<p>A federal court in Australia on Friday (Aug 23) ruled in favour of a transgender woman who was booted out of a women-only app, in a landmark case that looked into the crucial question of who is a woman. The judge ordered the Giggle app and its founder to pay $10,000 for gender discrimination suffered by Roxanne Tickle.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The indirect discrimination cases succeeded because Ms Tickle was excluded from the use of the Giggle app because she did not look sufficiently female according to the respondents," Justice Robert Bromwich said in the ruling.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/musks-trans-daughter-retorts-back-after-he-calls-her-dead-says-tesla-owner-was-cold-cruel-744275"><strong>Musk’s trans daughter retorts back after he calls her 'dead', says Tesla </strong>owner was 'cold, cruel'</a></strong></p>

<p>"The acceptance that Ms Tickle is correctly described as a woman, reinforcing her gender-identity status for the purposes of this proceeding, and therefore for the purposes of bringing her present claim of gender identity discrimination, is legally unimpeachable," said the judge.</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Roxanne Tickle case?</strong></h2>

<p>Roxanne Tickle, who was born a man and identifies as a woman, was initially allowed to join the Giggle for Girls app, advertised as a safe space for women to communicate with other women. But she was blocked and her membership, given in February 2021, was revoked in September 2021. A long legal battle followed, during the course of which Giggle founder Sall Grover referred to Tickle as a man in court,&nbsp;social media posts and even during&nbsp;media appearances.</p>

<p>Tickle told the court that she had undergone gender-affirming surgery and hormone treatments, identified as a woman to family, friends and employers, and used women's change rooms and shops, SBS News reported. She also had a birth certificate listing her as female.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-ben-affleck-jennifer-garners-daughter-comes-out-as-trans-at-grandfathers-memorial-service-709925">Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner's daughter comes out as trans at grandfather's memorial service</a></strong></p>

<p>The judge ruled that Tickle's ban amounted to "unlawful discrimination."</p>

<p>After the ruling, Tickle told reporters that it showed all women are protected from discrimination, adding,&nbsp;"I brought my case to show trans people that you can be brave and that you can stand up for yourself."</p>

<p>She said the last three years of her life were lost due to the case, adding, "I know that I can now get on with the rest of my life ... and put all of this horribleness behind me."</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;US House passes bill banning transgender students from women's sports</strong></p>

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<p>"A small group of people have taken it upon themselves to declare that I am not who I know I am, and they have set about making my life miserable," Tickle said, adding, "This case, and the unlawful and discriminatory exclusion from the Giggle app, has stolen the last three years of my life."</p>

<p>"I've been bursting into tears at different moments because I knew soon this would all be over," she said.</p>

<h2><strong>Why is the 'who is a woman' case in Australia significant?</strong></h2>

<p>This is the first time that an Australian court entered into the debate on discrimination based on gender identity and the fundamental question of who is a woman.</p>

<p>In the judgement,&nbsp;Justice Bromwich said the defendants "considered sex to mean the sex of a person at birth, which they consider to be unchangeable," Australia Broadcasting Corporation said in a report.</p>

<p>"These arguments failed because the view propounded by the respondents conflicted with a long history of cases decided by courts going back over 30 years. Those cases establish that in its ordinary meaning, sex is changeable," he ruled.</p>

<p>Speaking after the hearing, which had seen heated exchanges, Giggle app founder Sall Grover said, "Unfortunately it is the judgement we anticipated and the fight for women's rights in Australia continues."</p>

<p>Grover was accused during the case of misgendering Tickle as a man in media interviews and social media posts to her 93,000 online followers, SBS reported.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A federal court in Australia on Friday (Aug 23) ruled in favour of a transgender woman who was booted out of a women-only app, in a landmark case that looked into the crucial question of who is a woman.

A federal court in Australia on Friday (Aug 23) ruled in favour of a transgender woman who was booted out of a women-only app, in a landmark case that looked into the crucial question of who is a woman. The judge ordered the Giggle app and its founder to pay $10,000 for gender discrimination suffered by Roxanne Tickle. "The indirect discrimination cases succeeded because Ms Tickle was excluded from the use of the Giggle app because she did not look sufficiently female according to the respondents," Justice Robert Bromwich said in the ruling. Also read: Musk’s trans daughter retorts back after he calls her 'dead', says Tesla owner was 'cold, cruel' "The acceptance that Ms Tickle is correctly described as a woman, reinforcing her gender-identity status for the purposes of this proceeding, and therefore for the purposes of bringing her present claim of gender identity discrimination, is legally unimpeachable," said the judge. What is the Roxanne Tickle case? Roxanne Tickle, who was born a man and identifies as a woman, was initially allowed to join the Giggle for Girls app, advertised as a safe space for women to communicate with other women. But she was blocked and her membership, given in February 2021, was revoked in September 2021. A long legal battle followed, during the course of which Giggle founder Sall Grover referred to Tickle as a man in court, social media posts and even during media appearances. Tickle told the court that she had undergone gender-affirming surgery and hormone treatments, identified as a woman to family, friends and employers, and used women's change rooms and shops, SBS News reported. She also had a birth certificate listing her as female. Also read: Ben Affleck, Jennifer Garner's daughter comes out as trans at grandfather's memorial service The judge ruled that Tickle's ban amounted to "unlawful discrimination." After the ruling, Tickle told reporters that it showed all women are protected from discrimination, adding, "I brought my case to show trans people that you can be brave and that you can stand up for yourself." She said the last three years of her life were lost due to the case, adding, "I know that I can now get on with the rest of my life ... and put all of this horribleness behind me." Watch: US House passes bill banning transgender students from women's sports × "A small group of people have taken it upon themselves to declare that I am not who I know I am, and they have set about making my life miserable," Tickle said, adding, "This case, and the unlawful and discriminatory exclusion from the Giggle app, has stolen the last three years of my life." "I've been bursting into tears at different moments because I knew soon this would all be over," she said. Why is the 'who is a woman' case in Australia significant? This is the first time that an Australian court entered into the debate on discrimination based on gender identity and the fundamental question of who is a woman. In the judgement, Justice Bromwich said the defendants "considered sex to mean the sex of a person at birth, which they consider to be unchangeable," Australia Broadcasting Corporation said in a report. "These arguments failed because the view propounded by the respondents conflicted with a long history of cases decided by courts going back over 30 years. Those cases establish that in its ordinary meaning, sex is changeable," he ruled. Speaking after the hearing, which had seen heated exchanges, Giggle app founder Sall Grover said, "Unfortunately it is the judgement we anticipated and the fight for women's rights in Australia continues." Grover was accused during the case of misgendering Tickle as a man in media interviews and social media posts to her 93,000 online followers, SBS reported. (With inputs from agencies)

Roxanne Tickle wins landmark 'who is a woman' case in Australia after being booted out of app

<p>A volcano has erupted in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula, spewing hot lava, toxic gases and ash into the air, amid fears that this could be the start of another long period of volcanic activity in the Nordic country.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This is the sixth eruption since last December in&nbsp;Reykjanes, which is&nbsp;known for frequent volcanic activity.</p>

<p>“A volcanic eruption has begun. A fissure has opened east of Sylingarfell,” the Icelandic meteorological office (IMO) said in a statement, adding that the eruption had started at 9.26pm local time on Thursday (Aug 22) after a series of earthquakes.</p>

<p>The length of the eruptive fissure was nearly 3.9 km, according to IMO. "The lava flow continues both to the east and west towards Grindavíkurvegur. No lava flow is observed to the south towards Grindavík," it said in an update.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Iceland volcano still pouring out fountains of lava</strong></p>

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<p>Eruption of the&nbsp;volcano, located in south-western Iceland, led to the evacuation of the fishing village of Grindavik.</p>

<p>“Considerable seismic activity” was taking place at the northern end of the fissure, the IMO said, including a 4.0-magnitude earthquake.<br />
<br />
Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/volcanic-eruptions-on-icelands-reykjanes-peninsula-could-continue-for-decades-study-735395">Volcanic eruptions on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula could continue for decades: Study</a></p>

