Blackfire

WhatsApp is saving you from those awkward spelling mistakes and missing commas by giving you the power to edit messages - within limits. We first saw inklings of this update in a late March beta. The feature didn’t work at the time, but there were some clues hinting at how it would function. From the looks of things, not much has changed since then. To fix a text, Meta states you need to first long-press a sent message and then select Edit from the menu that appears. Users have 15 minutes to make their corrections. Texts cannot be changed past the time limit, forcing you to live with the typos you made (or you can just send a new text). Messages that have been altered will display ‘Edited’ right next to them, making it clear to others in a chat that some corrections have been made. It all works similarly to iMessage editing on iOS 16. WhatsApp, however, will not save any sort of edit history, meaning others won’t be able to see previous versions of texts. Editable messages are currently “rolling out to users globally and will be available to everyone in the coming weeks” so keep an eye out for the new patch. We asked Meta if there are any other restrictions. For example, on iOS 16 users can only make up to five edits to a text within a 15-minute window. This story will be updated at a later time. WhatsApp has had quite a busy month as the platform has seen multiple updates in a short amount of time. Just last week, the app gained a Chat Lock tool, ensuring your private conversation stays private which can be useful if you’re using a shared phone. Before that, we saw the introduction of single-vote polls “to stop people from skewing [results] with multiple votes.” As for the near future, it appears Meta will soon launch a “password reminder feature for end-to-end encrypted backups”, according to a recent post from WABetaInfo. The app will ask you to verify the password so you’ll always have access to the backup in the event you forget your login credentials. This particular update will be rolling out to both Android and iOS “over the coming weeks.” [https://www.techradar.com/news/whatsapp-now-lets-you-edit-your-messaging-nightmares-heres-how-to-do-it]

Intel has released a whitepaper outlining a way to simplify its CPU architectures by removing legacy 16-bit and 32-bit support, therefore making them 64-bit only. Intel believes this change will lead to better optimized processors, meaning better performance and efficiency. In layman's terms, there's a bunch of stuff in there that's basically useless, and has been for a long time. But it's a bit more complicated than just switching everything over to 64-bit. Windows has transitioned away from 32-bit, but only fully in the Windows 11 era. There are loads of legacy 16- and 32-bit systems out there that are decades old and will need upgrading, or testing at least to see if they can be emulated. The building blocks of Intel's processor range can be traced all the way back to the original 16-bit 8086 processor released in 1978. Rather than include support for decades-old software and operating systems, Intel believes virtualization technologies have developed enough to emulate the features required for legacy systems. It's saying it's time to move on. Today's 64-bit CPUs include processes to "trampoline" their way into 64-bit operation. According to Intel, "Intel 64 architecture designs come out of reset in the same state as the original 8086 and require a series of code transitions to enter 64-bit mode. Once running, these modes are not used in modern applications or operating systems. 64-bit only CPUs make a lot of sense from a gaming perspective. We chase performance and efficiency, and outdated features that few users make use of simply add complexity and bloat to a chip. Removing them has the potential to deliver all sorts of benefits. It'll give Intel more die space for modern features, better power efficiency, faster boot times, and perhaps a lower risk of security vulnerabilities. We won't be seeing x86S CPUs any time soon though. At this stage, the whitepaper is more of an introduction and is clearly meant for industry folks and software developers. Don't forget AMD either, the developers of x86-64, who will have to work with Intel so as not to break the ecosystem. It may be a long time coming, but I look forward to seeing how x86S develops. Wouldn't it be nice to get consistent double-digit performance jumps without power-sucking frequency jumps? That's the dream. Let's see where this goes. [https://www.pcgamer.com/intel-proposes-x86s-a-64-bit-cpu-microarchitecture-that-does-away-with-legacy-16-bit-and-32-bit-support/]

