Lop Buri monkey blitz resumes

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By Tuesday, officials anticipate moving 200 more problematic lemurs.

PUBLISHED: 22 May 2024 at 20: 36

Lop Buri monkey blitz resumes
On May 16 at the Pho Khao Ton Monkey Hospital in the Muang city of Lop Buri, twenty-seven relocated monkeys are adjusting to their new environment. ( Photo: Lop Buri Public Relations Office )

Officials from national parks will start removing difficult monkeys from Lop Buri on Friday to lessen the conflict between locals and the city’s primate population.

Local residents have complained for years about issues with the creatures stealing their meals or destroying their home, especially those who reside close to Phra Prang Sam Yod’s famous monkey temple.

Due to the disruption caused by the animals, so many people have since moved out of the previously bustling town center of Lop Buri, which now resembles a devil area. Some buildings have been abandoned, seriously damaging the nearby market. People have urged the authorities to take action to address the issue, but they claim much has changed.

The second group of 27 primates were relocated to the Pho Khao Ton Monkey Nursery in Muang neighborhood earlier this month as part of the latest effort to address the issue.

” We expect to get about 200 monkeys this day. If things go well, the procedure may be completed next Tuesday”, said Patarapol Maneeon, a spokeswoman for the government carrying out the procedure.

The relocation effort is led by the Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation ( DNP ), working with Lop Buri municipality, military, police and rescue teams.

Regulators may set up three large cages — each measuring 1.8 by 1.8 by 15 feet — at the Asia Hotel, Seng Heng Shop and Suan Racha. To entice the monkeys in, they will put wheat seeds, beans, and other meals inside each box. The species will then be transported to a field hospital for sterilization and health checkups before being taken back into the care of the hospital.

” We may conduct an evaluation of the scenario every day.” The happiness of the species is what worries us the most because we need to make sure the setting is appropriate for their needs, according to Mr. Patarapol.

He expressed assurance that the procedure may serve as a case study for other regions that are dealing with issues with animals ingraining on nearby areas.

Around 2, 000 primates are now living in Lop Buri area. Participants will clear up the city center to make sure it is safe for residents to live in after the pets are caught and moved.

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Using public satellites to track Russia’s missile launchers – Asia Times

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Russian forces are firing rounds of rockets at Ukrainian civil targets in the far south of Ukraine, which is occupied. Each of Russia’s condition- of- the- craft missile launch techniques costs more than US$ 100 million. They make it possible for Russia to start attacks from secure locations far from the front lines.

The S- 300 exterior- to- air weapon app is designed to evade detection. Their sites are closely guarded secrets. We have, however, uncovered telltale signs of the activity of these weapons that reveal their site using publicly available dish images.

This is just one illustration of why forces are becoming more and more concerned about the strategic and tactical usage of publicly available data on the internet. Thus- called “open- source intelligence” ( or OSINT ) has become a top concern of intelligence companies worldwide.

Open-source knowledge has grown to become a powerful tool as more and more information is digitized and made available online. Social media platforms, satellite photos and leaked files can all be resources of knowledge information.

Social media has been a major cause of open-source brains in the Ukraine issue. Soldiers ‘ activities and those of defense vehicles have been extensively documented. Russian data businesses that purport to deceive residents were also exposed.

Open-source knowledge is a cheap and effective way for experts to help with decision-making. In a conflict such as the Russia–Ukraine battle, opened- source intelligence may act as a force multiple.

Tracking weapon devices online

Researchers discovered an unusual use for the Sentinel- 1 dish, a public-access medical satellite run by the European Space Agency, in 2018. It might show where the US Patriot surface-to-air missile methods are located. Radar emissions from the weapon state’s sensor are detected by The Sentinel-1, which appears in the imagery as interference bands.

Surface-to-air missile systems are typically designed to be extremely smart, allowing them to be deployed wherever they want to surprise opponents. Anyone with an online relationship may now be able to locate these goods thanks to open-source knowledge.

This presents new difficulties for military officials. The methods and procedures they have developed to shield people from army drones, weapons, and other property from targeted surface attack may no longer be effective.

How resilient are Belarusian systems?

For Russia and Ukraine, these problems are playing out in actual- period. In Eastern Ukraine, we used Sentinel 1 to get active and smart Russian S-300 surface-to-air missile systems, and if we can get them, but can anyone else.

