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The National Women's Soccer League on Thursday announced a new media rights deal that will feature the league's matches on ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports. “We’re resetting the standards by which women’s sports can be valued.”The league's current deal with CBS Sports ends at the end of this season. Political Cartoons View All 1239 ImagesStarting next season, a Friday night game on Prime Video will kick off each weekend. The remaining regular season games will be part of a domestic direct-to-consumer package produced and distributed by the NWSL, the league said. In the playoffs, Prime Video and a CBS platform will each broadcast a quarterfinal each, while ESPN/ABC airs the other two.

Persons: ”, Jessica Berman, “ We're, ” Sean McManus, Berman, Megan Rapinoe's, Lumen, Rapinoe, Ali Krieger, ___ Organizations: Women's Soccer League, ESPN, CBS Sports, Amazon Prime, Scripps Sports, Gotham FC, CBS, Scripps, ION, Paramount, CBS Sports Network, ABC, ESPN2, ESPN Deportes, Endeavor, NHL, NFL, Utah Royals, Bay FC, U.S . Locations: San Diego, Seattle, Gotham

☆ NWSL announces media deals with CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon worth $240 million
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-09 | by ( Laya Neelakandan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +2 min

The National Women's Soccer League announced a four-year contract Thursday for media distribution with CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime Video and Scripps Sports . The NWSL will begin each regular-season weekend with Friday night matches on Prime Video, followed by double-header Saturday night games on Scripps'-owned ION network. The league will also air a package of regular-season matches on CBS and stream live on Paramount+. Additionally, ESPN will air a package of matches across its various channels, including live streaming on ESPN+ in English and Spanish. CBS will air a minimum of 21 games, ESPN and ABC will air 20 games, Prime Video will air 27 games and Scripps will air 50, according to the league.

Persons: Carli Lloyd of, Sydney Leroux, Orlando, Jessica Berman, —, Jessica Golden Organizations: Carli Lloyd of NJ, NY Gotham FC, Match, Sydney, Orlando Pride, Red Bull Arena, Women's Soccer League, CBS Sports, ESPN, Amazon Prime, Scripps Sports, Prime, Scripps, ION, CBS, Paramount, CNBC, ABC

☆ How clean-air-tech companies are trying to change the way we breathe
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-08 | by ( Hazel Davis | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +8 min

The impacts of air pollution are a growing concern for health organizations and climate regulators. The pandemic prompted some countries to prioritize finding ways to alleviate and prevent air pollution, including encouraging people to wear face masks. Vitale said exposure to negative ions could increase serotonin levels in the brain, which would help alleviate stress, anxiety, and depression, as well as improve sleep quality. At the same time, the UV light shines on the nanoparticle catalyst, which causes a reaction that releases negative ions. Trahms said the device emitted a constant stream of millions of negative ions, which bind to pollutants — or agglomerate — rather than destroy them.

Persons: —, Jay Vitale, COVID, Vitale, there's, Christiaan Trahms, Trahms, Nicola Carslaw Organizations: Service, World Health Organization, Air, National Library of Medicine, King's, AA, Food and Drug Administration, University of York Locations: Milton Keynes, South Africa, London

☆ Britain's Prince Visits Singapore for Earthshot Environmental Prize
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-07 | by ( Nov. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +1 min

By Chen LinSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Britain's Prince William attended the annual Earthshot Prize ceremony on Tuesday, which awards 1 million pounds ($1.23 million) to each of five green innovators working on projects including a cleaner lithium-ion battery and ocean conservation. "The light of optimism is burning bright in our Earthshot finalists," Prince William said at the ceremony in Singapore. Representing six continents and chosen from over 1,300 nominees, the 15 finalists' projects ranged from a scheme to plant, grow and digitally track trees in Liberia to a less carbon-intensive method of treating industrial wastewater. William, who became heir to the British throne after Queen Elizabeth died in September last year, set up the prize in 2020. This is William's first trip to Singapore since 2012, when he visited with his wife Kate, the Princess of Wales.

