Apple's launch event brought the folding iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro, and new Apple Watches with an always-on microphone, in John Ternus's first outing as CEO. John Ternus introduced Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, in his first public appearance as the company's chief executive. The debut, staged at Apple's launch event, paired a high-profile product with a high-profile leadership change, giving the new CEO a marquee device to headline his opening act. The iPhone Duo marks Apple's entry into a category that Android manufacturers have occupied for years. Rather than break new ground on the format, Apple appears to have studied its rivals closely, selecting the features it judged to work best from existing Android foldables and building around them. The Verge's Allison Johnson tested the new phones in Cupertino ahead of the event. The iPhone 18 Pro and its variable aperture Alongside the foldable, Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The headline camera change is a new variable aperture, which lets the lens open and close to different f-stops. But the standout improvement may be simpler than the mechanism suggests. The more meaningful gain appears to be the wider maximum aperture itself, which lets in more light, rather than the added ability to stop the lens down to narrower settings. New Apple Watches that listen Apple also refreshed its smartwatch line with the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both carry a new sensor array, raising the question of whether the added hardware delivers genuinely new health metrics or simply more loosely defined wellness data. Victoria Song tested the watches for The Verge. The more striking addition is on the software and privacy side. Both new watches can keep a microphone switched on at all times, using it to summarize the conversations a wearer has throughout the day. The Series 12 pairs this with an always-on Siri capable of generating AI recaps of a user's day. Apple published a document explaining how the listening features are designed to protect user privacy, an acknowledgment that an always-listening wrist device invites scrutiny. Local AI and the OpenAI math dispute The event coverage extended beyond Apple's own hardware. In a separate segment, The Verge's Nilay Patel and David Imel spoke with AI researcher CJ Trowbridge about the current state of running local large language models directly on the Mac, a growing interest for users who want to keep AI workloads on their own machines rather than in the cloud. Attention also turned to a controversy surrounding OpenAI. The company has claimed a significant mathematical breakthrough, but the announcement has unsettled parts of the academic community. Mathematicians are pressing OpenAI for proof that it did not rely on their existing work to reach the result, and the dispute has cast a shadow over what the company presented as a milestone. Several shorter items rounded out the week's technology news. The so-called Trump phone was hit with a $250 price increase. Sony returned to one of its best-known audio products, revisiting the XM4 headphones six years after their original release. And Hori released an electronic take on the Ocarina of Time that, by design, requires no musical ability to play. Together, the announcements point to a busy stretch for Apple and the wider industry. For Apple, the day carried added weight: a new foldable, a redesigned camera system, and a set of always-listening wearables all arrived under a new chief executive making his first impression from the stage. iPhone Duo, foldable iPhone, John Ternus Apple CEO, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, variable aperture camera, Apple AI features

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A camouflaged Maruti WagonR test mule has been spotted, pointing to a 1.2L 3-cylinder engine, possible underbody CNG and a launch later in 2026. Maruti Suzuki has been caught testing an updated version of the WagonR, with a heavily camouflaged test mule spotted running on public roads. The sighting points to a facelift arriving later in 2026, though the most meaningful changes appear to sit under the bonnet rather than on the surface. The WagonR currently sells from Rs 4.99 lakh to Rs 6.97 lakh, ex-showroom, across LXi, VXi, ZXi and ZXi Plus trims. It is offered with petrol and factory-fitted CNG options, paired with manual and AMT gearboxes. Those choices are expected to carry over to the updated car, and buyers should brace for a price rise when it goes on sale. Familiar Shape Under The Camouflage Despite the full-body wrap, the test car keeps the WagonR's tall-boy stance and overall silhouette, suggesting a modest update rather than a ground-up redesign. At the front, the headlamp placement looks unchanged, while the camouflage hides the grille and bumper. The side profile appears the same, and at the rear the model retains its signature vertically stacked tail lamps flanking the windscreen. The mule seen testing looks like a mid-spec variant. It runs on steel wheels, skips a rear wiper and fog lamps, and places its turn indicators on the front fenders instead of the wing mirrors. A brief look inside did not reveal any obvious cabin overhaul. Maruti may add features and equipment revisions with the facelift, but nothing on that front can be confirmed from the disguised vehicle. The Real Story Is The Engine The bigger change is expected to be mechanical. Maruti has been steadily swapping its older 1.2-litre four-cylinder petrol engine for the newer Z12E 1.2-litre three-cylinder unit. The Swift and Dzire have already moved to it, followed more recently by the Baleno