How did we would it? Second, we looked through various social media sites to find out where the S-300s are located. We therefore increased the awareness to uncover radar interference from the weapon systems by observing Sentinel- 1 pictures of these locations. The detector source is located along a particular range, according to the interference patterns.

False-colour satellite image showing interference bands and marked to show the location of a missile launcher
The disturbance name of an S- 300 program in the Kherson Oblast, a Soviet- held area of Ukraine. Photo: ESA / Tom Saxton / The Talk

The process is illustrated in the photo below. With a known place, it took only a few minutes to get the picture and show the sensor intervention. This image shows an S- 300 system from the Kherson Oblast, a Russian- occupied region of Ukraine, which was neutralized days after the satellite captured the interference.

The S- 300 is widely regarded as Russia’s counterpart to the US Patriot system. It is tasked with defending against missiles and aircraft in Russia’s war against Ukraine, but it has recently been targeted by Ukrainian civilians.

Only nine Russian S-300 missile launchers have been confirmed destroyed over the course of the war to date. This demonstrates how uncommon and highly protected they are, reserved for safeguarding the most crucial assets and regions of the Russian military.

For better and worse

The S- 300 is exported to Iran, China and many other nations. The location of S-300 systems through public satellite imagery could compromise other Russian forces as well. Of course, these systems need to be in operation to emit interference.

This gives advantages to states with less sophisticated militaries and non-state combatants. These forces may be able to locate and potentially destroy hundreds of million dollar assets using publicly available data.

Ukraine’s military has demonstrated how effective low-cost drones can be in destroying expensive air defense systems. Open-source data, such as the electronic emissions from scientific satellites, demonstrates how common and even harmless tools can be used in warfare.

The overall moral ramifications of open-source intelligence are mixed. Public data may be used by malicious non- state actors or terrorist groups, for example.

Analysts and journalists can use these techniques and methods of data gathering and analysis to look into human rights violations and war crimes or produce more accurate events reports.

The Institute for the Study of War, for instance, has employed satellite imagery and social media documentation to demonstrate Russia’s military buildup on Ukraine’s borders in 2021 and 2022, thereby exposing Russian intentions.

The future of open- source intelligence

Open- source intelligence, and the critical skills required to examine public data, have become increasingly important for militaries and intelligence organizations. However, open- source data platforms, such as satellite imagery provided by the European Space Agency, are likely to produce ongoing challenges for militaries.

How will the world respond? Institutions, business, government sites and other bodies may decide to cut off the flow of public data in order to reduce its unintentional impact.

This too would create challenges. The public’s trust in businesses and public institutions would be hampered by the censorship of publicly available data, which would also compromise transparency of information. People and organizations with lower incomes would no longer be able to access information if the public was removed.

Adam Bartley is Postdoctoral Fellow, RMIT Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, RMIT University and Tom Saxton is Research Associate, Centre for Cyber Security Research and Innovation, RMIT University

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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China firing railguns while US blows hot and cold – Asia Times

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China’s most recent electric railgun test was ultimately unsuccessful, underscoring the country’s unwavering commitment to the prospective game-changing technology.

The People’s Liberation Army- Navy ( PLA- N ) fired a smart bomb 15 kilometers into the stratosphere at a speed greater than Mach 5 in a test this month, according to the South China Morning Post (SCMP ). The check was afterward declared ineffective.

According to the SCMP statement, a team from the Naval Engineering University led by Lu Junyong used artificial intelligence technology to identify and address the root cause of the rocket missile’s undesirable tilt during rise.

For about five seconds following release, the missile accelerated at about 35 times the speed of gravity, which supports the researchers ‘ claim that it was faster than the speed of light, or Mach 5.

According to the report, Chinese policymakers anticipate the railgun project’s development of high-speed railways, cheap space launches, and apparent military applications.

SCMP points out that Chinese scientists and engineers have received constant support, leading to a number of breakthroughs, despite the US Navy discontinuing its rocket creation efforts in 2021 due to high power requirements and weak barrel life.

Chinese policymakers anticipate that the development of the road gun project will also encourage the development of cutting-edge military equipment, such as expensive space launches and high-speed railways.

