Virgilio Clapp

Google And Coinbase Strike A Deal, BNY Mellon Begins Crypto Custody And WisdomTree’s Bitcoin ETF Gets Denied: Hodler’s Digest, Oct. 9-15 – Cointelegraph https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/google-and-coinbase-strike-a-deal-bny-mellon-begins-crypto-custody-and-wisdomtrees-bitcoin-etf-gets-denied-hodlers-digest-oct-9-15-cointelegraph/ Coming every Saturday, Hodler’s Digest will help you track every single important news story that happened this week. The best (and worst) quotes, adoption and regulation highlights, leading coins, predictions and much more — a week on Cointelegraph in one link. Top Stories This Week Breaking: Google taps Coinbase to bring crypto payments to cloud services Starting in early 2023, Coinbase’s payment service, Coinbase Commerce, will facilitate crypto payments for customers purchasing Google’s cloud services thanks to a deal between the two companies. Google will only allow certain crypto assets for payment, including Bitcoin. Initially limited to certain participants, the option to pay with crypto will eventually be expanded to other customers, an executive at Google Cloud told CNBC. Google Cloud has taken several other steps toward crypto and blockchain industry involvement in 2022.  BNY Mellon, America’s oldest bank, launches crypto services Banking giant BNY Mellon has entered the crypto custody field, offering certain customers Bitcoin and Ether custody services via a new platform. The 238-year-old bank will provide bookkeeping for clients’ crypto in a similar fashion as it does for traditional assets, while also handling clients’ private keys. BNY Mellon’s CEO of securities services and digital, Roman Regelman, said: “With Digital Asset Custody, we continue our journey of trust and innovation into the evolving digital assets space, while embracing leading technology and collaborating with fintechs.” SEC rejects WisdomTree’s application for a spot Bitcoin ETF… again Following multiple delays, the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has denied WisdomTree’s spot Bitcoin exchange-traded fund (ETF) proposal, which the firm filed in January. The SEC cited fears of market manipulation and fraud as the rationale for its decision, which is consistent with its previous rationale for denying spot Bitcoin ETFs. The SEC also denied a spot Bitcoin ETF proposal from WisdomTree in 2021. PayPal says policy to punish users for misinformation was ‘in error’ PayPal’s Acceptable Use Policy was set to change in early November to include a $2,500 fine for any platform users that promote, post, send or publicize so-called “misinformation.” PayPal has since claimed that the policy provision was added in error. “PayPal is not fining people for misinformation and this language was never intended to be inserted in our policy,” said PayPal. The fiasco has reignited concerns about centralized platforms among crypto users who view self-custody as an important pillar of self-sovereignty and financial inclusion. Blockchain games and metaverse projects raised $1.3B in Q3: DappRadar Data from DappRadar revealed that $1.3 billion worth of venture capital flowed into metaverse projects and blockchain games in Q3 — a bright spot amid crypto bear market darkness. While venture capital funding for these sectors was down 48% compared with Q2, the Q3 figure was still more than double the amount invested in all of 2021. Winners and Losers At the end of the week, Bitcoin (BTC) is at $19,665, Ether (ETH) at $1,329 and XRP at $0.50. The total market cap is at $938.70 billion, according to CoinMarketCap. Among the biggest 100 cryptocurrencies, the top three altcoin gainers of the week are Huobi Token (HT) at 87.06%, TerraClassicUSD (USTC) at 63.33% and Quant (QNT) at 22.07%.   The top three altcoin losers of the week are Klaytn (KLAY) at -20.36%, Internet Computer (ICP) at -15.04% and eCash (XEC) at -14.48%. For more info on crypto prices, make sure to read Cointelegraph’s market analysis. Most Memorable Quotations “Ethereum is the ‘Hotel California’ of cryptocurrencies. You can check in, but you can’t check out. Charles Hoskinson, founder of Cardano “Elon Musk quotes posts about Dogecoin, you get seven times daily signups. Alex Harper, co-CEO and co-founder of Swyftx “If we [the crypto industry] want to achieve internet scale, we need a solution for AML/CTF compliance. John Henderson, partner at Airtree Ventures “A bear market is the best time to start working in crypto and find a job. Raman Shalupau, founder of Crypto Jobs List “There is protection in gold. But in my opinion, Bitcoin is far superior. It’s got math and code. It’s defended by a decentralized protocol. You don’t mess with math. Greg Foss, executive director of strategic initiatives at Validus Power Corp “It’s incredibly important not to ever forget that we have an immense responsibility that influencers do not. They have their own risks in terms of their followers’ trust, but we have our responsibility to keep our integrity as journalists. Kristina Cornèr, editor-in-chief of Cointelegraph Prediction of the Week  BTC price hits 3-week lows on US CPI as Bitcoin liquidates $57M For most of the week, Bitcoin traded sideways, slightly favoring the downside, according to Cointelegraph’s BTC price index. The asset sustained a fair bit of price volatility on Oct. 13, however, in line with the release of September’s U.S. inflation data. Bitcoin’s price dropped down near $18,200 following the news but subsequently rebounded above $19,000.   In an Oct. 13 post, pseudonymous Twitter user il Capo of Crypto tweeted about the possibility of Bitcoin’s drop being a bear trap, noting a potential subsequent rally to $21,000, followed by a stark drop. FUD of the Week US Treasury’s OFAC and FinCEN announce $29M in enforcement actions against Bittrex Crypto exchange Bittrex faces charges from two different United States regulators: the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) and the Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). The regulatory authorities have essentially alleged that Bittrex did not conduct proper due diligence on its customers and transactions between 2014 and 2018, which allowed users from sanctioned regions to use the platform. Bittrex confirmed it would settle with OFAC for around $24 million, which may also be applied as a credit toward its $29 million settlement owed to FinCEN. Looking to move forward from the situation, Bittrex stated that it has been up to date with expected standards since 2018. $100M drained from Solana DeFi platform Mango Markets, token plunges 52% Mango Markets, a decentralized finance platform running on the Solana blockchain, reportedly bled around $100 million from its treasury thanks to an exploit. Someone manipulated price data for the platform’s native MNGO asset, letting them borrow crypto worth far more than the value of the MNGO they put up as collateral. MNGO suffered a roughly 50% price drop following news of the event. Later reporting saw the hacker coming forward, demanding a $70 million bug reward and other terms to return exploited funds. CNN to shut down its NFT marketplace and issue 20% refund After about four months, media outlet CNN has decided to discontinue its nonfungible token (NFT) endeavor, seemingly another bear market casualty. The media company’s NFT project, known as Vault by CNN, essentially offered tokenized memories of historical news events spanning multiple decades through CNN’s history. The project’s roadmap projected six months of development, although the media outlet has since claimed the project was a “6-week experiment,” according to an announcement from the Vault by CNN Twitter account. NFT buyers will get a 20% reimbursement of the price they paid to mint their NFTs, according to a CNN staffer on Discord. Best Cointelegraph Features Attack of the zkEVMs! Crypto’s 10x moment zkEVMs are launching this month and offer a path to infinite scaling for Ethereum. But who will win the race between Polygon, zkSync, Scroll and StarkWare? Mass adoption will be terrible for crypto From reversible transactions to increased regulation and a rising tide of censorship, mass adoption is going to make crypto look more like the systems we’re trying to escape. Crypto’s downturn is about more than the macro environment The global economic downturn should not have a long-term negative effect on cryptocurrency prices, even if it is influencing crypto in the short term. Subscribe The most engaging reads in blockchain. Delivered once a week. Editorial Staff Cointelegraph Magazine writers and reporters contributed to this article.

Haiti Crisis Merits Intervention, Draft U.S. Proposal For U.N. Says – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/haiti-crisis-merits-intervention-draft-u-s-proposal-for-u-n-says-the-washington-post/ The United States has drafted a United Nations Security Council resolution encouraging “the immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force” to Haiti in response to the rapidly deteriorating security and humanitarian situation there, according to a copy of the resolution obtained by The Washington Post. The drafting of the resolution follows a push by U.N. Secretary General António Guterres for the creation of an international force to bolster the Haitian National Police as powerful armed gangs destabilize the country, disrupting the supply of fuel and electricity to the impoverished Caribbean nation. The resolution is the first sign the Biden administration may be willing to participate in a Haiti mission that has a military component. U.S. officials have been noncommittal when asked about requests to send U.S. forces to lessen the violence and misrule that has led to a shortage of clean drinking water and threatens to worsen a cholera outbreak. The resolution does not identify specific countries that would participate in the rapid reaction force, nor does it spell out what roles those nations would play. Neither the White House nor the State Department immediately responded to requests for comment about the draft resolution, which was first reported by the McClatchy news organization. A spokesperson for the Haitian government did not immediately respond to a request for comment either. A Pentagon spokesman, Brig. Gen. Patrick Ryder, declined to comment. A person familiar with discussions underway within the U.S. government, speaking on the condition of anonymity because the matter is considered sensitive, said that any American military personnel involved in a Haiti mission would likely provide logistical support only. This person said they were unaware of any plans to put U.S. “boots on the ground.” The United States has long been reluctant to deploy military forces in Haiti. On Wednesday, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the United States would accelerate the provision of humanitarian aid to Haiti, and “increase and deploy” security assistance for the country’s national police “in coming days.” He did not specify what that could entail, saying only that the aim was to “strengthen their capacity to counter gangs and reestablish a stable security environment under the rule of law.” In last week’s proposal, Guterres recommended that countries send a rapid-response force that would be followed by a mission led by the United Nations. In the draft resolution reviewed by The Post, which a diplomat said was up-to-date as of Friday, the United States is “encouraging the immediate deployment of a multinational rapid action force to support the [Haitian National Police], as recommended in the Secretary General’s letter.” It is unclear the degree to which other members of the U.N. Security Council support such a move, if China or Russia would veto the proposal, or if the current draft may change substantially before being proposed by the United States as soon as Monday. The resolution also imposes an arms embargo, asset freeze and travel ban on criminal elements in Haiti. It singles out Haitian gang leader Jimmy Cherizier, who is known as Barbecue, as someone who has “engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security, and stability of Haiti and has planned, directed, or committed acts that constitute serious human rights abuses.” Last month, Cherizier, who leads the group G9 Family and Allies, blocked access to Varreux Terminal in Port-au-Prince, the capital. The port is responsible for about 70 percent of the fuel distributed in the country. Cherizier is seeking a change in the leadership of the country, governed since last year by Prime Minister Ariel Henry, who assumed power after the assassination of President Jovenel Moïse. Moïse’s killing remains unsolved. The blockade has exacerbated a dire economic and social situation in Haiti. Hospitals are running out of fuel in the middle of a resurgence of cholera early this month. Banks are open three days a week, as opposed to six normally. At least one bank branch is scheduled to close next week due to fuel scarcity. According to the World Food Program, 4.7 million people in Haiti face varying degrees of hunger, with an estimated 19,000 experiencing what the organization considers catastrophic levels. Port-au-Prince is increasingly becoming an isolated island with gangs, often tied to the political and economic class, blocking the main roads, all but eliminating connection to the north and the south of the country. Their grip renders it extremely difficult for humanitarian assistance to reach those in needs. Outgunned by the gangs, the Haitian National Police has lost control of the situation. Local media reported that in recent days a gang seized an armored vehicle and stole the equipment inside. On Saturday, a first batch of security equipment ordered from Canada arrived in Haiti. The shipment includes armored vehicles intended to help police fight back against the gangs. Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. Mérancourt reported from Port-au-Prince.