facelift, and the WagonR looks set to be next in line. In the Baleno, the Z12E makes 83 hp and 112 Nm. Across the models that have made this switch, outright power has dropped while fuel efficiency has improved, and a similar trade-off can be expected here, though Maruti has not confirmed the WagonR's final numbers. The current car offers both 1.0-litre and 1.2-litre petrol engines, so how the company reshapes the engine lineup for the new model remains an open question. CNG Could Get A Packaging Rethink Both petrol and CNG versions are expected to continue with the new WagonR. The CNG variant may also see packaging improvements. One possibility is an underbody CNG tank, similar to the setup Maruti has already introduced on the Brezza CNG. Moving the cylinder beneath the floor would free up usable boot space compared with the conventional cylinder that currently sits in the luggage area. The spy shots, however, do not offer clear proof that the test car is running this arrangement, so it stays a possibility for now With testing under way, the updated WagonR is likely to reach showrooms later this year. Going by the disguised mule, the visual changes could be limited, leaving the powertrain update as the main talking point when the car finally launches. Maruti WagonR, WagonR facelift 2026, Z12E engine, WagonR CNG, Maruti Suzuki, 3-cylinder engine, WagonR price, underbody CNG

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Hyundai Motor India sold 54,396 units in August 2026, up 23.62% YoY. Creta led sales while Venue and Exter posted the biggest growth. Hyundai Motor India sold 54,396 units in the domestic market in August 2026, a rise of 23.62% over the 44,001 units it moved in August 2025. The double-digit annual gain came even as volumes stayed largely flat compared with July. The Creta again topped the company's line-up, while the Venue and Exter delivered the sharpest year-on-year growth. The Creta accounted for 16,288 units during the month, 2.29% more than the 15,924 units it recorded a year earlier. Sales slipped 9.95% against July's 18,088 units, but the SUV still made up 29.94% of Hyundai's August volumes, keeping it the company's best seller by a wide margin. Hyundai has announced a new Lounge Edition for both the Creta and the Alcazar. The Venue took second place with 11,365 units. Sales climbed 40.15% from 8,109 units a year ago and edged up 2.43% over July's 11,095 units, giving the model a 20.89% share of Hyundai's domestic sales. The current Venue recently received an over-the-air update that adds a remote engine immobiliser feature. The Exter posted an even stronger run, with 8,157 units sold. That marked a 61.17% jump from 5,061 units in August 2025 and a 19.78% gain over the 6,810 units of July. Aura and i10 NIOS climb The Aura reached 6,685 units, up 25.28% year on year and 14.92% month on month. The Grand i10 NIOS added 5,342 units, growing 36.69% over last August and 31.74% over July. The i20 sold 5,165 units, a 42.13% increase from 3,634 units a year ago, though it fell 23.35% from the 6,738 units it managed in July. Together, Hyundai's six highest-volume models - the Creta, Venue, Exter, Aura, i10 NIOS and i20 - made up nearly all of the company's domestic sales for the month. Alcazar, Verna and EVs at the bottom At the lower end of the chart, the Alcazar registered 856 units, down 27.89% year on year and 0.70% from July. The Verna fell further, to 529 units, a drop of 31.39% against last August and 28.22% against July. Hyundai's electric and larger models saw minimal activity. The IONIQ 5 recorded just nine units in August, against 14 a year earlier and eight in July. The Tucson posted no sales at all during the month, compared with 57 units in August 2025. Two new SUVs on the way Hyundai is preparing to widen its India range with two new SUVs during the current financial year, and both have already been caught testing on Indian roads. The first is expected to be a midsize SUV built on the international-specification Hyundai Bayon. It is set to sit alongside the Venue and Creta, though the company has not confirmed final specifications or positioning for India. The second is a sub-four-metre all-electric SUV that Hyundai plans to manufacture in India. Test mules have been spotted on several occasions. Positioned below the Creta Electric, it would give Hyundai a more affordable, locally built electric SUV and could become a key volume model for the brand's EV business. Hyundai India sales, Hyundai August 2026 sales, Hyundai Creta, Hyundai Venue, Hyundai Exter, Hyundai Bayon SUV, Hyundai electric SUV India

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BRICS leaders adopted the New Delhi Declaration on Saturday, backing dialogue over conflict despite Iran-UAE divisions on West Asia. India secured a diplomatic win at the BRICS Summit on Saturday when member nations agreed on a joint declaration, overcoming a standoff between Iran and the United Arab Emirates over the crisis in West Asia. The final text steered clear of naming the war outright, resting instead on a call for dialogue and diplomacy to end conflicts. Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced the adoption of the BRICS New Delhi Declaration at the close of the first day's talks. Chinese President Xi Jinping, Russian President Vladimir Putin and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian were present. According to people familiar with the matter, negotiators settled the wording, particularly the paragraph on West Asia, late Saturday afternoon, just hours before the document went public around 4:30 pm. The agreement capped months of doubt. Sharp disagreements between Tehran and Abu Dhabi had stalled joint statements at several preparatory meetings. Because BRICS decisions rest on consensus, a single objection could have sunk the declaration entirely. The paragraph on West Asia voiced "deep concern over the continued escalation of tensions" and urged all sides to show maximum restraint and avoid steps that might worsen the situation. It made no mention of Iran by name, nor of the American and Israeli strikes on Iran in February that set off the conflict. The text also pressed for the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure under the UN Charter, alongside respect for the sovereignty and territorial integrity of states. Leaders backed New Delhi's long-held view that talks and diplomacy are the only routes to settling disputes. They also called for coordinated efforts to keep global trade and energy moving. "We encourage increasing efforts, through dialogue and diplomacy, towards a long-term understanding that will contribute to lasting peace, security and stability in the region," the declaration stated, adding a stress on keeping supply chains and energy flows intact in line with international law. Why Iran and the UAE moved Several shifts made the compromise possible. Iran and the UAE dropped earlier demands that the document condemn attacks on their soil. Russia, meanwhile, pushed to soften language on conflicts that might read as a reference to Ukraine. Tehran also stepped up efforts to repair ties with major players across the region. That outreach was visible on the summit's sidelines. Pezeshkian met Abu Dhabi Crown Prince Khaled bin Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Saturday. Iran is due to sit down with members of the Gulf Cooperation Council and Iraq in Oman on September 14 to discuss transit through the Strait of Hormuz - the first such gathering since the West Asia conflict began. Ajay Srivastava of the Global Trade Research Initiative said the declaration, by avoiding names, delivered a balanced signal: the United States and Israel should hold off on striking Iran, Iran should not hit back at Gulf neighbours such as the UAE, and every party must shield civilians, honour sovereignty and choose diplomacy. He described the reference to protecting trade and energy flows as a warning against military moves that could choke the Hormuz corridor. "Given BRICS' conflicting interests and internal constraints, securing consensus on such a clear position represents a diplomatic win for India," he said. A softer line than Rio Observers pointed out that the New Delhi text broke from recent BRICS documents. The 2024 summit in Russia and the 2025 gathering in Brazil both spoke more directly. The Rio de Janeiro Declaration had condemned the June 2025 strikes on Iran and recalled national positions on Ukraine; the New Delhi version referenced neither the Iran nor the Ukraine conflict head-on. On Gaza, the declaration was more pointed. It expressed deep concern at continued violence despite a ceasefire and urged all parties to uphold the truce and allow unhindered humanitarian access. It called for an end to any policy aimed at forcibly displacing Palestinians from the Gaza Strip and warned against arrangements that could undermine Palestinian rights or entrench occupation. The leaders reaffirmed support for a two-state solution, backing a sovereign, independent and viable Palestinian state with East Jerusalem as its capital, and said a lasting settlement could come only through peaceful means. BRICS also endorsed India's zero-tolerance stance on terrorism, rejected double standards in countering it, and condemned in the strongest terms the Pahalgam terror attack in Jammu and Kashmir. BRICS New Delhi Declaration, Narendra Modi BRICS, West Asia crisis, Iran UAE, Strait of Hormuz, India diplomacy, Palestine two-state solution, Pahalgam attack

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Saudi Arabia shut its East-West pipeline after a drone attack launched from Iraq's Maysan province. Iraq fired a commander and opened an investigation. Saudi Arabia has shut down its East-West oil pipeline after the line was hit by drones flown in from neighbouring Iraq, closing a route the kingdom relies on to move crude without passing through the Strait of Hormuz. Riyadh announced the closure on Friday, calling it a precautionary step while it assessed the damage. Iraq acknowledged that the drones had come from its territory, specifically from Maysan, a province on its border with Iran. The Iraqi prime minister's office said it had dismissed the operations commander for the governorate after confirming the attack originated there, and it has opened an investigation into how the strike was mounted. The Saudi foreign ministry said the attack caused injuries and physical damage, the full extent of which was still being measured. Satellite photographs released afterwards showed burned ground and smoke rising near the targeted section of the line. Imagery from Planet Labs captured the site before and after the hit. The pipeline stretches 1,200km (745 miles) and is central to how Saudi Arabia, the largest crude exporter in the world, ships oil while sidestepping the congested Strait of Hormuz. According to Reuters, which cited ship-tracking firms and analysts, the route had been carrying between 4% and 5% of the world's oil supply before the shutdown. Saudi Arabia said it would not strike back for now. Its foreign ministry said the decision followed a telephone call from the Iraqi prime minister, and that the kingdom would back Baghdad's efforts to stop cross-border attacks on its neighbours. At the same time, the ministry said Riyadh keeps the option of acting later, stating it "reserves its right to take all necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and security, protect its facilities, and ensure the safety of its citizens and residents." This is not the first time Riyadh has blamed armed groups inside Iraq for going after its energy sites. Saudi Arabia has before pointed to Iran-backed militias operating on Iraqi soil, and it has joined the United States in carrying out strikes against those groups after accusing them of sending drones at oil installations. Gulf states condemn the strike The Gulf Co-operation Council, whose members are Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait, issued a joint statement denouncing the attack. Its secretary general, Jasem Mohamed Albudaiwi, described the strike as "a dangerous escalation and an unacceptable threat to the security of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, its territorial integrity, and its vital installations, as well as a flagrant violation of the principles of international law." The strike landed as fighting across the wider region intensifies. The confrontation between the United States and Iran has now run into its seventh month, and the pressure on oil routes is mounting on more than one front. Houthi gains in Yemen In Yemen, Iran-aligned Houthi fighters have pushed forward rapidly over the past week and, according to sources, taken control of much of the country's coastline. The group said it now holds the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the entry point to the Red Sea and, beyond it, the Suez Canal. The Houthis said shipping through the waterway remained "safe for all." The rebels seized the entire Red Sea coast earlier in the week. On Friday, forces loyal to Yemen's Saudi-backed government said they had hit Houthi positions in Mokha, a coastal city of strategic value, a day after the group consolidated its hold on the shoreline. Together, the pipeline closure and the Houthi advance place fresh strain on the global shipping lanes that carry a large share of the world's oil, tightening the squeeze on routes that run through both the Red Sea and the Gulf. Saudi Arabia oil pipeline, East-West pipeline, Iraq drone attack, Maysan governorate, Houthi Yemen advance, Strait of Hormuz, Iran-backed militia, Bab al-Mandab Strait

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Debutant Razaullah smashed 81 off 63 balls with nine sixes at Edgbaston, dragging Pakistan back into the third Test against England on day three. A 21-year-old debutant named Razaullah hijacked the third Test between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston on Friday, hammering 81 from 63 balls to drag his side back into a match they had been expected to lose. Coming in at number nine, he struck nine sixes in an innings that lasted around two hours and left England's bowlers scrambling. By the close of day three, England needed 130 to win, a target that had looked far more comfortable before Razaullah walked to the crease in Birmingham. Instead of wrapping up the game and taking Saturday off, both sides must return for a fourth day. Razaullah arrived in international cricket almost unknown. He had played just eight first-class matches, with a single century to his name, and was picked as part of wholesale changes Pakistan made before the final Test. Selectors saw him primarily as a raw, quick fast bowler, with comparisons drawn to Waqar Younis. His name was not one England's attack had prepared for. That changed quickly. He broke two bats during his onslaught and had to call for a third, flaying the England bowling to all corners. His nine sixes equalled the most ever hit in a single Test innings in England, matching Ben Stokes' 155 against Australia during the 2023 Ashes. In one innings he cleared the rope as many times as Sir Geoffrey Boycott did across his entire 108-Test career. England captain Joe Root ran out of answers. At one stage he pushed eight fielders back to the boundary, a defensive setting that did nothing to slow the debutant, who kept swinging with the confidence of a player untroubled by the situation. Pakistan, well behind in the match and written off before a ball was bowled, batted with a freedom absent from earlier in the series. Razaullah was not alone in the fightback. Opener Shan Masood anchored the innings with a patient 95, providing the application at one end that allowed the hitting at the other. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, on BBC Test Match Special, said the innings marked the arrival of a genuine talent. "It's the first time he's been out there for Pakistan ever, and he absolutely lights up the show. This is the attitude that was needed," he said. "Someone with a strong body language and who believes in himself. They'll want him playing all formats because he's a natural in mind, body language and attitude. It was a tremendous fightback." The style of the knock drew comparisons to Pakistan's great entertainers, with echoes of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq in the way Razaullah attacked. For a player with only one first-class hundred and a reputation built on bowling pace, it was a startling introduction on the biggest stage. With 130 still to get, England remain favourites to close out the Test. But Razaullah's assault has ensured the match runs into a fourth day and handed Pakistan a contest they had appeared certain to concede. Razaullah, Pakistan cricket, England Pakistan Test, Edgbaston, third Test, Shan Masood, nine sixes, Test cricket

