<p>What is love, or rather, 'where' is love? A fascinating new study has located where exactly love happens in our brains. More precisely, it has mapped how different types of love situations fire up different parts of the brain.</p>

<p>Using functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI, the researchers from Aalto University mapped the brain activity of participants who were given stories to think about, related to six types of love: for romantic partners, friends, children, strangers, pets and nature.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Does falling in love mess with your head?</strong></p>

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<h2><strong>How was the 'brain in love' study done?</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers gave specific love-related statements to participants and observed how their brains reacted. After hearing a professional actor’s rendition of each love story, participants were asked to imagine each emotion for 10 seconds,&nbsp;the researchers said in a release.</p>

<p>Could you guess which type of love ignited more parts of the participants' brains?&nbsp;<br />
<br />
Love for one’s children generated the most intense brain activity, closely followed by romantic love, according to the study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex.</p>

<p>The statement given to the parents was: "You see your newborn child for the first time. The baby is soft, healthy and hearty — your life’s greatest wonder. You feel love for the little one."</p>

<p>It was presented to 55 parents who said they were in a loving relationship.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-love-in-the-times-of-ai-your-digital-avatar-might-soon-go-out-on-dates-for-you-721735">Also Read: Love in the times of AI: Your digital avatar might soon go out on dates for you</a></strong><br />
<br />
"In parental love, there was activation deep in the brain's reward system in the striatum area while imagining love, and this was not seen for any other kind of love," said Pärttyli Rinne, who coordinated the study.</p>

<p>‘‘The activation pattern of love is generated...in the basal ganglia, the midline of the forehead, the precuneus and the temporoparietal junction at the sides of the back of the head," said Rinne.</p>

<p>Brain activity is influenced not only by the closeness of the object of love but also by whether it is a human being, another species or nature.</p>

<p>Compassionate love for strangers was less rewarding and caused less brain activation than love in close relationships, it noted.</p>

<p>The study also found that love of nature activated the reward system and visual areas of the brain, but not the social brain areas.</p>

<p>The study also found that it is possible to find, based on brain activity, whether a person is a pet owner or not.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-international-dog-day-indian-celebs-love-letters-for-their-furry-friends-753388">Also Read: International Dog Day: Indian celebs' love letters for their furry friends</a></strong></p>

<p>"When looking at love for pets and the brain activity associated with it, brain areas associated with sociality statistically reveal whether or not the person is a pet owner. When it comes to the pet owners, these areas are more activated than with non-pet owners," said Rinne.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


What is love, or rather, 'where' is love? A fascinating new study has located where exactly love happens in our brains. More precisely, it has mapped how different types of love situations fire up different parts of the brain.

What is love, or rather, 'where' is love? A fascinating new study has located where exactly love happens in our brains. More precisely, it has mapped how different types of love situations fire up different parts of the brain. Using functional magnetic resonance imaging or fMRI, the researchers from Aalto University mapped the brain activity of participants who were given stories to think about, related to six types of love: for romantic partners, friends, children, strangers, pets and nature. Watch: Does falling in love mess with your head? × How was the 'brain in love' study done? The researchers gave specific love-related statements to participants and observed how their brains reacted. After hearing a professional actor’s rendition of each love story, participants were asked to imagine each emotion for 10 seconds, the researchers said in a release. Could you guess which type of love ignited more parts of the participants' brains? Love for one’s children generated the most intense brain activity, closely followed by romantic love, according to the study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex. The statement given to the parents was: "You see your newborn child for the first time. The baby is soft, healthy and hearty — your life’s greatest wonder. You feel love for the little one." It was presented to 55 parents who said they were in a loving relationship. Also Read: Love in the times of AI: Your digital avatar might soon go out on dates for you "In parental love, there was activation deep in the brain's reward system in the striatum area while imagining love, and this was not seen for any other kind of love," said Pärttyli Rinne, who coordinated the study. ‘‘The activation pattern of love is generated...in the basal ganglia, the midline of the forehead, the precuneus and the temporoparietal junction at the sides of the back of the head," said Rinne. Brain activity is influenced not only by the closeness of the object of love but also by whether it is a human being, another species or nature. Compassionate love for strangers was less rewarding and caused less brain activation than love in close relationships, it noted. The study also found that love of nature activated the reward system and visual areas of the brain, but not the social brain areas. The study also found that it is possible to find, based on brain activity, whether a person is a pet owner or not. Also Read: International Dog Day: Indian celebs' love letters for their furry friends "When looking at love for pets and the brain activity associated with it, brain areas associated with sociality statistically reveal whether or not the person is a pet owner. When it comes to the pet owners, these areas are more activated than with non-pet owners," said Rinne. (With inputs from agencies)

What is love? Now, researchers have mapped exactly which parts of brains fire up in various love situations