Whistleblower Will Wilkerson Reveals The Turmoil Inside Trump’s Truth Social – The Washington Post https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/whistleblower-will-wilkerson-reveals-the-turmoil-inside-trumps-truth-social-the-washington-post/ Will Wilkerson, then an executive at former president Donald Trump’s start-up Trump Media & Technology Group, was at a Fort Lauderdale, Fla., coffee shop with company co-founder Andy Litinsky last October when Trump called Litinsky with a question: Would he give up some of his shares to Trump’s wife, Melania? Trump Media, the owner of the fledgling social network Truth Social, had just been boosted by a huge merger agreement and a flood of investment that had made the stake worth millions of dollars. Trump had already been given 90 percent of the company’s shares in exchange for the use of his name and some minor involvement, leaving everyone else to split the rest. Litinsky tried to brush it off, telling Trump “the gift would have meant a huge tax bill he couldn’t pay,” Wilkerson said in an interview. “Trump didn’t care. He said, ‘Do whatever you need to do.’ ” Five months later, Litinsky, who first met Trump in 2004 as a contestant on the TV show “The Apprentice,” was abruptly removed from the company’s board. Wilkerson said he believes it was payback for his refusal to turn over a small fortune to the former president’s wife. Litinsky thought so, too, according to an email Wilkerson and his attorneys shared with The Washington Post and the Securities and Exchange Commission. In that email, Litinsky complained that Trump was “retaliating against me” by threatening to “ ‘blow up the company’ if his demands are not met.” Litinsky did not respond to emails and phone messages. It is unknown whether he still retains his shares. The email — one of hundreds of previously unreported company messages, documents, photos and audio recordings that Wilkerson has provided to the SEC in connection with a whistleblower submission — reveals a stunning portrait of the animosity that has built up inside Trump Media since its high-profile debut last year. Promoted as the centerpiece of Trump’s post-presidential business ambitions, the company had marketed itself as a budding media empire, with enterprises planned in social media, video streaming, live events and online payments — a powerful rival not just to Twitter but Disney, Google and Amazon. But inside the company, Wilkerson said, those plans gave way to bitter infighting, technical failures and a chaotic jockeying for power among Trump allies that undermined its potential and left some employees crying at their desks. Wilkerson, who was fired from his job Thursday as a senior vice president of operations at the company after he spoke to The Post, filed the whistleblower complaint with the SEC in August. The complaint, drafted by Wilkerson’s attorneys, alleges that the company’s bid to raise money via an investment vehicle known as a special purpose acquisition company, or SPAC, relied on “fraudulent misrepresentations … in violation of federal securities laws.” The SEC, a federal watchdog agency, allows members of the public to submit tips, complaints and referrals about suspected financial wrongdoing via a document the agency calls a Form TCR. Whistleblowers can be granted confidentiality protections and, in some cases, financial awards. Litinsky did not join in the complaint. Wilkerson is cooperating with investigations into Trump Media by the SEC and federal prosecutors from the Southern District of New York, said his attorneys, Phil Brewster, Patrick Mincey and Stephen Bell. Among the materials he filed with the SEC’s whistleblower office is a detailed, day-to-day computer log compiled by company co-founder Wes Moss, Litinsky and Wilkerson about their daily company-related activities. He also provided to The Post a copy of that log as well as numerous other memos, photographs and videos that chronicled the creation of Trump Media. All of the materials Wilkerson shared with The Post were previously provided to government investigators, his attorneys said. The SEC and the SDNY declined to comment. In an SEC filing in December, Digital World acknowledged that the SEC was investigating and had sought documents related to the merger with Trump Media. In another filing in June, Digital World said it had become aware that a federal grand jury in the Southern District of New York had issued subpoenas to its board members seeking documents related to its initial public offering filings and “communications with or about multiple individuals.” The investigations, the company said, could “impede or prevent” the merger. Wilkerson said he was still working for the company on Oct. 6 when his SEC complaint was first reported by the Miami Herald. A Trump Media attorney sent Wilkerson a letter that night suspending him for what the lawyer said was a “blatant violation” of his nondisclosure agreement. After interviewing Wilkerson alongside his attorneys, The Post on Wednesday sent a detailed list of claims and questions raised by Wilkerson’s allegations to representatives for Trump, Trump Media and the Trump Organization, Trump’s long-running family business. Only Trump Media responded, saying in a statement that Trump, as company chairman, had hired former congressman Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) as CEO to “create a culture of compliance and build a world-class team to lead Truth Social.” The company said it was already a success, having launched on the Apple and Google app stores, “executed multiple feature updates” and attracted millions of users. “Ignoring these achievements, The Washington Post sent us an inquiry rife with knowingly false and defamatory statements and other concocted psychodramas.” The statement did not directly address any of Wilkerson’s claims. Trump Media fired Wilkerson on Thursday, citing his “unauthorized disclosures” to The Post. Brewster, his attorney, called the termination “patent retaliation against an SEC whistleblower of the worst kind.” Digital World Acquisition, the SPAC that is pushing to take Trump Media public, has asked shareholders to give the company more time to finalize the merger, which would unlock hundreds of millions of dollars for Trump Media but is effectively frozen pending the outcomes of the federal investigations. Digital World and its chief executive, Patrick Orlando, did not respond to requests for comment. The revelations to the SEC from Wilkerson, the most prominent company official to speak publicly about its operations, come at a turbulent time for Trump Media’s business. Investors, discouraged by the halted merger, have sent the SPAC’s share price plunging from a high of $175 to less than $18 on Friday. Roughly 4 million users follow Trump on the company’s sole product, Truth Social — far below his Twitter peak of 88 million. The company has pledged to investors it would surpass 50 million total users by 2024. In past public statements, Nunes, Orlando and Trump have argued that Trump Media will ultimately prove to be a successful business. But Wilkerson said he expects its internal problems could lead the company to fall apart. “We weren’t trying to be Trump Org 2.0,” he said. “We always saw Trump as the rocket fuel to send this thing to space. I wanted this to succeed more than anything. … But these are glaring issues, and they’re threatening me now for calling them out. I couldn’t stay quiet anymore.” Wilkerson, 38, isn’t a traditional Trump critic. When Litinsky and Moss, another former “Apprentice” contestant, first started discussing the idea of a multipronged Trump media business after Trump’s November 2020 election loss, the men had asked for his help developing the business, Wilkerson said. A former executive producer for Litinsky’s conservative radio show, Wilkerson was excited about monetizing the following of a person he considered a master marketer with 40 years as a political and household name. Wilkerson shared a photo from that time of the men sketching the original concept on a whiteboard, titled “Trump’s New Media Empire,” that would ultimately compose the company’s public pitch, including new business lines (“Trump Digital Subscription,” “Trump Documentaries”) and a chain of “Trump technologies,” including in servers and online payments. After Trump supporters stormed the U.S. Capitol on Jan. 6, 2021, and Trump was banned from major social networks, the men drew up plans for a tech platform that would be “resilient to cancel culture and the impact of bias against the right,” according to the daily log Wilkerson shared with The Post and the SEC. To meet with Trump, the men sought help from another “Apprentice” contestant, Bradford Cohen, a Florida criminal-defense attorney who represented two rappers, Lil Wayne and Kodak Black, to whom Trump had granted clemency on his final day in the White House. In late January, three weeks after the riot, Cohen, Litinsky and Moss met with Trump at Mar-a-Lago, his opulent home and club in Palm Beach, Fla., to discuss the idea. Over cheeseburgers, Diet Cokes and ice cream, the men offered to build Trump a media company that he would own 90 percent of without putting in any of his own money, Wilkerson said. He was interested, and Trump Media was born. Cohen and Moss did not respond to requests for comment. Raising money, however, proved to be a major challenge. The investment bankers they called rejected them because of fears over Trump’s post-election behavior, Wilkerson said. So they started cold-calling SPACs. Known as “blank-check companies,” SPACs sell shares to investors before merging with a private company, allowing the combined business to make money on the stock market without abiding by the traditional transparency requirements of a public listing. They ultimately found a willing partner in Orlando, a financier in Miami who had recently launched a SPAC, Benessere Capital Acquisition, with $100 million in its coff...

One Person Dead After Crash On SR 240 | News | Nbcrightnow.com – NBC Right Now https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/one-person-dead-after-crash-on-sr-240-news-nbcrightnow-com-nbc-right-now/ Benton County, Wash. –  Washington State Patrol closed down SR 240 to just one lane after a car crash Saturday morning. WSP tells us that a driver reportedly drove in the wrong direction on SR 240 and hit another car. The driver of the car that got hit was taken to Kadlec Regional Medical Center where they later died. WSP says that intoxicants were involved, however this is an ongoing investigation.  Cristian Garza NBC Right Now Producer Author email Sign up to get breaking news, weather forecasts, and more in your email inbox. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. Topics TriCities Top Stories Subscribe Yakima Top Stories Subscribe

Destination Florida: How Tourism In The Sunshine State Is Weathering The Storm – Irish Examiner https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/destination-florida-how-tourism-in-the-sunshine-state-is-weathering-the-storm-irish-examiner/ Last month, I attended the Brand USA summit, a lively meetup in Frankfurt where tourist board officials from across America and its territories met European travel journalists to promote their cities and region.  A number of CEOs from across Florida crossed my networking path and they were proud to showboat their region’s areas from eco-tourism in Fort Myers, electric boat tours in Tampa to (this is Florida…) ziplining over gators in Kissimmee. Yet, all the while we were networking, news was reaching the podiums of the devastating impact of Hurricane Ian back home. Two weeks on from the devastating storm, the cost on tourism is being counted (at billions) with some resorts having been virtually wiped out by the impact. But in true Floridian spirit, the clean-up is underway, hotels (and Disneyland) are reopening… and the message from many cities is that Florida is back open for business. “We have some lingering flooding in some of the residential and non-tourist areas but all resorts, hotels and vacation rentals are opened and fully operational,” says DT Minich, CEO of Experience Kissimmee the hugely popular tourism town in central Florida. “All of the theme parks are fully reopened and most of the other attractions as well,” he added. Mr Minich also highlighted that consumer confidence remains for the state which welcomes over 100m visitors per year. “Long haul, business is looking strong for the holiday season,” he added, “and we also have healthy bookings for the first through third quarter of 2023. As air service continues to return and expand from our overseas markets, we are seeing that added capacity book fast. There is still a lot of pent-up demand for the US, Florida, and Kissimmee.” Back in Ireland, Florida specialist Tour America is still seeing strong demand for the state. “Florida is one of our top destinations in the USA and we continue to receive lots of enquiries for 2022/2023 and beyond,” CEO of Tour America Mary McKenna told me this week. “In fact, when we looked at our booking data for 2023, we found that Orlando is coming out on top as the number-one US destination our customers are booking”. Theme parks are proving the top type of holiday for Tour America clients for 2023 with Florida appealing to all different types of holidaymakers according to McKenna. “Families love the beautiful beaches and famous theme parks, whilst young explorers are keen to hop in a rental and cruise down the Florida Keys. It also attracts a huge number of golfers each year, since it boasts almost 1,100 courses, located all over the state. “And of course, we can’t forget the weather. Irish holidaymakers love being able to escape the cold weather and head to sunnier shores, which makes Florida the perfect destination as late winter and early spring are the ideal times to visit this amazing destination.” There’s value too, the operator is offering seven-night packages to Orlando from €722pps while if you fancy travelling DIY, Aer Lingus fly to both Miami and Orlando from €396 return. Hopefully this winter, tourism in the Sunshine State will continue to shine. For more, see visitflorida.com 1. Destination Cleveland Oh hi, Ohio! If you’re looking for an alternative US escape, then how about a trip on the latest Aer Lingus route, Cleveland, famed for its Rock & Roll Hall of Fame and Lake Erie beaches. As the only direct link to the city offered by a European airline, the route will strategically offer Ohioans the opportunity to travel to Ireland and Europe via Dublin while also tempting Irish travellers to experience the gateway to the Midwest hub. Aer Lingus has just also announced the return of the airline’s Dublin to Hartford route which was suspended during the pandemic. Flights to Connecticut resume from March offering a handy option for those with interests between Boston and New York. aerlingus.com 2. Dublin’s newest hotel The Maldron Merrion Road Hotel rooms in Dublin have rarely been in such short (and pricey) supply, which is why we’re very much rolling out the red carpet for the newest opening in the city. Having just launched last week, the Maldron Merrion Road is the capital’s latest four-star hotel and brings 140 rooms to its scenic location in the heart of D4. Appealing to the corporate and city break market the seven storey property offers “stunning” panoramic Dublin Bay vistas from Sandymount Strand to Howth while guests can enjoy the Maldron’s signature stylish rooms, dine at their Grain and Grill Restaurant or order a coffee to go from their Red Bean Roastery. Take advantage from hot B&B rates from €139. maldronhotelmerrionroad.com 3. Wendy Wu Looking for a dream getaway to Asia? Irish operator Sunway has teamed up with the UK’s leading escorted holiday operator Wendy Wu to offer their premium, guided tours for the Irish market. Wendy Wu is known for its all-inclusive offerings with rates including everything from all food and accommodation on the ground down to visas which are sorted by their own red tape team. Expect that to be reflected in the price which puts Wendy Wu very much in the luxury market; if you fancy soaking in the cherry blossoms or scaling Mount Fuji in Japan, their classic eight-day tour to the county costs €4800 excl. flights; sunway.ie 4. Hidden Haven Hidden Haven is luxury lodge, nestled in a stunning swathe of countryside between Gougane Barra and Glengarriff. I’ve just been tipped off to a pretty dreamy new getaway in West Cork! The Hidden Haven is a beautifully designed and just launched luxury lodge, nestled in a stunning swathe of countryside between Gougane Barra and Glengarriff. Overlooking its own lake, the design and comfort led property features everything from organic sheets on its supersized king bed, a wood burning stove, claw toe tub bath and outdoor barbecue. If you tear yourself away from those views, pick some blueberries at the onsite organic farm. The Hidden Haven is accepting bookings for three-night minimums with rates from €250 per night. 5. Staycation deals November typically offers some of the best hotel rates of the year and I’ve uncovered a few hotel deals this week with rates which may give you a hint of nostalgia! The Mills Inn in Ballyvourney have winter rates from €120 per night (and that doesn’t increase for weekend stays), while if you still have a Blue Book voucher knocking about, Butler House in Kilkenny are by reckoning the cheapest property in the collection with midweek rates this month from just €115! %

Aid Worker Killed In Ethiopia’s Embattled Tigray Region – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/aid-worker-killed-in-ethiopias-embattled-tigray-region-69news-wfmz-tv/ ADDIS ABABA, Ethiopia (AP) — The International Rescue Committee said Saturday one of its workers was killed in an attack in Ethiopia’s embattled Tigray region. The worker was “delivering lifesaving humanitarian aid to women and children” at the time of the explosion in the town of Shire on Friday, the aid group said in a statement. Another worker was wounded in the attack, it said. “The IRC is heartbroken over the loss of our colleague and will work to support our staff and their families during this terrible time. Aid workers and civilians should never be a target,” the statement said. A World Food Program spokesperson in Ethiopia said in a statement to The Associated Press that the U.N. agency received reports of an explosion near where the IRC “was distributing nutritionally fortified foods to WFP beneficiaries, including vulnerable mothers and children.” “WFP condemns any deliberate targeting of humanitarian activities and strongly calls on all parties to the conflict to respect and protect humanitarian relief operations and personnel, in line with their obligations under international humanitarian law,” the statement said. The aid worker was the second International Rescue Committee staff member to die in the Tigray war. An IRC employee was killed at the Hitsats refugee camp near Shire in December 2020. Neither the IRC nor the WFP confirmed who was behind the latest attack. There were no details on the nationality of the victim. Shire and other Tigrayan towns have been struck multiple times by airstrikes since hostilities resumed in late August between the Tigray forces and Ethiopia’s federal government. The fresh fighting has halted aid deliveries to Tigray, where 5 million people are in urgent need of humanitarian help. The Tigray forces have claimed that Eritrea has launched a full-scale offensive across Tigray’s northern border, in support of Ethiopia’s federal military. Aid distributions are being hampered by a lack of fuel and an ongoing communications blackout in Tigray. A U.N. team concluded that “10 starvation-related deaths” occurred at seven sites for internally displaced people in northwestern Tigray between Sept. 4 and Sept. 14, according to an internal document by a humanitarian agency shared with the AP. Millions of people in northern Ethiopia, including the neighboring regions of Amhara and Afar, have been uprooted from their homes and tens of thousands of people are believed to have been killed since the conflict broke out in November 2020. U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres “is gravely concerned about the escalation of the fighting in Tigray,” spokesman Stephane Dujarric said in a statement Saturday. “He calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.” African Union-sponsored peace talks to resolve the conflict were supposed to take place in South Africa last week, but were postponed because of logistical and technical issues. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

