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Bracketology Bubble Watch: Texas, Arkansas, Georgia among SEC teams looking to boost résumé Saturday – CBS Sports Bracketology Bubble Watch: Texas, Arkansas, Georgia among SEC teams looking to boost résumé Saturday – CBS Sports Bracketology Bubble Watch: Texas, Arkansas, Georgia among SEC teams looking to boost résumé Saturday CBS SportsTracking all 31 NCAA men’s basketball conference tournaments, auto bids for 2025 NCAA.comNCAA Tournament Bracket Watch 2025: For Alabama-Auburn week, more SEC history imagined – The Athletic The Athletic2025 NCAA Tournament Predictions: Projecting selection committee’s Top-16 reveal On3.comFive Story Lines to Watch in the Men’s NCAA Tournament Top 16 Reveal Sports Illustrated Source link #Bracketology #Bubble #Watch #Texas #Arkansas #Georgia #among #SEC #teams #boost #résumé #Saturday #CBS #Sports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Tides of Annihilation Was Released on Xbox – And Then It Wasn’t Tides of Annihilation Was Released on Xbox – And Then It Wasn’t Recently, eagle-eyed gamers spotted a listing on the Xbox Store for Tides of Annihilation, the new hack-n-slash title revealed by Eclipse Glow Games at the State of Play showcase. This ambitious, post-apocalyptic title turned heads for its representation of a tantalising combination between Stellar Blade and Elden Ring. The listing on the Xbox Store surfaced without warning and even had a price point associated with it – a modest sum of $22.49. However, gamers trying to purchase the game were met with something of a digital stonewall. Not Yet Tides of Annihilation isn’t out yet – and presently, nobody knows when it will be released. When it does drop it’ll be on Xbox Series, PlayStation 5, and PC. On social media, Wario64 shared an image of the Xbox Store, showing that Tides of Annihilation had seemingly been released and had a price point of just $22.49. This encouraged gamers to try purchasing the game, but they were met with nothing but a stonewall and a 300 MB ‘placeholder’ file. Unfortunately, the transactions were carried out as expected, which means players were charged the $22.49 that they paid for the file. It could have been that someone at Xbox was very excited about the prospect of Tides of Annihilation and pressed a button a little too early. Here’s the most recent extended gameplay trailer for Tides of Annihilation, just to loop you in and set your expectations: Tides of Annihilation is a mystical, post-apocalyptic title set in a torn rendition of London. The game’s protagonist, Gwendolyn, has an ethereal connection to spectral knights of Arthurian mythology and uses their powers to battle monumental and enormous boss characters. I recently caught up with Eclipse Glow Games to ask them about some of the core elements of Tides of Annihilation. Do you think ToA looks like your kind of game? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Marvel Rivals isn’t getting a PvE mode SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Tides #Annihilation #Released #Xbox #Wasnt Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

A-League Men: Perth Glory fall to 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City as winless run reaches five games A-League Men: Perth Glory fall to 1-0 defeat to Melbourne City as winless run reaches five games Perth Glory’s A-League Men’s winless streak has been extended to five matches after they went down 1-0 to an underwhelming Melbourne City at AAMI Park. Lawrence Wong’s exceptional first-half strike gave City the lead and it was all his side needed while the Glory had chances, but no sustained strong passages to really take the game to the hosts. The impact of Adam Taggart and Lachie Wales faded as the game wore on, with Perth’s midfield — missing Nicholas Pennington through a calf issue — struggled to get their two best forwards involved in the game. City, for their part, were not much better; save for the occasional flash of inspiration from Marco Tilio or Kavian Rahmani, it was not a performance to write home about other than it achieved their goal of a first three points in four games. Camera IconLawrence Wong celebrates scoring. Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images Played in a library-like atmosphere, with the numerous empty green seats of AAMI Park seemingly sapping any electricity in the air, the lack of energy in the crowd imposed itself on the game itself, which felt more akin to a game of walking football at times. A sleepy start was somewhat stirred when city goalkeeper Patrick Beach produced a one-handed save to deny Wales after the ball fell kindly to him in the 16th minute. Given a reprieve despite his error which gifted Central Coast a point last week, Perth ‘keeper Oli Sail was forced into action twice by Rahmani – the first an attempt he saved with his feet, the second a curled effort which was beaten away. Moments later, Perth had a pair of chances to take the lead when Taras Gomulka’s hesitation following an errant Beach clearance cost him a shot on target, but from the resultant corner, Tomi Mrcela’s header was kept out only by the crossbar. Camera IconMarco Tilio goes flying. Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images Perth’s lack of clinical finishing in front of goal returned to haunt them in the 37th minute when Tilio worked his way into the middle of the pitch and the ball rolled to Wong, whose first-time effort beat Sail all ends up. The Glory were caught on the hop again almost straight away when Max Caputo tapped in after a breakaway, but he was correctly deemed offside. Still, they should have gone into half-time level when Anas Hamzaoui’s dinked ball to the back post was not cleared by the hosts, only for Will Freney to dispatch the loose ball over the bar. If the first half felt tired at times, the second one felt like it had nodded off altogether as both sides struggled to test the goalkeeper or swing the pendulum in their favour as passes went astray and chances dried up almost completely. Camera IconAnas Hamzaoui of Perth Glory heads the ball under pressure from Mathew Leckie. Credit: Daniel Pockett/Getty Images Nikola Mileusnic, starting his first Glory game all season, was afforded time and space in the middle of the park as he raced towards the goal, but while his shot was on target, it failed to really test Beach. Trent Ostler had a similar attempt about 20 minutes later, in the final quarter-hour of the game, which in itself spoke volumes about Perth’s chance creation, before City substitute Mikey Ghossaini missed a simple finish up the other end late in a fitting end to the match. Source link #ALeague #Men #Perth #Glory #fall #defeat #Melbourne #City #winless #run #reaches #games Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Earthquake in El Paso? 5.0 magnitude quake hits West Texas late Friday Earthquake in El Paso? 5.0 magnitude quake hits West Texas late Friday El Pasoans might’ve felt some shaking from an earthquake. A 5.0 magnitude earthquake shook western Texas late Friday, Feb. 14, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. The earthquake happened around 10:23 p.m. MT, nearly 33 miles northwest of Toyah, Texas, about 190 miles from El Paso. The earthquake hit at a depth of 6.6 kilometers and some strong shaking could be felt in the immediate area, according to the USGS. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement The National Weather Service office in El Paso said they felt an aftershock. “Looks like it was a magnitude 4.9 and am assuming the “aftershock” was 2.6 magnitude, National Weather Service office in El Paso said No damage or injuries have been immediately reported. This article originally appeared on El Paso Times: El Paso earthquake 2025: West Texas hit by 5.0 magnitude quake Source link #Earthquake #Paso #magnitude #quake #hits #West #Texas #late #Friday Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Judge extends block on Elon Musk's DOGE from accessing Treasury systems – Reuters Judge extends block on Elon Musk's DOGE from accessing Treasury systems – Reuters Judge extends block on Elon Musk’s DOGE from accessing Treasury systems ReutersJudge extends order blocking Musk’s DOGE team from Treasury payment system Fox NewsUS judges bar Musk’s DOGE from Treasury, allow access to health, labor Reuters Source link #Judge #extends #block #Elon #Musk039s #DOGE #accessing #Treasury #systems #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

EDITORIAL: Anti-Semitism must not be permitted to take root in WA EDITORIAL: Anti-Semitism must not be permitted to take root in WA Australians watched in horror this week as our anti-Semitism crisis sunk to an appalling new low. Source link #EDITORIAL #AntiSemitism #permitted #root Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Welcome to the moon! Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander reaches lunar orbit (video, photos) Welcome to the moon! Firefly’s Blue Ghost lander reaches lunar orbit (video, photos) When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. Credit: Firefly Aerospace Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lander has made it to the moon. Blue Ghost fired its engines for four minutes and 15 seconds on Thursday (Feb. 13), injecting itself into an elliptical lunar orbit ahead of a planned touchdown try a little over two weeks from now. The spacecraft commemorated the milestone by snapping some photos, a number of which Firefly stitched into a dramatic, 27-second-long time-lapse video. Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander captured this photo of the moon shortly after arriving in lunar orbit on Feb. 13, 2025. | Credit: Firefly Aerospace “I love you to the moon, but not back — I’m staying there,” the Texas-based company wrote (from Blue Ghost’s perspective) today (Feb. 14) in an X post that shared the video. Related: Firefly’s Blue Ghost lunar lander leaves Earth orbit to head for the moon Blue Ghost launched Jan. 15 atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket. The lander’s mission, called “Ghost Riders in the Sky,” is part of NASA’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) program. Blue Ghost is carrying 10 science and technology experiments for the agency, which wants to better understand the lunar environment before sending astronauts back to the moon via its Artemis program. Blue Ghost will spend the next 16 days in lunar orbit, if all goes to plan. It will conduct additional engine burns to circularize its path around Earth’s nearest neighbor, then attempt a landing in the Mare Crisium (“Sea of Crises”) region of the moon’s near side on March 2. Success would be historic. To date, just one private company, Houston-based Intuitive Machines, has soft-landed a spacecraft on the moon. That milestone came in February 2024, when a spacecraft called Odysseus touched down near the lunar south pole, also on a CLPS-backed mission. This Blue Ghost lunar-orbit selfie shows the lander’s solar panel and X-band antenna (left), as well as NASA’s LEXI payload (right). | Credit: Firefly Aerospace RELATED STORIES: — Blue Ghost moon lander sees Earth as a ‘blue marble’ from orbit (photo) — Watch Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost moon lander witness an eclipse from space (video) — Here’s what NASA is sending to the moon on Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost lunar lander Blue Ghost didn’t take flight alone last month; Resilience, a moon lander built by Tokyo-based company ispace, lifted off aboard the same Falcon 9. Resilience’s path to the moon is longer and more circuitous than Blue Ghost’s, however; the Japanese lander is expected to arrive in lunar orbit about 3.5 months from now. Resilience, which isn’t carrying any NASA payloads, is ispace’s second moon lander. The first successfully reached lunar orbit in March 2023 but crashed during its touchdown attempt a month later after getting confused by the rim of a crater. And there’s more moon-mission action coming soon. Intuitive Machines is scheduled to launch its second lunar lander, Athena, on Feb. 26, also on a Falcon 9. Athena’s flight is supported by CLPS as well. Source link #moon #Fireflys #Blue #Ghost #lander #reaches #lunar #orbit #video #photos Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Marvel Rivals Devs Have No Plans For a PvE Mode Marvel Rivals Devs Have No Plans For a PvE Mode Marvel Rivals continues to stun gamers worldwide since debuting in December 2024. This free-to-play hero shooter has pulled in tens of millions of fans, dominating the charts and attracting all kinds of top-tier content creators and pro players. Recently, it was revealed that a $400,000 esports tournament is already planned to take place. In a recent interview, Marvel Rivals’ developer, NetEase, offered up a tidbit of information regarding the future of the game, looking specifically at a PvE mode. This is one of the most talked-about topics in the community, but what’s the chance it’ll be added? Not Yet In an interview with IGN, NetEase’s producer, Weicong Wu, spoke about PvE mode for Marvel Rivals. It’s a feature that many players have requested, either to seek a lesser challenge or to potentially sharpen their skills for when they fight real players. Here’s what Wu said: For now we don’t have any kind of a PvE plan, but our development team is continuously experimenting with new game play modes. So if we found that a new specific game mode is entertaining enough, fun enough, we would of course bring it to our audience. NetEase is aware of the demand, of course. Wu explained, ‘We believe there are some of our audience that would like the PvE mode.’ For now, the team at NetEase is ‘continuously experimenting’ with ways to please everyone and one proposed solution is a ‘lighter mode’ instead of a full-blown PvE experience. It was revealed in the same interview, which took place at DICE in Las Vegas, that the developer is ‘open’ to bringing Marvel Rivals to Nintendo Switch 2, which would be a boon for the platform. Would you like to see a PvE mode surface in Marvel Rivals? Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum what you think. For more Insider Gaming coverage, check out the news that Gray Zone Warfare is getting new features SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Marvel #Rivals #Devs #Plans #PvE #Mode Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Donald Trump admin fires nuclear staff not realising they oversee US weapons stockpile: Report – Hindustan Times Donald Trump admin fires nuclear staff not realising they oversee US weapons stockpile: Report – Hindustan Times Donald Trump admin fires nuclear staff not realising they oversee US weapons stockpile: Report Hindustan TimesDismissed Nuclear Bomb Specialists Recalled by Energy Department BloombergUS nuclear weapons agency hit by layoffs after DOGE exemption denied USA TODAY Source link #Donald #Trump #admin #fires #nuclear #staff #realising #oversee #weapons #stockpile #Report #Hindustan #Times Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Teen sensation steers City past Perth in ALM Teen sensation steers City past Perth in ALM Melbourne City have snapped a three-game losing run with a 1-0 win over struggling Perth Glory, thanks to a super goal from teenager Lawrence Wong. Source link #Teen #sensation #steers #City #Perth #ALM Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Trump closed a loophole for low-cost imports ‒ until all hell broke loose Trump closed a loophole for low-cost imports ‒ until all hell broke loose By Laura Gottesdiener and Stephen Eisenhammer (Reuters) -Days after U.S. President Donald Trump ended duty-free entry for cheap ******** goods entering the U.S., his administration put the order on hold after more than a million packages piled up at New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport. It was the result of a rushed, confusing policy change that proved unworkable on short notice. Government officials are now scrambling to implement the order in a way that won’t cripple America’s hyper-efficient import system. Trump’s executive order took aim at a little-known trade rule called “de minimis.” Merchandise with a value totaling less than $800 is allowed to enter the country duty-free and with minimal inspections. The number of shipments entering the U.S. through this tax-free channel has exploded in recent years, reaching nearly 1.4 billion packages last year, due largely to online shopping. More than 90% of all packages coming into the U.S. now enter via de minimis. Of those, about 60% come from China, led by direct-to-consumer retailers such as Temu and Shein. Trump campaigned on a promise to punish China for the role it has played in the synthetic opioid crisis that has killed more than 450,000 Americans in the last decade. ******** chemical makers are the top suppliers of raw materials purchased by Mexico’s cartels to produce the deadly drug, U.S. anti-narcotics officials say. A Reuters investigation last year detailed how traffickers often route these chemicals through the United States by exploiting the de minimis rule. China has repeatedly denied culpability. In a February 1 executive order, Trump announced an additional 10% across-the-board tariff on all ******** imports and ended the de minimis exemption for ******** low-value packages that had previously entered duty free. The White House gave just three days for the policy to take effect. On February 7, the portion of Trump’s order affecting de minimis parcels was paused because those responsible for carrying out the order had not been given sufficient time to prepare. Packages were stacking up at ports of entry, including at JFK Airport. Logistics experts say it was impossible for major parcel carriers, e-commerce platforms, the U.S. Postal Service and U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) to overhaul their operations in a matter of days to begin collecting tariffs on previously exempt goods, especially with millions of de minimis packages already en route from China. “You just can’t snap your fingers….it doesn’t work that way,” said former senior CBP official John Leonard, who retired from the agency in 2024. Story Continues Leonard said these types of major changes have traditionally taken months to implement, and they involve close collaboration between CBP and the private sector. The U.S. de minimis rule, which dates back to 1938, has been the target of growing criticism from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers. Some have derided it as a loophole that allows cheap ******** products to flood into the U.S. and undercut American industries, while also serving as cover for smuggling contraband such as ******** drugs and their precursor chemicals. A Reuters series last year penetrated the supply chain for fentanyl-making chemicals and showed how traffickers take advantage of the massive volume of de minimis packages in order to sneak precursors into the country. Despite growing consensus for the need to reduce the number of packages coming in through de minimis, the sheer volume means that any changes to the regulations need to be well considered and implemented on a time frame that gives shippers and CBP time to adjust, a half-dozen private logistics experts, former customs officials and politicians told Reuters. The need to pay duties on the millions of low-value packages coming from China each day also risks slowing a shipping system built to move parcels quickly and that is ill-equipped to store large quantities of goods for any length of time. American shoppers have become accustomed to nearly seamless delivery of online orders of affordable clothing and gadgets from China. U.S. Representative Rosa DeLauro, a Connecticut Democrat, supports ending de minimis exemptions entirely for all countries, not just China. But she said Trump’s surprise order caught the shipping industry off guard. The federal government traditionally would solicit input from affected parties and give them months to prepare. “You have to have put in place some sort of an infrastructure,” DeLauro said. “You don’t start saying, ‘I’m going to change the world,’ and then don’t figure out how the heck you’re going to do that.” She also criticized Trump’s order as being too geographically limited. She said companies currently manufacturing in China could move operations to places such as Vietnam and Thailand and export it from there in efforts to skirt the de minimis ban on ******** goods. Trump has now put the Commerce Department in charge of figuring out how to make his policy work. A particular challenge is the government-owned United States Postal Service (USPS). Although USPS only accounted for about 5% of last year’s total de minimis shipments, some 75 million parcels, experts described it as the Achilles heel of any policy to remove tariff exemptions on low-value shipments. USPS, with a history developed around the receiving and sending