King_of_dark

The family of a modern pentathlete have paid tribute to a hard-working "very genuine young man", after he missed out on a place in an Olympic final by one place and two seconds. Charlie Brown, 21, had been called up as a late replacement for injured team-mate Myles Pillage. Brown, a University of Bath student, said he was putting his Shropshire hometown "Cleobury Mortimer on the map" and Team GB had been "amazing". Father Martin Brown stated his son was almost "a competition animal". The student, who also has connections with Kidderminster in Worcestershire, began studying and training at the university in 2021 and studies sports management and coaching. The five sports are shooting, running, swimming, fencing and showjumping. Following the Olympic semi-final, mother Liz Brown said: "[He] absolutely loves people, noise. When he went on that platform, we just said to ourselves 'that is Charlie's arena, that's just what he absolutely loves'. "He's just very grounded, [a] lovely lad. I am gonna say that, because I'm his mother, but he actually is a very genuine young man." She added: "It's like watching a three-hour penalty shootout and even if you don't support the teams, then you add in your emotion for your team, it's just... emotionally draining." The competitor's father said his son had always given it his all "in anything he's done and he just applies himself and just loves competition". He stated: "The fact that we've been in pony club and stuff like that, he's a good rider, he's a good runner, he can swim well. "He's had good coaches throughout his career." Asked about showjumping on Friday, Charlie Brown said he was "really proud of that round". He added: "Horse riding's something [that's] really special to me, as I grew up with horses. My whole family rides. "All the support from back home's been amazing. Everyone... [from] Shropshire, they're amazing people and it's nice to represent them as well as the whole nation." Questioned about what it had meant to have the Team GB logo on his chest, Brown replied: "That's something that I get quite emotional about. "I've always wanted to be an Olympian since I was younger and I've got all my family and friends watching me." Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cx28y49rev2o

The boss of Koenigsegg isn’t sold on restomods. We’re talking creations like Singers, Eagles and that Eccentrica Diablo thingy. Coolest cars in the world? Not according to the man who invents three new types of gearbox before you’ve eaten breakfast. “I think it shows the lack of desirability within modern car space” he told us at Top Gear’s ‘Boss Level' meeting of hypercar minds. “I think, 'what's driving this?'. It's like everyone is looking back to the good old days. And that I think is what disturbs me a bit. “We should be able to create that feeling and emotion with who we are today and what we do today,” he added. “And it just seems to be lacking somehow given that all of that [restomod culture] needs to happen." The Koenigsegg founder was quick to note the work done by restomod companies themselves is hugely impressive, citing Porsche 911 specialists Singer as a prime example. “I've seen Singer at The Quail [during Monterey Car Week] now for probably ten years. They really pioneered the po[CENSORED]rity among the broader audience and have done a fantastic job at it. “It’s a difficult question, right? Does it take away from the purity of the original or is it the other way around? I dunno, difficult to say.” The hypercar bosses we’d invited along for a chat tended to disagree. Mate Rimac is all in on reborn retro cars, explaining: “I love restomods. Actually I'm very close also with the Singer guys. I have a Turbo on order. “For me, my journey started with an E30 BMW 3 Series. I always wanted an E30 M3 and luckily now I could afford one. I love driving that car and I love looking at it. It's beautiful… but even the most basic cars today are better at steering or braking or even acceleration.” Turns out Mate has an idea how to solve that, though. “I would love to have a restomod E30 with a V10,” he grins, nodding when we ask if that would be the V10 from the E60 M5. “Sure, with a manual,” he adds. “That's one project I want to do.” Stateside, John Hennessey also has his eye on the restomod scene. “I'm a big fan, whether it's American muscle, whether it's some of the classic Italians, I think it's a very cool art form,” he tells us. “I just wish I could afford more of 'em. I mean the really nice ones are between half a million to $2 million, and I'd have one of each of 'em.” So, would Hennessey ever decide to reboot some classic Americana? “We’ve looked at doing restomods in our mo dification business – if I had additional staff and resources. I won't say what cars we would want to restomod, but I've got a few ideas…” Want to hear more of what the makers of the world’s fastest car had to say about the past, present and future of fast cars? Then subscribe to the Top Gear YouTube channel for the two-part ‘Boss Level’ film, download the Top Gear magazine podcast, and don’t miss Link: https://www.topgear.com/car-news/interview/heres-why-christian-von-koenigsegg-doesnt-restomods

