Revo

UK retail sales volumes fell by 0.9% between February and March with shops blaming wet weather for fewer shoppers. Department and clothing stores said they suffered particularly, in the sixth wettest March since 1836. Sales at food shops also fell, down 0.7%, following shortages of some products, official figures showed. Many stores imposed limits on fresh produce such as tomatoes and cucumbers because of poor weather affecting supplies from Spain and North Africa. The Office for National Statistics (ONS) said "26% of adults experienced shortages of essential food items that were needed on a regular basis" for much of March - an increase of the 18% who reported similar problems in February. The amount of food that people bought last month is 3% below pre-pandemic levels in February 2020, which retailers blamed on the increased cost of living and higher prices. Despite the fall in sales during March, for the first three months of the year sales grew by 0.6% compared with the previous three months, the ONS said, which was the first rise in quarterly sales since August 2021. Why are prices rising so much? Food prices to fall soon, say UK supermarkets Inflation - the rate at which prices are rising - hit 10.1% in March, mainly due to the increasing cost of food. The rate had been expected to fall below 10%. However, a drop in food production costs - which peaked in October last year according to the British Retail Consortium (BRC) - has not yet filtered into supermarkets. The BRC said that it takes between three and nine months for falling prices to reach shops, but it said on Wednesday it expected food prices to start falling "over the next few months". Stretched budgets The impact of rising food prices can be seen across society. Separate figures from the ONS show that 96% of people it surveyed blamed the price of food shopping for the rising cost of living which they had experienced in the last month. That was greater than the 77% who pointed to gas and electricity bills. As a result, many said they were cutting back on non-essential spending, which could include fashion, while nearly half of those asked said they were shopping around more. Among the respondents, 42% said they were spending less on food shopping and other essentials. Analysts at Capital Economics said the rise in quarterly sales suggested "the 18-month retail 'recession' may have come to an end. Indeed, the more seasonable weather in April may support a rebound in sales this month". However, it said sales could still be tempered by a further rise in the interest rate when the Bank of England next meets in May, putting further pressure on consumer spending. The Bank has been raising borrowing costs - which currently stand at 4.25% - to try to calm stubbornly high inflation. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65345590

Cupra’s breakaway success from Seat looks to strengthen with the Tavascan coupe-SUV, its third bespoke offering and second all-electric model. Launched alongside the tagline “the brand’s dream comes true”, the SUV is only subtly distinguishable from the rather bold-looking concept that previewed its design in 2019, something the young Spanish brand is key to emphasise. Put them side-by-side and the key carry overs are shown, albeit slightly less radical: a sharp, hammerhead-style, angular front end, with large grille and distinctive three-triangle light signature joined by a raked roofline and boot-width rear light bar. These design cues – which Cupra hopes will help the brand build on last year’s record 150,000 sales – will shape future models, such as the upcoming Terramar hybrid SUV (the brand’s final combustion car) and UrbanRebel city EV, Cupra confirmed. “There are so many purely rational electric cars coming to the market. That’s not what Cupra is about,” said boss Wayne Griffiths, likely hinting at the designed-for-purpose Tesla Model Y, which, with over 30,000 sales in the first three months of 2023 already, is dominating the premium European electric SUV segment the Tavascan will compete in. “In 2019, we had a vision to reinvent electrification: we wanted to show the world that electric cars could be fun and sexy, with a great design, while providing unique sportiness. Back then maybe it was only a dream. Now with the Tavascan, our dream comes true.” It’s this bold look that Cupra hopes will entice buyers away from the likes of the Audi Q4 E-tron, Genesis GV60, and Model Y – which, at between £40,000-55,000, it is expected to match on price – in the ever-growing and competitive premium EV segment. This would also allow parent company Volkswagen Group to push for a better portion of the segment, for which it already offers the Volkswagen ID 5 – the car the Tavascan is twinned and shares noticeable visual cues with, especially side on. Based on the VW Group’s MEB platform, the Tavascan builds on Cupra’s sporty credentials, with a top-rung 335bhp, 501lb ft, dual-motor all-wheel drive model offered alongside a less powerful 282bhp single-motor variant. This sits it alongside the entry-level 260bhp Model Y RWD and top-spec 295bhp Q4 E-tron Performance. Power is drawn from the same 82 kWh (77kWh usable) battery as the ID 5, which is good for 341 miles of range in its most economical form. By comparison, the ID 5 – which the Tavascan will share a production line with at the group’s Anhui factory, China later this year – offers 327 miles. The new SUV offers a major premium interior uplift on the smaller Born EV and Forementor – the car maker’s other two bespoke vehicles – with gold trim, flecked lighting, and floating centre “spine” that mirrors the car’s front end. It also comes equipped with the same 15in infotainment screen as found in the recently revealed Volkswagen ID 7, and Sennheiser speaker system. The Tavascan uses the same digital drivers display as the smaller Born – itself based on the Volkswagen ID 3. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/cupra-tavascan-revealed-335bhp-and-341-mile-range

Rabat - Ongoing fighting in Khartoum after a failed cease-fire have prompted several nations to decide to evacuate their citizens and diplomatic staff from Sudan. The ongoing clashes in Sudan’s capital between two rival factions of the military continue despite earlier hopes that a cease-fire around the Islamic holiday of Eid al Fitr could bring temporary peace. Those hopes evaporate in the past days as fighting between Sudan’s large paramilitary force, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) and the national military continues. The current clashes have been described as a “battle of the egos” as disagreements between two rival generals have marred Sudan’s conclusion of the holy month of Ramadan. The continued clashes have prompted several countries, including France, the US and UK and China, to announce they would airlift their citizens from Sudan’s troubled capital. The Sudanese army, which is engaged in the conflict with RSF troops, has said it would facilitate the evacuation, yet the chaotic situation in Khartoum has provided little confidence the military’s guarantees can provide sufficient security. This week’s sudden reemergence of violence in Khartoum is due to a looming deadline to integrate Sudan’s vast paramilitary forces into the national military as part of an envisioned process of democratization after the country’s 2018-2019 revolution that toppled long-term President Omar al-Bashir after thirty years of autocratic rule. As part of the path towards a new political status quo, the country’s RSF militias were intended to merge with the military to create one single military force. Those efforts have failed as the leadership of both the RSF and national military have undermined the process, resulting in a new dark turn in Sudan’s tumultuous recent history. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/04/355113/foreigners-evacuating-from-sudan-after-failed-eid-al-fitr-cease-fire

Music Title: Agust D '해금' Official MV Signer: Agust D Release Date: 21/04/2023 Official Youtube Link:

Aid Mubarek brothers ❤️

Name of the game: TasteMaker Price: $7.19 Link Store: Here Offer ends up after X hours:Offer ends 28 April Requirements: MINIMALE : Système d'exploitation : Windows 7 Processeur : Intel Core i3-5010U 2.10 GHz Mémoire vive : 4 GB de mémoire Graphiques : Intel HD Graphics 5500 DirectX : Version 11 Espace disque : 500 MB d'espace disque disponible

