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New Audi S3 Sportback and Saloon arrive with 306bhp Audi has unveiled its hot new S3 in hatchback and saloon forms, available to order now from £37,900 and £38,465 respectively. The performance model, which will top the fourth-generation A3 range until the hardcore RS3 arrives next year, takes its power from the same 2.0-litre turbocharged four-cylinder engine as its Volkswagen Golf GTI and Cupra Leon siblings. The familiar EA888 motor, uprated slightly over that of the previous-generation car, produces 306bhp and 295lb ft of torque for a 0-62mph time of 4.8sec and a top speed of 155mph. Both versions of the S3 are capable of 39.2mpg on the WLTP cycle, while emitting 178g/km of CO2. Mechanical tweaks for the new car include Audi’s new valve lift function, which adjust the lift of the intake valves to ensure the combustion chambers are optimally filled, while a thermal management system enhances efficiency. Drive is sent to all four wheels as standard through a seven-speed dual-clutch automatic gearbox, with a hydraulic multi-plate clutch varying torque between the front and rear axles for maximum traction and stability in corners. The new S3 sits 15mm lower than its predecessor, and an optional sports suspension package brings a damper control function that is said to adapt the suspension to suit the driving situation “in a few thousandths of a second”. As with the standard A3, the performance model’s styling has been subtly evolved rather than radically overhauled. Redesigned headlights - optionally with matrix LED functionality - sit above a new grille and front splitter with larger air intakes, while the side has been reprofiled with an emphasis on the rear wheel arches. At the rear, both variants are set apart from the standard A3 with a prominent diffuser and quad-exit sports exhaust. Inside, the performance duo feature the same overhauled interior as the A3, but with a number of features aimed at making it more “focused on the driver”. Alongside the addition of new sports seats and a smaller gear selector, the S3 features a number of carbonfibre or aluminium trim elements and reshaped air vents that form a single unit with the digital display housing. As standard, the S3 comes equipped with a 10.3in digital instrument panel, but upgrading to the Audi Virtual Cockpit increases that to 12.3in, while a ‘plus’ package splits the display into three separate screens. The new-generation infotainment system is said to be 10 times more powerful than its predecessor, with the 10.1in touchscreen capable of providing acoustic feedback and recognising handwritten letters. New connectivity features include live traffic data, parking spot locator and “Audi connect key”, which allows the car to be unlocked, locked and started using an Android smartphone. Customer deliveries are set to get under way from October.

Rahat Indori passes away; revisit some of his best ghazals Rahat Indori had tested positive for Covid-19. (Source: YouTube screen grab) Renowned Urdu language poet and Bollywood lyricist, Rahat Indori passed away at a hospital in Indore on August 11 at the age of 70. “Rahat Indori ji succumbed to cardiorespiratory arrest at 4:40 pm on August 11, 2020. He was Covid positive in ARDS, Renal Failure, T22 Diabetes mellitus, hypertension, old cad, left eye glaucoma. He was on ventilator support,” medical authorities at the Indore hospital confirmed to indianexpress.com. Earlier in the day, Indori had put out a statement on Twitter about his health. Born in 1950 in Indore, the poet completed his basic education from there, after which he pursued MA in Urdu literature from Bhopal and achieved his PhD from Bhoj University of Madhya Pradesh. Indori took up a teacher’s job in Urdu literature at IK College, Indore where he got opportunities to attend mushairas and soon started receiving invitations to perform in India and abroad. The lyricist is believed to have recited his first sher in his college days when he was only 19 years old. ALSO READ | Poet and lyricist Rahat Indori passes away The poet’s words weaved magic, and early last year his line ‘Kisi ke baap ka Hindustan thodi hai’, taken from ghazal ‘Agar khilaaf hain hone do’ became the clarion call of the anti-CAA protests which erupted across the country. Not only these words which were written nearly 30 years ago, there are many other ghazals the poet is known for. Aankh men paani rakho honton pe chingari rakho, zinda rahna hai to tarkiben bahut saari rakho raah ke patthar se bad kar kuchh nahin hain manzilen, raste avaz dete hain safar jaari rakho Roz taron ko numaish mein khalal padta hai, chañd pagal hai andhere men nikal padta hai! Ek divana musafir hai miri ankhon men, vaqt-be-vaqt Thahar jaata hai chal padta hai! Sab ko rusva baari baari kiya karo, har mausam men fatve jaari kiya karo raton ka nindon se rishta tuut chuka, apne ghar ki pahre-dari kiya karo ALSO READ | ‘Inspired an entire generation through his work’: Fellow poets and artistes remember Rahat Indori Dilon men aag labon par gulab rakhte hain, sab apne chehroñ pe dohri naqab rakhte hain Andhere charon taraf saaen saaen karne lage, charāġh haath utha kar duaen karne lage For his outstanding contribution to Urdu literature, he awarded a number of national and international awards.

Stilton drives wedge between UK-Japan Brexit deal A post-Brexit trade deal between the UK and Japan may have met an unlikely obstacle - stilton cheese. On Friday, the two sides said they hoped to agree the details of a post-Brexit trade agreement by the end of the month. But progress has reportedly been blown off course after International Trade Secretary Liz Truss requested better terms for British blue cheeses. The Department for International Trade said talks are ongoing. The Financial Times, which first reported that talks had hit a snag, said Ms Truss may be looking for a symbolic victory, as sales of blue cheese to Japan from the UK were only £102,000 last year. A better deal for the products may mean her department could claim a slightly more favourable deal than the one the EU secured with Japan last year, when the two sides secured a cut of €1bn of tariffs on food. Dairy and other food products are among the EU's biggest exports to Japan. Ms Truss is a long-term fan of UK produce. In 2014, when she was environment secretary she told the Conservative Party conference it was a "disgrace" that "we import two-thirds of our apples, nine-tenths of our pears, and two-thirds of our cheese". The Department for International Trade declined to say more about the report, other than that talks are ongoing and point to Ms Truss's comments from Friday, when she said a consensus had been reached between the UK and Japan and said a deal was expected by the end of the month. "Negotiations have been positive and productive, and we have reached consensus on the major elements of a deal - including ambitious provisions in areas like digital, data and financial services that go significantly beyond the EU-Japan deal," she said in a statement at the time. "Our shared aim is to reach a formal agreement in principle by the end of August."