<p>Did you know that some so-called 'smart toys' may be spying on your kids' behaviour patterns? A shocking study into 12 such toys found breaches of security and privacy, with the toys recording and transmitting user&nbsp;data to toy manufacturers.</p>

<p>The study examined smart toys like Toniebox, Tiptoi smart pen,&nbsp;Edurino learning app, Tamagotchi virtual pet, Moorebot mobile robot and chlidren's smart phone Kidibuzz. These toys employ interactive play through software apps and internet.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Smart devices evesdropping for ad targeting and listening to your conversations secretly?</strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Many of these toys raise privacy concerns, and some even collect extensive behavioral data about children," said the researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland in a release.</p>

<p>Take the case of Toniebox in which children can use figurines that, when put into a box, would play music and audio content. The researchers found that the toy records exactly when the toy is activated and by which figurine, when the child stops playback, and to which spot they rewind or fast-forward, said the release.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amazon-shuts-down-customers-smart-home-devices-over-false-racism-claims-605214">Also read: Amazon shuts down customer's smart home devices over false racism claims</a></p>

<p>Such data is sent to the manufacturer, found the study headed by Prof Isabel Wagner of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Basel.&nbsp;</p>

<p>For the study to be presented at the Annual Privacy Forum in September, the researchers looked into data traffic encryption, data protection, transparency and compliance with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They found that Toniebox and the Tiptoi Pen do not securely encrypt data traffic.</p>

<p>Toniebox collects data and sends to the manufacturer.&nbsp;"Even if the Toniebox were operated offline and only temporarily connected to the internet while downloading new audio content, the device could store collected data locally and transmit it to the manufacturer at the next opportunity," said Wagner, a professor of cyber security.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/elon-musk-threatens-apple-device-ban-over-openai-integration-730630">Also read: Elon Musk threatens Apple device ban over OpenAI integration</a><br />
<br />
In another toy that integrates ChatGPT, the researchers found that log data "regularly vanishes,” said Wagner, adding the system is probably set up to delete the local copy of transmitted data to optimise internal storage use.</p>

<p>The ChatGPT toy transmits a data stream that looks like audio. "Perhaps the company wants to optimise speech recognition for children’s voices," said Wagner.&nbsp;</p>

<p>While companies claim the data helps optimise the devices, it's not clear to users what purpose this data could serve.</p>

<p>“The apps bundled with some of these toys demand entirely unnecessary access rights, such as to a smartphone’s location or microphone,” said Wagner.</p>

<p>“Children’s privacy requires special protection,” said Julika Feldbusch, first author of the study.</p>

<p>She said toy manufacturers should place greater weight on privacy and security of their products.</p>

<p>“Well-informed parents engage with the issue and can choose toys that do not create behavioural profiles of their children. But many lack the technical knowledge or don’t have time to think about this stuff in detail,” Feldbusch.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Did you know that some so-called 'smart toys' may be spying on your kids' behaviour patterns? A shocking study into 12 such toys found breaches of security and privacy, with the toys recording and transmitting user data to toy manufacturers.

Did you know that some so-called 'smart toys' may be spying on your kids' behaviour patterns? A shocking study into 12 such toys found breaches of security and privacy, with the toys recording and transmitting user data to toy manufacturers. The study examined smart toys like Toniebox, Tiptoi smart pen, Edurino learning app, Tamagotchi virtual pet, Moorebot mobile robot and chlidren's smart phone Kidibuzz. These toys employ interactive play through software apps and internet. Watch: Smart devices evesdropping for ad targeting and listening to your conversations secretly? × "Many of these toys raise privacy concerns, and some even collect extensive behavioral data about children," said the researchers at the University of Basel, Switzerland in a release. Take the case of Toniebox in which children can use figurines that, when put into a box, would play music and audio content. The researchers found that the toy records exactly when the toy is activated and by which figurine, when the child stops playback, and to which spot they rewind or fast-forward, said the release. Also read: Amazon shuts down customer's smart home devices over false racism claims Such data is sent to the manufacturer, found the study headed by Prof Isabel Wagner of the Department of Mathematics and Computer Science at the University of Basel. For the study to be presented at the Annual Privacy Forum in September, the researchers looked into data traffic encryption, data protection, transparency and compliance with the European Union General Data Protection Regulation. They found that Toniebox and the Tiptoi Pen do not securely encrypt data traffic. Toniebox collects data and sends to the manufacturer. "Even if the Toniebox were operated offline and only temporarily connected to the internet while downloading new audio content, the device could store collected data locally and transmit it to the manufacturer at the next opportunity," said Wagner, a professor of cyber security. Also read: Elon Musk threatens Apple device ban over OpenAI integration In another toy that integrates ChatGPT, the researchers found that log data "regularly vanishes,” said Wagner, adding the system is probably set up to delete the local copy of transmitted data to optimise internal storage use. The ChatGPT toy transmits a data stream that looks like audio. "Perhaps the company wants to optimise speech recognition for children’s voices," said Wagner. While companies claim the data helps optimise the devices, it's not clear to users what purpose this data could serve. “The apps bundled with some of these toys demand entirely unnecessary access rights, such as to a smartphone’s location or microphone,” said Wagner. “Children’s privacy requires special protection,” said Julika Feldbusch, first author of the study. She said toy manufacturers should place greater weight on privacy and security of their products. “Well-informed parents engage with the issue and can choose toys that do not create behavioural profiles of their children. But many lack the technical knowledge or don’t have time to think about this stuff in detail,” Feldbusch. (With inputs from agencies)

