Foreign automakers are being hit by China's improved domestic competition, which is pushing prices down and lowering their market share. Car companies are looking at different courses of action, with some such as Volkswagen doubling down on China, while others, such as Ford, are adopting a more focused approach, pulling back to commercial vehicles to concentrate on specific areas of development and listening to consumer trends. The US firm's move underlines the need for carmakers to act judiciously when attempting to lay down roots in regions with different sales tendencies.
Proposed new EPA regulations mandating that at least 60% of new cars sold from 2030 be electric will increase costs for Americans, as expensive charging and battery replacement become the norm, claims SEPP, a Washington-based group devoted to climate policy. The group has also trafficked in misinformation, calling global warming a “hoax.” It argues that the costs of the proposed battery electric vehicle, batteries, charging stations and increased electricity demand will make it difficult for Americans to upgrade their cars in future, limiting future mobility and leading to a further rise in wealth inequality.
The economic issues surrounding the use of electric vehicles (EVs) in the US, including their cost, convenience, and environmental impact, are outlined in a recent episode of the Heritage Foundation's Heritage Explains podcast. The Biden administration's new regulations requiring EVs to represent at least 54% of all new vehicles sold in 2030 will have an adverse economic impact on the country, the podcast's guest speaker warned. Furthermore, the reliance on China for EV production will make it economically stronger while weakening the US economy. Trillions of dollars would, therefore, be wasted on EV production to benefit China, which makes solar panels, wind turbines, and electric batteries.
President Joe Biden's plan to slow fossil-fuel development and promote electrification will result in a financial burden on lower and middle-income Americans, according to RealClear Energy. The American taxpayers' "electric bills rise" as the US government spends billions connecting wind/solar to the electricity grid required by Biden policies. Research has also highlighted that displacing energy-intensive production to China, which has not committed to reducing emissions before 2027, means "global temperatures will not change" and thus, the existence of policies promoting savings in resources will not make much of a difference.
Museums in America, which are trusted more than history books and professors, have become the latest battleground in the country’s ideological debate, with some offering a distorted version of history, argues Mary Grabar in The Federalist. This is the result of a concerted effort by a network of organisations to control the country’s historic sites, thereby influencing what is taught to its young people. The article cites how Montpelier, once home to James Madison, has now developed an anti-racist curriculum for Virginia’s schools and engages in “imagination exercises” in which children are told to imagine whipping fellow human beings.
The US city of Highland Park, surrounding Detroit, could face municipal bankruptcy as it owes about $20m to a regional water service, and has few resources with which to build. In its auto baron heyday, over 50,000 people lived in Highland Park in elegant homes similar to those in Detroit. However, after the auto industries moved away to nearby Dearborn, the population dropped and “abysmal” levels of poverty and abandonment took over as jobs and families moved. The water bill dates back to the 1990s, and Highland has not paid for sewer services since April 2021, nor less than 1% of water service charges since 2012. While the state treasurer’s office is reviewing Highland Park’s request for a financial review, municipal bankruptcy might be a “Band-Aid” solution, said Alan Mallach, author of “Smaller Cities in a Shrinking World: Learning to Thrive Without Growth.”
The Canadian government is currently offering a wide-range of subsidies to encourage businesses to reduce its carbon footprint. These exemptions include technology discounts, grants, and tax credits to reduce the cost of environmental services. However, increasingly businesses are demanding ever more favourable terms and a lack of clarity on what other companies may have received is causing resentment amongst those who feel they have missed out.
Harrison Ford attended the Cannes Film Festival to promote his latest film from the Indiana Jones series, The Dial of Destiny, which marks his final turn in the role. The 80-year-old was honoured with an honorary Palme d'Or award ahead of the premiere of the movie, and received a five-minute standing ovation from the audience. The film has received a mixed response, with some reviewers suggesting it is lacking in spark and bravado, while others laud Ford's performance and the character's growth throughout the franchise.
Harrison Ford and his wife, Calista Flockhart, experienced an awkward moment at the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the Cannes Film Festival. The couple became confused by their seating arrangement when they discovered Flockhart’s name on the seat behind Ford’s. Buchanan, a writer for the New York Times, captured the moment on video and posted it on social media. Ford, 80, later received an honorary Palme d’Or, the highest award at Cannes.
Ford says Ontario will 'put more money on the table' to save Stellantis plant in Windsor
CBC
23-05-19 16:08
Ontario Premier Doug Ford has said the province will increase its offer in a bid to save the planned Stellantis EV battery plant in Windsor. Stellantis is constructing the NextStar plant, which's set to employ 2,500 people and open next year. The announcement follows claims by Stellantis of delays in negotiations with the Canadian government. However, Ottawa maintains the plant's future is secure. Plans for a Volkswagen plant near St. Thomas, Ontario, are also receiving significant incentives, adding to the predicament around the Windsor plant's establishment.
Premier of Ontario, Doug Ford, has stated that Ontario is willing to give additional funds to Stellantis and LG Electronics Canada to keep them in Windsor, Ontario to prevent the halting of construction at their battery plant. The dispute began over funding, with both firms stating that the Canadian government has failed to match billions of dollars in incentives offered in the US through the Inflation Reduction Act. The exact cost of matching the IRA for either factory is unpredictable, due to the US subsidies being tied to how many battery cells and modules will be produced; however, it is likely to cost between CAN7bn and CAN13bn ($5.61bn and $10.45bn). The Canadian government have responded that Ontario needs to pay its “fair share” of the deal. Discussions will continue until a resolution can be made.
