Excavation to begin at Castalloy factory site in final bid to find Beaumont siblings’ remains
Excavation to begin at Castalloy factory site in final bid to find Beaumont siblings’ remains
A final effort to find the remains of the missing Beaumont children has begun, almost 60 years after their disappearance.
Source link
#Excavation #Castalloy #factory #site #final #bid #find #Beaumont #siblings #remains
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
‘Maybe there is some hope now’
‘Maybe there is some hope now’
After decades of drying, one of the world’s largest lakes is on the rise, a welcomed development for the region that relies upon it.
Iran’s Lake Urmia, the largest lake in the Middle East and the world’s sixth-largest salt lake, saw its volume increase by 248 million cubic yards year-over-year, according to the Tehran Times. Its surface area also grew by roughly 60 square miles.
A population surge in the 1980s led to agricultural growth throughout Iran. The increased water usage required by farming took its toll on Lake Urmia, which started receding in the mid-1990s. Combined with higher drought-like conditions caused by the overheating planet, by 2015, the lake was 10% of its previous surface area and 5% of its highest volume.
Restoration efforts in the years since have paid off, bringing a thriving ecosystem back to life. The area is a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, a haven for birds such as flamingos and pelicans.
When the lake is dried up, windy conditions create high levels of dust, which studies have shown to cause respiratory health problems in the local population. But as the lake comes back, not only are people healthier, but so are the businesses that rely upon it.
“People see things happening,” one local resident told the BBC. “They think, maybe there is some hope now.”
Watch now: Giant snails invading New York City?
A recent story out of Chile provides a glimpse of what could come, should this Lake Urmia revival continue. Massive rainfall brought many dried-up lakes and lagoons back to life. As water levels rose, so did the local economy and spirits.
But there still is work to do in Lake Urmia. Even with the recent increase, the lake’s volume is at roughly 1.6 billion cubic yards — a far cry from the 6.5 billion cubic yards experts say is needed for the lake to be ecologically stable. Fortunately, a United Nations restoration project is expected to run through 2028, according to the Tehran Times.
Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don’t miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
Source link
#hope
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech – The Associated Press
AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech – The Associated Press
AP sues 3 Trump administration officials, citing freedom of speech The Associated PressAP sues Trump administration officials after being blocked from White House briefings CNNAP sues over White House access restrictions The HillNews outlets urge White House to reverse ban on Associated Press The Washington PostFox News, CNN and Other News Outlets Urge White House to Drop Ban on The A.P. The New York Times
Source link
#sues #Trump #administration #officials #citing #freedom #speech #Press
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Can somebody let this robot down?
Can somebody let this robot down?
It’s not clear that anyone was asking for a company to build a muscular, sinewy robot or to see a video of it dangling, helpless from a hook, but life is full of surprises and this YouTube video of Clone Robotics’ “Protoclone” is here all the same.
The Protoclone appears to be a prototype version of the “Clone” robot the aptly named Clone Robotics is working to build. The video shows the Protoclone flexing its arms and legs, with visible artificial muscle fibers moving underneath its white “skin.” Based on Clone Robotic’s video description, the impressive part here is that fact that the Protoclone has “over 200 degrees of freedom, over 1,000 Myofibers, and over 200 sensors,” and also that the robot is “faceless,” for some reason.
To view this content, you’ll need to update your privacy settings. Please click here and view the “Content and social-media partners” setting to do so.
The end goal for the startup is to build an android that’s anatomically correct, with synthetic nervous, skeletal, muscular and vascular systems powering its movement. The “Myofibers” included in the Protoclone are a custom Clone Robotics creation with “the desirable qualities of mammalian skeletal muscle.” For the eventual Clone robot’s purposes, those qualities are the ability to “respond in less than 50 ms with a ******* than 30 percent unloaded contraction” and “at least a kilogram of contraction force for a single, three gram muscle fiber,” according to Clone Robotics’ website.
That the Protoclone is dangling in the video rather than roaming around of its own accord is a reflection of its prototype nature. Robots are often hung or propped up with a support arm until they can support their own body weight, something that can be hard to achieve without all of the right materials.
Clone Robotics is not unique in pursuing a human-like robot that could theoretically replace human workers. Figure is exploring a similar idea, minus the muscles. Tesla started off on the wrong foot with a person in a spandex suit, but it’s serious about robots, too. Even the largest of tech companies have turned their attention to robots: Both Meta and Apple are reportedly exploring robotics as a future product category. It’s fair to say Clone Robotics is winning when it comes to posting videos of muscular robots, though.
Source link
#robot
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Ros Atkins on… why this week matters for Europe and the US
Ros Atkins on… why this week matters for Europe and the US
This week, talks between Russia and the US began on the war in Ukraine.
Donald Trump and his administration also made a series of comments about Ukraine and Europe that raised fundamental questions about how the war may be resolved – and how the US sees Europe.
The BBC’s Analysis editor Ros Atkins takes a look.
Source link
#Ros #Atkins #on.. #week #matters #Europe
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Site Is Counting Down To An Announcement
Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater Site Is Counting Down To An Announcement
Earlier this week, Call of Duty: ****** Ops 6 had an update that teased the return of Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. In a skate park map called The Grind, there is a banner with the THPS logo and the date “03.04.25.” Now, the official site for Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater has a countdown clock to March 4, 2025, which may mean an announcement is imminent.
The very first Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater game was released by Activision in September 1999. Although the 25th anniversary has come and gone, Hawk revealed last year that he has been in contact with Activision about doing something to celebrate that quarter century milestone. Hawk later confirmed that the long-running franchise will continue.
If there’s news coming soon regarding the future of THPS, there are two likely options. The first is another remake like 2020’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 1 + 2, which helped revitalize interest in the games. There have been some predictions that Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 3 + 4 could follow. However, a more enticing prospect would be a brand-new Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater. The last fully original game in the series to hit consoles was 2015’s Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5. Additionally, there was a previous report that the next Tony Hawk game could arrive as soon as this summer. Given the timing of the announcement, that seems very plausible.
Former Activision Blizzard CEO Bobby Kotick recently stated that Hawk was living in his car when he made his deal for the first Pro Skater game. Hawk has obviously moved on to better accommodations since then, but we’re eager to see where the video game series can go with the full power of the current gen consoles.
