#Hassan.

Microsoft Flight Simulator's third major update has released, which introduces major changes to the terrain of the UK and Ireland, and it comes with the above trailer, which I find oddly stirring. Maybe it's because we've all been stuck indoors for a year, but a reminder of the scale and beauty of the UK and Ireland from the skies... it's just the ticket right now. "Take flight into a region rich with tradition, culture and heritage—not to mention a fair share of myth and legend," writes Jorg Neumann, head of Microsoft Flight Simulator. "From seats of royalty to centers of finance, bustling metropolitan hubs to sprawling farmsteads and cliffside villages, the splendor of the United Kingdom and Ireland is on full display with dramatic upgrades and visual enhancements." The blog post goes into some detail on the update, which features high-resolution 3D photogrammetry for the cities of Birmingham, Bristol, Cambridge, London and Oxford, five new airports (Barra, Liverpool, Land’s End, Manchester-Barton and Out Skerries), and adds "compelling architectural elements throughout the region, ranging from British manors and Victorian homes to countryside stone structures, castles and churches—and even some drive-thru restaurants." The update also adds landmarks and points of interest, several of which are highlighted in the above trailer, including a wonderful flyover of Anthony Gormley's Angel of the North. The update also, in keeping with the interests of these isles' inhabitants, goes out of its way to add some famous football stadiums.

British dealer HR Owen Bugatti sold a unique example of the Chiron Pur Sport called Alice for Valentine's Day. A little attention to several million euros. Did you think you hit the mark by giving a box of chocolate and roses to your beloved for Valentine's Day ? If it is of course always a pleasure to receive this kind of little attention, a woman has had an even more unusual surprise from her dear and tender. No, we are not talking about a gift out of the ordinary, or why not, a marriage proposal, but an even more expensive present. And for good reason, it's a Bugatti Chiron Pur Sportwhich was delivered to the one about whom we actually know very little, apart from the fact that her name is Alice? How do we know? Quite simply because her husband took care to have his name embroidered on the headrests of the supercar, but also to have it inscribed on the door sills. It's a change from the bathrobe or personalized slippers, right? But the mysterious customer of the British dealership was not satisfied with personalizing the seats of the car, since the whole of it was imagined to please its new owner. The exterior benefits from a rather elegant pink and white treatment compared to some customizations using this color. Better yet, this Silk Rose paintwas tailor-made at the request of this frozen husband, with a bank account undoubtedly very well stocked. We also find this shade in the interior, dressed in white leather and Alcantara and embellished with light pink stitching. Whether we like this configuration or not, the fact remains that it remains relatively sober all the same, far from the bad taste displayed by some customers of this type of car. It's very simple, everything has been personalized in order to make this car unique, which is already not very difficult, given its exclusivity. For all desires For his part, the CEO of HR Owen, Ken Choo welcomes this creation, saying that “ the customer came to us with a vision of the look he wanted to give to his new Bugatti, and we are delighted that the The depth and breadth of Bugatti's catalog of accessories and options makes it possible to achieve even the most ambitious designs. It's amazing to see each Bugatti made in a different way ”. It is indeed possible for the brand's customers to personalize every detail of their new car, or even have a tailor-made one created, as is notably the case for the Bugatti La Car Noire, presented in 2019 at the Geneva Motor Show, at the request of a mysterious buyer. As a reminder, the Bugatti Chiron Pur Sport uses the W16 8.0 liters of the standard version developing 1,500 horsepower and 1,600 Nm of torque, allowing it to achieve 0 to 100 km / h in just 2.3 seconds. Revised to improve its stability in curves, this version benefits from an improved chassis with stiffer springs and new dampers, while new magnesium rims are introduced. The price for this little gem made in France? 3.2 million euros, without personalization.

Elizabeth Holmes’ attorneys strongly pushed back against the government’s attempts to detail her extravagant lifestyle before a jury, saying the move “risks invoking class prejudice” that is irrelevant to her criminal case. Holmes, who is facing a dozen criminal wire fraud charges, earned a salary and benefits commensurate with her position as CEO of Theranos, her attorneys wrote in court documents filed late Tuesday. The government has argued that Holmes’ high-flying lifestyle was fueled by her fraud. Her attorneys say that’s simply untrue. They write the evidence says nothing about her motive, “if it did any CEO could be said to have a motive to commit fraud. Rather the real value of the evidence to the government is to paint a (misleading) picture of Ms. Holmes as a woman who prioritized fashion, a luxurious lifestyle, and fame, and to invite a referendum on startup and corporate culture.” Introducing details of Holmes’ spending, her attorneys wrote, would be a waste of time, adding that her so-called luxurious travel accommodations appear to be approved by the Theranos board and justified by a busy travel schedule. “Evidence regarding the purchase of expensive clothing, makeup and self-care products, and other goods (again, none of which are alleged to be beyond her means), which the government intends to introduce through otherwise irrelevant emails by Ms. Holmes’ personal assistants, does not establish a motive to commit fraud” Holmes’ attorneys wrote, adding that it instead “seeks to inflame by appealing to stereotypes of class and gender.”

n Wednesday, the Sudanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs summoned the Khartoum ambassador in Addis Ababa to consult on the developments of the escalating border crisis between Sudan and Ethiopia. The Sudanese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mansour Boulad, told "Sky News Arabia" that summoning the ambassador came for the purpose of consulting on the developments of the crisis. He added that "the ambassador will return to his workplace in Ethiopia after the conclusion of the consultations." Earlier this week, Sudanese military sources told "Sky News Arabia" that Ethiopia had committed a series of violations during the past hours and days, indicating that the Sudanese authorities had spotted Ethiopian crowds on the border between the two countries. The Foreign Affairs of Sudan has condemned in a statement what it called "violations" of Ethiopian troops to enter Sudanese territory, pointing out that the incident would have serious repercussions on the security and stability of the region, and blamed Addis Ababa full responsibility for the consequences. It is noteworthy that the borders of the two countries witnessed several skirmishes during the past weeks, after the Sudanese forces advanced and extended their control over most of the Fashaqa area. Related news Since the beginning of December, Sudan has accused "Ethiopian forces and militias" of ambushing the Sudanese forces along the border, while Ethiopia accuses Sudan of killing "many civilians" in attacks using "heavy machine guns". The two sides held border talks at the end of last year, and Sudan said on December 31 that its forces had regained control of all border lands controlled by Ethiopian farmers. The Ethiopian Foreign Ministry says it is committed to a "peaceful" solution to the crisis, but wants Sudan to withdraw. It is noteworthy that in 1902, an agreement was concluded to demarcate the borders between Britain, the colonial power in Sudan at that time, and Ethiopia, but the demarcation still lacked clear lines.

