Nissan to launch first solid-state EV in 2028
Nissan is committed to launching an electric car with a solid-state battery, believing itself to be in a “class-leading position” regarding the technology.
The Japanese firm, which was the first to launch a mass-market electric car (the Nissan Leaf) in 2010, plans to have a pilot solid-state battery production plant up and running by 2025; to have completed engineering on the initial technology by 2026; and to then ramp up towards mass production in 2028 with the first application in a car.
David Moss, Nissan’s senior vice president for research and development in Europe, said: “We think we have something quite special and are in a group leading the technology. We want to get the cost down [compared with lithium-ion batteries] by 50%, to double the energy density, and to offer three times the charging speed.”
Moss said that Nissan had gone from small button cells to larger (10cm) square cells at the current stage of development in Japan. The final cells end up the size of a laptop.
He added that Nissan was working with leading scientists at the University of Oxford on developing the technology and that Nissan’s solid-state tech was “all-solid-state”, in that it removes all liquid elements from the battery.
“Can you delete the liquid electrolyte from the battery? This is where we think we’re leading,” said Moss. “Some solid-state batteries still have the liquid electrolytes, and this is an issue, as that liquid boils. The efficiency of that energy in storage and transfer and the power you put into it will be impacted.”
Moss said solid-state tech “opens up electric mobility to sectors that you can’t today”, such as the largest pick-up trucks and SUVs.
There’s no indication of which model would bring the tech to market in 2028, but it would have to be based on an all-new architecture and most likely built in a new factory, because the impact on almost every element of the car’s development and manufacturing is so dramatic.
Nissan previously showed a trio of future-looking concept cars (the Max-Out, Surf-Out, and Hang-Out), hinting at the diverse variety of market segments that stand to benefit from its next-generation EV hardware.
“When you commit to something like solid-state, you have to change the whole mechanism and architecture of the vehicle,” said Moss. The tech is being developed separately from any vehicle project to ensure that it is not introduced prematurely or does not cause any specific project to be delayed.
Charging speeds will be key to reducing costs because faster, more stable, and more consistent charging will in turn mean smaller batteries can be fitted to vehicles.
Source- Auto Car
Liz Truss: I was never given a 'realistic chance to cut taxes'
Liz Truss has said she was never given a "realistic chance" to implement her radical tax-cutting agenda by her party.
In a 4,000-word essay in the Sunday Telegraph, Ms. Truss stood by her plans to boost economic growth, arguing they were brought down by "the left-wing economic establishment".
They are the first public comments the ex-PM has made on her resignation.
But she said she was not "blameless" for the unraveling of the mini-budget.
Ms. Truss was forced to quit after she and her chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng's £45bn package of unfunded tax cuts panicked the markets and tanked the pound to a record low.
Her brief time in power - 49 days - made her the shortest-serving prime minister in UK history.
Ms. Truss said that while her experience last autumn was "bruising for me personally", she believed that over the medium term, her policies would have increased growth and therefore brought down debt.
The ex-PM said she had not been warned of the risks to the bond markets from liability-driven investments (LDIs) - bought up by pension funds - due to the mini-budget, which forced the Bank of England to step in to prevent them collapsing as the cost of government borrowing soared.
The government did not tell the Bank of England about its tax cut plans before the mini-budget, one of its deputy governors said at the time.
But the ex-PM argued that the government was made a "scapegoat" for developments that had been brewing for some time.
She wrote: "While the government was focused on investigating what had happened and taking action to remedy the situation, political and media commentators cast an immediate verdict blaming the mini-budget.
"Frankly, we were also pushing water uphill. Large parts of the media and the wider public sphere had become unfamiliar with key arguments about tax and economic policy and over time sentiment had shifted leftwards.
"Regrettably, the government became a useful scapegoat for problems that had been brewing over a number of months."
After 100 days of "soul searching" we have a version of events from the shortest-serving UK Prime Minister in history.
This is Liz Truss's catastrophic time in office, described and defended in her own words.
At some length, she attempts to argue her case and answer for her actions. There is reflection and regret but not the apology which many might expect.
What burns through this 4000-word essay is a sense from Liz Truss that almost everything was against her as she makes a case for what might have been.
The system, officials, and Conservative MPs all played a part, she argues, in stopping her from achieving her aim of economic growth through tax cuts and de-regulation.
There are breathtaking reminders of how high the stakes were as her policies sent shockwaves through the economy - Kwasi Kwarteng had to go to avoid "a serious meltdown for the UK" and "the starkest of warnings" came from officials that the country may have to default on its debt.
