GARDENING is not just for people with lots of outdoor space.

By planting upwards, you create a living wall that makes the most of a patio or balcony.

6

Here’s how to create a vertical garden on a budget. . .

PALLET PLANTS: One or two wooden pallets will work wonders in creating your dream garden and it’s quite easy to get your hands on them for free.

Just ask on Facebook or other local community groups and you can usually find a few that are no longer wanted. Just sand away any rougher bits.

To plant directly onto the pallet you’ll need a staple gun and garden supplies – from £7 at B&Q. Stretch the fabric around the back, bottom end and sides of the pallet and staple it in place, leaving the top end and front slats open for watering.

While the pallet rests on the ground with its back, fill it with potting soil via the slats, leaving enough space for plants.

For shady walls, try planting flowers such as viola and violets. For sunnier spots, try petunias. You can also add different types of grasses to create more greenery.

After planting, tip the pallet on its side. If you have small children or the pallet seems unstable, try attaching it to the wall with screws.

EATING WALL: Vertical gardens can also work well for growing vegetables and herbs. But it is best not to plant directly into the pallet because of chemicals that may have been used to treat the wood.

Instead, attach pots to the slats of the pallet if it’s on its side – and grow from there.

To attach pots, wrap metal wire around the pots and then around the wood.

Upcycle jars, plastic pots and other containers to make pots and save on buying new ones.

You can also give your pallet and pots a lick of colorful paint.
Basil, strawberries, thyme, coriander, lettuce leaves and peppers are among the food crops that can be grown in the pots.

• All prices on the page are correct at the time of going to press. Offers and offers subject to availability.

Deal of the day

6

THIS trendy blazer is the perfect jacket to send your wardrobe into spring. It has dropped from £30 to £15 at Tu from Sainsbury’s.

TO RESCUE: £15

Cheap treat

6

Create atmosphere in your home with this peony scented candle, €1,- from Primark.

Great exchange

6

6

NOURISH your skin with Laura Mercier’s Rose Oil, £47.60, from lookfantastic.com. Or try Aldi’s Lacura Healthy Shine Rose Oil, £3.99.

TO RESCUE: £43.61

PLAY NOW AND WIN £200

6

Join thousands of readers taking part in The Sun Raffle.

Every month we give away £100 to 250 lucky readers. Whether you’re saving or just need some extra cash, The Sun can help.

Each Sun Savers code entered equals one raffle ticket.

The more codes you enter, the more tickets you earn and the greater your chances of winning!

SMARTPHONE owners have been warned about a new wave of scam calls using artificial intelligence to imitate familiar voices.

According to a recent blog post from Keeper Security, cybercriminals are now using AI to trick victims into divulging personal information.

1

Known as deepfakes, this cloning technology works by replicating the voices of friends, family, and even customer service representatives.

HOW DO AI VOICE SCAMS WORK?

AI voting fraud is based on a two-step process: vote cloning and social engineering.

First, scammers acquire a sample of the voice of the target’s loved one.

This can be done in a variety of ways, including recording a phone call, extracting audio from social media posts, or even synthesizing speech from text messages.

With the voice sample in hand, scammers use AI voice cloning technology to create a near-perfect replica.

This is thanks to deepfake technology, which can analyze the pitch, cadence and even emotional inflections of the voice.

Once the voice is cloned, the scammer initiates the social engineering attack.

They call the target and use the cloned voice to build trust and rapport.

In some cases, the scammer claims to be a family member who is in a bad financial situation and needs money for an emergency.

In grandparent deepfake scams, the bad actors even pose as a grandchild under arrest and say they need money for bail.

They can use details from social media profiles or past conversations to make their impersonation even more believable.

HOW TO STAY SAFE

Although AI voting fraud is a sophisticated threat, there are steps you can take to protect yourself.

The first thing you can do is be wary of unexpected phone calls, as scammers often take advantage of the element of surprise.

If you get a call from an unknown number or a known number with an unusual story, be careful.

You should not assume that a call is legitimate just because the voice sounds like someone you know.

In addition, if you receive a call from someone claiming to be from a company or organization, hang up and call them back on a number that you know is a legitimate number.

Do not rely on caller ID as scammers can spoof phone numbers.

It can also be helpful to create a safe word with family and friends, Keeper Security noted.

Establishing a secret code or phrase with your loved ones can be used to verify each other’s identities during suspicious calls.

If someone claiming to be a family member or friend can’t give the safe word, that’s a sign that something is wrong.

Many phone carriers also offer call blocking features that allow you to block unwanted calls.

