FazzNoth

Researchers assessed the feasibility of using a smartphone’s inbuilt microphone to record heart sounds by investigating the quality of smartphone-recorded heart sounds and the factors influencing the quality of the recordings. Overall, three out of four recordings were of good quality, meaning that they could be processed further to obtain medically relevant data. The results indicate that heart sound quality is not influenced by phone version or by the user’s biological sex, but users aged over 60 seemed to have lower-quality recordings. This study paves the way for a future where individuals, particularly those with heart problems, can easily record their own heart sounds at home, thus improving the diagnostic process. Everyone is familiar with the “lub-dub… lub-dub” sounds the heart makes. The reason that the heart makes these sounds is related to its function of circulating blood throughout the body. The heart muscle pumps blood by continuously contracting and relaxing. During contraction of the heart, we hear the “lub” sound, known as the first heart sound, S1, and during relaxation of the heart, we hear the “dub” sound the second heart sound, S2. The traditional tool used by doctors to listen to heart sounds is the stethoscope. Heart sounds may be a useful marker in heart failure, but currently, they are only assessed in a clinical setting. It would be useful for patients to be able to record their own heart sounds when they are at home. One possible way in which heart sounds may be easily captured by individuals in the comfort of their own homes is by using a smartphone with an inbuilt high-quality microphone. To date, several mobile app prototypes for recording heart sounds have been developed and made available to the public, including iStethoscopeTrusted Source and CPstethoscopeTrusted Source. Now, researchers at King’s College London in the United Kingdom and Maastricht University in the Netherlands have conducted a study to investigate the feasibility of using a smartphone as a stethoscope and to assess the potential factors that influence the quality of heart sound recordings. “This research proves that mobile technologies are a viable way of recording heart sounds and that in the future, cardiac patients and doctors could use at-home recordings to check for [the] existence or progression of heart conditions,” says Dr. Pablo Lamata, study co-author and professor of biomedical engineering at King’s College London. Given the scale and speed of our technological advancement during the past few decades, it is no surprise that around 4.68 billion people will use a cell phone by 2019. In the United States, just “40 percent [of general physicians] have evening and weekend working hours,” which may isolate a great number of patients in the U.S. who work 9–5. However, in developing African countries such as Zimbabwe, the situation is much worse. There is just one doctor per 10,000 people. Similar scenarios present themselves in many other developing countries. According to the 2014 Information and Communication Technology Household Survey by the Zimbabwe National Statistics Agency — “at national level, the proportion of households with at least one household member with a [cell phone] at home was about 89 percent compared [with] about 11 percent without.” It may therefore appear intuitive to exploit the growing worldwide po[CENSORED]rity of cell phones and other such personal electronic devices to create more convenient healthcare for all. Indeed, “The proliferation of cell phones across the globe, even in locales without basic healthcare infrastructure, is spurring the growth of mHealth in developing countries,” according to West Wireless Health. However, despite the global advent of electronic health (eHealth) and, more specifically, mobile health (mHealth) during the past couple of decades, many individuals remain unsure of its uses and benefits. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/322865

Lucid Motors is rolling out its largest software update yet, introducing UX 2.0, which includes improvements throughout the entire vehicle – its flagship Air sedan. New features include “instant-on” glass cockpit and panel displays and the launch of Highway Assist. Lucid Motors ($LCID) is celebrating one year since it officially began production of its first-ever EV model, the Air sedan. While the American automaker has seen its fair share of growing pains and supply chain issues since this time last year, it is finally beginning to bolster Air production and expects to reach its (revised) production target of 6,000-7,000 EVs by year’s end. For those Air sedans that are already out accelerating faster and driving further than pretty much any other EV on the road, they’re due for a software update, and it’s a big one. We are starting to hear the term “Software Defined Vehicle” (or SDV) more and more these days, especially as EVs and their working components become less and less mechanical and more and more computer-based. Lucid Motors states it designed the Air as a true software-defined vehicle with “future-ready hardware” to help the EVs evolve and improve over time, through over-the-air (OTA) updates. Evidence of this potential is present today as Lucid has begun rolling out its UX 2.0 a major software update. What’s new in Lucid Motors’ latest software update? According to Lucid’s press release announcing the software update today, it’s the most robust to date. The American automaker says the update includes enhancements to virtually every user touchpoint in the EV. Senior vice president of digital, Lucid Group Michael Bell elaborated: Here are some highlights of Lucid’s UX 2.0 software update: Glass Cockpit and Pilot Panel Displays “Instant-on” displays – EV is ready to drive as soon as the driver sits and buckles up. New on-screen layout for the Glass Cockpit display, moving most-used apps like Home, Navigation, Media, and Phone to be more ergonomically friendly. Updated Navigation and maps, with turn-by-turn directions now appearing on the center display directly ahead of the driver. More-intelligent prediction of remaining range. More capabilities with Alexa Built-In voice control, such as changing the climate control settings in the rear. More user-friendly browsing for third-party media apps, making it easier to see options and start listening more quickly. DreamDrive and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems Highway Assist with active lane centering and adaptive cruise control. Rear Pedestrian Collision Protection is now also enabled when the vehicle is in Drive and rolling backward. Improvements to visual cues for Park Distance Warning feature. Intelligent Micro Lens Array Headlights High Beam Assist that detects not only other vehicles but other sources of nearby light, automatically switching to low beams when appropriate. Automatic headlight leveling with sensor-based adjustments for height and vehicle angle in relation to the ground. Vehicle Entry and Exit New De-Ice Mode combines defrost, automatic wiper blade movement, and wiper fluid to clear ice that may be obstructing the view through the windshield. A number of measures to make automatic locking and unlocking simpler, more intuitive, and more responsive with both the key fob and Mobile Key. https://electrek.co/2022/10/14/lucid-motors-lcid-launches-largest-software-update-across-entire-ev-to-date/

