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Mercedes-Benz's electric van justifies its high price with class-leading range and a high-quality cabin while illustrating why EVs are well suited for the delivery sector. Mercedes-Benz's march toward electrification contains multitudes. On one end of the spectrum we have the EQS SUV, an egglike craft adorned with ambient lighting and wall-to-wall screens full of crisply rendered graphics. And all the way over on the other side is the 2024 Mercedes-Benz eSprinter. The electric variant of the long-running Sprinter commercial van eschews the EQS SUV's fripperies, but its quiet, smooth, and responsive operation—not to mention this latest version's much-improved range and efficiency—demonstrates why electric vans will proliferate in the coming decade. Mercedes launched the Europe-market electric Sprinter in December 2019, but its meager range barely eclipsed 100 miles under the right conditions, making it a difficult proposition for North America. This second-generation eSprinter, however, is ready to go the distance in the U.S., starting with a single configuration—a high-roof body with a 170.0-inch wheelbase and a 280.4-inch overall length. Packing a 113.0-kWh lithium-iron-phosphate battery, the eSprinter should have a range of 273 miles on the optimistic European WLTP test cycle, with an impressive 329-mile estimate on the WLTP city-specific cycle. Stateside measures tend to be far lower, but we believe it should get around 230 miles of EPA range. On our drive, the eSprinter's dashboard readout displayed 181 miles of range at the start. A two-hour, 69-mile drive loop that included hilly terrain and highway driving dropped that to 129 miles, with a claimed efficiency of 2.0 miles per kWh, which would align with our top-tier guesswork. Given the van's size and heft (curb weight is a C/D-estimated 6900 pounds), 200-plus miles seems adequate for the eSprinter's intended function of local deliveries. A standard heat pump helps mitigate cold-weather efficiency issues, and Eco and Maximum Range drive settings improve range by limiting power, although we can't imagine many drivers will want to downgrade to the latter's lethargic 107-hp output cap. When it's time to recharge, the eSprinter handles up to 115 kW on a DC fast-charger, with the battery going from 10 to 80 percent in a claimed 42 minutes. The maximum Level 2 charging speed is 9.6 kW. The eSprinter's rear-mounted electric motor comes in two differing outputs. The 134-hp version costs $3430 less than the high-output variant (the one we drove), which produces 201 horsepower and 295 pound-feet of torque. The immediate acceleration that we've experienced in many EVs wasn't present, although highway merges weren't too much of a challenge. The van remained adequately responsive above 55 mph, but you'll want to stick to the right lane given the 75-mph limiter. The accelerator has a fair amount of resistance, so moving forward with purpose requires a deliberate, assertive pedal prod—a reminder to the driver that juice isn't infinite. This predictable response eliminated any surprising acceleration surges, crucial when piloting something of this stature through narrow spaces. The eSprinter offers multiple levels of regenerative braking, including an automatic setting that uses sensors to predict the amount of regeneration required based on the traffic ahead—similar to the feature in the EQS. The system also serves as a coach, displaying a small icon on the dash when it wants you to lift off the accelerator to activate regen. While this automatic mode doesn't suffer from the alarming phantom pedal movement that we've experienced in Mercedes's consumer EVs, we preferred handling the regen duties on our own. The strongest setting doesn't allow for full one-pedal driving, but it provides consistent, predictable deceleration down to a crawl. What surprised us most was the large van's road manners. The vehicles we drove carried 440 pounds of stuff, far under the 2624-pound maximum capacity, but still a better barometer than driving it totally unladen. The eSprinter shrugged off big bumps with ease, adeptly absorbing most impacts and minimizing rear-axle hop. On curvier, 55-mph mountain roads, the eSprinter's handling impressed, with little body roll and fairly precise steering that inspired enough confidence to keep up with more nimble traffic. Inside, the eSprinter is nearly identical to its combustion-powered counterpart. The leather armrests are well cushioned, and the seats are comfortable and supportive but also extremely upright—the cargo-area partition wall prevents any sort of reclining. The upscale-looking black central binnacle sports a high-quality display running the latest Mercedes infotainment system, which includes the "Hey Mercedes" voice assistant. There are practical storage cubbies throughout, while a flat floor helps the cabin feel (sort of) spacious, and an optional rear-camera mirror vastly improves rear visibility. The eSprinter enters a growing segment, where it faces off against the Rivian EDV, the Ford E-Transit, and the Ram ProMaster EV. A starting price of $74,181 puts the eSprinter far above the Ford and the Ram, yet it still undercuts the Rivian. But, according to Mercedes's estimates, the eSprinter outdoes the field in terms of range. While the Benz's payload and gross vehicle weight rating are on par with the Rivian's, the cheaper Ford and Ram both boast payload capacities over 3000 pounds, with the E-Transit topping the chart at up to 3880 pounds. https://www.caranddriver.com/reviews/a46628568/2024-mercedes-benz-esprinter-van-drive/