While its name might make it the subject of many jokes and puns, Nothing has done reasonably well as a technology company in its relatively short existence thus far. What's also commendable is its steady approach to its product lineup, which started out with the decent Nothing Ear 1 true wireless earphones in 2021. Now, with a couple of other products launched along the way – including its first smartphone – comes the company's first ever second-generation product, the Nothing Ear 2, which offers some noteworthy improvements over its predecessor. Priced at Rs. 9,999 in India, the Nothing Ear 2 promises some significant improvements over the Ear 1, including support for the LHDC Bluetooth codec and an improved app experience. Going up against strong competition from brands such as OnePlus and Jabra, is the Nothing Ear 2 the best true wireless headset under Rs. 10,000 that you can buy right now? Find out in this review. Nothing Ear 2 design and features The radical and unique design of the Nothing Ear 1 was quite impressive back in 2021, and still looks good on the Nothing Ear 2 despite the fact that it isn't novel anymore. This new headset looks quite like the old one at first glance, with the only notable difference that sets them apart being the ‘NOTHING ear (2)' name printed on each earpiece stem. It's a sensible choice to stick to this design, in my opinion, and it's still just as eye-catching as before. For now, the Nothing Ear 2 is only available in a single colour option – transparent and white. Unlike the Nothing Ear Stick, the Ear 2 has a proper in-canal fit, which ensures a proper seal with passive noise isolation, which is necessary to ensure effective active noise cancellation. Another big change is in the controls; the earlier tap gestures make way for a force-touch system, similar to what's on the AirPods Pro (2nd Gen) and OnePlus Buds Pro 2. I've said it before and I'll say it again – this is considerably better and more accurate than simple touch controls. Usefully, these controls are also customisable through the companion app, and you can choose to control playback and volume, invoke the voice assistant, and switch between ANC and transparency modes. The earpieces also have in-ear detection to automatically play and pause music when put on or taken off, but this didn't work very reliably during my review, and I found it easier to manually pause and play as needed. Apart from this, the Nothing Ear 2 earpieces are IP54 rated for dust and water resistance, while the charging case has a slightly better IP55 rating – both are good enough to handle splashes of water and a bit of exposure to dirt. Each earpiece has three microphones, which work together for ANC and voice functionality. Included in the sales package of the Nothing Ear 2 is a USB Type-C to Type-C charging cable, and a total of three pairs of silicone ear tips of different sizes. The charging case of the Nothing Ear 2 is visibly smaller than that of the Ear 1 and has a lower battery capacity, at 485mAh. However, Nothing states that optimisations and improved battery life on the earpieces cover for this, offering comparable overall battery life. I'll get into the specifics of battery life later in this review, but the this case is a lot more convenient and pocketable. Qi wireless charging (up to 2.5W) is present as well, and you can always choose to charge with a standard USB Type-C cable. Nothing Ear 2 app and specifications The Nothing Ear 2 has 11.6mm dynamic drivers just like its predecessor, but there are big improvements in the Bluetooth connectivity on the newer headset. The Ear 2 uses Bluetooth 5.3, with support for the SBC, AAC, and LHDC Bluetooth codecs. Usefully, there is also support for Google Fast Pair, Microsoft Swift Pair, and multipoint connectivity for up to two audio sources simultaneously. LHDC is a 24-bit advanced codec that enables the headset to receive more audio data from a compatible source device, thus improving sound quality. This codec is currently only supported on select Android devices, and in my case, I was only able to get it working on the Nothing Phone 1 (Review). Attempts to use the LHDC codec with a OnePlus 9 Pro (which supports it) didn't work, and I was limited to the AAC codec, despite enabling the option in the app and through the phone's developer settings. If you're using the Nothing Ear 2 with an iPhone, you'll be limited to the AAC codec anyway. This did have an impact on sound quality, which I'll talk about in detail a bit later in this review. From customisation and settings to various tweaks, the Nothing X app (available for iOS and Android) is the key to getting the best out of the Nothing Ear 2 headset. If you're using this headset with the Nothing Phone 1, most of the core functions of the app, including being able to check battery levels, toggle ANC mode, adjust equaliser settings, and change the gesture controls, can be done within the phone's UI. Strangely though, certain functions such as activating multipoint connectivity can only be used through the Nothing X app. The app is well designed and offers plenty of useful features, including setting equaliser presets, setting the ANC intensity level, and creating personalised profiles for the sound and ANC separately. Indeed, there's a lot to go through, but it's worth the effort as it helps you set up the headset to your liking. Nothing Ear 2 performance and battery life Ecosystem benefits are a big deal now, and many brands are following Apple and Samsung's lead in designing their products to work well together. Nothing tends to have similar ideas as OnePlus for obvious reasons (Nothing founder Carl Pei previously co-founded OnePlus), and you can see some of those philosophies in how the Nothing Ear 2 works with the Nothing Phone 1. Indeed, you'll get the best experience and the entire feature set if you're using the two devices together. That said, with only a few exceptions, you'll get a fairly wholesome experience even if you pair the Nothing Ear 2 with other smartphones. One of those is the advanced LHDC codec, which I was only able to use with the Nothing Phone 1. Sound quality is audibly better with this codec in operation, and while LHDC is technically compatible with various other devices, getting it to work may be tricky depending on version compatibility on other devices.When using the Nothing Phone 1 as my source device with high-resolution tracks streaming from Apple Music, the experience was quite impressive, particularly when you consider that this is a Rs. 10,000 true wireless headset. Although the sound was initially not to my liking, I found that the default equaliser preset boosted the bass, and switching to the Balanced preset (the natural sonic signature of the Nothing Ear 2) made all the difference in improving the sonic signature and fidelity. Listening to Lavender (Star One Remix) by Frenchfire, the Nothing Ear 2 was able to keep up with the fast, progressive start to this dance track, flowing with its quick changes and sudden bass attack rather smoothly. Some of its high-frequency electronic elements sounded distinct and sharp, with the whole track exuding a strong sense of direction that gave the soundstage a lot of appeal. The low, catchy beat sounded equally clean, playing well with the busy details. The same track sounded almost as good on the Nothing Ear 2 paired with a different smartphone with the AAC codec in operation, at least in terms of the sonic signature retaining a balanced and all-purpose approach. However, the detail level and the extensions sounded a bit more distinct and striking with the LHDC codec in operation. I had active noise cancellation enabled for much of my review, and there were moments when I wondered if it was indeed on. The soundstage and imaging on certain tracks such as E Samba by Junior Jack sounded very open and wide, almost fooling me into thinking I'd accidentally turned on the transparency mode on the Nothing Ear 2. Turning up the volume made everything sound better, and I found that going to over the 90 percent mark made for the best sound in terms of detail and attack. That said, the level of detail and the deep punch in the lows at such high volume did get tiring quickly and I had to drop it to a reasonable level. Fortunately, but the fun factor in the sound didn't go away even at the 50 percent mark. Active noise cancellation on the Nothing Ear 2, while acceptable for a headset priced under Rs. 10,000, isn't exceptional by any means. Both indoors and outdoors, the sound reduction wasn't much, with plenty of indoor sounds such as the whirring of a ceiling fan and hum of an air conditioner still slightly audible. This was combined with a rather strong vacuum effect with the ANC, which many might think is a sign of good noise cancellation even though it's actually the opposite. Of course, the Nothing Ear 2 does offer enough noise reduction to make it easier to listen to anything playing at even moderate volumes, and the good soundstage might just be able to distract you from the unnerving feeling of the vacuum effect. Transparency mode did its job reasonably well, but the extra amplification does get tiring after a while, and you'll probably just want to take the earphones off. Battery life on the Nothing Ear 2 is similar to that of the Nothing Ear 1. The earpieces ran for around four hours on a single charge with ANC on, and the charging case added a little over four additional charges, for a total runtime of around 22 hours per charge cycle. Given the smaller charging case, this is a decent overall figure, and you can extend this by quite a bit by keeping ANC off. Verdict The Nothing Ear 1 was particularly impressive because of what it offered at its launch price of Rs. 5,999, even if the company eventually adjusted it to a little over Rs. 7,000. In comparison, the Nothing Ear 2 doesn't come at a shockingly low cost, and indeed doesn't even need to; it's a very good pair of true wireless earphones that feels just about right for its price of Rs. 9,999. It goes up against slightly more expensive competition such as the Oppo Enco X2 and OnePlus Buds Pro 2, and manages to hold its own in terms of sound quality and overall performance. Perhaps the only drawback is that it needs a Nothing Phone for optimal performance, particularly the ability to use the LHDC Bluetooth codec. That said, it's a good looking pair of headphones and performs reasonably well even with other source devices, making it worth considering if you have a budget of Rs. 10,000. https://www.gadgets360.com/audio/reviews/nothing-ear-2-true-wireless-earphones-review-price-in-india-3964876#pfrom=indepth

