Driving

UCLA alum Jordin Canada is driving potent Atlanta Dream offense

Welcome to UCLA Unlocked, our weekly newsletter featuring all things Bruins athletics. To sign up to get this newsletter delivered every Monday to your inbox, click here.

SAN FRANCISCO — Jordin Canada is the only person in the world with a UCLA-inspired pair of Air Jordan 4028 PEs, and she was excited to use them to represent her Bruins when the Atlanta Dream came to California last week.

“That’s my alma mater,” she said with a smile. “Any chance I get to support them and rep them, I will.”

Canada, who was an All-American in four years at UCLA, was rocking the blue-and-yellow shoes in shootaround before her Dream took on the Golden State Valkyries. The Los Angeles native had a quiet first outing against the Valkyries but bounced back with a season-high 23 points in their next matchup, then had 10 assists against the Seattle Storm on Saturday.

She is averaging 11.5 points and a career-high 7.0 assists as the leader of the third-best offense in the WNBA. Her 30.5 minutes per game are a step up from last season.

That’s because she’s done so much to facilitate the Dream offense and run it through Atlanta’s bigs.

Sign up for UCLA Unlocked

A weekly newsletter offering big game takeaways, recruiting buzz and everything you need to know about UCLA sports.

“She’s made my job easy,” Dream star Angel Reese said. “I mean, when you have a point guard that can score and also facilitate to me… Her and I had a talk a little bit before the season started about how I can be better for her than pick and roll, but also like coming down on the rebound, I can get the ball and push and flip, flip it to her, and she can start the offense… So she’s made it a lot easier, really easy, and she’s just a great player, she’s a great leader for us offensively and defensively.”

Canada’s 3.6 rebounds per game also are a career high as teams lock in defending Reese and the other versatile Atlanta players such as Naz Hillmon and Rhyne Howard.

Shooting 46.7% from the field, Canada has capitalized on her minutes by being the most efficient possible this season and being enough of a threat that teams have to guard her, while she also can send the ball to one of Atlanta’s top scorers.

“Being aggressive on the offensive end and trying to be more efficient, talking to Cam [Brown], who’s my position coach, and [head coach Karl Smesko], just seeing ways I could be more effective and more efficient in my position,” Canada said. “So just watching a lot of film, watching the areas where I need to improve, and just trying to make sure that I do that consistently, day in and day out, every game, and skin to my spots, and making the right decisions.

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada attempts a pass against the Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday in Seattle.

Atlanta Dream guard Jordin Canada attempts a pass against the Storm at Climate Pledge Arena on Saturday in Seattle.

(Jack Compton / Getty Images)

The Dream are fourth in the WNBA standings behind their consistent starters. With that group, Canada has become one of the most dynamic point guards in the WNBA in her ninth season.

“Her speed is pretty level,” Valkyries coach and former UCLA player Natalie Nakase said. “At UCLA, she was fast. I think now she’s like, for some reason, she looks a lot stronger, I think, from her college years, and I think she really has bought into a system under Karl of what she is doing.”

Tyler Bilodeau drafted by Nets

UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau runs on the court during a game against Nebraska on March 3 at Pauley Pavilion.

Former UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau was selected by the Brooklyn Nets in the NBA draft.

(William Liang / Associated Press)

Former UCLA forward Tyler Bilodeau was selected by the Brooklyn Nets in the second round of the NBA draft with the No. 43 overall pick.

Bilodeau, a 6-foot-9 transfer from Oregon State, averaged 15.5 points and 5.1 rebounds in 64 games at UCLA. The Kennewick, Wash., nativeled UCLA in scoring in his junior and senior seasons, averaging a team-best 17.6 points in 2025-26 and finishing second on the team in rebounding (5.6). Bilodeau earned third-team All-Big Ten Conference honors both seasons. He ranked No. 1 in the Big Ten in three-point shooting as a senior, knocking down 46.4% of his attempts.

“We’re all so thrilled for Tyler to get drafted by Brooklyn,” UCLA coach Mick Cronin said in a statement released by the athletic department. “He is a tremendous young man and a tireless worker who really excelled in our program. He’s come a long way since his days at Kamiakin High School, and it’s simply a testament to the work ethic that Tyler and his family have embodied. He’s a versatile player who really improved his three-point stroke during his two years in Westwood. I can’t wait to see him take that next step with Brooklyn. All of us at UCLA are so proud of him.”

Zoey Molomo, Katelyn Ohashi Shine at American Classic

Zoey Molomo competes on the vault at the United States Gymnastics Olympic Trials on June 30.