<p>Reykjanes peninsula is prone to volcanic activity, often leading to evacuation of its population of 30,000.<br />
<br />
Videos and images posted on social media showed the magnitude of the eruption.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">❗️🌋🇮🇸 - The Sundhnúkur volcano in Grindavík, southwest of Iceland, erupted, the entire area was evacuated and a state of emergency was declared.<br />
<br />
The fault from which the magma flows reaches almost 4 kilometers. However, scientists believe that the peak of the eruption will… <a href="https://t.co/dDpG86pMCc">pic.twitter.com/dDpG86pMCc</a></p>
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) <a href="https://twitter.com/theinformant_x/status/1826818362820722832?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 23, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">❗️🌋🇮🇸 - On Thursday, a volcano in southwest Iceland erupted, releasing lava and smoke into the air—marking the sixth eruption since December.<br />
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The event took place on the Reykjanes peninsula, just south of Reykjavik, where magma had been steadily accumulating.<br />
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The region, home… <a href="https://t.co/zUsdPfkudk">pic.twitter.com/zUsdPfkudk</a></p>
— 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) <a href="https://twitter.com/theinformant_x/status/1826747601732976768?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 22, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>The last major volcanic activity in Iceland lasted till June 22, after an eruption that lasted 24 days.</p>

<p>Scientists are warning that the Reykjanes could face repeated events for decades or even centuries, The Guardian said in a report.</p>

<p>There were nine eruptions on the peninsula since 2021 after geological systems that had been dormant for 800 years were reactivated.</p>

<p>The IMO had warned for weeks that another eruption was likely.</p>

<p>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/iceland-volcano-eruption-releases-gigantic-toxic-gas-cloud-flying-towards-europe-703101">Iceland volcano eruption releases gigantic toxic gas cloud flying towards Europe</a></p>

<p><br />
It said the seismic activity indicated a buildup of pressure to magma accumulation under Svartsengi.</p>

<p>Svartsengi has a power plant that supplies&nbsp;electricity and water to the peninsula. The power plant, which has been evacuated last December and is operated remotely, is safe and air and land travel is unaffected in the area as of now.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A volcano has erupted in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula, spewing hot lava, toxic gases and ash into the air, amid fears that this could be the start of another long period of volcanic activity in the Nordic country.

A volcano has erupted in Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula, spewing hot lava, toxic gases and ash into the air, amid fears that this could be the start of another long period of volcanic activity in the Nordic country. This is the sixth eruption since last December in Reykjanes, which is known for frequent volcanic activity. “A volcanic eruption has begun. A fissure has opened east of Sylingarfell,” the Icelandic meteorological office (IMO) said in a statement, adding that the eruption had started at 9.26pm local time on Thursday (Aug 22) after a series of earthquakes. The length of the eruptive fissure was nearly 3.9 km, according to IMO. "The lava flow continues both to the east and west towards Grindavíkurvegur. No lava flow is observed to the south towards Grindavík," it said in an update. Watch: Iceland volcano still pouring out fountains of lava × Eruption of the volcano, located in south-western Iceland, led to the evacuation of the fishing village of Grindavik. “Considerable seismic activity” was taking place at the northern end of the fissure, the IMO said, including a 4.0-magnitude earthquake. Also read: Volcanic eruptions on Iceland's Reykjanes peninsula could continue for decades: Study Reykjanes peninsula is prone to volcanic activity, often leading to evacuation of its population of 30,000. Videos and images posted on social media showed the magnitude of the eruption. ❗️🌋🇮🇸 - The Sundhnúkur volcano in Grindavík, southwest of Iceland, erupted, the entire area was evacuated and a state of emergency was declared. The fault from which the magma flows reaches almost 4 kilometers. However, scientists believe that the peak of the eruption will… pic.twitter.com/dDpG86pMCc — 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) August 23, 2024 × ❗️🌋🇮🇸 - On Thursday, a volcano in southwest Iceland erupted, releasing lava and smoke into the air—marking the sixth eruption since December. The event took place on the Reykjanes peninsula, just south of Reykjavik, where magma had been steadily accumulating. The region, home… pic.twitter.com/zUsdPfkudk — 🔥🗞The Informant (@theinformant_x) August 22, 2024 × The last major volcanic activity in Iceland lasted till June 22, after an eruption that lasted 24 days. Scientists are warning that the Reykjanes could face repeated events for decades or even centuries, The Guardian said in a report. There were nine eruptions on the peninsula since 2021 after geological systems that had been dormant for 800 years were reactivated. The IMO had warned for weeks that another eruption was likely. Also read: Iceland volcano eruption releases gigantic toxic gas cloud flying towards Europe It said the seismic activity indicated a buildup of pressure to magma accumulation under Svartsengi. Svartsengi has a power plant that supplies electricity and water to the peninsula. The power plant, which has been evacuated last December and is operated remotely, is safe and air and land travel is unaffected in the area as of now. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Iceland volcano spews hot lava into air in sixth eruption within eight months

<p>In a world-first, lung cancer vaccine trials have been launched in seven countries, which could revolutionise the way the deadly disease is treated, and possibly prevented.</p>

<p>Janusz Racz, 67, became the first patient in Britain to get the jab, which can kill lung cancer and prevent its recurrence.</p>

<p>The vaccine, called BNT116, is for treating the most common form of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC. The mRNA cancer immunotherapy for NSCLC, developed by BioNTech, was administered on Racz at University College London Hospital on Tuesday (Aug 20).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/study-finds-rising-cancer-cases-among-men-expected-to-surge-by-93-by-2050-749694">Cancer screening: Americans spend a whopping $43 billion every year, says study&nbsp;</a></strong></p>

<p>The trial has been launched across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey. Six sites in England and Wales are taking part in the phase 1 clinical trial.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In total, the human trials will be done on 130 patients, 20 of them from Britain.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Global impact of breast cancer | Disparities in breast cancer treatment addressed</strong></p>

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<p>At nearly 1.8 million fatalities each year, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world, with very low survival rates when tumours spread. In the UK alone, there are nearly 48,500 lung cancer cases every year. Up to 72 per cent&nbsp;of lung cancers are caused by smoking, the biggest preventable cause of cancer worldwide.</p>

<h2><strong>How does the cancer vaccine work?</strong></h2>

<p>The vaccine 'instructs' the body to hunt down and kill cancer cells and then prevents them from ever coming back, the Guardian newspaper said in a report.</p>

<p>"The jab uses messenger RNA (mRNA), similar to Covid-19 vaccines, and works by presenting the immune system with tumour markers from NSCLC to prime the body to fight cancer cells expressing these markers," said the Guardian report.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-cancer-screening-americans-spend-a-whopping-43-billion-every-year-says-study-747635">Cancer cases, deaths among men predicted to rise 93% by 2050: Study</a></strong></p>

<p>“We are now entering this very exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy clinical trials to investigate the treatment of lung cancer,” said Professor Siow Ming Lee at University College London hospitals NHS foundation trust (UCLH).</p>

<p>“It’s simple to deliver, and you can select specific antigens in the cancer cell, and then you target them. This technology is the next big phase of cancer treatment.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In a world-first, lung cancer vaccine trials have been launched in seven countries, which could revolutionise the way the deadly disease is treated, and possibly prevented.

In a world-first, lung cancer vaccine trials have been launched in seven countries, which could revolutionise the way the deadly disease is treated, and possibly prevented. Janusz Racz, 67, became the first patient in Britain to get the jab, which can kill lung cancer and prevent its recurrence. The vaccine, called BNT116, is for treating the most common form of cancer: non-small cell lung cancer or NSCLC. The mRNA cancer immunotherapy for NSCLC, developed by BioNTech, was administered on Racz at University College London Hospital on Tuesday (Aug 20). Also read: Cancer screening: Americans spend a whopping $43 billion every year, says study The trial has been launched across 34 research sites in seven countries: the UK, US, Germany, Hungary, Poland, Spain and Turkey. Six sites in England and Wales are taking part in the phase 1 clinical trial. In total, the human trials will be done on 130 patients, 20 of them from Britain. Watch: Global impact of breast cancer | Disparities in breast cancer treatment addressed × At nearly 1.8 million fatalities each year, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths in the world, with very low survival rates when tumours spread. In the UK alone, there are nearly 48,500 lung cancer cases every year. Up to 72 per cent of lung cancers are caused by smoking, the biggest preventable cause of cancer worldwide. How does the cancer vaccine work? The vaccine 'instructs' the body to hunt down and kill cancer cells and then prevents them from ever coming back, the Guardian newspaper said in a report. "The jab uses messenger RNA (mRNA), similar to Covid-19 vaccines, and works by presenting the immune system with tumour markers from NSCLC to prime the body to fight cancer cells expressing these markers," said the Guardian report. Also read: Cancer cases, deaths among men predicted to rise 93% by 2050: Study “We are now entering this very exciting new era of mRNA-based immunotherapy clinical trials to investigate the treatment of lung cancer,” said Professor Siow Ming Lee at University College London hospitals NHS foundation trust (UCLH). “It’s simple to deliver, and you can select specific antigens in the cancer cell, and then you target them. This technology is the next big phase of cancer treatment.” (With inputs from agencies)

