US defence secretary discusses ‘security developments’ with Rajnath Singh

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US defence secretary discusses ‘security developments’ with Rajnath Singh

On Wednesday, US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin spoke with Indian Defense Minister Rajnath Singh about several recent security events that interested both parties, particularly those in East Asia and the Indian Ocean region.

ANI was informed by sources that the US side had initiated the phone contact. Following the “successful” India-US 2+2 Intersessional and Maritime Security Dialogues in New Delhi the previous week, there was a follow-up conversation.

According to a statement released by the US Department of Defense, the phone contact followed a “constructive set of meetings in New Delhi” last week for the 2+2 Intersessional and Maritime Security Dialogues.

Rajnath Singh expressed India’s concern over the US’s choice to provide Pakistan’s F-16 fleet with a support package.

In the meantime, the Secretary congratulated Rajnath Singh on the INS Vikrant’s commissioning in the statement, highlighting the event’s significance for India’s role as a provider of security in the Indo-Pacific.

As the US and Indian military operate and coordinate more closely, the two defence leaders are committed to enhancing information sharing and logistics collaboration.

To advance their bilateral cooperation in the fields of space, cyber, artificial intelligence, and other new defence sectors, they both decided to start a conversation later this year.

To help India become a regional security supplier and industry leader, Secretary Austin and Minister Singh emphasised their commitment to advancing defence technology and industrial cooperation.

To maintain regional peace, security, and prosperity, both leaders emphasised the importance of strengthening collaboration through the Quad partnership, notably through coordinated humanitarian assistance and disaster relief operations.

The 2+2 Ministerial will take place in India at the beginning of next year, and the two leaders agreed to a comprehensive set of actions in that time as the US and India endeavour to quickly deepen and broaden their collaboration.

According to the statement, they ended the call by reiterating the importance of the US-India defence alliance to their shared goal of an open and free Indo-Pacific region.

Include yoga asanas in children’s routine

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Include yoga asanas in children’s routine

In light of how we currently live, yoga’s significance has grown even more. When parents today do not want their children to develop holistically, yoga plays a significant role in children’s development. There are numerous yoga poses like this that can help a child’s physical and mental development. We are going to discuss a few of these in this article.

Halasan

Put your hands by your side as you roll over onto your back. The legs should be raised while breathing in. The abdominal muscles will continue to be under pressure as the legs make a 90-degree angle with the waist. As you raise your legs, hold your waist steady with your hands. Take a step backwards with your legs while bending your straight legs toward your head. It will touch the earth with its toes. The waist should remain perpendicular to the floor throughout.

Matsyasana

Lean back and lie down. Push towards the ground first with the aid of your elbow and shoulder, then raise your head and shoulder. After that, lift your head and chest by pushing the ground up with your palms. After that, place your head’s crown on the ground. Depending on how comfortable it is for you, keep your legs straight or keep your knees bent.

Mandukasana

Bring your fist to your navel while seated in Vajrasana. Note that the fingers are pointing toward your stomach while maintaining the fist in a vertical position close to the thigh and navel. Breathe deeply, then, as you exhale, bend forward while attempting to keep your chest on your thighs. The navel should be under the most strain during bowing. Breathe in and out slowly while maintaining a straight back and neck.

Paschimottanasana

Lay down on the ground and spread your legs apart. Keep both of your toes pointed forward. Lift your hands and take a deep breath. Exhale as you bend forward and tilt your body as far forward as you can. Try to contact the knees with your nose and the soles of your feet with your hands.

Harry Styles plays closeted gay in film ‘Mr Policeman’

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Harry Styles plays closeted gay in film ‘Mr Policeman’

In the upcoming movie “My Policeman,” Harry Styles will play a secretly gay man.

Amazon Studios made the teaser available on Wednesday.

The teaser shows a complicated love triangle involving Harry Styles, David Dawson, and Emma Corrin. Styles is portrayed by Tom Burgess, the closeted police officer portrayed by Styles in the story, which is an adaptation of Bethan Roberts’ 2012 novel. Burgess begins seeing Marion (Corrin), a teacher, even though being gay is illegal in 1957 Brighton. Patrick Hazelwood, a curator at a museum, is the person he is secretly in love with.

The film alternates between the 1950s and the 1990s. In the 1950s, Burgess negotiates his love triangle; nevertheless, forty years later, Tom and Marion’s strained marriage is made much more difficult when Patrick makes a stroke recovery and comes back into their lives.

