Datasets:

d0rj

/

curation-corpus

like 1

US Department of Energy says new nuclear needs cheaper capital and a price on carbon

The US Department of Energy's Task Force on the Future of Nuclear Power has said that for advanced nuclear reactors to be deployed, capital costs must be reduced, there must be a "monetary recognition" of nuclear power's ability to reduce CO2 emissions, and energy market rules, which have "discouraged development and investment" must be standardised. The report said advanced reactors can reduce capital costs and improve thermal efficiency by up to 30%, and improve safety by a factor of 10. The report also called for the US to "design, development, demonstration, licensing and construction of a first-of-a-kind, commercial scale reactor".

http://nuclearstreet.com/nuclear_power_industry_news/b/nuclear_power_news/archive/2016/10/10/doe-task-force-maps-future-of-advanced-nuclear-technology-101001?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+NuclearPowerIndustryNews+%28Nuclear+Power+Industry+News%29#.V_ywTugrLIU

The Department of Energy's Task Force on the Future of Nuclear Power, commissioned by Secretary Ernest Moniz in December 2015, has concluded that deployment of new technology “at a significant rate” in the period of 2030 to 2050 requires a competitive cost based on lower construction costs and a monetary recognition of nuclear power as a benefit to the country's goal of reducing carbon emissions. “There are two key issues that must also be addressed for full cost competitiveness to be achieved for both existing and advanced U.S. reactors,” the task for said in a report adopted in late September by the Secretary of Energy Advisory Board. “First, nuclear overnight capital costs must decline, and electricity markets must recognize the value of carbon-free electricity generation based on the social cost of carbon emissions avoided,” said the report. Second, the report said that energy market rules that vary around the country must be rectified. “Many aspects of the rules governing electricity rates and dispatch in different parts of the country make it challenging to value base load nuclear generation appropriately,” the task force said. Regarding costs, the report said electricity markets could recognize the social value of nuclear power “by assessing a carbon-emission charge on electricity generation or, alternatively, by extending a production payment on carbon-free electricity generation of about $0.027 per kilowatt-electric-hour – $213 million for a 1,000 MWe reactor operating at 90 percent capacity – for a period of time.” Concerning the variety of market policies, the report noted that examples included rate structures in wholesale capacity markets, preferential dispatch rules for renewable generation, and rates that are inadequate to assure recovery of investment. The report lamented: “These rules have led to early U.S. plant retirements and discouraged development and investment in new plants.” To encourage new plant development, the Task Force recommended “in the absence of a national carbon-emission policy … a production payment of approximately 0.027/k/We-hr for carbon-free electricity generated for a period of time to be determined.” It also recommended that the country “undertake an advanced nuclear reactor program to support the design, development, demonstration, licensing and construction of a first-of-a-kind, commercial scale reactor.” Advanced technology has an opportunity to lower overnight capital costs by as much as 30 percent compared with large light water reactors, the Task Force said. In addition, they have the opportunity of increasing thermal efficiency by 30 percent and improving safety by a factor of 10 when measured by the number of incidents per year. Other gains include higher-temperature operation and fuel utilization (perhaps a factor of 50 percent or greater for some advanced concept/fuel cycles).” The Task Force recommended a four phase advanced nuclear reactor program. The first phase involves conducting development, engineering and systems analysis to establish technology readiness, estimated costs and LCOE (levelized cost of electricity) of candidate technologies. “Milestone 1 is the down select decision to proceed with one (or more) of the technologies,” the report said. Phase Two involves subsystem development and reactor demonstration preparation. “Milestone 2 is the decision to proceed with the demonstration project,” according to the report. Phase Three is devoted to construction and operation of a prototype plant. Phase Four consists of construction of a first of a kind plant. “This phase concludes with an explicit determination at Milestone 4 that private investors, banks, utilities and owner/operators of electricity generation plants will commit to a first wave of construction of these advanced nuclear plants.”

Scientists Estimate Arctic Permafrost Carbon Feedback for First Time

New research has discovered a dangerous carbon feedback loop between permafrost melt, Arctic warming and greenhouse gas emissions. Furthermore, this deadly triumvirate could start to spiral out of control resulting in extremely high levels of carbon dioxide and methane that are hazardous to people and the environment. Climate change models predict an increase in these emissions due to the melting of the polar ice cap which has exposed organic matter to the air causing it to decompose and trigger this feedback loop. The challenge for scientific research is how to measure this carbon feedback loop which is as overwhelming as the scale of the problem. This is a complex situation that threatens to worsen as time goes on.

https://www.inverse.com/article/20104-arctic-climate-change-permafrost-melt-carbon-methane

A dangerous feedback loop between Arctic warming, permafrost melt, and greenhouse gas emissions could soon start spiraling out of control, according to new research. Climate change models have long predicted that melting ground in the Arctic will expose old organic material to air and microbes, causing it to decompose, which will result in emissions of carbon dioxide and the potent greenhouse gas methane. It’s a scary proposition; there is currently almost twice as much carbon locked in permafrost than in all of Earth’s atmosphere. The potential problem is immense, and so is the challenge for researchers trying to measure this feedback loop. Most studies focus on predicting the future, although permafrost has been degrading sometimes spectacularly for decades. Measuring gases rising up from Arctic ground is hard to do, especially when you consider that the carbon decomposed from old organic material will mingle with that from newer sources before it leaves the ground. Katey Walter Anthony, an ecologist with the University of Alaska Fairbanks, and a team of researchers came up with a partial workaround for this problem by focusing their attention on thermokarst lakes, which are pools of meltwater over permafrost. In wintertime, methane released from the bottom is trapped as bubbles in the ice on the surface, making it easier to sample and measure. The resulting article, published online Monday in Nature Geoscience, estimates for the first time the carbon feedback loop from permafrost melt around Arctic thermokarst lakes. The researchers found a clear correlation between surface area expansion of the lakes — an indicator of permafrost degradation — and the volume of methane and carbon dioxide emitted from ice and soils. Carbon dating showed that age of methane in the bubbles encased in ice matched the age of the surrounding permafrost. These are good indications that the researcher’s methods and assumptions are fairly sound. However, this is only the first stab at a very complex problem, and reaching a conclusion that encompasses entire Arctic region based on measurements from 37 lakes in three countries is risky business. That uncertainty is reflected in the authors’ wide-ranging estimate: between 0.2 and 2.5 billion metric tons of carbon released from areas of thermokarst expansion across the Arctic in the last 60 years. That’s not counting carbon emitted from terrestrial regions of permafrost melt, which cover a much greater area. It seems like a big number, but if the predictions of other researchers come true, that’s only a very small tip of a very large iceberg. Studies have predicted carbon emissions from permafrost between 100 and 900 times larger than anything seen on Earth for at least 11,700 years. “Our research indicates that the dramatic increase in permafrost carbon emissions that is expected to imminently occur shows no sign of having commenced,” the authors write. That’s not good.

Companies lose £280m a year due to maternity leave sackings: EHRC

UK businesses face hiring and training costs of up to £280m each year as a result of women being forced to leave work after giving birth, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). After maternity leave, 11% of women, or 54,000 workers, feel forced out of their jobs, although just 1% file a complaint at a tribunal. Earlier this year, the EHRC claimed that 75% of pregnant women and new mothers, or 390,000 women, experienced negative treatment or discrimination in the workplace. Pregnancy discrimination is illegal, but these findings suggest that it has increased by 30% since 2005.

https://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/oct/27/maternity-leave-sackings-cost-280m-a-year-says-equality-watchdog

British businesses are losing hundreds of millions of pounds every year as a result of women being forced out of jobs after having a baby, a damning report from the equalities watchdog has revealed. The costs of hiring and training new staff, redundancy payouts and lost productivity after women were pushed out of jobs amounted to £280m a year, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission. About 11% of women are pushed out of their jobs following maternity leave – about 54,000 women a year – but only 1% of these lodge a complaint at an employment tribunal, according to the watchdog. The cost to British women who were forced out of their jobs – either by being dismissed, treated so poorly they had to leave, or made compulsorily redundant – could be as much as £113m a year, according to the report. In a report earlier this year, the EHRC found that over three-quarters of pregnant women and new mothers – the equivalent of 390,000 women - experience negative and potentially discriminatory treatment at work each year. The report suggested that pregnancy discrimination, which is illegal, has risen significantly since 2005, when 45% of women said they had experienced such discrimination. Many women who kept their jobs still faced a financial loss costing up to £34m in total over the year after their return to work as a result of having pay reduced, missing out on promotions or receiving a lower pay rise or bonus. Rebecca Hilsenrath, chief executive of the EHRC, said: “This is a very important report that shows if you force out a member of your workforce because of pregnancy it actually costs you much more. There is not just a moral and legal case for retaining women who are coming back to work, but a very strong financial case as well.” She said that the figures related to the first year after women returning to work faced discrimination, but the longer term costs – including to the state which were estimated at between £14m and £16.7m – were likely to be much greater. Women working on zero-hours contracts and doing agency work were more likely to face discrimination and loss of earnings, she said. “Women working in more precarious roles are more likely to lose their jobs as a result of becoming pregnant, they are more likely to be held back from reaching their potential and contributing to the economy, and that of course costs the state.” The EHRC said it was working with businesses to promote flexible working and support for parents returning to work, citing Barclays, the Royal Mail and Ford as positive examples. It called on the government to extend the time limit for making an employment tribunal claim to six months for cases relating to pregnancy and maternity and examine whether prohibitive costs – which have to be paid up front – were proving to be a barrier to women getting justice. “The more people know there is an avenue for redress, the more confident they will be in discussing their needs while employers will know they are more likely to be held to account,” said Hilsenrath. Emma Stewart, joint chief executive of flexible-working recruitment firm Timewise said all businesses needed to promote flexible working which suited modern families to retain a competitive advantage. “Modern economies need modern workplaces, where quality jobs – for all - are openly advertised to consider flexible working options from the point of hire, so that businesses can attract and retain the best possible talent … be they parents or not,” she said. The government should give more support for businesses around maternity pay and flexible working, said Mike Cherry, national chairman of the Federation of Small Businesses. “Small businesses know the value of supporting their staff, boosting morale, productivity, staff retention and ultimately business success,” he said, adding that FSB research showed 80% of small businesses offer or would consider offering flexible working. “The self-employed also need support,” he said. “In particular, we are campaigning for the maternity allowance to be increased more into line with statutory maternity pay to help our self-employed members and help ensure fairness in government support.” I was told ‘you are shit’ When Hannah Martin, a copywriter in an advertising agency fell pregnant with her first child she worked up to her due date, and did not take a day off sick. Her line manager said she could work one day a week from home, but this was never put into writing. “While I was on maternity leave, a number of my projects won prestigious industry awards and I was given an unexpected thank you bonus.” But on her first day back at work she was told that times had changed and working from home was no longer an option, indeed she was warned to be careful because “perception is everything.” In a male-dominated environment which combined long work hours with boozy post work sessions, Martin started leaving work at 5.30pm in order to see her baby before bedtime. “I made sure that all my work was completed by that time, and around five months after returning from maternity leave, I was given a glowing annual appraisal.” But a month later she noticed she was no longer being given projects, instead her partner was asked to work with an intern – who was always happy to work late. Six weeks later she was called into a meeting with her line manager and the head of HR and told bluntly that she had 24 hours to sign a non-disclosure agreement and leave. “When I asked why, I was told ‘You’re shit, you’ve always been shit, we have warned you many times’. It was completely untrue, they had never complained about my work.” Although Martin sought legal advice and was told she had a strong case for unfair dismissal and sex discrimination, she was also told she would have to pay the costs upfront and the case could take a year. “I was the sole breadwinner at that time, and thought it would have made me unemployable in a male-dominated industry,” she says. “It was very emotional. They attack you, it’s like they pull the rug from under your feet so you don’t fight back. The verbal attack was so strong. I hated myself for wanting to cry, not from self-pity but from anger. I was completely unprepared and totally floored.” Martin left the agency, started working freelance and within a month had been hired by a rival firm at a higher salary than she had been on previously– who looked at her output, not desk time, she says. “My old firm had spent a long time looking for me, they paid a high fee to an agent to get me – then paid out to get rid of me. And they lost a good and loyal employee.” Martin now runs the Talented Ladies Club, an online magazine for working mums.

Food Security and Population Growth in the 21st Century

Scholars have proposed food insecurity as one of the threats that society will endure during this century. Global population has grown exponentially. Current numbers are expected to rise 9.3 billion in 2050. The world’s population will double in the next 50 years, if the current growth rate of 1.3 percent continues (Kendall and Pimentel 1994:198). However, world cereal yields and agriculture production have declined since 1961 (Harris and Kennedy, 1999). According to FAO, per capita food production declined in 51 developing countries, while rising in only 43 between 1979 and 1987 (Sadik, 1991).

https://www.e-ir.info/2011/07/18/food-security-and-population-growth-in-the-21st-century/

