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Introduction Don't get a Pixel 7 - pick the 7a instead. That more or less summarized our thoughts from our initial encounter with Google's latest a-series smartphone, and we're here now with the full review to establish how correct that early assessment was. It's a pretty natural conclusion that anyone can arrive at, really, even by simply looking at the specsheet - and, simultaneously, at the pricelist. The 7a gets closer to the 'high-end' models than any previous offering with an 'a' in its name, and comes in at a not-insignificant $100/€100 less (or thereabout, depending on who you ask and at what time) - what's not to like? But let's not put the verdict before the review. The 7a improves on some key areas that held the 6a back. Perhaps most importantly, you now get a 90Hz display in place of the old model's dated 60Hz unit. Yes, the bulk of the competition is at 120Hz already, but the jump from 60 to 90 is the most noticeable from a usability perspective, so maybe we can give the 7a a pass. The camera system gets a boost too. A new 64MP Quad Bayer main unit replaces the basic 12.2MP one of the 6a - those are more pixels than you'd get with a Pixel 7 (50MP), even though it's a smaller sensor. Similarly, the 13MP ultrawide is also higher-res (if only just) than the one on the 6a and the 7, albeit with a smaller sensor. There's no AF on this one, but then it's only the 7 Pro that has an autofocusing ultrawide, so the 7a doesn't really lose points here against the 7. The selfie camera is another 13MP affair, that one too being nominally superior to its brethren's setups. A noteworthy addition to the a-series feature set is wireless charging. You may scoff at the 7.5W throughput, but you're unlikely to be in a hurry when sleeping. And it's not like Pixels are known for fast charging to begin with. You get the same Tensor G2 chipset on the 7a that the 7 comes with. While it's somewhat underpowered compared to other high-end SoCs that the 7 is fighting against, it looks a lot better in the 7a's context. Battery capacity is essentially the same between the two models, and the 7a may eke out a few extra minutes of battery life thanks to its slightly smaller display and lower max refresh rate - we'll see in due time if less ends up being more in this respect. Less is less in the 7a's IP rating, but the IP67 should be as good as the 7's IP68 for that one-time accidental bathroom dunk. The lack of a storage option other than 128GB isn't as easy to dismiss, though - maybe the 256GB version remains the key thing the 7 has going for it in this head-to-head. Google Pixel 7a specs at a glance: Body: 152.0x72.9x9.0mm, 194g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 3), aluminum frame, plastic back; IP67 dust/water resistant (up to 1m for 30 min). Display: 6.1" OLED, HDR, 90Hz, 1080x2400px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 429ppi; Always-on display. Chipset: Google Tensor G2 (5 nm): Octa-core (2x2.85 GHz Cortex-X1 & 2x2.35 GHz Cortex-A78 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A55); Mali-G710 MP7. Memory: 128GB 8GB RAM; UFS 3.1. OS/Software: Android 13. Rear camera: Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.9, 26mm, 1/1.73", 0.8µm, Dual Pixel PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 13 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 1.12µm. Front camera: 13 MP, f/2.2, 20mm (ultrawide), 1.12µm. Video capture: Rear camera: 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, OIS; Front camera: 4K@30fps, 1080p@30fps. Battery: 4385mAh; 18W wired, PD3.0, 7.5W wireless. Connectivity: 5G; eSIM; Wi-Fi 6e; BT 5.3; NFC. Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers. Google Pixel 7a unboxing We've come to expect minimal bundles from certain companies, and Google is one of them. It's no surprise then, that the Pixel 7a ships in a box that's barely larger than the handset itself. The two-piece white cardboard package has a likeness of the phone on lid, color-matched to the actual unit inside. The contents include a USB-C cable and USB-C male to USB-A female adapter - standard Google stuff. There's no charger inside, but on some markets you may get Google's 30W adapter (in its own separate retail packaging) included in the price - that was the case with our German review unit. We did get ours from a third-party retailer, as opposed to the Google online store, and not all retailers appear to be running the same promo. Chances are you'll be needing to come up with your own charger, is what we're saying. Now, while the charger situation is not exclusive to the Pixel 7a, a lot of competitors in the segment do come with adapters in the box. A bundled protective case is also not unheard of. Perhaps a value-oriented consumer like the ones eyeing a 7a would appreciate getting a bit more for their money. https://www.gsmarena.com/google_pixel_7a-review-2573.php

