An Indian court in the state of Kerala acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent on Friday, citing lack of evidence.

The Additional District and Sessions Court II acquitted the accused as the prosecution had failed to produce substantial evidence in the case. &nbsp;

In the case, 57-year-old Mulakkal was accused of raping the nun several times during the visit to a convent in the southern state. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/philippines-to-buy-indias-brahmos-missile-444614" hreflang="en">Philippines to buy India's BrahMos missile</a>

The alleged incident happened when he was the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic church. &nbsp;

In June 2018, a rape case was registered by police against the Bishop in Kottayam district after much furore. &nbsp;

In the complaint to the police, the nun alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Mulakkal from 2014 to 2016. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/india-reports-over-6-increase-in-covid-19-cases-315-deaths-in-24-hours-444588" hreflang="en">India reports over 6% increase in COVID-19 cases; 315 deaths in 24 hours</a>

The Bishop was arrested in September 2018 by the Special Investigation Team, which probed the case. He was charged with rape, unnatural sex, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. &nbsp;

In November 2019, the trial had started in the case. It got concluded on January 10. &nbsp;

The print and electronic media were also restrained from publishing any matter relating to the trial by the court without its permission. &nbsp;&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

An Indian court in the state of Kerala acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent on Friday, citing lack of evidence.

An Indian court in the state of Kerala acquitted Roman Catholic Bishop Franco Mulakkal of the charges of raping a nun in a convent on Friday, citing lack of evidence. The Additional District and Sessions Court II acquitted the accused as the prosecution had failed to produce substantial evidence in the case. In the case, 57-year-old Mulakkal was accused of raping the nun several times during the visit to a convent in the southern state. Also Read: Philippines to buy India's BrahMos missile The alleged incident happened when he was the Bishop of the Jalandhar diocese of the Roman Catholic church. In June 2018, a rape case was registered by police against the Bishop in Kottayam district after much furore. In the complaint to the police, the nun alleged that she was subjected to sexual abuse by Mulakkal from 2014 to 2016. Also Read: India reports over 6% increase in COVID-19 cases; 315 deaths in 24 hours The Bishop was arrested in September 2018 by the Special Investigation Team, which probed the case. He was charged with rape, unnatural sex, wrongful confinement and criminal intimidation. In November 2019, the trial had started in the case. It got concluded on January 10. The print and electronic media were also restrained from publishing any matter relating to the trial by the court without its permission. (With inputs from agencies)

Lack of evidence forces Indian court to acquit Bishop Franco Mulakkal in nun rape case

A recent study which stated that cannabis compounds offer prevention from the virus that causes Covid immediately went viral. The study mentioned how researchers from Oregon State University identified two compounds namely, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA).

A recent study which stated that cannabis compounds offer prevention from the virus that causes Covid immediately went viral. The study mentioned how researchers from Oregon State University identified two compounds namely, cannabigerolic acid (CBGA) and cannabidiolic acid (CBDA). These compounds could help in blocking the virus. As soon as the study was published, it garnered tons of attention. There were also instances where people jumped to conclusions suggesting that weed could help in fighting the pandemic, something which the authors of the study did not claim. However, a recent report published by Forbes talks about how the findings need to be confirmed and there is no concrete evidence so far. Dr Mikael Sodergren, from Imperial College London’s medical cannabis research group, while speaking to Forbes said that it is “not unconventional” to identify drug candidates. Also read | Biden deploys military medical teams to hospitals in six states He deemed the results as interesting and warned that the findings need confirmation in animal models and testings on humans in clinical trials. As per Dr Mikael, the data provided by the study did not prove that cannabis compounds can prevent Covid infection in humans. He was quoted by Forbes as saying that it provides “no evidence to support the smoking or ingestion of cannabis products to do the same.” (With inputs from agencies)

Cannabis help in preventing Covid? Viral study offers no evidence: Report

Even as the severity of Omicron remains unclear, a research team from Imperial College, London after conducting a huge study on Friday said that there is no evidence to suggest cases of new variant are less severe than Delta. &nbsp;

The team suggested the findings on the basis of the proportion of people testing positive, who had symptoms or went to the hospital. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/amid-threat-of-omicron-wave-americans-rush-to-get-covid-19-boosters-437648" hreflang="en">Amid threat of Omicron wave, Americans rush to get COVID-19 boosters</a>

It may be too soon to say how hospitalisations will play out in the UK. &nbsp;

The study showed that having Covid earlier provides only 19% protection against Omicron while getting two doses of a vaccine made it just 20%. &nbsp;&nbsp;

A booster dose, however, helped by blocking around 55% to 80% symptomatic cases. &nbsp;

From November 29 to December 11, the team analysed all PCR test-confirmed cases of coronavirus in England. &nbsp;

Also Read:&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/as-france-fears-dominance-of-omicron-covid-variant-in-2022-canada-lifts-travel-ban-437815">As France fears dominance of Omicron Covid variant, Canada lifts travel ban</a>

It was one of the most expansive examinations of Omicron's potential to infect people. &nbsp;

The proportion of new Covid variant, Omicron, seems to be doubling among Covid cases in every two days up to December 11, the team said. &nbsp;

It means every person infected with new variant passed it on to over three other people. &nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)&nbsp;

Even as the severity of Omicron remains unclear, a research team from Imperial College, London after conducting a huge study on Friday said that there is no evidence to suggest cases of new variant are less severe than Delta.

