https://techxplore.com/news/2023-07-urban-virtual-reality.html What should the city we live in look like? How do structural changes affect the people who move around it? Cartographers at Ruhr University Bochum use virtual reality tools to explore these questions before a great deal of money is spent on building measures. Using the Unity3 game engine, they recreate scenarios in 3D where people can experience potential changes through immersion, and they were able to prove that the physical reaction to this experience is measurable. Julian Keil and Marco Weißmann from Professor Frank Dickmann's team have published their findings in KN—Journal of Cartography and Geographic Information on 1 May 2023 and in Applied Sciences on 13 May 2023. Construction measures that transform urban settings change the environment of both the people who live there permanently and those who visit them temporarily. It's not always possible to foresee the effects in advance. In such cases, it helps to recreate the setting in a 3D model that people can experience through immersion. To this end, the cartographers working with Marco Weißmann use software that was originally designed to program computer game environments. "We've developed a lab kit of sorts in which you can simulate an environment virtually, complete with traffic," explains Weißmann. The researchers can use it to directly visualize the effects of planned structural changes: How does the traffic flow? Do cars and pedestrians get in each other's way or not? Moreover, the space that surrounds us affects our well-being. We do notice it sometimes, but not always. "People who've lived on a noisy street for a long time, for example, might think they don't even hear the noise anymore," says Julian Keil. "But we know that, objectively speaking, residents in such streets experience significantly higher stress levels than others." In order to determine such implicit effects of urban planning measures before a lot of money has been poured into them, the cartography team developed a method to measure them in advance. For this purpose, they programmed an urban environment in virtual reality and had test participants experience the scenarios. At the same time, they measured the skin conductivity of the testers, which provides information about their stress level. They showed that a higher traffic volume in a street clearly upset the testers, as measured by their skin conductivity. To corroborate their findings, a study is planned to incorporate more physical measurements that will provide information about the participants' stress levels and various emotions, including heart rate, blood pressure and pupil size. "Until now, residents and other stakeholders have been involved in the planning stage of construction measures, but only in the form of surveys, i.e., explicit statements," says Keil, whose background is in psychology. "Our method enables spatial planners to assess implicit effects of possible measures and to include them in the planning, too." The experiments for both studies were conducted in a climate-friendly way using electricity from a mobile solar system on the roof of the institute building.

Nickname: Inmortal™ Video author: RUOK FF Name of the game: ⭐⭐⭐ Link video: Rate this video 1-10:9

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/another-steam-deck-competitor-is-reportedly-on-the-way/1100-6516427/ Lenovo is joining the competition in the handheld PC gaming sector with its upcoming device, tentatively named Legion Go. According to reports by Windows Central, this move comes amid the success stories of Valve's Steam Deck and ASUS' ROG Ally, along with other established players like AYANEO. While specific details are currently limited, Legion Go will reportedly run on Windows 11, ensuring seamless compatibility with PC gaming. The device is expected to incorporate AMD's state-of-the-art Phoenix processors. Although no concrete release date or availability information has been disclosed yet, an earlier leak from Liliputing uncovered Lenovo's past project, Legion Play, an Android-based cloud-oriented handheld. While the Legion Play never saw a general launch, its design could provide a glimpse into the potential form factor Lenovo might adopt for the Legion Go. The Legion Go is rumored to sport an 8-inch screen, slightly larger than its competitors, Steam Deck and ROG Ally, both equipped with 7-inch displays. A larger screen could offer an advantage for gaming experiences that require a clear view of UI elements. The AMD Phoenix 7040 series chips, which power the Legion Go, are hailed for their power efficiency, making them suitable for lightweight gaming and extending battery life, much like the Steam Deck and ROG Ally. However, additional information about other configurations of the device remains undisclosed. Experts suggest that Microsoft is gearing up to offer significant support to original equipment manufacturers exploring the handheld gaming category, and it's speculated that Lenovo's Legion Go may be one of the beneficiaries of this assistance. Additionally, Dell's Alienware brand and other major PC gaming companies are also expected to introduce their own handheld devices in the near future.

https://gamingonphone.com/news/bandai-namco-reveals-gameplay-trailer-for-upcoming-action-title-gundam-poetry-of-steel/ As described by the makers, in Gundam: Poetry of Steel, players take on the role of a commander leading an elite squad of mobile suits, utilizing their distinct abilities and employing smart tactics to overpower opponents. Upon launch, the game is said to come with a sophisticated AI system and offers both single-player and multiplayer battles. Gundam: Poetry of Steel gameplay Image via Bandai Namco It will also comprise storylines from various Gundam series, granting players the opportunity to relive iconic moments of different characters. Moving to the art style, which is the main selling point, Gundam: Poetry of Steel will be made of complete 3D rendering, which will be a great feast for the action lovers out there wanting to enjoy beatdowns in this style. The trailer holds great promise for what lies ahead and it looks like the game seems to have covered all aspects needed for an action title. But, as usual, the real picture will unveil once it gets launched. Currently, the game is in pre-registration for players in China, for which they can access the website here, alongside running a milestone campaign. It would be interesting to see a new development on the Gundam IP, which will be after the recent Gundam Breaker Mobile shutdown that happened last month with fans eager to see what’s next in store for the franchise. The release date is not announced yet, for which you can keep an eye on their official Weibo page.

https://www.pcgamer.com/final-fantasy-14s-next-expansion-has-a-name-and-a-new-job/ Final Fantasy 14's next expansion will be titled Dawntrail and the trailer seems to hint at a new job plucked out of the other Final Fantasy MMO, Final Fantasy 11. At Fan Fest today, Square Enix showed a trailer for FF14's fifth expansion, following up 2021's Endwalker. Along with a bunch of familiar faces, the trailer shows the player character stand-in taking a ship toward what looks like an island. He fights with a one-handed sword and is wearing a cloak over garb that looks a lot like the pirate-themed Final Fantasy job, the Corsair—a job that debuted in Final Fantasy 11. The rest of the two minute trailer suggests the expansion will focus on traveling to coastal locations and—if I had to take a guess—preventing the end of the world by dueling a god or two. There's also a catboy taking a giant bite out of a taco, and if that's not an emote like my pizza one, then this expansion will be a failure. Sponsored Links Compose Clear, Compelling Writing With This App Grammarly Dawntrail will be out in Summer 2024, giving Square Enix plenty of time to detail more features coming to the game at this weekend's Fan Fest and the next two in October and January next year. I expect to hear more about the major graphical update coming with the expansion, which will modernize the look of the 10-year-old MMO.

