<p>Deepfakes of pop star Taylor Swift and US presidential candidate Kamala Harris in lingerie. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump riding a plane to the World Trade Center, evoking the 9/11 terror attack. Hitler memes using Disney characters. These are some of the images thrown up by Elon Musk's new AI chat app Grok, which rolled out its text-to-image tool on Wednesday (Aug 14).</p>

<p>This is raising concerns about the proper use of AI, particularly its text-to-image apps which are all the rage these days.</p>

<p>Grok, the AI chat app by Musk, is a rival to ChatGPT and appears to have no checking mechanism that would refuse to execute prompts for images on controversial, explicit or offensive subjects.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH: X's AI Chatbot Grok under fire for false ballot deadlines</strong></p>

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<p>The text-to-image feature is restricted to paid subscribers of X, the social media platform owned by Musk.</p>

<h2><strong>What all did Grok image generator tool produce?</strong></h2>

<p>It appeared that Grok allows violent, explicit and offensive content prompts.</p>

<p>According to a report in The Guardian, the offensive images generated by Grok included Prophet Muhammad holding a bomb as well as lingerie photos featuring&nbsp;Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris and Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/technology/explained-what-gives-elon-musks-funny-chatbot-grok-an-edge-over-its-rivals-656515">Explained | What gives Elon Musk's funny chatbot Grok an edge over its rivals?</a></strong></p>

<p>ChatGPT, on the other hand, would reject prompts for such images&nbsp;citing its terms of service that prohibit depictions of real-world violence, disrespect to religious figures and explicit content.</p>

<p>The test by the British newspaper also showed that Grok appears to be ready to generate images based on copyrighted characters, with some minor tweaks in the prompts. These included a pic of Disney character Mickey Mouse saluting German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and Donald Duck using heroin.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/trending/friendly-fire-elon-musks-ai-chatbot-grok-roasts-him-calls-the-billionaire-overrated-663286">'Friendly fire': Elon Musk's AI chatbot 'Grok' roasts him, calls him 'overrated'. Billionaire concurs</a></strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>When asked to create images of political violence, The Guardian report said,&nbsp;Grok showed "Trump lying down with blackened hands and an explosion behind."</p>

<p>The Guardian test found that the Grok image generation chatbot lacked "most of the safety guardrails that have become standard within the artificial intelligence industry."</p>

<p>Grok did reject requests to produce nude images.</p>

<p>Musk has been promoting Grok image generator on X, the social media platform he owns.</p>

<p>In a post on X, Musk described Grok image generator as the most fun AI in the world. He also shared several images generated by others using Grok.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Grok is the most fun AI in the world! <a href="https://t.co/5ZS2iDkwim">https://t.co/5ZS2iDkwim</a></p>
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) <a href="https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1823761547031937072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 14, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<h2><strong>What is Grok AI?</strong></h2>

<p>Grok is a chatbot that uses Large Language Model or (LLM). The generative AI chatbot, developed by Musk's xAI, was seen as a direct challenge to ChatGPT when Musk announced its launch in November 2023.</p>

<p>Musk himself was a co-founder of ChatGPI parent OpenAI, before leaving it.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Deepfakes of pop star Taylor Swift and US presidential candidate Kamala Harris in lingerie. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump riding a plane to the World Trade Center, evoking the 9/11 terror attack.

Deepfakes of pop star Taylor Swift and US presidential candidate Kamala Harris in lingerie. Republican presidential contender Donald Trump riding a plane to the World Trade Center, evoking the 9/11 terror attack. Hitler memes using Disney characters. These are some of the images thrown up by Elon Musk's new AI chat app Grok, which rolled out its text-to-image tool on Wednesday (Aug 14). This is raising concerns about the proper use of AI, particularly its text-to-image apps which are all the rage these days. Grok, the AI chat app by Musk, is a rival to ChatGPT and appears to have no checking mechanism that would refuse to execute prompts for images on controversial, explicit or offensive subjects. WATCH: X's AI Chatbot Grok under fire for false ballot deadlines × The text-to-image feature is restricted to paid subscribers of X, the social media platform owned by Musk. What all did Grok image generator tool produce? It appeared that Grok allows violent, explicit and offensive content prompts. According to a report in The Guardian, the offensive images generated by Grok included Prophet Muhammad holding a bomb as well as lingerie photos featuring Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris and Democratic Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez. Also read: Explained | What gives Elon Musk's funny chatbot Grok an edge over its rivals? ChatGPT, on the other hand, would reject prompts for such images citing its terms of service that prohibit depictions of real-world violence, disrespect to religious figures and explicit content. The test by the British newspaper also showed that Grok appears to be ready to generate images based on copyrighted characters, with some minor tweaks in the prompts. These included a pic of Disney character Mickey Mouse saluting German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler, and Donald Duck using heroin. Also read: 'Friendly fire': Elon Musk's AI chatbot 'Grok' roasts him, calls him 'overrated'. Billionaire concurs When asked to create images of political violence, The Guardian report said, Grok showed "Trump lying down with blackened hands and an explosion behind." The Guardian test found that the Grok image generation chatbot lacked "most of the safety guardrails that have become standard within the artificial intelligence industry." Grok did reject requests to produce nude images. Musk has been promoting Grok image generator on X, the social media platform he owns. In a post on X, Musk described Grok image generator as the most fun AI in the world. He also shared several images generated by others using Grok. Grok is the most fun AI in the world! https://t.co/5ZS2iDkwim — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 14, 2024 × What is Grok AI? Grok is a chatbot that uses Large Language Model or (LLM). The generative AI chatbot, developed by Musk's xAI, was seen as a direct challenge to ChatGPT when Musk announced its launch in November 2023. Musk himself was a co-founder of ChatGPI parent OpenAI, before leaving it. (With inputs from agencies)

Grok or Gross? Elon Musk's new AI photo tool generates deepfakes of Taylor Swift, Kamala Harris

<p>A female math tutor in the UK who sexually abused an underage boy and kept a diary on it has been jailed for six years, police said.</p>

<p>Holly Rouse-Sweeney, a 37-year-old tutor from Hebden Bridge, was given six years in jail by the Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (Aug 9).</p>

<p>She was initially teaching the boy online and then arranged to meet him at her county home and went on to sexually abuse him despite knowing that he was underage.</p>

<p>The boy's mother became suspicious after seeing inappropriate massages on WhatsApp and alerted the police in May 2023.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH:&nbsp;UK Met officers dissuaded children from making sexual abuse claims, report claims</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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Upon searching her place, &nbsp;Nottinghamshire Police found diary entries in which Rouse-Sweeney detailed the abuse, even mentioning the boy's age.</p>

<p>She abused him several times at her former Nottinghamshire home, said Nottinghamshire Police &nbsp;in a release, "despite being aware he was under the age of consent."&nbsp;</p>

<p>She had pleaded guilty and attributed the abuse to a pre-existing mental health issue.</p>

<p><strong>Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/children-committing-more-than-half-of-child-sexual-abuse-crimes-says-new-data-678653">UK: Children committing more than half of child sexual abuse crimes, says new data</a></strong><br />
<br />
Rouse-Sweeney pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy, and four counts of causing a boy to engage in sexual activity, the police release said.</p>

<p>The tutor was added to the UK sex offenders’ register. After her release, she will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict her activities, the police said.</p>

<p>Rouse-Sweeney was issued a restraining order, preventing her from making any contact with the boy in future.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also Read :&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/whistleblower-reveals-continuing-sexual-abuse-of-women-in-uk-military-594045">Whistleblower reveals continuing sexual abuse of women in UK military</a></strong></p>

<h2>'A breach of trust'</h2>

<p>“This was an appalling breach of trust by a woman who had been trusted to spend time with a vulnerable child," the police release quoted child abuse specialist Detective Constable Keeley Bringhurst as saying.</p>

<p>“Instead of teaching him mathematics she cynically took advantage of him for her own sexual gratification. I know this abuse has had a significant impact on the victim and his family and I hope they will be comforted by this very strong sentence,” Bringhurst said.</p>

<h2><strong>Not the first case in UK of female teachers abusing boys</strong></h2>

<p>This is not the first case of female teachers abusing boys in the UK. In July this year, a teacher who abused two teenage schoolboys and became pregnant by one of them was jailed for six-and-a-half years by Manchester Crown Court.</p>

<p>Rebecca Joynes, 30, had exchanged social media messages and groomed the boys from the age of 15.&nbsp;</p>

<p>She was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual activity with another child.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A female math tutor in the UK who sexually abused an underage boy and kept a diary on it has been jailed for six years, police said. Holly Rouse-Sweeney, a 37-year-old tutor from Hebden Bridge, was given six years in jail by the Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (Aug 9).

