-Ace Ϟ ™

Microsoft Studios boss Matt Booty has discussed Halo Infinite's launch, saying the launch was akin to a runner coming across the finish line and then tripping and falling down. "The classic runner's mistake of tripping and stumbling as you come across the finish line. We've got to recover there. The burden is on us," he said. Speaking on the Friends Per Second podcast (featuring GameSpot's own Lucy James), Booty said Halo Infinite had a great start, reaching 20 million players and setting records out of the gate. Booty said finishing Halo Infinite during the pandemic represented a worst-case scenario with hundreds of developers working across the world remotely to finish a big AAA title. While Halo Infinite's multiplayer had a strong launch, interest and engagement quickly fell off, due in part to a lack of exciting content. "These days, with a game like Halo Infinite, shipping the game is just the beginning. There has got to be a plan for content sustain; there has got to be a plan for regular continuing engagement. And we just fell short of the plan on that," Booty said. In response to this, Booty said the developers at 343 have "retrenched" and came up with a new setup to help deliver content in an effective way. The studio previously said it would need to slow down updates for Halo Infinite so it could get back up and running properly in the future, and this seems to be what Booty is alluding to. Booty also talked about the leadership changes at 343 as an example of how the team is setting out to make Halo Infinite the game is needs to be for fans. "Thank you to the players for sticking with us through this. We know there is way more demand and there is so much more we could be delivering," Booty said. "That is our focus right now... on quality of life for the game and getting on a regular cadence of content, getting back to that." Halo Infinite's next big update, The Winter Update, will arrive on November 8 with some major changes and improvements, as well as new features like campaign co-op and Forge. This will be Halo Infinite's biggest update ever. LINK

