Lemdro.id

It seemed really surreal to me so I asked about it, apparently they have hours for people on the spectrum to make it more comfortable for them. As far as I know, I'm not on the spectrum but this environment was soooooo calming. It was like being at a spa. Is this not something everyone enjoys or should I consider getting checked out for autism??

Hey there Lemmerds,

After years of hard work, today we released a big expansion to our game which mainly includes Nord faction and sea battles. If you're looking for some good action, good sandbox and awesome ship fights, you might want to check it.

Alongside, we're releasing 1.3 patch after a long while, which brings a giant deal of changes.

Hope you enjoy it!

Haben unsere Vorfahren nach einer erfolgreichen Dönersaurier-Jagd auch diese tiefe und entspannende Momente des Glücks verspürt?

@dach

#tiefenentspannt #döner #glücklich #dopamin #entspannung #feuerstelle

Mountains share many characteristics with Arctic regions and are experiencing similarly rapid changes,(...) both environments are losing snow and ice rapidly and are seeing profound changes in ecosystems.

The implications extend far beyond mountain communities. Over one billion people worldwide depend on mountain snow and glaciers for water, including in China and India - the world's two largest countries by population - who receive water from the Himalayas.

The study: Elevation-dependent climate change in mountain environments

London (AFP) – The co-founder of activist group Palestine Action will Wednesday challenge a UK government ban under anti-terror laws that has led to mass arrests, sparking free speech and civil liberties concerns.

United Nations human rights chief Volker Turk has said the ban "appears disproportionate and unnecessary", while Europe's human rights watchdog, the Council of Europe, criticised "excessive limits" on the right to protest.

The UK government proscribed the pro-Palestinian group in July days after activists, protesting the war in Gaza, broke into an air force base in southern England.

Prosecutors have said they caused an estimated £7 million ($9.3 million) of damage to two aircraft at the base.

The legal action brought by the group's co-founder Huda Ammori at London's High Court is expected to last Wednesday and Thursday, with a third day to be set at a later stage.

The ban -- which makes being a member of the group or inviting support for it a serious criminal offence punishable by up to 14 years in prison -- has resulted in at least 2,300 arrests, according to protest organisers Defend Our Juries.

Those arrested include students, teachers, pensioners and even an 83-year-old retired vicar, with many carried away from the protests by police.

According to London's Met Police, so far 254 people have been charged with a lesser offence which carries a sentence of up to six months.

The proscription under the Terrorism Act 2000 means the group has been added to a list that also includes Al-Qaeda and Hezbollah.

The interior ministry, or Home Office, has accused Palestine Action of conducting an "escalating campaign" involving "sustained criminal damage", including to Britain's national security infrastructure.

It also accuses the group of "intimidation, alleged violence and serious injuries".

At a court hearing on Thursday, prosecutors alleged a Palestine Action activist struck a police officer with a sledgehammer at an Israel-based defence firm's UK site after breaking into the factory in western Bristol in August.

Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper, defending the ban in August, said some supporters of the group "don't know the full nature of this organisation because of court restrictions on reporting while serious prosecutions are under way".

"But it's really important that no-one is in any doubt that this is not a non-violent organisation," she said, adding the government had received "clear security assessments and advice" before opting for a ban.

Set up in 2020, the group's stated goal on its now-blocked website is to end "global participation in Israel's genocidal and apartheid regime".

It has mainly targeted weapons factories, especially those belonging to the Israeli defence group Elbit.

Since the ban came into force on July 5, protesters have held a string of rallies at which they have held up signs saying: "I oppose genocide, I support Palestine Action".

Award-winning British film director Ken Loach has called the ban on Palestine Action "absurd" and accused the government of being complicit in Israel's "incredible crimes" in Gaza.

"This level of political repression is not what we expect in a democracy -- it's the kind of tactic typically associated with authoritarian regimes around the world," a spokesperson for Defend Our Juries said.

Areeba Hamid, co-executive director of Greenpeace UK, said the government had broken past pledges that the Terrorism Act would not be used to prosecute people taking direct action.

"Classifying a protest group as a 'terrorist organisation' should send a chill down your spine," Hamid said.

"Progressive change is rarely made by any government without pressure from the public, and removing our right to protest is an erosion of democracy."

Warsaw (AFP) – Fighting for control of Pokrovsk in Ukraine's east is raging on, but in pro-Russian social media circles, Moscow has already won: viral, AI-generated videos depict a Ukrainian army in retreat, complete with fake, tearful soldiers.

