What you need to know about influence operations

Cristina Chi - Philstar.com

November 9, 2023 | 11:54am

False information spreads farther, faster, and more broadly than the truth. As observed across several election cycles and a pandemic, fabrications, inaccuracies and distortions muddy public discourse, sowing confusion in times when trustworthy information is scarce.

But the problem of disinformation is not limited to false claims produced by individual sources. In recent years, dubious actors have increasingly taken advantage of digital platforms to employ a range of tactics and organized campaigns to distribute not just false information, but also truthful but twisted narratives.   

These are commonly referred to as “influence operations,” which include the proliferation of disinformation and false narratives using covert influencers or public personalities, but they can also involve the spread of controversy around truths. 

What are influence operations? 

Philstar.com defines influence operations according to the criteria agreed upon by a shared network of media organizations dedicated to identifying, analyzing and investigating influence operations. 

Influence operations refer to orchestrated efforts involving the spread of information by various actors, whether they're connected to governments, private groups or foreign interests. These efforts are driven by financial, political, cultural, ideological, or policy interests and often aim to disrupt the flow of accurate information, targeting important aspects of democratic values, social well-being, safety and peace. 

It involves the use of disinformation, propaganda and other harmful content (such as harassment and attacks), delivered in different formats, in a manner that coerces or manipulates behavior and polarizes society. 

Some forms of information operations use inauthentic, deceptive and/or concealed procedures. It is implemented in a coordinated manner through traditional media, social media, and other digital mechanisms such as messaging applications and over-the-top (OTTs) media service, privately or publicly distributed.

It also includes techniques that disrupt the distribution of and undermine reliable information such as distributed denial of service attacks, hacking and other forms of technical interference.  

What are common indicators of an influence operation? 

We consider an information cascade a form of influence operation if it shows any of the following attributes, among others:

Do all influence operations contain false information? 

Not all influence operations use false or inaccurate narratives. There are influence operations that do not even make definitive claims about an issue. Some types of influence operations merely express opinion or commentary, but in a manner designed to sow confusion among the public, attack a personality or institution, or corrupt public discourse. 

Are influence operations the same as trolls?

Trolls typically engage in online behavior aimed at provoking, harassing or misleading others — the same techniques commonly deployed in information cascades.

Accounts that exhibit troll-like behavior may sometimes be considered a part of influence operations, but influence operations encompass broader and more organized efforts, involving various actors with specific motives to disrupt information ecosystems and institutions, often with far-reaching objectives beyond what trolls typically aim for.

IN PICTURES: Miss Universe candidates savor the sun in El Salvador

BY ROBERT REQUINTINA

Nov 9, 2023 06:55 AM

  

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AT A GLANCE

• Michelle's outfits are unstoppable and perfectly in sync with the exquisite sunny weather.

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Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee

Miss Universe Philippines Michelle Dee, along with other contestants of the 72nd Miss Universe Competition, were seen exploring the beautiful Playa Maculis in El Salvador, which is hosting the event. The contestants seemed to have enjoyed their visit to the popular tourist spot.

Michelle's outfits are unstoppable and perfectly in sync with the exquisite sunny weather.

Prior to the highly anticipated Miss Universe finals scheduled for Nov. 18, the 86 stunning candidates took a break from their rigorous preparations to visit some of the most popular tourist destinations in El Salvador. This excursion provided a much-needed break from the scorching heat in the region. Images courtesy of Miss Universe Organization.

Miss Universe Australia Moraya Wilson

Miss Universe Russia Margarita Golubeva

 

Miss Universe Venezuela Diana Silva

When Germans buy 'street food' sausages in Germany?

 

Erik Hörnfeldt

When Germans buy 'street food' sausages in Germany, what do they put on it? Can an American enjoy a similar culinary experience in the States?

They often buy currywurst.

If they do, it is eaten with curry ketchup and a dusting of curry powder.

Different sausages call for different accompaniments.