The Asian giant now joins the US, Russia and China in an exclusive club of 6 countries with nuclear strike and counterstrike capabilities on land, sea and air The SLBM launch was carried out from its first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, the INS Arihant India on Friday successfully tested a ballistic missile fired from its first indigenous nuclear-powered submarine, the defence ministry said, in a boost for its growing strike capabilities. The test of India’s “nuclear deterrence capability” makes it one of six countries – alongside the United States, Britain, Russia, France and China – with nuclear strike and counterstrike capabilities on land, sea and air. The submarine-launched ballistic missile (SLBM) underlined India’s push towards building its own military hardware. The Asian giant is one of the largest arms importers in the world and still heavily relies on hardware from Moscow, its largest and oldest military supplier for decades. Pretty sure the Indian nuke-capable missile launched from nuclear submarine INS Arihant today was a 750-km range K-15 Sagarika. The real big momma, the 4,000 km range K-4, is likely to be tested in the next couple of days. The launch “is significant to prove crew competency and validate” the ballistic missile submarines – “a key element of India’s nuclear deterrence capability”, the ministry statement said. It added that “all operational and technological parameters of the weapon system” fired from INS Arihant in the Bay of Bengal had been passed. India has fought wars and has long-standing border disputes with its nuclear-armed neighbours arch-rival Pakistan and China. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government recently unveiled the first batch of Indian-made attack helicopters, designed for use in high-altitude areas like the Himalayas, where its troops clashed with China in 2020. In September it debuted its first locally made aircraft carrier, a milestone in efforts to counter China’s increasing military assertiveness in the region. The INS Vikrant is one of the world’s biggest naval vessels at a length of 262 metres (860 feet) and entered service after 17 years of construction and tests. https://www.scmp.com/news/asia/south-asia/article/3196059/india-successfully-tests-ballistic-missile-submarine

New Chancellor Jeremy Hunt has warned there will be “difficult decisions” ahead on tax and spending on Saturday. Speaking to Sky News, Mr Hunt said he will “have to make some very difficult decisions ahead” in order to balance the books. He said: “Spending will not go up as much as people want and there’ll be more efficiencies to find and we won’t have the speed of tax cuts we’re hoping for, and some taxes will have to go up. That’s the reality of the very challenging situation we face.” Although ruling out austerity-like cuts, Mr Hunt said the Government will need to made “very difficult decisions” following the fallout from the mini-Budget. Allies of the Prime Minister were attempting to shore up her position on Friday evening, with Deputy Prime Minister, Thérèse Coffey, holding a Zoom call with Tory MPs. The call was reportedly poorly attended. Lord Hague, who led the Tory Party in opposition from 1997 to 2001, told Times Radio her time as PM “hangs by a thread” saying “It’s been a catastrophic episode.” “These were her policies too. And plenty of warning was given by many of us about what would happen if we had unfunded tax cuts and whether it would be financially and politically sustainable,” he said. Lauren McEvatt, a former Conservative special adviser under David Cameron, said the “smartest decision” Liz Truss made was appointing Jeremy Hunt. Ms McEvatt said: “The smartest decision that Liz Truss has made in her entire premiership was appointing Jeremy Hunt yesterday. Conversely, potentially the dumbest thing he has ever done was taking the job.” She said Mr Hunt is an “adult” who understands what the job requires. “What he said on the news this morning is very much a wholesale reversal of everything Liz Truss has tried to achieve over the course of the last several weeks,” Ms McEvatt added. “Mentioning that there are going to have spending cuts, mentioning that there might have to be tax rises. “This is exactly what the market needed to hear in order to work out how on Earth the government was going to fill the £60m gap that was left… after the mini-budget.” https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/london-politics-latest-live-jeremy-hunt-warns-of-e2-80-98tough-decisions-e2-80-99-ahead-as-he-begins-new-role/ar-AA12Za2w

Oxygen levels in the Earth’s atmosphere are likely to have “fluctuated wildly” one billion years ago, creating conditions that could have accelerated the development of early animal life, according to new research.  Scientists believe atmospheric oxygen developed in three stages, starting with what is known as the Great Oxidation Event around two billion years ago, when oxygen first appeared in the atmosphere. The third stage, around 400 million years ago, saw atmospheric oxygen rise to levels that exist today.  What is uncertain is what happened during the second stage, in a time known as the Neoproterozoic Era, which started about one billion years ago and lasted for around 500 million years, during which time early forms of animal life emerged.   The question scientists have tried to answer is - was there anything extraordinary about the changes to oxygen levels in the Neoproterozoic Era that may have played a pivotal role in the early evolution of animals – did oxygen levels suddenly rise or was there a gradual increase?  Fossilised traces of early animals - known as Ediacaran biota, multi-celled organisms that required oxygen - have been found in sedimentary rocks that are 541 to 635 million years old.    To try and answer the question, a research team at the University of Leeds supported by the Universities of Lyon, Exeter and UCL, used measurements of the different forms of carbon, or carbon isotopes, found in limestone rocks taken from shallow seas. Based on the isotope ratios of the different types of carbon found, the researchers were able to calculate photosynthesis levels that existed millions of years ago and infer atmospheric oxygen levels.  As a result of the calculations, they have been able to produce a record of oxygen levels in the atmosphere over the last 1.5 billion years, which tells us how much oxygen would have been diffusing into the ocean to support early marine life. Dr Alex Krause, a biogeochemical modeller who completed his PhD in the School of Earth and Environment at Leeds and was the lead scientist on the project, said the findings give a new perspective on the way oxygen levels were changing on Earth.  He added: “The early Earth, for the first two billion years of its existence, was anoxic, devoid of atmospheric oxygen. Then oxygen levels started to rise, which is known as the Great Oxidation Event.   “Up until now, scientists had thought that after the Great Oxidation Event, oxygen levels were either low and then shot up just before we see the first animals evolve, or that oxygen levels were high for many millions of years before the animals came along. “But our study shows oxygen levels were far more dynamic. There was an oscillation between high and low levels of oxygen for a long time before early forms of animal life emerged. We are seeing periods where the ocean environment, where early animals lived, would have had abundant oxygen - and then periods where it does not.  Dr Benjamin Mills, who leads the Earth Evolution Modelling Group at Leeds and supervised the project, said: “This periodic change in environmental conditions would have produced evolutionary pressures where some life forms may have become extinct and new ones could emerge.”  Dr Mills said the oxygenated periods expanded what are known as “habitable spaces” – parts of the ocean where oxygen levels would have been high enough to support early animal life forms.  He said: “It has been proposed in ecological theory that when you have a habitable space that is expanding and contracting, this can support rapid changes to the diversity of biological life.  “When oxygen levels decline, there is severe environmental pressure on some organisms which could drive extinctions. And when the oxygen-rich waters expand, the new space allows the survivors to rise to ecological dominance.  “These expanded habitable spaces would have lasted for millions of years, giving plenty of time for ecosystems to develop.” https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/967743

