Over a thousand UK families told the Alzheimer's Society they waited months or years for a dementia diagnosis. The charity wants an 18-week national standard. Hundreds of families across the UK have gone months, and in some cases years, without a firm dementia diagnosis for a relative, according to survey findings gathered for the Alzheimer's Society. More than a thousand people caring for someone with dementia took part, and close to half reported waiting longer than six months for an accurate answer after their first appointment with a GP. The charity is pressing for a fixed national target: a confirmed and accurate diagnosis within 18 weeks of a patient being seen and referred by their family doctor. That timeframe would bring dementia into line with the guarantees already attached to other serious illnesses, cancer among them. The survey also captured the wider cost of these delays. Respondents linked the waiting to strain on their jobs, their household finances and their own mental wellbeing. For many, the uncertainty stretched on while the condition kept advancing. Michael Fethon knows that pattern well. His father, Jim, went 18 months from the family's first GP visit to a confirmed diagnosis. Jim was eventually found to have Alzheimer's disease at 69, in 2022. During the long wait, Michael gave up his own job to look after him. "I think my dad felt beside himself because he was experiencing symptoms. It wasn't just memory loss," Michael said. Over that year and a half, Jim lost the ability to drive and to shop, and in time struggled even to walk. His son believes an earlier answer would have changed the trajectory. "If we'd have had a diagnosis sooner, he could have started medication sooner," he said, noting that although the drugs do not cure the disease, they can slow its progress and blunt its severity. Keith and Sue Andrews faced a similar limbo. The couple met at 15 and have been married since 1969 - 57 years together. Sue's condition has since worsened to the point where she lives in a care home. Keith says confirming her diagnosis took almost a year, and the not-knowing was punishing. "I won't say it's easy, but you know where you're going, and you know where you're heading and you feel a lot more confident in what you're doing," he said. "Before that diagnosis, you don't know if you're doing the right thing or what to do even. And it's a horrible time, a horrible time." That sense of relief once answers arrive was widely shared. Nine in ten families in the survey said a formal diagnosis made at least one part of their situation easier to manage. Those benefits ranged from making sense of symptoms and behaviour, to supporting the person with dementia, to reaching information and holding conversations with healthcare staff. Michelle Dyson CB, of the Alzheimer's Society, said a confirmed diagnosis unlocks support and gives families a chance to prepare. "Too many families spend months, and sometimes years, waiting for answers while their dementia progresses," she said. "It is like trying to plan a journey without knowing where you are going or when you will arrive." She drew a pointed comparison: "You would never accept someone being diagnosed with cancer and then left to work out the next steps on their own." Dementia, she added, does not wait, and neither should its diagnosis. The Department of Health and Social Care said it was committed to reinforcing the help available to people affected by dementia. dementia diagnosis, Alzheimer's Society, dementia waiting times, Alzheimer's disease, dementia care, 18-week standard, NHS dementia, carer support

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Six American singles players have advanced to the 2026 US Open quarterfinals in Flushing Meadows, the country's strongest showing at the tournament since 2002. Six American tennis players have advanced to the singles quarterfinals at the 2026 U.S. Open, the largest home contingent to reach that stage of the tournament since 2002. The run unfolded at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Flushing Meadows, New York, where the year's final Grand Slam is being played. Three of the six are women: Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula and Emma Navarro. Their quarterfinal matches were scheduled across Tuesday and Wednesday. The last time American players filled so many quarterfinal spots at the tournament was 24 years ago, in 2002. Reaching six berths across the men's and women's singles draws marks a rare depth of results for the host nation at its own major. Gauff, Pegula and Navarro carried the American charge on the women's side into the second week in New York. Each secured a place in the last eight, keeping a domestic presence alive in the closing rounds of the singles competition. The 2026 edition continues at Flushing Meadows, with the quarterfinal round setting the field for the semifinals and the championship matches to follow. 2026 US Open, US Open quarterfinals, Coco Gauff, Jessica Pegula, Emma Navarro, American tennis, Flushing Meadows, US Open schedule