Even as the severity of Omicron remains unclear, a research team from Imperial College, London after conducting a huge study on Friday said that there is no evidence to suggest cases of new variant are less severe than Delta. The team suggested the findings on the basis of the proportion of people testing positive, who had symptoms or went to the hospital. Also Read: Amid threat of Omicron wave, Americans rush to get COVID-19 boosters It may be too soon to say how hospitalisations will play out in the UK. The study showed that having Covid earlier provides only 19% protection against Omicron while getting two doses of a vaccine made it just 20%. A booster dose, however, helped by blocking around 55% to 80% symptomatic cases. From November 29 to December 11, the team analysed all PCR test-confirmed cases of coronavirus in England. Also Read: As France fears dominance of Omicron Covid variant, Canada lifts travel ban It was one of the most expansive examinations of Omicron's potential to infect people. The proportion of new Covid variant, Omicron, seems to be doubling among Covid cases in every two days up to December 11, the team said. It means every person infected with new variant passed it on to over three other people. (With inputs from agencies)

No evidence to suggest new variant Omicron less severe than Delta, reveals UK study

While British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is on trial for her alleged role in the sex abuse of underage girls, a few key pieces of evidence in the Maxwell trial were seized from Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach estate, carried into the courtroom and shown to jurors for the first time on Friday. These were then briefly examined by a police officer.&nbsp;

The shreds of evidence included a massage table and a “Twin Torpedo” sex toy.

Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and other crimes, which involved recruiting and grooming girls for&nbsp;Epstein to abuse.

Jeffrey Parkinson, a retired police officer involved in the 2005 search was one of those who testified on the fifth day of Maxwell's trial.

A box labelled as "Twin Torpedos" was also shown. As per Parkinson's colleague, Michael Dawson, it contained sex toys taken from an upstairs closet.

"We were looking for massage tables, we were looking for massage oils, we were looking for sex toys, we were looking for correspondence," Dawson testified.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/whos-who-in-the-jeffrey-epstein-sex-scandal-242638#from-us-presidents-to-uk-prince-242604">Also read |&nbsp;Who's Who in the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal</a>

This came after Juan Alessi, Epstein's former house manager, completed his own testimony. He claimed that while cleaning the room sometimes, he would find sex toys and stored them in Maxwell's bathroom.

Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell, a British socialite and the daughter of a publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, moved to the US after her father died. She slowly became close to Epstein and was often spotted everywhere with him.&nbsp;

She, reportedly, had a romantic relationship with Epstein in the 1990s.&nbsp;

However, her relationship with the convicted sex offender became unclear later in the coming time.&nbsp;

She was soon labelled as the "lady of the house" or Epstein's "aggressive assistant" after she started getting involved in his daily activities, including sex trafficking.

Her close relationship with Epstein resulted in her being convicted for soliciting a minor for prostitution.&nbsp;She was sentenced to an 18-month jail term, of which she only served 13 months.

She was then arrested again in 2020 for charges of enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and perjury. She has also been denied bail as she was deemed a flight risk.&nbsp;

(With inputs from agencies)

While British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is on trial for her alleged role in the sex abuse of underage girls, a few key pieces of evidence in the Maxwell trial were seized from Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach estate, carried into the courtroom and shown to jurors for the first time on Friday.

While British socialite Ghislaine Maxwell is on trial for her alleged role in the sex abuse of underage girls, a few key pieces of evidence in the Maxwell trial were seized from Jeffrey Epstein's Palm Beach estate, carried into the courtroom and shown to jurors for the first time on Friday. These were then briefly examined by a police officer. The shreds of evidence included a massage table and a “Twin Torpedo” sex toy. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to sex trafficking and other crimes, which involved recruiting and grooming girls for Epstein to abuse. Jeffrey Parkinson, a retired police officer involved in the 2005 search was one of those who testified on the fifth day of Maxwell's trial. A box labelled as "Twin Torpedos" was also shown. As per Parkinson's colleague, Michael Dawson, it contained sex toys taken from an upstairs closet. "We were looking for massage tables, we were looking for massage oils, we were looking for sex toys, we were looking for correspondence," Dawson testified. Also read | Who's Who in the Jeffrey Epstein sex scandal This came after Juan Alessi, Epstein's former house manager, completed his own testimony. He claimed that while cleaning the room sometimes, he would find sex toys and stored them in Maxwell's bathroom. Ghislaine Noelle Marion Maxwell, a British socialite and the daughter of a publishing tycoon Robert Maxwell, moved to the US after her father died. She slowly became close to Epstein and was often spotted everywhere with him. She, reportedly, had a romantic relationship with Epstein in the 1990s. However, her relationship with the convicted sex offender became unclear later in the coming time. She was soon labelled as the "lady of the house" or Epstein's "aggressive assistant" after she started getting involved in his daily activities, including sex trafficking. Her close relationship with Epstein resulted in her being convicted for soliciting a minor for prostitution. She was sentenced to an 18-month jail term, of which she only served 13 months. She was then arrested again in 2020 for charges of enticement of minors, sex trafficking of children, and perjury. She has also been denied bail as she was deemed a flight risk. (With inputs from agencies)

'Massage table and Twin Torpedo sex toy': Jurors at Maxwell's trial shown pieces of evidence

Researchers have found some of the earliest evidence of humans using clothing in a cave in Morocco, with the discovery of bone tools and bones from skinned animals suggesting the practice dates back at least 120,000 years.

