Cowry News

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Ai Can Now Read Human Personality Through Eye Movements

An international team of scientists have discovered Artificial intelligence bots can tell an individual’s personality traits by analyzing their eye movements. The scientists used machine learning to discover a link between eye movements and the personality of a person earlier this year. Armed with this information, the researchers deployed AI to analyze the eye movements of 42 students. The results were announced last week. In psychology, there are five basic personality traits: Extraversion, Agreeableness, Openness, Conscientiousness, and Neuroticism The scientists discovered their AI was able to find a correlation between the eyes of the students and four of the five personality traits. Openness was the only trait it struggled to link with eye movements. By enabling a greater understanding of the individual, the researchers hope their AI could be used to improve the personalisation of services. Tobias soetscher, lead researcher of the project, explains: “Today’s robots and computers are not socially-aware, so they cannot adapt to non-verbal cues. This research provides opportunities to develop robots and computers so that they can become more natural and better at interpreting human social signals.” Naturally, there will also be some concerns about the use of such technology. For example, it could be abused to determine whether a person is susceptible to manipulation. Advertisers are another sector of society that would love to get their hands on such technology in order to further target campaigns. The global team of scientists included researchers from the University of Stuttgart, University of South Australia, Flinders University, and the Max Planck Institute for Informatics. Their work once again highlights the possibilities of AI technology in society, but also the potential for abuse. SOURCE: https://www.artificialintelligence-news.com/2018/07/31/ai-personality-eye-movements/ Read the full article

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Human Rights Group In Libya Intercedes In Executions

A human rights group is urging Libyan authorities to maintain a de facto moratorium on executions after 45 people were sentenced to death last week over violence during the 2011 uprising. Eric Goldstein of Human Rights Watch says on Wednesday that "a judiciary that is in shambles has no business sentencing defendants to death by the dozen." Last Wednesday, a Libyan court sentenced 45 people to die by firing squad in a case that dates back to August 2011, when longtime dictator Muammar Gaddafi's forces clashed with rebels in the capital, Tripoli. Another 54 people were sentenced to five years in prison and 22 were acquitted. Gaddafi was overthrown and killed two months after the clashes. Libya is now split between rival governments, each backed by an array of militias SOURCE: news24.com Read the full article

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Ex UN Secretary General Koffi Annang Passes Away At 80

Kofi Annan, one of the world’s most celebrated diplomats and a charismatic symbol of the United Nations who rose through its ranks to become the first African secretary general, has died. He was 80. His foundation announced his death in a tweet on Saturday, saying that he died after a short unspecified illness. Annan spent virtually his entire career as an administrator in the United Nations. He served two terms as secretary general from January 1, 1997 to December 31, 2006, capped nearly mid-way when he and the UN were jointly awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2001. SOURCE: Hindustantimes.com Read the full article

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Legendary Queen Of Soul Aretha Franklin Passes Away

Born in Memphis on march 25 1942, the exceptionally gifted child star and one of the greatest soul singers that ever lived, the Queen of Soul, Aretha Louise Franklin has passed away. She died yesterday from pancreatic cancer, an illness she,d been battling with for years.

Known for her signature tunes like “Respect and Natural Woman” the Queen of Soul also performed at Martin Luther King’s memorial service and at the inaugurations of three American presidents: Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama Over half a century Ms Franklin had firmly established herself not only as a musical megaforce impacting the civil rights movement, but also as a Black cultural icon reaching the farthest corners of the globe Her accolades include three American Music Awards, two MTV Video Music Awards, one Golden Globe, a Presidential Medal of Freedom, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a Grammy Legend Award and Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award. She also won 18 Grammy Awards, sold over 75million songs worldwide and holds the record for having the most charted singles for a female artist on the American Billboard magazine, standing at 112 singles SOURCE: News Agencies Read the full article

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Ferocious Frequencies- As 5G Gets Rolled Out, Worrying Cries Struggle To Get Heard

It is the latest evolution in communications technology, an information superhighway with no restriction to payload nor distance, lightening fast, multi adaptable to any use and with flawless integration to other types of technological systems. Happily still, in a world where excuses are easily found to justify terror attacks on the innocent, espionage on the enemy can be clandestinely executed with dead accuracy in apprehending the criminals!! Fifth generation cellular technology, 5G, this latest advancement in digital communication, gives a ray of hope in countering local and international deviant behavior, improving security, creating jobs, ushering in a more robust economy and indeed mutually international alliances. It's not just about speed for speed's sake.