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https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/manatee-dies-injuries-sexual-encounter-brother-florida-aquarium-rcna96713 A manatee who died in a Florida aquarium this year sustained fatal injuries caused by sex with his brother, officials said. Hugh, 38, died unexpectedly April 29 at the Mote Marine Laboratory and Aquarium in Sarasota, which this week shed more light on the animal’s passing, saying the injury was most likely the result of sex with his brother, Buffett. Mote insisted that Hugh's handlers never believed he was in any danger. “On the day of Hugh’s passing, Hugh and Buffett engaged in natural, yet increased, mating behavior observed and documented in manatees both in managed care and in the wild,” the aquarium said in a statement. “This was the first time such heightened mating behavior was witnessed between the two manatees.” A necropsy performed by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission’s Marine Mammal Pathobiology Lab found the fatal wound was a "14.5 cm long tear in the ventral wall" of his colon. "Hugh and Buffett were both observed initiating and mutually seeking interactions from each other throughout the day and there were no obvious signs of discomfort or distress such as listing, crunching, or active avoidance that would have triggered a need for intervention," the aquarium said. Keepers didn't try to physically separate the manatees during sex, fearing that would do more harm. "Following the direction of the veterinarians, distraction rather than physical separation was chosen because separation has previously caused undue anxiety and negative effects in both manatees," the aquarium said. "In an effort to redirect the manatees’ attention and decrease undesirable behaviors, animal care staff used positive reinforcement tools such as high value rewards and enrichment that had previously been successful."

https://ridermagazine.com/2023/07/11/2024-motorcycle-buyers-guide-new-street-models/ Aimed at a younger generation of city dwellers, the 2024 BMW CE 02 is somewhere in between an electric bike and an electric scooter. The BMW CE 02 comes in two variations: an 11 kW (15 hp) version and a 4kW (5 hp) version aimed to meet requirements for the AM driving license class open to younger riders in Germany and other European countries. The CE 02 comes standard with an external charger and a charging power of 0.9 kW, and it can be charged using standard household sockets. It has two ride modes, an inverted telescopic fork with 4.6 inches of travel up front, and a single-sided swingarm and an adjustable shock absorber with 2.2 inches of travel in the rear. The 2024 BMW CE 02 is available in Cosmic Black for $7,599. The Highline options package, which includes the Cosmic Black 2 colorway with teal and white accents and graphics, costs an additional $875.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66243517 Both are over 6ft with a mop of blond hair. Both are ruthless in the final third. And, by the start of the new Premier League season, both will be playing for Manchester clubs. On Saturday, United agreed a deal worth £72m to sign 20-year-old Hojlund from Italian side Atalanta. What will he bring to the Premier League and United's attack, and can he really rival Haaland? After youth spells at Boldklubben af 1893 and Brondby, Hojlund began his senior career at Copenhagen, making his debut aged 17 in 2020. Still developing, he struggled in the Danish Superliga as a youngster, leaving in January 2022 having failed to score in his 19 league appearances - though only two of those were starts. He joined Austrian side Sturm Graz - a move that turbocharged his career. Across the second half of the 2021-22 season, Hojlund scored a goal every other game, netting nine times in 17 starts Hojlund caught the eye with his lethal left foot and impressive footballing brain. The striker became exceptional at moving into space, timing runs to perfection to set up a wide variety of finishes. His form led to a move south to Italian club Atalanta for a reported £15m, 10 times what Sturm Graz had paid for him in January. That figure now looks like a bargain. Last season he scored 20 goals in 47 appearances for the Serie A side and Denmark, whom he made his debut for in September. In March, he struck five goals in two European Championship qualifiers for the Danes, including a hat-trick against Finland. How does Hojlund match up against Haaland? A split picture of Erling Haaland and Rasmus Hojlund Haaland's goalscoring eclipsed Hojlund's last term but both are near the start of their careers So the potential is there, but when you compare his numbers with Haaland's, Hojlund is a long way off the Norwegian. Haaland hit 36 goals in 35 appearances for Manchester City in the league last season - a goal every 77 minutes. In Serie A, Hojlund found the net every 204 minutes. That said, Haaland had a record-breaking season, is two years older, plays for the European champions and is further along in his career. Hojlund has only had two full seasons as a professional. In Haaland's second season, he managed a more modest 12 goals in 25 appearances for Molde. So while Hojlund is not the finished article, he can be moulded and refined and may become the perfect fit for United's starting XI. Hojlund celebrates a goal for Denmark Hojlund has scored six goals in six appearances for Denmark There have been glimpses of how lethal Hojlund can become - and his goal against Lazio last season was Haaland-esque. As Ademola Lookman started a counter-attack down the left wing, Hojlund sprinted from the halfway line, squeezed past two defenders and slid in to reach a cross. With support from wingers such as Marcus Rashford, Alejandro Garnacho and Jadon Sancho, United could boast one of the fastest front threes in the Premier League. But Hojlund also has a delicate touch and he dribbles more than Haaland - averaging about 10 more touches per match. In a sense, he has the qualities of a winger, but the physique of a number nine. Rasmus Hojland playing for Atalanta against Inter Milan Atalanta manager Gian Piero Gasperini claims Hojlund can run 100m in under 11 seconds United are in need of a centre-forward. With Anthony Martial spending much of last season sidelined through injury, Rashford has become the team's talisman. The England striker was exceptional last term, scoring 30 goals in 56 games - one every 143 minutes. But his best position is wide on the left, cutting in on his stronger right foot. United chose not to sign Burnley loanee Wout Weghorst on a permanent deal at the start of this transfer window. They privately ruled out making approaches for Paris St-Germain's Kylian Mbappe and Tottenham's Harry Kane, who are both world-class frontmen. What they will get with Hojlund is raw potential. But there are signs of quality, glimpses that suggest he is on the path to stardom.

