Category Archives: Fake News

In a counterintuitive revelation, a recent study challenges the widely held belief that searching online to scrutinize misinformation would decrease belief in false narratives. Instead, the research, featured in the journal Nature, unveils a surprising outcome: the act of online fact-checking paradoxically heightens the probability of believing in misinformation.

Led by Kevin Aslett, an assistant professor at the University of Central Florida and faculty research affiliate at New York Universitys Center for Social Media and Politics (CSMaP), the study offers fresh insights into the impact of search engines on their usersan area of inquiry that has been relatively underexplored.

Zeve Sanderson, the founding executive director of CSMaP and one of the paper's authors, emphasizes the unexpected trend: "Our study shows that the act of searching online to evaluate news increases belief in highly popular misinformationand by notable amounts."

The researchers attribute this counterintuitive outcome to the quality of search-engine outputs. The study indicates that this phenomenon is more prevalent among individuals for whom search engines return lower-quality information, pointing to the notion of "data voids"areas dominated by low-quality or false news, potentially influencing the online search process.

The Nature study employed a series of five experiments to gauge the impact of online search engines in evaluating false or misleading views - a behavior endorsed by technology companies and government agencies. Participants were recruited through platforms like Qualtrics and Amazons Mechanical Turk for experiments designed to assess the effects of searching online to evaluate news (SOTEN).

The key aspects investigated in the first four studies included:

1. The immediate impact of SOTEN on belief in false or misleading and true news shortly after publication.2. Whether SOTEN could alter an individual's assessment after they had already evaluated the veracity of a news story.3. The persistent effect of SOTEN months after publication.4. The impact of SOTEN on recent news about a significant topic with substantial news coverage, focusing on the COVID-19 pandemic.

A fifth study combined a survey with web-tracking data to identify the effect of exposure to both low- and high-quality search-engine results on belief in misinformation. This approach, utilizing a custom web browser plug-in to collect search results, shed light on how the quality of search results influences users' beliefs in misinformation. The study incorporated source credibility ratings determined by NewsGuard, a browser extension that assesses the trustworthiness of online content.

The collective findings across the five studies revealed a consistent and statistically significant increase in belief in misinformation when individuals engaged in the act of searching online to evaluate news. Importantly, this effect persisted regardless of the time elapsed since the publication of misinformation, challenging assumptions that fact checks would mitigate its impact over time.

Professor Joshua A. Tucker, co-director of CSMaP and one of the paper's authors, underscores the implications: "The findings highlight the need for media literacy programs to ground recommendations in empirically tested interventions and search engines to invest in solutions to the challenges identified by this research."

As the paradox unfolds, the study not only prompts a reevaluation of common assumptions but also underscores the critical intersection of technology, user behavior, and the dissemination of information in the online landscape.

Go here to read the rest:

Unsure if news is true? You may be more likely to believe misinformation - The Jerusalem Post

With AI on an upswing, experts break down the factors that are crucial in curbing fake news.

There is a rise in online news consumption. But online is also the place where deception and trickery run rampant. Fake news, folks. It is always around the corner.

In all fairness, audiences are rowing past the turbulent seas of misinformation with a certain degree of awareness. Could the rise in news consumption, and the advent of artificial intelligence come together to dismantle the web of lies that surrounds online news consumption? Or is the power of new tech only going to empower the foul players in the game?

In a panel discussion, held at The Future of News 2023, hosted by afaqs!, industry experts dissected the dichotomy of fake news. The speakers on the panel included Gaurav Arora, COO, Jagran New Media; Deepit Purkayastha, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Inshorts; Rakesh Dubbudu, founder and CEO, Factly; Varun Kohli, director and CEO, Bharat Express News Network.

Gaurav Arora, who is the COO at Jaran New Media, is of the opinion that the rise of AI is only going to amplify the mischief in the news world. He says, Misinformation and disinformation have been there for a long time. theyve only amplified with time. With AI kicking in, it's so much easier to create any sort of content, and if your intent is malicious there are no limits to what you can do.

