-_-Moltres-_-

As the world faces the loss of a staggering number of species of animals and plants to endangerment and extinction, one University of Michigan scientist has an urgent message: Chemists and pharmacists should be key players in species conservation efforts. "Medicinal chemistry expertise is desperately needed on the frontlines of extinction," said Timothy Cernak, assistant professor of medicinal chemistry at the U-M College of Pharmacy. "Animals are dying at staggering rates, but they don't have to. Modern bioscience has achieved enormous breakthroughs in treating disease in humans, and the same medications, and the science behind them, can be applied in the wild." Local and global efforts to reduce environmental damage are underway, but they are too slow to save the many ailing po[CENSORED]tions in the wild, he said. "We are in the middle of a mass extinction. We are chasing mass die-offs around the world. Lowland gorillas, Argentinian penguins, the akikiki bird in Hawaii, loggerhead turtles in Florida. The list goes on, and many precious plants are also hanging by a thread," he said. "So it's critical to bring the power of modern pharmaceuticals and the dosing expertise of medicinal chemistry into conservation efforts." Cernak and a team of young scientists, including a local high school student, make the case for establishing and nurturing the emerging field of conservation medicine in a research article published in the Journal of Medicinal Chemistry. "It's hard-core science. It's bringing the lens of medicinal chemistry and modern pharmaceuticals into the conversation to save other species," Cernak said. "Drivers of the current mass extinction include habitat loss, global warming and overharvesting, but one specific root cause—wildlife disease—seems ripe for intervention. Medicinal chemistry is that intervention." Cernak, in one of many roles and research projects, receives samples of dead and ailing species from around the world. Using the same methods and models used to find compounds that work against human disease, his lab at U-M, which recently brought a veterinarian on board, tests chemical compounds on samples to see which ones respond to disease-causing organisms. A major focus is fungus, the single-largest killer of amphibians. In their paper, the authors propose a new role for chemistry and pharmacy on the frontlines of preventing extinction. "A long-term solution to mass extinction is to fix climate change and habitat loss using new technologies and new policies. As a bandage for the short term, chemistry in service of endangered species is needed. "Medicinal chemists interested in preventing extinction are encouraged to talk to zookeepers, foresters, veterinarians, entomologists, wildlife rehabilitators and conservationists to learn about the challenges and solutions where conservation medicine could make an impact, and to share their wisdom from the frontlines of drug discovery." Cernak is pushing for a new, impactful field of science. "At the higher level, my mission is to have pharmaceutical companies be involved in this space and young scientists view this as the field they want to go into—a field that doesn't really exist at this point," he said. "A more immediate goal is fundraising and more research as the field and the value of the field is established." From deadly fungus decimating Panamanian golden frogs, cancerous tumors killing loggerhead turtles and the numerous pests and illnesses sickening plants such as the hemlock tree, there is no shortage of challenges for conservation medicine to tackle. One of those challenges may be preventing a disease from threatening public health. "In January, 96% of sea lion pups in Argentina died in January from avian flu. If it reaches humans, what are we going to do?" Cernak said. "There may be just five akikiki songbirds left in the wild. They are dying from malaria and pox, diseases that can be treated in humans." Studying wildlife diseases could also provide critical insights to medicinal chemists focused on human health, he said, and possibly a new paradigm where drug development and dosing prediction models, which are currently trained heavily on pharmacokinetics in rodents, could be diversified. "The problem is that too often, conservationists who are trying desperately to treat and save dwindling po[CENSORED]tions aren't equipped with the latest pharmaceutical science and tools," he said. "Given current knowledge gaps, they may not know which drug will work best or what the right dosage might be for an endangered species." Bringing chemists and pharmacists into the conservation fold isn't meant to diminish veterinarians and conservation groups, but to blend their experience and expertise and achieve the same goals of saving lives—and the ecosystem, Cernak said. "Modern medicine could prevent the extinction of endangered species. Wildlife disease is a major driver of the current mass extinction yet therapeutic intervention in nonhuman species remains poorly understood," he said. "In zoos, botanical gardens and animal rehabilitation centers, many diseases are treatable, but the understanding of medicine for endangered species lags far behind our current understanding of human medicine." At this moment, Cernak's lab is not only researching faster, safer pharmaceutical development for humans but also testing the Panamanian golden frogs afflicted with a fungus that threatens their existence. Cernak supports the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's concept of One Health, which recognizes the connection between the health of people, animals and the environment. "We look at plants and animals the same," he said. "The concept of One Health Pharmacy—plants, humans and animals—is we treat any that are sick or in need." Cernak's lab has advanced the use of artificial intelligence and other technology in speeding up the process of drug discovery. He said that only increases the opportunities to help animals and plants sooner than later. "Streamlining drug and agrochemical discovery with automation and artificial intelligence is likely to usher in a future era of accelerated medicinal invention tailored to specific patient po[CENSORED]tions," Cernak and team wrote in their paper. "While it may still be decades away, one can imagine a future where it is possible to feed a chatbot prompts like, 'Invent a single-dose antiviral for elephant endotheliotropic herpesvirus with optimal pharmacokinetic properties for Asian elephants.' Exciting applications of medicinal chemistry on threatened and endangered species are beginning to offer hope." https://phys.org/news/2024-04-link-species-pharmacists-chemists-tide.html

