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Your Microsoft Teams calls could be about to get a whole lot more entertaining thanks to the addition of a new feature heavily influenced by Zoom. The video conferencing platform has revealed it is working on video filters for users to add a bit more customization to their feeds. These additions look likely to go further than the existing tools that allow for blurred Microsoft Teams backgrounds, or a collection of basic images, to allow users to show a bit more personality on a call or meeting.Sponsored LinksDownload for FreeConquer OnlineMicrosoft Teams video filters In its post on the official Microsoft 365 roadmap(opens in new tab), the company describes the new addition as allowing those in Teams Meetings to "augment their video stream with visual effects". RECOMMENDED VIDEOS FOR YOU...CLOSE0 of 6 minutes, 58 secondsVolume 0%PLAY SOUND It adds that the effects will be provided by app developers on Teams Platform, meaning there should be a wide range of options available at launch, along with significant expansions soon after as more and more users embrace the tool. The update is still listed as being "in development" for the time being, with an expected general availability date of February 2023, so users won't have to wait too much longer. Upon release, it will initially only be available to Microsoft Teams desktop users across the world.READ MORE > Check out our list of the best online collaboration software around(opens in new tab) > Microsoft Teams is finally adding this vital business tool to help save your business(opens in new tab) > The sheer scale of Microsoft Teams dominance could mean big trouble(opens in new tab) As mentioned, video filters have long been a po[CENSORED]r feature on Zoom, allowing users to liven up their calls with a range of backgrounds, virtual hats and glasses, and other framing effects. The platform revealed animated avatars back in March 2022, giving users the chance to appear in animal form, with choices ranging from cat to cow, raccoon, rabbit, dog and more. The avatars not only replace the original video feed, but also mirror the person’s head movements and facial expressions courtesy of a few AI tricks. Microsoft also recently revealed that its next generation of Teams would feature a significant customization upgrade. It noted that companies using Microsoft Teams Premium would be able to add their own branding, customized backgrounds and Together Mode scenes to boost their presence in meetings.

AMD and GPU Open have made the source code for FidelityFX Super Resolution 2.2 available. FSR 2.2 was announced alongside the first RDNA 3 graphics cards last November and put under the spotlight during AMD’s CES 2023 participation. It has already been available to experience in the likes of Forza Horizon 5, F1 22, and Need for Speed Unbound. However, the great thing about today’s open-source release is that the full gamut of developers can now start to implement and upgrade to FSR 2.2. It is likely that it was no coincidence that two fast-paced racers got to showcase FSR 2.2 first. One of the key attractions of the latest release of this upscaling API is that it reduces an issue called “high-velocity ghosting.” And, yes, this issue “is common in some games, and in particular racing games when playing in the third person,” says a community blog post published by AMD today. Other new features in FSR 2.2 worth highlighting are the “Debug API Checker” for developer troubleshooting and a number of quality tweaks. A quick-reference table created by GPU Open, embedded below, provides an overview of these tweaks, one of which boosts HDR quality. The FSR documentation has been updated to reflect all the changes and new features in v2.2. GPU Open advises that developers updating titles to support the latest API will face a “relatively simple” task, but they should still rebuild integrations with the new headers as good practice. One other important note to devs is that FSR 2.2 introduces some changes that may affect how values in both Reactive Mask and Transparency & Composition Mask textures impact upscaling – so these mask contents need to be adjusted to attain the best quality. FSR 2.2 is also on the way to the Unreal Engine, with updates on progress due shortly. Before we go, AMD highlights that FSR upscaling has made it into 250 games so far and that's worth celebrating. Out of that number, 110 support the new FSR 2.X technology and AMD expects the balance in favor of FSR 2.X to reach a tilting point, “soon.” https://hothardware.com/news/amd-releases-fidelityfx-super-resolution-22-code