While the move from 3G to 4G LTE was about faster connections, the evolution to 5G is so much more. The combination of speed, responsiveness and reach could unlock the full capabilities of other hot trends in technology, offering a boost to self-driving cars, drones, virtual reality and the internet of things, but the haunting question is, at what cost? Today, there are 154,000 cell towers in the US emitting radiation frequencies, according to wireless communication association, CTIA. By 2026, it believed another 800,000 will be needed to support 5G. The network update will bring more Americans into closer proximity with millimeter waves, very short-wave radiation and just like most aspects of life, when it takes of in the US, sooner or later, it will become a global standard and the question we must ask right now before reaching a point of no return is, what is the price for species on the planet? These we now know: Low level Electromagnetic radiation, after thousands of studies globally, show a frightening lengthy list of adverse biological effects including:  DNA single and double strand breaks in every living thing  Male infertility Oxidative damage Disruption of cell metabolism Increased blood brain barrier permeability Melatonin reduction Disruption of brain glucose metabolism Generational stressed proteins WHO in 2011 classified these frequencies as carcinogenic, meaning it causes cancer The $25million dollar national toxicology program in the US, concluded that radio frequency radiation of the type currently used by Cell phone can cause cancer  Human sweat ducts behave like an array of antennas when exposed to these wavelengths, meaning we become more conductive, and a recent New York study experimenting with 60GH waves, shows that the Analysis of Penetration Depth reveals that more than 90% of the frequency is absorbed in the epidermis and dermis layers of the skin  Eye lens opacity These disturbing findings come amidst a more worrisome fact that 5G technology, allegedly is getting rolled out with little or no government oversight SOURCES: NEWS AGENCIES Read the full article

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Bizarre Friendship- Saudi Arabia Turns Back 30,000 Somali Livestock Shipment Days After Somalia Supported It In A Trade Row With Canada

Stranded and scorned mildly describe the inexplicable naivety displayed by the Somali government as Saudi Arabia whom it calls a brother, reciprocated its version of Somali loyalty recently A ship carrying 30,000 livestock export destined for Saudi Arabia was sent back to Bossaso port Somalia. The Saudi government is yet to disclose the reasons for sending back the shipload of livestock’s whose owners, mainly small scale Somali traders and their families had hoped on for sustenance

The move comes days ahead of the Hajj season and Eid Al-Adha, when livestock demand is high in the Middle East. Saudi Arabia is one of the biggest markets for Somali livestock, which has recently removed a suspension on Somali livestock giving a greenlight for importing. Ironically Somalia days ago had backed Saudi Arabia in its diplomatic row with Canada SOURCE: Radiodalson.com Read the full article

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Demoralized Nigerian Soldiers Protest At Maiduguri Airport As Boko Haram Aggressively Makes A Comeback

Frustration despair and anger can only describe the feeling of some of the Nigerian soldiers who have been forced, years on, to fight a sinister battle against a group who’s appearance on the Nigerian landscape still confuses the mind, and their ulterior motive yet to be fully grasped

Past Sunday hundreds of soldiers protested at the airport of Maiduguri, the capital of turbulent northeast Borno state, for several hours, shooting into the air and disrupting flights. They were furious about a planned redeployment to a battlefront in the remote Lake Chad region after fighting Boko Haram jihadists for years without relief. The protest comes after a wave of bloody assaults on military bases in the northeast, forcing the army to retreat and marking a Boko Haram comeback. The resurgence of violence has put pressure on Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari, who is seeking a second term in office and maintains that the country is now in a "post-conflict stabilization phase." Experts say that Nigeria hasn't faced such a serious threat from the jihadists since the peak of the insurgency between 2013 and 2015, when Boko Haram controlled swathes of territory in the country's northeast. The death count on the Nigerian Army cannot be confirmed but this has gravely affected the psyche of the soldiers who have lost close colleagues, overstayed their time and are yet to see families 3 years on. Clandestine forces loyal to ISIS now affiliated to Boko Haram is believed to have carried out relentless aggressive attacks following a restocking of high grade foreign weaponry covertly sneaked into the country, via porous borders allegedly from North Africa and Mali SOURCES: NEWS AGENCIES Read the full article

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Tricky Frontiers For Humanity As Artificial Intelligence Scientists Sign Against Killer Robots