A female math tutor in the UK who sexually abused an underage boy and kept a diary on it has been jailed for six years, police said. Holly Rouse-Sweeney, a 37-year-old tutor from Hebden Bridge, was given six years in jail by the Nottingham Crown Court on Friday (Aug 9). She was initially teaching the boy online and then arranged to meet him at her county home and went on to sexually abuse him despite knowing that he was underage. The boy's mother became suspicious after seeing inappropriate massages on WhatsApp and alerted the police in May 2023. WATCH: UK Met officers dissuaded children from making sexual abuse claims, report claims × Upon searching her place, Nottinghamshire Police found diary entries in which Rouse-Sweeney detailed the abuse, even mentioning the boy's age. She abused him several times at her former Nottinghamshire home, said Nottinghamshire Police in a release, "despite being aware he was under the age of consent." She had pleaded guilty and attributed the abuse to a pre-existing mental health issue. Also Read: UK: Children committing more than half of child sexual abuse crimes, says new data Rouse-Sweeney pleaded guilty to two counts of engaging in non-penetrative sexual activity with a boy, and four counts of causing a boy to engage in sexual activity, the police release said. The tutor was added to the UK sex offenders’ register. After her release, she will be subject to a sexual harm prevention order which will tightly restrict her activities, the police said. Rouse-Sweeney was issued a restraining order, preventing her from making any contact with the boy in future. Also Read : Whistleblower reveals continuing sexual abuse of women in UK military 'A breach of trust' “This was an appalling breach of trust by a woman who had been trusted to spend time with a vulnerable child," the police release quoted child abuse specialist Detective Constable Keeley Bringhurst as saying. “Instead of teaching him mathematics she cynically took advantage of him for her own sexual gratification. I know this abuse has had a significant impact on the victim and his family and I hope they will be comforted by this very strong sentence,” Bringhurst said. Not the first case in UK of female teachers abusing boys This is not the first case of female teachers abusing boys in the UK. In July this year, a teacher who abused two teenage schoolboys and became pregnant by one of them was jailed for six-and-a-half years by Manchester Crown Court. Rebecca Joynes, 30, had exchanged social media messages and groomed the boys from the age of 15. She was convicted of four counts of sexual activity with a child and two counts of sexual activity with another child. (With inputs from agencies)

Female tutor jailed for abusing underage boy in UK in second such case in two months

<p>In the wake of Hindenburg Reseach's allegations linking Sebi chief Madbhabi Buch to the Adani Group of companies, which the Indian market regulator has been probing, experts have questioned whether the watchdog is competent to conduct such investigations.</p>

<p>Hindenburg Research had alleged that Securities and Exchange Board of India chief Madhabi Buch and her husband had invested in an offshore fund that was also used by Adani Group operatives to inflate stock prices of the group companies. Buch has denied the allegations, but the US-based short-seller firm is sticking to its guns.<br />
<br />
<strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/how-does-hindenburg-research-capitalise-on-its-high-profile-revelations-749977">How does Hindenburg Research capitalise on its high-profile revelations?</a></strong></p>

<p>Senior market analyst Hemindra Hazari said it is "regrettable" that any investigation by Sebi takes so long to close, and this has been going on for many years.</p>

<p>It is only after the Supreme Court's intervention that certain timelines were given to the regulator to investigate allegations about Adani, he noted, while speaking to WION.</p>

<p>"Now if your investigation takes so long, the question is: Is the regulator competent enough to get all the details or not?"&nbsp;</p>

<p>"And why should it be taking so long? These things should be done quickly and should be resolved quickly," he said.</p>

<p><strong>WATCH:&nbsp;Hindenburg vs SEBI Chief: Hindenburg keeps spotlight on Adani group</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Hazari noted that there are three basic issues in this controversy:<br />
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1. Are the documents pertaining to Madhvi Buch's investments and her husband's authentic?</p>

<p>2. Did Buch make the necessary disclosures to Sebi, the government of India, and the Supreme Court of India?</p>

<p>3. Did she recuse herself from the Adani investigations?</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hindenburg-report-reveals-5-billion-mutual-fund-money-invested-in-10-adani-group-companies-749467">Hindenburg report reveals $5 billion mutual fund money invested in 10 Adani Group companies</a></strong></p>

<p><br />
Prof Vikas Singh, economist and author, said the Adani-Hindenburg saga has highlighted critical gaps in corporate governance and regulatory oversight.</p>

<p>"India must expedite investigations, ensuring transparency and accountability," Singh said.</p>

<h2><strong>'Sebi under scrutiny'</strong></h2>

<p>Singh pointed out that the Hindenburg-Adani saga has intensified scrutiny on Sebi's role in regulating India's capital markets.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"Allegations of lax oversight and potential conflicts of interest have eroded public trust in the regulator. While SEBI has initiated investigations, restoring credibility and ensuring investor protection are paramount," Singh told WION.</p>

<p>"The episode underscores the need for a robust regulatory framework and transparent governance within market watchdogs."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


In the wake of Hindenburg Reseach's allegations linking Sebi chief Madbhabi Buch to the Adani Group of companies, which the Indian market regulator has been probing, experts have questioned whether the watchdog is competent to conduct such investigations.

In the wake of Hindenburg Reseach's allegations linking Sebi chief Madbhabi Buch to the Adani Group of companies, which the Indian market regulator has been probing, experts have questioned whether the watchdog is competent to conduct such investigations. Hindenburg Research had alleged that Securities and Exchange Board of India chief Madhabi Buch and her husband had invested in an offshore fund that was also used by Adani Group operatives to inflate stock prices of the group companies. Buch has denied the allegations, but the US-based short-seller firm is sticking to its guns. Also read: How does Hindenburg Research capitalise on its high-profile revelations? Senior market analyst Hemindra Hazari said it is "regrettable" that any investigation by Sebi takes so long to close, and this has been going on for many years. It is only after the Supreme Court's intervention that certain timelines were given to the regulator to investigate allegations about Adani, he noted, while speaking to WION. "Now if your investigation takes so long, the question is: Is the regulator competent enough to get all the details or not?" "And why should it be taking so long? These things should be done quickly and should be resolved quickly," he said. WATCH: Hindenburg vs SEBI Chief: Hindenburg keeps spotlight on Adani group × Hazari noted that there are three basic issues in this controversy: 1. Are the documents pertaining to Madhvi Buch's investments and her husband's authentic? 2. Did Buch make the necessary disclosures to Sebi, the government of India, and the Supreme Court of India? 3. Did she recuse herself from the Adani investigations? Also read: Hindenburg report reveals $5 billion mutual fund money invested in 10 Adani Group companies Prof Vikas Singh, economist and author, said the Adani-Hindenburg saga has highlighted critical gaps in corporate governance and regulatory oversight. "India must expedite investigations, ensuring transparency and accountability," Singh said. 'Sebi under scrutiny' Singh pointed out that the Hindenburg-Adani saga has intensified scrutiny on Sebi's role in regulating India's capital markets. "Allegations of lax oversight and potential conflicts of interest have eroded public trust in the regulator. While SEBI has initiated investigations, restoring credibility and ensuring investor protection are paramount," Singh told WION. "The episode underscores the need for a robust regulatory framework and transparent governance within market watchdogs." (With inputs from agencies)

Hindenburg vs Adani and Sebi chief Madhabi's role: Is watchdog competent to probe? Experts weigh in

<p>A fireball from the Perseid meteor shower was captured in vivid detail, firing up the skies above the Ohrid lake&nbsp;in Macedonia this week. Perseid meteor shower, an annual phenomenon of comet particles burning up in the skies, peaked in the second week of August.</p>

<p>The Macedonian skies witnessed the fireball from the Perseid meteor shower at 1:03 am local time on Tuesday (Aug 13). It was captured in a set of cameras set up by videographer&nbsp;Stojan Stojanovski.</p>

<p>Stojanovski runs the YouTube channel Ohrid Info, which shares videos and information about Ohrid, Macedonia, famous for Lake Ohrid.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Most of these videos are from 24-hour live cameras set up in the Ohrid region.</p>

<p>Watch the meteor shower captured in the cameras set up by Ohrid Info across Lake Ohrid:</p>

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"The video with the meteor is incredible. We see in the video 7 seconds of a falling meteor. I love technology today," Stojanovski was quoted as saying by Space.com.</p>

<p><strong>Also read: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/are-satellites-and-astronauts-in-space-in-danger-due-to-perseid-meteor-shower-heres-the-truth-747628">Are satellites and astronauts in space in danger due to Perseid meteor shower? Here's the truth</a></strong><br />
<br />
<strong>Watch: Stunning Perseid Meteor shower dazzles in night sky over Bosnia</strong></p>

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<p><br />
Stojanovski set up the camera network in 2018, in association with local hotels and businesses, to promote tourism in the Ohrid region of Macedonia.</p>

<p>"The 180-degree point-of-view cameras in the future will catch more meteors I hope," Space.com quoted Stojanovski as saying.</p>

<h2><strong>What is Perseid meteor shower?</strong></h2>

<p>Perseid meteor shower is a bunch of shooting stars that pass through the Earth annually. It is the ice and space rock debris from the comet 'Swift-Tuttle,' which had passed by Earth in 1992.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The Perseids become clearly visible from mid-July to late August, mainly in skies above the northern Hemisphere.</p>

<p>The peak activity was recorded this year between August 11 and 12.&nbsp;</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


A fireball from the Perseid meteor shower was captured in vivid detail, firing up the skies above the Ohrid lake in Macedonia this week. Perseid meteor shower, an annual phenomenon of comet particles burning up in the skies, peaked in the second week of August.

