Clark County News Now

Mitchell Booth, Founder Of Love Whole Foods In Ormond Beach, Dies – Daytona Beach News-Journal https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/mitchell-booth-founder-of-love-whole-foods-in-ormond-beach-dies-daytona-beach-news-journal/ ORMOND BEACH — Mitchell Booth, founder of the Love Whole Foods Cafe & Market stores in Ormond Beach and Port Orange, died unexpectedly of a sudden illness Sept. 23, his family confirmed. “Mitch lived the life he preached,” said his widow, Paula Schandel. “We lost a tremendous heart and a tremendous light in our community.” Booth, 73, opened his first Love Whole Foods store in The Trails Shopping Center in Ormond Beach in 1991 with his then-wife, the late Anita Booth who died in 2006. The couple were former photojournalists who worked for the Hartford Courant newspaper in Hartford, Connecticut, prior to moving to the Daytona Beach area. Booth who went by the nickname “Mitch” also worked as a photojournalist for the Detroit Free Press. He grew up in Detroit and graduated from the University of Michigan with a degree in fine arts. He left the journalism field when he got hired by Traveler’s Insurance to become the company’s corporate photographer. That job had him flying all over the country to take photos of catastrophes, including fires, floods and areas damaged by hurricanes, as well as various corporate events. Booth and his first wife became fans of a natural food store chain in the New England area called Bread & Circus. That inspired them to open Love Whole Foods when they moved to Florida. The growing business for the health food store prompted the couple to relocate their Ormond Beach store to its present location on the corner of Williamson Boulevard and Hand Avenue on Sept. 1, 2001.  A second location for Love Whole Foods opened in Port Orange, near the intersection of Williamson and Taylor Road in 2011. LOOKING BACK: Love Whole Foods founder comments on area’s grocery store wars THUMBS UP: Local health food store gets high marks from TripAdvisor COMPETITION HEATS UP: ‘Natural food’ stores starting to proliferate locally ‘Invest in your health one bite at a time’ Booth was proud of the fact that his stores lived up to their name of offering truly whole foods and wellness products. “We’re the largest organic, contaminate-free, local family-owned full-service grocery store in Volusia-Flagler if you combine our two stores,” he said in a 2019 interview. Booth’s passion for health foods and healthy living was also evident in another interview he gave to The News-Journal four years earlier. “The best health insurance is making sure your food is the healthiest you can get. You invest in your health one bite at a time,” he said. One way Love Whole Foods differentiated itself from the big grocery chains, Booth said, was by standing by the principles he and his first wife established when they began their business. Those standards, he said, included a commitment to only sell natural and organic food that is free of “artificial additives and mystery ingredients” and a willingness to verify to customers “the integrity of our suppliers and (that) the food we sell will not be irradiated or bio-engineered. “They (the big grocery chains) are primarily about marketing and driven by corporate standards, whereas we are a local family-run business, which has been investing not only money into our communities’ schools and local farms but also time and energy in educational seminars free to the public.” ‘Lived his life wanting to help people’ Paula Schandel said of her husband, “He had the biggest heart of anybody I’d ever met. He lived his life wanting to help people.” Paula Schandel said the family-run business will carry on, led by Booth’s son, Mark Van Cleef, and daughter-in-law, Peggy Van Cleef. “Last week, we lost a great man and a great friend,” said longtime friend and customer Jenni Craig, who was a childhood friend of Booth’s daughter Capt. Laura Warner of Volusia County Beach Safety Ocean Rescue. Craig is one of the owners of Copper Bottom Craft Distillery in Holly Hill along with her husband and in-laws. “Mitch was generous and kind, and his knowledge healed so many lives in our community. I treasure the memories and everything he taught me.”   In addition to Schandel, the Van Cleefs, and Warner, Mitchell Booth is also survived by his two sisters, Joannie and Julie Booth, as well as his and his wife’s son Paul Schandel, who works for Foundation Risk Partners. He is also survived by six grandchildren. In lieu of flowers, Paula Schandel said she and her family requests donations in Booth’s memory to the Vietnam Veterans of Volusia County and the Tunnels to Towers Foundation. The latter is a nonprofit that provides mortgage-free homes to Gold Star and fallen first-responder families with young children.

Cranberry Board Hears Reports On Summer Reading, Sports Fields – Oil City Derrick https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/cranberry-board-hears-reports-on-summer-reading-sports-fields-oil-city-derrick/ Cranberry School Board members heard reports Monday on the success of the summer reading program in the district and the condition of several sports fields. “Outdoor sports in our school district are affected by the weather and the condition of the fields,” said Martin Coe, a Cranberry High School softball coach and the owner of a landscaping company. RANDY BARTLEY, reporter for The Derrick and The News-Herald, can be reached at 814-226-7000 or at randybartley.thederrick@gmail.com Seneca Rocks Audubon will hold a bird photography event titled “Winging It” at 6:30 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 12, at the Clarion Free Library. Cranberry School Board members heard reports Monday on the success of the summer reading program in the district and the condition of several sports fields. Valley Grove School Board members heard a presentation at their meeting Monday from a representative of the Public Finance Management (PFM) Financial Advisors group that is advising the school district on debt service. Here are the winning numbers drawn Tuesday in the Pennsylvania lottery: Representatives from the Training Modernization Group (TMG) visited The National Transit Building in Oil City last week to meet with local career and technology center officials. The Franklin General Authority has expressed concern about a Pennsylvania Senate bill that would require state-regulated asset management plans for water and sewer entities if they are to be eligible for state and federal funding. HARRISBURG — The tri-county area’s seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for August increased from July, which was a month that saw a drop in the jobless rate when compared with June, according to the state Department of Labor & Industry. 90TH BIRTHDAY — Larry Weaver, a former area resident, will celebrate his 90th birthday Monday, Oct. 3. Weaver, whose father owned a filling station in Hasson Heights, was raised in Oil City. He graduated from St. Joseph High School and was married to the late Dorrie Hicks. Cards may be sent … A free seminar to help people learn how to make end-of-life choices will be held at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 6, at the Heckathorn Church in Seneca. Rocky Grove Class of 1956 PITTSBURGH — The average price for a gallon of gasoline in the tri-county area barely budged compared with the previous week, and remains above the western Pennsylvania average, which this week is $3.90, according to AAA East Central’s Gas Price Report. The University of Pittsburgh at Titusville’s Education and Training Hub will hold a fall open house at 9 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 15, on the Pitt-Titusville campus. People in the Clarion area can participate in the Alzheimer’s Association Walk to End Alzheimer’s fundraiser planned for Saturday. The 2022 Oil Valley Film Festival was held Sept. 9-11 in Oil City and featured 23 films. The Visiting Nurse Association of Venango County will hold a bereavement camp to help children ages 6 to 17 who are grieving the loss of a loved one. (The Nifty at 90 series in today’s newspaper spotlights Thomas E. Shiner, Sr. of Franklin. The article was published by his daughter, Pamela Jolley.) The Tri-City area Alcoholics Anonymous organization has provided the following updated information about when and where meetings are held regularly in the area. Readers who want to enter the newspaper’s Creative Cookbook contest and try for a chance to win the $500 top prize have until Friday to send in their recipes. Here are the numbers drawn Saturday and Sunday in the Pennsylvania lottery: Richard T. Esch, president of the University of Pittsburgh’s Titusville and Bradford campuses, receives the presidential medal from Ann Cudd, University of Pittsburgh provost and senior vice chancellor, as Chancellor Patrick Gallagher looks on during the inauguration on Sunday on the Pitt-Br… The Marienville Oktoberfest was held Friday through Sunday, with most events taking place in the town square. The square was filled with craft and food vendors, a street dance and a home decorating contest on Friday. The weekend also included pumpkin bowling, a children’s corn husking contes… Aron and Marie Shebeck of Seneca will celebrate their 25th wedding anniversary today. The Autumn Leaf Festival got underway on Saturday with the Kiddie Karnival, along with Touch-A-Truck in the Clarion Mall parking lot. The festival continues today with PennWest-Clarion’s Community Cultural Night in front of the Clarion County Courthouse. The nine-day event runs through Oct. 2. There was plenty of rubber burning in Cranberry Township on Saturday. Christian Life Academy is gearing up for the annual BEST Robotics competition in October. (The Nifty at 90 series in today’s newspaper spotlights Norma Jean Long of Oil City. The article was submitted by her son, Ted Reynolds.) The annual Foxburg Art, Wine and Food Festival will be held from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 9. The continuing Lyric Theatre rehabilitation project in Oil City has been buoyed by a $500,000 Appalachian Regional Commission grant that was announced Friday by U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Cranberry Township supervisors have applied for funding that would help a bridge project and two township parks. The labor shortage has had an impact on Clarion County townships, and a resolution was adopted at Thursday’s annual Clarion County Association of Township Officials convention that could help remedy the situation. (The Nifty at 90 series in today’s newspaper spotlights Donald J. Kleck of Franklin. The article was submitted by his daughter, Theresa Nestor.) The Venango Youth Choir will begin rehearsals Monday.

Eat, Drink And Play In The Metaverse – Hindustan Times https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/eat-drink-and-play-in-the-metaverse-hindustan-times/ The Food & Beverage (F&B) sector in India is taking tentative steps toward joining the metaverse. Touted as the future of social media, the entry into metaverse is just not limited to issuing trademarks. Instead, the bigger picture involves bringing together the virtual and physical worlds, giving an immersive experience to the users. Latest to join the metaverse bandwagon is Allied Blenders and Distillers (ABD) Ltd., an Indian domestic alcobev company. It announced the launch of its new whisky ICONiQ White, in ABD MetaBar – the organisation’s presence in the metaverse. “The ABD MetaBar is an immersive virtual reality (VR) lounge in the Metaverse housing digital avatars of ABD’s leading brands. With its futuristic design, the ABD MetaBar is optimised for both mobile and desktop usage. It taps into the growing interest amongst consumers and enthusiasts for their desire to experiment and doodle on the future of human and virtual relationships,” said Bikram Basu, chief strategy and marketing officer, Allied Blenders and Distillers Ltd. FORAY IN THE DIGITAL UNIVERSE Globally, brands have launched attention-grabbing campaigns in the metaverse. For instance, tequila brand Jose Cuervo has opened a metaverse distillery located on the Decentraland platform. Beer company Heineken, launched Heineken Silver, the world’s first virtual beer at their virtual brewery in Decentraland. Liqueur brand Hpnotiq invited adults to venture into the metaverse with #HPNOVERSE. Hosted by Grammy-nominated musician Guapdad 4000, the AR world would be a place to discover drink recipes, get creative with an augmented reality camera app, and collect NFTS. Fast food chain Wendy’s opened Wendyverse, earlier this year. The Wendyverse comprises a virtual reality Wendy’s restaurant. According to a report by MarketsandMarkets, the Metaverse market size is projected to grow from USD 61.8 billion in 2022 to USD 426.9 billion by 2027, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 47.2% during the forecast period. Back home, Massive Restaurant’s Farzi Café and The Olive Group announced their foray into the metaverse. “Metaverse is the future of the F&B industry and we want to be at the top of it. Farzi Cafe being on the Metaverse is the most logical. Farzi Cafe serves modern Indian cuisine which is cutting edge and it has to be a step ahead in embracing technology. Currently, we are on board with OneRare to create Farzi Cafe in Metaverse. With this, we want to juxtapose the virtual world and the physical world. There is a lot to offer in the metaverse. For instance, at Farzi Cafe, users can play virtual games where they go and collect ingredients to create a dish. They can mint tokens and these can be exchanged at any of our physical restaurants across the country,” said Zorawar Kalra, founder, and managing director, Massive Restaurants. “Just like no restaurant can do without being on Instagram, similarly few years down the line, they cannot afford to be without being in the Metaverse.” The Olive Group has collaborated with Hey Hey Global, an online platform powering experiential engagement between celebrities, influencers, and creators globally via new-age technology where fans can discover and buy creator-powered NFTs. The Olive Group will offer NFTs which will also include the group’s restaurants offering one-of-a-kind physical and virtual experiences to its guests. In the works are plans to engage with Olive’s wider community, via NFT and the Metaverse. BUILDING A FOODVERSE Supreet Raju, co-founder, OneRare, metaverse for Global Food & Beverage Industry said, “We are building world’s first ever foodverse. The idea is to create a more immersive experience for the foodies, as well as create a new marketing and monetisation platform for the F&B industry. Two significant things lead us to this. The first is the way social media has grown as a marketing tool for businesses. They want to interact more and more with the community and its desires and shared experiences, now. There is a growing need now to have stronger virtual connections. Secondly, this has been accelerated by the pandemic. The F&B industry suffered a lot in the two years. The idea has been to create this new Web3 platform, for the food industry. This allows them to create 3D experiences, issue their NFT, and create membership clubs. Have new ways of interacting with audiences, which isn’t a one-way connection or a 2D connection.” The idea to build a foodverse is to take the F&B industry to Web3. The aim is not the replacement of real life, because it’s food and drinks and one needs a taste to enjoy it. “What we are seeking to do is, improve the virtual experience. So, let’s say right now, you are craving a burger. You go on Google and check out places, or go on a food aggregator website or an app, make a choice, and then use a banking app to pay for it. You will even put up your reviews online. There is a lot of time that is spent on apps through this entire process of discovering these new places. That’s what we are looking to do. The idea is to handhold them, and get them to understand the power of blockchain and what it can do for their business.” She added, “ Also, the idea is to also have people in their digital avatars, in Web3, come to the foodverse and spend some time, earn an NFT, to come back to real world and swap for a real food item. So let’s say, you come into the foodverse and play a game. You’ve won a burger NFT. You can take that to any of our partner restaurants and swap it for a real burger as well.” The author tweets @Namyasinha