Unrelenting inflation has dashed hopes for a quick pivot away from aggressive interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve, which in turn is undermining the U.S. corporate earnings outlook for 2023 and fueling debate about whether the next major financial crisis might be on the way. September’s hotter-than-expected consumer-price index report, which included the seventh consecutive 8%-plus annual headline inflation rate, left little doubt that persistent price pressures are here to stay through at least year-end. Economists and traders are now putting a 5% fed-funds rate target on the map for next year, a level seen as having negative ramifications for corporate earnings and the stock market. It might also raise concerns over a possible meltdown in markets and the economy on the scale of the 2007-2009 Great Financial Crisis and recession.As the third-quarter bank earnings season kicked off on Friday with announcements by JPMorgan Chase & Co. JPM, Citigroup Inc. C, Wells Fargo & Co. WFC and Morgan Stanley MS there was still a modicum of hope that other corporate results might hold up for now. Stocks also managed to pull off a shocking rally on Thursday despite September’s hot inflation reading, which analysts attributed to short-covering by investors following a six-session selloff that left the S&P 500 at its lowest close since November 2020 on Wednesday. Still, “everyone understands that earnings estimates for next year with 8% being the consensus estimate for 2023 earnings growth compared to 2022 are kind of fantasy at this point,” said Dan Eye, chief investment officer at Fort Pitt Capital Group in Harrisburg, Pa., which oversees $5 billion in assets. “I don’t think any strategist or analyst who follows the market closely really anticipates that earnings are going to hold up into 2023. We are in a situation where it’s a matter of how far they need to be marked down.” Meanwhile, the S&P 500 index continues to trade in “a falling channel” that’s been in place since mid-August, according to Fiona Cincotta, a senior financial markets analyst at City Index in London. Friday’s drop below 3,600 in the S&P 500 keeps sellers “hopeful of further downside,” while a break below 3,490 would open the door to the 3,390 level reached in February 2020, she said. The September CPI report “confirms fears that inflation is much stickier and much more embedded in the economy than perhaps we thought beforehand and that the process to lower inflation is going to be much longer than initially expected,” Cincotta said via phone. “That means the Federal Reserve will need to hike rates more aggressively for longer, which is going to be bad news for economic growth and means a recession is more likely.” Equities are trading at levels that imply “a more aggressive Fed and higher interest rates for a longer period of time.” With stock prices still 17.8 times per-share earnings by her estimates, though, Cincotta sees a “good chance” of another 10% drop in equities over the next few months as earnings on consumer-discretionary companies get hit especially hard. She said the S&P would need to get back above 3,800 for her to change her mind. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/why-risk-of-lower-2023-earnings-spells-bad-news-for-stock-market-as-inflation-crushes-fed-pivot-hopes/ar-AA12ZvIV

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Revolution and independence At the Congress of Vienna, in 1815, Belgium (The Southern Netherlands) and the Northern Netherlands (Holland) were united to form one State. This new state was ruled by King William I. Although his policy was beneficial to the Belgian bourgeoisie, there was protest. The Catholics objected against the interference of the protestant king in clerical matters. The Liberals demanded more freedom. In 1828 Catholics and Liberals drew up a concerted programme of demands. The association between Catholics and Liberals was called unionism. After a series of incidents, the revolution erupted in Brussels in 1830. William I sent in his troops, but they were expelled on September 27th, 1830. The rebels received support from volunteers outside the city. Following this rising Belgium separated from the Northern Netherlands. A provisional government declared independence on October 4th, 1830. On November 3th of the same year, a National Congress was elected by an electorate of 30,000 men, who paid a given level of taxes or who had special qualifications. On February 7th, 1831 the national congress adopted a constitution which, for its time, was very progressive. 1830 to 1908 A diplomatic conference on the future of Belgium opened in London on the November 4th. The great powers of the time recognised the secession of Belgium from the (Northern) Netherlands. Leopold I of Saxe-Coburg became the first King of the Belgians (1831 - 1865). In 1865 he was succeeded by his son Leopold II (1865 - 1909). Under their reign Belgium became the second most important industrial power. Both kings wanted to secure Belgium's economic independence by promoting colonial expeditions, but they were not successful in this until the end of the 19th century. It was at this time that Leopold II backed expeditions by Henry Stanley to the Congo basin. He entered into agreements with local chiefs which resulted in a confederation of states. At first the Belgian government and parliament had no hand in the king's operations. Since Leopold II had been the first occupant of areas in Central Africa, he held a strong position at the Conference of Berlin in 1884. His demands were met. In 1885 the Belgian parliament agreed that Leopold II should become the head of state of the Congo. In 1908 control of Congo was transferred to the Belgian state. World Wars Although the great powers forced Belgium to remain neutral when it became independent, it couldn't escape World War I. The Belgian army under the command of King Albert I (1909 - 1934) was too small a match for the Germans, it nevertheless could managed to halt the enemy at the river Yser. Belgium suffered greatly during the war. The Yser region was laid waste. The years after the war were very difficult. The international economic crisis affected the country. When Adolf Hitler came to power in Germany, the dangers posed by that country rose again. From 1936 onwards Belgium took a neutral stance, just as it had done before the 1914 - 1918 war, but Germany invaded again on May 10th, 1940. After 18 days king Leopold III (1934 - 1951) decided to capitulate. This decision provoked a rupture with the government. After the war the royal question dominated politics. In 1951 Leopold III abdicated in favour of his son Baudouin I. This king reigned until his death in 1993. On August 9th, 1993 his brother Albert II became the sixth King of the Belgians. A federal state The question of relations between the communities has played a highly important part in recent Belgian history. Following four state reforms Belgium was transformed into a federal state. The political scene is also dominated by economic problems and increased internationalisation. Belgium played an important role in the creation of the Belgian-Luxembourg Economic Union, the Benelux and the European Union. As a member of the United Nations, and in the service of world peace, Belgium often sends its troops on peace missions or sends its observers to areas over the world. https://www.belgium.be/en/about_belgium/country/history/belgium_from_1830

After Samsung, Apple and Google, Motorola has now revealed device-wise 5G update availability details, which will give some sense of relief to those users who have been waiting to experience the latest network. A lot of 5G-compatible phones in India require an update from the manufacturer to enable support for radio frequencies of 5G. Motorola has confirmed that it has already started pushing out a software update to enable 5G support on phones. While big tech brands like Apple are promising to offer the update in December, the Lenovo-owned company is aiming to roll out support for all Motorola devices by the first week of November. "Motorola 5G smartphones in India, across categories, have hardware support for 11 to 13 5G bands including all 8 Sub 6 GHz 5G bands that have been announced in India. We have already started the roll-out of OTA software updates for enabling 5G across both SA (Reliance Jio) and NSA (Airtel & Vi) 5G modes, simultaneously on Motorola devices, enabling consumers to experience seamless 5G across operators," Prashanth Mani, Executive Director, Motorola Asia Pacific, said in a statement. "Our updates on the recently launched Motorola Edge 30 Ultra and Edge 30 Fusion have already been rolled out and other Motorola 5G devices will be receiving the updates in subsequent weeks, targeting completion by the first week of November 2022," he added. The list revealed by the company shows that the updates for Moto Edge 30 Ultra and Moto Edge 30 Fusion are already available, so users can head to their phone's settings section > software update to download it. Other handsets such as Moto G62 5G, Moto G82 5G, and Moto Edge 30 will receive the 5G update on October 25. The Moto G71 5G, Moto Edge 30 Pro, Moto G51 5G, Moto Edge 20 Pro, Moto Edge 20, and Moto Edge 20 Fusion will get it on November 5. Other smartphone brands like Samsung have promised to push out an update for most of the devices in November, which is next month. Google is planning to drop a software update for the Pixel 6a in December, and it will also bring some features of the Pixel 7 series. OnePlus is yet to reveal a timeline for its 5G phones. https://www.msn.com/en-in/lifestyle/shopping/motorola-reveals-device-wise-5g-update-availability-details-check-out-when-your-phone-will-get-it/ar-AA12Uv6m