Genshin Impact's 3.2 update introduces the divine Dendro character Nahida and the ever-sleepy Cyro character Layla. In lore terms, Nahida is the vessel of Lesser Lord Kusanali, the god or Archon of the region Sumeru. Long trapped within the Sanctuary of Sursathana, she is now free and enters the game as a playable character. In gameplay, Nahida deals Dendro Damage with normal and special attacks. Her elemental skill is called All Schemes To Know, which spreads an area-of-effect Dendro damage around her. Holding the elemental skill button enters aiming mode, which lets her mark enemies and deal damage from afar. Her elemental burst brings forth The Shrine of Maya, which gains different effects based on the members of the player's party. Now Playing: Version 3.2 "Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises" Trailer | Genshin Impact Layla is a Rtawahist student who studies Theoretical Astrology. She struggles with somnambulism and often can't sleep, and therefore seeks a way to steadily rest. In play, she wields a sword and can place a shield called the Curtain of Slumber. This dome deals area-of-effect Cryo damage and protects those within it. She can also summon a celestial dreamsphere which fires small Cryo bolts at enemies. The update also adds a new story quest, a new Archon quest, and a new world quest as well as various changes, fixes, and optimizations. The full patch notes can be seen below or on the Genshin Impact website. I. New Characters 5-Star Character "Physic of Purity" Nahida (Dendro) Gnosis: Dendro Weapon: Catalyst A caged bird secluded within the confines of the Sanctuary of Surasthana who can only see the world in her dreams. Elemental Skill "All Schemes to Know" When tapped, Nahida sends forth karmic bonds of wood and tree from her side, dealing AoE Dendro DMG and marking opponents hit with the Seed of Skandha. When held, she enters Aiming Mode, which will allow you to select a limited number of opponents within a limited area. When Aiming Mode ends, this skill deals Dendro DMG to these opponents and marks them with the Seed of Skandha. Opponents who have been marked by the Seed of Skandha will be linked to one another up till a certain distance. After you trigger Elemental Reactions on opponents who are marked or when they take DMG from Dendro Cores (including Burgeon and Hyperbloom DMG), Nahida will unleash Tri-Karma Purification on this opponent and all connected opponents, dealing Dendro DMG based on her ATK and Elemental Mastery. Elemental Burst "Illusory Heart" Materializes the Court of Dreams and brings forth the Shrine of Maya. The Shrine provides different effects depending on the Elemental Types of characters in the party, as follows: Pyro: While Nahida remains within the Shrine of Maya, the DMG dealt by Tri-Karma Purification from "All Schemes to Know" is increased. Electro: While Nahida remains within the Shrine of Maya, the interval between each Tri-Karma Purification from "All Schemes to Know" is decreased. Hydro: The Shrine of Maya's duration is increased. If there are at least 2 party members of the aforementioned Elemental Types present when the field is deployed, the aforementioned effects will be increased further. Even if Nahida is not on the field, these bonuses will still take effect so long as party members are within the Shrine of Maya. 4-Star Character "Fantastical Evening Star" Layla (Cryo) Vision: Cryo Weapon: Sword A Rtawahist student who specializes in Theoretical Astrology. Heavily prone to somnambulism and locked in a grinding war with sleep deprivation, the problem of restful slumber is a most troubling one to her. Elemental Skill "Nights of Formal Focus" Puts forth a shield known as the Curtain of Slumber, dealing AoE Cryo DMG. The Curtain of Slumber's DMG Absorption is based on Layla's Max HP and absorbs Cryo DMG with 250% effectiveness. While the Curtain of Slumber is active, it will create 1 Night Star that will be attached to it every 1.5s. When a character protected by this shield uses an Elemental Skill, 2 Night Stars will be created. Night Stars can be created once every 0.3s in this way. A maximum of 4 Night Stars can be accumulated at any one time. Once 4 Night Stars have been accumulated and there are opponents nearby, these Night Stars will transform into homing Shooting Stars that will be fired off in sequence, dealing Cryo DMG to any opponents hit. If the Curtain of Slumber's duration ends or it is destroyed, the Night Stars will disappear. If they are already being fired off as Shooting Stars, these Shooting Stars will last until this wave of shots ends. New Night Stars cannot be created until the previous wave of Shooting Stars has been fired completely. Elemental Burst "Dream of the Star-Stream Shaker" Unleashes a Celestial Dreamsphere that constantly fires Starlight Slugs at opponents within its AoE, dealing Cryo DMG. When a Starlight Slug hits, it will generate 1 Night Star for nearby Curtains of Slumber. Each Curtain of Slumber can gain 1 Night Star this way every 0.5s. II. New System New Serenitea Pot System: "Replication" In the Serenitea Pot, Travelers can generate Replicas to record the Furnishings arrangement of the corresponding area in your realm via the Replication System. Each Replica has a corresponding Replica ID. By using a shared Replica ID, other Travelers can replicate the arrangement of the corresponding Furnishings in their own Realm. If the Replica ID used contains indoor Furnishings, you can reproduce the arrangement of these Furnishings in the same mansion. Note: To use the Replica ID, you need to unlock the corresponding Realm Layout area and have the required Furnishings. The owner of the Replica ID can choose to enable or disable the Replica sharing function at any time. If your friend enables sharing of their Replica, you can go to their Serenitea Pot and generate a Replica to record their Realm. Unlock Criteria: Unlock the Serenitea Pot System and complete the World Quest "A Teapot to Call Home: Part II" to unlock the Replication System III. New Equipment A Thousand Floating Dreams (5-Star Catalyst) Party members other than the equipping character will provide the equipping character with buffs based on whether their Elemental Type is the same as the latter or not. If their Elemental Types are the same, increase Elemental Mastery by 32. If not, increase the equipping character's DMG Bonus from their Elemental Type by 10%. Each of the aforementioned effects can have up to 3 stacks. Additionally, all nearby party members other than the equipping character will have their Elemental Mastery increased by 40. Multiple such effects from multiple such weapons can stack. During the event wish "Epitome Invocation," the event-exclusive 5-star weapon A Thousand Floating Dreams (Catalyst) will receive a huge drop-rate boost! IV. New Main Story 1. New Archon Quest Archon Quest Chapter III: Act V "Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises" Quest Unlock Criteria Reach Adventure Rank 35 or above Complete Archon Quest Chapter III: Act IV "King Deshret and the Three Magi" After the Version 3.2 update, Archon Quest Chapter III: Act V "Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises" will be permanently available. 2. New Story Quest Nahida's Story Quest "Sapientia Oromasdis Chapter: Act I - Lingering Warmth" Permanently available after the Version 3.2 update Quest Unlock Criteria Reach Adventure Rank 40 or above Complete Archon Quest Chapter III: Act V "Akasha Pulses, the Kalpa Flame Rises" 3. New World Quest New World Quest: "Next Time, On King of Invokations..." V. New Enemies New Boss This boss' attacks will create Energy Blocks. Pick these blocks up to recharge the Neo Akasha Terminal. Once it has energy, the Neo Akasha Terminal can be put to various uses. Dendro Hypostasis A hypostasis that uses an inert shell to defend itself. It now displays abnormalities due to having been corrupted by some unknown influence. When it is in danger, it will release Restorative Piths that have the properties of Tri-Lakshana Creatures. Use Dendro to revive these Piths and induce a Normal State in them to continuously cleanse the Dendro Hypostasis, and use Electro to trigger their Activated state and speed up the cleansing process. Located at Land of Lower Setekh VI. Other Additions 1. New Recipes: Sumeru's Puspa Café: Rose Custard Nahida's specialty: "Halvamazd" Layla's specialty: "Extravagant Slumber" 2. New Achievements added to the "Wonders of the World" category. 3. New Namecards: "Nahida: Crescent": Reward for reaching Friendship Lv. 10 with Nahida "Layla: Daydream": Reward for reaching Friendship Lv. 10 with Layla "Travel Notes: Fungus Land": Reward obtained via the BP system 4. Adds some prompts for loading screens. 5. New Item: Nature's True Fruit Purchased from Tubby the teapot spirit via the Realm Depot after completing the Archon Quest "Secret of the Scorching Desert" 6. New Serenitea Pot Realm Layout: "Sublime Spicewood" Unlocked after using the item "Nature's True Fruit" 7. On the Celestia Server, testing of the "Past Quest Resource Management" function has begun: Travelers can delete the audio and video resources corresponding to the completed Archon Quests and Story Quests on mobile, thus reducing the size of the game. The deleted audio resources can be re-downloaded after deletion. Travelers can do so in the "Settings > Resources > Quest Resources" interface. This feature has been tested on other servers in previous versions. 8. Spiral Abyss Floor 11 Ley Line Disorders changed to: All party members have their Elemental Mastery increased by 200. Updated the monster lineup on Floor 11 of the Spiral Abyss. Updated the monster lineup on Floor 12 of the Spiral Abyss. Starting from the first time that the Lunar Phase refreshes after updating to Version 3.2, the two Lunar Phases will be as follows: Phase I: Hailing Moon When characters deal DMG to an opponent, a shockwave will be unleashed at that opponent's position, dealing True DMG. Each Elemental DMG Type (including Physical DMG) can unleash a shockwave this way every 8s. Phase II: Lush Moon When characters trigger Burning, Quicken, Aggravate, Spread, Bloom, Hyperbloom, or Burgeon on an opponent, all party members will gain 10% Dendro DMG Bonus for 10s. This bonus can be triggered once every 5s. Max 4 stacks. Once 4 stacks have been gained, when characters deal Dendro DMG to an opponent, a shockwave will be unleashed at that opponent's position, dealing True DMG. A shockwave can be unleashed in this way once every 5s. The above Spiral Abyss update will take effect from November 16 at 04:00 (Server Time). Adjustments & Optimizations Enemies 1. Reduces the damage inflicted when the boss "Pyro Hypostasis" is in a Burning state and unleashes blazing punches or serpentine fireballs to hit the character continuously. System 1. Optimizes the Anti-Aliasing function on PC, PS4, and PS5. 2. After optimizing the Anti-Aliasing function, it will be possible to choose between "None" or "FSR 2" in Settings > Graphics on PC. Audio 1. Optimizes the sound performance of knocking down opponents and critical hits. 2. Optimizes the sound effects of some items and objects. 3. Optimizes the Japanese, Korean, and English voice-over for certain characters, NPCs, and quests. 4. Optimizes the Korean and English voice-over related to certain items. 5. Decreases the volume of Yae Miko's footstep sound effects when walking, running, and sprinting. Other 1. Rana, Jeht, Jebrael, and Habachi are now correctly affected by elemental effects. 2. Updates the materials that can be added to the Parametric Transformer: added some harvestable items and some items dropped by enemies. 3. Adjusts the ore types at certain locations in the Sumeru area: some Magical Crystal Ore will be adjusted to Crystal Ore. 4. Adjusts the visual effects display of Dendro Elemental Reactions to reduce the load on system performance (including Dendro Infusion, Bloom, Hyperbloom, Burgeon, Quicken, Aggravate, and Spread). Bug Fixes Quests 1. Fixes the issue of not being able to accept the follow-up quest "The Gourmet Supremos: Cleanup" from the World Quest "Gourmet Supremos: Within Our Duties" normally (After completing the quest, you can obtain the Recipes "Fish with Cream Sauce," "Potato Boat," and "Tandoori Roast Chicken"). 2. Fixes an issue with the World Quest "Equivalent Exchange Once More" whereby the number of quest items required to be submitted in the text did not correspond with the actual quantity submitted. 3. Fixes an issue whereby some characters can abnormally enter certain areas in the "Mysterious Ruins" Domain of the Archon Quest "Secret of the Scorching Desert." Enemies 1. Fixes an issue whereby the range of some skills of the enemy Eremite Daythunder was too large. 2. Fixes an issue whereby when the enemies Hydro Slime and Large Hydro Slime applied the Wet status to the surrounding area, the area of effect was abnormally high. 3. Fixes an issue whereby the boss Aeonblight Drake has a small probability of abnormally leaving combat under certain circumstances. 4. Fixes an issue whereby the Elemental Burst animation of some characters (e.g. Raiden Shogun) have a small probability of displaying abnormally when fighting the bosses Aeonblight Drake and Jadeplume Terrorshroom. Characters 1. Fixes an issue whereby some characters would stop swimming or float in the air abnormally under certain circumstances. 2. Fixes an issue whereby the special effects and some effects of Rain Swords generated by Xingqiu's Elemental Skill were abnormally missing when Xingqiu triggered his Elemental Skill after the Rain Swords generated by his Elemental Burst disappeared. 3. Fixes an issue in Co-Op Mode whereby when Diona unleashes her Elemental Skill, if Diona leaves the field while Icy Paws is flying, the effect "Creates a shield for other nearby characters on the field" from her Lv.2 Constellation will not apply normally. 4. Fixes an issue with Sangonomiya Kokomi whereby when she casts her Elemental Burst, there is a probability that she could fall into water abnormally when standing on the surface of the water and using Four-Leaf Sigils. 5. Fixes an issue whereby when Nilou leaves the field after swiftly casting her Elemental Skill in a short period of time and entering the Lunar Prayer state, the Lunar Prayer status cannot be removed normally. 6. Fixes an issue with Nilou whereby there is a small probability that her Elemental Burst is unable to hit enemies in certain situations. 7. Fixes an issue under certain circumstances whereby after Nilou casts her Elemental Burst, her weapon effects would not display correctly. 8. Fixes an issue whereby when Cyno casts his Elemental Burst, if the Elemental Skill that was cast in the "Endseer" state is interrupted, when casting the next Elemental Skill, the "Judication" effect will trigger abnormally even if Cyno is not in the "Endseer" state. System 1. Fixes an issue in Japanese whereby the description of the namecard "Nilou: Lotus Dance" was incorrect. 2. Fixes an issue whereby the length of some in-game icons would display abnormally on some iOS devices. 3. Fixes an issue on iOS devices whereby players could not use the controller to scroll up and down on data about character attributes in the Character Ascension interface. 4. Fixes an issue in Co-Op Mode whereby when multiple Cynos unleashed their Elemental Burst, there is a probability that the indication effect of Endseer could display abnormally (the actual effects of the skill work as intended in-game). 5. Fixes an issue whereby Scarabs had to be at very close range before it can be detected by the effect "can display nearby resources unique to Sumeru on the mini-map." 6. Fixes an issue whereby the actual effect does not match the text description for the Spiral Abyss' Benediction of the Abyss "Character DMG within 8s of sprint +20%. Can occur only once every 15s." The original actual effect is "Character ATK within 8s of sprint +20%." After the fix, its effects and description are: "Character DMG within 8s of sprint +20%. Each character can only do this once every 15s." Audio 1. Fixes an issue whereby Chongyun's "When It Snows" voice line could not be triggered when he is at Dragonspine. 2. Fixes an issue whereby some of Candace's Japanese voice-overs could not be played properly in the Character > Voice-Over interface. 3. Fixes an issue of incorrect background music in some areas of the Sumeru area. 4. Fixes an issue with the boss "Childe" whereby when he switches combat phases, his voice line would be interrupted abnormally. 5. Fixes an issue whereby abnormal switching of ambient sound effects and background music occurred in some areas. Other 1. Fixes an issue whereby under certain circumstances, there is a small probability that characters might float abnormally when climbing. 2. Fixes an issue whereby brief abnormal brightness changes would occur when some characters entered Aiming Mode or cast their Elemental Bursts. 3. Fixes an issue whereby some environment models were displayed abnormally. 4. Fixes an issue with abnormal collision size in some environments. 5. Fixes incorrect descriptions of some Fishing Points in The Chasm: Underground Mines. 6. Fixes an issue of abnormal color display in some features (such as meteorites summoned by the Geo Traveler's Elemental Skill, Paimon's cloak, Elemental Sight, etc.) in areas affected by "The Withering." 7. Fixes an issue under certain circumstances whereby the NPC Aranakula could follow the character abnormally. 8. Fixes an issue under certain circumstances whereby after some characters exited the Spiral Abyss interface, the in-game camera angle would not be correct. 9. Fixes some textual errors in 13 languages and optimizes text. "Note: Related in-game functions have not changed." (Travelers can view the changes in different languages by going to the Paimon Menu > Settings > Language and changing the Game Language.) Text-related fixes and optimizations in English include: Optimized some lines in Hu Tao's story in her Profile. Optimized some lines in Nilou's story in her Profile. Optimized some lines in Qiqi's story in her Profile. Optimized Cyno's character story. Optimized some lines in the quests and World Quests. Optimized instances of an item name from "Coconut Charcoal Cake" to "Charcoal-Baked Ajilenakh Cake." Optimized instances of an item name from "Redcrest" to "Henna Berry." LINK