Phil Foden celebrates after completing his hat-trick. Photograph: David Klein/Reuters It had been billed as Erling Haaland’s grand comeback to the Manchester City starting XI. Perhaps there could be a shootout with Ivan Toney, the Brentford striker, who is also ­re-establishing himself after rather longer on the sidelines in the wake of his betting ban. For a while, there was the ­glimmer that Neal Maupay could upstage them both when he gave Brentford a shock lead midway through a first half made memorable by the ­defiance of Mark Flekken in the home goal. But by the end, it was all about another attacker whose talent can seem utterly irresistible on nights like these. The Premier League title is back in City’s hands after Liverpool’s defeat at Arsenal on Sunday – right where they like it. Phil Foden had the ball at his feet in front of goal, even his head at one point, and that is exactly where he likes it. Foden does not score many with his head but he did so here to put City 2-1 up. He had got the equaliser – chest, bounce and finish – while he saved the best for the hat-trick, an explosion on to Haaland’s lay-off, each touch perfect, giving nobody close to him inside the area the ­slightest sniff. City are on an ominous roll, ­winning all seven matches since their victorious return from the Club World Cup in Saudi Arabia. Pep Guardiola said recently that he can feel the desire of his players to win and keep on winning. ­Brentford had done the double over City last season but nobody in the red and white stripes could stop Foden. Will anybody be able to do likewise with his team? The question pounds with increasing force. Brentford’s Mark Flekken denies Erling Haaland, who was making his first start since December. Photograph: Nigel Keene/ProSports/Shutterstock The thing with City is that ­resistance can seem futile. Few have resisted as gamely as Flekken did ­during an extraordinary first half ­display, the statistics showing he made eight saves, the majority of them crackers. He even got the assist for Maupay’s goal. By full-time, though, he was a footnote. Maupay’s goal was a bolt for the sky blues, stunning in its surprise value because at that stage, Flekken’s goal was under siege. Everything changed – briefly – when he launched a long ball forward, although maybe the real assist ought to have been ­credited to Toney. He set a screen against Nathan Aké, basketball-style, which allowed Flekken’s clearance to keep on ­running to Maupay, who rolled past Ederson. Maupay seems to take a ­disproportionate delight in winding up opponents. He would clash with Rúben Dias on a defensive corner, earn a yellow card for a late crunch into Rodri and have lengthy exchange of views with Guardiola in the ­closing stages, after seemingly saying ­something to incense Kyle Walker. Nobody can say that Maupay is not on fire in front of goal. He has now scored in five consecutive games. Maybe he should stick to that. Guardiola had been delighted to give Haaland his first start since a foot fracture in early December. For the first time since the opening game of the league season, the City manager had Haaland and Kevin De Bruyne in at the outset. It is all part of the ­narrative that has the club ready to bolt for the finish line. Brentford’s poor results have been well-documented – it is now seven defeats in eight, although they have deserved more with their ­performances – and Flekken was called upon to deny Julián Álvarez twice and Walker inside the first 15 minutes. Those in front of him put their bodies on the line, one block from Ethan Pinnock to thwart ­Haaland on seven minutes especially vital. Flekken saved one-on-one against Haaland after a loose Vitaly Janelt backpass and he did well to keep out a Josko Gvardiol blast, while City had other near-misses in the first half, including when a goalbound ­Bernardo Silva shot hit Mads ­Roerslev to fly wide. Brentford threatened before the interval when Ederson clawed away Sergio Reguilón’s cross-cum-shot and Dias needed to make an ­important intervention to block from Janelt with Ederson off his line. Foden, though, finally restored parity in stoppage time after Pinnock’s poor headed clearance from a De Bruyne cross. Against this City, it can feel ­relentless, inevitable and they went in front on 53 minutes; after all of Brentford’s hard work at the back, it was another soft concession. Nobody closed down De Bruyne and nobody tracked Foden’s run. The cross was lovely. Foden strained his neck muscles to generate the power and accuracy. Brentford refused to stop believing. They created the chances to equalise. Christian Nørgaard was denied by a big Dias block and Toney put too much on a side-on volley when well placed. Foden would kill them off. “Only Phil will decide his limits,” Guardiola said. “How he moves in small spaces, his impact, you have the feeling he can score. It’s difficult to find both the movement and after being like a knife.” https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/05/brentford-manchester-city-premier-league-match-report

Two months after Rhik Samadder ended his phone detox, he realises some of its lessons actually stuck with him Sign up to our free coaching newsletter to help you spend less time on your phone Constant connectivity is a new expectation, exhausting to meet. Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian In the final update in Rhik’s journey to break his phone addiction, he manages a breakthrough. And a big one. “Do you want to be my girlfriend?” I ask Almond one day. She is leafing through bags of Thai basil, like record store vinyl. “I already am. That’s what this is,” she says patiently, giving my hand a squeeze. Oh, right, I say. OK. Yes, good. Two months after my last diary entry, something weird has occurred. Having written the experiment off as a waste of time, it seems to be bearing perverse fruit. I’m currently on my phone for 90 minutes a day. Five of those are spent on Instagram. I no longer feel addicted. My diminished online life is partly due to no longer having to scan the savannah for a mate. But that can’t be the whole story. All the experts I spoke to gave reassuringly similar advice. Strangely, the most impactful tech conversation was in a wifi-less cafe, with a Buddhist. Sthiramanas is a meditation teacher from the London Buddhist Centre, where he runs Upgrade Your Mind, a six-week course on mindful screen use. “It’s a fundamental human weakness to look outside for satisfaction,” he says. Sthiramanas doesn’t just mean endless scrolling. Running to a silent retreat – or a digital detox cabin in the woods – is also an escape from day-to-day life. Their lessons often don’t survive the journey home. “If we want our lives to be happier and more creative, we have to experience them as they are, and change things from there. “What’s the desire underneath the desire to check your phone?” he continued. “If you’re addicted to dating apps, is it the desire to feel attractive? If you’re a news junkie, do you want to feel in control? Or in contact with something bigger than yourself? If you’re constantly texting friends, do you just want to be loved?” Ouch. When did these Buddhists choose violence? Since that chat, I see friendship as a mostly offline activity. Something we do with our bodies. My gang are good for this – arranging day trips to the seaside, dancing, cooking for each other. Laughing in the same space is nourishing. Sounds Waltons-esque, but it’s better than Meta. I do still often text friends through the day, but when not, I enjoy missing them. Maybe I’ve gone weird. Can I enjoy being in my actual, ‘boring’ life, without the fantasy of escape? Photograph: Alicia Canter/The Guardian Constant connectivity is a new expectation, exhausting to meet. My worst fear about turning my phone off has been missing a call from my mother, should she have a fall. But underneath my reluctance, I realize, is an anxiety of control. And one day we must all relinquish that. “You could get a landline for emergencies, and only give the number to loved ones,” suggests Sthiramanas. It’s a good idea. Another slow burn has been the increase in time spent reading. I think it’s also the reason I no longer lose whole days on Instagram. Opening any social media apps now, they strike me as … silly. Maybe concentration really is a muscle – that hungers to lift heavier things as you build it. Of course, plenty of people enjoy both. This isn’t to say all social media content is shallow and pointless! (Even though I do think that!) Can I enjoy being in my actual, “boring” life, without the fantasy of escape? This has been the crucial question for me. I tidy my flat more, because I’m seeing it more. I’ve kept up my 10,000 steps. I still like filling up those fitness tracking circles, but am less obsessive. I can feel the effect in my body. I sometimes leave my phone at home. It’s a mental reset to feel the air, to not be somewhere else. And I’m much happier than I was. For any capitalism fans, I must note that my freelance income has risen, and I’m more productive. I don’t find it helpful to vilify tech companies so much, and no longer personify my phone. The shiny, infinite-content machine is not a muse, cold lover or nemesis. It’s a tool. More than anything else, it’s a barometer of my discontent. When I notice that weight in my hand, the pull toward distraction and escape, I try to diagnose what’s really going on with me. Am I worried about something? Am I lonely? What would be a better way to meet my needs? If I’m simply bored, I’m learning to trust there’s a creativity hidden in that place. Who could have foreseen this? The smartphone as canary in the coal mine, signposting what is most important to me: to not sleepwalk through these days. Thief of my life? No one gets to steal my life. Unfortunately, I am now addicted to sugar. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/05/phone-screentime-detox-reflection

