For a lot of People, McDonald’s Completely happy Meals was once an occasion. Certain, there was the meals however there have been additionally toys just like the Hamburglar and nuggets dressed like cowboys.

You by no means knew what you had been going to get and scoring a brand new toy turned an occasion.

McDonald’s is making an attempt to faucet into that power with a grown-up model of the Completely happy Meal, which formally launched on Tuesday. Known as Collector’s Meals, the brand new menu merchandise is a combo meal that comes with six distinctive cups.

The quick meals chain needs clients to create new recollections impressed by the designs on the collectible cups, difficult them to chase the “simple thrill” of discovering an elusive design or finishing a group, firm govt Morgan Flatley mentioned in a information launch. 

“We’re bringing again a few of our most-loved keepsakes with a twist, giving followers a reminiscence that they’ll maintain of their hand,” Flatley mentioned. “These new collectible cups commemorate a few of our most unforgettable designs and world collaborations through the years, permitting longtime followers to relive treasured moments and serving to a brand new era make their very own lasting recollections.”  

Here is what to know in regards to the new cups, their designs and tips on how to get them.

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When will McDonald’s Collector’s Meals be accessible? 

McDonald’s Collector’s Meals and the six collectible cups turned accessible at collaborating U.S. places on Tuesday, Aug. 13. They’re accessible on-line, in shops and on the drive-thru. 

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What does McDonald’s Collector’s Meal include? 

In case you occur to go to McDonald’s throughout breakfast hours, you then get your Collector’s Meal with a sausage and egg sandwich, hash brown and a scorching espresso.

A Collector’s Meal ordered throughout lunch offers you some extra choices, with clients having the ability to select from a 10-piece nugget or Huge Mac, together with fries and a drink. 

The Collector’s Meal is ready to be accessible all day, which signifies that “you’ll be able to add to your assortment at any time when the temper strikes,” McDonald’s mentioned. 

What sort of cups include the McDonald’s Collector’s Meal? 

The designs picked to adorn the fast-food chain’s new line of collectible cups are a blast from the previous, a nod to a time when childhood toys and McDonald’s for dinner had been a few of life’s easy joys. 

The cups had been designed to spotlight traditional keepsakes, which had been at “the center of followers’ McDonald’s experiences,” just like the 1998 Cowpoke McNugget Buddy or 1993 McDonald’s Dragster. 

“Did you miss out on the Whats up Kitty Crew Keychain in 2000?” McDonald’s writes within the information launch. “Effectively, now could be your probability – this time, offered on the brand new Whats up Kitty collectible cup.”

The cup designs embody: 

• McDonald’s 
• Coca-Cola
• Whats up Kitty & Peanuts 
• Beanie Infants 
• Barbie & Scorching Wheels
• Shrek, Jurassic Park & Minions 

Cups are collected with each buy of a McDonalds’ Collector’s Meal. 

The scholars that acquired their stage 3 outcomes as we speak symbolize the second cohort for which grading has been again to ‘regular’, following centre and instructor assessments and a gradual return to pre-pandemic grade boundaries.

As such, this represents the primary time since 2019 that outcomes will be in comparison with the earlier 12 months on a like-for-like foundation. On this evaluation piece, we subsequently give attention to comparisons to 2023, and to 2019.

Ofqual’s method in 2024 was to keep up 2023 requirements. Because of this increased/decrease grades in a given topic in 2024 point out that this 12 months’s college students achieved extra/much less extremely than in 2023. That is in distinction to how grade boundaries have been set final 12 months, which had extra protections in-built to stop grades dropping under 2019 ranges (so the proportion of grades awarded have been set to be comparable). Because of this whereas we will examine grades to 2019, this isn’t fairly equal to evaluating requirements.

College students in 2024 didn’t have their GCSEs or 16-19 exams cancelled due to the pandemic, nevertheless they nonetheless had two years of their secondary research severely disrupted. Though examination primarily based, their GCSEs sat in 2022 have been marked extra generously than a normal 12 months, which can have influenced some college students’ selection of 16-19 research programmes.

Entries to A ranges have been at a document excessive for the second 12 months in a row, with 816,948 A ranges awarded as we speak. The numbers have elevated lately as we proceed to see an increase within the variety of 18-year-olds progressing by way of the schooling system.

FIGURE 1: A stage grade distribution by 12 months

Determine 1 reveals that, as anticipated, the 2024 grading distribution may be very carefully aligned to that of final 12 months. A barely increased proportion of scholars achieved A/A* grades in 2024 (27.6 per cent) than in 2023 (26.5 per cent). Greater than three quarters (76 per cent) of entries have been awarded grade C or above, once more a slight improve on 2023 (75.4 per cent). Though extra college students achieved high grades this 12 months, the general move charge (these reaching grade E or above) was much like 2023 (97.1per cent in comparison with 97.2 per cent).

FIGURE 2: Proportion of A stage entries awarded high grades, by English area

Determine 2 reveals that though the proportion of high grades achieved elevated in all areas in comparison with 2023, there was substantial variation across the nation. Notably, the largest will increase have been within the West Midlands and North East the place 24.8 and 23.9 per cent of scholars acquired high grades respectively this 12 months, in comparison with 22.9 and 22.0 per cent in 2023.

The subsequent best improve was in London, which was additionally the area the place most college students acquired high grades (31.3 per cent), a rise of 1.3 proportion factors since 2023. Though London was nonetheless the very best performing area by way of A/A* grades, there are indicators that the speed at which its college students are pulling away from these in different areas is beginning to gradual.

The area the place the bottom proportion of scholars acquired high grades was the East Midlands (22.5 per cent), a comparatively small improve of 0.2 proportion factors since 2023.

FIGURE 3: Proportion of A stage entries awarded high grades, by centre sort

Determine 3 reveals the proportion of scholars reaching A or A* grade A ranges by centre sort. The most important improve since 2023 was seen in free faculties, from 33.8 to 37.1 per cent of scholars, while the supplier sort with the general highest grades have been unbiased faculties, which has constantly been the case lately.

In FE faculties, the proportion of scholars reaching high grades in 2024 elevated to 14.8 from 14.0 per cent in 2023. Nonetheless, that is nonetheless under the 2019 proportion of 16.2 per cent.

