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Japanese police arrested a U.S. Marine in the alleged robbery and murder of a woman on Okinawa, officials said Sunday.

(Image credit: Hiro Komae)

The rape allegations that have emerged from a Cornell University frat house are leading many women to remember their own experiences — and call for a wider reckoning over sexual violence.

(Image credit: Olivia Petter)

Private companies are taking cremated remains and stunt payloads to the moon. Former NASA attorney Steve Mirmina warns that there’s nothing stopping them.

The family members of two Fox News journalists killed while covering the war in Ukraine are suing the network, saying it put getting the story ahead of its people.

Arizona Republican candidate for Congress Mark Lamb has been accused of sexual misconduct while sheriff. His controversy is turning many voters away as Democrats see an opportunity in the red seat.

(Image credit: Drew Angerer)

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2: review

Belkin’s Switch 2 travel bag is designed to carry your console and its various accessories in comfort, while providing protection from the elements and more.

As Switch 2 cases go, it's a somewhat plain affair. While the slight ruching of the outer material lends it a rugged appearance, and the green and lilac colorways are more lively than the black variant, there’s little in the way of branding or fanfare. This may disappoint those looking to make more of a statement, but those looking to stay discreet will no doubt be pleased with Belkin’s utilitarian approach.

(Image credit: Future)

Its materials, though, should appeal to everyone and rank among the best Nintendo Switch 2 accessories on this front. The outer fabric is soft and smooth, which, along with its ergonomic form and minimal weight, makes it very comfortable against your back. It’s not unlike something you might find lining a piece of outdoor kit — although it’s worth noting that Belkin doesn’t mention anything about the bag being water- or even splashproof.

The shoulder strap is also well made. It too feels smooth and comfortable; it didn’t dig into my collarbone, as such straps often do, despite lacking a padded covering. There’s more than enough adjustability to accommodate a broad range of user heights and preferences. Admittedly, actually adjusting the buckle can be a little hard sometimes, but this is a price I’m willing to pay in return for a secure fit.

What’s more, you can easily wear the bag over any shoulder, thanks to two fastening points at the bottom. You can attach it to either of these via the plastic carabiner at the end of the strap, which is strong enough to be secure, yet still easy to unhook when needed, thanks to the angling of the mechanism that makes it easier to push in.

(Image credit: Future)

In addition to the shoulder strap, there’s also a carrying handle at the top. This is slightly padded and soft in the hand, making it comfortable to hold.

The main compartment has a fair amount of space inside, with enough room to fit multiple accessories, including the Nintendo Switch 2 dock, controllers, power cables, and more. Its wide opening makes for easy access, too, thanks to the zips that run almost the entire length of both sides. They operate very smoothly, and I rarely experienced any snagging.

Within the main compartment are three others. One is designed for the console itself, and is lined with an exquisitely soft felt that prevents your screen from scuffs and scratches. A hook-and-loop strap goes over the top, which is quite slack, even with your Joy-Cons attached. However, the snug fit of the pouch itself is sufficient to keep your console in place.

(Image credit: Future)

What’s more, this slackness is actually a positive, since it allows you to store your console with bulkier, third-party controllers attached. For instance, I managed to fit the console in with CRKD’s Nitro Deck 2 attached.

Attached to the outside of the console compartment is another compartment that contains the game card sleeve, which is easily removable. The sleeve fits a reasonable 10 cards, but there are other Switch 2 cases that hold more, such as Turtle Beach’s PlayTrek 2-in-1 case (14) and PlayTrek travel case (12).

The compartment itself isn’t felt-lined, but it still has a soft material. You’ll struggle to fit much in the pouch inside, and anything bulky will compromise the space needed for the adjacent console compartment.

(Image credit: Future)

For such items, the netting opposite is more appropriate. It’s big enough to fit cables, power adapters, and both Joy-Con 2 controllers, although probably not all at the same time. And while the netting expands a fair amount, it has a tendency to sag when it’s fully loaded, even if the items in question aren’t particularly heavy. I also noticed that pointed items, such as paper manuals and the like, can stick right through its holes — a minor gripe, but one worth pointing out nevertheless.

On the outside of the bag, there’s a simple zip pocket on the front, which covers almost the entire length of the bag and is roomy enough to fit a few larger items, but you won’t fit items such as the dock, for instance.

(Image credit: Future)

On the matter of protection, the bag has a fair amount of cushioning on the bottom — which Belkin describes as an “impact-resistant base” — and around the sides. However, there’s less on the front and back, and since this isn’t a hard shell case, I wouldn’t be confident piling heavy items on top of it.

But if you don’t need this level of sturdiness, Belkin’s travel bag offers a lot more besides, and for a reasonable price at that. If you’re in the market for a light and comfortable over-the-shoulder bag for your Switch 2 and its accessories, it’s a fine choice that’s hard to beat.

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 review: Price & Specs

Price

$49.99 / £29.99 (about AU$54.95)

Dimensions

12.7 x 5.9 x 3.1in / 322 x 150 x 80mm

Weight

12.7oz / 360g

Game card slots

10

Compartments

7

Handle

Yes

Color

Black, Lilac, Olive

Should I buy the Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2?Scorecard

Attributes

Notes

Rating

Design

Very comfortable to wear, and every material feels high quality. It won’t provide as much protection as a hard shell, though.

4.5 / 5

Storage

Plenty of space and compartments, and the removable game card pouch is a smart addition, even if it doesn’t hold as many cards as some others.

4 / 5

Value

Considering the quality and features, it’s hard to do better at this price.

5 / 5

Buy it if…

You want to carry your Switch 2 over your shoulder
This is a very comfortable bag to wear, and can be adjusted to better fit whatever shoulder you choose to sling it over.

You want plenty of compartments
Despite its compact dimensions, there are plenty of compartments to keep your console and various accessories neat and separated.

Don't buy it if…

You want the ultimate protection
Given the soft materials, this isn’t a bag you’d want to chuck around or pile luggage onto.

You want the most game card slots
10 game card slots is pretty good, but there are Switch 2 cases out there featuring more.

Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2 review: Also consider

Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case
As its name suggests, this PlayTrek product integrates a small case with a large one, featuring molds for your console, dock, power adapter, Joy-Cons, and a full-size controller. It has more game card slots than Belkin’s bag, too, and although the small case is soft, the large one is more of a hard shell. Read our full Turtle Beach PlayTrek 2-in-1 Case review.

How I tested the Belkin Travel Bag for Nintendo Switch 2

(Image credit: Future)

I tested Belkin’s travel bag for a couple of days, making sure to fill every compartment, fasten every zip, and adjust the strap length across its full range, as well as attaching it to both hook points. I carried it around on my commutes, fully loaded with the Switch 2 and numerous accessories.

I filled the bag with cables, manuals, and the Joy-Con 2s. I also stored the console with the CRKD Nitro Deck 2 attached to test the capacity of the console storage compartment.

