FRIDAY THE 13

Brighton have agreed a deal in principle for Ajax's Ghana midfielder Mohammed Kudus, 23, for a fee in the region of £34.5m. (Athletic - subscription required) Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola has identified Japan winger Kaoru Mitoma as his next transfer target, with the 26-year-old holding off from signing a five-year contract extension offer at Brighton. (Sun on Sunday) Manchester City are looking to cash in on Spain defender Aymeric Laporte, 29, after signing 21-year-old Croatia centre-back Josko Gvardiol from RB Leipzig. (Sunday Mirror) Tottenham chairman Daniel Levy has ignored Bayern Munich's deadline to make a decision on their £86m bid for England striker Harry Kane, 30. (Bild - in German) Aston Villa's English winger Jaden Philogene, 21, has emerged as a target for Liverpool. (Anfield Watch, via Liverpool Echo) Newcastle have been in contact with the agent of Galatasaray forward Nicolo Zaniolo, 24, but AC Milan and Juventus are also interested in the Italy international. (Hurriyet, via Newcastle Chronicle) An unnamed Qatari club has approached Aston Villa about the availability of Brazil midfielder Philippe Coutinho, 31. (Fabrizio Romano) Bayer Leverkusen's Burkina Faso defender Edmond Tapsoba, 24, is no longer a target for Tottenham as they put their full focus on signing Wolfsburg's 22-year-old Dutch centre-back Micky van de Ven. (Dan Kilpatrick, via Yahoo) Chelsea have agreed personal terms with French winger Michael Olise, 21, after offering Crystal Palace £26m. (RMC Sport, via Metro) ADVERTISEMENT England Under-21 international defender Lewis Hall, 18, could be allowed to leave Chelsea on loan, with Crystal Palace keen. (90 min) Crystal Palace boss Roy Hodgson wants to sign Southampton and Scotland striker Che Adams, 27, as Palace's French forward Jean-Philippe Mateta heads for the exit, with RB Leipzig and Genoa keen on the 26-year-old. (Sun on Sunday) Rasmus Hojlund holds up a Manchester United shirt with his name on Man Utd sign Hojlund Rasmus Hojlund makes £72m switch to Man Utd Nottingham Forest have opened talks with Nice over a move for 36-year-old Denmark goalkeeper Kasper Schmeichel. (Eurosport Denmark, via Nottingham Post) Inter Milan are keen on Arsenal's USA striker Folarin Balogun, 22, after missing out on West Ham's 24-year-old Italy forward Gianluca Scamacca, who looks set to join Atalanta. (Sunday Express) Everton, West Ham and Crystal Palace are monitoring English defender Trevoh Chalobah, 24, with Chelsea open to letting him depart this summer. (Teamtalk) Sheffield United have been told they will need to pay £10m to sign English midfielder Lewis O'Brien, 24, from Nottingham Forest. (Irish Sun) Burnley have reached an agreement with Ajax on a loan deal, with an obligation to buy, their 21-year-old Denmark forward Mohamed Daramy. (Athletic - subscription required) England Under-20 midfielder Aaron Ramsey, 20, is the subject of interest from Burnley as Aston Villa are open to letting him leave for £12m. (Express & Star) West Ham will need to part with £40m to sign Scotland midfielder Scott McTominay, 26, from Manchester United. (Football Insider) Celtic are set to battle with Wolves for Manchester City's England Under-21 midfielder Tommy Doyle, 21. (Scottish Sun) link/: https://www.bbc.com/sport/66418758

Grandeur, political allegory, disillusionment, psychological warfare and idealism marked the opening of Shiela Bharat Ram Theatre Festival, earlier known as the Shri Ram Centre’s Summer Theatre Festival, in New Delhi as actors brought to life the timeless play Tughlaq, written by actor-playwright Girish Karnad. Written in 1964 and set in the 14th century, the play had an uncanny resonance with the current times, with the titular character Mohammad Bin Tughlaq’s idiosyncratic persona and whimsical demeanour at the expense of his subjects led the audience to take note of how autocratic tendencies can bring to naught an entire kingdom. This was the reason why the Shri Ram Centre for Performing Arts (SRCPA) chose this play to open its five-day theatre festival (June 15-19), which happens every year in the month of June. “The emotions and intrigue that Tughlaq brings out in the audience marks it apart from other plays. As the play unfolds, viewers realise that the problems and issues that it talks about remain the same in contemporary times as well. This is why it is timeless, everyone can identify with it,” Hemant Bharat Ram, executive director of the SRCPA told The Indian Express. The play, directed by thespian K Madavane, who has a mastery in the art of blending creative imagery with the narrative in the text, has been performed innumerable times previously by the Shri Ram Centre in its theatre festivals. Tughlaq, comprising 13 scenes, traces the journey of the 14th-century emperor Mohammad Bin Tughlaq as he sways between generosity and moronity, taking decisions that are bound to wreak havoc on his wretched subjects —shifting the capital from Delhi to Daulatabad, introducing a new currency of copper coins, checkmating benign people and awarding enemies. Had it not been for the commendable directorial acumen of showcasing the spectacle of regal grandeur dotted with synchronised choreography, spot-on music, near-perfect lighting, the three-hour-long play would have not been as impactful. The striking performances of some of the actors, especially Manish Sharma (Mohammad Bin Tughlaq), Nisha Upadhyay (Ammi), Ashutosh Singh Rathore (Aziz) and Ayush Sharma (Azam), who brought to life the complex characters with ease and assertiveness, made the whole experience an audiovisual treat. However, the overall serious narrative gave ample space to let out a hearty laugh, especially when the two thugs, Azam and Aziz, narrated the stories of their loot. Towards the end of the 10th scene, after catching just a glimpse of the futility of all his deeds, when Tughlaq says, ‘Aye mere aaka mera haath thaam le. Mai bhatak gaya hu mere maalik! (Hey my lord! Hold my hand, I am lost, my almighty), the anguish floating over stage spills over into the audience, making the latter an important entity in the overall presentation of the play. The play itself, originally published in Kannada, has over the years become a cult classic and considered a rite of passage for theatre artists. “Being able to perform any character in Tughlaq is an achievement in itself,” said Manish Sharma. Sharma, who used to perform the role of Najib in the show, also talked about the process of getting into the skin of such a complex character, which he performed for the very first time, “It was really difficult. I don’t think I even touched 20 per cent of the internal conflicts of Tughlaq. The first thought that came into my mind after being cast was, ‘I won’t be able to do it’..it got easier as I went into the process. I used to go to the Tughlaqabad Fort to create the environment. Once that was done, learning dialogues became easier.” Despite the fact that the actor received a standing ovation for his performance, the first thing he felt after the show ended was “sab kuch toh choot gaya, maine kiya kya” (I left everything. What did I even do?) Even as the ball got rolling with Tughlaq, the Shri Ram Centre has several noted productions lined up—Girish Karnad’s Agni aur Barkha (June 16), Ram Dayal Sharma’s Daaku Sultana (June 17), Asghar Wajahat’s Mahabali (June 18) and Manav Kaul’s Prem Kabootar (June 19). Daaku Sultana and Mahabali are new to the festival. The Summer Theatre Festival showcases the productions by Shri Ram Centre’s repertory, whereas the winter Theatre Festival, Panna Bharat Ram Theatre Festival, invites plays from across the country to be performed in Delhi. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/art-and-culture/tughlaq-opening-shiela-bharat-ram-theatre-festival-src-girish-karnad-8669164