Best Prime Day Laptop Deals: What To Expect From The Second Sale – Digital Trends https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/best-prime-day-laptop-deals-what-to-expect-from-the-second-sale-digital-trends/ Prime Day has come and gone and Black Friday hasn’t quite reached us yet, and if you’re in the market for one of the best laptops you may be wondering when you can catch a major discount. As it turns out, Amazon has confirmed it will be holding a second major shopping event in 2022. The Prime Early Access Sale will be taking place on October 10 and October 11, and it will be a great opportunity for anyone who missed out on Prime Day deals to grab a new laptop at a great price. This event will basically be a second version of the popular Prime Day shopping event, with Amazon discounting prices on some of the best laptop brands a near certainty. This event will precede November’s Black Friday sales by more than a month, and will make a great opportunity to get a head start on your holiday shopping. In fact, we’re already starting to get a good idea of what to expect with this second Prime Day event, and we’ve rounded up some of the best early Prime Day laptop deals available. Today’s Best Prime Day Laptop Deals HP Chromebook 11.6 — $98, was $225 There are some absolute bargains to be found in the Prime Day Laptop Deals. The best Chromebooks don’t have to cost a fortune if you know exactly what you want from one, especially if you look for Prime Day Chromebook deals. That’s demonstrated by the HP 11.6-inch Chromebook. It’s an attractive option for anyone looking for one of the best Chromebooks for students thanks to being so cheap, while still offering what you need. It has all the basics anyone could require while you work on the move. Utilizing an 11.6-inch screen means that it’s very small and easy to carry around with you. That screen still offers an HD resolution while also including antiglare properties. While 220 nits may not be exceptional for pricier laptops, it’s fairly reasonable in this price range. Under the hood, you get an AMD A4 processor, along with 4GB of memory. Again, it’s low-end stuff, but Chromebooks use ChromeOS, which is very undemanding. The idea of ChromeOS is that you work via the cloud. Everything you save is kept on the cloud while even the apps you use are cloud-based, such as the wealth of Google apps out there. That also explains why the HP 11.6-inch Chromebook offers 32GB of eMMC storage. That would be low for a Windows-based system, but for a Chromebook, it’s all you need. It also has integrated AMD Radeon R4 graphics, but it’s not like you’ll be doing any gaming on this system. However, you will be able to stream shows and movies via your favorite streaming services. Perhaps the most distinctive part of the HP 11.6-inch Chromebook is its build quality. It’s built to last. This Chromebook can survive a fall off a desk from up to four feet (so, higher than most desks). It can also withstand a splash from a drink or if someone tugs its power cord too hard. It can even resist attempts to remove keys, plus it has metal-reinforced corners. It’s these features that make it particularly well-suited for younger students who are just starting out with a computer of their own. Throw in long battery life and fast recharging, and the HP 11.6-inch Chromebook is a suitably frustration-free setup for everyone. HP Laptop 14 — $280, was $430 The HP 14-inch laptop keeps things simple and straightforward, making it an ideal choice from the Prime Day Laptop Deals if you need a reliable Windows laptop without spending a fortune. That’s kind of what you would expect to see from one of the best laptop brands, but it’s nice to see HP offer decent quality at this price range. While it won’t rival the best 14-inch laptops, it’s still more than good enough for anyone on a budget, especially as it comes with Windows 11 Home already installed. For your money, you get an AMD 3020e processor with AMD Radeon graphics included. This is no gaming machine, but it means you’ll have reasonable performance for working on the move. Alongside that, you get 8GB of memory, which is just the right amount for being productive in this price range. Also, there’s 128GB of SSD storage, which means you have plenty of room to store all your files and apps. SSD-based storage also means that the HP 14-inch laptop is able to boot up and load apps or files much quicker than a regular hard drive. The HP 14-inch laptop has all those finer details covered too. For instance, its 14-inch screen is surrounded by a 6.5mm micro-edge bezel so you can spend more time looking at the screen than ugly bezels. It also means the HP 14-inch laptop is thinner and lighter than one would expect. You also get long-lasting battery life so you can stay connected all day. To back it up, there’s also HP Fast Charge technology that means it recharges superfast when needed. Even the touchpad has been well-designed with multitouch support ensuring you can work speedily. Other useful details include a multi-format SD media card reader for plugging in memory cards, while there’s also a HP True Vision 720p HD camera with an integrated dual-array digital microphone. The HP 14-inch laptop even tosses in one USB-C port alongside two USB-A ports and an HDMI connection so you have plenty of flexibility in terms of what you hook up to it. It’s well-suited to anyone looking for a productivity-focused device. Apple MacBook Air M1 — $850, was $999 The Apple MacBook Air M1 is a delight to use, particularly if you also own other Apple devices. Connecting well with your iPhone, iPad, Apple TV, and other Apple gadgets, the MacBook Air might seem expensive on the surface but it’s impressively powerful. That’s thanks to Apple’s own M1 chip, which offers phenomenal performance alongside exceptional battery life. The processor has eight cores and is up to 3.5 times faster than the previous-gen Intel CPUs. Despite having so much power, it still has a battery life of up to 18 hours so you can bring it along on a long day and it’ll keep going. In addition, 8GB of memory means it’s capable of multitasking at speed, and everything is designed to work well with MacOS. It also has a gorgeous looking 13.3-inch Retina display. Text is sharp and clear, while colors are bright and vibrant. A thermally efficient yet completely fanless design means that you don’t even have to worry about a constant fan noise, as the MacBook’s M1 CPU stays cool and silent at all times. Additional features include a 256GB SSD, which is plenty of room to store your most important files. It also has a FaceTime HD camera for video conferencing and taking FaceTime calls. Touch ID support lets you use your finger to log in rather than constantly having to type passwords. The backlit Magic Keyboard also looks great, and is particularly useful when working in the evening. Simply put, the MacBook Air M1 is a true delight to use and a great choice for Apple fans. With many productivity apps ready to use right out of the box, it’s ideal for students an professionals alike. Should you shop these Prime Day laptop deals or wait until Black Friday? Black Friday is an annual event that sees almost every retailer in existence discounting much of their inventories to kick off the holiday shopping season. This makes it, generally speaking, the best time of the year to find major discounts on popular products, as many retailers use the event to clear out inventory. In fact, Black Friday often sees laptops selling out completely, with little availability and longer delivery windows throughout the shopping season. With it being such a popular event, and with it taking place immediately after Thanksgiving, it’s a great time to grab a discount on a laptop. However, this second Prime Day event by Amazon presents an unexpected opportunity in the regular holiday shopping strategy. It will be taking place more than a month before Black Friday, and the best time to get a deal is while one is looking you in the eye. You can purchase a laptop at this second Prime Day event with zero risk, as the event is close enough to Black Friday that your return window will still be open when Black Friday rolls around. This means you can grab a laptop deal during this second Prime Day event if you see one you like, and if a better deal turns up come Black Friday, you can grab it and still return the previous purchase. It’s best to get your holiday shopping done early to guarantee a deal and to guarantee you don’t miss out on the laptop you have your eye on. There will be a lot of opportunity to land one of the best laptops or one of the best Chromebooks. So whether you feel a better deal awaits you on Black Friday or not, grab a new laptop at this second Prime Day event if you see one at a price that works for you. Editors’ Recommendations Creative’s Katana V2X PC soundbar promises the same sound in a smaller footprint Dell’s best work-from-home laptop is over $600 cheaper today Best wireless mouse deals for September 2022 Grab this cheap printer deal from HP and get 6 months of free ink Get this 17-inch HP laptop with Windows 11 for $320 today

OpenSea NFT Marketplace Adds Support For Optimism – OP Token Price Forecast – Cryptonews https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/opensea-nft-marketplace-adds-support-for-optimism-op-token-price-forecast-cryptonews/ Source: Optimism Leading non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace OpenSea has launched support for the Optimism blockchain, enabling the integration of popular collections such as Apetimism, Bored Town, MotorHeadz, and OptiChads within the platform. “You can now buy and sell your favorite Optimism NFTs on @opensea. The best part: knowing OpenSea activity on Optimism funds a sustainable future for Ethereum,” the blockchain tweeted. “Having the largest NFT marketplace on Optimism is going to be absolutely massive for Optimism’s creators, collectors, and NFT” fans. Optimism was built as a scalable L2 blockchain by Ethereum developers. The blockchain’s creators claim “Optimism takes everything you love about Ethereum and turbocharges it. Ethereum tooling ‘just works’ on every level of the stack. Transactions are cheap and nearly instant.” Owing to the latest development, OpenSea is adding support to the sixth blockchain, with Ethereum, Solana, Polygon, Klaytn, and Arbitrum already accommodated by the platform.  As of 08:00 a.m. UTC, some 100 Optimism-based NFT collections were available for purchase at OpenSea. The largest trading volume was reported by Early Optimists, at ETH 534, Optimistic Explorer, with ETH 175, and OP Orcas, at ETH 76, respectively, according to data released by the marketplace. “We encourage the @optimismFND community to search for their favorite newly listed Optimism collections and reach out to founders to get @openrarity integration and collection offers enabled!” OpenSea said in a tweet. Prior to the expansion, a lion’s share of Optimism NFT trade had taken place within Quix, a marketplace dedicated to the blockchain.  As of 08:20 a.m. UTC, the blockchain’s native Optimism (OP) token traded at roughly $0.88, down 9.13% over a 24-hour period, per CoinMarketCap.com data. This said, an analysis by industry site CoinCodex.com suggests that “the value of Optimism is predicted to rise by 7.00% and reach $0.937831 by October 3, 2022.”

Steep Sell-Offs In U.S. Stocks Have Started To Spread Worlwide – NPR https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/steep-sell-offs-in-u-s-stocks-have-started-to-spread-worlwide-npr/ Steep sell-offs in U.S. stocks have started to spread worlwide The volatility in U.S. markets is rocking stock, bond and currency trading in other countries. Many blame the Federal Reserve for the wild swings. September 28, 20225:14 AM ET Steep sell-offs in U.S. stocks have started to spread worlwide Download Embed iframe src="https://www.npr.org/player/embed/1125525812/1125525813" width="100%" height="290" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" title="NPR embedded audio player" The volatility in U.S. markets is rocking stock, bond and currency trading in other countries. Many blame the Federal Reserve for the wild swings.