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal's players have told him they "want more" this season as they look to deny Manchester City a fifth consecutive Premier League title. The Gunners have finished second to City in the past two league campaigns, and were just two points behind Pep Guardiola's side last season. On the evening after the final match of last season against Everton, Arteta and Arsenal held a gathering in central London that was attended by owner and co-chairman Josh Kroenke, players with their families and club staff. "All the players were saying to me, 'we’re going to be better, we’re going to do it, we want more,'" said Arteta. "They are the ones driving that ambition, so that's always positive." Arsenal face Wolves at Emirates Stadium in their first match of the season on Saturday, and Arteta says his side are relishing the start of their title bid. "We are really excited," he said. "We've been missing the competition for many weeks, too long for us. "We're so willing to start, really enthusiastic about it. "We had a really challenging pre-season. The team has looked really sharp, really at it and desperate to play." No teams in the Premier League have been able to improve their points tally in five consecutive seasons, but that may be what Arsenal need to achieve to become champions for the first time since 2004. The season-by-season improvement so far means Arsenal have gone from totting up just 56 points in 2019-20 to posting 89 points last season. Former England captain Alan Shearer gave his thoughts about Arsenal's title prospects in his BBC Sport column, where he said that "the one thing they are missing... is a goalscorer". Shearer explained: "If Arsenal sign a top striker then I would back them to go on and win the league." Arteta sees his team as a long way from the finished article, and efforts are ongoing to strengthen the squad as the manager backs the group to grow stronger. "We're still very far from perfection," said Arteta. "This team still has levels to reach and they give me the reasons to believe that because I see the way they train and the way they play every day. "I believe there is still big room to improve." Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx2l0gkk2y0o

Mikel Arteta says Arsenal's players have told him they "want more" this season as they look to deny Manchester City a fifth consecutive Premier League title. The Gunners have finished second to City in the past two league campaigns, and were just two points behind Pep Guardiola's side last season. On the evening after the final match of last season against Everton, Arteta and Arsenal held a gathering in central London that was attended by owner and co-chairman Josh Kroenke, players with their families and club staff. "All the players were saying to me, 'we’re going to be better, we’re going to do it, we want more,'" said Arteta. "They are the ones driving that ambition, so that's always positive." Arsenal face Wolves at Emirates Stadium in their first match of the season on Saturday, and Arteta says his side are relishing the start of their title bid. "We are really excited," he said. "We've been missing the competition for many weeks, too long for us. "We're so willing to start, really enthusiastic about it. "We had a really challenging pre-season. The team has looked really sharp, really at it and desperate to play." No teams in the Premier League have been able to improve their points tally in five consecutive seasons, but that may be what Arsenal need to achieve to become champions for the first time since 2004. The season-by-season improvement so far means Arsenal have gone from totting up just 56 points in 2019-20 to posting 89 points last season. Former England captain Alan Shearer gave his thoughts about Arsenal's title prospects in his BBC Sport column, where he said that "the one thing they are missing... is a goalscorer". Shearer explained: "If Arsenal sign a top striker then I would back them to go on and win the league." Arteta sees his team as a long way from the finished article, and efforts are ongoing to strengthen the squad as the manager backs the group to grow stronger. "We're still very far from perfection," said Arteta. "This team still has levels to reach and they give me the reasons to believe that because I see the way they train and the way they play every day. "I believe there is still big room to improve." Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/cx2l0gkk2y0o