The challenging rogue-lite title makes its way to PC with an impressive port and incredible performance. Here's our review of Returnal's PC version. Returnal was one of the few PlayStation exclusives that could only be played on the PS5; however, it is now available to players who've been wanting to experience Returnal on PC. While the rogue-lite game has made its mark on Sony's latest console, it might be a different story on more powerful systems for better or worse. So even though Returnal is considered a titular title for the PlayStation 5, the new PC release might make it a must-have game for the PC as well. Here's what we think about Returnal's performance on the PC and why it could be the ultimate way to play in 2023. At first glance, Returnal might seem like a spin-off of one of Ridley Scott's movies due to its 80s sci-fi movies vibe. However, once you start playing the game, you soon realise it's far more than a generic sci-fi horror game. You play as Selene, an astronaut who crashes on the planet of Atropos, looking to find the source of a mysterious signal. As soon as you land on the planet, Selene notices the planet's creepy and eerie nature, which contains luminous plants, enigmatic doors, and weird enemies ready to stop her from discovering the planet's secrets. Since Returnal is a rouge-lite game, players will experience their first death very soon and notice that Selene is transported back to her ship and re-experiences the crash all over again. It is very reminiscent of Tom Cruise's Edge of Tomorrow; however, in this case, Selene has the ability to learn and retain new skills that will help her progress further than her previous run. It is also worth pointing out that levels are procedurally generated, meaning players cannot learn each biome for progression and must figure out how to clear each biome in every run. There are six biomes in total that are totally different from each other, featuring different types of challenges, upgrades, enemies, and collectibles. To make their chances of survival higher, players will need to explore every biome and acquire upgrades that make them proficient at certain skills. With these upgrades, players will find it slightly easier to beat the game since there is no scope for saving progress to continue later. While players will lose some upgrades with each death, certain unlockables and skills get carried over for the next run. However, players must be ready to struggle again and again until they get proficient with each weapon and start getting used to facing tougher enemies. Returnal PC - Gameplay review Returnal's gameplay is the definition of a twitchy shooter that requires players to be on their toes at all times. While basic mechanics such as dashing and gunning while running is present, it's how players use them to their advantage that makes a difference. For starters, if players use a DualSense or DualSense Edge controller, they will notice that pressing the L2 trigger halfway lets them aim down the sights. This is because the adaptive triggers implement a resistance system when players reach that threshold. However, if players press the L2 trigger all the way down, it will result in Selene using her alternate fire mode, which is beneficial for tacking multiple weaker enemies. This mechanic is a clever implementation of Sony's DualSense controller technology which is hard to find in other titles. https://www.91mobiles.com/hub/returnal-pc-performance-review/

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The chancellor has insisted there are "no blank cheques" for trade unions, following Conservative criticism of her approach to public sector pay. Since last month's election, the government has brokered several above-inflation pay deals with unions to bring an end to long-running disputes. It has led to Tory attacks that Labour has lost control of public pay and is "being played by its union paymasters" who it has "caved to". But Rachel Reeves said the pay deals were required to ease recruitment problems in areas such as teaching and the NHS. Speaking to the Guardian, she added: “We have not caved in to any demands. We haven’t done so with the train drivers or the junior doctors.” Junior doctors have been offered a rise worth 22% over two years, which if accepted would bring an end to industrial action from the BMA union that has seen hundreds of thousands of appointments cancelled since March 2023. Train drivers in the Aslef union have been offered a three-year deal, including a 5% backdated pay rise for 2022/23, a 4.75% rise last year and 4.5% this year. The new Labour government has also dropped attempts by the previous Tory administration to change drivers' working practices as part of the deal, which could end more than two years of walkouts on the railways. Those two deals followed a decision last month to accept a series of above-inflation rises of around 5.5-6% for other public sector workers recommended by official pay review bodies. The Treasury has estimated that those deals will cost an extra £11.6bn more than budgeted for by the last government, which had allocated cash for rises of 2%. But in her Guardian interview, Ms Reeves said there were "massive recruitment and retention problems" in the public sector, and not accepting the recommendations would have been “very damaging”. The chancellor also said she anticipated having to take "difficult decisions" to "do what it takes to put the public finances on a firmer footing". Her interview came on the day the government published its proposed change to the law halting winter fuel payments for 10 million pensioners in England and Wales. The suspension of the payments, worth between £100 and £300, is expected to come into force on 16 September. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg4v9nn3kzo