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Kia India has opened pre-bookings for the factory-fitted Carens CNG, Carens Clavis CNG and the Carnival Hybrid. Launch and prices are due soon. Kia India has opened pre-bookings for three new models - the Carens CNG, the Carens Clavis CNG and the Carnival Hybrid. The bookings began the same day the company launched the Sorento in India, and Kia says the launch, deliveries and prices for the new variants will follow soon. All three vehicles were first shown to the public alongside the Sorento, together with a Syros Flex Fuel model. While the Sorento went on sale immediately, the two CNG-powered MPVs and the hybrid minivan were held back for a later launch. Pre-orders are being taken through Kia's authorised dealer network. Factory-fitted CNG for the Carens twins The key change for the Carens CNG is where the gas system is installed. Kia had offered a CNG Carens before, but the kit was fitted at the dealer level rather than on the assembly line. The new Carens CNG and Carens Clavis CNG will both carry a factory-fitted kit installed directly in the production line at Kia's manufacturing facilities. Both MPVs pair the CNG system with a 1.5-litre naturally aspirated petrol engine and a 6-speed manual gearbox. Each gets a single 60-litre CNG tank in the boot, covered by a new flap. The cars run on a bi-fuel setup, with the engine modified to operate on CNG and the suspension revised to account for the added equipment. Kia has set out the trim structure for private and commercial buyers. The Carens CNG will be sold in the Premium (O) trim, while the Carens Clavis CNG will come in HTE and HTE (O) trims. For commercial use, the Carens CNG gets an M-Drive 6MT trim and the Carens Clavis CNG an HTM 6MT trim. Equipment on the CNG models includes 16-inch wheels, front and rear disc brakes and a 4.2-inch colour TFT driver display with CNG distance-to-empty logic. Kia is positioning the combination of three-row seating and a conventional factory-fitted CNG kit as the main draw for buyers. Hybrid power for the Carnival The Carnival, which Kia describes as the only luxury diesel minivan on sale in India, has been shown with a hybrid powertrain for the first time. The Carnival Hybrid uses the same 1.6T HEV strong-hybrid engine paired with a 6-speed automatic as the Sorento, with slightly different tuning. The hybrid version will be based on the Limousine+ trim. Its features include 18-inch wheels, active air flaps, virtual engine sounds and a smart air purifier with an air-quality-index display. Inside, it offers seat-back tray tables with wireless charging, powered lounging recliner seats with extending calf support and ambient lighting. Kia has flagged the Carnival Hybrid as relevant for buyers in the Delhi NCR region who want a luxury MPV. Pricing and delivery timelines for all three models are still to be announced. Kia Carens CNG, Kia Carens Clavis CNG, Kia Carnival Hybrid, Kia India pre-bookings, factory-fitted CNG kit, Kia Sorento, CNG MPV India

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Roger Goodell talks NFL's first regular-season game in Australia, his contract to 2031, and plans for up to 16 international games and overseas teams. The National Football League stages its first regular-season game on Australian soil this week, with the San Francisco 49ers and Los Angeles Rams set to kick off the Week 1 matchup on Thursday at 8:35 p.m. ET. Commissioner Roger Goodell, speaking in Melbourne, framed the milestone as one piece of a much longer campaign to plant the sport around the world. Goodell, 67, told CNBC that running the league now means mapping out decisions over a decade or more. "Whether it's media, or whether it's labor, or whether it's our international plans or what we're doing with stadiums, all of that [requires] taking a 5-, 10-, 15-year look, and it's critical to do that," he said, adding that failing to plan that far out would be "irresponsible." The commissioner has secured the time to see those plans through. Earlier this month he agreed to a four-year contract extension that keeps him in charge until March 2031. This season marks his 20th at the helm, a tenure that has seen the league expand to a 17-game regular season and move its broadcast inventory onto streaming platforms. Overseas expansion may prove the most consequential shift of all. The NFL has already brought regular-season contests to Germany, France, Brazil and Mexico, and the Melbourne fixture widens that footprint further. The schedule calls for nine games outside the United States in 2026 and 10 the following year. Goodell has said he would eventually like to reach 16, but that ambition depends on the players. That constraint is written into the sport's labor deal. The current collective bargaining agreement limits the league to 10 games abroad, and it runs out in March 2031 - the same month Goodell's new contract concludes. Pushing past the cap will require fresh negotiation and the athletes' agreement. Long flights and time-zone changes can upset the strict routines players lean on to stay healthy across a grueling season. Even so, Goodell said the roster embraces the trips. "I think they see the opportunity. I get calls, texts from our players during the offseason, and they're all over the world, so I think this generation of players is used to being international," he said. He added that today's athletes view the games as a chance to build their personal brands, calling that "great for the NFL." Beyond a one-off visit Goodell was candid that dropping a team into a foreign city for a single week does little to create lasting supporters. The league is betting instead on its Global Markets Program, under which every franchise holds marketing rights to at least one country. The idea is to nurture followings in places that have no historic tie to any particular club. "You don't want to be at the circus to