Mr.Talha

In brief: Earlier this year, one of the documents used in the Epic vs. Apple trial revealed that Google has been secretly working on a vision for a cross-platform Android gaming service. Now the company has confirmed as much, but we’ll have to wait until next year to find out what it’s all about. When Microsoft first announced Windows 11, it made a big selling point that it would open the Microsoft Store to apps built using a variety of desktop and web technologies. At the same time, it also promised to bring Android apps to Windows 11 users via Amazon’s Appstore. As of writing, you can only install Amazon’s Appstore if you’re enrolled in the Windows Insider Program (beta channel). The feature that allows you to install and run Android apps is called the Windows Subsystem for Android, which is similar in many ways to the Windows Subsystem for Linux that has been available in Windows 10 for a while. The experience is somewhat similar to running Android apps on Chrome OS, with the caveat that you’re limited to the few apps available on Amazon’s Appstore. However, that may change in the near future as Google, too, wants a piece of the Android action on Windows. The company made a surprise announcement at The Game Awards where it revealed it will bring Android games to Windows 10 and Windows 11 PCs. The functionality will arrive through a desktop Play Games app, and Google says you’ll be able to sync game data like progress and achievements between Android, Windows, and Chrome OS. The new app wasn’t developed in partnership with Microsoft, and doesn’t rely on the same integration as the Amazon Appstore in order to work. Google didn’t offer any details about the technology behind it, but it’s safe to assume it will use some kind of emulation to enable Android games to run under a Windows environment. The company only confirmed the games will run locally instead of being streamed from the cloud. Google says Play Games for Windows will be available next year and that a more in-depth reveal is coming “soon.”

Xiaomi 12 Ultra, the rumoured high-end handset from the Chinese smartphone brand, is reportedly making its way to the market soon along with other Xiaomi 12 series phones. The handset is yet to be officially confirmed by the company, but some 3D concept renders of the phone have now surfaced online. The renders show a completely redesigned camera system. Xiaomi 12 Ultra is likely to feature 120Hz refresh rate and a 20-megapixel under-display selfie camera. The upcoming handset is expected to succeed Mi 11 Ultra. The 3D concept renders of the alleged Xiaomi 12 Ultra is shared by tipster Parvez Khan (aka Technizo Concept) in collaboration with LetsGoDigital (in Dutch). As per the report, the upcoming Xiaomi phone will feature a round-shaped camera module. The handset is expected to feature a quad rear camera unit. If true, this would be an upgrade to its predecessor's triple rear camera setup. The new camera module is likely to include a 48-megapixel primary sensor, with an ultra-wide-angle camera and a periscopic telephoto zoom camera. The sensors are expected to carry support for 5x optical zoom, 10x hybrid zoom, and 120x digital zoom. In the concept images, two main sensors are seen arranged in the centre and on the left while one camera is appeared to be on the top of the circle. A triple LED flash is seen placed at the bottom. As per the report, Xiaomi 12 Ultra could sport a 6.8-inch QHD+ AMOLED display with 120Hz refresh rate. It is likely to come with a hole-punch display. Inbuilt under-display fingerprint sensor, 2D face unlock, stereo speakers, IP68 certification for dust and water resistance are the other expected features of the upcoming Xiaomi 12 Ultra. The handset is said to be powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1. It is expected to pack a 5,000mAh battery as well. However, Xiaomi is yet to reveal any details about the handset, so all these details should be considered with a pinch of salt. Why does Redmi refresh its phones so soon? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