A beginner's guide to going off-road Excellent news: you’ve bought an off-roader. A new world awaits: a world without asphalt, road rage, roadside rubbish, middle-lane hogs or tailgaters. Or public toilets or recovery services, but let’s not dwell. Using a 4x4 as it was intended for the first time can be somewhat daunting, though. This, then, is a rough, step-by-step guide to off-roading. It’s by no means a comprehensive instruction for every situation you could possibly find yourself in, but it contains lots of good advice – and, crucially, we hope, no bad advice. Step 1: Know your vehicle You might be using a full-on 4x4, but even many modest crossovers have a surprising degree of ability. Four-wheel drive is crucial in poor conditions, but all-terrain tyres are even more essential. Tyre quality is typically what stands between a vehicle making it somewhere and back and not doing so. The handbook will list off-roading angles: approach, breakover (ramp), departure and perhaps the angle at which it will tip over sideways. But unless you carry a protractor, these aren’t essential to memorise. Better to know what’s vulnerable on the underside of the vehicle: if there are skidplates or if the sump, exhaust and more are exposed. Also from where, if you’re among company (we’d recommend you are), the vehicle can tow. 4x4s have hooks designed for this. Know how to get to the spare wheel, too. It’s worth noting the wet wade depth and where the engine air intake is – although if you’re challenging these on your first time out, you’ve been quite ambitious. Finally, get to know what, if any, off-road-specific technology the car comes with; most modern 4x4s have hill descent control and perhaps stability control that can be tuned for different underwheel terrains. Step 2: Know where you're going In short, you only want to drive where it’s legal to do so. If you’ve heard of people talking about green lanes, they mean byways that are open to all traffic, or unclassified roads. Both appear on Ordnance Survey (OS) maps, but that doesn’t always mean you can drive on them. Access is restricted in winter on some and some are width-restricted or subject to other local by-laws. ADVERTISEMENT Find an Autocar car review Choose a make Then a model Driven this week 7 AUGUST 2020 FIRST DRIVE Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi 48V 3 2020 UK review Ageing diesel family SUV has been tweaked again. Is this mid-range version... Porsche Taycan 2020 road test review - hero front 7 AUGUST 2020 CAR REVIEW Porsche Taycan Is this 751bhp all-electric Taycan Turbo S a proper Porsche sports car, as... 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI 6 AUGUST 2020 FIRST DRIVE First drive: 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI Reworked engine, revised chassis and new digital interior sharpen the appeal... Read our review CAR REVIEW Ford Ranger Raptor 2019 road test review - hero front Ford Ranger Raptor Can a hardcore off-road suspension revamp make the hot pick-up catch on in the UK? Read our review It’s worth joining the Green Lane Association (glass-uk.org), which can provide advice and has an online database of accessible routes. The start and end points of many green lanes are visible on Google Street View, so you can look to see if there are any signs listing restrictions. OS has a great smartphone app, but it’s worth carrying a paper map as well, so you can, if challenged, be more confident in showing you’re legally entitled to drive on that lane. It’s worth planning the route in advance and, if going alone, telling someone where you will be and when you should be back. Alternatively, like doing a track day, you can sign up to some time on privately owned 4x4 facilities (search online or see sites like protraxoverlandadventures.co.uk). These are cheap, they’re quite often in disused quarries, you get intensive time with drivers of all experiences and you can build up during the day to more challenging terrain. Step 3: Pack well Make sure you take all the kit you will or might need. This includes: ● Enough fuel to get there and back. ● A first-aid kit. ● A torch. ● Suitable clothing and footwear. ● A mobile phone and charger. ● Food and drink. ● A full-size spare wheel. ● A good vehicle jack. Consider also taking a shovel, a tow rope and loppers (obstructive branches, common on green lanes in summer, may be cut back, although any wood must be left behind). An extra water canister is handy for cleaning numberplates, lights and windows. And if you’re going with friends, a walkie-talkie set is a nice idea. Make sure it’s all strapped in. Step 4: Technique So once you’re kitted up, that means you can crack on, yes? Well, yeah, basically. But there are some techniques that are worth understanding and remembering. In public spaces – or if you’re depending on your 4x4 to get you home again – drive as slowly as possible but as fast as necessary. The recommended speed limit on unmade roads is 12mph. You can generally keep a relaxed grip on the steering wheel. In older cars particularly, it’s advised that you don’t hook your thumbs inside the rim in case they get whacked by the spokes should the wheel be jarred. This is less of an issue with modern, heavily assisted steering systems but still not bad advice. Use smooth steering, braking and throttle inputs wherever you can. Most modern 4x4s have an automatic gearbox but, in a manual, avoid gearchanges while involved in any tricky manoeuvres. Step 5: Types of terrain Mud Mud is the most common type of challenging underwheel terrain in the UK, unsurprisingly. Driving through it wants steady momentum, so avoid stopping just before an incline or, worse, on one. Ruts are common; if you can straddle deep ones, that makes life easier and lessens the environmental impact. But if the legal track is narrow, it’s better to stay in them. Try to avoid wheelspin: it just makes ruts deeper and loses momentum. Keep a distance from other vehicles and make a mental note of where the ground is firmer, ahead and behind, so you know you can get going again after stopping. Hills Before climbing, have a look at the top of the hill on foot to see what’s on the other side and where you can stop at the summit. This will also give you an idea of how much speed you may need to carry onto the slope and whether the car will nose into it if you approach it too quickly. Try to stay straight, not traversed, because of the rollover risk. Don’t try to turn across the slope. And if you don’t make it up the first time, it doesn’t matter. Have a plan to reverse and try again or use a different route. When descending in an old-school manual off-roader, the advice used to be engage a low gear (often second) and take your feet off all the pedals; that way, the wheels keep turning and you retain steering control under a speed controlled by engine braking. This doesn’t work so well with automatic cars (unless you can tell the ’box to hold a gear). But as we’ve already mentioned, modern off-roaders tend to have hill descent control, which does a similar job. If you do have to brake yourself, do it very gently. And either way, don’t descend with the clutch depressed. If a car does start to slide, pressing the throttle to increase wheel speed until it matches ground speed will let you regain steering control, counterintuitive though that may seem. And, as with ascending, don’t traverse the downward slope. Sand Sand is rarer in the UK – and it can feel like it wants to swallow the car whole. If you’re stopping, do it on a downward slope. 