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Australia news live: heatwaves forecast for Victoria and NSW; coal 'protestival' to go ahead in Newcastle port
Monday, December 9, 2024 A recent poll revealed that over 56% of Thais plan to travel during the upcoming New Year holidays, with more than 90% opting for domestic destinations. However, alongside festive travel plans, nearly 60% of respondents expressed a desire for cash handouts from the government as New Year gifts to stimulate the economy and tourism. The poll, titled “Thais and New Year’s Gifts from the Government,” surveyed 1,246 respondents nationwide from December 3-6, 2024 , exploring public preferences on holiday travel, spending habits, and expectations for government intervention. These findings highlight significant financial burdens facing Thai citizens, with respondents prioritizing practical solutions over traditional holiday gestures. The survey also explored public opinion on the government’s role during the New Year period: Respondents also outlined urgent issues for government intervention ahead of the New Year, including: Pornpan Buathong , president of Suan Dusit Poll, noted that the survey results reflect deeper structural challenges within the economy, particularly the high cost of living and low economic stability. “The government should leverage the New Year season to implement long-term economic policies. Temporary measures like cash handouts must evolve into sustainable solutions to ensure economic stability and improve citizens’ quality of life,” Pornpan said. Similarly, Asst Prof Anchalee Rattana , a political science lecturer at Suan Dusit University, stressed that New Year policies should address structural issues, enabling citizens to “live with dignity, have adequate resources, and maintain self-respect.” The poll results underline the need for government action that extends beyond seasonal gestures. While measures such as cash handouts and cost-of-living reductions are popular, they also represent an opportunity for the government to establish a sustainable economic direction, ensuring a better quality of life for all Thai citizens throughout the year.
Parents are furious after school officials in Maryland informed them that their special education students were denied service by a Cracker Barrel restaurant during an educational outing. The outing was a part of community-based instruction programs that serve students with autism and significant cognitive disabilities at the Charles County Public Schools District's Dr. James Craik Elementary School. Though Cracker Barrel issued an apology in a statement, parents have previously told USA TODAY that they "saw red" after being informed of the incident, with one parent organizing a protest at the location. "I can't put into words how I felt − anger, sadness and worry," Dustin Reed, whose 7-year-old daughter Madelynn attended the community-based instruction outing, previously told USA TODAY. "I've spent more time crying over her and praying she never has to experience this again." Here's what we know. Parents say Cracker Barrel refused to serve special education students On Tuesday, a group of 11 students and seven staff members from Charles County Public Schools District were "refused service" at the Cracker Barrel restaurant in Waldorf, Maryland, Superintendent Maria Navarro said in a statement. In her statement , Navarro said Charles County Public Schools staff notified the Waldorf Cracker Barrel of the group's size and purpose of its visit, but they were told reservations were unnecessary. Students in the school district's ACHIEVE and SOAR programs attend community-based instruction outings once a month between November and May that allow students to perform practical skills and socialize with the public. The group did not dine in as the restaurant's general manager told the group that he restaurant "cannot accommodate to your group" and that the restaurant should be removed from the approved list of restaurants for community-based instruction, Charles County Public Schools special education teacher Katie Schneider told parents in an email. The group placed a to-go order but Schneider said in her email to parents that the students were treated rudely by staff while waiting for the order. "Refusing to serve them, (staff) did not even ask if our students wanted a drink or anything. Our students were so well behaved and sat at the tables patiently, which you know can be hard, waiting for their food and drinks to-go," Schneider wrote. After about an hour of waiting, Schneider said the students were moved to wait outside on the school bus then ate lunch at the elementary school. In the email Schneider notes that the group was willing to split into different tables and that they witnessed other parties be seated and leave in the time it took them to receive their food. Cracker Barrel said in a statement