Persons: Chen Lin SINGAPORE, Britain's Prince William, Prince William, William, Queen Elizabeth, John F, Kate, Princess, Wales, Chen Lin, Bernadette Baum Locations: Singapore, Hong Kong, Liberia, Kensington

The 2023 Earthshot Prize winners:This year’s winners were chosen from a shortlist of 15 finalists by Prince William and the Earthshot Prize Council, chaired by Christiana Figueres, a former UN climate chief, who played a key role in negotiating the Paris Climate Agreement in 2015. The Prince of Wales speaks with the winners of the 2023 Earthshot Prize following the awards ceremony on Tuesday night. Irwin added that the Earthshot Prize offers “hope,” which “is something we all need to hang on to.”The Singapore skyline was lit up in green to celebrate the Earthshot Prize on Monday. Mohd Rasfan/AFP/Getty ImagesFigueres, who is also an Earthshot Prize trustee, told CNN that it was “such a joy” to work with the Prince of Wales. The prince said he was “thrilled” to be in Singapore for the third Earthshot Prize ceremony and outlined his vision for supporting this year’s shortlist of finalists.

Persons: Wales, Prince William, “, ” William, Christiana Figueres, Rania Al Abdullah of Jordan, Ernest Gibson, Jack Ma, Prince, Chris Jackson, Nidhi Pant, Emily Owen, ’, Ted Lasso ”, Hannah Waddingham, Sterling K, Brown, Cate Blanchett, Nomzamo, Robert Irwin, OneRepublic, Irwin, ”, Hunter, Steve Irwin, Mohd Rasfan, Prince of Wales, William, we’ve, Tharman Shanmugaratnam, Lee Hsien Loong, Catherine, Princess, Prince George Organizations: CNN’s Royal, Singapore CNN, Earthshot, Theatre, MediaCorp, Royal Foundation, WildAid, Technologies, S4S Technologies, CNN, ”, Voices, Getty, Figueres, BBC, PBS, Singapore, Jewel, HSBC Locations: Singapore, India, UN, Paris, Peru, South America, Hong Kong, South African, ”, AFP, Gardens, Kallang

☆ Senators urge US to take steps to boost battery production, citing China
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( David Shepardson | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

Workers are seen at the production line of lithium-ion batteries for electric vehicles (EV) at a factory in Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China August 28, 2018. REUTERS/Stringer/ File photo Acquire Licensing RightsWASHINGTON, Nov 6 (Reuters) - Two influential Democratic U.S. senators urged the Energy Department to take steps to boost U.S. battery manufacturing and next-generation battery research, citing China's dominance and export controls, according to a letter seen by Reuters. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. The letter wants a committee briefing by Dec. 1 "on ongoing research and development of next-generation battery technologies." China accounts for 70% of the global production of lithium-ion batteries, the letter said, noting of five critical minerals required for most lithium-ion batteries, China "controls between 60-100% of the mining or refining for these minerals."

Persons: Stringer, Mark Warner, Joe Manchin, China's, Jennifer Granholm, David Shepardson, Leslie Adler, Stephen Coates Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, Democratic U.S, Energy Department, Reuters, Senate, Energy, Pentagon, Department of Defense, Thomson Locations: Huzhou, Zhejiang province, China, United States, Asia, U.S

☆ Pro-Europe party of Moldova's president wins local elections, sees setbacks in big cities
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-06 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

ZAK BENNETT/Pool via REUTERS/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsCHISINAU, Nov 6 (Reuters) - The party of Moldova's pro-European president came first in hundreds of weekend local elections but was unable to win mayoral seats in the biggest cities, including the capital Chisinau, according to preliminary results on Monday. Sandu's ruling Party of Action and Solidarity (PAS) won more than 40% of the votes cast for mayors, city councillors and district and village councils nationwide. It won mayoral seats in the first round of voting in 240 of 898 villages, towns and cities. Those victories were mostly in rural areas and its candidates did not win control of the big cities. A pro-Russian political party linked to Shor was barred on security grounds from taking part in the elections.