Technology Adoption, Integration Lever To Move Up Value Chain: Report – ANTARA English https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/technology-adoption-integration-lever-to-move-up-value-chain-report-antara-english/ Jakarta (ANTARA) – The APEC Policy Support Unit’s new policy brief calls for more vigorous development, adoption, and investment in fourth industrial revolution technologies in APEC to support member economies’ efforts in moving up the value chain. Moving up the value chain will make the region more resilient and increase economic gains, as noted by the APEC Policy Support Unit in a statement received here on Wednesday. The fourth industrial revolution refers to the integration of digital technologies in different sectors, with inventions from a wide range of fields, such as information technology hardware and software, connectivity, data management, user interfaces, power supply, as well as consumer goods, smart homes, vehicles, and healthcare applications. “Participating in global value chains is a common avenue for economies to join the global production and the innovation ecosystem. However, we also know that the revenue generated from each stage of the value chain is not equally distributed,” Akhmad Bayhaqi, a senior analyst with the Policy Support Unit, remarked. Bayhaqi explained the concept of the “smiling curve” in value chains, wherein the two ends of the smile — one end closer to the producer and the other closer to the consumer — have higher gain in terms of value added as compared to the middle point. “This middle point is the labor-intensive manufacturing stage, which generally adds less relative value,” he explained. “In order to increase revenue and gains from participating in global value chains, member economies could move their position either upstream towards research and development activities or downstream towards branding and marketing activities,” he remarked. That is where the development and adoption of fourth industrial revolution technologies play a role, according to the policy brief. The level of technological advancement of an economy could influence its position in global value chains. Investing in research and development as well as labor upskilling, for instance, can help member economies leapfrog to higher stages, while a more traditional approach, such as specialization, could help member economies incrementally build their technology and production capabilities as they move up value chains. In 2019, the APEC region contributed around 80 percent, or US$699 billion, of global exports of fourth industrial revolution products and 63 percent, or US$533 billion, of their global imports. China was the leading global exporter, followed by Chinese Taipei, Japan, Korea, and Mexico. On the import side, the United States and China were the two main contributors, importing 24 percent and 21 percent, respectively. The policy brief also measures how innovative APEC economies are in the fourth industrial revolution field by assessing the number of patent application collections covering similar technical content. In the last two decades, the APEC region has recorded a six-fold increase in patent families, from just over nine thousand in 2000, to nearly 57 thousand in 2019. Those were mainly for connectivity, home, consumer goods, as well as information technology hardware and software. Economies that are most active in patenting, such as Canada, China, Japan, Korea, Chinese Taipei, and the United States, also show high patent content embedded in their value chains. “Global value chains, as a form of trade network between multinational corporations and their globally dispersed suppliers, can be channels for the transfer of knowledge, know-how, and innovation,” Bayhaqi explained. “Advanced digital production technologies can bring about integration and upgrading benefits as well as opportunities, such as improving production efficiency using big data analytics,” he concluded. The advantage of adopting and investing in fourth industrial revolution technologies go beyond adding revenue and gains, according to the report. It is a forward-looking strategy that allows member economies to continue their innovative growth path, as mandated in the APEC Putrajaya Vision. Meanwhile, the successful adoption of these technologies is dependent on enabling factors, such as closing the digital skills gap through digital literacy training; upskilling for local workforces; and knowledge transfers through foreign direct investment in prioritized sectors. Related news: APEC boosts SMEs’ competitiveness through health ethics pacts Related news: APEC ministers aim for recovery, resilience of small businesses Related news: Research addressing postnatal depression wins APEC prize

Our View: Student Film Explores Dangers Of Excessive Gaming – The-Review https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/our-view-student-film-explores-dangers-of-excessive-gaming-the-review/ Congratulations to Michael Kanagy and the other students at West Branch High School for their success with the Friends4Friends campaign. Students on the school’s team brainstormed, wrote, filmed and edited a short film called “Unplugged,” which deals with the dangers of spending too much time playing video games.  According to a recent report, Kanagy’s performance as Max in the film won the coveted Best Actor award at the DeYor Performing Arts Center in Youngstown.  The efforts to research and create a film are a wonderful way to drive home certain lessons, not only in the crafts of persuasion and cinematography, but also about the inherent risks of the subject matter itself.  While video gaming has gotten a bad rap over the years, sometimes named as the sole cause for an alleged decline in the younger generation, it is true that an overindulgence in anything, even a hobby that is benign, can lead to problems.  We are reminded of a quote that, in various forms, can be traced to sources as diverse as the Bible and Oscar Wilde: “All things in moderation.” Wilde’s cynical contribution is that even moderation should be done in moderation.  Many of the earliest video game players are now old enough to share with their grandchildren the stories of how their own parents groused at them for playing video games.  Be that as it may, it is true that the sort of bleary-eyed addiction to games that leads some teens to stay up until the early hours of the morning, almost every morning, has deleterious effects on their social and academic lives.  If that message is driven home to some teens in trouble by watching their peers act it out, then “Unplugged” will have done its job. Kudos to all involved.  City should tackle ongoing skunk situation  At a recent Alliance City Council meeting, Councilman Jim Edwards asked if Alliance should hire a part-time critter control officer.  We suspect many residents would answer with a resounding yes.  Skunks may have only risen to the level of a city council problem recently, but longtime residents can assure their elected officials that the problem has been vexing − and pungent − for years.  There have been times when it seems the skunks outnumbered people in some neighborhoods, so strong is the olfactory assault that occurs when stepping outside.  A Review article notes that Michael Dreger, director of public safety and service, is exploring options and that he himself has had a pet sprayed by skunks. While we hate to hear that, it does serve to underline a pervasive problem.  Perhaps the city could contract with an outside company for a limited time rather than incur the expense of a regular employee. Or maybe the issue is big enough that a part-time employee could find plenty to do year-round.  Either way, here’s hoping for a quick resolution to a smelly situation.

Ex-Manager Of Vancouver Arby’s Sentenced After Urinating In Milkshake Mix – KOIN.com https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/ex-manager-of-vancouver-arbys-sentenced-after-urinating-in-milkshake-mix-koin-com/ Set of different milkshakes in disposable plastic glasses on wooden table outdoors. (Getty Images) Set of different milkshakes in disposable plastic glasses on wooden table outdoors. (Getty Images) by: The Associated Press Posted: Sep 27, 2022 / 06:26 PM PDT Updated: Sep 27, 2022 / 06:31 PM PDT VANCOUVER, Wash. (AP) — A former manager at an Arby’s restaurant in Washington has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after admitting he possessed child pornography and urinated into a milkshake mix that might have been served to dozens of people. Vancouver police said they uncovered footage of Stephen S. Sharp, 29, peeing into a bag of milkshake mix as they searched his phone as part of the child pornography investigation, The Columbian newspaper reported. Sharp pleaded guilty Aug. 16 in Clark County Superior Court to three counts of first-degree possession of child pornography and one count of second-degree attempted assault. Judge Derek Vanderwood sentenced him Monday to five years and seven months in prison. As part of his plea agreement, Sharp must register as a sex offender and is prohibited from going to any Arby’s restaurants. Sharp was working alone at an Arby’s in Vancouver’s Mill Plain neighborhood in October 2021 when he urinated at least twice into the milkshake mix bag. According to an affidavit filed in Clark County Superior Court, he told investigators he did it for sexual gratification and was “almost sure” he threw the bag out afterward. If he didn’t throw the bag away, he said, it would have been added to other mix by the next shift and served to customers. Another manager at the Arby’s told detectives the restaurant sold at least one ice cream float and about 30 to 40 milkshakes that day, court records said. The Vancouver Police Department tried to identify people who might have consumed the milkshakes, but Senior Deputy Prosecutor Kasey Vu said Monday that none had turned up. Sharp apologized to his family and to Clark County during his sentencing. Clark County Public Health Director Dr. Alan Melnick has said there is no significant health risk to consuming a drink contaminated with urine.

Inhaven Is The One-Stop Home Furnishing Shop For The Vacation Rental Industry – EIN News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/inhaven-is-the-one-stop-home-furnishing-shop-for-the-vacation-rental-industry-ein-news/ Inhaven Logo With a wide variety of quality goods, wholesale prices, and tools that simplify product sourcing, Inhaven is built for vacation rental owners and managers. I want to focus on making all of our guests comfortable, and Inhaven has the tools to make that easy” — Andrew, host in North Carolina YONKERS, NEW YORK, USA, September 28, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — Inhaven has launched a home furnishing b2b ecommerce shop built for the vacation rental industry. The website features a wide variety of products for every room in the home. Each product is chosen for quality and durability, and offered at a discounted price – up to 75% off retail. Checklists and room-by-room product bundles simplify the process of setting up a vacation rental. Property owners and managers gain access to the site when they join for free. Inhaven partners with top retail brands and home furnishing manufacturers, helping them reach a fast-growing segment of the hospitality industry. Vacation rentals are an increasingly popular way to travel, but quality varies widely. “I was frustrated by the uncertainty of not knowing what I would walk into,” said Ashley Ching, the founder of Inhaven and mother of four children. “I was convinced that there had to be a better way to set up a vacation rental. We can simplify the shopping experience for hosts and provide a better experience for guests. The whole point of Inhaven is to put the joy back into travel and hospitality – for both hosts and guests.” Until now, vacation rental property owners and managers have been excluded from many industry benefits, like discounts on bulk orders or access to hospitality-grade products. Through Inhaven, however, hosts can take advantage of those benefits. Products are discounted up to 75% off retail across the site, and many are available in bulk quantities, historically only available to hotels or large purchasing groups. The shopping experience is designed with property owners and managers in mind: tools like checklists and bundles simplify the complexity of product sourcing, and every product is in stock, ready to ship for free. “Inhaven is thoughtfully curated, unlike many of the home furnishing marketplaces I’ve tried to use in the past. I know each product is high-quality and durable – and that saves me countless hours of reading reviews and the cost of replacing cheap products that break. I want to focus on making all of our guests comfortable, and Inhaven has the tools to make that easy,” said Andrew, a host in North Carolina and early Inhaven adopter. Vacation rental hosts who source many or all of their furnishings from Inhaven can receive a Quality Stay certification for their properties. Travelers see a badge indicating Quality Stay status when they browse popular sites like Airbnb and Vrbo, and can be confident that the property is fully stocked with high-quality amenities. Certainty of quality drives better customer reviews, and higher occupancy and daily rates. Inhaven provides a new revenue stream for brands: b2b sales in the rapidly growing vacation rental market. By placing products in vacation rental properties, brands gain visibility with travelers who associate them with quality. Furthermore, Inhaven’s robust dataset of sales and shopping patterns is accessible to brands through a dashboard and data exports. Inhaven is currently available to hosts in the United States, and orders are fulfilled directly by our partner brands via drop-shipping. According to a recent report from AirDNA, there are 1.34 million vacation rental listings in the United States. The supply is growing quickly to meet traveler demand, which is up significantly over last year. The US vacation rental industry is approaching a $33 billion market size, and Inhaven is positioned to capture a significant share. Inhaven will participate in several upcoming trade shows, including the Book Direct Show (Miami, FL), VRMA International Summit (Las Vegas, NV) and VRMA Connect Mid-Atlantic (Annapolis, MD). About Inhaven: Inhaven empowers vacation rental owners and property managers to create extraordinary guest experiences. Every product on our e-commerce site is curated for quality and durability – and discounted at wholesale prices. Inhaven partners with top brands and manufacturers, giving them access to a fast-growing segment of the hospitality industry. Joining Inhaven is free for property owners and managers, and tools like checklists and room-by-room product bundles make sourcing simple. Guests look for Inhaven’s Quality Stay badge when they travel, because they know the homes are going to be furnished with high quality products, driving higher occupancy and daily rates. With Inhaven, vacation rental owners and managers generate maximum value for themselves and their guests. Ashley Ching Inhaven +1 800-509-1268 hello@inhaven.com Visit us on social media: Facebook LinkedIn Other You just read: EIN Presswire’s priority is source transparency. We do not allow opaque clients, and our editors try to be careful about weeding out false and misleading content. As a user, if you see something we have missed, please do bring it to our attention. Your help is welcome. EIN Presswire, Everyone’s Internet News Presswire, tries to define some of the boundaries that are reasonable in today’s world. Please see our Editorial Guidelines for more information. Submit your press release