God of War Ragnarok is a lavish production with pristine visuals, jaw-dropping scale, crunchy combat that is as satisfying as it is brutal, and a world that begs to have its every corner and crevice explored. It's a spectacular blockbuster, but these are the least of its achievements. In a game where a hulking god rips all manner of creatures limb from limb, the most shocking moments aren't bathed in blood, but carried by poignant words and heartfelt emotions. They are a former God of War--known for mercilessly killing his kin--finding the words to empathize with loss; a despondent child emploring a father to break a self-destructive cycle; a moment of tenderness in the life of a boy that has the weight of the world on his shoulders. God of War Ragnarok's most impressive achievements are its exploration of loss and love; grief and growth; determinism and defiance. It's an astoundingly well-written game that deconstructs the mythology of Norse gods and rebuilds it as an odyssey about families. Its story isn't about the end of the world, but those that have a hand in it. They're revered as mythical gods but are characterized by deep flaws, twisted by skewed perspectives, and corrupted by questionable motivations in the same way the people they preside over are. And yet, some also have redemptive qualities. In that respect, Ragnarok's story is told from a grey area where nuances blur the line between heroes and villains; good and evil. By constantly challenging you to reconsider who they are and the factors that drive their actions, these characters remain compelling throughout. There are moments when characters you're not supposed to be rooting for reveal the trials and tribulations that have shaped them, or the demons they battle. This alone is enough to humanize them, but Ragnarok also mirrors the struggles of the protagonists in the antagonists, forcing you to ask yourself, "If I'm willing to empathize with the good guys because of what they're going through, shouldn't I do the same for the bad guys?" The answer, it turns out, is very complicated, and that's what makes the story so captivating. Although Kratos and Atreus are the stars of the show, almost every character is in the midst of their own complicated journey. For some, it's one that will lift them from a pit of despair or pull them from darkness and onto a brighter path. For others, it's one that fuels obsessions that could be the undoing of everything and everyone. This is best illustrated by Kratos and Atreus who, by killing Baldur at the end of the last game, act as the harbingers of the end times. The consequences of this moment weigh differently on them, and what they feel is their responsibility because their actions pull them in different directions. Kratos, who has finally learned to guide his son through love instead of fear, focuses on steering him away from conflict and the affairs of the Aesir gods, but does so with the knowledge that his son is prophesized to play a part in Ragnarok and he is destined to die. Atreus, meanwhile, is compelled to prevent Ragnarok and find out who he is as Loki–the name he was given by the Giants–and sets off to find Tyr, the Norse God of War, to achieve his goals. This complicated dynamic serves as the conflict between them: a man that wants to avoid war at all costs, having learned the toll it extracts firsthand, versus a boy who believes war is the only way to unseat a power that has ruined the lives of so many. LINK