According to Variety, Gina McKee, Linus Roache, and Rupert Everett round out the roster for the scenes that take place in the 1990s.

“My Policeman,” directed by British stage director Michael Grandage, was penned by playwright Ron Nyswaner.

Harry Styles’ second important movie role of the year will be in this drama. He also makes an appearance in Olivia Wilde’s upcoming September 23 film “Don’t Worry, Darling,” which stars Florence Pugh.

The movie will be seen in theatres throughout the world on October 21. Starting on November 4th, Prime Video will offer it for streaming.

Greg Berlanti, Sarah Schechter, Robbie Rogers, Cora Palfrey, and Philip Herd are the producers; Grandage, Michael Riley McGrath, and Caroline Levy are the executive producers.

Instagram was penalised €405 million for kid data privacy.

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Instagram was penalised €405 million for kid data privacy.

Instagram was penalised with €405 million by Irish authorities for abusing children’s privacy.

The ongoing issue centres on children’s data, notably their email and phone numbers.

According to reports, several users who wanted access to analytics tools like profile visits upgraded to corporate accounts without realising that doing so made more of their data public.

The company that owns Instagram, Meta, announced that it would challenge the ruling. The regulator has penalised the corporation three times.

According to a Meta representative, “We changed these options more than a year ago, and since then, we’ve added numerous new features to help keep kids secure and their information private. This inquiry focused on those updated settings.

“Anyone under the age of 18 immediately gets their Instagram account set to private when they join, meaning that adults cannot message teenagers who are not following them and that only people they know can see the content they post.

Even though we gave the DPC our full cooperation during their investigation, we disagree with how this punishment was calculated and want to challenge it.

“We’re still carefully reviewing the remainder of the choice,”

Many technological businesses are governed by the DPC with their European headquarters in the Republic of Ireland.

It has never imposed a fine this size on a violation of the General Data Protection Regulation of the European Union.

However, it punished WhatsApp with €225 million last year, while the Luxembourgish data authority penalised Amazon with a record €746 million.

Andy Burrows, the head of the National Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Children’s (NSPCC) child safety online policy, commented on Instagram’s fine: “This was a serious breach with serious ramifications for child safety and the potential to actually damage children using Instagram.

“The decision shows how strong enforcement can safeguard kids on social media and emphasises how regulation is already enhancing kids’ online safety.

Ukraine war: G7 agrees to impose price cap on Russian oil

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Ukraine war: G7 agrees to impose price cap on Russian oil

The G7 has decided to cap the price of Russian oil to limit Moscow’s ability to fund the conflict in Ukraine.

Global energy prices will be lowered, according to finance ministers, with the cap on crude oil and petroleum products. Several technical factors will be used to determine the cap’s amount.

The G7 declared, “We will be on Ukraine’s side for as long as it takes.

Russia announced that it will halt oil sales to nations that have price limitations.

According to Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for the Kremlin, “companies that impose a price cap will not be among the recipients of Russian oil.”

The UK, US, Canada, France, Germany, Italy, and Japan make up the G7 (Group of Seven). The group is an association of the seven “advanced” economies with the greatest economies in the world, which control international trade and the financial system.

Russia will now have a price cap on its oil, which means that nations that agree to the policy will only be able to buy Russian oil and petroleum products that are shipped by the sea that is being sold at or below the price cap.

The price of oil skyrocketed after Russia invaded Ukraine and has remained high, meaning Russia has increased its profits from fossil fuels despite a decline in export volumes.

Starting on December 5, Russian crude oil will be subject to an embargo by the EU.

The majority of piped supply and crude transported by tanker will be covered.

Analysts speculate that China and India, two of Russia’s largest trading partners, may not adhere to G7 policy regarding Russian oil. They are not participating in the Western sanctions against Russia.

According to US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, a cap would also aid in battling inflation, which is on the increase in many of the world’s nations.

According to her, the price cap contributes to “our combined goals of putting downward pressure on global energy costs while denying Putin funds to fund his cruel conflict in Ukraine.

Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi given three more years for ‘election fraud’

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Myanmar: Aung San Suu Kyi given three more years for ‘election fraud’

According to a report, a military-run court in Myanmar sentenced Aung San Suu Kyi to an additional three years in prison for alleged election fraud.

