Language Settings
Select Website Language

All Posts

Showing 91 to 105 Articles posts out of total 226 Total
  • Channels
  • Topics
  • Other Filters

Filters

Channels
Topics
Other Filters
Filters
Autologue Reimagines Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z as a Faired RS400
AutoMobiles

Autologue Reimagines Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z as a Faired RS400

Pune's Autologue Design has revealed digital renders of a full-fairing body kit for the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, teasing an unofficial RS400. Pune-based Autologue Design has published digital renders of a full-fairing body kit for the Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, offering a glimpse of a faired 400cc Pulsar that the manufacturer itself does not sell. The design house has shared the images publicly and is asking enthusiasts a single question - "Should we build it?" - to measure demand before committing to production. Bajaj launched the NS400Z in 2024 as the range-topping model in its long-running Pulsar family and has rolled out several updates since. The bike currently anchors the top of the line-up, yet buyers wanting a fully-faired machine built on its 400cc-class hardware have had nothing to choose from the factory. Autologue's concept targets exactly that gap, which is why the render reads almost like an unofficial Pulsar RS400. The company has been explicit that the project is its own independent exercise. The renders do not signal that Bajaj is working on an RS400 of its own. What the renders change The visual shift is dramatic, and most obvious head-on. Where the stock NS400Z wears a bare streetfighter face, the concept adds a broad front fairing wrapped around the headlamp, topped by a tall dark-tinted screen that lends the bike a sportbike or sports-tourer flavour. The bodywork carries down the flanks and into a deep belly pan below. Designers have layered in sharp folds, air vents and black contrast panels to build visual bulk, with bold '400' lettering placed low on the fairing. The base finish is Pearl Metallic White, paired with black and red accents that echo the production bike's colour scheme. The standard NS400Z is sold in Brooklyn Black, Glossy Racing Red and Pewter Grey. The cockpit has been reworked too. The upright handlebar of the stock machine appears swapped for a lower, more committed setup, and the handlebar-mounted mirrors give way to compact units fixed to the fairing. Should these details survive into a finished kit, they would push the riding stance and overall look in a noticeably sportier direction. Mostly stock underneath Beyond the new panels and cockpit, the renders leave the core motorcycle largely intact. The alloy wheels, tyres, golden upside-down front forks, fuel tank, split seats, grab rails, swingarm and brakes all appear carried over. One notable departure is the exhaust: the images show a more conventional side-mounted system in place of the NS400Z's factory underbelly unit. Because the concept is drawn as a bolt-on kit with no engine or chassis changes, a production version would be expected to ride and perform much like the standard bike. Earlier NS400Z units use a 373.27cc engine, while newer examples are fitted with a 350cc unit. In the market, the NS400Z lines up against the KTM 390 Duke, the Triumph Speed 400 and the Royal Enfield Guerrilla 450. A faired variant would sit apart from all of them by wrapping the same 400cc-class package in sportbike bodywork. For now the faired NS400Z exists only as a set of images. Autologue says early reaction has been encouraging and is still canvassing riders on whether to take it further. If the kit does reach production, it would hand NS400Z owners something Bajaj currently leaves off the menu - a fully-faired 400cc Pulsar. Bajaj Pulsar NS400Z, Autologue Design, Pulsar RS400, faired body kit, 400cc motorcycle, aftermarket fairing, Bajaj Pulsar, motorcycle modification

0 4 0
5 days ago
Range Rover Electric Bookings Open in India at Rs 10 Lakh Token
AutoMobiles