Can vaccines prevent cancer? World's first lung cancer vaccine trials will have answers

<p>Ahead of the United States&nbsp;presidential election, American authorities are investigating some US citizens who had worked with or contributed to Russian state media, amid fears that Moscow's intelligence agencies are trying to muddy the waters of American politics through propaganda campaigns.</p>

<p>Citing official sources, the New York Times reported on Wednesday (Aug 22) that the FBI had raided the homes of two commentators who appear on Russian channels like RT, which broadcasts in English. One of them was a former advisor to ex-president Donald Trump.</p>

<p>The broad criminal investigation will look into whether several laws were violated, including one sanctioning Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, and another on lobbying for foreign countries and entities.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Gravitas: Russia running a disinformation campaign in Latin America?</strong></p>

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<p>The probe came after intelligence findings that Russian state media is "working with its intelligence agencies to sway elections around the world," the report said.</p>

<p>There have been reports that the Russian government of President Vladimir Putin has thrown its weight behind Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, "creating online news outlets and fake videos to denigrate President Biden" and Democratic presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris.</p>

<h2><strong>FBI raids on pro-Russia commentators in the US</strong></h2>

<p>Those who were raided this month were Scott Ritter and Dimitri K Simes. Ritter's house in New York was searched for hours on August 7 by the FBI and state police, who seized mobile phones, computers and hard drives. Simes' 132-acre estate near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia was raided on August 13.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/russian-propaganda-videos-attempts-to-recruit-citizens-by-dangling-money-respect-and-a-manly-life-544124">Russian propaganda videos promise money, respect and ‘manly’ life to lure recruits in army</a></strong><br />
<br />
Neither of them were arrested, nor any charges filed against them, NYT said in the report. More searches are expected soon, it said citing officials. "Criminal charges are also possible, they said," it added.</p>

<h2><strong>Russia is influencing American elections, again</strong></h2>

<p>The Director of National Intelligence had warned on July 29 that Russia was exploiting Americans to create and spread narratives favourable to Moscow. “These personalities post content on social media, write for various websites with overt and covert ties to the Russian government, and conduct other media efforts,” the office said in a statement.</p>

<p>In July, the Justice Department shut down a campaign aimed at sowing discord in the US and other countries and spreading Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-presidential-election-russia-relying-on-unwitting-americans-to-spread-disinformation-about-polls-745419">US presidential election: Russia relying on unwitting Americans to spread disinformation about polls</a></strong><br />
<br />
It took down 968 inauthentic accounts on X, in an operation along with the social media platform owned by Elon Musk as well as authorities in Canada and the Netherlands.</p>

<p>These accounts were created by Russians using artificial intelligence tools, according to the department.</p>

<p>The operation was&nbsp;linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service and RT.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Scott Ritter?</strong></h2>

<p>Scott Ritter is a former United Nations weapons inspector who has been openly critical of American foreign policy. Ritter has been a contributing writer for RT.</p>

<p>He travelled to Russia and Russian-held parts of Ukraine in January.</p>

<p>The warrant for the raid on his house cited the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which mandates that anyone who works&nbsp;for foreign governments and their official media should register as a foreign agent.</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Dimitri K Simes?</strong></h2>

<p>Dimitri K&nbsp;Simes, whose 132-acre estate near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia was raided on August 13,&nbsp;was an aide to Trump during his first presidential campaign in 2016.&nbsp;</p>

<p>An American citizen who escaped the Soviet Union as a young man in the 1970s, Simes is being investigated for violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the legal foundation for imposing economic sanctions, according to the NYT report.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Ahead of the United States presidential election, American authorities are investigating some US citizens who had worked with or contributed to Russian state media, amid fears that Moscow's intelligence agencies are trying to muddy the waters of American politics through propaganda campaigns.

Ahead of the United States presidential election, American authorities are investigating some US citizens who had worked with or contributed to Russian state media, amid fears that Moscow's intelligence agencies are trying to muddy the waters of American politics through propaganda campaigns. Citing official sources, the New York Times reported on Wednesday (Aug 22) that the FBI had raided the homes of two commentators who appear on Russian channels like RT, which broadcasts in English. One of them was a former advisor to ex-president Donald Trump. The broad criminal investigation will look into whether several laws were violated, including one sanctioning Russia after its invasion of Ukraine, and another on lobbying for foreign countries and entities. Watch: Gravitas: Russia running a disinformation campaign in Latin America? × The probe came after intelligence findings that Russian state media is "working with its intelligence agencies to sway elections around the world," the report said. There have been reports that the Russian government of President Vladimir Putin has thrown its weight behind Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump, "creating online news outlets and fake videos to denigrate President Biden" and Democratic presidential candidate and current Vice President Kamala Harris. FBI raids on pro-Russia commentators in the US Those who were raided this month were Scott Ritter and Dimitri K Simes. Ritter's house in New York was searched for hours on August 7 by the FBI and state police, who seized mobile phones, computers and hard drives. Simes' 132-acre estate near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia was raided on August 13. Also read: Russian propaganda videos promise money, respect and ‘manly’ life to lure recruits in army Neither of them were arrested, nor any charges filed against them, NYT said in the report. More searches are expected soon, it said citing officials. "Criminal charges are also possible, they said," it added. Russia is influencing American elections, again The Director of National Intelligence had warned on July 29 that Russia was exploiting Americans to create and spread narratives favourable to Moscow. “These personalities post content on social media, write for various websites with overt and covert ties to the Russian government, and conduct other media efforts,” the office said in a statement. In July, the Justice Department shut down a campaign aimed at sowing discord in the US and other countries and spreading Russian propaganda about the war in Ukraine. Also read: US presidential election: Russia relying on unwitting Americans to spread disinformation about polls It took down 968 inauthentic accounts on X, in an operation along with the social media platform owned by Elon Musk as well as authorities in Canada and the Netherlands. These accounts were created by Russians using artificial intelligence tools, according to the department. The operation was linked to Russia’s Federal Security Service and RT. Who is Scott Ritter? Scott Ritter is a former United Nations weapons inspector who has been openly critical of American foreign policy. Ritter has been a contributing writer for RT. He travelled to Russia and Russian-held parts of Ukraine in January. The warrant for the raid on his house cited the Foreign Agents Registration Act, which mandates that anyone who works for foreign governments and their official media should register as a foreign agent. Who is Dimitri K Simes? Dimitri K Simes, whose 132-acre estate near the Blue Ridge Mountains in Virginia was raided on August 13, was an aide to Trump during his first presidential campaign in 2016. An American citizen who escaped the Soviet Union as a young man in the 1970s, Simes is being investigated for violations of the International Emergency Economic Powers Act, the legal foundation for imposing economic sanctions, according to the NYT report. (With inputs from agencies)

Now, the US is probing Americans who contribute to Russian TV programmes; FBI raided two of them

<p>An aquarium in Australia was filled with birdsong after the iconic 'gay' penguin Sphen died and his partner Magic began to sing, in an unbelievable yet heartwarming moment.</p>

<p>Sphen hit headlines after incubating live eggs with another male gentoo penguin Magic at the Sydney Sea Aquarium in 2018.</p>

<p>Sphen, the older of the duo, was nearly 12 years old when he passed away earlier this month, the aquarium said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 22), adding this is considered a long life for a gentoo penguin, who has an average life span of roughly up to 13 years.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">ICYMI: Two male Gentoo penguins, Sphen and Magic, successfully adopted a second egg after hatching their first chick last year <a href="https://t.co/dwc3uQhRgw">pic.twitter.com/dwc3uQhRgw</a></p>
— Reuters (@Reuters) <a href="https://twitter.com/Reuters/status/1196163599728726017?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">November 17, 2019</a></blockquote>
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<p>According to a report in The Guardian, Magic began singing after Sphen died. When other birds were taken to see Sphen one last time, they sang too, filling the aquarium with birdsong.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/sydneys-same-sex-penguin-couple-welcome-new-addition-to-the-family-173559">Sydney's same-sex penguin couple welcome new addition to the family</a></strong></p>

<p>"Magic immediately started singing, with all the penguins around him joining in the chorus," the paper quoted an aquarium keeper as saying.<br />
<br />
“It was a very beautiful moment, the air was just filled with their singing," said the penguin keeper, Renee Howell, adding that it showed how much impact Sphen&nbsp;had on Magic.</p>

<p>“Soon after, he became quite protective of his partner and that was a very emotional time for us, but we needed to do that in order for him to hopefully comprehend what had happened,” Howell added.</p>

