FazzNoth

Hello, I think your request is hasty because it is the first time you make activity in our project (and you just did it today) but I am willing to give you a pro for pending to see if you will continue to be active here.

Hello @GeanyMorcov, Your request does not show us that you are interested in helping in the projects because your content is simply summarized to "Newlife server" and that is not enough for us to be a moderator. But I think you are a person who might be willing to help in the community. So please, tell us what you can do for Mr.Love ?

My colleague already said what I wanted to tell you, you deserve a chance. Pro

Hello Josef, In my opinion, your request is a bit hasty... Because in the past, you were in VGR where you were losing interest and at the end you made a request to leave it by your own decision. Then you only did some activity in the design section and that is not enough to be a moderator because to have that rank, you have to show interest in what is in this community not only in a project. There were even administrators saying that in order to apply, you have to be in at least 2 projects to demonstrate interest and potential there. Contra

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: theRadBrad Name of the game: GhostWire Tokyo Link video: Rate this video 1-10: -

If you’ve preordered your new iPhone 14, you probably want some accessories and gadgets to go with it. And to help you find the right ones, today we’re rounding up the best iPhone 14 gadgets and accessories. These are the screen protectors, cases, and chargers you’ll want to use with your newest iPhone. For starters, you can protect your display against scratches and shatters with the Belkin SCREENFORCE TemperGlass Treated Screen Protector. And if you’re looking for a sleek case, we suggest the Nomad Modern Leather Case for iPhone 14. It adds instant elegance. Be ready for your iPhone 14 the day it arrives with these gadgets and accessories. Charge your iPhone quickly and efficiently with the AOHI Magcube 40W Foldable Charger. Supporting up to 40W of fast charging power during single port use, you won’t have to wait long for your newest smartphone to reach 100%. Protect your eyes from the blue light with the Ocushield Anti Blue Light Screen Protector for iPhone 14. Medically registered with the FDA, this accessory keeps your eyes healthy. It even destroys surface bacteria and viruses. Looking for an iPhone 14 case with pockets? You’ve found it with the Smartish Wallet Slayer Vol. 2 iPhone 14 Case. Its back pocket has room for 3 cards and a bit of cash. What’s more, the raised edges protect both your screen and camera. The Anker PowerLine II USB-C to Lightning Cable upgrades your Apple cable with thermoplastic elastomer shielding and lasts 12 times longer than most charging cables. Deck out your new iPhone 14 with these gadgets and accessories. Do you have any iPhone 14 accessories to recommend? Tell us about them in the comment section. https://www.google.com/amp/s/thegadgetflow.com/blog/best-iphone14-gadgets-accessories/amp/

Thanks to the support and feedback from our PS5 beta participants, today we’re rolling out a new system software update to PS5 players globally. The update includes several highly-requested features like 1440p HDMI video output* and gamelists, as well as social features like the ability to request a Share Screen from a fellow party member, easily view new friends’ profiles, and receive a notification to help you join a friend’s game more quickly from a party chat. Additionally, you can now compare 3D audio and stereo audio on the same screen and more easily access in-progress Activities from game hubs. Check out our beta blog post to get the full scoop on these features, and read on for details about some new and forthcoming updates for PS5 and PS App. New PS App features In addition to these PS5 console updates, we’re gradually rolling out some new features for PS App globally later this month, on iOS and Android: Launch a PS Remote Play session through PS App PS App users will be able to launch a PS Remote Play session directly from PS App on iOS and Android devices. To start, make sure PS App is linked to your PS5 console and your console is in Rest Mode. Then, select the “Play Using PS Remote Play” icon on a PS App game hub, and the PS Remote Play app will automatically launch the game. To enjoy this feature, make sure PS App and the PS Remote Play app are both installed on your mobile or tablet device. Request Share Screen Similar to the PS5 feature, PS App users will be able to request another party member playing on PS5 to start a Share Screen session, and then watch their friend’s gameplay from the app. This makes it even easier for you to stay connected with friends while you’re on the go. https://blog.playstation.com/2022/09/07/new-ps5-system-software-update-is-out-globally-today/

On Monday, Roku announced a slew of updates to its operating system and home screen menu, designed to make it easier for users to find and view their favorite content. Additionally, the streaming platform introduced two new products Roku Wireless Bass and the updated 2022 Roku Express that will offer users a more seamless streaming and audio experience at an even more accessible price. “At Roku, every improvement and addition to our product line is thoughtfully crafted and tested to bring value to our customers,” Roku’s VP of retail strategy Chris Larson said. “Today’s launch provides even more choices to fit every budget, allowing customers to get the home entertainment experience they deserve without breaking the bank.” Roku Express features include: Fast and powerful: Roku Express delivers a fast, seamless HD streaming experience. The addition of dual-band Wi-Fi ensures performance goes uninterrupted while users stream their favorite content. The simple way to stream: With a quick guided setup and an intuitive home screen, Roku Express makes it easy to watch the entertainment you love on any TV. Just plug it in and connect to the internet to start streaming. Watch what you love for less: With a massive selection of free, live, and premium TV and 300+ live TV channels free on the Roku Channel, there’s plenty to stream without spending extra. Simple remote: The included remote has only the buttons you need to stream, including shortcuts to po[CENSORED]r channels. Always up to date: Get the latest features, newest channels, and more without even thinking about it, thanks to automatic software updates. https://thestreamable.com/news/roku-introduces-new-streaming-audio-hardware-to-make-home-entertainment-seamless