As per Arora, the recent examples of AI misuse serve as a stark reminder of how new tech can fall into the wrong hands. He says, So, it's a no-brainer that this menace of misinformation and disinformation with deep fakes is going to amplify many times and we have to be very careful of what we consume. As part of the media, it is our duty to put in checks and balances to separate the right from wrong.

Tech innovators are deploying advanced algorithms and machine learning to fortify the digital ramparts against fake news. Social media platforms, often criticised for amplifying misinformation, are now integrating AI algorithms to identify and flag dubious content. Fact-checking tools, powered by artificial intelligence, are at the forefront of the battle, providing real-time insights into the authenticity of news articles. But does this all amount to a significant halt in fake news?

Deepit Purkayastha, co-founder and chief strategy officer, Inshorts, points out that issues of malicious use of technology are always going to be prevalent. He says, Even when we were like 10 years old, there were antiviruses, and then there were viruses which used to break down all firewalls. So, I think this is going to be a chicken and egg going forward.

Purkayastha believes that the tussle between the fraudsters and the tech police will keep going, while AI will play an important role in assisting us.

It'll continue with one party outsmarting the other party. I think technology or AI developments will help us detect fake news. But then there'll be something else which will break out, leading up to a constant struggle of balancing challenges and triumphs on the Horizon.

Rakesh Dubbudu, founder and CEO of Factly, proposes that the efficacy of fake news is also dependent on the audiences pre-conceived dispositions which can make them gullible. Speaking on the role of AI in tackling fake news, he says, It's a double-edged sword, partly because the AI models are not perfect in the first place. I don't think there is a silver bullet solution to this. A lot of stakeholders need to come together at an individual level and at a systemic level.

But at least on the fact-checking ecosystem front, AI has been leveraged to a good extent. At the same time, if you look at the general public, whether you believe in something or not is driven by a lot of other factors such as your consumption patterns, your beliefs, and your political ideology. Removing behavioural aspects and only looking at a technology solution is not going to work. he adds.

Varun Kohli, director and CEO, Bharat Express News Network, is more on the positive side of the fence. He believes that discerning consumers are now capable of picking up on credible info while relying on credible and trustworthy sources. He says, What is happening is people now are not interested in rookie channels that have no credibility. They are going back to the channels they believe in. Now, even the awareness of normal people who want to consume news is fairly high. They know where to consume it from. So, I don't think there is a great danger of it, although some of it will always be there.

Watch the full panel discussion below

Read the original post:

Deepfakes are everywhere! Who is keeping the tab on fake news? - afaqs!

[Photo/Xinhua]

Analysts have condemned attempts to smear and spread fake news about the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI, which they said has brought great benefits to the world.

Over the past decade, the BRI has produced remarkable achievements, which have caused concern in some Western countries, the analysts said.

These countries have put forward their own infrastructure plans as a way to counter the BRI. Some Western politicians, scholars and media outlets have even spread false information about China's alleged neocolonialism, debt traps, resource exploitation, and environmental harm, the analysts said.

Nasser Bouchiba, president of the Africa-China Cooperation Association for Development, said Western countries, led by the United States, have proposed similar initiatives, including the Partnership for Global Infrastructure and Investment plan and the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor. However, to date, these projects have mostly been all talk and little action, and some have even fizzled out.

In the name of development, support and equality, these projects have imposed many unequal conditions and used technical restrictions to manipulate the industrial growth of developing nations. However, such actions simply serve the interests of hegemonic countries and hold no genuine value for global development, Bouchiba said.

"Compared to China's BRI, these hollow initiatives are utterly devoid of any advantages and are incapable of replacing the BRI," he said.

Referring to frequent accusations by some Western countries that the BRI is creating a "debt trap", Bouchiba said these nations are using false information and smears to try to hoodwink the public.

For example, persistent claims have been made in Western media that Sri Lanka is falling into a "Chinese debt trap". However, official figures show that China accounts for less than 10 percent of that nation's external debt, while global financial institutions and market borrowing account for the majority of the debt.

Kenya is also closely involved with the BRI. Of its total debt of $70 billion, only $7 billion is owed to China, which has built large-scale infrastructure in the African nation such as the Mombasa-Nairobi Railway and the Lamu-Garissa Road. The majority of Kenya's debt is also owed to Western creditors.