Nvidia's recently-launched GeForce RTX 4070 isn't just one of the best graphics cards; it's also one of Amazon's best-selling graphics cards(opens in new tab). The AD104-based graphics card currently sits at the 7th position on the list. The GeForce RTX 4070 is a great graphics card for 1440p (2560 x 1440) gaming. It's a worthy successor to last generation's GeForce RTX 3070. The only qualm many have with the GeForce RTX 4070 is the price tag. At $599, you can hardly consider the graphics card a mainstream option for gamers. However, some custom GeForce RTX 4070 models received price adjustments just a day after the launch, bringing them back to $599. Despite all the controversy with the pricing, the GeForce RTX 4070 is in 7th place on Amazon's list. The graphics card is behind po[CENSORED]r models, including the GeForce RTX 3060, RTX 3060 Ti, and Radeon RX 6600. Even the more expensive GeForce RTX 4070 Ti is two positions ahead of the GeForce RTX 4070. So while the GeForce RTX 4070 is selling ok on Amazon, the graphics card isn't po[CENSORED]r at other retailers, like Newegg, where it doesn't appear on the front page of the best-selling list. What came as a big surprise is the Radeon RX 580 2048SP, a rebranded Radeon RX 570 8GB for the Chinese market. Despite being a graphics card from 2018, the Radeon RX 580 2048SP sits tightly behind the GeForce RTX 4070. Sales are obviously different for every retailer, especially the ones overseas. According to the latest report from German retailer Mindfactory (via TechEpiphany(opens in new tab)), the GeForce RTX 4070 outsold its current competitors, such as the Radeon RX 7900 XT, twofold. In addition, the GeForce RTX 4070 sales at Mindfactory were three times higher than the GeForce RTX 4070 Ti. Meanwhile, Micro Center recently saw the need to bundle a $100 Steam gift card with GeForce RTX 40-series purchases, including the GeForce RTX 4070, to help move inventory. Other reports claim that Nvidia hasn't ramped up the production of GeForce RTX 40-series graphics cards, which seems to confirm that the Ada Lovelace business hasn't been booming as Nvidia had hoped. It's hard for consumers to buy your product when even the mainstream SKU carries a premium price tag. German publication Igor's Lab got word from its sources that Nvidia is reportedly contemplating slashing $50 of the GeForce RTX 4070 for its AIB partners. If the idea comes to fruition, the GeForce RTX 4070's MSRP will drop to $549 instead of the original $599. Although a $549 price tag seems easier to swallow, it's still a considerable amount to fork over. Many consumers would like a $499 price tag for the GeForce RTX 4070. For comparison, the GeForce RTX 2070 and GeForce RTX 3070 launched for $499. Maybe we're just living in the past, and the days of paying less than $500 for an RTX x070-tier graphics card are long gone. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/geforce-rtx-4070-amazon-rankings

The Google Pixel 6 has just taken another hefty price cut at Amazon this week, with the device now retailing for just $386 (was $599)(opens in new tab) for the base 128GB model(opens in new tab) and $399 (was $699)(opens in new tab) for the 256GB model. While it's likely Amazon is looking to clear stock in time for the new budget-orientated Google Pixel 7a launch (rumored next month), today's discount is a great deal for those who aren't bothered about the latest and greatest tech. And despite the device's relative age, the Google Pixel 6 remains a solid choice in 2023 thanks to its Tensor chip, premium design, and innovative camera and AI features. Google Pixel 6 Was: $599 Now: $386.99 at Amazon Overview: Key features: Android OS, Tensor chip, 50MP camera, 6.4-inch AMOLED display (90HZ), 4614 mAh battery Product launched: October 2021 Price history: The Google Pixel 6 has been on sale for $399 previously over the past six months or so but today's price at Amazon is a new record low. Alongside this particular listing, you'll also find the upgraded 256GB storage model for $399, which is another record-low price. Price comparison: Amazon: $386.99 | Walmart: $449 | Newegg: $441 Reviews consensus: Even though it's an older device now, the Google Pixel 6 remains a compelling choice for 2023. It was, and remains, one of the best value Android flagships you can buy, with an excellent premium design, top-notch camera, and innovative AI features like Magic Eraser. While it's not the speediest device on the market now (especially versus the Pixel 7), it's still a good choice for an everyday driver if you're an Android fan on a budget. TechRadar: ★★★★ | Toms Guide: ★★★★ | Android Central: ★★★★ | T3: ★★★★ Featured in guides: Best phone (2022 edition), Best Pixel phone, Best cheap phone, Best Android phone (2022), Best Camera phone (2022) Buy it if: You want a premium flagship on a budget and don't mind missing out on the latest device. The Google Pixel 6 is still feature-rich and powerful enough for most users, plus the camera is absolutely top-notch. It also features a glass-backed design, which you won't get on the cheaper Pixel 6a. Don't buy it if: You want to wait for the newer Google Pixel 7 to get another price cut at Amazon (the record is $499), or if you've got an eye on the upcoming Google Pixel 8 or Google Pixel 7a. In the case of the latter, it should be another great value device (based on previous models) and will likely land next month. It's unlikely to feature the glass-backed design of the Pixel 6. https://www.techradar.com/deals/the-google-pixel-6-has-just-hit-a-record-price-at-amazon-a-low-key-amazing-deal

