<p>In the year 2000, it was predicted that the person who will live for more than 150 years had already been born. That bold assertion came from confidence that medical advancements in the 20th century would lead to increase in life expectancy.</p>

<p>But that's changing, with a new analysis showing that there is a major slowdown in life expectancy improvements in last three decades.</p>

<p>The study published in Nature journal analysed death data from the longest-living populations in the world to reach this concluson.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Gravitas: New miracle drug boosts lifespan, fights aging effects on mice: New study</strong></p>

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<p>Life expectancy had gone up by around 30 years in the 20th century in high-income countries, thanks to improved public health access and medical innovations.</p>

<p>But the study said that in the 21st century, only five per cent of males and 15 per cent of females born in areas with high life expectency would reach 100 years.</p>

<p>"Since 1990, improvements overall in life expectancy have decelerated," said the study, adding that, unless the processes of biological aging can be markedly slowed, "radical human life extension is implausible in this century."<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-when-does-ageing-really-kick-in-scientists-find-two-specific-ages-when-signs-show-up-they-are-750381">Also read: When does ageing really kick in? Scientists find two specific ages when signs show up. They are...</a></strong><br />
<br />
Led by Jay Olshansky, the researchers analysed data from countries like Japan, Australia, and several European nations, specifically&nbsp;in areas known longevity.</p>

<p>The study into death data of 1990 to 2019 from nine of these areas found that life expectancy increased by just 6.5 years in this period.</p>

<p>There was a decline in improvements since 1990, with life expectancy actually falling in tthe US.</p>

<p>The way of achieveing better life expectancy is through breakthroughs in anti-ageing therapies, and new medicines that address bilogical processes as opposed to teaching age-related diseases, said the study authors.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/study-shows-strong-links-between-losing-loved-ones-and-ageing-745671">Also read: Study shows 'strong links' between losing loved ones and biological ageing</a></strong><br />
<br />
Olshansky, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago warned that people should not assume they will live to 100.</p>

<p>“If you’re planning for retirement, it’s probably not a good idea to assume you’re going to make it to 100,” Olshansky was quoted as saying in The Guardian.</p>

<p>“You’d probably have to work for at least 10 years longer than you’d think. And you want to enjoy the last phase of your life, you don’t necessarily want to spend it working to save for time you’re not going to experience,” he said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


In the year 2000, it was predicted that the person who will live for more than 150 years had already been born. That bold assertion came from confidence that medical advancements in the 20th century would lead to increase in life expectancy.

In the year 2000, it was predicted that the person who will live for more than 150 years had already been born. That bold assertion came from confidence that medical advancements in the 20th century would lead to increase in life expectancy. But that's changing, with a new analysis showing that there is a major slowdown in life expectancy improvements in last three decades. The study published in Nature journal analysed death data from the longest-living populations in the world to reach this concluson. Watch: Gravitas: New miracle drug boosts lifespan, fights aging effects on mice: New study × Life expectancy had gone up by around 30 years in the 20th century in high-income countries, thanks to improved public health access and medical innovations. But the study said that in the 21st century, only five per cent of males and 15 per cent of females born in areas with high life expectency would reach 100 years. "Since 1990, improvements overall in life expectancy have decelerated," said the study, adding that, unless the processes of biological aging can be markedly slowed, "radical human life extension is implausible in this century." Also read: When does ageing really kick in? Scientists find two specific ages when signs show up. They are... Led by Jay Olshansky, the researchers analysed data from countries like Japan, Australia, and several European nations, specifically in areas known longevity. The study into death data of 1990 to 2019 from nine of these areas found that life expectancy increased by just 6.5 years in this period. There was a decline in improvements since 1990, with life expectancy actually falling in tthe US. The way of achieveing better life expectancy is through breakthroughs in anti-ageing therapies, and new medicines that address bilogical processes as opposed to teaching age-related diseases, said the study authors. Also read: Study shows 'strong links' between losing loved ones and biological ageing Olshansky, a professor of epidemiology and biostatistics at the University of Illinois at Chicago warned that people should not assume they will live to 100. “If you’re planning for retirement, it’s probably not a good idea to assume you’re going to make it to 100,” Olshansky was quoted as saying in The Guardian. “You’d probably have to work for at least 10 years longer than you’d think. And you want to enjoy the last phase of your life, you don’t necessarily want to spend it working to save for time you’re not going to experience,” he said. (With inputs from agencies)

Will you live beyond 100? Unlikely, warn scientists who see longevity falling in areas known for centenarians

<p><strong>Predator drones for India:</strong>&nbsp;The Indian government on Wednesday (Oct 9)&nbsp;approved the buying of predator drones from the US in a deal worth over $3 billion, according to news wire agency ANI.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The country's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 31 predator drones, of the MQ-9B series, from the American defence company General Atomics.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Indian Army Unveils Him-Drone-A-Thon 2: Revolutionising Military Ops In High-Altitude Areas</strong></p>

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<p>The purchase, according to the report, will be done via a government-to-government deal valued at $3.1 billion.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The acquisition is mainly driven by the Indian Navy and was given the green light after consultations with various government departments, including the Ministry of Finance.</p>

<p>The Indian Navy will get 16 of the drones, with the rest going to the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, according to the report, which said the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is tight-lipped about the deal.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-armys-him-drone-a-thon-2-to-test-made-in-india-drones-at-high-altitudes-759840"><strong>Also read: Indian Army’s ‘HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2’ to test made-in-India drones at high-altitudes</strong></a><br />
<br />
Some of these drones will be assembled locally with 30 per cent of the components sourced from Indian defence industry firms, it said.</p>

<h2><strong>What does the Predator drone deal mean for India?</strong></h2>

<p>The predator drones, which can be armed with&nbsp;Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided bombs and high-fire rotary cannons, have high endurance in difficult terrain.</p>

<p>They can operate at high altitudes and carry advanced weaponry, with better surveillance capabilities than the P-8I aircraft made by Boeing.</p>

<p>Their acquisition will enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy, particularly in strategically significant waters stretching&nbsp;from the Gulf of Aden to the Sunda Straits, according to the HT report.</p>

<p>The Navy plans to use the Predator drones to monitor and counter threats arising from illicit maritime activities, and Chinese surveillance vessels in the Indian Ocean, as per&nbsp;the report.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-us-origin-mq-9b-drone-costing-150mn-crashes-off-chennai-759911">Also read:India: US-origin MQ-9B drone costing $150mn crashes off Chennai</a></strong></p>

<p>The drones can potentially be used by the Indian Air Force and Army to strike critical infrastructure and high-value targets too.</p>

<p>The proposed acquisition takes place amid a perceived need to improve India's aerial responses even as China is advancing its drone technologies and supporting India's regional rival Pakistan, the report pointed out.</p>

<h2><strong>What are Predator drones?</strong></h2>

<p>Developed by US defence firm General Atomics, Predators are a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the American military for surveillance and targeted strikes, hence the name 'hunter-killer'.</p>

<p>The drones, launched in the 1990s, and a crucial war machine for the US military.</p>

<p>Their advanced sensors and cameras can give real-time video and intelligence data. Predator drone operators can monitor enemy movements and gather critical information without risking human lives.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Predators can fly at altitudes of up to 25,000 feet for long periods and more importantly, carry precision-guided munitions like Hellfire missiles.</p>

<p>Their high accuracy has allowed for strikes against high-value targets without boots on the ground and minimal collateral damage, but there have been times when civilians have died in Predator strikes.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Predator drones for India: The Indian government on Wednesday (Oct 9) approved the buying of predator drones from the US in a deal worth over $3 billion, according to news wire agency ANI.