A fireball from the Perseid meteor shower was captured in vivid detail, firing up the skies above the Ohrid lake in Macedonia this week. Perseid meteor shower, an annual phenomenon of comet particles burning up in the skies, peaked in the second week of August. The Macedonian skies witnessed the fireball from the Perseid meteor shower at 1:03 am local time on Tuesday (Aug 13). It was captured in a set of cameras set up by videographer Stojan Stojanovski. Stojanovski runs the YouTube channel Ohrid Info, which shares videos and information about Ohrid, Macedonia, famous for Lake Ohrid. Most of these videos are from 24-hour live cameras set up in the Ohrid region. Watch the meteor shower captured in the cameras set up by Ohrid Info across Lake Ohrid: × "The video with the meteor is incredible. We see in the video 7 seconds of a falling meteor. I love technology today," Stojanovski was quoted as saying by Space.com. Also read: Are satellites and astronauts in space in danger due to Perseid meteor shower? Here's the truth Watch: Stunning Perseid Meteor shower dazzles in night sky over Bosnia × Stojanovski set up the camera network in 2018, in association with local hotels and businesses, to promote tourism in the Ohrid region of Macedonia. "The 180-degree point-of-view cameras in the future will catch more meteors I hope," Space.com quoted Stojanovski as saying. What is Perseid meteor shower? Perseid meteor shower is a bunch of shooting stars that pass through the Earth annually. It is the ice and space rock debris from the comet 'Swift-Tuttle,' which had passed by Earth in 1992. The Perseids become clearly visible from mid-July to late August, mainly in skies above the northern Hemisphere. The peak activity was recorded this year between August 11 and 12. (With inputs from agencies)

Perseid meteor shower fireball caught on camera in skies above Macedonia: Watch

<p><strong>Oropouche Virus Outbreak:</strong> Europe has reported first-ever cases of Oropouche infection, weeks after at least two women in Brazil died of the viral fever in the first-ever casualties of the tropical disease.</p>

<p>Health officials in Europe have issued travel warnings to tourists after cases of Oropoche have been reported in people returning from Brazil and Cuba.</p>

<p>There were at least 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease reported for the first time in Europe. Among these, 12 were in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. All these were imported cases, with 18 infected people having travelled to Cuba and one to Brazil.</p>

<p>Oropouche virus (OROV) disease is&nbsp;the most prevalent insect-borne viral disease in South America after Dengue virus.</p>

<p>OROV disease has been reported in South America, Central America and the Caribbean this year, mainly in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Cuba.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There have been nearly 7,300 cases in Brazil in 2024 as against 832 last year.</p>

<p>Brazilian health officials have reported that Oropouche&nbsp;can be transmitted from mother to child, and was thought to be the cause of several birth defects and miscarriages in Brazil.</p>

<p>The women who died in Brazil in July were in their 20s and showed rapid onset symptoms including fever, joint pain, headaches and haemorrhaging.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>What is Oropouche virus or OROV disease?</strong></h2>

<p>Oropouche virus or OROV is a rare zootonic disease that infects humans through bites from infected midges, gnats and mosquitos. The main vector is a midge called Culicoides paraensis, prevalent in the Americas, but absent in Europe.</p>

<p>Fatalities are extremely rare for Oropouche virus disease, which is why the deaths in Brazil are concerning.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There have been no recorded cases of human-to-human transmission of OROV disease.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/astrazaneca-admits-in-court-document-its-covid-vaccine-can-in-very-rare-cases-cause-complications-716218"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;AstraZeneca admits in court that its Covid vaccine can ‘in very rare cases, cause TTS’</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Oropouche virus symptoms</strong></h2>

<p>When humans are affected by the Oropouche virus, the symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and rashes. US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention lists muscle aches, stiff joints, chills and sensitivity to light as symptoms.</p>

<p>"Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive disease such as meningitis," warns the CDC.</p>

<p>Symptoms typically appear four to eight days after being bitten and last three to six days, with most individuals recovering without long-term effects, according to the CDC.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/what-reasons-did-astrazeneca-give-while-withdrawing-its-covid-19-vaccine-globally-719321"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;What reasons did AstraZeneca give while withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine globally?</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Oropouche virus Prevention and treatment</strong></h2>

<p>There is no known treatment, or vaccines to prevent Oropouche viral&nbsp;disease.</p>

<p>The disease is often misidentified as dengue fever.</p>

<p>Named after the region where it was found, the Oropouche fever virus was first detected in the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago. The virus was first isolated in 1955 in Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Oropouche Virus Outbreak: Europe has reported first-ever cases of Oropouche infection, weeks after at least two women in Brazil died of the viral fever in the first-ever casualties of the tropical disease.

Oropouche Virus Outbreak: Europe has reported first-ever cases of Oropouche infection, weeks after at least two women in Brazil died of the viral fever in the first-ever casualties of the tropical disease. Health officials in Europe have issued travel warnings to tourists after cases of Oropoche have been reported in people returning from Brazil and Cuba. There were at least 19 cases of Oropouche virus disease reported for the first time in Europe. Among these, 12 were in Spain, five in Italy and two in Germany. All these were imported cases, with 18 infected people having travelled to Cuba and one to Brazil. Oropouche virus (OROV) disease is the most prevalent insect-borne viral disease in South America after Dengue virus. OROV disease has been reported in South America, Central America and the Caribbean this year, mainly in Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Peru and Cuba. There have been nearly 7,300 cases in Brazil in 2024 as against 832 last year. Brazilian health officials have reported that Oropouche can be transmitted from mother to child, and was thought to be the cause of several birth defects and miscarriages in Brazil. The women who died in Brazil in July were in their 20s and showed rapid onset symptoms including fever, joint pain, headaches and haemorrhaging. What is Oropouche virus or OROV disease? Oropouche virus or OROV is a rare zootonic disease that infects humans through bites from infected midges, gnats and mosquitos. The main vector is a midge called Culicoides paraensis, prevalent in the Americas, but absent in Europe. Fatalities are extremely rare for Oropouche virus disease, which is why the deaths in Brazil are concerning. There have been no recorded cases of human-to-human transmission of OROV disease. Also read | AstraZeneca admits in court that its Covid vaccine can ‘in very rare cases, cause TTS’ Oropouche virus symptoms When humans are affected by the Oropouche virus, the symptoms include fever, headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, and rashes. US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention lists muscle aches, stiff joints, chills and sensitivity to light as symptoms. "Severe cases may result in neuroinvasive disease such as meningitis," warns the CDC. Symptoms typically appear four to eight days after being bitten and last three to six days, with most individuals recovering without long-term effects, according to the CDC. Watch | What reasons did AstraZeneca give while withdrawing its COVID-19 vaccine globally? × Oropouche virus Prevention and treatment There is no known treatment, or vaccines to prevent Oropouche viral disease. The disease is often misidentified as dengue fever. Named after the region where it was found, the Oropouche fever virus was first detected in the Oropouche River in Trinidad and Tobago. The virus was first isolated in 1955 in Trinidad Regional Virus Laboratory. (With inputs from agencies)

Oropouche virus outbreak: First deaths in Brazil, first-ever cases in Europe. Know symptoms

<p>International Space Station has shared a set of stunning photos and videos showing how Auroras on Earth lit up the surface of the Moon in a riot of colours.</p>

<p>The photos and videos were shared by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick.</p>

<p>"The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens," Dominick said in a post on X.&nbsp;</p>

<p>His photos showed the Moon's surface lit up in stunning shades of red and green with the Soyuz Spacecraft in the foreground.</p>

<p>Also Read: <strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/nasa-spacex-to-turn-450-ton-iss-into-a-fireball-and-crash-it-into-ocean-heres-how-it-will-impact-earth-742207">NASA, SpaceX to turn 450-ton ISS into a fireball and crash it into ocean. Here's how it will impact Earth</a></strong><br />
&nbsp;</p>