A report from Boston University Global Development Policy Center in the United States said investment and financing cooperation between China and fellow developing countries could help these nations overcome bottlenecks in development, unlock growth potential, and increase global real income by up to 3 percentage points.

Bouchiba said: "Facts speak louder than words. People have benefited from the BRI, and their quality of life has really improved and changed."

Ehizuelen Michael Mitchell Omoruyi, executive director of the Center for Nigerian Studies at Zhejiang Normal University's Institute of African Studies, said that through the BRI, China aims to foster a more interconnected global community facilitated by Chinese investment in physical and digital infrastructure.

In the past, Africa was subjected to the dominance of Western imperialist powers, along with their oppressive financial institutions. However, the situation is now evolving, as Africa has discovered an alternative in China, Omoruyi said.

"African nations have begun to liberate themselves and recognize their untapped potential, all thanks to the BRI," he added.

The BRI is not only about the economy, infrastructure, and development, it is also about culture, health, knowledge, and people's well-being. It is aimed at linking individuals of diverse races, lifestyles, philosophies, and beliefs, he said.

Omoruyi said the West is worried about the prospect of losing absolute global control. Its main objective was never to improve the living conditions of millions of underprivileged individuals. Throughout history, the West has had complete domination, and instead of using its power to benefit others, it focused on enriching itself through exploitation, particularly in Africa, he added.

In contrast, China's approach, through the BRI, is focused on promoting shared prosperity. China firmly believes in the importance of improving Africa and the world as a whole. China's prosperity relies on the success and productivity of the global economy; it does not rely on the plundering tactics used by the West for many decades, Omoruyi said.

"Western headlines might claim that the BRI is not perfect, but on a global scale, the BRI is the best the world has at present. The initiative has been making headway week after week, month after month, making it the exact opposite of Western imperialism and colonialism," he added.

Omoruyi said the BRI is definitely not a "debt trap" initiative that nations may fall into, but represents "economic vitality" that can inject prosperity into all participating nations. By taking part in BRI collaboration, numerous nations are escaping the "no development" trap.

Read the rest here:

Analysts hit out at the use of smear tactics and fake news by Western nations - China Daily

Jose Mourinho has claimed that his alleged all-time XI, which included Cristiano Ronaldo in the side, is fake news. The Portuguese manager has insisted that he never named an all-time XI and urged the media to respect him and his players.

Mourinho is one of the greatest managers of all time and boasts an illustrious career across Europe. Known as the 'Special One', he had two stints with Chelsea and also managed the likes of Porto, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, Manchester United, and Tottenham Hotspur.

Mourinho also managed some of the greatest footballers over the last two decades. This list includes the likes of Cristiano Ronaldo, Frank Lampard, Eden Hazard, Harry Kane, and Karim Benzema, among others.

A picture depicting Mourinho's all-time XI has been circulating on the internet since Tuesday (12 December), but the manager has now dismissed it. The all-time XI included as many as eight former Chelsea players with the other three being Cristiano Ronaldo, Javier Zanetti, and Mesut Ozil.

Mourinho took to Instagram to rubbish it as fake news and demanded respect for himself as his players. He insisted that he would never make an all-time XI because every player gave his best for him. He said, as quoted by talkSPORT:

Mourinho has been in charge at AS Roma since 2021 and is doing a commendable job at the Stadio Olimpico. The 2021-22 UEFA Europa Conference League winners currently sit fifth in the league table, just two points away from the top four with a game in hand.

Jose Mourinho picked Cristiano Ronaldo over Lionel Messi when he was asked to pick between the two greats of the modern era more than a decade ago.

Mourinho claimed that Messi was used to playing with top players in a certain system whereas Ronaldo, who he managed at Real Madrid, had to adapt to different systems. He told Lisbon-based newspaper A Bola (h/t Independent) in 2012:

Mourinho continued:

However, when Mourinho was the manager of Tottenham Hotspur, he was asked by SPORTbible to select the three greatest footballers, and named Lionel Messi, Pele, and Diego Maradona.

