-Sn!PeR-

> Opponent's nickname: @OREO™ @Ionut gfx > Theme (must be an image): > Work Type: Avatar > Size & Texts: 150x250 - Kratos > How many total votes?: 12 > Work time: 24 hours after they see the topic

Your Nickname: -Sn!PeR- Your Age : 22 How you could help us a Devil harmony member ? : by activity and maybe i'll invite a member or two to the project How much you rate Devil harmony project from 1 - 10 ? : 8 Other information about your request ?: none Last request link : first one but i was in the team once or twice not sure

This is the weirdest thing i've heard in a while, since i'm moroccan i can guarantee u these fines won't actually apply to people, we got cats literally every where, cats are pretty friendly and most people like them even people with allergies to them pet them cuz of their cuteness Anyways, applying thid idea is stupid as it is pointless and if they want to do it they have to find a solution for the tens of thousands of cats everywhere

Asus has refreshed its ROG Strix Scar lineup for 2025, equipping the new models with the latest Nvidia GeForce RTX 50 series laptop GPUs and Intel Core Ultra Series 2 processors. The laptops also sport a revamped design that's flashier than before, but also more functional as they offer easier access for upgrading RAM and storage. Asus says it has improved the cooling system as well, which is now quieter than the previous generation. One standout addition is the AniMe Vision display on the lid, a feature that first gained po[CENSORED]rity with the Zephyrus lineup. With all these upgrades, the base variant featuring the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU is priced at Rs. 3,79,990. If you're aiming for the top-tier model with the RTX 5090 Laptop GPU, be prepared to spend Rs. 4,24,990. Both variants feature the Intel Core Ultra 275HX CPU. Now that's a steep price for a gaming laptop. So is it worth the price tag? Read on to find out. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Design: Improved and flashier Dimensions - 354 x 268 x 22.8mm Weight - 2.80kg Colours - Off Black The 2025 ROG Strix Scar 16 looks very different to its predecessor thanks to a new lid, bottom panel, and improved RGB lighting. The lid gets 8,353 precision-milled holes for the Anime Vision display, which uses 810 LEDs to play animations in dot-matrix style. You'll also find an RGB ROG logo and the text ‘For Those Who Dare' printed on the lid. Asus has also made the sides more chamfered and smoother for a premium look. Unlike last year's model, which featured sharp edges, the 2025 variant gets rounded edges, making the laptop appear slimmer. There's also a full 360 RGB strip at the bottom that passes all kinds of gamer checks. The left side houses a proprietary AC input port, a 2.5G Ethernet port, HDMI 2.1, dual Thunderbolt 5 inputs, a hybrid 3.5mm jack, and a USB 3.2 Type-A port. On the right side, the laptop offers two USB 3.2 Type A connectors. You'll find the exhaust ports at the back, and the intake vents at the bottom and the sides. Turning over the laptop reveals the new rear cover, which now offers tool-less removal thanks to a latch system. There's also a new Q-latch system, which makes storage upgrades easy and fast. Asus has used magnesium alloy and plastic on the ROG Strix Scar 16. The build quality is top-notch, with both the lid and keyboard area showing no signs of flex. It's also quite heavy at 2.8kgs, making this more of a desk machine than a portable laptop. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Display: Mini LED Excellence Size and type - 16-inch Mini LED HDR panel, 3ms Response time Resolution - 2.5K (2560x1600) WQXGA, 16:10 aspect ratio Refresh rate - 240Hz Opening the lid, which can be done with one finger, reveals the beautiful anti-glare Mini LED panel. Asus calls it the ROG Nebula HDR display, and it offers over 2,000 dimming zones, 1,200 nits peak brightness, and 100 percent DCI-P3 coverage. The display also offers Dolby Vision, HDR, and Nvidia G-Sync support. Add the 240Hz refresh rate and 3ms GTG response time, and the ROG Strix Scar 16's display is a delight for gaming and content consumption. The Mini LED display boasts deep blacks and vivid colours. It also gets super bright indoors, especially when HDR is enabled. The anti-glare coating also helps keep reflections at bay. The display features slim bezels on the sides and thicker bezels on the top and bottom. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Keyboard, Touchpad, speakers, and webcam Keyboard - Backlit with per-key RGB, Copilot key Touchpad - Multi-touch with NumberPad Speakers - Quad drivers, Dolby Atmos, Hi-Res certification, Smart Amplifier technology Webcam - 1080p IR camera with Windows Hello support The laptop features a full-size keyboard on the Strix Scar 16 with dedicated media controls and customisable keys. The keyboard supports per-key RGB and includes a Copilot key. You get excellent travel and feedback from the well-spaced keys. Asus also claims that the switches used in the keyboard are rated to last over 20 million presses. I was pleasantly surprised by the touchpad on the laptop. It's large, offers multi-touch support, good palm rejection, decent feedback, and features a glass surface for a smooth glide. The touchpad also gets a digital numpad. Simply tap the Num LK switch placed on the top left corner of the touchpad, and you'll have access to a digital number pad. Asus has installed four speakers on the Strix Scar 16 that comprise two tweeters and two woofers. The sound output from the speakers is loud enough for indoor use, and you also get some bass. The laptop also offers Dolby Atmos, Virtual surround sound, and Smart Amp technology. The headphone jack on the laptop also supports Hi-Res Audio output. Moving on to the web camera, which is a 1080p IR unit with Windows Hello support. The camera performs well when there's plenty of light, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. In lowlight conditions, noise starts creeping in, making the image look soft. Before getting on that video call, make sure you've got good lighting around. Windows Hello works well, is secure, and fast. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Software: Typical Windows experience OS - Windows 11 Home Additional tools - Aura Sync, Armoury Crate, Copilot The laptop runs Windows 11 Home out of the box and comes preinstalled with Office Home 2024. Microsoft Copilot is also available on the laptop, offering quick answers to queries and more. You will also find additional Asus tools such as Armoury Crate, which lets you customise all the RGB lighting on the laptop. The tool provides access to the AniMe Vision display, allowing you to select custom or pre-made animations. Aura Sync is part of Armoury Crate and lets you create custom lighting zones across the keyboard, the ROG logo on the lid, and the 360 light strip. Armoury Crate also lets you switch between the five Performance modes, manage Scenario Profiles, and set macros. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Performance: More than you'll need Processor - Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX RAM - Up to 64GB DDR5-5600 Storage - Up to 4TB M.2 PCIe 4.0 GPU - Up to Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 The Intel Core Ultra 9 275HX is a powerful mobile CPU, and our review unit came bundled with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5080 Laptop GPU with 16GB GDDR7 VRAM, 32GB DDR5-5600 MHz RAM, and a 2TB PCIe 4.0 M.2 SSD. You get dual RAM and SSD slots for expansion. Although most of the hardware here is top-notch, my only gripe is with the type of storage used. Asus could've offered a PCIe 5.0 M.2 SSD, which the laptop supports, but instead comes with the now older 4.0 SSD. While end users won't notice any major difference, the synthetic benchmarks show that the laptop is slower than the competition, such as the HP Omen Max 16 (Review), which gets a 5.0 drive. Take a look at the benchmark scores below. In benchmarks, the laptop did quite well. I ran the tests in Turbo mode, which delivers a total wattage of 230W. However, there's also a Manual mode that unlocks more performance, offering a total of 255W of wattage. The GPU is rated for 175W TGP, and the CPU can go up to 80W TDP. To keep everything running smoothly, the laptop also features an upgraded cooling system. There's a larger vapour chamber, three fans, liquid metal thermal paste, and a sandwiched heatsink design. Asus claims that the upgraded cooling can keep the temperatures down by 15 degrees Celsius. Needless to say, you can play all kinds of AAA games at high frame rates without any worry. Asus moving all the exhaust vents to the back also means that the keyboard and the surrounding area remain cool during long gaming sessions. I ran CyberPunk 2077, Hogwarts Legacy, and The Last of Us Part 1 on the laptop to test out its performance. Since the laptop uses the new RTX 50 series GPU, you also get DLSS 4.0 AI frame generation. In CyberPunk 2077, without DLSS 4.0 enabled, texture quality set to high, and resolution at 2K, the game delivered about 45-50fps. With DLSS enabled, I got about 75-80fps. Meanwhile, Hogwarts Legacy ran at around 120fps with DLSS turned on at Ultra settings. With DLSS disabled, the game delivered a frame rate of 80-90fps. Running The Last of Us Part 1 with all settings at max, I got about 85-100fps. For AAA gaming, 4K video editing, and all sorts of creative work, the ROG Strix Scar 16 won't let you down. It also appears that Asus has indeed improved the cooling system on the new laptop. In terms of wireless connectivity, the laptop offers fast triple-band Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4. Wireless performance was excellent, and I did not face any random disconnections. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Battery: Ordinary Capacity - 90Whr Charging - 380W AC adapter The laptop packs a 90Whr battery, which is the same capacity as the predecessor, but I don't think anyone thinks about battery life when purchasing such a powerful gaming laptop. During gaming sessions, with the profile set to Turbo, I got about 1-2 hours of battery life with brightness set to around 50 percent. In normal usage, I got about 4 hours of battery life with the iGPU enabled. Charging is handled by a large 380W brick of an adapter, but you can also charge the laptop using the USB Type-C port, which supports up to 100W PD. Using the provided 380W adapter, I was able to charge the laptop from 20 to 60 percent in about 30 minutes, with a full charge taking about 1 hour and 20 minutes. Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 2025 Verdict If you've got the money, I'd recommend buying the Asus ROG Strix Scar 16 for its excellent performance and cooling, flashy gamer-approved design, and the bright Mini LED display. The laptop also has a nice keyboard and a large touchpad. The tool-less rear panel is also quite useful and something other laptop manufacturers should adopt. The only downside, albeit minor, is the use of PCIe Gen 4 storage, particularly when the laptop supports Gen 5 SSDs. The ROG Strix Scar 16 can easily replace your gaming desktop and add some portability to the mix. Of course, a gaming desktop offers better upgradeability, but does it have AniMe Vision? The laptop is definitely worth the price tag. https://www.gadgets360.com/laptops/reviews/asus-rog-strix-scar-16-2025-review-9023178