come in and play a game and leave," Goodell said. "You want to have events and sponsors and media partners. I think we'll continue to modify [the Global Markets Program], but I think it's worked well." The numbers show how far that work still has to go. Last season's Week 1 international game, between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Los Angeles Chargers, streamed on YouTube and drew 18.5 million viewers inside the United States. Abroad, it pulled in just 1.2 million. American audiences remain enormous - NFL broadcasts regularly top the country's television rankings - but interest elsewhere is still slight. A franchise overseas Goodell has gone further in describing his vision, saying he expects the league to one day place a team permanently outside the United States. He suggested he could picture multiple NFL clubs based in Europe. He would not attach any timeline to establishing an overseas franchise, saying it forms part of the broader strategy still taking shape. For now, the focus is on Thursday's contest in Melbourne, a first for the sport in a country the NFL hopes to add to its growing list of overseas hosts. The game tests, in real time, whether a week-long visit can be turned into something more durable - the central question behind Goodell's international push. NFL Australia game, Roger Goodell, NFL international games, San Francisco 49ers, Los Angeles Rams, NFL Global Markets Program, NFL collective bargaining agreement, NFL streaming right

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Alstom will build 29 battery-electric TransPennine Express trains at its Derby factory under a near-£1bn deal, supporting more than 6,350 UK jobs. Britain's first battery-electric trains for long-distance main line services will be assembled at Alstom's Litchurch Lane plant in Derby, the Department for Transport has confirmed. Construction of the fleet is scheduled to start in 2028, with the first units expected to carry passengers in 2034. The order covers 29 Adessia Stream trains and is backed by an investment of close to £1bn. According to the government, the programme will sustain more than 350 roles at Alstom and around 6,000 further jobs across suppliers throughout the country. The trains will be purchased by rolling stock firm Rock Rail and then leased to operator TransPennine Express. Andy Burnham said the fleet would bring "faster, more reliable journeys to the north and thousands of British jobs for the next generation". He described the daily impact of unreliable services on passengers. "I've lost count of the number of times someone has stopped me to tell me about the train that never came," he said. "And when that happens, it means missed shifts, missed appointments, and missed opportunities. Today, that starts to change." Cutting journey times across the Pennines The new fleet forms part of the TransPennine Route Upgrade, which aims to raise capacity by 30% and add thousands of extra seats each day across the Pennines by the early to mid-2030s. The trains are due to run on routes linking Liverpool Lime Street with Scarborough, Manchester Airport with Saltburn, and Manchester Piccadilly with Hull. The Department for Transport said travel times would fall by as much as 10 minutes between Manchester and Leeds, and by up to 14 minutes between Manchester and York. Where the network has not been electrified and services currently rely on diesel power, the battery-electric units will be able to operate without producing emissions. Step-free boarding is also being promised across the fleet. A boost for Derby's rail heritage The agreement lands at a difficult moment for Alstom, which operates the largest rolling stock manufacturing site outside China. In 2024 the company won a £370m deal to build 10 trains for London's Elizabeth line. That contract came fewer than three months after a redundancy consultation placed 1,300 jobs at the Litchurch Lane site under threat. The factory has been making trains since 1876. Rob Whyte, Alstom's managing director in the UK, called the deal a "landmark moment for Britain's railway". He said the news mattered well beyond the company itself. "We're absolutely delighted. It's fantastic news for Alstom as a company but also for the city of Derby and the East Midlands," he said. "It's a great opportunity for us to continue our legacy." Whyte acknowledged a gap in production before the new work ramps up. "We have a period where new builds will stop until the TransPennine order starts, but we've already taken on some refurbishment works for CrossCountry and for ScotRail and we'll look to transfer as many people as we can into that area," he said. The Unite union welcomed the announcement. General secretary Sharon Graham said it would bring a "huge relief to Alstom's Derby workers and those in the supply chain", adding that "Unite's Alstom members have worked tirelessly in campaigning to ensure Derby's proud history of train making continues well into the future". Transport Secretary Heidi Alexander spoke to the BBC at the Alstom site, standing beside one of the new Elizabeth line trains. "It's fantastic news that a city like Derby, that's got such a proud railway heritage, is also going to be manufacturing that new fleet of trains for the north of England as well," she said. "It is good news." Alstom, battery-electric trains, Litchurch Lane Derby, TransPennine Express, TransPennine Route Upgrade, Adessia Stream, UK rail manufacturing, Rock Rail

