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Researchers are listening to sounds made by some endangered species in a bid to help save them from extinction. Warwick University has joined forces with Australia's University of New South Wales to analyse sounds made by animals, including types of birds and elephants. The scientists are using a new method adapted from technology used to analyse brain waves in neuroscience, said Warwick University. Analysis of the animal sounds can be used to estimate po[CENSORED]tion size, identify where animals live and their migration patterns, researchers said Scientists are also trying to understand "any negative impacts" the animals may experience from increasing levels of noise from human activity. The study is based on a method named the superlet transform (SLT) which turns signals into an image. Lead researcher Ben Jancovich said the information was "vital" to develop conservation strategies for endangered species including types of elephants, whales and birds. Mr Jancovich, a visiting PhD student from the University of New South Wales, said the new method was more accurate and helped scientists spot familiar shapes and recurring patterns of animal songs. In comparison, existing methods struggled to visualise time and frequency information at the same time, which affected the analysis of sounds. “The new method we demonstrated offers increased accuracy and requires less expertise to use, so it should prove to be a hugely valuable tool for animal sound researchers that don’t have an engineering background," he said. The research revealed calls by the Asian elephant, southern cassowary and American crocodile contains sounds that are “pulsed”. Researchers added as these discoveries were based on single recordings, they were not conclusive findings, and more sounds needed to be analysed. However, they said it illustrated "the power of this new method to clarify details". Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cw5y94nqxg1o

CAIRO, Nov. 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese premium automotive brand Exeed, a subsidiary of automaker Chery, has introduced two SUV models, the Exeed RX and Exeed VX, to the Egyptian market. A launching ceremony held by Exeed on Monday in the Muhammad Ali Palace in northern Great Cairo attracted more than 1,000 guests from the two countries, including government representatives, auto dealers and experts, potential customers and media representatives. The two gasoline-powered SUV models boast luxurious features and advanced smart technology. The launch of the new models also marked Exeed's debut in the Egyptian market. National Automotive Company (NATCO), an established Egyptian automotive dealer since 1988, is partnering with Exeed to distribute its vehicles in the region. Speaking at the event, NATCO Chairman Karim Sami Saad highlighted China's growing prominence in the global automotive industry and expressed optimism about the partnership. Qin Chao, CEO of Exeed International, told Xinhua that his company is striving to be a high-end mobility solution provider. "In Egypt, together with NATCO, we will provide high-quality models to meet customer needs and contribute to the development of the Egyptian automotive industry," he said. On Sunday, Egypt launched the production line of the Exeed cars at the Egyptian-German Automotive (EGA) factory in the 6th of October City. Minister of Industry and Transport Kamel el-Wazir said the initiative aligns with Egypt's strategy to become a key industrial hub, particularly in the automotive industry. Link: https://english.news.cn/africa/20241120/9cc90bd4e6d44458b7a908fe3345af00/c.html

Lewis Hamilton inherited victory in the Belgian Grand Prix after Mercedes team-mate George Russell was disqualified two and a half hours after taking an unlikely win on the track. Russell pulled off an unusual one-stop strategy and held off Hamilton’s attack in the closing laps. But after the race his car was found to be 1.5kg underweight, with his team admitting to "a genuine error". That saw Hamilton promoted to a victory that had looked likely for much of the race - after he took the lead from Ferrari’s Charles Leclerc on the second lap. Oscar Piastri is moved up to second, with Leclerc third and Max Verstappen fourth. Russell's car was initially weighed at 798kg, which is exactly on the minimum weight limit for car and driver combined. But stewards found the car had not been fully drained of fuel and when it was, its weight was just 796.5kg. Russell had appeared to have pulled off a remarkable victory from sixth on the grid, calling the strategy himself from the car, fending off a seven-time champion on tyres that were 15 laps fresher for five laps at the end off the race. Hamilton was closing in at nearly a second a lap in the final laps but, as so many other drivers found, overtaking was harder than expected and he could never quite get close enough to challenge. As Russell battled to hold off Hamilton in the final two or three laps, McLaren’s Piastri closed in on the Mercedes to set up a grandstand finish, and the three cars crossed the line nose to tail. Seven seconds behind them, Ferrari’s Leclerc - who had been passed by Piastri with nine laps to go around the outside of the Les Combes chicane, spent the closing laps fending off Red Bull’s Verstappen and the second McLaren of Lando Norris. The three spent the final four laps nose to tail but Leclerc managed to hold his rivals at bay. Behind Norris, Ferrari’s Carlos Sainz passed Red Bull’s Sergio Perez with five laps to go to raise further questions about Perez’s future. Red Bull are expected to make a decision as to whether to drop him for the rest of the season over the forthcoming summer break - just two months after the Mexican signed a new two-year contract. And dropping from second on the grid to finish at the back of the top four teams will have done Perez no favours. Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/articles/c6p2q0x5ezzo