<h2><strong>The same-sex love story of Sphen and Magic</strong></h2>

<p>In 2018, it was noticed that Sphen and Magic began to take turns incubating eggs and spending time together. This was then interpreted in global media as a sign of a gay love story.&nbsp;</p>

<p><br />
<strong>Watch: Rare Gentoo penguin among baby penguins born at Shanghai's ocean park</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Sphen and Magic were together for six years and during this period, adopted and raised two chicks: Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020.</p>

<h2><strong>Staff, fans mourn death of Sphen</strong></h2>

<p>"Staff at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium are heartbroken to share the news that Sphen, one-half of the world’s most famous and loved gentoo penguin couples, has sadly passed away," the aquarium said in the statement.</p>

<p>"Dubbed ‘the penguin power couple,’ the adorable and loyal duo celebrated six years together, " it said.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/australias-same-sex-penguins-become-parents-173535/node/#173531">Australia's same-sex penguins become parents</a></strong><br />
<br />
"Sphen and Magic are more than just a beautiful love story –their impact around the world as a symbol of equality is immeasurable. They inspired a Mardi Gras float, have been included in the NSW education syllabus, and even featured in the Netflix series Atypical. Countless books speak of their love story, even documentaries on same-sex animal couples have featured Sphen and Magic," it added.</p>

<p>The aquarium noted that Sphen and Magic shared "a bond unlike most other penguin couples", having been found together outside of the breeding season, which is unique for gentoo penguins.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Tributes started pouring in after the death was announced.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"I am so sorry for the loss of dear Sphen. He touched the hearts of so many, including mine. I have followed his journey with Magic since the start. The story of Sphen and Magic really highlights the importance of conservation. Sphen, you will be very missed," wrote Stephanie, on the website of the aquarium.&nbsp;&nbsp; &nbsp;</p>

<p>"My heart stopped when I read this news. I have always loved these penguins and the story of their unbreakable bond. Sphen, you will be missed by thousands. Sending all of my love and well-wishes to the staff of SEA LIFE - and of course, to Magic," wrote Leigh.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


An aquarium in Australia was filled with birdsong after the iconic 'gay' penguin Sphen died and his partner Magic began to sing, in an unbelievable yet heartwarming moment.

An aquarium in Australia was filled with birdsong after the iconic 'gay' penguin Sphen died and his partner Magic began to sing, in an unbelievable yet heartwarming moment. Sphen hit headlines after incubating live eggs with another male gentoo penguin Magic at the Sydney Sea Aquarium in 2018. Sphen, the older of the duo, was nearly 12 years old when he passed away earlier this month, the aquarium said in a statement on Thursday (Aug 22), adding this is considered a long life for a gentoo penguin, who has an average life span of roughly up to 13 years. ICYMI: Two male Gentoo penguins, Sphen and Magic, successfully adopted a second egg after hatching their first chick last year pic.twitter.com/dwc3uQhRgw — Reuters (@Reuters) November 17, 2019 × According to a report in The Guardian, Magic began singing after Sphen died. When other birds were taken to see Sphen one last time, they sang too, filling the aquarium with birdsong. Also read: Sydney's same-sex penguin couple welcome new addition to the family "Magic immediately started singing, with all the penguins around him joining in the chorus," the paper quoted an aquarium keeper as saying. “It was a very beautiful moment, the air was just filled with their singing," said the penguin keeper, Renee Howell, adding that it showed how much impact Sphen had on Magic. “Soon after, he became quite protective of his partner and that was a very emotional time for us, but we needed to do that in order for him to hopefully comprehend what had happened,” Howell added. The same-sex love story of Sphen and Magic In 2018, it was noticed that Sphen and Magic began to take turns incubating eggs and spending time together. This was then interpreted in global media as a sign of a gay love story. Watch: Rare Gentoo penguin among baby penguins born at Shanghai's ocean park × Sphen and Magic were together for six years and during this period, adopted and raised two chicks: Sphengic (Lara) in 2018 and Clancy in 2020. Staff, fans mourn death of Sphen "Staff at SEA LIFE Sydney Aquarium are heartbroken to share the news that Sphen, one-half of the world’s most famous and loved gentoo penguin couples, has sadly passed away," the aquarium said in the statement. "Dubbed ‘the penguin power couple,’ the adorable and loyal duo celebrated six years together, " it said. Also read: Australia's same-sex penguins become parents "Sphen and Magic are more than just a beautiful love story –their impact around the world as a symbol of equality is immeasurable. They inspired a Mardi Gras float, have been included in the NSW education syllabus, and even featured in the Netflix series Atypical. Countless books speak of their love story, even documentaries on same-sex animal couples have featured Sphen and Magic," it added. The aquarium noted that Sphen and Magic shared "a bond unlike most other penguin couples", having been found together outside of the breeding season, which is unique for gentoo penguins. Tributes started pouring in after the death was announced. "I am so sorry for the loss of dear Sphen. He touched the hearts of so many, including mine. I have followed his journey with Magic since the start. The story of Sphen and Magic really highlights the importance of conservation. Sphen, you will be very missed," wrote Stephanie, on the website of the aquarium. "My heart stopped when I read this news. I have always loved these penguins and the story of their unbreakable bond. Sphen, you will be missed by thousands. Sending all of my love and well-wishes to the staff of SEA LIFE - and of course, to Magic," wrote Leigh. (With inputs from agencies)

'Gay' penguin Sphen dies: His partner began to sing, and birds in the aquarium followed suit

<p>Indian actor-politician 'Thalapathy' Vijay released an epic party flag anthem after unveiling the colours of his Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday (Aug 22) at an event in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.</p>

<p>The video, which runs into nearly four and half minutes, is mostly made up of 3D and computer graphics.</p>

<p>It starts with a 3D sequence of two elephants, used for dispersing an agitating crowd, breaking away from their masters and forming into the main symbol of the party flag.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/tamil-actor-politician-thalapathy-vijay-to-hold-rallies-similar-to-rahul-gandhis-bharat-jodo-yatra-reports-741105">Tamil actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay to hold rallies similar to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra: Reports</a></strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>The flag, coloured in yellow and maroon, features a flower in the middle adorned by two elephants on either side.</p>

<p>Composed by music director S Thaman, the party anthem was written by V Vivek.<br />
<br />
<strong>Watch the flag anthem video here:</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The south Indian star unveiled the flag at the party office in Panaiyur in the presence of hundreds of his party workers and fans association members.</p>

<p><strong>Watch:&nbsp;Vijay announces new party 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazhgam'</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>About Vijay's party Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam</strong></h2>

<p>Vijay, the star of blockbuster films like <em>Leo</em>, launched TVK in February this year. TVK did not contest or align with any other party in this summer's Lok Sabha elections. But Vijay had said that TVK will contest in local assembly elections scheduled for 2026.</p>

<p>The party aims to cater to the needs and aspirations of youth and the downtrodden, like lower castes, minorities and Dalits.</p>

<p>At the flag launch event, Vijay said preparations are underway for the first state conference of the party.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/the-greatest-of-all-time-first-single-has-vijay-dancing-with-prashanth-and-prabhudeva-711611">The Greatest of All Time first single has Vijay dancing with Prashanth and Prabhudeva</a></strong><br />
<br />
Vijay plans to hold rallies in September and launch the party. A membership drive, fuelled through a mobile phone application, is already on.</p>

<p>"We will work together for the development of Tamil Nadu," he told supporters, while adding that the state will be "better from now on. Victory is sure.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Indian actor-politician 'Thalapathy' Vijay released an epic party flag anthem after unveiling the colours of his Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday (Aug 22) at an event in the southern state of Tamil Nadu.