India recently overtook UK as the world’s fifth biggest economy and it could be third by 2030. The rise of China has been the biggest story in the global economy in recent decades. But amid concern about its stumbling property market and global fears about inflation, the emergence of its neighbour, India, as a potential new economic superpower may be going under the radar. You won’t find mention of it in Liz Truss’s blueprint for a “modern brilliant Britain”, but the UK has just been overtaken by India as the world’s fifth biggest economy. The nation of 1.4 billion people is on track to move into third place behind the US and China by 2030, according to economists. And while the world became familiar with Chinese business titans such as Alibaba founder Jack Ma, the staggering wealth accumulated in recent years by Indian billionaires Gautam Adani and Mukesh Ambani has been less well publicised. Adani, in particular, has come to represent India’s growing economic strength thanks to the rapid expansion of his Adani Group conglomerate, which covers everything from ports to airports, and solar power to television. Having entered the global Top 10 when he became Asia’s richest person in February, he is now ranked third with a fortune of $143bn (£123bn) and is closing fast on second-placed Amazon boss Jeff Bezos. India was for many years seen as the poor relation to China, held back by a sclerotic, sprawling state sector and labyrinthine bureaucracy. It still has enormous problems of poverty and poor infrastructure, but it is beginning to emerge as a rival to its large neighbour with the kind of economic growth figures that were once the pride of Beijing. Gross domestic product (GDP) grew by 13.8% in the second quarter of this year as pandemic controls were lifted and manufacturing and services boomed. Although double-digit growth is unlikely to be repeated in subsequent quarters, India is still on track to expand by 7% this year as it benefits from economic liberalisation in the private sector, a rapidly growing working po[CENSORED]tion, and the realignment of global supply chains away from China. “India has overtaken the UK to become the world’s fifth-largest economy,” says Shilan Shah, senior India economist at the consultancy Capital Economics, citing recent updated figures from the International Monetary Fund. “Looking ahead, India looks set to continue its march up the global rankings. In all, we think India will overtake Germany and Japan to become the third-largest economy in the world within the next decade.” A key part of India’s continued rise will be its ability to grow its manufacturing sector and challenge China as the world’s No 1 exporter. India has already benefited from a large, well-educated, often English-speaking middle-class, helping the country to develop world-class IT and pharmaceutical sectors. It also has strong consumer demand, which accounts for about 55% of the economy compared with less than 40% in China. Now the trick will be to benefit from its youthful working po[CENSORED]tion to position itself as a manufacturing power to rival China, where an ageing labour force and rising pay levels are reducing its competitive edge. With a geopolitical wedge opening up between China and the west, India also has the opportunity to grow in reshaped international supply chains. Nguyen Trinh, emerging markets economist at Natixis bank in Hong Kong, says the outlook is promising for India if it can keep investing. “Indian demand is expected to be strong due to its demographics,” she says, “which is rather favourable with rising working-age po[CENSORED]tion that will push for demand for essentials such as food and energy as well as infrastructure investment. The normalisation of activities post-Covid as well as an increase in government spending, particularly in infrastructure investment, is helping growth. Consumption rose in double digits and investment is accelerating.” As with many aspects of India’s economic rise, Adani’s story is instructive. Now 60, the billionaire dropped out of Gujarat University, moved to Mumbai, and began trading diamonds before expanding into ports, construction and latterly, but very profitably renewable energy. These widespread industrial interests have dovetailed perfectly with the country’s thirst for growth and seen his Adani Group holdings on the Indian stock market rocket in value. His main listed company, Adani Enterprises, has grown 50-fold in value in the past five years, while Adani Green Energy, which looks after its push into solar power, has doubled in value in the past year. The group is ploughing $70bn into green energy projects by 2030 with the aim of becoming the world’s largest renewable-energy producer ironic given the controversy over its plans to expand coal mining in Australia. Another important symmetry comes from Adani’s origins in the western state of Gujarat, which is also the power base of the Indian prime minister, Narendra Modi. Modi’s market reforms, which have included cutting corporation tax from 35% to 25% and opening up India to more foreign investment, have freed up entrepreneurs such as Adani and the man he overtook as the country’s richest person, Mukesh Ambani, head of Reliance Industries, and another Gujarati. Adani is close to Modi who has been known to use the tycoon’s private jet for campaign trips. Nowhere is the local and global ambition of Adani more clearly illustrated than in Mundra, the Arabian Sea port which he wants to become the world’s largest by the end of the decade. With Modi’s government rolling out a 100tn rupees ($1.35bn, £1.1tn) infrastructure programme it aims to build 25,000km of new roads in the current financial year alone Adani is well placed to profit at every stage as the necessary raw materials are shipped in, turned into goods and services, and then sent back out around the world through Mundra. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/world/2022/sep/12/india-is-quietly-laying-claim-to-economic-superpower-status

