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Final Fantasy XVI is getting a day-one patch, after all. You might remember that Square Enix originally didn't want to release one, expressing confidence in its final build of the game, although they did say it wasn't a final decision. Well, during yesterday's Final Fantasy XVI launch live stream, the developers revealed there will be one, mainly to address performance. Here's the full overview of the fixes:Fix a control flag issue which can make progress impossible under very specific circumstances Fix an issue wherein the game could close unexpectedly under very specific circumstances Optimize performance in several places Fix some minor text errors It's worth noting that it won't be a mandatory update. Also, Square Enix said it will be a relatively small download, weighing around 300MB. The performance of Final Fantasy XVI looked a bit problematic even in the free demo released on PlayStation 5. Beyond addressing the optimization with the day-one patch, the developers also discussed other feedback received after the release of the demo. Another common complaint is that the demo featured a lot of the cutscenes, to which producer Naoki Yoshida replied: I agree, there are a lot of cutscenes. It's taken from the first act of the story, so there's more scene-setting than later in the game. It will gradually become more like the Eikon Challenge section in general. But there will still be long scenes at crucial points in the story. Still, we believe the story we're telling is a compelling one, and once it grips you, you won't worry about the length of the scenes.Japanese players complained about lip synchronization being off, and Square Enix said it was done only for the English language, as it would have otherwise been too much to work. They tried to use AI to adjust lip synchronization in Japanese, but its results weren't satisfactory. The developers encouraged players to play Final Fantasy XVi using English voices and their native language's subtitles. Square Enix is also looking into ways to adjust motion blur via a dedicated setting or turn it off entirely. Additional upcoming options may include camera movement speed and the ability to disable auto-follow. The developers also discussed the streamlining of the demo. That part of Final Fantasy XVI is focused on set-piece battles, but it will open up later, offering explorable areas. That's also why there's no mini-map, as the team decided they'd rather have players looking at the world than looking at the mini-map. Still, a map will be accessible in certain locations by clicking the touchpad. Final Fantasy XVI launches on June 22nd for PlayStation 5. Check out our roundup article here and stay tuned for our full review early next week! https://wccftech.com/final-fantasy-xvi-is-getting-a-day-one-performance-patch-after-all/

Runaway sheep caught the attention of police officers on Sunday Sheep seen "running amok" in a town have meant police have had to put their animal rescue skills to the test. The animals had to be rounded up by officers on North Road in Baldock on Sunday morning. In a Facebook post peppered with puns, Hertfordshire Police wrote: "Usually out catching crooks, the team flocked to the area to herd the sheep safely out of the carriageway." Details about how the sheep escaped are woolly but all were safely caught. Officers wrote: "We bleated at them to stay out of the road but they thought we were a bit woolly and decided to go on the lamb [sic] instead. "Thankfully they didn't try to ram us off the road, otherwise they would now be behind baaas."Thankfully they didn't try to ram us off the road, otherwise they would now be behind baaas."Ewe couldn't make it up... The force said the runaways were shepherded safely back to their owner .https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-65948034

We drove prototypes of this $2.1 million send-off to Bentley's W-12 powertrain. Only 18 will be built.Cryogenics might require a room full of doctors and scientists, but squeeze a $2.1 million Bentley Batur down the narrow lanes of Spain's Canary Islands, and you'll freeze every tourist and highway worker stiff. A Batur, which is designed to look like a resting predator, is a sight worth savoring. The two prototypes we drove for an afternoon through Tenerife are the start of a production run that will see only 18 built. Bentley is using the Batur to celebrate the brand's legendary 12-cylinder engine as its departure draws near and tease what its eventual electric cars will look like.The Batur's limited run will make other multimillion-dollar machines, such as the 99 Pagani Utopias, 130 Lotus Evijas, and the 300-unit Koenigsegg Gemera, look almost commonplace. And the Batur won't be street-legal in the U.S. However, just because the Batur is something few people on the planet will ever witness doesn't mean it's completely unique. Under the bespoke Mulliner coachwork, it shares the majority of its mechanical bits with more attainable Bentleys, chiefly the Continental GT Speed. That includes the rear-biased all-wheel drive, the 48-volt active anti-roll bars, and the rear-wheel-steering system first introduced on the Flying Spur.Outside, the Batur's windshield is the biggest exterior element that carries over from the Continental GT. Pretty much every piece of sheetmetal from the roofline on down is new. The Batur's fenders and quarter-panels are carbon fiber and are molded to the aluminum roof. The headlight assemblies are exclusive to the Batur, rather than pulled from any other Bentley. To pass your hand across its finish is to have touched something few people will ever even lay eyes on. Mulliner, which is a British way to say hand-built, spends roughly eight months creating each Batur in the same workshop in Crewe, England, where the open-roof 12-unit Bacalar was built.The twin-turbocharged 6.0-liter W-12 engine is an old relative of the one that debuted in the 2002 Volkswagen Phaeton sedan. The Batur's W-12 is the most powerful that Bentley has ever made—or ever will. Bentley's engineers gave the brand's legendary powerplant revised turbines with more aggressive compressor wheels inside to shovel oxygen into improved intake manifolds. These upgrades have wrought 740 horsepower at 5500 rpm and 738 pound-feet of torque starting at 1750 rpm. Bentley says the top speed is 209 mph, and the Batur swallows Spanish highway as effortlessly as tourists ingest the islands' rum.Although we passed huge banana plantations, the Batur was the most bananas thing on the Canary Islands. Although we passed huge banana plantations, the Batur was the most bananas thing on the Canary Islands. It was the biggest car we saw in Tenerife as we chased down Fiat 500 rentals, catching up to them like they were mice stuck in a glue trap. It takes a brief moment to wake the eight-speed dual-clutch automatic from its slumber, but then the power is delivered like a tidal wave. Spilling out of corners with the aggression of a hungry cat, the Batur quickly overwhelms the 315/30ZR-22 Pirelli P Zero PZ4 rubber under its tail. Outsize carbon-ceramic brakes (17.3-inch front rotors with 10-piston calipers and 16.1-inch rears grasped by four-piston calipers) effortlessly haul the Batur back down again.The interior is equally dramatic. One car we drove featured trim that fades from carbon fiber to body-color-matching Purple Sector trim. There's a long list of available materials inside, none cheap. The edge of the drive-mode dial doesn't just spin with the sophistication of an expensive wristwatch; it's decorated with a 3-D-printed 18-karat-gold surround. The knurling at the edge of the windshield-wiper stalk is too sharp to be anything other than titanium. Only the detailers of private car collections may notice this hidden piece: The arm attached to the brake pedal is made of bare carbon fiber.While the W-12 will soon be gone, Bentley also looks to the future, with plans to go all electric by 2030. The front fascia of the Batur, we're told, is a peek at what Bentley's EV will look like. Like the glowing sunset across the ocean surrounding the Canary Islands, it's easy to stare at the Batur and imagine, Ah, wouldn't it be nice. Whether a fully electric Bentley can summon those same feelings is yet to be seen. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a44228378/2024-bentley-batur-drive/

