Latest news with #Adas
The Irish Sun
15 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Decapitated body of missing escort is found and her security guard client is arrested – as he gives harrowing confession
A WOMAN who vanished in Italy last month has been found brutally decapitated - after weeks of national concern over her disappearance. The body of Denisa Maria Adas Paun, 30, was discovered on Wednesday in a suitcase among brambles, her head found separately miles away in a field. Advertisement 5 Denisa Maria Adas Paun, 30, was found brutally murdered Credit: Jam Press 5 Her alleged killer decapitated her and callously disposed of her remains Credit: Jam Press 5 Vasile Frumuzache (in a blue shirt) was arrested for the murder Credit: Jam Press Adas was a Romanian national who lived in Italy's capital of Rome and worked as an escort, according to the prosecutor's office. She disappeared on May 15 from the Tuscan town of Prato, where she is said to have travelled for work. Vasile Frumuzache, a Romanian-born 32-year-old security guard, reportedly confessed to the horrific crime. Frumuzache was charged with murder and concealment of a corpse. Advertisement Read more world news The married father-of-two claimed to police that Adas threatened to tell his wife of their relationship unless he gave her €10,000 (£8,417). 'That's why I killed her,' he allegedly told police. Frumuzache strangled her, then used a knife to decapitate her before placing the body in a rubbish bag and stuffing it into a suitcase, Italian news outlet Corriere Fiorentino reports. The next day, he reportedly set fire to her head in a garden using gasoline. Advertisement Most read in The US Sun Adas gave her mother a call on May 15 during which she "seemed calm". "Hi Mum, I'm fine, see you at home on Saturday," she said. 5 Adas 'seemed calm' while on call with her mum - hours before her murder Credit: Jam Press Body found in search for missing woman who vanished 15 years ago – as suspect, 39, arrested over 'murder' But shortly after the call, both of Adas' phones were switched off - a detail her family called deeply suspicious. Advertisement Her mother soon went to police in Rome to report her missing. At first, investigators suspected she had left voluntarily - her phones, purse, car keys, two suitcases and the blanket she never travelled without were all missing. Her loved ones, however, were convinced something sinister had happened. A few days before her disappearance, Adas told a friend: 'I'm afraid I'm going to be killed,' local media report. Advertisement Detectives say Frumuzache entered the property where Adas was staying at 10.50pm on May 15, carrying a holdall. Shortly after 1am, he was seen leaving with the suitcase that she had brought with her from her home in Rome. It is believed her body was inside the suitcase. Detectives traced his journey to the spot where the body was found using GPS data from a tracker fitted to his car for insurance purposes. Advertisement Adas' body was discovered near an abandoned farmhouse in a rural part of Montecatini Terme, near Florence - around a half-hour drive from Prato. Her head was only found after Frumuzache disclosed its location during police questioning. Adas is believed to have been suffocated, but a post-mortem is expected to confirm the exact cause of death. 5 The mysterious disappearance of Denisa Maria Adas Paun gripped Italy Credit: Jam Press Advertisement
Scottish Sun
15 hours ago
- Scottish Sun
Decapitated body of missing escort is found and her security guard client is arrested – as he gives harrowing confession
Denisa Maria Adas told her friend 'I'm afraid I'm going to be killed' before her disappearance HORROR MURDER Decapitated body of missing escort is found and her security guard client is arrested – as he gives harrowing confession A WOMAN who vanished in Italy last month has been found brutally decapitated - after weeks of national concern over her disappearance. The body of Denisa Maria Adas Paun, 30, was discovered on Wednesday in a suitcase among brambles, her head found separately miles away in a field. 5 Denisa Maria Adas Paun, 30, was found brutally murdered Credit: Jam Press 5 Her alleged killer decapitated her and callously disposed of her remains Credit: Jam Press 5 Vasile Frumuzache (in a blue shirt) was arrested for the murder Credit: Jam Press Adas was a Romanian national who lived in Italy's capital of Rome and worked as an escort, according to the prosecutor's office. She disappeared on May 15 from the Tuscan town of Prato, where she is said to have travelled for work. Vasile Frumuzache, a Romanian-born 32-year-old security guard, reportedly confessed to the horrific crime. Frumuzache was charged with murder and concealment of a corpse. Read more world news PHEOBE TWIST Missing teen's housemates charged with murder 21 days after she vanished The married father-of-two claimed to police that Adas threatened to tell his wife of their relationship unless he gave her €10,000 (£8,417). 'That's why I killed her,' he allegedly told police. Frumuzache strangled her, then used a knife to decapitate her before placing the body in a rubbish bag and stuffing it into a suitcase, Italian news outlet Corriere Fiorentino reports. The next day, he reportedly set fire to her head in a garden using gasoline. The 30-year-old gave her mother a call on May 15 during which she "seemed calm". She told her mother: "Hi Mum, I'm fine, see you at home on Saturday." 