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For millennia, people across the globe have reported alarmed animal behaviour in the run-up to natural disasters. Could these signals be used to warn us of impending catastrophes? In 2004, a tsunami triggered by a 9.1 magnitude undersea quake off Indonesia decimated coastal communities around the Indian Ocean, killing at least 225,000 people across a dozen countries. The huge death toll was in part caused by the fact that many communities received no warning. Local manmade early warning systems, such as tidal and earthquake sensors, failed to raise any clear alert. Many sensors were out of action due to maintenance issues, while many coastal areas lacked any tsunami siren warning systems. Haphazard communication also failed to provide warnings, with many text messages failing to reach mobiles in threatened areas or going unread. Yet in the minutes and hours before surging walls of water up to 9m (30ft) high smashed through coastlines, some animals seemed to sense impending peril and make efforts to flee. According to eyewitness accounts, elephants ran for higher ground, flamingos abandoned low-lying nesting areas, and dogs refused to go outdoors. In the coastal village of Bang Koey in Thailand, locals reported a herd of buffalo by the beach suddenly pricking their ears, gazing out to sea, then stampeding to the top of a nearby hill a few minutes before the tsunami struck. "Survivors also reported seeing animals, such as cows, goats, cats and birds, deliberately moving inland shortly after the earthquake and before the tsunami came," says Irina Rafliana, previously part of an advisory group for the United Nations International Strategy for Disaster Risk (UNISDR) and now a researcher at the German Development Institute in Bonn. "Many of those who survived ran along with these animals or immediately after." According to eyewitness accounts, elephants ran for higher ground ahead of the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (Credit: CHAIDEER MAHYUDDIN/Getty) Rafliana recounts similar stories tied to her field work around other disasters, such as the 2010 tsunami generated by a subsea quake near Sumatra, which killed nearly 500 people on the Mentawai Islands. Here too, however, some animals, such as elephants, were reported to have responded as if possessing some kind of early knowledge of the event. Just days ago, a newly re-released turtle made a sudden U-turn two days before January's volcanic eruption in Tonga. You might also like: The rhino that became an icon for peace The far-reaching benefits of tiger sharks for climate The hidden bustling world of hedgerows Early warning systems do not exist in many areas struck regularly by natural disasters. In 2017, the World Meterological Organisation found that the governments of around 100 countries still lack early warning systems for natural disasters to which they were prone. But these accounts about animal behaviour before disasters have prompted some researchers to devote serious scientific attention to the theory that animals may have inbuilt systems which alert them to impending natural disasters. It raises an intriguing question – could animals provide natural early warning systems for humans? Survivors also reported seeing animals, such as cows, goats, cats and birds, deliberately moving inland shortly after the earthquake and before the tsunami came – Irina Rafliana The earliest recorded reference to unusual animal behaviour prior to a natural disaster dates back to 373 BC, when the Greek historian Thucydides reported rats, dogs, snakes and weasels deserting the city of Helice in the days before a catastrophic earthquake. Other reports dot history. Minutes before the Naples quake of 1805, oxen, sheep, dogs and geese supposedly started making alarm calls in unison, while horses were said to have run off in panic just prior to the San Francisco earthquake of 1906. Even with advanced technology it can be difficult to detect many kinds of impending natural disasters. In the case of earthquakes, for example, seismic sensors lurch into jolted squiggles only as the earth-juddering shocks are actually happening. Making reliable predictions requires precursor signals – and, as yet, scientists haven't found any signals that seem to occur consistently before big quakes. Hence the growing willingness of some scientists to consider more unorthodox warning signals – such as animal behaviour. "Even with all the technology available today, we are not able to properly predict earthquakes or most natural catastrophes," says Charlotte Francesiaz, leader of an ornithological team at the French Biodiversity Office (OFB), and part of the Kivi Kuaka project, which is examining how migratory birds crossing the Pacific seem able to dodge storms and other hazards. More info: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20220211-the-animals-that-predict-disasters

For safety, Kia Carens will come get six airbags, ABS, EBD, hill-start control, downhill-brake control, vehicle stability management, tyre pressure monitoring system, reverse parking sensors, disc brakes, and electronic stability control as standard. Kia Carens' price in India will finally be announced later today. Keeping with the Times Drive tradition, we are here to discuss our expectations, i.e. what we think Kia Carens' price will be. But before we get to that, let us first take a quick look at what we know about this upcoming car in India. Officially designated as a recreational vehicle, Kia Carens is essentially a people-carrier that is underpinned by the same platform as the Kia Seltos SUV in India. It comes sporting a modern design rounded off by elements such as swept-back LED headlamps, LED DRLs, chiselled front bumper, sleek grille, chrome inserts, faux skid plate, dual-tone alloy wheels, and split LED tail lights among other things. The three-row vehicle will be offered in six- and seven-seater options and across five variants, namely, Premium, Prestige, Prestige Plus, Luxury and Luxury Plus. The list of this upcoming Kia car's features will include automatic AC, ventilated seats, sunroof, dedicated AC vents for the second and third-row passengers, electric double folding second-row seats, etc. For entertainment, the automaker will offer provisions such as a 10.25-inch touchscreen system, a connected car system, fully digital instrument cluster, Bose sound system, etc. For safety, Kia Carens will come get six airbags, ABS, EBD, hill-start control, downhill-brake control, vehicle stability management, tyre pressure monitoring system, reverse parking sensors, disc brakes, and electronic stability control as standard. However, the top-end variants will also get front parking sensors, reversing camera, and rain-sensing wipers. Kia Carens will be offered with the option of two petrol engines and a diesel engine; one will be a 1.5-litre naturally-aspirated petrol motor that generates 113 bhp and 144 Nm and comes paired to a six-speed manual gearbox. The other petrol engine is a 1.4-litre turbocharged unit which belts out 138 bhp with 242 Nm and will be available with a choice between a six-speed manual gearbox and a seven-speed DCT transmission. The 1.5-litre diesel engine makes 113 bhp with 250 Nm and will be offered with a choice between a six-speed manual gearbox or a six-speed torque-converter automatic transmission. Kia Carens price (expected) Now, the main detail which we came here to discuss: considering everything, we reckon Kia Carens will be launched at an intrdocutory price ranging between ₹16 lakh and ₹21 lakh (all ex-showroom). https://www.timesnownews.com/auto/car-news/article/kia-carens-india-launch-today-price-expectations/858857

