Titan ;x

Welcome Back

Your computer faces many potential threats, including viruses, malware, and hard drive failure. This is why it's important to do everything you can to protect your computer and your files. Watch the video below to learn how to protect your computer from viruses, as well as how to back up your files. Safeguarding against malware Malware is any type of software that is designed to damage your computer or gain unauthorized access to your personal information. It includes viruses, worms, Trojan horses, and spyware. Most malware is distributed over the Internet and is often bundled with other software. The best way to guard against malware is to install antivirus software, such as Bitdefender, Norton, or Kaspersky. Antivirus software helps to prevent malware from being installed, and it can also remove malware from your computer. t's also important to stay smart when you're browsing the Web or using email. If a website or email attachment looks suspicious, trust your instincts. Keep in mind that your antivirus program may not catch everything, so it's best to avoid downloading anything that might contain malware. To learn more about protecting your computer from malware, check out How to Avoid Malware in our Internet Safety tutorial. Backing up your computer Imagine what would happen if your computer suddenly stopped working. Would you lose any important documents, photos, or other files? It may be possible to repair your computer, but your files may be lost forever. Luckily, you can prevent this by creating backup copies of all of your files (or just the important ones) on an external hard drive or an online backup service. External hard drives You can purchase an external hard drive and copy the contents of your computer to it. The initial backup could take several hours, so you will need to select a period of time when you do not need access to your computer. Running the backup overnight usually works best. Follow-up backups should be conducted on a regular basis, but they should not take as long. One drawback is that an external hard drive can be lost, damaged, or stolen—just as your computer might be. This is why it's important to keep your drive in a secure location when not in use. Online backup services You can also back up your files to an online backup service like Mozy, Carbonite, or Box. These services will back up your your files in the cloud, which means you'll be able to recover them from any computer with an Internet connection. The amount of storage provided by these sites varies, and you will need probably need to pay a fee for adequate storage space. One drawback to online backup services is that the initial backup can be slow and may even take days to upload if you have a lot of files. However, subsequent backups should not take as long. Other maintenance techniques To keep your computer running smoothly, it's important to keep files and folders uncluttered. Cluttered or unorganized folders make it more difficult to find the files you need. Additionally, unwanted files can eventually fill up your hard drive, which will make your computer slower and more difficult to use. Here are a few things you can do to delete unwanted files and improve your computer's performance. Delete files: If you have any unwanted files, you can delete them manually. To do this, drag them to the Recycle Bin or Trash, then empty it to permanently delete the files. Run the Disk Defragmenter: Windows includes a Disk Defragmenter program in the Control Panel. If your computer is running slowly, running Disk Defragmenter can help to speed it up. Run a Disk Cleanup: Windows also includes a Disk Cleanup program in the Control Panel. It scans your computer for temporary files and other files that can be deleted. You can then delete the files to free up space on your hard drive.

Global messaging service WhatsApp says it will start sharing the phone numbers of its users with Facebook, its parent company. That means WhatsApp users could soon start seeing more targeted ads and Facebook friend suggestions on Facebook based on WhatsApp information—although not on the messaging service itself. he move is a subtle but significant shift for WhatsApp, used by more than 1 billion people around the world. When it was acquired by Facebook for an eye-popping $21.8 billion two years ago, executives promised privacy would be safeguarded. "This is a strong-arm tactic on the part of Facebook," said Jeff Chester, executive director of the Center for Digital Democracy in Washington, D.C. "They continue on a campaign on to run roughshod on our privacy rights." WhatsApp is giving users a limited time to opt out of sharing their information with Facebook, although they must take the extra step of unchecking a box to do so. It also says Facebook won't post phone numbers online or give them out to anyone. But the giant social network has been looking for ways to make money from WhatsApp since it bought the service two years ago. At the same time, Facebook has pledged not to interfere with a longstanding promise by WhatsApp's co-founders to respect users' privacy and keep ads off its messaging platform. WhatsApp on Thursday offered a glimpse of its plans for turning on the money spigot, releasing new documents that describe the company's privacy policy and the terms of service that users must agree to follow. The documents are the first revision of those policies since 2012, before Facebook acquired WhatsApp. One change follows through on previous hints by WhatsApp executives, who have said they're exploring ways for businesses to communicate with customers on WhatsApp. That could include using WhatsApp to provide receipts, confirm a reservation or update the status of a delivery. Companies could also send marketing offers or messages about sales to individual customers, according to the new documents, which note that users will be able to control or block such messages. WhatsApp says it will continue to bar traditional display ads from its service. "We do not want you to have a spammy experience," the company tells users in a summary of the new policies. Another change is potentially more controversial: WhatsApp says it will begin "coordinating" accounts with Facebook by sharing WhatsApp users' mobile phone numbers and device information, such as the type of operating system and other smartphone characteristics. The company says Facebook will employ the phone number internally to better identify WhatsApp users on Facebook, so it can make friend suggestions or show targeted advertising. The ads would come through a Facebook program called "Custom Audiences," which lets a business upload lists of customers and phone numbers or other contact information the business has collected from warranty cards or other sources. Facebook matches the list to users with the same information and shows them ads. Facebook says it doesn't give out users' information to advertisers. WhatsApp phone numbers are valuable to Facebook. While the social network already has many phone numbers, it doesn't require users to provide them, and doesn't always have the most current number for everyone on Facebook. But anyone on WhatsApp must provide a current phone number because that's how WhatsApp knows where to deliver messages. The coordination of accounts may draw fire from privacy advocates. WhatsApp has long promised not to employ user data for advertising. Its acquisition by Facebook two years ago sparked complaints from activists who worried the new owner would start mining WhatsApp accounts. Though both companies pledged WhatsApp would operate separately from its parent, the Federal Trade Commission warned them publicly, in a 2014 letter, against changing how they employ WhatsApp user data without users' consent. WhatsApp says current users have up to 30 days to accept the new policy terms or stop using the service. Once they accept, they have 30 more days to opt out of sharing with Facebook. Privacy groups have praised WhatsApp for building powerful encryption into its services, making it impossible for the company or anyone else to read users' messages. WhatsApp promises that encryption will remain, so neither WhatsApp nor Facebook would be able to use message content for advertising purposes. But privacy activists also criticized the 30-day window to opt out. "Very few people opt out, it should be an informed opt in," Chester said. "No data should be used unless people are informed honestly about how it's going to be used."

