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Having been in the software business for more than 25 years, across major cloud pioneers including Salesforce, Veeva Systems and Vlocity, I’ve seen some demos in my time. But nothing quite prepared me for the lessons I learned in a surprise masterclass last week. As the week came to a close, my head of marketing had to leave early as his wife wasn’t feeling well. She had come down with the flu and he headed home to take care of their three children. On Saturday morning, sitting in the spectator stands at his youngest daughter’s swimming class, his eight-year-old daughter Bethany asked if she could play a game on his phone to pass the time. What happened next was remarkable. As he passed her the phone, she spotted the name of the company her father worked for on the home screen and asked what it did. He clicked on the app and took her through a quick demo, telling a story of a sales rep who sold ice cream to shopkeepers in their local town. Having only ever played games and watched videos on a phone before, she was amazed that someone could do their job from the device. Fully engaged, Bethany asked if she could have a go and instantly picked up the flow. No training, no scripts and no rehearsals; she flowed effortlessly through the app. Feeling a mixture of astonishment and fatherly pride, my head of marketing recorded a demo of Bethany using the app as soon as he got home. Sharing it with the team on Monday morning, we were all equally as surprised and excited about what we were seeing: an eight-year-old kid, effortlessly gliding through a business application like she was playing a game. MORE FOR YOU The World's Most Influential CMOs 2020: Resolute Leadership In Transformative Times Forbes China: 50 Women In Tech Alongside her father, it was a proud moment for me, too, as I watched tomorrow's workforce emracing our application with ease. I've since been asked by a number of customers, partners and friends how she was able to navigate the app with such ease. Taking a moment to reflect, there are five important lessons I believe this demo highlights about creating successful enterprise applications. 1. Make your apps fun. User adoption is the name of the game, especially for field users. If your applications aren't fun and easy to use, you need to go back to the drawing board. Whether it's gamification or the messaging used to communicate with your users, always remember these are real people who want to enjoy their experience. 2. Focus on a highly visual and intuitive UI. Look-and-feel should never take second place. Too many vendors build their business processes first and then think about the UI, and you can tell. Your apps should be highly visual, beautiful to look at and intuitive to use. If you even have to think about a training manual, you've missed the mark. 3. Don't let mobile be an afterthought. Don't think of mobile as another UI layer. Lead with it and take a mobile-first design approach to everything. Create truly native apps that leverage the full power of the mobile device and operating system. Never compromise. The next generation demands this and will grow frustrated with clunky experiences. 4. Eliminate all disruptions. The days of known issues and end user workarounds are gone. Apps need to work every time with no excuses. The next generation has no tolerance for bugs or service interruptions. Even the lack of internet connectivity should never be a blocker. Modern business apps should function as well offline as they do online and work anywhere. And, the most important point: 5. Make sure your app tells a story. Every good story has a start, middle and end. This makes it easy to follow and remember. A business app should be no different. Every user should have their own story that they walk through on a daily basis, driving their overall focus, key tasks and performance. They should feel a sense of accomplishment as they close out each chapter. I never expected to be taught such valuable lessons in business apps by an eight-year-old, but there is something in the intuitive and instinctive way the next generation embraces technology that we all need to learn from. This is a generation that has grown up swiping touch screens, talking to Alexa and watching any video they want, instantly. Skip one of these five lessons and I'm pretty sure they're going to find you irrelevant.

link: https://www.zeebiz.com/education/news-bsc-hons-economics-at-vijay-patil-school-of-management-a-pathway-to-a-successful-career-160351 Economics is a unique subject. It has the economic behavior of human beings, as the center point of its studies with emphasis on limited resources and unlimited wants; but it goes further and stamps this unpredictable human behavior with a healthy dose of mathematics and statistical analysis that makes this subject fascinating. A BSc in Economics at VPSM is a sound robust course, that prepares the students to become world leaders and decision makers in the very competitive global arena where the markets rule the roost and where sound call the shots. A BSc in Economics will prepare the students to design policies that can shape the countries of nations and proactively help in the cause of nation building Under the BSc Economics Program, at Vijay Patil School of Management, there are subjects such as Microeconomics - Consumer behavior, production and markets: Macroeconomics - National Income accounting, circular flow, Keynesian theory and classical theory, business cycle: Mathematical Methods for Economics with Potentially adding eigenvalues and eigenvectors, skill enhancing courses like English writing and communication, macroeconomics - open economy plus growth theory. This is a curriculum comparable with the best schools to promote personalized learning goals of each student to make him/her ready to face the challenges of life The B.Sc. (Hons) in Economics program offered by VPSM lays emphasis on applications and policy. The curriculum offers robust training in economic theory and statistical methods and a wide choice of Economics courses to suit students' interests and mathematical aptitude. Economics electives covers all the significant fields of economic knowledge as well as recent developments in the field of economics. This three-year undergraduate course combines knowledge in economic analysis with public policy and statistical modeling skills that will provide a strong foundation for a career in multiple fields such as Finance, Banking and Public Administration. This degree, thus, makes students aware of contemporary issues in the community, society and the nation. Armed with the right knowledge and in-depth information, students have the potential to impact the financial and banking sectors, rural, resources and their employment, government and its administration to name a few areas. A degree in Economics will be most suitable for bright young minds interested in accquiring knowledge about leading economic theories and those interested in applying mathematics to real-life economic and social issues and also for those seeking a strong foundation to enhance their career opportunities in the field of economics and allied fields. Some Electives that are offered are Advanced Game theory, Public Economics, Financial Economics, Applied Econometrics, Labor economics, Economics of Health and Education, Environmental and Ecological Economics, Open Economy Macroeconomics, Money and Financial Markets, Law and Regulatory Economics, Behavioral Economics, Industrial Organization, Economics of Two-sided markets and Internet Economics. Students can also choose courses from the BBA program. The Economics program at VPSM will provide a platform to its students to interact with like-minded people who can create a synergistic field that can rejuvenate the mindsets of the budding leaders, even as they are provided opportunities to explore and engage with a global student community . Collaborations with international academic partners like Harvard Business School Online, a vibrant state of the art campus in Mumbai, designed by globally acclaimed British architects Foster + Partners, Eminent faculty members who are passionate and innovative educators holding PhDs from the best of schools in India and Abroad are some potent reasons why a BSc degree in Economics from VPSM is an appealing choice for students seeking excellence and exemplary standards. A further advantage that VPSM enjoys is its location. The sprawling university campus where VPSM is housed, is located within an hour of driving distance from the Central Business District, Mumbai. VPSM also has a robust industry connect that opens doors to massive opportunities for its students, in gaining places and internships. Deserving, talented, hardworking and committed students will certainly stand to gain from these opportunities. Scholarships & financial aid is also provided for deserving students. Students are provided a comfort filled ambience where they could learn and thrive. A fully air-conditioned residential facility on campus facilitates this. And a Futuristic Resource center accentuates the emphasis that VPSM lays on encouraging holistic learning among its students. The BSc (Hons) Economics course at VPSM will truly provide a head-start to students who aspire to be global citizens, straddling the world of policy and finance and shaping the unfolding events on the world stage.

link:https://www.aljazeera.net/news/science/2021/7/7/ثرثرة-الحيوانات-يمكن-أن-تساعدنا-على For humans, communication is the bedrock of their relationships and part of their business success. Likewise, animals make sounds to warn, attract companions, express distress, and defend their territory, and vocal cords serve myriad purposes to ensure survival. But have you ever wondered, of all the creatures that share our planet Earth, which one speaks the most? And what is the most talkative animal? pronunciation cost In human terms, we might measure "chatter" in two ways; The amount of time we spend talking, and the variety of what those sounds convey. How does this apply to non-human species? When animals forage for food, they make sounds, says Eric Kirshenbaum, a zoologist at the University of Cambridge in the UK who studies the vocal communication of animals and uses algorithms to analyze and compare their sounds. So that everyone knows that everything is fine and that there are no predators. And according to what Kirschenbaum says to Live Science, Being social does not necessarily mean that the animal communicates a lot, because pronunciation also comes at a cost. "Most animals try not to speak much, because it actually requires a lot of energy." Another factor is predation; The sounds expose the animal to a potential danger of being hunted. And when it comes to vocal communication, social species tend to have more diversity in the messages they convey, while solitary animals need to communicate simpler messages to the rest of the world. vote theft It is generally wrong, says Kirshenbaum, to view communication among animals as being made up of separate words with unique meanings like ours. This idea was supported by songbirds, and although they have some of the most complex vocal sequences of all living things, these sequences typically occur in scenarios where the relative simplicity of the bird's purposes of communication, such as calling a mate or defending one's territory, do not match. Eric Jarvis, a neuroscientist at The Rockefeller University in New York who studies songbirds as a model for how humans learn to speak, told Live Science that some bird species, such as mockingbirds or African gray parrots, steal sounds from other species in the wild to look smarter, so to speak." These parrots and mockingbirds suggest that individual sounds may not convey separate messages as words do when humans speak; Because they belong to completely different types, they are unlikely to have transferable meanings. listen and learn Whatever the animals say, some of them spend more time talking than others. According to Jarvis, animals can be divided into two broad groups; Non-vocal (or innate) learners, and phonological learners, which are animals that learn articulation by imitating sounds. A few groups of animals fall into the vocal learning camp, which includes humans, songbird species and some non-human mammals, including dolphins, whales, elephants, seals and bats. Jarvis suggests that communicating frequently can aid communication across large areas, helping animals to claim territory or find a mate. Presumably, it is the animals that make the most noises that you should worry the least about predators. Interestingly, vocal learners in particular "tend to be near the top of the food chain like humans, whales, dolphins or elephants, or they vocalize in the ultrasonic range (so they can't be heard), like bats." best gossip Moreover, chatter animals in particular have a system that reduces the energy costs associated with constantly making sounds. So, who gets the crown for the best babbler? Kirshenbaum made an informed guess that among these animals, dolphins would be a tough contender for the title, based on his research. Jarvis is now devoting part of his research to finding out what vocal learners can tell us about spoken human language. He has identified specific genetic mutations in songbirds that are associated with vocal learning that could shed some light on how speech disorders occur in humans; So studying how animals communicate is more than just a curiosity, and it can help us understand ourselves more.

