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Piaggio’s next electric scooter, the Piaggio ONE, is designed with young riders in mind. And in case that wasn’t already clear by the fact that Piaggio first teased their upcoming scooters on TikTok late last month, then the new designs should hammer the message home.

Gone are the classic Vespa lines. In their place is a much more modern, city-centric scooter design.

Unveiled at the Beijing Motor Show, the new Piaggio ONE electric scooter is the company’s first follow-up to the Vespa Elettrica scooters.

The scooter line actually consists of three models, each of which is targeted at a younger, more urban audience. By designing scooters with lower power and that are intended purely for urban use, Piaggio was also able to lower the entry cost of the scooters to match the spending level of younger riders.

The three models in the Piaggio One family include the entry-level ONE, the ONE+, and the ONE Active.

The entry-level Piaggio ONE includes a 1.2 kW electric motor and a top speed of just 45 km/h (28 mph). That will qualify it under moped laws in most countries and prevent riders from needing a motorcycle license.

The ONE’s battery is a 48V and 25Ah unit for 1,200 Wh of capacity, which Piaggio claims is enough for 55 km (34 miles).

The next step up to the Piaggio ONE+ retains the same motor and top speed, but boosts the battery capacity to 2,300 Wh. That results in a maximum range of 100 km (62 miles).

Some motorcycle media outlets have incorrectly reported this model as having a maximum speed of 100 km/h (62 mph). However, the Piaggio ONE+ has the same speed rating as the base-level Piaggio ONE and is outfitted with the same motor. Such a small motor (just 1.6 hp) would of course not be possible of powering a 100 km/h (62 mph) scooter.

To get a real speed boost, riders will need to upgrade to the Piaggio ONE Active. That is the flagship model of the bunch and sports a more powerful 2 kW motor. That higher power motor enables a faster top speed of 60 km/h (36 mph). Because the scooter has a higher power motor but retains the same 2,300 Wh battery as the Piaggio ONE, it gets a slightly lower range of 85 km (53 mi).

All versions of the scooter claim a charging time of six hours, and the batteries are removable for remote charging.

Piaggio recently joined a removable battery design consortium intended to standardize electric motorcycle and scooter batteries across the industry, but the group has yet to reveal any new battery designs.

There is no indication that these batteries found in the Piaggio ONE models are part of any new standard.

The new Piaggio ONE scooters are first available in China where they carry an MSRP of 17,800 RMB (approximately USD $2,785).

via: moto.it


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Jonathan Pie: British satirist’s free speech warning to UK after Jimmy Kimmel show taken off air

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Jonathan Pie: British satirist's free speech warning to UK after Jimmy Kimmel show taken off air

The UK has to be “careful” and protect free speech as debate becomes “more and more toxic” on both sides of the Atlantic, a British satirist has said.

Tom Walker, better known as the ranting fictitious newsreader Jonathan Pie, has issued the warning after US talk show Jimmy Kimmel was taken off air for comments he made following the death of Charlie Kirk.

Speaking to Niall Paterson on the Sky News Daily podcast, Walker said he believes he wouldn’t be able work as a satirist in America today as the Trump administration appears to be cracking down on those who speak out against him.

Tom Walker as his satirical creation. Pic: Jonathan Pie
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Tom Walker as his satirical creation. Pic: Jonathan Pie

He added: “I genuinely don’t think I would be allowed into the country. That might sound dramatic, but they go through your social media posts. I think Trump thinks that not agreeing with him is anti-American, whereas it’s not, it’s anti-Trump, it’s anti-Republican. So a lot of my posts would be seen as anti-American.”

Walker went viral in 2016 after posting a clip of Jonathan Pie passionately blaming “the left” for Mr Trump’s victory in the US election the same year.

The comedian argued that left-leaning people had “lost the art” of engaging with anyone with a different opinion to them and urged them to “stop thinking everyone who disagrees with you is evil, racist or sexist or stupid”.

Asked by Niall if he believes Kimmel, who has a long history of speaking out against Mr Trump, is partly responsible for the rise of the populist president, Walker said: “No, I don’t… Most of these late-night hosts are left-leaning and Trump is an own goal for satire.

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“I don’t think there was much that Jimmy Kimmel said in his monologue the other day that was anywhere near as divisive as the rhetoric coming from Donald Trump or (vice president) JD Vance, so there is an inherent hypocrisy there.”

However, Walker believes “right-wingers” are not the only reason free speech is under a “huge amount of threat in America”.

The satirist, who counts himself as being left-wing, continued: “I think the left have enabled a culture where people don’t feel that they’re able to express their views.

“The left-wing were the flag-bearers of cancel culture. And now it’s sort of coming back to bite us in a terrifying way.”

Kimmel was taken off air months after US talk show host Stephen Colbert had his show cancelled – something his fans have attributed to his criticism of Mr Trump.

Read more:
Ted Cruz blasts ‘mafioso’ threats over Kimmel suspension

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US talk show hosts react to Jimmy Kimmel cancellation

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US talk show titans speak out

Meanwhile, the US president appeared to encourage NBC to cancel the talk shows of Jimmy Fallon and Seth Meyers in a Truth Social post on Thursday. Both presenters are known to have made jokes about Mr Trump in the past.

