Rumor mill: It’s hard not to feel depressed by the constant news of graphics cards becoming more expensive and harder to find, so here’s a more uplifting report: MSI is allegedly set to reduce the price of some of its RTX 3000 line—by almost $100 in the case of the RTX 3080. The claim comes from the Board Channels forum (via VideoCardz), which has proved reliable on previous occasions but should still be taken with a healthy dose of salt. According to the machine-translated post, the MSI graphics card factory has adjusted the price of some Ampere cards this month. The most significant change will allegedly be on mid- to high-specification models of MSI’s RTX 3080 and 3080 Ti cards; they’re reduced by 300 to 600 yuan ($47 to $94). The rest of the line isn’t going to be that much cheaper: the RTX 3070/Ti prices are dropping by 100 to 300 RMB ($16 to $31), and the RTX 3060/Ti are down 100 to 200 RMB ($15 to $31). The only card that won’t see any price alterations is the RTX 3090. While that all sounds good, assuming it’s true, the post starts by saying that some of MSI’s RTX 3000 products have actually increased in price this month. The same user also reports that Sapphire has made its AMD RX 6000 series more expensive, adding $80 to the cost of the RX 6900, $63 to the 6600XT, and $55 to the RX 6600. The increase lines up with a recent report of AMD adding 10% to the price of its RDNA 2 GPUs after manufacturer TSMC raised costs. Graphics card prices and availability have worsened in recent months following a brief period where things were starting to look up. Much of the problem stems from the global chip shortage, which Nvidia believes will alleviate next year. We’ve also heard that Nvidia and Zotac are urging the government to drop Trump-era China tariffs on cards. Let’s hope it makes a difference.

Was it fixed right? Apple has gradually opened its walled garden under pressure from the Right to Repair movement. The next iOS 15 update brings a new transparency feature that shows owners if their phones have been repaired correctly and whether the service provider used genuine Apple parts. Unfortunately, it's limited to newer iPhone models. Apple quietly updated its support pages, declaring that users will be able to check the parts and service history of their iPhones starting with the next iOS update (15.2). The feature can tell users if specific components have been replaced, whether the technician used third-party parts, and when the repair occurred. Users will find the Parts and Service History located under Setting>General>About. There it will show you if the phone has replaced components listed as either "Genuine Apple Part" or "Unknown Part." As long as the phone has an internet connection, tapping on an item shows more details, including the date of the serving. Those who bought their phone new and already know when they have had a repair could still find it helpful to ensure that the replacement was from Apple. The feature will be even more practical for those who bought the phone used or refurbished — kind of like a Carfax for their phone. However, the functionality is somewhat limited. First of all, the feature only detects battery, display, or camera repairs. This limitation should be acceptable since those are the most replaced parts, and Apple can always add more components if needed in future updates. However, specific models are further limited. Only iPhone 12 and newer can detect all three parts. Models in the iPhone 11 line can only record screen and battery repairs. The second-generation iPhone SE and all variants of the iPhone X can only see if the battery has been replaced. Phones older than the iPhone X running iOS 15.2 will not have the feature. Apple notes that the "Unknown" designation is a general warning that could mean one of four things. Users should also note that iOS will not display the Parts and Repair History on the About screen if the iPhone has never been serviced. Apple has recently updated some of its servicing rules regarding product repairs. It started relaxing its stance on third-party servicing in 2017, but the going was very slow until last summer when it finished rolling out its third-party iPhone and Mac repair programs. Last month it rolled back a "feature" in iOS that had been disabling Face ID on phones that had received third-party screen replacements. A week later it began allowing owners with the technical know-how to repair their own phones.

Samsung is believed to working on two sets of tablets – Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab A8. These tablets are expected to be officially announced anytime during this month. A recent leak by a tipster has suggested the memory, storage, and colour options that might be available when the Galaxy Tab S8 series is eventually launched. Alongside, the tipster has also shared leaked renders of the Galaxy Tab A8 (2021). Previously, renders of the Galaxy Tab S8 series had surfaced, showcasing the Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra featuring two selfie cameras and a symmetrical bezel design. On Thursday, tipster Snoopy tweeted the alleged configurations and colour options of the Galaxy Tab S8 series. The tweet mentions that the base Galaxy Tab S8 and Galaxy Tab S8+ are expected to feature 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. Samsung is said to be offering both Wi-Fi-only and 5G variants for these tablets. It is also supposed to offer Dark Gray and Silver colour options. The base Galaxy Tab S8 tablet is tipped to have an 11-inch display, whereas Galaxy Tab S8+ is said to feature a 12.4-inch screen. Samsung Galaxy Tab S8 Ultra is believed to be equipped with a 14.6-inch display. It is tipped to offer Wi-Fi and 5G variants with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of onboard storage. However, the Galaxy S8 Ultra tablet with 12GB of RAM and 512GB of storage is expected to launch with only the 5G version. This tablet is believed to only offer the Dark Gray colour option. In another tweet, Snoopy shared alleged press renders of Samsung Galaxy Tab A8 (2021). These images depict the supposed Grey and Silver colour options that might be available at launch. According to past leaks, Galaxy Tab A8 (2021) is believed to feature a 10.5-inch display. It is rumoured to be powered by the Unisoc Tiger T618 SoC. Its supposed 7,040mAh battery is claimed to support up to 15W fast charging.