Rabat - The Bank of Africa Group (BOA), Morocco’s third largest banking group by market capitalization, is partnering with the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE) and the Renewable Energy Cluster (EnR) to coordinate efforts on decarbonizing the economy. The three parties signed two agreements on October 31, aiming to collaborate on supporting businesses to build sustainable business models, according to a statement. Under the first agreement between BOA and AMEE, the energy agency pledges to provide technical support to businesses while the bank undertakes the financing of the projects. The first agreement was signed by BOA's Executive Director Khalid Nasr, BOA's Deputy Director General Brahim Benjelloun-Touimi, and the CEO of the Moroccan Agency for Energy Efficiency (AMEE), Said Mouline. The second agreement relates to providing training on energy efficiency by the EnR. BOA is set to provide banking services including investment in the cluster’s activities. The second agreement was signed by Nasr, Benjelloun-Touimi and President of the Cluster EnR Obaid Amrane. Commenting on the signing of the deals, the CEO of AMEE insisted that “decarbonizing the economy without taxing the middle class is possible,” adding that “decarbonization of all sectors is a priority” to the Moroccan agency. On his part, the CEO of the Bank of Africa Group, Othman Benjelloun, noted that BOA, AMEE and the EnR cluster chose to combine their efforts “to contribute to the implementation of the low-carbon strategy adopted by the kingdom, as a major axis of the New Development Model and a new lever of competitiveness of companies and the Moroccan economy in general.” The signing of the two agreements took place within an event dubbed “Decarbonization, a lever of competitiveness for the Moroccan company.” The event is set to hold activities in multiple cities including Agadir, Tangier, Fez, among other cities. Read Also: Morocco's Bank of Africa to Issue Its First Social Bonds LINK