4x4 guides may tell you that ‘steady momentum’ is the key to sand; if you’re in a desert, that means getting the car moving and keeping it that way. Beach sand is often firm enough to take a 4x4 (between the high-tide mark and four metres from the sea), but the internet is awash with videos of people finding otherwise. Consider reducing your tyre pressures, assuming you’re able to pump them back up. And check local by-laws and signs; coastal areas are often particularly environmentally precious. Gravel Gravel suits low speeds, because grip is low, especially in corners. Also, pinged-up stones aren’t good for your paintwork, while dust clouds hinder visibility. A high gear will limit wheelspin. Water Generally, it pays not to cross water unless you have to or really want to. Here is where it pays to know your vehicle’s specification. Use a stick to find the depth, unless you can watch someone ford it first. And even then, wait until the water has settled again. Start off very slowly, gradually build up momentum and ease off before you reach the opposite side, else a bow wave may rebound from the bank and flood your car. Low speed is good, because it will probably be impossible to see what’s underwheel. Recovering a stranded 4x4 from several feet of water is unamusing. If you know you’ll be entering water, consider repositioning or removing the front numberplate. Searching for a lost plate in a pool is also not fun. And never try to cross deep or fast-flowing water. Snow and ice Here in Britain, snow and ice will be combined with another surface to make it yet more slippery. More than on any other surface, tyres are key. So is picking the right speed: you will need momentum and wheels rolling to keep going but then have trouble stopping, which calls for progressive braking, gentle acceleration and very keen thought for cornering speeds. Rocks Low ratio (if there is one), first gear and differentials locked is best for rock-crawling. This is also most likely to damage your car, so if you have a companion, getting them to guide from outside is best. Ditches, logs and other obstacles may be best approached diagonally, because there’s then less chance of you beaching atop something or nosing into a bank. Take care on large obstacles, though. Traversing a slope is perhaps the most perilous thing you can do off road, because of the danger of a rollover. Step 6: Vehicle technology Most modern 4x4s have a raft of off-road-specific features and settings, so it’s worth knowing what they do. You’ll pretty quickly get a feel for when to engage four-wheel drive if your 4x4 has a part-time system, as most pick-ups do (and that point will come soon), and, if there is one, a low-ratio transfer (less often necessary). As with gearchanges, it’s best to predict and err on the side of caution. Locking differentials are common, sometimes just on the rear. Rock-crawling or on moguls is when they’re most useful; they prevent an unloaded wheel hopelessly spinning away by ensuring the opposite wheel gets torque too. The likes of Land Rover’s Terrain Response system alter the throttle response and stability control depending on what you tell the car is beneath it. Sand mode, for example, gives big throttle response to small inputs and eases the traction and stability controls so you can carry more speed in high gears. Rock Crawl does the opposite, allowing precise low-speed throttle control and little wheel slip. Hill descent control is common now and does what it says on the tin. Check the manual for how to engage, disengage and alter the set speed, if that’s possible. It’s well worth using. Cameras, wheel angle sensors and vehicle angle sensors: check the manual to see what your car is equipped with. Every extra helps. Step 7: Returning to the road At the end of the day, you’ll arrive back on the road. But first, it pays to check over the car for damage or lodged debris and that its lights, windows and numberplates are clear. If you reduced the tyre pressures, reinflate them (there’s no set rule on this: lowering the pressure increases surface area and can smoothen the off-road ride and decrease the risk of punctures, but it also reduces ground clearance and can be a faff). Then set off slowly – to let the tyres clear themselves of terra firma – and make sure that the car steers and stops normally. Then enjoy the warm glow of knowing that your 4x4 has done what a 4x4 is designed to do.

Rana Daggubati-Miheeka Bajaj wedding: The bride looked like a dream in an embroidered lehenga Miheeka Bajaj looked sensational in her embroidered wedding lehenga. (Source: 8573_alluashusweety/Instagram) Rana Daggubati and Miheeka Bajaj’s much-awaited wedding is finally being held tonight, August 8, 2020. For the wedding, Miheeka donned an intricately embroidered cream and golden lehenga. The bride looked gorgeous in the exquisite wedding outfit, teamed with a heavily embroidered red dupatta. Miheeka’s wedding lehenga has been designed by Anamika Khanna, according to Times of India. It took 10,000 man hours to design the ensemble featuring hand done zardosi with chikankari and gold metalwork with a woven golden dupatta. Miheeka paired the lehenga with a heavy neckpiece and jhumkas, along with a trendy mathapatti, nath and kalirey. She completed the look with kohl eyes, nude lipstick and hair neatly tied in a bun. Her makeup was done by celebrity makeup artist Tamann Rooz. Rana Daggubati opted for a traditional kurta and pancha. (Source: thappuledhu.bammardhi/Instagram) Bahubali actor Rana Daggubati complemented Miheeka’s look in a cream kurta and pancha. The couple’s ensemble turned out to be a perfect blend of elegance and style.