This variation is prone to be associated to the variations in consumption between establishment varieties, relatively than a easy reflection of high quality of provision. Unbiased and selective faculties are inclined to tackle extra college students with increased prior attainment and much fewer college students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds, whereas FE faculties usually serve a better proportion of deprived college students.

Latest EPI analysis has set out particulars of how a pupil premium could possibly be carried out within the 16-19 part to higher assist deprived college students of their sixth kind or faculty research[1].

[1] https://epi.org.uk/publications-and-research/implementing-a-16-19-student-premium/

FIGURE 4: Male v feminine A stage grade will increase 2024 in comparison with 2023

Determine 4 reveals that since final 12 months, there’s variation within the topics for which male or feminine college students had largest will increase in high grades.

There was a much bigger improve within the proportion of feminine college students receiving high grades since 2023 in lots of STEM topics, notably maths and additional maths, physics, chemistry, and biology. There have additionally been sharp will increase within the proportion of scholars coming into these topics this 12 months.

FIGURE 5: The A stage gender hole: attainment and entries in 2024

Determine 5 reveals that the themes mostly entered by male college students should not essentially those the place they obtain increased grades, and vice versa. The highest left and backside proper quadrants present the topic areas the place that is the case.

Whereas feminine college students had larger will increase within the proportion reaching the highest grades since 2023 in maths, additional maths and physics (as proven in Determine 4), male college students nonetheless achieved a larger proportion of A and A* grades in absolute phrases.

Conversely, though extra male college students entered computing, it’s feminine college students that achieved the upper grades. General, there are extra topics (68 per cent) the place feminine college students obtain the upper proportion of high grades, together with STEM topics comparable to biology and chemistry.

College students taking stage 3 technical and vocational {qualifications} additionally acquired their outcomes as we speak, together with the third cohort of T stage college students. These new {qualifications} have been designed as high-status technical alternate options to A ranges. For a brief interval, it regarded as if T ranges may by no means change into established as they have been set to get replaced beneath the deliberate Superior British Commonplace (ABS). Nonetheless, now that it’s confirmed that the ABS won’t go forward, it seems as if T ranges will probably be right here to remain.

The third cohort of T stage college students started their {qualifications} in 2022, and this cohort have once more been graded favourably to recognise that these {qualifications} are nonetheless of their roll-out part. Determine 6 reveals that, though 10,253 college students started a T stage two years in the past, solely 7,262 accomplished their T stage and acquired a grade as we speak, equal to 71 per cent. This is a rise from 66 per cent in 2021. This determine can be decrease than the completion charges of 75 per cent for comparable sized vocational or technical {qualifications} (the present alternate options to A ranges) and 88 per cent for these taking three A ranges final 12 months. It seems then that T ranges college students have gotten virtually as prone to full T ranges as college students taking comparable sized VTQs. This determine could proceed to extend as T ranges full their roll-out, and suppliers change into extra conversant in these new {qualifications}. Nonetheless, it is usually price taking into account that T ranges are extra selective than VTQs, with round 95 per cent of T ranges college students having move in GCSE English and maths, in contrast with round 70-75 per cent for college students taking current VTQs.

FIGURE 6: Completion charges of T ranges, comparable sized A stage and VTQ programmes

FIGURE 7: Completion charges of T ranges by pathway

Nonetheless, the completion charge differs significantly throughout T stage pathways. Utilizing statistics from the T stage motion plans, Determine 7 reveals that every one current pathways noticed enhancements of their completion charge. Notably, the Well being and Science pathway noticed a major enchancment of their completion charge (transferring from simply over 50 per cent to over 70 per cent). That is encouraging given the most important challenges that have been highlighted with the Well being and Science pathway by Ofsted and others.[1] It seems that many of those challenges have been addressed, no less than partly, which is nice information for college students and suppliers. Of the 2024 pathways, the Finance and Accounting pathway noticed the bottom completion charge (however this was not too far off the common).

[1] See T-level thematic assessment: remaining report – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) and Data on IfATE’s assessment of the Well being and Science 2022 T Degree core assessments / Institute for Apprenticeships and Technical Training

Given completion charges are nonetheless low in some pathways (and decrease than different comparable VTQs and A ranges), it is going to be essential to analyze which college students are dropping out and why throughout the completely different T stage pathways. EPI are at the moment engaged on a mission analyzing the broader drivers of T stage completion (inside every pathway) which will probably be printed subsequent month.

FIGURE 8: 18-year-olds UCAS purposes, England

The variety of 18-year-olds making use of for increased schooling programs from England remained at a comparable stage to 2023 (43 per cent), having peaked in 2022 (45 per cent). As we will see from Determine 8, this comes along with a continued improve within the measurement of the 18-year-old inhabitants, which means that there are barely extra 18-year-olds in England coming into increased schooling this 12 months than final.

Though college software charges peaked within the pandemic, they’re nonetheless significantly increased than they’ve been for a lot of the final decade.

FIGURE 9: UCAS purposes for every UK nation and worldwide college students, all ages

Whereas the variety of 18-year-olds in England making use of for college has not decreased this 12 months, Determine 9 reveals that the variety of purposes in England by college students off all ages is decrease than it was in 2023. Mixed with slight decreases within the variety of purposes from worldwide college students, this might end in extra locations being supplied to 18-year-olds in England this 12 months. This will likely counsel that college locations could possibly be rather less aggressive in 2024, nevertheless Determine 10, under, reveals that the pattern in purposes is completely different for decrease/medium and better tariff universities.

 

FIGURE 10: UCAS purposes and acceptance charge by supplier/college tariff (all ages, all UK nations and worldwide college students)

As we will see from Determine 10, while the variety of purposes for medium and low tariff universities is much like pre-pandemic ranges and has fluctuated over the past decade, the variety of purposes for prime tariff universities has grown constantly over the identical interval. The applicant acceptance charge for prime tariff universities elevated considerably through the pandemic, when pupil caps have been quickly lifted in some topics, and demand was at a document stage. Nonetheless, in newer years the excessive tariff acceptance charge has returned again to ranges final seen at the beginning of the 2010s, so it stays doubtless that competitors for locations in additional selective universities will stay excessive in 2024.