Link: https://www.msn.com/ar-ae/autos/news/فورد-f-150-تعود-لعمليات-الإنتاج-مجدداً/ar-AALXVPP The F-150 is a South American production model. And the return to joining the establishment of production of the F-150 came during a period of suffering of the American company from a shortage of semiconductors, which forced production lines to stop. The mass-produced F-150 produced a hugely po[CENSORED]r off-roader and pickup truck. Ford revealed that it will focus on ending production of cars that were assembled but were waiting to install semiconductor chips. Ford announces the number of F-150 cars that will appear quickly after installing semiconductors in it, but the American company confirms cars that lack conductive chips in production. Ford struggles in F-150 production The American company Ford admitted that it is suffering in its production due to the lack of electronic units, which is widely seen on the F-150 and others. The company revealed that Volkswagen Accent was exposed to the Mercedes-Benz and F-150 in North America without parts due to a severe global shortage of semiconductors. It suffers from a severe shortage of semiconductors with a shortage of spare parts due to the winter storm that hit central USA during the month of February. Ford explained that the company will produce and compress the F-150 . It is worth noting that Ford faces a great risk if the global shortage of semiconductors continues this year, which will affect the company's profits, which have not yet exceeded its losses in 2020 due to the repercussions of the Corona virus. Police Edition: 2021 Ford F-150 with features The American company Ford announced the introduction of the F-150 Police Edition in the United States Ford claims that the F-150 Police Edition is powered by 25 horsepower more powerful engines than the original. The Ford F-150 Police Edition is equipped with a 3.5-liter 6-cylinder EcoBoost engine, which produces 400 horsepower and a maximum torque of 678 Nm. The engine has not only decreased its power, but also increased the car's torque by about 40 Nm. The engine of the F-150 Police Edition is mated to a 10-speed automatic transmission with standard all-wheel drive. The F-150 Police Edition can go from standstill to a speed of 96 km/h in 5.2 seconds. It was shot by an F-150. The FX4 package includes a lot of distinctive bodywork as well as suspension more specialized in conquering off-road, as well as a special hill descent control system. The F-150 Police Edition stands on Goodyear tires that can handle all types of roads. The F-150 Police Edition wants you to have several capabilities, including the ability to carry a weight of 920 kg, as well as a large towing estimated at 3.1 tons. It provides your chance to get a good chance of getting the best programs available. It is expected that the price of the new F-150 version of the pick-up police will start from 44,000 US dollars, which is approximately 165 Saudi riyals. Ford explained that the car was produced at the Ford plant in Missouri, USA. The car is expected to arrive at the US police stations next fall. 2021 F-150 Raptor officially launched This comes from an American Ford company about the 2021 F-150 Raptor, officially in its new generation. The 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor has better capabilities that enable it to provide outstanding performance on the terrain, through its use of the latest technologies. Maintaining its position at the forefront of high-performance pickup cars in the world, the Ford car managed to achieve the highest sales in the last four years. Over the last four years, the Ford F-150 has managed to outperform the last Porsche models combined, which demonstrates the unparalleled success of this powerful model. 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor Engine It is expected that Ford will provide the 2021 F-150 Raptor with a 6-cylinder EcoBoost 3.5-liter twin-turbo engine, generating 450 horsepower and a maximum torque of 691 Nm, and the engine is connected to a 10-speed automatic transmission. All versions of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor start with an electronic rear differential lock and a limited-slip front differential. Ford revealed that it had updated the cooling and exhaust systems and increased the range of the fuel tank to more than 800 km. New tires for F-150 Raptor Ford decided to provide the 2021 F-150 Raptor with 35 or 37-inch tires, the first time in the history of this model that it gets a tire of this size, and the F-150 Raptor will be the first among all full-size light-duty pickups that get tires By this measure. The most powerful Ford F-150 Raptor R version Ford announced that it will introduce the R version, which is considered the most powerful and highest-performing vehicle, primarily in competition with the Ram TRX, with a V8 Sportcharger engine. The 2021 R version of the F-150 Raptor is powered by a Mustang Shelby GT500 engine that generates an impressive 760 horsepower. Ford is working on an R version of the F-150 Raptor in 2022. It is worth noting that the American company Ford had published the first teaser image of the 2021 F-150 Raptor, before its launch on Wednesday. Ford preferred not to reveal many details in the teaser image that it published, but to leave all the details for the moment of the official launch. Information about the 2021 F-150 Raptor A lot of information is known about the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor because of the many spy photos that were taken of it during its testing and development. It is expected that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor will have a new grille with "FORD" letters in the English language, and it will be prominent in an attractive and elegant way. Experts also noticed through the spy photos that the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor has wide headlights installed on the front grille, in addition to an updated black bumper. A spy photo also showed the body of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor with a front skid plate with hooks and BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A tires as well. What drew the attention of car experts and fans of the 2021 Ford F-150 Raptor is that the American company decided to remove the rear springs and replace them with modern ones. It is expected that replacing the old springs with new ones will make the ride more comfortable. Earlier reports revealed that the car had received a rerouting of the exhaust path, in order to obtain the car with a more straight exhaust to improve ground clearance. Ford was able to keep the interior of the 2021 F-150 Raptor from spying, but sources from within the American brand confirm that the car will get several things available in the standard F-150. It is also expected that the interior of the 2021 F-150 Raptor will get a 12-inch touch screen for the infotainment system in addition to 12-inch digital gauges as well.

link: https://www.msn.com/ar-ae/lifestyle/beauty/خلطات-طبيعية-لعلاج-تصبغات-البشرة/ar-AALVdZ7?fullscreen=true#image=1 Skin pigmentation Causes of skin pigmentation Natural mixtures to treat skin pigmentation The skin is exposed to several factors that cause darkening and discoloration, and exposure to the sun causes many different problems for the skin, as it causes dry skin, peeling, increased oily secretions, acne, pigmentation and many other problems. . Skin pigmentation Skin color disorders affect the color of the skin, as the skin gets its color from the melanin pigment, which is made up of special skin cells. When these cells are damaged or diseased, melanin production is affected. Which causes pigmentation in the skin and pigmentation disorders affect only certain areas of the skin. If the body produces a lot of melanin, the skin becomes darker. Problems can occur with the pigments that give color to the skin, so that an area of the skin produces a lot of melanin and the skin becomes darker, and on the contrary, when melanin is not produced in a part of the skin, the skin turns white, and this is called a skin pigmentation disorder. Pigment is the color of human skin. When a person is healthy, it is normal for their skin color to appear normal. In the case of illness or injury, a person’s skin color may change to become darker and the condition is called hyperpigmentation, or the skin color becomes lighter and this condition is called hypopigmentation. [1] Causes of skin pigmentation Here are the reasons for the appearance of the following skin pigmentation: Skin pigmentation disorders: If a person has patches of light or dark skin, it means a skin pigmentation disorder. Melasma: It is a common skin disease that usually affects the facial skin and causes brown spots. It affects more women than men. Triggers of melasma can include exposure to sunlight and hormonal changes. Vitiligo: This disease can affect any part of the body and causes the cells that produce melanin known as melanocytes to not function properly, resulting in lighter patches of skin. Hyperpigmentation or hypopigmentation: It is a temporary increase or decrease in skin pigment after an injury to the skin such as a sore or burn. Albinism: People with albinism do not produce enough melanin, and this results in little or no pigment in the skin, hair and eyes. Albinism is considered a genetic disease. Rashes: A rash can cause discolored patches of skin to appear. Rosacea: This is a chronic skin condition that can cause patches of red skin to form, usually affecting the forehead, cheeks, and nose. Psoriasis is a skin condition that causes red, scaly patches of skin that can appear anywhere on the body. Contact dermatitis: This inflammation occurs when the skin reacts to an irritant or allergen. Eczema: Also known as atopic dermatitis, this condition can cause red patches on the skin that are dry, cracked, and itchy. [1] See also: How do you avoid skin pigmentation caused by the sun in the summer? Natural mixtures to treat skin pigmentation Here are some natural mixtures to treat skin pigmentation, which we mention to you as follows: Black tea water mixture to treat skin pigmentation Studies have confirmed that black tea water reduces dark spots when black tea water is placed twice a day for six days a week and after four weeks, a uniform skin color free of pigmentation will be obtained. Here are the steps for applying the recipe: Put one tablespoon of fresh black tea leaves into a cup of boiled distilled water. The mixture is soaked for two hours and then filtered to remove the leaves. Soak a cotton swab in black tea water, then apply it to the areas of hyperpigmentation, and repeat the process twice a day. Repeat these steps every day for six days a week for four weeks to get clear skin and an even tone. Licorice mixture to treat skin pigmentation Licorice extract contains active ingredients proven to lighten hyperpigmentation caused by melasma and sun exposure. Over-the-counter topical creams containing licorice extract can be used and used according to the directions on the package. You can also prepare a licorice mixture at home and get effective results for treating skin pigmentation by following the following instructions: Soak a tablespoon of licorice powder with a cup of hot water and leave it for an hour. Strain the mixture, then add an appropriate amount of turmeric powder and a little coconut oil. Paint pigmentation areas with the mixture and leave to dry. Wash the skin with lukewarm water. Milk mixture to treat skin pigmentation Curd and even yoghurt and milk have been proven to lighten skin tone effectively. This is because milk products contain lactic acid, which is the component responsible for this effect. Here are the steps for preparing the recipe: Soak a cotton swab in milk, yoghurt or curd and leave it for a few minutes. Rub the dark, pigmented skin patches with a cotton ball and repeat twice a day. Repeat this process daily and regularly until best results are obtained. Tomato paste to treat skin pigmentation Tomato paste is rich in lycopene, which protects the skin from long-term damage. This mixture can be applied by following the following instructions: Mix four tablespoons of tomato paste with one tablespoon of olive oil. Rub the pigmentation area with the mixture for two minutes, then leave it to dry. Wash the skin with lukewarm water. Red lentil mixture to treat skin pigmentation Red lentil face masks are available in pharmacies. These masks are po[CENSORED]r in the treatment of hyperpigmentation. Red lentils are rich in antioxidants that are known to be beneficial for the skin. The red lentil mixture can be prepared to treat skin pigmentation at home by following the following steps: Soak 50 grams of red lentils overnight in a bowl of water. Grind red lentils using an electric mixer or food processor to make a smooth paste. Distribute the paste evenly over the pigmented areas and leave for 20 minutes. Rinse the skin with cold water, then pat dry with a soft towel. [1] Did you find something useful in our articles, if you are interested subscribe to the free e-newsletter for your skin and learn the most important information and solutions to the most important different skin problems from our skin experts.