Range Rover Electric Bookings Open in India at Rs 10 Lakh Token

JLR opens Range Rover Electric bookings in India for a Rs 10 lakh token. The 118.5 kWh EV makes 550 PS, 850 Nm and a 600 km WLTP range. JLR has opened bookings for the Range Rover Electric in India, with buyers able to reserve the SUV for a token amount of Rs 10 lakh. It is the first fully electric model in the Range Rover line-up, and the company will bring it into the country as a completely built unit (CBU) imported from its Solihull plant in the United Kingdom. The launch price for India has not been announced. Estimates place the starting figure at around Rs 3.5 crore. In the United States, the Range Rover Electric is already on sale from $138,000, roughly Rs 1.30 crore. Battery, power and range The Range Rover Electric is built around a 118.5 kWh lithium-ion battery pack made up of 344 prismatic cells. It feeds two electric motors, each rated at 260 kW (354 PS), for a combined output of 405 kW (550 PS). Both motors were developed and built in-house by the company. Torque is rated at 850 Nm, the highest figure for any Range Rover to date. Measured against the ICE Range Rover fitted with the mild-hybrid 4.4-litre twin-turbo V8, the electric version produces 12 hp and 100 Nm more. It covers 0 to 96 km/h (0-60 mph) in 4.3 seconds, quicker than the 4.5 seconds recorded by the V8 model. Certified range is 600 km (372 miles) on the WLTP cycle. JLR's own EPA estimate puts real-world range at about 535 km (333 miles). The SUV uses an 800-volt electrical architecture that supports split-charging and DC fast charging of up to 350 kW. A 10 to 80 percent top-up takes 22 minutes, while a 10-minute charge adds around 220 km. Off-road hardware The electric powertrain has not replaced the model's off-road equipment. It carries twin-valve active dampers taken from the Range Rover Sport SV, along with dual-chamber air springs and rear-axle steering. Water wading capability is rated at 900 mm, helped by a setup that raises ride height automatically using sensors that track the water level. The SUV also gets a new Integrated Traction Management (ITM) system for low-grip surfaces and an Intelligent Driveline Dynamics (IDD) system. It can handle inclines of up to 33 degrees and steep climbs of up to 45 degrees. At 2,885 kg, the Range Rover Electric weighs 75 kg more than the plug-in hybrid version. Towing capacity is rated at 2.5 tonnes, below the 3.5 tonnes of the ICE model and the 3 tonnes of the PHEV. Design and cabin The exterior stays close to the fifth-generation ICE Range Rover launched in 2021. The changes are limited to a more modern grille and new alloy wheels, along with underbody revisions needed for an EV. Those tweaks cut the drag coefficient by 0.01 Cd, which the company says can add about 16 km of highway range. The Range Rover Electric is offered in standard and long-wheelbase forms. Trim levels are SE, Autobiography, SV, SV Black and SV Ultra. A First Edition option is available in Belgravia Green, Santorini Black or Varesine Blue, paired with newly introduced Light Cloud Ultrafabrics PU and Kvadrat interior. Buyers can also choose from a range of Bespoke paint colours, finishes, materials and embroidery. Inside, the layout mirrors the ICE model, with the same dashboard, steering wheel, centre console, drive mode selector and digital screens. EV-specific additions include an AI-based range predictor and a battery health monitor. Other equipment covers premium audio, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated and heated seats with a massage function, and multi-zone climate control. Range Rover Electric, JLR India, electric SUV, Range Rover EV price India, 118.5 kWh battery, 800-volt architecture, luxury EV India

0 4 0
5 days ago
Kia Sorento Hybrid Teased for India, Bookings Open
AutoMobiles

Kia Sorento Hybrid Teased for India, Bookings Open

Kia India teases the Sorento Hybrid, its first hybrid SUV, and opens pre-bookings. The three-row model will rival the Toyota Fortuner and Skoda Kodiaq. Kia India has released a teaser for the all-new Sorento Hybrid, its first hybrid SUV planned for the local market, and has started taking official pre-bookings for the three-row model. The teaser marks the first look at the India-specification vehicle ahead of its launch. Once on sale, the Sorento will crown Kia India's internal-combustion SUV line-up. The company positions it against the Toyota Fortuner, Skoda Kodiaq, Volkswagen Tayron and Jeep Meridian. The teaser shows a tall, squared-off body. Up front, the SUV carries vertically arranged LED headlamps alongside T-shaped LED daytime running lights. Buyers are expected to have a choice between six-seat and seven-seat layouts. Kia has not yet shown the India-spec cabin, but the Sorento is tipped to arrive well equipped. Anticipated features include twin 12.3-inch screens serving the driver's instruments and the infotainment system, wireless Apple CarPlay and Android Auto, a panoramic sunroof, ventilated front seats, a power-adjustable driver's seat, multi-zone climate control and a 360-degree camera. Powering the India-bound model is expected to be a 1.6-litre turbocharged petrol engine working with a self-charging hybrid setup. That combination is likely to be linked to a six-speed automatic gearbox and all-wheel drive. Kia has not confirmed a launch date or pricing. Further details are expected as the debut nears Kia Sorento Hybrid, Kia India, three-row SUV, Toyota Fortuner rival, Skoda Kodiaq, hybrid SUV India, Sorento pre-booking, 1.6 turbo-petrol

