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WhatsApp plans to drop support for certain Android and iOS phones on 24 October 2022. The messaging platform usually does this when it wants to introduce functionality on the app that may not work on older phone versions. This time iOS 10, iOS 11, iPhone 5, and iPhone 5C will be catching the axe, according to TechCentral. Users who want to keep using the Meta-owned platform operating on iOS 10 and 11 will have to update to iOS 12 if they want to keep using the app. This means that iPhone 5 and 5C users will be left behind because iOS 12 is not available on the devices. It’s only fair because these devices are among the oldest Apple iPhones, almost a decade old. They don’t have the latest technology to run certain functions in this day and age. Users can still continue using WhatsApp on iPhone 5S, iPhone 6, and iPhone 6S, but they will need to update their iOS version to iOS 12. According to WABetaInfo, a lot of users claimed that WhatsApp is dropping support for iOS 10 at the end of the previous year, which according to the publication which first aired the news, was false. The Meta-owned platform said the following operating systems are supported for both iOS and Android: Android running OS 4.1 and newer iPhone running iOS 12 and newer The messaging platform says that their criteria when choosing devices to drop include looking at older devices that have fewer people using them and do not have the latest security updates. It says that it, however, will notify users directly on WhatsApp if their device doesn’t have the required operating system. Users will also be reminded a few times to upgrade their operating systems. https://www.itnewsafrica.com/2022/05/whatsapp-is-dropping-support-for-these-apple-iphone-devices/

Mon, May 23, 2022, 8:19 AM·4 min read HANOI, Vietnam, May 23, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Southeast Asia’s leading IT firm, FPT Software has officially signed a contract with Udacity, one of the most prominent online education platforms in technology. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220522005082/en/ Nguyen Khai Hoan, FPT Software’s Chief Finance Officer (left) with Marc Jones, Regional Vice President of Udacity (Photo: Business Wire) The contract aims to enhance FPT Software’s Upskilling program, providing its employees with fully sponsored Nanodegree - the extensive training and mentoring program by Udacity. Upskilling is part of a long-term strategy of FPT Software to invest in building high-quality IT engineers workforce, strengthening its world-class Digital Transformation capabilities. The 3-year contract opens up to 9,000 learning opportunities for promising IT engineers who play significant roles in the company’s digital transformation projects, focusing on Data Science, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML), Internet of Things (IoT), Cloud, Blockchain and Security. The two parties looked into developing specialized training content for FPT Software employees along with the company's exclusive certifications. Both parties also discussed bringing Nanodegree to IT fresher and students, exploring new opportunities to enhance FPT Software’s technology capabilities as it expands on a global scale. Speaking on the launch, Marc Jones, Regional Vice President of Udacity, said: "FPT Software is one of our first partners in Vietnam and a great example of large scale global companies putting people first. We are excited and look forward to creating a great impact with FPT Software, both in terms of business and giving back to society." Nguyen Khai Hoan - Chief Finance Officer of FPT Software assessed that the partnership represented the tremendous intangible values which both parties brought to the table. These values go beyond borders as FPT Software continues to grow across regions, investing in its talented people and advanced technological capabilities. Each course will give access to extensive knowledge provided by top experts at tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Amazon, etc., collaborating with Udacity. With insights coming from the heart of Silicon Valley, in-depth tech updates and extensive mentoring activities, Udacity’s Nanodegree is widely considered one of the most valuable online training platforms. FPT Software is known for its long-standing support for its staff’s personal development through various promoting activities. Recent reports also show that data-related positions are growing prominent in the global IT labor market. The firm has invested early on to enhance its data experts’ skills and experience to provide advisory services and tech solutions to clients. The agreement with Udacity is the latest large investment to improve its staff's comprehensive skills. About FPT Software FPT Software is a global technology and IT services provider headquartered in Vietnam, with USD 632.5 million in revenue and 22,500 employees in 26 countries. As a pioneer in digital transformation, the company delivers world-class services in Smart factory, Digital platforms, RPA, AI, IoT, Cloud, AR/VR, BPO, and more. It has served 700+ customers worldwide, a hundred of which are Fortune Global 500 companies in the industries of Automotive, Banking and Finance, Logistics & Transportation, Utilities, and more. About Udacity Udacity changes lives, businesses, and nations through radical talent transformation in digital technologies. Udacity's global, online talent transformation platform focuses on in-demand digital technologies, mentor support, and project-based learning taught by industry experts. Programs include real world content for job-ready competencies in artificial intelligence, machine learning, data science, autonomous systems, cloud computing, among other disciplines. Udacity has more than 100 enterprise customers including Airbus, Bertelsmann, BNP Paribas, Leidos, Mazda, and the United States Air Force. Udacity collaborates with more than 200 global industry partners including Google, Mercedes-Benz, and NVIDIA to power technical education. Headquartered in Mountain View, Calif., the private company has operations in the United Kingdom, Egypt, Germany, India, and the United Arab Emirates. Udacity has raised $163 million in funding to date from investors including Bertelsmann, Andreessen Horowitz, Charles River Ventures, and Drive Capital. https://finance.yahoo.com/news/fpt-software-partners-udacity-enhance-061900572.html