We've had a surprise late revelation that Windows 10's extended update scheme will require you to have a Microsoft account, even if you pay for those updates (and don't take up the free offer). Windows Central uncovered a Microsoft support document carrying this info, which has left more than a few people unhappy. When Microsoft revealed its Extended Security Updates (ESU) program, the company made it clear that the cost would be $30 for an extra year of support, through to October 2026 (normal support ends this October). Then later, Microsoft relented and offered a free option, allowing Windows 10 users to instead choose to sync their PC settings to its cloud service - which, of course, is going to require a Microsoft account (to be signed into OneDrive, where the data is synced). Folks assumed that if they went the paying route, spending $30 would be the only requirement - but it turns out that you'll also need a Microsoft account to avail yourself of the ESU in this way, meaning a local account on your PC won't suffice. Microsoft tells us: "All enrollment options provide extended security updates through October 13, 2026. You will need to sign into your Microsoft account in order to enroll in ESU." Elsewhere in the support document, Microsoft notes: "The ESU license is tied to your Microsoft account, so you may be prompted to sign in if you typically sign into Windows with a local account." There is some good news here, though, which is that Microsoft also clarifies that this extended support program can be used on up to 10 devices. So, as long as those Windows 10 PCs are all signed in to the Microsoft account that has picked up the ESU offer, they're good to go. Analysis: Local loss Regardless of how you access the ESU scheme, the license you get must be tied to a Microsoft account. If you've forgotten those options, you can pay $30, sync your PC settings to OneDrive, as mentioned, or alternatively, use 1,000 Microsoft Rewards points (if you have them). The reason for the Microsoft account requirement is doubtless so the software giant can police the 10-device limit, but as noted, this is going to cause some degree of bad feeling. Given that Microsoft has been pushing against being able to have a local account at all when setting up Windows 11 - and notably closing loopholes that are present to fudge your way around having to tie an installation to a Microsoft account - people are only going to be suspicious that this is just another way to shove them into getting a Microsoft account. If you're paying $30 for the privilege of an extra year of support, shouldn't forking out that cash be enough? I think so, and Microsoft could always just warn you that if you don't use a Microsoft account, you'll only get support on a single device (the one you're signing up with). Then users could decide to proceed, or not, with linking to an account based on their preference in that regard. If you do have multiple Windows 10 PCs, mind, it's no doubt good to know that you can cover them all with just a single sign-up for the ESU (even using the free offer). http://techradar.com/computing/windows/microsoft-reveals-a-surprising-catch-to-extended-support-for-windows-10-thats-going-to-seriously-annoy-some-people

President Donald Trump just announced a 100% tariff on foreign-made semiconductors in a bid to force companies to build their chips within the United States or order them from local fabs. According to the Associated Press, Trump made this announcement at the Oval Office after Apple’s Tim Cook promised an additional $100 billion in investments to avoid chip tariffs for iPhones. “We’ll be putting a tariff of approximately 100% on chips and semiconductors. But if you’re building in the United States of America, there’s no charge,” says Trump. When a reporter asked him how all of these announced investments would impact the American people, the president answered, “We have the biggest chip companies — the both of them — but we have the biggest in the world coming in. They’re going to Arizona and beyond. And in a short period of time, we’ll be [making] up to almost 50% of the chips, starting from nothing.” TSMC has already started production at its Arizona fab, with Apple, one of its first customers, expecting to source over 19 billion chips from local chip manufacturing. The chip manufacturer says that demand for its capacity is so high that it’s already sold out through 2027, meaning companies that need chips will have to find another provider. Thankfully, Samsung’s new Texas fab is also nearing completion, with the company reportedly delaying its completion due to a lack of customers. These massive new facilities were built under the Biden administration’s CHIPS and Science Act, jumpstarting the production of some of the most advanced semiconductors in the U.S. Nevertheless, Trump’s tariff threats have forced these companies and more to expand their investments, allowing him to secure about $1.5 trillion in commitments for building and expanding the chip making supply chain within America’s borders. However, we’re still unsure if the output of these new fabs, and all of the existing ones, would be enough to deliver what the American industry needs. Aside from the massive demand brought about by the seismic AI infrastructure buildout being done by tech giants, nearly every other everyday item we take for granted now requires chips— from cars and appliances to light bulbs and switches. If companies are forced to import chips at elevated rates, the American consumer will end up paying more, driving inflation and reducing demand. We also need to see more details about how the tariff exemptions will work. At the moment, the president says that he won’t put a tariff on companies that are buying (or building) locally-made semiconductors and importing them as well — but how many chips should a company buy and use for it to be exempted from the import tax? https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/trump-announces-100-percent-semiconductor-tariffs-theres-no-charge-for-chips-built-in-the-u-s

The Bank of England has cut interest rates to 4%, taking the cost of borrowing to the lowest level for more than two years. The cut, from the previous rate of 4.25%, is the fifth since August last year, but was only narrowly backed by the Bank's policymakers who took two votes to reach a decision. Lower rates will reduce monthly mortgage costs for some homeowners but it could also mean smaller returns for savers. The unprecedented second vote by policymakers suggests further interest rate cuts will be finely balanced amid concerns over rising prices, although the Bank's governor told the BBC the path for rates continues to be "downwards". Inflation is now expected to peak at 4% in September, the Bank said in its Monetary Policy Report. That is twice the Bank's target rate and above the 3.8% rate it predicted in its May report. However, while inflation is higher than the Bank would like - which would not normally lead to a rate cut - the economy has been struggling to grow and there are fears about the jobs market. Andrew Bailey, governor of the Bank of England, said the decision to cut interest rates was "finely balanced". "Interest rates are still on a downward path," he said. "But any future rate cuts will need to be made gradually and carefully." Speaking to the BBC he said the course of future rate cuts "is a bit more uncertain frankly". Businesses told the Bank that "material increases" in National Insurance Contributions and the national living wage since April have added up to 2% to food prices. The Bank said global adverse weather conditions had also lifted the cost of goods such as beef, coffee beans and cocoa. But companies told the Bank that they expected UK labour costs "to continue to push up food prices in the second half of the year", and in order to mitigate costs, they were having to cut staff. They also reported shoppers were "trading down" by purchasing own-label items as opposed to branded products, and buying "cheaper cuts of meat". Mr Bailey told the BBC the Bank did not expect higher inflation to persist, "but we have to watch this very carefully". On the other hand, UK employment is "softening" he said, with data showing job vacancies are continuing to fall and wage growth is slowing. Mr Bailey said he is "very conscious" that inflation affects the cost of living. "Food is a particularly important issue here because for those on the lowest incomes, food [is] a larger share of their consumption because it is the essential of life so we have to be very focused on this," he said. At 4%, interest rates are now at their lowest level since March 2023. This will boost some mortgage-holders and borrowers, but it is likely to mean smaller returns for savers. People with tracker mortgages, which are loans that track the Bank's base rate, should see an immediate reduction in monthly repayments. There about 600,000 people who have one. The latest cut in rates means repayments on an average standard variable rate mortgage of £250,000 over 25 years will fall by £40 per month, according to financial information company Moneyfacts. 'We are still a little bit anxious about the future' However, there are many homeowners who are having to remortgage this year at rates higher than deals they struck several years ago. Adam Christie has just had to re-fix his mortgage rate - moving from a five-year fixed term with a 1.8% interest rate, to a two-year term with a rate of 3.8%. "It was quite a significant jump, but not as much as we were fearing," he tells the BBC. He had been prepared for a £200-300 per month increase - but instead his repayments have risen by about £100. While he describes this as "the best of a bad situation", he adds there is still uncertainty about the future. "We are still a little bit anxious about the future and what it might hold. They might go up again... but I suppose only time can tell," he says. The Bank's nine member Monetary Policy Committee was split on the decision to cut rates. Four members wanted to cut rates, four wanted to hold and one - Alan Taylor - wanted a steeper reduction in borrowing costs. Some economists had been expecting a further interest rate cut at the Bank's meeting in November, but the tightness of the latest vote has led some analysts to cast doubt on whether this will happen. "Bank of England policymakers are still playing a highly cautious hand," said Susannah Streeter, head of money and markets at Hargreaves Lansdown. "Although the Bank has opted for a cut, the chances of another reduction by the end of the year have receded sharply," she added. Ruth Gregory, deputy chief executive at Capital Economics, said the Bank "appears in no rush to cut again". She said the policymakers' analysis of risks to the economy "raises the chances that the Bank will skip a cut later this year". Chancellor Rachel Reeves said the drop was "welcome news, helping bring down the cost of mortgages and loans for families and businesses". However, shadow chancellor Mel Stride said interest rates "should be falling faster", adding: "Rates are only coming down now to support the weak economy Rachel Reeves has created." Liberal Democrat Treasury spokesperson Daisy Cooper said the cut "would have happened months ago if the government was not acting as a roadblock to growth". The Bank now forecasts that GDP figures for the April-to-June quarter, due to be published next week, will show a sharp slowdown to just 0.1% growth. That compares to 0.7% expansion in the first three months of this year. It also said the impact of US tariffs on the UK is not expected to be as much as it thought back in May. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c5yprwyxjlxo