Memorial Day, a time to remember and honor the sacrifices of service members, is fast approaching. In recognition of their dedication, BLUETTI proudly introduces the Veterans and Military Purchase Program to support and express gratitude to active duty and retired military personnel. Veterans and Military Purchase Program: Honoring Heroes From May 25th to 31st, eligible individuals can enjoy an extra 10% off on all products available on the official BLUETTI website on top of existing promotions or offers. To claim this bonus, simply choose the ideal power products on BLUETTI official site, verify your military identity on the checkout page and catch incredible savings. Enhancing Your Memorial Day Outdoor Experiences Memorial Day weekend is not only a time for remembrance, but also heralds the arrival of summer—a perfect season for barbecues, picnics, and various outdoor activities. BLUETTI's power solutions can boost outdoor experiences by providing reliable and portable power wherever and whenever needed. Portable Power Solutions: AC60 and EB3A The AC60 and EB3A weigh approximately 20 lbs and 10 lbs respectively, perfect for light travels and short excursions. Small in size, they are still capable of charging your phones, motion cameras, mini-fridges, electric grills, and other small appliances during your camping trip. The AC60 boasts an impressive IP65 ingress rating, making it resistant to water and dust. You can use it in various outdoor environments, such as rain forests, beaches, and even at sea. To unlock even more outdoor possibilities, you can pair the AC60 with B80 expansion battery packs for a max capacity of 2,015Wh. The newly launched AC60 still has an early-bird price that can be overlaid with this special offer. Capability and Portability Combined: AC200P and AC200MAX If you're looking for a versatile power for both outdoor camping and emergency backup, you won't go wrong with the AC200P and AC200MAX. With a 2,000Wh to 2,048Wh power capacity, these power stations can deliver 2,000W to 2,200W of power for your electric grills, blenders, TVs, coffee makers, mini-fridges, and more. They can also harness the power of the sun and provide continuous power for your outdoor fun anytime, thanks to a max solar input of 700W to 900W that ensures a quick charge in 3~3.5 hours. The AC200P and AC200MAX can also serve as home backup power sources as their capacities can be boosted by external battery packs, such as the 2,048Wh B230 and 3,072Wh B300. The AC200P only supports one B230 or B300 battery, while the AC200Max can connect at least two batteries of each for a max storage of 8,192Wh. Powerful and Versatile: AC300 and AC500 Series For off-grid living and home backup, BLUETTI offers the AC300 and AC500 series. The AC300, BLUETTI's first modular power station, features a 3,000W inverter and works with one to four external B300 batteries to provide a flexible capacity of 3,072Wh to 12,288Wh, enough power for mutiple days traveling. The AC500 increases its output to 5,000W and can power larger loads than its AC300 predecessor. Moreover, the AC500 is also compatible with B300 (only four) in addition to its exclusive B300S battery (up to six), which allows you to have a max power of 18,432Wh. If you need more power, just replace the AC300 with AC500, problem solved. If not, there is another solution: 240V Split Phase Bonding. By combining two sets of AC300+B300 or AC500+B300S, you can double the power and voltage. Take the AC500 for example, its power jumps to 10,000W while its capacity bumps to 36,864Wh. You can use doubled energy to power any device. Furthermore, both models offer a 24/7 uninterruptible power supply (UPS) function with less than 20ms switching time. This protects you from data loss and inconvenience caused by sudden power outages. Make the Most of BLUETTI'S Offer Through the Veterans and Military Purchase Program, BLUETTI takes this chance to show its deep appreciation and respect for the invaluable contributions of military personnel. Get ready to enjoy this Memorial Day weekend and bring some reliable portable power from BLUETTI. BLUETTI is also running a Refer a Friend Program: You'll earn one BLUETTI buck for every dollar your friends spend, and they'll also receive a 5% discount. Learn more at https://www.bluettipower.com/pages/refer-a-friend About BLUETTI BLUETTI has been committed to promoting sustainability and green energy solutions since its inception. By offering eco-friendly energy storage solutions for both indoor and outdoor use, BLUETTI aims to provide exceptional experiences for our homes while also contributing to a sustainable future for our planet. This commitment to sustainable energy has helped BLUETTI expand its reach to over 100 countries and gain the trust of millions of customers worldwide. https://wccftech.com/bluetti-launches-veterans-and-military-purchase-program-exclusive-discounts-on-power-solutions/

EA has given the green light for plenty of YouTube creators to post their F1 23 gameplay videos today. While there are a ton of them out there, we’ve embedded the Codemasters playlist below for easier watching. F1 23 will release on June 16 for PlayStation 5, PlayStation 4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One and PC through Epic Games Store, Steam and the EA App. Players that pre-order the digital-exclusive Champions Edition will get three days of early access on June 13. https://www.operationsports.com/f1-23-gameplay-videos-bahrain-silverstone-hungary-gp-much-more/

Two machine guns, two pistols and nearly 2,000 rounds of ammunition have been lost by UK armed forces over the past two years. Meanwhile, two SA80 Cadet PP Rifles were stolen in 2021. The figures, first reported by the Daily Mirror, also showed 258 laptops had been lost or stolen from the Ministry of Defence (MoD). The MoD said it had "robust procedures to deter and prevent losses and thefts". The figures, released after a Freedom of Information request, revealed two general-purpose machine guns (GPMGs), one Glock 43X Pistol, one Glock 17 Pistol and one deactivated AK47 Rifle, were lost by the department in 2021 and 2022. Some 76 computers and 124 USBs were also lost or stolen over the two-year period. More than 2,000 government mobiles lost or stolen MoD has failed taxpayers by wasting £13bn - Labour The MoD said the lost AK47 Rifle and stolen SA80 Cadet PP Rifles were deactivated and could not be reconverted into lethal weapons. It said most ammunition was lost accidentally during exercises or operations. The department added that all laptops, tablet computers and USBs were encrypted to minimise the impact of any losses. Labour's shadow defence secretary John Healey said: "The first duty of any government is to keep people safe, so ministers have serious questions to answer on how these weapons, electronics and ammunition have gone missing from MoD bases, and who's got them now. "At a time when external threats are rising, ministers must sort out security inside the MoD to ensure UK equipment doesn't fall into the wrong hands." An MoD spokeswoman said: "We take the security of defence assets very seriously and have robust procedures to deter and prevent losses and thefts. In some cases of reported theft, the property is later recovered. "If any items are reported lost or missing due to suspected criminal activity, we will take the necessary steps to investigate and prosecute." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65727894

