-Sn!PeR-

Russian-backed officials in four occupied regions of Ukraine are holding self-styled referendums on joining Russia. Denounced as illegitimate and a sham by Ukraine and the West, these so-called votes are taking place over five days while all four areas - two in the east and two in the south - are on the front line. An annexation could lead to a claim by Russia that its territory is coming under attack from Western weapons supplied to Ukraine. This could escalate the war further. What is going on and why now? Seven months after Russia's invasion began, Vladimir Putin is on the back foot. Ukraine's counter-offensive has recaptured swathes of territory seized since the 24 February invasion. A vote on annexation is one of three steps taken by the Kremlin in an attempt to reset the war. By annexing another 15% of sovereign Ukraine, Russia will be able to claim its territory is under attack from weapons provided by Nato and other Western countries to Ukraine. By calling up 300,000 extra troops, it can defend a front line of 1,000km (620 miles). The Kremlin has also criminalised desertion, surrender and going absent without leave during mobilisation. If Russia's leader annexing territory sounds familiar, it is. When he ordered troops to seize Crimea in 2014, he followed it up with a vote rejected as an illegitimate sham by the international community. This latest event has also been denounced as illegal by many Western countries, including international monitoring group, the OSCE, and Russian media have already said that a Yes-vote is beyond doubt. It is taking place over five days in Russia's two proxy areas in Luhansk and Donetsk in the east, and in occupied parts of Kherson and Zaporizhzhia in the south. What makes these votes a sham? We have already seen how Crimea was annexed by Russia in 2014. While the Kremlin claimed 96.7% support, a leaked report from Russia's Human Rights Council said only around 30% had voted and barely half supported annexation. Barely a shot was fired in Crimea, and yet in this latest case voting is expected to take place in the middle of a war. The four regions involved are either partially or completely under occupation. In the south, the city of Kherson is not a safe place right now, with Russian soldiers struggling to hold back a big Ukrainian counter-offensive. The central administration building was hit by a series of missiles only last week. A secure vote is impossible, and yet officials talk of 750,000 people registered and plans to incorporate occupied parts of another Ukrainian region, Mykolayiv, into the annexed area. Russian media reported that electoral officials would go from door-to-door with portable ballot boxes from Friday to Monday. Polling stations will only operate on the fifth day, 27 September, with officials citing security reasons. Hundreds of stations are scheduled to open that day, with voters also able to cast ballots in regions outside their own - and refugees eligible to vote in parts of Russia itself. Then there's Zaporizhzhia's capital, which remains securely in Ukrainian hands, so any vote to annex that region makes little sense. Donetsk in the east is only 60% under Russian occupation and very much at the heart of the conflict. Russia does control most of Luhansk in the north-east even if it has begun to lose ground. Russian news agencies showed flyers being handed out entitled "Russia is the future". Much of the pre-war po[CENSORED]tion has fled the conflict. The head of Russia's proxy authority in Donetsk, Denis Pushilin, ordered a mass evacuation days before the invasion. Russian-backed leaders have been keen to stage votes for several months, but the decision to hold the vote was taken just three days in advance and smacks of desperation. There will be no independent observers. Much of the voting will be online, although officials have promised extra security at polling stations. What will change? Ukrainian defence ministry adviser Yuriy Sak told the BBC the so-called referendums were doomed. "We are seeing that local po[CENSORED]tions are all in favour of returning to Ukraine, and this is why there's so much guerrilla movement resistance in these territories." In any event, Kyiv says nothing will change and its forces will continue to push to liberate the territories. Russia analyst Alexander Baunov says merely redefining the occupied areas as Russian territory is unlikely to stop Ukraine's army, but it does send a message of intent to the po[CENSORED]tions under their control. And the Kremlin's hope is that the West will baulk at having its weapons fired at land declared by Moscow as Russian. Alarmingly President Putin has spoken of using all means at his disposal "to protect Russia". And in case there was any doubt at all, the deputy head of Russia's security council, Dmitry Medvedev, made clear that nuclear weapons could also be used to protect annexed territories. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has spoken of a "dangerous escalation", but reaffirmed Washington's position that no Russian claim to Ukrainian soil could take away Ukraine's right to defend itself. Even Turkey, which has sought to play a mediating role, has damned the vote as illegitimate. Source.

The invention of the world wide web in 1989 eventually brought about life-changing tools for everyone who can access it. Some of these tools, such as online banking, shopping and communication, have vastly improved the accessibility of daily life for people with disabilities, as well as older people. The concept of virtual mobility has long been used to describe how the internet can provide an accessible alternative to activities that usually require physical mobility. Virtual mobility was in full swing during the pandemic, as work, entertainment and socializing efficiently moved online. The metaverse—the next phase of the internet powered by virtual and augmented reality (VR and AR)—has the potential to take things even further. Working with Meta, the Royal National Institute of Blind People and other inclusive design-focused partners, our team of researchers will be investigating the potential of the metaverse to introduce life-changing benefits for disabled and older people, as well as developing solutions to improve its accessibility and inclusivity in our new project Towards an Equitable Social VR. Here are five areas where the metaverse could take virtual mobility to the next level. Social life The benefits of conventional social media for disabled people have been long established. Designed well, social spaces in the metaverse will advance these benefits through social virtual reality, which mimics in-person interaction, and permit people to interact freely without the obstacles that exist in the physical world. Importantly, users in metaverse platforms like Meta's Horizon Worlds will be able to represent themselves using virtual avatars. Research suggests that virtual avatars are a means through which some disabled people reflect aspects of their disability as a central part of their identity. Others may self-represent through avatars that are totally imagined. The metaverse gives users freedom and creativity in terms of how they want to be seen and eliminates preconceptions that disabled and older people might face when interacting with others in person. Education The metaverse can potentially improve the range and quality of education delivery pathways available to disabled users, as well as late-life learning. Immersive technologies mean that higher education could be delivered in an engaging way, without requiring physical attendance. This mode of delivery would eliminate some of the factors that exclude many people from accessing quality education, such as needing to move away from home or travel to a physical campus. There are also numerous opportunities to use the metaverse for remote coaching, personal development and skills training. Work The pandemic has shown how quickly we can adjust to new ways of working. A considerable number of people expect to work in the metaverse one way or another. A recent survey by Microsoft found that only 16% of the 31,102 survey participants, across generations, did not see themselves carrying out at least some of their job duties as "metawork" in the near future. The metaverse can provide access to the types of work that one's disability or age might otherwise make it difficult for them to access in the physical world. There is a growing community of designers getting ready to create the virtual interiors that will exist only within the metaverse. Other areas with interesting metaverse-based job prospects are digital fashion, real estate and, of course, building the Metaverse itself. Entertainment and leisure The pandemic brought music to the digital world in new ways, with artists from Travis Scott to Ariana Grande performing in virtual spaces. Gigs in the metaverse are just one entertainment option—virtual cinemas, theater performances and museum and gallery exhibitions are all taking place already. Tourism is another arena where the Metaverse can provide opportunities to travel through digital environments. Tourists could also explore remote physical locations from the comfort of home through a virtual reality headset, making travel more accessible and affordable. Healthcare and well-being The metaverse can also become a powerful platform in the medical world, useful in different fields of medicine. As an example, extended reality (XR) simulation can be used for various types of medical education and training, such as emergency response and mental health. VR and AR can also enhance medical imaging in radiology and support diagnostics, treatment planning and medical research. Another area of medicine where the metaverse has potential is telemedicine. VR can be used to facilitate remote consultation, especially where the medical personnel are not geographically available, like in many rural regions. It is worth noting that the metaverse is not meant to replace the life and experiences in the physical world, but offer new options. However, for its potential to come to fruition, the metaverse must be built to be accessible, inclusive and equitable across the spectrum of ability and age. This applies not just to the functional aspects (how easy it is to use the technology), but also to the social elements (how one can self-represent their disability and age). Other challenges with privacy, security, safety, communication and ethical behavior are also likely to emerge.