Paul Merson has predicted the result of Liverpool vs Arsenal and other GW 18 fixtures! Click here

More:

Please respect my history and respect my boys - Jose Mourinho says his alleged all-time XI including Cristiano ... - Sportskeeda

MINSK, 22 December (BelTA) - It is important to promptly respond to fake news ahead of the election campaign, Chairman of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus Vladimir Andreichenko said at a sitting of the tenth session of the House of Representatives of the National Assembly of Belarus of the seventh convocation on 22 December, BelTA has learned.

Despite the fact that we have created a reliable legal barrier against all kinds of extremists and terrorists, the very possibility of provocations during the elections cannot be excluded. The head of state has recently spoken about the seriousness of such a threat at a meeting with the heads of the CIS security and intelligence agencies. Therefore, it is important to inform the public in a timely manner about the current policy, about the measures taken by all branches of government to ensure the normal life of the country, to respond promptly to hostile attacks and negative information, Vladimir Andreichenko said.

He called on MPs to be actively engaged in awareness-building efforts. Meeting with people, MPs should explain the significance of the upcoming election campaign, its organizational features and the need to come to the polling stations to vote. Citizens should realize that the future of the country and personal fate of each Belarusian depends on the conscious and responsible choice of each of us. There should be no avoiding in discussing acute topics. If we do not do it, those who do not need a sovereign Belarus will do it instead of us, the chairman of the House of Representatives said.

For the same reason, Vladimir Andreichenko emphasized, the MPs should pay close attention to appeals from citizens and representatives of legal entities. Special attention should be paid to the issues of pricing, availability of the necessary range of goods in retail outlets and, importantly, the culture of service. First of all, it concerns small settlements. People, who work hard to create the wellbeing of Belarus, deserve to have their quality of life constantly improved. In general, our task is to do everything to ensure that the elections are well-organized, held in a calm atmosphere and in full compliance with the national legislation, he said.

According to the Chairman of the House of Representatives, MPs' constant priority remains the interaction with colleagues within the framework of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Union State of Belarus and Russia, the CSTO Parliamentary Assembly, and the CIS IPA. We need to keep our finger on the pulse of events and take an active part in the planned activities. One of the most important tasks in view of the upcoming elections is to invite international observers from these integration structures. In close coordination with our colleagues from the Council of the Republic we should create all the necessary conditions for their activities, he emphasized.

Vladimir Andreichenko drew the MPs' attention to the fact that there were still a number of draft laws that needed to be considered before the end of the current convocation. These are, first of all, the draft Code of Civil Procedure, bills on responsible treatment of animals, on the Chamber of Commerce and Industry, on genetic resources and a number of others. The head of state approved a plan for drafting legislative acts for 2024. Four bills from this plan, which we expect in January-February, should pass the first reading. These are On Accreditation in the National Accreditation System, On Independent Assessment and Certification of Qualifications, as well as amendments to the laws on veterans and international treaties. I ask the standing committees to strictly control the process of their preparation. We must create a legislative groundwork for the new composition of the House of Representatives, he stressed.

The main vectors of international activities for MPs in the near future are largely determined by the results of the recent visits of the president of Belarus to the UAE, China, Equatorial Guinea, and Kenya. The center of the world economic life is rapidly shifting to the countries of Asia, Africa, Latin America, and the Middle East. Belarus is in demand there as a reliable economic partner and a like-minded partner in building a fairer world order. MPs should promptly get involved in the implementation of the reached agreements. This is primarily the task of the parliamentary friendship groups, the Chairman of the House of Representatives said.

Read more:

Call to secure prompt response to fake news ahead of elections in Belarus - Belarus News (BelTA)

We’re into a new chapter in fake news. The blast at the hospital in Gaza does not mean there are two sides to the story; it means there are two entirely different stories, and neither side is going to back away for a moment and say, you have got a point, let’s look into the matter more carefully. 

First, there’s the question of facts. Any deaths are tragic, but we cannot be sure of the numbers. Did 500 people really die in and around the hospital? Who’s counting? Could the number have been more like 100 or 200? Maybe not, but is there any remote chance Hamas will welcome an independent team of observers to come up with the real numbers, the extent of the damage, the exact location where the missile or missiles landed? 