For any crypto holder, storing funds safely is a major concern that requires research and planning. Hardware crypto wallets are generally regarded as being the most secure choice among cryptocurrency investors. This does not mean, however, that these wallets are immune to fraud. Hardware wallet manufacturer Ledger spoke out against security vulnerabilities found in Coinkite and Shapeshift wallets, showing how their products could be attacked. In the event that someone got their hands on the physical wallet, they might be able to figure out the PIN. Although these threats were quickly addressed by the companies, there are still other ways for bad actors to gain access to user funds. A data breach at Mailchimp recently exposed an email list of users belonging to another company. The email marketing service has subsequently been sued by one of the users. A lawsuit filed by Alan Levinson alleges he lost $82,000 due to negligently stored data. A similar phishing scam targeting Trezor users was detected by the CoinLoan anti-fraud team. Hackers attached a link to a counterfeit version of the Trezor website to an email received by a member of the CoinLoan team. The purpose was to steal the seed phrase and access users’ wallets. This security concern was promptly addressed, saving many Trezor wallet users from losing their funds. However, this case emphasizes the importance of dealing with all possible security threats when it comes to hardware crypto wallets. What is a hardware wallet? First, let’s figure out what a hardware crypto wallet is. Unlike digital wallets, hardware wallets are physical devices, much like USB thumb drives. Private keys are stored offline, making them inaccessible to online threats. Direct data communication with the computer on the hardware eliminates the risk of the vulnerable software. This way, private keys can only be used and stored on the device and are never stored on a computer or online, making them immune to viruses and online hacks. The downsides to using hardware wallets include initial costs that are higher than average digital wallet software. Devices from major manufacturers like Trezor and Ledger cost anywhere between $50 and $1,200. For users to use their hardware safely, they should also know how to configure it. Funds can be accessed by malicious parties if the wallet is handled improperly. In order to gain access to sensitive data such as PIN codes or private keys stored in a physical hardware wallet, hackers may use the following methods. Possible vulnerabilities Side-channel attack A side-channel attack uses an oscilloscope, a type of electronic test device. It measures the power consumption and then compares its behavior to random PIN codes. Analyzing the measurements of each PIN digit helps build a database that can then be used with a script to guess the digits one by one. This vulnerability was detected in some Trezor hardware and has since been fixed. Software attacks Attacking a Hardware Security Module (HSM) can result in obtaining the cryptographic keys and other data that grants access to the wallet. The software that is contained in the wallet device is analyzed and reverse-engineered to understand how its security works. This vulnerability in po[CENSORED]r HSMs was discovered by the Ledger team. One of the researchers explained: “The presented attacks allow retrieving all HSM secrets remotely, including cryptographic keys and administrator credentials.” Voltage glitching This possibly fatal flaw was identified by Kraken Security Labs. They found out that applying lowered voltage to a microcontroller allows them to read the chip’s RAM. After the firmware is installed, the chip moves the cryptographic seed into RAM to protect it, therefore, granting access to all the memory contents. Best security practices While most identified vulnerabilities are usually fixed by manufacturers, there are possibly multiple other ways to hack into current hardware wallet devices. The first step for users to protect themselves is to keep their devices in a safe place away from any third-party access. Another important rule is never sharing sensitive information like private keys, PINs, and recovery seeds with anyone. The recovery seed can be safeguarded by avoiding typing or storing it online, taking pictures of it, or any other action that may compromise it.It’s best to simply write it down and store it in a safe place. Furthermore, it’s crucial to only communicate with the wallet using a trusted PC. Any online exposure to the PC might lead to a vulnerability. Even though a lot of these hacking techniques require physical access to the device, there is also a possibility of a phishing attack. They could be targeted at users via email, mobile phone, social media, fake websites, and instant messaging apps. This was the email scam uncovered and prevented by CoinLoan, saving Trezor users from falling victim to it. In this case, the key to ensuring wallet security was not only users’ vigilance, but also the quick response from the CoinLoan fraud detection specialists. As CTO and co-founder Max Sapelov, commented: “This incident does shed light on the inherent risks associated with (cold) non-custodial wallets, including software, connections to third-party vendors, and possible insider leaks. In contrast, custodial wallets such as CoinLoan often implement a series of checks and holds which prevent fraudsters from a) gaining access and b) moving or withdrawing crypto in the event of a leak.” Service providers and manufacturers should always be alert to possible hacks in order to protect users who may not be aware of these vulnerabilities. https://www.fxstreet.com/cryptocurrencies/news/cryptocurrency-hardware-wallets-may-not-be-as-secure-as-you-think-202205230813