Matt Bruzzese and Peter Singer observe that, 20 years ago, Chinese officials recognized that obtaining superior ships energy techniques was challenging because foreign countries had restricted their exports to China in a March 2024 post for Defense One.

In reply, Bruzzese and Singer note that China established the National Key Laboratory in 2007 to improve deliver- based power and engineering.

They point out that Lu, the exact professor who was mentioned by SCMP, has been working on those issues for the past 20 years, even before the experiment was established.

According to Bruzzese and Singer, Lu has also contributed to the use and fail issue with railguns, which has troubled US analysts for at least ten years. The lab has made significant progress in energy and electric applications in addition to the advancement of railgun technology.

These include electromagnetic catapults for China’s expanding aircraft carrier ship, a medium-voltage DC-integrated power system that enables the PLA-N’s newest warships to provide cutting-edge technology and systems, smart micro-grids, a direct-drive wind power transformer, and an intelligent power station for outposts in the South China Sea.

The US might be pursuing a different strategy for developing the technology. The US Navy has acknowledged that the gun has potential for missile defense despite the US stopping funding for its railgun project as a naval gunfire support weapon, according to a report from April 2022 from the US Congressional Research Service ( CRS ).

Railgun projectiles launched at high speeds at speeds of just US$ 25, 000 each can destroy much more expensive anti-ship missiles, according to the CRS report. It does, however, mention the difficulty of defending against an incoming missile swarm. According to the report, it takes 300 seconds to track and determine a missile launch signature for defensive projectiles.

In addition, the CRS report raises important questions about the development of railgun technology for missile defense, including whether or not current US Navy ships meet the space and power requirements for such weapons.

The upcoming DDG ( X ) destroyers from the US Navy have an Integrated Power System ( IPS) that allows real-time power allocation to propulsion or weapons systems. They are 40 % larger than the previous Arleigh Burke class. However, Asia Times has highlighted the severe limitations of US naval shipbuilding capacity and the potential folly of putting so much capability into a few potentially fragile ships.

The US has continued testing of railguns by firing advanced hypersonic-guided munitions that could be used for missile defense despite stopping railgun development in 2021.

In order to advance the design of gun-launched defensive projectile interceptors, General Atomics Electromagnetic Systems ( GA-EMS ) collaborated with the US Army and US Navy to finish a significant test series in March 2022.

To achieve record hypersonic velocities and to test guided flight capabilities, identical projectiles were tested fired from a railgun and a powder gun at White Sands Missile Range at Dugway Proving Ground in New Mexico.

To test their ability to maintain data links and control trajectory under strong G-forces at high speeds, GA-EMS provided projectiles with integrated gun-hardened guidance electronics.

The White Sands Missile Range was the site of the first test series that involved firing projectiles from the 32- megajoule railgun system from the US Navy. The following test series, in contrast, used the same projectile designs that were created using a 120mm powder gun.

However, the production of those advanced munitions could prove challenging. One reason the US Navy removed the Advanced Gun System ( AGS ) aboard its Zumwalt- class destroyers was the high cost of its ammunition, estimated at$ 800, 000 per round.

The exorbitant per ammunition unit cost was reduced by reducing the planned Zumwalt class destroyers from 32 to just three ships. With ten rounds per minute, a ship could carry 990 AGS rounds and travel 150 kilometers to targets.

The US Navy’s upcoming DDG ( X ) projectile will be constructed in limited numbers, which could significantly increase the cost of guided railgun projectiles.

Christian Orr mentions that the US retested its railgun technology that month in a 19FortyFive article from October 2023. He claims that the test video does not demonstrate whether the US Navy is serious about reviving its railgun project.

In order to continue researching railguns, the US may also be working with foreign partners. Additionally, there is an article from the same month by Asia Times about Japan’s railgun test, in which Japan tested-fired its prototype railgun from a floating platform at sea.

Orr also mentions that the Japanese Ministry of Defense ( MOD ) is looking to work with the US to develop railgun technology to combat hypersonic weapons. The Japanese MOD has spoken with defense contractors BAE Systems and General Atomics, both of whom have worked on railgun technology.