previously provided to USA TODAY that a "staffing challenge" led to the closure of the restaurant's second dining room and caused "confusion" in handling the group's request. "At Cracker Barrel, we strive to create a welcoming environment for all our guests, and we understand that a recent visit by this group to our Waldorf location fell short of those expectations," Cracker Barrel said in the statement. "We take this matter seriously and are working directly with the group’s leadership to better understand what happened, extend our apologies and make things right." Protest planned at Cracker Barrel A protest, organized by Reed, is scheduled for Sunday, Dec. 15, at the Waldorf Cracker Barrel. Forty-five people have responded on the protest's Facebook page − titled #CanWeEatNow − as of Sunday. Reed said he hopes the protest sheds light on the fact that just because some children have different abilities, it doesn't make them less than anyone else. "I've battled wanting to protect (and) shield her from the world but not forgetting why we're doing this," Reed said.Israeli airstrikes killed a hospital director at his home in northeastern Lebanon and six others, while at least five paramedics were killed by Israeli strikes in the country's south on Friday, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. The United Nations reported heavy clashes between Israeli troops and Hezbollah fighters in southern Lebanon. Four Italian peacekeepers were lightly wounded when a rocket, likely fired by Hezbollah, hit their base, the U.N. said. A full-blown war between Israel and Hezbollah erupted in September after nearly a year of lower-intensity conflict. More than 3,640 people have been killed in Lebanon and 15,350 wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation and ground invasion, the Health Ministry said Friday. In Gaza, Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of the territory, wounding nine medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, the hospital director said Friday. More than 44,000 Palestinians have been killed in the Gaza Strip, the Health Ministry said. It does not distinguish between civilians and combatants in its count, but it has said that more than half of the fatalities are women and children. Israel launched the war in Gaza after Hamas-led militants stormed into southern Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, killing some 1,200 people, mostly civilians, and abducting another 250 . Around 100 hostages are still inside Gaza, at least a third of whom are believed to be dead. Here’s the Latest: DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Israeli strikes hit Kamal Adwan Hospital, one of the few hospitals still partially operating in the northernmost part of Gaza, wounding nine medical staff and damaging its generator and oxygen systems, its director said Friday. Hossam Abu Safiya said strikes before dawn Friday hit the entrance of the emergency unit as well as in the hospital courtyard. He said six staff were wounded, including two critically. Friday night, he said an armed drone hit the entrance again, wounding three staffers. There was no immediate comment from the Israeli military. Abu Safiya said the strikes caused damage to the functioning of the generator and disrupted oxygen supplies. The hospital is currently treating 85 wounded, 14 children in the pediatric ward and four newborns in the neonatal unit, he said. During the past month, Kamal Adwan Hospital has been hit several times, was put under siege and was raided by Israeli troops, who are waging a heavy offensive in the nearby Jabaliya refugee camp and towns of Beit Hanoun and Beit Lahiya. The Israeli military says it detained Hamas fighters hiding in the hospital, a claim its staff denies. BEIRUT — An Israeli airstrike killed the director of a university hospital and six others at his home in northeastern Lebanon, state media said. The strike targeted Dr. Ali Allam’s house near Dar Al-Amal Hospital, the largest health center in Baalbek-Hermel province, which has provided vital health services amid Israel's campaign of airstrikes, the Health Ministry said. State-run media reported that the strike came without warning. The ministry described his death as a “great loss,” and provincial governor Bachir Khodr said in a post on X that, “Mr. Allam was one of the best citizens of Baalbek.” In two separate episodes on Friday, Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon killed five paramedics with Hezbollah's medical arm, the Health Ministry said, describing it as “war crime.” The militant group provides extensive social services, including running schools and health clinics. In a report published Friday, the World Health Organization said nearly half of all attacks on health care in Lebanon since Oct. 7, 2023, have resulted in fatalities. “This is a higher percentage than in any active conflict today across the globe,” WHO