HICHEM

The original Volkswagen Type 2 Microbus is a cultural icon, and that's helped fuel interest in the modern interpretation, which was finally revealed to the world back in March 2022. Called the ID.Buzz, the fully electric van is already on sale in other markets, but the version that's coming to the U.S. has yet to make its debut. VW today released a teaser image of the 2025 ID.Buzz's shrouded front end, with the American model scheduled to be revealed via livestream on Friday, June 2. Normally teaser photos are an attempt to build anticipation of a newly designed vehicle, but in this case, most of the buzz around the ID.Buzz's looks has subsided since pictures of its retro-styled exterior and spacious, versatile interior have been visible online for over a year. Still, today's tease is another reminder that the Microbus's successor is that much closer to hitting U.S. roads. While the teaser doesn't tell us anything new about the American ID.Buzz, here's what we know so far. It will have a stretched wheelbase and three rows of flexible seating for seven. Its EPA-estimated driving range is currently unknown, but the van is expected to travel around 260 miles per charge. Customers will have the option to choose between a single-motor, rear-drive powertrain or a more powerful dual-motor, all-wheel-drive setup. Since the ID.Buzz rides on the same Modular Electric Drive (MEB) platform as the VW ID.4 SUV, its likely the van will also share electric motors, meaning the rear-drive model could have 201 horsepower and the all-wheel-drive variant could have 295 horses. Pricing for the U.S. is another question mark, but we think the ID.Buzz will start somewhere in the neighborhood of $40K. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a44016943/vw-id-buzz-microbus-us-debut-june-2/

Turks vote on Sunday in a momentous presidential run-off to decide whether or not Recep Tayyip Erdogan should remain in power after 20 years. His challenger Kemal Kilicdaroglu, backed by a broad opposition alliance, has billed the vote as a referendum on Turkey's future direction. The president, who is favourite to win, promises a new era uniting the country around a "Turkish century". But the more pressing issue is rampant inflation and a cost-of-living crisis. Polling stations open at 08:00 (05:00 GMT) and close at 17:00 (14:00 GMT). The big vote from expats, carried out around the world, has already finished. Turnout in the first round was an impressive 88.8%, and Mr Erdogan's lead was 2.5 million votes. That is why both candidates have their eye on the eight million who did not vote - but could this time. Ahead of the run-off Mr Kilicdaroglu accused his rival of foul play, by blocking his text messages to voters while the president's messages went through. Opposition parties are deploying an army of volunteers in a bid to ensure no vote-rigging takes place. International observers spoke of an uneven playing field after the first round. But there was no suggestion that any irregularities in voting would have changed the result. Mr Kilicdaroglu promised a very different style of presidency on his final day of campaigning: "I have no interest in living in palaces. I will live like you, modestly... and solve your problems." It was a swipe at Mr Erdogan's enormous palatial complex on the edge of Ankara which he moved to when he switched from prime minister to president in 2014. After surviving a failed coup in 2016 he took on extensive powers, detained tens of thousands of people and took control of the media. So it was laden with symbolism when he paid a campaign visit on Saturday to the mausoleum of a prime minister executed by the military after a coup in 1960. One of President Erdogan's final acts before the vote was to lay carnations at a mausoleum "The era of coups and juntas is over," he declared, linking Turkey's current stability to his own authoritarian rule. Turkey, however, is deeply polarised, with the president reliant on a support base of religious conservatives and nationalists, while his opposite number's supporters are mainly secular - but many of them are nationalist too. For days the two men traded insults. Mr Kilicdaroglu accused the president of cowardice and hiding from a fair election; Mr Erdogan said his rival was on the side of "terrorists", referring to Kurdish militants. But after days of inflammatory rhetoric about sending millions of Syrian refugees home, the opposition candidate returned to Turkey's number-one issue - the economic crisis, and in particular its effect on poorer households. A 59-year-old woman and her grandson joined him on stage to explain how her monthly salary of 5,000 lira (£200; $250) was now impossible to live on as her rent had shot up to 4,000 lira (£160; $200). A boy takes a picture of his grandmother, 59, with Kemal Kilicdaroglu It may have been staged, but this is the story across Turkey, with inflation at almost 44% and salaries and state help failing to keep pace. Economists say the Erdogan policy of cutting interest rates rather than raising them has only made matters worse. The Turkish lira has hit record lows, demand for foreign currency has surged and the central bank's net foreign currency reserves are in negative territory for the first time since 2002. East of Ankara, gleaming tower blocks