Your social network may influence your health as much as your exercise routine. David Robson, the author of a new book about our relationships, explores the evidence and reasons for this surprising link. If you have paid attention to the latest thinking on wellbeing and longevity, you will have noticed increasing focus on the state of our relationships. People with thriving social networks, we are told, tend to be far healthier than those who feel isolated. Our interactions with others are so strongly linked to our longevity that the World Health Organization has just founded a new Commission on Social Connection, calling it "a global health priority". You may be a little sceptical about these claims, and the mysterious mechanisms that are supposed to tie our physical wellbeing with the strength of our relationships. But our understanding of the "biopsychosocial" model of health has been growing for decades. While investigating the science for my book The Laws of Connection, I discovered that our friendships can influence everything from our immune system's strength to our chances of dying from heart disease. The conclusions of this research are clear: if we want to live a long and healthy life, we should start prioritising the people around us. Link: https://www.bbc.com/future/article/20240722-why-your-friends-make-you-live-longer

Veteran Australian broadcaster and former Wallabies coach Alan Jones has been charged with sexually abusing seven men and a 17-year-old boy. The 83-year-old was taken into custody at his Sydney apartment early on Monday morning, as detectives from the New South Wales (NSW) Police Child Abuse Squad searched the harbour-front property and seized electronic devices. Mr Jones is one of Australia’s most influential media figures, and has previously denied allegations of abuse, first published by The Sydney Morning Herald in 2023. He now faces 24 charges over alleged incidents between 2001 and 2019, including 11 counts of aggravated indecent assault. All the charges, except two of common assault, are sex offences. Police said some of the alleged victims knew the radio titan personally, and that at least one had been employed by him. Others were allegedly assaulted the first time they met him, NSW Police's Michael Fitzgerald told reporters. "I wish to commend the victims and their bravery in coming forward. [They] have now got the ability to have a voice. This is what they've been asking for," he said. Commissioner Karen Webb earlier said police had conducted a "very complex", "protracted" and "thorough" investigation, and expected other alleged victims may now come forward. "There's no such thing as a matter that's too old to be investigated," she said at a press conference. "You will be listened to, and we will take your matter seriously." Mr Jones has been granted conditional bail, and will face court on 18 December. A former teacher, Mr Jones coached Australia's national rugby union team between 1984 and 1988, before pivoting to a radio career. He also, at times, worked as a speechwriter and advisor for Liberal Party figures - including former Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser - and launched several failed bids to represent the party in both state and federal politics. A staple of Sydney airwaves on local station 2GB for decades, Mr Jones juggled those duties with TV commentary gigs before he retired from full time work in 2020 citing health issues. The broadcaster is a polarising figure, for years boasting one of the nation's biggest audiences but often courting controversy. He made headlines in 2012 for suggesting that then-Prime Minister Julia Gillard's father had "died of shame", and in 2019 faced a massive advertiser boycott after saying someone should "shove a sock" down the throat of New Zealand's leader at the time, Jacinda Ardern. Mr Jones has also been successfully sued for defamation many times. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx27v4v1l5wo

Nick movie: Mortal Kombat 1: Khaos Reigns - Official Ghostface Gameplay Trailer Time: Aug 13, 2024 Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 3m 21s Trailer:

The flagship Vivo X200 series launched in China includes the standard, Pro, and Pro Mini models. The X200 Pro Mini which is the first in the lineup will likely be limited to the home market. Now Chinese tipster Smart Pikachu has shared some details on microblogging platform Weibo. The X200 lineup will reportedly include more models that are expected to arrive next year. It seems like Vivo is launching multiple devices in the X-series but not all at once just like the X100 lineup. Smart Pikachu reveals that the Vivo X200 series will get two new devices next year. The difference between the two models will be in terms of the display resolution. One will have a 1.5K screen whereas the latter will pack a 2K resolution. The tipster also states that the next X200 series phones will feature a straight and curved screens. They will also have a large form factor. Last year in November, Vivo first unveiled the X100 and X100 Pro in China. Six months later in May this year, the company announced three models in the lineup i.e. the X100s, X100s Pro, and the X100 Ultra. It’s still quite early, so this rumour should be taken with a grain of salt. We can expect more details to crop up about any new X200 series devices in the coming months. The Vivo X200 series is debuting in Malaysia later today. Recently, we exclusively reported that the smartphones will be introduced in India next month. The X200 Pro is claimed to be the first phone with 200MP telephoto lens in the country. To recall, the predecessor Vivo X100 series arrived in India two months after its China debut. Hence, we expect Vivo to follow the same timeline with the X200 series. The brand could start dropping official teasers in the coming weeks. https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/vivo-x200-series-new-models-tipped/

