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Mobile Phone Records May Predict Epidemics of Mosquito-Borne Dengue Virus
A new study led by researchers at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health finds that mobile phone records can be used to predict the geographical spread and timing of dengue epidemics. More people around the world are becoming vulnerable to this deadly virus as climate change expands the range of the mosquito that transmits dengue and infected travelers spread the disease across borders. Utilizing the largest data set of mobile phone records ever analyzed to estimate human mobility, the researchers developed an innovative model that can predict epidemics and provide critical early warning to policy makers.
- Categories
- Health Care, Technology
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M-Pesa Opens Up to 3rd Party Developers in Kenya as Safaricom Launches API
When mobile payments and banking come to mind, one most likely thinks of headline-grabbing industry leaders such as Apple, Barclays and Visa. However, the reality is a bit different. The distinction of largest uptake of mobile payment adoption actually belongs to Kenya, and the M-Pesa payment solution.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- Sub-Saharan Africa
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MasterCard Takes Fintech Incubator Global
MasterCard has launched Start Path Global, a globally available partnership programme for retail and fintech start-ups.
- Categories
- Technology
- Tags
- fintech, incubators
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Technology Meets the ‘Loo’: Women-led business utilizes bio-toilets to overcome infrastructure challenges
Namita Banka, a former jewelry designer, took a course in social entreprepreneurship in 2009 and emerged ready to make a difference in her community. A few years later, she incorporated Banka BioLoo to produce environmentally friendly bio-toilets. Here, Sanjay Banka, Namita's husband, talks about the business and the cultural obstacles it's working to overcome.
- Categories
- Agriculture, Environment, Health Care, Technology
- Tags
- public health
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Uber Links With Kia to Expand Fivefold in Africa’s Biggest City
Uber Technologies Inc. is negotiating cheaper deals for new vehicles with Kia Motors Corp. to boost its number of drivers fivefold in the Nigerian city of Lagos, Africa’s biggest, to 3,000 by the end of next year.
- Categories
- Technology, Transportation
- Tags
- transportation
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Citibank to launch financial tech accelerator program in India
Citibank India is in talks with digital payment companies and telecom operators to kick-start its financial tech accelerator program.
- Categories
- Technology
- Region
- South Asia
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This 50-Cent Paper Microscope Could ‘Democratize Science’
A couple of months ago, I received an interesting package in the mail. It looked like a standard manila envelope, but inside was a device that could quite possibly revolutionize the way we view the microscopic world. I'm referring to the Foldscope, an origami-based optical microscope that is small enough to fit inside your pocket.
- Categories
- Education, Health Care, Technology
- Tags
- research
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NexThought Monday – The Future of ‘Blended Learning’ Apps for the Poor:
In this information age, where almost every person is connected, using technology to teach seems like a logical way ahead. Education technology, interwoven with learning, makes it fun for kids. After all, in their minds, technology, including phones, computers and tablets, is traditionally used for playing games. But it’s not that simple.
- Categories
- Education, Technology
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