Animal welfare has suffered as humanity has improved, but there’s hope on the horizon. Pigs on a farm in Cambodia. Over the last 60 years, meat production has exploded in high-income countries and is projected to do the same in low-income countries in coming decades. We can celebrate human progress without becoming complacent after all, there’s never any shortage of bad news to report, and gaping disparities between rich and poor countries will remain far into the future. But McCartney and Lennon were onto something when they sang about things getting better all the time, even if they were talking about love, not life expectancy. But for just about every animal species besides Homo sapiens, today is probably the worst period in time to be alive especially for the species we’ve domesticated for food: chickens, pigs, cows, and increasingly, fish. That’s because a not-insignificant amount of human improvement has come at the direct expense of these animals, with rapid human po[CENSORED]tion growth and all those people leading longer, richer lives creating a surge in demand for cheap meat over the last 60 years. Human prosperity and animal suffering exist in a kind of twisted symbiosis: Economic growth leads to more food production and consumption, which in turn results in faster po[CENSORED]tion growth and longer life expectancy, which then requires more intensive, factory-farmed meat to satiate growing po[CENSORED]tions. The cycle has been miraculous for humans. For all the problems of our global food system including a recent rise in world hunger due to the Covid-19 pandemic and price hikes for grain caused by the war in Ukraine far fewer people are undernourished today than they were in the 1970s, and the specter of famine has largely diminished. But the cycle has been disastrous for the environment and animals, as hundreds of billions of them are now raised on factory farms each year, accounting for about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Growing prosperity and human po[CENSORED]tion have also meant that more and more animals are being used in testing for drug development and consumer products, and that deforestation of massive areas of wildlife habitat is increasing primarily for beef and livestock feed. But it’s not all doom and gloom. An exception to this rule that some of human flourishing has come at the cost of animal welfare is pets; US euthanasia rates at pet shelters have plummeted since the 1970s. And perhaps more consequentially, we’re at the start of what might be a moral revolution in our relationship to other animals. Countries are passing laws to ban the worst factory farming practices; leading philosophers are calling for an expansion of who we include in our moral circle; and scientists are building technologies that could one day eliminate the use of animals for food, medical research, and textiles. Though currently low levels of meat consumption across Asia, Africa, and Latin America are projected to skyrocket in the coming decades, they’ll likely still be much lower than consumption in the West. But meat eating seems to have more or less peaked, or will at least grow very slowly, in richer parts of the world like the US and Europe. Some countries, like Germany and Sweden, are actually starting to eat less of it overall, thanks in part to heightened campaigning over the environmental toll of meat production. The European Commission projects a 4 percent decline in per capita meat consumption within the bloc by 2031. However, declining consumption is relative. Recent figures show Sweden’s per capita meat consumption is almost five times that of Pakistan’s, while the average German eats about as much meat in a month as the average Nigerian does in a year. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.vox.com/platform/amp/future-perfect/2022/9/12/23339898/global-meat-production-forecast-factory-farming-animal-welfare-human-progress

'We know the problem the cost of government is driving up the cost of living,' new Conservative leader says In his first speech to caucus since winning the party's top job, Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre said Monday his focus at the helm will be on holding the government to account for its perceived failings on the economy and inflation. Poilievre who spoke for roughly 10 minutes, sometimes to thunderous applause from the assembled MPs and senators said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the governing Liberals are out of touch with the struggles of working people. He said that, as the son of a single mother and the adoptive son of two school teachers, he comes from "humble origins" and can sympathize with the plight of Canadians struggling to get by. The consumer price index rose 7.6 per cent in July over a year earlier, Statistics Canada reported last month. While there may be an early sign in dropping fuel prices that year-over-year inflation has peaked, the costs of housing and other goods remain elevated. For the last several months, consumer price increases have continued to exceed the year-over-year increase in hourly wages. Poilievre said during his campaign for the leadership that he met young people living in their parents' basements because of eye-popping home prices, blue collar workers who can't afford new boots for their jobs and single mothers who have cut back on the food they feed their families because of surging grocery prices. "Canadians are hurting and it is our job to transform that hurt into hope. That is my mission," Poilievre said. Poilievre called on Trudeau to stop increases to payroll taxes like Employment Insurance (EI) premiums and contributions to the Canada Pension Plan. He also said it was reckless for the government to push through sizable hikes to the federal carbon tax the levy on fuels will increase from $50 a tonne of emissions this year to $170 a tonne by 2030 when people are "already suffering." "I'm issuing a challenge to Justin Trudeau today. If you really care, commit today that there will be no new tax increases on workers, on seniors. None," Poilievre said. "My commitment back is, to the prime minister and his radical woke coalition with the NDP: we will fight tooth and nail to stop the coalition from introducing any new taxes." https://www.cbc.ca/news/politics/poilievre-caucus-speech-canadians-hurting-1.6580001

Hello Mindsphere, I know perfectly that you like to help us improve things in this community. Although, I prefer to see other people's opinions on your request. Pro from me

Today is the birthday of an Ex-Staff If you are still alive, I wish you a happy birthday and that someday you will return to the community @d3v0uTT™