EVE SIMMONS: I Saw Deliciously Ella As Beautiful, Successful And Happy – Daily Mail https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/eve-simmons-i-saw-deliciously-ella-as-beautiful-successful-and-happy-daily-mail/ A few weeks ago I approached Deliciously Ella to come on The Mail on Sunday’s Medical Minefield podcast. She declined, which was a shame – but unsurprising, given the delicate subject. I wanted the hugely successful food blogger-turned-wellness-guru – real name Ella Mills – to elaborate on comments she’d made in a recent magazine interview, hitting back at her critics. In particular, she addressed allegations made in a 2016 BBC3 documentary, Clean Eating’s Dirty Secrets: that her vegan, dairy, sugar and gluten-free recipes may have contributed to cases of orthorexia, an eating disorder characterised by an obsession with only consuming ‘healthy’ foods. She felt this was unfair – after all, the controversial term ‘clean eating’ was never a term she’d used herself, she said (more on how accurate that is later). Ella claimed her intention was to promote a relaxed approach to food. ‘Do what works for you,’ was her ‘nuanced’ message. Moreover, she was hurt by the allegations. Her critics were making personal attacks on a young woman who was offering ideas for healthy living. I didn’t entirely agree, and wanted to discuss why. That interview was not the first time Ella has issued these kinds of rebuttals. On author Elizabeth Day’s podcast How To Fail, in March 2020, Ella claimed she and other female food writers who advocated similar approaches had been treated ‘like witches’. A few weeks ago I approached Deliciously Ella (pictured) to come on The Mail on Sunday’s Medical Minefield podcast. She declined, which was a shame – but unsurprising, given the delicate subject One female journalist who’d levelled criticism at Ella ‘obviously hates me… she thinks I’m the devil’, she said on How To Fail. She reiterated a point she has made often, that she ‘is not about’ weight loss or looks. But I don’t think it’s quite as simple as that. I don’t question Ella’s intentions. However, some young women did become obsessive about her kind of diet advice, taking it to extremes. I know this, because I was one of them. And over the years I’ve spoken to others who have had similar experiences. Ella wasn’t the only food guru whose content was being misused by some vulnerable young women. There was the popular Hemsley sisters, who wrote two cookbooks full of recipes free from gluten, grains and sugar. And nutritional therapist Madeleine Shaw, whose blog advised readers that gluten was ‘like sandpaper for the gut’. These influencers have faded from the spotlight. Ella, meanwhile, is arguably more successful than ever – and still talking about clean eating (albeit to bring an end to the conversation). And I think this subject is, at the very least, worthy of more reflection. It is easy to misunderstand eating disorders and assume they are always about weight loss. They are complex, resulting from a combination of genetic factors and difficult experiences, as well as environmental triggers. I saw Ella as beautiful, successful and happy – everything I wanted to be. Slavishly following her way of eating gave me a sense of control, at a time when life felt unstable and chaotic. I became so unwell due to my anorexia that, at the age of 24, I was hospitalised. Luckily I recovered. Many don’t. I suppose Ella’s unwillingness to speak to me about this – and the role I feel she inadvertently played – hurts. Ella’s blog, launched in 2012 when she was just 21, became a phenomenon. Her debut cookbook, published in 2015, sold a record-breaking 32,000 copies in its first week alone, and there were four more after that. There’s now an eponymous range of snacks, stocked in more than 5,000 UK stores. The Deliciously Ella app, Feel Better, launched in 2019 and has been downloaded 100,000 times. She has many millions of followers across all social media platforms. Deliciously Ella Ltd is expected to turn over £20 million this year. I wanted the hugely successful food blogger-turned-wellness-guru – real name Ella Mills – to elaborate on comments she’d made in a recent magazine interview, hitting back at her critics. Pictured: Eve Simmons At its core, her message is about the health benefits of the ingredients she uses. The recipes published on her blog and in her first book explained how to make pasta from ‘spiralised’ courgette ribbons and cakes with sweet potato rather than eggs or butter. Her Double Chocolate Cheesecake Brownies consist of mashed dates, avocado, banana and raw cacao powder. Unlike conventional brownies, which are ‘not the kind of food you’d imagine could ever nurture your body’, her version is ‘the world’s healthiest’. She adds on her blog: ‘You can enjoy as many of them as you like without any negative effects – no bloated stomach, no heart palpitations, no blood sugar crashes, no nothing…’ A hot chocolate, made with home-made almond milk, date syrup, raw cacao and almond butter, provides ‘an incredible boost of disease-fighting antioxidants, as well as lots of the happy-hormone serotonin, which acts as a natural antidepressant’. Her book claims that foods she uses make the skin ‘glow’ and the hair ‘amazing’. I interpreted her words as rules to live by… with disastrous consequences Then there is her remarkable personal story. Her way of eating, she claims, helped her recover from a little-understood nervous system condition called postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, which causes dizziness, fainting, fatigue and chest pains. Overnight, she gave up ‘all meat, dairy, sugar, gluten, anything processed and all chemicals and additives’. It was ‘a pretty drastic change’ but ‘eating this way has allowed me to take control of my illness, stopping the constant pain, restoring my energy and giving me my life back again’. Eighteen months after starting ‘this lifestyle’, she’d been able to come off all medication. ‘I feel so incredible, better than ever really!’ she wrote. I remember reading this, looking at her gorgeous smile, glossy hair and tiny waist and thinking: ‘I want some of what she’s having.’ Slavishly following her way of eating gave me a sense of control, at a time when life felt unstable and chaotic. I became so unwell due to my anorexia that, at the age of 24, I was hospitalised. Luckily I recovered. Many don’t. I suppose Ella’s unwillingness to speak to me about this – and the role I feel she inadvertently played – hurts And there were other health claims. Sugar was ‘inflammatory’ and ‘bad’. The calcium in milk ‘has several negative impacts on our bodies’ and ‘isn’t as great for your bones as most of us have been brought up to believe’. Adding ‘some cheese to a baked potato’ or ‘some milk to your tea’ is ‘just not a problem… if you want to include these then please do’. She was ‘not here to point fingers or encourage feelings of guilt’. But in the same breath ‘saying goodbye’ to dairy – and processed foods, gluten and refined sugar – ‘will really help you look and feel your best’. In a social-media post, she revealed that when she had been unwell in 2011, she’d been so bloated she looked more pregnant than when she was actually pregnant (Ella now has two daughters, aged two and three). She posted two pictures to prove this. While reminding her readers that ‘Deliciously Ella isn’t about aesthetics’, she claimed: ‘It was how I looked almost all the time… when I was really ill, it was so swollen and painful and made me so insecure, I felt as though I’d lost control of my body totally.’ She claimed food was key to her transformation: ‘There was nothing magic here, just learning to look after my body through plant-based food, nourishing meals, yoga, meditation, help from a nutritionist, probiotics, time, patience and self-love.’ Many would say following her recommendations had only positive effects. But I interpreted them as rules to live by, which had disastrous consequences. I eliminated dairy, sugar and processed food from my diet. Next I stopped eating gluten, which inevitably meant cutting out bread and pasta altogether (the gluten-free options were too expensive). Anything breadcrumbed or battered was obviously out – as were sweet treats. Eventually, most meals were plates of plain vegetables. Within six months, I’d lost a fifth of my body weight. During my recovery, in 2016, I launched a website called Not Plant Based. The aim was to dispel diet myths and support people with eating disorders. I quickly discovered I wasn’t the only one who’d been taken to a darker place by healthy eating advice. At its core, her message is about the health benefits of the ingredients she uses And in a striking number of the stories, Deliciously Ella and other influencers were mentioned. Other women have named Ella publicly, in online articles in which they describe their descent into orthorexia. Actor Daniela Isaacs wrote that she sought out clean eating as a means of easing symptoms of coeliac disease – which causes the body to overreact to gluten. She wrote: ‘I read Deliciously Ella’s story about having an autoimmune disease like me, which she cured by changing her diet, so I related to her. ‘I cut out sugar, dairy and my gluten-free substitutes like bread and pasta.’ Daniela dropped from a size eight to a six, lost her periods for a year and became ‘scared’ of eating out. In 2017, I interviewed Ella for Not Plant Based, in which she said she wanted to have an ‘open and honest’ conversation about all this. I revealed to her the role I felt the clean-eating trend played in the development of my eating disorder. But Ella clearly felt she had nothing to do with it. ‘On everything I write, it says, please do what works for you,’ she told me. These disclaimers, she said, are ‘the best you can do before it gets a little policing of people. Take a baking book, with cake recipes. There’s nothing saying, ‘Please don...

Braves Vs. Phillies Score: Brandon Marsh, J.T. Realmuto, Bryce Harper Lead Philly To NLCS With Series Win – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/braves-vs-phillies-score-brandon-marsh-j-t-realmuto-bryce-harper-lead-philly-to-nlcs-with-series-win-cbs-sports/ The Atlanta Braves in 2021 played 16 playoff games and never faced elimination. In 2022, they played four and are going home for the winter.  The Philadelphia Phillies, the six seed in the NL in the first-ever full season with six seeds in the playoffs, took down the defending champs in Game 4 Saturday, 8-3, clinching the best-of-five NLDS with a 3-1 series win.  Here’s how it happened on Saturday in a raucous Citizens Bank Park.  Marsh, Realmuto spark offense The Phillies had runners on first and third in the first inning before an out was recorded, but Braves starter Charlie Morton got two strikeouts and a harmless fly out to end the threat. In the second, an Alec Bohm single off Morton — we’ll get back to that in a second — and Jean Segura one-out single meant the Phillies had runners at the corners again. This time around, they made sure to get the runners home by putting the bat on the ball. Brandon Marsh, take it away.  The three-run shot sent the park into a frenzy.  The next run the Phillies scored was historic. J.T. Realmuto hit an inside-the-park home run (full story here), the first inside-the-park home run in Phillies playoff history and the first by a catcher in playoff history.  As the late, great Mel Allen would’ve said, “how about that?”  Realmuto would add an RBI single in the sixth — it was an infield single, so he kept flashing those wheels — during a rally in which the Phillies put the Braves away. It was only a 4-2 Phillies lead before that half inning, but three runs with two outs from the Phillies essentially iced it. Rhys Hoskins and Bryce Harper also had RBI singles and Harper doubled down with a solo home run in the eighth.  Segura also deserves mention for his two-hit, two-run effort from the eight-hole.  Morton leaves with injury after comebacker Remember above when I said we’d get back to Morton? Also, remember when he got hit with a line drive in Game 1 of the World Series last year? He stayed in the game in both instances before having to be removed. It turned out it was a broken fibula in the World Series. This time around, it seems like his elbow was hit with the liner (full story here).  Keep in mind the Segura single and Marsh home run off Morton came after he was hit with the line drive. He did finish the second inning and then came back out for the third, but after a few warmup tosses essentially pulled himself from the game.  Morton ended up allowing three runs on four hits in two innings of work.  Syndergaard, bullpen piece it together Since coming over from the Angels at the trade deadline, Noah Syndergaard had been mediocre at best. He also got an inning of work in relief in Game 2, so it might’ve been a bit head-scratching for some people when the Phillies tabbed him as the Game 4 starter. The plan heading into the game, however, was just for Syndergaard to get through the Braves’ lineup one time.  He did just that. In three innings of work, he allowed just a solo homer (one run on one hit) while striking out three, all on just 35 pitches. Basically, he did his job and left with the Phillies leading. Now they needed six more innings.  Andrew Bellatti went an inning, giving up a solo homer and avoiding a meltdown. Veteran lefty Brad Hand went a scoreless fifth while striking out two. José Alvarado got a 1-2-3 sixth with two strikeouts, then stuck around and allowed a solo homer before getting the first two outs in the seventh. Former starter Zach Eflin was next and he got through 1 1/3 innings clean and with three strikeouts. For the ninth, it was Seranthony Domínguez. Take note of the Braves’ runs being solo home runs. This was the best power-hitting team in the league all season. The Phillies pitchers made sure to keep the bases clear for most of the game, meaning all that damage was limited.  Next up  For the Phillies, they’ll move on to await the winner of the other NLDS. Perhaps it’s the Padres with a Game 4 win or they wait on the Dodgers or Padres after Game 5. Regardless, Games 1 and 2 will be in Southern California before the Phillies return home to what will obviously be a hero’s welcome in Citizens Bank Park. Boy, was it rocking in Games 3 and 4 of this series.  What a journey for the Phillies. They were 21-29 through May. They fired their manager. They lost 2021 MVP Bryce Harper to a broken thumb in late June. They were only three games over .500 until a winning streak in late July. They lost 10 of 13 at one point into late September and had to fight nearly to the finish of the regular season just to make the playoffs. They trailed 2-0 going into the ninth inning of Game 1 of the Wild Card Series. And now they are in the NLCS for the first time since 2010.  On the flip side, the Braves had one of the greatest extended runs in regular-season history. They went 78-34 after the calendar turned to June. They ran down the Mets to win the NL East despite having faced a 10 1/2 game deficit. Now, the defending champions caught a glimpse into what a fickle mistress postseason baseball can be. They won 88 games and the World Series last year. This year, they won 101 games and nary a postseason series.  See New Posts Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Pinned Phillies up 7-3 going into the bottom of the eighth And that gives them a 98.9 percent chance of winning Game 4 and advancing to the NLCS. Pinned Pinned The Braves’ dilemma They need at least four runs in a span of six offensive outs. Needless to say, that’s hard to do.  Pinned d’Arnaud HR His second of the series and he also had an RBI single in Game 2. He could use more help. It’s 7-3 Phillies.  Pinned Phillies in control They’re now at 97.9 percent to win Game 4 and thus the series. Pinned 7-2 Bryce Harper takes a low and out pitch to left field for an RBI single.  Pinned Catcher wheels!  Realmuto with an infield single and it’s now 6-2.  Pinned Pinned Phillies tack on With runners on first and third (common for the Phillies today), Rhys Hoskins dropped a blooper in front of Acuña in right and it’s now 5-2. Here’s Realmuto looking for more Pinned Nine outs to go for Phillies Hand is burnt. Alvarado might be able to go another inning. There’s Eflin and Dominguez. That might be all they need, but Ranger Suarez has come in relief plenty of times in his career before. They have good options.  Pinned Phillies up 4-2 after five This game is deceptively close. Feels like the Phillies should be up 6-2 or 7-2, but it’s only 4-2 with a lot of game left. Pinned Pinned Pinned Eflin up in the bullpen He’s been the Phillies closer so far in the playoffs, but he’s getting ready now. They don’t really have a set closer anyway, but it’s interesting.  Pinned Pinned JT’s inside the park home run I’ve done my own research … it was the first ever by a Phillies player in the playoffs AND first ever by a catcher.  Pinned Rough series for Austin Riley. Pinned Olson home run trims lead Matt Olson with a solo home run cuts the lead to 4-2 Phillies. Pinned Pinned JT Realmuto inside the park HR That was amazing. No notes.  Pinned Pinned Pinned Morton is done Morton stayed in the game last year after a broken leg. This time he was hit with a line drive and stayed in the game. He came back out and took his warmups for the third inning, but then pulled himself. He must be hurt again. Terrible luck. Pinned See More

Zuckerberg Bet Big (And Maybe Got The Metaverse Very Wrong) – Gwinnettdailypost.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/zuckerberg-bet-big-and-maybe-got-the-metaverse-very-wrong-gwinnettdailypost-com/ Business News Get the latest business news delivered to your inbox every weekday. Coronavirus News Get the the most recent coronavirus news delivered to your inbox daily. Gwinnett contests, promotions, special deals, and more Get Gwinnett Daily Post contests, promotions, special deals and more delivered to your email inbox. Gwinnett Eats (for the Foodies) Sign up for Gwinnett Eats, a weekly email newsletter with the latest on eateries in Gwinnett County sprinkled with recipes. Local and State News Get Gwinnett County and state news headlines delivered to your inbox every day. Local Events Keep up with local events in Gwinnett County. Find a list of upcoming events in your email inbox every Monday and Friday morning.  Local Weather Get our expert short-term forecast, summary of the weather details and news of any severe weather in Gwinnett County. Most Popular Get the most popular posts on GwinnettDailyPost.com from the previous week emailed to you every Monday morning. News Alerts Get news alerts and breaking stories from the Gwinnett Daily Post delivered to your email inbox.  Obituaries Get the latest obituaries delivered to your inbox every morning. Print replica e-Edition Get the Gwinnett Daily Post e-edition delivered directly to your email inbox every Wednesday, Friday and Sunday morning. Sports News Get daily sports headlines from across Gwinnett County, including high school, professional and college news delivered to your email inbox daily.