Predator drones for India: The Indian government on Wednesday (Oct 9) approved the buying of predator drones from the US in a deal worth over $3 billion, according to news wire agency ANI. The country's Cabinet Committee on Security (CCS) approved the acquisition of 31 predator drones, of the MQ-9B series, from the American defence company General Atomics. Watch: Indian Army Unveils Him-Drone-A-Thon 2: Revolutionising Military Ops In High-Altitude Areas × The purchase, according to the report, will be done via a government-to-government deal valued at $3.1 billion. The acquisition is mainly driven by the Indian Navy and was given the green light after consultations with various government departments, including the Ministry of Finance. The Indian Navy will get 16 of the drones, with the rest going to the Indian Army and Indian Air Force, according to the report, which said the government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi is tight-lipped about the deal. Also read: Indian Army’s ‘HIM-DRONE-A-THON 2’ to test made-in-India drones at high-altitudes Some of these drones will be assembled locally with 30 per cent of the components sourced from Indian defence industry firms, it said. What does the Predator drone deal mean for India? The predator drones, which can be armed with Hellfire missiles, GBU-39B precision-guided bombs and high-fire rotary cannons, have high endurance in difficult terrain. They can operate at high altitudes and carry advanced weaponry, with better surveillance capabilities than the P-8I aircraft made by Boeing. Their acquisition will enhance the maritime surveillance capabilities of the Indian Navy, particularly in strategically significant waters stretching from the Gulf of Aden to the Sunda Straits, according to the HT report. The Navy plans to use the Predator drones to monitor and counter threats arising from illicit maritime activities, and Chinese surveillance vessels in the Indian Ocean, as per the report. Also read:India: US-origin MQ-9B drone costing $150mn crashes off Chennai The drones can potentially be used by the Indian Air Force and Army to strike critical infrastructure and high-value targets too. The proposed acquisition takes place amid a perceived need to improve India's aerial responses even as China is advancing its drone technologies and supporting India's regional rival Pakistan, the report pointed out. What are Predator drones? Developed by US defence firm General Atomics, Predators are a series of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used by the American military for surveillance and targeted strikes, hence the name 'hunter-killer'. The drones, launched in the 1990s, and a crucial war machine for the US military. Their advanced sensors and cameras can give real-time video and intelligence data. Predator drone operators can monitor enemy movements and gather critical information without risking human lives. Predators can fly at altitudes of up to 25,000 feet for long periods and more importantly, carry precision-guided munitions like Hellfire missiles. Their high accuracy has allowed for strikes against high-value targets without boots on the ground and minimal collateral damage, but there have been times when civilians have died in Predator strikes. (With inputs from agencies)

Indian govt approves acquisition of 31 Predator drones from US. What are they?

<p>India is set to build two nuclear-powered attack submarines or SSNs, as China, the world's biggest Navy, flexes its Naval power in the region's maritime waters.&nbsp;&nbsp;The two SSNs will have a combined cost of around $3.6 billion.</p>

<p>Building of these two vessels at the Ship Building Centre in the southern port of Vishakhapatnam will be done on a public-private partnership deal, which will see involvement of firms like Larsen and Toubro.</p>

<p>The SSNs are part of India's Advanced Technology Vessel project and will be in addition to the five nuclear submarines being built under the Arihant class at the same port.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The two SSNs will have 90 per cent local components and are not expected to be operational till at least 2040.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/indian-govt-set-to-approve-acquisition-of-31-predator-drones-from-us-says-report-what-are-they-765816">Also read: Indian govt approves acquisition of 31 Predator drones from US. What are they?</a></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>How India compares with China on submarines</strong></h2>

<p>China is the largest Navy in the world at present, with at least 370 ships. It has 70 submarines, of which 12 are SSNs.&nbsp;China is continuing to expand its nuclear submarines for regional dominance in waters ranging from Indian Ocean to Taiwan to South China Sea and beyond.</p>

<p>Clearly, there is an imbalance in Naval power when one compares India and China.</p>

<p>India has 18 submarines, two of them nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines or SSBNs. Out of these, 16 submarines in the Kalvari, Sindhugosh and Shishumar class are diesel-electric powered. The two SSBNs belonging to the Arihant class are powered by enriched uranium.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: US Approves $175 Million Defence Deal To India, India To Get Lightweight Torpedoes</strong></p>

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<p>India's cabinet committee on security approved the new SSNs on Wednesday (Oct 9) to address this issue, five years after the Indian Navy proposed the building of these war machines domestically.&nbsp;</p>

<p>It comes after the lease expired in 2021 for the Russian Akula-class submarines. India and Russia could not reach a deal on leasing another Akula submarine due to the war in Ukraine and changing geopolitical equations in the Eruasian region.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/key-highlights-of-indias-defence-budget-highest-allocation-ever-30-boost-to-bro-and-more-743475"><strong>Also read: Key highlights of India's defence budget: Highest allocation ever, 30% boost to BRO and more</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Why are nuclear-powered attack submarines or SSNs crucial for India?</strong></h2>

<p>Currently, besides China, only a few nations have nuclear attack submarines, including the US, Russia, and France.</p>

<p>SSNs have better endurance and stealth capabilities as opposed to legacy submarines that are diesel-electric powered.</p>

<p>They are faster, quieter, difficult to detect and can remain under water for long periods of time.</p>

<p>They have better tactical capabilities, being able to engage enemy vessels effectively both in offensive and defensive situations.</p>

<p>The addition of the SSNs will be a boost to the ageing submarine fleet of the South Asian nation, whose acquisitions began in the 1980s.</p>

<p>India is also reportedly seeking technology cooperation with France for its nuclear-powered submarines, specifically on nuclear reactors.</p>

<p>Having the attack submarines powered by nuclear energy will enhance India's deterrence and operational capacity, as well as bolster its underwater fighting power.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


India is set to build two nuclear-powered attack submarines or SSNs, as China, the world's biggest Navy, flexes its Naval power in the region's maritime waters. The two SSNs will have a combined cost of around $3.

India is set to build two nuclear-powered attack submarines or SSNs, as China, the world's biggest Navy, flexes its Naval power in the region's maritime waters. The two SSNs will have a combined cost of around $3.6 billion. Building of these two vessels at the Ship Building Centre in the southern port of Vishakhapatnam will be done on a public-private partnership deal, which will see involvement of firms like Larsen and Toubro. The SSNs are part of India's Advanced Technology Vessel project and will be in addition to the five nuclear submarines being built under the Arihant class at the same port. The two SSNs will have 90 per cent local components and are not expected to be operational till at least 2040. Also read: Indian govt approves acquisition of 31 Predator drones from US. What are they? How India compares with China on submarines China is the largest Navy in the world at present, with at least 370 ships. It has 70 submarines, of which 12 are SSNs. China is continuing to expand its nuclear submarines for regional dominance in waters ranging from Indian Ocean to Taiwan to South China Sea and beyond. Clearly, there is an imbalance in Naval power when one compares India and China. India has 18 submarines, two of them nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines or SSBNs. Out of these, 16 submarines in the Kalvari, Sindhugosh and Shishumar class are diesel-electric powered. The two SSBNs belonging to the Arihant class are powered by enriched uranium. Watch: US Approves $175 Million Defence Deal To India, India To Get Lightweight Torpedoes × India's cabinet committee on security approved the new SSNs on Wednesday (Oct 9) to address this issue, five years after the Indian Navy proposed the building of these war machines domestically. It comes after the lease expired in 2021 for the Russian Akula-class submarines. India and Russia could not reach a deal on leasing another Akula submarine due to the war in Ukraine and changing geopolitical equations in the Eruasian region. Also read: Key highlights of India's defence budget: Highest allocation ever, 30% boost to BRO and more Why are nuclear-powered attack submarines or SSNs crucial for India? Currently, besides China, only a few nations have nuclear attack submarines, including the US, Russia, and France. SSNs have better endurance and stealth capabilities as opposed to legacy submarines that are diesel-electric powered. They are faster, quieter, difficult to detect and can remain under water for long periods of time. They have better tactical capabilities, being able to engage enemy vessels effectively both in offensive and defensive situations. The addition of the SSNs will be a boost to the ageing submarine fleet of the South Asian nation, whose acquisitions began in the 1980s. India is also reportedly seeking technology cooperation with France for its nuclear-powered submarines, specifically on nuclear reactors. Having the attack submarines powered by nuclear energy will enhance India's deterrence and operational capacity, as well as bolster its underwater fighting power. (With inputs from agencies)

India to build 2 nuclear-powered attack submarines. Why are they crucial as China Navy expands in region?