Arctic's MX-series thermal compounds are among the most po[CENSORED]r, among PC builders, and the company's MX-5 is widely considered the best thermal grease that it produces. But earlier this week MX-5 status was changed to end-of-life at the company's website (as discovered by @momomo_us) as apparently it is readying all-new MX-6 thermal paste. The biggest surprise is that Arctic discontinues its MX-5 just about 1.5 years after its launch in early 2021 and weeks before AMD and Intel are set to start selling their Ryzen 7000-series 'Raphael' and 13th Generation Core 'Raptor Lake' processors with increased maximum processor power. Yet, two images of the Arctic MX-6 packages posted by @momomo_us, a high-tech leaker with a good reputation, indicate that the new thermal grease is incoming. Arctic's MX-5 thermal grease is comprised of aluminum oxide, aluminum powder, aluminum nitride, polydimethylsiloxane, magnesium oxide and boron nitride. The paste consists microparticles which fill cavities on the surface of CPU heat spreaders as well as cooler bases. Thermal conductivity of the MX-5 is 8.5 W/m-K and it has a temperature range between -40 and 180 degrees Celsius, which essentially means that it's not designed for extreme overclocking. It has a viscosity of 550 pascal seconds, which is below that of MX-4, but it is still easy to apply. Arctic introduced its MX-5 in 2021, but its thermal conductivity did not change from MX-4 launched in 2019. While 8.5 W/m-K is not bad compared to cheap and mainstream thermal greases, it is considerably below thermal conductivity of market leaders like Thermal Grizzly's Kryonaut and Kryonaut Extreme that are designed with extreme overclockers in mind. In general, the MX-5 shoed very good performance under normal conditions, according to our rating of the best thermal pastes for CPUs around, but it looks like Arctic has something better, which is why it replaces the MX-5 while keeping the MX-4 afloat. Arctic's MX-5 did not replace the MX-4 and the two pastes continued to co-exist up until recently, even though the new one often performed better than its predecessor. By contrast, the MX-6 actually replaces the MX-5. We don't yet know exactly what to expect from MX-6, but our hunch tell us that this will be a yet another all-around performer from Arctic, but perhaps designed to better suit the upcoming CPUs from AMD and Intel. In any case, the new thermal grease should be available shortly, so we are going to find out soon enough. Source.

Name of the game: Blood Bowl 2 Price: $19.99 - $2.99 Link Store: Here. Offer ends up after X hours: DAILY DEAL! Offer ends 26 September. Requirements:

Welcome!

uviTR2Y.png Nick: -Sn!PeR- Real name: Saad How old are you?: 19 Which Games you play? and for how long?(each of them): i just play cs1,6 from time to time, i've been playing it since 2012 - 2011 maybe Where are you from?(country and city): Morocco - Tangier Describe yourself(at least 50 words): I'm a friendly guy who likes to laugh & speak a lot, i've got a lot of friends inside here, the community, as well as outside, the real world, i'm a sport active guy, i practice taekwondo for almost 10 years, i have the black belt already and i love practicing it. Note some of your qualities: Disciplined - Honest - Patient - Creative - Humble - Teamworking - Ambitious - Confident Tell us some of your defects: sometimes i get lazy, i don't really know what else to write here ._. Had you before any kind of responsabilities(describe it): inside the community? yeah, 2 years ago i was the leader of journalists team for a while, and a member of VGR team as well, i was managing a server as well i think it was highlifezm back at that time, i was active in the design section too. On which category/categories have you been active lately?(describe your activity): Journalists area - specifically in Free Time, Design area - Specifically in the requests, WOG area specifically in hardware/software & special promotions Which category/project you want to care off?: GFX Design - Journalists... i would love to manage VGR as well but i guess 2 is my max How well you speak english?(and other languages): my english is pretty good, i'd say about 70%... arabic is my official language, 100% for sure... french is my second language (in my country), i'd say about 40 to 50% Do you use TS3? Do you have an active microphone?: i do use ts3 yes, i do have a mic as well but most of the time i don't use it For how long can you be active after you get accepted?(days, weeks, months, years): i'd stay as long as possible, as long as i could stay Contact methods: discord ( -Sn!PeR-#4748 ) , insta ( saadalphatkd ), ts3, pm via forum and more... Last request: Here.

Plans to tackle the cost-of-living crisis will be set out in a mini-budget on Friday. New Prime Minister Liz Truss has pledged to cut tax and boost the economy. What could be in the mini-budget? Measures could include: letting people keep more of their earnings by cutting National Insurance (NI) scrapping a planned increase in the tax companies pay on their profits possible cuts to other taxes, including stamp duty which is paid on house purchases ending the cap on bankers' bonuses plans to boost economic growth, such as creating low-tax zones around the UK The announcements will be made by new Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, who is in charge of the public finances. The total cost of cutting taxes will be at least £30bn. What changes are expected to National Insurance? Ms Truss has pledged to undo a recent increase in National Insurance (NI) - a tax workers pay on their earnings. Since 6 April, workers and employers have paid an extra 1.25p in the pound, to help fund the NHS and social care. NI was set to return to its old rate from April 2023 - to be replaced by a new Health and Social Care Levy at a rate of 1.25%. However, the government could now decide to scrap the levy before it's introduced. If that happens, higher earners will benefit most, as they pay the most NI. An NI cut won't help pensioners or those on low income or benefits because they don't pay the tax. Which other taxes could be cut? Corporation tax This tax is based on the annual profits that a company makes. It was due to increase from 19% to 25% in April 2023, under a plan announced by the previous PM, Boris Johnson. However, Ms Truss is set to cancel the rise. Green levies These charges fund schemes like insulation and renewable energy. The prime minister has promised to temporarily scrap the levies, saving households about £150 each. Income tax A possible cut on the main tax on people's earnings could also be on the cards. Right now, people pay 20% on any annual earning between £12,571 to £50,270. How about boosting growth? The mini-budget could also see an end to the cap on bankers' bonuses. It was introduced across the EU in 2014 (when the UK was still a member) following the global financial crisis. When asked if she would be happy to see bankers getting bigger bonuses, Ms Truss said she wanted to see a growing economy. The government may also announce the creation of "special investment zones". Certain locations could be allowed to relax planning rules and reduce business taxes to encourage investment. Can the UK afford to tax less and borrow more? Critics, including Ms Truss' Conservative leadership rival Rishi Sunak, argue immediate tax cuts will lead to higher borrowing. The money, plus interest, will eventually need to be paid back by taxpayers. However, Ms Truss argues tax cuts will help the economy grow - bringing in more money which will cover the cost of the amount borrowed. Why is it being called a mini-budget? Major decisions about tax and spending are normally made twice a year - in an autumn Budget Statement and a Spring Statement. The Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) - which gives independent advice to the government - normally publishes its analysis of these statements. It sets out the cost of new policies, how much tax will be raised and what it means for the economy. However, the government is refusing to publish the OBR's assessment alongside the mini-budget. The Treasury said it "remain committed to maintaining the usual two forecasts in this fiscal year, as is required". A full-scale Budget is expected later this year, but no date has been set. Source.