of letters, is not set up to assess and process duties on packages of sweaters, shoes and headphones coming from abroad. Express carriers like FedEx, UPS and DHL have in-house customs brokerage divisions that collect any tariffs owed by package recipients, and these companies often handle every step of a delivery, from drop-off to doorstep. In contrast, USPS receives items from foreign postal services that are flown into a handful of international mail facilities at major U.S. airports. These packages often arrive with limited information about their contents. In addition, USPS is not set up to process tariffs. “The postal service has absolutely no way, themselves, to collect duty or pay duty to the government,” said Cindy Allen, CEO of Trade Force Multiplier, an international trade consultancy service, and a former CBP official. Following Trump’s order, USPS on February 4 temporarily stopped accepting incoming packages from China and Hong Kong as it worked to figure out how the duties might be collected. It reversed course some 12 hours later. In a public statement, the postal service said it was working with CBP to “implement an efficient collection mechanism for the new China tariffs to ensure the least disruption to package delivery.” To start processing duty on millions of incoming packages, USPS would likely have to partner with customs brokers, experts said. Another option would be to exempt USPS from the new rules. But that could drive a surge of low-value goods into the international mail, where CBP has struggled to effectively screen parcels and comply with legislation aimed at stopping fentanyl trafficking. USPS did not reply to requests for comment. The U.S. Postal Inspection Service, the law enforcement arm of the agency, told Reuters last year that it works tirelessly with U.S. Customs and other partners “to combat illicit drugs entering the mail.” DHL, UPS and FedEx said they comply with all regulations and have the capacity to adapt to the changes as required. CBP did not respond to a request for comment. CBP is also going to need more people inspecting incoming packages, experts said. It is unclear where those extra personnel might come from given that the Trump administration is now focused on downsizing the federal workforce. The Trump administration intends to reinstate the ban on de minimis “in short order,” an administration official told Reuters. Whenever that is, it could be another rocky rollout, said Lars-Erik Hjelm, a lawyer specializing in international trade law who used to work for U.S customs. Global shipping routes can be circuitous, with goods frequently passing through various countries before entering the United States. Hjelm said that presents a challenge because it would be harder to establish the ******** origin of the merchandise. “It’s going to be chaotic, no matter what,” he said. (Reporting by Laura Gottesdeiner in Monterrey, Mexico, and Stephen Eisenhammer in Mexico City;Editing by Marla Dickerson) Source link #Trump #closed #loophole #lowcost #imports #hell #broke #loose Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Dismissed Nuclear Bomb Specialists Recalled by Energy Department – Bloomberg Dismissed Nuclear Bomb Specialists Recalled by Energy Department – Bloomberg Dismissed Nuclear Bomb Specialists Recalled by Energy Department BloombergUS nuclear weapons agency hit by layoffs after DOGE exemption denied USA TODAYSweeping US energy department layoffs hit offices of loans, nuclear security, sources say Reuters Source link #Dismissed #Nuclear #Bomb #Specialists #Recalled #Energy #Department #Bloomberg Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Two Blues batter honoured as an Allstar Two Blues batter honoured as an Allstar Waqar ali Ahmed’s strong A-section performances for the Eastern Goldfields Cricket Association at last month’s annual country week series in Perth has been rewarded with Allstars selection. Ahmed was the only player from the EGCA honoured, after he compiled 197 runs at 49.25 to be ranked second overall — behind Bunbury’s Bradman May (220 runs at 55.00). May was the lone Bunbury player recognised as an Allstar while Albany boasted three — despite losing the A-section final against Geraldton, who had two representatives. Ahmed’s series was underpinned by a brilliant 127 on the third day in the EGCA’s win against Busselton-Margaret River. His innings comprised 138 ****** and featured 11 fours and five sixes. A-grade domestic fixtures continue on Saturday when Great Boulder play Hannans and North Kalgoorlie oppose Lake View. The Two Blues hold first place on the ladder by two games over Hannans. Source link #Blues #batter #honoured #Allstar Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Cloud9 Announces ‘Step Back’ From Counter-Strike 2 Esports Cloud9 Announces ‘Step Back’ From Counter-Strike 2 Esports Cloud9 has revealed on social media that the organisation is ‘taking a step back’ from Counter-Strike 2 esports. In January, the organisation dropped the final members of its Counter-Strike roster, and for the last month or so, fans have been kept in the dark concerning the future of the brand in the CS2 space. With the announcement that Sweetypotz and Groove are departing the organisation, the revelation was made that Cloud9 is taking an indefinite hiatus from Counter-Strike. No Plans In the post on social media, the Cloud9 social team wrote: With their departures, C9 is taking a step back from Counter-Strike 2. While we have no immediate plans to re-enter, we love CS and are always on the lookout for opportunities. Cloud9 has had a tough time of late in the Counter-Strike world. The organisation hasn’t won a major trophy since IEM Dallas in 2022. There have been sporadic wins at some lower-tier tournaments since then, but for the most part, Cloud9 has played second fiddle to the biggest winners in the Counter-Strike 2 scene. In 2024, the best that Cloud9 could muster was a sixth-place finish at the PGL Major in Copenhagen. It was a dire year for the organisation, with the team landing the following results in some key competitions: IEM Katowice 2024 – 16th place IEM Chengdu 2024 – 12th place Perfect World Shanghai – 21st place Thunderpick World Championship – 10th place This news comes relatively close to the start of IEM Dallas, which will run through May 2025. Any hopes of Cloud9 reclaiming a sense of former glory at this event have been extinguished, but it might not be the end for the organisation. There are no plans to re-enter immediately, but something could emerge between now and May. For more Insider Gaming esports, check out the news that Team BDS is in the Six Invitational grand final SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Cloud9 #Announces #Step #CounterStrike #Esports Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Toyota primes baby Land Cruiser to take on Defender Toyota primes baby Land Cruiser to take on Defender Toyota Compact Cruiser EV render Autocar front quarter Blocky, upright