<p>For a rape survivor, it's often said that a second rape happens in court. Blaming the survivors for the horrific crime they faced is commonplace in many countries, and a new report in the UK shed further light on this disturbing trend.</p>

<p>Victim Support, an NGO, compiled a report based on interviews with 40 survivors and the legal and other teams supporting them, and after examining 38 court case records.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: West Bengal: Villagers Attack Police Over Rape and Murder of 10-year-old Girl</strong></p>

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<p>The report titled <em>Suffering For Justice</em> revealed that a third of the survivors from England and Wales faced the so-called 'rape myths' in court, mainly assuming that they were to blame for the situation.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/sean-diddy-combs-mom-on-rappers-sexual-abuse-case-my-son-may-not-have-been-entirely-truthful-765126">Also read: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mom on rapper's sexual abuse case: My son may not have been entirely truthful&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>They faced questions about their clothing (what were you wearing?) or alcohol consumption (how much did you drink?) and motivations (are you out for revenge?).</p>

<p>“You’re a piece of meat being pulled through the court system,” it quoted one survivor as saying.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/kolkata-horror-cbi-lists-dna-evidence-against-sanjay-roy-blood-stains-of-victim-on-his-clothes-766008">Also read: Kolkata horror: CBI lists DNA evidence against Sanjay Roy, blood stains of victim on his clothes</a></strong><br />
<br />
This leads to re-traumatisatoin for the survivors, which often causes mental and physical ailments, including PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder.</p>

<p>One-third of victims were asked what they did to stop the offence while it was happening, said the study, while&nbsp;15 per cent faced questions about what they were wearing.</p>

<p>And more disturbingly, 12 per cent were asked if the crime was just 'regretful or bad sex'.</p>

<p>The NGO sought an end to such rape myths being used in court, and not seek survivor's sexual history during cross-examination.</p>

<p>It quoted one survivor as saying that taking the court stand was like "walking to the gallows".</p>

<p>The NGO said that 50 per cent of cases it examined were adjourned with no explanation, for up to four times.</p>

<p>Suicidal thoughts are among the severe psychological impacts of&nbsp;rape survivors who appeared for cross-examinations in courts.</p>

<p>For cases to go to court, adult survivors wait for an average of three years, while youth rape cases take up to 2.4 years to reach court.</p>

<p>Government data showed that less than one in six rape victims report the crime, said a report in The Guardian.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


For a rape survivor, it's often said that a second rape happens in court. Blaming the survivors for the horrific crime they faced is commonplace in many countries, and a new report in the UK shed further light on this disturbing trend.

For a rape survivor, it's often said that a second rape happens in court. Blaming the survivors for the horrific crime they faced is commonplace in many countries, and a new report in the UK shed further light on this disturbing trend. Victim Support, an NGO, compiled a report based on interviews with 40 survivors and the legal and other teams supporting them, and after examining 38 court case records. Watch: West Bengal: Villagers Attack Police Over Rape and Murder of 10-year-old Girl × The report titled Suffering For Justice revealed that a third of the survivors from England and Wales faced the so-called 'rape myths' in court, mainly assuming that they were to blame for the situation. Also read: Sean 'Diddy' Combs' mom on rapper's sexual abuse case: My son may not have been entirely truthful They faced questions about their clothing (what were you wearing?) or alcohol consumption (how much did you drink?) and motivations (are you out for revenge?). “You’re a piece of meat being pulled through the court system,” it quoted one survivor as saying. Also read: Kolkata horror: CBI lists DNA evidence against Sanjay Roy, blood stains of victim on his clothes This leads to re-traumatisatoin for the survivors, which often causes mental and physical ailments, including PTSD, or post-traumatic stress disorder. One-third of victims were asked what they did to stop the offence while it was happening, said the study, while 15 per cent faced questions about what they were wearing. And more disturbingly, 12 per cent were asked if the crime was just 'regretful or bad sex'. The NGO sought an end to such rape myths being used in court, and not seek survivor's sexual history during cross-examination. It quoted one survivor as saying that taking the court stand was like "walking to the gallows". The NGO said that 50 per cent of cases it examined were adjourned with no explanation, for up to four times. Suicidal thoughts are among the severe psychological impacts of rape survivors who appeared for cross-examinations in courts. For cases to go to court, adult survivors wait for an average of three years, while youth rape cases take up to 2.4 years to reach court. Government data showed that less than one in six rape victims report the crime, said a report in The Guardian. (With inputs from agencies)

Blaming rape survivors is commonplace in UK, with questions on what they were wearing, drinking: Study

<p>Ratan Tata, the Tata Group doyen who died on Wednesday night (Oct 9) had a sharp sense of humour which was sometimes self-deprecating. Some of his sense of humour used to shine forth at public events, where his answers left the audience laughing out loud.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Once, to a rather profound question about his statement that 'I don't believe in making right decisions, I make decisions and make them right', Tata said, "Facebook and Twitter made that statement, it was not made by me."</p>

<p>The female presenter gasped, saying "That's awkward."</p>

<p>"You come to know of it when people read them back to you," Tata said to laughter from the audience.</p>

<p>"There is no remedial action you can take with social media," he added for good measure.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: From Indica To Jaguar: Ratan Tata's Legacy Lives On</strong></p>

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<p><br />
Asked by Infosys cofounder Narayana Murthy at a business summit what his first feeling was when he sat in the chair once occupied by Tata founder JRD Tata, Ratan said he was confused as he had big shoes to fill.</p>

<p>"The confusion was not only in my mind because J [JRD Tata] never left the office. Very often when he walked into the boardroom, he would sit in the chairman's chair, and then five minutes later he would say 'Oh, I&nbsp;shouldn't have been here'. Then you play musical chairs in the boardroom."</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/why-narayana-murthy-once-touched-the-feet-of-ratan-tata-heres-the-entire-story-766200"><strong>Also read: Why Narayana Murthy once touched the feet of Ratan Tata? Here's the entire story</strong></a><br />
<br />
In the same event, he said he inherited a board "that must have had an average age of 85."</p>

<p>"Several of them had to be helped into the boardroom because they could no longer walk freely. Some of them came and sat down and fell asleep. Others didn't hear too well," he said as the audience laughed.</p>

<p>"And when it came to making changes, they all woke up and ensured that no change took place," he said with giggles. His&nbsp;first few years as Tata Group chairman were spent on how to "graciously ease them out of the company," he added.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/ratan-tata-once-said-he-wanted-to-be-remembered-as-his-words-have-now-gone-viral-766197"><strong>Also read: Ratan Tata once said he wanted 'to be remembered as...' His words have now gone viral</strong></a></p>

<p>But probably the most meme-worthy answer from Tata was to a girl student, who asked 'What excites you the most?'</p>

<p>"That's the most difficult question you'll ask this evening. How can I say that publicly?" he said, leaving the audience in splits and letting them make their own conclusions.</p>

<p><strong>Watch a compilation video here:</strong></p>

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<p>At a startup event when Snapdeal founder Kunal Bahl showered him with praise, saying he never thought the day would come when he'd be sitting six inches away from Tata, the maverick tycoon said,&nbsp;"Thank you for putting me at ease. I have been as nervous about sitting six inches from you as you've been."</p>

<p>Bahl then asked the audience how many people who want to be entrepreneurs would want Tata's investment. To this, Tata said,&nbsp;"Then they will need Kunal's money."&nbsp;</p>

<p>Once, at a public interaction with his former girlfriend, actress and TV host Simi Garewal, Tata made a humourous attack on Bollywood for violence in films, which in his telling used a lot of ketchup in place of blood.</p>

<p>"I think there’s more ketchup spread in Hindi movies than in all the restaurants in Bombay," he said.</p>

<p>"I’m very irritating to be around when I watch television. I’m very impatient and watch four or five channels at the same time," he said in another exhibition of his often self-deprecating humour.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ratan Tata, the Tata Group doyen who died on Wednesday night (Oct 9) had a sharp sense of humour which was sometimes self-deprecating. Some of his sense of humour used to shine forth at public events, where his answers left the audience laughing out loud.