Russia will continue to oppose Western sanctions, President Vladimir Putin has said, following Moscow's invasion of Ukraine. His address to a virtual Shanghai Cooperation Organisation summit was his first to an international meeting since last month's mutiny in Russia. Mr Putin backed trade accords between SCO nations in local currencies - seen as an attempt to blunt sanctions. The 2023 SCO summit is taking place virtually, under India's leadership. Mr Putin used the platform to send a message of defiance to the West, saying "Russia counters all these external sanctions, pressures and provocations and continues to develop as never before". He has made several public appearances since the Wagner mercenary group staged a short-lived mutiny in late June, but this was the first time he'd been seen with a group of international leaders. "I would like to thank my colleagues from the SCO countries who expressed support for the actions of the Russian leadership to protect the constitutional order and the life and security of citizens," he told the summit in a televised address from the Kremlin in Moscow. Mr Putin added that more than 80% of trade between Chinese and Russian people was in roubles and yuan, and urged other SCO members to follow the same process. He also welcomed Russian ally Belarus's application to become a permanent member of the SCO next year. Summit host Indian PM Narendra Modi called on members to boost trade, connectivity and tech co-operation, among other things. But he didn't directly refer to either the war in Ukraine or China's increasingly assertive stance in the Indo-Pacific. India - historically non-aligned - had to walk a tight diplomatic rope, due to its increasingly strong ties with the West. Just days earlier the US had rolled out the red carpet for Mr Modi when he was received in Washington on a state visit. How Modi and Biden turbocharged India-US ties Bitter divisions over Ukraine dominate G20 talks Why India is not criticising Russia over Ukraine While Mr Modi talked about regional security, he did not mention China, a neighbour with whom India has long had hostile relations. Indian and Chinese troops fought deadly clashes on their long disputed border in 2020 and tensions persist to this day. The West increasingly sees India as a counterweight to China, although Delhi has publicly never owned the tag. And it once again refrained from doing so at the SCO. India's PM instead urged members to co-operate on cross-border terrorism. "Some countries use cross-border terrorism as an instrument in their policies, (they) give shelter to terrorists... the SCO should not hesitate to criticise such countries," Mr Modi said. Such statements are always seen as directed at neighbouring Pakistan, India's bitter rival over the decades. Its Prime Minister, Shahbaz Sharif, said SCO nations must take measures to "combat the three evils of terrorism, extremism and separatism". But he also said religious minorities should not be demonised in the "pursuit of domestic political agendas" - viewed as a dig at India, which Muslim-majority Pakistan has often accused of not protecting the rights of Muslims. Mr Modi's government has always rejected evidence that it is not protecting the rights of minorities in India, whose po[CENSORED]tion is largely Hindu. When it was Chinese President Xi Jinping's turn to speak, he mentioned the importance of safeguarding regional peace and security. He urged SCO members to "follow the right direction and enhance their solidarity and mutual trust". One factor that all members seemed to agree on unanimously was maintaining stability in Afghanistan, following the Taliban takeover after US troops pulled out two years ago. A joint statement due later should give more clues on how SCO nations aim to work together on Afghanistan. China, Russia and four Central Asian countries formed the SCO in 2001 as a countermeasure to limit the influence of the West in the region. India and Pakistan joined in 2017. The group has become more relevant for Russia and China as their relations with the West have deteriorated. Experts say the group's potential can't be underplayed, despite the existence of more prominent forums like the Brics (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa), the G20 and G7. The SCO groups around 40% of the world's po[CENSORED]tion and more than 20% of global GDP. Add Iran's, and it will control around 20% of the world's oil reserves. Iran's inclusion as a full member at this year's meeting will boost the SCO's energy portfolio but it will spark anger in Western capitals. As the SCO is increasingly pitted against Western-led forums, it may get harder for India to strike a diplomatic balance between its different global partners. But Indian diplomats say they are confident about keeping their foreign policy independent without pandering to one group or the other. How Delhi manages its diplomacy - and its differences with Russia, China and Pakistan in particular - will have an impact on future of the SCO. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-66094385

The US dollar has too much power as a reserve currency and the world desperately needs an alternative, billionaire investor and CEO of Kotak Mahindra Bank, Uday Kotak, said on Friday. Speaking at the Economic Times Awards for Corporate Excellence 2023, the banker described the dollar as “the biggest financial terrorist in the world.” As most global assets are held in dollars in so-called nostro accounts with US banks, they are entirely dependent on decisions made by American bankers and authorities, he explained. “Somebody in the US can say: You cannot withdraw [this money] from tomorrow morning – and you are stuck. That is the power of the reserve currency,” Kotak added. The world is therefore “desperately looking for an alternative reserve currency,” he continued, suggesting that India should seize the opportunity to make its own currency, the rupee, the reserve. “It is our time for making a shot at it, which will take us probably 10 years,” he stated. In order to achieve this goal, India must earn the trust of other global players by building strong financial institutions and a strong framework “that is not dependent on the whims and fancies of anyone.” Kotak added that he does not see other strong contenders for the role. “I don’t think Europe can [make their currency the reserve], because its states are disunited. I don’t think the UK or Japan have the heft to be taking that position, though both the British pound and the yen are free currencies. China, I think, has a major issue of trust with many countries around the world,” he said. In a tweet on Saturday, Kotak tried to further clarify his comments on the US dollar, explaining that he was referring to the overabundance of power that a reserve currency holds. This status gives such currency an ability to control global transactions, leading to situations where other countries may become dependent on it. “In a recent discussion on [the] US dollar I inadvertently used [the] words ‘financial terrorist’ which I would like to correct. What I meant was that a reserve currency has disproportionate power, whether it is nostro account, 500 basis points rate increase, or emerging countries holding dollars for liquidity,” he wrote. https://www.rt.com/business/575564-indian-banker-dollar-financial-terrorist/