Square Enix has finally pulled back the curtain on the Final Fantasy 7 Remake release date for PC, and we now know what you’ll need inside your gaming PC to relive this reimagined classic JPRG. Thankfully, the Final Fantasy 7 Remake Intergrade system requirements aren’t too taxing, despite this being a port of the game’s enhanced PS5 version. Those who played the original Final Fantasy 7 on PlayStation will remember it was spread across three discs, as it was impossible to fit the entire game on a single trademark black CD-ROM. While we’ve largely done away with physical formats on PC, you’ll still need to clear 100GB of storage space to fit the game on your SSD. There’s no word on PC-exclusive features, unfortunately, but we may see the introduction of Nvidia DLSS upscaling in a future patch, as Square Enix previously implemented the tech in its port of Final Fantasy 15. Thanks to the consistent updates from Gaijin Entertainment, War Thunder fans are rarely left wanting for new content. This time around, fans can enjoy the Ground Breaking update, which adds a huge array of new content to the game. Here are the key additions. DESTRUCTIBLE TERRAIN It wouldn’t be a Ground Breaking update if you weren’t actually able to break some ground. The new update will allow you to mani[CENSORED]te the very earth beneath your feet, creating new strategic possibilities for ground troops. Bombs and large calibre guns will now leave craters in the ground for units to hide in, while certain tanks equipped with dozer blades can push the earth around to dig out trenches for their allies to hide behind. This new change will add a whole new layer of strategy to every match, so start planning your terrain tactics now.

Happy birthday!