• Read more about how we test
• First reviewed: October 2026

• Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko says a musical score is "an emotional vessel"
• He explains that it's his duty "to represent the story in the most beautiful light possible"
• Alanko adds that the music "must be able to exist by itself, without the game and the story"

Control Resonant composer Petri Alanko thinks of a game's musical score as another way to tell the story, and it's his job to do that, even if he sometimes takes some creative liberties.

"In my thoughts, a score is what one might call an emotional vessel - or a tray for the story," Alanko told TechRadar Gaming in an interview about Remedy Entertainment's latest action game. "My duty is to represent the story in the most beautiful light possible, to help drill the ideas and the vision into the heads of those who experience the events."

The composer compared it to his band, where on stage it's his role to help the soloist "be the best version of themselves and showcase their talents in the most elegant way possible," saying that the "Same applies" to a video game.

"What I do is a series of deep bows towards the story; I love the story; it’s an honour for me to make it even more approachable and beautiful," he said. "But… it must be able to exist by itself, without the game and the story. Otherwise, it’d be just a pointless collection of noodling. I carry the responsibility of respecting both the story creator and especially those who enjoy the story."

Alanko went on to liken what he does to a customer service business, but added, "Trust me: I wouldn’t do anything just to please others; I do this to please myself. Simple as that."

"If I don’t like what I do, nobody else will, and, just to be clear and precise, I do really enjoy what I do," he reiterated, "my self-confidence is in very good shape that way (laughs). If something moves me, there’s a good chance it might move someone else, too."

While Alanko believes that it's a composer's job to translate the Remedy's story to the audience with his talent, he admitted: "I sometimes offer the story in a different light, as contradicting the on-screen events can be really delicious."

"It’s a very human feature to make errors, to have a sudden twist of a knife in your side in the middle of the most heroic event, as if someone reminded you of your mortality and how different the outcome would be if this-or-that happened," Alanko added. "A bit like memento mori. It makes you humble; it makes you human."

You can play Control Resonant now on PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Series S, and PC.

Asus has beaten every other manufacturer to market with the ROG Rapture GT-BN98, the world's first commercially available Wi-Fi 8 gaming router.

It's a bold flagship release for a wireless standard that isn't even finalized yet — and with zero Wi-Fi 8 client devices currently on sale, reviewers had to get creative just to test what it can actually do. I dug into three in-depth reviews to see whether it's worth buying now.

What reviews say

Build quality drew consistent praise. It's "extremely well constructed with very good attention to detail," said Blacktubi, while Guru3D leaned into the router's dramatic looks, joking that unboxing it feels like "a small alien spacecraft has crash-landed on the desk."

YouTuber Landpet was blunt about the performance side, calling it flat-out "an absolute beast of a router."

On paper, the GT-BN98's theoretical link rates are identical to its Wi-Fi 7 predecessor, the GT-BE98 — Blacktubi pointed out the headline numbers "are the exact same." But real-world range and throughput told a different story.

Design

Hiding it would be counterproductive, since the antennas require space to be positioned correctly and the chassis benefits from unobstructed airflow

Guru 3D

The chassis is large by any standard. It measures roughly 35cm by 35cm and weighs over 2kg. It needs "a proper, dedicated spot" rather than a small shelf, and ruling out wall mounting altogether given the size.

The antennas dominate the look, adjustable around the perimeter and giving the router an almost insect-like silhouette when fully extended. The top panel mixes a metallic finish with geometric detailing and translucent panels, plus the expected Aura RGB lighting.

Build quality feels solid throughout — no flex, clean panel fit, antenna arms that hold their position. Front-edge LEDs give a quick status read without opening the app.

Thermally, this Asus router added a thicker aluminum top plate and an upgraded heatsink layer for passive cooling. Stress testing turned up no signs of throttling.

Design & ports

Inside is a 2.6GHz quad-core processor and 2GB of RAM, running a quad-band radio setup — 2.4GHz, dual 5GHz bands, and a single 6GHz band — for a combined theoretical throughput of 25,000Mbps.

A North America-only "Pro" variant swaps the second 5GHz band for an extra 6GHz band on the UNII-8 spectrum, which isn't approved for use in most other regions.

For wired gear, there are two 10GbE ports (one general-purpose, one dedicated gaming port), four 2.5GbE ports, and a single gigabit port, with up to six LAN ports active depending on configuration. USB 3.2 Gen1 and USB 2.0 round things out for network storage or 4G/5G backup internet.

Performance

This is officially the fastest wireless backhaul router that I've tested, which is insane

Landpet

Real-world speed testing — done entirely with Wi-Fi 7 client devices, since Wi-Fi 8 hardware doesn't exist yet — found wired and wireless backhaul holding up strongly even at 100 feet away

Over a wired 10G connection, speeds matched his 5 Gbps ISP plan exactly in both directions. On Wi-Fi, internet speeds hit 4.1 Gbps down and 2 Gbps up.

Local network testing — where speed isn't capped by the ISP — pushed even higher: 4.6 Gbps down and 4.2 Gbps up over wireless backhaul between two mesh units, with wired backhaul close behind at 4.5 Gbps down and 4.2 Gbps up.

Range held up well too. At 20ft, speeds stayed around 4 Gbps down; at 50ft outdoors, 2.7 Gbps down; and even at 100ft, it still managed 1.92 Gbps down, though upload dropped sharply to 718 Mbps.

A more controlled comparison, pairing two GT-BN98 units against two GT-BE98 units, found "significantly higher" throughput at long range with the newer hardware.

The more surprising finding: those gains aren't limited to future Wi-Fi 8 gear. Testing with an existing Wi-Fi 7 MacBook still measured "more than 10% higher average throughput" on the GT-BN98 versus the older Wi-Fi router — evidence that upgraded radio components benefit today's devices too, even without any Wi-Fi 8 features actually switched on.

Firmware

The ASUSWRT 6.0 was singled out as a real step up, with the interface "noticeably more modern and much more responsive" than Asus's decade-old firmware.

The headline addition is the new Adaptive QoE engine, which "smartly allocates network resources to balance gaming, streaming, and daily tasks," replacing the older Adaptive QoS system.

Security also got an upgrade via the revamped AiProtection suite, which was called "genuinely impressive" for including network-level ad and tracker blocking at no extra cost.

The new Wi-Fi Insight tool also correctly flagged interference from a Zigbee smart home devices on the 2.4GHz band, a decent addition which impressively “works as intended”.

Price

Pricing is still rolling out region by region ahead of the router's wider October 2026 launch.

The flagship GT-BN98 Pro is currently the only model on sale, listed on ASUS's Canadian eStore at CA$1,299.99.

A US launch price of around $899 has been floated by early previews but isn't yet official.

The standard GT-BN98 (non-Pro) has also been priced at €960 in Europe, though North American pricing for that specific model hasn't been confirmed yet.

Given the router is shipping ahead of Wi-Fi 8's official IEEE finalization — not expected until 2028 — buyers are paying an early-adopter premium on top of already-flagship router pricing.

Who should buy it

This is a router for enthusiasts buying ahead of the curve, not something you need for Wi-Fi 8 today — compatible client devices aren't expected until 2027 at the earliest.

