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London, Feb 9 (IANS) The European Union has asked digital platforms like Facebook, Google, TikTok and X (Twitter) to give feedback on first-ever draft guidelines to maintain integrity of elections.

The draft guidelines include recommendations to avoid “democratic risks from generative AI and deepfakes”, along with content moderation and political ads transparency.

Online platforms are invited to give feedback to draft election guidelines under the EU’s Digital Services Act (DSA) on the integrity of elections, said the European Commission.

The public consultation is open for feedback until March 7.

“With the Digital Services Act, Europe is the first continent with a law to address systemic risks on online platforms that can have real-world negative effects on our democratic societies,” said Thierry Breton, the EU’s commissioner for internal market.

“2024 is a significant year for elections. That is why we are making full use of all the tools offered by the DSA to ensure platforms comply with their obligations and are not misused to manipulate our elections, while safeguarding freedom of expression,” Breton added.

According to Euro News, these are the first guidelines to mitigate systemic risks on their platforms ahead of the European Parliament elections in June.

"With the Digital Services Act, we have concrete tools to work together with online platforms. We can address the emerging online risks to electoral processes, like deep fakes,” said Margrethe Vestager, the Commission's Vice President.

“We can enable people, in a safe way, to engage, discuss and make up their minds without illegal interference," Vestager added.

“Generative AI can notably be used to mislead voters or to manipulate electoral processes by creating and disseminating inauthentic, misleading synthetic content regarding political actors, false depiction of events, election polls, contexts or narratives,” according to draft guidelines.

Generative AI systems can also produce incorrect, incoherent, or fabricated information, so called ‘hallucinations,’ that misrepresent the reality, and which can potentially mislead voters.

The draft election security guidelines include the recommendation that tech giants put in place “reasonable, proportionate, and effective” mitigation measures tailored to risks related to the creation and “potential large-scale dissemination” of AI-generated fakes.

--IANS

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Kolkata, Jan 14 (IANS) Education, rights of women and queer groups have been among the worst affected due to the ethnic clashes in Manipur which have claimed many lives and left thousands of people displaced, according to Manipuri writers and activists associated with the Matai Society there.

Speaking at an interactive session in Kolkata organised by Varta Trust, a pan-India support service provider to the people from the queer community, on Sunday evening, Saki, who is associated with the Matai Society, said that the events of school and college dropouts have drastically increased in Manipur since the clashes broke out there.

"As per our calculation, if around 2 persons in Manipur are displaced from their roots or residence is somewhere close to 1,50,000, the number of dropouts from schools and colleges will be nothing less than 30,000. Several schools have been burnt down in the ethnic clashes. Of course, some of these students have been accommodated in some other schools, but the number is not adequate," Saki said.

He also said that the sphere of women rights and queer rights are the two other sectors which are badly affected because of the ethnic clashes.

He also said that trading has been affected in Manipur, mainly the supply of ginger and fermented fish from the state.

"This is precisely the reason why the price of ginger has shot up so much the retail markets nationally," Saki said.

According to him, the Moirang constituency in particular and Bishnupur district in general have received many displaced people right from May 3, and "the numbers are very high".

"Matai Society has started a trauma care centre for conflict affected children and youth since May last year. The centre also provided nutritional support, teachers for syllabus study, recycles books and toys and stationary items, among others," Saki added

--IANS

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Amaravati, Jan 14 (IANS) Lakhs of rupees changed hands as despite ban, cockfights were organised on a large scale in parts of Andhra Pradesh on Sunday, the first day of three-day Sankranti festival.

Organisers backed by politicians conducted cockfights on a large scale in East Godavari, West Godavari, Guntur and Krishna districts.

Lakhs of rupees changed hands as revellers bet big on the cockfight, which was banned in 2018 on the orders of the Supreme Court.

Prominent people from various parts of the state and other states were among hundreds of spectators and punters.