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Song has ended but melody lingers in Hong Kong – Asia Times

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The US government reacted with a symphony of a fuss when the Hong Kong Court of Appeal late ruled against publishing the music” Glory to Hong Kong.” &nbsp,

The State Department described the choice as” the most recent blow to the worldwide popularity of a city that once prided itself on having an independent judiciary protecting the free exchange of information, ideas, and products.”

However, the US’s claim that the Hong Kong courts is independent is obviously incorrect and shows a worrying knowledge of both the legal process and the legal reasoning, as well as the integrity of the critic.

The fact that the situation was an attractiveness against a first-instance court’s refusal to give the Hong Kong government the injunction it sought demonstrates the mistake in the State Department’s declaration.

From a legal viewpoint, one may agree with the Court of Appeal’s selection. However, a thorough assessment of the legal justification behind it reveals that the decision was made based solely on a constitutional analysis of the issues and not a politically motivated decision intended to give the impression of a true judgment.

As it happens, quite aside from the songs, Brilliance to Hong Kong is beautiful to the neck. One may wonder if the less delicate Court of Appeal section or, possibly being more generous, a more artistically educated division might have prohibited the lyrics but not the melody.

National anthems vary considerably in their musical part, swinging between the inspiring song of France’s” La Marseillaise” to the hymn- like music anathema of Britain’s” God Keep the King”.

But any reasonable- thinking person, whether jurist or layman, do realize that the melody of Glory to Hong Kong is encouraging, carrying its silent message. &nbsp,

The Hong Kong government’s claim that the order may apply to both words and music is a perfectly respectable legitimate submission is the basis for the argument. &nbsp,

The Court of Appeal’s criticism of the music as a political weapon was never intended to be a political declaration. Instead, it attacked the People’s Republic of China’s plan to separate from Hong Kong. &nbsp, &nbsp, &nbsp,

Three components from the songs leave no room to dispute the album’s message:” Let body rage afield”” Then to arms! For flexibility we struggle” and” Revolution of our days”.

Without any direct evidence of such an intention, the judge’s claim that the artist of the music intended it to be a tool is untrue. Hence, rather than asserting it as a fact, the court is entitled to conclude that it is one possible inference. &nbsp,

When it comes to inciting protests against the incumbent government, the principle of free speech, which is incorporated into Hong Kong’s Basic Law, is no more or less restricted than that of any other jurisdiction.

As the&nbsp, old&nbsp, adage – attributed variously to Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr, Abraham Lincoln&nbsp, and&nbsp, John Stuart Mill – expresses it, &nbsp, “your&nbsp, freedom ends where my nose begins”. In other words, the individual’s freedom is constrained by the freedom of others. Consequently, the Court of Appeal’s judgment is founded on sound legal principles. &nbsp,

Despite the fact that there are already criminal laws that would make it illegal to perform any of the crimes that the Court of Appeal’s decision establishes would violate the injunction, one can still take into account the merits of the Hong Kong government’s Secretary for Justice’s request for a civil injunction addressed to the world at large. The judge at First Instance came to this conclusion.

One might forgive those who read the judgment for having the impression that Hong Kong was in a political coma in July 2023, which could have set off a wave of violence at any time. Having a similar perception of the political climate then does n’t align with what I remember.

Hong Kong is still alive and well, with the majority of residents doing what they do without showing the least sign of political interest. I even go so far as to claim that it is and continues to be business as usual in a boring way. &nbsp,

Is it not obvious that the civil injunction Pelion had to be imposed on the criminal Ossa? No valid basis comes to mind when one is left to speculate as to the motivation behind seeking an injunction in July 2023.

The Court of Appeal judgment states, somewhat ingenuously, that the song is not being banned. This legal distinction is more appropriate than the sharpest razor’s edge. &nbsp,

What the Court meant was that the injunction only applied to&nbsp, publication&nbsp, of the song&nbsp, with the intention to&nbsp, incite people to secede from the PRC or hate the government.

Given the lyrics, it is rather more than difficult to envisage a circumstance that would permit&nbsp, publication&nbsp, of the song that did not transgress the injunction.

However, Humpty Dumpty once said,” When I use a word, it means just what I choose to mean.”

I’d venture to say that a more sober approach would have encouraged the Hong Kong government to be much less sensitive to the song. It’s best to ignore something that despises your dignity.

As a beneficiary of royalties from my father’s compositions, I am aware of how effective a marketing tool a song ban can be.

