FazzNoth

While Twitter is in the midst of being bought by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, it's been spotted testing two features as of late - one where you can listen to podcasts within its app on iOS and Android, and another where you can 'cotweet' with another user to post a tweet. Yet as the company is testing out how its users can tweet with one another and so forth, Elon Musk's deal of buying the company looks to be under threat, mainly due to the data of spam and bots can't be verified, according to The Washington Post(opens in new tab). This means that the data that Musk wanted back in May that caused the deal to go on hold, isn't holding up to scrutiny. It's an uncertain time for Twitter, but looking into these two features, one can't help but wonder - what's the point of them? CoTweets(opens in new tab) is exactly what you expect; as you compose a tweet, you can add someone who you follow and who follows you, and once you both approve the tweet, it's sent with you both being shown as the author. It's a simple feature that could be used if you're part of a project for example, or if you want to announce something without retweeting the other's account. It's currently in testing throughout USA, Canada and Korea for select users. Still, Twitter has made sure to mention that it's currently an experiment, and it could be switched off at any time if the feature is deemed a failure. This is why we go to another feature in testing that the company hasn't announced as yet, and one that I find no reason to exist. It looks as though there's going to be a dedicated podcast tab beside your timeline, mentions, and profile icons on the Twitter app. From Wong's tweet, it would be fair to assume that some external podcasts could be available on its Spaces feature, where anyone on Twitter can create an audio conversion, with people able to guest in with their questions. On one hand, it seems like the next natural step for Spaces, but on the other hand, it seems irrelevant and confusing, especially when there are dedicated apps like Overcast and Pocketcasts that can manage your podcasts more easily. Sometimes features are created just to see if they make sense - we've all been in similar situations. We think something is a good idea, but when it goes further and becomes closer to reality, it turns out to be a bad idea entirely. This is where I suspect podcasts will go for Twitter as this feature is tested more. Instead, let Spaces be its own thing. Let Twitter users have their own shows within Spaces, rather than bringing in already-established podcast series, and trying to directly compete with podcast apps. https://www.techradar.com/news/twitter-wants-to-add-pointless-features-while-it-mulls-being-bought-by-elon-musk

Hacker group Lapsus$ has leaked the credentials of more than 71,000 Nvidia employees after the company did not acquiesce to its demands. The group stole the corporate data during a recent ransomware attack and threatened to release it if Nvidia didn't remove its cryptocurrency mining limiter (LHR) from its RTX 30-series video cards. Nvidia refused to do so, and the group has since issued another demand and claims it will release even more data if Nvidia doesn't comply. Earlier this week, Lapsus$ took credit for the leak of the source code for DLSS and information about six supposed unannounced GPUs. Along with the demand to remove the 30-series mining limiter, the digital ransom note demands that Nvidia make its RTX GPU drivers open source. The South American hacker group claimed to have had access to Nvidia servers for over a week and managed to steal at least 1TB of data during its ransomware attack. Nvidia confirmed with PC Mag that a "threat actor took employee credentials and some Nvidia proprietary information from our systems and has begun leaking it online." Today's leak of employee credentials includes employee email addresses and NTLM password hashes, which according to Have I Been Pwned are already being "cracked and circulated within the hacking community." This seems to include past and current employees, since Nvidia listed its current workforce at 18,100 as of October 2020. On Tuesday Lapsus$ amended its demands and said Nvidia has until Friday, March 4 to make all current and future GPU drivers open source. If Nvidia doesn't comply, the group threatens to release information regarding silicon chip files and what it referred to as "closely-guarded trade secrets for graphics and computer chipsets" in a public Telegram message group. The 'choice' the hackers are offering Nvidia reads like a note someone like Kite Man or the Condiment King would leave on the Mayor of Gotham City's computer screen. At the time of writing, Nvidia has seemingly not met the demands of Lapsus$. Nvidia told PC Gamer in a statement on February 28 that the incident is being investigated and "commercial activities continue uninterrupted." We reached out to Nvidia for comment again regarding today's leak and will update when we receive a reply. Jorge is a hardware writer from the enchanted lands of New Jersey. When he's not filling the office with the smell of Pop-Tarts, he's reviewing all sorts of gaming hardware from headsets to game pads. He's been covering games and tech for nearly ten years and has written for Dualshockers, WCCFtech, and Tom's Guide. https://www.pcgamer.com/nvidia-hackers-leak-employee-credentials-threaten-to-release-nvidias-most-closely-guarded-trade-secrets/

Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Sri Lanka ahead of his expected resignation as president President Gotabaya Rajapaksa has fled Sri Lanka on a military jet, amid mass protests over the island's economic crisis. The country's air force confirmed the 73-year-old flew to the Maldives with his wife and two security officials. In his absence, he has appointed Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe as acting president. Mr Rajapaksa's departure ends a family dynasty that has dominated Sri Lanka's politics for the past two decades. The president had been in hiding after crowds stormed his residence on Saturday, and had pledged to resign on Wednesday 13 July. A source told the BBC that Mr Rajapaksa will not remain in the Maldives and intends to travel on to a third country. His brother, former Finance Minister Basil Rajapaksa, has also left Sri Lanka and is said to be heading to the US. Rajapaksa told: 'Quit now or face massive protest' Why is Sri Lanka in crisis? As Sri Lankans awoke to the news, thousands of people took to the streets of the capital, Colombo. Many gathered at Galle Face Green, the city's main protest site. Some listened to fiery speeches at a makeshift stage set up for ordinary people to take the mic. Punctuated by cries of "Victory to the struggle", the rallying cry of the protest movement, speakers railed against a government and the leaders they feel have failed them. Sri Lankan Prime Minister, Ranil Wickremesinghe, has declared a state of emergency across the country and a curfew has been imposed in the western province, a spokesperson in his office said. Police have fired tear gas to disperse a group of protesters who were walking near the prime minister's office and towards parliament. Some demonstrators were furious about Mr Rajapaksa's departure, seeing a lack of accountability. "We don't like it. We want to keep him. We want our money back! And we want to put all the Rajapaksas in an open prison where they can do farm work," said protester GP Nimal. But 23-year-old university student Reshani Samarakoon told the BBC that the former president's exile offered "hope that in the future we can eventually become a developed country, economically and socially". https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-62132271