Indian actor-politician 'Thalapathy' Vijay released an epic party flag anthem after unveiling the colours of his Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam (TVK) on Thursday (Aug 22) at an event in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. The video, which runs into nearly four and half minutes, is mostly made up of 3D and computer graphics. It starts with a 3D sequence of two elephants, used for dispersing an agitating crowd, breaking away from their masters and forming into the main symbol of the party flag. Also read: Tamil actor-politician Thalapathy Vijay to hold rallies similar to Rahul Gandhi's Bharat Jodo Yatra: Reports The flag, coloured in yellow and maroon, features a flower in the middle adorned by two elephants on either side. Composed by music director S Thaman, the party anthem was written by V Vivek. Watch the flag anthem video here: × The south Indian star unveiled the flag at the party office in Panaiyur in the presence of hundreds of his party workers and fans association members. Watch: Vijay announces new party 'Tamilaga Vetri Kazhgam' × About Vijay's party Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam Vijay, the star of blockbuster films like Leo, launched TVK in February this year. TVK did not contest or align with any other party in this summer's Lok Sabha elections. But Vijay had said that TVK will contest in local assembly elections scheduled for 2026. The party aims to cater to the needs and aspirations of youth and the downtrodden, like lower castes, minorities and Dalits. At the flag launch event, Vijay said preparations are underway for the first state conference of the party. Also read: The Greatest of All Time first single has Vijay dancing with Prashanth and Prabhudeva Vijay plans to hold rallies in September and launch the party. A membership drive, fuelled through a mobile phone application, is already on. "We will work together for the development of Tamil Nadu," he told supporters, while adding that the state will be "better from now on. Victory is sure.” (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Tamil actor Vijay releases epic flag anthem of his party Tamizhaga Vettri Kazhagam

<p>Taylor Swift has opened up for the first time about the foiled terror plot at the Vienna leg of her Eras tour which led to the cancellation of the concerts in the Austrian capital. In a lengthy Instagram post, the American pop sensation&nbsp;said she felt tremendous guilt and shared how she went through a rollercoaster of emotions.</p>

<h2><strong>How Vienna terror plot&nbsp;led to Taylor Swift concert cancellation</strong></h2>

<p>In early August, Austrian police foiled a terror attack plot led by a 19-year-old Islamic State supporter, who wanted to kill himself and many others on or before the Swift concerts in Vienna. The Vienna leg of the tour was to have taken place from August 8 to 10 at the Ernst Happel stadium. There was hope initially that the concert could go on, but authorities stopped it citing an&nbsp;“abstract danger”, leaving thousands of her fans known as Swifties heartbroken.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH: Taylor Swift shows in Vienna cancelled after 2 arrested for planning terror plot</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>The terror plot evoked memories of the Ariana Grande concert bombing in the UK's Manchester Arena in 2019 which killed at least 23 people.</p>

<p>Austrian police arrested the 19-year-old and two others aged 17 and 18 and said the main suspect had been radicalised online and became a sympathiser of Islamic State. Authorities raided his house and found bomb-making chemicals.</p>

<h2><strong>What Taylor Swift said in her Instagram post on Vienna tour cancellation</strong></h2>

<p>In the Instagram post titled 'In Summation', Swift said on Wednesday night (Aug 21) that having the Vienna shows cancelled was "devastating".</p>

<p>“The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she wrote.</p>

<p>In the wake of the Vienna gig cancellation, she said all her energy went into protecting “the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London” in the subsequent days.&nbsp;<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/taylor-swift-returns-to-the-stage-for-the-first-time-since-foiled-terror-plot-in-vienna-750552">Taylor Swift returns to the stage for the first time since foiled terror plot in Vienna</a></strong><br />
<br />
“My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us...Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows.”</p>

<p>The Instagram post was shared as she wound up the European leg of her blockbuster tour.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/hollywood/news-post-vienna-scare-unticketed-taylor-swift-fans-banned-from-standing-outside-london-stadium-750089">Post Vienna scare: Unticketed Taylor Swift fans banned from standing outside London stadium</a></strong></p>

<p>Swift said she chose to remain silent about the Vienna incident as a form of “showing restraint and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to."</p>

<p>"My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that,” she said.</p>

<p><strong>Here is her full post:</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Swift will go on with the rest of her tour with shows in Canada in November and December.</p>

<p>The Eras tour is the most lucrative ever in music history, having grossed more than $1 billion.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Taylor Swift has opened up for the first time about the foiled terror plot at the Vienna leg of her Eras tour which led to the cancellation of the concerts in the Austrian capital.

Taylor Swift has opened up for the first time about the foiled terror plot at the Vienna leg of her Eras tour which led to the cancellation of the concerts in the Austrian capital. In a lengthy Instagram post, the American pop sensation said she felt tremendous guilt and shared how she went through a rollercoaster of emotions. How Vienna terror plot led to Taylor Swift concert cancellation In early August, Austrian police foiled a terror attack plot led by a 19-year-old Islamic State supporter, who wanted to kill himself and many others on or before the Swift concerts in Vienna. The Vienna leg of the tour was to have taken place from August 8 to 10 at the Ernst Happel stadium. There was hope initially that the concert could go on, but authorities stopped it citing an “abstract danger”, leaving thousands of her fans known as Swifties heartbroken. WATCH: Taylor Swift shows in Vienna cancelled after 2 arrested for planning terror plot × The terror plot evoked memories of the Ariana Grande concert bombing in the UK's Manchester Arena in 2019 which killed at least 23 people. Austrian police arrested the 19-year-old and two others aged 17 and 18 and said the main suspect had been radicalised online and became a sympathiser of Islamic State. Authorities raided his house and found bomb-making chemicals. What Taylor Swift said in her Instagram post on Vienna tour cancellation In the Instagram post titled 'In Summation', Swift said on Wednesday night (Aug 21) that having the Vienna shows cancelled was "devastating". “The reason for the cancellations filled me with a new sense of fear, and a tremendous amount of guilt because so many people had planned on coming to those shows. But I was also so grateful to the authorities because thanks to them, we were grieving concerts and not lives,” she wrote. In the wake of the Vienna gig cancellation, she said all her energy went into protecting “the nearly half a million people I had coming to see the shows in London” in the subsequent days. Also read: Taylor Swift returns to the stage for the first time since foiled terror plot in Vienna “My team and I worked hand in hand with stadium staff and British authorities every day in pursuit of that goal, and I want to thank them for everything they did for us...Let me be very clear: I am not going to speak about something publicly if I think doing so might provoke those who would want to harm the fans who come to my shows.” The Instagram post was shared as she wound up the European leg of her blockbuster tour. Also read: Post Vienna scare: Unticketed Taylor Swift fans banned from standing outside London stadium Swift said she chose to remain silent about the Vienna incident as a form of “showing restraint and waiting to express yourself at a time when it’s right to." "My priority was finishing our European tour safely, and it is with great relief that I can say we did that,” she said. Here is her full post: View this post on Instagram A post shared by Taylor Swift (@taylorswift) × Swift will go on with the rest of her tour with shows in Canada in November and December. The Eras tour is the most lucrative ever in music history, having grossed more than $1 billion. (With inputs from agencies)

Taylor Swift speaks up on Vienna concert terror plot for first time, says she felt guilt, fear

<p>Up to two-thirds of baby foods sold in US grocery stores are unhealthy, claimed a shocking study which sought to draw urgent attention of parents and policymakers to wide-spread use of misleading claims on packaging of these items.</p>

<p>The study done by the George Institute for Global Health found that a staggering 60 per cent of infant and toddler foods failed to meet nutritional recommendations. None of the foods tested met promotional requirements set by World Health Organization (WHO).&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;</strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-the-vital-role-of-pregnancy-scans-ensuring-babys-health-and-well-being-634069">The vital role of pregnancy scans: Ensuring baby's health and well-being</a></p>

<h2><strong>How the baby food study was done</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers assessed data on 651 infant and toddler food products sold in the top 10 US grocery chains held in the Institute’s FoodSwitch database against global benchmarks.</p>

<p>Out of these, 70 per cent failed to meet protein requirements and 44 per cent exceeded total sugar requirements, said the study published in the journal Nutrients&nbsp;on Wednesday (Aug 21).&nbsp;"A further one in four products did not meet calorie requirements and one in five exceeded recommended sodium limits," the research institute said in a release.</p>

<h2><strong>'Fast food' solutions for babies are a concern</strong></h2>

<p>Researchers brought attention to the concerning rise in popularity of processed convenience foods for infants and young children.</p>

<p>“Early childhood is a crucial period of rapid growth and when taste preferences and dietary habits form, potentially paving the way for the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some cancers later in life,” said researcher Dr Elizabeth Dunford.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Choose EVs to boost children's health, says study</strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>“Our findings highlight the urgent need for better regulation and guidance in the infant and toddler foods market in the United States - the health of future generations depends on it,” said Dunford.</p>

<p>Busy parents are increasingly choosing such convenience foods, "unaware that many of these products lack key nutrients needed for their child’s development and tricked into believing they are healthier than they really are,” the release quoted Dunford as saying.</p>

<p>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/health-and-wellness/simple-measures-can-prevent-a-million-baby-deaths-a-year-study-590642">Simple measures can prevent a million baby deaths a year: Study</a></p>

<p>Baby food pouches, which grew in popularity by a whopping 900 per cent in the last 13 years, were also among the unhealthiest products assessed, with fewer than 7 per cent meeting total sugar recommendations.</p>

<h2><strong>Misleading claims in baby foods</strong></h2>

<p>While examining the food packaging, the study found bad marketing practices too. At least one prohibited claim was found in the packaging of 99.4 per cent products.</p>

<p>These claims included ‘non genetically modified’ (70 per cent), ‘organic’ (59 per cent), ‘no BPA’ (37 per cent), and ‘no artificial colours/flavours’ (25 per cent).</p>

<p>Noting that such claims are creating a so-called ‘health halo’ around these products, reseacher Daisy Coyle said, “The lack of regulation in this area leaves the door wide open for the food industry to deceive busy parents.”&nbsp;</p>

<p>In some cases, the names of products were misleading too. “Snack and finger foods often referred to fruit or vegetables in the product name, despite primarily being made of flour or other starches,” Coyle said.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Up to two-thirds of baby foods sold in US grocery stores are unhealthy, claimed a shocking study which sought to draw urgent attention of parents and policymakers to wide-spread use of misleading claims on packaging of these items.