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Mahindra is developing a full hybrid for the XUV 7XO and a range extender for the XEV 9e, but has not confirmed a hybrid Scorpio Lifestyler pickup. Mahindra is developing several electrified powertrains for its Indian SUV range, including a full hybrid for the XUV 7XO and a range-extender system for the XEV 9e, but the company has stopped short of confirming a hybrid version of its newly revealed Scorpio Lifestyler pickup. The Scorpio Lifestyler was unveiled recently with a planned launch in April 2027. Depending on the market, the pickup is expected to be offered with a 2.2-litre turbo diesel and a 2.0-litre turbo petrol engine. Mahindra has considered electrified options for the model but is not yet committing to either a hybrid or a fully electric version. Speaking to Carsales Australia, Mahindra's Head of International Operations, Sachin Arolkar, said a pure-electric powertrain is not being considered for the pickup segment. Asked whether a hybrid Lifestyler could arrive, Arolkar replied, "Just hold your horses for some time" - a response that leaves the door open without confirming anything. Diesel First for the Lifestyler In markets such as Australia, the Lifestyler could launch primarily with a diesel powertrain. Electrified pickups are gaining ground there, with the BYD Shark 6 PHEV and the Ford Ranger PHEV now on sale. Even so, diesel still accounts for a large share of the ute segment, particularly among buyers who prioritise towing, long-distance driving and heavy-duty use. For now, Mahindra appears to be taking a wait-and-watch stance on electrifying the pickup. The picture is different in India, where Mahindra is pursuing a broader powertrain strategy for its SUVs. The company already has a strong lineup of petrol and diesel models, alongside a growing born-electric range under its BE and XEV families. A strong hybrid would let Mahindra fill the gap between conventional combustion vehicles and pure EVs. A Full Hybrid for the XUV 7XO One of the key developments is a full-hybrid powertrain for the XUV 7XO, which would mark a notable expansion of Mahindra's engine options. Hybrid SUVs are becoming increasingly relevant in India, where Toyota and Maruti already hold a sizeable presence. Newer entrants are sharpening competition at the premium end, including the Kia Sorento Hybrid and the MG Hector Tomahawk PHEV. The Kia Sorento Hybrid pairs a 1.6-litre turbo petrol engine with an electric motor. The MG Hector Tomahawk has entered the market with a plug-in hybrid system. Both offer buyers an alternative to conventional petrol and diesel SUVs, and the XUV 7XO Hybrid would be Mahindra's direct answer to that growing category. A Range Extender for the XEV 9e Mahindra is also working on a range-extender, or EREV, powertrain for the XEV 9e. Unlike a conventional hybrid, in which the combustion engine can drive the wheels directly, a range-extender setup uses the engine mainly to generate electricity and stretch the vehicle's usable driving range. That approach could ease one of the main concerns of EV ownership: reliance on charging infrastructure during long trips. It would allow the XEV 9e to reach a wider set of buyers while keeping a largely electric driving experience. The system offers a different route to the same problem the XUV 7XO Hybrid targets - serving customers who want EV benefits but worry about charging on longer journeys. Taken together, the plans point to a strategy broader than a simple choice between combustion and electric. Petrol and diesel will continue to serve conventional SUV buyers, the BE and XEV models will cater to pure-EV customers, and strong hybrids and range extenders could eventually occupy the space between them. For now, that electrification push is centred on Mahindra's SUV portfolio rather than the Scorpio Lifestyler. Whether the company extends these powertrains to its ladder-frame models remains open, and Arolkar's comments suggest a decision on the pickup is still some way off. Mahindra XUV 7XO hybrid, Mahindra XEV 9e EREV, Scorpio Lifestyler, Mahindra hybrid SUV, range extender EV India, Sachin Arolkar Mahindra, electrified SUV India, Mahindra pickup Australia