Of course not. Hamas is not likely to consider inviting or admitting impartial observers to take a look, much less conduct a thorough investigation. Or, if observers are eventually invited, they will surely be selected to be “neutral” on the side of Hamas. Or, if both Israelis and Palestinians are persuaded by some miracle to form a single team, we may be sure they would come out with their own extremely different reports of what happened and who was responsible. 

That is how it’s always been in the quest for incontrovertible facts on which bitter enemies might agree. A joint investigation, if it ever happens, will blow up in rhetoric and false conclusions before it begins.  

Before getting too deep into the topic, let’s assume the Israelis are correct when they say a rocket misfired by Hamas fell short, or off course, landing on or near the hospital. Israeli intelligence, monitoring all that’s going on near its borders, is simply too advanced, too sophisticated to doubt the ability of veteran Israeli analysts to come up with a realistic idea of what happened, even if they failed to warn in advance of the Hamas attacks that have killed more than 1,400 people inside southern Israel. 

That’s not to say that Israel would share all the details of its intelligence or would not be tempted to skew the truth for the sake of convincing the world that the blast at the hospital had to have been perpetrated by a rocket or rockets and not a bomb. Whatever Israel says, however verifiable and irrefutable, there’s not a chance it will resolve the question of who was responsible to the satisfaction of the rest of the world. 

That said, those who are on Israel’s side as an independent Jewish state surrounded by Islamic foes will support the Israeli version regardless of any investigation or corroboration. And we may be equally sure that anti-Israeli states, groups and individuals will go on blaming Israel not only for blowing up the hospital but also for ongoing bombing and shelling intended finally to destroy Hamas. In the end, Israel will have killed many more Palestinians than Hamas killed in its initial attack on southern Israel. 

It’s that reality that provides a certain truth to the anti-Israel campaign waged by Israel’s worst enemies, notably Iran but also Arab nations with which Israel has been trying to form decent relations. Can Israel’s diplomatic ties with its close Arab neighbors, Egypt and Jordan, survive the slaughter? And does Israel, amid all the charges and counter-charges, still have a chance of forming diplomatic relations with Saudi Arabia, the richest, most powerful Arab nation, with which it was negotiating before the war? 

Not just Israel’s arch foe, Iran, but sympathizers with Palestine throughout the region and the world will go on saying forever that an Israeli plane bombed the hospital. No way will Palestinians, defending their right to recover the land from which they were driven after the founding of Israel as the Jewish homeland in 1948, accept any report or study or satellite or electronic imagery revealing contrary evidence. 

The danger inherent in fake news has still worse consequences. Iran, Islamic but not Arab, may cast off all constraints about finally developing nuclear warheads with Israel as the target. China and Russia will be as reluctant to blame Hamas for its wanton cruelty or to come down on Iran for going nuclear as they are to vote for resolutions in the U.N. Security Council denouncing North Korea for testing missiles carrying nuclear warheads. Those harboring antisemitic sentiments are sure to turn the blast at the hospital into an excuse for denouncing Israel’s very right to exist. 

In the rush to attack Israel, it will be easy to forget the welfare and survival of the 2.3 million Palestinians crowded into Gaza. Israel, looking for revenge, is obviously not worried about them, Nor are Israel’s enemies. They could not have found a more terrific peg for venting their pent-up fury. For them, the survival of desperate people, hungry, thirsty and dirty, cowering in terror, counts for less than the excitement of advancing their anti-Israel agenda 

Donald Kirk has been a journalist for more than 60 years, focusing much of his career on conflict in Asia and the Middle East, including as a correspondent for the Washington Star and Chicago Tribune. He is currently a freelance correspondent covering North and South Korea, and is the author of several books about Asian affairs.   

See more here:

Fake news, real victims: The tragedy of the Middle East bombings - The Hill

YouTube will list credible news sources on a "Watch Page" which it will roll out in the coming months

Google-owned YouTube will list credible news sources on a "Watch Page" which it will roll out in the coming months in India, a senior company official said today.