The BBC outlawed Leslie Sarony’s” Ain’t it Grand be Bloomin’ Well Dead,” which caused people to sell more than a million copies of the sheet music as a result. Everyone wants a copy of the book or song, which is a publishing fad in both literature and music. &nbsp,

The Secretary for Justice might have considered the title of Irving Berlin’s song” The song has ended but the melody lingers on” if he had been a little more musically informed before taking what some might consider to have been precipitate action.

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Can Prabowo coherently govern Indonesia? – Asia Times

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Indonesia’s president- vote, Prabowo Subianto, won February’s presidential vote in a flood triumph of almost 59 % of the global vote, more than double his nearest challenger.

However, Gerindra, his party, was unable to win any seats in the same legislative votes. Jokowi founded Gindra, and both of its political fortunes are correlated with his personal reputation. Yet, the party won just 14.8 % of the seats in Indonesia’s House of Representatives ( DPR ).

And even adding all the political parties that backed Probowo’s presidential campaign to his total votes only increases his total to 48 %. Additionally, this support is not a given when it comes to passing laws or approving fiscal measures.

After the fresh president and legislature take the oath of office in October, is this a recipe for conflict and tumult?

What’s on Prabowo’s objective?

Under Indonesia’s political method, Prabowo does not need a parliamentary majority to stay in business, but a difficult parliament would be a major barrier for his authorities.

The legislature can be a search on executive power and the government’s governmental initiatives, as well as a resource for contesting his parliamentary system. So, Prabowo will need to form a coalition of events to support him.

In the previous two votes he lost to Joko” Jokowi” Widodo in 2014 and 2019, he waged controversial activities. He positioned himself as a highly nationalist strongman figure and mobilised the most serious members of Indonesia’s predominately Muslim community.

Some analysts thought this strategy threatened Indonesia’s typically inclusive politics and society.

In this year’s election, but, Prabowo projected a more reasonable image and mostly committed himself to a progression of Jokowi’s plans. He did not launch campaigns for significant structural changes or new policy activities.

Jokowi’s plans have mostly emphasized economic growth, particularly equipment, such as the development of a new capital city, Nusantara, on Borneo.

Jokowi has even fought fervently for Jokowi’s economic nationalist policies. These include restrictions on the transfer of corn and other agricultural products to help local manufacturing, as well as restrictions on the trade of minerals to promote local river running.

In Prabowo’s prefer, the new parliament’s content is extremely comparable to the one from the previous year.

Previous President Megawati Sukarnoputri’s group, the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle ( or PDI- P), will be the largest in the legislature to be inaugurated in October, with 110 tickets. Following up are the 102-seat Golkar Party and 86-seat Prabowo Gerindra, which is the party’s successor.

None of the events are in favor of the economic nationalist discussion that has longer, including under Jokowi, dominated Indian policy.

The parties ‘ even real policy debates are those involving contentious issues involving the state’s involvement in religious matters, particularly those involving the status of women in both public and private life.

Controversial protection

Given these factors, is Prabowo’s absence of a legislative lot really a problem?

It can be. It may cause soreness and even obstructiveness if Prabowo and his ministers do n’t properly manage their relationships with politicians.

Legislators are famous for being most concerned with pork-banging and support in their own constituencies, and party loyalties can become fragile. They frequently use their votes to improve their own personal business goals.

For instance, Prabowo might have issues with one of the two areas where his administration might produce a statement: procurement and protection policy. He appears to be committed to strengthening Indonesia’s defense might as a former military commander and defense minister and playing a major role in provincial protection and the ASEAN bloc.

His management will need to persuade strong lawmakers who are connected to home contractors and other parties who profit from military spending when it comes to significant defense budget allocations.

His questionable decision as defence secretary to obtain outdated fighter planes from Qatar in 2023 was shelved after receiving criticism in congress. His seemingly off- the- hem request for a Russia- Ukraine peace plan at a conference in June 2023 was criticized, as effectively.

Let the politicking begin

So, how will Prabowo manage the problem of the parliament?

He will almost certainly acquiesce to his predecessors ‘ strategy by entice as many parties as possible into his tent by distributing attractive ministerial positions.

