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The iPhone SE 2022 that Apple released in March added 5G compatibility to the company's cheapest phone but retained the aging design of the iPhone SE 2020. That's likely to change with the new model though expect Apple to recreate the look of another old iPhone for its newest SE. We've still got several months to go before the likely release date of a new iPhone SE if Apple even releases the phone at all in 2023 so definitive rumors about the possible device have yet to fully emerge. Here's what we know so far about the iPhone SE 4, and what we're hoping to see should the phone arrive next year trying to join the ranks of the best iPhones. iPhone SE 4: Rumored release date The idea that Apple would follow up the release of the iPhone SE 3 the phone that turned out to be the 2022 model has been percolating even before that phone made its debut in the spring. Last January, display expert Ross Young of Display Supply Chain Consultants, was forecasting a 2023 release for the iPhone SE Plus, a larger version of the iPhone SE. (More on screen size below.) And he's not the only analyst that thinks a 2023 release could be in the works. The usually reliable Ming-Chi Kuo was predicting the same thing in December 2021. That said, releasing iPhone SE models in consecutive years would be a departure for Apple, which tends to space out updates for its cheapest phone. The original iPhone SE debuted in 2016, with a follow-up device arriving four years later. There was a two-year gap between that phone and the iPhone SE 2022. Apple tends to release the iPhone SE models in either March or April, leaving the fall for its flagship phones. So if there is an iPhone SE 4 on tap for 2023, we'd expect to see it in the spring, well ahead of that fall's anticipated iPhone 15 release. iPhone SE 4: Rumored price So far, there's been no word on iPhone SE 4 pricing, and we wouldn't expect those rumors to start surfacing until we get closer to the launch. At $429, the current iPhone SE is one of the best cheap phones available, and we wouldn't expect Apple to give up its pricing advantage so easily, when rival phones like the Google Pixel 6a and Galaxy A53 cost $449. With that in mind, you don't need us to tell you that prices are rising all around us, and that goes for the cost of components used to make phones as well. External pressures may force Apple to adjust the cost of the iPhone SE 4 from the iPhone SE 2022's price tag. Ahead of the iPhone 14 launch, rumors suggested that Apple was going to boost prices on the Pro models by $100, though, thankfully, that didn't materialize. But again, it's too early to say what might happen with the iPhone SE 4's price. iPhone SE 4: Possible name We're calling this rumored model the iPhone SE 4, as that's the name being bandied about on the rumor mill. And since this would be the fourth iteration of Apple's low-cost smartphone, it's no mystery why people have settled on that particular moniker. But Apple typically doesn't name its cheap phones that way. While flagship phones have sported a number in recent years — iPhone 12, iPhone 13 and so on — the iPhone SE has featured just that name and the year in which new model comes out. Therefore, it's entirely possible that a phone released next year would be called the iPhone SE 2023. A third possibility would be using the iPhone SE Plus name floated by some analysts, especially if Apple ends up giving this version a larger screen, as is expected. But given the apparent lack of enthusiasm for the just released iPhone 14 Plus, we're not convinced Apple would go in this direction. iPhone SE 4: Design and display Here's where we're on the most solid ground in terms of iPhone SE 4 rumors. In Ross Young's tweet about a possible 2023 release date for the phone, he mentions the likelihood of the device swapping out its current 4.7-inch screen for either a 5.7- or 6.1-inch panel. That would likely necessitate a change from the current iPhone SE's design, which adopts the look of 2017's iPhone 8, with chunky bezels and a Touch ID button. Instead, leaker Jon Prosser believes Apple will turn to a more recent though still older iPhone for design inspiration. He's tipped the iPhone SE 4 to adapt the look of 2018's iPhone XR, including that phone's 6.1-inch display. With a notch in the display there's no word on whether it would be iPhone XR-sized or incorporate the smaller notch Apple introduced with the iPhone SE the iPhone sE 4 would also add Face ID support, while shedding Touch ID. You don't have to imagine what such a phone would look like. Artist Ian Zelbo has created iPhone SE 4 renders based on the design rumors Prosser has put forth so far. Looking at the device, you'll see a lot of similarities with the iPhone XR. iPhone SE 4: Specs and features Very few rumors about iPhone SE specs have emerged, though Apple has a pretty clear track record of what it does and doesn't include on this particular model. For instance, the phone generally uses the same processor as the flagships released the previous fall. Assuming a spring 2023 launch for the iPhone SE 4, that means either the A15 Bionic powering the iPhone 14 or the A16 Bionic inside the iPhone 14 Pro models. If we had to guess, we'd assume, Apple would go with the former, which includes an additional GPU core from the A15 Bionic that debuted with the iPhone 13. All iPhone SE models have featured a single rear camera, and we don't anticipate that changing with the iPhone SE 4. Apple has to find some way to distinguish its entry-level phone from the least expensive flagship iPhone and keeping an ultrawide lens off the SE seems like one way to do that. We would hope that Night Sight finally makes the leap to the iPhone SE with the next model, though. Apple has started using OLED panels on its flagships, which now feature 128GB of storage in their base models. The iPhone SE 2022, in contrast, features an LCD screen and starts at 64GB of storage. We certainly wouldn't anticipate the screen type changing for the 2023 model, and Apple seems disinclined to bump the storage on the SE. We'd also expect the display to refresh at 60Hz since an adaptive refresh rate is also missing from the regular iPhone models outside of the Pro versions. There's one other feature we wouldn't imagine Apple adding to the iPhone SE wireless charging. Again, this seems to be how Apple is distinguishing its different phone models, while also keeping an eye how how to keep iPhone SE costs down. iPhone SE 4: What we hope to see Adopting a new design for the iPhone SE 4 would tackle one of our biggest complaints about the current model, and opting for a larger screen might expand the iPhone SE's appeal, as bigger phones have become more po[CENSORED]r since the original iPhone SE's 2016 arrival. But there are some other changes Apple should make to any budget phone it has in the works for next year. Night mode support: This one's a no-brainer and we're surprised we even to make it, but it's ridiculous that the current iPhone SE can't take a decent picture in the dark. Similarly priced phones offer this capability and plenty of phone makers including Apple have poured their efforts into improving low-light photography for mobile. The iPhone SE 4 needs to join the party or risk becoming totally irrelevant as a camera phone, no matter how good Apple's computational photography is. More storage: We get that Apple wants a divide between its cheapest iPhone and its flagship models. But 64GB of storage is too little for a modern smartphone, especially one capable of running some of the elaborate apps that have hit Apple's App Store in recent years. Find other ways to keep costs low, but don't skimp on storage. A smaller notch: Yes, Apple seems to be moving away from the notch if the iPhone 14 Pro design is anything to go by. But we'd still be happy to have an iPhone SE with a notch if it means shrinking the bezels on the top and bottom of the current phone's display. We just hope that when people say the iPhone SE 4 is going to mimic the iPhone XR's look, they're just talking about the single-camera setup and not the larger notch. Apple shrunk down the phone's notch last year, and it was the right move. We hope the iPhone SE 4 follows that wise path. A fast refreshing display: We can say right now that this isn't going to happen, not when the iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Plus are stuck with 60Hz displays. But the fact of the matter is, plenty of phones in the iPhone SE's price range offer some sort of fast-refreshing screen, notably the Galaxy A53. By refusing to bring such a capability to its own phone, Apple is really short-changing its audience. Better battery life: We have hope that this will come to pass, should Apple opt for the iPhone XR's larger form factor to house the next iPhone SE. A bigger phone leaves more space for a bigger battery. That, plus a more advanced chipset could help the iPhone SE 4 last longer on a charge another move that will help it stand out from similarly priced phones. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/iphone-se-4-e2-80-94-all-the-rumors-and-what-we-want-to-see/ar-AA13frIs?cvid=98f5b7394c8f44f4b3ef045f59589105#image=1

