AI Beings, RIP Project, and Women's Health

Outriders Magazine #319

Repression and the Human Rights Crisis in Asia

Turkey is urging China to protect the cultural rights of the Muslim Uighur minority in Xinjiang province and allow them to live according to their values. Turkey has strong cultural and ethnic ties to the Uyghurs, and many have sought refuge there due to human rights abuses in China. China is accused of imprisoning over a million Uyghurs and members of other Muslim minorities in so-called re-education camps.

In another event, about 60 North Koreans were forcibly repatriated by China, putting them at risk of detention, torture, sexual violence, forced labour, and execution. The pandemic has worsened North Korea's humanitarian crisis, leading to increased state control, pressure on citizens, and food shortages. The government has also tightened surveillance, restricted domestic and international travel, and limited access to information.

Furthermore, Kailash Sirohiya, the owner of Nepal's largest media company, has been arrested after his company published critical reports about a government minister. This event raises concerns about Nepal's status as a haven for free speech in South Asia, especially as neighbouring countries like India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh are moving toward authoritarianism.

Technology, Mental Health, and the "Emotional Computer"

AI-based applications can assist autistic individuals in practising social skills. However, experts caution that algorithms cannot replace human connections. For instance, the Paradot application features customizable interactive artificial intelligence avatars called "AI Beings." Users can adjust the avatars' appearance, communication style, sensitivity, emotional stability, and other behavioural parameters. According to the manufacturer, Paradot avatars are anthropomorphic, possessing memories, emotions, and consciousness.

Researchers from the Finnish University of Jyväskylä have developed a model that enables computers to interpret and understand human emotions using principles of mathematical psychology. This work could enhance the interface between humans and intelligent technologies, including AI systems, making them more intuitive and responsive to users' emotions. In the future, the Finnish model could transform computers into empathetic partners that adapt their behaviour to the user's emotions.

Experts from UCL's Great Ormond Street Institute of Child Health found that young people addicted to the internet may experience changes in brain chemistry, leading to more addictive behaviours and other changes related to mental health, development, intellectual abilities, and physical coordination. The study included individuals aged 10 to 19 diagnosed with internet addiction.

South Korea-Africa Economic Agreement: China vs. the Rest of the World

South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol and African leaders have agreed to strengthen trade and business cooperation, focusing on critical minerals to sustain Africa's resources. Africa is home to 30% of the world's reserves of critical minerals, including chromium, cobalt, and manganese. In related news, Australia has ordered China's Yuxiao Fund and its partners to sell their stakes in rare-earth mining company Northern Minerals Ltd. as part of the US and its allies' efforts to counter China's critical minerals dominance. China currently has a virtual monopoly on rare-earth production and processing.

China's expanding economic influence in Latin America faces challenges as local communities push back. This has been evident in China's recent ban on imports of Guatemalan coffee and other goods. Tensions are also rising, with Huawei and the Costa Rican government at odds. Furthermore, the threat of cheap Chinese textiles to Brazilian fashion boutiques is becoming an issue, with accusations of environmental damage against Chinese companies. These reactions underscore the potential consequences of China's economic influence in the region.

Turkish exports to Israel plummeted 99% to $4.4 million year-on-year following a decision by Turkey's Trade Ministry to halt trade until Israel allows "uninterrupted and sufficient flow" of humanitarian aid to Gaza. Before Israel conflicted with Hamas, Turkey and Israel were in the process of normalizing relations, with total trade worth $6.8 billion last year.

Workplace Conflict and Stress: Effects and Solutions

It's important to avoid shouting at work. Research from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) found that one in four employees in the UK was involved in a workplace conflict last year. Common issues included challenging authority or competence, humiliation, shouting, heated arguments, verbal abuse, insults, and discriminatory behaviour. The CIPD recommended that employers address the root causes of conflict, such as poor management practices and excessive workloads. Employees who experienced conflict reported lower job satisfaction and more frequent health problems, both mental and physical.

A study published in Personnel Psychology involved 360 participants who assessed an imaginary colleague boasting about experiencing high stress levels at work. The experiment results showed that this practice can negatively affect the workplace. Coworkers perceived such a person as less liked and less competent and were less likely to help them when they needed it. Discussing frequent stress can normalize stress in the workplace, which co-workers might not tolerate. If someone feels stressed, they should choose the right person to talk to.