Real's La Liga match at Valencia on Sunday was paused in the second half as an incensed Vinicius reported opposition fans to the referee. Following the match, in which the 22-year-old Brazil international was later sent off for violent conduct, he said "La Liga belongs to racists". Real Madrid issued a statement on Monday stating that it "considers that such attacks also constitute a hate crime". Spanish prosecutors will now decide whether to pursue a criminal investigation. In a further statement on social media on Monday, Vinicius said: "What is missing to criminalize these people? And punish the clubs sportively? Why don't the sponsors charge La Liga? Don't the televisions bother to broadcast this barbarity every weekend?" He added: "The problem is very serious, and press releases don't work anymore. Neither does blaming me to justify criminal acts. It's not football, it's inhuman." 'Another inadmissible episode' - Brazil government Vinicius has been the target of racist abuse multiple times this season and the Brazilian government said the incident was "yet another inadmissible episode". Its foreign ministry said it "deeply regrets that, until now, effective measures have not been taken to prevent and avoid the repetition of these acts of racism". It urged the Spanish government and sport authorities to "take the necessary steps in order to punish the perpetrators and prevent the recurrence of these acts". The ministry added: "It also calls on Fifa, the Spanish Federation and the league to apply the appropriate measures." Spain's prime minister Pedro Sanchez said on Twitter that there was "zero tolerance for racism in football". He added: "Sport is founded on the values of tolerance and respect. Hatred and xenophobia should have no place in our football and in our society." Infantino's plan to stop racism Fifa president Gianni Infantino said it was time to "Stop talking, start acting" and set out five points to deal with racism. He said a three-step process needed to be used across football to deal with incidents of racism in matches - stopping the game, then re-stopping it, and then abandoning the match. He also called for specific education in schools, an automatic forfeit defeat for the team whose fans caused the match to be abandoned, a worldwide stadium ban, and criminal convictions for those found guilty. Barcelona coach Xavi called for drastic measures, saying: "You have to stop the match... One insult and everyone goes home." In a statement, Real Madrid said it "shows its strongest revulsion and condemns the events that took place yesterday against our player Vinicius Junior". The club added: "These facts constitute a direct attack on the coexistence model of our social and democratic state of law." La Liga said in a statement it would investigate and take "appropriate legal action" if a hate crime was identified, calling on people to submit any relevant footage. Valencia said police had "identified a fan who made racist gestures" and that the "club are also working along with the police to confirm the identity of any other potential offenders". The club added: "Valencia CF have proceeded to open a disciplinary case, will apply the maximum level of severity, including a lifetime stadium ban against the fans involved, and is working closely together with the authorities." Vinicius Jr abuse shows things must change - Balague Vinicius and Tebas Twitter row Writing on social media after the match, Vinicius said: "The championship that once belonged to Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Cristiano and Messi today belongs to racists." He then exchanged messages with La Liga president Javier Tebas. Writing on Twitter, Tebas said Vinicius twice did not turn up for a meeting to discuss what it "can do in cases of racism". "Before you criticise and slander La Liga, you need to inform yourself properly," Tebas said. Vinicius criticised the post for targeting him instead of the "racists", saying he wanted La Liga to take "actions and punishments". Tebas then replied: "Neither Spain nor La Liga are racist, it is very unfair to say that. "We have reported nine instances of racist insults this season (eight have been against Vinicius). We always identify the thugs responsible and take the complaints all the way to the relevant bodies who have power to punish them. No matter how few they are, our efforts are relentless." He added: "We cannot allow the reputation of a competition which is above all a symbol of unity between communities, where over 200 black players from 42 clubs are welcomed with respect and love from fans every week, to be tarnished. "Cases of racism are an extremely rare occurrence (nine reports) which we are committed to eliminating altogether." Tebas comments called 'irresponsible behaviour' However, Luis Rubiales, president of the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF), has invited his Brazilian counterpart Ednaldo Rodrigues to visit the RFEF and asked him "to ignore the irresponsible behaviour of the president of La Liga". Rubiales said "we have a serious, behavioural problem; of education, of racism" which requires "a firm response from the federation, but they must let us apply it and so far it has not been the case". He added: "The goal we have set for ourselves is that as soon as possible those who have suffered [racist abuse] at some point can say that it is not a problem in Spain." Piara Powar, executive director of European football anti-discriminatory body 'Fare', told the BBC they had recorded 11 instances of racism inside stadiums this season and that Spanish football "is in crisis right now" "Seemingly none of the authorities understand how to respond," he added. "There has been no co-ordinated approach to these issues. "La Liga's statement from Tebas is the sort of discourse that we've been seeing throughout Spanish media, where people are blaming the victim, the player himself. It's difficult to fathom. "The regulation is confused. Nobody really knows whether the Spanish FA should be taking action or the government. There's a lack of responsibility and lack of a single organisation coming forward and saying 'we will take responsibility for this and see action through until we begin to see some change'. "There does come a crunch point where the league will lose players [because of racist abuse], in the same way Spain's proposed World Cup bid [for 2030] will be seen as a weak bid because of what's going on in football in that country." The racist abuse that Vinicius has had to deal with this season September 2022 - Some Atletico Madrid fans sang racist songs toward Vinicius outside their Wanda Metropolitano stadium before Real Madrid played them in September 2022. Atletico Madrid later condemned "unacceptable" chants by a "minority" of fans September 2022 - Some pundits in Spain criticise Vinicius' goal celebration, in which he dances by corner flag. He responds by saying "the happiness of a black Brazilian in Europe" is behind the criticism December 2022 - Vinicius appeared to be subjected to racist abuse at Valladolid while he walked past fans after being substituted. La Liga said it has filed charges relating to the racist abuse of Vinicius to the "relevant judicial, administrative and sporting bodies" January 2023 - An effigy of the Real Madrid winger was hung from a bridge near the club's training ground before a game against Atletico Madrid in the Copa del Rey. Atletico said the incident was "repugnant" February 2023 - Mallorca fans were filmed allegedly racially abusing the Brazilian during a game against Real March 2023 - La Liga said "intolerable racist behaviour was once again observed against Vinicius" in a game against Barcelona and it had reported the racist insults to the Barcelona Court of Instruction [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65669712]

Rolls-Royce is set to begin producing its new Spectre electric coupé for customers in September, at an expected average transaction price of more than half a million euros apiece. Speaking to Autocar at the Villa d’Este Concorso d’Eleganza in Italy – where the luxury EV made its European public debut – Rolls-Royce CEO Torsten Müller-Ötvös revealed that the Spectre’s 2.5 million-kilometre development programme is “more or less completed”, and series production will begin in the autumn. But because “order intake is far beyond our expectations”, Müller-Ötvös expects that any orders placed now will not be fulfilled until 2025. “Clients are definitely prepared to wait,” he said. “And you normally wait at least a year for a Rolls-Royce, be it a Spectre or whatever else.” Rolls-Royce has not yet publicised a precise on-the-road price for the electric successor to the Wraith coupé, and though the CEO was not able to give an exact figure based on pre-orders, he did say that based on the extent of personalisation options available through Rolls-Royce’s Bespoke division: “My assumption is that this car will go well beyond €500,000 [£435,000].” “I think clients are keen to spec the car up to the highest levels,” he added. The firm had earlier suggested that the Spectre would cost around £275,000 before personalisation options were added. In 2022, the Sussex firm’s second consecutive record sales year, it recorded an average transaction price of £430,000, and some variants of the Phantom were sold for more than €2 million. Müller-Ötvös also revealed that the Spectre is playing a crucial role in attracting new customers to the Rolls-Royce brand: "We obviously have a lot of clients who are existing owners who ordered one, and we have around 40% of clients we have never seen before in our order books now.” But he admits to being “pretty surprised about the interest in particular from people who never thought about buying a Rolls-Royce, and are doing it now for the reason that this is the very first full electric car”. Based on Rolls-Royce’s aluminium Architecture of Luxury platform – and thus unrelated to parent company BMW’s range-topping EVs – the Spectre arrives as part of a rapid-fire electrification initiative that will result in the West Sussex firm phasing out its V12 engine and selling only electric cars from 2030. Müller-Ötvös previously told Autocar that, in this sense, the Spectre is as important as the 1906 Silver Ghost – Rolls-Royce’s first production effort, hailed by Autocar’s contemporary road testers as “the best car in the world”. [https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/rolls-royce-spectre-set-enter-production-september]

pet dog managed to dig his way to safety after being trapped underground for about 60 hours. Bear, a Cavapoo, went missing during a walk in Aberdeen's Seaton Park on Thursday. A major search was launched, but Bear was only found on Sunday after his owner, Dasha Samatoina, was led to the hole by another dog. After hearing the voices calling him, Bear was finally able to dig his way to freedom. Ms Samatoina, 29, who was visiting Aberdeen from London, had feared the worst as time went on. Dog rescued after falling over cliff edge More from NE Scotland, Orkney & Shetland - BBC News She had been walking Bear with a friend's dog, Lola, when her pet disappeared. It is thought they both went down the hole but Bear, who is bigger than Lola, was unable to escape. After a couple of days of searching - which involved the fire brigade, local people and businesses - they were advised to let Lola guide them to Bear as she might hear him whining or barking. "And that's exactly what happened," Ms Samatoina said. "She led us to one of the holes on a site we had not properly looked at and she was very persistent to go down the hole. "I just started screaming at it. I was hysterical and crying. The thought of him being down there in the cold and dark terrified me." Dasha Samatoina and Bear were visiting Aberdeen from their home in London She called Bear's name until he was able to make it to the surface. She said she was relieved after being reunited her five-year-old pet who she feared she might never see again. 'Going right way' Ms Samatoina said: "I think he was a few feet down because his bark was quite muffled. "But I could feel he was digging under the ground - I was just hoping he was going the right way." The dog spent the night at vets where he was treated for sand in his eyes, scratches to his nose and given fluids as he was dehydrated. Ms Samatoina said: "It is amazing how strong he is to be able to dig himself out after three days with no food or water. "The vets were shocked that he was fine." [https://www.bbc.com/news/UK-SCOTLAND-NORTH-EAST-ORKNEY-SHETLAND-65670850]

