A LITTLE-known car brand is lining up a budget EV that will cost less than £15,000.

Warwickshire-based manufacturer Mika is to release a curious-looking microcar that could rival the Citroën Ami – but with improved performance, handling and an additional seat.

MIKA

A ultra-affordable microcar could be coming to the UK soon, designed by little-known British firm Mika[/caption]

Reuters

But perhaps best of all, the mini motor will boast a much greater safety rating, with similar standards to that of a modern supermini.

Speaking to Autocar, Robin Hall, the car’s creator, said: “Safety is our secret weapon.

“Anyone can see the sense in offering a vehicle that’s simpler and lighter than other small cars, but making it more dangerous as a consequence isn’t acceptable.”

Using light-weight, ultra-strong materials to form a rigid survival cell, the Mika includes crushable crash sections in the front and rear.

What’s more, its loadbearing frame supports composite outer panels and can even sit three people – two up front and one slightly further back between them.

All electric and officially classed as an L7 quadricycle, the EV will have a top speed of 56mph, powered by a floorpan-mounted 16kWh battery that can be upgraded to 32kWh

Range for the little quad starts at 80 miles but can be as high as 160 miles with the extra cells.

Mika’s next step is to create a prototype which will be ready in 2025.

Hall stressed though that the project will need a manufacturing partner to meet his perceived annual UK demand.

So far, the project has had a £40,000 grant from the semi-governmental Niche Vehicle Network.

This will help complete a feasibility study, plus a detailed data pack and bill of materials by March.

Hall added: “I’m very ambitious about this project.

“I think it’s a car the world needs.”

The Citroën Ami, to which it has been compared, was first released in 2020 and has a top speed of just 27.9mph, as well as a maximum range of 48 miles.

Interestingly, the Ami can legally be driven by a solo 16-year-old with just a motorcycle licence.

This follows Sun Motors’ report earlier this year about another little-known car brand that is set to launch an incredibly cheap EV with seats that convert into beds.

Dongfeng, one of the largest car makers in China, has arrived in Europe with the Nammi Box budget EV.

The Chinese state-owned company’s new EV is set to rival the Citroen e-C3, currently one of the cheapest in the European market costing £21,035.

Dongfeng has already launched its car in Switzerland for just £19,615.

The Nammi Box’s interior will feature a 12-inch infotainment touchscreen at the centre point of the dash.

The affordable EV will also boast reclining front seats that can be transformed into a makeshift bed.

MIKA

The car’s creator said safety is its ‘secret weapon’[/caption]

MIKA

Its loadbearing frame supports composite outer panels and can even sit three people[/caption]

OLD TRAFFORD has started LEAKING midway through Ruben Amorim’s press conference.

The leak started after the Red Devil’s 3-0 home defeat to Bournemouth.

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Ruben Amorim’s press conference was interrupted by a leak from the ceiling[/caption]

Amorim, 39, was addressing the media following the shambolic performance.

But the Portuguese manager was interrupted when water started coming through the ceiling.

The leak was caught on camera by the media in the room and shared on social media.

Water could be seen dripping from a gap in the ceiling by the lighting while Amorim spoke about the match.

Fans have reacted to the leak on social media with many saying it is the “perfect metaphor”.

One posted: “Even the ceiling is crying at the downfall of this club.”

A second wrote: “It’s their fans tears.”

A third commented: “A metaphor if ever I saw one.”

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A fourth said: “Sums the state of the club up right now.”

Another added: “Leaks in our defence, leaks on the roof, leaks from the dressing room.”

It is not the first time Old Trafford has seen leaks emerge from its roof.

Back in May, a deluge of rain poured down during the club’s 1-0 defeat to Arsenal.

The rain caused the stadium’s roof-draining system to overflow.

Former club CEO David Gill has insisted that the roof of the historic ground has been leaking for over a decade.

Sir Jim Ratcliffe is keen on updating Manchester United‘s stadium, which has fallen into disrepair.

There is currently a £2billion dilemma between rebuilding Old Trafford or moving into an entirely new ground.

IF you grew up watching Supernanny, you know it’s not a good idea to mess about with her.

But Jo Frost has revealed that she was once attacked by a parent while filming the iconic Channel 4 show.