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-59601447 The PM's press chief addressed staff and gave out awards at a Downing Street party last Christmas that is now under investigation, it is understood. Jack Doyle, then deputy director of communications, gave a speech to 20-30 people at the gathering on 18 December. A source has told the BBC there were food, drinks and games at the event. Downing Street said: "There is an ongoing review, and we won't be commenting further while that is the case." This event is one of three government staff gatherings from last year now being investigated by the UK's top civil servant, Simon Case, for possible breaches of Covid rules. Labour's deputy leader Angela Rayner said news of Mr Doyle's attendance had "exposed" Mr Case's inquiry as a "sham". Meanwhile, Lord Geidt, the prime minister's standards adviser, is unhappy about the contents of an Electoral Commission report into the funding of refurbishments to the Downing Street flat but is not ready to resign over it, the BBC understands. Labour says the report shows the prime minister lied to Lord Geidt when he investigated the PM's conduct earlier this year, something denied by Downing Street. It has written to Lord Geidt, asking him to reinvestigate. The Conservative Party was fined £17,800 by the commission on Thursday for "failing to accurately report a donation" that paid for some of the work. The revelation of Mr Doyle's speech at the Downing Street gathering follows an arduous few days for the government, during which time it has been accused by Labour of not being honest over this and other events. ITV News, which first reported that Mr Doyle had been present at the 18 December party, said he had also handed out award certificates to staff. The event took place two days after London went into Tier 3 lockdown restrictions, meaning people were told not to mix indoors with anyone outside their household or support bubble. No 10 has refused to explain how the party complied with Covid restrictions in force at the time, despite a deepening row and days of questioning by reporters. On Wednesday, the prime minister told the Commons that he had been "repeatedly assured" that there had been no party and that no Covid rules had been broken on that date. The government's chief whip Mark Spencer told BBC Radio Nottingham that Mr Johnson "will not have lied" about any parties that took place on Downing Street last year. He added that the 18 December event had been a "meeting" rather than a social get-together, and that staff had discussed how to deal with coronavirus. Defending Mr Johnson's handling of the affair, Mr Spencer said 10 Downing Street was a "huge, huge building, literally with hundreds and hundreds of offices and rooms. No single person could account for what is happening in these buildings. They are huge buildings." Government adviser Allegra Stratton quit her post on Wednesday after an angry backlash over a video she appeared in from last December, in which she joked about a Christmas party. In the video, obtained by ITV News, the PM's then-press secretary took part in a mock press conference four days after the 18 December event, where she laughed with other staff about how to describe it. Before her resignation, Mr Johnson told MPs that he was "furious" about the clip and was launching an investigation into whether rules had been broken last Christmas. Labour has written to Lord Geidt, asking him to reinvestigate the funding of the refurbishments.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-cars-2021-whats-coming-and-when It can be quite a gloomy time as we slip from autumn into winter, what with all the greyness and damp that entails. But for car fans and buyers alike, there’s plenty to look forward to on the launch calendar over the coming months and into 2022. Similar revisions to the Giulia's will give fresh life to Alfa’s SUV, likely bringing mild-hybrid tech and infotainment upgrades. Bentley is embracing a bold, all-electric future - but the Crewe firm is still in touch with its past. Witness the ‘new’ Blower Continuation, a piece-by-piece recreation of the machines raced pre-war by the likes of Tim Birkin. To make the 12 new models – all now sold at £1.5 million-plus – Bentley’s Mulliner division took apart one of the four surviving Blowers to study, scan and recreate every part. It’s an audacious, inspiring project: British engineering at its finest. Citroen C5X The French firm’s upcoming luxury range-topper combines SUV, estate and saloon styles and will offer petrol or PHEV power from launch. Many of the C5X’s styling cues are inspired by the CXperience concept from 2016, and Citroen claims it will set a new benchmark for comfort, with a ride that aims to “overcome all obstacles, potholes, kerbs, speed bumps and other road connection.” Hyundai Kona N The Kona N has its sights fixed on the T-Roc R as a performance SUV with aggressive styling, and joins Hyundai’s performance line-up as the fifth model to wear the N badge. Prices start from £35,395, and this variant offers a selection of motorsport-inspired changes geared towards enhancing performance and an improved driving experience. This is evident from it’s powertrain - a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder petrol engine producing 276bhp and 289lb ft (figures roughly comparable to those of the Volkswagen Golf GTI Clubsport). Jeep Wrangler 4xe PHEV America’s answer to the Defender gains a 370bhp plug-in hybrid option, with power coming from a 2.0-litre, turbo four and a 400V, 17kWh battery. The 470lb ft of torque is a handy 59% increase over the most powerful existing Jeep and the set-up is claimed to improve on- and off-road capability. The latter is crucial for Jeep, because heritage is so important to the brand. It’s Kia’s best-selling model here in the UK, but that doesn’t mean the brand will be playing it safe for the fifth-generation car. The Sportage has been given a radical design overhaul with cues from the EV6. The changes are vast inside the car too, with a curved digital display, touchscreen infotainment and soft-touch haptic switches on a glossy centre console. The Sportage will also gain several electrified powertrains and a diesel option looks likely, but no indication of a plug-in model has been revealed. Maserati MC20 The Maserati MC20 is expected to hit UK roads towards the end of 2021. Orders are already open for the £187,230 supercar, which will Initially be sold with a mid-mounted 621bhp V6. The new halo model will also offer electric power in the future. It’s also Maserati’s first supercar since the limited-run MC12 which launched back in 2004, and as such should restore its reputation for producing high-end supercars, boosting the prestige of its saloons and SUVs. The Volvo C40 is the Swedish company’s second fully electric vehicle, and is based on its first; the XC40 Recharge P8 SUV. The C40 is just as long and wide as the XC40, but the sloping, coupe roofline reduces the height of the car (and consequently the rear headroom). A 78kWh battery returns a range of around 260 miles, and the 201bhp electric motors on each axle bring a 0-62mph figure of 4.9sec. First deliveries will commence before the year is out.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-59599066 Russian President Vladimir Putin has been hardening his rhetoric over the situation in Ukraine, saying the war in the country's east looks like genocide. Russian-backed rebels have been fighting Ukrainian troops there since 2014, and tensions have been growing as Russia amasses troops on the border. Meanwhile, US President Joe Biden discussed recent talks with Mr Putin in a call to his Ukrainian counterpart. There are fears that Russia is planning to invade Ukraine, which Russia denies. Tuesday's Biden-Putin video call was seen as an attempt to ease tensions. Washington and its allies have warned the Kremlin of tough sanctions if it again attacks its neighbour. Russia has accused Ukraine of provocation, and sought guarantees against eastward Nato expansion and deployment of weapons close to Russia. Ukrainian authorities have said Moscow could be planning a military offensive at the end of January, although US officials say it is not yet clear whether President Putin has made a decision. 'Russophobia' The Russian president's remarks on Thursday were aimed at addressing the issue of discrimination against Russian speakers beyond Russia's borders, many of whom live in the Donbas region of eastern Ukraine. He said that Russophobia was the first step towards genocide. "We see and know what is happening in Donbas," he said, referring to the conflict zone. "It certainly looks like genocide." What would be the fallout if Russia invaded Ukraine? Is Russia preparing to invade Ukraine? Putin-Biden talks: What next for Ukraine? White House press secretary Jen Psaki rejected the remarks, saying Russia was known for escalating its rhetoric and misinformation, "so I think we have to take their own efforts to communicate to their public with a grain of salt". Mr Biden briefed Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in a one-and-a-half-hour phone call on his conversation with Mr Putin two days ago. The two leaders discussed "the security situation around Ukraine and the prospects of activating the peace settlement", a Ukrainian presidential statement said. Mr Biden also spoke to leaders of Nato members close to Russia's borders. More than 90,000 Russian troops are believed to be massed near Ukraine's borders. The movement has strained already tense relations between Russia and the US. A large part of the recent Russian military build-up is in Crimea, a Black Sea peninsula which Russia seized from Ukraine and then annexed in 2014. Troops are also gathering near Donbas. More than 14,000 people have lost their lives in seven years of conflict since Russian-backed forces seized large areas of Ukraine's east.