Seattle DJC.com Local Business News And Data – News – Harts Services – Seattle Daily Journal Of Commerce https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/seattle-djc-com-local-business-news-and-data-news-harts-services-seattle-daily-journal-of-commerce/ Sep 28, 2022 GeoEngineers Baum GeoEngineers has hired James Baum as CFO. Baum is an accomplished CFO with more than 35 years of experience in financial management for engineering and construction firms, where he has helped to improve processes, grow business and increase profits. Baum launched his career working for small and mid-sized engineering firms in Southern California. His leadership and strategic skills soon propelled him into a position as controller and then CFO. He spent the next three decades learning the finer points of financial reporting, strategic planning, cash management, budgeting, market development and executive leadership. Baum has specialized in employee-owned companies, so an employee-owned consulting firm like GeoEngineers is a natural fit. He understands the broader consulting industry, and knows how to pursue mergers when appropriate, develop new markets and encourage collaboration. Cushing Terrell Pelowitz Hersel Cushing Terrell has promoted Josh Hersel and Shawn Pelowitz to associate principal. An architect and director of the firm’s residential design studio, Hersel is based in Boise, Idaho. Hersel’s primary focus is leading transformative multifamily and mixed-use projects. He has been with Cushing Terrell for 17 years, and in addition to residential projects, has expertise in commercial and hospitality design work, melding best practices from across these markets into his current work. An architect and director of the firm’s government design studio, Pelowitz is based in Minneapolis. Pelowitz has 30 years of experience working for the U.S. military and government agencies across the globe, including the Naval Facilities Engineering Command, U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, and the U.S. General Services Administration. Through this experience as an architect, he has gained in-depth and intuitive knowledge of how government agencies operate and how to best support them through design. Pelowitz has been with Cushing Terrell for seven years, during which time he co-led the government group and also established the firm’s office in Minneapolis. Helix Design Group Kreem Bassim Kreem has joined Helix Design Group in a project manager role. Kreem earned his bachelor’s degree in architectural engineering at Cairo University and then went on to Washington State University to complete his master’s in architecture. He has over 10 years’ experience working on a multitude of project types, varying from single-family and multifamily residential facilities to commercial and mixed-use projects. Kreem is an active member in multiple design forums, and in the community. He serves as a member on the city of Olympia Design Review Board and is heavily involved with multiple organizations including AIA and Habitat for Humanity. HOK Rippy Levi J. Rippy has been promoted from senior project architect to technical principal for HOK’s San Francisco and Seattle studios. Based in San Francisco, he leads the technical direction and development of projects across HOK’s markets. Rippy is an architect with more than 20 years of experience with aviation and transportation, health care, science and technology, justice, corporate, commercial and hospitality projects. His recent projects include the Seattle-Tacoma International Airport Concourse D Annex and Judge Patricia H. Clark Children and Family Justice Center. Rippy is a member of HOK’s firm-wide technical board working to improve project delivery and design processes. He also sits on the firm’s mentoring task force and has served as chairperson for the AIA Seattle Chapter’s Urban Design Forum. McGranahan Architects Benjamin Fields and Dion Serra have joined the ownership group at McGranahan Architects. Fields is passionate about creating engaging learning environments and continuing the firm’s work around sustainability and diversity and inclusion. Serra values creating positive environments for the community and fostering rewarding relationships with clients and consultants. Fields and Serra join McGranahan’s four current owners. The Watershed Company Rogers Foster The Watershed Company has hired Drew Foster, arborist, Jesse Rogers, arborist, and Justin Kay, ecologist. An ISA-certified arborist, Foster comes with a master’s degree in environmental studies from the University of Washington and has 14 years of working experience in arboriculture, forestry, and natural resource conservation. Foster will play an integral role in Watershed’s arborist services, as well as joining multidisciplinary teams to support project permitting and management. At the company, Rogers will assist with procuring, scoping, and budgeting small and large arborist consulting jobs for public and private clients, and will coordinate arborist tasks and project elements with Watershed’s project managers. Kay will assist with environmental field work such as wetland and stream delineations, plant and tree identification, along with the preparation of environmental reports and studies. Airship Davis Portland-based Airship appointed Cindy Davis to its board of directors. Davis is currently a board member of Destination Pet and serves on the board of trustees for William & Mary, Mason School of Business. Most recently, Davis was chief brand officer for Bed Bath & Beyond, while also serving as president of its sister company, Decorist. Prior to that, she was executive vice president and chief digital marketing officer for L Brands. Airship’s current board members include Chris Moody of Foundry Group, Puneet Agarwal of True Ventures, John Johnston of August Capital, and Brett Caine of Airship. Airship has a digital platform for companies to manage customer communications. Edifecs Edifecs, a health information technology company, hired David Peterson as senior vice president of marketing, and Milla Rahmani as general counsel. Peterson is responsible for all aspects of Edifecs’ brand, marketing strategy and execution. He has over 20 years of experience as a health care and technology executive. Prior to Edifecs, Peterson led marketing at several health care companies including AccuReg, Change Healthcare, and SpecialtyCare. As general counsel, Rahmani is leading the legal department with responsibility for the global legal affairs of the company including customer and vendor contracting, corporate governance, intellectual property, risk management, as well as providing legal counsel to internal functions. She has experience in commercial contracting and navigating the legal affairs of private equity-backed technology companies. Prior to joining Edifecs, Rahmani served as Litera’s vice president and general counsel. Edifecs is headquartered in Bellevue, with additional offices in Atlanta, San Francisco, Pittsburgh, and Mohali, India; and engineering centers in Moldova, Belarus and Ukraine. City of Tacoma October marks the 21st anniversary of Tacoma Arts Month, a community celebration of the arts. Programming for all ages includes music, theater and dance performances, hands-on experiences, visual art exhibits, film screenings, literary readings, lectures, cultural events, and workshops. All events are open to the public and many activities are free. The opening celebration will be held 6:30 p.m.-9 p.m. Oct. 5 at STAR Center (3873 S. 66th St.). More information is at TacomaArtsMonth.org.

WHO, ILO Call For New Measures To Tackle Mental Health In The Workplace – Al Arabiya English https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/who-ilo-call-for-new-measures-to-tackle-mental-health-in-the-workplace-al-arabiya-english/ The World Health Organization (WHO) and the International Labor Organization (ILO) have called for concrete actions to address mental health concerns in the global workforce. An estimated 12 billion workdays are lost annually due to depression and anxiety costing the global economy nearly US$ 1 trillion. For all the latest headlines follow our Google News channel online or via the app. WHO’s global guidelines on mental health at work recommend actions to tackle risks to mental health such as heavy workloads, negative behaviors, and other factors that create distress at work. For the first time WHO recommends manager training, to build their capacity to prevent stressful work environments and respond to workers in distress. WHO’s World Mental Health Report, published in June 2022, showed that of one billion people living with a mental disorder in 2019, 15 percent of working-age adults experienced a mental disorder. Work amplifies wider societal issues that negatively affect mental health, including discrimination and inequality. Bullying and psychological violence (also known as “mobbing”) is a key complaint of workplace harassment that has a negative impact on mental health. Yet discussing or disclosing mental health remains a taboo in work settings globally, the WHO states. The guidelines also recommend better ways to accommodate the needs of workers with mental health conditions, propose interventions that support their return to work and, for those with severe mental health conditions, provide interventions that facilitate entry into paid employment. Importantly, the guidelines call for interventions aimed at the protection of health, humanitarian, and emergency workers. “It’s time to focus on the detrimental effect work can have on our mental health,” said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “The well-being of the individual is reason enough to act, but poor mental health can also have a debilitating impact on a person’s performance and productivity. These new guidelines can help prevent negative work situations and cultures and offer much-needed mental health protection and support for working people.” A separate WHO/ILO policy brief explains the WHO guidelines in terms of practical strategies for governments, employers and workers, and their organizations, in the public and private sectors. The aim is to support the prevention of mental health risks, protect and promote mental health at work, and support those with mental health conditions, so they can participate and thrive in the world of work. Investment and leadership will be critical to the implementation of the strategies. “As people spend a large proportion of their lives in work – a safe and healthy working environment is critical. We need to invest to build a culture of prevention around mental health at work, reshape the work environment to stop stigma and social exclusion, and ensure employees with mental health conditions feel protected and supported,” said Guy Ryder, ILO Director-General. The ILO Occupational Safety and Health Convention provides legal frameworks to protect the health and safety of workers. However, the WHO Mental Health Atlas found that only 35 percent of countries reported having national programmes for work-related mental health promotion and prevention. COVID-19 triggered a 25 percent increase in general anxiety and depression worldwide, exposing how unprepared governments were for its impact on mental health, and revealing a chronic global shortage of mental health resources. In 2020, governments worldwide spent an average of just 2 percent of health budgets on mental health, with lower-middle income countries investing less than 1 percent. Read more: Long COVID’s link to suicide: Scientists warn of hidden crisis among sufferers

D&E Soccer Team Rises To No. 1 In The Nation – The Inter-Mountain https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/de-soccer-team-rises-to-no-1-in-the-nation-the-inter-mountain/ KANSAS CITY, Missouri — The Davis & Elkins men’s soccer team is riding a seven-win unbeaten streak so far this season and after garnering national attention last season, head coach Dean Johnson’s Senators are quickly gaining respect in their 2022 campaign. Ranked third a week prior, D&E vaulted ahead of California State University-Los Angeles and Franklin Pierce University in the United Soccer Coaches Top 25 National Poll following a Sunday night 1-0 win over Frostburg State University. Previously unbeaten and last year’s National Champion, Cal State LA fell from the number one ranking to seventh in the poll following a Sunday night loss to Cal State Dominguez Hills. Cal State LA now stands at 7-1-0. Franklin Pierce, now 10-0-1, remains in second in this week’s poll following a 0-0 draw with Le Moyne and a 4-0 win over New Haven. D&E has outscored opponents 25-1 so far this season. The Senators lead all of NCAA Division II in won-lost percentage, scoring offense, points per game, goals against average, save percentage, and shutout percentage. The Senators average 3.57 goals per game, 10.00 points per game, a 0.923 save percentage, and a 0.857 shutout percentage. Opposing teams have managed a mere 0.143 goals per game against the Senators on average. With a wealth of talent on this year’s squad, D&E has utilized their balance and been able to spread the scoring around to several players. Five different players are tied for the lead in goals scored with three apiece. While Daniel Cerezo, Kevin Zapata, Manuel Castrejon, Christhian Bosquez, and Davide Materazzi have each led the team thus far in goals scored, a number of players remain from last year’s all-Mountain East Conference team, including MEC Defensive Player-of-the-Year Alex Estrada-Avila. Castrejon and Soshi Fujioka lead D&E with four assists each and goalkeeper Beltran Fernandez leads the Senators with eleven saves and five shutouts. The Senators host Wheeling University at 7 p.m. today for a MEC matchup. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Strategy Analytics: Dedicated Metaverse Device Installed Base To Reach 100M In 2024 – Business Wire https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/strategy-analytics-dedicated-metaverse-device-installed-base-to-reach-100m-in-2024-business-wire/ September 28, 2022 03:58 AM Eastern Daylight Time BOSTON–(BUSINESS WIRE)–As investment in the metaverse grows, ownership of dedicated metaverse devices (VR and AR headsets) is set to surge. The latest Strategy Analytics Metaverse, Augmented and Virtual Reality (MAV) report, “Metaverse Device Forecast 2014-2027” predicts the installed base to double by 2024, from 50M today. The report author, Executive Director David MacQueen, said, “Growing investment in this area, offering new and compelling experiences to consumers, will drive uptake in dedicated devices for consumers to take advantage of new services. Reaching an installed base of 100M in 2024 will be a significant milestone for this relatively new category of consumer electronics, helping to drive further growth and investment.” “So far, the market has been mostly VR headsets with AR devices mainly confined to the enterprise market. However, we expect AR headsets to drive future growth as more consumer-oriented devices launch. AR will grow from just over 1% of shipments of the metaverse devices market in 2021 to a 64% shipment share of metaverse devices by 2027.” Source: Strategy Analytics, Inc. #SA_Devices About Strategy Analytics Strategy Analytics, Inc. is a global leader in supporting companies across their planning lifecycle through a range of customized market research solutions. Part of TechInsights, our multi-discipline capabilities include industry research advisory services, customer insights, user experience design and innovation expertise, mobile consumer on-device tracking and business-to-business consulting competencies. With domain expertise in smart devices, connected cars, intelligent home, service providers, IoT, strategic components and media, Strategy Analytics can develop a solution to meet your specific planning need. For more information, visit us at www.strategyanalytics.com. For more information about Strategy Analytics Metaverse, Augmented and Virtual Reality (MAV): Click here