https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/portuguese-artist-rolls-out-banknote-carpet-slam-popes-visit-costs-2023-07-28/ LISBON, July 28 (Reuters) - Portugal's famed street artist, Bordalo II, has broken into a Lisbon venue where Pope Francis will celebrate a mass next week and rolled out a huge carpet of oversized banknotes to criticise how much the state has spent on the event. Francis will travel to Lisbon from Aug. 2-6 to attend the World Youth Day global gathering of young Catholics, which is expected to bring together hundreds of thousands of pilgrims. Report this ad Bordalo II, known for his political art pieces often made from garbage, shared pictures and videos of the carpet, featuring humongous 500-euro ($551) notes, being rolled out down the venue's stairs on Thursday in a protest he described as the "walk of shame". "At the time when many people are fighting to keep their homes, their work and their dignity, millions worth of public funds have been invested to sponsor the (papal) tour," the artist, whose real name is Artur Bordalo, wrote on Instagram. Official estimates in January showed the event would cost 161 million euros, to be paid by the government, the Catholic Church, the city council of Lisbon and nearby Loures. A number of public figures and politicians have criticised the Portuguese state for its share of the expenditure, which the government put at 30 million euros in January, as millions of Portuguese face galloping inflation. Earlier this year, heavy criticism forced the Lisbon city council to cut planned spending on an altar for Francis to celebrate a mass to 2.9 million euros from over 5 million euros.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-66347370 Wagner fighters in Belarus could pose as migrants and enter the EU, Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has warned. Wagner could also facilitate illegal migration from Belarus, which Poland describes as "hybrid warfare", he says. About 100 Wagner troops have moved near the city of Grodno, close to the Polish and Lithuanian borders, the PM added. Some Wagner troops have moved to Belarus under a deal to end a brief mutiny in Russia in June. Warsaw says it sees Wagner's presence in Belarus as a potential threat and is seeking to shore up its eastern flank. Belarusian leader Alexander Lukashenko has previously denied provoking a migrant crisis in Europe by luring would-be migrants to its borders with EU nations. But Mr Morawiecki said on Saturday that more than 100 members of the Wagner group had moved to north-western Belarus near the Suwalki gap - Poland's 60-mile (95km) border with fellow EU state Lithuania, which separates Belarus and the Russian exclave of Kaliningrad. Poland Belarus map 1px transparent line He claimed the mercenaries might pose as Belarusian border guards in order to help migrants cross into the EU, or even pretend to be migrants themselves to enter the bloc. "Now the situation is becoming even more dangerous," he told a news conference on a visit to an arms factory in Gliwice, southern Poland. "This is certainly a step towards a further hybrid attack on Polish territory," he added. Several thousand Wagner fighters have moved to Belarus since the group's short-lived mutiny against the Kremlin in June. They were offered a choice of joining the regular Russian army or heading to Belarus, a close ally of Russia. On Thursday Poland's interior minister said Poland, Lithuania and Latvia could jointly decide to shut their borders with Belarus if there were incidents involving the Wagner group along their frontiers. Last weekend Mr Lukashenko insisted he would keep the Wagner mercenaries in central Belarus. "They are asking to go west... to go on a trip to Warsaw... " Mr Lukashenko joked in a conversation with Russian President Vladimir Putin. "But of course, I am keeping them in central Belarus, like we agreed. " Poland strengthens Belarus border over Wagner fears Wagner's arrival in Belarus: what we know Mr Morawiecki said there had been 16,000 attempts to cross the border between Belarus and Poland so far this year. According to the EU border agency Frontex, there were 2,312 illegal border crossings into the EU from Belarus between January and June. Poland and Lithuania have both erected fences along their borders with Belarus to try to reduce the number of people crossing illegally. Minsk has faced accusations it has encouraged migrants from the Middle East to travel to the country on flights on the false promise of easy access to the EU. } The Polish Border Guard says Belarusian border guards help migrants cross into the country illegally, far from official checkpoints. Mr Morawiecki's comments come ahead of this autumn's parliamentary elections, with the Polish government seeking to emphasise the actions it is taking to strengthen border security.

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-07-conquer-approach-leads-to-large-scale.html Model checking is one of the most successful computer science achievements in the last few decades. This is why Edmund M. Clarke, E. Allen Emerson, and Joseph Sifakis were honored with the 2007 A.M. Turing Award for their role in developing model checking into a highly effective verification technology. Model checking has been widely adopted, especially in hardware industries, as it can systematically verify a system that satisfies desired properties. However, there are still some issues to tackle in model checking, one of which is the notorious state explosion. Many techniques to mitigate the state explosion, such as partial order reduction and abstraction, have been devised. Despite these existing techniques, they may not be sufficient to deal with the state explosion. Another goal is to increase the running performance of model checking. One promising approach to this issue is to parallelize model checking, which can make the best use of multicore architectures. A research team from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST), led by Professor Kazuhiro Ogata, has come up with a "divide and conquer" approach to leads-to model checking, referred to as DCA2L2MC. As indicated by the name, DCA2L2MC is dedicated to leads-to properties, which informally describe that whenever something becomes true, something else will eventually become true. Chandy and Misra designed a temporal logic called UNITY in which the leads-to temporal connective plays an important role, and they demonstrated that many essential systems requirements can be expressed as leads-to properties. Therefore, focusing on leads-to properties is beneficial. Details about DCA2L2MC have been published in an article in ACM Transactions on Software Engineering and Methodology. The core idea of DCA2L2MC is to divide an original leads-to model checking problem into multiple smaller model checking problems in a layered way and tackle each smaller one independently. Specifically, DCA2L2MC divides the reachable state space from each initial state into L+1 layers, where L is a positive natural number, generating multiple sub-state spaces. Model checking experiments are then conducted for each sub-state space instead of the original reachable state space. If each sub-state space is much smaller than the original reachable state space, it becomes feasible to conduct leads-to model checking, even when directly conducting it for the original reachable state space is infeasible due to the state space explosion problem. This is the key to mitigating the state space explosion problem in model checking using DCA2L2MC. In addition, due to the nature of the divide-and-conquer approach, each smaller model checking problem can be tackled independently. Particularly, smaller model checking problems in the final layer of our division are completely independent. This is the key to improving the running performance of model checking by using parallelization for DCA2L2MC. From the theoretical perspective, the researchers have proven a theorem that guarantees the correctness of DCA2L2MC, showing that the multiple model checking problems are equivalent to the original leads-to model checking problem. On the practical front, they have developed a support tool for DCA2L2MC in Maude, a high-performance specification/programming language based on rewriting logic. This support tool offers the flexibility to run in sequential and parallel modes as needed. Several case studies have been conducted to demonstrate the effectiveness and efficiency of the approach in model checking leads-to properties. Furthermore, they have demonstrated that DCA2L2MC holds significant promise as a technique for model checking leads-to properties in large-scale systems, compared to existing model checkers, such as SPIN and LTSMin. To make the best use of DCA2L2MC, the researchers have proposed two optimization techniques: one for finding all counterexamples at once in model checking using a new model checker and another for finding a good layer configuration for DAC2L2MC using an analysis tool. The first technique plays a crucial role in generating all counterexamples efficiently in DCA2L2MC, significantly improving its running performance. The second technique is essential for finding a good layer configuration that optimizes the running performance of DCA2L2MC. By utilizing these two optimization techniques, DCA2L2MC becomes more effective and efficient in verification. Finally, DCA2LCMC can be integrated into existing model checkers, empowering them to perform model checking on larger systems. The researchers hope that several existing model checkers will embrace DCA2LCMC as an effective and efficient technique for handling leads-to properties. Furthermore, researchers and engineers can readily adopt the technique and tool to conduct verification of systems with leads-to properties.