said. In Lebanon, 226 health workers and patients were killed and 199 were injured between Oct. 7, 2023, and Nov. 18, 2024, the report said. The Health Ministry said Friday that 3,645 people have been killed in nearly 14 months of war between Hezbollah and Israel, while 15,356 were wounded, the majority following Israel’s escalation in late September. The death count includes 692 women and 231 children. UNITED NATIONS – Two rockets hit a headquarters of the U.N. peacekeeping force in southern Lebanon, injuring four Italian peacekeepers, the United Nations says. U.N. spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said the rockets were likely launched by Hezbollah militants or by affiliated groups Friday, impacting a bunker and a logistics area in the southwest headquarters at Chamaa. One of the structures that was hit caught fire, and the blaze was swiftly put out by U.N. staff, he said. According to Italy’s Defense Ministry, some glass shattered due to the explosion, hitting the four soldiers. Dujarric said the four injured peacekeepers were receiving treatment at the medical facility of the mission, known as UNIFIL. “Thankfully, none of the injuries are life-threatening,” he said. Italy’s Defense Minister Guido Crosetto called the attack on the UNIFIL base “intolerable.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace, and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Dujarric said Friday’s attack was the third on Chamaa in a week and came amid heavy shelling and ground skirmishes in the Chamaa and Naqoura areas in recent days. UNIFIL’s main headquarters is in Naqoura. Friday’s attack follows a rocket attack on a UNIFIL base east of the village of Ramyah on Tuesday that injured four peacekeepers from Ghana. Dujarric said UNIFIL strongly urges Hezbollah and its affiliates and Israel to avoid fighting near its positions, which are supposed to be protected. “We remind all parties that any attack against peacekeepers constitutes a serious violation of international law” and the U.N. Security Council resolution that ended the 2006 Israel-Hezbollah war, he said. BEIRUT — Israeli airstrikes hit Beirut’s southern suburbs and the southern port city of Tyre on Friday, after the Israeli army issued several evacuation warnings saying it is targeting Hezbollah sites. The strikes in Beirut came dangerously close to central Beirut and Christian neighborhoods. One strike hit a building housing a gym and medical and beauty clinics, located just meters (yards) from a Lebanese army base. “What is there in the building to target? This attack they carried out on us in this building is a criminal and vile act,” resident Hassan Najdi told The Associated Press. “Because if their intention is targeting Hezbollah, this building has nothing to do with Hezbollah.” Najdi said he purchased an apartment in the building last year but had not yet moved in. He allowed a displaced family to move in and urgently asked them to evacuate after receiving the Israeli warning. The blasts sent plumes of smoke into the air and shattered glass in the vicinity. No casualties have been reported, but the strikes caused damage to nearby infrastructure and a key road connecting central Beirut to its southern suburbs. “We remain steadfast,” said Ali Daher, an employee at a mall facing the targeted building. “Everything that is lost can be replaced, and whatever is destroyed can be rebuilt in (no time).” In Tyre city, the Israeli military conducted multiple airstrikes after a series of warnings, claiming the targets belonged to Hezbollah’s Aziz unit, accusing it of firing projectiles into Israel. The Israeli military carried out other airstrikes across Lebanon, many without warnings, as heavy fighting between Israeli troops and Hezbollah in villages along the Lebanon-Israel border intensified. ROME — Italy said Friday it plans to discuss the arrest warrants issued by the International Criminal Court over the Israel-Hamas war when it hosts Group of Seven foreign ministers next week. Premier Giorgia Meloni insisted that one point remained clear for Italy: “There can be no equivalence between the responsibilities of the state of Israel and the terrorist organization of Hamas.” Italy is a founding member of the court and hosted the 1998 Rome conference that gave birth to it. But Meloni’s right-wing government has been a strong supporter of Israel after the Oct. 7 Hamas attacks, while also providing humanitarian aid for Palestinians in Gaza. In a statement Friday, Meloni said Italy would study the reasonings behind the decision to issue arrest warrants against Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, his former defense minister and Hamas’ military chief. Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Italy respects the ICC and supports it. “But at the same time we are also convinced that the court must have a judicial role, and should not take up a political role.” Tajani will host G7 foreign ministers Monday and Tuesday outside Rome for the final meeting of the Italian G7 presidency. “As far as decisions are concerned, we will take them together with our allies,” Tajani said. During the G7 meetings, “we will talk about this with my allies there, and we will see what to do next.” Another member of the governing coalition, the outspoken Transport Minister Matteo Salvini was more defiant in supporting Israel. “If Netanyahu comes to Italy he will be welcomed,” Salvini was quoted by Italian media as saying. This item has been updated to correct that Salvini spoke of a potential Netanyahu visit to Italy, not Israel. ROME — Four Italian soldiers were slightly injured after two exploding rockets hit the United Nations' peacekeeping mission base on Friday in Chamaa in southern Lebanon, Italy's defense ministry said. Initial information suggested that two rockets hit a bunker and a room of the mission base, damaging the surrounding infrastructure, the ministry said. Shattered glass hit the four soldiers. The incident was the latest in which UN peacekeeping posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded. Defence Minister Guido Crosetto called Friday's attack “intolerable.” He said he will try to speak to the new Israeli Defense Minister to ask him “to avoid using the UNIFIL bases as a shield.” Crosetto said the conditions of the four Italian soldiers “did not cause concern.” He reiterated that the Italian contingent remains in southern Lebanon “to offer a window of opportunity for peace and cannot become hostage to militia attacks.” Italy’s Premier Giorgia Meloni on Friday said she learned about the new attack with “deep indignation and concern.” Meloni reiterated that “such attacks are unacceptable,” renewing her appeal for the parties on the ground “to guarantee, at all times, the safety of UNIFIL soldiers and to collaborate to quickly identify those responsible.” GENEVA — The World Health Organization says nearly half of the attacks on health care in Lebanon have been deadly since the Middle East conflict erupted in October last year, the highest such rate anywhere in the world. The U.N. health agency says 65 out of 137, or 47%, of recorded “attacks on health care” in Lebanon over that time period have proven fatal to at least one person, and often many more. WHO’s running global tally counts attacks, whether deliberate or not, that affect places like hospitals, clinics, medical transport, and warehouses for medical supplies, as well as medics, doctors, nurses and the patients they treat. Nearly half of attacks on health care in Lebanon since last October and the majority of deaths occurred since an intensified Israeli military campaign began against Hezbollah militants in the country two months ago. The health agency said 226 health workers and patients have been killed and 199 injured in Lebanon between Oct. 7, 2023 and this Monday. JERUSALEM — Israel’s new defense minister said Friday that he would stop issuing warrants to arrest West Bank settlers or hold them without charge or trial — a largely symbolic move that rights groups said risks emboldening settler violence in the Israeli-occupied territory. Israel Katz called the arrest warrants “severe” and said issuing them was “inappropriate” as Palestinian militant attacks on settlers in the territory grow more frequent. He said settlers could be “brought to justice” in other ways. The move protects Israeli settlers from being held in “administrative detention,” a shadowy form of incarceration where people are held without charge or trial. Settlers are rarely arrested in the West Bank, where settler violence against Palestinians has spiraled since the outbreak of the war Oct. 7. Katz’s decision was celebrated by far-right coalition allies of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. National Security Minister and settler firebrand Itamar Ben-Gvir applauded Katz and called the move a “correction of many years of mistreatment” and “justice for those who love the land.” Since Oct. 7, 2023, violence toward Palestinians by Israeli settlers has soared to new heights, displacing at least 19 entire Palestinian communities, according to Israeli rights group Peace Now. In that time, attacks by Palestinian militants on settlers and within Israel have also grown more common. An increasing number of Palestinians have been placed in administrative detention. Israel holds 3,443 administrative detainees in prison, according to data from the Israeli Prison Service, reported by rights group Hamoked. That figure stood around 1,200 just before the start of the war. The vast majority of them are Palestinian, with only a handful at any given time Israeli Jews, said Jessica Montell, the director of Hamoked. “All of these detentions without charge or trial are illegitimate, but to declare that this measure will only be used against Palestinians...is to