Study finds ‘unprovoked’ attacks were more common for surfers than swimmers Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates Get our morning and afternoon news emails, free app or daily news podcast A great white shark. The majority of attacks are ‘test bites’ from sharks mistaking people for their preferred prey, researchers compiling the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File said. Photograph: Brad Leue/Alamy Australia is home to a disproportionate number of deadly shark attacks, with isolated areas carrying a greater risk of fatalities, international research has found. The 10 fatal attacks globally in 2023 doubled the five in the previous year, with four of last year’s deaths occurring in Australia. Surfers were slightly more prevalent in the data than people swimming or wading, experiencing 42% of the 69 “unprovoked” bites around the world, 22% of which were in Australia. Spearfishing was the most common activity in 22 attacks which were left out of the study after being considered “provoked”. Sign up for Guardian Australia’s free morning and afternoon email newsletters for your daily news roundup The study focused on bites occurring in a shark’s natural habitat without human provocation, the most useful for studying shark behaviour according to researchers compiling the University of Florida’s International Shark Attack File. Florida Museum of Natural History shark research director Gavin Naylor said the number of bites was consistent with long-term trends. “Though the number of fatalities is a bit unnerving this year,” he said. Three fatalities occurred in 2023 off South Australia’s Eyre Peninsula, a remote area with a high po[CENSORED]tion of white sharks and the seals they feed on. “Seals are really agile, so the only ones that get caught are the ones that are goofing off and flopping around on the surface ... and that’s kind of what a surfer looks like,” Naylor said. A bull shark also killed a teenage girl in Western Australia’s Swan River. The four fatal attacks in Australian waters in 2023 remained below the decade’s peak of six deaths in 2020. While po[CENSORED]tion density was linked to shark attacks by bringing increased interactions between people and sharks, swimming or surfing in more po[CENSORED]ted areas reduced the likelihood of fatalities when attacks occurred. Australia’s beach safety was “second to none” at po[CENSORED]r patrolled beaches, but remote and regional beaches were dangerous due to their isolation, according to Florida Program for Shark Research doctoral student Joe Miguez. “This is because when an attack happens and there is beach safety, you can get a tourniquet on sooner and save the person’s life,” he said. Sydneysider Lauren O’Neill survived being bitten by what is believed to be a bull shark while swimming near a jetty in the city’s densely po[CENSORED]ted eastern suburbs in January, the first recorded attack in Sydney Harbour for over a decade. She thanked her “heroic and very kind neighbours” for the critical assistance they quickly provided. The attack prompted debate over anti-shark measures amid concerns warmer waters are attracting more bull sharks to the harbour, but is not included in the report focusing on 2023 bites. The United States had two confirmed shark attack fatalities, while four other peopled died in the Bahamas, Egypt, Mexico and New Caledonia. The majority of attacks were “test bites” from sharks mistaking people for their preferred prey, the researchers said. While sharks typically swim away following such bites, unusual incidents had occurred among tiger, bull and white sharks repeatedly biting their victims, and some were so large a single bite proved fatal. https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2024/feb/06/global-shark-bite-deaths-doubled-in-2023-with-australia-high-on-the-list