Up to two-thirds of baby foods sold in US grocery stores are unhealthy, claimed a shocking study which sought to draw urgent attention of parents and policymakers to wide-spread use of misleading claims on packaging of these items. The study done by the George Institute for Global Health found that a staggering 60 per cent of infant and toddler foods failed to meet nutritional recommendations. None of the foods tested met promotional requirements set by World Health Organization (WHO). Also read: The vital role of pregnancy scans: Ensuring baby's health and well-being How the baby food study was done The researchers assessed data on 651 infant and toddler food products sold in the top 10 US grocery chains held in the Institute’s FoodSwitch database against global benchmarks. Out of these, 70 per cent failed to meet protein requirements and 44 per cent exceeded total sugar requirements, said the study published in the journal Nutrients on Wednesday (Aug 21). "A further one in four products did not meet calorie requirements and one in five exceeded recommended sodium limits," the research institute said in a release. 'Fast food' solutions for babies are a concern Researchers brought attention to the concerning rise in popularity of processed convenience foods for infants and young children. “Early childhood is a crucial period of rapid growth and when taste preferences and dietary habits form, potentially paving the way for the development of chronic diseases such as obesity, diabetes and some cancers later in life,” said researcher Dr Elizabeth Dunford. Watch: Choose EVs to boost children's health, says study × “Our findings highlight the urgent need for better regulation and guidance in the infant and toddler foods market in the United States - the health of future generations depends on it,” said Dunford. Busy parents are increasingly choosing such convenience foods, "unaware that many of these products lack key nutrients needed for their child’s development and tricked into believing they are healthier than they really are,” the release quoted Dunford as saying. Also read: Simple measures can prevent a million baby deaths a year: Study Baby food pouches, which grew in popularity by a whopping 900 per cent in the last 13 years, were also among the unhealthiest products assessed, with fewer than 7 per cent meeting total sugar recommendations. Misleading claims in baby foods While examining the food packaging, the study found bad marketing practices too. At least one prohibited claim was found in the packaging of 99.4 per cent products. These claims included ‘non genetically modified’ (70 per cent), ‘organic’ (59 per cent), ‘no BPA’ (37 per cent), and ‘no artificial colours/flavours’ (25 per cent). Noting that such claims are creating a so-called ‘health halo’ around these products, reseacher Daisy Coyle said, “The lack of regulation in this area leaves the door wide open for the food industry to deceive busy parents.” In some cases, the names of products were misleading too. “Snack and finger foods often referred to fruit or vegetables in the product name, despite primarily being made of flour or other starches,” Coyle said. (With inputs from agencies)

Shocking study finds 70 per cent of baby foods in US grocery stores are unhealthy

<p>Sweden on Wednesday (Aug 21) began a killing spree to eliminate nearly 500 brown bears, or 20 per cent of the animal's population in the Nordic country, despite outcry by environment activists who call it more of a 'macho pride' issue than something motivated by real ecological concerns.</p>

<p>The brown bears can be shot dead as&nbsp;part of the annual license to kill. The hunting season will go into October 15.&nbsp;For this season, 486 brown bears can be killed in the so-called licensed hunt.</p>

<p>Activists say that a century&nbsp;of conservation efforts will go to waste after campaigns and laws had brought back the population of brown bears that were once killed to near-extinction by hunters.&nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>The 'trophy hunt' of bears&nbsp;</strong></h2>

<p>Brown bears that number more than 3,000 in Sweden,&nbsp;are a strictly protected species within the European Union. Hunting them is being seen by some as a matter of 'macho pride', allege the activists.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Polar Bears on verge of extinction due to starvation amid global warming</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>“There are several ways to better live side by side... by taking preventive measures to avoid damage and by using the great tourism value of bear watching as a tool for countryside development, which our neighbouring country Finland has proven to be very good at,” Euronews quoted Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association, as saying.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/no-country-for-bears-romanias-parliament-approves-culling-of-500-bears-741413">No country for bears? Romania's parliament approves stepping up bear culling</a></strong></p>

<p>Measures to protect them from trophy-hunting were introduced in 1927. Over several decades since then, their population gradually grew. It was&nbsp;around 2,200 in the year 2000, and&nbsp;peaked at around 3,300 in 2008.&nbsp;</p>

<p>But after the licensed hunt of 2023, the population dropped to 2,450.</p>

<p>Sweden’s Big Five, a conservation group, alleged the&nbsp;government was on a clear path to cull the big carnivores to 1,400, which is the minimum number required for conservation purposes.&nbsp;This would represent a 60 per cent loss from the 2008 peak.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/humans-can-learn-to-sleep-like-bears-to-save-their-lives-study-673901">Sleeping like a bear might help humans live a healthier life, study suggests</a></strong></p>

<p>“We can absolutely not continue to shoot this many bears if we are to have a stable bear population around the 2,400 bears we have today,” says Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear research project.</p>

<p>Officially known as Ursus arctos, brown&nbsp;bears mature slowly, taking up to four years to become adults.</p>

<p>Kindberg noted that only a few cubs are born at a time, and that too once in two to three years.&nbsp;“During the hunt, it is very difficult to tell females from males, and the females are much more valuable to the population. Therefore, you risk ending up in a situation that may take a very long time to repair.”</p>

<p>In addition to the annual licensed hunts, brown bears are allowed to be killed in 'protective' hunts if they're considered damaging to property or threat to life.</p>

<p>Last year, 648 bears were shot during licensed hunting, while 74 more were killed during protective hunting.<br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Sweden on Wednesday (Aug 21) began a killing spree to eliminate nearly 500 brown bears, or 20 per cent of the animal's population in the Nordic country, despite outcry by environment activists who call it more of a 'macho pride' issue than something motivated by real ecological concerns.

Sweden on Wednesday (Aug 21) began a killing spree to eliminate nearly 500 brown bears, or 20 per cent of the animal's population in the Nordic country, despite outcry by environment activists who call it more of a 'macho pride' issue than something motivated by real ecological concerns. The brown bears can be shot dead as part of the annual license to kill. The hunting season will go into October 15. For this season, 486 brown bears can be killed in the so-called licensed hunt. Activists say that a century of conservation efforts will go to waste after campaigns and laws had brought back the population of brown bears that were once killed to near-extinction by hunters. The 'trophy hunt' of bears Brown bears that number more than 3,000 in Sweden, are a strictly protected species within the European Union. Hunting them is being seen by some as a matter of 'macho pride', allege the activists. Watch: Polar Bears on verge of extinction due to starvation amid global warming × “There are several ways to better live side by side... by taking preventive measures to avoid damage and by using the great tourism value of bear watching as a tool for countryside development, which our neighbouring country Finland has proven to be very good at,” Euronews quoted Magnus Orrebrant, chairman of the Swedish Carnivore Association, as saying. Also read: No country for bears? Romania's parliament approves stepping up bear culling Measures to protect them from trophy-hunting were introduced in 1927. Over several decades since then, their population gradually grew. It was around 2,200 in the year 2000, and peaked at around 3,300 in 2008. But after the licensed hunt of 2023, the population dropped to 2,450. Sweden’s Big Five, a conservation group, alleged the government was on a clear path to cull the big carnivores to 1,400, which is the minimum number required for conservation purposes. This would represent a 60 per cent loss from the 2008 peak. Also read: Sleeping like a bear might help humans live a healthier life, study suggests “We can absolutely not continue to shoot this many bears if we are to have a stable bear population around the 2,400 bears we have today,” says Jonas Kindberg, leader of the Scandinavian Bear research project. Officially known as Ursus arctos, brown bears mature slowly, taking up to four years to become adults. Kindberg noted that only a few cubs are born at a time, and that too once in two to three years. “During the hunt, it is very difficult to tell females from males, and the females are much more valuable to the population. Therefore, you risk ending up in a situation that may take a very long time to repair.” In addition to the annual licensed hunts, brown bears are allowed to be killed in 'protective' hunts if they're considered damaging to property or threat to life. Last year, 648 bears were shot during licensed hunting, while 74 more were killed during protective hunting. (With inputs from agencies)

