Hero MotoCorp's new small-displacement ADV has been spied uncamouflaged and production-ready. It may revive the Impulse name or arrive as an Xpulse 160. Hero MotoCorp's next adventure motorcycle has been spied again, this time on what appears to be a factory floor, and the uncamouflaged bike looks close to production. The image was posted by Reddit user xtremeAnkit and shows a small off-road machine that could revive the Impulse name or arrive as an entry-level Xpulse. The sighting follows a clear trail. In May 2025, road-testing spy shots of a new Xpulse first surfaced. Last month, Hero filed design patents for an off-road motorcycle positioned below the Xpulse 200. The latest photo carries no camouflage, suggesting the project is near launch. The bike sits at the affordable end of Hero's growing premium range. At the top is the Xpulse 421, the company's halo adventure model. Below it, Hero appears set to slot a smaller, cheaper ADV aimed at a wider set of riders. The strategy is part of a broader push to move the brand beyond its long-standing image as the maker of the Splendor commuter. What the spy shot shows Details are limited because the picture is blurry, but several features stand out. The motorcycle has an up-swept exhaust, which helps with water wading, along with on/off-road tyres and a chunky rear luggage rack. Its colour reads as orange, though it could be red depending on how the camera rendered it. The test mule lines up with the recently filed design patents, and it also matches last year's road-testing shots. It has a tall fuel tank paired with tank shrouds. The patents confirmed a front beak, a single-piece scooped-out seat and large side body panels. Those patents also showed LED projector headlights and fork gaiters on the front suspension. The front wheel looks like a 21-inch unit and the rear a 18-inch, the same sizing used on current Xpulse bikes. Disc brakes appear at both ends, though they are standard rotors rather than the fancier petal type. India-spec and export clues The patent drawings included a saree guard on the left, a feature specific to India-spec motorcycles. At the same time, the design appeared to show a carburetor, which points to versions built for a few African markets rather than India. On features, the production bike could offer dual-channel ABS, a fully digital instrument cluster with Bluetooth, turn-by-turn navigation and traction control, among other additions. The engine remains the biggest open question. The design patents suggest a unit similar to the one in the Xpulse 200. However, there is a strong chance the India version uses something smaller, likely a 160cc motor. That could be close to the oil-cooled 160R 4V engine already used in Hero's Xtreme range. For now, Hero has two paths in front of it. It can bring back the old Impulse ADV badge, or it can stretch the Xpulse nameplate downward to pull in more buyers. Either way, the spy shots point to a compact, off-road-focused motorcycle that is close to reaching showrooms. Hero MotoCorp, Hero Impulse 160, Hero ADV bike, Hero Xpulse, adventure motorcycle India, Hero spy shots, Xpulse 200, 160cc ADV

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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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Iran-backed Houthis say they have taken Perim Island and the port of Mokha, tightening their hold on the Bab al-Mandab shipping lane. Yemen's Houthi movement says it has pushed deep along the western Red Sea coast and now holds Perim Island, a small but strategic landmass at the mouth of the Bab al-Mandab Strait. A source inside Yemen's internationally recognised government confirmed the capture to the BBC. The advance strengthens the Iran-backed group's control over one of the world's busiest shipping arteries. The seizure of the island, also called Mayyun, followed the fall of Mokha a day earlier. Military sources said Houthi fighters took the port city from Saudi-backed pro-government forces. A Yemeni military official told AFP that the group now holds the full length of the coastline. Government troops pulled back from Perim on Friday. Witnesses and news agencies then reported Houthi units crossing onto the island. In a subsequent statement, the group declared its campaign to drive out Saudi-backed forces a "success" and said shipping remained open to every company apart from Saudi-flagged vessels. The Houthis had earlier insisted they were no danger to global trade while keeping up their pledge to strike Saudi ships. Their statement made no reference to Perim itself. Houthi military spokesman Yahya Sarea said the "large-scale" operation began on 3 September in response to what he called Saudi Arabia's "blatant aggression" against "our dear people". He said fighters had cleared "Saudi enemy" forces from six districts across the Taiz and Hodeidah regions and claimed that hundreds of troops had been killed, wounded or taken prisoner. Saudi Arabia has