Determine 10 reveals the top of cycle acceptance charge, after clearing so solely goes as much as 2023. Nonetheless, UCAS statistics as we speak present that the preliminary variety of accepted candidates in England has gone up from 303,460 to 312,920 candidates in comparison with the identical day final 12 months. Taking a look at 18-year-olds solely, the variety of accepted candidates on outcomes day elevated from 196,650 to 208,960 since final 12 months. This displays an entry charge of 32 per cent of the 18-year-old inhabitants, up one proportion level since final 12 months.

FIGURE 11: 18-year-olds UCAS software charges by English area

Determine 11 reveals a breakdown of the applying charge amongst 18-year-olds from completely different areas over the previous decade.

All areas noticed a rise in purposes by way of the pandemic. These will increase have largely subsided, however software charges in 2024 have been nonetheless increased than they have been in 2019 throughout all areas besides the North East.

Whereas this pattern persists throughout all areas in England, variations within the diploma of this development have produced rising regional inequalities.

Evidently, there’s a vital disparity between software charges amongst college students coming from London and their counterparts in all different English areas. Most notably, purposes in London elevated in 2024, in comparison with 2023, at a time when the speed in all different areas besides the West Midlands decreased.

The hole between software charges from London and the North East, which had the bottom software charge, has elevated from 17 per cent in 2019 to 26 per cent in 2024.

FIGURE 12: POLAR 4 software charges in England

Determine 12 reveals the applying charge for college students from areas with traditionally excessive and low participation charges in increased schooling, utilizing the POLAR4 quintiles. Quintile 1 signifies the areas with lowest ranges of participation, whereas quintile 5 signifies the very best.

The disparity between the quintiles was at its highest in 2021, on the top of the pandemic. The hole has since decreased however stays barely increased than pre-pandemic ranges. Extra broadly there was no change on this hole within the final decade.

A Mesa County jury discovered Tina Peters responsible Monday on seven of 10 legal costs associated to a safety breach that occurred within the spring of 2021 within the elections workplace she oversaw because the Mesa County clerk and recorder.

The jury returned the decision simply hours after closing arguments.

Peters was discovered responsible on three felony counts of trying to affect a public servant, one felony rely of legal impersonation, one misdemeanor rely of official misconduct, one misdemeanor rely of violation of obligation in elections, and one misdemeanor rely of failure to adjust to the secretary of state. She was acquitted on two felony counts of legal impersonation and one felony rely of id theft.

“Tina Peters willfully compromised her personal election tools making an attempt to show Trump’s Large Lie,” Colorado Secretary of State Jena Griswold mentioned in an announcement after the decision was introduced within the Mesa County District Courtroom of Decide Matthew Barrett. “She has been discovered responsible by a jury of her friends and can now face the implications of her actions. In the present day’s verdict sends a transparent message: we won’t tolerate any effort to threaten the safety of our gold normal elections. I’m proud that justice for Colorado voters has been served at the moment.”

Griswold’s workplace opened an investigation into Peters in August 2021 after it discovered that delicate Mesa County election system knowledge had been posted on-line. In 2022, a Mesa County grand jury charged Peters for her position in a scheme to permit an unauthorized particular person to enter Mesa County’s elections division to make copies of election system software program and seize photos of passwords and different delicate knowledge in Could 2021, through the time of an election tools software program replace, also referred to as a trusted construct.

The scheme represented an occasion by which election deniers aligned with former President Donald Trump discovered a keen county clerk in Colorado to deceive different public servants in an try to show election tools in Mesa County was someway corruptible.

Peters declined to remark after the decision and instructed reporters she would achieve this at a later time.

In his closing statements following the eight-day trial, the prosecution’s Robert Shapiro, first assistant Colorado lawyer common for particular prosecutions, mentioned Peters opened up her workplace and herself to outdoors individuals to permit a safety breach of Mesa County’s election tools.

The case entails “layers upon layers of deceit,” with lots of people working with Peters to perform the fraud, Shapiro mentioned.

A kind of individuals was Kurt Olsen, an affiliate of MyPillow CEO and outstanding Trump ally Mike Lindell, an election denier. Shapiro reminded jurors that Peters instructed Olsen that she was “at his disposal” and was there to assist in their endeavors.

Others, in line with prosecutors, included Ohio mathematician Douglas Frank, an election conspiracy theorist on Lindell’s payroll; Conan Hayes, a former skilled surfer-turned conspiracy theorist from California; and Sherronna Bishop, a buddy of Peters who didn’t reside in or work for Mesa County but had an integral position in orchestrating a scheme to permit Hayes into the safe elections space the place the breach occurred.

Shapiro mentioned Peters duped a Dominion Voting Techniques worker and secretary of state workers members when she allowed an unauthorized particular person — Hayes — to be a part of the trusted construct on Could 25 and 26, 2021, beneath the pretense that he was a Mesa County worker.

In keeping with prosecutors, Hayes entered the elections room on Could 23, when places of work have been closed and cameras had been turned off, to make a duplicate of the software program of the elections system laborious drive. On Could 25, he returned to the room for the trusted construct attended by Peters, plus representatives from the secretary of state and Dominion Voting Techniques.

Surveillance cameras had beforehand been shut off on Could 17, regardless of a longtime coverage in Mesa County to depart cameras on 24/7.

Contradicting testimonies

Shapiro described how Peters employed Gerald Wooden, a Fruita resident, for the aim of utilizing his id to acquire safety clearance for Hayes so he may enter safe election areas posing as Wooden. Wooden went via a background examine and obtained a safety entry badge solely to be requested by one among Peters’ workers members to provide it again just a few days later.

In the course of the trial and shutting statements, protection attorneys tried to color Wooden as a keen participant within the scheme.

Shapiro mentioned the one witness who testified that Wooden was in on the plan was Bishop, who in line with prosecutors helped orchestrate the breach. Bishop is taken into account by prosecutors an unindicted co-conspirator.

Bishop’s testimony contradicted Wooden’s sworn statements that he knew nothing of the plan and that he didn’t grant permission to provide his id to a 3rd get together. Shapiro mentioned Bishop was not a reputable witness.

“No different witness supported Sherronna Bishop’s account,” Shapiro mentioned.