They included politicians of all hues, businessmen and celebrities. Cockfights were held in Gudivada, Penamaluru, Kaikalur, Gannavarm, Nandigama, Jaggayyapet, and Mylavaram constituencies under the alleged patronage of the leaders of political parties.

Wads of currency notes could be seen among the hands of organisers as well-trained cocks with small knives attached to their legs fought amid cheers by the spectators.

The fight often ends with the death of one of the two birds. Hundreds of people participated in the betting at the competitions, which are likely to continue for three days.

The organisers arranged generators and flood lights to organise the cockfights throughout the night.

Special galleries were arranged for women and VVIPs.

People from far-off places and even from neighbouring states of Telangana, Odisha and Tamil Nadu were participating in the betting.

Like in the past, the organisers built sprawling arenas in towns and villages.

Some even installed digital screens to beam the fight between roosters live.

They also deployed bouncers and installed CCTV cameras to deal with anyone creating problems.

The arenas built for cockfights and other games as part of Sankranti festivities resembled huge cinema settings or cricket fields.

Elaborate arrangements were made for parking of cars and other vehicles of the participants.

The organisers also provided passes to the spectators, tokens to those betting on cockfights and also wristbands for the participants.

The appeals by groups working for animal rights to the authorities to implement the court orders had no impact.

The organisers argue that cockfights are a part of culture and tradition.

People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) India had stated on Saturday that on its complaint, the Animal Welfare Board has issued emergency advisory to Andhra Pradesh and Telangana to stop cockfights during Makar Sankranti.

The NGO claimed that despite a ban on cockfighting in the country, arenas were set up and steroids and alcohol administered to roosters.

According to PETA, the Animal Welfare Board of India (AWBI) swiftly issued a letter to the Andhra Pradesh Animal Welfare Board and the Telangana State Animal Welfare Board to direct authorities to take appropriate actions under the law and furnish an action taken report.

Cockfighting is prohibited under Sections 11(1) (m) (ii) and (n) of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.

PETA India also sent letters to state police in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana urging action and offering to take in seized birds.

The Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police has issued instructions to unit officers to be vigilant against cockfighting during Makar Sankranti.

According to PETA, roosters raised for fighting are often kept in cramped cages and tormented in practice fights.

Their eyes may be gouged out, their wings and legs broken, their lungs punctured, or their spinal cord severed.

In fights, one or both birds may die and both are often critically injured.

At these events, roosters who are fitted with blades for cockfighting have accidentally killed humans and gambling is common, PETA said.

--IANS

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London, Jan 14 (IANS) The annual total of deaths from fungal disease worldwide has risen to 3.75 million, double the previous estimate, according to a global study.

The study, published in The Lancet Infectious Diseases, also calculates an annual total at about 6.55 million acute cases using data from over 80 countries.

Though fungal disease has multiple causes, the updated mortality figures nevertheless dwarf deaths from other single pathogens, killing six times more people than malaria, and almost three times as many than tuberculosis.

Previous estimates were imprecise, as many fungal diseases exacerbate an existing disorder, itself often severe, such as leukaemia or AIDS, argued Professor David Denning, a professor of infectious disease at The University of Manchester.

However, according to the study, of the deaths linked to fungal disease, around 68 per cent -- or 2.55 million were likely to have been directly caused by it.

Around 1.2 million deaths (32 per cent) had other underlying disease, with fungal disease contributing. About a third of 3.23 million chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) deaths worldwide are linked to infection with the fungus Aspergillus, finds Professor Denning.

Though pulmonary tuberculosis was classified as the cause of death in 1.2 million people in 2019, as many as 340,000 (28 per cent) of these could actually be fungal disease deaths. Of the estimated 311,594 leukaemia deaths globally in 2020, 14,000 (4.5 per cent) could be attributable to aspergillosis, and some to other fungal infections.

Lung and bronchus cancer annual deaths stand at 1.8 million, with the new estimate indicating that aspergillosis is implicated in 49,000 deaths (2.7 per cent) of them.