Additionally, scammers can sometimes collect voice samples from social media posts, so be mindful of what you share online.

M&S is in talks to create a banking and loyalty car ‘super app’ as part of a massive business overhaul.

The retailer and HSBC, owner of M&S Bank, are about to announce a new long-term relationship agreement. Sky News.

1

M&S Bank currently offers credit cards, personal loans, travel insurance, store payment cards and ‘buy now pay later’ credit to more than three million UK customers.

Sources have now said that long-running talks between M&S and HSBC have focused on striking a new deal for the brand before the current partnership agreement expires in the coming weeks.

Fenchurch Advisory Partners, an investment banking boutique, advised M&S on the talks.

Sources say M&S Bank could launch a combined banking and loyalty card super app as part of the new deal.

However, M&S and HSBC declined to comment on the measure.

M&S Bank offered current accounts before 2021.

However, the bank closed this product offering on August 31, 2021, a shock move that also resulted in the closure of all 29 retail bank branches on July 2 of the same year.

Since the shake-up, the bank has shifted its focus entirely to credit cards, insurance and rewards offers.

The renewed partnership with HSBC will dispel rumors that M&S ​​Bank could follow Sainsbury’s and Tesco, which have sold their banking businesses in recent weeks.

In January, Sainsbury’s announced it would wind down its banking division, Sainsbury’s Bank, as part of plans to focus on retail.

Meanwhile, Tesco said last month it would sell its bank to Barclays in a deal worth an initial £600 million.

In others news: Thousands of M&S banking customers have been offered compensation after eight weeks of delays, The Sun revealed last month.

It is understood that a large number of M&S customers who have applied for a credit card in recent months have had to wait up to two months for a response.

The banking department of the major street giant has been flooded with credit card applications since November last year.

M&S Bank has some of the most competitive 0% credit card offers in the UK.

However, a surge in recent applications is believed to have created a backlog, leaving thousands of customers waiting months to hear if their application has been approved.

The delays left many households in the lurch over the Christmas period.

This is because when you apply for a credit card, you shouldn’t immediately apply for a new one, as each application leaves a “hard search” on your credit report, which can hurt your credit score – especially if you’re subsequently not accepted. .

M&S Bank is now contacting affected customers to apologize and offer them compensation for the long delays.

In addition, last week the lenders announced that Virgin Money had agreed to be taken over by Nationwide Building Society in a £2.9 billion deal.

Nationwide said the merger would allow the company to offer members a wider range of products and services.

Virgin Money has around 6.6 million customers in Britain and 91 branches, while Nationwide has 16 million members and 686 branches.

While details have yet to be finalized, the deal would allow the two brands to operate as separate entities. The Virgin Money brand would remain for six years before being rebranded as Nationwide.

No branch closures are expected to be announced.

MIKE McMeeken hopes all of Castleford’s hard work comes back to haunt them – because they were the ones who developed him.

The Catalans forward admits he was wet behind the ears when he left London for West Yorkshire.

3

Now he is a regular in England and wants to inspire the Dragons to go one better than their Grand Final defeats in 2021 and 2023.

And if he pulls off a win today, the Tigers can take some of the credit – and there are more similarities between the mining town and the south of France than you might think.

He said, perhaps hinting at his future as he is linked with Wakefield and a reunion with former boss Daryl Powell: “Castleford was massive for me.

“I came from London as a 20-year-old who was pretty much a novice in gaming advertising and probably didn’t realize how much potential I had.

“But the way Daryl coached made me come out of my shell and realize I was a good player – my game improved tenfold.

“And there was a bit of a language barrier – I don’t think some of the words spoken in Cas are even English!

“The trip there from London took me out of my comfort zone. No one really knows rugby league in London, but in Castleford they live and breathe it.

“So in a way it’s similar to here, the fans are just as passionate. When there are finals matches here they line the streets and flares go off everywhere.”

McMeeken is now a mainstay at center back – something he didn’t think would happen when he was younger.

A change in role isn’t the only change, with big names such as Sam Tomkins and Mitchell Pearce retiring while the likes of Tyrone May, Matt Whitley and Adam Keighran left.

But it is three wins from four games so far as boss Steve McNamara’s new era gets off to a promising start.

3

And McMeeken thinks there’s more to come once the team gets used to playing next to each other.

He added: “It’s been quite mixed so far. We are in a good position, but we can be better. We were quite disappointed with the loss in Leeds.

“Winning three out of four – and hopefully four out of five – shows we are on the right track, even if we haven’t had to get used to different styles.