HOBART, Australia — About 230 whales have been stranded on Tasmania’s west coast, just days after 14 sperm whales were found beached on an island off the southeastern coast. The pod, which is stranded on Ocean Beach, appears to be pilot whales and at least half are presumed to still be alive, the Department of Natural Resources and Environment Tasmania said Wednesday. A team from the Marine Conservation Program was assembling whale rescue gear and heading to the area, the department said. A resident told the Australian Broadcasting Corp. the whales were visible near the entrance to Macquarie Harbor and described the stranding as a “massive event.” David Midson, general manager of the West Coast Council, urged people to stay clear. “Whales are a protected species, even once deceased, and it is an offense to interfere with a carcass,” the environment department said. Griffith University marine scientist Olaf Meynecke said it’s unusual for sperm whales to wash ashore. He said that warmer temperatures could also be changing the ocean currents and moving the whales’ traditional food sources. “They will be going to different areas and searching for different food sources,” Meynecke said. “When they do this they are not in the best physical condition because they might be starving, so this can lead them to take more risks and maybe go closer to shore.” Fourteen sperm whales were discovered Monday afternoon on King Island, part of the state of Tasmania in the Bass Strait between Melbourne and Tasmania’s northern coast. The department said it is not unusual for sperm whales to be sighted in Tasmania. The pilot whale is notorious for stranding in mass numbers, for reasons that are not entirely understood. Two years ago, about 470 long-finned pilot whales were found beached on sandbars off Tasmania’s west coast in the largest mass-stranding on record in Australia. After a weeklong effort, 111 of those whales were rescued but the rest died. Source.

Chinese brand Xpeng has revealed its new G9 ‘smart SUV’, the fourth vehicle in the emerging brand’s line-up following the P5 and P7 saloons, and the smaller G3i SUV. The G9 sits of the top of Xpeng’s range and features plenty of technology that signifies its status as a halo model. The car is underpinned by Xpeng’s ‘Edward’ platform for larger cars with a wheelbase between 2.8 and 3.1 metres. The G9 will rival cars such as the Tesla Model Y and Nissan Ariya, and is offered with two different motor configurations but comes in six different specifications. RWD Standard Range models (available in 570G and 570E form) feature a rear-mounted motor with 308bhp and 430Nm of torque for a 0-62mph time of 6.4 seconds. Claimed range stands at 354 miles on the Chinese testing cycle, which is more optimistic than the WLTP regime used for European vehicles. The RWD Long Range model shares the same motor and performance figures as the Standard Range car but ups the G9’s range to a claimed 436 miles on the CLTC. Three 4WD Performance models are available: 650E Performance, 650X Performance and the 650X Launch Edition. These three cars all feature a dual-motor all-wheel drive powertrain offering 543bhp and 717Nm of torque, delivering a claimed 0-62mph time of 3.9 seconds. The 4WD Performance versions all claim a range of 403 miles on the Chinese testing cycle, while all G9 models have a top speed of 124mph. Xpeng claims the G9’s real-world usable range is between five and 10 per cent higher than other comparable SUVs. According to Xpeng, G9 has seven driving modes, including a Boost mode that helps the car reach its maximum torque in 0.15 seconds, while dual-chamber air suspension is fitted as standard controlling double wishbones at the front and a five-link set-up at the rear. Battery capacity stands at 96kWh for both powertrain variants, while the G9 uses the firm’s X-EEA 3.0 electronic architecture, with the powertrain based on an 800-volt system for ultra-rapid charging. With charging rates of up to 480kW supported, as much as 124 miles of range can be added in as little as five minutes, with a 10-80 per cent charge taking as little as 15 minutes, making it the world’s fastest charging electric SUV according to the brand. The G9 is packed with tech inside, offering three displays on the dash. The digital instrument cluster is joined by a pair of screens that form a single 15-inch panel; the touchscreen on the driver’s side is used to operate the car’s infotainment system, while the passenger side panel is a secondary configurable display that can show different information. The minimalist dashboard is Tesla-like in its design, with a wireless phone charging pad located in the centre console, while the G9 features a new 5D multimedia system, called Xopera. The set-up features a total of 28 speakers with an output of up to 2,250W, while there’s also a new advanced voice activation assistant. The G9 is also equipped with advanced LIDAR sensors that form part of Xpeng’s second-generation advanced driver assistance system - called XNGP - with ‘full scenario assistance’. Alongside a pair of front-mounted LIDAR sensors that offer a 180-degree field of view, the G9 features another 29 sensors as well as a forward-facing camera for object detection. Xpeng’s first-generation ADAS system - XPILOT - is fitted as standard on E versions of the G9, while the new XNGP tech with lane change assist and fully guided highway driving feature on X versions of the car. Boot space stands at 660 litres with the rear seats in place (the G9 is only a two-row, five-seat car) with up to 1,576 litres on offer with the rear seats folded down. The rear seats can also be adjusted to offer more comfort, according to Xpeng, while the G9 features Vehicle-to-Load functionality with a 220v outlet on board. The G9’s look is streamlined and minimalist, with a full-width LED running light bar connecting the headlight units and hooded by the car’s bonnet. A bluff, blanked-off front end gives an imposing look, while the flowing roofline and simple, solid-looking profile that features flush door handles gives a premium look. At the rear the G9 features another full-width light set-up, a spoiler at the top of the tailgate and a smooth design with simple ‘XPENG’ badging. The G9 rides on 21-inch wheels. According to co-founder and president, Xpeng Motors, Xia Heng, “Xpeng G9 is the first model of Xiaopeng Motors that was launched for domestic and international markets at the beginning of its development. It also shows the determination of Xiaopeng Motors to move towards internationalisation.” As a result, Xpeng claims that the G9 has been designed and engineered to meet the five-star Euro NCAP safety standard. The G9 is priced from 309,900 RMB in entry-level 570G form, which equates to just under £39,000. It’s expected that the Xpeng G9 will launch in Europe in 2023, with Norway likely the first market to receive the car. Plans for the brand’s launch in the UK have not been outlined, but given Heng’s comments on Xpeng becoming an international brand, there’s strong potential for the G9 and the brand’s other models to go on sale here. Source.