Does population growth affect food production? Does this effect vary across regions? Scholars have proposed food insecurity as one of the threats that society will endure during this century. Global population has grown exponentially. Current numbers are estimated around 6,692,030,277(World Bank, 2009) and are expected to rise 9.3 billion in 2050. The world’s population will double in the next 50 years, if the current growth rate of 1.3 percent continues (Kendall and Pimentel 1994:198). However, world cereal yields and agriculture production have declined since 1961 (Harris and Kennedy, 1999). According to FAO, per capita food production declined in 51 developing countries, while rising in only 43 between 1979 and 1987 (Sadik, 1991). This study examines the relationship between agriculture growth and population growth rates in countries around the world. In particular, this paper seeks to identify the difference in the relationship between population growth and agricultural growth among the following regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, North America, Latin America and Oceania. The paper begins by reviewing the current literature relevant to the Malthusian theory of scarcity and agriculture production. It continues by developing a theoretical framework in which I suggest that population growth is increasing at a higher rate than agriculture production. I test this hypothesis by analyzing agriculture production, population growth and economic development data from all countries from 1981 to 2008. The paper concludes with a discussion of the results of the regression on agriculture production and a summary of future research needs. Food Insecurity Magadoff and Tokar (2009) concluded that 12% of the global population –approximately 36 million people- suffer from hunger and live without secure access of food. Decreased food production in less developed countries, increases in the price of food, and growing production of bio-fuels are responsible for current rates of food scarcity. Global warming, crop diversity loss and urban sprawl also affect agriculture production. Kendall and Pimentel(1994) note that current per capita grain production seems to be decreasing worldwide. The situation is particularly distressing in Africa, where grain production is down 12% since 1980. Africa only produces 80% of what it consumes (Kendall and Pimentel, 1994:199) For most countries, population growth rate is approximately 2-3% a year, which should translate to an annual increase of 3-5% in agriculture production levels. (Kendall and Pimentel, 1994: 202) Kendall and Pimentel designed three models to predict crop levels by 2050. They concluded that if production continues at its current rate, per capita crop production will decline by 2050. The possibility of tripling today’s current crop production is unrealistic (Kendall and Pimentel, 1994). Food insecurity has the potential for worsening far beyond anyone’s expectations. Have we finally reached Earth’s carrying capacity? Scholars’ opinions vary depending on their perspective. While Neo-Malthusian scholars such as Paul Elhrich(2009) believe that the only way to avoid this catastrophe is by restraining population growth, others such as Rusell Hopfenberg(2003) assert that we must curb food production to limit population growth. Neo-Malthusian Model Thomas Malthus(1806) was the first to address food scarcity as an issue and defended the hypothesis that growing global population will eventually eclipse the Earth’s capacity to feed it. “The power of population is indefinitely greater than the power in the earth to produce subsistence for man.”(Malthus, 1806:13) Erhlich extended Malthus’ theory on population growth by asserting that humans were going to fail in the battle against hunger. Despite his predictions, Erhlich recognized that the some societal shifts have occurred that indicated that at least some populations were slowing their growth. For instance, fertility rates in most developed nations have dropped to less than replacement levels and the Green Revolution had a larger impact than expected (Ehrlich, 2009). However, the absolute number of people without enough to eat in 2005 – approximately 850 million – was similar to the number reported in 1968 (Elhrich, 2009) Quinn (1997) questioned Malthus’ Scarcity theory by proposing that increases in food supply are responsible for population growth. Scholars as Rusell Hopfenberg(2003) have supported this hypothesis. Hopfenberg (2003) determined Earth’s carrying capacity by studying the dynamics between food production and agriculture. He estimated future population numbers by using past food productions numbers, which were similar to those estimated by FAO. According to Hopfenberg, Malthus and Darwin understood that in the absence of limitations of resources – such space and food – populations will grow exponentially. If resources are limited, the growth rate will begin to decline as the population reaches the maximum that the environment can support. Population will continue to decline until equilibrium is reached. Although Hopfenberg and Quinn’s hypotheses have strong biological foundations, they do not seem to maintain when confronted with cases such as Africa, where population sizes have continued to increase despite declining food production on the continent as expected by the Malthusian model. Currently, African nations such as Liberia (4.1 percent), Nigeria (3.49 percent) and Uganda (3.24 percent) have among the highest population growth rates in the world (World Bank, 2009). Nevertheless, grain production has declined 12 percent in the last two decades (Dyson, 1999). Agriculture Production Indicators Increases in land dedicated to agricultural purpose also affect a country’s agriculture production, particularly in Latin America. The total amount of land used to grow crops in Latin America has increased by 11 percent since 1970, which represents the largest increase of croplands in the world (Gonzalez1985). Land availability is a determinant factor for agriculture production. According to David Pimentel and Henry Kendall (1994), only a third of the Earth’s soil is suitable for agriculture. A 30% of this arable soil is expected to experience erosion by 2050 due to unsustainable agricultural practices. Although the area of arable land is expected to increase by 500 million hectares by 2050, the agricultural productivity of this land will be below current levels (Kendall and Pimentel, 1994). Gilland (2002) argues that to feed today’s population with a basic 2900 kcal diet, the average annual rate of cereal production per capita needs to be around 420 kg per year. However, the expected cereal production for 2050 is 360 kg; a 60 kg deficit under a “business as usual” scenario (Gilland, 2002). Boongarts (1996) proposes that less developed nations could meet 2050 demand if new economic and technological policies enacted to support sustainable agriculture, but not under the current agriculture production model. Agriculture has three main variables that need to be studied: production, population and distribution (Baker, 1977). Since population and production are long term problems, distribution problems should be addressed immediately. Trade has become a controversial response to solve distribution problems. Scholars argue that trade allows regions with agricultural surpluses to transfer their excess food to regions with agriculture deficits, thus bringing an equilibrium to global production. Currently, six countries –United States, Argentina and France- supply 90 % of global grain exports to numerous countries including Algeria and Nigeria that endure agriculture shortages and declining domestic supply. (Springer and Pingali,2003). Kellogs et al. (1996) argues that agriculture exports decrease a country’s ability to be self-sufficient in meeting their food needs. Developed countries have high levels of food exports, while less developed countries import most of their food supply. Scholars also argue that democratization and political regimes play an important role in a country’s agricultural output. Lio and Liu (2008) found that political outcomes which influence agrarian production are result of bargaining between a state’s different interest groups. Their results showed that greater democracy is associated with lower agricultural efficiency, which implies that an interest group is taking control over agricultural process (Lio and Liu, 2008). The consensus among scholars suggests that economic growth directly affects agriculture production. Jenkins and Scalan (2001) argue that an increase in economic growth—measured as increases in GDP—has a positive relationship with the daily intake of calories of children in developing countries. This suggests that development structures and economic policies affect food supply more than increases in agricultural production. Theory and Hypothesis Neo- Malthusians have negative expectations concerning agriculture production, since they consider agriculture a land-restricted and economic-oriented process. Population has the potential to outstrip agricultural production. McDonald (1989) argues that regions with higher population will present a negative relationship with agriculture production. Developing regions will present higher population growth rates and lower agriculture production growth rates and developed nations will present an inverse relationship (Pimentel, 1994). H1: An increase in population growth will decrease agriculture production. Neo-Malthusians predict a difference between developing regions: Africa, Asia and Latin America; and developed regions: Europe, North America and Oceania. Recent trends show that since 1990, agricultural output has declined in Oceania, Europe and North America (Magdoff and Tokar, 2009). On the other hand, Asian regions experienced an increase in their agriculture production, particularly because of increases in use of fertilizers and genetically modified crops. Additionally, Latin America’s agriculture production has recovered since 1990 due recent agricultural shifts in Argentina and Brazil (Dyson, 1994: 383) H2: The effect of population growth on agriculture production varies across regions. Research Design Based upon this background, population growth will be a significant determinant of agricultural production. To explain this relationship I use a cross-sectional time-series data from 1981 to 2008. Consistent with literature I incorporate the control variables of GDP per capita as a measure of economic growth (Jenkins and Scalan, 2001), agricultural land (Kendall and Pimentel, 1994), agricultural imports (Kellogs et al., 1996), political stability (Lio and Liu, 2008) and regional distinctions (Dyson, 1999; Harris and Kennedy, 1999). The population of interest is countries-years, classified by the following UN continental regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania. The study looks at 195 countries during the past twenty-six years using an ordinary least square regression (OLS), meeting the required assumptions. First, the independent variables and control variables are non-random selected. Secondly, I assume that the independent variables and control variables are linearly independent. To avoid multi-collinearity among of control variables, the continental region of Oceania was dropped. Third, I assume normality and no correlation for all variables. The baseline model examines the relationship between agriculture production growth and population growth, taking in consideration GDP per capita, agriculture material imports, agricultural land and the political stability as control variables. It also incorporates dummy variables for regional classification. The second model uses all the variables, excluding regional classifications. The third model drops the Polity score variable from the regression. Finally, the fourth model analyzes population growth and regional classification. The primary regression model used for this study is: Agi. Growth = a + ß 1 Pop.growth+ ß 2 GDPPC+ ß 3 Raw exp. Growth +ß 4 Agri.Land+ ß 5 Polity+ ß 6 Asia + ß 7 Africa+ ß 8 Europe+ ß 9 Latin America + ß 10 North America + e The secondary regression model is: Agi. Growth = a + ß 1 Pop.growth+ ß 2 GDPPC+ ß 3 Raw exp. Growth +ß 4 Agri.Land+ ß 5 Polity+ e The tertiary regression model is: Agi. Growth = a + ß 1 Pop.growth+ ß 2 GDPPC+ ß 3 Raw exp. Growth +ß 4 Agri.Land+ ß 5 Asia + ß 6 Africa+ ß 7 Europe+ ß 8 Latin America + ß 9 North America + e The final regression model is: Agi. Growth = a + ß 1 Pop.growth+ ß 2 Asia + ß 3 Africa+ ß 4 Europe+ ß 5 Latin America + ß 6 North America+ e Agriculture Production The dependent variable is agriculture production growth measured as the Agriculture, value added (annual% growth). It refers to the net output by means of cultivation of crops and livestock production. This number was obtained from the World Development Indicators and measures the annual change of agriculture production vs. the production from previous years. Population Growth The primary independent variable is population growth (annual %). It is based on the de facto definition of population, which includes all the residents regardless of legal status or citizenship. The World Bank estimates from various sources including census report and data from the UN Population Division (UN DATA, 2009). Control Variables I use GDP per capita, raw agriculture materials imports (%annual change), agricultural land and POLITY score as my control variables. GDP per capita changes measures the economic development –an approximation of the value of goods produced per person-in all the countries included in the model. Agricultural land –measured in sq. miles- refers to the share of land area that is arable, under permanent crops, and under permanent pastures (UN DATA, 2009). Since countries might be importing primary vegetation instead of harvesting it, raw materials imports –Agricultural raw materials imports (% if merchandise) – will reflect the effect of trade on agriculture production. This number was computed using the World Development Indicators dataset. Finally, the POLITY score captures the degree of democracy in a country. I also introduced dummy variables to determine the regional classification -Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America, North America and Oceania- for each country. For this study, I used the United Nations Statistical Department’s Macro Continental Regional classification. During the regression analysis, one of the variables was dropped, which leaves five regions: Africa, Asia, Europe, Latin America and North America (UN Stats, 2010). Results and Analysis Table 1 includes the summary of the regression for the all models. Model 1 shows the coefficient estimates on agriculture production growth in all regions, including all the control variables: GDP per capita, Agriculture Raw Materials, Agricultural Land and Polity. The adjusted R2 for most models is 0.02, which indicates that the study does not account for most of the variation of Agriculture Production Growth, but that population growth explains 0.1 of the variation. In most of the models, the relation between agriculture production and population growth is positive and statistically significant ( p<0.001). As well, all of the models show significant coefficients for Agricultural Land (AgriLand). The results of Model 1 do not support the hypothesis that population growth negatively affects agriculture production growth or that regional classification plays a role. The coefficient for population growth is positive, which indicates that an increase of one unit in population growth will increase agriculture production growth by 0.60 units. Model 1 also shows that agriculture land has a significant impact on agriculture production. The results indicate that holding all control variables constant, agricultural land will increase agricultural production by 19.2%. Model 2 does not include coefficient estimates for any of the continental regions. The model does not support the hypothesis that population growth will have a negative effect on agriculture production growth. The coefficient for population growth is positive and significant at the p<0.001 level. The results indicate that population growth will increase agriculture production growth by 61.1%. Model 2 also shows that an increase in agricultural land will increase agriculture production growth by 20.9% (p<0.01). Furthermore, the results indicate that an increase in democratization will decrease agriculture production growth by 5.8% (p<0.05), which could be a result of not including regional classification. Interestingly, Lio and Liu (2008) found the same result in their coefficient estimates for agriculture production and democratization. Table 1: OLS regression on Agriculture Production and Population Growth Variables (1) (2) (3) (4) Population Growth 0.604*** 0.611*** 0.689*** 0.491 (0.173) (0.168) (0.155) (1.087) GDPPC(log) -0.115 -0.709 -0.093 (0.153) (0.135) (0.138) Raw Imports 0.057 0.077 -0.006 (0.119) (0.117) (0.102) AgriLand(log) 0.192* 0.209** 0.240*** (0.090) (0.866) (0.066) Polity -0.063 (0.034) -0.0582* (0.029) Africa -0.420 -0.023 18.149*** (1.040) (0.682) (5.618) Asia 0.438 (0.987) 0.838 (0.662) 18.303*** (5.618) Europe -0.062 (0.957) -0.020 (0.656) 17.252** (5.705) Latin America 0.225 (0.985) 0.076 (0.656) 17.656** (5.655) North America 0.747 0.306 18.528 (1.46) (1.380) (12.792) Constant 0.289 -0.260 -0.800 -16.308*** (2.154) (1.628) (1.638) (5.056) N 2157 2115 2778 4042 Adjusted R2 0.012 0.016 0.02 0.002 Notes: OLS completed in STATA 11 Standard errors in parentheses. Significance: *p<0.05; **p<0.01; ***p<0.001. Model 3 does not include coefficient estimates for Polity. Results were similar to those obtained in Model 1. Significant coefficients were attained for Population Growth and Agricultural Land. The results do not support the hypothesis that population growth decreases agricultural production or that the effect differs among regions. The model indicates that population growth will increase agriculture production growth by 68.9% (p< 0.001). The results also indicate that agricultural land will increase agricultural production growth by 22% (p<0.001). Finally, Model 4 includes coefficient estimates for population growth and regional classification. Surprisingly, the results indicate no significant coefficient for population growth, which does not support the main hypothesis. It is not possible to determine whether the model supports the hypothesis that agriculture production varies among regions. Asia and Africa presented significant coefficients of 18 (p<0.001). This means that agriculture production growth will increase 18% more in Africa or Asia, whereas in Europe and Latin America, agriculture production will increase 17%. However, the difference between the coefficients is not as significant as expected. The coefficient for North America was not significant, as result of the limited numbers of cases for this region (N=47). Conclusion Scholars have long questioned what factors are important in determining a country’s agricultural production capacity. Neo-Malthusian scholars argue that population growth is a primary determinant (Malthus, 1809), while more recent scholars argue that political and economic policies play a more important role in determining production (Jenkins and Scalan, 2001; Lio and Liu, 2008). This paper sought to determine whether population growth affects agriculture production growth. Neo-Malthusians believe that an increase in population will result in decreasing agriculture production, consequently limiting a country’s ability to provide food for its citizens. I used OLS regression to evaluate this hypothesis. The results of the models did not support the hypothesis. Indeed, the results indicated a positive relationship between agriculture production and population growth, contrary to the expected by the neo-Malthusian model. The comparison of population growth and agricultural production changes across regions also did not yield the expected results. Further research needs to be done to determine whether regional location plays a significant role in a country’s agriculture production. The area of land dedicated to agriculture plays a central role in determining a country’s agriculture production. However, if population growth rates continue, increasing urbanization will potentially threaten for agricultural production. Further research needs to focus on studying the relationship between population density, land conversion rates and agriculture production. Undoubtedly, technology will be an important factor in determining agriculture production. Future research needs to study whether nations with lower agriculture production rates should invest in better technology to increase their ability to produce food (Boongarts, 1996). Doubling current crop production to avoid the Malthusian catastrophe—necessary to feed the projected 9 billion global population in 2050—will only be possible if global cooperation is increased to promote more sustainable agricultural practices. Bibliography: Baker, C. (1977). “US Perspectives on World Food Problems”. Illinois Agricultural Economics. 17(2), 1-6. Boongarts J. (1996). “Population pressure and the food supply system in the developing world”. Population and Development Review, 22(3), 483-503. Butler, C. (2009). “Food security in the Asia-Pacific: Malthus, limits and environmental challenges”. Asia Pacific Journal of Clinical Nutrition, 18(4), 577-584. Dyson, T.(1994). “Population and Food: Global Trends and Future Prospects. Routledge, UK. Ehrlich, A., & Ehrlich. P. (2009). “The Population Bomb: Revisited”. The Electronic Journal of Sustainable Development 1(3) 63-71. Food and Agriculture Organization (2003). “Diet, nutrition and the prevention of chronic diseases”. Special Report from WHO/FAO. 916. Geneva Garcia, P., Kellogg, E., & Kodl, R.(1986). “The effects of agricultural gowth on agricultural imports in developing countries”. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 86(5), pp. 1347-1352. Gilland (2002). “World population and food supply: Can food production keep pace with population growth in the next half-century”. Food Policy 27(1) 27-63. Gonzalez, A. (1985). “Latin America: recent trends in population, agriculture and food supply”. Canadian Journal of Latin American and Caribbean Studies. 20(1). 3-14 Harris, J. & Kennedy, S. (1999). “Carrying capacity in agriculture: global and regional issues”. Ecological Economics. 29(3), pp. 443-461. Hopfenberg, R. (2003). “Human carrying capacity is determined by food availability”. Population and Environment. 25(1) 109-117 Hopfenberg, R. & Pimentel, D. (2001). “Human Population Numbers as a Function of Food Supply”. Environment, Development and Sustainability 3(1), 1–15. Kendall, H. & Pimentel, D. (1994). “Constraints on the expansion of the global food supply”. Ambio. 23(3), 198-205. Lee, C., Puleston, C., & Tuljapurkar, S. (2009). “Population and prehistory III: Food-dependent demography in variable environments”. Theoretical Population Biology, 76(3), 179-188. Magdoff, F., & Tokar, B. (2009). Agriculture and Food in Crisis: An Overview. Monthly Review, 61(3), 1-16. Malthus, T. R. (1826). An essay on the principle of population. John Murray. London, UK. Lio, M., & Liu, M. (2008). Governance and agricultural productivity: A cross-national analysis. Food Policy, 33(6), pp. 504-512. doi:10.1016/j.foodpol.2008.06.003. Quinn, D (1997). The Story of B. Bantam Books. New York, New York. — Written by: Olimar Maisonet-Guzman Written at: American University Written for: Leanne Powner Date written: May 2010 Further Reading on E-International Relations

DS Smith post £29m increase to adjusted operating profit ***

Cardboard manufacturer DS Smith who supplies packaging products to Nestle, Unilever and Amazon have experienced a spike in profit due to increased business for their partners in frozen food and e-commerce. DS Smith reported a £29m increase in their adjusted operating profit from £631m to £660m.

https://www.devdiscourse.com/article/business/1114404-ds-smith-sees-lockdown-fuelled-spike-in-demand-for-boxes-profit-rises

Cardboard maker DS Smith on Thursday reported a 5% rise in annual profit and said supply of its boxes to e-commerce customers spiked as the corornavirus-induced lockdown brought in more online shoppers. The British company, which makes cardboard boxes and recycled paper, reported an adjusted operating profit of 660 million pounds, up from 631 million pounds last year. However, DS Smith said it was too early to resume dividends in the short-term due to market uncertainty caused by the pandemic, which wiped out 15 million pounds off its profit in the last two months of the financial year due to lean box volumes and weakness in the industrial sector. The company, which operates in 37 countries, supplies packaging products to the world's biggest packaged food companies Nestle and Unilever as well as e-commerce giant Amazon , among others. "In the medium-term, the growth drivers of e-commerce and sustainability are as strong as ever," Chief Executive Miles Roberts said, adding that the COVID-19 crisis is also expected to accelerate a number of the structural drivers for corrugated packaging. During the initial months of the pandemic, the London-based company said it saw a rise in supplies in ambient food, drinks, hygiene, frozen food and dry packaged grocery categories as people stocked up food due to the lockdown, while the e-commerce sector also got a boost from essential products. (This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Envoys of 17 nations, including US, reach Kashmir for 2-day visit to assess conditions since shutdown

Foreign envoys from 17 nations, including the United States, have reached Kashmir as the newly formed Union Territory enters the sixth month of complete lockdown and internet shutdown.However, envoy of the European Union is skipping the visit after being denied permission to meet the local leaders and detained former chief ministers of J&K, Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti.US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster along with envoys from 16 other countries arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/foreign-envoys-of-17-nations-reach-kashmir-1635235-2020-01-09

By India Today Web Desk: Foreign envoys from 17 nations, including the United States, have reached Kashmir as the newly formed Union Territory enters the sixth month of complete lockdown and internet shutdown. The 17 nations that are visiting the Kashmir Valley are USA, Vietnam, South Korea, Brazil, Uzbekistan, Niger, Nigeria, Morroco, Guyana, Argentina, Philippines, Norway, Maldives, Fiji, Togo, Bangladesh and Peru. advertisement However, envoy of the European Union is skipping the visit after being denied permission to meet the local leaders and detained former chief ministers of J&K, Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah and Mehbooba Mufti. US Ambassador to India Kenneth I Juster along with envoys from 16 other countries arrived in Srinagar on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir on Thursday. This is the first such visit by the foreign envoys. Earlier, a delegation of 23 EU MPs was taken on a two-day visit to assess the situation in the Union Territory by the International Institute for Non-Aligned Studies, a Delhi-based think tank. The Delhi-based envoys arrived in Srinagar by a special chartered flight at Srinagar's technical airport where top officials from the newly carved out union territory received them. Later in the day, they would be going to Jammu, the winter capital of the newly created Union Territory, for an overnight stay. They will meet Lt Governor G C Murmu as well as civil society members. Brazil's envoy André Aranha Correa do Lago was also scheduled to visit Jammu and Kashmir. However, he backed out because of his preoccupation in Delhi. The European Union (EU) countries are understood to have conveyed that they would visit the Union Territory on a different date and are also believed to have stressed on meeting three former chief ministers -- Farooq Abdullah, Omar Abdullah, Mehbooba Mufti -- who are under detention. Officials said the envoys of a number of countries had requested the government for a visit to Kashmir to get a first-hand account of the situation prevailing in the valley following the abrogation of certain provisions of Article 370. The move is part of India's diplomatic outreach to rebut Pakistan's propaganda against it on the Kashmir issue. (With PTI inputs)

Keysight gets validations for 3GPP cellular V2X technology

California firm Keysight Technologies has secured third generation partnership project (3GPP) validation in what is reportedly the sector's first cellular vehicle-to-everything communications (C-V2X) radio frequency (RF) conformance test. The trial, which took place in Austin, Texas, used Keysight’s 5G RF and radio resource management DVT and conformance toolset, alongside the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset platform. Analysts said Keysight's 3GPP result will speed up the development of connected and self-driving cars.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/11/20191125-keysight.html

Keysight Technologies has achieved 3rd Generation Partnership Project (3GPP) validation of the industry’s first cellular vehicle-to-everything communications (C-V2X) radio frequency (RF) conformance test case. As a result, Keysight is enabling the automotive industry to accelerate commercialization of connected cars and autonomous vehicles. Performance validation of C-V2X is crucial for C-V2X certification and commercialization. 3GPP validation of Keysight’s conformance test case enables the C-V2X connected ecosystem to achieve performance compliance with the specifications of the 3GPP standards, both for Release 14 and 5G new radio (NR) Release 16. The test case validation, which took place in Austin, Texas on 23 October was achieved using Keysight’s 5G radio frequency (RF) and radio resource management (RRM) DVT & Conformance Toolset and the Qualcomm 9150 C-V2X chipset platform, which is designed to deliver precise positioning, efficient processing and security capabilities. Keysight’s 5G RF/RRM DVT & Conformance Toolset, part of Keysight’s suite of 5G network emulation solutions, cost-effectively addresses a wide range of test needs on a single platform using common software. Early access to a wide range of 5G NR protocol and RF test cases for both non-standalone (NSA) and standalone (SA) mode in FR1 and FR2 allows market makers to quickly and cost-effectively address global test requirements of 5G multi-mode devices in different form factors. Keysight 5G Conformance Toolsets, used by test labs including Bureau Veritas, Tech Mahindra and PCTEST, offer a leading number of test cases validated by both by the Global Certification Forum (GCF) and PCS Type Certification Review Board (PTCRB), which are key certification bodies for wireless technologies. Keysight’s 5G end-to-end design and test solutions enable the mobile industry to accelerate 5G product design development from the physical layer to the application layer and across the entire workflow from simulation, design, and verification to manufacturing, deployment, and optimization. Keysight offers common software and hardware platforms compliant to the latest 3GPP standards, enabling the ecosystem to quickly and accurately validate 5G chipsets, devices, base stations and networks, as well as emulate subscriber behavior scenarios.