The Ontario government has pledged to improve its financial package to Stellantis-LG Energy Solution to keep its $5bn electric vehicle battery factory in Windsor. Ontario Premier, Doug Ford, did not disclose the amount offered to the companies this week, yet this increased financial package will theoretically aid in preventing the plant from being lured away to the US states. Reports suggest this is following President Biden’s Inflation Reduction Act offering automakers huge subsidies. The plant being constructed in Windsor is scheduled to employ up to 2,500 people and was supposed to be opened early next year.
It is believed that Ottawa and Queen’s Park are under pressure to put together a more considerable subsidy for the plant as companies halted construction on Monday to obtain further subsidies that would match those offered to Volkswagen, which has a similar investment plan in St. Thomas. At present, the Canadian government’s production tax credits for Volkswagen in Canada is about $13.2 billion, which is the same amount that the carmaker could’ve received if they went to the United States. It is thought the tax deal for Volkswagen was a significant factor in luring the plant to Canada, which some say has helped secure Canada’s car industry for future production in electric vehicles.
Stellantis, which owns Jeep, Chrysler, Fiat, and Dodge, has declined to comment on the funding arrangement thus far. It should be noted that President Biden plans to provide US automakers a $100 billion overhaul towards electric vehicles to persuade reluctant American drivers to abandon petrol automobiles. This plan includes greater investments in charging stations and robust tax incentives.
The government of Ontario has pledged to offer more financial assistance to Stellantis, following the car manufacturer's decision to halt construction at its CA$5bn ($3.7bn) EV battery factory in Canada. Stellantis claimed that Canada had not followed through on its promises, endangering the factory's construction. The factory is being built in partnership with LG Energy Solution, a South Korean firm.
Ontario is increasing its financial contribution in order to prevent automaker Stellantis from abandoning the construction of an electric vehicle battery plant in Windsor, Ontario. Although Stellantis and LG Energy Solution publicised a plan to build a $5bn factory last year, recent reports indicate that this plan has been prolonged due to the Canadian federal government failing to comply with bilateral agreements. The CEOs of Stellantis and LG Energy Solution wrote to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau indicating that they have not received subsidies initially agreed on. Canada offered Volkswagen a capital contribution of $700m and a production final offer of $13bn for similar production incentives.
Harrison Ford returned for his last outing in the Indiana Jones series, on the condition that the character had an “equal relationship” with a woman and not simply be a rescuing love interest. He put this demand forward as one of several requirements, which The Dial of Destiny script had to meet for Ford, now 80, to reprise the role. In this film, that leading lady is Phoebe Waller-Bridge, the creator of Fleabag and Killing Eve, who plays Jones’s goddaughter. Addressing his character’s age was another stipulation made by Ford before agreeing to join the project.
The development of militarized artificial intelligence (AI) is the next international arms race, with politicians "in the loop" as a final decision, according to The New York Times. The paper suggests such militarization of AI will lead to potential conflicts based on flawed algorithms rather than human judgement. A possible international moratorium on AI militarization would solve the issue of unmanned machines controlling and directing military operations, but this outcome seems unlikely, even in the face of pressure from the international campaign to Stop Killer Robots.
Australian Fashion Week recently took place, revealing what the industry believes will be popular for summer 2023-24 and designers' takes on matters of diversity and representation. The event, which is 27 years old, featured a mix of traditional fashion labels and shows celebrating diversity from emerging designers. It was described as a turning point as the industry has changed dramatically since lockdown, with key buyers placing orders via Zoom before the event, and is becoming increasingly focused on "fashion-tainment". This has resulted in organisers increasing the number of consumer shows at the event. Consumers are now also said to be creeping into the schedule in future years as the industry's changing focus takes hold. Outfits with sustainable or conservation messages were also present, with designers showing preppy confidence, harnessing optimism beyond typical industry cynicism in certain shows.
Actor Harrison Ford was photographed peeking at his wife, Calista Flockhart, as she posed for pictures ahead of the premiere of Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny at the Cannes Film Festival. The picture of the couple, who have been married for 13 years, circulated on Twitter, with one user calling it "one of the best pictures of Harrison Ford". Ford has been married three times and has four biological children, with Flockhart having one adopted son, Liam.
Who's next in line for a breakup? These Ontario regions say they don't want to be split
CBC
23-05-20 00:54
The government of Ontario in Canada has said that it will appoint a "facilitator" to examine whether six upper-tier municipalities, including Halton, Simcoe and Waterloo, could become independent. The move comes as the government tables a piece of legislation designed to break up Peel Region into Brampton, Caledon and Mississauga. However, the leaders of at least three of the threatened municipalities have said that the existing set-up works perfectly well, with residents receiving efficient and cost-effective services delivered via a system of co-operation and accountability.
Mississauga and Brampton, to the west of Toronto, are being given first-tier city status by the government of Premier Doug Ford, in a move which is long overdue and a recognition of the cities' huge growth and urbanisation. The cities are growing rapidly as populations continue to be drawn to them due to the abundance of new housing and high employment levels in their logistics hubs. With a combined population of 1.5 million, both cities have a high number of residents from other countries - with two-fifths hailing from South Asia. The increasing population has led to the development of a wealth of high-rise condo towers, and the construction of an extensive light-rail transit line connecting Brampton and Mississauga. However, these growing pains have led to the cities' finances being strained.