proportions of Compact Cruiser concept are a clear nod to its 1960s ancestor Toyota is preparing to expand and electrify the Land Cruiser line-up over the coming years, introducing an affordable, urban-focused derivative and a range-topping luxury model, to establish the name as a brand in its own right. The new electric cars will follow the new ‘core’ Land Cruiser. That model arrives later this year with pure-diesel and mild-hybrid engine options and it is likely to be the final combustion-powered version of Toyota’s venerable offroader, launched in 1951. Positioned either side of this new ‘J250’ model in marketing terms, the two new electric Land Cruisers will broaden the model line’s appeal by taking it into both more affordable and more luxurious territory, respectively. Hinting at the rationale behind this new expanded line-up, Toyota’s chief branding officer, Simon Humphries, said the company is “exploring new approaches to mobility that not only enhance the Land Cruiser experience but also further people’s freedom in motion”. Humphries added: “Our customers trust in us to keep Land Cruiser relevant and thriving toward the future.” Toyota Compact Cruiser: What we know so far Toyota Compact Cruiser concept front quarter Previewed as a concept but looking nearly production ready, the Toyota Compact Cruiser is a squat, rugged family SUV that attempts to offer the spirit of the Land Cruiser in a smaller, more affordable guise. Toyota said the concept was designed to “show how the ‘Cruiser’ moniker can adapt to an all-electric and ultramodern environment”, with a focus on young city buyers “who en joy active outdoor leisure interests”. Humphries said Toyota is evaluating how to make the Land Cruiser line-up “more affordable” and “within reach of even more people around the world” as it electrifies. The new compact model will serve as a more style-focused, utilitarian alternative to the similarly sized Toyota bZ4X, no doubt commanding a small premium to take it into contention with more premium-oriented rivals like the upcoming ‘baby’ Land Rover Defender and Mercedes’ ‘little’ G-Class. Story continues Toyota Concept Cruiser concept side It was designed at Toyota’s ED2 development centre in Nice, France – notably by the same team responsible for the radically styled Toyota Aygo X and Toyota C-HR concepts. Those two concepts evolved into near-identical production cars, suggesting the showroom version of the Compact Cruiser will stay true to the concept. The visual relationship with the new combustion-powered Land Cruiser is clear. So, too, is the influence of the seminal J40-generation Land Cruiser of the 1960s, lending credence to reports that the FJ Cruiser name – used from 2006 until 2022 for a similarly conceived retro off-roader – will be revived. The Compact Cruiser’s blocky, upright proportions and squared-off arches are clear nods to both its 1960s ancestor and the later FJ. A range of go-anywhere accessories (including a roof rack, auxiliary lights and branch deflector wires) hint at a degree of comparable off-road ability. Toyota Concept Cruiser Concept rear quarter It is expected to ride on a variation of the E-TNGA platform that underpins the bZ4X, which produces up to 214bhp and has a 71.4kWh battery, giving a claimed 259mile maximum range. The bZ4X is available with both single- and twin-motor powertrains. However, Toyota says the concept is all-wheel drive, suggesting that arrangement will be standard, in line with the car’s rugged billing. Toyota Land Cruiser SE: What we know so far Toyota Land Cruiser SE Autocar render At the other end of the expanded line-up will be the much larger and more luxurious Toyota Land Cruiser SE. It will be entirely unrelated – technically and visually – to the utilitarian, off-road-focused Land Cruisers that have gone before. It was displayed as a concept at the Tokyo show as part of a line-up that previews a totally overhauled range of Toyota EVs arriving in the second half of the decade. Other vehicles in this reimagined line-up include production versions of the FT-SE sports coupé, EPU pick-up and FT-3E crossover. At the heart of this new family of electric cars lies a ‘gigacasted’ chassis comprising three modular sections – front, centre and rear. This will dramatically improve manufacturing efficiencies by minimising the number of individual components used in each car while allowing Toyota to build models with very different proportions atop the same platform. The drivetrain and ancillary systems will be downsized as far as possible in a bid to reduce material usage, improve interior packaging and cut costs. The Land Cruiser SE – which could launch in 2026 to mark the Land Cruiser’s 75th anniversary – will be equipped with Toyota’s new ‘Performance’ prismatic battery, which is said to be 20% cheaper to make than the pack in today’s bZ4X while potentially doubling the range and being substantially smaller. A ‘High-Performance’ battery option due by 2028 will cut costs by a further 10% and bump the range to as much as 621 miles in certain models. Expected to be among the largest and heaviest cars in Toyota’s new-look line-up, the luxury Land Cruiser is unlikely to tout the loftiest range figures, but will no doubt still exceed the range of most electric SUVs on ***** today. Despite the SE’s radically different design and road-focused billing, Toyota remains committed to the core values of the Land Cruiser brand and says the SE will offer “highly responsible handling” in off-road situations, aided by the “high-torque driving characteristics of a battery-electric vehicle” and its modern monocoque, rather than ladder-frame, construction. ]]> Source link #Toyota #primes #baby #Land #Cruiser #Defender Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Zelenskiy says Ukraine has 'low chance' of survival without US backing – Reuters Zelenskiy says Ukraine has 'low chance' of survival without US backing – Reuters Zelenskiy says Ukraine has ‘low chance’ of survival without US backing ReutersZelensky Says Ukraine Is Unlikely to Survive the War Without U.S. Support The New York Times’Ukraine has low chance to survive without US support’: Zelenskyy The Times of IndiaZelensky reveals what he told President Trump about Putin and ending the war CNN Source link #Zelenskiy #Ukraine #039low #chance039 #survival #backing #Reuters Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