Five lions have sparked a brief emergency at an Australian zoo after escaping from their enclosure. The animals - one adult and four cubs - were spotted outside their exhibit at Sydney's Taronga Zoo about 6:30 local time on Wednesday (22:30 GMT Tuesday). The zoo was put in lockdown and one cub had to be tranquillised but all lions were secured within minutes, a spokesman said. No-one was injured. An explanation for the escape has not been given. But zoo executive director Simon Duffy called it a "significant incident" that would be investigated. He told local media the lions had entered a small area "adjacent" to their exhibit - about 100m from where guests were staying at the zoo overnight. The main zoo was closed at the time. "At no time did the lions exit that [adjacent] area or exit Taronga Zoo," he said. Mr Duffy added the small area was protected by a six-foot fence usually used to keep people at a safe distance, and the entire zoo was surrounded by a perimeter fence. CCTV footage had shown that a keeper raised the alarm within 10 minutes of the escape, the zoo said. Staff responded quickly to move all people on the site to safe locations, according to Mr Duffy. Four of the lions "calmly made their way back" to their enclosure. The lion exhibit will remain closed until further inspections to make sure it is "100% safe", Mr Duffy added. Animal escapes at Australian zoos are rare. In 2009, a lioness escaped its enclosure at Mogo Zoo, south of Sydney, and had to be shot dead because of the danger it posed to the public. LINK