Russia has been trying to capture the logistics hub in the eastern Donetsk region for more than a year, intensifying its assault in recent weeks and closing in on its outskirts in a pincer-shaped movement, according to battlefield maps published by the Institute for the Study of War.

Although the battle continues, a series of viral social media posts tell a different story: dozens of AI-generated videos of Ukrainian soldiers surrendering their weapons or weeping on their way to the front circulated on social media in November, clocking up millions of views.

The fake videos are part of a "broader narrative that we've seen since the beginning of the invasion, with (Ukrainian President Volodymyr) Zelensky sending the young and elderly to the front line against their will because they are not doing well", said Pablo Maristany de las Casas, an analyst for the Institute for Strategic Dialogue.

"There is always an event on which one can build false information," added Carole Grimaud, a researcher at France's Aix-Marseille University.

The videos "instrumentalise uncertainty to sow doubt in public opinion", she told AFP.

In one video, a Ukrainian soldier claiming to be "leaving Pokrovsk" walks without difficulty despite a cast on his leg. A stretcher appears to levitate, and disembodied legs fade in and out of the background.

These visual inconsistencies remain typical of content created by generative artificial intelligence, but they are becoming increasingly difficult to spot with the naked eye.

Other fake videos, some bearing the logo of OpenAI's Sora video creation tool, show soldiers in Ukrainian uniforms crying and begging not to be sent to the front.

Some of them appeared to use the faces of Russian online streamers.

Among those was exiled Russian YouTuber Alexei Gubanov, whose likeness appeared in a fake video of a Ukrainian soldier weeping.

"Obviously it's not me," he said in a YouTube video.

"Unfortunately, a lot of people believe this... and that plays into the hands of Russian propaganda."

The European Digital Media Observatory, an EU-funded network of fact-checking organisations, says its community has published more than 2,000 articles related to the Ukraine war since Russia invaded in 2022, and AI has become an increasingly prevalent topic.

Ian Garner, a specialist in Russian propaganda at the Pilecki Institute, said disinformation is "an old tactic, but the technology is new".

The videos work by "chipping away at Ukrainian morale, saying: 'Look, this is somebody just like you, it could be your brother, your father'", he said.

Meanwhile, they boost Russian morale, he added.

TikTok told AFP that the accounts appearing to be behind these videos had been deleted, but not before one of them garnered more than 300,000 "likes" and several million views.

OpenAI told AFP it had conducted an investigation, without elaborating.

But this hasn't stopped the videos from circulating.

AFP found them, among other places, on Instagram, Telegram, Facebook and X in posts in Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Czech, Polish and French; on the website of a Russian weekly; and in a Serbian tabloid.

The impact of a fake video is difficult to measure, but "when it is repeated, it is possible that people's perceptions change", Grimaud said.

AI chatbots are also being used to promote pro-Kremlin talking points.

An Institute for Strategic Dialogue study published in October showed that among the chatbots tested, "almost one-fifth of responses cited Russian state-attributed sources".

While some companies have shown a willingness to combat the misuse of their tools, said Maristany de las Casas, "the scale and impact of information warfare outpace the companies' responses".

Bangkok (AFP) – A Thai court has issued an arrest warrant for the media mogul co-owner of the Miss Universe beauty pageant over alleged fraud worth $930,000, a court official told AFP on Wednesday.

This year's Miss Universe contest concluded last week after a streak of scandal including a tantrum by the host and allegations of sexism.

But after Miss Mexico was crowned winner, a fresh outrage has hit Anne Jakapong Jakrajutatip -- whose JKN Global Group co-owns the contest.

The South Bangkok Civil Court issued a warrant for Jakapong on Tuesday after a plastic surgeon accused her of fraud and concealing information when persuading him to invest in JKN in 2023.

"The defendant invited (the plaintiff) to invest knowing her inability to return the money within the appointed time," said a court statement shared with AFP on Wednesday.

A verdict in the 30 million baht ($930,000) case was scheduled Tuesday, but Jakapong failed to appear in court and the warrant was issued because her behaviour "could be interpreted as fleeing", it said.

The court has rescheduled the verdict to December 26, but some local media reported Jakapong had left for Mexico amid rumours of mounting financial woes.

The Miss Universe Organization said in a statement earlier this year "these legal proceedings are entirely separate" from its operations.