Weisswurst is usually eaten with a pretzel and some coarse mustard.

Knackwurst, just bread and hot mustard

Bratwurst goes well with sauerkraut and a sliced wurst bread

Added this Käserainer, a filling station classic

Answer requested by 

Trent

Do Germans get annoyed when non-native German speakers use the wrong article ...

 By

Ilse Brauckhoff

... such as "dem" where it should be "den"?

I am German and no, I don’t get annoyed when non-native German speakers use the wrong article. And now I’m telling you a secret: many Germans use the wrong article all the time. That’s even part of some German dialects. So relax and just talk. And if somebody complains about the articles you use tell them that even many Germans don’t get them right, and ask them what “The more you practice, the better you will be.” means in German. It means: “Je mehr man übt, desto (or umso) besser wird man.” But they might say: “Umso mehr Du übst, umso besser wirst Du.” And the “Umso” at the beginning of the sentence is wrong, but many Germans use it like this these days. Even the news speakers on TV do it.

The synodal Church

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

ON the Feast of the Dedication of the Lateran Basilica in Rome, celebrated on November 9, we are reminded of that gospel episode where Christ visited a temple area and was angered to see it turned into a marketplace. (cfr. Jn 2,13-22)

He, of course, immediately drove the vendors away, even with a whip, and told them in no unclear terms, “Take these out of here, and stop making my Father’s house a marketplace.”

This gospel episode rings a most relevant if not a delicate note since at present, under Pope Francis’ mandate, the topic of synodality is taking center place in the minds of many people.

Synodality, of course, is an effort to hear, know and see what can be done in the different levels and aspects of the Church. It’s an effort to reach out to everyone in every level and sector of society, listening to each other, and moving together toward God, without confusing the distinctive character and mission of each one.

It’s a way of making the Church more organically vibrant, with all her members in the different levels and walks of life making an effort to relate themselves with each other. It’s like putting life to the social principles of the common good, solidarity and subsidiarity in the Church.

But it is not without its dangers either, foremost of which is the possibility of understanding it as a way for anyone to have his own idea of how the Church should be, or how the Church should be governed, etc. It can open a way of understanding it as some kind of democratizing the Church without anymore recognizing the supreme power of the Pope and the bishops in union with the Pope, especially in the area of faith and morals.

We have to be properly guarded against this danger, and the way to do synodality should be given a clear guide of how it should be properly done. In this regard, we need to be more conscious and skillful in our Christian duty to love the Church and the Pope. This cannot be taken for granted anymore, especially these days when the world is developing in a very rapid pace that often leaves behind our spiritual and religious responsibilities.

The Church is nothing other than the people of God, gathered together at the cost of his own life on the cross by Christ. This is because we from the beginning are meant to be God’s people, members of his family, partakers of his divine life.

We have to understand that this gathering of the people of God is not achieved merely by some political, social or economic maneuverings. It is a gathering that is described as “communion,” where our heart and mind work in sync with the mind and will of God.

At the moment, the common understanding that many people have about the Church and their duty toward the Pope is far from perfect and functional. If ever there is such concern, it is limited to the sentimental or some mystical feelings that hardly have any external and, much less, internal effects.

We have to know the real nature of the Church, going beyond its historical and cultural character, or its visible aspect, because right now we need to do a lot of explaining, clarifying and defending the role of the Church in our life.

Philippine tourism shines at World Travel Market in London

‘This global exposure also helps us attract more investors that can enhance our portfolio of tourism gems.’

BY MANILA BULLETIN

Nov 8, 2023 09:12 AM

  

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IN THE STREETS OF LONDON The Philippines booth seen at the World Travel Market 2022 (Photo Department of Tourism | Facebook)

The Philippines is primed to seize the spotlight at the World Travel Market (WTM) 2023, ongoing until today at the ExCel Convention Centre in London, as the Department of Tourism (DOT) and its promotions arm, the Tourism Promotions Board (TPB) Philippines, present the country’s destinations, tourism circuits, and attractions.