Over 2400 scientists recently met to collectively agree on a crucial proposal as humanity arrives at a critical juncture with particular aspects of Ai technology proven to be extremely helpful, but carry horrifying consequences if miscalculations occur Killer robots, able to process subject’s information, physically track down targets and without human clearance, carry out killings. This is now the chilling possibility with Ai technology, robots that can independently make the decision to terminate human life without oversight The concerns were pointed out by some scientists who dread the idea of handing life and death situations to Ai enhanced machines This pledge is being put forward by The Future of Life Institute, calling on governments to agree on laws and regulations that effectively outlaw the development of such killer robots. Those who signed this pledge, agreed to “neither participate in nor support the development, manufacture, trade or use of lethal autonomous weapons.” Over 150 AI-related firms and organizations added their names to the pledge. Have we now strayed into the dark corners of the modern era? Only time will tell   SOURCE: https://relevantmagazine.com/culture/tech/artificial-intelligence-researchers-are-signing-a-pledge-against-killer-robots/ Read the full article

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China Suspicious Of Islam, Blocks All Expansionist Moves

Influencing the mental minds of over a billion people and teaching a new route to understanding God, Islam’s 1400 years old unstoppable match as a religious force, is leaving no stone unturned in achieving its global ascendancy goal, only problem is, China is throwing a cog in the wheel, as it now see's Islam as nothing but a feral invader with an ulterior motive, and have have put on counter gloves in checking Islam’s ambitions on Chinese soil That the ancient country, with a history lasting over 4,000 years, has successfully maintained its cultural essence and spiritual identity is nothing short of a miracle. Fending off countless invasions from The Turks, Mongols and Russians over the millennia, reabsorbing Macau after a near 450 years occupation by the Portuguese, and 156 years for Hong Kong by the British, Islam finds it an uphill battle getting full acceptance in China, and from the current state of affairs coupled with the stern posture of the Chinese government, that embrace may never happen. China has clinically fine-tuned counter-measures with a slew of prohibitions put in place to halt its spread in key regions of China, starting with Xinjiang, home to the Turkic-speaking Uyghur Muslim minority, China's largest Muslim population which borders Muslim-majority nations including Pakistan and Kazakhstan.

Also another group, the Chinese-speaking Hui in Gansu province , who are culturally more similar to the Han Chinese majority than to Uyghur’s, have also come under scrutiny from some intellectuals, who fear creeping Arab Islamic influence on Chinese society. WHAT WE NOW KNOW SO FAR: A ban on Islamic baby names is already in effect in the Muslim-majority Xingjian province Ban on celebrations like Ramadan and influencing children and the young to partake in this Ban on burqas and 'abnormal' beards in the Muslim province of Xinjiang Ban on not allowing children attend regular schools It is forbidden to use religion as an excuse to“ reject public facilities and services” It is forbidden to use “Halal” to meddle in the secular life of others Harsh jail terms for “wild Imams” Crackdown on Islamic materials, activities, teachings and public promotions Ban on prayer mats, the Quran, plus anything with the Islamic moon and star symbol on it

-In March, the head of the state-run China Islamic Association called for Chinese Muslims to guard against creeping Islamization, criticizing some mosques for “blindly imitating the construction style of foreign models.” “Religious rites, culture and buildings should all reflect Chinese characteristics, style and manner,” Yang Faming told the parliament’s advisory body in Beijing. Imams and sources close to the government in Ningxia said new Arab-style mosques with large onion domes had been banned. “There is certainly a sense among that the way you ought to build a mosque should mirror the styles of mosques that are being built in Saudi Arabia – that’s the truer, more real, more accurate version,” said David Stroup, an expert on Hui Muslims at the University of Oklahoma, citing conversations with Hui during his research in China. “In a contemporary sense, it is also a way to connect with the larger Islamic world.” That connection is exactly what Beijing is worried about. Alarmed by jihadist terror attacks in Europe, Africa and the spread of Islamic State militants from the Middle East to other parts of the world, China is watching anxiously for any sign of extremist influence among its population of 23 million Muslims – mainly Hui and Uygurs. But state media has also reported on the removal of loudspeakers used to broadcast calls to prayer from mosques in Hui regions, ostensibly to prevent noise pollution. In April, the government-run Islamic Association of China said new mosques should reject the “Arabisation” of architecture, with its “excessive size and extravagance”, in favor of traditional Chinese designs. What does this portend for Islam on Chinese soil? Is the Chinese government being irrational, or does documented evidence from Islam’s past and present history informs China’s stringent checks in protecting its own native customs and ancient ancestral shrines from Arab ideologies? Only time will tell   SOURCE: https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/china-burqa-abnormal-beards-ban-muslim-province-xinjiang-veils-province-extremism-crackdown-freedom-a7657826.html https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2015/06/china-bans-ramadan-fasting-muslim-region-150618070016245.html https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/4573419/chinese-cops-order-muslims-to-hand-over-prayer-mats-and-korans-or-face-harsh-punishment/ https://www.inkstonenews.com/society/china-making-islam-chinese-hui-muslim-heartland/article/2146006   Read the full article