The automotive lending industry has weathered serious challenges in recent years, adapting to overcome issues like stay-at-home mandates and inventory shortages. And we’re not out of the woods yet: The market is now facing labor shortages, rising fuel costs, inflation and rapid increases in interest rates, which always impact sales. This is an industry that is proving to be resilient, and much of this is due to an increased adoption of automation. The sustainability of the industry is even more remarkable given the pace at which change occurred. Many lenders adopted new technology and business practices as quickly as was practical. Few had the luxury of introspection or long-term research. As we continue to navigate talent shortages, tight budgets and a potential economic slowdown, it’s important for lenders to get back to basics and review whether their software is truly delivering the capabilities that will keep them competitive and efficient as the market continues to evolve. A cutting-edge lending solution creates efficiencies, allowing lenders to optimize their talent and resources, and helps them maintain an edge even in challenging conditions. But not all systems are created equal. Saving time through efficient software design Lenders may now find themselves in a better position to determine whether their loan origination software (LOS) and loan management software systems are really aligned with their requirements. After all, lending software should facilitate the lender’s business goals; it shouldn’t get in the way of efficient operations or slow things down due to constraints of the design. Here is a checklist of what your solutions should deliver for maximum advantage: 1. Does your lending solution support your lending process? The automotive industry has traditionally been siloed and disjointed, and loan application processes have often followed suit, requiring a multitude of tasks, disparate applications, complicated documentation workflows and cumbersome authentication processes. Automation should be designed to break down those silos, making your processes more seamless and simpler. To that end, how much work do your employees have to do to get your lending software to perform? Is it complex and fragmented like the manual processes it was meant to replace? Or does it consolidate and streamline workflows, reducing extra tasks for your staff? To truly reap the benefits of automation, software should combine tasks that were previously conducted separately and manually to save time, mitigate human error and enhance the user experience. If users have to jump between platforms such as third-party CRM systems, then your automation solution isn’t fulfilling its role. Integrations with best-in-class partners should be able to seamlessly deliver capabilities like digital document storage, access to top-flight CRM systems like Salesforce and industry-leading analytics and compliance tools — all from a single window. 2. Does your LOS provide quick access to the right information? All loan applications require specific metrics and indicators in order to quickly and accurately approve deals and finalize financing. Your LOS should easily collect and clearly display the data that is required for decisioning. Speed and accuracy are key. The right information needs to be readily available and prominently displayed to users, or the value of the LOS software is greatly diminished. For example, modern LOS solutions should not only rapidly gather credit bureau data, vehicle values, histories and other indicators they also need to highlight potential issues or show that there are none. The goal is to make decisioning as fast and easy as possible, keeping applicants engaged and avoiding their abandonment of the process. This concept of “intelligent processing” uses artificial intelligence (AI)-powered features that not only collect enriched data from online sources but also highlight key information for users. The best approach is often a combination of good AI and user interface (UI) that facilitates old-fashioned human intelligence. 3. How quickly does your software respond? The more clicks your LOS removes from the decisioning process, the more satisfying the user experience becomes, resulting in faster decisions, more deals booked and increased profitability. If your LOS makes users jump through hoops to perform simple calculations and accomplish simple tasks, your system could be slowing decisioning. Just as importantly, you don’t want a system that slows down during peak times or requires you to schedule reporting and analysis around resource limitations. Nobody wants to be stuck with outdated and inflexible software, and cloud-based lending solutions can scale to support any size business if they’re well designed. It is imperative to choose a solution that is agile enough to support your growth without having to spend significant dollars and/or manpower re-architecting a new system. Lending automation solutions should enhance processes and save time for lenders and consumers. Now that the industry has become more comfortable with automated cloud-based infrastructures, it’s time to assess these systems to ensure they truly maximize performance. This means looking at how much time users are spending working around or waiting for the system. The right solution can empower lenders to increase profitability while offering the best possible engagement experiences, creating more revenue and building brand loyalty today and tomorrow. Sam Heath is the Chief Revenue Officer of Inovatec Systems. Inovatec provides LOS, LMS and direct systems that seek to eliminate friction in the lending process and automate much of the manual work of originating and managing loans. https://www.autofinancenews.net/allposts/auto-finance-excellence/customer-experience-afe/evaluating-lending-software-fundamentals-in-a-challenging-market/

The dealer and owner of the local Home Hardware Building Centre was recently named Best Young Retailer in the western region. Josh Hengen was recognized at the Proud of My Home Achievement Awards and Celebration during Home Hardware’s 2022 Homecoming event on Sept. 23. “I am honoured to be acknowledged,” the 33-year-old was quoted in a press release issued by the company late last month. The award is open to any dealer aged 35 or under. “My initial reaction was one of shock,” he said. “I didn’t think a little hometown store like ours could get noticed on such a large scale.” Early life lessons developed in him not only a work ethic but also an understanding of how the store operates which paved the way to his position. “Spending three hours each Saturday when I was 10 years old helping my parents at the store built the foundation that turned me into the business owner I am today,” he said. “I started at the bottom and worked up through almost every position in the company, which I think gives me unique insight as a dealer and a deep appreciation for all my staff.” According to Home Hardware Stores Limited’s press release, the award celebrates the next generation of independent home retailers. “Josh Hengen is one of a select few to be recognized with it,” reads a portion of the statement, going onto add that recipients must among other criteria demonstrate excellence in staff performance and customer service as well as interior presentation including clear signage and tidiness. Hengen noted that every day his employees come into work, they are always adaptable and passionate about helping to meet their customers’ needs. The Sundre Home Hardware Building Centre is a family business jointly owned by Josh Hengen and his sister Nicole Weatherbee since 2018 after they took over for their parents Les and Michele Hengen. The siblings are active community members. Kevin Macnab, Home Hardware Stores Limited president and chief executive officer, extended congratulatory praise to Hengen on behalf of the company, which represents close to 1,100 locations in communities throughout the country. For his part, Hengen said the award belongs just as much to his staff. “We have such an amazing group of people,” he said. “Without them, this wouldn’t have been possible.” Additionally, he extended appreciation to their customers not only for their continuing support but especially their trust. https://www.mountainviewtoday.ca/sundre-news/home-hardware-names-sundre-dealer-best-young-retailer-5906960