made no public statement on the recent events. Riyadh presses Washington for action As the offensive gathered pace, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the kingdom's de facto ruler, made a direct appeal to US President Donald Trump for military intervention against the Houthis, according to two people familiar with the exchange who spoke to CBS News, the BBC's North American media partner. Trump has held back from committing American forces. Instead, he has offered to share intelligence and help with targeting, the same sources said. A senior official in his administration told the BBC: "We are in continuous dialogue with Saudi Arabia and the Republic of Yemen government regarding regional stability." Why the strait matters Perim sits at the tightest point of the Bab al-Mandab Strait, the channel linking the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. Its value has climbed since the Strait of Hormuz was effectively shut during the confrontation between the United States and Iran. With that route closed, Saudi Arabia has leaned on the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandab to move oil to buyers across Asia. The fighting has fed a jump in global oil prices. The human toll has been heavy. Hundreds of people are reported to have died and thousands more have fled their homes since the Houthis opened their south-western offensive a week ago. A Saudi-led coalition has answered with air raids on Houthi-held zones in western Yemen to back government fighters. The Houthis, in turn, have fired missiles and drones at cities and oil sites in southern Saudi Arabia. The kingdom faced a separate blow on Friday. The Saudi foreign affairs ministry said drones flown from Iraq hit the East-West oil pipeline, prompting a shutdown as a precaution and leaving several people hurt. Iraq's government condemned the strike. Houthis, Perim Island, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Yemen conflict, Red Sea shipping, Saudi Arabia, Mohammed bin Salman, oil prices

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Binance Coin climbs 7% to a $100 billion market cap as "binance" trends on Google in India, amid a busy week for crypto markets. Binance Coin (BNB) rose 7% to reach a market capitalisation of about $100 billion, as searches for "binance" climbed into the trending list on Google Trends in India, with more than 100 searches recorded. The move came during a week packed with events for cryptocurrency markets. In the United States, the Senate is scheduled to vote on the CLARITY Act at 2:15 p.m. on Monday, September 15. The Federal Reserve begins its rate-setting meeting the same day, putting two market-moving decisions on a single date. Inflows into Bitcoin-linked funds have strengthened over the same period. Bitcoin exchange-traded funds pulled in $3.8 billion across three weeks, the strongest such run of 2026, according to SoSoValue data reported on September 5. Solana and Cardano upgrades Other large tokens posted technical gains tied to network upgrades. Solana (SOL) broke above $105 after its V1 upgrade tripled the network's trade size on September 9. Despite the rally, the coin remains about 65% below its all-time high. Cardano drew attention after its Leios test network recorded a 500% speed gain, reported on September 8. The token still trades roughly 93% below the peak it set in 2021, leaving a wide gap between the technical improvement and the market price. Pepeto presale Among smaller projects, a presale token called Pepeto has raised $10.9 million from early buyers. The project operates a live exchange and bridge alongside its presale. The cluster of activity - a rebound in BNB, steady ETF inflows, network upgrades on Solana and Cardano, and early-stage fundraising - reflects renewed interest across the crypto market ahead of Monday's twin policy events in Washington. The outcome of the Senate vote and the direction signalled by the Fed are expected to influence trading across the sector in the days that follow. Binance Coin, BNB price, cryptocurrency India, CLARITY Act, Bitcoin ETF, Solana price, Cardano, crypto market

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University of Miami scientists found that targeting the IL1RAP receptor weakened pancreatic tumors in lab tests. A pre-surgery clinical trial is now planned. Scientists at the University of Miami have found a way to weaken one of pancreatic cancer's toughest defenses, and they are preparing to test it in patients. The team, based at Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center within the Miller School of Medicine, showed that blocking a receptor called IL1RAP dismantled much of the protective network that shields these tumors from treatment. Their findings appear in the journal JCI Insight. The study was led by Jashodeep Datta, a surgical oncologist specializing in pancreatic and hepatobiliary cancers who co-leads the Gastrointestinal Site Disease Group at Sylvester. He and