India's deadly second wave of COVID-19 is making global headlines. News of death, grief and collapsing health infrastructure has become the new normal for most of us. But, it is also important to applaud those who are fighting the pandemic with great resilience. India's youth is using apps to help save lives. WION brings you more in this report.

India's youth turn to apps to save lives amid COVID-19 pandemic

A review and a pooled data analysis has found that smartphone fitness apps and wearable activity trackers do help boost physical activity levels. 
 
The review published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.The size of the effect is small to moderate, but it may be worth offering them on prescription to motivated patients, given the importance for the health of increasing daily physical activity by any amount, say the researchers. 
 
Globally, more than a quarter of adults don`t meet recommended physical activity levels. Physical inactivity represents a leading cause of death worldwide and is thought to cost billions of dollars every year. 
 
Some of the most effective strategies to increase physical activity include behaviour change techniques, such as self-monitoring and feedback, which smartphone apps and wearable activity trackers can provide. 
 
Smartphone ownership is widespread, with activity trackers and fitness apps used by around a third of US and UK adults. But the reviews to date of theses apps and trackers haven`t produced consistent findings. Nor have they focused on healthy adults and on state-of-the-art technology. 
 
To plug these knowledge gaps, the researchers trawled research databases looking for relevant studies published between January 2007 and January 2020, involving healthy 18-to-65-year-olds with no long term conditions. 
 
They found 35 suitable comparative studies, involving a total of 7454 people, 2107 (28 percent) of whom were women. The intervention period lasted between 2 and 40 weeks, averaging 13 weeks. 
 
Pooling the data from 28 of these studies showed that compared with other approaches, smartphone apps or activity trackers increased physical activity by an average of 1850 steps a day. Seven further additional analyses of the data also showed that smartphone apps and activity trackers significantly increased physical activity levels. 
 
The apps and tracker programmes that also included text-messaging involving prompts and cues, and tailored features, were more effective. And certain components, such as goal setting, planning, and tasks graded by degree of difficulty, were significantly associated with greater levels of effectiveness. 
 
The researchers acknowledge that the included studies varied in design and methods, while the quality ranged from low to moderate. And given the relatively small number of women involved, the results may not be widely applicable to both sexes. 
 
Nevertheless, "Interventions using smartphone apps or activity trackers seem promising from a clinical and public health perspective, promoting a significant step count increase of 1850 steps/day," they write."These results are of public health importance according to recent evidence showing that any physical activity, regardless of intensity, is associated with lower mortality risk in a dose-response manner and that an increase of 1700 steps/day is significantly associated with lower mortality rates."Enabling users to move beyond the initial `novelty phase` will depend on the quality of the experience, overall utility, and the ability to integrate with other devices and services, they add. 
 
But they emphasise: "Given the wide and increasing reach of smartphones, even modest improvements in physical activity can produce large effects at the population level."And they conclude that their findings are likely to be helpful to clinicians, "who may prescribe apps and trackers as part of a shared decision-making process to individuals who seem ready to make behavioural changes."&nbsp;

A review and a pooled data analysis has found that smartphone fitness apps and wearable activity trackers do help boost physical activity levels. The review published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.

A review and a pooled data analysis has found that smartphone fitness apps and wearable activity trackers do help boost physical activity levels. The review published online in the British Journal of Sports Medicine.The size of the effect is small to moderate, but it may be worth offering them on prescription to motivated patients, given the importance for the health of increasing daily physical activity by any amount, say the researchers. Globally, more than a quarter of adults don`t meet recommended physical activity levels. Physical inactivity represents a leading cause of death worldwide and is thought to cost billions of dollars every year. Some of the most effective strategies to increase physical activity include behaviour change techniques, such as self-monitoring and feedback, which smartphone apps and wearable activity trackers can provide. Smartphone ownership is widespread, with activity trackers and fitness apps used by around a third of US and UK adults. But the reviews to date of theses apps and trackers haven`t produced consistent findings. Nor have they focused on healthy adults and on state-of-the-art technology. To plug these knowledge gaps, the researchers trawled research databases looking for relevant studies published between January 2007 and January 2020, involving healthy 18-to-65-year-olds with no long term conditions. They found 35 suitable comparative studies, involving a total of 7454 people, 2107 (28 percent) of whom were women. The intervention period lasted between 2 and 40 weeks, averaging 13 weeks. Pooling the data from 28 of these studies showed that compared with other approaches, smartphone apps or activity trackers increased physical activity by an average of 1850 steps a day. Seven further additional analyses of the data also showed that smartphone apps and activity trackers significantly increased physical activity levels. The apps and tracker programmes that also included text-messaging involving prompts and cues, and tailored features, were more effective. And certain components, such as goal setting, planning, and tasks graded by degree of difficulty, were significantly associated with greater levels of effectiveness. The researchers acknowledge that the included studies varied in design and methods, while the quality ranged from low to moderate. And given the relatively small number of women involved, the results may not be widely applicable to both sexes. Nevertheless, "Interventions using smartphone apps or activity trackers seem promising from a clinical and public health perspective, promoting a significant step count increase of 1850 steps/day," they write."These results are of public health importance according to recent evidence showing that any physical activity, regardless of intensity, is associated with lower mortality risk in a dose-response manner and that an increase of 1700 steps/day is significantly associated with lower mortality rates."Enabling users to move beyond the initial `novelty phase` will depend on the quality of the experience, overall utility, and the ability to integrate with other devices and services, they add. But they emphasise: "Given the wide and increasing reach of smartphones, even modest improvements in physical activity can produce large effects at the population level."And they conclude that their findings are likely to be helpful to clinicians, "who may prescribe apps and trackers as part of a shared decision-making process to individuals who seem ready to make behavioural changes."

Fitness apps, wearable activity trackers boost physical activity levels: Study

Internet is a wonderful place but there are many pitfalls. With net neutrality going bye-bye and several other things changing over the years, it has been important to keep yourself and your identity online safe when needed. With data of whole of our lives going digital, it doesn't hurt to guard our privacy. With trackers, cookies and whatnot, this is increasingly becoming difficult. But there's a way to keep yourself safe online. Here we recommend privacy apps that'll help you surf the net freely and securely

1. Signal (Android, iOS)

There are messaging apps galore and each one claims to be supersafe for its users. There's WhatsApp, Telegram and more.

But if you are searching for a secure messenger app that has got good endorsements, then choose Signal.

Signal protects your text, voice messages and even videos with end-t-end encryption. This bit by Signal has even found to have been useful for protesters to protect their identities.

The open-source app has got endorsements from Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Mozilla and even US Military.

The app is free.

 
2. Tor (Android)

Not even Google Chrome's incognito mode does what you think when it comes to anonymous web browsing. But by using Tor, its possible to come closest to true anonymity on the net.

Tor browser is available free to download for your desktop.&nbsp;

Whether you want to keep your web browsing a secret for the sake of your job or safety or you don't want companies tracking you as you surf the net, Tor browser is for you. It is available for Android but currently not for iOS.

&nbsp;

3. Onion Browser (iOS)

Don't sulk if you want to surf web anonymously and can't download Tor Browser because you don't have Android phone. Onion Browser does the same trick for iOS.

Onion browsers offers three levels of protection (gold, silver and bronze)

&nbsp;&nbsp; 
4. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser (Android,iOS)

DuckDuckGo has become quite popular in this category because of the ease of its use. It doesn't block certain of your browsing habits like Tor Browser does but offers good protection from trackers on a particular website.

It automatically blocks third-party trackers and forces websites to use encrypted (more secure) connection when available.

 
5. ProtonMail (Android,iOS)

ProtonMail lets users encrypt and later self-destruct their e-mails so they don't remain lying around in your recipient's inbox for too much time and potentially letting crawlers get the info.

ProtonMail works like Gmail but it lets users put an extra layer of security on their e-mails.

 
6. Haven (Android)

Want to stop unwanted people from sneakily checking your phone when you are not around? Haven is for you.

Haven turns your phone into a motion-sensitive camera. It can detect light, sound and vibration too.

So if someone is to break into your home when you are taking a walk. Haven will not only detect it but also send you pictures of the person.

Internet is a wonderful place but there are many pitfalls. With net neutrality going bye-bye and several other things changing over the years, it has been important to keep yourself and your identity online safe when needed.