With 2022’s League of Legends season 12 coming up fast, and League of Legends patch 12.1 already on the PBE for testing, it’s a great time to look ahead at what a whole new year of content will bring to Riot Games’ flagship MOBA game. While there are no details of the balance changes coming to the Rift next just yet, it seems Riot is planning to roll out some significant changes to assassin champion Rengar at some point soon. Game designer Kevin ‘Captain Gameplay’ Huang has shared a tooltip teaser on Twitter that gives us a snapshot of changes headed to Rengar’s ultimate ability, Thrill of the Hunt. While it’s likely that these proposed updates aren’t in their final form – they haven’t even hit the PBE for a round of testing yet, after all – they do indicate some key adjustments to how his R works. The new-look ability’s passive would let the champ “also leap attack when camouflaged”, which could have a potential knock-on effect for his passive ability, Unseen Predator, which is of course tied to Rengar’s leaping attack. On Twitter, game designer Riot Phlox describes the ultimate tweak as a “sweet change that should make chem map not feel bad for Rengar!” and adds that “the other stuff is still in the works dw”, so it does seem like this won’t be the only change we see to his abilities. As for Rengar’s active ultimate, the tooltip now notes that “Rengar gains 60% move speed and true sight of the nearest enemy champion for 20 seconds. After one second, Rengar becomes camouflaged and can leap without being in brush. Leaping to the nearest champion deals an additional [62] physical damage, shreds [24] armour for four seconds, and ends this ability”. This halves the time after which he camouflages – it’s currently two seconds in the live game – and bolsters his assassination skills, giving him the option to spot hidden enemies and take them out.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-59628666 New restrictions are likely "in the next few weeks" in Wales to deal with the new Omicron coronavirus variant, according to the health minister. Eluned Morgan said the Welsh government wanted "to act proportionately", but a spike in cases of the variant was expected "quickly." She said there "will come a point" where ministers could advise people against attending Christmas parties. The Welsh Tories want vaccine boosters ramped up "to a war-like footing". Speaking on the BBC Politics Wales programme, Ms Morgan said with 15 Omicron cases currently identified in Wales, she expected the number to "change very quickly in a very short space of time". "We are still learning about this new variant," she added. Loneliness fears over Christmas rule uncertainty Wales' coronavirus rules are now being reviewed weekly instead of every three weeks in response to the new variant. On Saturday, officials at Cardiff and Vale health board said they "strongly discourage attending Christmas parties" in light of the variant and "increasing pressures". Meanwhile, the Welsh government has urged people to take a lateral flow test before going out. Asked whether that advice might change in light of the call from NHS bosses, Ms Morgan said: "I think there will come a point where that may be likely to happen. "The last thing we want to do is to impose the kind of restrictions that we saw last Christmas unless we absolutely have to. "We know that last Christmas was really disappointing for so many people. That's not where we want to be. "But we will always act in the best interests of the people of Wales." Earlier in the week, she warned that the current modelling suggest a wave of Omicron cases "will reach its peak by around the end of January". Asked if stricter restrictions like closing businesses would be possible without UK government financial support, Ms Morgan said: "It will be much more difficult unless we're given the kind of cover that we were given economically by the UK government last time in terms of furlough." Meanwhile, analysis by the UK Health Security Agency has showed a dramatic drop in effectiveness for the Oxford-AstraZeneca vaccine and a significant drop-off for two doses of Pfizer against Omicron. But a third booster vaccine dose was analysed to prevent about 75% of people from getting any Covid symptoms. The Welsh government has previously said all adults in Wales will be offered a booster vaccine by the end of January. "We are slightly concerned about people actually not prioritising the booster vaccination," said Ms Morgan. "They need to turn up when they are asked." Welsh Conservative health spokesman Russell George MS said the party has been "demanding walk-in centres for months to improve take-up rates". "We know vaccinations are the key to a society living with coronavirus and free from restrictions," he said. "These are beginning to materialise but, again, we need to see more urgency. "We understand that there is more to learn about Omicron with more data to be published in the coming days. "It's important that ministers get evidence to justify any restrictions rather than use the absence of evidence, such as on vaccine passports, to make decisions," he added.

https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/features/behind-closed-doors-ferrari-finali-mondiali The privileged few who live cosseted in their own sumptuous little world? That’s not fair. More accurately, those who can afford to buy and race Ferraris have their own universe in which to play and indulge, judging by the astonishing scale of the company’s end of season Finali Mondiali extravaganza, held last month. A voyeuristic dip into the World Finals, run this year at Ferrari-owned Mugello in the tranquil hills of Tuscany, revealed an insular motorsport dimension that tends to sweep straight past our general consciousness – because it doesn’t exist for our benefit. It’s a creation for those who continue to feed and breathe life into the most famous car maker in existence: the precious Ferrari customers without whom the prancing horse would have been put out to grass years ago. To be fair, it’s only the ongoing effects of Covid-19 that thwarted Ferrari from opening the green banks and grandstands of Mugello to those who dwell in the real world: the fans who, even all these years on, are still swept up by the old mystique. Finali Mondiali is usually mobbed. But this time, attendance was limited to Ferrari employees and those deep-of-pocket customers, plus members of the Scuderia Ferrari Club, which is open to those who don’t own one of the cars. Still, there’s enough of a throng to ensure the place is dripping in a crisp atmosphere of anticipation, excitement and awe – because that’s what Ferrari creates when it gathers its greatest hits en masse. No other car maker comes close to successfully feeding its own legend, and while it’s easy to dismiss a commercial cynicism that glares through the scarlet haze, somehow you can’t help finding yourself caught up in the moment – simply because, well, it’s Ferrari. I arrive by bus the day after the latest Icona model, the £1.7 million Daytona SP3, has been unveiled to the media in Florence and here at Mugello to those who might buy one. Suitably, it’s a car that’s preaching to the converted, limited to a run of just 599, most of which will head into the collections of those already fully immersed in the Ferrari myth. Giant red structures give the paddock a theme-park air for the rich and gauche as we head to the main grandstand and its views of both the start/finish and back section of Mugello’s sweeping contours. First, there’s the business of Ferrari Challenge one-make racing to conclude. Unless you’re invested, either literally or figuratively as a watching family member, it’s hard to care too much about the Ferrari Challenge. But its scale is still impressive. Regional series run in mainland Europe, North America, the Asia-Pacific and the UK, and here at Finali Mondiali, they all come together. There was even a bit of history made on the opening day when Dane Michelle Gatting became the first woman to win a Ferrari series, the Pirelli Trofeo for 488 Challenge cars. On the Saturday, the main European series concluded and now a pair of bumper races finish the season, the winners of which are ostentatiously titled as FIA-endorsed world champions. For the record, Finland’s Luka Nurmi becomes the youngest Ferrari ‘world champion’ in the Trofeo Pirelli. He’s just 17, which at least breaks the perception that such racing is just for paunchy, ‘mature’ businessmen – while Ernst Kirchmayr completes a double in the Coppa Shell series, adding the world title to the European crown he had clinched the day before. The racing is spirited but peppered by too many safety-car periods as drivers, perhaps out of their depth, keep burying themselves in Mugello’s old-school gravel traps. Of far more interest is the Ferrari Show that follows the racing, capping what has been a successful year for the company’s wares on the race track. You scoff… Yes, on a day when Carlos Sainz Jr and Charles Leclerc will toil to a forgettable seveneight finish in the inaugural Qatar Grand Prix, it’s impossible to ignore Ferrari’s current lethargy in Formula 1 – and for most of us, that counts far beyond anything else. It has been a strange season for the Scuderia: ahead of the final two races, it has risen back to third in the constructors’ standings this year, comfortably outscoring McLaren. But there hasn’t been a sniff of a win, the gap to Mercedes-AMG and Red Bull-Honda is a chasm and Leclerc in particular continues to be wasted in a car operating far below his significant potential.