The former head of state of the nation, Ms. Suu Kyi, has already received a 20-year prison term on 11 counts, though more are still pending.

All of the claims against her are false, and rights organisations have denounced the proceedings as being politically motivated.

She may spend nearly 200 years behind bars if she is found guilty of all charges.

Her attorneys claimed that the revised sentence included hard labour. The 76-year-old Nobel laureate has spent the majority of her time in house arrest in Nay Pyi Taw, the nation’s capital.

The military has forbidden her lawyers from speaking to journalists, and the public and media have been denied access to the closed-door proceedings.

She was found guilty of fraud in the general election of November 2020, which her party, the National League for Democracy (NLD), won handily.

Although independent election observers stated the result was “reflective of the will of the people,” the army launched a coup last year after alleging there had been widespread voter fraud.

The legal procedures against Ms. Suu Kyi and others have been called a farce by civil rights and democratic groups. According to the UN, her trial is a “sham.” According to Myanmar’s military government, Ms. Suu Kyi’s trials are a legitimate component of the judicial system.

Since the military violently took over in February, there have been numerous protests, which have led the military of Myanmar to repress journalists, activists, and protestors who support democracy.

According to the Assistance Association for Political Prisoners, more than 15,000 people, including many members of Ms. Suu Kyi’s party, have been detained by the junta since they took over. Of those, 12,000 are still behind bars.

Snapchat to cut a fifth of jobs

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Snapchat to cut a fifth of jobs

Snapchat will cancel a number of new projects and fire 20% of its employees. Following a year of subpar financial performance, it was anticipated that approximately 1,200 staff would lose their jobs in the restructuring.

A year ago, the corporation was worth $130 billion (or $112 billion). Less than $20 billion (£17 billion) is currently the estimated value.

According to Snapchat, the cost savings would total $500 million (430 million) a year. The company’s CEO characterised the modifications as “tough.”

Snapchat must now “face the repercussions of our weaker revenue growth and adjust to the market situation,” according to CEO Evan Spiegel while cutting back in some areas.

Mr Spiegel stated that he wants to concentrate the company’s efforts on its traditional source of revenue, advertising.

Projects like mobile games and Pixy, a tiny drone made specifically for taking selfies, will be abandoned as a result.

Due to the fact that the vast bulk of their income comes from advertising, social media businesses like Snapchat, Meta, and Twitter have all had recent difficulties.

But many advertisers are hesitant to spend due to high inflation and uncertainty regarding the condition of the global economy.

Apple’s privacy improvements from last year have an impact on Snapchat as well.

The modifications have made it harder for marketers to follow consumers on their phones, which results in less targeted advertising.

Because they have so much data on their customers, social media businesses are able to charge a lot. Advertisers are less eager to spend if they lack that information.

Charlbi Dean: Triangle of Sadness actress and model dies at 32

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Charlbi Dean: Triangle of Sadness actress and model dies at 32

Charlbi Dean, a South African model and actress who appeared in the critically acclaimed television series Black Lightning and the film Triangle of Sadness, has passed away at the age of 32.

The Triangle of Sadness, which took home this year’s Palme d’Or at Cannes, featured Dean in a breakthrough role opposite Woody Harrelson.

She played Syonide in Black Lightning, which was based on DC Comics characters.

Dean’s representatives called her hospital death from an unforeseen illness “devastating.”

In Ruben Ostlund’s Triangle of Sadness, which he also wrote and directed, Dean portrayed Yaya, one half of a model couple who were invited on a trip that goes disastrously wrong.

In this razor-sharp social satire, models and the super-wealthy discover their standing threatened by unforeseen circumstances. It’s scheduled for release in October and is anticipated to be nominated for an Oscar in 2023.

Before the movie won the top prize at Cannes in May, she gave the Associated Press the following statement: “I feel like I’ve already won in my case. With the movie, I’m already in Cannes. What a fantastic thing. Anything at this point is just the icing on the cake. “

Born and bred in Cape Town, Dean first gained notoriety as a child model, appearing on the covers of South African GQ and Elle issues before making her acting debut in the 2010 movie Spud, which also starred Troye Sivan and John Cleese and was based on a well-known South African book.

She later had appearances in movies including Don’t Sleep and Porthole, as well as Death Race 3: Inferno and Blood in the Water.

Dean was engaged to model Luke Volker, who posted from Cannes that he “couldn’t be more proud” of her. Dean, who survived a nearly fatal car accident in 2008, was engaged to Volker.