United States President Joe Biden on Monday announced that 13 countries have become a part of its trade initiative, the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework. The members of the framework are the US, Australia, Brunei, India, Indonesia, Japan, South Korea, Malaysia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam, the White House said in a statement. Together, the partner countries represent 40% of world gross domestic product, it said. “The United States is an Indo-Pacific economic power, and expanding US economic leadership in the region is good for American workers and businesses – as well as for the people of the region,” the White House said. “IPEF will enable the United States and our allies to decide on rules of the road that ensure American workers, small businesses, and ranchers can compete in the Indo-Pacific.” The statement said that the top agenda of the framework is to tackle inflation. “This framework will help lower costs by making our supply chains more resilient in the long term, protecting us against costly disruptions that lead to higher prices for consumers,” it added. Since Biden took charge as the president last year, he has been pushing for trade alliances that were weakened under his predecessor Donald Trump’s regime, AFP reported. The Indo-Pacific Economic Framework intends to offer partner countries an opportunity to counter China’s rising commercial presence in the Asia-Pacific region, according to the news agency. China criticised the framework, calling it an attempt to “create a closed club”. But US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan said the framework is “by design and definition an open platform”. “The United States and our partners in the region believe that much of our success in the coming decades will depend on how well governments harness innovation – especially the transformations afoot in the clean energy, digital, and technology sectors – while fortifying our economies against a range of threats, from fragile supply chains to corruption to tax havens,” the White House said. Will defend Taiwan: Biden Biden also said that he would be willing to use force to defend Taiwan if it was attacked, Reuters reported. Taiwan, which is a self-governed territory, is not part of the framework. China sees it as its province that is to be unified with the Chinese mainland. “We agree with a one-China policy,” Biden said. “We’ve signed on to it and all the intended agreements made from there. But the idea that, that it can be taken by force, just taken by force, is just not, is just not appropriate.” Biden added he expected such an event of China attacking Taiwan would not happen or be attempted by Beijing. A White House official, however, later clarified that there was no change in policy towards Taiwan. Biden had made a similar statement in October. Chinese President Xi Jinping had then warned Biden that encouraging the independence of Taiwan would be like “playing with fire”. On Monday while the White House insisted that Biden did not mean a change in policy towards Taiwan, Grant Newsham, a research fellow at the Japan Forum for Strategic Studies, told Reuters that the meaning was clear. https://scroll.in/latest/1024571/india-12-other-countries-join-indo-pacific-economic-framework