The government of Pakistan has announced new animal testing reforms. In a move that the Arab News described as “rare,” the government has banned live animal testing in vet schools and industrial complexes. The ban applies across the Islamabad Capital Territory. Those who violate the ban will face a potential fine or even a jail sentence. In viral videos, veterinary students were reportedly shown operating on live street dogs. This sparked outrage from activists, including those from the Animals Rescue and Adoption Islamabad and PETA. The latter has since praised Pakistan’s “landmark reforms.” Vice president of the organization Shalin Gala said that they will “result in a shift to sophisticated, humane methods.” Prior to the ban, PETA wrote letters to a number of veterinary schools across Pakistan. They also addressed the Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training and the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination. One letter reads: “Without a doubt, veterinary students need supervised hands-on experience with live animals. [It’s] an important aspect of their clinical training and preparation.” “However, this training can be accomplished ethically without harming animals.” Improving animal welfare in Pakistan Salman Sufi is the head of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s Strategic Reforms Unit. He said that additional animal testing reforms would be made to an existing law. Sufi and PETA will consult on what reforms are needed before they are introduced in the National Assembly’s next session. There, they will be up for debate and approval. Sufi added that the government will encourage other provinces across Pakistan to follow suit on Islamabad’s animal testing ban and implement their own restrictions. “PETA is delighted to have shared recommendations for improving veterinary training with Salman Sufi,” added Gala. “We look forward to our upcoming meeting with him to discuss further critical reforms in biomedical research and training. It will both spare animals’ lives and benefit patients.” https://plantbasednews.org/culture/law/pakistan-landmark-animal-testing-reforms/

US President Joe Biden is visiting Israel at the start of a landmark regional tour, which will include a controversial trip to Saudi Arabia. It is his first journey to the Middle East since taking office. Mr Biden will also meet the Palestinian president as well as Israeli and Saudi leaders. Palestinians have expressed frustration that the US has not done more for them since his presidency began in 2021. But the main focus will be on his Saudi trip due to tensions over human rights. Mr Biden has faced criticism over his planned meeting on Saturday with the kingdom's de facto leader, Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, who was accused by US intelligence agencies of approving the murder of Saudi dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Turkey in 2018. The prince denied the allegations, and Saudi prosecutors blamed "rogue" Saudi agents. When he was campaigning for the presidency in 2019, Mr Biden vowed to make Saudi Arabia "the pariah that they are" for killing Khashoggi, who lived in the US and wrote a column for the Washington Post. Mr Biden defended his visit in an op-ed in the Washington Post on Saturday, saying his "aim was to reorient - but not rupture - relations" with Riyadh. The visit also comes at a time of rising oil prices, and energy production is expected to be on the agenda of the discussions between Mr Biden and Prince Mohammed, whose country is the world's biggest oil producer. ANALYSIS: Trip could show limitations of US power The president and his Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, will attend a regional summit in Saudi Arabia, amid reports that the US is seeking agreement on closer defence co-operation between Israel and several Arab states - some of them old foes - to counter the threat from Iran. Mr Biden will become the first US president to fly directly to Saudi Arabia from Israel, which is seen as a small but significant sign of Riyadh's growing acceptance of Israel after decades of boycott in solidarity with the Palestinians. Israel's Prime Minister Yair Lapid has said Mr Biden's plane will "carry with it a message of peace and hope from us" to the Saudis. After landing at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion airport on Wednesday afternoon, the president headed down the steps of Air Force One to be greeted by Israel's leadership, including Mr Lapid. As handshakes were offered, Mr Biden instead fist-bumped Mr Lapid and Israel's President Isaac Herzog. He later shook hands with Israeli opposition leader Benjamin Netanyahu and Defence Minister Benny Gantz. On the red carpet Mr Biden spoke of the "bone-deep" connection between Americans and Israelis, saying: "You don't need to be a Jew to be a Zionist" - a reference to the political movement underpinning Israel's existence. He also spoke of his continued support for the so-called two state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, which envisages an independent Palestinian state alongside Israel, though he noted: "I know it's not in the near term." The US president will meet Mr Lapid again on Thursday for talks, during which the two leaders are expected to discuss security co-operation and the nuclear crisis with Iran. Mr Biden favours a US return to the 2015 Iranian nuclear deal, which was abandoned by his predecessor Donald Trump four years ago. Israel, which considers Iran its biggest threat, wants the Iranian nuclear programme stopped. Iran says its nuclear activities have always been entirely peaceful, but Western powers and the global nuclear watchdog say they are not convinced. On Friday, Mr Biden will hold talks with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas in Bethlehem, in the occupied West Bank. It will be the highest level meeting between the US and the Palestinians since the Palestinians froze ties in a dispute over the closure of the Washington office of the Palestine Liberation Organisation (PLO) - the main representative body of the Palestinians - by the Trump administration in 2018. The Palestinians want the US to do more to re-start peace talks with Israel and to reopen the US consulate in Jerusalem, which served as a de facto embassy to the Palestinians before it was shut by the Trump administration in 2019. However, Mr Lapid is not expected to make diplomatic overtures towards the Palestinians ahead of the Israeli general election in November, and the Biden administration has said it is not yet ready reverse the US consulate's closure. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-62133982

The Division is getting its first mobile adaptation and it's a third-person shooter with a canonical story. The Division Resurgence is a new mobile game based in the universe of The Division coming soon to iOS and Android devices. Like its console and PC counterparts, it will be a co-op third-person-shooter RPG with a separate story that will be canonical to the larger universe. Alongside the new story, the mobile game also features different classes, new gear and weapons, and new characters. Resurgence takes place in New York City and according to the press release will offer "a unique perspective on key story events that have taken place in The Division and The Division 2" with players taking on the role of first-wave agents. The original Division takes place in Manhattan while the sequel takes place in Washington DC. Ubisoft is referring to the game as open-world and says players will be able to roam freely around the urban environment and will feature both story missions and world activities for cooperative agents to complete. Ubisoft says the game can also be played alone. Similar to the console and PC games, players will be able to customize and upgrade their Division agent. You will also be able to unlock specializations with unique signature weapons and gadgets that can be changed any time with the goal of letting players develop good cooperative synergies. Ubisoft does not yet have a release date for The Division Resurgence, but you can opt to participate in upcoming tests (the press release for the game poitedly does not call it a beta) for the game by visiting the official website. GameSpot gave the original game an 8/10 in its The Division review. In its The Division 2 review, GameSpot gave the sequel a 9/10. https://www.gamespot.com/articles/the-division-resurgence-announced-for-mobile-devices/1100-6505115/

