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BirSaNN

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  1. Nick Movie: Virupaksha Time: April 21, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: Netflix Duration of the movie: 146 minutes Trailer:
  2. Live Performance Title: HOT SINCE 82 at MUSIC ON FESTIVAL 2023 • AMSTERDAM Signer Name: HOT SINCE 82 Live Performance Location: = Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video): 10/6
  3. Music Title: Best Music Mix 2023 🎧 Remixes of Po[CENSORED]r Songs 🎧 EDM Best Music Mix!@! Signer: = Release Date: 05/21/2023 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: = Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/7
  4. Thousands of people did not vote in England's local elections as they did not have correct ID, according to council data collected by the BBC. Information from 160 of 230 councils where polls were held this year shows 26,165 voters were initially denied ballot papers at polling stations. Of these, 16,588 people came back with valid ID, whilst 9,577 did not return. This is a relatively small number of voters, although campaigners warn this would not capture all those affected. ADVERTISEMENT England's local elections on 4 May were the first in Britain where people had to show photo ID, such as a passport or driving licence, to vote in person. The impact of the rule is being closely watched ahead of the next general election, expected to be held in 2024, when it will also be in force. Voters express anger at ID rule changes Voter ID backfired on Tories, says Rees-Mogg The Electoral Commission, the elections watchdog, is collecting data from councils and expects to publish an initial analysis of the policy next month. But some local authorities have begun to disclose headline figures on the number of voters turned away, which have been collected by the BBC. A fuller picture on the impact of the requirement will take a while to emerge, as more information comes in. Some information collected - including on voters suspected of forging ID - is not being published by councils. Working out the proportion of eligible voters turned away due to the ID rule is difficult, because of differences in how councils have recorded the data. Some provided voters denied a ballot as a percentage of those voting at polling stations on the day, with others providing it as a proportion of those eligible to vote in person, or of the total electorate. Information collected so far suggests the people initially turned away were a small proportion of the overall voter base, generally less than 1% and in many cases less than 0.5%. This echoes the findings of voter ID trials conducted in 2018 and 2019, which put the proportion of people initially refused a ballot at around 0.4% of the total votes cast. David Cowling, a former BBC polling expert who is now a visiting research fellow at King's College London, also says it must be borne in mind that some voters initially turned away later return with ID. He says evidence from metropolitan borough councils, and the pilots, suggests around 60% of people initially refused a ballot return with valid ID - producing a rough figure of 0.2% refusals of the votes cast. "That's arguably 0.2% fewer people than there should be not participating - but on the other hand, it doesn't seem to me that the death of democracy is on the agenda either," he told BBC Radio 4's More or Less. He adds, however, that there are "imponderables" in the council data, including the fact that people turned back by so-called greeters outside polling stations were not included in the published figures. Labour MP Clive Betts, who chairs a Commons committee set to hold its own hearing on the new rules, also said official data would not reflect those who stayed at home, either because they didn't have ID or didn't know whether it would be accepted. "The numbers of these people could be bigger than those who were turned away," he told the BBC. He added that even if the number of people denied a ballot was in the thousands, it would be a "thousand times more" than the number of people prosecuted each year for voter fraud. 'One voter too many' The Electoral Reform Society, a campaign group that opposes voter ID, warned that "far more" people would be turned away at the next general election unless the rule is scrapped. "These figures, while not a complete picture, show what we've long feared," said Dr Jess Garland, the society's director of policy and research. "One voter turned away is one too many, but these figures show that the impact was far, far greater." The Electoral Commission will be collecting information on where greeters were used at polling stations, in order to assess the impact they had. As well as the data from councils, it has previously said it will also consider information from returning officers, electoral observers, and opinion polling, to reach a "rounded assessment" on voter ID. Gerrymandering claims The government announced the voter ID policy in 2021, saying it would tackle voter fraud and boost public confidence in elections. There have only been a handful of convictions for electoral fraud in recent years - but ministers argue a lack of evidence could be masking the true level. Ministers also point out that voter ID has been a requirement in Northern Ireland since 2003, as well as in many European countries. Opposition parties voted against it, arguing it was unnecessary and would hit turnout among marginalised groups. In April, shadow minister David Lammy said Labour would get rid of the rule if it wins power. Conservative MP Jacob Rees-Mogg, who was in government when the measure was introduced, recently said the Conservatives' move to introduce voter ID had been an attempt at gerrymandering - fixing rules to gain electoral advantage. But he said the measure had come "back to bite them," claiming that his party's own vote had been hit because older voters, who are more likely to vote Tory, were more likely to lack an accepted form of identity. Previous government research has found over-85s were less likely to have acceptable ID. Electoral Commission studies have also said this is the case for unemployed people, council housing tenants, and those with lower educational qualifications. Voters without an accepted form of ID - estimated at around 2 million - were able to apply for a free certificate allowing them to vote. Some 85,000 people - around 4% of the estimate - applied for one online ahead of May's polls. An official turnout figure for the local elections in England is expected to be available later this year. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65602231