Earlier this week, the European Commission ordered Apple to pay an additional $14.5 billion in back taxes (13 billion Euros). The order, which both Apple and Ireland are contesting, is due to a finding that Ireland granted undue benefits to Apple, essentially treating the company as a preferred client rather than a neutral business. According to the EC, Apple engaged in a bit of financial skullduggery. Instead of recording the profits generated by its EU businesses directly to those business segments (Apple Sales International and Apple Operations Europe), Apple attributed them to a “head office” that existed only on paper and did nothing to generate the revenues assigned to it. As a result of this arrangement, Apple’s tax declined from the criminally high rate of 1% in 2003 down to 0.005% in 2014 based on the profits of Apple Sales International. It’s an arrangement that brings to mind the worst of Hollywood accounting. Hollywood accounting refers to the vast number of ways Hollywood can take a huge hit movie yet claim it made no money. According to New Line Studios, The Lord of the Rings trilogy, which collectively earned more than $2.9 billion dollars, actually suffered “horrendous losses.” The EC writes: The two tax rulings issued by Ireland concerned the internal allocation of these profits within Apple Sales International (rather than the wider set-up of Apple’s sales operations in Europe). Specifically, they endorsed a split of the profits for tax purposes in Ireland: Under the agreed method, most profits were internally allocated away from Ireland to a “head office” within Apple Sales International. This “head office” was not based in any country and did not have any employees or own premises. Its activities consisted solely of occasional board meetings. Only a fraction of the profits of Apple Sales International were allocated to its Irish branch and subject to tax in Ireland. The remaining vast majority of profits were allocated to the “head office”, where they remained untaxed. Therefore, only a small percentage of Apple Sales International’s profits were taxed in Ireland, and the rest was taxed nowhere. In 2011, for example (according to figures released at US Senate public hearings), Apple Sales International recorded profits of US$ 22 billion (c.a. €16 billion[1]) but under the terms of the tax ruling only around €50 million were considered taxable in Ireland, leaving €15.95 billion of profits untaxed. As a result, Apple Sales International paid less than €10 million of corporate tax in Ireland in 2011 – an effective tax rate of about 0.05% on its overall annual profits. In subsequent years, Apple Sales International’s recorded profits continued to increase but the profits considered taxable in Ireland under the terms of the tax ruling did not. Thus this effective tax rate decreased further to only 0.005% in 2014. What’s at issue here is the minimal tax rate paid by multi-national corporations and the way various companies often dodge their tax burdens. While this is not illegal in and of itself, such moves have become controversial in both the United States and Europe, though the US criticized the EC’s findings of fact and intent to require Apple to pay up. Ireland’s defense of its own arrangement also makes sense — low corporate taxes are a hallmark of Ireland’s appeal to businesses; Bloomberg reports that more than 700 companies have headquarters there. That’s part of why Ireland opposes the Apple finding — EU law forbids the granting of special tax breaks, and the Irish government doesn’t want to face the possibility of losing its preferred status as an overseas destination. Plenty of companies use similar tricks to avoid paying tax and if the EU starts investigating there could be significant fallout.

Infiniti has revealed the starting price for its BMW 4-Series rivalling Q60 Coupe The Infiniti Q60 is on the way, and now the brand has revealed a starting price for the model range in the UK. The new coupe is set to cost from £33,990 in 2.0-litre petrol form, with 208bhp and four-wheel drive. The more powerful 3.0-litre V6 version, which has 400bhp, will have its price revealed at the Paris Motor Show later this month - but we expect it to cost from just over £40,000 as it's set to rival the BMW 440i, which costs £42,235. We've recently driven the Mercedes C-Class Coupe and Lexus RC, while Audi's next A5 is on the way, so the small premium coupe race is on. Infiniti is hoping to get in on the act with the Q60, which replaces the coupe of the same name that left the UK early last year. The front of the Q60 is reminiscent of the Q50 saloon, but from the windscreen back, the coupe's low roofline and rising shoulders give it a more athletic look. LED headlights and an active grille shutter for aerodynamics (on the V6 model) are also new. There's also 208bhp 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol that emits 154g/km and returns 28.8mpg, with both engines using a seven-speed automatic gearbox and four-wheel drive. The Q60 will get 19-inch alloy wheels as standard, with 20-inch rims optional, and there's also a hi-tech suspension system as standard on Sport models. This includes bespoke dampers as well as software changes - with up to six drive modes available: Standard, Snow, Eco, Sport, Sport+, and Customize The interior, which looks very similar to that of the Q50 saloon, has been treated to extra insulation to reduce unwanted noise and there's even active noise cancellation inside to filter out annoying noises while on the move. Rather than enjoying the silence drivers can enjoy a 13-speaker Bose sound system, using the latest version of Infiniti's infotainment system. There are no details on the UK model yet, but the Infiniti Q60 will likely go on sale in November this year, priced from around £30,000 to rival the BMW 4 Series.

