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As the world moves towards a post-Covid era, economic recovery has become the top priority for governments and businesses alike, and what has become clear is financial literacy and education has become a necessity. While you may have heard of bear markets, bull markets, cash cows and tech unicorns, there are lots of other creatures that have moved from the financial pages to everyday conversation. To help you on this safari, here are five animal metaphors to watch out for in the post-pandemic world. A lemming is a small rodent that lives in the Arctic and is associated with the (now debunked) myth that it takes part in mass suicides by jumping off cliffs into the unknown. It is also the term given to investors who perhaps get caught up in the crowd. When certain companies and their stocks get a bit of attention, the lemmings jump right in - as the world saw with Redditors who hyped up the value of GameStop in January. "Plenty of speculators piled into GameStop to ride the wave of higher prices without looking at the fundamentals of these stocks, which had been badly hit by the pandemic," says Susannah Streeter, analyst at Hargreaves Lansdown. "The trend for traders to follow the lead of social media influencers without doing their own homework could also be described as lemming-like behaviour. The risk is that just like lemmings, they follow these influencers off a financial cliff." There's been a huge debate raging about whether the pandemic is a black swan - a high-impact event that makes more sense in hindsight - or a grey rhino, something you really should have expected and done something about. Michele Wucker is the policy analyst and author who first came up with the idea of the grey rhino. "The grey rhino is the big, obvious, scary beast with a horn pointed straight at you that gives you a choice of what to do: get trampled, get out of the way, or harness its strength," she tells the BBC. Chinese officials are so enamoured with the concept that the rhino is now firmly ingrained within the country's financial strategies. President Xi Jinping has even encouraged the country to prepare for grey rhino and black swan events in the upcoming year and have contingency plans in place. Meanwhile, the idea has moved way beyond business into psychology and other fields with the rhino even referenced in a song by South Korean superband BTS. And with people such as Bill Gates warning that there had been signals suggesting a pandemic was on its way for a long time, the rhino's po[CENSORED]rity has surged. Wucker suggests her idea is about future proofing, adding: "The grey rhino is important because it focuses on the future, unlike the black swan which is only visible in hindsight so doesn't give you a chance to head it off." A stag is an investor who likes to make a hot deal and a quick buck before galloping off. The term has been in use for a while, with writer William Makepeace Thackeray even referring to traders as "All the Stags in Capel Court" in his 1845 poem A Doe in the City. When a company goes public, its shares are listed on the stock exchange to be bought and sold. Stags are eager and can get involved at an early stage. Their main objective is to buy and sell immediately. Russ Mould, investment research director at AJ Bell, says in recent times certain new stock market listings, also known as initial public offerings (IPOs), have appeared very tempting to investors because of possible rich and speedy pickings. Mould highlights online food delivery platform DoorDash as one such example, providing "fertile territory" for stags. When it listed on the New York Stock Exchange in December 2020, its share price shot up. But asset manager Alpesh Patel, founder of Praefinium Partners, warns the stag strategy can be a risky one as early access to IPOs isn't actually that easy to get. Therefore success isn't guaranteed. While some people refer to stag investors just with regards to IPOs, others use the term more broadly.
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The Maserati MC20 looks fantastic. It debuted in September 2020, though curiously, we've seen vehicles with some measure of strange camouflage as recently as early March 2021. Hitting the track with a thinly disguised tester after a debut is a bit backward, but then again, so is building an aftermarket body kit before a car even goes on sale. Guess Maserati's new supercar just has that effect on the world. Nevertheless, a modest body kit called Aria is in development for the MC20, and it's a sharp one to our eye. It comes from a company in New York called 7 Designs, and if you don't notice all the changes right off the bat, we don't blame you. Among other things, the world hasn't seen much of the MC20 save for a few press photos, so it's not exactly a familiar shape. On the flip side, 7 Designs takes a smoother approach to dressing up the MC20, which is immensely refreshing in an aftermarket world filled with crazy wings, oversized scoops, and flamboyant colors for supercars that stretch the boundaries of taste. That's not to say 7 Designs doesn't inject its Aria design with wings and scoops. Details of the kits aren't available, but it's impossible to miss the larger front splitter and winglets on the front fascia. Side skirts give the MC20 a lower stance, and quarter panels gain modest-looking scoops. Speaking of which, there's a small scoop on the roof and a not-so-small wing at the back. It sits atop a new rear fascia that has an aggressive diffuser and relocated exhaust finishers that appear to occupy the spot where a license plate would go Mind you, these are just things we can see. 7 Designs mentions a "carbon overhaul" on its website to describe the Aria project, and there's a form that folks can fill out to express their interest. The MC20 is already a looker, and this kit certainly adds some aggression to match its 621-horsepower (463-kilowatt) twin-turbocharged 3.0-liter V6. According to Maserati, the MC20 will reach 62 mph in 2.9 seconds and top out north of 200 mph. As for cost or availability, that's still unclear but one thing is made absolutely clear. Only 25 of the aero kits will be made, making the Aria a very rare upfit once the MC20 reaches dealerships.