Zoey Molomo, competing at the United States Gymnastics Olympic trials in 2024, placed second on vault and floor and third in the all-around and bars at the 2026 American Classic.

(Abbie Parr / Associated Press)

Zoey Molomo, who is joining UCLA’s gymnastics program for the 2027 season, placed second on vault and floor and third in the all-around and on bars at the American Classic.

Molomo qualified for the U.S. Gymnastics Championships with an all-around total of 52.700.

UCLA alum Katelyn Ohashi, who returned to competitive gymnastics after a seven-year absence at age 29, tied for third on balance beam. In her first competition since the 2019 NCAA championships and her first elite competition since winning the 2013 American Cup, Ohashi scored 13.150 on balance beam to earn bronze.

In case you missed it

Former viral UCLA star Katelyn Ohashi returns to gymnastics at age 29

Swanson: She broke baseball’s glass ceiling. Now Kim Ng is taking softball to the next level

UCLA Unlocked: Inside Bob Chesney’s football recruiting revival

Have something Bruin?

Do you have a comment or something you’d like to see in a future UCLA newsletter? Email newsletters editor Houston Mitchell at houston.mitchell@latimes.com. To get this newsletter in your inbox, click here.

Source link

Salzburg bans tourists from driving into historic centre over summer | Austria

Salzburg has begun enforcing a summer ban on visitors driving into its historic centre, picking up a policy modelled by other car-choked European cities plagued by overtourism.

Authorities in Austria’s fourth largest municipal area said they hoped the “less traffic, more city” restrictions in July and August would reduce the number of vehicle entries by 1,000 a day.

As part of the campaign against gridlock, park-and-ride facilities are offering a day ticket including travel on local public transport for five people for €7.50 (£6.45).

“We don’t want chaotic traffic situations like we saw last year,” said the mayor, Bernhard Auinger, when he announced the measure in May. “It is aimed at day trippers who travel by car from farther afield. It is important to me that residents of the central Salzburg area and business-related traffic are not affected by this.”

Auinger said tourists themselves, drawn to attractions such as Mozart’s birthplace and the baroque-style 17th-century cathedral, would also benefit from the policy. “It’s certainly much better than spending hours stuck in traffic. And it also makes life a lot easier for the people who live and work in the city of Salzburg.”

The restrictions will make life ‘a lot easier for the people who live and work in the city’, said the mayor. Photograph: Westend61/Getty Images

The mayor said mounting complaints by residents about traffic during the summer months had prompted the city to take action. “We basically allowed tourists to drive into our sitting room,” he told the news website Salzburg24.

Patrolling police officers will impose fines of up to €80 on any drivers with numberplates from outside the Salzburg region entering the old town in the radius around the Staatsbrücke (state bridge) spanning the Salzach River.

skip past newsletter promotion


Exceptions will be granted to commuters, delivery vehicles, taxis and rental cars, as well as disabled visitors and hotel guests with a reservation confirmation in the restricted zone. German motorists from the neighbouring Bavarian areas of Berchtesgaden and Bad Reichenhall are also exempted.

Heidi Strobl, of the local tourism board, said Salzburg’s policy, approved by the city council in May, had taken a page from the zona a traffico limitato (limited traffic zones) in Italian cities such as Rome, Florence and Pisa as well as a ban in Dubrovnik, Croatia, after they had become inundated with tourist vehicles during the summer months.

Salzburg, whose historic centre is a Unesco world heritage site, has just over 158,000 residents but records more than 3m overnight stays each year. Last year’s celebrations of the 60th anniversary of The Sound of Music, the classic movie filmed in the Salzburg region, spurred an extra tourist boom.

Source link

On the road with the kids: a family driving holiday in Spain and France | Road trips

The moment came on about day four. A cloud-like mist was drenching our faces, hair and clothes, despite the thick canopy of trees overhead. My six-year-old daughter silently trudged uphill pushing her bike, her mouth set in a grim line. I looked again at the blue blob on Google Maps, which seemed, unfeasibly, to indicate we were on the right path. I thought, again, about the diminishing supply of chocolate in my backpack.

“See! I told you! We’re having an adventure,” I said with forced jollity. She didn’t even look up.

“This is not an adventure,” she said. “This is just pushing your bike up a big hill.”

Adventure. Such an intoxicating word. And so easy to achieve … when you’re young. But with two kids, within the constraints of the summer holiday? Well, that’s more of a challenge.

It was with that quest in mind that we found ourselves lost up a lush, densely wooded mountain in the Spanish Basque Country, on a track unsuited to bikes, as part of the first stage of a three-week road trip from Bilbao in northwest Spain to Saint-Malo in Brittany, north-west France.