Source link
#Tony #Hawks #Pro #Skater #Site #Counting #Announcement
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Head slap earns red card for Jhon Duran in Saudi
Head slap earns red card for Jhon Duran in Saudi
An apparent light slap has earned Colombia forward Jhon Duran a straight red card in just his fourth match for Al-Nassr in the Saudi Pro League.
Duran was signed in January from Aston Villa for a reported STG64 million pounds ($A127 million) and scored four goals in his first two league appearances.
But on Friday in stoppage time, while play seemed to have stopped, he appeared to give a glancing slap to the back of the head of Ettifaq midfielder Abdulelah Al-Malki. Al-Malki dropped and rolled on the ground.
The referee issued a red card despite the protests of teammate Cristiano Ronaldo.
Al-Nassr lost to Ettifaq 3-2, ending a seven-game unbeaten streak, and leaving the team eight points behind leaders Al-Ittihad, who have a game in hand.
Source link
#slap #earns #red #card #Jhon #Duran #Saudi
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Why Alibaba is the ultimate AI play, according to investor Scott Nations
Why Alibaba is the ultimate AI play, according to investor Scott Nations
Alibaba still hasn’t run out of steam despite soaring nearly 70% in the first seven weeks of 2025, according to Scott Nations of Nations Indexes. The firm’s president and chief investment officer joined CNBC’s ” Power Lunch ” on Friday to offer his take on the ******** e-commerce platform, along with a pair of other market movers. Here’s what he had to say. Alibaba Shares of Alibaba ended Friday almost 6% higher and reached a fresh 52-week high following a report in the Wall Street Journal that GameStop CEO and billionaire investor Ryan Cohen upped his personal stake in the company to about $1 billion. The stock gained 15% on the week and is ahead 45% in February alone. Despite the rally, Nations sees room ahead for Alibaba. Capital spending will increase in coming years, but those assets will ultimately boost its artificial intelligence business. “The trader in me hates to say it’s a buy, given what it’s already done this year, but it is the best, or one of the best AI plays,” Nations said. “Their AI ambitions are not going to be some giant hole in the ground that they’re shoveling money into. They have AI grafted onto a very strong existing business.” Block Nations also highlighted fintech company Block as a buy, despite it tumbling 18% on Friday after fourth-quarter revenue and earnings missed analyst estimates. In its most recent quarter, Block earned an adjusted 71 cents per share on revenue of $6.03 billion. Analysts polled by LSEG had expected 87 cents and $6.29 billion, respectively. Other than the company’s strong cost discipline, Nations pointed to Afterpay, Block’s buy now, pay later business, as a major catalyst. Block will roll out Afterpay on its Cash App debit card this week. “The company is going to essentially change itself into essentially a lender,” Nations noted, adding that that’s “a better business to be in than the point-of-*****, point-of-purchase systems.” However, given Block’s “not particularly good” first-quarter guidance, Nations cautioned that he views the stock as a buy at the level around where it is currently trading, $68, with a stop loss at $60. “Trade with a stop, because if the company can’t pull out of this nosedive, then you don’t want to be along for that ride either,” he added. UnitedHealth Group Finally, Nations was resoundingly bearish on UnitedHealth Group . The stock sank 7% on Friday after the Wall Street Journal reported that the U.S. Department of Justice is investigating the insurer’s Medicare billing practices , citing people familiar with the matter. The investigation is centered around examining UnitedHealth’s protocols for recording diagnoses that could lead to extra payments for the company’s Medicare Advantage plans. Nations said that this was just the latest in a series of challenges for UNH. “This is a relatively slow-growth, low-beta name,” the investor said. “It now has a bunch of legal and PR problems, and this isn’t its only legal problem. There also some antitrust problems. A quick resolution of the news about Medicare might be impressive but it doesn’t mean that it’s going to be smooth sailing, and investors just don’t have to be along for this ride. So it’s a sell.”
Source link
#Alibaba #ultimate #play #investor #Scott #Nations
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
10 Holdens you may have forgotten about
10 Holdens you may have forgotten about
Right now, Holden signage is being taken down from dealerships across the nation and the last Holdens are being snatched up by bargain-conscious buyers. The 72-year long story of Holden, Australia’s only mainstream car brand, is coming to an end.
UPDATE, 22/02/2025 – As it’s now been five years since the Holden brand was shuttered – the official announcement came down on February 17, 2020 – we’re republishing this story from 2020.
Let us know if you’d like to see more in this series!
Go to any classic car show or Cars & Coffee in the foreseeable future and you’re bound to see a Commodore SS or Monaro; watch, too, as their values go up.
But during the brand’s long history, Holden showrooms were home to a host of other, less popular and certainly less valuable vehicles.
Holden Royale
From its introduction as part of the VH line in 1981, the New Zealand-exclusive Royale always paired the highest Commodore specification level (first SL/E, later Calais) with the smallest engine.
Camera IconPhoto courtesy of Omaka Classic Cars Credit: CarExpert
At first, that meant the utterly underwhelming Starfire 1.9-litre four-cylinder, a cut-down version of Holden’s venerable six with just 54kW of power and 138Nm of torque.
Though it was axed here, the Starfire lingered on in the VK Commodore and Royale redesign, though the 3.3-litre six became an option.
The VL, however, saw an engine which we missed out on here: Nissan’s fuel-injected 2.0-litre RB20 inline six, with a more impressive 95kW of power – 19kW off the RB30 – and 180Nm of torque.
Camera IconPhoto courtesy of SIKVLT Credit: CarExpert
The VL Royale shared the Calais’ two-tone appearance and tail lights, albeit without the sleek pop-up ***********.
For the VN Commodore and Royale, the last generation manufactured in New Zealand, Holden’s Family II naturally aspirated four-cylinder was standard.
Available with either a four-speed auto or five-speed manual, it produced 83kW of power and 169Nm of torque. In more NZ-market weirdness, Holden also rebadged the Berlina as an Executive and vice versa.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The Royale name subsequently took a break, though it returned with the VS. GM’s Singaporean operations had cancelled the Opel Calais, a unique Asian-market Commodore derivative, and New Zealand’s more lenient importation rules allowed Holden to sell them over there.
Initially mating a Calais with a Statesman front end and Opel-sourced 2.6-litre Dual-Ram inline six (110kW/220Nm), the VS version of the Opel Calais and Holden Royale used the Caprice’s front end and an Opel 2.5-litre V6 (125kW/227Nm) and a four-speed automatic.