Hayes was an out of doors imposter who used Wooden’s id to repeat delicate knowledge, Shapiro mentioned.

Different proof provided by the prosecution included Peters telling workers members to buy disposable telephones with money and to make use of the encrypted texting platform Sign, in addition to a non-county electronic mail handle.

Shapiro reminded jurors how Bishop, whereas attending a “cyber safety” symposium in South Dakota in August 2021, across the time that Griswold launched her investigation into the elections safety breach, referred to as Peters’ then-Chief Deputy Belinda Knisley in Grand Junction asking her to go to the elections workplace and take away the election laptop server. Knisley refused.

When Peters discovered election system knowledge and passwords had been posted to a web-based conspiracy web site, she repeatedly instructed Knisley “I’m (expletive deleted) I’m going to jail,” Shapiro mentioned.

“Does that sound like somebody who’s doing proper, doing one thing noble?” Shapiro mentioned to the jurors.

Questions round Hayes

Protection lawyer John Case started his closing assertion with an exhibit — a photograph of Peters along with her son, who died in 2017 as the results of an air present accident whereas he was serving with the U.S. Navy SEALs.

“When Tina Peters’ son died she was compelled to discover a function in life,” and she or he ran for Mesa County clerk and recorder, Case mentioned.

Case, as did all of the protection attorneys all through the trial, constantly referred to Peters as “Clerk Peters” — although her tenure ended at first of 2023.

Shapiro objected a number of occasions throughout Case’s closing statements, saying both he was misstating information or was citing matters that had not been admitted as proof.

Case instructed jurors that Bishop wished to hide Hayes’ id and that one determination to guard one particular person led the federal government to cost Peters with 10 crimes. The protection claimed that Peters believed Hayes was a confidential authorities agent.

At one level throughout his statements, Case likened the entry badge to a lodge key card that you’d share with a husband, spouse or buddy.

Case mentioned Peters grew to become a goal of the federal government after the video she took through the trusted construct appeared on the web. He mentioned she didn’t consent to its launch on-line and that it’s not a criminal offense to put up movies on the web.

“We nonetheless worth free speech, until you’re a goal of the federal government,” Case mentioned. “Then your speech has no worth.”

Case questioned why Hayes was not requested to testify.

“He’s key to the entire case,” he mentioned. “They didn’t have the heart to name him as a witness.”

In her rebuttal to Case’s closing arguments, Deputy Legal professional Common Janet Drake defined why they hadn’t heard from Hayes.

“It’s Tina Peters’ trial,” she mentioned. “We’re right here as a result of she deceived a public servant to sneak an individual into the workplace.”

Drake instructed jurors there may be plenty of proof that Peters had legal intent in her actions, beginning with an April 23, 2021, assembly with out-of-state co-conspirators, surveillance cameras being turned off on Could 17 of that yr, using disposable telephones, and using the encrypted Sign platform and non-county emails. Drake additionally reiterated how after studying an investigation had been launched, Peters “dropped the F-bomb,” and mentioned many occasions that she was “going to jail.”

The protection argued Peters acted merely to guard election data, however Drake mentioned her actions have been a “deep dive” into disclosing publicly confidential info. It was all “so she may very well be the hero, to be on a stage on the symposium and get well-known due to this breach,” Drake mentioned.

“(Tina Peters) was accountable for defending election integrity and she or he didn’t do it,” Drake mentioned.

Peters was the “fox guarding the henhouse,” she mentioned.

Legal professional common: ‘A warning’

Matt Crane, govt director of the Colorado County Clerks Affiliation, mentioned in an announcement, “Clerks throughout the state are happy to see justice achieved at the moment. We take critically our position as guardians of the most effective election course of within the nation and are grateful to see the justice system maintain those that would hurt our elections accountable.”

Colorado Legal professional Common Phil Weiser additionally weighed in on Monday’s verdict: “I wish to thank the prosecutors from my group who labored side-by-side with Mesa County District Legal professional Dan Rubinstein to deliver justice on this case. They’ve labored for a number of years beneath tough circumstances — together with abhorrent threats. I’m grateful for his or her dedication to the rule of regulation and sense of obligation.”

Weiser continued, “In the present day’s verdict is a warning to others that they may face severe penalties in the event that they try to illegally tamper with our voting processes or election techniques. I wish to be clear — our elections are protected and honest. Actually, Colorado’s election system is the gold normal of the nation. And make no mistake: my workplace will proceed to guard it.”

Sentencing for Peters has been set for Oct. 3.

This text first appeared within the Colorado Newsline, a sister web site of the Nebraska Examiner within the States Newsroom community.

After Cyriel Dessers’ late equaliser in Poland, Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv might be vying for a play-off sport on the Champions League Qualifiers when the 2 sides meet within the third qualifying spherical second leg recreation at Hampden Park on Tuesday.

In final week’s first leg third qualifying spherical fixture, Dynamo held the lead after Andriy Yarmolenko’s Thirty seventh-minute strike. Nonetheless, the sport ended 1-1 after the 94th-minute equaliser.

Right here, GOAL brings you all the things you want to learn about how one can watch, together with TV channel, streaming particulars and extra.

Rangers vs Dynamo Kyiv kick-off time & stadium

The UEFA Champions League third qualifying spherical match between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv might be performed at Hampden Park in Glasgow, Scotland.

It’s going to kick off at 7:45 pm BST on Tuesday, August 13, within the United Kingdom (UK).

Learn how to watch Rangers vs Dynamo Kyiv on-line – TV channels & dwell streams

Within the UK, the UEFA Champions League third qualifying spherical match between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv might be out there to look at and stream on-line dwell by BBC Scotland, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sport Web site.

Try GOAL’s Dwell Match Centre for updates.

Learn how to watch wherever with VPN

In case you are overseas, you could want to make use of a digital non-public community (VPN) to look at video games utilizing your typical streaming service. A VPN, comparable to NordVPN, means that you can set up a safe connection on-line when streaming. In case you are undecided which VPN to make use of, take a look at GOAL‘s information to the perfect VPNs for streaming sport.

Group information & squads

Rangers staff information

Dessers scored within the 2-1 Scottish Premiership win over Motherwell on the weekend, the place Wolfsburg loanee Vaclav Cerny additionally discovered the again of the web.