A dog owner from Sleaford has blamed uncut grass on her estate for making her pet "dangerously ill". Sally Griffen said she spent more than £300 on vet bills after a grass seed was found lodged in the dog's ear. Ms Griffen wishes grass verges lining roads would be cut more regularly to avoid more dogs falling ill. Lincolnshire County Council said it will be carrying out several cuts this year after "extreme rapid grass growth" from the weather. Ms Griffen recalls her golden cocker spaniel dog, Sandy, which is blind and has a heart condition, being in “a lot of pain”. She said: “We were so worried about her, when we got her home she wasn’t herself." Ms Griffen said that she is terrified about it happening again, not only for her dog’s wellbeing but also the financial cost. “We paid £315 in vet bills, we do not have that kind of money lying around,” she added. The council added it "pays some district, town and parish councils to carry out more localised cuts in their areas". North Kesteven District Council said a “growing recognition” allows some patches of grass to grow wilder and described it as a "good idea". “It can support pollinators as well as capturing and locking in carbon,” it said. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cql3el14lwko

Even in the age of next-day delivery, self-checkout, and gigabit internet, some things can't be rushed. The cars, trucks, and SUVs seen here won't reach dealer lots for anywhere from a few months to a few years. Some of them are about to roll down the assembly line. Others haven't emerged from the design studio yet. We're telling you about them now, though, because these are the vehicles that will matter, regardless of how many boring crossovers automakers puke out. These are worth the wait. The next-generation BMW M5 sedan will take the stage for the 2025 model year with an upgraded powertrain that promises lots more power than before. For the first time, the M5 will be offered as a plug-in hybrid with an estimated 738 horsepower and standard all-wheel drive. There’s even a rumor that it will be offered in station-wagon form in North America. Unfortunately, we’re still too far from the expected July 2024 launch date for a list of complete specs, but we’re excited at the prospect of a wagon version (Touring in BMW-speak) of the M5 coming to our shores. https://www.caranddriver.com/features/g28985154/future-cars/

Liverpool have agreed to sign Georgia goalkeeper Giorgi Mamardashvili from Valencia in a deal worth up to £29m. The 23-year-old will join, subject to a work permit and international clearance, for a fee of £25m plus £4m in add-ons. However, he will remain with the La Liga club this season before moving to Merseyside for the start of the 2025-26 campaign. Brazil international Alisson Becker remains the Reds' first-choice goalkeeper, while new manager Arne Slot also has Republic of Ireland stopper Caoimhin Kelleher at his disposal this season. Mamardashvili played in Georgia's four games at Euro 2024 before they were knocked out by eventual winners Spain in the last 16. He has made 102 appearances for Valencia since joining them in 2021 and started both their fixtures this season - defeats against Barcelona and Celta Vigo. Liverpool moved for Mamardashvili now as it appeared that with growing interest he may not have been available to them in the next 12-24 months. Alisson has two years and the option of a further year left on his Liverpool contract. The 31-year-old Brazilian has been aware and supportive of the move for Mamardashvili, who is seen as being capable of strengthening the club's depth of talent in that position for the future. Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c23lrvk8r72o