Though the Royale name continued into the VT and VX series, there’d be no more peculiar, small-engined Commodore derivatives… at least not in New Zealand.
2005 Holden One Tonner Cross6
The One Tonner Cross6 was conceived under the reign of Holden boss Peter Hanenberger, who saw to it that the 1997-vintage VT Commodore platform be put to good use.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
What had initially underpinned the rear-wheel drive Commodore sedan and wagon, Ute and Statesman and Caprice – already a sprawling range – soon found itself under the resurrected Monaro coupe and One Tonner and Crewman utes.
Holden also developed an all-wheel drive system, which was used for the Crewman, Adventra crossover and this: the VZ One Tonner Cross6.
Launched after Hanenberger left Holden, this was the rarest of the lot. Reportedly just 50 were produced out of 261,238 VZ Commodore-based vehicles, despite it having all-wheel drive and therefore offering a point of distinction from its high-riding rival, the Ford Falcon Ute RTV.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
Priced at around $2500 more than the rear-wheel drive One Tonner, the all-wheel drive cab chassis was available exclusively with the lower-tune 175kW/320Nm 3.6-litre Alloytec V6 and four-speed automatic transmission; to get an AWD V8 ute, you had to step up to the larger Crewman.
The investment in this new model seemed rather pointless, however. It went on ***** in April 2005, only to be discontinued along with the regular One Tonner in December as Holden readied the next-generation VE ute.
The Crewman Cross6 and Cross8 lasted another eight months or so before being axed; the Adventra followed soon after, ending Holden’s brief affair with locally built all-wheel drive models.
2001-03 Holden Monaro CV6
If you think there’s nothing even remotely obscure about the fabulously popular V2 Monaro, you may have forgotten about the short-lived Monaro CV6. Just 475 units were produced before it was axed in 2003.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
It was the entry-level model in the V2 Monaro range at its launch, priced at $47,990 – almost $10,000 less than the CV8. Unlike the CV8, it was available only with a four-speed automatic, which was mated to Holden’s supercharged 3.8-litre V6 engine.
The blown six produced 171kW of power and 375Nm of torque, down 54kW and 95Nm on the 5.7-litre V8. The CV6 also used smaller 17-inch alloy wheels.
When Holden introduced the Alloytec 3.6-litre V6 with the VZ update, it was notable in that even its less powerful tune had more power than the supercharged 3.8-litre, though even the punchier version lacked the blown six’s torque.
Holden could’ve offered the 3.6-litre in the Monaro, with both a manual and automatic, but the sales breakdown between CV6 and CV8 showed there was little point. The CV6 was retired before the Alloytec even reached the market, and all subsequent Monaros were V8s.
2005-06 Holden Tigra
When it comes to Holden, you’re either glass half full or glass half empty. If you’re the former, you celebrated Holden offering myriad models from all over the General Motors corporate empire.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
If you’re the latter, you shake your head at a brand that would introduce so many new nameplates and discard them like used gum after just a few years.
Meet the two-seater Tigra, one pellet that still had plenty of flavour when it was spat out. We missed out on the shapely first-generation coupe, though as a concession we had a locally converted cabriolet version of the Barina/Opel Corsa it was based on.
Holden was then able to secure the second-generation Tigra, which had morphed into a folding hardtop convertible.
At the time, this body style was a hot ticket and almost every automaker seemed to have one. Here, the Tigra went up against the similarly priced Peugeot 206CC and Mitsubishi Colt CZC.
Its trick roof took just 18 seconds to fully retract, but its appeal was limited by the lack of an automatic transmission. Only a five-speed manual was available, mated to the old Barina SRI’s naturally aspirated 1.8-litre four-cylinder engine with 92kW of power and 165Nm of torque.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
It weighed 1248kg, or around 250kg more than the XC Barina upon which it was based, which meant performance was average at best.
Holden may have enjoyed some success with the Astra convertible but the Tigra was met with buyer apathy. The company projected 1000 annual units but in its first and only full year on the market, Holden shifted 651 units. The $10,000 pricier Astra convertible, in contrast, had 907 sales in the same year.
All up, just 1056 Tigras were sold here.
There was nothing especially wrong with it, lack of an auto aside – it was a cute little thing, a decent steer, more cohesive than the old Barina Cabrio, and about as practical and special inside as similarly priced folding hardtop convertibles.
Fortunately for folding hardtop convertible fans, the redesigned drop-top Astra picked up such a roof for 2007. This body style’s moment in the sun, however, would soon end.
2012-15 Holden Volt
The Volt was a Chevrolet Volt with the golden bowtie prised off and a lion logo in its place; you can still see the cut-out for the Chevy logo up front.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
Based on the same Delta II platform as the Astra and Cruze, the Volt was the vehicle General Motors proudly boasted about to the US Congress as it went through its government-supported bankruptcy proceedings.
The car debuted GM’s Voltec system, which allowed it to operate as a pure electric vehicle until it was out of charge. Then, a 1.4-litre four-cylinder petrol engine with 63kW of power kicked in as a generator until you were able to charge the 16.5kWh lithium-ion battery.
GM reasoned the Volt had the benefits of an all-electric vehicle without giving owners range anxiety.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The Holden Volt came in a single, highly specified trim with niceties such as leather seats (heated up front), keyless entry and start, a 7.0-inch touchscreen and a six-speaker Bose sound system, as well as features new to the Holden brand like forward-collision and lane-departure warning systems.
So, why did such an impressive car do so poorly here? As is the case for many of these Holdens, high prices may be to blame. The Volt was priced at $59,990, making it one of the priciest Holdens.
In fact, when Holden slashed prices of its refreshed *** Caprice in 2013, the flagship V V8 received the same price tag. The Volt was also undercut by rivals such as the electric Nissan Leaf and Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV.
With no right-hand drive version of the second-generation Chevrolet Volt available, Holden withdrew the nameplate in 2015. Just 247 were sold over its short run.
1968-71 Holden Brougham
Before the Statesman and Caprice, there was the Brougham.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
While many Holden names were borrowed from North American GM products (e.g. Caprice, de Ville, Apollo, Calais), the Brougham used a generic trim level name commonly used in the States by Ford, GM, Chrysler and American Motors for a top-spec, vinyl-roofed model.