Ratan Tata, the Tata Group doyen who died on Wednesday night (Oct 9) had a sharp sense of humour which was sometimes self-deprecating. Some of his sense of humour used to shine forth at public events, where his answers left the audience laughing out loud. Once, to a rather profound question about his statement that 'I don't believe in making right decisions, I make decisions and make them right', Tata said, "Facebook and Twitter made that statement, it was not made by me." The female presenter gasped, saying "That's awkward." "You come to know of it when people read them back to you," Tata said to laughter from the audience. "There is no remedial action you can take with social media," he added for good measure. Watch: From Indica To Jaguar: Ratan Tata's Legacy Lives On × Asked by Infosys cofounder Narayana Murthy at a business summit what his first feeling was when he sat in the chair once occupied by Tata founder JRD Tata, Ratan said he was confused as he had big shoes to fill. "The confusion was not only in my mind because J [JRD Tata] never left the office. Very often when he walked into the boardroom, he would sit in the chairman's chair, and then five minutes later he would say 'Oh, I shouldn't have been here'. Then you play musical chairs in the boardroom." Also read: Why Narayana Murthy once touched the feet of Ratan Tata? Here's the entire story In the same event, he said he inherited a board "that must have had an average age of 85." "Several of them had to be helped into the boardroom because they could no longer walk freely. Some of them came and sat down and fell asleep. Others didn't hear too well," he said as the audience laughed. "And when it came to making changes, they all woke up and ensured that no change took place," he said with giggles. His first few years as Tata Group chairman were spent on how to "graciously ease them out of the company," he added. Also read: Ratan Tata once said he wanted 'to be remembered as...' His words have now gone viral But probably the most meme-worthy answer from Tata was to a girl student, who asked 'What excites you the most?' "That's the most difficult question you'll ask this evening. How can I say that publicly?" he said, leaving the audience in splits and letting them make their own conclusions. Watch a compilation video here: × At a startup event when Snapdeal founder Kunal Bahl showered him with praise, saying he never thought the day would come when he'd be sitting six inches away from Tata, the maverick tycoon said, "Thank you for putting me at ease. I have been as nervous about sitting six inches from you as you've been." Bahl then asked the audience how many people who want to be entrepreneurs would want Tata's investment. To this, Tata said, "Then they will need Kunal's money." Once, at a public interaction with his former girlfriend, actress and TV host Simi Garewal, Tata made a humourous attack on Bollywood for violence in films, which in his telling used a lot of ketchup in place of blood. "I think there’s more ketchup spread in Hindi movies than in all the restaurants in Bombay," he said. "I’m very irritating to be around when I watch television. I’m very impatient and watch four or five channels at the same time," he said in another exhibition of his often self-deprecating humour. (With inputs from agencies)

RIP Ratan Tata. Tata Group doyen had a great sense of humour. Here are some of his funny quotes

<p><strong>Who is the Bitcoin creator who goes by the pseudonym 'Satoshi Nakamoto'?</strong> A new documentary from HBO is suggesting that the founder of the top cryptocurrency is the software engineer Peter Todd. But Todd has denied he was the inventor of one of the first cryptocurrencies that hit the market over a decade ago.</p>

<p>The purported revelation and its denial add one more layer to the enduring mystery of the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Several people have been identified as the creator, with some even going to court to make the claim.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Bitcoin enters its sweet sixteen</strong></p>

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<p>The HBO documentary <em>Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery</em> which aired on Tuesday night (Oct 8) in the US features a series of interviews with coders and cryptographers involved in the early development of Bitcoin, such as Blockstream CEO Adam Back.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But for many in the crypto community, director Cullen Hoback did not give any solid proof to back the claim regarding Todd.</p>

<p>Todd himself said it is ironic that a director who is also known for a documentary on the conspiracy theory group QAnon "has resorted to QAnon style coincidence-based conspiracy thinking here too".</p>

<p>As the buzz around the documentary built up, Todd simply wrote&nbsp;on his X handle,&nbsp;"I'm not Satoshi."</p>

<p>Todd was replying to a post by BitMex Research that asked him to come forward and make a public statement.​</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">I'm not Satoshi.</p>
— Peter Todd (@peterktodd) <a href="https://twitter.com/peterktodd/status/1843789750983110697?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 8, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>Todd was a Bitcoin core developer. The theory that he is Satoshi was made in the documentary from similarities in the writing styles of Satoshi and Todd in Bitcoin forums.</p>

<p>Todd's work with Hashcash, a crypto-related tech firm, was also cited as evidence.</p>

<p>The crypto community was, however, dismissive about the documentary, terming it speculative. They accused it of&nbsp;relying on circumstantial evidence, saying it had confirmation bias similar to a Newsweek magazine article in 2014 that claimed to have identified Satoshi, only to be debunked.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wikileaks-244-million-bitcoin-war-chest-735297"><strong>Also read: WikiLeaks' $244 million Bitcoin 'war chest'</strong></a></p>

<p>Crypto monitoring site Decrypt quoted Samson Mow, the CEO of Bitcoin tech firm JAN3 as saying that the director "probably has a case for it,” &nbsp;but added, “I did say on record in the documentary that it’s probably not Peter.”</p>

<p>Much of the focus of the documentary to 'nail' Todd as the inventor of Bitcoin is from a specific forum post, where Todd, in reply to Satoshi, appears to continue the stream of thought of Satoshi. It looked as if the same person was using multiple accounts, according to the documentary.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? The many people associated with the mysterious Bitcoin creator</strong></h2>

<p>While the general consensus is that one or a group of people may have used the pseudonym, Satoshi Nakamoto, it is yet to be conclusively proven who the person behind the Japanese-sounding name is/are.</p>

<p>Several names have been cited in the past, with one person even going to court to prove he is Satoshi.</p>

<p>Hal Finney, a cryptography pioneer, was one such person, as he was the first to use the software behind Bitcoin.</p>

<p>Finneya's neighbour Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto, a Japanese-American man living in California, was long-speculated to be the mystery creator of the cryptocurrency, most firmly in a 2014 Newsweek article. The article was widely discussed but eventually, the man himself rejected any connection to Bitcoin.</p>

<p>Nick Szabo, a decentralised currency enthusiast was speculated to be Satoshi, partly based on the fact that he had published a paper on a precursor to Bitcoin that was called 'bit gold'.</p>

<p>Craig Steven Wright, an Australian academic, went to court to prove that he was Satoshi, even suing for libel those who rejected his claims. In March this year, his claim was dismissed by a British court.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/computer-scientist-craig-wright-is-not-the-inventor-of-bitcoin-uk-judge-rules-700140"><strong>Also read: Computer scientist Craig Wright is not the inventor of Bitcoin, UK judge rules</strong></a><br />
<br />
Finnish sociologist Vili Lehdonvirta and cryptography student Michael Clear were at one point named Satoshi, a claim denied by both of them.</p>

<p>Based on the dates and similarity in the phrase 'computationally impractical to reverse' used in a patent filing and a white paper on Bitcoin, three people - Neal King, Vladimir Oksman and Charles Bry- were identified as possible candidates for Satoshi. They also rejected the claim.</p>

<h2><strong>We will never know who is Satoshi because...</strong></h2>

<p>Satoshi Nakamoto also holds some of the original Bitcoin. This means that there are financial, and possibly taxation, implications for the person or persons to reveal their identity. It could even attract criminals to them.</p>

<p>As per an estimate made in 2021, Satoshi Nakamoto may be owning up to 1 million Bitcoin. At the going rate of the time (which was $68,000), that would add up to $73 billion, making him/them the 15th richest person/s in the world in 2021.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Bitcoin, in spite of its volatility, is still going strong. At the time of writing this, it's valued at $63,126.&nbsp;</p>

<p>As you can see, being Satoshi Nakamoto is a risky business.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Who is the Bitcoin creator who goes by the pseudonym 'Satoshi Nakamoto'? A new documentary from HBO is suggesting that the founder of the top cryptocurrency is the software engineer Peter Todd.