Some smart toys may be spying on your kids' behaviour patterns in breach of privacy

<p>A probe panel's report into sexual abuse has shaken and stirred the Malayalam film industry in the south Indian state of Kerala. The Hema Committee report, released to the public on August 19, has led to a further flurry of allegations against some of the most prominent names in Kerala filmdom.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Following such claims, director Ranjith quit as chairman of the government-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy, whereas veteran actor Siddique resigned as general secretary of the movie actors' association AMMA, or Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes.</p>

<h2><strong>Hema Committee report: The background</strong></h2>

<p>What set the cat among the pigeons&nbsp;was some of the shocking findings of the Hema committee report, which was set up&nbsp;in the wake of a kidnap and sexual assault on a famous actress by a bunch of thugs on a moving vehicle in 2017, for which then superstar Dileep was the prime accused. Dileep went in and out of jail and continued the legal battle, even as his career continued more or less unimpeded, though not to the extent&nbsp;of stardom that he had enjoyed from the late 1990s till the year of the assault.</p>

<p>AMMA, time and again, appeared to dilly-dally on the issue of sexual assault and exploitation of female stars and aspiring artists, in some cases openly defending accused persons like Dileep.</p>

<p>While a bunch of male actors joined the chorus against sexual exploitation, most of them were either sidelined or quietened down.</p>

<p><strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/how-three-malayalam-films-are-scripting-history-with-massive-box-office-numbers-globally-712996">Also read: How three Malayalam films are scripting history with massive box office numbers globally</a></strong><br />
<br />
Some in the Malayalam film industry have deep linkages with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Left Democratic Front or LDF government. This complicates matters for it, as institutions like Chalachitra Academy are state-run. There was also criticism that the report, even though it was submitted several years ago, was released only this month.</p>

<p>Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan and Law Minister P Rajeeve said that action will be taken against the accused only if formal complaints are filed. Another minister, MB Rajesh, said the government will seek legal advice on filing a legal complaint against Siddique and Ranjith.</p>

<h2><strong>What are the allegations that came to light after Hema Committee report?</strong></h2>

<p>Revathy Sampath, a young actress, alleged that Siddique raped her in a hotel room in 2016. She said she was not interested in a legal battle unless survivors of sexual assault are given protection by the government. Siddique, after quitting his post in AMMA, has lodged a police complaint against Sampath.</p>

<p>Sreelekha Mitra, a Bengali actress, accused Ranith of trying to sexually molest her during a film discussion.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: Malayalam actor Lena makes surprising revelation</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Since the committee report was released, several actors have been accused of some sort of sexual harassment in the past, including Riyaz Khan, Baburaj, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju and Jayasurya.</p>

<p>While the casting couch is not unheard of in the Kerala film industry, the bravery of women who are coming forward to speak up about sexual exploitation in Tinsel Town is unprecedented.</p>

<h2><strong>What is the Hema Committee, and what are its findings?</strong></h2>

<p>Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government in 2017 to look into the issue of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry. The committee, whose other members are veteran actress Sharada and former civil service officer KB Valsalakumari, was formed a few months after the February 2017 kidnap and sexual assault of the young actress in which actor Dileep is the prime accused.</p>

<p><br />
<strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/indian-film-producer-actor-vijay-babu-booked-for-rape-revealing-survivors-identity-on-social-media-474387">Also read: Indian film producer-actor Vijay Babu booked for rape, revealing survivor's identity on social media</a></strong><br />
<br />
The committee was formed on a complaint from Women in Cinema Collective, an association created in the wake of the kidnap assault incident.</p>

<p>Though the report was submitted to Chief Minister Vijayan in 2019, it did not see the light of the day until court complaints led to its release.</p>

<p>The report was released this month with many parts redacted, to preserve the privacy of some individuals.</p>

<p>The report found that sexual favours were being asked of women who wanted to&nbsp;enter the film industry and find work.<br />
It said sexual assault, abuse and harassment at the workplace were commonplace for women.</p>

<p>It highlighted the lack of basic amenities for women like female-only restrooms and changing rooms.</p>

<p>It put the spotlight on general male dominance in the industry.</p>

<p>It noted that often, complaints are not recorded in writing.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


A probe panel's report into sexual abuse has shaken and stirred the Malayalam film industry in the south Indian state of Kerala. The Hema Committee report, released to the public on August 19, has led to a further flurry of allegations against some of the most prominent names in Kerala filmdom.