The number of people looking for work has risen as job vacancies fall suggesting that the uncertain economic outlook is hitting employment. About 220,000 more people were seeking work between December and February than in the three months before. Unemployment rose slightly and job vacancies fell for the ninth time in a row, official figures suggest. However, the figures also showed a rise in the employment rate as more people returned to the jobs market. Overall, UK economic growth has been flat since spring last year, with the effects of high energy prices and rising interest rates taking their toll, along with strikes in several sectors. Figures from the Insolvency Service on Tuesday also showed a sharp rise in the number of firms going bust in March. There were 2,457 business insolvencies last month, up from 1,784 in February. Inflation - the rate at which prices rise - has been running at more than 10%, remaining close to 40-year highs, and the latest earnings figures showed that pay increases continue to lag behind rising prices. Annual growth in regular pay, which excludes bonuses, was 6.6% between December and February, the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said. However, when taking inflation into account, regular pay fell by 2.3%. The ONS figures showed that the employment rate edged up to 75.8% in the three months to February. In the same period, the unemployment rate rose to 3.8%, up from 3.7% in the previous three months. Job vacancies fell for the ninth time in a row with companies blaming economic pressures for holding back on hiring new staff. From January to the end of March, the number of vacancies fell by 47,000 from the previous quarter to 1,105,000, although the ONS noted vacancy numbers remained at "very high levels". Michael Stull, the managing director of employment agency ManpowerGroup, told the BBC's Today programme: "We are starting to see a pullback in demand from employers. However, we're still in a strong position." "We're seeing more people coming back into the workforce," he added, noting that more over-50s and younger people were returning to the jobs market. Daniel Ashville Louisy, director of construction firm Ashville Aggregates, said that despite high demand at the moment, many firms were starting to put construction projects on hold due to uncertainty in the economy. He also said that profits were being squeezed because wages have risen so much. "We have labourers earning the money that plumbers and carpenters were earning like, two and a half, three years ago," he said. "But everyone wants the job to be cheaper because they have no certainty... so we don't have the money in the job to bring new people on board at the higher wage bracket." Reacting to the latest figures, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said: "While unemployment remains close to historic lows, rising prices continue to eat into pay cheques which is why halving inflation this year is one of our top economic priorities." However, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves said the government was holding the UK back. "Their lack of ambition for Britain is leaving real wages down, families worse off, hundreds of thousands fewer people in work and our economy lagging". Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Sarah Olney said: "The Conservative party's gross mismanagement of the British economy has led to inflation rising and growth plummeting." You always have to be careful about placing too much emphasis on one set of figures, but the rate of pay rises across the economy has surprised economists on the upside. We may or may not be about to go through a full-blown recession or a more modest downturn. However, so far the challenges facing the economy have only had a modest effect on unemployment, smudging only slightly the clear picture that it's a good time to be looking for work. At 6.9%, the average pay rise in the private sector is down from a peak, but only slightly. It's still one of the biggest rises in average earnings anyone has seen for most of the past 20 years. Even in the public sector, employers who have a free hand are paying more to try to overcome the ongoing recruitment crisis - with wages up 5.3% in the year to February. Few will need reminding, though, that against double-digit inflation that's still one of the biggest real-terms pay cuts both private and public sector workers have had to endure since the 1930s. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65301742

The new, electric Audi A8 will go on sale next year as a highly luxurious, technologically advanced and extremely powerful rival to the Mercedes-Benz EQS and BMW i7. Arriving at the crest of a wave of more than 20 new Audi cars due over the next three years, the Audi A8 EV will be crucial in providing the foundation for the brand to overhaul its positioning and differentiate itself more clearly from its Volkswagen Group siblings with a focus on high-margin premium cars in all core segments. Due to be unwrapped exactly 30 years after the 1994 unveiling of the first A8 – notable for pioneering an aluminium ‘spaceframe’ platform – the new flagship is set to once again spearhead a technological rebirth for Audi as it ramps up to go all-EV in just three years. It will use the largest version of the Porsche/Audi-developed PPE platform that will make its debut this year under the new Q6 E-tron, and is set to feature the most potent powertrains and radical technology available to the German brand. As previewed in 2021 by the Grandsphere concept, the new A8 will shun the traditional three-box proportions of the four previous generations. Instead, it will adopt an ultraslick, wind-cheating silhouette aimed at boosting efficiency at speed to compete effectively with its BMW and Mercedes rivals – two of the longest-range EVs on sale. Armed with a sizeable, 120kWh lithium ion battery, which is expected to make production, the Grandsphere had a claimed 466-mile range. That figure is expected to decrease slightly when the car dons numberplates and is fully homologated but it should still offer one of the longest ranges of any EV on sale. The car will also be equipped with 800V charging functionality so will be one of the fastest to top up, netting a maximum charging speed of 270kW. More intriguingly, early indications suggest it could be the most powerful car in the Audi stable when it is launched. The concept packed 711bhp and 708lb ft – more than today’s V8-propelled Audi RS6 Competition – for a near-4.0sec 0-62mph, and while those figures will not be exactly replicated by the production car, they hint at an outright focus on performance. The PPE platform can accommodate rear-wheel steering at up to 5deg for tighter turn-in, as well as an electronic locking rear differential for improved torque-vectoring behaviour, and these features are expected to be carried over to the new A8. But while its performance stats and dynamic credentials will be headline attributes, the new A8 will be more technically remarkable for the advances it makes in self-driving ability. The Grandsphere was designed around its theoretical capacity for level-four autonomy, with a retracting steering wheel and pedals, automatically adjusting seats with individual sound systems and a raft of gesture-controlled functions. The A8 will be more conventional inside, but the more recent Activesphere concept gives clues to Audi’s plans to usher in a step change in autonomous driving with its next-gen EVs. “We don’t want to overload you” with information, Audi user experience boss Sid Odedra told Autocar recently, suggesting the Sphere concepts’ shunning of physical controls and traditional screens in favour of sensor controls and holographic projections is not far from what will become reality. “We’re not giving you less, actually,” Odedra said of Audi’s new minimalist interior treatment. “We’re giving you more. With less, we’re going to give you more of a digital experience with less physical architecture.” https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/new-2024-audi-a8-poised-be-brands-most-powerful-ev-yet

Rabat - Eid Al Fitr 2023 will be celebrated on Saturday in Morocco, the Ministry of Islamic Affairs announced on Thursday evening. As the moon-sighting committee did not see the crescent this evening, the ministry said, the beginning of Shawwal, the tenth month in the Islamic calendar, is on Saturday. Shawwal marks the end of Ramadan. The ministry’s announcement confirms previous astronomical calculations by the Moroccan astronomer Hicham El Issaoui, who said weeks ago that he expected Eid Al Fitr to fall on April 22. This means Moroccans will have observed Ramadan for 30 days this year, the first time in five years. Ramadan in Morocco started on March 23. The majority of other countries celebrated the first day of Ramadan on the same day as Morocco. And many of these Countries, including Saudi Arabia, Qatar, the UAE, Kuwait, and Egypt, celebrated Eid Al Fitr today. Muslims worldwide begin the celebration by going to the mosque in the morning to perform the special Eid Al Fitr prayer in the congregation. Earlier this month, the Saudi Ministry of Islamic Affairs issued a press release that sought to answer many Muslims’ questions about performing Friday prayers should Eid Al Fitr fall on a Friday. “The Ministry of #Islamic_Affairs Dawah and Guidance directed imams of the mosques to adopt what was included in the fatwa issued by the Standing Committee for Fatwa No. (21162) on 11/8/1420 AH, regarding the ruling on Friday prayers if the day of Eid and Friday meets on one day,” the ministry stressed, noting that people who attended Eid prayers are not obliged to attend Friday prayers. “Anyone who attends Eid prayers is granted permission not to attend the Friday prayer, and he prays it Aduher prayer at the time of noon, and if he takes determination and prays with the people on Friday, then this is better,” the ministry further explained. Following the Eid prayers, Muslims gather around the morning breakfast for the first time in a month of fasting. In Morocco, sweets dominate meals served during this special morning iftar. Also included in this list of other delicious meals for Eid breakfast are Msmen (flat bread) and baghrir (Moroccan pancakes). In addition to food, Moroccans - particularly children- celebrate the feast in a unique mode through wearing new clothes. https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/04/355086/official-april-22-is-eid-al-fitr-2023-in-morocco