  5. Scientists found a previously unrecognized organelle in fruit flies, a thoroughly studied organism. A phosphate-regulating organelle has been discovered in animals for the first time. Until now, only bacteria(opens in new tab), yeast and plants(opens in new tab) have been known to have comparable features. Despite scientists studying fruit flies (Drosophila melanogaster) for more than a century, the newfound organelle has only just been discovered in the insect. Now researchers are taking a retrospective look at older data in search of these elusive cell parts. Organelles are microscopic structures inside of cells that perform specialized functions, a variety of which involve phosphate — an essential nutrient for metabolism, storing chemical energy and synthesizing DNA. Sponsored Links Travel the World Confidently with this Language Learning App Babbel "In terms of intracellular regulation of phosphate [in animals], very little is known," said Charles (Chiwei) Xu(opens in new tab), a geneticist formerly at Harvard Medical School and first author of a new report describing the discovery of the fly organelle. The report, published May 3 in the journal Nature(opens in new tab), notes that the organelle, found in the fruit fly gut, sequesters phosphate from food and regulates its availability in the cell. Related: Meet the 'frodosome,' a brand new organelle The fruit fly is one of the most thoroughly researched model organisms(opens in new tab), or non-human species used to study fundamental biology. "It's quite amazing that, in model organisms, we are still discovering things every day that nobody suspected before," Laurent Seroude(opens in new tab), a geneticist at Queen's University in Canada told Live Science. Seroude, who was not involved with the work, noted that discoveries made in model organisms often apply to other species, so it's possible that other animals carry the new organelle. But for now, this is speculation. Xu and his colleagues' work started out studying how phosphate absorption during digestion affected tissue renewal in fruit flies' guts. When they fed flies meals low in phosphate or gave flies a drug that inhibited phosphate absorption, the researchers noticed something counterintuitive: Despite having little phosphate, the cells lining the fruit fly's gut multiplied rapidly. The cells also multiplied furiously when the team suppressed a protein known to govern phosphate transport inside cells, called PXo. To explore PXo's role further, the team fused it to a fluorescent protein and peered through a fluorescence microscope to find that it was located on oval-shaped structures in the cell. This was when the team made their chance discovery: They used various stains for known organelles to try to identify these oval structures, but they found that no stains worked and realized they'd stumbled upon a new organelle. They named the newfound organelles "PXo bodies" and used electron microscopy to study their architecture, revealing membrane whorls, or spirals. These whorls were studded with PXo proteins that transport phosphate from the cytoplasm — the fluid surrounding organelles — into the PXo bodies for storage, thereby regulating the supply of phosphate available for cellular functions. "The gut is a prominent tissue for nutrient absorption," which may explain why PXo bodies were mainly found there, where they could control phosphate supply to the rest of the body, said Xu. Seroude said the results were rigorous because the team "systematically used different approaches to show the same thing," namely, that the PXo protein was inextricably linked to the newly discovered organelles. However, he was not convinced that cell division speeds up when an essential nutrient for growth is limited and argued that this hypothesis needs more testing. Xu argued, however, that cell renewal may help boost phosphate absorption when there's a deficit. "I wouldn't say that we found this organelle from out of nowhere," Xu remarked, but new research techniques allowed his team to characterize the membrane whorls that had previously been overlooked. Since the Nature report, researchers have reached out to Xu to share images of organelles that resemble PXo bodies. link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/scientists-stumble-upon-a-new-part-of-a-cell-in-one-of-the-most-studied-animals-on-earth
  6. A highly limited production run is a possibility for this concept that is sure to turn heads and get attention. BMW unveiled the Concept Touring Coupe at the Concorso d'Eleganza Villa d'Este in Italy. The concept turns the Z4 roadster into a two-door hardtop with a shooting-brake body—a look that has been dubbed "clown shoe" in previous years. BMW is said to be pondering a limited production run. It's raining cats and dogs on the eve of the 2023 Villa d'Este Concorso d'Eleganza in Cernobbio on the banks of Lake Como, but the foul weather does not stop the paparazzi from zooming in on the metallic brown show car. Head on, the two-door fastback looks exactly like the recently facelifted Z4 roadster. But the quarter-front view shows a different animal altogether: sleek and muscular, the restyled silhouette turns out to be a crowd-stopper par excellence. Instead of the traditional canvas top, the coupe sports a long metal roof that fuses with a neatly sculptured, nearly vertical hatch. Although it is effectively a shooting brake, BMW chose to badge its latest creation Touring Coupe, thereby paying homage to the very first touring model launched in 1971, which was based on the 02 series. The bespoke paint has tiny glass fragments mixed in for extra depth and luster. Although the show car is completely redone from the B-pillar rearward, the well-balanced two-seater's look is still of a piece. Whereas the stubby rear end of the Z4 is busy and cluttered, the tail of the coupe appears prettier and more practical. The side view shows the trademark BMW Hofmeister kink, which, like the frame of the kidney grilles and the tailpipes, is finished in matte bronze. The slowly dropping roofline terminates