Buckingham Palace has declined a request to return the remains of an Ethiopian prince who came to be buried at Windsor Castle in the 19th Century. Prince Alemayehu was taken to the UK aged just seven and arrived an orphan after his mother died on the journey. Queen Victoria then took an interest in him and arranged for his education - and ultimately his burial when he died aged just 18. But his family wants his remains to be sent back to Ethiopia. "We want his remains back as a family and as Ethiopians because that is not the country he was born in," one of the royal descendants Fasil Minas told the BBC. "It was not right" for him to be buried in the UK, he added. But in a statement sent to the BBC, a Buckingham Palace spokesperson said removing his remains could affect others buried in the catacombs of St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle. "It is very unlikely that it would be possible to exhume the remains without disturbing the resting place of a substantial number of others in the vicinity," the palace said. The statement added that the authorities at the chapel were sensitive to the need to honour Prince Alemayehu's memory, but that they also had "the responsibility to preserve the dignity of the departed". It also said that in the past the Royal Household had "accommodated requests from Ethiopian delegations to visit" the chapel. ow Prince Alemayehu ended up in the UK at such a young age was the result of imperial action and the failure of diplomacy. In 1862, in an effort to strengthen his empire, the prince's father Emperor Tewodros II sought an alliance with the UK, but his letters making his case did not get a response from Queen Victoria. Angered by the silence and taking matters into his own hands, the emperor held some Europeans, among them the British consul, hostage. This precipitated a huge military expedition, involving some 13,000 British and Indian troops, to rescue them. The force also included an official from the British Museum. In April 1868 they laid siege to Tewodros' mountain fortress at Maqdala in northern Ethiopia, and in a matter of hours overwhelmed the defences. The emperor decided he would rather take his own life than be a prisoner of the British, an action that turned him into a heroic figure among his people After the battle, the British plundered thousands of cultural and religious artefacts. These included gold crowns, manuscripts, necklaces and dresses. Historians say dozens of elephants and hundreds of mules were needed to cart away the treasures, which are today scattered across European museums and libraries, as well as in private collections. The British also took away Prince Alemayehu and his mother, Empress Tiruwork Wube. The British may have thought this was to keep them safe and prevent them being captured and possibly killed by Tewodros' enemies, who were near Maqdala, according to Andrew Heavens, whose book The Prince and the Plunder recounts Alemayehu's life. Following his arrival in Britain in June 1868, the prince's predicament and his status as an orphan elicited the sympathy of Queen Victoria. The two met at the queen's holiday home on the Isle of Wight, just off England's south coast. She agreed to support him financially and put him in the guardianship of Captain Tristram Charles Sawyer Speedy, the man who had accompanied the prince from Ethiopia [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-africa-65588663]

An armed group has crossed from Ukraine into Russia's Belgorod region and clashes there have injured a number of people, Russian authorities say. Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Russian forces were searching for "saboteurs", who he said had attacked Grayvoronsky district by the border. Vladimir Putin's spokesman said the Russian president had been informed. Ukraine denies responsibility and said Russian citizens from two paramilitary groups were behind the incursion. Mr Gladkov said eight people had been hurt, including two people admitted to hospital after a village was shelled and three people who were hit by shrapnel in the town of Grayvoron. Fighting had also damaged three houses and a local administrative building, and the situation remains "extremely tense", he said. The governor said a "counter-terrorist operation" had been launched in the region, giving special powers to the authorities including on identity checks and communications surveillance. BBC Verify has been analysing footage from the Belgorod region that emerged on social media on Monday. So far, the team has located a video apparently filmed from a drone that features several armoured vehicles near a border checkpoint south of Belgorod. Additionally, BBC Verify has geolocated footage of helicopters operating in the region. The footage is recent, but it is hard to say for certain from the videos what the exact sequence of events is. Kyiv said those behind the ongoing incident were from groups called the Liberty of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC). The Liberty of Russia Legion - a Ukraine-based Russian militia which says it is working inside Russia to overthrow President Putin - said on Twitter on Monday it had "completely liberated" the border town of Kozinka. It said forward units had reached the town of Grayvoron, further east. However Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that efforts were underway to eliminate the sabotage group, and said its purpose was to draw attention away from the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut - which a Russian mercenary group claims to have taken control of after months of intense and bloody fighting. "We perfectly understand the purpose of such sabotage - to divert attention from the Bakhmut direction, to minimise the political effect of the loss of Artemovsk [Bakhmut] by the Ukrainian side," he said. Kyiv says it still controls parts of the city. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak said his country was watching events in Belgorod "with interest", but "has nothing to do with it". "As you know, tanks are sold at any Russian military store, and underground guerrilla groups are composed of Russian citizens," he added. Ukraine has previously denied responsibility for reported sabotage attacks on Russian territory. BBC Verify: Satellites reveal Russian defences before major assault The latest incident comes ahead of a widely expected counter offensive by Kyiv against invading Russian forces. In April, Russia accidentally dropped a bomb on the city of Belgorod, which lies 40 km (25 miles) north of the border with Ukraine. More than 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes after an undetonated explosive was found days later. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65674773]

Removing @[~OMAR~] from Team. Reason :Retirement Removing @Mr.SnaPeR"From Team. Reason :lack of interest, inactivity