Hollywood’s Brad Pitt and Australian musician Nick Cave have debuted as artists in an exhibition in Finland that displays sculptures and ceramics created by the movie star and the singer-songwriter. The Sara Hilden Art Museum, located in the southern Finnish city of Tampere, was initially scheduled to exhibit solely the wide variety of works by British artist Thomas Houseago — known for his sculptures — but he reportedly persuaded the museum include works by his friends Pitt and Cave. “Cave and Pitt are already renowned in their respective fields of music and cinema, but this is the first time ever they have exhibited their artwork — pieces which were created during the course of an ongoing dialogue with Houseago,” the Finnish museum said. Pitt and Cave traveled to Tampere, a university city known for its vibrant culture and music scene, for a pre-opening event on Saturday. Finnish media reported that both men acknowledged being excited and nervous about presenting their art in public for the first time. Among the nine works on show by the 58-year-old Pitt is a house-shaped structure molded in clear silicon and shot with bullets and a plaster panel depicting a shooting scene. Pitt reportedly began making ceramic art following his divorce from Angelina Jolie in 2017. Pitt told the Finnish public broadcaster YLE that his work was about “self-reflection.” “It’s about, you know, where have I gotten it wrong in my relationships? Where have I misstepped? Where I am complicit?” he said. “It was borne out of ownership of really what I call a radical inventory of self, getting really, brutally honest with me and … taking account of those I may have hurt and moments I’ve just gotten wrong,” the American Oscar-winning actor and film producer told YLE. Cave, known for his dark baritone voice as the front man for his band Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds, produced a series of ceramic figurines that depict the life of the devil. He designed, painted and glazed the 17 figures between 2020 and this year. “I wanted to do a devil because it was red. And I like the color of red glaze,” Cave told YLE. “Eventually I decided to make the life story of the devil itself.” “For me, personally, it speaks into something about the idea of forgiveness or the need to be forgiven. It’s a very personal work for me.” The exhibition opened Sunday and runs through Jan. 15, 2023. Source.

Russian police are reported to have arrested hundreds of protesters rallying against the Kremlin's decision to call up thousands of extra troops to fight in Ukraine. Russian human rights group OVD-Info put the total at more than 1,300. The largest numbers arrested were in St Petersburg and Moscow. Dozens were held in Irkutsk and other Siberian cities, and Yekaterinburg. Flights out of Russia sold out fast after Vladimir Putin's announcement. Pictures on social media showed long queues at border posts, and on Google, the search for "how to leave Russia" skyrocketed. Russia's president ordered a partial mobilisation, meaning some 300,000 military reservists - but not conscripts - will be drafted to bolster Russia's forces who have suffered recent battlefield reverses in Ukraine. The move came a day after occupied areas of Ukraine announced snap referendums on joining Russia. And in remarks condemned by Ukraine and its allies, Mr Putin stressed that he would use "all available means" to protect Russian territory - implying this could involve nuclear weapons. Tough warnings to protesters The Moscow prosecutor's office on Wednesday warned that calls on the internet to join unauthorised street protests, or participation in them, could incur up to 15 years in jail. They could be prosecuted under laws against discrediting the armed forces, spreading "fake news" about Russia's military operation in Ukraine, or encouraging minors to protest. Russia's tough penalties for spreading "disinformation" about the Ukraine war and police harassment of anti-Putin activists have made public anti-war protests rare. But the anti-war opposition group Vesna called for widespread protests, and on Telegram it reported many arrests across Russia. A video clip from Yekaterinburg showed police violently bundling protesters into a bus. Vesna called its action "no to mogilisation" - a play on words, because "mogila" in Russian means grave. Pavel Chikov, a lawyer for the Russian human rights group Agora, said Agora had received 6,000 inquiries to its hotline since Tuesday morning, from Russians wanting information about soldiers' rights. Meanwhile, flights to po[CENSORED]r destinations such as Istanbul in Turkey and Yerevan in Armenia were snapped up, and prices for remaining seats skyrocketed. The price for flights from Moscow to Istanbul or Dubai reached as high as 9,200 euros ($9,119) for a one-way economy class fare following Mr Putin's announcement, the Associated Press reported. 'Absolutely everyone is afraid' The Kremlin's mobilisation move follows heavy losses in Ukraine, where Kyiv's forces have recaptured a huge area east of Kharkiv. President Putin's control of the state media has ensured that many Russians support his claim that Ukraine's "neo-Nazi" government and Nato threaten Russia, and that ethnic Russians in Ukraine have to be defended. In reality Ukraine's government was democratically elected and has no far right politicians. The scale of Russian opposition to the Kremlin line on Ukraine is hard to gauge, as media restrictions are so tight. In Russia, pro-Putin regional governors, who now have to organise the mobilisation, voiced support for it. "We won't be weakened, divided or exterminated," said Ulyanovsk governor Alexei Russkikh. "Our region, like all the others in our country, has a duty to mobilise citizens for military service." Chelyabinsk governor Alexei Teksler said the mobilisation was needed to ensure Russia's "sovereignty, security and territorial integrity". But young Russian men have told the BBC of their fears about the call-up. Matvey in St Petersburg said "I was hoping it would never happen". "Now it's obvious that Putin won't step back and he's going to continue his stupid fight to the last Russian citizen." He said "I shouldn't be recruited during this step of mobilisation, but there are no guarantees that things won't get worse". Evgeny, a 31-year-old Russian living in the UK, told the BBC: "Absolutely everyone is afraid, everyone is sending around different information on mobilisation. It is very difficult to figure out what is true and what isn't. Nobody trusts the government." Source.