his colleagues are now moving the work toward what they describe as a first-of-its-kind neoadjuvant trial, meaning treatment given before surgery. That trial will pair an IL1RAP-targeting drug with chemoimmunotherapy in patients whose pancreatic tumors can still be removed by an operation. Pancreatic cancer is one of the hardest cancers to treat, and much of the difficulty comes from the tissue and cells that surround the tumor. This tumor microenvironment acts as a support system, helping cancer cells adapt, keep growing and shrug off drugs. The researchers found that IL1RAP sits at the center of that system, tying together tumor cells, immune cells and fibroblasts into a coordinated defense against therapy. "When we target IL1RAP, we are blocking a shared 'helper' receptor that many inflammatory signals rely on to transmit their message," Datta said. Because so many inflammatory signals pass through this single point, interfering with it can disrupt a wide swath of the tumor's support structure at once. That point matters because pancreatic tumors tend to be highly inflamed while at the same time holding the immune system back. This combination of heavy inflammation and suppressed immunity is a major reason chemotherapy and immunotherapy often fall short. High levels of IL1RAP appear to help lock the tumor into that state, feeding both its growth and its resistance to treatment. What happened in the lab In preclinical experiments, shutting down IL1RAP reshaped the environment around the tumors in several ways. Cells that normally suppress the immune response became scarcer. T cells, the immune system's cancer-fighting agents, grew more active and worked more effectively. The tumors also built up less fibrosis, the dense scar-like tissue that walls them off, and they responded more strongly when combination treatments were added. The strategy marks a shift in thinking. Instead of aiming only to kill cancer cells directly, it goes after the surrounding tissue that keeps them alive. By breaking down those defenses, the researchers believe existing drugs could finally reach and act on the tumor as intended. The timing adds urgency. A newer therapy aimed at the KRAS mutation has shown it can extend survival in patients whose cancer has already spread. But adapting that approach for people with operable tumors is expected to take years. That gap leaves patients whose cancer can still be surgically removed with few new options, and Datta's team frames the IL1RAP work as a way to help fill it. From bench to clinic By pinpointing IL1RAP as a weak spot and linking its activity to how tumors respond to treatment, the researchers built the case for testing the idea in people. Sylvester is now advancing the neoadjuvant trial, which will deliver the IL1RAP-targeted treatment alongside chemoimmunotherapy to patients before their operations. "Moving this work into a clinical trial is a landmark development for our GI cancer program at Sylvester," Datta said. "We're testing a clear, patient-centered strategy to disrupt IL1RAP using a treatment plan that can be delivered in the clinic." Giving the treatment before surgery carries a practical advantage for the science. Because doctors will remove the tumor afterward, they can study the same cancer both before and after therapy, comparing the tissue to see whether blocking IL1RAP changed the environment in patients the way it did in the lab. For now, the results come from preclinical models rather than people, and the planned trial will be the first real test of whether the approach helps patients. Still, the work offers a fresh angle on a disease that has resisted decades of effort, targeting not the cancer cell alone but the crowd of cells that protect it. pancreatic cancer, IL1RAP, Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, Jashodeep Datta, chemoimmunotherapy, neoadjuvant clinical trial, tumor microenvironment, cancer immunotherap

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A review at Addenbrooke's Hospital found 209 patients harmed under surgeon Kuldeep Stohr, with 41 severe cases and one death. Families demand a public inquiry. A mother whose teenage daughter was among more than 200 patients found to have been harmed by a now-suspended NHS orthopaedic surgeon says she no longer has any faith in the hospital that carried out the operation. Lynn, whose 13-year-old daughter Tammy was treated at Addenbrooke's Hospital in Cambridge, described the scale of the failures as "ridiculous". Figures made public on Monday show that 209 patients experienced harm while under the care of surgeon Kuldeep Stohr. Of those, 41 cases were graded as severe and one patient died. The numbers appeared in a report drawn up for the board of directors at Cambridge University Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust (CUH), which runs Addenbrooke's. The trust said it was "deeply sorry". Stohr has previously stated that she was fully co-operating with the investigation