Alcohol, junk food and carefree city lifestyle are pushing youths in Delhi and neighbouring regions more towards obesity, majority of whom don’t even consider it as a disorder or are aware of the health risks it entails. The “shocking” finding has come in a study conducted on over 1,000 people from Delhi and neighbouring region, in the age group of 20-45 over the last one month. “In the survey, over 80 per cent of the respondents (both men and women) said they had a Body-Mass Index (BMI) of over 25 kg/sq m, but only about 21 per cent considered themselves as obese or overweight. “This is both shocking and distressing that the youth don’t even consider obesity as a disorder or a disease, let alone be aware of the health risk it could trigger,” Dr Pradeep Chowbey, Chairman of Max Institute of Minimal Access, Metabolic and Bariatric Surgery, told PTI. The study, titled, ‘Perception and Awareness Regarding Bariatric Surgical Procedure & It’s Benefits’ was conducted by a third-party on behalf of Max Healthcare across all zones of Delhi and NCR to investigate attitudes and experiences of general Delhi po[CENSORED]tion towards obesity and weight-loss surgery. “Alcohol, junk food consumption which has become part of the carefree urban lifestyle is actually wreaking havoc on people’s health in metros like Delhi, and the worst-affected age group is 20-30 years. And, women are getting affected more than men,” he said. According to Chowbey, the normal limit for BMI (body weight/height squared) is 22.5 kg/sq m but, youth in Delhi, which showed even, 27.5 on BMI scale during the survey, marked themselves as “not obese”. “What is more worrying is that majority of the respondents (70 per cent) did not know that hypertension is associated with obesity, or that it could trigger diabetes, what we call as diabesity,” he said. Chowbey said obesity can also result in grave health consequences like heart diseases, joint problems, kidney problems, sleep apnea and depression to name a few. Incidentally, all respondents knew that obesity could trigger heart ailments. As per the survey, 65.4 per cent men as against 73.6 per cent women didn’t know that obesity could lead to joint problems, 93.5 per cent men versus 76.8 per cent women didn’t know about kidney problems with obesity. Also, 50 per cent men versus 63 per cent women agreed that obesity can be a cause for infidelity in a relationship. Chowbey said, “At Max Healthcare, on an average nearly 300-400 people from Delhi are coming for bariatric surgery, out of which about 50 are being operated per month. And, women constitute nearly 60 per cent of the cases.” The study also found out that nearly 95 per cent men versus 96.2 per cent women didn’t know about sleep apnea and obesity, and over 80 per cent men and more than 82 per cent women didn’t know about diabetes and obesity. Situation at Apollo Hospital is similar, with 8-10 cases of bariatric surgeries being done there. A hospital source said, “In bariatric (weight-loss) surgeries, women outnumber men at our hospital. Many also come out of peer pressure to shape up or because they wish to cosmetically augment their look, and 60 per cent of these are women. “Most of the obese cases are related to the age bracket of 20-30.” Chowbey said obesity could be caused by three factors — hereditary, hormonal or food habit and lifestyle. “For hereditary cases there isn’t much help but for hormone-triggered obesity, the cure is more of medication rather than surgery. But, many people who come for bariatric surgeries, are those who have turned obese due to junk food and alcohol consumption,” he said. But, health is not the only factor associated with obesity, marital and sex life is also getting affect by it, according to the study. Fifty seven per cent men versus 77 per cent women felt their partners stopped taking care of the weight post marriage. Also, 84 per cent women versus 58 per cent of men admitted that due to obesity one can’t dress the way one would have liked to, it says. Besides, 93 per cent men versus 87 per cent women felt “obesity impacts sexual performance”. “Women affected by obesity are also likely to suffer from polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS), a problem in which a woman’s hormones are out of balance and causes small cysts to grow on their ovaries,” he said. Chowbey says, for BMI of 32 kg/sqm, it is called morbid obesity and after 50 BMI, it is superobesity. “We do get cases of superobesity too in Delhi. We have had patients with BMI of 70 and 90 also,” he said, adding, “people go for weigh-loss surgeries also because in India body shaming is also a factor.” According to the study, 8.8 per cent respondents were unaware that bariatric surgery is an option for weight-loss while over 10 per cent said they will consider surgical procedures to fight obesity.

Member of the European Parliament and Vice-President of the French Democratic Movement party, Robert Rochefort, was taken into custody after allegedly masturbating in public has two underage girls, writes Sputnik News, Klan Kosova followed. The incident reportedly occurred on Wednesday in a shop in the city of Velizy-Villacoublay. French media reported that 60-year-old was caught by a security guard who saw the politician being complacent trousers issued under the knees standing in front of two teenagers. Guard immediately called the police and was arrested Rochefort. According to the French channel RTL, Rochefort has received allegations initially telling police that "I had to masturbate," because, as he said, "felt under pressure", reports the Klan Kosovo. While later, he denied the allegations in an interview with BFM TV, saying that only admitted that he was arrested by police. "This is crazy and very serious even if it's true," he told Politico, Francois Bayrou, party chief Robert Rochefort. "This shows that some people really can not ever know." Rochefort Bayrou has asked to resign from all party duties.