A NSW MP has called for stronger penalties for pet abusers after a father-and-daughter dog breeding duo received $20,000 in fines for animal cruelty. Court records show the northern NSW dog breeders were sentenced on May 2 for a total of 18 offences. The man was fined a total of $16,700 for failing to provide vet treatment, animal cruelty, and failing to comply with requirements, while the woman was fined for $4200 for the latter offence and possession of a non-prescribed electrical device. The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals said it raided the pair’s breeding operation in September 2020, checking on the health of 441 dogs, including 250 puppies. Inspectors rescued 21 adult dogs and 41 puppies from conditions they said were “heartbreaking”. The RSPCA said the pair kept dogs on wet concrete floors in indoor kennel blocks. “Veterinarians concluded that the animals were suffering from a range of health issues including ear infections, severe dental disease, intestinal worms, poor body condition, conjunctivitis, matted coats, wounds and urine scalding,” the RSPCA said in a statement. “Written directions were issued to the defendants to seek veterinary treatment for another 32 of the dogs within 2-4 weeks.” Magistrate Holly Kemp at Inverell Local Court ordered the pair not to keep more than 80 female breeding dogs and 25 stud dogs. The breeders were also ordered to pay the RSPCA $150,000 between them for the cost of caring for some of the animals. At a parliamentary hearing on Monday, Animal Justice Party Emma Hurst pointed out the state’s laws wouldn’t prevent the pair from continuing to breed dogs. Ms Hurst has been campaigning for stronger regulations for breeders, and says her proposed Companion Animals Amendment (Puppy Farms) Bill would help curb the problem. “We have a situation where these people are able to continue to run a facility with 100 dogs – how can that mean the NSW government’s legislation is working; how is that good enforcement?” Ms Hurst asked. Department of Primary Industries deputy director Tara Black responded: “The DPI’s role is to administer the legislation, and we do have significant penalties available in the law, for the courts and enforcement agencies to apply in a specific case that might be appropriate.” In comments made after the hearing, Ms Hurst said it was “shocking” that people convicted for animal cruelty would still be allowed to breed pets. “Our laws are clearly failing companion animals in this state,” she said. “The committee heard that many breeders in NSW have been found guilty of animal cruelty and are still being allowed to run puppy farms. “Laws to protect animals from known animal abusers must be introduced immediately to stop more cases like this occurring, and puppy farming must be outlawed.” Ms Hurst’s Bill has met some opposition from breeders and lobby groups, who argue it would hamstring legitimate breeders while failing to stop illegal businesses. https://www.news.com.au/technology/science/animals/outrage-after-animal-abuser-allowed-to-continue-to-breed-dogs/news-story/9c3676b633e734140d18d0fa5ebc1f81

From front row left, Tampa Bay Times reporters, Rebecca Woolington, Eli Murrray and Corey C.Johnson celebrate with newsroom staff and guests as Times editor and vice president, Mark Katches talks about the trio winning the 2022 Pulitzer Prize for Investigative Reporting earlier this month. The newsroom estimated the project cost about $750,000 to produce. Since 2019, more than 5,700 people have made donations to support our local news reporting. Most came from Tampa Bay Times subscribers who recognize the vital importance of preserving an independent and locally owned news organization. Your generosity means the world to us. Economic headwinds remain for local newsrooms across the country, and philanthropy is becoming an important source of revenue. This week, we’ve launched our annual weeklong fundraising drive to help sustain your local newsroom. We held a similar one last year for the first time. The need is clear. The Times celebrated its 14th Pulitzer Prize earlier this month for an exhaustive investigation that showed how factory employees were being exposed to extreme levels of poisons in their workplace. That project alone cost about $750,000 to produce. It’s the second year in a row that Times reporters have won journalism’s most prestigious prize for a local investigation. These stories represent just one facet of what makes our news organization a community asset. We commit ourselves to informing you about local government, businesses, schools, politics and the overall health of Tampa Bay. We provide blanket coverage of your favorite sports teams and the local food and entertainment scene. In all aspects of our news coverage, we strive to tell stories that matter and that can make a difference. Your support can make a difference, too. To contribute, go to www.tampabay.com/support. The goal is to raise $50,000 in a week. The funds go toward general news expenses and could be used any number of ways. It would cover the salary of a reporter for a year; or it would pay the annual newsroom costs to obtain documents and databases needed for more watchdog stories; or it would help replace aging photography equipment. We pledge to use your donations to serve you — our readers. And we appreciate your consideration of a gift of any size that will help the Times continue to thrive. https://www.tampabay.com/news/2022/05/23/tampa-bay-times-launches-weeklong-fundraising-campaign-to-help-sustain-local-news/

Your 2 answers are ok. But according to you, the fact that it is "easy" does not mean it is the best project and it does not seem to be a reasonable explanation. So that answer is not good. Anyway as you are very active,good activity & it is necessary to have active members here, I will give you pro.

Hello @-_-Moltres-_-, I want to ask you a few questions before I give you my vote: 1.Why you want to be part of the staff ? 2.What are the hard works you done to our community ? 3.What did u think the best project on csbd , why?