in a full-width drag-cutting and downforce-enhancing spoiler, which together with the bulging hatch below creates a fast and furious look even in the parking lot. The bulging rear fenders house 21-inch wheels shod with Pirelli P Zero tires. Up front, the concept rolls on 20-inchers. The muscular shape suggests that this coupe could eat an M4 for breakfast, but engineering fitted the Euro market's 340-hp version of the turbocharged 3.0-liter inline six, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. The suspension is an unchanged carryover item. What's It Like Inside? Despite the short rear overhang, the Touring Coupe easily eclipses the roadster for luggage space. On the debit side, we noted the tall loading lip, the relatively narrow cargo deck, and the substantial blind spots caused by the ultra-wide C-pillars. The reinforcing crossbeam mounted between the passenger cell and the cargo deck, which seriously compromised the seat travel in the Z3 coupe, is not an issue here. As you would expect, the cockpit is leather-trimmed from wall to wall. The tri-tone color scheme blends a brownish gray with an ochre saddle tone in the center and contrasting black accents. The supple cowskin was provided by the renowned furniture company Poltrona Frau, and the leather is braided together in a highly elaborate fashion that recalls the baseball pattern used in the first Audi TT roadster. Nice. The three custom bags come courtesy of Schedoni—maker of bespoke Ferrari luggage sets. ADVERTISEMENT - CONTINUE READING BELOW A Brief Drive We would have loved to put this special Z4 through the paces, but there was no way BMW would let us leave the Villa d'Este premises in this handbuilt one-off. The challenge was thus to find a reasonably long straight, two corners tight enough to make the photographer happy, and enough space in between to feel, hear, and digest the first impressions of this very special car. We can now tell you that the touring coupe does accelerate, turn, and brake to order, but what makes all the difference is the added emotional value it oozes out of every freshly polished pore. The cabin smells like a $5000 antique chair, the ambiance shouts luxury, and the exhaust sounds as if it never fought for regulatory approva Onlookers gave the car their unanimous thumbs up, but the firm's board of directors is less convinced. After all, in this dawning EV era, this coupe's only energy cell is the starter battery, and there is no hybrid version in sight. To make matters worse, the remaining life span of the Z4 is a paltry three years, and when production ends there is no replacement in the offing. "The Right Car at the Right Time" Comments Domagoj Dukec, head of BMW brand design: "We still feel that this is the right car at the right time. The shooting brake remains a convincing synthesis of sportiness and style. We are going to monitor the response before making a decision, and when doing so we shall also consider the impact such a model would have on the marque and our image." The Z4 touring (project name California) was inspired by the very first Z3 coupe built between 1998 and 2002, which was dubbed "clown shoe" for its extreme proportions. The Z4 hardtop that followed never attained icon status. If it hadn't been for the partnership with Toyota (to build the Supra), the Z4 would have bitten the dust in 2018. Sharing the investment with the Japanese enabled BMW to develop the currently available fourth generation, and capacity at Magna Steyr in Graz, Austria, where the car is built, would allegedly permit a batch of 3000 to 5000 touring coupes on top of the current allocations. The question is, are enough markets interested in a new variant of a model that's not exactly a hot seller? Or would it be wiser to proceed with a small batch of 50 to 100 of highly bespoke limited-edition collector items priced north of $150,000 apiece? Watch this space for the final say, expected later this year. link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a43941429/bmw-z4-concept-touring-coupe-revealed/
  7. A superb double from Bryan Mbeumo helped Brentford come from behind to win and spoil Tottenham's final home game of a miserable season. Mbeumo struck two fine efforts into the far corner early in the second half, before team-mate Yoane Wissa capped things off, as Brentford overturned Tottenham's first-half lead which had come via captain Harry Kane. Just days after strike partner Ivan Toney was banned for eight months for breaking Football Association betting rules, Mbeumo showed Brentford fans they can count on him to deliver the goals. It had been a moment of magic from Kane, whose future at Spurs remains in question, when he curled the ball beautifully into the top corner from a free-kick. It galvanised his team-mates and they played with confidence and flair, creating numerous chances which they should have put away. Their lack of ruthlessness was punished though as Brentford responded immediately in the second half - Mbeumo taking his chances, firing past goalkeeper Fraser Forster twice in 12 minutes. Any chance of a late equaliser by Tottenham evaporated when substitute Shandon Baptise robbed Oliver Skipp of possession and Mbeumo teed up Wissa for a comfortable finish. It was another performance which summed up Tottenham's season - moments of promise before a crushing result. "The intensity dropped quite a lot in the second half," said interim boss Ryan Mason. "We needed to take our opportunities when they came in the first half. "They really took theirs. It's difficult to take. It's not just one half of football, you have to do it for the full game." Tottenham's extremely slim hope of European qualification is fading rapidly, while Brentford know they will finish a successful season inside the Premier League's top 10. "In many ways it is unbelievable what we have achieved so far this season. Hopefully there is a bit more," Brentford manager Thomas Frank told BBC Sport. "Maybe, maybe we can push it on the last day and go into Europe. But just a top 10 finish secured, maybe eighth or ninth, we don't know but that is unbelievable." 