0 4 0
5 days ago
2026 Tata Curvv Series X Debuts From Rs 10 Lakh
AutoMobiles

2026 Tata Curvv Series X Debuts From Rs 10 Lakh

Tata's updated Curvv Series X starts at Rs 10 lakh, trims the range to six variants and loads more kit into base and mid trims. Tata Cars has rolled out a revised version of its Curvv coupe-SUV, badged the Series X, with prices opening at Rs 10 lakh (ex-showroom) for the entry Smart X trim. The update trims the range from eight variants to six, reshuffles the equipment on offer and gives every trim an "X" in its name. At the top sits the Accomplished X Plus diesel automatic at Rs 18.75 lakh. The move follows two years of the Curvv on sale in India, a period in which early buyer interest has cooled, particularly after Tata introduced its Sierra SUV. Prices have crept up marginally across the board, but Tata has offset this by handing the lower and middle trims noticeably more kit than they carried before. What has changed in the lineup The T-GDI turbo-petrol is now sold only with the automatic gearbox, its manual option having been withdrawn. From the Pure X Plus grade upwards, buyers can specify a #DARK Edition with blacked-out cabin and body panels for an extra Rs 25,000. Variants marked for the treatment sit between Pure X Plus and the flagship. The paint palette has been reworked too. Tata has retired the Gold Essence, Daytona Grey and Flame Red finishes. Five shades remain: Carbon Black, Nitro Crimson, Opera Blue, Pure Grey and Pristine White. Outwardly the car is unchanged, keeping its sloping roof, upright profile, partly closed gloss-black grille, slim LED daytime running lamps and vertically stacked headlamps. Flush door handles, thick piano-black cladding, a sharkfin antenna and a chrome window accent carry over, with alloy wheels available up to 18 inches. The base car swaps its old 16-inch wheels for 17-inch steel rims wrapped in "hyperstyle" covers as standard. Cabin and comfort tweaks Inside, the biggest addition is Oyster White leatherette upholstery, fitted from the Pure X Plus trim onward to lend a lighter feel. The layout stays familiar, with a floating infotainment screen, a digital driver's readout and touch-operated climate controls. Tata has also freed up space at the back. Reshaped front seatbacks add 10 mm of rear knee room, while the bench itself now sits 20 mm further back and 10 mm lower. Feature upgrades are concentrated in the cheaper trims, since the flagship's kit is untouched. The Pure X now brings a 10.25-inch touchscreen, wireless Android Auto and Apple CarPlay, cruise control, a six-speaker Harman Kardon system, a panoramic sunroof, automatic climate control and selectable drive modes. Step up to the mid-rung Creative X Plus and the list grows to include a 10.25-inch digital cluster, ventilated front seats, rain-sensing wipers and automatic headlamps. The range-topper piles on a powered tailgate, a six-way electric driver's seat, connected car services, an auto-dimming interior mirror and a larger 12.3-inch instrument display. Safety and engines Every Curvv Series X ships with six airbags, rear parking sensors, ISOFIX mounts, electronic stability control and hill-hold assist. The Pure X adds a reversing camera and tyre-pressure monitoring, while the Creative X Plus throws in a 360-degree camera, front parking sensors and a rear defogger. Level 2 driver-assist systems stay exclusive to the Accomplished X Plus. The Curvv holds a five-star Bharat NCAP crash rating. Three engines carry over. The 1.2-litre turbo-petrol makes 120 PS and 170 Nm, paired with a six-speed manual or seven-speed dual-clutch automatic. The 1.2-litre T-GDI unit produces 125 PS and 225 Nm, now automatic-only. The 1.5-litre diesel delivers 118 PS and 260 Nm with a choice of manual or dual-clutch automatic. In its segment the Curvv squares off most directly against the Citroen Basalt X, the other coupe-styled contender at this price. It also competes with conventionally shaped rivals including the Skoda Kushaq, Renault Duster, Kia Seltos, Volkswagen Taigun, Hyundai Creta, Maruti Grand Vitara and Victoris, Toyota Urban Cruiser Hyryder, Tata's own Sierra, Honda Elevate, Nissan Tekton and MG Astor. Tata Curvv Series X, Tata Curvv price, coupe-SUV India, Curvv Series X variants, Tata Curvv features, compact SUV India, Curvv T-GDI, Bharat NCAP

0 3 0
5 days ago
ISRO Launches GSLV-F17 With EOS-05 Imaging Satellite
India

ISRO Launches GSLV-F17 With EOS-05 Imaging Satellite

ISRO's GSLV-F17 rocket lifted off before dawn from Sriharikota, placing the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite into its planned orbit. India's space agency sent its GSLV-F17 rocket skyward in a pre-dawn flight on Friday, carrying the EOS-05 Earth observation satellite into orbit. The vehicle lifted off at 2:55 am IST from the Satish Dhawan Space Centre at Sriharikota in Andhra Pradesh. Shortly after separation, EOS-05 reached the sub-geosynchronous transfer orbit planned for it. ISRO Chief Dr. V Narayanan confirmed the outcome, saying the GSLV-F17 had placed the advanced geo-imaging spacecraft precisely into its required orbit. Thomas Kurian, the mission director, called the flight a proud moment and noted it marked the GSLV programme's 19th mission. He described EOS-05 as the heaviest payload the GSLV has ever carried into a GTO or sub-GTO orbit, and said the satellite is built for near-real-time imaging. Kurian added that the few minutes of flight rested on months and years of preparation. EOS-05 is designed to keep watch over the country from an altitude of roughly 36,000 kilometres, giving India a steady overhead view of its territory. The GSLV-F17 that carried it measures 51.7 metres tall and had a liftoff mass of 420.5 tonnes, ranking it among the heaviest rockets India currently flies. Science and Technology Minister Jitendra Singh welcomed the result, saying the country's expanding space capabilities reinforce its standing as a global space power. Writing on X on September 3, 2026, he praised the ISRO team and described the mission as another major stride for India in space. Singh said EOS-05 is India's first imaging satellite operating from geosynchronous orbit. According to him, the spacecraft can capture images across the visible, infrared, multispectral and hyperspectral bands, marking a step forward in the country's remote-sensing abilities. ISRO, GSLV-F17, EOS-05, Earth observation satellite, Sriharikota, V Narayanan, Jitendra Singh, Satish Dhawan Space Centre

