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Planning To Travel With Friends And Family? Check Out What Essentials You Need To Pack – ABP Live https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/planning-to-travel-with-friends-and-family-check-out-what-essentials-you-need-to-pack-abp-live/ New Delhi: When one thinks of the holidays, what emotions come to mind? Happiness, excitement, and enjoyment. However, amid all of the joy, there is a sense of tension related to packing. Most people become anxious as they consider what to bring and what to leave. The fear of forgetting something important preoccupies the majority of prospective travellers. Check out what essentials should be packed while travelling:  Identity Proof:  While on vacation, it is now mandatory to carry some form of identification. Most hotels will not rent you a room if you do not have one. It would also be of great assistance to travellers and their families in the event of a mishap or other contingency. Both the inside and outside of the bag should have one’s name, address, and the location where one plans to stay on vacation. It will make it much easier to return the bag to its owner if it becomes lost. Medicines:  There are some medications that need to be taken on a daily basis. They should be brought along with a copy of the prescription. Medicines for common problems such as colds, fevers, headaches, and so on can also be taken as a precaution. Personal Hygiene Products:  Personal hygiene items such as toothpaste, toothbrush, soap, shampoo, face wash, body lotion, shaving kit, deodorants, and so on should be available. And certain items, such as sunscreen lotions or cold creams, are required by the local climate and should be brought along accordingly. The need for essentials may vary depending on the type of trip planned. If you want to explore nature, the following list of essentials is for people who want to go on an open-air nature trip: “Because we are all trying to survive in this world, we all need some space to breathe and be around nature, and a trip to the mountains is the best way to do that.” Prachi and Tapesh, Influencers of Mad Influence, share a list of essentials to keep in mind when travelling in hilly areas. Comfy Tents:  The most peaceful energy can be found sleeping under the stars on a hilltop, and we certainly need a comfortable tent for that. All you’d have to do is lie in a tent and enjoy nature. A Pullover:  A pullover is essential when it starts to get chilly on a starry night. A cosy pullover is required to enjoy the mountain breeze. Hiking Shoes:  Hiking shoes are extremely important! Hiking shoes are required because the rocky paths of mountains will not accommodate your regular working shoes. Portable Devices:  Portable electronics such as torches and speakers are also useful; torches keep you aware of your surroundings, and speakers play music in that conscious environment! %

Polisario Militiamen, Agents Denounced At UN Human Rights Council – Ghana Business News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/polisario-militiamen-agents-denounced-at-un-human-rights-council-ghana-business-news/ Speakers at a symposium organized on the sidelines of the 51st session of the United Nations Human Rights Council (HRC) session have condemned the atrocities committed by the Polisario in the Tindouf camps. The symposium was initiated by “Promotion of Economic and Social Development” (PDES) and “International Observatory for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights, Geneva” (IOPDHR-GENEVA). Speakers familiar with the reality on the ground took turns to reveal the atrocities of which the kidnapped people of Tindouf are victims every day. “The Algerian security services and the Polisario front are committing massive violations of human rights with all the humanitarian atrocities that accompany it, against the backdrop of the Sahara conflict”, the initiators of the symposium said. “Although the Polisario has acknowledged that human rights violations have occurred in the past, it has not provided clear data on enforced disappearances, abductions, extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, torture in detention centres, and cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment”, they noted. What exasperates human rights defenders the most is that the Polisario remains an organization escaping all control, despite the alledge serious crimes and violations it has committed since its creation. The Polisario militiamen have made the Tindouf camps a rear base to order kidnappings, looting and arbitrary and terrorist attacks, claiming thousands of victims not only among the residents of the Tindouf camps, but also in Mauritania, Mali, South Korea, France, Spain and Morocco”, alerted, for the umpteenth time, speakers before the participants of the 51st session of the Human Rights Council, who came from all over the world. The President of the “International Observatory for Peace, Democracy and Human Rights in Geneva” (IOPDHR-GENEVA), Ms. Aicha Duihi, denounced the impunity enjoyed by the Polisario to continue to commit crimes as its militiamen have always done since five decades of violations and inhuman treatment, the most notable of which were torture and arbitrary executions. It deplores that Algeria, the sole authority responsible for investigating all violations committed on its territory, has refused to process or examine any file relating to violations committed by the Polisario. The speakers agreed to underline, with insistence, that the violations of the right to life committed by the Polisario are imprescriptibly crimes and are similar to those perpetrated by terrorist groups operating in the Sahelo-Saharan region, far from the radars. Through their appeals, the participants in the Geneva symposium once again broke the silence on “the forgotten victims of history who are still waiting for justice to be done, but also on other victims who continue to work to bring the truth to light, especially after the entry into force of the Algerian Charter for Peace and National Reconciliation, whose objective seems to be to reverse the roles and alter the truth”. The speakers at the symposium, whose work was coordinated and moderated by Aicha Duihi, were Emmanuel Tawil, professor at the University of Paris II Panthéon-Assas; Lorenzo Penas Roldan, international lawyer for terrorism and international security cases; Sophie Michez, Lawyer at the Brussels Bar; Chema Gil, director of the International Security Observatory and expert on terrorism and international security issues; Maghlaha Dlimi, Director of the Dakhla media library and Mr. Naoufal Bouamri, Lawyer and human rights activist. Source: GNA

Republican Abortion Bans Restrict Women’s Access To Other Essential Medicine – The Guardian https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/republican-abortion-bans-restrict-womens-access-to-other-essential-medicine-the-guardian/ A few weeks after the supreme court’s 24 June decision to overturn the nationwide abortion rights established by Roe v Wade, the pharmacy chain Walgreens sent Annie England Noblin a message, informing her that her monthly prescription of methotrexate was held up. Noblin, a 40-year-old college instructor in rural Missouri, never had trouble getting her monthly prescription of methotrexate for her rheumatoid arthritis. So she went to her local Walgreens to figure out why, standing in line with other customers as she waited for an explanation. When it was finally her turn, a pharmacist informed Noblin – in front of the other customers behind her – that she could not release the medication until she received confirmation from Noblin’s doctor that Noblin would not use it to have an abortion. Since the supreme court’s elimination of federal abortion rights, many states have been enacting laws which highly restrict access to abortion, affecting not only pregnant women but also other patients as well as healthcare providers. As a result, many pharmacies and physicians have been forced to deny and delay patients’ access to essential medications – such as methotrexate – that can be used to help induce an abortion. Noblin is one of the 5 million methotrexate users across the US and one of the country’s many autoimmune patients. Although she was eventually given her prescription, Noblin and other patients are now forced to grapple both with a monthly invasion of privacy at pharmacies that ask them about their reproductive choices as well as the possibility of being wholly denied the medication in the future due to restrictive laws. For 60 years, methotrexate has been considered a cheap, standard treatment for nearly 60% of rheumatoid arthritis patients. It is also widely used to treat other autoimmune diseases, including Crohn’s disease, lupus and psoriasis. And, because it inhibits certain cellular functions, it has been used to treat a variety of cancers including leukemia, breast cancer, lung cancer and lymphoma. But methotrexate also treats ectopic pregnancies, in which a fertilized egg implants outside the uterus. Although rare, with only about 100,000 occurring annually, ectopic pregnancies are fatal for fetuses and can severely jeopardize mothers’ health. Therefore, the only treatment is abortion, and methotrexate commonly is combined with other medicine to perform the procedure. Methotrexate’s versatility prompted the World Health Organization to classify it as an “essential medicine”. Yet Roe v Wade’s reversal has significantly stunted access to the drug – even for patients who are not pregnant and simply require the drug to treat other conditions. Numerous health organizations have confirmed reports of methotrexate being denied to women since the federal abortion rights were eliminated. Calling the drug “an important part” of caring for the illness it is dedicated to fighting, the Lupus Foundation of America said: “We are aware of reports that some people are having difficulty accessing methotrexate in the wake of the supreme court’s ruling [in June].” Similarly, the American College of Rheumatology said that it is aware of the “emerging concerns surrounding access to needed treatments such as #MTX [methotrexate] after the recent decision” from the supreme court in the Dobbs case that led to Roe v Wade’s reversal. In Missouri, abortion is completely banned with limited exceptions for saving the pregnant person’s life or to prevent serious risk to that person’s physical health. As a result, for someone like Noblin, being banned from getting access in Missouri to her monthly doses of methotrexate – even if temporarily – was and is still quite damaging. Methotrexate helps Noblin and others alleviate pain as well as swelling in their hands and shoulder joints that occasionally becomes so excruciating that it hinders their ability to get dressed or drive to work. “If I weren’t taking it,” Noblin told the Guardian, “I don’t know how I would be able to function.” After her pharmacy got confirmation from her doctor that she was not going to be using the drug to induce an abortion, Noblin was finally able to get her prescription for July. In August, Noblin went into the pharmacy again, expecting the process to be smoother this time around. However, to her surprise, she was required to consult with a pharmacist before getting the medication and confirm that she was not pregnant and didn’t intend to become pregnant while taking the medication. Noblin told the pharmacist it was not their business. The pharmacist then told Noblin that she would not be able to get her medication if she did not answer the question. “I’m going to have to answer [that] every single month before they will even consider giving me the medication,” Noblin said. Additionally, another problem that Noblin and many others face is potentially being forced to spend $14,000 a month without insurance for Humira as a brand-name alternative. And they are worried about prosecution by their states. Noblin said she is on birth control but frets to think if she still gets pregnant. In that case she said she would get an abortion in Illinois, which has protected abortion rights. But would she be exposed to prosecution, accused of lying because she would have told a pharmacist she didn’t intend to get pregnant? “It feels like I don’t have any control over my own body,” Noblin said. “My body belongs to Missouri.” Jennifer Crow, a 48-year-old from Tennessee, faced similar issues after the supreme court eliminated federal abortion protections. On 1 July, Crow, who has inflammatory arthritis, received an automated call from her CVS pharmacy, informing her that her refill was declined. The call came in during Friday evening on a holiday weekend. As a result, Crow was left without her weekly dose of methotrexate. Before she started methotrexate, Crow’s joints would become too stiff and sore for her to move without pain in the mornings, limiting her mobility significantly. “Methotrexate gave me back my independence,” she told the Guardian. “I knew without it, I’d be right back to limited mobility and lots of pain.” Four days later, the pain and stiffness started to return. She also began panicking, unsure if she’d ever be able to get her medication because she and her Georgia-based medical providers were both in states that implemented abortion bans after the Dobbs decision. She couldn’t understand why she was in that position, given that she’d had a hysterectomy years earlier. Eventually, Crow found out that CVS refused her refill because the chain had asked pharmacists to decline filling methotrexate prescriptions unless they indicated a diagnosis unrelated to an abortion, a practice Crow finds “invasive and unnecessary”. Crow, like Noblin, eventually got her prescription refilled. But since her treatment’s disruption she’s struggled with increased pain and decreased mobility. “The Dobbs decision has many unintended consequences, and as a middle-aged woman without a uterus, I didn’t think it would affect my care,” she said. Complicating matters: methotrexate is not the only essential medication that many are now struggling to access, despite the US health and human services department’s guidance on laws prohibiting pharmacies from rejecting patients with prescriptions for medications that may end a pregnancy. People on misoprostol – which prevents stomach ulcers for those who take aspirin, ibuprofen or naproxen – are also facing access hurdles because the drug can also be combined with other medication to induce abortion, said the Global Healthy Living Foundation’s chief legal officer, Steven Newmark. Such disruptions not only can lead to “serious health consequences”, but they violate patients’ treatment preferences, Newmark added. Nonetheless, methotrexate vividly illustrates the uncertainty created by Roe’s reversal. Texas lawmakers have made it a felony to dispense methotrexate there to someone who is past seven weeks pregnant and uses the medication to terminate a pregnancy. There have been reports from doctors that some pharmacies are refusing to carry methotrexate and other certain essential medication entirely. And some physicians have refused to prescribe those medications to patients who may become pregnant, citing concerns about prosecution. In a joint statement by multiple pharmacy organizations across the country, pharmacists and healthcare providers expressed concern towards “state laws that limit patients’ access to medically necessary medications and impede physicians and pharmacists from using their professional judgment”. The statement went on to call for clear guidance from state boards of medicine and pharmacy, agencies and other policymakers. To Rachel Rebouché, an expert in reproductive health law and dean of Temple University’s law school, the largest problem is clear. “The biggest issue is the confusion,” Rebouché said.