How Somalia sees the Mogadishu battle three decades on How Somalia sees the Mogadishu battle three decades on Abdishukri Haybe BBC Somali Netflix Binti Ali Wardhere lost many members of her family in the fighting The expression ****** Hawk Down, the title of a Hollywood film, has become shorthand for a 1993 US military disaster in Somalia. Eighteen American soldiers lost their lives in the fighting that began on 3 October, but so did hundreds of Somalis. As Netflix launches a documentary about those events, the BBC has spoken to some Somalis still scarred by what happened. Despite being surrounded by the debris of an ongoing civil war, Mogadishu’s residents in the early 1990s embraced the moments of serenity. The warm Sunday sunshine and cooling ocean breeze made for the perfect opportunity for Binti Ali Wardhere, 24 at the time, to visit relatives with her mother. “That day was calm,” she remembers. But like everyone else in the city she was unaware that the Americans were getting ready to attack warlord Mohamed Farah Aideed – and what happened would change her life forever. The US had deployed soldiers to Somalia in 1992. They were there to support a UN mission that offered humanitarian assistance to alleviate a famine – in part caused by the collapse of the central government. But after Aideed was blamed for being behind the killing of 24 UN peacekeepers in June 1993, he became a focus of military action. This included a US raid in July in which at least 70 Somalis died, marking a turning-point in the way the Americans were viewed. It also led to the deployment of elite US Rangers. On 3 October, the US got intelligence that Aideed would be at a meeting with his top officials at a hotel. The Americans launched an airborne operation that was supposed to take 90 minutes – in the end it lasted 17 hours. AFP A photographer snapped this image of a ****** Hawk in Mogadishu the month before the US attack For Binti, the first sign that something unusual was happening was the sound of deafening explosions that started just after 15:30 local time. Mogadishu residents had become accustomed to the sound of fighting, but there was something about the magnitude of these blasts and the shockwaves they caused that felt abnormal. People began fleeing in all directions. Determined to understand what was happening, Binti climbed to the rooftop of her relative’s house. From there, she saw that the fighting was taking place in her own neighbourhood. Two US ****** Hawk helicopters were shot down, one at 16:20 and the other at 16:40. The taskforce was surrounded and then a rescue mission began. Fearing for her family, Binti ran for home. “To this day, I still see the bodies scattered in the streets,” she says. Binti reached her house just after 18:00 and was relieved to find everyone safe. The fighting eased a little bit, bringing a brief moment of calm. She served tea as her husband discussed the war with a neighbour. But he did not have a chance to taste the tea as a shell hit their house. Binti felt her hand get partially severed. She fell to the ground, a woman collapsed on top of her. “There was hot water running over my head. I thought to myself: ‘Who opened the water pipe?'” She then realised it was the blood of the person on top of her, who had died. It was Binti’s neighbour who had come to their house for safety. That night, Binti also lost her husband, Mohamed Aden, and two sons – 14-year-old Abdulkadir Mohamed and 13-year-old Abdurahman Mohamed. Four of her other children, along with her brother, who had been staying with them, were injured. Her brother later succumbed to his injuries. Ifrah, who was just four years old at the time, was permanently blinded. Binti’s eldest son, now a father himself, continues to struggle with mental health issues. To this day, the sight or sound of an aeroplane sends him into hiding. Netflix The footage shot by Ahmed Mohamed Hassan was the first the world saw of the battle in Mogadishu He did not know it on that quiet Sunday morning, but prominent cameraman Ahmed Mohamed Hassan, also known as Ahmed Five, was to play a major role in how the events were seen. Twenty-nine at the time, he had already documented clan wars, famine and the chaotic events of Mogadishu and its suburbs. That day, he was not thinking about work when the explosions rattled the air. The sounds of helicopter gunfire and heavy machine guns signalled something more intense than the crackle of AK-47 that he normally heard. Ahmed always carried his camera, knowing that in Mogadishu anything could happen at any moment. He instinctively began documenting the unfolding chaos and headed towards the heart of the battle. “Although this situation was completely different from the ones I had worked in before, I still decided to record these events and take on that responsibility,” he tells the BBC. The closest event he had ever witnessed to this was the July raid which galvanised anti-American sentiment and set the stage for October’s confrontation. AFP US military hardware was seen on fire on the streets of Mogadishu in the aftermath of the fighting On the first day, he filmed some of the fighting between the US soldiers and the Somalis. Then on the second day, he was led to a house where US pilot Michael Durant was being held. Mr Durant had been flying the second ****** Hawk that had come down after it was hit by a rocket-propelled grenade. After crashing, his three crew members were killed in the fighting along with two others who had gone to rescue them. “It was a huge gun battle. They say that 25 Somalis were killed by gunfire at ****** site two, so that gives you some insight into how much shooting was going on,” Mr Durant later told the BBC. He was saved when a gunman recognised that the pilot might have value as a prisoner. Ahmed then filmed the nervous and battered American who had several scars on his face. He can be seen confirming his identity while breathing heavily and glancing to his side at an interrogator, who is out of shot. Until that point, neither the US nor Aideed knew Mr Durant was being held, Ahmed says. “I handed the videotapes to a UN plane that flew daily from Mogadishu to Nairobi [in neighbouring Kenya]. “The first report of the Mogadishu battle to reach the world was from the footage I recorded. At the time, I was working as a freelancer for CNN.” The images captured by Ahmed made headlines around the world. They also fed into the debate about US combat policy in the African continent, which shifted after the fighting in Mogadishu. “This is something I take pride in – though at the time, I didn’t anticipate its impact,” Ahmed says. Within six months, the US had withdrawn its forces from Somalia. The perceived failure of the Somali mission made the US wary of intervening in subsequent African crises. Netflix Saida Omar Mohamud gave her daughter a name that will forever be linked to what happened The third of October started as a day of celebration in Saida Omar Mohamud’s household as that morning she gave birth to a baby girl. Relatives and neighbours gathered at her home to congratulate her, as the family prepared for a traditional name-giving ceremony. But the mood shifted once the fighting started. Chaos erupted as the first helicopter crashed in front of Saida’s home. Within moments, she remembers at least 10 US soldiers storming into the house. They gathered everyone into the living room, ordering them not to move and turned it into an impromptu field hospital. The family watched in shock as wounded soldiers were laid on their dining table, receiving emergency medical