Samsung Electronics reported a smaller-than-expected rise in quarterly operating earnings on Thursday as lower sales to inflation-hit smartphone makers dragged on profits from server customers loading up on memory chips.The world's largest memory-chip and smartphone maker estimated its profit rose 11 percent from a year earlier to KRW 14 trillion (nearly Rs. 84,600 crore) in the three months ended June 30 its highest second-quarter profit since 2018 from KRW 12.57 trillion (roughly 76,000 crore) a year earlier.The profit fell short of a KRW 14.45 trillion (roughly Rs. 88,000 crore) SmartEstimate from Refinitiv. Revenue likely rose 21 percent from the same period a year earlier to KRW 77 trillion (roughly Rs. 4.6 lakh crore), Samsung said in a short preliminary earnings release, in line with market expectations. Samsung is due to release detailed earnings later this month. Earlier on Tuesday, it was reported that Samsung is likely to turn in its best April-June profit since 2018 with a 15 percent year-on-year rise, as lingering demand for its memory chips from server customers offsets lower sales to inflation-hit smartphone makers. Operating profit for the world's biggest smartphone and memory-chip maker likely jumped to KRW 14.46 trillion in the quarter, according to a Refinitiv SmartEstimate from 24 analysts, from KRW 12.57 trillion roughly a year earlier. Its chip earnings likely soared 49 percent to KRW 10.3 trillion (roughly Rs. 62,500 crore), an average of seven estimates shows. The chip business accounts for about half of the South Korean tech giant's profits. On the overall outlook for global memory chip demand, Park Sung-soon, an analyst at CAPE Investment & Securities, said US data centre firms such as Amazon, Microsoft, Google, and Meta are expected to continue buying "to meet expanding demand for cloud services". https://gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/samsung-electronics-q2-profit-likely-rose-11-percent-solid-server-chip-demand-3134918#:~:text=Samsung Electronics' Q2 Profit Likely Rose 11 Percent,Reuters | Updated%3A 7 July 2022 12%3A23 IST

The Nexus 4 was a groundbreaking phone – a near flagship for $300. Okay, it did have its quirks, e.g. no LTE support (though that wasn’t as important back in 2012), storage was limited too. Instead of focusing on just one phone we wanted to look at the trends in Google’s phone line-up. We mentioned the price of the Nexus 4 and we’ll see what happened to the “flagship killer” status of the series. This series is all about exploring a well recognized trait of a particular brand or series and we think that software support is one of the defining features of the Nexus and Pixel phones. The Nexus phones were affordable at first, especially if you waited a few months. The Nexus 4 dropped as low as $200 at one point. The Nexus 5 got price cuts as well. Then came the Nexus 6 – its $650 price tag made many fans unhappy. It was still an excellent phone and it influenced Google’s approach to handsets. The following year in 2015 the Nexus line was split into two models that we’ll call “base” and “pro” for consistency. That was also the last of the Nexus line, Google started fresh with the Pixel phones. Those gradually increased in cost over the years, peaking in 2018 and 2019 with the Pixel 3 and 4 at $800 and Pixel 3 XL and 4 XL at $900. After that Google changed course and lately the price of the small model has been falling, going down to $600 with the Pixel 6. The Pixel 6 Pro is still $900, though.Interestingly, the increased prices didn’t hurt the performance of the Pixel phones on the market. The opposite, in fact, as Google’s 2019 shipments surpassed previous years by quite a margin. Note that the image below shows cumulative shipments of all Pixel phones, but it clearly looked like Google is on the right path. The company allegedly had big plans for the Pixel 6 series too, planing to produce 7 million, more than any other series. However, Google isn’t one to talk about sales, so we don’t actually know how well the 6-series did (we’ll have to wait for analysts to figure that out).We will get back to pricing in a moment as we haven’t covered the “Pixel a” series whose main goal is to offer a Google phone on the cheap. How much would you pay for that fabled Google software support? Actually, how good is that support? We tried to convey that through a chart. The red line shows the period in years during which a generation of phones received OS updates (including minor ones). The blue line is for the period during which security patches were issued.On average, Google offers 3 years of OS updates. The Nexus 6 stands out, but that was actually an old update that arrived late – early on Android 7.1.1 was breaking Android Pay and it took Google a while to find a fix (meanwhile users were downgraded to 7.0). The Pixel 3 generation also stands out – it got 4 years security patches instead of 3 years as originally planned. In fact, the last update for the two 2018 phones rolled out at the end of June this year (Android 12 arrived last year). Note that the Pixel 4, 5 and 6 series currently run Android 12. The Pixel 4 and 4 XL will receive their last guaranteed OS update in October of this year. By the looks of it, that will be just long enough to get Android 13 installed. Starting with the Pixel 6 generation, Google changed up the strategy a bit. It still promises only 3 years of OS update (competitors like Apple and Samsung offer more), but it committed to 5 years of security patches. According to the Help center, the Pixel 6 and 6 Pro will get their last guaranteed OS update in October 2024 and the last guaranteed security patch in October 2026. “Guaranteed” since, as you saw with the Pixel 3, there are some exceptions.Before we wrap up, let’s have a quick look at the Pixel a phones. We have grouped the Pixel 3a and 4a as relatively small phones and the Pixel 3a XL, 4a 5G and 5a as larger phones (with 5G in the latest iterations). As you can see, the pricing is fairly stable at around $400 for the first group and $500 for the second.We haven’t plotted software support on a chart since it would have made for a boring chart – the “a” phones get 3 years of OS updates and 3 years of security patches.There is a Pixel 7 series coming later this year, but Google hasn’t revealed too much about it yet. Considering previous models, however, we can say that the phones will probably get 3 years of guaranteed OS updates and 5 years of security patches. And we wouldn’t be surprised if Google maintains the starting prices at the current levels either. https://www.google.com/amp/s/m.gsmarena.com/flashback_a_decade_of_google_nexus_pixel_prices_and_software_updates-amp-54971.php

