French mission to produce Europe with lithium

A lithium-ion battery photographed at a Volkswagen plant in Germany. The EU wants to increase the number of electric vehicles on its roads in the coming years.

Ronnie Hartmann | AFP | Getty Images

Minerals giant based in Paris Imerys plans to develop a lithium extraction project which it hopes will help meet demand and secure supplies for Europe’s emerging electric vehicle market.

In a statement Monday, Imerys said its Emili project will be located at a site in central France, with the company targeting annual production of 34,000 tonnes of lithium hydroxide from 2028.

According to the company, this production volume would be sufficient to “equip around 700,000 electric vehicles per year”.

In addition to its use in cellphones, computers, tablets and a host of other devices synonymous with modern life, lithium — dubbed “white gold” by some — is critical to the batteries that power electric vehicles.

The project envisaged by Imerys is taking shape as major economies like the EU look to increase the number of electric vehicles on their roads.

The EU plans to stop the sale of new diesel and petrol cars and vans from 2035. Great Britain, which left the EU on January 31, 2020, is pursuing similar goals.

Faced with increasing demand for lithium, the European Union, of which France is a member, is trying to strengthen its own supplies and reduce dependence on other parts of the world.

In a translation of her State of the Union address last month, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said that “lithium and rare earths will soon outnumber oil and gas”.

In addition to security of supply, von der Leyen, who switched between several languages ​​in her speech, also emphasized the importance of processing.

“Today, China controls the global processing industry,” she said. “Almost 90%… rare earth elements[s] and 60% of lithium is processed in China.”

“Therefore, we will identify strategic projects along the entire supply chain, from extraction to refining, from processing to recycling,” she added. “And we will build strategic reserves where supply is at risk.”

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Back in France, Imerys said it was completing what it called a “technical scoping study” to “explore various operational options and refine geological and industrial aspects related to the lithium extraction and processing methodology.”

The site selected for the project has been used to produce a type of clay called kaolin for the ceramics industry since the late 19th century.

The construction investment of the proposed lithium project is estimated at around 1 billion euros (about US$980 million), Imerys added.

“If successfully completed, the project would contribute to the ambitions of the French and European Union in the field of energy transition,” the company said. “It would also strengthen Europe’s industrial sovereignty at a time when car and battery manufacturers are heavily dependent on imported lithium, which is a key element of the energy transition.”

In recent years, a number of factors have created pressure points when it comes to the supply of the materials critical to electric vehicles, an issue the International Energy Agency highlighted in its Global EV Outlook earlier this year.

“The rapid rise in electric vehicle sales during the pandemic has tested the resilience of battery supply chains, and Russia’s war in Ukraine has further compounded the challenge,” the IEA report noted, adding that prices for materials such as Lithium, cobalt and nickel have skyrocketed.

“In May 2022, lithium prices were more than seven times what they were in early 2021,” she added. “Unprecedented battery demand and a lack of structural investment in new supply capacity are key drivers.”

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In a recent interview with CNBC, the CEO of Mercedes Benz outlined the state of affairs as he sees it with the raw materials for electric vehicles and their batteries.

“Commodity prices have been quite volatile over the last 12 to 18 months – some have shot up and some have actually come back down,” said Ola Kallenius.

“But it’s true, as we go electric, all-electric, and more and more automakers move into electric, there will need to be increased mining and refining capacity for lithium, nickel, and some of the raw materials needed to produce electric cars.”

“We have everything we need now, but we have to look medium to long term and work with the mining industry here to increase capacity.”

Anne Hathaway and Nicholas Galitzine kiss for the film Concept of ​​You.

Anne Hathaway knows how to make a splash.

The Devil Wears Prada star was snapped sharing a dreamy kiss with his co-star Nicholas Galitzine while filming the upcoming movie The Idea of ​​You. Captured on the film’s set in Savannah, Georgia, the two actors embrace in the rain for a romantic scene.

Hathaway, dressed in a beige trench coat with a black handbag, has her eyes closed while Galitzine, dressed all in black, gently holds her face in his hands during the shoot.

This will be one of many intimate outings between Hathaway and Galitzine, who stars Solène and Hayes in the film, which is based on Robin Lee‘s 2017 novel of the same name. (Solène was originally called Sophie in the film, per Variety.)

