Asia at the Olympics Infographics The modern Olympic Games are the foremost international sporting events in which thousands of athletes from around the world participate in a variety of competitions. The Summer and Winter Olympic Games are each held once every four years, with an interval of two years between them. The first modern Olympics were held 124 years ago in 1896 in the Panathenaic Stadium in Athens, Greece. At those Games, 241 athletes from 14 nations competed in 43 events. Many economic, political and technological advancements later, a whopping 11,091 athletes from 216 nations were set to compete in 339 events at the latest edition of the Summer Games in Tokyo in 2020. Unfortunately, these Games were postponed to 2021, due to the worldwide Covid-19 pandemic.
Has the pandemic pushed Malaysian businesses to embrace digital transformation? Interview We spoke with Peter Kua – data science strategist, entrepreneur, and co-founder of the Disruptive Tech Institute in Kuala Lumpur – to discuss the challenges and opportunities of digital transformation for Malyasian SMEs trying to survive the pandemic.
Social Media Platforms Need to Flatten the Curve of Dangerous Misinformation Commentary The rampant spread of Covid-19 conspiracies serves as a warning that our online information ecosystem can be weaponized well before platform administrators step in. To counter the deluge of viral disinformation, platforms should implement a circuit breaker mechanism to limit the exponential amplification of harmful content. Ellen P. Goodman, Karen Kornbluh
In DR Congo, the challenge is convincing people that coronavirus exists Feature False news is a major threat to the Covid-19 response in DRC. Government distrust, lockdown, and increased social media access accelerate the spread of misinformation and disinformation in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Jean de Dieu Cirhigiri
For people with disabilities, working from home using tech is a relief – and a struggle Analysis Increased use of digital communication tools during the Covid-19 lockdowns has made working from home acceptable – and even more sociable – for many people with disabilities. But technology still has a long way to go toward inclusion. A storyteller, a sales development researcher, a product and graphic designer, and a writer talk about the pros and cons. Hawken Miller
AI’s speed and innovation against Covid-19 points the way for the battle against climate change, too Commentary The Covid-19 pandemic has spurred radical measures worldwide to stem the spread of the virus, and specialists from different fields have taken up the challenge, working together to solve common problems using new technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI). This momentum is a beacon of hope for the fight against climate change. Sasha Luccioni
Can a national ID database ease the burden of Covid-19 in the Philippines? Analysis The pandemic has increased calls for a national ID system to improve access to relief funds. Experts say that the proposed plan may not work and may put data security and privacy at risk. Jasmine Shewakramani
The great leveller? How Covid-19 responses could widen gender inequality in the UK Commentary The coronavirus pandemic – just like society – runs along fault lines of gender, race, class and other inequalities. With women over-represented in vulnerable frontline jobs, there are fears that technologies proposed to tackle the pandemic could inflict harms that differ based on gender. Ella Jakubowska
History of Plastics: Breakthrough in three letters Analysis The first plastics imitated ivory and silk and attracted just a limited market. Things took off after World War II with the rise of PVC. Cheap plastics soon conquered the world. Alexandra Caterbow, Olga Speranskaya
How not to use tech in a pandemic - lessons from the UK Commentary From legal challenges to delays, leaks and policy reversals, the UK has stumbled in its tech response to the pandemic in the same way that it has faltered in its overall strategy, even frequently being forced to change course. A full assessment of what happened will take time, but the record thus far already offers lessons for the future. Frederike Kaltheuner