Bears Sack ISU’s Unbeaten Start | News, Sports, Jobs – Marshalltown Times Republican https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/bears-sack-isus-unbeaten-start-news-sports-jobs-marshalltown-times-republican/ AP PHOTO – Iowa State quarterback Hunter Dekkers (12) is sacked by Baylor linebacker Garmon Randolph during the first half of a Big 12 Conference football game Saturday at Jack Trice Stadium in Ames. Baylor won 31-24. AMES — A tough loss two weeks ago prepared No. 17 Baylor for Saturday’s Big 12 opener at Iowa State. After a double-overtime defeat at BYU, Bears quarterback Blake Shapen was ready for a rowdy Jack Trice Stadium crowd and was the catalyst for a 31-24 victory over the Cyclones. “We struggled a little bit at BYU, with the noise and things like that,” Shapen said after throwing for 238 yards and three touchdowns against Iowa State. “People look at that and don’t give it too much credit at times, but it’s always a big win when you go on the road in conference.” The loss snapped the Iowa State’s 11-game home winning streak against Big 12 rivals. “I know it’s a tough place to play,” Baylor coach Dave Aranda said. “It’s just a difficult place. They never beat themselves. You have to win it.” Shapen completed 19 of his 26 passes, connecting with 11 receivers. Gavin Holmes finished with three catches for 92 yards, including a 38-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter. “We were never able to control the momentum of the football game early on,” Iowa State coach Matt Campbell said. “We needed to be better.” The Bears (3-1) seized control midway through the third quarter, driving 93 yards in 10 plays and taking a 24-14 lead on Richard Reese’s 19-yard touchdown run. Iowa State (3-1) was undone by two interceptions and averaging just 2.4 yards per rush. “Today was a great example of complementary football,” Bears linebacker Bryson Jackson said. The Cyclones scored 10 points in the final 7 1/2 minutes, but their onside kick with 55 seconds remaining was recovered by the Bears. Baylor scored on each of its first three possessions, building a 17-7 lead in the second quarter. “It always felt like we were fighting from behind,” Campbell said. “What I love about (our team) is they kept playing and they kept fighting and they kept competing.” Two of the drives ended with touchdown passes from Shapen. His success came partly from deep throw opportunities that exposed Iowa State’s secondary. “When they’re giving it to us and we’re able to take advantage, it really opens up the offense,” Shapen said. Iowa State cut the margin to 17-14 by halftime when Hunter Dekkers threw a 24-yard scoring toss to Dimitri Stanley. But the Bears held firm, drawing from their experience at BYU. “BYU was definitely a learning lesson,” Baylor linebacker Bryson Jackson said. “It definitely prepared us for today. We didn’t beat ourselves.” The Bears finished with more than a 9-minute edge in time of possession. TAKEAWAY Baylor: The Bears found success against a solid Iowa State defense. The Cyclones topped the Big 12 through three nonconference games by allowing an average of 234.3 yards — including holding their last two opponents under the 300-yard mark. The Bears netted 273 yards through the first three quarters and covered 68 or more yards on four of their first six full possessions. They finished with 361 total yards. Iowa State: Dekkers threw for 284 yards and two touchdowns, but Baylor had him under pressure. He was sacked four times, twice by Jackson. POLL IMPLICATIONS No. 17 Baylor should continue to rebound in the Top 25. The Bears began the season as a top-10 team, but lost at BYU on Sept. 10 in double overtime. UP NEXT Baylor hosts No. 9 Oklahoma State next Saturday. Iowa State travels to unbeaten Kansas. No. 17 Baylor 31, Iowa St. 24 Baylor 7 10 7 7 — 31 Iowa St. 7 7 0 10 — 24 First Quarter BAY–Sims 12 pass from Shapen (Mayers kick), 8:40. ISU–Brock 2 pass from Dekkers (Gilbert kick), 2:55. Second Quarter BAY–FG Mayers 24, 12:27. BAY–Doyle 1 pass from Shapen (Mayers kick), 7:09. ISU–Stanley 24 pass from Dekkers (Gilbert kick), :46. Third Quarter BAY–Reese 19 run (Mayers kick), 6:05. Fourth Quarter BAY–Holmes 38 pass from Shapen (Mayers kick), 9:37. ISU–Brock 37 run (Gilbert kick), 7:16. ISU–FG Gilbert 28, :55. A–58,069. TEAM STATISTICS BAY ISU First downs 23 17 Total Net Yards 361 350 Rushes-yards 42-123 27-66 Passing 238 284 Comp-Att-Int 19-26-0 23-36-2 Sacked-Yards Lost 2-12 4-20 Punts 3-46.3 4-48.3 Fumbles-Lost 0-0 1-0 Penalties-Yards 3-30 8-78 Time of Possession 34:39 25:21 INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS RUSHING–Baylor, Reese 21-78, C.Williams 10-36, Q.Jones 2-10, Shapen 7-3, (Team) 2-(minus 4). Iowa St., Brock 14-73, Silas 1-6, Norton 1-1, Dekkers 11-(minus 14). PASSING–Baylor, Shapen 19-26-0-238. Iowa St., Dekkers 23-36-2-284. RECEIVING–Baylor, Sims 5-39, Holmes 3-92, Presley 2-50, Dabney 2-23, Cameron 1-10, Q.Jones 1-8, Fleeks 1-4, S.Jones 1-4, Reese 1-4, Baldwin 1-3, Doyle 1-1. Iowa St., Hutchinson 8-84, Noel 7-120, Stanley 4-55, Brock 3-17, Dean 1-8. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Dubai Start-Up Bedu Launches First Metaverse To Simulate The UAE’s Planned Mission To Mars – The National https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dubai-start-up-bedu-launches-first-metaverse-to-simulate-the-uaes-planned-mission-to-mars-the-national/ Metaverse Project 2117 aims to become an environment that will host 100 million users in the next 10 years Amin Al Zarouni, CEO of Bedu, at the launch of Project 2117, which will accelerate its journey to 100 million users in the metaverse. Beta V.1.0 – Powered by automated translation Bedu, a Dubai-based metaverse start-up, has unveiled its new virtual world that focuses on the UAE’s aspirations of space exploration, and which is the first to simulate the UAE’s planned mission to Mars. The virtual world, called Metaverse Project 2117, aims to become an environment that will host 100 million users in the next 10 years, leveraging blockchain and decentralised hosting techniques to deliver high-quality aesthetics, Bedu said. It is in line with the UAE’s Mars 2117 project, which aims to establish the first inhabitable human settlement in the Red Planet by 2117. As part of the strategy, the Emirates will build a complex of buildings called Mars Scientific City. The city will comprise laboratories for food, energy and water, agricultural testing and studies about food security in the future. It will also include a laboratory that will stimulate the planet’s terrain and harsh environment through advanced 3D printing technology, and heat and radiation insulation. Earlier this week, Bedu signed a preliminary agreement with the Mohammed bin Rashid Space Centre, in which the latter will be supporting Bedu in the development of this metaverse. Amin Al Zarouni, chief executive of Bedu, said the metaverse — in all fields — will be able to complement the real-life economy, with the proper investments and manpower that will develop the infrastructure and regulatory framework over the coming decades. “Mars is a destination aligned with [the UAE’s] vision and direction. Our focus is purely on creating a world where people can socialise, network and live together without any differentiation between race, culture and religion,” he told The National. “As with any technology, it will impact multiple pillars, and the economic factor is one of the most important pillars.” The metaverse is the emerging space where people, represented by avatars or three-dimensional representations, can interact in virtual worlds. It is part of Web3, the next evolutionary step of the internet, with blockchain, decentralisation, openness and greater user utility among its core components. The UAE has taken a number of major steps to integrate the metaverse and its related technology, including cryptocurrencies, into the economy, government and society. Next week, Dubai will be hosting the Dubai Metaverse Assembly, the first industry event focused on the technology. In July, the government unveiled the Dubai Metaverse Strategy, which aims to create 40,000 jobs and add $4 billion to the emirate’s economy over the next five years. In May, Dubai’s Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (Vara) – which was established under the Dubai Virtual Asset Regulation Law, the first such law in the emirate – said it had established its Metaverse HQ, making it the first regulator to have a presence there. Mr Al Zarouni said the metaverse is still in its early stages – it can be referred to as “betaverse” – and a realistic timeline for it to go mainstream is 5 to 10 years. New jobs for the metaverse are either existing or being created, but roles require extensive knowledge from a combination of already existing technologies, Mr Al Zarouni said. As such, he said metaverse roles can be expected to be among the most well-paid globally. Mr Al Zarouni said that cyber crime in the metaverse can be kept at bay more compared to other present digital spaces as, very much like the concept of blockchain and decentralisation, the policing efforts will come from users themselves. “That’s the whole concept of the creation of a decentralised world. The power is with the content producer, not anymore with the content holder. We believe that the metaverse has to be governed in a decentralized aspect where the policing happens by the community themselves, he said. Bedu is also currently working in an advisory role with private organisations abroad for their energy projects, Mr Al Zarouni added. Updated: September 26, 2022, 5:09 AM

Razer Launches The Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar: Worth It At $100? – Tech Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/razer-launches-the-leviathan-v2-x-pc-soundbar-worth-it-at-100-tech-times/ Urian B., Tech Times 26 September 2022, 12:09 am Razer is no stranger to cool gaming accessories and although it usually launches gaming headsets, it is now selling a soundbar called the Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar. The soundbar carries the signature Razer logo with RGB additions and more. Razer is Selling the Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar According to the story by Bleeding Cool, Razer just recently dropped a new audio device for PC players to use. The device is called the Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar and as its name suggests, the gadget is a soundbar with a focus on providing users a better gaming experience through sound. The particular Leviathan V2 X PC Soundbar was designed to be as compact as possible without having to lack when it comes to audio capabilities. As the images released show, the audio device has been designed to be able to fit under most PC monitors measuring just 400mm. Soundbar is Selling at $100 Through the Company Website and Official Stores In order to power the soundbar, users can use a USB Type C cable although the audio device also comes with lightning. With the help of lightning, users will be able to cue it along with other Razer gear including the Razer Chroma RGB app. The good thing about the soundbar is that it will be priced at just $100 through the company’s website and at Razer stores. The price will also stay the same through authorized retailers of Razer devices. Soundbar was Designed to Give Users a Clutter-Free Desktop The article notes that a compact PC gaming soundbar can be very beneficial for gamers. The Leviathan V2 X reportedly delivers two full-range drivers as well as two passive radiators. The soundbar is reportedly capable of delivering bold clarity and resonating depth in order to cater to all the entertainment needs of different gamers. The soundbar is reportedly just 400mm in length and gives users a clutter-free desktop. Leviathan V2 X is Capable of 90dB Maximum Volume Output The Leviathan V2 X reportedly fits perfectly under a lot of monitors and despite its small size, is still capable of delivering a room-wide soundstage. The article also notes that the USB Type C connection can be used for hassle-free connectivity. The USB Type C is also a more efficient way of powering the soundbar. With the help of the connection, the dynamic audio is capable of handling small parties with a maximum volume output of 90dB. Read Also: AYANEO to Launch GEEK & AYANEO 2 Handheld Gaming Consoles in December: Can It Play Steam Deck Games? Razer Leviathan V2 X Soundbar Comes in Options of USB Type C and Bluetooth 5.0 The soundbar will be powered by the classic Razer Chrome RGB which is known as the world’s largest lighting ecosystem created for gaming devices. The Leviathan V2 X will be packed with 14 lightning zones, dynamic in-game lightning effects, and countless patterns. Aside from the USB Type C, users will be able to use Bluetooth 5.0 for wireless connection between the PC and mobile devices through the Razer Audio App. Related Article: [New Release] Logitech G Pro Direct Drive Racing Wheel: Worth It at $999? This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. ⓒ 2022 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission.

Jihan Wu-Backed Crypto Miner Bitdeer Acquires ‘Singapore’s Fort Knox’ For $28.4 Million – Bitcoin News – Bitcoin News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/jihan-wu-backed-crypto-miner-bitdeer-acquires-singapores-fort-knox-for-28-4-million-bitcoin-news-bitcoin-news/ Sources have disclosed that the digital currency mining operation, Bitdeer Technologies, has purchased a high-security storage and display facility in Singapore called Le Freeport for $28.4 million. Bitdeer’s chairman, Jihan Wu, confirmed the vault acquisition via a text message following the reports that revealed the mining firm purchased Le Freeport. Bitdeer Purchases Maximum Security Vault Le Freeport From Yves Bouvier, DBS After the co-founder of Bitmain Technologies Jihan Wu left the company, he co-founded a firm called Matrixport and he’s also the chairman of Bitdeer Technologies. According to a report published by Bloomberg, that cites sources familiar with the matter, Bitdeer paid S$40 million ($28.4 million) for the maximum security vault known as Le Freeport. The vault was originally constructed to be similar to the high-security storage vaults located in Luxembourg and Geneva. Freeport has also been dubbed “Singapore’s Fort Knox for fine art and collectibles.” Freeport was originally built for S$100 million and the latest acquisition by Bitdeer paid off a significant amount of debt to creditors like DBS and the vaults former owner Yves Bouvier. Le Freeport Singapore interior. Photo courtesy of SGPMX. The vault has been for sale since 2017, and the high-security storage facility has had a large number of well known corporate clients. Before 2018, the luxury auction house Christie’s once rented more than a third of Freeport’s storage space. Deutsche Bank once leveraged Freeport to house more than $8.9 billion in gold bullion. Bloomberg’s Ranjeetha Pakiam, Chanyaporn Chanjaroen, and Zheping Huang detail that Bouvier and Freeport’s other shareholders “received about S$5 million from the sale.” However, the sources do not disclose what Bitdeer aims to do with the facility, but following the initial report, Jihan Wu confirmed the Freeport purchase with the Bloomberg authors via text. During the last year, Bitdeer has been making a number of business moves like investing $25 million into a facility based in Texas in May 2021. Five days later, Bitdeer announced cloud hosting, which allows “retail miners to generate revenue with 1 mining machine.” At the end of June 2021, Bitdeer revealed the company’s Antbox products and last October, the company introduced Filecoin mining services. The sources who disclosed the latest acquisition of Freeport in Singapore, also detailed that Bitdeer is researching going public through a Special Purpose Acquisition Company (SPAC) deal via a blank check company. Bitdeer is not the only crypto firm to purchase a high-security vault or bunker system. Xapo’s bunker in the Swiss mountains is just as extravagant and reportedly millionaires stored their bitcoins there. Last week, reports indicated that the bitcoin mining operation Arsenal Digital Holdings (OTCMKTS: ADHI) acquired an underground data center outside Houston. Some people suspect it’s Westland Oil’s infamous two-story subterranean campus fallout bunker. Tags in this story Arsenal Digital Holdings, Bitcoin mining, BitDeer, Bitdeer Chair, Bitdeer Chairman, Bitdeer Technologies, Bitmain, Bunkers, Christie’s, crypto mining, DBS, Deutsche Bank, Freeport, Jihan Wu, Jihan Wu Bitdeer, Le Freeport, Matrixport, S$40 million, Singapore, SPAC deal, vaults, Wu Jihan, Xapo, Yves Bouvier What do you think about Bitdeer acquiring ‘Singapore’s Fort Knox’ otherwise known as Le Freeport? Let us know what you think about this subject in the comments section below. Jamie Redman Jamie Redman is the News Lead at Bitcoin.com News and a financial tech journalist living in Florida. Redman has been an active member of the cryptocurrency community since 2011. He has a passion for Bitcoin, open-source code, and decentralized applications. Since September 2015, Redman has written more than 6,000 articles for Bitcoin.com News about the disruptive protocols emerging today. Image Credits: Shutterstock, Pixabay, Wiki Commons, Editorial photo credit: SGPMX Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. It is not a direct offer or solicitation of an offer to buy or sell, or a recommendation or endorsement of any products, services, or companies. Bitcoin.com does not provide investment, tax, legal, or accounting advice. Neither the company nor the author is responsible, directly or indirectly, for any damage or loss caused or alleged to be caused by or in connection with the use of or reliance on any content, goods or services mentioned in this article.