A probe panel's report into sexual abuse has shaken and stirred the Malayalam film industry in the south Indian state of Kerala. The Hema Committee report, released to the public on August 19, has led to a further flurry of allegations against some of the most prominent names in Kerala filmdom. Following such claims, director Ranjith quit as chairman of the government-run Kerala Chalachitra Academy, whereas veteran actor Siddique resigned as general secretary of the movie actors' association AMMA, or Association of Malayalam Movie Artistes. Hema Committee report: The background What set the cat among the pigeons was some of the shocking findings of the Hema committee report, which was set up in the wake of a kidnap and sexual assault on a famous actress by a bunch of thugs on a moving vehicle in 2017, for which then superstar Dileep was the prime accused. Dileep went in and out of jail and continued the legal battle, even as his career continued more or less unimpeded, though not to the extent of stardom that he had enjoyed from the late 1990s till the year of the assault. AMMA, time and again, appeared to dilly-dally on the issue of sexual assault and exploitation of female stars and aspiring artists, in some cases openly defending accused persons like Dileep. While a bunch of male actors joined the chorus against sexual exploitation, most of them were either sidelined or quietened down. Also read: How three Malayalam films are scripting history with massive box office numbers globally Some in the Malayalam film industry have deep linkages with Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan's Left Democratic Front or LDF government. This complicates matters for it, as institutions like Chalachitra Academy are state-run. There was also criticism that the report, even though it was submitted several years ago, was released only this month. Culture Minister Saji Cheriyan and Law Minister P Rajeeve said that action will be taken against the accused only if formal complaints are filed. Another minister, MB Rajesh, said the government will seek legal advice on filing a legal complaint against Siddique and Ranjith. What are the allegations that came to light after Hema Committee report? Revathy Sampath, a young actress, alleged that Siddique raped her in a hotel room in 2016. She said she was not interested in a legal battle unless survivors of sexual assault are given protection by the government. Siddique, after quitting his post in AMMA, has lodged a police complaint against Sampath. Sreelekha Mitra, a Bengali actress, accused Ranith of trying to sexually molest her during a film discussion. Watch: Malayalam actor Lena makes surprising revelation × Since the committee report was released, several actors have been accused of some sort of sexual harassment in the past, including Riyaz Khan, Baburaj, Mukesh, Maniyanpilla Raju and Jayasurya. While the casting couch is not unheard of in the Kerala film industry, the bravery of women who are coming forward to speak up about sexual exploitation in Tinsel Town is unprecedented. What is the Hema Committee, and what are its findings? Hema Committee was formed by the Kerala government in 2017 to look into the issue of sexual harassment and gender inequality in the Malayalam film industry. The committee, whose other members are veteran actress Sharada and former civil service officer KB Valsalakumari, was formed a few months after the February 2017 kidnap and sexual assault of the young actress in which actor Dileep is the prime accused. Also read: Indian film producer-actor Vijay Babu booked for rape, revealing survivor's identity on social media The committee was formed on a complaint from Women in Cinema Collective, an association created in the wake of the kidnap assault incident. Though the report was submitted to Chief Minister Vijayan in 2019, it did not see the light of the day until court complaints led to its release. The report was released this month with many parts redacted, to preserve the privacy of some individuals. The report found that sexual favours were being asked of women who wanted to enter the film industry and find work. It said sexual assault, abuse and harassment at the workplace were commonplace for women. It highlighted the lack of basic amenities for women like female-only restrooms and changing rooms. It put the spotlight on general male dominance in the industry. It noted that often, complaints are not recorded in writing. (With inputs from agencies)

Sexual abuse in Malayalam film industry: Hema committee report leads to Siddique, Ranjith exits I Story so far

<p>A lonely and amorous dolphin in search of a mate may be behind a spate of attacks on humans in some Central Japan beaches, according to some experts.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Some others feel that the dolphin that has been overexposed to people could be reacting after some bad encounters with them in the past, and trying to be defensive to bathers and swimmers in Fukui prefecture beaches.</p>

<p>Suzu, the bottle-nosed dolphin, has been identified as the possible culprit behind several attacks on humans because of the unique injuries on its tail fin were seen in several places over the last three years where attacks were reported.</p>

<p>Suzu is used to human exposure, and what starts as coos has ended as screams for several beachgoers.</p>

<p>Dozens of people have been attacked in Fukui prefecture, mostly since 2022.</p>