Still, the benefits aren't purely theoretical: better range, backhaul speed, and firmware improvements apply right now, even to existing Wi-Fi 7 devices.

Verdict

The good

- Meaningfully better range and throughput, even on older Wi-Fi 7 devices

- Premium build quality with no thermal throttling under load

- Adaptive QoE and free-included ad/tracker blocking are genuine upgrades

The bad

- No Wi-Fi 8 client devices exist yet to fully prove the standard

- Large footprint requires dedicated desk space

- High price tag

The verdict

Worth it if you want the best router hardware available today and don't mind future-proofing ahead of the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem. Hold off if you're not running multi-gig internet or don't need flagship-level range right now.

ASUS ROG Rapture GT-BN98 specs

Spec

Detail

Wi-Fi standard

Wi-Fi 8 (802.11bn)

Bands

Quad-band: 2.4GHz, dual 5GHz, single 6GHz

Max theoretical throughput

25,000 Mbps combined

Channel bandwidth

Up to 320MHz, 4096-QAM

Processor

2.6GHz quad-core

Memory

2GB RAM

Wired ports

2x 10GbE, 4x 2.5GbE, 1x Gigabit

USB

1x USB 3.2 Gen1, 1x USB 2.0

Backup connectivity

4G/5G cellular backup WAN

Key software

Adaptive QoE, WiFi Insight, AiMesh, Guest Network Pro, AiProtection, GTNet game acceleration

Guest networks

Up to 5 SSIDs via Guest Network Pro

Dimensions/weight

~35cm x 35cm, 2kg+

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Saturday, October 3 (game #1713).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1714) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1714) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1714) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1714) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 0.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1714) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• I

• R

• T

• A

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1714) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1714, are…

• INFER
• RAINY
• THING
• ARENA

A tricky one today, with multiple possibilities to navigate.

ARENA, though, was just hard to get because of the mental block of thinking of words ending in vowels. However, with the N in the fourth position and few other options I knew it had to end with N-A.

Daily Sequence today (game #1714) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1714, are…

• MUSIC
• FLUTE
• BRAWN
• VIVID

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1713, Saturday, 3 October: CHORE, FLYER, STICK, PURSE
• Quordle #1712, Friday, 2 October: IVORY, SADLY, ANGEL, LLAMA
• Quordle #1711, Thursday, 1 October: NAVEL, SHEER, BIRTH, TACKY
• Quordle #1710, Wednesday, 30 September: CHOKE, BATCH, MOSSY, EAGER
• Quordle #1709, Tuesday, 29 September: BILGE, MEDAL, LODGE, PORCH
• Quordle #1708, Monday, 28 September: BRUNT, TORSO, STONE, HEATH
• Quordle #1707, Sunday, 27 September: VALET, CHEST, VIGIL, PUREE
• Quordle #1706, Saturday, 26 September: SNORT, BIBLE, LAPSE, CRANE
• Quordle #1705, Friday, 25 September: SWEAR, FLOOD, GUPPY, GROAN
• Quordle #1704, Thursday, 24 September: TOPIC, METRO, SCALP, FREED
• Quordle #1703, Wednesday, 23 September: SHEET, BLAND, JOIST, GUAVA
• Quordle #1702, Tuesday, 22 September: COMFY, LOBBY, DRESS, PANEL
• Quordle #1701, Monday, 21 September: WAXEN, HIPPO, PETAL, LEASH
• Quordle #1700, Sunday, 20 September: DERBY, LIMBO, GAWKY, REIGN
• Quordle #1699, Saturday, 19 September: SCOPE, HEIST, PULSE, CHAMP
• Quordle #1698, Friday, 18 September: MUCUS, MIRTH, APPLE, TILDE
• Quordle #1697, Thursday, 17 September: CRIER, CHIRP, NEIGH, FREER
• Quordle #1696, Wednesday, 16 September: SPEAR, PRICE, BLUNT, FISHY
• Quordle #1695, Tuesday, 15 September: SHUSH, LITHE, DELTA, BUGLE
• Quordle #1694, Monday, 14 September: ZEBRA, LEGAL, RATIO, TROLL

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Saturday, October 3 (game #1210).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• WIG
• FILM
• AUCTION
• TABLE
• PADDLE
• COLLAR
• GAVEL
• LOT
• BUNCH
• BALL
• PARTNER
• NET
• ROBE
• HEAP
• TREATMENT
• STACK

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: A pile of things
• GREEN: Ping pong equipment
• BLUE: All rise
• PURPLE: Begin with a noiseless word

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT
• GREEN: TABLE TENNIS NEEDS
• BLUE: PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME
• PURPLE: SILENT ____

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1211) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1211, are…

• YELLOW: CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT: BUNCH, HEAP, LOT, STACK
• GREEN: TABLE TENNIS NEEDS: BALL, NET, PADDLE, TABLE
• BLUE: PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME: COLLAR, GAVEL, ROBE, WIG
• PURPLE: SILENT ____: AUCTION, FILM, PARTNER, TREATMENT

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

In the UK we call a PADDLE a bat, a cultural difference that slowed me down a little and meant that I began with a group I was more certain about.

The four tiles of PARTS OF A JUDGE COSTUME seem very odd to me — that one of the most important and respected roles in society involves people wearing a WIG and using something called a GAVEL. Frankly, it’d make just as much sense if you had to wear a wig and GOWN to play table tennis.

The real annoyance of today was missing a very gettable purple group. Kudos, if you spotted it — I got too hung up on thinking AUCTION was a red herring because it matched with LOT and ended up ignoring other possible connections.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Saturday, October 3, 2026, game #1210)

• YELLOW: STARTING WITH TERMS FOR "TOILET": CAN OPENER, HEAD WAITER, JOHN DENVER, W.C. FIELDS
• GREEN: ENDING IN MUSICALS: ELBOW GREASE, FAT CATS, LINDA HAMILTON, SOMETHING WICKED
• BLUE: STARTING WITH U.S. MUSEUMS: BROAD BEAN, GETTY IMAGES, MET HALFWAY, WHITNEY HOUSTON
• PURPLE: ENDING IN FANTASY CREATURES: DIET SPRITE, MERV GRIFFIN, NY GIANT, RIVER PHOENIX

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Saturday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Saturday, October 3 (game #944).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Grab your tokens

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• STAG
• SEAT
• GATES
• RIDE
• GORE
• DECADE
• SONG
• BELT

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 11 letters

NYT Strands today (game #945) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: bottom, 1st column

• Last side: top, 6th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #945) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #945, are…

• PONG
• FROGGER
• ASTEROIDS
• CENTIPEDE
• SCRAMBLE
• SPANGRAM FIRST: ARCADEGAMES

• My rating: Easy
• My score: Perfect

When I saw today’s theme “grab your tokens” I immediately thought of video games and went in search of the word “arcade”. And thus ARCADEGAMES became my 107th Spangram First.

Arcades trigger plenty of memories for me, but mainly how laughably awful I was at every single game I tried — everyone else I knew was amazing at them and would stay on for ages, whereas I’d lose my life in seconds even on simple games such as Pac-Man. I didn’t mind, though; I was an enthusiastic spectator.

