News Minimalist

27 Nov 2023 17:43

[8.2] Covid-19 pandemic leads to 60 million missed vaccines — The New York Times [$]

The Covid-19 pandemic has led to over 60 million children missing standard childhood vaccines, resulting in serious outbreaks of diseases. By mid-2023, 47 countries reported measles outbreaks, up from 16 in 2020. Nigeria faces its largest diphtheria outbreak, with over 17,000 suspected cases and nearly 600 deaths. 12 countries have circulating polio virus. Gavi reports "zero-dose children" account for nearly half of all child deaths from vaccine-preventable illnesses. An additional 85 million children are under-immunized due to the pandemic.

News Minimalist

25 Nov 2023 18:32

[7.4] Stock market surge reduces demand for protective strategies — Bloomberg [$]

In November 2023, the stock market's rapid surge has led to a decline in demand for protective strategies. The S&P 500 has risen by almost 9% this month, causing a shift away from defensive assets like inflation-protected bonds and bearish options. Instead, there is a growing interest in junk bonds and small-cap equities. This trend reflects a significant change in investor behavior during this historic market rally.

News Minimalist

25 Nov 2023 18:32

[7.6] Fruit-flavored medicine reduces child's multidrug-resistant tuberculosis risk — Bloomberg

A recent study has found that a fruit-flavored medicine, taken once daily for six months, reduces a child's risk of developing multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) disease by over 50%. This breakthrough offers hope to the nearly two million children worldwide infected with the often deadly bacteria. Previously, bitter-tasting medications had to be taken daily for months, posing a challenge for parents. This development is a rare positive in pediatric treatment advancement.

News Minimalist

24 Nov 2023 15:59

[7.0] The euro zone's biggest bank stops financing metallurgical coal projects — Reuters

BNP Paribas, the largest euro zone bank, announced it no longer finances metallurgical coal projects, aligning with its 'Net Zero' commitment to cut carbon emissions. The bank aims to reduce oil and gas credit exposure by 80% and 30% respectively by 2030, compared to 2022 levels. BNP plans to exit thermal coal financing in Europe and OECD countries by 2030 and globally by 2040.

News Minimalist

24 Nov 2023 15:59

[7.7] Global fossil fuel subsidies rise to $7 trillion — Reuters

At the COP26 climate summit in 2021, world governments agreed to phase out "inefficient" fossil fuel subsidies. However, global subsidies have since risen to $7 trillion, with China leading at $2.2 trillion. The U.S. had $760 billion in subsidies, Russia spent $420 billion, India had $350 billion, and the EU doubled subsidies to $310 billion.

News Minimalist

22 Nov 2023 17:23

[6.2] Sam Altman reinstated as OpenAI CEO — CNBC

Sam Altman is reinstated as CEO of OpenAI after immense pressure from employees and investors. Former Salesforce co-CEO Bret Taylor and former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers join the board. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella supports Altman's return and plans to form a new AI lab with him. The rapid reinstatement follows a group of prominent investors working to reverse the board's decision.

(the algorithm is not yet good at highlighting major updates to previously covered stories, so adding this article manually)

News Minimalist

22 Nov 2023 17:23

[7.1] OpenAI and Microsoft sued for alleged copyright infringement — Reuters

OpenAI and Microsoft are being sued for allegedly using nonfiction authors' work without permission to train AI models for services like OpenAI's ChatGPT. Author Julian Sancton filed the proposed class action in Manhattan federal court, claiming OpenAI copied tens of thousands of nonfiction books. This is the first lawsuit to also name Microsoft as a defendant. The companies have denied the allegations. The lawsuit seeks monetary damages and a court order to block the alleged infringement.

News Minimalist

22 Nov 2023 17:23

[7.6] COVID-19 linked to long-term health problems — ABC News

A growing body of scientific research is linking COVID-19 to long-term health problems, including cardiovascular disease, Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and autoimmune conditions. Studies show a substantial increase in the risk of these diseases following a COVID infection. Research suggests that COVID may not directly cause these complications, but it significantly increases the risk in susceptible individuals.

News Minimalist

20 Nov 2023 17:12

[7.1] OpenAI appoints new boss as Sam Altman joins Microsoft — Reuters

Emmett Shear, former Twitch CEO, was named interim CEO of OpenAI, replacing Sam Altman who joined Microsoft in a new role. Shear aims to investigate Altman's firing and ensure OpenAI's stability. Altman, a key figure in AI development, will lead a new research group at Microsoft, alongside other departing OpenAI executives.

News Minimalist

20 Nov 2023 17:12

[7.7] Bird flu virus causing unprecedented global outbreaks — South China Morning Post

A study published in Nature reveals that the H5N1 bird flu virus has caused unprecedented outbreaks in wild bird species across five continents since November 2021. The virus has become more persistent in wild bird populations, spreading to new regions and affecting marine and land mammals. The virus has shifted from China to Europe and northern Africa. Researchers urge sustained vaccination to eliminate the virus. Gene editing shows promise in breeding chickens resistant to bird flu.