'Massive decisions to make' - will Kane stay at 'shambolic' Spurs? Follow Saturday's Premier League action live Same questions for Spurs as Mbeumo shines With very little to play for, most of the focus pre-match was on Kane and his Tottenham future as fans visited the newly-painted mural of their record goalscorer across the road from the stadium. It was his 300th start in the Premier League for Tottenham but how many more will be added to that tally remains unknown. He was a bright spark in the early stages alongside Son Heung-min, who himself had several chances to score in the first half. Brentford's Rico Henry made a crucial goalline clearance to deny Emerson Royal and Arnaut Danjuma flicked a diving header inches wide from Son's cross. Bar a few half-chances and a dangerous cut-back from Kevin Schade, Brentford did little to trouble goalkeeper Forster until the second half. But they started on the front foot after the break, getting in behind Spurs' defence and feeding Mbeumo, who took both of his goals extremely well. From then on, the atmosphere inside the stadium changed as the familiar feeling of defeat crept in and Brentford's support sang teasing chants to increase the pain. Just as Tottenham began to test Brentford's defence again, Skipp unforgivably lost the ball on the edge of his own box and Tottenham were punished, Wissa coolly stroking it past Forster. A late header from substitute Richarlison in stoppage time was superbly tipped over the bar by David Raya but some Tottenham fans had already started exiting the stadium - many of them not stopping for a pre-planned lap of appreciation to mark the final home game of the season. link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65579921
  8. Giles on Sarah Giles What were you hoping for? To acquire minor celebrity status, some DJ gigs and an appearance on Loose Women as a result of doing this. First impressions? Colourful, calm and confident. Warm, witty and wonderful. What did you talk about? Life, love, laughter. David Hockney. Harry Styles. BBC 6 Music. 90s indie bands. The joy of dancing. Combining peanut butter with celery. Most awkward moment? Nearly getting run over by a bus. Well, this was my first date in rather a long time. Would you introduce Sarah to your friends? Yes. They would love her. Good table manners? Yes, she ate with a knife and fork. Describe Sarah in three words Brown eyed girl. Best thing about Sarah? She’s good looking, intelligent, cultured, very funny, easygoing and has a joie de vivre. What do you think Sarah made of you? That I’m a bit like Phil in The Hangover? Q&A Fancy a blind date? Show Did you go on somewhere? Bruno’s next door for (more) cocktails till it closed. And … did you kiss? We lingered slightly as we parted in the bowels of Old Street station and kissed goodbye. On the lips! Marks out of 10? Sarah can’t be compressed into a number. She’s a librarian. OK, a 9. If you could change one thing about the evening what would it be? St John’s ambulance on hand for when I banged my head on the table I was laughing so hard. Would you meet again? Yes, we’re off clubbing and to immerse ourselves in David Hockney. link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/20/blind-date-giles-sarah
  9. Volodymyr Zelensky made a scene-stealing arrival at the G7 summit in Japan on Saturday, as world leaders issued a veiled warning to China. The Ukrainian president arrived in Hiroshima on a French government plane, after a stopover in Saudi Arabia. His hastily-organised visit prompted G7 leaders to issue a statement early, in which they condemned Russia. They also warned against "economic coercion", which Beijing is accused of using against several countries. This year's gathering of the world's richest democracies saw them extending invitations to several emerging economies in the so-called Global South, as well as India and Australia. Top of the agenda is the Ukraine war, and Mr Zelensky's last-minute appearance has added heft and urgency to discussions - as well as star power. He arrived hours after Washington said it would train Ukrainian pilots on American-made F-16 fighter jets and allow allies to provide the advanced warplanes to Kyiv - a move condemned by Russia but hailed by Mr Zelensky as "historic". Crucial questions as US supports fighter jets to Ukraine For the previous 24 hours, a "will he or won't he" drama over Mr Zelensky's trip to Japan dominated the news cycle. News of his possible visit broke on Friday and stole the limelight, just as leaders visited a peace memorial park in Hiroshima. But even as news outlets scrambled to confirm it, there were confusing signals from Ukrainian officials on whether the Ukrainian leader was coming. It was a sign that, while his visit was reportedly mooted weeks ago in chats between Mr Zelensky and Japanese PM Fumio Kishida, the final decision was made abruptly. Even his exact arrival time was shrouded in secrecy, until Japanese TV stations suddenly flashed live footage of him arriving at Hiroshima airport on a plane loaned to him by his close ally French President Emmanuel Macron. Mr Zelensky was brisk upon touchdown, running down the stairs into a waiting car and diving straight into one-on-one meetings with various world leaders, including British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who greeted him with a friendly "You made it!". Now that he is here, Mr Zelensky's presence not only adds a zing to the placid diplomatic proceedings, it overshadows them. Zelensky accuses some Arab leaders of 'blind eye' to war ahead of Japan trip G7 summit: Taiwan looms large as Japan prepares to host leaders But it is unlikely the G7 leaders will mind. Their sanctions so far have failed to stop Russia's invasion, and Friday's pledge to "starve" Russia of resources for its "war machine" remains vague. But with world leaders literally standing shoulder to shoulder with Mr Zelensky, the optics send a firm message to Moscow that they mean business. The leaders also sought to deliver a message to Moscow's ally, China. Besides addressing key topics such as nuclear non-proliferation and climate change, their joint final statement talked about their commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, which they tried to demonstrate by inviting countries such as Indonesia, India and the Cook Islands. They stressed their support of South East Asian and Pacific countries, which have been heavily wooed by Beijing, and called for a "free and open Indo-Pacific" - rhetoric used in the past in response to China's territorial claims in the South China Sea. More importantly, the leaders took a strong stance