Internet is a wonderful place but there are many pitfalls. With net neutrality going bye-bye and several other things changing over the years, it has been important to keep yourself and your identity online safe when needed. With data of whole of our lives going digital, it doesn't hurt to guard our privacy. With trackers, cookies and whatnot, this is increasingly becoming difficult. But there's a way to keep yourself safe online. Here we recommend privacy apps that'll help you surf the net freely and securely 1. Signal (Android, iOS) There are messaging apps galore and each one claims to be supersafe for its users. There's WhatsApp, Telegram and more. But if you are searching for a secure messenger app that has got good endorsements, then choose Signal. Signal protects your text, voice messages and even videos with end-t-end encryption. This bit by Signal has even found to have been useful for protesters to protect their identities. The open-source app has got endorsements from Amnesty International, Committee to Protect Journalists, Mozilla and even US Military. The app is free. 2. Tor (Android) Not even Google Chrome's incognito mode does what you think when it comes to anonymous web browsing. But by using Tor, its possible to come closest to true anonymity on the net. Tor browser is available free to download for your desktop. Whether you want to keep your web browsing a secret for the sake of your job or safety or you don't want companies tracking you as you surf the net, Tor browser is for you. It is available for Android but currently not for iOS. 3. Onion Browser (iOS) Don't sulk if you want to surf web anonymously and can't download Tor Browser because you don't have Android phone. Onion Browser does the same trick for iOS. Onion browsers offers three levels of protection (gold, silver and bronze) 4. DuckDuckGo Privacy Browser (Android,iOS) DuckDuckGo has become quite popular in this category because of the ease of its use. It doesn't block certain of your browsing habits like Tor Browser does but offers good protection from trackers on a particular website. It automatically blocks third-party trackers and forces websites to use encrypted (more secure) connection when available. 5. ProtonMail (Android,iOS) ProtonMail lets users encrypt and later self-destruct their e-mails so they don't remain lying around in your recipient's inbox for too much time and potentially letting crawlers get the info. ProtonMail works like Gmail but it lets users put an extra layer of security on their e-mails. 6. Haven (Android) Want to stop unwanted people from sneakily checking your phone when you are not around? Haven is for you. Haven turns your phone into a motion-sensitive camera. It can detect light, sound and vibration too. So if someone is to break into your home when you are taking a walk. Haven will not only detect it but also send you pictures of the person.

Privacy apps you needed to have downloaded in 2020

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested doctor for his alleged links with the banned terrorist outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and offshoot of ISIS. He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA).

28-year-old Abdur Rahman who is a doctor by profession was arrested from his residence in Basavangudi in Bengaluru. The NIA has said that he is in contact with the Islamic State. He was working as an Ophthalmologist at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore.

During interrogation, Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities, NIA said in a statement.

Significantly, Rahman had visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days and returned to India, the NIA said.

"Rahman was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters," the agency said.

After arresting Rahman, NIA carried out searches at 3 premises belonging to him in Bengaluru with the assistance of Karnataka Police and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material.

They were also found to be in touch with Abdullah Basith, who was already lodged in Tihar jail in another NIA case (ISIS Abu Dabhi Module), the agency said, During the further investigation in the case, NIA arrested two more accused — Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri — both residents of Pune, for being part of the conspiracy to "further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India" and to "carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests".

The arrested accused will be produced before the NIA Special Court at New Delhi and NIA remand will be sought for his custodial interrogation, the agency said. Further investigation in the case is continued, NIA said.

(With inputs from agencies)

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested doctor for his alleged links with the banned terrorist outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and offshoot of ISIS.

The National Investigation Agency (NIA) on Tuesday arrested doctor for his alleged links with the banned terrorist outfit Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) and offshoot of ISIS. He has been booked under the Unlawful Activities Prevention Act (UAPA). 28-year-old Abdur Rahman who is a doctor by profession was arrested from his residence in Basavangudi in Bengaluru. The NIA has said that he is in contact with the Islamic State. He was working as an Ophthalmologist at M.S. Ramaiah Medical College, Bangalore. During interrogation, Rahman confessed that he was conspiring with Jahanzaib Sami and other Syria-based ISIS operatives on secure messaging platforms to further ISIS activities, NIA said in a statement. Significantly, Rahman had visited an ISIS medical camp in Syria in early 2014 for treatment of ISIS terrorists and stayed with Islamic State operatives for 10 days and returned to India, the NIA said. "Rahman was in the process of developing a medical application for helping the injured ISIS cadres in the conflict-zones and a weaponry-related application for the benefit of ISIS fighters," the agency said. After arresting Rahman, NIA carried out searches at 3 premises belonging to him in Bengaluru with the assistance of Karnataka Police and seized digital devices, mobile phone, laptop containing incriminating material. They were also found to be in touch with Abdullah Basith, who was already lodged in Tihar jail in another NIA case (ISIS Abu Dabhi Module), the agency said, During the further investigation in the case, NIA arrested two more accused — Sadiya Anwar Sheikh and Nabeel Siddick Khatri — both residents of Pune, for being part of the conspiracy to "further the activities of ISIS/ISKP in India" and to "carry out subversive activities in the garb of anti-Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) protests". The arrested accused will be produced before the NIA Special Court at New Delhi and NIA remand will be sought for his custodial interrogation, the agency said. Further investigation in the case is continued, NIA said. (With inputs from agencies)

Bengaluru doctor making apps for ISIS arrested by NIA

Missing TikTok? Here are the top 6 alternatives in India!

One industry that has for long been on a boom in China and neighbouring countries is that of cosmetic surgery's. A growing number of Chinese women are using cosmetic procedures to achieve bigger eyes, higher cheekbones, narrower noses and skinnier legs — much in tandem with the West.

China's cosmetic surgery industry is only second to that of the United States — in terms of the total number of cosmetic procedures performed.

In pics: <a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/iranian-angelina-jolie-sahartabarofficial-588">This teen has undergone 50 surgeries to look like her idol Angelina Jolie</a>

Fuelled by rising incomes, the practice is not all about vanity. These women usually believe surgery would improve all aspects of their lives. While several seek to emulate a beauty ideal inspired by elements of the K-Pop culture, and the West, there also are women who succumb to the patriarchal ideology and look out for a husband, and sometimes, a better job, by resorting to a new "plastic" look. The practice has become so socially accepted in China that there are separate pageants for "artificial" beauties.

<img alt="Chinese beauty app" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="33990716-2386-4338-b538-0c38f6b6ec9c" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/china%20beauty%20app.jpg" />

(Pic courtesy: Web-screenshot)

In 2017, more than 16.3 million women in China underwent plastic surgery to achieve the desired look — a steep rise from 7 million in 2014. The total revenue from the industry in the country is expected to exceed 360 billion yuan ($52 million) by 2023.

Apps that help, and clinics that don't

Applications, like So-Young International and GengMei, have played a major role in sensitising people for such procedures. So-Young International, a Chinese marketplace and social networking app for cosmetic surgery, started in 2014 aiming to connect clinics with patients and as a community for people interested in cosmetic procedures.

So-Young's strong Nasdaq trading debut in May, 2019 had then reflected keen interest in China’s booming plastic surgery market -- well substantiated by Wu Xiaochen's beauty story, one of the many narratives to have emerged out of the cosmetic procedure industry.

Also read:<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/iranian-instagram-star-arrested-for-posting-angelina-jolie-lookalike-pics-254433">&nbsp;Iranian Instagram star arrested for posting Angelina Jolie lookalike pics</a>

Wu, in the 16 years since that first procedure, had had over 100 surgeries, costing a staggering 4 million yuan (about $574,000).

Wu grew up in a middle-class family. She thought she wasn't pretty enough and felt insecure about her "small eyes and round face." So after her first successful procedure she said she had a facial liposuction -- followed by a facial contouring surgery.

She also had her nose bridge elevated -- all at 16. "Surgery has become like an addiction for me. Every two or three years, I have a few more procedures done," Wu told CNN.

One of the most requested procedures involves removing bulk from the face and body. Another is nose jobs.

<img alt="Chinese beauty app" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="c0d897d3-cc83-46ec-a41a-42edba2780f6" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/china%20beauty%20app%201.jpeg" />

(Pic courtesy: Screenshot)

Another woman, Chen Yan, feared middle age dawning upon her, and saw cosmetic surgery as the solution.

She spent a whopping 52,515 yuan (S$10,704) in a quest for the perfect nose at Shanghai's private Huamei Medical Cosmetology Hospital.

According to a white paper published in 2019 by So-Young, women who go for cosmetic surgery are young -- more than half are under the age of 26 -- and are residents of the country's second and third tier cities.

The largest app to have helped women achieve the desired beauty standards is GengMei. It has 36 million users and lists almost 20,000 surgeons on its platform. It has an augmented reality feature that analyses a face and gives it a grade out of 100 based on criteria. It then makes suggestions for cosmetic surgery improvements.

Tencent backed So-Young has 2.47 million monthly active users and nearly 6,000 surgeons listed. It accounted for one third of China’s cosmetic treatment booked online in 2018, facilitating transactions worth 2.1 billion yuan.

To get the look they desire, many women undergo surgery, whereas others turn to reverse hyaluronic acid fillers. However, not all surgeries are successful. And these women are well aware of the horror stories of botched surgeries.