U.S. Slips Down Rankings In Food Security Index – Food Safety News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/u-s-slips-down-rankings-in-food-security-index-food-safety-news/ The United States has fallen a few places in the latest rankings of a report that measures food security. The study from Economist Impact put Finland at the top, followed by Ireland, Norway and France. Canada was seventh and the United Kingdom was ninth. The United States dropped to 13th from ninth in the previous edition. The 11th Global Food Security Index (GFSI) covers food affordability, availability, quality and safety, and sustainability and adaptation across 113 countries. Indicators are used to do this and one change to the latest version is considering relevant food safety legislation. Based solely on the quality and safety metric, Canada was first and the United States was third. The UK was 29th. GFSI data for the United States suggests that it needs to improve policy commitments around food security and access by establishing a food security agency and implementing a related strategy. Pratima Singh, principal of policy and insights at Economist Impact, said issues such as the Ukraine conflict and high food prices, are stressing an already fragile food system. “The 2022 Global Food Security Index highlights the crucial impact of structural issues and risks to food security such as volatility in agricultural production, trade and supply-chain disruption, scarcity of natural resources, and increasing economic inequality. Building long-term, systemic resilience should be a priority if the larger trend toward greater food insecurity worldwide is to be reversed.” Climate change impact The least food-secure countries are conflict zones and face severe climate risks. Syria is at the bottom of the list, followed by Haiti and Yemen. A difference between the top performer and the country at the bottom has continued to widen since 2019.  There are big jumps in scores for pest infestation and disease mitigation policies. The index, sponsored by Corteva Agriscience, shows governments are not prepared for the increase in extreme weather like this summer’s heatwaves across Europe and North America and flooding in Pakistan. It found water management techniques and existing irrigation systems that can help manage the effects of climate change are lacking. Increasing food prices, rising global hunger, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine and Russia conflict are also mentioned. There were falls in nutritional standards, such as national nutrition plans and monitoring. About a third of countries have no national nutrition plan or strategy in 2022, nearly double the number that lacked one in 2019. Also, 25 of 113 countries are not regularly monitoring the nutritional status of their population compared with 15 in 2019. Without such work, policymakers cannot identify nutritional deficiencies and deploy resources where needed. (To sign up for a free subscription to Food Safety News, click here.)

UAV Market 2026, Increasing Defense Spending On Unmanned Technologies To Boost Growth – Technavio – PR Newswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/uav-market-2026-increasing-defense-spending-on-unmanned-technologies-to-boost-growth-technavio-pr-newswire/ NEW YORK, Sept. 26, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — The UAV Market size is expected to grow by USD 32.41 billion during 2021-2026, at a CAGR of 18.41% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. The increasing defense spending on unmanned technologies, low-cost alternative to fighter jets, and the emergence of miniaturized EO/IR systems will offer immense growth opportunities. However, SWAP and bandwidth challenges, technological constraints limiting endurance, and non-uniform laws and regulations will challenge the growth of the market participants. Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global UAV Market 2022-2026 To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Request Free Sample Report. UAV Market Segmentation Application  Defense And Homeland Commercial And Civil Geography  North America Europe APAC The Middle East And Africa South America UAV Market Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our UAV report covers the following areas: UAV Market size UAV Market trends UAV Market industry analysis This study identifies the development of alternate propulsion technologies for UAVs as one of the prime reasons driving the UAV market growth during the next few years. North America will account for 45% of the market’s growth throughout the forecast period. In North America, the US is the region with the largest UAV market. The market in this region will expand more slowly than markets in other regions. In order to maintain national security, the US must conduct surveillance activities along its extensive border. The US border patrol forces’ operational capabilities have increased the demand for long-endurance UAVs, which will support the expansion of the UAV market in North America throughout the forecast period. Buy Sample Report. UAV Market Vendor Analysis We provide a detailed analysis of around 25 vendors operating in the UAV Market, including some of the vendors as vendors Backed with competitive intelligence and benchmarking, our research reports on the UAV Market are designed to provide entry support, customer profile and M&As as well as go-to-market strategy support. AeroVironment Inc. BAE Systems Plc Draganfly Inc Dynamatic Technologies Ltd Elbit Systems Ltd. ELcomponics Sales Pvt. Ltd. General Atomics Intel Corp. Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd Lockheed Martin Corp. Northrop Grumman Corp. Parrot Drones SAS Find additional highlights on the growth strategies adopted by vendors and their product offerings, Download Free Sample Report. UAV Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist UAV market growth during the next five years Estimation of the UAV market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the UAV market Analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of UAV market vendors Related Reports: Aviation Market in the Middle East by Type and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The aviation market in the Middle East is projected to grow by USD 6.17 billion with a CAGR of 7.6%, during the forecast period 2021 to 2026. Aircraft Evacuation Systems Market by Product Type and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026: The aircraft evacuation systems market share is expected to increase by USD 821.11 million from 2021 to 2026, and the market’s growth momentum will accelerate at a CAGR of 5.36%. UAV Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 18.41% Market growth 2022-2026 $32.41 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 17.29 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, Middle East and Africa, and South America Performing market contribution North America at 45% Key consumer countries US, Israel, China, Russia, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled AeroVironment Inc., BAE Systems Plc, Draganfly Inc, Dynamatic Technologies Ltd, Elbit Systems Ltd., ELcomponics Sales Pvt. Ltd., General Atomics, Intel Corp., Israel Aerospace Industries Ltd, Lockheed Martin Corp., Northrop Grumman Corp., Parrot Drones SAS, PrecisionHawk Inc, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems Ltd, Raytheon Technologies Corp., SZ DJI Technology Co. Ltd., Textron Inc., Thales Group, The Boeing Co., and Turkish Aerospace Industries Inc. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio “Industrials” Research Reports Table Of Contents : 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary – Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary – Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary – Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Segmentation by Application Exhibit 06: Executive Summary – Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary – Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary – Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis – Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers – Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition – Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Application 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Application – Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Application – Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Application Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Application Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Application 5.3 Defense and homeland security – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Defense and homeland security – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Defense and homeland security – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 30: Chart on Defense and homeland security – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Defense and homeland security – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 Commercial and civil – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on Commercial and civil – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 33: Data Table on Commercial and civil – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 34: Chart on Commercial and civil – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on Commercial and civil – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Application Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Application ($ billion) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 44: Chart on North America – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 45: Data Table on North America – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 7.4 Europe – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 46: Chart on Europe – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 47: Data Table on Europe – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 48: Chart on Europe – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 49: Data Table on Europ...

‘Sextortion’ Crimes Involving Boys On The Rise, FBI Reports – Arkansas Online https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/sextortion-crimes-involving-boys-on-the-rise-fbi-reports-arkansas-online/ FAYETTEVILLE — The FBI and local police are reporting an increase in “sextortion” crimes in Northwest Arkansas, with young boys increasingly being targeted. Mark Grimm, special supervisory agent for the FBI office in Fayetteville, said the increase in schemes targeting young males reflects a national trend. He said the predators persuade victims to provide sexual videos or photos and then rely on threats and embarrassment to coerce their victims into providing money. “It’s not just in Arkansas, it’s national,” Grimm said. “Particularly with young men, the fraud really succeeds if the subject is embarrassed.” Grimm said a typical scheme begins with the predator posing as a young girl and trying to establish a relationship with the victim online or on social media. If they can persuade the target to provide a sexual image then the extortion begins. “They turn around and use that image or video and the threat that they’ll make it public,” Grimm said. “They demand the target provide them with gift cards or information for bank accounts they have access to.” Grimm said he couldn’t discuss specific cases but said the FBI and local police in Northwest Arkansas are seeing more and more reports of the crime. Recent arrests in Benton and Washington counties show some of the earmarks of this type of crime. In Benton County, Matthew Nance is currently being held in the Benton County Jail in connection with rape and sexual extortion. Court records indicate the victims in those crimes were young girls. Other court records show search warrants for social media accounts used by Nance found IP addresses with locations in Africa. Grimm said “a lot” of the sextortion crimes reported show links to African criminal enterprises also active in cyber fraud, banking fraud and other internet crimes. In Washington County, Coleton Russell of Vian, Okla., was arrested Aug. 31 in connection with sexual extortion. Sexual extortion under Arkansas law is a Class B felony with penalties of five to 20 years in prison and a fine of up to $15,000. Prosecuting Attorney Matt Durrett said Russell’s case showed similarities to the types of cases the FBI is reporting. According to the criminal information filed in Russell’s case during November and December 2021 that he “with the purpose to coerce the victim to engage in sexual conduct or sexually explicit conduct … communicated a threat to harm the reputation of the other person, or produce or distribute a recording of the other person engaged in sexually explicit conduct or depicted in a state of nudity.” Court records show the victim in the case is a juvenile. Russell was released from the Washington County Detention Center Sept. 1 on $15,000 bond. Durrett said some cases may be handled in state courts but others are taken up by federal courts. Connor Hagan, public affairs officer for the FBI office in Little Rock, said federal law states any person who forces or persuades a minor to engage in sexually explicit conduct can face up to 30 years in prison. Additionally, Hagan said, most sextortion crimes also involve the use of a computer, which is an additional offense that can be punished by up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to $250,000. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, the reports the organization receives show how sextortion is changing. Since 2016, according to information on the center’s website, the CyberTipline has received 262,573 reports of online enticement, the category that included sextortion. Between 2019 and 2021, the number of of reports involving sextortion more than doubled. The center also reports in the past the dominant motive of offenders was to get more explicit images of a child but in reports from early 2022, 79% of the offenders were seeking money. Grimm said the use of social media platforms by the predators in these cases make it essential that parents, guardians and other adults are available to the victims and open to communication. Victim services providers agreed communication is the key to preventing or minimizing these crimes. Casey Atwood, program director at the Children’s Safety Center of Washington County, said she’s aware of the recent increase in sextortion cases targeting young boys. “I know that it is happening,” Atwood said. “It’s a growing trend. Technology is ever-evolving and kids are getting access at younger and younger ages.” Atwood said that parents need to replace or modernize the antiquated “birds and the bees” conversation about sex and discuss the risks kids are facing today. “Parents and guardians need to get out of the window of having a once-in-a-lifetime talk about the birds and the bees and have conversations about things they’ve seen or heard about in today’s world. Some people may be afraid that they’re putting ideas in kids’ heads. Don’t worry, they’re already being exposed to all those things.” Atwood said the center website has a list of crisis hotlines and community resources. Gretchen Smeltzer is executive director of Into the Light, a nonprofit organization providing services to victims of child sex trafficking. Smeltzer said she has also seen reports of the trend of young boys being targeted in sextortion crimes. She also said communication is vital. “We would encourage parents to have a ‘preemptive’ talk with their boys about it,” Smeltzer said. “That this is an issue that is going on and to let them know that they’re not going to be in trouble if they tell you about it. Taking away that barrier of embarrassment and fear. Being non-judgemental is going to help open the doorway for a child to feel safe and to share what has happened to them.” Smeltzer said Into the Light has resources available online and through a hotline. She said the group makes informational presentations to individuals and to groups.