News Minimalist

18 Nov 2023 18:09

[7.3] US jobs data may be miscounting millions of 'gig' workers, research suggests — Reuters

Boston Fed research indicates millions of U.S. gig workers might be uncounted in employment reports, impacting Federal Reserve job market and inflation assessments. This discrepancy, potentially involving up to 13 million workers, suggests a tighter labor market with more capacity to grow without inflation. The study highlights significant gaps in understanding labor dynamics, crucial for shaping monetary policy and economic insights.

News Minimalist

17 Nov 2023 17:07

[7.2] Prenatal cannabis exposure linked to adverse birth outcomes — Neuroscience News

A meta-analysis of 57 studies with over 12 million infants found that prenatal cannabis exposure increases the risk of preterm birth, low birth weight, and neonatal intensive care unit admission. The research, spanning from 1984 to 2023, includes over 100,000 infants exposed to cannabis. However, no higher risk of birth defects or infant mortality was found.

News Minimalist

16 Nov 2023 17:49

[7.1] Microsoft unveils custom AI and cloud computing chips — Reuters

Microsoft unveiled two custom-designed computing chips at its Ignite developer conference. The Maia chip is designed to accelerate AI computing tasks for its Copilot service, while the Cobalt chip, made with Arm Holdings technology, aims to compete with Amazon Web Services' Graviton series. Microsoft plans to use the chips internally and offer cloud services running on Nvidia and AMD chips.

News Minimalist

16 Nov 2023 17:49

[7.4] Britain authorizes gene therapy Casgevy for blood disorders — Reuters

Britain has authorized Casgevy, a gene therapy using CRISPR, to treat sickle-cell disease and β-thalassemia in patients aged 12 and over. The therapy has shown to restore healthy haemoglobin production in the majority of participants, with no significant safety concerns. Casgevy is administered by editing a gene in the patient's stem cells and then infusing them back.

News Minimalist

15 Nov 2023 17:33

[7.1] Chinese companies bypassing US export curbs for chipmaking — Reuters

Chinese companies are circumventing U.S. export curbs to acquire advanced chipmaking equipment, as per a congressional report. The report criticizes the effectiveness of the Biden administration's restrictions and highlights loopholes allowing imports. Despite efforts to restrict exports, China imported $3.2 billion worth of semiconductor manufacturing machines from the Netherlands in 2023, a 96.1% increase from 2022.

News Minimalist

25 Nov 2023 18:32

[7.2] Human responses to COVID-19 impact virus evolution — Neuroscience News

A study by Nagoya University, using AI and mathematical modeling, reveals that human responses to COVID-19, like lockdowns and isolation, have impacted the evolution of the virus. SARS-CoV-2 variants became more transmissible early in infection, showing a 5-fold increase in maximum viral load and a faster peak as it evolved from the Wuhan to Delta strains. This underscores the need to consider human behavior in public health strategies and virus evolution studies.

News Minimalist

25 Nov 2023 18:32

[7.6] Brazil joins global agreement to triple renewable energy — Reuters

Brazil has joined a global deal to triple renewable energy by 2030 and reduce coal usage, aligning with about 100 countries. The agreement aims to decrease coal power and double energy efficiency improvement rates annually to 4% by 2030. Brazil, deriving over 80% of its electricity from renewables, mainly hydropower, solar, and wind, acknowledges the impossibility of tripling its own renewable energy output due to its already high levels.

News Minimalist

25 Nov 2023 18:32

Every day ChatGPT reads 1000 top news stories and ranks them by significance on a scale from 0 to 10. Here I post summaries of news rated 7 and higher. See all news on https://www.newsminimalist.com/

News Minimalist

24 Nov 2023 15:59

[7.6] Misuse of antibiotics could lead to 10 million deaths by 2050 — The Straits Times

The World Health Organization warns that misuse of antibiotics could lead to 10 million deaths by 2050. A study in 14 countries found antibiotics were wrongly prescribed for common cold (24%), flu-like symptoms (16%), sore throat (21%), and cough (18%). In these countries, a third of 8,200 people surveyed took antibiotics without a prescription. WHO urges immediate intervention and education to prevent antimicrobial resistance.

News Minimalist

24 Nov 2023 15:59

[7.9] Cameroon receives first shipment of malaria vaccine — Reuters

Cameroon received 331,200 doses of the Mosquirix malaria vaccine, becoming the first African country to do so. The vaccine aims to combat the disease that kills over 600,000 people globally each year, with nearly half a million being children under five. The vaccine alliance GAVI expects 1.7 million doses to arrive in Burkina Faso, Liberia, Niger, and Sierra Leone soon.