Slap Day 2022: Most people only know about Valentine’s Week, which begins on February 7 with Rose Day and ends on February 14 with Valentine’s Day. These seven days are spent by cupid-stricken couples all over the world gushing over their partners. Vows of eternal togetherness are taken and gifts are exchanged during these seven days. However, Valentine’s week culminates in Anti-Valentine’s week which is cherished by folks who haven’t had much experience with finding their love the whole Valentine’s week. Surprisingly, a large number of people across the world look forward to this Anti-Valentine week. The Anti-Valentine Week begins with Slap Day. When is Slap Day? Slap Day marks the beginning of Anti-Valentine’s week. Slap Day is celebrated on February 15. This day is for you if you dislike the concept of Valentine’s Day or have experienced heartbreak. If you have been on the receiving side of the pangs of unrequited love or had your precious heartbroken by someone, then Slap Day is for you. Do not ‘literally’ Slap anyone Slap Day is extremely po[CENSORED]r among youngsters. If you have been uber-bored by seeing the stories/ statuses of your friends going all gooey about their partners, Slap Day comes as a respite for you as it enables one to indulge in a few frolics after a week-long mushiness. But it’s all fun and games until individuals start acting violently, putting to work the literal meaning of Slap Day. Slap Day is not meant for slapping each other. This day should be spent in a playful spirit. What to do on Slap Day Smack all the feelings of loneliness that have wrapped you. Slap open new horizons for your life. If you have been heartbroken and have pained yourself enough by reminiscing the days with your ex, Slap Day is a reminder for you to move on. Go out and meet friends and have a hearty laugh and slap negativity on its face. Slap Day is a day for you to slap all the connections with a toxic person and detox your life. Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Assembly Elections Live Updates here. https://www.msn.com/en-in/lifestyle/topstories/slap-day-2022-today-all-you-need-to-know-about-the-first-day-of-anti-valentines-week/ar-AATOmu5?ocid=BingNewsSearch

Defendant had four beers and four shots, police say OAKLAND — The Alameda County District Attorney’s office has filed manslaughter and drunk driving charges against the man who allegedly struck and killed former KTVU news director Fred Zehnder in a cross walk in Alameda. Michael Williams, 31, of Hayward, was charged last November with felony vehicular manslaughter while intoxicated. He posted bail in December, and was scheduled for an arraignment hearing Monday, court records show. Williams allegedly struck 87-year-old Zehnder with his truck about 10 p.m. on June 27, 2021 on the 2200 block of Lincoln Avenue in Alameda. Police said at the time Williams stayed at the scene and dialed 9-1-1. In court records, police said Williams refused field sobriety tests, but investigators determined he’d been at a local bar that night, where he’d been served four beers and four shots of whisky over a three-hour stay. Williams had the keys to his truck in his pocket, police said in court papers. A native of Lakeport and graduate of Humboldt State University, Zehnder worked for 21 years at KTVU until his retirement in 1999. During his run at the Oakland-based station, Channel 2 was honored with numerous journalism awards and “The Ten O’Clock News” became the top-rated newscast in the Bay Area market, easily outpacing its rivals. After leaving KTVU, Zehnder stayed attached to local journalism as the founder of the San Leandro Times and owner of the Castro Valley Forum. Correspondent Chuck Barney contributed to this report. https://www.mercurynews.com/2022/02/14/da-charges-man-who-allegedly-killed-ktvu-news-director-fred-zehnder-in-dui-crash/

If you haven’t yet bought a gift for your loved one this Valentine’s Day, here’s your chance to quickly pick a gadget at the best discount. With the COVID-19 pandemic curbs compelling us to become tech savvy, gizmos have become a way of life. Though not the most romantic of gifts smartphones, earbuds and other wearables are useful and should win over your partner. Here’s a look at some unheard-of deals and offers on a range of cool OnePlus, Garmin and Huawei gadgets. OnePlus 9RT Buyers can avail Rs 4,000 discount on the latest OnePlus model in India -- the OnePlus 9RT. The offer is available to Axis Bank and ICICI credit card as well as debit card holders on the OnePlus India’s website, Amazon.in and OnePlus’ offline stores. Those using American Express cards can get a 10 percent cashback on the phone. On exchange of old iPhones or Android phones, buyers can also get up to Rs 3,000 exchange bonus. The price of the OnePlus 9RT 5G (8GB RAM, 128GB Storage) on Amazon is Rs 42,999.00. Also read: Happy Valentine’s Day 2022: Wishes and quotes to send to your partner OnePlus Nord 2 Pac-Man Edition Equipped with impressive specifications, the OnePlus Nord 2 Pac Man Edition (12GB RAM, 256GB storage) is priced at Rs 37,999 on Amazon. Buyers can avail up to Rs 5,000 discount by using Axis Bank credit or debit card EMIs. The offer is available on Amazon.in, OnePlus India website and OnePlus Experience stores. OnePlus Buds Pro Those looking for gifts below Rs 10,000 can buy the OnePlus Buds Pro. Although the product is priced at Rs 9,999, buyers can get it for Rs 8,999 if they buy using the EMI option on Axis Bank debit or credit cards. Cardholders of American Express can avail a 5 percent cashback. The offer is available on Amazon, OnePlus Website and offline partner stores till February 28. Garmin watches Watchmaker Garmin is giving Rs 5,000 discount on two smart watches -- the Garmin Venu 2 and Venu 2S – which are both available at Rs 36,990 against the price tag of Rs 41,990. Huawei Band 6 Huawei is giving a Rs 1,000 discount on Huawei Band 6, which does Spo2 and heart rate monitoring throughout the day. The fitness tracker is priced at Rs 4,990. https://www.msn.com/en-in/money/news/valentine-s-day-here-are-some-offers-and-deals-on-smart-gadgets-you-cant-ignore/ar-AATPliL?ocid=BingNewsSearch