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Greece’s Horrific Wildfire Destroys Lives and Parts of Athens

With the death toll standing at 91, and a further 25 people unaccounted for, data by the Centre for the Research on the Epidemiology of Disasters in Brussels, now reveal that the Greek wildfire stands as the deadliest in Europe since written records began in 1900, and to make matters worse, the Deputy Citizen Protection Minister Nikos Toskas declared there were “serious” signs of arson. Criminal investigations have now been launched to ascertain this

The afternoon of July 23, with the aid of strong winds, flames of fire began speeding past villages in the beautiful seaside resort of Mati, east of Athens, leaving horrendous destruction in its wake. The vast majority of the dead was consumed by the fires itself whilst the remaining drowned in the sea fleeing the blaze Tragic scenes of death and destruction could be seen everywhere with 26 dead bodies huddled together, over 2000 homes damaged with 500 properties completely burnt down. SOURC E; https://apnews.com/9ecd925e64a94265bde034a70ace173a Read the full article

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Horror As Laos’s “Battery Of Asia” Ambition Backfires In Catastrophic Dam Collapse

With the unquenchable thirst to be an economic power house above environmental concerns, Laos like most developing countries takes its chances doing a Russian roulette with its ecological gifts from Mother Nature, and this time, it is forced to count the horrendous costs incurred from this particular gamble On Monday night, disaster struck when a dam collapsed in Attapeu province in the far south of Laos inundating 6 villages, leaving hundreds missing with over 6,600 people homeless and many more feared dead

As a landlocked country located along the rich East Asia’s Mekong River, this unique river also supports 4 other countries in the lower Mekong - Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam. As one of Asia’s poorest countries, Laos is exploiting its natural waterways intensely for income, building dams to produce electricity for export. BUT WHAT ARE THE ENVIRONMENTAL CONCERNS? Unnaturally obstructing the flow of a river can be disastrous for lands downstream and the eco-systems dependent on the river In 2014, countries in the lower Mekong - Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam - produced about 15% of all the world's rice, according to The Economist magazine. The region is also home to thousands of plant and animal species which could be directly affected by any dams on the river. A report by the intergovernmental Mekong River Commission said hydropower projects in the river basin caused drops in rice production, fish numbers and soil fertility downstream, and were predicted to "reduce food security and potentially increase poverty levels". HYDROELECTRIC AMBITIONS IN LAOS The government in Laos has launched an ambitious dam-building scheme to become the "battery of Asia" The country had 46 operational hydroelectric power plants in 2017, and 54 more under construction By 2020, Laos also plans to build 54 more electricity transmission lines and 16 substations Laos already exports two-thirds of its hydro-power, with electricity making up roughly 30% of all Laotian exports   SOURCE: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-44935495 IMAGE CREDIT: Xinhua/VNA Read the full article

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Pregnant Goat Dies After Getting Violently Gang-Raped By 8 Men In India

July 25, A 50-weeks old pregnant goat met its tragic end when it was abducted, gang-raped and violently tortured by 8 men in a village near Haryana’s Nuh town in Mewat India The goat owner (pictured) filed a police complaint on Thursday. Police said the accused are locals and have alleged history. All the accused are absconding, ANI reported. Three of them have been identified as Savakar, Haroon and Jaffar, The Indian Express reported. The three men, who were beaten up by the villagers, revealed that five others had also raped the goat. The owner of the assaulted goat, who is from Maroda village, caught the three men in the act who later exposed the five others Section 377 of the IPC prohibits carnal intercourse against the order of nature including with animals. The accused have also been booked under Section 429 of the IPC, which prohibits the killing and maiming of animals. SOURCE:  WORLD NEWS AGENCIES: TimesOfIndia, Huffington posts Read the full article

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Lonely Looks Of London- Azu Okon Images

Cowry News random pictures. Seven Sisters Road, Tottenham London. Loneliness in a big city. The lonely woman Read the full article

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Lonely Looks Of London- Azu Okon Images

Cowry News random pictures. Seven Sisters Road, Tottenham London. Loneliness in a big city Read the full article

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Stunning, Stately And Stylish, The Empress Of Lawn Tennis Serena Williams Makes A Solid Comeback After Risky Childbirth

Barely 10 months ago, Serena Williams almost died giving birth to her daughter Alexis Olympia. A battle with blood clots, a caesarean- section wound reopening, resulting in a six day medical crisis and added to that, mental depression. With her friends the Duchess of Sussex Meghan and the mother of the British hair to the throne Duchess of Cambridge Kate watching from the Royal box, Serena proved she is by far the best lawn tennis player the world has ever seen, male or female, as she pushed and pummeled an impressive list of world class players, vanquishing all to get into yet again another Wimbledon finals.