The CrowPi L is a powerful Raspberry-Pi powered laptop and effective STEM kit for kids, but you’ll need to pay a premium to take advantage of the available hardware tutorials the system has to offer. Pros + Built-in internal battery + Easy to follow Scratch-based and Python tutorials + Fun game design programming lessons and hardware projects + External monitor and dual-boot system support Cons - Doesn’t work with Raspberry Pi 3 and older - Sensors and controllers needed for hardware projects are not included in the basic kit - Some tutorials have unclear instructions The CrowPi L is a Raspberry Pi-powered laptop built to educate, engage and entertain young minds and usher them into the world of programming and electronics. It incorporates fun activities and interactive lessons to teach kids how to code. The kit includes lots of tutorials to try and a wide range of projects that would appeal to a variety of different interests. From lessons on how to design and program games, to hands-on projects that explain electronic concepts and how circuitry works, there’s a lot for kids to learn and enjoy. Starting at $239 (currently on sale for $203(opens in new tab)), the CrowPi L comes with a USB wireless mouse, a 32 GB microSD card loaded with the custom OS, educational software, and a custom GPIO expansion shield for hardware projects. Pricing and Availability The CrowPi L is available in a few different configurations. You can choose from the basic model or advanced model, which costs about $60 more because it includes the Crowtail Starter Kit for Raspberry Pi. Shipped in a separate box, this kit contains the different motors and sensors you will need for the Letscode (Elecrow’s custom version of the Scratch programming language) and Python hardware projects. The laptop only comes in matte white, but you have an option of getting either a white or black keyboard. On Elecrow’s site, you also have the option to add either a Raspberry Pi 4 4GB or 8GB to the purchase, should you not have your own. Our review sample was an advanced model which came with a white keyboard and the Crowtail Starter Kit but did not include a Raspberry Pi. We should note that the CrowPi L is not compatible with Raspberry Pi 3 or older, so if you do not have a Raspberry Pi 4 then you must include it as an add-on (or buy one elsewhere). The company claims to have included this option to help during the chip shortage. The price of the Raspberry Pi 4 is still way above its original MSRP, but Elecrow’s site sells it much cheaper than Amazon(opens in new tab) right now. Basic ModelAdvance Model Without Raspberry Pi$239*$299 Add Raspberry Pi 4B - 4GB$145$145 Add Raspberry Pi 4B - 8GB$157$157 *Elecrow is currently offering a 15% discount from their website, bringing down the most basic model to ~$200. https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/crowpi-l-raspberry-pi-laptop-stem-kit

U.S. inflation surged to a new four-decade high in June because of rising prices for gas, food and rent, squeezing household budgets and pressuring the Federal Reserve to raise interest rates aggressively trends that raise the risk of a recession. The government’s consumer price index soared 9.1% over the past year, the biggest yearly increase since 1981, with nearly half of the increase due to higher energy costs. Lower-income and Black and Hispanic American have been hit especially hard, since a disproportionate share of their income goes toward essentials such as transportation, housing and food. But with the cost of many goods and services rising faster than average incomes, a vast majority of Americans are feeling the pinch in their daily routines. For 72-year-old Marcia Freeman, who is retired and lives off of a pension, there is no escape from rising expenses. “Everything goes up, including cheaper items like store brands,” said Freeman, who visited a food bank near Atlanta this week to try and gain control of her grocery costs. As consumers’ confidence in the economy declines, so have President Joe Biden’s approval ratings, posing a major political threat to Democrats in the November congressional elections. Forty percent of adults said in a June AP-NORC poll that they thought tackling inflation should be a top government priority this year, up from just 14% who said so in December. U.S. inflation erupted amid a swift rebound from the 2020 pandemic recession. Consumers unleashed a wave of pent-up spending, spurred by vast federal aid, ultra-low borrowing costs and savings they had built up while hunkering down. As Americans channeled their purchases toward items for the home, like furniture, appliances and exercise equipment, supply chains became snarled and prices for goods soared. Russia’s war against Ukraine further magnified energy and food prices. In recent months, as Covid fears have receded, consumer spending has gradually shifted away from goods and toward services, resulting in higher prices for vacations, restaurant meals and entertainment. The year-over-year leap in consumer prices last month followed an 8.6% annual jump in May. From May to June, prices rose 1.3% the largest monthly increase since 2005 after prices had surged 1% from April to May. Still, some economists have held out hope that inflation might be reaching a short-term peak. Gas prices, for example, have fallen from the eye-watering $5 a gallon reached in mid-June to an average of $4.63 nationwide Wednesday still far higher than a year ago but a drop that could help slow inflation for July and possibly August. In addition, shipping costs and commodity prices have begun to fall, and pay increases have slowed. Surveys show that Americans’ expectations for inflation over the long run have eased a trend that often points to more moderate price increases over time. “While today’s headline inflation reading is unacceptably high, it is also out-of-date,” President Biden said Wednesday. “All major economies are battling this COVID-related challenge.” The latest disappointing data on inflation came out at the outset of Biden’s trip to the Middle East, where he will meet with officials from Saudi Arabian to discuss oil prices, among other subjects. Republican members of Congress have blamed the higher prices on Biden’s economic policies, specifically his $1.9 trillion financial support package approved in March. There have been signs that inflation was slowing before last summer, and in April of this year only for it to surge again in subsequent months. “There may be some relief in the July numbers commodity prices have come off the boil, at least — but we are a very, very long way from inflation normalizing, and there is no tangible sign of downward momentum,” said Eric Winograd, an economist at asset manager AB. For now, the relentless pace of price increases has frustrated many Americans, some of whom are placing blame on companies for using inflation as a cover to raise prices beyond the amount they need to cover their own higher costs. “I feel the inflation pain every day,” Susana Hazard said this week outside a grocery store in New York City. “Every day, everything is going up and up, more than inflation they’re price-adjusting. Because even if inflation doesn’t happen, they’ve raised the prices.” Most economists say corporate price gouging is, at most, one of many causes of runaway inflation and not the primary one. The breadth of the price gains shows how rising costs have seeped into nearly every corner of the economy. Grocery prices have jumped 12.2% compared with a year ago, the steepest such climb since 1979. Rents have risen 5.8%, the most since 1986. New car prices have increased 11.4% from a year earlier. And average airline fares, one of the few items to post a price decline in June, are nevertheless up 34% from a year earlier. The biggest shock has been energy prices, which soared 7.5% just from May to June. Gas prices have skyrocketed nearly 60% compared with a year ago. Excluding the volatile food and energy categories, so-called core prices rose 0.7% from May to June, the biggest such spike in a year. Core prices jumped 5.9% from a year ago. Inflation is surging well beyond the United States, with 71 million people pushed into poverty in the three months after Russia invaded Ukraine, the U.N. Development Program said last week. The war’s economic damage has been especially severe in Europe, with its reliance on Russian oil and natural gas squeezing businesses and consumers with sharply higher bills for utilities, groceries, gasoline and more. Inflation reached decades-high levels of 8.6% last month in the 19 countries that use the euro currency and 9.1% in the United Kingdom in May. With many people priced out of the market for houses and looking instead to rent, demand for apartments has sent rental rates beyond affordable levels. The average cost of new leases has jumped 14% in the past year, according to real estate brokerage Redfin, to an average of $2,016 a month. Economists expect the rising expense of new leases to send the government’s inflation measure higher in coming months. The persistence of high inflation has unnerved Chair Jerome Powell and other Fed officials, who are engaged in the fastest series of rate hikes since the late 1980s to try to slow the price spikes. The central bank is expected to raise its key short-term rate later this month by a hefty three-quarters of a point, as it did last month, with potentially more large rate hikes to follow. Powell has stressed that the central bank wants to see “compelling evidence” that inflation is slowing before it would dial back its rate hikes. Such evidence would need to be a “series of declining monthly inflation readings,” Powell said at a news conference last month. Many economists worry that the Fed’s drive to quell inflation will cause it to tighten credit too aggressively even while the economy, by some measures, is slowing. Much higher borrowing costs could trigger a recession, potentially by next year. Consumers have started to pull back on spending, home sales are falling as mortgage rates rise and factory output slipped in May. Yet steadily robust job growth points to an economy that is still expanding. https://www.dailylocal.com/2022/07/13/us-inflation-surges-again-in-june-raising-risks-for-economy/