Solène is a 40-year-old divorced mother whose husband Dan left her for a younger woman, according to a press release from E! News. After the breakup, Dan – played by ReidScott— is retiring from his trip to Coachella with her 15-year-old daughter.

Clarence Thomas simply corruptly prevented Lindsey Graham from testifying in Georgia

Judge Clarence Thomas intervened on his own initiative, temporarily blocking an order ordering Senator Lindsey Graham to testify in a Georgia criminal case.

CNN reported:

Judge Clarence Thomas on Monday agreed to temporarily freeze a lower court order calling for Republican Senator Lindsey Graham to testify before a special jury in the Atlanta area investigating efforts to overturn the state’s 2020 presidential election.

Thomas acted alone because he has jurisdiction in the lower court that issued the original order.

Thomas’ move is an administrative stay, most likely imposed on Monday to give Supreme Court justices more time to consider the dispute.

If the Supreme Court is right to consider whether Lindsey Graham’s efforts to overturn an election for Donald Trump fall under protected speech because taking part in a coup is part of his congressional duties as a senator, then the Supreme Court will legitimize election losers to overthrow to try governments.

Lindsey Graham was not acting in a senatorial capacity when he urged Georgia election officials to use the state’s signature verification laws as an excuse to reject legitimate votes for President Biden in 2020.

There’s no guarantee the Supreme Court will take the case, but even granting the freeze means Thomas has pushed the court into dangerous territory.

Mr. Easley is the managing editor. He is also a White House press pool and congressional correspondent for PoliticusUSA. Jason has a bachelor’s degree in political science. His thesis focused on public policy with a specialization in social reform movements.

Awards and professional memberships

Member of the Society of Professional Journalists and the American Political Science Association

US is monitoring Omicron subvariants, however boosters ought to shield

The US is tracking several omicron subvariants of the coronavirus that evade immunity more easily, but the new booster shots should protect against them, a senior health official said Tuesday.

Health officials are keeping a close eye on subvariants because they render many treatments ineffective, Dr. Ashish Jha, head of the White House Covid task force.

But the new booster shots available in the US should offer a much higher level of protection against the variants since they are all derived from either omicron BA.2 or omicron BA.5, Jha told reporters at the White House.

The US introduced updated boosters in September targeting the omicron BA.5 variant. Pfizer’s new shots are available for ages 12+, while adults 18+ are eligible for Moderna’s boosters.

Omicron BA.5 causes about 80% of new infections in the US, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But other sub-variants like BA.2.75, BA.4.6 and BF.7 are making little progress according to the data.

Jha said health officials expect infections to increase from November to January. He added that as the virus continues to evolve, it is difficult to predict whether there will be a larger surge.

People should get their new booster by Halloween so they have protection when families gather for Thanksgiving, he said. But people recently infected with Covid can wait three months to get the new shots because infection also boosts immunity, he added.

More than 11 million people have received the new boosters so far, according to CDC data. Jha said he expects more people to get the shots this month ahead of the holiday season.

US health officials are most concerned about the elderly. Jha told reporters last week that 70% of people dying from Covid are aged 75 and over. He said most older people who die are either not up to date on their vaccines or are not receiving treatment after having a breakthrough infection.

According to CDC data, more than 300 people are still dying a day from Covid on average. Jha said last week the deaths were unacceptable given the widespread availability of vaccines and treatments.

“If you are up to date with your vaccines and treated if you have a breakthrough infection, your risk of dying from Covid is now close to zero,” Jha said on Tuesday.

Jha also criticized Congress for failing to accept the White House’s request for $22 billion in Covid funding. The Biden administration had to reallocate funds to find funds to stockpile the new booster shots.

As a result, the US does not have an adequate national stockpile of personal protective equipment or Covid testing, Jha said.

The US has no money to invest in developing the next generation of vaccines and treatments, Jha said. He added that the current booster campaign is more limited due to a lack of funding.

“No doubt our response has been hampered by this lack of funding,” Jha said.

Woman steals over $10,000 from grandmother and offers cash to college students

No modern Robin Hood with a twist! A teenage girl faces the possibility of felony charges after gifting some of her grandmother’s life savings to her classmates and others.

At this time, the girl’s identity is not public due to her underage status. But the 14-year-old, who lives about 60 miles northwest of Orlando in Summerfield, is accused of stealing about $13,500 from her grandma’s safe.