Defender Robin Propper made his Rangers debut in the identical recreation, whereas Connor Barron is in line for a begin after becoming a member of the membership from Aberdeen.

Ianis Hagi and Todd Cantwell are unlikely to be chosen because the duo are set for exits, whereas Nicolas Raskin and Oscar Cortes are out injured.

Rangers attainable XI: Butland; Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Yilmaz; Diomande, Barron; Cerny, Lawrence, Wright; Dessers.

Dynamo Kyiv staff information

Yarmolenko will lead the guests’ line-up as captain, with Vladyslav Vanat spearheading the assault.

Attacking midfielder Vitaliy Buyalskyi will eye a begin within the quantity 10 function, because the line-up is prone to resemble the one from the primary leg tie.

Dynamo Kyiv attainable XI: Bushchan; Karavaev, Popov, Dyachuk, Vivcharenko; Brazhko, Shaparenko; Yarmolenko, Buyalskyi, Kabayev; Vanat.

Head-to-Head Report

The next is the head-to-head report between Rangers and Dynamo Kyiv throughout all competitions.

Helpful hyperlinks

A spot within the play-off is up for grabs, with the tie firmly within the steadiness following final week’s 1-1 attract Poland.

From the weekend’s Scottish Premiership match over Motherwell, there are two adjustments to the beginning line-up as Ross McCausland and Jefte coming in instead of Vaclav Cerny and Scott Wright.

Rangers begin at Hampden with Jack Butland in aim and a again 4 of captain James Tavernier, John Souttar, Robin Propper and Ridvan.

In midfield, it’s as soon as once more Mohamed Diomande, Connor Barron and Tom Lawrence who line up there, whereas McCausland and Jefte assist striker Cyriel Dessers.

On the bench this night are Liam Kelly, Rabbi Matondo, Vaclav Cerny, Kieran Dowell, Dujon Sterling, Scott Wright, Ben Davies, Leon King, Robbie Fraser, Cole McKinnon, Bailey Rice and Danilo.

Kick-off is 7.45pm and supporters outdoors of the UK/Eire can watch the match reside on RangersTV.

RANGERS: Butland, Tavernier, Souttar, Propper, Ridvan, Diomande, Barron, Lawrence, McCausland, Jefte, Dessers.

Subs: Kelly, Matondo, Cerny, Dowell, Sterling, Wright, Davies, King, Fraser, McKinnon, Rice, Danilo.

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• SHOP: Store the 2024/25 Dwelling Equipment, Away Equipment and Third Equipment on-line or on the Rangers Retailer

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GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KKCO) – Within the last hours of the Tina Peters trial on its eighth and last day, proceedings noticed closing statements from the protection and prosecution, jury deliberations, and a last verdict.

Tina Peters confronted three expenses of trying to affect a public servant, two expenses of conspiracy to commit legal impersonation, one cost of legal impersonation, first-degree official misconduct, id theft, violation of obligation, and failure to adjust to the necessities of the Secretary of State. Peters may resist 20 years in state jail and be fined tens of millions of {dollars}.

All of the proof within the case had been introduced. Each the prosecution and protection had a possibility to make closing statements.

The prosecution closed by saying the case of Tina Peters was a easy cover-up laced with lies, deceit, and fraud. Prosecutors argued Peters used Conan Hayes, a person from California, to impersonate Gerald Wooden and enter a safe tabulation room to tamper with election tools. Mr. Shapiro with the prosecution stated, “The defendant violated the belief of her workplace. She violated the belief of her workers. Individuals like Stephanie Wenholz, and Brandy Vance—harmless, hard-working public servants. Most significantly, she violated the belief of this group—the residents of Mesa County, Colorado.”

The protection’s closing assertion targeted on the absurdity of the case and stated it didn’t make sense that she was being charged with ten crimes for what they stated was one determination that was not unlawful on the time. Peter’s attorneys additionally identified the prosecution didn’t subpoena Conan Hayes, and they didn’t present the ‘Code Monkey Z’ video. Mr. Case with the protection group stated, “Why did they not present you the Code Monkey Z video? We heard (all through) the entire trial that that is the factor that may put the Secretary of State in jeopardy. The Secretary of State witness stated it was the worst factor he had ever seen, however they won’t present it to you.” The prosecution continued saying Peters was a goal and being made an instance by the federal government. They appealed to the jury and advised them the witness testimonies couldn’t show past an affordable doubt that Peters was responsible.

The jury deliberated and reached a unanimous verdict on all ten expenses. Peters was discovered responsible on all three expenses of trying to affect a public servant, one cost of conspiracy to commit legal impersonation, 1st-degree official misconduct, violation of obligation, and failure to adjust to necessities of the Secretary of State. The jury discovered Peter not responsible of legal impersonation, id theft, and one depend of conspiracy to commit legal impersonation.

Peter awaits sentencing for her convictions on October third. Her sentencing will run from 9:30 AM to noontime and might be performed by way of jury trial.

Copyright 2024 KKCO. All rights reserved.

It is that point of the 12 months once more, of us, after we welcome a brand new era of Pixel units. Preorders for the model new Google Pixel 9, Google Pixel 9 Professional, and Google Pixel 9 Professional XL at the moment are formally open and we have all the most effective offers for early adopters rounded up on this web page. 

Costs for the most recent vary of Pixel telephones begin at $799 / £799 for the usual gadget, $999 / £999 for the Pixel 9 Professional, and $1,099 / £1,099 for the Pixel 9 Professional XL. There’s additionally a flashy new flagship Pixel Fold 9 Professional, which we’re overlaying by itself web page right here.

Collectively, the Google Pixel 9 vary represents one of many largest leaps we have seen from the model’s flagships in recent times. Alongside a newly refreshed design and Google Tensor G4 chipset, enhancements to the battery, digital camera, and show imply there are a variety of upgrades on provide. Uniquely for this era, Google has additionally cut up out the Professional vary into a bigger XL measurement (similar because the previous Professional) and a smaller palm-friendly normal Professional (similar measurement because the Pixel 9).

You could find extra particulars on this new vary of Google flagships beneath as we speak’s finest Google Pixel 9 offers. We have additionally simply posted our hands-on Google Pixel 9 assessment, Google Pixel 9 Professional assessment, and Google Pixel 9 Professional XL assessment pages in order for you an in-depth look. 