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Summer is here, so are seasonal issues like fever, dehydration, and even stomach ailments. As the heat rises, one’s digestive system may become slow leading to certain digestive problems. Thus, it is essential to take care of your eating habits and adhere to a healthy lifestyle to beat the heat. Read on to know more about what you can do to take care of stomach problems during summer. “Gastroenteritis is commonly seen during the season in all age groups. Some of its symptoms include vomiting, watery motions, blood in motions, dehydration, and even abdominal pain. Jaundice is another problem that can give you a tough time and leads to symptoms like a pale look on the face, nausea, and hepatitis. This problem occurs owing to unhygienic food and contaminated water. A high-grade fever known as typhoid causing pain, fatigue, weakness, stomach ache and even headache can occur during summer. Even food poisoning occurs due to contaminated food,” said Dr Roy Patankar, leading gastroenterologist and director of Zen Multi Speciality Hospital, Chembur. Other problems to watch out for include nausea, acid reflux. Also, as the heat and humidity rise and dilates the blood vessels and capillaries, and more fluid gets filled in the interstitial spaces between organs and tissues, one may experience bloating. Loss of fluids can lead to constipation. Even Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) can get aggravated during summer. * Eat lighter foods in less quantity. See that you add fibre to your diet and eat fresh fruits, vegetables, pulses, beans, and legumes. Take regular meals at short intervals to ease your digestion process. Heavy meals are a strict no-no. Eat stomach-friendly foods like green vegetables, tomatoes, apples, pears, watermelon, cucumber, sweet potatoes, and pineapple that will also help you stay hydrated for a longer time. Moreover, salads with cucumber, tomato, carrot, and onion are easy to make and should be opted for during summer. Do not forget to add dry fruits and nuts to your diet. Moreover, you can also eat dates that are dense in protein, iron, fibre, calcium, and vitamins. *Drink a lot of water to replenish the fluids that you lose owing to the heat. Not drinking water can lead to constipation and dehydration. Coconut water can be a good addition as it can help neutralise your acid levels in the stomach and reduces the heat. *You may be a fan of spicy, fried, and junk foods but you will have to avoid them during summer. They can invite acidity, bloating, and even stomach inflammation. So, bid adieu to pizzas, chips, and bakery items. *Probiotics can be helpful as they contain gut-friendly bacteria. Yoghurt is jam-packed with protein and the bacteria present in it can ease your digestion process and relieve dysentery. *Avoid eating road-side food and do not eat stale food as it can cause food poisoning. *Exercise daily. You could do yoga, swimming, cycling, running, and even aerobics. Exercising improves overall well-being.
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THE danger that misleading or false information poses to society has been grimly demonstrated during the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. Despite the deadly threat from the virus, many people’s response across the world has often been shaped by misinformation fed through digital platforms. This has either made them trivialise the disease or resort to ‘cures’ without any basis in science and only because they were circulated in social messaging as a ‘remedy’. Vaccine hesitancy in many parts of the world has also largely been driven by rumour and conspiracy theories. This prompted the World Health Organisation early in the pandemic to coin the term ‘infodemic’ to refer to the flood of information and exponential spread of fabricated content. The head of WHO, Tedros Adhanom, declared: “We’re not just battling the virus, we’re also battling the trolls and conspiracy theorists that push misinformation and undermine the outbreak response.” Top UN officials repeatedly warned of the grave social and health ramifications of the proliferation of misinformation and underlined the need to immunise the public against false news. While the global health crisis has seen a stream of false stories the reality is that fake news is all around us today. This presents new challenges to social stability in what has been called the post-truth era, a term that emerged a few years ago. It refers to a phenomenon, itself not new, that is generally described as one where facts are discarded and criteria for establishing the truth are contested. Instead, there is a prevalence of views that only align with people’s personal predilections or emotions. Why has fake news become so common today? Is it really so new? What explains its pervasiveness now? How damaging are the ramifications of a post-facts environment? Fake news is of course not new. Fabrications and untruths have always been around. So have efforts to mani[CENSORED]te the truth. Fact fudging has antecedents in propaganda, long used to mani[CENSORED]te opinion for political aims. Propaganda comprising deceptive narratives has usually been deployed by states or political leaders and aimed at enemies abroad or opponents at home. Disinformation has been used by countries against adversaries throughout history. What distinguishes fake news from propaganda is that individuals and non-state actors are now using it with abandon in the digital age. This makes it unprecedentedly pervasive. Its more pronounced nature means that in its current form false news is a more recent phenomenon. It has been widely noted that it was after the Brexit vote and president Donald Trump’s 2016 election win that debate and concern emerged about the political and ethical implications of these events in which misinformation is commonly believed to have played a role in influencing voters. What then came to be called post-factual politics was described as involving deliberately disseminated falsehoods that misguided the debate and misled people. What explains the omnipresence of fake news today? It is generally agreed that this has much to do with the proliferation of information channels and expansion of social media in the digital era. Communication technology now dominates our lives like never before. Online platforms are widely regarded as the