Cheryl Grimmer, pictured with her father Vince who served in the Australian Army By Tom Housden in Sydney The family of a British child who disappeared in Australia 53 years ago have written to the New South Wales attorney general urging him to re-examine the case. Three-year-old Cheryl Grimmer vanished from a beach near Wollongong in 1970. Despite a huge police search no trace of her has ever been found, but a 2011 inquest concluded she had died. The case against a man who allegedly admitted in 1971 to her abduction and murder collapsed in 2019. A Supreme Court judge ruled that a confession he allegedly made as a teenager came in a police interview that did not follow guidelines for questioning minors, and could not be used as evidence.Police have refused to say publicly if the man - who pleaded not guilty and cannot be named for legal reasons - remains a suspect. Previous Attorney General Mark Speakman described the collapse of the 2019 trial as the "end of the road" in one of Australia's most high-profile mysteries. "I don't want any other family to go through what our family has been through. I'm angry," Cheryl's brother Ricki told the BBC's Jon Kay at the time, for the podcast Fairy Meadow. 'I turned away and my little sister was gone' But Australian police continued to investigate, and in 2020 the NSW government increased its reward for information to A$1m (£540,000; $680,000).Cheryl's brother Ricki has spent most of his life searching for the truth of what happened to his sister Now the Grimmer family have sent a letter to Mr Speakman's successor, Michael Daley, asking him to look again at the judge's decision. The BBC has approached Mr Daley's office for comment. The Grimmer family had only just moved to Australia from the UK when Cheryl disappeared. She was last seen in showers near the beach, where she had spent the afternoon with her mother and three older brothers. Witnesses at the time reported seeing an unknown male carrying a child wrapped in a towel towards the beach car park. line By Jon Kay, host of the BBC true-crime podcast Fairy Meadow Cheryl Grimmer's family are determined to get her case back into court. Fifty-three years after she disappeared, her brother Ricki still devotes hours every day to what he calls his campaign for justice. Researching, emailing, cold-calling anyone who he thinks might be able to help. Ricki has told me with heart-breaking honesty that he remains "haunted" by what happened to his sister. He says he will not rest until he feels he has achieved justice for her. Cheryl vanished from the changing rooms at Fairy Meadow when Ricki was looking after her. He was only seven at the time. The family believes that the recent change in state government in New South Wales - and the appointment of a new attorney general - might create an opportunity for the case to be examined and reviewed with fresh eyes. line In dismissing the 2019 case, Justice Robert Allan Hulme said the teenage suspect had no guardian or lawyer present during the 1971 police interview. He described the boy as of "low average intelligence" and "more vulnerable than the average 17-year-old as a result of his disturbed upbringing". But the Grimmer family say that decision gave no consideration to "the victim of the crime", and describe the omission of Cheryl's name from the judgement as "something that sickens the family". "I would suggest that this sits very awkwardly against Australia's obligations under human rights instruments," says the letter signed by Michael Grimmer, Cheryl's cousin. The family says details in the confession were "corroborated during a 2016-17 reinvestigation". The letter calls on Attorney General Daley to allow an application to the NSW Supreme Court for a fresh inquest, and to lift media restrictions preventing the previous suspect's name being published to prompt other possible witnesses to come forward. A spokesperson confirmed the attorney general had received the letter, and it was being considered.. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-65911659

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@Mr.Talha Has Been Removed From Team Lack Of Intrest. @CrimeBOSS Has Been Removed From Team Lack Of Intrest @Dean Ambrose™ Has Been Removed From Team Lack Of Intrest.

Rhun ap Iorwerth becomes Plaid Cymru leader a decade after switching from journalism to politics By Adrian Browne BBC Wales political reporter One of the first things that strikes you when you meet Rhun ap Iorwerth, apart from the fact he's quite tall, is his self-confidence. Then there's the almost constant positivity. By all accounts, he has been driven and highly competitive from an early age. Some politicians give us an out-going, larger-than-life performance in public, but can be a little shy and retiring away from the political stage. That description could not apply less to Plaid Cymru's new leader. Rhun ap Iorwerth takes over as Plaid Cymru leader Next Plaid leader should be a woman, says Wood Plaid Cymru leader quits after damning report Who is he? As the opposition party's health spokesman during the pandemic, and one of its two deputy leaders, Rhun ap Iorwerth has arguably been the most high profile Plaid politicians of the last few years, apart from previous leader Adam Price. He has been a vocal critic of the Welsh government's record on the troubled Betsi Cadwaladr health board, calling for the health minister to be sacked. He also accused First Minister Mark Drakeford of being "humiliated" when the Welsh Labour leader clarified in a letter comments he had made in the Senedd about the health board. The opposition politician's statement, in a news release, appeared to make for a chilly atmosphere between Adam Price and Mark Drakeford later the same day in April, when the two leaders visited a school together, as part of a co-operation deal between the Welsh government and Plaid Cymru.Presenting Newyddion in 2009 What did he do before Cardiff Bay? Rhun ap Iorwerth entered politics in something of a whirlwind, in the run-up to a by-election in Anglesey in 2013, the island where he grew up (he then headed to Cardiff University to study Politics and Welsh). Before becoming a politician, and after studying politicians at college, he spent two decades or so reporting on them. Close your eyes when he's speaking in the Senedd, and you sometimes hear a little of the television presenter-reporter in his delivery. As a BBC journalist and broadcaster, he was a regular fixture on the airwaves in Wales, describing political goings on across television and radio. He also presented S4C's BBC produced news programme Newyddion, BBC Wales politics show Dragon's Eye and the Radio Wales and Radio Cymru morning news flagships. How did he move from journalism to politics? Suddenly quitting the BBC a decade ago, he won Plaid Cymru's nomination to be its candidate at the Ynys Môn by-election, a vacancy created by a decision by former party leader Ieuan Wyn Jones to leave the Senedd chamber to lead the new Menai Science Park. Given his previous impartial BBC Wales role, Rhun ap Iorwerth's dramatic step through the looking glass into the partisan world of politics prompted some coughing and spluttering from management at the corporation. Rhun ap Iorwerth declaring his 2018 leadership bid Having easily won the by-election, he told Wales Online that the death of his mother, Gwyneth Morus Jones, had played a role in him turning to politics, to make a contribution to his community, as she had done. A teacher, she'd been president of nursery schools organisation Mudiad Ysgolion Meithrin, teaching union UCAC, national women's movement Merched y Wawr and served on the Welsh Language Board, amongst other bodies. How did he get to be leader? The questions soon began, from those he'd left behind in the journalist trade, about whether the new face in Cardiff Bay fancied being Plaid Cymru top dog one day. He did. His first chance came five years later, in 2018, when rumours swirled about possible challenges to Leanne Wood's leadership, and there were grumbles within Plaid Cymru ranks that the party was in a bit of a rut. In a television interview, she said she would welcome a challenge, and one commenced. Yet there was another Plaid Cymru leader-in-waiting at the front of the queue - Adam Price. Both men launched their campaigns on the same day, with leader-in-waiting number one taking nearly half the vote in the contest. Rhun ap Iorwerth came second and Leanne Wood third.Adam Price and Rhun ap Iorwerth challenged Leanne Wood for the leadership in 2018, a contest Mr Price won By September last year, the Ynys Môn MS seemed to be getting itchy feet in Cardiff Bay, hatching plans to run to be Anglesey's MP in Westminster. But when Adam Price quit in May, after a scathing report on misogyny, harassment and bullying in Plaid Cymru, many in the party believed he was the obvious replacement. So much so, there was no leadership contest, and Rhun ap Iorwerth has taken over at the nice round age of 50. At the same time, there was disappointment that there wasn't a female candidate to lead the party this time, and calls for a joint leadership structure in the future, with a man and a woman sharing the role. What will his leadership look like? We've not heard much in the way of policy commitments from Rhun ap Iorwerth thus far, apart from roughly reiterating the party's current position on things. He hasn't set out his stall in the way he would have been expected to if he had faced a challenger. No-one seems to expect him to tear up the cooperation agreement with Labour ministers, and with it the larger Senedd, constitutional and other policy initiatives which Plaid Cymru will point to as achievements when election campaigning.Hosting BBC Wales politics programme Dragon's Eye in 2007 He'll have to devote serious time to changing the culture inside the party, so that labels of misogyny, harassment and bullying can be cast off. He'll need people throughout the party he trusts to make those changes, embed those changes and protect them. Like all leaders, if he hasn't already, he'll need to learn the art of delegation quite quickly to be effective. Ask any Rhun ap Iorwerth backer why they got behind him and they'll probably say "communication skills" - his ability to get his chosen message over to the rest of us. His internal communication and organisation skills will also need to be strong, his political antenna for the needs and concerns of Plaid Cymru politicians, staff and the wider membership. Tackling the cultural issues that consigned his predecessor to the list of ex-Plaid Cymru leaders will be a true test from day one and, potentially, throughout his leadership. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-politics-65833642