Here’s Why OPPO Reno8 Z 5G Doesn’t Disappoint – Philstar.com https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/heres-why-oppo-reno8-z-5g-doesnt-disappoint-philstar-com/ Jap Tobias – Philstar.com September 28, 2022 | 3:12pm Reno8 Z 5G delivers stellar portraits, spectacular design and smooth performance MANILA, Philippines — Smart device brand OPPO has recently unveiled its Reno8 Series 5G in the Philippines, featuring the Reno8 5G and Reno8 Z 5G. Both come equipped with OPPO’s flagship portrait system that allows users to capture life’s moments from day to night. Officially priced at P19,990, the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is the more budget-friendly option in the Reno8 Series 5G lineup, ideally meant for casual users who love a phone that’s rich in style and creative capabilities.  Philstar.com has had some time with the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G, and here’s our experience with the device. First impression: Sleek and sparkling The OPPO Reno8 Z 5G gets your attention right off the bat with its tasty-looking rear design that has a smooth, sandblasted feeling with a sparkling, glittery look.  The device we had was in Dawnlight Gold, which features a seamless gradient coating of different tones of yellow, cyan, purple and gold—giving off a beautiful rainbow holographic effect when light hits the device from different angles.  In terms of its sides, the device sports a metallic look, complemented by curved corners that make the device look sleek. Following what OPPO calls an “ultra slim retro design,” the Reno8 Z 5G feels light and easy to grip with its thinness of only approximately 7.66mm and weight of 181g. A thoughtful addition to the phone’s sparkling design is the OPPO Dual Orbit Lights. Tucked subtly beneath the camera modules, these ring-shaped prisms light up or blink in different scenarios, such as when the device charges, running games, or when there’s an unread notification.  Portrait Expert for a reason Day and night photos captured using OPPO Ren8 Z 5G’s camera with AI Scene enhancement feature. Philstar.com/Jap Tobias Dubbed as a “Portrait Expert” the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is made to deliver captivating portraits at any time of the day.  The device sports a 64MP AI Triple Rear Camera with a 16MP front camera. It is integrated with powerful portrait shooting features, such as the Bokeh Flare Portrait to capture portrait images with bokeh light spots, the Selfie HDR for clear selfies in low-lighted surroundings, and many more. We brought the device to different environments to test out the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G’s lenses, and as non-photography pros, we’ve also kept the phone’s AI scene enhancement feature on.  Front camera Bokeh Portrait and HDR Philstar.com/Jap Tobias While we do miss capturing wide shots, our photography experience with the device’s main cam is quite effortless. Images taken in daylight are consistently sharp without the problem of oversaturated colors, while night photos were also vibrant colors with minimal noise. Thanks to the device’s sensors and AI enhancement, it chooses the right settings to use. The phone’s front camera also delivers clear selfies during the daytime or night, made possible by Selfie HDR which preserves features of faces and backgrounds even in lowlight scenarios. Now let’s talk about the most promising thing in this device: the Portrait Mode.  Rear camera Bokeh Portrait in daylight and lowlight Philstar.com/Jap Tobias In our experience, the portrait mode, as expected, did a great job in producing DSLR-like photos with smoothly blurred backgrounds and creamy bokeh. Hair, shirt and face details all naturally transition naturally to the background that makes up for a perfect portrait.  The OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is also thoughtful enough to add more features like AI Portrait Retouching, AI Pallets and AI Color Portrait, among others.  In the past years, OPPO has consistently improved its imaging capabilities, and now they have shown what can be achieved when AI algorithms work well with hardware—clear photos and superb portraits Phone made simple and smooth The OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is undeniably a pretty straightforward mid-range device. From its display down to its processor, the phone was simply made to deliver where it matters.  The device provides an immersive enough viewing experience with its 90.8% screen-to-body ratio and 6.4” AMOLED display that delivers punchy visuals and rich colors.  The device also has a 60Hz refresh rate, which others may not find enough, but honestly, there’s very little to complain about with OPPO Reno8 Z 5G’s screen if you’re a casual user whose screen activities usually revolve around light games and streaming apps.  Having played Moba and FPS games, the device is capable of providing a stable and smooth gaming experience. This is probably because the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G runs with a Qualcomm Snapdragon 695 5G Mobile Platform, packed with 8GB of RAM and 128GB of ROM and a memory that is even expandable up to 1TB—a build that for most cases is more than enough.  The OPPO Reno8 Z 5G also packs a 4,500mAh battery that takes up only around an hour to fully charge through its 33W SUPERVOOC flash-charging feature, making this device perfect for go-getters.  Putting the device into hours of use, we’ve also noticed that the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G remained impressively cool, which it owes to the upgraded 6-Layered Multi-Cooling System under its hood.  Now making the overall OPPO Reno8 Z 5G experience easy is the fact the device runs on ColorOS 12.1, which provides users with a more personalized and convenient experience with features like anti-peeping notifications, Air Gestures and Omoji avatars.  The overall experience we’ve had with the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G was simple, easy and smooth. This, we believe, is because of the many small pieces in this device that complement each other perfectly, which ultimately makes up for a cohesive overall user experience.  Simply put, the OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is a device that looks good and works well. If you’re one who targets an eye-catching phone that has some amazing photography performance under its sleeve, then this device is a solid choice. The OPPO Reno8 Z 5G and Reno8 5G are now available at OPPO Brand Stores, online via Shopee and Lazada, and through plans offered by Smart and Globe.  OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is available via Smart Signature Device Plan 999! You will also get 5GB data, Unli AllNet Calls and Texts and 50 minutes PLDT calls by just adding P200 per month with one-time cash out of P2,500. For Globe subscribers, OPPO Reno8 Z 5G is available for free with GPlan 1799 with 13GB all-access data, unli all-net text, calls and calls to landline. For more information, visit OPPO Philippines’ website and Facebook page.

Industry Offers Cautious Welcome To EU’s Landmark Crypto Law MiCA – CoinDesk https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/industry-offers-cautious-welcome-to-eus-landmark-crypto-law-mica-coindesk/ Jack Schickler is a CoinDesk reporter focused on crypto regulations, based in Brussels, Belgium. He doesn’t own any crypto. The European Union’s Markets in Crypto Assets Regulation (MiCA) could prove transformative, CoinDesk has been told, even if some in the industry query whether it will meet its goals of offering a single, clear rulebook for the 27-nation bloc. MiCA would require crypto companies to register with the authorities, to hold sufficient capital to steady stablecoins and to offer clear and fair information to budding investors – and its text is, after many years, now almost finalized. The world of crypto moves faster than legislators do, and this law has had quite the journey. Originally designed to regulate crypto actors like issuers and wallet providers in an era where initial coin offerings, including scams, were rife, the draft bill evolved alongside innovations in the sector. Between conception and completion, new provisions were inserted or contemplated to deal with the defunct Facebook-backed currency project Libra, later renamed Diem; the energy use of bitcoin mining; the rise of non-fungible tokens (NFTs); decentralized finance (DeFi); and algorithmic stablecoins like the now-doomed terraUSD. It’s still not settled. A draft that leaked last week was viewed by some negotiators as the final version – but, at the last minute, it was opposed for not sticking to the political deal struck at the end of June. (While negotiations are being held in secret, three sources briefed on the talks told CoinDesk that objections came from France; one of them said countries other than France were also involved, but declined to say which.) The law’s architects are still keen to trumpet its benefits – notably, allowing a single framework under which companies can operate across the bloc of 500 million consumers. “Legal certainty was one of the main reasons why we need MiCA,” said Stefan Berger, the lawmaker who negotiated the law for the European Parliament, in a written interview. “We now have a legal framework that can be relied on as an investor but also as an issuer and offeror … order is created in the Wild West of the crypto world.” By and large, the industry seems to agree with his rosy assessment. The law is overall positive, Marina Markezic, executive director of the European Crypto Initiative, told CoinDesk in an online interview. Having the new law “is a drastic change” from the status quo, she said, referring to “the new world after MiCA” in which the crypto community will need to “grow up” and consider legal compliance as they develop projects. “Overall, I would say, MiCA is positive,” she added. “It’s unifying Europe, and we’re going to have mostly the same rules for all service providers.” But that high-level view masks plenty of detailed gripes. While a boon for crypto services such as wallet providers, lawmakers haven’t quite achieved their vision of legal clarity for everyone – particularly in newer areas of Web3 technology, CoinDesk was told. “The NFTs bit [of the law] is unnecessarily complicated,” Blockchain for Europe’s Robert Kopitsch said in an online interview. “Depending on who you ask, you get a different answer, which is never a good thing.” EU governments wanted NFTs to be exempted from the regulation entirely – but lawmakers at the European Parliament argued that, in reality, many so-called NFTs on the market were in fact traded like financial products, and capable of similar kinds of mis-selling and market abuse. The current legal compromise means any assets issued as part of a series will likely be deemed fungible, meaning that in practice the bulk of self-proclaimed NFTs will be caught by the regulation. Worse still, it could mean individual national enforcers could take inconsistent views about whether a particular asset needs to issue a white paper. In other areas, like caps on the use of non-euro stablecoins – introduced by governments panicking that a Libra-style payment system could usurp their own currency – the final compromise text seems to have found better favor. A compromise deal that would see the use of many stablecoins limited to 1 million transactions per day is “quite a good end result,” because it will only capture real-world payments rather than trading activity, Patrick Hansen, Crypto Venture Advisor at Presight Capital, told CoinDesk in an online interview. That view may still change, since the scope of the cap is what France objected to. But Kopitsch argues that, for stablecoins not tied to a fiat currency, the conditions attached are so arduous as to not make them worth pursuing. “Let’s assume you have a gold-pegged stablecoin, and it has to be redeemable at all times at the purchase price – that’s impossible, nobody will issue such a token,” Kopitsch said. Those passing the law “just should have been straight and said we’ll just ban anything that looks like it, instead of making it pretty much impossible to launch.” Compared to Markezic, Hansen is less fulsome about the impact MiCA will have – but even he reckons there will be wider global repercussions. “I don’t think it ushers in a new era of crypto markets overall,” Hansen said, but he added that he “wouldn’t be surprised to see that piece of regulation like Mica having a lot of influence around the world,” given the desire to avoid creating loopholes via regulatory divergence. That view appears shared by Binance boss Changpeng “CZ” Zhao, who recently characterized the law as a global standard for others to copy – and by Berger himself. “There is a lot of international interest in MiCA coming from my U.S. colleagues,” said Berger, who recently visited New York City. “It would be desirable if in the future we had not only a European MiCA, but a global MiCA.” Sandali Handagama contributed reporting. Sign up for State of Crypto, our weekly newsletter examining the intersection of cryptocurrency and government By signing up, you will receive emails about CoinDesk product updates, events and marketing and you agree to our terms of services and privacy policy. DISCLOSURE Please note that our privacy policy, terms of use, cookies, and do not sell my personal information has been updated . The leader in news and information on cryptocurrency, digital assets and the future of money, CoinDesk is a media outlet that strives for the highest journalistic standards and abides by a strict set of editorial policies. CoinDesk is an independent operating subsidiary of Digital Currency Group, which invests in cryptocurrencies and blockchain startups. As part of their compensation, certain CoinDesk employees, including editorial employees, may receive exposure to DCG equity in the form of stock appreciation rights, which vest over a multi-year period. CoinDesk journalists are not allowed to purchase stock outright in DCG . Jack Schickler is a CoinDesk reporter focused on crypto regulations, based in Brussels, Belgium. He doesn’t own any crypto. Jack Schickler is a CoinDesk reporter focused on crypto regulations, based in Brussels, Belgium. He doesn’t own any crypto.

Chinese Yuan: Currency Hits Record Lows Against US Dollar – BBC https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/chinese-yuan-currency-hits-record-lows-against-us-dollar-bbc/ By Suranjana Tewari & Peter Hoskins BBC News Image source, Getty Images China’s yuan has hit fresh record lows against the surging US dollar. The internationally-traded yuan fell to its lowest level since data first became available in 2011. China’s domestic currency also reached its weakest point since the 2008 global financial crisis. It comes as the dollar continues to rise in value against other major currencies, after the US central bank increased interest rates again earlier this month. Meanwhile on Wednesday, major stock market indexes across Asia fell sharply. Japan’s benchmark Nikkei index closed 1.5% lower, while the Kospi in South Korea ended the day down by 2.4%. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng was 2.8% lower. China’s central bank has been trying to slow the yuan’s slide by making it more expensive to bet against the currency. The People’s Bank of China (PBOC) also cut how much foreign currency banks have to hold. Many investors see the dollar as a safe place to put their money in times of trouble. That has helped to drive up its value against other currencies, including the British pound – which hit an all-time low against the dollar on Monday. Also on Wednesday, the dollar reached a fresh 20-year high against a closely-watched group of leading global currencies. The yuan’s slide is yet another example of a currency weakening as a result of the strong dollar. It is also about the very different paths China and the United States are taking in response to economic issues at home. The PBOC has been easing interest rates to revive growth in an economy ravaged by Covid lockdowns, while the US Federal Reserve is moving aggressively in the opposite direction as it tries to control inflation. Such a divergence is not wholly problematic, Joseph Capurso, head of international and sustainable economics at the Commonwealth Bank of Australia told the BBC. The fall in the currency’s value can actually be helpful for exporters within China, he said, because it would make their goods cheaper and so could increase demand. That said, exports only make up 20% of the Chinese economy these days, so a weak yuan will not turn around fundamental weakness domestically largely caused by Beijing’s zero-Covid strategy and a property crisis, said Mr Capurso. A weaker currency can also lead to investors pulling their money out of the country and uncertainty in financial markets – something Chinese officials will want to avoid with the Communist Party Congress coming up next month, when its president Xi Jinping is expected to secure an unprecedented third term in office. The yuan’s fall has caused weakness in other currencies of developed economies in the region, including the Australian and Singapore dollar as well as the South Korean won. Last week, the Bank of Japan intervened to support the yen for the first time since 1998, after the currency weakened against the dollar. Asia’s emerging markets are vulnerable too – as they sell raw materials and components to China’s factories and so have increasingly become dependent on the yuan. Washington has in the past accused China of intentionally devaluing its currency to keep exports cheap and imports from the US expensive. While the strong dollar has rattled world markets, it is unlikely to deter the Fed from continuing to raise rates. “The strong dollar is working for the US market,” Dimitri Zabelin at the London School of Economics’ foreign policy think-tank said. “It will be a consideration but it will not weigh as heavy as domestic concern about inflation.” You may also be interested in: Media caption, Watch: Ros Atkins On… How this year’s biggest stories connect

Italian Space Agency Releases LICIACube Images Of DART Crash – The Indian Express https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/italian-space-agency-releases-liciacube-images-of-dart-crash-the-indian-express/ Humanity’s first planetary defence test mission got off to a good start when NASA’s DART spacecraft successfully crashed into the asteroid Dimorphos in a planned collision at 4.44 AM IST on September 27. Now, the Italian Space Agency has released images of the collision captured by its LICIACube a few minutes after the collision. Le prime spettacolari immagini realizzate da @LICIACube dell’impatto di #DARTMission su #Dimorphos @mediainaf @NASA Guarda la fotogalleryhttps://t.co/2JWJxvD5TF pic.twitter.com/eJ8M6rt2oK — Agenzia Spaziale ITA (@ASI_spazio) September 27, 2022 Images such as these will be crucial in helping scientists understand the structure and composition of Dimorphos, which will be important to ascertain how effective DART was in diverting the asteroid. Although only three photos were released by the Italian Space Agency, more photos could be released in the coming days. The Italian Space Agency’s LICIACube took this image minutes after DART’s crash with Dimorphos. The bigger asteroid in the picture is Didymos. (Image credit: ASI/NASA) The purpose of NASA’s DART mission is to test whether a “kinetic transfer” method of asteroid mitigation can be a viable strategy in case an asteroid threatens the Earth. The method refers to using the impact of a massive object like a spacecraft to divert asteroids. DART’s crash should have nudged Dimorphos slightly and subtly changed its orbit around Didymos, the larger asteroid in the binary system. The Italian Space Agency’s LICIACube took this image minutes after DART’s crash with Dimorphos. The bigger asteroid in the picture is Didymos. (Image credit: ASI/NASA) Currently, the Didymos binary system, which hosts Dimorphos, is within less than 11 million kilometres of Earth and dozens of telescopes stationed across the world are trained at the system to observe it. In the coming weeks, scientists will precisely measure the orbital change that happened to Dimorphos to understand how effectively DART deflected the asteroid. Dimorphos does not really present a threat to the Earth but scientists will compare the data from DART’s crash with it to the data from the many computer-generated to ascertain whether this kinetic impactor method is an effective mitigation strategy.