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It's been a long time since the last Silent Hill game, and arguably longer still since the last good one. But while series creator Keiichiro Toyama might've left the series behind, an early peek at his new studio's latest project shows a nightmarish menagerie of monsters that wouldn't look out of place in gaming's foggiest town. At the tail end of 2020, Toyama left Sony's Japan Studio to found Bokeh Game Studio, bringing with him a number of other notable developers behind games like Gravity Rush and The Last Guardian. In a new video over on Bokeh's YouTube channel, Toyama gave a fleeting peek at what the studio's been up to via some properly gnarly concept sketches. If body horror makes you squeamish, look away now. A gruesome spider-people parade (Image credit: Bokeh Game Studio) It's not entirely a parade of grimy monsters, mind. One screenshot almost evokes DMC, a parkour swordsman staring down a gorgeous watercolour skyline while an oversized passenger jet flies overhead. The rest of the video is a good shout for horror fans, with Toyama diving into his history and approach to designing for the genre. While details remain scant on the studio's current project, he explains the game contains threads of Silent Hill's particular brand of horror—albeit, from a more "exhilarating" angle drawn from a recent love of "death game" comics. "I'm coming back to my roots, for example towards horror. However, rather than something deeply rooted into horror, I want to keep an entertainment note. While keeping elements from horror, I want players to feel exhilarated when playing the game."

Feb 15 (Reuters) - Hackers have spent up to three yearsbreaking into organizations by targeting monitoring softwaremade by the French company Centreon, France's cybersecuritywatchdog said on Monday. The watchdog, known by its French acronym ANSSI, stoppedshort of identifying the hackers but said they had a similarmodus operandi as the Russian cyberespionage group oftennicknamed "Sandworm." ANSSI, Centreon, and the Russian embassy in Paris did notimmediately return messages seeking comment. The targeting of Centreon, a Paris-based company whichspecializes in information technology monitoring, furtherhighlights how attractive such firms are to digital spies. U.S. cybersecurity officials are still trying to get theirhands around an ambitious espionage campaign that hijacked ITmonitoring software made by the Austin, Texas-based firmSolarWinds. American officials, who have blamed Moscowfor the hacking, have hinted that other firms have also been hitin similar ways. Earlier this month Reuters reported that suspected Chinesehackers also targeted SolarWinds customers, using a differentand less serious bug to help spread it across their victims'networks. The initial vector for the campaign of intrusions thattargeted Centreon software was not known, ANSSI said in a40-page report posted on its website. It said it had discoveredintrusions dating back to late 2017 and stretching into 2020. The watchdog did not identify the names or number of victimsinvolved but said they were mainly IT services firms such asinternet hosting providers. Centreon's website says it has more than 600 enterpriseclients across the world, including the French Ministry ofJustice.(Reporting by Raphael Satter; editing by Grant McCool andRichard Chang)

Chez Yamaha le logo MAX est synonyme de succès. Le plus petit scooter sportif de la famille a même connu un regain d’intérêt sur notre marché en 2019 et 2020 où il s’est écoulé à plus de 2000 exemplaires par an. Le Yamaha NMAX 125 fait aussi un carton en Espagne avec plus de 4500 exemplaires immatriculés en 2020. Il faut dire que la pandémie de Covid incite beaucoup d’utilisateurs à se mettre en selle pour éviter les transports en commun. Malgré ces excellents résultats commerciaux, le Yamaha NMAX 125 devait se renouveler pour lutter face à l’excellent Honda PCX 125 qui profite lui aussi d’une cure de jouvence en 2021. D’ailleurs le design plus fluide et lisse de cette deuxième génération de Yamaha NMAX se rapproche de celui de son rival. Les phares et les feux stop à Led apportent une touche de modernité mais les clignotants conservent des ampoules. L’équipement fait un bond en avant avec l’arrivée d’une clef main libre de série, d’un antipatinage et d’une instrumentation digitale archi complète intégrant un kit Bluetooth pour communiquer avec l’application MyRide. Cette dernière délivre une foule d’informations sur le véhicule et intègre un système de géolocalisation. Ce nouveau Yamaha NMAX reçoit également des modifications en profondeur sur le plan mécanique avec l’adoption d’un nouveau monocylindre de 125 doté d’un système d’admission variable et d’un système de coupure et démarrage automatique Stop and Start. Le cadre a été renforcé, les amortisseurs arrière remplacés et le tunnel central abrite un nouveau réservoir un peu plus grand (7,1 l). Le coffre s’ouvre facilement depuis le contacteur et accepte un petit casque intégral positionné l’envers. Il demeure cependant moins spacieux que celui du PCX. Autres détails pratiques, le tablier intègre une prise 12V et une boîte à gants fermée. Un Yamaha NMAX 125 à l’aise partout Malgré une minuscule réduction de son couple maxi (11,2 Nm contre 11,7 Nm) et une prise de poids de 4 kg (131 contre 127 kg), ce nouveau Yamaha NMAX 125 conserve de bonnes performances à l’accélération comme en vitesse de pointe puisque nous avons pu atteindre facilement 105 km/h en montée et 119 km/h au compteur en descente. Il faudra toutefois opter pour un pare-brise optionnel pour envisager des trajets réguliers sur voie rapide où ce petit scooter urbain conserve une excellente stabilité. Bien adapté au petits comme aux grands gabarits, le Yamaha NMAX 125 se révèle plus maniable et même plus confortable qu’un XMAX. Si la frêle fourche et les petits amortisseurs n’apprécient pas les gros chocs, ils filtrent correctement les petites aspérités et assurent un bon niveau de confort. Pour les professionnels de la livraison, le constructeur propose des combinés arrière Öhlins à 995 €. Le Yamaha NMAX 125 peut en outre recevoir des poignées chauffantes ou un support de smartphone au guidon. Le freinage est satisfaisant pour un usage urbain grâce à de bons pneu et un ABS mais avoue vite ses limites sur route à plus vie allure. Durant notre essai à Marseille, l’ordinateur de bord indiquait 3,1 l/100 km de consommation moyenne ce qui reste très raisonnable au regard des prestations. Verdict : Le nouveau Yamaha NMAX 125 reste toujours aussi plaisant, accessible et polyvalent. Son augmentation de tarif de 100 € se justifie amplement et le place au même niveau que le Honda PCX. Il devrait donc rester le roi de la livraison. On aime : Le bon rapport prix/équipements Les performances suffisantes Le comportement rassurant On aime moins : L’amortissement arrière un peu sec Le coffre peu profond Le saute vent trop petit. Fiche technique du Yamaha NMAX 125 Moteur : Monocylindre 486 cm3 Puissance : 12,2 ch à 8000 tr/mn Couple : 11,2 Nm à 6000 tr/mn Poids à sec : 131 kg Hauteur de selle : 765 mm Capacité du réservoir : 7,1 litres Consommation moyenne de l’essai : 3,2 l/100 km Prix : 3299 € Pack Urban (bulle haute, porte-bagage, top case 39 l, dosseret) : 485 € Pack Winter (tablier, poignées chauffantes) : € Suspensions Öhlins : 995 € Top case 39 l : 169 € Support smart phone guidon : 69 € Nos autres essais de scooters 125