https://wccftech.com/amd-radeon-pro-w7600-workstation-gpu-benchmarked-navi-33-2048-cores-8-gb-vram/ he graphics card was spotted within the Geekbench database by Benchleaks where it has been tested on an Intel Core i9-12900K PC. The listing reveals that the AMD Radeon Pro W7600 GPU is another upcoming workstation GPU and features the Navi 33 chip which is made evident by its ID "GFX1102". RELATED STORY Hassan Mujtaba AMD Radeon Pro W7900 48 GB & W7800 32 GB RDNA 3 Workstation GPUs Official, Half The Cost of NVIDIA’s RTX 6000 Ada Apart from the GPU, the AMD Radeon Pro W7600 graphics card is based on a Navi 33 SKU with a total of 32 compute units (16 WGPs). This means we are looking at 2048 cores & a similar config as the Radeon RX 7600 (Gaming GPU). The graphics card was running at a clock speed of 1940 MHz & that's around 16 TFLOPs of compute horsepower which is slightly lower than the RX 7600 since the latter comes with a higher clock speed. The memory configuration is also kept the same for the AMD Radeon Pro W7600 with an 8 GB VRAM capacity based on GDDR6 and a 128-bit bus interface. This also means that there's 32 MB of Infinity Cache onboard the chip. Power consumption is likely to be around 150W & power is to be provided through a single 8-pin connector. In terms of performance, the OpenCL and Vulkan scores were leaked which are 74,839 and 77,260, respectively. As you can see, the lower clocks do affect the performance a bit but overall, the card should offer better compatibility with workstations thanks to Pro drivers. AMD hasn't specified a release date for the Radeon PRO W7600, but we could expect it by Q4 2023, considering NVIDIA is also prepping to release its RTX ADA lineup for professional use around SIGGRAPH. The AMD Radeon PRO W7600 could be said to be in a lower price bracket than its counterparts, such as the Radeon Pro W7900. However, details are still thin, and we expect further information to be unveiled soon.

Nickname: Inmortal™ Video author: RUOK FF Name of the game:RUOK está de vuelta ...🎯👽 Link video: Rate this video 1-10:9

https://www.gamespot.com/articles/path-of-exile-2-wont-replace-the-first-game-after-all/1100-6516398/ rinding Gear Games announced at this year's ExileCon keynote that Path of Exile 2, initially planned as a replacement for its predecessor, will now become a separate game running on its own client. The decision to split the games came after PoE2 underwent substantial expansion since its initial announcement four years ago, as reported by PC Gamer. Grinding Gear Games co-founder Jonathan Rogers highlighted the extensive additions to PoE2, including six new classes, 36 ascendancy classes, 600 monsters, 100 bosses, 240 active skills, and 1,500 passive skills. Notably, players have embraced the addition of a dodge roll with no cooldown. I nitially, there were concerns about replacing the beloved Path of Exile 1 with the sequel (something we recently saw with Overwatch replacing the first game). Rogers said, "We realized that our plan to replace PoE1 with PoE2 would essentially be getting rid of a game that people love for no real reason. So we made a decision: Path of Exile 1 and 2 will be separate, with their own mechanics, balance, endgames, and leagues. " Despite being separate games, PoE1 and PoE2 won't be entirely disconnected. In-game purchases will be available in both, with exceptions for compatibility issues. Rogers reassured players that items purchased in one game can be used in the other, as long as the content aligns. However, some exclusive content may not be usable in both. At the event, developers showcased a portion of PoE2's campaign known as the Jungle Depths of Act 3, featuring the new Monk class--one of six being introduced in the sequel. Originally announced in 2019 as an expansion, Path of Exile 2 is slated for a simultaneous release on PC and consoles, and it is anticipated to pose a significant challenge to Diablo IV upon its launch.

https://gamingonphone.com/news/myth-gods-of-asgard-is-an-action-rpg-now-available-for-android-and-ios/ The gameplay elements look pretty interesting, alongside the animation for every hit the player deals and the skill move effects. A lot of challenge maps are a lot of fun and the game aims to do so with over a hundred maps for the player. This would be very effective in the long run, as you get to experience new maps, hence a new challenge. The makers claim that the plots are based on captivating mythology tales including Eda, Song of the Nibelungen, Beowulf, and the Gospel of Loki, alongside iconic characters such as Valkyrie, Siegfried, Thor, Ullr, and Freya. So, if you are in for a good storytelling experience alongside high adrenaline-rushing action, be ready for a ride.