“Arthur Mourgue plays differently at full-back to Sam, but the most important thing is that Sam is still in the background and can learn from the best.

“Only one team can win the Super League and our aim is to return to Old Trafford and go one step further. Being involved in these types of games only makes you hungrier to get back into them.

3

“We also want to secure a home semi-final. Those opportunities in Perpignan are enormous.”

McMeeken is considering where his future lies as his contract expires at the end of the season.

But part of his conundrum is whether to leave the south of France, which now feels like home, behind him.

The Hampshire-born star told SunSport: “It’s our fourth year here now and the kids go to school here, they speak better French than me.

“One of the reasons to move here is the lifestyle and it is certainly a very nice place to live, but we will see what happens.”

Jio’s entry into the soundbox segment is considered the right strategic move now that RBI has banned Paytm Payments bank and also as its share in the UPI segment is declining.

With Paytm being hit by the crisis following RBI’s ban on Paytm Payments Bank, and also losing its share in the UPI market, the entry of prominent player, Reliance Jio’s Payments, has come into the market. sound box segmentcan disrupt the market.

Digital payments are currently the fastest growing field in India, thanks to the entry of Reliance Jio’s Payments sound box can create huge competition in UPI segment players like Paytm, PhonePe and Google Pay.

What is Reliance Jio Payments Soundbox?

The company already has its current famous Jio Pay app, the new expansion will be based on Soundbox technology to expand its business reach. Jio Soundbox is about to be rolled out to retail locations as the pilot phase has begun.

According to reports, Jio plans to offer attractive incentives to the store owners, which could increase its stake in the UPI market.

Reliance Plans to Launch Its UPI Soundbox?

According to the Hindu Business Line report, the company is planning a full-fledged pilot launch of the sound box at Reliance Retail stores in the next eight to nine months.

First, the device was tested at retail entities of the Reliance group in tier-2 cities such as Indore, Jaipur and Lucknow. If these tests are successful, Jio’s sound box will enter the urban markets.

After two pilot projects become successful, Jio Payments will launch this product in stores.

Jio Payments Soundbox to compete with Paytm, Phonepe

Jio’s entry into the soundbox segment is considered the right strategic move as it is known to seize the opportunity. The planning for the Soundbox comes as RBI has banned Paytms Payments bank and also as its share in the UPI segment falls.

According to reports, Paytm might recalibrate its sound boxes with new QR codes, following the Paytm Payments Bank controversy.

Paytm is offering the device for ₹1 and the monthly cost is ₹125. According to reports, PhonePe charges ₹49 per month as rental. BharatPe has already entered the soundbox segment and Google Pay plans to enter this space soon.

According to the experts, Jio’s soundbox will give tough competition by maintaining a fairly low rental price in the initial phase and can shake up the UPI market space.

The Princess of Wales’s Mother’s Day portrait may have been altered using AI or even stitched together a number of photos to create the ‘perfect family photo’, experts told MailOnline today.

Prince William and Kate Middleton have been urged to release the original photo after at least 16 mysterious tamperings were spotted in the 24 hours since it was released.

The innocent Mother’s Day photo of the Princess of Wales and her three children has sparked an international scandal after most of the world’s major photo agencies ‘killed’ the image and questioned its integrity.

Kate today apologized for her editing skills, but experts have given their views on what they think happened and how the photo was digitally altered. A source said the Princess of Wales has made some ‘minor adjustments’.

Some believe the Princess of Wales has used an AI tool, such as ‘Best Take’, found on a £1,059 Google Pixel 8 phone, which merges a series of photos into one perfected image to ensure everyone on the images are smiling and have their eyes open, for example. But this can lead to blurred lines and glitches in the final images.

Others have blamed “sloppy” use of Photoshop or other computer software, such as Topaz, which is routinely used to enhance images. But most have said that the edits were made by Kate to improve the photo and not to ‘mislead’.

A photographer told MailOnline today that the public can be sure the controversial image showed Kate sitting with her children for the portrait. But Katie Mortimore believes the photo was then ‘manipulated’ to create the ‘perfect family photo’.

Paul Clarke said he wondered if it had been changed so drastically that even ‘snot on a sleeve’ of a royal child or some other sign could have been removed to perfect every element of the ultimately released image.

MailOnline can reveal the statements of leading experts from around the world on the ‘CuffGate’ scandal, so named because Princess Charlotte’s left hand is misaligned with the sleeve of her cardigan, casting doubt on the authenticity of the image and leads to the rare ‘murder’. announcement’ for a royal photo.