<p>They've been "bumped, bitten and sexually harassed", by Suzu, according to a report in <em>The Times</em>.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/stranded-pink-dolphin-rescued-in-bolivia-751889"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Stranded Pink Dolphin rescued in Bolivia</strong></a></p>

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<p>Last week alone, there were two attacks off the tiny island of Mizushima, including a man whose fingertip was bitten off, said the report.</p>

<p>In the past couple of years, the coast guard in the area has set up warning signs for dolphin attacks. One such poster from 2022 said: "Even though they may look cute, dolphins are still wild animals...If you see a dolphin at the beach, do not touch them, do not approach them, get out of the water and enjoy your time safely!”</p>

<p>This year, the Mihama town in Fukui warned that the dolphin/ or dolphins, “can bite you with their sharp teeth and cause you to bleed, or… drag you into the sea, which could be life-threatening”.</p>

<p>This summer alone, 18 people were injured. That&nbsp;included a school student whose finger required at least 20 stitches, BBC said in a report.</p>

<p>In 2023, six people were injured, up from one attack in 2022.</p>

<p>"It is reasonable to assume that it is the same individual, as the wounds on the tail fin are similar to those of the dolphins seen off the coast last year, and it is rare for dolphins, which normally move in groups, to be alone for such a long time," Prof Morisaka told NHK, Japan's public broadcaster. He noted that male bottlenose dolphins communicate by "play-biting" each other, which is the dolphins' way of communication with people too.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/dolphin-heist-footage-shows-clever-bait-snatching-off-australias-coast-661861"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Dolphin heist: Footage shows clever bait snatching off Australia's coast</strong></a></p>

<p>BBC cited Dr Simon Allen, a biologist and principal investigator with the Shark Bay Dolphin Research project as saying: "Bottlenose dolphins are highly social animals and this sociality can be expressed in very physical ways."</p>

<p>"Just as in humans and other social animals, hormonal fluctuations, sexual frustration or the desire to dominate might drive the dolphin to injuring the people it interacts with. Since they are such powerful animals, this can lead to serious injury in humans," he said.</p>

<p>Dr Allen said the dolphin may have been "ostracised from its own community and be seeking alternative companionship".</p>

<p>&nbsp;<br />
<em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A lonely and amorous dolphin in search of a mate may be behind a spate of attacks on humans in some Central Japan beaches, according to some experts. Some others feel that the dolphin that has been overexposed to people could be reacting after some bad encounters with them in the past, and trying to be defensive to bathers and swimmers in Fukui prefecture beaches.

A lonely and amorous dolphin in search of a mate may be behind a spate of attacks on humans in some Central Japan beaches, according to some experts. Some others feel that the dolphin that has been overexposed to people could be reacting after some bad encounters with them in the past, and trying to be defensive to bathers and swimmers in Fukui prefecture beaches. Suzu, the bottle-nosed dolphin, has been identified as the possible culprit behind several attacks on humans because of the unique injuries on its tail fin were seen in several places over the last three years where attacks were reported. Suzu is used to human exposure, and what starts as coos has ended as screams for several beachgoers. Dozens of people have been attacked in Fukui prefecture, mostly since 2022. They've been "bumped, bitten and sexually harassed", by Suzu, according to a report in The Times. Watch | Stranded Pink Dolphin rescued in Bolivia × Last week alone, there were two attacks off the tiny island of Mizushima, including a man whose fingertip was bitten off, said the report. In the past couple of years, the coast guard in the area has set up warning signs for dolphin attacks. One such poster from 2022 said: "Even though they may look cute, dolphins are still wild animals...If you see a dolphin at the beach, do not touch them, do not approach them, get out of the water and enjoy your time safely!” This year, the Mihama town in Fukui warned that the dolphin/ or dolphins, “can bite you with their sharp teeth and cause you to bleed, or… drag you into the sea, which could be life-threatening”. This summer alone, 18 people were injured. That included a school student whose finger required at least 20 stitches, BBC said in a report. In 2023, six people were injured, up from one attack in 2022. "It is reasonable to assume that it is the same individual, as the wounds on the tail fin are similar to those of the dolphins seen off the coast last year, and it is rare for dolphins, which normally move in groups, to be alone for such a long time," Prof Morisaka told NHK, Japan's public broadcaster. He noted that male bottlenose dolphins communicate by "play-biting" each other, which is the dolphins' way of communication with people too. Also read | Dolphin heist: Footage shows clever bait snatching off Australia's coast BBC cited Dr Simon Allen, a biologist and principal investigator with the Shark Bay Dolphin Research project as saying: "Bottlenose dolphins are highly social animals and this sociality can be expressed in very physical ways." "Just as in humans and other social animals, hormonal fluctuations, sexual frustration or the desire to dominate might drive the dolphin to injuring the people it interacts with. Since they are such powerful animals, this can lead to serious injury in humans," he said. Dr Allen said the dolphin may have been "ostracised from its own community and be seeking alternative companionship". (With inputs from agencies)