An unfolding political crisis is also threatening Pakistan’s economic recovery [File: Fareed Khan/AP Photo] Pakistani voters head to the polls on Thursday amid a deep-seated economic crisis. Inflation is hovering at 30 percent, close to 40 percent of people live below the poverty line, and the debt-to-gross domestic product (GDP) ratio has climbed to 72 percent. Pakistan’s new government will have to contend with these and an ageing public infrastructure. “We have power outages every day for two hours,” says Muhammad Waqas, a janitor from Islamabad. “In the summer, when it’s hot, you sit idly and suffer.” As with other state-owned firms, the inability of successive governments to invest in Pakistan’s National Transmission and Despatch Company has left it prone to failure. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic and energy supply challenges dampened Pakistan’s growth prospects and constrained efforts to diversify its export base away from low-value-added products – such as cotton and rice – to higher-value goods. In late 2022, meanwhile, monsoon floods displaced eight million people and cost the country $30bn in damage. The loss of cotton crops ravaged the country’s textile industry, a key source of exports. In all likelihood, Pakistan’s growth rate fell into negative territory in 2023. Pakistan, which imports much of its food and fuel, consistently records large trade deficits. Owing in part to elevated commodity prices, foreign exchange reserves dwindled to less than one month of imports last May, leading to shortages of vital goods. The following month, Islamabad narrowly avoided default after it secured a $3bn loan from the IMF – its 23rd fund programme since 1958. However, the lending package came with strict conditions and unpo[CENSORED]r reforms. As part of the deal, the government agreed to impose new taxes on its faltering power sector. It also agreed to lower utility subsidies, which led to sharp hikes in electricity prices, hitting poorer households particularly hard. Inflation, which reached nearly 30 percent in December, has been climbing since the start of last year after Pakistan’s central bank agreed to liberalise its exchange rate as part of a pre-existing IMF programme. Once exchange controls were dropped, the value of the currency fell sharply. The Pakistani rupee was Asia’s worst-performing currency in 2023, depreciating by roughly 20 percent against the US dollar. “We think the rupee will continue trending down slightly,” said Krisjanis Krustins, a director at Fitch Ratings. “This will lower Pakistan’s current account deficit as goods from abroad will become more expensive, compressing import levels.” According to the State Bank of Pakistan, the country posted a balance of payments surplus of $397m last December. Krustins told Al Jazeera, “Pakistan’s goods imports fell by 27 percent in the last calendar year. As for exports, they continue to be held back by limited human capital and poor infrastructure. So, corrections in the trade account have had a depressing impact on the economy.” Recent job losses have lifted the official unemployment rate to a record high of 8.5 percent, pitching an additional 8.4 to 9.1 million people into poverty. ‘Structural issues’ Separately, Pakistan has long suffered from “structural issues”, says Tariq Banuri, professor of economics at the University of Utah. “For starters, Pakistan’s growth rate is not high enough to absorb its rapidly expanding po[CENSORED]tion. It’s also one of the world’s worst performers on tax collection. Agricultural landowners are exempt from income tax, and there’s no capital gains tax on real estate.” Successive governments have stopped short of imposing robust tax legislation for fear of upsetting powerful business interests, Banuri said. “But that may change this year because of the debt situation,” he added. Islamabad’s failure to boost tax revenues and modernise state-owned enterprises has generated persistent fiscal deficits and a large debt burden. In absolute terms, external debt reached $125.7bn last year. Looking ahead, Pakistan faces $24.6bn in external debt repayments by the end of June, the bulk of which is owed to China. China is Pakistan’s largest bilateral creditor, and Beijing agreed to roll over $2.4bn in loans last year. Many economists expect the incoming government to try and secure longer-term financing from the IMF – its current deal expires in April. Given the cutbacks to public spending last year, “further fiscal consolidation is unlikely”, says Yousuf Farooq, director of research at Chase Securities. “The Fund is going to try and eke out further conditions, but probably from wealthier sections of society.” “Assuming the new government can get another IMF loan, it will struggle to repay unless it imposes new taxes on agriculture and real estate. If it can also roll over short-term contracts with longer repayment schedules, I’m hopeful that debt will fall in the near term,” he said. In the meantime, foreign investment continues to be hamstrung by security concerns along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border. Since the Taliban returned to power in Kabul in 2021, Islamabad has accused its neighbour of harbouring fighters carrying out attacks on its soil. Political crisis An unfolding political crisis is also threatening Pakistan’s economic recovery. Today, Islamabad’s fragile democracy is overseen by a caretaker government following Imran Khan’s dismissal as prime minister in April 2022. The legitimacy of the February 8 elections has been questioned as Khan is absent from the ballot sheet. He is in jail on corruption charges. And while he is disqualified from running, Khan’s approval rating stands at 57 percent, higher than any other politician. As things stand, the head of the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PMLN) – is favourite to win. Sharif’s PMLN has assumed power four times in the past three decades, under either himself or his brother Shehbaz Sharif. Earlier this month, the Supreme Court further weakened Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) campaign by banning the use of a cricket bat as its symbol – a serious setback in a country where millions of illiterate voters identify candidates by their party logos. For Banuri, the economics professor, “People are right to criticise Pakistan’s political system, which is dynastic and extractive. But for all that, I remain an optimist. I think the worst of the economic crisis is behind us.” “While I always hope tomorrow will be better than today, I do not think the main political parties will offer meaningful change. They seem to be far more concerned with getting into power,” he added. https://www.aljazeera.com/economy/2024/2/6/in-pakistan-old-hopefuls-jostle-to-turn-around-struggling-economy

As the war enters its 713th day, these are the main developments. Ukrainian soldiers preparing to fire a BM-21 grad multiple launch rocket system towards Russian troops in the Donetsk region [Alina Smutko/Reuters] Here is the situation on Tuesday, February 6, 2024. Fighting Four people were killed and at least one injured after Russia shelled the southern Ukrainian city of Kherson, local officials said. France summoned Alexey Meshkov, the Russian ambassador to France, after two French aid workers were killed in Russian artillery fire near Kherson last Thursday. Three more French citizens were also injured in the attack that Paris described as an act of “barbarism”. Russia’s FSB security service said three Russian citizens had been detained on suspicion of attempting to assassinate a high-ranking Crimean official with a car bomb. The FSB claimed Ukraine’s security service was behind the attempted attack and said the three had been charged with “terrorist” offences. It did not name the official who was allegedly the target. Politics and diplomacy The Kremlin warned Western countries that any attempt to use frozen Russian assets as collateral to raise funds for Ukraine would be illegal and lead to a Russian legal challenge. The United States and its allies banned transactions with Russia’s central bank and the Ministry of Finance, after President Vladimir Putin began his full-scale invasion of Ukraine two years ago, freezing an estimated $300bn of sovereign Russian assets. The presidential bid of antiwar candidate Boris Nadezhdin is hanging in the balance. Nadezhdin said Russia’s Central Election Commission (CEC) had informed him that 15 percent of the signatures he submitted to access the electoral race were invalid. The CEC could now block his bid to enter the election. Lawmakers from Hungary’s ruling party boycotted an emergency parliament session in which a vote on Sweden’s bid to join NATO was on the agenda. Hungary is the only member of the 31-member security alliance not to have backed Sweden’s bid. The US said it was disappointed at the move. Weapons Kajsa Ollongren, the Dutch defence minister, said The Netherlands would deliver six more F-16 fighter jets to Ukraine, taking the total number pledged to 24. “Ukraine’s aerial superiority is essential for countering Russian aggression,” Ollongren said. Georgia said it seized a clandestine shipment of explosives bound for the Russian city of Voronezh from the Ukrainian port of Odesa. It said the explosives, hidden in a cargo of car batteries, arrived in Georgia in a Ukrainian-owned minivan and were to be transported to Voronezh, about 180km (110 miles) from the Ukrainian frontier. It did not say what for. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/6/russia-ukraine-war-list-of-key-events-day-713

