Germany has charged five Tajik men with membership of an Islamic State terror cell that recruited members and planned attacks on German soil, prosecutors said on Monday.&nbsp;

A sixth member of the same cell, Ravsan B, was sentenced to seven years in jail in January after being prosecuted separately. &nbsp;

The five men charged on February 1, named as Farhodshoh K, Muhammadali G, Azizjon B, Sunatullokh K and Komron B, are accused of having various roles in the cell founded in January 2019.&nbsp;

"The aim of the cell members, who were in contact with IS leaders in Syria and Afghanistan, was to take up the armed struggle against what they saw as 'infidels' and to commit attacks in Germany," the indictment said.&nbsp;

The men allegedly circulated in the same circles as the Tajik-born perpetrator behind the Stockholm truck attack of April 2017, as well as the Macedonian-Austrian national, who gunned down four people in Vienna in November.&nbsp;

One of them, Azizjon B, is said to have been involved in the same online network used to recruit the Stockholm attacker.&nbsp;

Azizijon B is accused of being an IS member since at least March 2017 and carrying out instructions from high-ranking IS leaders in Afghanistan from Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state. &nbsp;

He also allegedly recruited members for IS in Germany, leading to the founding of the cell in January 2019.&nbsp;

The cell members had been planning to attack targets including US army bases in Germany, prosecutors said on arresting four of them in April.&nbsp;

The fifth -- Komron B -- was transferred from Albania before being arrested in August.&nbsp;

The group allegedly held training sessions, including paintball games, attended by members of the Islamist scene, who had contact with the Vienna attacker.&nbsp;

They also ordered bomb parts online and stocked up on firearms and ammunition.

Germany has charged five Tajik men with membership of an Islamic State terror cell that recruited members and planned attacks on German soil, prosecutors said on Monday.

Germany has charged five Tajik men with membership of an Islamic State terror cell that recruited members and planned attacks on German soil, prosecutors said on Monday. A sixth member of the same cell, Ravsan B, was sentenced to seven years in jail in January after being prosecuted separately. The five men charged on February 1, named as Farhodshoh K, Muhammadali G, Azizjon B, Sunatullokh K and Komron B, are accused of having various roles in the cell founded in January 2019. "The aim of the cell members, who were in contact with IS leaders in Syria and Afghanistan, was to take up the armed struggle against what they saw as 'infidels' and to commit attacks in Germany," the indictment said. The men allegedly circulated in the same circles as the Tajik-born perpetrator behind the Stockholm truck attack of April 2017, as well as the Macedonian-Austrian national, who gunned down four people in Vienna in November. One of them, Azizjon B, is said to have been involved in the same online network used to recruit the Stockholm attacker. Azizijon B is accused of being an IS member since at least March 2017 and carrying out instructions from high-ranking IS leaders in Afghanistan from Germany's North Rhine-Westphalia state. He also allegedly recruited members for IS in Germany, leading to the founding of the cell in January 2019. The cell members had been planning to attack targets including US army bases in Germany, prosecutors said on arresting four of them in April. The fifth -- Komron B -- was transferred from Albania before being arrested in August. The group allegedly held training sessions, including paintball games, attended by members of the Islamist scene, who had contact with the Vienna attacker. They also ordered bomb parts online and stocked up on firearms and ammunition.

Germany charges five Tajiks over membership in IS cell

European Union (EU) governments should be on guard against fraudsters offering fake Covid-19 vaccines, the bloc's anti-fraud office said on Monday, as the continent struggles to roll out mass inoculation while lockdowns ravage its economy.&nbsp;

The EU aims to vaccinate 70 per cent of its adult population by the end of the summer. That's a tall order as the inoculation campaign has been hit by delays and supply disruptions so far this year.&nbsp;

The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) said it was aware of reports of fraudsters seeking to sell vaccines in the EU, including the fake ones.&nbsp;

"They are hoaxes organised to defraud national authorities looking to step up the pace of vaccination to keep their citizens safe," the agency said in a statement.&nbsp;

OLAF said it was extending its inquiry into fake Covid-19 protection products to tackle illicit vaccine trade coming from illegal imports as well as counterfeit medicines.&nbsp;

Since opening the investigation last March, OLAF said, it helped identify over 1,000 suspicious operations and seize over 14 million items, including faulty face masks and fake test kits.&nbsp;

The Covid-19 public health crisis and related economic slump are the top of the EU government's agenda in a year when countries from Germany and the Netherlands to Bulgaria and the Czech Republic hold national elections.&nbsp;

European Union (EU) governments should be on guard against fraudsters offering fake Covid-19 vaccines, the bloc's anti-fraud office said on Monday, as the continent struggles to roll out mass inoculation while lockdowns ravage its economy.