Inostrancevia, a creature with tough skin like a rhino's, migrated 7,000 miles across the ancient supercontinent Pangaea and briefly dominated what is now South Africa before going extinct. At the dawn of the most devastating mass extinction in Earth's history 252 million years ago, species fought tooth and nail to survive in the changing environment. Ancient predators in particular, struggled ruthlessly to stay at the top of the food chain. Now, scientists have discovered that a tiger-size, saber-toothed beast called Inostrancevia briefly dominated southern ecosystems after migrating across the supercontinent Pangaea from what is now Russia to South Africa. Inostrancevia belonged to an ancient group of mammals called the gorgonopsians that went extinct during the “Great Dying,” also known as the Permian-Triassic or late-Permian mass extinction. The fearsome carnivore had tough skin like an elephant or rhinoceros and looked somewhat reptilian. "All the big top predators in the late Permian in South Africa went extinct well before the end-Permian mass extinction," Pia Viglietti, a research scientist at the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago who participated in the discovery, said in a statement. "We learned that this vacancy in the niche was occupied, for a brief period, by Inostrancevia." Based on previous fossil discoveries, researchers thought that this saber-toothed giant was endemic to Laurasia — the northern continental mass of Pangaea. Today this encompasses North America, Greenland, Europe and northern Asia. But in 2010 and 2011, paleontologists unearthed two gigantic skulls and a skeleton in South Africa's Karoo Basin that looked different to those normally found in the region. "The fossils themselves were quite unexpected," Viglietti said. In a study published Monday (May 22) in the journal Current Biology, the researchers found that the remains discovered in South Africa belong to Inostrancevia and that the creature traveled around 7,000 miles (11,300 kilometers) south during the late Permian. Once there, it replaced a group of endemic predators called the rubidgeines — a subset of gorgonopsians that had a large snout and blade-like canines. The local carnivores of Karoo went extinct "quite a bit" before the Great Dying truly set in, Viglietti said. It's unclear how and over what timescales Inostrancevia crossed Pangaea, but it appears that the carnivore filled a gap in ecosystems that had lost their top predators. Its reign was short-lived, however: The team found no evidence that Inostrancevia survived into the Triassic (252 million to 201 million years ago). Massive volcanic eruptions towards the end of the Permian triggered catastrophic climate change, wiping out nine out of 10 species on the planet. Some gorgonopsians persisted, but they didn't survive for long and have been referred to as a "dead clade walking." Due to their large body sizes, slow maturation rates and low po[CENSORED]tion densities, top predators are often some of the first species to disappear during mass extinction events. "Apex predators in modern environments tend to show high extinction risk," study lead author Christian Kammerer, a paleontologist at the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, said in the statement. "We should expect that ancient apex predators would have had similar vulnerabilities." When it went extinct at the end of the Permian, Inostrancevia left a gap at the top of the food chain that other predators, called therocephalians, rapidly filled before themselves going extinct. Therocephalians are thought to have originated in what is now southern Africa and spread to Russia, China and Antarctica, where fossils have also been found. “We have shown that the shift in which groups of animals occupied apex predator roles occurred four times over less than two million years around the Permian-Triassic mass extinction," Kammerer said. "This underlines how extreme this crisis was.” The discovery suggests that top predators were "canaries in the coal mine" for the mass extinction and sheds light on the great die-out that’s unfolding today. "The Permo-Triassic mass extinction event represents one of the best examples of what we could experience with our climate crisis and extinctions," Viglietti said. https://www.livescience.com/animals/extinct-species/fearsome-saber-toothed-giant-dominated-at-dawn-of-great-dying-but-its-reign-was-short-lived

Customers who had been waiting years for delivery of new Tesla Model S and Tesla Model X vehicles are cancelling their orders in the wake of the firm’s decision to supply the cars in left-hand drive only, albeit with three years’ free Supercharger use. Tesla’s announcement on 12 May that it would cease production of right-hand-drive versions due to mechanical and logistical complexities took customers by surprise and many rushed to express their shock on social media. Among them was Tesla owner Paul Jones: “I’m a 2018 Model S 100D owner since new and a Model S Plaid order holder since October 2021. I love the cars [but this decision] is a kick in the teeth. To be told repeatedly since 2021 my car is delayed but is coming and now this, without explanation, is very poor. “First thing I did after getting the email was drive to my local Porsche dealer and I’ve got a Taycan Turbo S test drive booked.” Harry Green, another disenchanted Tesla buyer, promptly ordered a new car from a rival maker: “I’ve had a Model X on order since October 2020. Ordering a Mercedes EQS now.” Others, including John Scarrott, were worried about using a left-hand-drive car in the UK: “Overtaking is so risky, as you have to get half the car onto the other side of the road to see what’s coming.” To address this and similar concerns, Tesla has said it will run events between 28 May and 30 June when reservation holders can experience test driving left-hookers in London. Dealers were also caught off guard by Tesla’s decision. “It just came out of the blue,” said Richard Symons, owner of R Symons, an EV specialist based in Hampshire. Symons said his dealership is occasionally offered used, left-hand-drive Model S cars but demand for them is extremely small. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/tesla-customers-cancel-orders-after-rhd-model-s-model-x-sales-stop

Jurgen Klopp says he has "no worries" over Mohamed Salah's future at Liverpool despite the winger saying he was "devastated" about failing to qualify for the Champions League. Salah posted his comments on social media shortly after Manchester United's 4-1 win over Chelsea on Thursday which denied Liverpool a top-four finish. Klopp's side will finish fifth and play in next season's Europa League "Mo loves being here and Mo was part of it," Klopp said on Friday. "He said apologies for what 'we' did - not apologies for 'what the other guys did, but I had to go with them'. It is all fine." The Egypt international said on Twitter on Thursday: "There's absolutely no excuse for this. We had everything we needed to make it to next year's Champions League and we failed. "We are Liverpool and qualifying to the competition is the bare minimum. I am sorry but it's too soon for an uplifting or optimistic post. We let you and ourselves down." Salah, who signed a new three-year contract - worth more than £350,000-a-week - with Liverpool last summer, has scored 19 league goals this season. Asked whether he was concerned about Salah's future at the club following the 30-year-old's social media comments, the Liverpool manager said: "No worries, no. I only heard what he said but I couldn't read anything that could lead in that direction. "If ever a player would come to me and said, 'oh, we didn't qualify for the Champions League, I have to leave', I would drive him to the other club myself. "I would take the key, [and say]: 'come in the car, where do you want to go, I drive you'." United only needed a point at home to Chelsea in the penultimate game of their season to confirm their Champions League place. Liverpool won seven of their past eight games in a late push for fourth place, but could not make up for their inconsistent run of form in the first half of the season. Klopp said the squad is still "really united" despite the disappointment of missing out on the last Champions League qualification spot. "We didn't point fingers at each other. That's all good. If you don't qualify for the Champions League, the best place you can possibly end up is fifth, so that's what we did," he said before Liverpool visit Southampton on Sunday. "If you'd have asked me 10 games ago if that was possible, I'd have said no. That the boys did that is really good but it's not perfect. "We didn't end up fifth because of the last 10 games, we ended up there because of the lack of consistency before that." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65729339