Persons: Maia Sandu, ZAK BENNETT, Maia Sandu's, Ion Cebal, Lilian Carp, Ilan Shor, Sandu, Shor, Andrei Spinu, Tom Balmforth, Gareth Jones Organizations: USAID, Democracy, Ford Foundation Center, Social Justice, 78th United Nations General, Rights, of Action, Solidarity, PAS, funnelling, European Union, Thomson Locations: New York City, U.S, Rights CHISINAU, Chisinau, Moscow, Balti, Cahul, Orhei, Russia, Russian, Moldova, Soviet, Romania, Ukraine

☆ Moldova holds local elections amid Russian meddling allegations
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-05 | by ( Alexander Tanas | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

[1/2] People walk past election campaign posters ahead of snap parliamentary election, scheduled on July 11, in Chisinau, Moldova July 7, 2021. Pro-European President Maia Sandu has denounced Russia's invasion of Ukraine and accused Moscow of plotting to oust her in a coup. "Thanks to your vote, Moldova has a chance to become a member of the European family. The national security service has accused Shor of helping funnel 1 billion Moldovan lei ($55.60 million) into Moldova to stage anti-government protests during the war in Ukraine and to "buy" voters. Shor said he was sending the money to Moldova to help pensioners, finance social infrastructure projects and some politicians.

Persons: Vladislav Culiomza, Maia Sandu, Ilan Shor, Shor, Ion Ceban, Lilian Carp, Sandu, Yuliia Dysa, Tom Balmforth, Ros Russell Organizations: REUTERS, Rights, European Union, funneling, of Action, Solidarity, PAS, Russian, Moldovan, Constitutional, Chance Party, Thomson Locations: Chisinau, Moldova, Rights CHISINAU, Moscow, Soviet, Ukraine, Russia

☆ Former 'American Idol' star Jimmy Levy's backpack exploded into a 'ball of fire' just as his JetBlue flight was about to take off from JFK
▼ + stars: | 2023-11-04 | by ( Lara O'Reilly | ) www.businessinsider.com time to read: +3 min

Former 'American Idol' star Jimmy Levy's bag caught fire while his JetBlue flight sat at the gate. Levy said he was told a portable battery inside his bag had caused the fire. In an interview with NBC News, Levy said he was told by investigators his portable charger was to blame for the explosion. "It's a portable charger from a fancy mall, so it wasn't some random thing," he said. JetBlue didn't immediately respond to Insider's request for comment but told NBC News in a statement that its crew "immediately responded and addressed the situation, and there were no requests for medical assistance."

Persons: Jimmy Levy's, Levy, —, Jimmy Levy, John F, JetBlue didn't Organizations: American Idol, JetBlue, Service, Kennedy International Airport, NBC News, Hollywood International Airport, Federal Aviation Administration Locations: New, South Florida, New York, Israel, JFK, Fort Lauderdale

TOKYO (AP) — Toyota’s July-September profit jumped nearly threefold from a year ago as vehicle sales grew around the world and a cheap yen boosted the Japanese automaker’s overseas earnings. Toyota Motor Corp. reported Wednesday 1.28 trillion yen ($8.5 billion) in quarterly profit, up from 434 billion yen the previous year. Quarterly sales rose 24% to 11.43 trillion yen ($75.7 billion) from 9.22 trillion yen. Political Cartoons View All 1227 ImagesToyota is expecting its vehicle sales to grow in most major regions, officials said. A shortage of computer chips caused by the social restrictions of the coronavirus pandemic had previously slammed the supply chain and hurt Toyota sales.

Persons: —, Hannah Schoenbaum, Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Toyota Motor Corp, Toyota, U.S, Camry, Lexus, Tesla, Vehicles Locations: U.S, Europe, Japan, Asia, China, North Carolina, Greensboro, North America, Kentucky, Raleigh, N.C

The plant will serve as Toyota's epicenter of lithium-ion battery production in North America and will be a key supplier for the Kentucky-based plant tasked with building its first U.S.-made electric vehicles, the company said. Sean Suggs, president of Toyota North Carolina, said the announcement “reinforces Toyota’s commitment to electrification and carbon reduction,” while fulfilling its promise to bring economic growth to North Carolina. Toyota has committed to using 100% renewable energy to produce batteries at the North Carolina plant, which has been under construction since 2021. Toyota says it will have 15 battery electric vehicles for sale globally by 2025. Toyota could receive hundreds of million in cash incentives, tax breaks and infrastructure upgrades from the state of North Carolina and local governments for fulfilling its job creation and investment goals, according to state officials and documents.

