Latest news with #UniversityofGroningen
Yahoo
25-06-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Tricks Narcissists Use To Turn You Against Your Friends
In a world where friendships are our emotional lifelines, the presence of a narcissist can feel like a slow-acting poison. They often weave a complex web of manipulation, making you question your closest bonds. By understanding the tactics they employ, you can safeguard yourself against the erosion of your friendships. Here's a breakdown of their most insidious tricks. Narcissists have mastered the art of planting seeds of doubt in your mind. They subtly suggest that your friends might not have your best interests at heart. Perhaps they say something like, "Are you sure she really meant that as a compliment?" By encouraging you to second-guess your friends' intentions, they create a rift between you and those you care about. According to psychologist Dr. Ramani Durvasula, narcissists thrive on isolation. She explains in her book "Don't You Know Who I Am?" that they often employ tactics to make you question your own reality and the reliability of others around you. This makes you more reliant on the narcissist. It's a cycle of doubt that's hard to break without an external perspective. A narcissist loves to play the victim card, flipping the script so you feel guilty for events that have nothing to do with you. They might concoct stories about how your friends have wronged them, subtly urging you to pick sides. "I can't believe they didn't invite me," they'll lament, leaving you to question your friends' loyalty. This ploy is designed to make you feel like their sole ally, drawing you closer while pushing others away. Their victimhood is often exaggerated, a theatrical performance that plays on your empathy. They want you to believe that they are perpetually misunderstood or mistreated. By casting themselves as the victim, they manipulate your emotions, making you feel responsible for their happiness. It's a deceptive tactic that can make you lose sight of the objective truth. Narcissists are adept at sowing discord through gossip and rumors. They might start by casually mentioning that a friend "said something interesting about you the other day." This initiates a cycle of distrust, as you begin to wonder what your friends are saying behind your back. The narcissist thrives on this tension, further isolating you from your support network. Research by the University of Groningen highlights how gossip can significantly impact social relationships by decreasing trust and increasing anxiety within groups. Narcissists use this to their advantage, spreading misinformation to cause fractures between you and your friends. The chaos they create serves their agenda of control and dominance. They are the puppet masters, and you are the unwitting marionette. Narcissists have an uncanny knack for turning your friendships into competitions. They'll compare you to your friends, highlighting your strengths only to undermine you later. "You're so much more successful than them," they might say, inflating your ego momentarily. But soon, the comparisons become toxic, diminishing your self-worth and pitting you against those closest to you. This competitive atmosphere makes it difficult to celebrate your friends' successes, fostering resentment instead. The narcissist knows that by creating rivalry, they keep you focused on one-upping the competition rather than nurturing genuine friendships. It's a twisted game that leaves you perpetually feeling inadequate. And in this game, the narcissist always holds the upper hand, manipulating your emotions for their gain. Feigning concern is another trick narcissists use to drive a wedge between you and your friends. They'll express worry about how much time you're spending with others, masking their manipulation as care. "I'm just worried you're getting too involved," they'll say, making you question your own priorities. This faux concern is designed to make you dependent on their approval and validation. A study from the University of Georgia found that narcissists often present themselves as overly concerned to manipulate others into feeling guilty or indebted. This deceptive caring act is a strategic move to control your social interactions. By making you second-guess your relationships, they tighten their grip on your life. The irony is, their concern is never about your well-being; it's always about maintaining their control. Narcissists are quick to blame others when things start to go south in your life. They'll subtly suggest that your friends might be dragging you down or are the root of your issues. "Maybe they're the reason you're feeling this way," they'll insinuate, planting the idea that your friends are the problem. This shifts your focus away from the narcissist's manipulations and onto your unsuspecting friends. By attributing your problems to your social circle, they divert attention from their own toxic behavior. This blame game is a classic deflection technique designed to keep you off balance. It creates a convenient scapegoat, ensuring that the real source of your turmoil remains hidden. It's a manipulative tactic that damages your friendships while reinforcing the narcissist's influence over you. Gaslighting is a favorite tool in the narcissist's arsenal, and it's particularly effective at distorting your perception of your friendships. They'll insist that your friends aren't who you think they are, often contradicting your own experiences. "I can't believe you didn't notice how rude she was," they might