against what they called "economic coercion" - using trade to bully other countries - and called for China to "play by international rules". Stressing their commitment to "economic resilience", they vowed to take steps to "reduce excessive dependences in our critical supply chains" - a reference to how the G7 countries are still inextricably linked to China in trade. But they also said they wanted "constructive and stable relations" with China and added that their polices were "not designed to harm China nor do we seek to thwart China's economic progress and development". China on Saturday expressed "strong dissatisfaction" with the G7's joint statement, and complained to the summit organiser Japan, Beijing's foreign ministry said. "The G7 insisted on mani[CENSORED]ting China-related issues, smearing and attacking China," a spokesman for the foreign ministry said. The summit will close on Sunday with Mr Zelensky, US President Joe Biden and Mr Kishida expected to speak. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-65657996
  10. The team finished as runners-up, securing qualification to the World Cup in the process. Rabat - Morocco’s King Mohammed VI has congratulated the country’s U17 national football team for their performance at the U17 AFCON finals in Algeria, following the final game on Friday. The Atlas Cubs lost the final 2-1 to Senegal, ultimately finishing the competition as runners-up but still securing a spot at the U17 World Cup, set to be held in Brazil later this year. The King spoke to the team’s coach Said Chiba, offering his “sincere congratulations” to the players and the technical and administrative staff for the performances, said Morocco’s Press Agency (MAP). He also expressed “pride” in the maturity and discipline of the players, as well as their performances and competitive spirit. He further called on the players to continue to “honor” Moroccan football, praising the Atlas Cubs’ “firm determination” to represent Morocco in international sporting events, the same outlet added. The Moroccan team started the competition on a high, finishing top of their group after defeating Nigeria (1-0) and South Africa (2-0), suffering only one defeat at the hands of Zambia. They then defeated Algeria in the quarter-finals and Mali in the semi-finals, qualifying for the final for the first time in the competition’s history. Despite the defeat, the team has received praise for their performances, including from Senegal’s coach Saliou Dia. “We played against a very strong team. Conceding first made the match very difficult but I think we should have been more cautious,” Dia said after the match. The coach added that the final game was a learning experience for his squad, arguing that they have much to learn and correct for before the World Cup kicks off later in the year. Morocco’s coach Said Chiba was also named as the competition’s best coach, with the Confederation of African Football (CAF) describing him as a “leader” and “mastermind.” “Our players gave an honorable performance. We thank everyone for their great support, starting with the King who has been our number one fan,” CAF quoted Chiba as saying. We thank the Academies and all the technical centers that prepared these players.” link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/05/355547/king-mohammed-vi-congratulates-u17-football-team-on-afcon-performance
  11. Nick Movie: The Creator Time: September 29, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: = Trailer:
  12. Live Performance Title: HARDY - TRUCK BED (ACM Awards 2023 Live Performance) Signer Name: HARDY Live Performance Location: = Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video): 10/8
  13. Music Title: New Music Mix 2023 🎧 Remixes of Po[CENSORED]r Songs 🎧 EDM Best Gaming Music Mix11 Signer: - Release Date: 05/20/2023 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: - Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/8
  14. Rishi Sunak has agreed new defence and economic deals with Japan in a visit to Tokyo, ahead of the G7 summit in Hiroshima. Speaking on board the JS Izumo aircraft carrier, the PM announced a partnership featuring closer UK-Japanese co-operation between armed forces, cyber-agencies and semiconductor companies. He also said Japanese firms would be investing almost £18bn in the UK. But Labour said foreign investment had plummeted under the Conservatives. ADVERTISEMENT The government is emphasising it sees the region providing economic opportunity for the UK post-Brexit UK, as well as working with Japan and Australia to counter the strategic threat from China. Taiwan looms large as Japan prepares to host G7 Sunak talking to EU over threat to UK electric cars The US is beating China in the battle for chips About £10bn of the investment is coming from trading and investment business conglomerate Marubeni and is earmarked for offshore wind and green hydrogen projects in Scotland and Wales. Similarly, Sumitomo Corporation intends to inject £4bn in offshore wind projects off the Suffolk and Norfolk coastline. The government said both the investments would further solidify "the UK's status as a clean energy pioneer" and would help the UK achieve its net zero target by 2030. The announcement came as Mr Sunak hosted a reception in Tokyo highlighting the strength of the UK and Japan's economic relationship ahead of the UK joining the regional CPTPP trade bloc (the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership). The government said Japan was the fifth largest investor in the UK, with trade in goods and services worth £27.7bn last year. Mr Sunak said the new investment was a "massive vote of confidence in the UK's dynamic economy" from some of Japan's top firms. "The sky's the limit for British and Japanese businesses and entrepreneurs." Labour's shadow international trade secretary, Nick Thomas-Symonds, pointed to figures from the Office for Budget Responsibility which predicts exports are set to fall by 6.6% this year, equivalent to a £51bn hit to the UK. Responding to the announcement about Japanese investment, he said the "devil will be in the detail". Aside from energy, two of Japan's largest real estate companies, Mitsubishi Estate and Mitsui Fudosan, confirmed £3.5bn for affordable housing, office space and a life-science laboratory in London. There is also investment travelling in the opposite