5 Adas 'seemed calm' while on call with her mum - hours before her murder Credit: Jam Press Body found in search for missing woman who vanished 15 years ago – as suspect, 39, arrested over 'murder' But shortly after the call, both of Adas' phones were switched off - a detail her family called deeply suspicious. Her mum soon went to police in Rome to report her missing. At first, investigators suspected she had left voluntarily - her phones, purse, car keys, two suitcases and the blanket she never travelled without were all missing. Her loved ones, however, were convinced something sinister had happened. A few days before her disappearance, Adas told a friend: 'I'm afraid I'm going to be killed,' local media report. Detectives say Frumuzache entered the property where Adas was staying at 10.50pm on May 15, carrying a holdall. Shortly after 1am, he was seen leaving with the suitcase that she had brought with her from her home in Rome. It is believed her body was inside the suitcase. Detectives traced his journey to the spot where the body was found using GPS data from a tracker fitted to his car for insurance purposes. Adas' body was discovered near an abandoned farmhouse in a rural part of Montecatini Terme, near Florence - around a half-hour drive from Prato. Her head was only found after Frumuzache disclosed its location during police questioning. Adas is believed to have been suffocated. A post-mortem is expected to confirm the exact cause of death.
Business Times
28-05-2025
- Automotive
- Business Times
Digital tech will fuel Asia's US$573 billion mobility market
ASIA is expected to have the world's largest mobility market by 2035, thanks to technological developments, infrastructure investments and a growing middle class eager to spend on next-generation transport. While other regions will see significant growth in electric vehicle (EV) charging, ride-hailing, car rentals and advanced driver-assistance systems (Adas), the Asian market is set to climb from US$161 billion in 2023 to US$573 billion by 2035 and account for half of the global market, which is expected to be $1.1 trillion, according to research by the Oliver Wyman Forum. Some Asian nations, like China, are at an advantage in deploying cutting-edge mobility technology thanks to access to massive amounts of data available, significant investments in infrastructure, and a rich ecosystem of leading startups and workforce talent. Consumers are also eager to adopt these new solutions, translating into an above-average willingness to pay more for these services compared to those from other regions. And while global tariff circumstances may hinder development to some extent, much of Asia's mobility growth will come from digital services that may be less sensitive to potential trade barriers within the region. These mobility services are fuelling Asia's next decade: Advanced driver-assistance systems Capital and technical expertise from the region's leading tech firms and fierce competition between Asia's equipment manufacturers are accelerating the development of 'Level 2 and 3' driver-assist abilities. BT in your inbox Start and end each day with the latest news stories and analyses delivered straight to your inbox. Sign Up Sign Up These features offer partial autonomous features, such as steering and acceleration, to decision-making abilities, like moving past a slow-moving vehicle. Those forces are enabling Asia's Adas market to skyrocket by 56 per cent annually, from US$798 million in 2023 to a likely US$170 billion by 2035. Asian consumers also are more willing to pay a premium for an autonomous vehicle, and more eager to switch car brands for better driver assistance offerings than consumers in other regions, according to an Oliver Wyman Forum survey of more than 16,700 respondents in 17 nations completed in the last quarter of 2024. Some 68 per cent of consumers from India, Indonesia, Hong Kong and Singapore are willing to pay premium prices for autonomous features, compared to the global average of 61 per cent. Additionally, 91 per cent would switch car brands to access superior driver-assistance systems – again, higher than the 82 per cent global average. And while recent accidents with driver-assistance technology in the region may shake consumer sentiment in the short term, the market is still set to grow exponentially. Government and industry players are accelerating investment and on-road testing of autonomous vehicles, particularly in China. At least 16 cities across China, for example, allow autonomous vehicle providers to test on public roads, with roughly 20 Chinese automakers and suppliers involved as at 2024. In 2034, China is projected to sell enough 'Level 4' autonomous vehicles – those that are fully autonomous under certain conditions – that it nearly matches that of the combined American and European markets, according to an S&P forecast. Private capital is following Asia's lead. The region's entire value chain, from autonomous driving startups to microchip suppliers, secured US$6.5 billion in 2024, more than double the US$2.9 billion raised in 2023, according to an Oliver Wyman analysis. Ride-hailing Ride-hailing in the region is expected to almost double in size to US$150 