Music Title: Loka - Chup Chaap (Prod. by AAKASH) [Official Music Video] Signer: Loka Release Date: 10/12/2021 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:--- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):---

Artist: Asad Amanat Ali Khan Real Name: Asad Amanat Ali Khan Birth Date /Place: 25 September 1955 Lahore, Pakistan Age: 65 Social status (Single / Married): Married Artist Picture: Musical Genres: Ghazal, Classical music Awards:--- Top 3 Songs (Names): chand sitaron , honton pe kabhi , zara zara Other Information: Asad Amanat Ali Khan (Urdu: اسَد امانت علی خان‎; 25 September 1955 – 8 April 2007) was a po[CENSORED]r classical, semi-classical and ghazal singer from Pakistan. Hailing from Patiala Gharana, Asad was son of musician Ustad Amanat Ali Khan. Asad Amanat Ali Khan died relatively young of a heart attack on 8 April 2007 in London. Asad Amanat Ali Khan was born in Lahore, Pakistan. His great-grandfather, Ali Baksh Khan, was the founder of Patiala Gharana. His grandfather, Akhtar Hussain, was a musician. Amanat Ali Khan, Asad's father, died in 1974.[1] Asad was only 19 years old when his father died. His uncle Bade Fateh Ali Khan taught him music and trained him as if he was his own son. Bade Fateh Ali Khan also encouraged him to become a singing duo with his youngest brother Hamid Ali Khan. Asad's younger brother Shafqat Amanat Ali Khan is a pop and classical singer. He was the lead singer of the Pakistani music band Fuzön.

Musician Name: Jawad Ahmed Birthday / Location: 29 September 1967 (age 54) Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan Main instrument: Guitar, vocals Musician Picture: Musician Awards & Nominations:--- Best Performance: --- Other Information: Jawad Ahmad was born into a Kashmiri family who immigrated to Pakistan after independence. Both his parents were college professors.[3] Jawad Ahmad received a degree in Mechanical Engineering from the University of Engineering and Technology, Lahore.[2] He also used to participate in the musical and literary societies of the above university. He was initially a member of the pop musical band Jupiters along with another famous pop singer Ali Azmat. This musical group later disbanded and Jawad Ahmad later decided to launch his solo career.[2] "Jawad Ahmad, one of the most renowned artists of Pakistan, first reached fame with his song "Allah Meray Dil Kay Ander" which showcased his fondness of Sufism.[2] While he has received no formal education in music, most of his songs are written and composed by him.[2][3] He draws inspiration from a diverse range of musical personalities such as Ustad Amanat Ali Khan, Mehdi Hassan, Ustad Salamat Ali Khan, Tufail Niazi, Pathanay Khan, Hamid Ali Bela, Madam Noor Jehan, Lata Mangeshkar, Asha Bhosle, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Kishore Kumar, Eagles, Elvis Presley, Mohammed Rafi.[2][3] So far, Jawad Ahmad has established his presence in the music industry through four albums. In 2002, he has been appointed by the Ministry of Health and the UNICEF as the ambassador of Pakistan for the eradication of Polio.[4] British Council Beyond Borders project, awareness regarding the dangers of drug addiction. In this regard, he has used his talent to produce a song called "Tum abhi to aa kar"' accompanied by a video to portray the social impact on an individual of drug intake. He sang another social awareness song "Taaleem Sub Kay Liey" for a project of US aid. Another turf is a program against illiteracy, which he has been exploring. In conjunction with this, he is running ten schools in the most backward and underdeveloped areas of Pakistan under the 'Taleem for All' program.