link: https://www.msn.com/ar-ae/news/featured/مهاجرو-أوشن-فايكينغ-المنسيون-بعد-عام-على-إنقاذهم-في-البحر/ar-AALXJEs Time has stopped for Suleiman Muhammad since he was rescued a year ago with a group of migrants in the Mediterranean. He is still wearing the white shoes that were given to him at that time, and he can recall the moment he was pulled out of his boat at five in the afternoon and the 21st. If the 39-year-old Pakistani remembers the hour of his rescue so accurately, it is because since that June 30, 2020, and his landing in Italy on July 7, hardly anything has happened. He just waits, fanning over the house he's been sheltering in in a forest deep in Italy, an hour's walk from the nearest bus stop. He says, "I sit here, then I get up and sit there. Then I sleep. A year has passed and I am in this state." When he was disembarked, he faced a European diplomatic maze that obstructed the distribution of the 180 migrants who were picked up by the SOS Mediterranean humanitarian ship, while he was among them, to countries on the continent. The dreams that led them to defy death and make the journey in search of a better life of calm and peace were thwarted. Today, they are faced with a dilemma, either to linger in Italy in the hope of legitimizing their situation, or to flee to another European country illegally. Solomon is a proponent of the first option. "We cannot learn Italian, we are trapped here in a forest," he told AFP, who met him while on the Ocean Viking in 2020. He rolls a cigarette and continues, "Actually, I haven't seen Europe yet. But what to do? I'm waiting." To this day, 17 of the migrants rescued by the ship in the Mediterranean, most of them Pakistanis, are still waiting at that improvised reception centre. Suleiman gave an interview in February and has since been waiting for a response to his asylum application. - side effects - Immigrants would have been in a different situation today. When an NGO disembarks migrants in Italy, they usually start talks under the auspices of the European Commission to decide on their distribution, with France and Germany taking half of them together. The migrants selected by France arrive in its territory within three weeks, their files are processed under an accelerated asylum mechanism, and they are accommodated without delay. But the head of the French Office for Immigration and Integration, which sponsors them, Didier Lesche, explained that "no agreement was reached to redistribute (the migrants) for that ship, and therefore they remained in Italy." According to information collected by Agence France-Presse, the migrants of the Ocean Viking are the only ones not distributed in 2020. When looking for the reasons, some suggest that they were victims of difficult negotiations taking place at the same time between Paris, Berlin and Rome on the issue of the distribution of immigrants in general to the countries of the continent. In any case, Europe considers that they have been effectively taken care of "since the country of arrival is ... responsible for them and for examining their asylum applications." But the reality is that the majority of these immigrants are tired of the uncertainty of their situation, and when Italy began registering their applications after six months, with no European agreement reached on their distribution, three quarters of them left the country for France, Germany or England. "They used to tell us every day 'Reply today, answer tomorrow', and we would just stay there without having anything to do, while the others would leave," says Arslan, a 25-year-old Pakistani who is currently residing illegally in Valencia, Spain. After spending three months in the Brussino forest alongside Suleiman, still bearing signs of torture and ill-treatment in Libya, Arslan boarded the train in October to Milan, where a relative helped him cross the French and then Spanish borders in a car. - The second flight - Since then, the short bearded boy has been working illegally for his uncle, hoping to get legal papers in Spain. "I don't have time to go out, but I thank God that I'm alive and I have a job," he says. Many who choose to continue their journey through Europe are certain that this route often leads to an illegal situation, among them Nabil, an Eritrean who has decided to take the risk and cross the English Channel to move to England. He explains, "I left because we were living as if we were in prison. They didn't give us anything, not even underwear. We didn't get any information. After three months, I started to inquire, and I told myself that I had even a small chance of managing my affairs in Germany." In France, Othman recently joined a sports club on the outskirts of Paris for 150 euros a month, a big investment for him that would eat up a third of the aid granted to him as an asylum seeker, but it constitutes the first stage of his “new start” in Paris after a year he “wasted” in Italy. . "It was a matter of my physical and mental health," the young Pakistani immigrant told AFP, sitting on the balcony of a Parisian café. "I had a grudge against Italy that destroyed me physically and psychologically, after I thought I had lived the worst in Libya." After nine months in the reception center in Italy, "laying without doing anything, without telling us anything and being treated," he preferred to take the train to Ventimigli and cross the border there to France. - tik tok - There are also immigrants who decided to stay in Italy, and their number is about thirty, and today they live as if in a vicious circle. "We're waiting, waiting, waiting," says Irshad Muhammad, 21, dressed in traditional Pakistani robes at the pink migrant home in the Prosino Forest. Days pass in that house between naps and preparing meals on the stoves laid on the ground, as the organization overseeing the center prevents migrants from using the kitchen. The area is not connected to the telephone network, but the Internet is available at home, so everyone spends their time on Facebook, YouTube and Tik Tok, commenting on the posts of migrants who "succeed" and posting selfies of them in front of a monument in Europe. They are also monitoring rescue operations in the Mediterranean. "Everyone came here for a better life, but this is how we are now. Here we are not free, we live as if in a prison," says Irshad Mohammed. "Our lives simply stopped overnight since last year." For his part, says Irshadullah, 24, who has not yet received an appointment to apply for asylum, "we were happy, we thought that after all we had suffered, we would finally get out of the impasse. But another impasse began." - 10 euros per day - All immigrants live on 75 euros a month, which is the value of the assistance provided by the Italian government to secure their food, clothes, administrative costs, medicines and others. "If we get sick, no matter how sick we are, even if we break our leg, they just give us a paracetamol tablet," says Irshad Muhammad, who hails from the tribal region on the Afghan border, laughing nervously. Migrants begin and end their day by reviewing their text messages in the hope that they have received a letter from their employer, as almost all of them work on a daily basis in the surrounding cities. Naeem, a 35-year-old Pakistani whose asylum application was recently rejected, works at a petrol station in Aquapendente, 8 km away, where he washes cars 12 hours a day for 10 euros, or 80 cents an hour. "They are taking advantage of us because we have nothing and we need to work," says Irshad Mohammed. But Naeem refuses to complain, saying, “My file was rejected because they consider Pakistan’s Punjab to be a safe area. But if things are fine, why are we here? I will now stay in Italy, and in any case, I will face rejection elsewhere. Little by little, I will gain 15 Then 20 euros. Rare are the happy moments in this monotonous life. The immigrants made two bus trips to Lake Bolsena, 30 minutes away, and some of them visited three times the peaceful village of Prosino with its cafe and five churches. Each time the center received a visit from the police, which prevented the immigrants from resuming the adventure. - 'Prison' - Nigerian Peter Inenaya was one of the few migrants on board the Ocean Viking who was going to Italy, where he wanted to join his wife and three-year-old daughter Miracle, after they were raised when he was detained by armed men in Libya. But since his arrival, he has only been allowed to see them once, in August, at the Pontecorvo migrant center where he resides to the south of Rome, from which he cannot leave at risk of jeopardizing his asylum application. "They tell me it's a men's center," he says in desperation. "But it's actually a prison. Living there without my family for whom I took all these risks is terrible." Only a small number of these migrants returned from the Libyan hell succeeded, including Abdel Hafeez Abdel Wahed, who recently obtained political asylum for five years in Italy, with an Italian passport that impresses his friends. “I am happy today. At first, I wanted to be transferred to another country. But after six months, I was told that I had to apply for asylum here. I stayed to respect the laws, and in the end it worked,” says the young man, who lives in the industrial zone of Orte, Italy. He is now hesitating between staying or leaving to Norway, his first dream, but legally.