billion, up from US$98 billion at a 3.6 per cent annual rate, as a growing middle class seeks more convenient travel in dense cities – some of which have restrictive paths to car ownership. That is a larger market size than the combined forecast for Europe, Africa, the Middle East and North America, which is expected to be roughly US$134 billion. Nearly three-fourths of Asian consumers regularly use ride-hailing services – far exceeding the global average of 44 per cent, according to an Oliver Wyman Forum survey. Super-app providers have boosted this demand by creating seamless ecosystems that make ride-hailing more affordable than in Western markets. Asian consumers pay an average of US$0.92 per kilometre compared to US$2.34 in Europe and US$1.78 in North America, research by Oliver Wyman Forum found. Across Asia, proactive regulation will continue to grow the market: Japan lifted a ban on ride-hailing services in Tokyo in 2024, with services now operating in all 47 of Japan's prefectures as of 2025. Elsewhere, Singapore's Land Transport Authority granted two provisional licences to ride-hailing operators to begin operating in 2025, while one ride-hailing platform began operating in Hong Kong in November 2024. Electric vehicle charging Asia is historically a leader in EV adoption, particularly in China, but many other Asian economies are following suit. EV sales rose 40 per cent from 2023 to 2024 in the region's emerging and developing economies, according to the International Energy Agency. Indeed, roughly 43 per cent of consumers in Asia plan to buy an EV, according to a November 2024 Oliver Wyman Forum survey, compared to the global average of 38 per cent. A widening EV market share in Asia is in part fuelling a charging services industry that is expected to grow from US$1.9 billion in 2023 to US$27 billion by 2035, at a 25 per cent annual rate. Many providers and governments are working in tandem to accommodate strong consumer demand. One Chinese automaker, for example, announced in March 2025 an ultra-fast charging system that it claims can power up a battery nearly as fast as refuelling a petrol-powered car. Elsewhere, Singapore aims to build 60,000 charging points by 2030. The broader EV ecosystem – from raw material miners to battery manufacturers and recyclers – is also expanding through a surge in venture capital into startups that support the full battery life cycle. Chinese startups collected US$5.3 billion in funding between 2021 and 2024, according to an Oliver Wyman analysis. The writers are from Oliver Wyman. Dr Andreas Nienhaus is a partner in the firm's automotive and mobility, and private capital practices. He is also co-lead of its think tank Oliver Wyman Forum's mobility initiative. Frank Fang is a principal in Oliver Wyman's transportation and advanced industrials practice, and Jonas Junk is an engagement manager in the firm's automotive and mobility practice.
New Straits Times
14-05-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
Haulage firms push for driver background checks, digital safety systems
KUALA LUMPUR: Employers in the haulage industry currently lack access to a centralised platform for screening drivers' criminal or drug-related records, says Association of Malaysia Hauliers (AMH). Its executive secretary Mohamad Azuan Masud said, "There is no formal platform to vet drivers' backgrounds. We rely on personal or previous employer references." He also pointed out that the Kejara demerit points system, used for tracking traffic offences, was not accessible to employers for screening purposes. In response to Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi's recent call for company owners to take greater responsibility for accidents involving their vehicles, Azuan stressed that haulage companies were already held accountable through stringent regulations. These include the Industry Code of Practice (ICOP) audits conducted by the Road Transport Department (RTD). "What the deputy prime minister said is not new. ICOP audits are already in place and actively enforced," Azuan said. "These audits ensure that operators comply with essential safety protocols, such as fire preparedness and safety briefings. Failure to meet these standards can lead to the suspension or revocation of operating permits." He also highlighted the thorough vehicle inspections carried out at Puspakom, ensuring technical compliance with regional standards. Despite the existing oversight, AMH is urging the government to support the adoption of advanced digital safety systems like onboard cameras and Advanced Driver Assistance Systems (Adas), which could further enhance safety. "We've proposed these technologies, but the cost is prohibitive for many operators. Government funding is needed to make them viable," he added. As part of the National Logistics Task Force (NLTF), AMH has submitted both short-term and long-term recommendations to the Transport Ministry and is awaiting the government's response. Zahid made the remarks following a tragic crash in Teluk Intan, Perak, where a rock-laden lorry collided with a vehicle carrying 18 Federal Reserve Unit (FRU) personnel, resulting in nine fatalities. The deputy prime minister stressed that such accidents could be prevented if companies took full responsibility for the condition of their vehicles and the drivers they employ.
