Aveyro

t is easy to dismiss the market for non-fungible tokens (NFTs) as a hotbed of scammers and con artists. The reality is much weirder and wilder than that. After spending a few months lurking in the Discord chats and Twitter circles where NFT folks hang out, I have slowly come to appreciate the constant chaos, outsized personalities and close-knit communities that make trading NFTs so different to regular stocks or even bitcoin. For most people, the very concept of an NFT – a digital artwork that uses blockchain tech to prove ownership – still feels impenetrable and the froth of speculation surrounding them is even more off-putting. But for committed NFT traders, many of whom have embraced the label “degenerates”, the mayhem is just part of the appeal. As one owner of a Cool Cat, a collection of digital cartoon profile pictures, told me: “It is crazy how attaching an image to a blockchain entry can make some connection in the brain that wasn’t there before.” Yes, you can lose a lot of money pretty fast by trading in these generic, often unappealing images. But watching the daily dramas that NFTs seem to create is almost worth the entry fee of buying an overpriced cartoon animal. It is like a high-school playground meets major league sports event, with the constantly fluctuating price of each collection as the scoreboard. An NFT crash for the ages occurred just last February in the form of Pixelmon. Promising a crypto-tinged take on Pokemon, Pixelmon made its public debut in the days after Russia invaded Ukraine, while traditional stock markets were plunging. Two weeks earlier, thousands of hyped-up buyers paid as much as 3 eth (US$10,000 or S$13,529) for each monster egg, generating tens of millions of dollars for the developers. When the eggs hatched, however, the crudely drawn and poorly animated creatures were a far cry from the developer’s earlier previews. “I can’t believe I paid $10,000 for this” became a meme. It might say something about NFT buyers that as many seem to blame Pixelmon as Putin for the past few weeks’ precipitous drop in trading activity and prices. Yet rather than cry foul or cash out, many NFT traders simply inserted a gif of Michael Jackson eating popcorn into their Discord group and enjoyed the fallout of yet another spectacular blow-up. One Pixelmon character called Kevin – a squinted green lizard that looks like a reject from Minecraft – became totemic of the sorry affair. What began as memes were soon turned into tradeable NFTs themselves and more than a dozen Kevin-themed collections were launched. The price of a Kevin Punk, a green-faced variant of the po[CENSORED]r CryptoPunks, briefly topped 3 eth (more than US$7,500 at the time), almost 10 times the price of a Pixelmon after it crashed on the secondary market. https://cnaluxury.channelnewsasia.com/experiences/nft-hype-appeal-ethereum-198426

The Mercedes-AMG SL43 is an entry-level model for the latest generation of the SL. It is powered by a 389-horsepower turbocharged inline-four. This is the first production vehicle to feature a turbo with an electric motor on the turbocharger shaft that can spin the compressor wheel to reduce lag and maintain boost pressure when the driver lets off the gas pedal. Mercedes is still deciding whether it wants to bring the four-cylinder SL43 to the United States market. The new Mercedes-AMG SL43 may be the entry-level model in the grand tourer’s lineup, but that doesn’t mean the SL43 is basic. While it has only half as many cylinders as its higher-performance, V-8-powered SL55 and SL63 siblings, this model has technology derived from Formula 1 that promises increased responsiveness from the turbocharged inline-four. The SL43’s party piece is a turbocharger with an electric motor plus the typical exhaust-gas plumbing. This production-car first is fitted to the M139 2.0-liter inline-four, the same engine found in the CLA45 and GLA45 AMG models. The motor is only about an inch and a half thick and mounted on the shaft between the turbine wheel and compressor wheel. The whole point is that this motor can spin the compressor wheel before the exhaust gases do, reducing turbo lag, providing a near-immediate response when the driver pins the throttle, and maintaining boost pressure even when the driver lets off the gas or hits the brakes. This same technology is found in the turbocharged 1.6-liter V-6 hybrids used by the Mercedes-AMG Formula 1 team. The four-cylinder engine pumps out a continuous total of 376 horsepower and 354 pound-feet of torque, while the 48-volt, belt-driven starter-generator can provide a brief boost of 13 extra horses. The 48-volt setup also allows the SL43 to recoup energy while slowing and smoothing out the engine’s start-stop function. The M139 is, for the first time, mounted longitudinally in the SL43 and linked to a nine-speed automatic transmission with the AMG-typical wet clutch pack in place of a torque converter. Mercedes claims the rear-wheel-drive roadster can hit 62 mph in 4.9 seconds on its way to a 170 mph top speed. A few minor visual changes distinguish the SL43 from the 55 and 63. The tailpipes are round and the rear bumper is simplified, ditching the vents behind the rear wheels. The front bumper is also reshaped, and the SL43 rides on 19-inch wheels as standard, with optional 20- and 21-inch wheels. The SL43 isn’t confirmed for the United States, with a Mercedes spokesperson telling Car and Driver that the roadster is “is currently still under consideration for the U.S. market.” If it does reach our shores, expect it to be considerably cheaper than the SL55, which we estimate will cost around $135,000. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39652892/mercedes-amg-sl43-details/

WASHINGTON: The US Federal Bureau of Investigation has wrested control of thousands of routers and firewall appliances away from Russian military hackers by hijacking the same infrastructure Moscow’s spies were using to communicate with the devices, US officials said on Wednesday (Apr 6). An unsealed redacted affidavit described the unusual operation as a pre-emptive move to stop Russian hackers from mobilizing the compromised devices into a “botnet” - a network of hacked computers that can bombard other servers with rogue traffic. "Fortunately, we were able to disrupt this botnet before it could be used,” US Attorney General Merrick Garland said. The Russian Embassy in Washington did not immediately return an email seeking comment. The targeted botnet was controlled through malware called Cyclops Blink, which US and UK cyberdefense agencies had publicly attributed in late February to “Sandworm,” allegedly one of the Russian military intelligence service’s hacking teams that has repeatedly been accused of carrying out cyberattacks. Cyclops Blink was designed to hijack devices made by WatchGuard Technologies Inc and ASUSTeK Computer Inc, according to research by private cybersecurity firms. It provides Russian services with access to those compromised systems, offering the ability to remotely exfiltrate or delete data or turn the devices against a third party. Watchguard issued a statement confirming it worked with the US Justice Department to disrupt the botnet but did not disclose the number of devices affected - saying only that they represented "less than 1 percent of WatchGuard appliances." AsusTek, better known as Asus, did not immediately return messages seeking comment. FBI Director Chris Wray told reporters the FBI, with court approval, secretly reached into thousands of routers and firewall appliances to delete the malware and reconfigure the devices. "We removed malware from devices used by thousands of mostly small businesses for network security all over the world," Wray said. "We shut the door the Russians had used to get into them." The affidavit noted that US officials launched an awareness campaign “to inform owners of WatchGuard devices of the steps they should take to remediate infections or vulnerabilities” and yet less than half the devices had been fixed to expel the hackers. The affidavit noted that the FBI had carried out its work in cooperation with WatchGuard. The announcement came amid a flurry of new sanctions announced against Russian banks and elites, days after grim images emerged of the bodies of civilians shot at close range in the town of Bucha. Russia says its "special military operation" is aimed at demilitarising and "denazifying" Ukraine, and it has denied targeting civilians. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/us-fbi-says-it-disrupted-russian-hackers-2612746