Israeli court sentences Gaza aid worker to 12 years in prison

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Israeli court sentences Gaza aid worker to 12 years in prison

An Israeli court has given a Palestinian humanitarian worker a 12-year prison term after finding him guilty of transferring money to the extremist organisation Hamas.

Mohammed Halabi, the director of World Vision’s Gaza office, was found guilty of 13 crimes in June, including belonging to a terrorist group.

Since his arrest in 2016, he has consistently refuted all accusations, and he intends to appeal.

Detaining Halabi for an additional six years was deemed “cruel and barbaric” by Human Rights Watch, which also denounced the “deep miscarriage of justice” that occurred.

The 44-year-old was charged with stealing millions of dollars in aid intended for Hamas, which Israel and the West consider a terrorist organisation, as well as iron, plastic tubing, and digging equipment so that the organisation might erect attack tunnels across international borders.

An important part of the case against him was a confession he gave to a fellow prisoner who was acting as an informant. Halabi said that physical violence was used to compel the confession. The judges, however, stated that they did not trust him and believed that the confession was not likely to have been made up.

Reporters were informed by Moran Guez of the Southern District Attorney’s Office that the prosecution thought the sentence was excessively mild for the “extremely harsh deeds” and that an appeal was being considered.

World Vision said that the legal system had been flawed and that there was a dearth of substantial, readily accessible evidence. Additionally, it was mentioned that neither a government inquiry by donors nor an independent audit had turned up any proof of missing money or illegal activity.

The Christian nonprofit organisation issued a Tuesday warning, saying, “The arrest, six-year trial, unfair decision, and severe sentence are symbolic of activities that impede humanitarian work in Gaza and the West Bank.”

It has a particularly chilling effect on World Vision and other charities or development organisations that support Palestinians.

The Associated Press was informed by Israel’s foreign ministry that it will keep preventing “any diversion of humanitarian cash for terrorist purposes.” In accordance with security concerns, it was further stated that the nation was dedicated to working with relief organisations and facilitating their operations.

EuroPride 2022: Serbia will not host event, says president

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EuroPride 2022: Serbia will not host event, says president

The EuroPride parade, scheduled for September in Belgrade, according to Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, will not take place.

After tens of thousands of people demonstrated against the event earlier this month, Mr Vucic made his declaration.

Although the president expressed dissatisfaction with the choice, he added that Serbia needed to focus on other problems, such as the unrest in Kosovo.

The march will still take place, according to the organisers, and any restrictions would be “illegal.”

Since 1992, a different European city has annually hosted the global LGBT pride parade.

At a press conference, Mr Vucic announced that this year’s festival, which was supposed to take place between September 12 and 18, would be “postponed or cancelled” due to “recent tensions with its former province of Kosovo” and problems with food and electricity.

Marko Mihailovic, the organiser of EuroPride 2022, responded that any attempt to halt the event would be “clearly in violation of the constitution” and that “the state cannot cancel EuroPride.”

The event won’t be cancelled, according to Kristine Garina, president of the organisation in charge of obtaining the licence for EuroPride.

She continued by saying that Prime Minister Ana Brnabic, who is out lesbian and is Serbia’s first female and LGBT PM, promised full government support during the country’s candidacy for EuroPride 2022, and she expects “that promise to be honoured.”

With posters reading “to defend the family” and “keep your hands off our children,” thousands of people protested EuroPride earlier this month in Belgrade.

The event has been denounced by extreme right-wing organisations, and the Bishop of Banat Nikanor of the Serbian Orthodox Church has claimed he will “curse all those who organise and participate in something like that.”

According to the organisers of the event, Serbia’s hosting of EuroPride was “a crucial step toward attaining equality for the LGBTI+ community in the Western Balkans.”

To obstruct a Gay Pride march in Belgrade in 2010, anti-gay protestors engaged in ongoing combat with police. Four years later, the march was back and well guarded.

Chinese outcry after volleyballers wear N95 masks during match

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<strong>Chinese outcry after volleyballers wear N95 masks during match</strong>

China’s national women’s volleyball team competed in a match while sporting N95 masks, which has generated controversy on Chinese social media.

Many online commenters expressed their outrage, alleging that the players’ health was being compromised in favour of the nation’s zero-COVID plan.

In the second set, the players removed their masks, and they ultimately prevailed.