Name of the game: OTXO Price: $13.49 Link Store: Here Offer ends up after X hours:Offer ends 27 April Requirements: MINIMALE : Système d'exploitation : Windows 7, 10 Processeur : Intel Core i5 2500 or AMD FX-4350 Mémoire vive : 4 GB de mémoire Graphiques : nVidia GTX 660ti or AMD R9 270 with 2+ GB of VRAM DirectX : Version 11 Espace disque : 600 MB d'espace disque disponible Carte son : Integrated

Realme's C55 got the world's attention when it was first launched in Indonesia for being the first Android smartphone with a copy of Apple's Dynamic Island feature. Realme has branded this software feature as "Mini Capsule". Now, the company brought this budget smartphone to India, but it's already clear that Mini Capsule is not the most interesting thing about it – in fact it was barely talked about during the launch event. What will get this phone a lot of attention in India is its pricing and its design. Realme's C-series devices have been positioned as entry-level offerings for years. While it is impressive to see a C-series device with a unique-looking design, you have to keep in mind that it all comes at a cost. The price of the Realme C55 starts in the budget segment instead of the usual entry-level sub-Rs. 10,000 pricing. This phone is meant to replace the Realme C33 (2023) and is also an upgrade to the C35 as well, which are entry-level devices powered by Unisoc SoCs. I was quick to point out how this device is missing 5G and how the Mini Capsule felt half-baked at best in my first impressions of this phone. About a month later, not much has changed despite a few software updates, but I have discovered several additional shortcomings. These are mainly to do with the user interface, but also battery life. Is the Realme C55 still an easy recommendation in a sea of budget smartphones? Read on to find out! Realme C55 price in India The Realme C55 is available in three variants. There's the 4GB RAM and 64GB storage variant priced at Rs 10,999; the 6GB RAM and 64GB storage variant is available for Rs. 11,999; and the variant with 8GB RAM and 128GB of storage sells at a rather competitive Rs. 13,999 in India. Indeed, it's nice to have options, and it's good to see Realme providing so much variety for a C-series device. The Realme C55 is also the first C-series model to pack 8GB of RAM. The device is available in two finishes – Sunshower or Rainy Night. I received the 8GB RAM variant in the Sunshower finish for review. Realme C55 design Realme did attempt to give its C-series a fresh, stylish look when it announced its C35 last year. While that phone was a step up from the rather basic entry-level devices previously available in the C-series, its design was literally the only good thing about it, as I discovered in my review. When it comes to design, Realme has taken things a bit further with the C55. It appears slim and modern with its straight lines, chiselled body, and flat sides. There's a flat display on the front, and unlike the C35, it's of the hole-punch variety so it keeps up with the rest of the phone's modern appearance. While the bezels at the left, top and right are thin, the one at the bottom is a bit thick. Flip the phone over and it does get hard to tell that this is a budget smartphone for two reasons. First, there's a dual-tone finish on the back, with a finely striped matte texture across most of it, and a polished section around the protruding cameras. This does look refreshing for a budget smartphone. Secondly, this matte finish is also pretty good at resisting fingerprints. The rear panel and frame are made of polycarbonate making them less likely to crack when dropped than glass. Realme uses Panda glass for the display. It is prone to smudges but these were easy to wipe off. The phone weighs 189g which is a bit on the heavier side, but feels quite slim at 7.89mm. There's no IP rating and no stereo speakers, but you do get a 3.5mm headphone jack and a Type-C USB port at the bottom. The fingerprint reader is embedded into the power button, which I did find a bit difficult to press because it sits nearly flush with the flat side of the frame. Realme C55 specifications and software The Realme C55 has a MediaTek Helio G88 SoC, which means that it lacks 5G connectivity. Realme claims that the phone uses LPDDR4X RAM and EMMC 5.1 storage. The SIM tray has two slots for two nano-SIMs and a dedicated slot for up to a 1TB microSD card, which is nice to have. Connectivity standards include 4G LTE, dual-band Wi-Fi, and Bluetooth 5.2, along with the usual array of sensors and global positioning systems. The phone has a 5,000mAh battery and comes with a 33W wired charger in the box. The Realme C55 runs Realme UI 4.0, which is based on Android 13. It comes loaded with a ton of Realme and third-party apps. This means having two ‘Messages' apps for SMSes, two file managers, two note-taking apps, and the list goes on. This could get quite confusing for new users, and it's also annoying since you cannot uninstall most of these redundant apps. Most of the preinstalled third-party ones can be uninstalled, which you can do to reclaim some storage space. It was also annoying to see ads and promotional notifications from the Game Center and App Market apps every day. Realme C55 performance The 6.72-inch full-HD+ IPS LCD display has a 90Hz maximum screen refresh rate. It switches between 60Hz and 90Hz depending on the application being used and the content being viewed. The display is vibrant and is bright enough to view content outdoors on a sunny afternoon, and has good viewing angles as well. As for streaming, it was nice to find Widevine L1 certification, which allowed for full-HD quality playback. The usage experience failed to meet my basic expectations. Realme UI 4.0 did not seem well optimised to this hardware, which I noticed when using the phone's interface in general, minimising apps, swiping through video-heavy feeds in apps like Instagram, and other common use cases. There was a general stuttering and noticeable lag throughout, and it always felt like the hardware was trying to keep up with my interactions. I tested the 8GB RAM variant, so I can only imagine how bad the experience would be on the 4GB RAM variant. I also experienced some stuttering when streaming video, but this got resolved with the latest software update, which showed up just a few days prior to publishing this review. As for Mini Capsule, not much has changed since I tried it out a month ago. Most people won't even notice that this feature exists, as it's easy to miss the animated notification prompts that expand around the hole-punch camera. Indeed, this is something that Samsung does better with its pop-up notifications, which also appear in a capsule shape and are far more useful as they relay different types of notifications, unlike the small handful of prompts that Realme's Mini Capsule displays. In terms of benchmarks, the Realme C55 performs as expected given that it has a MediaTek Helio G88 SoC inside. The phone's scores weren't impressive by any means. Even the iQoo Z6 Lite managed better scores with its Qualcomm Snapdragon 4 Gen 1 SoC. The Realme C55 managed 2,57,736 points in AnTuTu along with 422 and 1,411 points in Geekbench's single and multi-core tests. In terms of graphics, performance was not good either, which explains the stuttering and lag in the UI. The phone managed 39fps in GFXBench's T-Rex test, 14fps in Manhattan 3.1, and 8.5fps in Car Chase. Gaming performance was a bit below average. Call of Duty: Mobile was playable at Medium graphics quality and High framerate, but would lag after about 15 minutes of gameplay, which is also when the phone begian to heat up. Asphalt 9 Legends turned out to be a bit too heavy even at the lowest graphics setting (Performance), with lots of lag and stuttering. Indeed, this smartphone is better suited to simpler casual games. Its single speaker gets quite loud, but sound is also distorted at higher volumes. My daily usage with the Realme C55 consisted of an hour of gaming, an hour or two of video streaming (on Wi-Fi), and going through various social media apps along with two email accounts syncing constantly. Despite going a bit easy, I was surprised that the phone only managed a day on a single charge. Indeed, this could be down to the low-end processor, but I expected the 5,000mAh battery to last for more than a day, which is normal for most budget smartphones today. Our standard HD video loop battery test only ran for 14 hours, 43 minutes, which falls on the lower side compared to most other smartphones at this price point. On the other hand, the 33W charger managed to charge this phone from dead to full in 1 hour, 10 minutes, which is quite good. Realme C55 cameras The Realme C55 has two rear-facing cameras: a 64-megapixel primary camera and a 2-megapixel depth sensor which is used for gathering depth data when using Portrait mode. Selfies are handled by an 8-megapixel front camera. The camera app interface is easy to use with all important controls available around the viewfinder. Realme claims that the 64-megapixel sensor comes from the older GT Master Edition so I was a bit excited to see its performance in such a low-cost phone. However, you do have to keep in mind that camera performance also depends on the processor, and the GT Master Edition had a superior mid-range Qualcomm Snapdragon 778G SoC. Daylight image quality was still surprisingly impressive. Photos showed decent dynamic range and good detail. Colours tended to be a bit oversaturated and there was also a slight bluish tint in photos, but at this price point it's hard to complain. Close-ups came out sharp and clear, with low noise and good detail. However, I did notice that the camera was slow to focus indoors even during daytime, so I often had to tap to focus when shooting objects. Selfies appeared a bit sharpened in daylight, but with decent detail and dynamic range. Edge detection in Portrait mode while using the selfie camera was average for this segment. In low light, selfies came out a bit soft and noisy no matter which mode I chose. Edge detection was not accurate either. The camera's low-light performance in Auto mode wasn't great. It had trouble focusing in dimly lit scenes, and the resulting photos ended up a bit soft and lacking in detail. The dedicated Night mode vastly improved image quality, bringing in a lot more detail along with sharpness, and added some definition to textures. The results were impressive for this segment, but it takes 4-5 seconds to capture an image, so if you don't hold the phone steady, image quality can deteriorate drastically. Video quality is limited to 1080p at 60fps. Recorded footage had decent detail but was low on dynamic range, and there were some clipped highlights. Videos lack stabilisation completely, so they come out quite shaky. In low light, recording at 1080p 30fps resulted in better quality with decent dynamic range, but video was still quite low on detail and had noise. Clips were quite shaky and focusing was a problem. Verdict In 2023, several smartphone brands have started offering 5G models at the lower end of the budget segment. There's the Infinix Hot 20 5G (Review), priced starting at Rs. 11,499, and the Poco M4 5G at Rs. 11,999, to name a few. Then there are smartphones such as the iQoo Z6 Lite 5G, which costs Rs. 13,999 onwards and offers better software performance and good camera performance along with 5G connectivity. Realme C35 Review: More Than Meets the Eye? Realme thinks it has found a sweet spot with an interesting design (for a budget smartphone) and a decent camera which shoots good daylight photos. However, battery life isn't up to expectations for a budget smartphone, and the software is loaded to the brim with bloat. My unit lagged and stuttered throughout the review period, despite having 8GB of RAM. This makes the Realme C55 really hard to recommend. Consider it only if you need a good camera or are willing to ignore its shortcomings because of its unique design. https://www.gadgets360.com/mobiles/reviews/realme-c55-review-5g-price-in-india-specifications-launch-date-flipkart-3961144#pfrom=indepth