direction - from UK businesses into Japan. Octopus Energy is set to invest £1.5bn in the Asia-Pacific energy market by 2027, to "speed up the region's transition to a cleaner, smarter energy system", creating 1,000 jobs in the UK. UK consultancy Mott MacDonald will help develop an offshore wind farm in western Japan which could power more than 175,000 homes with clean energy, the government added. Separately Mr Sunak will commit to a partnership combining British expertise and Japanese materials to boost supply chains for semiconductors. The silicon microchips, used to produce supercomputers and AI technology, are hugely important to modern economies and there has been concern about depending on China for their production. The UK prime minister also pledged to deploy a naval battle fleet in the Indo-Pacific region by 2025. After agreeing the Hiroshima Accord, Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida, Mr Sunak will attend the G7 summit, where the focus is expected to be on economic security and the conflict in Ukraine. During the gathering, Mr Sunak will hold bilateral talks with France's Emmanuel Macron and India's Narendra Modi. Speaking on the plane to Tokyo, Mr Sunak said: "Prime Minister Kishida and I are closely aligned on the importance of protecting peace and security in the Indo-Pacific and defending our values, including free and fair trade. "The Hiroshima Accord will see us step up co-operation between our armed forces, grow our economies together and develop our world-leading science and technology expertise." The two men had dinner together at Mr Kishida's favourite restaurant on land once owned by his grandfather. Mr Sunak attended the meal wearing socks featuring Mr Kishida's sports club - the Hiroshima Toyo Carp baseball team. During his visit to Hiroshima, Mr Sunak will plant a tree to remember the victims of the atomic bomb, which killed an estimated 140,000 of the city's 350,000 po[CENSORED]tion in 1945. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65632561
  15. The white snake was safely captured by wildlife experts in India before being released back into the wild. An extremely rare and potentially deadly albino cobra had to be removed from a house in India after the white snake slithered in during a severe rainstorm. Neighbors spotted the pale cobra climbing out of fast flowing water on the ground and into a passageway beside the house in Coimbatore in Tamil Nadu state, southern India, on May 3. Experts from the Wildlife and Nature Conservation Trust (WNCT) later arrived to safely capture the snake, which was then released into the wild. The 5-foot-long (1.5 meters) snake was identified as an albino Indian cobra (Naja naja), WNCT representatives wrote on Facebook(opens in new tab). The species, which are also known as the spectacled cobra, is considered one of the "big four" snake species that are responsible for the most snakebite cases in India. Sponsored Links If you own a mouse, you will never turn off your computer again. Combat Siege Albinism is a genetic condition that prevents animals from producing the pigment melanin, which gives color to their skin, fur, feathers or scales. It is recessive, meaning both parents must possess the gene and pass it onto their offspring. Albino animals also lack pigment in their irises, meaning that they have pink or red eyes, which results in reduced vision or total blindness; moreover, their skin is highly susceptible to sunburns. Related: 7 strange snake stories from 2022 For most animals, albinism can be a death sentence. Their white color makes them stand out to predators, meaning many die as juveniles in the wild. But the Coimbatore cobra's size suggests it is fully grown and has not been overly affected by its condition. However, albinism isn't always a disadvantage, at least for some snakes. In a study published in February 2022 in the journal Zoology(opens in new tab), researchers used fake snakes to test whether white or albino snakes were at a higher risk of predation from birds than normal colored individuals. The results suggested that albinism did not increase the rate of predation, likely because their discoloration confused the birds, which use the snakes' skin patterns to identify them as prey. Safely capturing the snake was important because the species are known to be highly venomous. "Their venom can cause paralysis and even death if not treated promptly," WNCT representatives wrote. "It is crucial to handle these snakes with great care and expertise, as any mistake can lead to severe consequences." Between 81,000 and 138,000 deaths occur in India each year due to snakebites, according to the World Health Organization(opens in new tab). Cobras can also deliver dry bites, which do not contain any venom. In November 2022, an 8-year-old boy in India received a dry bite from an unidentified species of cobra before biting the snake in retaliation and killing it. link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/snakes/rare-and-deadly-albino-cobra-slithers-into-house-during-intense-rainstorm
  16. The Havoc Edition makes its way over from the TRX and starts at $72,205. The Ram 1500 Rebel Havoc Edition joins the Ram 1500 lineup for 2023. The Rebel Havoc Edition features Baja Yellow paint and Rebel graphics on the hood and bed. The 1500 Rebel Havoc Edition starts at $72,205. The Havoc trim was previously exclusive to the bigger and badder 1500 TRX and priced at $106,445. What do you do when you're committed to selling limited-edition trucks and you've got a bunch of excess Baja Yellow paint lying around? That's easy, you build an extremely limited run of Ram 1500 Rebel Havoc edition trucks to join your other recently created limited-run trucks. For customers, choosing the Havoc Edition awards mostly visual changes, the most prominent of which is the most visually obvious—and clearly involves a lot of yellow paint. The package also adds "Rebel" graphics to the hood and rear fenders; black badging, bumper, and grille; and 18-inch gloss-black wheels. The beating heart of the Rebel Havoc is the Hemi 5.7-liter V-8, which connects to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Power from the unchanged engine stays at 395 horsepower and 410 pound-feet of torque. The 2023 Ram 1500 Rebel 4x4 with the Hemi V-8 powertrain starts at $59,085 sans Havoc edition. Adding the Rebel Havoc package brings the starting price to a brisk $72,205, exactly the same as the Lunar Edition shown last week. Both come equipped with the Level 2 equipment package that includes niceties such as a 12.0-inch touchscreen, a 19-speaker Harman/Kardon sound system, heated seats, a heated steering wheel, and power-adjustable seats. Just like the TRX version, Ram says, the Rebel Havoc will be made in extremely limited numbers when it goes on sale this spring, though no specific figure was given. link: https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a43921339/2023-ram-1500-rebel-havoc-revealed/
