Anna Garraway

Local International Group Brings Awareness To Human Trafficking In San Antonio – FOX 29 https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/local-international-group-brings-awareness-to-human-trafficking-in-san-antonio-fox-29/ Local international group brings awareness to human trafficking in San Antonio  FOX 29

Relationships Need Feeding Through Communication And Love – Ellie https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/relationships-need-feeding-through-communication-and-love-ellie/ My boyfriend lost his job months ago. I recently got a contract for an “on-call” job, but still don’t have a steady paycheck. We haven’t had a vacation together, nor visited his family in Boston. A dear friend has invited me to Mexico for her “girls’ trip” birthday party. I need the break. But my boyfriend said that I should realize how this makes him feel, e.g. “If I’m going out and living my best life, then he should return to Boston during my one week’s vacation and he’ll maybe stay there one month or longer.” Over five years of living together, he makes this same comment whenever I make travel plans. If I go, it could jeopardize my relationship. And if he finds money for Boston, we’ll be back in a long-distance relationship. He’s not okay with that. He says that if the roles were reversed, he’d say: “I know it’s been hard for you losing your job, so let’s see what we can plan together after my week away.” But I didn’t say that. So, my only choice is to not go on the trip and be miserable. I feel he’s controlling me. And that I’m an awful girlfriend. Am I in the Wrong? Focus on the facts of the relationship, not on who’s right, wrong or awful. You’ve previously both disliked living “long-distance.” Now you’re free to travel for just one week, and he isn’t. He’s envious and hurt that you’ll likely accept the break. His immediate reaction of a threat to stay away in Boston for longer than your absence is an attempt to hurt you back. Control? Well, he’s purposefully made you feel badly. But it’s now a useless standoff that answers nothing. Whether you decide for this one-week’s break anyway, depends on whether you share a committed relationship with a future, or just a holding pattern with periodic emotional upheavals. In a true partnership, important decisions are made generously, both trying for agreement. Consider, then, whether you’d take “a week’s break” together. Example: If you can manage to afford the travel to Mexico, you could instead plan a week’s “staycation,” costing less and lifting both of you from the daily grind of seeking better jobs. Discuss this possibility together. Then decide. For years, my husband’s parents have shown disinterest in contact with us or our children. Months pass before they ask how we’re doing. My own parents see our children twice weekly and/or check in daily. My husband has raised this with his parents but they’ve negated it, say they care, yet still make no contact. They did visit us this past summer for three weeks, and saw how upset my son was when they were leaving. Two months later, they haven’t once contacted us. What can I do for my kids’ sakes? Tell them some people just aren’t worth their time? Keep trying? Remote In-Laws People come from different backgrounds, circumstances, comfort levels. Not all grandparents are alike. The best approach with in-laws, is to be caring but not pushy. Think of their interests since this older generation has its own outlook, hobbies, etc. Whether it’s music, theatre, a sport, etc., mix the age groups together for casual outings and short-term visits. Build the relationship, don’t enforce it. Inviting in-laws to your home for several hours can be tiring for some older people. Consider what they can handle. All that young kids’ need are some relaxed grandparent contacts, easy chatter, tasty treats and several hugs. FEEDBACK Regarding the woman wanting to divorce her angry husband who was “living free” (Sept. 17): Reader – “I accepted a similar situation for 23 years. I gave him lots of room/excuses/chances/help. He stopped providing financially and lived hermit-like in the basement “working on big deals.” “I supported the family. He never came through with the big deal so I ended the marriage. “He later convinced me that we have too many years together and promised to change. I’d purchased my dream home on my own and after four years asked him to leave permanently. “He wrote me that the only way he’d continue living is to pretend that I’m dead. “Seventeen years later, I’ve found my true partner. I have two beautiful granddaughters, and my daughter figured out how to accept her father. She sees him weekly. “To the letter-writer: Look after yourself, your children, and do what’s right. He’ll figure out how to survive.” Tip of the day: Relationships whither from hurts and retaliation. Find peace together, or move on.

Seattle DJC.com Local Business News And Data – News – Avalara – Seattle Daily Journal Of Commerce https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/seattle-djc-com-local-business-news-and-data-news-avalara-seattle-daily-journal-of-commerce/ Oct 20, 2022 Vacasa Gonzalez Vacasa announced that Rachel Gonzalez will serve as an observer on its board of directors. The company intends to seek stockholder approval to expand the size of its board and to elect Gonzalez as an independent director at the 2023 annual meeting of stockholders. From 2014-2018, Gonzalez served as general counsel and then chief administrative officer of Sabre, a global travel software and technology provider, where she oversaw multiple departments including human resources, corporate communications, legal strategy, regulatory and government affairs, and compliance. Gonzalez most recently served as executive vice president and general counsel of Starbucks, where she supported the board of directors and oversaw the Law & Corporate Affairs department. She currently sits on the board of Electronic Arts Inc., serving as a member of its nominating and governance committee. Vacasa, headquartered in Portland, is a vacation rental management platform. Standard Insurance Standard Insurance (The Standard) and Securian Financial Group reached a definitive agreement under which The Standard will acquire Securian Financial’s retirement record-keeping business. The acquisition is expected to close this year. The Standard, founded in 1906 and based in Portland, has offered retirement plans since 1982 with an emphasis on small to mid-sized plans. Securian Financial, founded in 1880 and headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, offers a similar suite of defined contribution and defined benefit products and services. The transaction, which excludes Securian Financial’s pension risk transfer and institutional retirement businesses, will significantly expand the scale and competitive position of The Standard’s retirement offerings in the U.S. and will accelerate its diversification and growth in the retirement record-keeping segment. Securian Financial’s employees, sales team and management who supported the recordkeeping business will join The Standard following the close of the transaction. PJT Partners is acting as financial advisor and Locke Lord is acting as legal advisor to The Standard. Goldman Sachs is acting as financial advisor and Eversheds Sutherland is acting as legal advisor to Securian Financial. Tanium Tanium, a provider of converged endpoint management (XEM), won best-in-class for endpoint security in the CISO Choice Awards 2022, selected by a panel of CISO judges who have served at some of the world’s best-known companies. The Tanium XEM platform won top honors for its capabilities that unify disparate teams and workflows across the organization while protecting every endpoint from cyber threats. Tanium’s approach integrates IT, Risk and Compliance, and Security into a single platform, complementing anti-malware solutions with real-time visibility, management, and remediation capabilities to improve cyber resilience and reduce IT shelfware. Tanium has been named to the Forbes Cloud 100 list for seven consecutive years and ranks on Fortune’s list of the Best Large Workplaces in Technology. Oct 19, 2022 Cushing Terrell Smith Henderson Rudy Cushing Terrell announced the promotion of associate Sandi Rudy to director of the firm’s interior design service sector. Rudy will be responsible for strategic direction, business development, and high-level client relationship management; staffing and workload management; mentorship and career development for team members; and the overall success, health, and growth of the service sector. During her time at Cushing Terrell, Rudy and her team have partnered with some of the world’s largest companies, including Google, Facebook, Dell, and Apple, supporting their future-forward workplace designs. To support the growing team, two other Austin-based interior designers, Angelica Henderson and Eleanor Smith, have been promoted to regional leadership positions. PACE Engineers Nicol Boyd Brown Ferrell Sheldon Nichols Welly Olhausen Wang Stampfler PACE Engineers, Inc. announced 10 promotions. Shane Sheldon, PE, has been promoted to principal engineer. Sheldon is a water resources engineer with 14 years of experience. He has been with PACE since 2019 and leads the Water Resources group. He holds an undergraduate degree in geology and a master’s in water resources engineering. Sheldon has extensive experience in fish passage design, including complex fish ladders, intake systems for hydropower projects, stream restoration, and fish passage culvert replacements in Washington and Oregon. He is currently leading hydraulic designs for WSDOT fish barrier correction projects throughout the Northwest. Tom Ferrell, PE, has been promoted to project manager. Ferrell has been with PACE for 15 years, focusing on Oregon municipal projects. He has recently designed three reservoirs, four pump stations, and six miles of water main for local public works agencies. Rosanna Brown, PE, has been promoted to senior project manager. Brown has 16 years of civil engineering experience, specializing in land development. She joined PACE five years ago and is leading the design for several assisted living facilities in West Seattle, Sammamish, and Woodinville, as well as several large apartment complexes in North Bend, Shoreline, and Everett. Brown was appointed to the Snohomish County Planning Commission in January 2022. Mitchell Boyd, PE, was promoted to project engineer. Boyd joined PACE in 2021 and has seven years of civil engineering experience. He is currently designing several water and sewer system projects. He supports our planning group with comprehensive water and sewer system plans and water plan extensions. Colin Nicol has been promoted to environmental scientist. Nicol has over 11 years of fluvial geomorphology and physical habitat assessment experience. Before PACE, he was the lead developer of the NOAA lifecycle model, which prioritized restoration actions in the Chehalis Aquatic Species Restoration Plan. Nicol brings a strong background in river restoration, salmon ecology, and the scientific literature underpinning these disciplines. He is currently leading the habitat design of the SR 167 to 509 Riparian Restoration Program. The project will advance the use of beaver dam analogs to aid in restoring approximately 150 acres of aquatic and floodplain habitat. Dean Stampfler is now a senior survey technician. Stampfler has been a part of the PACE team for 13 years. He plays a significant role in the successes of the survey team, specifically on projects across the Pacific Northwest, notably Washington’s fish passage and Oregon’s transportation projects. Stampfler’s daily tasks include coordinating and dispatching survey crews and collaborating with other disciplines within PACE. Tasha Wang, PE, was promoted to senior engineer. Wang is an design engineer specializing in water resources engineering. She holds a master’s degree in hydrology and hydrodynamics from the University of Washington. Wang has been a crucial part of PACE’s Water Resources group since 2019 and is a technical lead for hydraulic modeling. She is currently leading preliminary hydraulic design reports for WSDOT fish barrier projects and supporting design-build fish passage and stream restoration projects. Andreas Olhausen, PE, has been promoted to project engineer. Olhausen has nine years of civil engineering experience and joined the PACE team four years ago. He is a key contributor in designing water system improvements for special utility districts and reviewing developer extension plans. Paula Welly was promoted to business development specialist. Welly joined PACE at the peak of the pandemic in 2021. Her ten years in the AEC industry have helped her navigate PACE through various business development and marketing projects. Welly’s natural leadership skills have played a vital role as she has worked with PACE’s disciplines to develop business development strategies. Christian Nichols, PE, has been promoted to project engineer. Nichols has over nine years of civil engineering experience and has been at PACE for five years. He is a main player in our land development projects. One of his recent projects, Ellie Passivhaus in Queen Anne, Seattle, won NAIOP’s Sustainable Development of the Year award- Nichols was the project engineer. Ware Malcomb Herseth Michael Herseth has joined Ware Malcomb as a civil engineering manager in the firm’s Seattle office. In this role, Herseth will help lead the growth and management of the Seattle civil engineering team and manage select projects. A registered professional engineer in the state of Washington, Herseth brings over nine years of experience to Ware Malcomb. Prior to joining the firm, he worked as a civil associate for an engineering company and was responsible for a wide range of development projects throughout the Pacific Northwest. Herseth’s expertise spans a variety of project types, including multifamily, affordable housing, mixed-use, healthcare, education, infrastructure, roads and trails. His experience includes all phases of site development and civil engineering design, from concept design to contract documents and contract administration. Herseth is a registered Professional Engineer in Washington and a member of both ULI and DBIA. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering from Washington State University. Habitat for Humanity Gali Collins Habitat for Humanity of East Jefferson County hired Robert Collins as construction manager, and Heidi Gali as bookkeeper. This growth allows Habitat to build affordable homes at a faster rate, while identifying efficiencies and cost savings across its operations. Collins comes to Habitat with more than 20 years of corporate experience ...