<p>"The moon makes it way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora . . . I was setup in a different window and saw this through another window. I made a quick camera, camera mount, and shroud teardown and setup. Felt so lucky to grab this shot," Dominick shared on X.</p>

<p><strong>Watch the video here:</strong></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Timelapse of the moon setting into streams of red and green aurora followed by a sunrise lighting up Soyuz with a light blue.<br />
<br />
The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus.<br />
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15mm, T1.8, 1/3s exposure,… <a href="https://t.co/otFv5pZ6vd">pic.twitter.com/otFv5pZ6vd</a></p>
— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew/status/1823081465753825718?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 12, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">The moon makes it way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora . . . I was setup in a different window and saw this through another window. I made a quick camera, camera mount, and shroud teardown and setup. Felt so lucky to grab this shot.<br />
<br />
15mm, T1.8, 1s, ISO… <a href="https://t.co/Z3TYlFhgNo">pic.twitter.com/Z3TYlFhgNo</a></p>
— Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) <a href="https://twitter.com/dominickmatthew/status/1822779754455417238?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">August 11, 2024</a></blockquote>
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<strong>Watch:&nbsp;Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August</strong><br />
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<p>Dominick shared that the ISS received a cargo shipment earlier this week "with lots of cool stuff to include some new camera lenses."</p>

<p><strong>Also Read: </strong><a href="https://www.wionews.com/science/in-a-first-nasa-streams-4k-video-footage-from-aircraft-to-iss-and-back-744193"><strong>In a first, NASA streams 4K video footage from aircraft to ISS and back</strong></a></p>

<p>"Spent a good part of the weekend with a 15mm, T1.8 lens. Made a whole bunch of timelapses. Still looking though 1000s of frames, lots of which have aurora but the milky way in this one stood out," he said.</p>

<h2><strong>What are Auroras?</strong></h2>

<p>Auroras are a space phonomenon&nbsp;that happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with gas molecules in Earth's atmosphere and emit light.</p>

<p>This creates a visual spectacle in the skys in several parts of the earth, mainly with red and green colours.&nbsp;</p>

<p>There have been several auroras in the past few days.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>

<p>&nbsp;</p>


International Space Station has shared a set of stunning photos and videos showing how Auroras on Earth lit up the surface of the Moon in a riot of colours. The photos and videos were shared by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick.

International Space Station has shared a set of stunning photos and videos showing how Auroras on Earth lit up the surface of the Moon in a riot of colours. The photos and videos were shared by NASA astronaut Matthew Dominick. "The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens," Dominick said in a post on X. His photos showed the Moon's surface lit up in stunning shades of red and green with the Soyuz Spacecraft in the foreground. Also Read: NASA, SpaceX to turn 450-ton ISS into a fireball and crash it into ocean. Here's how it will impact Earth "The moon makes it way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora . . . I was setup in a different window and saw this through another window. I made a quick camera, camera mount, and shroud teardown and setup. Felt so lucky to grab this shot," Dominick shared on X. Watch the video here: Timelapse of the moon setting into streams of red and green aurora followed by a sunrise lighting up Soyuz with a light blue. The aurora have been amazing the past few days. Great timing for trying out a new lens that recently arrived on Cygnus. 15mm, T1.8, 1/3s exposure,… pic.twitter.com/otFv5pZ6vd — Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 12, 2024 × The moon makes it way towards the horizon to set amongst red and green aurora . . . I was setup in a different window and saw this through another window. I made a quick camera, camera mount, and shroud teardown and setup. Felt so lucky to grab this shot. 15mm, T1.8, 1s, ISO… pic.twitter.com/Z3TYlFhgNo — Matthew Dominick (@dominickmatthew) August 11, 2024 × Watch: Indian astronauts to train at NASA from August × Dominick shared that the ISS received a cargo shipment earlier this week "with lots of cool stuff to include some new camera lenses." Also Read: In a first, NASA streams 4K video footage from aircraft to ISS and back "Spent a good part of the weekend with a 15mm, T1.8 lens. Made a whole bunch of timelapses. Still looking though 1000s of frames, lots of which have aurora but the milky way in this one stood out," he said. What are Auroras? Auroras are a space phonomenon that happen when charged particles from the Sun interact with gas molecules in Earth's atmosphere and emit light. This creates a visual spectacle in the skys in several parts of the earth, mainly with red and green colours. There have been several auroras in the past few days. (With inputs from agencies)

Auroras on Earth light up Moon surface in stunning photos captured from International Space Station - Watch

<p>Dera Sacha Sauda&nbsp;chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, an Indian 'godman' and convicted rapist who is serving a 20-year sentence, walked out of jail yet again on furlough on Tuesday (Aug 13) after petitions against it were dismissed. Singh will be out for 21 days.</p>

<p>He is serving jail for the rape of two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa.</p>

<p>Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Sunaria prison in Rohtak, a city in the northern state of Haryana, at 6.30 am local time, according to media reports.</p>

<p>He will spend time at an Ashram of Dera Sacha Sauda at Baghpat in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Significantly, his release took place two months ahead of the local assembly elections in Haryana.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim has been out of jail on parole or furloughs several times in the past since his conviction for rape in 2017. These temporary releases were often opposed in court, but failed.</p>

<p>The last plea was filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC.</p>

<p>The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the prisons department to take a call, without &nbsp;“arbitrariness or favouritism”, while dismissing the petition.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh?</strong></h2>

<p>Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the chief of the spiritual group Dera Sacha Sauda, which is seen by many as a cult. At the height of his fame, the 56-year-old had hundreds of thousands of disciples, and was also an actor and film producer, with his followers claiming that the movies amassed 1 billion rupees.</p>

<p>He also released several music albums and music videos, which had gone viral at the time.</p>

<p>He was famous for his outlandish dressing style, as well as stunts including driving heavy bikes.</p>

<p>He was seen as a social reformer and organised massive medical camps for blood donation, and free check-ups. He is also known for mega drives for cleanliness and sanitation.</p>

<p>The Dera chief, who also called himself MSG, apparently short for Messenger of God, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two of his followers at his ashram in Sirsa.</p>

<h2><strong>Ram Rahim Singh rape case</strong></h2>

<p>Since the early 2000s, several of Ram Rahim's female disciples had accused him of rape and molestation, but complaints by two women were the most prominent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a lengthy probe by Central Bureau of Investigation, a CBI court convicted Ram Rahim on 25 August 2017 of rape.</p>

<p>Soon, his followers went on a rampage in Haryana and several other northern cities, blocking traffic and setting public property and vehicles on fire. The violence spread even to the Indian capital New Delhi&nbsp;and the National Capital Region or NCR, and left several dead.</p>

<p>Police raided his ashram and found that he lived a palatial house, the videos of which went viral.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 28 August 2017.</p>

<h2><strong>Ram Rahim's run-ins with law</strong></h2>

<p>In a separate case, in January 2019, Singh was convicted of the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and sentenced to life imprisonment. Chhatrapati had been writing about the death of a Dera Sauda former manager Ranjit Singh, and was shot dead in 2002.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim was an accused in the killing Ranjit Singh in 2002, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him and four others.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim&nbsp;is also reportedly accused of ordering forced castrations on 400 of his followers.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, an Indian 'godman' and convicted rapist who is serving a 20-year sentence, walked out of jail yet again on furlough on Tuesday (Aug 13) after petitions against it were dismissed.

Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, an Indian 'godman' and convicted rapist who is serving a 20-year sentence, walked out of jail yet again on furlough on Tuesday (Aug 13) after petitions against it were dismissed. Singh will be out for 21 days. He is serving jail for the rape of two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Sunaria prison in Rohtak, a city in the northern state of Haryana, at 6.30 am local time, according to media reports. He will spend time at an Ashram of Dera Sacha Sauda at Baghpat in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the reports said. Significantly, his release took place two months ahead of the local assembly elections in Haryana. Ram Rahim has been out of jail on parole or furloughs several times in the past since his conviction for rape in 2017. These temporary releases were often opposed in court, but failed. The last plea was filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC. The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the prisons department to take a call, without “arbitrariness or favouritism”, while dismissing the petition. Who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh? Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the chief of the spiritual group Dera Sacha Sauda, which is seen by many as a cult. At the height of his fame, the 56-year-old had hundreds of thousands of disciples, and was also an actor and film producer, with his followers claiming that the movies amassed 1 billion rupees. He also released several music albums and music videos, which had gone viral at the time. He was famous for his outlandish dressing style, as well as stunts including driving heavy bikes. He was seen as a social reformer and organised massive medical camps for blood donation, and free check-ups. He is also known for mega drives for cleanliness and sanitation. The Dera chief, who also called himself MSG, apparently short for Messenger of God, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two of his followers at his ashram in Sirsa. Ram Rahim Singh rape case Since the early 2000s, several of Ram Rahim's female disciples had accused him of rape and molestation, but complaints by two women were the most prominent. After a lengthy probe by Central Bureau of Investigation, a CBI court convicted Ram Rahim on 25 August 2017 of rape. Soon, his followers went on a rampage in Haryana and several other northern cities, blocking traffic and setting public property and vehicles on fire. The violence spread even to the Indian capital New Delhi and the National Capital Region or NCR, and left several dead. Police raided his ashram and found that he lived a palatial house, the videos of which went viral. Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 28 August 2017. Ram Rahim's run-ins with law In a separate case, in January 2019, Singh was convicted of the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and sentenced to life imprisonment. Chhatrapati had been writing about the death of a Dera Sauda former manager Ranjit Singh, and was shot dead in 2002. Ram Rahim was an accused in the killing Ranjit Singh in 2002, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him and four others. Ram Rahim is also reportedly accused of ordering forced castrations on 400 of his followers. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Dera Sacha Saudia's Ram Rahim Singh, Indian 'godman' and rape convict who walked out of jail again?