Uber pays Waymo $245m over autonomous vehicle trial

The trade secrets trial involving Waymo and Uber has come to an unexpected close, after the two companies reached a settlement which includes Waymo being awarded around $245m. In a statement, Uber CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi apologised to Google employees, said the acquisition of self-driving car firm Otto "could and should have been handled differently", and added Uber would work with Waymo to ensure its self-driving technology was "just our good work". Analysts said the trial would not have ended well for either firm, as Google-owned Waymo could not prove how its trade secrets had ended up with Uber.

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2018/feb/09/uber-waymo-reach-settlement-trade-secrets-trial

The trade secrets trial between Uber and Google’s self-driving car spinoff came to a sudden close on Friday, when an attorney for Waymo announced that it had reached a settlement with the ride hailing company. Waymo will receive a financial settlement that includes 0.34% of Uber’s equity based on a $72bn valuation, putting the reward at about $245m. In a statement, Uber’s CEO, Dara Khosrowshahi, said his job included “correcting mistakes of the past. In doing so, I want to express regret for the actions that have caused me to write this letter.” Khosrowshahi apologized to Google employees in the statement, saying Uber’s acquisition of a self-driving car company, Otto, “could and should have been handled differently”. “The prospect that a couple of Waymo employees may have inappropriately solicited others to join Otto, and that they may have potentially left with Google files in their possession, in retrospect, raised some hard questions,” Khosrowshahi said. “We are committed to working with Uber to make sure that each company develops its own technology,” a Waymo spokesman said in a statement. “This includes an agreement to ensure that any Waymo confidential information is not being incorporated in Uber Advanced Technologies Group hardware and software.” Khosrowshahi did not acknowledge, however, wrongdoing with trade secrets. “To be clear, while we do not believe that any trade secrets made their way from Waymo to Uber, nor do we believe that Uber has used any of Waymo’s proprietary information in its self-driving technology, we are taking steps with Waymo to ensure our Lidar and software represents just our good work,” he said. Last year Waymo filed a lawsuit against Uber accusing it of “calculated theft” of the Google spinoff’s technology. Much of the trial has centered around laser-sensing technology called Lidar, and the actions of Anthony Levandowski, a longtime Google engineer who was credited as one of the masterminds behind the company’s groundbreaking self-driving car program. The long-awaited trial took place in a packed room at San Francisco federal court this week, with witnesses including the former Uber CEO Travis Kalanick taking the stand. Waymo’s attorneys sought to portray Kalanick as a ruthless, win-at-all-costs leader, drawing parallels to Gordon Gekko from the 1987 movie Wall Street. Gordon Gekko’s “greed is good” speech At one point the court was shown a video clip of Gekko’s “greed is good” speech in the movie, which Levandowski had texted Kalanick while negotiating a partnership. Uber’s legal team painted a different picture: one of Waymo seeking revenge after discussions about a partnership broke down and Uber launched its own autonomous vehicle program. Kalanick was humble and obliging before the jury, paring back his trademark bravado. However, some of the evidence hinted at his bad-boy reputation. Beyond the “greed is good” speech, there were notes from an Uber meeting in which Kalanick wrote that he wanted “IP” and a “pound of flesh” from the deal with Levandowski. Minutes from another meeting, written by a senior Uber executive, noted that Kalanick wanted to use “cheat codes” against competitors and stated: “The golden time is over, it’s war time.” “That sounds like something I would say,” Kalanick told the court, to a ripple of laughter. Following the settlement, Kalanick returned to form with a pugnacious statement: “Had the trial proceeded to its conclusion, it is clear Uber would have prevailed.” Levandowski left Google in January 2016 to found his own autonomous vehicle company. Uber’s acquisition of that startup for a reported $680m set off the legal dispute that has captivated Silicon Valley for the past year. Before he left Google, Levandowski allegedly downloaded 14,000 secret documents from a company server. Whether any of the trade secrets contained in those documents made it into Uber’s own self-driving technology was the key question in the aborted trial. The star engineer, who was fired by Uber last spring, was ninth on Waymo’s list of witnesses to be called starting Friday morning. He was widely expected to invoke his fifth amendment right against self-incrimination. Now he will avoid that. The deal is a tacit admission of a trial that was heading in a lose-lose direction. Waymo didn’t seem to have established the key element of the case: how trade secrets moved from Levandowski into Uber’s possession. “Without that, Waymo would have lost,” said Eric Goldman, a professor of law at Santa Clara University, of the alleged trade secrets transfer. “On the other hand Uber had been involved in so many nefarious deeds it’s so hard to give them the benefit of the doubt. Even if trade secrets never reached Uber, there were so many other bad atmospherics that had Uber sweating.”

Air Liquide hydrogen mobility projects selected by French agency

The French Environment & Energy Management Agency (ADEME) has selected two hydrogen mobility projects led by Air Liquide for the second stage of its Hydrogen Mobility Ecosystems call for proposals. The Hype project is developing hydrogen-powered taxis with a target of 600 vehicles by the end of the year. Meanwhile, Air Liquide, Toyota and other partners will invest in electrolysis-based hydrogen production. Another project, called HyAMMED is aiming to operate long-haul hydrogen trucks in south-east France using locally-produced hydrogen. A total of 10 projects will result in 43 hydrogen stations and 158 heavy-duty vehicles.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/02/20200224-ademe.html

Two hydrogen mobility projects led by Air Liquide—Hype and HyAMMED—were selected in January 2020 by ADEME (French Environment & Energy Management Agency) as part of the second closing of its “Hydrogen Mobility Ecosystems” call for proposals. Hype is developing the world’s first fleet of hydrogen-powered taxis. Launched during the 2015 United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP21) in Paris, it now has around 100 vehicles. The “2020 HYPE 600” project aims to reach the 600-taxi mark by the end of 2020. Toyota will deliver 500 additional Mirai, which will supplement the existing fleet. At the same time, HysetCo, which includes Air Liquide, Idex, Kouros, the Société du Taxi Électrique Parisien (STEP) and Toyota, will invest in local hydrogen production facilities based on electrolysis, which will make it possible to supply 3 new hydrogen stations (HRS) in addition of those already in operation. Through this project, the partners wish to demonstrate the relevance of hydrogen mobility for intensive applications such as passenger transport. HyAMMED (Hydrogen in Aix-Marseille for an Ecological and Sustainable Mobility) aims to operate hydrogen trucks for long-distance transport of goods in the South-East of France. The partners thus intend to test this heavy transport solution by using low-carbon hydrogen co-produced in the Marseille-Fos port area. The challenge of this project is to validate the maturity and reliability of this logistics transport solution. It will reduce emissions by more than 2,000 metric tons of CO 2 per year, the equivalent of the annual emissions of more than 700 sedan cars. ADEME selected a total of 10 initiatives. The “Hydrogen Mobility Ecosystems” call for proposals, the first wave of which was launched by ADEME in October 2018, is part of the Hydrogen Deployment Plan for Energy Transition and aims to deploy territorial hydrogen mobility ecosystems based on fleets of commercial vehicles. According to the Ministry of Ecological and Solidarity Transition, all of the projects selected by ADEME will lead to the deployment of more than 43 hydrogen stations and 158 heavy duty vehicles.

China defends its push for greater tech self-sufficiency

As China looks to place less focus on low-end manufacturing and become more sufficient in terms of producing electric cars and computer chips, it seeks to establish a new policy - Made in China 2025 - to encourage local and emerging industries and offering support to them. Miao Wei, China's Minister of Industry and Information Technology, claims this policy is not an attempt to prevent external competition entering the Chinese market, "we never thought about closing ourselves and doing it only at home, but I think we do need some adjustments".

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/03/19/business/china-trade-manufacturing-miao-wei.html?_r=0

BEIJING — A senior Chinese official on Sunday defended his country’s push for greater self-sufficiency in computer chips, electric cars and other industries, calling it a necessary strategy in the face of Western countries’ controls of certain high-tech gear. As the country tries to move away from low-end manufacturing, Beijing’s plan, Made in China 2025, is designed to juice economic development in emerging industries by providing $300 billion in low-cost loans, research funds and other government aid. But big companies in the rest of the world worry that the program gives an unfair advantage to homegrown players, with the stated goal of Chinese companies’ owning as much as 80 percent of specific domestic markets in eight years. China’s minister of industry and information technology, Miao Wei, said the new policy was not meant to wall off the country’s companies from outside competition. Yet he also conceded, without offering specifics, that the plan might need changes. “We never thought about closing ourselves and doing it only at home, but I think we need some adjustments,” he said on the second day of the China Development Forum, a three-day gathering of senior Chinese economic policy makers with corporate leaders and top economists from around the world.

Pattern Energy offering 4 GW renewables capacity for takeover

San Francisco-based Pattern Energy has confirmed it is considering takeover bids but said a deal has not yet been struck. The company's statement followed a Bloomberg story reporting that Brookfield Asset Management was interested in a merger between Pattern Energy and its TerraForm Power unit. Pattern Energy operates 4 GW of renewable capacity across the US, Canada and Japan.

https://www.pv-tech.org/news/pattern-energy-confirms-takeover-interest

Energy developer Pattern Energy confirmed on Tuesday that it is courting potential takeover suitors, but that so far no agreement or arrangement had been reached. In a tightlipped statement the San Francisco-based firm said it had “drawn interest from third parties”. The statement was in response to a Bloomberg report on Monday that claimed Toronto-based Brookfield Asset Mangement has shown interest in merging Pattern Energy with its majority-owned renewable arm, TerraForm Power. Pattern’s shares rose 8% following the news, its largest gain since December 2015, according to Bloomberg. The company said that a transaction “may or may not be agreed”, and that it will not make any further public announcements regarding “rumours or speculation” unless disclosure is necessary or legally warranted. Pattern Energy, which went public in 2013, has 26 wind and solar energy projects in the US, Canada and Japan, with a total operating capacity of 4GW. In February, the company signed off on a number of transactions to acquire 206MW of PV and wind projects from Pattern Energy Development and Green Power Investments in Japan. TerraForm Power is headquartered in New York City. It owns and operates a 3.7GW portfolio of solar and wind.

Wealthfront raids Google, Princeton for senior hires

Robo adviser Wealthfront has appointed three senior-level staff, contradicting recent reports that the company was having trouble retaining personnel. Joe Ternasky, who has worked at Adobe, Apple, Microsoft and Google, joins Wealthfront as a new vp of engineering. Jakub Jurek, former Princeton professor, becomes vp of research, while Roy Adams joins Wealthfront as general counsel after running his own law firm. Last week, the company lost a number of senior staff, including the vp of growth and product, chief compliance officer and the director of product management, prompting speculation that the company was struggling.

http://wealthmanagement.com/technology/wealthfront-makes-three-top-level-hires

Contrary to what a recent report alleged, robo advisor Wealthfront is not having trouble retaining talent, and in fact is growing the ranks of executive-level staff, according to a spokesperson. ​The representative pointed to three new hires announced Tuesday afternoon by president and CEO Adam Nash on the company’s blog. The first is Joe Ternasky, who joins Wealthfront as a new vice president of engineering. Ternasky has worked at Adobe, Apple, Microsoft, and, most recently, Google, where he ran development of Google apps for enterprise. Nash said his experience developing user experiences would help make Wealthfront the only financial advice that clients ever need. Jakub Jurek, formerly a professor at Princeton University and University of Pennsylvania, brings an expertise in portfolio management, alternative investments, derivatives and market microstructure to his new role as Wealthfront’s vice president of research. Jurek previously worked with Wealthfront to develop its 529 college savings plan offering. Another contributor in developing the college savings program was Roy Adams, who now joins Wealthfront as general counsel, after running his own independent legal practice. “Delivering on a mission that large isn’t easy; it requires patience, funding and most importantly an extremely capable team,” Nash, who would not comment on the hires, said in the blog post, referring to the launch of the 529 plan. "We are incredibly fortunate to attract such accomplished executives to join our mission. Our team has accomplished a lot over the past four and a half years. Before we started few had heard of automated investment services. Now the debate is only over how large they will become. We’re committed to making financial advice available to the tens of millions of people who previously had no compelling alternative.” Last week, Wealthfront lost a number of high-ranking employees, including vice president of growth and product Elliot Shmukler, chief compliance officer of Wealthfront Brokerage Corporation Brian Dennen, and director of product management Brad Mauney. Some industry observers interpreted the news to mean the robo advisor was struggling to survive. Wealthfront director of communications said this is less a sign of trouble within the company and more “business as usual” for Silicon Valley, even if it’s not so much for the financial industry. Companies like Uber and Snapchat frequently shuffle executives in and out, and job-hopping among top execs is so much a part of tech-industry culture that it’s often lampooned in an HBO comedy show. Firm spokesperson Kate Wauck added that in addition to these three new hires, Wealthfront has continued growth in client signups and assets under management, and is close to the $4 billion mark.

China&#39;s services sector reports slowest growth in a year

The Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers’ index fell to 50.8 in October from September’s 53.1, the lowest in a year, after new orders dried up. Services make up more than half of the country’s economy and were expected by the government to offset export pressures created by the US trade dispute. A slowing property market has also affected the economy and some firms told Caixin they were worried about the dispute's future impact.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/11/05/chinas-services-sector-growth-slowest-in-13-months-caixin-survey.html

A Chinese customer rests as he stands in a store in a shopping district on January 20, 2015 in central Beijing, China. China's services sector chalked its slowest growth in over a year last month as the volume of new orders dried up, a private survey showed, suggesting a further loss in economic momentum as a rough 2018 draws to a close. The slowdown in the services sector — which accounts for more than half of China's economy and is an important generator of jobs — is particularly worrying for policy makers as they have been counting on it to offset rising pressure on exports from a heated trade row with the United States. The Caixin/Markit services purchasing managers' index (PMI) fell to 50.8 in October from 53.1 in September, the lowest since September 2017, and creeping closer to the 50 line that separates growth from contraction. Any prolonged weakness in the services sector would complicate Beijing's efforts to steady growth in the face of the trade dispute with the United States, a manufacturing slowdown at home and campaigns to curb excess capacity, pollution and corporate debt. A cooling this year of the Chinese property market, another major contributor to the economy, has also weighed on demand for real estate services. Significantly, Caixin's sub-index for new business orders showed virtually no growth at 50.1 in October, down from 52.4 the previous month and the worst performance since a contraction in November 2008 during the global financial crisis. That dented business confidence towards future activity to a three-month low, according to the survey. The nation's financial services sector was especially hard-hit by the subdued market conditions. China is leaning on services, particularly high value-added services in finance and technology, to reduce the economy's traditional reliance on heavy industry and investment. Some firms surveyed by Caixin also expressed concerns of the possible impact of the Sino-U.S. trade dispute on future activity. The impact of the trade frictions on business confidence, and real activity, was starting to show in the broader economy. A separate Caixin survey published last week showed China's manufacturing sector hardly grew in October after stalling in the previous month. October was the first full month after the latest U.S. tariffs went into effect. Washington and Beijing slapped additional tariffs on each other's goods on Sept. 24, and U.S. President Donald Trump has threatened to hit China with more duties. Caixin's composite manufacturing and services PMI, also released on Monday, fell to 50.5 in October from 52.1 a month earlier. That was the lowest level since June 2016. Offering a glimmer of hope, Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping had what the U.S. president described as a "very good" phone discussion about trade last week. Plans were being made for them to meet on the sidelines of the G20 leaders summit in Argentina at the end of November.

Sopra scores payments modernisation deal with Banque de France

Banque de France has partnered with Sopra Banking Software to bring increased "capacity, agility, and efficiency" to its retail payments processing activity as part of a radical overhaul of the bank's IT system. Christine Sampic, head of banking services at Banque de France said the move would help "drastically reduce costs, whilst creating new services and ramping up security". Sopra Banking Software can process up to 30 million direct debits daily.

https://www.finextra.com/pressarticle/67376/sopra-scores-payments-modernisation-deal-with-banque-de-france

Source: Sopra Banque de France’s banking services department has launched an innovative large-scale programme to overhaul its banking IT system which supports the state. Banque de France has decided to work hand in hand with Sopra Banking Software to change its retail payments* processing activity, by adopting modern and efficient software solutions. Against a backdrop of an increasingly changing environment, Banque de France’s banking services department must innovate to provide its public sector customers the best service at the best cost. As such, one of the transformation initiatives underway covers retail payments. This initiative is driven by the need to offer its customers a state-of-the-art service, but also pressure to improve economic performance. In July 2016, following a public consultation at the end of 2015, then an extensive functional and technical benchmark at the beginning of 2016, Banque de France chose Sopra Banking Software’s payments engine to renew its retail payments processing activity in conjunction with Diamis’ interbank exchange platform. Banque de France’s retail payments activity, for exchange and clearing, is pooled with la Caisse des Dépôts et Consignation within the ‘Victoires Paiements’ Economic Interest Group. Sopra Banking Software’s solutions, which can process over 30 million direct debits in a day, offers Banque de France increased capacity, agility, and efficiency, as well as richer and simpler functionalities. For Christine SAMPIC, head of banking services at Banque de France, ‘The launch of this project confirms the trust placed in Sopra Banking Software to support us as effectively as possible with this large-scale assignment, which is monitored by Banque de France’s management committee.’ According to Bernard Ramé, Head of the Payments & Cards business line at Sopra Banking Software, ‘With mounting pressure from European Directives, the banking sector has started to significantly transform its retail payments processing activity. We need to drastically reduce costs, whilst creating new services and ramping up security. This transformation is underpinned by resource pooling, a software-approach and creation of new services. Sopra Banking Software’s offer is perfectly aligned with these changes. We are especially proud to support Banque de France and the Victoires Paiements EIG with their transformation project.’