 

Tourism Secretary Christina Garcia Frasco leads the Philippine delegation to the WTM 2023, assisted by TPB chief operating officer Margarita Montemayor Nograles, together with some 20 private sector tourism stakeholders. The delegation is showcasing Philippine tourism, forging vital connections between Philippine tourism product sellers and international buyers, and fostering interest in hosting international events within the country’s myriad islands. 

 

Renowned as the paramount travel and tourism platform, WTM London draws thousands of tourism professionals from across the globe. In 2022, the event welcomed more than 35,000 tourism professionals from 184 countries. This year, the event is expected to be 20 percent larger with new exhibitors from different parts of the world, including high-profile participants from the UK.

 

“Our participation at the World Travel Mart will market and promote the Philippines as a global destination with diverse and unique offerings, from our award-winning beaches and dive sites, world-renowned mountainscapes, immersive heritage sites and living cultural traditions, and tourism communities that offer purposeful travel for every traveler’s palate,” said Secretary Frasco. “This global exposure also helps us attract more investors that can enhance our portfolio of tourism gems and further President Ferdinand Marcos Jr.’s goal to position the country as a tourism powerhouse in Asia.”  

 

The Philippine Pavilion features a captivating lineup of destinations. Among them is Intramuros, crowned as Asia’s Leading Tourist Attraction at the 29th World Travel Awards, representing the cultural and historical depths of the country. Palawan, a jewel among the country’s islands and the sixth best in Asia as per the 2023 Condé Nast Traveler’s (CNT) Top 10, is featured prominently in the pavilion, along with other tourism gems, including the enchanting Chocolate Hills in Bohol, the Philippines’ first UNESCO Global Geopark, as well as Siargao, one of Asia’s top islands for the 2023 CNT Readers, showcasing the pristine beauty of the Philippines.

 

The Philippine Pavilion also features the country’s most important asset—the Filipino people. The delegation is showcasing Filipino hospitality and talent before travelers even make it to our shores. From performers to master weavers, mixologists, and baristas, Filipino talent is set to impress the world.

 

“Traveling is life-changing as it already is, but it becomes even more powerful if complemented with memorable interactions,” said TPB COO Nograles. “Our weaving demonstration that tells the story of the Cordilleran weavers is doing just that as learning about tradition and an age-old craft can incite something awe-inspiring. We hope that this will encourage those who have yet to visit the Philippines to take that trip.”

 

The Philippines is also well set-up for a more digitalized experience in the age of the

Internet of Things (IoT). The Philippine Pavilion immerses attendees in a captivating experience, offering virtual tours of Philippine destinations on a video wall, as well as a preview of the Travel Philippines App, which serves as a guide for travelers who wish to learn more about their dream destinations, complemented with DOT-accredited tour guides, who can craft their personalized itineraries and make them happen.

 

The design of the Philippine Pavilion ingeniously blends natural materials with the

solihiya, a traditional Filipino pattern representing unity, strength, and resilience, mirroring the spirit of the Filipino people. This unique pattern is prominent in the stand’s architectural elements and decor, creating a visually striking and culturally immersive ambiance.

 

The exhibit also features bamboo bikes used for touring the Intramuros complex and allows traditional costume fittings for visitors interested in the Filipiniana or the barong Tagalog.

www.wtm.com/london

Pagasa warns of flash floods, landslides due to rains

The state weather bureau warns that flash floods or landslides may happen as moderate to heavy rains are forecast over many parts of the country on Wednesday. Read more: https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1856641...

Are German words really longer than English words?

Harald Havas

Author in Vienna, Austria (about.me/haraldhavas)

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Author of books, comics, games, and screen-plays. Also part-time journalist and translator.
Resident of Vienna, Austria.
Mostly I specialize in strange and fun stuff. As shows my bibliography. One non-fiction book called “Weird Vienna” is available in English.