The decision was taken due to a “lack of experience,” according to a later apology from China’s Volleyball Association. 

However, a lot of people continued to be critical, with one stating it was an instance of officials “going too far” with China’s mask mandate.

The match, which took place on Thursday at the Asian Cup in the Philippines, pitted China against Iran. Photos from the match showing the athletes wearing masks quickly spread on social media, resulting in an unusual online outpouring of criticism. On Weibo, China’s largest social media platform, the topic received more than 16 million views.

The Chinese Volleyball Association issued a public apology on Thursday in response to the outrage expressed online.

It was stated in a statement on Weibo that team organisers had learned of COVID-infected players on other teams prior to the game and that some symptoms had been recorded among Chinese squad members.

They made it a requirement for their players to enter the arena wearing masks in order to stop the spread. But they said that because the squad wasn’t sure whether players needed to wear masks on the court during the first half, they left them on.

After dropping the opening set, the majority of the players removed their masks at halftime, and they went on to defeat Iran 3-1.

The requirements for interior and outdoor masks, harsh, unexpected lockdowns, and blocked borders are only a few of the strictest COVID regulations still in use in China.

However, wearing masks during sporting events is not new for athletes.

Due to “safety and security concerns” regarding awaited test results, both teams in an ice hockey match between Canada and the Russian Olympic Committee wore masks earlier this year.

When it was revealed that their tests had come back negative, they then took their masks off.

South Korea records world’s lowest fertility rate again

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South Korea records world’s lowest fertility rate again

The world’s lowest fertility rate, which South Korea once again attained, has fallen to a new low.

For the first time, the country’s rate decreased to below one child per woman in 2018.

But according to information released by the government on Wednesday, the number had dropped to 0.81, a three-point drop from the previous year and the sixth straight reduction.

In contrast, the most developed countries have 1.6 children on average per woman.

Without immigration, nations need to have 2.1 babies for every marriage in order to keep their population level.

The OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) reports that over the previous 60 years, fertility rates have “markedly dropped.”

The trend has been particularly apparent in South Korea, where family sizes have decreased over a few generations. Women began to typically have four children in the 1970s.

A declining population can put a great deal of burden on a nation’s economy.

A shrinking youth population also produces employment shortages that have an influence on the economy, in addition to a higher burden on public spending as demand for healthcare and retirement rises.

In 2020, South Korea saw its first instance of death the birth ratio which raised serious concerns.

Experts claim that people now prioritise monetary limitations and career considerations when making decisions about having children.

The consequences of the COVID pandemic, higher living expenses, and rising housing prices would all discourage couples from starting babies in 2021, according to analysts.

There won’t be enough people in South Korea to sustain its ageing population, grow its economy, and join its military if the country’s population continues to decline.

Although they have known about it for years, politicians haven’t done much to stop it. They have attempted to convince people to have children for billions of dollars, and they are still perplexed as to why it hasn’t worked.

Money is obviously crucial. The cost of raising a family is high in South Korea, and many young people struggle to pay for their housing. Opportunity, however, also has an impact on this.

Germany approves energy-saving measures for winter

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Germany approves energy-saving measures for winter

The German government has authorised a series of wintertime energy-saving measures that will reduce the amount of lighting and heating used in public structures.

Through the new regulations, the government hopes to reduce gas consumption by 2%.

The measures, according to Germany’s economy minister, could save individual people, businesses, and the public sector about €10.8 billion (£9.1 billion) over two years.

It is a part of initiatives to lessen the nation’s reliance on Russian gas.

Germany used to buy 55% of its gas from Russia before Russia invaded Ukraine, but it has since cut this to 35% and threatened to stop imports.

Although it continues to be a big market for Moscow, it spent about €9 billion (£7.7 billion; $9.6 billion) on Russian oil and gas in the first two months of the conflict.

Additionally, Russia has reduced gas flows via the crucial Nordstream 1 pipeline to 20% of its maximum capacity, increasing concerns that it may turn off the taps this winter.

Germany wants to break free “as rapidly as possible from the yoke of Russian energy imports,” Economy Minister Robert Habeck told reporters.

Aside from institutions like hospitals, public buildings must be heated to a maximum of 19 degrees Celsius starting in September. The heating can be completely turned off in entranceways, hallways, and foyers.

Additionally, for aesthetic reasons, public monuments and buildings won’t be lit up, and businesses might be prohibited from keeping their stores lit up at night.