have been springing up in Kirikkale. It looks like boom-time for this city, run by the president's party. But many people here are struggling. Fatma has run a hairdresser's for 13 years but for the past two, work has dried up, and the cost of rent and hair products has soared. She voted for an ultranationalist candidate who came third, and does not trust the two men left in the race. A few doors up the street, Binnaz is working a sewing machine at a shop for mending clothes. People cannot afford new dresses so she is earning much more, even if her monthly rent has trebled to to 4,000 lira. Despite Turkey's stricken economy, she is putting her faith in the president. Outside a supermarket, Emrah Turgut says he is also sticking with Mr Erdogan because he has no faith in the other option, and believes the president's unfounded allegations that the biggest opposition party co-operates with terrorists. Turkey's second-biggest opposition party, the HDP, denies any link to the militant PKK, but President Erdogan has used their backing for the rival candidate to suggest a link to terrorists. Whoever wins on Sunday, Turkey's parliament is already firmly in the grip of Mr Erdogan's Islamist-rooted AK Party and its far-right nationalist ally, the MHP. The AKP also has the youngest MP, who arrived in parliament on the eve of the presidential vote. Zehranur Aydemir, 24, believes if he wins then he will lay the foundations for a century in which Turkey will become a global power: "Now Turkey has a bigger vision it can dream bigger." It is another grandiose Erdogan project, but Turkey's economy is likely to prove a more pressing task, whoever wins the run-off. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65732194

The Meyers Manx is the OG fiberglass dune buggy and inspired legions of copycats and competitors. This well-presented example is based on a shortened '55 Volkswagen chassis. The Bring a Trailer auction runs through May 30. If there were an official car of the Endless Summer, it would be the Meyers Manx dune buggy. Not just any dune buggy, but a Meyers Manx, the very vehicle king-of-cool bookends Steve McQueen and Elvis chose for on-screen and personal duty. If you’ve ever wanted to get in on that mojo, now’s your chance with this green metalflake Meyers Manx, up for auction on Bring a Trailer, which like Car and Driver is part of Hearst Autos. Though the current BaT headline eschews a specific model year, this Manx was labeled a 1968 model in a previous auction held elsewhere in March of 2021. Its omission here is largely irrelevant, as the Manx, much like the California Dream it embodies, is timeless. It exists in a different realm entirely, one where it’s always 72 degrees and sunny, and the occupants are perpetually young. It is, however, accompanied by a certificate of authenticity signed by Bruce Meyers validating the serial number—the serial plate appears to be original—and its registry ID number, granting it an unassailable pedigree. That said, the seller indicates the fiberglass Manx tub rides on a shortened 1955 Volkswagen pan and is registered accordingly. The green metalflake paint and fiberglass body appear to be in excellent condition, free of spiderweb cracks and damage. Although these cars are often subjected to dubious customizations, this Manx takes the high road with a classic chrome rollbar, the politely titled “nudge” bar, a chromed windshield support, and chrome headlamp buckets. Turn indicators ride discretely atop the front suspension mounting points below the front fenders. The chrome Cragar S/S wheels were arguably the most po[CENSORED]r aftermarket wheel in the late '60s and look right at home here, though we wouldn’t argue with a set of deep-dish steelies with purpose-built tires for serious beach duty. Likewise, we might ditch the black “Manx” lettering on the side panels. Interior upholstery is basic black vinyl, so we’d recommend keeping a few light-colored beach towels on hand lest you torch your buns, back, and thighs after leaving this dune buggy parked in the sun. The black floormats and interior tub finish add to the solar gain. The Wolfsburg-branded lap belts and front disc brakes add a welcome measure of safety. Power is supplied by a 1.6-liter flat-four Volkswagen air-cooled engine with the appropriate mods, including dual Solex H40/44EIS carburetors and a Scintilla magneto. (Though the original carbs are no longer manufactured by the former French Solex company, a large, international aftermarket, licensing, and enthusiast support network ensures their viability for decades.) A Hurst “trigger” shifter selects from four gears, and a roller accelerator pedal provides for smooth throttle inputs. A degree pulley makes for improved visibility when dialing tuning. (Don’t forget to adjust your valves regularly, and keep an eye on that pesky #3 exhaust valve.) Chrome engine tins and pulleys add to the shine, as does a ceramic-coated Tri-Mil dual exhaust system. Though the metal-bodied EMPI Sportster buggy was incubating around the same time, and several other long-forgotten pioneers were on the same track, it’s the Meyers Manx that typically comes to mind with the phrase “dune buggy.” (EMPI would later make a fiberglass Manx clone called the IMP.) Meyers helped cement its title as the modern dune buggy of record with his “Old Red” prototype that he and Ted Mangels piloted to a record-setting run in the 1967 Baja 1000. The “production” Manx—Meyer sold them primarily in kit form for a number of reasons—like the one in this auction, benefitted from a certain level of, um, “refinement,” without diluting the core vision. That type of single-minded purpose is a rarity, more so when an idea comes to fruition in an actual physical product that reflects the mood of a generation. And that guarantees it a spot in the annals of pop culture for eternity. The car is listed by a private owner, is located in Danville, California, and is accompanied by a copy of Manx Mania magazine in which we assume it appears, and a clean California title in the seller’s name, listing it as a 1955 Volkswagen. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a44007257/meyers-manx-dune-buggy-bring-a-trailer-auction/

The Kherkatta reservoir in Chhattisgarh, India By Mattea Bubalo BBC News A government official in India has been suspended after he ordered a reservoir to be drained to retrieve his phone. It took three days to pump millions of litres of water out of the dam, after Rajesh Vishwas dropped the device while taking a selfie. By the time it was found, the phone was too water-logged to work. Mr Vishwas claimed it contained sensitive government data and needed retrieving, but he has been accused of misusing his position. The food inspector dropped his Samsung phone, worth about $1,200 (100,000 rupees), into Kherkatta Dam, in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh, on Sunday. After local divers failed to find it, he paid for a diesel pump to be brought in, Mr Vishwas said in a video statement quoted in Indian media. He said he had verbal permission from an official to drain "some water into a nearby canal", adding that the official said it "would in fact benefit the farmers who would have more water". The pump ran for several days, emptying out some two million litres (440,000 gallons) of water - reportedly enough to irrigate 6 sq km (600 hectares) of farmland. His mission was stopped when another official, from the water resource department, arrived following a complaint. "He has been suspended until an inquiry. Water is an essential resource and it cannot be wasted like this," Priyanka Shukla, a Kanker district official, told The National newspaper. Mr Vishwas has denied misusing his position, and said that the water he drained was from the overflow section of the dam and "not in usable condition". But his actions have drawn criticism from politicians, with the state's opposition BJP party's national Vice-President tweeting, "When people are depending upon tankers for water facility in in scorching summers, the officer has drained 41 lakh litres which could have been used for irrigation purpose for 1,500 acres of land." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-india-65726193

With IRCTC launching an online booking facility for dog-cat tickets, exploring the great outdoors with your furry family just got easier. Travelling with your four-legged friends can be one of the most heartwarming experiences. The Ministry of Railways recently announced that they are planning to pitch an online booking facility for dogs and cats, which will help pet parents plan trips with their pets easily. With such initiatives, pet parents are more inclined to swap their flight ticket for a bunk bed to indulge in the bliss of sustainable, slow journeys. A pawsome guide for jet-setting with your furry sidekicks A pawsome guide for jet-setting with your furry sidekicks “I’ve been travelling with Toby, my one-year-old Golden Retriever, for the past six months and have undertaken most journeys by train,” says Kavi Raghav, a Delhi-based chemical engineer. “One of our first trips was the Golden Triangle (Delhi–Agra–Jaipur), on which we stayed in rentals that provide facilities for pet owners,” she adds. For a shorter distance, pet parents prefer road trips to discover new destinations close to home. “Being in Mumbai, we got a lot of opportunities to explore places near and far with our three-year-old dog Leela. From treks and waterfalls around Mumbai to places such as Mulshi, Kamshet, Pune and Khopoli. We often take her on hikes,” says Dhvani Solani, media professional who loves day trips. “Leela and I have visited Goa about six times in three years, exploring North Goa (Morjim and around), Central Goa (Salvador do Mundo/Divar/Chorao and around), and South Goa (Galgibaga, Talpona and around),” she adds. For longer journeys pet parents recommend planning well in advance and choosing places where pets don’t feel captive in the cityscapes. “Our adopted Beagle, Bruce, has been travelling with us since he was one and a half years old. We have travelled to more than 16 states across the country with him. One of our longest journeys was during the pandemic when we drove from Delhi to Mumbai and then to Kerala,” says Lakshmi Balachandran, a digital marketer who, along with her husband Gautam Govind, a solution architect, runs the Instagram account The Knot Story. https://www.hindustantimes.com/lifestyle/travel/discovering-india-with-your-furry-friends-the-joy-of-train-travel-and-road-trips-with-pets-101684950034126.html