Dr Emily Hallett of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, who also happens to be the first author of the study said that the work reinforced the view that early humans in Africa were innovative and resourceful.

She was quoted by The Guardian as saying, “Our study adds another piece to the long list of hallmark human behaviours that begin to appear in the archaeological record of Africa around 100,000 years ago".

Previous studies looking at the DNA of clothing lice have suggested clothes may have appeared as early as 170,000 years ago, probably sported by anatomically modern humans in Africa.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/ozone-hole-over-the-south-pole-is-now-bigger-than-antarctica-413708">Also read |&nbsp;Ozone hole over the South Pole is now bigger than Antarctica</a>

The latest study further adds that weight to the idea that early humans may have had something of a wardrobe.

Hallett and colleagues report how they analysed animal bones excavated in a series of digs spanning several decades at Contrebandiers Cave on the Atlantic coast of Morocco.&nbsp;

It has been revealed that the cave contains the remains of early humans.

Hallett said that she began studying the animal bones in 2012 because she was interested in reconstructing the diet of early humans and exploring whether there had been any changes in diet associated with changes in stone tool technology.

Researchers have found some of the earliest evidence of humans using clothing in a cave in Morocco, with the discovery of bone tools and bones from skinned animals suggesting the practice dates back at least 120,000 years.

Researchers have found some of the earliest evidence of humans using clothing in a cave in Morocco, with the discovery of bone tools and bones from skinned animals suggesting the practice dates back at least 120,000 years. Dr Emily Hallett of the Max Planck Institute for the Science of Human History in Germany, who also happens to be the first author of the study said that the work reinforced the view that early humans in Africa were innovative and resourceful. She was quoted by The Guardian as saying, “Our study adds another piece to the long list of hallmark human behaviours that begin to appear in the archaeological record of Africa around 100,000 years ago". Previous studies looking at the DNA of clothing lice have suggested clothes may have appeared as early as 170,000 years ago, probably sported by anatomically modern humans in Africa. Also read | Ozone hole over the South Pole is now bigger than Antarctica The latest study further adds that weight to the idea that early humans may have had something of a wardrobe. Hallett and colleagues report how they analysed animal bones excavated in a series of digs spanning several decades at Contrebandiers Cave on the Atlantic coast of Morocco. It has been revealed that the cave contains the remains of early humans. Hallett said that she began studying the animal bones in 2012 because she was interested in reconstructing the diet of early humans and exploring whether there had been any changes in diet associated with changes in stone tool technology.

Scientists find evidence of humans making clothes 120,000 years ago

Kathua Rape Case Verdict: 3 policemen convicted for damaging the evidence and one accused acquitted by the court

Kathua Rape Case Verdict: Once accused acquitted by court

The United States accused Russia on Monday of blocking international inspectors from reaching the site of a suspected poison gas attack in Syria and said Russians or Syrians may have tampered with evidence on the ground.

Moscow denied the charge and blamed delays on retaliatory U.S.-led missile strikes on Syria on Saturday.

British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism from political opponents over their decisions to take part in the air strikes.

Syria and Russia deny unleashing poison gas on April 7 during their offensive on Douma, which ended with the recapture of the town that had been the last rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus.

Relief organisations say dozens of men, women and children were killed. Footage of young victims foaming at the mouth and weeping in agony has thrust Syria's civil war - in which half a million people have been killed in the past seven years - to the forefront of world concern again.

Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) travelled to Syria last week to inspect the site, but have yet to gain access to Douma, which is now under government control after the rebels withdrew.

Also read: <a href="http://www.wionews.com/world/chemical-weapons-inspectors-how-do-they-work-130954">How do chemical weapons inspectors work?&nbsp;</a>

"It is our understanding the Russians may have visited the attack site," U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Ward said at an OPCW meeting in The Hague on Monday.

"It is our concern that they may have tampered with it with the intent of thwarting the efforts of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission to conduct an effective investigation," he said. His comments at the closed-door meeting were obtained by Reuters.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Moscow had interfered with any evidence. "I can guarantee that Russia has not tampered with the site," he told the BBC.

Increasing regional jitters, Syrian anti-aircraft defences shot down missiles fired at the Syrian air base of Shayrat in Homs province, Syrian state television said.

The Pentagon said there was no U.S. military activity in that area "at this time".

Separately, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia said Syrian air defences intercepted three missiles aimed at Dumair military airport northeast of Damascus.

An Israeli military spokesman said: "We don't comment on such reports".

TRUMP WANTS US&nbsp;TROOPS HOME

Two days after the missile strikes that he hailed as a well-executed military operation, President Donald Trump still wants to bring the small number of U.S. troops in northern Syria home, the White House said.

But spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said he had not set a timeline for a pullout. Trump was also willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, she added, while indicating that no such encounter was imminent.

Britain's delegation to the OPCW accused Russia and the Assad government of stopping inspectors from reaching Douma.

"Unfettered access is essential," it said in a statement. "Russia and Syria must cooperate."