European Union (EU) governments should be on guard against fraudsters offering fake Covid-19 vaccines, the bloc's anti-fraud office said on Monday, as the continent struggles to roll out mass inoculation while lockdowns ravage its economy. The EU aims to vaccinate 70 per cent of its adult population by the end of the summer. That's a tall order as the inoculation campaign has been hit by delays and supply disruptions so far this year. The European Anti-Fraud Office (OLAF) said it was aware of reports of fraudsters seeking to sell vaccines in the EU, including the fake ones. "They are hoaxes organised to defraud national authorities looking to step up the pace of vaccination to keep their citizens safe," the agency said in a statement. OLAF said it was extending its inquiry into fake Covid-19 protection products to tackle illicit vaccine trade coming from illegal imports as well as counterfeit medicines. Since opening the investigation last March, OLAF said, it helped identify over 1,000 suspicious operations and seize over 14 million items, including faulty face masks and fake test kits. The Covid-19 public health crisis and related economic slump are the top of the EU government's agenda in a year when countries from Germany and the Netherlands to Bulgaria and the Czech Republic hold national elections.

EU's anti-fraud agency warns against fake Covid vaccines

Pakistan started registration of elderly people aged 65 years and above to vaccinate them against the coronavirus on Monday, as the national tally of the Covid-19 cases reached 564,077.&nbsp;

Planning Minister Asad Umar, who is also chief of the anti-corona National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), said that the vaccination of the registered elderly people would begin next month.&nbsp;

Pleased to announce that registration for getting Covid vaccine is now open for all citizens, who are 65 years of age and above. Just write down your computerised national identity card (CNIC) number and send message on 1166. Vaccinations for this age group will start in March, he tweeted.&nbsp;

The vaccination of the frontline healthcare workers in the country started on February 2, a day after China donated 500,000 Sinopharm doses to Pakistan.&nbsp;

According to the Ministry of National Health Services, 1,048 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while 26 patients died in the same period, taking the total number of fatalities to 12,333.&nbsp;

A total of 525,997 have recovered from the disease.&nbsp;

The authorities carried out 32,019 tests in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate stood at 3.27 per cent.

Pakistan started registration of elderly people aged 65 years and above to vaccinate them against the coronavirus on Monday, as the national tally of the Covid-19 cases reached 564,077.

Pakistan started registration of elderly people aged 65 years and above to vaccinate them against the coronavirus on Monday, as the national tally of the Covid-19 cases reached 564,077. Planning Minister Asad Umar, who is also chief of the anti-corona National Command and Operation Center (NCOC), said that the vaccination of the registered elderly people would begin next month. Pleased to announce that registration for getting Covid vaccine is now open for all citizens, who are 65 years of age and above. Just write down your computerised national identity card (CNIC) number and send message on 1166. Vaccinations for this age group will start in March, he tweeted. The vaccination of the frontline healthcare workers in the country started on February 2, a day after China donated 500,000 Sinopharm doses to Pakistan. According to the Ministry of National Health Services, 1,048 new Covid-19 cases were reported in the last 24 hours, while 26 patients died in the same period, taking the total number of fatalities to 12,333. A total of 525,997 have recovered from the disease. The authorities carried out 32,019 tests in the last 24 hours. The positivity rate stood at 3.27 per cent.