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Jo Frost went to Florida to help the Natti family[/caption]

Rex

ABC

It was something she saw him do to the children too[/caption]

Speaking on the  Parenting Tools Podcast, Jo explained to hosts Jason Heron and Jordan Piano that she had been attacked while filming an episode filmed in Florida in 2007 for the US version of the show. 

17 years on and now aged 54, Jo recalled the events of meeting the Nitti family in West Melbourne, Florida, where she met Lisa, 28, her four sons, Darren, 10, Matthew, eight, Devin, six and Jared, five, as well as her boyfriend of two years, John, 44.

Her four boys were constantly up to mischief and getting in trouble for their unruly behaviour – leading the mum and John to dub it ‘the crazy house.’

The episode, which was the eighth in the third season, proved difficult for Jo, and not because of the rowdy children.

But by the ‘intimidation and aggression’ from their stepfather, John.

“I helped a family called the Nitti family in Florida and there was a gentleman, a man, who was living with his girlfriend at the time and they had four children,” she recalled.

“During my observation, the man was very aggressive. He was a complex man for sure. But he was very intimidating and had the care of these four young boys.

“He was in this blended family, right? His girlfriend had four children and he came into the relationship with four boys. 

“And you could see with the boys that a lot of the behaviour was mimic behaviour from the intimidation and the aggressiveness from John.

“I observed, I gave my comments on what I observed with the family. The children and their behaviour.

“During teaching, he didn’t like what I said and he grabbed me by the throat and he pushed me up against the wall.   

“That was a crazy moment because I’ve had families be very defensive or be hotheaded, tell me “I don’t like what you’re saying” or “that’s not true” or “that’s not okay”. 

“But he didn’t like what I had to say which was the truth of a situation of him being very intimidated and he tried to intimidate me by pushing me up against the wall and he has his hands round my throat.”

Despite being terrified, Jo refused help from the camera crew as she wanted to deal with the situation alone.

She continued: “One of the camera men went to drop the camera and I just kind of put my arm out as if to signal I didn’t want them to diffuse the situation with the father.

“I knew that those boys were being subjected to that aggression and intimidation as well.

“I would say that was pretty crazy for me at that moment. I was used to parents not agreeing, but not the physicality from the parents.”

Jo also claimed that much of what happens doesn’t make it onto the show.

“A lot of things happen and I don’t share. I choose not to or I choose to do so if the moment comes up like it has here,” she explained.

“You hope that helping the family, and in that moment it’s being filmed and I’m very particular about it being, it is what it is.

“It’s real, it’s not scripted. If there’s a technical fault and the cameraman didn’t get what I said? Oh well. Didn’t get what I said.

“I’m in the moment and once I arrive, a process happens and I don’t stop. I’m there and we have a journey together. A transformative experience together to hopefully bring a family to a different space.”

CAR owners have been warned against a DIY windscreen de-icing hack that could result in an expensive repair bill.

Winter weather has begun to blanket parts of North, Central, and West Texas with ice and snow, meaning many motorists across the state – and indeed, the country – will need to de-ice their windscreens before hitting the road.

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Car owners have been warned against a DIY windscreen de-icing trick[/caption]

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Of course, the easiest method is to simply use your car’s automatic climate control system[/caption]

Thankfully, AAA Texas has revealed their best tips to prevent and remove windscreen ice.

The easiest method is to simply use your car’s automatic climate control system and set it to defrost.

If your car has an electrically-heated windscreen, turn it on to quickly clear the ice.

However, for those who can’t use this type of technology, drivers can opt for a commercial glass de-icer spray, which typically contains methanol.

Although these products can be pricey and may contain pet-hazardous ethylene glycol, they are effective.

A homemade de-icing solution works just as well and is made of one part isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and two parts water.

Adding a few drops of dish soap can help the mixture spread more evenly.

After spraying this mixture onto the windscreen, drivers can use a plastic scraper, a rubber squeegee, or a soft bristle brush to remove the ice as it begins to melt.

However, AAA Texas advises against using metal scrapers, as they can scratch the glass and damage the wiper blades.

They also suggest avoiding the use of hot water, which can crack the glass due to thermal shock.

Moreover, tapping on the ice with a hammer or other tool can also damage the windscreen, and using a torch is an incredibly bad idea.

Other, less obvious ways drivers can damage their vehicles in the winter include using vinegar-based pretreatments, alcohol-based de-icing solutions, and dishwashing soap.