The snakes appear to have enjoyed regular visits to Barshaw Park in Paisley during the recent heatwave By Stuart Nicolson BBC Scotland News A man who takes his snakes to sunbathe in his local park has sparked an online debate about what animals are - and are not - acceptable in public spaces. The Friends of Barshaw Park group said it had been contacted by people who were worried about someone taking up to 20 of the reptiles to the Paisley park. It urged anyone who saw the snakes to call the police. Far from being horrified, many locals have defended the snake owner - who appears to be a regular visitor. They said he was clearly doing no harm and kept his snakes under control at all times, and questioned why the police would need to get involved.Some people using the park said the snakes were always kept under control Photos of the man posted on social media show him happily posing with the snakes draped around his neck or standing close to them as they slithered on the grass. Five-foot boa constrictor found in London park But the Friends group said in a post on its Facebook page that it had been told by the local council that "no-one has permission to bring snakes into Barshaw Park". It added: "The police request that if you see anyone in the park with snakes, please do not approach the person but call the police on 101 and they will attend".The snakes have sparked a debate over what type of animals should be allowed in public parks A woman who responded to the warning said she had met the man a couple of times with her kids. She added: "Really nice guy, answered the 1,001 questions we had about snakes. The snakes were under control and enjoying a little sunbathe. "Can we show the same concern for people bringing their out-of-control dogs to the park?" Another said the snake owner was "really nice and full of smiles" and that any concerns about him were "OTT".One local wrote that the man only had two snakes when she saw him - one around his arm and another on the grass - and that she had to warn a passing family not to stand on one of them. Another pondered what newspaper headline writers would make of the snakes going for a ride on the park's miniature railway, while someone else opened up a second front in the debate by claiming to have once seen people with ferrets in the park. Support for the snakes was not universal, however, with potential safety issues also being raised. One social media user succinctly summed up the argument against taking snakes to parks by pointing out: "Nope. Ban it. Ban him. No no no."The park's attractions include a pond and a miniature railway Jamie Kinlochan, a regular visitor to Barshaw, told BBC Scotland's Drivetime programme that most people he had spoken to seemed happy to share their green spaces with snakes - so long as they were not venomous. He added: "People have, much to my surprise, been loving this. "I had never thought about it before, but I guess when it come to things like dogs in the park we are kind of cool about that even though they can still present some form of danger if not well looked after or not treated properly. "I guess people's arguments here are not any different and I probably agree with that." A spokesman for Renfrewshire Council confirmed: "Non domestic pets such as snakes should not be brought into our parks and consent has not been provided for this to take place." https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-65931360

A powerful Hybrid Max powertrain, fresh interior, plentiful cargo space, and an adult-friendly third row makes the Grand Highlander worth a look.You'd think that Toyota would have the sport-utility formula long figured out given its numerous po[CENSORED]r models. But there's been a gaping hole in Toyota's SUV lineup for some time, with the step up from the Highlander crossover to the body-on-frame Sequoia being particularly large.Though it's a wildly po[CENSORED]r vehicle (3.3 million-plus sold to date), the Highlander's middle row isn't exactly world-beating, and its puny third row is no match for the likes of the Honda Pilot, Hyundai Palisade, Jeep Grand Cherokee L, and Kia Telluride. Meanwhile, the product gap grew into a chasm when the new Toyota Sequoia debuted, as it moved in a truckier direction to fill the vacuum left by the departing Land Cruiser. The change from independent to solid-axle rear suspension certainly improved towing and off-road capability, but ride smoothness and third-row passenger/cargo space suffered.Enter the Grand Highlander The 2024 Toyota Grand Highlander is a completely new vehicle that is not merely a stretched-wheelbase Highlander. The Grand Highlander certainly has a longer wheelbase, but it's considerably larger in every other dimension too. It also looks different from the Highlander, with smooth flanks that do not evoke the Supra-wannabe swoopiness of the Highlander. The GH is built specifically to take on the above competition in what Toyota calls the "long-haul three-row SUV" segment. That it uses a derivative name is a calculated strategy, as Toyota freely admits that it is "drafting off the success" of the Highlander by simply tacking "Grand" onto the nameplate.And why not? The Grand Highlander shares its namesake's core mission, but it's just better at it—particularly if you'll use the third row more of the time, or for longer trips. In numeric terms, the Grand's 116.1-inch wheelbase is 3.9 inches longer than the Highlander's. It's also 4.0 inches longer overall than the longest Highlander XSE, 2.3 inches wider, and stands 2.0 inches taller. But it remains significantly more garage- and parking-space-friendly than a Sequoia because its overall length is 6.7 inches stubbier, its roof crouches 4.4 inches lower, and the body is 1.3 inches narrower. Made For the Long Haul The Grand Highlander's extra interior space is put to good use, and we're lucky that chief engineer Craig Payne cut his teeth on the Sienna before he was assigned the Grand Highlander project. The now-spacious third row is easy to enter, and our 6-foot-2-inch tester, yours truly, was able to sit there comfortably, with the second row preset to account for his own adjusted driving position. You could say the Grand Highlander can carry a conga line of Dans. At the same time, there is 21 cubic feet of luggage space behind the third row—enough, in Toyota's estimation, for seven carry-on suitcases. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a44000836/2024-toyota-grand-highlander-drive/

McIlroy two behind leader Rickie Fowler after second-round 67 Brooks Koepka slams LA Country Club course after shooting 69In late May, Rory McIlroy departed Oak Hill and the US PGA Championship having conceded he arrived at the major carrying little hope of success. This was quite an admission from an individual who has pursued trophies as routine since childhood. What a difference three weeks make. “I started thinking about winning this thing when I came here on Monday,” said a revitalised McIlroy. A second round of 67 at the LA Country Club, added to day one’s 65, leaves him eight under par and perfectly positioned for a tilt at major number five. By close of play on day two, McIlroy sat two adrift of Rickie Fowler, the latter backing up a record-breaking 62 with a 68.McIlroy needs no reminder that he won his last of golf’s big four in August of 2014. “No one wants me to win another major more than I do,” added the 34-year-old. “The desire is obviously there. I have come close over the past nine years and I keep coming back. I feel like I’ve showed a lot of resilience in my career. There have been a lot of ups and downs and I keep coming back. Whether that means that I get rewarded or I get punched in the gut or whatever it is, I’ll always keep coming back.” McIlroy’s second round backed up his point. He dropped shots at the 11th – his 2nd – plus the 13th and 17th when reaching the turn in 37. McIlroy’s response was powerful; for a second day in succession, he played the front half in 30. He signed off with a tap-in birdie at the par-three 9th. “It feels like a sort of golf course where you try to make your score on the front and then try to hang on on the back,” said McIlroy. He will be eyeing a fast start in round three.Much was made in the lead-up to this tournament about the supposedly model approach of Brooks Koepka, who won at Oak Hill. Koepka, who portrays an image of not letting external factors annoy him, broke his own code after signing for a 69 which leaves him level par on aggregate.I’m not a huge fan of this place,” said Koepka. “I’m not a huge fan of blind tee shots and then I think there’s some spots that no matter what you hit, the ball just ends up in the same spot. I think it would be more fun to play on just like a regular round than it would be a US Open.” Koepka’s comments are unlikely to go down well in this infamously stuffy environment. Not that he is likely to care. Wyndham Clark’s 67 moved him to minus nine. Dustin Johnson bounced back from a quadruple bogey eight at the 2nd to make a level-par 70. At minus six, Johnson is right in this tournament. “I have a lot of confidence in my game and with what I am doing right now,” said Johnson, the 2016 champion. “I have made some big numbers on holes before. This isn’t the first time. With two majors, I know what it takes to win. I will have to do everything well over the next 36 holes.” Matt Fitzpatrick’s day included a memorable hole-in-one at the 15th. It was his first ace as a professional. “My hand was sore from all the high-fiving,” said the defending champion https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2023/jun/16/rory-mcilroy-finds-his-groove-on-front-nine-to-stay-firmly-in-the-mix-at-us-open