Persons: —, ”, Roy Cooper, Koji Sato, Sean Suggs, Joe Biden’s, Phil Berger Organizations: — Toyota, Toyota, Automotive, U.S . Department of Energy, Republican, Associated Press, America Statehouse News Initiative, America Locations: RALEIGH, N.C, North Carolina, Greensboro, North America, Kentucky, U.S, Tokyo, Toyota North Carolina

☆ You Don’t Need a New iPhone. You Just Need a New Battery.
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Joanna Stern | ) www.wsj.com time to read: 1 min

Every iPhone has a hidden ‘Maximum Capacity’ setting to figure out the health of your battery. WSJ’s Joanna Stern investigates why her iPhone’s battery degraded so much in one year. Hint: Battery cycle counts. Photo illustration: Annie Zhao/The Wall Street JournalYou know what they say: iPhone batteries are like a box of organic raspberries. Your iPhone’s lithium-ion battery will expire and, unfortunately, there’s no “Best Before” label.

Persons: Joanna Stern, Annie Zhao

☆ 'An iPhone moment': Bernstein names global stocks to play the 'rapid growth' in battery tech
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( Weizhen Tan | ) www.cnbc.com time to read: +3 min

They said that over 200TWh of batteries will be required for the energy transition both in electric vehicles and energy storage. That breakthrough could arrive by 2027 with the commercialization of SSB batteries, Bernstein said. The firm added that they are set to have higher energy density, fast-charging capabilities and be "much safer" than liquid batteries. Batteries with higher energy density are required to reduce battery costs and increase the range of electric vehicles, Bernstein said. The asset management firm said established battery makers are likely to be the winners.

Persons: Bernstein, Neil Beveridge, CATL, — CNBC's Michael Bloom Organizations: South, LG Chem, Samsung SDI, CATL, Korean Locations: Korean

☆ Global EV battery supply chain puzzles over China graphite curbs
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-27 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +6 min

Graphite powder, used for battery paste, is pictured in a Volkswagen pilot line for battery cell production in Salzgitter, Germany, May 18, 2022. China dominates the global EV battery supply chain including production of graphite - the single largest component. Graphite companies in the country process both the natural material mined domestically and overseas, as well as synthetic forms. Under the new rules, China will require export permits starting Dec. 1 for high-end synthetic graphite, as well as key forms of natural graphite. NATURAL GRAPHITE HITGlobal companies using natural graphite include Hitachi Chemical, part of Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp (4004.T), South Korea's POSCO Future M (003670.KS) and Japan's Mitsubishi Chemical, which produces natural graphite at two plants in China, according to research firm CRU Group.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, Sunit Kapur, Zhang Yan, Siyi Liu, Brenda Goh, Satoshi Sugiyama, Heekyong Yang, Seoul ， Paul Lienert, Jing Xu, Dominique Patton, Tony Munroe, David Evans Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Rights, EV, Qingdao, Reuters, China's Ministry of Commerce, Gotion High Tech, BTR, Material Technology, Hitachi Chemical, Japan's Resonac Holdings Corp, Mitsubishi Chemical, CRU Group, Mitsubishi, Resources, Materials, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, Beijing, China, Japan, South Korea, United States, U.S, Shanghai, Ningbo Shanshan, Indonesia, Finland, Japan's, Australia, Mozambique, U.S ., Louisiana, North Carolina, Toyko, Seoul ，, Detroit

JOURNEY STARTSIron-flow batteries were developed decades ago but have yet to be deployed as a grid-scale energy storage solution. ESI Managing Director Stuart Parry believes iron-flow batteries are an idea whose "time has come." Parry doesn't see iron-flow batteries replacing lithium-ion units, rather they are complementary with lithium batteries able to arbitrage power prices by acting rapidly, while iron-flow units are more likely to act as baseload firming for the grid when renewables tail off. Parry also says iron-flow batteries work out about a third cheaper than lithium ion units when looking at the cost on a MWh basis. On the surface, iron-flow batteries seem like a solid solution to how to run an electricity grid dominated by variable renewables.