AI Beauty Feature Of Oppo A15s Will Shock You Check It Out What More It Has Gor You – The Tech Outlook https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ai-beauty-feature-of-oppo-a15s-will-shock-you-check-it-out-what-more-it-has-gor-you-the-tech-outlook/ Oppo has never left a single chance to shock its users all across the world by coming up with cool designs and awesome camera features. This article would be taking you through all the specifications and features of the Oppo A15s series. Let’s start the discussion with a camera that has got a triple camera set up on the rear side of the camera, a 13MP primary camera that will take care of the clarity of photos, a 2MP macro camera for close-up pictures, and a 2MP of depth lens that won’t let you down while taking portrait pictures. It has been placed in a square box form altogether giving it a quad camera look with one flashlight. A metallic rim around the bump of the camera setup makes it look like a classic phone design. As far as the front camera is concerned, its AI-based 8MP camera has been designed in such a way that it recognizes your skin tone, age, and gender and then beautifies the image as per the requirement. So you are just a step away from a perfect selfie camera. It has got 6.58-inch widescreen with a water drop eye protection feature that won’t let your eyes feel strained after working for prolonged hours on it. The  Dirac 2.0 audio system will ensure that you get immersed in it while watching a movie or playing a game.  It packs 4230 mAh of battery with 18W of a fast charger. The 4GB of RAM and 64GB of ROM make it a hassle-free phone that allows you to take the joy of lag-free gaming.

XRP Price Prediction – If This Chart Is Right, XRP Is The Best Opportunity For 10x Gains In Crypto Now – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/xrp-price-prediction-if-this-chart-is-right-xrp-is-the-best-opportunity-for-10x-gains-in-crypto-now-cryptonews/ XRP price is in an enviably bullish position after Thursday’s stomach-churning price action across the crypto complex. Despite a tick higher in core CPI inflation the market in risk assets initially fell sharply and then rallied. This defiance in the face of sticky inflation is highly significant, as it could mean that the head-fake bear rallies of recent times could have created the conditions for a definite breakout. Ripple’s XRP cross-border liquidity token could be said to be the best positioned crypto to benefit from renewed bottom-dipping buying interest. Although the price has run into resistance around the $0.50 level, market participants are increasingly optimistic that the signs coming out of the long-running court case point to the likelihood of a positive outcome. And even if Ripple doesn’t win the case but ends up with a messy tie, a settlement that clears a way through the regulatory uncertainty holding back a re-rating of XRP would still be bullish. XRP addresses holding more than $100 worth of tokens nears all-time high Indeed the bullishness around XRP right now can be gleaned from the behaviour of XRP holders. If we overlay the XRP price with the supply of XRP tokens at addresses holding at least $100 in value, the number, 1.07 million, is near the all-time high last seen in November 2021 (1.14 million). But the interest in XRP is not just speculative interest in the markets but is also seen in product adoption. On 11 October Ripple announced that French payments firm Lemony was its latest on-demand liquidity customer. Lemony will be using RippleNet and the XRP token to enable crypto payments and to improve its treasury processes  What does this mean for the XRP price? Looking at the market cap of the crypto asset since 2015 using 1 week candles and there may be some clues. A descending triangle that began in 2015 culminates in apex completion where it meets the long-term trend line. It was this conjunction that was followed by parabolic move higher by XRP, which was not completed until the price printed its all-time high. Although the middle triangle in the chart is not annoyed, the current descending triangle began in 2021 and could presage a similar move higher.  Admittedly that move may not come to pass until the new year, but if the price can breakout above $0.50 there’s a promising ladder higher.  The technical set-up looks highly positive. However, the trigger to send XRP higher is likely to emanate from the court case. If the SEC’s officers really did discuss among themselves the possibility of Ethereum being a commodity and not a security, that would blow a whole in the SEC’s case against Ripple, and would have wider implications for crypto regulations. XRP is one of the best buys in crypto today. XRP is sustainable too – and so is IMPT It is also a good sustainable pick because of its fast and efficient blockchain.  Having said that there might be better choices as far as building a ESG crypto portfolio goes such as IMPT.  IMPT is bringing carbon offsetting to the blockchain and in the process to shoppers around the world.  The coin is currently in presale and may be worth taking the time to do your due diligence on.  Visit IMPT Now

Abducted Mayor, Officials In Northern Mexico Freed, Governor Says – Reuters Canada https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/abducted-mayor-officials-in-northern-mexico-freed-governor-says-reuters-canada/ MEXICO CITY, Oct 15 (Reuters) – The mayor of a small northern Mexican town and a group of local officials kidnapped by armed men have been freed, the governor of the border state of Coahuila said on Saturday. Mario Cedillo Infante, mayor of Guerrero, Coahuila, was abducted with eight other people on Friday night after being pursued by two trucks with armed men in the city of Nuevo Laredo, officials in Coahuila said earlier on Saturday. Miguel Angel Riquelme, Coahuila’s governor, said on Facebook he had been informed by the state attorney general that Cedillo and the rest of those missing had been set free after the armed forces joined the police search for them. Riquelme said he expected to have more details soon. The border city of Nuevo Laredo is in nearby Tamaulipas state, and has long been notorious for gang violence. Register now for FREE unlimited access to Reuters.com Reporting by Dave Graham; editing by Diane Craft and Sandra Maler Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Soundbites: Postgame Press Conference (Miami) – VT Hokiesports.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/soundbites-postgame-press-conference-miami-vt-hokiesports-com/ BLACKSBURG – Following its game Saturday versus Miami (Fla.), Virginia Tech football met with the media for a press conference. Read below for what head coach Brent Pry and tight end Nick Gallo had to say. Head coach Brent Pry Opening statement: “We got to maximize what we do well, and we’ve done some things well at times. We got to make sure we are maximizing all of that and minimizing what we don’t do well. I’m not sure we’re doing a great job of that right now. That’s something we’re going to evaluate closely.” On the defense’s performance versus Miami: “I thought we started slow. I thought we were allowing them to catch the ball and then we would tackle. We’ve got to go compete for the ball. That’s a big emphasis. We talked about it at halftime. We talked about it on the sidelines. We have to be better there. We got after the quarterback better in the second half. I think that made a difference. Obviously, he is a talented guy with a great looking group of wide receivers that can run, a couple of nice tight ends. That’s a good-looking football team. But we can’t come out and be a slow starter like that. We just can’t. You want to start the game fast and we started with a turnover, then an easy score. We’re behind 7-0 before you blink. Even if we didn’t do a lot of things well in the first half, we had a chance to be right there. You’re one possession away. It took until the fourth quarter to cash one in.” Stay Connected with Tech Football Tight end Nick Gallo On what he feels wasn’t clicking for the offense in the first three quarters: “I think it just come down to execution. It’s really about everyone believing in their job and trying to execute it as best as they can. Then the results will come after that.”   On what he thinks the team can benefit from the open week: “I think we will be able to get our bodies right, first and foremost. We will have an extra week of preparation, which is great. Extra film, extra practice. So, all of that helps.”

Five Medals Offers Glimpse Into Area’s Past – Yahoo News https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/five-medals-offers-glimpse-into-areas-past-yahoo-news/ Oct. 15—LIGONIER — Five Medals is returning to Michiana for another year of large-scale historical reenactment Oct. 22-23 Five Medals at The Trace is a living history experience, spanning the middle 1600s up through the War of 1812. It relives the lives of the pioneers entering the area and their Native counterparts following Treaty of Greenville, which was designed to end the Northwest Indian War. Among those present for the signing was a chief of the Elkhart River Band of Potawatomi named Wonongaseah, who is the namesake for the weekend-long historical reenactment, Wonongaseah, roughly translated as “Five Coins” or “Five Medals” signed at least six treaties of either peace or land cession during his lifetime. His village was located on the Elkhart River, northwest of present-day Ligonier. In 1796, he traveled with a delegation alongside Little Turtle to Philadelphia to meet with then-President George Washington and in 1801, led a delegation with Topinabee to ask President Thomas Jefferson to arrange for help teaching the Great Lakes tribes agricultural practices of the new Americans in a landscape that continued to change as Americans took possession of more and more land, making hunting more difficult. Throughout his life, he’s known for continuing to work tirelessly to create peace among the natives and the westward expanding colonials and pioneers. The Battle of Tippecanoe would eventually drove Wonongaseah and his people to Detroit following the Siege of Fort Wayne in September 1812, when American troops led raids on area villages, destroying Wonongaseah’s twice in under a year’s time. Still, founders wanted to present a way to remember the peaceful times and what daily life would have looked like for those living in the area together. Founder and president of the nonprofit organization, Michael Judson, and the former director of the Elkhart County Historical Museum, Nick Hoffman, worked together to implement the Five Medals reenactment festival. It initially took at Cummins Park, behind the historical museum. It quickly outgrew the space and when searching for new locations for the event in 2009, the duo decided they wanted a more rustic location, more representative of the (vibe) they hoped to create. They ended up at the River Preserve in Benton, with help from the Elkhart County Parks Department. Coincidentally in 2019 just before the pandemic, the parks department discontinued the program. “A few folks that had been participants, all living historians, in those early days, got our heads together and said, ‘Hey, let’s resurrect this.’ I was invited to work with the site at Stone’s Trace in Ligonier.” The new leadership would go on to form a 501©3 for the Five Medals program, returning to the platform, this time held at Stone’s Trace, last year. “It’s really been a good experience,” Judson said. “The spirit of the event has not changed. It’s the idea of preserving history through demonstration and education.” To do that, Five Medals brings in historical reenactors with a variety of skill sets including blacksmiths, tinsmiths, weavers, beekeepers, gunsmiths, and even a chocolatier. “This may sound like minor things but it’s really not, because they demonstrate life during that time during the 18th and early 19th century.” Judson said there are more demonstrators now than ever before. Particular reenactors of note are culinary demonstrators Laura Supinger of Covington, Ohio, who specializes in 18th-century historical cooking; and Elkhart native Michael Dragoo who specializes in colonial cooking. “These folks are very well known in the reenacting circles and do a fabulous job over the open fire or brick oven or whatever period device they’re using,” Judson said. Dragoo’s newly published cookbook, by James Townsend & Son Inc. of Pierceton, features not only recipes from the 18th century but utensils, containers and explanations. The book will be available for purchase at the event. Through the Townsend’s YouTube channel, which has more than 900 videos since 2009 and 1.96 million subscribers, Dragoo and his cooking are featured and have over 9 million hits. “It’s no small feat,” Judson said. Registration as of press time suggested 200 registered reenactors, amounting to 108 camps. Some are general campers but many will have demonstrations. “There’s camps spread out all over the place,” Judson said of Stone’s Trace. “You could put a thousand people on those grounds and not really feel it.” Food concessions and a coffee house will also be on site. Admission is $8 for adults. Those 11 and younger will be admitted free. The festival takes place from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Oct. 22, and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Oct. 23. School day at Five Medals is Oct. 21. Stone’s Trace is located at 5111 Lincolnway South, Ligonier. Parking will be at West Noble High School. Dani Messick is the education and entertainment reporter for The Goshen News. She can be reached at dani.messick@goshennews.com or at 574-538-2065.

High Demand For Luxury All Inclusive Resorts In Los Cabos – The Cabo Sun https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/high-demand-for-luxury-all-inclusive-resorts-in-los-cabos-the-cabo-sun/ Last Updated 2 seconds ago Over the last 30 years the fastest growing hotel category in Mexico are 5-star luxury resorts. Through the pandemic many of these resorts realized that opting for an all-inclusive package for their guests was a better economic alternative. According to research conducted by the renowned Jones Lang LaSalle real estate firm tourists now are looking for stress free vacations that require a minimal amount of planning. This has led not only to luxury resorts offering all inclusive packages in Los Cabos, but to the construction of more luxury resorts throughout the region. Carolina Lacerda head of hospitality of JLL’s Mexico branch had this to say about tourist tendencies,  “The new travel preferences, after the pandemic, include the need to have a stress free vacation, with little planning, and a relaxing destination. No COVID restrictions also factor into the decision.”  Hotels Are Also On Board With The All Inclusive Trend             According to the research by JLL it’s not just tourists who are looking for all inclusive packages. Hotels that normally didn’t offer all inclusive packages are finding out that they are actually able to obtain higher profit margins from this concept. One of the reasons why profit margins are higher is because guests at an all inclusive resort are more likely to stay on resort property for a larger portion of their stay. Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! The Cabo Sun Recommends These 5 Fast and Easy Travel Insurance Plans To Sign up For Now Plans starting at only $10 per week For resorts that means more opportunities to sell their guest add-ons to their packages or charge extra for a variety of amenities. Carolina Lacerda would go on to say. “With all inclusive tariffs the economic model is turning out to be interesting for large hotel chains. These hotel chains are able to tap into different markets that they maybe hadn’t been able to access before. Also, these hotels are very interested in getting guests into their reward points schemes.”  Why Los Cabos Has Become A Pioneer In This Trend Throughout Mexico     There are a couple of key elements, at least according to JLL, that have allowed Mexican destinations like Los Cabos to become a popular spot for hotel chains to open up new luxury all inclusive facilities. The first thing that these hotel chains were looking for was a beach destination that had competent air connectivity. Besides Cancun, and Mexico City, the Los Cabos airport is one of the busiest facilities in the entire country. It receives flights from all over the globe.  Another important factor that makes Los Cabos a perfect destination to adopt this trend is the fact that there’s still plenty of land to develop. Carolina Lacerda mentioned that hotels couldn’t just adapt their current facilities to feature all inclusive packages. Most of the infrastructure of these luxury hotels with all inclusive packages is being built to be brand new. That’s evident in the number of hotels that are currently under construction throughout Los Cabos. Carolina Lacerda claims that in most cases it’s actually cheaper to build new hotels than to adapt existing facilities.  Current Cabo 5-Star Resorts That Offer All Inclusive Packages   Despite these claims that building new facilities to feature all inclusive packages in hotels is easier, there are certain Cabo hotels that have adapted their existing facilities and currently offer all inclusive packages to guests.  Barceló Gran Faro Los Cabos The Barceló brand are no strangers to all-inclusive deals at their hotels. They currently offer one of the cheapest all inclusive deals at a luxury resort in Los Cabos. Staying at the facility in San Jose del Cabo will set tourists back around 350 dollars a night for two people before taxes.    Hyatt Ziva Los Cabos – All Inclusive Hyatt is one of the hotel brands that is building new facilities in the region. They’ve also added all inclusive packages to some of their existing Cabo properties. A nightly stay with all inclusive privileges at this resort will cost right around 1000 dollars for two adults.   Grand Velas Los Cabos Luxury All Inclusive Grand Velas are going all out to provide unique experiences for resort guests. They recently launched a unique dining experience as well as an ocean safari trip available exclusively to guests. A night at the resort on an inclusive deal can go for over 2000 dollars.   %