Launched at the same time as the legendary Monaro, the Brougham sat atop the HK range and served as Holden’s answer to the Chrysler Valiant V.I.P. and ***********-designed Ford Fairlane both introduced in 1967.
It was a rather hasty response, though, as the Brougham was little more than a top-spec Premier with a 186mm longer rear overhang.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The regular HK sedan’s 111-inch wheelbase remained untouched, which meant this physically more imposing vehicle was no roomier except in boot space. That made this a rather weak competitor for the Fairlane, not to mention a lacklustre replacement for the locally assembled Chevrolet Impala and Pontiac Laurentian and Parisienne.
It did, however, feature a Chevrolet-sourced 307 cubic-inch (5.0-litre V8) engine and two-speed Powerglide automatic transmission; this was replaced in the HT update with Holden’s new, more powerful 308 cubic-inch V8.
This lacklustre effort was met with a lacklustre response. In 1969, its first full year on *****, the Brougham recorded 3104 sales. In comparison, Ford sold 8622 Fairlanes and Chrysler – number three of the big Aussie three – sold 3192 of its V.I.P., which had received a longer wheelbase for ‘69.
The following year was even worse, Brougham sales tumbling by more than a thousand units and the Chrysler soundly outselling it.
Fortunately for Holden, it had a much more impressive successor for the Brougham waiting in the wings. In 1971, it introduced the first Statesman as part of the HQ series, with unique styling and the longer wheelbase of the HQ wagons. That nameplate went on to enjoy a much longer run than the short-lived Brougham.
1985-86 Holden Scurry and Drover
General Motors-Holden was struggling in the 1980s, both financially and in the sales race. The Ford Falcon was outselling the Holden Commodore and, likewise, the Ford brand was well ahead – by 1986, Holden had 20.84 per cent of the *********** market against Ford’s 30.59 per cent.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
What Holden really needed was a proper ute and a long-wheelbase sedan, both of which Ford had but which the Lion brand lost after 1984.
Instead, GM decided to fill Holden showrooms with a raft of entirely new products, sourced from some of its global partners.
Holden had already been successfully selling the imported, Isuzu-sourced Jackaroo and Rodeo so Suzuki’s Sierra four-wheel drive and Carry van probably seemed the ticket. Holden also offered the Shuttle, a large Isuzu van, from 1982 until 1990.
Both the Scurry and Drover were introduced in 1985. The former featured the smallest engine of any Holden ever, a carbureted 970cc four-cylinder with just 33.5kW of power and 75Nm of torque and a manual choke.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
This forward-control van was available with either two or four seats, the latter option available with a higher roof.
The “wagon” also featured cloth seats and carpeting, but it’s unclear who Holden was expecting to buy such a vehicle here.
The Drover name tied the rebadged Sierra in nicely with the popular Jackaroo. There was a pretty comprehensive range, with a choice of soft-top, hard-top, ute and cab-chassis models, all powered by a 1.3-litre four-cylinder engine with 47kW of power and 100Nm of torque.
Both models lasted just two years on the *********** market. Holden and Suzuki renegotiated the terms of their agreement and the latter offered a five-door version of its Swift to sell as the Barina. As that would be a higher-volume model, Holden discontinued the Scurry and Drover.
1986-87 Holden Piazza
Here’s a Holden so infamously unsuccessful, two guys wrote a book about simply trying to find one.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The Piazza arrived in the middle of the great expansion of the Holden range in 1986 – five years after its launch in Japan – and gave the brand a coupe for the first time since the axing of the Gemini coupe in 1979.
The Gemini connection was strong, however. Underneath that razor-edged styling, penned by Giorgetto Giugario and almost identical to his Ace of Clubs concept of 1979, the Piazza used the same global T-Body platform as the Gemini.
That meant the Piazza was riding one the same 1975-vintage platform as the discontinued TG Gemini. Perhaps that wouldn’t have been such a big deal if the Piazza didn’t cost as much as the vastly superior VL Calais Turbo.
Camera IconPhotos courtesy of Kollector Cars Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The imported Piazza used a turbocharged 2.0-litre four-cylinder engine, producing 110kW of power and 225Nm of torque and mated to either a four-speed automatic or five-speed manual transmission. The latter option featured a standard limited-slip differential, but even that couldn’t help it get power to the wheels effectively.
This was simply too much power for such a dated chassis and there was no local tuning to fix it, making this overpriced, outdated coupe both overwhelmed and underwhelming.
After just a few months, Holden slashed several thousand off the price and even arranged for it to be the prize car on ***** of the Century. Nothing seemed to help, and the Piazza was discontinued after around 18 months on the market. Just 379 were sold.
The worst part? Shortly after it was axed here, Isuzu contracted Lotus to take a crack at improving the handling, resulting in a much more resolved car. That was the Piazza we deserved, though even it would’ve probably flopped.
1994-97 Holden Calibra Turbo 4×4
With the failure of the Piazza, Holden exited the sports coupe segment. Instead of introducing the Isuzu’s front/all-wheel drive successor, it instead looked to Opel.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The Opel Calibra had been introduced in 1990 as a replacement for the ageing, rear-wheel drive Manta. Like that model, it was based on a humble family sedan platform – in this case, the Vectra A – but couldn’t have looked more different.
Opel boasted it was the world’s most aerodynamic production car with a drag coefficient of just 0.26, which is an impressive figure even today.
Holden introduced the Calibra here late in 1991, powered by a choice of eight- and 16-valve 2.0-litre four-cylinder engines. Though a sweet quad-cam 2.5-litre V6 arrived in 1995, the standout of the range was the Turbo 4×4.
Introduced in 1994, it was the only Calibra to feature a constant all-wheel drive system and a turbocharged engine. Displacing 2.0 litres, it produced 150kW of power and 280Nm of torque, considerably more than even the later V6 model. The only transmission was a Getrag-sourced six-speed manual.
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
The interior betrayed its Vectra origins but the Turbo 4×4 was otherwise a special bit of kit, if a pricey one – initially priced at $56,900, it was around $20,000 more than a base Calibra and most rivals, including the turbo Nissan 200SX.
Despite a sweet ride/handling balance and seductive styling, the Calibra Turbo 4×4 never earned the cachet of a Subaru Impreza WRX. Like the rest of the range, sales were uninspiring – the Calibra was outsold by more than two-to-one by Japanese rivals including the Honda Prelude and Toyota Celica.