The team aims to collect samples, interview witnesses and document evidence to determine whether banned toxic munitions were used, although it is not permitted to assign blame for the attack.

British Ambassador Peter Wilson said in The Hague that the United Nations had cleared the inspectors to go but they had been unable to reach Douma because Syria and Russia had been unable to guarantee their safety.

Moscow blamed the delay on the air strikes, in which the United States, France and Britain targeted what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities.

"We called for an objective investigation. This was at the very beginning after this information (of the attack) appeared. Therefore allegations of this towards Russia are groundless," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

A Russian defence ministry official said later the OPCW experts would travel to Douma on Wednesday.

Russia's defence ministry said the United States and its allies had hit military targets and not just research facilities, Interfax news agency reported.

The RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying the Syrian military destroyed 71 out of 103 cruise missiles detected in Syrian airspace.

The inspectors met Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official in Damascus for about three hours on Sunday.

OPCW inspectors have been attacked on two previous missions to the sites of chemical weapons attacks in Syria.

Syrian flags flew in Douma on Monday, security forces stood on street corners and Russian military police patrolled the streets. State aid trucks handed out bread, rice and pasta to people who had lived under siege for years.

A government-organised media tour did not include the building where, according to rescue workers and medics who were in town at the time, dozens of people were killed by poison gas.

Doctors at the hospital where suspected victims were treated told reporters on the tour that none of the patients that night had suffered chemical weapons injuries - they were asphyxiated by dust and smoke in a bombardment.

Medical aid groups and the White Helmets rescue organisation have said such statements - already aired on state television in recent days - were made under duress.

'RIGHT THING TO DO'

The U.S.-led strikes did nothing to alter the strategic balance or dent Assad's supremacy, and the Western allies have said the aim was to prevent the further use of chemical weapons, not to intervene in the civil war or topple Assad.

At a meeting in Luxembourg, the 28 EU foreign ministers endorsed the missile strikes and considered steps to deepen Assad's isolation.

Britain's May told parliament the decision to conduct air strikes against Syria was in the British national interest and not as a result of pressure from Trump.

"We have not done this because President Trump asked us to, we have done it because we believed it was the right thing to do, and we are not alone. There is broad-based international support for the action we have taken," May said.

May has said she did not seek a green light from parliament for the attacks, citing the need to act quickly.

The US added the Russians or Syrians may have tampered with evidence on the ground in Douma

The United States accused Russia on Monday of blocking international inspectors from reaching the site of a suspected poison gas attack in Syria and said Russians or Syrians may have tampered with evidence on the ground. Moscow denied the charge and blamed delays on retaliatory U.S.-led missile strikes on Syria on Saturday. British Prime Minister Theresa May and French President Emmanuel Macron faced criticism from political opponents over their decisions to take part in the air strikes. Syria and Russia deny unleashing poison gas on April 7 during their offensive on Douma, which ended with the recapture of the town that had been the last rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus. Relief organisations say dozens of men, women and children were killed. Footage of young victims foaming at the mouth and weeping in agony has thrust Syria's civil war - in which half a million people have been killed in the past seven years - to the forefront of world concern again. Inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) travelled to Syria last week to inspect the site, but have yet to gain access to Douma, which is now under government control after the rebels withdrew. Also read: How do chemical weapons inspectors work? "It is our understanding the Russians may have visited the attack site," U.S. Ambassador Kenneth Ward said at an OPCW meeting in The Hague on Monday. "It is our concern that they may have tampered with it with the intent of thwarting the efforts of the OPCW Fact-Finding Mission to conduct an effective investigation," he said. His comments at the closed-door meeting were obtained by Reuters. Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov denied Moscow had interfered with any evidence. "I can guarantee that Russia has not tampered with the site," he told the BBC. Increasing regional jitters, Syrian anti-aircraft defences shot down missiles fired at the Syrian air base of Shayrat in Homs province, Syrian state television said. The Pentagon said there was no U.S. military activity in that area "at this time". Separately, the pro-Iranian Hezbollah militia said Syrian air defences intercepted three missiles aimed at Dumair military airport northeast of Damascus. An Israeli military spokesman said: "We don't comment on such reports". TRUMP WANTS US TROOPS HOME Two days after the missile strikes that he hailed as a well-executed military operation, President Donald Trump still wants to bring the small number of U.S. troops in northern Syria home, the White House said. But spokeswoman Sarah Sanders said he had not set a timeline for a pullout. Trump was also willing to meet Russian President Vladimir Putin, she added, while indicating that no such encounter was imminent. Britain's delegation to the OPCW accused Russia and the Assad government of stopping inspectors from reaching Douma. "Unfettered access is essential," it said in a statement. "Russia and Syria must cooperate." The team aims to collect samples, interview witnesses and document evidence to determine whether banned toxic munitions were used, although it is not permitted to assign blame for the attack. British Ambassador Peter Wilson said in The Hague that the United Nations had cleared the inspectors to go but they had been unable to reach Douma because Syria and Russia had been unable to guarantee their safety. Moscow blamed the delay on the air strikes, in which the United States, France and Britain targeted what the Pentagon said were three chemical weapons facilities. "We called for an objective investigation. This was at the very beginning after this information (of the attack) appeared. Therefore allegations of this towards Russia are groundless," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. A Russian defence ministry official said later the OPCW experts would travel to Douma on Wednesday. Russia's defence ministry said the United States and its allies had hit military targets and not just research facilities, Interfax news agency reported. The RIA news agency quoted the ministry as saying the Syrian military destroyed 71 out of 103 cruise missiles detected in Syrian airspace. The inspectors met Syrian Deputy Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad in the presence of Russian officers and a senior Syrian security official in Damascus for about three hours on Sunday. OPCW inspectors have been attacked on two previous missions to the sites of chemical weapons attacks in Syria. Syrian flags flew in Douma on Monday, security forces stood on street corners and Russian military police patrolled the streets. State aid trucks handed out bread, rice and pasta to people who had lived under siege for years. A government-organised media tour did not include the building where, according to rescue workers and medics who were in town at the time, dozens of people were killed by poison gas. Doctors at the hospital where suspected victims were treated told reporters on the tour that none of the patients that night had suffered chemical weapons injuries - they were asphyxiated by dust and smoke in a bombardment. Medical aid groups and the White Helmets rescue organisation have said such statements - already aired on state television in recent days - were made under duress. 'RIGHT THING TO DO' The U.S.-led strikes did nothing to alter the strategic balance or dent Assad's supremacy, and the Western allies have said the aim was to prevent the further use of chemical weapons, not to intervene in the civil war or topple Assad. At a meeting in Luxembourg, the 28 EU foreign ministers endorsed the missile strikes and considered steps to deepen Assad's isolation. Britain's May told parliament the decision to conduct air strikes against Syria was in the British national interest and not as a result of pressure from Trump. "We have not done this because President Trump asked us to, we have done it because we believed it was the right thing to do, and we are not alone. There is broad-based international support for the action we have taken," May said. May has said she did not seek a green light from parliament for the attacks, citing the need to act quickly.