At present’s finest Google Pixel 9 offers within the US

At present’s finest Google Pixel 9 offers within the UK

How a lot does the Pixel 9 vary price?

What’s new with the Google Pixel 9?

• New XL-sized Professional mannequin
• Tensor G4 chipset
• Refreshed design
• Show, digital camera, and battery enhancements

The Google Pixel 9 vary represents one of many largest upgrades we have seen in recent times from the model. Not solely have all units obtained a significant design refresh and new chipset however there are additionally a number of extra fashions within the lineup.

New for this 12 months are ‘XL’ and Fold Professional fashions, which change the previous Pixel 8 Professional as essentially the most premium gadget within the vary. The Fold, as you’d think about, is a model new foldable design, whereas the XL is a extra like-for-like substitute of the Pixel 8 Professional with a bigger show versus the usual mannequin. The newest Pixel 9 Professional is basically the identical type issue as the usual Pixel 9 however carries all of the options unique to the Professional line. 

Alongside the brand new Tensor G4 chipset, the Pixel 9 Professional fashions have an upgraded 16GB of RAM, a brand new 42MP entrance digital camera, and improved video options (tremendous zoom and 8K). These enhancements can be found in each the 6.8-inch Professional XL and 6.3-inch Professional fashions so are you able to select between a decently-sized telephone and one thing somewhat extra pocket-friendly.

The usual Google Pixel 9 is available in at 6.3 inches and consists of the brand new Tensor G4 chipset, a brand new 48MP ultra-wide lens, and an upgraded show that is 35% brighter. It additionally options an improved battery that is greater and helps sooner charging. Total, it is fairly a major improve – sufficient for the usual mannequin to face by itself as a severe flagship contender.

All Google Pixel 9 units embrace a prolonged seven years of assured updates in addition to a concentrate on AI integration through Google’s new Gemini assistant. Gemini might help you do the whole lot from each day planning to translation with a brand new Pixel 9-exclusive function known as ‘Pixel Screenshots’ being a selected spotlight. 

That’s to not say that there aren’t any enhancements; we’ve acquired the anticipated generational soar to the Google Tensor G4 chipset, in addition to 50% extra reminiscence than final yr, going from 8GB to 12GB of RAM. Storage choices are the identical, although, along with your selection of 128 or 256GB of inside storage and no microSD card help to increase it.

The battery is somewhat larger, too, swelling from 4,575mAh as much as the identical 4,700mAh because the Pixel 9 Professional. Charging speeds aren’t confirmed within the preliminary press launch however Google claims that utilizing a 45W Google charger (which isn’t included within the field) the cellphone can hit 55% battery life from empty in half-hour.

Additionally larger than final yr is the construct: the Pixel 9 measures 72 x 8.5 x 153mm, making it a bit taller and wider than the Pixel 8 but additionally a tiny bit thinner. It’s additionally notably heavier, weighing 198g, in comparison with the Pixel 8’s 187g.

Sitting on high of that chunkier physique is a 6.3in show, as soon as once more barely bigger than the Pixel 8’s 6.2in panel. The decision is 1,080 x 2,424 and the refresh price can toggle between 60Hz and 120Hz – this isn’t an LTPO display screen, nonetheless, so there’s no dynamic dimming for saving battery life, as we get on the Pixel 9 Professional. Scratch resistance is improved, at the least, with a layer of Gorilla Glass Victus 2 sitting over each the show and the rear, and the cellphone is as soon as once more rated IP68 for mud and water resistance.

The ten.5MP (f/2.2) selfie digital camera is an identical to final yr’s however flip the cellphone over, and also you’ll see that the rear cameras at the moment are tucked into a large oval housing that doesn’t contact the sides, changing the long-lasting full-width digital camera bar. To me, it is a step backwards, because it seems to be extra tacked-on and generic than the bar, but it surely’s not a dramatic sufficient distinction to be a dealbreaker.

The cameras themselves are much less of a stark departure, with the identical 50MP (f/1.7) essential digital camera because the Pixel 8 main the cost. We have been massive followers of this digital camera, so it’s not terrible to see it return, however paired with the value enhance this does really feel somewhat lazy. That being stated, Google has promised a very rebuilt HDR pipeline, so it’s potential that we’ll nonetheless see a noticeable distinction when it comes time to check the cameras. And the ultrawide digital camera will get some upgrades, at the least, with a bigger 48MP picture sensor and a a lot wider f/1.7 aperture.

Other than the brand new Zoom Improve characteristic, which makes use of generative AI to sharpen digitally zoomed-in photographs, the Pixel 9 will get a lot of the identical digital camera options as its Professional siblings, together with previous favourites like Magic Eraser, Face Unblur and Finest Take. The latter additionally will get a brand new addition within the “Add Me” characteristic, which might insert the photo-taker into group pictures after the image has been taken. Exterior of the digital camera system, we’ve additionally acquired the return of options like Circle to Search and Gemini AI because the default good assistant.

New AI options embody a customized overview within the new Pixel Climate app, the image-generating Pixel Studio, post-phone name transcripts with Name Notes – working solely on machine so your privateness is maintained – and the brand new Pixel Screenshots app, which intelligently organises your screenshots and permits you to seek for them later by key phrases. Lastly, Gemini Reside permits you to maintain a free-flowing dialog with the AI, altering subjects on the fly and interrupting it to make clear or change your thoughts.

The marginally earlier launch window implies that the Pixel 9 collection received’t be debuting with Android 15, as we noticed final yr with the 8 collection and Android 14, however count on these handsets to be among the many first to get the brand new software program when it drops. Past that, the Pixel 9 is as soon as once more promised seven years of OS updates and safety patches, in addition to first dibs on new Android options.

That’s about it for the specs and actually, I’m somewhat underwhelmed. In a vacuum, the Pixel 9 sounds high quality sufficient however the worth enhance places it in direct competitors with the Samsung Galaxy S24 and in that context, the Pixel feels disappointing. The Galaxy S24 is smaller and lighter, so is extra interesting as a compact flagship, has an LTPO show that may regulate between 1Hz and 120Hz on the fly, and has a extra versatile digital camera setup, together with 8K video recording and a 3x telephoto digital camera.