Behold the new symbols of fall: Pumpkin spice and a new iPhone. On Wednesday, Apple unveiled its latest smartphone, the iPhone 14, during its annual September event from its California headquarters. The new iPhone 14 Plus with a 6.7-inch display joins the iPhone 14, as well as the iPhone 14 Pro and iPhone 14 Pro Max. All four devices are available to preorder Friday, Sept. 9. The iPhone 14, Pro and Pro Max will launch on Sept. 16, while the iPhone 14 Plus launches Oct. 7. The iPhone 14 starts at $799, and the Plus starts at $899. The Pro models of iPhone 14 start at $999. The phones were among several products revealed by Apple at its fall showcase, kicking off a busy period for the tech industry as the holiday shopping season approaches. "Our customers rely on their iPhone every day, and iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus introduce groundbreaking new technologies and important safety capabilities," said Greg Joswiak, Apple’s senior vice president of worldwide marketing, in a statement. Meanwhile, iOS 16, the software update coming to all iPhones going back to the iPhone 8, will be available as a free download on Sept. 12. The iPhone 14 features a 6.1-inch display, while the iPhone 14 Plus has a 6.7-inch display. It also boasts upgrades to the processor and cameras, as well as a new crash detection features which will alert emergency services and contacts in the event of a car accident. That includes an emergency SOS feature using satellites in case of emergency. The Pro and Pro Max models will include an always-on display, providing information including time and widgets without having to wake the phone. They will also feature a 48-megapixel camera and Dynamic Island, a redesigned notch at the top of the phone which will display information when devices connect to your phone or you have other notifications. Also announced Wednesday: New AirPods Pro. The upgraded, high-end earbuds start at $249 and launch on Sept. 23. They feature an updated processing chip for better sound quality, along with upgrades to spatial audio, which provides a surround sound style experience. The po[CENSORED]r active noise cancellation feature is twice as good as the original AirPods Pro, according to Apple. The earbuds will now include an extra-small earbuds tip for comfort. Meanwhile, transparency mode helps reduce high-decibel noise nearby. Apple Watch Ultra. Designed for more intense activities such as scuba diving, the Apple Watch Ultra is made from titanium with a flat sapphire front crystal and the largest display on an Apple Watch yet. There's also a new bright orange action button for additional functions. The watch has a second speaker for more volume and extra microphones. Every Ultra watch is built with cellular technology, and up to 36 hours of battery life on one charge. It can go up to 60 hours with a new battery optimization setting launching this fall. The watch's Night Mode can turn the interface bright red for better visibility in the dark. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/tech/2022/09/07/apple-event-updates-iphone-14/8009568001/

Xbox Series X and S will receive a new system software update today that adds a new party chat feature as well as a new option to the shared captures from friends. Today is a big day for current generation console owners as both Sony and Microsoft have rolled out new software updates for their new consoles. The Xbox Series X and Xbox Series S will receive a new noise suppression system in the party chat that will allow players to get rid of any background noise such as breathing sound, controller click noise, and even light background music. Once you install the new update, you will find the option to turn on/off the noise suppression in the options drop-down menu through the party & chats tab.In addition to noise suppression, today’s update also adds a new option to shared captures from friends that will allow you to jump right into a game that you are watching. So, if your friends have shared some screenshots or clips from a game that you own, and you feel like you really want to play the game right now, you can hit the new play option to jump right into the game. These new features have already passed insider testing and will be available for Xbox Series X|S owners today through a new patch. If you face any issues after updating your console or when using the new features, Microsoft has stated that you can contact the Xbox support team for assistance. With the recent system software update, Microsoft brought Discord voice chat integration to Xbox Series X|S, which will be improved further by the addition of noise suppression. Microsoft also revealed a new list of games coming to Xbox and PC Game Pass in September 2022, including Disney Dreamlight Valley which will be available later today as a day one launch on Game Pass. In other news, Xbox revealed Elite Series 2 Core as a new version of the company's professional controller for Xbox Series X|S and Xbox One. https://www.dualshockers.com/xbox-series-x-system-update-adds-new-features-today/

Budget-friendly Android devices with less than 2GB RAM and 16GB storage might soon become a thing of the past. With Android 13, Google has updated the minimum hardware requirements that devices must meet to bundle Google Mobile Services (GMS). The company now requires OEMs to offer at least 2GB of RAM and 16GB of storage if they wish to bundle GMS on a device running Android 13 or later. According to Android Enterprise expert Jason Bayton (via Mishaal Rahman), OEMs can no longer preload GMS on new devices with less than 2GB RAM. Google also requires all new Android Go devices to have at least 16GB of storage. In addition, existing devices that do not meet these requirements will not receive the Android 13 update. This isn’t the first time Google is preventing OEMs from preloading GMS on low RAM devices. Following the launch of Android 11 back in 2020, the company announced that devices with less than 512MB RAM would no longer qualify for preloading GMS. At the time, it also specified that all phones launching with Android 11 or later must launch as an Android Go device if they featured 2GB RAM or less. With the updated requirements in place, Android OEMs will now have to offer a minimum of 2GB RAM and 16GB storage if they wish to bundle GMS on devices running Android 13 or later. However, OEMs will still be able to bundle GMS on Android 12 devices with less than 2GB RAM. Since budget-friendly Android devices typically do not launch with the latest version of Android, it might be a while before OEMs stop selling devices that do not meet these requirements. https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.xda-developers.com/android-13-gms-minimum-hardware-requirements/amp/