A sexually frustrated, lonely dolphin may be behind attacks on humans in Japan over three years

<p>We cannot escape social media and endless scrolling of photos and videos on our smartphones, once we are introduced to the practice. The same is the case with games on mobile phones or consoles. But have you ever wondered why we are so deeply into these technology-driven addictions? Is there a way out, taking control of our time and being mindful and purposeful of our use of technology?</p>

<p>A new book, <em>Managing Your Gaming and Social Media Habits: From Science to Solutions</em> by Catherine Knibbs, offers some tips to get out of social media addiction.</p>

<p>“When we engage with social media or gaming, we disconnect from our bodies and being present, and spend that time interacting with the media for what can seem like hours. This is one of the reasons why we get ‘caught up’ in the scrolling,” Knibbs was quoted as saying in a release.</p>

<p><br />
<strong>Watch: Are you scrolling phone and is it adding to your stress? Then you are 'doomscrolling'</strong></p>

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<p>Her book seeks to make us&nbsp;aware of why we use technology the way we do, and how we can recognise when interventions are needed to help master our technology use.</p>

<p>Changing the addictive behaviours around technology could improve our mental health, productivity as well as sleep habits and diet.</p>

<h2><strong>But why are we addicted to technology in the first place?</strong></h2>

<p>This, according to the author, is because of a combination of factors: our need to belong, feel loved and cared for, and the way technology companies design products to address these.</p>

<p>“For some people social media and gaming offer a lifesaving space. Games provide a space for people to connect, and to combat other feelings that exist in their lives such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression,” said Knibbs, a psychotherapist who specialises in cybertrauma and online harms.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/doomscrolling-can-cause-health-issues-says-study-513539">Doomscrolling can cause health issues, says study</a></strong></p>

<p>She said people told her how their online communities make them feel like they are with people who understand them, see them and have the same interests.</p>

<p>"This can help them when they feel alone and in need of support.”</p>

<p>The book, part of the new Ask The Experts in Psychology series in partnership with the British Psychological Society,&nbsp; says the first step is to understand the tricks that technology companies use to get you addicted to their apps and devices.</p>

<p>They "create products that deliberately tap into our innermost desires and needs so as to keep our attention on those products,” she says.</p>

<p>And those needs are the desire to be recognised, seen, valued, loved and needed, and the fear of missing out or FOMO.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-abrosexuality-receives-a-push-on-social-media-what-is-it-752878">'Abrosexuality' receives a push on social media. What is it?</a></strong><br />
<br />
Avoidance of rejection and abandonment is at the core of what we do daily, especially on social media. “We are born ready to socialise and in doing so we have a primary need to get others to take care of us to prevent us from being rejected, abandoned, and causing us to die,” says Knibbs.</p>

<p>Then there's the desire for novelty, excitement and reward. The apps send out a constant stream of prompts, pings and pushes, nudges, and rewards, to appeal to this aspect of our minds.</p>

<h2><strong>Tips to address social media addiction and start taking back control </strong></h2>

<p>1. Start writing a diary of your technology use&nbsp;</p>

<p>2. Think critically about the situations in which you use it</p>

<p>3. As the question: What needs am I trying to meet when I reach for my smartphone?</p>

<p>4. Notice how the first use of social media of the week happened: what you did, where you were and at what time you first noticed "the urge to open the phone, laptop, computer, console etc"</p>

<p>5. Find out if your technology use is helpful and purposeful or not. Are you using this "in a mindful and purposeful way", so that you can feel more in control?</p>

<p>6. Notice the kinds of things that you seek out online, engage with, scroll past, or hover on</p>

<p>7. Turn the background colours on your devices to black and white</p>

<p>8. Remove notifications from the apps or home screen</p>

<p>9. Instal time blockers that tell you when you have spent a certain amount of time online.</p>

<p>10. Do meditation and other mindfulness practices</p>

<p>The eventual goal, says Knibbs,&nbsp; is "to reach a state where you can engage with technology more intentionally when you have the capacity to do so.”</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


We cannot escape social media and endless scrolling of photos and videos on our smartphones, once we are introduced to the practice. The same is the case with games on mobile phones or consoles.