Both sides in Sudan's conflict could be carrying out war crimes on medical facilities and staff, according to evidence seen by BBC News Arabic. Hospitals have been hit by airstrikes and artillery fire while patients were still in the building and doctors have also been singled out for attack - all of which are potential war crimes. Only a handful of the 88 hospitals in the capital, Khartoum, remain open after weeks of fighting, according to Sudan's Doctors Union. The BBC team used satellite data and mapping tools, analysed user-generated content on a huge scale, and spoke to dozens of doctors, to build a picture of how hospitals and clinics are being affected. The World Health Organization (WHO) called the attacks "a flagrant violation of international humanitarian law" adding that they "must stop now". The fighting in Sudan began on 15 April and was triggered by a power struggle between former allies - the leaders of the regular army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Brit who lived by embassy in Sudan was left without help What is going on in Sudan? A simple guide Why it will be so hard to bring peace to Sudan Khartoum's Ibn Sina hospital is one of a number the BBC has identified as having been targeted in an airstrike or by artillery fire when medics were treating civilian patients. Dr Alaa is a surgeon at the hospital and was present when the attack happened on 19 April. "There wasn't any warning. Ibn Sina hospital where I worked was hit by three bombs, while a fourth bomb hit the nurses' house which was entirely set on fire," he said. Christian de Vos, an international criminal law expert with NGO Physicians for Human Rights, says this could be classed as a war crime. "The duty to warn of any impending airstrike to ensure... that all civilians are able to evacuate a hospital prior to an airstrike - that is very clear under the laws of war," he said. Looking at the images of the attack, forensic weapons expert Chris Cobb-Smith said it could have been caused by artillery fire. Uncertainty over the kind of weapon used means it is hard to be sure which side was responsible, or whether this was a targeted attack. Another medical facility hit was the East Nile hospital - one of the last operating in that part of the capital. The BBC has seen evidence of RSF fighters surrounding it with their vehicles and anti-aircraft weapons. There have been reports of patients being forcibly evacuated from the building. But we have also spoken to witnesses who say civilians continued to be treated alongside the RSF soldiers. On 1 May, a public area next to the East Nile hospital was hit by a Sudanese army airstrike. There was no warning, according to sources the BBC has spoken to. Five civilians died in that attack. There was a further airstrike two weeks later but there has been no independent confirmation of the number of injured. The WHO has reported that nine hospitals have been taken over by fighters from one side or the other. "The preferential treatment of soldiers over civilians [is] not an appropriate use of a medical facility and it may well constitute a violation of the laws of war," Mr De Vos said. A political advisor to the RSF, Mostafa Mohamed Ibrahim, denied that they were preventing the treatment of civilians. He told the BBC: "Our forces are just spreading… they are not occupying and don't stop civilians from being treated in these hospitals." The Sudanese army did not provide a response to this investigation's findings. There is also evidence of another potential war crime - the targeting of doctors. The BBC has seen social media messages threatening doctors by name, even sharing their ID number. The messages accuse them of supporting the RSF and receiving money from abroad. In a widely circulated video, Major-General Tarek al-Hadi Kejab from the Sudanese army said: "The so-called central committee of doctors, should be named the committee of rebels!" Sudanese doctors' organisations have been monitoring threats which they say are coming from both sides and the BBC has spoken to doctors who have gone into hiding. "We know that this is a tactic that is used in wars, for pressure, that is illegal in all international laws. Unfortunately, this has pushed medical staff into a propaganda war - between the RSF and the Sudanese army," said Dr Mohamed Eisa from the Sudanese American Physicians Association. Doctors around the world have been calling for an end to the targeting of their colleagues. At a conference in London last week, Sudan's Doctors for Human Rights said medical staff had been killed, ambulances targeted and hospitals forced to close their doors. Dr Ahmed Abbas said: "We're gathering all the evidence of these transgressions, which are crimes against humanity and war crimes, and this could be presented to international judicial authorities, or national authorities in Sudan." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65718968

Live Performance Title: Bousmaha Mohamed Lgalb Lgalb الڤلب الڤلب Avec Amine La Colombe©️ 2023 Signer Name:- Live Performance Location: - Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video):

Music Title: L'Algérino - Va Bene [Clip Officiel B.O Taxi 5 ] Signer: - Release Date: 26/05/23 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):10/10