Former Donald Trump aide Steve Bannon pleaded not guilty Thursday in a New York court to state charges of money laundering, conspiracy and fraud related to an alleged online scheme to raise money for the construction of a wall along the southern US border, according to his attorney. The state charges are based on the same conduct Bannon was charged with by federal prosecutors in 2020 that alleged he and three others had defrauded donors in the border wall effort, which raised more than $15 million. He was later pardoned by Trump. Presidential pardons do not apply to state investigations, however. Handcuffed and flanked by officers as they walked past reporters into court, Bannon said, "This is what happens in the last days of a dying regime. They will never shut me up, they'll have to kill me first. I have not yet begun to fight." According to the indictment, one of Bannon's associates who isn't named created an online fundraising platform to raise money to build a wall on the border. In order to receive the money from donors, the organizer promised that "100% of the funds" would go towards building a border wall, and he would not be taking a salary from the project, prosecutors say. Bannon's associates discussed telling the public that no one involved in the "We Build The Wall" project would take a salary, according to the indictment. In a text message, one of the associates told Bannon that the claim "removes all self interest taint on this" and it "gives [the CEO] saint hood," the indictment says. Bannon publicly claimed he was acting "kind of as a volunteer" for We Build The Wall, prosecutors said in the indictment. Behind the scenes, Bannon allegedly helped to funnel hundreds of thousands of dollars to himself and his associates. Bannon appeared to blame his situation on political motivations. "This an irony, on the very day the mayor of this city has a delegation down on the border, they are persecuting people here, that try to stop them at the border" he told reporters outside the DA's office Thursday. "This is all about 60 days from the day," he said later, referencing the November election. The Manhattan district attorney's office launched a criminal investigation into Bannon's "We Build the Wall" crowd-fundraising activities early last year after then-President Trump pardoned Bannon on federal fraud charges relating to the same alleged scheme. Bannon had been federally charged with diverting more than $1 million to pay an alleged co-conspirator and cover hundreds of thousands of dollars in personal expenses. Prosecutors alleged that the donors, including some in New York, were falsely told that all the money contributed would go toward the construction effort. In recent months, several people close to Bannon were brought before the state grand jury. Manhattan prosecutors subpoenaed bank records and quietly worked on the investigation over the past year as they investigated Trump and his real estate business, sources familiar with the matter previously told CNN. But the district attorney's office deferred a charging decision on Bannon until federal prosecutors concluded their case against his three co-defendants, who were not pardoned. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cnn.com/cnn/2022/09/08/politics/steve-bannon-not-guilty-plea-surrender-border-wall-charges/index.html

More dogs than ever, puppies aplenty, adoption opportunities galore and an increase in badly behaved canines. Auckland Council’s Animal Management Annual Report 2021 – 2022, released today, reveals the significant impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on Tāmaki Makaurau’s dog po[CENSORED]tion. Impact on dog behaviour Animal Management manager Elly Waitoa says Auckland’s known dog po[CENSORED]tion has increased by 5 per cent this year, with dog attacks increasing by 20.3 per cent. “We have seen significant changes in our communities over the last year following extended lockdowns, isolation requirements and an increase in people working from home. “Vets weren’t able to perform desexing during lockdowns, meaning there has been an increase in litters of puppies born over the last year. “This, combined with more Aucklanders welcoming dogs into their whānau during the pandemic has increased the region’s dog po[CENSORED]tion. “Many of these lockdown puppies, now young dogs, weren’t socialised adequately because of lockdown restrictions, causing increased undesirable and unacceptable behaviour in the region’s dog po[CENSORED]tion. “We also noticed the pandemic changed dog behaviour more broadly, with many dogs being over-stimulated through high human interaction, increasing territorial behaviour,” says Elly. The council’s dog attack data showed a steady downward trend across the region since 2017. However, there has been a steady increase since 2020, aligning with the beginning of the pandemic. In response, Elly says her team are undertaking extensive data analysis to better understand core changes within Auckland’s communities over the last two years. The analysis will inform targeted initiatives for the most affected communities. “During the last year, we also initiated 115 prosecutions against dog owners for serious breaches of the Dog Control Act 1996. Unfortunately, many of these prosecutions were delayed due to the limited court services during the lockdown periods.” Impact on Animal Management staff Elly says in addition to the impact on Auckland’s dog po[CENSORED]tion, the pandemic has had a significant impact on Animal Management staff. “Mandatory isolation for Animal Management staff who tested positive for COVID-19, or who had household members test positive, severely impacted our staffing levels. “Despite this, our officers responded to 24,841 requests for service during the year – 318 more requests than the previous year. “This is a significant effort when you consider the added difficulty for our staff in delivering these services during the period of more than three months that Auckland remained in Alert Level 3, before moving to the COVID-19 Protection Framework.” Staff at the council’s three animal shelters have also been under pressure following an increase in the number of people looking to give up their dogs as they return to their workplaces, landlords clamping down on dogs at their properties, combined with the increase in puppies born and the stray po[CENSORED]tion. Elly says the shelters have been bursting at the seams over the last year, and are still at capacity with many dogs available for adoption. What we’ve achieved Despite the negative impacts of the pandemic, Animal Management staff achieved some major successes over the last year. Barking complaints reduced significantly, continuing the downward trend of the last five years. “This can be partly attributed to many more dog owners now working from home, but also to the fantastic work of our Bark and Field team, who deal with all initial barking complaints, providing advice to dog owners on practical methods to correct nuisance barking, and mediating between neighbours to resolve the complaint. “The team’s work has seen the number of repeat complaints about nuisance barking reduced by nearly 68 per cent,” says Elly. There was also a 5 per cent increase in dog owners with a Responsible Dog Owner Licence (RDOL) this year, meaning that 29 per cent of Auckland’s dog owners now hold an RDOL. “This is encouraging to see because our Responsible Dog Owner Licence programme is an important educational opportunity for dog owners and incentivises dog registration,” says Elly. Registered dogs for the year increased to 113,722, accounting for 91 per cent of all known dogs in Auckland. Animal Management staff were also able to carry out several projects to support communities and other agencies, including: working with MIQ, the SPCA, and Auckland Emergency Management to collect animals from families that were admitted to MIQ during the Level 3 and 4 lockdowns, animal rescue operations during the extreme weather events and flooding experienced in north and north-west Auckland, supporting Pet Refuge in providing a safe place for animals while their owners escape domestic violence by temporarily housing 15 dogs. Councillor thanks Animal Management staff Regulatory Committee Chair Councillor Linda Cooper congratulates the Animal Management team for their incredible dedication to keeping Aucklanders safe, and for their work caring for the region’s dog po[CENSORED]tion in the face of unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. “Our Animal Management staff put themselves on the frontline every day because they want to achieve the best outcomes for both dogs and Tāmaki Makaurau’s communities. https://ourauckland.aucklandcouncil.govt.nz/news/2022/09/animal-management-annual-report-reveals-impact-of-covid-19-pandemic/