Actually, in many cases, no. German just uses fewer spaces. Let me explain.

For instance, if you want to meet somebody at a parking lot of a shopping mall located at Main Street, you might say, “Hey, let's meet at the Main Street shopping mall parking lot.” (Probably you wouldn't but you could.) Seems innocuous, but actually everything after "at" is just one word!

In German, one might say “Treffen wir uns am Hauptstraßeneinkaufszentrumsparkplatz.” (Which rarely somebody would, but they could.) This means word by word exactly the same as the English version! It's just more honest in a grammatical sense because what de facto is one word is now really one written word. Moreover, the sentences rather sound the same as an English speaker wouldn't make spoken pauses where in the written form spaces are used.

Other languages, especially Romance languages like French, would say something like “Let's meet at the parking lot of the shopping center located at Main Street”. In this case, you would have three* distinct words in a clear grammatical order. (*Parking lot, shopping center and Main Street are composite words to begin with.)

So, by gluing words together, German just makes visible what's grammatically there. While English hides those linguistic facts by using spaces or hyphens.

This makes German words sometimes look like endless worms, but on the flip side you just can chop them up and then you will find it rather easy to decode them.

God’s invitation to all

By Fr. Roy Cimagala

Chaplain

Center for Industrial Technology and Enterprise (CITE)

Talamban, Cebu City

Email: roycimagala@gmail.com

INDEED, God invites all of us to be with him in heaven which is meant to be our definitive home for all eternity. We should just be prepared to accept that invitation promptly and to be in the proper condition to enter there.

We are reminded of this truth of our faith in a parable Christ told those in a dinner with him. (cfr. Lk 14,15-24) That parable talked about a man who gave a great dinner to which he invited many. And yet, all those invited started to refuse to go to the dinner, offering all sorts of excuses. 

So, the man ordered his servants to go to the streets and alleys of the town and to bring in everyone they would meet, including the poor and the crippled, the blind and the lame. And when after this, there was still space in the dinner, the man told his servants to go to the highways and hedgerows and to bring in anyone they would meet, so that his dinner would be filled.

This parable, of course, shows us how much God really wants everyone to be with him in his Kingdom. That’s because heaven is actually where all of us truly belong since we are children of his, made in his image and likeness, sharers of his life and nature. He would even go to the extent of “pressing” us to enter his kingdom (“compelle intrare,” Lk 14,23).

We should sharpen our awareness that God is truly inviting us to be with him, and that he has given us everything so that we can actually be with him. It’s the best deal we can have. And yet, we can dare to refuse that invitation. We should do something to correct this attitude.

Let’s realize more deeply and abidingly that we are meant to be with God for all eternity. Said in another way, we are meant to be like him, that is, to be saints, to be holy. That should be the main and ultimate goal of our life here on earth. Everything in our life should be made as an occasion to pursue that goal.

We have to realize that we are all called to holiness, because everyone is a creature of God, and as such is therefore created in the image and likeness of God, adopted a child of his, and meant to participate in the very life of God.

  

There is a basic and inalienable equality among all of us insofar as we are God’s creatures and children called to holiness. Regardless of our position and state in life, whether we are priests, religious men and women, or ordinary lay faithful, we have the same calling and purpose in life.

      

Corollary to this truth is that there is also a basic and inalienable quality of everything in the world to be an occasion and means for our sanctification. To be holy does not mean that we only spend time praying, going to church, availing of the sacraments, etc.

 

To be sure, prayer, the sacraments, the doctrine of our faith, obedience to the Church hierarchy are important, even indispensable, but these would hang on thin air if they are not supported and made as the goal and expression of a sanctified life that is consistent to the teachings and the spirit of God.

     

To be holy also means that we have to use our ordinary work, all the things of the world, like the sciences, arts, politics, technologies, etc., properly purified, and all the other circumstances that define our daily life as an occasion and means to look for God, then find, love and serve him.