main vehicles for the spread of misinformation. Fake news easily circulates due to the magnifying power of social media and becomes viral in this mostly unregulated environment. Anonymity on social media platforms gives the purveyors of false stories and trolls the comfort that they will not be held accountable for the lies or hate messages they disseminate. Anyone can post fake news on social media without fear of retribution. Facebook and Twitter have been the object of mounting global criticism for this reason. Despite the raging controversy over their role, social media giants who wield immense power have yet to undertake effective self-regulation. A Unesco report notes that steps taken are at best “patchy”. As Timothy Garton Ash once wrote in The Guardian, these digital platforms have become “unprecedentedly powerful amplifiers of lies” and “the profit motive pushes them towards the dark side, via algorithmic maximization of the currency of attention”. In fact, their business model prevents them from instituting real checks on divisive content and ‘digital wildfires’. The spread of fake news has also been linked to the rise of populist leaders who feel no compunction in knowingly selling fact-free narratives. Trump perfected the politics of lies. He consciously used ‘alternative facts’ and mani[CENSORED]ted opinion by espousing conspiracy theories and fabricating threats to further his political career. But he wasn’t alone. Demagogues and their followers across the world have employed similar means for political gain, playing on people’s vulnerabilities by communicating falsehoods. A plausible connection has also been made between the prevalence of fake news and political polarisation. This is because in polarised society and politics people choose to believe what their partisan side transmits or what accords with their own views. They only listen to news media or follow online sites which echo their own bias. Living in information or digital ‘bubbles’ makes them susceptible to anything disseminated by their chosen information channel, true or false. The harmful repercussions of the fake news phenomenon are manifold. An environment where truth is blurred can have far-reaching consequences — misleading people, damaging social cohesion by eroding a sense of shared interest, debasing politics, undermining civic obligations, and even sowing public disorder. Also, as president Barack Obama once famously remarked “fake news is a threat to democracy”. When political debate is degraded by falsehoods and bereft of reason, democracy is jeapardised. By playing off and reinforcing polarisation, narratives based on untruths that demonise ‘the other’ corrode a sense of community and are deeply divisive. Trust also declines in public institutions as misleading information often sows doubts and cynicism. The pernicious effects of hate speech, harassment, online extremism and lies spread against minorities need no elaboration. How these dangers can be mitigated is an imposing challenge of our times. Solutions offered range from greater online regulation, increased monitoring and oversight by social media companies to removing toxic content and ending user anonymity. How effective they can be remains to be seen. Regulating technology is one thing but it is uncivil human behaviour that really needs to change.
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Gaming became a po[CENSORED]r part of many people’s everyday lives since the pandemic-induced lockdowns first began in India in 2020. A year later, as we head into what could easily be a second round of multiple lockdowns, gaming with your friends could easily be some of the best stressbusters you could engage in while you stay safe at home. However, if you’ve had your plate full with battle royale titles like PUBG Mobile, Call of Duty Mobile, Free Fire and Fortnite, here are ten other fun games that offer a PvP (Player vs Player) multiplayer mode where you can add your buddies as in-game friends and play with them. We have tried including all kinds of titles from action to sports so you have a good variety to choose from. Among Us (Android+iOS) Okay, most of you have probably heard about Among Us, given the app’s rise to po[CENSORED]rity over the last year, but for those new to gaming, the two-dimensional animated game offers a multiplayer experience that tests your observation, memory and persuasion skills all together in one fun game. If you have a large group, you can play Among Us with up to 10 people in the same match, but if you don’t have as many members, you can always add random players from the internet. Among Us (Android+iOS) Doodle Army 2: Mini Militia is an all-time favourite two-dimensional shooting game that offers great physics with cartoon-like 2D graphics to bring hours of fun. The ability to add your friends over the web means you can enjoy one-on-one battles as well as bring in more players for an all-out deathmatch or split into multiple teams. Simple rules, funny animations, easy-to-grasp controls and lots of weapons and maps to choose from making this game a classic. Bombsquad (Android+iOS) Another action title, Bombsquad gets a little more up close and personal where you and your friends compete in an arena with your own avatars to complete a variety of tasks. While deathmatches allow you to kill everyone else in the funniest ways, including tossing others off the arena, other modes like capture the flag and races are all about strategy and control. Irrespective of what game mode you take, expect hours of fun. Pro Evolution Soccer 2021 (PES 2021, Android+iOS) For football fans, if there’s anything better than the joy of enjoying a game on their local ground, it’s a good game of FIFA on their PCs or consoles. However, for those who rely on mobile phones, FIFA Mobile doesn’t offer the same polished experience. That’s where PES 2021 comes in. You can choose your favourite teams and play against friends right from the moment you start the game thanks to an easy in-game friend system. Football Strike (Android+iOS) Football Strike is another football game for those who want a more casual experience and not the full match thrill of PES 2021. With just two game modes, both based on free-kicks, Football strike is all about accuracy and scoring goals to beat your friends. Rewards come in the form of power-ups and other forms of player avatar customisations.