Skincare: 8 Foods That Help Fasten Healing Of Acne Scars – NDTV Doctor https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/skincare-8-foods-that-help-fasten-healing-of-acne-scars-ndtv-doctor/ Skincare: In this article, we list certain foods that have been proven to fasten the healing of acne scars.   By: Manya Singh  Updated: Oct 20, 2022 10:52 IST 3-Min Read Skincare: Turmeric has exceptional healing properties Acne scars can be stubborn and annoying aftermath of breakouts. These scars can last for weeks and even months. Even if you don’t experience acne often, these scars can keep your skin from looking clear and flawless. Along with the right skincare and medication, foods you eat might also help fasten the healing process of these scars. In this article, we list certain foods that have been proven to fasten the healing of acne scars. These foods will help heal acne scars fast: 1. Papaya Papayas are a fruit rich in an enzyme for digestion called papain. Papain is prevalent in many skincare products. It removes dead skin cells, clears clogged pores, lightens acne scars, moisturises skin, and prevents new outbreaks. Its vitamins and minerals aid in increasing the suppleness of the skin and reducing wrinkles when consumed. 2. Berries The antioxidants and vitamin C in strawberries, cherries, raspberries, blueberries, and blackberries are abundant. The antioxidants in the berries function as a combination attack against those annoying dark spots, preventing them from ever developing in the first place. Vitamin C is a potent weapon against blotchy skin. 3. Lemons Raw lemon juice is effective for tightening saggy skin and concealing pimples since it naturally acts as an astringent. But if you add the peel while using lemon in water, over a salad, or as part of your diet, it could provide various benefits to your skin. 4. Fatty fish One of the skin’s essential nutrients, omega-3 fatty acids give us healthy skin that glows from the inside out. They lessen facial acne scarring and cure the skin from the inside out. Fish such as salmon, tuna, and mackerel are great choices for good skin. 5. Turmeric Turmeric is a popular ingredient in skincare products because of its curcumin component, which has anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. These characteristics work to minimise pores and soothe skin. This could be your skin’s new best buddy because it is also believed to lessen scars. 6. Beetroot This vegetable with a purple hue is a good source of vitamins A and E as well as potassium, salt, calcium, and magnesium, all of which are crucial for the health of your skin. The detoxifying properties of beetroot aid in the body’s removal of toxic pollutants. 7. Pumpkin seeds To reap the benefits of these potent superfoods’ magical properties, include pumpkin seeds in your diet. These are rich in zinc and vitamin E, both of which are vital for healthy skin. They help treat cystic acne and blemishes while also preventing breakouts. The omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids they contain are abundant. 8. Legumes Legumes include beans, chickpeas, lentils, and so on. As they have a low glycemic index, beans are linked to more stable blood sugar levels and fewer outbreaks of acne. Foods with a high glycemic index, such as white rice, bagels, white cereal, and chocolate, can raise blood sugar levels. Add these foods to your diet to make your skin clear and remove acne scars faster. Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your own doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information. DoctorNDTV is the one stop site for all your health needs providing the most credible health information, health news and tips with expert advice on healthy living, diet plans, informative videos etc. You can get the most relevant and accurate info you need about health problems like diabetes, cancer, pregnancy, HIV and AIDS, weight loss and many other lifestyle diseases. We have a panel of over 350 experts who help us develop content by giving their valuable inputs and bringing to us the latest in the world of healthcare.

Today’s Birthday | News, Sports, Jobs – The Steubenville Herald-Star https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/todays-birthday-news-sports-jobs-the-steubenville-herald-star-2/ Joseph Pinkerton, Wintersville. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox Jefferson County Sheriff Disagreement: A Mingo Junction woman reported her boyfriend threw her out of a moving … The following marriage applications have been recorded in Jefferson County: David Michael Donaldson and April … Joseph Pinkerton, Wintersville. Jefferson County Sheriff Ratted herself out: A Mingo Junction woman reported her boyfriend wouldn’t let her … Diane Sogan, Mingo Junction. Brooke County Sheriff Arrested: Zachary T. Henderson, 35, 202 Center Ave., Follansbee, possession of a …

The Metaverse Will Advance SDGs In Coming Years – TechCabal https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/the-metaverse-will-advance-sdgs-in-coming-years-techcabal/ This article was contributed to TechCabal by Balkissa Idé Siddo, Public Policy Director, Facebook, Sub Saharan Africa The 77th session of the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) took place this year as the world continues to see complex socio-economic issues. Many economies are still reeling from the Covid-19 crisis. And with just eight more years left to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), the burden of ending poverty, responding to climate change and achieving equality for all signals the urgency of clearly-focused solutions in addressing these crises. These global problems will take coordination, time and diligence from all over the world. In Africa — home to some of the world’s fastest-growing economies — startups and creators are leading a digital revolution that can positively impact the globe. By working to develop technology that can one day shape the metaverse, leaders in Africa have an opportunity to help the world move toward satisfying those SDGs.  This year’s UNGA theme — ‘’A watershed moment: transformative solutions to interlocking challenges’’ — is a stark reminder of the journey ahead in ensuring that no one is left behind as we strive towards a sustainable future. The technological efforts throughout Africa may help develop those transformative solutions needed. The next chapter of the internet is changing fast and transforming development at quite an enormous scale, impacting the world’s economy.  Image source: and_machines on Unsplash Although the metaverse will take years to gain measurable momentum, we already see its potential to advance the SDGs.  Virtual and augmented realities can support various global goals, from remotely training medics to advancing health and well-being (SDG 3) to help local leaders champion climate action to mitigate the effects of climate change (SDG 13). The metaverse’s potential across the African continent could contribute to these goals by promoting strategies that will improve health, reduce inequality and spur economic growth needed to enhance the quality of life. Africa will play an integral role in the metaverse by creating new ways for African brands to tell their stories, export culture and create immersive consumer experiences. This reality is no longer a fantasy, as Africa’s population will become the largest workforce in the world by 2035.  Digitalization is taking center stage across the continent and shifting how we conduct business, create jobs, catch up with friends and family and access public services. The flourishing startup ecosystem in Africa has been a prime example of this budding growth, inspiring a wave of innovation across the continent. This startup ecosystem continues to bolster a digital community and signals Africa’s potential for the next chapter of the internet, the metaverse. A recent study for Meta by Analysis Group estimates that metaverse adoption could contribute to regional GDP or $40bn in 2023. So how can Africa join the race and develop sustainable development solutions for Africa and the world? In many ways, the metaverse will be a natural evolution of the internet. We have moved from primarily text-based web services to speech and video-based ones. The metaverse is the next generation – a more immersive, 3D experience defined by a feeling of presence like you are right there with another person or in another place. It will be more human than how we experience the internet today – more physical, interactive, and speech-based than flat screens filled with text and images. And it can open up worlds of opportunity for people across Africa.  While our vision of the metaverse feels far away, we’re seeing African companies and innovators starting to build for this future with an endless appetite and desire to continue bringing this to life here in Africa.  Just a quick glimpse into the current reality — the continent is already buzzing with creative talent and occupying its seat at the metaverse table. Nigeria’s Mosope Olaosebikan, the founder of Nigeria’s first digital museum, is shaping the narrative of culture and people through AR and VR. Pixel Chefs, a South African creative agency, uses emerging digital tech to create impactful experiences for its local and global clients. And Kenya’s Black Rhino VR — a virtual reality production — in Nairobi is creating bespoke VR and AR solutions and content adaptable and relevant to the African and global market.  Big tech companies like Meta are building the metaverse on the continent by investing in programs such as 2Africa; there is still much work to be done in forming long-lasting, fruitful collaborations. The move from paper to action will take formidable allyship across companies, developers, creators and policymakers. We must work together to build an inclusive metaverse for Africa that will bridge the digital divide and ensure equal representation globally and across the continent.  Africa’s diversity and dynamism foster creativity, agility, innovation and the freedom it takes to build a metaverse that can weave itself into sustainable development. Image source: Balkissa Idé Siddo Get the best African tech newsletters in your inbox

Brave Rifles Bring Vehicles To Event | News | Forthoodsentinel.com – The Fort Hood Sentinel https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/brave-rifles-bring-vehicles-to-event-news-forthoodsentinel-com-the-fort-hood-sentinel/ SALADO — Troopers from the 3rd Cavalry Regiment joined the City of Salado and the Salado Public Library for the Touch a Truck event on Friday at the Salado Public Library parking lot to help build community partnerships. “The reason we have it is just so the kids can kind get to see the police car fire engines and military vehicles up close and personal,” said April Gatliff, Youth assistant at Salado Public Library. “Most of them only get to see it in passing, and they’re fascinated by it. So, this is just a chance for them to come out here and see it up close.” The Killer Troop Thunder Squadron 3rd Cav. Regt. made the event possible, by bringing a Stryker fighting vehicle and a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. The Static display of vehicles allowed children and adults to ask questions about first responders and military vehicles. Everyone could explore military equipment up close, sit behind the wheel and play with the numerous levers and gadgets around the vehicle. “It’s definitely a huge honor,” said Staff Sgt. Alexander McCampbell, Killer Troop, 3rd Sqdn., 3rd Cav. Regt. “It’s really fun to be able to show all these kids this and get them a little bit excited about what we do every day and what we used to do.” McCampbell, an infantryman, explained him and his Soldiers do this every day, but these kids don’t, so I think they are very happy to be able to see these vehicles. For many of the children, it was the first time they had ever seen such equipment up close. The event was a great success, providing children and adults with valuable information about first responders and military vehicles. Eight-year-old Michael Giganti, his older sister Angelina, 11, and their young sister Sofia, 4, had the chance to pretend to drive the Stryker fighting vehicle and a Joint Light Tactical Vehicle. They said they enjoyed the event. “I liked it a lot it was cool,” Michael said. “We got to push all the buttons and sit in the front.” Events like this serve as one of the many ways for Soldiers to demonstrate their commitment to Fort Hood’s partner communities. It helps build positive relationships with the people they serve and is essential in helping to maintain a strong sense of community between Fort Hood and its surrounding communities. “I didn’t expect them to bring such cool, awesome-looking vehicles,” Gatliff said. “The Soldiers have been great, they helped us with crowd control in the parking lot, and the kids are just so pumped to see them.”