Mosquitoes And Mild Waterborne Illness (PNT Pt. 13) – The Trek https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/mosquitoes-and-mild-waterborne-illness-pnt-pt-13-the-trek/ Trail map at country highway intersection. To Oroville Back on trail, I wound my way up a climb along a barbed wire fence. The trail led me back through the woods a way before I came out onto paved road and then back onto a series of gravel roads through pastoral land. Plots of wood that still existed in the area had all been scorched fairly recently, a sign at the end of someone’s driveway issuing thanks to the local fire teams for saving the owner’s property. My audiobook came to an end at this point, and I went back to my sporadic listening of Lord of the Rings, at this point on Return of the King. Roadwalk after Highway 20 West. Trespassing is Bad The gravel roads lent to fairly easy travel and a good consistent walking speed. I cut down the slope along a road that seemed to connect the route down an extremely long switchback. The road I took ended up dumping me at the cattle gate at the back of some random persons property, which is always a suspicious position to be in; too many “shoot first, ask questions later,” in Backwoods Everywhere America. I took to shwhacking through the woods around the persons property and army crawling under their barbwire fence along the road. A brief reconnaissance showed a stellar, off-grid set up for a small modernly stylized log cabin, and no car in the drive. There is a vagrant part of me that notes every time I come across an empty house. Big, empty, vacation houses are extremely common in all the areas I travel too, and to me, that is a disgusting and dramatically underexploited resource. Not saying that these homes should be broken into, and beds slept in, no, I have no grit for that level of anarchy, nor do I condone it. However, who is going to be harmed if I sleep under the occasional porch? The Alternate The road out in front of this property turned to pavement, putting me on an alternate route to avoid a devastated burn area that was reportedly difficult to traverse due to deadfall. The slight shortcut down the slope left me several tenths of a mile up the way from a potentially more direct logging road, but I chose not to turn around. Stupidly, I was carrying only about two liters of water and was walking into what was unknowingly about a ten-mile dry stretch. That would not have been a huge deal if it had not been near the end of the day and I was scoping out a campsite out of view of the road. It drove me to push another nine miles, to still dry camp, for much of the road dropped steeply off into a ravine to my right. Uh, Hey Kids The next morning, I came across a decently flowing stream in the gully next to the road. Around the same time, a local middle school cross country team began depositing kids all along the road. They had separated into small groups to practice what might have been a sort of cross-country baton pass. After all the kids left me in the dust, I slid down the slope at the edge of the road to fill up on water. Not the clearest water I remember, but it did the job. Mosquitoes devoured me in the closed off shelter of the trees. The Church Rural Backroad leading out of the alternate. Later on that morning, I came out into actual farmed land, parceled out into colorful plots within the valley. As I came back out onto pavement from between the neat rows of trees lining the path, some of the houses above me were of a rustic Victorian style in nature, vines growing luxuriously up their sides and satellite dishes rusting haphazardly on rooftops. The short neighborhood road leading back into farmsteads, deposited me out onto a country highway. A sign at the intersection and a waypoint on Farout directed me a hundred yards up the road to the local church. At the church bulletin board, I found notes from my friends Renee and Tim who are currently working on the paddle portion of their Pacific Northwest Circuit route. We had been so excited to pass each other, and I missed them by an hour. Inside, the church had microwaveable pizzas and cookies for the hikers, and I charged my phone and messaged Renee and Tim while I waited for my pizza to heat up. It turns out that they took the main route into the burn area instead of the alternate when leaving the church, and very quickly found themselves bushwhacking to the alternate. The margin was just enough for us to miss each other. They left some notes for me later on that I was bummed to miss, but other people told me about. The Rolling Hills and Road Walks There was a decent resupply of some weird, sweet, almond Nature Valley bar in the hiker box, and I stocked up before continuing on. A good portion of the midday stretch was exposed road walking, and despite the heat, the area was beautiful. The yellow grasses of the rolling hillsides were thick with wildflowers, and I admired the shift in terrain. A woman in a USPS Jeep stopped me along the way and asked if I wanted a ride to the other side of the road walk. She told me she had given a girl a ride the year before. I turned her down, of course. By this point I was getting annoyed at hearing about how so many people skip the road walking of the PNT. To each their own, but the church had a little fact sheet posted at the intersection that said four-hundred-thirty-eight miles of the PNT is road walking. A third of the trail is a significant portion to skip. Of course, not everyone obsessive compulsively thruhikes. Bad, Bad, Bad Water Sources The road eventually transitioned back to gravel, delving into a sparse dry wood. Cattle blocked my path and were very upset by my presence. I sat at the turn off back onto trail for a while and watched Tik Toks while I waited for the cows to move. They were freaked out because I had walked into the middle of the herd and once they skirted around past me, they bolted down the trail. Part of my break was to contemplate when to grab water, and I stupidly waited to get on trail water instead of walking a fifth of a mile off trail to a potentially clear source. Someone from a few days before, had left a comment on a waypoint that the water on trail was good. Water comments had been pretty reliable for me so far, especially because it was early in the season and water sources were better than normal. However, on this particular occasion, I got shafted. Not only was the water barely flowing, but it had also been trampled to muck by cows, giving it a stagnant, and delectably yellow tannin tinge. Tasted like shit. Swarmed My meanderings along the trail past that point saw very little elevation change. I was high up already, though the surrounding land was relatively flat around me. Several times the trail dipped into shallow depressions filled with foul, stagnant pools of water, black from tannins. The mosquitoes grew thick, and as tree cover reemerged, the tiny blood suckers became a burden on my sanity. Rarely, do I feel the need to bring out my mosquito head net. I keep it for emergencies, because there is nothing that will ruin your day like swallowing mosquitoes every few minutes from the cloud attacking your head. In fact, it may have become a mild phobia of mine after several truly awful experiences where I was not so well prepared. Even with the head net, the fuckers were tenacious. To keep them at bay I maintained a quick jog for the next three miles. The trail was flat and wide, with little more impediment than the occasional low branch or downed sapling. I kept up the jog until, after descending for a while, a slight pain in the mid-shin of my left leg caused me to slow. It felt like a tendon had swollen across it and a more casual stride seemed a safer approach. The mosquitoes, though still present, had decreased to a more manageable intensity, and having recovered from a pretty intense shin splint in that leg earlier in the year, I felt that I should not tempt fate. The High Desert of Northeast Washington As I continued to descend, I emerged from tree line to find myself in a high desert biome. It reminded me of New Mexico on the CDT, the overabundance of sagebrush making itself known by its unique scent and taste on the air. I can never decide if I like the smell. Though fresh and herbaceous, the scent can be a bit overpowering at times. Overlook view of the Okanogan Valley. At some point I came to an overlook with a breathtaking view of the valley. The river flowing through the high desert left a wake of lush farmland along its banks. Bare mountains framed the bucolic scene, leaving an impression on me, of paintings of vineyards on terraced hills along the Mediterranean. Scenes I have not yet scene in real life. I thought of camping there, though it seemed less than ideal. I had phone service, and yet, I had way too much day light left to stop. Little did I know that there were two hikers I would meet the next day camped down the hill from where I stood. A month traveling alone, and I almost missed them by a hair. To the Highway Out of tree line, getting near Highway 97. The trail eventually turned down a canyon leading into the valley. A stream sped along the flank of the trail, providing water, but renewing and exacerbating the scourge of mosquitoes. The tree line eventually broke, and I came out onto an open grassy hill, the trail, lined with tamarisk, switch-backing down to the edge of a young apple orchard far below. I had put off camping for too long, and now I would have to wander into town and hope for the best. A gravel lot led out to Highway Ninety-Seven. Even in the open air of the road, the mosquitoes swarmed me, and I had to keep my head net on. I got long, mystified stares from people passing by in their cars. Me, being all smug because I’m protected from pesky mosquitoes. No Hope for the Hopeless The sun had set, and I wanted to be in town and in camp as soon as possible. I dreamt about dinner and a cold bev...

Pound Slumps To All-Time Low Against Dollar – BBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/pound-slumps-to-all-time-low-against-dollar-bbc/ By Monica Miller & Peter Hoskins Business reporters Image source, Getty Images The pound has fallen to its lowest level against the US dollar since decimalisation in 1971. In early Asia trade, sterling fell by more than 4% to $1.0327 before regaining some ground to around $1.05. That came after UK Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng unveiled historic tax cuts funded by huge increases in borrowing. The pound has also been under pressure as the dollar has been boosted by the US central bank continuing to raise interest rates. The euro also touched a fresh 20-year-low against the dollar in morning Asia trade amid investor concerns about the risk of recession as winter approaches with no sign of an end to the energy crisis or the war in Ukraine. Peter Escho, the co-founder of investment firm Wealthi, said: “All currencies are getting sold off against the US dollar, so there is a large element of US dollar strength. But with the pound, it has really been exacerbated by news that the new government will be cutting taxes, which is inflationary. “Add to that recent energy subsidies and news that the Bank of England might need to have an emergency rate-hike meeting, this all results in a sense of panic,” he added. Last week, global markets tumbled after the US Federal Reserve and several other major central banks, including the Bank of England, raised interest rates as they try to control rising prices. If the pound stays at this low level against the dollar, imports of commodities priced in dollars, including oil and gas, will be more costly. Other goods from the US could also be considerably more expensive and British tourists visiting America will find that their holiday money does not go as far as before sterling’s slide. Investors will be watching the pound’s movements closely as financial markets open in the UK, Europe – and later on Monday – the US. You may also be interested in: Media caption, Chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng: “What I’m focused on, is tax cuts across the board”

Diabetes Diet: The Myths, The Truths, And The Possibilities – CodeBlue https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/diabetes-diet-the-myths-the-truths-and-the-possibilities-codeblue/ KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 26 – Understanding the frustrations that diabetes patients as well as caregivers go through in preparing suitable daily meals, the “For Your Sweetheart” campaign has commissioned Nik Michael Imran of 2011 Masterchef Malaysia fame to create a series of recipes, ranging from fusion to local cuisines that can be prepared in less than 20 minutes. The recipes were developed in consultation with Poh Kai Ling in her capacity as a council member of Diabetes Malaysia (DM), as well as a former committee member of the Malaysian Diabetes Educators Society (MDES). Debunking The Diabetes Diet Myths  It is important to understand the facts about diabetes, so that both patients and caregivers can make informed decisions about dietary requirements. Some popular myths, especially for newly diagnosed patients and caregivers, include skipping meals to manage fluctuating blood sugar levels, consuming ‘sugar free’ or sugar-substituted products freely, and avoiding eating potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and corn. “Skipping meals or eating less does not help to reduce sugar intake. It is advisable to follow the hunger cues, eat when the body needs. Ignoring hunger cues tend to create craving issues, making it hard for the person to control food intake in the subsequent meals. It is also important to read food labels to understand nutrition contents better, as not all sugar-free products are carbohydrate-free,” Poh said. Potatoes, sweet potatoes, pumpkins, and corn are all part of the carbohydrate food group. It is true that carbohydrate intake will increase blood sugar levels. However, these starchy vegetables are highly nutritious, and contain various vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and fibre, which are essential to our bodies. One should never avoid these foods. The key is to control the portion sizes. So What Can Diabetes Patients Eat?  According to Poh, a diabetes-friendly diet does not need to be restrictive, boring, and hard to swallow. Having diabetes does not have to limit a person’s meal choices. Healthy eating for people with diabetes is no different than for everyone else. “What is important is to eat a controlled amount and serve a portion of carbohydrate rich food. One of the ways is to take note of the Glycemic Index (GI) of the foods. GI is a value to measure the rate of how quickly carbohydrate in food raises the blood glucose. To put it simply, foods that are low GI (between 0-55) are considered good carbs and high GI (70-100) foods are considered bad carbs. The higher the GI value, the greater the effect on blood sugar levels. Understanding the GI of foods can help us in controlling diabetes along with carbohydrate counting,” she said.  The collaboration between Nik Michael and Poh in developing the recipes in the Simple Healthy Cooking e-book ensured that the meals are not only enjoyable with a wide variety for different tastes, but also simple, easy to prepare, and appropriate for people with diabetes. The result is a variety of win-win recipes — delicious restaurant-style meals that are also healthy and GI-appropriate. “I’ve tried all 10 recipes and I must say they are really delicious. Kudos to Chef Nik! My personal favourites are Brown Pasta Alla Puttanesca, Coconut Crepes and Tenzaru Soba,” said Poh. Sharing his experience in developing the recipes for this campaign, Nik Michael said: “It has been a meaningful journey for me personally. My dad, who was a chef and loves good food too, was recently diagnosed with diabetes. I understand the heart of caregivers in wanting to give the best to their loved ones who are living with diabetes. “That was what drove my inspiration in developing these ten recipes. I aim to retain amazing flavour while modifying their nutrient intake without making patients feel like they don’t have a choice regarding their diet. I hope many people will give these recipes a try and enjoy some special moments with their loved ones while doing it,” he added.  Research shows that one in five adults in the country is living with diabetes, a long-term chronic illness which requires prolonged caregiving and long-term management. Unhealthy levels of glucose in the blood can lead to long and short-term health complications, particularly affecting the heart and kidney. This is why Poh is on a quest to educate and debunk the myths, because eating right can help in reducing the risk of diabetes-related complications such as heart and kidney diseases.   The Possibilities: A Diabetes-Free Malaysia?  Malaysia currently has the highest rate of diabetes in Asia at 17.5 per cent, with over 3.5 million Malaysians living with the condition. The Diabetes Education Manual 2020 published by MDES reported that based on current trends, an estimated seven million Malaysian adults are likely to develop diabetes by 2025.  Looking at the statistics, the dream of a diabetes-free Malaysia seems far-fetched. But, it is this very trend that spurs the For Your Sweetheart campaign to keep doing what it has been doing for the past three years. Any effort to slow down the trend is better than none. The campaign encourages all Malaysians to “Think Diabetes, Think Heart”, and one of the initiatives is through early detection.  In encouraging Malaysians who may be at risk of developing diabetes or have a family history of diabetes to take tests for early detection, the For Your Sweetheart campaign will be having free diabetes HbA1c screenings at participating clinics nationwide. The free diabetes screening effort is supported by Boehringer Ingelheim, in partnership with MDES, Malaysian Endocrine and Metabolic Society (MEMS), and Persatuan Diabetes Malaysia (PDM). Click here to register for your free screening today. the For Your Sweetheart screening campaign is ongoing until December 31, 2022. Nik Michael’s recipes for the For Your Sweetheart campaign can be downloaded here.

Saints’ Michael Thomas: To Be Evaluated In Practice – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/saints-michael-thomas-to-be-evaluated-in-practice-cbs-sports/ By RotoWire Staff Sep 25, 2022 at 10:22 pm ET • 1 min read Coach Dennis Allen said that Thomas (foot) will be evaluated throughout the week as the Saints prepare for their Week 4 game against the Vikings in London, John SIgler of USA Today Saints Wire reports. Thomas was one of three Saints wide receivers to exit early against the Panthers, as Jarvis Landry hurt his ankle and Tre’Quan Smith was concussed. Fantasy managers who roster Thomas should pay careful attention to his practice participation level during the week. More News Saints’ Michael Thomas: Injures foot Sunday 8H ago • by RotoWire Staff Saints’ Michael Thomas: Finds end zone late in loss 7D ago • by RotoWire Staff Saints’ Michael Thomas: Two touchdowns in Week 1 win 14D ago • by RotoWire Staff Saints’ Michael Thomas: Suiting up Week 1 15D ago • by RotoWire Staff Saints’ Michael Thomas: On track to play Sunday 15D ago • by RotoWire Staff Saints’ Michael Thomas: Questionable for Week 1 16D ago • by RotoWire Staff Fantasy Football Today Newsletter Get tips, advice and news to win your league – all from the FFT podcast team. By submitting my email I agree to receive the “Fantasy Football Today Newsletter” and other marketing and promotional emails from CBS Sports, which may include information from our affiliates and/or partners’ offers, products and services. For more information about our data practices consult our Privacy Policy Please check the opt-in box to acknowledge that you would like to subscribe. Thanks for signing up! Keep an eye on your inbox. Sorry! There was an error processing your subscription.

