Luxembourg uni develops automatic speech recognition and translation tool
Luxembourg to ban hookah and e-cigarette ads as smoking rates rise among young people
Book Launch in Luxembourg
Book Launch in Luxembourg
The SIMOURQ Association, in collaboration with the Iranian Student's Association, intends to hold a celebration for the launch of precious works and newly published books by SIMOURQ Publications on June 7, 2024, in the city of Luxembourg. On this occasion, enthusiasts of Iranian literature and culture are invited to double the joy and excitement of this celebration with their presence.
In this celebration, works published by the SIMOURQ Association through the esteemed efforts of Iranian writers will be introduced and reviewed. We invite you to adorn the most enriching moments of this celebration with your presence and turn this event into an unforgettable experience with your insights and experiences.
Time: June 7, 2024, at 18:00
Location: University of Luxembourg, Kirchberg Campus
Paul Feidert Conference Room
6, rue Richard Coudenhove-Kalergi
L-1359 Luxembourg
Program:
Introduction of the book and author
Review and analysis
Q&A session with the authors
Live music performance by Iranian artists
And finally, refreshments and friendly conversations
We hope that with your presence, this celebration will become an unforgettable experience.
The event is free and open to the public.
Sincerely,
SIMOURQ Association and the Iranian Students Association - Luxembourg
Luxembourg to ban hookah and e-cigarette ads as smoking rates rise among young people
Luxembourg - May 27, 2024
The number of people smoking hookah in Luxembourg has doubled in a year, posing a serious health risk, according to the Luxembourg Cancer Foundation.
While overall tobacco use has stagnated, Luxembourg saw a 27% increase in hookah use in 2023, up from 11% the previous year, according to figures released by the foundation. Hookah is particularly popular among young people, with 47% of 16-24-year-olds and 38% of 25-34-year-olds using it. Meanwhile, 36% of 16-24-year-olds and a quarter of 25-34-year-olds use e-cigarettes.
"The tobacco industry knows that classic cigarettes are on the decline and this is a way to hook young people by other means," said the director of the Cancer Foundation.
Hookah in a hookah bar with friends or an e-cigarette with any flavor and at any time of the day for a solitary moment. These are the new advertising methods and products of the tobacco industry.
Ban to be implemented soon by law
The director of the Cancer Foundation added that hookah is no less dangerous than cigarettes. "When you smoke hookah, you enjoy it for an hour," he said. "With a cigarette, it's a few minutes." The Minister of Health has recently presented a bill to the Luxembourg Parliament that also targets hookah, e-cigarettes and nicotine pouches, which should be treated "like classic cigarettes" for these new tobacco products.
All these products will soon "not be able to be sold to under 18s, with a ban on advertising or free distribution, as well as consumption in certain places of social life and more stringent requirements for importers and hookah bars".
The bill is expected to be passed by parliament in the coming months.
The health consequences of hookah and e-cigarettes
Hookah and e-cigarettes are not harmless. They contain nicotine, which is addictive and can damage the brain, especially in young people. Hookah smoke also contains many other harmful substances, including tar, carbon monoxide and heavy metals. These substances can cause cancer, heart disease, respiratory problems and other health problems.
What can be done to reduce tobacco use among young people?
In addition to banning advertising and restricting access to hookah and e-cigarettes, there are other things that can be done to reduce tobacco use among young people:
Raise awareness of the dangers of tobacco use.
Educate young people about the addictive nature of nicotine.
Provide support and resources to help young people quit smoking.
Create smoke-free environments.
By taking these steps, we can help protect the health of young people and reduce the burden of tobacco-related disease.
The Luxembourg Cancer Foundation
The Luxembourg Cancer Foundation is a non-profit organization that works to prevent cancer, improve the lives of cancer patients and their families, and support research into cancer. The foundation offers a variety of programs and services, including:
Prevention education programs
Support groups for cancer patients and their families
Financial assistance for cancer patients
Research funding
If you are interested in learning more about the Luxembourg Cancer Foundation or supporting their work, please visit their website at https://www.cancer.lu/fr
Luxembourg uni develops automatic speech recognition and translation tool
Luxembourg - May 27, 2024
The University of Luxembourg is working on an automatic speech recognition and translation tool.
"It's a way to help Luxembourgish evolve in the digital age," says Professor Peter Gilles, who is leading the project.
For nearly two years, the University of Luxembourg has been working on automatic speech recognition software for Luxembourgish. A program that can automatically transcribe an audio file in Luxembourgish.
Out of 100 words transcribed, there are about 10 errors. The system has particular difficulty with proper nouns or places. To develop this system, the university needed transcribed audio files, which were provided to them by the Chamber of Deputies.
At present, the program can recognize when a speaker changes language. It can also transcribe French and English. Recently, thanks to this tool, it is possible to translate an audio file in Luxembourgish into French, English, German and Portuguese. The project manager hopes to make the political debates of the Luxembourg Chamber of Deputies more accessible to residents who do not understand the language.
The University of Luxembourg now wants to create a "text-to-speech" tool for Luxembourgish. Because Luxembourgish is a language spoken by few people, all technological tools must be used to make it more accessible.
The importance of automatic speech recognition and translation for Luxembourgish
Automatic speech recognition and translation can have a significant impact on the Luxembourgish language. It can help to:
Make Luxembourgish more accessible to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Translate Luxembourgish content into other languages, making it more widely available.
Develop new language learning tools and resources.
Preserve the Luxembourgish language for future generations.
The University of Luxembourg's work on automatic speech recognition and translation is a valuable contribution to the development of the Luxembourgish language.
The challenges of developing automatic speech recognition and translation for Luxembourgish
Developing automatic speech recognition and translation for Luxembourgish is a challenging task. Some of the challenges include:
The small size of the Luxembourgish population, which means that there is less data available to train the systems.
The dialectal variation of Luxembourgish, which can make it difficult for the systems to recognize all speakers.
The lack of resources for developing and maintaining the systems.
Despite these challenges, the University of Luxembourg is making progress in developing automatic speech recognition and translation tools for Luxembourgish. Their work has the potential to make a significant impact on the language and its speakers.
What Do You Know About the Naturist Association?
Luxembourg - May 27, 2024
The increasingly popular activity of hiking naked in nature is gaining more enthusiasts, with designated trails for this unique form of outdoor recreation. While this practice is not yet common in Luxembourg, it is becoming more widespread in France, Belgium, and Germany, where nudist parades are more frequently organized. As is the tradition, the Naturist Association will open the doors of their "recreation site" to members this weekend. This secure 4-hectare area, surrounded by nature and located just ten minutes by car from the capital, offers a tranquil and pleasant place to unwind after a busy day.
Most visitors to this location have been members for several years. However, the site remains undisclosed to the public. Visits are organized following prior contact to maintain discretion and avoid harassment from opponents, even though this activity is not illegal. Within this space, individuals are free to move about as they please, including being completely naked.
One member of the association shared that naturism is "a way to connect with nature and show profound respect for it." He acknowledged that organizing nudist parades and hikes in Luxembourg is far more complex, and currently, they do not dare to conduct naked hikes. The association currently boasts over 300 members.
During the rainy season, the site sees fewer visitors. The association is hopeful that the weather will improve in June and July. The practice is gaining traction in the country. "We have members from all walks of life, from laborers to bank managers and employees of European institutions."