Venezuela: Former American soldiers jailed over failed coup The Venezuelan military said it captured mercenaries after the attempted coup A Venezuelan court has sentenced two former American soldiers to 20 years in jail for trying to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. Luke Denman and Airan Berry were found guilty of conspiracy, illicit trafficking of weapons and terrorism. The pair were among 13 people arrested in May as they attempted to enter Venezuela by sea from Colombia. Attorney General Tarek William Saab said proceedings will continue against others accused of assisting the raid. In a tweet, Mr Saab shared images of vehicles, weapons and identity documents, and said the American "mercenaries" had "admitted their responsibility for the facts". Venezuela crisis in 300 words Venezuela accuses Colombia of sea invasion US President Donald Trump, long an opponent of socialist President Maduro, has denied accusations by Venezuela that he was behind the incident. The US backs opposition leader Juan Guaidó and recognises him as the country's legitimate leader. What is the background to this? Denman, 34, and Berry, 41, are former special forces soldiers who appeared in video shown on Venezuelan state TV earlier this year. In the video, Denman appears to confess to his involvement in "Operation Gideon" - a plot to either kill President Maduro or kidnap him and take him to the United States. President Nicolás Maduro (left) said the plot by Luke Denman and Airan Berry (right) was orchestrated by US President Donald Trump He explained that he was hired to train Venezuelans in Colombia before returning to Caracas and taking control of an airport to allow Mr Maduro to be taken out of the country. Denman said he and Berry were contracted by a Florida-based security company, Silvercorp USA, to carry out the operation. The firm is headed by Jordan Goudreau, an American military veteran who has openly admitted involvement in the operation. The Washington Post has published a document which it says is a contract between Silvercorp and the Venezuelan opposition worth $213m (£170m) to invade Venezuela and overthrow President Maduro. Opposition leader Juan Guaidó denied having anything to do with Mr Goudreau. Relations between the US and Venezuela are tense. Mr Maduro has accused America of mani[CENSORED]ting political opposition to steal the country's vast oil wealth. America and Mr Guaidó, meanwhile, have blamed the president for Venezuela's economic collapse.

Big Big You Have Good Work Good Active in Ts3 And Fourm G/L

Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi 48V 3 2020 UK review What is it? This is the latest mid-range version of the po[CENSORED]r Kia Sportage crossover. Having been facelifted in 2018, with various mild-hybrid diesel engines being brought in at that point and since, the Sportage has just had a pricing and equipment realignment. This is the new mid-range option and the likely big-seller. The Sportage range still contains four trim levels, but now only three rather than four engines, with the top-of-the-range, four-wheel-drive-and-automatic-only 2.0-litre CRDi diesel having been deleted altogether. The trim range now comprises the entry-level 2, this 3, the GT-Line and the GT-Line S, with the GT-identified models getting sports suspension and sportier styling inside and out. For engines, there are now both normally aspirated and turbocharged 1.6-litre petrols to choose from, plus this U3-generation 1.6-litre diesel, which inherits the 48V starter-generator mild-hybrid system that the now-discontinued 2.0-litre diesel had. Part-time four-wheel drive is available in conjunction with the more powerful petrol and the diesel. Sadly, the diesel delivers only average claimed economy and emissions versus its rivals, most of which are newer, fresher cars. But the Kia’s equipment levels might well make up for that lack of distinction, with a wide range of active safety systems being fitted to all versions of the car, and the 3 grade adding leather-upholstered electric seats, 19in alloy wheels, a panoramic glass roof and LED headlights. It also costs about £500 less than the 4 version it replaces. What's it like? We’ve previously tested only GT-Line and GT-Line S versions of the facelifted Sportage, finding that their sports suspension made for a slightly unsatisfactorily firm ride. On standard suspension, the Sportage is certainly softer and is broadly comfortable around town, on well-surfaced country roads and on the motorway. It remains a fairly numb and only averagely well-resolved car to drive, however, due to a mix of variously leaden and over-sensitive controls and occasionally patchy body control at speed. ADVERTISEMENT Find an Autocar car review Choose a make Then a model Driven this week 7 AUGUST 2020 FIRST DRIVE Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi 48V 3 2020 UK review Ageing diesel family SUV has been tweaked again. Is this mid-range version... Porsche Taycan 2020 road test review - hero front 7 AUGUST 2020 CAR REVIEW Porsche Taycan Is this 751bhp all-electric Taycan Turbo S a proper Porsche sports car, as... 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI 6 AUGUST 2020 FIRST DRIVE First drive: 2020 Volkswagen Golf GTI Reworked engine, revised chassis and new digital interior sharpen the appeal... Back to top The interior is reasonably pleasant and apparently solidly constructed, although what attempts it makes to inject extra perceived quality (with chrome around the ventilation controls and air vents and a slightly shiny textured dashboard pad) aren’t too successful. There is, however, a comfortable and easily accessed driving seat in it, as well as a simple and readable set of analogue instruments, plus a very easily navigated touchscreen infotainment system that includes all the functionality you’re likely to want from it. What was once a very usefully large boot loses its underfloor storage space as a consequence of the presence of the car’s 48V mild-hybrid lithium ion battery, but it remains roomy enough. Back in the cabin, however, the panoramic roof robs the Sportage of a notable amount of head room in both rows. If you’re taller than 6ft as a driver or regularly carry adults in the back seats, it would be best to avoid versions of the car on which this glass roof is fitted (3 and GT-Line S). The engine is creditably quiet and smooth for a downsized diesel, and the mid-range torque it makes moves the Sportage along effortlessly enough. Driveability would be sweeter if not for the slightly over-sensitive accelerator pedal and notchy manual gearshift quality, but neither is desperately bothersome. That the car doesn’t particularly impress on real-world economy (we averaged 45mpg over several days of mixed testing) probably has plenty to do with the fitment of 19in wheels. Funnily enough, those wheels don’t do much for the car’s close body control and ride quality either. It’s not that they make for a particularly noisy or jarring secondary ride; rather their unsprung mass tends to make the car’s axles lollop into depressions in the road and seems to exacerbate bigger vertical ride