I’ve always loved a road trip, and was hoping to recreate – in some limited way – a classic that I had done in my 20s. After living in Paris for two years, I and my then-boyfriend meandered across France for a month in my nan’s old Peugeot, camping in different places virtually every night. We stayed in fields where we were the only people for miles and watched eagles swooping as the sky darkened; we begged the manager of a stuffed-to-the-gills campsite to move his car so we could camp on his front lawn.

Bilbao’s Plaza Nueva. Photograph: Peter Eastland/Alamy

This would, of course, be different. My partner is deeply sceptical of camping. The kids still shudder at the memory of the toilets on the first campsite we ever stayed at. So how do you have a somewhat unstructured, kind-of-spontaneous road trip with kids?

We decided on a mixture of home swaps and posh camping, and started with a journey that is an adventure in itself. On board the two-night ferry from Portsmouth to Bilbao on Brittany Ferries’ Galicia, we spent hours watching pods of dolphins, reading our books, and sneaking back to our cabin for naps. It’s worth noting that while entrance to the first-class Commodore lounge isn’t cheap (prices vary by ferry; it’s £79 a person on the Portsmouth to Bilbao crossing), the excellent buffet is endlessly replenished; all drinks, including wine at meal times, are included; and the lounge is a peaceful haven.

Alexandra’s children on a bike ride in the Spanish Basque country. Photograph: Alexandra Topping

We rolled off the ferry, kicking off our escapade in Bilbao on the opening day of Aste Nagusia, the city’s annual nine-day party. After a stroll around the Guggenheim – arguably the best modern art museum in Europe – we headed to the Plaza Nueva in Bilbao’s Casco Viejo, where the pintxo bars were rammed with locals wearing blue and white checked scarves and shouting for more cider. The Spanish know how to live, but the Basques? They know how to party.

Full of anchovies, olives and salt cod, we drove north along winding roads up into the verdant mountains of the province of Gipuzkoa to our first stop, an apartment in the small hamlet of Berastegi, about 25 minutes from San Sebastián – a stay organised through the home swapping website Home Exchange. We are evangelical about home swapping, having saved thousands of pounds since 2022 with brilliant holidays in Spain, France, Denmark and the UK.

You frequently discover fabulous places you might never have heard of too, often on the recommendation of your hosts – such as Casa Julian, in charmingly sleepy Tolosa, where we ate a steak so good as to render all future steaks redundant. A devastating steak, frankly. A meal for four cost €234, and I would happily sell my car to eat there again.

Staying in Berastegi also allowed us to visit the bustling city of Pamplona, a 40-minute drive away, where we drank unctuous hot chocolate in Café Iruña, Hemingway’s old haunt, before learning about the running of the bulls on a grimly fascinating tour.

A view over San Sebastián from Monte Igueldo. Photograph: Sonia Bonet/Alamy

The money saved on accommodation also meant we could afford a night in a hotel in San Sebastián, where we ate, strolled, swam, then ate again. The city’s claim to have the greatest density of Michelin stars in the world is disputed, but when you are drinking a glass of cold txakoli and hollowing out a stuffed txangurro (spider crab) that hardly seems to matter. Kid-friendly trips to the cool aquarium (vital information: it has axolotls) and the 113-year-old Monte Igueldo amusement park were interspersed with a copious €20 menú del día at Aldaba. Something for them, something for us.

Full, again, we took to the road, driving away from the mountains via the delightful French Basque coastal village of Bidart to our next stop en route to the French Atlantic coast.

Two hours from the traditional timber-framed baserri (farmhouses) of south-western France, the mist-shrouded mountains give way to the open flatlands of western France, long wide roads lined with pine trees and dunes that rise up from the crashing waves of the turbulent ocean.

We stopped in Arcachon at the Huttopia site, one of a family-run chain of nature-immersed campsites. The handsome seaside resort, with its 19th-century Arcachonnaise villas with names such as Esmerelda and Denis Papin, feels like the stately grand dame of the Atlantic coast.

Our luxury “évasion” chalet, with its nice toilet, strong shower and comfortable beds, was not, let’s face it, camping. But, nestled among the pines and deep in the forest, we sat on our deck listening to the soothing throb of crickets and got similar benefits, only without the discomfort. When we climbed the awesome Dune du Pilat, it felt like landing on the moon, and when we held hands and hurtled down it again, like we were taking off into space.