Comedian Kevin Hart gets it – ‘it’s a lifestyle,’ said the comedian and actor while posing in Rapha kit with his Trek bike. Hart, 41, is a huge fitness fanatic and routinely posts details of his rigorous workout regime on social media, but in his latest post Hart has shared his passion for the bike. Posting on Instagram on Sunday (February 14), Hart shared a picture of himself donning a Rapha jersey and shorts and posing with his Trek before heading out for a ride. He posted the picture with the caption “good morning, it’s a lifestyle. Health and wellness is the new cool” and followed up with another picture of himself out riding on the roads. Hart’s pictures attracted a huge amount of attention after he shared them with his 104 million Instagram followers. The two pictures attracted almost 500,000 likes combined and there was a lot of support in the comments, including from Red Bull athlete Justin Williams who said “Kev, whenever you want to ride let me know. I would be honoured to spend some time talking about getting more of us on bikes” while the UK-based Black Cyclists Network said: “Welcome to the bike life Kevin.” Hart isn’t the only star name taking to the bike to stay fit and healthy however. Arnold Schwarzenegger has been a huge advocate of cycling and has regularly been pictured riding his bike all over the world, including getting himself in hot water with police in Australia for riding without a helmet. More recently Formula 1 driver Fernando Alonso was hospitalised after an incident while riding his bike. The Spaniard, a former two-time F1 world champion, was injured after the incident as he was cycling near his home in Lugano, Switzerland.

More data from Israel's vaccination programme is suggesting the Pfizer jab prevents 94% of symptomatic infections. This indicates the vaccine is performing just as well in a larger po[CENSORED]tion as it did in the clinical trials. It is proving highly effective at preventing illness and severe disease among all age groups, according to public health doctor Prof Hagai Levine. "High vaccination coverage of the most susceptible groups" was key, he said. Israel's largest health fund Clalit looked at positive tests in 600,000 vaccinated people and the same number of unvaccinated people, matched by age and health status. It found 94% fewer infections among the vaccinated group. This was based on test results in people's medical records, usually taken if they had symptoms or were a close contact of someone who had tested positive. And the vaccine prevented almost all cases of serious illness. This pattern was the same in all age groups - including the over-70s, who may have been under-represented in clinical trials. The data has not yet been formally published. Israel's vaccine rollout linked to infection fall Will I get side effects from the vaccine? Will I need a vaccine passport to go on holiday? But it "sends a message to other countries such as the UK" about the usefulness of the vaccine, said Prof Levine, and the need to get "very high" coverage of the groups most likely to become very ill from the virus. He said he could not put a number on what proportion of the po[CENSORED]tion would need to be immunised before restrictions could ease. "We still don't know what the impact is on transmission," he said. But we can say that, at least, "the vaccine is useful for personal protection", he added. Prof Eran Segal, who is analysing data for the Israeli Ministry of Health, suggested Israel had to vaccinate 80% of its over-60s before learning of its effect on Covid-19 cases. Israel is the first country in the world to see the impact of its vaccination programme, but it took significant po[CENSORED]tion coverage and several weeks to reach this milestone. Greater falls were seen in the over-60s who were vaccinated first and in cities that vaccinated their po[CENSORED]tions earlier - patterns not seen in earlier lockdowns. This provides strong evidence it was the vaccine, and not just the lockdown, driving down cases. But Prof Segal warned falls had happened more slowly than expected, possibly because of the effect of the UK variant, which has become the dominant strain in Israel. And he cautioned that, even with the "very rapid pace" of Israel's vaccination programme, there were still tens of thousands of people who were unprotected and could become severely ill if infected. "We still have to exit our lockdown very cautiously," he said, or risk large numbers of people being hospitalised. Israel has been experiencing a significant wave of infection and remains under strict measures - but with everyone over the age of 16 now entitled to get vaccine, the hope is at least the education system could be reopened too. The country has also been met with criticism over questions about who should provide vaccines to the Palestinian territories. Israel has only just also started to transfer some doses to Palestinians in the West Bank and Gaza, so that vaccinations can begin for front-line health workers. Meanwhile it has given the full two doses to a quarter of its resident po[CENSORED]tion.