Candida -- another type of fungal infection -- is a serious problem in intensive care, complex surgical patients, diabetes, cancer and renal failure, as well as premature babies. The researchers estimate that about 1.57 million people suffer from Candida bloodstream infection or invasive candidiasis with 995,000 deaths (63.6 per cent), each year.

"This work is the first global comprehensive annual incidence estimate of fungal disease, yet many gaps and uncertainties remain,” Professor Denning said.

"Our prior estimates of annual mortality were 1.5 to 2 million, yet we now find the probable number dying with or of a fungal infection is double this at about 3.75 million,” he said.

--IANS

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Adelaide, Jan 14 (IANS) With Brian Lara being the mentor to an inexperienced West Indies Test team ahead of their Tests against Australia, wicketkeeper-batter Joshua da Silva said the knowledge of the legendary batter about batting and adapting to the conditions is second to none.

Though Lara will be commentating for Fox Cricket on the Tests in Adelaide and Brisbane, Lara will also be mentoring the West Indies team, who have seven uncapped players in their 15-man squad. Lara had been in the same capacity when West Indies toured South Africa last year.

"The knowledge he has is second to none. What he's done for the game, what he's done for West Indies cricket on his own … so just to have him around, just his presence alone speaks for itself. "

"He's worked with everyone (in the current squad), he's our mentor so he's going to be helping everybody, bowlers and batters. Because he has so much experience I think everybody can learn from him," said da Silva to reporters at the Adelaide Oval.

Batter Kavem Hodge, seam-bowling all-rounder Justin Greaves and fast-bowler Shamar Joseph are the likely debutants for Adelaide Test. West Indies were comprehensively beaten in their last two Tests in Australia in 2022.

Da Silva, who scored a century in a warm-up match against Cricket Australia XI at the Karen Rolton Oval last week, thinks the fresh faces can help them put up a better showing in the Tests.

"Last year is last year and we're here to try again. We have a few new faces so we are going to have a bit of new blood coming in. It's going to be exciting. Everybody's keen. Seven uncapped players. If they haven't gotten a taste, they're really raring to go get a taste of it. So, the mood in the camp is great."

"Every one of us here is looking forward to making the West Indies a winning team again, that's the main goal we have. We talk about it every day, about getting back to those days. But it's a new era now and we're just looking forward to making our own brand and playing that brand of cricket."

"Last year is last year and we're here to try again. We're going to give our best effort, we have a few new faces so there's going to be a bit of new blood coming in. I know the boys are excited and I'm excited and raring to go," he concluded.

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 25 (IANS) He says the guiding thought was ensuring unusual experiences, doing formal things in informal spaces, and vice-versa. For him, it was important to look at newer groups from across the country, and how their work is smashing ‘order’, and conveying the unsaid.

Theatre director Quasar Thakore Padamsee, curator of the theatre segment at the recently concluded Serendipity Arts Festival-2023 in Goa, tells IANS that it was important not to play safe and present the form in multiple and novel ways.

Padamsee, who helmed the curation before as well, says that in the beginning one mostly tries to capture the greatest hits. “However, over some time, we have achieved a lot and the confidence to take greater risks and the ambition has grown. We are constantly finding things that can be done differently. This is also one of the few festivals that has such a good relationship with space. There is so much cross-pollinating between art forms and a very interesting merger happens. It is very liberating to witness how art forms are shifting and coming together in a modern context,” he says about the festival that witnessed 150 events, works by over 300 artists, and 15 commissioned projects.

The theatre segment offered a wide range encompassing many foundations. From war, mental health, and alienation to LGBT+ themes.

The play ‘Jump’, directed and written by Maneesh Verma was performed on the terrace of a building, while Vikram Phukan’s ‘Postcards from Goa’ was ‘staged’ on a walking trail. ‘Afganisthan is Not Funny’ was brought forth using photographs while Tim Supple’s ‘Lives of Clay’, performed by Vidya Thirunarayan was experienced in a garden. ‘Aur Theatre Karo’ by Gopal Das was a collection of songs he had composed for the stage over decades.