Marion County lawmakers responded to a call from Lake Weir Middle School on Oct. 20 about complaints from a student who was giving cash to his classmates. The arrest report said the receiving students pocketed hundreds each, according to NBC News.

Girl claims money initially came from unknown source

School officials searched the teenager’s backpack and found nearly $2,500. At first the girl claimed that an unknown former student gave her the money because they wanted to distribute it.

However, those involved in the case later realized that the money was no accidental act of generosity. Instead, the teenager had committed a crime against her grandmother by delving into her life savings. Investigators revealed the 14-year-old broke into her elder’s home safe and stole more than $13,000. The girl told investigators she broke into the safe with a screwdriver and metal pick.

It is unclear whether the teenager lives with her grandmother or was visiting during the burglary. Although the girl admitted to stealing the thousands, she didn’t provide investigators with any motivation for the burglary. The girl also did not mention why her classmates at school and at a bus stop became the beneficiaries of the stolen coins.

“She advised her to take a stack of $20 bills about 6 inches in size from the safe,” the arrest report said.

Officials recover less than half of the stolen money

Within 24 hours of the teen’s arrest, officers recovered about $700 of the money other students had received. The grandmother received this $700 along with the $2,500 found in the girl’s backpack.

Multiple outlets say the girl is charged with grand larceny. Under Florida law, grand theft means “unlawful taking or using property valued at $750 or more” with intent to block the owner of his or her right to use it.

Given the amount of money stolen, the girl could face a third-degree grand larceny charge, listing theft of property valued at anywhere from $750 to less than $20,000.

A conviction would mean up to five years in prison or five years probation with a $5,000 fine. It’s unclear if the grandmother or the state is the driving force behind the charges, and if the girl has an attorney.

5 issues to know earlier than the inventory market opens on Monday October 24th

Traders on the NYSE floor, October 21, 2022.

Source: New York SE

Here is the key news investors need to start their trading day:

1. You want income? We have income.

It’s the biggest week yet for this earnings season, especially for megacap tech names. Google parent Alphabet, Microsoft, Facebook parent Meta, Apple and Amazon are all said to provide quarterly reports. Companies have generally reported solid results, with some exceptions. This trend has added to market volatility as investors search for a bottom. Stocks rose on Friday to cap their best week since June, even as the Federal Reserve prepares to hike interest rates again while inflation remains hot. (Follow live market updates.) Here are the top companies reporting this week:

  • Tuesday: General Motors, Coca-Cola, UPS, JetBlue (before the bell); Alphabet, Microsoft, Mattel (after the bell)
  • Wednesday: Boeing, Kraft Heinz (in front of the bell); Meta, Ford (after the bell)
  • Thursday: McDonald’s, Comcast, Southwest (in front of the bell); Amazon, Apple, Intel (after the bell)

2. Xi tightens his grip on China

China’s President Xi Jinping (R) talks with former President Hu Jintao as he is ushered out of the closing ceremony of the 20th Congress of the Chinese Communist Party at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing October 22, 2022.

Noël Celis | AFP | Getty Images

China’s ruling Communist Party concluded its congress this weekend, leaving no doubt about President Xi Jinping’s authority. He is up for a third term as president and is poised to stay longer as the core leadership group around him is now even more loyalist. The changes also suggest the country’s government is placing more emphasis on its increasingly strained relationship with the United States, according to political analysts studying China. Then there’s the mystery of Hu Jintao, China’s former leader, who was publicly removed from his seat next to his successor Xi and ushered out of the party’s congress on Saturday. As he was pulled away, Hu spoke to Xi, who seemed more focused on the meeting. China has not explained the Hu incident.

Continue reading: Stocks of major Chinese companies fall after Xi’s rise to power

3. The race for the British prime minister is solving itself

Conservative leadership candidate Rishi Sunak meets with supporters as he attends a Hustings event, part of the Conservative Party’s leadership campaign, in Birmingham, Britain, August 23, 2022.