Stellantis said its revenue fell 12 percent in the first quarter of the year on lower volumes, unfavorable product mix and foreign exchange dynamics, partly balanced by "firm" pricing power. Consolidated shipments were down 10 percent in the quarter to 1.335 million units, Stellantis said in a statement. CFO Natalie Knight on Tuesday said shipments and revenues were affected by the transition to the group's new product portfolio, based on new platforms, and that Stellantis was reducing inventories "to reinforce our strong relative pricing ahead of our new or mid-cycle product launches this year in key regions." Key model transitions in Europe include new generations of the Peugeot 3008 and 5008 compact and midsize SUVs, including EV versions of both, and Citroen C3 and C3 Aircross small car and SUV, also with low-cost EV options. Net revenue was €41.7 billion ($44.6 billion) in the January-March period, short of analyst expectations of €42.6 billion, according to a Reuters poll. Analysts at Jefferies said in a note the below-consensus revenue was mostly due to the quarterly performance in Europe, where both volume, price and product mix were worse than expected. Net pricing capacity was "more resilient" in other regions, they added. 'Blockbuster' model launches ahead Knight said the group was confident that a plan for 25 new model or facelift launches during 2024, including for 18 EVs, would help Stellantis "improve its growth and profitability in the second half of the year. In the enlarged Europe region, which includes Turkey and Eurasia, shipments were down 6 percent to 615,000, while net revenue was down 13 percent to €16.1 billion. The lower volumes were mainly due to sales declines for the Peugeot 3008 ahead of the new model launch, the Opel Mokka small SUV and the Fiat 500, Stellantis said. Knight affirmed Stellantis’ full-year guidance of double-digit adjusted operating income margin and positive free cash flow. She said that an accelerated schedule of product launches, including “blockbuster” models such as the Ram 1500 and Rev EV, would build momentum as the year went on. https://europe.autonews.com/automakers/stellantis-revenue-down-12-first-quarter-shipments-fall-10?adobe_mc=MCMID%3D08698018275631728253506055223618964412|MCORGID%3D138FFF2554E6E7220A4C98C6%40AdobeOrg|TS%3D1714488424&CSAuthResp=1%3A%3A1593511%3A20608%3A24%3Asuccess%3AFD9B860A38333C86AC8E8847E613849E

Image courtesy of JMU Athletics Communications By Bennett Conlin It’s not a college sports offseason without a transfer portal tracker! The 2024 Women’s Basketball Transfer Portal Tracker is sponsored by Three Notch’d Brewing. Three Notch’d has locations in Harrisonburg, Charlottesville, Richmond, Roanoke & more! Check out the Valley Collab House for some amazing beers in a great atmosphere. While the women’s basketball team isn’t expected to have significant turnover, anything is possible. There have already been some notable changes to the Dukes’ roster. Additions Ro Scott, Marshall, G – Scott led the Thundering Herd in scoring in 2022-23. She only played six games in 2023-24, but she’s considered a quality Sun Belt scorer. She’ll give JMU an offensive boost. She has one year of eligibility remaining. Zakiya Stephenson, Ole Miss, G – Stephenson was a bench player Ole Miss in 2023-24, her freshman season. She averaged just over 10 minutes per game and scored 2.6 points per game. The Virginia native and former top-100 recruit has a legitimate chance to crack JMU’s rotation in 2024-25. She could be the team’s starting point guard. Bree Robinson, Michigan State, G – The Canadian comes to JMU with three years of eligibility left. After a strong high school career in Tennessee, Robinson played sparingly for the Spartans in 2023-24. She appeared in 17 games, averaging just under seven minutes per game. She’s talented enough to earn playing time early in her JMU career. Departures Chloe Sterling, G – Sterling played well as one of JMU’s point guards in 2023-24, leading the team with 87 assists. She had a positive assist-to-turnover ratio and showcased scoring flashes. There was hope among fans that Sterling, a rising junior, would stay in Harrisonburg to finish out her career. She has the potential to develop into an All-Conference player at the mid-major level. https://jmusportsnews.com/2024/04/29/jmu-womens-basketball-2024-transfer-portal-tracker/