Background tasks and light workloads can be run on the E-cores The Linux 5.18 kernel is adding support this spring for the Intel Hardware Feedback Interface to make better decisions about where to place given work among available CPU cores/threads. According to Phoronix Intel's Alder Lake CPUs will be the first hybrid x86-64 processors which run two separate CPU architectures on the same die. Golden Cove "performance cores" (or P-cores) feature Intel's latest high-performance desktop CPU architecture, and they are fast. Meanwhile, the Gracemont "efficiency cores" (or E-cores) are so small that four of them, along with 2MB of shared L2 cache, can nearly fit in the same space as a single Golden Cove core. They're slower than the Golden Cove cores, but more efficient. The idea is that background tasks and light workloads can be run on the E-cores, saving power, while latency-sensitive and compute-intensive tasks can be run on the faster P-cores. Linux was not aware of the unusual configuration of Alder Lake CPUs and did not run it. In Linux 5.18, slated for release this spring. Linux 5.18 is bringing support for the Intel Enhanced Hardware Feedback Interface, or EHFI. This is essentially the crux of Intel's "Thread Director," which is an intelligent, low-latency hardware-assisted scheduler. https://www.fudzilla.com/news/pc-hardware/54369-linux-kernel-will-support-intel-hardware-feedback

2Crowd's Grid® Report for Winter 2022 recognizes Intland Software's codebeamer as a leader among both Requirements Management tools and Application Lifecycle Management suites for highest customer satisfaction in both the enterprise and the mid-market segments. codebeamer has also been recognized as a Best Software in Development Products. Customers Rank Intland Software a Leader in ALM and Requirements Management Software in G2 Winter 20 STUTTGART, Germany, Feb. 14, 2022 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intland Software, provider of the market-leading ALM platform codebeamer, announced its recognition as a Leader on software and service review site G2Crowd. Based on user reviews, G2Crowd's recently released Winter 2022 Grid® Reports for ALM Software Suites and for Requirements Management Tools both rank codebeamer as a Leader in the Mid-Market as well as the Enterprise segments. codebeamer also made it on G2's Top 50 Best Software list, gaining recognition among Development Products such as Jenkins, GitLab, Jira, Azure Pipelines, Visual Studio, and others. "We greatly appreciate codebeamer's recognition by users and, based on their feedback, by G2Crowd. It's reassuring to see our efforts to help drive customer success recognized by those that actually interact with our products day to day. We're especially grateful for being worthy of G2's Users Love Us badge, adding the cherry on top of this prized recognition!" said Intland's Head of Marketing Gabor Engel. "Let me thank all those providing their honest feedback, and let me also encourage all our other users to share their experiences with our products - as evidenced by these reports, your input really helps other users!" Used by over 5 million buyers monthly, G2Crowd is among the largest review platforms that hosts over 1,5 million authentic reviews to help its users make better technology decisions. Excellent user feedback had G2Crowd distinguish Intland's platform in multiple categories. codebeamer was endorsed for: Easiest To Use (ALM Suites | Enterprise): Awarded to the Easiest to Use product in the category Best Usability (Requirements Management | Enterprise): For the product offering the Best Usability in its category Leader (ALM Suites | Global): Based on outstanding user reviews, rated highly by G2 users Leader (Requirements Management | Global): Based on outstanding user reviews, rated highly by G2 users Easiest Setup (ALM Suites | Enterprise): Awarded to the product that is easiest to set up compared to other competitors in its category Easiest Setup (Requirements Management | Enterprise): Awarded to the product that is easiest to set up compared to other competitors in its category Users Love Us (General | Global): Awarded to products that consistently receive positive reviews Learn more about Intland Software at https://intland.com. https://ca.finance.yahoo.com/news/customers-rank-intland-software-leader-151700314.html

Former Governor of Ekiti State, Chief Segun Oni, has denied joining the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) to contest the June 18 governorship election, describing the report as an absolute falsehood. The former governor recently resigned his membership of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) after coming second in the primary of the party held on January 26, 2022, which he alleged was massively rigged in favour of Bisi Kolawole. Oni said that the story that he had joined APGA, as well as pulling out of the party again, was just part of the orchestrated blackmail put together by those whom he said are being haunted by his aspiration. This was contained in a statement by the Director of Media and Publicity, Segun Oni Movements, Mr. Jackson Adebayo, which was made available to journalists at the weekend in Ado-Ekiti. Oni stated that many political parties had approached him to fly their flags in June 18 election but that he didn’t agree to join any due to his ongoing wide consultations. He stated further that some stakeholders in Ekiti project did approached him to contest on APGA’s platform, but that he declined, arguing that the people of Ekiti State would come up with a party they love before the close of the substitution window. “It is laughable reading on social media that Segun Oni is leaving APGA that he has never joined before; or how can you resign from an association you never belong. “What they wanted to achieve with such a blackmail has however backfired, as the people of the state refused to buy into their shenanigans. “As it stands today, the only person that the people could trust with the governance of the state is Segun Oni as evidently displayed at every nook and cranny of the state,” the statement stated. He added that the Movements would not be bothered by the distractions in the build up to the election, saying: “We will not be bothered as we are too focused than to be distracted by writings put together to cause confusions.” https://guardian.ng/politics/oni-denies-joining-apga-blames-political-foes-for-fake-news/