President Biden was quick to reject polls that consistently show Americans trust Republicans to handle the economy ahead of midterm elections. During an interview on MSNBC, Biden was asked about his new "mega MAGA trickle-down" attacks on GOP economic policies. "But here's a problem, I think, for you and Democrats," said MSNBC's Jonathan Capehart. "Despite all the good economic news, low unemployment, record job creation, wage increases, social security, cost of living adjustment to 8.7% - the highest in 40 years." "And yet, poll after poll shows that the American people trust Republicans on the economy and think that Republicans should control Congress. How do you break through that?" Capehart asked. "Well, first of all, I’m not sure about the polls," Biden responded. "Because the way people conduct polls today, it’s hard — 90% of it is you got a telephone where you have to call seven times to get somebody to answer the phone, number one." "Number two, a lot of what we have done and we have passed has not kicked in yet," Biden said. "For example, you know, we have all this money to rebuild the highways, bridges, internet, etc., but it’s gonna take time. It’s not going to happen overnight. It's not like we passed a law and all of a sudden the highways and bridges are all functioning. It’s not like we’re in a position where we say no senior, which we do, is going to have to pay more than $2,000 a year for their drug costs. It hasn’t kicked in yet. It doesn’t kick in until next year." "A lot of what we have done, people are hurting," he added. "They’re hurting because when you take away that margin for people sitting around the kitchen table and they’re paying, you know, three times as much or two times or one-and-a-half as much for gasoline, it matters." The president, however, remained hopeful that voters will reject the "mega MAGA" agenda with his help on the campaign trail. "And so that’s why these last several weeks, what I’m doing is saying here’s what we’re for, here’s what they’re for, and make a choice and vote. And I think people are going to show up and vote like they did last time," Biden said. CONSERVATIVES BLAST BIDEN FOR CLAIMING REPUBLICANS 'WILL CRASH THE ECONOMY’ IF THEY WIN MIDTERMS The latest Fox News poll released earlier this week shows Biden underwater on a multitude of issues, including his handling of the economy (35% approve, 62% disapprove), and inflation (29% approve, 67% disapprove). Earlier in October, Biden admitted a "slight recession" could occur in the coming months, although expressed confidence it wouldn't happen. "Look, they've been saying this now every six months they say this, every six months, they look down at the next six months and see what's gonna happen. It hadn't happened yet," Biden told CNN. "I don't think there will be a recession. If it is, it will be a slight recession that is, we'll move down slightly." https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/politics/biden-rejects-polls-showing-voters-trust-gop-to-handle-the-economy/ar-AA13eu6N

Parineeti Chopra and Ranbir Kapoor were all set to come together for the first time in Sandeep Vanga’s Animal but the actress declined the offer. From her first film itself, Parineeti Chopra garnered a lot of appreciation for her acting chops. The actress is also known for exploring varied genres in her repertoire. So when she was offered the Sandeep Reddy Vanga directorial Animal, audiences eagerly awaited her to give her nod for the character. The film would have featured her alongside Ranbir Kapoor for the first time and fans were quite excited about watching them together onscreen. However, the actress declined the offer. Currently, Rashmika Mandanna is playing the leading lady in the film. In a recent interview with India Today, Parineeti Chopra opened up on why she decided to take that step. She said, “These things happen, it is a part and parcel of life. We must make such choices every day. You make the choice that is right for you.” Animal is a Pan India film of Ranbir Kapoor that will not only release in Hindi but also in other regional South languages. It is being said that the film will revolve around a gangster family and is being extensively shot in Mumbai and Delhi. It marks the first collaboration of Kabir Singh director Sandeep Reddy Vanga with Ranbir Kapoor and the latter's first onscreen appearance with Rashmika Mandanna. Coming to Parineeti Chopra, the actress was last seen in Code Name Tiranga where she essayed the character of a spy for the first time. The film featured her alongside Punjabi actor-singer Harrdy Sandu. The actress was seen doing some intense action sequences in this Ribhu Dasgupta directorial that released on October 14. On the other hand, Parineeti is gearing up for the release of the Rajshri film Uunchai. Exploring a different genre by Sooraj Barjatya, the film tells the story of four aged friends, who decide to fulfill the dream of one of them after his sudden demise. Parineeti will be seen as the trek guide in the film as she helps the three friends and their team to climb the challenging Mount Everest, despite their age and the difficult weather conditions of the Himalayas. The film is expected to hit the big screens on November 11. https://www.bollywoodhungama.com/news/bollywood/parineeti-chopra-opens-rejecting-animal-starring-ranbir-kapoor/

Critical infrastructure across Ukraine was pounded again on Saturday, with several regions reporting strikes on energy facilities while missiles were shot down in others. Energy facilities in the regions of Odesa, Kirovohrad and Lutsk had been hit, according to local officials, with several regions experiencing power outages. "Another rocket attack from terrorists who are fighting against civilian infrastructure and people," the Ukrainian president's chief of staff, Andriy Yermak, wrote on the Telegram app. Meanwhile, Ukrainian forces shot down a Russian missile over the Kyiv region, local police chief Andriy Nyebytov said, posting a photograph of a column of smoke rising from a forest where he said the missile's debris had landed. 'At least half of Ukraine's thermal power capacity hit by Russian strikes' Russian air attacks have hit at least half of Ukraine's thermal generation capacity, causing billions of dollars of damage since October 10th, though not all those power units have stopped working completely, Ukraine's energy minister said on Friday. German Galushchenko told Reuters that Ukraine may need electricity imports to get through the winter after attacks that had struck 30-40 per cent of power infrastructure and traders were already holding negotiations with suppliers. Moscow stepped up its strikes last week using missiles and loitering munitions to target Kyiv and major power and heating infrastructure in what Vladimir Putin said was payback for a Ukrainian attack on a bridge to annexed Crimea. Ukraine typically experiences long, cold winters with average temperatures several degrees below centigrade. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/world/protesters-who-glued-themselves-to-volkswagen-s-floor-are-left-in-the-dark/ss-AA13efYZ

V1 - Text & Effect

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: PlayStation Name of the game: Silent Hill 2 Link video: Rate this video 1-10: -