inputs, making the car heave and toss a little on uneven country roads. Typically, though, the Sportage's lateral body control is decent, and its handling is fairly precise, although a numb steering system that’s a little too keen to self-centre makes it feel less agreeable than it might at times. With that leaden steering feel and iffy vertical body control, plus an engine that doesn’t like to rev much beyond 3500rpm, this certainly isn’t a car to whisk along keenly for the sake of it. It does at least handle fairly securely, though, and doesn’t need to struggle or strain to get up to big speeds or climb steep gradients when the need arises. Should I buy one? As one of the older cars in its segment and never having been one of the most distinguished to drive or use, the Sportage probably wouldn’t be near the top of the list of crossover SUVs we might recommend right now, but it remains a neat-looking car in a po[CENSORED]r part of the market presented with good value for money. At times over these past few years, it has even broken into the UK’s monthly top-10 best-selling new cars list, and no rocket science, nor any particularly glowing recommendation from us, is evidently necessary to work out why. The next couple of years are likely to be quieter, tougher and less successful ones for it, as fresh metal arrives with alarming regularity and accounting for the rise and rise of the BEV and PHEV. Still, those who stick with the handsome, well-equipped, broadly competent and well-priced Sportage will likely be doing so for reasons they needn’t take long to explain. Kia Sportage 1.6 CRDi 48V 3 specification Price £28,455 Engine 4 cyls, 1568cc, diesel Power 134bhp at 4000rpm Torque 236lb ft at 2000-2250rpm Gearbox 6-spd manual Kerb weight 1609kg 0-62mph 10.8sec Top speed 112mph Economy 47.9mpg CO2 153g/km Rivals Seat Ateca 2.0 TDI 150, Ford Kuga 1.5 Ecoblue

Twitter hack teen's court date 'Zoombombed' with porn A court hearing for the Florida teenager accused of being behind last month's major Twitter hack was interrupted with pornography. The hearing took place over video chat app Zoom, but had to be suspended after repeated interruptions. The 17-year-old was asking for a lower bail amount, after pleading not guilty to the charges on Tuesday. But Zoom users - changing their names to mimic CNN and BBC News employees - dropped in to the meeting uninvited. Florida newspaper the Tampa Bay Times reported that the "interruptions grew so frequent… Hillsborough Circuit Judge Christopher C Nash ended the Zoom hearing temporarily". However, the interruptions resumed when the hearing did. Some attendees played music down the line. Another used Zoom's screen-sharing feature to play pornography, which reporters said was the final straw that suspended the meeting. Ryan Hughes, a reporter for WFLA News in Florida, said Judge Christopher Nash had remarked that "next time he'll require a password". Zoom meetings without a password can be joined by anyone with the meeting's ID number. Twitter hack: What went wrong and why it matters Twitter hack: Staff tricked by phone-phishing scam Cyber-security expert Brian Krebs wrote that the so-called "Zoombombing" was predictable. "How the judge in charge of the proceeding didn't think to enable settings that would prevent people from taking over the screen is beyond me. My guess is he didn't know he could," Krebs wrote. He noted that it was fortunate the pornography clip was "fairly tame" as such things go. "Judges holding hearings over Zoom need to get a clue," he said. After resuming the meeting, the judge decided not to lower the bail amount, which had been set at $750,000 (£570,000). The teenager's lawyers argued the amount was unreasonable, since he is accused of stealing just a fraction of that amount, the Tampa Bay Times said. He is accused of 30 counts of fraud after the Twitter hack, which used the social media firm's internal tools to access celebrity accounts for a Bitcoin scam. Twitter says 130 accounts were targeted in the attack, while private account information from a much smaller number was also accessed. A British 19-year-old from Bognor Regis, Mason Sheppard, was also charged by US officials in an indictment last month, as was 22-year-old Nima Fazeli from Orlando.

Giving the lion back its roar: Gilles Vidal on his time at Peugeot Following a storied career at PSA, it was announced this week that Gilles Vidal would be stepping down as Peugeot's design director after 10 years. Having helped transform the styling direction of the French brand, and overseeing some of its most eye-catching new models, including the 508 saloon and 208 hatchback, he now hands the reigns to successor Matthias Hossann and moves to Groupe Renault, where he will report to Laurens van den Acker. But what legacy does he leave for the new generation? Autocar spoke to Vidal before his departure was announced, to find out what his thoughts were on future trends, the influence of autonomy on design, and what to expect from Peugeot next. On the very day we spoke to Gilles Vidal, it became clear that the Geneva motor show, the best-loved and most open-minded of the European salons, wouldn’t be able to recover in 2021 from its shock cancellation in March, as many had hoped. Manufacturers, shaken by the pandemic upheaval and scared by the impending cost of another Geneva, had just told the organisers they would be unlikely to support next year’s event, which came as quite a shock. Wouldn’t the lack of Europe’s most-loved motor show, we media types wondered, curb the very design progress that people like Vidal have always championed? Surely car creators need motor shows to display their wares and justify their existence? The Frenchman’s reply came as another surprise… “Missing out on an event like Geneva – or Paris, with its one million visitors – is definitely a shame,” he says, “but I have to say it doesn’t matter all that much. Even if we never showed our concepts to anyone, they would still be amazing tools for investigating materials, colours and the sheer freedom of design. “In any case, we now have digital communication working at a far higher level than ever before. And we can always hold Peugeot-specific events. So even without motor shows, we still have ways of showing our work to the public. Perhaps some of us will miss the physical encounter with outside people, but it’s far from being a disaster.” Vidal should know. His impressive reputation at Peugeot is founded on a bold new design philosophy he brought to the marque soon after taking on its top design job in 2010 at the comparatively young age of 38, having worked for the 12 previous years on Citroëns. His first big design statement was a seminal Peugeot concept, a never-to-be-built roadster called the SR1, which ditched the previous ‘wide-mouthed frog’ look and gave perfect visibility to an under-the-skin move by Peugeot’s engineers towards high technology and lighter weight. But in our discussion, he surprised us again by firmly consigning the SR1 to history. “Concepts grow old very quickly,” he asserts. “A proposition like that feeds the next few years’ designs, but consumers