Apr 10, 2017

Tesla is now most valuable U.S. auto maker

David Pinter / Flickr cc

Elon Musk's electric-car maker Tesla on Monday became the largest U.S. auto maker by market value, overtaking auto giant General Motors, the WSJ reports.

The big number: Tesla, which began tinkering with the idea of electric cars 13 years ago, reached a market capitalization of $51 billion in early trading, edging out both GM and Ford.

Why it matters: Silicon Valley's focus on re-engineering transportation, from self-driving cars to on-demand vehicles, threatens to upend Detroit's heavyweight auto makers, who delivered disappointing monthly sales results last week. But while its stock is buoyed by investor optimism, Tesla has a long way to go to meet goals such as making 500,000 vehicles next year (including its mass-market Model 3) and creating reliable self-driving software.

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Ursula Perano

Assault weapons ban dies in Virginia Senate despite Democratic control

Gun-rights ralliers at a protest outside the Virginia Capitol Building in January. Photo ROBERTO SCHMIDT/AFP via Getty Images.

An assault weapons ban died in the Virginia Senate Judiciary Committee on Monday despite a Democratic majority in the assembly, the Washington Post reports.

Why it matters: Democrats flipped the Virginia House and Senate last year after campaigning hard on gun control. The assault weapons bill would have banned future transfers and sales of all assault weapons in the state.

Go deeper3 mins ago - Politics & Policy

Ursula Perano

What we know: Deadly Storm Dennis whips at England, Wales and Ireland

Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images.

At least two deaths are being attributed to Storm Dennis on Monday as it continues to strike at parts of England, Wales and Ireland, per AccuWeather.

The big picture: Dennis is the second-strongest nontropical storm ever recorded in the North Atlantic Ocean. Its hurricane-force winds and heavy rains have caused widespread flooding across the United Kingdom. The army has been deployed in the U.K. to help with flood relief.

Go deeper27 mins ago - Science

Axios

Coronavirus cases rise as 14 American evacuees infected

Data: The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins, the CDC, and China's NHC; Note: China refers to mainland China and the Diamond Princess is the cruise ship offshore Yokohama, Japan. Map: Danielle Alberti/Axios

14 Americans evacuated from the Diamond Princess cruise ship tested positive for the novel coronavirus before being flown in a "specialist containment" on a plane repatriating U.S. citizens back home, the U.S. government said early Monday.

The big picture: COVID-19 has now killed at least 1,775 people and infected more than 70,000 others. Most cases and all but five of the deaths have occurred in mainland China.

Go deeperUpdated 3 hours ago - Health