Huawei has announced six startups as the winners of the Huawei ICT Incubator 2022 program. The winners will get seed money as the award in addition to the opportunity to meet global startups for knowledge sharing. The announcement came in a Gala event held at Radisson Blu Water Garden Hotel today. Huawei organized the event with the cooperation of the strategic partners Startup Bangladesh Limited and Innovation Design and Entrepreneurship Academy (iDEA). The competition had two groups, namely, the Idea Stage and the Early Stage. The winners of the Idea Stage and the Early Stage, respectively, are Insure Cow (Champion), Durjoy DSS (1st Runners up), and Relaxy (2nd Runners up); and Jahaji Ltd. (Champion), Palki (1st Runners up), and We Gro Technologies Ltd. (2nd Runners up).The champions will get BDT 500,000 as prize money and USD 125,000 Huawei Cloud credit; whereas 1st and 2nd runners-up will get Tk 300,000 and Tk 100,000 as prize money, respectively, in addition to USD 80,000 Huawei Cloud Credit. Apart from these, a co-founder from each company will visit abroad to meet successful foreign startups. An independent jury panel, comprised of the iDEA project, Huawei Bangladesh, Startup Bangladesh and other renowned leaders of the startup ecosystem of Bangladesh, selected the winners. The honourable guests of the gala event announced the winners' names in the event. Zunaid Ahmed Palak, MP, Minister of State for Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Division graced the event as the chief guest. H. E. Li Jiming, Ambassador of China to Bangladesh, was present as a special guest along with Professor Vincent Chang, PhD, Vice-chancellor of Brac University, Pan Junfeng, CEO of Huawei Bangladesh; Sami Ahmed, Managing Director of Startup Bangladesh; Md. Altaf Hossain, Project Director (Joint Secretary), iDEA Project, BCC, ICT Division. https://www.thedailystar.net/tech-startup/news/huawei-ict-incubator-2022-announces-top-6-startups-bangladesh-3147281

For the first time, Procore users have a fast and easy software solution to apply for, manage, and track construction permits with nationwide coverage in a single platform. MILPITAS, Calif., October 20, 2022--(BUSINESS WIRE)--PermitFlow, a construction permit application and management software for builders and owners, today announced a new embedded experience integration for use with Procore Technologies, Inc., (NYSE: PCOR), a leading global provider of construction management software. PermitFlow’s purpose-built software allows builders and owners the ability to easily prepare and submit permit applications, respond to municipal comments, and receive approvals all in one platform. Rather than juggling through the unique processes of municipalities, builders can use PermitFlow’s standardized, nationwide permit application workflow. By surfacing municipal requirements and digitizing the permit process, PermitFlow saves applicants’ time, minimizes errors, and shortens municipal review cycles resulting in a faster time to permit. The PermitFlow Embedded App Experience enables Procore’s users to manage the entire construction and building permit process conveniently within Procore. Unwieldy spreadsheets and document trackers can be replaced with PermitFlow’s in-app permit log and management platform. Construction teams can easily stay up to date with automated reminders, follow-ups, and permit expiration alerts to avoid any surprises. "Our mission at PermitFlow is to make permitting faster and more reliable," said Francis Thumpasery, CEO at PermitFlow. "America is facing a housing and infrastructure crisis and yet municipalities struggle with staffing shortages and are backlogged with work. It’s imperative that we streamline the process for applicants who grapple with the differences and complexities of each municipality. In many jurisdictions, permitting continues to be one of the top causes of construction delays." "Managing the permitting process is challenging," said Doug Gibson, Senior Business Development Manager at Procore. "PermitFlow’s launch on the Procore marketplace will provide a dedicated solution for construction permitting within the Procore platform. Their solution will help construction teams simplify the entire permitting process and stay focused on the project at hand." "PermitFlow’s Embedded Experience is simple and easy to install and access through Procore’s App Marketplace," said Samuel Lam, CTO at PermitFlow. "Procore users have eagerly waited for this launch, as the ability to digitize and automate many of their existing permit processes has been especially attractive. The efficiency gains that we can offer to both builders and AHJs will help to accelerate the overall building process in the United States." About PermitFlow: PermitFlow is the first construction permit application and management platform for builders and owners. We are on a mission to streamline and simplify construction permitting in the United States, unlocking more value in the $1.6 trillion construction market. Our software reduces time to permit while standardizing municipalities’ building permit submittal process in a single platform. We support permitting end-to-end including permit research, application preparation, submission, and monitoring. With our nationwide coverage and deep, local municipal expertise, PermitFlow helps builders permit whether in a single municipality or across multiple states. Get started today at PermitFlow.com. About Procore: Procore is a leading global provider of construction management software. Over 1 million projects and more than $1 trillion USD in construction volume have run on Procore's platform. Our platform connects every project stakeholder to solutions we've built specifically for the construction industry—for the owner, the general contractor, and the specialty contractor. Procore's App Marketplace has a multitude of partner solutions that integrate seamlessly with our platform, giving construction professionals the freedom to connect with what works best for them. Headquartered in Carpinteria, California, Procore has offices around the globe. https://nz.finance.yahoo.com/news/permitflow-announces-construction-permit-software-140000304.html

Don't penalize resellers for selling refurbished kit, educate shareholders on being Earth's friend Hardware makers are currently among the mix when it comes to the problem of environmental sustainability, in part by "penalizing" and competing with resellers that are trying to sell refurbished kit.… "Vendors are claiming their commitments to circular economies and to reducing waste in the supply chain but all of you in the vendor community are still goaled and paid on selling new products," said Alastair Edwards, chief analyst at Canalys. He was addressing an IT crowd at the analyst's Channel Forum in EMEA, held in Barcelona, which includes brands from across the industry including Dell, HPE, Schneider Electric, and hundreds more, as well as distributors, resellers and other third party providers of technology. "We see vendors holding back the ability of channel partners to sell refurbished and secondhand IT products by not recognizing those products in compensation schemes and targets. This is creating immense frustration," Edwards added. Legislation will be a big driver to help change commercial mindsets, with public sector tenders in France requiring government departments and agencies to include refurbished equipment. "Other countries are going to follow but today channel partners are effectively penalised for selling these products refurbished products," the analyst said. "The other problem is around a lack of standards on IT asset disposal and a failure to agree on data standards on carbon emissions." Early this month, the Financial Times reported that on the amount of disk drives that are shredded rather than wiped when a datacenter is upgraded. Microsoft, AWS, along with banks, police services and government departments are all guilty of this, the article claimed. Felice Alfieri, an official working for the European Commission who co-authored a paper on environmental sustainability of datacenter, said "From a data security perspective, you do not need to shred." She advocates "data deletion" over shredding drives. Edwards at Canalys added: "We see storage devices being shredded rather than reused because of a lack of agreement on data protection standards. And in terms of emissions. The industry is getting better at measuring measuring scope one and scope two emissions but vendors are failing customers and partners when it comes to the most critical scope three emissions which made it measure the complete manufacturing and supply chain process." The British Computer Society said last year that the most pressing concern for a proportion of its members was cutting electronic waste, and vendors' relentless product upgrade cycles were part of the problem. "Rather than being dependent on new devices as soon as we have a failure, the 'right to repair' legislation should be starting to make it easier for people to extend the life of their devices. If the starter motor failed on your car, you would go to the garage and get a new part, rather than chucking the car away," Alex Bardell, chair of the BCS Green IT Specialist Group, told us. Edwards at Canalys told the vendors at the Forum: "Reward your partners for selling refurbished products rather than trying to compete with them. We absolutely recognize the challenges this creates for you in the vendor community. Your shareholders want you to sell new products but that's not an excuse. You need to start educating your shareholders today about what this means tomorrow." Vendors need to start reporting sales of refurbished product and the numbers of product they are taking back, Canalys thinks. It is estimated the IT industry will account for 11 percent of global energy consumption by 2025. "In other word, the need for sustainability is more than just an ethical argument, it's an economic necessity." The sustainability spotlight should also shine on the channel, he said, and in addition to tying to sell the sustainability message, they also need to look at their own business and the role they play in energy usage. "We are just the start of a sustainable tech revolution which will create lucrative opportunities for all of you in this room," he said. "But to be credible to your customers, you need to be a more sustainable business yourselves as partners." https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/other/hardware-makers-criticized-for-eco-double-standards/ar-AA13b136