//www.pcgamer.com/diablo-4-patch-1-1-1-notes-buff-sorcerer-barbarian/ During a Campfire Chat stream today, the Diablo 4 team explained the changes coming in patch 1.1.1 when it drops on August 8. The massive patch follows the game’s controversial pre-season patch, which made substantial nerfs to player survivability and damage output and left Sorcerers and Barbarians weaker than the other three classes. Patch 1.1.1 will include changes to all of the action RPG’s classes, but will focus on improving Sorcerers and Barbarians, the two classes that have struggled the most in Season 1 so far. "We want to kind of improve the effectiveness and fun of the Sorcerer and Barbarian," lead class designer Adam Jackson said just before the group of developers walked through some of the changes coming in patch 1.1.1. Sponsored Links Man Who Made Millions Unveils Mind-Blowing New Prediction! VisionaryProfit Jackson said the team is looking at reducing the value of Vulnerable and Critical Strike damage to add value to other stats and builds in the future. "Our goal is to find a way—and we’re working on it right now—for all those different ways of dealing damage to have a lot of parity," he said. Sorcerers will see a variety of changes aimed at increasing their late-game survivability and removing detrimental effects from their skills and items. Greater Chain Lightning, for example, used to only deal increased damage when it bounced off of you, but now it will do that no matter who it bounces off of. Similar changes have been made to a number of their Legendary aspects and Paragon boards. Similarly, several Barbarian skills will be buffed to give you more Fury to spend on other skills in combat and to deal more damage overall in the early game. Violent Upheaval, which is an upgrade to one of the class’ basic attacks, will now trigger Berserking (a short damage buff) off of bosses as well as regular enemies. Both classes will see buffs to their late-game Unique items, but Blizzard notes that once the patch drops you’ll need to get the item again to see all of the changes to their bonuses. The changes to Unique item stats, however, will go into effect as soon as the patch drops. Here are the changes to Diablo 4 coming in patch 1.1.1, which Blizzard notes aren’t completely finalized: Improvements to Barbarian Fury generation and late-game Unique item stats and bonuses Changes to simplify and improve the consistency of Sorcerer skills as well as improvements to their late-game survivability Improvements to Druid Spirit generation and companions Improvements to Necromancer damage consistency Increased boss health in World Tiers 3 and 4 and improved rewards Guaranteed Legendary item drops from bosses after level 35 in any World Tier Treasure Goblins at level 15 and on will guarantee a Legendary item drop Nightmare Dungeon enemy density greatly increased An additional stash tab will be added Elixir stack size will be raised to 99 Respec gold costs will be reduced by about 40% Leave dungeon will be reverted back to a 3 second class "A whole lot of bug fixes" Fixes to VRAM use and general performance of the game These Diablo 4 changes won’t be in patch 1.1.1, but Blizzard plans to address them in a future patch: Improving Necromancer minion builds is "on the team’s radar" Changes to enemy density based on player behavior in 1.1.1 Improving the speed that players progress through the later World Tiers in season 2 Changes to crowd control TKTK Changes to make elemental resistances more useful Improvements to the mount maneuverability, especially the boost skill when using a controller Changes to other stats, like Vulnerable and Critical Strike, to improve the value of Overpower damage I’m no Sorcerer or Barbarian expert but it’s clear Blizzard wants to lift both classes up and increase the types of builds you can use. Season 1’s powerful Malignant Heart gems aren’t quite powerful and varied enough to do it on their own, even if it’s possible for Sorcerers to complete the hardest Nightmare Dungeon tier. The changes Blizzard laid out seem like table setting for future changes to continue to expand the number of builds you can use in the game’s toughest activities. The full patch notes for 1.1.1 will go out on August 2 and the patch itself will go live on August 8.

https://techxplore.com/news/2023-07-software-views-video.html Filmmakers may soon be able to stabilize shaky video, change viewpoints and create freeze-frame, zoom and slow-motion effects—without shooting any new footage—thanks to an algorithm developed by researchers at Cornell University and Google Research. The software, called DynIBar, synthesizes new views using pixel information from the original video, and even works with moving objects and unstable camerawork. The work is a major advance over previous efforts, which yielded only a few seconds of video, and often rendered moving subjects as blurry or glitchy. The code for this research effort is freely available, though the project is at an early stage and not yet integrated into commercial video editing tools. "While this research is still in its early days, I'm really excited about potential future applications for both personal and professional use," said Noah Snavely, a research scientist at Google Research and associate professor of computer science at Cornell Tech and in the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science. Snavely presented this work, "DynIBaR: Neural Dynamic Image-Based Rendering," at the 2023 IEEE/CVF Conference on Computer Vision and Pattern Recognition, on June 20, where it received an honorable mention for the best paper award. Zhengqi Li, Ph.D, of Google Research was the lead author on the study. "Over the last few years, we've seen major progress in view synthesis methods—algorithms that can take a collection of images capturing a scene from a discrete set of viewpoints, and can render new views of that scene," said Snavely. "However, most of these methods fail on scenes with moving people or pets, swaying trees and so on. This is a big problem because many interesting things in the world are things that move." Existing methods to render new views of still scenes, such as ones that make a photo appear 3D, take the 2D grid of pixels from an image and reconstruct the 3D shape and appearance of each object in the photo. DynIBar takes this a step further by also estimating how the objects move over time. But considering all four dimensions creates an incredibly difficult math problem. The researchers simplified this problem by using a computer graphics approach developed in the 1990s called image-based rendering. At the time, it was difficult for traditional computer graphics methods to render complex scenes with many small parts—such as a leafy tree—so graphics researchers developed methods that take images of a scene and then alter and recombine the parts to generate new images. In this way, most of the complexity was stored within the source image and could load faster. "We incorporated the classic idea of image-based rendering and that makes our method able to handle really complex scenes and longer videos," said co-author Qianqian Wang, a doctoral student in the field of computer science at Cornell Tech. Wang developed a method to use image-based rendering to synthesize new views of still images, which the new software builds on. Despite the advance, these features may not be coming to your smartphone any time soon. The software takes several hours to process just 10 or 20 seconds of video, even on a powerful computer. In the near-term, the technology may be more appropriate for use in offline video editing software, Snavely said. The next hurdle will be figuring out how to render new images when pixel information is lacking from the original video, such as when the subject moves too fast or the user wants to rotate the viewpoint 180 degrees. Snavely and Wang envision that soon it may be possible to incorporate generative AI techniques, such as text-to-image generators, to help fill in those gaps.

