AddArmor's Ferrari 458 Speciale is a 605-horsepower safe on wheels
Ronan Glon
December 19, 2020, 12:00 p.m. ·2 min read
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Exotic cars and armored cars are often found in the same garage, but they're positioned on opposite ends of the automotive spectrum. AddArmor leveraged the latest developments in armoring technology to build a Ferrari 458 Speciale that can survive .44 Magnum impacts while posting a sub-three-second sprint from zero to 60 mph.
Founded by military and law enforcement veterans, the California-based firm explained it wanted to build an armored Speciale without sacrificing the model's performance or handling. It's much more difficult than it sounds, because the simplest and most straight-forward way to make a car bullet-proof is to add heavy metal plates to it. For example, Brabus unveiled an armored G63 earlier in 2020 that weighs a hefty 8,400 pounds.
"Heavy vehicles tend to be slow, and a slow target is an easy target. In situations where clients need to be protected, speed is always an advantage," reasoned company president Jeff Engen.
AddArmor upgraded the 458 Speciale with a type of light armor that's 10 times stronger and 60% lighter than ballistic steel. It achieved a B4 level of armor, meaning the mid-engined supercar can withstand bullets fired by a handgun. It's offers relatively basic protection; an AK-47 or a high-powered rifle can pierce right through it. It adds 156 pounds to the Speciale's weight, so AddArmor offset it by ticking every carbon fiber option offered by Ferrari, including exterior and interior parts plus bits in the engine bay. It also fitted a custom exhaust system provided by Capristo that further reduces weight while adding 40 horsepower and 65 pound-feet of torque.
All told, the armored 458 weighs 67 pounds more than stock. It still posts a 2.8-second sprint from zero to 60 mph, and it's still capable of reaching 202 mph. We're told it handles like a non-armored model, too. If you lose the heat, all of the armored extras can be removed to end up with a lighter 458 with a 40-horsepower bump.
AddArmor stressed its 458 Speciale is a one-off prototype built to showcase how far armoring technology has come, and what's possible in the exotic car segment. If it were to sell it, it would charge about $625,000 for it.
Bentley Mulsanne stretches out thanks to ArmorTech Motors
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Winter weather pattern
There's been a shift in the weather pattern for this season, which so far has brought about little snow the past few months. Given our region's unusual weather, many are bracing themselves and waiting for the other shoe to drop. Is there a chance we'll make it through winter with above-seasonal weather conditions, or are we going to pay dearly towards the end? So far, it's been an unpredictable winter as on the day's meteorologists call for heavy snow, the clouds clear up, and the winter storm dissipates altogether, or it turns out to be just a light dusting. Most areas in our region currently have approximately one inch of snow cover, with many spots still bare. For those who anticipate winter and its activities, this one isn't turning out to be so favourable. While you can always go tobogganing over the snow and grass, it's more challenging to go skiing without having fired up the snow-making machines beforehand. Many snowmobile clubs have also indicated on their social media sites; the conditions are not ideal as there's not enough snow. At the other end of the scale are those who do not like snow and cold weather. For those people, this makes for an ideal winter as you don't have to bundle up in layers of clothing to go outside. It's made for perfect days to go for walks or get outdoors for family activities without the fear of frostbite in the first five minutes. Many swear by the Farmer's Almanac and use it faithfully. The book states, "they stand by mathematical and astronomical formulas for accurately predicting weather up to two years in advance." According to the book, 2020/21 winter is full of winter storms and to brace for continual snowfall throughout the season. Alberta will experience above-normal snowfall and much colder weather than average winter temperatures. So far, it's been the opposite, but we can't say the book is wrong as winter is not over yet. In February, the almanac still predicts to have a total snowfall accumulation of 45 millimetres. So, don't put those winter boots too far back in the closet just yet. Accuweather also has its predictions for our region in Alberta. They're not forecasting a bitterly cold winter, but it will be a windy one for January and the first half of February. January shows only three days with a slight chance for flurries. Due to the mild winter. February might make up for what's been lacking in previous months. Both the Farmer's Almanac and Accuweather are predicting heavy snowfall this month. The only difference is how much. The Accuweather website's long-range forecast shows a total snow accumulation of 220 millimetres in February. In the latter part of the month, it begins to warm up again and going into March shows an average of three degrees. To sum it up, I'm sure this winter will still bring a mixed bag of weather suitable for everyone whether you like snow or not. In six weeks, we will be well on our way to Spring conditions, and the winter season will once again be behind us. Vicki Winger, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Whitecourt Press
Kenora man faces weapon charges after police respond to assist ambulance call