Stan Grant is one of Australia's most decorated journalists By Tiffanie Turnbull BBC News, Sydney After a prestigious career of more than three decades, trailblazing Aboriginal journalist Stan Grant hosted his final show on Monday and walked away from Australian TV screens indefinitely. "Racism is a crime. Racism is violence. And I have had enough," Grant wrote in a column last week explaining his decision. The Wiradjuri man made history in 1992 when he became the first Aboriginal presenter on prime-time commercial TV in Australia. He went on to win a slew of awards in Australian media, and was an international correspondent for CNN and Al Jazeera before returning home to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The ABC describes him as one of Australia's most respected and awarded journalists. But on Monday night he looked defeated, visibly shaking as he signed off from his political panel show Q+A. "To those who have abused me and my family, I would just say - if your aim was to hurt me, well, you've succeeded," he said. Grant's decision to leave has reignited fierce conversations about racism and media diversity in Australia. "If one of the few Indigenous presenters on television with a career that took him all over the world can't be protected from racism... what will that mean for anyone who walks down a similar path?" ABC journalist Ryma Tchier wrote on Twitter. White-dominated newsrooms Australia's Indigenous people have over 60,000 years of history, and half of Australians were either born overseas or have a parent who was. But the media representing such a multicultural po[CENSORED]tion remains disproportionately white. Census reveals a more diverse, migrant Australia A 2022 study found more than three quarters of the reporters or presenters on Australian TV were from an Anglo-Celtic cultural background. The difference was even more pronounced at the leadership and board level. The Media Diversity Australia report prompted the five TV networks examined to acknowledge their lack of diversity. But the channels also questioned the report's findings, criticising how it had determined cultural background, and criticising the short, two-week research window of the study. Sunrise on the Seven Network is now the only commercial breakfast TV show in Australia without a person of colour Several pointed out they had increased diversity in other areas of their output or tried to increase representation through targeted roles and recruitment. But the broader issue has long been a problem in Australian media, and critics cite it for contributing to high-profile controversies. In 2019, a newspaper was widely accused of using racist tropes in a cartoon depiction of Serena Williams - the image was ultimately deemed acceptable by media regulators. And in 2020, Australia's most watched breakfast show, Channel Seven's Sunrise, settled a racial discrimination case over an all-white panel where a pundit suggested Aboriginal children should be forcibly removed from their families. The Seven Network initially defended the segment, which sparked protests outside their studio, saying "editorial opinions… are a vital part of journalism", but later apologised for causing offence after the broadcast regulator found they had breached industry standards. A prestigious media award - the Kennedys - was also criticised in 2021 for not having a single person of colour on the 60-person judging panel. The cultural diversity in Australia's media industry is shocking compared to many other Western countries, says Antoinette Lattouf, who in 2011 became one of the first Arab-Australian women to be a commercial television reporter. As a result, she says, many Australian communities' stories go untold and vital perspectives are missed. "Each nation has their own challenges… [but] anybody who has… seen BBC, CNN, ITV, even broadcasters in New Zealand, will note they're far more diverse than our screens," says Lattouf, who co-founded the Media Diversity Australia group to improve the situation. 'I just couldn't go back' Culturally diverse journalists say they face more barriers to entering the Australian media industry than their peers. But cases like Stan Grant's expose the problem outlets have in retaining them when they do make it. Former ABC reporter Rhianna Patrick says the reason she joined the industry was the same reason she left it. "I knew from a very young age that I wanted to be a journalist… because I recognised that the only time I ever saw people from my community reflected in the media was in a negative way," the Torres Strait Islander tells the BBC. Rhianna Patrick always wanted to be a journalist She built an impressive career over two decades - first in Indigenous radio then at the ABC, where she came to headline her own, self-titled national radio show. But Patrick was the only Indigenous person in her unit, sometimes her entire floor. The impact of that fact hit her all at once in 2020 as she watched the Black Lives Matter movement sweep the globe, including Australia. "All of these things I had buried… were starting to come to the surface and I realised… I just couldn't go back into a mainstream media space and do my job anymore," she said. Aboriginal Australians 'still suffering effects of colonial past' Non-white journalists have regularly reported racial abuse from audiences. In