Please use the sharing tools found via the share button at the top or side of articles. Copying articles to share with others is a breach of FT.com T&Cs and Copyright Policy. Email licensing@ft.com to buy additional rights. Subscribers may share up to 10 or 20 articles per month using the gift article service. More information can be found at https://www.ft.com/tour. https://www.ft.com/content/46c3a499-8cca-4ca5-a9ea-34e1b503afec , the mobile gaming company that has the most downloaded iPhone app in the US, is again on the hunt after six acquisitions in the past five years. But while its recent buys — including a $1.8bn deal last year for Turkey’s Peak Games — have been focused on mobile-only, Zynga chief executive Frank Gibeau said there were more opportunities for Zynga to acquire young teams as it pushed “further afield” into games that could be played on multiple devices. “We’re going to [launch] new cross-platform games, games that are able to be played across mobile PCs and consoles together,” Gibeau told the Financial Times. Zynga is owner of Zynga Poker, Social Slots, Words With Friends. It has recently scored a big hit with High Heels!, a first-person game in which users strut around obstacles in absurdly tall platform shoes to earn accolades such as “Queen!” It is the number one iPhone app in the US. The game went viral on TikTok — the second most po[CENSORED]r app — and is being downloaded more than any other free app on the iOS App Store, outranking YouTube, Zoom and Clubhouse, according to App Annie, the mobile data and analytics provider. On Android, High Heels! ranks fourth. Zynga’s foray into “hyper casual” titles — inexpensive games made for the moment that are free-to-play but can be highly lucrative through advertisements — helped revenues last year shoot up 49 per cent to $2bn. Frank Gibeau: ‘The barrier to entry into these things has really dropped dramatically’ © David Paul Morris/Bloomberg The company’s market value of $12bn is up more than 500 per cent in the past five years as mobile gaming has become the fastest growing segment in the gaming market. According to App Annie, gaming makes up more than one-third of App Store downloads but accounts for 70 per cent of consumer spending. The data provider projects the market will surpass $120bn in consumer spending this year. That is larger than global recorded music revenues or film revenues including cinemas, mobile and streaming. Gibeau told the FT that the rise of mobile gaming was causing “tectonic changes” in the industry as small budget teams can leverage graphics engines from gaming development groups Unity and Unreal, computing power from Amazon Web Services, and high-performance internet from 5G, and then compete for attention with some of the biggest companies in the world. “When I was doing this 10 years ago at EA (Electronic Arts) you would have to spend hundreds of millions of dollars in tech development tool and infrastructure to make that happen,” Gibeau said. “Now, because the tools are so darn good, very small companies can get in. The barrier to entry into these things has really dropped dramatically.” Last year there were 105 gaming acquisitions for a total of $17bn, the highest in six years of Dealogic data. Traditional gaming incumbents such as Activision Blizzard, the $80bn group behind Call of Duty, purchased Candy Crush Saga maker King in 2015 for $5.9bn and said last year it would bring “all our franchise to mobile over time.” EA, valued at $41bn, last week said it would pay $2.4bn for Glu Mobile, best known for its hit game involving an animated Kim Kardashian.

A multinational software development company has brought High Court proceedings against several Irish-based outgoing employees whom it alleges have unlawfully diverted its business to a rival firm allegedly set up by them. Scotland-headquartered Integrated Environmental Solutions Ltd (IES) and related IES R&D Ltd develop specialised software used to help design buildings that are more environmentally friendly. They have brought proceedings against John Gleeson, Stephen Earle, Darren Jordan, Sean O’Riordan and Building Performance Consulting Engineers (BPCE). The court heard all four were senior employees at IES’s Irish branch and had, on dates between December and January last, resigned from that company. IES claims that during the course of their employment, and in breach of their contracts of employment, they diverted business from it to the benefit of BPCE. The High Court heard IES apprehends the defendants have taken its property, including creating models of IES’s “Virtual Environment” software, which it is alleged they will use for the BPCE’s benefit. That software is used in the design and construction of energy efficient and sustainable buildings. IES, which has offices in Scotland, India, Singapore, US and Australia as well as in Ireland, sells licences to use its software and also provides consultancy services to clients. Building simulation tool IES claims that its Virtual Environmental Software is widely recognised by experts as being the best building simulation tool in the world. It is claimed the BPCE, with a registered address in Ashbourne Co Meath, was set up by Mr Gleeson, Clontarf Park, Dublin 3 when he was still an employee of IES. It is claimed Mr Jordan of Rosealier House, Kilnagoran, Co Kildare; Mr Earle of Kilmuckridge, Co Wexford, and Mr O’Riordan, Hanover Quay Dublin 2 were all recruited to join BES. IES claims that its business has been damaged by the defendants’ actions. Represented by Marcus Dowling SC, IES seeks various orders against the defendants including injunctions restraining them using IES’s virtual environmental software and requiring them to pay IES any revenues generated and received in respect of any business they solicited for the benefit of BES while employed by IES. Those orders, if granted, would remain in place pending the outcome of IES’s damages claim against the defendants. On Friday, Ms Justice Leonie Reynolds granted Mr Dowling permission, on an ex-parte basis, to serve short notice of IES’s proceedings on the defendants. The matter returns before the court next week.

Hitachi Vantara Australia is to provide more hyperconverged server hardware to the Department of Education, Skills and Employment in a new $8.4 million deal for it to expand its hosting platform. According to a spokesperson for the department, the expansion of the platform is to support the government's new digital employment services platform and an apprenticeship data system, as well as a migration from an older hosting environment. In addition to the hardware delivery, the most recent contract also covers licences, installation and configuration services, as well as maintenance from 25 January through to 31 August 2023. Including this latest contract, the Department has awarded $22.8 million dollars to the systems integrator for the hosting platform since its initial purchase of $3 million worth of Hitachi hardware and VMware services back in April last year. Between then and now, the government awarded $3.5 million over two contracts in May 2020, $1.5 million in June, $6.4 million in August 2020 and just under $200,000 in October 2020 Edge computing and micro-datacentres are the explosive post-pandemic channel opportunity: Vertiv More from Vertiv All of these procurements have been conducted via the DTA’s Hardware Marketplace Panel, which is focused on the supply of IT hardware, infrastructure and associated services. The hyperconverged-focused contract wins follow Hitachi Vantara A/NZ’s decision to partner with VMware in November 2019 to launch locally-developed 'Quick Start' bundles for deploying hyperconverged private cloud and hybrid cloud solutions through the Hitachi Unified Compute Platform (UCP). By combining compute, storage, virtualisation and high availability into a UCP, Hitachi Vantara claimed infrastructure management can be simplified and allow for easy scaling with physical or virtual building blocks.