Windows 11 has just introduced Phone Link support for iOS, which has now rolled out to everyone – but we’re hearing a warning that iPhone owners could be spied upon by somebody leveraging a flaw allowing for misuse of the app. Phone Link has been around for Android for ages, and allows messages, notifications, and much more to be piped through to a Windows 11 PC, so you can deal with them there on the desktop without even picking up your smartphone. So, its introduction to iOS is a definite boon for iPhone users – even if it’s a more limited set of features than Android – but the problem is that cyber-stalkers could abuse the functionality due to the way Phone Link has been implemented for Apple handsets. Certo Software, a mobile security outfit, reports that several of its users have said they’ve been spied upon using Phone Link for iOS. How does this work? Certo explains (via Apple Insider) the process in a news post, though the key thing to note is that to compromise an individual, the cyber-stalker needs physical access to the victim’s iPhone. If the attacker can get that – and knows the passcode for the device – it’s an easy enough matter to set up Phone Link on their own Windows PC. Certo doesn’t detail the exact steps, so as not to give would-be abusers that information, but observes that it involves scanning a QR code on the PC monitor with the victim’s iPhone in order to setup a Bluetooth connection. Once that’s done and Phone Link is set up, then things like phone call history, iMessages, and the content of any notifications can be viewed on that PC, with the iPhone owner unaware that any of their data is being compromised in this manner. Certo notes that “cyberstalkers seem to be rapidly exploiting this new feature” and that this is obviously worrying. This is particularly concerning as it could be leveraged in scenarios where, for example, an abusive partner might use this. They’d be able to view all messages and notifications, and engage in some quite in-depth spying on their victim, all without their partner’s knowledge. If you own an iPhone and are now feeling concerned, Certo explains there are several actions you can take to check that you’re not being spied on in this way. Firstly, if you don’t ever use Bluetooth, check to make sure it’s turned off – without that wireless connection enabled, there can be no communication with the linked Windows PC. Alternatively, you can look at what devices have been hooked up to your iPhone’s Bluetooth, and delete any you don’t recognize. To do that, head into Settings, and navigate to Bluetooth > My Devices. If you see any devices that you’re not sure about, or don’t know what they are, you can use ‘Forget This Device’ to remove them from your iPhone (thereby cutting the link). Finally, it obviously helps if no one else knows your iPhone passcode to unlock it to gain access – if they do, or you think they might, then change it, and don’t share the passcode with anyone at all (after you’ve completed the above Bluetooth housekeeping). Certo further warns: “As with previous loopholes in iPhone security, it may not be long before spyware makers start creating tools that make use of this method to extract even more information from victim’s iPhones.” We don’t know how widely this method might’ve been exploited thus far, as the suggestion seems to be it’s just a scattering of reports, with the potential for things to get worse. Hopefully, both Microsoft and Apple will be looking into this right now, to ensure that doesn’t happen, and to take any extra measures necessary to defend the privacy of iPhone users. One of Certo’s suggestions is for Apple to bring in some kind of visual warning indicator in iOS when notifications or messages are being shared with another device via Bluetooth. [https://www.techradar.com/news/windows-11s-phone-link-for-ios-reportedly-being-used-to-spy-on-iphone-owners]

At 225 x 111 x 29.8mm, the GPD G1 External Graphics Dock is arguably only pocket-sized if you have extremely large pockets. But I'm willing to make oversized cargo shorts my entire look if it means I can easily supercharge my compact 13-inch 2-in-1 laptop and have it turn it into something resembling a gaming laptop with this eGPU plugged in. This compact external GPU is powered by AMD's Radeon RX 7600M XT. That's the best mobile chip out of AMD's 7000-series generation so far, delivering 21.4 TFLOPs of compute performance. As for how that equates to gaming performance, Notebook Check reviewed the slightly slower RX 7600S and found it's on par with Nvidia's RTX 3060 mobile chip. On the product page for the GPD Win Max 2, which is being sold with the GPD G1, GPD says the eGPU will exceed the performance of an RTX 3070, but it's not an apples-to-apples comparison. the very least we can expect pretty RTX 3060 or better performance out of the 7600M XT, if it's not too constrained by the G1 dock's compact shell. The G1's finish does give me hope for pretty decent temperatures, though it will need to disperse 75–120W for the 7600M XT. Included with the G1 is a 240W GaN power supply, so no issues there. It's possible the G1 may pull that GPU back a bit to keep it from throttling too badly, but as GPD notes this dock is a joint development with AMD so ideally they're getting the most out of it. The size of the dock shouldn't pose too much of a problem for that mainstream GPU, as the competing and only slightly larger ROG XG Mobile comes with pick of two chunkier cards, the RX 6850M XT or RTX 4090M. We have an AMD-powered XG Mobile to hand right now and it measures 215 x 165 x 33mm. So it's shorter than the G1, but wider and thicker. It also comes with an ethernet port where the G1 surprisingly does not. The G1 is rammed with I/O: there are two DisplayPort 1.4a ports, an SD card reader, a single HDMI 2.1 port, three USB 3.2 Type A ports, an OCuLink port, and USB4. Alongside a power connection and on/off switch. That OCuLink port is not something you see every day. Despite having the worst formatting of a brand name ever known to man it's what will allow this eGPU to hook into laptops with the female OCuLink port. OCuLink was created by PCI-SIG as an alternative to Thunderbolt many years ago, as a way to extend PCIe connectivity outside of a device, but we haven't seen much of it since. GPD is touting up to 63 Gbps connection via OCuLink, which is higher than I was expecting, but makes sense if the port is able to deliver four PCIe 4.0 lanes. The obvious issue here, beyond the formatting of OCuLink, is that there aren't many laptops on the market that support OCuLink. In fact, the GPD Win Max 2 is the only one I can think of with such a connector. You can actually buy adapters for M.2 slots that turn them into OCuLink connectors, but that's pretty niche and not a great help for a laptop. It's definitely going to be pretty limited in use on the G1. The alternative on the G1 is to use the USB4 connection, which shares a great deal with Thunderbolt, as this can deliver between 20–40 Gbps. Not only is this pretty common on modern laptops, but with the USB4 connection you can use all of the USB A ports and the SD card reader on the G1, whereas over OCuLink you cannot. GPD has confirmed you can connect up any laptop with a compatible USB4 port to the dock, so this will likely be the connection of choice for most. GPD has confirmed it will be selling the G1 separately in the neat future, but like all things GPD it will be via an Indiegogo campaign. As with crowdfunding, there's a certain risk there, but GPD has released most of its products this way. You can also order a G1 today alongside the Win 2 Max laptop if you want the whole package. [https://www.pcgamer.com/the-worlds-smallest-external-gpu-would-make-for-a-super-portable-gaming-power-up-alongside-a-pair-of-generous-cargo-shorts/]