Residents in East Yorkshire are being urged to take advantage of a scheme offering free blood pressure checks. Know Your Numbers Week, which runs from 2 to 8 September, aims to encourage people to get checked. High blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. Clinics are taking place at a number of leisure centres across the region. Andy Kingdom, director of public health at East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “About a quarter of the po[CENSORED]tion has high blood pressure, and blood pressure tends to get higher as people get older. “The good news is that there is a simple blood pressure check that people can do, and if someone’s blood pressure is higher than it should be there are ways to reduce it. “Lifestyle changes such as healthier eating, physical activity and in some cases prescribed medication can all decrease blood pressure, and in turn reduce chances of long-term conditions like diabetes, heart disease and stroke." 'Real benefit' Clinics are taking place in Goole between 2 and 6 September, in Driffield and Bridlington on 2 September and in Hornsea and Beverley on 3 September. These dates are followed by clinics in Haltemprice on 4 September, Withernsea and the Francis Scaife leisure centres on 5 September and South Holderness on 6 September. People will also be able to get a test in Bridlington Harbour on 2 September. Councillor Jonathan Owen, cabinet member for public health at the authority, said: "I’d encourage residents to take up the opportunities at our leisure centres and libraries. “I had my blood pressure checked a few years ago, which led to me making some lifestyle changes, from which I’ve seen and felt a real benefit." Blood pressure monitors will also be available for residents to borrow from libraries. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqxjqe2lnzzo

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has said his troops' incursion into Russia's Kursk region is part of a "victory plan" that he will present to US President Joe Biden next month. Speaking at a forum on Tuesday, President Zelensky said the success of the plan would depend on President Biden and on whether the US would give Ukraine "what is in this plan or not, [and] whether we will be free to use this plan, or not". "It may sound too ambitious for some, but it is an important plan for us," he added, saying that he would also show the plan to both US presidential candidates Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. A number of Ukrainian troops made an incursion into Russia's Kursk region in early August, and Russia has so far seemingly been unable to repel them. Speaking at the same forum, Ukraine's Kyiv's top military commander, Gen Oleksandr Syrskyi, said Ukraine now controls 1,294 sq km (500 sq miles) of Russian territory and 100 settlements - although these figures have not been verified by the BBC. Gen Syrskyi said Ukraine had no intention of holding on to the territory and that one motivation for the incursion was to distract Russia's forces away from their own offensive in eastern Ukraine. Russia is seeking to capture the town of Pokrovsk, which is an important hub and home to a key railway station. President Zelensky also revealed that Ukraine had recently carried out the first successful test of a domestically-produced ballistic missile. He congratulated his country's defence industry, but declined to share any more details of the missile. Although Ukraine has already used some ballistic missiles against Russia that were provided by the US, it has been working to develop the domestic production of military hardware to diminish its dependency on Western aid. However, for now, Ukraine mostly relies on military supplies from abroad to fight Russia and repel its attacks. At the forum, President Zelensky said that Ukraine had used some newly arrived F-16 fighter jets sent by Western countries in order to intercept some of the missiles fired by Russia in recent days - but that the country would need more jets. For the past two nights, Russia has pummelled Ukraine with a barrage of drone and missile attacks which have left several people dead and caused blackouts in various areas of the country. Such attacks show that Moscow has no intention to stop the war, President Zelensky said: "When they want [peace talks], they don’t launch 230 air strikes." Since the Kursk incursion, however, Russia has signalled it will not engage in any peace talks with Ukraine. "The topic of negotiations at the moment has pretty much lost its relevance," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Tuesday. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/crrlnl2vqe2o