Miss Universe 2025 wrapped up in Bangkok on Friday, after drama stirred by a public bust-up between a male competition host and the eventually victorious Miss Mexico, Fatima Bosch.

In a livestreamed event, the host singled her out for failing to post promotional content and allegedly called her "dumb", prompting Bosch to lead a walk-out.

He apologised after a weepy news conference, though his behaviour drew the attention of Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum who praised her compatriot for speaking out.

The Miss Universe contest was formerly owned by US President Donald Trump.

Jakapong's JKN Global Group bought it for $20 million in 2022, but later sold half its stake to Mexican firm Legacy Holding Group USA for $16 million.

In 2024, the Stock Exchange of Thailand delisted JKN shares after the company failed to submit financial statements and was found to have falsified them.

Italian police raided two Amazon sites on Monday as part of a growing investigation into alleged customs and tax fraud involving Chinese imports, three sources with direct knowledge of the case said.

Prosecutors suspect the e-commerce giant acted like a "Trojan horse", bringing Chinese goods into Italy without paying sales taxes or customs duties, according to a court document.

...

The scheme could have cost the state hundreds of millions of euros and may extend across the European Union, sources said.

Dozens of officers from the Guardia di Finanza and the customs agency seized around 5,000 products at a logistics hub operated by the e-commerce giant in Cividate al Piano, in the northern province of Bergamo, the sources said.

At Amazon’s Italian headquarters in central Milan, police seized IT equipment and identified the manager responsible for the movement of goods within Italy.

...

This is really worth reading in full if you had a single doubt about what Farage is.

Assistant Professor of Biomolecular Engineering Tal Sharf’s lab used organoids to make fundamental discoveries about human brain development.

Artist: Neg | pixiv | twitter | danbooru

Full quality: .jpg 3 MB (2480 × 3508)

Bethlehem (Palestinian Territories) (AFP) – The popemobile used by the late pope Francis on his 2014 visit to Bethlehem re-emerged on Tuesday as a mobile children's clinic to be deployed in Gaza.

The vehicle is still unmistakeable as a popemobile: pristine white inside and out, and with the familiar raised canopy.

But instead of transporting the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Roman Catholics, the re-branded "Vehicle of Hope" is now set to serve in the war-battered Gaza Strip, in accordance with the late pope's wishes.

It was unveiled in Bethlehem in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, around the corner from the Church of the Nativity and Manger Square, where preparations are well underway for Christmas.

"The Vehicle of Hope is ready for its new mission," Cardinal Anders Arborelius, the Bishop of Stockholm, told a press conference, after blessing the vehicle.

"We want every child we reach to feel seen, heard and protected. The rights and well-being of the child come first.

"This vehicle stands as a testament: the world has not forgotten the children of Gaza.

"This is not just a vehicle: it's a message of compassion, dignity and hope."

Staffed by medics, the popemobile is intended for performing triage and is equipped for examination, diagnosis and treatment, including vaccines, stitches and tests for infections.

The clinic should be able to perform up to 200 consultations a day. The children will sit in the pontiff's chair while being attended to.

In May 2014, Francis visited Amman, Bethlehem and Jerusalem, on his second international visit as pontiff. The popemobile was used as he toured Bethlehem, greeting the crowds gathered in Manger Square.

A gift from the Palestinian president Mahmud Abbas, the converted Mitsubishi was later given to Franciscan friars.

Pope Francis died on April 21 aged 88, and his final wish for Gaza's children was that the popemobile should become a mobile health unit, the official Vatican News portal said in May.

The vehicle was transformed by Caritas, the Catholic humanitarian aid organisation. Costing $15,000, it has been repurposed and spruced up by Palestinian mechanics. The open sides have been screened off.

"The children of Gaza were very close to the heart of pope Francis," said Peter Brune, secretary general of the Caritas Sweden branch.

"They will sit on the seat of the pope, and be treated like the most valuable person on Earth."

However, there is no date yet as to when it might receive Israeli authorisation to enter Gaza, where a fragile truce between Israel and Hamas came into effect on October 10 after two years of war that devastated healthcare in the Palestinian territory.

"As with all humanitarian assistance, we urgently need access to Gaza," Caritas secretary general Alistair Dutton told AFP.

"We're working through the official channels to get this in as quickly as possible."

Sydney (AFP) – An internet rights group launched a legal challenge Wednesday to halt world-first Australian laws that will soon ban under-16s from social media.