A mysterious disease has been turning sea stars into goo since 2013. Now, there’s a leading suspect behind the killings — a bacterium called Vibrio pectenicida, researchers report August 4 in Nature Ecology & Evolution. Knowing the identity of the killer could help scientists protect both captive and wild po[CENSORED]tions of sea stars. The disease, known as sea star wasting disease, is characterized by twisted arms, lesions and rapid death. One of the worst hit species is the sunflower sea star (Pycnopodia helianthoides), which lost almost 91 percent of its po[CENSORED]tion — over a billion individuals — to repeated outbreaks in 2015, 2018 and 2023. This decline has consequences for ocean ecosystems, as sunflower sea stars are predators that keep sea urchin po[CENSORED]tions in check. In their absence, sea urchins have mowed down kelp forests, which absorb atmospheric carbon dioxide and support fish, otters, sea lions and other animals. Identifying a pathogen responsible for wasting brings hope for P. helianthoides, says Ian Hewson, a marine ecologist at Cornell University. The study may be good news for rearing sunflower sea stars in captivity, “because you can treat them with antibiotics [that] would target that specific bacteria.” In 2014, Hewson was part of a team that thought they had identified the pathogen responsible for deteriorating sea star po[CENSORED]tions. But the researchers couldn’t replicate their initial findings. Without knowing the identity of the sea star killer, protecting these creatures from the disease has been challenging, even in zoos and aquariums where sea stars are bred for potential restoration in the wild. To identify the killer, marine disease ecologist Alyssa-Lois Gehman of the Hakai Institute in British Columbia and colleagues brought healthy-looking wild and captive-bred P. helianthoides to the U.S. Geological Survey Station in Marrowstone, Wash., where they quarantined the sea stars for two weeks to ensure they showed no signs of wasting. Then, the researchers dunked 50 sea stars in a tank where a wasting sea star had been, let them live with sick sea stars or injected them with diseased coelomic fluid, “essentially sea star blood,” Gehman says. All methods proved fatal: 92 percent of the once-healthy sea stars died within an average of about 12 days. Next, the team looked for what spread the disease. Like humans, sea stars teem with bacteria, viruses and other microorganisms. The researchers analyzed the coelomic fluid of both healthy and sick sea stars for foreign genetic material. At a team meeting in January 2024, Melanie Prentice, a marine ecologist at the Hakai Institute, presented genetic sequencing results that compared the microbial makeup of healthy and sick sea star coelomic fluid. Of the over 55,000 bacteria identified in sea star blood, one stood out — V. pectenicida. While some healthy sea stars also had V. pectenicida, it was in much smaller amounts. To confirm the role of V. pectenicida, the researchers grew the bacteria in petri dishes and injected them into six healthy sea stars. Seven days later, all six were dead. Hewson says that this was the strongest part of the study. But he is not convinced V. pectenicida is the smoking gun. In his previous attempts to look for a pathogen, V. pectenicida did not consistently turn up in wasting sea stars. This discrepancy could be because previous studies looked for pathogens amid a hodgepodge of sea star tissues, Gehman says, while the current study focused on isolated coelomic fluid, where the contrast between healthy and sick sea stars is clearest. Hewson disagrees. Sea stars can get sick for multiple reasons, but they “can only show us … in so many ways,” he says. “They lose their arms, sometimes they have lesions.” Disparate observations of wasting in different sea star species could have unrelated underlying causes. Still, this work could benefit sunflower sea stars. Gehman is now working on rapid diagnostic kits — like the ones used for COVID-19 — so researchers can detect and treat V. pectenicida outbreaks in the field and act quickly. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/sea-star-wasting-mystery-solved-melting

The first thing to do when faced with the new Bantam 350 is forget about the original two-stroke classic, which was once so ubiquitous on UK roads. Granted, BSA has leaned on its heritage as affordable, entry-level two-wheeled transport, but what we have here is an all-new machine that will sit alongside the Gold Star 650 that looks set to give the competition a serious run for its money. The Bantam is light, manageable, and so easy to live with, packing a small but punchy motor that is certainly capable of making you smile. Handling is reassuringly direct, and the chassis is delightfully agile, making it ideal for flitting about on city streets or making the most of twisty tarmac between the hedgerows. The riding position is upright and untaxing, with a comfortable seat, and it wears the contemporary retro roadster look well - in fact there’s very little not to like about it. For a new rider, it’s unintimidating and user-friendly, with enough about it to give you room to grow, and for more experienced riders, whether on an A2 licence or full, the Bantam is a fun and rewarding bike to ride. BSA’s designers have given the Bantam a contemporary retro roadster look, which they hope will pique the interest of a new generation of bikers. The thin seat, teardrop tank, and short fenders give it the air of a custom build, which follows through with the blacked-out engine, sports-style exhaust, and fork gaiters. There’s no chrome (except for the filer cap), the only highlighted areas being a flat silver headlamp rim, intake cover, and tri-rifle Birmingham Small Arms Company logo on the side of the cylinder head. It's priced keenly to steer customers away from the competition, and given the way it performed at the launch, there’s no reason why it shouldn’t. No warranty details have been announced yet, and although the price has been confirmed as ‘introductory’, the BSA Bantam 350 might just prove to be the surprise hit of the year. Ride quality & brakes Suspension is as basic as the sticker price implies, but that doesn’t mean it’s not up to the job. The Bantam sports non-adjustable, right-way-up telescopic forks with a 135mm stroke and twin rear shocks with a five-step preload adjustment and 100mm of wheel travel. The setup is firmly sprung and adequately damped - not exactly plush, but it keeps the chassis reassuringly stable and is more than capable of soaking up the odd speed bump or pothole. Claimed wet weight (that’s with 90% fuel, tool kit, and any other standard accoutrements) is 185kg, and the Bantam carries the bulk of that low down towards the centre of the bike. As a result, the overall balance is neutral, and together with the firm suspension, that makes for a sweet handling package. An 18” front wheel adds to the sensation of stability, and light steering makes little work of swinging around roundabouts or nipping through traffic. When faced with a bendy B-road it just begs to carry as much momentum as you can comfortably muster, staying satisfyingly settled right through the turn and into changes of direction. For an experienced motorcyclist, it’s a fun bike to ride, and at speeds that won’t put your licence at risk. OE tyres are MRF (Madras Rubber Factory), 100/90 18 Front and 150/70 17 Rear, and wrapped around the Bantam’s smart cast wheels give little, if any, cause for concern. Under braking on a dry road, they offer all the feel and grip you could expect from a budget tyre, and the rigid carcass keeps them confident when cornering. It’s worth noting that we’ve yet to try them in wet conditions. Squeeze the front brake lever and there’s more than enough stopping power from the single 320mm disc and twin-pot Bybre caliper to quickly curtail progress. Feel at the lever is light, but precise, so a new rider shouldn’t have too much trouble dialling in the right amount. It also has the safety net of ABS, which cuts in gently but effectively, should a situation provoke it into action. At the rear is a 240mm disc with a single-piston caliper, again with ABS. As with the front brake, it doesn’t take much effort to operate, and under slow manoeuvring, it really helps keep the Bantam stable. Use both brakes together, and thanks to its light weight, it’ll stop on a sixpence. A relatively low seat height of 800mm keeps the ground within flat-footed touching distance, although it may be a bit of a stretch for shorter riders. The firmly padded seat is broad and flat, with plenty of room to shift position, making it comfortable for hours at a stretch. Together with the wide bars and sensibly sited footpegs, it encourages a neutral and upright riding position. Which is ideal for staying alert around town. Engine Let’s start with the engine, which by extension identifies the Bantam’s main rivals. It’s a Euro 5+ compliant 334cc liquid-cooled cylinder, making 28.7bhp at 7700 rpm and 21.8ft-lb of torque at 6000 rpm. On paper, that puts it way out in front of the Honda GB350S and Royal Enfield HNTR, but until we get them head-to-head, exactly how that advantage plays out on the road remains to be seen. Throttle response is crisp and keen, spinning up the shorter-stroke motor (compared to the competition) briskly. It has to rev harder to hit those performance peaks, but it does so with an unfettered eagerness and well-weighted punch, not to mention an endearingly cheeky exhaust note. It’ll even fire off the odd pop on the overrun. First gear is fairly long, enough for a new or inexperienced rider to get settled after pulling away, and for most of the time around town, up to third is as far as you need to go. Its quick-revving nature makes the Bantam feel peppy, and it’s good fun to point and squirt through traffic when filtering for position at the next traffic light grand prix. Action at the clutch lever is nice and light, a must for confident slow manoeuvring, with a positive biting point that takes any surprise away when feeding in the power. Get out beyond the suburbs, and the little Beezer is happy to stretch its legs, with a total of six gears to play with. Snicking between ratios takes very little effort, and the gearbox is slick enough for clutchless upshifts. Although it’ll sit at 70mph without the throttle pinned to the stop, fast dual carriageways aren’t really the ideal environment for the Bantam, and there’s much more to be gained by taking the longer, twistier route. A rev-happy single is always going to vibrate on some level, but there’s nowhere in the rev range that could be classed as annoying. In fact, the only time I noticed frequencies were at a peak was when the image in the rear-view mirror started to dissolve into a blur – neither footpeg, handlebar, nor seat, for that matter, transmitted any uncomfortable engine vibes. Reliability & build quality Build quality doesn’t seem to be in question, and the finish is rather commendable for a budget bike. It looks well put together, with decent fixtures and fittings, and there are no obvious signs of scrimping at all. Value vs rivals At £3,499 +OTR charges, the BSA Bantam undercuts pretty much all the competition, while leading the pack in terms of performance. Under the launch price (which BSA says is ‘introductory’), it’s £400 cheaper than the Royal Enfield HNTR and offers a £500 saving over the Honda GB350S. Equipment In terms of equipment, the Bantam has the bare minimum, but that’s no more than it needs. There are no electronic rider aids, other than ABS, or modes to switch between, but it does have LED lighting all around, including a funky custom-style stop/tail light on the rear fender. The single LCD instrument pod displays speed legibly and includes a gear indicator, tacho, and fuel gauge. It’s generally easy to absorb the information; however, reflections on the glass can obscure it occasionally, and that can be distracting, especially when you’re immersed in camera-monitored 20 mph zones. Switchgear is functional for the most part (there’s an abundance of keypad buttons on the left that don’t seem to do anything), but it feels above the generic average. We’ve seen some accessories on the demo bikes, such as headlight guards and bar-end mirrors, but BSA says they’ll be largely leaving bolt-ons to specialist manufacturers. https://www.motorcyclenews.com/bike-reviews/bsa/bantam/2025/

