US Marshals Services have taken Ivan Rosero into custody in a park in Philadelphia. The 27-year-old was wanted in the shooting of three people, including two young boys playing in their back garden in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Although Rosero and a number of accomplices apparently targeted the third victim, they were charged with three counts of criminal homicide and conspiracy. Two other suspects were taken into custody soon after the shooting. Rosero is believed to have driven the other shooters to the scene. His girlfriend was also arrested, charged with hindering a fugitive’s apprehension and locked up on $250,000 bail.
Rowan Atkinson, the British comedian who owns and then sold his Tesla Model S and Nissan Leaf, is one of the many who are grappling with the CO2 emissions of the EV supply chain, trying to navigate the moral minefield of lithium, cobalt, and rare earth extraction. The difference between a clean EV and a dirty EV is enormous hence it is important to be picky about the origin of the EV that you buy. There is also a need to know where your lithium comes from, which battery manufacturer made your battery, who makes the steel, and what goes into the electricity that runs your EV. Furthermore, batteries are already being made that no longer require cobalt, and we will soon see solid-state batteries that are four to six times more efficient, so efficient that they can run on sodium instead of lithium for routine run-about cars.
A 12-year-old boy riding his bicycle died in a road collision with a car in Birmingham on 22 July. West Midlands Police have taken a 32-year-old man into custody on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and being unfit through drugs, following the crash at the junction of Coventry Road and Berkeley Road. The boy was pronounced dead at the scene while another pedestrian involved in a separate collision suffered minor injuries. CCTV footage from a nearby restaurant saw a cyclist moving into the path of the oncoming car.
British Leyland’s Triumph 1500 vehicle often gets overshadowed by the sportier Dolomite series, despite the 1500 being one of the car manufacturer's first front-wheel-drive cars, making it unique in the Triumph range. Triumph’s policy for the 1500 was to make a vehicle that combined “tradition with BMW aspirations and an East Cheam income”. For those in the UK, even today, it is also rare to find a surviving 1500 due to “favourable corrosion conditions” that saw them perish at a rapid pace.
Calgary police found car in Quebec, several cellphones in sex assault case, documents say
CBC
23-06-10 02:07
Canadian police located clothing belonging to kidnap and sexual assault victims in Richard Robert Mantha's car and on a rural property in a five-day search involving cadaver dogs. Police also confiscated over 20 electronic devices that were believed to contain data, bodily fluids and other evidence of sexual assault, kidnapping and infant endangerment. The sexual assault charges include administering a noxious substance and sexual assault carrying bodily harm and punishment of five years sentenced by law. Mantha's bail hearing continues later this month.
Court documents have revealed that police found at least 20 electronic devices on a property east of Calgary, according to the Canadian Press. The police were on a five-day search after allegations that an individual named Richard Robert Mantha had kidnapped and sexually assaulted women. The documents revealed that police found women's clothing in a blue BMW allegedly driven by Mantha. The documents also include allegations that women were drugged, physically assaulted and sexually assaulted. Mantha is charged with kidnap, forcible confinement, sexual assault and administering a noxious substance.
Car ownership may no longer be a necessity, prompting younger people to delay learning how to drive and older drivers to question the value of car ownership, according to an article in The Telegraph. The cost of both buying and owning cars is cited as a major factor influencing behaviour. Private car purchase is heavily reliant on financial packages with figures from the Finance and Leasing Association, revealing the average amount borrowed for purchasing a car in the UK has increased by almost 7% in the past year. In addition, fuel taxes, insurance premiums, maintenance costs and environmental taxes have risen year alongside government clean-air initiatives, which all make car ownership prohibitively expensive for many. Ben Deakin, who owns a 2021 Audi A5 Sportback, states that the cost of servicing the car has led to the family opting to use a cheaper car and cycle more.
Matte car finishes are becoming increasingly popular, but it appears they are a nightmare to clean, maintain, and repair. A matte finish is rough, while a gloss is smooth and reflects light. A rough matte finish disrupts and absorbs light, making it eye-catching. However, it is far more difficult to clean, maintain, and repair than the smoother, gloss finish, which has been car manufacturers' choice for decades. Despite this, Spanish brand Cupra sells cars with matte paint factory built, and BMW uses the finish as an expensive upgrade for its already pricey performance models. The rarity value of matte paint means that cars in excellent condition can command higher resale prices. Still, anything that is not diligently cared for will lose value over time.