Who is the Bitcoin creator who goes by the pseudonym 'Satoshi Nakamoto'? A new documentary from HBO is suggesting that the founder of the top cryptocurrency is the software engineer Peter Todd. But Todd has denied he was the inventor of one of the first cryptocurrencies that hit the market over a decade ago. The purported revelation and its denial add one more layer to the enduring mystery of the identity of Satoshi Nakamoto. Several people have been identified as the creator, with some even going to court to make the claim. Watch: Bitcoin enters its sweet sixteen × The HBO documentary Money Electric: The Bitcoin Mystery which aired on Tuesday night (Oct 8) in the US features a series of interviews with coders and cryptographers involved in the early development of Bitcoin, such as Blockstream CEO Adam Back. But for many in the crypto community, director Cullen Hoback did not give any solid proof to back the claim regarding Todd. Todd himself said it is ironic that a director who is also known for a documentary on the conspiracy theory group QAnon "has resorted to QAnon style coincidence-based conspiracy thinking here too". As the buzz around the documentary built up, Todd simply wrote on his X handle, "I'm not Satoshi." Todd was replying to a post by BitMex Research that asked him to come forward and make a public statement. I'm not Satoshi. — Peter Todd (@peterktodd) October 8, 2024 × Todd was a Bitcoin core developer. The theory that he is Satoshi was made in the documentary from similarities in the writing styles of Satoshi and Todd in Bitcoin forums. Todd's work with Hashcash, a crypto-related tech firm, was also cited as evidence. The crypto community was, however, dismissive about the documentary, terming it speculative. They accused it of relying on circumstantial evidence, saying it had confirmation bias similar to a Newsweek magazine article in 2014 that claimed to have identified Satoshi, only to be debunked. Also read: WikiLeaks' $244 million Bitcoin 'war chest' Crypto monitoring site Decrypt quoted Samson Mow, the CEO of Bitcoin tech firm JAN3 as saying that the director "probably has a case for it,” but added, “I did say on record in the documentary that it’s probably not Peter.” Much of the focus of the documentary to 'nail' Todd as the inventor of Bitcoin is from a specific forum post, where Todd, in reply to Satoshi, appears to continue the stream of thought of Satoshi. It looked as if the same person was using multiple accounts, according to the documentary. Who is Satoshi Nakamoto? The many people associated with the mysterious Bitcoin creator While the general consensus is that one or a group of people may have used the pseudonym, Satoshi Nakamoto, it is yet to be conclusively proven who the person behind the Japanese-sounding name is/are. Several names have been cited in the past, with one person even going to court to prove he is Satoshi. Hal Finney, a cryptography pioneer, was one such person, as he was the first to use the software behind Bitcoin. Finneya's neighbour Dorian Prentice Satoshi Nakamoto, a Japanese-American man living in California, was long-speculated to be the mystery creator of the cryptocurrency, most firmly in a 2014 Newsweek article. The article was widely discussed but eventually, the man himself rejected any connection to Bitcoin. Nick Szabo, a decentralised currency enthusiast was speculated to be Satoshi, partly based on the fact that he had published a paper on a precursor to Bitcoin that was called 'bit gold'. Craig Steven Wright, an Australian academic, went to court to prove that he was Satoshi, even suing for libel those who rejected his claims. In March this year, his claim was dismissed by a British court. Also read: Computer scientist Craig Wright is not the inventor of Bitcoin, UK judge rules Finnish sociologist Vili Lehdonvirta and cryptography student Michael Clear were at one point named Satoshi, a claim denied by both of them. Based on the dates and similarity in the phrase 'computationally impractical to reverse' used in a patent filing and a white paper on Bitcoin, three people - Neal King, Vladimir Oksman and Charles Bry- were identified as possible candidates for Satoshi. They also rejected the claim. We will never know who is Satoshi because... Satoshi Nakamoto also holds some of the original Bitcoin. This means that there are financial, and possibly taxation, implications for the person or persons to reveal their identity. It could even attract criminals to them. As per an estimate made in 2021, Satoshi Nakamoto may be owning up to 1 million Bitcoin. At the going rate of the time (which was $68,000), that would add up to $73 billion, making him/them the 15th richest person/s in the world in 2021. Bitcoin, in spite of its volatility, is still going strong. At the time of writing this, it's valued at $63,126. As you can see, being Satoshi Nakamoto is a risky business. (With inputs from agencies)

Bitcoin creator Satoshi Nakamoto is Peter Todd, says HBO doc, he denies it. Truth may never come out as...

<p>According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, climate change made Hurricane Helene's devastating rains and winds 10 per cent more intense.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hurricane Helene dumped torrential rains in the Appachelon region of the southeastern US in the past week, killing more than 200 people and turning into the second deadliest storm after Katrina. As suspected by scientists over the years, the storms are becoming deadlier each year because of the climate crisis.</p>

<p>The hurricane had formed above the Gulf of Mexico when sea surface temperatures&nbsp;were at record hot levels, noted the WWA in a report on its website.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Before Helene hit the US coast, there were a bunch of slow-moving storms that collected moisture, causing heavy rainfall in the southern US states. It is this rain that caused flooding that led to 227 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005, according to the research group.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Florida Evacuates As Category 5 Storm Milton Intensifies Rapidly | WION Originals</strong></p>

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<p>The monitoring group attributed changes in rainfall patterns to climate change. Such rains are now more frequent, happening every seven years in coastal areas.</p>

<p>According to the climate models run by the WWA group, climate change was seen as the cause of 10 per cent heavier rainfall. The group noted that if global temperatures rise by two degrees Celcius, such rainfall will be between 15 and 25 per cent more intense.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/fake-ai-generated-deepfakes-of-hurricane-helene-victims-go-viral-764918">Also read: Heartbreaking images or something else? AI-generated deepfakes of Hurricane Helene victims go viral</a></strong><br />
<br />
"Rainfall events as severe as those brought by hurricane Helene now occur about once every 7 (3 – 25) years in the coastal region, and about once every 70 (20 – 3000) years in the inland region," it said.</p>

<p>The IRIS climate model that WAA ran indicated the frequency and intensity of storms rising by 150 per cent. The maximum wind speeds have increased by around 11 per cent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>And it attributed the weather changes to human-caused climate change. "Using the Ocean Climate Shift Index, we find that the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the track of the storm have been made about 200-500 times more likely due to the burning of fossil fuels.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Together, these findings show that climate change is enhancing conditions conducive to the most powerful hurricanes like Helene, with more intense rainfall totals and wind speeds. This is in line with other scientific findings that Atlantic tropical cyclones are becoming wetter under climate change and undergoing more rapid intensification," it said in the report.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-transport-secretary-pete-buttigieg-talks-to-elon-musk-clarifies-faa-stance-in-hurricane-helene-aftermath-765124">Also read: US transport secretary Pete Buttigieg talks to Elon Musk, clarifies FAA stance in Hurricane Helene aftermath</a></strong></p>

<p>"If the world continues to burn fossil fuels, causing global warming to reach 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, devastating rainfall events in both regions will become another 15-25 % more likely," WWA said.</p>

<p>Although a 10 per cent increase in rainfall might seem relatively small&nbsp;that small change in the hazard really leads to big change in impacts and damage, news agency AFP quoted climate scientist Friederike Otto, who heads WWA group, as saying.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, climate change made Hurricane Helene's devastating rains and winds 10 per cent more intense. Hurricane Helene dumped torrential rains in the Appachelon region of the southeastern US in the past week, killing more than 200 people and turning into the second deadliest storm after Katrina.

According to the World Weather Attribution (WWA) group, climate change made Hurricane Helene's devastating rains and winds 10 per cent more intense. Hurricane Helene dumped torrential rains in the Appachelon region of the southeastern US in the past week, killing more than 200 people and turning into the second deadliest storm after Katrina. As suspected by scientists over the years, the storms are becoming deadlier each year because of the climate crisis. The hurricane had formed above the Gulf of Mexico when sea surface temperatures were at record hot levels, noted the WWA in a report on its website. Before Helene hit the US coast, there were a bunch of slow-moving storms that collected moisture, causing heavy rainfall in the southern US states. It is this rain that caused flooding that led to 227 deaths, making it the deadliest hurricane since Katrina in 2005, according to the research group. Watch: Florida Evacuates As Category 5 Storm Milton Intensifies Rapidly | WION Originals × The monitoring group attributed changes in rainfall patterns to climate change. Such rains are now more frequent, happening every seven years in coastal areas. According to the climate models run by the WWA group, climate change was seen as the cause of 10 per cent heavier rainfall. The group noted that if global temperatures rise by two degrees Celcius, such rainfall will be between 15 and 25 per cent more intense. Also read: Heartbreaking images or something else? AI-generated deepfakes of Hurricane Helene victims go viral "Rainfall events as severe as those brought by hurricane Helene now occur about once every 7 (3 – 25) years in the coastal region, and about once every 70 (20 – 3000) years in the inland region," it said. The IRIS climate model that WAA ran indicated the frequency and intensity of storms rising by 150 per cent. The maximum wind speeds have increased by around 11 per cent. And it attributed the weather changes to human-caused climate change. "Using the Ocean Climate Shift Index, we find that the sea surface temperatures (SSTs) over the track of the storm have been made about 200-500 times more likely due to the burning of fossil fuels. "Together, these findings show that climate change is enhancing conditions conducive to the most powerful hurricanes like Helene, with more intense rainfall totals and wind speeds. This is in line with other scientific findings that Atlantic tropical cyclones are becoming wetter under climate change and undergoing more rapid intensification," it said in the report. Also read: US transport secretary Pete Buttigieg talks to Elon Musk, clarifies FAA stance in Hurricane Helene aftermath "If the world continues to burn fossil fuels, causing global warming to reach 2 °C above pre-industrial levels, devastating rainfall events in both regions will become another 15-25 % more likely," WWA said. Although a 10 per cent increase in rainfall might seem relatively small that small change in the hazard really leads to big change in impacts and damage, news agency AFP quoted climate scientist Friederike Otto, who heads WWA group, as saying. (With inputs from agencies)