We cannot escape social media and endless scrolling of photos and videos on our smartphones, once we are introduced to the practice. The same is the case with games on mobile phones or consoles. But have you ever wondered why we are so deeply into these technology-driven addictions? Is there a way out, taking control of our time and being mindful and purposeful of our use of technology? A new book, Managing Your Gaming and Social Media Habits: From Science to Solutions by Catherine Knibbs, offers some tips to get out of social media addiction. “When we engage with social media or gaming, we disconnect from our bodies and being present, and spend that time interacting with the media for what can seem like hours. This is one of the reasons why we get ‘caught up’ in the scrolling,” Knibbs was quoted as saying in a release. Watch: Are you scrolling phone and is it adding to your stress? Then you are 'doomscrolling' × Her book seeks to make us aware of why we use technology the way we do, and how we can recognise when interventions are needed to help master our technology use. Changing the addictive behaviours around technology could improve our mental health, productivity as well as sleep habits and diet. But why are we addicted to technology in the first place? This, according to the author, is because of a combination of factors: our need to belong, feel loved and cared for, and the way technology companies design products to address these. “For some people social media and gaming offer a lifesaving space. Games provide a space for people to connect, and to combat other feelings that exist in their lives such as loneliness, anxiety, and depression,” said Knibbs, a psychotherapist who specialises in cybertrauma and online harms. Also read: Doomscrolling can cause health issues, says study She said people told her how their online communities make them feel like they are with people who understand them, see them and have the same interests. "This can help them when they feel alone and in need of support.” The book, part of the new Ask The Experts in Psychology series in partnership with the British Psychological Society, says the first step is to understand the tricks that technology companies use to get you addicted to their apps and devices. They "create products that deliberately tap into our innermost desires and needs so as to keep our attention on those products,” she says. And those needs are the desire to be recognised, seen, valued, loved and needed, and the fear of missing out or FOMO. Also read: 'Abrosexuality' receives a push on social media. What is it? Avoidance of rejection and abandonment is at the core of what we do daily, especially on social media. “We are born ready to socialise and in doing so we have a primary need to get others to take care of us to prevent us from being rejected, abandoned, and causing us to die,” says Knibbs. Then there's the desire for novelty, excitement and reward. The apps send out a constant stream of prompts, pings and pushes, nudges, and rewards, to appeal to this aspect of our minds. Tips to address social media addiction and start taking back control 1. Start writing a diary of your technology use 2. Think critically about the situations in which you use it 3. As the question: What needs am I trying to meet when I reach for my smartphone? 4. Notice how the first use of social media of the week happened: what you did, where you were and at what time you first noticed "the urge to open the phone, laptop, computer, console etc" 5. Find out if your technology use is helpful and purposeful or not. Are you using this "in a mindful and purposeful way", so that you can feel more in control? 6. Notice the kinds of things that you seek out online, engage with, scroll past, or hover on 7. Turn the background colours on your devices to black and white 8. Remove notifications from the apps or home screen 9. Instal time blockers that tell you when you have spent a certain amount of time online. 10. Do meditation and other mindfulness practices The eventual goal, says Knibbs, is "to reach a state where you can engage with technology more intentionally when you have the capacity to do so.” (With inputs from agencies)

Are you addicted to social media and gaming? Here are tips to escape the mindless scrolling

<p>Winter seems to have come to California a bit too early. An unusual dusting of snow was witnessed in the usually sunny west American state in the middle of summer, a first in 20 years.</p>

<p>This is the first snowflakes of the year for the state's mountains. The High Sierra in Yoesmite saw its earliest snowfall in over 20 years over the weekend. Snow dusted other peaks like Mount Shasta too.</p>

<p>Yosemite has not seen August snow for at least 20 years, as per the National Weather Service, which described the situation as “anomalous cool conditions” in much of the western US.</p>

<p><strong>Watch: UNDP's future weather forecast hopes to drive climate action</strong></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Temperatures in some places fell by 15 degrees Fahrenheit below normal. The weekend temperature was around 22 degrees and mostly cloudy but gradually recovered.</p>

<p>Social media users posted videos of snow capping the Sierra Nevada mountain range on Saturday (Aug 24).</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">California's bracing for a rare August snow! 🌨️❄️ This ultra-rare event could bring snow to the Sierra Nevada, with temps dropping 15°F below normal. Get ready for a wintery surprise! <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/CaliforniaSnow?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#CaliforniaSnow</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeatherAlert?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#WeatherAlert</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/RareEvent?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#RareEvent</a> <a href="https://t.co/mqrkZOGKW8">pic.twitter.com/mqrkZOGKW8</a></p>
— XzERp (@XzERp11) <a href="https://twitter.com/XzERp11/status/1826332996057923746?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 21, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Mount Shasta in the north of the Golden State saw 15 inches of snow, which is unusual for this time of the year.</p>