https://edition.cnn.com/2023/07/27/politics/mark-zuckerberg-contempt-vote-canceled/index.html House Judiciary Chair Jim Jordan announced Thursday that he is scrapping his plans to move forward with a contempt vote in light of Facebook turning over more documents to the committee. “Based on Facebook’s newfound commitment to fully cooperate with the Committee’s investigation, the Committee has decided to hold contempt in abeyance,” Jordan, a Republican from Ohio, wrote on Twitter. “For now. To be clear, contempt is still on the table and WILL be used if Facebook fails to cooperate in FULL.” The committee had originally scheduled to consider a contempt resolution on Thursday afternoon, a committee vote for which would be precursor before a full chamber vote, with Jordan’s tweet coming just a few hours before the panel was scheduled to meet. Republicans had initially subpoenaed the chief executive officers of Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Meta and Microsoft in February for information about their companies’ communications with the executive branch over how their content is moderated as as part of their broader investigation into censorship allegations. A source familiar told CNN that Facebook produced three recent batches of documents between Wednesday and Thursday morning. Prior to those batches, Facebook sent 53,000 pages of documents over 18 batches, and has allowed 10 employees to do transcribed interviews. Andy Stone, a spokesperson for Meta, confirmed the company delivered additional documents to the committee and pointed to an earlier statement it has made on its cooperation with the committee. “For many months, Meta has operated in good faith with this committee’s sweeping requests for information,” Stone said in the statement from last week. “We began sharing documents before the committee’s February subpoena and have continued to do so. To date we have delivered over 53,000 pages of documents – both internal and external – and have made nearly a dozen current and former employees available to discuss external and internal matters, including some scheduled this very week. Meta will continue to comply, as we have thus far, with good faith requests from the committee.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/endangered-monk-seal-pup-likely-died-dog-attack-hawaii-officials-say-rcna96335 An endangered monk seal pup found dead on the North Shore of the Hawaiian island of Oahu last month was most likely killed in a dog attack, federal officials said. The pup, tracked by researchers as RS48 but otherwise known as Ho‘omau Lehua, was born Feb. 23 not far from where she was found dead on June 12, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration Fisheries said in a statement Thursday. The seal had puncture wounds and other injuries, and officials believe she most likely died from a dog attack. There was no evidence of underlying disease, the agency said. Ho‘omau Lehua was at least the second monk seal to have been killed on Oahu this year. On March 12, RQ76, also known as Malama, was reported dead on the Westside, not far from the North Shore, NOAA Fisheries said. Malama's likely cause of death was found to be "intentional killing" by blunt force trauma, and a reward is being offered for information leading to a conviction in her death, the agency said. NOAA Fisheries said an off-leash dog was responsible for Ho‘omau Lehua's death and noted that that would be illegal under Honolulu law, which covers Oahu. Agency officials did not immediately respond to an inquiry about whether it would pursue any potential dog owners in the seal’s death. Off-leash dog attacks on wildlife are not unusual on Oahu, and at least one other seal has been killed and several have been injured in such attacks, according to NOAA Fisheries. Recommended INVESTIGATIONS China helps Russia evade sanctions and likely supplies tech used in Ukraine, U.S. report says NBC OUT & PROUD 'I am a gay man': Japanese pop star Shinjiro Atae comes out Federal officials estimate the monk seal po[CENSORED]tion to be 1,570, a number representing a decline from the first half of the 1900s but also one that includes an additional 400 seals in the last two decades and a more recent growth rate of 2%. Lack of food has been cited as a culprit in the seals' endangered status. Toxic algae poisoning is killing wildlife along California coast JULY 25, 202302:30 As an endangered species, the monk seal, which is indigenous to the Hawaiian archipelago, is protected under the Endangered Species Act, the Marine Mammal Protection Act and state law. Actions to take, harass, harm, pursue or kill such an animal are prohibited, and those prosecuted under the federal act could face up to a year in federal prison and a $50,000 fine. The nonprofit Hawai'i Marine Animal Response said its volunteers spotted Ho‘omau Lehua days before her death. "Finding her was incredibly sad for our team since she had been seen only a few days prior, had looked fine, and had been monitored since she was born," it said in a monthly update. The organization helped take the monk seal to a NOAA Fisheries facility for examination.