When male spider mites are ready to mate, they strip off the skin of maturing females as part of a freakish mating ritual. Scientists in Austria uncovered the creepy act for the first time while studying spider mites, the dust speck-size relatives of arachnids such as spiders and scorpions, in their lab. The researchers found that the males would guard the females, which typically reach sexual maturity at 10 days of age, and wait until their potential mates began molting their exoskeletons, according to a study published Friday (June 7) in the journal iScience. "The males will guard the females for hours," study co-author Peter Schausberger, a zoologist and professor in the Department of Behavioral and Cognitive Biology at the University of Vienna, told Live Science. "The males are able to recognize when the premature females start molting because their exuvia [old, outer skin] turns silvery as air lodges between it and the new skin." And this is when things get really weird. To make the female ready for mating sooner, the male then slips beneath the female and uses its pedipalps (needle-like mouthparts) to pull the skin off the female. Once the exuvia is removed, the male can insert his aedeagus (reproductive organ) into the female, according to a statement. The researchers also noticed that at times the males would use their forelegs to "drum" against the female, perhaps to trigger them to begin the molting process, according to the study. "It only takes a couple of seconds for co[CENSORED]tion," Schausberger said. "This guarding behavior is high in energy and time, so the males want to ensure that another male doesn't take over a female." This dedication to ensuring a mate is pivotal for the males, since the "first co[CENSORED]tion partner of a female is the one that sires all the offspring," according to a statement. Interestingly, the researchers discovered that at times the female spider mites would "undress" themselves when it came time for them to molt. However, the females pulled off the skin beginning from their heads, whereas the males would remove the hind part of the skin first. While this is the first time that this skin-stripping behavior has been recorded in any species, spider mites aren't the only ones that conduct creepy mating rituals in the animal kingdom. For instance, male butterflies will "penetrate the casing" of a female pupa, the stage in a butterfly's life cycle after it's a caterpillar and cocoons itself into a chrysalis, Schausberger said. Both of these instances "show that intense mate competition can arise" and that these "sophisticated behaviors are driven by sexual selection even in the tiniest of animals," Schausberger said. The scientists hope to expand their research by seeing what happens when males have to contend with rivals during this undressing act. Link: https://www.livescience.com/animals/arachnids/male-spider-mites-undress-females-by-pulling-off-their-skin-before-co[CENSORED]ting

The latest update of the German "Transfermarkt" website, which specializes in football economy, revealed that French star Kylian Mbappe retained the top spot in the list of the most expensive players in the world, amid the dominance of young stars on the list. Mbappe topped the list of the most expensive players, with a value of 180 million euros, in a list that included 10 players whose market values exceeded 100 million euros. And the Norwegian striker Erling Haaland came in second place with a value of 170 million euros, far behind the third and fourth place holders, English midfielder Jude Bellingham and Real Madrid winger Vinicius Junior, with a value of 120 million euros each. And behind Bellingham and Vinicius, came the three young players Jamal Musiala, Bucayo Saka and Phil Foden, with a value of 110 million euros per player. As for those with a market value of 100 million euros, they were led by young Barcelona star Pedri, Napoli striker Victor Osimhen, and with them the brilliant Real Madrid midfielder this season, Federico Valverde. The players mentioned in this list are presenting an exceptional season with their various clubs in the major European leagues, and perhaps this is what greatly increased the value of players such as Haaland, Bellingham, Musiala, Saka and others. https://www.aljazeera.net/sport/2023/5/5/مبابي

LONDON: A six-hour dune experience in Dubai’s Lahbab desert has taken the top spot on Tripadvisor’s Traveller’s Choice Best of the Best Bucket List for the second year in a row. Just 1 percent of Tripadvisor’s 8 million listings are classed as “Best of the Best,” according to the travel platform, which releases this particular bucket list just once a year. Earlier in the year, it revealed its Travelers’ Choice Awards for 2023 based on reviews from its users. The awards recognize the highest rated destinations around the world across six categories: po[CENSORED]r, trending, food, nature, culture and ski. “Experiences turn travelers into adventurers, connecting them with the local community and giving them unforgettable stories for years to come,” said Kate Urquhart, general manager for experiences at Tripadvisor. The dune-bashing tour combines various desert activities and is described as the “greatest way for visitors to see Dubai’s desert surroundings.” It includes a 60-minute quad bike ride across Lahbab’s red dunes, camel rides, sandboarding, stargazing and a traditional Arabian BBQ. Suitable for anyone aged over 14, the trip is operated by Dubai-based OceanAir Travels and costs from Dh400 ($109) per person Following the dune trip on this year’s bucket list were hiking the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu in Peru, whale watching in Alaska, driving Ireland’s Wild Atlantic Way and off-roading in Aruba. The desert experience also achieved the No. 4 spot on Tripadvisor’s list of the Top Overall Experiences in the World for 2023, behind a day tour of Bali, a Thai cookery class in Chiang Mai and a visit to Hawaii’s Oahu island. https://www.arabnews.com/node/2329656/lifestyle