The Three C’s of Spotify’s Video Play: CPMs, Creators, and Competition

Spotify&rsquo;s announced last month that it would move in to the video advertising, as audio ads fail to bring in enough revenue to support their business. Mobile video advertising is still relatively new, and as such there are huge opportunities for services like Spotify to achieve massive market share by offering new and innovative solutions at scale. If Spotify manages to effectively present and target its content it could be seen as an entertainment portal.

http://www.clickz.com/clickz/column/2412175/the-three-c-s-of-spotify-s-video-play-cpms-creators-and-competition

The largest music-streaming service in the world announced its move into the video space last month – and ironically, the announcement had nothing to do with music videos. Instead, Spotify opened its platform to syndicated content from the likes of Viacom, VICE Media, NBC, BBC, Slate. Why would a music-centric brand like Spotify do this? Simple, because video is where the money’s at. Now in its ninth year, Spotify has yet to turn a profit, despite attracting 60 million users as of January. According to the company, 15 million of these pay for its premium subscription tier. The rest of Spotify users are served in-stream ads as they listen for free. Yet according to its latest earnings report, Spotify reported losses of more than $185 million on revenues of $1.1 billion (with over 90 percent of that coming from subscriptions). Say what you want about the cost of licensing music or product development, but it’s clear that audio ads just aren’t bringing in enough cash to support the business. In the mobile space, which is where most of Spotify’s traffic comes from, more and more users are willing to watch video on platforms other than YouTube. Snapchat’s Discover feature is one example, the emergence of Vessel is another. Yet mobile video advertising is still a nascent space. There’s a tremendous opportunity for services like Spotify and others to achieve massive market share by offering new and innovative solutions at scale, something YouTube has been slow to respond to. So Spotify’s expansion to video is a testament to the value of video ads and the increasing demand for video content. Video ads simply carry higher CPMs than audio ads – video content brings more viewers that Spotify might convert to paying subscribers. Combined, that means Spotify can pay out to labels and artists, who are increasingly grousing about the paltry payments they receive from ad-based music streaming. But there’s more. Spotify could easily have simply embedded a video player from other video services to achieve these goals. However, the company went right to the creators – both syndicating from brands and paying for original content. Premium and exclusive content is a key necessity to attract more valuable video ads, and Spotify is smart to pursue it. In this respect, Spotify could almost be seen as a sort of entertainment portal, like Yahoo or AOL, but one built on music. The question is whether Spotify can properly present this content to users. Spotify has made great strides in better surfacing relevant music to listeners based on their tastes, and it will need to do the same with video for it to stand out from other competitors. One additional point here is the growing power and influence video creators have in this day and age. In a world where video ad inventory is at a premium, premium content to place against it is just as valuable. So if you’re the one creating the content that viewers want to see, then you’re definitely in the catbird seat, as companies like Spotify and others expand their scope into the video space. That means that Spotify will need a strong video advertising offer, particularly in the mobile space, as creators will only stay on board for as long as they’ are seeing the ROI. The demand for mobile ads is skyrocketing. Mobile video ad requests on our Beachfront.io ad mediation platform increased from just over 100 million a month in August of 2014 to over 10 billion by the end of last year. That kind of demand is opening the door to all kinds of new video services competing with YouTube, which is under fire from all directions from challengers to its video network throne. Giants like Facebook and Snapchat, as well as newcomers like Vessel, are challenging YouTube’s video dominance with alternative options. On one level, Spotify doing the same is a bit of a head-scratcher. Spotify is betting that its music listeners will suddenly want to use the service like they do on YouTube. But again, with 60 million worldwide users boasting 150-minute-a-day engagement, that’s not a bad base to offer new content. And then there’s the mobile component. Spotify claims 52 percent of its traffic comes through mobile phones and tablets. Interestingly, that’s about the same breakdown of YouTube’s mobile users. It’s also worth noting that earlier this year, YouTube stole a page from Spotify’s book by offering a subscription music service called YouTube Music Key. Spotify launching a competing video service is one way to return that favor.

$34m financing for Enel's 34 MW Zambia PV includes IFC, EIB money

Enel has signed a $34m deal with Zambia's Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) to build the 34 MW Ngonye solar plant. The financing package includes loans of up to $11.75m from the European Investment Bank (EIB), up to $10m from the International Financing Corporation (IFC) and up to $12m from the IFC-Canada Climate Change Program. The Ngonye scheme will expected to generate about 70 GWh per annum once completed.

https://www.pv-tech.org/news/enel-idc-sign-us34-million-financing-agreement-for-34mw-pv-project-in-zambi

The Enel Group and Zambia’s Industrial Development Corporation (IDC) signed off on a financing agreement for around US$34 million for the construction of the 34MW Ngonye solar plant in Zambia. The financing includes senior loans of up to US$10 million from the International Financing Corporation (IFC), up to US$12 million from the IFC-Canada Climate Change Program and up to US$11.75 million from the European Investment Bank (EIB). The Ngonye project, Enel’s first power plant in Zambia , is located in Lusaka South Multi-Facility Economic Zone in the country’s south. Enel will invest a total of US$40 million in the construction of the site, which is expected to generate around 70 GWh per year once completed. The PV installation will be owned by a special purpose vehicle that will see Enel hold an 80% stake and the IDC holding a 20% minority stake. The project has also signed off on a 25-year power purchase agreement with Zambia’s state-owned utility ZESCO. Antonio Cammisecra, head of Enel Green Power, said: “The signing of this financing agreement marks an important step toward the start of an operational presence of Enel in Zambia, helping us establish a stronger foothold in the country. We will be contributing to Zambia’s sustainable development through our renewable energy, leveraging on the country’s abundance of resources and cooperation with reputed international and local partners within the framework of the Scaling Solar programme.”

UK waste recycling under pressure following China ban

UK councils nationwide could refuse to recycle plastic after a newly imposed ban on imported waste by the Beijing government. The ban, which came into place on 1 January, poses major issues for the UK’s recycling industry. As we have previously noted, China's ban to import millions of tonnes of plastic waste may hit the UK's efforts to recycle its rubbish, as it has been shipping 2.7 tonnes of plastic waste to the Asian nation. This could lead to stockpiling of plastic waste in the UK, long with more incinerations and landfill sites. RETURNED TO RETWEAK AS TOO SIMILAR TO SOURCE - MMc

https://inews.co.uk/news/environment/uk-recycling-industry-turmoil-ban/

Councils across the UK may refuse to recycle plastic following a newly-imposed ban on imported waste by the Chinese government. The ban, which came into place on 1 January, poses major issues for the UK’s recycling industry. China announced it would no longer accept 24 grades of plastic, textiles and paper imports it claimed was contaminated with dirty or hazardous materials or other waste products back in July. This includes “plastics waste from living sources, unsorted waste paper and waste textile materials,” meaning the staples left inside a newspaper or muddied cardboard could be classified as contaminated. Consequently, UK councils could stop collecting hard-to-recycle plastics like meat trays and yoghurt tops if they are forced to pay higher fees to recycling sorting plants to meet the higher standards, Lee Marshall, chief executive of local authority recycling advisory group Larac, warned last month. “While councils don’t like turning materials off… if the economics are such that it does cause them a problem, that’s a decision they’ll have to make,” he told the Guardian. China’s Ministry of Environmental Protection said the ban was an effort to reduce native pollution and the nation’s health. “We found that large amounts of dirty wastes or even hazardous wastes are mixed in the solid waste that can be used as raw materials. This polluted the environment seriously,” it said in a note to the World Trade Organisation (WTO). “To protect China’s environmental interests and people’s health, we urgently adjust the imported solid waste list, and forbid the import of solid wastes that are highly polluted.” The decision was met with dismay by recycling bodies and waste disposal companies, with the chief executive of the Recycling Association warning rapid implementation of the ban suggests “chaos”. “Clearly, as much as we in the UK, US and elsewhere do not have enough time to adapt, this is also the case with the Chinese agencies at the other end,” Simon Ellin said. “This suggests there could be chaos until everyone is able to adapt or ideally a much longer time period is given for us to prepare.” China has long been the world’s largest importer of recycled materials. Britain imports around 500,000 tonnes of plastic and 3m tonnes of cardboard to the country each year, raising serious questions about how it will be disposed of in the future. The most likely scenario is that waste will be landfilled, incinerated or stockpiled in the UK. Environment Secretary Michael Gove admitted he had “not given sufficient thought” to the issue when questioned by the Environmental Audit Committee in November. “I don’t know what impact it will have”, he said. “It’s a very good question and something to which, I will be completely honest, I have not given sufficient thought.” The WTO held talks with China last month, which failed to clarify which waste materials it was prepared to accept and the delineations of the new quality standards.

83% Chinese aware of mobile wallets compared with 57% in Asia

Awareness amongst Chinese people of mobile wallets as an option for making digital payments is very high, at 83%, according to a survey by Paypal of seven Asian markets. The overall score for awareness in Asia stood at 49%, with 35% of people reporting that they use it as a method of payment. Just 15% of people use new payment options for most transactions. Overall, 57% of people across Asia still use cash for most transactions, but that figures conceals large country variations, ranging from 75% in India to just 25% in China.

https://www.chinainternetwatch.com/22312/paypal-digital-payment-2017/

China is leading the way on this front. Only 25% of respondents from China cited cash as the most often used form of payment, compared to 48% who cited e- or mobile wallets as being their top preference according to PayPal. In China, awareness of e-wallets/mobile wallets is very high with 83% of respondents being aware of this option. That is second only to cash. The awareness in China is being driven by the ubiquity of homegrown Internet giants, as many of them have started to incorporate digital payment features as part of their offering to consumers. While 49% of respondents said they were aware of mobile wallets, only 35% said they are currently using it and only 12% of respondents cited them as being the mode they use most often. However, China is the standout in this category as 83% of respondents said they are aware of e- or mobile wallets and 78% said they are using them. China, Hong Kong and the Philippines, however, revealed slightly lower levels of contentment with current modes of payment in comparison to the regional average with 31%, 40% and 40% respectively. In China, Alipay (71%) ranks as the top digital payment mode accepted by merchants. Merchants are increasingly moving away from traditional platforms and going into where consumers are to sell their products. 80% of merchants surveyed said they are selling via social media. Facebook (73%), Instagram (45%) and WhatsApp (43%) are the top three platforms for social commerce across the region, except in China where domestic players, like WeChat (90%) and Sina Weibo (51%) are the dominant players. GUIDE Micro-Commerce: WeChat Business Market in China

Taliban launch fresh assault on Afghan city of Kunduz

The Taliban has simultaneously attacked the northern city of Kunduz and Helmand province where they killed a police chief. Witnesses said that the insurgents slipped through a defensive security line set up around Kunduz, entered the city from four directions, entrenched themselves in civilian homes in the southwestern part of the city and attacked the governor's compound and police headquarters. The assault comes a year after the city fell to the Taliban for a few days before the fighters were repelled by government forces but the city has been beseiged ever since.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/asia/afghanistan-taliban-major-attack-kunduz-helmand-ak47s-dead-a7342666.html

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The Taliban launched two large-scale, coordinated assaults on opposite ends of Afghanistan on Monday, attacking the northern city of Kunduz from several directions and killing a police chief in the south where they threatened to overrun a district in the insurgents' heartland of Helmand. Officials in northern Kunduz province and in Helmand described fierce, well-planned operations, involving a large number of gunmen who attacked under cover of darkness. Elsewhere in Afghanistan, attacks on civilians and soldiers claimed at least seven more lives on Monday. The Kunduz attack came a year after the insurgents took control of the city and held off Afghan security forces, backed by US troops and air power, for several days there. Witnesses and police said the insurgents, who entered the city in the early hours, were attacking the governor's compound and police headquarters, while some officials were seen fleeing to the airport. The attacks came as President Ashraf Ghani prepared to head to Brussels for a key international aid conference this week, where he expects donors to pledge $3 billion (£2.3bn) a year in assistance for his impoverished, war-torn nation. Sheer Ali Kamawal, commander of the 808 Tandar police zone in Kunduz, told Reuters that the attack began at around midnight and fighting was going on in and around the city. Some Taliban fighters had entrenched themselves in homes. The fighters appear to have slipped through a defensive security line set up around Kunduz, entering the city itself from four directions before clashes broke out, witnesses in the city told Reuters. In Kunduz, Police spokesman Mahfozullah Akbari said security forces were preparing to drive out the fighters, who had infiltrated the Khak Kani area in the city's southwest. “The Taliban are inside some civilian houses and we have to carry out operations very carefully,” he said. Military helicopters flew overhead and gunfire could be heard in Kunduz. Residents piled into cars and trailers to escape the city centre and shops were shut. Several checkpoints were burned out but there was little actual fighting as security forces held back from confrontation in the city centre. Afghanistan: Kunduz civilians flee intense fighting However, witnesses also saw Taliban fighters armed with AK-47 assault rifles, machine guns and rocket-propelled grenades walking around the deserted streets of the city, entering homes and taking up position on rooftops. The fall of Kunduz last year was one of the most serious blows suffered by the Western-backed government in Kabul since the withdrawal of most international troops in 2014. Although the insurgents abandoned Kunduz after a few days, the capture of a provincial capital underlined their growing strength and exposed flaws in Afghan security forces and the city has remained effectively besieged ever since. “Every day the militants come to the city and are pushed back by security forces,” said Amruddin Wali, a member of the provincial council as he stood with security forces on the edges of the city. “There is killing and fighting every day.” The US military spokesman in Afghanistan, Brigadier General Charles Cleveland, spokesman for the Naro-led Resolute Support mission in Kabul, said the situation in Kunduz was “fluid” and US forces were ready to assist. “Our Afghan partners are responding to the increased Taliban activity within the area, and US forces have multiple assets and enablers in the area to provide support”. War artists in Afghanistan Show all 6 1 / 6 War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Matthew Cook Matthew Cook War artists in Afghanistan War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Embedded: Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Work by Jules George Jules George War artists in Afghanistan Trooping the colours: Jules George was inspired by his father and grandfather to witness and document war, if not to wage it Jules George The assault on Kunduz came as the Taliban have stepped up attacks in different parts of Afghanistan, including the southern province of Helmand, where they have been threatening the provincial capital of Lashkar Gah. In Helmand, insurgents attacked a police headquarters in Naway district, killing the local police chief. Afzel Khan, a policeman who survived the attack, said a suicide car bomber hit the compound around 2.30 a.m., blasting through the gate and allowing gunmen in afterward. Provincial spokesman Omar Zwak said police chief Ahmad Shah Khan was killed. Mr Zwak couldn't confirm other casualties and denied the district had fallen to the Taliban. Officials, who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to speak to the media, said at least 10 policemen were killed in the attack and another 20 wounded. The figures could not be officially confirmed. Elsewhere on Monday, an Afghan soldier was killed and three were wounded when a bicycle bomb targeted an army vehicle in the country's capital, said Sadiq Muradi, a Kabul police official. No group immediately claimed responsibility for that bombing. In northern Jawzjan province, at least six people were killed and around 45 wounded when a bomb rigged to a motorcycle was detonated by remote control in a busy shopping district, according to Mohammad Reza Ghafori, the provincial governor's spokesman. He said the attack took place in the Darzab district on Monday, a bazaar day, and that he expected the death toll to rise. Associated Press and Reuters

Swastika was scrawled in area of police station accessible only to staff

The former chief superintendent Victor Olisa, head of diversity at Scotland Yard from 2016-17 and former commander of the borough of Haringey, said: “How can this happen in a part of the station where only officers and staff go, and someone feels confident enough to draw a swastika in a police station.Iman Atta, the director of Tell Mama, a national project that documents hate crime, said: “To have a swastika, a Nazi symbol, in an area which police officers and staff alone have access to, is worrying.The former Met superintendent Leroy Logan said he had to deal with racist graffiti on his locker while serving in the 1980s and the news of the swastika incident left him worried that things were going backwards in the capital’s police force.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/nov/25/swastika-was-scrawled-in-area-of-police-station-accessible-only-to-staff

A suspected far-right sympathiser is feared at large in the Metropolitan police, having got away with scrawling a swastika in a secure area of a police station, the Guardian has learned. The hate crime was not made public by Britain’s largest force at the time and the culprit has not been caught. The swastika was found in February drawn on an inside wall at Edmonton police station in Enfield, north London, in an area only accessible to officers and staff. The police watchdog, the Independent Office for Police Conduct (IOPC), said it had not been informed of the incident nor made aware of Scotland Yard’s investigation into it. The Met said it had launched a thorough investigation into the swastika graffiti, which it had classed as a faith-based hate crime, but could not identify the perpetrator. The former chief superintendent Victor Olisa, head of diversity at Scotland Yard from 2016-17 and former commander of the borough of Haringey, said: “How can this happen in a part of the station where only officers and staff go, and someone feels confident enough to draw a swastika in a police station. “People have been saying things are getting worse on diversity and equality in the Met. “It could be someone with far-right sympathies who is confident to express that in a secure part of a police station.” Olisa said the incident would be “deeply shocking and upsetting” for minority ethnic officers in the station. “I’m not sure why it is being treated as a faith-based hate crime. It seems to me to be more extreme-rightwing.” In a statement the Met police said: “On 15 February 2019 graffiti was found on the wall in the lift lobby area of Edmonton police station. The graffiti, in biro, was a swastika symbol.” The Met said it treated the incident seriously, adding: “The incident was recorded as a faith hate crime and a senior investigating officer at detective chief inspector level was appointed to investigate the offence.” The Met confirmed the area the swastika was found in was not accessible to the general public and could only be accessed by those who work for the force and have clearance: “A thorough investigation was undertaken but no forensic opportunities were identified. As a result, it was not possible to identify who had drawn the graffiti.” The Met declined to answer if any employee was spoken to or interviewed under caution, and added: “We take all hate crime seriously and have a zero tolerance approach.” Iman Atta, the director of Tell Mama, a national project that documents hate crime, said: “To have a swastika, a Nazi symbol, in an area which police officers and staff alone have access to, is worrying. “While this is an isolated incident, it is deeply concerning. This also raises questions about the institution and whether such incidents are truly isolated. “The local force should undertake a thorough investigation to reassure communities that there is zero tolerance towards any form of racism within the force.” The former Met superintendent Leroy Logan said he had to deal with racist graffiti on his locker while serving in the 1980s and the news of the swastika incident left him worried that things were going backwards in the capital’s police force. He said the potential effect on officers could be significant: “It stuns you, it makes you fearful and angry at the same time. You think: ‘These are the people I work with, and my life may be in their hands.’” Logan said the incident would also undermine community confidence “These people [extremists] have infiltrated the police culture and can impact how a diverse population is served.” Police rules ban officers or staff supporting extreme rightwing groups. A spokesperson for the IOPC said they had not been informed of the incident: “Police forces must refer the most serious incidents to us – whether someone has made a complaint or not. Police forces can also refer incidents to us if they have concerns, for instance about the conduct of their officers or staff.” Olisa said: “I’m surprised it was not referred. You refer something to the IOPC where there is likely to be reputational damage, damage to public confidence or potential operational culpability. “I am really surprised the Met has not dealt with it as robustly as I would have expected for an organisation that takes hate crime and integrity seriously.”