The video of West Ham footballer Kurt Zouma kicking and slapping one of his cats prompted outrage when it was posted online. But ISPCA chief inspector Conor Dowling says a failure to provide appropriate care for an animal can cause as much pain and distress as physical abuse The ISPCA (Irish Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) was shocked and appalled at the treatment of a cat depicted in a video widely circulated online earlier this week. We welcome the prompt action of the RSPCA and Essex Police and the facts the cats in question are now safe. The footage is distressing to watch and shows treatment of an animal that has no place in the modern world. The expressions of revulsion from the general public and within the footballing community clearly demonstrate the views of society on this kind of behaviour both here and in the UK. The impact of violence on animals is not confined to physical pain, it can cause long-lasting mental distress, and it is that psychiatric trauma that can take the longest time to heal. All adults, especially those in the public eye and considered to be role models, have a responsibility to set an example to the younger generation. What was particularly disturbing about this incident is that there was a child present to witness the abuse first-hand. Thankfully it has been the experience of the ISPCA that malicious or wanton acts of violence towards animals are comparatively rare. Of the approximately 3,500 reports logged by the ISPCA National Animal Cruelty Helpline annually, only a very small proportion relate to incidents involving the deliberate infliction of pain on animals. And, of the over 1,100 animals taken into care by ISPCA inspectors in 2021, relatively few were the victims of violent physical abuse. While violent cruelty may be more shocking to us, the suffering caused to those hundreds of animals rescued by our inspectors that were caused suffering through neglect should not be underestimated. People often distinguish between “cruelty” and “neglect” but a failure to provide appropriate care for an animal can cause equally as much pain and distress as physical abuse. And the suffering endured can last much longer. More Info: https://www.irishexaminer.com/opinion/commentanalysis/arid-40806645.html

Inspired by the increasing consumer demand for electric vehicles more and more automotive manufacturers are starting to reveal their future plans and products in the electric mobility segment to stay relevant in today’s time. Amongst these automakers, the most recent name belongs to the po[CENSORED]r Austrian motorcycle producer KTM, which recently revealed that they are working on the development of an all-electric bike which could be named the E-Duke. The Austrian automaker which is owned by Pierer Mobility AG & Bajaj Auto International also divulged that the upcoming EV motorcycle E-Duke will be powered by a 10kW motor and feature a 5.5kWh battery pack. Additionally, it is expected that the E-Duke will be based on KTM’s Swedish counterpart Husqvarna’s E-Pilen – a concept bike shown last year which will turn into a production bike of its own. According to media reports, the KTM E-Duke will be sharing a majority of underpinnings, internals and powertrain components with the Husqvarna E-Pilen. With its 10kW motor, KTM’s all-electric bike is expected to outperform the country’s current most powerful electric motorcycle Tork Kratos R which features a 9kW motor. Subsequently, when compared to petrol-powered motorcycles, the E-Duke is expected to be comparable to the KTM 125 Duke, which produces 11kW (14.5hp). As for the battery pack, the E-Duke will be featuring a class-leading 5.5 kWh fixed battery pack. This offered capacity from the Austrian brand is sure to triumph over the capacities of vehicles like the Tork Kratos R that will come with a 4kWh battery pack, Simple One with 4.8kWh battery and also the Ola S1 Pro’s 3.97kWh battery pack. As of now, there have been no sightings of the upcoming E-Duke in the country and the launch dates for the electric motorcycle from the Austrian bikemaker are also yet to be revealed. Furthermore, the company has also refrained from disclosing any design details of the vehicle, but we can expect the similar sharp and aggressive design language of KTM to be featured in the forthcoming E-Duke. In addition to this news, it was also recently revealed by Bajaj Auto International and KTM that they are working on the co-development of an electric platform, which will underpin two-wheelers with outputs ranging from 3kW to 10kW. This new venture which will mainly focus on the development of electric scooters could also help Bajaj in launching an all-electric bike based on the E-Duke, as it has done in the past. It is also expected that if the E-Duke and E-Pilen make their way into the Indian subcontinent then they will be manufacturered at the Bajaj Auto’s new production facility in Akurdi, Maharashtra which the company has set up with an investment of over Rs 300 crore. https://www.cartoq.com/electric-ktm-duke-motorcycle-soon-may-be-made-in-india/

Valentine’s Day 2022: Today is the day of love, Valentine’s Day. It falls on February 14 and is also known as St Valentine’s Day or the Feast of Saint Valentine. The day is an annual festival to celebrate love, friendship, and admiration. The day turns the whole world red. Every year, love birds all across the world express their feelings to their special someone by giving them a variety of gifts and sending them messages of love and affection. Before February 14, a whole week starting from February 7 is devoted to different days such as Teddy Day, Rose Day, Chocolate Day, and others to keep the spirit of love going. Why is it celebrated? Valentine’s Day is celebrated in honour of the 3rd century Roman saint, Saint Valentine. Because of later folk traditions, it has become a crucial cultural, religious, and commercial celebration of romance and love in many parts of the globe. History and significance Due to its resemblance, it has been advocated that the special day of love has origins in the Roman festival of Lupercalia, held in mid-February. At the end of the 5th century, Pope Gelasius put an end to the celebration of Lupercalia and is sometimes credited with replacing it with St. Valentine’s Day, but the true origin of the holiday is unclear at best. As per Britannica, the day may have taken its name from the priest named Valentine who was martyred around 270 CE by the emperor Claudius II Gothicus because he was secretly helping Christian couples get married to spare husbands from war. The emperor didn’t have faith in marriages and believed that single men were better off soldiers. And it is because of this that his feast day is associated with love. Significantly, it became associated with romantic love in the 14th and 15th centuries. In 18th century England, the day became the occasion in which couples expressed their emotions of love by giving flowers, confectionery, and greeting cards to their partners. https://www.msn.com/en-in/lifestyle/other/valentine-s-day-2022-today-history-significance-and-why-do-we-celebrate-the-day-of-love/ar-AATMFtW?ocid=BingNewsSearch