https://www.bbc.com/news/business-59610019 The world was preoccupied with the immediate aftermath of 9/11. But exactly three months later, on 11 December, the World Trade Organization (WTO) was at the centre of an event that was to cast as strong a shadow over the 21st century, changing more people's lives and livelihoods around the world than the attacks on America. Yet few know it even happened, let alone its date. China's admission to the World Trade Organization changed the game for America, Europe and most of Asia, and indeed for any country in possession of industrially valuable resources, such as oil and metals. It was a largely unnoticed event of epic geopolitical and economic importance. It was the root imbalance behind the global financial crisis. The domestic political backlash against the outsourcing of manufacturing jobs to China has reverberated around the western G7 nations. The promise, suggested by the likes of former US President Bill Clinton, was that "importing one of democracy's most cherished values, economic freedom", would enable the world's most populous nation to follow the path of political freedom too. "When individuals have the power not just to dream, but to realise their dreams, they will demand a greater say," he said. But that strategy failed. China began its ascent to its current status as the world's second biggest economy - and is on a seemingly inevitable path to becoming the world's biggest. Indeed the US trade representative responsible for negotiating China's WTO deal, Charlene Barshefsky, told a Washington International Trade Association panel this week that China's economic model "somewhat disproved" the Western view that "you can't have an innovative society, and political control" "It's not to say that China's innovative capacity is enhanced by its economic model," she added. "But it is to say that what the West thought were incompatible systems may not be necessarily incompatible systems." Up until 2000 China's global economic role had been principally as one of the world's biggest manufacturers of plastic gubbins and cheap tat. Important, yes, but neither world-beating nor world-changing. China's accession to the top table of world trade heralded a massive global transformation. A powerful combination of China's willing workforce, its super-high-tech factories, and the special relationship between the Chinese government and Western multinational corporations changed the face of the planet. An army of cheap Chinese labour began to produce the goods that underpin Western living standards, as China seamlessly inserted itself into the supply chains of the world's biggest companies. Economists call it a "supply shock", and its impact certainly was shocking. Its effects are still reverberating around the world. China's integration into the world economy has seen significant economic achievements, including the eradication of extreme poverty, which stood at 500 million before WTO membership and is now basically zero as the value of the economy, in dollar terms, increased 12-fold. Foreign exchange reserves increased 16-fold to $2.3 trillion, as the world's purchases from China's workshops were banked by the Chinese state. In 2000, China was the seventh-largest goods exporter in the world, but it quickly reached the number one spot. China's annual growth rate, already at 8%, went stratospheric at the height of the world boom, peaking at 14%, and stabilised at 15% last year. Container ships are the juggernauts of global trade. In the five years after China joined the WTO, the number of containers on ships coming in and out of China doubled from 40 million to more than 80 million. By 2011, a decade after the country became a WTO member, the number of containers going in and out of China had more than trebled to 129 million. Last year it was 245 million, and while about half of the containers going into China were empty, nearly all those leaving China were full of exports. There has also been a massive expansion in China's highway network, which increased from 4,700km in 1997 to 161,000km by 2020, making it the largest network in the world, connecting 99% of cities with po[CENSORED]tions of over 200,000. In addition to its state-of-the-art freight infrastructure, China also needs materials such as metals, minerals and fossil fuels to support its manufacturing boom. One material essential to China's burgeoning automotive and electrical appliance industries is steel. In 2005 China became, for the first time, a net exporter of steel, and has since become the world's largest exporter. Through the 1990s, China's production of steel hovered at around 100 million tonnes per year. After WTO membership, it exploded to around 700 million tonnes by 2012 and exceeded one billion tonnes in 2020. China now accounts for 57% of world production and produces significantly more steel on its own than the rest of the globe managed together back in 2001. The same goes for ceramic tiles, and plenty of other ingredients of industry. In electronics, clothing, toys and furniture, China became the dominant source of supply, forcing down export prices all around the world. Economists noticed a "once-for-all" shock in global prices following China's WTO entry. China's clothing exports doubled between 2000 and 2005, and its share of the value of global trade went from one fifth to one third. After 2005, production quotas in the textile industry were also lifted, leading to an even bigger production shift to China. However, as production in China became more expensive and production has shifted to developing countries such as Bangladesh and Vietnam, this has fallen back to 32% of clothes last year. The Chinese minister responsible for WTO accession, Long Yongtu, made an admission reflecting on the past two decades. "I don't believe China's WTO accession was a historic job-killing mistake [for the US and the West]," he said. "However I recognise the allocation or the benefit is uneven. The complete picture is that when China got his own development, it also provided the rest of the world with a huge export market." But there was a sting in the tail - that it was US politics that failed to account for the inevitable impact of Chinese competition on some sectors. "When the uneven distribution of wealth happens, a government should take measures to adjust that distribution through domestic policies, but it's not easy to do that," said Long Yongtu. "Maybe blaming others much easier, but I don't think blaming others can help to solve the problem. In China's absence, the US manufacturing industry would move to Mexico." He then relayed an anecdote of a Chinese glass manufacturer who struggled with opening a factory in the USA: "It's very difficult for him to find competitive workers there. He told me American workers' bellies are bigger than his," said the minister. So right now we have come full circle. China has had significant economic success within the WTO. Right now the Biden administration seems in no hurry to change the obstructive policies of his predecessor there. The trade scepticism is very real. China has used WTO membership to go well beyond its earmarked role as workshop to the West. It has, for