Sweden starts killing 20 per cent of its brown bear population despite outcry against 'macho pride'

<p>Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals his first email ID that he used to create his first-ever profile on Facebook. Zuckerberg made the revelation on Threads, a counterpart of Instagram while replying to a funny post by a user.</p>

<p>All the frenzy started with an artist's post, “I’m you had to have a .edu email address to join Facebook years old.” To which, the Facebook founder reacted with, “Real ones know. First account was mzuckerb@fas.harvard.edu.”</p>

<p>It is widely known that Zuckerberg was the first person to create an account on Facebook but he was not the first one to have an ID. Apparently, three more IDs were created on the platform before Zuckerberg’s for testing, as per the Guardian.</p>

<p>The other three IDs were later deleted, hence, making Zuckerberg the first person to have a Facebook ID.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/india-trumps-china-as-manufacturer-of-apples-most-expensive-iphone-pro-and-pro-max-models-751537">India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models</a></p>

<p>Chris Hughes and Dustin Moscovitz, both Facebook co-founders, are the second and third persons to have a Facebook ID, respectively.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>Take a look at the exchange here.</em></p>

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<p>Soon netizens started reacting to Zuckerberg’s reply with comments like “time flies” and some started sharing their first email IDs.</p>

<p>“Pretty sure I took an adult education class at the local university so I could get a .edu account at least partially so I could meet this requirement. (Still the only college credit I have today.)” shared a user.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Another added, “I remember being a senior in high school and the thing I was most excited about was graduating so I could finally apply for a Facebook account with my college email. It was all I cared about at the time.”</p>

<p>Also Read |&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/over-200-flights-disrupted-at-japanese-airport-after-scissors-go-missing-751519">Over 200 flights disrupted at Japanese airport after scissors go missing</a></p>

<p>A third posted, “So many people will now test that email.” A fourth wrote, “I entered college in fall 2004. I remember when we had to switch Facebook from our .edu addresses to the accounts we had now! I think late 2005 or 2006 or so?”</p>

<p>Facebook was launched in February 2004, almost two decades ago with the website name- “thefacebook.com.”</p>

<p>In its initial years, the platform was started as a “directory of information for college students.” As time went on, several changes were made after its first launch and over the years, Facebook emerged as one of the most used social networking sites worldwide.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Apart from Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was co-founded by his classmates at Harvard- Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals his first email ID that he used to create his first-ever profile on Facebook. Zuckerberg made the revelation on Threads, a counterpart of Instagram while replying to a funny post by a user.

Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg reveals his first email ID that he used to create his first-ever profile on Facebook. Zuckerberg made the revelation on Threads, a counterpart of Instagram while replying to a funny post by a user. All the frenzy started with an artist's post, “I’m you had to have a .edu email address to join Facebook years old.” To which, the Facebook founder reacted with, “Real ones know. First account was mzuckerb@fas.harvard.edu.” It is widely known that Zuckerberg was the first person to create an account on Facebook but he was not the first one to have an ID. Apparently, three more IDs were created on the platform before Zuckerberg’s for testing, as per the Guardian. The other three IDs were later deleted, hence, making Zuckerberg the first person to have a Facebook ID. Also Read | India trumps China as manufacturer of Apple's most expensive iPhone Pro and Pro Max models Chris Hughes and Dustin Moscovitz, both Facebook co-founders, are the second and third persons to have a Facebook ID, respectively. Take a look at the exchange here. Post by @zuck View on Threads × Soon netizens started reacting to Zuckerberg’s reply with comments like “time flies” and some started sharing their first email IDs. “Pretty sure I took an adult education class at the local university so I could get a .edu account at least partially so I could meet this requirement. (Still the only college credit I have today.)” shared a user. Another added, “I remember being a senior in high school and the thing I was most excited about was graduating so I could finally apply for a Facebook account with my college email. It was all I cared about at the time.” Also Read | Over 200 flights disrupted at Japanese airport after scissors go missing A third posted, “So many people will now test that email.” A fourth wrote, “I entered college in fall 2004. I remember when we had to switch Facebook from our .edu addresses to the accounts we had now! I think late 2005 or 2006 or so?” Facebook was launched in February 2004, almost two decades ago with the website name- “thefacebook.com.” In its initial years, the platform was started as a “directory of information for college students.” As time went on, several changes were made after its first launch and over the years, Facebook emerged as one of the most used social networking sites worldwide. Apart from Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook was co-founded by his classmates at Harvard- Eduardo Saverin, Dustin Moskovitz, Andrew McCollum, and Chris Hughes. (With inputs from agencies)

Watch: Did Thai ex-army chief Prawit Wongsuwon slap female journo? What his party said amid calls for probe

<p>OpenAI, the firm behind the wildly popular generative artificial intelligence app ChatGPT, will now be able to dig into the massive content database of iconic fashion magazine Vogue and other publications of its parent company Condé Nast. This will power its AI models in enhancing news discovery and delivery, OpenAI said in a release on Tuesday (Aug 21).</p>

<p>The partnership, whose financial details were not disclosed, will enable OpenAI to display content from Condé Nast's other brands like The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, GQ, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Wired, Bon Appétit, too within ChatGPT and SearchGPT prototype.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH:&nbsp;ChatGPT and AI: Students using chatbox to cheat in exams?</strong></p>

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<p>SearchGPT prototype, introduced earlier this year, is OpenAI's foray into the online search domain, offering a key challenge to Google. SearchGPT aims to give fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/openai-cuts-off-china-from-chatgpt-and-ai-services-739306">OpenAI cuts off China from ChatGPT and AI services</a></strong></p>

<p>The New Yorker is a long-form magazine focused mainly on the American city whose name it takes, while Condé Nast Traveler is one of the leading magazines in the travel segment. GQ, or Gentleman's Quarterly, is among the oldest and most influential magazines in men's fashion and style. Vanity Fair is a lifestyle magazine, while Architectural Digest focuses on home and office design and interiors. Wired is a premier tech publication, while Bon Appétit is focused on food.</p>

<p>SearchGPT "offers direct links to news stories, enabling users to easily explore more in-depth content directly from the source. We plan to integrate the best of these features directly into ChatGPT in the future," OpenAI said on its website.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/grok-or-gross-elon-musks-new-ai-photo-tool-generates-deepfakes-of-taylor-swift-kamala-harris-750343">Grok or Gross? Elon Musk's new AI photo tool generates deepfakes of Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris</a></strong></p>

<p>“We’re committed to working with Condé Nast and other news publishers to ensure that as AI plays a larger role in news discovery and delivery, it maintains accuracy, integrity, and respect for quality reporting,” it quoted Brad Lightcap, the COO of OpenAI, as saying.</p>

<p>Earlier, OpenAI had entered into similar partnerships with the Associated Press news agency, Axel Springer-which owns a bunch of print and online outlets- The Atlantic magazine, Dotdash Meredith, Financial Times, LeMonde, NewsCorp, Prisa Media, TIME, and Vox Media.</p>

<p>Roger Lynch, CEO of Condé Nast, said in a memo to staff that it will be a multi-year partnership to expand the reach of Condé Nast’s content.</p>

<p>"Generative AI is rapidly changing ways audiences are discovering information. It’s crucial that we meet audiences where they are and embrace new technologies while also ensuring proper attribution and compensation for the use of our intellectual property. This is exactly what we have found with OpenAI," Lynch said.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>A great opportunity for legacy media companies?</strong></h2>

<p>The decades-old content banks of legacy media groups have suddenly become attractive for generative AI companies, who need it to feed their AI models. This is very different from the situation when tech giants like Google and Facebook used such content for linking, indexing and aggregation purposes, without sufficient compensation for the original content publishing companies. The AI-fuelled search could change all that.</p>

<p>In his statement, Lynch noted how news and digital media have faced steep challenges as Big Tech companies "eroded publishers’ ability to monetise content, most recently with traditional search."</p>

<p>"Our partnership with OpenAI begins to make up for some of that revenue, allowing us to continue to protect and invest in our journalism and creative endeavours," he said.</p>

<p>"It is just the beginning and we will continue what we started in Washington earlier this year - the fight for fair deals and partnerships across the industry until all entities developing and deploying artificial intelligence take seriously, as OpenAI has, the rights of publishers," he added.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


OpenAI, the firm behind the wildly popular generative artificial intelligence app ChatGPT, will now be able to dig into the massive content database of iconic fashion magazine Vogue and other publications of its parent company Condé Nast.