Voyager Customers Could Recover 72% Of Frozen Crypto Under FTX Deal – Cointelegraph https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/voyager-customers-could-recover-72-of-frozen-crypto-under-ftx-deal-cointelegraph/ The plan is tentative at this stage and won’t be finalized until it receives approval from Voyager’s creditors and the bankruptcy payout plan is approved by the judge. 430 Total views 33 Total shares Customers of bankrupt crypto lender Voyager Digital may be able to recover 72% of the value of their accounts under a tentative deal with FTX US, according to court documents.  However, United States bankruptcy judge Michael Wiles during a court hearing said the tentative sale would not be final until it receives the approval of Voyager’s creditors and he approves the bankruptcy payout plan, saying during the court hearing: “If the plan falls apart, there’s no part of this agreement that survives.” There is also the inclusion of a clause called a “fiduciary out,” which allows Voyager to cancel the deal with FTX should any offers be presented that offer a better outcome for creditors.  The clause is often included in bankruptcy cases, allowing companies to consider higher offers until the sale is finalized to ensure creditors get the best deal possible. Voyager had previously hinted that its customers may eventually transition to the FTX platform after the exchange had secured the winning bid on Sept. 27 at a valuation of approximately $1.4 billion following a two-week bidding process. The tentative plan from FTX would enable all priority claims to be paid out in full and allow other account holders to recover approximately 72% of the value of their accounts, which have been frozen since July 1. Related: Voyager Digital won’t sue its executives for incompetence, will claim insurance on them The figure doesn’t include funds it may recoup as part of its claim against Three Arrows Capital (3AC) after the crypto hedge fund had defaulted on its loan repayments to Voyager. Any additional funds received as part of this claim will allow Voyager account holders to recover a greater percentage of their frozen accounts. Voyager had filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy on July 4 due to liquidity issues following the default of crypto hedge fund Three Arrows Capital. Voyager said the bid from FTX US was made up of the fair market value of its crypto holdings as of a to-be-determined date, which as of Sept. 26 is estimated at $1.3 billion, as well as additional consideration of at least $111 million.

U.S. Has Viewed Wreckage Of Kamikaze Drones Russia Used In Ukraine – The Washington Post https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/u-s-has-viewed-wreckage-of-kamikaze-drones-russia-used-in-ukraine-the-washington-post/ The U.S. government has examined the wreckage of Iranian-made drones shot down in Ukraine, deepening its insight into the unmanned craft that Russia has launched in a spate of kamikaze attacks on the country’s critical infrastructure, according to two U.S. officials. Information about the drones’ structure and technology could prove crucial in helping the United States and its Ukrainian allies better identify and ultimately defeat them before they can reach their targets. Officials said the process has been used in the past to study weaponry deployed by Iran’s proxies in conflicts in the Middle East. People interviewed for this report spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive intelligence collection. The Shahed-136 unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) used in this week’s attacks on the Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, have targeted power stations and other utilities, killing at least four, authorities there have said. Their use by Russian forces has underscored the growing ties between Moscow and Tehran, alarming Western leaders whose sanctions and other punitive economic measures have drastically undercut the Kremlin’s ability to regenerate its military after eight months of war. The Iranian-made drones are being launched from three Russian military bases in Crimea and another position in Belarus, a Ukrainian official said. Tehran has dispatched advisers to Russian-controlled areas, where they have provided operators with technical instruction. It is unclear how the United States gained access to the drone wreckage, though the Pentagon coordinates closely with Ukraine’s military and maintains a small administrative presence at the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv. That team is led by a one-star Army general. Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. SWITCHBLADE 300 (U.S.) Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. SWITCHBLADE 300 (U.S.) Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST Drones over Ukraine: Death in different sizes Iranian Shahed-136 drones can loiter over areas for hours until their cameras identify a target and the drone drops on it like a bomb. The Russians are using these weapons to devastating effect without risk to their troops. SHAHED-136 (IRAN) Length: 11 feet Max. speed: 115 mph Approx. weight: 440 pounds Range: About 1,100- 1,500 miles Engine, propeller Nose contains explosive warhead as well as cameras But the Iranian drones are bigger, noisier and reportedly easier to shoot down than the tiny Switchblade 300s the U.S. is supplying to Ukraine. SWITCHBLADE 300 (U.S.) Length: 20 inches Max. speed: 100 mph Approx. weight: 5.5 pounds Range: About 6 miles Sources: Defense Express, AeroVironment WILLIAM NEFF/THE WASHINGTON POST The Shahed is a large, lumbering aircraft that flies very low and appears to have few metallic parts, making it difficult to detect with radars and other sensors before reaching its target. Examination of the wreckage may help overcome those challenges. The drones’ points of origin pose another challenge, the Ukrainian official said: They are too far for U.S.-supplied rocket artillery to strike, blunting options for destroying the aircraft before they are airborne. Ukraine, which says it has destroyed more than 220 Shahed-136 drones since Sept. 13, appears to be studying the platform, Estonian Defense Minister Hanno Pevkur told reporters this week. Pevkur said it was of regional urgency to learn about the aircraft. “We all have to understand that we all have to put our efforts to that. To understand how it works, and to understand how to take it down,” he said. “Because it’s not only the question of Ukraine at war at the moment, but it’s a question of all of us who are in the situation where we are.” Iran produces a variety of drones and has reportedly supplied them to Hezbollah in Lebanon and Houthi rebels in Yemen, among other groups. The Pentagon believes Iran-allied forces have used them against U.S. military personnel in Syria, including in an August attack at the U.S.-run base at Tanf. The Houthis claimed to have used Samad-3 drones to attack a refinery in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, last spring, and launched Samad-1 drones at Saudi Aramco facilities in other parts of the country. Those drones are distinct from the weapons used by Russia in Ukraine. In February, the United Arab Emirates was hit by several drone and missile attacks claimed by the Houthis. In a military parade last month in Sanaa, the Yemeni capital, the Houthis reportedly displayed a local version of the Shahed-136. Ukraine has asked the United Nations to examine the wreckage, to determine the aircraft’s country of origin. In a letter dated Friday, Ukraine’s U.N. ambassador invited “U.N. experts to visit Ukraine at the earliest possible opportunity to inspect recovered Iran-origin drones.” The letter maintained that Iranian transfers of the drones would violate both U.N. sanctions against Iran and terms of the 2015 U.N. Security Council resolution on the Iran nuclear deal that year. The Council held a closed-door meeting Wednesday to hear “an expert briefing … on recent evidence that Russia illegally procured Iranian UAVs that it is using in its war on Ukraine,” Nate Evans, spokesperson for the American U.N. mission, said in a statement after the session. “These UAVs were transferred from Iran to Russia in open violation of provisions” of the resolution approving the nuclear deal Iran signed with world powers. Earlier this week, France and Britain — signers of the deal along with Iran, the United States, Germany, Russia and China — echoed Ukrainian charges that sending the drones to Russia violated a provision prohibiting Iran from transferring unmanned aerial vehicles with a range of more than 300 kilometers (186.4 miles) unless it had specific permission from the council. “As was outlined during today’s meeting,” the statement from Evans said, “there is ample evidence that Russia is using Iranian-made UAVS” in its attacks on Ukraine. “By procuring these weapons in violation of U.N. Security Council Resolutions, Russia continues to flout international law in its pursuit of a senseless and brutal war.” The statement did not indicate any immediate action would be taken, although Evans said “we anticipate this will be the first of many conversations at the U.N. on how to hold Iran and Russia accountable for failing to comply with U.N. Security Council-imposed obligations.” The Shahed loiters in the air until it identifies a target, often a fixed position, and then dives into it, detonating onboard explosives. Unlike bigger reusable drones that fire missiles and return to a base, it flies low and slow. Ukrainians call it “the lawn mower” because of the loud buzzing sound it makes. The distinct noise has served as a warning of its approach, allowing people to scramble for cover and brace for the explosion, which is smaller than the impact caused by conventional ballistic missiles. The drones pose a significant problem, analysts say. Many defensive systems capable of defeating them are costly, are designed mostly for bigger threats like jets and helicopters, and take months or years to produce, limiting how many can be distributed and forcing military planners to prioritize sites deemed most vulnerable. While Ukrainian air defenses have shown some success against the drones, even a few slipping through can cause havoc, said Samuel Bendett, an expert on the Russian military at CNA, a research group. “It’s a demonstration of Russian capability, and now they have cheap plentiful weapons that can constantly remind Ukrainians that their skies are not 100 percent safe,” he sai...

China Holds Emergency Talks With Chip Firms After U.S. Curbs -Bloomberg News – Reuters https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/china-holds-emergency-talks-with-chip-firms-after-u-s-curbs-bloomberg-news-reuters/ Oct 20 (Reuters) – China’s Ministry of Industry and Information Technology convened a series of emergency meetings over the past week with leading semiconductor companies, seeking to assess the damage from the U.S. chip restrictions, Bloomberg News reported on Thursday. The ministry summoned executives from firms including Yangtze Memory Technologies Co (YMTC) and supercomputer specialist Dawning Information Industry Co (603019.SS) to attend closed-door meetings, the report said. This month the Biden administration passed a sweeping set of export controls aimed at slowing Beijing’s technological and military advances, including sales restrictions on certain advanced chips and chip equipment tools. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Experts have said the new rules will have a broad impact, slowing China’s efforts to develop its own chip industry and advance commercial and state research involving military weapons, artificial intelligence, data centres and many other areas that are powered by supercomputers and high-end chips. According to the Bloomberg report, many of the participants at the meetings argued that the U.S. curbs spell doom for their industry, as well as China’s ambitions to untether its economy from American technology. YMTC, Dawning and the industry ministry did not immediately reply to Reuters’ requests for comment. On Sunday, Chinese President Xi Jinping called for his country to “win the battle” in core technologies in his full work report as he kicked off the once-every-five-years Communist Party Congress. Experts have said the work report could signal an overhaul in Beijing’s approach to advancing its tech industry, with more state-led spending and intervention to counter U.S. pressures. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Jose Joseph in Bengaluru; Editing by Miyoung Kim and Edwina Gibbs Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Roy Speaks To Local Group During Kerrville Stop – Community Journal https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/roy-speaks-to-local-group-during-kerrville-stop-community-journal/ U.S. Congressman Chip Roy, who represents Kerr and nine other counties in Central Texas, made a campaign stop in Kerrville last Thursday. After meeting with a large group of his constituents at Buzzie’s BBQ, Roy went on to Tivy High School to meet students in senior government classes. Roy serves as the U.S. Representative of the 21st Congressional District in Central Texas, and the parts of both Austin and northern Bexar County, and is being opposed on the November 8 ballot by Democrat Claudia Zapata. He serves on both the judiciary and veteran’s affairs committees in the House of Representatives. “Veterans issues are very important to me. About 10 percent or between 75 and 80 thousand of my constituents in District 21 are veterans, with the largest numbers in San Antonio and the Hill Country,” Roy said. Roy described the Texas border with Mexico and the influx of migrants and the drugs, especially fentanyl  as “a horrific train wreck.” “There were 72,000 deaths last year from fentanyl in the U.S. That’s more than the total number lost in Vietnam during the 20 years of war.” He said during campaign stops around the district he has learned that 51 percent of the residents list the border issue as their number one concern in the upcoming election. Roy said the answer to the border crisis is to do away with to the current “catch and release” policy and resume returning the migrants to their home country or to Mexico. “We have to empower ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement) and kill the drug cartels.” On school issues such as Critical Race Theory and gender identity related issues, Roy said the only way to handle them was “to empower parents.” He said the only way to address many of the issues facing Americans and especially Texans was to “use the power of the purse to make changes in the Biden administration policies” during the upcoming two years and key to that is the successful return to Republican majorities in both the House of Representatives and the Senate. Roy is a member of the“Freedom Caucus” in the House and has been traveling around the nation in support of like-minded conservatives running for office on Nov. 8. He was on his way to Utah last week to campaign for Senator Mike Lee in his re-election bid. On election integrity issues, Roy has submitted a bill in the next congressional session to change the federal and state election date from the first Tuesday in November to Veteran’s Day, Nov. 11 and make it a national holiday so everyone eligible will have the opportunity to vote. He advocates the return to voting on Election Day, not extending early voting periods or increasing the use of mail-in ballots. When asked whether he might consider throwing his hat in the ring for Speaker of the House when the Republicans retake control on Congress in January, Roy was non-committal. Roy also addressed the recent $600 billion legislation to qualify victims of Agent Orange (in the Vietnam era) and veterans of the Middle East conflicts where “burn pits” were common and have been linked to serious health issues with veterans after they returned. He explained why he voted against the bill, explaining it was mandatory spending and $290 billion of the funds were not generated in the budget presented. Questioned why Congress has not asserted itself against President Biden’s executive orders, Roy said he supported limiting emergency spending to a 30-day limit and after that time Congress should take over and Congress should be the ones to decide how the federal dollars are spent. Roy said he opposes writing “blank checks” with no accountability for the spending to the Ukraine war effort. He also supports expanding nuclear and natural gas as sources of energy in Texas rather than wind and solar. He closed his remarks with “We need to gather together as Texans and protect Texas.” Early voting begins Monday, Oct. 24 and ends Friday, Nov. 4.  Voting will be at the Hill Country Youth Event Center/Happy State Bank Expo Hall on Hwy 27 in Kerrville and at the Ingram ISD Administration Building, now the West Kerr Annex, on College Street in Ingram. Voting will be from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday thru Friday for the two weeks designated, plus an additional time on Saturday, Oct. 29 from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. at both locations.