News Groups Support RJ Effort To Protect Slain Reporter’s Devices – Las Vegas Review-Journal https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/news-groups-support-rj-effort-to-protect-slain-reporters-devices-las-vegas-review-journal/ The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press and 43 other media organizations have asked to file a friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Las Vegas Review-Journal’s motion to stop authorities from accessing slain reporter Jeff German’s cellphone and computers. Katie Townsend, deputy executive director and legal director for the committee, issued the following statement on Tuesday: “Nevada’s strong shield law is intended to protect journalists and news organizations from being forced to disclose exactly the kind of work product and reporter-source communications likely to be found on Jeff German’s electronic devices. Allowing the Las Vegas district attorney, public defender and other government investigators to review this privileged information would profoundly chill the type of vitally important newsgathering and investigative journalism German devoted his life and career to.” German, 69, was found dead of stab wounds earlier this month outside his Las Vegas home. Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles, who was the subject of German’s reporting, is accused of killing the veteran investigative journalist. On Monday, the Review-Journal asked a judge to prevent the Clark County public defender’s office and district attorney’s office from searching German’s personal electronic devices, which the newspaper’s editors believe he used for work. The Review-Journal is instead asking a judge to allow a news organization to lead a cooperative review of the devices that will protect the identities of German’s confidential services. Prosecutors and police filed documents on Tuesday in opposition to the newspaper’s motion. Other media organizations asking to file the friend-of-the-court brief in support of the Review-Journal include The Associated Press, the Los Angeles Times, The Washington Post, Gannett Co., the Nevada Broadcasters Association and the Nevada Press Association. The Review-Journal has argued that German’s devices never should have been seized by the Metropolitan Police Department, and the newspaper is seeking a protective order from a judge that would establish a protocol and appoint a special master from outside Las Vegas to determine if any information on German’s devices should be disclosed. Earlier this month, Metro police told the newspaper in writing that “no search has commenced” and “there is no intent to conduct any search until a protocol can be approved by the judge.” Prosecutors also have agreed not to seek to review any newsgathering materials without a judge’s permission. Prosecutors filed a response to the Review-Journal’s motion on Tuesday in which they argued that the Justice Court does not have authority to hear the motion, because it “has no authority to issue orders regarding criminal discovery.” The Las Vegas Justice Court oversees preliminary hearings in murder cases, during which a judge determines if there is enough evidence for a defendant to stand trial, but the court cannot order criminal discovery prior to a preliminary hearing, prosecutors wrote. Metro also filed a response to the Review-Journal’s motion and argued that “a Defendant’s constitutional rights take precedence over any reporter’s rights.” The department also argued that Nevada’s shield law would apply to German, not his employer, and that the information on German’s devices is “uniquely material to the case.” “The electronic devices will have information about what Mr. German was doing in the days and weeks before his murder and who was communicating with him,” the document states. “As the LVRJ has reported, Mr. German’s newsgathering may have caused his murder. The newsgathering is not merely incidental (to) the investigation.” The Review-Journal’s lawyers have argued that although prosecutors have suggested German’s devices could contain threats Telles made to German, they have “provided no factual basis for this speculation.” Clark County District Attorney Steve Wolfson has previously told reporters that the evidence against Telles is “compelling.” The Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press wrote that allowing officials to review German’s documents could place sources “at acute risk of retaliatory harm, both personal and professional.” “The tragic circumstances of this matter make it clear that such harm is more than a remote possibility,” the committee wrote. “Indeed, failing to protect the privileged information on the Seized Devices would turn Mr. German’s horrific killing into a perverse windfall for anyone in the offices of the district attorney or public defender wishing to identify and root out press-friendly employees.” Contact Katelyn Newberg at knewberg@reviewjournal.com or 702-383-0240. Follow @k_newberg on Twitter.

Cryptotourism: Binance Begins Maiden Cryto-Sponsored Vacation With Trip To Lagos, Estonia – Vanguard https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/cryptotourism-binance-begins-maiden-cryto-sponsored-vacation-with-trip-to-lagos-estonia-vanguard/ By Prince Osuagwu The travel industry has been hit especially hard coming out of the pandemic. This is also in addition to recent market volatility and geopolitical conflicts. Between travel restrictions, airline cancellations and big crowds, travel has felt anything but easy. But Blockchain Company, Binance, is making things easy by organising first-ever crypto-sponsored vacation tagged ‘cryptotourism with a maiden trip to Lagos, Nigeria.  The campaign will demonstrate that crypto-backed travel is not only a reality, but a more convenient way to explore the world. The trip is organised to show the world how efficient, secure and simple travel is in a web world – meaning that there are immeasurable possibilities when people forgo traditional currency and globetrot exclusively using crypto.  Binance has teamed up with leading travel influencers, Lauren Bullen who will be travelling to Estonia and Jack Morris, who is coming to Lagos on a global crypto-only scavenger hunt that includes giving away $50,000 in Binance Coin, known as BNB for those who want to join the movement. Binance Global Vice President, Marketing, James Rothwell, said: “Cryptotourism makes global travel easier and more secure for everyone. It’s also an economical choice, since there are zero fees, full transaction transparency and no country-by-country exchange rate issues. “The ease of using crypto while travelling is a testament to the incredible mainstream global adoption we are starting to see,” he added The tour began yesterday on World Tourism Day. Lauren and Jack will book travel exclusively with crypto to Estonia and Nigeria respectively, as well as all goods and services, using Binance Pay – a contactless, borderless and secure cryptocurrency payment technology. They will also share crypto travel tips and tricks on how to make cryptotourism a reality for everyone. The duo will each hide a Binance gift card in secret destinations, worth $25,000 in BNB to help fund cryptotourism dreams of two lucky followers. They will drop a series of clues on their tweeter handles @gypsea_lust for Lauren Bullen and @jackmorris for Jack Morris and @binance. Subscribe for latest Videos

Digital Transformation Series – Project And Practice Management Software – Business News Wales https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/digital-transformation-series-project-and-practice-management-software-business-news-wales/ To support businesses in Wales, Superfast Business Wales have created a new digital toolkit designed to help businesses improve efficiency, streamline operations, boost security and often reduce costs. Listing over 100 cloud-based solutions, the digital tool kit directory will help you find software and services you can rely on. All products listed are presented for information and research only, and any recommendations are not designed to be comprehensive or act as a specific endorsement from Superfast Business Wales. DOWNLOAD A COPY OF THE DIRECTORY HERE In the first part of this series, we look at project and practice management tools Project management software is a tool to help you plan, allocate resources and manage scheduling for projects. By helping to plan scope and organise resources, you can gain greater control over costs and timings, all while improving collaboration. Properly implemented, project management software lets you achieve more and improve results, lowering costs and increasing transparency Practice management software helps you to run professional, client facing offices and consequently there are specific tools aimed at law practices, medical practices, accountants, dental practices, veterinarian surgeries, architectural companies, opticians and many more. Typically, software products in this area can help manage records, billing, scheduling and appointments. Getting tasks completed on time, on budget, and with the most efficient use of available resources is key to running a successful business and project management and practice management software are the tools that can lighten the load. Project management products differ across sectors, so it’s important to choose the software that works best for your type of business. Key things to look for include the right level of reporting for your organisation, plus features to help you plan your resource allocation and usage (human or otherwise), plus provide the flexibility to keep up with planned/unplanned business changes. To ensure that your teams can communicate effectively, take time to examine the collaboration aspects of any software you choose. Also, consider the interaction with other digital tools you might use, from spreadsheets to corporate instant messaging. Will everything work together? Practice management software tends to be more specialised, but the project management advice above still holds true. Look out for a product specifically designed for your type of business, whether you’re a lawyer, accountant or a doctor. For both types of software, it’s important to examine the total cost of any solution. This should include per-user costs, plus any fees for converting data from old sources and any setup charges you might incur. By fully pricing out a potential software choice, you can make an accurate long-term prediction about the overall cost of ownership, enabling you to more accurately compare competing products against your current systems

The Latest Watches From Huawei Are Focused On Your Health – Women Love Tech https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/the-latest-watches-from-huawei-are-focused-on-your-health-women-love-tech/ Recently, Australians’ behaviour towards their health has shifted with 4 in 10 people saying they’re prioritising their health now more than they did before COVID-19. In response to this trend, Huawei has three watches out now which have some health-tracking benefits. With summer nearly here, it’s the perfect time to kickstart your health journey with these wearables with some helpful features such as blood pressure monitoring. The first of these watches from Huawei is WATCH D which measures your blood pressure with cutting-edge technology. The accuracy of the blood pressure measurement is often affected by the tightness of the watch and where exactly it’s worn on the wrist, but the WATCH D has a high-resolution pressure sensor, feedback pressure control circuit and low-flow airway which allows the precise pressure measurement system to maintain a pressure measurement error within ±3mmHg4, allowing users to measuring blood pressure accurately anywhere. (NB This blood pressure feature is intended for general wellness and fitness purpose only. This watch isn’t a medical device and should not be used for medical diagnosis or used as treatment, monitoring, or prevention.) In addition to this feature, the WATCH D supports heart rate measurement, scientific sleep monitoring and stress monitoring. The watch has 70 workout modes and a battery life of seven days. Huawei’s WATCH D can measure your blood pressure to a high degree of accuracy. The GT 3 Pro helps you look good, feel better The GT3 Pro comes in a titanium (46mm) or ceramic body with asapphire watch dial (43mm). With a long 14-days of battery life, this watch also has electrode technology for accurate health measurements. It can access over 100 personalised workouts – from golf to cross-country skiing to free training. The GT3 Pro is has IP68 and 5 ATM ratings for water resistance so you can wear it in the ocean as deep as 30 metres with the Free Diving Mode6. As well, the GT3 Pro has all-day heart rate and SpO2 monitoring. It has loads of customisation options so you can personalise it to your taste. The WATCH FIT 2: Made to fit your lifestyle The WATCH FIT 2 has a lightweight feel and clean design. You can transfer files by tapping your smart devices together, push calls from your phone to your wrist, or play music directly to your watch. The WATCH FIT 2 comes with 97 workout modes so if you want a personal trainer, but you haven’t got round to getting one – you can try out the built-in animated fitness coach which supports seven different workout modes, with audio instructions and demonstrations. The Huawei WATCH FIT 2 lets you transfer files from other devices and push calls from your phone to your wrist. The watch also a wellness plan for you including step tracking, water intake, and workouts. As more Aussies want to keep healthy, these daily reminders give some positive feedback so you can stay motivated. And if you are a runner, Huawei’s Running Ability Index (RAI) will analyse your height, age, weight, fitness and running experience to create a professional-level training plan. The WATCH FIT 2 has a 10-day battery life (7 days of intensive use) so you can use it every day. It comes in Midnight Black, Sakura Pink and Isle Blue. The BAND 7: Thin and light This new smart band is very light and thin so you could even forget you’re wearing it. This watch has 24/7 active health management so it will support your health journey. It can monitor your sleep, stress, your menstrual cycle and heart health. From this information, BAND 7’s Healthy Living Shamrock provides you personalised health management so you can set daily health goals. The watch has 14 days of battery life and 96 workout modes including running and roller skating, music controls, stopwatch, alarm clock and find my phone. About Huawei: Huawei’s products and services are available in over 170 countries. Huawei’s global network is built on almost 30 years of expertise in the telecom industry and is dedicated to delivering the latest technological advances to consumers around the world. For more info, you can visit here. For more from Women Love Tech on the latest smart watches, visit here.

