Latest news with #Uzi
ArabGT
26-05-2025
- Automotive
- ArabGT
League of Legends Star Drives Off with a Real G-Class SUV
In a landmark moment uniting the worlds of esports and automotive luxury, Mercedes-Benz has celebrated Chinese gaming icon Jian 'Uzi' Zìháo with a bespoke, all-electric G 580 equipped with EQ Technology. This tribute marks Uzi's induction as the second-ever member of Riot Games' prestigious League of Legends Hall of Legends—an honor reserved for players who have fundamentally shaped the game's history. Who Is Uzi and Why He Matters Born in 1997, Uzi began his professional League of Legends career as a teenager and quickly rose to global prominence. He is widely regarded as one of the most influential bot laners of all time, known for his unmatched mechanical skill and aggressive playstyle. Uzi's career helped elevate China's position in international esports and inspired a new era of competition. His induction into the Hall of Legends is a recognition of his lasting legacy in the game and the broader gaming community. The Custom Electric G-Class To honor this milestone, Mercedes-Benz created a one-of-one version of its all-new electric G-Class SUV through the exclusive MANUFAKTUR customization program. The vehicle is finished in a matte Kalahari Gold Magno, symbolizing prestige and celebration. Inside, it features handcrafted detailing, Hall of Legends engravings, and personalized elements that reflect Uzi's gaming legacy—transforming the car into a rolling monument to his achievements. The G 580 with EQ Technology is not only a showpiece—it's a high-performance machine. It comes with four individual electric motors (one per wheel), producing 579 horsepower and 1,165 Nm of torque. Each motor is paired with a two-speed transmission, offering advanced torque vectoring and off-road capability. The SUV accelerates from 0 to 100 km/h in just 4.7 seconds, with a top speed limited to 180 km/h. Powered by a 116 kWh battery, it delivers up to 473 km of range under the WLTP standard. Celebration Beyond the Wheel Mercedes-Benz's tribute doesn't end with the car. A custom artwork of Uzi in Shanghai, posing with the G-Class, was also created. The illustration includes Easter eggs highlighting his most iconic in-game moments. Additionally, the vehicle will be publicly unveiled during the 2025 League of Legends World Championship, bringing the celebration to fans worldwide. This collaboration between Mercedes-Benz and Riot Games isn't just a personal tribute—it reflects a larger cultural shift. Uzi's recognition by a prestigious luxury automaker signals how far esports has come, now standing shoulder-to-shoulder with traditional sports in terms of cultural relevance and commercial value. It also highlights how luxury brands are increasingly aligning themselves with digital performance, innovation, and youth culture. From dominating in-game arenas to commanding the road in an electric G-Class, Uzi's journey bridges the digital and physical worlds—showing that excellence, no matter where it begins, deserves to be celebrated in style.
Hypebeast
22-05-2025
- Automotive
- Hypebeast
Mercedes-Benz Gifts Custom Electric G-Class to 'League of Legends' Star Uzi
Summary Mercedes-Benzhas honored Chinese esports legend Jian 'Uzi' Zìháo with a one-of-a-kind electricG-Classto celebrate his induction into theLeague of LegendsHall of Legends. As the second-ever inductee, following Korean superstar Faker, Uzi was recognized for his extraordinary career and influence on the global gaming community. Built on the newG 580 with EQ Technologyplatform, Uzi's vehicle was handcrafted through Mercedes' exclusive MANUFAKTUR program. It features a distinctive Kalahari gold magno finish, engraved 'Hall of Legends' interior details and bespoke elements reflecting Uzi's legacy. It is also the first electric G-Class of its kind in China. In addition to the car, Mercedes-Benz collaborated with a design studio to create a custom artwork showing Uzi in his hometown of Shanghai alongside his new G-Class, complete with Easter eggs from his career. This collaboration is part of Mercedes-Benz's ongoing partnership withRiot Games, which includes support for major tournaments like Worlds and MSI, as well as the newly launched Hall of Legends initiative.