Absolute abject chaos. A government in its death spiral. Utter turmoil. Chaos on all fronts. Extraordinary opening remarks from the nation’s broadcasters on yet another extraordinary day in British politics. After Liz Truss’s latest U-turn on the pensions triple-lock at prime minister’s questions, the home secretary’s resignation, confusion around the status of the Tory party whips and allegations of manhandling in the parliamentary lobbies during a key vote, the BBC and ITV’s flagship 10pm news programmes faced the impossible task of distilling the day’s events into a succinct and punchy curtain raiser. With the bombast of Chris Morris’s Day Today newsreader, ITV’s Tom Bradby opened the News at Ten with a bruising summary. It has been a night of astonishing scenes at Westminster with reports of jostling, manhandling, bullying and shouting outside the parliamentary lobbies in a supposed vote of confidence in the government. The deputy chief whip was reported to have left the scene saying, ‘I’m absolutely F-ing furious, I just don’t F-ing care any more’, before he resigned along with the chief whip. But we’ve just been told they have now officially unresigned. The home secretary has, however, definitely gone. In short it is total absolute abject chaos. Over on the BBC, Huw Edwards adopted his trademark sombre tone, as if he was announcing the death of another member of the royal family, yet it was the government’s demise he was relaying to the viewers at home. Tonight at 10, chaos on all fronts for Liz Truss. The home secretary resigns and party discipline breaks down in the Commons. Suella Braverman is out as home secretary. She admits breaking the rules on official communications but she also criticises Liz Truss. In her resignation letter, she accuses the government of losing direction and of breaking promises to voters. In the Commons tonight, chaos and confusion in a vote on fracking revealing the depth of anger among some conservative MPs. His opening was followed up with a pithy precis of the day in Westminster with a wounding payoff from the BBC’s political editor, Chris Mason. Spare a thought for Channel 4 News presenter, Krishnan Guru-Murthy, whose standout moment on a potential fateful day in politics was not for a viral polemic but for a viral on-air blunder in which he was heard off-camera calling the Northern Ireland minister and arch-Brexiteer Steve Baker a “cunt”. Guru-Murthy was forced to apologise “unreservedly” to Baker after swearing at him in an “unguarded moment”. The broadcaster said the remark followed a “robust interview” with Baker but it was “beneath the standards I set myself”. From Italy to Sweden, Hungary to France, the far right is once again a force to be reckoned with. Its hostility towards immigrants encourages xenophobes everywhere, including in Belgium. Its social conservatism threatens hard-won LGBTQ+ rights. Its euroscepticism has already upset the dynamics of the EU. The normalisation of far right rhetoric has gone far enough. For decades, Guardian journalism has challenged populists like this, and the divisions that they sow. Fiercely independent, we are able to confront without holding back because of the interests of shareholders or a billionaire owner. Our journalism is always free from commercial or political influence. Reporting like this is vital for democracy, for fairness and to demand better from the powerful. And we provide all this for free, for everyone to read. We do this because we believe in information equality. Greater numbers of people can keep track of the events shaping our world, understand their impact on people and communities, and become inspired to take meaningful action. Millions can benefit from open access to quality, truthful news, regardless of their ability to pay for it. https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2022/oct/20/government-in-death-spiral-broadcasters-remarks-on-an-extraordinary-day-in-uk-politics