Live Performance Title: Atif Aslam Performing Aadat Unplugged Live At Dubai Global Village Signer Name: Atif Aslam Live Performance Location: Dubai Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video):---

In a nutshell: Up until now, TSMC has supplied chips to AMD for all its processors. Now analysts at J.P. Morgan think the next generation of AMD Chromebooks could switch to Samsung’s semiconductor node at least through 2022. The remaining chip production for 2022 and 2023 should still favor TSMC. On Tuesday, someone leaked via Twitter about a page and a half of a J.P. Morgan internal analysis paper issued last week. The excerpt covers the firm’s predictions on how companies like Intel, Nvidia, and AMD will choose between TSMC and Samsung for their nodes over the next couple of years. The analysis projects AMD’s next round of Chromebook CPUs will use Samsung’s 4nm node, whereas AMD’s current Ryzen 3000 versions use TSMC’s 12nm process. The likely reason is TSMC is currently operating under limited production capacity. So at least for 2022, Samsung will supply chips for Chromebooks. For 2023 and 2024, AMD might use Samsung for some of its graphics cards. However, that last detail is an outlier in the report. Analysts at J.P. Morgan predict most tech companies to favor TSMC, including AMD. The firm expects Team Red to stick with TSMC for desktop, mobile, and server processors. Additionally, Nvidia may return to TSMC for the next generation of RTX GPUs after using Samsung’s 8nm node for the 30 series. In 2023, Intel could also outsource some GPU and I/O tiles, along with an FPGA chip, to TSMC. Analysts predict Qualcomm will pick TSMC for its flagship processors, starting with a new version of the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 in the second half of 2022 and continuing into its 2023 flagships, but beyond that, it is unclear.

In brief: It's been a long time since Microsoft updated Notepad, but now that Windows 11 is out, the software giant decided it was time to give some much-deserved love to one of its oldest apps. In Windows 11, Notepad will come with new features, including dark mode, Mica visuals, improved find/replace, and multi-level undo tools. The last time Notepad received new features was in 2018, when Microsoft introduced new shortcuts and improvements to the find/replace dialog and word-wrap. Since then, the text editor app has stagnated, while fully featured alternatives, most of which are free/freemium like Sublime Text, Notepad++, and Atom kept improving. However, Microsoft is trying to make up for the lost time, bringing an overhauled UI with round-cornered windows, updated menus, and a new settings page. It's achieved these visuals using Mica, an opaque, dynamic UI in the application backdrop that changes based on the colors of the desktop wallpaper. Another visual aspect introduced with the new Notepad is dark mode. You can choose to enable it through the settings page, but if you're already using it on Windows 11, the app will inherit the option and use it by default. Besides the dark mode option, users can choose from several font options on the settings page. Moving on to Notepad's new editing capabilities, Windows 11's text editor will offer a better search/find/replace experience that looks more modern and easier to use. In addition, the software developer also added support for multi-level undo, one of the most requested features by the community. Microsoft acknowledges the preview version of the text editor still has some bugs that need squashing, but promises to solve them in future releases. The new Notepad app is currently available for Windows 11 Insiders. If you're one of them but can't find it, try to check for updates through Microsoft Store.