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CII's Business Confidence Index climbed to 66.0 in April-June from 60.8, as Indian firms expect stronger demand, more hiring and higher output. Confidence among Indian companies climbed steeply in the April-June quarter of FY27, according to a survey by the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), with businesses forecasting firmer demand, fuller factories and more hiring even as global risks linger. The CII Business Confidence Index moved up to 66.0 from 60.8 in the preceding three months. Much of the lift came from how firms view the road ahead. The Expectation Index, which gauges the outlook for the next quarter, leapt to 67.7 from 60.6. The Current Situation Index edged higher to 62.6 from 61.2, a gap showing that hopes for the future are advancing more quickly than judgements of present conditions. The results draw on the 136th round of CII's Quarterly Business Outlook Survey, which gathered replies from over 240 companies spanning sectors, regions and firm sizes. Demand and hiring lead the shift Appetite for goods and services underpins the brighter mood. Roughly 61% of those polled expect demand to strengthen in the quarter, against just 9.6% who see it slipping. The slice anticipating growth above 20% widened to 16%, up from 12.9% three months earlier. That pull is prompting plans for heavier output. The share of firms expecting capacity utilisation to top 80% in the closing half of 2026 rose to 51.6%, compared with 36.6% for the opening half. CII noted that keeping utilisation elevated for a stretch could draw fresh private investment in the quarters ahead. Job creation tracks the same direction. Some 53% of respondents said they plan to add staff during the quarter, another marker of quickening activity. Growth backdrop and remaining risks The findings land alongside an economy that has outpaced forecasts. Real GDP grew 7.8% in Q1FY27, up from 6.9% a year earlier, MoSPI data showed. Manufacturing advanced 9.2% and services expanded 10%. "The optimism shown by businesses, as reflected in the BCI, is a clear testament to the inherent resilience of the Indian economy even as the geopolitical uncertainty continues," said Chandrajit Banerjee, Director General of CII. He added that steady activity, sturdy domestic demand and stable macroeconomic readings reinforce the view that government policy will back faster growth in output and orders, opening openings for firms at home and overseas. Relief also appeared on the cost front. The proportion of companies bracing for higher input costs eased to 61.1%, down from close to two-thirds a quarter before, a shift that could take some pressure off profit margins. Caution has not vanished, however. Respondents flagged global trade uncertainty as the single largest threat over the next six months, with swings in commodity prices ranked next. "Industry sentiment has turned a corner, and this is no coincidence," Banerjee said. He argued that when confidence, macroeconomic figures and on-the-ground activity align, they signal a growth cycle that is becoming broader, more durable and more sustainable. Taken together, the survey depicts firming assurance across corporate India, with solid demand, investment intentions and recruitment plans propping up the outlook even as trade and commodity risks stay in view. CII Business Confidence Index, India Inc Q2 FY27, Indian economy, domestic demand, capacity utilisation, GDP growth India, Chandrajit Banerjee, corporate hiring plans

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New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner says beating India in the home ODI series is the first goal as Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma return in October 2026. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner expects a hard fight when Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma arrive for India's tour in October and November 2026. The two batters, who have stepped back to play only one-day cricket, will feature as India play five T20Is, five ODIs and two Tests across the country. Speaking to PTI, Santner said his first goal is clear: win the home ODI series against India. He called that a prize worth chasing before the Blackcaps turn their attention to building a squad for the 50-over World Cup, which follows in October 2027. "It is going to be a challenge. They are still very good players, as we have seen for a long time - masters of the ODI game," Santner said of Kohli and Rohit. He noted that both men have scored freely on New Zealand grounds before and said he hoped that record would not continue on this visit. The ODIs form part of a busy stretch for New Zealand. After the five matches against India, the side hosts Sri Lanka for three more one-dayers. The team then flies to England in September 2027 for a final block of preparation ahead of the World Cup. "It is all a lead-up for the World Cup next year," Santner said. "Everyone is trying to figure out their best team, what that might look like for October next year with limited games." He added that securing a series win over India at home would be "an awesome thing" before the selectors settle on their combination. The tour schedule The visit opens with