The former Dexys Midnight Runners singer on dealing with stage anxiety, his subversive style and seeing women as goddessesKevin Rowland is a solo musician and front person of the band Dexys, formerly Dexys Midnight Runners. Born in 1953, Rowland spent his childhood in Wolverhampton, Ireland and Harrow in north London, where he lived from the age of 11. After a short career as a hairdresser, in 1978 Rowland formed Dexys Midnight Runners – a group that defied expectations with their unconventional style and songwriting, and went on to score two beloved No 1 hits: 1980’s Geno and 1982’s Come on Eileen. As well as Rowland’s two solo releases, the band have made five albums, the latest of which, The Feminine Divine, is out on 28 July.Dexys started to wear dungarees in 1982 and I was bored of them by early 83. Instead I’d undo the top bit and pull it down, and put a belt on so they’d look like a pair of high-waisted trousers. I can’t remember why I cut the top off the Converse in this picture, but I cut a lot of my clothes up. Also, my hair! A guy I’d met told me how to get dreads, so it was just starting to go a little bit dread-y. This point in my life was busy – a lot of photoshoots and promotion for Come on Eileen – but I mostly liked being in Dexys. It wasn’t until we started playing live that I didn’t enjoy things so much. It was a lot of pressure, and while I never admitted it at the time, anxiety would interfere with a lot of my performances. I wasn’t able to relax – I’d be singing and thinking: “What are the audience thinking?” Before a show, I’d get really manic. The concept of trying to calm myself down or breathe never even occurred to me. Getting older, I’ve had to learn how to regulate my nervous system, because otherwise it would eat me up. When I was growing up, the men in my life were very strong. My dad worked in the building trade and his mates were manual labourers and very tough. Any expression of feminine energy was out of bounds, off-limits. It was clearly for girls only. I was close to my mum – she was very sweet – but I didn’t feel I could always be all of myself at home. I still expressed myself with dancing, mainly reggae dancing, and especially with clothes. I also had a big interest in hair. I’d often go around with a comb. From a very young age, I’d be sitting by my dad’s armchair asking: “Can I comb your hair? Why don’t you shave your tache off? Dad, I just saw a guy who was balding and he got a crop and it looks really good!” He tolerated it, real ly.When I was 15 and had just left school, I started wearing very smart American clothes – short, parallel trousers with turn-ups, Ivy League shoes and maybe a trilby. I had my gang, and some of them would come up to me for counsel about how they should dress. One guy, one of the leaders, used to call me Mary Quant. It was a slightly derogatory nickname, but well-meaning, really. Until learning Tao, I’d never really tried to understand women. That’s quite an incredible admission, really That conservative sort of style I was wearing as a teenager was quite subversive in north London, especially compared with what was happening in the West End with the swinging 60s. It was never a conscious decision to challenge the mainstream – my choices have always been instinctive. For example, in my new video for Dexys’ I’m Going to Get Free, I’m wearing a red velvet suit I designed myself. It’s got a short jacket, six buttons, a round collar and lapels. Big trousers. I think it looks great, but there have been a lot of comments on Facebook about my look that I know I shouldn’t look at, but I do. The women mostly go: “Oh, he looks cool.” But some of the guys have said things like: “He looks like a nonce.” When I released My Beauty [Rowland’s 1999 solo covers album], it got a similar reaction [on its cover Rowland wears a dress, stockings and makeup]. Again, the clothing choices were completely intuitive. I’d gone into recovery from cocaine addiction in 93 and then spent about two years reappraising everything. In 95, I started to feel better. It was like I had a blank slate and the past didn’t exist. I woke up one night with a vision of a dress, and I drew it, bought some fabric and got it made. I really wanted to paint my nails – so I did. I was very naive, thinking people were going to love this new image. So when it got such an unpleasant response, I took it incredibly personally. I almost thought I’d done something wrong. Not long after that, I grew a beard and started wearing big heavy boots. A real macho look. I battened down the hatches on the feminine. It’s only in the last few years that I’ve opened up more again. A trip I had to Thailand was quite significant in that change. I was burnt out [after Dexys’ 2016 album Let the Record Show: Dexys Do Irish and Country Soul], partly because of the strains of working with a major label, and also because my mother passed that year. I didn’t have any intention of doing music again. I thought: “I’m not sure if I can keep doing this.” I started to think about designing clothes instead. I was just so drained. But then I went to Thailand and learned [the ancient Chinese philosophy and religion] Tao, and discovered the process of getting into your body more. The more I did that, the more my true self started to come out. I learned that I’ve got a lot of feminine energy as well as masculine. I think everybody has. We’re all somewhere between masculine and feminine at different times in our lives, but I’d been closed down to that concept. Through Tao, I learned about the concept of women as goddesses. I realised that women are powerful. Until then, I’d never really tried to understand them. That’s quite an incredible admission, really.Compared with the person in that original photo, I’m more honest now. I’m more aware of other people. I’m definitely more aware of myself. I don’t think I had any awareness whatsoever, really, of what life was about back then. I had no real interest in it either: I was quite a control freak and obsessive – and I still am – about work. But I didn’t know it was negative. These days I work hard at keeping that obsession at bay, because it’s not creative, especially when you burn out. I’d like to think I have left that kind of all-consuming attitude behind, but I still get nervous. I’m nervous now about things that are five months away! I’m already obsessing over what might happen when we play this summer: “Am I going to be able to manage it? Will my voice hold out?” I need to remember that it’ll be as it’s meant to be. I’m not in control, even if I sometimes think I am. As for the commenters, these days I take criticism far less personally. My general attitude is: “[CENSORED] ’em.” I’ll just enjoy them getting wound up, because they’re the ones with the issues. I know I’m not trying to be different for the sake of it. If I happen upon a style that I like, and then realise, “Oh, so-and-so’s wearing it too” – forget it. I am and will always be an individual. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2023/jun/17/kevin-rowland-looks-back

A spectator holds a Russian flag at the Australian Open on Monday By Tiffanie Turnbull BBC News, Sydney Russian and Belarusian flags have been banned from the Australian Open tennis tournament after a courtside incident. Spectators were initially permitted to bring the flags into Melbourne Park on the condition they did not cause "disruption". But the organisers reversed that decision on Tuesday, after fans displayed a Russian flag during a match between Ukraine's Kateryna Baindl and Russian Kamilla Rakhimova. The ban is effective immediately. "We will continue to work with the players and our fans to ensure the best possible environment to enjoy the tennis," Tennis Australia said in a statement.Ukrainian fans say they called police and security to the first-round match on Monday, claiming Russian supporters were "taunting" Baindl. "This is profoundly unsafe, the war is ongoing," one fan told local newspaper The Age. "It's a small court, the guys were extremely close to the players, so there was an element of what I felt was intimidation." But one of the Russian men involved told The Age his group had simply been cheering their countrywoman on. He said: "People can view that as being obnoxious but we were just being your normal supporters. There was no ridiculing or disrespect." Ukraine's ambassador to Australia and New Zealand had earlier called on Tennis Australia to take action. Russian and Belarusian athletes have not been able to play under their countries' flags in several sports, including tennis, since the invasion of Ukraine began in February last year. While players from the two countries are competing under a neutral white flag during the Australian Open, they were banned from playing at Wimbledon altogether in 2022. Organisers were subsequently fined and the tournament was stripped of its ranking points by the Association of Tennis Professionals and Women's Tennis Association. The WTA said equal opportunities for players to compete as individuals had to be protected. Wimbledon bans Russian and Belarusian players The Victorian state government on Tuesday said Tennis Australia had made the right decision. "Russia's invasion of Ukraine is abhorrent," acting premier Jancinta Allan said. "It breaches international human rights obligations. It's been enabled and supported by Belarus. "[This] sends a very, very clear message that human rights are important, whether it's in sport, or more broadly in our community." The ban comes after Ukrainian tennis player Marta Kostyuk said she would not shake hands with opponents from Russia and Belarus who she believes have not done enough to condemn the invasion. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-64286470