It's a dog-eat-dog world out there. But before there were dogs — or even dinosaurs — there were trilobites brutally biting each other on the Cambrian seafloor. New research has revealed that these armored predators didn't only hunt smaller and weaker animals for food, but would occasionally take bites out of their trilobite comrades of the same species. This finding represents the earliest evidence of cannibalism in the fossil record to date. Trilobites are now-extinct marine arthropods that first appeared in the fossil record around 541 million years ago. They were stout creatures with thick exoskeletons, which is likely one of the reasons so many trilobite fossils remained preserved all these years; exoskeletons fossilize much easier than softer tissues. Russell Bicknell, a paleontologist at the University of New England in Australia, spent five years examining trilobite fossils from the Emu Bay Shale formation on Kangaroo Island in South Australia. There are two trilobite species from the same genus found in this formation: Redlichia takooensis, a deposit feeder(opens in new tab) that ate particles on the ocean floor, and the larger, predatory R. rex. Many of the R. takooensis fossils were found with what appeared to be bite marks, mostly on their hind ends. This was expected, as paleontologists already knew that R. rex made meals of R. takooensis. In the Emu Bay formation, fossilized feces, called coprolites, left behind by R. rex contain trilobite shell remnants. This suggests that R. rex had the capability of eating the smaller trilobite species. What was unexpected, though, were signs of similar bite marks on R. rex. These injuries, the researchers concluded, were likely the result of cannibalism. Related: Why did trilobites go extinct? "There's not much else in this deposit that has the toolkit, is biomechanically optimized for this kind of thing, and could willingly crunch down on something hard," Bicknell told Live Science. While not much is known about trilobite mouthparts, Bicknell is certain that these injuries weren't "bites" in the traditional sense. Instead, the underside of a trilobite featured two rows of legs, and on these legs were little inward-facing spines. If you have ever eaten crab legs or lobster, then imagine an animal with legs like the tool modern chefs use to crack open these shells. R. rex was born to hunt trilobites, and apparently it didn't matter much which species. Most of the injuries seen on the Emu Bay fossils were injuries to the abdomen and not the head. Bicknell believes this is because the injured animals were trying to get away from their predator's clutches, but he also suggests there may have been a bit of survivorship bias at play too. The injured fossils are from the animals that got away — they weren't eaten. Trilobites that sustained head injuries likely ended up as coprolites. While this is the earliest documented example of cannibalism for any animal in the fossil record, Bicknell said it's likely that cannibalism is much older and more widespread than even these fossils suggest. "I would go as far as to say that arthropods have been eating arthropods since the dawn of arthropods becoming arthropods," Bicknell said. However, direct evidence of such ancient cannibalism has not been available in the fossil record, until now. While it is difficult to prove that cannibalism took place, Bicknell and his colleagues were able to systematically remove all other explanations for the injuries found in R. rex fossils. "What you're left with is this almost demonstrable record of cannibalism, just short of going back in time and watching it happen," said Bicknell. https://www.livescience.com/oldest-cannibalism-found-in-trilobite-fossils

BERLIN: European and international donors agreed on Tuesday (Apr 5) to extend €695 million (US$762 million) in aid to Moldova, Europe's poorest country, which is hosting more than 100,000 refugees from Ukraine at a time of soaring energy prices. Speaking after a donor conference she hosted in Berlin, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock said that Germany would work to help Moldova free itself from its dependency on Russia for energy supplies. With fewer than 3 million people, Moldova has taken in more refugees fleeing Russia's invasion of Ukraine per head than any other country. "We agreed today to support Moldova with loans, budget support and other financial assistance worth €695 million," Baerbock said at the end of the conference she hosted jointly with her French and Romanian counterparts. Like Ukraine, Moldova is a former part of the Soviet Union, some of whose territory is occupied by Moscow-backed separatists. Although it has strong historical and linguistic ties to neighbouring European Union member Romania, it relies exclusively on Russia's Gazprom for gas imports. Moldovan Prime Minister Natalia Gavrilita asked donors at the conference, who included the EU and the French and Romanian foreign ministers, for support in diversifying her country's energy supplies even as it deals with refugees in need. "Since the beginning of the war, 400,000 refugees have crossed Moldova's borders and 100,000 have decided to stay," she said. "Almost half of them are children, these are vulnerable po[CENSORED]tions." Moldova's electricity network needed to be interconnected with the European Union's over the Romanian border in order to boost its energy independence, she said. She also asked the EU to lift barriers to selling its agricultural produce westwards, noting that Russia, Belarus and Ukraine had accounted for 15 per cent of Moldova's foreign trade before the war. "Moldova is the most vulnerable among Ukraine's neighbours," she said. "Today Moldova needs good friends and reliable partners." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ukraine-invasion-donors-give-eu695-million-aid-moldova-2609211

The flow of "bloody money" to Russia must stop, Kyiv's mayor said on Tuesday (Apr 5) as the West prepared new sanctions on Moscow after dead civilians were found lining the streets of a Ukrainian town seized from Russian invaders. Since Russian forces withdrew from northern Ukraine, turning their assault on the south and east, grim images from the town of Bucha near Kyiv, including a mass grave and bound bodies of people shot at close range, have prompted international outrage. Russia denies targeting civilians and said the deaths had been staged by the West to discredit it. Sanctions already imposed have isolated Russia's economy but its gas is still flowing to Europe and a number of international companies continue to do business there, leading Ukraine to say more is needed to starve Moscow's war effort. "Every euro, every cent that you receive from Russia or that you send to Russia has blood, it is bloody money and the blood of this money is Ukrainian blood, the blood of Ukrainian people," Mayor of Kyiv Vitali Klitschko, dressed in military clothes, told a mayors' conference in Geneva via video link. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said on Tuesday that while what happened in Bucha was unforgivable, Ukraine had no choice but to negotiate with Russia to end the war, now in its sixth week. "All of us, including myself, will perceive even the possibility of negotiations as a challenge," Zelenskiy said in an interview broadcast on national television. He said it was not clear whether he and Russian President Vladimir Putin would speak directly. Russian news agency Interfax cited a deputy Russian foreign minister as saying talks, which last convened on Friday, were continuing via video link. There was no update from the Ukrainian side. Zelenskiy said earlier that at least 300 civilians had been killed in Bucha and that many more dead were likely to be found in other areas. He said he would address the United Nations Security Council later in the day as he builds support for an investigation into the killings. SATELLITE IMAGES Russia denied that its forces had carried out any atrocities and said it would present "empirical evidence" to the UN Security Council meeting proving its forces were not involved. But satellite images of Bucha taken weeks ago showed bodies of civilians on a street, a private US company said, undercutting Russian claims that the scene was staged. Maxar Technologies provided nine images taken of Bucha on Mar 18, 19 and 31 to Reuters. At least four of the images appear to show bodies on Yablonska Street in the town, which was occupied by Russian forces until about Mar 30. US President Joe Biden called for a war crimes trial against Putin and Washington will ask the UN General Assembly to suspend Russia from the Human Rights Council. At the weekend, Reuters reporters in Bucha saw several bodies apparently shot at close range, along with makeshift burials and a mass grave, but could not independently verify the number of dead or who was responsible. Ukraine's foreign minister Dmytro Kuleba said he spoke with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres about Bucha and stressed that "Ukraine will use all available UN mechanisms to collect evidence and hold Russian war criminals to account." Kuleba spoke to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi on Monday, with Beijing again calling for talks to end the conflict. 'FEEL THE CONSEQUENCES' Russia launched what it calls a "special military operation" in Ukraine on Feb 24, saying it aimed to demilitarise and "denazify" its neighbour. Ukraine and the West say the invasion was illegal and unjustified. Germany and the Biden administration said new sanctions against Moscow would be announced in coming days, while several European countries, including Germany, France and Italy, announced expulsions of Russian diplomats and Moscow said it would respond in kind. The US State Department said it was supporting an international team of prosecutors and experts in their work collecting and analysing evidence of atrocities. German Defence Minister Christine Lambrecht said the European Union must discuss banning Russian gas, though other officials urged caution around measures that could touch off a European energy crisis. Russia supplies about a third of Europe's gas, and Putin has tried to use energy as a lever to fight back against Western sanctions. So far, however, Moscow has kept gas flowing to Europe, despite uncertainty over Putin's demands for payments in roubles. In the latest effort to pile pressure on Moscow, the United States stopped the Russian government from paying holders of its sovereign debt more than US$600 million from reserves held at US banks. BATTLES IN THE EAST Ukraine said it was bracing for about 60,000 Russian reservists to be called in to reinforce Moscow's offensive in the east, where Russia's main targets have included the port of Mariupol and Kharkiv, the country's second-largest city. Ukraine's general staff said Russian forces aimed to fully take over the Donetsk and Luhansk provinces claimed by Russian-backed separatists and encircle a group of Ukrainian forces. "Russian troops have attacked Mykolayiv with cluster munitions banned by the Geneva Convention. Whole blocks of civilian buildings have come under fire, in particular, a children's hospital. There are dead and wounded, including children," the general staff said in a daily update on Tuesday. Reuters could not independently verify the claims. In Mariupol, a southeastern town on the Azov Sea that has been under siege for weeks, Reuters images showed three bodies in civilian clothes lying in the street, one against a wall sprayed with blood. West of Mariupol, in the town of Mykolaiv, shelling on Monday killed 10 people, including a child, and injured 46 others, regional administration head Oleksandr Senkevich said. Reuters was not immediately able to verify the report. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/kyiv-mayor-klitschko-calls-halt-bloody-money-flow-russia-2608876