Three days later, the landscape transformed again as we drove to the flat salt plains of the Île de Noirmoutier, about one-and-a-half hours from Nantes, and set up home in a well-stocked Huttopia wood and canvas desert tent, next to the water’s edge and a short walk from the village of tiny white bougainvillaea-draped houses and restaurants. That night, as I sat outside the tent listening to the waves and the wind in the trees, I looked at the stars stretched out across the inky sky – and I remembered those eagles.

Cancale is celebrated as the oyster capital of Brittany. Photograph: Yurii Zym/Getty Images

To complete this family odyssey, we spent four days at another home exchange in the underrated Breton port of Saint-Malo, which has a wealth of charm, great food and delicious cider – as well as the most delightful coastal pool I have ever swum in.

On our last day, we went to Cancale, where I had tasted oysters for the first time, scooping them up from a plastic tray, with a glass of sancerre, on the beach. This time we opted for a restaurant, and while my son learned to slurp oysters, my daughter tried her first mussels. As she used an empty shell to pinch their juicy flesh and pop them into her mouth, I recognised that I get as much pleasure from their discoveries as from my own. And, I thought, maybe the adventure isn’t over after all.

Accommodation at Arcachon and Noirmoutier was provided by Huttopia: Chalet Évasion from €75; Toile & Bois tent from €69. Transport was provided by Brittany Ferries: Portsmouth to Bilbao for a car, four people and an ensuite cabin from £490 one-way; St Malo to Portsmouth from £225 one-way for a car plus four people. Home Exchange membership is £190 a year

Source link

Ukraine Sees AI Driving Next Revolution in Warfare

Ukraine’s defence ministry believes artificial intelligence is set to fundamentally transform modern warfare, as Kyiv accelerates efforts to integrate AI into battlefield operations amid its ongoing war with Russia.

According to Danylo Tsvok, head of Ukraine’s Defence Ministry AI Research Centre, the country is already employing artificial intelligence across multiple military functions, including drone operations, battlefield planning, intelligence analysis, and missile attack assessments.

The centre, established in March, is part of a broader effort to make data driven decision making a core component of Ukraine’s defence strategy. Officials envision a future where AI systems, sensors, drones, command centres, and weapons platforms operate through a unified digital network capable of processing battlefield information and recommending military actions in real time.

Why It Matters

Ukraine’s experience is increasingly being viewed as a preview of how future wars may be fought. The conflict has already demonstrated the growing importance of drones, autonomous systems, and real time intelligence, but AI could push military operations into an entirely new phase.

Rather than merely supporting commanders, future AI systems may become central to battlefield decision making by processing vast quantities of data faster than human operators can manage. This could dramatically shorten the time between identifying a target and launching an attack.

The implications extend far beyond Ukraine. Military planners around the world are closely monitoring the conflict as a testing ground for next generation warfare technologies.

The Rise of AI Driven Combat

The war has already evolved into a technological competition in which both Ukraine and Russia are attempting to gain advantages through automation, data analysis, and autonomous systems.

Ukraine is working toward a battlefield operating system capable of integrating information from drones, reconnaissance assets, weapons systems, and frontline units into a single decision making framework. The objective is to create a comprehensive operational picture that enables faster and more effective responses.

Russia is pursuing similar capabilities, particularly in drone warfare and strike planning, creating what Ukrainian officials describe as an emerging competition between military operating systems rather than simply armies.

Global Defence Implications

The conflict has attracted significant attention from defence technology firms and AI developers seeking real world operational data. Companies and governments increasingly view Ukraine as one of the most important testing environments for military AI applications.

The lessons learned from the war could influence defence procurement, military doctrine, and security planning across NATO, Asia, and other regions facing evolving security challenges.

As AI becomes more deeply embedded in military systems, countries may be forced to rethink command structures, training requirements, and the role of human decision makers in combat.

Key Stakeholders

  • Ukraine military
  • Russian military
  • Defence technology companies
  • NATO members
  • Artificial intelligence developers
  • Defence ministries worldwide
  • Military planners and strategists

Future Outlook

Over the next three to five years, military competition is likely to shift increasingly toward AI enabled command systems, autonomous platforms, and integrated battlefield networks.

Countries capable of rapidly processing information and converting it into actionable decisions may gain a significant operational advantage. At the same time, concerns about autonomy, accountability, and human oversight will become more prominent as AI systems assume larger roles in combat operations.

The race to integrate AI into warfare is expected to intensify, making technological superiority as important as traditional military strength.

Analysis

Ukraine’s assessment points to a deeper transformation than simply adding artificial intelligence to existing weapons systems. What is emerging is a shift from platform centric warfare to data centric warfare, where military advantage depends less on the number of tanks, aircraft, or soldiers and more on the ability to collect, process, and act on information faster than an opponent.