Calls Grow For Legal Measures To Protect Minors From Metaverse Sex Crimes – Asianews.network https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/calls-grow-for-legal-measures-to-protect-minors-from-metaverse-sex-crimes-asianews-network/ September 26, 2022 SEOUL – Calls for measures to counter sex crimes in the metaverse are rising with an increasing number of predators targeting teenagers. Huh Kyung-mi, a professor of police administration at Keimyung University, said that legal measures are essential to respond to sexual exploitation in the metaverse in a paper published on Sunday. According to Huh, 70 percent of metaverse service users are teenagers, and criminal attempts on the metaverse platform, especially those that target youthful avatars, has been increasing. Perpetrators lure minors with virtual items and gradually lead the minors into having inappropriate conversations or filming and sending sexual content. Some cases are not even considered illegal under the current law, such as sexual harassment against virtual avatars. In some cases, crimes within the metaverse evolve into crimes in the real world. A man in his 30s who forced 11 minors he met through Zepeto – Asia’s largest metaverse platform operated by Naver Z – to film and send sexually explicit content of themselves for about a year since April 2021 was sentenced to four years in prison on Sept. 11. Amid continuing challenges, both the industry and the government are having difficulties in getting a detailed picture of the situation, as there is no efficient system for receiving reports about such crimes. The Korea Communications Commission and the Ministry of Justice have been trying to analyze metaverse crime issues since early this year. The KCC is conducting a survey to specify the scope of actions that can be interpreted as a crime. The digital sex crime committee under the Justice Ministry commented on the limit of the current law in January, recommending that criminal acts against virtual avatars and personal accounts should be considered no less than criminal acts against real human users. Professor Huh pointed out that the core of the controversy comes from the unfamiliar concept of the metaverse. “In order to curb sex crimes in the metaverse, social consensus on the nature of the metaverse should be made first — whether it is an extension of the real world or not. Discussion on a new legal structure to restrain the metaverse should follow,” said Huh said.

This 3-In-1 Dyson Pure Cool Is $200 Off Right Now – Gizmodo Australia https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/this-3-in-1-dyson-pure-cool-is-200-off-right-now-gizmodo-australia/ At Gizmodo, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you’ll like too. We have affiliate and advertising partnerships, which means we may collect a share of sales or other compensation from the links on this page. BTW – prices are accurate and items in stock at the time of posting. For some, spring is signalled by an abundance of flowers and sunlight. For others, it’s marked by itchy noses and watery eyes. But what if we told you there was a Dyson device that could reduce your allergies, keep you cool in summer and warm your room once winter returns? Say hello to the Dyson HP03 Pure Hot and Cool Link Air Purifier Heater, which is currently on sale at  eBay for $599 (down from $799). If you want to learn more about what this Dyson Pure Hot + Cool Link Purifier Heater can do, read on. This article has been updated since its first publication. What can the Dyson Pure Hot and Cool Link do? Image: Dyson This three-in-one Dyson heater, fan and air purifier is a versatile home gadget that will keep you in full comfort all year. Those with allergies will benefit from its highly-efficient, 360-degree glass HEPA filter that can capture everything that makes your eyes water and your nose itchy as hell. You can also set it to Auto Mode, which will allow the machine to monitor your room’s air quality and turn itself on automatically if it detects any nasties such as dust, mould, pollen or bacteria. You can even inspect its air purification levels by checking the Dyson Link companion app. When the weather gets a bit colder, you’ll probably more interested in finding out how exactly this hollow Dyson heater can keep your room warm. Thanks to its jet focus control, it can easily warm an entire room – despite its small stature. It can even sense once your room has reached optimal warm temperatures and switch itself off to conserve power. The great thing is that once summer rolls around in a few months, you won’t have to pack away the Dyson Hot and Cool. Instead, you can bask in a powerful stream of purified air to cool you down. As a nice bonus, this Dyson heater-cooler is safe to leave on around young children and pets thanks to its bladeless design. It’s also quite short, so it can fit easily on your bedside table or TV cabinet. Plus, if you’re used to seeing dust accumulate on the blades or guard of your usual pedestal fan, you probably know what a pain it can be to clean. Thanks to its ring-like frame, this Dyson Pure Cool fan is easy to clean. This offer is available for both the White/Nickel and Black/Nickel colours.

1M Aussies Will Enter Crypto Over The Next 12 Months — Swyftx Survey – Cointelegraph https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/1m-aussies-will-enter-crypto-over-the-next-12-months-swyftx-survey-cointelegraph/ Approximately one million Australians will purchase cryptocurrency for the first time over the next 12 months — bringing total crypto ownership in the country to over five million — according to a newly released survey. The findings came from the second Annual Australian Crypto Survey by Australian crypto exchange Swyftx, which was conducted by research firm YouGov. The survey questioned 2,609 Australians over 18 years of age in early July, with 548 of the survey sample identified as current holders of cryptocurrency. The report stated that despite the current “Crypto Winter” which has seen approximately $2 trillion in assets wiped from the digital assets market over the course of the last year, Australian crypto ownership has grown 4% year-on-year, reaching 21% in 2022. According to the report, this figure is set to increase by another one million new crypto owners in 2023, while at least one-quarter of Australians are planning to buy crypto over the next 12 months, with Millenials, Gen Zers, Aussie parents, and those in full-time work most likely to buy.  Source: Annual Australian Crypto Survey, Swyftx This finding is broadly in line with recent data from a bitcoin processor suggesting the crypto winter isn’t holding back widespread adoption and comments from crypto exchange CoinJar’s head of content Luke Ryan claiming that sports sponsorship is helping legitimize crypto in Australia. Commenting on the bullish figures for crypto adoption and ownership, Swyftx’s Head of Strategic Partnerships, Tommy Honan told Cointelegraph:  “On the basis of current growth trajectories in the use of digital assets, we expect half of the adults under 50 in Australia to own or have owned crypto within the next one to two years.” However, Honan said there were also a lot of variables that make forecasting adoption “fiendishly difficult,” adding:  “The expectation is that we’ll see crypto move into the regulated space next year and, all other things being equal, you’d expect that to trigger growth in adoption, but it isn’t a given.” Honan said the rate of adoption may slow over the next 12 months before recovering again as market conditions improve. “The bear market has knocked confidence […] Confidence can take the stairs up and the lifts down, so we are going to have to wait and see how quickly the market takes to stabilize,” he noted.  According to the survey, lack of sound regulation was revealed as the biggest deterrent to investing in crypto for those who have not yet done so, along with a lack of knowledge about how crypto works, and overall market volatility. Related: Institutional investors headed for a tipping point on crypto — Apollo Capital This finding is reinforced by recent comments from the former head of risk at Credit Suisse CK Zheng, who believes the next crypto bull run will be a result of “regulatory clarity” in the United States. In a comment to Cointelegraph Swyftx co-CEO Ryan Parsons said the report shows there’s clear demand among Australians to purchase and use crypto, but that a “material factor” for crypto hesitancy remains regulation.  “The drumbeat for defined rules is growing and it will continue to grow if adoption of digital assets increases at its current rate. As this report shows, there’s clear demand among Australians to purchase and use crypto. It is imperative we meet this demand responsibly.”

US Carrier, S. Korea Ships Launch Drills Amid North’s Threat – The Associated Press https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/us-carrier-s-korea-ships-launch-drills-amid-norths-threat-the-associated-press/ SEOUL, South Korea (AP) — A U.S. aircraft carrier and its battle group launched drills with South Korean warships off the Korean Peninsula’s east coast on Monday in their first such training in five years, a day after North Korea test-fired a short-range ballistic missile in a possible response to the exercise. North Korea could conduct more tests in coming days as it views U.S.-South Korean military exercises as practice for an invasion and often reacts with displays of weapons designed to attack its rivals. The four days of drills are aimed at demonstrating the allies’ “powerful resolve to respond to North Korean provocations” and improving their ability to perform joint naval operations, the South Korean navy said in a statement. More than 20 U.S. and South Korean navy ships, including the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier USS Ronald Reagan, a U.S. cruiser and South Korean and U.S. destroyers, were mobilized for the drills, according to the navy statement. It said U.S. and South Korean fighter jets and helicopters will also take part in the training. It would be the first such joint drills involving a U.S. aircraft carrier near the peninsula since 2017, when the U.S. sent three aircraft carriers including the Reagan for naval drills with South Korea in response to North Korean nuclear and missile tests. The allies had since cancelled or downsized some of their regular drills to support now-dormant talks on North Korea’s nuclear program or guard against COVID-19. The North Korean missile fired on Sunday flew about 600 kilometers (370 miles) at the maximum altitude of 60 kilometers (37 miles) before falling into the waters off the North’s east coast, according to South Korean estimates. Some experts say North Korea might have launched a nuclear-capable, highly maneuverable ballistic missile and that its 600 kilometer-flight had enough range to strike a southeastern South Korean port where the Reagan was previously docked. North Korea has performed a record number of missile tests this year as it steadfastly rebuffs U.S. and South Korean calls to resume the nuclear diplomacy. North Korea has said it won’t return to talks unless the United States drops its hostile policies in an apparent reference to U.S.-South Korean military drills and U.S.-led economic sanctions on it. Earlier this month, North Korea adopted a new law that authorized the preemptive use of nuclear weapons in some situations, a development that showed its increasingly aggressive nuclear doctrine. Some analysts say North Korea would eventually aim for arms control negotiations with the United States to get sanctions relief and other concessions in return for a partial surrender of its nuclear capability.

Telecom Operations Management Market 2026, Rapid Advances In Technologies Driving Demand For Scalable Telecom Management Solutions To Boost Growth – Technavio – PR Newswire https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/telecom-operations-management-market-2026-rapid-advances-in-technologies-driving-demand-for-scalable-telecom-management-solutions-to-boost-growth-technavio-pr-newswire/ , /PRNewswire/ — The telecom operations management market size is expected to grow by USD 24 billion during 2021-2026, at a CAGR of 6.73% during the forecast period, according to Technavio. Although challenges like rising data security concerns could restrain market expansion, the demand for scalable telecom management solutions is significantly driving the telecom operations management industry’s growth. Parent Market Analysis Technavio has announced its latest market research report titled Global Telecom Operations Management Market 2022-2026 Technavio categorizes the global telecom operations management market as a part of the global application software market within the global Information Technology market. External factors influencing the parent market’s growth potential in the coming years have been thoroughly investigated in our research analysis, to know more about the levels of growth of the Telecom Operations Management Market throughout the forecast period, Download a free sample. Telecom Operations Management Market  Value Chain Analysis The end-to-end understanding of the value chain is essential in profit margin optimization and evaluation of business strategies. The data available in our value chain analysis segment can help vendors drive costs and enhance customer services during the forecast period. The value chain of the telecom operations management market includes the following core components: Inputs Inbound logistics Operations Service Support activities Innovation To unlock information about vendor drive costs and customer service, Buy Sample Report. The market is fragmented, and the degree of fragmentation will accelerate during the forecast period. Accenture Plc, ALE International, Amdocs Ltd., Beta Systems Software AG, Cisco Systems Inc., Comarch SA, Enhanced Telecommunications, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., Nokia Corp., SAP SE, ServiceNow Inc., Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, and ZTE Corp are some of the major market participants. The rapid advances in technologies driving demand for scalable telecom management solutions, high internet penetration with increasing online content, and growing demand for telecom operations from SMEs will offer immense growth opportunities. However, increasing data security issues, lack of interoperability and the increasing tendency of switching vendors will challenge the growth of the market participants. To make the most of the opportunities, market vendors should focus more on the growth prospects in the fast-growing segments, while maintaining their positions in the slow-growing segments. Request Free Sample Report. Telecom Operations Management Market Segmentation Deployment  Cloud-based On-premises Geography  North America Europe APAC South America Middle East And Africa Telecom Operations Management Market Scope Technavio presents a detailed picture of the market by the way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. Our telecom operations management market report covers the following areas: Telecom Operations Management Market size Telecom Operations Management Market trends Telecom Operations Management Market industry analysis This study identifies the increasing use of enterprise mobile applications as one of the prime reasons driving the telecom operations management market growth during the next few years. Telecom Operations Management Market Key Highlights CAGR of the market during the forecast period Detailed information on factors that will assist telecom operations management market growth during the next five years Estimation of the telecom operations management market size and its contribution to the parent market Predictions on upcoming trends and changes in consumer behavior The growth of the telecom operations management market Analysis of the market’s competitive landscape and detailed information on vendors Comprehensive details of factors that will challenge the growth of telecom operations management market vendors Related Reports: Smart Advisor Market by Type and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Web Analytics Market by Deployment and Geography – Forecast and Analysis 2022-2026 Telecom Operations Management Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2021 Forecast period 2022-2026 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of 6.73% Market growth 2022-2026 $ 24 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 5.51 Regional analysis North America, Europe, APAC, South America, and Middle East and Africa Performing market contribution North America at 37% Key consumer countries US, Canada, China, Germany, and UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Accenture Plc, ALE International, Amdocs Ltd., Beta Systems Software AG, Cisco Systems Inc., Comarch SA, Enhanced Telecommunications, Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd., International Business Machines Corp., NEC Corp., Nokia Corp., Oman Telecommunications Co, Oracle Corp., SAP SE, ServiceNow Inc., Tata Consultancy Services Ltd., Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, and ZTE Corp Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID-19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. Browse for Technavio “Information Technology” Research Reports Table Of Contents : 1 Executive Summary 1.1 Market overview Exhibit 01: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Overview Exhibit 02: Executive Summary – Data Table on Market Overview Exhibit 03: Executive Summary – Chart on Global Market Characteristics Exhibit 04: Executive Summary – Chart on Market by Geography Exhibit 05: Executive Summary – Chart on Market Segmentation by Deployment Exhibit 06: Executive Summary – Chart on Incremental Growth Exhibit 07: Executive Summary – Data Table on Incremental Growth Exhibit 08: Executive Summary – Chart on Vendor Market Positioning 2 Market Landscape 2.1 Market ecosystem Exhibit 09: Parent market Exhibit 10: Market Characteristics 3 Market Sizing 3.1 Market definition Exhibit 11: Offerings of vendors included in the market definition 3.2 Market segment analysis Exhibit 12: Market segments 3.3 Market size 2021 3.4 Market outlook: Forecast for 2021-2026 Exhibit 13: Chart on Global – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 14: Data Table on Global – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 15: Chart on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 16: Data Table on Global Market: Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 4 Five Forces Analysis 4.1 Five forces summary Exhibit 17: Five forces analysis – Comparison between 2021 and 2026 4.2 Bargaining power of buyers Exhibit 18: Chart on Bargaining power of buyers – Impact of key factors 2021 and 2026 4.3 Bargaining power of suppliers Exhibit 19: Bargaining power of suppliers – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.4 Threat of new entrants Exhibit 20: Threat of new entrants – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.5 Threat of substitutes Exhibit 21: Threat of substitutes – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.6 Threat of rivalry Exhibit 22: Threat of rivalry – Impact of key factors in 2021 and 2026 4.7 Market condition Exhibit 23: Chart on Market condition – Five forces 2021 and 2026 5 Market Segmentation by Deployment 5.1 Market segments Exhibit 24: Chart on Deployment – Market share 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 25: Data Table on Deployment – Market share 2021-2026 (%) 5.2 Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 26: Chart on Comparison by Deployment Exhibit 27: Data Table on Comparison by Deployment 5.3 Cloud-based – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 28: Chart on Cloud-based – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 29: Data Table on Cloud-based – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 30: Chart on Cloud-based – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 31: Data Table on Cloud-based – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.4 On-premises – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 32: Chart on On-premises – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 33: Data Table on On-premises – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 34: Chart on On-premises – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 35: Data Table on On-premises – Year-over-year growth 2021-2026 (%) 5.5 Market opportunity by Deployment Exhibit 36: Market opportunity by Deployment ($ billion) 6 Customer Landscape 6.1 Customer landscape overview Exhibit 37: Analysis of price sensitivity, lifecycle, customer purchase basket, adoption rates, and purchase criteria 7 Geographic Landscape 7.1 Geographic segmentation Exhibit 38: Chart on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) Exhibit 39: Data Table on Market share by geography 2021-2026 (%) 7.2 Geographic comparison Exhibit 40: Chart on Geographic comparison Exhibit 41: Data Table on Geographic comparison 7.3 North America – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 Exhibit 42: Chart on North America – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) Exhibit 43: Data Table on North America – Market size and forecast 2021-2026 ($ billion) E...