https://www.cycleworld.com/motorcycle-reviews/ktm-890-smt-first-ride-review/ Sensible supermoto or crazed sport-tourer? Yes! The SMT is back. Depending on how you view the world, the reborn KTM 890 SMT sits somewhere between a stripped-back adventure bike and a pumped-up supermoto. Or if you know your KTMs, between the KTM Adventure 890 and Duke 890. Here’s the thinking. Most adventure bikes never leave the asphalt, so the SMT’s sticky Michelin Power GP rubber and 17-inch rims make total sense, while road and track-focused ergonomics plus street-oriented WP Apex suspension deliver tauter, sharper handling than the dirt-aligned Adventure. It’s still tall and commanding like an adventurer, still has a long, deep seat that caters to big miles for both rider and pillion like a sport-tourer. And it still absolutely chimes with the classic sport-touring ideal of having a bike that can deliver you fresh to the mountains, then be good enough to rip up the switchbacks and sweepers when you arrive. This is supermoto touring. 2023 K T M 890 S M T parked in middle of mountain road While not available in the US as a 2023, word is that it will come as a 2024.KTM Like the original SMT that found a cult following some decade or more ago, it’s suffused with a racy attitude and also a craving for miles and weekends away. At its heart, however, is now the second-generation 889cc variant of the multipurpose parallel-twin LC8c, which, in one guise or another, propels an ever-growing number of middleweight Austrian machinery, as well as the odd Husqvarna and CFMoto too—GasGas incoming? This is a good choice. KTM could have slotted in the 890 unit deployed in the 119 bhp Duke R but instead opted for the Adventure-spec twin because it produces more torque below 7,500 rpm. Peak outputs of 103 hp at 8,000 rpm and 73.8 lb.-ft. of torque at 6,500 rpm along with 20 percent more rotating mass compared to the earlier 799cc design make for a well-blended mixture of midrange grunt and free-revving spirit. Exactly what a supermoto with an eye on the far horizon requires. Related: 2024 KTM 890 SMT Spied 2023 K T M 890 S M T studio overhead angle seat profile A long, deep seat provides all-day comfort.KTM The SMT’s press-launch venue of Sardinia proved an ideal environment, with the island’s endless ribbons of grippy sweepers and switchbacks seemingly made for the KTM. With instant throttle response, it drives purposefully from just 2,000 rpm, gaining venom as the revs build. It’s not a big engine but it is supremely lively. The SMT punches between braking points, as happy to be short-shifted at 8,000 rpm using the smooth (though only optional) quickshifter as it is to rev on beyond its 10,000 rpm peak. 2023 K T M 890 S M T riding on country road An 889cc parallel twin provides plenty of thrust out of slow or fast corners.KTM There’s a full house of riding modes: Rain, Street, and Sport, with the option of a Track setting. And the power delivery is managed by a cornering traction control system. Turn down the traction control to zero in Track, or turn it off at a standstill without the extra mode, and wheelies are inevitable, just as they always were on the original SMT. A key difference between the old and new SMT, however, is that away from the switchbacks and sweepers the fueling is now as precise as it is soft—anything but sharp—especially in Street and Rain modes. That said, the new SMT’s optional Track mode is a little too eager—it really is for trackdays, it seems. Sport is the preferable mode, which blends an urgent throttle response with more everyday usability. Suspension-wise, the SMT’s 43mm Apex fork and WP Apex monoshock have 180mm (7.1 inches) of travel front and rear. That compares to 200mm (7.9 inches) for the standard 890 Adventure, and 140mm (5.5 inches) front and 150mm (5.9 inches) rear travel for the 890 Duke. So again, the SMT is positioned between the two. There are 17-inch wheels at both ends and radial-mount KTM-branded calipers and 320mm discs plus Bosch cornering ABS. A special Supermoto mode allows you to lock the rear wheel while keeping the ABS active on the front. 2023 K T M 890 S M T front and rear wheels studio profile Fitted with 17-inch wheels, the SMT handles nearly as sharply as KTM’s 890 Duke.KTM On the road, a fully fueled SMT feels lighter than its claimed 454 pounds (the 890 Adventure is nearly 20 pounds heavier). It’s not soft and squidgy like a pure sport-tourer but plush, controlled, and well suited to, shall we call it, brisk touring. The SMT loves to carry speed through sweepers. It’s a scratcher, yes, but naturally fluid too and nearly as agile as the Duke R, arguably the nimblest middleweight naked of them all. Its wide bars and a classic up-front supermoto riding stance encourage you to throw the bike around, while the OE Michelin Power GP rubber warms up quickly and gives great feedback and grip. 2023 K T M 890 S M T wheeling on country road The 890 SMT’s ergonomics and supermoto stance allow you to throw the bike around as if it’s lighter and shorter than it is.KTM Once you reach those mountains and start to explore the supermoto side of the SMT on tighter turns, you need to tweak the WP Apex suspension, compression and rebound on the front and preload and rebound on the rear. The recommended Sporty suspension settings are, in typical KTM style, displayed under the seat, and it takes less than a minute to dial them in via the damping adjusters on the fork tops and a huge remote spring preload adjuster on the rear, which is easy to access. These easy adjustments bring focus and tighten the chassis significantly. In fact, the transformation from capable adventure-leaning sport-tourer to a hard-cornering, if rather large, supermoto is supremely effective. The rear doesn’t sit down as much during fast direction changes, while the steering is a little faster and the fork’s stroke more controlled. Meanwhile, ground clearance is plentiful, hence you can carry masses of corner speed without worry. 2023 K T M 890 S M T riding on twisty mountain road A few suspension adjustments and the 890 SMT is ready to mix it up with sportbikes.KTM Those KTM front stoppers are up for the job but lack a little bit of bite on the limit (as well as a bit of Brembo bling at the coffee stop) but you can have great fun attempting to back the SMT in on the way into corners (on closed roads such as those laid on by KTM in Sardinia, of course). Away from the fun, the SMT is accommodating in all key areas. The pegs are relatively low giving plenty of leg- and knee-room for all but extra tall riders, and the seat is as supportive as it is sporty. As well as the engine modes, cornering traction control and cornering ABS, the 890 SMT gets a 5-inch TFT dash that’s clear and easy to read and full LED lighting. There are phone connectivity, including navigation, and an optional Tech pack, which features the Moto Slip Regulator (MSR), cruise control, up-and-down quickshifter and the Track pack. Most likely, riders will get a set amount of time to demo these features and then have to pay for them much like with KTM’s other Tech and Track packs on other current models. 2023 K T M 890 S M T 5 inch T F T dash display A 5-inch TFT dash is easy to read and is the interface for all electronics on the 890 SMT.KTM Crucially, despite the passage of time and the advent of electronic rider aids, KTM has stayed faithful to the original SMT’s DNA. On the one hand, you have an adventure-oriented tourer that’s easy to live with, is comfortable and roomy, and has a plush all-day ride quality. On the other, you have an absolute cornering animal. Simply make the factory-recommended adjustments to the suspension, reduce the rider-aid intervention levels, and you have a bike that will stir the pot nicely at your local trackday. Interestingly, KTM’s website places it in the sport-tourer category, which, on balance, feels about right.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/66324791 It is not yet two years since Jordan Henderson wrote some 900 words in the Liverpool matchday programme, professing his support of Stonewall's Rainbow Laces campaign. "I do believe when you see something that is clearly wrong and makes another human being feel excluded you should stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them," the Reds captain wrote. They were words that solidified Henderson's status as an ally for the LGBTQ+ community. Today, they seem empty to some, leaving that same community wondering if there was ever any truth in what he wrote, after the England international joined the exodus to Saudi Arabia in signing a three-year deal at Al-Ettifaq. To his critics, his actions seem empty too, accepting a deal that will bring him an astonishing payday - a reported £700,000 per week - in a nation where the very people he claims to support are persecuted just for being who they are. Same-sex sexual activity is illegal in Saudi Arabia, with the death penalty a possible punishment. There have also been "consistent reports of discrimination and violence" against LGBTQ+ people in the country, according to Human Rights Watch. Jordan Henderson wearing a rainbow captain's armband Jordan Henderson joined Liverpool in 2011 and made 492 appearances for the Reds, winning the Premier League and Champions League That Henderson would actively choose to move to Saudi Arabia has left some fans, such as Reds supporter Keith Spooner, feeling "gutted". "On a personal level, I can understand there's financial reasons, there's personal reasons, there's game time, but I think as an advocate or an ally of people who are LGBT, whether it's in sport or life, there are knock-ons, repercussions of your actions, and his decision to go to Saudi Arabia and play there has definitely tarnished his reputation," he told BBC Sport. In December 2020, Spooner - who came out as gay at the age of 17 - was "completely caught off-guard" when Henderson replied to a tweet in which the Reds fan told his club's captain how his wearing of a rainbow armband - often worn to support LGBTQ+ causes - had "meant the world". Henderson told Spooner he would never walk alone - in a nod to Liverpool's anthem - in a tweet that has been liked by almost 30,000 people. It is that same rainbow armband that is desaturated from colour to black and white for much of the promotional video Al-Ettifaq released announcing their new signing's arrival. "Was that message an actual value that Jordan actually believed? Was it something that Liverpool Football Club believed? Or is it just a tick-box exercise?" said Spooner, 27. "It's getting to the stage where it's getting harder and harder to see whether or not these campaigns actually have value, or whether it is the case that these people are being told to make this comment or put out this tweet." He added: "The fact that he has now decided to move to Saudi, [given] their attitude to people like me, it does feel like part of what he would have said or previously spoken about in the past wasn't of true value, it wasn't the case that he truly believed it, so that's the big disappointment for me." Saudi Pro League: Which players have joined Saudi teams this summer Premier League chief Masters 'not too concerned' by Saudi influence Why is Saudi Pro League signing Premier League stars? Keith Spooner pictured holding up a Shamrock Rovers v Liverpool scarf at Anfield Liverpool fan Keith Spooner at Anfield Henderson has long been seen as one of the more socially conscious footballers, notably leading talks between Premier League captains on giving money to charities during the Covid-19 pandemic. In 2021, the same year he was shortlisted for a football ally honour at the British LGBT Awards, Henderson wrote those programme notes before Liverpool's Premier League match against Southampton. "Before I'm a footballer, I'm a parent, a husband, a son, a brother and a friend to the people in my life who matter so much to me," he wrote. "The idea that any of them would feel excluded from playing or attending a football match, simply for being and identifying as who they are, blows my mind. " Yet more words that have come back to haunt Henderson. The father of two daughters, should his young family accompany him to Saudi Arabia he will be bringing his children up in a nation with a distinct lack of women's rights - not until 2018 were women allowed to drive, while Saudi women still experience significant discrimination and unequal treatment. The criticism of Henderson's move is widespread, with former Aston Villa midfielder Thomas Hitzlsperger saying "silly me" after believing his support for the LGBTQ+ community was "genuine". After Henderson's departure from the Reds on Wednesday, Liverpool's LGBTQ+ fan group Kop Outs urged him to "stand by your words as a professed ally & champion of #LGBT+ rights, of women's rights and of basic human dignity". Pride in Football, a network of LGBTQ+ fan groups, said in a statement: "When you see someone who has been an ally so publicly transfer to a club in a country where LGBT+ people are attacked and imprisoned, it is disappointing. "Good luck in Saudi Arabia Jordan, but you have lost the respect of so many people who valued you, and trusted you." To date, Henderson has not addressed any of the criticism is facing. Should that moment come, many will be keen to hear what his latest words will be. "I'd be interested to hear what Jordan Henderson has to say," said Spooner. "Have his values changed? What does he think about the fact his rainbow armband is now blacked out? "There is huge hypocrisy - but it's up to Jordan to answer those questions."