Weir Boys Rally Back To Upset Top-Seeded Creek – The Daily Times https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/weir-boys-rally-back-to-upset-top-seeded-creek-the-daily-times/ WINTERSVILLE — Set pieces are always dangerous. The Indian Creek boys’ soccer team found that out the hard way as Weir took full advantage of a pair of opportunities in the second half. Trailing 1-0 in the second half, Cole Caranda collected a pair of goals off set pieces nearly 16 minutes apart enabling the No. 4 seed Red Riders to rally past the top-seeded Redskins, 2-1, in an OVAC Class 4A Tournament Semifinal Tuesday night inside Kettlewell Stadium. “Making the OVAC is always one of the biggest goals for the boys and girls every year,” first-year Weir (5-4-4) head coach Chris LeFever said. “It is always one of the biggest.” The first one came on a 63-yard free kick when the ball took a big bounce and bounced into the net drawing the Hancock County boys even at 1 with 25:37 left to play in the game. The second one came off a corner kick with 9:47 remaining to be played. With the win, Weir has advanced to the tournament final set for 2 p.m. Saturday down at Wheeling Island Stadium. Weir will play the winner of the other semifinal match between No. 2 seed Beaver Local and No. 3 seed St. Clairsville. That game is scheduled for Thursday night at Beaver Local. “We won it last year, but that was at St. Clairsville and not at the Island,” LeFever said. “We have played Beaver Local and St. Clairsville. Both of those games ended in a tie. We are excited. “We are looking forward to Saturday. It will be great competition. It will be a great OVAC Championship Game.” The loss was the second straight heartbreaker for the Redskins. Indian Creek lost to Brooke, 1-0, Thursday night at home. “That’s just the way the game goes,” first-year Indian Creek (7-3-1) head coach Danny Lawrence said. “It’s frustrating. “We had a plan, but we did not execute that plan. That is why we ended up with said result.” The game was the second one between the Red Riders and the Redskins this season. Indian Creek shut out Weir, 1-0, Set. 17 at home. “We knew coming in this was going to be a good game,” LeFever said. “Danny is in his first year here, and he is doing a great job. He doesn’t have a lot of kids. He only has 13, but he is doing a great job. It was a tough game. “His kids listen well. Their defense is tough. Their keeper is tough. “We wanted to work the ball on the outside. I made some position changes on the outside. We wanted to spread them out, and it worked. We were able to spread them out. “Albert (Scheibel), (Michael) Iafrate, (Antonio) Pittman and Johnny Kirlingitis all came through offensively. Interestingly, both of our goals were scored by a center back Cole Caranda — a junior. It is a team effort. We win as a team, and we lose a team. “We play a very tough schedule. It prepares us for games like this. That is why I chose to play a tough schedule.” Lawrence said Tuesday’s game was similar to the first meeting. “Not really,” he said asked if Weir did anything different in the second match as compared to the first one. “They played a different formation. We were ready for a different formation. Today, they came with a different formation. “They did what they were supposed to do, and we did not do what we were supposed to do. It was more about what we did not do. “I had a plan. We talked at halftime and yesterday about the plan, but we did not follow the plan. “We got off to a bad start to the second half. Then, we had a miscue. “It is better be on fire than to be the the one with the hose. It is hard to put the fire out once the fire starts. “We lost the momentum. Once you lose the momentum, it is hard to get it back.” Iafrate assisted on Caranda’s second goal of the night. John Wansack made five saves in goal for the visitors. Carson Copeland scored the lone goal for the hosts. Ethan Llewellyn assisted on goal. Travis Francis finished the night with five saves in goal. The match was scoreless for nearly 25 minutes when Copeland fired a shot into the net giving the boys from Jefferson County a 1-0 lead with 15:06 left to play in the first half. The goal came off a throw-in by Llewellyn. The boys in red took the lead into halftime, and they kept the lead for more than 14 minutes into the second half when a bad break cost them a goal. The Redskins were called for a foul, and the Red Riders were awarded a free kick at the 47. Caranda took the kick, and he sent the ball down the field into the penalty box where it took a big bounce over the head of Francis and into the back of the net to tie the score at 1. “I had just told our strikers to shoot low,” LeFever said. “I turned around, and the ball was going in. I told the kids to shoot low. If we didn’t shoot low, we were going to have a hard time getting a shot past their keeper. Their keeper is really good. He did a great job in the first game as well. We gave up an early goal in that game – the one we lost. I told the guys we were going to have to be awake, we were going to have to be intense and we were going to have to come ready to play.” Weir outshot Indian Creek, and the boys from white took a lot of shots from long distance. “We took a lot of shots from way outside,” LeFever said. “We tripled our shots from the first game.” The score remained deadlocked for nearly 16 minutes before the hosts were called for another foul around what is the 22-yard line on the football field. The victors were awarded a free kick, and the kick was on target forcing Francis to make a difficult save. Francis knocked the ball out of bounds resulting in a corner kick. Iafrate took the corner kick on the far side of the field, and he sent the ball all the way across the goal where Caranda was able to get a foot on it, knock it into the net to give the Red Riders a 2-1 advantage. Trailing for the first time, Indian Creek pushed forward and hopes of scoring the equalizer. The Redskins applied pressure as the seconds ticked off a clock with one final shot just missing in the closing seconds of the match enabling Weir to escape with the victory. Indian Creek is scheduled to play Marietta at 6 p.m. Oct. 6 on the road. Linsly – the No. 1 seed – shut out No. 4 seed Magnolia, 12-0, in the Class 1A/3A Tournament Semifinals Thursday at home. Today’s breaking news and more in your inbox

Dubai Metaverse Assembly: Live Updates From Museum Of The Future – The National https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/dubai-metaverse-assembly-live-updates-from-museum-of-the-future-the-national/ Wednesday 28 September 2022 weather_iconWhite circle red arrow SIGN UP UAE Courts Government Education Heritage Health Transport Science Environment Megaprojects Expo 2020 UAE in Space Gulf Saudi Arabia Bahrain Oman MENA Egypt Iraq Iran Jordan Lebanon Syria Tunisia Arab Showcase Captagon Crisis World UK US Africa Asia Australasia Europe The Americas Cop27 Business Aviation Economy Energy Money Cryptocurrencies Property Banking Technology Markets Travel and Tourism Start-Ups Road to Net Zero Future Comment Opinion Comment Editorial Obituaries Cartoon Feedback Lifestyle Fashion Food Motoring Luxury Family Home Wellbeing Things to do Comment Arts & Culture Art Books Film Music On Stage Television Comment Travel Hotels News Airlines Destinations Responsible Tourism Covid-19 Travel Health Coronavirus Sport Football Cricket IPL F1 UFC Golf Rugby Horse Racing Tennis Other Sport Weekend Podcasts Trending Middle East Beyond the Headlines Post Covid-19 Recovery Business Extra Pocketful of Dirhams My 2020 Recorded Seera Books of my life weather_iconWhite circle red arrow SIGN UP Business weather_iconWhite circle red arrow SIGN UP UAE Gulf MENA World Business Opinion Lifestyle Arts & Culture Travel Health Sport Weekend Podcasts weather_iconWhite circle red arrow SIGN UP Aviation Economy Energy Money Cryptocurrencies Property Banking Technology Markets Travel and Tourism Start-Ups Road to Net Zero Future Comment The event takes place on September 28-29 with more than 300 global experts in attendance Dubai’s Museum of the Future will embody the forward-thinking spirit of the UAE’s founding fathers, a senior Emirati minister said. Photo: UAE Government Media Office Ian Oxborrow Sep 28, 2022 Beta V.1.0 – Powered by automated translation EDITOR’S PICKS NEWSLETTERS Checking In (Thursdays) MORE FROM THE NATIONAL

Realme Phones That Are Under Rs 10,000 – The Tech Outlook https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/realme-phones-that-are-under-rs-10000-the-tech-outlook/ Smartphones have become something that people can’t afford to lose. It houses sensitive information to access the world. But with this dependence comes a problem that your major part of your money gets consumed by phones. Now you can finally grab a phone with cool features and that’s too under Rs 10,000. Realme got so popular because of its premium phones with flagship features. But it also has phones that are under Rs 10,000 which gives competition to big tech giants in the market. Let’s have a look at a few phones that are under Rs 10,000.  Realme Narzo 50i ( 4GB RAM, 64 GB Storage) Looking for a phone with good battery backup and powerful features this can be the best pick for you. A sleek and stylish design. Its color option makes it the most stunning of all. With all comes a spacious storage feature that places it second to none. This allows you to store your data in one place without any worry.  Specifications Brand: Realme Model Name: narzo 50i Colour: Carbon Black RAM capacity: 4GB ROM storage space: 64 GB Operating System: Android 11 Screen Size: 6.5 Inches Weight: 195 grams Realme C31 3GB RAM, 32 GB Storage Classy and beautiful phone with great battery backup. Realme C31 has all the features in one place making it the best among the best. It has a long-lasting battery that can be used for a longer period of time. So if you have been looking for a decent phone that is too under Rs 10,000 this phone is for none other than you.  Specifications Brand: Realme Model Name: C31 Weight: 197 Grams RAM Capacity: 3GB ROM Storage: 32GB Colour: Light Silver OS: Android 11 Realme C11 2021 (4GB RAM, 64 GB Storage) 64GB of storage makes it a decent phone which can be used for a longer duration of the phone hassle-free. Even the look is quite impressive which makes it different from other phones of this range. It also has a good camera which can be used for clicking some amazing pictures. Specifications Brand: Realme Model Name: C11 2021 Colour: Cool Blue Weight: 190 Grams RAM Capacity: 4GB ROM Storage: 64 GB Screen Size: 6.52 Inches Operating System: Android 11

UFC Fighter El Ninja To Become First Argentinian Athlete Paid In Crypto – Cointelegraph https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/ufc-fighter-el-ninja-to-become-first-argentinian-athlete-paid-in-crypto-cointelegraph/ Beyond the Octagon, Guido Cannetti fights Argentina’s 78% inflation rate with USDC stablecoin. 901 Total views 21 Total shares Guido Cannetti, an Argentinian Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fighter, is now the first martial arts athlete in the country to receive 100% of his salary in stablecoins, amid rising inflation and Argentina’s economic deteriorating, announced the crypto payroll company Bitwage on Monday. Dubbed El Ninja, he returns to the Octagon on October 1st in the United States to face the local fighter Randy Costa. According to Bitwage, Guido will receive his payment in USDC stablecoin via the Stellar Network on Vibrant, a wallet application developed by the Stellar team specifically for Argentines experiencing inflation. As per official government figures’, inflation in the 12 months through August was 78.5% in the country, whereas prices in the first eight months of the year were up 56.4%. Argentina’s central bank predicted a 95% inflation rate for the year, while some private analysts forecasted a 100% inflation rate in 2022. “I am getting paid in USDC because it is safer for my future,” said Cannetti in a statement released by Bitwage, noting that stablecoins will spare him from the volatility and devaluation of local currency. Among Argentine consumers surveyed by Americas Market Intelligence in April, 51% purchased crypto and 27% regularly bought cryptocurrencies, up from 12% adoption at the end of 2021. Inflation protection is the primary reason for 67% of respondents’ purchases of cryptocurrencies. US dollar-pegged stablecoin prices surged in July following Martin Guzman’s abrupt resignation as Economy Minister. His fiscal policies aimed at reducing budget deficits and tightening monetary policy divided opinions in Argentina’s government. In the country’s black-market, the exchange rate was at 287 pesos per dollar at press time, according to the website DolarHoy.