In early 2022, as war was breaking out, a Ukrainian family said a painful goodbye to their father amid chaotic scenes at Lviv railway station. Almost 18 months later, Fergal Keane travelled with them as they prepared to come back together. Short presentational grey line The children are struggling to sleep. For at least the last week, 10-year-old Anna has been asking her mother Oksana how many days to departure. She hops from one leg to the other. Then disappears to her bedroom to find a painting she has done at school. It is a rendering of their little flat here in Surrey, up a quiet cul-de-sac in the shade of tall trees, and she will present it to her father when they meet. There is snow falling in the foreground. It is an image of winter, like the country she left behind 18 months ago. But they are going back. In just two days' time, she reminds me. Just two days. Maybe because he is four years older, growing into the role of the wise big brother, Ilya is more reserved in the joy of his anticipation. I ask him how he feels about seeing his father for the first time since March 2022 - the first time since they said farewell at Lviv railway station in the days after the Russian invasion. "I'm so happy. Happy." He repeats himself as if he had been hoarding the word for this moment on the eve of departure. Now that they were actually returning it could fly free from his lips. First they will go to Krakow in Poland, then by road to the border, and finally onto the train that will carry them across Ukraine to the reunion with Jenia - the father and husband they have missed so much every day and night of exile. Oksana says she cannot believe they will see him soon. "It's like a dream." Then she asks herself a question, and answers all at once: "Can I believe it? Yes!" The story of exile from Ukraine begins in the darkness of 24 February 2022, when the first Russian artillery shells began to land in the Kharkiv suburb of Saltivka. The couple had been watching the news about a troop build-up just over the border, but like so many Ukrainians, Oksana and Jenia wanted to protect their children from the fear of war. A dangerous escape on the 'Rescue Express' 'We have to be faster than those who track us' Moments of reflection from a year of war Then came the blasts. The rattling of windowpanes. The news of the first deaths. The long queues forming outside food stores and petrol stations. By night they obeyed the authorities' order to observe a blackout. "We gathered with the children in a little space where no light could be seen from outside and we played board games," Oksana recalls. But war is the ultimate purveyor of cruel choices. Staying at home meant risking death under the shelling or direct assault by Russian troops. In those days of late February and early March last year, nobody - no leader in Ukraine or abroad, no journalist or security expert - knew if the Russians would be stopped. Leaving for safety in the West meant separating the family. Men between 18 and 60 - those considered of fighting age - were forbidden from going. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66340099

Warner Bros. and FunPlus have announced a new DC video game. DC: Dark Legion is a strategy game releasing in 2024 for iOS and Android. The multiplayer game has players recruiting DC super heroes and villains to join their roster as they "fight for survival, justice, and freedom." You can see the announcement video and key art below. Now Playing: DC Dark Legion - Exclusive Announcement Teaser Trailer The game takes place in the DC universe and tells a story involving The Batman Who Laughs and his Dark Knights. These are "twisted" versions of members of the Justice League who debuted in the DC Comics series Dark Knights: Metal. "As they fight to stop The Batman Who Laughs and his army from destroying everything they know, players take on the role of an agent from the 31st century tasked with leading the world's greatest super heroes against the overwhelming threat from the Dark Multiverse," reads a line from the game's description. Some of the DC superheroes who appear in DC: Dark Legion include Superman, Wonder Woman, Batman, The Flash, Black Adam, and Green Arrow, among others. Players will build out their collection of heroes and make them stronger with additional superpowers and equipment unlocked over time. Developer FunPlus previously worked with Warner Bros. to bring The Joker with his own story campaign into the mobile game State of Survival. More details on DC: Dark Legion will be announced later this year. If DC: Dark Legion doesn't sound like your jam, other upcoming DC games include Suicide Squad: Kill the Justice League and a Wonder Woman game. link: https://www.gamespot.com/articles/new-dc-strategy-game-announced-coming-next-year/1100-6515914/

It seems like every other day I'm playing Diablo 4, riding my horse through the Fractured Peaks, and the skeletons I've killed countless times have another barricade setup in my path. My horse has survived zombies, bugs, spiders, and polar bears, but it cannot contend with this bony blockade. Well, I hope those skeletons had fun, because come patch 1.1.1, every Diablo 4 player's horse will gain the power to destroy their stupid little walls. "We're going to allow the mount charge to break through barricades," Diablo 4 game director Joe Shely said on Twitter, clarifying his comments about mount changes in the most recent Campfire Chat stream. Shely also confirmed in a reply that the 10 second mount cooldown will be reset when you use ladders, which was second on the list of the most annoying parts of traveling through Estuar. I appreciate that Diablo 4's open world doesn't feel as flat as the previous games, but there have been times where I'd skip a chest or valuable plant because of a ladder in the way. Since launch, controller players have been at a disadvantage when riding mounts because the Spur ability's speed boost would only stack twice instead of three times. That too will be fixed in patch 1.1.1. The complete change list for the next Diablo 4 patch hasn't been fully revealed yet. Blizzard plans to publish the patch notes on Wednesday ahead of it going live next week. That said, we learned last week that Sorcerers and Barbarians are getting substantial buffs to keep them competitive with the other three classes in Diablo 4's first season. Several of their key skills and Legendary aspects will be considerably buffed to lift up existing builds and open the door for new ones. But as someone who plays the class with basically zero movement abilities, the Necromancer, all I really care about is whether or not my horse is going to go fast. Diablo 4's patch 1.1.1 and our new Uber Horses will go live on August 8. https://www.pcgamer.com/diablo-4-fans-finally-get-the-news-weve-been-waiting-for-horse-buffs/