the wake of Grant's exit, even more disclosed experiences. "Maybe once a week, I get called a racial slur [or] I get told I'm not Australian … I've also thought about leaving because of racist abuse," said news presenter and comedian Michael Hing, who is Chinese-Australian. He said he had also considered departing the ABC because "all-white management teams are too often incapable of understanding". There is racism from peers too, Lattouf and Patrick recount. "If ever there were crimes committed by people of Middle Eastern backgrounds, people [in the newsroom] would say things like 'oh, what did your cousins get up to?'" Lattouf says. "I've been told that 'I'm one of the good ones' from the Lebanese community - a backhanded compliment that suggests that the rest of my community isn't good." ‘We reject racism’: ABC colleagues rally behind Aboriginal journalist Stan Grant There's also the pressure that comes with often being the sole person from their community in a newsroom, and feeling disproportionately responsible for coverage of an issue or advocating for their people. And covering topics such as police brutality, racism and violence can be feel personal and traumatic, they say. Patrick says she knows the work she did was important. "But you also want to be able to have times when you can do stories about Indigenous excellence, about Indigenous joy." Choosing to go It all adds up. And so - like Grant - many culturally diverse journalists leave. When Grant announced his departure, he accused the ABC of an "institutional failure" to protect or defend him. He said racism had been "relentless" throughout his career, but it reached a new level of intensity after he covered the King's Coronation for the ABC, when he spoke about the impact of colonisation on his people. Grant said the ABC had invited him to be part of coverage specifically to offer that perspective, but when the backlash came, he was left to fend for himself. He also pointed out the role some conservative media outlets played in amplifying the outrage. Australia TV host steps down amid 'relentless' racism Aboriginal Australians: 'Could the Queen have done more?' In the days since his decision, there have been 'I Stand with Stan' protests, and the ABC has apologised and pledged to do better. "I'm incredibly sorry that he felt let down by our organisation... we will do all we can to make up for it," ABC News director Justin Stevens told a rally. The ABC has promised to review how it deals with racism directed at staff. It follows other reviews it has had in recent years aimed at impoving diversity. Some commentators hope the anger over Grant's exile could mark a turning point, but others are sceptical. "You go through these cycles of reckoning - reforms are introduced, you have a couple of new hires - but the actual underlying structures don't change that much," one Aboriginal reporter who didn't wish to be named told the BBC. In his final speech on Monday, Grant said he had spent his career trying to represent his people with pride and love. "I've just wanted to make us seen and I'm sorry that I can't do that for a little while," he said. "I've had to learn that endurance is not always strength. Sometimes strength is knowing when to say stop. "I am down right now. I am. But I'll get back up and you can come at me again. And I'll meet you with the love of my people." https://www.bbc.com/news/world-australia-63699881

¤ Name[/nickname]: hichem ¤ Age: 20 ¤ Country: Algeria ¤ Occupation: designer ¤ A short description about you :Serious boy of few words who is more acts than talk ¤ How did you found out Csblackdevil Community: old friends ¤ Favorite games: CSGO , CODM , WarZone , GTA5 ¤ Favorite server [community only]: Streetzm

China's car exports were boosted by demand for electric vehicles and sales to Russia China says it has become the world's biggest exporter of cars after overtaking Japan in the first three months of the year. Officials figures released in the last week show China exported 1.07 million vehicles in the period, up 58% compared to the first quarter of 2022. At the same time Japan's vehicle exports stood at 954,185, after edging up 6% from a year earlier. China's exports were boosted by demand for electric cars and sales to Russia. Last year, China overtook Germany to become the world's second largest car exporter. According to China's General Administration of Customs, China exported 3.2 million vehicles in 2022, compared to Germany's 2.6 million vehicle exports. The shift away from fossil fuels has helped fuel the rise of China's motor industry. First quarter exports of new energy vehicles (NEVs), which includes electric cars, rose by more than 90%, compared to a year earlier. Tesla's China arm, SAIC - the owner of the MG brand - and BYD, which is backed by veteran US investor Warren Buffett, are among China's top exporters of NEVs. Elon Musk's electric carmaker has a huge manufacturing plant in Shanghai which exports to regions including Japan and Europe. Tesla's 'Gigafactory' is currently capable of producing 1.25 million vehicles a year, and the company is planning to further increase capacity. Last month, it started making Model Y sport utility vehicles for export to Canada. China has also seen exports to Russia surge since the start of the Ukraine war, as Western countries imposed trade sanctions on Moscow. Last, year, Chinese carmakers - including Geely, Chery and Great Wall - saw their market share in Russia jump after rivals including Volkswagen and Toyota quit the country following the invasion of Ukraine. https://www.bbc.com/news/business-65643064