Russia blocking international inspectors from reaching suspected Syria chemical attack site: US

British lawmakers on Monday published evidence that Brexit campaign group Leave.EU benefited from work by Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy at the centre of a recent storm over use of Facebook data.

Nigel Oakes, founder of SCL Group, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, said the consultancy was lined up to do work with Leave.EU in the event that it was designated as the official campaign to leave the European Union, according to transcripts of interviews published by a parliamentary committee.

Oakes said that "there was no contract and no money" but that they did do work to demonstrate their capabilities. A transcript of another interview with Leave.EU official Andy Wigmore says the campaign group copied Cambridge Analytica's methods.

"Leave.EU benefited from their work with Cambridge Analytica before the decision was made on which Leave campaign would receive the official designation for the referendum," Damian Collins, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said in a statement.

Cambridge Analytica lies at the center of a storm for using data obtained from millions of Facebook users without their permission after it was hired by Donald Trump for his 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign.

The analytics firm is also under scrutiny over campaigning for the 2016 referendum when Britons voted to leave the European Union, a move seen by critics as a colossal historical mistake but by admirers as a vital reassertion of British sovereignty.

Oakes said Wigmore's claim to have copied Cambridge Analytica's techniques raised "more questions about how Leave.EU developed their database to do this, and whether consumer data from other companies they had a relationship was used to support their campaign."

The interview transcripts were submitted by Emma Briant, an academic who interviewed figures from SCL Group, Cambridge Analytica and Leave.EU.

In the event, "Vote Leave" beat Leave.EU to become the officially designated campaign to leave the EU ahead of Britain's referendum, though Leave.EU continued to campaign for Brexit.

Leave.EU founder Arron Banks has said that because it did not win the designation and due to concerns about the consultancy, it did no work with Cambridge Analytica, and received no benefit in kind.

Former Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix told the committee in February that the firm did not work with Leave.EU, but he has been recalled for a new hearing, which will take place on Wednesday.

The lawmakers were also critical of Wigmore and Oakes for speaking in admiring terms about Nazi propganda techniques, and said there were also questions about Cambridge Analytica's closeness with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange.

"The propaganda machine of the Nazis, for instance – you take away all the hideous horror and that kind of stuff – it was very clever, the way they managed to do what they did," Wigmore said, according to one interview transcript.

Collins said that the "extreme messaging" around immigration during the campaign meant "these statements will raise concerns that data analytics was used to target voters who were concerned about this issue, and to frighten them with messaging designed to create 'an artificial enemy' for them to act against."

British lawmakers on Monday published evidence that Brexit campaign group Leave.EU benefited from work by Cambridge Analytica