Unity continues to perform strongly in the gaming segment as it attracts increasing number of creators and brings in customers from large studios to independent freelancers. The company looks set to expand into non-gaming segments as more customers gain awareness of new use cases of its software engine, in sectors like film and automotive. With a strong ecosystem made of multiple partnerships and a large user base, Unity is set to continue to benefit from the competitive advantages that it has built through scale. My 1-year target price for Unity is $49.45, implying an upside potential of about 60% from current levels. At a time when growth companies are currently out of favour, I think that investors can potentially benefit from buying Unity Software (NYSE:U), given that valuations are more reasonable today compared to the sky high valuations during the earlier stock mania. I aim to take a deeper dive into Unity, provide readers with a better understanding of its business, where its competitive strengths lie and what are the key opportunities and risks ahead for the company. Investment thesis Unity has rather promising prospects in the future in both its gaming and non-gaming sector. In the gaming sector, I think that Unity will continue to remain a market leader in the segment, becoming a game engine of choice for game developers around the world as it continues to invest in its capabilities and innovate. For its non-gaming segments, there are signs that other non-gaming companies are increasingly seeing the benefit of incorporating Unity's software engine to create 3D content that suits different industries' needs. Furthermore, I think that the scale that Unity has built over the years through entering into new strategic partnerships with new partners and continuous push for new creator growth, the strong ecosystem that has been created brings stronger engagement levels and a strong network effect that will likely benefit Unity for the years to come, in my view. As such, I think that Unity looks interesting at the current valuation level. Overview Unity started off as a game engine for game developers. It provides a platform for creating as well as operating interactive real-time 2D and 3D content. It software. Its platform comprises of 2 segments, the Create Solutions and the Operate Solutions. As can be seen below, approximately 30% of its revenues comes from Create Solutions, while 64% of its revenues comes from Operate Solutions. While Create Solutions has traditionally started off as more targeted at the gaming industry, it is shifting the focus to other industries other than gaming. On the other hand, Operate Solutions is typically only applicable to the gaming industry. I think it's important to note also that while the 2 segments are distinct, they are connected in that most of the customers that are using Unity's Create Solutions are also using its Operate Solutions and vice versa. As of end 2021, Unity has 1.6 million monthly active creators that uses its platform to develop and design interactive real time 2D and 3D content. The pricing structure varies from a free personal account to 3 other tiered paid subscription plans. The revenues from the segment are derived on a per-seat basis. With Unity plus, the company aims to target smaller businesses as well as independent customers, with a price of $40 per month per seat, while with the Unity pro plan, it targets customers with annual revenues more than $200,000 and provides more tools and services and has a price tag of $150 per month per seat. Lastly, Unity Enterprise focuses on customers with larger times and greater need for customisation, and it costs $200 per month per seat. For both the Unity Personal and Student plans, these plans are meant to support creators that have less than $100,000 in revenues and are verified students, respectively. Unity's software engine helps to simplify as well as accelerate the creation of content and allows developers to port code easily across different devices like iOS, Xbox, and Android, amongst others. Unity's engine was initially designed for developers of video games and it competes with other companies that also have game engines like Epic Games' Unreal Engine, and Chukong Technologies' Cocos2d-x. Epic Games is commonly seen as Unity's rival given its Unreal engine that competes with Unity's own game engine. While Epic game's Unreal Engine has a lower market share than Unity, it is regarded as the key engine competitor for games. Unreal engine is known to have better performance for three dimensions as it has better graphics, there is easier use of 3rd party developer tools and pricing is lower. On the other hand, Unity's engine is known to perform better based on its larger community that uses it, the easier programming on the platform and a faster learning curve. As a result, I am of the view that Unreal engine is typically used for more sophisticated and complex games while Unity is typically used for mobile games and by smaller developers. Furthermore, I think that Unreal Engine's pricing is interesting as it does not charge a fee on its customers unless the lifetime revenue crosses the $1 million mark, and thereafter a 5% fee is imposed on the game's annual revenues. As a result, I continue to think that Unreal Engine's key motive is then to attract creators to create successful games on its platform that eventually becomes big, incentivising customers to potentially use its "free" platform to create new content that may eventually become fee paying if it generates enough revenues. That said, Unity continues to attract large and global customers as its customers, like Electronic Arts (EA),Tencent (OTCPK:TCEHY), Take-Two (TTWO), Nintendo (OTCPK:NTDOY), amongst others. It also attracts other smaller and medium game studios as well as independent publishers to its platform. Some of the big game titles that have been developed on Create Solutions include Tencent's Arena of Valor and Honor of Kings and Niantic's Pokémon GO. As a result of a growing number of use cases for real time 3D content, Create Solutions aims to target other industries outside of gaming like automotive, film and architecture. One of the automotive companies to work with Unity is Hyundai Motor (OTCPK:HYMLF), which is partnering with Unity to create a digital twin factory, while eBay (EBAY) is working with Unity to pilot a new 3D true view technology. Lastly, for the film industry, Unity acquired Weta Digital in 2021 and with this acquisition, Unity bought capabilities needed to expand from game software to film software, further complementing its suite of offerings. As Weta Digital was founded by Peter Jackson, a very well regarded name in the film industry, the company's software tools are also top tier, in my view. This is because they were actually used in many films like Lord of the Rings, Game of Thrones, King Kong and Avatar. Given that these films were all well received and award-winning films, I am of the view that Weta Digital will bring substantial benefit to Unity as it brings a world class film software capability to its business, as well as its film studio customers to Unity. https://seekingalpha.com/article/4546295-unity-software-stock-attractive-risk-reward