Betty J. Rohr | Obituary – The Republic-Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/betty-j-rohr-obituary-the-republic-times/ Betty J. Rohr (nee Bouas), 90, of Columbia, born in Lively Grove Township, Washington County, died Sept, 23, 2022, at Oak Hill Senior Living and Rehabilitation Center.    Betty was raised on a farm and went to school in a one-room country school house called Prest School in Washington County. She graduated second in her class from Marissa Township High School. She was offered a scholarship if she committed to teach for two years, but declined because teaching was not her calling. Instead, she moved to St. Louis to live with her friends and to work as a secretary.   She met Frank Rohr, the one and only love of her life, on a blind date on New Year’s Eve, 1950. Frank and Betty had a long-distance courtship, as Frank was just a few months into his enlistment in the Army. They married on May 19, 1953 in Grand Prairie, Texas, and lived in Belleville, Illinois until Frank’s employer transferred him to Pittsburgh, Penn. in 1976. They lived in Greensburg, Penn., until another transfer took them to Benton, Ark., in 1986. They returned closer to their roots upon Frank’s retirement in 1994 when they moved to Columbia, just a short distance from their two children. They were inseparable until Frank’s death and are now reunited. Betty was a long-standing member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Belleville. She left her secretarial job when her first child was born and became a full-time homemaker, providing a loving family home. She was a Christian woman, devoted to her husband, children, and grandchildren. People who met her found her “sweet,” and she had a dry sense of humor when she let it out.  Her favorite activities were family reunions. She was preceded in death by her parents, Raymond and Gertrude Bouas, nee Mazander, three sisters, Elva McClay, Marjorie Patton, and Ella Mae Wilson, and one brother, Raymond Bouas. Surviving are her children, Mark (Terry) Rohr, of Highland Village, Texas, and Peggy (Michael) Ray, of Columbia, Illinois; grandsons Alex Rohr, Aaron Rohr, and David Ray; granddaughters, Angela (Christopher) Turner and Kelly Walsh; great grandson, Cooper Ray, and great granddaughter, Lennon Turner, and other relatives and friends. At Betty‘s request, there will be no public services. As an expression of sympathy, the family prefers memorial contributions to: Hope Christian Church for specific use by the Hope Food Pantry, and the American Lung Association. Arrangements were handled by Leesman Funeral Home in Columbia.

Guest Opinion: Review, Comment On Communities In Motion Plan – Idaho Press https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/guest-opinion-review-comment-on-communities-in-motion-plan-idaho-press/ Do you plan for the future? I’m not talking about next week’s grocery list, or next year’s vacation, but the long-term future — 10, 20, or even 30 years out? COMPASS, the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, shoulders that task for the transportation system for the Treasure Valley. The agency, an association of local governments in Ada and Canyon Counties, plans for the transportation needs for 20 – 30 years into the future. We are now finalizing the next iteration of that long-range plan, to look to the year 2050, and are seeking your feedback. Do you LOVE local news? Get Local News Headlines in your inbox daily. Include special offer& contest announcement emails Matt Stoll is the executive director of the Community Planning Association of Southwest Idaho, an association of local governments that plans for the future of Ada and Canyon Counties. %

Did IndiGo Miss ‘premium Economy’ Flight? – Business Standard https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/did-indigo-miss-premium-economy-flight-business-standard/ The domestic aviation sector is set for a smooth ride after the pandemic turbulence. The competition is hotting up, while the prices of tickets are cooling down. Air India, under its new parent Tatas, is readying an expansion plan. The carrier has leased 25 Airbus narrow-body aircraft and five Boeing wide-body planes and is looking to introduce premium economy class in all the newly-leased planes. Premium economy is unique. It has more luxury than the economy segment, but it is also a compromised version of business class. The tickets can cost up to 50% more than economy on some high-demand domestic routes. The premium economy product offers larger seats, better meals and includes priority boarding and baggage handling, while Business class is a step above the premium economy with extended recline comfort, personal storage space and much larger seats. The economy segment is a leg below the premium economy, with 28 to 30 inch seat pitch and lesser recline adjustability. Experts say the premium segment is the most optimum product in India. If we look at the economics of the premium economy in terms of per sq mt of area it takes, the returns are almost 33% higher than an economy, said an analyst. Currently, Vistara, a joint venture between Tata and Singapore Airlines, is the only airline in India that offers premium economy class. Globally, major carriers like JetBlue, British Airways, Virgin, Cathay Pacific, have some capacity in the premium segment. Some experts say Vistara’s premium economy segment is doing much better than expected. Recently Vistara CEO said the premium economy got a lot of attention in the pandemic as people were cautious about social distancing and seeking comfort. He added that subscription to the premium segment went up 5 to 10 per cent. Now, with Air India joining Vistara to venture into this category, has India’s biggest airline and budget carrier IndiGo missed out on the opportunity? Rohit Tomar, Managing Partner, Caladrius Aero Consulting LLP says IndiGo still has the best opportunity to look at premium economy segment. IndiGo’s target segment is different. If the focus is on next leg of growth, then such products could be considered. IndiGo’s strategy of low-cost air travel is completely different from, say, Vistara, which prides itself on providing a memorable flying experience. Vistara has defined its strategy as a function of class, and caters mainly to corporate and leisure travellers, who see business class as a touch expensive, but are averse to economy travel either. On the other hand, IndiGo earned the market leader tag by focusing on affordability and lower-income groups. It has been one of the few airlines that has been able to consistently generate profits over the years. With a fleet of 281 aircraft including 35 A320 CEOs, 146 A320 NEOs, and a market share of nearly 59 per cent, industry experts are on the same page that IndiGo is already sitting on a world class product, which is embedded deeply in the Indian market. Mark D Martin, Founder and CEO of aviation consultancy Martin Consulting, said it doesn’t make sense for IndiGo to go for premium economy or other higher classes. Having said that, whether the airline would get into a higher segment product will depend on what kind of market opportunity IndiGo sees for itself from these products. Experts see a negligible opportunity cost for IndiGo as it never went for the premium economy segment. Speaking to Business Standard, Satyendra Pandey, Managing Partner, aviation advisory firm AT-TV don’t think IndiGo has missed an opportunity. Premium economy doesn’t work in all markets. 3) Even IndiGo’s international focus is on short to medium haul flights. Moreover, the premium economy category also depends on the travel time. For most of the short haul travel routes that IndiGo operates, the premium economy segment could be futile. Premium economy is an opportunity for IndiGo worth exploring in the future, especially when extra long range Airbus A321 XLR joins its fleet from mid-2024. But it has certainly not fallen behind the curve as it has established a product that caters to a large segment of Indian flyers.

Survey Reveals How People Feel About Baked Treats Amid Inflation – Tasting Table https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/survey-reveals-how-people-feel-about-baked-treats-amid-inflation-tasting-table/ Dragana Gordic/Shutterstock When inflation creeps into the crevices of daily life, things inevitably get trimmed down or out. High-dollar purchases get postponed or reevaluated, and splurges are reimagined into affordable alternatives. In fact, according to Bloomberg, consumers have even decreased their spending on items like detergent and diapers. With food being a necessity, grocery sales keep rolling along, albeit with more consideration for cost. However, one gastronomy component stands alone amongst inflationary trends: baked goods, according to the American Bakers Association (ABA). In a July 2022 study conducted by the ABA, more than 15,000 people weighed in on significant issues such as food inflation, health, and food production. The in-depth survey, titled “Life Through the Lens of the Bakery,” takes a look at lifestyle convictions and how they affect food choices, particularly regarding baked goods. From dietary value to food-industry sustainability commitments, it all comes out in this look at foodie passions and where the lines get drawn. Does the bakery, whether residing in home kitchens, specialty baked-good shops, or grocery stores, have a voice in how the world responds to inflation? Apparently, it does. Sweet indulgences Tatjana Baibakova/Shutterstock Let’s go ahead and set the bar here: Baked treats are not essential to life sustenance. Unless they’re the only thing keeping you from starving, bakery items like desserts and muffins are superfluous to a healthy diet. So why do 84% of ABA survey respondents embrace the idea of consuming them despite inflationary prices for groceries, restaurant meals, and gasoline? The answer lies in the phrase “affordable indulgence,” explains Food Business News. In discussing the ABA report at the International Baking Industry Exposition in Las Vegas, Anne-Marie Roerink from 210 Analytics notes that many people “have an emotional connection to baked goods.” While 64% of survey respondents still include occasional baked treats in overall living budgets, that number rises to 80%, placing a high value on baked items for holidays and special occasions. Even in times of budget restraints, consumers still feel it’s “perfectly fine” to treat themselves to cookies, donuts, cupcakes, and pie slices. The ABA additionally notes that “meal-related” bakery items are experiencing high levels of innovation amidst a turn toward healthy lifestyles, with 50% of study participants prioritizing “freshly baked” items. Younger generations incorporate flatbreads, tortillas, wraps, and pizzas into mealtimes even during inflationary periods, with 90% purchasing them in the month prior to taking the survey. In August, Supermarket News reported that indulgent snacks had a slight edge over healthier options among consumers. Sally Lyons Wyatt from research firm IRI suggested people were replacing pricy items with cheap treats to brighten their days.