During an interview on Sunday, ABC News host George Stephanopoulos grilled Senator Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, about Donald Trump, and recent criticism he received from the former president. On February 1, Trump called Graham a "RINO," or "Republican in name only" after the senator criticized the idea of pardoning convicted January 6 rioters, which Trump floated during a rally in Texas last month. During an interview with CBS, Graham called the idea "inappropriate." "I don't want to reinforce that defiling the Capitol was OK," he said. "I don't want to do anything that would make this more likely in the future." After being asked about Graham's response on Newsmax, Trump said, "Well, Lindsey Graham's wrong. I mean, Lindsey's a nice guy, but he's a RINO. Lindsey's wrong." Stephanopoulos asked Graham where "things stand" with him and Trump, and whether he supports "his comeback in 2024." The Republican responded by saying that the GOP presidential nomination is Trump's "for the taking" calling Trump "the most consequential Republican in the Republican Party today." However, Graham said Trump shouldn't focus on the outcome of the 2020 race. The former president has continued to baselessly claim that widespread fraud took place during the last presidential election. Graham said he thinks Trump has a "great chance of being president again in 2024 if he'll start comparing what he did as president versus what's going on now and how to fix the mess we're in." "If he looks backward, I think he's hurting his chances," he said. Stephanopoulos later asked, "[Trump] doesn't really show any signs of changing. He continues to lie about the 2020 election, a couple of weeks ago he talked about pardoning the January 6 rioters. He called you a RINO...because you disagreed with that. There's no evidence that the president is going to change." "For the president to win in 2024, he's got to talk about the future. He's got to talk about how to fix our broken border, how to fix the damage done through the Biden economic agenda...I do believe if he talked about what he's capable of doing, and remind people of what you did in the past, he has a chance to come back," the senator said. Graham added that if Trump "continues to talk about the 2020 election, I think it hurts his cause and quite frankly, it hurts the Republican party." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/abc-news-host-confronts-lindsey-graham-over-trump-calling-him-a-rino/ar-AATNZOR?ocid=BingNewsSearch

Happy Birthday!

Cities: Skylines players have been warned to check what mods they use after several of them were found to have contained malware. After installation, the mods – which brand off a "redesigned" version of Harmony – are essentially trojans and have seemingly been written to intentionally slow down machines that attempt to use any other mods other than the affected ones. "Malicious code has been found in mods published by an author using the names Holy Water and Chaos," warns a post pinned to the top of the Cities: Skylines subreddit. "These mods have been "forks" (modified and reuploaded versions) of po[CENSORED]r mods from well-known creators (e.g. Harmony, Network Extensions, Traffic Manager: President Edition). Several (but not all) of these mods have been removed from the Steam Workshop and the author's account is currently suspended. "We recommend in the strongest possible terms that you unsubscribe from all items published by this author and do not subscribe, download, or install any mods, from any source, that may be published by this individual in future." "Users install Harmony (redesigned) for a particular reason, suddenly they get errors in po[CENSORED]r mods," explains a subreddit moderator, who would only talk to NME under the condition of anonymity, as the mod author – known as Chaos – has previously doxxed them. "The solution provided is to use his versions," they go on to explain. "Those versions gain traction and users, and people come across them instead of the originals… and see Harmony (redesigned) marked as a dependency. Users install Harmony (redesigned) with the [automatic updating code] bundled with it. Suddenly you have tens of thousands of users who have effectively installed a trojan on their computer. “Chaos can then remotely deploy any code he chooses to users simply by releasing updated code on his GitHub," the anonymous moderator added. "There is no validation by Steam, GitHub, or any third party. It’s a direct link from Chaos’ brain to users’ computers. If users run the game as [an] administrator for any reason, this could expose them to keyloggers, viruses, bitcoin mining software – literally anything." As the moderator explained, Valve has now banned the user concerned as well as the infected mods, but some players remain concerned that the Steam Workshop's security measures are such that they may easily return under a different name. Quick PSA before you go: if you have been subscribed to Network Extensions 3, unsubscribing from this mod can apparently break your save game because it will remove roads from your city. The team has, however, provided a workaround - check out the subreddit for the full details. Looking for something new to get stuck into? Here are the best PC games right now. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/technology/cities-skylines-pc-mods-have-been-targeted-by-hackers/ar-AATMwk7?ocid=BingNewsSearch

Today 1 Ex Staff, 1 Manager CS 1.6 & 1 Girl have their birthday, I wish you @- !el Catire *O*& @derazh & @*-*Jasmina*-* a wonderful day with your family and friends. Stay Blessed.

