalist

18 Oct 2023 16:51

[7.0] Norway reports bird flu outbreak. — Reuters

Norway has reported an outbreak of highly pathogenic H5N1 avian influenza, commonly known as bird flu, among 19 domestic birds in the northern part of the country. The World Organisation for Animal Health confirmed the outbreak.

News Minimalist

18 Oct 2023 16:51

[7.2] Five Eyes security chiefs address China's technology theft threat. — The Globe and Mail

The security chiefs of the Five Eyes intelligence-sharing alliance, including the FBI Director Christopher Wray, held their first joint public meeting to address China's theft of cutting-edge technologies from democratic countries. Wray stated that the Chinese government is the biggest threat to innovation and that the FBI has seen a 1,300% increase in investigations related to Chinese attempts to steal intellectual property. The security directors also discussed China's use of students, joint ventures, start-ups, and employees placed inside Western companies to acquire crucial information on leading technologies.

News Minimalist

18 Oct 2023 16:51

[7.6] Country Garden misses $15 million payment, raising default concerns in China's real estate sector. — Reuters

Country Garden, China's largest private property developer, missed a $15 million coupon payment, raising concerns of a default on its offshore debt amidst China's ongoing real estate challenges. The company holds nearly $11 billion in offshore bonds, and a default could lead to one of China's most significant corporate debt restructurings.

News Minimalist

17 Oct 2023 17:19

[7.4] Record opioid deaths in North America; crisis surpasses HIV/AIDS epidemic. — The Conversation

Opioid-related deaths in North America reached a record level in 2022, with over 109,000 fatalities in the United States and over 7,400 deaths in Canada. The opioid overdose crisis has been ongoing for over two decades and has surpassed the worst years of the HIV/AIDS epidemic. Strategies to address the crisis include 1) treating substance use disorders as a public health problem, 2) finding better treatments through research, and 3) stopping the international spread of the epidemic through greater regulation and oversight.

News Minimalist

16 Oct 2023 16:56

[7.2] SpaceX dominates satellites, Bezos aims to catch up, concerns arise. — The Guardian

Elon Musk's SpaceX has a dominant presence in near-Earth orbit with more than 4,500 Starlink satellites, accounting for over 50% of all active satellites. This allows Musk unprecedented control over global communications and even the ability to influence military actions, as seen in Ukraine. Jeff Bezos aims to challenge this dominance with Amazon's Project Kuiper, which recently launched its first satellites. However, Kuiper has a long way to go; it plans to deploy 3,236 satellites by 2029 compared to SpaceX's plan for 42,000.

Both companies are part of a larger trend that has experts concerned about the saturation and sustainability of orbital space. Risks include potential collisions, space debris, and political tensions arising from the "occupational behavior" of dominating these orbital "highways."

News Minimalist

15 Oct 2023 15:02

[7.1] California bans Red Dye No. 3 due to cancer concerns. — The New York Times [$]

California has become the first state to ban Red Dye No. 3, a chemical linked to cancer, in food. The ban includes Halloween treats and other foods sold at national chains like Walmart and Target. The move puts pressure on the FDA to examine similar questions about artificial colors and ingredients, but the agency is currently undergoing reorganization after a scandal involving infant formula raised concerns about food oversight.

News Minimalist

14 Oct 2023 16:28

[7.0] Pfizer's new drug Velsipity gains U.S. approval for ulcerative colitis treatment. — Reuters

Pfizer has received U.S. approval for a new drug called Velsipity to treat ulcerative colitis, a painful gut condition that affects over a million people in the U.S. The drug has shown promise in reducing symptoms and is priced at $6,164 for a month's supply, which is in line with other treatments. Unlike some other medications for this condition, Velsipity doesn't require an initial lab test, making it potentially easier for patients to start treatment.

News Minimalist

13 Oct 2023 17:16

[7.2] Israel orders Gaza population to move south; UN warns of consequences. — The Washington Post

Israel has issued an order for the entire population of the northern Gaza Strip, approximately 1.1 million people, to move south within 24 hours. The United Nations has warned that this would have devastating humanitarian consequences. Hamas has dismissed the order as psychological warfare, and the Israeli military has urged residents of Gaza City to move south for their safety as Israeli strikes continue. The situation in Gaza is already dire, with water and power shortages, hospitals running out of supplies, and over 420,000 people displaced before the warning. Israel is preparing for a potential ground incursion following a deadly attack by Hamas militants.

