China is focusing its powerful internet-data surveillance network on foreign targets—including international journalists and academics. This use of advanced big data mining and artificial intelligence analysis technology is part of Beijing’s effort to refine its propaganda machine. Washington Post has this exclusive.
New rules for Vaishno Devi
After a stampede killed 12 pilgrims at the shrine on January 1, authorities have decided that yatra bookings can now only be done online. Until now, most visitors got their slips to enter the temple on arrival. Why this matters: according to eyewitnesses, 50,000 were at the temple that fateful day—despite Covid rules restricting the number to 35,000. That cap is now likely to be lowered to 25,000. (Indian Express)
Sulli Deals: Version 2.0
Back in July, an app called Sulli Deals scraped photos of hundreds of Muslim women from social media platforms—and essentially pretended to “sell” them (explained here). Despite police complaints, no action was taken against the creators of the app—which was, however, taken down by GitHub. No wonder we now have a new version of the same hateful crime: A webpage called ‘Bulli Bai’—also on GitHub. One of the targets, journalist Ismat Ara, shared the screenshot below:

Once again an FIR has been filed, and the webpage has been taken down. But it may well lead nowhere as it has in the past. Then again, the IT minister has promised action this time around… (The Telegraph)
No cure for that hangover
Here’s the bad news: A review of existing scientific research shows that there is nothing that will get rid of the effects of alcoholic excess. This includes curcumin (found in turmeric), red ginseng, painkillers like loxoprofen and probiotics. The only three to show some promise: clove extract, tolfenamic acid (an NSAID painkiller available in the UK) and pyritinol (an analog of vitamin B6). (Gizmodo)
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