don’t want clones that last a full design generation. Not from Peugeot, anyway. They enjoy progress. It’s true that some concepts, perhaps like the SR1, start something new. But you have to move on, and we have.” It’s clear from our first few minutes of talking that Vidal has well and truly grown into the role of a trendsetter. His first important concept may have been good, but there’s a confidence in his manner that says what comes next will be better. The past dozen or so production cars designed and released since Vidal was appointed have dealt easily with issues previously seen as tough hurdles for Peugeot – finding a beautiful new ‘selling’ shape for the problematic 508 saloon, making his unique i-Cockpit design work (six million built and counting) and turning the 3008 and 5008 SUVs into products that rival even Audi for desirability. His confidence in the role is especially evident as he briskly bats away my next fuzzy question about identifying the latest trends in car design. “There are as many trends as there are car brands,” he says shortly. “Our job is to embody the technology and efficiency of our particular cars and to fit them to the moral values of modern society. You’ve got to be clever at this to succeed. Design isn’t just a shallow form of communication; it has to have substance. We’re working to make Peugeot design reach into our factories, even to affect the way we build our cars.” How does this thirst for modernity square with the e-Legend, I ask, the tech-packed, “100% autonomous” concept that speaks 17 languages but recalls the lovely lines of the 504 Coupé, whose heyday was 50 years ago? Vidal and his team called it “retro-futuristic” when they launched it at the 2018 Paris motor show. “People want enjoyment from their cars,” he explains, “and as long as we respect that, we can take our design in any direction we want. Not every car has to be a whiteboard, driving about…” Does that mean Peugeot might contemplate a heritage model for serious production? Something along the lines of the latest Mini hatchback or Fiat 500? “It’s feasible,” Vidal allows. “The idea appeals to many customers who like old British values or dream of la dolce vita in Italy. Ideas that recognise this are clever and valid, but we’re not going to produce something like the e-Legend as you saw it. I’m not sure we would do something like the Mini or the 500, either, although we’re certainly thinking about what we could do.” Vidal approves of the retro cast to designs like the Mini and 500 for the way it reassures car buyers to take the step of moving into a new era, such as the electrification age. “We must find ways to associate positivity with the future,” he says. “Look at science-fiction movies today: they tend to be dark and threatening, entertaining but terrible. Never warm and human and positive. We need to find clever ways to make positive associations with new cars, but we’re still working.” Following Peugeot’s success with the i-Cockpit (it gets half the negative feedback of other aspects of modern cars, according to Vidal), he says he’s actively looking at getting rid of dashboards altogether – an idea made possible by the changes electrification will bring. “We can put airbags in the roof,” says Vidal, “and can make the structural changes in our new electrified platforms, so it’s feasible. We have all the bits and pieces, the components. Making the change in our factories is where the challenge really lies.” But what about daring designs, I ask? Haven’t we learned from some recent products that differentness sells? Vidal agrees, but he’s keen to make clear that it isn’t so easy to make a Nissan Juke, say, that looks different but also appeals to a wide market, including the all-important older customers who can actually afford to buy the cars. “You can’t just do crazy cars,” he explains. “You have to be aware of the risks. People see their car as a reflection of their personality and don’t want to look foolish. And they worry about being able to resell what they buy. “Still, cars like the Juke clearly show there’s more than just an appetite for special cars: people are demanding them. We must make cars that are a lot more expressive. But we must be right. We must feel where the limit is and be consistent with our brand values. It’s not a simple task.” Will the e-Legend make production? Peugeot must be getting very close to deciding whether to build a production version of its e-Legend concept, which was very much admired when it was unveiled at the Paris motor show two years ago. At the time, Peugeot’s big boss, Jean-Philippe Imparato, told Autocar that a decision wouldn’t be made about the electric “retro-futuristic” sports coupé (which recalls the company’s revered 504 Coupé, launched in 1969) until the PSA Group’s current electrification phase concluded in 2020. This must surely mean the car’s future has risen to the top of the agenda of either Imparato or someone else very important. For this story, Gilles Vidal spoke warmly about the idea of producing heritage-inspired models and told Autocar – rather carefully, we thought – that “we’re not going to build the e-Legend as you saw it”. To us, that meant we definitely won’t see the car as an autonomous vehicle that doesn’t even need to steer and speaks 17 languages. But it might leave room for the car, or something very like it, with an advanced hybrid powertrain or even all-electric power. After all, Vidal does think that such cars create a positive view of the future. And with Covid-19, perhaps that’s more necessary now than ever before.

Shakuntala Devi promotions: All the times Vidya Balan impressed in a sari What do you think of her looks? (Source: Vidya Balan/Instagram | Designed by Shambhavi Dutta) With the Shankuntala Devi promotions over, we ought to pause and praise Vidya Balan’s saris. The actor has always donned saris but this time, she went the extra mile and promoted local designers as well as sustainable fashion. The results left us impressed. In one of her latest pictures, she was seen in a handwoven Bhagalpuri sari from the label Nadiya Paar. The off-white sari was replete with floral motifs. Sharing it, the actor wrote, “This @nadiyapaar saree, handwoven in Bhagalpur has hand drawn oleander flower motif printed on gauzy linen. The sari is inspired by the designers childhood memories of collecting these flowers to make garlands.” Prior to this, she had stunned in this deep purple chanderi sari from the label Deep Thee. The look was completed with a matching blouse and her tying her hair in a neat knot. She also experimented in this red shibori hands-free sari from the label Medium. It was teamed with a matching blouse and rounded out with a neat hairdo. She looked ethereal in this white Raw Mango sari which featured “hand painted botanicals transferred digitally to organza silk with a poplin cotton blouse.” Her mathematical sari featuring equations remains one of our favourites. The look was completed with a black blouse and hair tied in a bun. Balan also looked lovely in this pink linen sari from the label Anavila. We dig the contrasting blouse that elevated the look.