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Finding the best gaming headset is arguably nearly as important as choosing the a graphics card or gaming keyboard. After all, the sound of your virtual world and how you communicate with your friends all depends on the device you wear on your head. But choosing the best gaming headset for you isn't easy, partially due to the sheer amount of market saturation we're facing right now. With the ever-rising po[CENSORED]rity of eSports and the relative simplicity of combining off-the-shelf audio hardware with cushy earcups, a sprinkle of software wizardry and maybe some RGB, PC gamers are now offered more options than ever, whether they're planning to plug their headset into one of the best gaming PCs or the best gaming laptop. A quick search of a few po[CENSORED]r online retailers will yield hundreds of choices across dozens of companies, ranging from under $10 (£8) to over $600 (£460). You may already know how much your willing to spend on a pair of cans, but there are still plenty of other things to consider. Luckily, we’ve been testing piles of gaming headsets (to see every model we've tested, check out our gaming headset reviews page). Below are the best gaming headsets we've tested. Quick Gaming Headset Shopping Tips Here are some things to keep in mind when searching for the best gaming headset for you: Wired or wireless? Wired headsets generally cost less and don’t need to be charged. Therefore, if you typically game at your desk, you may want to stick to wired options to keep things cheaper and simpler. A wired headset also won’t die on you mid-battle. On the other hand, there’s no denying the convenience of being able to run to the kitchen for a drink without having to remove your cans. Headbands and earcups. Comfort is more subjective than measuring audio output and input, but generally speaking you should be wary of plush gaming headsets with thick bulges, cheap foam and cloth covers. When we've tested these types of headsets ,we've often found disappointing acoustic performance. Ear-cushion material can make a huge difference in what your ears ultimately perceive. Audio and mic quality. These are very important if you want the best gaming headset, but impossible to evaluate on the one or two floor models. We focus on these aspects in detail in our reviews. In short, detailed reproduction and good spatial resolution, specifically when it comes to complex noises and environments with multiple sound sources, are more important than any attempt at simulated surround sound. A key Bluetooth spec: aptX. If you do go wireless and opt for Bluetooth (no USB dongle needed), look for headsets that support Qualcomm’s aptX tech, a compression tech (codec) that’s been leveraged for decades in TV and movie voice-work, movie theater audio and thousands of radio stations. If you’ve heard Bluetooth audio in years past and hated it (it definitely was bad for a long time), give an aptX-enabled headset a listen. As long as the underlying hardware is good, you'll be pleasantly surprised by the sound output.
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Alphabet, Google’s parent company, has migrated its internal financial operations from Oracle to SAP software, reportedly owing to Oracle’s refusal to certify its database for use in Google’s cloud computing platform.. The timing of the move comes on the same day Oracle lost its landmark Android lawsuit against Google. An unnamed source told CNBC that the move to SAP stems from Oracle being adamant about not getting its database certified on Google Cloud, which hampered its adoption, particularly among large companies. These are the best payroll software choices around today Manage your employees using these best HR software Here’s our roundup of the best CRM solutions Reportedly the lack of certification for Oracle forced Google to focus on deploying SAP’s database software in the cloud. However, that has nothing to do with the transition to SAP according to Google. In a statement to ZDNet, Google Spokesperson José Castañeda noted that Google Cloud actively enables Oracle's customers to run their Oracle database workloads on Google Cloud through Google’s bare metal solution. "But that's entirely separate to our decision as an enterprise customer of financial software to transition our financial systems from Oracle to SAP," added Castañeda. According to reports, Oracle co-founder and CTO, Larry Ellison has proudly pointed to Google as a client in past earning calls. In a recent one he even listed dozens of companies and government agencies that have moved from SAP’s ERP to Oracle’s Fusion ERP. The process of migrating off of Oracle’s financial software to SAP is said to complete by next month.
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A rare antelope, declared extinct in the wild, has been born at a zoo. The one-month-old, scimitar-horned oryx calf, named Freya, is "thriving", Hampshire's Marwell Zoo said. It shares a paddock with its parents, Christina and Tenzi, as well as white rhinos, Grevy's zebra and ostrich. The zoo is responsible for registering scimitar-horned oryx under human care, and has been instrumental in creating international conservation strategies for the threatened antelopes. Declared extinct in the wild by the International Union for Conservation of Nature in 2000, the species is reliant on captive breeding and reintroduction efforts for its continued survival. Conservation biologist Dr Tania Gilbert said: "The scimitar-horned oryx was one of the first species we brought to Marwell Zoo in November 1971. "Since, we've had 378 births here, making the species one of our biggest success stories in terms of breeding and conservation success." Since 1985, groups of oryx have been reintroduced into protected areas in Tunisia to re-establish them in their natural habitat. The reintroductions began with 10 scimitar-horned oryx from Marwell Zoo and Edinburgh Zoo, coordinated by Zoological Society of London. There are currently almost 300 oryx across five protected areas. Tim Rowlands, from the zoo - which is currently closed due to coronavirus restrictions, said: "The calves will hide for the first few days, which is why their pelage is sand coloured and replaced with a white coat as they grow." While Freya is not old enough yet to venture too far on her own, Mr Rowlands said calves are able to run as fast as the adults from as early as 20 days and "she has been enjoying running around in the paddock".
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The Hyundai Veloster has always been an oddity. The three-and-a-half door hatchback wiggled its way into consumers' hearts a decade ago, though sales have only fallen since 2016 as larger crossovers and SUVs gained in po[CENSORED]rity. Mounting evidence suggests that Hyundai could be considering killing off the funky model, according to a new Cars Direct report, which looked at the incentives or lack thereof that the automaker is offering on the car. The publication discovered that the standard Veloster lacks any incentives from the automaker as of April 1 – no rebates, no lease deals, and no APR incentives. However, Hyundai is offering a Final Pay incentive, a special one designed to help dealers clear out stock, which looks to be working. Cars Direct found it "almost impossible" to find the model in stock, discovering around 200 Velosters for sale nationwide, many of which being the hotter N variant. Hyundai is continuing to offer incentives for that model, though. Cars Direct reached out to Hyundai about the model's future, though it received a tepid response. The company said that it has 2021 model year Veloster, Veloster Turbo, and Veloster N models "in dealer/port stock." Last year was difficult for the entire automotive industry due to the coronavirus pandemic, though Veloster sales tanked by nearly 50 percent from 2019, falling from 12,849 to 7,581. That's a drop in the bucket for a company that sold 622,269 vehicles in the US in 2020. Hatchbacks have always struggled in the US, though they've been a dying breed over the last few years. Ford discontinued the Fiesta and Focus, and VW decided that the US would only get the hotter Golf GTI and Golf R variants. Cars Direct notes that this could be the direction Hyundai takes with the model, offering just the hotter variant, though we won't know if the Veloster is dead until the company goes on the record.