Scientists from the University of Freiburg, Germany, and the University of Pittsburgh have developed a software platform that facilitates and standardizes the analysis of surfaces. The contact.engineering platform enables users to create a digital twin of a surface and thus to help predict, for example, how quickly it wears out, how well it conducts heat, or how well it adheres to other materials. The team included Dr. Michael Röttger from the Department of Microsystems Engineering, Prof. Lars Pastewka and Antoine Sanner from the Department of Microsystems Engineering and the University of Freiburg's Cluster of Excellence livMatS, and Prof. Tevis Jacobs from the Department of Mechanical Engineering and Materials Science at the University of Pittsburgh's Swanson School of Engineering. They presented the software platform in the journal Surface Topography: Metrology and Properties. Topography influences material properties All engineered materials have surface roughness, even if they appear smooth when seen with the naked eye. Viewed under a microscope, they resemble the surfaces of a mountain landscape. "It is of particular interest, in both industrial applications and scientific research, to have precise knowledge of a surface's topography, as this influences properties like the adhesion, friction, wettability, and durability of the material," says Pastewka. Saving time and cost in manufacturing Manufacturers must carefully control the surface finish of, for example, automobiles or medical devices to ensure proper performance of the final application. At present, the optimal surface finish is found primarily by a trial-and-error process, where a series of components are made with different machining practices and then their properties are tested to determine which is best. This is a slow and costly process. "It would be far more efficient to use scientific models to design the optimal topography for a given application, but this is not possible at present," says Jacobs. "It would require scientific advancements in linking topography to properties, and technical advancements in measuring and describing a surface." The contact.engineering platform facilitates both of these advances and standardizes the procedure: It automatically integrates the various data from different tools, corrects measurement errors, and uses the data to create a digital twin of the surface. The platform calculates statistical metrics and applies mechanical models to the surfaces, helping to predict behavior. "The users can thus identify which topographical features influence which properties. This allows a systematic optimization of finishing processes," says Pastewka. Facilitating open science The software platform also serves as a database on which users can share their measurements with colleagues or collaborators. Users can also choose to make their surface measurements available to the public. When they publish the data, a digital object identifier (DOI) is generated that can be referenced in scientific publications. "We are continually developing contact engineering and would like to add even more analysis tools, for example for the chemical composition of surfaces," says Pastewka. "The goal is to provide users with a digital twin that is as comprehensive as possible. That's why we also welcome suggestions for improvements to the software platform from users in industry and research." Source.

The Securities and Exchange Commission has fined Morgan Stanley Smith Barney (MSSB) for failing to protect its customers' personal identifying information (PII) over a five-year period. The SEC claims that Morgan Stanley not only did not destroy its clients' personal data from hard drives set to be decommissioned but also hired unqualified companies to do so. The SEC has discovered that Morgan Stanley did not properly dispose of storage devices containing its customers' PII dating as far back as 2015. The commission also found out that in several cases, Morgan Stanley contracted a "moving and storage company with no experience or expertise in data destruction services" to retire thousands of HDDs and servers containing the personal information of millions of its clients. Instead of destroying the drives and server, the company sold them to a third party, which sold them on an Internet auction. Typically, companies dealing with sensitive data use hardware security modules (HSMs) such as Marvell's LiquidSecurity, self-encrypting drives (SED), or at least encrypt the data via software. Decommissioning a SED is a fast and easy process as it only requires erasing the encryption key from the drive. Morgan Stanley did not use SEDs and did not encrypt data on its servers, even though the latter supported such capability. Usually, decommissioning a server with unencrypted data requires erasing all the data and ensuring it is impossible to recover it, which in many cases includes the physical destruction of storage devices. Yet, MSSB's contractors did not do that, and MSSB did not properly monitor its work. Finally, Morgan Stanley found that 42 servers, all hypothetically storing unencrypted customer PII and consumer report information, were essentially lost or stolen by the moving company. "Customers entrust their personal information to financial professionals with the understanding and expectation that it will be protected, and MSSB fell woefully short in doing so," said Gurbir S. Grewal, Director of the SEC's Enforcement Division. "If not properly safeguarded, this sensitive information can end up in the wrong hands and have disastrous consequences for investors. Today's action sends a clear message to financial institutions that they must take seriously their obligation to safeguard such data." Morgan Stanley agreed to pay a $35 million fine without admitting guilt or denying the SEC's findings. Source.

Name of the game: Cyberpunk 2077 Price: $59.99 - $29.99 Link Store: Here. Offer ends up after X hours: SPECIAL PROMOTION! Offer ends 25 September. Requirements:

The Treasury is refusing to publish a forecast of the UK's economic outlook alongside this Friday's mini-Budget. Independent forecaster the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR) has already provided a draft to Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, the BBC understands. The Treasury Select Committee says a forecast is "vital" given recent government moves to curb living costs. Action to cap annual energy bills could cost about £150bn, and tax cuts are expected on Friday. The mini-Budget is expected to see the government reverse a rise in National Insurance and scrap a planned increase in corporation tax, which reports say could cost £30bn. The draft forecast the OBR has provided does not include the impact of the energy bill help. It has offered to provide a forecast including this impact, but that has been rejected. The fact the offer has not been taken up is raising some concerns about whether the government's tax and spending policy is "flying blind", given predictions that the UK is facing a lengthy recession. MPs on the Treasury Select Committee wrote to the chancellor on Tuesday seeking assurance that an OBR forecast would be published. "These forecasts are a vital indicator of the health of the nation's finances, and provide reassurance and confidence to international markets and investors," said the committee's chairman, Mel Stride. "There has been a deterioration in our economic outlook since the last OBR forecast in March. There have been significant fiscal interventions since then and we are told there will be further significant interventions including major permanent tax cuts to be announced on Friday. "Under these circumstances, it is vital that an independent OBR forecast is provided." The OBR is obliged to produce economic forecasts twice a year, usually accompanying the Autumn Budget and Spring Statement. On Friday, there will be no independent assessment about whether permanent tax cuts and some one-off spending increases are consistent with the government's Budget rules. The lack of OBR forecast also means it will not cast judgement on the impact of the new tax measures on growth - a key target for the government which wants to increase the trend rate of growth to 2.5%. A spokesperson for the Treasury said: "Given the exceptional circumstances our country faces, we have moved at immense speed to provide significant energy bill support for households and businesses, and are acting swiftly to set out further plans to kickstart economic growth later this week. "We remain committed to maintaining the usual two forecasts in this fiscal year, as is required." In its latest long-term forecast in July, the OBR said trend growth had fallen from 2.2% to 1.4%, partly because of a declining size of the workforce. In the City, where in recent weeks the value of the pound sterling has fallen and the cost of borrowing for the UK government has risen, there is some expectation that the Treasury will imminently have to formally increase its "remit" for borrowing. The Financing Remit is given to the Debt Management Office based on a forecast for borrowing. Extra sales of government loans, known as gilts, also need to be co-ordinated with the Bank of England, which is planning to sell off some of the gilts it owns, as it starts to reverse its long-running programme of stimulus. Government insiders say that the main motivation behind Friday's announcements is to enact the PM's leadership campaign promises as quickly as possible, and that a full forecast will accompany an upcoming Budget statement. The cost of the energy package, for example, could vary considerably depending on market prices for gas, and the ability of the government to renegotiate expensive contracts for renewable energy. Source.