NASCAR At Texas Results: After Chaotic Day Of Racing, Tyler Reddick Takes The Checkered Flag In AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 – Sporting News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/nascar-at-texas-results-after-chaotic-day-of-racing-tyler-reddick-takes-the-checkered-flag-in-autotrader-echopark-automotive-500-sporting-news/ The NASCAR Cup Series playoffs roars into Texas for the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500 this weekend. And with the playoff field narrowed to just 12 drivers, the championship is in sight. A strong showing at the quad-oval-shaped track could go a long way in shaping the championship picture. But can playoff drivers take advantage? The Round of 16 was defined by its parity: all three drivers who claimed the checkered flag last round were non-playoff participants. That put a monkey wrench in postseason plans for veteran drivers (and former Cup Series champs) Kyle Busch and Kevin Harvick, as well as rising star Tyler Reddick. Who will be on the chopping block after this round? It’s still too early to tell. But with intense banking, acute turns and an asphalt surface that challenges even the most technically adept of drivers, it’s clear that Sunday’s race will not be easy. Everything is bigger in Texas. That means the crashes, too.  Better get your popcorn ready, MORE: Watch NASCAR Cup Series races live with fuboTV (free trial) With that, The Sporting News is tracking live updates from Sunday’s playoff race at Texas Motor Speedway. Follow along for highlights and live results from the AutoTrader EchoPark Automotive 500, a race that promises to captivate the minds of race fans across the country. NASCAR at Texas live updates, results, highlights (All times Eastern) 9:10 p.m.: Reddick takes the checkered flag at Texas Motor Speedway! Career victory No. 3 for Reddick. 9:09 p.m.: One lap left for Reddick! 9:08 p.m.: Reddick still has the edge. Four laps to go. Wonderful display by Reddick, who looks on pace for his Cup Series-high ninth top-three finish. A real rising star in racing. 9:06 p.m.: Reddick holds a 1.3 second lead over Logano. With just six laps to go, will that be enough? Logano’s among the fastest cars left on the track. 9:04 p.m.: Larson with a phenomenal save! Keselowski got tight on him and Larson just avoided the wall. His crew chief apologized for not making the proper adjustments during today’s race. Looks like Larson is hoping to stay in the top ten and live to fight another day. 9:00 p.m.: Enthralling back-and-forth between Briscoe, Byron and Larson for fifth place. As of now, it’s Briscoe who has the slight edge. 8:58 p.m.: Back to green with 24 laps to go. Reddick, Logano and Justin Haley in the top three. Briscoe making a late dig for third. 8:51 p.m.: The 16th caution of the night comes out. It’s for Aric Almirola, who spun into the wall after a closely-packed race restart. 28 laps to go and it’s looking gnarly as ever. 8:43 p.m.: Yet another caution flag, this time for Austin Cindric and Stenhouse Jr. Looks like Stenhouse Jr. lost some grip on the turn, sending his car into the wall. Cindric found a way to avoid a collision with Stenhouse Jr., sliding like a ninja to get himself away from the wall. Reflexes are on point. 8:40 p.m.: Reddick leads the way with 41 laps to go. He’s got a one-second edge over Logano in second. We’ll have to see how this one finishes. 8:36 p.m.: Looks like Hamlin has vengeance on his mind. The No. 11 driver told his crew chief, Chris Gabehart, that he’ll make sure to give Byron his own form of punishment if he gets his car around where Byron is. “The man wrecks you under caution and he gets no penalty? Good grief. What are they doing?” says @CG1751@dennyhamlin chimes in, “We never touched.” @JoeGibbsRacing @TXMotorSpeedway #NASCAR — Lee Spencer (@CandiceSpencer) September 26, 2022 8:33 p.m.: Very tight in the front. Stenhouse Jr., Reddick, Gilliland and Logano are all within a second of each other. 53 laps to go and it’s looking like it will be an absolute doozy in the final stage. 8:31 p.m.: Green flag is waved again and it’s rookie Todd Gilliland with the lead. Stenhouse Jr. in second, although the two are going back-and-forth for that race-leading position. 8:23 p.m.: Unbelievable series of events at Texas! First, Martin Truex Jr., the race leader, wrecked after suffering a front flat tire. Then, William Byron and Denny Hamlin got into it! Byron seemed to take exception with Hamlin making some contact before the caution flag was waved. Byron clipped him on the caution lap. Looked like Hamlin wanted his payback, knocking into Byron’s car shortly thereafter. That will be something to watch post-race. — NASCAR on TSN (@NASCARonTSN) September 26, 2022 7:55 p.m.: With 95 laps to go, here’s how things are shaping up at the top of the leaderboard: Tyler Reddick Erik Jones Michael McDowell Kevin Harvick Brad Keselowski 7:53 p.m.: Byron is finding a lot of success with cooler track temps. He’s risen 11 places since the race restart. Now, he’s the only playoff racer to feature in the top-10 at the moment. 7:51 p.m.: Reddick takes the lead! Impressive restart by Reddick, who had dropped a lap behind earlier in the day.  7:49 p.m.: Contact between McDowell and Erik Jones! Jones doesn’t look too happy about it, but neither car suffers enough damage to knock them off the track. 7:48 p.m.: We are back in action at Texas! 7:46 p.m.: The red flag has been lifted. We are now on a caution flag. 112 laps to go, track conditions are poised to be different — Chase Briscoe’s team says the track is 20 degrees cooler than it was earlier today. 7:43 p.m.: After a lengthy delay due to rain and lightning, drivers have restarted their engines once more for Stage 3. 5:57 p.m.: Ware is headed to the infield care center, per NASCAR officials.  5:48 p.m.: Cody Ware goes into pit road! The front end of his car is in absolute tatters after a bad collision. Looks like Ware is out of his car, but medical officials are working on Ware in pit road. Scary situation for the No. 51 driver. 5:40 p.m.: Not looking great for Bell. He entered today’s race four points above the cut line and is now 24 points below it. Had a great Stage 1 run but looks like he won’t be able to continue any further. His team is still working on his car, but things are looking more and more dire for the Joe Gibbs Racing driver at the moment. 5:38 p.m.: Wallace and the No. 45 team has really pulled it together. After dropping as far back as last-place, Wallace has gotten himself into the top-five. He’s been looking a whole lot more consistent over the past few months. That’s got to be encouraging going forward for Wallace and 23XI Racing. 5:36 p.m.: Elliott nabs the lead after the race restart. Erik Jones and Chastain going back-and-forth for second place at the moment. This is right where you want to be if you’re in the Round of 12. 5:29 p.m.: Caution flag waved! It’s for Bell, who spins into the wall at Turn 4. Bell gets some damage to the front right and back right bumpers. That’s not ideal for a playoff driver like Bell. 5:22 p.m.: Burton has taken the lead. That will be good for the youngster, who has made a good impression in the Xfinity Series.  He’s gotten one top-five finish in his Cup Series career up to this point. Perhaps he can get No. 2 at Texas? 5:19 p.m.: Reddick is headed to pit road. Told his team that he’s experiencing some serious shakiness in the car. He’ll only be one lap down, so he still has a shot to do well here. In the front, it’s non-playoff drivers Stenhouse Jr. and Burton leading the way. Stenhouse Jr. will likely have to pit in the next 15-20 laps, but it will be nice for him to be out in front. 5:17 p.m.: Stage 2 is off the mark and it’s Stenhouse Jr. at the front. He’s followed by Reddick and Harrison Burton. 10 laps down in the second stage and things are going fairly swimmingly, although there was a little looseness from McDowell’s No. 34 a few laps earlier. 5:07 p.m.: We’re at a ferocious pace at the end of Stage 2. Larson, Hamlin, Logano, Daniel Suarez, Ross Chastain and Byron all within a second of each other. There’s contact between Larson and Hamlin at the front of the pack but Larson’s holds on to take Stage 1! What a finish! 4:59 p.m.: Alex Bowman goes into the wall! He came fast into Turn 3 and 4 and couldn’t pull it together in time, scraping the back of his whip into the wall. Bowman was running in eight place before his collision. — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 25, 2022 His team has ten minutes to get his car right or it’ll be a done day for playoff driver Bowman. 4:57 p.m.:  Larson holds a slight lead over Hamlin. Byron lost his opposition, prompting him call his team and apologize for driving poorly. 4:44 p.m.: Toyota cars having some issues. Another caution flag waved after Christopher Bell’s tire pops. Also, Cole Custer’s 41 car skidded out, something that has happened  4:39 p.m.: Elliott communicating to his team that he’s got some smoke in the car. He’s not quite able to distinguish where it’s coming from, but something to watch for in the coming few laps. 4:37 p.m.: This race restart sees Byron, Denny Hamlin and Tyler Reddick competing for the first spot. Byron has the edge early, but there’s a whole lot of time for Hamlin and Reddick to get themselves back into it. 4:28 p.m.: The race restart lasted for all of a few seconds. Ricky Stenhouse’s No. 47 car makes a little contact with Ty Dillon before sliding sideways on the track. It has been a choppy race so far, with three caution flags waved in the race’s opening 57 laps. 4:21 p.m.: Another caution flag waved, this time on Lap 50! Kyle Busch swerves into Turn 3 before slamming the back of his car into the wall. The playoff races have not been kind to Busch. Looks like Busch is done for the day. His car is headed to the garage…again. A spin off of Turn 4 ends the day for @KyleBusch. pic.twitter.com/bYcMeO7huZ — NASCAR (@NASCAR) September 25, 2...

Israeli Embassy Opens In Metaverse – 코리아타임스 https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/israeli-embassy-opens-in-metaverse-%ec%bd%94%eb%a6%ac%ec%95%84%ed%83%80%ec%9e%84%ec%8a%a4/ The Israel-Korea Metaverse, a virtual version of the Embassy of Israel in Korea, has an olive tree on its first floor. Courtesy of Embassy of Israel in Korea By Kwon Mee-yoo The Embassy of Israel in Korea opened in the metaverse, becoming the first diplomatic mission in the country to gain a presence in the virtual world. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of diplomatic ties between Korea and Israel, the Israeli Embassy opened a pavilion in the metaverse to offer information about Israel and promote exchanges between the two countries. “The Israel-Korea Metaverse is a truly unique platform for sharing a virtual reality immersive experience, the history of Israel-Korea relations and also for carrying out all kinds of interesting interactions between Israelis and Koreans. Even though they are 8,000 kilometers apart, yet in the metaverse, they are right next to each other,” Israeli ambassador to Korea Akiva Tor said during a launching event at a hotel in Seoul, Sept. 20. According to the embassy, there is no other embassy metaverse with this level of functionality existing anywhere in the world at this time. The embassy developed this with a Korean company called Vrillar. “I’m quite sure that this is the way forward. It won’t be the only tool of public diplomacy and, of course, we will always want to bring real people to Korea and to hold in-person conferences and in-person cultural performances. But I think the embassy metaverse will become the essential standard just as websites became the essential standard about 20 years ago and SNS channels are now,” the ambassador said. “The more I think about the potentialities of this breakthrough platform and how it can grow, the more exciting it seems… We’ll create new avenues of interaction for people at far distances, like Israelis and Koreans at the opposite ends of Asia.” Ambassador of Israel to Korea Akiva Tor speaks during the Israel-Korea Metaverse launching event at RYSE, Autograph Collection in Seoul, Sept. 20 Courtesy of Embassy of Israel in Korea The pavilion’s exterior is inspired by the Shrine of the Book in the Israel Museum in Jerusalem. Upon entering the pavilion, the German-born Jewish theoretical physicist, Albert Einstein, welcomes visitors and gives a brief introduction of the pavilion. Einstein is voiced by Michael Reiffenstuel, the German ambassador to Korea. On the first floor is a gallery introducing the 60-year history of Korea-Israel relations with an olive tree in the center, bringing Israel’s national tree to the virtual world. The virtual space is open for various events and activities, including the MC2 lounge on the second floor, and the ambassador hopes more people will visit and use the pavilion. “Our challenge as an embassy will be to make this innovative functionality popular in Korea and in Israel, for the people young at heart and open to a new experience of engagement,” Tor said. “I’m thinking of a metaverse with Hebrew and Korean language clubs, an Israel Film Festival, virtual meetings of the student clubs of Israel and Korea, a hangout for lovers of K-pop and the Hebrew Bible, a place for talk and debate about archaeology and the future of autonomous vehicles.” The embassy plans to continuously update the Israel-Korea Metaverse. The Israel-Korea Metaverse can be downloaded at Google Play Store and Apple App Store.

Don’t Forget, You Can Also Earn Points By Watching – Voltimum https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/dont-forget-you-can-also-earn-points-by-watching-voltimum/ Have you watched any of our on-demand webinars in return for Voltimum Plus points yet? If not, you’re missing out on hundreds of points and some fantastic training sessions! One of the perks of Voltimum Plus is access to a range of training opportunities that can be completed on-demand. And the best bit – you’ll receive points for taking part! There are currently 10 on-demand webinars to choose from, with each one worth a cool 100 Voltimum Plus points. The videos are a great way to enhance your knowledge and skills, and as they can be accessed on-demand, they can be viewed and completed at your leisure around work commitments. Courtesy of our Voltimum Plus manufacturer partners, topics include: lighting in the circular economy, the home of the future, coordination of LV electrical distribution, 3D printing in lighting, connectivity in the workplace, and going screwless. Click the ‘Learning’ tab on the Voltimum Plus website to view all available webinars.  Once viewed, we’ll add the points to your Voltimum Plus account – this is a fantastic way to add to your points tally, so get learning and earning now!  When you’re ready to redeem your points, head to our exciting ‘Rewards Shop’ to pick your freebies. We’ve got all sorts of goodies in categories like technology, leisure, experience days, home and kitchen gadgets, wines and hampers, health and beauty, leather goods, homewares, tools, jewellery, watches and sunglasses, so there’s bound to be something that catches your eye! Not a Voltimum Plus member yet?

Review: Morgan Wallen In L.A.: A Country Superstar, Live And Apparently Un-Canceled – Los Angeles Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/review-morgan-wallen-in-l-a-a-country-superstar-live-and-apparently-un-canceled-los-angeles-times/ What’s clear at this point about Morgan Wallen — clear since long before the country superstar touched down Saturday night at Crypto.com Arena for the first of two sold-out concerts — is that being caught on video drunkenly using the N-word to refer to a friend has not derailed his career. A year and a half after TMZ published a grainy clip shot by a neighbor as Wallen stumbled around his driveway, the singer’s 2021 LP, “Dangerous,” has set a new record for the most weeks in the top 10 of Billboard’s album chart. He just received the Milestone Award from the Academy of Country Music. And in November, he’ll compete for Nashville’s most prestigious title, entertainer of the year, at the Country Music Assn. Awards. So although Wallen seemed briefly to face the threat of cancelation when the video surfaced — his songs were temporarily removed from radio and streaming playlists, and even his label said his contract had been “suspended” — the only question now is whether the controversy may actually have helped propel the career of the 29-year-old native of tiny Sneedville, Tenn. Before the video and its fallout, Wallen was no doubt headed for huge success as a charismatic young performer and gifted songwriter with an instinctive knack for blending traditional country themes with the textures and attitude of hip-hop. After, though, he became something bigger: a (perhaps unwitting) mascot for the pushback against cancel culture. Wallen, who’s repeatedly apologized for his “ignorant” use of the N-word, has drawn the support lately of numerous Black artists, including Darius Rucker and rapper Lil Durk, who’s said Wallen “ain’t no racist.” What Wallen is, of course, is a beneficiary of a racist system that not only permits white ignorance but also enables it. Yet to be a Wallen fan, at least for some, is to reject the perceived excesses of that worldview — a powerful accelerant for anyone involved in the work of building an audience in an era as fractured as ours. Not that any of this was explicitly in the air at Crypto, where Wallen arrived near the end of a lengthy tour set to wrap early next month with a stadium gig in Arlington, Texas. The singer made no mention of the TMZ video, unless you count a lyric about the mistakes he’s made from “Don’t Think Jesus,” one of several singles he’s quietly released this year as part of his comeback; nor did he play directly to any kind of anti-woke sensibility, unless you count the proud down-home-isms of “The Way I Talk,” which like so many modern country tunes borrows elements of a Black creative lexicon to enshrine a white cultural heritage. Morgan Wallen performs. (Jason Armond/Los Angeles Times) Then again, the point of winning is no longer having to press your case, and in that way, Wallen carried himself Saturday like a victor. Backed by a muscular six-piece band, the singer ran through his many hits — including “Chasin’ You,” “More Than My Hometown” and the only country song currently near the top of the Hot 100, “You Proof” — with an untroubled confidence that belied his speedy ascent to arena-headliner status, not to mention the years of road experience he missed out on because of the COVID-19 pandemic. He was a rowdy party-starter in “Up Down” and “Country Ass S—,” the latter of which found him patting a disc in the back pocket of his jeans as he sang about “an empty can of long cut.” For the wistful “Sand in My Boots,” he sat down behind a piano and recounted a beach-town dalliance with a woman destined to break his heart. Vocally, Wallen is most impressive on his records as a balladeer, channeling desire and nostalgia in songs like “Somebody’s Problem” and the almost painfully pretty “7 Summers”; here, both suffered a bit from his oversinging to match the pumped-up arrangements required by the size of the room. But the slightly aggro approach paid off in Wallen’s stark rendition of Jason Isbell’s “Cover Me Up,” where he squared up against the microphone like a baseball player with a bat. At about the halfway mark of the 90-minute show, Wallen invited out two of his frequent collaborators on tour as his opening acts: Ernest, with whom he sang the acoustic “Flower Shops,” and Hardy, who joined Wallen for the rap-rocky “He Went to Jared.” (Earlier, in his own set, Hardy flashed the culture-warrior streak Wallen resisted when introducing his song “One Beer,” about a couple waiting for the result of a pregnancy test. “Got any pregnant people out there tonight?” he asked with a sly grin, before adding, “Stupid joke.”) It was easy to sense the pleasure — and maybe the comfort — Wallen took in having his pals onstage with him, not least when he and Hardy shotgunned a couple of beers and then crushed the cans and flung them into the crowd. For more than a year, he’s been in a spotlight of his own making, both a pariah and a figurehead. Yet you wouldn’t say he looked lonely when Hardy and Ernest split. He’d been assured that he belonged up there, and who was he to doubt it?