treatment. “Although they were afraid, they made us scared as well. They turned our house into a stronghold,” Saida says. As well as her own searing memories, Saida left a permanent reminder of that day with what she decided to call her daughter, As Somalis say, “no name is given without a reason” and so Saida’s little girl is now known as Amina Rangers. The Netflix documentary features “raw, immersive storytelling with first-person interviews from both sides of the Battle of Mogadishu”, according to the publicity. It sheds light on the horrors experienced by Somalis like Binti during the conflict. “This time, Somalis were given the opportunity to share their account of events. It is crucial that both sides of the story are always told,” Ahmed Five says. But for Binti Ali, simply telling the story is not enough. She lost loved ones in the war. Yet she feels the devastation inflicted on Somali families like hers remains largely unacknowledged. “It was the Americans who destroyed my house, killed my husband, my two sons, and my brother, and left my family in lasting misery,” she says, her voice breaking. “At the very least, they must admit what they have done and compensate us.” You may also be interested in:Getty Images/BBC Source link #Somalia #sees #Mogadishu #battle #decades Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Man shot by cops after allegedly wielding meat cleaver Man shot by cops after allegedly wielding meat cleaver A man has been shot by police after he allegedly ran towards officers while armed with a meat cleaver. Source link #Man #shot #cops #allegedly #wielding #meat #cleaver Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Crowd gathers as militants prepare to release more hostages Crowd gathers as militants prepare to release more hostages Three more Israelis held captive in the Gaza Strip are on the verge of being freed by ******-led militants as part of a shaky ceasefire deal that requires Israel to release hundreds of ************ prisoners in exchange. The truce that began nearly four weeks ago had been jeopardized in recent days by a tense dispute that threatened to renew the fighting. Source link #Crowd #gathers #militants #prepare #release #hostages Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]

Jane Doe drops ******* assault lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – CNN Jane Doe drops ******* assault lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs – CNN Jane Doe drops ******* assault lawsuit against Jay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs CNNJay-Z, Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ******* assault accuser drops lawsuit Fox NewsJay-Z and Sean ‘Diddy’ Combs’ ***** Lawsuit Dismissed by Jane Doe’s Attorney Variety Source link #Jane #Doe #drops #******* #assault #lawsuit #JayZ #Sean #Diddy #Combs #CNN Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Team BDS Reaches The Grand Final of the Six Invitational 2025 Team BDS Reaches The Grand Final of the Six Invitational 2025 Team BDS is the first organisation to qualify for the grand final at the Six Invitational 2025, which will unravel tomorrow in Boston. Following a solid run through the upper bracket, Team BDS has found a spot in yet another pole position and remains the favourite to win the event and claim the $1 million prize. To get there, Team BDS had to throw the likes of Unwanted and FURIA into the lower bracket. Both of these teams now stand a chance of squaring up against Team BDS once again to deliver an age-old tale of revenge, but FaZe Clan could also surface in the grand final. Not Long Left Today, two matches will play out, the first being a clash between Unwanted and FaZe Clan. From there, the winner will play FURIA for a spot in the grand final. One of these three teams will face off against a dominant Team BDS, which finds itself in a grand final for the fourth time this season. Last year, Team BDS secured the top spot at the inaugural Esports World Cup, earning a prestigious place in the gaming history books. Team BDS has enjoyed a solid streak through the Six Invitational, which is one of the biggest and most valuable esports tournaments in the world. The squad topped the charts in the group stage, and as the team steamed through the playoffs bracket, it forced Unwanted, Spacestation, and FURIA into the elimination bracket after earning a bye thanks to group seeding. This could be Team BDS’ first Six Invitational Win. Currently, every team in the running except FaZe Clan has never seen a grand final at the Six Invitational. Here’s a spread of the past winners of the Six Invitational: 2017 – Elevate & Continuum 2018 – PENTA 2019 – G2 Esports 2020 – Spacestation 2021 – Ninjas in Pyjamas 2022 – TSM 2023 – G2 Esports 2024 – w7m Esports Do you think Team BDS can break through the grand final and lift the hammer in Boston? Right now, the team is guaranteed to win at least $450,000. Let us know on the Insider Gaming forum. For more Insider Gaming esports coverage, check out the news that a $400,000 Marvel Rivals tournament is coming SUBSCRIBE to our newsletter to receive the latest news and exclusive leaks every week! No Spam. Source link #Team #BDS #Reaches #Grand #Final #Invitational Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Manhunt after woman seriously injured at village pub Manhunt after woman seriously injured at village pub A search is under way for a man after a woman was left seriously injured in an incident at a village pub near Sevenoaks. Kent Police said they were called to a “disturbance” at the Three Horseshoes on Main Road, Knockholt, just after 19:00 GMT. Officers attended the scene along with South East Coast Ambulance Service where a woman in her 40s had “suffered serious injuries”. Witnesses told BBC and local media that they had been told the woman had been shot, although this was not confirmed by police. Steve Maines, a parish councillor in Knockholt, told the BBC he had been told that shots had been fired. He said: “We were sitting having our Valentine’s Day meal when all of a sudden we heard this huge commotion outside in the car park. “We were told someone had been shot so we had to leave.” The Three Horseshoes is located around five miles (8km) north-east of Sevenoaks. A Kent Police spokesman said: “The suspect, a man who is believed to be known to the victim, left the area and is currently outstanding. “Enquiries to locate him and to establish the full circumstances are ongoing.” Source link #Manhunt #woman #injured #village #pub Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Laverton roadside ******* jailed for six years after being found guilty by jury in Kalgoorlie District Court Laverton roadside ******* jailed for six years after being found guilty by jury in Kalgoorlie District Court Daniel Edward Polak has been jailed for six years for the roadside ***** of a woman in Laverton two years ago. Source link #Laverton #roadside #******* #jailed #years #guilty #jury #Kalgoorlie #District #Court Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