Pak begins to register elderly for Covid-19 vaccination

In a stern warning to the anti-coup protesters, Myanmar's military said the agitators could face up to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces anywhere across the country.&nbsp;

Long sentences and fines will also apply to those found to incite 'hatred or contempt' towards the coup leaders, the military said. The legal changes were announced as armoured vehicles appeared on the streets of several cities, the BBC reported on Monday.&nbsp;

The media outlet Frontier Myanmar also reported that Myanmar security forces opened fire to disperse protesters in the city of Mandalay on Monday.&nbsp;

The number of casualties was not clear, it said. According to a member of a student union in the city, some people were wounded.&nbsp;

Also read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/south-asia/myanmar-protests-armoured-vehicles-deployed-in-yangon-protests-erupt-after-internet-blackout-363705">Myanmar: Armoured vehicles in Yangon, protests erupt after internet blackout</a>

Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in protests in recent days.&nbsp;

The demonstrators are demanding the release from detention of their elected leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the restoration of democracy.&nbsp;

On Monday, Suu Kyi's lawyer said she would be detained for a further two days. She will then be tried via video link at a court in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday, Khin Maung Zaw added.&nbsp;

Suu Kyi was rounded up with other members of the government on February 1, but her detention was due to end on February 15.&nbsp;

The charges against her include possession of unlawful communication devices - walkie-talkies used by her security staff.&nbsp;

Her party was elected in a resounding victory last November, but the military has alleged voter fraud without providing proof.&nbsp;

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The military's heightened presence is the latest sign of a potential crackdown on opposition to the coup.&nbsp;

The ruling junta has also announced a series of legal changes, imposing long prison sentences and fines on anyone found to incite hatred towards the military, 'by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation'.&nbsp;

In a statement posted on a military website on Monday, it said that people preventing the security forces from carrying out their duties could face seven years in jail, while those found to stir up fear or unrest in the public could be imprisoned for three years.&nbsp;

The news came hours after the Internet was restored.&nbsp;

In a stern warning to the anti-coup protesters, Myanmar's military said the agitators could face up to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces anywhere across the country.

In a stern warning to the anti-coup protesters, Myanmar's military said the agitators could face up to 20 years in prison if they obstruct the armed forces anywhere across the country. Long sentences and fines will also apply to those found to incite 'hatred or contempt' towards the coup leaders, the military said. The legal changes were announced as armoured vehicles appeared on the streets of several cities, the BBC reported on Monday. The media outlet Frontier Myanmar also reported that Myanmar security forces opened fire to disperse protesters in the city of Mandalay on Monday. The number of casualties was not clear, it said. According to a member of a student union in the city, some people were wounded. Also read | Myanmar: Armoured vehicles in Yangon, protests erupt after internet blackout Hundreds of thousands of people have taken part in protests in recent days. The demonstrators are demanding the release from detention of their elected leaders, including Aung San Suu Kyi, and the restoration of democracy. On Monday, Suu Kyi's lawyer said she would be detained for a further two days. She will then be tried via video link at a court in the capital Nay Pyi Taw on Wednesday, Khin Maung Zaw added. Suu Kyi was rounded up with other members of the government on February 1, but her detention was due to end on February 15. The charges against her include possession of unlawful communication devices - walkie-talkies used by her security staff. Her party was elected in a resounding victory last November, but the military has alleged voter fraud without providing proof. × The military's heightened presence is the latest sign of a potential crackdown on opposition to the coup. The ruling junta has also announced a series of legal changes, imposing long prison sentences and fines on anyone found to incite hatred towards the military, 'by words, either spoken or written, or by signs, or by visible representation'. In a statement posted on a military website on Monday, it said that people preventing the security forces from carrying out their duties could face seven years in jail, while those found to stir up fear or unrest in the public could be imprisoned for three years. The news came hours after the Internet was restored.

Under new law, Myanmar protesters to face up to 20 years in prison

While US reviews the policy, the Biden administration asked a court on Thursday to suspend litigation connected to former president Donald Trump's proposed ban on WeChat.&nbsp;

The Justice Department filed a request with the US Court of Appeals seeking a suspension of the case. That follows action on Wednesday, when the department asked a federal court for a pause on proceedings aimed at banning TikTok.&nbsp;

Newly-installed Commerce Department officials have begun a review of the prior administration's actions on WeChat, including ‘an evaluation of the underlying record justifying those prohibitions’, the DOJ said in the filing.&nbsp;

"The government will then be better positioned to determine whether the regulatory purpose of protecting the security of Americans and their data, continue to warrant the identified prohibitions," the filing added.&nbsp;

Trump issued an executive order in last August declaring both WeChat and TikTok as threats to national security because of data collection practices affecting Americans.&nbsp;

However, US courts have blocked the bans from going into effect, leading to appeals lodged in the final months of the Trump administration seeking to override the lower courts.&nbsp;

The DOJ said the Commerce Department 'remains committed to a robust defence of national security as well as ensuring the viability of our economy and preserving individual rights and data’.