<img alt="Chinese beauty app" data-entity-type="file" data-entity-uuid="eaa6eedd-8020-4406-ab11-2e8c1b7431bf" src="//cdn.wionews.com/sites/default/files/inline-images/china%20beauty%20app%202.jpg" />

(Pic courtesy: Screenshot)

Some of these clinics, associated with apps, use substandard fillers and anti-aging injectables with contaminants or fewer active parts than they should have.

"China's National Health Commission has identified 2,772 cases of illegal plastic surgery, during a year-long operation that started in May 2017. This led to more than 1,200 criminal prosecutions, according to a government release. The commission is considering establishing a blacklist of dangerous surgeons," a statement from the officials said.

Other plastic surgery platforms cashing in on China’s pursuit of beauty are Meituan (backed by Tencent) and Yuemei.&nbsp;

One industry that has for long been on a boom in China and neighbouring countries is that of cosmetic surgery's. A growing number of Chinese women are using cosmetic procedures to achieve bigger eyes, higher cheekbones, narrower noses and skinnier legs — much in tandem with the West.

One industry that has for long been on a boom in China and neighbouring countries is that of cosmetic surgery's. A growing number of Chinese women are using cosmetic procedures to achieve bigger eyes, higher cheekbones, narrower noses and skinnier legs — much in tandem with the West. China's cosmetic surgery industry is only second to that of the United States — in terms of the total number of cosmetic procedures performed. In pics: This teen has undergone 50 surgeries to look like her idol Angelina Jolie Fuelled by rising incomes, the practice is not all about vanity. These women usually believe surgery would improve all aspects of their lives. While several seek to emulate a beauty ideal inspired by elements of the K-Pop culture, and the West, there also are women who succumb to the patriarchal ideology and look out for a husband, and sometimes, a better job, by resorting to a new "plastic" look. The practice has become so socially accepted in China that there are separate pageants for "artificial" beauties. (Pic courtesy: Web-screenshot) In 2017, more than 16.3 million women in China underwent plastic surgery to achieve the desired look — a steep rise from 7 million in 2014. The total revenue from the industry in the country is expected to exceed 360 billion yuan ($52 million) by 2023. Apps that help, and clinics that don't Applications, like So-Young International and GengMei, have played a major role in sensitising people for such procedures. So-Young International, a Chinese marketplace and social networking app for cosmetic surgery, started in 2014 aiming to connect clinics with patients and as a community for people interested in cosmetic procedures. So-Young's strong Nasdaq trading debut in May, 2019 had then reflected keen interest in China’s booming plastic surgery market -- well substantiated by Wu Xiaochen's beauty story, one of the many narratives to have emerged out of the cosmetic procedure industry. Also read: Iranian Instagram star arrested for posting Angelina Jolie lookalike pics Wu, in the 16 years since that first procedure, had had over 100 surgeries, costing a staggering 4 million yuan (about $574,000). Wu grew up in a middle-class family. She thought she wasn't pretty enough and felt insecure about her "small eyes and round face." So after her first successful procedure she said she had a facial liposuction -- followed by a facial contouring surgery. She also had her nose bridge elevated -- all at 16. "Surgery has become like an addiction for me. Every two or three years, I have a few more procedures done," Wu told CNN. One of the most requested procedures involves removing bulk from the face and body. Another is nose jobs. (Pic courtesy: Screenshot) Another woman, Chen Yan, feared middle age dawning upon her, and saw cosmetic surgery as the solution. She spent a whopping 52,515 yuan (S$10,704) in a quest for the perfect nose at Shanghai's private Huamei Medical Cosmetology Hospital. According to a white paper published in 2019 by So-Young, women who go for cosmetic surgery are young -- more than half are under the age of 26 -- and are residents of the country's second and third tier cities. The largest app to have helped women achieve the desired beauty standards is GengMei. It has 36 million users and lists almost 20,000 surgeons on its platform. It has an augmented reality feature that analyses a face and gives it a grade out of 100 based on criteria. It then makes suggestions for cosmetic surgery improvements. Tencent backed So-Young has 2.47 million monthly active users and nearly 6,000 surgeons listed. It accounted for one third of China’s cosmetic treatment booked online in 2018, facilitating transactions worth 2.1 billion yuan. To get the look they desire, many women undergo surgery, whereas others turn to reverse hyaluronic acid fillers. However, not all surgeries are successful. And these women are well aware of the horror stories of botched surgeries. (Pic courtesy: Screenshot) Some of these clinics, associated with apps, use substandard fillers and anti-aging injectables with contaminants or fewer active parts than they should have. "China's National Health Commission has identified 2,772 cases of illegal plastic surgery, during a year-long operation that started in May 2017. This led to more than 1,200 criminal prosecutions, according to a government release. The commission is considering establishing a blacklist of dangerous surgeons," a statement from the officials said. Other plastic surgery platforms cashing in on China’s pursuit of beauty are Meituan (backed by Tencent) and Yuemei.

How apps are changing China's cosmetic surgery industry — one face at a time

If you have a chronic headache, we suggest you put your smartphone away. A new study finds that excessive time spent on your smartphone could be contributing to a relentless headache

Smartphone users may be more likely to use painkillers and find less relief and the subjects of this study were from India.

We are all guilty of being addicted to our smartphones whether it is surfing social media or online shopping.

Be it using WhatsApp to communicate or a trending news app to stay updated. From content consumption to content creation — the smartphone has become the hub of all activities.

People are relying on their phones to complete daily tasks.

And now, a new study finds a link between smartphone usage and headaches. Up until now, there has been plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that excessive use of smartphones and "screen time" can lead to lifestyle disorders and now, a study carried by researchers at the all India institute of medical sciences in New Delhi, makes some alarming suggestions.

It suggests that smartphone users were more likely to use pain medication for headaches and find less relief than those who didn't use smartphones.

The study was published in the medical journal 'Neurology: Clinical practice'. Researchers studied 400 people in India with headaches which included migraines, tension headaches and others.

They were questioned on their smartphone use, headache history as well as medication use. The study cites associations which suggest that smartphones may be a potential trigger for worsening headaches.

The study found that 96 per cent of smartphone users were more likely to take medication compared to 81 per cent of non-smartphone users.

In the study, smartphone users also reported a higher occurrence of "aura", which is a warning sensation before epilepsy or migraine attack.&nbsp;

This was in comparison to non-smartphone users. Medical experts believe that excessive smartphone screen time hampers your posture.

The act of bending your neck to look at your phone, dubbed as "text neck", maybe a strain on one's spine.

While this new research doesn't make any conclusive claims, it adds to the existing knowledge which warns against increased smartphone usage 
so put that phone down and step out for some fresh air.

If you have a chronic headache, we suggest you put your smartphone away. A new study finds that excessive time spent on your smartphone could be contributing to a relentless headache Smartphone users may be more likely to use painkillers and find less relief and the subjects of this study were from India.

If you have a chronic headache, we suggest you put your smartphone away. A new study finds that excessive time spent on your smartphone could be contributing to a relentless headache Smartphone users may be more likely to use painkillers and find less relief and the subjects of this study were from India. We are all guilty of being addicted to our smartphones whether it is surfing social media or online shopping. Be it using WhatsApp to communicate or a trending news app to stay updated. From content consumption to content creation — the smartphone has become the hub of all activities. People are relying on their phones to complete daily tasks. And now, a new study finds a link between smartphone usage and headaches. Up until now, there has been plenty of anecdotal evidence suggesting that excessive use of smartphones and "screen time" can lead to lifestyle disorders and now, a study carried by researchers at the all India institute of medical sciences in New Delhi, makes some alarming suggestions. It suggests that smartphone users were more likely to use pain medication for headaches and find less relief than those who didn't use smartphones. The study was published in the medical journal 'Neurology: Clinical practice'. Researchers studied 400 people in India with headaches which included migraines, tension headaches and others. They were questioned on their smartphone use, headache history as well as medication use. The study cites associations which suggest that smartphones may be a potential trigger for worsening headaches. The study found that 96 per cent of smartphone users were more likely to take medication compared to 81 per cent of non-smartphone users. In the study, smartphone users also reported a higher occurrence of "aura", which is a warning sensation before epilepsy or migraine attack. This was in comparison to non-smartphone users. Medical experts believe that excessive smartphone screen time hampers your posture. The act of bending your neck to look at your phone, dubbed as "text neck", maybe a strain on one's spine. While this new research doesn't make any conclusive claims, it adds to the existing knowledge which warns against increased smartphone usage so put that phone down and step out for some fresh air.

Smartphone use cause migraines, headaches: Study

Rival apps could obtain more screen time on iPhones as Apple Inc. is considering opening access of certain apps to third-party services. Customer will be able to use the iPad and the HomePod speaker to enjoy music services provided by parties other than Apple, a decision that comes after criticism that the company provides an unfair advantage to its in-house products.