Kate used Photoshop to create a dream family photo using two or more photos

Photographer Katie Mortimore believes the photo was enhanced using Adobe’s Photoshop software.

Photoshop can be used to stitch together multiple photos together – but if not done right

She said: ‘The photo has clearly been manipulated. What’s not clear is whether it’s a combination of two similar frames to look its best, or whether it’s a piece-manufacture.

‘Personally, I’m quite sure that the Princess of Wales was sitting in the chair with her children, but without her arms around them. To be honest, that kind of reach of both arms in a recent major abdominal surgery would probably be painful.

‘I don’t believe this is the first manipulated image from the palace, BUT this coincides with the princess’ illness and therefore only raises more questions rather than eliminating them.

Speaking to news agency Newspage, she added: ‘It would be best for the Palace to release the raw image to agencies, but I would be surprised if this happened. Why was the image manipulated? I suspect the princess did it as an avid photographer who wanted to take a near-perfect family photo.”

Google Pixel AI for the perfect smiling faces

Some experts believe that if the photos had been taken on a mobile phone, AI-powered software could have been used to enhance the photo.

‘Best Take’ is available on the Google Pixel 8 phone and is especially good for group photos, especially when children are involved.

The software finds successive photos taken in a 10-second burst and then presents images of faces with the subjects looking at the lens and smiling.

Patrick Whitty, who photographs for the New York Times, TIME and National Geographic, tweeted: ‘I suspect the photo was taken with the Google Pixel 8, using the ‘Best Take’ feature, which selects the ‘best face’ for each person ‘ chooses. and automatically merges them into one photo.

‘There are so many warning signs in this photo of Kensington Palace. I was surprised the wires would move it’.

Cleaned up with a ‘clone tool’

Experts have also suggested that Kate may have used a so-called ‘cloning tool’ to clean up a photo.

This tool allows the user to seamlessly remove unwanted artifacts from an image, such as things in the background or spots on a person.

Freelance photographer Paul Bevan tweeted: ‘I don’t think it’s unreliable. Someone tried to clean up the photo a bit and used the clone tool, but didn’t use it very well and they needed time to extract the photo. I would like to see the original version’.

Images taken during a single shoot were combined

Jon Mills, Group Picture Editor of SWNS, Britain’s second largest news agency, told MailOnline: ‘Although the Palace eventually released this particular image, it is very clumsy editing, it was not done by a professional.

‘But the quality of the image is consistent, so my best guess is that elements from footage taken during one take have been combined. “It probably shows the pressure the Prince of Wales is under to present his family in the best light, rather than any attempt at deception.”

Amateur editing

Paul Clarke, one of Britain’s most experienced photographers, said problems may have been caused by the search for a perfect photo and perhaps by trying to clean up imperfections.

“Here we have confusing decisions about the creation of the photo and sloppy editing (a bit of snot on the sleeve? who knows) that just don’t make much sense,” he tweeted.

‘There are numerous 100% certain photographic manipulations easily visible in that Kate photo. What were they thinking?’

With AI image generation on the rise, here’s Adobe’s proprietary tool, the Adobe Express, and easy ways to use it.

New Delhi: AI image generation already exists on the Internet, with many tools flooding the Internet and gaining popularity since OpenAI’s DALL-E was released. However, it was not too late that the renowned logo brand Adobe also started developing its own AI model, Adobe Firefly, to cater to its users. The Adobe Express app harnesses the power of Adobe Firefly’s generative AI for text-to-image creation and offers a range of innovative features tailored to mobile workflows. These features include text-to-image, generative fill, text effects and video editing tools, which allow users to create high-quality content on various media.

Here’s a step-by-step guide to using the Adobe Express app to generate AI images.

Steps to use Adobe Express for AI graphics

Follow these steps to use Adobe Express to generate AI images:

1. Access to Adobe Express: You can use Adobe Express on the web or on your mobile device. Make sure your device meets the minimum technical specifications to create content and images.
2. Sign in or sign up: If you are an Adobe Creative Cloud subscriber, sign in with the same credentials you use for Creative Cloud to access the full version of the applications.
3. Discover features: Adobe Express offers a wide range of content creation features, including:
   • Text to Image: Create new looks for projects by generating images with Firefly Genative Fill.
   • Generative Fill: Automatically insert, delete, or replace parts of an image.
   • Text Effects: Generate eye-catching text and messages with AI-generated styling.
   • Video editing: access templates, images, music, animations and real-time subtitles.
   • Extensive content and templates: Use a variety of multi-page video and templates, Adobe Fonts, Adobe Stock assets, and more.
   • Quick Actions: Edit photos and videos, remove backgrounds, resize images, and perform other tasks efficiently.
4. Create content: Use Adobe Express’s intuitive interface to design graphics, edit photos and videos, and unleash your creativity using AI-powered tools like Text-to-Image and Text Effects