OpenAI, the firm behind the wildly popular generative artificial intelligence app ChatGPT, will now be able to dig into the massive content database of iconic fashion magazine Vogue and other publications of its parent company Condé Nast. This will power its AI models in enhancing news discovery and delivery, OpenAI said in a release on Tuesday (Aug 21). The partnership, whose financial details were not disclosed, will enable OpenAI to display content from Condé Nast's other brands like The New Yorker, Condé Nast Traveler, GQ, Architectural Digest, Vanity Fair, Wired, Bon Appétit, too within ChatGPT and SearchGPT prototype. WATCH: ChatGPT and AI: Students using chatbox to cheat in exams? × SearchGPT prototype, introduced earlier this year, is OpenAI's foray into the online search domain, offering a key challenge to Google. SearchGPT aims to give fast and timely answers with clear and relevant sources. Also read: OpenAI cuts off China from ChatGPT and AI services The New Yorker is a long-form magazine focused mainly on the American city whose name it takes, while Condé Nast Traveler is one of the leading magazines in the travel segment. GQ, or Gentleman's Quarterly, is among the oldest and most influential magazines in men's fashion and style. Vanity Fair is a lifestyle magazine, while Architectural Digest focuses on home and office design and interiors. Wired is a premier tech publication, while Bon Appétit is focused on food. SearchGPT "offers direct links to news stories, enabling users to easily explore more in-depth content directly from the source. We plan to integrate the best of these features directly into ChatGPT in the future," OpenAI said on its website. Also read: Grok or Gross? Elon Musk's new AI photo tool generates deepfakes of Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris “We’re committed to working with Condé Nast and other news publishers to ensure that as AI plays a larger role in news discovery and delivery, it maintains accuracy, integrity, and respect for quality reporting,” it quoted Brad Lightcap, the COO of OpenAI, as saying. Earlier, OpenAI had entered into similar partnerships with the Associated Press news agency, Axel Springer-which owns a bunch of print and online outlets- The Atlantic magazine, Dotdash Meredith, Financial Times, LeMonde, NewsCorp, Prisa Media, TIME, and Vox Media. Roger Lynch, CEO of Condé Nast, said in a memo to staff that it will be a multi-year partnership to expand the reach of Condé Nast’s content. "Generative AI is rapidly changing ways audiences are discovering information. It’s crucial that we meet audiences where they are and embrace new technologies while also ensuring proper attribution and compensation for the use of our intellectual property. This is exactly what we have found with OpenAI," Lynch said. A great opportunity for legacy media companies? The decades-old content banks of legacy media groups have suddenly become attractive for generative AI companies, who need it to feed their AI models. This is very different from the situation when tech giants like Google and Facebook used such content for linking, indexing and aggregation purposes, without sufficient compensation for the original content publishing companies. The AI-fuelled search could change all that. In his statement, Lynch noted how news and digital media have faced steep challenges as Big Tech companies "eroded publishers’ ability to monetise content, most recently with traditional search." "Our partnership with OpenAI begins to make up for some of that revenue, allowing us to continue to protect and invest in our journalism and creative endeavours," he said. "It is just the beginning and we will continue what we started in Washington earlier this year - the fight for fair deals and partnerships across the industry until all entities developing and deploying artificial intelligence take seriously, as OpenAI has, the rights of publishers," he added. (With inputs from agencies)

ChatGPT and Vogue publisher Condé Nast join hands for SearchGPT partnership. What does it mean?

<p>Watching YouTube shorts, Instagram reels and TikTok videos on endless scroll is a way to kill boredom for millions of mostly young people. However, a new study has found that moving from one video to the next actually causes more boredom.</p>

<p>Digital switching is the practice of people switching between videos or fast-forward through them on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Netflix. The study done in University of Toronto showed that this switching behaviour "makes people feel more bored, less satisfied, less engaged, and less meaningful in some instances."&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp; <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-court-blocks-key-part-of-california-law-on-childrens-online-safety-750870">US court blocks key part of California law on children's online safety</a></strong></p>

<p>The&nbsp;assessment was made based on the idea that switching from one content to other is actually a tedious process, which tires one's attention span. Boredom is directly linked to attention: it's the disparity between what one wants to do or where one wants to be versus the reality.&nbsp;</p>

<p>“When people keep switching through videos, they become less engaged with the videos and they are looking for something more interesting. This can lead to increased feelings of boredom,” the Guardian newspaper quoted Dr Katy Tam at the University of Toronto Scarborough, the lead author of the research, as saying.</p>

<h2><strong>How 'boredom on social media' study was done</strong></h2>

<p>The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, reached the conclusion after experiments on 1,200 participants who were shown videos and made to answer questions about boredom.</p>

<p>One experiment with 140 respondents revealed that people tended to switch between videos more when they rated the content more boring.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>WATCH:&nbsp;Social media platform X makes likes private to enhance user privacy</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"We found a bidirectional, causal relationship between boredom and digital switching.&nbsp;When participants were bored, they switched and they believed that switching would help them avoid boredom," said the study.</p>

<p>It was found that switching between videos - or within a video - not only led to more boredom, but also reduced satisfaction, reduced attention, and lowered meaning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Even when participants had the freedom to watch videos of personal choice and interest on YouTube, digital switching still intensified boredom, it found.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Our findings suggest that attempts to avoid boredom through digital switching may sometimes inadvertently exacerbate it," said the authors.</p>

<h2><strong>Age may be a factor in how easily bored you get with online videos</strong></h2>

<p>People of different ages, said the study,&nbsp;may have different habits when it comes to watching videos and switching. “How people consume videos and how this affects boredom may vary based on age and digital media habits," it said, adding further research is needed to explore this aspect.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/google-meta-bend-their-own-rules-to-target-teenagers-with-ad-campaigns-report-748487">Google, Meta bend their own rules to target teenagers with ad campaigns: Report</a></strong></p>

<p>So what's the best way to enjoy videos while avoiding boredom?</p>

<p>“Just as we pay for an immersive experience in a movie theatre, enjoyment often comes from immersing ourselves in videos rather than swiping through them,” Tan said.<br />
<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Watching YouTube shorts, Instagram reels and TikTok videos on endless scroll is a way to kill boredom for millions of mostly young people. However, a new study has found that moving from one video to the next actually causes more boredom.

Watching YouTube shorts, Instagram reels and TikTok videos on endless scroll is a way to kill boredom for millions of mostly young people. However, a new study has found that moving from one video to the next actually causes more boredom. Digital switching is the practice of people switching between videos or fast-forward through them on platforms like YouTube, TikTok and Netflix. The study done in University of Toronto showed that this switching behaviour "makes people feel more bored, less satisfied, less engaged, and less meaningful in some instances." Also read: US court blocks key part of California law on children's online safety The assessment was made based on the idea that switching from one content to other is actually a tedious process, which tires one's attention span. Boredom is directly linked to attention: it's the disparity between what one wants to do or where one wants to be versus the reality. “When people keep switching through videos, they become less engaged with the videos and they are looking for something more interesting. This can lead to increased feelings of boredom,” the Guardian newspaper quoted Dr Katy Tam at the University of Toronto Scarborough, the lead author of the research, as saying. How 'boredom on social media' study was done The study, published in the Journal of Experimental Psychology: General, reached the conclusion after experiments on 1,200 participants who were shown videos and made to answer questions about boredom. One experiment with 140 respondents revealed that people tended to switch between videos more when they rated the content more boring. WATCH: Social media platform X makes likes private to enhance user privacy × "We found a bidirectional, causal relationship between boredom and digital switching. When participants were bored, they switched and they believed that switching would help them avoid boredom," said the study. It was found that switching between videos - or within a video - not only led to more boredom, but also reduced satisfaction, reduced attention, and lowered meaning. Even when participants had the freedom to watch videos of personal choice and interest on YouTube, digital switching still intensified boredom, it found. "Our findings suggest that attempts to avoid boredom through digital switching may sometimes inadvertently exacerbate it," said the authors. Age may be a factor in how easily bored you get with online videos People of different ages, said the study, may have different habits when it comes to watching videos and switching. “How people consume videos and how this affects boredom may vary based on age and digital media habits," it said, adding further research is needed to explore this aspect. Also read: Google, Meta bend their own rules to target teenagers with ad campaigns: Report So what's the best way to enjoy videos while avoiding boredom? “Just as we pay for an immersive experience in a movie theatre, enjoyment often comes from immersing ourselves in videos rather than swiping through them,” Tan said. (With inputs from agencies)

Those videos you scroll for killing time might actually be causing more boredom

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