MERNIZ

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, but could a thousand words be worth a picture? Maker and developer Diego Trujillo Pisanty sought to find out with his Raspberry Pi-powered blind camera project. Instead of using a lens to capture light to make a picture, it listens for sound and constructs an approximation of what could be around it based on the audio detected. The device works similarly to a regular camera in that you aim the camera at what you want to capture and press a button to generate an image. In this case, however, it has a giant horn on the front used to help amplify the capturing of sounds. Users should aim this horn in the direction of what they want to capture before pressing the button. The camera then parses the audio through an AI filter and generates an image. According to Pisanty, he developed a custom artificial neural network (or ANN) just for this project. He trained the AI with his own models based on a set of videos taken around Mexico City. The model was created by taking each frame of video and accompanying it with the last second of audio. This helped build an association of sound and video that the system can use to create images. Because it was trained in this way, everything it creates is loosely based on inner-city images of Mexico City. For this project, Pisanty is using a Raspberry Pi 3B module. It would be possible to recreate it using a Raspberry Pi 4, however. As long as the Pi can handle Tensorflow, it should work. The camera also has a small screen that serves as a sort of viewfinder. It lets users know when images are processing and provides a preview of the generated images. Everything is housed inside of a custom 3D-printed shell. The AI model used to train the blind camera was created using Python 3. It’s designed to work with Tensorflow 2 and runs on the Raspberry Pi using TFLite. If you want to recreate this Raspberry Pi project or just get a closer look at how it goes together, check out the video shared by Pisanty to YouTube and read more about the project over at his website. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/raspberry-pi-blind-camera-uses-sound

Many people in Washington were surprised when May’s debt ceiling negotiations quickly narrowed down to House Speaker Kevin McCarthy, his lieutenants and top White House aides. Not Sen. Kyrsten Sinema (I-Ariz.). In fact, it was sort of her idea. “I did suggest to the White House that meetings would be more productive if the people who actually had the authority to make a deal and deliver the votes were the only ones in the room,” Sinema recalled in an interview. Senators typically loathe the sort of top-down negotiations that produced the deal to lift the debt ceiling through 2024, preferring to use the chamber’s notorious bipartisan gangs that give them more direct input. And this time around only a handful of rank-and-file lawmakers were able to directly influence the process, most distinctly Sinema and Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.). The deal was pretty much exactly where the two senators hoped everything would end up — alienating only the far right and left and empowering the center. “It’s a wonderful deal when you have the extremes back in the minority,” Manchin said. The two centrist senators barely entered the public debt narrative other than pressing for negotiations. Yet each played an integral role in jump-starting discussions and assembling the particulars of the deal, particularly the legislation’s work requirement, spending and energy provisions. Sinema leaned on years of relationships with McCarthy and lead negotiators Reps. Garret Graves (R-La.) and Patrick McHenry (R-N.C.) while also consulting closely with OMB Director Shalanda Young and White House counselor Steve Ricchetti, who led the White House strategy alongside Legislative Director Louisa Terrell. She spent Thursday racing around the Capitol, aiding Senate leaders as they sought an agreement to speed votes up, spending literally hours helping craft joint statements and locking in amendment votes. She got used to playing the hectic role of shuttle diplomacy over the past month. Last week, as Sinema was getting ready to appear on Fox News during a visit to the Arizona border, her cell phone lit up with separate calls within a few minutes from several major debt players: McHenry, Young and Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. “I was talking with everyone all the time,” Sinema recalled. Manchin credited Sinema with utilizing friendships from her past life in the House to get things rolling. The former governor had a different lane. The West Virginia moderate coordinated with centrist Democrats in the House on messaging and spoke to both McCarthy and Schumer about modest ways to rein in spending. He finally got the framework very few in his party wanted just a month ago: some spending restraint, and yes, approval of the Mountain Valley Pipeline. The two centrists often publicly thwarted progressives’ agenda during the first two years of Joe Biden’s presidency, but most of their work this episode occurred behind the scenes. In some ways it’s a capstone to the two senators’ outsized imprint on government: Though they have other unfinished priorities, the debt limit negotiations may be their top accomplishment during this term’s split Congress — as both consider reelection runs. Manchin’s public restraint regarding inclusion of the pipeline was intentional: He worried it could poison the provision. He remembers all too well the GOP voting down his energy permitting reform bill after Democrats’ party-line climate, health care and tax bill passed last year. “For them to go out from the beginning and say, ‘OK, we gotta get this in for Manchin?’ That wasn’t a strategy that I thought would be helpful,” he said in an interview. “Republicans had to be where that’s going to be planted from their side.” Sen. Shelley Moore Capito (R-W.Va.) called the pipeline’s inclusion in the debt deal a “team effort” and spoke to Graves, McCarthy and others to push for the pipeline. One of Manchin’s potential Senate race rivals, Rep. Alex Mooney (R-W.Va.), voted against the debt deal. Manchin also advised both Schumer and McCarthy on how they might handle modest budget caps. It didn’t go over well with Democrats at first. “‘Chuck, don’t you think it makes sense that since we increased spending so much because of Covid ... maybe we should start going back to lower spending rates?’” Manchin recalled telling Schumer. “And he said ‘oh, I know, you’re for it. But nobody else is.’” In the end, the agreement was far better for Democrats than what McCarthy had pushed. Internally, the White House drew a red line back in February over supporting anything longer than two years of enforceable caps in any budget deal, according to a White House official not authorized to speak publicly, and insisted that any debt limit suspension must be at least two years. Republicans sought a longer budget agreement and a shorter debt ceiling lift. MOST READ image.jpg Biden falls on stage at Air Force graduation but is ‘fine,’ according to spokesperson ‘Deranged leadership’: Oath Keepers facing Jan. 6 sentences disavow Stewart Rhodes Prosecutors have tape of Trump discussing classified document he kept after leaving office Just don’t boast: How Biden world sought to ace the debt ceiling standoff How Jim Jordan and Marjorie Taylor Greene helped McCarthy get his debt deal through That wasn’t the only tricky third-rail that the centrist duo helped navigate. Sinema pushed Republicans, telling Graves that Democrats would need something on energy transmission and storage or “the votes will not be there.” She also informed the White House, which had drawn a hard line on no new work requirements, that McCarthy was going to need something. “I was like, ‘He’s not going to be able to close the deal without it,’” Sinema recalled telling the White House of McCarthy’s position with House Republicans. “Being able to share that with them allows them to spend some time thinking: What is in the world of the possible?” The two sides got stuck on the issue of work requirements. White House negotiators consulted Democrats on Capitol Hill and came up with the proposal to expand exemptions to veterans, homeless people and former foster youth, successfully hitting Biden’s requirement that the deal not increase poverty overall. “Republicans were very insistent, but the president gave us clear direction that we were not going to do something that increased poverty,” said Michael Linden, executive associate director at OMB and one of the administration negotiators. That helped keep far more progressive senators than Sinema and Manchin on board. Of course, the White House didn’t keep tabs on every senator. In fact, Sen. Tim Kaine (D-Va.) grew so incensed about the inclusion of the Mountain Valley Pipeline, which would also run through his state, that he let loose on the administration on Wednesday for not giving him a heads up — even as officials had asked for his help with Senate business, like confirming Labor Department nominee Julie Su. The explosion prompted a call from John Podesta, a senior adviser to the president for clean energy innovation and implementation, in an attempt at damage control. Kaine’s frustration was still evident Thursday as the Senate prepared to vote. “I’m hoping to have some more discussions with the White House about it because it’s not the way to treat a senator who is a loyal colleague,” Kaine said. He argued he was forced into a position of supporting default or “going back on a promise that I made to all these Virginians that Congress was not going to put our thumb on the scale for permitting.” Yet the pipeline was a boon for Manchin after his deciding vote for Democrats’ huge party-line bill last year. He acknowledged in the interview that vote “has taken a toll on me in my state” and that part of the reason he hasn’t made a decision on 2024 is he’s able to accomplish far more as an undecided senator. If he were running “I don’t think any of these things would have happened. I’m enough of a suspected target.” Approval of the pipeline and the provisions speeding up review of some energy projects could change the perception of Manchin’s work: “Maybe that will quell some people saying Manchin didn’t get anything but a pen” from Biden at a signing ceremony, he said. As is her style, Sinema is less likely to discuss the political implications of legislation or her thinking about running again: “I’m not gonna tell you.” But when asked about liberal Rep. Ruben Gallego’s (D-Ariz.) support for the debt deal as he runs to oust her from her seat, Sinema had a deadpan response. “Ruben has voted for all of my bills in the last couple of years,” Sinema said. “Which is good. They’re good bills.” https://www.politico.com/news/2023/06/02/sinema-manchin-senate-debt-limit-vote-00099840