As the U.S. economy struggles to emerge from its pandemic-induced hibernation, consumers and businesses have encountered product shortages, hiring difficulties and often conflicting public health guidance, among other challenges. Now the recovery faces a more familiar foe: rising oil and gasoline prices. West Texas Intermediate, the U.S. An oil-price benchmark, hitting $76.98 a barrel on Tuesday, its highest level in six years, as OPEC, Russia and their allies again failed to agree on production increases. Prices moderated later in the day but remained nearly $10 a barrel higher than in mid-May. Reflecting the increase in crude prices, the average price of a gallon of regular gasoline in the United States has risen to $3.13, according to AAA, up from $3.05 a month ago. A year ago, as the coronavirus kept people home, gas cost just $2.18 a gallon on average. The auto club said on Tuesday that it expected prices to increase another 10 to 20 cents through the end of August. The price of a gallon of gas The rapid run-up comes at a delicate moment for the U.S. economy, which was already experiencing the fastest inflation in years amid resurgent consumer activity and supply-chain bottlenecks. And it could cause a political headache for President Biden as he tries to convince the public that his policies are helping the country regain its footing. Asked about oil prices at a White House news conference on Tuesday, Jen Psaki, the press secretary, said the administration was monitoring the situation and had been in touch with officials from Saudi Arabia and other major producers. But she suggested that the president had limited control over gas prices. Thanks for reading The Times. Subscribe to The Times “There sometimes is a misunderstanding of what causes gas prices to increase,” Ms. Psaki said. “The supply availability of oil has a huge impact.” Indeed, energy experts said the recent jump in oil prices had more to do with global economic and geopolitical forces than with domestic policies. Global energy demand slumped when the pandemic hit last year, eventually leading the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies to cut production to prevent a collapse in prices. Demand has begun to rebound as economic activity resumes, but production has not kept pace: OPEC Plus, the alliance of oil producers, on Monday called off a teleconference to discuss increasing output. The direct economic impact of higher oil prices will probably be substantially more modest than in the past decades. Energy overall plays a smaller role in the economy because of improved efficiency and a shift away from manufacturing, and the rise of renewable energy means the United States is less reliant on oil in particular. Editors' Picks A Spelling Quiz, From the Pages of The Times 'Legally Blonde' Oral History: From Raunchy Script to Feminist Classic ‘How Do I Become Happy?’ Advice From a Professional Fool Continue reading the main story

Animals with spines in the UK could soon be legally recognized as “sentient” beings with feelings if a bill being debated in Parliament moves forward. Should the bill become law, it could get lawmakers to consider animals' feelings, like pain or even joy, when crafting any new policy. The bill is part of a larger push by the government to set high standards for animal welfare in the country. ARE ANIMALS USED FOR FOOD OR FUR BORED IN THEIR PENS? That raises a lot of questions for humans. Are animals used for food or fur bored in their pens, for instance? And what do you do with an individual who might react differently to a situation than its peers, based on its unique personality? If passed, the bill would create an "Animal Sentience Committee" in charge of evaluating how well the government considers those feelings in its policies. For now, the bill focuses on vertebrates; animals with spines. But there's a push from animal rights advocates to expand its proposed protections to invertebrates, like octopuses and lobsters, that have recently surprised scientists with what they're capable of doing and potentially feeling. To better understand what it means for an animal to “feel,” The Verge spoke with Kristina Horback, director of the Animal Behavior and Cognition Lab at the University of California, Davis. This interview has been lightly edited for length and clarity. I know this can get a little complex but, first of all, how do you define sentience? In teaching undergraduates at UC Davis, I use a definition of: capable of sensing environmental cues — sensation, perception, and then responding to those cues. In that definition, you include invertebrates, insects, so many things. But there's definitely confusion with taking a philosophical slant in adding feeling — not only feeling but consciousness, awareness of that feeling. That's where it gets really muddled, trying to “prove” consciousness: the actual acknowledgment of “I’m experiencing pleasure right now” or “I’m experiencing pain” and so on. "THAT'S WHERE IT GETS REALLY MUDDLED, TRYING TO 'PROVE' CONSCIOUSNESS" Right now, there's a lot of focus on pain, which is understandable. We’re seeing some evidence of learned behavior, where the animal will avoid certain areas in their environment where they experienced pain. For example, some fish species will avoid an area where they were once hooked in their mouth. So we have enough evidence of the experience of pain, and learned behavior from that experience of pain — but it's going to be really difficult to have sufficient evidence right now that the animal is on a conscious level of, “Wow, that hurts.” This is where I think a lot of this legislation comes into play, is “shouldn’t we kind of err on the side of caution?” In particular, there's this interest in vertebrate mammals and birds that have the same brain structures, they're showing the same behavioral responses that we see in humans in terms of body postures, or learned changed behavior for experiences of pain, anxiety and stress. Shouldn't we assume that they are also experiencing that on a conscious level? But that gets heavy in philosophy as well. How has our understanding of animal sentience changed over time? Well, I think you can go back as far as philosophers like Rene Descartes, who viewed them as automatic machines where information goes in from the environment and then they just have sort of reflex responses and that's it. But we've had a really great merging of other psychologists, cognitive scientists, and primatologists. Think of your classic Jane Goodall, people who actually sit and take time to view the animals and say, “Now hold on, there's a lot more going on than just in and out in terms of response to the environment or response to finding a mate , survival, and that's it.” I think it's just taken time for humans to become more clever to design experiments where we can acknowledge the capacities of other animals. We are so limited because we are primates ourselves, that all we think about is vision and spatial cues. But that doesn't work for dolphins, you know. We've got to think like the species. “WE’RE NO LONGER VIEWING ANIMALS AS JUST ROBOTIC OBJECTS” It was really neat to see it spark so many different fields in terms of, what about personality? Or what about boredom? Do animals experience boredom? Because we've already kind of had an acceptance that animals experience pain. But these other levels of complex experiences like boredom or guilt — a lot of scientists are getting together to see, can we find evidence of that? We're no longer viewing animals as just robotic objects that take in information and spit out information and just survive and die. There's a lot more going on in between. So we can say now that animals have personalities? Yes, there's certainly so much literature out there — going from insects and reptiles and birds to your great apes and marine mammals — looking at personality. It could be an animal of the same sex, and the same family group, and the same rearing environment, but one is always more aggressive than the other or one is always more cautious than the other. You know, there's a style in terms of how they respond to their world. That's personality. "THERE'S A STYLE IN TERMS OF HOW THEY RESPOND TO THEIR WORLD". THAT'S PERSONALITY.” In terms of comparative psychology and animal welfare science, you know, we all are aiming at understanding capacities and experiences of individual animals. I think it's a wonderful progression. I think it's pretty easy for a lot of humans to acknowledge differences among their pets, and this is just kind of expanding it out now in terms of livestock or lab animals even. We want all lab animals to be the exact same, but the thing is, they're not. That's what I think is moving forward. It's not just, “the lab rat does this.” It's, “Well, it depends on…” you know, and then finishing the sentence because they're individuals. What impact might this bill have if it passes? It's easy to see how it relates to farm animal treatment, like new housing requirements or enrichment requirements, or the treatment of animals in transportation. And then it could kind of expand to the import and export of livestock. If you put a bunch of sheep or cattle on a ship and send them somewhere, is that going to be changed now? That's kind of the level I see it directly impacting commerce and trade for these products. And then it could get even larger. If we're still just sticking to vertebrates, that can expand to fur animals or so many other uses of animals in medical fields. If it goes forward, a lot of things need to move as well to make it work.

Partir en vacances, c’est toujours sympa. Surtout après une période aussi difficile que ces derniers mois, rythmés par les confinements et les restrictions sanitaires en tout genre. Alors que les contraintes s’allègent, de nombreux Français s’apprêtent désormais à prendre la route des vacances. Mais alors qu’un sur deux prévoit d’utiliser sa voiture pour voyager, il va falloir composer avec un aspect bien moins agréable : le prix. Car partir en vacances avec son propre véhicule, sa coûte cher. Entre le péage, les repas et le carburant, la facture a tendance à rapidement grimper. Heureusement, il existe quelques petites astuces simples pour réduire vos dépenses, notamment en ce qui concerne votre plein. Auto-Moto vous en propose trois ci-dessous ! Choisissez les stations les moins chères ou sortez de l'autoroute pour faire le plein Avant de prendre la route, pensez à jeter un oeil aux stations-service les moins chères qui pourraient se trouver sur votre trajet. Certaines applications de guidage comme Waze affichent en effet une liste de celles disponibles sur votre route, en affichant l'éventuel détour, ainsi que le prix moyen du carburant. Une manière intelligente d'anticiper son trajet et de réduire les frais. Mais une autre solution consiste égallement à sortir de l'autoroute pour aller se ravitailler. On sait en effet que les stations situées sur les voies rapides ont tendance à être très chères, à carburant identique. Un petit détour par le village le plus proche vous fera alors faire quelques économies, tout en vous permettant de casser la routine de l'autoroute. L'occasion égallement de faire un peu de tourisme, si vous avez le temps ! Réduisez votre vitesse et adoptez les bons gestes d'éco-conduite Une autre astuce imparable pour réduire sa consommation de carburant consiste simple à lever le pied et à abaisser sa vitesse. En effet, quelques km/h en moins vous permettront de moins consommer, et cela en passant simplement de 130 à 110 km/h. L'an dernier, nos confrères de Caradisiac avaient en effet fait le test, et avaient alors constaté qu'une Renault Mégane dCi faisait passer sa consommation de carburant de 5,5 descend l/100 km à 4.1 litres en en ant de 20 km /h. Par ailleurs, essayez d'accélérer de manière progressive et de pratiquer l'éco-conduite dans la mesure du possible. Essayez égallement d'utiliser votre climatisation de manière raisonnée, en n'abaissant pas trop la température, ce qui est égallement néfaste pour votre santé. L'idéal est alors de choisir une température inférieure de 5° à celle de l'extérieur. Optimisez l'aérodynamisme On n'y pense pas toujours, pas l'aérodynamisme joue égallement beaucoup dans la consommation de carburant. Si vous le pouvez, évitez d'installer un coffre de toit sur votre voiture, et privilégiez l'installation des bagages à l'intérieur du véhicule. Le mieux reste encore de voyager le plus léger possible, afin que la hausse de poids reste contenue, limitant ainsi que la consommation. Pensez égallement à vérifier la pression des pneus et à l'adapter au chargement de votre véhicule. Si vous transportez des vélos, le mieux reste encore de les installer à l'arrière plutôt que sur le toit, et si vous le pouvez, désintallez égallement les barres de toit, qui nuisent auto également à l'aérodynam.