Android tablets saw a resurgence in India during the pandemic. As most people were working or studying from home, the demand for large-screen smart devices increased significantly. While things have started to go back to the old normal in 2022, companies continue to offer value-for-money Android tablets in India. The Realme Pad X is one such Android tablet, which launched in July for a starting price of under Rs. 20,000. The Realme Pad X is currently the company's most premium Android tablet offering in India. The unique proposition of the Realme Pad X is that it's built for the creative crowd. From its large display, to the beefy battery and quad-speaker setup, to the support for a stylus that charges magnetically — Realme wants this to be in every creator's travel bag. The tablet also packs a 5G SoC. With the kind of hardware it offers for the price, should you consider buying the Realme Pad X? Here is our full review to help you decide.Realme Pad X price in India The Realme Pad X is available in two models. The base Wi-Fi-only model has a single variant with 4GB of RAM and 64GB of internal storage and is priced at Rs. 19,999. Their 5G model with the same configuration costs Rs. 25,999, and the top-end variant with 6GB of RAM and 128GB of storage is priced at Rs. 27,999.Realme Pad X design The Realme Pad X seems to have taken some inspiration from the iPad Air 2022 (Review) when it comes to design. The Android tablet sports a flat frame with a plastic body. It is fairly on the heavier side at 506g of weight but the tablet is quite sleek at just 7.1mm in thickness.Although the rear shell is made of plastic, it does not look like it. I mistook it for glass while unboxing the Realme Pad X but once I held it, it was quickly evident that it wasn't. That being said, the tablet does not feel cheap. Realme seems to have used some good quality plastics for the tablet and the glittery finish on the back panel makes it look quite premium. The company calls it the 'Glowing Light Design'. We have the Glowing Grey colour, which has a frosted black finish. There is also a Glacier Blue colour, which should do a slightly better job of hiding fingerprints and smudges. On the front, the Realme Pad X has a huge 10.95-inch IPS LCD with a WUXGA+ resolution (1200x2000 pixels). While the screen is of the LCD variety, it offers quite a good viewing experience. There is barely any visible colour shift when viewed off-angles, and with 450 nits of peak brightness the display is easily legible under most lighting conditions. When outdoors though, I preferred keeping the display brightness at max for a better viewing experience. The symmetrical bezels around the display are fairly thin for an Android tablet at this price. I also liked how the company has placed the front camera on the right bezel (landscape mode), something which is now also seen in the iPad 10th generation (Review). This helps keep the user in the centre of the frame when using the tablet horizontally on video calls.There is support for Widevine L1 on the Realme Pad X, so apps such as Netflix can play back full-HD content. For its price, I would not expect an AMOLED display so the typical shortcomings of an LCD panel such as the lack of deep black levels or rich contrast is forgivable. The Realme Pad X does not support HDR10 and that's most likely due to the SoC's limitation. There is no high refresh rate support either as the Realme Pad X's display runs at a standard 60Hz. In comparison, the much more affordable Redmi Pad (Review) offers a 90Hz refresh rate display. When held vertically, the Realme Pad X's top edge houses two of the four speaker grilles and the power button. The bottom edge houses the other two speaker grilles and the USB Type-C port. On the right edge, there are the volume buttons, whereas on the left, you get the SIM tray, which also has space for a microSD card. The Realme Pad X supports the Realme Pencil stylus, which can be attached on the right side of the tablet (when held vertically). There is also a keyboard cover, which comes with an in-built kickstand. There are no magnetic pins on the tablet to supply power to the keyboard, which means it needs to be charged separately via its own USB Type-C port. The keyboard does not have a trackpad. Both accessories are sold separately. Link: https://www.gadgets360.com/tablets/reviews/realme-pad-x-review-android-tablet-price-specifications-3561912#pfrom=indepth