Earlier this month, Microsoft finally released the latest version of Microsoft Office that isn’t tied to Microsoft 365, meaning you can now buy access to the latest versions of Word, Excel, and PowerPoint with a one-time payment instead of shelling out cash on a subscription. With Office 2024, Microsoft promises improved performance, updated user interfaces, and more tools for analyzing data and embedding images in Excel, as well as support for new features over Office 2021. See all the new features in Office 2024 on this support page. Microsoft Office Home 2024 is the base version that’s meant for private users and students. It costs $149.99 and can be installed on a single Windows PC or Mac computer. Microsoft describes the difference between a Microsoft 365 subscription (which is the one that Microsoft prefers you use) and the locked-in-time Office 2024 suite as follows: Microsoft 365 is a subscription that comes with premium apps like Word, Excel, PowerPoint, OneNote, Outlook, Publisher, and Access (Publisher and Access available on PC only). The apps can be installed on multiple devices, including PCs, Macs, iPads, iPhones, Android tablets, and Android phones. Microsoft 365 also comes with services like 1 TB of OneDrive storage, 60 Skype minutes per month, and Microsoft chat and phone support. With a subscription, you get the latest versions of the apps and automatically receive updates when they happen. Office 2024 is a one-time purchase that comes with classic apps like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint for PC or Mac, and does not include any of the services that come with a Microsoft 365 subscription. One-time purchases don’t have an upgrade option, which means if you plan to upgrade to the next major release, you’ll have to buy it at full price. https://www.pcworld.com/article/2498611/microsoft-office-2024-is-now-on-amazon-no-subscription-needed.html?utm_source=taboola&utm_medium=related&utm_campaign=feed

The rise of AI has led to an explosion of new data center build-outs, but power consumption has become one of the key bottlenecks to further expansion. That's fueled intense interest in small nuclear reactors that can be built right into newer data centers, such as the new eVinci microreactor from Westinghouse, which is designed to output five megawatts of power and work 24/7 for over eight years without refueling. Westinghouse Electric Company, one of the leaders in nuclear power plant construction, has submitted its Preliminary Safety Design Report (PSDR) for the eVinci Microreactor to the National Reactor Innovation Center (NRIC) at the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE). This is a crucial step required at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL) so that the eVinci can be deployed for testing at the NRIC’s Demonstration of Microreactor Experiments (DOME) facility. Westinghouse also says that it’s the first company to do so, making it one of the pioneers in microreactor technology. Some see development in microreactor technology as a crucial strategy to keep our data-driven society moving forward. Many key leaders, including Mark Zuckerberg, say that power supply will constrain AI growth, especially as data centers require more power-hungry GPUs just to process all the data we generate. One report even says that a single modern AI GPU could consume up to 3.7MWh annually — or about the power needs of the average American home for four months. Aside from Westinghouse, several major AI firms are looking at nuclear reactors to supply their power requirements. This includes Oracle, which has already secured the permits to build three small modular reactors (SMR), and Microsoft, which, at first, was also looking at SMRs for its data centers, but recently just inked a deal to restart the Three Mile Island reactor. https://www.tomshardware.com/pc-components/power-supplies/westinghouses-evinci-micro-nuclear-reactor-for-data-centers-delivers-5-megawatts-of-power-for-eight-years-without-refueling-microreactors-could-power-next-gen-ai-data-centers

