Latest news with #addicted
Scoop
4 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Q+A Panel Confirms Why Local Government Needs Real Change
Responding to this morning's episode of TVNZ's Q+A, ACT's Local Government spokesperson Cameron Luxton says the panel made the case for change better than ACT ever could: 'If anyone's wondering why ratepayers face crushing rates hikes, crumbling infrastructure, and endless division, just listen to the views being defended around the council table. This panel put it on full display. 'The four outgoing councillors sounded like they'd been swallowed whole by collective groupthink, completely ignoring the people who actually pay the bills. 'They claimed it's dishonest to promise rates restraint – but clearly haven't met ACT Local candidates. Ratepayers see local councils that are bloated, wasteful, and addicted to vanity projects. ACT Local councillors will get back to basics: roads, rubbish, and reliable water infrastructure. 'ACT councillors will do what ratepayers and businesses have been forced to do for years – take the chainsaw to pet projects and 'nice-to-haves' that have nothing to do with core services. That includes scrapping councils' ideological obsession with expensive speed bumps and cycleways, and actually listening to the people who pay rates. 'In central government, ACT is making this easier for councils by pushing RMA reform, fixing infrastructure funding and financing, exploring GST sharing with councils, and developing regional deals. 'Then there's Māori wards. Every panelist backed race-based seats or automatic places for mana whenua with no democratic accountability. Labour deliberately rewrote the law so only some New Zealanders can vote for certain candidates based on who their great-grandparents were without opportunity for the local community to object to this division. "Council seats should be based on geography, where anyone can vote if they live in the area, regardless of their identity. That's how it works for every other ward, including rural wards, despite the attempts from some media and councils to frame it differently. That's why ACT has restored communities' right to remove these divisive Māori Ward seats. 'ACT Local candidates will cut waste to keep rates low, end divisive race-based privileges, and bring some long-overdue common sense back to the council table.'
News18
23-06-2025
- Business
- News18
‘IIT to Inner Transformation': At IGF London, ISKCON's Gauranga Das Hails Dharmic Values
Last Updated: Spiritual leader Gauranga Das urges a return to purpose-driven living, cultural humility, and inner well-being in a world dominated by material success and digital stress On the final day of IGF London 2025, spiritual leader and ISKCON monk Gauranga Das delivered an address at Taj St. James' Court, urging global leaders and changemakers to reimagine progress through the lens of Dharma, cultural wisdom, and inner balance. 'Indians across the world are having immense impact in terms of Artha or economy. I stand here to testify that Indians also have a powerful role to play in the transformation of Dharma." Defining Dharma as 'Samaan" – the principle of respect – he addressed the deepening crisis of digital addiction, loneliness, and anxiety. 'We have a huge problem. Globally, 230 million are addicted to social media. In Bharat alone, 70% of teenagers spend seven hours daily online. One in seven people around the world is suffering from mental health issues." Sharing his own transformative journey—from an IIT Bombay student to a spiritual teacher— Gauranga Das offered a deeply personal reflection: 'I went to IIT in the same batch as Sundar Pichai. Years later, we met, and he said, 'You look younger than me." I replied, 'You deal with Google, which creates stress. I deal with God, who releases stress." Highlighting the extraordinary impact of the Indian diaspora, Gauranga Das noted: 'Today we have 36 million Indians globally. Almost 16 million NRIs, 20 million of Indian origin. Out of the Fortune 500 companies in America, 22 are led by Indian CEOs who employ 1.7 million people and represent a net worth of $1 trillion. More than 60% of hotels in America are owned by Indians, and 72 out of 650 US unicorns are led by Indians." He closed with a tribute to India's spiritual heritage: 'I never imagined I'd wear saffron. But the Geeta changed my life. Our Vedic tradition is an ocean of wisdom, and I'm proud to be part of a movement from technology to transcendence." Das's remarks were a part of three-day forum that convened business leaders, policy thinkers, and cultural icons, reminding the world that in forging global partnerships, spiritual and cultural grounding remains essential. The forum forms part of IGF London 2025. With over 100+ speakers, 1000 participants, and events across iconic venues in London, IGF London 2025 encompasses a spectrum of topics – from technology and trade to culture and commerce. This year's edition marks a powerful milestone – a decade since Prime Minister Narendra Modi's landmark 2015 visit to the UK, and the two nations have finalised the long-awaited Free Trade Agreement. IGF London is the first major international platform to celebrate and analyse this historic achievement, unlock new opportunities that emerge from its conclusion, and shape the next phase of UK-India collaboration.