Google continues to “experiment” with its advertising efforts as it looks like YouTube may begin looking for ad-blockers. Reddit user Sazk100 posted a screenshot of a new popup on the YouTube subreddit(opens in new tab) telling them ad-blockers are no longer allowed on the website. As a result they were unable to watch videos. After getting the notification, YouTube gave Sazk100 two options: one) disable the ad-blocker or two) purchase a subscription to YouTube Premium. This does appear to be a real notice and not some prank. The moderator team on the subreddit claims a YouTube employee reached out to them confirming its legitimacy. Other outlets(opens in new tab) have had a YouTube spokesperson tell them the company is running a small global experiment urging users with ad blockers to allow ads or try YouTube Premium. It’s unknown just how far reaching this experiment is nor do we know if YouTube will officially implement these plans. We asked the company these questions only to be given the same comment by a representative – that it's all an "experiment". It is important to point out Google has been conducting multiple advertising tests such as the recent flood of integrated ads into Gmail accounts. As you can probably imagine, people aren’t too happy with any of them. For the past several years, Google has been at war with ad-blocking software. Back in early 2016(opens in new tab), the company actually banned ad-blockers from its Play Store only to revert its decision not long after. But that hasn’t stopped Google from trying other methods to ensure you get your daily dose of commercials. Last year, Android VPN apps that didn’t use the VPNService API (Application Programming Interface) were banned from the Play Store because they were claimed to interfere with advertising. And YouTube Vanced, which offered a totally ad-free experience of the video platform, was unceremoniously taken down. Don’t think that browser extensions are safe either. Google has been working on the third version of its Manifest API which may prevent privacy tools like uBlock Origin from working as it would remove “key read and modify data permissions”. None of this would be so bad if YouTube ads weren’t intrusive. Unfortunately, they are. Screenshots from Twitter(opens in new tab) and Reddit posts(opens in new tab) have shown people getting as much as 10 unskippable advertisements back-to-back on certain videos. These unskippable advertisements cropped up in late 2022, and like today, a YouTube spokesperson(opens in new tab) back then said the unskippable advertisements were a part of an experiment. So it is possible Google is telling the truth and has no real intention of implementing anything. But if it is implemented, you have to wonder if this whole thing is going to turn into a weird cat-and-mouse game where developers find a way to circumvent YouTube’s ad-blocker detector only for the platform to make stricter tech ad infinitum. Let's hope this doesn't happen. https://readwrite.com/youtube-is-trying-more-tactics-to-stop-adblockers/

South Korean memory maker SK Hynix has announced its intention to enter the portable consumer SSD market. Its first such product, the Beetle X31, is said to be ready to meet the growing demand for potable SSDs, and to offer a compelling mix of “performance, convenient portability, and stylish design.” SK Hynix’s palm-sized Beetle X31 connects to other devices via USB and offers transfers of up to 1,050 MB/s. As far as consumers go, we are sure that SK Hynix’s entry will be welcomed. The firm has a good reputation for competitive memory and storage components, and more competition should be good to keep rivals like Samsung and WD / SanDisk on their toes. Considering the design first, the Beetle X31 is pleasingly compact and described by SK Hynix as ‘palm-sized.’ The packaging shows a scarab beetle nestled in a sand dune, but the SK Hynix design is much more like a slightly worn bar of soap in its shape. A gold-colored model is showcased, and the maker says the case is made from aluminum. The metal chassis is suitable for strength and heat dissipation, and SK Hynix considers this design aspect a distinct advantage over competitor products. SK Hynix Beetle X31 Capacity 512 GB or 1 TB, with DRAM buffer Read speeds 1,050 MB/s Write Speeds 1,000 MB/s Interface USB Type-C In the box 2x cables (USB C-to-C and C-to-A) and a bumper case Physical 74 x 46 x 14.8 mm, 53 grams The transfer performance of the Beetle X31 precisely matches our current best-pick SanDisk Pro-G40 SSD, at least on paper. However, we note the SK Hynix device is much smaller and less than half the weight of the SanDisk. SK Hynix also asserts its device has excellent sustained performance. For example, it says that the Beetle X31, with its ample heatsink and DRAM cache, can transfer 500 GB of files at an average rate of over 900 MB/s. SK Hynix hints that the Beetle X31 is already available on its home turf. The portable SSD will become available in worldwide markets, starting with the US later this month. We don’t have pricing for the 512 GB or 1 TB models at the time of writing. Those of you interested in an external storage device are advised to take a peek at our Best External SSDs and Hard Drives of 2023 feature. Hopefully, we can get a Beetle X31 sample and find out if it is worth joining our shortlist. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/sk-hynix-beetle-x31-ssd