To say that ants outnumber people on Earth would be a gross understatement. According to a new study, there are estimated to be 2.5 million times more ants on this planet than people. In total, that's 20 quadrillion — or 20,000,000,000,000,000 — ants. A team of researchers from Australia, Germany and Hong Kong analyzed 489 studies that gathered data on ground- and tree-dwelling ants in different habitats across all continents to come up with the mind-bending estimate. The research could help scientists understand the role that ants play in ecosystems and provide a way to assess how these insects and others are affected by threats such as climate change. "Our results provide a crucial baseline for exploring environmental drivers of ant-abundance patterns and for tracking the responses of insects to environmental change," the scientists wrote in the study, which was published Monday in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. The study also estimated that the total mass of ants on the planet works out to roughly 12 megatons of dry carbon, a huge sum that hints at their ubiquity, said Mark Wong, a Forrest Fellow in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Western Australia. Taken together, the total mass of ants on the planet would actually outweigh all of the world’s wild birds and mammals, he added. "We found that there are literally tons of ants on Earth, which really underscores their ecological value," Wong said in a statement. Ants can be found in nearly all habitats except for polar regions, according to the study. Forests and arid parts of the planet had the most ant specimens, while tropical zones had the highest density of ant po[CENSORED]tions, the researchers found. "Our results show that the numbers of ants are highest in the tropics, which include areas facing some of the strongest pressures from human disturbances and environmental change," Wong said in the statement. The scientists called the new estimate conservative and said more research is needed to assess the role that ants play in their terrestrial ecosystems. "Per hectare, ants move up to 13 tons of soil mass per year," study lead author Patrick Schultheiss, a biologist at the University of Würzburg in Germany, said in a statement. As such, "they have a great influence on maintaining the nutrient cycle and also play a decisive role in the distribution of plant seeds." Previous studies have had worrying outlooks for the world's insect po[CENSORED]tions. A series of studies published in January 2021 in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences found that climate change, invasive species, light pollution, changes in agriculture and the use of insecticides and herbicides are collectively causing the loss of around 1% to 2% of Earth's insects each year. A separate study published in April 2020 in the journal Science found that the planet has lost more than one-quarter of its land-dwelling insects in the past 30 years. "Ants provide key ecological services — not only in natural systems but also in our farms, plantations, parks and cities — so it is in our best interest to monitor po[CENSORED]tions and investigate how they are responding to warming climates," Wong said. Source.

The core BMW 3 Series recipe hasn’t changed here; this is still the best-driving executive saloon on the market, with a communicative chassis and well judged suspension that keeps body roll in check while still being comfortable. It’s shockingly quick in M340i guise, too, for those who can afford it. But across all versions, it’s the cabin and tech upgrades that make the biggest difference, fixing the one area where BMW’s star player was short of talent. It is a much better car to drive and sit in than countless SUVs that outsell it – and that’s more of a travesty than ever. The days when the BMW 3 Series was a piece of automotive currency, like the Ford Mondeo or the Volkswagen Golf, have probably gone now, thanks to the inexorable transition towards SUVs. But sales of the Munich manufacturer’s iconic three-box premium saloon have actually remained steady in recent years, with it finding around 20,000 customers in the UK annually. This, plus continued big sales numbers from China, has been good enough to earn fresh investment in a facelift from BMW. And now it’s time to see if the money has been well spent. From the outside, not a great deal has changed compared with the G20 3 Series that’s been on sale since 2019; there’s yet another take on the BMW kidney grille – thankfully kept in check by the car’s modest vertical dimensions – plus slimmer headlights. As is usually the case with a mid-life update, there are no sheet-metal changes, but the refreshed front bumpers do give the car a more aggressive stance. It’s inside where BMW has really splashed the cash – perhaps in a bid to match the strongest point of its traditional rival, the Mercedes C-Class – by fitting some of the tech from the latest i4 and iX. There’s a huge curved display (actually a pair of screens – a 12.3-inch instrument panel and a 14.9-inch infotainment set-up), and it all runs the latest version (8, if you’re counting) of BMW’s in-house operating system. The firm is promising that over-the-air updates will deliver bug fixes and new features over time. Under the skin, the 3 Series is still offered with a choice of four petrol engines in the UK, including a plug-in hybrid, and a pair of diesels featuring mild-hybrid technology. An eight-speed automatic gearbox is standard across the range and while the traditional rear-drive configuration remains on most models, range-topping editions get xDrive four-wheel drive as standard. The trim line-up has been rationalised a little, and BMW’s bundled options packs should keep configuration relatively simple for most buyers. There are two basic editions; Sport brings 17-inch alloy wheels, LED headlights, heated front seats, parking sensors, a rear-view camera, cruise control and air-conditioning. Stepping up to M Sport means 18-inch alloys, flashes of aluminium interior trim, an M Sport steering wheel, sports suspension and variable sports steering. The aforementioned packs include Comfort (heated steering wheel, powered bootlid and comfort access), Visibility (adaptive LED headlights with high-beam assist), Technology (Harman Kardon surround-sound system, a wireless smartphone charging pad and a head-up display), and M Sport Pro, which is available only on M Sport editions and offers upgraded brakes, adaptive suspension, 19-inch alloys, sun-protection glass and M Sport styling add-ons, including a rear spoiler. The engine range starts with the humble 181bhp 320i, but here we’re driving the range-topping M340i xDrive, whose six-cylinder turbocharged motor delivers a whopping 369bhp and 500Nm for a 0-62mph time of 4.4 seconds. It comes at a hefty price, mind – £54,805 – and emits anywhere between 177g/km and 193g/km of CO2. If any of the 3 Series models risks feeling a bit like a ‘farewell tour’ for petrol-powered saloons, it could be this one. It makes sense to reflect the fact that BMW’s engineers haven’t really played with the dynamic make-up, and start instead with the new cabin. It’s not flawless – witness the cheap-feeling, non-lined door pockets, for example – but on the whole the transformation is enough to really narrow the gap to the C-Class in this area. Almost all of the bits you’re likely to touch feel high in quality, the fit and finish are excellent, and the technology is neatly integrated into the top of the dashboard – although the huge displays dominate the vista. That infotainment system is one of our favourites, and while there’s a lot going on (even learning to appreciate everything that it can do will require an afternoon’s commitment from a new owner), the interface is slick and the processor behind the whole thing is powerful enough to deliver quick responses to any inputs. The cabin itself has no more space than before, of course – beyond a little more fresh air in the front, thanks to the switch from a gearlever to a toggle selector – but this is still a car capable of carrying four adults in comfort. The boot capacity is unchanged too, at 480 litres – a decent amount for the class, while obviously not quite as roomy as some hatchbacks. The M340i may be slightly out of kilter with market trends, on powertrain and green credentials as much as bodystyle, but once you get moving, you realise that it is by no means a bad car. Quite the opposite, in fact. With the basics left untouched, you still get that exceptional 3 Series mix of excellent body control, direct and meatily weighted steering, agility and comfort. It’s a little firmer than a C-Class but it never feels crashy – although it’s worth pointing out that BMW’s Bavarian test route was smooth, and the M340i gets the adaptive suspension as standard, for maximum sophistication. The engine, meanwhile, is a gem; it has a characterful growl from low revs and while there is a noticeable turbocharged whoosh at around 2,500rpm, you’d never call it laggy. Given a little space to stretch its legs, this car has explosive performance that wouldn’t shame a full-blown M model. Indeed, there’s the sort of duality here that is so, so much harder for engineers to achieve with four-cylinder power. Push the M340i hard and it has more than enough performance for rapid cross-country progress; in Sport mode it’ll even give you little whoofles on gearchanges. Keep it in Normal and allow the smooth auto gearbox to slush its way into a higher ratio, and you’ll keep pace with UK motorway traffic at barely 1,500rpm, with little to disturb you beyond a slight rustle of wind noise from the door mirror. B-road weapon or long-distance cruiser? This is a car that can accomplish both roles in style. Source.