Nick movie: AlRawabi School for Girls Time: Netflix Netflix / Amazon / HBO: Netflix Duration of the movie: 2mins - 14sec. Trailer:

Music title: Selena Gomez - Single Soon (Official Music Video) Signer: Selena Gomez Release date: 2023/08/25 Official YouTube link:

Video title: Best Funny Videos 🤣 - People Being Idiots | 😂 Try Not To Laugh - BY FunnyTime99 🏖️ #39 Content creator ( Youtuber ) : FunnyTime99 Official YT video:

V2, Nice effects and the photo is clear to see with the real size

Yes! @WHAT IS GOING ON?

No @xBale36?

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Dodge recently released the first photos of the next-generation Charger, and will fully reveal the new muscle car in just a couple of months. The 2025 Dodge Charger has been shown in pre-production form, and it looks a lot like the Daytona SRT concept. Dodge posted several photos of the next-gen Charger on its social media accounts, giving us a great look at the coupe's front end and body sides. While the new 2025 Charger will be offered with an electric powertrain, it'll also be available with a gas-fed engine, per The Drive. UPDATE 2/2/24: Automotive News reports that the production version of the Charger Daytona SRT concept, which Dodge teased earlier this year, will be fully unveiled on March 5. The same date was confirmed by Motor1; we have reached out to Dodge and will update this story when we have confirmation. The days of V-8-powered Dodge Chargers are gone. However, the muscle car isn't dead. Instead, it'll be returning to roads sometime later this year, and we've now seen what the 2025 Dodge Charger will look like as it nears production. First Look: New Dodge Charger Dodge today unexpectedly released several photos on its social media accounts showing off the next-gen Charger. The brand's posts read: "No cameras or recording devices permitted. Pre-production model shown. Available late 2024." The photos depict what appears to be a gray version (or versions) of the car in what looks like a parking lot. From what we can see, the production car will have similar styling as the Dodge Charger Daytona SRT concept that debuted back in 2022. The production-intent Charger features an illuminated Fratzog logo between its headlights, which are situated on either side of the "R-Wing." That's the name Dodge gave to the front opening on the concept that was inspired by the tall wing seen on the original 1969 Charger Daytona. The photos also give us a look at the new Charger's body sides and staggered-width tires. We can also see what's either a charge port or possibly a door for the gas-tank filler neck located on the driver's side rear fender. While Dodge has said the new Charger will feature an electric powertrain—as previewed by the Daytona SRT concept, which had all-wheel drive and used an 800-volt architecture—reports online suggest the new muscle car will also be offered with a gas engine, specifically the Hurricane twin-turbo 3.0-liter inline-six. That was first reported by The Drive, which last year claimed a source connected to a supplier confirmed various details about the production Charger. Now we just have to wait and see what else Dodge is willing to reveal in the coming months. This story was originally published January 12, 2024. https://www.caranddriver.com/news/a46363753/2025-dodge-charger-production-first-photos/

Hawa Cissoko (second right) celebrates West Ham’s winner. Photograph: Andrew Boyers/Action Images/Reuters Two shots on target, two goals and one title challenge ripped apart. ­Arsenal were made to pay for their profligacy in front of goal as West Ham pounced on two errors to come from behind and secure an ­impressive 2-1 win in front of a club-record crowd. Alessia Russo gave the Gunners a first-half lead but Steph ­Catley gave away a penalty, which Viviane Asseyi converted, before Hawa ­Cissoko pounced on Manuela Zinsberger’s mistake to give them the lead. “Everybody’s got to be careful of an underdog,” the West Ham mana­ger, Rehanne Skinner, said. “I’m absolutely delighted by the determination, grit and the attitude of the players from start to finish today.” Defeat leaves Arsenal third behind Chelsea and Manchester City, who both won later yesterday against Everton and Leicester respectively. Chelsea are now six points clear of their London rivals. Asked whether his team’s chances were over their mana­ger, Jonas Eidevall, said: “You can’t think like that. You can only think about the things that you can control … We have a lot of league games left to play with teams that are closer in our region of the table as well.” There was a silver lining for the visiting side, with the England captain, Leah Williamson, named in the starting XI – 291 days since ­sus­taining an anterior cruciate ligament injury against Manchester United in April 2023 which led to her missing the World Cup. One small moment during the match served as an acute reminder of what Arsenal and England have been missing. As a high ball began to drop near the touchline Asseyi and Williamson watched it fall and waited. Asseyi was closer and raised her foot but Williamson got there first, ­showing no fear, powering it forward just before the West Ham striker’s foot connected. To study Williamson’s movement and watch her eyes across the course of a match, or the 45 minutes she played here, is to see a reading of the game, a reading of ball movement, an ­understanding of the spaces that are there or will open up that is ­magical. Eidevall said: “She was ready to start a football match. This was a great opportunity for us to do that. She couldn’t play more than a half today, so that was a planned substitution. I think she played very well.” Williamson was one of two changes made to the team that defeated ­Liverpool the previous week, with Catley also starting. Skinner, meanwhile, made one change to the team that beat Bristol City 2-1, with Cissoko forming part of a back three. Arsenal dominated ­possession, as expected, but they struggled to carve out clear chances against a well‑drilled West Ham – whose ­defensive performance was ­epitomised by a stunning last-ditch tackle from Honoka Hayashi to deny Vivianne Miedema who was one‑on‑one with the goalkeeper, Mackenzie Arnold. Their wastefulness proved costly because by the hour West Ham had carved out their first two shots on target, both from Arsenal errors, and both hit the back of the net. First, Catley brought down Riko Ueki, ­conceding a penalty that Asseyi coollyconverted. Then ­Zinsberger punched her ­clearance down into the turf and the ball bounced up for Cissoko to loft over her and in from 18 yards out. It was sloppy from the ­Gunners but a well‑deserved lead for the home team who were clinical when it mattered and fuelled by a ­seemingly possessed Katrina Gorry in the middle. “The only place we’re looking is up, we’re hunting down the next team above us and we’re working hard every week to get points,” ­Skinner said. “We have to approach the next game as if this hasn’t happened.” Leah Williamson made her first start for Arsenal since her anterior cruciate ligament injury in April 2023. Photograph: Mark Leech/Offside/Getty Images https://www.theguardian.com/football/2024/feb/04/west-ham-arsenal-wsl-match-report

