Topic Reading-Vol.4594-11/21/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

AI means anyone can be a victim of deepfake porn. Here’s how to protect yourself

Deepfakes are images, videos, or audio that are edited or created by using artificial intelligence tools to depict real or non-existent persons. As AI becomes more capable and agentic, anyone could be a victim of a nonconsensual deepfake. Artificial intelligence tools can easily superimpose someone's face onto a nude body or manipulate a photo to a porn image or video. So, a deepfake photo or video of you, your child, or your friend might one day show up on the Internet without your consent or knowledge. Though you may not be able to prevent such a malicious act, you can still report it to platforms like Google or Meta and request the removal of such images. To do that, you need evidence like a screenshot even though you hate to see it. Also in some countries, there are government or non-profit institutions that help facilitate the removal of such images. How soon will AI prevent or remove such deepfakes from the Internet?

Read the article and learn about AI-created deepfake images.

https://edition.cnn.com/2024/11/12/tech/ai-deepfake-porn-advice-terms-of-service-wellness/index.html

Topic Reading-Vol.4593-11/20/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Whose döner kebab? Why the beloved late-night snack is at the centre of a meat-fuelled food fight

Doner kebab is a dish of Turkish origin made of meat, usually beef, cooked on a vertical rotisserie, a special kind of oven that keeps meat turning constantly as it cooks. The sliced meat may be served on a plate, stuffed into bread like pita as a sandwich, or wrapped in thin flatbread. In the Ottoman Empire, stacks of seasoned sliced meat were cooked on a horizontal rotisserie but in the mid-19th century, the vertical rotisserie became popular. In the 1970s, the modern sandwich variant of doner kebab was created by Turkish immigrants in Berlin. Today, it is one of the most popular sandwiches for Berliners, and over 1,000 doner kebab shops serve their appetites. Recently, the Turkish government demanded doner kebabs should be recognized as a Turkish specialty and Berlin’s portable version should not be called doner kebabs. Kebabs used to be sheep meat roasted on a horizontal rotisserie, but now it is beef on a vertical rotisserie. In Turkey, the width and thickness of the meat, the amount of animal fat, yogurt/milk, onion, salt, thyme, and types of peppers are all regulated to be called doner kebab. People enjoy not only the original or traditional food but also variations and ethnic foods. Will today’s authentic dish never evolve?

Read the article and learn what authentic doner kebab is about.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241028-the-meat-fuelled-food-fight-between-turkey-and-germany

Topic Reading-Vol.4592-11/19/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why luxury cheese is being targeted by black market criminals

When something becomes excessively valuable because of conflicts, shortages, sanctions, or inflation, criminal activities like thefts, counter-faking, and the black market increase. Recently, premium cheese is one such item that has been targeted. The whole process of stealing cheese in bulk, transporting, and selling it is a complicated procedure as it is bulky and must be kept at specific temperatures and conditions. One likely market for premium cheese stolen from the UK and EU countries is Russia, which bans imports of fresh produce from the countries that have imposed sanctions on Russia since it invaded Ukraine. Also for drug dealers, premium food is another item that they could make use of their trading network to generate handsome profits without as severe convictions as drugs. One thing consumers have to be careful about is counterfeited cheeses, which might contain dangerous ingredients to make them look and taste like genuine ones. Next time you consider buying premium cheese, you may want to check the authenticity of the label, description, and origin more carefully.

Read the article and learn about how premium cheese is valued in the black market nowadays.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crmz42pjpnjo

Topic Reading-Vol.4591-11/18/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Pictures from space show mighty smog choking Lahore

With a population of 13 million, Lahore in Punjab province is the second largest city in Pakistan. It has been the historic capital and cultural center in the region and is now a major industrial, educational, and economic hub. But sadly, Lahore is known as the world’s most air-polluted city, especially in November and December. According to the Air Quality Index (AQI), a value above 300 signals hazardous air quality. Starting from earlier this month, the index of some locations in Lahore exceeded 1,000 repeatedly. The thick layer of smog and fires in Pakistan’s Punjab province and nearby India’s Dehli are seen in satellite images. One of the fundamental factors is industrial emissions from factories, power plants, and vehicles, especially outdated ones. Also this time of year, farmers in the region and in northern India burn crop residue after harvesting, which releases large amounts of pollutants into the air. Geographically, Lahore's location in a relatively enclosed geographic area can hinder the dispersal of pollutants. Along with the cold air flowing down from Tibet that traps pollutants near the ground, Lahore’s air quality has become so bad that offices and schools have been forced to close and hospitals have been crowded with people with breathing difficulties. This is not new to this year but the situation has become just worse in not only the Punjab region but also northern India, particularly in Delhi. Indeed, environmental problems must be tackled beyond national borders, religions, races, and politics because we all breathe the same air.

Read the article and learn about Lahore’s air pollution. 

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cm20k76d5xno

Topic Reading-Vol.4590-11/17/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

What is the Paris climate agreement and why does 1.5C matter?

This year, global temperatures are going to be 1.5C warmer than pre-industrial times, the benchmark period of 1850-1900, the time before human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases significantly impacted global temperatures. (Vol.4589). Why is a 1.5C increase seen as crucial to avoid damaging impacts on our planet and our lives? For example, there will be longer and more severe heatwaves, more intense storms and wildfires, and more frequent floods and droughts. Also, as ice sheets and glaciers melt in polar regions, sea level will rise further. As a result, the natural environment and ecological systems will be severely affected. We’ve already witnessed and experienced extreme weather conditions in the last few years. What have we done and what should we do to avoid catastrophic damage to the lives and environment of the world?

Read the article and learn how seriously the world is becoming warmer.

https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-35073297

Topic Reading-Vol.4589-11/16/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

This year set to be first to breach 1.5C global warming limit

2023 was the hottest year on record, about 1.48C warmer than pre-industrial times, the benchmark period of 1850-1900, the time before human-caused emissions of greenhouse gases significantly impacted global temperatures. The first 10 months of this year have been even hotter, and this calendar year is going to be 1.55C warmer than the benchmark. The warmer climate of this year is partly due to natural factors like the El Niño weather pattern, which raises sea surface temperatures over the tropical Pacific Ocean. World leaders pledged to limit long-term temperature rises to 1.5C at the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21). Only less than a decade later, the goal was breached. Even though La Niña, cooler sea surface temperatures over the Pacific Ocean is expected to be developing now, it is uncertain how much it will impact the temperatures next year. China, the USA, and India are the top three greenhouse gas emitters, and combined, they represent nearly 40% of the world population and produce about half of global gas emissions. Their initiatives and actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions are essential to curb global warming.

Read the article and see the graphics to learn how fast the planet has been warming recently.

https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c1dpnxnvv2go

Topic Reading-Vol.4588-11/15/2024

Dear MEL Topic Readers, 

Why coffee could be good for your health

Is drinking coffee good for your health? How much is too much? Which type of coffee is better than others, decaffeinated, espresso, instant, or regular?  Is drinking coffee black better than adding milk, cream, or sugar?  Studies have found that those who drink coffee of any kind seem to have a lower risk of dying from heart disease, stroke, and cancer, provided that the individual is not engaged in unhealthy diets or smoking. There are too many factors to find which type of coffee or how to drink it has more positive effects on our health but in general, coffee doesn’t bring any health problems. However, coffee does affect our brain and nervous system because it is rich in caffeine. And if you put sugar into every cup of coffee you drink, it adds up. So, just like any other food or drink, take it moderately, you’ll enjoy more benefits of coffee for your health and mind.

Read the article and learn about the benefits of drinking coffee.

https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20201028-the-benefits-of-coffee-is-coffee-good-for-health