A wildfire that has been burning in the Highlands since Saturday has caused extensive damage to a nature reserve, according to RSPB Scotland. The charity said many ground-nesting birds, including black grouse, had lost chicks or eggs in the incident near Cannich, south of Inverness. Hundreds of native trees planted to regenerate habitats at RSPB's Corrimony reserve have also been destroyed. Smoke from the fire was detected by Nasa satellites earlier this week. The Scottish Fire and Rescue Service (SFRS) was first called to the blaze just before 13:00 on Sunday. It was brought under control on Wednesday, but more than 20 firefighters remain at the scene dealing with "deep-seated hotspots". RSPB Scotland said it had still to fully assess the impact of the blaze on wildlife. The reserve's Simon McLaughlin said he had found fast-moving species such as spiders and lizards had survived. But others, including frogs, had been found dead. RSPB Scotland thanked the dozens of firefighters and estate workers involved in the effort to extinguish the flames. The charity said: "The damage to Corrimony is extensive, and made even more devastating by the impact on many ground-nesting birds who have lost their chicks and eggs." Earlier this week, Nasa satellite images showed smoke from the wildfire drifting 12-mile (20km) west towards Loch Ness. People living near the fire were told to keep doors and windows of their homes closed as precaution against the smoke. Latest available satellite data suggests the area affected could be smaller than previously feared. SFRS had estimated flames had burned through a 30 sq mile (80 sq km) area of moor and woodland, which would make it the largest wildfire seen in the UK. The service said it was now estimated to be five square miles (15 sq km) in size. Wildfire analysts said latest available satellite images suggested the "monumental" firefighting effort had contained the incident. SFRS group commander Niall MacLennan said: "This has been a challenging large-scale fire, which has no doubt impacted on the rural community here. "Our crews, who have been working tirelessly since Sunday to tackle this wildfire, will remain at the scene until it's made safe." At the height of the incident earlier this week, SFRS had nine appliances and their crews at the scene. They were helped by estate workers, including gamekeepers, RSPB staff and waterbombing by helicopters. Two firefighters were injured during the operation after their all-terrain vehicle overturned. They were flown to hospital and discharged following treatment. Speaking at the Scottish Parliament, Community Safety Minister Siobhian Brown said wildfires posed a threat to life and the environment. She said: "I thank all the firefighters and others who are tackling this wildfire. "The weather and the conditions at this time of year lend themselves to fires starting easily and spreading quickly. "The smallest fire can spread and devastate entire communities, hillsides, livestock, farmland, wildlife, protected land and sites of special interest." In a tweet, wildfire analyst Dr Thomas Smith, an associate professor at London School of Economics, described a "monumental" effort to bring the fire under control. Analysis of the latest available satellite imagery by Dr Smith and others suggested the damage covered a smaller area than previously thought. Michael Bruce, of Aberdeenshire-based Firebreak Services Ltd, said a satellite used by the European Forest Fire Information System and EU's Copernicus programme indicated 2,426-acres (982 ha) was involved. But he added it could amount to 2,718 acres (1,100 ha) because of hotspots outside the main area of the wildfire. Mr Bruce said: "It was a tremendous successful joint effort by SFRS and local landowners who managed to contain the fire to this size. "It is always difficult to establish fire size quickly, with smoke and further spread happening, and the focus of the people at the scene is on tackling the fire." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65777331