Ukraine And Russia Work To Gain Advantage In Annexed Regions – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/ukraine-and-russia-work-to-gain-advantage-in-annexed-regions-69news-wfmz-tv/ ZAPORIZHZHIA, Ukraine (AP) — Regions of southern Ukraine that Russian President Vladimir Putin illegally annexed saw more heavy fighting Saturday as Ukrainian soldiers pressed a ground campaign to recapture one, and Russian forces exploded long-range missiles and Iranian-made drones in another. A missile strike also seriously damaged a key energy facility in Ukraine’s capital region, the country’s grid operator said. Following mounting setbacks, the Russian military has worked to cut off power and water in far-flung populated areas while also fending off Ukrainian counterattacks in occupied areas. Dmytro Pocishchuk, a hospital medic in the Zaporizhzhia region’s capital who has treated dozens of people wounded during Russian attacks in recent weeks, said people sought safety outdoors or in his building’s basement when the familiar blasts started at 5:15 a.m. Saturday. “If Ukraine stops, these bombings and killings will continue. We can’t give up to the Russian Federation,’” Pocishchuk said several hours later. He put a small Ukrainian flag on the broken windshield of his heavily damaged car. Russia has lost ground in the nearly seven weeks since Ukraine’s armed forces opened their southern counteroffensive. This week, the Kremlin launched what is believed to be its largest coordinated air and missile raids since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine on Feb. 24. Kyiv region Gov. Oleksiy Kuleba said the missile that hit a power site Saturday morning didn’t kill or wound anyone. Citing security, Ukrainian officials didn’t identify the site, one of many infrastructure targets the Russian military tried to destroy after an Oct. 8 truck bomb explosion damaged the bridge that links Russia to the annexed Crimean Peninsula. Ukrainian electricity transmission company Ukrenergo said repair crews were working to restore electricity service, but warned residents about further possible outages. Kyrylo Tymoshenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian president’s office, urged residents of the capital and three neighboring regions to conserve energy. “Putin may hope that by increasing the misery of the Ukrainian people, President (Volodymyr) Zelenskyy may be more inclined to negotiate a settlement that allows Russia to retain some stolen territory in the east or Crimea,” said Ian Williams, a fellow at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, a policy organization based in Washington. “A quick look at history shows that the strategic bombing of civilians is an ineffective way to achieve a political aim. ” This week’s wide-ranging retaliatory attacks, which included the use of self-destructing explosive drones from Iran, killed dozens of people. The strikes hit residential buildings as well as infrastructure such as power stations in Kyiv, Lviv in western Ukraine, and other cities that had seen comparatively few strikes in recent months. Putin said Friday that Moscow didn’t see a need for additional massive strikes but his military would continue selective ones. He said that of 29 targets the Russian military planned to knock out in this week’s attacks, seven weren’t damaged and would be taken out gradually. The Institute for the Study of War, a think tank based in Washington, interpreted Putin’s remarks as intended to counter criticism from pro-war Russian bloggers who “largely praised the resumption of strikes against Ukrainian cities, but warned that a short campaign would be ineffective.” In the Zaporizhzhia region, Gov. Oleksandr Starukh said the Russian military carried out strikes with kamikaze drones from Iran and long-range S-300 missiles. Some experts said the Russian military’s use of the surface-to-air missiles may reflect shortages of dedicated precision weapons for hitting ground targets. The neighboring Kherson region, one of the first areas of Ukraine to fall to Russia after the invasion and which Putin also illegally designated as Russian territory last month, remained the focus of a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Kyiv’s army has reported recapturing 75 villages and towns there in the last month, but said the momentum had slowed, with the fighting settling into the sort of grueling back-and-forth that characterized Russia’s months-long offensive to conquer Ukraine’s eastern Donbas region. On Saturday, Ukrainian troops attempted to advance south along the banks of the Dnieper River toward the regional capital, also named Kherson, but didn’t gain any ground, according to Kirill Stremousov, a deputy head of the occupied region’s Moscow-installed administration. “The defense lines worked, and the situation has remained under the full control of the Russian army,” he wrote on his messaging app channel. The Kremlin-backed local leaders asked civilians Thursday to leave the region to ensure their safety and to give Russian troops more maneuverability. Stremousov reminded them they could evacuate to Crimea and cities in southwestern Russia, where Moscow offered free accommodations to residents who agreed to leave. Maj. Gen. Igor Konashenkov, the Russian Defense Ministry’s spokesman, said the military destroyed five crossings on the Inhulets River, another route Ukraine’s fighters could take to progress toward the Kherson region. Konashenkov claimed Russian troops also blocked Ukrainian attempts to make inroads in breaching Russian defenses near Lyman, a city in the annexed Donetsk region of eastern Ukraine that the Ukrainians retook two weeks ago in a significant defeat for the Kremlin. To the north and east of Kherson, Russian shelling killed two civilians in the Dnipropetrovsk region, Gov. Valentyn Resnichenko said. He said the shelling of the city of Nikopol, which is located across the Dnieper from the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, damaged a dozen residential buildings, several stores and a transportation facility. Fighting near the nuclear plant, Europe’s largest, has been an ongoing concern during the nearly eight-month war. The power station temporarily lost its last remaining outside electricity source twice in the past week, fueling fears the reactors could eventually overheat and cause a catastrophic radiation leak. International Atomic Energy Agency Director-General Rafael Grossi reported that such fears were somewhat eased late Friday, because Ukrainian engineers had managed after several weeks to restore backup power lines that can serve as a “buffer” in case of further war-related outages. “Working in very challenging conditions, operating staff at the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant are doing everything they can to bolster its fragile offsite power situation,” Grossi said. “Restoring the backup power connection is a positive step in this regard, even though the overall nuclear safety and security situation remains precarious.” Follow AP’s coverage of the war in Ukraine: https://apnews.com/hub/russia-ukraine Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

Grocery Shopping To Level Up Your Diet Game! – The Daily Star https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/grocery-shopping-to-level-up-your-diet-game-the-daily-star/ It is often hard to wave goodbye to the sugary and high fat containing foods that filled the void inside you for a long time. However, the primary step in achieving a healthy lifestyle is to adopt a healthy diet, and that originates from the choices you make while shopping for your groceries. Therefore, we have sorted a well-designed plan for your next grocery shopping that will guide you in filling your cart with nutritious items.  Pre-plan your menus to avoid getting off-track Before heading to the store, decide on the menu first and prepare a list accordingly. Doing so will direct you in the right direction and prevent unnecessary and unhealthy purchases. Since your monthly menu will be planned to form a balanced diet, i.e., the right proportions of fruits, vegetables, grains, protein foods, and dairy; the list will help you pick up the groceries you need to cook nutritious meals.  Shopping on an empty stomach is a big no Have you ever wondered why you get extra starry-eyed and hover longer than usual around the candy section when you shop on an empty stomach? That is because you are running low on sugar. Hunger weakens your defences and makes you crave things you normally would not. Hence, from next time onwards, remember to eat something before starting your grocery shopping so as not to get distracted from your goal. Limiting within the perimeter  Mostly, grocery stores have the fruits, vegetables, and meat sections adjacent to each other. Once you set a perimeter around that particular side of the store, it will guide you to purchase three of the five main food groups that make up a balanced diet. Later, you can move on to the carbohydrates and other essential ingredients like oil and spices.  Wholegrain and lean meat for higher health benefits While buying bread, oats, rice, etc. make sure they are made of wholegrains. They are rich in fibre. Alongside multiple other benefits, wholegrains help keep you full and maintain a healthy body weight.  Some types of meat contain high levels of saturated fat which can develop cholesterol in our bodies, causing heart diseases. However, they are also loaded with nutrients like iron, zinc, and B vitamins and are a good source of proteins in our diet. Since its health benefits cannot be ignored, ask your butcher for a lean cut. This will get rid of unnecessary fats while preserving their meaty goodness.  Healthy fats within the acceptable range are welcome  While fats are known to be responsible for coronary diseases, healthy fats have a key contribution to a balanced diet. Unsaturated fats and omega-3 rich fats are major mood boosters; they sharpen your cognitive skills, lower bad LDL cholesterol levels and increase good HDL levels. They make your skin and hair glow, all while maintaining your waistline. So, do not forget to add olives, walnuts, avocados, fatty fish, and dairy products like milk and yoghurt, etc. to your grocery cart.  Do remember that good or bad, fats have comparatively high calories and according to the 2020-2025 Dietary Guidelines for Americans, its intake should not exceed 20 to 35 per cent of daily calories to stay within the Acceptable Macronutrient Distribution Range.  Read nutrition fact labels for making wiser decisions It is a necessary step in healthy grocery shopping to read the labels on the products for nutritional information. Ingredients and nutrient content of a product can vary a lot from brand to brand and comparing the labels for the one with the lowest amount of sodium, saturated fat, and added sugars is a wise choice.  Check expiry dates for freshness Always be meticulous about the expiry dates on packaged foods otherwise you can fall ill once bacteria start to grow in them. Not only for packaged foods but the freshness of groceries also needs to be considered even for produce. Fresh fruits and vegetables that are in season will bring out the best results in your diet.  Photo: Sazzad Ibne Sayed Styling: RBR

College Football Schedule, Games 2022: What To Watch In Week 7, TV Channels, Saturday Kickoff Times – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/college-football-schedule-games-2022-what-to-watch-in-week-7-tv-channels-saturday-kickoff-times-cbs-sports/ Buckle up, college football fans. Week 7 is going to be one of the wildest weekends we’ve seen this season.  No. 3 Alabama will head to Rocky Top to take on No. 6 Tennessee in the annual rivalry known as the “Third Saturday in October.” The Volunteers will be looking to break the Crimson Tide’s 15-game winning streak in the series, and firmly establish themselves as a threat to make the College Football Playoff. Elsewhere, No. 10 Penn State is on the road to take on No. 5 Michigan in a critical Big Ten East showdown, No. 8 Oklahoma State will square off with No. 13 TCU, No. 15 Syracuse will look to stay undefeated against No. 18 NC State and No. 7 USC will head to Salt Lake City to take on No. 20 Utah in a critical Pac-12 matchup. It’ll be a busy Saturday across the country, so here’s a handy viewer’s guide to help you navigate the action. All times Eastern. The best games No. 10 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan — noon on Fox, fuboTV (Try for free): The Nittany Lions have had two weeks to get ready for the biggest game of the young season. Quarterback Sean Clifford and the dynamic Nittany Lions offense will have a massive challenge against a Wolverines defense that has been one of the best in the country all season. No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee — 3:30 p.m. on CBS, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App: Will Crimson Tide quarterback and 2021 Heisman Trophy winner Bryce Young play? He missed last week with a sprained shoulder, and might be needed to lead a high-scoring affair against a Volunteers offense led by Heisman Trophy contender Hendon Hooker.  No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU — 3:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (Try for free): The undefeated Horned Frogs, led by veteran quarterback Max Duggan and a host of receivers, have been one of the biggest surprises of the season. Meanwhile, the Cowboys have just been rolling along … lurking on the fringe of the CFP race. Both of these teams need signature wins, and this is a perfect spot to put one on the resume. No. 15 NC State at No. 18 Syracuse — 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network, fuboTV (Try for free): The Wolfpack need to get a win in order to stay in the ACC title race, and could be missing (or without a completely healthy) Devin Leary under center. The Orange will have a huge home-field advantage in the biggest game of the Dino Babers era, and would make a huge statement with a win over ranked foe in a conference game. No. 16 Mississippi State at No. 22 Kentucky — 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (Try for free): The status of Wildcats quarterback Will Levis is up in the air, and they have struggled to run the ball on a consistent basis. Owning the time of possession battle might be critical against a Bulldogs offense that can put up points in a hurry. No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah — 8 p.m. on Fox, fuboTV (Try for free): The Trojans are actually underdogs against the Utes despite an ultra-dynamic offense and opportunistic defense. This prime-time game could be a chance for Trojans quarterback Caleb Williams to make a big statement against a Utes defense that struggled last week vs. UCLA. Best of the rest Auburn at No. 9 Ole Miss — noon on ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) No. 19 Kansas at Oklahoma — noon on ESPN2, fuboTV (Try for free) Iowa State at No. 22 Texas — noon on ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) Minnesota at No. 24 Illinois — noon on Big Ten Network, fuboTV (Try for free) Colgate at Army — noon on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App Vanderbilt at No. 1 Georgia — 3:30 p.m. on SEC Network, fuboTV (Try for free) Ohio at Western Michigan — 3:30 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App No. 25 James Madison at Georgia Southern — 4 p.m. on ESPN+ LSU at Florida — 7 p.m. on ESPN, fuboTV (Try for free) Utah State at Colorado State — 7 p.m. on CBS Sports Network, CBSSports.com, CBS Sports App No. 4 Clemson at Florida State — 7:30 p.m. on ABC, fuboTV (Try for free) Stanford at Notre Dame — 7:30 p.m. on NBC, fuboTV (Try for free)

Meta Documents Show Main Metaverse Is Losing Users And Falling Short Of Goals, Report Says – CNBC https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/meta-documents-show-main-metaverse-is-losing-users-and-falling-short-of-goals-report-says-cnbc/ Horizon Worlds, Meta‘s flagship metaverse for consumers, is failing to meet internal performance expectations, according to The Wall Street Journal, which reviewed internal company documents. Meta initially aimed to reach 500,000 monthly active users in Horizon Worlds by the end of the year, but the current figure is less than 200,000, according to the report. Additionally, the documents showed that most users didn’t return to Horizon after the first month on the platform, and the number of users has steadily declined since spring, the Journal said. Only 9% of worlds are visited by at least 50 people, and most are never visited at all, according to the report. The report comes as the company’s stock falls, user numbers decline and advertisers cut spending. Meta shares are down 62% so far this year. Meta rebranded from Facebook last year in order to reflect the company’s ambitions beyond social media. CEO Mark Zuckerberg has specifically been interested in building out the metaverse, which is a virtual world that allows users to work and play together. As a result, Meta created Horizon Worlds, which is a network of virtual spaces where users can engage with one another as avatars. Individuals can access Horizon through Meta’s Quest virtual-reality headsets. In an effort to drum up some excitement around the metaverse, Zuckerberg unveiled his company’s newest virtual reality headset, dubbed the Meta Quest Pro, at Meta’s Connect conference Tuesday. The device costs $1,500 and contains new technologies, such as an advanced mobile Snapdragon computer chip. A Meta spokesman told The Wall Street Journal that the company continues to make improvements to the metaverse, which was always meant to be a multiyear project. Representatives for Meta didn’t immediately respond to CNBC’s request for comment. Meta has said it will release a web version of Horizon for mobile devices and computers this year, but the spokesman didn’t have any launch dates to disclose. Read the full Journal report here.