iQoo 9 specifications have been tipped online ahead of its official announcement. The new iQoo phone, which is speculated to debut in January, is suggested to have an improved display experience. It is also rumoured to have Qualcomm's newly launched Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC. iQoo 9 may come alongside iQoo 9 Pro. Both phones are likely to come with upgrades over the iQoo 8 series which was launched in August and comprised two models — iQoo 8 and iQoo 8 Pro. iQoo 9 specifications (expected) A tipster shared the specifications of iQoo 9 on Weibo. The smartphone is said to have a dedicated second-generation display chip which is expected to help boost on-screen visuals. It would also include dual pressure-sensitive shoulder buttons on the sides for games. iQoo 9 is also tipped to have dual x-axis linear motors and dual speakers. Further, the phone is said to have 120Hz refresh rate and 120W fast charging. iQoo is speculated to offer the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 SoC on the iQoo 9. It would be paired with a new heat dissipation system to help maintain temperature. The phone is also said to have a micro-head gimbal mechanism for its camera. Notably, iQoo 8 Pro came with a similar gimbal stabilisation, while the vanilla iQoo 8 had a regular camera setup. The formal details about iQoo 9 are yet to be announced. However, iQoo was recently named by Qualcomm as one of the manufacturers to come with Snapdragon 8 Gen 1-equipped devices. iQoo also shortly thereafter itself confirmed the plans to launch a new flagship phone with the next-generation Snapdragon SoC. This handset is believed to be iQoo 9.

The holiday season has arrived in irradiated Appalachia, and that means it’s time for Fallout 76’s Mothman Equinox event. Now through December 21, the post-nuclear MMORPG will host a new seasonal event every hour in Point Pleasant, where a group of robed oddballs are summoning the Wise Mothman. The Mothman Equinox event, as mentioned, is taking place in Point Pleasant, in the forest region. You’ll start out by speaking with Interpreter Clarence, who’s stationed on the roof of the Mothman Museum. By lighting ritual bonfires and fighting off rival mothman cultists (who worship a false and strange mothman rather than the one true Wise Mothman), you’ll be able to earn the benevolent cryptid’s favour – which, in turn, is a chance at some sweet loot. Cultist high priests are wandering all over Appalachia, though, and you can hunt them down to earn new Mothman Cult gear. The patch notes, however, warn that you’ll want to keep an eye out for the cult’s shadow creatures. Sounds like you’ll want to bring along some extra ammo and Rad-Away. Today also marks the start of Fallout 76’s Season 7, titled Zorbo’s Revenge. That means a new scoreboard complete with new rewards, new allies who’ll be happy to hang out in your C.A.M.P. and sell you stuff, and a new climb to Rank 100. In addition to the extensive patch notes, there are some welcome quality-of-life improvements included in the update as well. The Pip-Boy now has a key-ring to keep all your keys stored in one place, a new ‘Nearby Corpses’ button appears while you’re looting so you won’t have to pick through each individual fallen enemy, and all existing sources of ammo now have a chance to drop a few rounds for whatever weapon you’re holding. Nice!