Samsung unveiled the Galaxy S22 series on Wednesday, confirming everything we thought we knew about the handsets. The Galaxy S22 Ultra has become the new Note, as Samsung retired the Galaxy Note brand. In other words, the Galaxy S22 event did not have any big surprises to reveal if you kept up with the leaks that preceded the Unpacked press conference. But Samsung did deliver one surprise that will cater to a particular type of Galaxy S22 buyer: Cryptocurrency enthusiasts. The Galaxy S22 phones come with a brand new Samsung Wallet preinstalled that does everything you’d expect from a digital wallet on a smartphone. But, unlike the iPhone’s Wallet app, Samsung Wallet will support crypto transactions involving bitcoin and other digital tokens. More Amazon Deals from BGR Super Bowl TV deals 2022: Best deals on TVs & streaming sticks 5 air fryer cookbooks that Amazon shoppers are obsessed with Best dash cams in 2022: See what’s happening outside your car Don't Miss: 10 deals you need to see on Saturday: IHOP gift card, $98 AirPods, 99¢ Amazon smart plug, more Samsung’s interest in bringing cryptocurrency support to its smartphones did not start with the Galaxy S22. It’s a feature that’s already available on Galaxy devices. It began a few years ago with the Galaxy S10’s Samsung Blockchain Wallet. Last May, Samsung added support for hardware wallets to its Blockchain Wallet. That was right around the time bitcoin reached a new all-time high in the crypto frenzy of spring 2021. Separately, Apple confirmed it has been paying attention to the cryptocurrency landscape. But the iPhone maker has yet to commit to bringing bitcoin support to its Wallet app on iOS. On the same note, we have Google expanding the Google Pay ecosystem to support cryptocurrencies. But Google hasn’t delivered the kind of support that Samsung Wallet will have on the Galaxy S22 handsets. How cryptocurrency works on the Galaxy S22 Samsung hasn’t actually explained what the new Samsung Wallet can do on the Galaxy S22 in terms of cryptocurrency transactions. What is certain so far is that Samsung unveiled a brand new Wallet during the Unpacked event earlier this week. Here’s how Samsung framed it all in less than 30 seconds during the Wallet segment of the presentation: Our all-new Samsung Wallet will carry your digital valuables in one convenient, and secure place. You will be able to store your IDs, credit cards, passwords, keys, and even your boarding passes. So you not only have to carry less, but you can access them anywhere. Samsung Wallet will also let you access and explore complex digital products, like cryptocurrency, with more ease too. If any of that sounds similar, that’s because we already have this functionality on the iPhone. Apple’s Wallet app handles many of the digital valuables that Samsung lists. That includes credit cards, boarding passes, transit cards, tickets, rewards/loyalty cards, digital keys (car, home, hotel, or office), vaccination records, and digital IDs (where available). The iPhone Wallet does not store passwords, though iOS does have a separate password manager of sorts thanks to Keychain. Apple Wallet does not store cryptocurrency either. That’s where the Galaxy S22’s Samsung Wallet app stands out. It’s certainly the kind of development that bitcoin and crypto enthusiasts will appreciate. Using the Samsung Wallet on Galaxy S22 to make crypto transactions could be a nice addition to the phone. However, we don’t know how it works or which cryptocurrencies the Samsung Wallet will support. What do we know so far? Samsung’s Galaxy S22 press release doesn’t even mention cryptocurrency support. The word cryptocurrency doesn’t appear once. But it does say that the Samsung Knox security suite can protect your blockchain keys. Whether it’s the Samsung Blockchain Wallet or the new Samsung Wallet on the Galaxy S22, Samsung is serious about user data privacy and security. The Galaxy S22 Unpacked segment that followed the Wallet announcement covered those issues. The Samsung Knox platform will safeguard the contents of the Samsung Wallet. Knox has its own secure processor and memory, which isolate all sensitive data from the phone’s operating system. Also, you’ll have to use your fingerprint or a PIN to authorize any access to sensitive information in the secure enclave. With that in mind, the cryptocurrency management on the Galaxy S22 should be quite secure. What we need now is for Samsung to explain what sort of cryptocurrency features the Galaxy S22 will support. And to expand Samsung Wallet to more Android devices, not just the flagships. The post Galaxy S22 has a built-in cryptocurrency wallet appeared first on BGR. Click here to read the full article: https://www.msn.com/en-us/lifestyle/shopping/galaxy-s22-has-a-built-in-cryptocurrency-wallet/ar-AATMc87?ocid=BingNewsSearch

NEW YORK (AP) Apple said Tuesday it is expanding the iPhone's capabilities to accept contactless payments, making it easier for merchants to conduct tap-to-pay transactions without having to buy additional hardware. It will also give Apple a competitive edge in the growing world of contactless payments, in which the iPhone, as well as Apple Pay, play a dominant role by effectively turning the iPhone into a point-of-sale terminal. The iPhone has been used as a contactless way to pay for goods and services since Apple Pay launched in 2014. But it required merchants to have their own point-of-sale hardware in order to accept contactless payments. Shares of payment platform company Block, formerly known as Square Inc. with its well-known iPhone dongle used to accept payments, fell more than 1% on Tuesday after Apple's announcement. Those devices ranged in price from $50 for contactless payment device that sat next to a cash register, to devices that cost hundreds of dollars and would allow an employee or shop owner to accept payments anywhere in a store or restaurant. The cheaper devices often have to be kept charged and paired to an existing point-of-sale system, which can be frustrating when they fail. Because of the cost, often only large retailers would have mobile tap-to-pay devices. Apple's own retail employees have used a device bolted onto an iPhone to accept contactless payments in its stores, for example. "Oftentimes our contactless reader has issues or is finicky so it'll be great to offer this new way to pay as a backup and not have to buy new hardware to do it," said Mimi Striplin, owner of The Tiny Tassel, jewelry store in Charleston, South Carolina. Now the iPhone will be able to act as a payment terminal itself, without any additional hardware, Apple said. The tap-to-pay feature will use the iPhone's existing NFC chip that was being used to transmit payments down to a payment terminal. It will be available to developers via an iOS software update this spring. It will be up to developers and payment-services companies to add the capability to their point-of-sale software. Stripe will be the first point-of-sale company to use the iPhone as a tap-to-pay payment terminal through its Shopify app, Apple said. Contactless, or tap-to-pay, payment systems have long been po[CENSORED]r outside the U.S. as the default way of paying for goods and services. But tap-to-pay has grown in po[CENSORED]rity in the U.S. in recent years, particularly during the pandemic when customers and merchants wanted to avoid as much physical interaction with cash and cards as possible. Google and Samsung have unveiled Android devices that would allow merchants to use those devices as contactless payment terminals as well, but those announcements have been largely aimed at outside the U.S., where contactless payment habits are already well established. The new iPhone feature is aimed at the U.S., a much more lucrative market where contactless payments are still growing. The feature will only be available on iPhones XS or later, Apple said, and will not be available on iPads. Just like with Apple Pay, the company said it will keep transaction data private and will not know what merchants and customers are buying. https://www.timesfreepress.com/news/business/aroundregion/story/2022/feb/12/apple-says-iphone-accept-tap-to-pay/563187/