say, dismissing your version of events. This tactic shakes your confidence in your judgment, making you more dependent on the narcissist's viewpoint. According to Dr. Robin Stern, author of "The Gaslight Effect," this form of psychological manipulation can cause you to question your own reality and diminish trust in your relationships. It's a slow erosion of self-trust that leaves you vulnerable to further manipulation. The constant invalidation makes you doubt your instincts, aligning your perspective more closely with the narcissist's twisted narrative. In the end, gaslighting is about control, and the narcissist is the master puppeteer. Emotional blackmail is another potent weapon that narcissists use to isolate you from your friends. They exploit your fears and insecurities, threatening to withhold love or approval if you don't conform to their demands. "If you really cared about me, you'd spend less time with them," they might say, making you feel like your social interactions are acts of betrayal. This emotional coercion is designed to keep you tethered to the narcissist, prioritizing their needs above all else. Their ultimatums force you to choose between your friendships and their approval, a choice that feels impossible to navigate. By playing on your guilt and fear of abandonment, they ensure that your focus remains on them. It's a psychological trap that can leave you feeling isolated and emotionally drained. And in this game of manipulation, the narcissist always comes out the winner. Narcissists are experts at undermining your confidence in insidious ways. They'll often express doubt about your capabilities, planting the notion that maybe your friends are doing better without you. "Are you sure they really value your input?" they might ask, instilling a creeping insecurity. This tactic not only sows doubt but also weakens your bond with your friends by making you feel inadequate. By diminishing your confidence, they make you more reliant on their validation. The constant erosion of self-esteem leaves you questioning your worth in your social circle. This manipulation ensures that the narcissist becomes the central figure in your life, the one who can "redeem" you. It's a destructive cycle that keeps you tethered to them at the expense of genuine friendships. Narcissists are exceptionally skilled at highlighting the flaws in others to make themselves look better by comparison. They'll point out your friends' weaknesses, often in a seemingly innocent way. "Did you notice how she always interrupts?" they might say, turning your focus to your friends' imperfections. This creates a narrative where the narcissist stands out as the superior, loyal, and understanding companion. By emphasizing these perceived flaws, they create doubt and suspicion in your mind. Your friends, once seen as supportive and reliable, now appear flawed and untrustworthy. It's a subtle form of manipulation that shifts your allegiance and deepens your dependence on the narcissist. Their goal is to become your sole point of reference, making you less likely to seek support elsewhere. Narcissists often employ aloofness as a tactic to manipulate your social connections. By acting disinterested in your friends or social events, they make you question the value of these relationships. You might hear them say, "I guess I didn't realize they were that important to you," creating tension around your social choices. This indifference is calculated, designed to make you feel guilty for wanting to maintain your friendships. Their dismissive attitude subtly pressures you to prioritize them over everyone else. By acting above the need for social interaction, they position themselves as your most significant relationship. Over time, this can lead to you withdrawing from others to avoid conflict or guilt. It's a slow but effective method of isolation that ensures you remain within their sphere of influence. Another subtle trick is coaxing you into feeling overprotective of the narcissist. By painting themselves as vulnerable or targeted by your friends, they instigate a protective instinct within you. They might say, "I just feel like they don't like me," prompting you to defend them against perceived slights. This not only diverts your attention but also makes you more invested in the narcissist's needs. This manipulation turns your friends into adversaries, as you become more concerned with shielding the narcissist from harm. Your social energy shifts away from genuine interactions toward guarding their perceived fragility. It's a clever tactic that makes you complicit in your own social isolation. The narcissist remains the central figure, while your friendships quietly fade into the background. Narcissists can create a false sense of urgency to divert your attention from friends. They manufacture crises, often needing your immediate help or advice. "I need you right now," they'll insist, pulling you away from plans or commitments with friends. This urgency is a tactic to keep you focused on them, reinforcing their significance in your life. By fabricating emergencies, they ensure you prioritize them, leaving little room for other relationships. This constant demand for your time and energy pushes your friends further away. The narcissist's ability to create a never-ending series of "urgent" matters keeps you in a state of perpetual distraction. It's a relentless strategy that undercuts your social bonds, ensuring they are always your main priority.
Indian Express
24-06-2025
- Business
- Indian Express
What are China's economic interests in Iran?