Most of us tend to overthink situations and scenarios, which may affect mental peace and even lead to anxiety. While one may not be able to prevent it from happening, experts believe that a few yoga practices may help you reduce worrying about things that are not in your control. One such practice, according to astrologer Arun Pandit, is Khecari mudra. In a 59-second chat with Curly Tales, the astrologer said how mewing, a hatha yoga practice, can help reduce overthinking in just 10 seconds. “You have to curl the tip of the tongue back into the mouth until it reaches above the soft palate and into the nasal cavity. Instantly, you will reduce your overthinking,” he said. Intrigued, we decided to ask experts whether the practice holds benefits. Dr Sudhir Kumar, neurologist, Apollo Hospitals, Hyderabad said that the tongue position influences the whole body. “If the tongue is positioned against the palate, the parasympathetic system will reduce its systemic activity (for example, heartbeats and respiratory rhythm increase), but if it is positioned against the soft palate, the sympathetic system will reduce its activity, causing a reduction in heart rate, relaxed breathing and lowering of blood pressure,” said Dr Kumar. Therefore, it is vital to roll the tongue backward and correctly press against the soft palate to get the desired effect – relief in anxiety, and stress and reduction in overthinking. “Tongue movements, generally postero-lateral (backward and to the sides), activate the anterior cingulate cortex (ACC), which plays an important role in the sensory, motor, cognitive, and emotional information and pain processing,” Dr Kumar told indianexpress.com. ACC and amygdala are influenced by tongue position/movements, which regulate several aspects of mood and emotions. According to Dr Kumar, another technique that can help in relaxation is raising the soft palate; which can be achieved by saying “R” or by yawning. “This exerts stretch on the vagus nerve located in the palate and is associated with a calming effect,” said Dr Kumar. According to astrologer Pandit Jagannath Guruji, kechari mudra is beneficial for people who are having trouble with overthinking. “The nerve endings on the tongue, apart from the eyes, are among the most serious diversions and distractions that we have in this world. They influence how we enjoy taste, and communicate. When you turn the tongue back or pull it backward, you slowly shift attention away from external stimuli and direct it inwards,” said Guruji, who compared it to a turtle withdrawing its head and legs into its shell. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/khecari-mudra-mewing-reduce-overthinking-in-10-seconds-experts-benefits-9296452/

UNITED NATIONS, Apr 30 (APP): Citing Kashmir and Palestine, Pakistan has told a key UN committee that States were resorting to fake news and disinformation in situations of foreign occupation to subdue the voices of people being denied their fundamental freedoms, including the right to self-determination. “We are witnessing this today in the Gaza war and have witnessed this consistently in the case of occupied Jammu and Kashmir,” Ambassador Munir Akram told the Committee on Information on Monday. The committee oversees the work of the UN Department of Global Communications (DGC) and provides the department with guidance on its policies, programmes and activities. The Deputy Permanent Representative of Pakistan to the UN, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, is presiding over the current session of the committee, its 46th. At the outset of his remarks, Ambassador Akram greeted his colleague, saying, “Your chairing the 46th session of the Committee on Information symbolizes Pakistan’s commitment to multilateralism and the UN’s information agenda.” “As a democratic and pluralistic nation-state,” he said, “Pakistan reaffirms its commitment to the principles of the UN Charter and international human rights law, including freedom of expression and access to information; to combating disinformation in all its manifestations; and to upholding the principles of independence and diversity of the media.” In this regard, Ambassador Akram voiced regret that the use of digital media is turbocharging the spread of fake information and disinformation to promote Islamophobia to justify foreign occupation and aggression to turn victims of aggression into the culprits. This led Pakistan to initiate the resolution on disinformation, unanimously adopted last year, the Pakistani envoy said, adding that consultations would soon take place to advance its objectives. Pakistan, he said, would welcome the development of an inter-governmentally formulated code of conduct for information integrity on digital platforms; it must address the increasing use of AI tools for spreading false information and conducting digital surveillance. “At the core of information mani[CENSORED]tion, internet blackouts, censorship and the use of special media laws by the occupation authorities is a sinister design to de-legitimize freedom struggles and perpetuate a climate of fear, intimidation and violence,” Ambassador Akram old the delegates. Earlier, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, in his presidential address, said that the contemporary challenges faced by the international community — including renewed geo-political tensions and worsening sustainable development and climate change crises — have a distinct information dimension. “Information is being fabricated, mani[CENSORED]ted and spread with lightning speed using modern tools of communication and online platforms,” he said, noting that it serves political objectives during conflict and peacetime to discredit science and silence dissent. “It is becoming harder to discern the truth and facts from the web of lies and propaganda spun around us,” he cautioned, adding that even the UN ends up being the target of attacks on its credibility and impartiality. Highlighting the Committee’s vital role in ensuring accurate, reliable and timely information, he outlined topics of discussion in the upcoming days, including the role of the media in shaping public opinion, bridging the North-South digital divide, and combating disinformation, hate speech and false narratives. He also underscored the need to utilize science-based information to promote the attainment of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and bolder climate action and to dispel myths about climate change. However, there can be no progress in these areas without bridging the digital and technological divide, creating an equitable and resilient global information landscape, and achieving universal connectivity and equal access to data for all. The most effective cure to the pandemic of disinformation and hate speech is an informed and empowered global community, he said, spotlighting the work undertaken by the Department of Global Communications to ensure information integrity. https://www.app.com.pk/global/occupiers-using-fake-news-to-de-legitimize-freedom-struggles-including-in-kashmir-palestine-pakistan/