KENORA, ONT., — A 39-year-old Kenora man is facing several weapon-related charges following a search warrant in Keewatin on Jan. 7. Ontario Provincial Police in Kenora responded to an ambulance assist call on Tenth Street in Keewatin on Thursday, Jan. 7 just after 3 p.m. While at the home, a firearm was seized by police and OPP later conducted a search warrant at the residence, according to a news release issued Monday, Jan. 18. OPP charged Christopher Boucher, 39, of Kenora with one count of possession of a weapon for a dangerous purpose, knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm, careless storage of a firearm, possession of a firearm or ammunition contrary to a prohibition order and possession of an imitation weapon for a dangerous purpose. Boucher was released on a summons to attend the Kenora Courthouse on March 25 to answer to his charges. Karen Edwards, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Thunder Bay Source
ZURICH — The hockey world championships were pulled from Belarus on Monday following pressure from opposition groups and a threatened boycott by sponsors. The International Ice Hockey Federation cited safety concerns and said it will seek a new country to co-host the tournament with Latvia. Criticism of Belarus' role as co-host grew after authoritarian president Alexander Lukashenko's disputed re-election last year was followed by mass arrests at largely peaceful demonstrations. The IIHF said its council "determined that it is currently impossible to ensure the welfare of teams, spectators and officials" in Belarus. IIHF president Rene Fasel had tried to keep the tournament in Belarus, claiming it could build bridges between the opposition and Lukashenko. Opposition groups criticized Fasel after he and Lukashenko embraced when they met for talks last week. Three sponsors of the tournament, Skoda, Nivea and Liqui Moly, said they would cancel their involvement if games were played in Belarus. The IIHF said it will now consider where to host the event, and said Latvia could remain a co-host or the championships could move to a single venue. Denmark, the host in 2018, and Slovakia, the host in 2019, have both offered to step in. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
ISTANBUL — Facebook announced Monday it has begun the process of assigning a legal entity in Turkey to comply with a controversial law governing social media companies. The law, which passed in July, requires social media companies such as Facebook and Twitter to maintain representatives in Turkey to deal with complaints about content on their platforms. Companies refusing to designate an official representative are subject to fines, advertising bans and bandwidth reductions that would make their networks too slow to use. "This decision does not change Facebook's Community Standards, nor the global process for reviewing government requests, and we will withdraw the representative if we face pressure on either," Facebook said in its statement. According to the law, the local representative of social media companies would be tasked with responding to individual requests to take down content violating privacy and personal rights within 48 hours or to provide grounds for rejection. The company would be held liable for damages if the content is not removed or blocked within 24 hours. The law also requires social media data to be stored in Turkey, raising concerns in a country where the government has a track record of clamping down on free speech. Turkish authorities fined the social media giant at least 40 million Turkish lira ($5.3 million) last year for not complying with the request to assign a representative. Advertising bans for companies that have not complied are set to begin Tuesday. Facebook will join LinkedIn, YouTube, TikTok, Dailymotion and the Russian social media site VKontakte in setting up legal entities in Turkey. Rights groups have said the decision by international tech companies to bow to Turkish pressure and appoint representatives would lead to censorship and violations of the right to privacy and access to information. The Freedom of Expression Association says more than 450,000 domains and 42,000 tweets have been blocked in Turkey as of October. Amnesty International's Turkey campaigner Milena Buyum tweeted that the law undermines freedom of expression online in a country where independent media are already curtailed. "The consequences of compliance for human rights are huge: companies would not be able to resist arbitrary blocking/banning requests, would be compelled to provide user data," she said. Facebook said, "We remain committed to the Turkish community and maintaining free expression and other human rights in Turkey." Last week, Turkey's antitrust board launched a probe against messaging application WhatsApp and its parent company Facebook Inc. for its new usage terms. The new terms, which were later postponed by the company, unleashed privacy concerns and prompted Turkish users to switch to other messaging apps. — Kelvin K. Chan contributed from London. Zeynep Bilginsoy, The Associated Press
Canada scrambles to salvage Keystone XL as Biden prepares to kill troubled pipeline project
U.S. President-elect Joe Biden's expected move to cancel the Keystone XL pipeline prompted Canada's main oil-producing province of Alberta on Monday to threaten to seek damages as Ottawa made efforts to save the troubled project. Scrapping the project would threaten Canadian jobs and the U.S.-Canadian relationship as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau tries to turn the page on the Donald Trump era, though the idea drew support from environmental groups and progressive U.S. Senator Bernie Sanders.