Welcome To Csblackdevil Have fun

Welcome To Csblackdevil Have fun

The mere word 'oloroso’ conjures it all up for me: a dark, orange-amber hue and rounded, rich texture, then the gorgeously raisined, toasted-walnut flavours of this finest of sherries, now happily back in vogue. The word actually means 'fragrant’, and it is, too – the nutty, slightly savoury, dried-fruit perfume of oloroso redolent of autumn. Sherries all come from Andalucia in southern Spain, in and around the city of Jerez (the word sherry is a derivative), but they range widely in style and oloroso is nothing like the refreshing, chillable pale finos and manzanillas you may have been sipping on hot summer nights. This is a sherry that’s been allowed to oxidise, turning deeper in colour, then age in wooden casks. I think it’s the most complex sherry of them all. Serve oloroso at room temperature, in a normal wine glass. Pour about one-third full then roll the weighty liquid round the bowl to release that wonderful scent. What to match it with? That depends on whether you have a sweet or dry oloroso. The sweeter versions make a decent partner for traditional fruitcakes, ginger cakes and nut treats like pecan pie or praline chocolates. But most sherry fanciers prefer the dry style (you should see this flagged up somewhere on the label), and take it far more seriously. Try it with cured and smoked meats, mature hard cheeses, game birds, rich beef and dishes deeply flavoured with mushrooms. Stock up for the season ahead. Try these Don José Oloroso, Sanchez Romate Great Western Wine, £18.50 A spicy scent and lingering, smooth walnutty flavour mark out this mature, dry oloroso. Sip and savour with chorizo or salami. Pedro’s Almacenista Selection Oloroso, Majestic, £13.99, or £12.59 in a mixed six until 24 October This dry oloroso, part of the excellent Pedro’s range, is rich with raisins, prunes and roasted nuts. Solera Jerezana Dry Oloroso, Lustau Waitrose and Telegraph Wine, £9.99 Great value for an impressive sherry with a fresh streak of orange zest and deeper, satisfying layers of dried fig, sultanas and walnuts.

The body of Uzbekistan's President Islam Karimov has arrived in his home city of Samarkand ahead of his funeral. His death at 78 was confirmed by the government on Friday, six days after he was taken to hospital suffering from a stroke. Karimov, one of Asia's most autocratic leaders, ruled for 27 years, and was accused by human rights groups of harshly repressing dissent. Saturday's funeral comes amid uncertainty over who will succeed him. However, the event in Samarkand - Karimov's home city - will be overseen by Prime Minister Shavkat Mirziyoyev, seen as a potential successor. Three days of mourning are being observed. Obituary: Islam Karimov Why Uzbekistan matters Reading the signs: Analysis by BBC's Sarah Rainsford The official announcement of Islam Karimov's death came on Friday night. But Turkey's PM had sent condolences to Tashkent hours earlier - live on television - saying that the Uzbek leader had already died. The Georgian president soon followed suit. The government in Tashkent has now released a medical report saying that Karimov suffered a massive stroke last weekend and never regained consciousness. He died on Friday after his heart stopped for a second time, the statement says, and a team of doctors - including foreign specialists - could not resuscitate him. Islam Karimov ruled for more than a quarter of a century, without naming a successor, so his death could well spark a struggle for power behind the scenes. When Soviet leaders died, people would check who led the funeral commission for a clue as to who would take over. That could make Mr Mirziyoyev the man to watch. But, for Uzbekistan, all this is unprecedented and uncertain. 'Immense pain' On Saturday a funeral cortege carried the president's body to Tashkent airport. Video footage showed thousands of people along the route, many throwing flowers at the procession. At the airport, his wife Tatyana Karimova and younger daughter Lola Karimova-Tillyaeva, dressed in black and wearing headscarves, were shown in tears as the coffin was loaded on to a plane for the flight to Samarkand. They were greeted at Samarkand by Mr Mirziyoyev. Police there have cordoned off the centre of the city. Karimov's other daughter, Gulnara, once seen as a possible successor, is believed to be under house arrest. News of Karimov's death was finally confirmed after several foreign leaders and diplomatic sources reported it on Friday, following days of rumours that he had already died.