The head of South East Water said the company had been "caught on the hop" by the speed of climate change. David Hinton, the firm's chief executive, told BBC South East greater demand than had been expected was partly to blame for recent outages. He said lifestyle changes, with more people working from home, were also a factor. After outages for more than a week in parts of Kent and Sussex in June 2023 the company is being investigated by the industry watchdog Ofwat over possible failures in maintaining supply. "I think it's caught everyone on the hop" said Mr Hinton, "it's really gone way ahead of what we've predicted. "We've had one in 40 year, one in 500 year, we had one in 200 year weather events in the same year. No-one was predicting that kind of effect." Mr Hinton said plans have had to be modified with more investment needed. "We've just put in a business plan to Ofwat with a considerable amount of extra resilience funding in that. "We're looking to really get ahead of climate change. We were fine up until 2020 and resilience was good, we've just seen a big change in the weather." South East Water is based in Snodland, Kent, and has 2.2m customers across Sussex, Kent, Surrey, Hampshire and Berkshire. A consultation was launched in July into increases in bills, with the company wanting a rise of £51 but Ofwat saying it should be just £18. A final decision will be announced in December. "Most of that gap in the funding is on resilience" said Mr Hinton, "and we've been in dialogue with Ofwat since they made that announcement. "I really hope we can close that gap because we really do need it. I want bills to go up enough to be able to fund the investment. "If customers really want us to invest they're happy to pay for us to invest, and those who can't pay will be supported." South East Water is constructing a £39m treatment works on the site of a former print works in Aylesford. Due to be completed by summer 2025, it will serve the Maidstone area and, the company said, help to prevent future supply interruptions. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvg5pd57ppro

Israel's attacks on Hezbollah targets have had terrifying effects on local civilians, who have been forced to flee place after place in search of safety. Cross-border attacks by Israel and Hezbollah have left tens of thousands of people displaced on both sides. In Lebanon, recent Israeli air strikes have killed 600 people and left thousands of injured and another 90,000 newly displaced. Some of those abandoning their houses told the BBC of their experiences, leaving their possessions behind and having to rely on strangers to survive. Among them is Valentine Nesser, a journalist who fled southern Lebanon with her mother and brother on Monday, when an intense bombardment made it Lebanon's deadliest day in decades. "We went to Mount Lebanon, about 30 minutes from Beirut, which is currently considered a safe zone," she said. The journey took them 15 hours because of severe traffic jams as thousands tried to get away. "We came here without anything, because the bombs were everywhere and we want to be safe as soon as possible," she added. "We are staying in a hotel that's been converted into a displaced centre and there are more than 300 people here now, with the number increasing. "We have, like, 50 people in the same room. Many people still haven't found a place to stay and some have been forced to sleep in their cars." She said local authorities were providing food and water, adding that although she had lived through periods of conflict before, this time was different. "This time is more tension, more sadness, more anger." https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cly3g1dplppo

The amount of hate speech Twitter removed after it was flagged up slipped to 45.4 percent from 49.8 percent the year before. Twitter took longer to review hateful content and removed less of it in 2022 compared with the previous year, according to European Union data released Thursday. The EU figures were published as part of an annual evaluation of online platforms' compliance with the 27-nation bloc's code of conduct on disinformation. Twitter wasn't alone — most other tech companies signed up to the voluntary code also scored worse. But the figures could foreshadow trouble for Twitter in complying with the EU's tough new online rules after owner Elon Musk fired many of the platform's 7,500 full-time workers and an untold number of contractors responsible for content moderation and other crucial tasks. The EU report, carried out over six weeks in the spring, found Twitter assessed just over half of the notifications it received about illegal hate speech within 24 hours, down from 82 percent in 2021. In comparison, the amount of flagged material Facebook reviewed within 24 hours fell to 64 percent, Instagram slipped to 56.9 percent and YouTube dipped to 83.3 percent. TikTok came in at 92 percent, the only company to improve. The amount of hate speech Twitter removed after it was flagged up slipped to 45.4 percent from 49.8 percent the year before. TikTok's removal rate fell by a quarter to 60 percent, while Facebook and Instagram only saw minor declines. Only YouTube's takedown rate increased, surging to 90 percent. “It's worrying to see a downward trend in reviewing notifications related to illegal hate speech by social media platforms,” European Commission Vice President Vera Jourova tweeted. “Online hate speech is a scourge of a digital age and platforms need to live up to their commitments.” Twitter didn't respond to a request for comment. Emails to several staff on the company's European communications team bounced back as undeliverable. Musk's acquisition of Twitter last month fanned widespread concern that purveyors of lies and misinformation would be allowed to flourish on the site. The billionaire Tesla CEO, who has frequently expressed his belief that Twitter had become too restrictive, has been reinstating suspended accounts, including former President Donald Trump's. Twitter faces more scrutiny in Europe by the middle of next year, when new EU rules aimed at protecting internet users' online safety will start applying to the biggest online platforms. Violations could result in huge fines of up to 6 percent of a company's annual global revenue. France's online regulator Arcom said it received a reply from Twitter after writing to the company earlier this week to say it was concerned about the effect that staff departures would have on Twitter's “ability maintain a safe environment for its users." Arcom also asked the company to confirm it can meet its “legal obligations" in fighting online hate speech and that it is committed to implementing the new EU online rules. Arcom said it received a response from Twitter and that it will “study their response,” without giving more details. Tech companies that signed up to the EU's disinformation code agree to commit to measures aimed at reducing disinformation and file regular reports on whether they're living up to their promises, though there's little in the way of punishment. link: https://www.gadgets360.com/social-networking/news/twitter-facebook-instagram-tiktok-social-media-fail-remove-hate-speech-eu-review-3551398