Asked whether the UK should be worried about free speech apparently being targeted in the UK in a similar way, Walker said: “I think that there are issues of free speech in this country. I don’t think it is quite as bad as what’s happening in America, but we have to be careful. The debate on both sides of the Atlantic is becoming more and more toxic, I think. And it’s divide and conquer. ‘You’re either with me or you’re against me’. And I think both sides have to take some responsibility for that.”

Walker pointed out that when he posted a satirical video on X called “The Death Of Discourse” in relation to the Kirk assassination, he was attacked by social media users on both the left and right of politics.

He added: “I think that’s the problem… We have forgotten how to talk and listen to people that we fundamentally disagree with.”

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Canada bans Kneecap from entering country as rappers threaten legal action

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Canada bans Kneecap from entering country as rappers threaten legal action

Canada has banned rap group Kneecap from entering the country for allegedly ‘glorifying terrorist organisations’.

The trio, who were due to play four concerts in Canada next month, were accused of promoting hate and violence by the country’s Liberal government.

Kneecap have subsequently threatened Canada’s parliamentary secretary for combatting crime, Vince Gasparro, with legal action.

Mr Gasparro said in a video on X that members of the group had been deemed ineligible to enter the country because of actions and statements that violate Canadian law.

He also accused the group of amplifying political violence and publicly displaying support for terrorist organisations, including Iran-backed Lebanese militant group Hezbollah, and Hamas in Gaza.

Mr Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes at Glastonbury. Pic: Reuters
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Mr Chara accused Israel of committing war crimes at Glastonbury. Pic: Reuters

Mr Gasparro said: “Advocating for political violence, glorifying terrorist organisations and displaying hate symbols that directly target the Jewish community are not protected forms of expression and will not be tolerated by our government.”

Commenting on the X post, Kneecap said: “Your comments about us are wholly untrue and deeply malicious. We will not accept it.

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“No member of Kneecap has been convicted of ANY crime in ANY country EVER.”

The band added: “We have today instructed our lawyers to initiate action against you. We will be relentless in defending ourselves against baseless accusations to silence our opposition to genocide being committed by Israel.

“When we beat you in court, which we will, we will donate every cent to assist some of the thousands of child amputees in Gaza.”

Canada’s immigration ministry did not immediately respond to a request for more details.

This is the latest in a series of controversial incidents involving the Belfast-based band.

During the Glastonbury Festival in June, Kneecap‘s frontman Liam Og O Hannaidh, known by his stage name Mo Chara, accused Israel of committing war crimes. Israel has denied the accusation.

Kneecap were due to play four shows next month. Pic: PA
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Kneecap were due to play four shows next month. Pic: PA

Kneecap have previously said its members do not support Hamas or Hezbollah.

They added that they condemn “all attacks on civilians, always”.

In May, Mr Ó hAnnaidh was charged with a terrorism offence in Britain after allegedly displaying a flag in support of Hezbollah during a London gig in November 2024.

He denied the allegation, saying it was thrown on stage during the performance.

Chief magistrate Paul Goldspring will rule on whether he has the jurisdiction to try the case later this month.

Kneecap were scheduled to play four Canadian concerts in October, two in Toronto and two in Vancouver, according to its website.

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‘Bad boys of magic’ Penn & Teller inducted into Magic Circle after 50 years of being barred

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'Bad boys of magic' Penn & Teller inducted into Magic Circle after 50 years of being barred

Penn & Teller have finally been inducted into the Magic Circle – after 50 years of being denied membership.

Rock stars of magic, Penn & Teller found fame in the mid-1980s, earning them fans on both sides of the pond, but their habit of explaining their tricks to the audience also earned them magical disapproval.

The duo were famously barred from the Magic Circle for exposing their tricks as part of their act, flying in the face of the organisation’s belief in keeping magical secrets from the public.

Formed in 1905, the Magic Circle currently has around 1,750 members from around the world, all of whom have passed an exam to join.

Penn & Teller’s famous fans include the King (who is also a Magic Circle member), while their critics include Donald Trump, who’s said to have put them on his “enemies list”.

The presentation took place on Friday, on the steps of the Palladium, in London’s West End, where Penn & Teller are currently performing their 50th Anniversary residency.

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Magic Circle president Marvin Berglas said: “In the past they may have been known as the bad boys of magic with their sometimes controversial and hard-hitting choice of material.

“There was criticism from some in the past for their apparently exposing magical secrets. However, for those in the know, the real magic was always with their original and artistic performances whereby audiences thought they understood how something may have been done only to be utterly amazed with an entirely different original method.

“For this – Penn and Teller are the kings. These days The Magic Circle is the place for a truly diverse group of creative minds and talented performers.”

Penn & Teller in 2010. Pic: AP
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Penn & Teller in 2010. Pic: AP

Penn & Teller said: “We’re honoured that the Magic Circle has invited us to be members, after we’ve violated its cardinal rule – don’t give away secrets – for five decades. This is going to be fun.”

Penn & Teller first performed together in August 1975, breaking into the mainstream in the mid-1980s, and touring with critically acclaimed shows throughout the 1990s and achieving TV success in both the US and UK.

They will be performing their 50th Anniversary Tour at The London Palladium until Wednesday, 24 September.

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