Persons: Stuart Parry, Parry, Lincoln Organizations: Stanwell Corp, Energy Storage Industries Asia, Reuters, Thomson Locations: Greenough, Walkaway, Perth, Australia, LAUNCESTON, Queensland, Rockhampton

☆ Toyota aims to put 1,000 km-range Lexus EV on the road by 2026
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +2 min

REUTERS/Issei Kato/File Photo Acquire Licensing RightsTOKYO, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Toyota unveiled a Lexus concept car with a roughly 1,000 kilometre range on Wednesday that it aims to roll out by 2026, part of the Japanese automaker's strategic pivot to EVs reliant on advanced battery technology. The LF-ZC concept car, which debuted at the Japan Mobility Show, uses "prismatic, high-performance" batteries that achieve around twice the range of conventional EVs - or around 1,000 kilometres (620 miles). The low-sitting LF-ZC sports an expansive cockpit and uses advanced AI technology that Toyota has dubbed "Butler". The AI system is able to identify preferences that drivers may not be aware of themselves, Toyota said. Toyota has committed to having battery EVs account for 100% of global sales of the luxury Lexus brand by 2035.

Persons: BEV, Toyota Takero Kato, Simon Humphries, Issei Kato, Butler, Maki Shiraki, Daniel Leussink, David Dolan, David Holmes Organizations: Toyota, Lexus, Japan, REUTERS, Rights, Thomson Locations: Tokyo, Japan

☆ Ukraine's Shakhtar support injured soldier treated in Barcelona
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-25 | by ( Albert Gea | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +1 min

MADRID, Oct 25 (Reuters) - Shakhtar Donetsk captain Taras Stepanenko and the Ukrainian side's goalkeeping coach visited an injured Ukrainian soldier recovering at a Barcelona clinic ahead of their Champions League fixture in the northeastern Spanish city. Shakhtar decided to pay for his transfer to Barcelona's Guttmann Brain Health Institute, where he is undergoing a long neurorehabilitation process. I really wanted to cry, because when you see him, he is a really strong guy who protect(ed) our country," Stepanenko told Reuters. In the five months that Shumei has been in Barcelona, his condition has improved significantly, Shakhtar said in a statement, especially after doctors performed a complex brain surgery in June. Shakhtar face Barcelona in the Champions League on Wednesday evening.

Persons: Taras Stepanenko, Vitaly Shumei, Stepanenko, Shumei, Sergio Albu, Andriy Pyatov, Shumei's, Serhiy, Albert Gea, David Latona, Christian Radnedge Organizations: Shakhtar Donetsk, Ukrainian, Champions League, Shakhtar, Brain Health, Reuters, Barcelona, Thomson Locations: MADRID, Barcelona, Spanish, Donbass

It’s a message ringing clear at the Tokyo Mobility Show, which will run through Nov. 5 at Tokyo Big Sight hall and where battery-powered electric vehicles are the star at practically every booth. Toyota Motor Corp.’s lean angular Lexus concept, set to go on sale in 2026, is an electric vehicle running on lithium-ion batteries. That is partly because of Toyota’s past success in hybrids, exemplified in the Prius, which have a gasoline engine in addition to an electric motor. In China, a third of vehicles sold are EVs. Nissan, an early EV maker among the Japanese with its Leaf going on sale in 2010, is showcasing four EV concept cars.

Persons: —, ” Takero Kato, China's BYD, Kato, Tesla, EVs, Joe Biden, BYD, ” Kato, Joshua Cobb, ”, Cobb, Alfonoso Albaisa, ” Albaisa, De Souza, “, John de Souza, ___ Yuri Kageyama Organizations: TOKYO, Toyota, Tokyo Mobility, Mazda Motor Corp, Honda Motor, Toyota Motor Corp, Journalists, General Motors Co, Ford Motor Co, Benz, Subaru, Lexus, International Energy Agency, BMI, SAIC, GM, EV, Nissan, “, Manufacturers, Mitsubishi Fuso, Daimler, Mitsubishi Locations: Tokyo, Japan, U.S, China, San Francisco

☆ Rock collected by Apollo 17 astronaut in 1972 reveals moon's age
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Will Dunham | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +4 min

[1/4] The crescent Earth rises above the lunar horizon in this undated NASA handout photograph taken from the Apollo 17 spacecraft in lunar orbit during the final lunar landing mission in the Apollo program in 1972. A half century later, crystals of the mineral zircon inside a coarse-grained igneous rock fragment collected by Schmitt are giving scientists a deeper understanding about the moon's formation and the precise age of Earth's celestial partner. This blasted magma - molten rock - into space, forming a debris disk that orbited Earth and coalesced into the moon. "I love the fact that this study was done on a sample that was collected and brought to Earth 51 years ago. "Interestingly, all the oldest minerals found on Earth, Mars and the moon are zircon crystals.