News Minimalist

24 Oct 2023 17:34

[7.4] IEA predicts major rise in clean energy by 2030. — IEA, CNBC, The New York Times [$], ABC News

The International Energy Agency predicts significant growth in clean technologies by 2030, including nearly a tenfold increase in electric cars and renewables making up almost 50% of the global electricity mix, up from around 30% today. Under today's policy settings, fossil fuels will decline to from 80% to 73% of the global energy supply, and energy-related CO2 emissions are expected to peak by 2025. The report also suggests that if countries fulfill their climate pledges, clean energy progress could accelerate even further. A surge in new liquefied natural gas projects from 2025 is projected to ease supply concerns, reducing Russia's share of internationally traded gas to 15% by 2030.

News Minimalist

23 Oct 2023 15:57

[7.5] Chinese shares hit lowest level since 2019 — Financial Times [$]

Chinese shares have fallen to their lowest level since 2019, driven by slowing economic growth, a liquidity crisis in the property sector, and geopolitical tensions. The gauge has fallen about 15% this year in dollar terms, and global funds have sold a net $23bn worth of shares since August, leaving net inflows for the year down more than 70% from their peak.

News Minimalist

22 Oct 2023 17:36

[7.2] Corporate concentration fuels global inequality and food insecurity — Financial Times [$]

Recent years marked a surge in labor actions and antitrust cases, with the US recording the highest number of working days lost to strikes in nearly 25 years, alongside intensified anti-monopoly measures.

The pandemic further amplified corporate concentration, particularly in developing nations where the top 1% of exporting businesses captured between 40 and 90% of total export revenues. This corporate dominance contributed to the global labor share decline from 57% in 2000 to 53% today, exacerbating income inequality.

In the commodities sector, despite reduced demand, prices persist at elevated levels due to financialisation and speculative practices, heightening global food insecurity.

News Minimalist

20 Oct 2023 18:15

[7.0] Lack of sleep linked to higher risk of depression symptoms. — The Guardian

Sleeping less than five hours a night may increase the risk of developing symptoms of depression, according to research. The study, which analyzed genetic and health data from over 7,000 people, found that those genetically predisposed to short sleep were more likely to develop depressive symptoms over a period of 4 to 12 years. People sleeping five hours or less were 2.5 times more likely to develop depressive symptoms, while those with depressive symptoms were a third more likely to suffer from short sleep.

News Minimalist

20 Oct 2023 18:15

[7.2] HPV vaccine prevents cervical cancer, but not offered to boys. — WIRED [$]

The HPV vaccine has been highly effective in preventing cervical cancer, with cases falling by 87% among those who received the vaccine compared to those who didn't in the UK. The vaccine also protects against other types of cancer and genital warts, but boys and men are not offered the vaccine in two-thirds of countries where it is available. However, there is a growing push for gender-neutral HPV vaccine campaigns and supply has started to increase, allowing for wider rollouts.

News Minimalist

19 Oct 2023 16:45

[7.1] American families saw record wealth growth, increased income, and improved finances. — The New York Times [$]

According to Federal Reserve data, American families experienced the largest increase in wealth on record between 2019 and 2022. Median net worth rose by 37% after adjusting for inflation, the biggest jump since 1989. Median family income also increased by 3% between 2018 and 2021, and Americans made financial progress across the board, with increased savings, reduced credit card balances, and larger retirement accounts.

News Minimalist

18 Oct 2023 16:51

[7.0] Russia's parliament moves to revoke nuclear test ban treaty ratification. — Reuters

Russia's parliament, the Duma, has taken the first step towards revoking ratification of the Comprehensive Nuclear Test Ban Treaty in a unanimous vote. The move is seen as a response to the United States, which has signed but never ratified the treaty, and aims to restore parity between the two countries. While Russia says it will not resume testing unless the US does, arms control experts are concerned that this could lead to a new era of big power nuclear testing and escalate tensions amid the Ukraine war.

