Global Warming and Hotter Temperatures Trigger More Violence

June 29, 2016

New York, Jun 29: A new study reveals why hot, sweltering weather can trigger aggression as new findings also link that theory to changing climate and weather can also affect human behavior.

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In this new study known as CLASH (Climate Agression, and Self-control in Humans), scientists are suggesting that hot climates that are combined with lesser variation in seasonal temperatures can produce a "faster life strategy" that triggers less focus on the future and less self control, that are all major contributors to aggression and violence.

According to co-author of the study, Brad Bushman from Ohio State University, this clearly show evidence of a faster life strategy that coincides with hotter climates and even lesser temperature variation, which also means that humans tend to be less strict with time, where there is also less use of birth control by having children earlier and more often.

This new study also reveals how countries with constantly warm spells are "irritated" and people are more likely to be outdoors interacting with other humans, which can lead to more opportunities for conflict. New findings also show that hotter temperatures are not just to blame but climates with lesser seasonal variations can be more conducive for violence.

According to co-author of the study, Maria Rinderu from the Vrije Universiteit, Amsterdam, if there is less variation in temperatures combined with heat, it can bring some measure of consistency in daily living. For example, this would mean that there is less necessity to adapt between large swings from hot and cold weather.

She also adds that people who live in consistently hot countries have a "faster life strategy" where they are more concerned with the present rather than the future, resulting in lesser self control.

In contrast, temperature variations can help people plan and prepare for the next season, which can leave less time for conflict. For example, agriculture, hoarding and preparing for cold winters can shape culture in crucial ways.

Researchers also say that with less temperature variation, people are more free to do whatever they want, since they do not need to prepare food and chop wood for the winter. People who are living in hotter climates are also stressed out with environmental factors such as venomous animals and parasites as well.

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Agencies
January 7,2020

Washington, Jan 7: Facebook will ban deepfake videos ahead of the US elections but the new policy will still allow heavily edited clips so long as they are parody or satire, the social media giant said Tuesday.

Deepfake videos are hyper-realistic doctored clips made using artificial intelligence or programs that have been designed to accurately fake real human movements.

In a blog published following a Washington Post report, Facebook said it would begin removing clips that were edited--beyond for clarity and quality--in ways that "aren't apparent to an average person" and could mislead people.

Clips would be removed if they were "the product of artificial intelligence or machine learning that merges, replaces or superimposes content onto a video, making it appear to be authentic," the statement from Facebook vice-president Monika Bickert said.

However, the statement added: "This policy does not extend to content that is parody or satire, or video that has been edited solely to omit or change the order of words."

US media noted the new guidelines would not cover videos such as the 2019 viral clip -- which was not a deepfake -- of House Speaker Nancy Pelosi that appeared to show her slurring her words.

Facebook also gave no indication on the number of people assigned to identify and take down the offending videos, but said videos failing to meet its usual guidelines would be removed, and those flagged clips would be reviewed by teams of third-party fact-checkers -- among them AFP.

The news agency has been paid by the social media giant to fact-check posts across 30 countries and 10 languages as part of a program starting in December 2016, and including more than 60 organisations.

Content labeled "false" is not always removed from newsfeeds but is downgraded so fewer people see it -- alongside a warning explaining why the post is misleading.

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Agencies
June 12,2020

Mumbai, Jun 12: Following an overwhelming response for the mega rights issue of Mukesh Ambani-owned Reliance Industries, the partly paid-up rights shares are set to debut on stock exchanges on June 15.

The biggest ever Rs 53,124 crore rights issue was subscribed 1.59 times and received bids worth Rs 84,000 crore on June 3.

Reliance said the rights issue saw a huge investor interest, including from lakhs of small investors and thousands of institutional investors, both Indian and foreign.

In 2019, Ambani said in the Reliance's annual general meeting that the company will be net zero debt by March 2021. The company is on course to achieve its target ahead of the deadline.

"In spite of the COVID-19 crisis and the lockdowns, the due-diligence by Saudi Aramco for the planned investment in the O2C business is on track as both the parties are committed and actively engaged," he said recently.

"With a strong visibility to these equity infusions, Reliance is set to achieve net zero debt status ahead of its own aggressive timeline. We believe rights issue was a part of the company's strategy of deleveraging its balance sheet," said Ambani. 

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Agencies
March 8,2020

Consumer watchdog Which? has claimed that more than one billion Android phones and tablets are vulnerable to hackers as they no longer supported by security updates.

According to the research report, the most at-risk phones are any that run Android 4 or older and those smartphones running Android 7.0 which can not be updated are also at risk.

Based on data from Google analysed by Which?, two in five android device users around the world are no longer receiving the important updates. Currently, those devices are unlikely to have issues, but the lack of security leaves them open to attack.

"It is very concerning that expensive Android devices have such a short shelf life before they lose security support, leaving millions of users at risk of serious consequences if they fall victim to hackers," Kate Bevan editor Which? said in a statement.

"Google and phone manufacturers need to be upfront about security updates with clear information about how long they will last and what customers should do when they run out. The government must also push ahead with planned legislation to ensure manufacturers are far more transparent about security updates for smart devices and their impact on consumers," Kate added.

Android phone released around 2012 or earlier, including popular models like the Samsung Galaxy S3 and Sony Xperia S, are particularly at risk to hackers.

Which? has made suggestions to Android users on what to consider if they have an older phone that may be at risk.

Any Android device which is more than two years old, check whether it can be updated to a newer version of the operating system. If it is on an earlier version than Android 7.0 Nougat, try to update via Settings> System>Advanced System update.

In case a user is not able tto update the phone, the device could be at risk of being hacked if it is running a version of Android 4 or lower.

A user also need to be careful about downloading apps outside the Google Play store and should also install a mobile anti-virus via an app.

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