Long Court Vacations ‘relic Of Colonial Era’, Violate Litigants’ Rights, Says Plea In Bombay High Court – The Indian Express https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/long-court-vacations-relic-of-colonial-era-violate-litigants-rights-says-plea-in-bombay-high-court-the-indian-express/ A writ petition has been moved by one Sabina Lakdawala in the Bombay High Court claiming that the courts taking vacations, including during Diwali, is a violation of the fundamental rights of citizens as the litigants’ right to avail justice is affected by such long vacations. Lakdawala, in her plea filed through advocate Mathews Nedumpara, sought a declaration that closing courts for more than 70 days for any kind of vacation is a violation of the fundamental rights of litigants and the same should come to an end. The plea sought that the high court is kept fully functional during the upcoming Diwali vacation, an adequate number of judges be made available to hear all the cases, and not just urgent cases heard by vacation benches, and that directions be issued to the high court registry to receive all petitions without insisting on permission from the vacation bench. Lakdawala claimed that the court had failed to hear her private plea despite several requests for an urgent hearing and the same was because of the paucity of time due to high pendency and long court holidays contributed to the same. “The long vacations that are a relic of the colonial era have to a greater extent contributed to the further collapse of the justice delivery system that is already on ventilation. The long vacation suits the convenience of elite lawyers, a microscopic minority,” the petition said. The plea is likely to be mentioned on Thursday. “Court vacation, a relic of our colonial past, was justified at a time when the majority of the judges were Englishmen, who were not adjusted to the extreme summers of India, and they needed long vacations to travel by sea to England. It was a necessity then, today, it is a luxury that the country can ill afford,” the petition argued. Lakdawala said while the judges and lawyers need breaks, keeping the same limited to weekends and gazetted holidays will serve the purpose.

Reuters Odd News Summary – Devdiscourse https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/reuters-odd-news-summary-devdiscourse/ Following is a summary of current odd news briefs. Brazil’s furriest police corporal becomes internet sensation A rescue dog turned police mascot has become one of Brazil’s most beloved furry internet sensations. Dubbed “Corporal Oliveira,” the dog was taken in by Rio police officer Cristiano Oliveira, who found him in 2019 near his police station abandoned, injured and hungry. Garter snake causes stir aboard United Airlines jet in New Jersey The unexpected appearance of a live snake on a plane caused some turbulence among business-class passengers aboard a United Airlines jet at the end of a flight from Florida to New Jersey. The reptile stowaway, identified as a harmless garter snake, turned up on United Airlines Flight 2038 from Tampa shortly after landing Monday afternoon at Newark Liberty International Airport, according to the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. (With inputs from agencies.)

What Are Wellness Benefits In Health Insurance? – Outlook India https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/what-are-wellness-benefits-in-health-insurance-outlook-india/ Wellness benefits in health insurance come in the form of wellness points that can be encashed either as concessions on premium payments or in the form of membership benefits at any empaneled organization. These wellness-oriented health insurance policies target making individuals proactive towards healthy living.  According to recent IRDAI guidelines on wellness and preventive features, the insurers are asked to incentivize the insured who is eligible for the reward points and fits well with the wellness criteria.  Several software and tools are available today to track a person’s health. However, given the busy schedule and the stress, it sometimes becomes challenging to do that. So it is when wellness benefits come to use as this ensures optimum utilization as policyholders are encouraged to take their health seriously in return for rewards and benefits.  Explains Rakesh Goyal, director of Probus Insurance Broker: “Health insurers include different wellness benefits under their health insurance plans to stand out from other insurers and encourage the policyholders to choose a healthy lifestyle. Such wellness benefits are added to increase the market competition and, at the same time, drive the customers’ needs. The wellness benefits  under the health plan come in the form of points, also known as wellness points or reward points.” Here are some of the wellness benefits in health insurance offered by the insurers:  Reward points to promote a healthy lifestyle: You could use these rewards to avail discounts for different medical tests and check-ups at all diagnostic centers and network hospitals. Moreover, you could redeem the points to avail of membership at a lower rate at various wellness centers like yoga institutes, gyms, etc.  A personal wellness coach: Many insurers provide a wellness coach or mentor under the wellness program. “The coach mentors the insured person on his dietary intake, exercise routine, nutrition balance, quitting smoking habits, maintaining a good BMI index, and much more. The coach sets targets to be achieved. On achieving the targets, the insured gets redeemable points as above,” says Bhaskar Nerurkar, head of the health administration team at Bajaj Allianz General Insurance.  Second medical opinion: Certain health plans come with the benefit of providing a second medical opinion wellness benefit. “Under this feature, in case of any chronic or severe medical concern, the insured can seek a second medical opinion. This second opinion is not chargeable for the insured. But one needs to clearly understand that no insurance company is responsible for any error arising in the medical opinion,” adds Nerurkar.  Exciting concessions on renewal: The availability of exciting concessions on wellness benefit plans encourages the insured to keep track of his healthy living. Moreover, these wellness benefits are available without paying anything extra to the insurance company. Also, there is no need to enroll yourself separately in the wellness program plan. Instead, the insured gets enrolled from the day he or his family gets insured under the family health insurance or individual.  However, all these benefits highly depend on the choice of insurer, as it varies from one insurer to another. “It is highly suggested to read all the information and policy documents well in advance to avoid any unpleasant surprises later,” adds Goyal.

YSU Scouting Report: Western Illinois | News, Sports, Jobs – Warren Tribune Chronicle https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/ysu-scouting-report-western-illinois-news-sports-jobs-warren-tribune-chronicle/ Correspondent photo / Robert Hayes Youngstown State quarterback Mitch Davidson runs in for a touchdown during the Penguins’ 48-42 win over Indiana State last Saturday. YSU travels to Western Illinois this week. YOUNGSTOWN — Even as Youngstown State readies for a winless Western Illinois team that’s been outscored by an average of 39.5-13.17, there’s no shortage of motivation. But given the recent series history with the Leathernecks, that should come as no surprise. In Doug Phillips’ debut season as YSU head coach, the Penguins led WIU 24-13 in the third quarter before falling 27-24 in Macomb. Last year, the Penguins topped that by building a 35-7 lead on the Leathernecks before falling 38-35 at home. “Trust me, it doesn’t sit well,” Phillips said. “Those are games I can never give back to Youngstown State and the history of Youngstown State. So do I dwell on it? No, but trust me, there’s not a day that goes by that I don’t think of those times where we were winning a football game and didn’t finish.” Then, too, Youngstown State (3-3, 1-2 Missouri Valley) still hasn’t turned in a complete performance itself, leaving the Penguins with plenty of things to focus on as they seek consecutive MVFC victories for the first time since Phillips took over. “They’re trying to figure things out, and we are (too),” Phillips said. “We have enough ourselves to figure out. We’re going to get ready for the schemes that we’re going to see defensively and offensively, but there’s certain things we have to make sure we make another jump this week in ourselves and make sure we’re ready to execute come Saturday.” That begins on the defensive side of the ball, where YSU struggled last week against Indiana State, which hung a season-high 42 points on the Penguins. Phillips says YSU gave up too many explosive plays and struggled to stop the Sycamores’ run game, which are priorities this week. “Was it fundamentals? Was it lack of focus? Those are the things we went out in (Tuesday’s) practice … and that was the focus. That’s always going to be the focus: stop the run, limit the explosives,” Phillips said. And, as he pointed out, Western does feature some talent, particularly at receiver. Graduate transfer Naseim Brantley has a league-high 29 receptions for 566 yards and six touchdowns so far. That’s been the highlight of a Leatherneck offense that hasn’t generated any run game and is still trying to situate itself at quarterback. Through last weekend, WIU’s 68.2 yards per game rank it fourth-to-last in the FCS in terms of rushing offense. That should play well to YSU’s strength, last week notwithstanding, as the Penguins have defended the run mostly well this year. Meanwhile, under center, Western has trotted out three quarterbacks at various points this season, though last week only Clay Bruno and Henry Ogala took snaps. Bruno is more of a dual-threat style, while Phillips noted Ogala has great throwing power. “I saw a ball in the air for 65 yards (from Ogala),” he said. “And (Bruno) is probably a little more agile, kind of like North Dakota (quarterback Quincy Vaughn) and can make you miss and throw the ball well.” Bruno went 6-of-16 for 81 yards last week against Southern Illinois, while Ogala was 7-of-19 for 63 yards, a touchdown and an interception. Nick Davenport also has gotten playing time here and there, though hasn’t seen the field since Week 3 against Southern Utah. “Regardless of who they’re playing at quarterback, we have to make sure that we’re able to line up, play fast, play fundamentally sound and play the Youngstown type of football we’re starting to grow accustomed to,” Phillips added. On the other side, Phillips likely wouldn’t mind getting accustomed to the way the YSU offense is performing. Since Mitch Davidson assumed full-time quarterbacking duties, the Penguins have scored at least 30 points in each of their games. That’s come in large part because of the offense’s ability to spread the ball to various playmakers. Davidson has thrown for at least 220 yards in both starts, and has completed passes to at least five different players in each. Tailback Dra Rushton says Davidson is growing more comfortable with each snap. “It just comes with more experience, more playing time and getting to know the guys more,” Rushton said. “Everyone’s doing their job. We just try to do everything for each other, make everyone comfortable, make everyone feel like they have their place and they can do what they’re going at doing.” That’s allowed the Penguins to become much more balanced offensively, rather than relying on tailback Jaleel McLaughlin to generate the lion’s share of yardage and scoring. To his credit, McLaughlin is second in the FCS in rushing yardage with 856 yards, and has seven touchdowns. “I hope that makes it a little more difficult to just zero in on us,” Phillips said of the balance. “Last year, teams could just go zero on us and blitz to stop (McLaughlin). Right now there’s players on that field that I don’t think you could just focus on stopping (McLaughlin). They still have to stop (him), but we have the ability to at least get the ball out to other players.” The Penguin offense should be licking its chops, as Western enters at 109th in the FCS in rush defense (215.7 yards per game) and 103rd in pass defense (273.8 yards per game). Defensive back JJ Ross does have two interceptions for WIU, though the Leathernecks have struggled to generate turnovers as a whole. PREDICTION The Penguins will turn in a complete performance. Youngstown State wins, 42-10. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