into her work. Screws placed in the wrong position Tammy's family was among the first to be given the results of an independent investigation last year. Her lawyers say the trust provided a written admission that the surgery fell below acceptable standards. Screws intended to be fixed into Tammy's hip joints to help her move more freely were positioned incorrectly and failed to attach properly to the bone. Lynn said the sheer number of affected patients could not be brushed aside. "One or two can be classed as a mistake, but this amount - no," she said. She added that the situation was especially hard for parents who had watched their children go back into theatre for further operations. She also questioned who had compiled the board report, saying relatives no longer believed what the hospital told them. More than 900 cases examined The wider review being carried out by CUH has so far assessed the treatment of over 900 patients. A large share of the cases involve children who were operated on by Stohr. The board report had been posted on the trust's website before a meeting scheduled for Wednesday. It was then taken down after journalists approached the trust for comment. The trust said a "confidential interim update" had been "shared by mistake in our public board papers". Stohr has been absent from work since March 2024. She was suspended by the hospital, with the trust initially citing personal reasons. Calls for a public inquiry Another parent, Natasha, is pressing for a public inquiry into how children treated by Stohr came to be injured. Her daughter Neave, aged 19, is among those affected. The trust expects to release its final conclusions in November. Chief executive Nicola Ayton said the findings would be given to patients and their families ahead of publication. Elizabeth Maliakal of Hudgell Solicitors, which acts for several of the families, said she anticipated the final report would be "damning". She said some of her clients, including children, had undergone significant operations they did not need - procedures that brought no benefit and left them in pain for years. "I expect the final report from the trust, once all the findings of the independent review panel are known, to be highly critical," she said, pointing out that fatal harm had already been confirmed in at least one instance, alongside many other injuries. Kuldeep Stohr, Addenbrooke's Hospital, Cambridge University Hospitals, NHS surgeon suspended, patient harm review, orthopaedic surgery children, public inquiry NHS, Hudgell Solicitors

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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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Neymar sits out with a grade 2 thigh injury and Gabigol is suspended as Santos host Cruzeiro at Vila Belmiro in the Brazilian championship. Santos faced Cruzeiro without two of their biggest attacking names on Saturday, the 12th, in the 27th round of the Campeonato Brasileiro. The match kicked off at 9 p.m. Brasília time at Vila Belmiro, with Neymar and Gabigol both ruled out for very different reasons. Neymar is sidelined by a muscle injury. He suffered a grade 2 tear in his right thigh during the match against Palmeiras on September 2. The problem is considered moderate, involving a partial rupture of muscle fibres, swelling and intense pain in the rectus femoris. The forward has already begun treatment. His recovery is estimated at six to eight weeks, a timeline that could keep him out of as many as 13 matches. The most optimistic projection points to a return at the end of October, while a more conservative reading suggests he may not play again until early November. Given Neymar's recent history of injuries, his camp has ruled out any attempt to bring him back early. The player's staff prefer to respect the full recovery window rather than risk a setback. Gabigol's absence stems from two separate issues. The striker picked up his third yellow card, triggering an automatic suspension that bars him from the 27th round. Even if he were clear on disciplinary grounds, he could not have played. Gabigol belongs to Cruzeiro and is on loan at Santos, and a contractual restriction prevents him from being fielded against his parent club. Unlike Neymar, Gabigol's return is straightforward. He will be available again as soon as his suspension is served, with no medical timeline to manage. Beyond the two forwards, Santos went into the game carrying further squad problems, leaving the hosts short of attacking options against Cruzeiro at Vila Belmiro. Neymar injury, Gabigol suspension, Santos vs Cruzeiro, Brasileirao, Vila Belmiro, Campeonato Brasileiro, Santos FC, Cruzeir