Business leaders believe bitcoin will fail to become a widely accepted method of payment

A survey has shown that 61% of business leaders do not believe Bitcoin will have a large impact on traditional models of payment over the next five years. While figures released by BitPay have found over 100,000 retailers, including Dell, PayPal and Microsoft, now accept the cryptocurrency as a payment method, leading business men and women have voiced predictions that adoption rate is set to slow. Bitcoin reduced in worth from over $1,100 in December 2013 to just $180 in January 2015 and, despite making gains over 2016, potential investors remain cautious.

http://www.cityam.com/243314/business-leaders-believe-bitcoin-fail-become-widely

Business leaders believe bitcoin will “fail to become a widely accepted method of payment” Business leaders do not believe bitcoin, the world's leading cryptocurrency, will become a "widely accepted method of payment" in future, according to new research. More than six in 10 (61 per cent) respondents to the Smith & William Enterprise Index survey also said they did not see bitcoin as having had a big impact on the major currencies and models of payment over the past five years. "Once heralded as the currency of the future, bitcoin has taken severe hits to its reputation and popularity over recent years," Fergus Caheny, a partner in investment management at Smith & Williamson, said. "Whilst still having its place, as an international currency and within certain sectors, our respondents thought it would fail to become a widely accepted method of payment." In February this year, figures released by bitcoin payments processor BitPay found the number of retailers accepting the cryptocurrency has surpassed 100,000 and included Microsoft, Dell and PayPal. Read more: Bitcoin will become the sixth largest global reserve currency by 2030 In December 2013, a bitcoin was worth over $1,100, though this slid by over $900 to $180 in January 2015. During a rally over the last week, the value of a single bitcoin has soared to highs of over $700, following a surge of demand from China fuelled by worries about corporate debt and potential economic instability. For some, the gains made over 2016 and investment in the sector are proof that the currency has an optimistic future ahead, but these will only be solidified if it is adopted by large institutions. "The fact that bitcoin and blockchain investment continues to grow as it has in the first half of 2016 is a testament to the potential long-term success, especially considering overall tech funding is decreasing," Oliver Carding, founder of CoinJournal, told City A.M. "However, the figures are not surprising considering the damage to its reputation during 2014. More mainstream adoption will likely come as the result of larger financial institutions utilising the technology to improve their service for customers." Read more: Luxembourg grants Bitstamp the first European bitcoin exchange licence Charles Hayter, chief executive and founder at CryptoCompare, said: "Bitcoin is still a volatile, nascent asset that is finding its feet on the global stage and will continue to hold potential in remittances and troubled economies. It has been tarnished by its affiliations to the criminal underworld, but these have generally been exaggerated. "For bitcoin to become ubiquitous would require a large shift in the status quo, which is unlikely – however – bitcoin's underlying technology, and derivatives thereof, will impact many areas of government and industry from identity through to welfare payments," Hayter added. "National and bank based cryptocurrencies are some of the potential offshoots from bitcoin that are on the horizon – along with reward programs." In May Santander announced it had become the latest bank to experiment with blockchain, the technology that underpins bitcoin.

Overcast condition, cold wave in Punjab, Haryana

A day after widespread rain, cold wave conditions with an overcast sky prevailed over most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Thursday.In Haryana, Hisar town had a low of 3.2 degrees, while it was 6.8 degrees in Ambala, 5 degrees in Narnaul, 4 degrees in Sirsa and 7.4 degrees in Karnal, which had 22.6 mm rains.Chandigarh, which saw rain for the past three days, recorded a minimum temperature of 6.7 degrees.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/overcast-condition-cold-wave-in-punjab-haryana-1635213-2020-01-09

By Indo-Asian News Service: A day after widespread rain, cold wave conditions with an overcast sky prevailed over most parts of Punjab, Haryana and Chandigarh on Thursday. However, dry weather will is expected till January 11, a Met official said here. The dry weather would largely prevail in both states with dense fog conditions. Industrial hub Ludhiana had a high of 6.8 degrees Celsius, while Amritsar and Patiala cities in Punjab recorded a low of 2.2 and 6 degrees. Patiala had 6 mm of rain. advertisement In Haryana, Hisar town had a low of 3.2 degrees, while it was 6.8 degrees in Ambala, 5 degrees in Narnaul, 4 degrees in Sirsa and 7.4 degrees in Karnal, which had 22.6 mm rains. Chandigarh, which saw rain for the past three days, recorded a minimum temperature of 6.7 degrees. ALSO READ | 21 Delhi-bound trains delayed due to fog ALSO READ | Himachal Pradesh: Sunny morning after snowfall, Orange warning for Jan 12 ALSO WATCH | Image of the day: Snowfall in parts of Uttarakhand

UK start-up MishiPay launches 'Scan Pay Leave' app

UK start-up MishiPay has helped launch a Scan Pay Leave app for customers to purchase items in a shop without calling at a till. Developed in association with Austrian firm MediaMarktSaturn, the Saturn Express app has been launched at a shop in Austrian city Innsbruck. Users scan an item with their phone and tap a “pay now” button rather than go to a cashier. Standard security chips are deactivated when the customer pays. MishiPay trialled the app with French DIY company Leroy Merlin. Founder and CEO Mustafa Khanwala said the app would allow bricks-and-mortar retailers to compete with online retailers.

https://placetech.net/products/mishipay-launches-cashierless-scan-pay-leave-app/

PlaceTech content is now under Place North Place North is a UK news group publishing intelligence for property professionals in the North of England. Place North is made up of three regional publications, Place North West, Place Yorkshire and Place North East. Check out our technology coverage on Place North and watch videos on innovation on our YouTube channel.

Amazon provides Indian branch with $311.5m boost for e-commerce

Amazon India has received a $311.5m investment from Amazon, which is the fourth tranche of the e-commerce giant’s $5bn proposed commitment to the business. The latest infusion brings total funding so far to $3.86bn, with $1.38bn of that funding invested earlier this year.

https://inc42.com/buzz/amazon-india-recieves-311-5-mn-shot-in-the-arm-as-ecommerce-battle-continues/

Amazon India had earlier received $1.38 Bn in 2018 Amazon India is fighting Walmart-Flipkart for dominance in India Amazon gets more product returns in India than in any of the 17 markets where it operates Global ecommerce company Amazon has reportedly invested $311.51 Mn (INR 2,200 Cr) in its Indian subsidiary, the fourth tranche of its $5 Bn (INR 35,255 Cr) commitment to its expansion in the country. The filings showed that the investment came from Singapore-based Amazon Corporate Holdings and Mauritius-based Amazon.com.inc on November 19. The company has already received $3.86 Bn (INR 27,290 Cr), which includes $1.38 Bn (INR 9,450 Cr) in 2018 itself. Amazon Seller Services, the marketplace business of Amazon India, received $381.94 Mn (INR 2,700 Cr) in August, $367.78 Mn (INR 2,600 Cr) in May and $276 Mn (INR 1,950 Cr) in January. In another development, Dharmesh Mehta, vice-president for consumer and brand protection at Amazon, said that Amazon gets more product returns in India than in any of the 17 markets where it operates. The company also claims to deploy machine learning-based and automated tools to thwart counterfeit products and likely bring to India the capability to allow users and sellers to scan a manufacturer’s code through a mobile application to check for authenticity. According to a report by investment bank and financial services company Barclays entitled Amazon Races To The Top Of India Ecommerce, Amazon India recorded $7.5 Bn (INR 52, 994 cr) in gross merchandise value (GMV) in the financial year ending March 31, 2018. The report noted that India represents 7% of Amazon’s international retail operational expenses in the calendar year 2018. The competition for Amazon in India is stronger than ever with its global rival Walmart acquiring its Indian ecommerce rival Flipkart to fight for the share of dominance in Indian retail market, touted to reach $200 Bn by 2026. [The development was reported by ET.]

BlackBerry likely to spend $814.9m award on acquisitions

BlackBerry’s arbitration award of $814.9m from its dispute with Qualcomm will potentially be used for acquisitions to expand the business.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/blackberry-will-likely-spend-surprise-8149-million-arbitration-award-on-acquisitions-2017-04-12?siteid=yhoof2&yptr=yahoo

BlackBerry Ltd.’s $815 million arbitration award in a dispute with Qualcomm Inc. is a positive for the company and it’s likely to use the money to seek acquisitions to bolster its business, analysts said Wednesday. The sum is a material win for the mobile device maker US:BBRY BB, +1.31% that is working to transform itself into a software company, after its once successful smartphone franchise was hammered when consumers moved to Android and Apple AAPL, +1.01% phones. Read now:BlackBerry posts adjusted profit beat The binding decision means that BlackBerry will receive the entire sum, which is equal to about 20% of its current market cap, said Canaccord Genuity analyst Michael Walker. “With BlackBerry planning to invest for growth in its software businesses, the surprising arbitration award and $815M in cash from Qualcomm QCOM, +2.13% will bolster BlackBerry’s balance sheet and increase the likelihood of acquisitions to augment growth,” Walker wrote in a note. BlackBerry returns with the KEYone smartphone TD Securities agreed, and said BlackBerry will likely target the Internet of Things and the security space for deals. “We believe any acquisitions to build out BlackBerry’s IoT sales channel would be attractive,” analyst Daniel Chan wrote in a note. “Moreover, the cash could be used to continue to build out the company’s own sales team.” The award is equal to $1.38 per share in value and will increase BlackBerry’s net cash per share to $3.23 from $1.85, he wrote. Chan is upbeat on BlackBerry’s turnaround, which is advancing thanks to momentum in enterprise software, large radar wins and new IoT opportunities. TD rates the stock a buy. Read:Ford is hiring 400 BlackBerry engineers to work on connected cars But Canaccord’s Walker said his view of the stock remains unchanged and he is sticking with his hold rating, while raising his price target to 49.50 from $8.00. The analyst does not expect revenue from recent opportunities to become meaningful before fiscal 2019 or later. See also: Like their cellphones, BlackBerry and Apple stocks have gone their separate ways Also:BlackBerry to outsource handset business “While we remain impressed with overall expense controls and cash flow management, we view fiscal 2018 as another transitional year as the company builds its software business to offset the ongoing SAF (software access fee) revenue decline,” he wrote. Earlier, BlackBerry said the two companies agreed to arbitrate a dispute last April on whether Qualcomm’s agreement to cap certain royalties applied to payments made by BlackBerry under a license agreement between the two. The hearing was held in San Diego, Calif., from Feb. 27 to March 3. BlackBerry agreed in 2010 to make fixed royalty payments per device sold to Qualcomm, at a time when its smartphone sales were very strong and were expected to continue for the long term. When those sales failed to materialize in the face of competition from the iPhone and Android devices, the company argued that the royalty payments were excessive. A final award, including interest and legal fees will be issued after a May 30 hearing. BlackBerry Chief Executive John Chen welcomed the ruling and said the company is looking forward to collaborating with Qualcomm in security for ASICs and solutions for the automotive industry. Qualcomm said it did not agree with the ruling, but acknowledged that it was binding and not appealable.

AMD's upcoming Zen 3 Ryzen 4000 desktop CPUs may actually use TSMC's 5 nm enhanced production process, still scheduled to launch in Q4 2020

Chinese publication DigiTimes recently dropped a huge bomb claiming that AMD could deliver a deadly blow to Intel, which is still struggling to port its mainstream desktop CPUs to 10 nm. If this is indeed true, the new Ryzen 4000 CPUs should be unveiled in September - October, while the actual availability of the chips could be scheduled for December 2020 or early 2021.

https://www.notebookcheck.net/AMD-s-upcoming-Zen-3-Ryzen-4000-desktop-CPUs-may-actually-use-TSMC-s-5-nm-enhanced-production-process-still-scheduled-to-launch-in-Q4-2020.466975.0.html

4 Reviews Chinese publication DigiTimes recently dropped a huge bomb claiming that AMD’s Ryzen 4000 CPUs based on the Zen 3 architecture that are supposed to launch in Q4 2020 will be built using the TSMC 5 nm node instead of the 7 nm one that was cited in all previous rumors. If this is indeed true, AMD could essentially deliver a deadly blow to Intel, which is still struggling to port its mainstream desktop CPUs to 10 nm. Sounds too good to be true? Analysts tend to think so, but there is not much evidence to the contrary either. Twitter user RetiredEngineer was kind enough to translate the entire DigiTimes report that is now hiding behind a paywall. First of all, the report mentions that TSMC will begin mass production on the 5 nm node in Q4, apparently ahead of schedule. We already knew that 5 nm production would occur in some capacity by the end of 2020 since mobile SoCs like the A14 Bionic and Kirin 1000 are scheduled to be released in that period. Nevertheless, SoC production is different from CPU production, which requires some more refining, so TSMC might be speeding things up to allow for a tighter release schedule. According to the report, one of the possible drives for such change in the release schedule could be the ongoing pandemic that apparently boosted demand for PC and server sales due to the shift to a work-from-home economy. Q1 2020 sales for Ryzen and EPYC CPUs were strong, bringing revenues 40% higher than the same period of 2019. With such remarkable growth, AMD has now managed to become one of TSMC’s most important customers, prompting the foundry to allocate increased production capacity. This was made possible through TSMC’s decision to drop Huawei’s 5 nm Kirin 1000 SoC orders by Q4 due to the ban imposed by the U.S. The report goes on to say that the Ryzen 4000 CPUs codenamed Vermeer were originally planned to use the 7 nm EUV node, yet will launch with 5 nm tech instead. We are not quite sure how AMD was able to change the blueprints for these chips on such short notice, as the designs were most likely finalized at least one year in advance. The math does not seem to be adding up, but maybe AMD and TSMC have found an elegant workaround that is eluding us. In any case, the report claims the new Ryzen 4000 CPUs should be unveiled in September - October, while the actual availability of the chips could be scheduled for December 2020 or early 2021. As a conclusion, DigiTimes notes that the accelerated launch of the 5 nm chips “will put unprecedented pressure on Intel,” bringing the greatest change to the PC platform competitive landscape in 15 years. AMD’s market share could thus sore to historical highs, and its market cap could explode.

TalkTalk UK government urged to keep to 5G, Gigabit target

Pushing ahead with the UK government's 2025 target for 5G and full-fibre connectivity could bolster the country's economy after the Covid-19 pandemic, according to a report from Assembly Research. The study, which was commissioned by Huawei, urged the government not to delay, stating that Gigabit connectivity and 5G could amount to a £51.4bn ($63.8bn) boost to the economy within five years, rising to £68.8bn by 2030. A 12-month delay would risk the country missing out on £9.7bn of productivity, while two years would take off £28.7bn, according to the report.

https://www.itpro.co.uk/mobile/5g/355458/gigabit-5g-jumpstart-uk-economy

Delivering Gigabit connectivity to every corner of Britain could help rebuild the UK economy after the coronavirus lockdown, according to a new report by Assembly Research. The report, commissioned by Huawei and featuring input from CityFibre, Mobile UK, Openreach, techUK, Three UK, and Virgin Media, claims that if the UK sticks to its pledge to make the country fully 5G and full-fibre connected by 2025, this could provide a £51.4bn boost to the economy in the next five years, and £68.8bn boost by 2030. However, Assembly Research warned that even a 12-month delay would mean the UK misses out on £9.7bn of productivity benefits, while a two-year delay would see a missed opportunity of £28.7bn. The report, titled "Delivering Gigabit Britain: Broadband for all", outlines six recommendations to be considered by policymakers in order to reach the 2025 target, such as enabling the right regulatory environment, ensuring sufficient funding for all parts of the country, and committing to a technology-neutral approach to reach the hardest parts of the country in a timely and cost-effective way. The report also recommends that the government makes the cost of deployment as low as possible, encourage take-up and helps lower investment risk, and supports the market entry and expansion by alternative network operators, while also recognising that competition will vary based on geographical location. According to Matthew Howett, the founder and principal analyst at Assembly Research, “more work needs to be done to focus on the demand side, to encourage take-up and to help lower the investment risk for the operators”. “The final recommendation that we make as part of the report is not to just obsess with the supply side when it comes to broadband policy," he said during a video conference discussing the report. "Too often we talk about the enabling work, the digging the putting up of masts, but at the end of the day, these networks are only ever going to be successful if there are consumers and businesses wanting to make use of them. “I think the government has a very important role to play as part of this. The government can be a big demand aggregator when it comes to these networks moving more services online.” According to Howett, tax is also a significant challenge for telecommunications companies: “The whole industry grumbles about the fact that that new fibre is taxed. "In a way, differently as well across the UK - Scotland has a bigger exemption for business rates than in England and Wales do currently. I think they want to see that extended, and ideally completely removed. Openreach for example, they're not here but they did say that they could probably connect about three million more homes if they didn't have to pay that tax,” he said. Simon Mead, the CEO of Cambridge Wireless, added that operators have “no choice” but “to collaborate more”. “I think about 1.2 million homes a year are getting connected. That means if we're going to reach 29 million homes by 2025, the deployment rate needs to increase rapidly. We're also going to hit labour shortages and need the right skilled workers to do that job,” he said. “I think that that inevitably leads us to some sort of technology neutrality. And I think that's probably the biggest roadblock for me.” Victor Zhang, vice president of Huawei, which was earlier this year granted a "limited role" in the construction of the UK's 5G network infrastructure, added: "We are committed to supporting our customers as they build better infrastructure for the UK. It’s now more vital than ever to focus on delivering high-speed digital networks. "Having been a key player and supplier to Britain’s telecoms sector since 2001, we stand ready to play our part in the industry’s future.” Two weeks ago, MPs attempted to force through an amendment that would end the involvement of Huawei by the start of 2023 but lost a vote by 306 to 282. It's reported that the same Tory rebellion will attempt another challenge in the summer. Zhang did not reply to IT Pro’s query as to whether Huawei is prepared for another battle with the UK government.