example, strategically planned alliances to get access to significant amounts of the rare earth materials that should power the net zero climate change economic revolution. It has deployed the state behind industrial expansion around the world. The US is looking to contain China diplomatically and economically, and seeking allies in this endeavour in Europe and Asia. As former US trade representative Barshefsky puts it, China has been "on this very divergent course for some time. What does that mean? A strengthening of a state-centric economic model fuelled by massive subsidisation to designated industries… the re-emergence of China as a great power, and the leader of what it calls the Fourth Industrial Revolution. This is a lot to handle. The WTO can't handle it." So, 20 years on - the world transformed by a little-noticed decision. It's been a huge success for China. The intended geopolitical strategy of the West failed. Indeed, rather than China becoming more like the West politically, as a result of this decision, the West economically speaking is becoming a bit more like China.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/59628024 Red Bull's Max Verstappen snatched his first Formula 1 world title in dramatic circumstances by beating Lewis Hamilton in a thrilling finale to the season in Abu Dhabi. Hamilton had appeared in control of the race and on course for the title himself, despite controversy on the first lap, until a late safety car. The race was restarted with one lap to go with Verstappen on fresh tyres and Hamilton on old ones and the Dutchman swept by to win the race. It was in many ways a fitting end to one of the greatest and most contentious seasons in Formula 1 history - and the arguments over right and wrong will rage for some time to come. At the end of the race, while Verstappen screamed with delight and Red Bull celebrated, Briton Hamilton sat in his Mercedes for several minutes, disbelieving at the way events had turned against him in the final minutes. However, Mercedes have launched two protests - one for Verstappen overtaking Hamilton under safety car conditions just before the restart, and one over what they believe was officials not correctly following the rules on safety car procedures. Both Red Bull and Mercedes will see stewards to discuss their sides of the argument, and a decision will be expected later. The race had appeared to surrender to Hamilton after he was controversially allowed to keep the lead he had earned with a better start than Verstappen, despite going off track to retain his position when the Dutchman tried to pass him at the end of the first back straight. Red Bull and Verstappen were exasperated and disbelieving about it, but Hamilton was imperious from then on, through a pit stop and a virtual safety car, until Nicholas Latifi crashed his Williams with five laps to go. Mercedes felt they could not afford to pit Hamilton because to do so would have been surrendering the lead if Verstappen did not do the same - and he may well not have done because his tyres were relatively fresh after a second stop. But when Hamilton did not stop for fresh tyres, Verstappen did and that was the decisive call. There was more controversy as race director Michael Masi initially said lapped cars between Hamilton and Verstappen would not be allowed to un-lap themselves, as is normal practice. Red Bull complained and Masi changed his mind, allowing the lapped cars between the title contenders past Hamilton, which put Verstappen right behind Hamilton for the one remaining lap of racing. Verstappen passed Hamilton into Turn Five and held off his attempts to re-pass down the two straights that followed and completed the lap before erupting with joy. Yet whatever anyone's view of the various incidents in the race, few would begrudge Verstappen the title after a season in which he and Hamilton have gone toe-to-toe throughout in one of the most remarkable F1 seasons there has ever been. Hamilton, meanwhile, will have to console himself with Mercedes' victory in the constructors' championship - for an unprecedented eighth consecutive year. At the same time, it was a fitting way to end a season that has been characterised by on-track clashes and off-track arguments between Hamilton, Verstappen and their teams. The race unfolded as the season has, with Hamilton and Verstappen in a race and league of their own, and for a long time the year's destiny appeared to be heading towards Hamilton. There was drama from the opening lap, after Verstappen made a poor start from pole position, Hamilton an electric one from second on the grid, and the Mercedes was ahead before the first corner. Verstappen tracked him through the first few corners, slipstreamed him down the long, first back straight and dived for the inside into the chicane at Turns Six and Seven. Verstappen got down the inside of Hamilton but went in deep to the corner, his speed carrying him to the outside kerb long before the second right-handed part of the corner. Hamilton avoided him, as he has so many times this season, and cut across the chicane, retaining the lead. He slowed a little over the rest of the lap to give back the advantage he considered himself to have gained, and the arguments started on the pit wall. Verstappen said over the radio: "He has to give it back." Red Bull radioed race director Michael Masi to insist that Verstappen was "ahead and stays on track". Masi replied: "He has forced him off. All the advantage was given back before the end of the first lap." The officials decided that no investigation was necessary and when Verstappen was told of the decision he said: "That is incredible. What are they doing there?" The recriminations will doubtless continue for some time, especially as Verstappen came into the weekend complaining that he was being treated differently than other drivers by the stewards after the controversial Saudi Arabian Grand Prix last weekend, and Red Bull have been ratcheting the tension between the teams with a series of controversial claims in the media. On track, though, the fundamental truth for much of the race was that once Hamilton had got by, he and Mercedes simply had too much pace for Red Bull and Verstappen, as they have for the past four races. Red Bull threw everything they could at Hamilton. After Hamilton and Verstappen pitted for fresh tyres, they left Perez out and ordered him to hold Hamilton back. Hamilton passed Perez down to Turn Six on lap 20, but was then repassed down the next straight. Perez was then ordered to "back him up" through the marina section of the track, and Verstappen closed what had been an 8.7-second deficit to 1.7 by the time Hamilton finally passed Perez a lap later. But Hamilton eased away again, until a virtual safety car deployed to clear the stranded Alfa Romeo of Antonio Giovinazzi gave Red Bull an opportunity. They pitted Verstappen for fresh tyres, hoping to come back at Hamilton over the final 20 laps. But so strong was Hamilton that Verstappen was able to make only minimal inroads into his lead, and the race appeared to be over until the late drama snatched it - and what would have been his eighth world title - from Hamilton's grasp.