The report from McKinsey comes as a debate rages over the potential economic effects of A.I.-powered chatbots on labor and the economy. “Generative artificial intelligence” is set to add up to $4.4 trillion of value to the global economy annually, according to a report from McKinsey Global Institute, in what is one of the rosier predictions about the economic effects of the rapidly evolving technology. Generative A.I., which includes chatbots such as ChatGPT that can generate text in response to prompts, can potentially boost productivity by saving 60 to 70 percent of workers’ time through automation of their work, according to the 68-page report, which was published early Wednesday. Half of all work will be automated between 2030 and 2060, the report said. McKinsey had previously predicted that A.I. would automate half of all work between 2035 and 2075, but the power of generative A.I. tools — which exploded onto the tech scene late last year — accelerated the company’s forecast. “Generative A.I. has the potential to change the anatomy of work, augmenting the capabilities of individual workers by automating some of their individual activities,” the report said. McKinsey’s report is one of the few so far to quantify the long-term impact of generative A.I. on the economy. The report arrives as Silicon Valley has been gripped by a fervor over generative A.I. tools like ChatGPT and Google’s Bard, with tech companies and venture capitalists investing billions of dollars in the technology. The tools — some of which can also generate images and video, and carry on a conversation — have started a debate over how they will affect jobs and the world economy. Some experts have predicted that the A.I. will displace people from their work, while others have said the tools can augment individual productivity. Last week, Goldman Sachs released a report warning that A.I. could lead to worker disruption and that some companies would benefit more from the technology than others. In April, a Stanford researcher and researchers at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology released a study showing that generative A.I. could boost the productivity of inexperienced call center operators by 35 percent. Any conclusions about the technology’s effects may be premature. David Autor, a professor of economics at M.I.T. cautioned that generative A.I. was “not going to be as miraculous as people claim.” “We are really, really in the early stage,” he added. For the most part, economic studies of generative A.I. do not take into account other risks from the technology, such as whether it might spread misinformation and eventually escape the realm of human control. Editors’ Picks Not Your Dad’s Dad Food In Milan, Putting an A.I. Travel Adviser to the Test To Truly Understand the Past, Pick Up an Old Magazine The vast majority of generative A.I.’s economic value will most likely come from helping workers automate tasks in customer operations, sales, software engineering, and research and development, according to McKinsey’s report. Generative A.I. can create “superpowers” for high-skilled workers, said Lareina Yee, a McKinsey partner and an author of the report, because the technology can summarize and edit content. “The most profound change we are going to see is the change to people, and that’s going to require far more innovation and leadership than the technology,” she said. The report also outlined challenges that industry leaders and regulators would need to address with A.I., including concerns that the content generated by the tools can be misleading and inaccurate. Ms. Yee acknowledged that the report was making prognostications about A.I.’s effects, but that “if you could capture even a third” of what the technology’s potential is, “it is pretty remarkable over the next five to 10 years.” https://www.nytimes.com/2023/06/14/technology/generative-ai-global-economy.html

This has huge impacts for all states planning to export pork to California. To meet consumption, California relies on other states. Now, farmers are expected to comply with regulations passed outside their own state. Not only is it costly to redesign facilities to accommodate Prop 12, it places additional strain on California’s limited pork industry, which could force greater vertical integration or force farms out of business. The SCOTUS decision on Prop 12 now sets a dangerous precedent by supporting the efforts of animal rights extremist groups. Similar ballot initiatives, which can make it to the ballot through petition signatures, are now likely to be introduced in other states. In fact, Massachusetts passed “Question 3” in 2016. Like California’s Prop 12, the Massachusetts version also addresses housing for chickens, hogs, and calves. Also, like Prop 12, Question 3 was vigorously supported by the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS). Question 3 had been in somewhat of a limbo status, pending the SCOTUS decision on California’s Prop 12, until now. “It’s a sad day for pork producers who are interested in caring for their animals in the best possible way. It’s a great day for animal rights extremists that want to eliminate meat from the human diet. Animals will suffer because of this law,” shared retired Illinois pork producer, Dan Erickson, on Twitter. The success of these ballot initiatives stems from animal rights extremists’ ability to illicit public emotions over how food animals are raised and housed. They also funnel tens of millions of dollars into campaigns to first get an initiative on a state ballot, then to encourage voters to support it at the ballot box. While animal welfare is paramount, oversight is better left to experts including veterinarians and farmers who care for animals every day, rather than those who try to mani[CENSORED]te agriculture from urban office cubicles. From an agricultural perspective, animal care is too vital to be dictated by oversimplified legislation based on emotions fomented by animal extremists. The decision should be based on facts, science, truth and proven animal husbandry standards. Often, when consumers come face-to-face with farmers and/or experience agriculture firsthand, they better understand the rationale for proven practices and support their use. For example, when the practice of caging a sow during birth to protect piglets is explained, caging is widely accepted by consumers. American hog farmers are engaged in a battle to preserve their livelihoods and will continue to advocate for what’s right. We must prevent becoming completely controlled by rules and regulations established by those who are ill-informed and have never produced a single calorie of food, yet strive to dictate how animals are raised despite lacking any credentials. Prop 12 is ideological and elitist, supporting the veganism mission of a few zealous activists. Sadly, as a result of those efforts, consumers will experience increased prices that challenge lower-income families that rely on pork to meet their protein and nutrient needs. Small farmers will also struggle to meet the new requirements and may even go out of business. Prop 12 mandates tremendous changes to current practices and huge investments. Currently, 72 percent of pork producers “...use individual pens for sows that do not allow them to turn around and that even farmers who house sows in larger group pens do not provide the space California would require,” per The Associated Press. What does this mean going forward? For the pork industry, the SCOTUS decision means Prop 12 could be the first of many other ballot initiatives as the effort spreads to other states that could adopt similar regulations. Ballot initiatives are historically a favorite of animal extremist groups because they allow them to circumvent the legislative process required to create most laws. Ballot petitions are written to make the initiatives sound appealing and reasonable, but they do not take into account the real-life implications and impact on the entire food supply chain. President and CEO of the Humane Society (HSUS), Kitty Block stated, “The Supreme Court’s decision to uphold California’s Proposition 12 makes clear that preventing animal cruelty and protecting public health are core functions of state governments.” Block also says HSUS will not stop fighting “until the pork industry ends its cruel, reckless practice of confining mother pigs in cages so small they can’t even turn around.” Hindering producers and food security Ultimately ballot measures such as California’s Prop 12 and Massachusetts Question 3 harm both farmers and consumers. They drive up costs, reduce availability, adversely impact food security, and harm the freedom of food choices Americans have enjoyed. These measures outright oppose a free and fed America, and Protect The Harvest will continue to engage each day to protect those values. https://protecttheharvest.com/news/u.s-supreme-court-upholds-californias-proposition-12-rules-5-4-against-national-pork-producers-council-nppc-and-american-farm/