Phil Edel | Reuters

For a minute, it looked as if Boris Johnson wouldn’t actually return to 10 Downing Street two months after his departure. His successor, Liz Truss, resigned as prime minister in an even more embarrassingly spectacular way than Johnson did after his scandal-plagued tenure, and Johnson had previously hinted he could return. But he withdrew from the race for the Conservative leadership over the weekend, paving the way for Rishi Sunak, his former finance minister, to take the reins. Sunak had finished second to Truss in her summer race after she rolled back her economic plans that included steep tax cuts. Markets rebelled when her government actually proposed such an economic package as Britain grappled with a cost-of-living crisis and high levels of wealth inequality, and Truss pulled out. Now investors are looking to Sunak for stability.

4. US Blames Russia Over “Dirty Bomb” Claims

An electrician works to repair a power line damaged by shelling over a former battlefield during the Russian attack on Ukraine in Kharkiv region, Ukraine October 21, 2022.

Clodagh Kilcoyne | Reuters

Russian authorities have circulated claims that Ukraine is preparing to use a so-called dirty bomb, a device capable of poisoning a region with radioactivity without a nuclear explosion. US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and other critics denounced Russia’s “obviously false” message as a pretext for a possible escalation as Vladimir Putin’s ground forces lose ground to Ukraine’s military. Meanwhile, a million Ukrainians are without power after a spate of Russian strikes on cities and infrastructure. Read live war updates here.

5. “Black” magic at the box office

Dwayne Johnson stars in Warner Bros.’ “Black Adam.”

Warner Bros.

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and Warner Bros. pulled quite a spell at the weekend box office. Superhero film Black Adam had its best opening weekend for a film since July with domestic earnings of $67 million. It’s a relief to cinemas, which have been yearning for a big, blockbuster-style film since Thor: Love and Thunder and Top Gun: Maverick have trotted out their lucrative lanes. But the victory can be short-lived. Superhero movies tend to have pretty big dropoffs on their second release weekends, and Black Adam is still yet to recoup a reported $200 million budget. The true test of box office prowess will come on November 11th when the highly anticipated Black Panther: Wakanda Forever hits theaters.

And something else …

Bryce Harper #3 of the Philadelphia Phillies celebrates with teammates after defeating the San Diego Padres in game five to win the National League Championship Series at Citizens Bank Park on October 23, 2022 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)

Michael Reaves | Getty Images Sports | Getty Images

The World Series is set. The surprise Philadelphia Phillies, who defeated the San Diego Padres in five games, will take on American League juggernauts the Houston Astros, who defeated the New York Yankees. Game 1 is scheduled for Friday. While the Astros are the favorites, here at 5 Things we’re willing to bet a DiNic roast pork sandwich that the Phillies will put up at least one good fight.

– CNBC’s Carmen Reinicke, Evelyn Cheng, Hannah Ward-Glenton, Natasha Turak, and Sarah Whitten contributed to this report.

— Join the CNBC Investing Club now to follow Jim Cramer’s every stock move. Follow the broader market action like a pro on CNBC Pro.

Home of the Dragon Finale: We’re not over but [Spoiler]’s loss of life

In an attempt to intimidate his nephew, Aemond threatened to take out Lucerys’ eye and later went after the young prince on dragon’s back. The situation escalated to a bad one when Lucerys’ dragon Arrax blew fire on Aemond’s dragon Vhagar. This action prompted Vhagar to pursue Arrax with all her might, killing the dragon and Rhaenyra’s son in the process.

Aemond clearly didn’t want that outcome as he yelled at the beast, “Vhagar, no. No!”

Although fans of George RR Martin‘s novel Fire & Blood, which inspired the Game of Thrones prequel series, anticipated that ending, Lucerys’ death was still devastating to watch. The death of Lucerys not only cemented his mother’s decision to fight for her crown and confirmed the bloody Targaryen Civil War (known as the Dance of the Dragons), but also hinted that every member of the Targaryen family could be in danger .

We’re also such fans of the sweet young prince that we’re just sad to see him go.

Moderna and Merck will collectively develop a most cancers vaccine for high-risk melanoma sufferers

Pipettes are seen at Moderna Therapeutics Inc.’s laboratory in Cambridge, Massachusetts, on Tuesday, November 14, 2017. Moderna started testing this week

Adam Glanzmann | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Modern and note will jointly develop and sell a cancer vaccine personalized for individual patients, the companies announced on Wednesday.

Moderna’s vaccine, based on its messenger RNA technology, is being studied in a Phase 2 study in combination with Merck’s Keytruda to treat patients with high-risk melanoma, the deadliest form of skin cancer. The companies expect to report data in the fourth quarter of this year.