<p>Dera Sacha Sauda&nbsp;chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, an Indian 'godman' and convicted rapist who is serving a 20-year sentence, walked out of jail yet again on furlough on Tuesday (Aug 13) after petitions against it were dismissed. Singh will be out for 21 days.</p>

<p>He is serving jail for the rape of two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa.</p>

<p>Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Sunaria prison in Rohtak, a city in the northern state of Haryana, at 6.30 am local time, according to media reports.</p>

<p>He will spend time at an Ashram of Dera Sacha Sauda at Baghpat in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the reports said.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Significantly, his release took place two months ahead of the local assembly elections in Haryana.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim has been out of jail on parole or furloughs several times in the past since his conviction for rape in 2017. These temporary releases were often opposed in court but failed.</p>

<p>The last plea was filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC.</p>

<p>The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the prison department to take a call, without &nbsp;“arbitrariness or favouritism”, while dismissing the petition.&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh?</strong></h2>

<p>Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the chief of the spiritual group Dera Sacha Sauda, which is seen by many as a cult. At the height of his fame, the 56-year-old had hundreds of thousands of disciples, and was also an actor and film producer, with his followers claiming that the movies amassed 1 billion rupees.</p>

<p>He also released several music albums and music videos, which had gone viral at the time.</p>

<p>He was famous for his outlandish dressing style, as well as stunts including driving heavy bikes.</p>

<p>He was seen as a social reformer and organised massive medical camps for blood donation, and free check-ups. He is also known for mega drives for cleanliness and sanitation.</p>

<p>The Dera chief, who also called himself MSG, apparently short for Messenger of God, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two of his followers at his ashram in Sirsa.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/disgraced-indian-godman-ram-rahim-acquitted-in-2002-ranjit-singh-murder-case-726220"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Disgraced Indian godman Ram Rahim acquitted in 2002 Ranjit Singh murder case</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Ram Rahim Singh rape case</strong></h2>

<p>Since the early 2000s, several of Ram Rahim's female disciples had accused him of rape and molestation, but complaints by two women were the most prominent.&nbsp;</p>

<p>After a lengthy probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, a CBI court convicted Ram Rahim on 25 August 2017 of rape.</p>

<p>Soon, his followers went on a rampage in Haryana and several other northern cities, blocking traffic and setting public property and vehicles on fire. The violence spread even to the Indian capital New Delhi&nbsp;and the National Capital Region or NCR, and left several dead.</p>

<p>Police raided his ashram and found that he lived a lavish life in a palatial house, the videos of which went viral.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 28 August 2017.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/here-is-what-ram-rahims-guest-house-looked-like-after-he-was-convicted-4530"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Here is what Ram Rahim's guest house looked like after he was convicted</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>Ram Rahim's run-ins with law</strong></h2>

<p>In a separate case, in January 2019, Singh was convicted of the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and sentenced to life imprisonment. Chhatrapati had been writing about the death of a Dera Sauda former manager Ranjit Singh, who was shot dead in 2002.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim was accused in the killing of Ranjit Singh in 2002, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him and four others.</p>

<p>Ram Rahim&nbsp;is also reportedly accused of ordering forced castrations on 400 of his followers.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh, an Indian 'godman' and convicted rapist who is serving a 20-year sentence, walked out of jail yet again on furlough on Tuesday (Aug 13) after petitions against it were dismissed. Singh will be out for 21 days. He is serving jail for the rape of two women disciples at his ashram in Sirsa. Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh was released from Sunaria prison in Rohtak, a city in the northern state of Haryana, at 6.30 am local time, according to media reports. He will spend time at an Ashram of Dera Sacha Sauda at Baghpat in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh, the reports said. Significantly, his release took place two months ahead of the local assembly elections in Haryana. Ram Rahim has been out of jail on parole or furloughs several times in the past since his conviction for rape in 2017. These temporary releases were often opposed in court but failed. The last plea was filed by the Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee or SGPC. The Punjab and Haryana High Court asked the prison department to take a call, without “arbitrariness or favouritism”, while dismissing the petition. Who is Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh? Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh is the chief of the spiritual group Dera Sacha Sauda, which is seen by many as a cult. At the height of his fame, the 56-year-old had hundreds of thousands of disciples, and was also an actor and film producer, with his followers claiming that the movies amassed 1 billion rupees. He also released several music albums and music videos, which had gone viral at the time. He was famous for his outlandish dressing style, as well as stunts including driving heavy bikes. He was seen as a social reformer and organised massive medical camps for blood donation, and free check-ups. He is also known for mega drives for cleanliness and sanitation. The Dera chief, who also called himself MSG, apparently short for Messenger of God, was sentenced to 20 years in jail for raping two of his followers at his ashram in Sirsa. Also read | Disgraced Indian godman Ram Rahim acquitted in 2002 Ranjit Singh murder case Ram Rahim Singh rape case Since the early 2000s, several of Ram Rahim's female disciples had accused him of rape and molestation, but complaints by two women were the most prominent. After a lengthy probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, a CBI court convicted Ram Rahim on 25 August 2017 of rape. Soon, his followers went on a rampage in Haryana and several other northern cities, blocking traffic and setting public property and vehicles on fire. The violence spread even to the Indian capital New Delhi and the National Capital Region or NCR, and left several dead. Police raided his ashram and found that he lived a lavish life in a palatial house, the videos of which went viral. Ram Rahim was sentenced to 20 years in prison on 28 August 2017. Watch | Here is what Ram Rahim's guest house looked like after he was convicted × Ram Rahim's run-ins with law In a separate case, in January 2019, Singh was convicted of the murder of journalist Ram Chander Chhatrapati and sentenced to life imprisonment. Chhatrapati had been writing about the death of a Dera Sauda former manager Ranjit Singh, who was shot dead in 2002. Ram Rahim was accused in the killing of Ranjit Singh in 2002, but the Punjab and Haryana High Court acquitted him and four others. Ram Rahim is also reportedly accused of ordering forced castrations on 400 of his followers. (With inputs from agencies)

Who is Dera Sacha Sauda's Ram Rahim Singh, Indian 'godman' and rape convict who walked out of jail again?

<p>AI or Artificial intelligence has been the buzzword in technology for the past few years. Some argue that it can be misused, while others think of it as a boon for various fields, from medicine to science to creative industries. Does AI really pose an existential threat to humanity? No, according to a large study that conducted thousands of experiments on Large Language Models or LLMs, which are at the heart of AI apps like ChatGPT.</p>

<h2><strong>How the research was conducted</strong></h2>

<p>The research team from Bath University in UK and Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany demonstrated through these experiments that a combination of LLMs' ability to follow instructions, memory and linguistic proficiency can account for both the capabilities and limitations exhibited by LLMs.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch |&nbsp;AI model tested against US air force pilot in a simulator battle</strong></p>

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<p>The experiments were aimed at testing the ability of LLMs to complete tasks that the models have never come across before. These are called emergent abilities.</p>

<p>It has been seen in past research that LLMs can answer questions about social situations without ever having been explicitly trained or programmed to do so.&nbsp;</p>

<p>This was thought to be a result of these models ‘knowing’ about social situations. But the researchers showed that "it was in fact the result of models using a well-known ability to complete tasks based on a few examples presented to them, known as ‘in-context learning’ or ICL," Bath University said in a release.</p>

<p>What the study found is that while LLMs have "a superficial ability" to follow instructions and might have excellent language proficiency, they still have no potential "to master new skills without explicit instruction."</p>

<p>This means they remain inherently controllable, predictable and safe," said the release, leading to the conclusion that LLMs are not an existential threat to humanity.</p>

<p>"The research team concluded that LLMs – which are being trained on ever larger datasets – can continue to be deployed without safety concerns, though the technology can still be misused," it said.</p>

<p>While in future, these AI models might be able to 'speak' and write more sophisticated language, and follow more detailed prompts, they "are highly unlikely to gain complex reasoning skills," the researchers concluded.</p>

<p>“The prevailing narrative that this type of AI is a threat to humanity prevents the widespread adoption and development of these technologies, and also diverts attention from the genuine issues that require our focus,” said Dr Harish Tayyar Madabushi, computer scientist at the University of Bath and co-author of the study.</p>

<p>"Our study shows that the fear that a model will go away and do something completely unexpected, innovative and potentially dangerous is not valid," the release quoted him as saying.</p>

<p>“While it's important to address the existing potential for the misuse of AI, such as the creation of fake news and the heightened risk of fraud, it would be premature to enact regulations based on perceived existential threats,” he said.</p>

<p>The study was published as part of the proceedings of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics on Monday (Aug 12).</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


AI or Artificial intelligence has been the buzzword in technology for the past few years. Some argue that it can be misused, while others think of it as a boon for various fields, from medicine to science to creative industries.