Four people were killed, three wounded and parts of Memphis were in lockdown for hours until a man sought in a livestreamed shooting spree that stretched across the city was taken into custody, authorities said Thursday. The rampage began early Wednesday and continued until Ezekiel Dejuan Kelly, 19, was captured Wednesday evening, Memphis police Chief Cerelyn Davis said. The crime scenes included a carjacking that led officers to Kelly, Davis said. The Memphis Police Department, after receiving a tip at 6:12 p.m. Wednesday, launched a citywide search for Kelly. Residents were told to shelter in place, public bus service was suspended, and many restaurants and other public places were shut down during the desperate search. At 8:53 p.m., police in Southaven, Mississippi, tweeted that officers responded to a vehicle theft at a local gas station. Police swarmed the area and Kelly was arrested when he crashed during a high-speed chase in Southaven, a few miles south of Memphis. Police did not reveal a motive for the attacks, and the identities of the victims were not immediately released. "I’m angry for them, and I’m angry that our citizens had to shelter in place for their own safety until the suspect was caught," Mayor Jim Strickland said in a statement. "This is no way for us to live and it is not acceptable." MASS KILLINGS: Database reveals trends, details and anguish in every US event since 2006 Multiple witnesses saw first shooting A police affidavit says the first attack took place shortly before 1 a.m. Wednesday. Three people said they saw Kelly fatally shoot Dewayne Tunstall in the head as Tunstall was visiting with friends at a home in Memphis. According to the affidavit, Kelly pulled Tunstall to the side and during their conversation drew a handgun and fired several shots. Davis said officers responded to three more crime scenes before receiving a tip shortly after 6 p.m. Wednesday that the suspect was livestreaming himself and threatening to hurt people. Facebook Live post leads authorities to suspect The tipster told police Kelly was on Facebook Live threatening to "cause harm to citizens," according to Davis. Memphis police issue an alert a short time later, advising people to stay indoors while they searched for the suspect. Police said there were reports of the man filming himself shooting and posting the videos to Facebook. Facebook videos Kelly posted earlier Wednesday were removed from the platform that night. Kelly's Instagram account was also taken down Wednesday night. 4 DEAD, 3 WOUNDED IN RAMPAGE: Man goes on hourslong shooting spree in Memphis, authorities say Stadium locked down, MATA suspended Two cars were stolen during the rampage, police said. A downtown stadium where a minor-league baseball game was underway was placed on lockdown. TV stations cut into regular coverage to keep viewers updated. Friends and relatives called and texted each other to check on each others’ safety. The Memphis Area Transit Authority (MATA) suspended bus and trolley services. "MATA leaders are acting in an abundance of caution and care for the safety of its drivers and riders," the public transit service issued in a press release Wednesday at 8:30 p.m. Who is Ezekiel Dejuan Kelly? Kelly, 19, has prior arrests for attempted first-degree murder and related charges in 2020. Strickland said Kelly pleaded guilty in April of 2021 to the lesser charge of aggravated assault and was sentenced to three years but was released after 11 months – March 16 of this year. Strickland said that if Kelly served his full three-year sentence, he would still be in prison "and 4 of our fellow citizens would still be alive." "These evil actions show why truth in sentencing is a must, and we should do all we can to make our city safe," Strickland said. "We should not be terrorized by anyone who wants to strike fear in our hearts and take away what we love about Memphis." CHARGES FILED IN JOGGER DEATH: A man was charged with kidnapping in disappearance of Memphis jogger Eliza Fletcher Residents worry about Memphis violence Local residents gathered outside their homes on North Auburndale Street late Wednesday evening, near where one of the incidents happened. Mary Dudley watched police working behind crime scene tape and said she was not surprised that this happened in Memphis. Memphis has been shaken by several incidents in recent weeks, including the killing of a pastor during carjacking, the slaying of an activist during an argument over money, and the killing of a woman who was abducted while she was on a run. “Living in Memphis is like living in every episode of Breaking Bad,” Dudley said. Bacon reported from Arlington, Va. Contributing: Samuel Hardiman, Laura Testino, Astrid Kayembe, Lucas Finton, Memphis Commercial Appeal; The Associated Press https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/09/08/memphis-shooting-rampage-suspect-custody-updates/8020421001/