explicitly entrench another form of ethnic discrimination,” said Montell. BERLIN — A German official has suggested that his country would be reluctant to arrest Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on a warrant issued by the International Criminal Court. The ICC’s warrants for Netanyahu and former Defense Minister Yoav Gallant put Germany, a staunch ally of Israel, in an awkward position. The government said in a statement Friday that it is one of the ICC’s biggest supporters, but “at the same time, it is a consequence of German history that unique relations and a great responsibility connect us with Israel.” The government said it takes note of the arrest warrants and that “we will examine conscientiously the domestic steps.” It said that any further steps would only be an issue if a visit by Netanyahu or Gallant were “foreseeable.” Government spokesperson Steffen Hebestreit was pressed repeatedly at a regular news conference on whether it would be conceivable to arrest an Israeli prime minister. He replied: "It’s hard for me to imagine that we would carry out arrests in Germany on this basis.” Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov on Friday refused to comment on the International Criminal Court’s arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and others, saying that the court's rulings are “insignificant” for Russia, which doesn’t recognizes the court’s jurisdiction. The ICC last year issued an arrest warrant for Russian President Vladimir Putin and a number of other top Russian officials, accusing them of war crimes in Ukraine. The Kremlin has brushed off the warrants, saying that in Moscow’s eyes they’re “null and void.” Asked if the ICC warrants for Netanyahu and others can help resolve the tensions in the Middle East, Peskov said: “Well, in general, the actions of the ICC are unlikely to help anything. That’s the first thing. And secondly, we don’t see any point in commenting on this in any way, because for us these rulings are insignificant.” DEIR AL-BALAH, Gaza Strip — Large crowds of displaced people crammed themselves in front of a bakery in the Gaza Strip for the second day in a row, desperate to get their share of bread after bakeries closed for five days due to a flour shortage and the lack of aid. “I am a 61-year-old man. This is the third day that I have come to Zadna Bakery and I still cannot get bread ... I have children to feed,” said Majdi Yaghi, a displaced man from Gaza City. The price of a small bag of pita bread increased to $16 by Friday, a stark increase from about 80 cents last month. A bag of pasta now costs $4 and a small bag of sugar costs nearly $14. That has left many Palestinian families surviving on one meal a day and reliant on charitable kitchens to survive. In Khan Younis, women and children lined up at the al-Dalu charitable kitchen for bulgur, the only food available at the makeshift charity. One of the workers there, Anas al-Dalu, told the AP that they cook ten pots every day of either rice, beans, or bulgur. But that hardly fills the need for the thousands of people displaced in the area. “The charity here is in a difficult situation. It is a drop in the ocean, and there is no aid or charities. There is nothing," said Nour Kanani, a displaced man from Khan Younis. “It is a crisis in every sense of the word. There is no flour, no charities, and no food.” BEIRUT — Israeli troops fought fierce battles with Hezbollah fighters on Friday in different areas in south Lebanon, including a coastal town that is home to the headquarters of U.N. peacekeepers. A spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping force known as UNIFIL told The Associated Press that they are monitoring “heavy clashes” in the coastal town of Naqoura and the village of Chamaa to the northeast. UNIFIL’s headquarters are located in Naqoura in Lebanon’s southern edge close to the border with Israel. “We are aware of heavy shelling in the vicinity of our bases,” UNIFIL spokesperson Andrea Tenenti said. Asked if the peacekeepers and staff at the headquarters are safe, Tenenti said: “Yes for the moment.” Several UNIFIL posts have been hit since Israel began its ground invasion of Lebanon on Oct. 1, leaving a number of peacekeepers wounded.