While not directly harmful to car paint, these substances can remove car wax and leave the finish exposed to the elements and corrosive chemicals, such as road salts used in the winter.

In general, repairs to cars, from bodywork to windscreen replacement, can be costly – especially at this time of year.

In some cases, drivers may be forced to pay out $1,000s to repair their vehicles this winter by making silly, de-icing mistakes.

This comes as another car expert has shared their top tip to quickly clear ice from vehicle windows on cold winter mornings.

In the colder months, drivers are faced with the daily challenge of de-icing their cars – leaving them running the risk of being late for work or school.

Ed Colley, Head of Brand and Marketing at UK-based window repair and replacement service Autoglass, shared a method that he said works great – using a simple rain-repellent spray on the car’s windshield the night before temperatures drop.

“The best bet for clearing the frost is to use a proper ice scraper, which can remove the ice efficiently without scratching the glass,” he said.

“For those who are really prepared, applying a rain repellent to your windscreen the night before will limit the water sitting on the glass and can make de-icing your windscreen much easier and quicker.”

Drivers can find the product Rain-X Original Treatment in a 3.5 oz bottle at stores such as Walmart for less than $4.

MICHAEL Vick is continuing his duties on Fox NFL Kickoff despite signing a contract to coach football.

Vick is joining Norfolk State as the head coach of their football program.

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Michael Vick is still on Fox NFL Kickoff despite his new coaching job[/caption]

AP

Vick was announced as the next head coach of Norfolk State football[/caption]

Ever since his retirement from the NFL, Vick has served as an analyst for Fox NFL.

He has been a constant face on Fox NFL Kickoff, but will likely be departing the show after starting his coaching job at Norfolk State.

Vick officially became the team’s new head coach on Friday.

“I understand the position that Norfolk State is in,” Vick told Fox Sports.

“I understand where we are. There’s going to be a lot of kids out there that are looking for opportunities to play football, to play at a level where they can continue to grow.

“I’m looking forward to that part, working with kids each and every day, as opposed to, you know, a two-day football camp.

“Instead of watching them grow over two days, now I get to coach them each and every day with a great coaching staff who’s going to assist in making sure that these kids play their best brand of football.”

Vick is following in the footsteps of Deion Sanders, who has created a trend of former players coaching college teams.

“I reached out to Deion just to have a conversation with him,” Vick said.

“The conversation was more so about philosophy and the most important steps to get started.

“He reminded me I’d have a bunch of people pulling for me.”

Vick nearly signed with Sacramento State after engaging in deep conversations with the program.

Sacramento State have massive aspirations of moving up from the FCS level to the FBS level, and also plan on building a new stadium.

With a reported $50 million on tap for NIL deals, it wasn’t enough to sway Vick away from his home state of Virginia.

“Sacramento State had a great situation. They had tons of NIL money and tons of opportunity,” Vick said.

“But I didn’t want to make my decision based on money. I wanted to make it based on what I could do and who I could sincerely help.

“And I think, you know, I can help on both sides. But I felt like it was great to go back home and do it in my backyard.

“And that was probably the deciding factor, having the chance to do it back where I grew up.”

There is no indication of when or if Vick will end his duties with Fox NFL.

He will likely need to start his recruiting duties as soon as possible as Norfolk State’s head coach.

NOW is the time to make your move if you’ve ever dreamt of owning your own tiny home.

Amazon is one of the leading retailers with a range of customizable modular homes available. The Lozweb Portable Tiny Home even comes with its own front porch.

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Complete with your own tiny porch[/caption]

Amazon

A small but spacious arrangement[/caption]

Lozweb Portable Tiny Home, $7,899

If you’ve been thinking about adding a tiny home to your life as a permanent residence, holiday home, or office, there’s never been a better time.

Amazon’s Lozweb Portable Tiny Home is fully customizable to meet your needs.

Compared to traditional home ownership, many Americans are noticing the convenience and the affordable aspect of owning a tiny home.

MARVEL OF DESIGN

These tiny homes redefine what it means to live large in a small footprint.

Amazon

Customizable space to fit your lifestyle[/caption]

Available for $7,899 in 20ft or 40ft models, the prefab tiny homes come equipped with all the essentials for everyday life.

Inside the Lozweb Portable Tiny Home, you’ll find a cozy-sized bedroom, a fully functional bathroom, and kitchen facilities designed to maximize every square inch.