Having said all that, despite getting PONG, FROGGER and ASTEROIDS in a quick blast, the lesser-played CENTIPEDE and SCRAMBLE were harder to spot.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Saturday, October 3, game #944)

• MIRAGE
• ILLUSION
• CHIMERA
• SPECTER
• PHANTASM
• SPANGRAM:WILLOTHEWISP

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Flight data shows the jet dropped at least 9,000 feet over two minutes, then leveled off for several more minutes, before disappearing.

(Image credit: Heather Diehl)

Universities have responsibilities when students report sexual assault, even if prosecutors don't bring charges. Attorney Baine Kerr explains how those protections work.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis: two-minute review

In Ancient Greece, Artemis was a goddess of many things: vegetation, hunting, wild creatures, childbirth… the list goes on. It’s fair to say that she was considered abundant in talent. And her moniker is not wasted on the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis: a set of wireless headphones that have far-reaching, broad talents of their own.

The FoKus Artemis are, put simply, an exceptionally strong performing set of cans. In fact, they might be the best-sounding pair of wireless headphones I’ve used. They have a triple-driver configuration, with dynamic, balanced armature, and planar drivers, affording them all of the dynamism, precision, and speed required to showcase your favorite tracks in their best light.

Like the best headphones around, the Artemis supply palpable yet regimented bass, beautifully detailed and textured mids, and expressive, articulate treble. But the real shining star is their excellent soundstaging. The Artemis bring forth an immense sense of space and scale, making for a highly immersive listen time after time. With aptX Lossless, LDAC, and USB-C audio, you also get high-resolution, nuanced sound that competes with the greatest headphones on the market.

But something else that sets these headphones apart from the crowd is their granular sound control. With help from Audiodo, Noble has included personalized EQ on the Artemis, which can account for hearing loss and provide optimized audio for all users. There’s also parametric EQ and a number of presets that will suit any listener.

The FoKus Artemis boast quite the suite of features, actually, with an effective companion app, wear detection and multi-point connectivity to give you the everyday convenience that you’d hope for at this money. ANC is here too, with a number of modes, including a transparency option. Noise cancellation here isn’t the best of the best, and the Artemis’ looser fit also means a fair few external sounds creep in now and then. But it’s still relatively effective, and will still help dull the world around you.

Spatial audio modes, though functional, also felt a little underwhelming to me during testing, but the Artemis’ wide soundstage means you get a nice and expansive listen from the headphones anyway. Call quality is strong, though, owing to the headphones’ seven-mic array, and you get up to 55 hours of playback (35 hours with ANC on), as well as a replaceable battery, adding longevity to the headphones.

In my view, the Artemis look great as well. Their metallic detailing, fabric headband, and textured ear cups ensure they exude all of the style and luxury you’d look for in an ultra-premium pair of headphones. There aren’t any touch controls, but the physical buttons work well, and are highly responsive. It also helps that the headphones are extremely well-fitting, and they feel comfortable to wear throughout the day.

But here it comes: the price. The Noble Audio FoKus Artemis cost a whopping $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200). Is the price-tag justified? It really depends on your outlook. They’re a seriously advanced set of headphones, with the triple-driver set-up, personalized EQ and premium build adding a lot in terms of value. But you can get phenomenal sound for less — even the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are $100 / £170 less than these.

Still, if you want truly stellar audio and ultra-precise sound control, then it really doesn’t get much better than the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis. They’re a wonderful pair of headphones, and if you’ve got the budget, then they’re pretty easy for me to recommend. But for some slightly cheaper yet excellent alternatives, be sure to head down to the ‘also consider’ section.

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: price & release date

• Priced at $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200)
• Released in August 2026

The Noble Audio FoKus Artemis started shipping in August 2026, although I got to try them back in June, when the headphones were showcased at High End Vienna 2026. The Artemis are an ultra-premium pair of wireless headphones, and as a result, they carry a very hefty asking price. They’ll typically set you back $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200).

Sure, some rivals, like the Bang & Olufsen Beoplay H100 and Focal Bathys MG, will set you back even further, but I won’t pretend that the Artemis aren’t a huge investment. And you can get exceptional sounding headphones for considerably less — for example, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are a good $100 / £170 less than the Artemis at $799 / £629 / AU$1,299.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: specs

Drivers

1x dynamic, 1x balanced armature, 1x planar

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Battery life

55 hours (35 hours with ANC on)

Weight

324g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Frequency range

10Hz-40kHz

Waterproofing

IP52

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: features

• Personal EQ can account for hearing loss
• Strong battery life of up to 55 hours
• ANC is acceptable, rather than great

Noble Audio has put a ton of thought and effort into the feature-set of the FoKus Artemis, and this results in a great user experience.

Where to start? Well, I think the most interesting function is the personalized EQ, which offers surprising depth. Noble Audio partnered with Swedish firm Audiodo to implement a hearing test on the Artemis, meaning you can unlock a sound that suits you — it even accounts for hearing loss. Using Noble’s app, you’ll be asked to listen to a set of prompts, which test your hearing across the frequency range in each ear, and you’ll get a custom EQ that provides bespoke, optimized audio.

This works really well, and can be toggled on or off. There are also a number of presets and a parametric equalizer if you want more granular control. Few headphones offer this attention to detail, and even though I loved the default tuning on the Artemis, they really can sound however you want them to.

There are also some spatial audio modes, with a subtle and immersive option. I didn’t love these so much — I found that tracks sounded less clear and concise, and given that the Artemis whip up an impressive sense of space anyway, I kept this off.

Let’s talk about one of the most important features next, ANC. The Artemis have a seven-microphone system with multiple noise-cancelling modes, including low, mid, and strong ANC and a transparency mode.

So, how good is noise-cancellation with the Artemis? Well, it’s decent. I used them across a huge range of environments: flights, trains, when out on walks, in the office, and at home. When using the strongest mode, I found that they eliminated sounds like typing and light chatter nicely, but more intensive stuff, like a plane’s engine running and passing-by traffic, tended to seep in quite easily. In part, this comes down to the more relaxed fit and clamping on the Artemis, but I did expect a bit more in terms of noise-crushing from these cans, given their price.

Something the mics handle very well, though, is calls. Whenever I made a video or voice call, people on the other end of the line reported that my speech was clear, and never tinny or obscured. This was also the case when I made some recordings and listened back.

The Artemis also impressed me a fair bit in terms of battery life. They offer up to 55 hours of playback with ANC off, and 35 hours. That’s slightly above the standard 30 hours that a lot of premium models offer, and means you’ll be able to listen for days on-end without having to charge the Artemis at all. The battery is also user-replaceable, which is becoming more common with EU legislation making this a requirement for portable devices.

Controlling the Artemis is also pretty straightforward. They feature traditional button controls, favored by a lot of audiophiles for their reliability. Personally, I’m a fan of touch controls (when done right), but this is omitted on the Artemis. Something that does feature, though, is wear detection and this is highly responsive and accurate — it can be toggled off if you’d prefer. Finally, the app is incredibly easy to use and well-laid out. I’ve seen some reports of iOS users having issues, but on my Android phone, the companion software worked perfectly.