“This Team’s Got No Quit In Us” | Bills Players And Coaches Stay Confident Following Loss – BuffaloBills.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/this-teams-got-no-quit-in-us-bills-players-and-coaches-stay-confident-following-loss-buffalobills-com/ Amid the tough 21-19 loss to the Miami Dolphins, head coach Sean McDermott and the Bills locker room remain confident after the resilience they showed between the team’s injuries sustained prior to and during Sunday’s game — and 100 degrees-plus field temperates in Miami. Looking past the final score and their first loss of the season, the Bills still had plenty of positive takeaways from Sunday’s game. Bills locker room remains confident and encouraged The limited depth the Bills had in certain positions throughout the game mixed with the Miami heat presented a tough challenge to the Bills’ sidelines on Sunday afternoon. But even though they didn’t come away with the outcome they were hoping for, the locker room remains confident in what the team is capable of accomplishing this season. “I think this game was very encouraging from the standpoint of, this team’s got no quit in us,” tight end Dawson Knox said. “There were guys that were jumping on the offensive line playing, playing positions they never played. Some guys were getting their first start on our defense, and it just shows that we got guys that are ready to go. They’re going to jump up, play to the best of their abilities, and give us their best effort.” After calling on multiple players throughout the game to step in at all different positions, head coach Sean McDermott shared how proud he was of the guys for the battle and effort they put forth against the Dolphins. “Got a lot of confidence in the guys in this room, a lot of confidence,” McDermott said. And the confidence in the guys who stepped into these new roles wasn’t just noticed by the head coach. “It’s super encouraging, as a teammate, to see guys that are coming off the bench playing positions they’ve never played, given us their best effort,” Knox said. “Some of those guys are back here getting IVs because they busted their tail all game doing something they’ve never done before.” Linebacker Von Miller shared that it’s games like this that really bring a team together. “In Buffalo, that’s all we have is football,” Miller said. “That’s all we care about is football and winning games and a loss like this early in games is good medicine. Adversity like this truly reveals character and we have a team full of tough guys.” “This is all just adversity and I’m excited to see how we respond. Real men respond to things like this and I’m excited to see how we respond.” The team also acknowledged that it’s early on in the season and this was just one game, further boosting everybody’s eagerness to respond accordingly next weekend against the Baltimore Ravens. “We’ll learn from this one tomorrow, take it on the chin, and prepare for next week,” quarterback Josh Allen said. “That’s all we can do. We can move forward. We’re 2-1. I’d like to be 3-0. But 2-1, we can still accomplish everything we want to accomplish.” Like many of their teammates and coaches, Dawson Knox and wide receiver Isaiah McKenzie have faith in this resilient team to overcome and preserve from Sunday’s loss. “We didn’t play our best football, but we’re going to put our best foot forward, watch this film, and get better for next week,” McKenzie said. “There’s so much football ahead of us,” Knox said. “I think this can be a great focal point for us moving forward just to see the fight that we have in us.” Allen and Tagovailoa’s performances QB Josh Allen put up record-breaking numbers in the hard-fought battle against QB Tua Tagovailoa and the Dolphins. Here’s a breakdown of the two quarterbacks’ stats from Sunday afternoon: Allen: 400 passing yards, 42/63 for completions 47 rushing yards 2 passing TDs Tuagovailoa: 186 passing yards, 13/18 for completions 1 passing TD 0 rushing yards Between all offensive position groups, Allen worked with every option he had on the field which resulted in 11 Bills players having a reception on the day, setting a new club-single game record. “I thought Josh and the back did a good job getting on the same page early,” McDermott said. “They were doing some things blitz-wise, which we expected, and some dropout as well. I thought they handled it at times fairly well, but other times we can grow from it.” Allen also set team records for: Most pass attempts (63) Most completions (42) Most 400-yard passing games in a career (3)

Chevron And MOECO To Collaborate On Advanced Geothermal Technology – The Bakersfield Californian https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/chevron-and-moeco-to-collaborate-on-advanced-geothermal-technology-the-bakersfield-californian/ TOKYO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Sep 25, 2022– Chevron New Energies International Pte, Ltd. (Chevron), and Mitsui Oil Exploration Co., Ltd (MOECO) today announced the signing of a Joint Collaboration Agreement to explore the technical and commercial feasibility of advanced geothermal power generation in Japan. Building on Chevron and MOECO’s long-standing relationship, the new collaboration will study geothermal resource potential across Japan and will evaluate the effectiveness of Advanced Closed Loop (ACL) technology for a future joint pilot project in Japan. Both companies may also assess potential collaboration for advanced geothermal technology opportunities using ACL globally. Unlike conventional geothermal projects, which use traditional steam turbines requiring high temperatures often found in concentrated locations limited by geological characteristics, ACL can potentially enable access to geothermal resources at a wider range of temperatures and geologies through the application of alternative technology above and below the surface. “Chevron and MOECO share a goal of delivering lower carbon energy solutions, while meeting the need for reliable, affordable energy,” said Barbara Harrison, vice president of Offsets & Emerging, Chevron New Energies. “This collaboration provides an opportunity for Chevron to combine its subsurface capabilities and technologies with MOECO’s intimate knowledge of Japan’s geothermal potential resource geology and its long history of responsible resource development. The joint team will have the opportunity to test emerging geothermal technology in a real world setting with significant scaling up potential.” “MOECO entered the geothermal business in 2012 and has been expanding its geothermal portfolio since then. In parallel with conventional geothermal, we have been studying ACL technology for many years and we believe this collaboration with Chevron utilizing ACL technology could unlock tremendous geothermal resources in Japan,” said Hirotaka Hamamoto, CEO of MOECO. “This joint collaboration with Chevron, who has been a valued partner of MOECO for several decades in the energy industry, is intended to open a new chapter in the geothermal industry as MOECO aims to continue contributing to an environmentally sustainable world as a member of the Mitsui & Co.’s group companies.” About Chevron Chevron (NYSE: CVX) is one of the world’s leading integrated energy companies. We believe affordable, reliable, and ever-cleaner energy is essential to achieving a more prosperous and sustainable world. Chevron produces crude oil and natural gas; manufactures transportation fuels, lubricants, petrochemicals and additives; and develops technologies that enhance our business and the industry. We are focused on lowering the carbon intensity in our operations and growing lower carbon businesses along with our traditional business lines. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com. About MOECO MOECO celebrated its milestone 50th anniversary in 2019. MOECO has been continually devoted to the exploration, development and production of energy resources globally building from the development of our gas projects in offshore Thailand. MOECO now embraces the challenge that comes with the world entering into a new era where society’s demands for energy are rapidly changing. We renew our commitment towards delivering energy resources that will strive to meet the demands of a changing society through our global expansion including the continued development of our geothermal business as one of the core group companies of Mitsui & Co.’s energy business value chain. More information about MOECO is available at www.moeco.com. CAUTIONARY STATEMENTS RELEVANT TO FORWARD-LOOKING INFORMATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF “SAFE HARBOR” PROVISIONS OF THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995 This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to Chevron’s operations and energy transition plans that are based on management’s current expectations, estimates and projections about the petroleum, chemicals and other energy-related industries. Words or phrases such as “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “targets,” “advances,” “commits,” “drives,” “aims,” “forecasts,” “projects,” “believes,” “approaches,” “seeks,” “schedules,” “estimates,” “positions,” “pursues,” “may,” “can,” “could,” “should,” “will,” “budgets,” “outlook,” “trends,” “guidance,” “focus,” “on track,” “goals,” “objectives,” “strategies,” “opportunities,” “poised,” “potential,” “ambitions,” “aspires” and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the company’s control and are difficult to predict. Therefore, actual outcomes and results may differ materially from what is expressed or forecasted in such forward-looking statements. The reader should not place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this news release. Unless legally required, Chevron undertakes no obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Among the important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements are: changing crude oil and natural gas prices and demand for the company’s products, and production curtailments due to market conditions; crude oil production quotas or other actions that might be imposed by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and other producing countries; technological advancements; changes to government policies in the countries in which the company operates; public health crises, such as pandemics (including coronavirus (COVID-19)) and epidemics, and any related government policies and actions; disruptions in the company’s global supply chain, including supply chain constraintsand escalation of the cost of goods and services; changing economic, regulatory and political environments in the various countries in which the company operates; general domestic and international economic, market and political conditions,including the military conflict between Russia and Ukraine and the global response to such conflict; changing refining, marketing and chemicals margins; actions of competitors or regulators; timing of exploration expenses; timing of crude oil liftings; the competitiveness of alternate-energy sources or product substitutes; development of large carbon capture and offset markets; the results of operations and financial condition of the company’s suppliers, vendors, partners and equity affiliates, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic; the inability or failure of the company’s joint-venture partners to fund their share of operations and development activities; the potential failure to achieve expected net production from existing and future crude oil and natural gas development projects; potential delays in the development, construction or start-up of planned projects; the potential disruption or interruption of the company’s operations due to war, accidents, political events, civil unrest, severe weather, cyber threats, terrorist acts, or other natural or human causes beyond the company’s control; the potential liability for remedial actions or assessments under existing or future environmental regulations and litigation; significant operational, investment or product changes undertaken or required by existing or future environmental statutes and regulations, including international agreements and national or regional legislation and regulatory measures to limit or reduce greenhouse gas emissions; the potential liability resulting from pending or future litigation; the company’s future acquisitions or dispositions of assets or shares or the delay or failure of such transactions to close based on required closing conditions; the potential for gains and losses from asset dispositions or impairments; government mandated sales, divestitures, recapitalizations, taxes and tax audits, tariffs, sanctions, changes in fiscal terms or restrictions on scope of company operations; foreign currency movements compared with the U.S. dollar; material reductions in corporate liquidity and access to debt markets; the receipt of required Board authorizations to implement capital allocation strategies, including future stock repurchase programs and dividend payments; the effects of changed accounting rules under generally accepted accounting principles promulgated by rule-setting bodies; the company’s ability to identify and mitigate the risks and hazards inherent in operating in the global energy industry; and the factors set forth under the heading “Risk Factors” on pages 20 through 25 of the company’s 2021 Annual Report on Form 10-K and in subsequent filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. Other unpredictable or unknown factors not discussed in this news release could also have material adverse effects on forward-looking statements. View source version on businesswire.com:https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20220925005050/en/ CONTACT: Chevron New Energies Creighton Welch CreightonWelch@chevron.comMOECO PR team, Corporate Strategy & Planning Division https://www.moeco.com/contact/contact/index.html KEYWORD: UNITED STATES JAPAN NORTH AMERICA ASIA PACIFIC CALIFORNIA INDUSTRY KEYWORD: OTHER ENERGY ENVIRONMENT OIL/GAS SUSTAINABILITY ALTERNATIVE ENERGY GREEN TECHNOLOGY ENERGY SOURCE: Chevron Corporation Copyright Business Wire 2022. PUB: 09/25/2022 09:00 PM/DISC: 09/25/2022 09:02 PM http://www.business...

4 Mississippi Judges Tapped To Help With Backlog Of Cases – The Winchester Star https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/4-mississippi-judges-tapped-to-help-with-backlog-of-cases-the-winchester-star/ JACKSON, Miss. (AP) — Four former circuit court judges will help handle a backlog of criminal cases that have accumulated in Mississippi’s largest county during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mississippi Supreme Court Chief Justice Mike Randolph appointed Andrew K. Howorth of Oxford, Betty W. Sanders of Greenwood, Stephen B. Simpson of Gulfport and Frank G. Vollor of Vicksburg. Administrative Office of Courts director Greg Snowden said in a news release Thursday that Hinds County has an urgent need to handle cases that were postponed when courtrooms were closed to prevent the spread of the virus. “Accused people have a right to their day in court, whether they are incarcerated pending trial or out on bond,” Snowden said. “If defendants are found guilty, they need to be sent to prison, but if they are found not guilty, they need to be released.” Howorth retired in June 2020 after more than 18 years as a circuit judge in the 3rd Circuit in Benton, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Marshall, Tippah and Union counties. Sanders retired in December 2014. She was a judge for 20 years in the 4th Circuit in Leflore, Sunflower and Washington counties. Before that, she served five years as a special magistrate hearing cases filed by prisoners at the Mississippi State Penitentiary at Parchman. Simpson is a former state lawmaker who served eight years as a judge in the 2nd Circuit in Hancock, Harrison and Stone counties. He resigned in May 2008 to become state public safety commissioner, serving almost three years. Vollor is a former Warren County prosecutor who served 20 years in the 9th Circuit District in Issaquena, Sharkey and Warren counties. He returned to private law practice in May 2009. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.