the T20Is. India play the first two on October 22 and October 24 at Hagley Oval in Christchurch, followed by matches at Sky Stadium in Wellington on October 27, Eden Park in Auckland on October 30, and Seddon Park in Hamilton on November 1. The one-day leg begins at Eden Park on November 4. Wellington hosts the second ODI on November 7 and Hamilton the third on November 10, before Bay Oval in Mount Maunganui stages the final two on November 13 and November 15. The two Tests close the tour, the first at the Basin Reserve in Wellington from November 19, and the second at Hagley Oval from November 27. Fresh in the memory The last time the sides met in Tests, New Zealand pulled off a 3-0 sweep in India. The result ended a home run for the hosts that had stood for more than 12 years and 18 series. Santner played a central role, taking 7 for 53 and 6 for 104 in the second Test at Pune to seal the series. He believes the return fixtures could test India's changing side. "For a new-look India, it is probably going to be the first time some players have played red-ball cricket in New Zealand, where the pitches will be a little bit foreign," he said, adding that the surfaces tend to offer more than the players are used to at home. Even so, Santner rated the touring squad highly, describing it as "well-rounded" and "shaping up nicely." He pointed to Jasprit Bumrah returning to a pace attack that also holds Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, spin options in Ravindra Jadeja and Manav Suthar, and room for a fourth seamer. On how the Tests might unfold, Santner spoke of matching aggression with aggression. "It could be trying to fight fire with fire, playing your shots," he said. He also expected patient spells, with batters at times letting the bowlers run in and waiting for the shine to wear off the new ball. Only two Tests Asked why the red-ball series runs to just two matches, Santner cited both tradition and cost. New Zealand has long played shorter Test series, he said, and the finances weigh heavily. Test cricket is expensive to stage, while white-ball games draw the crowds and the revenue - the reason, he explained, for the 10-2 split between limited-overs and Test fixtures on this tour. A shorter series does nothing to lower the stakes for him. "Whenever India come, even if it is only two Test matches, it is going to be exciting," Santner said. "Everyone wants to challenge themselves against the best in the world, and they are up there." He added that the World Test Championship points on offer make the contest important for both teams. India New Zealand series 2026, Mitchell Santner, Virat Kohli ODI, Rohit Sharma, Blackcaps India ODIs, India tour of New Zealand schedule, New Zealand cricket, World Test Championship  

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Bihar's agriculture department will give 3,173 sugarcane farmers permits to buy 44 types of farm machinery at 40-50% subsidy, including 117 in Muzaffarpur. Bihar's agriculture department has decided to give financial assistance to sugarcane growers for the purchase of farm machinery. The subsidy will cover the cost of sugarcane cultivation equipment, and the department has directed officials to select eligible farmers in the state's sugarcane-producing districts. A total of 3,173 farmers will receive permits to buy the equipment. The permits will be issued for 44 types of agricultural machines, with a subsidy of 40 to 50 percent on each purchase. The department has also issued a set of guidelines covering eligibility and qualification for the aid. Under these rules, farmers must buy the sugarcane machinery within 30 days of their permit being issued. The subsidy amount will be transferred directly into the farmers' bank accounts. Payment will be released only after the equipment is purchased and the buyer completes the required online process, including submission of the purchase receipt. The Joint Director of Agriculture for the Tirhut division said all four districts of Tirhut, including Muzaffarpur, have been included in the scheme. In Muzaffarpur district, 117 farmers are set to benefit. sugarcane farmers subsidy, Bihar agriculture department, sugarcane mechanisation, Muzaffarpur farmers, Tirhut division, farm equipment subsidy, agricultural machinery permit