TCL Takes Important Steps In The Metaverse – PR Newswire https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/tcl-takes-important-steps-in-the-metaverse-pr-newswire/ First-ever Metaverse campaign offers new ways for consumers to connect with TCL products , /PRNewswire/ — TCL Electronics (1070.HK), a major player in the global television and consumer electronics industry, today announces its exciting move in the Metaverse. To mark this momentous step of its journey into the Metaverse, TCL will launch a Halloween campaign on the virtual gaming platform Roblox to empower users to create their own immersive experiences. TCL has developed an engaging Halloween-themed virtual party to connect with audiences in a personalized virtual world. *Please click this link for high-res image A global technology leader dedicated to continuous innovation, TCL enables people to enjoy premium viewing experiences through its TV and smart screens. Now TCL is strengthening its connection with next-generation consumers by offering a trending, fun and immersive way to engage with TCL in the Metaverse. In future, TCL expects to explore and develop more opportunities that will bring our customers even more innovative ways to enjoy TCL products in the Metaverse and beyond. The Halloween campaign will be launched across TCL social media accounts in multiple markets*. TCL will invite audiences to join its Halloween #Fun_Tastic Party at the Dream House, in the Metaverse on Roblox from 21 October 2022 onwards. Welcome to the TCL Dream House When users enter the Dream House, TCL invites them to get in the #Fun_Tastic Party mood and start their adventure by choosing a personalized Halloween costume for their avatar. Now they are ready to explore Dream House to enjoy virtual experiences and connect with TCL technology. TCL has created a host of Halloween games and party experiences that connect to TCL products in various rooms for users to discover. With Halloween-themed decorations and mysterious lighting, each room is themed around the various attributes of some of TCL’s popular C935 and C835 Mini LED TVs, Soundbars and FreshIN+ air conditioners with unique décor and activities. As they explore the house, users can play mini-games, enjoy surprises around every corner or simply chill out in their favorite room. Other fun activities include a virtual photo booth so users can capture and share their Halloween moments from the party on social media. *How to access the Fun_Tastic Party? Users can access to the TCL #Fun_Tastic Halloween party on Roblox via TCL’s social media platforms. Global: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, TikTok  North America: Twitter  Italy: Instagram  Mexico: Facebook, Instagram  UK: Instagram, YouTube  India: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube  Spain: Instagram  Saudi Arabia: Facebook, Instagram, YouTube  East Africa: Facebook, Instagram  Japan: Twitter About TCL Electronics TCL Electronics (1070.HK) is a fast-growing consumer electronics company and a leading player in the global TV industry. Founded in 1981, it now operates in over 160 markets globally. TCL specializes in the research, development and manufacturing of consumer electronics products ranging from TVs, audio and smart home appliances. Visit TCL home page at https://www.tcl.com. SOURCE TCL Electronics

60 Seconds With… Eleanor Brodie, Lexis Nexis – Insurance Post – Post Online https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/60-seconds-with-eleanor-brodie-lexis-nexis-insurance-post-post-online/ Eleanor Brodie, data science manager at Lexis Nexis, talks to Post about the troubles of pet-parenting, and reveals her favourite fictional character and how she’d like to be a fly on wall in ancient Rome or Greece. Eleanor BrodieExplain your job to a five-year-old. We let insurance companies know who the good drivers are so that they can be rewarded and given the best prices. What would you name your You are currently unable to print this content. Please contact [email protected] to find out more. You are currently unable to copy this content. Please contact [email protected] to find out more.

‘Secretly Circulating’ Draft Crypto Bill Could Be A ‘boon’ To DeFi – Cointelegraph https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/secretly-circulating-draft-crypto-bill-could-be-a-boon-to-defi-cointelegraph/ A crypto bill that industry advocates previously said would “kill DeFi” has seen an updated draft released online with one commentator saying the U.S. is “finally getting their act together.” 698 Total views 23 Total shares A new draft of the Digital Commodities Consumer Protection Act (DCCPA) bill has started to circulate online, with some commentary suggesting it could be positive for decentralized finance (DeFi) and crypto. A prior draft version of the bill drew heavy criticism from industry representative bodies for containing too broad a definition for a “digital commodity platform,” which “could be interpreted as a ban on decentralized finance (DeFi).” In a newly posted 31-page draft bill, shared by Delphi Labs general counsel Gabriel Shapiro, the lawyer said he made the draft bill publicly available as he believes in “transparency and open discussion.” Shapiro remarked on a section amending the meaning of a “digital commodity trading facility” which excluded persons who develop or publish software, commenting that it “could be a boon” to DeFi and crypto. Notably, this version contains a limited exception to the term “digital commodity trading facility” which would exclude persons who solely develop or publish software–this could be a boon to DeFi/crypto. pic.twitter.com/0pa843RJ9h — _gabrielShapir0 (@lex_node) October 19, 2022 Dr. Martin Hiesboeck head of research at crypto exchange UpHold tweeted that the newly released draft seems to follow similar regulations in the European Union and the United Kingdom, suggesting that the United States is “finally getting their act together.” First impression: leaked #CFTC Bill seems to follow UK/EU reg in broad strokes even though it uses similar somewhat different terminology. Will prepare a detailed report by tomorrow. US finally getting their act together. All good. — Dr Martin Hiesboeck (@MHiesboeck) October 19, 2022 The comments are a change of tone from the previous version of the bill, which was described by Web3 incubator and advocacy group Alliance DAO as one that “kills DeFi.” The decentralized autonomous organization (DAO) wrote the bill “creates a compliance architecture that precludes the concept of a system of smart contracts operating decentralized infrastructure with little or no reliance on human activity,” as it required people to enforce compliance with the regulations. Related: ‘Time is not on our side’ to provide regulatory clarity on crypto — US lawmaker There have long been calls for regulatory clarity regarding digital assets in the U.S. with some calling on the U.S. Congress to pass legislation defining commodities and give jurisdiction to the CFTC. First introduced in August the DCCPA extends the regulatory power of the Commodities Future Trading Commission (CFTC) on the cryptocurrency industry and attempts to define certain cryptos, such as Bitcoin (BTC) and Ether (ETH) as commodities rather than securities.

INDIA RUPEE Rupee May Open Near 83/USD; U.S. Yields, Yuan Watched – Reuters https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/india-rupee-rupee-may-open-near-83-usd-u-s-yields-yuan-watched-reuters/ MUMBAI, Oct 20 (Reuters) – The Indian rupee is tipped to open near its record low of 83 to the U.S. currency on Thursday, as the surge in Treasury yields and the dollar index, fuelled a broader decline in Asian currencies and shares. The rupee is expected to open at 82.98-83.02 per U.S. dollar, compared with a record low of 83.02 in the previous session. Large corporate dollar and custodial outflows had prompted a selloff in the currency toward the last one-and-a-half hour of trade on Wednesday, traders said. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The dollar’s broad strength and stop losses at 82.40, a level the Reserve Bank of India was likely protecting, accentuated the rupee’s decline. The “saving grace” for the rupee after “yesterday’s meltdown” is that post regular trading hours, it was broadly flat at around the 83 level, a currency dealer at a Mumbai-based bank said. “In initial trades, traders will be looking to assess how sticky this new big figure proves.” The selloff in U.S. Treasuries resumed on Wednesday, pushing near-maturity and longer-maturity Treasury yields to fresh multi-year highs. Yields had spiked despite a weak U.S. housing report. The bets on the U.S. Fed to continue hiking rates aggressively got a boost after Minneapolis Fed President Neel Kashkari said underlying inflation pressures probably have not peaked yet. Fed funds futures have priced in a near 94% chance of a 75 bps rate rise in November, and a 76% probability of another 75 bps increase in December, according to the CME FedWatch Tool. The rise in yields and safe-haven demand catapulted the dollar index back to above the 113-levels. The onshore Chinese yuan dropped to 7.2474 to the dollar, leading Asian currencies lower. U.S. equity futures extended their decline and Asian shares were down 1% to 2.7%. (This story has been corrected to show rupee level at 82.40 from 72.40 in fourth paragraph) KEY INDICATORS: ** One-month non-deliverable rupee forward at 83.30; onshore one-month forward premium at 21.5 paise ** USD/INR NSE Oct futures settled on Wednesday at 83.15 ** USD/INR October forward premium at 6.0 paise ** Dollar index up at 113.06 ** Brent crude futures at $92.3 per barrel ** Ten-year U.S. note yield at 4.15%, India 10-yr bond yield at 7.49% ** SGX Nifty nearest-month futures down 0.7% at 17,379 ** As per NSDL data, foreign investors bought a net $104.4 mln worth of Indian shares on Oct. 18 ** NSDL data shows foreign investors bought a net $37.6 mln worth of Indian bonds on Oct. 18 Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Nimesh Vora; Editing by Neha Arora Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Reuters Science News Summary – Devdiscourse https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/reuters-science-news-summary-devdiscourse-13/ Following is a summary of current science news briefs. Apollo, Gemini astronaut James McDivitt dies at age 93 James McDivitt, a former U.S. astronaut who commanded some of NASA’s earliest and most ambitious missions in space, died in his sleep last week at age 93, NASA said in a statement on Monday night. McDivitt, who was selected for NASA’s second astronaut class in 1962, was the commanding pilot for the U.S. space agency’s Gemini 4 mission in 1965 and Apollo 9 in 1969, a mission that helped pave the way for the first human lunar landing. Europe plans first Ariane 6 rocket launch in Q4 of 2023 Europe plans to launch the first Ariane 6 rocket, its next-generation space launcher, in the fourth quarter of 2023, the European Space Agency (ESA) said on Wednesday. The 22-nation agency had previously said it was delaying the first launch from 2022 to 2023 without giving details. Genetic findings from Siberian caves give glimpse into Neanderthal life Bone and tooth remnants from two Siberian caves are helping scientists for the first time decipher the social organization of our cousins the Neanderthals through genetic sleuthing, including on the remains of a father and his teenage daughter. Researchers on Wednesday described genomic findings from the remains of 13 Neanderthals – 11 from Chagyrskaya cave and two from Okladnikov cave in the Altai Mountains of Russia – in one of the largest genetic studies of a Neanderthal population to date. The Paleolithic remains date to about 54,000 years ago. Virgin Orbit to launch first satellite in Europe within six weeks – Branson Richard Branson’s small satellite service provider Virgin Orbit Holdings Inc will be doing its first launch from European soil within the next six weeks, its founder said on Tuesday. “Virgin Orbit can launch satellites into space from anywhere in the world into any orbit at a days notice,” Branson said during a press conference in Milan. Webb Space Telescope renders Pillars of Creation with new depth, clarity One of the most celebrated, awe-inspiring images of modern astronomy, revealing colossal spires of interstellar gas and dust called the Pillars of Creation, has been rendered anew with greater depth, clarity, and color by the James Webb Space Telescope. The new view of the pillars, first made famous when captured in 1995 by Webb’s predecessor observatory, the Hubble Space Telescope, was unveiled by NASA on Wednesday, three months after Webb’s inaugural batch of cosmic photos was unveiled as it began full operations. (With inputs from agencies.)

