China & Russia Could Disrupt Critical US Infrastructure

Link: www.technologyreview.com

China and Russia could disrupt critical national infrastructure in the US, says intelligence report

Both China and Russia are capable of launching cyberattacks that could bring down electricity networks or hospitals, according to the latest annual US Worldwide Threat Assessment.

The threats: The 42-page report, compiled by the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, cites cyberattacks, online misinformation, and election interference as the top security concerns facing the US today. It identifies China and Russia as the biggest sources of potential attacks on US infrastructure (it provides the example of natural-gas pipelines), with the ability to cause disruption for days or even weeks. The review said Russia could carry out cyber-espionage and launch influence campaigns similar to those conducted during the 2016 US presidential election, and that is “becoming more adept at using social media to alter how we think, behave, and decide.”

https://www.technologyreview.com/the-download/612849/china-and-russia-could-disrupt-us-critical-national-infrastructure-says/

RELATED ARTICLES:

1000 Ontario Patients A Day Being Treated In The Hospital Hallway

Link: www.thestar.com

1,000 Ontario hospital patients a day being treated in corridors: Report

Roughly 1,000 hospital patients in Ontario are getting medical attention in corridors instead of proper treatment spaces on “any given day,” Dr. Rueben Devlin says in his first report to Premier Doug Ford on improving health care and ending “hallway medicine.”

While the retired head of Humber River Hospital notes there is “much to be proud of” in the provincial health care system, his report found it is “too complicated” to navigate after hearing from more than 340 patients.

https://www.thestar.com/politics/provincial/2019/01/31/1000-ontario-hospital-patients-a-day-being-treated-in-corridors-report.html

Toxic Air Closes Schools In Thailand

Link:

Bangkok shuts hundreds of schools as some of world’s most toxic air shrouds city

(Bloomberg) — Thai officials shut hundreds of schools in Bangkok on Wednesday as some of the world’s most toxic air hung over the city.

The metropolis of about 10 million people closed 437 government schools until Friday, its local authority said, prompting private institutions to follow suit. The air quality index, or AQI, was around 170 in the afternoon, the fourth-worst major urban reading globally, according to data from AirVisual, which tracks pollution levels.

Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-Ocha, leader of Thailand’s military government, said he’s seeking temporary closure of some factories during pollution spikes to tackle the problem. He added that he’s ordering soldiers to inspect and report back on the worst polluters.

“In the short-term, shutting down factories may mean accepting some economic damage, but protecting public health must be the utmost priority,” said Kakuko Nagatani-Yoshida, the UN Environment Programme’s regional coordinator for chemicals, waste and air quality.

Link: www.nationalpost.com

https://nationalpost.com/news/world/bangkok-shuts-hundreds-of-schools-as-some-of-worlds-most-toxic-air-shrouds-city

RELATED:

How climate change is behind this week’s extreme cold snap

Baby, it’s frigid outside.

A large swath of Canada, from the Prairies to Nova Scotia, is under a deep freeze. Temperatures in Winnipeg are dipping down to –36 C Monday night with a windchill of almost –50 C. In Windsor, which is typically the warmest spot in Ontario, the overnight temperature will dip to –27 C with a windchill of –40 C.

Link: www.cbc.ca

https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/climate-change-polar-vortex-1.4998820