Politicking for cabinet positions and cabinet contests are directly related to this. A party’s numbers in the parliament are its main bargaining chip for a seat in the cabinet. And the establishment of a ministerial position is the secret to the president gaining support from his rivals.

If experience can be used, the majority of parties will if a ministry is offered to them join his alliance. The majority of parties did this under Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono’s administration from 2004–14, as well as during Jokowi’s time in office. When Jokowi gave him the defense portfolio in 2019, Prabowo gained a lot for himself.

So far, no parties have come forward to publicly lobby for a post in Prabowo’s government, but this is undoubtedly part of the game of playing hard- to- get.

It is possible that Megawati’s party, PDI- P, may stay out of the cabinet and attempt to lead a parliamentary opposition. She probably feels jilted by Jokowi, a former PDI-P, after choosing to support Prabowo over his own party’s presidential candidate during the campaign.

However, it’s possible that other parties will be open to cabinet positions. Most Indonesian parties are drawn to a portion of the government’s assets more than the idea of holding the opposition accountable, which is true, but a healthy legislature necessitates a healthy opposition.

So, from now until the October inauguration, we will witness a flurry of backroom discussions, flirtations, and negotiations between Prabowo and the party leaders to put together a cabinet.

Then, for Prabowo, comes the even harder task of trying to govern with such an unwieldy coalition, while maintaining some semblance of policy coherence and coordination.

Stephen Sherlock is Visiting Fellow, Department of Political and Social Change, Coral Bell School of Asia Pacific Affairs, Australian National University

The Conversation has republished this article under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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Shrimp Jesus and an AI-run dead internet – Asia Times

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If you search for” shrimp Jesus” on Facebook, you might come across dozens of images of artificial intelligence ( AI)-generated crustaceans muddled together in various forms with a stereotypical image of Jesus Christ.

Some of these super- realistic pictures have garnered more than 20, 000 likes and comments. What precisely is happening around, then?

The “dead online idea” has an description: AI and bot- generated content has surpassed the people- generated online. But where did this notion originate, and is there any truth behind it?

What is the dead online concept?

According to the useless online theory, artificial intelligence agents are primarily responsible for creating and automating social media accounts and activity on the internet.

These agencies can quickly create content alongside AI- generated graphics designed to land wedding ( clicks, likes, feedback ) on platforms such as Facebook, Instagram and TikTok. Regarding the crab Jesus, it seems as though AI has learned that it’s the newest and most recent fusion of irony and religious imagery.

The dead online theory, however, extends yet further. Many of the records that post for content also appear to be run by arbitrary knowledge experts. This leads to a vicious cycle of synthetic commitment, which is both artificial and non-existent and has no clear goals.

A hyperrealistic image of a mantis shrimp with the face of jesus on it.
An example of a shrimp-Jesus picture on Facebook that lacks a message or context in the post. Image: Twitter

Harmless proposal- farming or advanced propaganda?

The motivation behind these addresses ‘ efforts to pique interest may seem obvious at first glance: social media wedding generates advertising revenue. A person may receive a portion of the advertising revenue from social media platforms like Meta if they set up an account that receives raised engagement.

Does the deceased online theory only apply to safe engagement farming? Or maybe beneath the surface lies a advanced, nicely- funded attempt to support authoritarian regimes, attack opponents and distributed propaganda?

There is a potential longer-term ploy at hand, but the shrimp Jesus phenomenon may seem harmless ( albeit bizarre ).

The great follower count helps these AI-driven accounts become more popular ( many fake, some real ), proving that the account is legitimate to real people. This means that out there, an troops of addresses is being created. Accounts with great follower counts might be chosen by those who have the highest bid.

This is crucial because social media is now the main source of news for some users all over the world. In Australia, 46 % of 18 to 24- yr- adults nominated social advertising as their primary source of news next year. This is up from 28 % in 2022, supplanting traditional media outlets like radio and TV.

Bot- fueled deception

There is already strong evidence that these inflated machines are using social media to influence public opinion with false information, and it has been doing this for decades.

In 2018, a research analyzed 14 million posts over a ten- quarter time in 2016 and 2017. It discovered that machines on social media were actively involved in distributing content from unsatisfactory sources. Accounts with large numbers of followers were legitimizing propaganda and disinformation, leading actual users to think, engage and reshare bot- posted content.