Texas Sheriff Certifies That Migrants Flown To Martha’s Vineyard Were Victims Of A Crime – KVEO-TV https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/texas-sheriff-certifies-that-migrants-flown-to-marthas-vineyard-were-victims-of-a-crime-kveo-tv/ Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha’s Vineyard. Florida… Immigrants gather with their belongings outside St. Andrews Episcopal Church, Wednesday Sept. 14, 2022, in Edgartown, Mass., on Martha’s Vineyard. Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis flew two planes of immigrants to Martha’s Vineyard, escalating a tactic by Republican governors to draw attention to what they consider to be the Biden administration’s failed border policies. (Ray Ewing/Vineyard Gazette via AP) by: Chloe Folmar Posted: Oct 19, 2022 / 09:06 PM CDT Updated: Oct 19, 2022 / 09:06 PM CDT (The Hill) – Texas Sheriff Javier Salazar on Oct. 13 certified that the group of migrants flown to Martha’s Vineyard, Mass., last month by Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis (R) were victims of a crime, qualifying them to obtain a visa. Salazar, the Bexar County sheriff, submitted certification documents that will allow the nearly 50 migrants to apply for U visas, which grant crime victims nonimmigrant status in the U.S. to ensure that they are available as witnesses during investigations or trials. “Based upon the claims of migrants being transported from Bexar County under false pretenses, we are investigating this case as possible Unlawful Restraint,” Salazar said in a statement to GBH News. The Venezuelan nationals transported to Martha’s Vineyard were reportedly given false information about where they were going and the support they would receive at the destination. The certification comes a day after the Department of the Treasury announced that it would investigate DeSantis’s usage of COVID-19 relief money and the “allowability” of funding migrant transportation with that money or interest earned on it. Salazar opened an investigation into the Martha’s Vineyard incident soon after it occurred, claiming that the migrants were “lured” under “false pretenses.” The sheriff told Massachusetts news station WGBH that his office has identified suspects in the investigation but is not releasing names publicly as the probe proceeds. The Hill has reached out to Salazar for comment. Immigration attorneys, including Rachel Self, are working with the Bexar County Sheriff’s Office to interview the migrants as part of the criminal investigation. “Since the day they landed on Martha’s Vineyard, it has been clear to all who spoke to them that the migrants had been preyed upon and victimized,” Self wrote to The Hill in a statement.  “These certifications will ensure that the migrants can continue to help our law enforcement officials, and that they will be able to process and heal from the incredibly traumatic experiences they have suffered as a result of the cruel, heartless acts committed against them.” The migrants have also filed a class action lawsuit against DeSantis based on allegations of “fraud” and “misrepresentation.” “Defendants manipulated them, stripped them of their dignity, deprived them of their liberty, bodily autonomy, due process and equal protection under law, and impermissibly interfered with the Federal Government’s exclusive control over immigration in furtherance of an unlawful goal and a personal political agenda,” reads the lawsuit, referring to its plaintiffs. SpaceX

Travel More With Vivo Y35’s 256GB Storage And 44W Fast Charging – Manila Bulletin https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/travel-more-with-vivo-y35s-256gb-storage-and-44w-fast-charging-manila-bulletin/ Travel more with vivo Y35’s 256GB storage and 44W fast charging With vivo’s recent partnership with AirAsia Philippines, vivo  will share how you can maximize the fun of your travel with the help of a powerful device like the vivo Y35. Find out why it is the perfect travel buddy for your every adventure. Enjoy an entire day of uninterrupted fun Travelers often spend  time exploring the destination’s beauty and indulging with the locals and it would be a bummer to find out that your smartphone is out of charge in the middle of the tour. Though power banks could be handy, they can be inconvenient to carry around since they are often heavy. Thanks to the vivo Y35, you don’t have to worry about constant recharging because it has a huge 5000mAh battery that can last you the entire day and more. And if you are left with no choice but to charge, no need to worry because the vivo Y35 boasts a 44W FastCharge power. This optimum charging ability lets you boost your phone’s energy #QuickAsAFlash, so you can get back and continue documenting the fun without worrying about running out of battery power. Create and store more unforgettable travel memories With today’s demanding lifestyle, squeezing in a quick vacation break may be challenging. This is why it’s a must to capture and save as many memories as you can during your trips.  From taking hundreds of  photos and videos, creating reels and sharing them on your social media accounts, you can now do everything all at the same time with the vivo Y35 and its 8GB+8GB extended RAM. This extended RAM 3.0, a  first in vivo’s Y Series line-up, allows users to simultaneously open multiple apps with ease and swiftly switch in-between them without lags or freezing.  Banking on its impressive storage space, the vivo Y35 will not only assure a smooth response rate but will enable you to safely keep tons of photos and videos. The vivo Y35 and its extended RAM is specially matched with 256GB Internal ROM so you don’t have to feel bad deleting all these precious memories anymore. You can also extend this already big ROM further up to 1TB, giving  you  more room for photos from your future fun-filled adventures. Capture your travel journey like a pro without breaking the pocket If you’re on a tight travel budget, it’s important that you get the best deals possible– may it be your hotel room, your food, or your transportation expenses. However,  when it comes to photos and videos, there should be no compromise. The vivo Y35  ensures the best quality output every single time with its smarter cameras. Its triple AI Rear Camera frontlines a 50MP main camera that lets you immortalize the best moments of your travel while its 16MP HD Front Camera is not just ideal for capturing vibrant and clearer selfies, but it is also perfect for vlogging especially if you’re on a solo trip. Night trip? No worries because you can still get the most colorful result even in the darkest of the night with its Super Night Camera and Super Night Selfie. Packed with next-level features, the #QuickAsAFlash vivo Y35 can surely help elevate your  travel experiences and let you enjoy limitless possibilities. The vivo Y35 is now available for only P14,999 on vivo’s official website and online stores on Lazada, Shopee and  TikTok , and all physical stores and kiosks nationwide.If you are looking for installment plans, the vivo Y35 is also available via Home Credit and Credit Card for 6 up to 18 months, and 6 up to 12 months, respectively. To know more about the vivo Y35, visit vivo’s official website, or follow them on their official social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and YouTube. SIGN UP TO DAILY NEWSLETTER CLICK HERE TO SIGN-UP YOU MAY ALSO LIKE 2022-10-20 07:58:22 [“tech-news”,”technology”,”technology”] [3112148,3112118,3111961,3111957,3111406,3111358,3111371]

RMIT University’s Supercomputer Fast-Tracking Research Opens For Business – Tech Business News https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/rmit-universitys-supercomputer-fast-tracking-research-opens-for-business-tech-business-news/ Researchers at RMIT University are using the AWS Cloud Supercomputing facility, RACE, which opened in July this year, to develop battery technology, photonics, and geospatial science. Australia’s first university cloud supercomputing facility allows researchers to test new ideas and solutions up to 80 times faster than existing on-premises servers offically opened to industry partners on Wednesday night RACE provides fast, secure, and private connections, powered by Amazon Web Services and AARNet—ideal for higher-speed workloads that require fewer delays than the internet. RACE Director Dr Robert Shen says researchers, students, and industry partners will be able to fast-track the time it takes to turn initial ideas into products, thanks to the increased bandwidth. ­­“RACE will enable researchers to test out ideas and solutions up to 80 times faster compared to the existing on-premises servers”  “Research typically involves many failures before success: this facility lets researchers fail quickly so they can fine-tune their solutions and improve them,” says Shen AWS Chief Technologist for Australia and New Zealand, Simon Elisha says high performance computing is key to solving complex problems across many industries. “Using AWS, RMIT can securely deliver advanced computer performance, memory capacity, and scalability.”  “AWS’s portfolio of cloud services allows researchers at RMIT to focus on ground-breaking research, across a broad range of sectors, and innovate faster,” says Elisha. AARNet CEO Chris Hancock says the high-speed internet and communication services provided for RACE were designed to service both current and future demand. “AARNet has deployed a high-capacity network for RACE that scales up to 400Gbps to provide RMIT researchers with enough headroom to transfer massive amounts of data to AWS on demand now and in the future,” says Hancock New service makes a difference for the RMIT research groups  A team led by Professor Matt Duckham is applying computing power to design automated methods to locate a person based on a verbal description of their surroundings. This approach may be particularly valuable in emergencies if satellite positioning is unavailable. Duckham say his team now has the ability to process massive information streams including drone imagery, satellite data, data from sensor networks and crowd-sourced data that could overwhelm conventional computing facilities. “Enabling us to analyse these huge volumes of data from new sources can help better inform evidence-based policy decisions to improve public transport, traffic, infrastructure and many other aspects of quality of life,” says Duckham. Professor Michelle Spencer has used it to analyse data and communicate a new ultra-fast screening method for hundreds of potential electrolytes for lithium-metal batteries, which could potentially increase storage capacity by 10-fold, for lithium-metal batteries. “We are using RACE to analyse our data and produce high-resolution animations that help us to interpret our data and communicate our research findings,” says Spencer Associate Professor Thach Nguyen and the team at the Integrated Photonics and Applications Centre rely heavily on high performance computing to design fingernail-sized photonic chips that can be plugged into optical fibre networks to make the internet faster or medical diagnostic tools to track cancer cell spread in real time. “Direct access to RACE means that when designing and simulating brain-like chips or creating a chip which could break the record for the world’s fastest internet, the team can run multiple processes at once with computing capability that expands and scales as needed.” “RACE has provided our team with on-demand computing power anywhere, anytime to simulate our photonic chips at 10 times faster than was previously possible.” says Nguyen The research opens the doors to new opportunities including: The design of chips that could make internet faster,  Help drones more accurately inspect railway infrastructure Build handheld devices to detect ovarian cancer more accurately.  The Victorian Government has provided financial backing for RACE through the Victorian Higher Education State Investment Fund, establishing it as a critical resource for advanced data processing in universities and industry. Now officially open, researchers and educators can now participate in RACE to advance digital innovation in research and education. Editorial Team The TBN team is a well establish group of technology industry professionals with backgrounds in IT Systems, Business Communications and Journalism.