The long-awaited U.S.-market VW ID.Buzz has the extended wheelbase, which makes room for a third row, and seating for seven. It'll be available with a choice of 282-hp single-motor rear-wheel-drive or 330-hp dual-motor all-wheel-drive powertrains. Bright color combos inside and out call back to the '60s, but with a contemporary spin and fully modern tech. While some buyers of the 2025 Volkswagen ID.Buzz will be trying to revisit their time in 1960s Haight-Ashbury—or at least their fantasies of having been there—you don't have to have been a counterculture hippie to feel nostalgia for Volkswagen's Type 2 Microbus. The VW people hauler is a cultural icon that represents a lifestyle of playing guitars around a beach campfire, road trips with family, and gentle rebellion against the status quo. It was appealing then and it's appealing now, even more so with an electric powertrain and a host of comfort and safety options. VW announced a return of the bus back in 2022. The first U.S. versions of the electric ID.Buzz should be on their way to a dealer near you by June of 2024. Long Way to Go, Short Time to Get There The European version of the ID.Buzz is a two-row machine with a shorter wheelbase than what we'll get here in the States. The U.S.-spec bus is stretched 10 inches, for a 127.5-inch wheelbase, so it keeps those short overhangs and uses all of that extra space for interior room. The added length allows for a third row, which means seating for seven. While it's considerably larger than an original Type 2 bus (they were called Microbus for a reason), the ID.Buzz offers plenty of visual cues connecting it to its ancestor. It's not quite as flat in front, but it does have a similar boxy, yet rounded, profile, throwback "vent" details on the D-pillar, giant front badge just aching to be replaced with a peace sign, and cheerful, two-tone paint options. Some of the colors are familiar from previous showings of the bus, like Energetic Orange, Pomelo Yellow, and Mahi Green, but others are new, like the oceany Cabana Blue, Metro Silver, and Indium Gray. Don't get a gray bus when you can get a blue or orange one, we beg you. The original Type 2 was charming in its looks, but also a useful way to carry friends and gear. The 2025 ID.Buzz looks to carry on those traditions. Dual power-sliding rear doors that go all the way back to the third row make it easy to get people in and out. The horizontally sliding windows are also powered, as are the heated side mirrors and the tailgate. Other modern exterior details include 20-inch wheels. Power Play Customers will have the option to choose between a single-motor, one-speed transmission, rear-drive powertrain or a more powerful dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Rear-wheel-drive buses make 282 horsepower and 406 pound-feet of torque, while the dual-motor version puts out about 330 horsepower. The ID.Buzz rides on VW's Modular Electric Drive (MEB) "skateboard" platform, so the battery is mounted low in the floor. We get a larger battery than Europe, with a usable capacity of 86.0 kWh. Volkswagen hasn't released range estimates yet, but based on other VW electric offerings we're expecting to see mileage numbers around 260 and charging times of around 30 minutes to take a 10 percent battery to 80 percent at a DC fast-charger. The bump in power is due to use of stronger permanent magnets in the motor with improved heat management. With the new motor, the ID.Buzz has a top speed of an electronically limited 99 mph compared to the two-row's 90 mph, and an original Type 2's . . . walking speed. What's Inside The same play of retro design and contemporary tech that makes the exterior of the ID.Buzz unique is also found in the interior. Several design schemes are available, from a deep shadowy blue with dark wood to a bright coastal peach and silver. All interiors use non-leather seat covers and trim. The interiors are playful, and designed for convenience, with adjustable small compartments in the removable console, rubber-lined shelving along the dash, and wide door pockets. Standard features include ambient lighting; 12-way adjustable front seats that are heated, vented, and massaging; and a heated second row. An optional 67.4-inch-long electrochromic sunroof can go dark with the swipe of a finger. With the standard second-row bench, the ID.Buzz seats seven, and with the optional captain's chairs in its place, it's a slightly roomier ride for six. The second row folds in a 60:40 split and can be slid forward or back by almost eight inches. The rear row folds 50:50 and can be removed completely for more cargo room. All three rows get climate control vents, a welcome upgrade. A small digital dash and a 12.9-inch infotainment screen handle all the data needs, with standard wireless phone connectivity, wireless charging, eight USB-C ports, a 110V outlet, and a 12-volt plug in the cargo area supporting any other charging needs. Lights in the dash illuminate to tell you the car is waiting for commands, or to give updates on navigation and battery status. The Buzz comes with VW's IQ.Drive driver assistance package standard, which includes adaptive cruise control. Everything Old Is New Again The ID.Buzz is sure to be a standout in the school drop-off line and turn heads in the early-morning coastal fog as you unload surfboards. VW's new bus is friendly and attractive, and now ID.Buzz also offers safety tech, comfort, and fume-free electric upgrades that make it an excellent choice for the modern free spirit. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a44067694/2025-vw-id-buzz-us-spec-revealed/

Manchester City striker Erling Haaland says he "will do everything" to help the club to a historic Treble. City have won this season's Premier League and can add to that if they beat Manchester United in the FA Cup final on Saturday and Inter Milan in the Champions League final on 10 June. United won each of those trophies in 1999 and are the only English club to have done such a Treble. "It would be unreal to make this history," said 22-year-old Haaland. Despite City's domestic dominance, they are yet to win the Champions League and Haaland hopes he can be the missing piece to secure success in European football's biggest tournament. "This is why they bought me of course, to get this, we don't have to hide that," Haaland told BBC sports editor Dan Roan. "It would mean everything. I will do everything I possibly can to try to make it happen. It's my biggest dream and hopefully dreams do come true." He added: "But as well it's not easy - it's two finals against two good teams that will do everything they can to try to destroy that. "They will be motivated, they will be ready and we have to play at our best, because if we play at our best we have a really good chance of achieving exactly that." WATCH: Full interview on BBC iPlayer LISTEN: Sports Desk podcast special Latest Manchester City news, analysis and fan views Get City news notifications City overtook Arsenal this season to win a third Premier League title in a row under manager Pep Guardiola. "We've been chasing the whole season so when we won the Premier League it was a big relief," said Haaland, who scored 36 top-flight goals this season. "Now we've got two finals left and now the only thing we can focus on is these two finals before the vacation." 'I'm 196cm tall and have got long blonde hair - people are going to see me' Haaland has had a stunning first season in English football since joining City from Borussia Dortmund last summer. He has broken the Premier League record for most goals in a season with his tally and, overall, has scored 52 goals during the campaign. The Norway international has been named the Football Writers' Association (FWA) men's footballer of the year and is the first player to win the Premier League player and young player of the year awards in the same season. Haaland's exploits have made him one of the most recognisable players in the game and he says his way of dealing with the fame is to embrace it. "It's nice, it means I've done something right," said Haaland. "My life has changed of course, I can't live so normally any more. That's how my life is, I can't complain. "I try to enjoy every single moment of it and that's how it is. "I'm 196cm tall and have got long blonde hair so wherever I go people are going to see me. So that's how my life is. What can I do? "There's nothing I can do, that's my life. I just have to try to enjoy it as much as I can. Try to relax when I'm home with good people around me, that's really important. Just try to enjoy my life." Haaland believes he has improved "a lot" this season but that he can get better "from my right foot to my left foot to my heading, from the build-up play - everything". "I've been developing in a really positive way and that's really important for me because I'm still really young," he said. "I'm 22, I've got a long career ahead of me and I still have to develop. That's also something I was thinking of over one year ago when I was thinking about my next move." Haaland knows Manchester United will be "motivated" as they will not only want to beat their local rivals to add to their Carabao Cup success this season, but also stop City from matching their Treble. "It will not be an easy game," said Haaland. "We have to play our game. We have to not think too much, we have to focus on ourselves and we have to play the game we should play. "In the end we'll see. It's a 90-minute football game and the ones who do it best in these games can win." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65774372