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Vivo launched two new smartphones in China on Friday. They include the Vivo X Fold 2 and the Vivo X Flip, adding to the company's foldable range. In a year that has seen multiple foldables launch within the first few months, the Vivo foldables were highly anticipated. Reports and leaks about the phones did the rounds in the weeks leading up to their launch. The phones each debuted in two storage configuration options and three colour variants each. They will be available for sale in China soon. Offered in Shadow Black, China Red and Azure Blue colour options, the 12GB RAM + 256GB starage variant of the Vivo X Fold 2 is priced at CNY 8,999 (roughly Rs. 1,07,500), while the 12GB RAM + 512GB storage model is marked at CNY 9,999 (roughly Rs. 1,19,400). The 12GB RAM + 256GB storage option of the Vivo X Flip is available at CNY 5,999 (roughly Rs. 71,600), and the 12GB RAM + 512GB variant is priced at CNY 6,699 (roughly Rs. 80,000). The X Flip is available in Diamond Black, Ling Purple and Silk Gold colour options.Both Vivo X Fold 2 and Vivo X Flip will be available for purchase in China starting April 28. Vivo has not made any confirmations about the models' Indian or global release. Featuring an 8.03-inch E6 AMOLED LTPO inner display, the Vivo X Fold 2 has a resolution of 2,160 x 1,916 pixels, with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz, and a peak brightness of up to 1,800 nits. This inner display panel also supports HDR10+ and Dolby Vision. The outer screen of the Vivo X Fold 2 features a 6.53-inch AMOLED panel with a resolution of 2,520 × 1,080 pixels, with a refresh rate of up to 120Hz and a peak brightness of up to 1,600 nits. This outer display comes with a SCHOTT UTG glass cover. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/vivo-x-fold-2-flip-cny-8999-5999-launch-sale-date-april-28-specifications-features-3967152#pfrom=desktop-lhs-trending

Several users have reported this bug to Microsoft, which affects one of the optional protections related to kernel isolation. Windows 11 has proven to be a very complete operating system for playing, although it has not been free of problems and bugs (in reality, no system is) that have been solved through updates that also add new content or plug security holes. However, the latest system update comes with an error under the arm that our reader Javier García has informed us about and that several people are complaining through the official Microsoft forums because it causes one of the Windows Defender protections, the antivirus that Windows itself includes. Specifically, this failure causes the local authority (LSA) protection to be deactivated, one of the optional protections that are included within the kernel's isolation security features and that, explained in a simple way, helps us protect the credentials that we have them saved in the operating system in a more secure way, preventing drivers and other elements without a secure signature from being loaded into the system. This protection, to begin with, is deactivated by default in Windows 11 but those who wanted to maximize their security and have it activated have found that it has been automatically deactivated and, when trying to activate it, they have encountered erratic operation like that of a user called Setacraft which after activating it, found that "the option was still activated, but it still asked me to restart, so I restarted again, and despite the restart, it kept telling me to restart for it to activate, so I tried disabling it the option, restart again, and activate the option and restart again... and it keeps telling me to restart even though the option is activated. At the moment Microsoft has not commented on this bug and at Vandal Ware we are going to contact them to see if they are preparing some type of update to correct the bug or if they have any temporary solution beyond not updating Windows 11 if you want to have it activated (or go back to the previous version if you have already updated the operating system). In the future LSA will be activated by default Just this week we learned that Microsoft plans for Windows 11 to activate this LSA protection by default, something that they have already applied in the beta versions of the operating system and that they will implement in the "public" version in the future. Precisely, preparing the system for this change may be generating this conflict. As for the problem, if you are dedicated to playing, Microsoft itself recommends deactivating the core isolation protections to gain performance (and reactivating them when you finish playing, which is very tedious) so it is something that in principle does not always affect us too much. and when we tread carefully on the internet (something we should always do, on the other hand). https://vandal.elespanol.com/w5980/la-ultima-actualizacion-de-windows-11-viene-con-un-error-que-afecta-a-la-proteccion-lsa

Each year NordVPN seems to find something new and exciting to add to its service. At this point, I find myself asking, what doesn’t NordVPN have? Not only do you get the VPN with an outstanding server network and lightning fast speeds, but you also have access to a whole slew of top-notch privacy and security extras. Its “Threat Protection” service gives you ad- and tracker-blocking, anti-malware download protection, and a malicious URL link-checker. Then there is an active Dark Web monitoring service and built-in file transfer feature called Meshnet. The list goes on and on. No other VPN is as rich in features as NordVPN, making it an easy top pick this year. — Sam Singleton https://www.pcworld.com/article/2515928/the-best-pc-hardware-and-software-of-2024-2025.html