Cooking Demo – Healthy Harvest Sides | TAPinto – TAPinto.net https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/cooking-demo-healthy-harvest-sides-tapinto-tapinto-net/ Cooking Demo – Healthy Harvest Sides | TAPinto  TAPinto.net

On The Air | News, Sports, Jobs – Marquette Mining Journal https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/on-the-air-news-sports-jobs-marquette-mining-journal-2/ Subject to change ————— Highlights of TV, radio coverage ————— Today ————— High school football • Westwood at Negaunee, 7 p.m., WZAM 106.9 FM & 970 AM and WKQS 101.9 FM • Allen (Tex.) at Denton Guyer (Tex.), 7 p.m., ESPN2 ————— Men’s soccer • English Premier League: Aston Villa at Fulham, 2:30 p.m., USA • Major League Soccer, playoffs conference semifinals: FC Cincinnati at Philadelphia, 8 p.m., FS1 • Major League Soccer, playoffs conference semifinals: Los Angeles Galaxy at Los Angeles FC, 10:30 p.m., FS1 ————— Golf • PGA Tour: CJ Cup, first round, at Gillisonville, S.C., 3 p.m., Golf Channel • LPGA Tour: BMW Ladies Championship, second round, at Busan, South Korea, 11 p.m., Golf Channel ————— College women’s soccer • Syracuse at Pittsburgh, 6 p.m., ACC Network • Rutgers at Michigan, 7 p.m., Big 10 Network • Kentucky at Missouri, 7 p.m., SEC Network • North Carolina at Florida State, 8 p.m., ACC Network ————— Pro basketball • Milwaukee Bucks at Philadelphia 76ers, 7:30 p.m., TNT • Los Angeles Clippers at Los Angeles Lakers, 10 p.m., TNT ————— Major League Baseball • Playoffs, American League Championship Series, Game 2: New York Yankees at Houston Astros, 7:30 p.m., TBS ————— College football • Virginia at Georgia Tech, 7:30 p.m., ESPN • Troy at South Alabama, 7:30 p.m., ESPNU ————— Friday ————— High school football • Gwinn at Houghton, 7 p.m., WOLV 97.7 FM • Ishpeming at Bark River-Harris, 7 p.m. (time estimated), WRUP 98.3 FM • Petoskey at Marquette, 7 p.m., Fox Sports 105.1 FM & 99.9 FM • Superior Central at Munising, 7 p.m., WQXO 1400 AM • Calumet at L’Anse, 7 p.m., WHKB 102.3 FM • Iron Mountain at Manistique, 7 p.m., WTIQ 1490 AM • Engadine at Newberry, 7 p.m., WMJT 96.7 FM • teams TBA, 7 p.m. & 10 p.m., ESPNU ————— College hockey • Alaska-Anchorage at Northern Michigan University, 7 p.m., WUPT 100.3 FM ————— Auto racing • Formula 1, U.S. Grand Prix, at Austin, Tex.: practice, 3 p.m., ESPN2 • NASCAR Xfinity Series, Contender Boats 300, playoffs round of 8, at Homestead, Fla.: qualifying, 6 p.m., USA ————— Golf • DP World Tour: Mallorca Open, second round, at Mallorca, Spain, 7:30 a.m., Golf Channel • PGA Tour: CJ Cup, second round, at Gillisonville, S.C., 3 p.m., Golf Channel • PGA Champions Tour: Dominion Energy Charity Classic, first round, at Henrico, Va., 7 p.m. (taped), Golf Channel • LPGA Tour: BMW Ladies Championship, third round, at Busan, South Korea, 11 p.m., Golf Channel ————— College field hockey • Michigan at Northwestern, 4 p.m., Big 10 Network ————— College volleyball • Northwestern at Rutgers, 6 p.m., Big 10 Network • Penn St. at Maryland, 8 p.m., Big 10 Network ————— Pro basketball • Detroit Pistons at New York Knicks, 7:30 p.m., Bally Sports Detroit • Boston Celtics at Miami Heat, 7:45 p.m., ESPN • Denver Nuggets at Golden State Warriors, 10 p.m., ESPN ————— Major League Baseball • Playoffs, National League Championship Series, Game 3: San Diego Padres at Philadelphia Phillies, 7:30 p.m., FS1 ————— College football • Tulsa at Temple, 7:30 p.m., ESPN2 ————— Figure skating • ISU Grand Prix of Figure Skating, at Norwood, Mass., 7:30 p.m., USA ————— Pro hockey • Detroit Red Wings at Chicago Blackhawks, 8:30 p.m., BS Detroit Extra Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Japan’s Konami Seeks To Hire Talents To Advance Web 3, Metaverse, And NFT Efforts – CoinGeek https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/japans-konami-seeks-to-hire-talents-to-advance-web-3-metaverse-and-nft-efforts-coingeek/ Home » Business » Japan’s Konami seeks to hire talents to advance Web 3, metaverse, and NFT efforts Japanese gaming giant Konami has disclosed that it is hiring experts versed in the digital assets industry as it looks to incorporate Web 3 elements in its games. Per the announcement, the firm says it will be “recruiting a wide range of talent for system construction and service development to provide new experiences such as Web 3 and the metaverse.” The available roles cut across areas of Business Development, Project Management, Legal, and Accounting, with new hires facing the possibility of being transferred to one of Konami Group’s corporations. Konami revealed that it had been researching blockchain technology and its role in gaming. Under the research, the gaming firm decided to create a non-fungible token (NFT) trading platform to allow players to trade their in-game digital collectibles for money. “NFTs can be used in-game as items, as well as participate in fan communities and events, and interact with other series and communities to further expand the user experience,” read Konami’s report. Applicants that scale through the hiring process will join the team in developing a “unique digital item distribution platform” in line with the Japanese regulatory framework. Konami is the name behind titles like the Metal Gear Solid franchise, Castlevania, Pro Evolution Soccer, and Froggy. Konami is no stranger to NFTs, having made an incursion into the niche back in January by launching digital collectibles to mark the 36th year anniversary of the Castlevania franchise. The collection was made up of GIFs of portions of the gameplay, while the rest was made of the game’s maps. The dip in NFT activity is worrying Konami’s push into NFTs is coming at a precarious time for the asset class, given the decline in transaction volumes. At the start of the year, NFT trading volumes were at 17 billion, and the figure fell to $466 million in October, which represents a 90% fall in activity. “The fading NFT mania is part of a wider, $2 trillion wipeout in the crypto sector as rapidly tightening monetary policy starves speculative assets of investment flows,” Bloomberg said. The decision by some large gaming companies to launch digital collectibles has been met with deafening criticisms. Ubisoft’s attempt at NFTs Quartz received backlash from the gaming community, while Nicolas Pouard, VP at the firm’s Strategic Innovation Labs, defended the offering by stating that “gamers don’t get what a digital secondary market can bring to them,” Despite the fall in NFT trading volumes and the lethargic start of Ubisoft’s foray, Konami can turn the tides in its favor by learning from the shortcomings of its predecessors. Watch: The BSV Global Blockchain Convention panel, Blockchain: Data Power-Ups and NFTs for eSports & Online Games New to Bitcoin? Check out CoinGeek’s Bitcoin for Beginners section, the ultimate resource guide to learn more about Bitcoin—as originally envisioned by Satoshi Nakamoto—and blockchain.

The 6 Best Sunrise Alarm Clocks To Wake Up More Relaxed – Mindbodygreen https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/the-6-best-sunrise-alarm-clocks-to-wake-up-more-relaxed-mindbodygreen/ Writer By Nicole Carullo Writer Nicole Carullo is a freelance writer and brand manager for various wellness brands. She studied english at DePaul University, and she’s written about topics like the calming power of adaptogens, self-care rituals, and sleep routines. October 20, 2022 Our editors have independently chosen the products listed on this page. If you purchase something mentioned in this article, we may earn a small commission. We’re big believers in the power of a good night’s rest to keep us feeling our best. In fact, sleep is an essential contributor to our overall health and well-being, and impacts our body’s immune response, our mental health and cognition, and many other aspects of our lives. All that considered, the way we wake up is just as important as the hours of sleep we’re getting. Studies have shown that waking up naturally with the sunrise can regulate your circadian rhythm and improve the quality of your sleep1 . Unfortunately, this kind of natural wake-up call isn’t always possible, especially if you have blackout curtains or a windowless bedroom (hello, city apartments).  Sunrise alarm clocks, otherwise known as wake-up lamps or dawn simulation clocks, help you wake up gradually, with warm, natural light instead of sound. These clocks use advanced LED technology and customizable brightness settings, so you can take your sleep into your own hands, and start your day on a lighter note than the loud (often stress-inducing) sound of your phone’s alarm.   Below, we’ve carefully selected the best sunrise alarm clocks to help give you more mellow, mindful mornings. What is a sunrise alarm clock? A sunrise alarm clock mimics the light of a real sunrise to wake you up in the morning, rather than using harsh sounds like a standard alarm clock or cell phone alarm. According to Seema Bonney, M.D., the founder and medical director of the Anti-Aging & Longevity Center of Philadelphia, “It simulates gradual sunsets at night and gradual sunrises in the morning to help you fall asleep and wake up more naturally by steadily increasing light of sunrise, often over 30 to 40 minutes.” If you’ve ever been jolted out of a zen-like dream state by the blaring sounds of your phone’s alarm, you’re likely familiar with the stressed, disoriented feeling that can often follow—and if you ask us, waking up to a soft, serene sunrise is much more enjoyable. Do sunrise alarm clocks work? Research shows that exposure to sunlight, artificial or otherwise, can make you feel more awake2 . Another study suggests that sunrise simulation could improve the quality of sleep3 . “Light helps to wake us up more gently and gradually,” Bonney confirms. “These sunrise alarm clocks can also reduce the effects of sleep inertia—a drowsy, disorienting feeling that many of us (especially teenagers) experience after a sudden awakening.” Like we said, waking up can be stressful. Bonney explains this further, “When we’re sleeping, our blood pressure is lower, but when we open our eyes, cortisol kicks in, and the brain adapts by constricting blood vessels, increasing blood pressure and heart rate. Sunrise alarm clocks can reduce that stressful wake up experience.” Sunlight can affect our mood, too. As Bindiya Gandhi, M.D., previously told mindbodygreen, “Light therapy is not new, and doctors have long been recommending this therapy for many different ailments.” Many of these sunrise alarm clocks have features similar to those of sun lamps, which aim to combat seasonal affective disorder (SAD) and ease depression, lethargy, insomnia, and morning blues. How do sunrise alarm clocks work? Sunrise alarm clocks take an even more specific approach to light therapy, by using sunrise-mimicking light progressions to wake you up gradually from your sleep, and help reset your circadian rhythm4 . Bonney explains that our circadian rhythm is regulated by the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN), which she refers to as the “master clock” for our brain and body. “Without this, the patterns of sleep and wakefulness as well as metabolism, hormone release, body temperatures would be dysregulated,” she says. “When light travels from the eyes via the optic nerves to the SCN, it suppresses melatonin and creates a waking effect on the rain and body, initiating the awake phase of the 24 hour circadian rhythm, and waking you up,” Bonney elaborates. Each wake-up device has different features and settings, but the best sunrise alarm clocks operate with a series of lights that progress from red to orange to white, to most-closely match a natural sunrise.  Bonney says this light simulation can also help make you feel more alert. “When your body senses the light, it halts the production of melatonin—which helps you wake up—and increases the release of neurotransmitters like serotonin and norepinephrine to help you wake up.” Some sunrise alarm clocks also provide mellow sounds, which typically play after the lights have progressed, as well as night time features like sleep stories or calming light to help ease you to sleep. How we picked: We looked at the features different sunrise alarm clocks offer (white noise, dimmable displays, etc.), and selected products that are equipped with everything you need for a more mindful wakeup. The alarm clocks we’ve included have been vetted by real people. To be sure we were considering a wide array of opinions, we read through hundreds of reviews and took all feedback into account. Investing in your sleep is investing in your health. That said, we’ve gathered options across a range of budgets. Room aesthetics are important too—and these alarm clocks are going to live on your nightstand—so we looked for stylish devices that will fit seamlessly into your existing bedroom decor. Our picks for the best sunrise alarm clocks of 2022 Pros: Extensive sound and meditation offerings Well-designed app Cons: Monthly subscription required for full features Must use phone to operate Brightness settings: 22 Power source: Electric cord Weight: 2.07 lbs Trial period: 60 days Warranty: Not specified This device’s gradual sunlight display coupled with the brand’s Sleep Membership makes a full sleep system. Perfect for people who are looking to invest in their overall sleep hygiene, the app comes equipped with all the dreamy content you could want. Imagine if your favorite meditation app and alarm clock had a baby–that’s what you get with this app’s sound library. At bedtime, sleep stories, guided rest exercises, and light rain sounds block out city sirens and other nightly distractions. You’ll receive a free one-month membership trial with your purchase, but you will need to pay $10 per month once the trial ends if you want to have access to the exclusive sounds (music, dreamscapes, rest exercises, and sleep stories).  That said, this alarm clock is a great device even without those sounds included. It uses the natural light progression from red to orange to white, before playing your (optional) chosen sound. You can also use it at night as a reading light, and (even without the paid membership) you’ll have access to a ton of features to help create a more calming bedtime and wake up routine. Just note, you will need to use your phone to control this device, whether you pay for the membership or not. What Customers Say: Not only have more than 4,000 Amazon shoppers given this alarm clock a perfect rating, it’s also a favorite of mindbodygreen editor’s like Jamie Schneider. “I cannot say enough good things about the Hatch,” she says. “The sunrise alarm for gentle wake-ups, the soft reading light, the library of soothing sounds to eliminate NYC noise…It’s a godsend for city living. I love it so much that I even convinced my partner to have one on each nightstand–when the chimes sound off for his 6am wake-up, I don’t hear a thing.” Image by Jamie Schneider/ mbg creative Pros: Compact size Alarm can be customized by day of the week Cons: Difficult to set up Only displays military time Brightness settings: Not specified Power source: Battery Weight: 1.43 lbs Trial period: 45 days Warranty: 3-year This brand has been making light therapy solutions for over 30 years, since long before we’d ever heard of sunrise alarm clocks. The brand’s most advanced option, the BodyClock Shine 300, allows you to set the duration of the sunrise and sunset from 15 to 90 minutes; most machines max out at a 60-minute sunrise duration. The model also earns extra praise for its extensive sound offerings. The 15 options go beyond typical rain or nature noises to include eccentric sounds, like purring kittens and a clattering cafe—all of which need to be purchased on the brand’s website. Luckily, you can try them before commit. What our testers say: “I have never been a morning person, but since getting the Lumie Bodyclock Shine 300 my mornings are that much brighter—literally,” raves mindbodygreen writer Sarah Regan. “The sunrise setting is particularly helpful now that mornings are getting darker, and waking up to the sounds of birds chirping never hurts either. I’ll never go back to a standard alarm clock!” Pros: Lightweight & portable Ambient light sensor Quick wireless charging Cons: No time feature No audio alarm Brightness settings: Not specified Power source: Wireless charger Weight: 0.77 lbs Trial period: 30 days Warranty: 1-year This brand knows a thing or two about sleep—and its take on the sunrise alarm clock is about as aesthetically pleasing as it gets. The clock has a warm, glowy light and a minimalist design that makes it a great pick for people who prioritize a chic bedroom aesthetic. The device’s portable design and ambient light sensor come in handy if you do wake up in the middle of the night, as you can grab it a...