British lawmakers on Monday published evidence that Brexit campaign group Leave.EU benefited from work by Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy at the centre of a recent storm over use of Facebook data. Nigel Oakes, founder of SCL Group, the parent company of Cambridge Analytica, said the consultancy was lined up to do work with Leave.EU in the event that it was designated as the official campaign to leave the European Union, according to transcripts of interviews published by a parliamentary committee. Oakes said that "there was no contract and no money" but that they did do work to demonstrate their capabilities. A transcript of another interview with Leave.EU official Andy Wigmore says the campaign group copied Cambridge Analytica's methods. "Leave.EU benefited from their work with Cambridge Analytica before the decision was made on which Leave campaign would receive the official designation for the referendum," Damian Collins, chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Committee, said in a statement. Cambridge Analytica lies at the center of a storm for using data obtained from millions of Facebook users without their permission after it was hired by Donald Trump for his 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. The analytics firm is also under scrutiny over campaigning for the 2016 referendum when Britons voted to leave the European Union, a move seen by critics as a colossal historical mistake but by admirers as a vital reassertion of British sovereignty. Oakes said Wigmore's claim to have copied Cambridge Analytica's techniques raised "more questions about how Leave.EU developed their database to do this, and whether consumer data from other companies they had a relationship was used to support their campaign." The interview transcripts were submitted by Emma Briant, an academic who interviewed figures from SCL Group, Cambridge Analytica and Leave.EU. In the event, "Vote Leave" beat Leave.EU to become the officially designated campaign to leave the EU ahead of Britain's referendum, though Leave.EU continued to campaign for Brexit. Leave.EU founder Arron Banks has said that because it did not win the designation and due to concerns about the consultancy, it did no work with Cambridge Analytica, and received no benefit in kind. Former Cambridge Analytica CEO Alexander Nix told the committee in February that the firm did not work with Leave.EU, but he has been recalled for a new hearing, which will take place on Wednesday. The lawmakers were also critical of Wigmore and Oakes for speaking in admiring terms about Nazi propganda techniques, and said there were also questions about Cambridge Analytica's closeness with Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. "The propaganda machine of the Nazis, for instance – you take away all the hideous horror and that kind of stuff – it was very clever, the way they managed to do what they did," Wigmore said, according to one interview transcript. Collins said that the "extreme messaging" around immigration during the campaign meant "these statements will raise concerns that data analytics was used to target voters who were concerned about this issue, and to frighten them with messaging designed to create 'an artificial enemy' for them to act against."

Cambridge Analytica work helped Brexit group: UK lawmakers

Some months ago, my friend&rsquo;s young son asked me about Hanuman, the secrets behind his prowess, especially his amazing size-reduction abilities.&nbsp;

His father gave me a nod of approval, &lsquo;Aunty does know something about history for children.&rsquo;

This one short exchange encapsulates the challenges facing history, especially how it is shaped and narrated for younger readers. At first glance, there is everything wrong in the above exchange; the two statements contradict each other. But then understanding may, and indeed does, come from mistaken notions.

First, of course, there is the clear difference between myth and history. Latter is more exact, the rational subject of study, almost like a science with its belief in evidence and argument. And then there&rsquo;s also the play of imagination. Myths, on the other hand, are ancient tales that have travelled. The strange thing is that history can and indeed does tell us about how myths travel or changed shape through the centuries, why some myths and figures became popular, while others perished by the wayside.&nbsp;

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<h5>There are many sides to a story, and history is never just one story.</h5>
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When it comes to history, and the way it might be told to the younger&nbsp;reader, I might then begin by saying: Don&rsquo;t disbelieve everything, argue your way out.&nbsp;

Doing so especially matters in this age of the Internet, when WhatsApp and other social media has made almost everyone an armchair historian; expert of facts (verifiable or otherwise) available at the mere tap of a button. Images are expertly edited, photoshopped so to be passed off as truth &ndash; irrefutable, definite historical truth. Certain kinds of photos, of course, are ineluctably more popular, for example, those used to discredit any opponent/enemy and/or to demonstrate chest-thumping patriotism.&nbsp;

Some months ago, a photo held up on television by a prominent political party spokesperson showed two Indian soldiers holding up the national flag on a mountain peak, that was passed off as Siachen. This was sad and grotesque in every measure. For one, patriotism hasn&rsquo;t anything ever to do with photoshopping. And then, the original is the well-known 1945 photo taken by Joe Rosenthal of US soldiers on Iwo Jima in the Pacific, during World War II.

One doesn&rsquo;t really need to be an expert to figure out if something&rsquo;s been photoshopped. It is as easy to photoshop something as it is to disbelieve the effort. But the example above might make us think, for example, about the photo&rsquo;s history (even if it a &lsquo;false&rsquo; one), when and why was it taken. Such a thought exercise, coupled with the search for evidence and clues, might lead us down to the present, make us ask why such an exercise relating to photoshopping history was even necessary. &nbsp;

It&rsquo;s as necessary then, almost as a counter to the first rule to: Disbelieve everything, and to trust the evidence you glean for yourself.&nbsp;

But this leads us in turn to evidence itself &ndash; which sadly, is indeed easy to concoct. Photoshopping is just a small part of this. A search on the Internet shows up the many pseudo-history sites that spread hatred; stories of the past being nothing but an endless series of conspiracies, conquests and battles; of humiliations heaped and then avenged. &nbsp;

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<h5>There are always new narratives, there is always new evidence that emerges. It&rsquo;s vital to remember how this &lsquo;evidence&rsquo; is used.</h5>
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What then is evidence all about? How does one gather evidence &ndash; and does anything in the past, that which is gone, offer up credible evidence? This is where context comes in, and imagination too. For example, one might imagine a time in the future, with someone looking back to our own era. Evil does exist and people find reasons of all kinds to commit evil. Then there are nuances to it too. What makes such systems of tyranny develop? &nbsp;These may, in turn, give rise to other systems that turn out to be even more so. &nbsp;

It is important than to see what lies beneath. And the context.&nbsp;

It is assumed that history is a dry subject; a series of unequivocal statements and dates of the past. But understanding the context also reveals history&rsquo;s vibrancy. There are many sides to a story, and history is never just one story. It is never a story about kings and tyrants, though for a while they did get to write their side of history.&nbsp;