Following the mass shootings that took place in the United States, it has been discovered that this method of social media adjustment exists. According to a study conducted in 2019, bot-generated posts on X ( previously Twitter ) significantly influence public discussion and serve as a amplify or denigrate potential narratives related to extreme events.

More lately, many huge- scale, pro- Soviet disinformation campaigns have aimed to destroy support for Ukraine and promote pro- Soviet sentiment.

Identified by activists and journalists, the coordinated attempts used bots and AI to produce and distribute false information, reaching millions of social media users.

The campaign quickly posted tens of thousands of messages of pro-Kremlin content attributed to US and European celebrities who appeared to be supporting the ongoing conflict against Ukraine using more than 10,000 bot accounts on X alone.

This scale of influence is significant. According to some reports, bots accounted for nearly half of all internet traffic in 2022. With recent advancements in generative AI like Google’s Gemini and OpenAI’s ChatGPT models, the quality of fake content will only be improving.

Social media companies are attempting to stop people from using their platforms. Notably, Elon Musk has thought about making X users pay for membership in order to stop bot farms.

Social media giants have the ability to take down large amounts of bot activity if they so choose. ( Bad news for Jesus, our amiable shrimp. )

Keep in mind the dead internet.

The dead internet theory does not genuinely hold that the majority of your online interactions are fake.

It is, however, an interesting lens through which to view the internet. The idea that the internet we knew and loved is “dead” is no longer for humans, but by humans.

Its power was primarily based on the freedom to express and exchange ideas on social media and the internet. Naturally, it is this power that bad actors are seeking to control.

The dead internet theory serves as a reminder to be skeptical and to use critical thinking when using social media and other websites.

Any interaction, trend and especially “overall sentiment” could very well be synthetic. designed to slightly alter your perception of the world.

Vlada Rozova is a Research Fellow in Applied Machine Learning at The University of Melbourne, while Jake Renzella is a Lecturer and Director of Studies ( Computer Science ) at UNSW Sydney.

This article was republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.

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CNA Explains: How often does extreme turbulence occur, and how did it affect flight SQ321?

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What causes turmoil?

When an aeroplane is suddenly sucked into a sudden change in flow due to wind direction and speed changes, turbulence occurs.

They can be created by ambient pressure, storms, mountain peaks, or solid air currents called flight channels.

Planes you shake or shock when encountering volatility, much like vessels in rough waters.

Does it produce helicopters to fall?

Flight tracking data showed SQ321 experienced a 6, 000- foot ( 1.8km ) drop within four minutes.

Experts said the immediate dive for a Boeing 777-300ER was incredibly unusual despite the fact that turbulence can produce planes to lose altitude immediately. Otherwise, it would more probably have been the pilots ‘ response, said analysts.

” That amount of descent ( relative to ) time may not be subjected to a downdraft, it could be more indicative of the pilots reacting to the situation”, Mr Michael Daniel, managing director of consultancy firm Aviation Insight, told CNA’s Singapore Tonight.

You turmoil be avoided?

Some episodes of turmoil may be detected on a aircraft’s weather radar, as long as they contain water molecules.

” Generally, for turbulence caused by activity of sky, aircraft will be alerted so they can avoid it or contact the crew and passengers to use their cars”, Mr Shantanu Gangakhedkar, older aerospace analyst at market research firm Frost and Sullivan, told CNA938.

But, the least formulaic type of disturbance is obvious- air turbulence, which may appear without any noticeable signs.

What is obvious- atmosphere turbulence?

In clear clouds, these visible pockets of air can be found at high altitudes above 30 000 feet.

Due to the possibility of unpredictable injuries occurring in clear-air turmoil, the flight crew may not have the time to direct passengers to tie their seatbelts.

Now, there is no technology to recognize the trend.

Experts warn that developing an early-warning program at NASA may take years.

Many analysts at CNA believe that SQ321 was struck by clear-air turbulence as a result of the incident’s suddenness.

” Looking at the number of injuries, SQ321 ( likely ) encountered extreme clear- air turbulence, where a plane can be tossed about violently ( and without notice )”, said independent aviation analyst Alvin Lie.