Apple's latest iPhone 14 and iPhone 14 Pro models feature various improvements over their predecessors. One of the major additions that Apple announced on stage is Emergency SOS via Satellite which allows users to contact emergency services through satellite connectivity where cellular or WiFi connections are not available. Today, we are reporting the first case where the iPhone 14's Emergency SOS feature saved the life of a stranded man in Alaska. Scroll down to read more details on the matter. A Stranded Man in Alaska Sent an Emergency SOS via Satellite Using His iPhone 14 That Saved His Life On the morning of December 1, Alaska State Troopers received an alert stating that a man has been stranded who was traveling by snow machine from Noorvik to Kotzebue. The man was in a cold, remote location with no cellular connectivity when he activated the Emergency SOS via satellite feature on his iPhone 14. The alert was sent to the authorities and he received the required assistance just in time. RELATED STORY Omar Sohail Engineer Removes ‘Chin’ Bezel From M1 iMac, Giving It a Uniform Design Like Apple’s Standalone Monitors The rescue team found the man in a remote location where satellite connectivity was available but limited. According to Apple, satellite connectivity might not be available in areas that are above 62° latitude. In contrast, Noorvik and Kotzebue are close to 69° latitude. The rescue team reached the location with impressive accuracy and "completeness of information included in the initial alert." iPhone-SOS-e1670096227591.jpg.webp iPhone 14's Emergency SOS feature worked with the local search authorities along with the Northwest Arctic Borough Search and Rescue Coordinator to send searchers to the GPS coordinates. If you are unfamiliar, the Emergency SOS via Satellite feature is available on all iPhone 14 models. It can be activated at times of need when no network solutions such as WiFi or cellular are available. At this point, the feature is free to use for two years but the company will add a plan when it sees fit. Satellite connectivity is currently available in North America and the company will expand it to other regions in the near future. link: https://wccftech.com/iphone-14s-emergency-sos-via-satellite-feature-saves-life-of-a-stranded-man-in-alaska/

A new custom RTX 4090 has arrived, and your dad is going to love it. While most third-party graphics cards are clad in RGB lighting, this particular model features a built-in spirit level, something that’ll prove invaluable during installation. Adding a spirit level to an RTX 4090 solves a very specific problem, one that you’ll have already encountered if you own the best graphics card. The sheer girth of high-end options can cause sagging inside the case, which looks ridiculous and could damage your PCIe slot over time. Using a support stand can prevent your card from slouching, but adjusting things feels a bit like trying to put a shelf up straight. Enter the Sycom GeForce RTX 4090 and 4080, a new GPU duo that’ll save you reaching for your toolbox (via Videocardz). The custom shroud’s spirit level should help builders install colossal cards without a hitch, all while preventing any annoying discrepancies when it comes to alignment. Fun fact – these models technically alcoholic, thanks to the fluid inside the built-in measuring instrument (a fact your dad may have already shared with you). Of course, when we say the Sycom RTX 4000 GPU will appeal to your dad, we really mean it’s perfect for DIY perfectionists. That said, it’s also built with frosty temps in mind, as it wields a G-Master Hydro setup that’d give the best AIO cooler a run for its money. As with most RTX 4000 graphics cards right now, the biggest caveat with Sycom’s offering is price. The 4090 version costs a whopping 597,010 Japanese Yen (around 4,300 USD), while the RTX 4080 variant comes in at around 511,520 JPY (roughly 3,680 USD). Considering you can get an entire AMD RX 6800 gaming PC for the price of one regular RTX 4080, we’d probably advise sticking with something slightly cheaper, unless you’re really into spirit levels and fancy water cooling. https://www.pcgamesn.com/nvidia/rtx-4090-graphics-card-for-dad