Aston Villa have completed the signing of Nice striker Evann Guessand for £26m plus £4.3m in add-ons. The 24-year-old Ivory Coast forward scored 12 goals last term and was named player of the season as Nice finished fourth in France's Ligue 1. The France-born attacker boosts Unai Emery's striking options at Villa Park, with Ollie Watkins the only recognised centre forward in the Spaniard's squad. Emery was keen to reinforce his attack following the departures of Marcus Rashford and Marco Asensio following the expiry of their loan spells at the end of last season. "When I heard the club wanted me I didn't think twice," Guessand said. "I'm ready to give my all. Every game, every kick, every minute." Guessand's arrival is Villa's second first-team signing of the summer, following the acquisition of goalkeeper Marco Bizot from French club Brest. Villa's summer transfer window has been impacted by the club's need to comply with Premier League and Uefa financial rules. The club were fined by Uefa earlier this summer for breaching the European governing body's squad cost ratio rules. Villa were fined an initial £9.5m, with a further £12.9m fine conditional on compliance over a three-year period. 'Drogba comparisons are inevitable but premature' Guessand has made steady progress towards the highest level in recent years. After a slow start, he took a significant step forward in the 2024-2025 season under the direction of Franck Haise at Nice. He showed speed and the ability to beat people on the right flank, but also made great progress in finishing when used as a centre forward. His heading game is also improving, even if it's not his first rate at the moment. His form dropped off a little at the end of the season, but that didn't impact his progress. Only Paris St-Germain full-back Achraf Hakimi beat him to the Marc-Vivien Foé Award for Ligue 1's best African Player of the Year 2025. Guessand's style of play and nationality has led to inevitable comparisons with Didier Drogba. There are similarities, given Guesand's combination of power and technical quality. But Drogba was a more accomplished striker when he joined Chelsea in 2004 following a breakthrough campaign with Marseille the season before. Rashford's replacement? Guessand promises to be a versatile acquisition that can help replicate Rashford's role in Emery's squad. Like Rashford, Guessand can play across the front line, as well as at number 10. Only 10 of his 30 Ligue 1 starts last season came at centre-forward, but he also made eight starts on the right wing and nine as a support striker. As a result, Guessand provided eight assists in addition to scoring 12 times, all from open play last term. Only five players were involved in more goals in the French top flight. The nine-cap Ivory Coast international's numbers compare well to those of Watkins and Rashford, who spent the second half of last season on loan at Villa Park. Guessand outperformed his expected goals tally by more than either Watkins or Rashford, but the key point of difference is that he is a more prolific dribbler, leading to significantly more involvement in terms of touches on the ball. Depending on how he is used, Nice's reigning player of the year can also offer more defensively in terms of winning duels and regaining possession – particularly in the opposition third – making him a versatile asset for the campaign ahead. https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c3361y65x16o

It was a salt and pepper shakedown. A diner who asked for pepper on his pizza at a restaurant in Italy was appalled after realizing he’d been charged extra for the seasoning. The incident reportedly occurred at an undisclosed pizzeria located in the center of Bari, a seaside hotspot teaming with tourists, Newsflash reported. The unnamed patron ordered a bottle of water, a beer, and two pies, upon which he had the waiter sprinkle pepper. But when the bill came, the customer was shocked to discover that this seasoning service was not complimentary. A picture of the bill, shared on Aug.9, showed that the customer had been charged a total of 38.50 euros ($45), including a 0.50 ($0.58) surcharge labelled “+pepper.” While some defended the seasoning service fee as reasonable for an added accoutrement, others labeled the pepper tax “crazy,” calling it the latest incident in a veritable epidemic of tourist spots in Europe fleecing visitors. Last month, a coffee shop in Oderzo, in northern Italy allegedly charged a customer an extra 0.10 euros ($0.12) for cutting her croissant in half. The unnamed woman shared a photo of the bill online, sparking a tsunami of backlash against the java joint. “You have to hate your customers to charge them EUR 0.10 to cut a croissant in half,” declared one critic. “A total lack of elegance, refinement, and empathy.” They added, “They should bring hotel management students to your restaurant to show them how not to treat your customers. Pathetic.” Another vented, “What a disgrace… just to cut a croissant!!!” However, the coffee spot’s owner Massimiliano Viotto defended the questionable move, claiming that extra dough was to cover the use of an extra plate and napkin and for the “skill” required to cleave said confection in two. Oftentimes, the ridiculous fees aren’t equitably applied either. Last month, an undercover investigation by the city’s leading rag Le Parisien found that certain Paris restaurants are charging US tourists up to 50% more than local residents. Following a series of complaints about the so-called tourist tax, the publication sent two reporters to a cafe on the heavily-touristed Champ-de-Mars with one dressed as a local while the other posed as a stereotypical American traveler. The probe found that the “American” diner was forced to order the more expensive large-size Coke — while the Frenchman was given a choice of three sizes. https://nypost.com/2025/08/08/lifestyle/italian-tourist-hotspot-under-fire-for-charging-customer-for-pizza-seasoning-crazy/#