Ride-sharing company Uber is launching a new service for teenagers in several major cities and "Good Morning America" has an exclusive look with one family who has been testing out the service. Ruth Stern is a mom of two and like many parents, she usually has to figure out the different transportation needs each family member requires for their busy schedules. "One kid needs to be picked up from school. Another kid needs to get to an activity. There's a doctor's appointment that you didn't anticipate, so it's a constant juggle," Stern told ABC News consumer correspondent Becky Worley. In an aerial view, the Uber office at 1725 Third Street is seen, May 19, 2023 in San Francisco. Justin Sullivan/Getty Images, FILE So when the opportunity came up recently, Stern decided to give Uber's pilot program for teenagers a try. "I couldn't be two places at once and I could get my child home safely from a location and still be with my other child," Stern said. Stern used the pilot program from Uber to get a ride for her 15-year-old daughter Izzy while she herself went to drive her 10-year-old son to one of his activities. Stern and her family have so far been a part of the pilot program for a few months. Uber's new service for teens will let parents create a family profile and add teen family members to their account. https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/Family/uber-launches-ride-service-teens-28-cities/story?id=99498315

An armed group has crossed from Ukraine into Russia's Belgorod region and clashes there have injured a number of people, Russian authorities say. Local governor Vyacheslav Gladkov said Russian forces were searching for "saboteurs", who he said had attacked Grayvoronsky district by the border. Vladimir Putin's spokesman said the Russian president had been informed. Ukraine denies responsibility and said Russian citizens from two paramilitary groups were behind the incursion. Mr Gladkov said eight people had been hurt, including two people admitted to hospital after a village was shelled and three people who were hit by shrapnel in the town of Grayvoron. Fighting had also damaged three houses and a local administrative building, and the situation remains "extremely tense", he said. The governor said a "counter-terrorist operation" had been launched in the region, giving special powers to the authorities including on identity checks and communications surveillance. BBC Verify has been analysing footage from the Belgorod region that emerged on social media on Monday. So far, the team has located a video apparently filmed from a drone that features several armoured vehicles near a border checkpoint south of Belgorod. Additionally, BBC Verify has geolocated footage of helicopters operating in the region. The footage is recent, but it is hard to say for certain from the videos what the exact sequence of events is. Kyiv said those behind the ongoing incident were from groups called the Liberty of Russia Legion and the Russian Volunteer Corps (RVC). The Liberty of Russia Legion - a Ukraine-based Russian militia which says it is working inside Russia to overthrow President Putin - said on Twitter on Monday it had "completely liberated" the border town of Kozinka. It said forward units had reached the town of Grayvoron, further east. However Mr Putin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that efforts were underway to eliminate the sabotage group, and said its purpose was to draw attention away from the eastern Ukrainian town of Bakhmut - which a Russian mercenary group claims to have taken control of after months of intense and bloody fighting. "We perfectly understand the purpose of such sabotage - to divert attention from the Bakhmut direction, to minimise the political effect of the loss of Artemovsk [Bakhmut] by the Ukrainian side," he said. Kyiv says it still controls parts of the city. Ukrainian presidential advisor Mikhaylo Podolyak said his country was watching events in Belgorod "with interest", but "has nothing to do with it". "As you know, tanks are sold at any Russian military store, and underground guerrilla groups are composed of Russian citizens," he added. Ukraine has previously denied responsibility for reported sabotage attacks on Russian territory. BBC Verify: Satellites reveal Russian defences before major assault The latest incident comes ahead of a widely expected counter offensive by Kyiv against invading Russian forces. In April, Russia accidentally dropped a bomb on the city of Belgorod, which lies 40 km (25 miles) north of the border with Ukraine. More than 3,000 people were evacuated from their homes after an undetonated explosive was found days later. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-65674773