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Monty Don, 71, will leave BBC's Gardeners' World at the end of the current series after more than two decades and roughly 700 episodes as head gardener. Monty Don will leave his role as the host of BBC's Gardeners' World after more than two decades, the broadcaster confirmed on 8 September 2026. The 71-year-old, the longest-serving head gardener in the show's history, will bow out when the current series ends. Don, whose full name is George Montague Don, said presenting the programme had been a "deeply rewarding experience" but that the moment had come to move on. "Now is the right time for a change," he said in a statement. He first appeared on the show in 2003, taking over from Alan Titchmarsh. Over his tenure he fronted around 700 episodes. Don began at Berryfields, a rented plot in Stratford-upon-Avon, before the show relocated in 2011 to his own garden, Longmeadow, in Herefordshire. He reflected on the bond built with viewers over those years, describing an audience he called both passionate and often deeply knowledgeable. "That connection with millions, not just in Britain but across the world, who share a love of gardens, plants and the natural world is something I have always treasured and which I increasingly believe to be at the heart of a life well lived," he said. Don praised the production side of the job, saying he had "always relished the craft of programme making," and thanked what he called the "superlative BBC team" he had worked alongside. He signalled he was not leaving the broadcaster entirely, adding that he looked forward to further projects with the BBC and to exploring "new avenues." He also made clear his own gardening would continue: "I will still be gardening, dog by side, here at Longmeadow." From This Morning to Gardeners' World Don's television career began in 1989 with a gardening slot on ITV's This Morning. That early appearance led to assignments across the BBC and Channel 4, a regular newspaper column, and a substantial body of writing - he has authored more than 20 books on gardening. His run on Gardeners' World was interrupted in 2008, when he stepped away to recover from a stroke before returning to the show. Beyond the flagship programme, he has presented a range of other titles, including Around the World in 80 Gardens, My Dream Farm, Mastercrafts and Monty Don's Rhineland Gardens. He has also anchored the BBC's coverage of the Chelsea Flower Show. BBC pays tribute The BBC said Don had "inspired and guided millions of viewers with his warmth, wisdom and passion for gardening" across his time on the show. Kate Phillips, the corporation's chief content officer, called him "unique" and described him as "a wonderfully engaging broadcaster with a soothing, calm presence who has inspired so many." Phillips said she accepted his choice while regretting it. "Monty's decision to leave Gardeners' World is one I respect, but I'm still very sad he's leaving," she said. She credited his advice with lifting the skills of viewers across the country, joking that his guidance had raised both her knowledge and her "plant survival rate." She also singled out his candour about difficult periods in his life. Phillips thanked him "for his honesty and kindness which has seen him open up about his own personal struggles and the power of the natural world to improve mental health," and said the show would miss him "hugely." Don has spoken publicly over the years about living with depression. His departure closes a chapter that spanned two gardens, hundreds of episodes and an audience that reached well beyond the UK. For now, the BBC has not named a successor, and Don's final appearances will air as the current series runs its course. Monty Don, Gardeners' World, BBC, Longmeadow, Alan Titchmarsh, Kate Phillips, gardening television, Chelsea Flower Show

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Linus Chen-Plotkin, 18, analysed 600+ classical works for a Regeneron project and found Mozart's melodies broke patterns faster than his peers. An 18-year-old from Philadelphia analysed more than 600 classical compositions and found that Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's melodies are harder to predict than those of Joseph Haydn, Ludwig van Beethoven and Franz Schubert. Linus Chen-Plotkin built the study for the Regeneron Science Talent Search, applying statistical tools to a question musicologists have argued over for centuries. His project, titled "Predictability and Statistical Memory in Classical Sonatas and Quartets," measured how much earlier notes in a piece influence the notes that follow. Chen-Plotkin designed three statistical tests to track what he calls a melody's "memory" - the degree to which one note depends on the notes before it. High memory means earlier phrases keep shaping what comes next, making the music more predictable. Low memory means a composer changes direction quickly, keeping listeners slightly off-balance. Chen-Plotkin ran the tests across more than 600 piano sonatas and string quartets by the four composers. Mozart's music returned shorter memory across all three tests. His melodies broke their patterns faster, making them less predictable than those of his contemporaries. The finding suggests Mozart followed classical form while repeatedly slipping something unexpected past the listener's ear. The result offers