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Groupe Renault's new Mobilize brand has unveiled an electric saloon designed for use as a taxi, private hire vehicle or fleet vehicle. The Mobilize Limo has been developed through Group Renault's joint venture with Chinese firm Jiangling Motors. It will makes its public debut at the Munich motor show before it goes on sale exclusively through a subscription service in the second half of 2022. The D-segment four-door saloon is 4670mm long. It's powered by a 147bhp and 162lb ft electric motor that offers a 0-62mph time of 9.6sec and a limited top speed of 87mph. It's powered by a 60kWh lithium ion battery that gives a claimed range of 280 miles and can be charged on both AC and DC systems. Mobilize said the Limo is intended for use in urban regions, where private hire drivers typically cover around 150 miles per day. Three driving models and three levels of regenerative braking will be offered, while a turning circle of 11.2 metres is designed to help with urban manoeuvring. The exterior styling features a distinctive front end to separate Mobilize from Renault, with a sleek, coupé-esque profile. There are also flush door handles, LED headlights and 17in alloy wheels. Mobilize designed the Limo specifically for use in private hire and other mobility fleets, with a focus on durability, ease of use and rear passenger space. The 2750mm wheelbase has been designed to maximise leg room for rear passengers, with 288mm of knee room. The interior is finished in TEP leather-effect upholstery for durability, while the rear compartment features two USB ports and a volume control. There's also a 411-litre boot. Up front, there's a 10.25in digital instrument panel and a 12.3in touchscreen. The infotainment system allows for smartphone mirroring to enable drivers who work for firms such as Uber to access the required apps. The driver's seat has been honed for comfort over extended usage and a refrigerated storage area is located between the front seats. After the Limo's public debut at the Munich motor show, a fleet of 40 examples will conduct validation trials across Europe before the market launch next year. Mobilize says the Limo will be "cost-effective" but has yet to reveal pricing details. It will be offered on subscription with a package that includes both the vehicle and services for taxis, private hire vehicles and other shared mobility uses. These services will also be offered by Mobilize for other Groupe Renault vehicles. There will also be a pay-as-you-drive Limo offering for more casual drivers. There are no plans to launch a right-hand-drive version of the Limo for the UK market, although Mobilize is planning to offer services in the UK using Groupe Renault vehicles.

Angelina Jolie has become the fastest user to reach one million Instagram followers, beating recent holders of the record, NCTʼs Taeil Moon, Rupert Grint, and David Attenborough. The Hollywood actor joined the social media platform yesterday (August 20) to share a photograph of a heartbreaking letter from a teenage girl in Afghanistan who is now facing Taliban rule. According to the Evening Standard, Jolie gained 2.1 million new followers in just three hours, which beat Attenborough’s four hours 44 minutes, Grint’s four hours one minute, and Moon’s one hour 45 minutes. As of the time of publishing, the Tomb Raider actor has 6.4 million followers.

igs are to be genetically engineered to resist one of the world's most costly animal diseases. Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome costs about £1.8bn ($2.5bn) in lost revenue each year in the US and Europe. Researchers at Edinburgh University's Roslin Institute hope it will lead the way to the pigs being available to global pork-producing markets. The pig research, however, raises some animal welfare issues. Critics say creating disease-resistant animals will discourage farmers from improving the welfare of their livestock. Editing genetic code Some believe the way the animals are kept can make them less prone to contracting the virus that causes the syndrome.