Despite her downfall, Liz Truss argues many still share her enthusiasm for what she was trying to achieve.
Source-BBC
5 children robbed at home in TNT
FIVE children were robbed at gunpoint in Barataria on Thursday afternoon.
The incident took place around 3.20 p.m. at a home at 11th Street in Trinidad.
At the time, the house was occupied by a 17-year-old boy who was babysitting his siblings, an 11-year-old and eight-year-old twins, as well as his three-year-old niece.
They were all at home when the 17-year-old heard a knocking at the door.
He then heard a man saying: “Ah bring the zaboca. Yuh father send meh.”
One of the eight-year-old girls went to the door and opened it.
Three men then entered, two armed with knives and one with a firearm. They announced a hold-up.
One man stood by the door while the other two ransacked the home.
The children huddled together and were ordered to stay quiet.
The thieves stole two cell phones as well as a Cuban gold link chain and a pendant.
The children then raised an alarm, and with their neighbor’s help, notified their guardians as well as the police. A team of officers from the Barataria Police Station responded and fingerprints were found by crime scene investigators. PC Boodhai is continuing inquiries.
North Korea-linked hackers stole $1.7b in 2022
North Korea-backed hackers stole $1.7bn (£1.4bn) of crypto in 2022, says blockchain analysis firm Chainalysis.
This nearly quadruples the country's previous record for cryptocurrency theft - $429m in 2021.
The loot also made up 44% of the $3.8bn stolen in crypto hacks last year, which the firm called "the biggest year ever for crypto hacking".
Experts have said the country, facing heavy sanctions, is turning to crypto theft to fund its nuclear arsenal.
North Korea has conducted six nuclear tests and analysts expect the seventh one this year, as the country accelerates its nuclear weapons program under leader Kim Jong-un. Last year, Pyongyang launched a record number of ballistic and other missiles. This is despite the country's struggling economy.
"For context, North Korea's total exports in 2020 totaled $142m worth of goods, so it isn't a stretch to say that cryptocurrency hacking is a sizable chunk of the nation's economy," Chainalysis said in a report on Wednesday.
These hackers typically launder crypto through "mixers", which blend cryptocurrencies from various users to obfuscate the origins of the funds, the firm said.
Other experts have also said that North Korea launders stolen crypto through brokers in China and non-fungible tokens (NFTs).
Last month, the FBI confirmed that North Korea-affiliated Lazarus Group was responsible for a $100m crypto heist on a blockchain network called Horizon bridge last year.
Overall, decentralized finance protocols, or DeFi, accounted for over 82% of cryptocurrency stolen in 2022, Chainalysis' report said.
Defi users know what will happen to their funds when they use them because smart contract codes governing these protocols are publicly accessible by default.
But this transparency also makes DeFi particularly attractive to hackers, who can scan the codes for vulnerabilities and "strike at the perfect time" to maximize their loot, according to the report.
David Schwed, chief operating officer at blockchain security firm Halborn, noted that DeFi developers "prioritize growth over all else", and funds that could be used to enhance security are often directed instead to rewards, in order to attract users.
Defi developers can take a leaf from traditional financial institutions in making their platforms more secure, Mr. Schwed said.
For instance, they can simulate different hacking scenarios to test their protocols or design mechanisms to pause or halt transactions when suspicious activity is detected.
"You don't need to move as slow as a bank, but you can borrow from what banks do," he said.
Source-BBC
Clement Howell Eagles wins the 2022/23 Basketball Championships
The 2022/2023 Basketball Tournament wrapped up on Saturday night at the Gustarvus Lightbourne Sports Complex.
The Clement Howell Eagles defeated Louise Garland High, formerly known as Long Bay High 92 to 56 in the championship game, with HJ Robinson placing third in the tournament.
1st Place - Clement Howell High School
2nd Place - A. Louise Garland Thomas High School
3rd Place - HJ Robinson High School
4th Place - Alpha Christian Academy
Championship MVP – Isais Sejour (CHHS)
Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force welcomes highly decorated officer Superintendent Dean Holden.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force welcomes highly decorated officer Superintendent Dean Holden.
Supt. Holden commenced duty officially on February 01st. He will lead the Crime, Safeguarding, and Public Protection Unit.
Holden is a former Detective Chief Superintendent who joined the Lancashire Constabulary in 1994 and became a Detective in 1999.
During his Detective career, Holden has worked within the Counter Terrorism Branch, Intelligence, and undertaken an external secondment to the National Crime Squad.