Four thousand beagles from a breeding facility in Virginia accused of animal welfare violations will be transferred to shelters nationwide for adoption in the coming months, under a plan approved by a federal judge last week. According to court records, the plan came after the federal government filed a civil enforcement case in May against Envigo RMS, which owns and operates the Cumberland, Virginia facility that breeds beagles for medical research. Federal officials accused Envigo of a chain of animal welfare violations at the facility – including dogs receiving insufficient food, inadequate medical care, housing in filthy conditions and some being euthanized without anesthesia. And an inspection report from the U.S. Department of Agriculture found that, between January and July of last year, over 300 puppy deaths were attributed to "unknown causes" – with the facility not taking any additional steps to investigate the deaths or prevent similar losses in the future. After the government filed its case against Envigo, U.S. District Court Judge Norman Moon issued a restraining order that imposed restrictions on the facility. Inotiv, Inc., Envigo's parent company, announced it would "implement an orderly closure plan" for the facility in a June statement. Also in Virginia: Middle schoolers write pet profiles to help find homes for shelter dogs and 'Romeo' the rat On Friday, following the judge's approval, the government and Envigo jointly filed a plan for the Human Society of the United States to remove "all" of the facility's beagles. The HSUS will then transport the dogs to shelters across the country, where they can hopefully find new homes. The removal process is expected to take about 60 days. Envigo will cover a monetary fee to help shelters with the costs of preparing each beagle for adoption, according to court documents. People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals, a Norfolk-based animal rights group that also investigated the facility, applauded the transfer plan. “Envigo’s surviving victims will soon be given the opportunity to have what every dog deserves – the freedom to enjoy life, love, and respect for their individuality as members of a family home," PETA Senior Vice President of Cruelty Investigations Daphna Nachminovitch said in a statement. Ohio: A dog shelter lost power amid blazing heat. The community showed up to keep the pups cool. U.S. Senators Tim Kaine, D-Va., and Mark R. Warner, D-Va., who called on action from the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service in March to address Envigo's animal welfare violations, also celebrated last week's move. “After months of advocacy, we’re heartened to know that nearly 4,000 Envigo dogs will be spared a lifetime of suffering and will instead head to loving homes," Kaine and Warner said in a joint-statement. "We’re also pleased to know that Inotiv – Envigo’s parent company – will shutter its Cumberland facility and that no more dogs will be subject to the appalling conditions and inexcusable distress endured by so many dogs and puppies at the facility. We will continue working in the Senate to prevent the mistreatment of innocent animals across Virginia and the nation." What's everyone talking about?: Sign up for our trending newsletter to get the latest news of the day Hundreds have already been removed from the Cumberland facility. As of June 1, Envigo had relinquished 446 beagles determined to be in “acute distress,” according to court documents. https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/nation/2022/07/13/beagles-rescued-virginia-facility/10045868002/

Washington Post columnist Perry Bacon Jr. suggested Tuesday that President Biden wouldn't be as unpo[CENSORED]r among Democrats if it weren't for inflation, adding that estimates would indicate that half of the president's negative approval rating is caused by inflation. Bacon wrote that after speaking to pollsters and other political experts, "the strong consensus was that if inflation were at normal levels and not constantly in the news, Biden’s approval rating would probably be between 41 and 45 percent, with his disapproval number between 51 and 54 percent." He said the estimates would be close to former President Donald Trump's numbers. He would also "lag Bill Clinton (46-45) and Barack Obama at this stage (47-47); and fall way behind George W. Bush (70-23)," Bacon wrote. The Washington Post columnist said that while inflation has certainly made things worse for the president, Biden would still be "more unpo[CENSORED]r than po[CENSORED]r." Some experts told Bacon that the president's approval rating would be in the 50s if inflation were at 2%. One policy analyst, Will Stancil, argued that "it’s a mistake to assume that presidential approval is always tied to inflation or other economic indicators." Stancil said that Trump was unpo[CENSORED]r during a strong economy and told Bacon that the media was to blame for his unpo[CENSORED]rity. "In Stancil’s view, Biden’s unpo[CENSORED]rity stems in part from an intense, negative media focus on inflation that is influencing the public. So according to Stancil, Biden could be just as unpo[CENSORED]r with low inflation if the media were blasting him on another issue or more po[CENSORED]r despite high inflation if the media wasn’t covering it so much," Bacon wrote. A New York Times poll found Monday that 64% of Democrats would prefer a different candidate in 2024. Bacon wrote that Biden didn't seem as bad "electorally" when factoring in high inflation. He also suggested that inflation would be high under a different Democratic president as well. "If Biden is unpo[CENSORED]r in part because of high inflation that probably would have happened under another Democratic president, the case that Biden is an anchor on the party becomes weaker," the author wrote. He also said that the president's administration was a "policy failure," but added that was not as "bad a politician or potential 2024 presidential candidate as the polls right now make him look." Inflation rose 9.1% in June from a year ago, reaching another 40-year-high. White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre has said the president plans to run again in 2024, despite the growing calls from his own party that he step aside. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/bidens-approval-rating-would-be-higher-if-inflation-wasnt-constantly-in-the-news-suggests-wapo-column/ar-AAZxbtE

@REVAN Your designs will always be remembered here along with the others. About @d3v0uTT™ , even if he disappeared 4 years ago, his designs were the best in the community.