No deal is currently on the table, according to two people familiar with the talks, but Cisco could pay more than $20 billion, one said. Cisco Systems has held acquisition talks with Splunk, whose software mines data for insights, including security threats.Credit. Sergio Perez/Reuters Cisco Systems, the technology conglomerate, has held discussions with the software company Splunk about buying it, although no deal is currently on the table, two people familiar with the matter told The New York Times on Friday. A deal may not happen at all, but if talks resume, Cisco could pay more than $20 billion for Splunk, one of the people said. Splunk, whose stock price has fallen by 30 percent since its chief executive, Doug Merritt, unexpectedly stepped down in November, has a market capitalization of around $18 billion. Cisco’s market capitalization is $227 billion. The people requested anonymity because the information is confidential. Cisco did not immediately respond to a request for comment, while a spokesperson for Splunk said the company did not comment on rumors or speculation. The Wall Street Journal reported the potential deal earlier on Friday. Splunk — named after spelunking, the sport of cave exploring — mines data for insights, including security threats, a business that grew in importance as the coronavirus pandemic quickly forced many workers online. It has more recently sought to shift toward cloud computing and catch up with its competitors, like Datadog, that started their business in the cloud. In June, the private-equity firm Silver Lake invested $1 billion in Splunk to help with that transition. Cisco is known as a serial acquirer, effectively using acquisitions as a complement to research and development. Its past deals include Acacia, a maker of optical network components; Luxtera, a semiconductor company; and ThousandEyes, a cloud intelligence company. Its chief executive, Chuck Robbins, told analysts in December that Cisco would continue to look for acquisitions in security. Technology has been a hotbed of mergers and acquisitions activity over the past year, as soaring stock prices have left companies flush with cash. Microsoft said last month that it was planning to acquire the video game company Activision Blizzard for nearly $70 billion, and Salesforce acquired the workplace software company Slack last year for $27.7 billion. Lauren Hirsch joined the New York Times from CNBC in 2020, covering business, policy and mergers and acquisitions. Ms. Hirsch studied comparative literature at Cornell University and has an M.B.A. from the Tuck School of Business at Dartmouth. @laurenshirsch Anupreeta Das is the finance editor of The New York Times, overseeing broad coverage of Wall Street, including banking, investing, markets and consumer finance. She was previously the deputy business editor of The Wall Street Journal. @preetatweets https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/11/technology/cisco-splunk.html

On Saturday, Major League Baseball presented the MLB Players Association with a new core economics proposal as the two sides continue to work through collective bargaining talks. The meeting, which lasted approximately one hour, was their first meeting in 11 days and their fifth in-person bargaining session of the owner-initiated lockout. The MLBPA will take time to fully review MLB's proposal, though they came away unimpressed, reports The Athletic's Evan Drellich. The proposal combined several previous smaller proposals and included the following adjustments, according to Drellich and ESPN's Jesse Rogers: Increase the bonus pool for pre-arbitration players from $10 million to $15 million. The MLBPA is seeking a $100 million pool. Increase the minimum salary to $630,000 flat (teams can pay more if they want), or a tiered set salary of $615,000 for players with 0-1 years of service time, $650,000 for 1-2 years, and $725,000 for 2-3 years. MLB previously offered $700,000 at 2-3 years. The MLBPA is seeking a $775,000 minimum at all service time levels. Increase the competitive balance tax thresholds to $214 million, $214 million, $216 million, $218 million, and $222 million from 2022-26. MLB's previous offer included a $214 million threshold from 2022-24, $216 million in 2025, and $220 million in 2026. The MLBPA is seeking a $245 million threshold in 2022. The threshold was $210 million in 2021. Teams receive two draft picks if a star prospect finishes in the top three in a major awards voting in multiple years as a way to disincentivize service time mani[CENSORED]tion. The MLBPA proposed service time bonuses tied to awards voting. Earlier this week commissioner Rob Manfred said the owners will make a "good faith, positive proposal in a effort to move the process forward" on Saturday, though that was met with skepticism among the player ranks. As the league held their quarterly owners' meetings in Orlando this week, the MLBPA held meetings in Arizona and Florida. "My expectations don't really matter," lefty Andrew Miller, a member of the MLBPA's executive subcommittee, told the New York Post's Dan Martin and Ken Davidoff on Thursday. "We'll see it when it comes across (on Saturday). We hope it's something we can work with and it's a true start to negotiations. We haven't seen that yet. Talking is good." MLB and the MLBPA were not expected to reach a new agreement on Saturday. The hope is MLB's new proposal can serve as a springboard to more substantive talks, which have been few and far between thus far during the lockout. It is unclear when the two sides will meet again to discuss core economics issues, the issues that will determine when the lockout ends. Spring training camps are scheduled to open next week and that almost certainly will not happen, though MLB has yet to officially announce a delay. Earlier this week Manfred said he thinks players and the league need about four weeks to prepare for the season. In that case, the two sides have roughly two weeks to reach an agreement before regular-season games are in jeopardy. "I am an optimist and I believe we will have an agreement in time to play our regular schedule," Manfred said Thursday. "I see missing games as a disastrous outcome for this industry, and we're committed to making an agreement in an effort to avoid that." MLB's slow negotiating pace -- the league waited 43 days into the lockout to make its first core economics proposal -- made it likely spring training will be delayed and put regular season games at risk. The league requested assistance from a federal mediator last week, a request the MLBPA denied, saying "the clearest path to a fair and timely agreement is to get back to the table." It must be noted the owners could lift the lockout at any time, which would allow spring training to open next week and baseball operations to return in full. If the owners lift the lockout, the National Labor Relations Act requires the two sides hold good faith negotiations while operating under the terms of the just expired collective bargaining agreement. The owners have indicated no willingness to do that, though there is precedent. On March 31, 1995, current Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a preliminary injunction against MLB, which ended the players' strike and sent the two sides back to the table while the sport resumed. MLB and the MLBPA did not agree to a new collective bargaining agreement until March 1997. MLB and the MLBPA have made some progress in recent weeks. Among other things, the league says it is open to the union's framework for a bonus pool for pre-arbitration players (as noted though, they're tens of millions of dollars apart on the size of the pool) and baseball will reportedly have a universal designated hitter beginning this season. The collective bargaining agreement expired at 11:59 p.m. ET on Dec. 1 and the owners locked out the players immediately. At 73 days and counting, this is the second longest work stoppage in baseball history, shorter than only the 1994-95 strike (232 days). Members on both sides have said they are willing to lose regular season games to get a fair deal, though they hope it doesn't come to that. https://www.cbssports.com/mlb/news/mlb-lockout-mlbpa-unimpressed-with-owners-latest-core-economics-proposal-per-report/