The most significant aspect of this transition is the compression of decision making time. Historically, military success depended on commanders interpreting information and issuing orders. AI has the potential to reduce that cycle from hours or minutes to seconds, creating a battlefield where speed of analysis becomes as important as firepower.

This evolution could fundamentally alter military hierarchies. If AI systems become capable of generating reliable operational recommendations faster than humans can assess them, commanders may increasingly act as supervisors rather than primary decision makers. The challenge will be balancing military effectiveness with accountability and ethical oversight.

The Ukraine conflict is therefore becoming more than a territorial war; it is also serving as a laboratory for the future of warfare. The countries that emerge with the most effective integration of AI, autonomous systems, and battlefield data networks may define military power for decades to come. In this sense, the competition between Ukraine and Russia increasingly resembles a contest between technological ecosystems, foreshadowing a future in which wars are won not only through weapons but through algorithms and information dominance.

With information from Reuters.

Source link

Katie Price reveals plan to get around seventh driving ban after husband Lee’s claims he bought her a Ferrari

KATIE Price is plotting to get around her seventh driving ban after her husband Lee Andrews claimed he bought her a Ferrari.

The former glamour model, 47, has received bans totalling more than six years since she was first disqualified in 2010.

Katie Price is planning to get around her seventh driving ban Credit: Katie Price / Backgrid
The media star was banned again after failing to respond to police letters Credit: Getty

And last month, Katie was banned for a seventh time after failing to respond to police letters about an 80mph speeding ticket.

But the media personality said she is now planning to get an international driving licence – despite her UK driving ban.

Katie shared a life update with her social media fans today.

She was joined by her husband Lee as she filmed a clip from the back of a moving car.

back for more

Katie Price posts topless hospital pic amid ‘procedure’ weeks after surgery


STRANDED STAR

Katie Price says she’s stuck in Dubai with Lee and claims it’s safer than UK

Lee Andrews reveals his big plans for him and Katie Price…Hyrox together Credit: wesleeeandrews/instagram
Katie addressed her seventh driving ban last month Credit: Alamy

Katie said: “Hey guys, we are just going to the hospital to get my stitches taken out and then we are going to Lee’s dad for a cup of tea.”

She added: “And to get my international driving licence…”

Lee interjected and said: “That’s the easy one, then you’ll see the car,” referring to the  £180k Ferrari that Lee claimed he gifted his wife.

But Katie’s followers were quick to correct the star, with one writing: “You cannot drive with an international driving licence with a driving ban. It still stands in other countries, there is no way around it.”

A second said: “I hope Katie realises as I wouldn’t want her to do anything illegal in Dubai.”

A third said: “Not with a ban in the UK, you can’t as the Dubai authorities do checks.”

Another commented: “You cannot get an International Driving Permit or drive in Dubai if you have a current UK driving ban. You must hold a valid full driving licence to apply for an International one and the UK court will have taken her licence so she cannot apply for one.”

This person added: “It appears you cannot legally drive in Dubai with a revoked UK licence.”

According to the GOV UK website, you cannot obtain an International Driving Licence if you are banned from driving in another country.

It is only issued to holders of a valid UK driving licence, which is revoked or suspended when you are banned.

In March, Katie was seen in the driver’s seat of a red Ferrari.

But the motor was completely different from the Ferrari she previously claimed had been a gift from self-confessed multi-millionaire Lee.

She previously told how the flash car, believed to cost around £180,000, had to remain in the UAE.

It is not clear how or when Lee purchased the car and whose name it is in ownership of.

Yet despite previously gushing over the “beautiful” gift it was nowhere to be seen during her recent video.

Lee took charge of filming as Katie got settled behind the wheel and said: “Kate is driving now – is this your first time driving in Dubai?”

She was then heard swearing as she got to grips with the automatic before he assisted and said: “There you go”.

Katie then added: “First time driving in Dubai.

The former glamour girl’s latest run-in with the law comes after a Ford Capri registered to her was caught at 80mph on the A64 near Strutton in North Yorkshire.

CCTV released by the police showed Katie behind the wheel during the incident on October 15, 2025, the same day she appeared on stage with celeb pal Kerry Katona for An Evening with Katie Price & Kerry Katona at Scarborough Spa.

Katie, who was first banned in 2010, was subsequently prosecuted and convicted of failing to respond to police, landing her with a six-month driving ban and a legal bill topping £1,000.

The former pin-up was keen to set the record straight last month.

Speaking on her podcast, The Katie Price Show the star revealed: “I found out I was banned by the papers.