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-59589043 Australia's deputy prime minister has tested positive for coronavirus after arriving in the US on an official visit. Barnaby Joyce said he believed he had been infected while visiting the UK earlier this week. He said he was now in isolation and experiencing mild flu-like symptoms. Mr Joyce met with UK cabinet ministers including Dominic Raab and Grant Shapps while in London, before travelling to Washington DC on Wednesday. It is unclear what transmission risk he posed. No other members of the Australian government delegation have tested positive so far. Mr Joyce said he had returned negative tests before leaving the UK, but upon arrival in the US he felt some fatigue and pain in his legs. He said he would isolate for at least 10 days and had cancelled meetings with US officials. He told Australian media he had been Christmas shopping in London where "people [were] just lined up, shoulder to shoulder". Mr Joyce is the highest-ranking Australian politician to have caught the virus. Defence Minister Peter Dutton was also infected last year, after a trip to the US. A famously outspoken politician, Mr Joyce is best known globally for once threatening to euthanise Johnny Depp's dogs over a quarantine row. He began his second stint as deputy prime minister in June after winning back leadership of the National Party, the junior partner of Scott Morrison's conservative coalition. He had previously resigned in 2018 amid public pressure over his extra-marital affair with a staffer, and an unrelated allegation of sexual harassment. Since returning he has pressured colleagues to retain support for the coal industry, and opposed strengthening Australia's emissions goals. He has also at times criticised strict coronavirus restrictions enacted by state governments. In June, he drew anger for mocking locked-down residents in Melbourne by saying: "You can almost smell the burning flesh from here." Australia's biggest cities Sydney and Melbourne emerged from lockdown in October. The nation is due to reopen to skilled migrants and foreign students next week. Australia has reported 2,072 deaths during the pandemic - a total far lower than most OECD nations.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-59576082 Tributes have poured in from around the world for India's top military commander, who died in a helicopter crash on Wednesday. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat, his wife and 11 others died after the Mi-17V5 helicopter crashed in the southern state of Tamil Nadu. An inquiry has been ordered to ascertain the cause of the crash. US defence secretary Lloyd Austin said Gen Rawat was a "valued partner" for Washington. "General Rawat left an indelible mark on the course of the US-India defence partnership and was at the centre of the Indian armed forces' transformation into a more jointly integrated warfighting organisation," Mr Austin said in a statement. Ugo Astuto, the European Union's ambassador to India, tweeted condolences to the families of the Gen Rawat and the other military personnel who died with him. Other diplomats based in India also expressed their sadness over the crash. Top military officers from Pakistan have also expressed condolences over the "tragic death". General Qamar Javed Bajwa, the Chief of Army Staff of Pakistan, had served with Gen Rawat in a UN peacekeeping mission in Congo in 2008, The Hindu newspaper reported. In India, Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the tributes to Gen Rawat, who was India's first-ever Chief of Defence Staff. On Twitter, Mr Modi said: "[Gen Rawat] brought with him a rich experience of serving in the Army. India will never forget his exceptional service. "A true patriot, he greatly contributed to modernising our armed forces and security apparatus. His insights and perspectives on strategic matters were exceptions. His passing away has saddened me deeply." Defence minister Rajnath Singh and other leaders also paid their respects to Gen Rawat and others. Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi called the accident an "unprecedented tragedy". Several film stars and sportspersons also expressed their shock over the incident. The Indian Air Force said it had ordered an investigation into the accident, which happened in foggy weather in the hills near Coonoor city. On Wednesday evening, a cabinet security committee held an emergency session, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Images from the crash site showed thick plumes of smoke billowing from the mangled remains of the helicopter, and local people trying to put out the fire. Gen Rawat was appointed India's Chief of Defence Staff in 2019. This brought together the Army, the Navy and the Air Force. He had previously served as the chief of India's one-million strong army. Gen Rawat, who sometimes set off controversies with his comments on political developments, had the reputation of "an inspiring commander", the BBC's Subir Bhaumik wrote in an obituary. What we know so far The Russian-made Mi-17V5 military helicopter had just taken off from an army base in Sulur, and was heading for Wellington town, less than 100km (62 miles) away, where Gen Rawat was due to visit the Defence Services Staff College (DSSC). On board with Gen Rawat and his wife were seven other military passengers and five crew members, including the pilot. The sole survivor of the crash was a captain working at the DSSC. He is being treated for his injuries in hospital. One eyewitness told the BBC he heard a "loud noise" before seeing the helicopter fall from the sky. "Even the electric poles shook. Trees toppled. There was smoke everywhere," said Krishnaswamy, a nearby resident. "There was a raging flame above the trees. I saw just one person with my own eyes, he was burning, and he fell down."

Video title: 20 MOST UNCOMFORTABLE NEWS REPORTER MOMENTS Content creator ( Youtuber ) : Binge Central Official YT video:

Music Title: My Heart With You - Pentatonix (From Christmas Under the Stars) Signer: Pentatonix Release Date: 8/12/2021 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:--- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):---

Something to look forward to: Just a couple of weeks after Western Digital released its first 20-terabyte hard drive, its CEO spoke at a conference where he laid out some of its future plans. They include details on the technology Western Digital plans to use in the future to push storage capacity even further. At the annual Wells Fargo TMT Summit this week, one of the subjects Western Digital CEO David Goeckeler spoke about was the company's approach to technologies like OptiNAND, SRM, and HAMR. Goeckeler considers all three crucial to increasing density and getting to ever-larger hard drives. Last year, Seagate shipped out its 20TB hard drives, which use HAMR to select data center customers. Last month, WD released its own 20TB drives to general consumers (currently sold out) with OptiNAND technology, which uses flash memory to store metadata. "We're heavily invested in HAMR," he said. "HAMR is going to be real, it's going to be in the future," Goeckeler said. HAMR will increase the longevity of hard drives but will also require a lot of software work and won't be commercialized for several years. WD and Seagate both want to get to 30TB by the middle of the decade, and Seagate intends to reach 100TB by 2030. Goeckeler thinks WD already has the stepping stones to get there with ePMR (energy-assisted storage), SMR (another density-increasing method), and OptiNAND. "I think SMR is going to get more real and customers are getting more real about it," the WD boss said. One of those steps could be 22TB hard drives in 2022. WD's current high-capacity HDD uses nine platters, with 2.2TB per platter. Goeckeler says they can release one with a 10th platter. One technology Goeckeler doesn't mention is MAMR. Western Digital proposed the technology in 2017, saying it could allow for 40TB hard drives by 2025.