Alan Wake II just got a release date, confirming a tip from earlier this week that suggested a fall/ autumn window. During the PlayStation Showcase event, held early Thursday, developer Remedy Entertainment confirmed that the sequel to the supernatural horror game will be out on October 17, across PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. New protagonist FBI Agent Saga Anderson shares the stage with our titular hero in this sequel, which also diverts its genre towards survival horror. The studio also dropped a gameplay trailer for the same, which looks quite reminiscent of the recent Resident Evil remakes — that's a positive. The Alan Wake 2 trailer opens with a voiceover from Wake, who appears to be trapped inside the echoing abyss that is the Dark Place. “I'm trapped here… in this nightmare,” he says, as we see flashing glimpses of some bald guy getting tied down and feasted upon by masked cultists in a forest. “I write to escape. Every word is a step forward into darkness.” The writing seems quite monologue-heavy and fragmented, which has to do with the game's structuring. With the inclusion of the new protagonist, players can play either Wake or Anderson's respective stories in any order they want. Their journeys are intertwined, but each lead toward separate disturbing pathways to unfurl the mystery surrounding a series of ritualistic murders that threaten Bright Falls — yes, that's the same location as the original Alan Wake. On the official website, creative director Sam Lake stated that playing as FBI agent Anderson is the ‘perfect point-of-view' for newcomers to the franchise, inviting players into Alan Wake's supernatural world. “It's important to us that Alan Wake 2 works as a stand-alone experience but also has a ton of connections for our fans to find,” he writes. The sequel kicks off with Anderson uncovering pages of a horror story, seemingly written by Wake himself, albeit the events described in it seem to have played out exactly in this realm. It's described that the victim was one of Anderson's colleagues FBI Special Agent Robert Nightingale, who was seemingly chasing after a writer (presumably Wake), before his eventual murder. Tagging along for the case is agent Casey, played by the game's writer Sam Lake himself. “We were all trapped in a horror story,” Wake continues writing. “The horror story wanted us dead.” We then cut to some raw gameplay footage of Anderson approaching a dilapidated general store with a gun in hand, relying on an over-the-shoulder perspective similar to Resident Evil 4. As she continues investigating the indoors, a masked cultist wielding an axe breaks through the wall and proceeds to attack her. Combat seems to largely revolve around gunplay with no displays of melee combat, which begs the question of ammo conservation. In a related PlayStation blog post, it is revealed that Anderson's story will play out across three hubs: the town of Bright Falls, the dense forest surrounding Cauldron Lake, and the run-down town of Watery. The last one seems to be adorned in cool neon lighting. Meanwhile, Wake's story is set within the Dark Place, which is described as a ‘shifting, looping reality.' The game's FAQ page confirmed that Alan Wake 2 would not have a physical CD release, with Remedy attributing the reasons to a ‘large number' of people having shifted to digital-only formats. “Secondly, not releasing a disc helps keep the price of the game at $59.99 / €59.99 and the PC version at $49.99 / €49.99. Finally, we did not want to ship a disc product and have it require a download for the game — we do not think this would make for a great experience either,” the page reads. Alan Wake II releases October 17 on PC, PS5, and Xbox Series S/X. Pre-orders are now live across all platforms. https://www.gadgets360.com/games/news/alan-wake-2-release-date-2023-gameplay-trailer-pre-order-platforms-digital-only-remedy-entertainment-playstation-showcase-4066356

Introduction and specs One could argue that the Poco F5 Pro is a successor to last year's Poco F4 GT. However, there are a couple of key differences that set those two apart, and pricing is one of them. The Poco F5 Pro launches at a lower price than its supposed predecessor and offers a slightly lower tier of features. However, the goal remains the same - to deliver a near-flagship experience on the cheap. Even though it's rocking a chipset from last year, the Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1, it's still perfectly capable of handling everything on Play Store, and it's an improved version of the standard SD8 Gen 1. This potentially puts the F5 Pro in the affordable flagship category with an early bird price of around €480 and a regular price of €580. Xiaomi Poco F5 Pro specs at a glance: Body: 162.8x75.4x8.6mm, 204g; Glass front (Gorilla Glass 5), glass back, plastic frame; IP53, dust and splash resistant. Display: 6.67" AMOLED, 68B colors, 120Hz, Dolby Vision, HDR10+, 500 nits (typ), 1000 nits (HBM), 1400 nits (peak), 1440x3200px resolution, 20:9 aspect ratio, 526ppi. Chipset: Qualcomm SM8475 Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 (4 nm): Octa-core (1x3.0 GHz Cortex-X2 & 3x2.5 GHz Cortex-A710 & 4x1.80 GHz Cortex-A510); Adreno 730. Memory: 256GB 8GB RAM, 256GB 12GB RAM, 512GB 12GB RAM; UFS 3.1. OS/Software: Android 13, MIUI 14 for POCO. Rear camera: Wide (main): 64 MP, f/1.8, 1/2", 0.7µm, PDAF, OIS; Ultra wide angle: 8 MP, f/2.2, 120˚, 1/4", 1.12µm; Macro: 2 MP, f/2.4. Front camera: 16 MP, f/2.5, (wide), 1/3.06", 1.0µm. Video capture: Rear camera: 8K@24fps, 4K@30/60fps, 1080p@30/60/120/240fps, gyro-EIS; Front camera: 1080p@30/60fps. Battery: 5160mAh; 67W wired, PD3.0, QC3+, 50% in 15 min (advertised), 30W wireless, 50% in 32 min (advertised). Connectivity: 5G; Dual SIM; Wi-Fi 6; BT 5.3; NFC; Infrared port. Misc: Fingerprint reader (under display, optical); stereo speakers. But it's not just the chipset. The F5 Pro has some premium-like features that make it a balanced upper-midranger. It has a solid 5,160 mAh battery, up from 4,700 mAh on the F4 GT, and offers 67W fast wired and 30W wireless charging and an optically-stabilized main camera. The device also sells with 256GB of internal storage as a standard, albeit with no microSD card slot. And last but not least, the F5 Pro offers an upgraded 1440p+ panel with 1,000 nits of peak brightness and HDR10+/Dolby Vision certifications for a modern multimedia viewing experience. The Poco F5 Pro takes the "flagship for the masses" role in Poco's portfolio for 2023 after last year's Poco F4 GT didn't cater to most users since its main goal was to deliver niche gaming features at a lower price. The F5 Pro just wants to appeal to the majority of users. It's a fairly simple formula, so we are eager to see how that plays out, especially with the cheaper Poco F5 on the menu, which offers similar performance with its speedy Snapdragon 7+ Gen 2 SoC under the hood. Unboxing the Poco F5 Pro The handset comes in a standard retail box containing all the usual user manuals, the appropriate 67W fast charger and a USB-A to USB-C cable for data transfer and charging. There's also a transparent silicone case as a bonus, so it doesn't conceal the neat paint job. https://www.gsmarena.com/poco_f5_pro-review-2571.php