Though Angelique Kerber of Germany won; in snatching the coveted title it was interesting to see that she had to dig deep with all her mental might to get past the new mum That Serena Williams would show up on the world stage, just after having a baby, with scares and a wobbly frame that hint of recent health struggles, loudly speaks of greatness Should we brace up for a new guard in women’s world class tennis, or has the empress returned with a vengeance to take back her throne, putting all on notice with such a superlative performance, only time will tell Author: Azu Okon Source Photo: Harpers Bazaar, AP, Reuters Read the full article

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Mother Teresa's Legacy In Question As Baby Trafficking Scandal Hits Her Charity

She was loved all over the world, canonized by the pope and admired by Princess Diana, now it seems the angelic saintly rob of Mother Teresa, may have hidden stains so bad that calls are now being made to rescind the highest civilian honor ( The Bharat Ratna) the Jewel of India, bestowed on her 40 years ago Authorities in India made a major crackdown last week as they busted a baby trafficking racket shockingly connected to the charity, The Missionaries of Charity, founded by the late Albanian nun Mother Teresa in 1950 It was discovered by Child Welfare Authorities that babies were being secretly sold in this charity to childless couples for as high as $1450 The shocking discovery is the latest amongst a slew of scandals falling through the charities cracks prompting some high profile Indian figures to demand a revisit to Mother Teresa’s past She is alleged to have been close friends with American financier Charles Keaton in 1980s, a swindler who deceived and swindled millions from innocent investors. She benefited tremendously from Keaton and was said to have even communicated in letter to a high court judge seeking clemency on behalf of Keaton, for being “kind and generous to Gods poor” according to a letter published by Christopher Hitchens in his book, “The Missionary Position.” Sadly the criticism of Mother Teresa is not only in India; a Canadian trio in 2013 exposed the façade created by the media in the person of mother Teresa, alleging that she was a well managed brand, crafty in the art of glorifying human suffering at the expense of providing proper care. Her ties with dubious political figured in the former Haitian dictator Jean-Claude “Baby Doc” Duvalier, her dogmatic stance on abortion, contraception and divorce and her strange habit of  being very benevolent with her prayers and rather stingy with millions from her foundations in the sufferings and hardship of humanity, amongst other complaints Spokesperson for Missionaries of Charities refuted the claims, according to India Today, stating that the allegations are nonsense SOURCE: https://globalnews.ca/news/4331469/mother-teresa-bharat-ratna-missionaries-of-charity-trafficking/?utm_source=Article&utm_medium=MostPopular&utm_campaign=2014 https://www.independent.co.uk/voices/mother-teresa-wasnt-a-saintly-person-she-was-a-shrewd-operator-with-unpalatable-views-who-knew-how-a7224846.html Read the full article

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Thai Cave Boys Happy Ending Amidst Sad Loss

The admirable ancient Thai culture wrapped around old traditional ways was beautifully showcased around the world in a modern day heart racing event which would have turned an absolute tragedy

Thirteen members of a young Thai football team ( Wild Boars) with their coach finally got rescued after two weeks trapped in a swamped cave.

Authorities finally got alerted to their disappearance on 23rd July when visitors at the said cave saw bikes and training kits tied to the entrance railings but with no signs of the owners Frustration, despair and fear of the inevitable almost forced the nation to throw in the towel, but for a beautiful culture grounded in ethereal beliefs holding everyone together in faith. It eventually paid off as specialist international cave divers eventually spotted the boys miles inside the cave patched on a raised bank in pitch darkness Tributes from Thailand and around the world have poured in for Saman Gunan, a triathlete and diver who retired from the military in 2006 and worked at Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi airport before volunteering to help with the rescue in northern Thailand Specialists who took part in the risky mission to bring the Wild Boars home have expressed shock and surprise that they were able to pull it off, with some fearing that there could have been more casualties. The unprecedented and daring final push to bring the boys out saw them sedated and carried through waterlogged and partially dry corridors with the help of military stretchers and nearly 100 divers. SOURCE: https://metro.co.uk/2018/07/15/thai-cave-boys-mourn-hero-navy-seal-who-died-trying-to-rescue-them-7718129/ PHOTO: PA   Read the full article