The heating of private swimming pools can also be prohibited. Additionally, the nation would prioritise shipping coal and oil over people on trains, so people would have to wait.

Currently, there is a shortage of railroads, according to Volker Wissing, the minister of transportation. “That implies we would have to prioritise them if additional fuel transports were momentarily required.”

Not so Despicable: China changes ending of Minions movie

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Not so Despicable: China changes ending of Minions movie

The most recent Despicable Me instalment made its global debut on Friday in China, but as local viewers soon discovered, it had a different ending.

Minions: The Rise of Gru, which follows the antihero during his teenage years, lays the groundwork for Gru’s transformation into a supervillain later in the series.

However, unlike the original movie, the Chinese version does not end with Gru and his companion, Wild Knuckles, galloping out into the distance.

As a substitute, Wild Knuckles is sent to jail, and Gru “becomes one of the decent ones.”

According to remarks and pictures of the film shared on the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo, censors placed a number of subtitled still photos into the credits sequence.

The upbringing of his three daughters, however, was Gru’s “biggest triumph” after he “returned to his family.”

The change was mocked by many Chinese. The real narrative lies in a parallel reality, according to one commenter.

Some others stated that Gru’s alternate ending unintentionally supported China’s three-child policy, which the country is aiming to enact in order to increase its birth rate. It was frequently said that the quality of the subtitled stills was comparable to PowerPoint slides.

Despite this, the fifth movie in the series was a box office success, making a record-breaking 21.74 million yuan ($3.2 million; £2.7 million) on its opening day in China, according to the entertainment website Deadline.

In China, which has some of the strictest censorship restrictions in the world, the ending of a well-known international film has been altered before.

In a version of the film released earlier this year on the Chinese streaming site Tencent Video, the finale of the 1999 cult hit Fight Club, in which the protagonist blows up numerous skyscrapers, was replaced by a message declaring that the authorities prevailed and saved the day.

Even Chuck Palahniuk, whose 1996 novel served as the inspiration for the movie, and director David Fincher responded to criticism of the changes. Human Rights Watch called the amended epilogue “dystopian” after reading it.

Later, Tencent reversed most of the changes, keeping only the ones that affected nudity-related content. 

Fifa 23: EA honours 99% discount price error on football game’s new edition

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Fifa 23: EA honours 99% discount price error on football game’s new edition

Electronic Arts (EA) has acknowledged that its pricing error for its Fifa 23 Ultimate Edition on India’s Epic Games shop, which cost 4.80 rupees ($0.06; £0.05), resulted in “a fairly spectacular own goal.”

After a decimal point miscalculation resulted in the game’s price being reduced online by 99.98% last month, buyers hurried to pre-order it.

Since then, the game publisher has agreed to honour the discounted pre-orders.

With Fifa 23, the final game from EA Sports, the most popular football series will come to an end.

The 4.80 rupees ($0.06; £0.05) price error for Electronic Arts’ Fifa 23 Ultimate Edition on India’s Epic Games store resulted in “a really remarkable own goal,” according to EA.

Customers rushed to pre-order the game when a decimal point error caused the price to be dropped online by 99.98% last month.

Since then, the pre-order discounts have been honoured by the game publisher.

With Fifa 23, the final game from EA Sports, the most popular football series will come to an end.

Because they include bonuses like additional limited edition tradeable player items, more Fifa points, and access before the official launch, Fifa Ultimate Editions are often more expensive than ordinary editions of the game.

The 2023 edition is priced at 4,800 rupees ($60/£50) in India; it is more expensive than the Standard Edition, which sells for 3,499 rupees ($44/£36).

As word of the pricing blunder spread, online users alerted fans all around the world that the game could be purchased for 5p through the Epic Games India store.

Although the issue was quickly resolved, purchasers who had already made purchases were concerned that they would be cancelled or refunded.

However, this week, EA Sports and Epic Games sent emails to customers informing them that the transactions would be honoured.

The most popular version of the series was Fifa 22, and EA Sports announced shortly after its official release that 460 million matches had been played in the first week and 9.1 million players had joined the game.

US and Taiwan announce formal bilateral trade talks

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US and Taiwan announce formal bilateral trade talks

Weeks after a contentious visit by US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, the US has declared that formal trade negotiations with Taiwan will soon begin.

The Office of the US Trade Representative predicted that the first round of negotiations would start in “early September.”