awrence Zeegen hadn’t planned on becoming a father again in his 50s. The illustration professor already had three children from a previous marriage. But when his second wife, who was 43 at the time, made it clear she planned to be a mother, he soon learned that “changing nappies is a lot like riding a bike – you never forget how to do it”. His daughter, who is now seven, was conceived using an egg donor. Zeegen, who is 59 and from Cambridge, says he is delighted that he went against “all rational thinking” to become a dad again – but notes that parenting is different when approaching 60. “I have a little less energy than I did at 27 with my first born. I’m pretty active and look after myself – I want to be around for as much of my daughter’s adult life as possible.” After Al Pacino made the news for expecting his fourth child at 83, weeks after Robert De Niro welcomed his seventh at 79, Zeegen shared advice for new, older parents. “Don’t panic. Most of it just comes naturally. Take a deep breath and go with the flow. Embrace it all.” For piano teacher Patrick Dailly, 74, having a 13-year-old daughter has kept him “young in mind”. “I’m abreast of some modern music which I like and I seem to get on well with her friends, who either don’t notice or politely ignore my great age,” Dailly says. Jon Snow Jon Snow ‘at complete ease’ with becoming a father again in his 70s Read more And not just young in mind: when Dailly, who also has a son in his 40s from a previous marriage, speaks to the Guardian, he has recently been hiking “across the Scottish wilderness” with his wife, who is 54, and his daughter. He admits he “ended up with seriously pulled muscles, while she was bouncing around like a spring chicken”. Dailly says there are advantages to becoming a father again at an older age. “I’m financially much more secure, and feel a more mature person and able to deal with life better. I’ve mellowed.” But children of older parents sometimes feel different to their friends. David, who is 41 and from Bedford, was born when his father was 63: “Growing up I would pretend that he was my grandad as – and I hate to say this – I was embarrassed that this ‘old man’ was my father. He was in poor health for most of the time that I knew him. “My dad wasn’t like the other dads. He couldn’t play football with me or take me to the park,” remembers David, who is a graphic designer and was the youngest of three children, explaining that his mother was in her mid-30s when she had him. “Luckily, I had an older brother who filled the gap there a bit – [but] I remember feeling jealous of friends and their dads who were running around together.” He remembers his father as being “really funny” and having “lots of different catchphrases – a bit like one of the ageing game show hosts that he obsessively watched on TV each night”. “I did really love him. He introduced me to the music of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis Jr and we watched a ton of war films together.” David was left heartbroken when his father died when he was 15. “My dad didn’t become a grandad, he didn’t see me graduate, didn’t see me build a career, didn’t meet my wife or children.” He stresses that his father was in poor physical health: “I know there are old fathers out there who are healthy and fit.” But as a father to two boys, aged six and 10, David says his upbringing means he loves being an active dad himself. “I pride myself on able to take my sons on bike rides – I don’t rest on my laurels.” Katie, 53, also knows how difficult it is to lose a parent at a young age. “My dad was 53 when I was born and my mum was 38. He was a lovely dad, calm, patient and good fun. He was very understanding and accepting of all youthful foibles. If I went out with my friends as a teenager, he’d let you have a fag in the car on the way home,” the university administrator from London remembers. “He was part of that generation that had a resilience that I think people tend to lack now. He worked in civil engineering and had travelled around the world to work – he was very open-minded and interested in things.” When she was 18, Katie, who has three older siblings, suffered the sudden loss of her mother after she died of a heart attack. “We somehow weathered the awful grief and the bleak feeling her absence gave us together.” Her father became seriously ill a few years later. “It was very hard for me to deal with in my early 20s. I stayed living at home with him and got a job locally, while my friends went off to university and went travelling. “He died when I was 25. Older dads are wonderful, but you don’t have them for as long as you’d like.”https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/02/becoming-father-in-later-life-al-pacino-robert-de-niro https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/02/becoming-father-in-later-life-al-pacino-robert-de-niro

Two women have been killed in shelling in the Russian border region of Belgorod, its governor says. Vyacheslav Gladkov said the victims were hit by shrapnel as they were travelling in a car near the village of Maslova Pristan. Officials in the neighbouring Bryansk and Kursk regions said buildings had been damaged in shelling and an overnight drone attack. Ukrainian officials have so far not commented. However Kyiv has denied involvement in previous attacks across the border, which it says are carried out by Russian anti-government groups. In Belgorod, Mr Gladkov said two more people travelling in another car had been wounded in the shelling. One of the most prominent anti-Kremlin paramilitary groups said it had been engaging in military operations in the nearby village of Novaya Tavolzhanka. The Freedom of Russian Legion (FRL) said two civilians had been killed after the Russian artillery mistook their vehicle for a car containing FRL members. Neither claim has been independently verified. Who are the fighters infiltrating Russia from Ukraine? What do we know about drone attacks in Russia? Long-range drones also hit two towns in the Smolensk region, the local governor there said, while the Kaluga region's head said an explosion had been reported in a forest. Recent weeks have seen an increase in cross border attacks. On Thursday eight people were wounded in shelling in Belgorod and the latest strikes come more than a week after one of the most significant cross-border raids since the war began. On Friday Ukrainian officials said air defences had shot down about 30 missiles and drones fired by Russia. Russia has launched more than 20 missile and drone attacks on Ukraine over the past month. Speaking from Helsinki on Friday, US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken called Russia's invasion of Ukraine "a strategic failure". America's top diplomat was speaking during a visit to Finland, Nato's newest member, as part of a series of trips to several Nordic countries. He said the invasion had weakened Russia diplomatically, economically and militarily while strengthening the European Union, Nato and Ukrainian national identity. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65786624

WhatsApp has resumed testing a feature that improves group chats on Android, as part of the latest beta release. The po[CENSORED]r messaging app recently began beta testing the ability to show profile icons next to messages on group chats, but it was disabled on subsequent beta releases. Meanwhile, the Meta-owned app has also started rolling out the first version of its Updates tab for beta testers on iOS. WhatsApp is also working on visual improvements on Android, from a redesigned emoji keyboard to new Material You-style toggles in the app's settings. The appearance of the profile icons in groups was spotted by feature tracker WABetaInfo on version 2.23.12.7 of WhatsApp beta for Android. Beta testers who have updated to this version should be able to see profile icons for all group participants and default "generic" profile icons for users who have not set a profile picture. Gadgets 360 was able to confirm that the feature was enabled on the latest beta version of the app for Android smartphones. The group profile icon feature was seen in development last year, and was later rolled out to beta testers briefly before it was disabled. Users who update to the latest beta version of WhatsApp for Android should see the icons for profile photos of group participants, making it easy to identify messages from different senders. The messaging app was also recently spotted working on Material You-themed toggles for various settings on version 2.23.12.3 of WhatsApp beta for Android. The slim toggles found in the setting section have been replaced with thicker switches with a green accent — in line with Google's Material Design 3 guidelines for designers — to indicate when a setting is enabled. Meanwhile, WABetaInfo also spotted a new Updates tab on version 23.11.0.70 of WhatsApp beta for iOS. The feature is still in development and is expected to arrive as a redesigned Status tab, showing users both Channels and Status. The Meta-owned messaging service is reportedly working on a broadcast-like feature allowing one-way communication with Channel subscribers. WhatsApp is also working on additional improvements for a redesigned emoji keyboard that is currently under development. The three buttons that allow a user to switch among GIF, sticker, and the emoji keyboard have been moved to the top of the same section, according to WABetaInfo. https://www.gadgets360.com/apps/news/whatsapp-beta-testing-group-profile-icons-updates-developing-material-you-switch-emoji-keyboard-ios-android-4088046