0 4 0
5 days ago
Smriti Mandhana Smashes 124 to Break Women's Century Record
Sports

Smriti Mandhana Smashes 124 to Break Women's Century Record

Smriti Mandhana hit 124 off 64 balls against Hong Kong, claiming an 18th international century to pass Meg Lanning's record as India posted 193/5 in Dubai. Smriti Mandhana blasted 124 off 64 balls to become the leading century-maker in women's international cricket as India Women posted 193 for 5 against Hong Kong in their Women's Asia Cup 2026 match in Dubai on Thursday. The innings was Mandhana's 18th international century, taking her past former Australia captain Meg Lanning, who holds 17. South Africa's Laura Wolvaardt also has 17, while West Indies' Hayley Matthews has 15. Mandhana struck 14 fours and seven sixes at a strike rate of 193.75. Hong Kong won the toss and asked India to bat first. Mandhana and Shafali Verma gave the innings a rapid start, putting the bowlers under pressure from the outset. Verma made 28 off 17 balls before falling, a wicket that briefly brought Hong Kong back into the contest. Mandhana pressed on as batters fell around her. She reached her half-century off 40 balls, then accelerated sharply, moving from 50 to 100 in only 17 deliveries. Her century came up in 57 balls, and she kept attacking until the last ball of the innings. The knock set a new mark for the highest individual score in Women's T20 Asia Cup history. It surpassed the 119 by Sri Lanka's Chamari Athapaththu against Malaysia in Dambulla in 2024. Mithali Raj's unbeaten 97 against Malaysia in Kuala Lumpur in 2018 sits third on the list, followed by Sri Lanka's Harshitha Samarawickrama and India's Shafali Verma, both on 81. Mandhana's stay ended in the final over. After Bharti Fulmali steered a yorker towards point, Mandhana went for a single but had little chance. Iqra Sahar's direct throw to the striker's end found her well short, ending the innings on a flat note. Her 124 made up close to two-thirds of India's total and left Hong Kong chasing 194 to win. Around her, Richa Ghosh made 11, Harmanpreet Kaur 10 and Deepti Sharma an unbeaten 1. For Hong Kong, Marina Lamplough was the pick of the bowlers with 2 for 46. Joyleen Kaur, Ruchitha Venkatesh and Iqra Sahar each took a wicket. Smriti Mandhana, Women's Asia Cup 2026, India Women cricket, Meg Lanning record, Shafali Verma, women's cricket century, India vs Hong Kong, T20 Asia Cup record

0 3 0
5 days ago
8th Pay Commission: 7% Increment Could Add Rs 28.89 Lakh
Business

8th Pay Commission: 7% Increment Could Add Rs 28.89 Lakh

Central government employee unions want the annual increment raised from 3% to as high as 7%. For a Level 8 staffer, that could mean Rs 28.89 lakh more over a decade. The 8th Pay Commission will hold consultations in Chennai on September 7 and 8, where representatives of employee and pensioner organisations plan to press their case for a higher annual increment for central government staff. The Chennai sessions follow a two-day round of stakeholder meetings held in Jaipur. At the centre of the discussions is the yearly increment rate. Staff bodies want it lifted from the present 3%, arguing that the figure has failed to keep up with the cost of living. The demands placed before the commission span 5% to 7%, and any increase would reshape how a government salary grows across the life of a pay commission. What the unions are asking for The National Council of the Joint Consultative Machinery, the principal forum for central government workers, has asked for 6% in the memorandum it submitted to the commission. The All India Defence Employees' Federation and the Federation of National Postal Organisations have put forward the same 6% figure. The steepest demand comes from the All India New Pension Scheme Employees' Federation, which wants 7%. The Indian Railways' Supervisors' Association has taken the most modest position among these groups, seeking 5%. Employee associations say the gap is felt hardest by staff at the lower pay levels, especially those posted in Tier I cities, where a basic salary stretched by only 3% growth leaves little room after everyday costs. The AINPSEF has claimed that a 7% rate could bring an employee's basic pay close to double over a single pay commission. How 3% plays out today The effect of the current rate is easy to trace at the bottom of the pay matrix. A Level 1 employee starts on a basic pay of Rs 18,000 under the 7th Pay Commission. Compounded at 3% a year, that basic reaches roughly Rs 23,500 by the end of the commission's tenth year. The pattern repeats higher up. A Level 5 employee begins at Rs 29,200 and, at the same rate, arrives at about Rs 38,100 in the tenth year. Basic pay is only part of the packet, since most employees also draw dearness allowance, house rent allowance and transport allowance on top of it. The Level 8 example To show what a steeper rate would deliver, the calculation takes a Level 8 employee whose basic pay now stands at Rs 47,600. It assumes the 8th Pay Commission settles on a fitment factor of 2.15, which lifts the basic to an estimated Rs 1,02,340. From there, the figures are projected over ten years at 3%, 5% and 7%. In the first year every scenario looks identical: a monthly basic of Rs 1,02,340 and an annual salary of Rs 12,28,080. The paths separate over time. By year ten, the 3% track yields a monthly basic of Rs 1,33,530 and an annual figure of Rs 16,02,366. Switch to 5%, and the tenth-year monthly basic climbs to Rs 1,58,763, taking the annual salary to Rs 19,05,155. Across the full decade, total pay under 3% works out to Rs 1,40,78,561, against Rs 1,54,46,658 under 5% - a difference of Rs 13,68,097 in the employee's favour. The 7% scenario stretches the gap much further. In year ten the monthly basic reaches Rs 1,88,148 and the annual salary Rs 22,57,775. Summed over ten years, the total comes to Rs 1,69,67,703, compared with the same Rs 1,40,78,561 under 3%. That leaves an extra Rs 28,89,143 over the decade. The comparison underlines how even a couple of percentage points on the annual increment compound into a wide spread in take-home pay over the years. The numbers remain projections. The rate that is finally applied, and the shape of the wider salary revision, will only be confirmed once the government formally notifies the 8th Pay Commission report. 8th Pay Commission, annual increment rate, central government employees, NC-JCM, fitment factor, Level 8 basic pay, AINPSEF, salary revision