While US reviews the policy, the Biden administration asked a court on Thursday to suspend litigation connected to former president Donald Trump's proposed ban on WeChat.

While US reviews the policy, the Biden administration asked a court on Thursday to suspend litigation connected to former president Donald Trump's proposed ban on WeChat. The Justice Department filed a request with the US Court of Appeals seeking a suspension of the case. That follows action on Wednesday, when the department asked a federal court for a pause on proceedings aimed at banning TikTok. Newly-installed Commerce Department officials have begun a review of the prior administration's actions on WeChat, including ‘an evaluation of the underlying record justifying those prohibitions’, the DOJ said in the filing. "The government will then be better positioned to determine whether the regulatory purpose of protecting the security of Americans and their data, continue to warrant the identified prohibitions," the filing added. Trump issued an executive order in last August declaring both WeChat and TikTok as threats to national security because of data collection practices affecting Americans. However, US courts have blocked the bans from going into effect, leading to appeals lodged in the final months of the Trump administration seeking to override the lower courts. The DOJ said the Commerce Department 'remains committed to a robust defence of national security as well as ensuring the viability of our economy and preserving individual rights and data’.

After TikTok, Biden team seeks pause in litigation over WeChat ban in US

Tribal leaders and advocates claim medical teams working to immunise Brazil’s remote indigenous villages against the coronavirus have encountered fierce resistance in some communities where evangelical missionaries are stoking fears of the vaccine.&nbsp;

On the São Francisco reservation in the state of Amazonas, Jamamadi villagers sent health workers packing with bows and arrows when they visited by helicopter this month, said Claudemir da Silva, an Apurinã leader representing indigenous communities on the Purus river, a tributary of the Xingú.&nbsp;

“It’s not happening in all villages, just in those that have missionaries or evangelical chapels where pastors are convincing the people not to receive the vaccine, that they will turn into an alligator and other crazy ideas,” he said by phone.&nbsp;

That has added to fears that Covid-19 could roar through Brazil’s more than 800,000 indigenous people, whose communal living and often precarious healthcare make them a priority in the national immunisation programme.&nbsp;

Tribal leaders blame Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and some of his avid supporters in the evangelical community for stoking skepticism about coronavirus vaccines, despite a national death toll that lags only the United States.&nbsp;

“Religious fundamentalists and evangelical missionaries are preaching against the vaccine,” said Dinamam Tuxá, a leader of APIB, Brazil’s largest indigenous organization.&nbsp;

The Association of Brazilian Anthropologists denounced unspecified religious groups in a statement on Tuesday for spreading false conspiracy theories to 'sabotage' the vaccination of indigenous people.&nbsp;

Many pastors of Brazil’s urban evangelical megachurches are urging followers to get vaccinated, but they say missionaries in remote territories have not gotten the message.&nbsp;

“Unfortunately, some pastors, who lack wisdom, are spreading misinformation to our indigenous brethren,” said Pastor Mario Jorge Conceição of the Assembly of God Traditional Church in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state.

Tribal leaders and advocates claim medical teams working to immunise Brazil’s remote indigenous villages against the coronavirus have encountered fierce resistance in some communities where evangelical missionaries are stoking fears of the vaccine.

