News in brief

Emerging technologies top 10 list identified [geneva]—Zero-emission cars fuelled by hydrogen and computer chips that mimic the human brain are among the technological breakthroughs recognised as the Top 10 Emerging Technologies of 2015, a list compiled by the World Economic Forum’s Meta-Council on Emerging Technologies. The council compiles the list each year to help raise attention for those technologies its members believe possess the greatest potential for addressing chronic global challenges. This year’s list includes: 1. Fuel cell vehicles—Zero-emission cars that run off hydrogen 2. Next generation robotics—Web-enabled, mobile and capable of tasks ranging from farming to healthcare 3. Recyclable thermoset plastics—A new kind of plastic that cuts landfill waste 4. Precise genetic engineering techniques—A breakthrough offering better crops with less controversy 5. Additive manufacturing—The future of making things, from printable organs to intelligent clothes 6. Emergent artificial intelligence—What happens when a computer can learn on the job? 7. Distributed manufacturing—The factory of the future is online—and on your doorstep 8. “Sense and avoid” drones—Flying robots that check power lines or deliver emergency aid 9. Neuromorphic technology—Computer chips that mimic the connections in the human brain 10. Digital genome—Healthcare in an age when one’s genetic code can be accessed on a USB stick hideCyber threat to aviation [hong kong]—The aviation industry is behind the curve in terms of its response and readiness to the insidious threat posed by cyber criminality whether from criminals, terrorists, nation states or hackers, according to Peter Armstrong, Head of Cyber Strategy for Willis Group Holdings. Speaking at the Willis-IATA-AAPA Aviation Insurance conference, he warned that regulators, manufacturers and operators are only now waking up to the pervasive nature of cyber threats. “We remain concerned cyber risk is not viewed as a significant enabler, amplifier or accelerator of existing risk in the portfolio as well as discrete cyber risk posed, for example, through use of Cloud technologies. This is a boardroom issue representing a sophisticated challenge to sophisticated organisations,” said Mr Armstrong. “Risk management professionals need to bring a focus to this issue and represent it to their boards as a significant extension of existing risk as well as an incremental risk to their businesses.” Seychelles rating [victoria]—Fitch Ratings has affirmed Seychelles’ long-term foreign and local currency Issuer Default Ratings (IDRs) at B+ and BB- respectively. The Outlooks are Stable. The issue ratings on Seychelles’ unsecured foreign currency bonds have also been affirmed at B+. The country ceiling has been affirmed at B+ and the short-term foreign currency IDR at B. The affirmation and the Stable Outlook reflect the following key rating drivers: the rating balances Seychelles’ recent default history; fairly high public debt burden; a large current account deficit and limited economic diversification against high level of GDP per capita; and standards of governance.

News in brief

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