Coronavirus: Victoria declares state of disaster after spike in cases Melbourne's normally bustling city centre is now deserted The Australian state of Victoria has declared a state of disaster and imposed new lockdown measures after a surge in coronavirus infections. Under the new rules, which came into effect at 18:00 (08:00 GMT), residents of the state capital Melbourne are subject to a night-time curfew. There will be further restrictions on residents' ability to leave home. Australia has been more successful than many other countries in tackling Covid-19, but cases are rising in Victoria. The state - Australia's second most populous state - now accounts for many of the country's new infections in recent weeks, prompting the return of lockdown restrictions in early July. But on Sunday Premier Daniel Andrews said the measures were working but too slowly. "We must go harder. It's the only way we'll get to the other side of this," he told reporters. The new rules will remain in place until at least 13 September, Mr Andrews added. Why did the virus re-emerge in Melbourne? Melbourne returns to full lockdown On Sunday, Victoria reported 671 new coronavirus cases and seven deaths. Those increases brought the totals to 11,557 infections and 123 deaths. What are the new restrictions? The night-time curfew is being implemented across Melbourne from 20:00 to 05:00. The only valid reasons for leaving home during these hours will be work, medical care or care-giving. Melbourne residents will only be allowed to shop and exercise within 5km (three miles) of their home. Exercise outside of the home will only be allowed for one hour at a time. Only one person per household is allowed to shop for essentials at a time. DEATH RATE MYSTERY Japan's low virus death rate SUPERSPREADER EVENTS What makes a gathering a ‘superspreader’ event? WAITING FOR THE TOURISTS Voices from Spain's Costa del Sol GLOBAL SPREAD: Tracking the pandemic All students across the state are returning to home-based learning and childcare centres are closed. Restrictions will also be tightened across regional Victoria from Thursday, with restaurants, cafes, bars and gyms closing from 23:59 on Wednesday. Mr Andrews said the new lockdown rules were necessary to curb the spread of the virus To ensure these rules are observed, police will be given additional powers, Mr Andrews said. "We have got to limit the amount of movement, therefore limiting the amount of transmission of this virus. We have to clamp down on this," Mr Andrews said. Why did Victoria become the epicentre of Australia's outbreak? The country has recorded about 17,000 infections and 200 deaths so far - with the majority of these in Victoria. Initially officials felt optimistic about containing Covid-19, with lockdowns and mandatory quarantines for people entering the country. For months, most cases were coming from travellers returning from overseas, but the spike in Melbourne has proved to be a major setback. Local transmissions have become a key source of infections, putting authorities on the back foot. In early July about 300,000 people were ordered back into lockdown amid a military-assisted operation to "ring-fence" 10 areas at the centre of the outbreak. Then, about five million residents of Melbourne were told to stay at home for six weeks. Health experts say the relaxation of lockdown rules contributed to the rise in cases in Melbourne Initially, Mr Andrews pinpointed the origin of many infections to security guards who reportedly broke lockdown rules while overseeing hotel quarantines. Health experts say the relaxation of rules, complacency on social distancing and sheer bad luck have all contributed to Victoria's rise in cases. Now Mr Andrews says the current rate of community transmission - including "mystery cases" that cannot be traced back to work or home - is far too high. "And they tell us, based on the current number, cases might begin to drop off, not in days or weeks, but months," Mr Andrews said. "That's not something I'm willing to accept."

Hong Kong postpones elections for a year 'over virus concerns' Carrie Lam said there were no political motives behind her move - but opposition activists disagree The Hong Kong government has postponed September's parliamentary elections by a year, saying it is necessary amid a rise in coronavirus infections. Hong Kong is currently experiencing a spike in Covid-19 infections, and reported 121 new cases on Friday. However, the opposition has accused the government of using the pandemic as a pretext to stop people from voting. On Thursday, the government banned 12 pro-democracy candidates from running in the elections. Opposition activists had hoped to obtain a majority in the Legislative Council (LegCo) in September's poll, capitalising on anger at Beijing's imposition of a controversial national security law in Hong Kong, and fears that the territory's freedoms are being eroded. Hong Kong, a former British colony, was handed back to China in 1997 under an agreement meant to guarantee a high degree of autonomy for 50 years. Pro-democracy candidates had made unprecedented gains in last year's district council elections, winning 17 out of 18 councils. On Friday, Chief Executive Carrie Lam said she would invoke emergency powers to postpone the elections, calling it the "most difficult decision I've made over the past seven months". "This postponement is entirely made based on public safety reasons, there were no political considerations," she said. Why Hong Kong's 'third wave' is a warning to all Why people are scared of Hong Kong's new law Separately on Friday, Hong Kong police put six overseas activists on a wanted list on suspicion of violating the new national security law, media reports, including from Chinese state TV, said. Reported to be among them are high-profile activist Nathan Law, who has fled to the UK, and Simon Cheng, a former employee of the UK's Hong Kong consulate who alleges he was tortured in China and was recently granted political asylum in Britain. But Hong Kong police have refused to comment. Mr Cheng told the BBC that an arrest warrant would not stop him speaking out about issues in Hong Kong. "The totalitarian regime now criminalises me, and I would take that not as a shame but an honour," he said. How bad is the pandemic in Hong Kong? Hong Kong has had more than 100 daily new cases, for 10 days in a row. The overall numbers are still lower than those of many other places - but the spike comes after Hong Kong appeared to have contained the outbreak, with weeks of few or no local infections. Now, it's experiencing what's been described as a "third wave" of infections, and Ms Lam says she fears Hong Kong's hospitals will be overwhelmed by new cases. Health experts have told the BBC that, with the reintroduction of social distancing measures, the rate of infection appears to have slowed, and they hope Hong Kong will be back to close to zero local infections within four to six weeks. The city has introduced tough new measures to combat the virus, banning gatherings of more than two people. What's the argument for postponing elections? The territory has had more than 3,200 confirmed infections, and 27 deaths, from the virus. Ms Lam said Hong Kong's pandemic was in "its worst situation since January" and "as community spread continues, the risk of a large-scale outbreak will increase". She said that with 4.4m registered voters in Hong Kong, the elections would involve "a large-scale gathering and an immense infection risk", while social distancing measures would prevent candidates from canvassing. She also said that proceeding with elections in September would pose a particular risk to elderly voters, and that Hong Kong had many registered voters in mainland China, and overseas, who would be unable to take part in the elections while border quarantine measures were in place. The Chinese government said it supported the decision, which was made "in the interests of the public". What's the argument against delaying the polls? Opposition politicians say that, under local election laws, the polls can only be postponed by 14 days, and that a longer delay would "trigger a constitutional crisis in the city". Lawmaker Tanya Chan said she suspected pro-government politicians were more concerned about "their own election prospects" rather than "the severity of the pandemic". Some experts have suggested that measures could be put into place to make elections safer, such as reducing waiting times at polling stations - and that a delay of a whole year is not necessary. her decision, Ms Lam argued that many governments had also postponed elections by a year, including London's Mayoral elections, and local government elections in Australia's New South Wales. Her comparison was queried by journalists, who said the outbreak in Hong Kong was not as severe. London has had a total of about 35,000 confirmed Covid-19 cases, compared to Hong Kong's 3,200. Meanwhile, in Australia, by-elections in Victoria went ahead as scheduled in March, as did a federal by-election in New South Wales. Singapore held its general election earlier this month with safety measures in place - and had its highest turnout in recent years. The vote demonstrated "that it is possible to protect public health even as people go about exercising their democratic right to vote", said Eugene Tan, a law professor and political commentator at Singapore Management University. How does the Legislative Council work? The Legislative Council - or LegCo - helps to make and amend Hong Kong's laws. It is made up of 70 seats - but only 35 of these seats are directly voted for by the public. File photo of the chamber of the Legislative Council Another 30 seats represent "functional constituencies" - these are voted for by smaller groups representing special interests, primarily businesses, banking and trade. Historically these sectors have been largely pro-Beijing. The last five seats are made up of district councillors who are elected by the public to sit on LegCo. This system, where only a proportion of LegCo councillors are chosen by the public, has been called undemocratic by critics but supporters of the system say it helps avoid populism and protects Hong Kong's business interests.