Zawya
17-04-2025
- Automotive
- Zawya
How AI is transforming the future of cars in South Africa?
Artificial intelligence is set to accelerate change across the automotive industry, as companies face mounting pressure to innovate under stricter regulations, tighter budgets, skills shortages, and rising competition. From manufacturing to logistics, the entire automotive supply chain is on the brink of major transformation. Yet, just as AI is set to enable transformation for the automotive supply chain, it exposes the industry to an equally rapidly evolving slew of AI-driven cybersecurity threats. This makes the relationship between AI and cybersecurity in the realm of auto a vital one. AI application in the auto sector AI can already enhance many parts of the automotive supply chain as it stands today. The first noticeable impact we have seen from successfully using AI in the sector is the predictive maintenance it enables. Preventive maintenance, as opposed to scheduled or reactive vehicle maintenance, has always been an industry goal. Whereas annual or mileage-based maintenance schedules are an attempt to balance the need for preventing breakdown while also avoiding the costs of unnecessarily frequent maintenance, it is still only an educated gamble. AI, however, can analyse and synthesise so many data streams that this guessing game becomes much more accurate. Not only does this mean more reliable vehicles for the consumer, but it means that each element of demand for parts-associated goods, services, and inventories that are impacted to any degree as maintenance demand shifts, can be optimised. AI can not only accelerate the manufacturing and distribution of parts, but it also has a range of other implications for all players in automotive manufacturing supply chains. One of the highest costs associated with manufacturing is maintaining warehouse inventories – both input- and output-related. Having data that accurately informs all inventory-related activity could also yield huge cost savings. The importance of cybersecurity That said, the interconnected nature of modern vehicles expands attack surfaces, and disruptions to modernising digital supply chains can have severe consequences. The rise of Advanced Driver-Assistance Systems (Adas) and autonomous driving, along with increased digitalisation in manufacturing, can introduce many vulnerabilities. South Africa's automotive sector, enjoying massive state support as a key manufacturing asset, is a prime target for cybercriminals due to the large financial resources and complex supply chains that can present overlooked gaps in security measures. Then there is all the valuable data that interconnecting the supply chain creates – all at a time where investment flows are increasing to accelerate technological advancement. As South Africa now also pushes for electric vehicle (EV) adoption and the accompanying charging station infrastructure, – the interconnectedness of the auto industry is increasing as AI becomes an essential part of the EV equation too. EV charging ecosystems are already becoming a target for threat actors. Compromised devices have the potential to cause significant harm and damage. It's therefore critical to secure all traffic to make sure that only the right people have access to the right components at the right time. Centrally applying controls also helps organisations to comply with ever-increasing regulations and ensure enhanced cybersecurity resilience, and this is something that Fortinet can support with as a strategic partner in creating scalable, reliable, secure, sustainable, and safe EV infrastructure. Driving into the future South Africa's automotive industry is not only a significant contributor to the nation's GDP, accounting for around 5% in 2023, but also a key focus for government support through initiatives like the Automotive Production Development Programme (APDP). This support recognises the sector's crucial role in job creation and economic growth, with the ambitious goal to increase local content used in the manufacturing of vehicles to 60% by 2035 – a goal that will rely on rapid innovation. As the industry experiences a resurgence with a 7.3% increase in new vehicle sales in February 2025, the imperative to embrace future-focused innovation, particularly through AI, becomes even more critical. However, this technological advancement must be intrinsically linked with a robust cybersecurity strategy to protect this vital sector. Not harnessing the opportunities presented to us through AI could pose a great setback for automotive industries worldwide, but seizing them without assuming the correct cybersecurity postures could be disastrous. Securing the complex, data-rich supply chains that AI creates requires real-time information control, supply chain mapping for incident response, industry-wide threat intelligence sharing, and building robust cyber resilience. Looking ahead, AI will only become more pervasive. By adopting a proactive and collaborative approach to cybersecurity, the South African automotive industry can harness AI's power while mitigating the risks, ensuring a secure and innovative future for this economically vital sector. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. ( William Petherbridge