0 6 0
5 days ago
Ariana Grande's Tearful O2 Farewell as She Steps Back
OtherNews

Ariana Grande's Tearful O2 Farewell as She Steps Back

Ariana Grande closed her Eternal Sunshine tour at London's O2 Arena in tears, wrapping up before a planned step back from public life. Ariana Grande has closed the curtain on her Eternal Sunshine tour and, with it, her public life for the foreseeable future. Here's how the singer's emotional final night in London unfolded. Farewell at The O2 On Tuesday night at London's O2 Arena, Ariana Grande brought her Eternal Sunshine tour to a close, blinking back tears as she readied herself to disappear from public view. The show became a farewell in every sense, with the singer signalling this may be her last stage appearance for a long time. A Tearful One Last Time Her composure cracked most during One Last Time, the ballad that grew into an anthem for survivors of the 2017 Manchester bombing. Sinking to her knees to reach the front rows, she leaned on the audience for strength: 'London, I'm going to need you to help me on this one,' she told them. The Step Back Explained The concert followed a decision revealed a month earlier: Grande said she would withdraw from all forthcoming public-facing work. Her publicist framed it as a 'step back from visibility,' pointing to what was described as 'endless, ongoing public scrutiny' surrounding the singer's health and appearance in recent months. Barbican Show Abandoned The retreat forced her out of a planned run in Stephen Sondheim's Sunday in the Park with George at London's Barbican next summer. She had been set to star opposite her Wicked colleague Jonathan Bailey - who, on the same Tuesday, announced he too was leaving the production behind. Stilettos Swapped for Boots A foot injury reshaped her look for the night, forcing her to trade her signature stilettos for a series of knee-high platform boots. Undeterred, she darted across the stage in lockstep with her dancers, frequently rising onto tip-toe to make up for the height her heels would have given her. A Wobble on Nowhere, Nobody Her voice wavered a second time on Nowhere, Nobody, catching on the lyric 'Hard to believe in a perfect ending.' The wobble passed quickly. Grande steadied herself and carried on, staying commanding throughout despite showing no other hint of the frailty fans had recently feared. Gratitude to the Crowd Near the finish, Grande turned to her audience with gratitude. 'This has been one of the most beautiful extraordinary experiences of my life,' she said, adding that she wanted to voice her thanks 'without sobbing completely.' She called them the finest fans in the world and promised to treasure the memory always. Petal Video and Pushback Speculation had spiked after the video for her single Petal appeared, with one X user calling the 33-year-old alarmingly thin. Days later in Chicago, Grande pushed back, insisting the decision sprang from a 'thoughtful, empowered place' set in motion 'a long time ago.' 'Boundaries need to be set,' she reminded the crowd. Ariana Grande, Eternal Sunshine tour, O2 Arena London, Ariana Grande hiatus, One Last Time, Jonathan Bailey, Ariana Grande farewell, Ariana Grande Petal

0 6 0
5 days ago
Google Trends Adds Category Filters to Explore Page
Trending

Google Trends Adds Category Filters to Explore Page

Google Trends now lets users filter the Explore page by pre-defined categories without typing a query, helping refine and narrow search trend data. Google has added category filters to Google Trends, allowing users to sort the Explore page by pre-defined categories without first entering a search query. Google announced the change on LinkedIn. The update means people can now browse trend data for a specific category on its own. Previously, seeing data on the Explore page required typing in a query. With the new filters, a category can serve as the starting point instead. The categories also work alongside a search term. Users can apply a category to a query to keep the results confined to that topic. Google said this helps ensure a query stays within a chosen category and does not overlap with other categories of searches. That overlap control is one of the more practical uses of the feature. When a search term could sit across several subjects, the category filter narrows the data down and strips out results that belong to unrelated areas. The filters can also help with idea generation. Anyone hunting for fresh topics to cover within a particular category can use the tool to surface what is trending in that space. The feature is live now on the Google Trends Explore page. Google Trends, category filters, Google Trends Explore, search trends, SEO tools, keyword research, Google search data