A drawing by Michelangelo, discovered in 2019, will be offered for sale next month by Christie's and could fetch 30 million euros ($33 million), the British auction house said on Tuesday. The drawing, one of the few works of the Renaissance Italian artist in private hands, was sold in 1907 in Paris and billed as a work of the school of Michelangelo. It was largely forgotten until 2019, when a Christie's specialist recognized it as one of Michelangelo's own. The drawing is thought to be one of the artist's early works, from around the end of the 15th century. It reproduces a shivering man depicted in a fresco, "Baptism of the Neophytes", by Masaccio. Two other people stand near him in the drawing. "This drawing I think is one of the most exciting discoveries made in the field of Old Masters drawings in a long time," said Stijn Alsteens, Christie's international head of the department for Old Master drawings. "It shows Michelangelo doing two things at the same time, looking back at artists that preceded him, in this particular case Masaccio, as well as looking forward to his own work and the revolutionary aspect of it. In particular the depiction of the human body which becomes such an important part both in the sculptures, I think of the David in Florence, or the many, many figures he painted in the Sistine Chapel," Alsteens added. The work had been designated a French national treasure, which prevented it from being exported, but the French government recently removed the designation, allowing the drawing to be offered to collectors anywhere in the world, Christie's said. The drawing is scheduled to be exhibited in Hong Kong and New York before it is auctioned in Paris on May 18. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/rare-michelangelo-drawing-could-fetch-30-mln-euros-paris-sale-2022-04-05/

Honda and GM will co-develop a line of affordable electric compact SUV models. They will share platforms and new battery technologies that could include solid-state batteries. We can expect these models to arrive in the U.S. starting in 2027. We already know that Honda will use GM's EV platform for two upcoming electric SUVs coming in 2024. But that won't be the end of the two automakers' partnership, as they have just announced a massive expansion of their plans. GM and Honda now say they will co-develop a lineup of affordable compact crossovers set to launch in 2027 with new battery technologies. The companies clearly have high sales ambitions for these vehicles, as they cite manufacturing plans that will "enable global production of millions of EVs." These new models will use a common platform and share new battery technologies that the two companies are exploring, such as solid-state batteries and materials such as lithium-metal and silicon. Due to their affordability bent, we can assume that these compact SUVs will wear Chevy and Honda badges at first, but they may expand into GM's more upscale Buick, Cadillac, and GMC brands as well and could also result in a product for Honda's Acura luxury division. These new models will be smaller and cheaper than the previously announced 2024 Honda Prologue and its Acura spinoff, which could be called ADX. These vehicles, launching in about two years, are expected to use a version of the Ultium platform that will be similarly sized as the mid-size Cadillac Lyriq electric crossover that has already begun production. Both GM and Honda say they are working to achieve price parity between EVs and existing gasoline models, and that a key mission of this project is to drive down the cost of electric vehicles so that they can sell in higher volumes. GM, for its part, is currently way ahead of Honda towards achieving this goal; it already offers the Bolt, starting at $32,495, and has announced plans for an Equinox EV coming next year that it claims will start around $30,000. GM also claims it will later launch an EV to slot in below the Equinox EV price-wise. Honda, meanwhile, does not currently sell an EV model in the U.S. at all but has shown EV concepts (pictured at top) for various global markets. Honda also says that it is developing electric models on its own platforms, but won't share where these vehicles will fit in with the GM partnership. If we were to guess, we'd think that Hondas own EVs may take the form of smaller hatchbacks and sedans rather than the SUVs it will build with GM. The company does currently sell the tiny Honda e hatchback abroad but has no plans to bring this vehicle to the U.S. Honda also recently announced that it plans to establish a new EV brand with Sony, so we're not sure how that fits in with these new plans with GM. Look for more information to come within the next few years as we find out more about GM and Honda's growing collaboration in terms of production, technology, and where these new EVs will fit into the automakers' respective lineups. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39636625/honda-gm-affordable-ev-plans/

WARSAW: Japanese Foreign Minister Yoshimasa Hayashi on Monday (Apr 4) condemned the "exceptionally cruel" violence against civilians near Kyiv in an apparent reference to killings in the town of Bucha. Japan's top diplomat, who is visiting Poland, joined a chorus of global outrage after dozens of bodies were found in mass graves or littering the streets near the Ukrainian capital over the weekend. "I am deeply shocked by news of the exceptionally cruel acts of violence against civilians near Kyiv," Hayashi told reporters alongside his Polish counterpart in Warsaw. "The murder of innocent civilians is a violation of international humanitarian law and is unacceptable and I strongly condemn these acts," he added. "The Russian assault is a blatant violation of international law and an attempt to unilaterally change the status quo through the use of force." Earlier Monday the Kremlin rejected accusations that Russian forces were responsible for killing civilians near Kyiv and suggested images of corpses were "fakes". Polish Foreign Minister Zbigniew Rau for his part stressed the importance of diplomacy in ending the war. "The only way to resolve the conflict has been, is and will continue to be diplomacy and dialogue," he said. "We regret that Russia chose the path of aggression and war instead of dialogue and diplomacy." The Japanese minister spoke while on a multi-day trip to Poland, during which he visited the EU member's border with Ukraine and met with refugees who fled the war-torn country. "I was able to see for myself how difficult of a situation the refugees are in," he said. Hayashi later told Japanese reporters that several refugees would return to Japan with him. "I have learned that there are several people who are keen to evacuate to Japan, but who currently have difficulty in securing travel means on their own," he said. He added that "20 evacuees will board a reserve government aircraft on my return journey home." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ukraine-invasion-japan-slams-exceptionally-cruel-civilian-deaths-kyiv-bucha-killings-2607191