France's multi-billion euro mineral water companies are under the spotlight because of climate change and growing concerns about the industry's environmental impact. At issue is whether some world-famous brands, notably the iconic Perrier label, can even continue calling themselves "natural mineral water". A decision in the Perrier case is due in the coming months. It follows revelations in the French media about illicit filtration systems that have been widely used in the industry, apparently because of worries about water contamination, after years of drought linked to climate change. "This really is our Water-gate," says Stéphane Mandard, who has led investigations at Le Monde newspaper. "It's a combination of industrial fraud and state collusion." "And now there is a real Sword of Damocles hanging over the head of Perrier." According to hydrologist Emma Haziza, "the commercial model of the big producers has worked very well. But it is absolutely not sustainable at a time of global climate change". "When you have big brands that feel they have no choice but to treat their water – that means they know there is a problem with the quality." The story hit the headlines a year ago in France after an investigation by Le Monde and Radio France revealed that at least a third of mineral water sold in France had been illegally treated, either with ultra-violet light, carbon filters or ultra-fine micro-meshes commonly used to screen out bacteria. The issue was not one of public health. The treated water was by definition safe to drink. The problem was that under EU law, "natural mineral water" – which sells at a huge premium over tap water – is supposed to be unaltered between the underground source and the bottle. That is the whole point of it. If brands like Evian, Vichy and Perrier have been so successful in France and around the world, it is thanks to an appealing image of mountain-sides, rushing streams, purity and health-giving minerals. Admit filtering the water, and the industry risks breaking the market spell. Consumers might begin to ask what they'd been paying for. Complicating matters for Perrier and its parent company Nestlé – as well as President Emmanuel Macron's government – is the charge that executives and ministers conspired to keep the affair quiet, covered up reports of contamination, and re-wrote the rules so that Perrier could continue using micro-filtration. In their investigations, Le Monde and Radio France alleged that the government considered the mineral water industry so strategic that it agreed to suppress damaging information. A senate inquiry into the affair accused the government of a "deliberate strategy" of "dissimulation". Responding to the allegations, the government has asked the European Commission to rule on what level of micro-filtration is permissible for "natural mineral water". Aurelien Rousseau, who was head of Prime Minister Élisabeth Borne's cabinet at the time, admitted there had been an "error of appreciation" but insisted there was never any risk to public health. Earlier this year, at the senate hearing into the industry, Nestlé's CEO Laurent Freixe admitted that Perrier had indeed used illicit methods to treat its water. But he also had another admission: that an official hydrologists' report into the company's historic site in the Gard department in southern France had recommended against renewing "natural mineral water" status for the company's output. It raises the possibility that for the first time in its 160-year history, Perrier water may soon not be labelled as what people assume it to be. According to the hydrologist Emma Haziza, "the link to climate change and global warming is absolutely established". And if Perrier is feeling the impact ahead of other companies, it is probably because its geographical location sets it apart. Far from the remote mountain landscape you might imagine, Perrier's water is pumped from deep aquifers in the coastal plain between Nîmes and Montpellier, a short drive from the Mediterranean. The area is populous, heavily-farmed, and very hot. "There has been a big climatic shift since 2017," says Haziza. "For five years there was a succession of droughts, which were particularly badly felt in the south." "All the aquifers were affected. This means not just the upper water-table, which is where everyday tap water comes from. We can now see that the deeper aquifers – which the companies thought were protected – are also being hit. "The unforeseen is taking place. We are moving from a period in which companies could draw water from the deep aquifers and be sure they would be replenished, to a period in which it's obvious the whole system cannot go on." The analysis made by Haziza and other hydrologists is that there is now a clear link between deeper and surface aquifers. Contaminants (farm chemicals or human waste) that drain off the land in the increasingly frequent flash floods, can now make their way into the lower aquifers. At the same time, the effects of long-term drought and over-pumping mean these lower aquifers contain less volume, so any contamination will be more concentrated, the experts say. "We can foresee that what has happened first at Perrier's site will happen to other producers in the years to come. That's why we need to move away from our current model of consumption," says Haziza. Last year at the Perrier site, three million bottles had to be destroyed because of a contamination. But the company insists that any problems are swiftly detected; and it disputes the claim that contaminants are entering the deep aquifers. "We are pumping water from 130 metres underground, beneath layers of limestone," says Perrier hydrologist Jérémie Pralong. "We are 100% convinced of the purity of the water. And its mineral make-up is constant." Perrier says there is no EU ruling that specifically bans micro-filtration. The relevant text simply says that nothing must be done to disinfect or alter the mineral make-up of the water. The argument is over at what measure of micro-filtration alteration begins. The original Perrier source was first tapped by a local doctor in the 1860s, but it was under British management that the brand took off 50 years later. St John Harmsworth – brother of newspaper magnates Lords Northcliffe and Rothermere – made Perrier a byword for mineral water across the British empire. According to company lore, Harmsworth took inspiration for the bottles' bulbous shape from the Indian clubs he used for exercise following a crippling car accident. Today the bottling plant at Vergèze is still next to Harmsworth's residence and the original source. The plant has been heavily automated. A rail track connects with the SNCF network to bring hundreds of millions of cans and bottles every year to Marseille for export. The focus for the last year has been on a new brand: Maison Perrier. These energy and flavoured drinks are proving highly successful in France and around the world. The advantage for Perrier is that the new beverages do not claim to be "natural mineral water". They can be treated and filtered without difficulty. Perrier says the new brand is part of the mix, and that it has no intention of abandoning its original Source Perrier natural mineral water. It has stopped the ultra-fine (0.2 micron) microfiltration, and now uses a 0.45 micron system which has been agreed with government. It has applied for "natural mineral water" status for just two out of the five drilling wells it was using for Perrier mineral water. A decision is due later this year. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cyvn3qe0jpgo

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For a certain kind of FPS fan, Battlefield 6's big multiplayer reveal is hitting at the perfect moment. Call of Duty is firmly in its slop era, leaving DICE and co. with an opening to be the only big-budget FPS around that doesn't devolve into a clown show of ugly premium skins like CoD's Beavis and Butthead or Rainbow Six Siege's Rick & Morty collection. Will it actually stand firm? Battlefield Studios isn't making any specific promises, but its messaging is aligned on one thing: A desire to stay "grounded" in the world of Battlefield. "It has to be grounded. That is what BF3 and BF4 was—it was all soldiers, on the ground. It’s going to be like this," design director Shashank Uchil said in an interview with DBLTAP at a London reveal event. "I don’t think it needs Nicki Minaj. Let’s keep it real, keep it grounded." An ocean away in Los Angeles, DICE gave a similar answer, but stopped short of bringing Call of Duty into the conversation. "What’s really important to us is that things feel grounded, and we want people to express themselves and to have cool skins and peacock in a way like 'I look pretty cool and I have this great weapon skin,'" DICE producer Alexia Christofi said in an interview with ComicBook. "But we want it to feel authentic to the franchise, that’s the approach we’re thinking." DICE senior producer David Sirland also told ComicBook that the studio has "rules" around how much a cosmetic can change the profile of its four classes, which would present a hurdle for, to pull a random example out of a hat, a cel-shaded recreation of the American Dad guy to work in BF6. "For example, there is a ghillie material on the Recon skins, and they’re not used on the other [classes] to really emphasize the differences," Sirland said. "There are some rules there, but it’s looser rules than 'It’s always going to look like this.'" Not every dev made available for interview was as forthright about BF6's cosmetics policy. In an interview with PC Gamer, producer Jeremy Chubb sidestepped the subject of crossover skins with a parallel comment about the positive response to Battlefield 6's traditional grit look. "Battlefield is about immersion and authenticity. If you talk to any of our vehicle players, particularly players that are into the modern era military hardware that we use, they just love the feeling," Chubb said. "And certainly we're enjoying the response. People seem to be really happy with what we've got. And I would say that's partially the identity of the game and the experience." When asked if the importance of that identity means BF Studios would make efforts to keep it that way, Chubb chose not to engage. "We just can't talk about the roadmap, what happens afterwards. But you know, we're certainly excited about what we've got for launch." Battlefield Studio's stance on immersion-breaking skins is encouraging for bleary-eyed FPS fans, but frankly, this is the sort of thing you have to see to believe. While Battlefield has shown some restraint with fantastical cosmetics in the past, EA's galactic expectations for Battlefield 6 might leave its makers unwilling to leave crossover money on the table. After all, Battlefield 6's free-to-play battle royale mode is on the horizon. Remember, it was Call of Duty: Warzone's explosive free-to-play po[CENSORED]rity that prompted Activision to get, uh, creative with branded skins in the first place, so it wouldn't be surprising to learn EA is inking a deal for Battlefield/Godzilla bundles as we speak, even if it doesn't take the form of soldier skins. https://www.pcgamer.com/games/fps/it-has-to-be-grounded-battlefield-6-devs-say-cosmetics-wont-be-as-goofy-as-call-of-duty-but-that-sounds-almost-too-good-to-be-true/

Microsoft recently provided some fresh troubleshooting advice for those looking at upgrading from Windows 10 to Windows 11 who might be confused in some respects. Neowin noticed a couple of relatively new support documents which have been published by Microsoft at some point earlier this year. They deal with problems that may arise after upgrading the hardware in your PC in order to get Windows 11, or encountering a particular message telling you that some aspect of the upgrade 'needs attention'. Let's start with the former scenario which is covered in a support article on 'checking if a device meets Windows 11's requirements after changing hardware' and imparts advice for those who have just made an upgrade to ensure their Windows 10 PC can meet the more stringent requirements for Windows 11. That upgrade is most likely to be a new CPU - as older processors are often a major sticking point - or possibly the addition of a TPM 2.0 module (a security feature). At any rate, whatever hardware change you've made to your PC so it's eligible for Windows 11, you may find that when you fire up Windows Update in order to trigger the upgrade, that it isn't there. In other words, the system will tell you that your PC still isn't compatible with Windows 11, even though you've just installed that shiny new component which should do the trick. However, as Microsoft explains, there's no need to panic here. It's actually the case that it "can take up to 24 hours for Windows Update to refresh eligibility info", meaning that you may need to wait for some time before the hardware change filters through and registers with Windows Update - and you're then offered Windows 11. If you can't wait, there's a trick to manually refresh the eligibility assessment of your PC (using Task Scheduler, as advised here), or the easier route is to use the PC Health Check app rather than going into Windows Update (as the app will immediately recognize your upgraded hardware, Microsoft informs us). As for the second support document brought to light, this addresses what to do if you see a 'What needs your attention' notification during the Windows 11 upgrade process, which is a certainly something of a vague spanner in the works. Microsoft explains in detail what this is all about, outlining the reasons why a would-be Windows 11 upgrader might see this notification pop up - including an explanation of the rather cryptic 'no action is needed' message that may accompany it. In this case, the user can't do anything - which you might guess - but what you might not guess is that the known issue causing the message may be resolved by Microsoft in time. And if this happens, you will automatically be offered the Windows 11 upgrade - so, there's still hope in this scenario. Microsoft also details what you can do about 'incompatible privacy settings' if that's the cause of the notification, and provides more info on what to do if incompatible software is the issue. Analysis: Better late than never These are handy clarifications to be furnished with, especially the info on the delay with an upgrade to Windows 11 being cleared on your PC, if you're proceeding via Windows Update after installing new hardware. Those not aware of this (and I wasn't) could potentially upgrade their CPU (say), then spend hours searching the web in vain attempting to find out why they still can't get Windows 11, if they didn't try the PC Health Check app as well as Windows Update (which is entirely possible). So, that app is clearly your best bet for a simple, immediate upgrade to Windows 11 after you've installed the necessary new hardware to meet the requirements of the OS. Ideally, mind, all these details should have been in place a long time ago. Better late than never, of course, but Microsoft really should have been more on the ball with some of this info, rather than adding it recently, at this late stage in the game - no doubt prompted by the fact that Windows 10's End of Life is rapidly coming into view. https://www.techradar.com/computing/windows/confused-about-why-you-cant-upgrade-to-windows-11-microsoft-has-some-new-advice-that-might-help-including-a-trick-i-wasnt-aware-of