Asus' 13.3-inch ultraportable is going slimmer than ever. The new Asus Zenbook S13 OLED, which the company announced today, will be just 1.09 centimeters (0.43 inches) thick and weigh 2.2 pounds (approximately 1 kilogram). That's thinner and lighter than the MacBook Air with M2. This model will run on Intel's Core i7-1355U. The new model is also slimmer and lighter than the existing S13 OLED, which uses an AMD Ryzen 6800U CPU, weighs 2.43 pounds (1.1 kg) and measures 0.59 inches (14.9 inches thick). That laptop was often hard to find in stores, so perhaps the switch to Intel has something to do with availability. Other specs of the new Zenbook include 32GB of LPDDR5 RAM, 1TB of storage, a 63 WHr battery and a 13.3-inch, 2880 x 1800 "Lumina" OLED display (Asus suggests this is just a branding name for its OLED display). That OLED screen has Dolby Vision support and True Black 500 certification, up to 550 nits peak brightness, and Asus is promising 100% coverage of the DCI-P3 gamut. Asus says the OLED panel allows for the lid to be 30% slimmer than previous models. Still, the laptop has an FHD camera with IR for Windows Hello login. The laptop will come in a gray or blue finish and will be made of recycled aluminum in the gray version. Asus says it uses an exclusive "plasma ceramic aluminum material for the lid," that should make it resistant to wear and tear. It also suggests that each lid, like stone, will be "individually unique" and that the design meets the MIL-STD 810H military durability standard. From pictures, it looks like it's going to be an attractive, eye-catching notebook, but we'll render our verdict on that when it comes through our labs. Asus is also claiming that its circuit boards reduce weight, using fewer layers and a "higher wiring density, with many more transistors" to theoretically increase performance despite being very small. Despite the sleek size, there's still a USB Type-A (USB 3.2 Gen 2) port along with a pair of Thunderbolt 4 ports, an HDMI 2.1 output and a 3.5 mm headphone jack. One place you may notice the size reduction is the keyboard. Again, we'll need time with the system to really pass judgement, but the keys do appear to be a bit less staggered than on your standard keyboard, with short backspace, enter, tab, caps lock and left shift keys. The keyboard sits in a black well, which reminds me a bit of the MacBook Pro. Asus states that the Zenbook S 13 OLED (UX5304) will be available for its $1,399.99 suggested retail price at ABT(opens in new tab). But when I followed up, Asus told me that you'll also be able to find it at Best Buy(opens in new tab), Amazon(opens in new tab), and Newegg(opens in new tab). If $1,399.99 is for 32GB of RAM and 1TB of storage, that's a solid price. The laptop is launching today, so we're hoping to get our hands on it soon for a deep-dive review to see if it qualifies as one of the best ultrabooks. https://www.tomshardware.com/news/asus-zenbook-s13-2023-price-specs-availability