See Who Wins The Battle Between Motorola Razr And Samsung Galaxy S22 – The Tech Outlook https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/see-who-wins-the-battle-between-motorola-razr-and-samsung-galaxy-s22-the-tech-outlook/ There are a lot of brands in the smartphone industry but choosing the best can be tedious. Samsung and Motorola are second to none in any terms. Both of the brands have been trying to give cutthroat competition and this article will take you through the specs and features of Motorola RAZR and Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra. Motorola Razr Motorola Razr has got a lot more for you than you can imagine. The market first saw its launching on the 13th of October 2019. Its screen is 6.20inch wide and offers a resolution of 876×2142 pixels and an aspect ratio of 21;9. It has got more than this in its screen because it has a second screen also that is 2.70inch wide with a resolution of 800×600 resolutions. It packs with 2.2Ghz octa-core Qualcomm Snapdragon processor. One of the features that makes it cool and hassle-free is its 6GB of RAM. It is powered by 2510 mAh non-removable memory. Rear side packs a 16MP autofocus f/17 aperture camera. The selfie camera is 5MP with f/2.0 aperture. When it was launched in the market it came in a noir black color. It measures 172×72×6.90 mm and weighs 250 grams. It is based on Android 9.0 Pie and comes with 128GB of inbuilt storage. Samsung Galaxy S22 Ultra This phone has surpassed all the limits and has brought the best thing for you. It has a round design, flat screen, and sleek design. An inbuilt S Pen adds up the plus point like its predecessor. If we talk about the screen it has got a 6.8-inch wide display that makes it a bit bulky. But if you can handle it will enhance your viewing experience of movies and gaming. The Super premium feature of this phone has made it slim and lightweight that only weighs 228g. It is available in two variants of 6GB and 12GB RAM. As far as the camera is concerned it has a quad camera setup that features a 108MP camera, two 10MP cameras, and one 12MP camera. A selfie camera of 40MP will take care of your selfies and vlogs.

Binance Announces $500 Million Funding For Bitcoin Mining – Cryptonews https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/binance-announces-500-million-funding-for-bitcoin-mining-cryptonews/ Source: AdobeStock / Iryna Budanova Binance Pool, the crypto mining services arm of cryptocurrency exchange Binance, aims to support Bitcoin miners to weather the crypto winter with a $500 million loan.  The ongoing bear market has had deep impacts on almost all industry participants, particularly miners. Amid rising fuel and electricity prices and the crypto market downturn, this cohort has been hit the most, with many miners proceeding to shut down their machines as profitability becomes negligible.  In a bid to help miners and in turn, help the broader crypto market from further damage, Binance Pool, one of the world’s largest crypto mining pools, has decided to offer a $500 million loan to support Bitcoin miners, the company said in a Friday blog post.   “Binance Pool has a responsibility to help maintain a healthy digital asset ecosystem,” the post read. “In light of current market conditions, Binance Pool is launching a $500million lending project to support crypto miners and digital infrastructure providers.” The report detailed that both “public and private blue-chip bitcoin (BTC) mining and digital asset infrastructure companies globally” would be able to secure debt through this initiative and finance their services.  Some terms of the loans include “an 18 to a 24-month term,” interest rates ranging from 5% to 10, and “offering security, either physical or digital assets, satisfactory to Binance.”  Aside from Binance, other major industry players have also taken measures to support struggling crypto miners. For one, Jihan Wu, the founder of crypto mining rig-maker Bitmain, plans to set up a $250 million fund to purchase distressed assets from mining firms. “There are opportunities in every cycle,” Matt Kong, chief executive officer of Bitdeer, reportedly said. “If you can time the market and enter at the bottom, come out at the top, then you will make money. It works especially well for mining.”  Bitcoin Hashrate Hits New ATH On Tuesday, the total hashrate of the Bitcoin network reached a fresh all-time high, suggesting that miners are now more optimistic about the bitcoin price as they have become online despite consistently low BTC prices. The Bitcoin hashrate is a measure of the amount of computing power that is dedicated to mining BTC and securing the network. An increasing hashrate means that more mining machines are coming online, which could signal rising optimism among miners about bitcoin prices going forward. Data from Blockchain.com shows that the total Bitcoin hashrate hit 241.88 Ehash/s last week, up significantly from this year’s low of 168.2 Ehash/s in early January. The all-time high was reached when looking at the data on a 7-day moving average basis, an often-used way to smooth out shorter-term fluctuations in the hashrate on the Bitcoin network.

Peter Thiel, Major U.S. Political Donor, Is Said To Pursue Maltese Citizenship – The New York Times https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/peter-thiel-major-u-s-political-donor-is-said-to-pursue-maltese-citizenship-the-new-york-times/ Obtaining citizenship in Malta would provide another passport for Mr. Thiel, who is one of the largest individual donors for the U.S. midterm elections. Send any friend a story As a subscriber, you have 10 gift articles to give each month. Anyone can read what you share. Peter Thiel, the billionaire technology investor, during the Republican National Convention in 2016. Mr. Thiel was born in Germany and holds U.S. and New Zealand passports.Credit…Brendan Smialowski/Agence France-Presse — Getty Images Oct. 15, 2022Updated 2:04 p.m. ET VALLETTA, Malta — At the end of a narrow road, past crushed beer cans and the remnants of a chain-link fence, a weathered sandstone building overlooks the Mediterranean coast. The British tourist who answered the door of a third-floor apartment had no idea she was staying at the residence of one of the world’s richest men. Peter Thiel, the billionaire and Republican political patron, has declared the two-bedroom apartment that he rents himself as his address while he works toward a goal he has pursued for about a year: becoming a citizen of the tiny island nation of Malta, according to documents viewed by The New York Times and three people with knowledge of the matter. Mr. Thiel, 55, is in the process of acquiring at least his third passport even as he expands his financial influence over American politics. Since backing Donald J. Trump’s 2016 presidential campaign, the technology investor has become one of the largest individual donors in the midterm elections next month, spending more than $30 million on more than a dozen right-wing Congressional candidates who have decried globalization and pledged to put America first. Image The Malta apartment building that Mr. Thiel has listed as his residential address on the island.Credit…Ryan Mac/The New York Times Mr. Thiel has long expressed deep dissatisfaction with what he perceives as America’s decline, railing against bureaucracy and “a completely deranged government” ruled by elites. To address that, he has funded fellowships to push people to drop out of school and start businesses and supported political candidates who would push the country in his preferred direction. All along, Mr. Thiel has also hedged his bets. That includes obtaining foreign passports — Mr. Thiel was born in Germany and holds American and New Zealand passports — that would let him live abroad. He has sought to build a remote compound in a glacier-carved valley in New Zealand, and supported a “seasteading” group that aims to build a city on floating platforms in international waters, outside the jurisdiction of national governments. Through a spokesman, Mr. Thiel, who co-founded the digital payments company PayPal and was Facebook’s first professional investor, declined to comment. His net worth stands at $4.2 billion, according to Forbes. There is no obvious tax benefit to Mr. Thiel to gaining Maltese citizenship, lawyers and immigration experts said, though wealthy Saudi, Russian and Chinese citizens sometimes seek a passport from the island nation for European Union access and to hedge against social or political turmoil at home. It is unclear why Mr. Thiel’s nominal residence in Malta is listed as a 185-euro-a-night vacation rental on Airbnb. Maltese naturalization laws are straightforward for those who can pay more than €500,000 for a passport, but they prohibit would-be citizens from renting out their official residences while their passport application is pending. What is clear is that a Maltese passport would give Mr. Thiel an escape hatch from the United States if his spending doesn’t change the country to his liking. He has started developing business connections in Malta, and is a major shareholder in at least one company registered there in which his husband, Matt Danzeisen, is a director. Image Mr. Thiel has backed his friend J.D. Vance, who is running for the Senate in Ohio. Mr. Thiel previously employed Mr. Vance.Credit…Scott McIntyre for The New York Times In the United States, the bulk of Mr. Thiel’s political donations have gone to support two friends who previously worked for him: J.D. Vance, a Republican running for Ohio’s open Senate seat, and Blake Masters, the Republican challenger in Arizona to Senator Mark Kelly. Mr. Vance worked at Mithril Capital, one of Mr. Thiel’s investment funds. Mr. Masters was chief operating officer of Thiel Capital, the billionaire’s family office. Both candidates have espoused a form of nationalism that, in part, blames globalization and leaders’ involvement in international affairs for American stagnation. Mr. Thiel has endorsed that worldview with his money and in speeches, including one at the National Conservatism Conference last year where he called nationalism “a corrective” to the “brain-dead, one-world state” of globalism. “In order for there to be any chance of reversing the wrong direction in which the country has been heading, in Arizona this year it’s Blake or bust,” he wrote in an endorsement on Mr. Masters’s website. Mr. Thiel has supported Mr. Masters’s run by hosting fund-raising dinners and spending $15 million. Mr. Masters was Thiel Capital’s chief operating officer when Mr. Thiel began his Maltese citizenship application. A spokeswoman for Mr. Masters, who left Thiel Capital in March, didn’t respond to questions for comment. Image Mr. Thiel has also supported the campaign of Blake Masters, who is challenging for one of Arizona’s Senate seats. Mr. Masters previously served as chief operating officer of Thiel Capital, Mr. Thiel’s family office.Credit…Adriana Zehbrauskas for The New York Times Malta, located in the Mediterranean between Europe and North Africa, has been a destination for traders and crusaders for centuries. Outside powers controlled it until 1964; since it gained independence from Britain, it has struggled to build a sustainable economy. The island, which has little industry and few natural resources, joined the European Union in 2004. Malta has found a lucrative economic lever in selling passports. Since 2013, the country’s investor citizenship programs have granted around 2,000 applicants and their families passports, generating millions of euros in revenue. Those offered citizenship on a fast-track route must pay €750,000 into a government fund and maintain a rental or purchased property throughout the 12-month application period and for at least five years after receiving a passport. After that, citizens are no longer required to maintain a residence or live in Malta, which has a population of just over 500,000. Joseph Muscat, Malta’s prime minister who resigned in 2019 amid protests about corruption and the murder of a journalist who was critical of his government, called the passport program “an insurance policy” for wealthy individuals “where they feel there is a great deal of volatility.” “It’s straightforward,” he said. “You pay into a national fund, and the national fund uses that money for infrastructure and for social housing.” Image The Auberge de Castille, the office of Malta’s prime minister.Credit…Darrin Zammit Lupi/Reuters Malta’s fast track for citizenship by investment, or what’s more commonly known as “golden passports,” can take from 12 to 16 months, according to Henley & Partners, a consultancy that developed the Maltese program and helps clients obtain passports around the globe. “We traditionally have had many Americans looking at that, and of those, quite a lot are from the tech sector,” said Christian Kaelin, Henley’s chairman. European Union officials have criticized Malta’s golden passport program. Last month, the European Commission referred Malta to the union’s Court of Justice over the program, noting that citizenship in return for payments “is not compatible with the principle of sincere cooperation” within the bloc. Maltese officials have signaled they will contest any legal challenge. Joseph Mizzi, the head of Community Malta, the agency responsible for selling passports, declined to comment on Mr. Thiel’s application. Mr. Thiel has laid the groundwork for life outside the United States for years. In 2011, he obtained a New Zealand passport after donating 1 million New Zealand dollars to an earthquake relief fund in the country. There is “no other country that aligns more with my view of the future than New Zealand,” he wrote in his passport application, which the local government released in 2017 after reporting from The New Zealand Herald. The news provoked outrage that lawmakers were selling citizenship. Image Mr. Thiel donated money to Donald J. Trump’s presidential campaign in 2016. Mr. Thiel met with Mr. Trump and Mike Pence at Trump Tower that year.Credit…Drew Angerer/Getty Images Mr. Thiel is going through a similar process in Malta, where he has started laying down business roots. He is an investor in a Malta-based venture fund, Elevat3 Capital, run by Christian Angermayer, a German investor, according to the firm. A spokesman for Mr. Angermayer, who has based his family office and other business ventures in Malta, did not respond to requests for comment. In early 2021, Thiel Capital also became a shareholder in a Malta entity through a byzantine series of developments. The deal involved Coru, a Mexican online financial advice start-up, which has a parent company incorporated in London. Entities controlled by Mr. Thiel and Mr. Danzeisen, his husband, were among Coru’s biggest owners, corporate filings show. The start-up needed additional funding in late 2020, but its investors could not reach an agreement to put more cash in, said two former investors. The company went into administration, the equivalent of bankruptcy. Around that time, Mr. Thiel, Mr. Danzeisen...

First Half Lookback: Virginia Tech Vs. Miami (Fla.) – VT Hokiesports.com https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/first-half-lookback-virginia-tech-vs-miami-fla-vt-hokiesports-com/ BLACKSBURG – Back in Lane Stadium on Saturday for the first time in over three weeks, Virginia Tech trails Miami (Fla.) 17-0 heading into the break.   In the first half, the Hokie offense gained 44 yards on the ground and 62 through the air. Penalties have kept Tech in the game, with Miami committing eight penalties for 79 yards.   Stay Connected with Tech Football On Miami’s second drive of the game, the Hokies were able to stop the Hurricanes in the red zone to hold them to only a field goal.   Running back Malachi Thomas currently leads the Tech run game with 33 yards on nine attempts. On the defensive side of the ball, defensive linemen TyJuan Garbutt has four tackles, including two TFLs and 0.5 sacks, while linebacker Alan Tisdale currently leads the team with seven tackles.