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Everybody has a certain way of sleeping at night. And while it may feel comfortable for the body, it can do a great deal of damage to the face. A bad sleeping posture can leave wrinkles and prominent lines on your face, and even do some long-term damage. Elaborating on this, Soumali Adhikary, a beauty and lifestyle content creator shares with indianexpress.com some dos and don’ts for shut-eye. Read on. How does sleeping on the side impact the skin? While it may feel comfortable for a person to drift off while on their side, Adhikary says “consistently rubbing your face into the cushion can make structured lines because of the pressing factor of the pillow on the face”. “On the off chance that you are sleeping on a cotton pillowcase, you may make your skin dry on that side, as prolonged exposure to cotton can do that. Try not to rest on your side, but in the event that you should, keep switching sides. Also, buy a silk pillowcase which provides a more smoother surface for the skin to rest,” she says. Some people love to bury their head under or into their pillow while sleeping on their stomach. But Adhikary warns that this may cause “liquid to gather under your eyes, making them look puffy”. “Another explanation is that your skin would feel the squeeze from the pillow, which pulls at it. If you have oily skin, your face will move a portion of the oils to your pillow which can obstruct your pores.” What about resting on the back? “This is an ideal rest position — you’re not applying pressure for the duration of the night. Unlike sleeping on your side or stomach, liquid will not gather around your eyes. Also, your face won’t touch the pillowcase, thus avoiding the back-and-forth exchange of oils, dirt, and grime. To up the stakes of this position, apply a sleeping cream or overnight mask.” According to Adhikary, this position “is a poor choice for snoring and may prevent you from getting a restful night’s sleep”. The sleepers lie on their backs and their arms are down and close to the body. “Approximately 8 per cent of people sleep like this. But if you don’t get enough sleep, it will cause dark circles underneath your eyes, which is the last thing you want.”
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Five suspects were arrested on Monday in connection with the killing of a Swat anti-terrorism court judge and his family members, police said. A day earlier, Judge Aftab Afridi was travelling to Islamabad from Peshawar when his car came under fire at the Swabi Interchange on the Islamabad-Peshawar Motorway. Afridi, his wife Bibi Zainab, daughter-in-law Kiran and three-year-old grandson Mohammad Sanan died while the driver was seriously injured. A police official, speaking on condition of anonymity because he was not authorised to speak to the media, had told Dawn.com that "apparently it was a targeted attack". According to the police statement issued on Monday, a joint operation team carried out an operation in Peshawar and Khyber and apprehended five suspects. The statement added that the deceased judge's son, Majid Afridi, will identify the suspects. Police added that two vehicles mentioned in the FIR have also been taken into police custody. The FIR, registered on the complaint of the judge's son, stated that the judge was returning to Islamabad after attending a wedding in Peshawar. According to the FIR, the judge's daughter-in-law was also six months pregnant. "The suspects opened fire on the vehicle near the Swabi interchange," it said. The FIR also named six suspects including Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abdul Latif Afridi. The case was registered under sections 302 (murder or Qatl-i-Amd), 324 (attempted murder), 148 (armed with deadly weapon), 149, 109 (abetment), 427 (damage to property), 353 (assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharging their duty) and 34 (common intention) of the Pakistan Penal Code, read with Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act. On Sunday, Prime Minister Imran Khan had also taken notice of the incident and pledged the early arrest of the attackers. “Strongly condemn the murder of ATC judge Aftab Afridi, his wife & 2 children at Anbar Interchange, Swabi. The perpetrators of this gruesome act will be apprehended & dealt with full severity of the law,” he had said. Meanwhile, the president of the SCBA issued a statement on Monday stating that he and his son had been falsely implicated in the FIR. Ahmed Shehzad Farooq Rana, the secretary of the SCBA, issued a statement on behalf of the president which said said that the two men were busy "transecting their family affairs" on Sunday and were at their agricultural land in the evening when they heard the news. "Upon hearing the news, [the SCBA president] immediately condemned it as attacking women/children is against Pashtun traditions and cultural norms," the statement said. However, he added that he will fully cooperate with all relevant agencies as both him and his son had "nothing to do in this matter".