Artist: Travis Scott Real Name: Jacques Bermon Webster II Birth Date /Place: April 30, 1991 Age: 31 Social status (Single / Married): Married Artist Picture: Musical Genres: Hip Hop Awards: MTV Video Music Award for Best Hip-Hop Video-BET Award for Best Collaboration-Latin Grammy Award for Best Short Form Music Video Top 3 Songs (Names): Pick Up the Phone-Antidote-SICKO MODE Other Information: Jacques Bermon Webster II (born April 30, 1991), better known by his stage name Travis Scott (formerly stylized as Travi$ Scott), is an American rapper, singer, songwriter, and record producer

Music title: Umair, Hasan Raheem - OBVIOUS (Official Audio) Signer: Umair, Hasan Raheem Release date: Monday , 26 April 2024 Official YouTube link: Informations about the signer:- Your opinion about the track (music video)-

Honor 90 Lite was launched in Europe by the Chinese smartphone manufacturer on Tuesday. The handset is powered by MediaTek's octa-core Dimensity 6020 SoC paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB inbuilt storage. The Honor 90 Lite features a 6.7-inch LTPS LCD display. The handset comes preloaded with Android 13 out-of-the-box. The handset features a triple rear camera setup led by a 100-megapixel primary sensor. The handset will join the Honor 90 series which is set to debut in global markets soon. Honor 90 Lite Pro price, availability Honor 90 Lite price is set at a price of EUR 249.99 (roughly Rs. 26,210) for the sole 8GB + 256GB RAM and storage configuration. The handset is available for purchase in the UK via the company's website in Midnight Black, Titanium Sliver, and Cyan Lake colour variants. Honor 90 Lite specifications The newly launched Honor 90 Lite runs Android 13-based MagicOS 7.1 and supports dual SIM connectivity. It sports a 6.7-inch full-HD+ (1,080x2,388 pixels) LTPS LCD display with a 90Hz refresh rate and a 19.9:9 aspect ratio. The handset is equipped with an octa-core Dimensity 6020 SoC from MediaTek, paired with 8GB of RAM and 256GB of inbuilt storage.For photos and videos, the Honor 90 Lite features a 100-megapixel primary rear camera accompanied by a 5-megapixel depth sensor and a 2-megapixel macro shooter. The camera supports up to 10x digital zoom and several photography modes, according to the phone maker's website. For selfies and video calls, the handset is equipped with a 16-megapixel front camera.Connectivity options include 5G, 4G, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.3, NFC, GPS, OTG, a USB Type-C port, and a 3.5 mm audio jack. It packs a 4,500mAh battery with support for 35W wired charging. Additionally, it features a side-mounted fingerprint sensor, accelerometer, ambient light sensor, proximity sensor, and compass. The Honor 90 Lite measures 162.9×74.5mm×7.48mm and weighs 179g. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/news/honor-90-lite-price-eur-250-launch-specifications-features-4137722