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The new Amazon Echo Pop smart speakers are already a reality in Spain, and among the functions they offer is being able to use them in combination with the phones or tablets you have at home. If you don't know how to do this to, for example, listen to music, we'll tell you how to do it in the easiest way possible .The first thing you should know is that communication is done through the use of Bluetooth technology . This is wireless, which means you don't have to put any cables in the way (and the compatibility is excellent, since you can use all the iOS and Android devices currently on the market). The fact is that one of the few things that you should check before anything else is that you have this option activated on your phone or tablet ( in the Amazon Echo Pop it is not necessary, because it is that way by default).Steps to synchronize the Amazon Echo Pop with a mobile or tablet Once you have chosen the equipment that you want to have connected to the smart speaker, what you have to do is place yourself near it , so that there are no communication problems in the process. Then perform the following actions: Open the Alexa application that you must have installed on your terminal, there is a free version for both Android and iOS . The next thing is that at the bottom of the screen look for and use the icon called Devices. In the list that appears is the Amazon Echo Pop (if you don't see it, using the Speakers section can help you). Click on its name and, at the top of the screen, you will see that there is a section called Connect a device, use it. Now a screen appears showing how to scan for active devices.To make things go as quickly as possible, do a search on your phone or tablet for Bluetooth accessories, you'll see the Echo Pop quickly appear, and then tap on it. A synchronization message appears that you have to accept.In just a few seconds the communication is established and, then, you are finished. You should know that it is possible not to use the application on the phone or tablet and, for this, you can use the following voice command with the Amazon Echo Pop: "Alexa, connect a device". The search will start, but we believe that it is much more efficient and accurate to do everything manually as we have indicated before. A tip that is very useful Once you have connected the device to the Amazon smart speaker there are two voice commands that are important to know . They are the following:"Alexa, connect my phone": This is used to automatically establish synchronization again. "Alexa, disconnect the phone": it is the command that is used to stop the communication from being active. https://cincodias.elpais.com/cincodias/2023/06/15/gadgets/1686841515_456502.html

Microsoft is testing a new Windows Ink feature that allows text entry into any field in the Windows interface, without the need for an application intended for this type of function, such as OneNote .Windows Ink is the set of stylus-powered experiences supported by this operating system that enables natural on-screen writing, as well as other features for drawing and design. Until now, Windows Ink worked in any application or 'software' that allowed text input with this pen, such as OneNote or Microsoft Office. However, the company has introduced a new capability for this tool. Included in the Windows 11 Insider Preview Build 23481 update for the Dev Channel, this new feature in Windows ink allows ink input directly into text fields, without having to open any of the aforementioned services.With this novelty, Microsoft seeks "for users to find their pencil and write by hand anywhere they can write on their Windows device", as it has communicated through its blog. Microsoft has commented that this enhancement only supports text written in English, but will support other languages soon . To test it, you must access the Settings tab, choose the Bluetooth and devices option, Windows Pen and Ink and click on the 'Shell handwriting' option. https://www.europapress.es/portaltic/software/noticia-ultima-actualizacion-windows-ink-habilita-entrada-texto-mano-cualquier-campo-interfaz-20230615105302.html

Intel has finally unveiled its brand new "Core" branding for next-gen CPUs starting with the 14th-Gen Meteor Lake lineup. Intel's New "Core" Branding Is Going To Be Just As Confusing As AMD's Laptop Branding Intel had already teased that it was going to adopt a new branding scheme for its next-gen CPUs. The company reveals that it will no longer place generational messaging in front of the Intel Core brand in marketing or in silicon but would instead be called out in the processor number. That's a lot similar to how AMD is managing the new branding for its Ryzen 7000 mobile SKUs which feature several different generations of Zen CPUs that are then differentiated by their SKU numbering.So as part of today's update, Intel is: Introducing Intel Core Ultra processor brand for the most advanced client processors. Simplifying the Intel Core processor brand for mainstream client offerings. Moving to Intel 3/5/7/9 processor tiering starting with upcoming next-generation processors. Evolving the Intel Evo Edition platform brand for Evo-verified designs. Introducing Intel vPro Enterprise and Intel vPro® Essentials device labels for relevant commercial systems.The new naming scheme will be applied across all client products so that includes desktops and mobiles but the Meteor Lake CPU family will be the first to utilize it starting in 2H 2023. The most significant change that the new branding brings is dropping the "i" which has been part of Intel's naming scheme for over a decade. So instead of using the traditional Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, & Core i9 branding, the new chips will shift to Core 3, Core 5, Core 7, and Core 9. Once again, these changes will be reflected in the brand strings, text, and on the badge of the product. Old Naming Scheme: Core i3, Core i5, Core i7, Core i9 New Naming Scheme: Core 3, Core 5, Core 7, Core 9Intel is prioritizing innovation and technology leadership with products like Meteor Lake, focused on power efficiency and AI at scale. To better align with our product strategies, we are introducing a branding structure that will help PC buyers better differentiate the best of our latest technology and our mainstream offerings.” –Caitlin Anderson, Intel vice president and general manager of Client Computing Group Sales To make things more clear, here's what is being replaced and with what: Core i9 -> Core 9 Ultra Core i7 -> Core 7 Ultra or Core 7 Core i5 -> Core 5 Ultra or Core 5 Core i3 -> Core 3 If we translate that to products that already exist on the market, we get something like the following: Current Desktop Branding: Core i9-13900K New Desktop Branding #1: Core 9 Ultra 13900K New Desktop Branding #2: Core 9 13900K And for mobile, it will look something like thisCurrent Laptop Branding: Core i7-1370P New Laptop Branding #1: Core 7 Ultra 1370P New Laptop Branding #2: Core 7 1370PBut we know of three Intel Meteor Lake SKUs that have been leaked before and feature the new branding scheme. These include the Core Ultra 7 1003H, Core Ultra 7 1002H, and the Core 5 Ultra 1003H. However, these three SKUs don't reflect the 14th Gen naming scheme which is a criteria of the new branding. The reason this is so is because the new branding completely resets the family generation back to one. So instead of being the 14th Gen Meteor Lake CPUs, these are the first Gen Core CPUs. The 1st Gen Core & Core Ultra lineup will include a total of two main families and these include Meteor Lake and Raptor Lake-U Refresh. Meanwhile, the higher-end Desktop and Laptop SKUs, the Raptor Lake-S Refresh & Raptor Lake-HX Refresh will retain the existing "Core i" branding. All CPUs can be seen using the new branding scheme which is expected to be unveiled this month while full details of the Meteor Lake-P architecture, specifications, & platforms are expected to be detailed around August-September. Intel Meteor Lake Mobility CPU Lineup Expected Features: Triple-Hybrid CPU Architecture (P/E/LP-E Cores) Brand New Redwood Cove (P-Cores) Brand New Crestmont (E-Cores) Up To 14 Cores (6+8) For H/P Series & Up To 12 Cores (4+8) For U Series CPUs Intel 4 Process Node For CPU, TSMC For tGPU Intel 'Xe-MTL' GPU With Up To 192/128 EUs Up To LPDDR5X-7467 & DDR5-5200 Support Up To 96 GB DDR5 & 64 GB LPDDR5X Capacities Intel VPU For AI Inferencing With Atom Cores x8 Gen 5 Lanes For Discrete GPU (Only H-Series) Triple x4 M.2 Gen 4 SSD Support Four Thunderbolt 4 PortsThe company has a new Innovation event planned out for the 19th of September so we can definitely expect this to be the stage where Pat Gelsinger & his team will finally unveil the 14th Gen CPU family for laptops. New Core Branding Updates & Logos: intel-core-branding-update-_3 intel-core-branding-update-_4 intel-core-branding-update-_1 intel-core-branding-update-_2 intel-core-branding-update-_5 1 / 5 Intel 14th Gen Meteor Lake CPU Family "Preliminary": CPU NAME PROCESS NODE CORE CONFIGURATION THREADS (TOTAL) BASE / BOOST CLOCK L3 CACHE TDP Intel Core Ultra 7 1003H Intel 4 6+8+2 (16) 22 3.1 GHz / 4.2 GHz (ES) 24 MB 15-28W Intel Core Ultra 7 1002H Intel 4 6+8+2 (16) 22 3.0 GHz (ES) / TBD 24 MB 15-28W Intel Core Ultra 5 1003H Intel 4 https://wccftech.com/intel-unveils-new-core-branding-for-next-gen-cpus-first-featured-on-meteor-lake/