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It has been a long and winding road for Dying Light 2 after starting development all the way back in 2016. Following the success of its predecessor, Techland has been quietly working on the title after its reveal at E3 2018, leaving many fans wondering just what is going on with the game. Following multiple game delays, rumors that the game was stuck in development hell, and reports of a hostile work environment, it hasn't always been a smooth ride. However, with an expected launch in 2021, the studio appears to finally be moving forward as it slowly pulls back the curtain on the anticipated and mysterious sequel. Last month, the company released a new video of members of Techland discussing the game and showing off 12 seconds of gameplay. While that may not be much, it does give fans a quick look at some interesting elements including the huge open world. In fact, in a recent interview, lead game designer Tymon Smektala discussed how Dying Light 2's world is different from other open world style games. As many have theorized, Smektala confirms that players will be able to evolve and change their version of the open world based on certain actions and decisions made throughout the game. While a specific example isn't given, certain choices made will impact the open gameplay space with different mechanics and more. The studio believes that giving the player the freedom to shape the world around them is incredibly empowering. Outside of the dynamically evolving world, Smektala revealed that the game world remains very vertical and from a first person perspective, which he believes helps the player's immersion. Through the C-Engine and use of CityBuilder, Techland has been able to expand the map to four times the size of the first game. That said, the biggest challenge hasn't been creating the size, but the time required to po[CENSORED]te and fill it with interesting things for the player to do and experience. As fans continue to wait for even more details from Techland regarding Dying Light 2, the added development time doesn't appear to have impacted the decision to release the game on certain platforms. While many have speculated that the recent delay meant Dying Light 2 would be going to next-gen systems only, Techland has refuted the rumor and confirmed that the current and older generation consoles were still targeted. The team has been testing on the PS4 and Xbox One consoles since early in development and continue to do so to ensure that these versions meet the studio's standards at release. Dying Light 2 is currently scheduled to release in 2021 and will be available on PC, PlayStation 4, PlayStation 5, Xbox One, and Xbox Series X.
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Thousands of miles from home Wally is more used to a quieter life, away from humans, in the Arctic. But, after straying unusually far south into Tenby, Pembrokeshire, the walrus has become a bit of a tourist attraction for visitors over Easter. Now authorities are asking them to leave Wally in peace, after reports of jet skiers, surfers and paddle boarders "disturbing" him by getting too close. Conservation groups have urged people to "enjoy him from a distance". They have been keeping a close eye on the mammal, who has been nicknamed Wally ever since he was first spotted on the Welsh cliffs. The walrus is believed to have arrived from the Arctic on an ice floe, and was initially seen off County Kerry earlier this month, before he ended up on the Welsh coast. It was first seen in Wales on rocks near Broad Haven South beach before heading to Tenby, and had spent a few days on the RNLI slipway, with lifeboat crews keeping people away from it. In a statement, authorities warned the public to leave Wally alone, as the sunshine draws crowds to the area. The statement, issued by the RSPCA, Tenby's Harbour Master, Welsh Marine Life Rescue, Tenby Lifeboat Service, British Divers Marine Life Rescue, Natural Resources Wales, and CSIP Marine Environmental Monitoring, warns that people have been getting "too close". The walrus is protected under the Wildlife and Countryside Act, 1981, and anyone caught disturbing the animal may be committing a criminal offence. "We understand it's exciting and unusual to have the walrus take up a temporary residence in Tenby, and that over the bank holiday weekend many people may wish to visit the area in the hope of catching a glimpse of him," the statement said. "However, it's in his best interests to be left alone as much as possible, so we're asking people to remember he is a wild animal and avoid the temptation to get near to him and disturb him. "We're really concerned to hear reports that some people have tried to get close to him by using jet skis or paddle and surf boards - this really isn't in his best interest and we urge people to act responsibly this weekend and if they find themselves in the area, to enjoy him from a distance."
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In a recent conversation with Car and Driver, Mercedes-AMG CEO Philipp Schiemer revealed a great deal about the future of Mercedes-AMG. This bright future will see continued investment in gasoline engines augmented by a power performance hybrid setup for most upcoming models. Philipp Schiemer also confirmed that a new Mercedes-AMG SL is on the horizon and will replace the AMG GT Roadster. The modern-day Mercedes-Benz SL has had a rough couple of years. Increased competition internally from the AMG GT, slow sales, and no advertising meant this Mercedes-Benz icon was slowly becoming obsolete. Luckily, the future of the SL is looking bright as Mercedes-AMG CEO Philipp Schiemer confirmed that internal competition will soon be gone thanks to the elimination of the AMG GT Roadster and there will be a greater investment in the future of the model. The next-generation SL will be a full-fledged Mercedes-AMG product like the AMG GT coupe and sedan. According to Schiemer, it will remain a comfortable car the cruise in for long distances but is quick to point out that the SL has a strong racing pedigree. Schiemer also clearly stated that the SL will have its own unique powertrains and may not share everything with other more pedestrian As the future of Mercedes-AMG embraces hybridization for greater performance we may see some of their best work. Riding on the heels of a dominant Formula One Team while developing a hypercar only elevates the capabilities and brand image of Mercedes-AMG. A turn towards hybridization will also allow Mercedes-AMG products to meet tightening emissions requirements while adding performance.
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[Lifestyle] Can wearing a mask reduce my allergy symptoms?