“I am actually livid about that because if I’d got the letters I would have replied to it.”

Revealing what happened, Katie said: “Basically I’ve paid someone to do a job.

“They haven’t done it and… now I’m now banned from driving for six months, but I am gonna go back and see if I can appeal it.”

She then added: ” Yeah, or I just think it’s only six months where I live now, I can walk to the shop. the kids schools are ten minutes up the road.

“I get shopping delivered here anyway, because I’m always at home when I work at home.

“So it’s not like in the past where I’ve been stuck right in the middle of nowhere.”

It comes after Katie’s after new husband Lee claimed he is moving to the UK in May AND revealed details of a second wedding.

Lee popped the question to the star in January, and the couple tied the knot in Dubai just 48 hours later.

However, Katie later revealed they actually officially wed in February.

Source link

Roadblocks to Autonomy: Tesla’s Self Driving Ambitions Face European Doubt

Tesla is encountering growing resistance in Europe as it seeks approval for its advanced driver assistance system known as Full Self Driving. While chief executive Elon Musk has expressed strong confidence that the technology will soon gain approval across the bloc, internal communications among regulators reveal a far more cautious and skeptical stance.

The system, currently marketed as Full Self Driving Supervised, allows vehicles to operate autonomously under certain conditions but still requires full driver attention. Approval in Europe is critical for Tesla as it attempts to recover market share lost over the past two years and expand its subscription based revenue model.

Early Approval and Wider Ambitions

The Dutch vehicle authority RDW granted initial approval for the system earlier this year. This decision has now been forwarded to the European Union for broader consideration, with discussions underway among member state representatives.

Tesla is aiming not only for approval of its current system but also for future deployment of fully autonomous robotaxis in Europe. Such ambitions depend heavily on regulatory trust in the safety and reliability of its technology.

Regulatory Concerns Across Europe

Despite the Dutch endorsement, regulators from several European countries including Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway have raised serious concerns. These include the system’s tendency to exceed speed limits, its performance in icy and hazardous conditions, and the possibility that drivers may bypass safeguards designed to ensure attentiveness.

Officials have also questioned whether the branding of Full Self Driving could mislead consumers into overestimating the system’s capabilities. This concern reflects a broader issue in the automated driving industry, where terminology can blur the line between assistance and autonomy.

Safety, Environment, and Real World Challenges

European regulators are particularly focused on how the system performs under conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. Winter driving, for instance, presents unique challenges such as icy roads, reduced visibility, and unpredictable obstacles.

Questions have also been raised about how the system would respond to unexpected hazards, including wildlife on roads. These concerns highlight the difficulty of deploying standardized automated driving technology across diverse geographic and environmental contexts.

Pressure, Perception, and Public Influence

Adding to regulatory unease is Tesla’s approach to public engagement. Officials have expressed frustration with the company’s encouragement of Tesla owners to lobby regulators for approval. In several cases, authorities reported being inundated with emails from supporters advocating for the technology.

While some regulators acknowledged that the system performed well in complex urban environments, others warned that public pressure could complicate an already rigorous evaluation process.

High Stakes Approval Process

For the system to gain EU wide approval, it must secure support from a qualified majority of member states representing a significant portion of the bloc’s population. No immediate vote is scheduled, but further discussions are expected in the coming months.

Approval is seen as a key factor in Tesla’s strategy to boost sales and profitability in Europe, especially as competition intensifies from other global and regional automakers.

Analysis

Tesla’s push for automated driving approval in Europe reveals a fundamental tension between technological ambition and regulatory caution. While the company frames its system as a breakthrough in safety and convenience, European authorities are prioritizing risk mitigation and consumer protection.

The skepticism is not merely bureaucratic hesitation but reflects deeper structural differences in regulatory philosophy. European institutions tend to adopt a precautionary approach, particularly in areas involving public safety and emerging technologies.

For Tesla, the challenge lies in bridging this gap. Securing approval will require not only technical validation but also greater transparency and alignment with regional expectations. For regulators, the task is to balance innovation with responsibility in a rapidly evolving sector.

Ultimately, the outcome of this process will shape not only Tesla’s future in Europe but also the broader trajectory of autonomous driving adoption across the continent.

With information from Reuters.

Source link

TDB Group at 40: Driving Africa’s Growth

Global Finance: Over the past four decades, how has TDB Group’s mandate and geographical footprint evolved, and what have been the most significant milestones in advancing trade, regional integration and sustainable development across member states?

Admassu Tadesse: TDB Group is an MDB that has evolved into a group with different subsidiaries and strategic business units which provide specialised financial and non-financial services across all sectors in trade and development banking, asset management, concessional and impact financing, captive insurance, and capacity building.