Just as there is a many-sidedness to history, it is an ever-changing subject. There are many perspectives to it, many schools of thought &ndash; which makes it a lively subject, never dull, never really about the dead (pun intended). There are always new narratives, there is always new evidence that emerges. It&rsquo;s vital to remember how this &lsquo;evidence&rsquo; is used.&nbsp;

And while there is new evidence, it is especially important to distrust it - the newer it looks, the more one might distrust it till proven. (Especially yes, when it comes to photos).&nbsp;

For example, it is possible to show stones as evidence across the sea to represent Rama&rsquo;s mythical bridge, but this should only make us ask questions. Not just whether it&rsquo;s possible for a bridge to last for aeons and centuries, but how does something show up in satellite imagery; as students of history, stories like this must make us go into the past in various ways &ndash; whether it&rsquo;s geological history, climatic change, and about the Ramayana itself.&nbsp;The many versions of it, the ones written in the different Indian languages, and the versions of women and other marginalised groups. It might make us ask if symbols are more important than the stories themselves.&nbsp;

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<h5>History must make us ask all the right questions; questions that matter to the present, while they draw on the past. &nbsp;</h5>
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History then isn&rsquo;t just one story, but many stories that exist concomitantly. This makes the past, a fully lived in time-period, a constantly changing place, full of mysteries, of heroes known and unknown. Faced with the immensity of such discoverable riches (of knowledge), violence and hatred seem forces to be countered, for it is, yes about context and what made for this context. History must make us ask all the right questions; questions that matter to the present, while they draw on the past. &nbsp;

It&rsquo;s not a hand me down&nbsp;subject, but the one that makes us not just question things like a science but it seeks empathy and imagination &ndash; as with the humanities. History might yet help us understand ourselves better, and understanding the past is just a step toward a better, more humane future. It&rsquo;d be nice to start early, it makes the work of history writers that much more challenging and at times, inspiring.&nbsp;

History might yet help us understand ourselves better, and understanding the past is just a step toward a better, more humane future.

Some months ago, my friend’s young son asked me about Hanuman, the secrets behind his prowess, especially his amazing size-reduction abilities. His father gave me a nod of approval, ‘Aunty does know something about history for children.’ This one short exchange encapsulates the challenges facing history, especially how it is shaped and narrated for younger readers. At first glance, there is everything wrong in the above exchange; the two statements contradict each other. But then understanding may, and indeed does, come from mistaken notions. First, of course, there is the clear difference between myth and history. Latter is more exact, the rational subject of study, almost like a science with its belief in evidence and argument. And then there’s also the play of imagination. Myths, on the other hand, are ancient tales that have travelled. The strange thing is that history can and indeed does tell us about how myths travel or changed shape through the centuries, why some myths and figures became popular, while others perished by the wayside. There are many sides to a story, and history is never just one story. × When it comes to history, and the way it might be told to the younger reader, I might then begin by saying: Don’t disbelieve everything, argue your way out. Doing so especially matters in this age of the Internet, when WhatsApp and other social media has made almost everyone an armchair historian; expert of facts (verifiable or otherwise) available at the mere tap of a button. Images are expertly edited, photoshopped so to be passed off as truth – irrefutable, definite historical truth. Certain kinds of photos, of course, are ineluctably more popular, for example, those used to discredit any opponent/enemy and/or to demonstrate chest-thumping patriotism. Some months ago, a photo held up on television by a prominent political party spokesperson showed two Indian soldiers holding up the national flag on a mountain peak, that was passed off as Siachen. This was sad and grotesque in every measure. For one, patriotism hasn’t anything ever to do with photoshopping. And then, the original is the well-known 1945 photo taken by Joe Rosenthal of US soldiers on Iwo Jima in the Pacific, during World War II. One doesn’t really need to be an expert to figure out if something’s been photoshopped. It is as easy to photoshop something as it is to disbelieve the effort. But the example above might make us think, for example, about the photo’s history (even if it a ‘false’ one), when and why was it taken. Such a thought exercise, coupled with the search for evidence and clues, might lead us down to the present, make us ask why such an exercise relating to photoshopping history was even necessary. It’s as necessary then, almost as a counter to the first rule to: Disbelieve everything, and to trust the evidence you glean for yourself. But this leads us in turn to evidence itself – which sadly, is indeed easy to concoct. Photoshopping is just a small part of this. A search on the Internet shows up the many pseudo-history sites that spread hatred; stories of the past being nothing but an endless series of conspiracies, conquests and battles; of humiliations heaped and then avenged. There are always new narratives, there is always new evidence that emerges. It’s vital to remember how this ‘evidence’ is used. × What then is evidence all about? How does one gather evidence – and does anything in the past, that which is gone, offer up credible evidence? This is where context comes in, and imagination too. For example, one might imagine a time in the future, with someone looking back to our own era. Evil does exist and people find reasons of all kinds to commit evil. Then there are nuances to it too. What makes such systems of tyranny develop? These may, in turn, give rise to other systems that turn out to be even more so. It is important than to see what lies beneath. And the context. It is assumed that history is a dry subject; a series of unequivocal statements and dates of the past. But understanding the context also reveals history’s vibrancy. There are many sides to a story, and history is never just one story. It is never a story about kings and tyrants, though for a while they did get to write their side of history. Just as there is a many-sidedness to history, it is an ever-changing subject. There are many perspectives to it, many schools of thought – which makes it a lively subject, never dull, never really about the dead (pun intended). There are always new narratives, there is always new evidence that emerges. It’s vital to remember how this ‘evidence’ is used. And while there is new evidence, it is especially important to distrust it - the newer it looks, the more one might distrust it till proven. (Especially yes, when it comes to photos). For example, it is possible to show stones as evidence across the sea to represent Rama’s mythical bridge, but this should only make us ask questions. Not just whether it’s possible for a bridge to last for aeons and centuries, but how does something show up in satellite imagery; as students of history, stories like this must make us go into the past in various ways – whether it’s geological history, climatic change, and about the Ramayana itself. The many versions of it, the ones written in the different Indian languages, and the versions of women and other marginalised groups. It might make us ask if symbols are more important than the stories themselves. History must make us ask all the right questions; questions that matter to the present, while they draw on the past. × History then isn’t just one story, but many stories that exist concomitantly. This makes the past, a fully lived in time-period, a constantly changing place, full of mysteries, of heroes known and unknown. Faced with the immensity of such discoverable riches (of knowledge), violence and hatred seem forces to be countered, for it is, yes about context and what made for this context. History must make us ask all the right questions; questions that matter to the present, while they draw on the past. It’s not a hand me down subject, but the one that makes us not just question things like a science but it seeks empathy and imagination – as with the humanities. History might yet help us understand ourselves better, and understanding the past is just a step toward a better, more humane future. It’d be nice to start early, it makes the work of history writers that much more challenging and at times, inspiring.