Malaika Arora shared several pictures revealing her foodie side. (Photo: Malaika Arora/ Instagram) Malaika Arora is not only famous for her impeccable fashion sense but also for her love for food. It should not come as a surprise if you spot the diva gorging on some scrumptious. delicacies. As such, Malaika had shared a slew of pictures that revealed the foodie side of the actor. Posting the drool-worthy pictures, Malaika wrote, “self-proclaimed foodie n chef. People who enjoy food r happy people”- Julia Child.” The first picture shows her meal plate. It appears to be a well-balanced meal with carbs, protein and salad. Perfect meal for any day. (Photo: Malaika Arora/Instagram) Next, the actor shared a picture of a perfectly crispy French toast and revealed that she is ‘obsessed’ with it. Yummy French toast. (Photo: Malaika Arora/Instagram) Another picture shows a plate of spaghetti pasta which has basil leaves and cherry tomatoes. Also, there is a plate of a sandwich kept alongside the po[CENSORED]r Italian dish Pasta and sandwich. (Photo: Malaika Arora/Instagram) She also shared a mouth-watering picture of hot piping chicken biryani. The last picture of the series shows a lavish spread that features an array of dishes along with a plate of salad. Delicious dishes. (Photo: Malaika Arora/Instagram) Malaika is one of the most active actors on social media and she doesn’t mind sharing glimpses of her day-to-day life with her fans. Before this, she shared a picture on her Instagram Stories that show some fish slices which were placed over a fire. https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/food-wine/malaika-aroras-food-indulgence-8049950/

The electric SUV offers the cavalry of the Audi Q4 e-tron (299 hp), but forgets to virilize its look to legitimize its dynamic abilities. (Updated on 05/20/2021 at 4:12 p.m.) New Volkswagen ID.4 GTX 2021 – Anxious to spice up its career, the placid 100% electric SUV offers itself a more powerful variant, called GTX . A brand new badge, at Volkswagen, that the brand's battery-powered sports cars will wear in the future, in parallel with the iconic GTI coat of arms. GTX: three letters that smell good of the 80s and send the French collective imagination back to sassy sedans such as Renault 18 and Peugeot 305. But that's for the wink, a thousand miles from the advocated universe by the German SUV, apart from this little smell, not oiled, tinged with sportiness. Nearly 300 electric hp Until now available with engines of 109 kW (148 hp), 125 kW (170 hp) and 150 kW (204 hp), the Volkswagen ID.4 relies on the Audi Q4 e-tron to achieve its purposes. In particular, it inherits its duo of electric motors totaling 220 kW (299 hp) which are balanced between the front and rear axle, to offer 4-wheel drive to the GTX. The resulting performance is similar to that of the 4-ring cousin, allowing the Volkswagen ID.4 GTX to sprint from 0 to 100 km/h in 6.2 s , when the maximum speed is capped at 180 km/h. At a slower pace, the 77 kWh battery promises up to 480 km of autonomy , while the optimal recharge capacity reaches 125 kW. Thus, it is possible to recover 300 km of autonomy after a 30-minute connection to an Ionity-type supercharger. Design at half mast In terms of looks, we expected a more demonstrative ID.4 GTX , compared to the sports models offered by Volkswagen so far. Here, no honeycomb grille, even less prominent shields . The GTX doesn't even bother to revamp its rims. Only the side scoops of the front bumper are replaced by a trio of vertical LEDs, when the mirror shells review their look. A bit short, young man... We regret that Volkswagen did not agree to more modifications to beef up the game of the ID.4 GTX, in terms of style. Especially since a solution exists, at less cost , to rebody the machine. Indeed, on the Chinese market, the ID.4 is available in a variant called X which has optics, grille, shields and rims dedicated to its dynamic character. The ID.4 X, dedicated to the Chinese market, is further distinguished from the classic ID.4. It is finally on board that the modifications are the most notable, in a bluish atmosphere enhanced with red stitching. A color that is also reflected in the ambient light effects, as well as the pattern of the seats, branded GTX. Volkswagen ID.4 GTX price In the end, we are still a little unsatisfied with the sportiest of the ID.4 family , far too close to the mainstream range , in terms of design. A weakness that the GTX compensates for by improving its performance, which the first customers will be able to testify, delivered at the end of the year . For this, they will have to pay a minimum of €52,450 to afford it. https://www.auto-moto.com/nouveautes/nouveau-volkswagen-id-4-gtx-2021-prix-infos-photos-officielles-269652.html#item=3