WASHINGTON — The storied North American automotive industry, the ultimate showcase of Canada's high-tensile trade ties with the United States, is about to navigate a dramatic hairpin turn. But as the Big Three veer into the all-electric, autonomous era, some Canadians want to seize the moment and take the wheel. "There's a long shadow between the promise and the execution, but all the pieces are there," says Flavio Volpe, president of the Automotive Parts Manufacturers' Association. "We went from a marriage on the rocks to one that both partners are committed to. It could be the best second chapter ever." Volpe is referring specifically to GM, which announced late last month an ambitious plan to convert its entire portfolio of vehicles to an all-electric platform by 2035. But that decision is just part of a cascading transformation across the industry, with existential ramifications for one of the most tightly integrated cross-border manufacturing and supply-chain relationships in the world. China is already working hard to become the "source of a new way" to power vehicles, President Joe Biden warned last week. "We just have to step up." Canada has both the resources and expertise to do the same, says Volpe, whose ambitious Project Arrow concept — a homegrown zero-emissions vehicle named for the 1950s-era Avro interceptor jet — is designed to showcase exactly that. "We're going to prove to the market, we're going to prove to the (manufacturers) around the planet, that everything that goes into your zero-emission vehicle can be made or sourced here in Canada," he says. "If somebody wants to bring what we did over the line and make 100,000 of them a year, I'll hand it to them." GM earned the ire of Canadian auto workers in 2018 by announcing the closure of its assembly plant in Oshawa, Ont. It later resurrected the facility with a $170-million investment to retool it for autonomous vehicles. "It was, 'You closed Oshawa, how dare you?' And I was one of the 'How dare you' people," Volpe says. "Well, now that they've reopened Oshawa, you sit there and you open your eyes to the commitment that General Motors made." Ford, too, has entered the fray, promising $1.8 billion to retool its sprawling landmark facility in Oakville, Ont., to build EVs. It's a leap of faith of sorts, considering what market experts say is ongoing consumer doubt about EVs. "Range anxiety" — the persistent fear of a depleted battery at the side of the road — remains a major concern, even though it's less of a problem than most people think. Consulting firm Deloitte Canada, which has been tracking automotive consumer trends for more than a decade, found three-quarters of future EV buyers it surveyed planned to charge their vehicles at home overnight. "The difference between what is a perceived issue in a consumer's mind and what is an actual issue is actually quite negligible," Ryan Robinson, Deloitte's automotive research leader, says in an interview. "It's still an issue, full stop, and that's something that the industry is going to have to contend with." So, too, is price, especially with the end of the COVID-19 pandemic still a long way off. Deloitte's latest survey, released last month, found 45 per cent of future buyers in Canada hope to spend less than $35,000 — a tall order when most base electric-vehicle models hover between $40,000 and $45,000. "You put all of that together and there's still some major challenges that a lot of stakeholders that touch the automotive industry face," Robinson says. "It's not just government, it's not just automakers, but there are a variety of stakeholders that have a role to play in making sure that Canadians are ready to make the transition over to electric mobility." With protectionism no longer a dirty word in the United States and Biden promising to prioritize American workers and suppliers, the Canadian government's job remains the same as it ever was: making sure the U.S. understands Canada's mission-critical role in its own economic priorities. "We're both going to be better off on both sides of the border, as we have been in the past, if we orient ourselves toward this global competition as one force," says Gerald Butts, vice-chairman of the political-risk consultancy Eurasia Group and a former principal secretary to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. "It served us extraordinarily well in the past ... and I have no reason to believe it won't serve us well in the future." Last month, GM announced a billion-dollar plan to build its new all-electric BrightDrop EV600 van in Ingersoll, Ont., at Canada's first large-scale EV manufacturing plant for delivery vehicles. That investment, Volpe says, assumes Canada will take the steps necessary to help build a homegrown battery industry out of the country's rare-earth resources like lithium and cobalt that are waiting to be extracted in northern Ontario, Quebec and elsewhere. Given that the EV industry is still in his infancy, the free market alone won't be enough to ensure those resources can be extracted and developed, he says. "General Motors made a billion-dollar bet on Canada because it's going to assume that the Canadian government — this one or the next one — is going to commit" to building that business. Such an investment would pay dividends well beyond the auto sector, considering the federal Liberal government's commitment to lowering greenhouse gas-emissions and meeting targets set out in the Paris climate accord. "If you make investments in renewable energy and utility storage using battery technology, you can build an industry at scale that the auto industry can borrow," Volpe says. Major manufacturing, retail and office facilities would be able to use that technology to help "shave the peak" off Canada's GHG emissions and achieve those targets, all the while paving the way for a self-sufficient electric-vehicle industry. "You'd be investing in the exact same technology you'd use in a car." There's one problem, says Robinson: the lithium-ion batteries on roads right now might not be where the industry ultimately lands. "We're not done with with battery technology," Robinson says. "What you don't want to do is invest in a technology that is that is rapidly evolving, and could potentially become obsolete going forward." Fuel cells — energy-efficient, hydrogen-powered units that work like batteries, but without the need for constant recharging — continue to be part of the conversation, he adds. "The amount of investment is huge, and you want to be sure that you're making the right decision, so you don't find yourself behind the curve just as all that capacity is coming online." This report by The Canadian Press was first published Feb. 14, 2021. James McCarten, The Canadian Press

It's important to be aware of it, especially during winter when you're indoors and using heat sources to stay cozy. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center has some tips for preventing carbon monoxide (CO) poisoning and recognizing symptoms of exposure to CO. CO is a gas produced when fuels burn incompletely. This includes gas- and wood-burning fuel sources, such as furnaces, fireplaces, stoves, water heaters, gas clothes dryers and cooking stoves, space heaters and gas-powered grills, generators and power tools. Poisoning happens when a person inhales either high levels of the gas over a short period or low levels over a longer time. Symptoms can resemble other health conditions and include headache, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, confusion and loss of consciousness. If you suspect someone is experiencing carbon monoxide poisoning, get that person to fresh air immediately. You may need to call 911. The person may need to be treated by doctors. Your local poison center can assist you. The Nebraska Regional Poison Center offers several tips to protect yourself from this deadly gas: Install a carbon monoxide detector on every level of your home. Have all fuel-burning appliances inspected regularly. Ventilate your fuel- and gas-burning heaters to the outdoors. Never use a charcoal grill or hibachi indoors. Never leave a car running in an attached garage, even with the garage door open. Have your vehicle's muffler and tailpipes checked regularly. Don't sit in your car with the engine running if deep snow or mud is blocking the exhaust pipe. Run generators at a safe distance from the home -- never next to a window, door or vent. More than 400 people in the United States die every year from carbon monoxide poisoning, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. CO poisoning also leads to more than 15,000 emergency room visits each year. The CO death rate is highest among people 65 and older, according to a center news release. You can reach poison control at 1-800-222-1222. When you call, you will talk immediately to a registered nurse or pharmacist. More information The National Capital Poison Center has more on preventing and responding to poisoning emergencies. SOURCE: Nebraska Regional Poison Center, news release, Feb. 9, 2021