Moderna’s stock rose 16% in morning trade before giving up some of that lead. Shares of the company rose about 10% in afternoon trade.

Moderna’s vaccine is designed to trigger the immune system to deploy killer T cells that target the specific mutations in a patient’s tumors. Merck’s Keytruda is a monoclonal antibody given as an injection that blocks certain cell proteins from preventing T cells from attacking.

The companies originally entered into the agreement in 2016, but Merck is now exercising its option by paying Moderna $250 million. Merck will participate in the development and commercialization of the product. The companies will share all costs and profits equally.

Moderna became a household name during the pandemic after developing one of the most successful vaccines against Covid-19 in collaboration with the US National Institutes of Health.

But the Covid vaccine is Moderna’s only commercially available product. The Boston-based biotech is under increasing pressure to demonstrate how its messenger RNA technology can be used against other diseases.

Moderna expects $21 billion in Covid vaccine sales this year as it introduces new booster shots targeting the Omicron variant.

Keytruda is Merck’s largest drug, accounting for 35% of the company’s total sales in the second quarter. It has been approved by the Food and Drug Administration to treat various types of cancer.

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Read CNBC’s latest global health coverage:

“Black Adam” made a US debut of $67 million

Dwayne Johnson is Black Adam in Warner Bros.’ latest DC movie “Black Adam”.

Warner Bros.

Black Adam stormed into theaters this weekend and grossed $67 million domestically. It’s the first film since then Disney and Marvel Studios’ Thor: Love and Thunder in July to gross more than $50 million on its debut.

That Warner Brothers’ The film also marks star Dwayne Johnson’s biggest domestic premiere as a leading actor.

Premium formats, including IMAX, Dolby Cinema and large-screen cinemas, accounted for about 33% of the film’s domestic ticket sales, the studio reported on Sunday. Often more expensive than tickets sold for traditional screenings, these tickets show that audiences want to see big films on the biggest screen possible.

This bodes well for the film industry, which has seen admissions fall during the pandemic and is currently grappling with a severe shortage of new film releases. Last Sunday, the 2022 box office had more than a third fewer wide releases compared to 2019. According to data from Comscore, this has resulted in a more than 30% drop in box office earnings.

Black Adam is one of only four major releases hitting theaters before the end of the year. The others are all Disney movies: Black Panther: Wakanda Forever (Nov. 11), Strange World (Nov. 23), and Avatar: The Way of Water (Dec. 16).

The hope for theater owners is that films like Black Adam can drive traffic to theaters beyond their opening weekend.

Jan 6 Capitol Riot Committee will not let Trump flip testimony right into a “circus,” says Cheney

Representative Liz Cheney, a Wyoming Republican, during a hearing of the Special Committee investigating the January 6 attack on the US Capitol in Washington, DC, U.S., on Thursday, July 21, 2022.

Al Drago | Bloomberg | Getty Images

The House special committee investigating the Jan. 6 riots in the U.S. Capitol subpoenaed former President Donald Trump Friday, and Vice Chairwoman Liz Cheney, R-Wyo., said Trump will not be able to to turn his testimony into a “circus”.

“The committee is treating this matter with great seriousness,” she told NBC’s Meet the Press on Sunday. “It can last for several days, and it is being carried out with a rigor, discipline and seriousness that it deserves.”

The committee unanimously approved the subpoena and is requesting relevant records and Trump’s testimony under oath next month.

“We recognize that subpoenaing a former president is a significant and historic act,” the panel chairmen wrote to Trump in a letter on Friday. The committee’s chair, Rep. Bennie Thompson, D-Miss., and Cheney cited what they called Trump’s central role in a deliberate, “multiple effort” to reverse his loss in the 2020 presidential election.

The subpoena said Trump would be ousted on November 14 after the midterm elections. It is unclear whether he will comply.

Former White House aide Stephen Bannon was sentenced to four months in prison on Friday for refusing to comply with subpoenas from the same committee. He remains at large pending an appeal.

Cheney said the committee has made clear what Trump’s obligations are and plans to act accordingly.

“This won’t be his first debate against Joe Biden and the circus and the food fight that became it,” she said. “This is far too serious a set of problems.”