Bill and Melinda Gates may be among the wealthiest couples to file for divorce this year - but they aren't the only ones trying to figure out how to split their assets and go their separate ways after Covid. Yet while they may not struggle to pay their legal bills, for many the financial cost of splitting-up can be a huge barrier. In 2019, more than 100,000 UK couples got divorced - and since then, the pandemic has put many more relationships under tremendous strain. A quarter of people say their relationship with their spouse or partner deteriorated during Covid, according to a recent survey of 70,000 participants by University College London. This may be just the tip of the iceberg. UK charity Citizens Advice says the divorce section of its website was visited 419,359 times between July 2020 and July 2021 - 14% higher than the previous year. Once lockdown restrictions eased, it also saw a spike in views of its divorce advice pages - in particular on how to pay for it. Financial hurdles While the final cost of a divorce can vary wildly, even getting started is prohibitive for many. The application fee is £550 - which everyone getting a divorce must pay. "We spoke to people having to save for months or years to find £550," says Prof Liz Trinder, who led research for The Nuffield Foundation on divorce costs. This initial cost amounts to a tax on people when they are "at their most financially vulnerable", says Prof Trinder who believes the actual costs are lower than £550 and will fall as the process becomes digitised. Although there is some support available for those on low incomes or benefits, the worry is for most the fear of rising costs will prevent them from getting appropriate advice. "So many people are terrified of stepping into a solicitor's office, because they are worried about the cost," says Mena Ruparel, who chairs the Law Society's family committee. "Solicitors charge in six-minute increments - so just sending a few emails and receiving replies can quickly see costs mount." But not speaking to a solicitor can end up costing more, says Ms Ruparel, if people don't get advice on how to avoid court by using mediation and arbitration - or receive a fair settlement, for instance. Women going through a split are often left in a weak financial position, as they are more likely to already be earning less and with lower savings and pensions. Rita, who did not want to be named to protect her identity, was in her 50s when she separated from her husband of 30 years after giving up work to care for their children. She saw solicitors as "an unnecessary expense" and instead focused on keeping hold of the marital home, without accessing her ex-husband's pension. "Career-wise I'm about 20 years behind him, I want a fair outcome." But Martin Bell from the Money and Pensions Service, who advised Rita against going it alone without a solicitor, says ignoring pension savings often leaves women with a poorer deal. Many women take career breaks to prioritise their family and forego pension opportunities in the process, and this needs to be taken into account, he says. When people are distressed they "often just want to get it over with", and that can cost them money, he adds. DIY divorces Nevertheless, more are deciding to do it themselves. A survey of 1,000 divorcees for the group Resolution, which campaigns for family law to be more easily available found 57% of those who had divorced in the last five years had sought little or no legal help. While going it alone can keep costs down, lawyers say it's only suitable for couples who have don't have assets to divide - because issues such as pensions, and arrangements about children and property can be much more complex. Cuts to legal aid, introduced in 2013 mean many family cases, including divorces, are no longer eligible for public funds. Resolution, which represents 6,500 family lawyers, wants legal aid to be reintroduced for everyone seeking initial advice about divorce. "We know that access to early legal advice helps couples make the best decisions about how they will separate," says Juliet Harvey, the national chair of Resolution. The Ministry of Justice says it is spending millions to help couples avoid costly litigation, and that legal aid for mediation is still available to those who cannot afford it. It adds that charging those who can pay means "the justice system runs effectively, while cutting the cost to the taxpayer". Louise, who did not want to be named to protect her identity, felt she had no option but to represent herself when her ex-husband emptied their shared bank accounts and sold their possessions after she left him. "I spoke to a solicitor and quickly saw how the costs could mount up," she says. With children to support and no access to funds she worried she'd spend her only potential asset - the family home - on legal fees, so represented herself in court. "I became really savvy about the process," she says, but acknowledges the eight years it took to finalise the divorce were gruelling. She still hasn't received the maintenance payments her ex-husband was ordered to pay. "I've written it off, " she adds. Author Elizabeth MacBride, who has written about her own split, says even though her divorce was expensive and cost her a Silicon Valley job, she wouldn't have felt confident taking the DIY option. Gaining primary custody of her two daughters was her main aim and she felt she needed a lawyer for this. "To go it alone would have been hard. Your fear is that your partner is going to 'take it out' on your children." An evolving process It's in these more difficult cases, where amicable agreements can't be reached, that costs can quickly rise. Lucy Davis who runs The Divorce Club, a UK network of support groups, says many people she encounters are going through acrimonious separations, where costs can "run into the tens of thousands". She says the financial pressure can lead to people taking out loans or borrowing from family members. One thing is clear, she adds, emotional trauma can make managing financial decisions extremely difficult. "People can find it hard to separate money from emotions. We often talk about the benefits of treating divorce like a business transaction. The whole idea of what's fair becomes difficult if someone feels their former partner should pay financially for emotional pain." Splitting-up may always be hard to do but the way people approach divorce is changing. Much of the process is now online, so paperwork can be completed more quickly. Next year, the Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Act will introduce so-called "no fault"' divorces. People will no longer have to cite adultery, unreasonable behaviour or desertion as a reason - just that the marriage has broken down irretrievably. While this makes divorce less adversarial, it won't necessarily make it cheaper. And for many couples, that still remains the greatest challenge. Additional reporting by Angela Henshall

Kia has previewed the European version of its new Sportage SUV in a series of sketches ahead of the production model’s full unveiling on Wednesday, 1 September. The new Sportage, which arrives in its fifth generation, will feature a dedicated design specifically aimed at European tastes for the first time in its history. The model will be developed on a new architecture, with a focus on drive and handling for the Continent, although it will be broadly technically similar to the model destined for other global markets, which was revealed earlier this year. Sketch images show the Sportage with a new, larger front grille, with striking headlights and a redesigned rear, a sports spoiler and prominent exhausts. The model is seen with black used for the roof, C-pillar design and other exterior styling. It appears to feature a more compact profile than the previously revealed Sportage for improved agility and performance, which, the firm says, will be ideal for European roads. The new Kia logo is also present on the model and Kia says the Sportage will feature updated technology and improved powertains. “Kia’s new design language – Opposites United – is at the heart of the Sportage, influencing every aspect of its appearance and character,” Kia said. “Its design builds on the theme ‘Bold for Nature’ and pays homage to nature’s perfection and simplicity whilst connecting with the brand’s new design direction. The sketches hint at a sporty, assertive and pioneering SUV.” The new Sportage will be revealed on 1 September through the firm’s own media channels, before a public debut at the Munich motor show and pricing and specification details are announced later this year. Sales of the po[CENSORED]r model will begin at a later date.