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: voo CSGO Name of the game: Counter-Strike Global Offensive Link video: Rate this video 1-10: 10/10

A long-ago news editor at The Ledger said his family lived "so far back in the hills of West Virginia that we didn't get the Grand Ole Opry until Tuesday." That distance is surely a lot of axle greasin's, for the Grand Ole Opry began broadcasting on Nashville's WSM 650 AM radio in 1925 (first as the WSM Barn Dance; the name change came two years later). Back then, the station had a 1,000-watt transmitter, allowing it to reach listeners as far away as Nebraska and Puerto Rico. By 1932, the station increased its transmitter wattage to 50,000, which gave it coast-to-coast radio coverage and the coveted "clear channel" designation. As a clear channel, WSM was the only station in the nation allowed on its assigned 650 channel, thus preventing interference. The app is available for Android and Apple operating systems in the Google Play and App Store, respectively. The apps are free; both versions are highly rated by their users. The concept is easy to learn. A 3D view of the world is displayed. As the globe is rotated, the countries that come into view are covered with uncountable green dots. Each one of them represents a radio station. Click on one, and it begins playing whatever the station is broadcasting. The project began in 2016 when it was commissioned by the Netherlands Institute for Sound and Vision. It was supposed to be temporary and was only on the web. But by 2018, it was available in an app, and by 2019, the founders had turned it into an independent company. Radio Garden can be used to listen to the radio station one listened to as a child. Or to listen to the station back home when on vacation. Or drop in on the music of other countries and cultures. It's like having a shortwave radio to listen to various broadcasts around the world — only far more powerful. Be aware that it's easy to spend more time exploring Radio Garden than planned on. https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/gadget-daddy-explore-radio-broadcasts-090102557.html

What you need to know: The issue: Financial crime. Our view: We should be cognizant of the need to frequently audit FIA’s operations to ensure that its manpower is technologically savvy and financially literate. Earlier this month, the digital payments platform, WorldRemit, announced the closure of its send licence in Uganda, meaning that money cannot be sent from Uganda. The platform did not give a detailed explanation for its decision. It only stated that its goal is to ensure that it continues to offer the greatest value for its customers, adding that as a result, it occasionally has to make “difficult decisions that impact a small number of customers”. WorldRemit’s decision was, however, announced in a month in which the executive director of the Financial Intelligence Authority (FIA), Mr Sydney Asubo, said sanctions by the Financial Action Taskforce (FATF) would come into force due to Uganda’s failure to fulfil commitments that it made in 2020 to tackle money laundering. The sanctions have serious ramifications for an economy that is already suffering from the effects of disruptions in the global supply chain that have been occasioned by the Covid-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, both of which have triggered, among others, steep fuel prices, higher transport costs and shortages of wheat flour. These developments come several years after the former Inspector General of Government (IGG), Justice Irene Mulyagonja, pointed out that corruption has become more sophisticated because of advances in technology. That was a call to government to avail anti-corruption agencies with more resources; upgrade the skills of the foot soldiers; and tweak their approaches and tactics in the fight against corruption. Now whereas FIA has deployed the Anti Money Laundering System (goAML) software in commercial banks, credit taking institutions and microfinance deposit taking institutions, that deployment stands at only 75 percent, meaning that the other 25 percent of institutions remain possible conduits. This points to lack of resources to cover the entire financial sector. The biggest question though is how well equipped FIA is to deal with financial crimes at a time when technology is an enabler of crime. Mr Asubo told Parliament in January that whereas the approved structure provides for 83 members of staff at the head office, there are only 43 members of staff because of underfunding on the part of government. The FIA boss also said funds to enhance its Information Communication Technology (ICT) systems, were never enough to match the task. These issues must be addressed at the soonest. And as we address them, we should be cognizant of the need to frequently audit FIA’s operations to ensure that its manpower is technologically savvy, financially literate and skilled enough to be able to detect and stop financial crimes. https://www.monitor.co.ug/uganda/oped/editorial/resources-upgrades-crucial-in-financial-crime-fight-3822842