Liverpool boss Jurgen Klopp has suggested he will only pay his £75,000 Football Association fine if the money goes to "a good cause". The German said he would "like to know" and "if it does, I'm happy to pay it. If it doesn't, we need to talk again". Klopp received the fine and a two-match ban for comments about referee Paul Tierney after a 4-3 win over Tottenham. But he said a ban for Saturday's match against Aston Villa will make "not a lot" of difference to him. Klopp will be sitting in the stands for his side's final home match of the season, will work with coach Vitor Matos and assistant Pep Lijnders to ensure the players get the right instructions. "I'm really in contact with Vito, he will have to phone with the headset," Klopp said. "We can talk everything, substitutions these kind of things. Pep is an incredible coach and he will be out there," he said. Klopp served a one-match ban at Anfield in November against Southampton after receiving a red card in a match against Manchester City. "It's one game, it's like the Southampton game, it will be the same process. I can watch the game from a better position and be in contact with my coaches," he said. "I have said from a watching point of view, it's a much better position. In the Southampton game, it was super helpful. I will sit next to our analysts; they get a bit of support from me." But Klopp joked that his voice could still reach his players from the stand if necessary. "Nobody will shout like me if they don't track back in the 70th minute and these kind of things," he said. "I sit far away but if the game is not good, I could make it happen. My voice is all right at least." Klopp was shown a yellow card for celebrating Liverpool's 94th-minute winner in front of the fourth official during their 4-3 Premier League victory over Spurs on 30 April. He later claimed what Tierney said to him was "not OK" and that the official had "something against" the Reds. Klopp apologised for the comments made but was handed the fine and a two-match ban. But the second game of that game is suspended until the end of the 2023-24 season, providing Klopp does not reoffend, meaning he will not miss the final game of this campaign against Southampton. Latest Liverpool news, analysis and fan views Get Liverpool news notifications Listen to the latest The Red Kop podcast 'Liverpool legends' to be honoured at Anfield Following Liverpool's last home match of the season, fans will be able to say goodbye to James Milner, Roberto Firmino, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Naby Keita, who the club announced this week will be leaving Anfield. Despite his ban, Klopp will be allowed on to the pitch after the match to take part in the tributes. "This game is difficult for different reasons," Klopp said. "We spoke with the boys this week about it. It's super important for us and super emotional. We really say goodbye to, in my point of view, four Liverpool legends." All four were all part of the side that won the Champions League in 2019 and Premier League in 2019-20. "Two of them were here when I arrived, Milly and Bobby - nothing good in the last few years would have happened without them," said Klopp "All four won pretty much each available trophy and we love them, but it's professional football and nothing is forever."It means one chapter will be closed and we can start writing a new one. That's good for them and for us. I will be forever thankful to them." [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65650176]

Volvo UK has confirmed it will switch to the ‘agency’ sales model – in which it will sell cars directly to buyers at fixed prices, rather than wholesale to dealers – from June. As previously reported by Autocar, the UK is the first market in which the brand will operate the sales model. Sweden is the next market earmarked for the switch, with other European countries following later. The move will not result in the closure of the Volvo Cars retailers, the brand said in a statement. Volvo UK managing director Kristian Elvefors said: “Evolving consumer needs are the driving force behind this change.. The Italian behind all manner of icons - from the Mk1 Volkswagen Golf to the Lancia Delta and the DeLorean DMC - recently teamed up with Hyundai to recreate the long-lost 1974 Pony Coupé concept, a two-door reworking of the hatchback that established the Korean brand as a volume manufacturer. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/business-dealers/volvo-uk-confirms-switch-agency-sales-model-june

nglers have been asked to humanely kill an invasive species of salmon they might catch in Scottish rivers. Pink salmon, also known as humpback salmon, originate in the Pacific and have been seen increasingly numbers in Scotland since 2017. Scottish government directorate, Marine Scotland, said 169 were recorded in 2021 - the highest number to date. In advice to anglers, Marine Scotland said any pink salmon caught should not be released back into a river. It has appealed for any sightings or catches to be reported to the local fishery board and Pink Salmon in Scotland. Anglers on alert for invasive salmon species Concern about humpback salmon 'Grizzly favourite' found in River Ness There are concerns the salmon could out-compete native fish species for food and habitat. The Ness and Helmsdale in the Highlands have been among rivers where pink salmon have been found previously. The species has a two-year lifecycle and usually appear in Scottish waters in odd numbered years. Pink salmon first appeared in low numbers in the 1960s following their introduction to Russian rivers, from where they then spread to parts of northern Europe. High numbers were seen in 2017 - 139 - but 20 in 2019 before the record high in 2021, according to Marine Scotland. Marine Scotland said: "We are closely monitoring this species to gain a clearer understanding of which rivers might be affected. "Information on the presence of pink salmon gathered in 2023, will help to inform what actions may be appropriate in future years." [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-scotland-highlands-islands-65645793]

The US says it will support providing advanced fighter jets including US-made F-16s to Ukraine and also back training Ukrainian pilots to fly them. A senior White House official said President Biden had told G7 leaders in Japan of the decision. President Volodomyr Zelensky, who has requested fighter jets for months, said the decision would "greatly enhance our army in the sky". US approval for the scheme means other nations can export their F-16s. This is because the US legally has to approve the re-export of equipment purchased by allies. The US would "support a joint effort with our allies and partners to train Ukrainian pilots on fourth-generation fighter aircraft, including F-16s, to further strengthen and improve the capabilities of the Ukrainian Air Force", the official said. "As the training takes place over the coming months, our coalition of countries participating in this effort will decide when to actually provide jets, how many we will provide, and who will provide them." Ukraine has repeatedly lobbied its Western allies to provide jets to help in its fight against Russia and Mr Zelensky welcomed what he described as a "historic decision", adding that he looked forward to "discussing the practical implementation" of the plan at the G7 summit in Hiroshima, where he is expected to appear. "This will greatly enhance our army in the sky," he tweeted. The US had been sceptical about providing Ukraine with modern fighter jets - at least in the near term. Its focus has instead been on providing military support on land. Senior US military officials who've spoken to the BBC in the past have questioned whether Western-supplied fighter jets will dramatically alter the conflict, with Russia's large air force still struggling to gain air superiority and the high density of air defence systems on the ground. So this change in US policy is significant. However, training pilots to fly F-16 jets will take time. Ukraine does have more trained fighter pilots than aircraft at present. But even training experienced fighter pilots on a new plane could take up to four months for an already experienced pilot. And then nations will need to agree to supply the jets. The F-16 is widely used by a number of European and Middle East nations as well as the US, which still manufactures the aircraft. Who is willing to supply the jets is the next key question. The UK, Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark also welcomed the US move. UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak tweeted: "The UK will work together with the USA and the Netherlands, Belgium and Denmark to get Ukraine the combat air capability it needs." The UK does not have any F-16s in its air force itself. Denmark has announced it too will now be able to support the training of pilots, but did not confirm whether it would send any jets to Ukraine. Denmark's air force has 40 F-16s, around 30 of which are operational. Earlier this week, Mr Sunak and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said they would build an "international coalition" to provide fighter jet support for Ukraine. [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-65649471]