Destiny 2 Exotic reworks are coming to the game in season 19, but player feedback on the pending changes suggests Bungie is missing the mark with the update. A slew of Destiny 2 Exotic reworks are coming to the FPS game, but player feedback on the pending changes shows Guardians aren’t happy with the planned buffs and nerfs. With Destiny 2 season 19 on the horizon, Guardians were initially excited to learn that the developers planned to rework more than 25 Exotic weapons. The phrasing led people to believe that Bungie would completely overhaul some weapons to offer more specific features, perks, and use cases. Bungie then outlined the changes as part of a post in the company’s This Week at Bungie (TWAB) series. The changes included serious nerfs to fan-favourite weapons and buffs to underutilised weapons. Though Bungie’s developers explained the team’s decisions in detail, many players feel the game’s announced buffs and nerfs are, at best, unnecessary and, at worst, detrimental to the overall game. Among the changes is a nerf to Gjallarhorn, a fan-favourite Exotic rocket launcher. In the interest of making it a support weapon alongside Legendary rocket launchers, Bungie will reduce the primary rocket’s impact and detonation damage by 25%. However, the weapon’s Wolfpack rounds are unaffected. Some additional feedback involves complaints regarding airborne effectiveness, a mechanic theoretically designed to provide better aim while in the air. However, many players argue that it fails to function as intended, sometimes causing players to miss shots that otherwise appear accurate. Bungie will now apply airborne effectiveness to Whisper of the Worm and D.A.R.C.I., which, even if instated correctly, seems like a confusing choice. The weapons are both sniper rifles, which makes them a class of weapons that are not commonly used in the air. Players were also upset over some non-Exotic changes. For example, Bungie shared that it would reduce glaive melee base damage from 75 to 67 and reduce glaive melee damage multipliers reduced by 25-30% against champions, mini-bosses, bosses, and vehicles. Players have suggested this change is unnecessary. Weapon balancing is a challenging task. In a game like Destiny 2, with so many options and ways to stack mods, class abilities, and parks for maximum impact, it can be challenging to ensure weapons don’t quickly become overpowered to dominate the game meta. But one of Destiny’s selling points is its Exotic weapons, which typically have unique features that make them extraordinarily powerful in specific scenarios or combine with other traits or perks to make them extra strong against difficult enemies. Even journalist Paul Tassi, who regularly covers Destiny 2 content and updates, wasn’t impressed with some changes. “Dead serious, I need to understand the use case for a buff to Whisper airborne effectiveness, like what is the rationale there,” Tassi shared in a tweet with more than a thousand likes. In response, some suggested the changes are for encounters involving the forthcoming Destiny 2 Strand subclass, which will be available upon the Destiny 2 Lightfall release. However, knowing very little about the Destiny 2 Strand subclass, any statement suggesting this as a driver of changes appears to be entirely speculative. Bungie is facing significant criticism in the aftermath of a Destiny 2 Telesto event and the Destiny 2 Eliksni Quarter community event, both of which disappointed community members. Low Destiny 2 player counts on Steam reflect this sentiment. However, even when players are unhappy with Destiny 2, it remains among the most po[CENSORED]r space games on PC. These numbers will likely pick up with season 19 and spike even more upon Lightfall’s release. Link: https://www.pcgamesn.com/destiny-2/exotic-reworks-underwhelming

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Nick movie: A Traveler’s Rhapsody (Short Film | Fuji XT4) Time: Sadiel Gomez Netflix / Amazon / HBO: N/A Duration of the movie: 6:50 Trailer:

Video title: Biscuit pets Content creator ( Youtuber ) : sickzero2 Official YT video:

Music title: Ed Sheeran - Shape Of You - (Sheeran Looper X performance) Signer: Sheeran Loopers Release date: 2024/29/9 Official YouTube link:

"Today is a new day, and hopefully it is full of bright sunshine and hope," 42-year-old Pita Limjaroenrat had told a room packed with reporters and flashing cameras last year, hours after his Move Forward party swept to a surprising and stunning victory at Thailand's elections last year. But a year on, his politcial career was cut short. Thailand's constitutional court banned him from politics for 10 years on Wednesday, and ordered the dissolution of his party. He was reinstated as MP only in January 2024, after wininng a trial supporters say was aimed at ending his political career. The establishment had sought to disqualify him from parliament for owning shares in a long-defunct media company. Voters had handed more seats and votes to Move Forward than any other party in the May 2023 poll, rejecting nearly a decade of army-backed rule. That was no mean achievement in a country that had experienced at least a dozen successful coups. "The sentiment of the era has changed. And it was the right timing," Mr Pita had said, speaking at the party's headquarters in Bangkok, where it had won 32 of the city's 33 seats. Despite the mandate, Thailand's unelected senate blocked the charismatic politician from becoming prime minister. Still, Mr Pita and his reformist party built a strong following among young voters disillusioned by years of military rule and hungry for change. He started his political career when he was elected to parliament in 2019 as a member of the Future Forward Party. Founded by Thanathorn Juangroongruangkit, a billionaire and staunch critic of the army, Future Forward performed well in the 2019 election, shaking up Thai politics with its demand for reform. But the party was forced to disband the following year after contentious allegations that its leaders said were politically motivated. And Mr Thanathorn was disqualified as an MP. Move Forward was formed soon after as its successor and named Mr Pita its new leader. Thousands of young people took to the streets in Thailand in 2021 after Future Forward was dissolved, demanding amendments to the constitution, a new election and an end to the harassment of rights activists and state critics. That desire for change and those very issues that underpinned it drove Move Forward's appeal in last year's election, with some of the protest leaders from 2020 running as candidates. Mr Pita - once called a "rising star" of the Thai parliament because of the critical speeches he made as an opposition MP - also gained po[CENSORED]rity with his party's bold promises to break the military's political influence and reform laws relating to the monarchy. He wanted to rewrite the constitution and pledged to bring Thailand out of what he called a "lost decade" under a military regime. "I'm different," he told the BBC in an interview last year. "We are not getting into a coalition to pursue a quick fix, or to get me the prime ministership. I'm in government for the people." It was time, he added, "to end the cycle of military coups" and "the corruption in politics which opens the door to coups". In pushing for an end to Thailand's lèse-majesté laws and taking on the military's influence, Mr Pita pit himself against Thailand's monarchy and military-aligned elite. Pita Limjaroenrat was born to a wealthy Thai family involved in politics. His father was an adviser in the agriculture ministry and his uncle was an aide of former ousted PM Thaksin Shinawatra. He was sent to school in New Zealand, which is when he developed an interest in politics. "I got shipped to the middle of nowhere in New Zealand and there were three [TV] channels back then. Either you watch Australian soap operas, or you watch the debates in parliament," he told the Thai YouTube programme Aim Hour in February 2023. Mr Pita graduated with a bachelor's degree in finance in Bangkok's Thammasat University, a master's in public policy from Harvard University and an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. He has described himself as "an American product of public policy schools". He started his career in business - he took over the running of his late father's rice bran oil company and later served as an executive director of ride-hailing company Grab Thailand. He was married to Chutima Teenpanart, a Thai actress-model, but the couple divorced in 2019. He is now a single dad of seven-year-old Pipim, whom he brought to Move Forward's rallies. When the BBC spoke to him last year, it was just weeks after Move Forward's heady election win. He had declared then that he did not wish to become one of those politicians who was "still fighting for positions well into their 70s and 80s". "I want to keep doing this for maybe another 10 years," he said "and then it will be time for something else." Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c935pp454lno

A charity which rescues abandoned horses said the "money has run out" as demand increases and some owners are "going without to feed their animals". HorseWorld in Bristol looks after 100 animals on its site in Whitchurch and supports 200 more rehomed horses across the region. Ahead of its open day on Saturday, charity bosses said they needed more support as costs rose. Head of equine welfare Sarah Hollister said: "Cost of living has had a huge impact. A lot of people who come in contact with us will go without to feed their animals, we see that a lot." Ms Hollister said "other charities have become overwhelmed" and individuals "are struggling". "It's not good news at the moment. "Before, there was some resilience in the system, but we have come to a point now where money has run out," she added. The charity said it had seen an increase in the numbers of abandoned and neglected horses. Digital communications manager Meg Jackson said: "The more support we can get at the moment, the more horses we can rescue. "Hay has gone up, our vet bills are always going up - all our suppliers, their costs are going up as well, so it's really having a knock-on effect." Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cqjlrnl8z4ko