Seawater contaminated with microplastics, seen here in detail. Photograph: Tunatura/Getty Images/iStockphoto These tiny particles are polluting the planet, including our bodies. How bad for us are they really? Microplastics are everywhere. These tiny pieces of plastic – the usual definition is anything under 5mm in length – are a by-product of the over-production of synthetic polymers, and there is increasing evidence that they are infiltrating the entire ecosystem. A recent study found them in 90% of protein types sampled by researchers, while a study from 2020 found them in fruit and vegetables. Another study, published this year suggests that bottled water could contain up to 100 times the amount of plastic particles previously thought, and some studies have even found microplastics in prenatal human placentas. So is this an unstoppable problem? Are there implications for our health that we are only just beginning to see? And if so, is it already too late to do anything about it? To start with the bad news: yes, the problem is worse than previously thought. “Everyone knew there were microplastics in our sea water and on our beaches, but we’re now finding them in the freshwater system and as far afield as the Arctic,” says Prof Catherine Wilson, an expert in microplastics at the School of Engineering, Cardiff University. “This is raising questions about how they are being transported in the air. We’re also seeing – as we use recycled sludge, a nutrient-rich waste product from sewage treatment, as a fertiliser in agriculture – that microplastics are being recycled in the environment, which may mean they are building up in the soil on farmland.” So how bad are microplastics for humans? There are two clear mechanisms through which microplastics might hurt us: either by chemically disrupting the normal running of our body systems, or by piling up in enough quantities to block our circulatory, respiratory or digestive systems. Increased cancer risk, for instance, is a key concern – but it’s not clear just how worried we should be. “Links to the carcinogenic potential of microplastics and nanoplastics, which are barely visible to the eye even under a powerful microscope, has been demonstrated in vitro [laboratory test-tubes or similar] in human cells and in vivo [in a living body] for animal and plant models,” says Prof Jo Cable, head of division at the School of Biosciences, Cardiff University. “But it’s worth saying that the effects in most of these studies were induced by concentrations of plastic far higher than those detected in the bloodstream in some of the most recent studies.” Similarly, it is not clear whether microplastics are having a significant effect on, for example, the production of immune cells or the appetite, although all these possibilities are a concern. “Further work is needed to determine the effects of this level of exposure – as well as whether microplastics continue accumulating or are eventually expelled from our bodies,” says Cable. “We also need to understand whether better alternatives are possible – for instance, the Plastic Fish project at Cardiff University is investigating whether bio-based plastics and associated additives often marketed as ‘greener’ than traditional plastics are, in fact, healthier for the environment and organisms if and when exposure occurs. Evidence is mounting that they may not be.” What can we do? Unfortunately, this is a societal problem: the sheer ubiquity of microplastics mean there is little chance of avoiding them. Plastics are an essential and often life-saving commodity, but we’ve been using them unsustainably for years, and left a legacy for future generations that could be difficult to tackle. On a global level, we need to shift towards plastic products that are either biodegradable – ie break down naturally – or structurally easier to chemically recycle; and consumers and businesses need to be incentivised to embrace them. It’s not an easy problem to deal with, but as it is likely to affect everyone who swims, eats or breathes, it concerns us all. https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2024/feb/04/should-i-worry-about-microplastics