God of War Ragnarök has revealed its release date in a brand-new trailer. The sequel to the franchise's hugely po[CENSORED]r and highly acclaimed 2018 entry, which served as a retooling for the series into a more character and exploration-focused experience, is coming out on November 9. The short trailer doesn't feature any footage, just pure pre-rendered CGI, but it does show Kratos fighting some foes with the help of a more confident Atreus. It's not a whole lot to go on, but it's good to have confirmation that the game is coming out this year after toxic fans were harassing the developers over rumours of a delay. Pre-orders will go live on July 15, and as you'd expect, there are a multitude of different editions you can buy that come with different things, ranging from in-game equipment and looks for the characters, to physical items like pins, dice and weapon replicas. You can find out about all the different versions and see an unboxing video over on the PlayStation Blog, but we'll note here that if you go for the standard PS4 edition of the game, you'll need to pay to upgrade to the PS5 version, unlike the other editions. The story of God of War Ragnarök will focus on the titular cataclysmic event, which Kratos and Atreus set out to try and find a way to prevent. Meanwhile, Thor has been dispatched to try and stop them, while former Witch of the Woods Freya is out for revenge after Kratos killed her son Baldur in the last game. The fact that Atreus is actually meant to be Loki will also play a role in the plot, while the duo are set to encounter the Norse God of War, Týr. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/entertainment/news/god-of-war-ragnarök-confirms-release-date-with-new-trailer/ar-AAZo2li

Some of the biggest phone makers in the world seem to have their hearts set on teaming up with established camera brands in the hopes of dressing their latest smartphone snappers with an additional level of prestige. But do these partnerships help or hinder the camera phones they grace and the people buying them? On July 4, Xiaomi launched its freshly upgraded flagship phone series – the Xiaomi 12S line – and introduced us to the first of the company’s handsets to feature camera hardware sporting the Leica name. Leica – the German optics specialist known for its pricey-but-capable cameras is one of several established camera brands that have joined forces with assorted phone makers over the years. Most recently, it kicked off a freshly minted relationship with Xiaomi after its long-standing contract with fellow Chinese phone maker Huawei ended. While Leica is one of the most high-profile names involved in these partnerships, it's not alone. Hasselblad and Zeiss (formally Carl Zeiss) have also entered into relationships of a similar nature. Hasselblad formerly worked with Motorola on an optical zoom camera mod for its Moto Mods accessory line and, more recently, buddied up with siblings OnePlus and Oppo (as well as DJI in the drones market). Zeiss’ history stretches back even further to Nokia’s pre-iPhone market dominance – alongside more recent work with Sony and Vivo. Rather than offering components or engineering smarts to a phone maker's imaging team, the most common manifestation of a camera brand's involvement takes the form of exclusive filters, dedicated shooting modes, and some light in-camera-app branding. Huawei's first Leica-branded smartphones – 2016's Huawei P9 and P9 Pro – offered a series of Leica-developed color modes (meant to echo the company’s own cameras), and Leica-designed lenses (although they were still made of plastic and not manufactured by Leica). Fast-forward to today and OnePlus' current flagship – the OnePlus 10 Pro – sports both 'Hasselblad Master Styles' (read: more filters) and something called XPan mode: a shooting experience modeled after the camera company's unique 65:24 format cameras, built into the native OnePlus camera app. An instant win for mobile photography lovers everywhere or a selling point that only the most avid Hasselblad fans would conceivably use to justify their purchase of OnePlus’ latest phone? I’ll leave you to be the judge. While perusing brand forums, paired with anecdotal conversations with users, suggests a general indifference to camera brand partnerships on phones, a recent survey of 1,100 readers conducted by Android Authority revealed that over half of those polled (53%) didn’t think such integrations led to better end-result photos. A further 30% said the benefits were only ‘sometimes’ tangible. In the case of the agreement between OnePlus and Hasselblad, the partnership is on record as costing a cool $150 million, which begs the question: why didn’t OnePlus simply invest that money into its own camera system research and development instead? The OnePlus 10 Pro would have offered an even more competitive camera system at the expense of XPan mode, a couple of filters and Hasselblad’s name across the phone’s back – which, if you ask me, is a worthwhile trade-off. In the case of Xiaomi’s new trio of high-end devices, one of the more meaningful imaging benefits isn’t born from the company’s team-up with Leica but rather the efforts it’s gone to with the help of Adobe; adding deep Adobe Camera RAW support that allows for color correction metadata to remain embedded within DNG files snapped with the phones’ powerful camera. It’s a more meaningful partnership for those serious about mobile photography, but one that’s sidelined by the company’s preferential treatment of the Leica brand over Adobe when it comes to cameras. While it isn’t the only brand doing so, Sony has struck perhaps the most encouraging balance with its smartphone camera systems (most recently represented by the Sony Xperia 1 IV). Sony is uniquely positioned as a maker of some of the best cameras out there while also serving as one of the principal suppliers of mobile imaging hardware used by some of the market’s best camera phones. While offering what is consistently seen as a more involved mobile photography experience compared to rivals, Sony has established a cycle of investment and refinement with the camera technology found on its flagship Xperia 1 line that delivers far more meaningful functionality to users. Not to mention, its ongoing brand partnership with Zeiss is well-considered and unobtrusive. The company’s T* lens coating improves image quality without the need for unnecessary filters or modes plastered throughout the camera UI. Companies like Xiaomi will likely continue to try and turn heads with the promise of camera prowess, supported by trusted names from the imaging business. However, my hope is that they’ll eventually pour the same amount of energy and money they would have used to strike such deals into making their camera phones better on their own terms – building, rather than buying, trust in users directly. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/phone-makers-obsession-with-camera-brand-partnerships-has-to-stop/ar-AAZokKO

