UK government plays down reports of plan to bring EV sales target review forward

The government has played down reports that it is planning to bring forward the publication of a review of electric vehicle sales targets from 2027 to next year amid concerns from the car industry.The government had said in April it would weaken its zero-emission vehicle (ZEV) mandate – which was brought in to force carmakers to sell more electric cars every year or face the prospect of steep fines – after lobbying from the car industry, and planned to review the targets.“The ZEV mandate review starts next year … and of course we’d want to complete that review as quickly as we can,” the industry minister, Chris McDonald, told the Financial Times.However, a government spokesperson later said that only “preparatory work” would begin next year, with the review itself due to be published in 2027.Carmakers had argued the rules were economically unsustainable, leading the UK to introduce “flexibilities”, which allowed them to earn “credits” by selling hybrid cars, which combine a smaller battery with a petrol engine

Ineos chemicals plant is saved – but what is the strategy for the rest of heavy industry? | Nils Pratley

“Our commitment is clear: to back British industry, to stand by hardworking families, and to ensure places like Grangemouth can thrive for years to come,” said Keir Starmer as the Ineos ethylene plant on the Firth of Forth was saved for the nation with the help of £120m of public money.Is the commitment clear, though? What, precisely, does the prime minister mean by “places like Grangemouth”? Which heavy industries and plants is the government pledging to shield from the forces of sky-high energy prices and carbon taxes? Is there a strategy here? Or does intervention happen only at the 11th hour when an important plant is threatened with imminent closure and ministers panic about knock-on consequences?The ethylene plant at Grangemouth, we now know, falls within the protected camp. The government is willing to suffer any embarrassment that comes with handing a financial support package to a company controlled by a foreign-based billionaire, Sir Jim Ratcliffe.On the other hand, the oil refinery on the site was allowed to close this year and be switched to an import terminal. Meanwhile, the ethylene plant up the road at Mossmorran – a place quite like Grangemouth, one might think – is due to be shut by its owner, ExxonMobil, in February after talks with ministers came to nothing

From Nvidia to OpenAI, Silicon Valley woos Westminster as ex-politicians take tech firm roles

When the billionaire chief executive of AI chipmaker Nvidia threw a party in central London for Donald Trump’s state visit in September, the power imbalance between Silicon Valley and British politicians was vividly exposed.Jensen Huang hastened to the stage after meetings at Chequers and rallied his hundreds of guests to cheer on the power of AI. In front of a huge Nvidia logo, he urged the venture capitalists before him to herald “a new industrial revolution”, announced billions of pounds in AI investments and, like Willy Wonka handing out golden tickets, singled out some lucky recipients in the room.“If you want to get rich, this is where you want to be,” he declared.But his biggest party trick was a surprise guest waiting in the wings

Hackers access Pornhub’s premium users’ viewing habits and search history

Hackers have accessed the search history and viewing habits of premium users of Pornhub, one of the world’s most popular pornography websites.A gang has reportedly accessed more than 200m data records, including premium members’ email addresses, search and viewing activities and locations. Pornhub is a heavily used site and says it has more than 100m daily visits globally.The hack was reportedly carried out by a western-based group called ShinyHunters, according to the website BleepingComputer, which first reported the incident. The site reported that the data included premium members’ email addresses, search and viewing activity and location

Australia v England: Ashes third Test, day two – live

89th over: Australia 365-9 (Lyon 4, Boland 14) Carse rams in a bouncer that forces Boland to take evasive action. Just one run from the over.88th over: Australia 364-9 (Lyon 3, Boland 14) Boland edges Archer over the slips for four to move into double figures. Archer is chasing his fourth Test five-for: he took two against Australia in 2019 and a slightly weird 5 for 102 from 17 overs at Centurion in 2019.Boland ends the over with a sweetly timed back cut for four

England lodge complaint with match referee after Snicko error costs Carey’s wicket

Brendon McCullum lodged a ­complaint with the ICC match ­referee Jeff Crowe overnight following the Snicko ­malfunction that saw Alex Carey handed a lifeline during day one century in the third Ashes Test.Carey, who made 106 in Australia’s 326 for eight by stumps, was on 72 when Josh Tongue believed the left-hander had edged behind. He was given not out on the field and the third umpire, Chris Gaffaney, felt he did not have enough evidence to overturn the decision despite a spike showing up on the review.The issue in this instance was that the spike came before any possible contact on the replay, whereas ­similar occurrences earlier in the series have seen it come afterwards and are ­factored into the umpiring protocols.With Carey later admitting he thought he had hit the ball – he said he would have reviewed in hope had it been given out on the field – BBG, the company that owns Snicko, owned up to the mistake, which came with Australia on 245 for six