From December 10, Australia will force the likes of Facebook, Instagram and TikTok to remove all users under the age of 16 or face hefty fines.

The Digital Freedom Project said it had challenged these laws in Australia's High Court, arguing they were an "unfair" assault on freedom of speech.

"This ban is a direct assault on young people's right to freedom of political communication" the Digital Freedom Project said in a statement.

The group said it filed the legal case along with two 15-year-olds to represent millions of young Australians who would lose their access to the "modern town square".

"We are the true digital natives and we want to remain educated, robust, and savvy in our digital world," said one of those plaintiffs, Noah Jones.

"We're disappointed in a lazy government that blanket bans under-16s rather than investing in programs to help kids be safe on social media."

There is keen interest in whether Australia's sweeping restrictions can work as regulators around the globe wrestle with the dangers of social media.

Australia's Communications Minister Anika Wells said the government would not back down.

"We will not be intimidated by threats," Wells told parliament on Wednesday.

"We will not be intimidated by legal challenges. We will not be intimidated by big tech."

Hundreds of thousands of adolescents are expected to be impacted, with Instagram alone reporting about 350,000 Australian users aged 13 to 15.

Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has started deactivating accounts based on information such as the age given when they were created.

Facebook, Instagram, Snapchat and TikTok are covered by the ban, as are streaming platforms Kick and Twitch.

Other popular apps and websites such as Roblox, Pinterest and WhatsApp are currently exempt -- but the list remains under review.

Social media companies have previously described the laws as "vague", "problematic" and "rushed".

The Australian government concedes the ban will be far from perfect at the outset, and some underage users will fall through the cracks as issues are ironed out.

But platforms face the threat of $32 million fines if they fail to take "reasonable steps" to comply.

On paper, the ban is one of the strictest in the world.

But some experts are concerned that the law will be merely symbolic because of the difficulty in implementing and policing online age verification.

Bangkok (AFP) – The death toll from days of widespread flooding in southern Thailand rose to 33 on Wednesday, with tens of thousands displaced in the country and neighbouring Malaysia, officials said.

The Thai government declared a state of emergency in southern Songkhla province on Tuesday, with torrential rains since late last week inundating the tourist hub of Hat Yai and the southern region.

An image from Wednesday published by AFP showed murky brown floodwater submerging streets and ground floors of residential buildings in the city of Hat Yai.

"Authorities say 33 people have died across seven provinces, with causes including flash floods, electrocution and drowning," Thai government spokesman Siripong Angkasakulkiat told reporters.

"The water level is expected to recede in the south," he added.

Severe flooding has spread to seven southern provinces, home to several million people, according to the disaster prevention and mitigation department.

The flooding since last week has stranded residents and travellers in their homes and hotels, with rescuers using boats, jet skis and military trucks amid high floodwaters.

The military has deployed an aircraft carrier and mobilised helicopters to airlift patients to nearby hospitals, the army said.

More than 10,000 people have been evacuated from their homes in Songkhla since last week, the province's public relations department said.

University campuses have been converted into shelters for displaced people.

The Songkhla provincial administration said Wednesday that it had set up food centres capable of distributing up to 20,000 food boxes a day to flood victims.

Thailand regularly records heavy rainfall from June to September, but experts say human-induced climate change has intensified extreme weather, making conditions increasingly unpredictable.

In neighbouring Malaysia, flooding from days of heavy rain swept through eight states, with forecasters predicting more rain in the region in the coming days.

More than 27,000 people were evacuated to dozens of temporary shelters this week, with one death recorded in one of the worst-hit states, Kelantan, on the northeastern coast, according to rescue officials.

The Malaysian Meteorological Department has warned that thunderstorms will continue until Wednesday in the northern states of Perlis, Kedah, Penang and Perak.

Floods are an annual phenomenon in the nation of 34 million people due to the northeast monsoon that brings heavy rain from November to March.

Malaysia's foreign ministry on Tuesday said it was monitoring the flooding across the border after thousands of Malaysian holidaymakers were stranded in hotels in southern Thailand last week.

"Most of the affected Malaysians had been staying in multi-storey hotels and have been accounted for," the ministry said in a statement.

As of Monday, "more than 6,300 Malaysians have safely crossed the border out of Thailand and safely arrived in Malaysia".

Neuroscientists at the University of Cambridge have identified five “major epochs” of brain structure over the course of a human life, as our brains rewire to support different ways of thinking while we grow, mature, and ultimately decline.