The London Symphony Orchestra (LSO) was able to have a proper musical programme for its free annual summer concert in Trafalgar Square thanks to automotive firm BMW, which has sponsored the event for 12 years. By not having to charge, the LSO was able to avoid the allure of popular pieces, instead playing the first movement of Harmonielehre, by American minimalist John Adams, that also included Debussy’s La Mer and a new piece, Light Dancing, which Eloise Gynn composed for the occasion. A large audience of 7,000 people was able to attend, with half just happening upon the show as they visited Trafalgar Square. Despite the challenges of playing outside, including noisy buses, the orchestra succeeded, thanks in part to big screens, sophisticated camerawork and intelligent amplification, with the bass being a little weak from some angles.
Toyota hopes to bring an electric vehicle (EV) powered by an all-solid-state battery to market as early as 2027. The technology is reportedly capable of more than doubling a vehicle's range from a single charge. Current solid-state EV batteries have limited viability as their electrodes can deteriorate rapidly with charging cycles. Toyota has prepared to roll out the tech by discovering the necessary materials and is working on developing mass-production capabilities. Solid-state batteries cost four to 25 times the 14,000 yen per kWh for lithium-ion batteries, on which Toyota is also working to improve its performance.
The southern region of the US is becoming America's new industrial heartland, with investment in the South for "21st-century industries" since President Joe Biden took office being more than twice that of the Midwest, according to The Economist. The shift has been years in the making, with Japanese and German carmakers establishing production facilities there in the 1980s and 1990s. Companies are attracted by subsidies and the absence of unions. There is also a bigger pool of potential labour, with many people migrating to the South and state investments in worker training programmes.
Geographical advantages play out differently depending on the sector. For EVs, many companies aim to be near the I-75 interstate highway, while the Southwest, and specifically Arizona, has become the preferred destination for semiconductor manufacturers, thanks to its cheap land and stable geology. In renewable energy, Texas is emerging as America’s leader, with significant investments in both wind and solar power.
The Southern industrial shift may also reshape political priorities in other ways. Manufacturers becoming more automated and less labour-intensive may diminish their political weight overall. However, increasing manufacturing presents challenges, such as a shortage of workers in factory towns, which may push manufacturers to explore ways of luring more women into work, which could, in turn, raise the issue of affordable child care.
Canada should speak up against deep-sea mining and support a ban or pause on industry development until more is known about its effects on the deep-sea habitat, according to Laura Trethewey, author of The Deepest Map: The High-Stakes Race to Chart the World’s Oceans. On 9 July, the United Nations (UN) will start accepting applications for deep-sea commercial mining. However, over 700 scientists, corporations and countries are calling for a halt to the industry. The Clarion-Clipperton Fracture Zone in the Pacific Ocean, where much of the mining would take place, is roughly the size of Europe. One mining contractor would need to tear up between 300 and 600 sq km of sea floor each year to make a profit. The physical damage would be significant, but there are also concerns about the impact on the climate and the potential spread of toxic plumes.
Chip manufacturing, rather than energy consumption, is responsible for the majority of the carbon emissions from electronic devices, according to Harvard research. The problem is particularly acute in Asia-Pacific, home to the world's biggest semiconductor industry, with companies such as Taiwan's TSMC and South Korea's Samsung emitting millions of tonnes of carbon. However, chipmakers are working to reduce their carbon footprints, with some aiming to source 100% of their energy from renewables by 2050. This is expected to boost the growth of green hydrogen and energy storage systems, both of which can help offset intermittent renewable energy.
The new BMW M3 Competition Touring has been reviewed by The Telegraph, with the reviewer left questioning whether the car is worth the price tag. The M3 Touring costs almost £87,000, and with added extras, the car tested by The Telegraph came in at over £100,000. The reviewer said that the additional cost for the Competition model did not feel justified, and that the M340i Touring, which is £16,000 cheaper, felt better balanced as an estate car. However, the M3 Touring was praised for its driving experience, with the reviewer stating that it felt like it belonged on a racing circuit. The M3 Touring is powered by a 3.0-litre, straight-six, twin-turbo S58 engine, which is more at home under the bonnet of a car like this than the X3 and X4 M models it debuted in. The engine produces 503bhp and can propel the M3 Touring from 0-62mph in 3.6 seconds.