Tribal leaders and advocates claim medical teams working to immunise Brazil’s remote indigenous villages against the coronavirus have encountered fierce resistance in some communities where evangelical missionaries are stoking fears of the vaccine. On the São Francisco reservation in the state of Amazonas, Jamamadi villagers sent health workers packing with bows and arrows when they visited by helicopter this month, said Claudemir da Silva, an Apurinã leader representing indigenous communities on the Purus river, a tributary of the Xingú. “It’s not happening in all villages, just in those that have missionaries or evangelical chapels where pastors are convincing the people not to receive the vaccine, that they will turn into an alligator and other crazy ideas,” he said by phone. That has added to fears that Covid-19 could roar through Brazil’s more than 800,000 indigenous people, whose communal living and often precarious healthcare make them a priority in the national immunisation programme. Tribal leaders blame Brazil’s far-right President Jair Bolsonaro and some of his avid supporters in the evangelical community for stoking skepticism about coronavirus vaccines, despite a national death toll that lags only the United States. “Religious fundamentalists and evangelical missionaries are preaching against the vaccine,” said Dinamam Tuxá, a leader of APIB, Brazil’s largest indigenous organization. The Association of Brazilian Anthropologists denounced unspecified religious groups in a statement on Tuesday for spreading false conspiracy theories to 'sabotage' the vaccination of indigenous people. Many pastors of Brazil’s urban evangelical megachurches are urging followers to get vaccinated, but they say missionaries in remote territories have not gotten the message. “Unfortunately, some pastors, who lack wisdom, are spreading misinformation to our indigenous brethren,” said Pastor Mario Jorge Conceição of the Assembly of God Traditional Church in Manaus, the capital of Amazonas state.

Missionaries stoking fears of vaccines in Amazon villages, say tribal leaders

In a terrorist attack on a security post, four soldiers and as many insurgents were killed in a shootout that ensued the attack in a former Taliban stronghold in a tribal district in northwest Pakistan on Friday.&nbsp;

The attack took place in Makeen area in the South Waziristan district, bordering Afghanistan.&nbsp;

Troops responded promptly to the attack, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army's media wing.&nbsp;

"At least four soldiers were killed in the attack," it said, adding four attackers were also killed.&nbsp;

Shah Farman, the governor of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, condemned the attack.&nbsp;

No group has claimed responsibility, although Pakistani Taliban have been blamed for such previous violence in the region, where militants have a presence.&nbsp;

South Waziristan had served as a base for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants until recent years when Pakistan claimed that it has destroyed all hideouts of terrorists in the northwestern tribal belt.&nbsp;

According to Pakistan Army, militants hiding across the border occasionally enter into the country and target the security forces in the region.&nbsp;

In a terrorist attack on a security post, four soldiers and as many insurgents were killed in a shootout that ensued the attack in a former Taliban stronghold in a tribal district in northwest Pakistan on Friday.

In a terrorist attack on a security post, four soldiers and as many insurgents were killed in a shootout that ensued the attack in a former Taliban stronghold in a tribal district in northwest Pakistan on Friday. The attack took place in Makeen area in the South Waziristan district, bordering Afghanistan. Troops responded promptly to the attack, said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), the Army's media wing. "At least four soldiers were killed in the attack," it said, adding four attackers were also killed. Shah Farman, the governor of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, condemned the attack. No group has claimed responsibility, although Pakistani Taliban have been blamed for such previous violence in the region, where militants have a presence. South Waziristan had served as a base for al-Qaeda and Taliban militants until recent years when Pakistan claimed that it has destroyed all hideouts of terrorists in the northwestern tribal belt. According to Pakistan Army, militants hiding across the border occasionally enter into the country and target the security forces in the region.

Militants attack security post, kill 4 soldiers in Pakistan

To call for an end to violence and discrimination against women and the scrapping of a proposed law that would restrict travel for many women, hundreds of women's right activists and their supporters took to streets in Nepal's capital on Friday.&nbsp;

The protesters marching in the heart of Kathmandu chanted slogans demanding equality. Activists say even though the country's constitution guarantees equal rights to women, there is much more that needs to be done to make it a reality.&nbsp;

They point to the proposed law that would require women under 40 years of age to get permission from their family and local government to travel to the Middle East or Africa as a violation of human rights. The government has said the regulation would help stop human trafficking, but has pointed out it is just a proposal and not a law till now.&nbsp;

The protesters tried to march to the prime minister's office but were blocked by riot police and barbed wire barricades. There were no clashes or violence.&nbsp;

Reshu Aryal, a rights activist in the rally, said she wanted to protest what she saw as police and official indifference to discrimination and sexual violence against women and girls.&nbsp;

To call for an end to violence and discrimination against women and the scrapping of a proposed law that would restrict travel for many women, hundreds of women's right activists and their supporters took to streets in Nepal's capital on Friday.