We were conceived 40 years ago by COMESA Member States to support the region’s economic integration and sustainable development agendas with specialised short and long-term trade and infrastructure financing. We then gradually reformed to welcome other African economies – to better capitalise on cross-country complementarities and support economies of scale. While our initial mandate to finance and foster trade, regional economic integration, and sustainable development has stayed the same, our structure, stable of vehicles and toolbox have evolved through institutional reforms and new solutions, to make sure we remain fit-for-purpose as times change.

With nearly US$ 60 billion in financing deployed over the years, we have become an important player in the African trade finance market and these days, we are focusing efforts on clean energy and cooking, trade-enabling infrastructure, and industrial capacity in sectors like agriculture, health, and structural materials like cement and steel.

GF: What are the key structural challenges that African countries face in accessing affordable, long-term capital, and why are development finance institutions (DFIs) critical in bridging this gap?

AT: Regional DFIs like TDB Group were set-up decades ago following global ones, to help bridge the financing gap and cater to Africa-specific imperatives. To do this, we catalyse global and African capital, de-risking it, and escorting it via different solutions into sustainable development initiatives.

The lack of affordable and long-term capital is indeed a core issue. Beyond perception premiums which persist even amid calm market conditions, global and African geopolitics greatly impact risk pricing and debt sustainability, with commodity price volatility and supply chain turbulence adding further pressure. This also affects our financial industry, which is already continuously working to adapt to evolving industry rules, while innovating out-of-the-box solutions to solve for the problems of scale, price and tenor, and availability of investible opportunities. That’s why we grew into a Group with different vehicles and offerings.

Structurally, while our policy makers work on improving the regulatory and policy environment to facilitate cross-border money flows, improve savings and tax revenues, and give more comfort to capital – the financial industry can work on supporting the expansion of African capital markets, help build repo markets, step-up local currency activity, innovate products, and more.

GF: How can alternative funding structures and innovative financial products help mobilize capital, attract partners and expand access to finance for both governments and the private sector in Africa, and what role do DFIs play in driving these efforts?

AT: Different types of capital and partners gravitate toward different institutional structures and products – hence our Group structure.

We have our Trade and Development Banking SBU, which offers bilateral and syndicated short-term trade and long-term project finance, through direct debt or equity financing, credit enhancement, and advisory and agency services.

We have our Trade and Development Fund, TDF, which plays a catalytic role offering concessional and impact funding, addressing project upstream issues through technical assistance and grants, and channelling capital to sectors and communities often overlooked by traditional finance including through SME lending.

Then, we have our asset management arm which has diverse vehicles customised to match varying investor preferences and impact priorities, and which comprise funds and initiatives with high quality alternative assets that deliver competitive returns and impact, as well as specialised trade and infrastructure-focused fund managers including the ESATAL trade asset management company and the TDB Infrastructure Investment Management Company.

Finally, in addition to our TDB Captive Insurance Company – TCI – we also have a capacity building vehicle, the TDB Academy, which offers trainings, seminars, conferences, and other human and institutional capacity development interventions to TDB and its partners.  

GF: As TDB Group looks ahead to the next 40 years, what are the key infrastructure and trade-enabling investments needed to support Africa’s growth? What policy alignments, partnerships and long-term capital strategies are essential to scale impact and drive sustainable development?

AT: The needs are large and multifaceted. The list is long. We need to invest in both economic and social infrastructure – transport including road, rail, ports, airports, logistics hubs; water and sanitation; digital and telecommunications infrastructure; industrial infrastructure like different types of processing zones and facilities; energy to power industrial growth and electrify our communities; health including hospitals and medical equipment; education to build the workforce of the future; housing; etc.

To advance on our development aspirations, we need to grow faster than our population, and offer job opportunities for the latter, which is achievable through a robust industrial base, and the ability to trade our products among ourselves and with the world, with more value-added production and value chains.  

I have already referred to policy, partnerships and long-term capital strategies. What I will add is that diversification in partnerships is key to bolstering resilience to different shocks and mitigating risks. This is at the core of our funding strategy. We are keen on staying nimble and quick to innovate to do more with our balance sheet, so that we can do more for our continent and its myriad communities.

Source link

What’s driving the coordinated attacks across Mali? | Conflict

NewsFeed

Coordinated attacks by armed groups and Tuareg rebels in Mali is threatening the ruling junta, driven Russian mercenaries from key northern areas, and left the defence minister dead. Al Jazeera’s Nada Qaddourah explains how the groups appear to be joining forces.