This week, almost a year after the company formerly known as Facebook was pivoting to become Meta, that company announced the arrival of its latest physical product, the Meta Quest Pro. Known earlier by the code name Project Cambria, the Meta Quest Pro is touted by the company as “a major leap forward for VR hardware,” on top of the already-existing Quest device. The product will arrive on October 25 at a retail price of $1,499.99. “We believe VR devices will help usher in the next computing platform becoming as ubiquitous as laptops and tablets are today—and that people will use them in their everyday lives to access the metaverse,” the company said. "With its cutting-edge technologies, Meta Quest Pro represents an important step toward that future. We designed it to expand the possibilities of both VR and mixed reality. And to do that, you need truly innovative hardware." In addition, the company announced that it was partnering with Microsoft to bring Microsoft Teams and Windows 365 to the new device. "On Tuesday—nearly a year after renaming Facebook Inc. as Meta Platforms Inc. to signal a focus on virtual worlds—the company announced the Quest Pro. The new virtual-reality headset has substantial improvements over the $400 Quest 2 headset, which will remain on sale. It’s more comfortable. It has better display quality and new controllers. And it tracks your eyes and your face, so your avatar can now make the same funny faces you do,” Stern wrote. Stern also argued for calling the device a “face computer” instead of a headset. “But this isn’t really about fun. Unlike other companies who casually throw around the ‘Pro’ label, Meta is really aiming this at professionals. The new features are for architects, engineers, and designers, along with early adopters who just want to move beyond flat screens. Meta is taking orders starting Tuesday, and said the headset will begin reaching customers on Oct. 25. The company will begin direct sales to businesses at a later date.” Counterpoint Research on Wednesday argued that the device is more likely to appeal to enterprise users than gamers. “To justify the steep price, the Quest Pro packs more features as well as a sleeker design than the Quest 2 (its optic stack is 40% slimmer). It has 10 advanced VR/MR sensors, spatial audio, pancake lenses, 256GB storage, 12GB RAM, and a new Snapdragon XR2+ processor. The Meta Quest Touch Pro controllers that accompany it have three cameras and Snapdragon 662 mobile processors,” Senior Analyst Harmeet Singh Walia said in a blog post. “It also has a better display than the Quest 2’s, although, LCD displays (even if with 37% more PPI and 75% more contrast than Quest 2) may not signal value for money to users who will likely find superior displays in Apple’s upcoming MR device or Sony’s much cheaper PlayStation VR2.” Stephen Silver, a technology writer for The National Interest, is a journalist, essayist and film critic, who is also a contributor to The Philadelphia Inquirer, Philly Voice, Philadelphia Weekly, the Jewish Telegraphic Agency, Living Life Fearless, Backstage magazine, Broad Street Review and Splice Today. The co-founder of the Philadelphia Film Critics Circle, Stephen lives in suburban Philadelphia with his wife and two sons. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/techland-when-great-power-competition-meets-digital-world/meta-unveils-meta-quest-pro-‘major

Sceptics say growing the economy favours the rich while Liz Truss claims everyone benefits Conservative politicians are “openly plotting how to put this government out of its misery”, an unnamed MP told the i news site, following a meeting between the prime minister and the 1922 Committee that backbenchers described as “painful”, “awful”, “funereal” and “brutal”, according to The Spectator. Amid ongoing economic turmoil following Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng’s mini-budget, many MPs and commentators are wondering whether Truss can deliver the economic growth that has been at the heart of her message. Others are questioning whether growth is the right goal for the country. What did the papers say? Economic growth refers to an increase in a country’s gross domestic product, or GDP – the total value of goods and services produced over a specific period. It matters because “sustained rises in GDP have been shown, over the course of history, to improve our health, our wealth and our happiness”, said Andy Haldane, the Bank of England’s chief economist. In the post-war period there was a “good reason” to pursue growth, wrote Michael Jacobs in The Guardian, because it gave us “falling unemployment, rising incomes, lower inequality, higher tax revenues to pay for public services”, and “even some environmental improvement”. However, said Jacobs, professor of political economy at the University of Sheffield, growth averaged around 2% a year from 2010 to 2019, “but disposable income has barely increased”. Why? Because the rise of “rentier capitalism”, in which ownership of land, property and company shares are “highly concentrated”, has meant the benefits of economic growth flow mainly to asset holders, “whose riches grow with no labour or effort on their part”. As a result, he believes “the obsession with GDP has to change”. Matthias Schmelzer, at The New Statesman, also thinks Truss’s “focus on economic growth is politically misleading, economically wrong-headed and profoundly outdated”. The economic historian and social theorist believes her plan is “concealing a radical agenda of austerity” that will lead to fewer planning regulations and “lower social and ecological standards”. Even if these policies were to achieve growth, it would be “a kind of economic expansion that curtails the prosperity of middle-income voters and further aggravates the ecological crisis”, he argued. At the Financial Times, Tim Harford said that “a fashionable line of attack against Liz Truss’s single-minded focus on growth” is “what about the poor? What about the planet?” But he thinks this is “misguided”. She is “absolutely right to believe that economic growth should be her top priority”, said Harford. “The problem is that she seems to have no idea how to go about it.” He explained that it is “striking how countries with a high GDP also have flourishing citizens”. “Pick your issue, from life expectancy to child mortality, from opportunities for women to the protection of basic human rights, cleaner streets, lower crime, even better-quality art, from TV to opera… somehow, people who live in richer countries are likely to be enjoying more of the good stuff.” Michael R. Strain, director of economic policy studies at the American Enterprise Institute, agreed that Truss is “absolutely right to focus on economic growth” because Britain is the only G7 country with a smaller economy today than in the fourth quarter of 2019, before the pandemic. Writing for The Washington Post, Strain said that slow growth means “fewer opportunities for economic advancement”, “conflict over distribution”, as well as workers’ talents being “underutilised and energy untapped”. Ultimately, he wrote, slow growth means “dimmed aspirations and more modest dreams for the future”. Truss and her chancellor hope to restore public, political and economic confidence in their plans. During the financial turmoil that followed his mini-budget on 23 September, Kwarteng said he would set out his economic plan and an independent forecast of the nation’s finances on 23 November. Following an outcry from backbenchers and the markets, he said he would announce his plan on 31 October. This will “set out how he will fund tax cuts and reduce debt after his mini-budget sparked market turmoil”, said the BBC. An independent forecast of the UK’s economic prospects will be released at the same time. Sky News today suggested that talks were under way in Downing Street “over whether to reverse parts of mini-budget”, but Truss’s aim for “growth, growth, growth” is unlikely to change. https://www.msn.com/en-us/money/markets/will-economic-growth-solve-the-uk-e2-80-99s-problems/ar-AA12VfJc