WDFW Lifts Fire Restrictions On Most Department-Managed Lands – Dailyfly https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/wdfw-lifts-fire-restrictions-on-most-department-managed-lands-dailyfly/ OLYMPIA – The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) announced campfire and other remaining fire restrictions on most Department-managed lands have been lifted, beginning October 14. “While wildfire risk remains high in some areas, the risk of large fires is low and the state’s capacity to fight fires is good,” said Cynthia Wilkerson, WDFW’s lands division manager. “We know folks are eager to enjoy the outdoors this fall season, and we continue to encourage people to recreate with extreme caution to help prevent wildfires. This includes using alternatives to campfires such as propane stoves for cooking and fully extinguishing any campfires that do occur.” Campfire restrictions for WDFW’s South Central Region including Benton, Franklin, Yakima, and Kittitas counties will be in place through October 15. A campfire ban remains in place through Oct. 31 at the Columbia Basin Wildlife Area in Adams and Grant counties and at the Klickitat Wildlife Area in Klickitat County due to their drier, more sensitive nature. WDFW institutes campfire bans in hot summer months to reduce fire risk across the state on Department-managed lands and surrounding public lands and communities. These actions help protect habitat, wildlife, and human health. Outdoor recreationists are encouraged to check fire restrictions for various public land management agencies before they go, as they can vary. For more information about fires and fire prevention on public lands, visit the Washington State Department of Natural Resources website or the U.S. Forest Service website. For local restrictions, residents should contact their county. Maps and detailed information about WDFW’s 33 wildlife areas are available on WDFW’s website. More information about Recreate Responsibly is available at recreateresponsibly.org/. WDFW manages more than a million acres of land and hundreds of water access areas throughout the state. By actively managing lands, restoring habitats, and preserving wild places, the Department serves as stewards for Washington’s natural places, protecting the state’s land and water for its human and wildlife populations.

4 Reasons I Chose To Retire On South Carolina’s Beautiful Grand Strand – TravelAwaits https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/4-reasons-i-chose-to-retire-on-south-carolinas-beautiful-grand-strand-travelawaits/ That last winter in Chicago was as nasty as a cantankerous hornet. It was time to live my dream: a warm beach on the Atlantic Ocean. Researching properties, I was convinced coastal real estate in the United States was too expensive. But I could teach at an international school in Panama and live in a cottage on the ocean. I sold my house and dusted off my teaching certificate. Then someone suggested Myrtle Beach. I was decades beyond a spring break lifestyle but curious enough to research. Surprisingly, I found oceanfront properties that I could afford. Three months later, I moved into my North Myrtle Beach condo. This little village is one of six beach towns known as The Grand Strand: 60 miles of uninterrupted sand and surf. Myrtle Beach is the largest town and spring break heaven. North Myrtle Beach is a family vacation destination and home to many retirees and snowbirds. I describe my lifestyle as college without living on ramen noodles and writing essays. North Myrtle Beach has everything I need as well as activities that appeal to guests, such as world-class golf and deep-sea fishing. Plus, my taxes are one-sixth of those I paid in Illinois for a smaller house.  Another important consideration was a dependable cycle of pleasant seasons, instead of Chicago’s two seasons: winter and road construction. Although some Grand Strand residents go further south for the winter, I enjoy a short winter that requires no more bundling up than a light jacket. It so rarely gets below freezing, local media broadcast “dangerous cold” alerts for 27 degrees. The annual Italian Irish Festival offers music, crafts, contests, and tasty, ethnic food. Photo credit: Carol Stigger 1. Autumn’s Wine And Festivals Wine tastings and wineries are popular fall activities. La Belle Amie Winery is in a forest and provides live music to enthusiastic oenophiles. Guests bring lawn chairs, sip wine, and dance on the decks. Food booths sell local snacks and picnic foods. I wear sturdy shoes to stroll along the property’s enchanting forest paths. Signs warn “Beware of ‘gators and snakes.” Autumn is festival season along the Grand Strand. In September, North Myrtle Beach’s Italian Irish Festival draws a crowd with its ethnic food booths, local crafts, spaghetti-eating contests, and live music. In October, a nearby village hosts a shrimp fest offering shrimp raw and cooked every which way. Live music plus one hundred food and craft vendors make the shrimp fest an all-day outing. Every autumn weekend offers festivals on various autumn themes in nearby towns. Live music on Main Street every Thursday continues through September.  All of downtown is crowded with music lovers with their lawn chairs and drinks. Bars and restaurants that line Main Street do a lively business.  The annual Great Christmas Light Show in North Myrtle Beach has a surprise visitor. Photo credit: Carol Stigger 2. Winter’s Brief, Cozy Beauty By December, beach walks require a scarf and sweatshirt. Dolphins swim close to shore, and storms churn up interesting shells. The town lights up with holiday decorations. The Great Christmas Light Show, beginning late November, is a drive-through experience with music and lights throughout the sports complex. From an inspiring nativity scene to scenes of firemen dousing a housefire, the drive evokes both awe and amusement. Cost is per car, not per person. Hot chocolate and donuts are served in Santa’s house where Santa takes toy orders from children. Brookgreen Gardens, just 30 miles south of North Myrtle Beach, has plenty to see all year. Membership is just $70 a year and allows unlimited visits. Their Nights of a Thousand Candles, with 2,700 hand-lit candles and millions of twinkling lights, is one of the most popular holiday events in the Southeast, running from late November to New Year’s Day.  Barefoot Landing has unique shops and restaurants along the Intercoastal Waterway and inlets. Lights begin twinkling in late November. The Landing exudes a holiday vibe with the carousel turning, choirs singing, and shops selling gifts. Favorite shops for gifts include honey from Savanna Bee, hand-crafted candles and soaps, stylish charcuterie boards, and (for fun) alligator jerky from the Beef Jerky Store. In Chicago, my musical Christmas treat was The Nutcracker by the Joffrey Ballet. Here, I chose from a variety of holiday performances at The Carolina Opry, House of Blues, and The Alabama Theater. Some churches offer near-professional holiday shows. Retirees who have escaped bitter winters share their talents for free or for a small donation.    Pro Tip: While at Barefoot Landing, visit Paris, a coffee shop serving fresh pastries and macarons in a cozy room with Parisian décor and a fireplace.  Brookgreen Gardens in the spring Photo credit: Craig Zerbe / Shutterstock.com 3. Spring’s Exuberant Blossoming Toward the end of February, the magic begins. Pansies, daffodils, and tulips begin blooming, and pots of spring flowers appear in stores. Leaves begin budding. Ducks in the town’s numerous ponds display watery flirtations while nesting birds fill the air with song. If I had to pick one season to visit Brookgreen Gardens, it would be spring. Botanical gardens include all the flowers, shrubs, and trees that make this region so colorful and fragrant. The azaleas alone are worth the trip. The zoo houses all species native to the area. The Butterfly House is open May to October and has local species as well as tropical butterflies housed in a lush setting. Spring is also the best time to experience the Garden’s Creek Excursion, which cruises waterways that wend around historic rice fields on a pontoon boat with an interpreter who explains the history and points to local wildlife. Brunch is popular every season, and Blueberry’s Grill is a local favorite. The chef’s specialty is a crab cake benedict with fried green tomatoes and a remoulade sauce. The salmon benedict is just as yummy. If the wait is long, just move a fourth mile north to The Kitchen Table. The food is almost as good, and their patio overlooks a salt marsh lively with birds, jumping fish, and sun-basking turtles. By spring, I’m ready for outdoor dining, and many eateries here have patios. The shag, described as the jitterbug on quaaludes, was born in North Myrtle Beach and draws dancers from all over the country to bars on Main Street. They have frequent live music nights for shaggers and people who want to learn this nostalgic dance to the tunes of the ’60s and ’70s.  Pro Tip: The Shoe Center has a large selection of shoes and small handbags that are perfect for the shag and other social dances. It is also the best store for beach footwear.  A sunny day in Myrtle Beach Photo credit: StacieStauffSmith Photos / Shutterstock.com 4. Summer’s Sun, Sand, And…. In summer, beaches are lively with vacationing families, but never overcrowded. The beaches are cleaned and smoothed by a nightly crew, and hazards are lessened with lifeguards and rules requiring guests to fill every hole they dig. Glass containers are not allowed. Liquor is forbidden in a “nod-nod, wink-wink” fashion. Pour your adult beverage into a plastic cup, and the beach patrol will not ask what’s in it. The law allows swift removal of loud, drunken parties.   Locals have found oases of peace and ways to cope with crowds. I do my shopping on beautiful beach days. Visitors are in the ocean, not the grocery.  Pro Tips: This is the season to rent a captained pontoon boat from Royal Tiki Charters and cruise the intercoastal waterway. Their pontoons have canopies, comfortable deck chairs, a refrigerator, and even a head. A carryout seafood dinner with the catch of the day, steamed clams, and key lime pie is the perfect way to enjoy a sunset while floating by deserted islands and coastal wildlife reserves.  Dawn promises another beautiful day on North Myrtle Beach. Photo credit: Carol Stigger More Grand Strand Pro Tips Visit North Myrtle Beach’s hidden gem, Russell Burgess Coastal Preserve, which goes over the Intercoastal waterway. Its benches are great places to bird-watch and enjoy tidal changes. I take a sun hat and a book. Some bring fishing poles and crab nets. If my catch of the day is a tan and a smile, I stop by Platt’s Seafood for the freshest ready-to-cook seafood in town. Of course, I miss Chicago’s cultural venues. I visit the Windy City several times a year on inexpensive, non-stop flights from Myrtle Beach. My teaching skills are helping illiterate adults learn to read and write. Accessibility Note: All places mentioned in this article are accessible to people who use mobility aids. The Grand Strand accommodates its large population of seniors with a generous number of handicapped parking places, wooden walkways to beaches, and ramps to restaurants and attractions. I also appreciate golf cart services — free, but tips are accepted — from parking lots to festivals and shopping malls. Even the airport provides golf cart rides from parking lots to the terminal. %

Man Drowns As Storms Batter Greek Island Of Crete – 69News WFMZ-TV https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/man-drowns-as-storms-batter-greek-island-of-crete-69news-wfmz-tv/ ATHENS, Greece (AP) — A man drowned and there are reports of missing people as storms batter Crete, causing rivers to overflow and flooding locations across Greece’s biggest island on Saturday. The worst damage seems to have been done in the seaside town of Agia Pelagia, about 25 kilometers (16 miles) northwest of Iraklio, Crete’s largest city. This is where firefighters found the 50-year-old man, whose car had been swept up by raging waters. The state-run Athens News Agency said that a woman who was reportedly in the same vehicle is missing. Divers from the coast guard and the fire department’s Special Disaster Unit are searching for her. Gale force winds are also blowing across most of the island. Footage showed at least 10 cars floating in the turbulent sea off Agia Pelagia’s narrow beach and other debris, including a refrigerator. Firefighters rescued a woman trapped inside her car before it was swept into the sea. Authorities said they were investigating more reports of missing people and fear others may have been trapped in their cars. Inhabitants in the area of Lasithi, on the east side of the island, have been warned by SMS text messages not to leave their phones. In the city of Chania, on the western end of the island, houses have been flooded, according to regional officials. In the city of Sitia, on the eastern end, about 265 kilometers (165 miles) from Chania, four people were trapped in two vehicles and nine others — eight tourists and a guard — were trapped inside the town’s archaeological museum, local police said. In Iraklio itself, several roads are flooded and the city’s international airport has closed, because its runways are underwater. “No one can tell when flights will resume,” airport manager Giorgos Pliakas told a local news site. Copyright 2022 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.

All 5400 Hilton Hotels In The U.S. Will Be Getting A Peloton Bike – Travel Off Path https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/all-5400-hilton-hotels-in-the-u-s-will-be-getting-a-peloton-bike-travel-off-path/ Last Updated 1 min ago Hilton announced this month that they are teaming up with popular home cycling company Peloton to bring their signature bikes to hotels across the United States. In a new joint Press Release, it was announced that Hilton aims to put at least one Peloton bike in all 5,400 Hilton branded hotels across the US, with some locations receiving multiple. Bikes will be placed in all hotels by the end of 2022.  Peloton bikes feature thousands of on-demand and live cycling workouts available 24/7. Along with cycling, Peloton offers full body and Interval cardio workouts streamed from the Bike’s screen. Betsy Webb, Vice President of Peloton Commercial, says that this partnership will help the company cater to their current members while they are traveling and expose future prospective members to Peloton for the first time.  “We recognize the importance for our Members to maintain their wellness routines while on the road, with data showing over 1.6 million Peloton rides completed globally on Peloton Bikes in hotels in the past year. So, we are thrilled to be working with Hilton, allowing us to meet the needs of our current Members, while also enabling potential new Members to experience Peloton for the first time.” It has not been made clear if new users will be required to create a login to use the bikes located in Hilton hotels.  Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! Travel Off Path Recommends These 5 Fast and Easy Travel Insurance Plans To Sign up For Now Plans starting at only $10 per week This partnership is one of many initiatives that Hilton is spearheading to cater to health conscious guests. Hilton previously launched Five Feet to Fitness, a program at select locations across the United States that provides specialized rooms for guests that want to workout in the comfort of their own suite. These rooms include a Gym Rax workout station outfitted with various fitness accessories and a kiosk screen with over 200 exercise tutorials and 25 virtual workout classes. The brand also launched a new luxury hotel in New York City, Tempo, which offers wellness rooms with Peloton bikes in them. Hilton recognized that fitness and healthy living have become key aspects of hotel stays in 2022.  “A recent survey of U.S. travelers indicated an overwhelming 98 percent of respondents are prioritizing wellness activities while on the road.”  Matt Schuyler, chief brand officer, says “At Hilton, we understand the importance of a reliable and friendly stay that infuses wellness through all facets of the guest experience, including spa programs, hotel design, guest room amenities, and food and beverage.” He then specified that “This unique and exciting partnership with Peloton – a brand so many of our guests know and love – accelerates an important part of that equation, allowing us to enhance the stay with an innovative approach to fitness.” Hilton hopes that this partnership will help them to become the preferred hotel of active Peloton users. According to a recent survey conducted by Hilton, “…within the Peloton community, 90 percent of Members report that they are more likely to stay at hotels with Peloton Bikes.”  Along with Bikes at all 5,400 Hilton locations across the US, Peloton is offering all Hilton Honor members a free 90-day trial subscription of the Peloton App. This is 30 days longer than the standard promotion offered on Peloton’s site. The app grants users access to strength, boxing, barre, yoga, and full body workouts taught by expert-level instructors that can be done at home without any equipment. Members also receive preferred pricing on Peloton fitness products. This promotion runs now until January 1st, 2023. Traveler Alert: Don’t Forget Travel Insurance For Your Next Trip! ↓ Join Our Community ↓ The Travel Off Path Community FB group has all the latest reopening news, conversations, and Q&A’s happening daily!  SUBSCRIBE TO OUR LATEST POSTS Enter your email address to subscribe to Travel Off Path’s latest breaking travel news, straight to your inbox This article originally appeared on TravelOffPath.com