TeamGroup & InnoGrit are partnering to offer up to 14 GB/s Gen 5 NVMe SSDs utilizing the Siren AIO liquid cooling solutions. TeamGroup's Siren AIO SSD Cooling With InnoGrit's Top-Performing Gen5 Controller To Deliver 14 GB/s Transfer Speeds The TeamGroup T-FORCE Z54A Gen5 NVMe SSD lineup comes with incredible read & writes speeds of 14000 MB/s & 10,000 MB/s, respectively. At such high rates, overheating is inevitable; however, T-FORCE has you covered there, too, with its own custom circular AIO liquid cooling system. To keep your high-speed Gen5 NVMe SSDs cool, the business has created an AIO with a separate SSD mount. The company's goals include efficient performance release, extending SSDs' lifetime, and optimal power delivery. The solution that the T-FORCE M.2 SSD brings has the ability to perfectly release performance and extend the lifespan of SSDs. It is the product of the SSD heat sink that brings the benefit of saving power to the new generation. The Z54A series uses state-of-the-art components to provide its customers with the highest possible level of performance. Through cooperation with InnoGrit Corporation, we adopted the 12 nm PCIe IG5666 controller. This controller features high performance, high reliability, high stability, and low delay, supporting various mainstream NAND speeds up to 2,400 MT/s. The InnoGrit IG5666 controller is equipped with a pioneering code-correction technique that extends the lifetime of NAND. In the meantime, this controller also has a decoder for low-power mode, which can automatically switch to the mode to extend the lifetime and sustainable data of working. The InnoGrit IG5666 controller collects the AI algorithm for temperature data developed by InnoGrit Corporation, providing extraordinary multitasking performance. As with the rest of TeamGroup's products, the Z54A series is designed to provide users with the highest level of performance possible. With its impressive speeds and innovative cooling system, it's something to watch for in the future. https://wccftech.com/teamgroup-partners-with-innogrit-to-offer-14-gb-s-gen5-nvme-ssds-leveraging-siren-aio-ssd-cooling/

Gran Turismo 7 patch 1.34 is adding three new cars, engine swaps, cafe menus and more. The three cars include the 1967 Alfa Romeo Giulia Sprint GT Veloce, 1990 Nissan GT-R NISMO (R32) and Greening Auto Company Ford Maverick. Players will have the ability to purchase and equip new engines from different cars at GT Auto at collector level 50. An “Ultimate” tab will also be added to the tuning shop at collector level 50 adding more tuning options and rare parts. There are also a couple of GT Cafe Extra menus along with ‘National Stadium’ and ‘The Lake District’ Scapes. The free update is scheduled to arrive at 1:00 AM ET on April 27, so it’s just a few hours away. Here’s the details, along with a trailer and some new screenshots. https://www.operationsports.com/gran-turismo-7-patch-1-34-adding-three-new-cars-engine-swaps-more-tuning-options/

A man has been arrested after a car crashed into the Downing Street gates. The Met Police said he was held on suspicion of criminal damage and dangerous driving, but the incident is not being treated as terror related. One witness said he saw officers pointing Tasers at a man, who was held "face to the floor" as he was detained. No one was injured in the incident. No 10 has confirmed Rishi Sunak was in Downing Street at the time. The area in Whitehall, the main road which runs through the heart of several government offices, was partially evacuated following the incident at 16:20 BST. The road has since reopened to traffic and the police cordon has been removed. At 19:45 BST the car was loaded onto a police recovery vehicle and removed from the scene. Officers had been seen searching the vehicle and removing a mobile phone in an evidence bag. A forensics officer was seen inspecting the car, and sniffer dogs were also spotted at the scene. Witness Simon Parry, 44, said he heard a "bang" and saw police pointing Tasers at a man. "A lot of police vehicles came very quickly and were very quick to evacuate the area," he told PA news agency. Describing the mood on Whitehall in the aftermath of the incident, Mr Parry said: "We saw people that were in a panic running away and we saw people who were excited." Another witness, Matthew Torbitt, 32, said he heard a loud bang and was stopped on Whitehall after police locked down the area. Footage of the incident shows the car, a 2009 silver Kia registered in London, slowing down as it approaches the main entrance to Downing Street. It was picked up on a BBC camera driving directly towards the main gates, crossing two lanes from the southbound side of Whitehall and heading in the direction of Downing Street. The entrance to the street is staffed around the clock by armed and unarmed police officers but is accessible by road via Whitehall. The PM and the chancellor were in Downing Street at the time of the crash. Mr Sunak has since left for a scheduled visit. Reporting from the scene, BBC political correspondent Helen Catt said there appeared to be little damage to the gate and Whitehall was "pretty much back to normal", with people going in and out of Downing Street by foot as normal. Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood, who was caught up in the 2017 Westminster terror attack, said the incident was a reminder of the delicate balance between the rights of public access around significant buildings and security measures. He told BBC News that Westminster feels safer following the security overhaul which was triggered by the 2017 attack, but said he still has "huge concerns" "We embrace this idea that we can open up our places of interest, particularly something as iconic as the heart of our democracy, but ultimately there is a duty of care to those who live and work in the Westminster area, not least around No 10," he added. Frank Gardner, the BBC's security correspondent, said police have spent years preparing rapid response measures for potentially dangerous incidents in central London following high profile attacks around the world. He said any security alert near an iconic landmark will inevitably trigger a large response, and pointed out that Downing Street has been a target in the past. In 1991, members of the Provisional IRA fired homemade mortar shells at No 10, injuring four people. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-65714508