Stay warm and dry all winter long with these cold-weather running tipsSeeds of successNandkumar M. Kamat The COVID-19 pandemic caused by the coronavirus SARS-COV- 2 created a new lexicon- lockdown, social distance, brain fog, long COVID, etc. Following a public vote in which over 37,000 people had their say, Oxford University announced that the Oxford Word of the Year for 2024 is ‘brain rot’. Defined as the “supposed deterioration of a person’s mental or intellectual state” caused by the overconsumption of trivial online content, brain rot reflects a growing anxiety about the psychological and cognitive toll of excessive internet use. In an era where digital engagement dominates daily life, the phrase encapsulates a societal reckoning with the unintended consequences of our reliance on technology for information, entertainment, and social interaction. While the internet offers unprecedented access to knowledge and connectivity, overindulgence in low-quality digital content poses significant risks to mental well-being, intellectual capacities, and physical health. Although ‘brain rot’ has surged in popularity recently, the concept is not new. The phrase dates back to American philosopher Henry David Thoreau, who, in his 1854 memoir ‘Walden’, warned against the intellectual stagnation that arises from society’s preference for superficial engagement over meaningful reflection. In the 21st century, the term has been repurposed to describe the cognitive decline attributed to overindulgence in digital distractions. The rise of platforms like TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube has provided fertile ground for this phenomenon. Their algorithms encourage endless scrolling through bite-sized, visually engaging, and often trivial content. This environment is particularly influential among Generation Z and Generation Alpha, who have grown up immersed in a digital ecosystem that prioritises immediate gratification and rapid consumption. The resurgence of ‘brain rot’ as a cultural concern is underscored by its staggering 230% increase in usage between 2023 and 2024. The term encapsulates behaviours such as ‘doomscrolling’, where users compulsively consume distressing or meaningless online material. While often framed humorously by younger users, the term reflects a genuine awareness of how digital habits can erode mental focus, critical thinking, and overall well-being. The effects of brain rot extend beyond humour and cultural memes. Psychologists and neuroscientists have highlighted how excessive screen time and overexposure to trivial digital content can lead to a range of cognitive and psychological issues. One of the most visible effects is a decrease in attention span. Research indicates that platforms offering short-form content, like TikTok, condition users to expect constant stimulation, making it challenging to focus on longer or more complex tasks. This fragmented attention undermines the brain’s ability to engage in deep, meaningful thought — a phenomenon Nicholas Carr described in his book ‘The Shallows: What the Internet Is Doing to Our Brains’. Carr argued that “the internet is chipping away our capacity for concentration and contemplation”. Another significant concern is the impact on mental health. The phenomenon of social comparison, exacerbated by the curated and often idealised content on social media, can lead to feelings of inadequacy, reduced self-esteem, and even depression. Users are frequently bombarded with unattainable images and lifestyles for the average person, fostering a pervasive sense of dissatisfaction. Coupled with the compulsive nature of doomscrolling, these behaviours create a feedback loop that reinforces anxiety and stress. Beyond cognitive and emotional issues, brain rot is linked to physical health problems. Excessive screen time has been shown to cause digital eye strain, neck pain (‘tech neck’), and disrupted sleep patterns due to prolonged exposure to blue light. Sleep disturbances, in turn, exacerbate cognitive decline, impair decision-making, and contribute to mental health challenges. Despite widespread concerns, some researchers caution against overgeneralising the impact of digital consumption. Critics argue that the association between screen time and cognitive decline is often correlational rather than causative. A study from UNSW Sydney found that while excessive screen time correlates with certain negative outcomes, it is difficult to establish direct causation. Moreover, the phenomenon known as the Flynn Effect—where average IQ scores have risen over the past century—suggests that cognitive abilities are not necessarily deteriorating despite increased digital engagement. These findings highlight the complexity of understanding how technology shapes the brain, indicating that individual outcomes may vary based on content quality, user habits, and personal resilience. Addressing the challenges posed by brain rot requires a multi-faceted approach that empowers individuals to regain control over their digital consumption. One effective strategy is the practice of digital detoxing, where individuals intentionally disengage from digital devices for specified periods. Activities like reading, spending time in nature, or participating in face-to-face social interactions provide meaningful alternatives that promote cognitive and emotional well-being. Mindful consumption is another crucial strategy. Users can mitigate the adverse effects of trivial digital engagement by curating online content to include educational, substantive, and enriching