China, one of Iran's closest allies and the biggest buyer of its oil, has stayed on the sidelines of its conflict with Israel, urging a diplomatic solution. Beijing has long backed US-sanctioned Tehran as part of efforts to deepen its strategic and economic heft in the Middle East. In 2021, they signed a 25-year cooperation deal, though full details were never disclosed and analysts say follow-up implementation has been weak. However, Chinese investment in Iran lags what Beijing puts into other nations in the region. 'Chinese state-owned companies have largely stayed away, mostly out of fear of running afoul of US sanctions,' said Bill Figueroa, a China-Middle East expert at the University of Groningen in the Netherlands. The American Enterprise Institute estimates total Chinese investment since 2007 at just under $5 billion, while Chinese commerce ministry data shows its direct investments in Iran by the end of 2023 totalled $3.9 billion. By contrast, Beijing invested more than $8.1 billion in the United Arab Emirates between 2013-2022, and almost $15 billion in Saudi Arabia between 2007-2024, the think-tank says. China imports around 43 million barrels of oil per month from Iran – accounting for some 90% of Iran's oil exports and roughly 13.6% of China's crude purchases. Around 65% of total crude and condensate shipped through the Strait of Hormuz off Iran is destined for China, according to shipping data firm Vortexa. China National Petroleum Corp (CNPC) in 2016 signed a $4.8 billion deal with France's Total to develop the offshore South Pars gas field in the Gulf with an Iranian state firm. CNPC's stake of 30% was worth around $600 million. However, the state-owned petroleum giant pulled out of the project due to US pressure in 2019. CNPC also signed a deal in 2009 to develop the North Azadegan oil field, with the first phase valued at about $2 billion. The first cargo of 2 million barrels was shipped to China in 2016. China's biggest refiner Sinopec signed a $2 billion deal to develop the Yadavaran oil field in 2007. In 2017, Sinopec signed a contract worth about $2.1 billion to upgrade a refinery in Abadan near the Gulf coast. It remains under construction. In 2024, China's LDK Solar reached a deal with Iran's Ghadir Investment Group for a large-scale photovoltaic power plant with investment of around 1 billion euros ($1.16 billion). It was expected to generate 2 billion kilowatt-hours of solar power annually. In 2018, China National Machinery Industry Corporation signed a 5.3 billion yuan ($738 million) deal to expand and renovate a railway connecting Tehran with the cites of Hamedan and Sanandaj to improve connectivity in west Iran. Also that year, a subsidiary of China Railway Construction Corporation signed a contract worth 3.5 billion yuan for the 263 km Kermanshah-Khosravi railway project in west Iran, with a construction period of 48 months. China's Norinco International signed an agreement in 2018 to build the first tramway line in the Iranian city of Qazvin, at about $150 million. In 2017, China Eximbank and an Iranian state bank signed a $1.5 billion deal to upgrade and electrify a 926 km railway between Tehran and the eastern city of Mashhad as part of Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative. However, the project has stalled over financing negotiations. In 2017, China's Metallurgical Corporation (MCC) invested around $350 million in the Sepid Dasht steel plant and won a design contract for a pelletising project. However, local media reported that the projects were delayed by financing issues. ($1 = 7.1783 Chinese yuan renminbi) ($1 = 0.8623 euros)
DW
17-06-2025
- Politics
- DW
Iran-Israel conflict: 'China has no appetite to be involved' – DW – 06/17/2025
In an interview with DW, China expert William Figueroa said that Beijing lacks the capability for power projection in the Middle East, however, the Iran-Israel conflict poses some risk to China's energy security. China on Tuesday accused US President Donald Trump of "pouring oil" on the conflict as the Israel-Iran fighting raged for a fifth straight day. "Making threats and mounting pressure will not help to promote the de-escalation of the situation, but will only intensify and widen the conflict," Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Guo Jiakun said in Beijing. He was referring to a social media post by Trump before he left for the G7 Summit in Canada, in which the US president wrote: "I said it over and over again! Everyone should immediately evacuate Tehran!" Guo said China was calling on all sides concerned — "especially those countries with particular influence over Israel" — to take immediate measures to calm the tense situation. While the US is Israel's strongest ally, Beijing and Tehran share close ties. In a DW interview, William Figueroa, an international relations expert focusing on China-Middle East relations at University of Groningen, talks about how China sees the conflict, and what role Beijing could play to defuse the tensions. DW: How do you see China's stance on the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel? William Figueroa: China's reaction closely mirrors its stance on the Israel-Palestinian conflict and the war in Gaza. Essentially, China tends to focus on two main points: first, it largely places the blame on Israel, and second, it consistently calls for dialogue, negotiation, and de-escalation, rather than resorting to military action or coercive diplomacy. As the situation evolved, China's position continued to emphasize Iran's right to retaliate and defend itself, particularly in response to Israeli attacks. China's objections have primarily been framed around the issue of sovereignty. 