Two employees of major semiconductor manufacturer and design company TSMC, as well as one former employee, have been arrested over claims they stole proprietary technology, according to the Financial Times. This is the first trade secrets case to be filed under Taiwan's new national security law, which is designed to clamp down on the sale and theft of trade secrets of "national core technologies," from the country's hugely important chip design sector. Taiwan is home to much of the world's chip design and fabrication infrastructure, headed by TSMC's cutting-edge facilities and intellectual property. In recent years, it has leapt ahead of traditional rivals Samsung and Intel and now produces most of the world's most advanced silicon. That makes it a key target for IP theft, however, and over the years, TSMC has struggled with engineers defecting to competitors and taking trade secrets with them. To that end, Taiwan amended the National Security Act in 2022 to include specific charges for economic espionage related to national defence, aerospace, agriculture, semiconductors, and information security. It's this law that the pair of engineers and a third suspect have been caught by. While FT reports that two of the trio are former employees, Reuters reports that of the three who have been detained, two are current staff members, while one is a former employee. Confusion could stem from the fact that TSMC has fired the workers involved. According to Bloomberg, the number of people arrested could be as high as six. The Taiwan High Prosecutors Office website is currently offline, lending to the confusion. TSMC allegedly discovered the leaks as part of its own internal auditing, before it forwarded the complaint to the authorities. THIP has since conducted a robust investigation, questioning a number of suspects and witnesses, and searching their residences and places of work. That includes a seemingly unaffiliated Japanese chip tool maker, Tokyo Electron. The suspects were arrested on “serious suspicions of violating national security laws." It's alleged that they were attempting to leak details on TSMC's cutting-edge 2nm chip development, which puts them well within the sights of the National Security Act, which has specific restrictions on the leaking of semiconductor technology at the sub-14nm scale. Smaller process nodes offer greater efficiency and performance, as they allow the packing of more transistors into the same physical footprint. However, the smaller you go, the harder manufacturing becomes, which is why there's such an economic arms race to produce the most compact silicon wafers possible. TSMC is at the forefront, with Chinese firms Huawei Technologies Co. and Semiconductor Manufacturing International now beginning to fabricate silicon at around 7nm. Samsung and Intel are much closer, but they don't have anywhere near the reputation or customer bases of TSMC, which produces some 90% of the world's most advanced silicon. TSMC couldn't be drawn to discuss the case further, but stated that: “We will continue to strengthen our internal management and monitoring systems and will work closely with relevant regulatory authorities as necessary to protect our competitive advantage and operational stability.” https://www.tomshardware.com/tech-industry/semiconductors/two-former-tsmc-employees-arrested

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A group of Yorkshire Labour MPs have written to the chair of their region's water company to demand answers over "disgraceful" payments made to its chief executive. The MPs, which include Rother Valley's Jake Richards and Bradford West MP Naz Shah, are addressing the £1.3m in previously undisclosed payments paid to Yorkshire Water boss Nicola Shaw. The company has previously defended the payments, saying they were from the firm's parent company Kelda Holdings, which is based offshore. MPs have now written to the company's chair Vanda Murray calling for full transparency over the payments. Richards said: "At a time when constituents are facing a 41% increase in water bills, sewage is polluting our rivers, and pipes are bursting, the CEO is accepting payments that completely contradict her public statements. "Nicola Shaw promised she would decline bonuses out of respect for public anger, while in private she accepts even more money." He said this was the reason why public confidence in water companies was at "rock bottom". Yorkshire Water, which announced a hosepipe ban for millions of users in July, was one of six firms banned from paying "unfair" bonuses to their executives this year. A report in The Guardian said Ms Shaw had received £1.3m in previously undisclosed extra pay since 2023 from Yorkshire Water's parent company, Kelda Holdings. The company said this was for work including "investor engagement, financial oversight, and management of the Kelda Group", and the money came from shareholders. It said the payments were made in addition to her £660,000 salary, and came from Kelda Holdings, which is registered in Jersey. In the letter to Ms Murray, the MPs said: "It is disgraceful that Ms Shaw has publicly refused bonuses and yet discreetly accepted large payments." The also pose a series of detailed questions, including why she was paid £1.3m in addition to her salary, why Yorkshire Water's parent company is based offshore and if Ms Shaw's payments were an indirect substitute for bonuses she had publicly declined? MPs to sign the letter include: Abtisam Mohamed, Sheffield Central Clive Betts, Sheffield South East Richard Burgon, Leeds East Anna Dixon, Shipley Josh Fenton-Glynn, Calder Valley Gill Furniss, Sheffield Brightside and Hillsborough Fabian Hamilton, Leeds North East Alison Hume, Scarborough and Whitby Jake Richards, Rother Valley Naz Shah, Bradford West Alex Sobel, Leeds Central and Headingley Marie Tidball, Penistone and Stocksbridge Yorkshire Water has been fined several times recently for failures over wastewater and sewage, including in March when it had to pay £40m to the regulator Ofwat. The company was ordered to pay more than £900,000 last month after polluting a watercourse with millions of litres of chlorinated water, causing the death of hundreds of fish. And in May, the company was ordered to pay £350,000 after a watercourse in North Yorkshire was polluted with sewage. The hosepipe ban was also introduced on 11 July after a period of very hot and dry weather across the country left reservoir stocks low. Yorkshire Water said it had no additional comment to make regarding the letter. However, the firm previously said regarding the payments to Ms Shaw from Kelda Holdings, that as part of her role she also does "some work for the benefit of Yorkshire Water's parent company, Kelda Group". This work included "investor engagement, financial oversight, and management of the Kelda Group, which is recognised by a fee of £660k paid by shareholders". It said it did not believe work done on investor-related activities should be paid for by Yorkshire Water customers. The company added that the fee "reflects the critical importance of the work during this period that was led by Nicola in securing long-term investment for Yorkshire Water". It said: "We are determined to make improvements to our performance so we can deliver our part in creating a thriving Yorkshire, doing right for our customers and the environment." https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyd145318jo

Manchester United have made a bid for RB Leipzig striker Benjamin Sesko with the overall package potentially rising to 85m euros (£73.8m). The offer includes a guaranteed payment of 75m euros (£65.2m). The Red Devils are yet to get a response but believe it is an appropriate valuation for the 22-year-old Slovenia forward and that he is keen to move to Old Trafford. Newcastle United also want Sesko and have made a bid in the region of 80m euros (£69.5m) as they continue negotiations with Leipzig. The offer from Manchester United is seen as significant as there had been suggestions they did not want to firm up their interest with Leipzig without knowing the forward was prepared to join them. Manchester United are willing to let Rasmus Hojlund leave the club in order to make space for Sesko to come in. Man Utd's number one target - is this finally the summer of Sesko? Sesko has 39 goals in 87 appearances for Leipzig and, at 6ft 5in, he would also bring a significant physical presence to the Old Trafford club's front line. Manchester United sources have previously outlined how it is possible for them to reach an agreement on Sesko even though Sir Jim Ratcliffe said earlier this year there was the potential for the club to go bust by Christmas without massive cost-cutting measures. Payment arrangements for the deals for Matheus Cunha and Bryan Mbeumo from Wolves and Brentford this summer, which total £130m, have been arranged in a favourable way. In addition, the entirety of Marcus Rashford's £325,000-a-week salary is being covered by his loan move to Barcelona and Manchester United received £5m from Chelsea after the Blues pulled out of a deal to sign Jadon Sancho. Manchester United have also received more than £15m in payments as part of sell-on clauses involving Anthony Elanga, Alvaro Carreras and Maxi Oyedele. Why do Man Utd and Newcastle want Sesko? Since moving to Germany, Sesko is the top scorer currently aged under 23 in all competitions, of players based in Europe's top five leagues - with 39 goals in 87 games. He is one ahead of Real Madrid's Jude Bellingham and five clear of Florian Wirtz, who joined Liverpool from Bayer Leverkusen for £100m this summer. Sesko is big, strong, quick, good in the air and a fine finisher, and has been compared to Erling Haaland - and not just because they both played for Salzburg. As well as being a goalscorer, last season he was more of an all-rounder, with just 9.7% of his touches coming in the opposition box - compared with 17% the season before. He got involved more on both wings and further back into midfield. He was one of the fastest strikers in the Bundesliga at 35.7km/h - and had the best aerial success rate of strikers involved in at least 60 of them. Only six forwards have scored more goals in the Bundesliga in the past two seasons, even though Sesko is 16th for expected goals, 14th on shots and 22nd on touches in the opposition box. And he is lethal from long range too, with 36.8% of his shots - and 23.1% of his goals - coming from outside the box. Both are higher than any Bundesliga striker to score 12 or more goals last season. A recruitment specialist working at the highest level recently said: "I think the physicality of the Premier League won't overawe him. "The Bundesliga is one of the big three in the world, but when you look at transitioning into big leagues he has the physical capabilities to do it. "You wouldn't expect him to hit the ground running straight away, but in six to 12 months he will be fine and you've got yourself a very good player." https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c79l8g84p59o