Honda has revealed the first photos of the redesigned 2023 HR-V. The new model is larger than before, with a longer wheelbase. It now shares its platform with the Civic. More info will be coming soon and the new HR-V is scheduled to arrive at U.S. dealerships over the summer. Honda's smallest SUV is entering its second generation, and there are some notable changes in store for the new 2023 HR-V. These are the first official photos of the redesigned model that's headed to the U.S., which is larger than before and distinct from the smaller, hybrid-only Europe-market model revealed last year. While the HR-V previously used the same platform as the now-discontinued Fit hatchback, Honda says that the new subcompact SUV rides on the same platform as the Civic. It has a longer wheelbase than before and now features an independent rear suspension. All Honda claims about the powertrain is that it will be powered by a "more responsive engine," and we'd guess that the Civic's 180-hp turbocharged 1.5-liter inline-four will be under the hood to replace the old HR-V's 141-hp 1.8-liter inline-four. The naturally aspirated 158-hp 2.0-liter inline-four from the Civic's lower trim levels may also be offered as the HR-V's base engine. Front-wheel drive will likely be standard, with all-wheel drive optional, and a CVT automatic should be the only transmission choice. An HR-V hybrid is likely to join the lineup, too, although it may launch later than the gas-only version. Honda has yet to release photos or information about the HR-V's interior, and we're wondering what the new platform will mean for the packaging. The previous HR-V, like the Fit, featured a remarkably low cargo floor thanks to its fuel tank being mounted under the front seats. So we're not sure if the old HR-V's highly configurable rear seat that could fold in multiple configurations will carry over to the new model. The current model's LX, Sport, EX, and EX-L trim levels are likely to carry over, and Honda released a video showing the new HR-V in several colors including red, grey, silver, black, and white. Expect pricing to rise slightly from the current HR-V's $23,095 starting price, with loaded AWD models costing over $30,000. More information will be coming within the next few months before the 2023 HR-V goes on sale in the summer. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39612342/2023-honda-hr-v-revealed/

LOS ANGELES, April 3, (Variety.com) - "Morbius," the latest comic book adventure from Sony's Universe of Marvel Characters, opened in first place at the domestic box office, though ticket sales were considerably softer than recent superhero blockbusters. Dinged by comically terrible reviews, "Morbius" sunk its teeth into $39.1 million from 4,268 North American theaters in its first weekend of release. That initial tally is at once a sign that audiences truly love comic book movies (in pandemic times, a non-superhero film with a 17% on Rotten Tomatoes wouldn't stand a chance at the box office) and an indication that not every superhuman character will be greeted equally on the big screen. (Sony's 2018 antihero origin story "Venom" was similarly panned but still managed to score at the domestic box office with $80 million to start and $213 million in total). "Morbius" took in $44.9 million at the international box office, boosting its global total to $84 million. Like many Hollywood movies, it's unclear if "Morbius" will land a release date in China. Sony spent $75 million to produce the vampire-infused "Morbius," which is less than studios typically shell out for superhero blockbusters. Marketing and other promotional costs added many millions more to expenses. Since Morbius the Living Vampire is not nearly as well known as Spider-Man, Batman or even Venom -- who was introduced to general audiences in Tobey Maguire's "Spider-Man 3" and later played by Tom Hardy in the standalone movies -- film industry analysts were not expecting "Morbius" to break box office records. Still, Sony has a lot riding on "Morbius," which stars Jared Leto as Michael Morbius, a renowned biochemist who becomes a lethal vampire after attempting to cure himself of a rare blood disease. The studio majorly scored with "Spider-Man: No Way Home" ($1.88 billion at the worldwide box office) and successfully spun "Venom" into cinematic gold (the first movie earned $856 million globally and the 2021 sequel "Let There Be Carnage" earned $501 million at the worldwide box office). But Sony has grander plans to fashion a viable rival to Disney's Marvel Cinematic Universe, and a so-so turnout for "Morbius" signals that in order to get audiences to go to theaters, these movies actually have to be watchable. After "Morbius," Sony's Universe of Marvel Characters is chugging along with standalone stories on "Kraven the Hunter," starring Aaron Taylor-Johnson, and "Madame Web," featuring Dakota Johnson. Daniel Espinosa directed "Morbius," with a cast that includes Adria Arjona, Matt Smith, Jared Harris and Michael Keaton, reprising his role from previous "Spider-Man" films. Given the muted reception from critics and moviegoers (it landed a "C+ CinemaScore), box office experts do not expect "Morbius" will have a fruitful life on the big screen. It'll face steep competition from younger male ticket buyers as "Sonic the Hedgehog 2" (April 😎 and "Fantastic Beasts: The Secrets of Dumbledore" (April 15) open in theaters. "This is a weak opening by Marvel's exceptional standard for launching a new superhero series," said David A. Gross, who runs the movie consulting firm Franchise Entertainment Research. He added, "Marvel movies are generally very well reviewed; here reviews are uncharacteristically poor." In a distant second place, Paramount's action-adventure "The Lost City" collected a strong $14.8 million from 4,283 venues in its second weekend of release. So far, the screwball romantic comedy, starring Sandra Bullock and Channing Tatum, has grossed $54.5 million at the domestic box office. Since the film cost $68 million, "The Lost City" is not yet a commercial winner. However, it's a promising sign that meet-cutes haven't entirely fallen out of favor with moviegoers. Another comic book tentpole, "The Batman" with Robert Pattinson, landed in third place with $10.8 million from 3,732 theaters. After five weeks on the big screen, the Warner Bros. film has pulled in a mighty $349 million at the domestic box office. "The Batman" has continued to be a force across the globe, crossing $700 million over the weekend. The movie's worldwide total now stands at a massive $710.5 million. For the second weekend in a row, Tom Holland's video game adaptation "Uncharted" and Crunchyroll's manga adaptation "Jujutsu Kaisen 0: The Movie" took spots four and five, respectively, on box office charts. "Uncharted" brought in $3.6 million from 3,064 cinemas, buoying its North American tally to $138.9 million. Overseas, the $120 million-budgeted tentpole added $5.5 million from 55 markets. That takes "Uncharted's" tally to $234 million internationally and $373 million globally. The anime film "Jujutsu Kaisen 0," an unexpected box office champion, earned $1.9 million from 2,070 screens in its third weekend in theaters. To date, the movie has grossed $31 million. https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/box-office-morbius-opens-no-1-with-decent-39-million-2022-04-03/

CHICAGO : Chinese buyers bought 1.084 million tonnes of U.S. corn, their biggest purchase of U.S. grain since May 2021, the U.S. government said on Monday. The deal comes as shipments from Ukraine, the world's fourth biggest exporter of corn, are snarled following Russia's invasion. China had been a big buyer of Ukrainian corn and the fighting, which also has disrupted spring planting season, has created uncertainty about their reliability as a supplier. The U.S. Agriculture Department said that the deal was for 676,000 tonnes of corn to be delivered in the 2021/22 marketing year that ends Aug. 31 and for 408,000 tonnes to be delivered in 2022/23. USDA said last week that U.S. farmers plan to cut their corn plantings this spring despite the strong global demand, with high prices for inputs such as fuel and fertilizer cutting into potential profits for growing the yellow grain https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/china-books-biggest-deal-us-corn-may-2021-2607156