Welcome Have fun

With the continued strong sales of Tesla showing that luxury EVs are more than a blip in the market reserved for geeky engineers, tech moguls, and the Hollywood crowd, Mercedes-Benz is now amping up its plans to produce a long-range electric vehicle to compete with the Silicon Valley automaker. And, based on recent reports, that will be only the first of an entire sub-brand of electric cars. Dieter Zetsche, CEO of Mercedes-Benz’s parent company, Daimler, said in June that the automaker was planning an electric car for the Paris Motor Show in October. This model is expected to be a direct rival to the Tesla Model S, with a 500-kilometer (310-mile) range to meet or exceed what that model can deliver. To built in Germany, it’s also likely to wear whichever new sub-brand moniker Mercedes-Benz has in mind to counter BMW’s i label. Timing Is Right With battery costs falling rapidly, and continued strong interest in electric cars—just look at the reception for Tesla’s Model 3 and its 373,000 current reservations—Mercedes-Benz is now looking at EVs as a viable business within the next five to 10 years. “It is very important to get the right timing,” Zetsche said last month in an analysts’ call regarding second-quarter financial results. “As a tendency, and as a trend, we have become more bullish in that regard.” To get there, the company is investing heavily in its own research and development toward EVs; it’s part of a larger plan to push total research and development spending upward from levels of $6.3 billion in 2014 and $7.3 billion in 2015. Passenger cars aren’t the only thing that Daimler aims to electrify in the near future. With the recent Urban eTruck prototype, it’s eyeing all-electric distribution and delivery tasks within cities; and it believes that there’s a big future in semi-automated, electric city buses. The politics and demand for EVs in Europe may be turning, too, with mounting pressure after the Volkswagen diesel emissions scandal—even in Germany, where diesel has been championed by automakers, government, and the market alike such that diesels have made up the majority of the passenger vehicle market in recent years. A high-profile lawsuit filed this past week by the German state of Bavaria, seeking damages from VW, underscored that shift. Mercedes-Benz Was an Early Tesla Lifeline It’s worth remembering that Mercedes-Benz hasn’t exactly been unaware of Tesla; rather, it’s been invested in (and somewhat allied with) the company for years. Parent company Daimler owned a nearly 10-percent stake in Tesla Motors beginning in 2010, though its remaining four-percent stake was sold in 2014. It has purchased Tesla batteries for the B-class Electric (now called the B250e), and Tesla developed the entire propulsion system for an early version of the Smart Electric Drive (ED). That old partnership could be useful if Mercedes-Benz decides to negotiate for access to one Tesla advantage: Its network of Supercharger fast-chargers. BMW (with Nissan) and Volkswagen have made significant investments into installing more fast-chargers in the U.S., but it’s been slow going, and they’re neither as convenient, as ideally spaced, nor as uniform as what users find with the Supercharger network. One advantage for Mercedes-Benz could be its full network of dealerships, and the sales and support they offer—whereas Tesla’s Apple-like direct-sales methods still aren’t permitted (in their full form) in all U.S. states. We expect that Mercedes-Benz may also get right some of the finer luxury and comfort-oriented points that Tesla missed in the Model S and Model X. Tepid EV Efforts So Far: Excitement on the Way? Mercedes-Benz’s efforts with pure electric vehicles in the U.S., thus far, have been tepid. In addition to the Smart Fortwo Electric Drive, the automaker offers only the B250e, which remains a limited-volume, special-order vehicle. Mercedes-Benz has, according to Reuters, developed a distinct design for its all-electric models, and that Paris show car will be the first to exhibit that new look. We’re curious to see how it fits into what soon could be a crowded field. The Volkswagen Group is working on a multitude of electric vehicles, and all-electric Audi and Porsche vehicles could reach the market within three years; BMW is planning an all-electric version of the 3-Series; and Jaguar is reportedly working on all-electric models—a fastback sedan and SUV—that would directly rival the Tesla Model S and Model X. Mercedes-Benz and Tesla See a Future in Electric Self-Driving Buses Jaguar’s Planned EV Sedan and SUV May Help Company Leap Back to Relevance BMW i3: Pricing, Specs, Features With a product refresh for BMW’s ‘i’ brand put off for nearly five years, Mercedes-Benz is looking like one of several automakers that could potentially leapfrog its rival in Munich and take a spot as a technology leader in EVs, too.

It seems to be very difficult for viewers to tell the difference between real and artificially rendered 3-D films, according to new research. Examining the effects of various technologies, the researchers found that it plays virtually no role in the viewer’s experience whether a 3-D film was originally produced as such or whether it was later converted from 2-D to 3-D using algorithms as, for example, is the case with new 3-D televisions. “That is surprising when you consider how much time and money goes into producing real 3-D films,” said primary author of the study Andreas Baranowski from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany. In the study, participants were shown six short film sequences, two each from the categories horror, action, and documentary films. While there were no detectable differences when it came to the two 3-D technologies, there was divergence in the way that the three individual categories were assessed. The 108 participants of the study were given 3-D glasses and had to rate the impressions made on them by the film segments. For example, they had to say whether the story in the film drew them in, whether they were impressed by the technological aspects of the film, what type of emotion or excitement they experienced, and whether they felt any sort of queasiness due to the camera movements. They were also asked what they thought of the main characters in the films.