All the Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip phones are getting big upgrades, and even some old Samsung smartwatches are getting new features too. All of Samsung's existing foldable phones are about to get a whole lot of new features, as they become eligible to be upgraded to the One UI 4.1.1 software used on the latest generation Flip 4 and Fold 4 devices. It will bring them vastly improved multitasking, new camera features, and a much more useful cover screen. And in more good news for Samsung gadget fans, the Galaxy Watch 4 series will be updated to the latest One UI Watch 4.5 software, which launched on the new Galaxy Watch 5. The Galaxy Watch 3 and Galaxy Watch Active 2 will also receive select features from the software. New Features Coming to Old Galaxy Foldables The entire range of Samsung's foldable phones is getting upgraded to One UI 4.5. The process begins immediately with the Galaxy Z Fold 3 and Z Flip 3, before extending to the Z Fold2, the Z Flip, and the original Z Fold. One UI 4.5 was widely heralded by reviewers as being a big leap forward in the functionality and usability of foldable devices, so will help to bring the older models right up-to-date. Among the features users of Samsung's older folding phones will be able to access, are: The new Taskbar, with its PC-like layout that makes it easier than ever to switch between apps. Drag and drop support, a split-screen view, and even the ability to have apps open in their own pop-up windows. Gesture support, making the new multitasking features more accessible. The ability to use the rear camera for selfies by using the cover screen to preview your shots. FlexCam mode, which enables you to angle your camera using the phone's hinge and is ideal for group shots. An enhanced cover screen that allows you to make calls or answer texts without opening the phone. Galaxy Watch Updates On top of the improvements to the Flip and Fold phones, some of Samsung's old smartwatches are also getting big updates. The Watch 4 series will be able to get the latest One UI Watch 4.5 software. This includes new watch faces and more ways to customize them, along with a new QWERTY keyboard to augment the existing input methods. The Watch 3 and Watch Active 2 devices will also get select features from the update, including a range of health features like snore detection and blood pressure measuring through the Samsung Health Monitor app. The release date for these updates hasn't yet been confirmed. Samsung Continues Its Great Update Policy: That Samsung is keeping its old devices up to date is no surprise. The company has by some margin the best update policy in the Android world. The Fold and Flip phones are expensive, but knowing that they will continue receiving new features for a good four years makes them a much safer investment. https://www.makeuseof.com/samsung-flip3-fold3-fold2-fold-flip-update-one-ui-411/

Being the largest manufacturer of Android phones, Samsung is expected to keep them updated with the latest software, and it certainly has the power to do so. At the same time, Samsung sells so many phones each year that it can be a mighty tough job to update them regularly no matter how many resources you throw at it and how many people you assign to the task. We’ve said many times before that Samsung’s update game is something no manufacturer other than Apple can match. Many Galaxy devices are eligible to receive up to four major OS upgrades, and the company regularly releases security updates for a huge number of devices, all of which is mighty impressive. And it seems Samsung has no intentions of slacking on the job, as is evidenced by how it’s already released One UI 4.1.1, which debuted on the Galaxy Z Fold 4 and Galaxy Z Flip 4 merely a few weeks back, to existing devices such as the Galaxy S22 or the Galaxy Tab S8. All this as Samsung runs the One UI 5.0 (based on Android 13) beta program at the same time, showing how it just never seems to rest when it comes to software updates. Samsung is getting better at software updates every year: You have to remember that it’s just September right now and the next version of Android and One UI is already being beta tested by Samsung’s customers. Samsung has gotten quicker and quicker at releasing major new OS upgrades with each passing year, and that still continues to amaze us. Case in point: the final version of One UI 5.0 for the Galaxy S22 series is expected in October, which would be a full two months before the end of the year, at least if all goes according to plan. In fact, seeing how even the first One UI 5.0 beta on the Galaxy S22 series phones was pretty stable, there’s actually a good chance we’ll see the final version rolling out in just a few weeks. And who knows, maybe in the coming years Samsung will start releasing new Android OS upgrades just a couple of weeks after Google? Considering how Samsung is tackling updates in general right now, we would say that’s certainly an achievable endgame. https://www.sammobile.com/opinion/samsung-never-seems-to-take-a-nap-when-it-comes-to-software-updates/

Intel's Arc graphics cards for desktops are just around the corner. Intel plans to launch its long-awaited Arc Alchemist graphics cards for desktop PCs 'very soon,' the company said in an interview and revealed some more details about its upcoming boards. The very first Intel Arc graphics card in years designed for gamers will be its own Arc A770 Limited Edition add-in-board (AIB) with 16GB of GDDR6 memory, reports PC Games Hardware citing Intel's Tom Petersen, and Intel Fellow, and Ryan Shrout, the company's marketing specialist. This product will co-exist with custom offerings from the company's partners carrying the same graphics processing unit. Those custom Arc A770 AIBs will carry either 16GB or 8GB of memory as Intel has approved configurations with 8GB of RAM. In addition, makers of graphics cards will also offer Arc A750 boards with 8GB of GDDR6. Intel considers its Arc A770 offerings as competitors for Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060 Ti, whereas the Arc A750 are positioned against Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060. Last week Intel already published benchmark results showing its Arc A770 better in ray tracing than Nvidia's GeForce RTX 3060, so perhaps this is the company re-emphasizing its performance-related thesis, which obviously needs to be put to independent test. Some of the Arc A700-series boards from Intel's AIB partners will come factory-overclocked and with increased power limits, so these boards will offer higher performance when compared to models with default clocks. Will those boards be among the best gaming graphics cards available this fall? Only time will tell. It is noteworthy that Intel strongly recommends using its Arc graphics cards with newer systems supporting resizable base address register (BAR) as without this technology Intel's Arc GPUs may experience an up to 40% performance drop. However, a good thing is that Arc graphics processors will fully support Microsoft's DirectStorage technology, so expect performance of systems featuring these devices (as well as compatible SSDs) to improve once games that use this application programming interface (API) emerge. While it is evident that Intel's Arc A770 graphics cards will not be competitive against next-generation offerings from AMD and Nvidia in high resolutions, Intel hopes that its four XeSS upscaling modes (performance, balanced, quality, and ultra quality) will provide a decent balance between performance and quality, which will to some degree compensate for lower performance in resolutions like 4K. Speaking of high resolutions output in general, Intel says that its upcoming ACM-G10 GPUs do not support native HDMI 2.1 output, which is why to add an appropriate connector to an Arc A700 graphics card, an onboard DisplayPort 2.0 to HDMI 2.1 converter is needed. Interestingly, despite the fact that Intel enabled DisplayPort 2.0 with UHBR 20 support in drivers, it looks like for now only UHBR 10 will be supported. If this is accurate, this means that the Intel's Arc A700 boards will not support a 'native' 8K output and will have to use two DisplayPort connections to handle an 8Kp60 monitor. For now, 6Kp60 and 8Kp60 displays are not exactly common, which justifies lack of DP 2.0 UHBR 20 support, but it is still a bit odd to see Intel dropping one of the potential advantages of its GPUs. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/intel-arc-a770-to-launch-very-soon