the Minneapolis City Council voted unanimously on Friday to approve an ordinance banning the use of facial recognition software by its police department and other city agencies, the Star Tribune reported. The ban adds Minneapolis to the list of US cities moving to limit or end the use of such technology by its law enforcement officers and city employees. But Minneapolis police chief Medaria Arradondo said in a statement that the ban was created without feedback from him, and that he believes it’s possible for facial recognition technology to be “utilized in accordance with data privacy and other citizen legal protections,” according to the Star Tribune. Facial recognition software has been found to have age, race, and ethnic biases, and privacy advocates have raised concerns about its use by law enforcement. Minneapolis’ ordinance created an appeals process allowing city agencies to request exemptions under some circumstances. Minneapolis was the site of huge public protests last summer after one of its police officers killed George Floyd during an arrest in May. The city council voted to disband its police department last June, but ended up reducing the department’s 2021 budget by less than 5 percent. Software made by Clearview AI —the controversial firm that has a database of some 3 billion images scraped from social media and other websites— would be included under Minneapolis’ facial recognition ban. BuzzFeed News reported last year that Minneapolis was one of the police departments that had access to Clearview’s software. Clearview also has contracts with US Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the Department of Homeland Security. Other cities have also implemented bans on facial recognition software, with Portland blocking both public and private use of the technology. Boston, San Francisco, and Oakland have also passed laws prohibiting public institutions from using facial recognition, but Portland was the first to prohibit private use

SAN JOSE, Calif., February 12, 2021 — Super Micro Computer, Inc., a global leader in enterprise computing, storage, networking solutions and green computing technology, strongly refutes the accuracy of information in a recent Bloomberg article. Bloomberg’s story is a mishmash of disparate and inaccurate allegations that date back many years. It draws farfetched conclusions that once again don’t withstand scrutiny. In fact, the National Security Agency told Bloomberg again last month that it stands by its 2018 comments and the agency said of Bloomberg’s new claims that it “cannot confirm that this incident—or the subsequent response actions described—ever occurred.” Despite Bloomberg’s allegations about supposed cyber or national security investigations that date back more than 10 years, Supermicro has never been contacted by the U.S. government, or by any of our partners or customers, about these alleged investigations. Bloomberg has produced no conclusions from these alleged investigations. Nor could Bloomberg confirm to us if any alleged investigation was even ongoing. To the contrary, several of the U.S. government agencies Bloomberg claims had initiated investigations continue to use our products and have done so for years. Because we recognize that security threats are constantly evolving, we are vigilant and address issues as soon as we become aware of them. For example, many years ago, an Intel employee raised a question that we were not able to verify, but out of an abundance of caution, we promptly took steps to address. We have always valued our close partnership with Intel, which has always been strong. Furthermore, the update site referenced in the Bloomberg article have been long retired in favor of newer, secure (HTTPS) technology. Finally, the cyber incidents we disclosed in 2019 were investigated, remediated, and determined not to affect our business, our products, or our operations. Unfortunately, Bloomberg continues to attempt to revive its false and widely discredited 2018 story. In response to those allegations, we have never found any malicious chips, even after engaging a third-party security firm to conduct an independent investigation on our products. In addition, we have never been informed by any customer or government agency that such chips have ever been found. In 2018, several public and private sector officials rebutted the story on the record. Then-Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Kirstjen Nielsen said we “do not have any evidence that supports the article,” then-Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats stated “we’ve seen no evidence” of mani[CENSORED]tion of Supermicro products, Federal Bureau of Investigation Director Christopher Wray warned officials to “be careful what you read” about the 2018 Bloomberg claims, and Apple CEO Tim Cook said “it is 100 percent a lie, there is no truth to it” and urged Bloomberg to “do the right thing” and “retract their story.” The NSA said at the time it was “befuddled” by Bloomberg’s report and was unable to corroborate it. Supermicro is an American success story, founded and headquartered in San Jose, Calif., in 1993. The quality, security, and integrity of our products is our top priority, and we constantly implement new and improved security features and processes in our business, we investigate security issues that are brought to our attention and we work to remediate any issues. About Super Micro Computer, Inc. Supermicro (Nasdaq: SMCI), a leading innovator in high-performance, high-efficiency server and storage technology is a premier provider of advanced server Building Block Solutions for Enterprise Data Center, Cloud Computing, Artificial Intelligence, and Edge Computing Systems worldwide. Supermicro is committed to protecting the environment through its “We Keep IT Green” initiative and provides customers with the some of the most energy-efficient, environmentally-friendly solutions available on the market

With a maximum ecological bonus of 7,000 euros extended until June 2021, what is the price of the most affordable electric cars on the French market? [Updated on 11/02/2021 at 17h25] The amount of the environmental bonus can reach 7000 euros since 1 st June 2020 . Before that date, the ceiling was set at 6,000 euros. The revaluation of the maximum bonus up to 1000 euros is part of the government measures included in the automotive recovery plan , presented on May 26, 2020. A plan intended to support the restart of the automotive industry, severely impacted by the crisis of the coronavirus . New bonus at 7000 euros However, the bonus of 7,000 euros is not applicable to all 100% electric models . First, the purchase price of the vehicle in question must be less than or equal to 45,000 euros (with a CO2 rate less than or equal to 20 g / km). As a reminder, it falls to 3000 euros for models displayed between 45,000 and 60,000 euros, a threshold above which no bonus applies. => Electric cars 2021: models, prices, range, recharging, battery Limited to 27% of the purchase price In addition, the maximum bonus cannot exceed 27% of the cost of said vehicle . Being set at 7,000 euros, this concerns models displayed at less than 25,926 euros . Below this threshold, the bonus is reduced in proportion to the price of the vehicle. Finally, it is important to note that it does not apply to homologations as a quadricycle, subject to a bonus of 900 euros, like the Renault Twizy and Citroën Ami . Maximum bonus extended until June 2021 When it was put in place last June, the maximum bonus, temporarily increased from 6,000 to 7,000 euros, was to be valid until the end of 2020. Finally, this exceptional aid was extended for another six months. . Thus, the bonus of 7,000 euros is in effect until June 30, 2021 inclusive . To discover in photos the cheapest electric vehicles sold in France, use the arrows slide show at the top of this page. Our news on electricity