Protesters held banners saying "you are not welcome" at Tbilisi airport in Georgia, as the first direct flight for almost four years arrived from Russia. Scuffles broke out as police barred them from standing outside the airport arrivals hall. The Azimuth Airlines plane arrived at 13:20 local time (09:20 BST), days after getting the green light from Georgia's civil aviation authority. Georgia's government has welcomed the return of direct flights from Russia. "The beneficiaries are our citizens who have to take a detour at triple the cost," said Irakli Kobakhidze, the chairman of the governing Georgian Dream party. The government argues a million ethnic Georgian citizens living in Russia stand to benefit, although Russian figures suggest the number is closer to 114,000. But most Georgians oppose the government's move to allow flights and more than 100 Georgian organisations says it is a "direct sabotage" of their country's aspirations to join the EU. Georgia is hoping for Brussels to approve its bid to become a candidate later this year. On board the first flight was a delegation of pro-Russian Georgian NGOs and businesses, according to Russia's state news agency. Georgian Airways is also planning daily flights to Moscow. The apparent thaw in relations comes after President Vladimir Putin signed a decree ending Moscow's unilateral ban on direct flights imposed in response to mass anti-Russia protests in Tbilisi in 2019. Russia has also lifted 20-year-old entry restrictions on Georgian citizens, allowing them to visit for up to 90 days without a visa. And yet the two countries do not have diplomatic relations. Russia and Georgia fought a war in 2008 and 20% of Georgia's internationally recognised territory remains under Russian occupation. Georgia's pro-European President Salome Zurabishvili denounced "another Russian provocation". And both the EU and the US have expressed disappointment at the latest developments. US Ambassador to Georgia Kelly Degnan questioned the decision to accept "a gift" from what she called an aggressor country. "I think the important question is why, why now? Why is Putin now making these concessions, these offers to Georgia. What is the price that Georgia is going to have to pay? "We all know that Putin does not give anything without extracting a price," she said. The EU's spokesperson for foreign affairs, Peter Stano, said earlier this week that the decision raised doubts about Georgia's commitment to align itself with the 27-member union. "We and our partners do not allow flights from Russia, flights to Russia and flights over Russia," he pointed out. Georgia's opposition has roundly condemned the return of direct flights as a "reward" to the ruling Georgian Dream for "good behaviour" towards Russia since its invasion of Ukraine. Georgia did not impose sanctions against Russia and has allowed tens of thousands of Russian citizens to relocate here, many of them escaping mobilisation. Levan Khabeishvili, who leads the largest opposition party United National Movement, said that President Putin was trying to turn Georgia into a "Russian province". But he added that "the will of the Georgian people is unshakeable! We choose Europe, not Russia!". [https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65645527]

Voted

Name of the game: EA SPORTS™ FIFA 23 Price: 20.99$ Link Store:Here Offer ends up after X hours:Offer ends 29 May Requirements: MINIMUM: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64-bit Processor: Intel Core i5 6600k or AMD Ryzen 5 1600 Memory: 8 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 Ti or AMD Radeon RX 570 DirectX: Version 12 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 100 GB available space RECOMMENDED: Requires a 64-bit processor and operating system OS: Windows 10 64-bit Processor: Intel Core i7 6700 or AMD Ryzen 7 2700X Memory: 12 GB RAM Graphics: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 or AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT DirectX: Version 12 Network: Broadband Internet connection Storage: 100 GB available space

WhatsApp is currently rolling out a new Chat Lock feature that will ensure your private conversations stay that way. The Chat Lock update takes chat threads and places them behind their own locked folder which can only be accessed via your device’s own password or biometrics. Additionally, the content of those conversations will be hidden in your notifications so nosy people can't see what you're talking about. Meta states in the announcement post(opens in new tab) that Chat Lock is ideal for people who share an unlocked smartphone with family, or, as shown in the official trailer, have their device stolen by their annoying, little brother. To enable the protection, all you have to do is tap the name of the chat and select the locking option. To reveal those chats, “pull down on your inbox” then enter your password or biometric in order to unlock them. Pretty simple stuff. There are plans to expand Chat Lock options “over the next few months”. Meta states it’ll be possible to lock your conversations on companion devices. Plus, users will soon be able to create custom passwords for the chat that differ from the ones on their smartphones. As for the launch, the post doesn’t say whether or not this is a global rollout nor does it mention anything about being able to use Face ID to unlock chats. We reached out to Meta for clarification. This story will be updated if we hear back. [https://www.techradar.com/news/whatsapps-new-chat-lock-feature-will-keep-your-private-conversations-safe]