Rival apps could obtain more screen time on iPhones as Apple Inc. is considering opening access of certain apps to third-party services. Customer will be able to use the iPad and the HomePod speaker to enjoy music services provided by parties other than Apple, a decision that comes after criticism that the company provides an unfair advantage to its in-house products. The technology giant is deliberating whether to allow users the choice between a third-party web browser and mail applications as their default options on Apple’s mobile device, which would replace the company's Safari browser and Mail app. Apple has not allowed its users to replace pre-installed apps such as these with third-party services ever since its inception in 2008. This has created obstacles for competition between developers and has raised concerns from lawmakers who seem eager to probe antitrust violations in the technology industry. Also Read: EU lawmakers, with eye on Apple, call for common mobile charger Two of the most-used apps on the iPhone and iPad are the web browser and mail, and rival apps such as Google Chrome, Firefox, Gmail and Microsoft Outlook have been locked out of this niche. Currently, users are automatically sent to Apple's web browser Safari or Apple Mail whenever they receive an email or the link to a website. No option to switch to another email program is provided by the company. The closed system which prohibits users from setting third-party apps as defaults were questioned during a hearing of a US House of Representatives antitrust panel. To have a default app on the world’s best-selling smartphone is valuable because consumers are subtly coaxed and prodded into using this more-established software rather than alternatives. Tethering users to Apple’s services is important to the company as the growth of smartphone demand slows and sales of music, video, cloud storage and other subscriptions make up a greater share of the iPhone maker’s total revenue. 38 default apps on iPhones and iPads are currently installed by the company, including the Safari web browser, Maps, Messages and Mail. [ Logo of Apple Inc. (Courtesy: Reuters) ] Apple was accused in 2019 by Stockholm-based Spotify, which submitted an antitrust complaint to the European Union saying that Apple squeezes rival services by imposing a 30 per cent cut for subscriptions made via the App Store. Apple defended its position by arguing that Spotify wants the benefits of the App Store without paying for them. To support its claims, Spotify singled out the inability to run on the HomePod and become the default music player in Siri, Apple’s voice-activated digital assistant. Also Read: Apple's iPhone sales in China up 18 per cent in December: Report Apple is reportedly working on permitting third-party music services to run directly on the HomePod. third-party music apps will be able to stream from an iPhone or iPad to the HomePod via Apple’s AirPlay technology. Given that the HomePod has not been performing at par with its rivals such as the Amazon Echo in functionality, opening the product to additional music service may be a boon. Another matter reportedly being deliberated at Apple is whether to let users set competing for music services as the default with Siri on iPhones and iPads. Presently, Apple Music is the default music app, and if the company changes the arrangement a user would be able to play music from Spotify or Pandora automatically when asking Siri for a song. Final decisions on these matters are yet to be made and potential changes to third-party apps on Apple’s devices and the HomePod are reportedly still under discussion or in early stages of development. If Apple decides to commit to this decision, they could reportedly appear as soon as later this year via the upcoming iOS 14 software update and a corresponding HomePod software update. new iPhone and iPad software versions are announced by Apple in June and released in September around the launch of new models for the iPhone. Apple is planning to focus on performance and quality for this year’s update as the current version, iOS 13, has been riddled with bugs that upset some users.

Third-party apps to get more screen time on Apple products after criticism

A new report has raised concerns over smartphone addiction among youngsters. Psychiatrists say that almost a quarter of young people are so dependent on their mobiles that they become panicky and upset if they are denied constant access.

The study by UK based researchers also found that youngsters are unable to control the amount of time they spend on the phone.

The study which involved 42 thousand youngsters warns that such addictions have "serious consequences" for <a href="https://www.wionews.com/.../teenagers-not-getting-enough-exercise-at-risk- of-obesity-and-cardiovascular-diseases-world-health-organisation-2...">mental health</a>.

23 per cent of the surveyed youngsters were found to be addicted to their phones. They showed anxiety when denied access to their gadgets. The addiction also interfered with their daily activities.

Researches said that such behaviour could also be linked to other problems such as stress, lack of sleep and poor performance in school.

The study concluded that there was a need for public awareness and that parents should monitor the amount the time their children are spending on smartphones.

A new report has raised concerns over smartphone addiction among youngsters. Psychiatrists say that almost a quarter of young people are so dependent on their mobiles that they become panicky and upset if they are denied constant access.

A new report has raised concerns over smartphone addiction among youngsters. Psychiatrists say that almost a quarter of young people are so dependent on their mobiles that they become panicky and upset if they are denied constant access. The study by UK based researchers also found that youngsters are unable to control the amount of time they spend on the phone. The study which involved 42 thousand youngsters warns that such addictions have "serious consequences" for mental health. 23 per cent of the surveyed youngsters were found to be addicted to their phones. They showed anxiety when denied access to their gadgets. The addiction also interfered with their daily activities. Researches said that such behaviour could also be linked to other problems such as stress, lack of sleep and poor performance in school. The study concluded that there was a need for public awareness and that parents should monitor the amount the time their children are spending on smartphones.

Smartphone addiction: Digital dependency could doom the youth

Facebook said Friday it suspended "tens of thousands" of apps on its platform as a result of a privacy practices review launched following a scandal involving Cambridge Analytica.

The review started in 2018 after revelations that the political consultancy hijacked personal data on millions of Facebook users, and it included attorneys, external investigators, data scientists, engineers, policy specialists and others, according to a Facebook statement.

The suspensions are "not necessarily an indication that these apps were posing a threat to people," said vice president of partnerships Ime Archibong, adding that some developers "did not respond to our request for information."

Archibong said the investigation "has addressed millions of apps. Of those, tens of thousands have been suspended for a variety of reasons while we continue to investigate."

The suspected apps were associated with about 400 developers, and many of the software programs were still in testing phases, according to Facebook.

The huge social network became the subject of intense scrutiny after acknowledging in 2018 that Cambridge Analytica misappropriated personal data on tens of millions of Facebook users as part of its work for Donald Trump's presidential campaign.

Subsequently, Facebook said it would review all apps on the platform to determine how they used data and if they respect its privacy rules.

"In a few cases, we have banned apps completely," Archibong said.

Bans can be caused by violations including inappropriately sharing data obtained from Facebook or making data publicly available without protecting people's identities, according to the social network.

App crackdown

"One app banned was called myPersonality, which shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place, and then refused our request to participate in an audit," Archibong said.

A year ago, Facebook said it had banned some 400 apps including one called myPersonality, which according to Archibong "shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place," and refused to accept an audit.

Facebook said a recent agreement on privacy with the US Federal Trade Commission -- which included a record $5 billion fine -- calls for additional oversight on app developers.

It "requires developers to annually certify compliance with our policies," Archibong said. "Any developer that doesn't go along with these requirements will be held accountable."

Facebook earlier this year filed a lawsuit against South Korean data analytics firm Rankwave in California to make sure it isn't breaking the leading social network's rules.

Revamping controls

Along with slapping Facebook with a record fine for data protection violations, the settlement in July called for Facebook to create a privacy committee within its board of directors to be appointed by an independent nominating committee.

This would end "unfettered control" of decisions on privacy by Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, the FTC statement said.&nbsp;

Facebook also will be required to conduct privacy reviews of every new or modified product, service or practice before it is implemented, including for its WhatsApp and Instagram services.

"We have a responsibility to protect people's privacy," Zuckerberg said at the time.

"We're going to set a completely new standard for our industry."

As the news was announced by Facebook, Zuckerberg was in Washington meeting with policymakers on questions about privacy and antitrust issues, and held talks at the White House with President Donald Trump.

Facebook said Friday it suspended "tens of thousands" of apps on its platform as a result of a privacy practices review launched following a scandal involving Cambridge Analytica.