Colleges in Red Deer, Grande Prairie may not transition into universities as planned
A provincial review of post-secondary institutions is raising questions about whether Red Deer and Grande Prairie Regional colleges will transition into universities as planned. Advanced Education Minister Demetrios Nicolaides said the decisions are under review as external consultants McKinsey and Company evaluate how post-secondary education is offered across Alberta. "Whether or not they need to become a university I think is a question that's still ongoing," Nicolaides said in an interview with CBC last week. The transformations would be expensive and require changes to the colleges' governance structures, he said. The schools do not need to be classified as universities to be able to grant degrees for programs that Nicolaides approves. It's a departure from the celebratory mood in 2018 when both colleges announced the former NDP government had granted them permission to make the transition. The former Grande Prairie Regional College president called the announcement the proudest moment in his career. Red Deer College hired consultants, sought feedback from hundreds of people, and announced in 2019 it would eventually rebrand itself as Red Deer University. But as part of a provincial review of the province's 26 post-secondary institutions, McKinsey is recommending the government consider creating superboards to oversee multiple institutions. Nicolaides likes the idea. He says he'd like the future oversight bodies to find more ways for polytechnics, colleges and universities to work together, and flag unnecessary duplications in the system. They should not add extra layers of bureaucracy, he says. Amalgamating any schools is also a "no-go" in his mind. That could damage relationships with alumni and donors. "It has to be done in a way that maintains strong institutional identity, maintains the connection to the community, and allows them to continue to build those important partnerships," Nicolaides said. Although the government initially asked the contractor to study the viability of institutions, Nicolaides said shuttering any schools is not the goal. However, he said he's not convinced the colleges in Grande Prairie and Red Deer need to be universities to best serve their communities. Red Deer College (RDC) is looking at adopting a "polytechnic university" model, he said, to retain trade and apprenticeship programs in demand by local employers. "If it did transition to a full research intensive university with graduate programs, you may shed some of those programs that are needed by the local community, so I think we have to find the right balance," Nicolaides said. Instructor sees 'brain drain' from Grande Prairie region Administrators at both colleges declined interview requests. In a written statement, RDC president Peter Nunoda said he is awaiting the outcome of the McKinsey review, which is expected to be released in the summer. "While work continues in our institution behind-the-scenes on program development and other matters relating to our institution's future, we are awaiting the outcomes identified in the Alberta 2030 post-secondary system review to further establish our future direction," the statement said. The college offers two degree programs, which are a bachelors of applied arts in animation and visual effects and a bachelor of applied arts in film production. The college has applied to the advanced education ministry for approval of five more bachelors' degree programs, including a bachelor of science in biological sciences, bachelors of science and arts degrees in psychology, bachelor of education and a bachelor of business administration. Grande Prairie Regional College (GPRC) CEO Robert Murray said in a written statement the college is still developing proposals for degree-granting programs while the provincial review continues. Ali Al-Asadi, president of the academic staff association at GPRC, said the name and status of the school is less important than its ability to grant degrees. The college had been offering some degree programs in partnership with other institutions. But psychology instructor Al-Asadi said government funding reductions have led some of those other schools to cancel the partnerships, and the college had to end some degree programs. Every time a student leaves northwestern Alberta for university or enrols in another institution online, money leaves the community, he said. He calls it a brain drain. "When a student leaves, very few of them come back." NDP advanced education critic David Eggen said his former government wanted universities in Grande Prairie and Red Deer to help diversify the economies of those communities and give students more educational options near their homes. The closest universities for Grande Prairie students are about 450 kilometres away in Edmonton. Giving the colleges a pathway to become universities was a sign of respect, he said. For the government to consider withdrawing that permission is disturbing, he said. "I think that it's a mistake. "I think that this government clearly does not value post-secondary education." McKinsey is contracted until the end of March to evaluate Alberta's system, highlight best practices from other jurisdictions and propose possible reforms. The government has committed to releasing a plan for the next decade this summer.