Live Performance Title: Atif Aslam Live In Karachi '19 Signer Name: Atif Aslam Live Performance Location: Karachi Official YouTube Link: Your Opinion About the Track (Music Video):---

Music Title: Dhindora | Official Music Video | BB Ki Vines Signer: bhuvan bam Release Date: 9 Dec 2021 Official Youtube Link: Informations About The Signer:--- Your Opinion About The Track (Music Video):---

DH1 DH2

Why it matters: At the 2021 Game Awards this week, Intel dropped a 30-second teaser for its upcoming Arc dedicated graphics cards. The video covers nothing the company hasn’t revealed before, but it might be Arc’s most public showing yet. The teaser shows a few games running on an unspecified Arc GPU, including Hitman, Age of Empires IV, and Back 4 Blood. Of course, Intel didn't bother to compare Arc to an Nvidia or AMD GPU. The only clue that hints at performance is that the YouTube upload is 1440p and 30 frames per second. Recent Arc benchmarks haven’t been too impressive, but those cards were likely downclocked, so we don’t have accurate performance metrics yet. On top of the footage, Intel mentions already-confirmed features like ray tracing and AI-powered image upscaling but doesn’t say whether the clips in the teaser are using those features. The video ends with a launch window in the second half of 2022, which we already expected. None of what Intel showed was technically new, but many viewers of the Game Awards likely didn’t know Intel was working on its own graphics cards. The company has held presentations showing off their features, and rumors have hinted at other details, but there hasn’t been a lot of advertising. The teaser could be the beginning of a real PR debut for the Arc cards.