Many of us like to enjoy a paan — with supari, gulkand, saunf, elaichi — after a hearty meal. But, did you know that gulkand, a viscous jam or marmalade made from rose petals and sugar, comes packed with numerous health benefits? From being a natural coolant to a powerful antioxidant, when consumed in moderate amounts daily, gulkand can have a positive impact on health. “Paan was initiated to consumed due to its digestive properties, as betel leaves are packed with many nutrients. Additionally, eating gulkand with a paan leaf can be an excellent remedy for digestion. It can also facilitate better absorption of nutrients and is iron-rich,” Reema Kinjalkar, nutritionist, Urban Platter As such, to elucidate the numerous benefits of consuming gulkand, dietitian Manpreet took to Instagram, which we bring to you. “Gulkand is an ayurvedic preparation that is made with fresh rose petals and sugar. A natural coolant, gulkand is quite refreshing and aids in digestion during summer; but it is much more than just a refreshing drink,” she captioned the post. Echoing similar views, Dr Dixa Bhavsar, an Ayurveda expert, too, had taken to social media to share a post, writing: “Gulkand, an Ayurvedic tonic, is undoubtedly the most delicious Ayurvedic preparation known to mankind. It is also naturally rich in calcium and has antioxidant activity. It can be used year-round by persons of all constitutions, especially pitta.” Here are some of the benefits of adding gulkand to your diet Gut health: According to Reema Kinjalkar, gulkand has a natural cooling effect and is rich in probiotic bacteria which not only enhances your gut flora but also reduces acidity/heat in the tummy, treats intestinal ulcers and swelling, and strengthens the liver. It improves appetite and digestion, too. Kids and adults can consume it for constipation problems, as it is a mild laxative. It also fixes bloating problems and makes your stomach look flatter and thinner. “Also, it helps in the smooth elimination of stools,” added Manpreet. Skin health: Gulkand also works great as a blood purifier and detoxifier making the skin clean and clear. “It can help prevent skin problems like boils, blisters, and acne. Also, it has a powerful antioxidant profile that acts against free radicals and reduces the inflammation caused due to stress and pollution,” explained Reema. Reproductive health: The nutritionist further added that many scientific researches backed gulkand for being a proven reliever during heavy painful menstrual bleeding, white discharge, and other menstrual disorders. “It also relaxes the muscles of the reproductive organs. Also, men can have it to increase sperm count and its mobility,” she said. Also Read |Gulkand: Here’s why you should have rose petal jam in summers Boosts energy: Gulkand spikes the levels of haemoglobin in our blood, transporting more oxygen, and energy to all body cells, listed Manpreet. If you think something with so many benefits will be difficult to prepare, you are in for a treat! Gulkand is extremely easy to prepare at home; try this recipe shared by Manpreet. Ingredients *1 cup – Rose petals *1/2 cup – Jaggery/honey Preparation *Take fresh rose petals, wash and dry them on a piece of cloth. *Put the petals into the mixer and grind them. You can also cut the petals into small pieces. *Mix the chopped/grounded petals with honey or jaggery and keep it in a glass jar. *Close the jar with a lid and keep it in sunlight for 7-8 days. *Store in an airtight container and refrigerate it. *You can store it for a year or more. Consume a teaspoon gulkand in 150 ml of milk and add a pinch of turmeric and pepper and jaggery, as per taste, suggested Manpreet. “Have it daily after dinner,” she added. Adding, Reema said, “If you are someone who has sugar cravings way too often, have a tsp of gulkand first on an empty stomach every day. Those who have acidity problems or any gut-related issues can consume it by mixing it with water and sipping this water daily. LINK

Pakistan's former prime minister, Imran Khan, has been shot and wounded in the leg in an attack on his protest march in the eastern city of Wazirabad. It is unclear whether the politician was deliberately targeted as one of his senior aides claimed, or if he was hit by indiscriminate gunfire. Members of his PTI party said another four people were hurt in the shooting. Mr Khan, 70, was leading the march on the capital Islamabad to demand snap elections after he was ousted in April. The former prime minister was seen being taken to a hospital in Lahore. A party spokesman said he had been hit in the shin. Another party leader, provincial health minister Yasmeen Rashid, said Mr Khan was in a stable condition. An unnamed male suspect was later arrested, according to Pakistan's Geo TV. Footage from the scene shows a conscious Imran Khan with a bandage on his right leg being taken away in a vehicle after the shooting. One video shows a PTI member with a bandage on his face and blood on his clothing, saying that people should pray for Mr Khan and all those injured. Current Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif condemned the shooting and ordered an immediate investigation. Mr Khan has been leading a protest march - the second such rally this year - for the past seven days, calling for new elections. The government has repeatedly said it will hold elections next year, as planned. Last month, Pakistan's election commission disqualified Mr Khan from holding public office in a case described by the former star cricketer as politically motived. He had been accused of incorrectly declaring details of gifts from foreign dignitaries and proceeds from their alleged sale. The gifts included Rolex watches, a ring and a pair of cuff links. Pakistan has a long history of deadly political violence. In the most high-profile case, former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto was assassinated at a public rally in 2007. LINK

Live Performance Title: Dj Kantik - Teriyaki Boyz - Tokyo Drift & Sean Paul - Temperature (Remix) Signer Name: Dj Kantik Live Performance Location: - Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video): 9/10

Music Title: Orkestrated and Fries & Shine ft. Big Nab - Melbourne Bounce (Deorro Remix) Signer: Melbourne Bounce Release Date: 08/09/2013 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer: - Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video): 10/10

DH2 nice

• Name: @-Ace Ϟ ™ • Time & Date: 05/11/2022 - 02:00 • Screenshot: HERE

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• Name: @-Ace Ϟ ™ • Time & Date: 04/11/2022 - 4:20 • Screenshot: HERE

Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador said he had asked officials in early 2020 to help the sisters of famous Mexican drug lord Joaquin Guzman, better known as "El Chapo", to arrange a meeting at the US Embassy in order to request visas to enter the United States. And the Bloomberg News Agency quoted President Obrador, also known as "Amlo" - according to his initials - as saying at a press conference yesterday, Thursday, that he did not know whether they eventually obtained the visas. It is noteworthy that the Mexican president had met El Chapo's mother on March 30 and pledged to help her see her son. Mexico extradited El Chapo to the United States in 2016, and he is now in a maximum security prison in the western state of Colorado. In 2019, the United States sentenced "El Chapo" - who is considered the most powerful drug trafficker in the world - to life imprisonment, after he transported to the country at least 1,200 tons of cocaine during a quarter of a century, but his gang still continues to transport the bulk of the drug US intervention. LINK