Adobe Express: all features

Adobe Express often bears a resemblance to Canva, and while the latter is popular for its user-friendly user interface, Express offers more advanced features and options for users to choose from. Here are all the features Adobe Express offers:

• Extensive template library: Access a variety of templates for different content types.
• AI-powered design and editing tools: Use AI-powered tools for design and editing tasks.
• Integration with Adobe Creative Cloud libraries: Work seamlessly with assets from Photoshop and Illustrator.
• Generative AI features: Take advantage of generative AI capabilities such as Text to Image and Generative Fill.
• Quick actions: Perform tasks like resizing images, removing backgrounds, converting file formats and more efficiently.
• Video editing tools: Edit videos, add subtitles, crop, merge and convert videos to GIF or MP4 formats.
• Brand checking functions: Create, edit, and customize brand-approved assets.
• Real-time co-editing: Collaborate with team members in real time and provide feedback easily.
• Integrated workflows with Creative Cloud apps: Access and work with creative assets from Photoshop and Illustrator directly within Adobe Express.
• Add-on marketplace: Discover add-ons for additional features such as 3D illustrations, marketing optimization tools, brand style guides, voiceovers and more.

Vincent van Gogh may have been earless and borderline crazy during his time in Saint-Remy-de-Provence, but the Dutch master painted some of his greatest works here, in the bustling French tourist town near Avignon.

The productive period of his career included Irises, Sunflowers and The Starry Night.

So with a C in O level art I traveled to Saint Remy to create my own masterpiece.

My hand is guided by Aicha Bendafi, who patiently teaches tourists how to sketch the landscapes immortalized by Van Gogh in their own oily palettes of blue and gray.

We meet outside the gates of Saint Paul de Mausole, the monastery turned asylum and where Van Gogh admitted himself in 1889, a year after cutting off his left ear.

Tourists come here to see a reconstruction of the artist’s sparsely furnished first-floor room and to follow a walking trail that highlights the locations where Van Gogh set up his easel.

“He was fascinated by the quality of the light and the beauty of the landscape,” says Aicha.

‘Thanks to a serene atmosphere and the help of the nuns, he completed more than 100 drawings and 143 oil paintings in just one year.’

Aicha explains that to this day, Saint Paul de Mausole is still a psychiatric home for artists, and their work is sold in a nearby gallery.

“From the upstairs windows you can still see those same limestone hills, vineyards and olive groves that made Van Gogh reach for brush and canvas,” she adds.

There’s certainly an atmosphere about this place – far removed from busy Saint Remy, a short walk away.

This chic town of cobbled streets, cafes and restaurants celebrates Van Gogh’s 444 days in Provence in many ways – sometimes boring – but I wonder if the landscape and lavender can inspire my inner artist in the same way.

Aicha has set up my easel in front of an olive grove, probably where Van Gogh painted The Olive Trees in June 1889.

His famous original is said to be worth around £60 million… so no pressure.

Van Gogh is said to have created fifteen paintings of olive groves, fascinated by the twisted, gnarled shapes that reflected his mental state at the time.

I start simple, with a dash of yellow sun, but the shape of the tree trunks is already driving me crazy. I’m having trouble capturing the texture with my crazy brush strokes.

Aicha tells me to split my piece into sections, sky, trees and earth, and soon I’m moving my brush around like a pro.

I find that varying the thickness of the paint gives an uneven, rough texture – Van Gogh often used paint straight from the tube, but for the leaves I decide to squeeze every shade of green onto my palette and start freestyling.

A small group of tourists have now come to watch. I give a thumbs up to help measure the distance between the tree trunks, before a small round of applause breaks out as I scribble my name in the bottom corner.

It’s nothing like the view, but I’m very tempted to offer my ‘Olive Grove Revisited’ to the highest bidder.

That evening I retreat with my rolled-up work of art to Mas Van Gogh, a restored farmhouse within a bike ride from the center of St. Remy.

This luxurious, self-contained property has an outdoor swimming pool and space for eight guests, but I imagine the Dutch master would have preferred to paint alone in a quiet corner of the enormous garden.

‘Olive Grove Revisited’ now hangs in my downstairs toilet. One day, when I’m gone, it might turn up again in a thrift store. It will not be mistaken for a masterpiece.