A BBC investigation has exposed the French and UK operations of a powerful and violent smuggling gang taking people across the English Channel in small boats. A reporter, posing as a migrant wanting to cross, helped us gain unprecedented access to the smugglers' notorious forest hideout in northern France - an area plagued by armed battles between rival gangs. Secret filming at a major UK railway station also captured associates of the gang collecting cash payments to secure migrant places on illegal Channel crossings. Two men met us on separate occasions on the busy concourse at Birmingham's New Street Station to collect envelopes containing hundreds of pounds. Multiple sources have described how gang leaders, who keep one step ahead of the authorities by changing mobile phone numbers and the gang's name, subjected their henchmen and migrants to violent beatings. We have managed to identify three men - Jabal, Aram and al-Millah - all Iraqi-Kurds, who are believed to lead the outfit, which is one of the main groups in northern France transporting people to the UK by small boat. We have also come across other senior figures, including a man called Abdullah, whom we witnessed shepherding groups of migrants towards boats. Another gang member, Besha, who had escorted migrants in France, took a small boat to the UK himself, we learned, ending up in a migrant hostel in West Yorkshire having claimed asylum. The findings are the culmination of months of undercover fieldwork and the creation of multiple fake identities to engage with the smugglers. We have been able to build a detailed picture of the gang's tentacle-like structure and the ways it has successfully evaded the police. Our investigation began in April 2024, after we witnessed French police trying to stop the gang from launching an inflatable boat into the Channel. In the chaos, five people were trampled to death onboard, including a 7-year-old girl named Sarah. "There's no danger," said smuggler Abdullah last week, as he spoke to our undercover colleague and gestured towards a cluster of tents hidden deep within a forest outside the French port of Dunkirk. "You are welcome to stay here. We'll get a boat ready nearby and set to sea. We need to move early to avoid the police - it's a cat and mouse game," Abdullah continued, with the reassuring smile of an airline official at a check-in counter. "God willing, the weather will be on our side." The trip across the Channel would be with "a mixture of Somalis, Sudanese, Kurds and so on", he explained, boasting about two successful launches the previous week, with 55 people on each. "Should I bring a lifejacket?" asked our colleague, an Arabic-speaking BBC reporter, posing as a Syrian migrant and wearing a hidden camera. "That's really up to you," the smuggler replied. Criss-crossed by narrow sandy paths, the forest is beside a main road, a huge canal and a train line, some 4km (2.5 miles) from the French coast. For years, rival gangs and their customers have hidden from the French police here - the gangs' spotters carefully guarding every possible entrance. Deadly gun battles and stabbings are not uncommon here, particularly during the summer, as gangs settle scores and compete over the lucrative and highly competitive small-boat people-smuggling industry. The day after our encounter, we heard of another fatal shooting. Abdullah was, we knew, an increasingly powerful and trusted figure in a gang that has emerged as one of the key players in northern France. It is one of perhaps four gangs now managing crossings and specific launch areas themselves - rather than simply supplying passengers like many of the smaller gangs. Abdullah was, we suspected, a close relative of a more senior figure. Well-dressed, friendly, and constantly on the phone with clients, he seemed entirely at ease in the forest. "No worries," he smiled, as our undercover colleague declined the offer of an overnight stay in the camp and left. A few days later we would be following the gang and its paying clients towards the coast, as they tried to hide from the police, through the night, in a different wooded area. Abdullah would even try to convince our reporting team that he was just another desperate person trying to reach the UK, rather than a smuggler making hundreds of thousands of pounds by risking people's lives in the Channel. When we first began to investigate the gang, it was known to those using its services as The Mountain (or Jabal, in Arabic). That was the word customers would use when making payments - and the word we had heard from those who had been on Sarah's ill-fated boat. We soon learned that Jabal was also the name of one of the gang's leaders, all from the same area of Iraqi Kurdistan, near the city of Sulaymaniyah. Jabal controlled logistics from Belgium and France. Another man, Aram, had spent time in Europe but now appeared to be back in Iraq, possibly more involved in drumming up new customers. The third leader, even more shadowy than the others, was known as al-Millah (The Chief in English). He appeared to take a lead on the gang's financial operations. In June 2024, we tracked down Jabal to a migrant reception centre in Luxembourg and confronted him on the street. He denied any involvement and, although we promptly informed the French police, quickly disappeared. "He fled after your intervention in Luxembourg, and he changed his phone and probably fled abroad," said Xavier Delrieu, who heads the French police's anti-smuggling unit. "His whereabouts are now unknown. The investigation is continuing." Delrieu later told us there had been "one arrest [of an Iraqi] linked to Sarah's death", but declined to give any further information, citing operational secrecy. We do not believe Jabal has been arrested. "As long as it is profitable, they're going to continue," said Delrieu. Pascal Marconville, lead prosecutor at the regional Court of Appeal for northern France, agreed: "It's like chess. And they have [the advantage] on the board. So, they're always one step ahead of us." It is a gloomy assessment, backed up by some of our own findings during this investigation, and it shows how difficult it may be for UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer to deliver on his promise to "smash the gangs". The UK-French "one-in, one-out" pilot scheme, now in force, will "deliver real results", says Mr Starmer. The deal will see some of those arriving in small boats detained and returned to France. 'Small hands' After Jabal's disappearance in Luxembourg, we returned to northern France to continue our investigation. We spoke to more than a dozen people who had used the gang to reach - or to try to reach - the UK by small boat. With their help, and by analysing other footage we had filmed the night of Sarah's death, we identified several junior gang members - known as "small hands" or simply "guides" in Kurdish, including some who had helped launch Sarah's boat. We tracked the small hands on their social media accounts as they moved around Europe, often seeming to flaunt their wealth. One middle-ranking smuggler known as Besha, we learned, had left on a small boat with his Iranian girlfriend to claim asylum in the UK. We had first begun following him, undercover, as he escorted groups of migrants from Calais to Boulogne train station, ahead of attempts to cross the Channel. Months later, we tracked him and his girlfriend to a migrant hostel in Wakefield, West Yorkshire. We staked it out for three days but lost track of them when they left suddenly. After Sarah's death, and the extensive publicity it attracted, the gang changed its name from The Mountain, to Ghali Ghali. It is an unusual Arabic and Kurdish phrase that may perhaps be best translated as "Exclusive". For a time, we heard lots of talk of Ghali Ghali, both online and at the train and bus stations in Calais and beyond. The gang was known to be cheap and relatively reliable. Some people who had failed to cross the Channel with the group said they had been reimbursed promptly. For plenty of migrants, the gangs are seen primarily not as dangerous criminals but as entrepreneurs offering a valuable service. Then the gang changed its name twice more - firstly to al-Millah, the nickname of the shadowy third gang leader, and then to Kaka, which means Brother but is also, we believe, another of his nicknames. More recently at least two other names have been used. Unlike many other gangs - who advertise prominently online, particularly on TikTok, using videos of crossings and other scenes, and seek to appeal to particular ethnic groups - our gang has kept a low profile. It works with a wide range of nationalities, particularly from Iraq and Africa, and seems to rely for business on reputation and word of mouth. But that reputation has continued to be affected by news of more deaths in the Channel. We discovered at least seven more people - after the initial five on Sarah's boat - had died in two separate incidents while attempting to cross with the gang. On land, disturbing evidence of the gang's violence has also emerged. Earlier this year, two sources told us the shadowy figure, al-Millah, was running the gang's operations in the forest near Dunkirk. Independently, our sources both described a scene, one winter's day, when he ordered his small hands to stand in a line, before tying one of them to a tree and beating him severely. It seems the boss suspected the man of stealing money. Al-Millah is "the leader" a young Somali woman told us, separately, by text. "No [migrants] meet him. They are all family… they are also theifs [sic]." We had met the woman, who gave her name as Luna, at a food distribution point run by local charities outside Dunkirk. She had paid the gang for a crossing, she said, but had waited for two months in the forest camp and been disturbed by the abuse she had encountered. In her texts, she described how she feared one of al-Millah's henchmen, whom she called "Abdulah". "He put a gun in [sic] my head one night. He is a very dangerous guy he slap me so many times," she wrote - before sharing a brief video she had secretly filmed of him. Based on that video, and on other details, we believe this is the same Abdullah our undercover reporter would go on to meet in the forests around Dunkirk. A few days later, on what she said was her 13th attempt, Luna crossed to the UK with a different gang. She has since broken off contact with us. Mobile phone number It was at this point that we stepped up our investigation - trying to engage more directly with the gang and penetrate its operations. While its leaders had repeatedly changed phone numbers, we managed to confirm that one mobile number belonging to al-Millah remained in use. We later learned the phone had been handed over to Abdullah, who had apparently taken over the running of operations in Dunkirk. Two weeks ago, we made a strategic visit to Brussels - a common transit point for migrants heading to the coast of northern France. Having already used multiple fake identities to contact Abdullah on his mobile, we now rang him again. We knew it was important to be careful when making