  17. Liverpool manager Jurgen Klopp has received a two-match ban for comments he made about referee Paul Tierney after his side's 4-3 victory over Tottenham in April. It means the German will miss Sunday's match against Aston Villa at Anfield. The second game is suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season, meaning Klopp will not miss the final game of this campaign against Southampton. Klopp suggested Tierney had "something against" the Reds after the Spurs game. He has also received a £75,000 fine having admitted improper conduct and saying he regretted making the comments. Klopp was shown a yellow card for celebrating Liverpool's 94th-minute winner in front of the fourth official and later claimed what Tierney said to him was "not OK". The refereeing governing body, Professional Game Match Officials Limited, said at the time it "strongly refutes" any accusation Tierney's actions were "improper". Liverpool sent a letter in response to the charges three days after the match, suggesting emotions were heightened during a tense fixture and that while Klopp had not intended to "question Tierney's integrity", the referee had been involved in a number of "questionable decisions" involving the club. 'We will give you the benefit of the doubt' However, the FA said the comments were a "particularly serious example of misconduct" and it was "disturbed by the very aggressive nature" of Klopp's behaviour towards fourth official John Brooks. ADVERTISEMENT Klopp also wrote a letter of apology, saying the words he used in the post-match interview were "inappropriate" and "driven by emotion". The FA has also released the transcript of what Tierney said to Klopp when he booked him, which the Liverpool boss deemed to be "unacceptable". After being told by Brooks about Klopp's behaviour and having sought confirmation from the video assistant referee (VAR), Tierney said: "Right, I have to show you yellow... it could be red, but I am going to show you yellow. "He [VAR] said yellow. We will give you the benefit of the doubt, don't do anything more." Klopp was previously given a one-match ban after he was sent off against Manchester City in October for berating an assistant referee and the independent commission acknowledged his "poor disciplinary record" - of three appearances before commissions in five seasons - when deciding on the sanction. The commission said in mitigation that it accepted Klopp's "apology and regret to be genuine". Klopp's actions in the Spurs match triggered another debate about behaviour towards match officials from managers and players this season. Referees chief Howard Webb said this week behaviour "has not been good enough" and a "stronger" approach is needed to address the issue. A number of Premier League managers including Klopp, Marco Silva and Roberto di Zerbi have served touchline bans after being sent off. Webb said: "We need everybody in the game supporting a movement towards a more respectful environment." link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65639017
  18. Ever since buying her Northampton flat in 2018, Gemma had struggled with unpredictable gas bills. When her bill went up to six times the average rate at the start of last year, she had no idea it would start a new friendship. “I was crying on the phone to the management company trying to get it sorted out,” she says. “It turned out we were being charged commercial rates instead of residential.” She soon discovered others in her building were having the same problem, including Annie, who owned a one-bedroom flat on a different floor. “When I got a bill that went from £50 to £500, I went on a bit of a rampage,” Annie says. “I was working for a housing association at the time, so I organised a meeting with the local councillor in June and put notes under doors inviting my neighbours to come.” The pair on a spring walk in Northamptonshire. The pair on a spring walk in Northamptonshire. Gemma decided to attend and was pleasantly surprised to discover that Annie was of a similar age. “I sat next to her in the meeting because I really wanted to be her friend,” she laughs, “though I thought she seemed quite alternative and might not find me cool enough.” After the meeting, Annie invited Gemma for a glass of wine on her balcony. “I discovered we were both single, and thought it would be really nice to get to know her as we were in the same situation,” she says. “I also found her hilarious.” From that day, the pair hit it off and quickly became close friends. “We are both strong and independent, with a similar sense of humour,” says Annie. “We talked about what a shame it was we hadn’t met earlier, as we could have bubbled together during the lockdowns.” Gemma says they bonded quickly over their common interests. “We both love music and play instruments; I play the piano, and Annie plays guitar.” Over the summer, they took regular trips together, including a visit to a farm and a wine tasting. “It’s nice to have someone to plan adventures with,” says Gemma. “We also spend a lot of time having drinks and dinner at each other’s flats and laughing at Annie’s guinea pigs.” We were really frugal, so we’d just heat one flat. We ended up binge-watching The Traitors together During the winter, anxious about the rising cost of gas, they saved money by spending time together. “We were really frugal. We were still worried about getting crazy bills because of this communal heating system, so we’d just heat one flat,” says Annie. “We ended up binge-watching The Traitors together.” Gemma works in product development for Avon, while Annie now works in the press office at Warwick University. “When Annie got a new job, we celebrated,” says Gemma. “It’s nice that we can celebrate each other’s successes together.” Annie