LOS ANGELES—If you somehow thought Mario Kart needed more chaos, the upcoming Stampede: Battle Royale may be more your speed. Like Mario Kart, it's a racing game with highly varied circuits and potent power-ups designed to wreck the competition. Now imagine a race involving 60 people on that same track, and you’ll get a good idea of what to expect. Developer Sumo Games demoed the game at IGN Live, giving us a chance to test-run the kart racer. The controls are fairly simple, which shouldn’t surprise anyone who plays kart racers. On a standard controller, you pull the right trigger to accelerate, pull the left trigger to powerslide, and press A to use items you collect on the track. We unleashed a few power-ups, including a tracking explosive that works like the red shells in Mario Kart. Link: https://me.pcmag.com/en/pc-games/24030/stampede-racing-royale-brings-mario-kart-style-action-to-ign-live

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Mike Nesbitt is to run to become Ulster Unionist leader, seven years after he first stood down from the position. Mr Nesbitt won a contest in 2012 to become leader, but stepped down in 2017 after disappointing assembly election results. The UUP found itself without a leader after Doug Beattie stepped down last week, citing “irreconcilable differences” with party officers. Nominations for the role close at 16:30 BST this Friday. If Mr Nesbitt is selected to become the leader, he will be the first person to have held the top job in the UUP twice. He is currently the assembly member (MLA) for Strangford and in June he was appointed as Stormont’s Health Minister, a role he is expected to retain if he is ratified as leader. It is understood he will be the only MLA to put his name forward for nomination, meaning the party’s deputy leader Robbie Butler and East Antrim MLA John Stewart - who had both been mentioned as possible candidates - will not run for the leadership. In a statement, Mr Butler said that a "revised and refreshed leadership team of the UUP, led by Mike Nesbitt, is an exciting opportunity". He added, "working together we can revitalise both party and politics". Analysis: The comeback kid? Is Mike Nesbitt the new comeback kid of Northern Ireland politics? Last week, my colleague Gareth Gordon said if he had money to bet, he’d place it on Mike Nesbitt taking the UUP crown. Not for the first time he looks on course to be proven correct, but others may wonder why Mr Nesbitt wants to have another go at leading a party that in recent days has been described by some as un-leadable. He was already leader between 2012 and 2017, but chose to stand down after leading his party into an assembly election which delivered dismal results. Seven years on his campaign slogan “Vote Mike get Colum” - an ill-fated attempt to promote the official opposition with the SDLP - is still memorable for the wrong reasons. He comes from the progressive wing of the party and those who disliked Doug Beattie’s style may be just as uneasy about Mr Nesbitt’s possible return. But his decision to run again is more likely down to there being few other options, as opposed to any long-running desire. And he is likely to advocate for the party to reassess its structures and make tough choices in order to survive electorally. That’s no mean feat when he already has his hands full making tough choices as health minister. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cwyxrxrwkx0o

Video of two male walkers causing 250 seals to stampede down two beaches in Cornwall has been released to educate people about how to give the animals space in the wild. The Seal Research Trust said the incident, on 17 December 2023, on the north Cornish coast, was the worst on record in its 25-year history. It happened on beaches protected as a Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), where seals were a monitored feature, so disturbing them was an offence, it said. Although an investigation found the incident was not malicious, experts said such events could have "serious negative impacts" on seals, including causing stress and injuries. The men walked on to two adjacent beaches, which are not being identified, frightening 87 seals off the first and 163 off the second. Sue Sayer, from the Seal Research Trust, said she was "devastated" by the terrified seals stampeding to the sea for safety. She added it was "very distressing for volunteers to watch". Ms Sayer said the footage had been released to show people what happened when seals were disturbed and how "they race over boulders... rushing" and wasting energy. She added: "They risk gashing their bellies, catching their claws and having them ripped out, and, for youngsters with no fat to protect them, they can break a rib or a bottom jaw... that can be life-threatening." Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c3rdj8jll2yo