https://www.reuters.com/world/uk/ireland-mourns-death-trailblazing-singer-sinead-oconnor-2023-07-27/ DUBLIN, July 27 (Reuters) - Ireland on Thursday mourned the death of Sinead O'Connor, the singer who was remembered for a stirring voice that stopped people in their tracks on stage and told uncomfortable truths off it. O'Connor, best known for the 1990 chart-topping hit "Nothing Compares 2 U", died on Wednesday aged 56 after police found her unresponsive at an address in London. Her death is not being treated as suspicious, London's Metropolitan Police said. Scroll to continue Report this ad Irish president Michael D. Higgins led tributes from around the world on Wednesday, praising her fearless commitment to the important issues which she brought to public attention, "no matter how uncomfortable those truths may have been." "My mam rang me last night and she said did you hear about Sinead and she didn't even have to say the second name. I knew exactly what she was talking about," said Michelle Beatty, a 45-year-old marketing professional from Dublin who parked her car and cried inside for 15 minutes when she heard the news. Scroll to continue Report this ad "She was important for so many women. She gave two fingers to the church, who at that time in the 90s had such a hold over Ireland. She was kind of dragging Ireland out of the dark ages kicking and screaming." "She stood up for people who didn't have a voice, people who are marginalized and what a voice she had, the voice of an angel." O'Connor's trademark shaved head and piercing eyes were on the front of every newspaper in Ireland and many abroad, while local radio shows were dominated by contributions from fellow artists, emotional listeners and the Dublin-born singer's music. Advertisement · Scroll to continue Report this ad [1/3]A man looks at an artwork depicting Irish singer Sinead O'Connor, who died at the age of 56, known for her chart-topping hit 'Nothing Compares 2 U', in Dublin, Ireland, July 27, 2023. REUTERS/Damien Storan Fans shared YouTube clips of past show-stopping performances on social media, as well as the rousing standing ovation she received in March when presented with the inaugural Irish Classic Album award at the annual Choice Music Prize ceremony. She dedicated the award to "each of every member of Ireland's refugee community." Columnist Una Mullally wrote in the Irish Times how Irish society had caught up with O'Connor in recent years, that people were "liberated enough to openly comprehend and appreciate her greatness at scale," embracing her in a new way. O'Connor's famous declaration of "fight the real enemy" after ripping up of a photo of Pope John Paul II during a 1992 television appearance on "Saturday Night Live" had made her a controversial figure at home and abroad at the height of her fame. When the Catholic church's influence in Ireland began to crumble within a matter of years over a string of clerical child sex abuse scandals, it showed the singer was "way ahead of her time," theatre manager Stephen Faloon said on Thursday. Some people laid flowers outside her former home in Bray, County Wicklow, with one handwritten message on a picture of O'Connor on the front page of a newspaper reading "incomparable xx." "Not only is she a musical genius, the most talented songwriter. Politically, she was a trailblazer. She spoke up about things before they were acknowledged in the public," said Faloon, 49, who was walking through central Dublin.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-66329430 Lawyers for former US President Donald Trump have met federal prosecutors, fuelling speculation he is about to be charged over efforts to overturn the 2020 US election result. Mr Trump's attorneys John Lauro and Todd Blanche met officials at the office of special prosecutor Jack Smith in Washington DC, US media report. Mr Trump said earlier this month that he expected to be indicted in the case. On Thursday he said his lawyers got no indication of when action could follow. "My attorneys had a productive meeting with the DOJ [Department of Justice] this morning, explaining in detail that I did nothing wrong, was advised by many lawyers, and that an Indictment of me would only further destroy our Country," he wrote on social media. Meetings between lawyers and prosecutors are not unusual ahead of charges being filed. Mr Trump previously said he had been told by Jack Smith's office that he was a target of the federal investigation into efforts to overturn his defeat in the presidential election. According to media reports, the target letter Mr Trump received on 16 July cites three federal statutes: conspiracy to defraud the US, deprivation of rights and tampering with a witness. The letter also called for the ex-president to report to a grand jury, "which almost always means an Arrest and Indictment", Mr Trump claimed. Dozens of top Trump administration officials and advisers have been interviewed as part of the special prosecutor's investigation, including former Vice-President Mike Pence and former Trump lawyer Rudy Giuliani.Those who have testified before the grand jury said they were asked about efforts by Mr Trump's team to organise slates of "fake electors" who would claim he had defeated Democrat Joe Biden in seven key battleground states. Prosecutors in the state of Georgia are also investigating the former president on similar grounds, focusing on whether he illegally pressured officials there to discard Mr Biden's poll victory. A decision by prosecutors in Atlanta on whether to indict Mr Trump there is expected next month. In June, Mr Smith's team charged Mr Trump in a different case where he is accused of mishandling classified documents. Mr Trump has also been charged in New York City with falsifying business records over 2016 hush money payments to adult film star Stormy Daniels.