In recent disaster events, FEMA and local emergency managers have relied on voluntary agencies and organizations to assist with both emergency veterinary services and relocation of thousands of evacuated and surrendered animals. While many of these pets and service animals were reunited with their families following the initial disaster, there are hundreds that were not. Bipartisan legislation authored by U.S. Senators Gary Peters (D-MI) and Rob Portman (R-OH), Chairman and Ranking Member Homeland Security and Governmental Affairs Committee, to help protect pets and other animals during and in the aftermath of natural disasters and emergencies has been signed into law. The Planning for Animal Wellness (PAW) Act directs the Administrator of the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to establish an advisory group with outside experts to ensure that current FEMA guidance is aligned with best practices in animal care for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. The new law was led through the House by U.S. Representative Dina Titus (D-NV-01). “No one should have to risk their lives because they refuse to abandon beloved pets before a natural disaster,” said Senator Peters. “This new law will help make sure that FEMA and first responders in Michigan and across the nation can help protect every member of our families – even the ones with four legs and fur.” “As a proud dog owner, it is concerning that animal and veterinary needs are often overlooked during disasters. I am pleased this bipartisan legislation is now law because it requires FEMA to establish a working group with outside experts to review current federal guidance regarding animals in disaster preparedness, response, and recovery to ensure it aligns with current best practices,” said Senator Portman. “This law will help ensure Ohio families and other animal owners have up-to-date guidance for disaster preparedness.” “Pets are an essential part of our lives,” said Rep. Titus. “No one should be forced to make the impossible choice between leaving them behind or evacuating to safety in the event of an emergency. This law will empower first responders and federal disaster response workers to help pet owners plan to keep every member of their family, even the furry or feathered ones, safe. It will also help people find and reunite with their pets if separated. Disasters are stressful enough; people shouldn’t have to worry about also losing their cherished pets.” Animal welfare is often overlooked during disaster response and recovery efforts, and in some instances, individuals have refused to evacuate before natural disasters because they do not want to abandon their pets. Following floods, wildfires, and hurricanes, the loss of household pets can take a significant emotional toll on pet owners, who often consider these animals to be a part of their families. In recent disaster events, FEMA and local emergency managers have relied on voluntary agencies and organizations to assist with both emergency veterinary services and relocation of thousands of evacuated and surrendered animals. While many of these pets and service animals were reunited with their families following the initial disaster, there are hundreds that were not. The Planning for Animal Wellness (PAW) Act requires the FEMA Administrator to establish an advisory group to encourage and foster collaborative efforts among individuals and entities working to address the needs of animals in disaster preparedness. The working group will review current best practices and federal guidance on sheltering and evacuation planning for household pets, service and assistance animals, and other animals, as appropriate. If the Administrator, in consultation with the working group, finds that current federal guidance does not meet best practices, FEMA is required to publish updated guidance in consultation with the advisory group. The senators’ bipartisan law has been endorsed by the International Fund for Animal Welfare, the Humane Society Legislative Fund, the Humane Society of the United States, the Animal Welfare Institute, the National Animal Care & Control Association, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, the National Alliance of State Animal & Agricultural Emergency Programs, and the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition. Below are statements in support of the senators’ bipartisan law: “IFAW applauds Senators Peters and Portman for championing this important bill to establish a working group relating to best practices and federal guidance for pets and other captive animals before, during and following disasters,” said Shannon Walajtys, Director of the Disaster Response & Risk Reduction Program for the International Fund for Animal Welfare. “Disasters are escalating in both frequency and severity, often devastating whole communities, and building resilience is key to protecting human and animal lives. Time and again we see people refuse to evacuate if they cannot bring their animals with them, including pets, livestock and captive animals in facilities. Furthermore, abandoned animals of all species in disaster areas can present unique challenges and dangers for first responders. This important new law will help to identify gaps and provide the guidance necessary to better protect animals before, during and following disasters, and the people who love them.” “Americans consider pets to be our family and protecting the health and safety of animals in disasters is a matter of strong public interest. Approximately 70% of American households have pets, and past disasters have shown that failing to account for animals during times of crisis results in increased risk to human safety and compounds the psychological trauma suffered by those affected by the disaster,” said Sara Amundson, President of the Humane Society Legislative Fund. “We are grateful to Senators Peters and Portman for their leadership seeking to ensure all pets as well as service animals and animals in zoos and other facilities are considered in disaster planning. As we face increasingly intense storms, wildfires and other crises due to climate change, it’s welcome news that Congress came together on a bipartisan basis and the President has now signed the PAW Act into law.” “As we have just seen with the evacuations and rescues in Florida, every story on natural disasters, whether floods or fires or hurricanes, shows people fleeing with their pets,” said Nancy Blaney, Director of Government Affairs for the Animal Welfare Institute. “Senators Peters’ and Portman’s bill will make sure that the best information and resources are applied to the job of getting everyone out safely and together.” “The National Animal Care & Control Association (NACA) realizes the value of the proposed Senate bill and endorses it entirely. Furthermore, NACA is appreciative of Senators Peters and Portman for introducing this vital bill and supports the formation of a working group to ensure prior to, during, and after devastating disasters, pets and the families who love them are protected,” said Jerrica Owen, Executive Director of the National Animal Care & Control Association. “Animal Control Officers are First Responders and are called upon in times of disaster to support rescue and recovery efforts. Preparations, and planning that includes pets as part of the family, support their efforts in ensuring safety for the whole family.” “The ASPCA has witnessed firsthand how incorporating animals into disaster plans can prevent avoidable tragedy, most recently during our rescue efforts in response to Hurricane Ian. The Paw Act will go a long way toward protecting animals when crises like this threaten their lives,” said Matt Bershadker, ASPCA president and CEO. “We thank Senators Peters and Portman and Representatives Titus and DeFazio for championing this legislation, and President Biden for signing it, and look forward to working with the newly-created FEMA-led working group to establish best practices that enhance protections for vulnerable animals as well as people who risk their lives to save them.” “The National Alliance of State Animal and Agricultural Emergency Programs (NASAAEP) and the National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition (NARSC) strongly endorse this legislation,” said Eric Thompson, NASAAEP President. “State, local, tribal, and territorial emergency managers work tirelessly every day to ensure the safety of the people in their communities during disasters and emergencies. They recognize that in order to safeguard people, they must also address the issues and needs of pets and other animals in their jurisdictions. We applaud Senators Peters and Portman for leading this important legislation, which will create an interdisciplinary Working Group with the potential to identify and address some long-standing barriers to effective animal emergency management. The number and severity of devastating disasters experienced in this country over the last several years has highlighted the need for additional coordination for disaster planning and management, and this legislation provides a key opportunity to better prepare for and manage animal issues in disasters.” “This legislation will lead to greater coordination between all levels of government and the nongovernmental sector, where much of the nation’s professional animal expertise and response capabilities exist, to better protect both human and animal lives,” said Anne McCann, Chair-Elect of National Animal Rescue and Sheltering Coalition. “It has the potential to greatly reduce suffering and hardship in America before, during, and after natural disasters. NASAAEP and NARSC are both close partners with FEMA and USDA and are eager to see this legislation pass. We are grateful for Senators Peters and Portman for leading this effort.” “We are so grateful for Senator Peters’ leadership on this important piece of legislation,” said Molly Tamulevich, Michigan State Director for the Humane Society of the United States. “Michiganders know that animals deserve to be considered in all emergency planning, from ice storms to tornadoes to floods. It’s no surprise that our Senator has reflected our state’s strong animal protection values by championing the PAW Act. By protecting animals during disasters, we are not only keeping our companions safe, but helping their families too.” https://www.hstoday.us/subject-matter-areas/emergency-preparedness/paw-act-to-protect-animals-in-the-event-of-disasters-is-signed-into-law/

Fox News' CEO privately doubted Donald Trump's election fraud claims, The NYT reported. The network pushed Trump's baseless claims the 2020 was stolen from him through fraud. It faces a multibillion dollar lawsuit over the claims from election machines company Dominion. Fox News CEO Suzanne Scott privately doubted Donald Trump's debunked claims of mass fraud in the 2020 election, but the network continued to broadcast them, The New York Times reported. Fox is currently battling a $1.9 billion lawsuit from Dominion Voting Systems, which accuses it of spreading baseless claims that Dominion machines were used as part of a plot to deprive Trump of victory in 2020. According to a Dominion attorney at a recent court appearance, Scott sent an email expressing doubt about the election-fraud narrative shortly after the 2020 election. She is said to have warned against "giving the crazies an inch" by promoting the claims. The Times reported further examples, saying that in meetings Scott was also critical of the election-denial claims. One unnamed Fox staffer told the Times that Scott described herself as being in disbelief at how many people she considered rational believed that it was possible to stop Joe Biden taking office. Scott's claims about the election are likely to figure prominently in Dominion's case, with the company arguing that the network broadcast the fraud claims despite knowing them to be false. A date for the trial has been set for April. Fox News championed Trump's presidency, but came under intense pressure from the former president and his aides after calling Arizona for Biden, a turning point on election night from which Trump never recovered. Afterwards, Fox News hosts and Trump allies pushed election-fraud claims on the network, often unchallenged. In a statement to The Times, Fox News defended Scott's record at the network and said that the discussion of the election fraud claims on the network was protected under the First Amendment. "There is nothing more newsworthy than covering the president of the United States and his lawyers making allegations," Fox News Media said in a statement to the Times. https://www.businessinsider.com/fox-news-ceo-privately-doubted-trump-election-fraud-claims-nyt-2022-10?r=US&IR=T