loves that her friend is arty and quirky. “She’s a great interior designer and she’s always helping me pick up these great little bargains for my flat,” she says. They also both appreciate how invested they are in the friendship. “I have been dating, but it doesn’t feel essential to meet someone,” says Annie. “We have come to realise that friendship is just as important as a romantic relationships.” Gemma believes that society places too much emphasis on the importance of falling in love. “I really think people should put more into other relationships, because they’re so rewarding,” she says. “You usually only have one romantic relationship at a time, but you can have many friends. Good friendships last a lifetime, so they’re worth investing in. Annie is kind, generous, funny and really smart, so we always have fun together.” link: https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/may/18/how-we-met-i-really-wanted-to-be-her-friend-but-i-wasnt-sure-i-was-cool-enough
  19. Ukraine's capital Kyiv has been attacked from the air by Russia for the ninth time this month. Kyiv's authorities said it seemed all incoming missiles had been destroyed, but debris falling from the air caused some damage in two districts. One person has been killed and two more wounded in a missile strike on the Black Sea port of Odesa, officials say. Blasts were also heard in the central-western regions of Vinnytsia, Khmelnytsky and Zhytomyr. Overall, 29 out of 30 missiles launched by Russia overnight were shot down, Ukraine's Air Force said in a statement. Russia has significantly increased the frequency of its missile attacks on Ukraine over the past days and weeks, while Ukraine appears to be shooting down more of Russia's missiles. So far in May, Russia has carried out four mass launches - two them between 16 and 18 May alone - compared to one each in April and March, and two in February. The last time Russia attacked with such intensity was in the period after New Year, when four attacks took place in quick succession between 31 December and 26 January. In a separate development, rail traffic was suspended between Simferopol and the city of Sevastopol after a freight train carrying grain derailed. Simferopol is the regional capital of Ukraine's Crimea peninsula, which was annexed by Russia in 2014. Vladimir Konstantinov, the Moscow-installed head of the regional parliament, told Russia's state media that the derailment was caused by an explosion. An investigation is now under way. In the latest overnight attack on Kyiv, Russia used cruise missiles and reconnaissance drones, the capital's military administration said in a statement. It said that "a series of air attacks on Kyiv, unprecedented in their power, intensity and variety, continues". On Tuesday, Ukraine said it had shot down six Kinzhal hypersonic missiles as part of an "exceptionally dense" attack. Speaking before the all-clear was given, Kyiv's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said a fire had broken out in a garage in the Darnytsya area of Kyiv, but added no one had been injured. The head of Kyiv's civilian military administration said a heavy missile attack had been launched from Russian strategic bombers over the Caspian Sea. Serhiy Popko said the attack probably included cruise missiles, adding that Russia had deployed reconnaissance drones over Kyiv after unleashing its wave of air strikes. He said a second fire had broken out in a non-residential building in Kyiv's eastern Desnyansky district, but did not give an update on if anyone was hurt. At least eight people were reportedly killed - including a five-year-old boy near Kherson - and 17 were injured by shelling on Wednesday, as both sides traded accusations of striking civilian areas. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65630022
  20. An investigation by Toulouse FC has established that RMC Sport made up its story about Aboukhlal dismissing the Toulouse deputy mayor Arribage Laurence as he was making misogynistic comments. Rabat - Moroccan footballer Zakaria Aboukhlal is reportedly preparing to file a complaint against RMC Sport, which last week attributed serious “misogynistic” remarks to the Moroccan forward. Aboukhlal is “determined” to have justice restored to his personal and professional image, reported French sports news outlet L’Equipe, stressing that the Moroccan football player is “preparing to sue RMC for defamation, which in his view has tarnished his reputation.” RMC Sport published last week a controversial report, attributing serious “misogynistic” claims against the Moroccan football player. The sport news outlet claimed that Aboukhlal made “misogynistic” remarks against Laurence Arribage, Toulouse’s deputy mayor in charge of sports. According to RMC Sport, the Moroccan player had dismissed Arribage’s request that he and his Toulouse FC teammates make “less noise” during a speech by the team’s head coach. The report claimed Aboukhlal dismissed Arribage’s request and allegedly told her: “At home, women don’t talk like that to men.” Both Aboukhlal and Arribage denied RMC Sport’s claims. “Following the article published by RMC on Monday, May 15th, I had the opportunity to meet and discuss with Laurence Arribage. During the meeting, we both confirmed the RMC SPORT reports do not match what has really happened on 30th of April at the Capitole,” Aboukhlal said earlier today. Laurence also denied the claims, stressing that the incident “has greatly affected me and my loved ones.” She added: “For me the subject is closed and I will not speak any more on the subject. Please respect my decision.” Toulouse FC also issued a communique today, announcing that the football player is returning to train with the squad as of today. The club launched an internal investigation following RMC’s report to determine the circumstances of the alleged claims targeting the Moroccan football player. The investigation emphasized that the “facts” reported by RMC do not reflect “what happened” between Aboukhlal and the deputy mayor in charge of sports in Toulouse. link: https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/05/355516/zakaria-aboukhlal-to-sue-rmc-sport-for-defamation
  21. Nick Movie: Killers of the Flower Moon Time: October 6, 2023 Netflix / Amazon / HBO?: ? Duration of the movie: 3h 26m Trailer:

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