a measurable angle on a debate that has long relied on words like "genius" and "innovation" without defining them. Chen-Plotkin's tests give a way to quantify what set Mozart apart: not predictability, but a controlled unpredictability that stayed within the rules of his era. From wrestling mat to research desk Chen-Plotkin is the son of Joshua Plotkin and Alice Chen-Plotkin and a student at the Germantown Friends School in Philadelphia. He is a varsity wrestler and an advanced Mandarin student, and he is not a trained conservatory musician. Instead, he approached classical music as a dataset, treating centuries of musical tradition as raw material for mathematical analysis. He argues that quantitative methods can sharpen fields that have traditionally been studied through interpretation alone, including music theory, art history and literature. Music, however, is not foreign to him. He sings and plays blues guitar at The Twisted Tail, a bourbon bar, in his spare time. He is a former member and soloist of the Philadelphia Boys Choir & Chorale, and he holds a licence as an amateur radio operator. Applying the method to Chaucer Chen-Plotkin plans to extend the approach beyond music. He is working with a Johns Hopkins professor to analyse the grammatical rules of rhyme and metre in the medieval poetry of Geoffrey Chaucer. He intends to use the same statistical method on poems from different centuries. The underlying question stays largely the same across both projects: whether it is possible to measure what makes great work great. By turning notes and verse into data, Chen-Plotkin is testing whether the qualities long described as artistic excellence can be counted rather than only felt. Mozart, Linus Chen-Plotkin, Regeneron Science Talent Search, melody predictability, classical music study, statistical memory, Germantown Friends School, Philadelphia student

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Cadila Pharmaceutical will file with the DCGI within two days to begin phase-I trials of an H1N1 swine flu vaccine, aiming for a December launch in India. Cadila Pharmaceutical plans to approach the Indian government within the next two days for permission to begin clinical trials of a vaccine against the H1N1 swine flu virus. The company intends to file its application with the Drug Controller General of India (DCGI) to start phase-I testing, chairman and managing director I A Modi said in New Delhi. The vaccine effort is being run through CPL Biologicals Pvt Ltd, a joint venture Cadila set up with US firm Novavax to develop and manufacture a range of vaccines in India, including one for swine flu. Cadila holds an 80 per cent stake in the venture, with Novavax owning the remaining 20 per cent. Modi said Cadila expects to become the first Indian pharmaceutical company to bring a swine flu vaccine to market. He set a target of December this year for a launch, provided the DCGI grants clearance quickly and the company can draw on technology from its US partner. Novavax has already secured clearance from the US Food and Drug Administration to conduct its own trials. Modi said that once Cadila obtains Indian approval, both sets of trials could run at the same time. The company's current facility can turn out up to one million doses of the vaccine each month, a figure that could be raised to two million doses. Modi said full protection against the swine flu pandemic requires two doses, given over a two-week period. The joint venture has begun constructing a new plant backed by an estimated investment of Rs 100 crore. Modi added that the government has signalled it will process swine flu-related applications on a fast-track basis, and the company is hopeful of rapid approval. Beyond the joint venture, Cadila also owns a 5.75 per cent stake in Novavax Inc in the United States and holds a seat on the American company's board of directors. Cadila Pharmaceutical, swine flu vaccine, H1N1 vaccine India, Novavax, CPL Biologicals, DCGI clinical trials, influenza vaccine

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The Eiffel Tower closed Monday after staff walked out over claims female workers were moved aside during a BAPS Hindu delegation's Saturday visit. The Eiffel Tower did not open to the public on Monday after employees walked off the job over claims that women had been pushed out of view during a visit by a Hindu religious delegation two days earlier. The monument's operating company, SETE, blamed the shutdown on "exceptional circumstances." The dispute centres on a Saturday visit by roughly 100 people connected to the Bochasanwasi Akshar Purushottam Swaminarayan Sanstha, better known as BAPS, the movement that had just opened a new temple in France over the weekend. Diane Davoine, a union representative, told French television that female staff were "moved away from their