Why it matters: Software piracy isn't new, but with the proliferation of "activators" for Windows and Office, you also have malicious actors scrambling to take advantage of unsuspecting users who utilize such tools. Their victims do this believing they save on software licensing costs, but at the same time, they expose their systems to sophisticated malware that evades detection by commercial antivirus solutions and can steal sensitive information. If you’re purchasing or building a new PC, chances are you’ll need to buy a Windows license for it. Many people aren’t willing to part with more than $100 to get one, so they often resort to purchasing cheap keys from grey market websites or using one of several “activators” available online. The latter option is always a risky move, but historically it hasn’t caused any major damage to most users who went down that route. According to security researchers at Red Canary, malicious actors have recently modified one of these tools to distribute malware that can steal tokens from cryptocurrency wallets. The tool in question is KMSPico, which can emulate a Key Management Services (KMS) server locally to activate licenses for Windows and Office products. One of the malicious KMSPico installers analyzed by researchers comes packed with Cryptbot malware that can steal credentials and other sensitive information from web browsers installed on your PC. It also affects various cryptocurrency wallets such as Ledger Live, Atomic, Electrum, Exodus, Coinomi, and more. More importantly, it can be used to drop banking malware such as Danabot or any other malicious payload. It’s also worth noting the Cryptbot malware is difficult to detect, as its creators use various methods to escape detection by traditional antivirus solutions, including encrypted binaries. Either way, this proves that going the piracy route in the case of Windows and Office isn’t worth it if you consider the risks involved. If anything, buying a PC that comes with Windows pre-installed when it’s on sale might be the best way to save money on the licensing front. Red Canary intelligence analyst Tony Lambert says it’s not just regular home users that use this tool. Many small businesses try to save on licensing costs by using pirated copies of Windows and Office activated using KMSPico, which introduces a lot of security risks for their IT infrastructure. Lambert notes the firm even “experienced one ill-fated incident response engagement where our IR partner could not remediate one environment due to the organization not having a single valid Windows license in the environment.”

Apple captured the top position as global shipments for wearables grew 9.9 percent year-on-year (YoY) during the third quarter of 2021 (3Q21) reaching a total of 138.4 million units, according to a new report by the International Data Corporation (IDC). The wearables category includes true wireless stereo (TWS) earphones as well as wrist-worn wearables like fitness bands and smartwatches. The market research firm also says that the demand for smartwatches has increased as compared to wristbands owing to the narrowing gap in their pricing. As per IDC's Worldwide Quarterly Wearable Device Tracker, the hearables led the growth as the category grew 26.5 percent on a year over year (YoY) basis and accounted for 64.7 percent of wearable device shipments. Wrist-worn wearables captured 34.7 percent of the market, IDC says. Apple and Huawei tied for first place in the wrist-worn segment dethroning Xiaomi in 3Q21 which relied on wristbands but consumer preferred watches. “Demand has been slowly shifting away from wristbands towards watches as consumers increasingly want a more capable device and as the gap in pricing narrows,” said Jitesh Ubrani, research manager for IDC Mobility and Consumer Device Trackers. He says that the number of watches sold for under $100 (roughly Rs. 7,500) is now equal to wristbands, which have dominated this price band in the past. “While the entire wrist-worn wearable market declined YoY, the market for watches actually grew 4.3 percent,” added Ramon T. Llamas, research director for IDC's Wearables Team. On category-wise distribution, Ubrani says that Indian and Chinese brands grew due to low-end watches while “Apple, Huawei, and Samsung maintain a hold at the high-end”. Meanwhile, Llamas further dissected into the category saying that “even as smartwatches have been very po[CENSORED]r, it's the other watches – including kids' watches, exercise watches, hybrid watches, and others – that drove the market. Top wearable brands in Q3 2021 As mentioned, Apple captured the top position despite a 35.3 percent decline in Apple Watch shipments in 3Q21. Hearables from Beats and AirPods helped the company lead in the wearables market. Samsung got the second spot (13.8 percent growth) due to the good reception of the Galaxy Watch 4 Series smartwatches that run Google's Wear OS. Xiaomi's shipments fell 23.8 percent during the quarter owing to wrist-worn wearables, however, in the hearables category the company continued to offer extremely low-cost options. Huawei grew with the help of its hearables business as wristbands and watches combined declined 5 percent during Q3 2021. The fifth spot was grabbed by Indian company Imagine Marketing, which is behind the brand Boat. The company offered low-cost products and did “relentless marketing” that helped it drive volume.