The 20-year-old Spaniard prevailed in five sets 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4 in a final that lasted almost 5 hours. Charly won the third Grand Slam of the year and remains number one in the world by INFOBAE The Serbian Novak Djokovic and the Spanish Carlos Alcaraz starred in one of the most exciting finals of the year on the center court of the All England. The number 1 and 2 in the ATP ranking played the Wimbledon final and the young 20-year-old tennis player was the one who took the victory 1-6, 7-6 (6), 6-1, 3-6 and 6-4 in four hours of play and 42 minutes of play against a Nole who was looking for his 24th Grand Slam in his history. The youngest of tennis number ones, Alcaraz, who had already been crowned champion at the 2022 United States Open, lifted his second Grand Slam cup in his third participation in London and on a surface, the grass, that until recently I hardly knew. This was the first Wimbledon final for Alcaraz and the ninth for Djokovic, who had not lost on this center court since he was defeated in the 2013 final by Scotsman Andy Murray. The Balkan will seek revenge at the US Open, the next major tournament to face. With total dominance of the game, be it with his serve, groundstrokes and shots at the net, Nole prevailed with some ease and defeated the 20-year-old 6-1 in the first set. However, for the second everything was going to change. The man from Palma recovered and, after 1 hour and 25 minutes, managed to turn the situation around after starting 0-3 and leveling the result (7-6). Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at the awards ceremony after the Wimbledon final (REUTERS/Toby Melville)Novak Djokovic and Carlos Alcaraz at the awards ceremony after the Wimbledon final (REUTERS/Toby Melville) For the third set, Alcaraz paid the same coin to the Belgrade-born by winning a resounding 6-1 after breaking his rival's serve on his seventh chance and getting 4-1. For the fourth, the Serbian managed to break the Spaniard's serve in the fifth game and stretch the lead by maintaining his serve (4-2). https://noticiasaldiayalahora.co/deportes/carlos-alcaraz-vence-a-novak-djokovic-y-se-consagra-campeon-de-wimbledon-por-primera-vez/

is a timeless Indian culinary staple known for its tantalising flavours and rich aroma. Made with a concoction of spices, blended with hot oil and a variety of seeds, coriander leaves and ginger slices for garnish, it defines the essence of the diverse Indian gastronomic landscape. But what if you could elevate your culinary prowess with a kitchen hack that transforms a single gravy into the secret behind 50 diverse and delectable Indian dishes? Now, that is a culinary revelation that can spark excitement among aspiring chefs and home cooks alike. Enter MasterChef Pankaj Bhadouria, who expertise extends beyond the conventional. Known for sharing easy recipes and quick hacks on her YouTube channel, she recently revealed a simple yet delectable recipe for a universal gravy — a concoction of various vegetables and spices that stands as the ultimate base for a plethora ofWhether you’re looking to replicate the bold flavours of chole, the succulence of kofta, or the homely comfort of aloo matar, this versatile gravy can serve as the foundation. The best part is you can tweak this gravy to make any dish distinct from the other. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/one-gravy-recipe-over-50-dishes-chef-pankaj-bhadouria-kitchen-hack-9046765/

Contraloría General de la República informó that los plazos sin sustento en Contrato de Chavimochic lll y la falta de supervision en las pólizas de seguro ocasionan prejuicio por más de S/ 2 millones. Así lo indicated el órgano de control mediante el Informe de Auditoría de Cumplimiento N° 15821-2023-CG/APP-AC, which was evaluated from July 17, 2013 to December 31, 2023. Contraloría reported that the concession contract of the obra sin sustento de los plazos de entrega tendría a negative impact of S/ 2.3 million. “Proinversión approved the final version of the concession contract of Chavimochic III without sustento de los plazos para entrega del control del proyecto al concesionario, lo cual contó con la conformidad del PECH pese a no haberlo sustentado. Ello caused the paralización de obra por más de 6 años, generación de controversias y caducidad de la concesión, provocando un perjuicio de S/ 2.3 million”, destacó. Also, the entity ratified that the tax deficiency has been presented to the concessionaire for an economic loss of US$ 122,227. “El PECH did not supervise that the propuesta de las pólizas de seguro presented por el concessionario cumpla con las coberturas y conditions demanded en el contrato de concesión, lo cual ocasionó a perjuicio de US$ 122,227 y puso en indefensión al Estado por más de 5 años ”, detailed. LINK: https://gestion.pe/economia/chavimochic-lll-irregularidades-en-el-contrato-generaron-perjuicio-por-mas-de-s-2-millones-contraloria-general-de-la-republica-notici

By Emma Barnett and Alec Hernández Quinn Mitchell has asked Joe Biden about Donald Trump’s impeachment, Chris Christie about his past decision to stand by Trump, and Amy Klobuchar about the Mueller investigation. But no question the New Hampshire 15-year-old has asked has generated a response quite like his query to Ron DeSantis earlier this year. Mitchell, a high school student and aspiring journalist, has made a hobby of attending presidential campaign events in politics-crazed New Hampshire, going to more than 85 events and meeting more than 35 White House hopefuls in the past two elections. That’s what brought him to a DeSantis event in Hollis on June 27, where he asked the Florida governor a question on a lot of people’s minds. “Do you believe that Trump violated the peaceful transfer of power — a key principle of American democracy that we must uphold?” Mitchell asked. DeSantis, after asking Mitchell for his biographical details, turned to what has become a customary answer on the campaign trail: If the 2024 election focuses on events from three years ago, Biden will win re-election, but if Republicans instead focus on the future, then they will take back the White House in 2024. But DeSantis’ decision not to answer Mitchell’s question directly generated headlines, and a week later, when Mitchell saw DeSantis was set to attend a Fourth of July parade in Merrimack, he hoped to follow up with the governor. “I’ve always been so interested in politics, because I’ve always loved history,” Mitchell said about his interest in viewing presidential campaigns up close. “When I learned this history was being made in my backyard, I knew I wanted to play a part in it and ask these questions.” Mitchell said he wanted to re-engage with DeSantis because he felt bad about the way his previous question made news the previous week. “I actually wanted to apologize to him, too. I wasn’t going up wondering why he was a coward for not answering the question,” Mitchell told NBC News in an interview Friday, adding that he genuinely wanted to hear more from DeSantis and worried that he had caused the governor trouble by drawing national attention to his question. But at the parade, Mitchell said he was met with hostility from DeSantis representatives, in an encounter first reported by the Daily Beast. The super PAC supporting DeSantis, Never Back Down, had staffed the governor’s appearance at the march that day, helping to direct the DeSantis family along the route. “The first few times I got close to him, I was, like, kind of bodied away by his staffers and I was just like wow,” Mitchell said. “Maybe he has some rogue staffers who are rude.” Later that afternoon, he managed to meet DeSantis along the rainy parade route, shaking the governor’s hand as he marched by with his family. DeSantis, while keeping up with the parade’s momentum, listened to Mitchell, he said, as he offered the governor an apology for spurring national attention to his question the week before. Suddenly, Mitchell said, he felt a pull on the back of his shirt, which NBC News did not capture on camera. He fell behind the governor’s pace deeper into the gaggle of marchers and paradegoers, prompting DeSantis to look back and try to finish his brief conversation with Mitchell from a distance while continuing his march forward. NBC News footage of the encounter shows a man wearing a PAC-branded “DeSantis 2024” hat step between Florida’s first family and Mitchell, gesturing to the sidelines of the march and blocking Mitchell from moving forward as DeSantis kept walking. DeSantis made one final comment to Mitchell before the two were no longer within speaking distance. “You live in New Hampshire? Come to my next event,” DeSantis said. According to Mitchell, DeSantis acknowledged having already met Mitchell when he introduced himself as the person who asked a question in Hollis. https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/2024-election/15-year-old-shakes-new-hampshire-tough-questions-ron-desantis-2024-hop-rcna103054