Hurricane Helene was deadliest since Katrina. Climate change is to blame, say researchers

<p>Demis Hassabis, the British computer scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry on Wednesday (Oct 9), has a Google connection. He is the cofounder of the company DeepMind, which was acquired by the tech behemoth.</p>

<p>Hassabis, who shared the Nobel with Professor John Jumper, and US-based Professor David Baker for their work on proteins, has an impressive bio.</p>

<p>Hassabis and Jumper were able to map the structure of proteins, the fundamental building blocks of life, with accuracy through the AI tool they developed, called AlphaFold2.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/explained-what-is-microrna-discovery-awarded-the-nobel-prize-in-medicine-765294"><strong>Also read: Explained: What is microRNA? Discovery awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine</strong></a><br />
<br />
The Nobel committee described the innovation as a "complete revolution" that helped in the study of 200 million proteins worldwide. Their work will help in developing treatments for antibiotic resistance, understanding enzyme behaviour, and creating vaccines.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/nobel-prize-in-physics-awarded-to-john-hopfield-and-geoffrey-hinton-765583"><strong>Also read: Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Demis Hassabis: Chess prodigy to Nobel laureate</strong></h2>

<p>Demis Hassabis, 48, was a child chess prodigy.</p>

<p>Born to Greek-Cypriot and Singaporean parents, he grew up in London&nbsp;and became a chess master when he was 13.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: AI poses extinction-level threat</strong></p>

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<p>Before Nobel, the Cambridge University graduate won numerous awards for his work in computer game design.</p>

<p>Hassabis, who graduated in computer science, worked in various American universities after getting his PhD from University College London.</p>

<p>In 2010, he cofounded the machine learning company DeepMind that was acquired by tech giant Google in 2014.</p>

<p>DeepMind combines neuroscience and machine learning to solve various problems. It was in news in 2016, when its AlphaGo programme beat a human&nbsp;Go player Lee Sedol, a world champion, in a five-game match.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Demis Hassabis, the British computer scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry on Wednesday (Oct 9), has a Google connection. He is the cofounder of the company DeepMind, which was acquired by the tech behemoth.

Demis Hassabis, the British computer scientist who won the Nobel Prize for Chemistry on Wednesday (Oct 9), has a Google connection. He is the cofounder of the company DeepMind, which was acquired by the tech behemoth. Hassabis, who shared the Nobel with Professor John Jumper, and US-based Professor David Baker for their work on proteins, has an impressive bio. Hassabis and Jumper were able to map the structure of proteins, the fundamental building blocks of life, with accuracy through the AI tool they developed, called AlphaFold2. Also read: Explained: What is microRNA? Discovery awarded the Nobel Prize in medicine The Nobel committee described the innovation as a "complete revolution" that helped in the study of 200 million proteins worldwide. Their work will help in developing treatments for antibiotic resistance, understanding enzyme behaviour, and creating vaccines. Also read: Nobel Prize in Physics awarded to John Hopfield and Geoffrey Hinton Demis Hassabis: Chess prodigy to Nobel laureate Demis Hassabis, 48, was a child chess prodigy. Born to Greek-Cypriot and Singaporean parents, he grew up in London and became a chess master when he was 13. Watch: AI poses extinction-level threat × Before Nobel, the Cambridge University graduate won numerous awards for his work in computer game design. Hassabis, who graduated in computer science, worked in various American universities after getting his PhD from University College London. In 2010, he cofounded the machine learning company DeepMind that was acquired by tech giant Google in 2014. DeepMind combines neuroscience and machine learning to solve various problems. It was in news in 2016, when its AlphaGo programme beat a human Go player Lee Sedol, a world champion, in a five-game match. (With inputs from agencies)

Chemistry Nobel winner Demis Hassabis has a Google connection. Know about DeepMind cofounder

<p>The spectre of the Chinese military in Southeast Asian countries is back again, with reports suggesting that a base in Cambodia is seeing a permanent&nbsp;presence of its Navy.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over the past few years, satellite imagery has shown brisk construction activity in the Ream naval base. Now, reports citing the pictures say that Chinese Navy ships appeared to be docked there on a more permanent basis.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: China's new Naval outpost in Cambodia? | China &amp; Cambodia begin joint military drills</strong></p>

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<p>The images showed two Chinese 1,500-tonne warships, the A56 corvettes, and the construction of a new pier that can dock larger vessels, with Chinese funding, said a report in BBC.</p>

<p>The Navy of Cambodia, whose government has been friendly with China in recent&nbsp;years, insists that the Ream base is open to all friendly navies while maintaining that it sticks to a ban on permanent foreign military presence in line with the constitution.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/chinese-naval-base-in-cambodia-nearly-done-it-has-pier-for-aircraft-carriers-see-satellite-images-619617"><strong>Also read: Chinese naval base in Cambodia nearly complete. It has pier for aircraft carriers - see satellite images</strong></a></p>

<p>BBC, citing analysts said the construction of new infrastructure of the Ream base such as a dry dock, administrative buildings and other facilities appears to be made more for military than civilian use.</p>

<p>Ream base was once backed with US military aid until 2017 when the new government shifted loyalties to China. Earlier, the US had conducted joint military drills with Cambodia, but now, Cambodia has the Golden Dragon exercises with China.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/chinas-hegemonic-ambitions-brazen-aggression-in-scs-threat-to-regional-peace-stability-intl-order-734076"><strong>Also read: China’s hegemonic ambitions, brazen aggression in SCS: Threat to regional peace, stability, int'l order</strong></a></p>

<p>Cambodia's tilt towards China is seen as a move to counterbalance its larger neighbours Vietnam and Thailand, but the government has insisted that the Chinese military presence is for training purposes only, and&nbsp;temporary.</p>

<p>Vietnam, Thailand and other countries in the region - several having territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea - worry that China is engaging in a strategic encirclement of the Southeast Asian region.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The US is also worried about the Chinese footprint in the region, said the BBC report.</p>

<p>It noted that China now has more warships&nbsp;than the US but has only one overseas military base in Africa's Djibouti, as compared to the&nbsp;750 American bases including one in Djibouti.</p>

<p>The BBC cited experts who believe that more than military might, China may be using the base for intelligence gathering and monitoring of the region.</p>

<p>It said, citing analysts, that&nbsp;China would eventually have a global network of bases, or civilian ports that it can use as bases and Ream in Cambodia could be one of the first such facilities.</p>

<p>The report said Indian and American strategists are more worried about the possible Chinese base in the Indian Ocean region, in ports like Sri Lanka's&nbsp; Hambantota or Gwadar in Pakistan. Both have gotten Chinese assistance and are being used for civilian purposes, for now.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


The spectre of the Chinese military in Southeast Asian countries is back again, with reports suggesting that a base in Cambodia is seeing a permanent presence of its Navy.