Specialist health professionals say it is time for obesity to be regarded as an illness caused by genetics, biology and how we live today. New research adds to growing scientific opinion that "healthy obesity" does not exist. The findings show those who are significantly overweight have a 66% higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease, compared with those of a normal weight. Many people with obesity say not only do they have to live with prejudice and stigma, but they struggle to find treatment. Short presentational gray line Sarah has lived with obesity her entire adult life. The 39-year-old mum has a Body Mass Index, or BMI, of over 40, which means she is medically classified as having "severe obesity" and is overweight enough for her health to be at risk. "People think you're unintelligent, that you're lazy, that you eat too much, that you've done this to yourself. That it's a choice," she says. "I just want to scream and say none of those things are right." Sarah has spent most of her life trying to control her weight through diet and exercise, and says her obesity is something that she thinks about every day. Growing up in Jersey, in the Channel Islands, Sarah was a "normal-sized" girl, until the end of primary school when she began to develop before some of the other girls in her class. By the time she went to an all-girls secondary school, the changes of puberty meant she started to feel different from many of her friends. Sarah image captionSarah as a 12-year-old In her early teens, she was aware of her mum had regularly struggled with her own weight and had tried lots of diets, so as Sarah's weight increased, she did the same. At 16, she decided to go on an 800-calorie-a-day milkshake diet. Over the summer before starting her A-levels, she says she dropped from a size 14 to a size 10. At the time, it made her feel "brilliant". But, in hindsight, she realises this was the start of years and years of yo-yo dieting. Sarah was around a size 12 when she started university. But when she graduated three years later, she had grown to a size 20. The student lifestyle - drinking and eating late - meant she couldn't keep on top of her weight. Sarah IMAGE COPYRIGHTJOANNE CRAWFORD / BBC But unlike when she was 16, this time diets weren't working. It was the start of a struggle to regulate her weight. Scientists have found that people's genetic background means their weight changes differently, even if they eat the same amount of calories. Obesity genes After university, Sarah started working in the pharmaceutical industry. She was performing well as a sales person, selling a diabetes drug. But she was taken aback after her boss told her that when he first met her he remembers thinking, "You better be a bloody good sales rep, looking the way you do, trying to sell a diabetes drug." Sarah now says it should be against the law to make comments about body shape and size. By the time she was 30, Sarah had severe obesity and was desperate to do something about it for the sake of her mental and physical health. She embarked on a year-long project with a personal trainer and completed an Olympic-class triathlon - swimming 1.5km, cycling 40km and running 10km. She also lost eight-and-a-half stone (55kg). Sarah Around this time, she had some tests which looked at her genetic make-up. The results found two important things: she possesses a variant of the FTO gene, which is associated with weight gain and increases the risk of obesity she has a mutation of the MC4 receptor which causes obesity Some Shawrs, a consultant surgeon who specializes in weight-loss operations, has been treating people with severe obesity for many years. He says people like Sarah, who have an inherited set of certain genes, are much more likely to develop obesity compared with those who don't. But obesity is not just about genetics, he says. It is also about psychology, inequalities and the food environment we all live with. Historically, he says, people with these genetics would have done well in a famine, but with today's plentiful, high-calorie food they will put on weight "without strong determination and support". Dr. Dennis Ratcliffe, a clinical psychologist who supports patients through bariatric surgery, says people's past experiences can play a role. She says many of the people she sees have experienced trauma, abuse, or neglect, for example, which leads to a dysfunctional relationship with food. "I think there's something about the psychological experiences that people go through, the relationships that they start to form with foods, that almost becomes like a perfect storm." Both the genetic and psychological components of obesity can be amplified when foods high in fat and sugar, which are cheap and convenient, are easily accessible. Good friend Sarah has lived on an estate in Hull his whole life. He is obese, and believes areas like him can have a huge impact on the health of those who live there. Across the road from his home, he recalls the parade of shops that once had a greengrocer and a butcher—now eight of the twenty shops are fast-food outlets. "We've got a chicken place, we've got a burger place, we've got a fish shop, we've got a kebab shop, another kebab place, another chip shop, and a Chinese," he says. Jed says that he recently signed a petition to try to prevent another takeaway from opening. "If you look at any area in your city, which is at a low level of socio-economic standing, I guarantee there's going to be more takeaways. We don't need to kick areas like this down. ." Short presentational gray line After training for the triathlon and losing eight-and-a-half stone, Sarah continued to train regularly and eat well. But she noticed that gradually she started to become heavier. Whatever she did, it made no difference. Dr Abd Tahrani, a senior lecturer in obesity medicine at the University of Birmingham, says there are a lot of people who are "biologically pre-designed to conserve energy", which is stored as fat. He explains that signals from the hypothalamus - the part of the brain that controls appetite - bombard the person with feelings of hunger and a desire to eat, that are almost impossible to fight. So even if the person successfully loses several stone by dieting, their body remembers its baseline weight and strives to return to it. Studies from GP records in the UK showed that the annual chance of achieving normal weight in people with morbid obesity is one-in-700 to one-in-1,000. As Sarah started to research obesity, she realised that after a lifetime of blaming herself, she understood that it was actually her body "working against her". Obesity is an illness New research from a team made up of specialists from the University of Birmingham, the University Hospitals of Birmingham, and Warwick Medical School, has found that people living with obesity have a 66% higher risk of developing chronic kidney disease than those with normal body weight . This is the case, even if they have no underlying health conditions, such as diabetes or high blood pressure. The work has just been published in the American Journal of Kidney Disease and involved studying 4.5 million patient records from GPs in the UK over 20 years. This adds to a growing body of scientific research which has found that "healthy obesity does not exist", says Professor Indranil Dasgupta, consultant nephrologist at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Trust, and senior author of the research paper. Previous studies from the same team found those living with obesity without any other health conditions also have a higher risk of cardiovascular disease and stroke.

link: Website The Olympic Games in Japan are to be held without spectators due to rising cases of coronavirus. Olympics Minister Tamayo Marukawa made the following announcement discussions with officials and organisers on Thursday evening. A state of emergency in Tokyo will run throughout the Games, to combat coronavirus. Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga told reporters it would run from 12 July and remain in place until 22 August. Bars and restaurants will not be allowed to serve alcohol and must close by 20:00 (11:00 GMT). Coronavirus infections are rising in Tokyo as the 23 July opening ceremony edges closer. There has been widespread opposition to the Games in Japan, with calls for them to be postponed or canceled. "Taking into consideration the effect of coronavirus variants and not to let the infections spread again to the rest of the nation, we need to strengthen our countermeasures," the prime minister said. When are the Olympics and how will Covid change them? Japan's battle to contain Covid before the Olympics "Given the situation, we will issue a state of emergency for Tokyo." Hours before the decision to bar spectators, Tokyo 2020 chief Seiko Hashimoto said: "We need to issue a message which is strong and easy to understand from the point of view of preventing the further spread [of the virus]." The state of emergency was announced after a meeting between the organizing committee, the government and the International Olympic Committee president, Thomas Bach, who has just arrived in Japan. The Olympic Games are scheduled to take place in the Japanese capital between 23 July and 8 August. The Paralympic Games are between 24 August and 5 September. What's happening with Covid in Japan? A new wave of infections began in April, but overall the country has had relatively low case numbers and a death toll of around 14,900. On Wednesday, there were 2,180 new cases reported in the country. Some 920 of those were in Tokyo, up from 714 last week and its highest since 1,010 on 13 May. Man with banner calling for the Olympics to be canceled IMAGE COPYRIGHTPHOTOSHOT image captionMany people in Japan are against the Olympics Japan's vaccination rollout has been slow, and just over 15% of the country is fully vaccinated. There is rising concern over the threat of the Delta variant. In Tokyo and Osaka, the two cities hit hardest by the recent surge, authorities hope over-65s will be fully vaccinated by the end of July. Entry to Japan by foreigners from 159 countries - including the UK - is currently banned. Do people in Japan want the Olympics? There is lots of opposition to the Games, which have already been postponed by a year because of Covid-19 and have experienced setbacks, including massive budget overruns.