Conservative MP Andrew Bridgen is facing a Commons suspension after breaching lobbying rules "on multiple occasions and in multiple ways". The cross-party Standards Committee found he had displayed a "very cavalier" attitude to the rules. It called for him to be suspended for a total of five sitting days for offences including an "unacceptable attack upon the integrity" of Standards Commissioner Kathryn Stone. The whole House will vote on sanctions. In a statement, the North West Leicestershire MP said he was "extremely disappointed", but accepted the committee's findings and would "comply with them as required to do so", The committee said Mr Bridgen had called the integrity of Ms Stone into question on the basis of "wholly unsubstantiated and false allegations, and attempted to improperly influence the House's standards processes". It recommended a suspension of three days for this - in addition to two days for for three breaches of the MPs' code of conduct, including failing to declare a relevant interest in emails to ministers. The report found Mr Bridgen had "demonstrated a very cavalier attitude to the House's rules on registration and declaration of interests, including repeatedly saying that he did not check his own entry in the register". The committee said Mr Bridgen should have told ministers and officials he received a donation and a funded visit to Ghana from the Cheshire-based firm Mere Plantations, and had a £12,000 contract to be an adviser. He was found to have committed a "significant litany of errors" by failing to do so in eight emails to ministers, and in five meetings with ministers or public officials, as he discussed Mere's tax treatment and trading of carbon credits. The MP had questioned whether his reputation as an outspoken critic of then-prime minister Boris Johnson could have influenced Ms Stone's findings. He wrote to her saying: "I was distressed to hear on a number of occasions an unsubstantiated rumour that your contract as Parliamentary Standards Commissioner is due to end in the coming months and that there are advanced plans to offer you a peerage, potentially as soon as the Prime Minister's resignation honours list. "There is also some suggestion amongst colleagues that those plans are dependent upon arriving at the 'right' outcomes when conducting parliamentary standards investigations. "Clearly my own travails with Number 10 and the former PM have been well documented and obviously a small part of me is naturally concerned to hear such rumours. "More importantly however you are rightfully renowned for your integrity and decency and no doubt such rumours are only designed to harm your reputation." The committee said Mr Bridgen's email "appears to be an attempt to place wholly inappropriate pressure on the commissioner" which is "completely unacceptable behaviour". The Commons will vote on whether to approve the recommended five days' suspension. Mr Bridgen must also apologise to the House and the commissioner. But he will not face a recall petition from his constituents - that could have triggered a by-election - because the period of suspension falls short of the 10 sitting days required. His trip in August 2019 to a plantation funded by Mere, which grows mainly teak in the Ashanti region of Ghana while focusing on the reforestation of degraded land, was valued at £3,251.51. Mr Bridgen argued during the investigation that the lobbying rules did not apply because the trip was of "negative financial benefit" to him. He said he was left "personally out of pocket" because he paid for his own yellow fever vaccination and bought local currency which he could not convert to pounds once back in the UK. "This local currency I gave away to a Ghanaian doorkeeper in Parliament as I would not be visiting again," he told the committee. Mere also donated £5,000 to Mr Bridgen's local Conservative association in October 2019. His correspondence with ministers included emails to Kwasi Kwarteng when he was business secretary in February 2021 and then-financial secretary to the Treasury Jesse Norman in August 2021. Mr Bridgen argued he did not need to declare interests when "acting as a constituency MP", but the committee ruled that this exemption "cannot be considered as a blank cheque" and that his activities extended beyond the initial constituency focus. Ms Stone - who is independent - found that the MP "habitually failed to declare his interests with Mere Plantations". Labour's Shadow Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the case was "just another example of the lack of ethics and integrity at the heart of the Conservative Party". LINK