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Pet cats and dogs are much more likely to contract Covid-19 than their stray peers — and cats are more susceptible to the virus than their canine counterparts, new research suggests. In the new study, researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario tested 48 cats and 54 dogs from 77 different households that had a positive Covid-19 case in the previous nine months. They compared the results to those of 75 dogs and cats living in an animal shelter and 75 stray cats that had been seen at a low-cost veterinary clinic. The preliminary findings, which have not yet been published in a peer-reviewed journal, will be presented at the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases in July. Nearly 70 percent of pet cats and more than 40 percent of pet dogs tested positive for antibodies, compared with just under 10 percent of dogs and cats from the animal shelter. That number shrank to 3 percent for the stray cats. The majority of cases were mild, and only 20 percent of dogs and 30 percent of cats had symptoms. Dogs mostly had loss of appetite and sluggishness, while cats exhibited runny noses and had difficulty breathing. The researchers also found that the amount of time a pet owner spent with their dog did not have an effect on the pet’s chance of getting Covid-19, but that was not the case for cats. The more time cats spent with their human companions, the more likely they were to be infected. In particular, cats who slept on their owner’s bed had a higher risk of infection. It’s still unclear precisely why cats are more likely to contract Covid-19 than dogs, but some research has suggested that felines have a higher capacity for the virus to grow in their cells than dogs or even lab mice, making them more susceptible. “It could be something as simple as most dogs have long noses, or the virus doesn’t bind as well to the receptor in dogs’ cells, or something with the immune system,” said Sue VandeWoude, university distinguished professor at the Colorado State University College of Veterinary Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, who was not involved with the new research. Since the most likely route of infection is from human to pet, not the other way around, pet owners shouldn’t worry about getting Covid-19 from their pets, said Dorothee Bienzle, a professor of veterinary pathology at the University of Guelph and co-author of the study. Indeed, a second study, also being presented at the scientific meeting in July, concluded that humans likely infect their pets. That study, from researchers at Utrecht University in the Netherlands, looked at 311 cats and dogs in 196 households with a Covid-19-positive person. Just under 1 in 5 pets tested positive for antibodies, and a small handful — six cats and seven dogs — had a positive PCR test, meaning they had an active infection. People who have Covid-19 should take steps to protect their pets, Bienzle said. That means wearing a mask and avoiding contact with their cats and dogs as much as possible. “At this point, we should assume that if we get infected, that our pets are susceptible, too, and they should be treated as any other household member,” she said. According to VandeWoude, two questions remain: Can pets infect people who have not yet been infected, and if they do, will the virus mutate, as it did last year in a mink farm in Denmark. Mutations are more likely to occur when a virus is rapidly transmitted between many hosts, such as in farmed or wild animal po[CENSORED]tions or humans living in densely po[CENSORED]ted cities. Transfers between one pet and one human, on the other hand, are less of a concern. “Still, anytime there is a spillover event, from animals to people, there is always risk of it becoming more virulent, so it's something we need to keep in mind,” VandeWoude said.

Experts suggest Prince Harry and Meghan Markle have completely miscalculated their take on privacy after moving forward with Megxit. This claim was made by royal author Daniela Elser and in her new piece for News.com.au he wrote, “What is more interesting here is the paparazzi situation, which is to say, there has not been one.” “Not a single image has emerged of William and Kate either flying to France or on French soil which is a far, far cry from the days when Fleet Street and photo agencies’ most rapacious and relentless snappers doggedly trailed anyone with an HRH.” “And there is a certain cruel irony here when you contrast this state of play with the reality that Harry and Meghan, the Duke and Duchess of Sussex, now face, having traded royal working life for ‘peace’ in the US, far, far away from the long arm of the courtiers and the British press they dislike so intensely.”

14 years. That's when the Nissan GT-R first graced the motoring world. Here we are in 2021, still celebrating Nissan's continued production of its enduring supercar. Now, it comes with a colorful twist in the form of the 2021 GT-R T-spec. As mentioned in the headline, this latest special-edition GT-R will be available in Millennium Jade. Skyline fans know it was last used on the R34 GT-R V-Spec II Nür, one of the rarest GT-Rs of them all. The color has never been offered in North America, but it's now one of two choices for the new T-Spec. Midnight Purple is the second color choice, which Nissan says is a "modern interpretation" of two previous purples – Midnight Opal from another special-edition GT-R released in 2014, and Midnight Purple III from the old Skyline R34 V-Spec. What else does the GT-R T-spec have to offer? Think of it as a tamer GT-R Track Edition without the suspension upgrades. You get the Track's wider front fenders and carbon-fiber rear spoiler. Rays forged aluminum wheels finished in gold sit at the corners, with carbon-ceramic brakes behind them. Brake air guides from the GT-R Nismo are also part of the package, and of course, you can't have a special-edition GT-R without body-colored mirrors, black hood ducts, and plenty of T-spec badging inside and out. Speaking of inside, you'll find a new Mori Green interior color with plenty of leather, suede, and Alcantara.

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