Bloober Team's horror series is reimagined from the ground up, but the foundation still feels shaky.Bloober Team's original Layers of Fear (2016) became an almost overnight gaming sensation when its mind-bending Steam Early Access version gave players some truly imaginative sights. The sequel continued the original's themes of tortured artists, but swapped a painter for an actor, and offered arguably even more inventive visuals. Both games were, in my opinion, fine, but nothing more. Now, reborn on Unreal Engine 5 with new content interspersed with what was there before, Layers of Fear (2023) looks to be the definitive way to experience the horror series. However, its haunts remain largely empty. The new engine makes the game a visual benchmark, but it still feels more like a haunted house at a theme park, offering the illusion of danger but never something sincerely threatening. Perhaps the first hurdle in critiquing the series' reinvention is explaining exactly what this package offers. Layers of Fear and its sequel both return roughly 80% the same as you may have experienced them before. Some scenes have been redesigned or added--or even removed, if my memory serves me correctly. Both games receive new but ultimately shallow mechanics allowing for a few combat sections in which you'll need to blast stalking ghosts with light to stall them while you escape their maze-like settings. The first game's brief Inheritance DLC is also included, and a brand-new DLC meant to wrap the series up more neatly than before, The Final Note, makes its debut. The best part of all of this is actually the framing narrative, The Writer's Story. Built directly into the game as you progress through its connected parts, you'll routinely jump back to a lighthouse where a writer tells the story of the game's other haunted artists: the painter, the actor, and the musician. Like those in the main games, the writer is dealing with her own hauntings, and I find the format classy and quite novel for the medium. It feels like a horror anthology, such as V/H/S, only in this case, all the individual stories ultimately share a universe.Light combat elements have been added to address past complaints, but they don't add much to the games. This delivery is compelling, but it has the odd effect of making each individual piece more of a letdown, as they largely struggle to hold up on their own. Layers of Fear has always been more like an amusement park ride than a survival-horror experience, and that MO just doesn't feel conducive to generating actual tension. Even in these new versions--which try to add more possible game-over screens--moments are too scripted and enemies are basically non-existent. The novelty of entering a room, seeing something weird happen, then turning to find the environment has seamlessly changed before you is occasionally mind-melting, but never, ever scary. The first game also feels desperate to avoid being misunderstood, to the point where its story is laid out so bare, it betrays the adage of "show, don't tell" at every turn. The Final Note DLC seeks to over-explain even more by putting you in the role of the one person you never play as in the original or its Inheritance DLC. Inheritance also winds up being mechanically frustrating due to some confusing puzzles, but its intent to show the world through the eyes of a child make it more memorable than anything the other pieces do, unless you count the new DLC's broken enemy encounters, during which the ghost chasing me get stuck halfway in the floorboards. The highlight is certainly Layers of Fear 2, which does more with its setting and story than the rest of the series combined. Unlike the needlessly overt original, the sequel is perhaps too shrouded in metaphor at times, though it does make piecing it all together more interesting. For those who never played the original Layers of Fear games, this reimagined package is definitely a better first experience than the old versions While the other games all take place in endless darkness, Layers of Fear 2 is set aboard a cruise ship where a movie was to be filmed, and it's not afraid to turn the lights on at times, constantly toying with different palettes and scenery. It winds up more memorable than the original's house, which feels the same room to room, albeit with some nightmarish scenes of its own to play off of. The story is at once a twisted tale of method acting, a dark tragedy, and a nearly constant homage to horror's past, with nods to The Shining, Psycho, and more laid out like displays in a horror museum. It's all narrated by actor Tony Todd too, who makes a great fit given the tenor of his voice, particularly if you're familiar with his body of work like Candyman and Final Destination. Still, not even Layers of Fear 2 can break free of the series' shackles. Gameplay across the series largely comes down to walking, opening doors, and seeing what weird scene awaits on the other side. Some light puzzles mix up the pacing, but the new chase sequences feel one-note, many of them even using the same dialogue lines time after time. To its credit, this new edition is built on Unreal Engine 5 and seems to utilize the new Lumen lighting technology, which makes games like Fortnite so jaw-dropping to look at. Here, the colors are naturally not as bright as Epic's cartoonish battle royale, but the lighting tech is dazzling nonetheless. I stopped in my tracks many times across the 10-12 hours it takes to finish all five experiences simply because the game look s amazing.With a best-in-series story and more visual variety, Layers of Fear 2 remains the series' high point. It's just too bad it rarely does more than that. Before, Layers of Fear offered some stunning scenes and a moody atmosphere. Now, nearly a decade later, the game somehow reinvents itself but adds very few new strengths, while its weaknesses only stand out more due to the effort that went into justifying the project in the first place. It feels like the studio heard the complaint of a lack of true threats in the games, but in seeking to polish out that blemish, just left more faults. For those who never played the original Layers of Fear games, this reimagined package is definitely a better first experience than the old versions, simply on account of looking better and adding the neat framing narrative of The Writer's Story. But for horror enthusiasts already well-versed in the series, its MO remains as smoke and mirrors. There are no real terrors lurking in the shadows just out of reach. There is only the suggestion of some, and like the many tortured artists at the center of its saga, they are left unfulfilled. https://www.gamespot.com/reviews/layers-of-fear-2023-review-delusions-of-grandeur/1900-6418080/

A new patch has arrived in Pokémon UNITE, which has brought much-needed balance changes to many Pokémon in the game. Along with the much-needed balance changes, developers have introduced new Shop updates, event updates, and more. With the Pokémon Unite 1.10.1.3 Patch Notes, let us break down the June 2023 update in detail.Pokémon Unite June 2023 Update: Balance Adjustments Aegislash (Buffed) The Defense and Sp. Defense increase in this patch focuses on Aegislash’s Shield Forme only. Sword Forme’s stats are unchanged. Stat Changes Defense stat increased from 308~650 to 338~680 (Lv 1 to Lv 15) Sp. Defense stat increased from 215~475 to 235~494 (Lv 1 to Lv 15) Shadow Claw Damage increased by 5%. Azumarill (Buffed) Huge Power Critical Hit multiplier increased from 150% to 170% Buzzwole (Buffed)Stat Changes Defense increased from 100~468 to 120~500 (Lv 1 to Lv 15) Sp. Defense increased from 70~329 to 80~380 (Lv 1 to Lv 15) Leech Life HP recovery amount increased from 50% to 75% of damage dealt.Stat Change HP decreased from 3300~7900 to 3000~6900 (Level 1 – 15). Standard Attack Attack decreased from 140~365 to 110~300 (Level 1 – 15). Knock Off Damage reduced by 15%. Alongside all these balance changes, there are event-related changes, shop changes and more bug fixes in the line, which will be a part of this June 2023 Update https://gamingonphone.com/news/pokemon-unite-june-2023-update-1-10-1-3-patch-notes/

A Final Fantasy XVI demo comparison video was shared online, putting the game's Quality and Performance modes side to side to highlight their differences. The new video, which was put together by ElAnalistaDeBits, confirms the game runs at 2160p resolution upscaled from 1440p, 30 frames per second in Quality mode, and 1440p resolution upscaled from 1080p and 60 frames per second. Performance mode, however, doesn't seem able to keep its targeted framerate consistently, as there often drops to around 40 frames per second. Quality mode, on the other hand, is more stable and features higher settings for shadow quality, anisotropic filtering, and postprocessing effects. Both display modes lock cutscenes at 30 frames per second, which makes sense to keep visual quality as high as possible.As this comparison is based on the demo, things may change in the final version of Final Fantasy XVI, but we shouldn't expect any major change, as the developer revealed it won't get a day one patch. Performance, however, may be improved some time after launch, although where solid performance is required, such as during combat, the game already seems to deliver, although with a noticeably lower visual quality.Aside from some technical shortcomings, the Final Fantasy XVI demo is an excellent showcase of the game, allowing users to try out the first few hours of the game as well as a combat-focused scenario that shows the potential of the game's action combat system. The demo is now available for download worldwide. Final Fantasy XVI launches on June 22nd worldwide on PlayStation 5. The game will eventually make its way to PC, though the team will need more than six months to properly optimize it. https://wccftech.com/final-fantasy-xvi-demo-performance/