0 4 0
5 days ago
Boulter crushed 6-1 6-0 by Muchova in US Open second round
Sports

Boulter crushed 6-1 6-0 by Muchova in US Open second round

Katie Boulter won just one game in 58 minutes as Karolina Muchova dumped the British number one out of the US Open second round. British number one Katie Boulter was knocked out of the US Open second round in barely under an hour on Wednesday, taking just a single game as Czech seventh seed Karolina Muchova ran out a 6-1 6-0 winner in 58 minutes. The contest lasted less than an hour at Flushing Meadows and was one-sided from the start. Boulter, the world number 62, described the loss as "a bad day at the office - times two" and admitted the surroundings had thrown her off her game. The match had been moved indoors to the 14,000-seat Louis Armstrong Stadium after heavy rain swept across New York, having first been listed for one of the outer courts. Spectators who thought they had earned a bonus third contest on their day-session tickets saw the shortest of encounters. "I struggled with the conditions," Boulter said. "I struggled with the roof, the noise, I let things distract me. I let it get to me. I'm not usually aware of everything going on. It made me feel a little bit uncomfortable. I have to deal with it better." Boulter's delivery was the clearest weakness. The 30-year-old served eight double faults, managed no aces and won only 33% of the points behind her first serve. She was broken every time she was threatened, failing to save any of the seven break points she faced. Her tally read 22 unforced errors against just four winners. Muchova, runner-up at Wimbledon this summer, was sharp by comparison, striking 14 winners for only nine unforced errors. She mixed clever drop shots with heavy groundstrokes to keep her opponent constantly stretched. Hantuchova urges a rethink Former world number five Daniela Hantuchova, speaking on BBC Radio 5 Live, said the result should prompt Boulter to reassess her approach. "I would be really humbled, I would sit down with my team and say 'OK, we need to change something big time'," she said. Hantuchova pointed straight to the serve. "It was very obvious today that it was the serve. I feel like it needs to be cleared up because she was losing the rhythm and not using her legs. That's the number one thing," she added. "If I am Boulter, I would be on the practice court tomorrow. If she still wants to invest everything into her tennis then she needs to be on the court." The defeat capped a lean run of results. Boulter has claimed only two wins across this year's four Grand Slam tournaments, and since her first-round exit at Wimbledon she has won just two of six matches. The summer has been happier away from the court: she married Australia's Alex de Minaur, the world number seven, in July. Fearnley out, Jones through There was more British disappointment as Jacob Fearnley also missed out on a place in the third round. He went down 6-3 6-3 3-6 6-3 to Argentina's Tomas Martin Etcheverry, recovering to take the third set before losing the fourth. Francesca Jones offered a brighter note. She completed a first-round win over Poland's Magda Linette, ranked 82nd, after the match had been suspended by rain on Tuesday night. Jones had taken the opening set 6-4 before play was halted. When the players returned on Wednesday, it was Linette who looked the fresher, sprinting to a 5-0 lead and sealing the second set in 28 minutes. Jones admitted the stop-start nature of the contest had tested her. "I've never been quite in this position so I was nervous with how I'd quite feel," she said. Jones, who won her maiden Grand Slam match at the French Open earlier this year, held on to advance. Katie Boulter, Karolina Muchova, US Open, British tennis, Jacob Fearnley, Francesca Jones, Alex de Minaur, Grand Slam

0 3 0
5 days ago
King Charles Hails Bayeux Tapestry's Arrival at British Museum
Entertainment

King Charles Hails Bayeux Tapestry's Arrival at British Museum

King Charles, President Macron and PM Andy Burnham gathered at the British Museum to preview the Bayeux Tapestry ahead of its public opening. King Charles has welcomed the arrival of the Bayeux Tapestry at the British Museum, describing the loan of the medieval embroidery as "unprecedented" and the "best possible symbol" of the bond between Britain and France. He viewed the work in London on Wednesday, a week before it opens to the public. Speaking in both French and English, the King addressed a gathering that included President Emmanuel Macron of France and Prime Minister Andy Burnham. He noted his own personal link to the artwork, telling guests he is a direct descendant of William, Duke of Normandy, whose forces defeated King Harold at the Battle of Hastings in 1066. The tapestry, he said, records the start of what he considers the French chapter of his family's presence in the British Isles. The embroidery stretches 70m (230ft) and recounts the Norman Conquest. Though stitched in England, it has been held in France for centuries. Its journey to London marks the first time such a loan has been arranged, after the idea was floated decades earlier. Cross-Channel jokes over 1066 The historic rivalry at the heart of the story gave the occasion a lighter edge. Standing at the point where the tapestry ends, Macron remarked on the "happy end, we're here." Burnham offered a playful counter, suggesting the English makers "couldn't bear to show the end" because it was "too difficult" to depict their defeat. Burnham also drew a comparison to his own recent rise, noting that the tapestry portrayed "a new leader emerging from a northern territory and travelling to the south of England." Addressing the room from the museum's Great Court, the King reflected on the enemies shown in the cloth. The Normans and Anglo-Saxons who once clashed, he said, would have been pleased to witness the current friendship between the two countries, which he called "two great nations, which share such fundamental values." He described the narrative woven into the fabric as one "of ambition and uncertainty, of oaths and journeys, of ships, councils, kings, comets and consequences." The King argued that the piece belongs to neither nation alone. From the moment it was made, he suggested, it may have drawn the English and Norman peoples together rather than dividing them. A loan proposed in the 1930s Macron called the tapestry a "masterpiece" and said the possibility of bringing it to Britain had first been raised back in the 1930s. He expressed satisfaction that the long-held plan had finally been realised. For the president, the London display stood as proof that the countries "are united" and a "reminder of what our countries can do if they join forces." Among those in the audience were the historian Dame Mary Beard and the former prime minister Theresa May. The King and Queen toured the exhibition alongside Macron and his wife Brigitte, and Burnham with his wife Marie-France van Heel. The group examined the centuries-old embroidery in near darkness, the fabric set within a long, illuminated glass case designed to protect and highlight the delicate stitching. The tapestry opens to the public at the British Museum next week. Bayeux Tapestry, British Museum, King Charles, Emmanuel Macron, Andy Burnham, Battle of Hastings, Norman Conquest, UK France exhibition