Ottawa Redblacks re-sign LB Fernandez, WR Saunders and RB Flanders
OTTAWA — The Ottawa Redblacks have re-signed linebacker Jerod Fernandez, wide receiver Jalen Saunders and running back Timothy Flanders. Fernandez joined the Redblacks during the 2019 season after spending time with Washington in the NFL. He had 53 tackles and a pair of forced fumbles in 11 games and was named the Redblacks' most outstanding rookie. Saunders originally signed with the Redblacks last April. but didn't get to suit up for Ottawa after the 2020 season was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic. He had 1,170 receiving yards and four touchdowns as a CFL rookie with Hamilton in 2017. He had 739 yards and two touchdowns in nine games in 2018 with the Tiger-Cats before his season was cut short due to a knee injury. Flanders had 96 carries 541 yards over the past three seasons with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers. He signed with Ottawa in December 2019. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Jan. 18, 2021. The Canadian Press
TOKYO — Japan's foreign minister accused South Korea on Monday of worsening already strained ties by making "illegal" demands for compensation for the sexual abuse of Korean women and use of forced labourers during World War II. Toshimitsu Motegi, in a diplomatic policy speech in parliament, said a recent South Korean court ruling ordering Japan to compensate 12 South Korean women who were sexually abused in Japanese military brothels during the war was "an abnormal development absolutely unthinkable under international law and bilateral relations." "We strongly urge South Korea to correct the violation of international law as soon as possible" and restore healthy relations, Motegi said. The Seoul Central District Court ruled on Jan. 8 that the Japanese government must give 100 million won ($91,360) to each of 12 elderly women who filed lawsuits in 2013 over their wartime suffering as "comfort women." They were among tens of thousands of women across Japanese-occupied Asia and the Pacific who were sent to front-line Japanese army brothels. The ruling worsened tensions between the two countries, whose relations had already plunged to the lowest level in decades over earlier South Korean rulings on Japan's actions during its 1910-1945 colonial rule of the Korean Peninsula. South Korea's Supreme Court in 2018 ordered Japanese companies to provide reparations to some South Koreans who were forced to work in their factories during the war. The dispute over forced labour escalated into a trade dispute and prompted South Korea to threaten to scrap a 2016 military intelligence-sharing agreement with Japan, a key component of their regional defenceco-operation with the United States. Japan has protested the court rulings, saying all wartime compensation issues were settled under a 1965 treaty normalizing relations in which Japan provided $500 million in economic assistance. Motegi called South Korea "an important neighbour" and said its co-operation with Japan and the United States was "indispensable for regional security," including the response to North Korea's nuclear and missile programs. Japan, under a 1995 semi-governmental Asian Women's Fund, offered payments and apology letters to certified victims of its wartime sexual abuse from five countries, settling disputes with all but South Korea. In 2015, the then governments of South Korea and Japan reached what was supposed to be a final and irreversible deal to settle the issue with a new fund set up by the Japanese government, but the current South Korean administration of President Moon Jae-in dissolved it, saying the deal was reached without proper consultation with the victims. ___ Follow Mari Yamaguchi on Twitter at https://twitter.com/mariyamaguchi Mari Yamaguchi, The Associated Press
EU gender pay gap still significant, warn trade unions
BRUSSELS — Women in Europe doing jobs requiring the same skills as jobs done by men are still being paid significantly less, according to a study by the the European Trade Union Confederation (ETUC). The major trade union organization, which represents 45 million members in 38 European countries, compared wages in two countries from Western and Eastern Europe — Germany and Romania — looking at women working in the sector of household appliances and men working in car manufacturing. The organization looked at several criteria including skills, physical effort and responsibility. It compared full-time workers of the same age and with a permanent contract working for medium-sized companies. In Germany, ETUC said, women in the white goods sector earn €865 less per month in gross income than men making cars, for jobs requiring similar skills. In Romania, where wages are significantly lower, the average difference in net income is €244, ETUC said. "Comparing the pay of women and men in the manufacturing