To call for an end to violence and discrimination against women and the scrapping of a proposed law that would restrict travel for many women, hundreds of women's right activists and their supporters took to streets in Nepal's capital on Friday. The protesters marching in the heart of Kathmandu chanted slogans demanding equality. Activists say even though the country's constitution guarantees equal rights to women, there is much more that needs to be done to make it a reality. They point to the proposed law that would require women under 40 years of age to get permission from their family and local government to travel to the Middle East or Africa as a violation of human rights. The government has said the regulation would help stop human trafficking, but has pointed out it is just a proposal and not a law till now. The protesters tried to march to the prime minister's office but were blocked by riot police and barbed wire barricades. There were no clashes or violence. Reshu Aryal, a rights activist in the rally, said she wanted to protest what she saw as police and official indifference to discrimination and sexual violence against women and girls.

Hundreds rally for women's rights in Nepal

As Asia welcomed the lunar Year of the Ox with subdued festivities amid travel curbs to contain renewed coronavirus outbreaks, Chinese state TV included dancers in blackface depicting Africans during a national broadcast on Thursday.&nbsp;

The African song and dance performance came at start of the Spring Festival Gala, one of the world's most-watched TV programmes. It included dancers in African-style costumes and dark face makeup beating drums.&nbsp;

The five-hour annual programme, which state TV has said in the past is watched by as many as 800 million people, also included tributes to nurses, doctors and others, who fought the coronavirus pandemic that began in central China in late 2019.&nbsp;

Festivities for the holiday, normally East Asia's busiest tourism season, are muted after China, Vietnam, Taiwan and other governments tightened travel curbs and urged the public to avoid big gatherings following renewed virus outbreaks.&nbsp;

China's ruling Communist Party tries to promote an image of unity with African nations as fellow developing economies. But state broadcaster China Central Television has faced criticism over using blackface to depict African people in past New Year broadcasts.&nbsp;

On Twitter, Black Livity China, a group for people of African descent, who work in or with China, called the broadcast extremely disappointing. It noted CCTV's 2018 Spring Festival Gala featured performers in blackface with a monkey.&nbsp;

We cannot stress enough the impact scenes, such as these have on African and Afro-diasporic communities living in China, the group said.&nbsp;

Elsewhere in China, Buddhist and Daoist temples that usually are packed with worshippers for the holiday were closed. Streets in major cities were largely empty.

As Asia welcomed the lunar Year of the Ox with subdued festivities amid travel curbs to contain renewed coronavirus outbreaks, Chinese state TV included dancers in blackface depicting Africans during a national broadcast on Thursday.

As Asia welcomed the lunar Year of the Ox with subdued festivities amid travel curbs to contain renewed coronavirus outbreaks, Chinese state TV included dancers in blackface depicting Africans during a national broadcast on Thursday. The African song and dance performance came at start of the Spring Festival Gala, one of the world's most-watched TV programmes. It included dancers in African-style costumes and dark face makeup beating drums. The five-hour annual programme, which state TV has said in the past is watched by as many as 800 million people, also included tributes to nurses, doctors and others, who fought the coronavirus pandemic that began in central China in late 2019. Festivities for the holiday, normally East Asia's busiest tourism season, are muted after China, Vietnam, Taiwan and other governments tightened travel curbs and urged the public to avoid big gatherings following renewed virus outbreaks. China's ruling Communist Party tries to promote an image of unity with African nations as fellow developing economies. But state broadcaster China Central Television has faced criticism over using blackface to depict African people in past New Year broadcasts. On Twitter, Black Livity China, a group for people of African descent, who work in or with China, called the broadcast extremely disappointing. It noted CCTV's 2018 Spring Festival Gala featured performers in blackface with a monkey. We cannot stress enough the impact scenes, such as these have on African and Afro-diasporic communities living in China, the group said. Elsewhere in China, Buddhist and Daoist temples that usually are packed with worshippers for the holiday were closed. Streets in major cities were largely empty.