AI or Artificial intelligence has been the buzzword in technology for the past few years. Some argue that it can be misused, while others think of it as a boon for various fields, from medicine to science to creative industries. Does AI really pose an existential threat to humanity? No, according to a large study that conducted thousands of experiments on Large Language Models or LLMs, which are at the heart of AI apps like ChatGPT. How the research was conducted The research team from Bath University in UK and Technical University of Darmstadt in Germany demonstrated through these experiments that a combination of LLMs' ability to follow instructions, memory and linguistic proficiency can account for both the capabilities and limitations exhibited by LLMs. Also watch | AI model tested against US air force pilot in a simulator battle × The experiments were aimed at testing the ability of LLMs to complete tasks that the models have never come across before. These are called emergent abilities. It has been seen in past research that LLMs can answer questions about social situations without ever having been explicitly trained or programmed to do so. This was thought to be a result of these models ‘knowing’ about social situations. But the researchers showed that "it was in fact the result of models using a well-known ability to complete tasks based on a few examples presented to them, known as ‘in-context learning’ or ICL," Bath University said in a release. What the study found is that while LLMs have "a superficial ability" to follow instructions and might have excellent language proficiency, they still have no potential "to master new skills without explicit instruction." This means they remain inherently controllable, predictable and safe," said the release, leading to the conclusion that LLMs are not an existential threat to humanity. "The research team concluded that LLMs – which are being trained on ever larger datasets – can continue to be deployed without safety concerns, though the technology can still be misused," it said. While in future, these AI models might be able to 'speak' and write more sophisticated language, and follow more detailed prompts, they "are highly unlikely to gain complex reasoning skills," the researchers concluded. “The prevailing narrative that this type of AI is a threat to humanity prevents the widespread adoption and development of these technologies, and also diverts attention from the genuine issues that require our focus,” said Dr Harish Tayyar Madabushi, computer scientist at the University of Bath and co-author of the study. "Our study shows that the fear that a model will go away and do something completely unexpected, innovative and potentially dangerous is not valid," the release quoted him as saying. “While it's important to address the existing potential for the misuse of AI, such as the creation of fake news and the heightened risk of fraud, it would be premature to enact regulations based on perceived existential threats,” he said. The study was published as part of the proceedings of the 62nd Annual Meeting of the Association for Computational Linguistics on Monday (Aug 12). (With inputs from agencies)

AI models do not pose existential threat to humanity, says researchers who conducted thousands of experiments

<p><strong>Sebi chief Madhabi Buch and Adani vs Hindenburg row:&nbsp;</strong>An independent judicial panel should probe the alleged links between Adani group and Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, said former finance ministry secretary EAS Sarma, who had written to the finance minister after fresh allegations were made by Hindenburg Research, in an exclusive chat with WION on Tuesday (Aug 13).&nbsp;</p>

<p>Hindenburg Research alleged that Securities and Exchange Board of India chairperson Madbhabi Buch and her husband had investments in an offshore fund that was linked to Adani, even as Sebi under her leadership&nbsp;was probing earlier allegations made by the US-based activist short-seller firm.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Questions are being raised about whether Buch properly disclosed her investments to Adani-linked funds. In two separate statements, Buch and her husband defended their investment record.</p>

<p>"The Sebi chairman, or any member, if they make any disclosure, that should be to the ministry of finance...and cabinet committee on appointments which appoints them. She cannot give a clean chit to herself," Sarma told WION. "This is a matter that requires further enquiry".</p>

<p>"Did she make a disclosure to the Ministry of Finance? Was the cabinet committee on appointments and the cabinet made aware of all this? This is much more important."</p>

<h2><strong>Sarma explains his reasons for seeking a judicial probe into Madhabi Buch-Adani links</strong></h2>

<p>"Once there is a doubt like this, somebody has to investigate," Sarma said. "Can Sebi do that? No, it can't," he said, pointing out that regulatory authorities have recently been "compromised," and their integrity was under scrutiny. "People are losing credibility in some of these institutions."</p>

<p>Sarma suggested an independent judicial commission, whose head should be nominated by the Chief Justice of India, to conduct the probe in a time-bound manner and submit the report to parliament.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hindenburg-vs-sebi-chief-saga-hindenburg-allegations-invoke-chandra-kochars-case-749589" target="_blank"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Hindenburg vs SEBI Chief Saga: Hindenburg allegations invoke Chandra Kochar's case</strong></a></p>

<p><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/hindenburg-vs-sebi-chief-saga-hindenburg-allegations-invoke-chandra-kochars-case-749589/embed" width="560"></iframe></p>

<h2><strong>'Shadow economy of offshore shell companies flourishing'</strong></h2>

<p>Sarma pointed out that the larger issue here is the shadow economy of shell companies flourishing in the absence of regulation.</p>

<p>"I have written many times to the finance minister...about a shadow economy actually flourishing outside India. Many overseas shell companies have been set up. Some of these business houses are cashing their illicit wealth in these overseas shell companies," Sarma told WION.</p>

<p>"They're using them to evade taxes... and also probably to manipulate the stock market."</p>

<p>He pointed out that there's&nbsp;no proper definition of a shell company available in India, unlike in the US and Europe, which led to a legislative gap.</p>

<p>"In the companies act, in the prevention of money laundering legislation and in Sebi regulations, everywhere you should define it...I think they appointed a task force but it never saw the light of the day. They've deliberately left a legislative gap that has given a cover for these overseas shell companies to operate."</p>

<p>Noting that there was a 2014 regulation that foreign portfolio investors should reveal 'beneficial ownership' of their funds, he said that in 2018, "for very strange reasons," Sebi relaxed it, "making it easy for FPIs to hide their beneficiary owners."</p>

<p>He pointed out there were some investigations into Adani-linked companies in the past after the first Hindenburg report. "We don't know what really happened."</p>

<p>Sarma highlighted in 2022, the Department of Economic Affairs issued an order further relaxing how shell companies operate. "It literally made it easy for people to stash money in these companies and then round-trip it via third countries to India."</p>

<p>He pointed out that a former chairman of Sebi joined the board of the Adani group,&nbsp;which had raised eyebrows.</p>

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<p dir="ltr" lang="en">Hindenburg vs SEBI: 'The accusations made against the chairperson of SEBI are only accusations, they are not yet proven'<br />
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I have written many times to the finance minister and others about the shadow economy flourishing outside India. Many overseas shell companies have been set… <a href="https://t.co/ROpYYbotwb">pic.twitter.com/ROpYYbotwb</a></p>
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<h2><strong>Sarma's letter to Finance Minister Sitaraman</strong></h2>

<p>Sarma's exclusive comments to WION came after he wrote a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman seeking a&nbsp;judicial probe into claims made&nbsp;by Hindenburg Research against Sebi chief Madhabi&nbsp;Buch.&nbsp;</p>

<p>In the letter, Sarma highlighted Buch's 'conflict of interest' concerning Adani, adding that Sebi should conduct an impartial probe into the previous allegations made by Hindenburg too.</p>

<p>"If the accusations made by Hindenburg are factually found to be correct, all investigations conducted during the last few years by the stock market regulator on external manipulation of stock market indices by a few corporate entities through their benami agencies need to be subject to a re-investigation," said Sarma in the letter.</p>

<p>"Such accusations should wake up the powers that be to refrain from interfering with the independence of any statutory institution for that matter, as such interference will erode public trust and credibility of that institution," he added.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/hindenburg-report-ex-finance-ministry-official-urges-nirmala-sitharaman-to-probe-sebi-chief-madhabi-buch-749633"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Hindenburg report: Ex-Finance Ministry official urges Nirmala Sitharaman to probe SEBI chief Madhabi Buch</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>Madhabi Buch- Adani link: Oppn leader Rahul Gandhi demands probe; petition filed in Supreme Court</strong></h2>