When the rock now known as the Chicxulub impactor plummeted from outer space and slammed into the Earth 66 million years ago, cockroaches were there. The impact caused a massive earthquake, and scientists think it also triggered volcanic eruptions thousands of miles from the impact site. Three-quarters of plants and animals on Earth died, including all dinosaurs, except for some species that were ancestors of today’s birds. How could roaches a couple of inches long survive when so many powerful animals went extinct? It turns out that they were nicely equipped to live through a meteoric catastrophe. If you’ve ever seen a cockroach, you’ve probably noticed that their bodies are very flat. This is not an accident. Flatter insects can squeeze themselves into tighter places. This enables them to hide practically anywhere – and it may have helped them survive the Chicxulub impact. When the meteor struck, temperatures on Earth's surface skyrocketed. Many animals had nowhere to flee, but roaches could take shelter in tiny soil crevices, which provide excellent protection from heat. The meteor’s impact triggered a cascade of effects. It kicked up so much dust that the sky darkened. As the sun dimmed, temperatures plunged and conditions became wintry around the globe. With little sunlight, surviving plants struggled to grow, and many other organisms that relied on those plants went hungry. Not cockroaches, though. Unlike some insects that prefer to eat one specific plant, cockroaches are omnivorous scavengers. This means they will eat most foods that come from animals or plants as well as cardboard, some kinds of clothing and even poop. Having appetites that aren’t picky has allowed cockroaches to survive lean times since the Chicxulub extinction and other natural disasters. Another helpful trait is that cockroaches lay their eggs in little protective cases. These egg cartons look like dried beans and are called oothecae, which means “egg cases.” Like phone cases, oothecae are hard and protect their contents from physical damage and other threats, such as flooding and drought. Some cockroaches may have waited out part of the Chicxulub catastrophe from the comfort of their oothecae. Modern cockroaches are little survivors that can live just about anywhere on land, from the heat of the tropics to some of the coldest parts of the globe. Scientists estimate that there over 4,000 cockroach species. A handful of these species like to live with humans and quickly become pests. Once cockroaches become established in a building, it’s hard to rid every little crack of these insects and their oothecae. When large numbers of roaches are present in unsanitary places, they can spread diseases. The biggest threat they pose to human health is from allergens they produce that can trigger asthma attacks and allergic reactions in some people. Cockroach pests are hard to manage because they can resist many chemical insecticides and because they have the same abilities that helped their ancestors outlive many dinosaurs. Still, cockroaches are much more than a pest to control. Researchers study cockroaches to understand how they move and how their bodies are designed to get ideas for building better robots. As a scientist, I see all insects as beautiful, six-legged inspirations. Cockroaches have already overcome odds that were too great for dinosaurs. If another meteorite hit the Earth, I’d be more worried for humans than for cockroaches. https://www.livescience.com/how-cockroaches-survived-dino-killing-asteroid

For the first time, the Chevy Silverado 1500 is available as a pursuit-rated pickup truck for police departments. Known as the Silverado PPV (Police Pursuit Vehicle), it has huge 16.0-inch front rotors, a rear locker, and a 2.0-inch-lift option. Chevy's police truck features a 355-hp 5.3-liter V-8 paired with a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. Johnny Law is getting a new chase vehicle courtesy of Chevrolet that's capable of pursuit on public roads, through the back woods, and everywhere in between. Enter the 2023 Silverado PPV. It's the first time Chevy has built a pursuit-rated pickup truck, and it joins the Tahoe PPV that's been a trusty steed to police departments since it debuted in 1997. PPV versions of the Tahoe and the Silverado share a lot of components, including a powertrain and other equipment. Both use a 355-hp 5.3-liter V-8 linked to a 10-speed automatic transmission and all-wheel drive. They also share black 20-inch rims mounted on Goodyear all-terrain tires and massive 16.0-inch iron front rotors clamped by Brembo six-piston calipers. For comparison, the Silverado's standard front discs are three inches smaller, measuring 13.0 inches in diameter. Every 2023 Chevy Silverado PPV is configured with a crew cab and the short five-foot-eight-inch cargo box. The truck's tow rating maxes out at 9300 pounds, and that's 1100 pounds more than the Tahoe PPV can pull. Unlike its SUV counterpart, the Silverado is available with a 2.0-inch suspension lift. This raises its ground clearance and approach angle to 11.4 inches and 25.9 degrees, respectively, so lawbreakers will have a harder time using treacherous terrain to hide. Even without the lifted ride height, the Silverado PPV comes equipped with some notable off-road hardware. There's a skid plate for extra underbody protection, a set of Rancho shocks from the regular truck's Z71 package, and a locking rear differential. The cops can also opt for a hard tri-folding tonneau cover for the bed or Chevy's multifunctional tailgate. The Silverado PPV's interior takes a no-nonsense approach that we dig. From its tried-and-true column shifter to its power-adjustable cloth seats and vinyl flooring options, there are few creature comforts. The front jump seat can even be removed by request, freeing up space for whatever else cops might want to put there. While we certainly don't want to see a Silverado PPV in our rearview mirror, we'd love to see one in our driveway. In fact, the more we thought about the truck's off-road chops, bare-bones interior, and all the other neat features, it made us wish the bow-tie brand would offer one to regular law-abiding citizens. After all, it'd be a fitting rival to the recently revealed Ford F-150 Rattler, which exists as an entry-level off-roader. Chevy hasn't said how much the 2023 Silverado PPV will cost, but the company did say it'll be available in the U.S. and Canada sometime later this summer. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39611089/2023-chevy-silverado-police-truck-revealed/

China will implement an upgrade to the free trade agreement between Beijing and Wellington to eliminate tariffs of 12 wood and paper products imported from New Zealand from Apr 7, the Ministry of Finance said on Sunday (Apr 3). The move follows the deal signed by the two governments in January to upgrade their existing free trade pact, allowing 99 per cent of New Zealand's US$3 billion wood and paper trade to China to receive tariff-free access over a 10-year implementation period. Import tariffs for products such as toilet or facial tissue stock and paper used for writing will be reduced to 6.8 per cent and 4.5 per cent from April 7 from current rates of 7.5 per cent and 5 per cent, respectively, and will be gradually cut over the next 10 years to reach zero. "2022 marks the 50th anniversary of the diplomatic relations between China and New Zealand and April 7th is the 14th anniversary of the signing of the China-New Zealand Free Trade Agreement (FTA)," the finance ministry said in the statement. "The implementation of the agreed tariff rates will further promote trade and investment between the two countries." China has eliminated or reduced tariffs on 75 wood and paper tariff lines for New Zealand products since the existing FTA entered into force in 2008. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/china-cut-paper-and-wood-tariffs-new-zealand-april-7-2604631

After quitting meat for ethical, health or environmental reasons, some pet owners want their pets to join them in a plant-only diet. But is it safe to make our carnivorous felines and omnivorous pups give up meat or animal protein altogether? The short answer is, it's a gray area: It's a possibility for some pets, but not all of them. And it's never recommended to switch your pet to a plant-based diet on your own. Plant-based diets are newer to market and the science is still developing. To make sure your pet gets enough of all the essential nutrients you'll likely need a little help. Many people who visit Dr. Lindsey Bullen, a North Carolina-based veterinarian and board-certified animal nutritionist, one of about only 100 in the U.S., make this mistake, even though they're often acting with the best intentions. "I think some clients just feel they can do it better," Bullen told Live Science. "But they don't actually know what goes into formulating a diet for their pet." Revamping an animal's diet without expert help is often detrimental to the pet's health. Animal proteins that cats and dogs typically eat have a lot of amino acids in a form that's easy for your pet's body to use — more than what's usually in plant protein. Pets that don't get enough protein can experience weight loss, muscle loss, weakness, poor digestion and even fluid buildup in their chest or abdomen, according to the Cummings Veterinary Medical Center at Tufts University in Massachusetts. Cats, in particular, need taurine, an amino acid found in meat protein. In fact, they can't live without it; if taurine is not supplemented properly in a plant-based diet, cats can experience poor neural function, reproductive problems and heart disease, Bullen said. Even the wrong mineral balances in a DIY plant-based pet diet can be a problem. The wrong calcium-to-phosphorus ratio, for instance, can increase the risk of fractures in dogs and cats and also stunt puppy or kitten growth, Bullen said. But plant-based pet diets can be done. "Vegetarian [diets] can be done safely in both [cats and dogs]," Bullen said. "Vegan can be done safely in dogs but is very difficult in cats." Felines are obligate carnivores, so a lot of their nutritional needs are tied to meat-specific ingredients. As a result, cats need a lot more additives to make a vegan diet complete and balanced. Bullen even prescribes plant-based diets in certain cases, including for pets that have skin or gastrointestinal food allergies to meat products. (Her own dog has both types of allergies and is on a hydrolyzed soy-based diet.) If you're planning to switch to a plant-based wet or dry food for your pet, Bullen encouraged consumers to buy from brands that have done digestibility studies, ingredient interaction studies, and feeding trials on their plant-based options. But before you make the leap, it's important to make sure a plant-based diet is a good fit for your animal. An expert, such as a vet or a nutritionist they consult, will first consider the pet's overall well-being, including age, environment and other health issues. If the pet is otherwise healthy, it's likely that a well-formulated plant-based diet could work for them. If a vegetarian or vegan diet is a safe option, the next step is for a vet or nutritionist to put together a very specific plan. For instance, when Bullen formulates a homemade vegetarian pet diet for a client, she provides a complete list of ingredients, including proportions, explicit cooking guidelines, feeding instructions and monitoring guidelines. She gets specific about every ingredient, including the brand of tofu or the percentage of fat in the cottage cheese. Bullen encourages owners to take an active role in their pets' nutrition, but she also warns against anthropomorphizing, or giving human traits to animals. "Dogs and cats are vastly different from the human species," she said. "Your goals [for yourself] are great, but we need to keep the pet happy and healthy." Working with an expert is the safest way to meet your goals and your pets' needs. https://www.livescience.com/pets-plant-based-diet