The spectre of the Chinese military in Southeast Asian countries is back again, with reports suggesting that a base in Cambodia is seeing a permanent presence of its Navy. Over the past few years, satellite imagery has shown brisk construction activity in the Ream naval base. Now, reports citing the pictures say that Chinese Navy ships appeared to be docked there on a more permanent basis. Watch: China's new Naval outpost in Cambodia? | China & Cambodia begin joint military drills × The images showed two Chinese 1,500-tonne warships, the A56 corvettes, and the construction of a new pier that can dock larger vessels, with Chinese funding, said a report in BBC. The Navy of Cambodia, whose government has been friendly with China in recent years, insists that the Ream base is open to all friendly navies while maintaining that it sticks to a ban on permanent foreign military presence in line with the constitution. Also read: Chinese naval base in Cambodia nearly complete. It has pier for aircraft carriers - see satellite images BBC, citing analysts said the construction of new infrastructure of the Ream base such as a dry dock, administrative buildings and other facilities appears to be made more for military than civilian use. Ream base was once backed with US military aid until 2017 when the new government shifted loyalties to China. Earlier, the US had conducted joint military drills with Cambodia, but now, Cambodia has the Golden Dragon exercises with China. Also read: China’s hegemonic ambitions, brazen aggression in SCS: Threat to regional peace, stability, int'l order Cambodia's tilt towards China is seen as a move to counterbalance its larger neighbours Vietnam and Thailand, but the government has insisted that the Chinese military presence is for training purposes only, and temporary. Vietnam, Thailand and other countries in the region - several having territorial disputes with China over the South China Sea - worry that China is engaging in a strategic encirclement of the Southeast Asian region. The US is also worried about the Chinese footprint in the region, said the BBC report. It noted that China now has more warships than the US but has only one overseas military base in Africa's Djibouti, as compared to the 750 American bases including one in Djibouti. The BBC cited experts who believe that more than military might, China may be using the base for intelligence gathering and monitoring of the region. It said, citing analysts, that China would eventually have a global network of bases, or civilian ports that it can use as bases and Ream in Cambodia could be one of the first such facilities. The report said Indian and American strategists are more worried about the possible Chinese base in the Indian Ocean region, in ports like Sri Lanka's Hambantota or Gwadar in Pakistan. Both have gotten Chinese assistance and are being used for civilian purposes, for now. (With inputs from agencies)

China's military presence in Cambodia's Ream naval base is showing signs of being permanent: Report

<p>S Iswaran, the Indian-origin former transport minister of Singapore, is now a common prisoner, serving his one-year sentence for corruption in a 6.9 square metre cell in Changi prison.</p>

<p>According to multiple media reports, he is being treated like any other prisoner, and was given a straw mat, blankets, tooth brush and other basic amenities.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Singapore Former Transport minister Sentenced To Prison In Rare Corruption Case</strong></p>

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<p>It is a long way away from good times for the 62-year old who was once a top figure in the Asian city state's ruling People's Action Party for over 30 years.&nbsp;</p>

<p>He was given a single cell due to "higher safety and security risk" according to the Singapore Prison Service, and like other prisoners, he is allowed family visits and email.&nbsp;<br />
Each month he can have two family visits - one in person and one via video - and send up to four emails.</p>

<p>“All inmates are provided with the necessities for daily living – toothbrush, toothpaste, clothing, slippers, towel, and plastic spoon for meals,” the prison service was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia.</p>

<h2><strong>But how did he reach here?&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>As part of a rare, wide-ranging corruption trial that netted several top figures, Iswaran, a civil servant-turned politician, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth Singapore dollars 403,330 over seven years.</p>

<p>The gifts even included petty items like tickets to events, as well as alcohol and a bicycle presented to him for his 60th birthday. The tickets were for musical events, Formula 1 races and football matches.</p>

<p>Ahead of starting his jail term, Iswaran, who entered politics in 1997, apologised to family and country.</p>

<p>He said in a statement: "Serving my constituents and Singaporeans over the past three decades has been the greatest honour of my life. As this chapter of my life comes to a close, my family and I look to the future with gratitude and renewed hope."<br />
&nbsp;<br />
<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-singapore-ex-minister-s-iswaran-begins-1-year-jail-sentence-apologises-to-family-and-country-765207">Also read: Indian-origin Singapore ex-minister S Iswaran begins 1-year jail sentence, apologises to family and country</a></strong></p>

<p>Singapore is known for strict crackdown on graft, making it one of the least corrupt nations in Asia.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, while expressing disappointment over Iswaran's downfall, said the government was committed to maintain the integrity of public service and highest standards of conduct of officials.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/indian-origin-singapore-ex-minister-s-iswaran-sentenced-to-12-months-in-jail-in-graft-case-764028">Also read: Indian-origin Singapore ex-minister S Iswaran sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case</a></strong></p>

<p>“We will do what is right by Singapore and Singaporeans, regardless of the political costs or the personal pain we feel when a colleague and friend has been jailed,” he said in a statement on October 3, after a court sentenced Iswaran.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


S Iswaran, the Indian-origin former transport minister of Singapore, is now a common prisoner, serving his one-year sentence for corruption in a 6.9 square metre cell in Changi prison.

S Iswaran, the Indian-origin former transport minister of Singapore, is now a common prisoner, serving his one-year sentence for corruption in a 6.9 square metre cell in Changi prison. According to multiple media reports, he is being treated like any other prisoner, and was given a straw mat, blankets, tooth brush and other basic amenities. Watch: Singapore Former Transport minister Sentenced To Prison In Rare Corruption Case × It is a long way away from good times for the 62-year old who was once a top figure in the Asian city state's ruling People's Action Party for over 30 years. He was given a single cell due to "higher safety and security risk" according to the Singapore Prison Service, and like other prisoners, he is allowed family visits and email. Each month he can have two family visits - one in person and one via video - and send up to four emails. “All inmates are provided with the necessities for daily living – toothbrush, toothpaste, clothing, slippers, towel, and plastic spoon for meals,” the prison service was quoted as saying by Channel News Asia. But how did he reach here? As part of a rare, wide-ranging corruption trial that netted several top figures, Iswaran, a civil servant-turned politician, pleaded guilty to accepting gifts worth Singapore dollars 403,330 over seven years. The gifts even included petty items like tickets to events, as well as alcohol and a bicycle presented to him for his 60th birthday. The tickets were for musical events, Formula 1 races and football matches. Ahead of starting his jail term, Iswaran, who entered politics in 1997, apologised to family and country. He said in a statement: "Serving my constituents and Singaporeans over the past three decades has been the greatest honour of my life. As this chapter of my life comes to a close, my family and I look to the future with gratitude and renewed hope." Also read: Indian-origin Singapore ex-minister S Iswaran begins 1-year jail sentence, apologises to family and country Singapore is known for strict crackdown on graft, making it one of the least corrupt nations in Asia. Prime Minister Lawrence Wong, while expressing disappointment over Iswaran's downfall, said the government was committed to maintain the integrity of public service and highest standards of conduct of officials. Also read: Indian-origin Singapore ex-minister S Iswaran sentenced to 12 months in jail in graft case “We will do what is right by Singapore and Singaporeans, regardless of the political costs or the personal pain we feel when a colleague and friend has been jailed,” he said in a statement on October 3, after a court sentenced Iswaran. (With inputs from agencies)

S Iswaran, Indian-origin former Singapore minister, is now a common prisoner in a 6.9 sq m single cell

<p>Covid as the pandemic may be over, but many people are still fighting 'long Covid', the lingering aftereffects of the viral infection. Now, researchers&nbsp;seem to have found a cause for this.</p>

<p>Long Covid refers to&nbsp;the lasting symptoms experienced by some people who have been exposed to the virus. These symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, depression and anxiety.&nbsp;Millions of people in the world are currently going through long covid.</p>

<p>Based on brain scans, the researchers found that COVID-19 can inflame the brainstem tissue, which is the brain's control centre, in severe cases of infection.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/high-likelihood-covid-leaked-from-wuhan-lab-us-told-uk-three-other-allies-at-height-of-pandemic-718127">Also read: 'High likelihood' Covid leaked from Wuhan Lab: US told UK, three other allies at height of pandemic</a></strong></p>

<p>The researchers examined high-resolution MRI scans of 30 people who were infected before vaccines were made available for the deadly virus.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/covid-strain-jn1-could-trigger-a-global-heart-failure-pandemic-fear-experts-674600">Also read: Covid strain JN.1 could trigger a global 'heart failure pandemic', fear experts</a></strong></p>

<p>The scans showed inflammation of the brainstem, a crucial structure in the brain that regulates basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate.</p>

<p>The researchers hypothesise that the inflammation of the brain stem happens because severe infections trigger an immune response in that area.</p>

<p>This eventually results in long-lasting symptoms for months after hospitalisation.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: China’s Covid Crime and Sinister Cover-Up Exposed | Shocking New Report</strong></p>

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<p>The abnormalities observed in the scans on areas linked to breathing suggest the inflammation in the brainstem is likely contributing to these long-lasting effects, according to&nbsp;Dr Catarina Rua, a University of Cambridge neuroscientist and lead author of the study published in the journal Brain.</p>

<p>“We didn’t study people with long Covid, but they do often have long-lasting effects of breathlessness and fatigue, which are similar to the symptoms these very severely affected people had six months after they were hospitalised,” Rua was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper. “It does lead us to ask the question, do people with long Covid have any brainstem changes?”</p>

<p>The researchers reached the conclusion with the help of advanced 7 Tesla MRI technology.</p>

<p>The technology helped them identify 'microstructural abnormalities' in the brainstem tissue.</p>

<p>The inflammations were seen even six months after the initial hospitalisation of patients.</p>

<p>The study also found a link between inflammation of the brainstem and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, with those having the highest levels of inflammation showing the most severe symptoms.</p>

<p>The study is not conclusive about the causes of long Covid, but suggests that it is important to address inflammations during initial infection of the virus.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Covid as the pandemic may be over, but many people are still fighting 'long Covid', the lingering aftereffects of the viral infection. Now, researchers seem to have found a cause for this.