If you could choose to be alive at any point in human history, you’d be hard-pressed to find a better moment than right now. We’re living longer, richer lives with better access to clean water, education, electricity, and basic human rights than ever before. We can celebrate human progress without becoming complacent after all, there’s never any shortage of bad news to report, and gaping disparities between rich and poor countries will remain far into the future. But McCartney and Lennon were onto something when they sang about things getting better all the time, even if they were talking about love, not life expectancy. But for just about every animal species besides Homo sapiens, today is probably the worst period in time to be alive. According to a new World Wildlife Fund report, wild species po[CENSORED]tions have shrunk on average by 69 percent since the 1970s. And it’s due in large part to the demands of food production: Commercial fishing in the sea, and deforestation on land to make room for cattle grazing and the production of palm oil and animal feed crops. As the report suggests, a not-insignificant amount of human improvement has come at the direct expense of these animals, with rapid human po[CENSORED]tion growth and all those people leading longer, richer lives creating a surge in demand for cheap meat over the last 60 years. And producing all that cheap meat uses up a lot of land once occupied by wildlife. The irony is that while po[CENSORED]tions of wild animals are clearly declining, numbers of domesticated animals chickens, pigs, cows, and farmed fish — have been booming to meet the demands of a rising human po[CENSORED]tion. Yet many of those farmed animals live lives of such intense, concentrated suffering in our industrialized agriculture system that they arguably have it even worse than their disappearing wild cousins. Human prosperity and animal suffering exist in a kind of twisted symbiosis: Economic growth leads to more food production and consumption, which in turn results in faster po[CENSORED]tion growth and longer life expectancy, which then requires more intensive, factory-farmed meat to satiate growing po[CENSORED]tions. The cycle has been miraculous for humans. For all the problems of our global food system including a recent rise in world hunger due to the Covid-19 pandemic and price hikes for grain caused by the war in Ukraine far fewer people are undernourished today than they were in the 1970s, and the specter of famine has largely diminished. But the cycle has been disastrous for the environment and animals, as hundreds of billions of them are now raised on factory farms each year, accounting for about 15 percent of global greenhouse gas emissions. Growing prosperity and human po[CENSORED]tion have also meant that more and more animals are being used in testing for drug development and consumer products, and that deforestation of massive areas of wildlife habitat is increasing primarily for beef and livestock feed. But it’s not all doom and gloom. An exception to this rule that some of human flourishing has come at the cost of animal welfare — is pets; US euthanasia rates at pet shelters have plummeted since the 1970s. Despite a general decline in wildlife po[CENSORED]tions, many wild species’ po[CENSORED]tions are stable or increasing. And perhaps more consequentially, we’re at the start of what might be a moral revolution in our relationship to other animals. Countries are passing laws to ban the worst factory farming practices; leading philosophers are calling for an expansion of who we include in our moral circle; and scientists are building technologies that could one day eliminate the use of animals for food, medical research, and textiles. Though currently low levels of meat consumption across Asia, Africa, and Latin America are projected to skyrocket in the coming decades, they’ll likely still be much lower than consumption in the West. But meat eating seems to have more or less peaked, or will at least grow very slowly, in richer parts of the world like the US and Europe. Some countries, like Germany and Sweden, are actually starting to eat less of it overall, thanks in part to heightened campaigning over the environmental toll of meat production. The European Commission projects a 4 percent decline in per capita meat consumption within the bloc by 2031. However, declining consumption is relative. Recent figures show Sweden’s per capita meat consumption is almost five times that of Pakistan’s, while the average German eats about as much meat in a month as the average Nigerian does in a year. But just as some countries have figured out how to decouple greenhouse gas emissions from economic growth improving quality of life while lowering the national carbon footprint someday we might do the same for animal welfare. We’ve made 11 charts that lay out the grim case for how human progress has too often come at the expense of animal welfare, while indicating some hope for a future where both humans and domesticated animals can flourish together. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/world/how-the-world-has-gotten-much-worse-for-animals/ar-AA11JkDH

Taking exception to the reported move to close down the regional news unit (Pradesh Samachar wing) at All India Radio, Dharwad, Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha has threatened to launch an agitation if the Centre went ahead with the plan to close down the news unit. Addressing presspersons in Dharwad on Thursday, working president of Karnatak Vidyavardhak Sangha Basavaprabhu Hosakeri said that every Kannadiga of the region will oppose the decision to wind up the regional news unit at Dharwad AIR and shift it to Bengaluru. The sangha will oppose any such move and urge the Union government to immediately drop the idea, he said. Mr. Hosakeri said that Dharwad AIR has several national awards to its credit for holding unique programmes promoting the rich art, culture, music and literature of this region. This apart, it has encouraged several artistes of the region to become national and international artists by providing them a platform. Any move to shift the regional news unit to Bengaluru will be an injustice to the whole region, he said. The sangha will urge the government to fill vacant posts at the regional news unit and strengthen it instead of shifting the news unit, he said. Deadline President of the sangha and former MLA Chandrakanth Bellad said that the sangha has set November 1 as deadline for the Union government to revoke its decision on closing down the news unit. If not, the sangha, along with the people of the region, will be forced to launch an agitation against such discrimination, he said. Senior writers Guruling Kapse, Malati Pattanshetti, Venkatesh Machaknur, Shankar Halgatthi and others said that they will urge Union Minister for Parliamentary Affairs, Coal and Mines Pralhad Joshi to intervene and prevail upon the Centre to ensure that the regional news unit continues to operate from Dharwad. Resolution The sangha has passed a resolution on writing letters to all members of Parliament from the State and also to the Prime Minister in this regard urging them to continue the regional news unit at Dharwad AIR. https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/move-to-wind-up-regional-news-unit-at-dharwad-air-upsets-sangha/article66006592.ece

Nickname: @FazzNoth Video author: GeneracionActual Name of the game: WWE 2K22 Link video: Rate this video 1-10: -

Vivo X90 series may get Qualcomm Snapdragon and MediaTek Dimensity-powered variants. Vivo X90 series is said to include the vanilla Vivo X90, Vivo X90 Pro, and Vivo X90 Pro+. There have been rumours suggesting that this flagship lineup from Vivo could debut by the end of this year. A tipster has now hinted that the Vivo X90 series could launch in China in December. The tipster suggests that these are the last Vivo smartphones slated to arrive in 2022. They are expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 SoC, however, the company may also announce MediaTek Dimensity chipset-powered variants. According to a post by tipster Assen on Weibo, the Vivo X90 series will be the final line of products released by the company in 2022. This lineup has supposedly stolen the spot from Vivo S16 series, which may have been delayed to 2023. Furthermore, December is believed to also mark the end of the Vivo X80 production cycle. The tipster points out that Vivo usually takes about a month to clear out the inventory before unveiling a new product. However, it is believed that the Vivo X80 is not posing pressure on the inventory and could thus allow the company to launch its successor, the Vivo X90 series, in the same month. According to a post by tipster Assen on Weibo, the Vivo X90 series will be the final line of products released by the company in 2022. This lineup has supposedly stolen the spot from Vivo S16 series, which may have been delayed to 2023. Furthermore, December is believed to also mark the end of the Vivo X80 production cycle. The tipster points out that Vivo usually takes about a month to clear out the inventory before unveiling a new product. However, it is believed that the Vivo X80 is not posing pressure on the inventory and could thus allow the company to launch its successor, the Vivo X90 series, in the same month. https://gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/vivo-x90-series-pro-plus-launch-december-tipped-3411426