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Apple opens preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and Pro Max ahead of a September 18 release, with prices from $1,199 and A20 Pro chips inside. Apple has opened preorders for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max, the two flagship handsets it revealed at its September 2026 "Sunrise and shine" event. Both models go on sale Friday, September 18th, and buyers can already reserve a specific color and storage size before stock is committed. The 6.3-inch iPhone 18 Pro carries a starting price of $1,199 for 256GB of storage, rising to $2,399 for the top 2TB configuration. The larger 6.9-inch iPhone 18 Pro Max begins at $1,299 for 256GB and reaches $2,499 for its 2TB version. Each phone comes in four finishes: deep black, silver, glacier, and burgundy. Inside both devices is Apple's new A20 Pro processor. The chip adds GPU muscle for graphics and packs additional neural cores aimed at handling AI workloads. Apple has also reworked the camera system on the two Pro models, though the phones were unveiled at the same event as the iPhone Duo and other new products. Where to place an order For now, Apple itself is the only place to reserve an unlocked iPhone 18 Pro or Pro Max. Other major retailers are starting the preorder window with carrier-tied units only. Best Buy is selling the 18 Pro through Verizon or AT&T and the Pro Max through the same two carriers. Walmart has a wider spread, listing the 18 Pro via Verizon, AT&T, and T-Mobile, and the Pro Max through T-Mobile, Verizon, or AT&T. Shoppers who would rather not hand over the full amount at once have several routes. Apple offers a financing plan spread across 36 monthly payments at zero percent APR, and the new phones qualify for the company's recently launched Apple Upgrade program. Trading in an older handset can knock as much as $885 off the bill, and carriers layer on extra credits of their own. What the carriers are offering AT&T will cover the cost of an iPhone 18 Pro through billing credits repaid over 36 months, provided customers trade in an iPhone 14 or a newer model and sign up for the AT&T Extra plan. Cheaper plans earn smaller discounts. These deals surface on Apple's checkout page, where buyers can choose to pay the $99 gap between the Pro and Pro Max themselves. T-Mobile is advertising the iPhone 18 Pro at no cost through bill credits when customers port in a number or trade in a qualifying device on its Experience Beyond plan. The terms are tighter for people already with the carrier, who need to trade in an iPhone 16 or newer to fully offset a new phone. Switchers get an offer close to what AT&T is presenting. Verizon's promotion is more direct. Its Simplicity Pro plan, priced at $80 a month for customers moving over from another network, bundles in a free iPhone 18 Pro and the ability to upgrade after a year. As with the rival deals, the "free" phone is settled through monthly bill credits, so buyers must stay with Verizon for three years to collect the full amount. Across all three networks, the pattern is the same: the phone is paid down over time rather than gifted upfront, and leaving early forfeits the remaining credits. For anyone set on a particular color or capacity, placing a preorder now is the surest way to secure it before the September 18th launch. iPhone 18 Pro, iPhone 18 Pro Max, iPhone 18 Pro preorder, Apple A20 Pro chip, iPhone 18 Pro price, iPhone 18 Pro colors, Apple September 2026 event, iPhone 18 Pro trade-in

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A Canadian study finds human shouts and flashing lights drive deer and elk from crops, but the animals stop reacting within six weeks. A recorded human shout is the single most effective sound for driving deer and elk off farmland, but the animals quickly learn to ignore it, according to a 2025 study from the University of Alberta and King's University. The research, published in the journal Ecology and Evolution, tested audio and light devices on crops in British Columbia's Cowichan Valley and found that the fear response faded within six weeks. Between August 4 and September 17, 2023, the team fitted 15 crop fields with motion-triggered devices. When a Roosevelt elk or black-tailed deer approached, a device played one of several recordings: ordinary conversation, shouting, wolf and cougar calls, barking dogs, or local birdsong. Some fields also flashed LED lights. Across the trial the researchers logged 680 usable encounters with the two species, which routinely wander into fields and damage crops and fencing. Shouting beat wolf and cougar calls The loudness of the voice, not merely its presence, drove the animals off. Deer bolted from human shouts in 64% of encounters, but from calm talking only 46% of the time. Recorded predator calls sent deer running in 45% of cases, and dog sounds performed worse still. Elk reacted less across the board: they fled from shouts in 36% of encounters, compared with 13% for conversational speech, while predator calls, dog barks and birdsong each produced flight in roughly 16 to 18% of cases. That gap between talking and shouting suggests the animals were responding to the aggression in the sound rather than just recognising a human voice. Lights sharpened the effect Pairing sound with a flashing light made a clear difference. For elk, adding lights roughly doubled the share of encounters ending in flight, from 13% with audio alone to 26%. Measured overall, combining the two cues raised the odds of an animal fleeing by 4.7 times for elk and 1.8 times for deer. The lights did not, however, keep the animals on edge for any longer once the encounter was over. The researchers propose that a second warning signal may make a threat harder to shrug off, though they could not confirm whether the flashing itself read as a predator or simply amplified the alarm. Then they stopped running The