0 6 0
5 days ago
Google's Gemini 3.8 Flash 'Works Harder' -But May Cost More
Technology

Google's Gemini 3.8 Flash 'Works Harder' -But May Cost More

Google's new Gemini 3.8 Flash keeps 3.7 Flash's per-token pricing but may run up bills by using more tokens on hard tasks. Here's what changed. Google has released Gemini 3.8 Flash, a new artificial intelligence model that arrived only weeks after its predecessor, Gemini 3.7 Flash. The company says the update "works harder" by taking more reasoning steps on difficult problems and by calling software tools one after another, a design aimed at software engineering and self-directed AI agents. The per-token price is unchanged from the introductory rate on 3.7 Flash: $0.75 for every million input tokens and $3.75 for every million output tokens. Even so, Google cautions that users could pay more overall, because the model may consume additional tokens to squeeze out better results, particularly when set to higher effort levels. Developers who want to hold token use down can stay on Gemini 3.7 Flash. That trade-off was picked up quickly by outside observers. Artificial Analysis called 3.8 Flash the least expensive model it has tested at this level of capability, but noted the real cost of a task has climbed roughly 40 percent over 3.7 Flash despite the flat per-token rate. The firm attributed the jump to a 30 percent rise in output tokens per task and a greater number of turns during agent-style tests. John Ennis, chief executive of Aigora.ai, offered a favourable early take, comparing the model to Anthropic's lineup. He said it delivers "Opus 5 coding quality but at a fraction of the cost and super fast," and predicted it would be especially useful for tasks such as producing Remotion videos. Benchmark wins over rival models Google says the model marks significant gains for coding and autonomous agents. It reports that 3.8 Flash beat both its predecessor and other leading models on the DeepSWE v1.1 software engineering benchmark, among them Anthropic's Fable 5, which received an upgrade earlier in the week that promised stronger results at a lower price by reducing the cost of using cached data. Google also says its new model came out ahead of competitors on the Vals Finance Agent V2 benchmark and on Harvey's Legal Agent benchmark. Cyber edition limited to governments The model ships with built-in protections against abuse in two areas: chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear threats, and offensive cyber activity. Alongside the general release, Google introduced Gemini 3.8 Flash Cyber and a new Fairwind Program open only to governments and what it calls trusted partners. The program counts 650 members, including the security firm CrowdStrike and the Center for Internet Security. Members gain access to 3.8 Flash Cyber and to Google's CodeMender agent, which the company says can automatically locate and repair software vulnerabilities to help defend critical infrastructure, public services and national security. Gemini 3.8 Flash is available now to consumers who hold a Google AI Pro or Ultra subscription, as well as to developers and enterprise customers. Gemini 3.8 Flash, Google AI, Gemini pricing, AI coding models, DeepSWE benchmark, Fairwind Program, CodeMender, AI agents

0 4 0
5 days ago
Ford Targets 100,000 Sales for New $30,000 EV Truck
World

Ford Targets 100,000 Sales for New $30,000 EV Truck

Ford is aiming to sell 100,000 units of a new $30,000 electric pickup in its first year on the market. Ford is targeting sales of 100,000 units in the first year for a new electric pickup truck priced at around $30,000, according to details of the automaker's plans. The price point places the vehicle well below many electric trucks currently on the market, positioning it as one of Ford's most aggressive bids yet to bring EV ownership to a wider group of buyers. The 100,000-unit goal signals that Ford expects strong demand at that price. The planned model has drawn attention online, with the name "Ford Fathom" spiking in US search interest as word of the project spread. A sub-$30,000 sticker and a six-figure sales target together mark a shift in how Ford is approaching the electric pickup segment, a category where high prices have limited mainstream uptake. Meeting the volume goal would make the truck a significant part of the company's EV lineup. Ford has not published a full specification sheet, on-sale date, or production location in the available information, and further details on range, features, and availability remain to be confirmed. The reported figures center on the roughly $30,000 price and the 100,000-vehicle first-year ambition. The plan reflects intensifying competition among carmakers to offer lower-cost electric vehicles as they chase buyers who have so far been deterred by cost. For Ford, hitting both the price and the sales numbers would test whether an affordable electric truck can find a mass audience in the United States. Ford EV truck, Ford electric pickup, $30,000 EV, Ford Fathom, electric vehicle sales, affordable EV, Ford electric truck 2026  