Persons: Harrison Schmitt, Eugene Cernan, Schmitt, wouldn't, cosmochemist Philipp Heck, Bidong Zhang, Heck, Zhang, Jennika Greer, Will Dunham, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: NASA, REUTERS, Rights, Field Museum, University of Chicago, UCLA, Space Center, University of Glasgow, Thomson Locations: Chicago, Houston, Scotland

☆ Rock Collected by Apollo 17 Astronaut in 1972 Reveals Moon's Age
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Oct. | At A.M. | ) www.usnews.com time to read: +4 min

A half century later, crystals of the mineral zircon inside a coarse-grained igneous rock fragment collected by Schmitt are giving scientists a deeper understanding about the moon's formation and the precise age of Earth's celestial partner. This blasted magma - molten rock - into space, forming a debris disk that orbited Earth and coalesced into the moon. "I love the fact that this study was done on a sample that was collected and brought to Earth 51 years ago. "Interestingly, all the oldest minerals found on Earth, Mars and the moon are zircon crystals. The new study used atom probe tomography to determine there were no complications involving the lead atoms, confirming the age of the crystals.

Persons: Will Dunham WASHINGTON, Harrison Schmitt, Eugene Cernan, Schmitt, wouldn't, cosmochemist Philipp Heck, Bidong Zhang, Heck, Zhang, Jennika Greer, Will Dunham, Lisa Shumaker Organizations: Field Museum, University of Chicago, UCLA, Space Center, University of Glasgow, NASA Locations: Chicago, Houston, Scotland

☆ Apollo 17 samples reveal that the moon is 40 million years older than previously thought
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-23 | by ( Ashley Strickland | ) edition.cnn.com time to read: +6 min

CNN —Lunar dust collected by Apollo 17 astronauts in the 1970s has revealed that the moon is 40 million years older than previously believed. After landing on the moon on December 11, 1972, NASA astronauts Eugene Cernan and Harrison Schmitt collected rocks and dust from the lunar surface. A new analysis of that sample detected zircon crystals and dated them to 4.46 billion years old. “When the surface was molten like that, zircon crystals couldn’t form and survive. A lunar zircon grain is shown under a microscope.

Persons: Eugene Cernan, Harrison Schmitt, ”, Philipp Heck, Robert A, Heck, Bidong Zhang, Zhang, Audrey Bouvier, Jennika Greer, Greer, they’re, ” Heck, “, ” Greer, Dieter Isheim Organizations: CNN, Apollo, NASA, Polar Studies, Field, Research Center, University of Chicago, University of California, Bayreuth University, University of Glasgow, Northwestern University, Field Museum, Northwestern University Center, Atom Locations: Chicago, Los Angeles, Germany, Evanston , Illinois

China's decision may escalate trade disputes globally and spur other countries to prioritize research into alternative sources and materials, industry executives said. "We see China's move as a potential catalyst to highlight the urgency of improving (U.S.) graphite supply," said John DeMaio, president of Graphex Group's (6128.HK) graphene division. It has graphite supply deals with Syrah Resources (SYR.AX) and is looking for other sources, DeMaio said. Synthetic graphite could account for nearly two-thirds of the EV battery anode market by 2025, Benchmark Mineral Intelligence estimates. Chief Operating Officer Hans Erik Vatne told Reuters recently that developing synthetic graphite production is costly, but that is the price to pay to reduce reliance on China.

Persons: Fabian Bimmer, John DeMaio, Graphex Group's, DeMaio, Tesla, Hans Erik Vatne, Rob Anstey, Alvin Liu, Akash Sriram, Ernest SCheyder, Nick Carey, Christina Amann, Marie Mannes, Gilles Guillaume, Ilona Wissenbach, Ben Klayman, Josie Kao Organizations: Volkswagen, REUTERS, Syrah Resources, Magnis Energy Technologies, Mineral Intelligence, Reuters, EVs, BMO Capital Markets, BMW, Volvo, Renault, General Motors, Ford, Thomson Locations: Salzgitter, Germany, China, Warren , Michigan, West, U.S, Europe, Oslo, Norway, Bengaluru, Houston, London, Berlin, Stockholm, Paris, Frankfurt