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The heads of the European Union missions in Jerusalem and Ramallah said today, Monday, that the policy of settlement, forced transfers, evictions, demolition and confiscation of homes practiced by Israel is illegal under international law. The representative of the European Union and the heads of missions of the European Union countries in Jerusalem and Ramallah said - in a joint written statement - on June 29, "The Israeli authorities demolished a Palestinian store in the Al-Bustan neighborhood in Silwan / East Jerusalem, and many buildings in the neighborhood recently received demolition orders." There are currently 20 homes that are at imminent risk of demolition." He added, "More than a thousand Palestinians in the Al-Bustan neighborhood are at risk of demolishing their homes, and in the meantime, 86 families are in various stages of eviction procedures led by an Israeli settlement organization in the neighboring Batn Al-Hawa neighborhood." In addition to the above, the Israeli Supreme Court is expected to announce next August 2, whether it will allow the appeal request by 4 of the total 28 families at risk of eviction from their homes in the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, after judicial procedures by a settlement organization. in the neighborhood". The statement noted that "Israeli domestic laws that create the basis for allegations of family evictions do not excuse Israel, as the occupying power, from fulfilling its obligations to administer the occupied territories." divestment European diplomats said that "Israel's settlement policy is illegal under international law, and so are unilateral measures taken in this context, such as forced transfers, evictions, demolition and confiscation of homes, which will only escalate an already tense environment and lead to more violence and human suffering." . They added that "the Israeli authorities should stop these activities immediately, and provide appropriate permits for legal construction and development of Palestinian communities." They pointed out that "the European Union remains committed to achieving the two-state solution, based on the criteria set out in the Council's conclusions in July 2014, a solution that meets Israeli and Palestinian security needs, Palestinian aspirations for statehood and sovereignty, and ends the occupation that began in 1967." and resolves all permanent status issues in order to end the conflict. In a parallel context, a large Norwegian pension fund announced its decision to withdraw its investments in 16 companies, because they operate in Israeli settlements built on Palestinian lands. The Israel Broadcasting Corporation said, "Norway's largest pension fund, KLP, announced today, Monday, that it is cutting its investments in 16 companies operating in Israeli settlements in the West Bank." "KLP" confirmed that "the sale (assets) in Motorola Solutions was a direct decision against the background of its monitoring role in the occupied territories," noting that the company provides software used in border control. She added, "Among these companies: Motorola, Alstom, and others in the areas of communication, banking, energy and construction."

This story is part of Down to Earth, a Vox reporting initiative on the science, politics, and economics of the biodiversity crisis. One fall morning in 1978, David Willard, an ornithologist at the Field Museum in Chicago, walked to the nearby McCormick Place convention center — a hulking structure along Lake Michigan — to look for dead birds. He'd received a tip that birds were crashing into the building's many windows on their journey south. He found a few birds lifeless on the concrete that morning. And as any good scientist might do, he brought them back to the museum to measure them and store the winged creatures in the museum's collection. His curiosity piqued, he returned to McCormick Place the next morning. He still found more birds and brought them, too, back to the museum. Four decades later, Willard has helped collect more than 100,000 birds from window collisions in Chicago, with help from other scientists and volunteers. They now make up a stunning 20 percent of the museum’s ornithology collection. Sign up for The Weeds newsletter Vox's German Lopez is here to guide you through the Biden administration's burst of policymaking. Sign up to receive our newsletter each Friday. While these birds represent a tragic loss of life, they've also helped reveal fascinating insights into how wildlife is changing. One especially striking finding from the collection is that these birds have been shrinking — and rising global temperatures are likely to blame, according to a 2019 analysis of Willard's measurements. It's not just birds. A growing body of research suggests that global warming is messing with the body sizes of all kinds of creatures, from cold-blooded frogs to warm-bodied mammals, and often making smaller animals. Wild animals are already facing a wide range of threats. If they shrink — and especially if they shrink at different rates, as researchers predict — that could push some species even closer to extinction. And it could throw a wrench into ecosystems that humans rely on. The idea that warming is linked to smaller body sizes is also borne out by fossil evidence. During the largest warming event in the early Eocene, about 56 million years ago - when temperatures rose between 5 to 8 °C within 10,000 years - many animals became smaller, including mammals (which scientists learned by measuring fossilized teeth) . Another previous warming occurred called Eocene Thermal Maximum 2, which saw temperatures rise by 3°C, and was also linked to the animals shrinking. Scientists are looking to these warming periods to understand what the future might look like. If current warming continues, we can expect the planet to warm by 1.5°C by 2040, compared to pre-industrial levels. And he will go up from there. "Reductions in body size in fossils are 'particularly informative of what we can expect in the next century,'" two ecologists wrote in a 2011 perspective on natural climate change. Then again, nature is complex and tends to surprise even the smartest of minds. Many animals are getting smaller, but it's not a global trend In 2019, when scientists examined more than 70,000 bird specimens in the Field Museum's collection, they found that individuals from 52 bird species shrank an average of 2.6 percent between 1978 and 2016. It also became smaller on average. said Brian Weeks, lead author of the study and assistant professor of ecology and evolution at the University of Michigan. "It has big implications for what happens in the future." Other studies of birds, deer, rodents, insects, and fish show similar patterns. Research in 2017, for example, found that the body size of a small silverfish called menhaden, which is widely used for animal feed and bait, has shrunk on average by 15 percent over the past 65 years — likely due to a high temperature. Eugene Turner, study author and professor at Louisiana State University: "As the Earth's atmosphere and oceans continue to warm, it appears that the future of menhaden will be smaller." What's interesting is that fish and other so-called ectotherms don't generate their own heat, so having a smaller body doesn't help them stay cool. Instead, it may be shrinking in response to rising temperatures for other reasons, said Jennifer Sheridan, assistant curator of amphibians and reptiles at the Carnegie Museum of Natural History and lead author of 2011 Perspective. Warm temperatures, for example, speed up the development stages of frogs, from eggs to tadpoles and so on, she said, but their growth rate does not keep up. As a result, they are smaller when they reach adulthood. Dead beetles are stacked in rows in boxes in the drawer of the collection cabinet. A 2018 study used these and other specimens from the University of British Columbia's Petty Biodiversity Museum to determine that beetle sizes are decreasing in response to climate change. Courtesy of University of British Columbia But while there are plenty of examples that fit this trend, there are also many exceptions — many that we still don't know. If Bergmann's rule were truly global, po[CENSORED]tions of species would be expected to be smaller in the warmer parts of its range — smaller polar bears in the south, for example. But a 2017 analysis of more than 950 species of birds and mammals found that "most species have similar sizes regardless of their environment temperature." There is evidence that some animals get older, Sheridan said. It's not entirely clear how that happens, but one explanation is that warming hampers winter and lengthens the growing season, allowing plant-eating animals to reproduce. (Sheridan also said that museums with specimen collections are more commonly found in temperate and richer regions, which can lead to data gaps.) The point is that natural systems are really complicated. Even if theory and lab research suggests that animals consistently shrink under warming, the exact result of climate change is messier in reality, she said. “It's almost always the case that some are getting smaller and some are not,” Sheridan said. “With climate change, there are so many other factors changing at the same time.” There are also unanswered questions about how, exactly, animals are shrinking. The big one is whether body-size changes result from natural selection — meaning, they're passed down from one generation to the next — or occur within the lifetime of a single animal, which researchers call “plastic” changes. What happens when animals miniaturize These details aside, researchers are confident that global warming will mess with the size of animals and make many of them smaller. But is that a problem? You could argue that Earth has been here before. It's gone through major periods of warming, and many animals were able to adapt to drastic changes — birds, after all, evolved from dinosaurs millions of years ago, and there are some 10,000 to 18,000 species of them today. But then again, today is nothing like the Eocene. We're warming the planet at an unprecedented rate — about 10 times faster than the average warming following ice ages — which means most animals have little time to adapt. “The idea that they're going to happily evolve is an oversimplification,” Weeks said. And to be clear: Shrinking comes at a cost. For many species, a smaller size translates to fewer babies, said Sheridan. “The fact that they’re smaller has implications for their future reproduction, which, in turn, has implications for po[CENSORED]tion size,” she said. “This is one of the reasons why people care so much about body size.” For some ectotherms, including amphibians, being small also makes you more likely to dry out during a drought. Body size has implications for species that have evolved specialized body types for long migrations. (Interestingly, the 2019 study on migratory birds found that their wings are actually getting longer, likely to compensate for their smaller body size, Weeks said.) But perhaps more concerning is that warming will change body sizes in different ways for different species, said Sheridan, and that can screw up the relationships between animals. For example, if a predator shrinks more slowly than its prey, it might need more prey to fill its stomach in a warming world. “If everything was getting smaller at the same rate, I don't think it would be that big of a deal,” Sheridan said. There would still be consequences, she said, such as higher extinction risks for some species, but you would likely just have “a miniaturized ecosystem that is still functioning because all of the elements are still in proportion to one another.” It's the mismatch, she said, that's “extra worrisome.” Debates about the role of warming in shrinking animals are ongoing. Sheridan, for one, is working on an update of her 2011 article that will include more data, and it includes more exceptions to the rule. And Weeks is working to understand, among other things, whether the changes in body size he observed in birds were produced through evolution or during their lives: “If you warm up birds while they’re developing, do they actually get smaller?” Meanwhile, David Willard, now collects manager emeritus at the Field Museum, is still spending some of his time looking for birds. Lately, there haven't been many to collect, he said, because the bright lights at the convention center that can attract and disorient birds have been off for much of the pandemic. That's one bit of good news that has come out of his research: It's possible to save the lives of birds just by turning off the lights.