It lingered on until 1997, with the Turbo 4×4 remaining part of the range until the very end.
The Calibra Turbo 4×4 wasn’t the last high-performance Opel to make its way here. There was the TS Astra SRI Turbo hatch and its Turbo Convertible counterpart, the latter of which lasted just two years.
The Astra VXR later found its way into HSV showrooms, while the turbocharged V6, all-wheel drive Insignia OPC was imported first as an Opel and then as a Holden Insignia VXR. None of these were high-volume models but credit to Holden for bringing them here. That almost atones for the rebadged Daewoos…
Camera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpertCamera IconSupplied Credit: CarExpert
Choosing just 10 forgotten Holdens proved a challenge. After all, the brand was notorious for its scattershot product planning, introducing new models and discarding them after a single generation: see Epica, Insignia, Malibu, Suburban, Viva, Zafira, et all.
That did, however, mean Holden showrooms saw a lot of variety over its long history, with locally built models sold alongside rebadged products from Chevrolet, Daewoo, GMC, Isuzu, Nissan, Opel, Suzuki and Toyota.
Holden’s product and marketing efforts were sometimes incoherent but they were never dull.
Source link
#Holdens #forgotten
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio arrested near U.S. Capitol on assault allegation
Ex-Proud Boys leader Enrique Tarrio arrested near U.S. Capitol on assault allegation
Enrique Tarrio on status with Proud Boys
Enrique Tarrio says media shouldn’t call him “ex-Proud Boys leader”
04:05
Former Proud Boys national leader Enrique Tarrio was arrested Friday near the U.S. Capitol on a charge that he assaulted a woman protesting a gathering attended by Tarrio and others who received presidential pardons for crimes stemming from the Jan. 6, 2021, riot in the nation’s capital.
Capitol police said officers saw Tarrio strike the protester’s cellphone and arm after the woman placed the phone close to his face as they walked near the Capitol. Tarrio had just left a news conference that had ended “without incident,” police said.
“The woman told our officers that she wanted to be a complainant, and the man was arrested for the simple assault,” police said in a statement.
Enrique Tarrio, former leader of the Proud Boys, is seen before a news conference with members of the Oath Keepers and other Jan, 6 offenders who received pardons or commuted sentences, outside the U.S. Capitol on Feb. 21, 2025.
Tom Williams/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images
An attorney who represented Tarrio in his Capitol riot case didn’t immediately respond to an email seeking comment.
Tarrio, of Miami, was serving a 22-year sentence — the longest among hundreds of Capitol riot cases — when President Trump granted clemency last month to all 1,500-plus people charged in the Jan. 6 attack.
A jury convicted Tarrio and three of his lieutenants of seditious conspiracy for a violent plot to stop the peaceful transfer of presidential power from Mr. Trump to then-President Joe Biden after the 2020 election.
Tarrio attended a press conference Friday with other Proud Boys and Oath Keepers founder Stewart Rhodes, who also was convicted of seditious conspiracy but freed from prison last month after Mr. Trump commuted his 18-year sentence.
Source link
#ExProud #Boys #leader #Enrique #Tarrio #arrested #U.S #Capitol #assault #allegation
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Associated Press sues three top Trump officials over access restrictions
Associated Press sues three top Trump officials over access restrictions
The Associated Press sued three Trump administration officials Friday over access to presidential events, citing freedom of speech in asking a federal judge to stop the 10-day blocking of its journalists.
The lawsuit was filed Friday afternoon in U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C.
The AP says its case is about an unconstitutional effort by the White House to control speech — in this case refusing to change its style from the Gulf of Mexico to the “Gulf of America,” as President Trump did last month with an executive order.
“The press and all people in the United States have the right to choose their own words and not be retaliated against by the government,” the AP said in its lawsuit, which names White House chief of staff Susan Wiles, deputy chief of staff Taylor Budowich and press secretary Karoline Leavitt.
“This targeted attack on the AP’s editorial independence and ability to gather and report the news strikes at the very core of the First Amendment,” the news agency said. “This court should remedy it immediately.”
In stopping the AP from attending press events at the White House and Mar-a-Lago, or flying on Air Force One in the agency’s customary spot, the Trump team directly cited the AP’s decision not to fully follow the president’s renaming.
“We’re going to keep them out until such time as they agree that it’s the Gulf of America,” Mr. Trump said Tuesday.
Source link
#Press #sues #top #Trump #officials #access #restrictions
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Making Over $100,000 A Year? Here’s How Big Your Retirement Nest Egg Should Be In Your 40s, 50s, And 60s If You Want To Retire Rich
Making Over $100,000 A Year? Here’s How Big Your Retirement Nest Egg Should Be In Your 40s, 50s, And 60s If You Want To Retire Rich
Making Over $100,000 A Year? Here’s How Big Your Retirement Nest Egg Should Be In Your 40s, 50s, And 60s If You Want To Retire Rich
Let’s be real—retirement savings can feel like a giant, moving target. You hear numbers tossed around, but what does it actually take to retire comfortably if you’re making $100,000, $150,000, or even $200,000 a year? If you’re earning six figures, you know the lifestyle you want isn’t cheap.
Are you on track or is it time to kick your savings into high gear?
Don’t Miss:
According to Edward Jones, here are generalized retirement savings goalposts based on age and salary:
Ages 40-44:
$100,000 salary: $245,000 – $420,000
$150,000 salary: $490,000 – $795,000
$200,000 salary: $810,000 – $1,255,000
Ages 45-49:
$100,000 salary: $450,000 – $565,000
$150,000 salary: $840,000 – $1,040,000
$200,000 salary: $1,325,000 – $1,615,000
Ages 50-54:
$100,000 salary: $500,000 – $735,000
$150,000 salary: $920,000 – $1,320,000
$200,000 salary: $1,430,000 – $2,025,000
Ages 55-59:
$100,000 salary: $775,000 – $930,000
$150,000 salary: $1,385,000 – $1,650,000
$200,000 salary: $1,815,000 – $2,500,000
Ages 60-65:
$100,000 salary: $845,000 – $1,205,000
$150,000 salary: $1,490,000 – $2,110,000
$200,000 salary: $2,260,000 – $3,170,000
Trending: Can you guess how many Americans successfully retire with $1,000,000 saved? The percentage may shock you.