Smoke billows in the distance in Khartoum amid ongoing fighting between the forces of two rival generals, on May 15, 2023. — AFP/file Air strikes and artillery exchanges shook Khartoum on Saturday as Sudan's warring generals battled for control. Despite the violence, the rival factions agreed to a seven-day ceasefire starting from May 22. The United States and Saudi Arabia announced the ceasefire after talks in Jeddah. Previous truces have been violated since fighting broke out five weeks ago. The Jeddah Agreement, unlike previous ceasefires, was signed by both parties and will be supported by a US-Saudi and international ceasefire monitoring mechanism. Talks will focus on improving security and humanitarian conditions, including evacuating forces from urban areas and allowing free movement of civilians. The conflict between regular army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and his rival Mohamed Hamdan Daglo erupted on April 15, killing hundreds of people and displacing over a million. The United Nations warned of a deteriorating humanitarian situation in Sudan, where one in three people relied on aid before the war. The ceasefire announcement comes two weeks after the warring generals' initial gathering in Jeddah, where they committed to respecting humanitarian principles and allowing aid. However, UN aid chief Martin Griffiths highlighted "important and egregious" violations of the agreement. To push for talks and stability, al-Burhan dismissed Daglo, appointing former rebel leader Malik Agar as vice president of the Sovereign Council. Agar aims to end the war and restore stability with a professional and unified army. Integration of the RSF into the regular armed forces has been a major contention, given its ill-disciplined reputation. The Qatari embassy in Khartoum was attacked, prompting condemnation. Qatar called for an immediate end to the fighting, while the pro-Burhan authorities blamed the paramilitaries. The violence has also spread to Darfur, where 22 people were killed in South Darfur's capital, Nyala. The UN aid chief allocated $22 million in emergency funds to help Sudanese fleeing the violence. The US pledged $103 million to support displaced individuals in Sudan and neighbouring countries. https://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/1072323-khartoum-shaken-by-air-strikes-as-sudan-rivals-agree-brief-ceasefire

What is funny would, therefore, be both unexpected and pleasant (Source: Pexels) Scientists have found that high-frequency neural activity, seen in tasks that require a lot of cognitive engagement, such as work, is also a mark of humour appreciation. The scientists from Institut Du Cerveau (Paris Brain Institute), France, and Bar-Ilan University in Tel Aviv, Israel, studied the cognitive and neuronal mechanisms on which appreciation of humour was based. They have described their findings in the journal Neuropsychologia. Previous studies have shown the involvement of the temporal lobe in the processing of droll stimuli, or stimuli associated with goof. The scientists analysed intracerebral electrophysiological recordings of 13 epileptic patients, which made it possible to look at neuronal activity directly with a high spatial and temporal precision (at the millisecond scale) in several cortical areas. So far, the preferred technique for these studies was fMRI. However, the researchers of this study said, the signal obtained via fMRI does not allow the detection of the entire spectrum of electromagnetic waves generated by the brain: part of the information is lost. The patients being studied had been implanted with deep brain electrodes as part of a pre-surgical assessment of refractory epilepsy. The researchers asked the patients to watch a three-minute excerpt from Charlie Chaplin’s Circus (1928) while their brain activity was measured live. Beforehand, the amusing nature of each sequence had been evaluated, frame by frame, by a group of healthy volunteers. Laughing is said to burn calories by increasing the metabolic rate by 10-20 per cent. (Source: Getty/Thinkstock) The team then compared the patients’ neural activity recorded during the funniest scenes in the film with that recorded during the least funny scenes. “We observed that the funniest sequences were associated with an increase in high-frequency gamma waves and a decrease in low-frequency waves. “These results indicate that high-frequency neural activity, which is seen in tasks that require a lot of cognitive engagement, such as work, is also a mark of humour appreciation. “Conversely, scenes that are not funny, such as transition sequences where the character moves from one place to another without doing anything, promote inattention and introspection… and a preponderance of low frequencies,” explained Vadim Axelrod, who led the experiment. More importantly, the scientists said, this inverse relationship between high and low frequencies was observed in temporal lobe regions but not in others. It seemed that humorous content was not processed in the same way throughout the cortex and depended on brain areas and functions. According to a dominant theory, the treatment of humour is based on two complementary mechanisms and involve two neural circuits – cognitive and emotional. Cognition is first employed to detect an incongruous element of reality. For example, in Charlie Chaplin’s The Gold Rush (1925), the hero eats shoelaces like spaghetti. Following this, a positive emotion related to this incongruity emerges through the emotional neural circuit. What is funny would, therefore, be both unexpected and pleasant. “Our results support this theory, as we confirm the prominent role of the temporal lobe in the appreciation of humour. “As the anterior parts of this area are involved in semantic memory, we can imagine that their activity is linked to the analysis of the scene and the detection of its incongruous content. “Conversely, the activation of its posterior parts could correspond to understanding the unusual and, therefore, amusing aspect of certain social interactions,” said Vadim Axelrod.