The music industry hands out its top honors on Sunday with acts from teen sensation Olivia Rodrigo to awards darling Billie Eilish and rapper Lil Nas X competing at a star-studded Grammys ceremony in Las Vegas. Grammy watchers say it is tough to predict who will take the biggest prizes other than best new artist, which is widely expected to go to 19-year-old Rodrigo. Her song "drivers license" went viral in early 2021. Rodrigo also is nominated for album, song and record of the year. If she wins all of those categories, she would become just the third person in Grammys history to sweep the four main awards. The last artist to accomplish that feat was Eilish at the 2020 Grammys, when she was 18. Now 20, Eilish is in the running again for album of the year with "Happier Than Ever." Competitors for the album trophy include Rodrigo's "Sour," Kanye West's "Donda," Jon Batiste's "We Are," and Tony Bennett and Lady Gaga's "Love for Sale." Justin Bieber's "Justice" also is in the mix, along with Doja Cat's "Planet Her," H.E.R.'s "Back of My Mind," Lil Nas X's "Montero" and Taylor Swift's "Evermore." Batiste leads all nominees with 11 nods ranging from classical composition and American roots to his music video "Freedom" and album "We Are," which was inspired by the Black Lives Matter protests of 2020. This year's Grammys were pushed to April from January because of a COVID-19 surge at the beginning of the year. The date swap forced a change in venue from Los Angeles to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Last year, the pandemic forced a scaled-down outdoor ceremony without the traditional audience of thousands. This Sunday, K-pop band BTS is among the acts scheduled to perform on the Grammys stage. The group, which has yet to win a Grammy, enters the night with a single nod for top-selling single "Butter." Other scheduled performers include Eilish, Gaga, Brandi Carlile and Bieber. Silk Sonic, the duo of Bruno Mars and Anderson.Paak, are set to open the show, which will be broadcast live on CBS television and the Paramount+ streaming service. Comedian Trevor Noah returns as host. The eligibility period for the Grammys ran from September 2020 to September 2021, ending before Adele released her acclaimed album "30." https://www.channelnewsasia.com/cna-lifestyle/olivia-rodrigo-billie-eilish-compete-wide-open-grammys-contest-2604766

The war in Ukraine is the conflict where spies came in from the cold and took centre stage. Since Russia invaded its neighbour in late February, intelligence agencies in the US and Britain have been remarkably willing to go public with their secret intelligence assessments of what is happening on the battlefield - and inside the Kremlin. The US this week declassified intelligence findings claiming Russian President Vladimir Putin is being misinformed about his military’s poor performance in Ukraine by advisers scared to tell him the truth. On Thursday a British spy chief said demoralised Russian troops were refusing to carry out orders and sabotaging their own equipment. Jeremy Fleming, who heads Britain’s electronic intelligence agency GCHQ, made the comments in a public speech where he said the “pace and scale” at which secret intelligence is being released “really is unprecedented". Mark Galeotti, a Russia expert at University College London, agreed that the very public intelligence campaign “reflects the fact that we now live in a different age, politically and internationally. And this is a different kind of war". Officials say the stream of declassified intelligence - which includes regular briefings to journalists in Washington and London and daily Twitter updates from Britain’s defense ministry - has several aims. Partly it is to let Putin know he is being watched, and to make him question what he is being told. It is also designed to embolden the Russian military to tell Putin the truth, and to convey to the Russian public that they have been lied to about the war. The US and Britain also have released intelligence assessments in a bid to deter Russian actions. That was the case with recent warnings Russia might be preparing to use chemical weapons in Ukraine. It is all part of a closely coordinated trans-Atlantic strategy that has been in the works for months. Biden administration officials say they decided to aggressively share intelligence and coordinate messaging with key allies, including Britain, as US concerns about Russian troop movements in autumn 2021 put the intelligence community on high alert. In early November, President Joe Biden dispatched CIA director William Burns to Moscow to warn that the US was fully aware of Russian troop movements. The White House has typically been tight-lipped about the director’s travels, but the Biden administration calculated that in this situation they needed to advertise the visit far and wide. The US Embassy in Moscow announced that Burns had met with top Kremlin officials shortly after his trip was over. Soon after Burns’ Moscow mission, US officials decided they needed to accelerate intelligence sharing. Officials shared sensitive intelligence with other members of the Five Eyes alliance - Britain, Canada, Australia and New Zealand - and also with Ukraine. Director of national intelligence Avril Haines was dispatched to Brussels to brief NATO members on intelligence underlying growing American concerns that Russia seemed intent on invasion, according to a US official familiar with the matter, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the sensitive issue. Some allies and analysts were skeptical, with memories lingering of past intelligence failings, like the false claim Saddam Hussein had weapons of mass destruction that was used to justify the 2003 US-led invasion of Iraq. Late last year, France and Germany led a group of European countries that appeared to be seeing similar military intelligence as the US and Britain, but were less convinced that an invasion of Ukraine was imminent. At NATO, Germany initially blocked the use of a system for helping Ukraine to acquire certain military equipment. France and Germany also blocked NATO from launching an early crisis planning system in response to the buildup, before relenting in December. This week, French media reported that the head of France’s military intelligence agency, which failed to anticipate the Russian invasion, has been removed from his post. Eric Vidaud’s departure comes amid soul-searching among France’s leadership about why it was taken by surprise by the war — which was particularly embarrassing for President Emmanuel Macron, who speaks regularly with Putin. Some see Vidaud as a scapegoat, and note that his removal comes just ahead of this month’s French presidential election. In January, as Russia amassed troops near Ukraine’s border, Britain’s Foreign Office issued a statement alleging that Putin wanted to install a pro-Moscow regime in Ukraine. The UK said it was making the intelligence assessment public because of the “exceptional circumstances". Russia’s invasion on Feb 24 largely silenced the doubters, and drew a unified response from NATO. The release of US and British intelligence is partly designed to shore up that Western unity, officials and analysts say. Both Biden and British Prime Minister Boris Johnson doubt Putin is serious about negotiating an end to the war and want to keep up the West’s military and moral support of Ukraine. The impact inside Russia is hard to measure. The US official who spoke to the AP said the White House hopes divulging intelligence that Putin is misinformed could help prod the Russian leader to reconsider his options in Ukraine. But the publicity could also risk further isolating Putin or make him double down on his aim of restoring Russian prestige lost since the fall of the Soviet Union. The official said Biden is in part shaped by a belief that “Putin is going to do what Putin is going to do", regardless of international efforts to deter him. Galeotti said Western intelligence agencies likely do not know how much impact their efforts will have on Putin. “But there’s no harm in giving it a try,” he said. “Because when it comes down to it, in this kind of intensely personalistic system (of government), if one line, or one particular notion, happens to get through and lodge itself in Putin’s brain, then that’s a really powerful result.” https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/secret-intelligence-has-unusually-public-role-ukraine-war-2604581