☆ EV battery firm CATL's Sept China market share slumps, bodes ill for Q3 results
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-19 | by ( ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

People walk past the booth of the battery manufacturer Contemporary Amperex Technology Co. Limited (CATL) at the Auto Shanghai show, in Shanghai, China April 18, 2023. CATL reports quarterly results on Thursday, and investors will be on the look out for the extent the world's largest EV battery maker bore the brunt of the EV sales slowdown in China and rising pressure from automakers to cut battery prices. "This... is an incentive for CATL to offer some price cuts to secure its market share." CATL's setback also comes amid weakening EV sales in China that stoked an intense price war among automakers and a subsequent cost reduction pressure on battery firms and other suppliers. Shares in Shenzhen-listed CATL dropped 15% so far this year, lagging a 6% drop in broader market (.CSI300).

Persons: Aly, Qiaoyi Li, Zhang Yan, Brenda Goh, Miyoung Kim Organizations: Amperex Technology, ., Auto, REUTERS, Rights, Electric, EV, Citi, China Automotive Battery Innovation Alliance, HK, LSEG, Ford, Thomson Locations: Auto Shanghai, Shanghai, China, Rights BEIJING, Michigan, U.S, Shenzhen

☆ Gavi strike sends Spain to Euro 2024, Turkey and Scotland also qualify
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-15 | by ( Philip O'Connor | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +3 min

The Spain striker was the centre of attention again when midfielder Gavi fired home four minutes after the break and another VAR offside check ensued, but this time he was in the clear and the goal was allowed to stand. Norway set up to hit Spain on the break but struggled to create much in attack as the visitors kept striker Erling Haaland shackled to reach the finals with two games to spare. A brilliant volley from Yunus Akgun just before the hour put Turkey on course for a comprehensive win against Latvia that ensured they will take their place at next year's tournament. The Turks top their group with 16 points, six points ahead of Wales and Croatia after the Welsh beat the Croats 2-1 in Cardiff to keep their qualifying hopes alive. Reporting by Philip O'Connor, Tommy Lund and Anita Kobylinska; Editing by Ken FerrisOur Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.

Persons: Gavi's, Alvaro Morata, Gavi, Erling Haaland, Yunus Akgun, Cenk, Poland's, Robert Lewandowski, Ion Nicolaescu, Karol Swiderski, Philip O'Connor, Tommy Lund, Anita Kobylinska, Ken Ferris Organizations: Norway, Group, Scotland, Latvia, Turks, Welsh, Israel, Thomson Locations: Spain, Norway, Germany Turkey, Latvia, Turkey, Oslo, Kerem, Germany, Wales, Croatia, Cardiff, Switzerland, Belarus, Romania, Andorra, Swiss, Pristina, Moldova, Albania, Czech Republic

☆ NASA launches spacecraft to explore metal-rich asteroid Psyche
▼ + stars: | 2023-10-13 | by ( Steve Gorman | ) www.reuters.com time to read: +5 min

The spacecraft, roughly the size of a small van, is due to reach the asteroid in August 2029. Asteroid Psyche measures roughly 173 miles (279 km) across at its widest point and resides on the outer fringes of the main asteroid belt between the planets Mars and Jupiter. After reaching the asteroid, the spacecraft would then orbit it for 26 months, scanning Psyche with instruments built to measure its gravity, magnetic proprieties and composition. 'OUTER SPACE TO EXPLORE INNER SPACE'[1/4]A SpaceX Falcon Heavy rocket lifts off carrying a NASA spacecraft to investigate the Psyche asteroid from the Kennedy Space Center in Cape Canaveral, Florida, U.S., October 13, 2023. It also marks the first dedicated NASA launch on a Falcon Heavy rocket furnished by Elon Musk's SpaceX company, and the first interplanetary mission flown by the Falcon Heavy.

Persons: Lindy Elkins, Tanton, Lucy, Steve Gorman, Will Dunham Organizations: NASA, SpaceX, NASA's Kennedy Space Center, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, JPL, Kennedy Space Center, Arizona State University, Elon Musk's SpaceX, Thomson Locations: Florida, NASA's, Cape Canaveral, Los Angeles, Cape Canaveral , Florida, U.S

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