workstations as the delegation passed by." Workers at the Paris landmark said management had issued directions that pushed women out of sight during the tour. They described the effect as female employees being sidelined, swapped out and rendered invisible purely because of their sex. SETE confirmed that the visiting group had asked for the tour to be set up in a way that would keep contact with women to a minimum. The operator added that agreeing to those terms had been a mistake and that such conditions should never have been accepted. BAPS temple offers apology The BAPS Hindu temple in Paris responded on Monday evening, saying it treated the complaints "very seriously" and offering an apology for any distress or disruption. The temple said the large size of the delegation had prompted staff to schedule the outing with the Eiffel Tower's own team, timed for the start of the day's opening hours so that other visitors would not be held up. The temple also stated that, as far as it was aware, no one had been barred from entering the monument at any stage. It said the organisation stood by "universal values of mutual respect and service." French officials call it unacceptable Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire weighed in on X, writing that he had learned of the anger among Eiffel Tower staff and that accepting such arrangements was "unacceptable." He said the terms clashed with his own principles and with what the monument should represent, insisting that everyone must be free to move and work there without any separation of women and men. He announced that an inquiry into what happened would be opened. National assembly president Yael Braun-Pivet also spoke out against the episode. "I refuse to accept that women should be told to step aside to meet the demands of foreign visitors," she said. She added that hospitality should never come at the cost of the country's principles, noting that women take a full part in French public life and that no one should be asked to disappear from it. The row broke out just after BAPS inaugurated its first large Hindu temple in France, a milestone for the country's Hindu community. Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the opening of the Swaminarayan temple in Paris on Sunday, praising the ties between India and France and describing the partnership as unusually close because of deep-rooted cultural and political links. Modi said he hoped the temple would endure for hundreds of years as a marker of shared cooperation and opportunity between the two nations. He added that relations had climbed to new heights in recent years, saying that alongside President Emmanuel Macron the two countries were forging what he called a Special Global Strategic Partnership. Eiffel Tower closure, BAPS temple France, female employees sidelined, SETE, Paris landmark protest, Yael Braun-Pivet, Swaminarayan temple Paris, women in public life France

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Simple Energy's first family electric scooter, the Simple Wave, starts at Rs 1.1 lakh and offers India's largest 70L boot. Here's a detailed first look. Simple Energy has entered the family scooter segment with the Simple Wave, its first family-oriented electric scooter, priced from Rs 1.1 lakh (ex-showroom, effective). The company showcased the model at a national media ride event in Bengaluru, where it was sampled across varied road conditions and terrains. The Wave is offered in six colours, with the Pearl White shade on display at the event. Simple says the design takes inspiration from a dolphin, aiming for a friendly, approachable look pitched at mass-market buyers. The scooter enters a crowded field, going up against the Ather Rizta and Konarc, the TVS iQube and the Bajaj Chetak. The Wave arrives after the Simple One and the announced Simple One Ultra, the latter claiming a range of up to 400 km. It marks the brand's push into a segment where established players such as Bajaj and TVS already hold ground and where startups like Ather have expanded their line-ups. Design and storage The styling is deliberately understated, with no sharp edges. The headlights sit in the apron and give the scooter a sunglasses-like face, while the handlebar cowl carries turn indicators the company calls Dolphin-eyes. The outside rear-view mirrors are hinged unusually and use cast metal stalks. The 12-inch wheels get a dual-tone machined finish as standard, and the rear features LED tail lights with integrated LED turn indicators. The seat measures 920 mm, and the floor is flat. The single-piece grab rail offers no adjustment. Practicality is the Wave's strongest suit. It carries what Simple describes as the country's largest underseat boot at 70 litres, big enough to swallow an XL full-face ADV-style helmet and still leave room for the off-board charger and a