<p>Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, India's Leader of Opposition, demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry into the claims made by Hindenburg.<br />
<br />
He asked who would be held responsible if investors were to lose their hard-earned money. “Is the Prime Minister of India responsible? Is Madhabi Buch responsible, or is Mr Adani responsible? It’s slowly becoming crystal clear why PM [Narendra] Modi is against a JPC looking into this matter,” said Gandhi.&nbsp;</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/wholl-watch-the-watchdog-did-sebi-chief-madhabi-buch-fail-to-disclose-adani-links-recuse-from-probes-749348" target="_blank"><strong>Also read |&nbsp;Who'll watch the watchdog? Did SEBI chief Madhabi Buch fail to disclose Adani links, recuse from probes?</strong></a></p>

<p>On Tuesday (Aug 13), a petition was filed in the Supreme Court, asking it to direct the completion of a&nbsp;probe into Adani that it had ordered after Hindenburg made the first allegations. The petition said the claims by Hindenburg create&nbsp;an ‘atmosphere of doubt’.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The petitioner, advocate Vishal Tiwari, highlighted that the apex court had on January 3 given Sebi three months to complete 24 probes into Hindenburg’s earlier report accusing the Adani Group of stock price inflation and other violations of securities law.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em><br />
&nbsp;</p>


Sebi chief Madhabi Buch and Adani vs Hindenburg row: An independent judicial panel should probe the alleged links between Adani group and Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, said former finance ministry secretary EAS Sarma, who had written to the finance minister after fresh allegations were made by Hindenburg Research, in an exclusive chat with WION on Tuesday (Aug 13).

Sebi chief Madhabi Buch and Adani vs Hindenburg row: An independent judicial panel should probe the alleged links between Adani group and Sebi chairperson Madhabi Puri Buch, said former finance ministry secretary EAS Sarma, who had written to the finance minister after fresh allegations were made by Hindenburg Research, in an exclusive chat with WION on Tuesday (Aug 13). Hindenburg Research alleged that Securities and Exchange Board of India chairperson Madbhabi Buch and her husband had investments in an offshore fund that was linked to Adani, even as Sebi under her leadership was probing earlier allegations made by the US-based activist short-seller firm. Questions are being raised about whether Buch properly disclosed her investments to Adani-linked funds. In two separate statements, Buch and her husband defended their investment record. "The Sebi chairman, or any member, if they make any disclosure, that should be to the ministry of finance...and cabinet committee on appointments which appoints them. She cannot give a clean chit to herself," Sarma told WION. "This is a matter that requires further enquiry". "Did she make a disclosure to the Ministry of Finance? Was the cabinet committee on appointments and the cabinet made aware of all this? This is much more important." Sarma explains his reasons for seeking a judicial probe into Madhabi Buch-Adani links "Once there is a doubt like this, somebody has to investigate," Sarma said. "Can Sebi do that? No, it can't," he said, pointing out that regulatory authorities have recently been "compromised," and their integrity was under scrutiny. "People are losing credibility in some of these institutions." Sarma suggested an independent judicial commission, whose head should be nominated by the Chief Justice of India, to conduct the probe in a time-bound manner and submit the report to parliament. Watch | Hindenburg vs SEBI Chief Saga: Hindenburg allegations invoke Chandra Kochar's case 'Shadow economy of offshore shell companies flourishing' Sarma pointed out that the larger issue here is the shadow economy of shell companies flourishing in the absence of regulation. "I have written many times to the finance minister...about a shadow economy actually flourishing outside India. Many overseas shell companies have been set up. Some of these business houses are cashing their illicit wealth in these overseas shell companies," Sarma told WION. "They're using them to evade taxes... and also probably to manipulate the stock market." He pointed out that there's no proper definition of a shell company available in India, unlike in the US and Europe, which led to a legislative gap. "In the companies act, in the prevention of money laundering legislation and in Sebi regulations, everywhere you should define it...I think they appointed a task force but it never saw the light of the day. They've deliberately left a legislative gap that has given a cover for these overseas shell companies to operate." Noting that there was a 2014 regulation that foreign portfolio investors should reveal 'beneficial ownership' of their funds, he said that in 2018, "for very strange reasons," Sebi relaxed it, "making it easy for FPIs to hide their beneficiary owners." He pointed out there were some investigations into Adani-linked companies in the past after the first Hindenburg report. "We don't know what really happened." Sarma highlighted in 2022, the Department of Economic Affairs issued an order further relaxing how shell companies operate. "It literally made it easy for people to stash money in these companies and then round-trip it via third countries to India." He pointed out that a former chairman of Sebi joined the board of the Adani group, which had raised eyebrows. Hindenburg vs SEBI: 'The accusations made against the chairperson of SEBI are only accusations, they are not yet proven' I have written many times to the finance minister and others about the shadow economy flourishing outside India. Many overseas shell companies have been set… pic.twitter.com/ROpYYbotwb — WION (@WIONews) August 13, 2024 × Sarma's letter to Finance Minister Sitaraman Sarma's exclusive comments to WION came after he wrote a letter to Finance Minister Nirmala Sitaraman seeking a judicial probe into claims made by Hindenburg Research against Sebi chief Madhabi Buch. In the letter, Sarma highlighted Buch's 'conflict of interest' concerning Adani, adding that Sebi should conduct an impartial probe into the previous allegations made by Hindenburg too. "If the accusations made by Hindenburg are factually found to be correct, all investigations conducted during the last few years by the stock market regulator on external manipulation of stock market indices by a few corporate entities through their benami agencies need to be subject to a re-investigation," said Sarma in the letter. "Such accusations should wake up the powers that be to refrain from interfering with the independence of any statutory institution for that matter, as such interference will erode public trust and credibility of that institution," he added. Also read | Hindenburg report: Ex-Finance Ministry official urges Nirmala Sitharaman to probe SEBI chief Madhabi Buch Madhabi Buch- Adani link: Oppn leader Rahul Gandhi demands probe; petition filed in Supreme Court Earlier, Rahul Gandhi, India's Leader of Opposition, demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) inquiry into the claims made by Hindenburg. He asked who would be held responsible if investors were to lose their hard-earned money. “Is the Prime Minister of India responsible? Is Madhabi Buch responsible, or is Mr Adani responsible? It’s slowly becoming crystal clear why PM [Narendra] Modi is against a JPC looking into this matter,” said Gandhi. Also read | Who'll watch the watchdog? Did SEBI chief Madhabi Buch fail to disclose Adani links, recuse from probes? On Tuesday (Aug 13), a petition was filed in the Supreme Court, asking it to direct the completion of a probe into Adani that it had ordered after Hindenburg made the first allegations. The petition said the claims by Hindenburg create an ‘atmosphere of doubt’. The petitioner, advocate Vishal Tiwari, highlighted that the apex court had on January 3 given Sebi three months to complete 24 probes into Hindenburg’s earlier report accusing the Adani Group of stock price inflation and other violations of securities law. (With inputs from agencies)

Hindenburg vs Adani: Sebi chief Madhabi's links need judicial probe, ex-official EAS Sarma tells WION

<p>Use of humour by parents has a very positive impact on their relationship with children, according to a new study that highlighted the importance of laughing with your kids.</p>

<p>The pilot study led by Penn State University in the US had two major findings: That parents who used humour had a better relationship with their kids, and that children of parents with good humour sense considered their relationship more positively when they grew up.</p>

<p>"Humour can teach people cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and promote creative problem solving and resilience," ScienceDaily quoted Benjamin Levi, the lead author of the study, as saying.</p>

<p>"My father used humour and it was very effective. I use humour in my clinical practice and with my own children," said Levi, a professor of paediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine. "The question became, how does one constructively use humour?"</p>

<h2><strong>How the study was done</strong></h2>

<p>For the study published in PLOS One journal, the researchers surveyed 312 respondents aged between 18 and 45.&nbsp;</p>

<p>Over 50 per cent of respondents said their parents used humour. And 71.8% agreed that humour can be an effective parenting tool. Most respondents do or plan to use humour with their children and believe that it has more potential benefit than harm,&nbsp;</p>

<p>Among the children who grew up with humourous parents, 50.5% said they had a good relationship with them, and 44.2% reported they felt their parents did a good job raising them, said ScienceDaily in a report on the study.&nbsp;</p>

<p><strong>Also read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-do-i-need-it-underconsumption-core-trends-on-tiktok-749276">Do I need it? 'Underconsumption core' trends on TikTok</a></strong></p>

<p>This was in stark contrast to those whose parents did not use humour. Out of those who responded that their parents didn't use humour, only 2.9% reported a good relationship with them later in life. Only 3.6% of these respondents said they thought their parents did a good job raising them.</p>

<p>"My hope is that people can learn to use humour as an effective parenting tool, not only to diffuse tension but develop resilience and cognitive and emotional flexibility in themselves and model it for their children," Levi said.</p>

<p><strong>Also watch:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cancer-rates-among-under-50s-risen-24-since-1995-why-are-so-many-young-adults-getting-the-disease-728246">Cancer rates among under 50s risen 24% since 1995, why are so many young adults getting the disease?</a></strong></p>

<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cancer-rates-among-under-50s-risen-24-since-1995-why-are-so-many-young-adults-getting-the-disease-728246/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>

<p>"There's an interesting parallel between business and parenting, which are both hierarchical. In business, humour has been shown to help reduce hierarchies, create better environments for collaboration and creativity and diffuse tension," said first author of the study Lucy Emery.&nbsp;</p>

<p>"While parent-child relationships are more loving than business relationships, stressful situations happen a lot when parenting. Humour can help diffuse that tension and hierarchy and help both parties feel better about a stressful situation."</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


Use of humour by parents has a very positive impact on their relationship with children, according to a new study that highlighted the importance of laughing with your kids.