PS5 and PS4 fans have been delivered another sign that Sony could have a PlayStation Showcase for 2022 just around the corner. For the past few years Sony has held a PlayStation Showcase each September which has revealed major PS4 and PS5 games news. These high-profile events have been used to drop huge announcements like the reveal of Spider-Man 2 and the Wolverine game, as well as the initial announcement on God of War Ragnarok. The biggest news of the year is usually held for a PlayStation Showcase, so when September 2022 rolled around it was thought Sony would be sticking to its annual schedule and holding another big event that month. However, that wasn't the case with the PlayStation makers instead holding a State of Play stream. Still, fans are hoping there could be a big PS4 and PS5 games event before the year is up - and signs keep on pointing towards it. Just recently Express.co.uk reported on how Final Fantasy 16 producer Naoki Yoshida said more news on FF16 would be coming in October. Which may have been hinting towards a PlayStation Showcase, as news on the highly anticipated Square Enix RPG dropped during previous Showcases. And now another subtle tease could have hinted at an upcoming PlayStation Showcase event. This potential tease came from Tommie Earl Jenkins, one of the actor's in Hideo Kojima's Death Stranding. At the start of this week Jenkins tweeted: "Something’s coming! Are you ready?" This tweet came amid a series of typically cryptic teases from Kojima-san about his next project. These teases feature Super 8 and The Great actress Elle Fanning. It's unclear what project Fanning is involved in, with one option being Kojima's upcoming project for Xbox - which is believed to be a horror game called Overdose. Another option, which Jenkins' tweet could allude to, is a Death Stranding sequel. And if that's about to be announced imminently it could be a sign of a PlayStation Showcase taking place soon. Besides Death Stranding 2 and Final Fantasy 16, there's another game which could feature in a PlayStation Showcase taking place this year. For years now rumours have been swirling around that new Silent Hill projects are in the works. But in recent months these rumours and leaks have kicked into overdrive, which could hints towards an imminent announcement. It's thought a number of new Silent Hill games are in the works including a remake of Silent Hill 2 which is being made by Layers of Fear devs Bloober Team. This is rumoured to be a PS5 exclusive, as is the next mainline Silent Hill game. And it's thought a teaser for this project - which could be a few years away - will be released this year to promote it in the same way that PT was for the defunct Silent Hills game. https://www.express.co.uk/entertainment/gaming/1683019/playstation-showcase-2022-next-ps4-ps5-games-event

nCore Games has partnered with the makers of the upcoming Diwali release Ram Setu. The famous Setu, as mentioned in the Hindu epic text Ramayana, bridges the two countries. The game was launched today on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for mobile. Domestic gaming company nCore Games has partnered with the makers of the upcoming Diwali release Ram Setu to create a new game titled Ram Setu: The Run. The game was launched on October 14 on the Apple App Store and Google Play Store for mobile. In the game players can take on roles of the movie characters – Dr. Aryan Kulshrestha (Akshay Kumar), Sandra (Jacqueline Fernandez), or AP (Satyadev Kancharana). “Ram Setu: The Run, is our attempt at marrying our prowess in game development with a blockbuster IP to bring a polished, entertaining gaming experience that anyone can just pick up and play,” shared Deepak Ail, Co-Founder and CEO of Dot9 Games. “To further underscore our commitment to that, our team has worked hard to ensure it is optimised well enough to be playable even on low-end smartphones as well as tablets. Gaming is for everyone and Ram Setu: The Run is our effort in making that a reality.” Ram Setu releases in theatres on October 25. As seen in the movie’s trailer, it’s the story about one man’s race against time who’s on a mission to preserve India’s heritage – Ram Setu – that was built by Lord Rama and his army while they were preparing to conquer Lanka, Ravana’s kingdom, to bring back Sita. The famous Setu, as mentioned in the Hindu epic text Ramayana, bridges the two countries – modern-day India and Sri Lanka. The trailer of the film shows that some forces are trying to remove the existence of the ‘Ram Setu’ but trust Akshay’s character to destroy the intentions of evil people instead. The film looks like an action-adventure, with a bit of ancient history roped in to make it look more engaging and authentic. There are a few scenes that feature ancient caves, giant sculptures, old temples and of course, the ‘setu’ built by the Vanara-army of Lord Ram under the supervision of Lord Hanuman. https://www.bgr.in/news/akshay-kumar-starrer-ram-setu-gets-its-own-made-in-india-adventure-mobile-game-1333056/

This is a fraught world, but we can fight to change it for the better. We can petition FromSoftware to bring back the limited time promo weapon reskins added to Dark Souls 2 in 2014 to hype up The Lost Crowns DLC's⁠ a shocking omission from the Scholar of the First Sin definitive edition of the game. Wait, what did you have in mind? Illusory Wall, the Dark Souls content creator behind the petition, released a video today covering the history of the promo weapons. I have fond memories of this time⁠. After the release of Dark Souls 2 in Spring 2014, it was quickly followed by a DLC trilogy released over the summer, The Lost Crowns. There was this great sense of mystery and excitement as the game got these huge updates each month, and this was enhanced by the promo weapons. In the lead up to the release of each DLC, a chest in the hub area of Majula would be updated to contain a unique reskin of one of the game's base weapons. With Crown of the Sunken King, it got a dark blue steel Murakumo curved greatsword, while later additions include a snow-white katana and a one-handed blade colored after the series' iconic Moonlight Greatsword. After each weapon cycled out, it was impossible to get again via normal means. The reskinned weapons were not brought back in the Scholar of the First Sin GOTY edition/remix of Dark Souls 2. I recently replayed Scholar, and I know my experience could have benefitted from a blue Murakumo. In addition to going into greater detail on the timeline and background of the weapon skins in the video, Illusory Wall points out that their absence does undermine Scholar's status as the "definitive" version of Dark Souls 2. To address this, the YouTube has launched that Change.org petition for FromSoft to add the weapons back to the Majula chest⁠ potentially as a promotional tie-in for Dark Souls 2's servers coming back online (that's still happening, right?) The petition's just passed 1,900 signatures at the time of writing. Is it a little silly? Perhaps. Is it also very funny? Definitely. Would I like to be reunited with my beloved blue Murakumo? You'd better believe it. If you're interested in Illusory Walls' other videos, the YouTuber's been running an Elden Ring Dissected series on the game's mechanics. These videos began with a particularly illuminating look at the game's fall damage system⁠—it may feel random, but there's actually a method to the madness. https://www.msn.com/en-gb/money/technology/dark-souls-2-fans-are-petitioning-for-the-return-of-long-forgotten-promo-weapons/ar-AA132qUL