A family of proteins commonly found in grains like wheat, barley, rye, and spelt is known as gluten. Of these, it is wheat that is most consumed and hence, one would typically avoid it in a gluten-free diet. We are talking about no roti or bread, here. “When you mix flour with water, it is the gluten proteins you thank for making the dough elastic. It also helps bread rise when baked. It is not without reason that gluten is called so, it gets its name from the glue-like texture it offers with wet dough,” she explains. The two primary proteins in gluten are gliadin and glutenin, of which the former causes the most harm to the body if a person is sensitive to it. Otherwise, it remains relatively safe and healthy for consumption. It is primarily found in the following items: ● Bread ● Pasta ● Breaded meat and seafood ● Cakes and cookies ● Beer ALSO READ |This year, get healthy with gluten-free vegan goodness! What is gluten intolerance? While some can tolerate gluten, many with certain health conditions cannot. Among the most severe forms of this condition is celiac disease — an autoimmune disorder where the body rejects this protein. The immune system attacks gluten and resultantly, the gut lining. A damaged gut lining leads to several other complications that include obvious digestive problems, diarrhoea, headache, constipation, lethargy, depression, and skin rashes, among other health issues. Notably, certain symptoms of celiac disease that are not related to digestive issues are difficult to diagnose and hence, a lot of people with the condition aren’t even aware of it. There are also those who might not be affected by celiac disease and still be gluten intolerant. Such a condition is known as non-celiac gluten sensitivity. Symptoms While digestive issues are the most common symptoms associated with gluten intolerance, there are several others ranging from skin rashes to mood disturbances. Here’s a look at some of them: ● Digestive problems like abdominal pain, diarrhoea, constipation, heartburn. These could further lead to malnutritional effects like weight loss, lethargy, etc. ● Skin issues like redness, rashes, bumps, itching, etc. ● Depression, migraines, and lack of concentration ● Frequent mood swings ● Attention-Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) Treatment “Often, it is a gluten-free diet that is the most effective solution. However, other symptomatic effects like skin rashes, and migraines, among others, need to be treated accordingly by a doctor,” she says. Here is a list of foods you can include in your diet: ● Gluten-free pasta ● Fresh fruits and vegetables ● Meat and seafood (not breaded) ● Unflavoured dairy products If you have any of the above symptoms with any obvious cause, make sure to consult your doctor and try removing gluten-containing products from your diet

A new trial is to test how well the Oxford-AstraZeneca coronavirus vaccine works in children. Some 300 volunteers will take part, with the first vaccinations in the trial taking place later in February. Researchers will assess whether the jab produces a strong immune response in children aged between six and 17. The vaccine is one of two being used to protect against serious illness and death from Covid in the UK, along with the Pfizer-BioNTech jab. As many as 240 children will receive the vaccine - and the others a control meningitis jab - when the trial gets under way. Volunteers who live near one of the four study sites - the University of Oxford, St George's University Hospital, London, University Hospital Southampton and Bristol Royal Hospital for Children - are being asked to sign up. Those interested in taking part must complete a short questionnaire. When will it be my turn to be vaccinated? Over-70s urged to get vaccine as UK nears target Andrew Pollard, professor of paediatric infection and immunity, and chief investigator on the Oxford vaccine trial, noted that most children were relatively unaffected by Covid and were unlikely to become unwell with the virus. But he said it was important to establish the safety and immune response to the vaccine in children and young people as some children might benefit from vaccination. There are currently no plans for children to be vaccinated with the Oxford-Astrazeneca jab in the UK, as it has only been authorised to prevent Covid in people aged 18 or over. The Pfizer-BioNTech jab is only authorised in those aged over 16. The vaccine priority list also excludes anyone under the age of 16, even the clinically extremely vulnerable. Earlier this week England's deputy chief medical officer, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, told ITV News several trials were under way to develop vaccines that were safe and effective in children, saying it was possible there would be some licensed children's vaccines by the end of the year. The University of Oxford said its was the first trial of a Covid vaccine in the six to 17 age group. It said other trials had begun but only measuring efficacy in those aged 16 and 17

According to a study conducted in Australia, the autonomous car could lead to an increased practice of binge-drinking. This is a rather unusual consequence of the development of the autonomous car , which few researchers had yet thought of: alcohol consumption. And for good reason, a study conducted by Australian scientists reveals that the emergence of driverless vehicles could encourage motorists to drink more than usual, or even to indulge in binge-drinking.. As a reminder, this is a practice which consists in consuming as much alcohol as possible in a short period of time, in order to feel the effects of drunkenness more quickly. To arrive at these results, the researchers in charge of the study questioned 1,334 Australians of driving license age, and the finding is clear: 37% said they would drink more if they didn't. did not need to drive their car. According to the survey, which then consisted of a series of questions, 49% of respondents admitted that they would be ready to use an autonomous car after drinking a lot. The author of this study, researcher Leon Booth indeed pointed out that " more than a third [of the participants] would tend to drink more if they had planned to use an autonomous car to return home ". Not too surprisingly, it is the younger participants, as well as those already more likely to drink, who could increase their consumption even more if they did not have to drive themselves. A situation which is not new and which is already being felt with the use of VTC services, which prevent overly alcoholic revelers from hitting the road again, which is nevertheless rather positive. A real challenge As underlined by the co-author of this study, Professor Simone Pettigrew, “ the main challenge will be to encourage the use of autonomous cars without, however, encouraging motorists to drink more ”. A sizeable challenge therefore, while the researchers assert that driverless vehicles will still coexist for a long time with traditional cars “ ideally, during this transition period, drivers will rather choose self-driving cars after drinking in order to reduce fuel consumption. risk of accidents ”. According to the team of researchers, these vehicles would cost less to operate than traditional taxis for each trip and would be more efficient in the fight against accidents related todrunk driving