Source link

What’s driving attacks against gov’t and Russian forces in Mali? | Conflict

Opponents, including an al-Qaeda-linked group, join forces.

Former enemies in Mali, including an al-Qaeda-linked group, have join forces to target military sites.

The defence minister has been killed.

Russian mercenaries backing the government have come under attack.

What are the implications of this unrest?

Presenter:

Imran Khan

Guests:

Oluwole Ojewale – Regional co-ordinator for West and Central Africa at the Institute for Security Studies

Nicolas Normand – Former French Ambassador to Mali and vice president of the Friends of Mali Association

Ovigwe Eguegu – Policy analyst at Development Reimagined, an independent African think tank, and a specialist in West Africa and Sahel geopolitics

Source link

How Trump’s Iran war is driving military dissent | US-Israel war on Iran News

From protests to quiet resistance, dissent is rising inside the United States military over the US-Israel war on Iran.

As the US expands its war with Iran, opposition is growing – not just among the public, but inside the military itself. Some service members are questioning orders, exploring conscientious objection, and speaking out. What’s driving this shift, and how far could it go?

In this episode: 

  • Mike Prysner (@MikePrysner), Executive Director of the Center on Conscience & War

Episode credits: 

This episode was produced by Marcos Bartolomé, Tamara Khandaker, and Sarí El-Khalili with Spencer Cline, Tuleen Barakat, and our host, Malika Bilal. It was edited by Tamara Khandaker and Noor Wazwaz. 

Our sound designer is Alex Roldan. Our video editors are Hisham Abu Salah and Mohannad al-Melhem. Alexandra Locke is The Take’s executive producer.

Connect with us:

@AJEPodcasts on XInstagramFacebook, and YouTube



Source link

Katie Price hunts for e-bike to ‘help get around’ after seventh driving ban

KATIE Price is in the process of trying to purchase an e-bike after being banned from driving for the seventh time.

The reality star, 47, took to her Instagram story to ask her followers for help finding one but with a specific request in mind – it has to be pink.

Katie Price has appealed for her follower’s help in purchasing an e-bike Credit: instagram
It comes after the star was banned from driving this week for a seventh time Credit: Getty

Talking to her camera in a black zip up jumper and large sunglasses, Katie shared a video of herself with just one word written over the top: “Help,” in pink text, followed by a red love heart emoji.

She said: “I wonder if anyone out there could help or you know anywhere I can go.

“So I want to get an e-bike but one that I can ride anywhere.

“And I want one in pink where you don’t have to have a road license or anything.

NOT FUNNY

Katie Price calls fo comic to be cancelled as mocks her disabled son Harvey


DADDY DEAREST

Katie Price’s son Harvey calls her new husband Lee Andrews ‘daddy’

“So if anyone knows anywhere or if you are a company that do e-bikes that I don’t need a license for to ride it on the road or anywhere, and in pink, please DM me.

“‘Cause I really really want one. Just so I can go like to the farm shop, go to the shop, just ride around and take the dog with me.

“And it’s summer coming up and it’s sunny so it would be nice to get myself out and do my cardio. Thank you.”

The plea comes just days after Katie broke her silence on being banned from driving again, saying she’s “livid” and vows to appeal the ban.

Katie was caught speeding at 80mph on the A64 near Strutton in North Yorkshire.

CCTV released by the police showed Katie behind the wheel during the incident on October 15, 2025, the same day she appeared on stage with celeb pal Kerry Katona for An Evening with Katie Price & Kerry Katona at Scarborough Spa.

Katie has said that the e-bike must be pink Credit: Instagram

As a result of the offence, Katie was subsequently prosecuted and convicted of failing to respond to police, landing her with a six-month driving ban and a legal bill topping £1,000.

Speaking on her podcast, The Katie Price Show, Katie shared she was furious and didn’t receive any contact from the police about her speeding.

She said: “I found out I was banned [from driving again] by the papers.

“I am actually livid about that because if I’d got the letters I would have replied to it.”

Katie added that she’s going to “go back and see if [she] can appeal it,” but in the meantime she’s trying to remain positive.

She then added: ”Yeah, or I just think it’s only six months where I live now, I can walk to the shop, the kids schools are ten minutes up the road.

“I get shopping delivered here anyway, because I’m always at home when I work at home.

“So it’s not like in the past where I’ve been stuck right in the middle of nowhere.”

“I’m positive about it and I’ll get my license back and it’ll be completely clear.

“But it’s [a question of] who will insure me after being banned seven times.”

Katie’s determined to appeal the latest ban, and said on her podcast that she feels “livid” about it Credit: instagram

Source link