Discussion points will include trade facilitation, digital trade, and anti-corruption principles. Ties between the US and China have become tenser since Ms Pelosi’s visit.

The US and Taiwan launched the Initiative on 21st Century Trade in June, and both parties now claim to have “reached an accord on the negotiating mandate.”

In a statement, Deputy US Trade Representative Sarah Bianchi stated, “We plan to pursue an ambitious timeline that will help construct a fairer, more affluent, and resilient 21st-century economy.”

A total of nearly $106 billion (£88 billion) in trade was conducted between the US and Taiwan in 2020.

Following Ms Pelosi’s visit earlier in August, China began its largest-ever military drills around Taiwan.

According to the “One China policy,” the US acknowledges and upholds formal ties with China rather than the island of Taiwan, but it also maintains a “strong unofficial” relationship with Taiwan, continuing to sell the island arms so that it can defend itself.

The independent island is considered to be Beijing’s own outlaw region that requires fusion with the mainland.

Taiwan, a self-governing island, perceives itself as separate from the mainland.

Separately, the top US ambassador for East Asia Daniel Kritenbrink stated that the Taiwan Strait’s stability and peace are at risk due to Beijing’s “increasing coercion.”

In response to Beijing’s continuous efforts to destabilise it, he said, “We will continue to take calm but firm steps to protect peace and stability and to assist Taiwan in keeping with our long-standing policy.”

William Wragg: Tory MP takes ‘short break’ due to depression

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William Wragg: Tory MP takes ‘short break’ due to depression

According to William Wragg, he is taking a “short sabbatical” from his responsibilities as an MP to deal with his depression.

The Hazel Grove Conservative MP claimed that he had struggled with depression and anxiety for most of his adult life and that both conditions were “serious” right now.

He expressed the wish that he would come back “refreshed” and “loving life and myself a little bit more.” He said that his constituents might still get in touch with his office for help.

The 34-year-old revealed in a tweet that she was fighting the urge to quit completely. I need a brief respite as a result.

He expressed the expectation that upon his return, he would be “better prepared to represent my constituents” and that he was making his statement “as an explanation, instead of delivering repetitive excuses.”

He continued, “I realise that way I feel is by no means unusual. I would advise anyone who feels the same way to talk to a trusted person, seek support, and accept it.”

At Westminster, talking about mental health has historically been frowned upon, but in recent years, MPs have been more candid about their challenges.

During a Commons discussion in 2012, Labour’s Kevan Jones discussed his struggles with depression and said that some family members would be learning about them for the first time.

Charles Walker, a Conservative member of parliament, also spoke during the same discussion about his own experience with OCD, subsequently calling it “liberating.”

Following his remarks, Mr. Wragg got encouraging letters from several of his fellow MPs and other Westminster employees.

Senior civil servants’ union leader Dave Penman said he can “only fathom the guts it takes to convey openly the issues you’re facing.”

Mr. Wragg, a former councillor and educator, has served as a Greater Manchester representative for Hazel Grove since 2015.

Since January 2020, he has served as the Commons Public Administration and Constitutional Affairs Committee’s chair.

He made news earlier this year as a vocal opponent of outgoing Prime Minister Boris Johnson when he expressed concern about the strategies No. 10 utilised to maintain party discipline.

Research says people initially feel less in control after breakups

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Research says people initially feel less in control after breakups

According to a recent examination of people who had gone through different kinds of relationship loss, these experiences were linked to a number of patterns of both short-term and long-term sense of control after the loss.

Eva Asselmann from the HMU Health and Medical University in Potsdam, Germany, and Jule Specht from the Humboldt-Universitat zu Berlin, Germany, published their findings in the open-access journal PLOS ONE.

An earlier study found that a higher perceived sense of personal control over one’s life has been associated with better health and wellbeing. Romantic relationships and control perceptions are intertwined. For example, studies show a link between control perceptions and higher levels of relationship satisfaction. However, the relationship between prospective changes in perceived control and relationship dissolution is less well known.

In order to provide new insight into a multi-decade study of German families, Asselmann and Specht looked at data from three time points. Using the findings of yearly questionnaires from 1994, 1995, and 1996, they specifically assessed changes in perceived control for 1,235 people who suffered separation from their partner, 423 who divorced, and 437 whose partners passed away.