Post-hurricane power outages delay restart at US petrochem plants

Restarts of US petrochemical plants disrupted by Hurricane Laura are being delayed because of the hundreds of power outages caused by the hurricane. Among the companies affected, Sasol has said that while the hurricane caused minimal damage to its Lake Charles, Louisiana complex its reopening depended on power availability. Westlake Chemical also reported limited damage but again said the availability of power remained a problem. PowerOutage.US reported more than 300,000 power outages in Louisiana, where the hurricane made landfall, along with 60,000 in Texas, 6,500 in Arkansas and 1,000 in Mississippi.

https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2020/08/31/10547177/power-outages-from-laura-hold-back-plant-restarts

HOUSTON (ICIS)–Hundreds of thousands of power outages still remain in the US as a result of Hurricane Laura, which is preventing some chemical companies from restarting their plants. Sasol said that its complex in Lake Charles, Louisiana, remains down, as high-voltage transmission line corridors going into the city suffered damage. “Start-up of the plants will depend on the availability of electricity, industrial gases, other feedstocks and the restoration process,” Sasol said in a statement. Early assessments of the plant have found no damage to process equipment and no damage caused by the storm surge, Sasol said. Cooling towers suffered damage from strong winds. Sasol produces ethylene, propylene, ethylene oxide (EO), ethylene glycol (EG), phenol, linear LDPE (LLDPE), surfactants and other chemicals at the Lake Charles complex. Westlake Chemical said late on Thursday that its facilities at Lake Charles, have incurred limited physical damage from Hurricane Laura based on initial assessment. The restart of West Chemical’s facilities “will primarily depend upon the availability of electricity, industrial gases, and other feedstocks”, the company said in a statement. Westlake did not single out or highlight any damage to transmission lines. The company has not specified which units were shut down as a precaution prior to the storm. Westlake’s plants in Lake Charles include a joint venture ethane cracker, several units that produce low-density polyethylene (LDPE), LLDPE, polyvinyl chloride (PVC), chlor-alkalis (chlorine and caustic soda), ethylene dichloride (EDC) and vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). Outages in Louisiana number more than 300,000, according to PowerOutage.US. Texas has reported nearly 60,000. Mississippi has slightly more than 1,000 and Arkansas has nearly 6,500. Louisiana likely suffered most of the damage from Laura, according to CoreLogic, a real-estate information company. It estimates that insurable losses to property in Louisiana and Texas will reach $8bn-12bn. Laura made landfall early on Thursday morning in Louisiana, close to the state’s border with Texas. It was a category 4 storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 150 miles/hour (240 km/hour). Several petrochemical plants and refineries in Texas and Louisiana shut down operations as a precaution in the days before Laura made landfall. Early assessments show that many of these plants experienced very minor damage, but they remain down because of disruptions to infrastructure. Such disruptions could include power and logistics. RAIL On Sunday, Union Pacific said it has restored service to more line segments, with only one remaining out of service. That segment is in southern Louisiana, as shown in the following map. Source: Union Pacific Embargoes remain in effect for the affected areas, Union Pacific said. Customers should expect delays of at least 72 hours in areas disrupted by Laura. On Friday, Kansas City Southern said its NOPB and NOLA Gateway have reopened and are in service. It expected to reopen the area between Beaumont, Texas and Houston by Saturday morning. It warned of delays until Kansas City Southern can work through backlogs and bring trains back up to normal speed. On Thursday, CSX said it suffered minimal damage from the storm, and it is resuming operations in New Orleans. It warned that delays are possible at the New Orleans and Memphis gateways because of disruptions at connecting railroads. OIL SHUT-INS As of midday on Sunday, 1.29m bbl/day of US oil production had been shut-in, representing 69.76% of the total, according to the Bureau of Safety and Environmental Enforcement (BSEE). For gas. 1.35bn cubic feet/day were shut in, representing 49.9% of US capacity in the Gulf. For platforms, 137 remain evacuated, or 21.31% of the total. adds missing word “one”, paragraph 17 Additional reporting by Tom Brown and Nurluqman Suratman Thumbnail image shows damaged power lines in Louisiana. Photo by Gerald Herbert/AP/Shutterstock Click here to view the US Gulf storms – impacts on chemicals topic page.

Airtel's Mobile Wallet 'Airtel Money' now accepted for Uber trips pan India

Uber and Bharti Airtel have entered into a strategic partnership, to enable users to pay via the Airtel&rsquo;s mobile wallet, Airtel Money. Starting with Mumbai Uber cabs, the free high-speed internet from Uber, powered by Airtel 4G will soon be rolled out to other Indian cities. Through this alliance, Uber riders in India can now pay for their trips with Airtel Money. This integration will provide riders with another hassle-free payment option and will make Uber the first technology platform to officially launch Airtel Money. Registered Airtel Money customers can now link their account to Uber&rsquo;s mobile app. And for a limited time, Uber offers exclusive promotions and discounts to Airtel customers including Rs.500 off on their first ride upon using Airtel Money.

http://www.indiablooms.com/ibns_new/finance-details/2920/airtel-s-mobile-wallet-airtel-money-now-accepted-for-uber-trips-pan-india.html#sthash.160w72KT.dpuf

Kolkata, Sept 14 (IBNS): Bharti Airtel Limited and Uber on Monday extended their strategic partnership. As part of this, Uber riders Pan India can now pay for their trips using Airtel's mobile wallet service-Airtel Money. Additionally, Uber riders in Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad and Kolkata will now enjoy free high-speed internet from Uber, powered by Airtel 4G. Earlier last month, Bharti Airtel and Uber had announced this strategic association starting with the city of Mumbai. This rollout has now been extended to Bengaluru, Delhi NCR, Hyderabad and Kolkata. This integration provides riders with another hassle-free payment option and will make Uber the first technology platform to officially launch Airtel Money. For a limited time, new Uber riders who top up their Airtel Money wallet will earn up to Rs. 500 for free. Registered Airtel Money customers can link their account on Uber’s mobile app now. To do this - select “Payment” from the menu in Uber app, tap “Add Payment”, tap “Airtel Money” to add account. Afterwards, they can select Airtel Money as their payment method and take a ride. To sign up for Airtel Money, customers can now know more by visiting http://www.airtel.in/money/. Additionally, Uber vehicles will be equipped with free WiFi, powered by Airtel 4G. Whether riding to work or a night out in the town – Uber will offer commuters high-speed internet at no data charges, powered by Airtel 4G. Airtel is Uber’s official telecom partner across India, and supports the company’s rapid growth in India by offering mobile, data and device plans to Uber driver-partners. As part of this alliance, Uber will also offer exclusive promotions, discounts and experiences to Airtel customers - including Rs. 500 off on their first ride upon using Airtel Money.

Security agencies thwart planned IS attack in New Delhi

The arrest of a suicide bomber has foiled an Islamic State (IS) terror attack plan in New Dehli. Security agencies infiltrated the Afghan’s IS cell and had kept him under surveillance for a year before arresting him with “plant[ed]” explosives. It was discovered that the suicide bomber was part of a group of 12 IS operatives that were trained in Pakistan and sent to different parts of the world to carry out attacks. The Afghan national’s potential targets include Delhi Airport, Ansal Plaza mall, Vasant Kunj mall and South Extension market.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/india/plans-to-carry-out-terror-strikes-in-new-delhi-thwarted-by-security-agencies-after-infiltrating-into-is-module/articleshow/64950294.cms

NEW DELHI: A plan hatched by the Islamic State to carry out terror strikes in New Delhi was thwarted by the security agencies after infiltrating into a module of the dreaded terror group, officials said on Wednesday.The IS terror plot was foiled following the arrest of an Afghan suicide bomber, who had been under the surveillance of security agencies for long, in late 2017.The counter-intelligence operation included an Indian "plant" supplying the IS operative with explosives -- without triggers -- and even arranging for his accommodation in the capital's Lajpat Nagar, an official said.The Afghan IS operative, who enrolled himself in an engineering college on Delhi's outskirts, was flown to Afghanistan days after his arrest and is said to be now under the custody of the US military in Afghanistan.He had also helped the US military in its fight against the Taliban in Afghanistan, the official said.The IS plans to target New Delhi was detected following more than a year of surveillance in Afghanistan, Dubai and India. It was found that a group of 12 IS operatives were being sent to different parts of the world after training in Pakistan to carry out bomb attacks.The Indian operative was the one who located the Lajpat Nagar safehouse for the Afghan, though initially a third-floor apartment was arranged, this was later changed to a ground-floor apartment, the official said.The Afghan national had done recce of his possible targets such as the Delhi Airport, Ansal Plaza mall, a Vasant Kunj mall as well as the South Extension market.

Virtual reality could become sports' next big thing in post-coronavirus world

Virtual reality has been on the margins of the sports world for years. The coronavirus pandemic may push the technology into the mainstream. Teams will be looking for new ways to reach consumers and produce new streams of revenue. “What we see with the coronavirus is an acceleration of a trajectory already in place,” said James Carwana, the vice president and general manager of Intel Sports.

https://www.sfchronicle.com/sports/annkillion/article/Virtual-reality-could-become-sports-next-big-15265703.php

This is a carousel. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate Gathering a group of family members from around the country to watch a sporting event would seem to be counterintuitive activity in our current coronavirus era. But that’s what Sankar Jayaram expects to be able to do — once there is an actual sporting event to watch. He and his wife and their children — one who lives in Seattle and one who lives on the East Coast — will gather virtually. “We’ll come together and watch a Cougars game,” Jayaram said of Washington State, where he and his wife, Uma, were early pioneers in virtual reality. They eventually founded Voke, a company acquired by Intel in 2016. Virtual reality has been on the margins of the sports world for years. But the coronavirus pandemic may push the technology into the mainstream. Teams will be looking for new ways to reach consumers and produce new streams of revenue. And sports consumers, who may not be allowed back into stadiums or arenas for some time, will be eager for ways to new ways to experience games. Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA “What we see with the coronavirus is an acceleration of a trajectory already in place,” said James Carwana, the vice president and general manager of Intel Sports. The sports-consumer experience already has become, for many, a two-screen-at-minimum experience. Fans weigh in on Twitter, track their fantasy teams online, in some states place bets, while also watching games. But the television broadcast has long been the primary vehicle for providing the product to the customer. Perhaps no more. “That linear telecast doesn’t have the right fit for many segments of the U.S. market,” Carwana said. “Many people want personalized content.” Do you really like defense? Your VR experience could be focused solely on defense, perhaps from the middle linebacker’s perspective. You want to see what the quarterback sees? That could be your personal choice. For the past few years, Intel Sports has been signing deals with leagues and setting up cameras and technology in arenas and stadiums around the world. Intel has partnerships with the NFL, the NBA and international soccer leagues. The goal is for leagues and teams to create interactive experiences and exclusive content to sell to customers who can engage, virtually, with their favorite team. In the coronavirus era, a simpler goal might be simply allowing fans to feel like they’re at a game, even when they’re stuck at home. A certain segment of fans might never feel fully comfortable going back to a crowded arena. Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA Warriors co-owner Peter Guber has long been an advocate of VR technology (along with augmented reality) but sees some hurdles. The technology, in the form of headsets, is still bulky and remains financially out of reach for many. “I’ve always believed that VR and AR will be a big part of our lives, and will keep us socially connected,” Guber said. “But it still doesn’t have the penetration in the marketplace. I don’t know that it is fully ready for mass consumption. “But it’s coming.” The pandemic might accelerate the VR marketplace for fans and athletes, alike. David Aufhauser, who previously worked at Voke, is CEO of NeuroTrainer, a startup that uses VR technology to help athletes train their brains. Now, with leagues shut down around the world and athletes working out alone, the market seems ready for NeuroTrainer. “There’s an incredible opportunity in front of us,” Aufhauser said. “Any athlete can use it anywhere.” Post from RICOH THETA. - Spherical Image - RICOH THETA This month, NeuroTrainer has been holding a challenge to raise funds for charity, pitting 14 athletes against each other. They are competing in an exercise called PADL (Perception Action Decision Loop), which tests three areas of the brain: occipital lobe, prefrontal cortex and parietal lobe. The exercise is designed to improve vision, focus and decision-making. Sports — both playing and watching — is a communal activity. But technology might fill the void until athletes can train together and fans can cheer together. “When sports comes back, we’re going to find ourselves in a position where sports has to adapt to where fans are, or risk losing those fans,” Carwana said. “I envision that we’re going to see more and more concerted changes and risks tolerance than existed in sports before this.” Nothing can truly replace the in-person sports experience, but VR will allow a different type of access. “VR enables you to transport yourself virtually anywhere,” Aufhauser said. “I think in this changed world, behaviors will definitely change. And VR will benefit.” Ann Killion is a columnist for The San Francisco Chronicle. Email: [email protected] Twitter: @annkillion

Alibaba warns coronavirus is hitting its business

Speaking at a results conference call, Alibaba CEO Daniel Zhang warned that the coronavirus outbreak is having a “significant impact” on China’s economy and hurting the company. A significant number of packages have not been delivered on time due to merchants and logistic companies being forced to stay closed for long after the Lunar New Year, while orders to restaurants and food delivery services have fallen Zhang said.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2020/feb/13/euro-low-recession-fears-coronavirus-growth-ec-business-live?page=with:block-5e454bba8f08e133247429c2#block-5e454bba8f08e133247429c2