Android 14 is out. Kind of. Google is known for testing its Android releases prior to formally announcing them at its annual Google IO event in May, and this release is no exception. Though the developer preview came out first, it's the public beta that gets people truly excited, as larger and more obvious changes make their appearance known. It’s also far easier to use and you’ll never have to hear words like 'emulator' or 'GSI' (Generic System Image). To get Android 14 right now, you’ll need one of a number of the best Pixel phones to get in on the action. Google’s Android 14 release is available for the Pixel 4a 5G, 5, 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7, and 7 Pro. Older phones – including the Pixel 4a – are no longer supported and thus would not be able to download the update. Google has made downloading the Android 14 beta especially easy if you’re on a Google Pixel phone. Though other Android phone makers will probably get involved in the future – based on past precedent, you’ll have to hear those dreaded words we mentioned above like GSI before you can get involved. With Google, it's as easy as opening up a website and clicking a button. Here’s how to get started. 1. Check that you have an eligible Google Pixel phone You'll need to check that you have an eligible Google Pixel phone before you can jump in. The current crop of phones – as specified by Google – include the Google Pixel 4a 5G, 5, 5a, 6, 6 Pro, 6a, 7 and 7 Pro. Though Google now offers Android security updates for up to five years after release, it still only limits Android OS updates to three years after release. This means that even if an Android update is due to be released in September of this year and your phone was released in September three years ago, Google will not be updating it. This is what is happening with the Pixel 4a, even though it is technically in the same generation as the Pixel 4a 5G and the Pixel 5. 2. Enroll your Google Pixel phone into the Android 14 beta programme Next, you'll need to enroll your phone into the Android 14 beta program via the website. To do this, you’ll need to open the Android beta site with the same Google account that’s signed into your eligible Google Pixel phone. Once there, you should see your phone listed under ‘Your Eligible Devices.’ Select it and acknowledge the risks involved to proceed. After this, you will then be instructed to update your phone. 3. Check for updates and download Once enrolled, check for updates on your Google Pixel phone. This is done by going to Settings > System > System Update. If you’ve enrolled into the Android 14 Beta program, you will now be presented with a screen warning you about bugs and the need to hard reset your Android phone to return to a stable version of Android upon detection of the update. Once you acknowledge and accept the download, you will be updated to the Android 14 beta, pending a restart. As with all Android updates, it will go much faster on your Pixel if you’re not using it. If you’re patient, waiting for it to download in the background and offering you the option to instal upon completion is preferable. Though beta updates are often fun and filled with fresh, promising new features, it is best to avoid them when they are in their earliest stages. The current beta for the Pixel, for example, doesn’t offer much. You can’t even get betas for other Android phones just yet, only Pixels at the time of writing. To top it all off, we don’t even know what’s going to be in Android 14 just yet. We have an idea or several additions, based on leaks and Google’s brief teaser in its Android 14 beta release blog,(opens in new tab) but you’d need to wait for Google IO to get the full picture. In our experience, Google has often stabilized Android beta updates by the third or fourth release. This Android beta program is estimated to move very fast, with Google seeing a final beta release in July. You can track Android 14 ‘s progress on our frequently-updated hub and jump in on the update when you feel the time is right. https://csblackdevil.com/forums/forum/828-software/?do=add

A drop in the cost of wholesale food prices globally has not led to falls in the prices charged by UK supermarkets. Inflation was expected to fall below 10% last month but soaring food prices meant it fell by less than expected. "You would expect to see [global food price falls] reflected in supermarkets but we're not there yet," the Office for National Statistics told the BBC. The retail industry body said there was a three to nine-month lag to see price falls reflected in shops. "As food production costs peaked in October 2022, we expect consumer food prices to start coming down over the next few months," the British Retail Consortium said. Inflation, which measures the rate of price rises, fell to 10.1% in the year to March from 10.4% in February, driven by food prices rising at their fastest rate for 45 years. There were big jumps in prices for products including olive oil (up 49%), milk (up 38%) and ready meals (up 21%). Campaigners point out that rising food prices hit poorer households the hardest, as they spend a greater proportion of their income on groceries. This year in particular, bad weather abroad led to shortages of some vegetables - a situation made worse by UK farmers producing less due to surging energy costs. UK farmers have also argued that supermarkets are not paying a fair price for their produce - something the supermarkets deny. The government's former food tsar Henry Dimbleby has said supermarkets having "fixed-price contracts" with suppliers means that when food is scarce, some producers opt to sell less to the UK and more elsewhere in Europe. Grant Fitzner, chief economist for the Office for National Statistics, which provides the figures, said the agency did not make forecasts. But he said it was "certainly within the realm of possibility" that double digit inflation is sustained at least for another month with food prices continuing as they are. Jane from Blackpool has found the last five to six months tough on the purse, particularly with the weekly shop. She told the BBC's Radio Five Live that she couldn't afford to eat breakfast or lunch. "For teatime we have a jacket potato with beans. A couple of times a week we'll add cheese to that because we're feeling a little bit more flush. And on a really good occasion we'll have tuna." For many people like Jane, higher prices across the board have meant having to run on a tighter budget. "We got a letter last month saying our mortgage rate is going to go up again. I listen to the news in the hope the mortgage rates are going to go down or something's going to give." Inflation in the UK remains higher than in other Western countries, including the US, Germany, France and Italy. On Wednesday, new figures showed eurozone inflation eased to 6.9% last month, from 8.5%. Analysts at Capital Economics said UK inflation had "risen further and stayed higher than elsewhere as the UK has experienced the worst of both worlds - a big energy shock, like the euro-zone, and labour shortages - even worse than the US." UK energy prices are likely to come down quickly, it added, but the issues in the labour market would probably persist until late 2024. Chancellor Jeremy Hunt said he was still confident that inflation would fall sharply by the end of the year. He added: "We have a plan and if we're going to reduce that pressure on families, it's absolutely essential that we stick to that plan, and we see it through so that we halve inflation this year as the prime minister has promised." But Rachel Reeves, Labour's shadow chancellor, said: "The reality is that under the Tories our economy is weaker, prices are out of control and never have people paid so much to get so little in return." While food prices remained stubbornly high, petrol prices eased, bringing some relief for motorists. Unleaded petrol prices peaked at about £1.90 in July and were down below £1.50 in March. Falling inflation doesn't mean prices are falling, but just that the rate of price rises is slowing. Simon Mellin, founder and chief executive of The Modern Milkman, a milk delivery service, said the food industry had faced soaring costs in recent months, with milk, eggs and packaging prices all going up. He believes that food prices will start to stabilise, but will remain at a much higher level than they were this time last year. "I'm really unsure if food prices will drop as much as everyone expects," he told the BBC. "I expect some reductions but I wouldn't personally expect huge reductions in the next twelve months." He said he was trying not to pass higher prices onto customers, but added that it was a balance the business had to tread. The Bank of England has been raising interest rates to try and curb inflation. In March, the Bank increased rates for the eleventh time in a row, taking the main rate to 4.25%. The idea is that when people have less money to spend, they buy fewer things, reducing the demand for goods and slowing price rises. Following the latest inflation figures, Luke Bartholomew, senior economist at abrdn, said a further rate rise next month is now "likely", with inflation pressures proving "more persistent than the Bank of England expected". Rate rises mean higher mortgage payments for some homeowners and those with loans. But they can also benefit savers if banks pass on the higher rate to customers. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65312127