Covid as the pandemic may be over, but many people are still fighting 'long Covid', the lingering aftereffects of the viral infection. Now, researchers seem to have found a cause for this. Long Covid refers to the lasting symptoms experienced by some people who have been exposed to the virus. These symptoms include breathlessness, fatigue, depression and anxiety. Millions of people in the world are currently going through long covid. Based on brain scans, the researchers found that COVID-19 can inflame the brainstem tissue, which is the brain's control centre, in severe cases of infection. Also read: 'High likelihood' Covid leaked from Wuhan Lab: US told UK, three other allies at height of pandemic The researchers examined high-resolution MRI scans of 30 people who were infected before vaccines were made available for the deadly virus. Also read: Covid strain JN.1 could trigger a global 'heart failure pandemic', fear experts The scans showed inflammation of the brainstem, a crucial structure in the brain that regulates basic bodily functions like breathing and heart rate. The researchers hypothesise that the inflammation of the brain stem happens because severe infections trigger an immune response in that area. This eventually results in long-lasting symptoms for months after hospitalisation. Watch: China’s Covid Crime and Sinister Cover-Up Exposed | Shocking New Report × The abnormalities observed in the scans on areas linked to breathing suggest the inflammation in the brainstem is likely contributing to these long-lasting effects, according to Dr Catarina Rua, a University of Cambridge neuroscientist and lead author of the study published in the journal Brain. “We didn’t study people with long Covid, but they do often have long-lasting effects of breathlessness and fatigue, which are similar to the symptoms these very severely affected people had six months after they were hospitalised,” Rua was quoted as saying in The Guardian newspaper. “It does lead us to ask the question, do people with long Covid have any brainstem changes?” The researchers reached the conclusion with the help of advanced 7 Tesla MRI technology. The technology helped them identify 'microstructural abnormalities' in the brainstem tissue. The inflammations were seen even six months after the initial hospitalisation of patients. The study also found a link between inflammation of the brainstem and mental health issues like depression and anxiety, with those having the highest levels of inflammation showing the most severe symptoms. The study is not conclusive about the causes of long Covid, but suggests that it is important to address inflammations during initial infection of the virus. (With inputs from agencies)

Long Covid cause found? Severe infections inflame brainstem, the control centre of brain, says study

<p>If you are a girl or young woman reading this, what would be more worrying for you when going online: FOMO, or the fear of missing out, or the sexual predators and misogynists roaming social media? A rather worrying study in the UK has found that in spite of the hidden dangers, young women are flocking to social media because of FOMO.</p>

<p>The survey by the NGO Girlguiding had more than 2,000 respondents.</p>

<p>It revealed that girls and young women aged 11 to 21 face unwanted sexual images and cyberstalking when surfing the net and social media.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/who-study-one-in-four-adolescent-girls-in-relationship-face-violence-even-before-their-20th-birthday-745433">Also read: WHO study: One in four adolescent girls in relationship faces violence 'even before their 20th birthday'</a></strong></p>

<p>Even as nearly 20 per cent of the respondents said they faced online stalking, many continue to go back to these platforms, with more than half of the respondents on TikTok and Snapchat.&nbsp;More than a third saw unwanted sexual content while online.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Pandemic lockdowns aged teen girls' brains rapidly</strong></p>

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<p>But connectivity is not bringing any more happiness to the young girls. Half of the respondents felt uncertain about their future. Only a quarter felt confident about their lives.</p>

<p>And paradoxically, the feeling that online connections are strong has decreased in the past four years, meaning greater connectivity is only leading to more vulnerability for the youth.</p>

<p>One of the issues reported is not new: the unrealistic beauty standards pushed by social media.</p>

<p>A report in The Guardian quoted a Girlguiding advocate Jia,17, as saying that this pressure exacerbates feelings of judgement and comparison, causing loneliness and low self esteem.</p>

<p>“Being online all the time amplifies this. While we’re ‘more connected’, we’re also more exposed to judgment and comparison – through body shaming, sexist jokes, online harassment and objectification. This fuels loneliness and erodes our confidence, which only makes it harder to feel positive about the future,” the paper quoted her as saying.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/play-badminton-together-hong-kong-encourages-horny-teens-to-play-badminton-instead-of-having-premarital-sex-754039">Also read: 'Play badminton together': Hong Kong encourages teens to play badminton instead of having premarital sex</a></strong><br />
<br />
The girls and young women face a number of other issues when online: 85 per cent of respondents experienced sexism. For more than 50 per cent, sexism&nbsp;happened in real life, while nearly three quarters faced it online.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sexism fuels thoughts of not feeling safe, with 47 per cent of the girls feeling threatened. This is more than double the rate 10 years ago.</p>

<p>The silver lining of the survey is that&nbsp;44 per cent of the respondents still have hope about their futures.</p>

<p>Angela Salt, Girlguiding's CEO, said sexism continues to be pervasive, leaving many girls feeling vulnerable and unsafe, while noting that it was “devastating to see girls feel less confident about themselves and their futures”.</p>

<p>The survey was published amid plans by the UK government to classify extreme misogyny as a form of extremism.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


If you are a girl or young woman reading this, what would be more worrying for you when going online: FOMO, or the fear of missing out, or the sexual predators and misogynists roaming social media?

If you are a girl or young woman reading this, what would be more worrying for you when going online: FOMO, or the fear of missing out, or the sexual predators and misogynists roaming social media? A rather worrying study in the UK has found that in spite of the hidden dangers, young women are flocking to social media because of FOMO. The survey by the NGO Girlguiding had more than 2,000 respondents. It revealed that girls and young women aged 11 to 21 face unwanted sexual images and cyberstalking when surfing the net and social media. Also read: WHO study: One in four adolescent girls in relationship faces violence 'even before their 20th birthday' Even as nearly 20 per cent of the respondents said they faced online stalking, many continue to go back to these platforms, with more than half of the respondents on TikTok and Snapchat. More than a third saw unwanted sexual content while online. Watch: Pandemic lockdowns aged teen girls' brains rapidly × But connectivity is not bringing any more happiness to the young girls. Half of the respondents felt uncertain about their future. Only a quarter felt confident about their lives. And paradoxically, the feeling that online connections are strong has decreased in the past four years, meaning greater connectivity is only leading to more vulnerability for the youth. One of the issues reported is not new: the unrealistic beauty standards pushed by social media. A report in The Guardian quoted a Girlguiding advocate Jia,17, as saying that this pressure exacerbates feelings of judgement and comparison, causing loneliness and low self esteem. “Being online all the time amplifies this. While we’re ‘more connected’, we’re also more exposed to judgment and comparison – through body shaming, sexist jokes, online harassment and objectification. This fuels loneliness and erodes our confidence, which only makes it harder to feel positive about the future,” the paper quoted her as saying. Also read: 'Play badminton together': Hong Kong encourages teens to play badminton instead of having premarital sex The girls and young women face a number of other issues when online: 85 per cent of respondents experienced sexism. For more than 50 per cent, sexism happened in real life, while nearly three quarters faced it online. Sexism fuels thoughts of not feeling safe, with 47 per cent of the girls feeling threatened. This is more than double the rate 10 years ago. The silver lining of the survey is that 44 per cent of the respondents still have hope about their futures. Angela Salt, Girlguiding's CEO, said sexism continues to be pervasive, leaving many girls feeling vulnerable and unsafe, while noting that it was “devastating to see girls feel less confident about themselves and their futures”. The survey was published amid plans by the UK government to classify extreme misogyny as a form of extremism. (With inputs from agencies)

Girls go online due to fear of missing out in spite of sexism, stalking, harassment on social media

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