It looks like YouTube’s 1080p Premium video quality is finally rolling out to Android devices for paying subscribers, after a brief period of iOS exclusivity. If you're an active YouTube Premium member – it costs $11.99 / £11.99 / AU$14.99 per month – and use an iOS device like an iPhone 14, you can currently watch videos in ‘1080p Premium’ quality. These are like regular HD videos, but are streamed using a higher bitrate, which means the video is less compressed, and so should look crisper and more detailed. It looks like this upgrade won’t be exclusive to the best iPhones for much longer, as Android phone and Google TV users who pay for YouTube Premium are reporting that they can see the 1080p Premium video option (via 9to5Google). Right now the feature doesn’t appear to be widespread, and reportedly the users don’t see the option all the time, but this seemingly inadvertent rollout suggests that 1080p Premium will soon be available for more YouTube users.Google has yet to say when 1080p Premium will officially roll out for Android, but be on the lookout for an update to the app in the coming days and weeks. If you want to take advantage of the upgrade, remember that you’ll also have to sign up for YouTube Premium.If you use YouTube a lot then you've probably thought about signing up for Premium, especially as the company has steadily introduced more reasons for you to subscribe. Higher-bitrate videos, the ability to download videos for offline viewing, and Google Meet group watch-alongs are a few of the upgrades to the YouTube service that await Premium members. You’ll also be able to watch YouTube ad-free (ignoring any ads that the creator bakes into the video). The ad-free feature is getting better too – although for the wrong reasons. Earlier this year YouTube announced that unskippable ads will be getting longer (they can now be up to 30s) on your Google TV, and it’s playing around with “pause experiences” – adverts that appear around the video whenever you pause it. As ads become more annoying, the ability to switch them off becomes more appealing. That said, YouTube Premium is pretty darn pricey; $11.99 / £11.99 / AU$14.99 is more than you’d pay for a number of the best streaming services, so it’ll only be worth it if you use YouTube a lot. https://www.techradar.com/computing/software/youtube-premiums-best-video-feature-might-no-longer-be-iphone-exclusive

Microsoft is prepping to remove some of its folder options from its Windows File Explorer program. While the motive for their deprecation is that they are said to be rarely used, many power users will likely disagree with Microsoft's decision. "We are removing a handful of old settings under Folder Options in File Explorer as part of an effort to clean up the number of settings for File Explorer," a statement by Microsoft reads. "Many of these are legacy settings that have been around for ages and are not being regularly used by people on Windows 11."Microsoft stresses that these settings can still be accessed via registry keys, so they can be used, only it will get much harder to do so. Software developers tend to add features to their programs, but sometimes to make their user interfaces a little less clunky and cease testing features that few people use, they remove certain capabilities. This is hardly a big problem for the vast majority of people since some features become obsolete, whereas some other get duplicated. But things like 'show drive letters' and 'display file icon on thumbnails' are not items that are used rarely, especially if they are not on by default. In fact, not showing the type of file with an icon could be used as a conduit for virus and trojan exploits. Another aspect regarding certain capabilities that are used by 1% of advanced users is that they removal is not going to simplify the operating system or reduce its size on the disk significantly. Meanwhile, this will make the lives of the small portion of advanced users who appreciate maintaining control harder. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/microsoft-to-remove-multiple-folder-options-from-file-explorer

Series producer Naoki ‘Yoshi-P’ Yoshida’s comments come from a recent Final Fantasy 16 livestream where multiple Square Enix developers talked about the next game in the series, with content creator ‘Genki‘ watching the event and providing rough English translations of what was said. “Yoshi-P says they want to make a PC version of FF16 but they want to create an experience with seamless loading, so they didn’t have enough time to optimize for PC. He says when the time comes, they will talk more about it.”With the Final Fantasy 16 PC port a little up in the air in recent months, this clarification from Yoshida is sure to ease a lot of worries. While Final Fantasy 16 is being built for the PS5 by Square Enix, the company did also say that a PC port would be on the way at some point.“I’ve caused a bit of a stir with my remarks, but I’d like to touch on the PC version,” Yoshida explained earlier this year. “First of all, it is true that Final Fantasy 16 is a six-month limited-time exclusive on the PS5 platform. However, it is a completely different story that the PC version will be released in half a year. I will make it clear, but the PC version will not come out in half a year.” With FF16 mere days away, the six-month exclusivity period would end at the very beginning of 2024, which means that the PC port will be dropping sometime next year at the earliest. You can check out the FF16 stream with Yoshida’s comments below but do note that it’s in Japanese.“I would like to release a PC version at some point so that everyone can play as many games as possible,” Yoshida continued at the time. “However, even if we start optimizing the PC version after the PS5 version comes out, we won’t be able to optimize it in half a year, so it won’t come out in a short span of half a year.” https://www.pcgamesn.com/final-fantasy-16/pc-seamless-loading