Have you ever been titled as emotionally needy, high maintenance, overly sensitive, demanding, or selfish even? Your mind brims with thoughts that ultimately decide your mood and overall attitude. There are also times when our brain produces “automatic thoughts” which we have no control over and that influence our behaviour, as PhD holders Dennis Greenberger and Christine A Padesky mention in their book Mind Over Mood. Thus, as a result of certain thoughts which run parallel to specific kinds of moods, one is unable to healthily manage overwhelming feelings, leading to low emotionally intelligent behaviour. These behaviours stem from “attachments that impact the ability to handle your emotional states,” as stated by Lisa Ferentz, writer of the book Letting Go of Self-Destructive Behaviors. And if gone unchecked, you may “lose the ability to show emotions and effectively communicate your needs to others, depriving you of emotional quotient (EQ),” writes Ferentz. Considering how humans are immersed most of the time in their minds, studies have extensively aimed at researching what makes it a healthy place to be in. And time after time. it has been scientifically proven that befriending books plays an essential role in making one socially intelligent by elevating the mind. To help you boost your EQ level, we’ve listed down five books you should indulge yourself in. Take a look: The Book of Moods, Lauren Martin Backed with research, stories, and self-realisation, this book helps you comprehend your emotions and stops them from developing into life hindrances. A Gentle Reminder, Bianca Sparacino This book is for when you need words to hug your broken pieces and stitch them back together. Gentle reminders to keep going despite challenges and to embrace the past and all that’s to come, this book is a journey towards healing. When You’re Ready, This Is How You Heal, Brianna West A single traumatic event is enough to disrupt our lives. This book is about allowing that disruption to yield us into woke personas and evolve into emotionally intelligent humans. The Mountain Is You, Brianna West This is a book about self-sabotaging behaviours and resisting the efforts to change. But by extracting crucial insight from our most damaging habits, and building emotional intelligence by better understanding our brains and bodies, we can step out of our way and into our highest potential future selves. The Four Agreements, Don Miguel Ruiz Based on ancient Toltec wisdom, this book breaks self-limiting beliefs and offers a powerful code of conduct that can rapidly transform our lives into a new experience of freedom, true happiness, and love. Source.

Women have been at the forefront of escalating protests in Iran sparked by the death in custody of a woman detained for breaking hijab laws. Crowds cheered when women burned their hijabs on a bonfire in Sari on Tuesday, as the unrest continued for a fifth night and spread to more cities. Activists said two male protesters were shot dead by security forces in Urmia and Piranshahr, in the north-west. A police assistant was also reportedly killed in Shiraz, in the south. At least six people are now believed to have been killed since protests against the hijab laws and the morality police erupted after the death of Mahsa Amini. The 22-year-old Kurdish woman from the north-western city of Saqez died in hospital on Friday, after spending three days in a coma. She was with her brother in Tehran when she was arrested by morality police, who accused her of breaking the law requiring women to cover their hair with a hijab, or headscarf, and their arms and legs with loose clothing. She fell into the coma shortly after collapsing at a detention centre. There were reports that police beat Ms Amini's head with a baton and banged her head against one of their vehicles, Acting UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada al-Nashif said. The police have denied that she was mistreated and said she suffered "sudden heart failure". But her family has said she was fit and healthy. "Mahsa Amini's tragic death and allegations of torture and ill-treatment must be promptly, impartially and effectively investigated by an independent competent authority, that ensures, in particular, that her family has access to justice and truth," Ms Nashif said. She noted that the UN had received "numerous, and verified, videos of violent treatment of women" as morality police expanded their street patrols in recent months to crack down on those perceived to be wearing "loose hijab". "The authorities must stop targeting, harassing, and detaining women who do not abide by the hijab rules," she added, calling for their repeal. An aide to Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei paid a visit to Ms Amini's family on Monday and told them that "all institutions will take action to defend the rights that were violated", state media reported. Senior MP Jalal Rashidi Koochi publicly criticised the morality police, saying the force was a "mistake" as it had only produced "loss and damage" for Iran. What are Iran's hijab laws? Following the 1979 Islamic Revolution, authorities in Iran imposed a mandatory dress code requiring all women to wear a headscarf and loose-fitting clothing that disguises their figures in public. Morality police - known formally as "Gasht-e Ershad" (Guidance Patrols) - are tasked, among other things, with ensuring women conform with the authorities' interpretation of "proper" clothing. Officers have the power to stop women and assess whether they are showing too much hair; their trousers and overcoats are too short or close-fitting; or they are wearing too much make-up. Punishments for violating the rules include a fine, prison or flogging. In 2014, Iranian women began sharing photos and videos of themselves publicly flouting the hijab laws as part of an online protest campaign called "My Stealthy Freedom". It has since inspired other movements, including "White Wednesdays" and "Girls of Revolution Street". Ms Nashif also expressed alarm at "the reported unnecessary or disproportionate use of force" against the thousands of people who have taken in part in protests since Mahsa Amini died. Hengaw, a Norway-based organisation that monitors human rights in predominantly Kurdish areas of Iran, said a 16-year-old boy and a 23-year-old man were killed when security forces opened fire at protesters on Tuesday night in Piranshahr and Urmia, which are both in West Azerbaijan province. The group had also reported that three male protesters had been shot and killed by security forces in the neighbouring province of Kurdistan on Monday - one in Saqez, Ms Amini's home city, and two others in the towns of Divandarreh and Dehgolan - as the unrest escalated. It had previously reported the death of a second man in Divandarreh, but relatives said he was in a critical condition in hospital. The state-run Irna news agency meanwhile said a police assistant died of injuries he sustained in violent clashes with protesters in the southern city of Shiraz on Tuesday. Irna also reported that protests took place in 15 cities overnight, including Tehran, Mashhad in the north-east, Rasht in the north, and the central cities of Kerman and Isfahan. Police used tear-gas and made arrests to disperse crowds who blockaded streets, hurled stones and set fire to police vehicles, it added. In the capital, videos posted online showed women taking off their headscarves and shouting "death to the dictator" - a chant often used in reference to the Supreme Leader. Others shouted "justice, liberty, no to mandatory hijab". A woman who took part in a protest on Monday in Rasht sent BBC Persian photographs of what she said were bruises she suffered as a result of being beaten by riot police with batons and hoses. "[The police] kept firing tear gas. Our eyes were burning," she said. "We were running away, [but] they cornered me and beat me. They were calling me a prostitute and saying I was out in the street to sell myself. Another woman who protested in Isfahan told the BBC's Ali Hamedani: "While we were waving our headscarves in the sky I felt so emotional to be surrounded and protected by other men. It feels great to see this unity. I hope the world supports us." Tehran Governor Mohsen Mansouri tweeted on Tuesday that the protests were "fully organised with the agenda to create unrest", while state TV alleged that Ms Amini's death was being used as an "excuse" by Kurdish separatists and critics of the establishment. Source.

a pro from me, u got some pretty nice topics and activity, i hope u r gonna keep it that way.