$100,000 Earners: By 40, aim to have saved at least 2.5 times your salary, increasing to 12 times or more by 65.
$150,000 Earners: By 40, target around 3.3 times your salary, reaching 14 times or more by 65.
$200,000 Earners: Expect to have 4 times your salary saved by 40, growing to 16 times or more by 65 to maintain your high-income lifestyle.
Financial guru Dave Ramsey provided some investment options for high-income earners in a Ramsey Solutions blog post back in October. Some of the options mentioned where:
Maximize Retirement Contributions: Utilize tax-advantaged accounts like 401(k)s and IRAs. For 2025, the contribution limits are $23,000 for 401(k)s and $7,000 for IRAs, with additional catch-up contributions if you’re 50 or older.
Explore ********* Roth IRAs: High-income earners often exceed the income limits for direct Roth IRA contributions. However, a ********* Roth IRA allows you to convert a traditional IRA into a Roth IRA, enabling tax-free growth and withdrawals in retirement.
Consider Health Savings Accounts (HSAs): If you have a high-deductible health plan, an HSA offers triple tax advantages: contributions are tax-deductible, growth is tax-free, and withdrawals for qualified medical expenses are tax-free.
Invest Beyond Traditional Accounts: Taxable brokerage accounts, real estate, and other assets can provide additional growth and income streams.
Monitor Lifestyle Inflation: Maintain a balance between enjoying your income and saving for the future. Avoid unnecessary lifestyle upgrades that can impede your savings goals.
Plan for Healthcare Costs: Healthcare can be a significant expense in retirement. Consider long-term care insurance and continue contributing to HSAs to prepare for these costs.
Seek Professional Guidance: Regular consultations with a financial advisor can help tailor your investment strategies to your goals and keep you informed about changes in tax laws and investment opportunities.
Story Continues
Source link
#Making #Year #Heres #Big #Retirement #Nest #Egg #40s #50s #60s #Retire #Rich
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Bybit Hit by Crypto’s Worst Hack With Almost $1.5 Billion Stolen – Bloomberg
Bybit Hit by Crypto’s Worst Hack With Almost $1.5 Billion Stolen – Bloomberg
Bybit Hit by Crypto’s Worst Hack With Almost $1.5 Billion Stolen BloombergCrypto exchange Bybit suffers $1.4 billion hack: What it means for the industry MarketWatchCrypto Prices Dip After $1.5 Billion Theft From Bybit Exchange BloombergBybit’s $1.4 Billion ETH Hack: Market Impact And Future Implications ForbesHacker steals record $1.46 billion from Bybit ETH cold wallet BleepingComputer
Source link
#Bybit #Hit #Cryptos #Worst #Hack #Billion #Stolen #Bloomberg
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Double brace helps Freiburg thrash Werder Bremen
Double brace helps Freiburg thrash Werder Bremen
Kiliann Sildillia’s perfect overhead kick lit up Freiburg’s 5-0 home win over Werder Bremen as the ****** Forest side moved to fourth in the Bundesliga.
Sildillia’s acrobatics after a Vincenzo Grifo’s corner was flicked on gave the hosts a 15th-minute lead and it was soon 2-0 through Grifo’s curling free-kick into the bottom corner.
It was redemption for the Italian after his “Panenka” penalty was saved in last weekend’s 1-0 win over St Pauli, Freiburg’s sixth missed spot-kick in a row.
Fortunately for the hosts, they can also keep penalties out and Noah Atubolu saved his fourth spot-kick in two seasons from Bremen new boy André Silva – after Sildillia had handled.
An unmarked Grifo then turned in Lucas Höler’s cross in the second half to seal a fourth straight league win before Ritsu Doan scored his own double late on.
Freiburg are two points ahead of RB Leipzig in the prized final Champions League spot ahead of the Red Bulls hosting struggling Heidenheim on Sunday.
Freiburg have never reached the Champions League.
Bremen are 10th after a third successive Bundesliga loss.
Source link
#Double #brace #helps #Freiburg #thrash #Werder #Bremen
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Prologue: Go Wayback! PlayerUnknown's glimpse of a digital future – TheSixthAxis
Prologue: Go Wayback! PlayerUnknown's glimpse of a digital future – TheSixthAxis
TSA gets a first look at a new procedural survival game Prologue: Go Wayback!, and the foundation of a new digital future.
Source link
#Prologue #Wayback #PlayerUnknown039s #glimpse #digital #future #TheSixthAxis
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Tesla Cybertruck Body Panels Are Flying Off While Driving, And This Wrap Shop Owner Figured Out Why
Tesla Cybertruck Body Panels Are Flying Off While Driving, And This Wrap Shop Owner Figured Out Why
Tesla Cybertruck – Jonathan Weiss/Shutterstock
For a truck that was supposed to be the toughest truck ever built, the Tesla Cybertruck sure has had a lot of problems. So far, it’s been subject to seven recalls and two investigations, snapped its subframe in a WhistlinDiesel test, been defeated by a car wash and continues to regularly get stuck in the snow. It also has a habit of losing its sometimes razor-sharp body panels, which is decidedly Not Great. And while it’s hard to imagine Tesla will actually do anything about it now that its CEO is busy dismantling the federal government from within, our friends at Road & Track recently spoke with one shop owner who believes he’s figured out why Cybertrucks like to lose their bodywork.
Reid Tomasko owns Shock Auto Styling, a New Hampshire car-wrapping business that has reportedly worked on dozens of Cybertrucks. Tomasko is also an owner, and unfortunately for him, his experience with the issue was especially dangerous. As he told Road & Track, not only did the boomerang-shaped piece of trim on the roofline fall off, it did so while he was driving, putting other drivers in serious danger. You don’t have to take Tomasko’s word for it, either. He also managed to capture it on video. After looking at what happened to his truck and others, he posted a video on his YouTube channel explaining what he thinks is happening.
Read more: Tesla Cybertrucks Are Rusting Despite Being Made Of Stainless Steel
Cybertruck Body Panel Problems Explained
According to Tomasko, Tesla attaches these body panels to plastic frames that are bolted to the body of the truck. Instead of bolting the panels to the frames, though, Tesla uses an adhesive to stick them on. And so far, none of that is particularly concerning. Fancy glue tech has come a long way over the years, and you may be surprised just how strong those bonds can be. They even use adhesives to bond steel beams used in building construction. That said, whether Tesla cheaped out on the adhesive it used or didn’t have the proper process in place to ensure proper bonding, the adhesive appears to be what failed when Tomasko’s giant boomerang-shaped trim piece fell off.