It’s been over a year since the release of Serious Sam 4 and publisher Devolver Digital is now teasing a wintery DLC expansion of some sort, which looks like it’ll either drop later this month or sometime next year – which may be connected to the surprise launch of the Serious Sam 4 Game Pass release earlier this week. Serious Sam 4 released in September 2020 to pretty good reviews for the most part, with our own reviewer calling it “a ridiculously enjoyable experience” despite the flaws. There have been a few updates since then, including some big changes to the France level, but there hasn’t been a major posting since the Steam Workshop release in March. There certainly hasn’t been any word about DLC or expansions by developer Croteam or Devolver Digital, but that’s now changed thanks to the teaser trailer posted today – which you can see below. It shows Sam travelling by boat to an icy land and complaining that it’s cold, then the Serious Sam logo appears and freezes up. It certainly seems to be teasing a new DLC of some sort. Since Serious Sam 4 is about fighting over different parts of Europe it could be set in somewhere northern like Norway. Regardless, fans immediately spotted the “22” on the buoy that intros the teaser – which most likely is about the expansion releasing in 2022, although an appearance on December 22 would be a nice surprise. The Serious Sam series has never quite hit the best FPSs on PC but they’re always lots of old-school fun, particularly in co-op, so more Serious Sam 4 is welcome news. Let’s hope it’s out sooner rather than later, then. 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. BATTLE PASS SEASON 5 Completionists will be thrilled to learn that a new battle season has begun. As always, players can work their way through stages of rewards, from new vehicles to exciting bonuses like decals and 3D decorations. This season, fans can look forward to adding the light amphibious tank, the LVT-4/40, to their fleet, as well as the nimble and heavily armed boat, the PT-658, and plenty of other vehicles and trinkets. The main attraction for this Battle Pass is the USSR light tank, the PT-76-57, a strong and compact vehicle fitted with an automatic cannon. PLAY FOR FREE NEW GUIDED AIRCRAFT BOMBS Fans who’ve been paying attention will know that the last update, Direct Hit, added the first guided aerial bombs to the game, and this month that arsenal grows with new guided bombs for aircraft. New additions to the guided bomb armoury include the US-made AGM-62 Walleye I ER and French BGL-400 and BGL-1000. NEW NATION – ISRAEL A new playable nation has arrived in War Thunder, the Middle Eastern country of Israel. The Israeli armed forces are considered one of the most combat-ready armies in the world, with an armoury of foreign vehicles and advanced domestic machines. This nation comes with a new aviation tech tree, featuring aircraft including the Spitfire LF Mk IXe, the personal aircraft of Ezer Weizman, an RAF veteran pilot who later became the commander of the Israeli Air Force. You can also look forward to piloting the A-4E Skyhawk, a late Isreali modification of one of the best strike aircraft in the game. WIESEL ARMOURED VEHICLES Fans of German armour will be pleased to note that the Ground Breaking update adds three vehicles from the highly-anticipated Wiesel series. Nicknamed ‘cockroaches’, these ultra-compact tanks come equipped with powerful cannons, capable of taking down helicopters and low-flying aircraft. There are three models on the way: the Wiesel 1A4, the Wiesel 1A2, and the Ozelot.

In brief: Microsoft announced this week that it added a new API to DirectX 12 that will support video encoding. The new set of interfaces will give Windows users a consistent framework for encoding videos. Microsoft explained the new API’s features and requirements on Wednesday. Video encoding joins APIs for features like video decoding, video processing, and motion estimation, which Microsoft had previously implemented. The video encoding API supports H.264 and HEVC (H.265) codecs. Due to driver requirements, users will have to query for each codec and its encoding tools with ID3D12VideoDevice::CheckFeatureSupport. It’s also up to users to handle the other bitstream codec headers like SEI, VUI, VPS, SPS, or PPS. Microsoft provides plenty of documentation for using the API in its explanation, including detailed interface definitions and design details. The API comes with Windows 11, but you can also get it from the DirectX 12 Agility SDK with version 1.700.10-preview or newer. It supports CPUs going back to Tiger Lake and Ryzeon 2000 and GPUs starting with the Ryzen RX 5000s and the GTX 10 series (including the Quadro RTX). Users will need to have either Intel video driver version 30.0.100.9955 or Nvidia driver version 471.41. The required AMD driver is still in development but is expected to arrive in the second quarter of next year.