• Features score: 4/5

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: sound quality

• Triple driver configurations delivers exceptional balance across the frequency range
• Wide soundstage creates a hypnotic listening experience
• Top-tier codec support and USB-C audio passthrough

It may not surprise you to find out that the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis are a truly spectacular-sounding pair of wireless headphones. In fact, they’re up there with some of the best performers I’ve tested here at TechRadar.

This model stands out from the crowd due to one specific design choice: its triple driver configuration. Dynamic drivers are great for handling the bass and mids, but balanced armature and planar drivers enable the Artemis to deliver enhanced precision, speed, and fidelity. But what’s the actual listening experience like?

Well, the most striking thing about the Artemis for me is their ability to conjure up a tremendously spacious, wide sound. For closed back, wireless headphones, the scale on offer is striking, and I was always treated to an almost hypnotic experience, no matter what genre I threw on.

In What We Got by Midas Field and Marjin Jensen, pumping bass hit with great impact and dynamism, without ever shrouding vocals in the mid-range or percussion up high. The speed and responsiveness of the low-end is excellent, and extends nice and low, meaning that even the darkest sounds in the frequency range sound full-bodied and controlled. Drums in the treble range were also precise and expressive without sounding overly bright, helping the Artemis to perfectly capture the energy of the track.

Switching over to Miracles by Change, and the Artemis continue to impress. Electric guitars were perfectly weighted in the mix, and sounded beautifully textured. They were also expertly separated from emotive vocals, which were in turn given plenty of room to express themselves. Subtle percussive elements were also perfectly audible, and the wide soundstage opened up a highly immersive listening experience.

As my phone supports both LDAC and aptX, I was able to get a highly detailed listen from the FoKus Artemis. USB-C audio passthrough also opens up genuine lossless playback, and with this, the Artemis offer up a phenomenally revealing, layered, and nuanced sound that helps to justify their high asking price.

• Sound quality score: 5/5

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: design

• Stunning design with fabric headband and metallic detailing
• Very comfortable in use, though looser fit has its downsides
• IP52 dust and waterproof rating

If I could use one word to describe the look of the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis, it would be ‘striking’. The silver metallic detailing on the earcups is bold and eye-catching, and truly exudes a sense of luxury. The fabric headband is also built to a great standard, and the plush earcups appear textured and stylish.

There are a few plastic elements on the Artemis, and you could argue that some parts — like the buttons and carry case — don’t exactly look the most premium. But overall I think that the Artemis are a great-looking pair of headphones. They’re also relatively flat and low-profile, which I really like — I’ve never been a fan of the bulkier look of headphones like the Sony WH-1000XM6.

On top of this, the Artemis are amazingly comfortable in-use. I happily kept them on for hours upon hours when making a long train journey, and never found them to be uncomfortable or overbearing. On my (relatively large) head, I’d say that the Artemis fall on the looser side, fit-wise. While this ensures great comfort, it could sometimes mean that external noises crept in a bit too easily — combined with the fairly middling ANC, this means that the Artemis fail to challenge the gods of the ANC domain, such as Bose and Sony.

Something that’s good to see, though, is that the Artemis have an IP rating. Sure, it’s nothing ground-breaking at IP52 — meaning they’re protected against dust ingress and water sprays — but very few over-ears actually display a rating, so kudos to Noble Audio for this.

• Design score: 4.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: value

• Undoubtedly expensive
• But the exemplary sound quality helps to justify this
• Still, exceptional performers are available for less

Look, the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis are a very expensive pair of wireless headphones. At $899 / £799 (about AU$1,200), they sit right up there with models like the Focal Bathys MG, and even exceed the excellent Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 in cost.

But are they really worth it? It honestly depends. If you want some of the best-sounding wireless cans on the market, then you’ll get just that with the Artemis. I’m not sure I’ve experienced any wireless headphones that outperform these. Their spacious, nuanced sound is a delight, and has made me never want to take them off. They also look great and offer a real sense of luxury, while features like the personalized EQ are rarely seen elsewhere.

Still, I can’t help but feel that their ANC could be better for the price, and you can still get incredible sound for a fair bit less with a luxury design from the Px8 S2. As a result, I’d consider the Artemis to be good value if you’re all in on sound, but perhaps consider the options in the ‘also consider’ section if you want to spend a little less.

• Value score: 3.5/5

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis?

Attribute

Notes

Score

Features

Great EQ options, good call quality and app, but ANC could be better.

4/5

Sound quality

Hypnotic, spacious sound with excellent balance across the frequency range.

5/5

Design

Fantastic looks, comfortable fit, but looser fit can let quite a lot of sound in.

4.5/5

Value

Top-tier sound quality and great features, but you can still get amazing quality for less.

3.5/5

Buy them if…

You want top-class wireless audio
The reason that the Artemis net such a high score from me is that their sound quality is absolutely top-tier. You get balanced sound, with hard-hitting yet controlled bass, rich and detailed mids, and articulate, snappy treble, largely thanks to the headphones’ ingenious triple-driver configuration.

You’re looking for granular sound control
With personalized EQ that accounts for hearing loss, a parametric ten-band equalizer, and a few presets for good measure, the Artemis are some of the most accomplished headphones on the market when it comes to sound customization.

Don’t buy them if…

You want class-leading ANC
Perhaps my biggest criticism of the Artemis is that their ANC isn’t the best. Will they dull your surroundings effectively? Sure. But will they give you that silence-inducing ANC that cans like the Bose QuietComfort Ultra Gen 2 provide? Not quite.

You want the ultimate value-for-money option
At full-price, the Artemis are eye-wateringly expensive. And while I think they sound absolutely spectacular, and I commend their expansive EQ options, you can still get incredible-sounding headphones for considerably less — see the Px8 S2 below.

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis review: also consider

Noble Audio FoKus Artemis

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2

AirPods Max 2

Price

$899 / £799 (about AU$1,200)

$799 / £629 / AU$1,299

$549 / £499 / AU$999

Drivers

1x dynamic, 1x balanced armature, 1x planar

2 x 40mm dynamic full-range carbon cone

Apple-designed dynamic driver with new 'custom high dynamic range amplifier'

Active noise cancellation

Yes

Yes

Yes

Battery life

55 hours (35 hours with ANC on)

30 hours (ANC on)

20 hours (ANC on)

Weight

324g

310g

386.2g

Connectivity

Bluetooth 6.0, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Bluetooth 5.3, USB-C

Frequency range

10Hz-40kHz

10Hz-30kHz

Not stated

Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2
For the money, the Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 are easily some of the best-sounding wireless headphones on the market. But they also offer excellent build quality, a strong suite of features, and solid noise cancelling. Like the Artemis, they’re pretty pricey, but we still think they’re well-worth the investment. Read our full Bowers & Wilkins Px8 S2 review.