Today, Orbifold Studios has released a new Half-Life 2 RTX trailer to celebrate the coming twentieth anniversary since Valve launched the masterpiece sci-fi first-person shooter sequel. As you probably already know if you've read our previous coverage of Half-Life 2 RTX, this is a remastering project that leverages the technologies of NVIDIA's RTX Remix and has the blessing of the original developer, Valve. Orbifold Studios, a team of experienced modders, was founded specifically to bring this project to fruition. In this video, Project Lead Wormslayer says: Half-Life 2 is my favorite game. It's something I've been playing for over 20 years now. It was unlike any other game I'd played before. the whole game is packed with memorable experiences: stepping off the train for the first time and walking up that platform and seeing Dr Breen appear on the giant screen above you. The gameplay and the storytelling still stand up incredibly well, but we just wanted to recapture that sense of awe that we all had 20 years ago playing it for the first time. RTX remix is the core of our remastering process. The original engine has very hard limits. In Half-Life 2 RTX, we have fully ray traced reflections and refractions on water and glass and volumetric fog with cool lighting and shadows. We actually have full 3D detail in there, and it's all self-shadowing and reflecting, and it looks pretty stunning. Unfortunately, the video isn't meant to share any kind of estimate on when we'll actually be able to play the remaster. As the developers point out, there are lots of assets to remaster, and despite the presence of over a hundred contributors, the team is still recruiting. If you think you can help bring Half-Life 2 RTX to life, fill out the form available on the official website. https://wccftech.com/half-life-2-rtx-gets-stunning-new-video-to-celebrate-the-games-20th-anniversary/

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Concerts and festivals such as Glastonbury are worth up to £900 million to the wider West economy, creating two million visits to the area. Umbrella arts organisation UK Music said the industry employed almost nine thousand people to work at shows in the West in 2023. The total number of music tourists attending live music events across the UK in 2023 was 19.2 million - an increase of 33% on 2022 when the figure was 14.4 million. But despite the growth in music tourism, independent events and grassroots music venues say they are still struggling. Glastonbury is one of the biggest, most famous music festivals in the world. Around 200,000 people attended in 2023 and broadcast regulator Ofcom reports that approximately 210,000 people attended in 2024. UK Music, a British umbrella organisation which represents the UK music industry, said music tourism is a growing part of the music industry. It added that the South West has seen an an 86% increase in music tourism, rising from one million in 2022 to two million in 2023. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cz9d893r586o

A former model said sharing a bed with a baby meerkat and taking it to the pub was "not a strange thing" to do. Jodie Marsh, 45, claimed her actions were "standard practice" in animal rehabilitation work. It followed a council rejecting her licence application to keep eight ring-tailed lemurs at her rescue centre in Lindsell near Great Dunmow, Essex. Uttlesford District Council said "it was not appropriate to grant the licence" during a licensing and environmental health committee on Monday. The meeting was called after Ms Marsh applied to keep the lemurs under a dangerous wild animal licence. However, concerns were raised by the panel about the applicant taking a baby meerkat she had been hand-rearing to a pub. Link:https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c51yqqyqj5yo

Mercedes-Benz is all set to increase the price range of its entire fleet in India by up to 3 percent. According to the details shared by the brand, the new price range will start reflecting on the model range from 1st January 2025. The comapny says the decision has been taken after witnessing the increased commodity cost and higher logistics expenses, which resulted in higher operational costs for the company. It has been revealed by the brand that the hot-selling model GLC will feature a new price tag, which will be hiked Rs 2 lakh. The Maybach S 680 will also become expensive by Rs 9 lakh. To note, the revised price range will not apply to the vehicles that are already in stock. Even nothing will change for the existing and future bookings until 31st December 2024. https://www.news18.com/auto/mercedes-benz-cars-to-become-expensive-in-india-by-3-percent-starting-from-jan-1-2025-9122355.html

Jack Grealish says being left out of England's Euro 2024 squad was the "most difficult thing I have had to deal with in my career". The Manchester City forward, 28, said he was "heartbroken" but is determined to use the experience as motivation going forward. Grealish came on as a substitute in England's 3-0 warm-up win against Bosnia-Herzegovina at St James' Park just over a week before the tournament started, but was not included in Gareth Southgate's final 26-man squad. England would go on to reach the final, which they lost 2-1 to Spain. "When you are on your holidays, every time you turn on the phone or the TV you just see it [the tournament], so it was hard not to see," added the former Aston Villa player, who has 36 England caps. "I'll be honest, football-wise it was the most difficult thing I've ever had to deal with in terms of my own career. "I was absolutely heartbroken. For myself now moving forward, I have to just try and use that as motivation going into this season." Grealish cost City a British record £100m when he joined City from Villa in August 2021, one month after featuring for England in the Euro 2020 finalagainst Italy. "I felt I should have been in the [England] squad," added Grealish, who was speaking on City's pre-season tour of the United States. "I feel like I offer something different to players in the England squad. "But it is what it is. "As I said, it was the hardest moment for me as a footballer. I've had a lot of ups and downs in my career." Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/crgk3r46007o