The NASUWT teaching union believes the level of violence against school staff is increasing By Bethan Lewis, BBC Wales family & education correspondent and Gareth Bryer Thousands of cases of classroom violence recorded in Wales are "the tip of the iceberg", a union has said. One special school teacher, who wanted to remain anonymous, said he had been assaulted numerous times: "Spat at, punched, headbutted, kicked, bitten." The NASUWT said systems for reporting aggression were "a mess" and staff who were targeted felt unsupported. Data obtained by Welsh Tories suggests at least 5,000 recorded violence cases against school staff from 2018 to 2022. Conservatives have called for a national helpline for staff and new guidance on collecting data.The Welsh government said any abuse of staff was "completely unacceptable", while the Welsh Local Government Association (WLGA) said councils were supportive of all school staff. Wales' education minister Jeremy Miles told BBC Radio Wales on Thursday that every single school should be a welcoming environment to go to work and a safe environment for staff and for pupils. The anonymous teacher said: "Colleagues have had hair set on fire. Teacher pressure sparks staffing fears Police tell schools about children affected by domestic abuse Union calls for action after teachers hospitalised at school "Pupils have violently attacked staff. Not just a single punch, but have continually gone at them. "Not all management will admit what is going on in their school." He said the impact was even worse "when you don't feel supported by your managers." Acknowledging that the reasons for violent behaviour were complex, he said delays for mental health assessments and treatment for young people played a part. The teacher believed the influence of pranks on social media and tiredness after staying up all night on phones can be factors too.Not all management will admit what is going on in their school," a teacher tells Bethan Lewis He said some colleagues in primary and secondary schools had experienced similar incidents. Working with children with behavioural challenges in a special school should not mean assaults come with the territory, he said. "I'm a teacher just like anybody else. I work in this environment because they're the most vulnerable." It should be "the most rewarding", supporting the pupils "we can help the most," he added. Another teacher from Swansea who spoke of receiving abuse told BBC Radio Wales a pupil swore at him repeatedly after he asked him to remove his Airpods in a lesson. "Why has this become an everyday occurrence in Wales where teachers have zero powers to do anything about it?" he asked. "In the health service they have a zero tolerance policy for abuse. But not in education." Responses to Freedom of Information requests by Welsh Conservatives showed at least 5,000 incidents of violence against staff were recorded by local authorities between 2018 and 2022. Some councils included data for incidents in special schools and pupil referral units as well as mainstream settings, while others did not specify. Several local authorities said they had provided data only for physical assaults, but it was not clear whether others had included verbal assaults too. Of the councils that responded, three - Flintshire, Torfaen and Pembrokeshire - said they did not hold data on aggression towards staff, but schools would or might have the information.physical aggression to staff from pupils". The Welsh government said in a statement any form of violence or abuse against staff in our schools was "completely unacceptable". "Schools must be safe and welcoming environments where teachers can get on with their jobs, helping pupils achieve the best they can. "There is a duty on local authorities and schools to ensure schools are a safe environment for all," it said. "If at any point the environment within a school becomes unsafe, the school should ensure that the relevant authorities are informed so that appropriate support can be made available," the statement added. Mr Miles said it was important to understand the scale of the problem and the underlying issues in order to tackle it properly. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-wales-65905403

.One of the captive-bred wildcats involved in the release programme Scottish wildcats bred in captivity have been released into the UK's biggest national park in a bid to save the critically endangered species. It is the first in a series of trial releases at undisclosed locations in the Cairngorms. The Saving Wildcats project began introducing the 22 cats to the park last week. Previous research concluded the species was "functionally extinct" in the wild, partly due to breeding with feral cats. Disease and habitat loss have also been blamed for reducing their numbers.Scottish wildcats to be released in Cairngorms Hope new wildcat kittens could help save species Royal Zoological Society of Scotland (RZSS), which is leading the Saving Wildcats partnership, will monitor the released wildcats using GPS-radio collars. About 60 wildcats will be released over the next three years. The project was approved under licence by NatureScot and is the first-ever conservation translocation of wildcats in Britain. Saving Wildcat's David Field: "The time is now to give the 'Highland Tiger' the best chance of survival and I am thankful for the work of our team members, partners and supporters in making this happen. "I am also particularly grateful for the support of our local community in the Cairngorms as, without their engagement, we would not have reached this exciting mi lestone." One of the parent cats involved in the breeding programme - which will not be released into the wild Biodiversity Minister Lorna Slater said wildcats were a much-loved native species in Scotland, but its existence was under threat. She said: "Reversing the dramatic losses in nature that we have seen in recent times is one of the defining challenges that our country faces. "The Scottish government remains committed to this fight and is actively working towards protecting and restoring our natural environment and the animals that rely upon it." The project has support from bodies including Cairngorms National Park Authority and Forestry and Land Scotland. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65913889

.Newfound horsepower and range make the plug-in Prius Prime relevant againUPDATE 6/6/23: This review has been updated with test numbers. Toyota claims that the raw materials required for just one EV could instead go on to power seven plug-in hybrids or 90 traditional hybrids. Given Toyota's goal to spread electrification of any kind as far and wide as it can, hybrids will remain an important part of the automaker's portfolio for some time. And if they're sticking around, they may as well be good. We've already driven—and enjoyed—Toyota's new Prius, so it shouldn't come as a surprise that the plug-in Prius Prime is a fabulous little hatchback too, eliminating many of our concerns with the outgoing version.The Prius Prime has been around since 2017, and in recent years it's been feeling its age. We tested a 2022 model ahead of its retirement, and while the PHEV's fuel-economy benefits were hard to ignore, it was even harder to ignore its time-it-with-a-sundial acceleration, middling electric-only range, and frustrating interior controls.For 2023, Toyota sent all those frustrations to The Bad Place and gave the Prius Prime a massive aesthetic and mechanical glow-up. With minor exceptions in badging, wheel design, and some silver trim around the lower air dam, the Prius and Prius Prime are now nearly indistinguishable—which is great, because the Prius looks better than it ever has. The second flap on the rear fender, which hides the SAE J1772 charging port, is an easy way to tell the two apart.But it's the upgraded mechanicals that are truly transformative. The Atkinson-cycle four-cylinder grows from 1.8 to 2.0 liters, boosting output from a sad 95 horsepower and 105 pound-feet of torque to a more respectable 150 horsepower and 139 pound-feet. The engine works in conjunction with a 161-hp permanent-magnet AC electric motor driving the front wheels—a second motor is integrated into the Prime's planetary gearset—for a net output of 220 horsepower, a huge leap over the 2022 model's 121-hp rating.In our testing, the 2023 Prius Prime XSE reached 60 mph in just 6.5 seconds in hybrid mode; not only does that beat Toyota's estimates by a tenth, it represents a massive improvement over the outgoing model, which required 10.3 seconds for the same feat. If you feel like racing your Prius Prime for pink slips, it'll cruise through the quarter-mile in 15.1 seconds at 94 mph. When it's time to jam on the clampers, the Prime will come to a halt from 70 mph in 179 feet with little fade over repeated attempts. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a43485955/2023-toyota-prius-prime-drive/