Masayuki Uemura, the lead architect for the Nintendo Entertainment System (NES) and the Super NES, has died, local media reported. He was 78, a Japanese newspaper Nikkei Asia reported. Uemura, a native of Tokyo, was a visiting professor at Ritsumeikan University in Japan. In 197Os, Uemura was in charge of developing the NES and its successor, the SNES. These consoles became huge hits with combined sales of 100 million units worldwide. Uemura is known as one of the main architects of po[CENSORED]r systems in video games died on Monday, according to the Japanese newspaper. This propelled Nintendo to become one of the world's leading video game companies. Uemura, an electronic engineering graduate of Japan's Chiba Institute of Technology, started teaching at Kyoto University in 2004. In 1983, Disk System hit the Japanese market as Nintendo's first cartridge-based console. This enabled users to play an expanding range of video games Can PUBG: New State rival BGMI and PUBG Mobile in the battle royale space? We discuss this on Orbital, the Gadgets 360 podcast. Orbital is available on Spotify, Gaana, JioSaavn, Google Podcasts, Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music and wherever you get your podcasts.

Happy Birthday @Drama queen

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.

https://www.bbc.com/sport/formula1/59599804 Max Verstappen and Lewis Hamilton face off for the 2021 Formula 1 World Championship in Abu Dhabi this weekend in what is arguably the most intense title decider in the sport's history. And if it's not the most intense - Ayrton Senna v Alain [CENSORED] in 1989 and 1990, which both ended in collisions between the participants, are pretty tough competition - it's certainly right up there. It is the first time two drivers have gone into the last race of the season tied on points since 1974. It is the first final-race showdown between two drivers from different teams since 2012. And it comes at the end of a season characterised by bitterness and rancour between two teams and drivers pushing to the very limit - and sometimes beyond. Verstappen and Hamilton have collided on track three times, and raced ultra-hard at many of the grands prix this season. Yet for most of the year any unpleasantness had more or less been limited to a war of words, and behind-the-scenes shenanigans over the rules, between the bosses of the two teams in question, Mercedes' Toto Wolff and Red Bull's Christian Horner. But in Saudi Arabia last weekend the tense battle between Hamilton and Verstappen finally erupted in a race of quite extraordinary controversy and incident. During it, Hamilton called Verstappen "crazy". After it, he said the Dutchman drove as if the rules did not apply to him. Verstappen was penalised twice - once for gaining an advantage by going off the track; and once for dangerous driving, when he was found to have braked hard with Hamilton right behind him, leading to a collision between the two cars. Through all that, Hamilton came from behind to pass Verstappen and win for the second time in three races, taking his third victory in a row. He has closed what had been a 19-point deficit after Verstappen's victory in Mexico last month to nothing. And now the title awaits one of them in a winner-takes-all showdown. Verstappen and Hamilton are tied on points. If both drivers finish the race, whoever takes the chequered flag first will be world champion. If it's Hamilton, it will be his eighth drivers' title, a new record, moving him one clear of Michael Schumacher, with whom he is currently tied. If it's Verstappen, it means the end of seven years of Mercedes domination. But it is not quite as straightforward as that. Although they are level on points, Verstappen is still classified as the championship leader because he has nine wins to Hamilton's eight. That means that if they come together and neither finishes the race, Verstappen will be champion. The idea of a collision potentially deciding this championship has been a very real talking point in F1 for some time now, especially given the ruthlessness with which Verstappen has been driving. In essence, he will never give way, even when other drivers would accept the corner was lost. If he is racing with someone, if he's on the outside, he will turn in on them; if he's on the inside, he will push them wide. His belief is that if both drivers go off the track in the course of an overtaking move, that is no cause for a penalty. The stewards in Jeddah disagreed and put the blame on Verstappen for creating a situation where that happened. Many of the drivers believe the same decision should have been made in the similar situation at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix two races before, which was not penalised. And now extra jeopardy has been added by the incident in Jeddah in which Hamilton ran into the back of Verstappen after the Red Bull driver was adjudged to have braked with 69 bar of pressure, causing a deceleration force of 2.4g, about half what an F1 car can achieve at maximum braking capability, when the Mercedes was right behind him. Hamilton called this "a brake test" - an accusation drivers level at each other when they think the car in front has deliberately tried to cause a collision, or at the very least give them a fright. Verstappen called it a "misunderstanding" and said he was simply trying to let Hamilton through having been ordered to do so by race control after preventing Hamilton passing him by forcing him wide. The question on many lips is: what approach will Verstappen take in Abu Dhabi? In Brazil last month, he got away with forcing Hamilton off the track to keep his position. In Jeddah, he did not, and now he knows he could well be penalised if he does it again - almost certainly would be, in fact. Beyond that there is the spectre of a collision. In 1994 and 1997, Schumacher infamously collided with his title rival in the final race of the