In New Year's gala, Chinese TV features blackface performers

In a clear impersonation of Charlie Chaplin, Pakistan's Usman Khan, who wears a bowler’s hat and familiar toothbrush moustache, darts through traffic, swinging a cane, teasing motorists and shopkeepers for laughs and a few rupees. It has become a viral sensation.&nbsp;

The 32-year-old actor in bustling Peshawar hopes the silent film antics of old will bring a bit of joy to the residents of the notoriously chaotic frontier city. &nbsp;&nbsp;

Khan said the idea to impersonate Chaplin's iconic character from 'The Tramp' came to him as he watched a video of the legendary silent film actor while recovering from an illness. &nbsp;&nbsp;

"I thought that I should start acting like Charlie and spread happiness among the people, to take their minds off the coronavirus pandemic," Khan said. &nbsp;

Dressed as Chaplin, Khan leaps into passing rickshaws, annoys local shopkeepers, and occasionally swats onlookers with his cane as he shuffles bow-legged across the city, where he is frequently mobbed by fans asking for selfies. &nbsp;

"It is my purpose to make people laugh, to make them happy, to help them get rid of their grief," said Khan. &nbsp;

The act has proven to be a hit. &nbsp;

In just two months, Khan has attracted more than 850,000 followers and garnered millions of likes on TikTok -- the hugely popular platform in Pakistan where he uploads videos of his slapstick routine.&nbsp;

But it hasn't always been all laughs for Khan, who like many in Pakistan is struggling to hold down a full-time job amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus epidemic. &nbsp;

The Chaplin stint, he said, has given him a new purpose. &nbsp;

"That's why I like to get up like Charlie Chaplin, to hide all my worries and grief."

In a clear impersonation of Charlie Chaplin, Pakistan's Usman Khan, who wears a bowler’s hat and familiar toothbrush moustache, darts through traffic, swinging a cane, teasing motorists and shopkeepers for laughs and a few rupees.

In a clear impersonation of Charlie Chaplin, Pakistan's Usman Khan, who wears a bowler’s hat and familiar toothbrush moustache, darts through traffic, swinging a cane, teasing motorists and shopkeepers for laughs and a few rupees. It has become a viral sensation. The 32-year-old actor in bustling Peshawar hopes the silent film antics of old will bring a bit of joy to the residents of the notoriously chaotic frontier city. Khan said the idea to impersonate Chaplin's iconic character from 'The Tramp' came to him as he watched a video of the legendary silent film actor while recovering from an illness. "I thought that I should start acting like Charlie and spread happiness among the people, to take their minds off the coronavirus pandemic," Khan said. Dressed as Chaplin, Khan leaps into passing rickshaws, annoys local shopkeepers, and occasionally swats onlookers with his cane as he shuffles bow-legged across the city, where he is frequently mobbed by fans asking for selfies. "It is my purpose to make people laugh, to make them happy, to help them get rid of their grief," said Khan. The act has proven to be a hit. In just two months, Khan has attracted more than 850,000 followers and garnered millions of likes on TikTok -- the hugely popular platform in Pakistan where he uploads videos of his slapstick routine. But it hasn't always been all laughs for Khan, who like many in Pakistan is struggling to hold down a full-time job amid the economic fallout of the coronavirus epidemic. The Chaplin stint, he said, has given him a new purpose. "That's why I like to get up like Charlie Chaplin, to hide all my worries and grief."

Pakistan's 'Charlie Chaplin' brings joy to frontier city

If a study is to be believed, Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making. The recent study shows AI is learning more about how to work with or on humans. &nbsp;

The truth is that AI is transforming every aspect of the way we live and work. From vaccine development, environmental management to office administration, various forms of AI are at work in diverse fields.&nbsp;

Although AI does not possess human-like intelligence and emotions, its capabilities are rapidly increasing. It is turning out to be very powerful.&nbsp;

The recent discovery highlights the power of AI and underscores the need for proper governance to prevent misuse. There is still no need to worry about a machine takeover just yet. &nbsp;

A researcher team of the data and digital arm of Australia's national science agency CSIRO's Data61, devised a systematic method of finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in the ways people make choices. It used a kind of AI system, which is called a recurrent neural network and deep reinforcement-learning. &nbsp;

To test their model, they organised three experiments in which human participants played games against a computer. &nbsp;

In every experiment, the machine learnt from the responses of the participants and identified and targeted vulnerabilities in people's decision-making. In the end, result was that the machine learnt to steer participants towards particular actions.