Older, "post-menopausal" orca mothers protect their adult sons from fights, according to new research. The study examined tooth rake marks on the animals' bodies - inflicted in confrontations with other orcas. It revealed that, when an adult male's post-menopausal mum is with him, he is much less likely to be harmed. But, while four or five-tonne males benefit from this maternal protection, female offspring do not receive the same attention. Lead researcher Charli Grimes from the University of Exeter told BBC News that the protection from these older mothers was very targeted: "Mum is definitely, in some way, trying to protect her sons." Orca mothers make 'lifelong sacrifice' for sons Grandmother killer whales boost survival of calves For the research, published in the journal Current Biology, scientists used photographs of orcas in a po[CENSORED]tion that lives off the Pacific coast of North America. Ms Grimes and her colleagues found there were far fewer "socially inflicted injuries" on the bodies of male offspring which were with their mothers, but only when they were post-reproductive. Whale menopause puzzle The work is part of long-term research on these "southern resident" killer whales. One of the key questions biologists have been asking, is why the females of this species stop reproducing part-way through their long lives. Ceasing reproduction - or menopause, as it's referred to in human biology - is very unusual in the animal kingdom. It is limited to humans and a few whale species. Female killer whales live up to 90 years in the wild, and most live more than 20 years after menopause. Decades of research on the southern residents has suggested that - instead of competing with their daughters to breed - these older female killer whales evolved to play a vital, matriarchal role long after they ceased to have their own calves. They give particular attention to their sons. "Males can breed with multiple females, so they have more potential to pass on their mother's genes," explained Ms Grimes. This has resulted in mature, five-tonne male orcas sticking close to - and being very dependent on - their mothers. "These sons are really reliant on their mums for their survival," said Ms Grimes. "Mothers will even directly feed their sons salmon that they catch. "[So] it could also be that mum is present in a situation of conflict, and can signal to her sons to avoid the risky behaviour they might be participating in." The ongoing study of this threatened killer whale po[CENSORED]tion, which lives in the coastal waters between Vancouver and Seattle, was started by Dr Ken Balcomb. Initially, he wanted to examine the threats to their survival, particularly as the po[CENSORED]tion was targeted for capture and sale to some marine parks. As well as garnering the southern resident killer whales official protected status, the ensuing years of work and observations went on to reveal insights into killer whale life that could only have come to light through decades of study. The studies have revealed, for example, the vital role of killer whale grandmothers and how much the females sacrifice to support their sons. Professor Darren Croft, also from the University of Exeter explained: "We've got hypotheses, but we need to test them by seeing what's happening under water when these different groups interact. We've learned so much from this po[CENSORED]tion, but we've still got so much to learn from them." https://www.bbc.com/news/science-environment-66249817

Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola has admitted he has failed to get the best out of Kalvin Phillips since signing him from Leeds United. Phillips joined City from the Elland Road outfit in the summer of 2022. Despite his £45m fee, the 27-year-old will start for only the fifth time for City when they take on Newcastle in the EFL Cup at St James' Park on Wednesday. "Marcelo [Bielsa] gave Kalvin the best of Kalvin in his career," said Guardiola. A hero at his hometown club, Phillips became an England international under Bielsa's stewardship when Leeds were still in the Championship. He went on to become a key figure in the side that finished ninth on their return to the Premier League and then started for England as they reached the Euro 2020 final. "I'd love to have done with Kalvin what Marcelo has done to him. We have our own specific way to play and [he] sometimes struggles in a few things, while the previous [Leeds playing style] was perfect [for him]," added Guardiola. Phillips' lack of involvement is even more stark given two of his previous four starts came at the end of last season, after City had already secured their third successive Premier League title. But with fellow holding midfielder Rodri suspended for three matches following his red card for violent conduct against Nottingham Forest, Phillips finally has a chance to play a meaningful role under Guardiola after turning down the opportunity to leave the club in the summer. "The club spoke with him because he did not have many minutes," said Guardiola. "He said 'no, I want to stay'. "We brought Kalvin here for his quality. He is open minded, always wants to learn and wants to help. This is what we want to try to do." Meanwhile, Guardiola has revealed City will drive back from Newcastle after encountering travel issues. In the past, City have flown the 150 mile journey from the north east. And, whilst club sources told BBC Sport that was not going to be the plan on this occasion, Guardiola appeared confused about the reasoning for what is likely to end up being a 3am return at the start of four away games in a row, including next week's Champions League trip to RB Leipzig. "I don't know what happened," he said. "The travel manager told me. We cannot come back by plane because we don't have a plane to travel back. "We have to take a bus. It's not a problem but we arrive so late, two or three hours later [than by plane]. "Then Friday we have to travel to Wolves and then we go to Germany to play Champions League for a really important game." Latest Manchester City news, analysis and fan views Get Man City news notifications. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66931028