Samsung India has announced 'The Lifestyle Fest' for its most po[CENSORED]r lifestyle range of TVs: The Frame and The Serif, with exciting offers. During this fest, valid till February 28, 2021, Samsung’s lifestyle TVs will be available at special prices with exclusive discounts across all leading consumer electronics retailers across the country. Both The Frame and The Serif are stunning lifestyle TVs that add to your home décor and transform your living spaces with their gorgeous design and premium features. What’s most unique and spectacular about The Frame is that when it is not being used as a TV, it moves into Art Mode, and turns into a picture frame that can display over 1,200 digital art from around the world, and transform everyday living space into an art gallery. The Serif goes beyond the traditional concept of a TV to a piece of home décor that elevates the design of any living space – a result of the true collaboration between Samsung and the acclaimed Parisian design duo Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. From its iconic uni-body design in the shape of the letter “I” to its brilliantly crisp QLED picture, The Serif is a statement centrepiece that not only redefines TV viewing, but also creates an eccentric space that complements one’s lifestyle while creating a lasting impression. During this offer period, buyers will get a cashback of INR 4,500 on purchase of 43-inch, 49-inch and 50-inch models and INR 7,500 cashback on 55-inch, 65-inch and 75-inch models of Samsung’s lifestyle TVs. Customers who purchase the 75-inch The Frame will also get a complimentary Samsung Soundbar HW-Q800T worth INR 48,990. Other offers include easy EMI options starting from as low as INR 1,190, along with a 2-year warranty (1+1 year extended warranty) on panels and a 10 year no screen burn-in warranty. “There has been a rise in demand for lifestyle TVs as consumers today look for products which offer a great balance of stunning design and premium technology. As they continue to spend more time at home, unique and personalised elements, including technology are key deciding factors while designing their living spaces. “The Lifestyle Fest’ is aimed at creating great consumer offerings for the unbelievably beautiful The Frame and The Serif that are designed to be more than just TVs,” said Raju Pullan, Senior Vice President, Consumer Electronics Business, Samsung India. The Frame TV The Frame QLED TV is a perfect amalgamation of technology and design, enhancing both the living space and entertainment experience for consumers. The Frame offers superior picture quality with QLED technology, which enables beautiful colors, exceptional contrasts and impeccable details with 100% color volume. The Frame also has in-built motion and brightness sensors. When it is not being used as TV, The Frame moves into Art Mode and displays digital pieces of artwork to turn an everyday living space into an art gallery. Just like how a framed picture looks different depending on the time of day, The Frame adjusts the screen brightness based on the ambient light in the room. The TVs will come with 10-year no screen burn-in warranty and two-year warranty on the panel. The Serif TV Samsung’s lifestyle TV ‘The Serif’ – is a perfect blend of art and design with modern technology. The Serif delivers cutting edge QLED technology and enhanced aesthetics. With a unique unibody design in the shape of the letter “I”, The Serif makes for a stunning addition to one’s living space. The Serif displays brilliant picture quality matched by boldly clear and immersive sound. By detecting distracting noises and automatically adjusting volume and clarity in real time, The Serif keeps the focus on the meaningful sounds and voices with the Active Voice Amplifier (AVA) feature. It also delivers every bright and beautiful detail while bringing colors and pictures to life with 100% Color Volume, Quantum Processor 4K and HDR 10+. The Serif upscales everything to 4K picture quality by analyzing each scene of the content using its AI Upscaling technology

The ruling means Mr Spears and the private trust company, Bessemer Trust, will now have equal power to manage her finances. As a result, he is now expected to work with the company to create a budget and investment proposal for the singer's estate. The conservatorship is a legal arrangement that was put in place because of concerns about her mental health. Los Angeles Judge Brenda Penny appointed Bessemer Trust as co-conservators in November, but rejected the star's effort to remove her father A judge has denied a request by Britney Spears' father to exert greater control over her finances. Jamie Spears has controlled his daughter's financial affairs since 2008, but the singer has recently indicated she wants him removed. On Thursday, a judge upheld a previous ruling that made a financial company a co-conservator for the singer. The judge rejected Mr Spears' request to keep his previous level of power over his daughter's investments. amie Spears had objected to Bessemer's involvement, arguing that it reduced the power he has held for years. Judge Perry threw out his objection on Thursday. Another hearing is scheduled for 17 March. Britney Spears' lawyer Samuel D Ingham III has previously said the singer is "afraid" of her father and does not want him to control her finances and career. On Thursday, Mr Ingham reiterated the pop star's wish, adding that it was "no secret" she didn't want her father to be a co-conservator, but acknowledged that removing him altogether would be a "separate issue". Why the media is saying sorry to Britney Spears Why a court battle is fuelling #FreeBritney calls Interest in the case has been renewed after the recent release of a documentary that focuses on the conflict over the singer's guardianship. Framing Britney Spears, which was produced by The New York Times, examined the conservatorship in depth, as well as how the singer has been treated by the media throughout her career. It also explored the #FreeBritney movement, a campaign by some of the star's fans who believe her life and career are being controlled against her will. Campaigners from the group were outside the hearing on Thursday Babs Gray, host of the BritneyGram podcast, told the BBC outside the court: "It hasn't changed anything much today... I don't think a lot of forward movement will happen until Britney's lawyer actually files to get her out of the conservatorship." She said interest in the #FreeBritney issue had "exploded" in the past week as a result of the documentary. "It's been really encouraging to see how supportive everyone is about the movement, how they are reckoning with how Britney was treated in the past," she said. "I hope its not just a flash in the pan. I hope people keep paying attention and keep putting the pressure on." Babs Gray, host of the BritneyGram podcast, told the BBC outside the court: "It hasn't changed anything much today... I don't think a lot of forward movement will happen until Britney's lawyer actually files to get her out of the conservatorship." She said interest in the #FreeBritney issue had "exploded" in the past week as a result of the documentary. "It's been really encouraging to see how supportive everyone is about the movement, how they are reckoning with how Britney was treated in the past," she said. "I hope its not just a flash in the pan. I hope people keep paying attention and keep putting the pressure on." Britney Spears hasn't performed live for more than two years, and insists she has no intention of doing so again until her father is forced to relinquish control over her career