At the reveal of the 2023 Toyota GR Corolla, we grabbed a few minutes with Toyota's chief engineer on the project, Naoyuki Sakamoto, to dig into some of the challenges in developing the car, and what he thinks makes it so capable on track. NS: Actually, we started to develop the GR Corolla in 2018. So before Yaris, we were working on it. I’d say almost the same time we are developing both cars. The GR Corolla uses a three-cylinder engine. Was that designed for Yaris and adapted, or planned for Corolla originally? The Corolla is using the Yaris engine, but to bring it to the U.S. market we thought we'd need more power, so we started modifications to make that possible. Americans demand power. We are like that. If horsepower was a goal, why stick with the three-cylinder? Wouldn’t it have been easier to turbocharge a four cylinder? Actually, the compact engine is right for a sports car. The more you can keep heavy parts close to the center of gravity, the better it handles, so a lighter engine is better. A lighter car is better. So to make more power, what did you do? You didn’t bore or stroke it, it's the same size as the Yaris's engine, but what, 30 more horses? And a three-cylinder needs a balance shaft, right? And this is twin-cam? Yeah, 300, up from 268 hp. We increased the boost, and to do that, we needed to reduce the backpressure. We needed to move more fuel in, more exhaust gas out, and it creates a high backpressure. And yes, a balance shaft, and twin-cam, of course. How do you keep everything cool? We did so much testing on track, in summer, in winter. We opened up the grille, you can see, it's huge compared to a stock Corolla. Vents to direct air through. Even the intake, we have a thin intake for slow speed, to move air through quickly, and another duct below that opens at higher rpm, to bring more air into the engine. The chassis is reinforced, 349 more welds and 2.7 meters more sealant, more glue. The floor is different in the back from stock, to make room for the differential. We also moved the battery from front to back for better weight distribution. The front fenders are one piece, the back extensions are bolt-on. The carbon roof is only for GR. The doors are the same as a stock car. The suspension geometry for the front uses a new connecting point, 15 mm higher to make the roll center higher, and we made it stiffer but also lighter, just in the design. And the GR-Four, the AWD, is that a performance version of what a customer would get in say, a RAV4? https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a39613321/2023-toyota-gr-corolla-chief-engineer-interview/

Thirty-six years since Cruise's cocky pilot Maverick soared into the sky, "Top Gun: Maverick", which sees the actor reprise the role that launched his career as a global action star, will begin its global cinema roll-out from May 25 after several pandemic-related delays. Cruise, 59, was last at the Cannes festival, an annual glitzy industry event on the French Riviera, for his 1992 movie "Far and Away". "Exactly thirty years later, on May 18, 2022, the Festival de Cannes will pay him an exceptional tribute for his lifetime achievements," organisers said in a statement. "On that special day, Tom Cruise will have an on-stage conversation with journalist Didier Allouch in the afternoon and will walk up the steps of the Palais des Festivals for the evening screening of 'Top Gun: Maverick'." https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/tom-cruises-top-gun-sequel-screen-cannes-film-festival-2022-04-01/

WASHINGTON: The United States is providing Ukraine with supplies and equipment in case Russia deploys chemical or biological weapons in its invasion of Ukraine, the White House said on Friday (Apr 1). White House press secretary Jen Psaki said the supplies were being provided to the government of Ukraine in light of warnings from the United States and other countries that Russia could deploy such weapons and might be planning a "false flag" operation to lay the groundwork for such an attack. The White House has not provided evidence that Russia has been planning such an attack. A senior US defense official said last week that there was no concrete indications of an imminent chemical or biological weapons attack in Ukraine. The Kremlin, which describes the war as a "special military operation," has accused Ukraine of preparing to use chemical weapons, also without providing evidence. US officials say that claim is a lie, and may indicate that Russia is preparing to do so itself. The White House has set up a team of experts to plan how to respond if Moscow does deploy any weapons of mass destruction - chemical, biological or nuclear, senior administration officials said last week. Psaki, asked about reports that Washington was also now providing gas masks and other protective equipment to Ukraine, told reporters: "In an effort to assist our Ukrainian partners, the U.S. government is providing the government of Ukraine lifesaving equipment and supplies that could be deployed in the event of Russian use of a chemical or biological weapon." She stressed that the shipment of such supplies would "not compromise our domestic preparedness in any way, shape or form." The European Union has also launched a stockpiling operation to boost its defenses against chemical, nuclear and biological incidents amid concerns over the conflict in Ukraine, according to EU documents and people familiar with the matter. US President Joe Biden last week said the United States would respond if Russian President Vladimir Putin was to use chemical weapons in the invasion of Ukraine. "We would respond, we would respond if he uses it. The nature of the response would depend on the nature of the use," Biden said at a news conference in Brussels. https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/us-providing-ukraine-supplies-case-russia-deploys-chemical-weapons-2602806