The first car in the reborn Jaguar line-up will be a four-door electric GT and the most powerful model in the brand’s history. The new GT will be revealed in 2024 and on sale in 2025 as the first of three models in the new Jaguar family. Each will be built on an all-new bespoke EV architecture called Jaguar Electrified Architecture (JEA). Confirmed today as part of an update to the Jaguar Land Rover (JLR) Reimagine strategy, the new Jaguar will have a range of up to 430 miles and a starting price in excess of £100,000. It is likely to have two motors for four-wheel drive and a power output in excess of 575bhp. The target time for charging is 200 miles of range in 15 minutes. Full details on JLR's Reimagine update: Jaguar Land Rover will not build its own EV battery factory Prototypes of the new GT will hit the road before the end of the year, ahead of its reveal in 2024. Virtual testing of the car is already almost complete ahead of this crucial next phase of its development, where the car will come to life for the first time, having been previewed officially for the first time today (below). JLR’s chief creative officer Gerry McGovern said the styling of the GT and subsequent future Jaguars would be “the copy of nothing”, invoking the mantra and philosophy of Jaguar founder Sir William Lyons. He said it was an “honour” to be asked to lead the rebirth of “a brand as loved and cherished” as Jaguar and vowed to return it to its past positioning as a ‘true British luxury brand”. He referenced the E-Type and XJS as models that provided a blueprint – but not a retro copy – for how the reborn Jaguar would operate in creating shocking but beautiful designs and how the current Jaguar range was created under a different strategy that the brand would no longer be following. He said: “The E-Type in its time looked like it had dropped from space. The XJS was equally compelling and a copy of nothing. It started again and didn’t copy the E-Type. The designs of current Jaguars aren’t bad. The strategy was more one of universal appeal and chasing more mainstream premium, which made the cars more normal. We want to go back [to the old philosophy]. It’s a complete reimagining.” McGovern said the four pillars of future Jaguar design would be exuberance, fearlessness, uniqueness and progressiveness. “Being exuberant is a real task, as there’s nothing else around like that,” he added. “Jaguars need to have a jaw-dropping moment, a sense of wow.” The three new Jaguars are the result of an internal design competition that encompassed everyone in JLR’s creative team across all brands. The creative team was split into three teams as part of Project Renaissance, which McGovern believes will go down as a pivotal moment in Jaguar’s history, with each given the same brief to create a family of models for Jaguar’s future. A total of 18 cars were created as full-sized models in just three months across the teams, but the winning team accounted for just three of them. McGovern said the verdict on choosing this team’s design was “unanimous''. "There was no debate. We said 'that’s it.' “We derived the design direction from there and evolved the designs from those three cars. The designs are at an advanced stage.” Autocar understands that while the first model will shock, the second and third models will reinforce that design and the models will clearly all be part of the same family. The two cars to follow the GT, likely to be crossovers, will come at a rate of no more than one per year after the launch of the initial car. Volumes will be around 50,000 cars per year for the range as a whole. The cars will all be built at a new dedicated area within JLR’s Solihull production facility. Nick Collins, JLR's vehicle programmes executive director, said the JEA too “was the copy of nothing” and no other EV architecture would “allow for such exuberant designs, proportions, refinement and performance”. Lennard Hoornik, JLR’s chief commercial officer, said the investment in Jaguar stood at around £1 billion. “We’re investing in Jaguar not just for its heritage but for its future.” Around 100 suppliers have already committed to the new Jaguar project, which isn't just about creating new cars but also changing every part of the brand and how customers interact with it. “We’re creating an entirely new brand, new business models and new competencies, with every part of the client journey reimagined,” said Hoornik. “The way cars are bought [and] are serviced, this is all being done from the ground up, including online and offline journeys.” This ground-up reinvention includes dealers and Hoornik said Jaguars “would not be available everywhere”, confirming reports that the firm is going to reduce the number of dealers selling its cars. “But equally, there will be a range of three other brands [Range Rover, Discovery and Defender], all electric and with dedicated areas,” he added, a reference to the fact the Land Rover brand would be taking a back seat, with Range Rover, Discovery and Defender becoming model ranges in their own right alongside Jaguar in a four-strong line-up of JLR brands. Commenting on the relaunch of Jaguar, new JLR CEO Adrian Mardell said: “Jaguar will not disappoint. It will begin to put right unfinished business.” He said it wasn't a “last chance” for the brand and that “this cat was going to purr”. “There are no such things,” he said on whether it was a last chance. “We create chances by what we deliver. I believe this brand will be here in 50 years.” McGovern doesn’t believe the new brand positioning for Jaguar will alienate existing customers, although he admitted there will always be those resistant to change. “Things have to move on, and we’re going to create such a compelling proposition that if there’s red blood in their body…” said McGovern on whether this new Jaguar would appeal to existing customers. “EV is a propulsion method, as is ICE. EV can be as compelling as long as you have everything else with it. It’s like with watches: when a new one comes out, you still prefer the old one, but over time you see what it’s about and you change your mind. “We respect existing customers, but we’re going after new ones as well, ones who think less about the vehicles and are more culturally driven, more artistic. When you go to something new, people look back – but that’s fine.” McGovern showed a brief teaser image of the new Jaguar that gave little away, but he said that going electric “opened up more space inside” and allowed for the “exuberant proportions”. Hoornik said the cars had “wowed” people in clinics and the firm had been “pleasantly surprised” as to how they had viewed the value proposition of the cars and the new brand. https://www.autocar.co.uk/car-news/new-cars/2025-jaguar-ev-be-£100000-four-door-gt-430-mile-range

Rabat - Morocco’s Mohammed Polytechnic University (UM6P) has said that more than 80% of its students benefit from scholarships, a reflection of the institution’s commitment to financially assisting talented students pursue their education at the prestigious school. UM6P offers a range of scholarships and financial aid options to its students, making it easier for students to afford their education. This includes merit-based scholarships, need-based scholarships, and a combination of both. Over the past six years, an average of 80% of UM6P students have received merit scholarships, covering all or part of their living and study expenses, indicated the university in a press release. This particularly concerns the 2,200 students enrolled in UM6P’s “conventional programs,” which include Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral programs. In addition, around 2,400 students enrolled in non-conventional programs, such as 1337 Schools, Youcode, and Mahir Center, are “100% supported by UM6P and the OCP Foundation,” added the statement. “In order to give an impetus to these actions of inclusion and promotion of knowledge, UM6P has created the ‘Ibn Rochd Foundation for Science and Innovation’ (FIRSI) in 2020,” with the aim of supporting young talents from Africa in their academic career in Morocco and abroad, added the university. Besides the financial support that FIRSI beneficiaries receive, they also benefit from guidance throughout their academic journey, as well as get introduced to the professional world through seminars, meetings with “inspiring personalities,” and discovering “promising professions” across the continent. The foundation currently grants scholarships to more than 3,300 students, almost half of whom are women, to continue their studies at UM6P and other schools inside and outside of Morocco. These include Lycee Mohammed VI d'Excellence, the Grandes Ecoles d'ingénieurs in Morocco, and the Grandes Ecoles d'Ingénieurs et de Commerce in France. “Through this strategy, Mohammed VI Polytechnic University aims to become a hub of meritocracy that allows young Moroccans, and more broadly Africans, an equitable access to education of excellence,” concluded the statement. Oumnia El Aajjaj, one of the beneficiaries from UM6P’s scholarship, expressed her gratitude for the opportunity to enroll in UM6P’s School of Architecture, Planning and Design through a 50% scholarship. For her, one of the aspects that distinguishes UM6P from other schools is the fact that it includes students from different countries and backgrounds, creating an environment of “intellectual and cultural diversity.” https://www.moroccoworldnews.com/2023/04/355059/more-than-80-of-um6p-students-receive-scholarships

Good activity forum/ts , you deserve the chance

happy birthday