The chancellor picked by Britain’s new prime minister will face a daunting array of issues from the moment he or she takes office. Whoever takes the hot seat in the Treasury will find themselves in a similar position to Rishi Sunak in March 2020 when the pandemic hit and the economy faced being shutdown for several months. Nadhim Zahawi, the current chancellor, is widely expected to be replaced under a Truss or Sunak government. In his final weeks, the Treasury has been drawing up a menu of options for the incoming prime minister to tackle the cost of living crisis. Here we outline the top agenda items: Support for households Both Truss and Sunak have pledged help for families bracing for the typical energy bill rising to £3,549 from October, at a time when inflation is already above 10% and some economists say it could hit 22% – close to a postwar high – if high oil and gas prices are sustained. Any package would probably build on or replace the £15bn of support announced by Sunak in May, reflecting continued sky-high prices in wholesale energy markets seen over recent months amid Russia’s war in Ukraine. The Resolution Foundation has warned families will see their spending power cut by £3,000 on average by the end of next year, unless the new government acts to counter the biggest hit to living standards in a century. Forecasts from Cornwall Insight show the Ofgem price cap could come close to £7,000 for a typical bill by autumn next year, more than six times the level a year ago. Truss committed in the Tory leadership campaign around £30bn to reversing Sunak’s rise in employee national insurance payments earlier this year, cuts to income tax and a pledge to block a rise in corporation tax. Sunak has pledged to increase a £650 payment due this October for households on means-tested benefits. Support for business The British Chambers of Commerce has called on the government to agree a temporary 5% reduction in VAT on energy bills and a Covid-style emergency energy grant for small and medium-sized businesses. “The government must grapple with high energy prices and the cost of doing business crisis as a matter of urgency in order to boost productivity and deliver economic growth for the UK,” it said. Zahawi has confirmed that targeted reductions in VAT and business rates are being prepared by Treasury officials to help the retail and hospitality sectors, but without saying how much they would cost. He expects the next prime minister to also offer energy-intensive industries tax breaks to get through the winter. So far there is little else on offer to businesses to cushion the blow of rising energy costs. Businesses have complained the additional burden of higher wages that follow acute skills shortages in many industries and flagging sales as the UK enters recession also need to be considered when a rescue package is agreed. The public finances Investors have become wary since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine revealed the UK’s vulnerability to an energy and food shock. While ministers have successfully cut imports of Russian gas to zero, the UK continues to pay the global market price for its own gas and for imports from the Middle East. Fertiliser and transport costs have rocketed, pushing up the price of domestic and imported foodstuffs. Imports account for about 40% of UK food sales. Investors are also concerned that Brexit has limited access to workers and meant the UK has an acute skills shortage, pushing up wages. These fears have pushed down sterling and increased the interest rate on Britain’s debts, which soared in August at the fastest monthly rate in almost 40 years. Ten-year UK government bond yields, which are a proxy for the effective interest rate on public borrowing, hit 2.78% to register the biggest monthly rise since September 1986. The pound has dropped from $1.36 in March to just above $1.15 last week as confidence in the UK’s ability to recover strongly from the crisis has ebbed away. An expected borrowing cost of £83bn is likely to be nearer £110bn, according to the consultancy Capital Economics from a spending budget of almost £1tn. It is a chunky increase and takes the annual interest bill to more than 10% of spending but when the world is borrowing more to cope with the current crisis, investors will be willing to lend to the UK government. Economic growth The new chancellor will enter the Treasury with alarm bells ringing for economic growth. Some analysts warn the economy has already fallen into a recession this summer, while the Bank of England expects a lengthy downturn triggered by the cost of living crisis to begin this winter. Consumer spending is expected to plunge into reverse as households tighten their belts to cope with soaring energy bills, with a knock-on impact for hospitality, leisure and retail firms still only just recovering from the Covid pandemic. Recession is expected to drive up unemployment as companies come under pressure, reversing the post-lockdown trend for chronic staff shortages, amid a period of strained labour relations between trade unions, some employers, and the government. Rebooting the country’s faltering growth engine will be a key priority, although experts warn this is easier said than done. Truss has set a 2.5% annual growth target, promising tax cuts, “supply-side reforms” and scrapping EU-derived laws to achieve her aim. According to analysts at the consultancy Capital Economics, Truss’ tax-cutting plans and immediate support for families struggling with their energy bills could add about 1.3% to GDP, albeit not all in one year, but would cost almost £50bn to achieve. https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.theguardian.com/politics/2022/sep/05/the-daunting-fiscal-issues-facing-the-uks-next-chancellor