Mandai Lake Road is a common crossing for animals in the adjacent forest patches. They include the long-tailed macaques, wild boars and rarer species such as the sambar deers and Sunda pangolins. Each week, TODAY’s long-running Big Read series delves into the trends and issues that matter. This week, we look at the work of the team behind the Mandai Wildlife Bridge and overall efforts to preserve Singapore's biodiversity. This is a shortened version of the full feature, which can be found here. Even before the Mandai Wildlife Bridge opened in late 2019, the team behind it had been worried that animals would not take to the bridge However, a week before the bridge's official opening, long-tailed macaques were already spotted using it. Wild pigs, rare sambar deers followed suit not long after Still, roadkill continues to be an issue, with a critically endangered Sunda pangolin found dead in the area last year While eco-bridges help, environmental experts stress the need to go beyond remedial solutions to the issue of habitats being destroyed through development works Motorists and the general public need to be better educated when it comes to living alongside animals, they say SINGAPORE Making a wildlife crossing “animal ready” from day one was no child’s play for a team from the Mandai Wildlife Group (MWG) . A year before the 2019 opening of the Mandai Wildlife Bridge, which was partly meant to address roadkill, flood lights pointing towards the forest edges along Mandai Lake Road were installed to discourage animals from crossing the road. The road, which runs from Mandai Road to the Singapore Zoo and cuts through a part of the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, is a common crossing for animals in the adjacent forest patches. The team also planted the bridge with common tree species found in the area so that animals would be drawn by the familiarity of the vegetation on it several months before its official opening on Dec 6, 2019. Despite their efforts, the team remained doubtful if animals would use the 140m bridge. “When we first planted the trees, there were still gaps in between the trees and they hadn’t formed the canopy or looked forest-like. So we thought the animals would be a little bit more wary of such a new landscape,” said Ms Chua Yen Kheng who oversaw the bridge project as Assistant Vice President of Sustainable Solutions at MWG. However, the animals took to the bridge far quicker than anyone had expected. Even a week before its official opening, photos from six camera traps set up along the bridge showed that long-tailed macaques were already using the bridge. And within the first week of its opening, larger mammals like wild pigs and sambar deers were spotted using the bridge. https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/big-read-short-how-wildlife-bridges-help-save-singapores-endangered-animals-1814651

Cleveland-Cliffs (NYSE:CLF) tumbled nearly 10% Friday as Q4 results were hurt because the steelmaker decided to take advantage of the current lull in auto production to speed up needed maintenance projects. Cleveland-Cliffs is the largest supplier of steel to the U.S. auto sector by a wide margin, so getting the maintenance projects out of the way should place the company in prime position if auto production volumes recover later in the year. But in the meantime, the company reported Q4 adjusted EBITDA jumped to $1.46B from $286M in the year-earlier quarter but well below Wall Street estimates, and full-year EBITDA totaled $5.26B, below CEO Lourenco Goncalves' own October estimate of $5.5B. Goncalves remains upbeat about the outlook for the steel market in 2022, telling today's earnings conference call that Cleveland-Cliffs already is seeing deliveries to automotive clients improve and that the chip shortage should improve this year. The company also forecasts its average selling price will rise to ~$1,225/ton in 2022 from $1,187/ton in 2021. Goncalves said on the call that he wants to increase the amount of fixed-price contracts above the current 45% of the company's sales, and that the bulk of annual fixed contracts are set to reprice at significantly higher levels this year. The steel sector has seen benchmark prices tumble more than 40% since hitting all-time highs in August; the head of Canada's top steelmaker last month warned of "significant oversupply and significant shrinkage of demand" affecting the North American market. https://seekingalpha.com/news/3799392-cleveland-cliffs-ceo-sees-company-primed-to-benefit-from-eventual-auto-recovery