Adopting a diet rich in vegetables, oxygenating the body with physical activities and getting adequate rest at night will help preserve cognitive functions. According to specialists, the formula for caring for brain health contemplates five aspects: a balanced diet, regular physical exercise, sleeping well, taking time to do leisure activities and avoiding what is known as burnout or work burnout syndrome. Regarding World Brain Day, which is celebrated every July 22, the pediatric neurologist from the Santa Paula Medical Group (GMSP), Dr. Óscar González, explained that eating healthy, incorporating foods rich in omega, green vegetables and reducing the consumption of refined sugar, contribute to preserving the good condition of this organ. He pointed out that "there is currently talk about what the gut-brain axis is and the importance of maintaining a healthy intestinal microbiota, (a collection of microbes such as: bacteria, fungi, yeasts and viruses, which live in symbiosis -mutual aid- with our body)". He added that "it is now known that the intestine has more neurons than the brain and these are the ones that regulate neurotransmitters, which are responsible for many brain functions such as controlling sleep, for example." Dr. González indicated that "a balanced diet also prevents neuroinflammation, a process with negative effects that affects the morphology and function of brain cells, which ends up causing neurodegenerative pathologies." https://noticiasaldiayalahora.co/salud/ejercitarse-dormir-y-comer-bien-son-habitos-que-cuidan-el-cerebro/

Russian President Vladimir Putin has said he does not reject the idea of peace talks on Ukraine. Speaking after meeting African leaders in St Petersburg, he said African and Chinese initiatives could serve as a basis for finding peace. But Mr Putin also said there could be no ceasefire while the Ukrainian army was on the offensive. In the hours after he spoke, Russia said a Ukrainian drone attack on Moscow had damaged two office blocks. Flights were briefly suspended from Vnukovo Airport, south-west of the city centre, and one person was injured, Russia's state news agency Tass reported. Ukraine has not commented on the drone incident. One eyewitness, who only gave her first name as Liya, told Reuters she could see fire and smoke."We heard an explosion and it was like a wave, everyone jumped," she said. "Then there was a lot of smoke and you couldn't see anything. From above, you could see fire." In Ukraine, the north-eastern Ukrainian city of Sumy was hit by rockets, killing one person and injuring five others, the country's interior ministry said. It said a Russian missile hit an educational establishment on Saturday evening. On peace talks, both Ukraine and Russia have previously said they will not come to the negotiating table without certain preconditions. Kyiv says it will not concede any territory but Moscow says Kyiv must accept its country's "new territorial reality". Russia invaded its neighbour last year and is occupying territory in the country's south and east. Mr Putin told the late-night press conference on Saturday that there were no plans to intensify action on the Ukrainian front for now. He also defended the arrest of critical voices, claiming some people were harming Russia from inside. Criticism of Moscow's invasion of Ukraine is outlawed and most prominent opposition members are behind bars or in exile. War in maps: Fighting in south Ukraine intensifies Moscow drone attack briefly shuts airport In the wide-ranging briefing, the Russian president also told reporters that Moscow carried out some "preventive strikes" after an explosion on a Crimean bridge earlier this month. Following the bridge incident - which left two people dead - Mr Putin vowed to respond to what he claimed was a "terrorist" act by Ukraine. Kyiv did not officially say it was responsible for the blast on the bridge, which links the occupied peninsula to Russia. The Russia-Africa summit comes after an African contingent including leaders and representatives from seven countries met Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky and Mr Putin last month. President Zelensky has in recent days been visiting Ukrainian special forces near Bakhmut, the city where some of the fiercest fighting of the war has been taking place. Ukrainian authorities have said Kyiv's troops are gradually moving forward near the eastern city, which Russian forces seized in May. Elsewhere, two people were killed and another was injured after a missile hit "an open area" in the southern Ukrainian city of Zaporizhzhia on Saturday, an official said. Anatoliy Kurtiev, secretary of the city council, said the blast wave caused by the "enemy missile" blew out apartment windows and damaged an educational institution and supermarket. link: https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66351867

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Shark Week is back and meaner than ever - check out our guide on how to watch Shark Week 2023, the schedule, and more. Shark Week 2023 is here with nearly 20 hours of new television content focused on oceans’ apex predators, sharks. If you’re not afraid of jumping into the water, stick around to find out how to watch Shark Week 2023 and everything that's going on during the event. Following last year's massive Shark Week, presented by Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, Discovery has passed the master of ceremonies torch to yet another famous DC actor in Jason Momoa, who you might also know as Aquaman, the King of Atlantis himself. Word on the street is that Momoa wanted to be a part of Shark Week for the longest time, so this crossover was always meant to be. Shark Week has been around since July 1988, when Discovery aired as a programming block shows like "Caged in Fear", "Sharks: Predators or Prey", and "The Shark Takes a Siesta". Its success led to a revival of America’s interest in sharks that hadn’t been seen since the release of Jaws in 1975. Many decades later, Shark Week has become a yearly sensation that both entertains and educates viewers on these impressive creatures. It features are big sharks, small sharks, fast sharks, and plenty of really weird sharks too. If you’re looking to dive into Shark Week 2023, we’ve put together this handy streaming guide which brings together everything you need to know. On top of Discovery’s renowned T.V. event, National Geographic is running its own month of shark-centric programming with SharkFest 2023, which we highly recommend too. Of course, we’re in the middle of the summer season, and that means sharks are more po[CENSORED]r than during the rest of the year. If you’re a shark fanatic, you should watch (or rewatch) the best shark movies of all time. What about the legendary Jaws saga? Well, we’ve got all the Jaws movies ranked, looking at both the science and the fun. Coming in August, there’s a bigger fish chomping on cinemas; here’s everything we know about Meg 2: The Trench. Shark Week 2023 airs from July 23 (Sunday) until July 30 (Saturday). It all starts on July 23 at 8pm ET/PT on Discovery, with the content also available to stream on Max (Warner Bros. Discovery’s rebranding of HBO Max). As we said before, fan-favorite actor, superhero, and conservationist Jason Momoa will host the 35th Shark Week, guiding viewers through an all-you-can-eat of shark-centric shows and documentaries, many of which – “Cocaine Sharks”, come on! – will surely surprise you. link: https://www.livescience.com/shark-week-streaming-guide