And the place it doesn’t surpass the Pixel 9, the Galaxy S24 nonetheless matches it, together with Gorilla Glass Victus 2 and IP68 safety, seven years of software program updates and a wealth of AI options. We’ll want to check how nicely the Tensor G4 chipset performs earlier than we will decide whether or not or not the Pixel 9 can sustain with the Galaxy S24’s speeds, however it might have to be a reasonably substantial enchancment over the Tensor G3 to even draw near the Samsung.

We’ve acquired the Pixel 9 coming in for assessment, so we’ll be placing it completely by its paces very quickly. It might but emerge as a worthwhile followup to the Pixel 8 however based mostly on this primary look, I’m removed from satisfied. Examine again quickly to see our last verdict and whether or not one other firm has the prospect to steal the highest spot in our finest Android cellphone record.

My first response to this was destructive. At first, my take was that this can be a grasping transfer that overly complicates the Pixel line-up (to not point out giving me extra work); however, having considered it a bit extra, I can see the way it may very well be seen as helpful to shoppers. Some might want the ability of the Professional cellphone with out additionally taking onboard the unwieldy construct, so placing the advantages of the Professional mannequin right into a extra compact handset does make some sense.

To go together with that smaller body, the Pixel 9 Professional has a 6.3in OLED show, identical to the usual Pixel 9, however the decision is a sharper 1,280 x 2,856 and the dynamic refresh price has a broader vary of 1-120Hz. As a “Tremendous Actua” show, against the Pixel 9’s Actua one, it additionally will get a bit brighter, with Google claiming a peak of three,000 nits, with the  commonplace Pixel 9 topping out at 2,700 nits. Not that you just’d have the ability to inform at these lofty heights.

The Pixel 9 Professional XL’s 6.8in OLED show is generally the identical as its mini-me, with a 1-120Hz dynamic refresh price and peak brightness listed as 3,000 nits, nevertheless it has the next decision of 1,344 x  2,992. Scratch safety is similar both method, with each telephones sandwiched between two layers of Gorilla Glass Victus 2.

Rounding out our trilogy of variations is the Pixel 9 Professional XL’s 5,060mAh battery, which is greater than the 4,700mAh cell utilized by each the Pixel 9 and the Pixel 9 Professional, in addition to a tiny bit greater than the Pixel 8 Professional’s 5,050mAh battery. Charging speeds aren’t explicitly outlined within the press launch however the Pixel 9 Professional will apparently hit about 55% battery life after half-hour on cost and the 9 Professional XL will hit round 70% – each of these are apparently based mostly on charging with a 45W Google charger, which as soon as once more isn’t included within the field.

That’s it for the key variations, so let’s get into shared options. Battery apart, each telephones include the identical inner {hardware}, with the most recent Google Tensor G4 chipset supported by a large 16GB of RAM and your selection of 128GB, 256GB, 512GB or, for the primary time, 1TB of onboard cupboard space.

Each Professionals additionally get precisely the identical digicam {hardware}, and it’s right here that I discover my first actual drawback with the Pixel 9 collection. The rear cameras have been reorganised into a large oval housing that doesn’t fairly meet the perimeters of the cellphone, changing the enduring – and, in my view, cleaner – full-width bar. This looks like a design change for the sake of differentiation to me and it finally ends up wanting a bit extra generic than the Pixel 8 collection.

The cameras themselves aren’t an issue, at the least. The suite is spearheaded by a 50MP foremost sensor with optical picture stabilisation (OIS) and a large f/1.7 aperture. If it’s not the very same sensor as final yr’s, it’s extraordinarily shut, all the way down to the 1/1.31in picture sensor dimension. We’ve all the time cherished the cameras on the Pixel flagships so I don’t essentially assume it’s an excessive amount of of a giant deal if that is certainly the identical digicam because the Pixel 8 collection being trotted out as soon as once more – it’s nonetheless a improbable shooter.

Alongside the principle lens is a 48MP ultrawide lens that’s undoubtedly completely different to the one discovered on the Pixel 8 Professional, because it has a a lot wider f/1.7 aperture (in comparison with the 8 Professional’s f/2.0) and a touch smaller area of view (123° in comparison with 126°). The telephoto digicam is generally the identical, with OIS, an optical vary of 5x and an f/2.8 aperture, however the megapixel depend has jumped barely from 48MP to 50MP. Lastly, on the entrance now we have a bigger 48MP (f/2.2) selfie digicam with a 103° area of view – the widest on any Pixel but.

The digicam software program is as a lot part of the Pixel telephones’ earlier success because the {hardware} and Google is tweaking it this yr with a brand new HDR pipeline, apparently rebuilt from the bottom up. Options like Magic Eraser, Greatest Take and Photograph Unblur all return, too, in addition to newcomer “Add Me”, an addition to Greatest Take that enables the photo-taker to be inserted into group photographs after the actual fact, so no one’s neglected.

After languishing in improvement hell for months earlier than lastly dropping on the Pixel 8 Professional, it seems to be like the brand new Zoom Improve function will probably be on each the 9 Professional and 9 Professional XL from launch. This mode makes use of generative AI to fill within the blanks between pixels on zoomed photographs, ostensibly predicting and recreating finer particulars.

Past that, AI crops up within the new climate app, offering each day summaries, the decision app, with on-device transcripts of your calls, and within the picture gallery, with the brand new Pixel Screenshots app organising your captures and permitting you to look by means of them by key phrases. Gemini may now maintain a free-flowing dialog, reacting to you altering subjects or interrupting it dynamically, making complicated questioning really feel extra like pure dialog.

Similar to the Pixel 8 collection, your entire Pixel 9 collection will even obtain seven years of OS and safety updates, together with new Pixel function drops. Each the Pixel 9 Professional and the 9 Professional XL will even have Google Gemini because the default assistant from launch, in addition to a free yr of the Google One AI plan, which gives up 2TB of cloud storage and entry to Gemini Superior options like summarising unread emails in your Gmail inbox.

The very last thing I need to contact on is the a part of all this that troubles me essentially the most – sure, much more than the redesigned digicam bar. Pricing exhibits that the Google Pixel 9 Professional begins at the very same costs because the 8 Professional, with the 128GB mannequin costing £999. The 256GB and 512GB variants, nonetheless, are each £40 greater than final yr, at £1,099 and £1,129, respectively, and the brand new 1TB model tops it off at £1,449.