It isn’t just that particular trim piece that’s the problem, either. Tomasko told Road & Track he believes it’s an issue with the actual body panels themselves, including two of his quarter-panels and the tailgate. To the tailgate’s credit, though, it also has a few welds that should help hold it in place even if the adhesive doesn’t hold, so at least you don’t have to worry about the Cybertruck you see on the road dropping metal off the back of its tailgate and killing you. Just the other body panels and trim pieces. The good news is, he claims to have only seen similar issues on about 15 to 20 percent of the incEl Caminos he’s worked on. The bad news is that he says it appears to be more common on new trucks than older ones, which suggests Cybertrucks are actually getting worse, and even a one-in-seven chance is still far too high.
Previous Reports Of Failures
Cybertruck and other Teslas parked outside a Tesla service center – Chris Allan/Shutterstock
As Road & Track points out, Tomasko is far from the first person to run into issues with their Cybertruck trim or body panels falling off:
Similar problems have been reported in two separate formal complaints to the National Traffic Highway Safety Administration. The first, from an owner in Brooklyn, states that his roofline trim piece “suddenly started falling off” at highway speeds. Another complaint from an owner in Illinois claims that an “upper passenger trim piece,” seemingly the same panel, fell off while the owner was driving their truck. The owner then claims that they asked a Tesla service center to replace the same component on the truck’s other side, but a brand representative told him that the location “will not do it unless [the panel] falls off.”
Other examples of the problem have been reported on a Cybertruck owner Facebook group. Screenshots shared with R&T like the one above show four additional cases of trucks that have allegedly shed their roofline trim piece. At least one owner in the group claims that the piece flew off while they were driving.
What’s Causing The Cybertruck’s Adhesive To Fail?
Tesla Cybertruck – Artistic Operations/Getty Images
So is it the adhesive itself? A problem with Tesla’s manufacturing process? Tomasko doesn’t and likely can’t know for sure, but as he told R&T, he suspects it’s related to cold weather, but that may not be it either:
“Based on research and responses that I’ve had to the video, it seems that something, the glue is not flexing with the panels, so what happens is the stainless steel seems to flex when it gets cold when it gets cold and hot, but the glue that they use is kind of brittle, so my guess is the glue is separating,” Tomasko says.
“Also, I have a friend with an earlier build than mine, and he lives in Vermont; I live in New Hampshire, he lives in Vermont, so we’re both in cold climates. His truck, his is fine, same amount of miles and everything, his is fine, but then mine is falling apart. So I don’t quite know, maybe it’s a glue batch that was incorrectly made — I don’t know.”
He Still Loves The Truck
Elon Musk – Andrew Harnik/Getty Images
If you thought Tomasko would dump his truck after losing a massive trim piece while driving and move on from the automaker that doesn’t care about quality or other people’s safety, he claims it isn’t that simple. His truck is currently at a nearby Tesla Service Center while he pursues a buyback. He also told R&T that he “[feels] like a new vehicle shouldn’t really have to have all the panels replaced” and that Tesla fans have said he’s “just a hater.” If you’ve read other stories about Cybertruck owners discovering all the problems with their $100,000 MAGA-mobiles, you know exactly where this is going.
“No, I’m not a hater. I have the truck, I love the truck. I bought one! I love the truck. I wrap, mostly, exclusively Teslas in the Northeast at my wrap shop. So I love Teslas,” he told the magazine. “I’m just trying to share what’s going on to better help the engineers to fix this super fast.”
He’s also upset because finding more problems with the Cybertruck only reinforces the objectively correct belief that they’re terribly made douche-wagons that fund the destruction of our representative democracy:
“It does *****, because everybody kind of makes fun of the Cybertruck. To the outside person, it’s kind of weird, it’s ugly, whatever. Once you actually get in it, drive it, you realize it’s pretty frickin’ cool,” he says. “It’s kind of been sad, because I’ve been trying to prove to people that it’s a really awesome truck that’s not falling apart, and then mine starts to fall apart, so it’s just… Yeah, it’s kind of unfortunate and sad.”
Other Cybertruck Problems
Anti-Elon Musk protestor holds up a sign showing Musk using a right-arm salute to hold a marionette of Trump – Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images
While the Tesla Cybertruck’s first recall landed on January 30, 2024, a mere two months after the production Cybertruck was revealed, the fun didn’t really get started until April when Tesla was forced to recall the Cybertruck due to unintended acceleration. Apparently, no one noticed the plastic cover on the accelerator could easily come loose, pinning the pedal to the floor. The ridiculous windshield wiper also started causing problems, and Tesla was forced once again to recall the Cybertruck and fix it. About the same time, Tesla issued a separate recall because a piece of bed trim may not have been attached correctly and could fly off. The Cybertruck also had to be recalled in November over faulty inverters that could cause a total loss of power while driving. Those aren’t the only Cybertruck recalls, of course, but they’re definitely the most serious.
We also have a roundup of all the Cybertruck screwups from the first six months of production if you’re interested in that sort of thing. But only click if you’re interested.
It also isn’t like no one buying a Cybertruck could have possibly known that it would be a ***** or that Elon Musk was a far-right lunatic who lies constantly. You could maybe make the argument that regular people didn’t know about Tesla’s history of poor build quality and long repair times, failure to use automotive-grade components, environmental damage, worker abuse, rampant racism in the factories and constant exaggerations or outright lies. But by the time the Cybertruck came along, the era of plausible deniability was all over. Everyone who bought a Cybertruck knew what they were buying, and they liked it. After all, why else would you give $100,000 to a drugged-out oligarch who had allied himself with a party dedicated to destroying the planet?
Read the original article on Jalopnik.