Daily Mirror
19-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Serial rapist and PhD student's cold two-word reply to police questions
Zhenhao Zou faced a barrage of police questioning, with detectives taking him through videos he recorded of him drugging and raping women, he answered no comment to all questions Chinese student Zhenhao Zou interviewed by MET Police Prolific rapist Zhenhao Zou gave a cold and simple two-word reply to every question detectives put to him as he faced multiple allegations. Under the gaze of police officers and with the help of a translator, the PhD student who was studying at the University College London before his arrest answered "no comment" to the tough questions put before him. At one point during the lengthy questioning, he was shown a video of a woman screaming and trying to escape from his clutches. When asked for his response to what he had seen, he asked for a break from the interview, and the officer obliged and paused the tapes. In another interview an officer asks: "We already have eight different videos of you raping at least eight different victims, this includes the two from your phone. "Some of the things seized include two hard drives of over two terrabytes each. How many videos do you have?" The officer asks: "How many victims are there?" The officer asks: "How long has this been going on for?" Trying a different tack, the officer tries: "Did this start when you moved to the UK?" But Zou repeats: "No comment." The officer goes on to ask: "When was the first time it happened? Would you say you were unable to stop? Would you say you're addicted to drugging, raping and videoing these women?" All were met with no comment replies. Zou went on to pleaded not guilty and went on trial for four weeks, with the jury forced to watch multiple videos of him raping women. They found him guilty and today he was sentenced to life and he must serve a minimum of 24 years in prison. The trial heard that although he appears to be 'a smart and charming young man' he is in fact 'a persistent sexual predator, a voyeur and a rapist'. He comes from a wealthy family, and had enough money to afford a Rolex, a wardrobe full of designer clothes, and cosmetic procedures including a hair transplant and facial surgery, while paying thousands a month in rent. Senior Crown prosecutor Saira Pike said Zou is a danger to women, and praised the two victims who gave evidence for their courage in coming forward. Police believe more than 50 other women may have fallen prey to the engineering student, which would make him one of the worst sex offenders the UK has seen.
Yahoo
21-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Jake Tapper tears into ‘unethical, sleazy' Hunter who acted like Biden family's ‘chief of staff' despite being ‘prone to horrible decisions'
CNN anchor Jake Tapper tore into former president Joe Biden's son, Hunter, for acting like 'chief of staff of the family' in recent years, despite his record of questionable behavior. 'It's bizarre because I think he is provably, demonstrably unethical, sleazy and prone to horrible decisions,' Tapper told Katie Couric in an interview that aired on Tuesday, as Tapper and his co-author, Axios reporter Alex Thompson, promoted their book, Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-Up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again, which paints a highly critical picture of Biden's final days in office and 2024 campaign. 'Look at the record,' Tapper continued. 'After his brother died, he cheated on his wife with his brother's widow and then got her addicted to crack. That's just one thing I could say. I don't have a lot of personal regard for him.' The Independent was not immediately able to reach Hunter Biden for comment. The book contains a number of damning allegations about Biden and his inner circle, including that he forgot the names of aides and political ally George Clooney alike. It also alleges that the president began to rely on cue cards and teleprompters even for rudimentary remarks, while limiting his access to members of Congress and his cabinet. One source reportedly told Tapper that as the president's health declined, the presidency was 'at best, a five-person board with Joe Biden as chairman of the board." Other reporting has suggested that despite Hunter Biden's many scandals, the president viewed him as his closest political adviser. The Biden camp has largely dismissed the book's reporting. President Biden's spokesperson Chris Meagher has said he is 'still waiting for someone, anyone, to point out where Joe Biden had to make a presidential decision or make a presidential address where he was unable to do his job because of mental fact, the evidence points to the opposite — he was a very effective president.' Naomi Biden, Hunter Biden's daughter, compared the book, which comes out today (May 20), to 'political fairy smut for the permanent, professional chattering class.' 'Put simply, it amounts to a bunch of unoriginal, uninspired lies written by irresponsible self promoting journalists out to make a quick buck,' she wrote on X. 'It relies on unnamed, anonymous sources pushing a self-serving false narrative that absolves them of any responsibility for our current national nightmare.' The release of the book comes at a troubled time for the former president, who announced over the weekend he had been diagnosed with an 'aggressive' form of prostate cancer.