” Clean- air turbulence does hit anytime, somewhere, without previous knowledge. I think there were numerous other planes in that area at the time ( but they were not impacted ). It was just hard luck ( for SQ321 )”.

How frequently does severe volatility occur?

The SIA aircraft was hit by” sudden extraordinary turbulence”, an power authorities said flights often encounter.

Additionally, mortality or severe injuries brought on by turbulence are still very uncommon.

Turbulence intensity is classified by light, moderate, severe and extreme, according to the United States National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s ( NOAA ) National Weather Service.

During lighting turbulence, passengers may experience minor bumpiness.

An aircraft may be fiercely tossed around during extraordinary turbulence and become temporarily impossible to control. Additionally, it might result in structural deterioration.

According to experts, corporate aircraft are built to withstand challenging climate conditions.

Are some roads bumpier than others?

Some pathways can be more vulnerable to turbulence, particularly areas with more climate activities.

” Southeast Asia is a place known to have more wind actions, and therefore likely to experience more turbulence”, said Mr Leithen Francis, managing chairman of Francis &amp, Low, a marketing firm that specialises in aircraft.

When the SIA flight suddenly encountered the sudden and severe turbulence, it was over the Irrawaddy Basin in Myanmar.

According to scientists, severe turbulence has increased by 55 % in the last 40 years and is expected to increase even more as a result of climate change.

How do people get hurt during turbulence?

Most injuries caused by turbulence are caused by passengers and crew members not being properly secured.

People can be thrown around the cabin from sudden, violent movements of an aircraft during turbulence.

In the SQ321 incident, witnesses claimed that those without seatbelts were launched into the ceiling and hit overhead baggage cabins.

If overhead compartments are flung open, passengers may be hit by flying objects or falling luggage even when buckled in.

Experts point out that crew members are most susceptible to injury because they are typically not strapped, which includes having to check passengers ‘ seatbelts when the signs flash when they are not in use. &nbsp,

What can travelers do to ensure safety?

Be diligent, say experts.

Buckle up when seated, even at cruising altitude when the “fasten seatbelt” sign is not on.

Attendants also advise passengers to pay attention to the crew and pilot announcements during a flight and to pay attention to the safety briefing before takeoff.

” We ca n’t anticipate sudden turbulence, which could result in serious injuries if people are n’t buckled in. So, when you are in the seat, be diligent and buckle up, whether the fasten seatbelt sign is on or not”, said Mr Daniel.

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India is leading the Asian gin movement with over 30 brands and counting

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Besides herbs, Indian create gin makers are tuned into conservation practices and, more importantly, make work in the local communities. ” We introduced our rum to their innovative green ecoTOTES in Singapore and have also partnered with them to introduce this innovative package answer to India,” Mehta continued.

Tamras and Stranger & Sons are also working toward securing a Green Accreditation from the Ministry of Environment by 2025, employ native women to handle grapefruit, and adheres to a zero-waste plan and saves 10,000 litres of water per batch.

Goa, a seaside retreat an afternoon from Mumbai, is the “local” for the majority of craft gin distilleries. With their lower excise taxes, the area attracts a few craft breweries. At the same time, Goa is India’s team area and attracts scores of revellers across the time, for whom, having is a major priority. Every global brand that comes to India is launched in Goa, according to Bachooali, who is based in Goa with his co-founder family Devika Bhagat. It’s the best test business”.

Indian art gins are even bravely entering international markets, including the US and UK, Singapore, and Hong Kong, and picking leading international awards along the way, while Indian scotch drinkers have increased leaps and bounds.

At the same time, gin is a saturated category with numerous contenders, said Brandon Grust, general manager for Southeast Asia at Proof and Co.” The gin and tonic movement are not going away, nor is it being diminished. Having said that, I do n’t hear from any countries asking for more gins from consumers or businesses. I think new brands that are trying to establish themselves in Singapore will generally struggle to do so unless they are of exceptional quality and with clear objectives in mind.

The well-travelled Virmani believes that India’s unrestricted spice bounty will enable new players to grow even further. Every neighborhood in the UK has its own gin, he said, and you might wonder if they are actually distinct from one another. We do n’t have the problem in India because there’s so much to uncover. There is no limit to the flavors and aromas that you can experiment with in India.

In Singapore, there are six Indian craft gin brands.

STRANGER &amp, SONS

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