Sleeping lions, terrible pain: Amid Covid-19, a new world without tourism Airport officers wearing face masks line up as they hold flowers to welcome passengers at Bali airport, Indonesia on Friday, July 31, 2020. Indonesia's resort island of Bali reopened for domestic tourists after months of lockdown due to a new coronavirus. (AP) With no American visitors to show around the D-Day beaches or the Loire Valley’s chateaux, and no work on the immediate horizon, Paris tour guide Linda Zenou frets about how she’ll pay off a loan and continue to care for her ailing mother in the achingly lean months ahead. “My situation is going to become completely inextricable,” she said. “We have nothing to live on.” In Australia, the government of Queensland, home to the Great Barrier Reef, barred visitors from Sydney starting Saturday because of a growing outbreak in the country’s largest city. Queensland tourism official Brett Kapernick predicted the cost for some businesses would be a 40% plunge in revenue. “With this pandemic, the situation becomes fluid and therefore evolves weekly,” Kapernick said. “A week ago, we didn’t think we’d be facing a border closed to Sydney.” For growing numbers of businesses and individuals who depend on the global tourism industry, the question is not so much when the coronavirus might take its boot off their throats but whether they’ll still be around when business picks up. In trying to fend off the virus, countries that put up entry barriers to tourists have done so at a mounting and terrible cost to themselves and others. Around the world, travel amid the pandemic is becoming a story of tentative steps forward here, but punishing steps back there, of “yes” to letting back visitors from places faring somewhat better against the coronavirus but not from others where outbreaks are flaring. The result is an ever-evolving global mishmash of restrictions and quarantines and zero long-term visibility for businesses trying to make payroll and for everyone from trinket sellers to luxury hotels. “It’s now survival of the fittest,” said Johann Krige, CEO of the Kanonkop wine estate in South Africa, where the drying up of wine-tasting tourists threatens the survival of dozens of wine farms around the historic town of Stellenbosch, near Cape Town. “A lot of them are going to go under because they just don’t have sufficient cash flow,” Krige said. As the Indonesian resort island of Bali tentatively opened to domestic visitors Friday, the beaches of Da Nang, Vietnam, were deserted. The city locked down Tuesday to contain a cluster of nearly 100 cases. On Portugal’s Algarve coast, catastrophe also looms for the staffs of empty hotels, bars and restaurants losing hope that tourists will return quickly enough to keep them afloat. In a region almost entirely reliant on tourism, the unemployment rate has already jumped by 230%. And in Oxford, England, tour operator Frederick Laurie is clinging to British “stay-cationers,” optimistically describing them as “green shoots” in an otherwise bleak year. He concedes that their numbers will never make up for the ruinous plunge in foreign visitors who thronged the university town before the coronavirus chased them away. “It’s an extremely difficult time for us,” he says. His decade-old company, Footprints Tours, has seen revenues collapse by 70%. Losses globally are counted in the billions. Percentage drops in visitor numbers are often double-digits. Tourism income in South Africa was down 98% in May compared with the same month last year, the Tourism Business Council says, and over half a million jobs in its sector are at risk. Governments in countries heavily reliant on tourism are trying with bailouts to keep businesses afloat. Thailand’s Cabinet this week approved three projects together worth more than $700 million for the tourism industry. The bright spots, where they exist, are few and far between. Among them: locals who are unable or reluctant to travel are rediscovering attractions where foreign tourists used to jostle for elbow space. Animals have South Africa’s world-famous wildlife parks largely to themselves because of lockdown rules that barred international tourists and made it illegal for South Africans to travel between provinces for leisure. At the Kruger National Park, lions sleep undisturbed on the roads and roam around empty lodges. French tourist guides stage a protest regarding the impact on their sector due to the coronavirus outbreak, outside the Opera Garnier in Paris, France, Thursday, July 30, 2020. Tourism operators across Asia and Europe are making furtive and faltering advances, as well as some spectacular missteps, after travel was largely halted by the coronavirus pandemic that continues ebbing and mostly surging around the globe. ( AP ) At the Louvre Museum in Paris, it’s now possible to calmly contemplate the works. That’s a rare treat for Parisians but a nightmare for tour guides who gathered in protest again this week, dressed in black and wearing masks, to demand more financial help. Zenou, the 60-year-old guide who usually leads groups all over France, was among them. “My mother with Alzheimer’s is under my care, so I have a loan that I’m not longer sure I can pay,” she said.