Sans fioriture, mais avec un style bien à lui. Ineos a levé le voile sur la planche de bord de son Grenadier, réinterprétation moderne du vénérable « Defender ». Et l’habitacle – qui se veut avant tout fonctionnel – emprunte beaucoup à l’univers de l’aviation. A commencer par le panneau de commandes placé sur le pavillon, au-dessus des utilisateurs. Il intègre de gros interrupteurs permettant de verrouiller le différentiel ou d’allumer une rampe de phare additionnelle. Au dessous – au sommet de la console centrale – l’oeil tombe sur un écran d’infodivertissement de 12,3 pouces, qui détonne dans cet intérieur analogique et peu tourné vers l’électronique. Tactile ou contrôlable via une molette, il affichera les principales jauges : vitesse, température d’huile, indicateur de pente… Mais aussi les médias ou la navigation. Le design est ici moderniste : « Puisque ceci est une instrumentation numérique, nous avons choisi de ne pas singer des compteurs à aiguille traditionnels » explique à Auto Moto le responsable du design intérieur, Jonathan Price. Et pourquoi faire compliqué quand on peut faire simple ? Après moult essais, les designers ont finalement opté pour une commande de rapports… BMW. Logique, quand on sait que l’on retrouve des 6-cylindres en ligne bavarois sous le capot. Devant le conducteur ou la conductrice, on ne distingue que les voyants avertissant d’une éventuelle défaillance mécanique. La disposition globale a été pensée pour que le passager ou la passagère puisse accéder facilement à toutes les fonctions, même sur terrain cabossé. Quant aux gros boutons, ils ont été conservés pour éviter les erreurs et glissades, y compris avec des gants. La vocation de franchisseur est aussi évidente côté position de conduite : il faut bel et bien grimper à bord de ce 4×4 doté d’une garde au sol de 25 cm, comme nous avons pu nous en apercevoir à bord d’une maquette, au siège continental de la marque à Böblingen, près de Stuttgart (Allemagne). Depuis le poste de commandes, on profite d’une vue dégagée au maximum et du capot carré, permettant de délimiter sans difficulté le véhicule. On est assis bien droit sur les sièges Recaro, mais le confort et le maintien demeurent corrects. Sir Jim Ratcliffe, magnat de la chimie et patron d’Ineos a même donné quelques idées aux designers, menés par un spécialiste des yachts, Toby Ecuyer. Comme le « toot », placé sur le volant deux branches gainé de cuir. Il s’agit d’un petit klaxon destiné à se signaler sans effrayer animaux ou cyclistes. Ou encore les lucarnes ouvertes sur le pavillon : « Jim est un homme assez grand et il voulait pouvoir passer sa tête par là » explique Jonathan Price. Le plancher en caoutchouc est muni de bouchons de vidage, permettant de nettoyer l’habitacle d’un coup de karcher. Tapis et cuirs seront disponibles au catalogue pour les utilisateurs.trices les moins crottés. Ultime détail significatif : le véhicule est dépourvu de bouton « Start ». Un Nieman et une simple clé suffisent. L’essentiel sur l’Ineos Grenadier : un 4×4 à l’ancienne sur châssis échelle moteurs 6-cylindres en ligne 3-litres diesel et essence BMW (249 et 285 ch) fabriqué en France (Moselle) à partir de mi-2022 prix de base : 80 000 euros environ

Untreated sleep apnea can stress your heart, raise your blood pressure, and worsen your mood. You might have trouble thinking clearly because you're not getting the deep sleep you need. And your snores or gasps for air at night may disturb loved ones. But there are ways to breathe easier. A continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) device is one option. But it's not your only choice. Christine Won, MD, specializes in sleep-related breathing disorders at Yale Medicine and says lifestyle changes can help. Some take aim at your sleep apnea. Others are geared toward better sleep in general. “This can help with the fragmented and poor-quality sleep you get with sleep apnea.” Here's what you need to know. Lose Weight Sleep apnea is more common in obese adults. That's because extra fat tissue can block your upper airways. Christine Won, MD Your genes and natural physical traits also play a role, says Kuljeet Gill, MD, a sleep medicine specialist a Northwestern Medicine Central DuPage Hospital. But “lossing weight is probably the first recommendation.” Won agrees that weight loss can help lessen how bad symptoms are in some people. But it might not get rid of your need for the CPAP completely, she says. Anyone of any size can get sleep apnea, even kids. That’s why Meir Kryger, MD, a sleep medicine specialist at Yale Medicine, asks adults with sleep apnea this question: “Do you have children, and do any of them snore?” Early treatment in children may ward off problems down the road, he says. Exercise More Your odds of sleep apnea go up if you're not physically active. Exercise can help you shed fat around your upper airways. Even without a big drop in weight, Kryger says regular movement can raise your energy levels and improve your overall health. Outside of weight loss, research shows physical activity can help people with sleep apnea in the following ways: Boost your oxygen levels Help you feel less sleepy Improve your sleep quality Lessen how bad your sleep apnea is We need more research to know exactly how exercise helps with sleep apnea. But try to work in 2 days of weight training and at least 150 minutes of aerobic activity each week. Think 30 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Gill says your mood and sleep quality might get better with just 10 or 20 minutes a day. Anyone of any size can get sleep apnea, even kids. Quit Drinking and Smoking Alcohol use can make sleep apnea worse for a couple of reasons. “We know that it reduces the tone of the upper airway breathing muscles,” Kryger says. “But also, people who drink a lot of alcohol tend to put on weight.” Gill says it's best to give up booze completely. But she knows that's not doable for everyone. If you’re going to drink, tips on how to lessen alcohol’s impact on your sleep apnea include: Stop drinking at least 3 to 4 hours before bed. Limit alcohol use to weekends. If you're a heavy drinker, try to cut back to 1 or 2 a day. If you smoke, quit. Experts aren't exactly sure how cigarette smoking relates to sleep apnea. But studies show people who have the sleep disorder or more likely to smoke. Plus, chemicals in cigarettes can harm your health and poor sleep quality. Avoid Certain Medication Gill says you'll want to be extra careful with opioids, a type of strong painkiller. They can slow down your breathing rate and relax breathing muscles even more. Other drugs that might affect sleep apnea include: High-dose benzodiazepines Muscle relaxers Testosterone Atypical antipsychotics or other drugs linked to weight gain Ask your doctor if it's OK to use over-the-counter sleeping pills. It's not that OTC sleep aids make sleep apnea worse, Gill says, but “you don't want to mask an underlying breathing problem.” Change Your Sleep Position Kuljeet Gill, MD Kuljeet Gill, MD You might breathe easier if you snooze on your side. “I sometimes have [older] men buy pregnancy pillows to avoid their back,” Gill says. Take a look at your mattress choice, too. “A bed that elevates your head might also help,” Won says. But keep in mind that a change in body position won't fix the cause of your sleep apnea. And it might not do much if you have serious symptoms. “But it may help people who are snorers or who have a mild sleep-breathing problem,” Kryger says. Try a Dental Device You might hear this called oral appliance therapy. These tools pull your tongue away from your throat or bring your lower jaw up and forward, Kryger says. That keeps your throat open at night. For some people, a dental appliance can be “virtually as effective as CPAP,” he says. You'll need to get one made by a dentist or orthodontist who works with your sleep doctor. But dental devices can be a lot more expensive than a CPAP, and your insurance may not cover it. Treat Nasal Congestion A stuffy nose doesn't cause sleep apnea. The problem starts back in your throat, behind your tongue, Kryger says. But managing your allergies -- either with surgery, anti-inflammatory agents, or corticosteroids -- may help if you have mild sleep apnea, he says. In addition to allergy treatment, Gill suggests rinsing with saline one or two times a day. You can buy over-the-counter nasal sprays or irrigation kits. Gill says whether you use a CPAP machine or not, “part of breathing better is opening the nose.”

On Tuesday, Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry held a series of intensive interviews as part of preparations for the next session of the Security Council on the issue of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam scheduled for Thursday. Shoukry met with the permanent representatives of Russia and China, as well as the permanent delegates of the United States, Britain and France to the United Nations, as well as the troika of the African Union consisting of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, South Africa and Senegal. The official spokesman for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Ahmed Hafez, stated that Shoukry reviewed, during these meetings, the dimensions of the Egyptian position on the issue of the Renaissance Dam, as he highlighted Egypt's serious involvement in negotiations over a decade with the aim of reaching a binding legal agreement on filling and operating the dam that takes into account the interests of the three countries. He stressed the paramount importance of the Renaissance Dam issue in light of its infringement on the capabilities of the Egyptian people. Hafez added that the Foreign Minister stressed during the interviews the need for the Security Council to assume its responsibilities in this regard, to support efforts to resolve the stalled negotiations, and to push for a fair, balanced and legally binding agreement that achieves the interests of the three countries. This comes after the Sudanese Foreign Minister, Maryam Al-Sadiq Al-Mahdi, met with Shukry in New York, in continuation of the continuous coordination in order to reach a comprehensive and binding legal agreement on the Renaissance Dam. Ethiopian letter to Sudan In this context, the Sudanese Ministry of Irrigation and Water Resources received a letter from its Ethiopian counterpart informing it of the start of the second filling of the Renaissance Dam during the current rainy season, stressing that this notification is useless unless negotiations and agreement on filling and operating the dam are negotiated. The official spokesman for the Sudanese negotiating team, Omar Al-Farouq Kamel, said, "Sudan renews its rejection of the unilateral filling of the Renaissance Dam for the second year in a row without an agreement, which is a clear violation of international law and the agreement of principles, agreements and the stable practice regulating the exchange of benefits for common rivers." draft resolution For its part, Tunisia submitted to its 14 partners in the UN Security Council a draft resolution calling on Ethiopia to stop filling the Renaissance Dam reservoir, according to diplomatic sources. The draft resolution seen by Agence France-Presse sti[CENSORED]tes that the Security Council asks “Egypt, Ethiopia and Sudan to resume their negotiations at the request of the African Union President and the Secretary-General of the United Nations, in order to reach, within 6 months, the text of a binding agreement to fill the dam.” and its management. According to the draft resolution, this binding agreement should "ensure Ethiopia's ability to produce hydroelectric power from the Renaissance Dam and at the same time prevent significant damage to the water security of the downstream countries." In the draft resolution, the Security Council also calls on "the three countries to refrain from any declaration or action that may jeopardize the negotiation process", and at the same time urges "Ethiopia to refrain from unilaterally continuing to fill the reservoir of the Renaissance Dam." The American position The US State Department stated that Ethiopia's filling of the Renaissance Dam reservoir would likely increase tension, and urged all parties to refrain from unilateral moves towards the dam. State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States calls on all parties to commit to a negotiated solution. Dujarric said that "solutions to this issue need to be guided by examples and models with solutions developed by others who share waterways and rivers, and this is based on the principle of fair and reasonable use and the obligation not to cause significant harm."