deterrents' biggest weakness showed up over time. As the 45-day experiment wore on, both species grew calmer. Among elk, the predicted chance of staying alert dropped from 86.4% on the opening day to 55% by day 45 - a relative fall of about 36%. Deer alertness slid more gently, from 84.8% to 62.9%, a decline of roughly 26%. The animals, in effect, worked out that the noises and flashes carried no real danger. This learning process, called habituation, is a recurring obstacle for anyone trying to manage wildlife with artificial signals: a threat repeated often enough, with nothing behind it, eventually stops meaning anything. Busy landscapes sped up the learning For deer, the surrounding environment shaped how fast that happened. The animals tuned out the devices sooner at sites near clusters of houses and close to highways, hinting that deer already used to steady human activity are quicker to dismiss human-sounding alarms. The trend was murkier for elk; the researchers saw a possible link with highway proximity, but their strongest statistical model did not pin down a clear landscape effect. What it means for farmers Growers are increasingly turning to deterrents as a humane alternative to shooting animals or building costly exclusion fences. The study offers cautious support for that approach, showing that sound systems can work, especially when they use forceful human voices backed by a visual cue. But it also warns that a device left untouched in one spot will lose its bite. To keep animals guessing, the authors suggest rotating the types of stimuli and adding real consequences so the perceived threat is occasionally backed up. They stress the limits of their work - 15 sites over 45 days is a small sample - and note it cannot yet say whether the short-term changes in behaviour actually cut crop losses or affect wildlife numbers. The practical takeaway is blunt. A shouted warning may send a deer running today, but if the same sound keeps coming from the same box with nothing ever happening, the animal will eventually decide it can stay and feed. deer deterrents, elk crop damage, wildlife habituation, University of Alberta study, Cowichan Valley farming, non-lethal wildlife control, Roosevelt elk, black-tailed deer

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Leaked Chinese MIIT documents reveal the facelifted Hyundai Custo minivan with a Staria-like front, vertical LED headlights and a black grille. Hyundai's Custo minivan has received its first facelift in China, with the updated model surfacing through homologation documents filed with the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The leaked images reveal a heavily reworked front end that draws clear inspiration from the larger Staria MPV. The Custo first appeared in 2021 and is built by Beijing Hyundai, the joint venture between China's BAIC Motor and Hyundai. The same vehicle is sold under the Custin name in the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the exterior changes shown in the leaked documents could eventually reach those markets. The Custo name is a nod to Jacques Cousteau, the French explorer credited with inventing SCUBA equipment. A completely revised front end The entire face of the minivan has been redesigned, giving the Custo a new identity. The grille now carries a black finish that stands out sharply against the white body colour shown in the leaked photos, with contrasting elements covering almost the whole front section. The update introduces vertically arranged LED headlights, with daytime running lights flanking them on the outer edges. A connected LED bar may run across the top, with either end doubling as turn indicators. A cascading grille sits in the centre and holds the Hyundai logo. Lower down, the design adds bull-bar-style elements and a faux skid plate. Familiar sides and rear The side profile has been left largely untouched. The changes there are limited to a new alloy wheel design and triangular elements added to both front fenders. The Custo continues to ride on 18-inch alloy wheels, which adopt a fresh pattern with this facelift. At the rear, the tail lights carry over unchanged, while the bumper gains new chrome elements. Depending on the variant, Hyundai will fit a single-pane sunroof at the front and a panoramic sunroof for the rear. The interior was not shown in the leaked pictures. Dimensionally, the facelifted Custo measures 4,959 mm in length, up to 1,856 mm in width and 1,733 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 3,055 mm, and its sliding doors open into a wide aperture for access to the rear seats. Two turbo-petrol options Badges on the tailgate point to the powertrain line-up. The leaked images show 270T and 380T markings, both of which relate to the engines on offer. For Beijing Hyundai, the 270T designation refers to a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 270 Nm of torque and 170 bhp, paired with either a seven-speed or eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 380T badge denotes a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit rated at 353 Nm and 230 bhp, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai does not currently sell any minivan or MPV in India, but the Custo is part of a broad global line-up for the South Korean carmaker. The facelift keeps the model competitive in China, where it has been on sale since 2021, and the revised styling could filter through to the Custin-badged versions in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Hyundai Custo facelift, Hyundai Custo, Beijing Hyundai, Hyundai Staria, Hyundai Custin, MIIT leak, Hyundai minivan, Custo facelift specs

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