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In recent months, the audio-based social media app Clubhouse has emerged as Silicon Valley's latest disruptive darling . The format feels familiar: part Twitter, part Facebook Live, part talking on the phone. But as Clubhouse continues to expand, its security and privacy failings have come under increased scrutiny—and left the company scrambling to correct problems and manage expectations. Clubhouse, still in beta and available only on iOS, offers its users “rooms” that are essentially group audio chats. They can also be set as public addresses or panel discussions where some users are “speakers” and the rest are audience members. The platform reportedly has over 10 million users and is valued at $1 billion. Since last year it has been an invite-only haven for Silicon Valley elite and celebrities, including an Elon Musk appearance earlier this month. But the company has struggled both with concrete security issues and more ephemeral questions around how much privacy its users … [Read more...] about Clubhouse’s security and privacy lag behind its explosive growth

The term neurodiversity was coined by Judy Singer in 1998. A lot has changed in the two decades since that first essay about neurological differences was published in The Atlantic . The neurodiversity movement has burgeoned through grassroots organization among people interested in social change. It's gradually making space for itself in government, research, and education . As Steve Silberman argues in his book Neuro-Tribes: The Legacy of Autism and the Future of Neurodiversity , “Neurodiversity advocates propose that instead of viewing this gift as an error of nature—a puzzle to be solved and eliminated with techniques like prenatal testing and selective abortion—society should regard it as a valuable part of humanity’s genetic legacy while ameliorating aspects of autism that can be profoundly disabling without adequate forms of support.” Philosophically, the neurodiversity movement is based on what we might call cerebral pluralism—the idea that each brain is … [Read more...] about Neurodiversity: The Movement

JAKARTA: After applying to more than 200 companies and getting rejected by all, a restless Adhika Prakoso texted his childhood friend Putri Santoso early last year. “Have you found any job?” asked Mr Prakoso, who graduated with a diploma in visual arts in 2016. Ms Santoso replied in the negative, adding that she had sent her resume to more than 500 companies. “What do you think if we start our own business together?” Mr Prakoso said. Ms Santoso jumped at the proposition and suggested that they rope in a common friend, Mr Tri Erwinsyah Putra, who was facing the same dilemma. That evening, the three friends - who lost their hearing as toddlers and knew each other since kindergarten - met up at a shopping mall to brainstorm business ideas. “We settled on opening a cafe. Not just any cafe, but one that exclusively employs deaf people," Mr Prakoso, 29, recounted to CNA through a sign language interpreter. “We decided to call it ‘Kopi Tuli’ (Deaf Cafe), because that would … [Read more...] about Cafe run by deaf people in Indonesia strives to overcome discrimination, one cup at a time

JAKARTA: Indonesia’s President Joko Widodo said he wants to deepen ties and increase cooperation across sectors with Singapore - his country's biggest investor - in an exclusive interview with CNA on Tuesday (Aug 6). “I think moving forward, we will continue to work with Singapore and especially in Batam, Bintan, and Karimun areas. I think we have a lot of cooperation there, whether in the digital sector, the economy, in the tourism sector, industrial sector. I think we will have a lot of cooperation in those areas,” said the former mayor of Solo, more commonly known by the moniker “Jokowi”. Indonesia currently has plans to build its longest sea bridge , connecting the islands of Batam and Bintan which are located near Singapore. The bridge will span seven kilometres with construction expected to begin in 2020. Once completed, having the sea bridge could ease travel and boost business between the two countries. Mr Widodo is also looking to work together with Singapore on … [Read more...] about Indonesia ready for greater cooperation with Singapore across industries: President Joko Widodo

Divestment and Economic Affairs Secretary Atanu Chakraborty told ETCFO in an exclusive interview. He also said that the government’s consideration to hive off NPAs to make PSU assets lucrative cannot be used as a common strategy. On the proposal of large industrial houses owning banks, he said, that is fraught with systemic risks. The former finance ministry official also stressed it’s time that bureaucrats handling disinvestments get protected by law. Edited Excerpts. Q: How can the government make Public Sector Banks “sellable”? Atanu Chakraborty: Bank privatization is one of the boldest political decisions on the economic front in recent times. There are multiple steps that the government can take to ensure the smooth sale of Public Sector Banks. First, it must aim to resolve all outstanding legal issues. Otherwise, the privatization would run into legal hurdles, as happened in case of oil PSUs almost two decades back. This would call for certain amendments in the … [Read more...] about How should Sitharaman sell PSU banks in style? In conversation with Ex DIPAM Secy Atanu Chakraborty