Facebook said Friday it suspended "tens of thousands" of apps on its platform as a result of a privacy practices review launched following a scandal involving Cambridge Analytica. The review started in 2018 after revelations that the political consultancy hijacked personal data on millions of Facebook users, and it included attorneys, external investigators, data scientists, engineers, policy specialists and others, according to a Facebook statement. The suspensions are "not necessarily an indication that these apps were posing a threat to people," said vice president of partnerships Ime Archibong, adding that some developers "did not respond to our request for information." Archibong said the investigation "has addressed millions of apps. Of those, tens of thousands have been suspended for a variety of reasons while we continue to investigate." The suspected apps were associated with about 400 developers, and many of the software programs were still in testing phases, according to Facebook. The huge social network became the subject of intense scrutiny after acknowledging in 2018 that Cambridge Analytica misappropriated personal data on tens of millions of Facebook users as part of its work for Donald Trump's presidential campaign. Subsequently, Facebook said it would review all apps on the platform to determine how they used data and if they respect its privacy rules. "In a few cases, we have banned apps completely," Archibong said. Bans can be caused by violations including inappropriately sharing data obtained from Facebook or making data publicly available without protecting people's identities, according to the social network. App crackdown "One app banned was called myPersonality, which shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place, and then refused our request to participate in an audit," Archibong said. A year ago, Facebook said it had banned some 400 apps including one called myPersonality, which according to Archibong "shared information with researchers and companies with only limited protections in place," and refused to accept an audit. Facebook said a recent agreement on privacy with the US Federal Trade Commission -- which included a record $5 billion fine -- calls for additional oversight on app developers. It "requires developers to annually certify compliance with our policies," Archibong said. "Any developer that doesn't go along with these requirements will be held accountable." Facebook earlier this year filed a lawsuit against South Korean data analytics firm Rankwave in California to make sure it isn't breaking the leading social network's rules. Revamping controls Along with slapping Facebook with a record fine for data protection violations, the settlement in July called for Facebook to create a privacy committee within its board of directors to be appointed by an independent nominating committee. This would end "unfettered control" of decisions on privacy by Facebook's chief executive Mark Zuckerberg, the FTC statement said. Facebook also will be required to conduct privacy reviews of every new or modified product, service or practice before it is implemented, including for its WhatsApp and Instagram services. "We have a responsibility to protect people's privacy," Zuckerberg said at the time. "We're going to set a completely new standard for our industry." As the news was announced by Facebook, Zuckerberg was in Washington meeting with policymakers on questions about privacy and antitrust issues, and held talks at the White House with President Donald Trump.

Facebook suspends 'tens of thousands' of apps in privacy review

Facebook Inc has so far suspended around 200 apps in the first stage of its review into apps that had access to large quantities of user data, in a response to a scandal around political consultancy Cambridge Analytica.

The apps were suspended pending a thorough investigation into whether they misused any data, said Ime Archibong, Facebook's vice president of product partnerships.

Facebook said it has looked into thousands of apps till date as part of an investigation that Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg announced on March 21.

Zuckerberg had said the social network will investigate all apps that had access to large amounts of information before the company curtailed data access in 2014.

"There is a lot more work to be done to find all the apps that may have misused people's Facebook data – and it will take time," Archibong said.

"We have large teams of internal and external experts working hard to investigate these apps as quickly as possible."

Facebook was hit by the privacy scandal in mid-March after media reports that Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed data to build profiles on American voters and influence the 2016 presidential election.

The incident led to backlash from celebrities and resulted in the company losing billions in market value. Zuckerberg apologized for the mistakes his company made and testified before the US&nbsplawmakers.

The company, however, regained much of its lost market value after it reported a surprisingly strong 63 percent rise in profit and an increase in users when it announced quarterly results on April 25.

Shares of the company were up 0.4 percent at $187.65 in premarket trading on Monday.

The apps were suspended pending a thorough investigation into whether they misused any data

Facebook Inc has so far suspended around 200 apps in the first stage of its review into apps that had access to large quantities of user data, in a response to a scandal around political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. The apps were suspended pending a thorough investigation into whether they misused any data, said Ime Archibong, Facebook's vice president of product partnerships. Facebook said it has looked into thousands of apps till date as part of an investigation that Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg announced on March 21. Zuckerberg had said the social network will investigate all apps that had access to large amounts of information before the company curtailed data access in 2014. "There is a lot more work to be done to find all the apps that may have misused people's Facebook data – and it will take time," Archibong said. "We have large teams of internal and external experts working hard to investigate these apps as quickly as possible." Facebook was hit by the privacy scandal in mid-March after media reports that Cambridge Analytica improperly accessed data to build profiles on American voters and influence the 2016 presidential election. The incident led to backlash from celebrities and resulted in the company losing billions in market value. Zuckerberg apologized for the mistakes his company made and testified before the US&nbsplawmakers. The company, however, regained much of its lost market value after it reported a surprisingly strong 63 percent rise in profit and an increase in users when it announced quarterly results on April 25. Shares of the company were up 0.4 percent at $187.65 in premarket trading on Monday.

Facebook suspends 200 apps over data misuse investigation

Under fire globally for allowing data breach, social media giant Facebook will on Monday start alerting the 87 million users, including 562,455 in India, whose data may have been compromised as the UK-based Cambridge Analytica pilfered them through an app.

The US-based company will send a detailed message at the top of users' news feed, offering information on apps they use and the information they have shared with those apps.

It will also tell people if their information may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, the data mining firm accused of harvesting personal information of millions of Facebook users illegally to influence polls in several countries.

"As part of this process we will also tell people if their information may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica," the company said last week.

Facebook users will also have the opportunity to use the link to delete apps and prevent them from collecting more information, CNN reported.

Also, all 2.2 billion Facebook users will receive a link to see what apps they use and what information they have shared with those apps.

Facebook says most of the affected users (more than 70 million) are in the US, though there are over a million each in the Philippines, Indonesia and the UK.

It said the total number of potentially impacted users in India (562,455 people) is 0.6 per cent of the global number of potentially affected people.&nbsp;

A Facebook spokesperson last week said privileged data of users who had downloaded the app called 'thisisyourdigitallife', developed by Dr Aleksandr Kogan, may have been compromised.

There are about 200 million Facebook users in India. Of them, "only 335 people" were directly affected through the installation of the app, while another 562,120 people were "potentially affected" as friends of those users, the spokesperson said.

"Cambridge Analytica's acquisition of Facebook data through the app developed by Dr Aleksandr Kogan and his company Global Science Research Limited (GSR) happened without our authorisation and was an explicit violation of our Platform policies," the spokesperson had said.

The past few days have seen a global outrage over the breach of user data on Facebook, forcing the company to issue an public apology.

Facebook will send a detailed message to users' news feeds, telling them which apps they use and the information that they may have shared with those apps

Under fire globally for allowing data breach, social media giant Facebook will on Monday start alerting the 87 million users, including 562,455 in India, whose data may have been compromised as the UK-based Cambridge Analytica pilfered them through an app. The US-based company will send a detailed message at the top of users' news feed, offering information on apps they use and the information they have shared with those apps. It will also tell people if their information may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, the data mining firm accused of harvesting personal information of millions of Facebook users illegally to influence polls in several countries. "As part of this process we will also tell people if their information may have been improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica," the company said last week. Facebook users will also have the opportunity to use the link to delete apps and prevent them from collecting more information, CNN reported. Also, all 2.2 billion Facebook users will receive a link to see what apps they use and what information they have shared with those apps. Facebook says most of the affected users (more than 70 million) are in the US, though there are over a million each in the Philippines, Indonesia and the UK. It said the total number of potentially impacted users in India (562,455 people) is 0.6 per cent of the global number of potentially affected people. A Facebook spokesperson last week said privileged data of users who had downloaded the app called 'thisisyourdigitallife', developed by Dr Aleksandr Kogan, may have been compromised. There are about 200 million Facebook users in India. Of them, "only 335 people" were directly affected through the installation of the app, while another 562,120 people were "potentially affected" as friends of those users, the spokesperson said. "Cambridge Analytica's acquisition of Facebook data through the app developed by Dr Aleksandr Kogan and his company Global Science Research Limited (GSR) happened without our authorisation and was an explicit violation of our Platform policies," the spokesperson had said. The past few days have seen a global outrage over the breach of user data on Facebook, forcing the company to issue an public apology.

Facebook to start telling Indian users if their data was shared with Cambridge Analytica

As the year-end draws closer, Apple has revealed a list summing up best apps and top games of the year. &#39;Enlight Videoleap&#39; was rated as the best app. &lsquo;Affinity Photo&rsquo; was the best app of the year on iPad. The list of top apps for 2017 includes WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, PayTm, Messenger, SHAREit, Instagram, Google Maps, Uber, Hotstar, Amazon, Ola cabs, Gmail, Wynk, MyJio, My Airtel, Google Chrome, Flipkart, Snapchat and imo video calls and chat. Aurora HDR 2018 emerged as the best app of the year for Mac. Calm featured as the best app of the year on iPhone in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and the United Kingdom.&nbsp;

For die-heart gamers, the list also revealed the top game of the year, Splitter Clitters topped the list in most countries. The Witness featured as the best game on iPad in a host of countries. The world of apps and gaming saw a significant boost this year. Augmented Reality was one of the top features across some of the most noticeable applications and games this year. Besides this, real-time competitive gaming also garnered much popularity in 2017.&nbsp;

Not only this, Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year. &quot;Our App Store editors have chosen the most download-worthy games and apps based on topics and trends that were popular on the App Store throughout the year,&quot; noted the official release.&nbsp;

It must be noted that the list varies from country to country.&nbsp;

Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year

As the year-end draws closer, Apple has revealed a list summing up best apps and top games of the year. 'Enlight Videoleap' was rated as the best app. ‘Affinity Photo’ was the best app of the year on iPad. The list of top apps for 2017 includes WhatsApp, YouTube, Facebook, PayTm, Messenger, SHAREit, Instagram, Google Maps, Uber, Hotstar, Amazon, Ola cabs, Gmail, Wynk, MyJio, My Airtel, Google Chrome, Flipkart, Snapchat and imo video calls and chat. Aurora HDR 2018 emerged as the best app of the year for Mac. Calm featured as the best app of the year on iPhone in Australia, Ireland, New Zealand, USA and the United Kingdom. For die-heart gamers, the list also revealed the top game of the year, Splitter Clitters topped the list in most countries. The Witness featured as the best game on iPad in a host of countries. The world of apps and gaming saw a significant boost this year. Augmented Reality was one of the top features across some of the most noticeable applications and games this year. Besides this, real-time competitive gaming also garnered much popularity in 2017. Not only this, Apple also revealed the most popular movies, music across Apple Music, iTunes and iStore for the year. "Our App Store editors have chosen the most download-worthy games and apps based on topics and trends that were popular on the App Store throughout the year," noted the official release. It must be noted that the list varies from country to country.