You can opt to choose full functionality with the inclusion of a charming front porch, perfect for sipping your morning coffee or enjoying the sunset.

Despite the compact size, these homes are surprisingly spacious, thanks to clever layouts that optimize usability.

One of the standout features of prefab tiny homes is their adaptability.

Designed for simple portability, they can be compactly stored or transported with ease, making them ideal for various living scenarios.

MOVE ON UP

Whether you’re looking to create a cozy retreat on your property or dream of a sustainable tiny home village, these structures offer budget-friendly versatility.

Prefab homes are engineered for quick setup, significantly reducing the time and labor compared to conventional home construction.

Along with speedy delivery, these homes can be assembled in a fraction of the time, giving you the freedom to settle in almost immediately.

With space becoming an ever-scarcer resource in urban areas, prefab tiny homes provide a great, affordable option.

They not only cater to those who value minimalist living but also those who seek to reduce their environmental impact.

If you’re looking for something bigger to fit your lifestyle, Amazon is also selling a two-bed tiny home for under $31,000.

IT was a people-smuggling operation so blatant that the Brits behind it promoted a platinum service on TikTok.

Dilshad Shamo and pal Ali Khdir are believed to have helped hundreds of migrants from Iraq, Iran and Syria make their way into the UK.

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The gang used TikTok for their reviews[/caption]

WNS

Migrants looking happy on a boat[/caption]

WNS

They worked in a legal car wash by day but were constantly on their phones fixing up deals[/caption]

They boasted about their success on social media in an operation police have described as being ‘like TripAdvisor for people smugglers’.

By day the pair worked in a legal car wash in the historic Welsh town of Caerphilly where they both lived.

Behind the scenes, they worked as fixers for crime bosses who “operated as travel agents” in the Arab world.

They relied on Shamo and Khdir to organise perilous trips through Europe in the back of lorries and on boats and also on holiday flights with fake documents.

The men last month pleaded guilty to facilitating illegal immigration and The Sun can today reveal the nefarious methods used by two who, incredibly, both have British citizenship.

Shamo is suspected of gaining a UK passport in a sham marriage to a Welsh woman while Khdir has failed in previous attempts to move his Iraqi family into the UK from Denmark, where they currently have asylum.

The global operation saw migrants charged up to £15,000 to get into Europe before making their way into Britain.

They were offered three tiers of ‘travel packages’.

Danger trips

The most basic cost around £8000 and forced illegals to walk through MINEFIELDS in the former war-torn Yugoslavia while those hiding on boats were told to carry lemons to prevent scurvy on long trips.

Bosnia and Herzegovina is contaminated by land mines used during the Bosnian War between 1992 and 1995.

Meanwhile, Kdhir, 40, who was born in Iran, and Shamo, 41, originally from Iraq, are believed to have been building up riches back in the Middle East.

The operation to nail the pair is among the most complex ever carried out by the National Crime Agency – Britain’s version of the FBI.

NCA branch commander Derek Evans said: “We have disrupted a massive network of smugglers.

“We believe these men are responsible for hundreds of people getting into the UK through Europe.

“Our investigation ran for eight months so we don’t know how many cases they were involved in before they came on to our radar.

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The men promoted their smuggling services on Telegram[/caption]

WNS

Migrant ‘selfie’ in the back of a lorry[/caption]

WNS

Dilshad Shamo lived life in a ‘modest house’ with his wife (not pictured) and four kids[/caption]

“If you look back months, maybe even years, then you’re talking about doubling that amount, if not tripling it. 

“We’re maybe be looking at figures in the early thousands.”

Cops put Shamo under investigation in August 2022 after intelligence tip offs and bugged his Mercedes car, recording conversations between him and Khdir which revealed they were running a multi-million pound racket.

They were linked to a cartel of people smugglers who ran agents taking ‘bookings’ in Iraq, Turkey, Moldova and Belarus in Eastern Europe.

Thank God the route was easy

Migrant smuggled into the UK

Derek Evans said: “Each country had people who effectively acted like travel agents, offering trips to the UK through Europe and to Canada.

“They would then contact Shamo and Khadi who were involved in signposting and arranging travel for different parts of the journey.

“They offered different services, from platinum which involved providing fake passports for ordinary flights across Europe to the basic which would see several people in a car or cramped into the back of a lorry.