13 Feb 2020 16.12 GMT JCB cuts production amid component shortage from China JCB, the UK maker of yellow diggers, is cutting production and working hours at its UK factories as it faces component shortages from China. JCB is planning to cut working hours for around 4,000 employees from 39 hours to just 34 from next Monday. Overtime has also been suspended. Staff won’t take a pay cut, though - they’ll have to work the hours back later this year. The problem is that a quarter of JCB’s suppliers in China are still closed, due to virus-related restrictions, so they can’t ship enough components to Britain. I think this makes JCB the first major UK manufacturer to cut output because of Covid-19 -- airlines such as British Airways have already cut flights to China. JCB chief operating officer Mark Turner explains: “The disruption to the component supply chain in the UK comes at a time when demand for JCB products is very strong, so while this course of action is very unfortunate, it is absolutely necessary to protect the business and our skill base. “Production in the UK has so far been unaffected by the situation in China. However, more than 25% of JCB’s suppliers in China remain closed and those that have reopened are working at reduced capacity and are struggling to make shipments. “It is therefore clear that the inbound supply of certain components from Chinese partners will be disrupted in the coming weeks as they seek to replenish their stocks. “This inevitably means we will not have the required amount of parts needed to build our forecast number of machines in the short-term. “These measures will ensure that, while we will produce machines in lower than anticipated numbers, we will do so with the same number of employees, whose skills we will need to fulfil customers’ orders when the situation returns to normal.” Updated at 16.14 GMT 13 Feb 2020 14.42 GMT Wall Street opens lower A street sign for Wall Street. Photograph: Lucas Jackson/Reuters The New York stock market has opened in the red, as traders respond to today’s jump in coronavirus cases and deaths. Dow: Down 133 points or 0.45% at 29,417 S&P 500: Down 11 points or 0.33% at 3,368 Nasdaq: down 47 points or 0.5% at 9,678 13 Feb 2020 14.38 GMT Economists at HSBC have cut their forecasts for China’s economic growth in the current quarter - for many of the reasons cited by Alibaba today. Reuters has the details: HSBC said on Thursday it had lowered its first-quarter forecast for mainland China’s economic growth to 4.1% year-on-year from 5.8% due to the fallout from coronavirus. The bank also cut its China full-year growth forecast to 5.3% from 5.8%, adding the impact was already starting to be felt in tourism, trade, supply chains and elsewhere. HSBC lowered its full-year estimate for global growth to 2.3% from 2.5%, adding it expected the brunt of the impact in the first quarter, with some improvement as the year progresses. 13 Feb 2020 14.08 GMT CEO Daniel Zhang also revealed that Alibaba has been procuring medical supplies from around the world, and donated more than 40 million units to Wuhan and other affected cities (that’s via Yahoo! Finance) Zhang adds that Alibaba are “monitoring the challenge and identifying opportunity as the situation evolves.” Freshippo, its supermarket chain, has seen a big jump in online orders as customers try to get fresh goods, groceries, and daily necessities delivered to their homes. But the company is struggling to satisfy all these orders due to delivery constraints. 13 Feb 2020 13.27 GMT Alibaba: 'Black Swan' coronavirus outbreak is hurting business Delivery worker for Alibaba’s Hema Fresh chain rides his electric bicycle on a road following an outbreak of the novel coronavirus in Wuhan. Photograph: STRINGER/Reuters Newsflash: The coronavirus outbreak is a “Black Swan event’ which is having a ‘significant impact’ on China’s economy, according to its biggest company. Daniel Zhang, CEO of e-commerce giant Alibaba, has warned that the outbreak poses near-term challenges to its business. Speaking on a conference call to discuss Alibaba’s latest results, Zhang is explaining how operations have been hurt by the virus, which has forced factories and offices to stay closed for longer after the Lunar New Year. He says: Chinese merchants and logistic companies have been prevented from resuming work after the Lunar New Year. A “significant number of packages” have not been delivered on time over the last two weeks. Orders to restaurants, food delivery firms and other local services have “declined noticeably” Zhang adds that it is too soon to quantify the full impact of the outbreak on Alibaba, and that the company is “closely monitoring the challenge”. This is a useful insight into the impact on the Chinese economy, and helps explain why the IEA has slashed its oil demand forecasts today. Updated at 13.41 GMT 13 Feb 2020 13.12 GMT Ralph Lauren says coronavirus will hurt sales Ralph Lauren. Photograph: Miguel Flores Vianna/Home Box Office (HBO) Newsflash: US fashion group Ralph Lauren has warned that its profits will be hurt by the coronavirus crisis. It says that approximately two thirds of the Company’s stores in the Chinese mainland have been temporarily closed over the past week, and is bracing for further lost sales as travel is restricted in Asia and parts of China. This will knock up to $70m off its sales in the current quarter, and up to $45m of operating profits from Asia. Supply chain disruptions in China could also hit orders globally, it warns. Executive chairman Ralph Lauren, which founded the firm, says: “Our hearts are with the many impacted by this virus. Our number one priority is keeping our teams, partners and consumers safe.” 13 Feb 2020 12.50 GMT Pound hits two-month high after Javid resigns The City has responded to Sajid Javid’s shock resignation by driving sterling to a two month high. The pound has hit €1.20 against the euro for the first time since December’s election. Why? Because Boris Johnson’s team may now have a tighter grip on the Treasury, letting them drive through infrastructure spending projects, slash taxes and raise borrowing. That could result in higher growth -- good for the pound, and making interest rate cuts less likely. The pound vs the euro Photograph: Refinitiv Paul Dales of Capital Economics says: We already thought that the Budget on 11th March would involve an extra loosening in fiscal policy worth 0.5% of GDP, which coming on top of the extra government spending announced in September 2019 would mean a fiscal boost of 1.0% is in the pipeline. It’s now possible that the Budget will provide a bigger bang. 13 Feb 2020 12.24 GMT UK has a new chancellor.... Back in the City, investors are digesting the shock news that Sajid Javid has resigned as Britain’s finance minister. Javid has quit, it seems, after refusing to sack his officials and work with a team from number 10. It means a sudden promotion to chancellor for Rishi Sunak (previously chief secretary to the Treasury), with less than a month until the budget! Sunak has previously worked for Goldman Sachs, and the Children’s Investment Fund (a hedge fund). The Rt Hon Rishi Sunak MP @RishiSunak has been appointed Chancellor of the Exchequer @HMTreasury pic.twitter.com/OTYOkujnbo — UK Prime Minister (@10DowningStreet) February 13, 2020 Like the old chancellor, the new one Rishi Sunak has a City background: ex Goldman Sachs analyst, also worked at Sir Chris Hohn's TCI hedge fund — Philip Stafford (@staffordphilip) February 13, 2020 The move has pushed government bond yields up, as the City anticipates that the Number 10 may push through more infrastructure spending by overriding Treasury concerns about borrowing. Andy Sparrow’s Politics Live blog has all the action on a dramatic reshuffle day in Westminster. 'No self-respecting chancellor would accept those terms', says source close to Javid - https://t.co/1yzRyJdUcg — AndrewSparrow (@AndrewSparrow) February 13, 2020 Updated at 12.28 GMT 13 Feb 2020 11.42 GMT Financial data firm MSCI has warned that coronavirus could have a much bigger impact on the global economy, and the markets, than SARS back in 2013. In a new report, they point out that China’s share of the world economy is much more significant, so companies across the globe will feel a knock-on impact. They write: The number of people infected and affected by the coronavirus continues to grow globally. Governments, as well as agencies such as the World Health Organization, are working tirelessly to contain, and ultimately defeat the virus. In China, local governments have locked down cities and businesses and restricted travel. And the general public has adopted voluntary home quarantine. The human toll has been steep. As with many crises, the repercussions of the coronavirus can also be felt in the global economy and the financial markets. Many observers compare the coronavirus to the 2003 SARS epidemic. While this can provide useful insight, there are differences between the two periods to consider. China is a much bigger part of the global economy and markets than it was 17 years ago. China’s share of global trade rose to 11% in 2018 from 5% in 2003, based on World Bank statistics. Meanwhile, its share of the MSCI Emerging Markets Index has risen to 34.3% from 7.86% in 2003. MSCI report into coronavirus Photograph: MSCI The chart above also shows that the Singapore, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Australia and Korean stock markets are all most linked to China. 13 Feb 2020 11.21 GMT The stock market selloff is accelerating, with European markets down 1% and the UK’s FTSE 100 down 1.5%. European stock markets, 13 February Photograph: Refinitiv The IEA’s oil market forecasts, and the EC’s gloomy comments on coronavirus, are both a factor. But traders are also alarmed by a big jump in cases overnight --including an extra 254 deaths in Hubei province and 15,000 extra confirmed cases. This increase follows a change in methodology used by China’s authorities -- so investors want to see whether cases keep rising sharply, or tail off. Seema Shah, chief strategist at Principal Global Investors, explains: If the change in methodology does result in a rise in the growth rate of reported cases, market sentiment will inevitably deteriorate, reversing the more upbeat tone of recent days as markets had become increasingly reassured that the virus will soon plateau. Markets will be very closely watching the number of new reported cases over the coming days. Overhanging the latest report is also the suspicion that authorities have been supressing news of the true severity of the infection, potentially re-inflaming the spread of fear via social media once again. As long as investors are questioning the credibility of “official” virus-related news flow, they will struggle to regain confidence in any potential growth rebound. Markets are extremely vulnerable to negative news flow around the coronavirus. Risk assets will continue to be volatile and susceptible to sharp moves as long as sentiment rules the day. 13 Feb 2020 11.08 GMT Cailin Birch, global economist at The Economist Intelligence Unit, predicts that oil prices will remain at current low levels until the summer -- and longer if the coronavirus crisis worsens. Here’s her take on the IEA oil demand forecasts: The outbreak of the coronavirus in mid-January has significantly dented the outlook for global oil demand in 2020, and therefore oil prices. The oil market remains highly sensitive to news reports on the Chinese authorities’ attempts to contain the virus; the average daily price of Brent crude lost nearly 20% of its value between January 20th and the start of February, as the seriousness of the outbreak became clear. Since then, daily prices have risen and fallen in line with the assessment of the infection rate. The announcement on February 13th of more than 14,840 new presumed infections in Hubei province, which was partially due to a shift in diagnostic criteria, will send prices down slightly in the near-term. Assuming that the virus is contained by end-March, which scientific literature from China suggests is a strong possibility, The Economist Intelligence Unit expects Chinese GDP growth to rebound in the second half of 2020, after a very weak first half. We expect the price of Brent crude to stay below US$60/b for the first half of the year, before making a modest recovery to US$65/b in the third quarter. Nonetheless, risks to this forecast are primarily to the downside, and we are not out of the woods yet.

Yume and SUEZ team up, tackle food waste

Yume and SUEZ have entered a partnership aimed at limiting commercial food waste in Australia. The agreement will offer food manufacturers a chance to receive financial return on surplus, high-quality food. To date Yume has provided a new route to market for close to two million kilograms of food, returning over $6,000,000 to Australian businesses.

https://www.sustainabilitymatters.net.au/content/waste/news/yume-and-suez-team-up-tackle-food-waste-115211150

Yume and SUEZ have entered a partnership that is aimed at limiting commercial food waste in Australia. The agreement will offer food manufacturers a chance to receive financial return on surplus, high-quality food that might have otherwise gone to waste. Katy Barfield, Founder of Yume, said that they were seeing powerful results using technology to offer an innovative market for surplus food. “Several multinational companies who are also SUEZ customers have now listed high-quality surplus food on Yume, and we are working with them to ensure those products find a new avenue to market, and are consumed as intended. These companies join our network of over 500 food manufacturers, wholesalers and importers that list and sell quality stock through our online marketplace.” The partnership with SUEZ has resulted in the sale of 450,285 kilograms of surplus food, which has returned almost $700,000 to these businesses. It is expected that this number will grow as the market adjusts to the coronavirus impact. These results add significantly to Yume’s growing impact. To date Yume has provided a new route to market for close to two million kilograms of food, returning over $6,000,000 to Australian businesses and farmers. “One of the companies, Patties Foods, joined the war on waste and listed a surplus consignment of caramel slices. Yume identified a new avenue to market their caramel slices and sold the product to independent retailers and caterers all around Australia, getting them a great return,” Barfield said. “Importantly, our work together is having a positive impact on the planet. The partnership has saved water and carbon dioxide equivalent to saving the water of 519,560 showers and taking 195 cars off the road for a year — and this is just the beginning.” Justin Frank, Chief Customer Officer at SUEZ Australia & New Zealand, said that the company is committed to working with customers to ensure as much waste as possible is recovered, recycled and treated. “The benefits of the partnership assist SUEZ’s customers in reducing waste and achieving greater sustainability. Our partnership with Yume aligns with SUEZ’s commitment to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals — SDG 12 — by promoting responsible production and consumption,” he said. Barfield said that Yume is focused on delivering a commercial solution at the top of the food waste hierarchy: avoiding waste and re-using food wherever possible. “This is an innovative partnership in the fight against commercial food waste; we are looking to prevent 4.1 million tonnes of surplus food from going to waste in Australia every year. “In 2016–17, a massive 55% of food waste was associated with the primary production, manufacturing and wholesale sectors. “This food, produced by Australian farmers and manufacturers, is wasted even before it reaches supermarkets, restaurants or homes,” she said.

Climate breakdown 'is increasing violence against women'

International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) carried out what is understood to be the biggest and most comprehensive study yet of the issue. Six in 10 respondents to a survey by IUCN said they had observed gender-based violence among female environmental rights defenders, environmental migrants and refugees.

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2020/jan/29/climate-breakdown-is-increasing-violence-against-women

Climate breakdown and the global crisis of environmental degradation are increasing violence against women and girls, while gender-based exploitation is in turn hampering our ability to tackle the crises, a major report has concluded. Attempts to repair environmental degradation and adapt to climate breakdown, particularly in poorer countries, are failing, and resources are being wasted because they do not take gender inequality and the effects on women and girls into account. Campaigners called for governments and institutions to take note, saying that the impacts on women and girls must be at the heart of any viable strategies on the climate and ecology. The International Union for the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) carried out what is understood to be the biggest and most comprehensive study yet of the issue, taking two years and involving more than 1,000 sources of research. “We found gender-based violence to be pervasive, and there is enough clear evidence to suggest that climate change is increasing gender-based violence,” said Cate Owren, a lead author of the report, published on Wednesday. “As environmental degradation and stress on ecosystems increases, that in turn creates scarcity and stress for people, and the evidence shows that, where environmental pressures increase, gender-based violence increases.” Six in 10 respondents to a survey by IUCN, with more than 300 responses from organisations around the world, said they had observed gender-based violence among female environmental rights defenders, environmental migrants and refugees, and in areas where environmental crimes and environmental degradation were taking place. More than 80 case studies clearly showing such links were uncovered as part of the research. Gender-based violence includes domestic violence, sexual assault and rape, forced prostitution, forced marriage and child marriage, as well as other forms of the exploitation of women. The report found human trafficking rises in areas where the natural environment is under stress, and links between gender-based violence and environmental crimes such as wildlife poaching and illegal resource extraction. “Gender-based violence is one of the most pervasive but least talked-about barriers that face us in conservation and climate work,” said Owern. “We need to take the blinders off, and pay this concerted attention.” Owren found abundant examples of the close links between gender-based violence and the exploitation of women and girls, and the competition for resources engendered by the impacts of global heating and our destruction of the natural environment. For instance, sexual abuse was found in the illegal fishing industry in south-east Asia, and in eastern and southern Africa fishermen reportedly refused to sell fish to women if they did not engage in sex. The illegal logging and charcoal trade in the Democratic Republic of Congo is linked to sexual exploitation, and in Colombia and Peru illegal mines are strongly associated with an increase in sex trafficking. The report found a strong link between illegal mining in Colombia and an increase in sex trafficking. Photograph: Luis Robayo/AFP/Getty Images There have also been numerous examples of gender-based violence directed against environmental defenders and activists, who try to stop the destruction or degradation of their land, natural resources and communities. Sexual violence is used to suppress them, undermine their status within the community and discourage others from coming forward. Yet few projects that are aimed at conservation and improving the environment, or tackling the climate crisis, display any recognition of these issues, according to the report. Global heating puts pressure on resources, as extreme weather, including heatwaves, droughts, floods and fiercer storms, grows more frequent and devastating. In most parts of the world, women are already disadvantaged and lack land rights and legal rights, so are vulnerable to exploitation. When the additional stresses caused by the climate crises bite, they are the first to be targeted. For instance, in some communities, young girls are married off as early as possible when the family faces hardship exacerbated by the climate. Globally, about 12 million more young girls are thought to have been married off after increasing natural disasters, and weather related disasters have been shown to increase sexual trafficking by 20-30%. Women and girls are also burdened with tasks such as drawing water and finding firewood, which are becoming more scarce in many areas under the ecological impact of our scramble for resources, and which expose them to further dangers of violence. Grethel Aguilar, acting director-general of the IUCN, said: “Environmental degradation now affects our lives in ways that are becoming impossible to ignore, from food to jobs to security. This study shows that the damage humanity is inflicting on nature is also fuelling violence against women around the world – a link that has so far been largely overlooked.” At the UN climate conference in Madrid last December, governments were criticised by campaigners for ignoring the plight of women and children and the threats they face. Some governments are moving to put action for women and girls into their climate and development policies, and the UN in Madrid moved to include a gender action plan as part of the climate negotiations. Campaigners and some countries are hoping for even greater focus on the issue at the crunch UN climate talks in November, to be hosted by the UK in Glasgow. A woman mills sorghum from her family’s land in northern Bahr El-Ghazal in a drought-stricken South Sudan in 2015. Photograph: Albert Gonzalez Farran/AFP/Getty Images The UK’s department for international development said it was already factoring in gender issues in climate change funding, including a large-scale study on violence against women and girls during the humanitarian crisis in South Sudan, where about three quarters of women and girls who had been in a relationship experienced violence at the hands of their partner. A spokesperson said: “Women and girls can be disproportionately affected by climate change. This is why we’re spending UK aid on helping to promote gender equality, as well as leading the fight against climate change.” Bob Ward, policy and communications director at the Grantham Research Institute on climate change and the environment at the London School of Economics, who was not involved in writing the report, said: “This report highlights the complex but clear link between growing climate change impacts and violence against women and girls. He pointed to the role that female campaigners were playing in bringing the world’s attention to the problems. “When we see the inspiring leadership of female activists like Greta Thunberg, we should recognise that the lives and livelihoods of women and girls around the world are particularly threatened by climate change,” said Ward. “The empowerment of women and girls and their protection from the direct and indirect consequences of climate change must lie at the heart of the just transition to zero-carbon and climate-resilient societies.” The report also provided a timely reminder that “concerted action to tackle inequality can unlock new opportunities for climate action and women’s empowerment”, added Mary Robinson, chair of The Elders. “We need to recognise the unequal effects of the climate crisis on women, but also that women’s participation brings with it creative and sustainable solutions to both the climate emergency and social injustices. Tackling climate change and environmental degradation without the full inclusion of women will not succeed: gender equality is a prerequisite to the collective effort needed to address the climate emergency.”

The Future of Farming

Three core technologies will drive the future of farming; Electrification, Automation to Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence. John Deere is investing huge resources into solving current agricultural challenges with new technology.

https://www.deere.co.uk/en/agriculture/future-of-farming/

Changes in weather patterns are just one of many challenges farming is facing. John Deere is investing huge resources into solving these challenges. Three core technologies are shaping the future: Electrification, Automation to Autonomy and Artificial Intelligence

China-backed coal plants on EU’s doorstep hide huge carbon costs

The 450 MW coal power plant project in Tuzla, Bosnia, which is due to replace existing ageing units, and a planned 350MW plant in the Serbian town of Kostolac could become stumbling blocks for the two nations’ efforts to join the EU.Previously unpublished documents, obtained and translated by Unearthed and examined by experts, show the feasibility studies used to seek and obtain approval for the power stations massively under-estimate the costs the plants will face once Bosnia and Serbia join the EU’s carbon market, a condition for joining the bloc.“Chinese offers of loans for coal projects have caught the eyes of politicians in Bosnia and Serbia since the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank have halted funding for coal projects, citing environmental concerns.

https://www.climatechangenews.com/2020/01/14/china-backed-coal-plants-eus-doorstep-hide-huge-carbon-costs/