As a senior Detective, Holden has worked within a Basic Command Unit and also specialized in Force's Major Incident Team, Public Protection Unit, and the North West Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU). Holden transferred to Cumbria Constabulary in June 2017, as the Director of Intelligence (Superintendent) and took up the role of Detective Chief Superintendent and Head of Crime in March 2018.
Eighteen (18) locally hired recruits (ten males and eight females) will undergo a training program in Freeport, Grand Bahama commencing February 3rd.
The initial police training program consists of 22 weeks of training and lectures. Topics to be covered include; Laws of the Turks and Caicos Islands, Criminal Investigations, Patrol Procedures, Self-defense, Traffic Control, Firearms, Physicals, Precision Drills, and Driving Skills.
Accompanying the recruits will be Inspector Delton Robinson, a seasoned investigator with over 16 years of policing experience in the Turks and Caicos Islands.
The Royal Turks and Caicos Islands Police Force held its first Divisional (A) and (B) Parade for 2023, on Wednesday, February 01st, and Thursday, February 02nd.
At 7 a.m., police officers from various sections turned out for the parade which included a formal inspection of uniforms and drills under the command of Superintendent of Police, Dwight Gardiner.
Supt. Gardiner said, quote “This was something we have done in the past and are happy to reintroduce this year. There are tremendous benefits to these quarterly parades. Inspections and drills are fundamental to policing and even though these elements may seem customary, it is important to master drills and the process that goes into getting a uniform ready for inspection.” End quote
During the parade, Commendation Certificates were presented to - (Division B) Sgt Elliot Browne and Constable Rojay Graham.
Constable Marlon Morse of Division A was presented with a certificate for Outstanding Performance.
US shoots down airship over Atlantic
The US has shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that has flown across America in the past week.
Three airports were closed and airspace was shut down off the South Carolina coast as US military planes targeted the object over the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the AP news agency, footage showed the balloon falling to the sea after a small explosion.
US President Joe Biden faced intense pressure to shoot it down since it first appeared across the US last week.
Tracking website Flightradar24 showed US Air Force and Coastguard aircraft operating in the skies between Wilmington, North Carolina, and Myrtle Beach.
The coast guard had also advised mariners to leave the area due to military operations "that present a significant hazard," the Associated Press reports.
The news agency, quoting unnamed officials, said President Biden had given the go ahead to bring the balloon down over the Atlantic Ocean, where debris can be retrieved.
The balloon's arrival over the US comes amid fraying tensions between Washington and Beijing, with Secretary of State Antony Blinken calling off a trip to Beijing over the matter.
Mr. Blinken said the "surveillance" balloon's presence was "an irresponsible act". However, China - which says it is a weather ship blown astray - has urged "cool-headed" handling of the dispute.
In another development, the US reported a second Chinese balloon floating over Latin America on Friday.
China, which has expressed regret over the incident, said on Saturday it had "never violated the territory and airspace of any sovereign country".
In a statement, its foreign ministry played down the cancellation of Mr Blinken's visit and said neither side had formally announced such a plan.
It added that Beijing "would not accept any groundless conjecture or hype" and accused "some politicians and media in the United States" of using the incident "as a pretext to attack and smear China."
According to US officials, the balloon floated over Alaska and Canada before appearing over the US state of Montana, which is home to a number of sensitive nuclear missile sites.
The incident angered top US officials, with Mr Blinken saying he had told Beijing the balloon's presence was "a clear violation of US sovereignty and international law" and "an irresponsible act" on the eve of his visit to China.
America's top diplomat had been set to visit Beijing from 5 to 6 February to hold talks on a wide range of issues, including security, Taiwan and Covid-19. It would have been the first high-level US-China meeting there in years.
But plans faltered after US defence officials announced they were tracking a giant surveillance balloon over the US on Thursday.
While the Pentagon said the balloon had been "travelling at an altitude well above commercial air traffic" and did "not present a military or physical threat to people on the ground", its presence has sparked outrage.
On Friday, China finally acknowledged the balloon was its property, saying it was a civilian airship used for meteorological research, which deviated from its route because of bad weather.
And late on Friday, the Pentagon said a second Chinese spy balloon had been spotted - this time over Latin America with reported sightings over Costa Rica and Venezuela.
China has so far made no public comments on the reported second balloon.
Source-BBC
Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson & more added to Sunday’s Grammy Awards
Some more artists have been added to Sunday night’s Grammy Awards. CBS Mornings revealed that the latest additions to the show include Stevie Wonder, Smokey Robinson and Chris Stapleton, who’ll perform together on the telecast.