News Minimalist

22 Nov 2023 17:23

[7.0] Australia announces $382 million cyber security overhaul — Reuters

Australia announced a $382 million cyber security overhaul, including mandatory ransomware attack reporting, tougher rules for telecommunications firms, and increased funding for cyber law enforcement. Cybercrime reports in Australia rose by nearly a quarter, with the average cost to victims up 14%. The strategy aims to address vulnerabilities in small and medium-sized businesses, with a focus on unifying cyber security efforts and encouraging incident reporting.

News Minimalist

22 Nov 2023 17:23

[7.2] Binance CEO to step down, plead guilty — TechCrunch, WIRED

Binance's CEO, Changpeng Zhao, plans to step down and plead guilty to U.S. anti-money laundering violations, with Binance expected to pay $4.3 billion in fines. The exchange, founded in 2017, became the world's largest with over $11.6 billion in trading volume. This follows the SEC charging Kraken, the third largest exchange, and previous legal actions against Binance by the SEC and CFTC. Binance has faced various regulatory and operational challenges, including severed partnerships and legal disputes.

News Minimalist

20 Nov 2023 17:12

[7.1] Argentina elects radical hardliner Javier Milei as president — The Telegraph

Argentina has elected radical hardliner Javier Milei as its next president, winning nearly 56% of the vote. He plans to make drastic changes, including dismantling the Central Bank, dollarizing the economy, and cutting government ministries. Milei, a 53-year-old libertarian economist, aims to tackle the country's 143% inflation and record poverty. He promises a limited government, respect for private property, and free trade.

News Minimalist

20 Nov 2023 17:12

[7.3] Australian telco Optus' CEO quits after network outage — Reuters

Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin has resigned after a network-wide outage left nearly half of Australia without phone or internet for 12 hours. Over 10 million Australians were affected.

News Minimalist

18 Nov 2023 18:09

[7.1] Successful NASA test paves way for larger spacecraft — NASA

In November 2022, NASA successfully tested a new inflatable heat shield technology, reaching speeds over 18,000 mph and temperatures near 2,700 degrees Fahrenheit during atmosphere re-entry. This test demonstrated the potential for larger spacecraft to safely land on celestial bodies like Mars, Venus, and even Saturn’s moon, Titan. The success has led to a partnership with United Launch Alliance to develop a larger version of a shield.

News Minimalist

17 Nov 2023 17:07

[7.1] Gates Foundation grants $23.6M for needle-free vaccine technology — Reuters

The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation has granted $23.6 million to Micron Biomedical for mass production of needle-free vaccine technology. The technology uses dissolvable microneedles on a patch to deliver vaccines, simplifying transportation and administration, particularly in low-income countries. A trial in Gambia showed it to be as safe and effective as syringes. The funding will help establish a manufacturing facility to produce around 10 million devices annually.

News Minimalist

17 Nov 2023 17:07

[7.9] Rise of drug-resistant infections is a global threat — The Conversation

The rise of drug-resistant infections is a global threat, with antibiotic-resistant superbugs estimated to have caused 1.27 million deaths in 2019. The UN projects 10 million annual deaths by 2050. Microbiologist Nubwa Medugu in Nigeria faces increasing antibiotic resistance, with over 60% resistance to last-resort antibiotics. Scientists are using AI and metagenomics to find new antibiotics, such as clovibactin discovered in uncultured soil bacteria.

News Minimalist

16 Nov 2023 17:49

[7.3] NHS diabetes prevention program shows positive results — The Guardian

A major international study found that the NHS's diabetes prevention program led to significant improvements in weight and cholesterol levels for prediabetic patients. Over 1.3 million people have been referred to the program, with 120,000 participating this year. Patients experienced reductions in blood glucose levels, BMI, weight, and bad cholesterol. The findings, published in Nature, suggest that behavior change programs are a viable strategy for diabetes prevention.

News Minimalist

16 Nov 2023 17:49

[7.6] Biden and Xi aim to stabilize US-China relationship — The Associated Press

U.S. President Joe Biden and China’s Xi Jinping met in California, agreeing to stabilize their relationship. They reached agreements on combating illegal fentanyl and re-establishing military communications. Xi promised to send new pandas to the U.S. The leaders discussed economic competition, global security threats, Taiwan, and Iran. They also agreed to establish dialogues on artificial intelligence and address the climate crisis.

News Minimalist

15 Nov 2023 17:33

[7.2] IMF says central bank digital currencies can replace cash — CNBC

Kristalina Georgieva, managing director of the IMF, stated that central bank digital currencies (CBDCs) have the potential to replace cash, offering resilience and improving financial inclusion. Over 100 countries are exploring CBDCs, with 11 already adopting them, and 53 in advanced planning stages.