Great white sharks, (Carcharodon carcharias), also known as white sharks, are the largest predatory fish in the world. They belong to a partially "warm-blooded" family of sharks called Lamnidae, or mackerel sharks, that are able to maintain an internal body temperature that's warmer than their external environment — unlike other "cold-blooded" sharks, which can't, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Great white sharks are the only living members of the genus Carcharodon — inspired by the Greek words "karcharos," which means sharpen, and "odous," which means teeth. This name is well-chosen, as great white sharks have rows of up to 300 serrated, triangular teeth. These sharks have bullet-shaped bodies, gray skin and white bellies. Despite being one of the best-known shark species thanks to movies such as "Jaws" (1975), great white sharks live a secretive lifestyle, and scientists still have much to learn about these iconic predators. HOW BIG ARE GREAT WHITE SHARKS? Great white shark size varies, but females can grow to be larger than males. Female great white sharks reach an average length of 15 to 16 feet (4.6 to 4.9 meters), while males usually reach 11 to 13 feet (3.4 to 4 m), according to the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History in Washington D.C. The largest great white sharks can grow to 20 feet long (6.1 m), and there are unconfirmed reports of great whites growing to 23 feet long (7 m), according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Adults weigh between 4,000 and 7,000 pounds (1,800 and 3,000 kilograms), according to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Great whites are not the biggest sharks in the world. That title goes to whale sharks (Rhincodon typus), which are filter-feeders and usually grow up to 33 feet (10 m) long and weigh around 42,000 pounds (19,000 kg). The biggest shark species ever was the now-extinct megalodon (Carcharocles megalodon), which may have grown up to 60 feet long (18 m) or more, although scientists are still debating its exact size. Great white sharks have a large geographic range; they live in most temperate and tropical oceans around the world and have resident po[CENSORED]tions off the coasts of the U.S., Australia, South Africa and other countries. They are most often sighted in cooler, temperate waters and swim at the surface as well as down to more than 3,900 feet (1,200 m) below the surface, according to the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). Great white sharks are migratory and undertake long-distance journeys across the open ocean, possibly for food and breeding. A 2002 study published in the journal Nature found that one great white shark swam 2,360 miles (3,800 kilometers) from the coast of central California to the Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe. In 2005, researchers tracked a great white shark swimming almost 6,900 miles (11,100 km) from the coast of South Africa to Australia, before later heading back again, Mongabay reported. To have enough energy for such long journeys, great white sharks store energy in their oil-rich livers, according to the Monterey Bay Aquarium. ARE GREAT WHITE SHARKS DANGEROUS? Great white sharks occasionally bite and kill humans, although the relative risk of being bitten by any shark is very low. A 2021 study published in the Journal of the Royal Society Interface found that to a juvenile great white shark, the shape and motion of humans swimming or paddling on surfboards looks the same as seals — one of their main sources of food. This suggests attacks could be a case of mistaken identity, at least for juveniles. "White sharks are often portrayed as 'mindless killers' and 'fond of human flesh,' however, this does not seem to be the case, we just look like their food," Laura Ryan, lead author of the 2021 study and a postdoctoral researcher at Macquarie University in Australia, previously told Live Science. When someone has been bitten by a shark, experts often find it difficult to establish which shark species was involved. Sharks don't hang around for identification, and victims can struggle to make an accurate observation of the shark in the heat of the moment. Many shark species also create similar-looking wounds. Shark attack data is therefore skewed towards easily identified species such as great white sharks, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History's International Shark Attack Files (ISAF). The ISAF data show there have been 354 unprovoked great white shark attacks, including 57 fatal encounters, recorded since 1580 — more than any other shark species. Great white sharks are apex predators that eat a variety of prey, including fish, seals, sea turtles and seabirds. They typically eat smaller prey such as squids and stingrays when they are younger and then shift to eating marine mammals such as seals, sea lions and dolphins once they mature, according to the Australian Museum in Sydney. Great white sharks use quick bursts of speed to catch prey. Thanks to their streamlined bodies, they can race through the water at speeds of up to 15 mph (24 km/h), according to National Geographic. By hunting prey, great white sharks and other sharks play an important role in the ocean. They keep prey po[CENSORED]tions healthy by catching weak and sick individuals and prevent those po[CENSORED]tions from growing too large for a habitat's resources to support, Live Science previously reported. Great white sharks can also be prey themselves, but their risk of predation drops as they get older and larger. The only things that eat adult great white sharks are larger adult great whites and killer whales (Orcinus orca), which may hunt great whites for their energy-rich livers. HOW DO GREAT WHITE SHARKS BREED? Scientists still have plenty to learn about great white sharks, and much of their mating behavior remains a mystery. Researchers have interpreted some bite marks observed on mature female sharks as mating scars, which are caused by males grabbing females during mating, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. Scientists have studied shark specimens, such as accidentally caught pregnant females, and know that great white sharks don't lay eggs. Fertilized eggs hatch inside a female's body and develop there until the female gives birth. A 2016 study published in the journal Biology Open found that embryos probably feed on uterine fluid and undeveloped eggs between when they hatch inside the mother and when they are born. While in their mother's womb, young great whites also swallow their own teeth, according to the Florida Museum of Natural History. They may do this to reutilize calcium and other minerals. Scientists assume that great white sharks give birth in warm temperate and tropical waters, but they have not identified specific shark nurseries. Gestation is thought to take about a year, after which a female gives birth to between two and 10 offspring called pups, according to the University of Michigan's Animal Diversity Web. Pups are more than 3 feet (1 m) long when they are born and are able to take care of themselves. A 2014 study published in the journal PLOS One estimated great white sharks' lifespan based on radiocarbon levels in their vertebrae tissue. The researchers suggested that the oldest female shark in the study was 40 years old and the oldest male was 73 years old. This suggests that males may live longer than females, but further research is needed to corroborate these findings. https://www.livescience.com/27338-great-white-sharks.html

SHANGHAI: Chinese exports to Russia are slowing as the rouble swings in value, clear evidence of a ripple effect that Western sanctions over Russia's invasion of Ukraine are having in China, even as it sticks by its neighbour diplomatically. Chinese multinationals have stayed in Russia while their Western rivals flee but it is smaller Chinese companies that are more vulnerable to exchange rate losses, with several telling Reuters that much of their Russian business is on hold as both sides wait out the volatility. "The products I was supposed to send to Russia are sitting in my warehouse," said Deng Jinling, whose factory in eastern China makes vacuum flasks. Last year, about 30 per cent of her 40 million yuan (US$6.29 million) revenue came from Russia. "Our clients are all waiting to see if the exchange rate can improve a bit. Their costs are too high with the exchange rate at the moment," she said. Another Chinese trader, who only gave her surname Guo, said her firm acted as a middleman between Russian and Chinese clients but the volume of products such as bed sheets and kitchen equipment they usually handle had dropped by a third. China is Russia's biggest source of imports and sold US$12.6 billion of goods to Russia just in January and February - mostly computers, cars, shoes and toys, according to customs data. Both Russian importers and Chinese exporters are putting off business on fears of being caught out by the roller-coaster rouble. "The depreciation of the rouble means that you lose money every time there's a sale," said Shen Muhui, who heads a trade group representing more than 20,000 small Chinese exporters to Russia. He said a few more Russian customers were willing to use Chinese yuan to pay for goods but not enough to make much of a difference, and demand for his warehousing services in Russia had slumped by about a fifth since the Ukraine war began and about 90 per cent of his members had been affected. "You can't raise prices because the Russians can't afford it ... So you make a loss when converting your receipts into yuan," Shen said. "Exporting to Russia becomes undoable." LONG-TERM OPTIMISM The rouble has seen huge volatility against both the US dollar and Chinese yuan since Russia launched what it calls a "special operation" in Ukraine on Feb 24. The conflict triggered a slump of more than 40 per cent in the rouble's value against the yuan, though the Russian currency has rebounded roughly 70 per cent since a Mar 9 low. China has declined to condemn Russia's action in Ukraine or call it an invasion and it has repeatedly criticised what it calls illegal and unilateral sanctions. Major Chinese companies such as Xiaomi, Great Wall Motor have largely stayed silent on their Russia plans. But behind the scenes, China is wary of its firms running afoul of sanctions and is pressing them to tread carefully with investments there, Reuters reported on Mar 25. State-run Sinopec Group has suspended talks on a major petrochemical investment and a gas marketing venture in Russia, the sources said. Winnie Wang, president of the Shenzhen Cross-Border E-commerce Association, was optimistic about trade with Russia in the long term, saying she expected Chinese exports to increase in variety and volume, despite short-term challenges including the currency volatility. Wang said she hoped traders could wean themselves off US dollar settlement. "The two countries should work together to design a new payment framework for trade," she said. Source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/business/chinese-trade-russia-sting-ukraine-war-2601486

ISTANBUL: "Tarawih" prayers which Muslims perform every night during the holy month of Ramadan, are returning to Istanbul's Hagia Sophia mosque for the first time in 88 years, the country's top religious body announced on Thursday (Mar 31). "Thanks be to God. For the first time in 88 years, the mosque ... will welcome believers for tarawih prayers this Ramadan," said Ali Erbas head of the Diyanet, the public body responsible for overseeing religious worship. "I will witness, God willing, this beautiful moment by leading the first tarawih prayer," he added. The prayers will take place at Hagia Sophia on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays during the holy month of Ramadan, beginning this week, said Diyanet. Although the iconic building, previously used as a museum, was turned into a mosque in 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the prayers taking place there until now. It's not the first time the building has changed its use. The edifice was first built as a Christian cathedral between 532 and 537 AD under emperor Justinian I and is considered the most important Byzantine structure. After the Ottoman conquest of Constantinople (now Istanbul) in 1453, it was converted into a mosque before being opened as a museum in 1935 after the secular modern Turkish republic was established in 1923. It was added to the list of UNESCO world heritage sites in 1985. In June 2020, Turkish authorities converted Hagia Sophia back into a mosque, a move that triggered an international wave of criticism. Last year the World Heritage Committee of the UN's cultural agency UNESCO asked Turkey to submit a report about the state of conservation of the Hagia Sophia, expressing "grave concern" over the consequences of its conversion into a mosque. Turkey swiftly rejected the agency's criticism of the conversion of a revered Istanbul cathedral-turned-museum into a mosque as "biased and political". source : https://www.channelnewsasia.com/world/ramadan-prayers-return-istanbuls-hagia-sophia-mosque-after-88-years-2599941