A number of direct lithium extraction (DLE) technologies are emerging that could extract lithium without the need for water-intensive evaporation ponds or open-pit mines. Many of these technologies are still in the testing phase and have yet to be proven commercially viable. Lithium producers, including Albemarle and SQM, are investigating DLE technology, while companies such as EnergyX, Lithium Americas, Rio Tinto and E3 Lithium are all working on DLE projects.
The Audi TT (2006-2015) is the best convertible to buy for under £10,000, according to Autocar. The second-generation model has a “classier interior” and “more engaging driving dynamics” than the original Mk1. The Mazda MX-5 (2005-2015) is also recommended for its “open-top thrills” and better quality, as is the Mini Roadster (2011-2015) for its “fashionable, infinitely customisable styling”. The Audi A3 Cabriolet (2008-2013) is recommended for its quality and comfort, as is the BMW 3-Series E93 (2007-2013) for its “power… drophead 3ers have become synonymous”. The Porsche Boxster (1996-2004) is included despite its “potentially expensive mechanical maladies” because it offers the “sheer joy of a mid-engined, convertible Porsche at a bargain price”. The Mercedes-Benz SL R129 (1989-2001) is a recommended classic, while the Nissan 350Z Roadster (2004-2007) is described as “a brilliant sports car that’s actually a bit of a bargain these days”. The Jaguar XK8 (1996-2005) is also recommended because it is “lithe and sleek” and “has the advantage that it’s reached the nadir of its values already”. Finally, the Volkswagen Golf (2011-2016) is recommended for being a “sensible, comfortable four-seat cabriolet that won’t cost the earth to run”.
Ford Motor Co. Executive Chairman Bill Ford Jr. has said that the US is not yet ready to compete with China in the production of electric vehicles (EVs). China is poised to become the world's second-largest exporter of passenger vehicles, challenging traditional car exporters such as Germany. Ford announced earlier this year that it will invest $3.5bn in an EV battery plant in Michigan, operating with technology and support from China's Contemporary Amperex Technology. Ford Jr. said that licensing the technology is important for the company's engineers to gain knowledge to eventually produce EVs themselves.
Mazda has launched its all-new 3.3-litre, six-cylinder diesel engine, which it believes will have a long-term future as a power source for vehicles, despite the rise of the electric car. According to Mazda, buyers across the world will need the internal combustion engine long after Western governments have mandated electric cars. As such, Mazda believes it can gain an advantage over other manufacturers, which it said had "all but abandoned the genre." The new engine emits low emissions and is very efficient, according to Mazda, thanks to a 48-volt mild hybrid set-up that decreases consumption and emissions. The new engine also uses Distribution-Controlled, Partially Premixed Compression Ignition (DCPCI), a halfway house between normal diesel ignition and homogenous charge compression ignition (HCCI). The engine is available in the CX-60 SUV. It comes in two versions, with 197 and 251bhp, and achieves 56.5 and 53.3 mpg respectively.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang has urged German businesses to properly assess "risk" and called for greater "openness and cooperation" between Chinese and German industries. Li's comments came during a meeting with industry representatives in Berlin. He stressed that risk prevention and cooperation are not opposites. The meeting included representatives from German companies such as Siemens, Volkswagen, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, Schaeffler, and Allianz. Li's visit to Europe aims to strengthen economic ties and other bilateral cooperation with the continent.
The Investment Management Corp. of Ontario (IMCO) has invested $400m in Swedish battery manufacturer Northvolt. The investment will help Northvolt expand manufacturing and marketing of sustainable battery technology, and develop its supply chain globally. Northvolt is developing a gigafactory in northern Sweden, which will be powered by emission-free electricity and has a goal to produce 150 GW of annual production capacity by 2030. IMCO aims to invest 20% of its assets in climate solutions within the next seven years.