Work management platform Asana has announced a new set of AI-based product capabilities designed to accelerate decision-making and improve productivity. The new capabilities are underpinned by the company’s new AI offering, Asana Intelligence, and come three months after the company added prediction-based AI tools to its platform. The latest host of features combine Asana’s underlying Work Graph data model with large language model (LLM) capabilities offered by OpenAI’s API to help users stay up to speed with ongoing projects. “[OpenAI’s CEO] Sam Altman was one of the very early investors in Asana and [Asana’s CEO] Dustin Moskovitz has invested in OpenAI, so from the start of LLM technology, we've been really plugged in and it's also helped inform how we built the Work Graph to be able to leverage the technology,” said Alex Hood, chief product officer at Asana. [ How to choose the right project collaboration software ] In order to accelerate decision making, Asana Intelligence monitors team capacity and changing business priorities, surfacing resource recommendations to help teams hit their goals. It can also identify unseen issues and roadblocks that could stop teams progressing toward company objectives. The new capabilities also aim to boost productivity by creating automated plans based on goals, suggesting and implementing workflow improvements to achieve results faster. Asana Intelligence also provides a writing assistant to improve the clarity and tone of messages and written communications — however, the tool cannot generate content for users, it will simply adjust pre-written content that is plugged into it. In addition, instant summaries will transcribe and summarize action items and highlights from meetings, tasks, and comment threads. Users can also ask Asana Intelligence for answers and insights on projects, removing the need to schedule meetings or interrupt someone’s workflow to ask easily answerable questions. Projects will also benefit from the new work organizer which can autogenerate custom fields, smart rules, and suggestions to add structure to projects. Asana remains sceptical about generative AI Speaking back in March when Asana announced its predictive AI capabilities, Hood said that there was a danger presented by generative AI, in that content created by artificial intelligence could mean that a company’s official plan of record might not accurately reflect day-to-day operations noting that the large language models most generative AI tools are trained on sometimes proclaim things as fact when they aren’t actually true. “When you’ve got 16 applications that are all making it very easy to spam the rest of your team with stuff that might only be like 80% correct, that’s a new challenge,” Hood said at the time. While the new capabilities Asana have launched today technically fall under the scope of generative AI as they use the underlying technology of LLM, Hood stresses that Asana is not rolling out generative AI as it has become known colloquially, because none of the features generate completely new content for users. “There is going to be a world where there's more work about work because of generative AI,” Hood said, pointing out that Asana has not provided tools for its customers that will allow them to create or generate content from scratch. “You'll notice that our feature sets do not include anything that will create new information for people to go back and check because, as the cost of generating new content goes down, the human cost for all the people who have to review that content is going to explode,” he said. “What we're trying to do is to help people by summarizing content and helping them to become more efficient.” Asana outlines its AI principles Alongside the new capabilities underpinned by Asana Intelligence, Asana has also outlined the set of artificial Intelligence principles that guide its research and development efforts. “As a company we are committed to using AI in service of helping humanity thrive, this includes ensuring AI safety and transparency in practice and in product. Achieving this vision for the application of AI requires meaningful co-creation between Asana, our customers, and our partners,” the company said in a statement. Asana’s five guiding principles for human-centered AI include the belief that AI should help people achieve their goals, and be “used in service of augmenting, supporting, and celebrating people’s contributions,” the company said in a document outlining these principles. In addition, Asana has said it is now designing for teams that are made up of both humans and AI, and will be prioritizing its efforts towards fostering the right workflows and partnerships between people and AI. However, Asana is also working on the principle that people are ultimately accountable for their own decisions and while Asana Intelligence will “assist and enhance human decision-making,” the company believes accountability rests with people and will design its product accordingly. “We also believe in providing people with choice and control over the role of AI in their work,” Asana said, with Hood adding that when these capabilities become generally available, companies will be given the option to switch the AI technology off. The final principles guiding Asana’s development of AI is a commitment to safety and transparency, with the company saying it will prioritize safety and security with AI providers and take the same approach while developing AI solutions. Transparency is also fundamental to Asana’s product ethos, and the company is committed “to being open and clear about our partnerships, security, data collection, data protection, and management practices.” “We're building products that allows AI and humans alike to unpack their thinking and assumptions so that we can strengthen our collective thought processes and foster trust and build on each other's ideas, and not build on ideas that may or not, may or may not be incorrect,” Hood said. https://www.computerworld.com/article/3698471/asana-adds-news-ai-capabilities-outlines-company-s-product-principles.html

PNY had some of the best graphics cards on showcase at Computex 2023. The manufacturer even brought some workstation graphics cards, including the RTX 6000 Ada Generation and the RTX 4000 SFF. However, two particular graphics cards caught our attention. First off, PNY has partnered with Cooler Master to produce the GeForce RTX 4090 Verto. It has become a trend for graphics card manufacturers to pair up with cooling specialists to create innovative products. For example, Asus taps into Noctua's experience and expertise to make the GeForce RTX 4080 16GB GDDR6X Noctua OC Edition. If you think you've seen some thick GeForce RTX 4090 graphics cards, think again. For example, the GeForce RTX 4090 Verto is a 4.5-slot graphics card, which is insane because it covers almost all the PCI slots from your typical mATX case. For comparison, Asus' custom GeForce RTX 4080 with Noctua features a 4.3-slot design. The dimensions for the GeForce RTX 4090 Verto are 12.2 x 5.6 x 3.5 inches (310 x 142 x 89mm), so it's comparable to Asus' offering, which measures 12.2 x 5.7 x 3.5 inches (310 x 144.8 x 87.5mm). In PNY's case, Cooler Master designed the cooler, while PNY took care of everything underneath the shroud. Not much is known about the GeForce RTX 4090 Verto. PNY didn't reveal the clock speeds for the GeForce RTX 4090 Verto. The shroud is a prototype, so that the retail version may look slightly different. The graphics card utilizes a dual-fan cooling solution and appears to feature a pair of Cooler Master's Mobius 120P ARGB 30th Anniversary Edition 120mm fans. The prototype has the cooling fans connected to the PWM fan connectors on the motherboard. It draws power from a standard 16-pin (12VHPWR) power connector and offers an HDMI 2.1 port and three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. There aren't many blower-type GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards on the market. Thus far, we only know about two Ada Lovelace models that sport a blower design. In addition, Leadtek sells the WinFast RTX 4070 AI Blower 12G and the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti 12GB Hyper Brain, a China-exclusive SKU. Unfortunately, pickings are incredibly slim regarding blower graphics cards, and while Leadtek is a globally renowned brand, its products aren't widely available in the U.S. market. Therefore, PNY has an excellent opportunity for success with the GeForce RTX 4070 Blower Edition. The GeForce RTX 4070 Blower Edition comes in a standard dual-slot format with dimensions of 11 x 4.7 x 1.6 inches (278.4 x 119.4 x 40mm), so it's a good fit inside small form factor (SFF) cases and workstations where you have multiple GeForce RTX 4070 Blower Edition graphics cards. The blower design is perfect for expelling heat outside the case instead of standard graphics card coolers. The GeForce RTX 4070 Blower Edition employs an 82mm fan for active cooling. Again, PNY didn't share the clock speeds for the graphics card. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/pny-flaunts-45-slot-rtx-4090-rtx-4070-blower-gpus

Apple Watch could gain the ability to identify a watch band when it is changed and modify settings or customise the user interface in the future, according to a newly granted patent. The Cupertino company's patent describes a system that can identify specific bands and respond by performing a specific function. Meanwhile, the patent also describes a system that can help an Apple Watch owner track how long they use specific straps. The company is yet to announce plans to brings these features to the Apple Watch. A new patent granted to Apple (via AppleInsider) on Tuesday describes a feature that allows an electronic device to identify a particular watch strap and then respond by performing specific functions — including modifying the settings on the Apple Watch, or customising its user interface. The newly granted patent is assigned to Apple and credited to Timothy Johnson, Distinguished Engineer at the company. The patent describes different methods to identify a watch band he patent also mentions the detection of an "identification element" will allow the electronic device (Apple Watch) to perform an action associated with that accessory. These actions can vary from displaying a specific message or alert to starting a timer and communicating with another gadget — assuming the wearable device offers support for those features. In order to discover and identify an Apple Watch band, the patent suggests reflecting light — infrared or visible — emitted from the back of the wearable device, off an identification element with a specific pattern that can be used to recognise the strap. It is currently unclear whether these identification features will be supported on third party watch straps for the Apple Watch. Another method mentioned in the patent is the scanning of a QR code that is specific to a particular watch band that helps the device identify the accessory. This could automatically trigger an action, or launch an app or start a workout, or start a timer, based on the type of strap that is attached to the smartwatch. Aside from performing tasks when connected to an Apple Watch, the patent also suggests a mechanism that will allow an Apple Watch to track usage of different bands and provide statistics such as duration of use and associated activities, which could give wearers additional insights on their wrist. While the patent for watch band identification has been granted to Apple, it is worth noting that the company has not yet announced any plans to brings these features to the Apple Watch. They could possibly debut on a future wearable from the company — such as the successors to the Apple Watch Series 8 that are expected to arrive later this year. https://www.gadgets360.com/wearables/news/apple-watch-bands-identification-custom-settings-features-patent-4082450