-_-Moltres-_- posted a topic in Lifestyle
As we head into our second pandemic spring, many of us may be itching to give up our masks. But for the 19.2 million American adults suffering from seasonal allergies, there’s another reason to keep wearing your mask. While cloth and medical masks do a good job of protecting us from viral particles, studies show masks also can be effective at filtering common allergens, which typically float around in much larger sizes, making them easier to block. Pine tree pollen, for example, is about 800 times larger than the coronavirus, said Dr. David Lang, an allergist at Cleveland Clinic. Even before the pandemic, he advised patients with severe allergies to wear a mask outside, especially for prolonged activities like gardening or yardwork. Using masks to alleviate allergy symptoms can require a bit of “trial and error,” said Dr. Purvi Parikh, an allergist and immunologist at N.Y.U. Langone Health. But over all, “if there’s less pollen going into your nose and mouth, you’re less likely to have an allergy attack,” she said. Israeli researchers recently studied how much difference wearing a mask could make for allergy sufferers with mild, moderate and severe symptoms. Using data collected from 215 nurses who used surgical masks or N95 masks during a two-week period, they found that among the 44 nurses with severe allergy symptoms, nearly 40 percent experienced less sneezing, runny nose and stuffy nose when they wore either a surgical or N95 mask. Among the 91 nurses with moderate symptoms, 30 percent improved when they wore a surgical mask; that rose to 40 percent when they wore an N95. Among the 80 nurses who started the study with mild symptoms, 43 nurses, or about 54 percent, felt their symptoms improved while wearing a surgical or N95 mask, said Dr. Amiel Dror, a physician-scientist at Galilee Medical Center and Bar-Ilan University Azrieli Faculty of Medicine and the lead author on the study. Mask use was also more effective for the nurses with seasonal allergies than those with year-round symptoms. Wearing a mask did not solve the problem of itchy eyes, according to the September report, published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology. Although the findings suggest that wearing a mask can reduce allergy symptoms for some people, the researchers noted that more study is needed. It could be that the nurses experienced fewer symptoms because, when they weren’t working, they were staying home and avoiding crowds during lockdowns, and thus had less exposure to allergens in the environment. But the fact that mask-wearing, which covers the nose and mouth, was associated with improvements in nasal symptoms, but not eye irritation, suggests that masking probably did help reduce many allergy symptoms. In addition to filtering out allergens, wearing a mask also makes the air in our nasal cavities warmer and more humid, said Dr. Dror. “We know that dry air and cold air sometimes has the ability to elicit a reaction in the nose,” he said. “This is an extra benefit of wearing a mask. With all the bad, you can find some good.” Protection varies mask to mask, depending on the fit and, for cloth masks, the weave of the fabric. And unless you wear a mask at all times, you may still be affected by indoor allergens such as dust mites or pollen carried through open windows on spring breezes. “It can help, but it’s not necessarily going to take away all your symptoms,” said Dr. Sandra Lin, a professor of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery at Johns Hopkins School of Medicine. “Pretty much everyone’s wearing masks most of the time now, and people are still getting allergy symptoms.” Here are some more tips to reduce your symptoms during allergy season. — PROTECT YOUR EYES: Dr. Lang recommends people who suffer from allergies wear glasses or sunglasses when they’re outside, which helps block allergens like tree pollen from making direct contact with eyes. — WASH AND CHANGE YOUR MASK FREQUENTLY: “The last thing you want is allergen getting trapped in it,” Dr. Parikh said. She recommends patients change their clothes when they get home and shower before sleep, to ensure that pollen doesn’t stick to their skin, and wash reusable masks frequently. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends washing a cloth mask after each use. — FIND A MASK THAT DOESN’T IRRITATE YOUR SKIN: Choosing the right mask for an allergy-prone wearer can also be important. People with sensitive skin may react to dyes in some fabric masks and should use perfume-free detergents. Or choose a surgical or medical grade mask, which are less likely to irritate skin. “My allergy sufferers have very sensitive skin because the same critters that make them sneeze or cough also can irritate their skin,” Dr. Parikh said. — TALK TO A DOCTOR IF YOUR ALLERGY SYMPTOMS ARE SEVERE: “If people are continuing to have symptoms that interfere with normal activity — if they’re missing work, missing school, their sleep is disrupted at night — see a physician,” Dr. Lang said. “There are other ways we can help. You shouldn’t be suffering needlessly.” -
Workouts in D.C., Baseball on Monday?: In his Zoom call with reporters on Friday, Washington Nationals’ GM Mike Rizzo said that the plan was to play the Atlanta Braves in the first game of a three-game set this Monday after a season-opening series with the New York Mets was postponed when four Nationals’ players tested positive for COVID-19 and five others ended up in quarantine with the club’s contact tracing identifying them as having been in close contact with someone who tested positive. In order to play on Monday, however, Rizzo said, the players, who have been off since they played the final Grapefruit League game in West Palm Beach a week back (Monday, 3/29), would have to get some sort of workouts in. “You can’t just go from a dead stop and this postponement,” Rizzo explained, “... to ramping up to play the Atlanta Braves and not expect there to be injuries. So we have to find ways to work guys out. Hopefully MLB will allow us to work out tomorrow [Saturday].” Asked what it would take for Major League Baseball to clear them to return to the park, the GM and President of Baseball ops in the nation’s capital said the entire team getting back a negative test would be a big step for the organization. “I think it would go a long way if we had a clean team test with this round of tests being all negatives,” Rizzo said. “I think that that would allow us to discuss with MLB to work out, especially if we are preparing and planning to play on Monday, I think it would be vital for us to work out tomorrow.” Late on Saturday afternoon, there were some positive reports for those still hoping that the Nationals’ 2021 campaign will start on Monday: Does that mean they’ll play on Monday? Not necessarily. But as Rizzo said, the players need to stay sharp if they’re going to, and some apparently did get to return to the park to throw, so... we’re saying there’s a chance. But if they do play on Monday afternoon (it’s scheduled to be a 4:05 PM matchup with their divisional rivals), they’ll have to do it without those nine players who are quarantined (35% of the roster). Rizzo wasn’t offering any info on when any of the unnamed players in quarantine might be eligible to return, though the club is, of course, aware of the timetables. “At this point we’re not willing to divulge that yet. We want to get all our facts together and double check them before we give any kind of timeline.” Catching ?s Following Signing: Multiple reports last Thursday had catching prospect Tres Barrera called up after the news of positive COVID tests first broke, suggesting that one of the two backstops on the roster (Yan Gomes & Alex Avila) were among the players who had either tested positive or been in close contact with one of the players who did. [ed. note - “The Nationals aren’t naming either the players who tested positive or the players who went into quarantine following contact tracing.”] Now... what to make of the news that the Nats have signed veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy to a minor league deal?