The curator, who insisted that all participating groups underwent workshops to create more and new roots in the space for exchange of ideas adds, “A young theatre artist is excited to discuss things. Such festivals open doors about things that they might not have access to.”

Talk to Padamsee, who has directed and produced over 20 plays with his Mumbai-based theatre company QTP, about corporate funding in theatre and he laments that while 15-20 years back, the corporate world wanted to be seen as ‘giving’, but now everything is about sales. “Believe it or not, sometimes they even ask how their product will be placed on the stage. Everything has become just about sales, sadly. Also, most corporates will not touch a play that is difficult or experimental. Precisely why festivals are extremely important for theatre groups so they can tell the stories in the ways they want to.”

Even as several unique productions have been coming from small towns in the past few years, the director admits that are more connected to what is happening around them. “To be universal, you have to be connected. The experiences of major cities are becoming more similar...”

Even as his theatre company turns 25 next year, Padamsee wants to shut down all the old plays in the first half of the year. “We will be running one of our newer shows called ‘Lungs’ which is about a couple who are deliberating whether to bring a child into the world or not because it will add to the carbon footprint,” he concludes.

--IANS

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London, Dec 24 (IANS) Sniffing women’s tears lowers brain activity related to aggression in men, reducing aggressive behaviour, researchers have discovered.

The Weizmann Institute of Science in Israel conducted the study, which discovered that human tears include a chemical signal that decreases activity in two aggression-related brain regions.

In the study, published in the journal PLOS Biology. In the study, researchers, led by PhD student Shani Agron from the institute's Brain Science Lab, set out to determine whether tears have the same aggression-blocking effect in people as they do in rodents.

In a series of experiments, men were exposed to either women’s emotional tears or saline, without knowing what they were sniffing or being able to distinguish between the two.

Following that, they played a two-player game designed to generate hostile behaviour in one player towards the other, who was portrayed as cheating.

When given the opportunity, the men could get revenge on the perceived cheaters by causing them to lose money, though they themselves gained nothing.

After sniffing women's emotional tears, the men's revenge seeking aggressive behaviour throughout the game decreased by 44 per cent, or roughly in half, the researchers noted.

The researchers mentioned that this result seemed equivalent to the effect observed in rodents, but rodents have a structure in their noses called the vomeronasal organ that picks up social chemical signals.

"These findings suggest that tears are a chemical blanket offering protection against aggression – and that this effect is common to rodents and humans, and perhaps to other mammals as well," said Prof Noam Sobel, head of the Brain Sciences Department.

Agron said: "We knew that sniffing tears lowers testosterone, and that lowering testosterone has a greater effect on aggression in men than in women, so we began by studying the impact of tears on men because this gave us higher chances of seeing an effect."

--IANS

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New Delhi, Dec 24 (IANS) If we make smart investments now, artificial intelligence (AI) can make the world a more equitable place, reducing or even eliminating the lag time between when the rich world gets an innovation and when the poor world does, billionaire Bill Gates has said.

In a blog post titled ‘The road ahead reaches a turning point in 2024,’ the Microsoft Co-founder said that we can learn a lot from global health about how to make AI more equitable.

“The main lesson is that the product must be tailored to the people who will use it,” he wrote.

One of the biggest impacts so far is on creating new medicines. Drug discovery requires combing through massive amounts of data, and “AI tools can speed up that process significantly”.

“Some companies are already working on cancer drugs developed this way. But a key priority of the Gates Foundation in AI is ensuring these tools also address health issues that disproportionately affect the world's poorest, like AIDS, TB, and malaria,” he stressed.

Can AI combat antibiotic resistance?

Nana Kofi Quakyi from the Aurum Institute in Ghana is working on an AI-powered tool that helps health workers prescribe antibiotics without contributing to antimicrobial resistance (AMR).