In the first year after their partner’s separation, persons who experienced separation from them often reported lower levels of perceived control, which gradually increased in later years, according to a statistical analysis of the questionnaire’s data. Women were more likely than males to experience a decline in control following separation, and younger people had more control than older people did.

In the first year following the loss of a partner, people who experienced partner loss reported an overall gain in perceived control, which was then sustained over the year before the death. In contrast to older persons, younger people experienced more negative consequences from spouse loss on their sense of control.

Future research should focus on individuals who haven’t yet lost a relationship to determine how changes in perceived control are impacted by a loss. They also call for research into the processes underpinning modifications in perceived control after a setback.

Johnson & Johnson to replace talc-based powder with cornstarch

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Johnson & Johnson to replace talc-based powder with cornstarch

Johnson & Johnson (J&J) will stop manufacturing and selling its talc-based baby powder globally as of next year.

The healthcare behemoth stopped selling the product in the US before the announcement, which had been more than two years ago.

Asbestos-containing talcum powder is manufactured by J&J, according to tens of thousands of women who have filed lawsuits against the company. They contend that this asbestos exposure led to their development of ovarian cancer.

The company, however, reiterated its stance that years of independent research had shown the product’s safety.

Johnson’s baby powder, which is based on talc and is safe, does not contain asbestos and does not cause cancer, according to decades of independent scientific investigation by medical specialists from all around the world.

By 2020, J&J said it would stop selling its talc baby powder in the US and Canada because of what the company called “misinformation” about the product’s safety amid several legal issues.

At the time, the firm declared that it would continue to market and sell its talc-based baby powder in the UK and the rest of the world.

Customers and their survivors have sued J&J, alleging that the company’s talc goods had asbestos contamination and caused their cancer.

Talc is a mineral that is taken from the earth and found in seams near asbestos, which is thought to be harmful.

In response to proof of asbestos contamination shown in courtrooms, in media reports, and before US lawmakers, the business has continually denied the allegations.

J&J moved its talc claims to LTL Management after creating it as a subsidiary in October. Later, it filed for bankruptcy, ending the ongoing legal action.

Before filing for bankruptcy, the company was ordered to pay $3.5 billion (£2.87 billion) in judgments and settlements, including one in which 22 women were awarded verdicts totalling more than $2 billion.

A shareholder proposal to halt the global sale of talc baby powder was denied in April.

Johnson’s Baby Powder has been on the market for approximately 130 years and has come to symbolise the company’s dedication to families.

Baby powder, which is also used aesthetically and as a dry shampoo, can prevent diaper rash.

Sacheen Littlefeather: Oscars apologises to actress after 50 years

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Sacheen Littlefeather: Oscars apologises to actress after 50 years

An actress and Native American activist named Sacheen Littlefeather was booed off stage at the Oscars nearly 50 years ago. The Academy has since apologised to her.

In 1973, she made an on-camera appearance to decline an Oscar on behalf of Marlon Brando, who had won the category for best actor for The Godfather.

Because the US film industry misrepresents Native Americans, Brando declined the honour.

Littlefeather was subjected to “unwarranted and unjustified” abuse, according to the Academy.

“I never thought I’d live to see the day I would be hearing this,” she reportedly said to the Hollywood Reporter.

Littlefeather, who had given a brief speech at the Oscars ceremony and was 26 at the time, was jeered at and shunned by the entertainment industry.

By making the first political comment at the broadcast ceremony, she allegedly created a trend that has continued to this day, according to the organisers.

She gave a brief introduction and stated that she was speaking on behalf of Brando, who had “a very long speech” written and “that he very, unfortunately, cannot receive this very great prize.”

She brought up the recent events at Wounded Knee, where there had been a violent standoff with federal agents at a place that was very important to the Sioux people. She received sporadic cheers as well as boos from the audience.

The production team for the award ceremony gave Littlefeather the instruction to keep Brando’s remarks, which were substantially longer, to 60 seconds.

85 million televisions received the telecast. After the event, various media outlets claimed that Littlefeather was not a real Native American and had instead agreed to the speech to further her acting career. Her status as Brando’s mistress was rumoured.

Littlefeather will discuss her presence at the 1973 Oscars and the future of indigenous representation in film at an event hosted by the Academy Museum of Motion Pictures in September.

She responded to the apology, “We Indians are extremely patient people,” saying that it had just been 50 years. She added that maintaining a sense of humour is “our method of survival.”

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