0 4 0
5 days ago
Osnabrück vs Bayern DFB Cup First-Round Preview
Sports

Osnabrück vs Bayern DFB Cup First-Round Preview

FC Bayern travel to VfL Osnabrück in the DFB Cup first round - the preview driving 'bayern munich' up Google Trends in India. German cup football is back, and FC Bayern begin their campaign on the road. Here is what is confirmed about the first-round tie against VfL Osnabrück - and why it has climbed India's search charts. Bayern Drawn Against Osnabrück FC Bayern open their DFB Cup campaign away at VfL Osnabrück in the competition's first round. The pairing sends the reigning German giants to Osnabrück for a straight knockout tie. It is the headline fixture in a preview published under FC Bayern's own coverage, setting up the club's entry into this season's cup. A Preview, Not A Result This is billed explicitly as a preview: the VfL Osnabrück versus FC Bayern tie is still to be played. No score, no final outcome yet exists - only the confirmed matchup. Everything circulating around the fixture is anticipation ahead of kickoff, framed by FC Bayern before the first-round meeting takes place. Bayern Munich Trends In India The fixture pushed "bayern munich" onto Google Trends in India, logging 100+ searches. That surge, thousands of kilometres from Germany, is what flagged the tie as a trending story. Indian football followers drove the query, turning a first-round cup preview into a search-chart entry worth reporting. Osnabrück Host The Favourites VfL Osnabrück carry home advantage for this one, hosting FC Bayern rather than travelling. The smaller German side stage the tie on their own turf, the classic cup scenario of an underdog welcoming a heavyweight. The preview centres on Osnabrück's role as hosts against the visiting Bayern. FC Bayern On The Road Rather than opening at home, FC Bayern begin their DFB Cup run as visitors to Osnabrück. The trip marks Bayern's first-round assignment in the German knockout competition. It is Bayern's involvement - the club named directly in the trending query - that has driven the fixture's wider attention. Published By FC Bayern The preview of the Osnabrück tie appears under FC Bayern's own coverage banner. The club itself is the listed source framing the first-round matchup. That official origin shapes how the fixture is presented ahead of the game, positioning it as Bayern's launch into the DFB Cup. The Search Term Doing The Work The exact phrase lighting up Google Trends India is "bayern munich" - not the fixture as a whole, but the club's name. That single query, crossing the 100+ threshold, is the reason this DFB Cup first-round preview registered as a trending item worth tracking on the day. What The Preview Doesn't Confirm The available material names the tie, the competition and the round - VfL Osnabrück versus FC Bayern in the DFB Cup first round - and nothing more. No kickoff time, lineups, venue detail or date are stated here. What is known is the pairing itself, and that the match remains ahead, not behind. bayern munich, VfL Osnabrück, DFB Cup, DFB-Pokal first round, FC Bayern, German football, cup tie preview, Bayern fixture

0 3 0
5 days ago
Havan Smoke Cuts Airborne Bacteria at Home, NBRI Study Finds
Health

Havan Smoke Cuts Airborne Bacteria at Home, NBRI Study Finds

A study by Lucknow's National Botanical Research Institute found that smoke from havan reduces airborne bacteria, lowering the risk of infectious diseases. Performing a havan at regular intervals can help keep homes free of bacteria, according to a study by scientists at the National Botanical Research Institute (NBRI) in Lucknow. The research found that smoke released during the ritual sharply reduces airborne bacteria, lowering the chance of infectious diseases spreading. NBRI senior scientist Chandra Shekhar Nautiyal, who led the work, said burning wood together with medicinal herbs - the mixture known as havan samagri - can effectively cut pathogens in the air. The study has been published and accepted by Science Direct, a journal of ethnopharmacology. To measure the effect, the NBRI team carried out an indoor experiment. Researchers obtained a mixture of more than five dozen odoriferous and medicinal herbs from the Gurukul Kangri Pharmacy in Haridwar and burned it in an enclosed setting to track how it changed the surrounding environment. Along with Nautiyal, the study team included Puneet Singh Chauhan and Yeshwant Laxman Nene, a fellow of the Asian Agri-History Foundation. Nautiyal linked the practice to ancient tradition, noting that the Rigveda describes saints performing agnihotra-yagnas to purify the environment by burning havan samagri in fire. The NBRI findings, he said, point to a measurable basis for that long-held belief. havan, NBRI, airborne bacteria, havan samagri, medicinal herbs, Lucknow, infectious diseases, ethnopharmacology

0 5 0
5 days ago