'The situation does pose some risk to China's energy security, and Chinese leaders are certainly aware of that,' says Figueroa Image: Privat Would you say China hasn't been so far actively involved in the situation? No, nor does China see this as an arena where it can exercise influence — Chinese state media are barely covering this issue. I believe this position reflects China's fundamental limitations in this arena. Simply put, China does not have a significant role in this conflict. It lacks the capability for power projection in the region and is not a key player in the traditional security sense. China's real competitive advantage in the Middle East lies in its economic relationships and, occasionally, in its ability to serve as a diplomatic bridge. However, in this specific conflict, Iran and Israel are not short of communication channels — they are simply unwilling to talk. This leaves China with very little room to maneuver diplomatically. Additionally, given the relatively limited exposure, I don't think China has any appetite to involve itself directly in this conflict, even if it had the capacity to do so, especially when an action carries high costs and offers little benefit. China has actively engaged in Middle East affairs in recent years, most notably facilitating the Saudi-Iran reconciliation. Do you think China will attempt to mediate in the Iran-Israel conflict as well? I believe China will maintain its current approach, which is to stay open to regionally initiated efforts. China prefers to act as a facilitator for negotiations that are generated from within the region itself. It does encourage diplomatic engagement, but China does not have the tools nor the diplomatic style to apply pressure in the way that, for example, the United States might. To put it simply: the Saudi-Iran deal was a low-hanging fruit that China was happy to pick — it involved low cost and high political reward. Any involvement in the Iran-Israel conflict would be the opposite: very high cost and very low potential gain. I do not believe China has the ability or the incentive to pursue such a role. Iranians protest Israeli strikes To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Given China's reliance on Middle Eastern oil, do you think the current situation poses a threat to China's energy security? The situation does pose some risk to China's energy security, and Chinese leaders are certainly aware of that. This is part of the reason why they want the conflict to de-escalate quickly. However, I would not characterize it as a major threat. Currently, Russia is China's largest supplier of oil, surpassing Iran. China also has substantial domestic oil reserves. So, while losing access to Iranian oil would affect supply, it would not create a critical shortage. Iran accounts for roughly 10% of China's total oil imports. Additionally, China sources oil from countries like Brazil and Saudi Arabia. I believe Saudi Arabia is relatively insulated from this particular conflict. If Iran were to attack Saudi Arabia or significantly involve it in the conflict, it would provoke a much stronger response from the United States. Such an escalation would be very costly for Iran, making it an unlikely scenario. China is the biggest buyer of Iranian oil and its largest trade partner. Could this economic relationship give Beijing meaningful influence over Iran? Generally speaking, no. I think this has been demonstrated quite clearly. For example, when Iran-backed groups attacked Israeli shipping in the Red Sea, there were calls for China to use its influence over Iran to prevent further escalation. Either China chose not to act, or they were not able to. Fundamentally, I don't believe it's in China's interest to weaponize its economic relationships. China is unlikely to say to Iran, "If you don't do what we want, we will cancel our deals." China might consider such tactics in situations where its core national interests are involved — such as matters concerning Taiwan — but not over what it considers to be regional or domestic issues in the Middle East. Even if China had significant leverage over Iran, it would be very difficult to resolve this particular issue. No country is going to persuade Iran to abandon its civilian nuclear program, and China does not even support that objective. Beijing believes Iran has the right to civilian nuclear energy. If the Iran-Israel conflict drags on, there is a possibility that the US could be drawn more deeply into it. Would such US entanglement be seen as a strategic advantage for China? Yes, I believe that would generally be seen as beneficial to China. In fact, this is a frequent point made by both mainstream scholars and popular commentators in China. They often argue that America's continued military entanglement in the Middle East drains US resources, time, and strategic attention. This is precisely why many Chinese analysts advocate for China to avoid similar military commitments and instead continue focusing on its strengths — economic development, investment, and initiatives like the Belt and Road. Even American politicians are debating this issue. Some in Congress argue that the US should prioritize competition with China in the Pacific rather than becoming further involved in the Middle East. From China's perspective, further US entanglement in Middle Eastern conflicts would likely be viewed as strategically advantageous. Israel-Iran conflict: 'Deciding factor is likely Washington' To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video Given China's growing alignment with non-Western powers, do you see it moving more aggressively toward anti-Western positions in conflicts like this? There's sometimes a misconception that China will automatically align itself with an anti-Western bloc in opposition to US-backed policies. In reality, while China is diplomatically, emotionally, and perhaps ideologically supportive of the Palestinian cause, when it comes to practical influence and the willingness to incur costs to shift outcomes, China is like most other countries, and it is willing to do very little. If the Iranian regime were to collapse, would China quietly welcome the power vacuum? I don't think China would welcome such a scenario. China generally opposes power vacuums and chaotic transitions. China has had no significant issues dealing with the Islamic Republic and would actually prefer that the international community normalize relations with Iran. Historically, China has acted with caution in these situations. For example, in 1979, as Iran's monarchy was collapsing. China's past behavior suggests that in the event of regime collapse, it would adopt a wait-and-see approach, preferring to work with whoever emerges as the next stable authority. The interview was conducted by Jinhan Li. It has been edited for length and clarity. Edited by: Srinivas Mazumdaru