AirPods Max 2
Want incredibly spacious sound at a slightly easier-to-stomach price? Then the Apple AirPods Max 2 might be exactly what you’re looking for. They provide stronger ANC than the FoKus Artemis, are phenomenally stylish, and, of course, sound great too. You’ll need an iOS device to get the best out of their feature-set, and their battery life is certainly on the low side, but they’re still a great pair of over-ears. Read our full AirPods Max 2 review.

How I tested the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis

(Image credit: Future)

• Tested for one month
• Used on flights, trains, on walks, and in the office
• Mainly streamed tunes over Tidal

I spent one month testing the Noble Audio FoKus Artemis, using them as my primary set of headphones. I used them on flights, trains, and buses, but also when out on walks, working at the office, or relaxing at home. Using them in such a range of environments helped me to fully understand the effectiveness of their ANC capabilities.

When listening to music, I typically streamed tunes over Tidal on my Xiaomi 17 phone, which supports aptX and LDAC codecs, but I also dipped into Spotify from time to time. As always, I sifted through the TechRadar reference playlist when testing, but I also listened to countless hours of music from my personal library.

More generally, I’ve spent years testing audio gear here at TechRadar, including everything from wired IEMs like the Beyerdynamic DT 30 IE to party speakers such as the Marshall Bromley 750. I’ve also tested a whole host of premium headphones, including the Sony 1000X The Collexion and Bang & Olufsen H100, so I know exactly what a pair of headphones needs to stand out in a highly competitive market.

• Read TechRadar’s reviews guarantee
• First reviewed: October 2026

Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review

Anker’s back with another quirky, display-equipped charger that somehow adds a splash of fun into the process of juicing up your phone. I’ve spent a week testing it out at home, using it to revive a number of devices, and it’s impressed me overall — but is it worth the money? Stick around for my verdict.

Let’s start with the display, which is the big selling point of this model. First of all, there’s a lil’ charging blob character that appears, and expresses a variety of emotions depending on charging status, temperature and so on. This adds a bit of charisma and charm to the charger that most plain white or black blocks just don’t exude.

The display itself is bright, responsive, and well-sized — but it’s not just here for fun, it’s also pretty informative. You can touch a button next to the screen to get the visual on a range of factors — like power output and temperature. But you can also use it to toggle on Care Mode, which keeps the charger about 20°C cooler than international safety limits allow, and your actual device’s battery around 5°C cooler, which can protect your devices’ long-term battery health. That in itself is a function that even some of the best iPhone chargers skip on.

In practice, I never found that this model got too hot when in use, even in spite of its small size. Speaking of its size, this charger has a brilliantly compact form factor. It has a considerably smaller footprint than a lot of 45W chargers on the market, making it ideal for use in tight spaces or taking on the go. My only nitpick would be that the UK model I tested doesn’t have foldable prongs. This isn’t ideal if you want to stow the charger in your pocket, as the prongs can cause discomfort when pressed against you, though it’s worth flagging that the US variant folds away fully.

In terms of performance, this charger works as well as you’d hope. I tried charging my Samsung Galaxy S24 FE, which has a battery capacity of 4,700mAh. It brought the phone back to life just as quickly as I’d anticipated (about 80 minutes from 0%). However, my main device, the Xiaomi 17, cannot charge at maximum capacity with this model. That phone supports 100W wired charging, so if you have a device with similarly advanced charging capabilities, then it may be worth looking for something with a higher total power output, like the Anker Prime 100W GaN Wall Charger.

Something else worth noting is that this charger has a single USB-C port, so you can only charge one device at a time. That’s fine if you just want a simple phone charger, but there are models that let you charge your phone and other devices simultaneously, like the UGreen Nexode Charger 65W with Retractable USB-C Cable.

Still, there’s a lot to admire about this compact charger. For example, this model has dynamic, three-stage charging, with a Fast, Steady, and Trickle mode, automatically supplying your device with the power it needs in a safe, managed way. There’s also smart device recognition for iPhones, meaning that the charger can recognize your specific model, and will display it on the screen. Free updates are also planned to recognize upcoming iPhone models.

Another thing I love about the Anker Nano 45W is its look. It comes in a range of color options, intended to mirror those of the iPhone 17 line, and they all look fantastic. I used the Orange model, which is bold and eye-catching, but also built to a high standard. This helps to justify the $39.99 / £34.99 (about AU$55), which is by no means cheap, but fair for the quality and performance you get in return.

All in all, the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger is a very solid model that supplies consistent and reliable performance, considerable visual flair, and an informative, personality-filled display. It’s not the most powerful option on the market, but if 45W is all you need, and you’re fine with a single USB-C port, then I’d certainly recommend it.

(Image credit: Future)Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review: price & specs

Price

$39.99 / £34.99 (about AU$55)

Total power output

45W

Number of ports

1

Port type(s)

USB-C

Dimensions

3 x 1.4 x 1.3 inches / 77.3 x 35.8 x 34mm

(Image credit: Future)Should I buy the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger?Buy it if…

You want an ultra-compact charger for travel
The Anker Nano 45W Smart Display charger is incredibly compact and very lightweight, making it ideal for taking on the go. Its small size also makes it ideal for slotting into tighter spaces, say if your power outlet is close to your desk.

You want a charger with character
This charger has an emotive, personality-filled display, and comes in a range of funky colors — including the Orange model I tested, which is my personal favorite.

Don't buy it if…

You need to charge multiple devices at once
This model from Anker has a single USB-C port, meaning you can only charge one device at a time. There are plenty of rivals with multiple ports if you want to juice up your phone as well as a pair of wireless earbuds, for example, without having to revive them individually. If you need multi-device charging, check out my recommendation in the ‘also consider’ section.

You have a particularly power-hungry handset
My Xiaomi 17 phone supports wired charging up to 100W, so this Anker model can’t provide me with top-level performance. While 45W is plenty for a lot of flagships, such as the iPhone 17 Pro Max, look elsewhere for peak performance. My personal go-to is the UGreen Uno Charger 100W.

Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger review: also consider

UGreen Nexode RG 65W
Need a bit more power, but still want a charger with a fun display? Then look no further than the UGreen Nexode RG 65W. It can be found for a very similar price as the Anker Nano 45W Smart Display Charger, has three ports (two USB-C and one USB-A) for juicing up multiple devices at once, and will make quirky faces at you while bringing your gadgets back to life. Read my full UGreen Nexode RG 65W review.

Only recently, the internet was ablaze with news that Volkswagen will be applying a proper GTI badge to both its ID.3 and electric Polo models, the former of which will be the most powerful car to wear the iconic insignia.

Granted, that’s not quite VW committing to a fully-electric Golf GTI, but it’s about as close as we are going to get for now.

Often considered the king of the hot hatches, a Golf GTI has long offered the blueprint for high-performance, everyday vehicles that will carry out mundane hatchback duties without complaint, but will happily transform into grin-inducing back-road destroyers when the mood takes.

(Image credit: Peugeot)

But the German marque isn’t the only one to enjoy hero status when it comes to small, feisty automobiles, as Peugeot also enjoys a long and illustrious history with a GTi badge of its own.