Best of 2017: Apple reveals top games and apps of the year

Hamish Finlayson, 13, is the youngest entrepreneur who will be showcasing his gaming and awareness apps at the high-profile Global Entrepreneurship Summit here.

The Australia-based entrepreneur, who is studying in 7th grade, has so far developed five apps including the one to save turtles, and is currently working on the sixth one for increasing awareness about traffic rules.

&quot;I am super excited to be in India,&quot; Finlayson said, adding that though his first love is technology and developing apps, he also focuses on his studies.

&quot;Only after finishing my school homework, I work on my apps. I work only in my spare time,&quot; he added.

Graeme Finlayson, father of Hamish, said that it all started when he was just eight years old and in the 3rd grade.

After contesting in a competition on apps, Hamish got interested and the journey started from there, his father said. The apps developed by him are available on Apple as well as Google Play stores.

&quot;The sixth app he is developing is about teaching people about road safety,&quot; Graeme said.

With customers in 54 countries, Hamish wants to scale his technology to solve big problems being faced by the people across the world, the father added.

He further said that at GES 2017, Hamish wants to showcase the light of sea turtles and raise awareness about the impact of autism on society.

The Australia-based entrepreneur, who is studying in 7th grade, has so far developed five apps including the one to save turtles, and is currently working on the sixth one for increasing awareness about traffic rules

Hamish Finlayson, 13, is the youngest entrepreneur who will be showcasing his gaming and awareness apps at the high-profile Global Entrepreneurship Summit here. The Australia-based entrepreneur, who is studying in 7th grade, has so far developed five apps including the one to save turtles, and is currently working on the sixth one for increasing awareness about traffic rules. "I am super excited to be in India," Finlayson said, adding that though his first love is technology and developing apps, he also focuses on his studies. "Only after finishing my school homework, I work on my apps. I work only in my spare time," he added. Graeme Finlayson, father of Hamish, said that it all started when he was just eight years old and in the 3rd grade. After contesting in a competition on apps, Hamish got interested and the journey started from there, his father said. The apps developed by him are available on Apple as well as Google Play stores. "The sixth app he is developing is about teaching people about road safety," Graeme said. With customers in 54 countries, Hamish wants to scale his technology to solve big problems being faced by the people across the world, the father added. He further said that at GES 2017, Hamish wants to showcase the light of sea turtles and raise awareness about the impact of autism on society.

Meet Hamish Finlayson, youngest entrepreneur at GES 2017

A popular Chinese dating app for lesbians has been shut down, along with its website and main social media account, just as the gay community celebrates Taiwan&#39;s decision giving same-sex couples the right to marry, a first for Asia.

The app, Rela, set up in 2012, has around 5 million registered users, a cached version of its entry on Apple&#39;s iTunes site shows.

But users began noticing last week that the app, along with its Twitter-like Weibo account and website, was no longer accessible, according to users posting on Weibo under the hashtags #rela and #relahasbeenblocked.

The service was temporarily suspended due to an &quot;important adjustment in service,&quot; Rela told users on its WeChat app account.

&quot;Rela has always been with you and please await its return!&quot; it added, but gave no details of why it was suspending service.

&quot;This is discrimination against us lesbians,&quot; wrote one user on Weibo.

&quot;Not being able to open it feels like being jilted,&quot; wrote another.

It was not immediately clear why Rela has been shut down.

The company did not respond to an email seeking comment. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

Internet regulator the Cyberspace Administration of China also did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment on Monday, which is a national holiday.

In the past, the government has blocked sites it deems could challenge Communist Party rule or threaten stability, including Western sites such as Facebook and Google&#39;s main search engine and Gmail service.

It is not illegal to be gay in China, although the country regarded homosexuality as a mental disorder until 2001. Many large cities have thriving gay scenes, but gay individuals still face a lot of family pressure to get married and have children.

Gay activists say deeply conservative attitudes towards homosexuality in some parts of society have contributed to occasional government clampdowns.

In April, another gay Chinese dating app, Zank, was also shut down after operating for about four years.

In a message on its Weibo account, which is still available, Zank said it had been accused by the internet regulator of broadcasting pornographic content and so had been closed down.

Still, gay dating apps are big business, even for Chinese companies.

Last week Beijing Kunlun Tech said it would buy the remaining stake in global gay dating app Grindr that it did not own.

(Reuters)

The app has around 5 million registered users

A popular Chinese dating app for lesbians has been shut down, along with its website and main social media account, just as the gay community celebrates Taiwan's decision giving same-sex couples the right to marry, a first for Asia. The app, Rela, set up in 2012, has around 5 million registered users, a cached version of its entry on Apple's iTunes site shows. But users began noticing last week that the app, along with its Twitter-like Weibo account and website, was no longer accessible, according to users posting on Weibo under the hashtags #rela and #relahasbeenblocked. The service was temporarily suspended due to an "important adjustment in service," Rela told users on its WeChat app account. "Rela has always been with you and please await its return!" it added, but gave no details of why it was suspending service. "This is discrimination against us lesbians," wrote one user on Weibo. "Not being able to open it feels like being jilted," wrote another. It was not immediately clear why Rela has been shut down. The company did not respond to an email seeking comment. Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Internet regulator the Cyberspace Administration of China also did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment on Monday, which is a national holiday. In the past, the government has blocked sites it deems could challenge Communist Party rule or threaten stability, including Western sites such as Facebook and Google's main search engine and Gmail service. It is not illegal to be gay in China, although the country regarded homosexuality as a mental disorder until 2001. Many large cities have thriving gay scenes, but gay individuals still face a lot of family pressure to get married and have children. Gay activists say deeply conservative attitudes towards homosexuality in some parts of society have contributed to occasional government clampdowns. In April, another gay Chinese dating app, Zank, was also shut down after operating for about four years. In a message on its Weibo account, which is still available, Zank said it had been accused by the internet regulator of broadcasting pornographic content and so had been closed down. Still, gay dating apps are big business, even for Chinese companies. Last week Beijing Kunlun Tech said it would buy the remaining stake in global gay dating app Grindr that it did not own. (Reuters)

Popular Chinese lesbian dating app Rela removed from internet

UK-based online money transfer firm Azimo is turning the process of sending remittances on its head by allowing mobile phone and computer users to send cash to any mobile phone number via text message, leaving it up to the recipient to claim the money.

The new feature, which was introduced on Tuesday, eliminates the need for senders to remember the account details or bank IBAN numbers in order to transfer money to recipients, a stumbling block that has complicated existing money transfers.

Indian mobile ecommerce site Paytm also operates a similar feature. Paytm is owned by One97 Communications and has proved to be hugely popular since the country&#39;s government demonitized all old 500 ($7.70) and 1000 rupee banknotes in November.

Azimo, a UK-regulated firm, allows phone or computer users in 28 Eurozone countries to transfer money to around 190 countries. It is mainly used by immigrants to send money home to relatives in emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, West Africa, South Asia, the Philippines and Latin America.

Azimo&rsquo;s &quot;request&quot;&nbsp;function brings recipients into the process for the first time and is made possible by the recent proliferation of smartphones in emerging markets, something not possible when the London-based company launched in 2012.

&quot;People on the receiving end in emerging markets now have smartphones, so they can be in charge. They can have more control in requesting the cash, receiving the cash,&quot; Michael Kent, the company&#39;s co-founder and chief executive, told Reuters in a phone interview.

&quot;This is built for the way customers on both sides of a remittance work today.&quot;

Azimo users can choose one of their phone contacts to send money. Recipients receive a text message with a link to download the Azimo app and claim the money. They can then link the app to a financial account or go to a local kiosk to claim their money.

The company also is introducing the money request feature in the United States and Canada and will roll the service out across globally in the course of the year. Azimo says it has more than 1 million senders and receivers using its apps.

It competes with other online remittance firms including WorldRemit and CurrencyFair, as well as kiosk-base money transfer giants such as Western Union and MoneyGram, which also now offer online money transfers services.