Yahoo
26-04-2025
- Yahoo
Gangster who ordered acid attacks caught after five-year hunt
When Lee Deakin came out of his house to fetch a phone charger from the boot of his car, a stranger armed with a bottle of acid was lying in wait for him. Only when he got to his vehicle did Mr Deakin realise that someone was crouched down behind him. And before he was able to ask "what are you doing?" his eyes were burning and his skin "felt like jelly". That attack in St Helens on 14 April 2019, which came very close to permanently blinding Mr Deakin, was carried out by hitman-for-hire Jonathan Gordon, a member of a north Liverpool street gang called the Deli Mob. Analysis of Gordon's gangland conversations revealed he was a man in demand to carry out similar attacks across the north-west of England. For a fee of up to £10,000, he was willing to maim and disfigure whoever his clients wanted him to. His services were advertised over Encrochat. The encrypted phone network, developed in about 2016, was almost exclusively being used by criminals three years later. Hundreds of criminals across the UK who believed their Encrochat communications were 100% secure have been brought to justice since the platform was hacked by Dutch and French police in late 2019. They shared their intelligence with British counterparts working in the National Crime Agency (NCA). Law enforcement agencies across Europe were able to secretly monitor criminal conversations until June 2020, when the company realised it had been compromised and alerted its users. For many criminals, though, that message came too late. Using the handle, or username, of ValuedBridge, Gordon had casual conversations with another user, AceProspect, who would become a priority target for the NCA. AceProspect was making a living by advertising military-grade weapons, including AK47 assault rifles and Uzi sub-machine guns, for sale to British crime groups. He was also having direct conversations with Gordon about blinding people outside their homes. The identity of AceProspect was revealed last week as Philip Waugh, from Warrington in Cheshire. While the 39-year-old was not charged with ordering the attack on Mr Deakin, he did discuss it with Gordon when planning how to carry out similar assaults. Waugh has now admitted conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm by hatching a plan to blind a Warrington man called Nathan Simpson in April 2020. He had also been charged with ordering Gordon to attack another man in Blackpool a few days earlier, but the Crown Prosecution Service agreed not to proceed with that case in light of Waugh's other guilty pleas. "Just need him blind and face melted," Waugh had messaged Gordon about Mr Simpson. Gordon spoke about his earlier attack on Mr Deakin, complaining that the St Helens man had "got to the sink" to wash his face and save his eyesight. This prompted Waugh to suggest Mr Simpson should be "stabbed in the leg". He also suggested Gordon should "double the dose" and said he also wanted Mr Simpson's partner to be blinded in the same attack. On Encrochat, Gordon sent pictures of metal canisters overflowing with acid, and the pair discussed plans to "cook" their targets. One attempt, on 6 April 2020, was abandoned when Gordon spotted CCTV cameras near Mr Simpson's home. The following day, as Gordon was preparing to drive from Liverpool to try again, police patrol officers approached him and caused him to flee and abandon his car. Gordon, who was also linked to a number of non-fatal shootings in Liverpool, was arrested in July 2020. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years in June 2022 after a jury convicted him of offences including grievous bodily harm and possessing firearms with intent to endanger life. One of the charges referred to a "gunfight" in a residential street in Walton, Liverpool. While nobody was injured in that incident, a bullet crashed into the home of an elderly couple. At the time, Waugh was in Spain, where he had been co-ordinating an operation to smuggle firearms into the UK. According to the NCA, Waugh's right-hand man Robert Brazendale, from Thelwall in Warrington, would then be responsible for storing the weapons and passing them on to customers. Brazendale was charged with firearms offences in November 2020 after NCA search teams dug up his back garden and found several semi-automatic handguns. He was initially jailed in February 2022 for 11 years and three months for dealing firearms which had been on Waugh's guns list. His sentence was reduced on appeal to 10 years. Elusive Waugh was eventually caught in Spain in September 2024, hiding in a villa in Benahavis, Malaga. After his arrest by Guardia Civil, Waugh was extradited to the UK. The NCA said it and other agencies recovered two AK-47s, Uzi and Skorpion machine guns, a Grand Power automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson pistol, and hundreds of rounds of ammunition. Waugh, and Brazendale, who was charged in prison with new firearms offences committed with Waugh, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court last week. They both admitted ordering the acid attack on Mr Simpson and firearms offences. Both will be sentenced at the same court in June. The NCA's senior investigating officer, Ben Rutter, said: "The NCA worked for five years to trace, locate and bring Philip Waugh to justice under Operation Venetic. "He supplied an array of terrifying automatic and semi-automatic weaponry to offenders who were planning horrific crimes. "He didn't care at all about who might be killed in the process - he only cared about money. "He is an extremely dangerous offender." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer. Acid attack enforcer charged £10k to blind victim Gang boss 'sent weapons-for-sale list' to OCGs
BBC News
26-04-2025
- BBC News
Warrington gangster who ordered acid attacks caught after five years
When Lee Deakin came out of his house to fetch a phone charger from the boot of his car, a stranger armed with a bottle of acid was lying in wait for when he got to his vehicle did Mr Deakin realise that someone was crouched down behind before he was able to ask "what are you doing?" his eyes were burning and his skin "felt like jelly".That attack in St Helens on 14 April 2019, which came very close to permanently blinding Mr Deakin, was carried out by hitman-for-hire Jonathan Gordon, a member of a north Liverpool street gang called the Deli Mob. Analysis of Gordon's gangland conversations revealed he was a man in demand to carry out similar attacks across the north-west of England. For a fee of up to £10,000, he was willing to maim and disfigure whoever his clients wanted him to. His services were advertised over encrypted phone network, developed in about 2016, was almost exclusively being used by criminals three years of criminals across the UK who believed their Encrochat communications were 100% secure have been brought to justice since the platform was hacked by Dutch and French police in late shared their intelligence with British counterparts working in the National Crime Agency (NCA). Law enforcement agencies across Europe were able to secretly monitor criminal conversations until June 2020, when the company realised it had been compromised and alerted its many criminals, though, that message came too late. 'Military-grade weapons' Using the handle, or username, of ValuedBridge, Gordon had casual conversations with another user, AceProspect, who would become a priority target for the was making a living by advertising military-grade weapons, including AK47 assault rifles and Uzi sub-machine guns, for sale to British crime groups. He was also having direct conversations with Gordon about blinding people outside their identity of AceProspect was revealed last week as Philip Waugh, from Warrington in Cheshire. While the 39-year-old was not charged with ordering the attack on Mr Deakin, he did discuss it with Gordon when planning how to carry out similar has now admitted conspiring to commit grievous bodily harm by hatching a plan to blind a Warrington man called Nathan Simpson in April 2020. He had also been charged with ordering Gordon to attack another man in Blackpool a few days earlier, but the Crown Prosecution Service agreed not to proceed with that case in light of Waugh's other guilty pleas. "Just need him blind and face melted," Waugh had messaged Gordon about Mr Simpson. Gordon spoke about his earlier attack on Mr Deakin, complaining that the St Helens man had "got to the sink" to wash his face and save his prompted Waugh to suggest Mr Simpson should be "stabbed in the leg". He also suggested Gordon should "double the dose" and said he also wanted Mr Simpson's partner to be blinded in the same Encrochat, Gordon sent pictures of metal canisters overflowing with acid, and the pair discussed plans to "cook" their targets. One attempt, on 6 April 2020, was abandoned when Gordon spotted CCTV cameras near Mr Simpson's home. The following day, as Gordon was preparing to drive from Liverpool to try again, police patrol officers approached him and caused him to flee and abandon his car. 'Lying low in Spain' Gordon, who was also linked to a number of non-fatal shootings in Liverpool, was arrested in July 2020. He was jailed for life with a minimum term of 24 years in June 2022 after a jury convicted him of offences including grievous bodily harm and possessing firearms with intent to endanger life. One of the charges referred to a "gunfight" in a residential street in Walton, nobody was injured in that incident, a bullet crashed into the home of an elderly couple. At the time, Waugh was in Spain, where he had been co-ordinating an operation to smuggle firearms into the UK. According to the NCA, Waugh's right-hand man Robert Brazendale, from Thelwall in Warrington, would then be responsible for storing the weapons and passing them on to customers. Brazendale was charged with firearms offences in November 2020 after NCA search teams dug up his back garden and found several semi-automatic handguns. He was initially jailed in February 2022 for 11 years and three months for dealing firearms which had been on Waugh's guns list. His sentence was reduced on appeal to 10 years. 