The Hindu
03-05-2025
- The Hindu
The great porn experiment of the 21st century: an epidemiological natural study
In a recent divorce ruling, the Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court adjudicated a case where the husband accused his wife of being addicted to pornography, alleging that it amounted to cruelty within the marriage. But the court ruled that private viewing of adult content does not qualify as cruelty. While the court addressed the question through the lens of individual autonomy and marital privacy, the judgment invites a deeper inquiry: can pornography consumption be considered an addiction? Because the judiciary recognises substance addiction—like alcoholism or drug dependence—as valid grounds for divorce under the charge of cruelty. But pornography sits in a grey area. It is not a chemical substance but a sensory stimulus and leaves no visible scars on the body after consumption. However, it shares unsettling similarities with known addictive behaviours. The origins of erotic art The human fascination with erotic imagery is ancient. The sensuous murals of the Ajanta caves etching expressions of sexuality have always had their place in art. But never before in history could humans instantly access, stream, and interact with vast oceans of visually stimulation erotic material—free, anonymous, and available twenty-four hours a day. Today, an ordinary person can access more bodies, fantasies, and acts than a medieval king could dream of in his harem. The human brain is wired to respond to novelty in sexual mating. The Coolidge effect is a unique mammalian behavioural pattern that refers to the biological tendency to be re-stimulated by a new mate or stimulus. Modern pornography capitalises on this evolutionary trap with endless scrolls, categories, and ever-changing scenarios. It is not just about arousal; it is about novelty. This novelty acts as a supranormal stimulus, referring to artificially enhanced stimuli that hijack natural reward systems. Globally, studies suggest that pornography consumption is more prevalent among males than females, with self-reported surveys indicating that approximately 60–70% of young men and around 30–40% of young women engage in regular viewing. However, these numbers vary widely by age, cultural context, and methodology. The most reliable study to date—a nationally representative Australian survey—found that 4.4% of men and 1.2% of women 'considered themselves addicted to pornography'. India lacks large-scale, peer-reviewed research on pornography use. Much of the available data is based on self-reporting that is prone to bias. The line between habit and harm Pornography use is not classified as an addiction by the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders 5 & the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). The ICD-11 does acknowledge 'Compulsive Sexual Behaviour Disorder', which includes persistent and distressing patterns of sexual behaviour like porn use, but places this under impulse control disorders, not addictions. This hesitation reflects a deeper scientific dilemma: where do we draw the line between habit and harm, between high-frequency use and clinical pathology? The difficulty in categorisation begins with the elusive nature of the behaviour itself. In the case of substances like alcohol or nicotine, thresholds can be defined in grams, blood levels, or measurable physical harm. With porn, the metric is psychological: does it interfere with daily functioning, does it cause distress, does it lead to compulsive patterns? The model includes impaired control (such as cravings or failed attempts to stop), functional impairment (neglect of work, studies, or relationships), and risky use (continuing the behaviour despite adverse consequences). This is further complicated by the fact that porn is sensory stimuli, not a physical drug like tobacco nor a tangible engagement like gambling. It doesn't require a casino, partners or money; unlike alcohol, it doesn't leave a smell or a hangover. All it needs is a smartphone and a closed door. This ease of access powered by the digital revolution makes porn consumption nearly frictionless. This invisibility makes it harder to measure, regulate, and study. The scientific community faces another challenge: there is no real control group or animal model. With the explosion of internet access post-2000, nearly all adolescents and young adults today have been exposed to pornographic content, often before they experience partnered intimacy. In this sense, our generation lacks a 'control group' or 'baseline', making it impossible to determine the long-term psychological effects of this exposure. When everyone smokes, lung cancer becomes normal. Unlike substances that can be tested in animal models to study addiction pathways, pornography—being a visual and cognitive experience unique to humans cannot be replicated in lab rats or monkeys. There is no rodent equivalent of compulsively watching or endlessly scrolling through nude mates. This absence of animal models has hampered the routine route of scientific enquiry and stalled the progress of understanding porn consumption. Porn use and the brain Neurobiological evidence about porn use however, is accumulating. Functional MRI studies have shown that people with compulsive porn use display altered activity in brain regions involved in reward processing, such as the ventral striatum and amygdala. Repeated exposure to high-stimulation erotic content results in what neuroscientists call 'sensitisation'—heightened response to cues—and 'desensitisation'—the need for more extreme or novel content to feel the same level of arousal. Over time, changes in the prefrontal cortex may weaken impulse control, mirroring what is seen in substance use disorders. These structural and functional changes are mediated by key neurotransmitters: dopamine, which regulates pleasure and reward; glutamate, which governs learning and habit formation; and serotonin, which modulates mood. Just like alcohol or cocaine, pornography also appears to rewire the brain. Clinically self-reported porn consumers reported heightened anxiety, insomnia, poor concentration, irritability, and relationship dissatisfaction. There is also growing concern about body image issues, unrealistic expectations about sex, and emotional detachment in intimate relationships. Pornography and the Young Person | Women Uninterrupted podcast - Season 5, Episode 2 An ongoing, natural experiment In epidemiology, natural experiments refer to large-scale phenomena not designed or controlled by scientists but observed historically to understand their impact. The widespread and unregulated consumption of digital pornography may be such an experiment. Just as Marie Curie worked with radioactive isotopes before understanding the dangers, or as Hollywood once glamorised cigarette smoking as a symbol of sophistication, we may be living through a phase of cultural naivety. We are normalising a behaviour whose long-term effects on brain development, social bonding, and emotional regulation we have yet to understand fully. No fixed threshold can define 'what's too much,' but science agrees that the brain is malleable. Whether this adaptation is healthy or harmful depends on the context, the individual, and the consequences. But as researchers continue to debate, as platforms continue to evolve, and as generations continue to consume, one thing becomes increasingly clear—we are in the midst of one of the largest unregulated psychological natural experiments in human history. And the results may take decades, if not longer, to fully unfold. The Madras High Court judgment appears well-aligned with existing medical consensus. Whether future evidence shifts this perspective remains uncertain, but for now, labelling porn use as cruelty lacks the clinical backing needed for such a legal conclusion, even though consuming it is not advisable. (Dr. C. Aravinda is an academic and public health physician. The views expressed are personal. aravindaaiimsjr10@
