- Schools closed in Beirut after deadly Israeli air raid
- Anger, pain in Turkey as 'newborn deaths gang' trial opens
- Kremlin says Biden 'fuelling' war as Russian strikes rock Odesa
- UN climate chief at deadlocked COP29: 'Cut the theatrics'
- G20 leaders gather to discuss wars, climate, Trump comeback
- Stocks, dollar mixed as traders scale back US rate cut bets
- Stoinis lets rip as Australia crush Pakistan for T20 series whitewash
- Bentancur banned for seven games over alleged racial slur
- Kremlin says Biden 'fuelling' tensions with Kyiv missile decision
- COP host Azerbaijan jailed activists over 'critical opinions': rights body
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- Tractor-driving French farmers protest EU-Mercosur deal
- Floods hit northern Philippines after typhoon forces dam release
- Pakistan skittled for 117 in final T20 against Australia
- Schools closed in Beirut after deadly Israeli strike
- Chris Wood hits hat-trick in NZ World Cup qualifying rout
- Markets mixed after Wall St losses as traders weigh US rates outlook
- US, Philippines sign deal on sharing military information
- Bangladeshi ex-ministers face 'massacre' charges in court
- Law and disorder as Thai police station comes under monkey attack
- Disgraced Singapore oil tycoon sentenced to nearly 18 years for fraud
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- Quincy Jones awarded posthumous Oscar
- 'Critically endangered' African penguins just want peace and food
- Long delayed Ukrainian survival video game sequel set for release amid war
- Star Australian broadcaster charged with sex offences
- Philippines cleans up after sixth major storm in weeks
- Woman-owned cafe in Indonesia's Sharia stronghold shakes stigma
- Indigenous Australian lawmaker who heckled King Charles censured
- End of an era as Nadal aims for winning Davis Cup farewell
- Trump taps big tech critic Carr to lead US communications agency
- Mitchell-less Cavs rip Hornets as perfect NBA start hits 15-0
- Markets swing after Wall St losses as traders weigh US rates outlook
- India's capital shuts schools because of smog
- Rio under high security for G20 summit
- G20 leaders to grapple with climate, taxes, Trump comeback
- Hopes set on G20 spurring deadlocked UN climate talks
- Gabon early results show voters back new constitution
- Child abuse police arrest star Australian broadcaster
- Disgraced Singapore oil tycoon to be sentenced for fraud
- Stray dogs in Giza become tourist draw after 'pyramid puppy' sensation
- UN Security Council to weigh call for immediate Sudan ceasefire
- Is AI's meteoric rise beginning to slow?
- Israeli strikes on Beirut kill six, including Hezbollah official
- Rain wipes out England's final T20 in West Indies
- US speaker opposes calls to release ethics report on Trump's AG pick
- McDonald's feast undercuts Trump health pledge
- Thousands march through Athens to mark student uprising
Man Utd's Ratcliffe unveils electric Ineos car
Manchester United's new co-owner Jim Ratcliffe unveiled Friday his Ineos group's latest 4x4 vehicle, which will come in two electric versions as the British billionaire criticised range limits on 'green' cars.
The Ineos Fusilier, whose production should start in 2027 rather than 2026 as planned, will be a slightly smaller version of the Ineos Grenadier -- and comes as it works on a second model, the Grenadier Quartermaster pickup truck.
Ratcliffe, 71, earlier this week completed a deal to become co-owner of Manchester United, with a pledge to drive the English football giants to renewed success.
Asked by AFP at Friday's launch about his off-pitch plans at United, including a stadium rebuild, Ratcliffe replied: "The focus with Manchester United is really simple, that's performance on the field."
One of Britain's richest men thanks to Ineos' core chemicals business, Ratcliffe has in recent years turned the group into a conglomerate, with ownership of football and cycling teams -- and production of vehicles.
On Friday, he noted that a desire by subsidiary Ineos Automotive to produce zero-carbon cars was hampered by how far they could travel without a recharge.
- 'Huge electric car failings' -
This is why The Fusilier would come in two versions, Ratcliffe announced -- an all-electric model and the other a range-extender type which would carry both a generator-powered battery and fuel tank.
Ratcliffe told a press conference gathered at a central London pub that his personal preference was the latter version.
"The big problem I have with the (all-) electric vehicle... it has two huge failings," he said shortly after the blue car's unveiling outside The Grenadier pub renamed The Fusilier for the event.
"It doesn't get you from A to B if you want to go on a decent journey. It does the urban stuff very well... (but) you can't fill it up. Those are two major drawbacks of an electric car."
Ratcliffe added: "My personal strong preference is the same electric vehicle but with a range extender."
Ineos said the new model would be developed in conjunction with automotive supplier, Magna, which will manufacture the vehicle at its Graz facility in Austria.
It was originally thought that the car would be produced in France.
G.P.Martin--AT