I'm both a cheap geek and a realistic one. There are some hardware upgrades that I will gladly do — upgrades such as ensuring that all hard drives in any computer I have are SSDs rather than IDE hard drives. Especially with Windows 10, it's a no-brainer: an SSD makes any wheezy computer snappier. I've even upgraded a server to include a TPM module. Typically the hard part is finding the right part that you need and then finding a picture (or ideally a video) showing exactly where the TPM module is plugged into the motherboard. But upgrading a processor? That's where I draw the line. I have slathered on too much CPU thermal paste to feel comfortable in taking an existing processor out of a computer and upgrading it. [Further reading: 14 ways to speed up Windows 10] So why am I worrying about upgrading hardware? Because of the recommended hardware mandated with the upcoming Windows 11 rollout near the end of the year — requirements that include a 64-bit processor with 2+ cores and a speed of at least 1GHz, as well as a Trusted Platform Module (TPM) version 2.0. To be clear, Windows 10 will be supported with updates until 2025, so there is no need to panic now. Rather, it's a time to determine which computers can be updated to Windows 11 when it comes out at the end of the year and which ones should be left at Windows 10. Upgrading to TPM 2.0 But let's start with the basics. You may need to do some research on your computer or motherboard to see if it shipped with a TPM chip or can support it. Start by clicking in the Windows search box and typing in tpm.msc. If you have a TPM chip on the motherboard and it's enabled in the bios, then the resulting screen will show you if you have TPM 1.2 or 2.0. Updating your computer to support TPM 2 may be only a boot away, or it may be more complicated. But first you have to ask yourself if you've encrypted your hard drive with a third-party encryption tool or with BitLocker. If you have, you'll have to unencrypt the hard drive and re-encrypt it after the firmware upgrading process. This may take time. Going by my experience with unencrypting a BitLockered drive, be prepared to start it overnight and wait until the process has fully completed. On my Lenovo ThinkPad laptop, I was able to easily flip from TPM 1.2 to 2.0 by booting into the bios, finding the section in the bios settings — usually in security — and then changing the setting from TPM 1.2 to 2.0. A sample video on the process can be found on YouTube. For my HP desktop at the office, the process was a bit more complicated, as I had to find the exact firmware update to upgrade the computer from TPM 1.2 to 2.0. I originally attempted to use HP's TPM Configuration Utility but found a more exact match for my motherboard by reading this HP support document. For Dell, you can follow the company's documentation or YouTube video. If it's been done successfully, your TPM module will now indicate that you've upgraded from 1.2 to 2.0. Upgrading the processor But now you will find that the real block in running Windows 11 successfully is not the TPM chip — even though that is important — but the processor. Unless you already have an Intel Generation 8 (or equivalent in the AMD family) or unless Microsoft requirements backs down on its processor, you won't be able to run Windows 11. Researching my computers and which Intel chipset they run on made me realize that some of remember my Core i5-based PCs are older than I haded. While I was a bit concerned that so many computers I control won't be able to upgrade to Windows 11 with their current processors, it was a useful wakeup call to the fact that I have a lot of older equipment in my fleet. While you can upgrade a processor after researching which ones your existing motherboard can support, the ease of doing so will depend on the kind of computer you have. I've found that if I've built a computer from scratch, buying the motherboard, the graphics card, the processor, and the case separately, I can often find a newer processor that the motherboard will support, or I can opt to upgrade the motherboard as well. In the good old days that usually meant a trip to Fry's Electronics, but those days are over now that Fry's has gone out of business. Nowadays upgrading is a bit harder, especially in cases where I've purchased refurbished business desktop machines rather than starting from scratch. The only computer I have that will support Windows 11 is my recently purchased Surface Pro 7. But whenever I purchase Surface devices these days, I don't purchase them up front. Instead I sign up for the Surface All Access for Business plan that allows me to purchase them over time for 0% interest, and then when I get near the end of the term, I can turn in the device and get a newer one. Because Surface devices are extremely hard to open and service (I never have managed to pry open the Surface RT from years ago that had a battery die and was never able to be charged up again), I look to ways that allow me to swap them out for new equipment after several years. While this program is set up for businesses only, other computer vendors may provide similar offerings for lightweight laptops that cannot be easily upgraded. Should you bother? Of course, you'll probably ask me if you really need to upgrade to Windows 11. If you think your computer has four more years of good, solid life in it, then the answer is no. Windows 10 will be fully supported for the next four years, and knowing Microsoft, if enough of us are still running Windows 10 at the end of these four years (we will, trust me), then the company will come up with some sort of extended patching program. Bottom line: evaluate your computers. See which ones can make the cut for Windows 11, and those that can't. And then relax, because Microsoft has just started the beta process for Windows 11, and Windows 10 has a lot of life still left in it. If you have any lingering questions, we've got plenty of answers over at Askwoody.com and here on Computerworld.

A US software firm scrambled to restart its systems after a massive ransomware attack affecting organizations worldwide. A US software firm hit by a major ransomware attack that crippled hundreds of companies worldwide said it was on track to restart its servers later Tuesday to bring customers back online. Kaseya, the Miami-based IT company at the center of the hack, said it pushed back its forecast by two hours and hoped to resume operations between 2000 and 2300 GMT. The news comes after an attack business that affected an estimated 1,500 and prompted a ransom demand of $70 million. The systems were being brought back online with "enhanced security measures" and "the ability to quarantine and isolate files and entire ... servers" in case of infection. "Later today we will release a customer-ready statement for you to use to communicate to your customers on the incident and the security measures that we have put in place," a Kaseya statement said. While Kaseya is little known to the public, analysts say it was a ripe target as its software is used by thousands of companies, allowing the hackers to paralyze a huge number of businesses with a single blow. Kaseya provides IT services to some 40,000 businesses globally, some of whom in turn manage the computer systems of other businesses. The hack affected users of its signature VSA software, which is used to manage networks of computers and printers. Sweden's Coop supermarket chain is racing to hundreds of stores closed as a result of the ransomware attack. Experts believe this could be the biggest "ransomware" attack on record—an lucrative form of digital hostage-taking in which hackers encrypt victims' data and money for restored access. The Kaseya attack has ricocheted around the world, affecting businesses from pharmacies to gas stations in at least 17 countries, as well as dozens of New Zealand kindergartens. Most of Sweden's 800 Coop supermarkets were shut for a third day running after the hack paralyzed its cash registers. Kaseya said Monday that while less than 60 of its own customers were "directly compromised", it estimated that up to "1,500 downstream businesses" had been affected. White House spokeswoman Jen Psaki said the administration was monitoring the situation amid reports that the attacks came from a Russia-based cyber gang. But she noted that "the intelligence community has not yet attributed the attack... we will continue to allow that assessment to continue." Psaki reiterated the warning President Joe Biden to his counterpart Vladimir Putin about Russia harboring cybercriminals, stating that "if the Russian government cannot or will not take action against actors residing in Russia we will take action, or reserve the right to take action on our own." Biden, asked about the incident Tuesday, said that so far there appeared to be "minimal damage to US businesses" but that "we are still gathering information to the full extent of the attack." Notable cyber attacks since 2006. Going out with a bang? REvil, a group of Russian-speaking hackers who are prolific perpetrators of ransomware attacks, are widely believed to be behind Friday's assault. A post on Happy Blog, a site on the dark web associated with the group, claimed responsibility for the attack, saying it had infected "more than a million systems." The hackers demanded $70 million in bitcoin in exchange for the publication of an online tool that would decrypt the stolen data. While the hackers are thought to have been reaching out to individual requesting smaller payments, the suspects demanded for $70 million has analysts. French cybersecurity expert Robinson Delaugerre suggested that REvil could be treating the Kaseya attack as a final act before going out of spectacular business. The group was responsible for around 29 percent of ransomware attacks in 2020, according to IBM's Security X-Force unit, looting an estimated $123 million. "Our hypothesis is that REvil is going to disappear and this is its final big act," he told AFP, predicting that the group—which also goes by the name Sodinokibi—could re-emerge under a new name. The FBI believes REvil was also behind a ransomware attack last month on global meat-processing giant JBS, which ended up paying $11 million to the hackers. The United States has been a particular target of high-profile cyber attacks in recent months blamed on Russia-based hackers, with the Colonial oil pipeline and IT firm SolarWinds among the targets.