Tuesday, November 26, 2019

Top Ten Technologies: Waterless Cities

According to Robert Zimmerman, ... it is 'strange how people who suffer together have stronger connection than people who are most content. . . As great songwriters know, some of the most comforting words in the universe are ‘me too.’ That moment when you find out that your struggle is also someone else’s struggle, that you’re not alone, and that others have been down the same road.
Yet the strongest people with a rich heart are those who win battles we know nothing about ...


Westpac CEO Brian Hartzer quits amid money laundering, child exploitation scandal - NEWS.com.au

Plutus Payroll founder pleads guilty to tax fraud plot

Simon Paul Anquetil has admitted to his role in a conspiracy to defraud the Tax Office of more than $100 million.

China Cables: The risk of reporting on classified Chinese documents is an investigation into one of the 21st century’s most chilling situations: the surveillance and mass detention of ethnic minorities in western China. Secret documents leaked to ICIJ confirm the truth behind the detention and religious repression of more than one million, mostly Muslim civilians in Xinjiang province.

Despite Beijing’s protestations to the contrary, China Cables reveals — in Chinese officials’ own words — that the camps are involuntary indoctrination centers under heavy 24-hour guard.

The classified documents also outline the central role of surveillance technology in suppressing religious expression and dissent by Uighurs and other ethnic minorities across Xinjiang.

China Cables is the result of hundreds of hours of work by the ICIJ team and our collaborators across 14 countries. Reporting on classified Chinese documents in the knowledge that their mere possession could pose grave risks to both sources and reporters is challenging
'Serious misjudgment': policeman fined for giving friend intelligence





No great surprises in spy’s expose of bad behaviour

Q&A reflects on a 'pivotal week in Australian history'



Multimillion-dollar offer from alleged Chinese agent for a prime spot in CSIRO


The moment a Chinese spy decided to defect to Australia


Staring at his own face in a false passport triggered something in Wang Liqiang. After five years undercover he risked losing himself. So he decided to leave.



'Let him stay': Influential Liberal MP urges asylum for Chinese defector


Wang Liqiang is the first Chinese operative to ever blow his cover and has revealed details of how they fund and conduct political interference operations.



Premier to announce toughest water restrictions in a decade
Sydneysiders will not be allowed to use hoses to water gardens or wash cars under Level 2 restrictions to be announced on Thursday.


'Dangerously overworked' paramedics taking more overtime and sick leave



Predictions about the year 2029 using headlines from 2019. "President Xi Will Be Our Stalin", 
"Racism Will Thrive, But No One Will Say the Word", "Child Separation Will Never Be Forgotten".


Defecting Chinese spy offers information trove to Australian government - The Age


Billionaire Andrew Forrest has labelled the unchecked rise of artificial intelligence and big technology companies like Facebook and Amazon as one of his key concerns, saying that when it comes to the digital realm, people “are like mice in a laboratory where no one is in control”.

"I am therefore calling on governments around the world to update their regulatory and legislative frameworks to ensure society is protected from the harm Facebook facilitates by allowing scammers to advertise on its platform ... It's time for a scam free social media."
'Abhorrent': Andrew Forrest's letter to Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg

When Twitter said it would no longer accept political ads on its platform this month, two voices loudly complained. Donald Trump's campaign manager said it was “yet another attempt by the left to silence Trump and conservatives”. Kremlin-funded RT said Twitter had "caved in" to "election-meddling fearmongers".

What happens when the language of democracy is hijacked?

 Forbes, Is Your Law School Worth It?:



It’s no secret going to law school is a big investment in both time and money. But does that investment always pay off? Of course, lawyers often enjoy high salaries, rewarding careers, and more. But where you go to law school can mean a lot in how that investment pays off. New data released from the Department of Education this week gives us a peak into the debt and earnings for law schools across the country. These data show how much the median student borrows for law school (undergraduate debt is excluded) and how much the median student earns one year after earning a law degree. ...

In the chart below, you can see how schools compare. The schools are color coded by the sector of the school. Click here for interactive data.




SAM HANNAH-RANKIN: Even if you’ve completed your course in agile and lined up the authorising environment in favour of change, workplace habits and the relentless daily pressure of government can easily stifle innovation.


Opinion – By Sherrod Brown, Ohio’s senior US senator and Liz Schuler, secretary-treasurer of the AFL-CIO: “The Workers’ Right to Training Act allows employees to evolve as their employers adopt new tech. When the global economy shifted in the late 19th century, working people were the first to adapt. They moved to cities like Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Toledo, Ohio, and worked long hours in unsafe factories. They drove the Industrial Revolution and changed the nature of work forever. When it became clear that employers were exploiting their productivity, the labor movement formed to protest abuses like sweatshops, child labor, and poverty wages. Every day, new technology and workplace innovation is changing how we live, work, and relate to each other. The potential benefits are undeniable—higher productivity, an increased standard of living, and a cleaner, healthier world. Too often, though, when companies decide to adopt new technology, workers are left out of the conversation…”


“One day soon an emerging technology highlighted in this report will allow you to virtually teleport to a distant site and actually feel the handshakes and hugs of fellow cyber travelers. Also close to becoming commonplace: humanoid (and animaloid) robots designed to socialize with people; a system for pinpointing the source of a food-poisoning outbreak in just seconds; minuscule lenses that will pave the way for diminutive cameras and other devices; strong, biodegradable plastics that can be fashioned from otherwise useless plant wastes; DNA-based data-storage systems that will reliably stow ginormous amounts of information; and more. Together with the World Economic Forum, Scientific American convened an international Steering Group of leading technology experts and engaged in an intense process to identify this year’s “Top 10 Emerging Technologies.” After soliciting nominations from additional experts around the globe, the Steering Group evaluated dozens of proposals according to a number of criteria: Do the suggested technologies have the potential to provide major benefits to societies and economies? Could they alter established ways of doing things? Are they still in early stages of development but attracting a lot of interest from research labs, companies or investors? Are they likely to make significant inroads in the next several years? The group sought more information where needed and honed the list in four virtual meetings…”



Auditor-General Report No.13 (2019–20)

Implementation ofthe My Health Record System



Tabled: Monday 25 November 2019

The audit objective was to assess the effectiveness of the implementation of the My Health Record system under the opt-out model.