Arsenal’s first proposal falls well below West Ham’s valuation Source predicts City will ‘blow Arsenal out of the water’Arsenal have had an opening offer of £80m for Declan Rice turned down by West Ham, who anticipate Manchester City entering the bidding for the midfielder. West Ham want £100m for Rice and the expectation at the start of the week was that Arsenal would meet the asking price by including various add-ons. Initial talks had progressed well and there was confidence the transfer would not turn into a saga.However Arsenal’s first proposal has fallen well below West Ham’s valuation. The north London club hope to spread the cost over a long period and looked to include add-ons that were seen as difficult to achieve. Rice is Mikel Arteta’s top target and it is likely Arsenal will improve their bid. However West Ham, who expect to sell their captain, have had indications that City could try to sign the England international. A source predicted the champions would “blow Arsenal out of the water” with their offer for Rice. The 24-year-old’s preference has been to remain in London and there will be no issue over personal terms with Arsenal if they can agree a fee. But Pep Guardiola spoke to Rice before the end of the season and City’s interest could complicate matters for Arteta. The expectation had been that Rodri’s form meant that City were not in need of another defensive midfielder. The treble winners have been in talks with Chelsea’s Mateo Kovacic, who will cost about £35m, and are trying to convince Ilkay Gündogan to extend his deal. Rice has also been targeted by Bayern Munich, Manchester United and Newcastle. However Bayern have withdrawn after concluding there is little chance of Rice moving to Germany. West Ham’s co-owner David Sullivan admitted last week that Rice was going to leave. Rice has a year on his contract, with the option of an extra year, and has no intention of signing an extension. He helped West Ham win the Europa Conference League last week but is determined to compete at a higher level and play in the Champions League. West Ham will look to replace Rice with two midfielders, with Ajax’s Edson Álvarez, Southampton’s James Ward-Prowse and Fulham’s João Palhinha on their radar West Ham have also held talks over signing Leicester’s Harvey Barnes but face competition from Aston Villa, Newcastle and Tottenham. https://www.theguardian.com/football/2023/jun/15/west-ham-reject-arsenal-80m-declan-rice-bid-manchester-city-offer

Feel you have a full wardrobe but nothing to wear? Here, one writer who found having a baby made her hate her clothes, asks the experts how to rethink what you already haveIown a pair of studded red boots that used to make me extremely happy. Then, the other day, when I tried them on for the first time in years, I winced. I saw in them a microcosm of what can happen with your whole wardrobe: the clothes you once loved and wore to death suddenly feel very wrongI would wager that there are few people who don’t recognise this feeling. Whether you care about clothes or not, it doesn’t really matter. Certain clothes will still feel comfortable and right while others will not. And because clothes are like our second skin, when they don’t feel right, it can be strange, discombobulating; itchy, almost. It is a feeling that can be brought on by the big stuff: ageing, babies, grief. Or by something lesser, such as funky weather. It can be about a changing body or an identity in flux. It was also the subject of a recent newsletter from Substack and cool-kid favourite Blackbird Spyplane, in which a subscriber had asked: “How do you regrow your style? Everything I put together right now doesn’t feel like me!” What do you do when this feeling creeps up on you, or hits you without warning? Before doing anything rash, consider what might have changed “It happens to the best of us,” says stylist Sarah Corbett-Winder, who last experienced this after having her third child. “I felt I couldn’t relate and didn’t want to be the person who wore my wardrobe.” But, she cautions: “I also get it if I’m in a ‘negative’ headspace. We can take things out on our clothes as they can’t answer back.” Grace Snell, the costume designer for the television comedy drama series I Hate Suzie, recently experienced the feeling after surgery. Pulling out all the clothes that she still loves, and putting them on a separate rail has been helpful. “I could see the gaps I needed to buy [clothes for]. I packed up all the other clothes and put them in the loft. Making space for your favourite clothes is the single most important thing.” Changing the surroundings of your wardrobe will, she says, “help you get a new perspective … I take clothes out of my wardrobe, out of my bedroom and look at them in the lounge, hanging them up around the room.” When you do it, she says: “Make sure you have a good light.” Think evolution, not revolution “We often feel we need a drastic change, but actually we need a slow and careful change to our wardrobe. One piece at a time,” says Snell. Melanie Wilkinson, Guardian style editor, agrees. She suggests focusing on things you already own, such as a white T-shirt, jeans and accessories. “Look at how you can rework them in your new situation/new decade,” she says, suggesting slight tweaks may be all that is needed. “Maybe your shirt becomes an overshirt that you can wear over a dress, or you can tie it at the front over a vest top with some tailored trousers.” Similarly, Corbett-Winder suggests: “Really think about how you are putting things together. Don’t try to be too clever – go back to basics and keep it simple.”Dress from a fixed point – think out, or up Blackbird Spyplane suggests you dress from the cuff out, a technique it calls “cuff stacking”, which it says is ideal for spring when layering is key. What it means is looking at your cuffs and working your way out with each sleeve. It illustrates what it means with a picture of the brown cuff of a hoodie worn over the beige cuff of a mohair jumper stacked with the purple cuffs of a jacket. For editor and stylist Simon Chilvers, his fixed point is his feet. A new shoe, he says, “can make the hems of your trousers, the turnups on your jeans, or your socks feel a total disaster”. He thinks “starting from the bottom up is worth considering as a wardrobe technique”.agree. I’ve had some fun getting dressed by choosing socks first. A pair of bright orange ones recently led me to wear a red jumper that I had forgotten – an outfit that felt good and clashed cheerfully, with a pair of neutral blue jeans.Snell’s starting point is pants. “With actors we always start with the underwear,” she says. This is where the feeling of confidence in your clothes meets comfort; there is a big overlap. With underwear, she generally sizes up: “Once you feel comfortable, you can build from there.” As someone who, while pregnant, revelled in underwear that now reaches my sternum, and never felt better, I concur. Think outside the box When you are ready for some movement, it is worth looking beyond what you would normally wear. “Have a few style heroes in mind,” says Toni-Blaze Ibekwe, editor-in-chief of Wonderland magazine. “And it sounds extra, but vision-board your style the same way you vision-board life goals. Snell says: “I love to look at photos of my mum and aunty when they were my age. Your clothes should feel timeless – that’s why classic, staple pieces will never age.” Chilvers counsels looking at “paintings or movies and just spending a day in a city people-watching. “Who do you think looks good in their clothes? Are there things they wear or style in a certain way that would help you to push yourself out of the rut?” Sometimes, the best people to turn to might be those who dress nothing like you. Looking at the dancer Pina Bausch’s chic, masculine tailoring has helped me in the past, particularly when I have wanted to add a smidgeon of professionalism to a wardrobe that felt too teenage. Get organised – and get ironing “Get matching hangers,” says Snell. “Don’t overcrowd your rails. Pack away your summer clothes in winter. Pack away your winter clothes in summer.” A lot can also be said for taking good care of your clothes: it’s a no-brainer that an unwashed shirt crumpled at the back of your wardrobe won’t feel right. “When designing a show, we have to treat clothes with a lot of respect … By giving time to a garment, it’s amazing how much you grow to respect it.” You may well find old clothes suddenly instilled with new life after a quick iron. Don’t look back “The idea of an age-related wardrobe rut has always made me want to eye-roll myself to death,” says Chilvers. “But I can see how it happens. Our body shapes and mindsets change as we age.” “Keep in mind the elements of your wardrobe that you have always embraced,” agrees Wilkinson. For her, it is the baseball cap. “I’ve just turned 40 and have felt the need to veer more on the side of smart than super-casual.” Instead of jeans, she now wears “a couple of chic, good-quality caps” with tailored trousers and a light knit. “With some clever tailoring, I’ve managed to move it into a new decade.” Corbett-Winder suggests simply “being honest with yourself”. Maybe that lime green miniskirt you had when you were 15 doesn’t make you feel your best any more. My equivalent is any pair of heels, something I haven’t bought in a decade (on the odd occasion when I pop them on, I feel as if I’m cosplaying a younger version of myself – and not in a good way). Of course, if you still feel great in the exact get-up you wore five or 40 years ago, then ignore everything you have just read and be happy. https://www.theguardian.com/fashion/2023/jun/15/get-an-iron-go-to-a-gallery-and-try-cuff-stacking-how-to-dress-when-you-hate-your-clothes