News Minimalist

18 Oct 2023 16:51

[7.2] Microsoft completes $69B acquisition of Activision Blizzard. — CNBC

Microsoft has completed its $69 billion acquisition of video game publisher Activision Blizzard, signaling that gaming is central to the company's future. The deal faced regulatory pushback and took nearly 21 months to close.

News Minimalist

18 Oct 2023 16:51

[7.3] World needs 49.7 million miles of transmission lines by 2040. — CNBC

A new report by the International Energy Agency states that the world needs to add or replace 49.7 million miles of transmission lines by 2040 in order to meet climate goals and achieve energy security. This is roughly equivalent to the current total number of miles of electric grid worldwide. The construction of these transmission lines will require an annual investment of over $600 billion by 2030, double the current global investment levels, and changes in how electric grids are operated and regulated.

News Minimalist

17 Oct 2023 17:19

[7.1] Clean Air Act loophole hides pollution from wildfires. — The Guardian US

A legal loophole in the Clean Air Act has allowed the US Environmental Protection Agency to exclude pollution caused by natural events, such as wildfires, from clean air tallies in over 70 counties. This has enabled local regulators to claim that the air is cleaner than it actually is for more than 21 million Americans.

News Minimalist

17 Oct 2023 17:19

[7.7] UN forum reports 15% of Sustainable Development Goals on track for 2030. — UN News

The weeklong forum by the UN Conference on Trade and Development spotlighted the widening $4 trillion investment gap in achieving Sustainable Development Goals by 2030, emphasizing that currently only 15% of these goals are on track to be met. The forum also hosted discussions led by the UN Food and Agriculture Organization, which called for an annual investment of $680 billion until 2030 to overhaul agrifood systems in low and middle-income countries. While international investment in renewable energy has almost tripled since the 2015 Paris Agreement, the forum underscored that only 5% of sustainable funds are allocated to developing nations.

News Minimalist

15 Oct 2023 15:02

[7.0] High youth unemployment in China pushes graduates to rural areas. — The Independent

Millions of young university graduates in China are struggling to find work, with more than one in five people between the ages of 16 and 24 out of work, according to data from the National Bureau of Statistics. The jobless rate for people aged 16 to 24 in China for June 2023 was 21.3%, while the unemployment rate for those between the ages of 25 and 59 was just 4.1%. The high unemployment rate and low salaries are pushing many young people to leave urban areas and pursue opportunities in rural areas, following President Xi Jinping's call to "revitalise the rural economy."

News Minimalist

14 Oct 2023 16:28

[7.0] Minors suing Facebook for social media addiction win important ruling. — Bloomberg ($)

A California state judge has allowed minors and parents to advance their lawsuits against Meta Inc.'s Facebook and other tech companies, focusing on the claim that these firms were negligent in designing their platforms in a way that could harm minors. The ruling bypasses Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, which usually shields internet companies from liability, stating that it doesn't prevent the negligence claim from proceeding as the design features of the platforms — rather than the specific content — are causing the harms.

News Minimalist

14 Oct 2023 16:28

[7.1] Reducing calorie intake improves muscle health and activates important pathways. — National Institutes of Health (.gov)

A study conducted by the National Institutes of Health suggests that reducing overall calorie intake can rejuvenate muscles and activate biological pathways important for good health. The study analyzed data from participants in the Comprehensive Assessment of Long-Term Effects of Reducing Intake of Energy (CALERIE) study and found that even a modest reduction of 12% in daily caloric intake was enough to activate most of the biological pathways associated with healthy aging. The researchers also found that calorie restriction upregulated genes responsible for energy generation and metabolism while downregulating inflammatory genes, leading to lower inflammation.

News Minimalist

13 Oct 2023 17:16

[7.4] UK Covid hospitalizations and positive cases rise, new variant spreads globally. — The Independent

Covid-19 hospitalizations in the UK have increased by 24% in one week, while the number of people testing positive for the virus has risen by over 29.4% despite reduced testing infrastructure, according to data from the UK Health Security Agency. The highly mutated new Covid variant Pirola, which has 34 more mutations and could potentially evade vaccines, has reached over 100 cases in the UK and has been detected in 15 countries worldwide.