Best of NBA All-Star Weekend 2025, from celebrity game to slam dunk contest – USA TODAY Best of NBA All-Star Weekend 2025, from celebrity game to slam dunk contest – USA TODAY Best of NBA All-Star Weekend 2025, from celebrity game to slam dunk contest USA TODAYCastle opens busy weekend with Rising Stars MVP ESPNTeam C knocks off Team G League to claim 2025 Castrol Rising Stars NBA.ComWhere to watch 2025 NBA Rising Stars Game: Time, TV channel, rosters, stream as All-Star Weekend kicks off CBS SportsNBA Rising Stars: Keyonte George spoils G League party with dagger 3 to advance to All-Star tourney against LeBron James, Stephen Curry Yahoo Sports Source link #NBA #AllStar #Weekend #celebrity #game #slam #dunk #contest #USA #TODAY Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content]

BBC visits hamlet in France where British couple died BBC visits hamlet in France where British couple died Chris Bockman BBC News Reporting fromLes Pequiès, south west FranceFacebook British couple Andrew and Dawn Searle were found dead earlier this month For the final 15km of the journey from Toulouse to the hamlet of Les Pequiès, you travel on narrow windy roads through hilly, dense woodlands. Without a reliable GPS system you can get lost very quickly, especially at night. I expected the home of Andrew and Dawn Searle, the British couple found dead earlier this month, to be remote. That’s the suggestion from the photos of the crime scene I had seen. But I was surprised when I arrived to find it well within shouting distance of several homes. It’s an important detail because Dawn’s partly naked body was discovered outside the front of the house on Thursday morning last week. The prosecutor in charge of the case, Nicolas Rigot-Muller, said she had severe head wounds caused by a blunt weapon. Any screams would have been heard very clearly by neighbours. The Searles lived in the hamlet of Les Pesquiès, north of Toulouse Her husband’s hung body was found inside the back of the house. The prosecutor says no weapon has been found, that there’s no obvious sign of a burglary nor evidence that Andrew put up a fight, nor of a sex crime. A friend discovered Dawn’s body when she came around to the house with her dog. The couple had two big dogs of their own, and they often walked with the friend or several other dog owners I talked to in the quiet hamlet. One woman, Bénédicte, said the couple were “absolutely adorable, we would often meet like this simply walking our dogs around the village”. “We are very shocked, of course we are,” she said. Bénédicte said residents were “very shocked” Lydie, a butcher, sells her produce at local markets with her husband. Their property overlooks the Searle’s home, just a fallow field separates them. “They were a great couple who smiled a lot and since I once lived in England I was able to talk to them in English,” she told me. “They were well integrated and every year invited everyone over for a party.” But not everyone I approached wants to talk. Their looks give away that this is a very difficult moment for this rural community in the glare of a criminal investigation. The railroad crossing next to the village doesn’t have safety barriers, just a stop sign, which tells you how little traffic there is here normally. Now, you can feel the presence of the Gendarmerie, the branch of the French military which is leading the investigation. While I was providing live coverage for BBC Scotland a large car with tinted windows drove past me slowly, inside four stony-faced officers from the Toulouse ********* and organised crime branch. There is no question locals are scared. Several officers from the Gendarmerie photographed our car and asked to see our ID cards and urged us to be discreet. They said the residents were frightened and that their presence was partly to reassure them. There is bright yellow Gendarmerie tape strapped to the front gate of the Searle’s home. The dogs are gone and their swimming pool has a cover over it. Two large candles have been lit in the driveway and a leaflet taped to the gate has a phone number for anyone who feels they need psychological counselling or moral support, provided by local social services. The same leaflet has been taped to a community board in the centre of the hamlet. Andrew and Dawn were among an estimated 30,000 Brits living full-time in south-west France The Searle couple retired to this region five years ago, and other mailboxes in the hamlet indicate they are not the only expatriates in the region. This isn’t surprising: there are no official statistics but in the time I have been based in Toulouse, Foreign Office staff have told me at various times they believe around 30,000 Brits live full-time in the south west, making it the biggest British expat population in France outside of Paris. On top of that tens of thousands more have holiday homes in this region, called Occitanie, which is one of the fastest growing areas of France, attracting people from not just the *** but Belgium, the Netherlands and Paris. What attracts them here is the quality of life, wide open spaces, relatively cheap property and achingly beautiful countryside and architecture. The nearby town of Villefranche-de-Rouergue has one of the most beautiful medieval stone arcade-lined central squares in a region teeming with them. In summer, an open-air market in the square is crammed with holiday makers, including many Brits, carrying weaved baskets filled with local produce. Various conspiracy theories circulate about how the couple died – I’ve been asked about them by countless French national TV and radio media outlets. But all we know is that the prosecutor and his team are still trying to determine, as he reiterated to me on Wednesday night, “whether the tragedy resulted from a domestic crime followed by suicide or involved a third party”. Candles had been lit in the driveway of the Searles’ house and a leaflet nearby is advertising psychological counselling and moral support provided by local social services Ever since the deaths I’ve been speaking to the prosecutor leading the case, who revealed to me late this week that he is handing over the investigation to a senior judge in Montpellier with more resources available. I asked him if that means he is now leaning towards the idea that the Searle couple were both murdered. He replied that he was not ruling anything out. He added that if they were murdered, and it goes to trial, he would lead the prosecution. Dr Remy Sevigne, the psychologist who answers the counselling hotline from the leaflets, told me that so far around a dozen people have called him for some sort of support. They are all local, he said, and all knew the couple personally. They are all either frightened or in shock, he said. Source link #BBC #visits #hamlet #France #British #couple #died Pelican News View the full article at [Hidden Content] For verified travel tips and real support, visit: [Hidden Content]