season, into both of which races he headed knowing that he would be champion if neither car finished. In 1994, in Adelaide, it worked. When he turned in on Damon Hill's Williams, Schumacher's Benetton was out of the race, but so was Hill, with broken front suspension, and the German won his first world title. In 1997 at Jerez, it did not work. Schumacher turned in on Jacques Villleneuve's Williams and his Ferrari slid out of the race. Villeneuve continued, hobbled but able to finish third, and became champion. Both incidents have permanently stained Schumacher's reputation. Verstappen knows this. Indeed, this writer discussed this very thing with him in an interview at the 2019 Japanese Grand Prix. This is how the conversation went: "Like [with] overtaking," Verstappen said. "If I have to touch, I'll touch. It's not like it always needs to be in the cleanest way. Let's say it like this - after my career, if I would have won five championships but I'm maybe not the most liked person, for me that doesn't matter, because at the end of the day, it's all about winning. "And that maybe sounds arrogant, but I don't want to sound like that. I would do anything - or everything - to win. If it's a little bit, not dirty, but in a hard way, I will do it. I am not here to be the most-liked person." And what's the line between hard and dirty in your head, I asked him? "Dirty is like deliberately… I would refer to Schumacher turning into Damon and Villeneuve. Those two were I think crossing the line. But a hard fight, having a bit of a touch [is OK] - but of course out-braking, being on the edge. Not the other car is overtaking me, I'll just turn in and we both crash; that's a different mentality." Red Bull, who last won the title in 2013 with Sebastian Vettel, are desperate to beat Hamilton this weekend. But Horner says how they win also matters. "We want to win it on the track," he says, "not in the stewards room, not in a gravel trap. It has been a tough fight, all the way through the year. There has been some fantastic racing. I hope it is a fair and clean race in Abu Dhabi." The difficulty is that Hamilton and Verstappen - and Wolff and Horner, for that matter - have different views of what "fair and clean" is. That's why there is so much jeopardy hanging over this weekend. Wolff and Horner have spent the season sniping at each other - both publicly, in a borderline pantomime-style war of words; and behind the scenes, trying to work the rules to their advantage. When Mercedes noticed that Red Bull's rear wing was flexing backwards earlier in the season, they complained to governing body the FIA. This is an age-old trick that teams have used to reduce drag on the straights. The Red Bull wing - and those of several other teams - was flexing on the straights, but it passed all the stiffness tests in the pits. The tests were then toughened up, and it has been noticeable that after having a small advantage on the straights through the first half of the season, Red Bull have fallen behind Mercedes in this area in the second half of the year. Red Bull, meanwhile, have been pointing their own fingers of suspicion at Mercedes. They believed they saw evidence of Mercedes' wing flexing - not in the same way, but with the same effect - at the Sao Paulo Grand Prix, and they made a number of visits to the stewards at Interlagos trying to get them to investigate. Hamilton's car did then fall foul of a problem with his rear wing in Brazil, albeit a different one, and was thrown out of qualifying. A move that led to one of the drives of his career, when he made up 25 places in one and a third race distances over the sprint qualifying event and the grand prix to win. Red Bull succeeded in getting a new wing test introduced at the following race in Qatar. It was on a trial basis before next year, with no regulatory value. But the Mercedes wing - exactly the same one as used in Brazil - passed it anyway. The world champions insist that Red Bull were "seeing ghosts" and that their wing was never flexing. They also remain angry that they were not allowed to change the wing that got Hamilton disqualified in Brazil, on the basis that it failed the check it did because it was damaged, not because of any design issue. Take a step back for a minute, and it seems incredible that this season can have been so close when the teams are using the same cars as last year, which Hamilton and Mercedes dominated. That's happened at least partly because of an aerodynamic rule change over last winter that affected their car more than those of most of their rivals. At the beginning of the season, Mercedes were having all sorts of difficulty with their car. And they were far from sure they would even be able to compete for the title. Indeed, Hamilton has spoken of how demanding it has been getting the car back into a place where it can be competitive. Red Bull, meanwhile, have quite rightly been talking up the achievement they and engine partner Honda have made in getting onto level terms with Mercedes at last. The competitive advantage has swung back and forth through the year, but since Mercedes introduced the last big upgrade to their car at the British Grand Prix, there has been a clear trend in their favour, at least in terms of one-lap pace. And as Mercedes have turned the screw and Hamilton has eroded Verstappen's lead, Red Bull have begun saying how this will have been a good season for them, win or lose on Sunday. "We're a team that goes for it," Horner said in a news conference after the race in Jeddah on Sunday. "We are going to Abu Dhabi equal on points but leading by virtue of the number of wins. "At the beginning of the year, if you'd have given us a chance to win the championship at the last race equal on points after 21 races of intense battle with Mercedes, we would all have bitten your arm off. And I think you guys probably would have, too."

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):---