Honshu the macaque was returned, like the red panda caught in a greengrocer’s but not the lynx shot dead in a caravan park Japanese macaque Honshu at the Highland wildlife park near Kingussie, following his escape on Sunday. Photograph: RZSS/PA After five days of freedom roaming the wilds and back gardens of the Cairngorms, Honshu the Japanese macaque was back with his keepers at the Highland Wildlife Park on Friday, recovering from the tranquilliser dart that finally brought his escapade to an end. Sadly for the fugitive, there was no more contraband bird food, let alone Yorkshire pudding, the back-garden treat that finally led to his recapture. Instead, a spokesperson for the Royal Zoological Society of Scotland said, the monkey was back on his normal fare of primate pellets, vegetables and leaves, and none the worse for his adventure. Honshu’s bold escape, after he scaled the perimeter fence of his enclosure last Sunday, may have brought him brief global celebrity, but while Biaza, the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums, says incidents like this are “very rare”, zoo escapes are perhaps not quite as unusual as one might expect. Even while the world’s media were focused on finding Honshu, for instance, zoo authorities at the opposite end of Britain have been hunting their own missing animal. Dartmoor zoo in Devon confirmed two weeks ago that Malu, a Palawan binturong – a threatened subspecies related to the civet – was missing from his enclosure, amid reports that he had not been seen since Christmas. While the nocturnal animal is not dangerous, according to the zoo, visitors have been advised not to approach him. Earlier in January, a rainbow lorikeet escaped its aviary at Colchester zoo in Essex by hitching a ride on a member of the public as they left the walk-through enclosure; experts have been debating whether it could survive in the wild. Last year in the UK there were escapes of a red panda from Newquay zoo in Cornwall in May (later recaptured at a greengrocer’s after being spotted “ambling” down a street); a 1.2-metre tegu lizard from a Cumbrian petting zoo in June (the public were warned it “can run like a T Rex”), and a pelican from Blackpool zoo in August (blown away after being spooked by a group of seagulls). That same month, an unidentified monkey fled its enclosure in Paignton zoo in Devon (to be later found among the rhinos after visitors to the zoo were put in lockdown), while in September three yellow parrots escaped from the Wild zoological park in the West Midlands (blown out of the grounds by a strong gust of wind). Some animal welfare campaigners suggest there may be many more. “Zoos only have to announce or declare an animal has escaped to the local licensing authority as the animal leaves the perimeter of the zoo,” said Chris Lewis, the captivity research officer at the Born Free Foundation. An animal that gets out of its enclosure but stays within the zoo’s confines need only be recorded internally, he said. “So the number of escapes that actually occur is probably much higher than [we know about].” More serious incidents are not an everyday occurrence, but are far from unknown. Incidents in recent years have included the lynx that escaped Borth zoo in west Wales in 2017 and was later shot dead in a caravan park, and the snow leopard that got out of Dudley zoo the following year, which suffered the same fate. Two brown bears were shot dead at Whipsnade zoo in 2021 after using a fallen tree to get into the neighbouring boar enclosure. Most seriously, keeper Sarah McClay was mauled to death by a Sumatran tiger at a Cumbrian animal park in 2013. That zoo was later heavily fined, and Biaza’s chief executive, Jo Judge, insists that British zoos conform to some of the highest standards in the world and prepare very carefully for the chance escape of an animal. “All [institutions] that have a zoo licence are legally required to have procedures in place to ensure that they prevent escapes where possible, and that they are prepared for dealing with escapes, in those very rare occasions if they do happen,” she said. The procedures included drills four times a year training for escapes of different types of species. “Obviously, it would be very different if a fish escaped from a tank, as opposed to the macaque in this instance, and they have to be prepared for all eventualities.” Depending on the kinds of species they keep, zoos will have staff who are trained in firing tranquilliser darts, and possibly also in firearms, Judge said. “If they have an animal that could be a danger to life, then it’s a legal requirement that they have firearms on site, and that they have people trained to use them. “So although it’s really rare, everyone takes it incredibly seriously.” Regardless of the seriousness of the event, however, every zoo escape represents a failure of some kind, and Samantha Ward, associate professor of zoo animal welfare at Nottingham Trent University, said there would be lessons to be learned from this week’s events. “One of the biggest aspects at the moment for zoo design is incorporating interaction between humans and animals. These days, we’re trying to improve and increase the [ways] that people can feel connected to the animals. This means that you might reduce the amount of fencing or you will have different viewpoints, which then allow a different kind of interaction with the animals within the enclosures. “And I think sometimes it might be that the focus on what the visitors need is maybe [placed] higher than the safety or the security side of things.” As well as enclosure design, there will be questions about the social dynamics in the animal’s enclosure, and whether it has been pushed out from the group; in Honshu’s case, according to the animal park, he will be gradually introduced to the other sub-adult males before being reintroduced to the whole group. Captivity may have called for Honshu the macaque, but sometimes an animal does not only flee a zoo, but thrives. By coincidence, Friday marked the anniversary of the escape from Central Park zoo in New York of Flaco the Eurasian eagle owl. For more than a week after vandals first cut a hole in his enclosure and he escaped, local birders and zoo authorities chased the huge owl around Manhattan, attempting to lure him back. Eventually, however, they realised he had taught himself to hunt for rats, and decided to leave him to it. A year on, Flaco may well be the only Eurasian eagle owl living in the wild in the Americas, but he’s doing just fine – and occasionally popping up on apartment windowsills to peer at the humans within. https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/feb/02/brown-bears-and-binturongs-honshu-is-just-the-latest-animal-to-escape-a-uk-zoo