Chinese commercial banks lowered interest rates on Tuesday as Beijing seeks ways to boost economic growth, which has been disappointingly slow as the country recovers from pandemic-era lockdowns and supply chain bottlenecks. The move took place just days after the Chinese central bank announced it would cut the interest rate it charges on several different facilities it uses to supply commercial banks with cash. The change in commercial banks’ prime rates, which are offered to borrowers with the best credit, were relatively modest. The rate on one-year loans fell to 3.55% from 3.65%, while the rate on five-year loans dropped to 4.2% from 4.3%. Striking a balance The change, which was the most significant adjustment to interest rates in nearly a year, was smaller than some analysts had expected. China faces continued softness in its real estate sector, high levels of indebtedness and persistently slow growth. David Qu, an economist covering China for Bloomberg Economics, said on Bloomberg television that the small rate cut was an effort to maintain what he referred to as a “balance between stabilizing the housing market and avoiding stimulating another bubble in the housing market.” In an analysis released last week after the Peoples Bank of China signaled that rate cuts were coming, Logan Wright and Allen Feng of the Rhodium Group wrote, “[T]he reductions in mortgage rates will not have much of an impact on property sales, but may help to reduce mortgage payment burdens for Chinese households. This is more likely designed to boost household consumption, so that households can free up and come from debt service for other purposes.” Lower growth expected Concerns about China’s economy have worsened in recent months, a fact that senior leaders in Beijing have begun to publicly acknowledge. On Friday, Chinese state television reported that Premier Li Qiang told a meeting of senior Communist Party leaders that the government is exploring ways of driving growth. “The external environment is becoming more complex and severe, and the slowdown in global trade and investment will directly affect the recovery process of our country’s economy,” Li said. Over the weekend, Goldman Sachs Group Inc. reduced its forecast for growth in China this year to 5.4% from 6%. The Chinese economy’s growth rate is still significantly higher than that of many developed economies, including the U.S., which the International Monetary Fund expects to grow at only 1.6% in 2023. However, China’s growth rate was as high as 7.8% 10 years ago, and has been mostly slowing since, with the exception of an anomalous 8.1% rate in 2021 as it returned from the depths of the pandemic. More stimulus expected After reports last month that industrial output and retail sales had both come in under expectations, some experts expected that the Chinese government would engage in a careful program of targeted economic stimulus in the near future. The trouble is that some of the most obvious levers of influence may be less potent than they have been in the past. For instance, lower interest rates are usually seen as stimulative because they encourage borrowing to fund capital investment. However, debt levels among Chinese companies are already quite high, which will serve to dampen demand for more credit. In recent months, Chinese officials have signaled openness to foreign investment in the country as another means of increasing economic growth. However, this comes after a period in which Beijing’s aggressive crackdown on Chinese tech firms and high-profile visits of state security officials to the Chinese offices of Western businesses have left some companies wary. In April, security officials entered the offices of consulting firm Bain & Company and questioned employees. That visit came a month after officials entered the offices of another U.S. firm, the Mintz Group, and detained five Chinese nationals working there. Global challenges The change in interest rates takes place amid a number of important discussions between China and other large economies around the world. On Monday, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing, where he met with Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang and then President Xi Jinping. Both sides characterized the discussions as productive, but on issues of significant economic concern to Beijing, no progress was announced. These included the Biden administration’s continued application of broad tariffs on Chinese goods implemented by the administration of former President Donald Trump, and severe restrictions on China’s ability to buy cutting-edge semiconductors due to bans put in place by the Biden administration. On Tuesday, Li traveled to Germany for meetings with senior officials there. Germany, which counts China as its second-largest trading partner after the European Union, saw its economy rocked after the Russian invasion of Ukraine exposed its over-reliance on Russia as a source of fossil fuels. The German government is in the midst of “de-risking” its economy by expanding the number of countries it relies on for key imports — a process that has China concerned about the future of its trade with Europe’s largest individual economy. https://www.voanews.com/a/china-cuts-interest-rates-in-effort-to-boost-flagging-economic-growth-/7145706.html