According to a report by Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman, Apple has demonstrated a new Apple-made VR headset to its board. Such a product has been rumored for a while and has reportedly been in development at Apple since 2015. We don’t yet know what it looks like or much about its features. It could be weeks, months, or even a couple years before an Apple headset surfaces, but the takeaway is that the device does indeed seem to exist. The dip into virtual-reality hardware has been controversial within the company, with pushback and disagreements between Apple brass, including former Apple design chief Jony Ive. The upcoming headset uses both virtual-reality and augmented-reality tech, and while Apple is also expected to announce a pair of AR-only glasses someday, they’re not as far along. When the headset does come out, it’s likely to shake up the wearable VR ecosystem. Today that space is largely dominated by Meta’s Oculus goggles. Meta has made a big fuss with its metaverse marketing, pitching us on a dazzling cyberpunk future. Still, Meta’s gone all-in on its AR and VR ambitions, all the while hemorrhaging $10 billion on its metaverse efforts. But when Apple releases a Thing, it’s usually a big deal. And this will be the first truly new Apple iThing since the Apple Watch. It certainly seems to be setting up a showdown between the mega consumer tech companies, with Apple and Meta going head-to-head to entice people to their VR visions. Maybe they can battle it out in Beatsaber. Here’s what else happened this week: Qualcomm Gets Some New Guts On Friday, the American tech giant announced some new chipsets that should soon be making their way into Android phones near you. The Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 is a modest boost to the Snapdragon 8 that you’ll find in many premium Android handsets now. Qualcomm says the “plus” version is 10 percent quicker than the old chip, and 30 percent more power-efficient. Qualcomm’s other new chip is the Snapdragon 7 Gen 1, a replacement for the Snapdragon 700 chips found in mid-tier phones. This time around, the chips will not be made by Samsung, Qualcomm's previous Snapdragon partner. Lego Your Laptop Framework, a company that builds laptops “that respect your right to repair,” has launched its second round of its ultra-repairable laptops. The computers are designed with tinkering in mind; they’re easy to customize, disassemble, and slot new parts into. The first batch of laptops ships out in July, though it seems those are all sold out now. Framework says its next shipment will go out this August. David Pierce at the Verge has a good story about how Framework’s hardware fits into the modular gadget movement. Speaking of repairability … RTR Bill Fails A right-to-repair bill in California died in a state senate committee on Thursday. If it had passed, the law would have become one of the first in the US to force device manufacturers to make their products more easily repairable by the people who buy them. The law would have required companies to offer repair manuals, parts, and tools for use on their devices. The advocacy group CALPIRG issued a statement blaming the bill’s failure on pressure from tech manufacturers. “SB 983 could have saved California households as much as $4.3 billion a year in reduced spending on electronics and helped Californians reduce toxic electronic waste,” CALPIRG advocate Sander Kushen said in the statement. “Instead, industry groups’ heavy lobbying effort helped to kill the bill.” Even More OK, Google The research firm Canalys published a report this week showing that Google is now the fifth-largest smartphone manufacturer in the US, behind Apple, Samsung, Lenovo, and TCL. Google has now captured 3 percent of the country's smartphone market. That doesn't sound huge, but as Android Police notes, it's almost quadruple the marketshare that Pixels had one year ago. Get Riding May is National Bike Month, so what better time to talk about cycling and ebikes? This week on the Gadget Lab podcast, WIRED reviews editor and bicycle expert Adrienne So joins the show to tell you how to get your wheels turning. https://www.wired.com/story/apple-ar-vr-glasses-get-closer-to-reality/

Voters in Bangkok, the capital of Thailand, headed to the polls Sunday to elect a new governor, in a contest whose results are likely to be seen as a barometer of the public mood ahead of an approaching general election. A record-high 31 candidates entered the race, but the battle being watched most closely is between two who registered as independents: former Transport Minister Chadchart Sittipunt, whom opinion polls have marked as the strong front-runner, and Asawin Kwanmuang, who served as the appointed governor since 2016 until stepping down in March this year to contest the race. The candidates campaigned on local issues, including congestion, pollution and persistent flooding. There are 4.4 million registered voters in the city, the country’s biggest. Its last gubernatorial election was in 2013. Neither the main opposition party in Parliament, Pheu Thai, nor the ruling Palang Pracharath party have candidates on the ballot. However, 55-year-old Chadchart, the charismatic independent front-runner, is seen by both supporters and opponents as a proxy for Pheu Thai, for which he stood as a prime ministerial candidate in the 2019 general election. He served as transport minister in a Pheu Thai government in 2012-2014. His main rival is 71-year-old Asawin, who was appointed governor in 2016 by Prayuth Chan-ocha. As army commander, Prayuth seized power in a 2014 coup to lead a military regime, and he dismissed the previous governor over corruption allegations. Prayuth was returned to office following the 2019 election as prime minister in a coalition government led by the pro-military Palang Pracharath. Like Chadchart, former senior policeman Asawin is standing as an independent, though he is very much seen as the government’s candidate, a stand-in for Palang Pracharath. Polls generally have had him running second. Suchatvee Suwansawat, 50, is standing as the candidate for the Democrat Party, and is seen as having an outside chance if conservative voters as a bloc support him instead of Asawin. The Democrats have historically been a power in Bangkok but have fractured badly in the past two decades of polarized politics that have seen street violence and two coups. Prime Minister Prayuth has been in power for eight years. He is expected soon to face a no-confidence motion in Parliament, and rivals on his own side have long been rumored to be seeking to remove him. Even if he survives, there must be a general election by the early part of next year. Prayuth was able to rule by decree as head of a military government but has struggled within the limits of parliamentary democracy, taking fire especially for fumbling Thailand’s coronavirus vaccination program and recovery plan. A fourth candidate whose results will be carefully watched is Wiroj Lakkhanaadisorn from the opposition Move Forward Party. His progressive party takes a more critical stance than Pheu Thai toward the government, but for that reason could siphon votes from Chadchart’s total, to Asawin’s benefit. https://apnews.com/article/2022-midterm-elections-bangkok-thailand-government-and-politics-83ebe4481f68dbe0ab12c62925602f22