As one of PC Gamer's hardware writers and reviewers, I handle a lot of different PC parts. But there's one part in particular that manages to irk me every time I use one. I'm referring to M.2 SSDs. In fact, I hate them. They have so many unnecessary drawbacks. I'll admit the form factor is well suited to laptops, but for a desktop PC? Nope. What's really frustrating is that there's a ready-made alternative with all of M.2's advantages, and essentially none of its drawbacks. It's called U.2 (With U.3 waiting in the wings). Sadly, despite fleeting inclusions on some boards a couple of generations ago, U.2 never caught on in the consumer space. And I want it back. When the first SSDs launched, it became apparent that the aging SATA and mSATA interfaces were insufficient to handle the increasing speeds of these flashy new flash drives. A new standard was required. NVM Express was developed specifically for non-volatile memory (NVM), but NVMe isn't a connector, it's a specification or protocol. NVMe devices come in a variety of form factors with different connections. These include PCI Express add-in cards or they have SATA Express, M.2, or U.2 connectors. SATA Express never caught on. Some high-end Intel Z97 and X99 motherboards came with SATA Express ports but I never tested one and all support disappeared after a short time. U.2—my champion—briefly made appearances on some high-end consumer motherboards a few years ago, but it's always been more of an enterprise-oriented solution. It lives on, and many workstation motherboards still include U.2 ports. M.2's elevation For some bono-headed reason, somebody decided that attaching an SSD directly to the motherboard was the best path forward. M.2 rapidly became the most widely adopted connection and to this day, almost every performance-based consumer SSD is a 2280 form factor NVMe M.2 drive. , why do I think M.2 SSDs suck? Where do I begin? A typical 2280 size drive is too small, both physically and capacity wise. They run hot and are prone to throttling. They often sit right next to (if not directly underneath) a heat dumping graphics card. Coincidentally, this week I reviewed a Teamgroup Siren Duo360 AIO cooler(opens in new tab) which also comes with an integrated SSD water block. Sadly, it highlights a growing problem with SSDs. The fact that PCIe 5.0 SSDs require chunky motherboard mounted heatsinks, let alone water cooling, is a pretty sad state of affairs. PCIe 4.0 and particularly PCIe 5.0 M.2 slots add complexity to motherboards making them more expensive. They take up a lot of PCB space. They're difficult and fiddly to install, sometimes requiring the removal of the GPU and the removal of a half dozen tiny screws—which I too often drop and lose to the seventh circle of case hell. Then you've got to put it all back together, and hope that a weak, flimsy, or crumbling thermal pad aligns and the drive is actually securely fitted in the M.2 slot. There's a handful of reasons to start with ) U.2 drives eliminate all of these problems while keeping all of the benefits. A U.2 drive can more or less be considered a modernized 2.5-inch SATA drive with support for an NVMe PCIe connection. In my opinion, they are superior to M.2 drives in basically every way. Here’s why: A U.2 drive can be isolated from other heat generating components, particularly the graphics card. A physically separate drive is easier to cool. Most PC cases retain 2.5-inch or 3.5-inch drive bays, and plonking three or four U.2 drives into a space cooled by a 120mm intake fan will keep them cool at all times. That'll prevent them from throttling, leading to a longer life and hence keep your data safer. The latter point can often be overlooked. A 2.5-inch form factor drive can easily incorporate a sizable heatsink, either internally or form part of the drive's housing (as seen in example above). On top of that, SSD manufacturers aren't restricted by the M.2 2280 form factor PCB. That means there's more PCB space available for more dies and larger capacities, or physically larger controllers with improved heat dissipation properties. They could even use cheaper manufacturing nodes. [ https://www.pcgamer.com/you-know-m2-ssds-suck-right/]

Manchester City delivered a relentless performance laced with outstanding quality to overpower holders Real Madrid and reach the Champions League final against Inter Milan in Istanbul. City have lost two previous semi-finals to Real but they made no mistake here at a joyous Etihad Stadium to now stand one step away from claiming the trophy that has always stayed tantalisingly out of reach for Pep Guardiola's team. And their display in a magical first half, in particular, will live long in the memory as the masters of this tournament were left bewildered by City's brilliance. It maintained a seemingly unstoppable march towards a treble of Champions League, Premier League - which can be won with victory at home to Chelsea on Sunday - and the FA Cup, where they play Manchester United in the final at Wembley. Real keeper Thibaut Courtois performed heroics to save two Erling Haaland headers early in the first half but he was powerless to stop Bernardo Silva's close-range finish after 23 minutes, the Portugal midfielder scoring a looping header for the second eight minutes before half-time. City faced the occasional threats from Real after the break, Ederson saving well from David Alaba and Karim Benzema, but they were no match and when Manuel Akanji's header deflected in off Eder Militao 14 minutes from time the celebrations started. Substitute Julian Alvarez then wrapped up the dominant win with a late strike after latching onto a brilliant Phil Foden pass. City will play Inter on 10 June as they look to win the Champions League for the first time. City have put themselves in a magnificent position to become only the second English club to win the Treble first claimed by Manchester United in 1999. City look to have finally broken Arsenal in the Premier League title race and will be overwhelming favourites to beat Inter Milan, although the desire to keep this feat for themselves will provide fuel and inspiration for United in the FA Cup final at Wembley. Guardiola's side have somehow found ways to miss out on the Champions League in the past but the addition of Haaland's sheer menace as well as more defensive steel makes it difficult to see how they will not find a way past surprise finalists Inter. City made a Real side full of experience and quality look several classes beneath them in a first half that will be among the finest this stadium has seen, the dazzling interplay, fierce intensity and pace giving them a two-goal advantage that would have been far more but for the excellence of Courtois. This night had a special atmosphere even before kick-off and victory will taste even sweeter after the pain of last season's loss at the same stage, when City were almost in the final only to concede two stoppage-time goals and eventually go out. The Champions League has inflicted various levels of anguish on City despite their domestic dominance but if they perform anything like this in Istanbul it is hard to see an efficient but unspectacular Inter side having enough to trouble them. Real should never be written off with their history of success but there was an end-of-an-era feel about the manner of this defeat. The side who put Liverpool and Chelsea out of the Champions League with the minimum of fuss looked its age here as City ran the holders ragged. Luka Modric was taken off and replaced by Antonio Rudiger just after the hour, the 37-year-old's future at the Bernabeu uncertain, while even Karim Benzema, 35, was unable to pose his usual threat. Real will refuse to stand still and the way they were outclassed here may only speed up the rate of change, with England's teenage sensation Jude Bellingham looking set to arrive to supplement the next generation midfielders alongside Federico Valverde, Eduardo Camavinga and Aurelien Tchouameni. Whether the great Carlo Ancelotti remains in charge will also be a point of debate with change often in the air if Real go a season without winning either La Liga or the Champions League. Whatever the outcome, the Italian manager keeps his place in history as the only coach to win this tournament four times. [https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/65611315]