As AI-powered features become more po[CENSORED]r across all kinds of industries, a string of website builder services are also jumping on the bandwagon. Web.com and GoDaddy have become the latest website hosting providers to integrate new AI features into its current website building model. Along with Wix and IONOS, who both recently announced the launch of its AI text creator and ChatGPT integration, Web.com now offers an AI domain name generator and AI writer, while GoDaddy offers three new AI products that now use generative AI. AI website building takeover Web.com says that both its AI domain name generator and AI writer were developed to remove some of the initial hurdles faced when building a site. The tool offers a variety of content prompts and interfaces depending on content needs, making it easy to tailor content to specific needs, for example, emojis for social posts. “Web.com offers more than 20 years of experience in helping businesses build and grow their online presences. AI Domain Name Generator and AI Writer are an outcome of our focus on simplifying the experience for customers and our commitment to bringing forward the best set of tools, all to reduce the complexity of succeeding online,” said Ed Jay, President of Newfold Digital, the parent company of Web.com. “With these AI features, entrepreneurs can choose the best domains for their business and create engaging content without being copywriting experts themselves. It’s like having a dedicated creative director or copywriter at your disposal.” Other customizable elements include design tones, keywords, and multilingual content generation in over 10 languages, including English, Spanish, French, and Mandarin. GoDaddy incorporates AI GoDaddy's three new AI products that now use generative AI include: online store product descriptions, customer service messages, an Instagram Facebook Ads. With the online store product description, a set of prompts are run through three AI models to deliver a summary that gets dropped in the item's description online. The GoDaddy conversations app summarizes customer service messages and the new update to social platform ads includes digital ads using generative AI for small businesses. "We've heard from small businesses who want to grow their business, but they also want to improve their work-life balance," said GoDaddy U.S. Independents President Gourav Pani. "GoDaddy built these AI tools with entrepreneurs in mind. Reducing the effort to create content that attracts and engages their customers, for instance, frees up small business owners' time to focus on growing their business and devoting time to their families." and IONOS? IONOS’ new ChatGPT integration into IONOS MyWebsite Now Plus and Pro has been added to help its customers create blogs, texts and headlines in seconds. The text generator uses the application programming interface (API) of ChatGPT 3.5 Turbo from OpenAI. The new integration means that SMBs can take control of their online presence, saving valuable time and resources while creating compelling web content. "For a technology company like IONOS, artificial intelligence isn’t totally new,” said Achim Weiss, IONOS CEO. “However, we’re proud to integrate AI technology into a product, supporting our customers in industry-specific writing and website maintenance. AI will further drive and accelerate the digitalization of small and medium enterprises." The feature is being integrated as a beta version in the MyWebsite Now Plus and Pro plans and uses the API (Application Programming Interface) gpt-3.5-turbo from OpenAI. https://www.techradar.com/news/webcom-and-godaddy-join-ionos-and-wix-on-the-generative-ai-integration-movement

Taking the board at face value and we can see that it apes the Raspberry Pi 3B form factor. The USB ports and Ethernet are in the correct place for a pre-Raspberry Pi 4 board, but we only have a single, full size HDMI port. Power is provided via USB C, something that is shared with the Raspberry Pi 4 and many of the newer SBCs such as the Khadas VIM4 and Khadas Edge 2 Pro. But power can also be provided using PoE, we're not sure if this is via a four pin header next to the GPIO, or directly into the Ethernet jack. The Raspberry Pi 3B+ and 4 both use a PoE header and Poe HAT (which is on our list of best Raspberry Pi HATs). Three USB 3.0 ports and a single USB 2.0 is an odd configuration when we consider that the ports are typically soldered as dual units, for example the Raspberry Pi 4 has two USB 3.0 and two USB 2.0 ports in separate stacks. The StarFive JH7110 SoC has, at its heart, a powerful 64-bit RISC-V based quad-core CPU running at up to 1.5 GHz. The supporting LPDDR4 RAM choices (1/2/4/8) are the same as those used on the Raspberry Pi 4. It looks like Wi-Fi and Bluetooth is an optional extra, evidenced by an M.2 E key slot for compatible modules. MIPI DSI and CSI connectors suggest that we could connect the official Raspberry Pi display and camera, but this remains to be seen. Sharing the same layout as the Raspberry Pi 3B means that the Milk-V Mars should work with many Raspberry Pi cases — but without having one to test, we cannot confirm this. The 40 pin GPIO provides us with the hope of compatibility with HATs. This may be the case, but often a mix of software support and pin conflicts means that we are left wanting. The price of the Milk-V Mars remains a mystery, but as this is the middle board of the trio ($9 Milk-V Duo and the top-tier 64-core Milk-V Pioneer which has not yet revealed its price) and because of its four memory configurations, we should expect anything between $40 and $100. But take that with a pinch of salt. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/milk-v-unveils-risc-v-raspberry-pi-alternative-milk-v-mars