There are many animals available for adoption at Burke County Animal Services, and shelter leaders want all the animals to find a loving fur-ever home. Trinity Johnson, shelter technician at animal services, helps that cause by highlighting animals from the shelter each week. This week, the shelter is highlighting two Dogs of the Week. “One of our dogs of the week is Peach, a 7-year-old lab mix female,” Johnson said. “Peach is a very well-mannered and laid back girl. She does great with everyone she meets but would prefer to have a home with no small children. She prefers her friends to be more slow paced, like herself. Despite Peach’s age, she is a pretty active girl and she enjoys going on walks and playing with toys. Peach would be so happy to find a place to call home. Please come meet Peach today!” The second Dog of the Week is Cocoa Bean. “Cocoa Bean is a 10-month-old wire-haired terrier,” Johnson said. “She is a smaller breed dog and is a beautiful girl that only weighs about 25 to 30 pounds. She is a bit shy at first, but once she gets to know you, she is such a loving and outgoing girl. Cocoa Bean does well with other animals, and she does great with new people when given time to warm up to them. She does great on a leash and loves to go on walks and play. Please come meet miss Cocoa Bean today. “We have many animals to choose from at Animal Services, we even have some animals whose adoption fees have been sponsored. Please stop by anytime during business hours to meet our pets.” All animals brought to animal services come from different backgrounds and are in different physical condition. The agency’s staff works to ensure all animals are taken care of while they’re in the shelter and in preparation to be adopted into their forever homes. In addition to this week’s pets of the week, there are many dogs and cats available for adoption at animal services. Animal services tries to take in as many animals as it can, and with the help of foster home volunteers it is able to care for more animals. There are different fees for those interested in adopting a dog or a cat from animal services. The adoption fee for any adult dog or puppy is $125. The adoption fee for any adult cat or kitten is $90. All animals come up-to-date on vaccines, flea control, and deworming, as well as being spayed and neutered. BCAS also has a need for people interested in fostering. Fosters are only required to give a copy of a valid ID with address and phone number and to sign their foster agreement. Fostering is free, and animal services provides all needed supplies, including litter boxes, litter and food and the same for dogs, the agency’s policy says. Crates are provided, if available. Foster parents are just asked to transport the animal either to vet appointments or back to the shelter for updated vaccines and deworming. For those who want to help shelter animals, or learn more about their personalities, they can participate in BCAS’s Dog Day Out Program daily. This program gives people a way to spend the day with a new furry friend, where they can pick any dog in the shelter and take them out on a walk, to the park, a playdate at home, or just a simple ride through a drive-thru for some treats. Our dogs greatly benefit from this program as they see it as a break from the shelter and they get to burn some energy. We also learn a lot about the personality of the dogs by doing this program which makes it much easier for us to adopt them out. Dogs Day Out can be done any day, Tuesday through Saturday, during business hours. https://morganton.com/news/local/pets-of-the-week-at-burke-county-animal-services/article_856e1704-d7b2-11ec-b82e-873013f0da90.html