This week I went to the scene of terrible tragedy. A river, swollen by raging monsoon floodwaters, had torn down a bridge on the main road between Mumbai and Goa. More than 30 people are thought to have died when the great stone structure crashed into the torrent, taking with it two buses and a number of cars. Some of the bodies were swept more than 60 miles downriver in two days. We produced a short news report. In the heart-wrenchingly brutal calculus of the newsroom, this isn't a major story. But zoom out, and you begin to see the outlines of a much bigger and more worrying picture. India, indeed the whole South Asia region, has been riding a rollercoaster of extreme weather. The summer monsoon is the most productive rain system in the world, and this year the region is experiencing a strong one. The floods it caused have affected more than 8.5 million people; more than a million are living in temporary shelters; some 300 people have been killed. Though what really caught people's interest was the three baby rhinos rescued from the waters in the north Indian state of Assam. The fact that 17 adult rhinos drowned got rather less attention. But the important point is that the region is awash with water. Just a few months ago, it was a very different story. The previous two monsoons were unusually weak. The result was a terrible drought in northern India, and parts of Pakistan and Bangladesh. And it was exacerbated by another extreme weather event - record heat. India experienced its highest temperature ever this summer, a blistering 51C. Rivers ran dry; water holes evaporated; reservoirs became dusty plains. And, once again, the statistics were staggering. More than 300 million people were affected by water shortages - the equivalent of the entire po[CENSORED]tion of the US. A city of half a million people was left completely dry. It had to rely on supplies brought in by train. As if that weren't bad enough, in spite of the drought, the country was hit by a series of unseasonal rain and hailstorms. They caused such terrible damage to crops that some farmers were driven to suicide. All these examples of extreme weather were widely reported, rightly so. What tended not to be discussed was the underlying cause. We are all interested in weather; few of us want to be told - once again - that our lifestyles are disrupting the global climate. Yet the truth is that many climatologists believe the monsoon, always fickle, is becoming even more erratic as a result of global warming. The picture in the last couple of years is complicated by the fact that the world has been experiencing a particularly strong El Nino, the periodic weather variation caused by warming of the sea in the Pacific. But a series of long-term studies have shown the number of extreme rainfall events in South Asia increasing while low-to-moderate events are decreasing. And increasingly erratic and extreme weather is precisely what scientists expect climate change will bring. The Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) has predicted "rainfall patterns in peninsular India will become more and more erratic, with a possible decrease in overall rainfall, but an increase in extreme weather events". Indian pedestrians and a cyclist wade through a flooded street after heavy monsoon rain showers in Mumbai on June 21, 2016. Since the monsoon accounts for as much as three-quarters of rainfall in some areas, any change is a huge issue. The more extreme the storms, the more likely we are to see more tragedies like the shattered bridge I visited this week. Now, since you've read this far, I hope you'll excuse me if I take a moment to ram my point home a little harder because there is growing evidence that climate change isn't just restricted to South Asia. Ask anyone who follows the issue and they'll tell you that this year is already well on the way towards becoming the hottest ever. The previous record was last year; before that it was 2014. In fact, the 11 warmest years have occurred since 1998. I'm not saying we shouldn't talk about the weather, just that we need to talk about the climate too.

For as much as all automakers strive for it, excitement is an overrated virtue when it comes to selling cars. Kia managed to move 626,000 units in the U.S. last year, with a range offering all the thrills of low-fat vanilla, but the brand is now set to try and boost its global fortunes further with a range of new “GT” models. The first GT-badged Kia was the European Pro’Ceed hatch (pictured), which received a reasonably positive response when it went on sale in 2013, enough to encourage the creation of a wider range. An Optima GT is about to be launched in various markets and is basically a tuned-up version of the U.S.-spec Optima SX, complete with the same 245-hp 2.0-liter turbocharged four-cylinder engine but with a more aggressive chassis tune. Several other variants will follow. “The C’eed GT is a very well balanced car,” Albert Biermann, Hyundai-Kia’s head of performance development told us last week at the company’s Namyang engineering center, “but we are a few years further down the road, and if we were to engineer it now it would have some more spice to it.” Biermann admits that not all Kia models will have a GT version, but several others are planned, positioned above the existing Kia lineup but more affordable than the Hyundai N performance variants that Biermann and his team are also responsible for engineering. We’re told that there will be a GT version of the new Rio hatchback, most likely powered by a three-cylinder turbocharged engine, and Biermann also says he’s keen to create a Sportage GT, although that’s not been signed off yet. We’re told the plan is to ultimately offer GT versions globally, so that will include the U.S. 2017 Kia Sportage First Drive: A Little Less Sport, a Lot More Comfort 2017 Kia Cadenza: Time for a Second Generation, Already? Kia Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More Below these GT versions, regular Kias are also set to get more dynamic focus, with Biermann saying that he wants to create a generation of Kias that “drive as well as they look,” and which will get firmer suspension settings and more direct steering than their Hyundai platform-buddies. “Kia is meant to be more emotional,” Biermann said, “Hyundai is the quieter brand. Kia can stretch much further and I think we will be able to do more aggressive cars.” Aggressive—not really a Kia word, is it? Sounds like the brand likes the sound of that better than “vanilla.”