After decades of debate, scientists believe they have identified the most recent ancestor of the sister to all animals via the novel use of an analytical technique. The finding settles a central question about the evolution of the entire tree of animal life. All animal life is descended from a single common ancestor — a multicellular organism that most likely lived more than 600 million years ago. This ancestor had two offspring; one that led to the evolution of all animal life, and another that is referred to as the sister to all animals. In the quest to identify which living animals are most closely related to this sister group, scientists have narrowed down the possibilities to two candidates: sea sponges and comb jellies (ctenophores). Conclusive evidence to support either candidate, however, has remained elusive. Now, a new study published May 17 in the journal Nature has resolved this long-running debate with the novel use of chromosomal analysis. The solution came while Darrin T Schultz, lead author and current postdoctoral researcher at the University of Vienna, and a multi-institutional team were sequencing the genomes (the complete set of genetic information) of comb jellies and their close relatives to understand more about their evolution. Related: Alien-like comb jellies have a nervous system like nothing ever seen before Rather than comparing individual genes, the team looked at their positions on chromosomes across species. While changes to DNA occur over the course of evolution, genes tend to remain on the same chromosome. On rare occasions of fusion and mixing, genes transfer from one chromosome to another in an irreversible process. Schultz compares this to shuffling a deck of cards. If you have two decks of cards and you shuffle them, they become mixed. "Once mixed, you can’t unmix it in the way it was before, the probability of that is almost impossible," Schultz told Live Science. In other words, once a gene has moved from one chromosome to another, there is almost zero chance of it appearing in its original position again further down the evolutionary line. By looking at the large-scale movement of groups of genes across animal groups, Schultz and the team were able to gain important insights into the family tree of these animals. The team found 14 groups of genes that appeared on separate chromosomes in comb jellies and their single-celled, non-animal relatives. Interestingly, in sponges and all other animals, these genes had rearranged into seven groups. Given that the DNA of the comb jellies holds the gene groups in their original position (prior to rearranging into the seven groups) it is indicative that they are descendants of the sister group that broke from the animal family tree, before the mixing occurred. Further, the gene location rearrangements that were common to both sponges and all other animals suggest a shared ancestor from which these rearrangements were inherited. The findings, therefore, resolve the controversial question over the lineage of the entire animal tree of life. Since the ancestors of comb jellies and sponges branched off from the family tree, their modern descendants have continued to evolve, so we cannot use this information to indicate what the first animals exactly looked like. However, scientists believe there is significant value in studying these modern animals in light of this new information about their lineage. "If we understand how all animals are related to one another, it helps us understand how animals evolved the things that make them animals," Schultz said. https://www.livescience.com/animals/decades-old-question-surrounding-the-start-of-the-tree-of-life-could-finally-be-solved

Aston Martin has created what it calls “the world’s first super tourer” with the stunning new DB12, a brutish, V8-toting successor to the acclaimed Aston Martin DB11, which marks the beginning of a bold new era for Gaydon’s sports car family. Its arrival coinciding with both Aston Martin's 110th birthday and the 75th anniversary of the hallowed DB nameplate, the DB12 is fundamentally based on its predecessor but with a raft of wide-reaching and hugely significant upgrades carried out to its powertrain, chassis and interior with a view to claiming a competitive edge over the Ferrari Roma and Bentley Continental GT. Aston chairman Lawrence Stroll previously said the replacements for the DB11, Vantage and DBS front-engined sports cars would be more like “all-new cars” than mere facelifts, and certainly the DB12 is related to its forebear in not much more than its general silhouette. The new name itself is a clue to the extent of the revisions, which go far beyond the reaches of a traditional mid-life update. Aston’s director of product and market strategy Alex Long hailed the DB12’s unveiling as a "really big moment for Aston Martin, particularly under new ownership. This is the culmination – and the first step, really – in an enormous overhaul of the business. "DB12 represents the first product from a complete renewal of our range over the next 24 months under the ownership of Lawrence [Stroll]. Since he's come in, we've invested very, very heavily – not just in what we see in front of us in terms of product – but in the fundamentals of the business.” Designed according to the imposing principle that “grand is not enough”, the DB12 will enter production in the coming months ahead of customer deliveries beginning in autumn, with an anticipated start price of around £185,000. New interior gets bespoke infotainment system and over-the-air updates The DB12 is a thoroughly new car in all aspects, but it is inside where the reinvention is most obvious and tangible - in keeping with Stroll’s ardent belief that to keep cars competitive at this price point, they must be sumptuously appointed and accommodate the latest technology: ““How can you have an Aston Martin that sells for £150,000 with three-year-old technology?” And so gone is the old car’s oft-derided, ageing Mercedes infotainment platform – noted for being one of few in this segment to not run through a touchscreen – to make way for an all-new and totally bespoke set-up engineered and programmed by Aston’s new, in-house software division. "This is the start of a very big investment in interior design. For many, many years, we were renowned for exterior design, and I will admit we were falling behind,” said designer Miles Nurnberger. A 10.25in touchscreen is now the centrepiece of the cabin, sitting atop a dramatic sloping centre console dubbed the 'waterfall'. Said to be the highest-resolution screen in its class and to respond to touch inputs in just 30 milliseconds, it introduces Apple CarPlay and Android Auto – a long-awaited upgrade for Aston owners – and a whole new host of connectivity functions. Aston says buyers can read reviews of restaurants in the navigation interface, for example, before setting them as the destination, and can pre-programme the route guidance in a new smartphone app before getting in the car. Over-the-air connectivity also means updates can be rolled out without the need for a dealer visit, and offers customers the chance to join an online 'community' of Aston owners through an integrated interaction platform. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-aston-martin-db12-v8-gt-starts-firms-new-era