material. Setting time limits for social media use and avoiding addictive design features like infinite scrolling can also foster healthier habits. For younger generations, parental guidance is essential. Encouraging screen-free activities, setting clear boundaries for device use, and fostering open discussions about the impact of social media can help children develop a balanced relationship with technology. Educational initiatives also play a pivotal role in addressing brain rot. Schools and universities can incorporate digital literacy programmes that teach students about the risks of excessive digital consumption and the importance of critical thinking in navigating online content. These initiatives not only equip individuals to make informed choices but also help create a broader cultural shift toward healthier digital habits. The recognition of ‘brain rot’ as a cultural phenomenon in 2024 reflects a pivotal moment in the relationship between humanity and technology. As digital platforms evolve, the potential for cognitive and psychological harm will likely increase unless proactive measures are taken. Integrating artificial intelligence, augmented reality, and other emerging technologies into everyday life could amplify the risks of overconsumption and mental stagnation. Nicholas Carr’s warning in ‘The Shallows’ remains relevant: “As we rely on computers to mediate our understanding of the world, it is our intelligence that flattens into artificial intelligence.” The future of brain rot also raises questions about societal priorities. Will pursuing digital convenience and entertainment continue to overshadow the importance of intellectual growth and mental health? Or will society embrace a more balanced approach that prioritises mindfulness, education, and well-being? The answers to these questions will shape not only individual lives but also the trajectory of human culture in an increasingly digital world. As we move forward, it is imperative to foster a critical dialogue about the role of technology in our lives and to cultivate habits that support sustained cognitive and emotional health. In doing so, we can harness the benefits of the digital age without succumbing to its pitfalls. For the youth and students of Goa, the challenges of brain rot are especially pertinent. Social media addiction and the constant influx of trivial digital content threaten to undermine this tech-savvy generation’s intellectual and creative potential. Goa’s rich heritage, natural beauty, and vibrant community offer opportunities to counter these risks. Young Goans must balance their digital lives with activities that foster deeper connections, intellectual growth, and a sense of purpose.
College Football Rivalry Game Tickets Approaching 'Super Bowl' PricesSrinagar, Nov 21: Bharti Airtel has launched an innovative AI-powered spam detection system that has significantly reduced unwanted communications for customers in Jammu and Kashmir. The solution has identified 128 million potential spam calls and blocked 8 million spam SMS messages within 54 days of launch, providing free, automatic protection for all Airtel mobile customers. Adarsh Verma, Chief Operating Officer for Jammu & Kashmir, emphasized the system’s importance in combating digital threats. Developed in-house by Airtel’s data scientists, the proprietary algorithm analyzes caller usage patterns, call frequencies, and durations to identify suspicious communications. The technological solution features a dual-layered protection system operating across network and IT layers, processing 1.5 billion messages and 2.5 billion calls in just two milliseconds. Its capabilities include a centralized database of blacklisted URLs, real-time SMS link scanning, and anomaly detection like frequent IMEI changes. Serving Airtel’s 6.1 million customers in the region, the AI-driven system offers comprehensive protection against evolving spam and fraud threats, representing a significant advancement in telecommunications security. The solution automatically shields customers without requiring additional downloads or service requests, demonstrating Airtel’s commitment to enhancing digital safety through advanced technological innovation.Since 2011, Lidia Bastianich, one of the most celebrated chefs in the country, has crisscrossed the country for her PBS show, Lidia Celebrates America . The show shines a light on the rich diversity of cultures that make up America, sharing the stories and food from communities across the country. Lidia Celebrates America: Changemakers , the latest installment of the James Beard Award-winning and Emmy-nominated show, premiered last night, just in time for Thanksgiving. It's the perfect show to watch over the long weekend (stream it on PBS.org , YouTube and the PBS app) and a great reminder of the people and places that make up this diverse country—and some of them might be near you. In Changemakers , Bastianich visits folks in Minnesota, Virginia and California to experience how they're working with food in their next of the woods. As Lidia visited with these people, she was inspired by "the genuine interest in making America and the world a better place." Related: The Trick to the Best-Ever Chicken Parm, According to Chef Lidia Bastianich PBS The show highlights an urban farming association, a couple who is trying to convince Americans to eat more crickets, an Appalachian chef who is elevating the food of the Shenandoah Valley, a group that delivers free produce to improve healthy food access and Sean Sherman, an award-winning chef who runs The Indigenous Food Lab Market in Minneapolis. Sherman hosted all of the series stars for a celebratory meal at Owamni, his restaurant. Recently, we had the pleasure of chatting with Bastianich about Changemakers, which is definitely on our must-watch list . And because Thanksgiving was on the horizon (and is now here!), we also talked a bit about the classic American feast—and how Bastianich adds her own personal twist to the meal, including a genius turkey tip we're 100% stealing. 😋😋 SIGN UP to get delicious recipes, handy kitchen hacks & more in our daily Pop Kitchen newsletter 🍳 🍔 bhofack2/Getty Images How to Make a Roast Turkey Like Lidia Bastianich When Lidia started describing her next-level turkey we couldn't take notes quickly enough. From what we can tell, this Roast Turkey and Pan Sauce With a Reduced Balsamic Glaze on her website is very similar to what she described to us if you're looking for a more detailed breakdown. One thing we loved about this turkey is that you could use all of Lidia's tips or pick and choose which aspects work best for you. (We're definitely keeping the balsamic glaze idea in our back pocket.) Here's what you need to know. • Use it all. Lidia likes to put the giblets (the bits that are in that little bag inside the turkey cavity) in the bottom of the roasting pan, along with the turkey neck. Those parts will add tons of flavor to the pan juices. • V eg it up. Add some carrots, onions, mushrooms (or dried porcini powder) and celery to the roasting pan along with the turkey bits. If there are leaves on the celery, toss those in too. • Turn water and wine into stock. Instead of stock, Lidia likes to add water and some wine to the bottom of the roasting pan. "Everybody says to add stock," she says, "but it'll make its own stock as it roasts." • Season the inside, too. Lidia prefers to make stuffing outside the bird, but she's not leaving the cavity empty. She tosses in rosemary, garlic, cut-up lemons and odds and ends that you might have hanging around at Thanksgiving, like parsley stalks. • Roasting time: Add some stock to the roasting pan, tent the turkey with foil and roast at 375° for two hours. Uncover the turkey, baste with the pan juices and let it cook, basting every 30 minutes, until the skin and browned and the meat reaches 165° on a thermometer. • Make waste-not gravy: When the turkey is done, remove it to a baking sheet and tent it with foil while you work on the gravy. (Leave the oven on. You're going to need it in a minute.) Transfer the turkey neck and giblets to a saucepan (leave the liver in the roasting pan). Using a potato masher, mash everything in the pan together and strain what's in the roasting pan into the saucepan. Bring this mixture to a boil and let it reduce to your desired thickness. Related: We Tried 17 Different Kinds of Store-Bought Gravy and You Can Buy the Winner at Walmart • Give the bird an Italian flair. If you use one tip from this recipe, we think this is the one. Lidia adds flavor and flair to her turkey by brushing it with a balsamic reduction, then puts it back in the oven for a few minutes. She suggests making your own balsamic reduction by boiling down balsamic vinegar (a decent supermarket brand is fine for this), a bit of honey and a bay leaf. You can make the reduction ahead of time or while the turkey roasts. You want to cook the vinegar until it's a third of its original volume and the consistency of molasses. In Lidia's recipe, she uses 1 pint of balsamic, 1 tablespoon of honey and 1 bay leaf. Strain the syrup when it's done reducing. Brush some of the glaze on the turkey in a smooth coat and return to the oven (on the baking sheet, of course) until it's glazed and gorgeous, which should take 10 to 15 minutes. Any leftover balsamic glaze will keep for a long time in the fridge. It will be thicker when it's chilled, but you can warm it up in the microwave or leave it at room temperature for a while. Lidia likes to drizzle it over roasted vegetables (butternut or acorn squash are some of her go-to's for Thanksgiving), cheeses and fruit, especially strawberries. Up Next: Related: The Absolute Best Way to Roast a Turkey, According to a 4th Generation Turkey Farmer
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