Have you ever drawn on an etch a sketch? These are those boards with magnetic sand on which you write with a metal pen. Once you dismiss the charge, the writing disappears as well. Now, imagine that same phenomenon, but on human skin. Seems a bit bizarre? Well, you’re not the only ones to think so. Neither would it be completely outlandish to think compare the idea with writing on your skin. And that is, in fact, exactly what it is. Dermatographia, as this condition is known, comes from the term Dermatographism or skin writing, which is a kind of skin rash or hives that appear on the skin when pressure is put on it. This can also prove to be a socially embarrassing condition to have. Imagine your boyfriend hugs or kisses you, and there is an imprint for the world to see! On the other hand, it can be pretty cool, given a person can use his/her body like a temporary canvas for art, or even convey ‘secret messages’. “In lay man’s terms, we call it skin asthma. It’s when swelling is caused by the release of histamine cells in the skin, called mast cells. In this type of uticaria, itchy weals occur after friction such as rubbing, pressurising or stroking of the skin. First a white line appears, it reddens and then swells. This is a very common occurrence and is more prevalent among people who themselves of their family have a history of asthma, or other allergies such as allergic rhinitis, hay fever, migraine, etc.,” says Dr Deepali Bhardwaj, a renowned Delhi-based dermatologist. These swellings usually last for an hour, or a couple more, depending on the severity of the condition. In a 2-minute video on Youtube, UK-based Louise Sarah – who has dermatographia – explains the condition. Thankfully, Sarah does not have a severe form of the condition and her skin goes back to normal after a while. To dispell a lot of the myths associated with dermatographia, Sarah has actually recorded a series of videos in which she shows viewers the rather ‘cool’ side of the condition. Watch a video that explains Sarah’s condition here. As cool as dermatographia looks in this video, it’s severe form can actually be quite horrific, as Dr Bhardwaj explains. “There are times when the simplest of friction can cause your throat to swell and this can even be fatal…it’s called angioedema,” she adds. For those with a milder form of the condition, applying ice on the reddened area, following of vegetarian diet or even a regular intake of antihistamines or opting for subcutaneous pens can help.

Yesterday, I downloaded the new anniversary update for Windows 10. All was going well and I loved the new Windows 10 and Xbox integration. The software update added features and fixed many bugs affecting the previous version. I was pleased with the changes and improvements until I booted Counter Strike: Global Offensive. I immediately noticed significant input lag in the UI and during matches. MY office PC is using the GTX 960 and I was running the game with custom medium to high settings combination ever since the card came out. I never faced any issues running the game at those setting but suddenly these problems popped up. And the game running at 30FPS. After tuning the settings and by tuning I mean disabling everything and lower every option, I was able to get a decent frame rate. But the input lag was still noticeable. First I blamed the recently released CS:GO update and wondered how it got passed through Valve’s QA. However, after digging around the internet for a while I came across people who were having the same issue. All of us had one thing in common, Windows 10 Anniversary update. Conspiracy theorist online were seen accusing Microsoft of damaging Steam and CS:GO, citing Tim Sweeney. For those who don’t know, Sweeny recently said that Microsoft will ruin Steam and push it to the point where people will move to Microsoft’s Universal Windows Platform so I decided to put things to test. Thankfully, the issue is limited to Counter Strike: Global Offensive and I was to able to run DOTA 2 and Team Fortress 2 just fine. In fact, Steam client is running as smoothly as ever. While the new update did affect Counter Strike, there is no evidence to suggest that Microsoft deliberately tried to screw with Valve’s game. In fact, there is a simple fix to the problem. The issue originates from Microsoft’s Xbox DVR feature and turning it off immediately fixes the problem. Open your Xbox DVR App, Go to Settings, Click on Game DVR and turn it off. I also happen to stumble across another fix which may help you run the game with DVR on. Run Counter Strike and once you reach the main menu, hit alt+tab to come back to your desktop. From here, go back the game and it should run smoothly.

Welcome Have fun

Future Cars What It Is: Aerial-photo confirmation that our speculation concerning the last C7 Corvette great is legit. Building on 1990–1995 King of the Hill and 2009–2013 Blue Devil heritage, the 2018 ZR1 will be the ultimate front-engined Corvette and a sure collector’s item. Our images captured at GM’s Milford, Michigan, proving ground show a hotted-up Stingray in the final phase of development. Close inspection reveals blue-painted opposed-piston brake calipers, gaping front-fascia intercooler air intakes, and attachment locations for an adjustable(?) rear airfoil. Why It Matters: With the Dodge Viper’s demise imminent, the Corvette soon will be the only U.S.-built sports car. (We’re not counting the Ford GT, which will be assembled in Canada by Multimatic.) The new ZR1 will toast seven generations of classic American V-8 performance and value. Anyone with $100K burning a hole in their wallet would be wise to consider this Vette before they’re embarrassed by one at their local track-day event. Platform: The ZR1 will use the aluminum-spaceframe, composite-body, two-seat architecture introduced for the 2014 model year and nurtured since then with various power and handling improvements. Powertrain: We expect the new ZR1 to join the 700-hp club with an aggressively supercharged and intercooled LT4 small-block. There’s sufficient room inside this fifth-generation pushrod V-8 to stretch displacement past the current 6.2 liters in order to achieve sufficient output. While 750 horsepower has a nice ring to it, torque management may be necessary in the lower gears to circumvent rear-tire meltdown and to safeguard the Tremec seven-speed transaxle we expect to serve in this beast—with GM’s 10-speed automatic a possible option. Members of the sacred order of the clutch should be advised that this likely will be the last hot Corvette with three pedals, as the 2019 C8 Zora due in 18 months or so is expected to be automatic-only. Competition: Acura NSX, Audi R8 V10, Jaguar F-type SVR, Nissan GT-R, Porsche 911 Turbo, your mistress in the Hamptons. Estimated Arrival and Price: The new ZR1 will bow in production form this coming January at the 2017 North American International Auto Show in Detroit. The asking price for this most-special, low-volume Corvette is certain to crest six figures—remember, the previous C6 ZR1 cost about $110,000.