The 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison debuts as a more beefed-up, jacked-up version of the regular ZR2 model. Along with 35-inch off-road tires, the Bison has Multimatic hydraulic bump stops designed to help cushion hard landings. The bovine-themed truck also has AEV steel bumpers, wider fender flares, and a bed-mounted spare-tire carrier. We're calling it. The golden age of pickup trucks is right now. Not only are there an unprecedented amount of choices—from compact trucks to electric trucks to luxury trucks—but automakers are also going all out on off-road-focused variants. The mid-size segment is arguably the most hotly contested, with Ford, GM, and Toyota all recently revealing new generations of their respective entries. Chevy has already rolled out the 2023 Colorado lineup, and we've driven the desert-pounding ZR2, but before the dust has settled, the bow-tie brand is unleashing a bigger, badder version: the 2024 Colorado ZR2 Bison. Bison Is a Beefier ZR2 When it comes to bovine-themed Colorados, this isn't Chevy's first rodeo. The previous-generation ZR2 also came in Bison guise, which had trim-specific bits such as unique wheels and badging as well as steel bumpers and skid plates all from aftermarket supplier American Expedition Vehicles (AEV). The '24 Colorado ZR2 Bison still gets exclusive AEV add-ons such as wider fender flares, a full-width steel front bumper with a winch accommodation, and a rear bumper with steel corner plates. Underneath the truck are five skid plates made of Boron steel (the regular ZR2 has three aluminum plates). The Bison's additional protection covers the fuel tank and the rear differential, giving drivers more peace of mind on rocky terrain. A set of steel rock rails is also standard. The Bison's hooves are the real stars of the show. Its Goodyear Wrangler Territory Mud-Terrain tires are sized LT315/70R-17, which Chevy rounds up to 35 inches. Apart from the heavy-duty Silverado 2500HD ZR2, the Colorado ZR2 Bison is the only other truck with a bow-tie badge that features factory-installed 35s. No other mid-size truck offers tires that big, either, with the 2024 Ford Ranger Raptor and 2024 Toyota Tacoma TRD Pro riding on 33-inchers, same as the regular ZR2. To make room for the 35s, Chevy had to modify the ZR2's front fenders by enlarging the wheel openings. Moving the third-gen Colorado's front axle 3.1 inches forward also allowed for the bigger tires, and a company spokesperson told Car and Driver that fitting 35s was the main reason behind the stretch. The Bison's 66.3-inch front and rear tracks are almost an inch wider than the regular ZR2's. Thanks largely to the taller tires, the Bison stands 1.5 inches higher than its counterpart, with a slight suspension lift playing part too. A Bison That Can Jump The Bison benefits from the same type of Multimatic spool-valve dampers found on the regular ZR2, however, here they've been retuned to account for the truck's added mass. The Bison is just over 300 pounds heavier, according to Chevy. Its suspension also has the same 9.9 inches of front travel and 11.6 inches of rear travel, despite what we thought when we saw a prototype in the Nevada desert. Compared with the standard ZR2, the Bison has an extra 1.5 inches of ground clearance at 12.2 inches. While the AEV bumper drops its approach angle from 38.6 to 38.2 degrees, the Bison has a better breakover angle (26.9 versus 24.8 degrees) and departure angle (26.0 versus 25.2 degrees). To see how the standard ZR2 stacks up against the Ranger Raptor and the Tacoma TRD Pro, read our spec comparison. What really takes the Colorado ZR2 Bison to the next level of off-road lunacy is that has hydraulic front and rear bump stops, which are also supplied by Multimatic. Chevy calls them "Jounce Control Dampers," and they're built to better withstand the abuse of aggressive off-road driving. While bison can't jump, the ZR2 version certainly can, and its upgraded bump stops will help soften hard landings should drivers be goaded into "sending it." If the Bison gets a flat tire, there's a full-size, 35-inch spare mounted in the cargo bed. Unlike its predecessor, which also featured a bed-mounted spare tire, the new truck's carrier is mounted at the front of the five-foot-two-inch box instead of smack dab in the middle. Sure, it doesn't look as cool, but the new location maintains most of the truck bed's usable space. It also doesn't fully block the rearview mirror, and an aftermarket cab topper can be installed without interference. Still a ZR2 at Heart Sadly, the Bison treatment doesn't bring any powertrain upgrades. It features the same high-output turbocharged 2.7-liter four-pot as the regular ZR2, which makes 310 horsepower and 430 pound-feet of torque (on 87-octane fuel, mind you). An eight-speed automatic transmission, all-wheel drive, and electronic locking front and rear differentials are also mandatory. The Bison's tow rating is capped at 5500 pounds (500 less than the ZR2), and its payload capacity is 230 less at 1050 pounds. For the 2024 model year, both the ZR2 and the Bison add launch control that can be activated in Baja mode. Simply select the setting with the rotary knob on the center console, press the brake pedal, pin the throttle, and release the brake for take off. Chevy says the launch mode also automatically adjusts to different surface conditions, so the system will detect if the truck is on dirt, gravel, or sand. Inside, the Bison looks almost identical to the regular ZR2. The only differences are the AEV-branded floor mats and embroidered headrests. Otherwise the two trucks share a fully digital gauge cluster and an 11.3-inch touchscreen with wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto. Standard driver assists include automated emergency braking, automatic high-beams, and lane-keeping assist; adaptive cruise control is also available but costs extra. The 2024 Chevy Colorado ZR2 Bison is slated to start production sometime in the third quarter of this year, with orders opening this fall. While Chevy says it'll release pricing closer to the truck's on-sale date, we fully expect the Bison to break the $60K barrier. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a44038461/2024-chevy-colorado-zr2-bison-revealed/

A Conservative mayor has branded a Labour MP a "liar and a coward" in a row over a major development project. Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen challenged Middlesbrough MP Andy McDonald to repeat allegations of corruption without the protection of parliamentary privilege. Mr McDonald said the Teesworks deal "doesn't pass the smell test" but stopped short of repeating the claims. An independent panel will probe claims of mismanagement at the site in Redcar. In April, Mr McDonald spoke in the Commons about "shocking, industrial-scale corruption" around the ownership and funding of the Teesworks development, the UK's largest industrial zone. As he had made the statement in Parliament, the MP was protected from legal action for his remarks under parliamentary privilege. Mr McDonald had told the House the vast site was acquired by the public body South Tees Developments Limited for £12m in 2019 and had received hundreds of millions of pounds of taxpayer investment but that "private developers exercised their option to purchase for a mere £1 an acre plus inflation, paying £96.79 in December." Mr McDonald's comments followed multiple reports in Private Eye and the Financial Times about the site and how contracts and land agreements were issued. Will mayor and Teesworks be damaged by latest storm? Gove orders probe into Teesworks corruption claims Mayor supports probe into Teesworks allegations Speaking on BBC Radio 4's World At One, Mr Houchen, who heads the South Tees Development Corporation overseeing the project, said the MP had refused to repeat the accusations outside of parliament because he could be sued for libel. He said Mr McDonald was a "liar and a coward" who had "abused" his parliamentary position. The Conservative mayor said Mr McDonald "has no evidence" there had been any criminality or wrong-doing around the development. Mr Houchen said engaging private firms to manage the clearance and redevelopment of the former Redcar steelworks site was "1,000%" in the public's interest, adding taxpayers were "no longer liable for a massive site that was going to be a massive drain on public resource". He said the independent panel - announced by Levelling Up Secretary Michael Gove last week - would prove the accusations were baseless. "I'll be calling for the Labour party to reimburse the taxpayer for the waste of time this review ultimately is, because it's going to show there is no corruption [or] illegality," he added. In response, Mr McDonald declined to repeat the allegations he had made in Parliament on Radio 4 but said his remarks had "gained attention for these very serious matters". He said the development "doesn't pass the smell test" and there were "so many elements that warrant closer examination". Mr McDonald said he believed there had been a "failure of process" at Teesworks and welcomed the inquiry. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-tees-65766566