With so many agile project management tools available, it can be overwhelming to find the best fit for you. We've compiled a list of ten tools you can use to take advantage of agile within your organization. Agile is one of the most po[CENSORED]r project management methods used today. This flexible and scalable method enables teams to take better control of their projects, completing them in stages. The end result is a higher quality outcome that meets all stakeholder expectations. For teams that wish to take an agile approach to project management, there are various tools available to simplify the process. The following 10 tools and software are perfect options for using the agile method, as well as agile frameworks such as Scrum and Kanban. What is agile project management software? Through the agile method, teams tackle projects in stages, also known as sprints. At the end of each stage, stakeholder feedback is gathered to determine where changes must be made. This process continues until the stage is accepted and considered complete. If you were to look at the agile method in visual form, each stage would resemble a circle as iterations are more than welcome. In any agile-based project, things can change rapidly. This is one of the hallmark differences between agile and other project management methods. Agile project management software was designed to help teams manage this sometimes complex process. This software has built-in tools such as project timelines, Gantt charts and reports that are critical for agile success. Benefits of agile project management software According to the Agile Manifesto, the agile method prioritizes collaboration, interaction and response to change. Teams that want to be agile must prioritize the same. And in today’s distributed workforce, this is only made possible through project management software. Some benefits of implementing these tools include: Simplified project planning It’s true that agile projects don’t typically follow a standard linear plan. However, there’s much more to project planning than listing tasks with due dates. Agile project management software can simplify critical tasks such as resource planning and identifying dependencies. Improved productivity Agile teams must be able to access all of the information regarding a project whenever it’s needed to keep projects moving forward. Project management software improves productivity by centralizing all of the information about a project, including project changes, relevant tasks and stakeholder feedback. Easier feedback gathering A critical part of any agile project is gathering stakeholder feedback at the end of each stage. Depending on the number of stakeholders involved, this process can be complex. Many agile project management tools integrate with other tools within your tech stack, such as those you use to gather feedback. As a result, all of your stakeholder feedback can be stored in the same place as all other project data. Enhanced team collaboration Project management tools enable efficient team collaboration by providing tools such as tagging, commenting, instant chat and more right inside the software. Improved project visibility Many agile project management tools offer visibility features such as dashboards and Kanban-style boards to help you visualize your current projects in real-time. You can see what’s going on with any sprint, at any time. Agile project management software also enables you to take advantage of hybrid agile methods, including Scrumban, a mix of Scrum and Kanban. Completely adaptable to your workflows, these tools enable you to work your way. Who uses agile project management software? The agile method has long been hailed as the project management method of choice for fast-moving teams such as product and software developers. This is because these teams rely on stakeholder feedback and testing for a high-quality finished product. Of course, agile is now used across industries and niches, regardless of what the final deliverable looks like. For example, agile is a po[CENSORED]r method for teams that work on projects without a clear scope or end goal as well as teams that prioritize product improvement. Teams that complete projects like the above often implement project management software, tools and apps to support their progress. Key features of agile project management software The best agile project management software will include a wide range of features to help you manage your projects. Some of the features that are absolute must-haves in any agile solution include: Sprint management Agile project management tools should enable you to manage your sprints as well as their accompanying tasks, issues, assignees and more in one place. Bonus points if the tool does so intuitively via drag-and-drop functionality. Kanban boards and Gantt charts These are two of the most common project management tools for agile teams. Both are visual tools for depicting project status. Gantt charts are horizontal bar charts while Kanban boards are similar to sticky notes on a whiteboard. Resource management Resource management tools help teams effectively budget resources such as cash, time and people. This ensures adequate resources are available to complete a project within a specified timeframe. Real-time reporting dashboards Agile project management requires real-time visibility into project progress. Reporting dashboards aggregate reports into a single, visual view for access to instant insights. Issue tracking For software development teams, issue tracking is a critical feature. These tools track software bugs so teams can capture and resolve them in a timely manner on behalf of their users. Third-party integrations Any useful agile project management software should integrate well with the other software and apps within your tech stack such as those for managing customer relationships, sales, communication, development and reporting. Many tools have integrations built right in as well as open APIs for building out your own integrations. Mobile capabilities In today’s mobile workforce, any project management tool should be available via mobile device. This way, teams can manage projects, complete tasks and report on progress from anywhere, at any time. Mobile apps are typically available for phones as well as tablets. https://www.techrepublic.com/article/agile-project-management-software/

Dive Brief: Intuitive Surgical’s robotic surgery dominance is “increasingly harder to break at many existing customer sites,” according to analysts at BTIG. The analysts reached the conclusion after attending the Society of Robotic Surgery’s 2022 meeting. While noting that the landscape is “far more expansive” than in the past, the analysts said Intuitive’s encircling of its robots with analytics, imaging and more makes it harder for high-volume users to move to rival technologies. Intuitive’s competitors, including larger challengers such as Johnson & Johnson and Medtronic, will need an “ecosystem approach” that goes beyond hardware to overcome the cost of switching. Dive Insight: Companies including Globus Medical, J&J, Medtronic, Stryker, Vicarious Surgical and Zimmer Biomet presented at the event, reflecting the rise in the number of businesses targeting the robotic surgery sector in recent years. The arrival of multiple rivals raised questions about the position of Intuitive, which enjoyed a near monopoly in the market for years. The competitive narrative around Intuitive has now “dissipated,” the analysts wrote in a note to investors. The shift follows setbacks to robotic surgery development programs at J&J and Medtronic, as well as Intuitive’s perceived success in entrenching its devices with existing customers. Intuitive’s ecosystem of “advanced analytics, state-of-the-art imaging, virtual and augmented reality, cloud computing” and more “make it harder for high-volume robotic surgeons and institutions (with existing robotics programs) to shift away to emerging competitive systems,” say the analysts. One surgeon discussed the difficulties of switching and why high-volume physicians will have a tough time converting. “Surgeons likened it to pilots who have to gain separate licenses on various models of planes in order to safely fly various different plane types. While this can certainly be addressed, we do think as [Intuitive’s] ecosystem grows, the switching costs will continue to rise, making it harder for companies such as [Medtronic] and [J&J] to make initial inroads on existing customer sites,” the analysts wrote. While noting the barriers to switching, the analysts did see technologies that may have advantages over Intuitive’s devices. Some surgeons said they appreciated the open console design of Medtronic’s Hugo and liked the flexibility on the number of arms, although they also saw some lower responsiveness in movement. The analysts also noted that smaller companies have been able to re-imagine and develop newer robotic systems “out of necessity to offer differentiation,” that have little physical resemblance to the systems developed by Intuitive and the other large players. “For many it’s still ‘to be determined’ but we think much smaller-form factor robotics present the most interesting and viable alternatives to larger-form factor systems today,” they wrote. https://www.medtechdive.com/news/intuitive-ecosystem-difficult-switch-competitors/626721/