Elrond And Aptos Take Over Crypto Market, Negative Consequences For Top Coins? – NewsBTC https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/elrond-and-aptos-take-over-crypto-market-negative-consequences-for-top-coins-newsbtc/ Elrond (EGLD) and Aptos (APT) are attractive in a sideways market as they record extreme price fluctuations. This price action is attracting market participants tired of Bitcoin and Ethereum trending sideways, chopping out long and short positions.  Launched a day ago in most crypto exchanges, Aptos experiences massive price fluctuations. At the time of writing, Elrond trades at $57 with a 4% profit in seven days and a 20% profit in thirty days. In the meantime, Aptos deals at $7 with a 47% loss in the last 24 hours.  EGLD’s price trends to the upside on the 4-hour chart. Source: EGLDUSDT Tradingview Retail Traders Pile In, Betting On Elrond and Aptos NewsBTC reported earlier that Bitcoin and larger cryptocurrencies would likely continue with their sideways movement over the coming weeks. This sideways price action might extend the spikes in volatility for EGLD, APT, and tokens going viral across social media.  In that sense, data from Santiment recorded an increase in the “Discussion Rate” across Twitter, Telegram, and other platforms. Retail traders have been posting about these cryptocurrencies causing more people to become interested, leading to further volatility.  The research firm said the following on Elrond and Aptos’s price action while sharing the chart below:  Elrond and Aptos are both trending Wednesday for different reasons. The price of $APT tanked after launching its highly anticipated mainnet. Meanwhile, $EGLD has benefited from some shilling and giveaways making rounds on Telegram, in particular. EGLD and APT mention on social media posts that their prices have become volatile. Source: Santiment Additional data from Material Indicators support this thesis. Retail traders have been following as Elrond increases its social media posting volumes. Traders with buy orders from $100 to $1,000 are bidding into EGLD’s price action.  The cryptocurrency is losing momentum on lower timeframes. As seen in the chart below, EGLD’s price is coming into heavy resistance at its current levels. Selling orders are thickening and might prevent the price of this cryptocurrency from sustaining its price action.  Retail traders jumping into EGLD’s price action. Source: Material Indicators While more significant cryptocurrencies trend sideways, any rally or volatility in the price of Elrond and Aptos might be short-lived. However, if too many traders jump into these tokens, Bitcoin and Ethereum might lose stability.  According to a pseudonym trader, APT’s volatility and increasing participation might take out the liquidity from other trading pairs. This price action leads to a sudden shift in price direction for more prominent cryptocurrencies, a situation that might become normal while the market lacks clear direction.  After 1 day: $150 mil open interest, $3 bil futures volume, $1 bil spot volume… This is going to suck so much liquidity from the market.$APT https://t.co/iMupyE21It — Byzantine General (@ByzGeneral) October 19, 2022

U.S. Consumer Protection Watchdog’s Funding Unconstitutional, Court Rules – Reuters https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/u-s-consumer-protection-watchdogs-funding-unconstitutional-court-rules-reuters/ Oct 19 (Reuters) – A federal appeals court ruled on Wednesday that the U.S. Consumer Financial Protection Bureau’s funding apparatus is unconstitutional, faulting a system Democrats designed to insulate the agency from requiring congressional appropriations. The New Orleans-based 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals ruled that the CFPB’s independent funding through the Federal Reserve rather than budgets passed by Congress violated the separation of powers principles in the U.S. Constitution. That ruling, by a panel of three judges appointed by then-President Donald Trump, a Republican, in the process vacated a 2017 regulation the agency adopted aimed at combating “unfair and abusive” practices in the payday lending industry. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com The Community Financial Services Association of America sued in 2018 to challenge the rule, which barred lenders from making a new attempt to withdraw funds from an account where two consecutive attempts had failed unless consumers consented. “Even among self-funded agencies, the Bureau is unique,” U.S. Circuit Judge Cory Wilson wrote. “The Bureau’s perpetual self-directed, double-insulated funding structure goes a significant step further than that enjoyed by the other agencies on offer.” A CFPB spokesperson said there was “nothing novel or unusual about Congress’s decision to fund the CFPB outside of annual spending bills.” The bureau could ask the full 5th Circuit to reconsider the case or take it to the U.S. Supreme Court. Multiple other courts have deemed the CFPB’s funding constitutional, a point the 5th Circuit acknowledged but disagreed with. The ruling marked the latest in a series of legal challenges to the CFPB, which Congress created in 2010 through the passage of the Dodd-Frank Act during Democrat Barack Obama’s presidency, in response to the 2008 financial crisis. Republicans have long opposed the agency. The Supreme Court in 2020 ruled in another case that the protection Congress originally afforded the CFPB director, who could only be fired for cause, was unconstitutional. “Extreme right-wing judges are throwing into question every rule the CFPB enforces to protect consumers and businesses alike,” U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren, the Massachusetts Democrat who proposed the CFPB’s creation, wrote on Twitter. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Nate Raymond in Boston; Editing by Stephen Coates and William Mallard Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles. Nate Raymond Thomson Reuters Nate Raymond reports on the federal judiciary and litigation. He can be reached at nate.raymond@thomsonreuters.com.

First Place, Scholarship For Student’s Clean-Energy Tech Presentation | University Of Hawaiʻi System News – University Of Hawaii https://bexarcountynewsonline.com/first-place-scholarship-for-students-clean-energy-tech-presentation-university-of-hawai%ca%bbi-system-news-university-of-hawaii/ October 19, 2022 UH News From left: Jacob Vasquez and Godwin Severa in front of Vasquez’s award-winning poster. A University of Hawaiʻi at Mānoa student’s work to improve the efficiency of fuel-cell technology was awarded first place in the student poster presentation session at the 13th World Filtration Congress in October. The honor came with a scholarship from the American Filtration Society. Global Environmental Science student Jacob Vasquez presented research he has been conducting for his senior thesis with Godwin Severa, assistant researcher at the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute in the School of Ocean and Earth Science and Technology. They developed and tested specialized materials that capture atmospheric acidic gases that can pass through and impact the efficiency of fuel cells as they generate clean energy. To improve air purification technology, Vasquez analyzed the capacity for various materials to absorb gases such as carbon dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, nitrogen dioxide and sulfur dioxide. Jacob Vasquez talking with conference attendees about his research findings. “The entire experience developed my presentation and networking skills and was an absolutely beneficial experience for me made possible by my department, the Hawaiʻi Natural Energy Institute, and the UH Mānoa Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP),” said Vasquez. “It was rewarding to share our efforts to improve this promising clean energy technology.” The conference was an international opportunity for professionals and students to present their state-of-the-art research in filtration. It included presentations from 30 students representing seven different countries over the course of two days. Students were evaluated by a panel that included experts in the filtration industry. “We have exceptional students at UH doing cutting edge materials research that is critical for sustaining our future, including the full realization of fuel-cell based technologies,” said Severa. “It’s fulfilling to see our students participating in these efforts being rewarded. I encourage students to seek research experiences. It’s never too early to start. We are here to assist students in achieving and exceeding their expectations.” Vasquez’s travel and conference attendance was supported by UH Mānoa UROP Presentation funding. –By Marcie Grabowski