Mulliner has just taken on three new stewards in Bentley’s fourth-generation Continental GT/GTC and Flying spur models, applying several small but classy touches to make them even fancier. Yep, that is possible as it turns out. Mulliner’s signature ‘Floating Diamonds’ front grille replaces the original design for one filled with chrome. In fact, there are generous amounts of chrome lining found elsewhere too, in places like the sidebar and exhaust tailpipes. The mirror caps will be brushed in Satin Silver, beneath which sit not-at-all flash 22in alloy wheels finished in Tungsten Grey with polished accents. The usual self-levelling centre caps are still there too, don’t worry. Bespoke to the Continentals are intricate ‘Harmony’ headlights with cut crystal reflector details. The taillights also ditch the grey tint for a red mask and, while subtle, do look truly gorgeous. https://www.topgear.com/car-news/modified/mulliner-will-now-luxurify-bentleys-speed-cars-even-further

Lille midfielder Angel Gomes has been taken to hospital after he suffered a serious head injury during their Ligue 1 match with Reims. The London-born former Manchester United player collided with Reims defender Amadou Kone, who was subsequently sent off for the challenge, in the 11th minute of the game. Players from Lille and Reims immediately called for the medical staff as team-mates placed the stricken Gomes in the recovery position and formed a circle around him. Both sets of supporters at the Stade Auguste-Delaune sang Gomes' name as he was attended to. There was a lengthy delay to the match while the 23-year-old received treatment before he was strapped to a stretcher and carried off the pitch. Lille said in a statement on their X account, external that Gomes "has regained consciousness and has been transferred to hospital". The match restarted in the 45th minute, with 34 minutes added to the end of the first half. Gomes joined United in 2006 aged six and progressed through their academy ranks to the first team. He made his Premier League debut in May 2017 against Crystal Palace and went on to make another nine appearances in all competitions. Gomes joined Lille in August 2020 after he was released by United. He won 18 caps for England Under-21s between 2021 and 2023. Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/football/articles/c8jlge1vxrvo

Two-time Olympic weightlifting medallist Emily Campbell says she is undecided about lifting again at Los Angeles 2028 - but adds that her future away from elite competition is already clear. Just a week after the 30-year-old from Nottingham claimed Team GB's 65th and final medal of the Paris Games with bronze in the women's 81kg category, she was back at her training base in Alfreton, Derbyshire. But her latest session in the gym was not about lifting weights, but lifting those around her as she spoke to and helped train a group of local women. So when Campbell was asked about 'what comes next', her attention turns to what she is capable of beyond the Olympic spotlight. "I want to be more than just an athlete," she told BBC East Midlands Today. "I would love to open my own gym for, predominately, youth and development. But I want anyone to be able to walk into my gym, to be able to have that community space to learn weightlifting, to learn physical literacy and to be comfortable and to live a healthy lifestyle." Campbell, who claimed a silver medal at the Tokyo Olympics, feels she has the chance to "make a proper impact" with the help. "This is first time we have actually done something that I feel like will make a real legacy," she said. "It's all right coming back and having athletes walking around and parading their medals and having photos with the kids - that lasts a short amount of time. "This is something we can go into our communities with and something that is long-lasting." Attracting a wide range of people to the gym, and continuing to promote body positivity are all subject she smiles through when talking about her future. That smile only got broader when she spoke of her "wild" time winning bronze in Paris, and she was still beaming when asked the inevitable question about the possibility of yet another Olympic bid. "LA is four years away and it's going to be a big decision that me and my team have to sit down and talk about if we are going to do it or not," she said. "I'm also in my 30s now, I'm not getting any younger and there are other things I want to achieve in life as well. "I have to balance things up, is it going to happen now or after LA? I don’t know. "I will go on holiday next week, eat all the food and enjoy myself and then when I get back have a debrief with the team and see what is next forme." Link: https://www.bbc.com/sport/olympics/articles/c624g9g1v86o