The ID 3 hasn't had the most auspicious start in life. Volkswagen's first dedicated electric model was delayed at launch due to problems with its software and lack of over-the-air (OTA) update capability, it has been roundly criticised for its lacklustre interior quality and charging niggles, and it has come under fire from a number of cheaper but better-equipped rivals. But now, three-and-a-half years after its introduction, the rear-wheel-drive MPV-style hatchback has received a new lease of life with a mid-term facelift that aims to rectify its e Among the changes is a light reworking of the exterior. It arguably gives the ID 3 a more cohesive appearance without many of the black plastic elements of the original model. It's inside, though, where the model gains even more important updates. They include a new-look dashboard with a synthetic leather covering on the Pro S model, driven here, as well as higher-grade plastics and upholstery in other places. There's now a standard 12.0in infotainment display in place of the previous 10.0in unit. It receives the latest software package and with it a new digital menu structure, higher resolution, faster response and more seamless operation. However, to our dismay, Volkswagen hasn’t added illumination to the sliders used to control the volume and climate. result is a more pleasing driving environment with higher perceived quality and, despite apparent similarities with the earlier ID 3, more intuitive and easier-to-command controls than before. The front seats are rather flat and lack side support. However, the high seating position makes for excellent vision. A flat floor also provides above-class-average accommodation, most notably rear seat leg room. Boot capacity remains at a Golf-beating 385 litres, although the ID 3 has a much high loading lip and floor than its combustion-engined stablemate. Power comes from the same rear-mounted electric motor as before. It continues to develop 204bhp and 228lb ft in both the ID 3 Pro and Pro S, which receive 58.0kWh and 77.0kWh lithium ion batteries respectively. Step-off response is urgent, making the ID 3 feel agreeably nippy around town, where the facelifted Volkswagen model feels most at home. Open-road performance is also satisfying thanks to the flexible nature of the drivetrain and impressive refinement. The drivetrain is hushed, there are relatively low levels of tyre roar and wind noise at higher speeds is only moderate. The facelifted ID 3 Pro S steers with lightness but precision, although there is little in the way of actual feedback. A well-damped chassis provides it with impressive body control over more challenging roads. There's also a good deal of front-end grip, which enables predictable and dependable handling. In the end, though, its cornering ability is limited by its 1933kg kerb weight. There's a firmness to the ride, which can make the ID 3 feel somewhat unsettled over high-frequency bumps at lower speeds. However, its ability to cope with potholes and the like improves with speed – to the point where the new 2024 model feels well controlled and quite mature, with excellent isolation of road shock out on the open road by class standards. [https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-review/volkswagen/id3/first-drives/volkswagen-id-3-2023-first-drive]

May 2023 Scottish scientists have been using mobile testing equipment to measure greenhouse gas emissions from sheep. Scotland's Rural College (SRUC) said it was the first time the New Zealand-designed portable accumulation chambers (Pacs) had been used in the UK. The equipment helps scientists visit farms and analyse methane concentrations from sheep to identify which of their genetics and feed produce the highest emission levels. SRUC's Dr Nicola Lambe said there was an urgent need to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions from sheep. 'Carbon-zero sheep' The scientist said there were an estimated 1.2 billion sheep in the world producing about seven million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere. Edinburgh-based SRUC's research could help find solutions to reducing the animals' carbon footprint. Dr Lambe said: “Despite the fact resource efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are global priorities, there are few examples around the world of research to implement breeding strategies to directly tackle these issues in sheep. “This is largely due to the difficulty in recording feed consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on an individual animal basis, especially in grass-based systems." Rob Hodgkins, who farms 2,500 in Hertfordshire, was involved in the first use of the trailer-mounted Pacs. He said: "It will only be a matter of time before consumers will be able to look at labels on packets of meat that shows what they’re buying has come from, for example, a carbon-zero sheep.” Carbon-zero sheep' The scientist said there were an estimated 1.2 billion sheep in the world producing about seven million tonnes of methane into the atmosphere. Edinburgh-based SRUC's research could help find solutions to reducing the animals' carbon footprint. Dr Lambe said: “Despite the fact resource efficiency and greenhouse gas emissions are global priorities, there are few examples around the world of research to implement breeding strategies to directly tackle these issues in sheep. “This is largely due to the difficulty in recording feed consumption and greenhouse gas emissions on an individual animal basis, especially in grass-based systems." Rob Hodgkins, who farms 2,500 in Hertfordshire, was involved in the first use of the trailer-mounted Pacs. He said: "It will only be a matter of time before consumers will be able to look at labels on packets of meat that shows what they’re buying has come from, for example, a carbon-zero sheep.” WWW.KEVINMILNERCOUNTRYSIDE.CO.UK Image caption, A sheep inside the mobile testing chamber The UK government announced plans last month which could see cattle being given special products to help limit the amount of methane they produce. The announcement formed part of wider UK proposals on how to meet climate targets. Earlier this year, billionaire and Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates invested in an Australian climate technology start-up trying to reduce the methane emissions of cow burps. Methane is the most common greenhouse gas after carbon dioxide (CO2). Livestock such as cows, sheep and deer produce methane when their stomachs are breaking down hard fibres like grass for digestion. This fermentation process creates methane gas which is then mostly belched out again.

The prime minister has refused to explicitly commit to a Conservative promise to get net migration levels below where they were four years ago. The Tory manifesto before the general election in 2019 promised that "overall numbers will come down". Net migration - the number of people moving to the UK minus the number who leave - was 226,000 in the year to March 2019. In the year to June 2022, net migration hit an all-time high of 504,000. The latest number, for the year to December 2022, will be published next week - and is widely expected to be higher still. Vocal Tory right give Sunak a headache Sunak pledges to stop asylum seekers crossing the Channel Train fruit pickers to cut migration - Braverman Chris Mason: Ministers weigh up tricky options on immigration Speaking to reporters en route to the G7 Summit in Japan, Rishi Sunak said: "I've inherited some numbers, I want to bring the numbers down." As the numbers climb, he is maintaining a desire that they fall, but not explicitly below the level they were at when the initial promise was made. "When it comes to legal migration, the key thing for people to know is we're in control of why people are here, the circumstances and the terms on which they are here, making sure they contribute, to public services like the NHS for example," Mr Sunak said. "Those are all now part of our migration system and they weren't before," he added, in reference to Brexit - which means immigration policy is now decided solely at Westminster. There is some evidence that the importance attached to cutting immigration has fallen for some people since the UK left the European Union, suggesting control over it, as well as how much of it there is, does really matter to some. As I have written about here, there is quite a discussion going on within government about how to respond to next week's new net migration figure. am told the prime minister has not yet looked at it in detail. But he is likely to in the coming days, ahead of a government announcement which is expected to include a restriction on the dependents some foreign students can bring with them when they come to the UK to study. Strikingly, when pressed on his instincts on legal migration, the prime minister repeatedly changed the subject to talk about illegal immigration instead - small boat crossings. "I do think most people's number one priority when it comes to migration is illegal migration, that is crystal clear to me," Mr Sunak said. "That's why one of my five priorities is to stop the boats, that's why recently we have moved to a Covid-style committee structure where I am meeting twice a week with ministers to drive the implementation of the new bill," he added, referring to the Illegal Migration Bill. He also pointed out what he believes is a significant breakthrough in helping to limit the number of small boats crossing the Channel. At a meeting of the Council of Europe in Iceland on Tuesday, the European Union agreed to begin conversations about the UK having a cooperation agreement with Frontex, the European Border and Coastguard Agency. There has been no such agreement since Brexit. Such an agreement, Mr Sunak said, was "of practical value to us in stopping illegal migration - sharing intelligence, operational cooperation will make a difference to our ability to stop the boats." [https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-politics-65627148]