BBC World Service's year-long investigation has exposed global-scale, sadistic and global money laundering gangs, stretching from Indonesia to ABD. Hundreds of customers from ABD, England and other countries have been determined to pay for the footage of the torture and killing of long-tailed macaque babies by Indonesians. The group started a business on YouTube, then transferred the activity to a special group in Telegram's encrypted messaging application. The police are now searching for the gang's customers and some surveillance is being done. Warning: This article contains disturbing elements for some of us BBC journalists entered anonymously in one of the main Telegram love groups. The group meets hundreds of sadistic, extreme job seekers in person and orders these jobs to be carried out in Indonesia and other Asian countries. The purpose of the dressmaker is to purchase videos of specially ordered long-tailed baby macaques that have been treated, treated, and sometimes killed. The BBC found recruiters and distributors in Indonesia and buyers in ABD and gained access to international law enforcement agencies fighting to bring these criminals to justice. To date, more than 20 people are under investigation globally, including three women known to be living in England. Those killed in the UK, but released on bail, were charged last week after killing a man in the U.S. state of Oregon. Mike McCartney, one of the prominent video distributors in ABD, with the screen name "The Torture King - Business King" accepted the BBC's call and told what happened in the Telegram group. McCartney said, "They started a survey. Would you like to have a car? Will you be able to carry cargo? Will you be torn? What will you see as a result of this video?"McCartney, formerly a member of a motorcycle gang, died before entering the world of fame and eventually became the administrator of several Telegram groups distributing videos of job hunters. "Uyuşturucu is not different from parasından" he says. https://www.bbc.com/turkce/articles/cx05551pjg8o

The all-electric concept has 22-inch active wheels with segments that can open and close. Audi has unveiled the Activesphere concept, the fourth vehicle in its sphere lineup of futuristic autonomous all-electric prototypes, after several teasers that seemed to preview a sort of coupe-styled SUV. Well, now we have all the details on the Activesphere, and it’s interesting to say the least, in the sense that yes, it’s a sleek four-door SUV with big wheels and a slope back roof, but it’s so much more than that. With 22-inch wheels that feature movable segments that can open during off-roading and close when driving on tarmac, Audi’s latest concept has a so-called active back, which means the car can transform into a pickup truck at the push of a button. Granted, it’s not the biggest cargo bed out there, considering the whole car measures 196 inches (498 centimeters) long, but it’s more than enough for a pair of e-bikes or water and winter sports gear. Dubbed “a master of metamorphosis” in the official press release, the Activesphere has a motorized bulkhead that deploys from the rear seats to isolate the cabin from the elements and, at the same time, the rear window slides over the roof and the tailgate folds horizontally to open up the cargo compartment. There’s also a ski rack integrated into the center of the roof structure that sits flush with the roofline and can extend when needed.Based on Audi’s Premium Platform Electric (PPE) architecture, the latest sphere concept uses an 800-volt charging system and offers a maximum estimated range of over 372 miles (600 kilometers) from a 100-kWh battery. The Activesphere has two electric motors – one for each axle – that provide all-wheel drive capabilities and offer a combined output of 325 kW (436 horsepower) and 531 pounds-foot (720 Newton-meters) of torque. The concept also has adaptive air suspension and is said to be a distant successor to Audi’s first Allroad wagon from the 2000s, being built with off-roading and comfort cruising in mind, just like the rugged A6 from the naughties. To this effect, the Activeshphere’s suspension can raise and lower by 1.5 inches (40 millimeters) from its standard position, for a maximum ground clearance of 9.76 inches (248 mm). But the off-road-oriented features don’t stop here, because Audi’s prototype also has transparent glass surfaces on the bottom of the doors and up-front where the grille usually sits on a conventional vehicle, that help with visibility when navigating a rough off-road track. https://www.automotoworld.info/audi-activesphere-concept-revealed-as-off-road-coupe-that-transforms-into-a-pickup/

Pat Cummins had barely hit the winning runs in the first Test of this year’s Ashes series before the debate over the clash of styles between England and Australia fired up. At Edgbaston, the more traditional approach to five-day, red-ball cricket from the tourists narrowly triumphed over the aggressive and entertaining 'Bazball' approach employed by the hosts.Ben Stokes' bold decision to declare at the end of the first day, his inventiveness in setting fields on a pitch offering little for the bowlers and England's aggressive approach with the bat underlined their intent to carry on with the approach which has served them well in the past year.But it was his opposite number Cummins who was celebrating at the end of day five, with all questions about his defensive approach in the field and decisions to leave Mitchell Starc out of the team forgotten about as Australia took a 1-0 series lead with a two-wicket win. Afterwards, Sky Sports' pundits gave their views on the different approach from England and Australia, and what it means for the rest of the series."This is a long and hard game. Australia's method has stood up and it has worked. "I want this series to be played the same way and I know Ben and Brendon [McCullum, England head coach] will play the same way, which adds even more to next week." Nasser Hussain: Australia showed why they are World Test Champions "You can't hide behind that [wanting to entertain], and I can almost read Ricky Ponting's mind because he's a winner. England lost [the final Test] in New Zealand as well, if you remember. "I know they've had Ireland in between, but now they've lost here and there are two games of cricket they could have won, should have won. https://www.skysports.com/cricket/news/12123/12906497/the-ashes-2023-sky-sports-cricket-panel-debate-australia-and-englands-clash-of-styles-after-tourists-win-edgbaston-classic