Puerto Rico Seeks U.S. Waiver As Diesel Dwindles After Storm – NPR https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/puerto-rico-seeks-u-s-waiver-as-diesel-dwindles-after-storm-npr/ A house lays in the mud after it was washed away by Hurricane Fiona at Villa Esperanza in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Alejandro Granadillo/AP hide caption toggle caption Alejandro Granadillo/AP A house lays in the mud after it was washed away by Hurricane Fiona at Villa Esperanza in Salinas, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, Sept. 21, 2022. Alejandro Granadillo/AP SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s governor on Tuesday requested that the U.S. government waive a federal law to allow for more fuel shipments to the island amid concerns over a dwindling supply of diesel in the wake of Hurricane Fiona. Gov. Pedro Pierluisi warned that a shortage of fuel would affect public health, security and government functions in the U.S. territory. “Diesel supplies continue to decrease at a higher rate than previously anticipated, and shortages have been reported around the island,” he wrote. The law that Pierluisi references is the Merchant Marine Act of 1920, best known as the Jones act, which requires that all goods transported to Puerto Rico be aboard a ship built in the U.S., owned and crewed by U.S. citizens and flying the U.S. flag. The law has been waived during previous storms, but U.S. President Joe Biden has not responded to Pierluisi’s petition. Pierluisi’s letter comes as a British Petroleum ship with 300,000 barrels of diesel floats off Puerto Rico’s southern coast since Sunday, awaiting entry. The archbishop of San Juan, Roberto González Nieves, also appealed to Biden to waive the law, saying the measure makes Puerto Rico’s recovery and rebuilding difficult because it drives up prices for materials. He also said that despite officials claiming a majority of the island’s homes have power, “this does not match with our lived experience.” “If this is not attended to immediately, we will face a deeper crisis in Puerto Rico,” he wrote in a letter to the president. A group of Puerto Rico legislators, including the president of the island’s House of Representatives, were at a White House meeting with officials to urge a temporary waiver of the law amid concerns that elderly people could start dying like they did in the sweltering aftermath of Hurricane Maria, which struck as a Category 4 storm in September 2017. “Every minute counts in an emergency,” said Puerto Rico Rep. Eddie Charbonier. Local and federal official have long called for a permanent repeal of the Jones Act, saying it has driven up prices and crippled Puerto Rico’s economy. Pierluisi asked Biden for a waiver limited to the shipment of petroleum-derived products and liquefied natural gas to at least nine specific ports around the island. “This specifically targeted and temporary relief would allow Puerto Rico to diversity its fuel sources, ease supply constraints and mitigate the risk of a fuel shortage in the middle of the response to the emergency caused by Hurricane Fiona,” he wrote. The Category 1 storm slammed into the island’s southwest region on Sept. 18, sparking an island-wide blackout. As of Tuesday, power had been restored to more than 70% of 1.47 million clients, driving up demand for diesel as businesses, government agencies and homeowners continue to rely on generators. During a press conference on Tuesday, Josué Colón executive director of Puerto Rico’s Electric Power Authority, surprised many as he became emotional and wiped away tears as he spoke. “When you tell yourself, ‘We have to lift it up once again,’ you can’t stop thinking about family,'” he said, referring to the island’s power grid that was razed by Hurricane Maria in 2017 and pummeled by Fiona. Government officials have said 77% to 91% of clients might have power by Friday, adding on Tuesday that the remaining 9% in areas hardest hit by Fiona could be connected soon. “We hope within days,” said Daniel Hernández, an engineer with Luma, the private company that took over the island’s power transmission and distribution last year. “This is not María.” However, the governor warned during the press conference that “we still have a lot to do to completely recover.”

Drone Technology Used To Inspect Scotland’s Sewers – BBC https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/drone-technology-used-to-inspect-scotlands-sewers-bbc/ Image source, Scottish Water Image caption, The drones are fitted with cameras and laser technology which scans for faults Scottish Water is pioneering the use of drones to inspect Scotland’s sewers. The utility company said the technology replaces the need for workers to carry out inspections, will provide more accurate readings about conditions and will help reduce emissions. It carried out the UK’s first drone inspection at a sewer on Bath Street, Glasgow in July. Similar inspections are expected to be rolled out in Glasgow, Edinburgh, Aberdeen and some rural areas. Scottish Water said the more accurate inspections will cut the cost of repairs and maintenance and reduce the risk of flooding and pollution. The high-tech drones are fitted with cameras and laser technology called light detection and ranging (LiDAR), which scans sewers for issues like cracks, holes, partial collapses, infiltration, and root ingress. Two workers pilot a drone as it flies along pipes and can inspect the area using video. Image source, Scottish Water Image caption, Workers monitor the condition of the sewers by video This method replaces 15 workers who would have traditionally carried out inspections – though this method will still be used in other parts of the network. Scottish Water said the drones help cut down on staff working in dangerous conditions in confined spaces with the risk of hazardous gases. It added that the technology would not adversely affect jobs, pay or conditions of any workers involved. A spokesperson added: “It will actually create more work because, as we roll it out, we’ll be able to carry out more sewer inspections on parts of our waste water network that we could not reach using the traditional ‘worker entry’ methods. Sewer inspections are also just one part of these workers’ job remits.” Image source, Scottish Water Image caption, It takes two workers to operate the technology The technology including its software was developed by Environmental Techniques, a surveyor based in Northern Ireland. Scottish Water said the drones would be flown to parts of its 33,000-mile network that traditional surveys could not reach. It added this method could reduce carbon emissions from sewer surveys by as much as 80% by reducing the number of site vans and vehicle deliveries. Iain Jones, the company’s risk and life cycle planning manager, said: “Drones have been put into sewers elsewhere with limited capabilities and limited success. But the specific adaptation of both drone and the 3D LiDAR modelling is what makes this special. “The 4K quality outputs combined with accurate modelling is the innovative thing. That quality is four times better than a HD TV and it’s certainly a first in Britain. “Some of the sewers pre-date the Victorian era and are more than 160 years-old and we need information to enable us to make good decisions about how to rehabilitate them if necessary.”

Highway 36-148 Intersection Sees Another Fatality Accident – Washington County News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/highway-36-148-intersection-sees-another-fatality-accident-washington-county-news/ The intersection of Highway 36, which has double east- and west-bound lanes, and Highway 148, which has north-south lanes has been the sight of numerous accidents over the years, including last Wednesday. The most common accident scenario is when vehicles traveling on Hwy 148 fail to stop at the intersection and get hit by vehicles traveling on Highway 36. This intersection is south of Hanover. A 71-year-old Manhattan woman was killed on Sept. 21 on U.S. Highway 36 at the Hanover corner. According to the Kansas Highway Patrol, Anne Nielsen was driving south on K-148 in a 2017 Volkswagen Beetle and failed to stop at a stop sign. Her vehicle collided with a 2005 Ford F-350 pickup truck driven by 60-year-old Jeffry Clark, of Thermopolis, Wyo., who was driving west on U.S. Highway 36. Both…

California Coronavirus Updates: California Teachers More Pessimistic Since The Start Of The Pandemic, Survey Finds – Capital Public Radio News https://clarkcountynewsnow.com/california-coronavirus-updates-california-teachers-more-pessimistic-since-the-start-of-the-pandemic-survey-finds-capital-public-radio-news/ Find an updated count of COVID-19 cases in California and by county on our tracker here. Latest Updates California teachers more pessimistic since the start of the pandemic, survey finds  Over 4 million Americans have received new omicron-targeted booster Pfizer plans to roll out updated COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 5 to 11 Canada to soon drop vaccine mandate at US-Canada border Flu season could be headed to the U.S. early COVID-19 By The Numbers Tuesday, September 27 2:48 p.m.: California teachers more pessimistic since the start of the pandemic, survey finds  Many teachers in California have considered leaving the profession and more have a negative outlook on the job following the onset of the pandemic, according to a new survey. The study, published by the California Teachers Association and UCLA Center for the Transformation of Schools, found that around 40% of current TK-12 teachers have thought about leaving their job either to continue schooling or leave teaching entirely. The outlook of teachers has also become more negative since the start of the pandemic. Around 77% of teachers say that things are changing for the worse now, up from 45% pre-pandemic. Still, many teachers remain committed to the profession with 57% saying they are unlikely to leave teaching in the next three years, and 39% saying they are highly satisfied with their job. 12:48 p.m.: Over 4 million Americans have received new omicron-targeted booster More than 4 million Americans have rolled up their sleeves for the new omicron-specific booster shots. According to the Associated Press, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention posted the count on Thursday. The new shots target the most common omicron strains of the coronavirus. The U.S. has ordered 171 million doses of the new boosters for the fall. The first hint of public demand for the new boosters comes as health experts lamented President Joe Biden’s recent remark on 60 Minutes that “the pandemic is over.” The president later clarified his comment after facing heat from health experts, who worry the message might slow prevention efforts. Monday, September 26 11:58 a.m.: Pfizer plans to roll out updated COVID-19 booster shots for children ages 5 to 11 Pfizer is asking the Food and Drug Administration to expand the use of its updated COVID-19 booster shot to children ages 5 to 11. As reported by the Associated Press, some 4.4 million Americans have already received one of the updated boosters since they rolled out earlier this month for anyone 12 and older. Just like with Pfizer’s original vaccine, elementary school-aged children would get a third of the dose of the updated booster. The FDA is expected to decide soon. Pfizer and its partner BioNTech also announced that they have begun a study of the updated booster in children younger than 5. 11:02 a.m.: Canada to soon drop vaccine mandate at US-Canada border An official familiar with the matter says Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has signed off on Canada dropping the vaccine requirement for people who enter Canada at the end of September. Canada, like the United States, requires foreign nationals to be vaccinated when entering the country. According to the Associated Press, no change in the mandate is expected in the U.S. in the near term. Unvaccinated foreign travelers who are allowed to enter Canada are currently subjected to mandatory arrival tests and a 14-day quarantine. The officials say Trudeau has agreed to let a cabinet order enforcing mandatory COVID-19 vaccination requirements at the border expire Sept. 30. Saturday, September 24 12:30 p.m.: Flu season could be headed to the U.S. early After virtually disappearing for two years as the COVID-19 pandemic raged, influenza seems to be poised to stage a comeback this year in the U.S., NPR reports. And while COVID-19 is notoriously unpredictable and many restrictions have been lifted, there’s a good chance COVID cases will rise again this winter. During this year’s Southern Hemisphere winter, the flu returned to some countries like Australia, where it started ramping up months earlier than usual and caused one of the worst flu seasons in recent years. The combination of flu and coronavirus cases could seriously strain the health system, according to Dr. William Schaffner, an infectious disease professor at Vanderbilt University. The flu causes between an estimated 140,00 and 710,000 hospitalizations annually, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The CDC is reporting that the flu is already starting to spread in parts of the south like Texas, and experts caution that very young kids who have not been exposed to flu for two years may be especially vulnerable. But experts doubt COVID and flu will hit the country at the same time because of something known as “viral interference,” a phenomenon that occurs when infection with one virus reduces the risk of catching another. “These two viruses may still both occur during the same season, but my gut feeling is they’re going to happen sequentially rather than both at the same time,” said Dr. Richard Webby, an infectious disease specialist at St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. “So I’m less concerned about the twindemic.” But Webby and others are still urging people to make sure everyone in their family gets a flu shot as soon as possible, especially if flu season arrives early. Friday, September 23 11:12 a.m.: California is easing mask-wearing recommendations California’s Department of Public Health released updated guidance for the use of face masks, dropping the recommendation for universal mask wearing in indoor public spaces. Moving forward, the CDPH will follow the CDC’s Community Level Tracker in making mask-wearing recommendations. The state plans to only strongly recommend mask wearing in crowded indoor settings for all residents when the community level is high. It’ll also allow certain congregate settings — including correctional facilities, homeless and emergency shelters and cooling centers — to be mask optional. This new guidance only applies when COVID-19 levels are low. As of Friday, Sacramento county is in a low community spread level. You can check your county with the CDC Community Level Tracker. Masking changes will take effect this Friday, Sept. 23, and don’t apply to health care and long-term care settings. “This shift in masking is consistent with California’s SMARTER Plan and gives Californians the information they should consider when deciding when to wear a mask, including the rate of spread in the community and personal risk,” said CDPH Director and State Public Health Officer Tomás Aragón in a statement. Here’s the CDPH’s masking recommendations, according to a deparment press release: When community COVID-19 levels are low, those at a lower risk for severe illness can choose to skip masking. Those at higher risk should consider wearing masks in crowded indoor public places. When community levels are media, those at a lower risk for severe illness to consider wearing masks in crowded indoor places. It’s recommended to wear a mask in crowded indoor spaces for those at higher risk. When community levels are high, it is recommended that everyone wears a mask indoors. Californians at higher risk for severe illness, including people who are unvaccinated, immunocompromised, have certain disabilities or underlying health conditions should take extra COVID-19 precautions. Thursday, September 22 11:16 a.m.: DOJ charges 48 people in COVID-19 pandemic funds scheme The Department of Justice has charged 48 people in what prosecutors have called a scheme to take advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic to fraud the U.S. government of $250 million. According to the Associated Press, prosecutors say the defendants obtained government funds under the guise of providing food to underprivileged children. But just a tiny fraction of the money went toward feeding kids, and the rest was instead laundered through shell companies and spent on property, luxury cars and travel. Prosecutors say it is the largest fraud case to date that deals with the misuse of government funds during the pandemic. 10:49 a.m.: Florida man pleads guilty to $7.2 million COVID-19 relief fraud A Florida man who fled the U.S. and was eventually arrested in Croatia has pleaded guilty to stealing more than $7.2 million in COVID-19 relief funds. As reported by the Associated Press, court records show that 46-year-old Don Cisternino pleaded guilty Tuesday in Orlando federal court to wire fraud, aggravated identity theft and illegal money transaction. He faces up to 32 years in federal prison at a scheduled hearing for Jan 5. According to the plea agreement, Cisternino submitted a fraudulent loan application for a Paycheck Protection Program loan in May 2020. He claimed his company had 441 employees and monthly payroll expenses in 2019 of more than $2.8 million. The company actually had no employees other than Cisternino. Wednesday, September 21 12:28 p.m.: FDA concedes delays in response to baby formula shortages U.S. health regulators say their response to the ongoing infant formula shortage was slowed by delays in processing a whistleblower complaint and test samples from the nation’s largest formula factory. According to the Associated Press, the Food and Drug Administration on Tuesday published its first formal report detailing the factors that led to the shortage, which forced the U.S. government to import formula from overseas. The report highlights several key problems at the regulatory agency. Those include unclear procedures for vetting ...