Yahoo
09-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
New Evidence Rewrites the Origins of the Dead Sea Scrolls
Here's what you'll learn when you read this story: A scholar from the Netherlands used AI to determine that the Dead Sea Scrolls may be older than previously believed. The new AI model pairs handwriting data with radiocarbon dating information to date ancient manuscripts. In the future, scientists hope the model will be useful in dating other mysterious ancient texts Dating ancient artifacts is very difficult. Experts have a number of techniques they can use to get close, but there are limitations that often can't be overcome without additional information. That said, sometimes you get lucky, like the researchers investigating the famous Dead Sea Scrolls did when they realized that the author wrote the dates of creation directly on several of the pages. However, not every scroll was labeled, and as a result, the undated Dead Sea Scrolls have been much harder for scientists to pin down. But when new technologies arise, things can change. According to a new study—in which scientists used AI modeling to study handwriting styles across ancient manuscripts with known dates—some of the undated Dead Sea Scrolls may be older than previously believed. Mladen Popovic (from the University of Groningen in the Netherlands) and his research team claim that their work not only re-dates some Dead Sea Scrolls, but could open a new way to place undated manuscripts on the timeline of ancient history. The team published their findings in the open-access journal PLOS One. 'It is very exciting to set a significant step in solving the dating problem of the Dead Sea Scrolls and also creating a new tool that could be used to study other partially dated manuscripts from history,' the authors wrote in a statement. 'This would not have been possible without the collaboration between so many different scientific disciplines.' The process started with a bounty of ancient texts used to help build datasets. The team parsed through historic manuscripts from various sites in modern-day Israel and the West Bank and used radiocarbon dating to estimate the ages of the documents. The team then trained a machine-learning model to understand the handwriting styles of each document in direct relation to the historic date of the manuscript. The AI model—dubbed Enoch, after the prominent biblical figure—then merged the two datasets. The goal of the work is to be able to 'objectively determine an approximate age range' of a manuscript based solely on the handwriting style on the document. During testing, the scholars said that Enoch's age estimates for the 135 Dead Sea Scrolls were 'realistic' 79 percent of the time, and non-realistic 21 percent of the time (non-realistic here meaning significantly too old, significantly too young, or indecisive). The Enoch model, paired with radiocarbon dating, estimates older ages for 'many of the Dead Sea Scrolls' than traditional handwriting analysis methods. The authors said that more data and further research could help pinpoint the timelines. 'With the Enoch tool we have opened a new door into the ancient world, like a time machine, that allows us to study the hands that wrote the Bible,' the authors wrote in the statement, 'especially now that we have established, for the first time, that two biblical scroll fragments come from the time of their presumed authors.' You Might Also Like Can Apple Cider Vinegar Lead to Weight Loss? Bobbi Brown Shares Her Top Face-Transforming Makeup Tips for Women Over 50
Yahoo
07-06-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
AI Program Rewrites Timeline of Dead Sea Scrolls
A newly developed AI model has allowed researchers to re-date many of the Dead Sea Scrolls, some of which now appear to be much older than previously thought. The University of Groningen announced the news in a June 4 press release. The Dead Sea Scrolls were discovered between 1947 and 1956 in the Caves of Qumran, and in the decades since have recontextualized modern understandings of ancient Jewish practices as well as the Bible. Accurately dating the manuscripts is vital to understanding their influence, as well as the time at which they were AI model, known as Enoch, combined carbon-14 dating from 24 separate samples of Dead Sea Scrolls with an AI-driven handwriting analysis to examine micro-level ink-trace patterns on the scrolls. The model then compares known handwriting features with known radiocarbon dates, allowing the AI to understand how handwriting styles evolved throughout time. The AI model can predict the creation date of a given manuscript within 30 years, researchers results astounded scientists. Some scrolls, which were thought to have originated in the Hasmonaean period (150-50 B.C.) are now believed to be from several centuries earlier. Likewise, the Herodian script, which was believed to have been written in the mid-first century B.C., now appears to have been authored in the late second century B.C. "Enoch is the first complete machine-learning-based model that uses raw image inputs to produce probabilistic date predictions for ancient manuscripts," said Maruf Dali, the research team leader. They hope the technology can add similar context to other ancient manuscripts, which might help to understand the political and religious climates of the Program Rewrites Timeline of Dead Sea Scrolls first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 7, 2025