Every year, June 21 is marked as the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere of the world, where summer is in the middle of the year, as opposed to the southern hemisphere where summer lies in December. After half a year of arctic winter, the summer solstice is marked to celebrate the beginning of summer or midsummer, when one of Earth’s poles is on the maximum tilt towards the sun. June 21 is the longest day of the year with the shortest night. After this day, the days start getting shorter, slowly and steadily.Every year, June 21 is marked as the day of the summer solstice in the northern hemisphere of the world, where summer is in the middle of the year, as opposed to the southern hemisphere where summer lies in December. After half a year of arctic winter, the summer solstice is marked to celebrate the beginning of summer or midsummer, when one of Earth’s poles is on the maximum tilt towards the sun. June 21 is the longest day of the year with the shortest night. After this day, the days start getting shorter, slowly and steadily.On the day of the solstice, the Sun reaches its northernmost position at the Tropic of Cancer, after which it stands still before reversing its direction and moving south again. This year, it will take place on June 21 at 3:58 pm BST in the UK and 10:58 am ET / 7:58 am PT in the US, and 8:27 PM in India. Many cultures celebrate it opulently. Here is how 7 countries celebrate the Summer Solstice.Known as the Midnight Sun festival in Iceland as the country receives 24 hours of daylight during the day, many bonfires and exhibitions among other things last throughout the night. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/life-style/summer-solstice-2023-what-is-it-significance-history-8674294/

The Osbournes star showed no mercy to Meghan Markle's husband as she called Harry a “f***ing t**t”, adding that he was “whining, whinging, [and] complaining” about his life. The daughter of Ozzy and Sharon Osbourne - on the I’ve Had It podcast with hosts Jennifer Welch and Angie ‘Pumps’ Sullivan - was asked to play a game called “Had It or Hit It”, in which she is given a range of topics and must decide if she has “had it”, or if she would “hit it”. To a question about new crowned King Charles III and Queen Camilla, Osbourne - who recently welcomed her first child - replied she would "hit it". She added: "It’s new, it’s different, let them try it out and see what they can make of it. Definitely King Charles, I don’t know much about Camilla, I always thought she would remain Queen Consort, it’s weird that she’s Queen." Sharing her view point on the monarch and his son Harry, Welch said: "My problem with Charles is, you have a son, I have a son. I don’t care what my f***ing son did, if I was getting crowned, he would sit in the very front row." The host was referring to Meghan Markle's hubby's seating position at the coronation of King Charles on May 6. The Duke was seated in the third row with his cousin, Princess Eugenie, while other senior members of the royal family sat in the front row. However, the 38-year-old reality star disagreed and launched into a rant about the Duke of Sussex, saying: "I don’t agree with that… I think Harry is a f***ing t**t. I do. I think he’s a whining, whinging, complaining, ‘Woe is me, I’m the only one who’s ever had mental problems, like, my life was so hard." She continued: "Everybody’s life is f***ing hard. You were the prince of a goddamn country who dressed as a Nazi and now you’re trying to come back as the Pope? Suck it. No. No.” Osbourne referenced a moment that Prince William's younger brother Harry described as “probably one of the biggest mistakes of my life”. The Osbourne’s criticism comes amid reports that Harry and Meghan Markle could be on the cusp of signing a “mega-bucks” deal with fashion label Dior, after the royal couple’s partnership with Spotify came to an end. However, a spokesperson of Harry and Meghan and a source at the French fashion label have denied the rumours. Harry and Meghan are reportedly in trouble after being axed by Spotify. The couple's lucrative deal, signed in 2020, has come to an end after the Duchess produced one series of the podcast Archetypes. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1082710-kelly-osbourne-takes-brutal-dig-at-meghan-markles-hubby-prince-harry