<h2><strong>But it could be a 'very late snowfall'</strong></h2>

<p>Gary Lazak, who runs weather2020.com, said this could be a very late snowfall, a sort of residue from the last winter.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While it may seem like an early snowfall, it's actually a continuation of the weather pattern established last October...and thus a very late snowfall, and not an early snowfall," he posted on X.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/us-severe-storms-sweep-across-central-and-eastern-regions-707360">US: Severe storms sweep across central and eastern regions</a></strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>"This event is linked to the part of the cycling weather pattern that occurred and produced snow in previous cycles during the winter and spring, particularly in mid-January. We're still cycling through the same pattern set last fall," he added.</p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">August 24th and we are officially on the board for snow! ❄️ <a href="https://t.co/Z4tSgPY7PG">pic.twitter.com/Z4tSgPY7PG</a></p>
— Carter Murphy 💰8️⃣ (@cartermurphy218) <a href="https://twitter.com/cartermurphy218/status/1827377859595473390?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 24, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<p>Nevertheless, the snow in August was definitely unexpected at&nbsp;Minaret Vista, a lookout point south-east of Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada, said Madera County Deputy Sheriff Larry Rich.</p>

<p>“It’s not every day you get to spend your birthday surrounded by a winter wonderland in the middle of summer. It made for a day I won’t soon forget...It’s just one of those moments that makes working up here so special,” Rich said in a statement.</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/greenland-ice-sheet-melting-rates-can-predict-europes-summer-weather-heres-how-700072">Greenland's melting rate of ice sheets can predict Europe's summer weather. Here's how</a></strong></p>

<p>Snow also fell at Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe ski resorts.</p>

<p>“This morning was chill. Take a look at the dusting of new snow on the mid and upper-mountain,” Mammoth Mountain staff posted on social media.</p>

<p>About three inches of snow fell in Lassen Volcanic National Park.</p>

<p>The early arrival of snow is a bit of a relief for Californians, who have witnessed heat waves and wildfires this summer season.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Winter seems to have come to California a bit too early. An unusual dusting of snow was witnessed in the usually sunny west American state in the middle of summer, a first in 20 years.

Winter seems to have come to California a bit too early. An unusual dusting of snow was witnessed in the usually sunny west American state in the middle of summer, a first in 20 years. This is the first snowflakes of the year for the state's mountains. The High Sierra in Yoesmite saw its earliest snowfall in over 20 years over the weekend. Snow dusted other peaks like Mount Shasta too. Yosemite has not seen August snow for at least 20 years, as per the National Weather Service, which described the situation as “anomalous cool conditions” in much of the western US. Watch: UNDP's future weather forecast hopes to drive climate action × Temperatures in some places fell by 15 degrees Fahrenheit below normal. The weekend temperature was around 22 degrees and mostly cloudy but gradually recovered. Social media users posted videos of snow capping the Sierra Nevada mountain range on Saturday (Aug 24). California's bracing for a rare August snow! 🌨️❄️ This ultra-rare event could bring snow to the Sierra Nevada, with temps dropping 15°F below normal. Get ready for a wintery surprise! #CaliforniaSnow #WeatherAlert #RareEvent pic.twitter.com/mqrkZOGKW8 — XzERp (@XzERp11) August 21, 2024 × Mount Shasta in the north of the Golden State saw 15 inches of snow, which is unusual for this time of the year. But it could be a 'very late snowfall' Gary Lazak, who runs weather2020.com, said this could be a very late snowfall, a sort of residue from the last winter. "While it may seem like an early snowfall, it's actually a continuation of the weather pattern established last October...and thus a very late snowfall, and not an early snowfall," he posted on X. Also read: US: Severe storms sweep across central and eastern regions "This event is linked to the part of the cycling weather pattern that occurred and produced snow in previous cycles during the winter and spring, particularly in mid-January. We're still cycling through the same pattern set last fall," he added. August 24th and we are officially on the board for snow! ❄️ pic.twitter.com/Z4tSgPY7PG — Carter Murphy 💰8️⃣ (@cartermurphy218) August 24, 2024 × Nevertheless, the snow in August was definitely unexpected at Minaret Vista, a lookout point south-east of Yosemite National Park in the Sierra Nevada, said Madera County Deputy Sheriff Larry Rich. “It’s not every day you get to spend your birthday surrounded by a winter wonderland in the middle of summer. It made for a day I won’t soon forget...It’s just one of those moments that makes working up here so special,” Rich said in a statement. Also read: Greenland's melting rate of ice sheets can predict Europe's summer weather. Here's how Snow also fell at Mammoth Mountain and Palisades Tahoe ski resorts. “This morning was chill. Take a look at the dusting of new snow on the mid and upper-mountain,” Mammoth Mountain staff posted on social media. About three inches of snow fell in Lassen Volcanic National Park. The early arrival of snow is a bit of a relief for Californians, who have witnessed heat waves and wildfires this summer season. (With inputs from agencies)

California dusted by earlier-than-usual snow in August for the first time in 20 years - Watch

<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 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 />
<br />
The event took place on the Reykjanes peninsula, just south of Reykjavik, where magma had been steadily accumulating.<br />
<br />
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>&nbsp;</p>

<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

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