Wear OS 3.5 is the biggest update for Wear OS smartwatches yet. In partnership with Samsung, it offers faster app load times, fitness tracking powered by Fitbit's technology, a redesigned interface, and more. Its debut was announced alongside the Pixel 7 and 7 Pro at Google's event in October 2022, where the Pixel Watch was showcased. It’s an important upgrade that could breathe new life into the operating system – if consumers and smartwatch makers embrace it. Below you’ll find full details of everything Wear OS 3.5 offers, along with information on when, where, and how you can get it. Wear OS 3 release date Wear OS 3 was announced at Google's I/O developer conference in May 2021, and first became available in August 2021. At Google's event in October 2022, Wear OS 3.5 was announced alongside the Pixel Watch, showcasing features from Fit Bit that enables far more fitness features than previously offered. Wear OS 3 compatibility Despite being available since 2021, there are currently very few smartwatches that actually run Wear OS 3. In fact, at the time of writing you can only get it on the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 Classic, and the – very expensive – Montblanc Summit 3. No previously available smartwatches have yet received a software update to Wear OS 3, but some will do; with the Fossil Gen 6, Michael Kors Gen 6, Skagen Falster Gen 6, Razer X Fossil Gen 6, TicWatch Pro 3, TicWatch Pro 3 Ultra, and TicWatch E3 all theoretically getting updated before the end of 2022. Some of the current crop of the best smartwatches may well get updated as well, but no other devices have been confirmed yet. We’re also expecting new smartwatches to launch running Wear OS 3 before too long, including the Google Pixel Watch and the Samsung Galaxy Watch 5 line. Note that to use a Wear OS 3 watch you also need a compatible operating system on your phone. In theory it works with both iOS and Android, but at the time of writing only the Montblanc Summit 3 includes iOS support – the Galaxy Watch 4 line doesn’t, and neither the Pixel Watch nor the Galaxy Watch 5 line are expected to. Wear OS 3 features There’s plenty to see in Wear OS 3.5, but it’s worth noting that not every feature will be available on every watch. Notably, the Samsung Galaxy Watch 4 line runs One UI Watch on top of Wear OS, which changes the look and some aspects of the user interface. Below, you’ll find a rundown of stock Wear OS 3.5 features – functionality you can expect to find on the Pixel Watch, and any other Wear OS 3.5 wearable that hasn’t been extensively customized, like Samsung's current Galaxy Watch series, where you can expect to find more variation. Faster and longer lasting Google first partnered with Samsung to build Wear OS 3.5(opens in new tab), and the result is a combination of Wear OS 2 and Samsung’s Tizen-based wearable operating system; with some new features dropped in for good measure. Key improvements that have come from this collaboration include app load times that are up to 30% faster (than Wear OS 2) and improved battery life. That latter improvement makes it more viable to do things like run the heart rate monitor all day or track your sleep without needing a charge first thing in the morning, every morning. Wear OS 3 also brings about interface changes, with Google focusing on making it quicker and easier to operate your wearable. Nobody wants to spend ages swiping through menus on a watch's relatively small display, so there’s a focus on shortcuts and gesture controls; along with the ability to use Tiles (basically, mini widgets) to customize your watch’s home screen carousel in more ways than before. You’ll also have quick access to smart home controls in Google Home and be able to quickly switch between in-use apps with a new task switcher. Just as Android smartphone manufacturers can add a custom interface on top of stock Android, smartwatch makers can now pull a similar trick with Wear OS, so the platform won’t necessarily look or behave identically on every smartwatch. This should give buyers more choice and more opportunity to find an interface and features that they really love. One UI Watch, found on the Galaxy Watch 4 line, is an early example of this; it offers a number of Samsung apps and services in addition to Google’s, and draws more parallels with the design of Samsung’s smartphone interface. Google took this opportunity to redesign and improve Google Assistant and Google Maps, as well as adding support for more countries in Google Pay (soon to be replaced by the return of Google Wallet) and bringing YouTube Music to your wrist. Since Google now owns Fitbit it’s no surprise that some of the latter company’s expertise has made it into Wear OS 3. This includes features like on-wrist goal celebrations and various tools for tracking your health progress throughout the day. Exact fitness tracking capabilities will depend on the hardware your smartwatch offers – most but not all include GPS and heart rate monitors, for example – and then there are less common feature,s like ECGs and blood oxygen monitors. Google is also pushing for better third-party app support in a few ways. For one, the company is making it easier for developers to build great apps in the first place; with tools like a new Tiles API and a watch face design editor. On top of that, Google is also aiming to reward developers for high-quality apps – and penalize low-effort ones – by adjusting their search ranking in the Play Store. Google has guidelines for what good Wear OS apps should do, such as making sure they’re formatted for both square and circular screens, having clear and easy to read text, and making the app function without a smartphone or tablet. Above, we’ve detailed ways in which Wear OS 3.5 deviates from and improves on Wear OS 2 but it also retains all the core functionality of that previous platform, such as notifications, timers, alarms, and more. https://www.techradar.com/news/wear-os-3

Apple has today announced a new Savings account for Apple Card users that will let them put away their Daily Cash into a high-yield Goldman Sachs account. In a press release(opens in new tab) the company stated that the new Savings account will let users save their Daily Cash and grow their rewards. The new Savings account will be rolled out "in the coming months" and Apple Card users "will be able to open the new high-yield Savings account and have their Daily Cash automatically deposited into it" with no fees, minimum deposit, or minimum balance requirements. Apple Card Savings “Savings enables Apple Card users to grow their Daily Cash rewards over time, while also saving for the future,” said Jennifer Bailey, Apple’s vice president of Apple Pay and Apple Wallet. You'll be able to set up and manage Savings in the Wallet app for iPhone and can choose to automatically deposit all of your Daily Cash, as well as topping up the savings account with your own money. Savings customers will also be able to withdraw and send money directly from the Apple Savings account. Daily Cash comes from purchases made using Apple Pay at Apple and other select merchants, with up to 3% on offer at some vendors such as Nike Uber, and more. Apple has not said what the precise rate of the new savings account will be beyond "high-yield." Goldman's current high-yield account from Marcus gives users 2.15% interest annually, however there are options that pay as much as 3.25% with more stringent requirements such as a $500 minimum balance. Stephen Warwick has written about Apple for five years at iMore and previously elsewhere. He covers all of iMore's latest breaking news regarding all of Apple's products and services, both hardware and software. Stephen has interviewed industry experts in a range of fields including finance, litigation, security, and more. He also specializes in curating and reviewing audio hardware and has experience beyond journalism in sound engineering, production, and design. Before becoming a writer Stephen studied Ancient History at University and also worked at Apple for more than two years. Stephen is also a host on the iMore show, a weekly podcast recorded live that discusses the latest in breaking Apple news, as well as featuring fun trivia about all things Apple https://www.imore.com/apple/apple-announces-new-high-yield-savings-account-for-apple-card-from-goldman-sachs