“The tool will comb through all the available information—including local clinical guidelines and health surveillance data about which pathogens are currently at risk of developing resistance in the area—and make suggestions for the best drug, dosage, and duration,” Gates informed.

On the question can AI help treat high-risk pregnancies, Gates met some of the researchers at non-profit Armaan this year, who hope to use artificial intelligence to improve the odds for new mothers in India.

“Their large language model will one day act as a copilot for health workers treating high-risk pregnancies. It can be used in both English and Telugu, and the coolest part is that it automatically adjusts to the experience level of the person using it—whether you’re a brand-new nurse or a midwife with decades of experience,” the billionaire philanthropist said.

On a question can AI help people assess their risk for HIV, he said that for many people, talking to a doctor or nurse about their sexual history can be uncomfortable.

“A new South African chatbot aims to make HIV risk assessment a lot easier. It acts like an unbiased and nonjudgmental counsellor who can provide around-the-clock advice,” said Gates.

“If I had to make a prediction, in high-income countries like the United States, I would guess that we are 18–24 months away from significant levels of AI use by the general population,” Gates added.

“In African countries, I expect to see a comparable level of use in three years or so. That’s still a gap, but it’s much shorter than the lag times we’ve seen with other innovations”.

--IANS

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The nonprofit has demanded the UN chief's resignation over his remarks.

The Combat Antisemitism Movement in a statement said that it was unbelievable and unconscionable as how out of touch with realityGuterres was.

CAM CEO Sacha Roytman Dratwa said: “Over the last couple of weeks, our generation has had a chance to reflect and better understand how the Holocaust was allowed to happen by the silence and complicity of global decision-makers and opinion-shapers in the face of Nazi-style atrocities.

“The fact that the so-called leader of the most prominent international institution has engaged in victim-blaming shows how he clearly has different rules for Jews among all the other peoples of the world.

“He sees the blood of masses of Jews spilled and can only think of the political ramifications. Would he have said that the Holocaust didn’t happen in a vacuum, which is a repugnant but sadly increasing global sentiment?.

“These comments are just a thin whisper away and hold the Jewish people uniquely responsible for their own massacres, rapes, beheadings, and kidnappings.”

CAM joins the growing number of people and institutions calling for Gutteres’ immediate resignation as UN Secretary-General, she said .

--IANS

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PDS 70 is a K-type star, cooler than Sun and hosts both an inner disk and outer disk of gas and dust, separated by a 8 billion kilometre gap, and within that gap are two known gas-giant planets.

Webb's MIRI (Mid-Infrared Instrument) detected the presence of water in the inner disk of the system, at distances of less than 160 million kilometres from the star -- the region where rocky, terrestrial planets may be forming.

This is the first detection of water in the terrestrial region of a disk already known to host two or more protoplanets, said researchers in the paper published in the journal Nature.

“We’ve seen water in other disks, but not so close in and in a system where planets are currently assembling. We couldn’t make this type of measurement before Webb,” said lead author Giulia Perotti of the Max Planck Institute for Astronomy (MPIA) in Heidelberg, Germany.

“This discovery is extremely exciting, as it probes the region where rocky planets similar to Earth typically form,” added MPIA director Thomas Henning, a co-author on the paper.

PDS 70 is estimated to be 5.4 million years old. This is relatively old in terms of stars with planet-forming disks, which made the discovery of water vapour surprising.

Astronomers haven’t yet detected any planets forming within the inner disk of PDS 70. However, they do see the raw materials for building rocky worlds in the form of silicates.

The detection of water vapour implies that if rocky planets are forming there, they will have water available to them from the beginning.

The origin of water is also not clear. The team aims to use two more of Webb’s instruments, NIRCam (Near-Infrared Camera) and NIRSpec (Near-Infrared Spectrograph) to study the PDS 70 system in an effort to glean an even greater understanding.

Webb is an international programme led by NASA with its partners, ESA (European Space Agency) and the Canadian Space Agency.

--IANS

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