BEIJING: China said today that it will delay the release of economic growth figures, as the country’s leadership gathers for a meeting set to hand President Xi Jinping a historic third term in office. The announcement comes a day before China had been expected by analysts to announce some of its weakest quarterly growth figures since 2020, as the economy is hobbled by Covid-19 restrictions and a real estate crisis. Beijing’s National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) announced that the release of growth figures for the third quarter along with a host of other economic data would be “postponed,” without specifying a reason for the delay or giving a new timeline. The postponement comes as officials from China’s ruling communist party gather in Beijing for their 20th Congress, which is set to rubber stamp Xi’s bid to rule for another term. Zhao Chenxin, senior official at the National Development and Reform Commission, told reporters this morning that “the economy rebounded significantly in the third quarter.” “From a global perspective, China’s economic performance is still outstanding,” he said. But many analysts had expected the world’s second-largest economy to struggle to reach its growth target this year of around 5.5%, with the IMF lowering its GDP growth forecast to 3.2% for 2022. A panel of experts polled by AFP last week predicted average growth of 3% in 2022 – a long way off the 8.1% seen in 2021. That would have marked China’s weakest growth rate in four decades, excluding 2020 when the global economy was hammered by the emergence of the coronavirus. Separately, customs authorities delayed the release of September’s trade figures last week, without providing an explanation, while the NBS said today it would also postpone the release of monthly data on indicators including real estate and retail sales. Covid-19 impact China’s economy has been hit particularly hard by the government’s strict ‘Zero Covid’ policy. The country is the last of the world’s major economies to continue to follow the strategy, which imposes tight travel restrictions, mass PCR testing and obligatory quarantines. It also involves sudden and strict lockdowns, including of businesses and factories that have disrupted production and weighed heavily on household consumption. China is also battling an unprecedented crisis in its real estate sector historically a driver of growth in the economy and representative of more than a quarter of the country’s GDP when combined with construction. Following years of explosive growth fuelled by easy access to loans, Beijing launched a crackdown on excessive debt in 2020. Property sales are now falling across the country, leaving many developers struggling and some owners refusing to pay their mortgages for unfinished homes. https://www.freemalaysiatoday.com/category/business/2022/10/17/china-announces-economic-data-release-delay-at-key-political-meeting/

The RSPCA has launched an urgent appeal for foster carers in West Mercia as statistics reveal 700 rescued animals are waiting for a space. The animal welfare charity has today revealed that animals including dogs, cats, rabbits and exotic pets, are currently being held at eight private boarding establishments across the region. It comes as the charity is 'full to bursting' at its 59 rehoming centres across the UK and is spending £26,000 a week for the temporary care of hundreds of rescued animals with private boarders. Now the charity has urged potential foster carers in Shropshire and the rest of the West Mercia region to come forward, to help ease the pressure. Brian Reeves, head of volunteering at the RSPCA, said: “We are struggling. RSPCA centres across England and Wales are full to bursting at the moment which means we’re having to use vital charity funds to pay for animals to be cared for with private boarders. "And have a long waiting list of animals waiting to come into our centres where they can start their search for a new home. “We are in the middle of an animal crisis and we can only see it getting worse over the winter months as the cost of living crisis bites."It’s absolutely vital that we free up as much space in RSPCA centres now, so we’ve got room for animal victims of neglect and cruelty we rescued in the coming weeks and months – and more fosterers is going to be crucial in achieving that. “Getting pets into loving foster homes – especially ahead of the winter months – will be a lifeline to our frontline officers and the animals in danger we need to rescue.” The RSPCA provides foster carers with all the financial, emotional and some logistical support they need in providing temporary care for an animal. This includes any medication the pet may be taking and funding for any ongoing veterinary treatment. Fostering also gives people who would normally be unable to take in an animal long-term, due to other commitments, an alternative and an opportunity to have pets in the home. “Put simply, we urgently need more people willing to open up their homes, and their hearts, to help give dogs, cats and other animals a fresh start in life," Brian added. https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/local-hubs/bridgnorth/2022/10/17/rspca-launches-urgent-drive-for-foster-carers-in-west-mercia-as-it-faces-animal-crisis/

Arrest made in California serial killings while suspect was out 'hunting' for another victim The arrest of a local man in the series of shootings that left six people dead and one wounded has raised as many questions as it has answered in Stockton, California. Police said they received tips from the public that led them to a 43-year-old man whose alleged killing spree began 18 months ago in Oakland, 75 miles west of Stockton. Less than a week later, a woman was shot in Stockton and survived. Fifteen months later came the first of five fatal shootings in Stockton over a span of less than three months. Investigators relying on a tip from a local resident were following his car at 2 a.m. Saturday when they pulled the suspect over, concerned he might be poised to kill again. "He was on a mission to kill. He was out hunting," Stockton Police Chief Stanley McFadden said. "We are sure we stopped another killing." A bride-to-be, a police officer, an avid runner: Remembering Raleigh shooting victims In the aftermath of a shooting that left five people dead in Raleigh, North Carolina, details emerged about the victims as loved ones and a community mourned. A 15-year-old suspect was taken into custody Thursday night after being accused of shooting people in a residential neighborhood before opening fire again along a walking trail. Among those killed are a police officer, an avid marathon runner and a neighborhood social butterfly. One was supposed to get married in two weeks at her dream fall wedding in the mountains. Another was just 16 years old and a junior in high school. Here's what we know about the victims. Feds release preliminary application for student loan forgiveness; relief to come later The federal government released a preliminary application form for its mass student debt cancellation plan late Friday night. Borrowers can submit their applications, but they won’t be processed until later this month. The agency said it would pause the site periodically for maintenance. According to an Education Department spokesperson, the testing period will allow the Department to monitor site performance, test the site ahead of the official application launch, refine processes, and uncover any possible bugs. Under the president’s one-time student debt cancellation plan, borrowers are eligible to receive $10,000 or $20,000 in debt relief depending on their income and whether they received a Pell Grant in college. Borrowers are encouraged to file their forms by Nov. 15. https://sports.yahoo.com/heres-biggest-news-missed-weekend-210309325.html?src=rss

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