1. Tories poised to torpedo unions after threat to bring country ‘to a standstill’ The Conservatives are threatening to launch a double-pronged attack against trade unions in an effort to break their stranglehold on the public. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, told The Telegraph that the Government was poised to draw up laws requiring minimum numbers of rail staff to work during a strike. The law would make any industrial action illegal if those levels were not met. 2. Civil service trying to 'erase women' with gender neutral language in new laws, ministers warn Ministers have accused civil servants of erasing women from new laws, as Downing Street prepares a crackdown on the spread of "militant wokery" in Whitehall. This week, the Government is expected to announce that it is rewriting guidance on drafting legislation to make clear that gender-neutral language should not replace terms such as "woman" and "mother". 3. ‘Amazing sports’ Charles and Camilla to make cameo in Eastenders Platinum Jubilee special They already have The Queen Vic. Soon, they will have a Prince and a Duchess too. The residents of Albert Square are to welcome the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall to a special episode of EastEnders, as they attend a Platinum Jubilee street party in honour of the Queen. Read the full story. 4. Australian election 2022: Labor's Anthony Albanese vows to end 'climate wars' after defeating Scott Morrison Anthony Albanese, Australia's new Labor prime minister, vowed to end the country's "climate wars" after he ousted Scott Morrison's conservative government on Saturday night. For the first time in nearly a decade, the Labor party will lead Australia after a general election that delivered a bruising defeat to Mr Morrison's Liberal-National coalition. Read the full story. 5. Tory windfall tax row widens as two more Cabinet ministers reject the policy Cabinet ministers have lined up to warn Rishi Sunak off plans for a windfall tax on energy firms, insisting the move would damage the economy and have unintended consequences. In a highly unusual display of public dissent, Brandon Lewis, the Northern Ireland Secretary, and Sajid Javid, the Health Secretary, became the fifth and sixth Cabinet members to speak out against the policy in the space of a week. https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2022/05/22/sunday-morning-uk-news-briefing-todays-top-headlines-telegraph/

Developer 24 Entertainment and publisher NetEase games unveiled the first gameplay trailer for the mobile port of Naraka: Bladepoint today during NetEase Connect 2022. The port was initially announced last year, but this is the first chance we've had to see the game in action on mobile. The mobile port promises to deliver the same graphical fidelity and gameplay as the PC version, which is certainly an ambitious claim. Regardless of how it looks and plays, the developers have spent time rebuilding the battle royale from the ground up to make sure it's suitable for mobile. That means tweaks to the controls, UI and camera to ensure it feels at home on a handheld device. Details on the mobile gameplay weren't the only Naraka: Bladepoint news today, though. It was also revealed that the new character, Takeda Nobutada, The Demon Vessel, will be available from tomorrow, May 21st. He is the mentor of Kurumi and serves as a home for the demon Furen, a creature capable of dishing out a lot of damage. Naraka: Bladepoint interview: Ray Kwan discusses bringing the battle royale to mobile Using the Demonic Aid skill, you can unleash Furen upon your enemies where the demon will push them back, strike them or teleport Takeda closer to them so he can land a powerful blow. Meanwhile, with the Mythic Grab ability, Takeda will enter a state of heightened alertness, allowing him to counter-attack any enemy that foolishly tries to attack him. Naraka: Bladepoint will be heading to iOS and Android at some stage in the future, though there isn't a set release date at the moment. In the meantime, you can check out the game's official website to register your interest. https://www.pocketgamer.com/naraka-bladepoint/mobile-gameplay-netease-connects-2022/

NASA's 45-year-old Voyager 1 spacecraft is a marvel. It's cruising along outside our solar system and still staying in touch with Earth. But it's presented its team with what NASA is calling a "mystery." It's operating normally but sending back some odd telemetry data. The issue likely traces to Voyager 1's attitude articulation and control system (AACS), which handles its orientation in space, including the task of keeping its antenna pointed at Earth "All signs suggest the AACS is still working, but the telemetry data it's returning is invalid. For instance, the data may appear to be randomly generated, or does not reflect any possible state the AACS could be in," NASA's Jet Propulsion Lab said in a statement Wednesday. The data isn't making sense, but Voyager 1 is maintaining a clear line of communication with home and the problem hasn't triggered a protective "safe mode." Voyagers explore interstellar space NASA's Voyager 1 Detects Faint, Monotone Hum Beyond Our Solar System NASA Voyager 2 Enters Interstellar Space After Years of Cosmic Sightseeing The twin spacecraft Voyager 1 and Voyager 2 launched in the 1970s and have long outlasted their expected lifespans. They're both in interstellar space, which Voyager 1 and 2 project manager Suzanne Dodd describes as a "high-radiation environment that no spacecraft have flown in before." Voyager 1 is roughly 14.5 billion miles (23.3 billion kilometers) away from home. It takes a couple days to send a signal and then hear back, which adds to the challenge of understanding what's going on. This leaves NASA with a whole lot of unknowns. Is the AACS the culprit or is another system experiencing a glitch? Will Voyager 1 be able to continue its science mission? There are ways forward from this glitch. Voyager 1 may just live with it. Or a software fix or a switch to backup hardware could be the solution. NASA hopes both Voyagers will continue to send back science data beyond 2025. Said Dodd, "A mystery like this is sort of par for the course at this stage of the Voyager mission." https://www.cnet.com/science/space/nasa-voyager-1-space-probe-from-the-70s-afflicted-by-mysterious-glitch/