Source link
#Tesla #Cybertruck #Body #Panels #Flying #Driving #Wrap #Shop #Owner #Figured
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Dow Falls 750 Points: UnitedHealth Stock Drop Spurs Index’s Worst Day Of 2025 – Forbes
Dow Falls 750 Points: UnitedHealth Stock Drop Spurs Index’s Worst Day Of 2025 – Forbes
Dow Falls 750 Points: UnitedHealth Stock Drop Spurs Index’s Worst Day Of 2025 ForbesDow Futures Fall On UNH Probe; Tech Giant Gaps Out Of Base Investor’s Business Daily
Source link
#Dow #Falls #Points #UnitedHealth #Stock #Drop #Spurs #Indexs #Worst #Day #Forbes
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
3 new PlayStation Plus games to play this weekend (February 21-23)
3 new PlayStation Plus games to play this weekend (February 21-23)
Table of Contents
Table of Contents
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 1
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Patapon 3
PlayStation Plus isn’t as consistent as Game Pass in adding day one titles to the service, but when we do get them, they tend to be excellent. The last State of Play revealed some exciting upcoming PS5 games coming to Plus on day one in the future, alongside games like Saros which are much further out, but one of the month’s most interesting games is already on the service. The rest of the lineup is nothing to sneeze at, either. From AAA games to the return of old favorites, we’ve got the perfect selection of games for you to dive into this weekend.
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage Tape 1
Lost Records: Bloom & Rage – First Look Gameplay Trailer | PS5 Games
The next game from developer Don’t Nod, the original creators of Life is Strange, is taking us back to the ’90s. Split into two parts (the second scheduled to release on April 15), Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is another adventure game focused on a group of four girls split between the summer of 1995 and 27 years later after the friends had a falling out. Whatever secret caused them to break apart has brought them back together. Anyone with nostalgia for the ’90s and a love for teen drama and mystery has nothing to lose giving this first chapter a shot. Thankfully the story is only split into two this time so you won’t have to wait multiple months between parts to finish the story.
Lost Records: Bloom and Rage is available now on PS5, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor – Official Reveal Trailer
Respawn might be best known for FPS games, but it somehow also managed to make two of the best third-person action-adventure games in the new Star Wars Jedi series. Survivor is the direct sequel to Fallen Order so playing that one first is highly recommended. The sequel improves upon the Metroidvania structure, adds new weapons, and a story that manages to be thrilling despite wedging itself within the movie canon. The game did suffer from some poor performance on consoles at launch, but now that it’s been almost two years since launch, nearly all those issues have been cleared up. Even if you aren’t a major Star Wars fan, this is just an excellent action game.
Star Wars Jedi: Survivor is available now on PS4, PS5, Xbox One, Xbox Series X/S, and PC.
Patapon 3
Patapon®3 – Story Trailer
Not all the PSP games added to Plus have been great, but no one should ignore this Patapon 3 port. If you’re unfamiliar with the series, Patapon is a rhythm action game where you direct your army of cute little monsters by pressing the face buttons to the beat. There’s no grand narrative to follow so you’re free to jump into this last entry and just enjoy the refined gameplay that adds in quests, customization options, and all the rewind and quicksave features you expect from ports such as this. If you just want a fun little time waster between ******* games, this is an excellent one to pick up, play a few rounds, and put down again.
Patapon 3 is available now on PS4 and PS5.
Source link
#PlayStation #games #play #weekend #February
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Man offers to split winnings after thieves win jackpot with his credit card
Man offers to split winnings after thieves win jackpot with his credit card
A Frenchman has appealed to two thieves who used his stolen credit card to purchase a jackpot-winning scratch card to come forward, promising to split the €500,000 (£413,664) prize with them.
Introducing himself as Jean-David E, the man told RTL radio that since the money would otherwise be seized by the authorities, he is looking to strike a deal with the thieves.
“Without me, they would not have won, but without them, I would not have bought this ticket. I want to offer them to share the winnings,” the Toulouse resident said.
No one has so far come forward with the winning ticket, which has been blocked by Française des Jeux (FDJ), the operator of France’s national lottery, according to Jean-David.
Jean-David discovered that his backpack containing his wallet had been stolen from his car parked in central Toulouse on the 3 February.
After calling his bank to block his credit card, he discovered that €52.50 (£43.47) had been spent via a contactless payment at Tabac des Thermes, a nearby corner shop. Jean-David went to the shop to see if the staff had seen anything suspicious or if any of his belongings had been abandoned at the shop.
“My client spoke to the cashier and discovered that two men who appeared to be homeless used his credit card to purchase cigarettes and several scratch cards”, Jean-David’s lawyer, Pierre Debuisson told the BBC.
The two men told the cashier that they had won the €500,000 jackpot on one of the cards and that they were planning on going to FDJ to claim their winnings.
The cashier found the two men’s behaviour suspicious as they were unable to enter the PIN number of one of the cards they attempted to make the purchase with, according to Jean-David.
After his conversation with the cashier, Jean-David contacted the local police who in turn reached out the FDJ to alert the games company.
The police are now likely to seize the winnings and should the thieves approach the FDJ themselves, they are likely to be arrested, according to Jean-Davide.
Scratch card winners have 30 days from the date of purchase to claim their winnings, and for Jean-Davide and his unlikely collaborators, the deadline is fast approaching.
His lawyer Mr Debuisson proposed an amnesty: “My client was very happy to have his credit card stolen in these circumstances and so is not looking to prosecute. This is also a miraculous opportunity for these two men to build a new life for themselves.”
“Unless they contact my lawyer, the ticket is unusable. So why not settle amicably and do fifty-fifty?,” 40-year-old Jean-David told RTL.
“For that amount of money, I’m ready to come to an agreement”, he added, explaining that he would use his share of the winnings – €250,000 (£206,988) – to help pay off his mortgage.
The FDJ and Toulouse police has been approached for comment.
Source link
#Man #offers #split #winnings #thieves #win #jackpot #credit #card
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]
Fortnite announces extended downtime for next update
Fortnite announces extended downtime for next update
Epic Games will release a new Fortnite season on Friday, and the downtime for it will be much longer than usual.
Source link
#Fortnite #announces #extended #downtime #update
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Vile troll’s threatening texts against David Sharaz, Brittany Higgins revealed
Vile troll’s threatening texts against David Sharaz, Brittany Higgins revealed
Vile texts threatening to “bury” Brittany Higgins and her husband David Sharaz, and “chop up” their dog Kingston can be revealed in full for the first time.
Source link
#Vile #trolls #threatening #texts #David #Sharaz #Brittany #Higgins #revealed
Pelican News
View the full article at [Hidden Content]
Privacy Notice: We utilize cookies to optimize your browsing experience and analyze website traffic. By consenting, you acknowledge and agree to our Cookie Policy, ensuring your privacy preferences are respected.