"Today, I am thrilled to introduce 'Watch Page' for news... the Watch Page will recommend videos available from credible sources," YouTube India, head of government affairs and Public Policy, Mira Chatt said at the Google for India event.

She said that the Watch Page will be rolled out in coming months in India.

Recently, the government asked YouTube to identify fake news channels on its platform.

Sources, however, told Press Trust of India that the government has not defined "fake news" in its communication to YouTube.

Mira Chatt said the platform removed more than 2 million videos in India between April and June, 2023 that were violating its policies.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)

Follow this link:

New YouTube Recommendation Feature After Government Notice On Fake News - NDTV

Aya Isleem, a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza tweeted a photo of what seems to be a Palestinian baby in the rubble, writing just one word Gaza.

Isleem hinted that the baby was Palestinian, who was injured by Israel Defence Forces (IDF), but after many complaints, X (formerly Twitter) flagged the image, explaining that it is actually an AI-generated photo.

Readers added context they thought people might want to know: The image is AI-generated and has AI artifacts on the baby's hand. The generated image has been shared on social media since at least eight months earlier.

A social media influencer, Andy Ng, showed a screenshot of this image 8 months ago when it was also flagged as AI-generated.

Walla! recently reported that the new version of the AI art generator DALLE 3, has reservations about generating images symbolizing Israeli advocacy, like a robust Israeli soldier with an eagle and the country's flag.

While the platform avoids generating conflict-related visuals, users have found workarounds, such as using generic symbols or posing indirect questions. Israelis are innovatively navigating these limitations. The power of DALLE 3 lies in its ability to incorporate text and produce compelling visuals quickly.

For those seeking fewer restrictions, alternatives like Leonardo or Midjourney offer more flexibility on sensitive subjects.

Sacha Roytman Dratwa, CEO of Combat Antisemitism Movement and a world-class expert on social media explained to The Jerusalem Post on Thursday that "The war of narratives and images has taken an unprecedented turn, with evidence suggesting that Hamas is utilizing AI tools to manipulate images, including those of deceased children, as uncovered by X.

"It is deeply concerning to witness how Hamas propaganda resorts to disinformation and fabricated visuals in an attempt to sway public opinion. This organization is employing every means possible to distort facts," Roytman Dratwa concluded.

See more here:

Fake news exposed: Injured Gaza baby photo proven to be AI-generated - The Jerusalem Post

The leadership of the Green Party has argued that widespread trolling on social media, and the dissemination of fake news, conspiracy theories, and disinformation, now pose a threat to Irish democracy.

Party leader Eamon Ryan and deputy leader Catherine Martin both devoted key passages of their respective speeches to the partys national convention in Cork to harsh criticism of the baleful effects of social media platforms, where trolls were bombarding people with false information and prejudicial opinions.

Mr Ryan said that was particularly so in relation to messages on climate change. Ms Martin, the Minister for Media, also told delegates that her department was currently working on a national counter-disinformation strategy.

The digital revolution has its darker side, Mr Ryan told delegates during his keynote speech at the conference in Cork.

[Greens in power: Will partys difficult second album turn out to be a hit?]

The algorithms are designed to hold our attention by promoting what we like, confirming our existing prejudices. It is a threat to our democracy as we are bombarded with disinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories.

Mr Ryan said that some with a vested interest in the status quo trolled against those advocating change.

They attack the climate messenger from the safety of a fake ID, he contended.

In comments made during the course of the conference on Saturday, Mr Ryan and Ms Martin also pointed to trolling in relation to other issues, including immigration, refugees, and the ongoing violence in Israel and Gaza.

Mr Ryan said good quality public broadcasting was one way in which to combat such false narratives. He said that such media should be funded from a variety of sources but did not elaborate on the nature of the sources.

The convention focused largely on what the party said was its achievements in Government and claimed that many of its big policy targets set out in the Programme for Government had been achieved.

In the past, small parties in Government were described as the mudguard. This time around we are the vanguard for change, Mr Ryan claimed.

In her speech, Ms Martin said the growth of disinformation and misinformation by bad actors had challenged Irish democracy and Irish society, and had the potential to undermine public confidence in news, information, and the political system.

