Bell Helicopter’s advanced V-280 Valor tiltrotor prototype, developed to replace the US Army’s UH-60 Black Hawk and AH-64 Apache helicopters, is scheduled to make its maiden flight before the end of 2017. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading .@BellHelicopter V-280 Valor tiltrotor #helicopter for #USArmy ready to take first flight – an annotated infographic
Over the first nine months of 2017, demand for passenger cars remained positive in the EU and EFTA (Iceland, Norway and Switzerland), with more than 12 million new vehicles registered – an increase of 3.6 per cent compared to the same period last year. Car sales fell in September, dragged down by a 9.3 per cent fall in the UK, Europe’s second largest auto market, according to the Brussels-based European Automobile Manufacturers’ Association (ACEA). The British fall, amid a weak pound and stalled Brexit talks, was the sixth straight monthly decline and the first contraction for September since 2011. Registrations … Continue reading Europe-wide new car sales since January 2017 – automotive industry on the up – an annotated infographic
Norway – a world leader in zero-emission vehicles – is proposing a one-off tax that will hit owners of large electric cars which have hitherto been exempt from heavy taxes imposed on other vehicles. Norway’s capital of Oslo boasts bus-lane access for electric vehicles (EVs), recharging stations aplenty, free parking and toll-free travel for EVs. The initiative began in the 1990s as an effort to cut pollution, congestion and noise in urban centres. Now, its primary rationale is combating climate change. With 98 per cent of the country’s electricity coming from hydropower, Norway’s booming EV fleet leaves almost no carbon … Continue reading Norway seeks “Tesla tax” on electric cars – an annotated infographic
Ethiopia is finalising construction of the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam, its first major dam on the Blue Nile, and then will eventually start filling the giant reservoir behind it to power the largest hydroelectric dam in Africa. Click on the graphic for an expanded view. Continue reading Ethiopia plans Grand Renaissance Dam; Egypt anxious about future Nile water supply – an annotated infographic
The deadly arsenal of weapons found in the 32nd-floor room of the Las Vegas Mandalay Bay Hotel included 16 assault rifles, 12 of which had been modified from semi-automatic to fire in automatic mode. The guns included an AR-15 and an AK-47 as well as four Daniel Defense DDM4 rifles, three FN-15s and other rifles made by Sig Sauer. The bump-fire stock increases the rate of fire but can wear out the mechanics of a gun, snapping the firing pin that was designed only for semi-automatic fire. This may go some way to explaining why the killer had so many … Continue reading Modified “bump-stock” guns used in #LasVegasShooting – an annotated infographic
Construction work is underway on US President Donald Trump’s long-promised border wall designed to stop illegal immigration from Mexico, with contractors building eight prototypes in the San Diego area. There are myriad technical and legal problems surrounding the building of Trump’s “big beautiful wall” – as many people were already aware – whatever genius ideas the man himself claims to have come up with. Apart from not actually having the vast sum of money required to pay for the building of such a gigantic land barrier, there are other problems that could easily hold up construction for years and which … Continue reading Construction starts on models of proposed Mexico border wall for US President Donald Trump – an annotated infographic
France’s Alstom and Germany’s Siemens have agreed to merge in a deal that brings the former arch-rivals together to create a new European champion to counter competition from China. If the transaction goes ahead the combined company will have 15 billion euros ($18 billion) in sales of trains, track-signalling systems and rail services, enabling it to better compete with international rivals, especially China’s state-backed CRRC. It would also signal a shift in France’s policy of industrial intervention under President Emmanuel Macron in favour of creating “European champions” — even if that means selling industrial assets that were once deemed strategic. … Continue reading .@Alstom and @Siemens sign rail deal to create European champion – an annotated infographic
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