If a study is to be believed, Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making.

If a study is to be believed, Artificial intelligence (AI) can learn to identify vulnerabilities in human habits and behaviours and use them to influence human decision-making. The recent study shows AI is learning more about how to work with or on humans. The truth is that AI is transforming every aspect of the way we live and work. From vaccine development, environmental management to office administration, various forms of AI are at work in diverse fields. Although AI does not possess human-like intelligence and emotions, its capabilities are rapidly increasing. It is turning out to be very powerful. The recent discovery highlights the power of AI and underscores the need for proper governance to prevent misuse. There is still no need to worry about a machine takeover just yet. A researcher team of the data and digital arm of Australia's national science agency CSIRO's Data61, devised a systematic method of finding and exploiting vulnerabilities in the ways people make choices. It used a kind of AI system, which is called a recurrent neural network and deep reinforcement-learning. To test their model, they organised three experiments in which human participants played games against a computer. In every experiment, the machine learnt from the responses of the participants and identified and targeted vulnerabilities in people's decision-making. In the end, result was that the machine learnt to steer participants towards particular actions.

Artificial intelligence can manipulate human decision-making, influence behaviour: Study

Scientists seems to have proven that traumatic and stressful events in childhood can affect the brain into adulthood, identifying for the first-time specific alterations to key brain structures in the amygdala and the hippocampus.&nbsp;

With the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 35 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 35 healthy controls, cross-referenced with questionnaires, the research seems to have found a crucial link between neural tissue volume and childhood traumatic stress.&nbsp;

Maltreatment and negative experiences early in life are known to be the risk factors for developing mental health disorders, such as MDD. The team behind this new study thinks that changes in brain function might be one of the reasons for it.&nbsp;

With the help of the study, researchers are able to identify, which specific regions of amygdala or the hippocampus, get altered by childhood trauma incidents, they can make attempts to mitigate or reverse the changes. &nbsp;&nbsp;

The recent improvements in the MRI scanning technology mean these particular areas of the brain could be studied in detail in human volunteers, building on the previous research that looked at the link between brain volume in animals and stress.&nbsp;

As amygdala and hippocampus continue to grow and evolve for a long time after birth, they are of particular interest to scientists studying childhood development. They are also associated with learning, memory, and the management of emotions, fear and stress.&nbsp;

The damage done in the early years can make the brain – and the amygdala and hippocampus in particular – more vulnerable to stresses that come along later in life, suggest researchers.

Scientists seems to have proven that traumatic and stressful events in childhood can affect the brain into adulthood, identifying for the first-time specific alterations to key brain structures in the amygdala and the hippocampus.

Scientists seems to have proven that traumatic and stressful events in childhood can affect the brain into adulthood, identifying for the first-time specific alterations to key brain structures in the amygdala and the hippocampus. With the help of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans of 35 adults diagnosed with major depressive disorder (MDD) and 35 healthy controls, cross-referenced with questionnaires, the research seems to have found a crucial link between neural tissue volume and childhood traumatic stress. Maltreatment and negative experiences early in life are known to be the risk factors for developing mental health disorders, such as MDD. The team behind this new study thinks that changes in brain function might be one of the reasons for it. With the help of the study, researchers are able to identify, which specific regions of amygdala or the hippocampus, get altered by childhood trauma incidents, they can make attempts to mitigate or reverse the changes. The recent improvements in the MRI scanning technology mean these particular areas of the brain could be studied in detail in human volunteers, building on the previous research that looked at the link between brain volume in animals and stress. As amygdala and hippocampus continue to grow and evolve for a long time after birth, they are of particular interest to scientists studying childhood development. They are also associated with learning, memory, and the management of emotions, fear and stress. The damage done in the early years can make the brain – and the amygdala and hippocampus in particular – more vulnerable to stresses that come along later in life, suggest researchers.

Childhood’s traumatic events can affect brain in adulthood: Research

Author

Zee News Rajasthan

Editor

Gandharv Walia

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