Name of the game: God Of War Price: $49.99 - $39.99 Link Store: Here. Offer ends up after X hours: SPECIAL PROMOTION! Offer ends 22 September. Requirements:

A planned meeting between Liz Truss and US President Joe Biden before the Queen's funeral has been cancelled, Downing Street has said. No 10 said a "full bilateral meeting" between the PM and Mr Biden would instead take place at the UN General Assembly on Wednesday. It is thought holding the talks after the period of national mourning would allow more wide-ranging discussions. Ms Truss met her counterparts from New Zealand and Australia on Saturday. The prime minister held informal talks with Jacinda Ardern and Australian premier Anthony Albanese at Chevening House in Kent. And Number 10 confirmed Ms Truss will see Irish Taoiseach [prime minister] Micheál Martin, Canadian PM Justin Trudeau, and Polish President Andrzej Duda at Downing Street on Sunday. Although she met Mr Biden when she was foreign secretary, next week's UN meeting with him in New York will be Ms Truss's first as UK prime minister. Monday's funeral will be one of the biggest diplomatic events of recent years, with some 500 heads of state and foreign dignitaries expected to attend. It is providing Ms Truss with an opportunity to meet foreign counterparts less than two weeks after taking office. But Downing Street had stressed that talks this weekend would not be formal bilateral meetings because of the official 10-day mourning period following the death of the Queen. It would not be issuing summaries of the discussions as would normally happen after the PM's meetings with foreign leaders, No 10 added. As a former foreign secretary, Liz Truss is not exactly new to rubbing shoulders with world leaders. She'll see a lot of them over this weekend. Meeting them as prime minister, though, is different and the first meeting with the US president is always the biggest for a new PM. When Liz Truss and Joe Biden do sit down, it will be closely scrutinised for any indications of the health, or otherwise, of the "special relationship". I'm told that holding it after the official mourning period means it can be much more focused on business rather than reflecting on the Queen. There is a lot of business to tackle. Joe Biden is no fan of Liz Truss's approach to the Northern Ireland Protocol, for a start. The US has suggested it is "not conducive" to the other not-so-small matter of a trade deal. All this will have to wait though, until later in the week. In advance of her talks with Ms Truss, Ms Ardern said the death of the Queen would be the "focus of conversation", and they were also likely to discuss Ukraine and the UK's free trade agreement with New Zealand. announced last October. It was thought the meeting between Ms Truss and Mr Albanese focused on trade, after the signing of a deal between the UK and Australia in December. Ms Truss also held a phone call with the President of the UAE, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al Nahyan, on Saturday in which he expressed his condolences on the death of the Queen. The meeting with the Irish Republic's prime minister comes at a time of strained relations with the EU over post-Brexit checks in Northern Ireland. The UK is refusing to apply some of the checks it signed up to in the Brexit withdrawal deal, prompting a series of lawsuits from the EU. Mr Martin has expressed concern about legislation Ms Truss introduced as foreign secretary enabling the UK to alter the legal commitments it signed up to in the exit treaty in 2019. Ms Truss is expected to meet European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen for talks at the UN meeting in New York next week. The state funeral service in Westminster Abbey on Monday is expected to be attended by hundreds of foreign dignitaries, including politicians and royalty. Syria, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Myanmar, Russia and Belarus have not been invited - whilst Iran, North Korea and Nicaragua have been asked to only send a senior diplomat. China's President Xi Jinping is on the guest list for the funeral ceremony but is not thought likely to attend. A Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman said on Friday that no decision had been made on whether they would be sending a delegation, although press reports have suggested China's vice-president will attend. Ms Truss is expected to have a phone call with the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, Mohammed Bin Salman on Saturday evening. The de facto ruler's invitation to the Queen's funeral has sparked protests from human rights campaigners. A declassified CIA report concluded that he had authorised the murder and dismemberment of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi - allegations denied by the crown prince. Source.

Seven ancient “clans” of sperm whales live in the vast Pacific Ocean, proclaiming their cultural identity by distinctive patterns of clicks within their songs, according to a new study. It’s the first time cultural markers have been observed among whales, and they mimic markers of cultural identity among human groups, like distinctive dialects or tattoos. The discovery is also a step toward a scientific understanding of what whales say to one another in their underwater songs — something that’s still a mystery despite years of research. Bioacoustician Taylor Hersh, a postdoctoral researcher at the Max Planck Institute of Psycholinguistics in Nijmegen in the Netherlands and lead author of the study published this month in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, said that sperm whales often exchange streams of loud clicks with each other when they’re resting near the surface between dives into deeper waters — sometimes more than a mile down — for prey like squid and fish. The streams of clicks are divided into what are called “codas” and the calls are known as sperm whale “songs” — although they’re not very musical and can sound a bit like hammering and squeaking (Navy sonar operators used to call sperm whales “carpenter fish” for this reason). No one knows what all the sperm whale codas mean, but they can have distinctive rhythms and tempos, known as “dialects,” Hersh said. And the new study shows they include specific patterns — bursts of clicks that last only a few seconds, like fragments of Morse code — that the whales use as “identity codas” to proclaim their membership of a particular clan. “Identity codas are really unique to the different cultural groups of whales,” she said. The study also shows that sperm whales emphasize their dialects when rival clans are nearby — a tell-tale behavior also seen among humans — with the result that whales from different clans usually don’t interact with one another when they occupy the same waters, she said. The study analyzed more than 40 years of recordings of underwater sperm whale calls made at 23 locations across the Pacific Ocean, from Canada to New Zealand to Japan to South America. From these, the researchers extracted more than 23,000 click patterns, and then used an artificial intelligence system to determine which of them were distinctive identity codas. They’ve now determined that there are at least seven distinct sperm whale “vocal clans” across the Pacific Ocean, each with their own identity codas, Hersh said. Each clan could consist of thousands of individual sperm whales, and calls by members of the same clan have been recorded at the extremes of the Pacific Ocean, sometimes more than 9,000 miles apart. It’s not known how many sperm whales exist in the world’s oceans, but it’s estimated there might be as few as 360,000; roughly half of them could live in the Pacific. Source.