Lord Hanuman, History, and why children should be encouraged to ask questions

London, May 28 (IANS) Would-be mothers please take note! Prenatal exposure to harmful air-borne pollutants can likely increase the risk of stillbirth during the pregnancy`s third trimester, finds a new study based on `suggestive evidence.` 
 
 
According to the researchers, nearly 2.6 million children worldwide were stillborn at 28 weeks or more in 2015, with the wide geographical variation in prevalence suggesting that most of these deaths were preventable. 
 
&quot;Stillbirth is one of the most neglected tragedies in global health today,&quot; said Marie Pedersen from University of Copenhagen in Denmark.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
WHO rejects call for Olympics to moved due to <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ZikaVirus?src=hash">#ZikaVirus</a> <a href="https://t.co/dXLSk0wBCx">https://t.co/dXLSk0wBCx</a>
&mdash; dna (@dna) <a href="https://twitter.com/dna/status/736460787665883137">May 28, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async src="~/platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8" type="text/javascript"></script> 
The findings showed that specifically, a 4 microgram per cubic meter (&micro;g/m3) increase in exposure to small particulate matter of less than 2.5 in diameter (PM2.5) was associated with a 2 percent increased risk of stillbirth. 
 
Further, particles less than or equal to 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone also showed to increase stillbirth risks. 
 
&quot;The existing evidence is suggestive of causality for air pollution and stillbirth without precise identification of the timing of exposure,&quot; Pedersen added. 
 
For the study, published online in Occupational &amp; Environmental Medicine, the reviewed 13 studies, which found an association between exposure to air pollution -- particularly during the third term of pregnancy -- and a heightened risk of stillbirth. 
 
&quot;With the limited studies on the relevant topic, our review suggests strong priorities for future research. If the evidence of an association between ambient air population and stillbirth is confirmed in future studies, it would be of major public health importance,&quot; Pedersen noted. 
 
--IANS

Would-be mothers please take note! Prenatal exposure to harmful air-borne pollutants can likely increase the risk of stillbirth during the pregnancy`s third trimester, finds a new study based on `suggestive evidence

London, May 28 (IANS) Would-be mothers please take note! Prenatal exposure to harmful air-borne pollutants can likely increase the risk of stillbirth during the pregnancy`s third trimester, finds a new study based on `suggestive evidence.` According to the researchers, nearly 2.6 million children worldwide were stillborn at 28 weeks or more in 2015, with the wide geographical variation in prevalence suggesting that most of these deaths were preventable. "Stillbirth is one of the most neglected tragedies in global health today," said Marie Pedersen from University of Copenhagen in Denmark. WHO rejects call for Olympics to moved due to #ZikaVirus https://t.co/dXLSk0wBCx — dna (@dna) May 28, 2016 The findings showed that specifically, a 4 microgram per cubic meter (µg/m3) increase in exposure to small particulate matter of less than 2.5 in diameter (PM2.5) was associated with a 2 percent increased risk of stillbirth. Further, particles less than or equal to 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10), carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and ozone also showed to increase stillbirth risks. "The existing evidence is suggestive of causality for air pollution and stillbirth without precise identification of the timing of exposure," Pedersen added. For the study, published online in Occupational & Environmental Medicine, the reviewed 13 studies, which found an association between exposure to air pollution -- particularly during the third term of pregnancy -- and a heightened risk of stillbirth. "With the limited studies on the relevant topic, our review suggests strong priorities for future research. If the evidence of an association between ambient air population and stillbirth is confirmed in future studies, it would be of major public health importance," Pedersen noted. --IANS

Air pollution may up stillbirth risk during third trimester

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