It is a complex issue and no one approach will solve it. But this Government and I, as Minister for Media, are taking unprecedented steps to address this. Work is well under way in my department on the development of a national counter-disinformation strategy and new laws ... to reduce the availability of harmful online content.

Ms Martin said a counter to that trend of disinformation was top-quality public sector journalism and broadcasting. She instanced the work of RT journalist Paul Cunningham and cameraman Owen Corcoran from the Middle East this week.

In his speech, Mr Ryan said he would campaign to get a polluter pays principle applied at next months COP 28 negotiations in Dubai to make the fossil fuel, aviation, and maritime sectors pay for providing clean power to 600 million people currently without electricity in Africa.

He said he had been supported in the stance by colleagues at the European Environment Council earlier this week.

Mr Ryan and Ms Martin made numerous references in the course of their speeches to the achievements of the Green Party in Government, including the 3 billion capital funding for climate change announced in the budget, the 1.3 billion afforestation programme recently initiated by Minister of State for Forestry Pippa Hackett, as well as policies to bring cheaper public transport, establish new cycle lands, and promote active travel.

Earlier in the day Mr Ryan said that weather systems have gone off the charts, warning against a pattern of shooting the messenger when it comes to climate action.

Asked about his partys low poll ratings, Mr Ryan said that the climate issue had understandably not been to the forefront of peoples mind because of other major events such as Covid-19, the war in Ukraine, and substantial increases in the cost of living.

[Farmers could be paid for land to slow down flood water, Eamon Ryan says]

What we want to do is radical change. Thats not easy. Im very confident that in the nine months to June that tide will turn.

Mr Ryan repeated his prediction that the party could double its number of councillors to 100 and said there was no reason why it could not reach 10 per cent of support in the next general election, which he said would take place in March 2025.

Asked if he would go into a coalition with Sinn Fin if that was the choice the Greens faced, Mr Ryan said his party was prepared to go into government.

I think we should go into government because I think its not a time for sitting on the bench. Its time for action this decade.

So, yes, I think we should be willing to work with all parties. That would involve difficult programme-for-government negotiations, because, being honest, Sinn Fin has not shown an interest in protecting the environment to the extent that we think is appropriate.

[If that is the option] well sit down with [Sinn Fin] and try to make that happen. We get on well with our Coalition parties, and we have got involved with Labour and the Social Democrats. Thats the nature of our party. We tend to try to work with other people.

Speaking to The Irish Times ahead of the conference, Mr Ryan said Ireland must change how it manages land, including paying farmers to encourage new practices, to reduce flooding risk in the future.

Expanding on the point at the conference, the Green Party leader said Ireland would need to improve its flood prediction capability in future to prevent the extensive damage that occurred in Midleton and other Cork towns and villages this week.

Addressing the flood risk in Midleton required as many as six different interventions in the Owenacurra river which flowed through the town, he said.

Its really complex, but we have to to improve our flood prediction capability. We have really good prediction capability around weather now and very good modelling of weather systems. We need to enhance our modelling of flood systems.

See the rest here:

Social media trolling and spread of fake news are threat to Irish ... - The Irish Times

Mohammed Idris, minister of information and national orientation, says the federal government will not trample on the rights of citizens in its fight against fake news in the country.

In an interview with NAN, Idris said fake news should be condemned and not tolerated by citizens.

The minister said fake news could lead to anarchy in the society and the loss of lives and property.

We must be in the forefront of advocating for truthful information all the time, he said.

Everything that is fake should not be promoted. This is because it can lead to anarchy and destruction of lives and properties.

And by the way, nobody will want his home, country, state or nation to be in tatters because somebody is encouraging fake news.

Fake news should be condemned in all its ramifications. I have said that it is important for all of us to be careful in the way we navigate these waters.

We know that we dont want fake news.

The minister said the fight against fake news must be collective.

We must collectively come together and see ways and means by which these fake news can be tackled without necessarily trampling on the rights of the people, free press and freedom of information, he said.

Read more:

FG won't trample on rights of citizens in fight against fake news, says ... - TheCable