Special Forces and Surveillance of Car and Phone Users

Ukrainian special forces are not only fighting Russians at home but also in Syria, where they are tracking down Russian mercenaries. In March of this year, Ukrainian soldiers, along with Syrian rebels, attacked Russians who were fighting alongside the forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Last year, Ukrainians fought Russian mercenaries in Sudan. On the other hand, Chinese authorities claim that the British intelligence agency MI6 recruited a pair of Chinese officials as spies. According to the Chinese, MI6 agents exploited the man's "strong desire for money," and he then convinced his partner to spy for the British.

The US National Security Agency (NSA) has advised smartphone owners to prevent their devices from being hacked and their data and money stolen. The report is aimed at smartphone users worldwide who use Android or iOS devices and are vulnerable to cyber threats such as spear-phishing and zero-click attacks. According to NSA guidelines, smartphone users can protect themselves from these attacks by periodically turning their phones off and on.

New features in cars and phone apps offer convenience, but they also come with a price - your privacy. These technologies can track various aspects of your life, from driving habits to entertainment preferences. This wealth of personal data is a lucrative resource for marketers and insurers and a prime target for hackers. The Mozilla Foundation warns that most car manufacturers collect personal data, often without giving customers much control, and may even sell or share it with other entities.

Advancements in Brain Research Gels and Male Contraception

Scientists at the Central China Institute of Technology in Wuhan have developed biodegradable, wireless gel-based sensors that can monitor changes in the brain after head injuries or cancer treatment without invasive surgery. These soft and flexible sensors, made of hydrogel, can be injected under a patient's skull and can function for up to a month. They measure vital parameters such as temperature, pH, and blood pressure.

Additionally, a gel applied once a day on the arms and shoulders of men has been found to work faster than injections as a contraceptive. This gel, when used over an average of eight weeks, has been shown to lower sperm counts to the level considered effective for contraception. It combines testosterone and a synthetic hormone called Nestorone, with Nestorone speeding up the gel's action and allowing for lower levels of testosterone to be administered without affecting sex drive or causing other side effects. These findings come from a study conducted by the Contraceptive Development Program at the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

The World's Largest Solar Power Plant and Cemetery Panels in Valencia

The world’s largest solar power plant in China’s Xinjiang region has opened. The 5GW complex spans over 80,000 hectares, equivalent to the size of New York City, and can meet the electricity needs of a country like Luxembourg or Papua New Guinea. According to a 2023 study by LONGi Green Energy Technology, installing solar panels on roofs and buildings in China will soon generate enough electricity to power every household in China and Southeast Asia.

Valencia, a city leading in green energy, is taking a unique approach by implementing the Requiem in Power (RIP) project, which will be Spain's largest urban solar farm. The project involves installing around 7,000 solar panels on cemeteries and other structures, with an expected electricity generation of approximately 2.8 MW. When fully operational, the RIP project aims to reduce up to 140 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions annually, contributing to Valencia's goal of becoming climate-neutral by 2030.

According to DNV, due to high temperatures and relatively sunny skies in May this year, solar radiation intensity in Finland and Sweden was up to 30% higher than usual, leading to an unusually higher total irradiance than in the more southern UK and France. Poland, the Baltic states, and neighbouring countries also experienced irradiance up to 30% above the long-term average, benefiting solar electricity producers.

Women's Health: Menstruation and Menopause

Although women in Spain were the first in Europe to be given the right to paid leave for period pain, legal restrictions and lack of awareness mean that few take advantage of the opportunity. In the 11 months since the new law was introduced, menstrual leave has been taken 1,559 times, with an average of 4.75 entitled people taking leave daily. The average duration of leave was just over three days.

Researchers from University College London found that women who engage in sports make fewer mistakes and react faster during their period. The tests assessed the reaction time, attention, precision, and spatial orientation in team sports of almost 250 women over 14 days. Despite feeling worse, women were, on average, 12% faster in tasks involving a ball's movement, and their chances of passing a test of the ability to predict events were 25% higher. The researchers believe this is due to hormone fluctuations such as estrogen and progesterone during the menstrual cycle.

A study by the University of Utah Health found that women who go through menopause before age 40 are four times more likely to develop ovarian cancer. Additionally, women who go through menopause early are twice as likely to develop breast cancer. Researchers also found that close relatives of people who went through menopause early, such as grandparents, aunts, uncles, nieces, and nephews, are 1.5 times more likely to develop colon cancer and have a higher risk of breast and prostate cancer.