such a call. The gang would often ask customers to send a pin to confirm their location, and then to make a video call to back that up and to ensure they were genuine. Standing on a street near Brussels' Gare Du Midi, our Arab-speaking colleague, posing as a migrant called "Abu Ahmed", came straight to the point. "Hello. Brother, I'm travelling alone. I want to leave quickly, please. Do you have a departure tomorrow, the day after, or this week?" "Tomorrow, God willing," Abdullah replied. "I prefer to pay in the UK if possible. My money is in a safe place there." This was not an unusual or suspicious request for us to make. Although some people carry cash with them, many others arrange to pay the smugglers through bank transfers or via intermediaries in a range of countries including Turkey, Germany, Belgium and the UK. The money sometimes goes directly to the gang, or it can be held "in trust" to be handed over only after a successful crossing. Birmingham New Street concourse We wanted to expose the gang's links in the UK, having already tracked one member to Wakefield. "OK. The price is €1,400," said Abdullah - over £1,200. He seemed in a rush. A few hours later in a text, he sent us a UK mobile phone number and indicated his own name "Abdullah" should be used as a payment reference, along with the single word "Birmingham". Leaving our colleague Abu Ahmed to make his own way to the French coast, we rushed to Birmingham to arrange payment. Handing money over to criminals is not something we do lightly - but in this instance we decided there was a public interest in doing so as it was the only way we could further expose the gang and its wider network. A few hours later, having arranged for a separate BBC colleague, who also speaks Arabic, to pose as one of Abu Ahmed's relatives in the UK and to hand over an envelope containing the cash, we staked out a meeting place in the centre of Birmingham's New Street. Abdullah had given us a UK phone number for his contact, and we arranged to meet the man beside a giant metal sculpture of a bull. Our colleague stood, silently, as the crowds flowed around him. We sat on benches nearby, scanning each face, waiting to see if someone would show up, or if the gang had become suspicious of our plan. Ten minutes later, and on time, someone showed up. "Greetings, brother." "It's all here," said our colleague, holding up the money to show to a bearded man with a glass eye. The man said his name was Bahman, and that he had been sent by his uncle. Bahman appeared relaxed and unsuspecting as the two men briefly chatted in the middle of the busy concourse, as we secretly filmed their encounter. "Cash is a problem. I swear, it's a problem," said Bahman, implying that he was not simply a "runner" sent to collect the cash, but someone with at least a passing knowledge of the broader operation. He did not explain why cash was a "problem" but took the money - an agreed payment of £900, about three-quarters of the total smugglers' bill - and left. Small boat passengers can deposit money for their crossing in holding accounts in the UK and elsewhere using "hawala" brokers. It is a global honour system, widely used in the Middle East, in particular, that enables the transfer of money via mutually trusted third parties. But there is a fee payable to businesses offering such a service. The fact that Bahman did not ask for any extra money strongly suggested he was not simply an agent or middleman, but directly linked to our gang in France. Final downpayment We then travelled back to Dunkirk, where our colleague Abu Ahmed was finally in a credible position to make direct contact with Abdullah in the forest. Abdullah told us he had received confirmation from Birmingham that most of the money for a crossing had been handed over. We had deliberately left a sum unpaid to give our colleague a good reason to meet Abdullah in his camp, rather than joining the group later as it headed south along the coast to attempt a crossing. With two undercover security guards watching his back from a distance, Abu Ahmed walked towards the forest, following the directions that Abdullah handed out, one texted detail at a time, until he was told to leave the road and clamber down a steep bank. There, he handed over another €400 (£348) to Abdullah, as agreed, before making his excuses, explaining he was staying with other friends in Calais who were also seeking to cross to England. Two days later, our undercover reporter received confirmation from Abdullah that an attempted crossing would be made early the next morning. "We are waiting for you near the main station in Boulogne," Abdullah said in one of several brief voice messages. The weather forecast in the Channel was ideal. Hardly a breath of wind. As we had often observed before, French police were already positioned outside the bus and train stations in Dunkirk, Calais and Boulogne - the main gathering points for migrants moving to the beaches. But they made no attempt to stop anyone boarding. Instead, their aim appeared to be to gather information about numbers of people and locations, to help work out where they might later have the best chance of intercepting and destroying the inflatable boats the gangs would, inevitably, head towards. Slashing the inflatable boats with knives before they reach the sea has become the police's main method to prevent launches. As a result, the gangs have begun to change Roughly half all the small boats crossing the Channel are now so-called "taxi-boats" - a police source told us - launched with few or no passengers and in secret. The craft then cruise along the coastline to pick up people waiting in the shallows. "Forty-three tickets," said one of the small hands, addressing a bus driver, as he and a crowd of mostly African men and women clustered at the door, alongside our undercover colleague. It was a familiar scene, with different smuggling gangs all arranging for their customers to gather and to travel along the French coastline on public transport towards different launch spots. Our colleague, Abu Ahmed, initially travelled with the migrants, but - for his own safety - we had agreed he would slip away from the group before nightfall, and before they got close to the beaches. 'Fifteen women. Forty people in all' From a distance, we watched Abdullah walk across a street in Boulogne, having accompanied some of his passengers there from Dunkirk and Calais. He wore black and carried a large backpack. More people arrived, and sat or lay near him, behind some bushes at a bus stop. They waited for several hours, until early evening, before getting on a local bus heading south towards Ecault beach, an area we knew was a favourite launch spot for the gang. By seven that evening, with our cameras in plain sight, we were openly following Abdullah and perhaps 40 other people, as they walked down a sandy path through the woods and towards the long straight expanse of Ecault beach. Many in the group hid their faces from us but made no move to discourage us from filming, as they moved, suddenly, away from the path and then sat down in a wooded area. Only one person in the group agreed to talk to us. It was Abdullah himself. In quiet, halting English, he told us he was an Iranian migrant, that his name was Ahmed, and that this was his second, or possibly third, attempt to cross. Perhaps Abdullah thought that by telling journalists this story, he was building a useful public alias that he might use later - like others in the gang have done - if he ever sought to claim asylum in the UK. Abruptly, the sound of police radios in the distance brought all conversation to an end. The group of migrants - including many Somalis, some Sudanese, and possibly some Iranian families - sat in total silence for perhaps an hour. Eventually two French gendarmes spotted them through the undergrowth and walked, slowly, forwards. The younger officer held a canister of pepper spray in his right hand, and it seemed as if all eyes in the group were fixed on it. "Women?" asked the older office in English. "Babies?" he continued and walked around the group counting heads. We had heard the police tend to intervene more often when there are babies involved. The officers also checked our team's press cards as we sat nearby. "Fifteen women. Forty people in all," the officer concluded, and then, affably enough, he offered a parting, "good luck". A few hours later, as darkness fell, one sombre-looking family left. Their child, a boy of perhaps 10 years old, was coughing heavily. A single policeman remained, leaning on a nearby tree and occasionally shining a torch towards the rest of the group, until about 23:00, when he left. The tension quickly melted away. Grins flashed in the darkness. For all the weariness and the risk, the younger men in the group seemed buoyed by a collective sense of adventure. By 02:00, the last muttered conversations faded away. It was now a cold, silent night, broken only by snores, the occasional yelp of someone dreaming, and the hoot of a single owl. At about 06:30 the following morning, word spread through the group. The police had found whatever boat the gang had prepared for them overnight - we had seen Abdullah disappear into the darkness for at least an hour at one point - and destroyed it. Quietly, people stood up, gathered their lifejackets and blankets and, following Abdullah and his team, began to walk back up the path towards the closest bus stop to head back to their camps and wait for another chance to cross. Meanwhile, we had another journey to make, and a confrontation. Back to Birmingham We had considered seeing if we could get a reimbursement from Abdullah by claiming that our colleague, Abu Ahmed, had changed his mind about the crossing. Instead, we decided it was more important to try to challenge the gang's UK-based associates. And so, later that same day, our undercover reporter called Abdullah one more time. Abu Ahmed said his two friends in Calais also wanted to cross, and that he had left Abdullah's group on the bus because he preferred to travel with his friends. Could they pay in Birmingham too? Just like the last time? The next day, we were back at New Street Station again. It was a near identical repeat of our earlier visit there, except this time, when a different unnamed man - also young, and bearded - arrived beside the bull sculpture to collect yet more cash for the smuggling gang, we broke cover and walked straight up to him, our cameras rolling. "We're from BBC News. We know you're linked to a people smuggling gang…" The man looked around, momentarily confused, his eyes darting. Then he turned and broke into a frantic sprint, heading to the station exit and across the street beyond before vanishing into the city. A few days later, we called Abdullah and by phone and asked him about his smuggling activities. At first, he denied any wrongdoing. Then offered us money. Then he said he needed to call his boss. Then he hung up. https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly48nmmzdro

Pro, totally deserves to join the staff team as an ex-staff team member and as an active member