The American “National Interest” website published a report comparing the two giant planes: the American B-2 and the Chinese H-20, wondering if the Chinese were competing or superior to the American or He endangered American lands that were inaccessible to China. It's not clear if China's new H-20 bomber will fully rival the US B-2 bomber, said Chris Osborne, the site's defense editor. Osborne says that the Pentagon has been warning since 2018 that the new Chinese H-20 long-range stealth bomber could pose threats, especially in relation to its 8,500 km range, or that it would force the Americans to change the model of their B-2 stealth bombers. and "B-21" (B-21). Although little is known about the Chinese bomber, the writer says, its external configuration and horizontal hull resemble the American B-2 or B-21 bombers. As for its ability to compete with the B-2 or the B-21, there may simply be a lot of unknowns. However, a few things come to mind, for example the B-21's airframe appears to have few or no external exhaust pipes, which raises the question of whether it includes new heat management or heat dissipation technologies. The writer explained that the main goal when it comes to designing stealth bomber aircraft structures is to work on making them reflect the surrounding atmosphere temperature, or in line with it so that they are less detectable by thermal sensors. While many details of the B-21 remain classified for security reasons as well, senior Air Force commanders said the bomber contained a new generation of stealth technology and could "endanger any target in the world at any time". Almost undetectable This indicates that the US Air Force is confident that the new B-21 will be able to succeed against more advanced air defense systems, as it is almost "undetectable". The writer pointed out that it is not clear if the new Chinese H-20 bomber will fully compete even the American B-2 bomber. While the B-2 can be considered a somewhat outdated platform, years of Air Force upgrades have greatly altered this bomber's performance standards. The B-2 is now built with what's called the Defense Management System sensor, which is designed to find enemy air defenses, allowing pilots to fly around those defenses. The B-2 is also equipped with a much faster computer processor and is being developed to accommodate new weapons, including the upgraded B-61 Mod12 nuclear bomb. Finally, just as the H-20 has been reported, the B-2 and B-21 are both designed to carry and launch nuclear and conventional long-range cruise missiles like the Air Force's long-range combat weapon. https://nationalinterest.org/blog/buzz/can-china’s-new-h-20-bomber-top-america’s-best-planes-205208

A battle over bacon is headed to the U.S. Supreme Court with major stakes for farmers, pregnant pigs and the prices Americans pay at the grocery store. The nation's $20-billion pork industry is asking the justices to strike down California's Proposition 12, which would ban the sale of all pork from mother pigs housed in cages or crowded group pens with less than 24-square-feet each -- the amount of room needed for an animal to turn around. Proposition 12 was approved four years ago, though it never took effect and is now on hold pending judicial review. Opponents call the rules overly restrictive on their businesses -- with ramifications beyond one state. California officials note that voters backed the changes by 63% in 2018 and should, they say, have the power to regulate their food as they see fit. Third-generation Minnesota pork farmer Mike Boerboom, who opposes the law and raises more than 400,000 pigs a year, has his own concerns. "When you need to make changes just to comply with the California market, I'm very worried about what our long-term success would be," he told ABC News. Most American pork is produced in facilities like Boerboom's that do not meet Prop 12 standards, according to the National Pork Producers Council. The typical farm affords 16-18 square-feet per pig. "It's maximizing profits over welfare and over human health. It's about confining as many animals as you can and churning out as much product as you can," said Kitty Block, president and CEO of the Humane Society of the U.S., which has led a defense of California's law. "In addition to the extreme cruelty, it's a human health problem," Block said. "When you confine animals in these terrible conditions, it is a breeding ground for viruses." Prop 12 would have the biggest impact in other states: California consumes 13% of U.S. pork, the largest market in the country, but produces just 1%, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Farmers in heavy pork-producing states like Iowa, Minnesota and North Carolina say it will cost billions of dollars to retool their operations to comply with California's law, resulting in less efficient and environmentally sustainable production of one of the most po[CENSORED]r meats in America. "We've been raising pigs in confinement for 40 years," said Boerboom, whose 4,000 sows deliver 100,000 baby pigs per year -- enough to feed nearly half a million people. More Info: https://www.yahoo.com/video/supreme-court-case-weighs-treatment-192600895.html

The Trinamool MLA's arrest comes months after former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee and his close aide Arpita Mukherjee were arrested in the scam. Kolkata: Trinamool Congress MLA Manik Bhattacharya was arrested early this morning after being questioned overnight by the Enforcement Directorate in the alleged teachers' recruitment scam in West Bengal. He is the second Trinamool leader to be arrested in the scam. The first was former Bengal minister Partha Chatterjee, who was arrested in July after piles of cash were recovered from the properties linked to his close aide Arpita Mukherjee. The Enforcement Directorate or ED, which is investigating the money trail in the case, claims the sacked minister's WhatsApp chat history had a conversation about Mr Bhattacharya's involvement in collecting bribes. The MLA, who represents the Palashipara assembly constituency, will be taken for a medical test and produced in a court later today. Mr Bhattacharya's arrest comes just weeks after the Supreme Court extended the interim protection granted to him in the case till further orders. While issuing the order on September 30, the court had directed him to cooperate with the investigation agency. Manik Bhattacharya was removed from the post of the president of Bengal's Primary Education Board after his name cropped up in the probe after the arrest of Mr Chatterjee from the party after cash recoveries were made by the ED from the home of Ms Arpita Mukherjee. The ED alleges that Mr Chatterjee and Ms Mukherjee laundered money by indulging in criminal conspiracy for illegally giving teaching post jobs, on recommendations by the School Service Commission (SSC), in state-sponsored and-aided schools, and generated huge proceeds of crime. The alleged irregularities took place when Chatterjee was the education minister. Following the arrest, he was stripped of his portfolios. The ruling Trinamool Congress also suspended him. Earlier, the Central Bureau of Investigation or CBI named 16 accused, including Partha Chatterjee and former SSC advisor Shanti Prasad Sinha. The investigating agency, on the direction of the Calcutta High Court, is probing alleged irregularities in the teachers' recruitment. https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/trinamool-congress-mla-manik-bhattacharya-arrested-by-enforcement-directorate-in-bengal-teacher-recruitment-scam-3420245