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The record-setting sealed copy was given a 9.6/A+ grade by the video game grading company Wata, making it the "finest copy known to have been professionally graded for auction," according to Heritage. It is also a modified version of the game, which had a limited print run, adding to its scarcity and value. The seller, who chose to remain anonymous, told the auction house the game was bought as a Christmas gift in the mid-80s, placed inside a desk drawer that winter, and wasn't moved or touched until being rediscovered earlier this year. Friday's transaction more than quadruples the previous mark for the most expensive video game sold—a sealed copy of Super Mario Bros. 3 that went for $156,000 in November. The previous record for an original Super Mario Bros. game was $114,000, set last July. "It stayed in the bottom of my office desk this whole time since the day I bought it," the seller told Heritage Auctions. "I never thought anything about it." The market for alternative assets such as trading cards and various forms of sports and entertainment memorabilia has skyrocketed over the past year. In December, an O-Pee-Chee Wayne Gretzky rookie was purchased for $1.29 million, setting the record for a hockey card sale. The following month, a scarce 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle rookie card sold for $5.2 million—the highest recorded card sale of all time. In February, eBay announced that the trading card category on its platform grew by 142% in 2020, with over 4 million more cards sold compared to the prior year. A 1993 Magic The Gathering MTG Alpha Black Lotus sold for $511,100 on the site in January. Last month, an autographed Luka Doncic rookie card went for $4.6 million. During the Heritage auction that closed Friday, two other sealed video games (Megaman and Mike Tyson's Punchout) sold for north of $100,000. Heritage's Comics & Comic Art Auction continues throughout the weekend and includes an internet session for comic books on Saturday and another video game session Sunday.
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[Youtube] My Minecraft Dog Scared Me - Himlands S2 - part 19
-_-Moltres-_- posted a topic in YouTube
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BERLIN -- A fire at a pig-breeding facility in northeastern Germany is believed to have killed more than 55,000 animals, the operator said Thursday. The fire broke out on Tuesday at the facility in Alt Tellin, in Germany's northeastern corner. It spread quickly, in part through ventilation shafts, and destroyed the stalls where the animals were kept. A spokesman for operator LFD Holding, Ralf Beke-Bramkamp, told German news agency dpa that over 55,000 animals died. Some 7,000 sows and 50,000 piglets were listed as being at the facility at the time, and only about 1,300 animals were rescued. The cause of the blaze remains unclear. Police spokesman Andrej Krosse said it was an “incredibly difficult” investigation and a drone was being used to survey the devastated site. The Alt Tellin facility was one of the biggest of its kind in Germany. Groups of demonstrators, carrying placards with slogans such as “Stop animal torture,” gathered at the scene on Wednesday.
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Named the Phantom Iridescent Opulence, the unique luxury car pays great attention to its Gallery work, a space specially designed to create works of art and add other aesthetic details of a personal nature. This segment has been specially installed and created by a Swiss specialist, the Nature Squared brand, which focuses on nature research, self-sustainable materials and the use of the latest available technologies. After extensive research, the company was able to identify different species of birds with rich and dense feathers, including more than 3,000 carefully selected tail feathers in the new model’s Control Panel Gallery segment, surrounding a central mother-of-pearl kilometer to create a very lavish and a luxurious feel. “The gallery segment in the Rolls-Royce Phantom model is a unique space that provides the perfect platform to present works of art,” said Cesar Habib, Regional Director of Rolls-Royce’s Middle East and Africa branch.
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HUNTSVILLE, Ala. (WAFF) - One week from today, Governor Ivey’s Mask mandate will expire, leaving many with the personal decision to mask up or not. Local experts say many are suffering from “COVID fatigue” and are ready to leave the pandemic behind them, but others are still on high alert. Dr. Christina Steidl, Associate Sociology Professor at UAH, says the deciding factor to continue to take precautions or fully go back to a pre-COVID lifestyle is based on our social network. Dr. Steidl says individuals don’t act in a vacuum and groups tend to form around likeness. We check our behaviors with the people around us so we know “what is normal”. So, the decision to continue to take precautions or not will likely be decided on what others around you do. Steidl says that when it comes down to decisions like this we often forget how our environmental structures affect our opinions. She says this can also stem from more than just your personal relationships. “The COVID response has become so politicized, right,” says Steidl. “So, whether to wear a mask, how to wear a mask…there is a lot of pressure for individuals, not just from others in your group that are saying, ‘why weren’t you wearing a mask’ or ‘why were you wearing a mask’, but also there is pressure to represent or uphold the political group.” Steidl says that with all the pressure to please, individuals are now not making the best decisions for themselves, but having to navigate another layer of coercion. She says the government regulations should be freeing to an extent and people can make their own choices shame-free.
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