Euro 2022 top scorer Beth Mead is not included in England's Women's World Cup squad, having not fully recovered from an anterior cruciate ligament injury. The Arsenal forward, 27, has not played since November and was a major doubt. Tottenham striker Beth England, who has not been involved since last summer, is included having scored 12 goals in her past 12 Women's Super League games. Chelsea centre-back Millie Bright, who has been out with a knee injury since March, has made the 23-player squad. England head coach Sarina Wiegman confirmed Bright would captain the team in the absence of injured defender Leah Williamson. Midfielder Fran Kirby was also already ruled out through injury, but Barcelona defender Lucy Bronze is in despite having knee surgery in April. Wiegman said she did not ever think there was a chance Mead would be fit in time for the tournament in Australia and New Zealand. "She's so positive and going well, but the timescale she had we would have taken so many risks to get to the World Cup," said Wiegman. "I'm not willing to take that risk to push her too much and she gets injured again. We need to take care of players." There is no place for Manchester United forward Nikita Parris or defender Maya le Tissier, but Le Tissier has been placed on standby, alongside uncapped goalkeeper Emily Ramsey and forward Jess Park. Manchester City defender Steph Houghton, who captained England for eight years, has not been called up despite injuries in defence leading to some calls for her return. Midfielder Laura Coombs is one of six players in the squad who will be going to their first major tournament, along with Chelsea pair Lauren James and Niamh Charles, Manchester City's Esme Morgan, Manchester United's Katie Zelem and Brighton's Katie Robinson. England play Haiti in their opening match on 22 July in Australia. 850,000 tickets sold for Women's World Cup Governments call for quick agreement on TV rights Le Tissier was 'really close' Wiegman said her decision to leave out Le Tissier, 21, was one of the hardest to make because of competition in defensive positions, where there is lots of versatility. She has just two caps for England but has impressed at centre-back for United this season. Le Tissier, Ramsey and Park will train with the squad at St George's Park in June. Goalkeeper Ramsey will leave the group prior to departure for Australia. "Of course [Le Tissier] was really close," said Wiegman. "That was a hard call. With all the defenders we had to think about it. "She just didn't get there. She has had a very good season at Manchester United." While there was bitter disappointment for Le Tissier, England received her first call up for a year and was rewarded for her goalscoring form since making the January switch from Chelsea. "She is selected because of her performances. She was at Chelsea and didn't build that much credit because we hardly saw her play," said Wiegman. "But then she made a move, and how she did, performed and the resilience she showed made us make the decision to get her in the squad." 'Bright will be fine as captain' Aside from selection, another talking point was who would take over the captaincy from Williamson in her injury absence. Bright was named vice-captain for Euro 2022 and Wiegman confirmed she will wear the armband in Australia. "I haven't told her she would be the captain, that's how we've been all the time," said Wiegman. "Where she is at right now in her rehab, we haven't really spoken about it yet. She will be fine, she has done it before." Another question was whether Aston Villa forward Rachel Daly, who was the WSL's Player of the Season and top goalscorer, would play up front in the tournament having started every game at left-back at Euro 2022. "Yes, she can, like some other players. She has had a very good season and done really well," said Wiegman. "She has played for us as a number nine and at the back. Her versatility helps the team." Wiegman's decision to name 23 players is also different from last summer's home Euros, where she had a longlist of 28 names initially. "It has to do with the timescale and going to the other side of the world," said Wiegman. "While we were in England we could have training all the time and give clarity. Now we have a holiday then go quickly to Australia. So we wanted to have clarity on that." England squad Goalkeepers: Mary Earps (Manchester United), Hannah Hampton (Aston Villa), Ellie Roebuck (Manchester City). Defenders: Millie Bright (Chelsea), Lucy Bronze (Barcelona), Jess Carter (Chelsea), Niamh Charles (Chelsea), Alex Greenwood (Manchester City), Esme Morgan (Manchester City), Lotte Wubben-Moy (Arsenal). Midfielders: Laura Coombs (Manchester City), Jordan Nobbs (Aston Villa), Georgia Stanway (Bayern Munich), Ella Toone (Manchester United), Keira Walsh (Barcelona), Katie Zelem (Manchester United). Forwards: Rachel Daly (Aston Villa), Bethany England (Tottenham Hotspur), Lauren Hemp, (Manchester City), Lauren James (Chelsea), Chloe Kelly (Manchester City), Katie Robinson (Brighton & Hove Albion), Alessia Russo (Manchester United). https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65761103

LOS ANGELES, May 31 (Reuters) - While songwriter Justin Tranter has attained success by penning hit pop anthems like Justin Bieber's "Sorry" and Imagine Dragons' "Believer," writing music for the Paramount+ prequel "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" took him in a new direction. For the 10-part musical TV series based on the famous 1978 film "Grease," Tranter wrote 30 original tracks - most of which weren't in the vein of the pop songs for which he is known. "I'm very proud of my pop songs but there isn't the level of storytelling that's required for a musical," Tranter told Reuters. "Grease: Rise of the Pink Ladies" is set in 1954, four years before the story of the U.S. high school movie starring John Travolta and Olivia Newton-John. The first season, which ends on Thursday, follows four rebellious students who unite to become the misfits of Rydell High and eventually the "Pink Ladies" clique. The show's lead, Marisa Davila, portrays Jane Facciano, the first female student to run for class president. When he knew he was interested in being a part of the project, Tranter wrote his own original audition song, "Too Cool," which is featured in the first episode. One of the main challenges Tranter faced was emulating the po[CENSORED]r songs from the original film, which incorporated sounds from different decades. "Some of it feels very true to the '50s and some of it is very much a late '70s take," Tranter said, referring to the original "Grease." He also wanted to bring some of his contemporary pop style into the mix as well. "We are waiting to see how an audience receives 30 original songs over 10 episodes. No-one has done it before so we don't know how it's going to work," Tranter said. Reporting by Rollo Ross; Writing by Danielle Broadway; Editing by Mary Milliken and Rosalba O'Brien https://www.reuters.com/lifestyle/how-grease-rise-pink-ladies-found-sound-its-own-2023-05-31/

The museum at Auschwitz concentration camp has denounced Poland's governing party for using an image of the camp in a political campaign. The ruling Law and Justice Party (PiS) posted the video on social media aiming to stop people from attending an opposition march on Sunday. It was in response to an opposition-supporting journalist who tweeted that the president belonged in a "chamber". The journalist, Tomasz Lis, insists that he meant a prison cell. But the ruling party claimed Mr Lis was saying PiS leader Jaroslaw Kaczynski and President Andrzej Duda, a PiS ally, should be sent to a gas chamber. The video features a background image of the Auschwitz camp's notorious "Arbeit macht frei" (Work sets you free) front gate and one of Mr Lis's tweet, before asking: "Do you really want to march under this slogan?" The Auschwitz Museum has condemned the video. "The instrumentalization of the tragedy of people who suffered and died in the German Nazi Auschwitz camp - on either side of the political dispute - is an insult to the memory of the victims," it wrote on Twitter. "It is a sad, painful and unacceptable manifestation of the moral and intellectual corruption of the public debate." How Auschwitz became the centre of Nazi Holocaust PiS's decision to use Auschwitz in the video has also been criticised by some of the party's supporters. And President Duda tweeted that the victims of the Holocaust cannot be used in political campaigning. "The memory of the victims of German crimes in Auschwitz is scared and inviolable. The tragedy of the millions of victims cannot be used in political struggle. This is an unworthy activity and there is no excuse for it," Mr Duda wrote. The Nazis murdered over 6 million Jewish people across Europe during the Second World War. 1.4 million of those - including a million Jewish people - died at the Auschwitz camp in occupied Poland. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65768426