The suppression of pro-Palestinian voices is not fighting anti-Semitism because there is nothing anti-Semitic about opposing genocide. Protesters hold hands locked together during a Jewish Voice for Peace rally for a ceasefire in Gaza on November 3, 2023, in Seattle, US [File: Lindsey Wasson/AP Photo] On December 5, 2023, I joined fellow Jewish university students outside the United States Congress to protest against a resolution conflating criticism of Israel with anti-Semitism. Our calls to reject the resolution were not heard. Two weeks earlier, a hearing was held where our concerns were yet again ignored; only pro-Israeli witnesses were called to testify. To us, progressive Jews, it appears elected officials who proudly stood by former President Donald Trump after he refused to condemn neo-Nazis and dined with anti-Semites value our voices only when they can tokenise a select few to fulfil their political goals. Conflating anti-Semitism with criticism of a modern apartheid state is dangerous historical revisionism. It ignores the fact that since the conception of Zionism, there has always existed strong and diverse Jewish opposition to it. For decades, progressive Jewish movements have held Zionism to be a dangerous form of nationalism, with some Holocaust survivors openly denouncing Zionist policies. Like countless other Jews, I was brought up to believe in extending solidarity, combating oppression and supremacy, and standing up for the sanctity of human life. The Torah states that all people are made B’tselem Elohim (in the image of God), making each life sacred. The Talmud teaches that saving a single life is to save the whole world, commanding Jews everywhere to fight against the loss of life anywhere. These teachings drive the love I have for my faith and culture … and the heartbreak I feel whenever I see the destruction Zionism has wrought. The Israeli army has killed more than 27,000 Palestinians since October 7, including more than 11,000 children. Of the tens of thousands of bombs dropped on Gaza – one of the most densely po[CENSORED]ted areas in the world – nearly half were “unguided”. Israel has killed Palestinians indiscriminately in illegal attacks on hospitals, United Nations-run school shelters, ambulances, and civilian evacuation routes. Entire neighbourhoods in areas such as Gaza City, with a higher po[CENSORED]tion density than New York City, have been flattened. The Israeli government claims it is fighting to destroy Hamas. Yet, Israeli authorities have long supported strengthening Hamas, facilitating payments to the group and dismissing intelligence reports on a planned attack on southern Israel. By now, it is more than clear that this is not a fight against Hamas, but rather a genocide in the making. Israel is starving millions of civilians, illegally depriving them of food, water, and medical supplies. It is systematically destroying Gaza’s healthcare system, denying the wounded and the sick even the most basic services in an attempt to make survival impossible for millions of Palestinians. Israeli officials openly call for Palestinian civilians’ fates to be “more painful than death” and appeal for the complete destruction of Gaza. The Israeli army has even killed its own people taken hostage by Hamas in a clear indication that there are no “rules of engagement” for Israeli soldiers when it comes to civilians. Israel has sought to obliterate every aspect of the Palestinian nation, including its knowledge and culture. More than 390 educational institutions have been destroyed in Gaza, along with every single university; thousands of students and teachers have been killed. Had this happened in any other country, our universities would have been instantly up in arms, but they remain completely silent about the destruction of Palestine’s education system and the ongoing genocide. Worse still, many universities across the US continue to invest in industries that bolster Israeli military brutality. University presidents often claim to have the safety and best interest of Jewish students, while suppressing condemnations of Israeli violence. But attacking free speech and doxing students does not fight anti-Semitism on campus because there is nothing anti-Semitic about opposing genocide. What is more, university administrations have consistently made it clear that they do not care much about the safety of students with pro-Palestinian attitudes, even if they are Jewish. Just earlier this month, members of the Students for Justice in Palestine (SJP) and Jewish Voice for Peace (JVP) groups were attacked with what is believed to be an Israeli-made chemical-based weapon while they were peacefully rallying for a ceasefire on campus at Columbia University. At least eight students have since been hospitalised. The university administration chose to blame the victims for what happened, saying their protest was “unsanctioned and violated university policies”. Columbia is one of the many universities fuelling the dangerous, ahistorical conflation of Judaism and Zionism, having banned its chapters of SJP and JVP. These smears and hypocrisy are nothing new. As a student in Washington, DC, I have watched political pundits slander pro-Palestine marches as “breeding grounds” for campus anti-Semitism while claiming the November 14 March for Israel was an event rejecting anti-Semitism. Many of my Palestinian and Arab peers – who have always stood in solidarity with the Jewish community – are continually threatened, harassed, and branded “terrorists” for supporting a humanitarian ceasefire and mourning their loved ones. As a Jewish woman, I have felt nothing but kindness and safety at each Palestinian-led protest I have attended. At the March for Israel, I would not have felt the same, alongside chants of “No Ceasefire!” and featured speakers, like Christian Zionist televangelist John Hagee, who believes “God sent Hitler”. While disagreement will always exist within our community, Zionist nationalism is not the standard, with Jewish Americans now shutting down freeways, occupying offices of elected officials, and chaining themselves to White House gates to demand a ceasefire. In the face of unspeakable violence, Palestinians continue to show resilience and selflessness, and the world owes them solidarity. Proclaiming that the actions of the Israeli government do not represent us is not enough; the grief and rage we feel at the ongoing violence must motivate us to act. In 1965, civil rights activist Rabbi Abraham Joshua Heschel wrote about the Selma-to-Montgomery March he attended: “Even without words, our march was worship. I felt my legs were praying.” Today, almost 60 years later, we must also embrace protest as a form of prayer because struggling against injustice has long been the norm in our community. As Jewish students, we must refuse to allow our identity to be corrupted to justify crimes against humanity. We must refuse to sit silently while our tax dollars and tuition payments fund genocide in our name, knowing that never again means never again for everyone. The views expressed in this article are the author’s own and do not necessarily reflect Al Jazeera’s editorial stance. https://www.aljazeera.com/opinions/2024/2/4/we-jewish-students-must-not-be-silent-on-the-genocide-in-gaza

President Joe Biden urges Congress to swiftly pass bill after months of wrangling over immigration and support for Kyiv. The US Senate has proposed a bipartisan package addressing border security and aid for Israel and Ukraine [Anna Moneymaker/Getty Images via AFP] The United States Senate has unveiled a $118bn bipartisan deal that would boost border security and provide wartime aid for Israel and Ukraine. US President Joe Biden and Democratic and Republican leaders in the Senate have been pushing to resupply Ukraine with wartime aid but have faced resistance from conservative Republicans who have insisted on measures to tackle illegal immigration at the border with Mexico. The bill announced on Sunday would provide $60bn in aid to Ukraine, whose efforts to push back Russia’s invasion have been hampered by a halt in US shipments of ammunition and missiles. The deal would also provide $14.1bn in military aid to Israel: $2.44bn to address security in the Red Sea, where Yemen’s Houthi rebels have launched dozens of attacks on commercial shipping, and $4.83bn to support partners in Asia where tensions have spiked between China and Taiwan. Under the deal, the president would be granted new powers to immediately expel migrants if authorities become overwhelmed with asylum claims and applications at the border would be subject to quicker and tougher enforcement. Illegal immigration is expected to be a key issue during the presidential election in November, with Republican frontrunner Donald Trump campaigning heavily on claims of an “invasion” from the southern border. Biden on Sunday urged Congress to “swiftly pass” the deal so he could sign it into law, warning Republicans who have expressed alarm about the security of the border that “doing nothing is not an option” “Now we’ve reached an agreement on a bipartisan national security deal that includes the toughest and fairest set of border reforms in decades. I strongly support it,” Biden said in a statement. Democratic Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said he would aim to hold a vote on the bill on Wednesday, but the package faces uncertain prospects in both the upper house and the House of Representatives amid scepticism from Republicans, including Speaker Mike Johnson. “The Senate’s bipartisan agreement is a monumental step towards strengthening America’s national security abroad and along our borders,” Schumer said in a statement. “This is one of the most necessary and important pieces of legislation Congress has put forward in years to ensure America’s future prosperity and security.” In an interview with NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday, Johnson, who had previously declared the package “dead on arrival,” said his efforts to involve House Republicans in the Senate deal had been rebuffed and reiterated support for a House package of tough immigration measures. “What we’re saying is, you have to stem the flow,” Johnson said. The package’s support for Israel could also face resistance from some Democrats. Senator Bernie Sanders, an independent from Vermont, has called for the removal of $10bn earmarked for offensive weaponry while keeping funds for defensive systems. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2024/2/5/us-senate-unveils-118bn-deal-on-border-aid-for-israel-and-ukraine