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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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George Chuvalo, the five-time Canadian heavyweight champion who fought Muhammad Ali twice and was never knocked down, has died at 89. George Chuvalo, the five-time Canadian heavyweight champion who traded blows with Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier yet was never once dropped to the canvas, has died at the age of 89. The Toronto fighter died on Saturday, which was also his birthday, according to Sully's Boxing Gym, the club where he trained. Chuvalo built a record that few in his sport could match. Across 93 professional bouts he won 73, lost 18 and drew two. Through all of them, no opponent ever knocked him off his feet - a feat that became the defining fact of his career and the root of his reputation for a granite jaw and endless endurance. He was born in 1937 to Croatian immigrant parents and raised in Toronto, where he took up the sport as a boy. He went on to face some of the biggest names in heavyweight history, including George Foreman, Frazier and Ali, and came to be described by many as Canada's finest fighting man. Chuvalo met Ali in the ring twice, in 1966 and again in 1972. He lost both contests, but he left a lasting mark on his opponent: Ali later said Chuvalo was the toughest man he had ever stepped in against. "George Chuvalo was a heavyweight boxing legend, a family friend and a Canadian icon," Ontario Premier Doug Ford wrote in a message online. "My thoughts are with all of George's family and loved ones as we mourn his passing." His old gym paid tribute to the place he held in the sport. "His photos have hung on our walls for decades. His stories have been passed down from one generation of fighters to the next," Sully's Boxing said in a statement. Life after the ring Chuvalo hung up his gloves in 1978. In the years that followed he crossed the country as a speaker, using his own life to warn audiences about the dangers of drug use and to press for greater attention to mental health. His message carried the weight of personal loss: Chuvalo has said he lost three sons and his wife to drug overdoses and suicide. "I'd like to think if you're ever tempted with the idea of doing drugs, or you ever flirt with doing drugs, I hope you think of me, George Chuvalo, and what drugs did to my family," he said in remarks reported by a CBC Radio broadcast in 1998. He also found work away from the podium. Chuvalo took small acting roles, turning up in the 1998 comedy Dirty Work and appearing beside Jeff Goldblum in the 1986 horror film The Fly. He worked as a guest commentator on major fights and co-hosted a television boxing show called Greatest Knockouts alongside his friend and fellow fighter Charles "Spider" Jones. Chuvalo is survived by his eldest son, Mitch, his daughter, Vanessa, his grandchildren and his second wife, Joanne. George Chuvalo, Canadian boxing, heavyweight champion, Muhammad Ali, Sully's Boxing, boxing legend, Doug Ford, Toronto boxer

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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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Chinese state media accuses the United States of wanting Taiwan to serve as 'cannon fodder' in a potential conflict with mainland China. Chinese state media has accused the United States of seeking to make Taiwan "serve as cannon fodder" in any confrontation with mainland China, escalating the rhetoric around one of Asia's most sensitive flashpoints. The charge, carried by state-run outlets, frames Washington's support for Taiwan as self-serving rather than protective. According to the framing, the US intends to push the island into a frontline role against Beijing while keeping American forces out of direct harm. The "cannon fodder" language is pointed. It casts Taiwan not as a partner the US is defending, but as an expendable asset positioned to absorb the first blows of any cross-strait conflict. The message appears aimed at both domestic and international audiences, seeking to drive a wedge between Taipei and Washington. Beijing regards Taiwan as part of its territory and has never renounced the use of force to bring the self-governed island under its control. The United States does not maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taipei but remains its most important security backer and arms supplier. The accusation reflects the sharp propaganda dimension of the dispute, where messaging is used to shape perceptions of intent. By portraying US backing as a liability rather than a shield, state media seeks to undercut confidence in Washington's commitments. No official policy shift accompanied the reported commentary, and it was presented as the view of Chinese state media rather than a formal government statement. The remarks add to a steady stream of pressure directed at Taipei and its ties with Washington, underscoring how far the war of words has moved even without a change on the ground. Taiwan, China state media, US Taiwan policy, cannon fodder, cross-strait tensions, mainland China, China US relations, Taiwan Strait

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