La Liga could reduce the amount of racist incidents in Spain's top flight in six or seven months if it had the "necessary powers", the league's president Javier Tebas says. The Spanish league has requested more power to punish incidents of racism. That came after Real Madrid forward Vinicius Jr was the target of racist abuse at Valencia on Sunday. "We are convinced that if we had those powers, within months we would get rid of this problem," Tebas told the BBC. "At least we would improve it considerably in general and specifically in the case of Vinicius. But if we don't have the powers, all we can do is file complaints," he added. The Sports Desk podcast: Can Vinicius episode be a turning point in football's racism battle? Vinicius has been the target of racist abuse a number of times this season and the latest incident has seen him receive support from the footballing world, with players and fans showing support for the Brazilian during the match between Real and Rayo Vallecano on Wednesday. As La Liga waits for the ability to take stronger action, Tebas said he would support the Brazil international if he decided to abandon a game. "If he feels affected of course I'd encourage him to leave the pitch," he said. "He and the whole team could abandon it. That is the decision of the referee but I'd encourage him to leave the pitch - he will be supported by me personally and La Liga." Tebas said the league has registered nine complaints about racist abuse directed specifically towards Vinicius. Under Spanish law, La Liga can identify and report cases, but not impose sanctions. "We want powers, we don't want to hide on the issue of racist insults," Tebas said. "It's not enough for us only to be able to file complaints, we want to be able to punish anyone who shouts racist insults. "We will keep trying to make sure nobody in any stadium shouts racist insults. "Eliminating this problem 100% will never be possible. The same way that totally eliminating robberies and other crimes is impossible but we would reduce it a great deal and, if we were given the necessary powers, in six or seven months we could say that we don't have racism." What is La Liga doing about racism? La Liga made a formal request to the Spanish government that two laws are amended to give it authority to impose sanctions such as the total or partial closure of stadiums, bans for supporters and financial penalties. Currently, La Liga submits a weekly letter to the RFEF's (Spanish football's federation) competition committee and the State Commission against Violence, Racism, Xenophobia and Intolerance in Sport detailing any chants at matches that incite violence or include insulting content. For insults that could be classified as hate crimes, La Liga also reports them to the Hate Prosecutor's Office, as was the case on Sunday. On Sunday, Real's match at Valencia was paused in the second half after an incensed Vinicius reported opposition fans to the referee. After the match, Vinicius and Tebas were involved in a row on Twitter, after the Brazilian said La Liga "belongs to racists" and "in Brazil, Spain is known as a country of racists". Tebas responded by saying Vinicius twice did not turn up for a meeting to discuss what it "can do in cases of racism", adding: "Before you criticise and slander La Liga, you need to inform yourself properly." Tebas has since apologised for how his tweets were received, and when asked about the matter on Thursday said: "I didn't want to attack Vinicius. The form and the moment weren't ideal. I don't think the message was well crafted." Many have accused Spain of being a racist country following Sunday's scenes but Tebas said that is not the case. "I think that neither Spain nor the Spanish league are racist," he said. "I'm not saying there are not episodes of racism. But in general, neither the Spanish league, nor its players or its fans, are racist." 'I'm not sure that it's anything more than crisis management' Piara Powar, head of European football's anti-discriminatory body Fare, said he was "not particularly convinced" by what Tebas was now saying. "As a league they have multiple powers already," he said. "All of the clubs at which Vinicius has been abused are their members so you can do a whole number of things: address them every week, give them training programmes, support their stewarding - the list is endless. "We hope the fact that he's responding, giving interviews and apologising for things he's said previously will mean they're a bit more attentive, but I'm not sure that it's anything more than crisis management at this stage. "I don't hear anything where he is saying everyone in Spanish football needs to get behind Vinicius now, that we need to get behind this issue and make sure it doesn't happen again. "I'm not particularly convinced and I don't think many others will be by what he's saying." Timeline of events since racist incident 21 May 2023 - Vinicius suffers racist abuse at Valencia but is sent off for violent conduct in the 97th minute after an altercation with Hugo Duro. Earlier in the game, an incensed Vinicius attempts to bring Valencia fans to the referee's attention. After the match, Vinicius and Tebas are involved in a row on Twitter, after the Brazilian says La Liga "belongs to racists" and Tebas responds by saying that Vinicius twice did not turn up for a meeting to discuss what it "can do in cases of racism". 22 May - Real Madrid file the incident to the Spanish prosecutor's office as a hate crime. 23 May - La Liga requests more sanctioning powers so it can punish incidents of racism in Spanish football rather than just reporting them. Valencia are also fined and given a partial stadium closure. 24 May - Tebas apologises for comments made towards Vinicius after the match. Real Madrid show support for Vinicius at match against Rayo Vallecano. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65708470

A towering cotton tree which has stood for several hundred years in Sierra Leone's capital, Freetown, has been brought down by a heavy storm. President Julius Maada Bio said the tree fell after a downpour on Wednesday night. He described it as a "great loss to the nation". He said the tree was a symbol of liberty for early settlers. It also appears on Sierra Leone banknotes. But some Christians hailed its demise, saying it was used for witchcraft. A heavy rainstorm a week ago caused one of the tree's branches to fall, but it had been thought it would survive. However, in another storm on Wednesday, the entire tree came down, leaving just part of the trunk still standing. The city's skyline has changed dramatically as a result - some would say, for ever. The 70m (230 ft)-high cotton tree was said to be the oldest of its kind in the country - a government statement estimated it to be 400 years old. Just 300m away are the Freedom Steps, climbed by newly arrived freed slaves who offered prayers at the tree before making Freetown their home. As the city grew over the years, it expanded around the ancient tree at its heart. President Julius Maada Bio and other officials are expected to visit the site to determine what to do. "We will have something at the same spot that bears testament to the great Cotton Tree's place in our history," he tweeted. "All voices will be brought together for this." The trunk and roots remain in place, suggesting that new shoots could grow into a new tree. Other suggestions include taking a piece of the tree to the nearby national museum or making a carving out of it. Many people feel sad about the tree's fall, with some describing the incident as "horrific". Sierra Leone poet Oumar Farouk Sesay wrote a poem about the tree, describing it as the country's Eiffel Tower, Statue of Liberty, Big Ben and other major world landmarks. But some Christians are celebrating. Influential Pastor Francis Mambu, who heads the Faith Healing Bible Church, believes the tree's roots were used for witchcraft and that it was frequented by witches and wizards. The pastor, who has a huge following in Sierra Leone, was heard in church in recent weeks saying that the tree would fall. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65707394