backpack, with the seat closing properly. A LED boot light sits under the seat, and there is a large glove compartment behind the apron. Adding to storage is a feature Simple calls Pill storage, a 4-litre concealed compartment on the left side that opens without the rider getting off. It suits items like a power bank, phone, sunglasses case or wallet. The flat floorboard is roomy, tested with EU45 boots, and includes a retractable hook rated for up to 3 kg, a charging port and a Type-A port. The seat is long, spacious and supportive, comfortable for two adults with room to fit a child in the middle. A six-foot rider found the posture comfortable, though the floorboard-mounted battery pushes the knees slightly up, and during full lock-to-lock steering the handlebar makes contact with the knees. Kerb weight ranges between 120 kg and 128 kg, and the scooter feels easy to move by hand. Features and controls The Wave runs a non-touch TFT instrument cluster operated by a 5-way joystick. It offers Bluetooth connectivity with music control, turn-by-turn navigation and notifications, including from third-party apps. The screen also displays TPMS data with individual tyre pressure readouts. Deeper in the menus sit functions including SuperHold, Traction Control, welcome lights, exit lights, DropSafe, theft alert, tow alert and live location sharing. SuperHold acts as a hill-assist system, with the motor helping on inclines and declines. DropSafe cuts motor power when it detects a fall. Traction control can be switched off. Not everything lands. The joystick feels low in quality, with presses that are not always positive and a shape that leaves the thumbs aching; a D-pad with a centre button would have served better. Welcome lights are largely pointless, since the scooter has no keyless or remote key, meaning the rider is already seated when the lights activate. The mode slider needs only a single swipe, except EcoX mode, which requires a slide-and-hold gesture. The motor starter is tied only to the left brake lever, an awkward choice for a family scooter when the rider may need to start it using the right hand. The wide, well-shaped ORVMs, however, offer strong rearward visibility. Trims The Simple Wave comes in three broad trims: Wave S, Wave and Wave+. On features alone it does not match the Ather Konarc, but its edge lies clearly in space and everyday usability. Simple Wave, Simple Energy, electric scooter, family scooter, Ather Rizta, TVS iQube, Bajaj Chetak, 2W EV India

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Days after launching in Austin, Tesla Cybercab riders found a secret on-screen joystick with forward, reverse, stop and horn controls in a wheel-free robotaxi. Tesla built the Cybercab with no steering wheel and no pedals - a robotaxi meant to prove manual driving is a relic. Then, less than a week after its Austin launch, riders found a hidden way to take the wheel that never was. A Taxi Without A Wheel The Tesla Cybercab is defined by what it lacks: no steering wheel, no pedals, no obvious way for a human to drive it. Officially launched in Austin, Texas, it was designed as a fully autonomous vehicle - manual control was supposed to be impossible by design. Hidden Controls Found In Days Less than a week after the Austin launch, riders discovered the Cybercab's secret manual controls. At least two videos posted on X show passengers encountering a virtual joystick on the central display, apparently meant only for Tesla employees rather than paying customers. Forward, Reverse, Stop, Horn A square screen appears in the lower left corner of the display, with a toggle in the middle for manual driving: "forward" at the top, "reverse" at the bottom. Extra buttons let a user stop the vehicle, sound the horn, and manually open the Cybercab's doors. A Frozen Supercharger On Screen To the right of the joystick sit live camera views of the vehicle's surroundings. In one rider's video, though, the image was frozen - stuck on a Tesla Supercharger from a previous location, hinting the controls surfaced as an early software bug. Built To Nudge Parked Cars The contols appear intended for Tesla employees and depot workers who need to nudge a Cybercab into a tight space at low speeds or rearrange vehicles in a lot. It spares them from calling Tesla's control center or summoning a remote operator. Police Briefed, Riders Locked Out Tesla has briefed Austin's police department on the Cybercab service, and the joystick could theoretically help responders move a stalled car. The customers who found it tried to steer - unsuccessfully. The controls didn't work, likely an early glitch Tesla will patch before wider release. Tesla Cybercab, virtual joystick, Austin robotaxi, manual controls, autonomous vehicle, Tesla Supercharger, self-driving car

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