'Extremely dangerous offender' Elusive Waugh was eventually caught in Spain in September 2024, hiding in a villa in Benahavis, his arrest by Guardia Civil, Waugh was extradited to the NCA said it and other agencies recovered two AK-47s, Uzi and Skorpion machine guns, a Grand Power automatic pistol, a Smith and Wesson pistol, and hundreds of rounds of and Brazendale, who was charged in prison with new firearms offences committed with Waugh, appeared at Liverpool Crown Court last both admitted ordering the acid attack on Mr Simpson and firearms offences. Both will be sentenced at the same court in NCA's senior investigating officer, Ben Rutter, said: "The NCA worked for five years to trace, locate and bring Philip Waugh to justice under Operation Venetic."He supplied an array of terrifying automatic and semi-automatic weaponry to offenders who were planning horrific crimes."He didn't care at all about who might be killed in the process - he only cared about money."He is an extremely dangerous offender." Listen to the best of BBC Radio Merseyside on BBC Sounds and follow BBC Merseyside on Facebook, X, and Instagram, and watch BBC North West Tonight on BBC iPlayer.
New York Times
24-04-2025
- Health
- New York Times
A New Medical Discipline in Israel: How to Receive Hostages
A woman recently released after more than 15 months of captivity in Gaza refused any medical tests one day at the Israeli hospital that received her. The doctors were delighted. 'We canceled a whole day's schedule,' said Prof. Noa Eliakim-Raz, who heads the department that receives hostages at Beilinson Hospital near Tel Aviv. The woman's ability to retake control indicated progress after months at the mercy of her Hamas captors. This was one of the small victories doctors say they have seen as dozens of freed hostages transition back to everyday life. For over a year, a team from Israel's medical, military and social welfare systems has been updating a manual based on what it has learned about helping hostages readjust. There were few precedents to learn from, officials said, especially as the captives ranged in age from infants to octogenarians. 'We are now writing the theory,' said Eti Kisos, a deputy director general at the Ministry of Welfare and Social Affairs. About 250 people were seized during the Hamas-led terrorist attack on Israel on Oct. 7, 2023, that set off the devastating war in Gaza. More than 100 hostages were released during a brief cease-fire that November, and Hamas returned 30 more living hostages this year before a shaky cease-fire collapsed. Many were held in dark tunnels while shackled and deprived of food, according to relatives, doctors and their own testimony. Up to 24 living hostages remain in Gaza. Here's a look at how the released hostages have been received back in Israel. Psychologists, Hairdressers and Smartphones After the Red Cross transferred hostages from Hamas gunmen to Israeli forces in Gaza, a mental health professional with the military accompanied them to their first point of re-entry — an army facility on the Israeli side of the border. Physical contact is reserved for those who request it. Some ask for a hug. 'We learned from other countries' experience that it was essential to enable them a gradual transition process and not to flood them with stimuli,' said Lt. Col. Uzi, a military mental health officer who agreed only to be referred to by his first name, because of the sensitivity of his role. At the base, the released hostages had their first taste of freedom. One asked to see herself in the mirror, Colonel Uzi said. Others asked for nail polish or a comb. Some speak little, while others are eager to share their experiences. After something light to eat and drink and some time to adjust, they are reunited with close family members. Often for the first time since they were captured, the released hostages get choices. 'What do you want to eat, drink? What kind of clothes to wear, what colors, what sizes? Where to meet their families and to shower before or after?' said Col. Avi Benov, a doctor and deputy chief of the military's medical corps. He called the gradual transition from captivity to freedom 'grounding.' Health experts also compare it to decompression, the way a diver returns to the surface. After an initial physical and mental health assessment, returnees can make phone calls, and use the services of a hairdresser, barber or beautician. At first, only gradual exposure to communications and social media was recommended. But some of the younger hostages found it therapeutic to reconnect with the outside world. Now, every returning hostage is offered a new