It's fitting, then, that Peugeot should also unveil its own electrified hatchback with those unmistakable three letters stamped upon its rump.

The sub-£35,000 Peugeot E-208 GTi (around $46,300 / AU$66,000) is further proof that rapid, affordable small cars are very much back on the menu.

The French firecracker

(Image credit: Peugeot)

Unlike numerous EV startups, as well as many established automotive players, Peugeot has enjoyed a long and fruitful love affair with both motorsports and the souped-up road-going creations that have been spawned.

The latest E-208 GTi, despite lacking an internal combustion engine, can trace its roots back to the very first 604 GTi of the early 1980s, the OG 205 GTi and, of course, the respected 308 and 208 GTi models that spanned 2013 to the early 2020s.

This electrified hot hatch starts with the same basic 54kWh battery as the regular E-208, but Peugeot Sport (responsible for the French marque’s endurance racing program) has substantially reworked the powertrain, battery management and chassis around it.

(Image credit: Peugeot)

The culmination of all this is a vehicle that feels destined to tackle fun, twisty routes.

The electric motor, which is mounted to the front axle, produces 281PS (around 278bhp) and 345Nm of torque. The result is a 0-62mph time of 5.5 seconds and a top speed of 112mph.

Peugeot quotes 182bhp per ton, which, while not quite as featherweight as its GTi-badged forebears, is still a good deal lighter than the majority of bloated performance EVs on the market.

The culmination of all this is a vehicle that feels destined to tackle fun, twisty routes, with enough power to raise smiles but not so much that the driver feels like they are hanging on for dear life.

This is made possible by the fact that Peugeot Sport has comprehensively reworked the chassis, lowering the car by 30mm and widening the tracks by 56mm at the front and around 28mm at the rear.

(Image credit: Peugeot)

The springs, dampers, steering and anti-roll bars have all been recalibrated, while a mechanical limited-slip differential is integrated into the gear reducer to corral the machine around corners.

Depress the accelerator and the E-208 GTi scampers off the line with puppy-like enthusiasm.

It isn’t Tesla Ludicrous levels of neck-snapping acceleration, but the whiff of torque steer and minor loss of traction as the front wheels spin up immediately cast minds back to the halcyon days of those legendary Renault RS, GTi and SRi badges.

To further aid driver involvement, Peugeot Sport didn’t want to muddy the performance waters with vague regenerative braking. So, when Sport Mode is selected, the E-208 GTi relies solely on its hydraulic braking system, with 355mm front discs and fixed four-piston calipers.

Up in the rain-soaked hills of Scotland, the E-208 GTi came alive, tucking into corners and propelling out of them like a go-kart. Hours and hours of fun.

The brakes might not be endowed with phenomenal feel and feedback, but they inspire tons of confidence, while the limited-slip differential and gently guiding traction control keep lead-footed drivers largely out of trouble.

There’s no fake gearbox to contend with, but a subtle synthesized engine note acts as a soundtrack in Sport Mode. It’s not as booming or in-your-face as Kia’s (more on that later), but does a good job of keeping EV motion sickness at bay.

Everyday thrills

(Image credit: Peugeot)

Despite the sports seats and gloriously retro GTi badging throughout the cabin of the warmed-up E-208, this remains a car that can be used every day. There’s room in the back for two adults, a decent-sized trunk and all the infotainment modern conveniences you could want.

Alas, driving like your pants are on fire will seriously eat into the 233-mile WLTP range, with enthusiastic journalists on this particular test drive returning from the roughly 90-mile Scottish route with a mere 5% battery remaining. That's shocking.

But Peugeot says you won’t have to wait too long to charge it, with a 20-80% session taking less than 30 minutes from a 100kW outlet.

If all that sounds like too much of a compromise for some red-hot electric fun, Kia has a slightly more “sensible” option.

KiaKiaKiaKiaKiaKia

Its latest EV4 GT, which borrows heavily from Hyundai’s N performance division, offers a more usable 313 miles of official range from its much larger 81.4kWh NMC battery.

There’s a 145kW permanent-magnet motor at the front producing 283Nm, joined by a 70kW rear induction motor making 185Nm.

Combined output is 215kW, or 288bhp, with 468Nm of torque. That’s enough for 0-62mph in 5.6 seconds, while 50-75mph takes just 3.9 seconds.

It is undeniably heavier than the lithe Peugeot and it certainly feels it, but the extra punch from the dual motors makes it feel equally brisk off the line.

Like Peugeot’s sporting division, Kia has also introduced a comprehensive chassis overhaul, including electronically controlled suspension, adaptive dampers, hydraulic bushings and electronically controlled Dynamic Torque Vectoring Control.

(Image credit: Kia)

Pile on the revs and it’s possible to hit a purely virtual “limiter".

There are also larger 325mm brakes and a six-speed Virtual Gear Shift system borrowed from Hyundai’s N division, designed to make the power delivery feel more familiar to anyone used to a performance gas-powered car.

Pile on the revs and it’s possible to hit a purely virtual “limiter", while the paddles behind the steering wheel transform from regenerative braking adjusters in regular modes to a full-on flappy-paddle gearbox when the shiny GT button on the steering wheel is pressed.

Compared with the E-208 GTi, it’s the more comfortable daily cruiser, too, with bags of room in the rear for passengers and an ultra-modern, comfortable cabin that’s perfect for longer trips.

(Image credit: Kia)

Regardless, on the winding roads of southern France, the EV4 GT’s hottest modes proved more than tempting and, despite being the larger and heavier vehicle, it still managed to prove that electric vehicles can be so much more than one-trick drag-strip ponies.

However, Kia is asking around £49,345 (around $65,300 / AU$93,100) for its souped-up EV, which is almost £15,000 (around $19,850 / AU$28,300) more than the Peugeot E-208 GTi. The latter was by far the most fun, if you can overlook the terrible range.

But with manufacturers now clearly placing an emphasis on more affordable and genuinely entertaining small EVs, it looks like driving enthusiasts will soon have arguably the most tempting shortlist there has ever been.

And for that, I’m grateful.

• A new Ban Flock Act has been introduced in Congress
• It cites privacy concerns over camera tracking systems
• All ALPRs are covered, not just those made by Flock

The momentum behind banning Flock cameras and other surveillance tech continues to build, with Senators Bernie Sanders and Jeff Merkley, together with Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, filing a new Ban Flock Act that does exactly what you might expect given its name.

As TechCrunch reports though, it goes beyond Flock: the bill covers all automatic license plate readers (ALPRs), and would stop federal agencies from acquiring, possessing, accessing or otherwise using one of these devices.

Exceptions could be approved by Congress, the bill states, with toll collection one use case that would be exempt from the rules. If any exemptions did get cleared. data retention would be limited to 48 hours.

The proposed ban is at the federal level, which means states and local areas could still invest in ALPR systems using their own money, if they chose to — but central government funding would then be removed, so in practice, the cameras would be banned at this level too. Private companies and use by residents associations would still be allowed.