The market has heated up in recent years as US&nbsp;web-based payments player PayPal acquired remittance app Xoom and Ant Financial, an affiliate of Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba has sought to buy MoneyGram, but faces US&nbsp;regulatory challenges over national security concerns.

Azimo has raised around $47 million (38 million pounds) in venture funding over the past five years. Kent said the company was fully funded until at least 2018.

(1 British pound = $1.2462)

($1 = 64.9600 Indian rupees)

(Reuters)

Azimo users choose a phone contact to send money to. Recipients download the app then pick up the cash at a kiosk, or link it to an account

UK-based online money transfer firm Azimo is turning the process of sending remittances on its head by allowing mobile phone and computer users to send cash to any mobile phone number via text message, leaving it up to the recipient to claim the money. The new feature, which was introduced on Tuesday, eliminates the need for senders to remember the account details or bank IBAN numbers in order to transfer money to recipients, a stumbling block that has complicated existing money transfers. Indian mobile ecommerce site Paytm also operates a similar feature. Paytm is owned by One97 Communications and has proved to be hugely popular since the country's government demonitized all old 500 ($7.70) and 1000 rupee banknotes in November. Azimo, a UK-regulated firm, allows phone or computer users in 28 Eurozone countries to transfer money to around 190 countries. It is mainly used by immigrants to send money home to relatives in emerging markets in Central and Eastern Europe, West Africa, South Asia, the Philippines and Latin America. Azimo’s "request" function brings recipients into the process for the first time and is made possible by the recent proliferation of smartphones in emerging markets, something not possible when the London-based company launched in 2012. "People on the receiving end in emerging markets now have smartphones, so they can be in charge. They can have more control in requesting the cash, receiving the cash," Michael Kent, the company's co-founder and chief executive, told Reuters in a phone interview. "This is built for the way customers on both sides of a remittance work today." Azimo users can choose one of their phone contacts to send money. Recipients receive a text message with a link to download the Azimo app and claim the money. They can then link the app to a financial account or go to a local kiosk to claim their money. The company also is introducing the money request feature in the United States and Canada and will roll the service out across globally in the course of the year. Azimo says it has more than 1 million senders and receivers using its apps. It competes with other online remittance firms including WorldRemit and CurrencyFair, as well as kiosk-base money transfer giants such as Western Union and MoneyGram, which also now offer online money transfers services. The market has heated up in recent years as US web-based payments player PayPal acquired remittance app Xoom and Ant Financial, an affiliate of Chinese ecommerce giant Alibaba has sought to buy MoneyGram, but faces US regulatory challenges over national security concerns. Azimo has raised around $47 million (38 million pounds) in venture funding over the past five years. Kent said the company was fully funded until at least 2018. (1 British pound = $1.2462) ($1 = 64.9600 Indian rupees) (Reuters)

Need cash? Azimo lets recipients sort out money transfer headaches

Island City, a recent Hindi movie, makes an interesting statement about the technology-driven world we inhabit. Winner of the FEDORA prize for the Best Young Director at the Venice Film Festival 2015, the film gives a sly nod to the greater-than-ever influx of technology in our lives and its ramifications. 
 
Director Ruchika Oberoi has managed to capture the changing dynamics of human relationships and isolation vis-a-vis advanced interaction with digital products and services. The contrived mirth in the automated alerts from the &lsquo;Fun and Frolic Committee&rsquo; is grim and farcical at the same time. 
&nbsp; 
Whether it is Uber&#39;s plan to roll out driver-less taxis or robots replacing workers in factories across the world, human beings are being made dispensable by technology. With the launch of Apple Nike + watch last fortnight, human beings are not needed even for nagging. &quot;The Nike+ Run Club app offers daily motivation through smart run reminders, challenges from friends and even alerts informing when the weather is right to get outside&quot;, reads the description on Apple&rsquo;s website. &nbsp;If you miss a run, you get nagged by your wrist-watch instead of a running partner, physician or a family member. A recent article on the internet called the device a &quot;dystopian nagging machine&quot;. Does digital really spell dystopia? 
 
Ashwin Mushran, Mumbai-based actor who was part of Island City, has an interesting take on this. &quot;The film engages with technology at a subliminal level. It is more about the isolation. Technology is what we make of it. There are apps and services that make lives much easier. On the other hand, there may be unhealthy dependence. The good thing is that users can control their level of engagement with technology. I can easily tweak my Facebook settings as per my privacy requirements,&quot; he says. 
 
In the first story of the film, Mushran plays a boss straight out of a nightmare whose insistence on structure and organisation eventually leads to a catastrophic climax. The actor says, &quot;The first story could be set anywhere in the world. It is about how we are conditioned to be from anywhere. Technology brings us together but it also flattens individualism, local character. It is also about our unthinking response to technology which becomes tyrannical.&quot; 
 
Technology aids in organisation but how far? Mushran says, &quot;I use an app to track my monthly expenditure. It is a great help to my accountant and I can manage my money better. The voracious reader in me has found salvation in Kindle. The catch lies in questioning the technology and not taking orders mindlessly. The latter comes close to living in the Nazi Germany. It will certainly spell disaster eventually. The future belongs to technology, the earlier we understand and adapt to it the better. There is no getting away and we shall all be forced to go digital without understanding it. Why not prepare ourselves for it then and use technology on our own terms?&quot; 
 
&quot;My fitness apps don&#39;t nag me. I&#39;ve become fitter because of them. Digital becomes dystopic only when you want to make it so,&quot; he stresses. 
&nbsp; 
Abhishek Aggarwal, the CEO of Bold Kiln - a solution provider for startups - is a deep consumer of technology. &quot;Technology is an enabler. It amplifies the latent behaviour within an individual. If you are a recluse, it allows you to do activities on your own. It is an exaggeration to say that certain behaviours emerge only due to consumption of technology. Technology facilitates these behaviours but rarely causes them,&quot; says Aggarwal, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi. 
 
On technology replacing human interaction, Aggarwal says, &quot;Technology does not take away from relationships. A skype chat can be more intense than a physical one. Maybe the dynamics of relationships undergo a change because of digital intervention. But look around, we are able to stay in touch with our school friends through networking sites. Families spread across continents connect through communication technology.&quot; 
 
&quot;When we speak of the hazards of overexposure, we must realise that it is our own inability to prioritise. Digital platforms play on our insecurities and attention deficit. It is easier to blame technology than take responsibility of our own excesses. Technology does offer an easy escape. But so do newspapers and books! How much you want to remove yourself from your surroundings is up to you,&quot; he adds. 
 
However, Shilesh Chandra, a businessman from the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is still sceptical about most things digital. He carries a basic mobile phone and uses it only to make or receive calls. He endearingly squabbles with his seven-year-old granddaughter over phone lock passwords. &ldquo;It is just cumbersome. I do not have the patience to deal with so much happening inside my phone. I love my afternoon nap and that&rsquo;s when I switch even this phone off. I find the alarms and reminders quite inconvenient and obtrusive,&rdquo; he shares. 
&nbsp; 
Convenience has a different definition for everyone, and so does dependence on technology. 
 
(WION)

While a technology-aided world is a great place to live in, there is much scope for an unhealthy dependence on it