sector shows clearly how women are paid less even when their jobs require the same levels of skill and physical effort as those of men," ETUC deputy general secretary Esther Lynch said. "The COVID crisis has also exposed the deep-rooted bias behind wages for professions dominated by women, with carers and cleaners recognized as 'essential' despite being amongst the lowest paid." Last year, using data from the EU's statistical office, the trade union organization said women would have to wait for another 84 years and the next century to achieve equal pay at the current pace of change. ETUC called on the European executive commission to quickly come forward with its pay transparency directive. European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen had planned to present measures to introduce binding pay transparency measures in the first 100 days of her mandate, but the proposals have yet to be unveiled. "Quality is more important than speed in this case," EU commission spokesman Christian Wigand said. "We'll come forward with proposals in the coming months." The Associated Press
On veut hausser l'offre de service de 60 % en 10 ans
L'objectif est ambitieux: hausser l'offre de service de transport collectif de 60 % d'ici 2031-2035, à Laval. Cette cible que s'est fixé l'Autorité régionale de transport métropolitain (ARTM) s'inscrit dans le cadre du premier Plan stratégique de développement du transport collectif (PSD) intégré du Grand Montréal, lequel a été soumis à la consultation publique cet automne. Dès qu'on en aura fini avec la pandémie, l'Autorité se donne 10 ans pour atteindre cette cible, explique son directeur exécutif Planification des transports et mobilité, Daniel Bergeron. Incidemment, le plan d'actions verra, entre autres, à répondre aux besoins découlant de nouvelles habitudes de déplacement des travailleurs qui pourraient bien demeurées au terme de la crise sanitaire qui les a fait naître, mentionne M. Bergeron. Une attention particulière sera ainsi accordée aux déplacements hors pointe et à l'accroissement des déplacements bidirectionnels. Interventions Outre les grands projets en cours de réalisation, tels le Réseau express métropolitain (REM) dans l'ouest de l'île et le Service rapide par bus (SRB) Pie-IX dans l'est, le plan prévoit la mise en place de mesures préférentielles pour bus (MPB) afin d'éviter la congestion et de rendre plus attractif le transport collectif. Un exemple? Le corridor de l'avenue des Bois, compris entre la gare Sainte-Dorothée et l'autoroute 13, qui réduira les temps de parcours des autobus de la STL qui font la navette de la gare à la station de métro Côte-Vertu, à Montréal, depuis la fermeture complète de la ligne de train de banlieue Deux-Montagnes, le 1er janvier. Le réseau autoroutier (A-440, A-13, A-15, A-19 et A-25) sillonnant le territoire lavallois est également ciblé par ces mesures tout comme certaines artères du réseau local, tel le boulevard Le Corbusier ainsi que les rues et boulevards aux approches du terminus Montmorency. Parlant du terminus, des quais y seront ajoutés. Le projet de Plan stratégique de développement du transport collectif fait également mention de la poursuite des études en cours, notamment les prolongements du métro de la station Montmorency jusqu'à la gare Bois-Franc de la ligne de train de banlieue Deux-Montagnes, à Montréal, et du REM pour relier l'est et l'ouest de Laval par-delà l'autoroute 15. D'autres «projets structurants» de type SRB sont aussi dans les cartons, rappelle M. Bergeron, citant ceux étudiés dans l'axe des boulevards Notre-Dame/de la Concorde et des Laurentides. L'élaboration et la planification de ces projets visant à améliorer l'offre de transport collectif s'appuient sur les statistiques relatives aux données sociodémographiques et le diagnostic de la mobilité en 2018 tiré de l'enquête Origine-Destination, note Daniel Bergeron. «L'importance relative [en pourcentage] des déplacements internes par rapport aux déplacements externes influence l'aménagement des services qui sont développés», reconnaît-il, ajoutant qu'il est «tout aussi essentiel de bien arrimer ce développement aux orientations d'aménagement du territoire établies par les municipalités afin de soutenir ce développement et pouvoir répondre aux besoins de mobilité à plus long terme». Avant d'être soumis à la consultation publique, le Plan stratégique avait été élaboré avec la collaboration de plus de 1200 intervenants des différents organismes publics de transport en commun de la région métropolitaine, dont la Société de transport de Laval (STL).Stéphane St-Amour, Initiative de journalisme local, Courrier Laval
Bill Browder: Navalny 'not cut from the same cloth' as other politicians in the West
"Alexei Navalny's ideas and hopes for his country come before his own personal ambitions and safety," Red Notice author Bill Browder told Euronews.View on euronews