Ukraine has destroyed a strategically important bridge over the river Seym, as it continues its incursion into Russia's Kursk region. Russian officials have been quoted as saying the operation near the town of Glushkovo has cut off part of the local district. The bridge was used by the Kremlin to supply its troops and its destruction could hamper their efforts. President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukrainian troops were strengthening their positions in Kursk, and called the captured territories an exchange fund, implying they could be swapped for Ukrainian regions occupied by Moscow. Now in its second week, this is Ukraine's deepest incursion into Russia since Moscow launched its full-scale invasion more than two years ago. Ukraine’s surprise cross-border operation has resulted in more than 120,000 people fleeing to safety. But amid Ukrainian claims of territorial gains, Kyiv has repeatedly maintained it does not wish to occupy Russia. "Ukraine is not interested in occupying Russian territories," a senior aide to Ukrainian President Zelensky said on Friday. Mykhailo Podolyak said one of the key objectives they wanted out of their incursion into Russia was to get Moscow to negotiate "on our own terms". "In the Kursk region, we can clearly see how the military tool is being used objectively to persuade Russia to enter a fair negotiation process," he wrote on X, adding Kyiv has proven “effective means of coercion”. The head of the Ukrainian military, Oleksandr Syrsky, said on Friday that the offensive had made further progress. "The troops of the offensive group continue to fight and have advanced in some areas from one to three kilometres towards the enemy," he told President Zelensky in a video posted on social media. Syrsky said he hoped to take "many prisoners" from a battle in the village of Mala Loknya, about 13km (8 miles) from the border. As Ukraine's advance continues, officials in Russia's Belgorod region bordering Ukraine have said they will evacuate five villages starting on Monday. "From 19 August, we are closing access to five settlements, removing residents and helping them bring out their property," Belgorod governor Vyacheslav Gladkov wrote on the Telegram social messaging app, naming small villages near the border. However, as Ukraine moves further into western Russian territory, Russian forces are equally making gains in Ukraine’s east. On Friday, Moscow said its troops had captured Serhiivka, the latest in a string of towns claimed by Russian troops in recent weeks. The latest advances bring the Russians closer to the city of Pokrovsk, a vital logistics hub that sits on a main road for supplies to Ukrainian troops along the eastern front. Pokrovsk lies north-west of the Russian-held Donetsk region, which has been under Ukrainian fire since Friday morning, leaving several civilians injured. A message from the head of the city’s military administration, Sergiy Dobryak, on Thursday, urged people to evacuate as Russia was “rapidly approaching the outskirts". Earlier, Russian-installed officials in the Moscow-controlled part of Ukraine's Donetsk region blamed Kyiv for a strike on a shopping centre that wounded at least seven. According to the Russia-backed governor of the self-proclaimed Donetsk People's Republic, Denis Pushilin, the city has been under shelling since midday on Friday. Reuters news agency reported that over the past 24 hours, three civilians had been killed and five others injured, citing Donetsk’s regional head. In Crimea, which was annexed by Russia in 2014, missiles targeting a bridge built under Russian President Vladimir Putin’s orders were shot down overnight, the defence ministry said on Telegram. Kyiv has launched multiple attacks and attempted attacks on the Kerch Bridge since Moscow began its military offensive. Link: https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/c628gk68p3po

The next-gen VR headset can still be yours in February. If you missed out on securing a pre-order for Sony's PlayStation VR2 headset, you're in luck. The PlayStation Direct store no longer requires an invitation to place a PS VR2 pre-order. You won't necessarily have to wait for months to get your hands on the next-gen PS5 headset either, as The Verge points out. As things stand, Sony expects to deliver the device between its February 22nd launch date and February 28th. The initial wave of pre-orders required would-be PS VR2 owners to register their interest and hope they got an invitation from Sony. Now, you can reserve one and at least give yourself the option picking up the headset in February, especially given that it's unclear how much stock Sony will have at launch. You could always cancel a pre-order if you change your mind. You'll have to dig deep into your pocket to actually buy a PS VR2. The headset costs $550 and you'll need a PS5 to actually use the thing. Games from the original PS VR aren't compatible with the latest model either, so you'll need to build a fresh library of games or hope developers offer free PS VR2 upgrades. Polyarc just confirmed that it's bringing Moss and Moss: Book II to PS VR2, while Sony's positioning Guerrilla Games' Horizon Call of the Mountain, a Horizon Zero Dawn and Forbidden West VR spin-off, as the flagship launch title. https://www.engadget.com/ghostbusters-rise-ghost-lord-vr-meta-quest-2-psvr2-trailer-014513278.html

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