Cats are so flexible that a 2014 study half-jokingly investigated whether felines are liquids. But joking aside, traditional fluid mechanics can't explain the impressive contortions kitties can take when squeezing through small holes. So how do cats pull off these feats? The key to cats' ability to apparently "flow" like fluids through tiny gaps is their unique shoulder girdle. In humans, the shoulder girdle is composed of the shoulder blades, or sca[CENSORED]s; and the collarbones, or clavicles, according to the National Center for Biotechnology Information(opens in new tab) (NCBI). The shoulder blades and the collarbones are connected together in humans. The resulting shoulder girdle provides rigid support for the muscles of the arms, the NCBI noted. Related: Is it safe for cats to drink milk? In contrast, the shoulder blades of cats are attached to the rest of the body only by muscles and not bone, according to the Catonsville Cat Clinic(opens in new tab) in Maryland. The same holds true for cats' collarbones, Nathalie Dowgray(opens in new tab), head of the International Society of Feline Medicine in the United Kingdom, told Live Science. Moreover, feline collarbones are much smaller in comparison with the rest of the cat's body than human collarbones are to the rest of our bodies, Dowgray said. These anatomical features help cats squeeze through tight openings. "Being able to fit into small spaces is an evolutionary advantage when hunting small prey such as mice, but also for hiding and escape from potential predators," Dowgray said. In addition, cats' whiskers also help them squeeze through spaces. Whiskers are hairs that are twice as thick as cats' "guard hairs" (the longer, coarser hairs in cats' fur) and sit three times as deep within the skin, Dowgray said. "The base of each whisker is packed with nerve endings, providing cats with a highly sensitive navigational system that conveys a large amount of information about their surroundings," Dowgray said. "This includes judging the size of small spaces before attempting to squeeze through." Does their impressive flexibility mean cats are essentially liquids? Marc-Antoine Fardin, a physicist at Paris Diderot University, investigated that question in a 2014 study, for which he won an Ig Nobel Prize(opens in new tab) — a parody of the Nobel Prize that honors research that "makes people laugh, then think."Fardin concluded that cats can either be liquid or solid, depending on the situation, he wrote in a 2017 piece in The Conversation(opens in new tab). A liquid is traditionally defined as a material that adapts its shape to fit a container. Given enough time, cats meet this definition, with images on the internet showing they can fit into sinks, vases, bowls, jars and wine glasses, Fardin noted in his study. Why do cats like to squeeze into tiny spaces? "Cats commonly choose to hide in small spaces, like under the bed, when they feel stressed or frightened, as this helps them feel more safe and secure," Dowgray said. "Cats will also choose small spaces for privacy when they need some time out from their surrounding environment. Avoid disturbing cats in small spaces, unless you are concerned that they may be injured or unwell." LINK

Waking up in the middle of the night under pressure from the need to urinate, is a problem that disturbs the sleep of many. Although drinking fluids late in the evening is not in itself harmful to health, getting up in the middle of the night to go to the bathroom may interfere with general sleep quality and well-being. And the “Deutsche Welle” (DW) website had reported earlier, that a study conducted in Boston, in the United States, on more than 5,000 people, indicated that “waking up to go to the bathroom during the night may be associated with an increased likelihood of symptoms of depression,” which makes us resort to To the experts to learn about solutions to this problem. The problem with drinking time A spokeswoman for the American Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, Amy Braganini, addresses the “impact of drinking more fluids late in the day”; She tells the HuffingtonPost that while it is important to drink enough fluids to keep the body hydrated (15.5 cups per day for men, and 11.5 cups for women, according to nutrition experts), most people don't achieve this, or perhaps do, but in time. inappropriate. She explained that "the problem is not in how much we drink, but in the timing of drinking," and how close or far it is from the time to go to bed. Drinking different fluids all the time affects the sleep cycle, and waking up to go to the toilet becomes one of the results of drinking caffeinated drinks in the evening, or drinking a large glass of water right before bed. So, Braganini advises, "stop drinking most types of fluids at least two hours before bedtime." When to stop drinking fluids To get a good night's sleep, experts suggest a specific time period to stop drinking these fluids, in the afternoon and into the evening. Caffeinated drinks Although we often drink coffee or any other caffeinated beverage to combat the bouts of drowsiness that haunt us in the afternoon, sleep neurologist Chris Winter warns, “The more caffeine you drink later, the more it affects your sleep.” Ingesting more than 400 milligrams of caffeine per day (the equivalent of about 4 cups of coffee), can cause you to sleep and become dehydrated. "Caffeine can act as a stimulant, reducing the depth of sleep and affecting the duration of sleep," Braganini adds. Therefore, research suggests that "it's a good idea to stop drinking caffeine at least 6 hours before bed" if we want to get a good night's sleep. Juices and sugary drinks It is not recommended to drink a lot of sugary liquids - such as soft drinks or juices - at any time of the day in general, and before bed in particular; Consuming more sugar leads to the risk of weight gain and tooth decay. Braganini adds that eating sugary fluids in the evening “raises blood sugar, which stimulates the pancreas to secrete insulin, which in turn allows glucose to enter cells to provide energy, and to keep you awake at night.” She says it's best to "avoid sugary drinks at least two hours before bed." dairy It's common that drinking a glass of warm milk in the evening can help sleep, especially for older adults, "as milk contains tryptophan, an amino acid that may cause drowsiness," according to the Huffington Post. But Braganini says that "research on the benefits of drinking milk before bed is limited, and some researchers urge caution about eating dairy products before bed," because it can increase the risk of acid reflux, which causes stomach acid to flow into the esophagus. Therefore, expert Chris Winter considers that "to stop eating dairy products at least two hours before bed is a good option for most people." LINK

Iranian security forces have opened fire on crowds near Tehran marking the 40th day of mourning for a woman shot dead while protesting, witnesses say. Videos showed thousands walking along roads to reach the grave in Karaj of Hadis Najafi, who has become a symbol of the anti-government unrest in Iran. State-run media say "rioters" killed a militiaman and injured 10 police. But witnesses told the BBC that security forces attacked protesters with shotguns, tear gas and machetes. "They [security forces] were firing birdshot at people," said one person living in an area where there were clashes. "They stabbed a protester with a machete after he fell to the ground, already hit with birdshot." LINK

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