The £40 value will increase are one factor, however what rubs me the flawed method is that even when you purchase the entry-level 128GB mannequin, you’re paying the identical value as final yr, however not getting the identical degree of cellphone. The Pixel 9 Professional is smaller than the Pixel 8 Professional, with a great half-inch off the show and a lower-capacity battery.

The Pixel 9 Professional XL is the place you’ll have to go so as to get the direct sequel to the Pixel 8 Professional and it’s right here that I come again to my cynical evaluation of this new addition to the Pixel household. The 9 Professional XL fashions are all £100 greater than their smaller counterparts – £1,099 (128GB), £1,199 (256GB), £1,229 (512GB), £1,549 (1TB) – which signifies that, obfuscations apart, the Pixel 9 Professional XL is at the least £100 and as a lot as £140 dearer than the Pixel 8 Professional.

And that’s my huge drawback: whereas it may be painted as consumer-friendly and increasing the extent of selection, this splitting of the Pixel Professional into two handsets, to me, looks like subterfuge. The Pixel 9 Professional XL, which regardless of the brand new suffix remains to be very a lot the direct follow-up to final yr’s Pixel 8 Professional, is dearer than its predecessor, whereas the Pixel 9 Professional begins on the similar value however has decrease specs. Collectively, they produce an phantasm of continuity however in actuality, one costs the identical for much less and the opposite asks extra for a similar.

Evidently, this messy pricing construction hasn’t made the most effective first impression with me however that doesn’t imply that my thoughts is made up concerning the Pixel 9 Professional and Pixel 9 Professional XL. We’ll have full critiques coming very quickly, so make sure to verify again then to see if both handset can deliver me round after this wobbly introduction.

An rising virus dubbed ‘sloth fever’ has brought on some alarm, after the European Centre for Illness Prevention and Management reported that 19 imported instances of the illness have been discovered within the European Union for the primary time.

The oropouche virus (OROV), an RNA arbovirus, was first detected within the village of Oropouche in Trinidad and Tobago in 1955.

It’s unfold to folks primarily by way of the chunk of contaminated biting midges, in response to the London College of Hygiene and Tropical Drugs. Some mosquitoes have additionally been identified to hold the virus.

The Pan American Well being Organisation (PAHO) first issued an epidemiological alert about a rise in reported instances of the virus in 5 international locations – Brazil, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba and Colombia-  in July.

Why is it known as sloth fever?

The Lancet medical journal reported that the virus has a reservoir in pale-throated sloths, but in addition non-human primates and birds. Nonetheless the doable hyperlink to sloths appears to have caught on.

“The time period ‘sloth fever’ is a colloquial title that has emerged because of the virus being present in areas the place sloths, that are identified to hold a spread of parasites and pathogens, are current,” defined Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica. “Nevertheless, the title is comparatively deceptive as it’s unfold by insect bites, not by direct contact with sloths.”

Why has it occurred?

Dr Enny Paixao, affiliate professor on the London College of Hygiene and Tropical Drugs, mentioned: “A number of components could clarify the current outbreak, together with enhanced surveillance, local weather and environmental modifications, and potential modifications to the virus.

“Equally to different vector-borne ailments, corresponding to dengue, local weather change may additionally be impacting oropouche virus enlargement.

“Modifications to temperature and precipitation can have an effect on transmission, for instance, rising temperatures can improve the speed of growth of culicoides midges, one of many virus’ principal transmission vectors in South America alongside mosquitos.”

Though oropouche virus shouldn’t be new, the components driving the current sharp enhance spotlight the necessity for additional investigation, she defined.

“Till developments are made in vaccine growth or mosquito and midge management, or till pure immunity inside the inhabitants in Brazil [and other affected countries] will increase, the problem posed by this uncared for tropical illness will persist.”

Will I catch it within the UK?

Dr Philip Veal, journey well being marketing consultant at UK Well being Safety Company (UKHSA), mentioned: “The midge that carries oropouche virus shouldn’t be presently established in Europe. “It’s usually discovered within the Americas. There isn’t any proof that the virus can unfold from individual to individual.”

The UKHSA additionally added that each one instances recognized in Europe had been acquired elsewhere.

Who’s most in danger?

“There’s a lot we nonetheless have no idea concerning the oropouche virus however one of many principal considerations arising from the present outbreak in South America is its potential dangerous results on unborn foetuses,” mentioned Paixao.

In July, the PAHO issued an alert concerning the potential transmission of the oropouche virus from mom to baby in Brazil.

“Some very restricted research have instructed that antibodies in opposition to the virus have been present in youngsters born with microencephaly and that there could also be a hyperlink between an infection, miscarriage, and foetal deaths in Brazil, however additional analysis is required to analyze a possible causal hyperlink,” says Paixao.

What are the signs?

The London College of Hygiene and Tropical Drugs clarified that widespread signs embody a rash, headache, muscle or joint ache with weak point. Affected people will usually expertise a fever sickness three to eight days after an infection

As well as, in some instances people may additionally expertise gastrointestinal signs and sensitivity to mild. The analysis centre additionally added that extreme instances are uncommon however can result in neurological signs much like meningitis.

Can it’s handled?

“As of now, there are not any particular antiviral therapies or vaccines obtainable for oropouche virus,” mentioned Goncalves. “Remedy primarily focuses on managing signs and offering supportive care.”

Sufferers are usually suggested to relaxation, keep hydrated, and take over-the-counter ache relievers corresponding to paracetamol to scale back fever and alleviate ache.

“In additional extreme instances, hospitalisation could also be obligatory to offer supportive care, particularly if issues come up, though extreme instances are comparatively uncommon,” added Goncalves.

What ought to I do if I’m planning to journey to an affected space?

“When travelling to affected areas, you possibly can keep away from the an infection by stopping insect bites. Use insect repellent, cowl uncovered pores and skin and sleep below a handled mattress internet,” mentioned Veal. “Plan forward and go to the TravelHealthPro web site to lookup your vacation spot and the most recent well being data and recommendation, significantly in case you are pregnant.”