What happens nextBernie Sanders introduces bill to ban the federal government from using Flock from r/technology

If you're not familiar with the workings of the US political system, the next stages are for the bill to get committee, House, and Senate approval. However, the likelihood of it passing before the end of Congress in January is slim, considering the timing and the balance of party control in both chambers.

With that in mind, the Ban Flock Act is more of a statement of intent and opinion than anything likely to become law in the near future. There are in fact already two similar bills sitting at the committee stage that haven't made progress yet.

Those long odds of the bill's success are reflected in reaction online, though Redditors say future laws 'should go beyond ALPRs' and there is broad support for these camera systems being regulated more tightly or banned outright.

The accompanying press release leans heavily on privacy. "We cannot allow America to become a surveillance state," says Sanders, with the text pointing to past misuse of the cameras and data they collect — including police officers using plate readers to track wives, girlfriends, and exes.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance promises a fresh expedition into the skies, with players summoned there by the resurgence of ancient dragons and the promise of upgraded weaponry. At Tokyo Game Show 2026, I went hands-on with this upcoming expansion, getting up close and personal with the downloadable content's (DLC) interconnected aerial archipelagoes and battling against two brutal monsters with the use of the brand-new Boost Bracer.

The demo opens in a camp, with the reliable Alma serving up two important quests: Hunt the Alpha Araketa, a level 2 monster, and Slay the Teostra, a level 5 monster. Before jumping straight into the hunt, though, it only felt right to check things out at home first. The camp itself is a visual marvel in keeping with the high standards set by the base game — something here about how it looked; check demo vids online.

The demo is keen to focus on gameplay, though, and understandably offers little in the way of non-player character (NPC) chatter. Still, I was pleased to find a small jump across a ravine hides a barrel-rolling side game that, while unnecessary, was a fun side activity nonetheless. But I digress; it was finally time to break some monster parts.

Falling with style

(Image credit: Capcom)

The first expedition dropped me on a jagged island floating high above any visible Earth, where I was set to track the Araketa. The design of the space lands somewhere between James Cameron’s Pandora and the ruins of a medieval coastal castle. Rocky structures hang in the air above my eyeline, with aggressive tree roots tunnelling through them and disrupting their typical form.

As I came upon an unnervingly empty open area, I spied what looked like petrified dragon wings and tails buried in the white rubble, the blistering blue sky illuminating the stone and casting a dusty screen — so much so that I could almost feel my throat dry up as I stepped through the chalky stone.

Eventually, I spotted the Alpha, but it wasn’t alone. Typical of head honchos, the beast had two underlings, identical in species but much smaller in size.

(Image credit: Capcom)

New to Monster Hunter, the Araketa is a wyvern with a smooth, stone-like exterior painted with what looks like a turquoise-and-yellow platter pattern. Unlike a typical dragon-faced beast, the Araketa features a bulbous, boulder-like head, two wings with sharp claws at the back, and a long, winding tail. While beautiful, the most important note is that all three of these extremities are used in combat.

As I entered the battlefield and alerted the trio to my presence, the Alpha let out an ear-splitting screech before taking battle formation. As one of the underlings jumped up into the air, the Alpha and the second monster flew towards me at a startling pace. In no time, their attacks began, the younger creature attempting to headbutt me with its hammerhead, while the Alpha flanked me from behind.

Diving side to side, the Alpha then took its turn, digging its claw into the earth and performing a spin attack that knocked me off balance. As I regained my footing, the third skybound monster, which had been suspiciously absent, used its momentum to swoop down and take a swipe, too. It was overwhelming, but exhilarating.

(Image credit: Capcom)

My weapon of choice for this battle was the Insect Glaive, which proved useful for platforming around their bombardment. Thankfully, as I started to feel overwhelmed, I remembered I had a new tool to flex: Boost Driver attacks.

Another new addition to Monster Hunter Wilds is that players now wear a Boost Bracer, which enables weapon-specific special attack types. At the bottom of your screen, you’ll see a gauge with three charge slots. As you attack the monster, these slots will illuminate light blue, indicating you have charge. When in position, you can press R1, circle, and triangle in tandem to unleash a visually striking brutal attack.

For the glaive, this saw my character throwing his body into a series of explosive shifting sweeps. Beyond the spectacle and boosted damage, the upgraded moves did well to reset momentum, and I was particularly pleased to see I didn’t need any specific resources to harness its power.

As the battle drew to a close, I had just enough time to look around and take in the ambient wildlife of the new biome, spotting all kinds of creatures from rocky-backed alligators to fluffy, chicken-like birds.

Among the structures, I also got to experience the new wind mechanics mentioned in the marketing material and made use of my Seikret to dive across them, which was fun if not a little rigid — perhaps I’ll have more control in the full release.

The belly of the beast

(Image credit: Capcom)

The second quest sent me to a wholly oppositional location. Instead of blue skies and white rock, I was met with sludge and volcanic ash plumes rising from various organic chimneys dotted across the horizon. This area was composed of tones of grey, occasionally disrupted by orange or red illuminations.

The castle ruins had also been swapped out for what looked like giant pots, akin to Elden Ring's Iron Fist Alexander if he fell into some wet tarmac. Unlike the ambient wildlife of the first area, there was little more than Sisyphian dung beetles here, continuously rolling a solitary ball up a hill.

Descending to the bowels of the cave system, I spotted my prey, slumbering amongst fire and brimstone. Unlike the Araketa, the Teostra isn’t new to the franchise, with the elder dragon appearing in Monster Hunter World and long before that in Monster Hunter 2. However, it is the beast's first appearance in a long time, and he’s packing some serious heat this time around.

Before I could begin my barrage, a pop-up on screen alerted me to an unskippable step — if I didn’t drink a cool drink, I would lose health during the fight, presumably from boiling alive in my own skin. I’m happy to report that ignoring this message was a silly mistake, and it wasn’t long before I fainted and was forced to make the descent again.

(Image credit: Capcom)

Salve applied; I dove headfirst into what already appeared to be a complicated fight. Double my height, the Teostra’s feline form was blazing, its attacks involving a mixture of fizzing fire bombs and cat-like swipes. When used in tandem, it became steadily overwhelming, and I was pleased I had my attention-stealing Palico to draw away some of the heat, both literally and metaphorically.

To keep from burning alive, I leapt in and out of its proximity, buckling its back legs and taking huge swaths of damage — safe to say, in the twenty minutes I had to win, I was not successful. Thankfully for the sake of my pride, as I returned to the camp a loser, I noticed the player next to me was struggling against the Teostra as well; even with a different weapon and impressive dexterity, they failed to kill the beast in the time allotted.

It’s clear Monster Hunter: Wilds Ascendance intends to escalate the hunting in the base game, enabling players to wield powerful tools in environments designed to genuinely test their preparation and survival skills. As someone who dropped off the base game after hitting credits, this expansion provides more than enough reason to kit back up and head into its refreshed, uncompromising world.

Monster Hunter Wilds: Ascendance is releasing in 2027.

Electric power washers range in price from $100 to $400. I tested one at each end of the price spectrum to see how they compare.

I got my Hogwarts acceptance letter. Surprisingly, it also came with a special-edition Harry Potter-themed phone.