The program noted that Wonder chose Stapleton for the performance, although right now there’s no word on what the trio will be performing.
Smokey’s addition comes on the same day he’s set to be honored as one of the Recording Academy’s MusiCares Persons of the Year, alongside Motown founder Berry Gordy.
The new additions join already announced Grammy performers Mick Fleetwood, Bonnie Raitt and Sheryl Crow, who’ll pay tribute to the late Fleetwood Mac star Christine McVie, as well as Harry Styles, Bad Bunny, Mary J. Blige, Brandi Carlile, Kacey Musgraves, Steve Lacy, Lizzo, Kim Petras and Sam Smith.
The 65th annual Grammy Awards, hosted by Trevor Noah, will air at 8 p.m. ET Sunday on CBS.
Smokey Robinson & Berry Gordy honored as MusiCares Persons of the Year
The stars came out in Los Angeles Friday night to celebrate Smokey Robinson and Berry Gordy, who were honored as the Recording Academy's MusiCares Persons of the Year, the first time the organization has had dual honorees.
USA Today reports the star-studded night featured performances of plenty of Motown classics, including a surprise performance by Stevie Wonder, who performed "Try Something New” and joked that Gordy “didn’t think I could sing” when he was younger. Stevie also performed a reggae version of "The Tears of a Clown.”
Lionel Richie was also on hand to celebrate his two friends, performing his classic “Easy.” He told the crowd, "To get a chance to sit here in front of two of my amazing mentors … I don't know if I'm more excited to be part of the Motown family or having Berry and Smokey as my dear friends."
Among the other performances: Dionne Warwick sang “My Guy,” Sheryl Crow performed the Jackson 5 hit “I Want You Back,” Brandi Carlile performed "The Tracks of My Tears,” The Temptations treated the crowd to a medley of “The Way You Do the Things You Do," "I Can't Get Next to You" and "My Girl, and The Four Tops sang a medley of "Baby I Need Your Loving," "It's the Same Old Song," "Reach Out (I'll Be There)" and "I Can’t Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)."
Smokey himself, who's 82, also performed a ballad he wrote for Gordy called “Did You Know,” telling Gordy they have “the best friendship in the world," and adding, "you are so precious.”
Gordy, 93, reiterated Smokey's sentiment in his acceptance speech, sharing, "I'm happy to be here with my best friend. I mean…damn."
Source-ABC
Weekend forecast for Turks & Caicos
GENERAL SITUATION: THE HIGH-PRESSURE RIDGE OVER THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS WILL MOVE TO THE EAST AHEAD OF AN APPROACHING COLD FRONT EXPECTED TO MOVE OFF THE FLORIDA COAST TONIGHT.
ALL AREAS
WEATHER: MOSTLY SUNNY AND WARM BECOMING FAIR AND COOL TONIGHT
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 10 TO 15 KNOTS
SEAS: 2 TO 4 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
DAYTIME HIGH-TEMPERATURE 84°F 29°C
OVERNIGHT LOW-TEMPERATURE 68°F 20°C
SUNSET: 5:39 PM
TIDES:
LOW TIDE: 1:26 PM (1.0 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 7:03 PM (2.3 FT)
EXTENDED FORECAST FOR THE NEXT TWO DAYS: BREEZY CONDITIONS AND AN INCREASE IN WAVE HEIGHTS WILL DEVELOP INTO THE WEEKEND
FORECAST FOR SATURDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS. THE CHANCE OF PRECIPITATION IS 30%.
WINDS: EASTERLY AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS
SEAS: 4 TO 6 FEET OVER THE OCEAN
SUNRISE: 6:25 AM
SUNSET: 5:39 PM
LOW TIDE: 1:05 AM (0.7 FT) 2:03 PM (1.0 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 7:37 AM (3.0 FT) 7:43 PM (2.3 FT)
FORECAST FOR SUNDAY
WEATHER: PARTLY CLOUDY AND BREEZY WITH ISOLATED SHOWERS
WINDS: EAST TO SOUTHEAST AT 15 TO 20 KNOTS
SEAS: 5 TO 7 FEET OVER THE OCEAN IN MODERATE NORTHEASTERLY SWELLS
SUNRISE: 6:25 AM
SUNSET: 5:40 PM
LOW TIDE: 1:45 AM (0.7 FT) 2:38 PM (1.0 FT)
HIGH TIDE: 8:15 AM (3.0 FT) 8:20 PM (2.3 FT)