Sri Lanka’s prime minister agreed to resign on Saturday after party leaders in Parliament demanded both he and the embattled president step down on the day protesters stormed the president’s residence and office in a fury over a worsening economic crisis. Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe said in a voice statement that he will resign when all parties have agreed on a new government. “Today in this country we have a fuel crisis, a food shortage, we have the head of the World Food Program coming here and we have several matters to discuss with the IMF. Therefore, if this government leaves there should be another government,” he said. His decision came after the biggest protest yet swept Sri Lanka as tens of thousands of people broke through barricades and entered President Gotabaya Rajapaksa’s residence and nearby office to vent their anger against a leader they hold responsible for the nation’s worst crisis. Sri Lanka's prime minister Ranil Wickremesinghe gestures during an interview with The Associated Press in Colombo, Sri Lanka, June 11, 2022. (Eranga Jayawardena/) Footage showed people in a jubilant mood taking a dip in the garden pool of the residence. Some lay on beds, others made tea and drank, and made “statements” from the conference room that Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe must immediately quit. Wickremesinghe said he suggested to the president to have an all-party government, but didn’t say anything about Rajapaksa’s whereabouts. Opposition parties in Parliament were currently discussing the formation of a new government. Protesters demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa swim in a pool inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo on Saturday. Rajapaksa appointed Wickremesinghe as prime minister in May in the hope that the career politician would use his diplomacy and contacts to resuscitate a collapsed economy. But people’s patience wore thin as shortages of fuel, medicine and cooking gas only increased and oil reserves ran dry. Many protesters accuse Wickremesinghe of trying to save Rajapaksa when he came under pressure to resign and every other member of his powerful political dynasty quit the Cabinet. Protestors demanding the resignation of Sri Lanka's President Gotabaya Rajapaksa gather inside the compound of Sri Lanka's Presidential Palace in Colombo on Saturday. Leaders of political parties in Parliament met later and decided to request Rajapaksa and Wickremesinghe to step down, opposition lawmaker Rauff Hakeem said on Twitter. He said a consensus was reached that the parliamentary speaker should take over as temporary president and work on an interim government. Sri Lanka’s economy is in a state of collapse, relying on aid from India and other countries as its leaders try to negotiate a bailout with the International Monetary Fund. The economic meltdown has led to severe shortages of essential items, leaving people struggling to buy food, fuel and other necessities. The turmoil has led to months of protests, which have nearly dismantled the Rajapaksa political dynasty that has ruled Sri Lanka for most of the past two decades. The president’s older brother resigned as prime minister in May after violent protests saw him seek safety at a naval base. Much of the public ire has been pointed at the Rajapaksa family, with protesters blaming them for dragging Sri Lanka into chaos with poor management and allegations of corruption. At the president’s office, security personnel tried to stop demonstrators who pushed through fences to run across the lawns and inside the colonial-era building. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/sri-lankan-pm-agrees-to-quit-amid-biggest-political-turmoil/ar-AAZozFa

“Horrible living conditions”. That’s how employees at a Missouri animal shelter described the scene. Over the past seven days, the Kennett Humane Department has found over 20 dogs and puppies, most being cases of animal abandonment and neglect. Officer Tena Petix said the issue has become more common this summer, and it is not being taken lightly. “If it is a misdemeanor depending on how severe the crime is you get in Kennett is no less than $50 and up to $500. You can get up to 90 days in jail, you can get community service and probation up to two years,” she said. First video related: https://www.msn.com/en-us/video/news/animal-shelters-look-for-help-as-they-deal-with-overcrowding/vi-AAZiGNl She explained most of the dogs were found in locked cages outside in the heat, causing heat distress. Petix said the conditions were horrible and not survivable. “We had some brought in today, a mom and her babies,” she said. “We had a call because people saw no one at the house for several days. We went and the first thing we saw was a puppy that was deceased.” She added with temperatures at and around 100 degrees, animals outside are in danger, especially if they have little to no water. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/crime/animal-neglect-issues-swarm-shelters-amid-hot-temperatures/ar-AAZntub

Andrea Jenkyns said she ‘reached the end of my tether’ and stood up for herself after receiving ‘abuse’ over the years. Nadhim Zahawi and Grant Shapps have both launched campaigns to become the next Conservative party leader and replace Boris Johnson as prime minister. Launching his campaign, Chancellor Mr Zahawi pledged to lower taxes for individuals, families and business and boost defence spending. Transport secretary Mr Shapps promised to end a period of “tactical government by an often distracted centre”, in an interview with The Times. His declaration comes after defence secretary Ben Wallace ruled himself out of the Conservative Party leadership contest despite his status as favourite among the Tory grassroots. And more than a dozen MPs have declared their support for former chancellor Rishi Sunak to become prime minister after Boris Johnson’s resignation. Former Tory Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden is among the seven MPs who have tweeted their support of Mr Sunak’s leadership bid using the hashtag #ready4rishi. Others who tweeted their support were Dr Liam Fox, Mark Harper, Paul Maynard, Sir Bob Neill, Mel Stride, and Jacob Young. Seven others are also backing Mr Sunak, according to reports, taking the total to at least 14. Newly-appointed chancellor Nadhim Zahawi has launched his bid for the Tory leadership and to replace Boris Johnson. He is the second Cabinet minister to declare their ambition in the space of an hour after transport Grant Shapps said he intended to stand on a platform of improving the economy and tackling the cost of living crisis. Mr Zahawi, who was brought in to replace Rishi Sunak after he resigned on Tuesday, said his focus will be on lower taxes for for individuals, families and business. https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/boris-johnson-resigns-rishi-sunak-tories-replacement-latest-b2119361.html

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