College Football Scores, Schedule, NCAA Top 25 Rankings, Games Today: Texas, Auburn, Ole Miss In Action – CBS Sports https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/college-football-scores-schedule-ncaa-top-25-rankings-games-today-texas-auburn-ole-miss-in-action-cbs-sports/ Week 7 of the college football season brings fans a buffet of big-time games, including six contests between ranked teams as conference races heat up and the national picture begins to take shape. In total, 19 AP Top 25-ranked squads will be in action throughout the day beginning with the noon ET slate and continuing until late in the evening. First up is a top-10 showdown in the Big Ten East between No. 5 Michigan and No. 10 Penn State, along with a matchup between No. 9 Ole Miss and Auburn in the day’s early wave. The afternoon brings a must-see SEC on CBS Game of the Week between No. 3 Alabama and No. 6 Tennessee as well as a huge Big 12 battle between No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 13 TCU. As the afternoon turns to night, No. 4 Clemson travels to take on Florida State, No. 22 Kentucky hosts No. 16 Mississippi State and an all-important Pac-12 showdown gets underway between No. 20 Utah and No. 7 USC. The Utes are narrow home favorites and will have a chance to end the Trojans’ storybook start. CBS Sports will be here every step of the way to update you with the latest scores, highlights and storylines throughout the day. All times Eastern College football scores, schedule: Week 7 No. 10 Penn State at No. 5 Michigan — Noon on Fox — Expert picks, preview Auburn at No. 9 Ole Miss — Noon on ESPN No. 19 Kansas at Oklahoma — Noon on ESPN2 Iowa State at No. 22 Texas — Noon on ABC — Expert picks, preview No. 3 Alabama at No. 6 Tennessee — 3:30 p.m. on CBS — Expert picks, preview Vanderbilt at No. 1 Georgia — 3:30 p.m. on SEC Network — How to watch No. 8 Oklahoma State at No. 13 TCU — 3:30 p.m. on ABC — Expert picks, preview No. 15 NC State at No. 18 Syracuse — 3:30 p.m. on ACC Network LSU at Florida — 7 p.m. on ESPN — Expert picks, preview No. 4 Clemson at Florida State — 7:30 p.m. on ABC No. 16 Mississippi State at No. 22 Kentucky — 7:30 p.m. on SEC Network — How to watch No. 7 USC at No. 20 Utah — 8 p.m. on Fox — Expert picks, preview Check out the entire Week 7 scoreboard  Check these out … ATS picks, predictions: College football picks for key top-25 games College football rankings: CBS Sports 131 | AP Top 25 Viewer’s guide: What to watch in Week 7 Season Leaders passing R. Ashford874 YD, 4 TDS, 3 INTS R. Ashford874 YD, 4 TDS, 3 INTS J. Dart1358 YD, 8 TDS, 5 INTSJ. Dart1358 YD, 8 TDS, 5 INTS rushing T. Bigsby79 ATT, 345 YD, 4 TDST. Bigsby79 ATT, 345 YD, 4 TDS Q. Judkins96 ATT, 581 YD, 8 TDSQ. Judkins96 ATT, 581 YD, 8 TDS receiving J. Johnson17 REC, 325 YD, 1 TDJ. Johnson17 REC, 325 YD, 1 TD J. Mingo22 REC, 507 YD, 3 TDSJ. Mingo22 REC, 507 YD, 3 TDS See New Posts Pinned SEC picks Week 7 in the SEC features two massive cross-division games between ranked opponents that could go a long way toward separating the contenders and pretenders. No. 3 Alabama will head to Rocky Top take on No. 6 Tennessee in the annual rivalry game known as the “Third Saturday in October.” Both teams will enter this matchup with undefeated records for the first time since 1989, and it’s the first time since 1998 that Neyland Stadium will host a meeting between two teams ranked in the top six of the AP Top 25 poll. Here are Barrett Sallee’s picks for the SEC games this week. Pinned Viewer’s Guide Buckle up. Week 7 in college football is going to be one of the wildest weekends yet. Here is Barrett Sallee’s breakdown of what to watch as several ranked teams play each other as the season reached its midway point. If you struggle making decisions with the remote, this could help with those tough choices throughout the day. Pinned Top 25 Expert picks The midway point of the 2022 college football season is upon us with Separation Saturday ahead in Week 7. With six games between top-25 opponents on deck, there is no doubt that College Football Playoff dreams will be crushed a couple weeks ahead of the first CFP Rankings being released. Here are the expert picks from our panel on the day’s biggest games.

How Dubai Is Developing Its Metaverse Strategy – Acceleration Economy https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/how-dubai-is-developing-its-metaverse-strategy-acceleration-economy/ The public sector is discovering the Metaverse’s potential. The Crown Prince of Dubai, Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, has announced Dubai’s Metaverse strategy. In a tweet, he attached the following infographic. Fostering Innovation In many ways, it’s not surprising that innovative governments like Dubai‘s are starting to consider the Metaverse. Dubai has a history of embracing innovation, having already attracted 1,000 companies in the blockchain and Metaverse space, which makes it more inclined to understand that building the necessary infrastructure and fostering a healthy ecosystem around this emerging industry can pay off well in terms of the city’s overall economy. Citi released a report that estimated the Metaverse market’s size to be between $8 and $13 trillion — that means there are many companies and jobs that may exist in Dubai. Just as the Bay Area became the physical epicenter of the personal computer and the internet, Dubai’s leaders intend for it to become the internet’s next evolution center. The strategy is meant to foster innovation in blockchain and Metaverse technologies, as well as set standards for investors and users. Dubai’s state news agency WAM also emphasized its mission to provide education for developers, creators, and users looking to transition into the Metaverse and Web3. This is critical to creating the experiences needed to draw users to (and enable them to use) new platforms. Determining Regulations Part of this mission also revolves around putting the right regulations in place to help in the creation and adoption of new technologies and services. Determining which regulations are right, however, has been one of the main debates, especially around cryptocurrencies and blockchain technologies. If there’s too little regulation, then investors are at harm — this was the argument made after LUNA’s crash in May. If there’s too much regulation, then the space can’t grow. This is what most crypto-enthusiasts believe is holding innovation back. In March, Dubai established the Virtual Assets Regulatory Authority (VARA) and passed its first law dealing with such assets. The city has already granted licenses to many large crypto exchanges like Binance and the European subsidiary of FTX. Faced with increasingly restrictive regulation by other governments, exchanges and blockchain companies are strongly incentivized to set up shop in crypto-friendly locations like Dubai. Bybit has announced that it would soon open its global headquarters in Dubai. Other players in the space like Crypto.com said they would establish a presence in the city. Incorporating Metaverse Tech for Smart Cities Major companies based in Dubai are starting to incorporate the Metaverse and blockchain-based technologies into their businesses. Notable examples include airline company Emirates; business conglomerate Damac Group; fashion house Roberto Cavalli; and UAE health care firm Thumbay Group, who plan to release a “Metaverse hospital” in the fall where patients can consult doctors virtually. Dubai’s Museum of the Future in September hosted the Dubai Metaverse Assembly, which saw more than 300 experts and 40 organizations come together to discuss the Metaverse and its opportunities. Hamdan bin Mohammed also recently announced the establishment of the Higher Committee for Future Technology and Digital Economy, which will play an integral part in Dubai’s mission to spearhead the Metaverse and Web3. Dubai’s government has many options to integrate Metaverse technologies besides just fostering entrepreneurship and innovation. While the promise of “smart cities” has long remained only in the hype-based vocabulary of tech enthusiasts, the improvement of AR (augmented reality) hardware may finally allow us to move closer to intelligent cities. As AR technology improves, cities like Dubai can incorporate immersive experiences into public infrastructure. Facilities like bus stops and public bathrooms may be marked in a user’s field of view. The government may decide to build a low-resolution digital replica of the city and overlay storefronts, roads, and historic landmarks with important information or educational content that may explain the landmark’s history, for example. In some ways, public sector officials, particularly city officials, can contribute more to the Metaverse than large corporations and national governments. There are many ways immersive technology and blockchain can deliver value to the public and through public infrastructure; they can help shape the regulation necessary for industries to grow. Projects can start small, like adding a QR code to a public art installation that leads to a mobile AR experience, or end up big, like switching the national monetary system from a fiat currency to a cryptocurrency. Regardless, it’ll be interesting to see what the cities of the future will look like. Dubai is well on its way to achieving that vision. Want to compete in the Metaverse? Subscribe to the My Metaverse Minute Channel:

The Ultimate Apple Accessory Gadget Guide—best IPhone, IPad And Mac Gadgets For Your Workspace – Gadget Flow https://bentoncountynewsnow.com/the-ultimate-apple-accessory-gadget-guide-best-iphone-ipad-and-mac-gadgets-for-your-workspace-gadget-flow/ Use Apple devices for work? Check out today’s digest. We’re highlighting the best chargers, keyboards, mice, and more for professional use. Is the iPhone 14 your work smartphone? Maybe you edit on an iMac or a MacBook. No matter what Apple devices you use for work, you can make them better professional companions. Just pair them with the products on today’s ultimate Apple accessory gadget guide. Related: The best Mac accessories to buy: keyboards, stands, mice & more The ability to take hands-free calls is essential throughout the workday. And the best earbuds for doing so with your Apple devices are, no surprises here, the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen with H2 chip. With their reengineered design, they provide better sound and connectivity than ever. If you value portable workspace gadgets for your Apple devices, check out the Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac. It boasts a modern style, pairs with your Apple devices, and is lightweight. Boost your productivity on your MacBook, iMac, iPad, and iPhone with these professional accessories. 1. The Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen with H2 chip elevate your iPhone, iPad, and Mac experience with their reengineered audio features. Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen with H2 Chip Whether you own an iPhone, an iPad, a Mac, or all 3, the Apple AirPods Pro 2nd Gen with H2 Chip are worthy accessories. Rebuilt with the new H2 chip, they provide a more immersive experience and offer high bandwidth connectivity. Get them for $249 on the official website. 2. The Native Union Drop Magnetic Wireless Charger has a desk-friendly look and delivers up to 15 watts of power to your iPhone. Native Union Drop Magnetic Wireless Charger and a phone Add an elegant iPhone charger to your workspace with the Native Union Drop Magnetic Wireless Charger. It features a weighted metal base that’s nonslip. Meanwhile, the MagSafe charging pad attaches to your iPhone 12 or newer without fuss. Get it for $59.99 on the official website. 3. The Anker Nano 3 iPhone charger is small yet mighty, delivering 30 watts of power. It charges your iPhone, MacBook Air, and iPad. Anker Nano 3 product video Stop lugging around a MacBook Air charger and replace it with the Anker Nano 3 iPhone charger. This tiny charger measures just 1.12 inches thick and powers nearly all your devices. What’s more, it checks its temperature more than 3 million times a day, which is why it’s on our Apple accessory gadget guide. Get it for $22.99 on the official website. 4. The Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac has a beautiful modern design. It brings desktop-like typing to your iPad, MacBook, or iPhone. Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac in Blueberry Type comfortably anywhere with the Logitech K380 Bluetooth Keyboard for Mac. Its slim shape meshes nicely with your Apple setup and works with all your Apple devices. Lightweight, it’s convenient to take on the go. Get it for $39.99 on the official website. 5. The Sandmarc Macro Lens for iPhone 14 series captures intricate details. It’s ideal for professionals who rely on their iPhone’s camera. Sandmarc Macro Lens for iPhone side view If you use your iPhone’s camera for snapping photos for work, consider getting the Sandmarc Macro Lens for iPhone 14 series. It delivers up to 30x macro photos and eliminates distortion. Get it for $99.99 on the official website. 6. The Logitech Lift for Mac vertical ergonomic mouse keeps your wrist and hand properly aligned for healthier work. And its design is pretty cool. Logitech Lift for Mac design video Improve your Apple workspace with the Logitech Lift for Mac vertical ergonomic mouse. It keeps your hand in a healthier position for work, making it one of our favorite products on the Apple accessory gadget guide. Get it for $69.99 on the official website. 7. The Brydge ProDock Thunderbolt 4 MacBook docking station instantly connects and docks your MacBook, saving you time. Brydge ProDock Thunderbolt 4 in use With the Brydge ProDock Thunderbolt 4 MacBook docking station, it’s easier than ever to connect your MacBook to a monitor. That way, you can start work faster. It comes with 11 ports and keeps your MacBook charged. Preorder it for $399.99 on the official website. 8. The Satechi USB-C Slim Dock for 24″ iMac gives your iMac more USB ports. It also has an integrated enclosure for external storage. Satechi USB-C Slim Dock on a workspace Upgrade your iMac with more ports when you add the Satechi USB-C Slim Dock for 24″ iMac. It brings 11 ports to the front of your desktop. Plus, the extra data storage compartment makes transferring files easy. Get it for $149.99 on the official website. 9. The Twelve South HoverBar Duo (2nd gen) flexible iPad arm integrates Apple devices like the iPad and iPhone seamlessly into your life. Twelve South HoverBar Duo (2nd gen) in a kitchen Quickly check your iPad during a photo shoot or a presentation with the Twelve South HoverBar Duo (2nd gen). It features a weighted base and an adjustable shelf clamp. Offering infinite positions for iPad and iPhone, it’s a helpful work product on our Apple accessory gadget guide. Get it for $79.99 on the official website. 10. The Satechi Dual Vertical Stand lifts and organizes 2 Apple gadgets, clearing up desk space so that you can be more productive. Satechi Dual Vertical Stand with devices Buy the Satechi Dual Vertical Stand for a tidier workspace. Supporting 2 tech gadgets at once, this sturdy holder provides a handy landing spot for your iPad, MacBook, and iPhone. Get it for $39.99 on Amazon. When you use Apple devices for work, only the best gadgets and accessories will do. Add these products to your workflow and watch your productivity soar. Which of these gadgets did you love the most? Let us know in the comments. Want more news, reviews, and guides from Gadget Flow? Follow us on Apple News, Google News, Feedly, and Flipboard. If you use Flipboard, you should definitely check out our Curated Stories. We publish 3 new stories every day, so make sure to follow us to stay updated! The Gadget Flow Daily Digest highlights and explores the latest in tech trends to keep you informed. Want it straight to your inbox? Subscribe ➜ Lauren has been writing and editing since 2008. She loves working with text and helping writers find their voice. When she’s not typing away at her computer, she cooks and travels with her husband and two daughters.