It seems to be very difficult for viewers to tell the difference between real and artificially rendered 3-D films, according to new research. Examining the effects of various technologies, the researchers found that it plays virtually no role in the viewer’s experience whether a 3-D film was originally produced as such or whether it was later converted from 2-D to 3-D using algorithms as, for example, is the case with new 3-D televisions. “That is surprising when you consider how much time and money goes into producing real 3-D films,” said primary author of the study Andreas Baranowski from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) in Germany. In the study, participants were shown six short film sequences, two each from the categories horror, action, and documentary films. While there were no detectable differences when it came to the two 3-D technologies, there was divergence in the way that the three individual categories were assessed. The 108 participants of the study were given 3-D glasses and had to rate the impressions made on them by the film segments. For example, they had to say whether the story in the film drew them in, whether they were impressed by the technological aspects of the film, what type of emotion or excitement they experienced, and whether they felt any sort of queasiness due to the camera movements. They were also asked what they thought of the main characters in the films.

A Chinese activist has been jailed for more than seven years for subversion, the second person jailed in two days in a crackdown on legal activism. Hu Shigen pleaded guilty in Tianjin to "damaging national security and harming social stability", said state media. On Tuesday, Zhai Yanmin was found guilty of subversion and handed a three-year suspended jail sentence. Two more activists also face trial. The cases have been widely seen as an attempt to silence government critics. Around 300 lawyers and activists have been arrested since last year as part of the nationwide campaign. About 20 are still detained. How seriously do Chinese take 'confession' videos? '709' crackdown Hu was convicted after a trial lasting a few hours. He was described by state broadcaster CCTV as the "leader of an underground church" that masqueraded as a religious body but was dedicated to drawing attention to allegations of government abuses. State media quoted prosecutors as saying his "ideology and his behaviours have seriously harmed the country and social stability". He had previously served 20 years in prison for the now-abolished charge of counter-revolution, but was released in 2008. China's crackdown targeted the country's small human rights advocacy movement, and involved lawyers tackling cases to do with freedom of speech, religion or abuses of power. Several linked to the same Beijing law firm, Fengrui, were arrested. On Monday, prominent Fengrui lawyer Wang Yu was apparently released on bail, after a video appeared in which she renounced her legal work. But it was not clear when the video was filmed, nor whether Ms Wang was now free. Fengrui's head, Zhou Shifeng, and another activist Gou Hongguo are also going on trial in Tianjin this week. The detained lawyers and activists are widely known as "709", a reference to the date the crackdown was launched on 9 July 2015. In a statement earlier this week, the families and supporters called the trials "ridiculous and evil", calling for them to be given international attention.

It’s not Donald Trump’s tax returns or Hillary Clinton’s deleted e-mails, but the fine folks at Camaro6.com have stumbled upon the order guide for the 2017 Chevrolet Camaro. And thank the muscle-car gods that they did, because one number listed within the guide truly stands out: 650. That figure represents both the horsepower and torque listed for the all-new Camaro ZL1’s 6.2-liter supercharged V-8 engine—10 more than Chevy had estimated in each case. We’ve reached out to General Motors for confirmation or comment; however, we’ve yet to hear back from a brand representative. Nevertheless, we’re not exactly shocked by this revelation. After all, the ZL1 is fitted with the same supercharged LT4 engine found under the hood of the Corvette Z06 in which it makes—surprise!—650 horsepower and 650 lb-ft of torque. One might have expected the engines to make slightly different outputs based on packaging and airflow, but the Camaro’s engineers seem to have overcome any possible issues with that. If the numbers bear out, it wouldn’t be the first time General Motors has pulled this stunt. Take the aforementioned Corvette Z06, for instance. Upon unveiling the more powerful two-seat sports car at the North American International Auto Show in 2014, Chevrolet estimated its engine would send 625 horsepower and 635 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheels, but those numbers barely stood six months before the true output was revealed. WARNING: Graphic Content! 50 Years of Camaro vs. Mustang Sales Numbers 2017 Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Debuts, Hopes to Absolutely Humiliate Ford Chevrolet Camaro ZL1 Research: Full Pricing, Specs, Reviews, and More Chevrolet notes that the 2017 Camaro ZL1 coupe will reach dealerships before the end of the year, with the convertible reaching showrooms in early 2017. Buyers can choose to channel the ZL1’s 600-plus ponies through either a six-speed manual or a 10-speed automatic transmission.

Hamada Bayloun is not particularly religious, but across his entire upper back spreads a large tattoo of the most revered saint in Shiite Islam, Imam Ali. He is one of a growing number of Shiite Muslims in Lebanon who have inked themselves with Shiite religious and political symbols as a show of pride in their community since neighbouring Syria's civil war broke out in 2011, fanning hatreds between Shiites, Sunnis and other faiths across the region. The 30-year-old Bayloun got his tattoo a few months after the war began, partly as a response to attempts to bomb Shiite shrines in Syria and Iraq. (Text and Photo: AP) "We can't respond with car bombs, but (through tattoos) we can show our strength and love for the prophet and his family," he said, referring to Islam's Prophet Muhammad, who was Ali's cousin and father-in-law. (Text and Photo: AP) In Pic: Ali Hussein Nasreddine, 50 The Syrian conflict, which began with government forces crushing protests against President Bashar Assad, became a fight between predominantly Sunni rebels against Assad's minority Alawite sect, an offshoot of Shiism. The Lebanese Shiite group Hezbollah has sent thousands of its fighters to Syria to support Assad, alongside Iranian, Iraqi and other Shiite a. (Text and Photo: AP) In Pic: Alodi Issa, 22.