“These people would be dropped at stop off points and have to walk considerable distances to the next pick-up point.

“The migrants we identified in the Balkan states had to walk through woodland in the former Yugoslavia, which was broken up in the nineties following the civil war and where there are still land mines in the woods.

“They would be sent a pin drop on their phone to locations where they would be picked up for the next leg of their journey.

“Those who were travelling on boats, usually from Turkey to Italy, who might have been stuck hiding in small places for any length of time, were told to take a small kit onboard which included water, eight days of food and lemons to prevent scurvy.”

TikTok boasts

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Family of migrants who gave their illegal plane journey a glowing review[/caption]

The gang boasted of their success through TikTok and Telegram sending potential customers clips of previous successes in videos.

In one, a family who travelled by plane stated: “We are very happy…this is the visa, may God bless him, we are very happy.”

Another migrant, who hid in the back of a lorry, said: “Crossing agreement with the knowledge of the driver. Here we have men, women and children. Thank god the route was easy and good.”

Shamo and Khdir lived modest lives in Wales despite making potentially millions from their venture.

Khdir lived in a small flat he shared with others next to the car wash where he worked, while Shamo lived in a modest semi-detached with his wife and four children, all aged under five.

Cops say Shamo had a short-lived marriage to a Welsh woman which lasted less than a year and they suspect may have been a sham marriage.

The pair are believed to have built up their riches in the Middle East as barely any cash was deposited into their accounts.

Instead, the cash was lodged with bankers in Iraq and Istanbul using Hawala, a form of underground banking in which money is passed through a network of dealers.

NCA branch commander Evans said the case was made more difficult because the pair spoke in the Kurdish language of Badini.

He said: “It was a hugely complicated case with lots of challenges.

“They met pretty much every day in cafes, restaurants and shisha bars; places where, culturally, our surveillance teams would have stuck out so we were unable to go in.

WNS

Dilshad Shamo, left, and Ali Khdir, ran ‘Tripadvisor for people smugglers’[/caption]

WNS

Ali Khdir being watched by cops[/caption]

PA

Shoma and Khdir sent ‘customers’ messages on Whatsapp and TikTok[/caption]

“These men were getting paid a daily cash wage to wash cars then would take a phone call and go off and talk about moving people around Europe, who they referred to as ‘batches’.

“They spoke in the Kurdish Badini dialect so we had an independent translator transcribe hundreds of conversations, some recorded by a listening device in Shamo’s car.

“It was gaining access to their phones after their arrests that really helped, seeing all their messages and Whatsapp and TikToks, which helped us build up the evidence in court.”

BEYONCE’S upcoming Christmas performance will come with some special refreshments for NFL fans.

Queen Bey is scheduled to perform in her hometown of Houston during the clash between the Houston Texans and the Baltimore Ravens at the NRG Stadium on December 25.

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Getty

And the NFL faithful will get to enjoy the half-time extravaganza with some special festive treat in Texas.

According to TMZ, the Texans will be serving unique Beyonce-themed cocktails across premium bar locations at the stadium.

One is called the “Texan Honey”, which is a mix of whiskey, lemon juice, honey syrup and ginger beer.

Another is the “Blazin’ Cactus” — a spicy tequila drink that includes pomegranate syrup, lime juice and club soda.

The third is the “Ruby Sparkler,” which features blood orange vodka, prosecco, lime juice and cranberry juice.

And finally, fans can try the “Silver Spritz,” which has cognac and blackberry syrup.

Beyonce is not the only music icon to be performing in the NFL on Christmas.

Mariah Carey will also be singing her famous All I want for Christmas is You tune.

A taped performance of Carey’s seasonal hit will air before the first live game between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Pittsburgh Steelers at the Acrisure Stadium.

And Netflix have announced the national anthem performers for the Christmas spectacular.

Voices of Service will perform before the Chiefs’ clash with the Steelers.

And Pentatonix will perform before the game between the Ravens and the Texans.

The skies over Qatar's Mesaieed city were alive with vibrant colors during the last day of the country's fifth annual hot air balloon festival that ended its magical run on Saturday (December 21).

The video game adaptation scored one of the best December openings ever for a PG-rated pic as Disney's follow-up to 2019's 'The Lion King' came in notably behind expectations.