Use of humour by parents has a very positive impact on their relationship with children, according to a new study that highlighted the importance of laughing with your kids. The pilot study led by Penn State University in the US had two major findings: That parents who used humour had a better relationship with their kids, and that children of parents with good humour sense considered their relationship more positively when they grew up. "Humour can teach people cognitive flexibility, relieve stress, and promote creative problem solving and resilience," ScienceDaily quoted Benjamin Levi, the lead author of the study, as saying. "My father used humour and it was very effective. I use humour in my clinical practice and with my own children," said Levi, a professor of paediatrics at Penn State College of Medicine. "The question became, how does one constructively use humour?" How the study was done For the study published in PLOS One journal, the researchers surveyed 312 respondents aged between 18 and 45. Over 50 per cent of respondents said their parents used humour. And 71.8% agreed that humour can be an effective parenting tool. Most respondents do or plan to use humour with their children and believe that it has more potential benefit than harm, Among the children who grew up with humourous parents, 50.5% said they had a good relationship with them, and 44.2% reported they felt their parents did a good job raising them, said ScienceDaily in a report on the study. Also read: Do I need it? 'Underconsumption core' trends on TikTok This was in stark contrast to those whose parents did not use humour. Out of those who responded that their parents didn't use humour, only 2.9% reported a good relationship with them later in life. Only 3.6% of these respondents said they thought their parents did a good job raising them. "My hope is that people can learn to use humour as an effective parenting tool, not only to diffuse tension but develop resilience and cognitive and emotional flexibility in themselves and model it for their children," Levi said. Also watch: Cancer rates among under 50s risen 24% since 1995, why are so many young adults getting the disease? "There's an interesting parallel between business and parenting, which are both hierarchical. In business, humour has been shown to help reduce hierarchies, create better environments for collaboration and creativity and diffuse tension," said first author of the study Lucy Emery. "While parent-child relationships are more loving than business relationships, stressful situations happen a lot when parenting. Humour can help diffuse that tension and hierarchy and help both parties feel better about a stressful situation." (With inputs from agencies)

Want better relationship with your kids? Use more humour, says new study

<p>If a new study is to be believed, cats show signs of grief after a fellow pet in the household dies, even if it is a dog. The study published in Nature Journal was based on a survey&nbsp;of hundreds of people who own a cat and at least one other pet that died recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>The pet owners were asked a set of questions about the behaviour of their cats after a fellow pet died. The researchers found that the signs of grief in the cats were not significantly different even if the fellow pet that died was a dog.</p>

<h2><strong>How the cats behaved after death of a fellow pet</strong></h2>

<p>The felines showed signs of confusion or fearfulness after the death of a cat or dog in the household, ScienceAlert said in a report on the study.</p>

<p>They often went into hiding or were seen sniffing out the dead pet's favourite spots, it said.</p>

<p>"Our results are consistent with the idea that cats may experience the loss of companion animals in ways similar to what dogs experience despite having evolved from a less social ancestor," wrote the authors of the study, psychologists Brittany Greene and Jennifer Vonk of Oakland University.</p>

<p>"Cats did not respond significantly differently to the loss of a companion dog or another cat," wrote the researchers Greene and Vonk.</p>

<p>They concluded that it could be a sign of missing a lost friend or "an interspecific 'preferred associate'."</p>

<p>A similar study in 2016 found that for six months into the death of a fellow pet, cats and dogs showed signs of sadness, like eating less or increasing their vocalisations.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/lifestyle/news-will-you-buy-it-dolce--gabbana-launches-luxury-dog-perfume-at-this-whopping-price-748512"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Will you buy it? Dolce &amp; Gabbana launches luxury dog perfume at this whopping price</strong></a></p>

<h2><strong>How the study was done</strong></h2>

<p>The study was done through an online survey of 412 owners of cats in whose households a dog or cat had died recently.&nbsp;</p>

<p>They said the cats that were alive showed changes in behaviour, like more frequent vocalisations. They also were seen searching for the fellow pet that had died or sniffing for it.</p>

<p>The cats also showed less interest in eating, playing or sleeping.</p>

<p>The show of 'grief' appeared to be more in cases where the cats had spent more time with the diseased fellow pet.</p>

<p><a href="https://www.wionews.com/videos/cats-are-problematic-invasive-species-study-cats-feed-on-everything-in-their-environment-wion-669218"><strong>Watch |&nbsp;Cats are problematic invasive species: Study; 'Cats feed on everything in their environment</strong></a></p>

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<p>&nbsp;</p>

<h2><strong>But there is a catch</strong></h2>

<p>The researchers put a caveat that there is a likelihood that the owners may be projecting their own emotions onto their living pets when answering the questionnaires.</p>

<p>Those pet owners who were themselves grief-stricken by the loss of their pet&nbsp;tended to report more that their cats were showing signs of sadness.</p>

<p>In other words, some of the survey answers could be biased as they may be seeing their own grief in the pets.</p>

<p>At the same time, it has to be noted that pet owners generally know how their cats and dogs are behaving, and could make out minute changes in the same over time.</p>

<p><em>(With inputs from agencies)</em></p>


If a new study is to be believed, cats show signs of grief after a fellow pet in the household dies, even if it is a dog. The study published in Nature Journal was based on a survey of hundreds of people who own a cat and at least one other pet that died recently.

If a new study is to be believed, cats show signs of grief after a fellow pet in the household dies, even if it is a dog. The study published in Nature Journal was based on a survey of hundreds of people who own a cat and at least one other pet that died recently. The pet owners were asked a set of questions about the behaviour of their cats after a fellow pet died. The researchers found that the signs of grief in the cats were not significantly different even if the fellow pet that died was a dog. How the cats behaved after death of a fellow pet The felines showed signs of confusion or fearfulness after the death of a cat or dog in the household, ScienceAlert said in a report on the study. They often went into hiding or were seen sniffing out the dead pet's favourite spots, it said. "Our results are consistent with the idea that cats may experience the loss of companion animals in ways similar to what dogs experience despite having evolved from a less social ancestor," wrote the authors of the study, psychologists Brittany Greene and Jennifer Vonk of Oakland University. "Cats did not respond significantly differently to the loss of a companion dog or another cat," wrote the researchers Greene and Vonk. They concluded that it could be a sign of missing a lost friend or "an interspecific 'preferred associate'." A similar study in 2016 found that for six months into the death of a fellow pet, cats and dogs showed signs of sadness, like eating less or increasing their vocalisations. Watch | Will you buy it? Dolce & Gabbana launches luxury dog perfume at this whopping price How the study was done The study was done through an online survey of 412 owners of cats in whose households a dog or cat had died recently. They said the cats that were alive showed changes in behaviour, like more frequent vocalisations. They also were seen searching for the fellow pet that had died or sniffing for it. The cats also showed less interest in eating, playing or sleeping. The show of 'grief' appeared to be more in cases where the cats had spent more time with the diseased fellow pet. Watch | Cats are problematic invasive species: Study; 'Cats feed on everything in their environment × But there is a catch The researchers put a caveat that there is a likelihood that the owners may be projecting their own emotions onto their living pets when answering the questionnaires. Those pet owners who were themselves grief-stricken by the loss of their pet tended to report more that their cats were showing signs of sadness. In other words, some of the survey answers could be biased as they may be seeing their own grief in the pets. At the same time, it has to be noted that pet owners generally know how their cats and dogs are behaving, and could make out minute changes in the same over time. (With inputs from agencies)

Cats show signs of grief when fellow pets die, even if it is a dog: Study

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