Island City, a recent Hindi movie, makes an interesting statement about the technology-driven world we inhabit. Winner of the FEDORA prize for the Best Young Director at the Venice Film Festival 2015, the film gives a sly nod to the greater-than-ever influx of technology in our lives and its ramifications. Director Ruchika Oberoi has managed to capture the changing dynamics of human relationships and isolation vis-a-vis advanced interaction with digital products and services. The contrived mirth in the automated alerts from the ‘Fun and Frolic Committee’ is grim and farcical at the same time. Whether it is Uber's plan to roll out driver-less taxis or robots replacing workers in factories across the world, human beings are being made dispensable by technology. With the launch of Apple Nike + watch last fortnight, human beings are not needed even for nagging. "The Nike+ Run Club app offers daily motivation through smart run reminders, challenges from friends and even alerts informing when the weather is right to get outside", reads the description on Apple’s website. If you miss a run, you get nagged by your wrist-watch instead of a running partner, physician or a family member. A recent article on the internet called the device a "dystopian nagging machine". Does digital really spell dystopia? Ashwin Mushran, Mumbai-based actor who was part of Island City, has an interesting take on this. "The film engages with technology at a subliminal level. It is more about the isolation. Technology is what we make of it. There are apps and services that make lives much easier. On the other hand, there may be unhealthy dependence. The good thing is that users can control their level of engagement with technology. I can easily tweak my Facebook settings as per my privacy requirements," he says. In the first story of the film, Mushran plays a boss straight out of a nightmare whose insistence on structure and organisation eventually leads to a catastrophic climax. The actor says, "The first story could be set anywhere in the world. It is about how we are conditioned to be from anywhere. Technology brings us together but it also flattens individualism, local character. It is also about our unthinking response to technology which becomes tyrannical." Technology aids in organisation but how far? Mushran says, "I use an app to track my monthly expenditure. It is a great help to my accountant and I can manage my money better. The voracious reader in me has found salvation in Kindle. The catch lies in questioning the technology and not taking orders mindlessly. The latter comes close to living in the Nazi Germany. It will certainly spell disaster eventually. The future belongs to technology, the earlier we understand and adapt to it the better. There is no getting away and we shall all be forced to go digital without understanding it. Why not prepare ourselves for it then and use technology on our own terms?" "My fitness apps don't nag me. I've become fitter because of them. Digital becomes dystopic only when you want to make it so," he stresses. Abhishek Aggarwal, the CEO of Bold Kiln - a solution provider for startups - is a deep consumer of technology. "Technology is an enabler. It amplifies the latent behaviour within an individual. If you are a recluse, it allows you to do activities on your own. It is an exaggeration to say that certain behaviours emerge only due to consumption of technology. Technology facilitates these behaviours but rarely causes them," says Aggarwal, who graduated from the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), New Delhi. On technology replacing human interaction, Aggarwal says, "Technology does not take away from relationships. A skype chat can be more intense than a physical one. Maybe the dynamics of relationships undergo a change because of digital intervention. But look around, we are able to stay in touch with our school friends through networking sites. Families spread across continents connect through communication technology." "When we speak of the hazards of overexposure, we must realise that it is our own inability to prioritise. Digital platforms play on our insecurities and attention deficit. It is easier to blame technology than take responsibility of our own excesses. Technology does offer an easy escape. But so do newspapers and books! How much you want to remove yourself from your surroundings is up to you," he adds. However, Shilesh Chandra, a businessman from the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh, is still sceptical about most things digital. He carries a basic mobile phone and uses it only to make or receive calls. He endearingly squabbles with his seven-year-old granddaughter over phone lock passwords. “It is just cumbersome. I do not have the patience to deal with so much happening inside my phone. I love my afternoon nap and that’s when I switch even this phone off. I find the alarms and reminders quite inconvenient and obtrusive,” he shares. Convenience has a different definition for everyone, and so does dependence on technology. (WION)

Does digital spell dystopia?

In China&#39;s eastern city of Hangzhou, Li could barely watch as Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo lined up a penalty kick in a finely-balanced Euro 2016 group match against Austria. Li had a reason to be nervous: He had bet tens of thousands of yuan on Portugal to win. 
 
With 10 minutes to go in the game in Paris, Real Madrid star Ronaldo hit the post, the game ended in a draw, and Li lost the money he had bet using Tencent Holdings Ltd&#39;s popular messaging app WeChat. 
 
Amid a surge of Chinese interest in global soccer, a side-effect has been a record spike in illegal gambling online, prompting multi-million dollar busts by police on betting rings, and tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd cracking down on gambling activity on their apps. 
 
&quot;There are so many gamblers, groups and platforms during the European Cup though that I think it&#39;s really hard to find all of them,&quot; said Li, who asked only to use his surname as most online gambling in China is illegal. 
 
Li said he used a private chat group on WeChat where most of the betters were friends. Winnings were distributed via bank transfer, Alibaba-linked Alipay, WeChat or &#39;red packets&#39;, digital versions of traditional envelopes stuffed with cash. 
 
In the run-up to the UEFA European Football Championship final in Paris next Sunday, Chinese police say they have seen a surge in illegal online gambling. In a single bust last week, police in southern Guangdong arrested 147 people and froze funds worth nearly 100 million yuan ($15 million). 
 
Alibaba and Tencent acknowledge the issue and have anti-gambling systems in place to spot illegal behaviour. 
 
Ant Financial, the Alibaba affiliate which operates Alipay, has a three-tiered system to spot gambling, with computer systems analysing user behaviour and a line of human checks. 
 
&quot;If we find suspicious accounts, then we are going to freeze the account directly. It only takes a few hours from the first to the last step,&quot; said spokeswoman Miranda Shek, adding the firm was looking to add more anti-gambling staff. 
 
Reiterating a previous statement, Tencent said it is doing more to stamp out gambling on its platforms like WeChat, including restricting groups suspected of gambling behaviour and punishing individual account holders. It said it has put limits on more than 8,000 WeChat groups, and has limited the payment and &#39;red packet&#39; capabilities on more than 6,000 accounts. 
 
Soccer boom 
 
A soccer investment boom in China has helped propel interest in the game. Chinese firms have invested in overseas clubs, player agencies and media rights firms, and global soccer stars have moved to China in multi-million dollar deals. 
 
&quot;With the European Cup, everyone&#39;s betting on soccer but also over the last couple of years China&#39;s soccer market has developed rapidly. Big investments and star names create a real lure,&quot; said Hu Naijun, an assistant professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing. 
 
The organiser of an online gambling group, who gave his name as Bao, said he and four other organisers had a pot of 5 million Yuan ($750,706) and that dozens of people would join for each game. 
 
&quot;In one night there will be millions placed in bets,&quot; he said, adding it had become a lucrative business. &quot;For the final, we&#39;ll probably go to Macau or Hong Kong and spend the whole week in the presidential suite.&quot; 
 
Li says he&#39;s still backing Portugal - who are through to the semi-finals - for Euro 2016 glory. 
 
&quot;I often can&#39;t watch, my heart just can&#39;t take it, I feel nervous at every chance. Especially when Ronaldo missed the penalty, I almost passed out,&quot; he said. 
 
($1 = 6.6604 Chinese yuan renminbi) 
 
(Reuters)&nbsp;

Investment boom has spiked public interest with betting rings reaping the benefit. Tencent and Alibaba are trying to stop gambling via apps

In China's eastern city of Hangzhou, Li could barely watch as Portuguese striker Cristiano Ronaldo lined up a penalty kick in a finely-balanced Euro 2016 group match against Austria. Li had a reason to be nervous: He had bet tens of thousands of yuan on Portugal to win. With 10 minutes to go in the game in Paris, Real Madrid star Ronaldo hit the post, the game ended in a draw, and Li lost the money he had bet using Tencent Holdings Ltd's popular messaging app WeChat. Amid a surge of Chinese interest in global soccer, a side-effect has been a record spike in illegal gambling online, prompting multi-million dollar busts by police on betting rings, and tech giants like Tencent and Alibaba Group Holding Ltd cracking down on gambling activity on their apps. "There are so many gamblers, groups and platforms during the European Cup though that I think it's really hard to find all of them," said Li, who asked only to use his surname as most online gambling in China is illegal. Li said he used a private chat group on WeChat where most of the betters were friends. Winnings were distributed via bank transfer, Alibaba-linked Alipay, WeChat or 'red packets', digital versions of traditional envelopes stuffed with cash. In the run-up to the UEFA European Football Championship final in Paris next Sunday, Chinese police say they have seen a surge in illegal online gambling. In a single bust last week, police in southern Guangdong arrested 147 people and froze funds worth nearly 100 million yuan ($15 million). Alibaba and Tencent acknowledge the issue and have anti-gambling systems in place to spot illegal behaviour. Ant Financial, the Alibaba affiliate which operates Alipay, has a three-tiered system to spot gambling, with computer systems analysing user behaviour and a line of human checks. "If we find suspicious accounts, then we are going to freeze the account directly. It only takes a few hours from the first to the last step," said spokeswoman Miranda Shek, adding the firm was looking to add more anti-gambling staff. Reiterating a previous statement, Tencent said it is doing more to stamp out gambling on its platforms like WeChat, including restricting groups suspected of gambling behaviour and punishing individual account holders. It said it has put limits on more than 8,000 WeChat groups, and has limited the payment and 'red packet' capabilities on more than 6,000 accounts. Soccer boom A soccer investment boom in China has helped propel interest in the game. Chinese firms have invested in overseas clubs, player agencies and media rights firms, and global soccer stars have moved to China in multi-million dollar deals. "With the European Cup, everyone's betting on soccer but also over the last couple of years China's soccer market has developed rapidly. Big investments and star names create a real lure," said Hu Naijun, an assistant professor at the University of Science and Technology Beijing. The organiser of an online gambling group, who gave his name as Bao, said he and four other organisers had a pot of 5 million Yuan ($750,706) and that dozens of people would join for each game. "In one night there will be millions placed in bets," he said, adding it had become a lucrative business. "For the final, we'll probably go to Macau or Hong Kong and spend the whole week in the presidential suite." Li says he's still backing Portugal - who are through to the semi-finals - for Euro 2016 glory. "I often can't watch, my heart just can't take it, I feel nervous at every chance. Especially when Ronaldo missed the penalty, I almost passed out," he said. ($1 = 6.6604 Chinese yuan renminbi) (Reuters)

In China football boom sparks online gambling craze

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