smartphone. On their return, some receive difficult news about loved ones who remain in captivity or were killed in the October attack. One Israeli hostage, Or Levy, was freed in early February. He was abducted as he and his wife, Einav, fled the Nova music festival, where more than 380 people were killed. Military officers broke the news to him that she had been killed, his brother, Michael Levy, said in an interview. Learning to Eat Again The next stop is a dedicated, secluded wing at one of the three hospitals set up to receive hostages, where multidisciplinary civilian teams await. At Beilinson Hospital, each returnee is assigned a dietitian, according to Professor Eliakim-Raz. Weight and muscle grip are checked, and diets are individually tailored. One of Mr. Levy's first cravings after his release was a shawarma wrap, his brother said. Despite dietitians' warnings against the high-calorie dish so early on, his brother decided he wanted one, he said. Doctors have been wary of re-feeding syndrome — the potentially dangerous effects that eating too much, too fast can have on people who have been starved or severely malnourished. Eli Sharabi, who came back from Gaza's tunnels emaciated, slowly increased his food intake by 100 grams a day, said his brother, Sharon Sharabi. About 24 living hostages remain in Gaza. Some have been kept in tunnels, shackled, for much or all of the past 18 months, according to the testimony of released captives. Maintaining the privacy of the returnees is considered essential. But the hospitals also try to reduce the institutional atmosphere, so special wings have been adapted to feel more homey. There are formal protocols to follow, but adjustments are made to treat each case individually. A group of female lookout soldiers, abducted from the military base near Gaza where they had been serving, for example, wanted to be together after release. 'There's a healing power in this group,' Professor Eliakim-Raz said, adding that their physiotherapy became like group therapy. Preparing for the arrival of hostages, the hospitals described their special wings as if they were vacation spots. Beilinson's wing features 21 'spacious and luxurious rooms' equipped with soft clothing and bedding, cozy blankets and slippers, mini-fridges, potted plants, recovery teddy bears and phone chargers, the hospital said in a statement sent to journalists. Also available: private dining facilities for family meals made by chefs, as well as beauty treatments, manicures and pedicures. Sheba Medical Center, near Tel Aviv, issued images of lounge areas it had prepared with pastel couches and brightly colored ottomans. Towels were rolled up on beds, spa style. Israel has been criticized for its treatment of Palestinian prisoners and wartime detainees. In February, an Israeli military prosecutor charged five reservist soldiers with abuse of a Palestinian detainee at a military base where thousands of Gazans have spent time, handcuffed and blindfolded, without being charged. Former detainees have described beatings and demeaning conditions in the facility. Israel also halted all goods and aid from entering Gaza in early March. A U.N. agency said this was the longest period without aid or commercial supplies entering the enclave since October 2023, and that Gazans were facing acute shortages of food, water and medicine. Initial Elation, a Long Recovery Many hostages came back with physical injuries and shrapnel in their bodies, doctors and relatives say. Some require complicated surgery. The first days of freedom are 'euphoric,' said Ms. Kisos, the welfare ministry official. 'Adrenaline is at its peak. There's immense joy that the nightmare is over,' she said, 'and then, many times, there's a downfall.' The initial smiles and social media posts can be deceptive, concealing deep trauma. Insomnia and nightmares are common. Some released hostages fall ill. 'They've come out of immediate danger, and now the body is allowing itself to react,' Ms. Kisos said. Once discharged from the hospital, the returnees are assigned a social worker who can provide emotional support and help with bureaucracy. 'Their trust in the systems, in the state has been shaken,' said Rosi Neuman, a social worker who has accompanied released hostages. Mr. Levy was discharged from the hospital after about 10 days and moved, together with his 3-year-old son, into an apartment provided by the authorities. 'He went back to being a dad very fast,' his brother said. Another hostage, Eli Sharabi, came back on Feb. 8 to find that his wife and two teenage daughters had been killed in the October attack. Yet like many of the returnees, Mr. Sharabi has already thrown himself into the campaign for the release of those still held in Gaza. He traveled to New York to address the United Nations Security Council on last month. 'My name is Eli Sharabi, I am 53 years old,' he told the council. 'I've come back from hell. I've returned to tell my story.'