Feasibility studies for two major coal power projects in Bosnia and Serbia – backed by Chinese banks – downplay the costs of emissions and ignore air and water pollution By Eleanor Rose Two huge Chinese-backed coal projects on the EU’s doorstep are going ahead by using over-optimistic projections of profitability and by ignoring severe concerns about pollution, according to an Unearthed investigation. The 450 MW coal power plant project in Tuzla, Bosnia, which is due to replace existing ageing units, and a planned 350MW plant in the Serbian town of Kostolac could become stumbling blocks for the two nations’ efforts to join the EU. The plants highlight China’s growing role as a source for coal projects in the Balkans shunned by western lenders because of concerns about climate change and pollution. The Bosnian plant has been described in Chinese media as part of Beijing’s “Belt and Road” initiative, a trade and infrastructure network linking Asia with Europe and Africa that revives ties along the ancient Silk Road. Previously unpublished documents, obtained and translated by Unearthed and examined by experts, show the feasibility studies used to seek and obtain approval for the power stations massively under-estimate the costs the plants will face once Bosnia and Serbia join the EU’s carbon market, a condition for joining the bloc. That could leave local taxpayers on the hook, since parliaments in both countries have provided state guarantees to China on the loan repayments of hundreds of millions of euros. Serbia is negotiating to join the EU, perhaps in 2025, after applying in 2009. Bosnia is further back in the queue after applying in 2016. Frede Hvelplund, professor of Energy Planning at Denmark’s Aalborg University, said the reports were grossly flawed. He called the Bosnian feasibility study “absurd”, saying it under-estimated the costs of emitting carbon dioxide in the EU by assuming a price that is less than a third of the current €25 a tonne on the Emissions Trading Scheme (ETS). Hvelplund, who publishes academic work on best practice for feasibility studies, said the errors in carbon pricing alone are “enough to say the study is totally wrong”. The Serbian project similarly used unrealistic projections. China’s ExIm Bank and other partners backing the Bosnian and Serbian projects did not respond to requests for comment about the assumptions underpinning the projects. Molly Scott Cato, a member of the European Parliament for the Green Party from the South West of England, said the Chinese-backed coal plants made no sense. “King Coal is dead – it is a stranded economic asset and environmental disaster. If we are to prevent climate chaos we must leave it in the ground,” she said. “Any country negotiating to join the EU must meet Paris Agreement standards on carbon reductions and any energy investments should be viable at the current ETS carbon price.” Coal-fired power plants are typically designed to last 25-40 years. Conventional coal-fired plants will have to be phased out worldwide by 2050 to limit warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial times, according to the UN’s Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC). Experts said the Environmental Impact Assessments (EIAs) produced for the plants also failed to detail either local or cross-border pollution. A study by the Health and Environment Alliance (HEAL) found that in 2016 alone, 16 coal plants in the Western Balkan states released as much sulphur dioxide as the entire fleet of the EU’s 250 installations. The alliance estimated air pollution from the 16 plants caused 3,900 premature deaths a year, many in neighbouring EU nations. Kristina Stojak, 36, keeps a collection of asthma inhalers on her sitting room table in Divkovici, near Tuzla in Bosnia, for her two young boys. Lung problems are common in Tuzla, largely due to the city’s existing 715MW lignite-fired power plant which pumps out 51,000 tonnes of toxic sulphur dioxide per year. Separately, waste ash and coal slag – the products of combustion – are pumped into landfill sites, one of which is a kilometre from Stojak’s house. The wind scatters ash from the dump, called Jezero II. Every day Stojak sweeps a layer of fine grey flakes from her balcony. “I would honestly like to move somewhere else – but my husband is staying here to fight the problem. I think we will all suffer,” she said. We need your help… Climate Home News is an independent news outlet dedicated to the most important global stories. If you can spare even a few dollars each month, it would make a huge difference to us. Our Patreon account is a safe and easy way to support our work. The Bosnian government has not issued a study on contamination of air, soil and water by Jezero II and similar landfills, but a 2015 study by researchers from Prague’s University of Chemistry and Technology found nickel, chromium, cadmium, arsenic and mercury in soil samples taken nearby. Higher levels of cadmium – a carcinogen – were found in onions grown locally. As part of plans for the new 450MW unit at the Tuzla power plant, state-owned utility Elektroprivreda Bosne-i-Hercegovine (EPBiH) is now pushing for permission to create a new ash dump nearby at a site called Sicki Brod. The proposed landfill is at the site of a former coal mine which has been rehabilitated by local activists over the past 20 years. Today, it is surrounded by orchards and residents swim in a lake. Proposed amendments to the Tuzla Canton spatial plan to accommodate EPBiH’s proposals describe the transformation of the lake into an ash dump as a “recultivation” of the site. “It sounds funny but it’s serious. Somebody should lose their diploma for that,” said Denis Zisko, of Tuzla’s Centre for Ecology and Energy, which shared the Bosnian project’s documents with Unearthed. His NGO has mounted a challenge to the amendments to block EPBiH from getting an environmental license for the dump. The Tuzla plant, called Blok 7, is touted by politicians as a long-term solution to Bosnia’s energy supply. Construction costs will be covered mostly by a €613 million ($683m) loan from China’s ExIm Bank, signed in 2017. The majority of the construction will be carried out by China’s Gezhouba Group, with the smaller percentage going to local firms. The project has been beset from the beginning by criticisms it was not viable. It initially attracted the interest of the Japanese International Cooperation Agency and Hitachi Mitsubishi in 2014. They ran a feasibility study before pulling out, citing political instability and unprofitability. In May 2018, Bosnia’s Institut Za Gradjevinarstvo issued a feasibility study for Blok 7 that concluded that EPBiH will be able to repay the Chinese loan as well as turning a “significant profit”. But that study, instrumental in securing political support, predicts that the plant would not need to pay for carbon emissions on the ETS at all until 2034. It then predicts cost beyond 2034 using the average of the ETS price per tonne of CO2 from 2006 to 2018 – only €7.10 – as the predicted baseline, subject to an annual growth rate of 2%. But the CO2 price has climbed sharply since 2018 and is now around €25. The European Commission wants to extend carbon pricing to reach net zero emissions by 2050, a strategy intended to shift the EU’s energy from fossil fuels to renewables. “I don’t think you’ll find anyone in the EU who believes the price of carbon will fall to €7.10 by 2034. The suggestion is either bias or stupidity,” said Hvelplund at Aalborg University. Bosnia and Serbia are members of the European Energy Community – the international body that extends the EU’s energy market and rules across Southeastern Europe. Both will need to sign up to the ETS by the time they join the EU. In Serbia, the 350MW unit called B3 in Kostolac is also in the advanced stages of planning, with Chinese finance agreed in 2014. A feasibility study performed in 2015 also dismisses potential pricing of carbon emissions – partially on the grounds the state will pay for them. “Cost of permits for emitting CO2 were not included in the costs … because it is assumed that state of Serbia will overtake eventual obligation of payment,” the study says. A related sensitivity analysis, however, does include costs per tonne of CO2 of $6.55 and $13.10 (€5.89 to €11.78) and says the project would lose money at the higher price. Meanwhile, the environmental impact of expanding the existing Drmno coal mine to supply the new B3 unit, from nine million tonnes of coal production per year to 12, is also not considered in the documentation. Zvezdan Kalmar of Serbian environmental NGO Cekor, which has challenged the plant’s environmental impact assessments in court alongside NGO CEE Bankwatch Network, said: “I see the study as false and misleading, and not showing the danger of this project to the public budget.“ Cekor shared the Serbian project’s documents with Unearthed. Chinese offers of loans for coal projects have caught the eyes of politicians in Bosnia and Serbia since the World Bank, the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) and the European Investment Bank have halted funding for coal projects, citing environmental concerns. “China can provide long-term lending with low interest rates, and asks very few follow up questions,” said Jens Bastian, formerly chief economist for the European Agency for Reconstruction and author of the EBRD report Balkan Silk Road. “But when you start reading the fine print, you need to ask questions.” This article was co-published with Unearthed, Greenpeace UK’s award-winning journalism project.

JPMorgan to grow credit trading with tech hires

JPMorgan is reportedly recruiting for a number of technology roles in a bid to bolster its credit trading business. As part of the recruitment drive, the US investment bank is opening trading technology positions in London, New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delaware and Buenos Aires. It aims to grow its credit trading technology workforce by 15% worldwide, and is looking to establish entirely new teams in Chicago and Israel’s Herzliya.

https://www.thetradenews.com/jp-morgan-seeking-tech-talent-bolster-credit-trading/

JP Morgan has begun a rigorous recruitment drive for various technology roles globally to strengthen its credit trading business, The TRADE understands. The US investment bank is looking to grow its credit trading technolgy team, which currently consists of 300 technologists, by 15% globally. JP Morgan has new trading technology positions available in London, New York, Hong Kong, Mumbai, Bangalore, Delaware and Buenos Aires, as part of the hiring push. The search for trading technology talent is part of JP Morgan’s current and ongoing investment in the space, as it looks to offer best-in-class services internally to sales and trading, as well as to external clients. “We are proud to be at the forefront of investment in technology and analytics in our trading businesses. It is crucial we attract the best talents globally to keep innovating and better serve our clients,” said Guy America, co-head of spread markets at JP Morgan. An entirely new credit trading technology team will also be established in Chicago as part of the bank’s plan, consisting of eTrading specialists and DevOps engineers. The new trading technology team will be responsible for designing, building and optimising electronic trading and execution capabilities, working alongside the credit trading desk, quantitative research and other technology groups within the bank. JP Morgan will also form a separate technology team of Python specialists in Israel who will be part of the global data engineering team. The new recruits, who will be based in Herzliya, will oversee the capture, storage and provision of datasets for eTrading and data analytics use cases. “Technology is a key enabler for the business and bringing in more technology talent, especially in locations like Chicago and Herzliya, will enable us to do even more and also help to further diversify our workforce,” Chris Adams, chief technology officer of credit trading technology at JP Morgan, added.

Hyperion launches dedicated insurtech arm

Hyperion Insurance Group has created Hyperion X, an insurtech-focused unit that will target data, analytics and digital platform delivery. The venture will manage the group’s third-party insurtech investments, while also incubating its own start-up projects.

https://www.reinsurancene.ws/hyperion-eyes-future-insurtech-investments-with-new-hyperion-x-business/

London-headquartered Hyperion Insurance Group has announced the launch of Hyperion X, a new business targeting key areas of data, analytics and digital platform delivery. Led by Barnaby Rugge-Price as Chief Executive Officer and Elliot Richardson as Chairman, Hyperion X will sit alongside its existing broking businesses Howden Broking Group, RKH Specialty, and MGA DUAL. “Hyperion X is a clear demonstration of our continued commitment to delivering the best solutions for our clients in the most cost-effective way,” commented David Howden, CEO, Hyperion. “As a Group, we have always embraced change. For us to continue as independent leaders in the markets in which we operate, investment in technology and data is critical.” “By combining our expertise in international insurance markets with improved business insights from data, we aim to enhance the products and services that we offer to our clients, to reduce the unacceptably high cost of doing business and to open up new markets.” Effective 1 January, Andy Bragoli will take over as CEO and Rugge-Price as Chairman of RKH with Richardson continuing to lead RKH’s reinsurance business. Bragoli is currently Deputy CEO of RKH and has led RKH’s property and casualty business since its acquisition by Hyperion in 2015. He has been with the group since 1997. “I am delighted that both Hyperion X and RKH will be in such safe, experienced hands,” said Howden. Rugge-Price added, “There has been growing pressure on the cost of delivery across our industry which represents a great threat to us all but, at the same time, a great opportunity for those who can grasp it.” “I hope that Elliot’s and my experience across the market spectrum will combine with our growing inhouse analytics and technology capabilities to deliver a series of products and market platforms that address the needs of clients and markets.” “I believe the evolution of our industry’s proposition is the most important challenge we face, so when David asked me to lead Hyperion X, I eagerly accepted it as an opportunity to devote my time and energy to a critically important project.” Hyperion X will also manage Hyperion’s third-party insurtech investments, as well as incubating its own start-up ventures.

Coinbase in lawsuits over insider trading and withholding funds

Coinbase is facing two class-action lawsuits: one accusing it of insider trading, and another of fraudulently keeping funds belonging to non-customers. The first lawsuit is linked to the listing of bitcoin cash on Coinbase in December, in which employees were able to capitalise on the subsequent upswing in value to make huge profits. The second suit comes from two men who were unable to redeem bitcoin sent to them until they signed up to Coinbase; the suit claims that thousands have had cryptocurrencies sent this way, and remain unable to claim them.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/coinbase-hit-with-two-class-action-lawsuits-one-claiming-insider-trading-2018-03-05

Popular cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is facing two new class-action lawsuits, including one that accuses it of insider trading. One suit, filed Thursday in federal court in San Francisco, claims Coinbase employees unfairly profited from the December listing of bitcoin cash. The price of bitcoin cash — which spun off from bitcoin in August — shot up almost $1,000 when Coinbase announced on Dec. 19 it would start trading in the digital currency. While the news came as a surprise to most people, the suit says employees knew about the listing ahead of time, as well as anyone they might have told, and those insiders profited unfairly when the price shot up. The suit alleges that when trading began, insiders swamped Coinbase’s system with buy and sell orders at “fair prices.” Coinbase had to suspend bitcoin cash trading until the next day to maintain liquidity. “When Coinbase’s customers’ trades were finally executed, it was only after the insiders had driven up the price of bitcoin cash, and thus the remaining bitcoin customers only received their bitcoin cash at artificially inflated prices that had been manipulated well beyond the fair market value of bitcoin cash at that time,” the lawsuit claims. At the time, Coinbase said it would conduct an investigation into whether any employees acted improperly. The lawsuit says the company never revealed the results of that investigation. Bitcoin cash, the fourth-largest cryptocurrency by market cap, was trading at $1,253 on Monday, according to CoinMarketCap.com, down from its peak above $4,000 on Dec. 20. Bitcoin BTCUSD, -1.28% was trading at $11,319 Monday. In the second suit, filed Friday, also in federal court in San Francisco, two men say they were unable to redeem bitcoin that had been transferred to them, and accuse Coinbase of fraudulently keeping funds that non-customers were unable to access. They claim that when Coinbase members send cryptocurrency to a non-member, they receive an email that gives them no alternative but to open a Coinbase account. The pair claim thousands of people have had cryptocurrencies sent to them in that way, but have been unable to redeem the funds they are owed. Coinbase did not immediately comment on either lawsuit.

Indian Supreme Court asks Minister of Transport for stance on EVs

Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari has been called to appear before India's Supreme Court to discuss the government's plans for supporting the EV sector. The court requested the hearing to get a better picture of the issue and said the government should consider EV-related issues with the help of the authority empowered to take decisions about them. The Department of Heavy Industries has approved more than 2,600 EV charging stations in 62 cities. More than 285,000 EV and hybrid buyers benefited from INR3.6bn ($49.4m) in subsidies as of November 2019, according to the Ministry of Heavy Industries and Public Enterprises.

https://mercomindia.com/supreme-court-asks-nitin-gadkari/

The Supreme Court has requested the Union Transport Minister Nitin Gadkari to appear before it to discuss the proposal of the gradual transition of fossil-fuel-based vehicles on the roads to electric vehicles (EVS). This is the first time when a minister has been called by the court to discuss government policies and decisions. This task is usually carried out by solicitor general or additional solicitor general. According to news agency PTI, the apex bench comprising of Chief Justice SA Bobde, Justice B R Gavai, and Justice Surya Kant asked solicitor general Atmaram S Nadkarni whether the minister can come before the court for a discussion regarding the deployment of EVs and the government’s stand on the topic. The bench stated that since the minister has been talking about the use of alternative fuel in public and private vehicles, the court would like to discuss with him to get a clearer picture of the issue. The court further noted that all the issues related to EVs need to be considered simultaneously with the person in authority empowered to take the decision.

24% increase in demand for frozen food says Nielsen

Nielsen reports that demand for frozen food has continued to grow (24% over the week ending June 20) even as lockdown eases and world recovers from Covid-19. The long shelf life, convenience, and lower price of frozen food still makes them the easy option to people who despite restaurants beginning to reopen still do not feel safe so close after the pandemic.

https://www.thedailymeal.com/cook/popular-coronavirus-pandemic-frozen-foods

Frozen Foods Remain Popular As Coronavirus Pandemic Continues Consumer behavior has continued to shift as states and local governments navigate safely reopening restaurants and other indoor establishments. However, according to Nielsen data covering the week ending June 20, one consumer trend has stayed the same. Every State's Favorite Fast Food During Coronavirus Months into the pandemic, U.S. shoppers continue to stock up their freezers with frozen meals, novelties and ice. The demand for frozen foods in brick and mortar shops grew 24% over the week ending June 20. Frozen foods are versatile and efficient. They are useful in the event you would rather stay out of reopened restaurants or don't have the time to cook up an easy dinner in under an hour. There are many ways to use frozen vegetables as well as many frozen fruit recipes for refreshing no-bake desserts, smoothies and popsicles. While frozen foods continue to trend upward in brick and mortar shops, groceries as a whole are contributing most to online e-commerce growth. Since the pandemic started, e-commerce is up 52%. Cheese, soft drinks and sparkling water are the main drivers of online growth for the week ending June 20. If you're planning on stocking up on frozen meals during your next trip to the grocery store, keep a look out for the healthiest and unhealthiest frozen dinners.

FDA Authorizes Sequencing-Based COVID-19 Test

Helix, a population genomics biotechnology company, has announced that it received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the FDA. The test is an amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) test. It is used for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory specimens.

https://www.contagionlive.com/news/fda-authorizes-sequencingbased-covid19-test

Helix, a population genomics biotechnology company, has announced that it received Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its COVID-19 NGS Test. The test is an amplicon-based next-generation sequencing (NGS) test. It is used for the detection of nucleic acid from SARS-CoV-2 in upper respiratory specimens such as nasopharyngeal swabs, throat swabs, mid-turbinate nasal swabs, and anterior nasal swabs. The test is multiplexed to enable a high number of samples to be sequenced on each instrument. The company hopes to raise its COVID-19 testing capacity to 100,000 tests per day. “As one of the first next-generation sequencing tests authorized by the FDA, the Helix COVID-19 NGS Test will enable Helix to diversify and add redundancy to its existing supply chain for its PCR-based test, the Helix COVID-19 Test, also authorized for emergency use by the FDA,” Helix announced. "The authorization of our next-generation sequencing-based test is an important step forward in dramatically scaling our COVID-19 testing capacity while maintaining high sensitivity," said Marc Stapley, Helix President and CEO. "Combined with the recent funding we announced from the NIH RADx program, we will quickly become one of the highest throughput COVID-19 testing labs in the country and help millions of Americans access much-needed tests with next-day turnaround time."

Audi to invest &euro;100m in EV charging in Germany

Audi is investing around €100m ($111m) to deploy more than 4,600 charging points at its plants by mid-2022 in the biggest infrastructure project of its kind carried out by a German employer. An Audi team has been developing the project since 2017 and will oversee all aspects, from design to operation and maintenance and technology support. The car company said the chargers will also be available to the public.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/01/20200118-audi.html

Audi is working to electrify one in ten parking spaces at its German plants by mid-2022; most of these charging spaces will be accessible to the public. This independent concept is the largest charging infrastructure project carried out by a German employer. The ~€100-million investment provides Audi with a head start in terms of setup and operation expertise for the hardware and software of such charging concepts while also allowing the company to pilot a new business area of mobility. At the main plant in Ingolstadt alone, there will be 3,500 charging points available in the final development. There will be 1,000 charging points in Neckarsulm, just under 100 in Brussels and Győr. Likewise, charging infrastructure will be built at the factory in San José Chiapa. The company already offers expansive charging capacities at the training centers at Munich Airport. A separate project team has therefore been preparing and structuring the concept for the implementation since the middle of 2017. The fundamental decision to electrify 10% of all parking spaces was made a year earlier. The project team is responsible for planning the entire strategy, investment, and concept, and manages the setup and operation of the charging infrastructure as well as the billing of charging procedures at the Audi sites. In this context, the charging points are expanded to suit the needs of the employees and other people using the parking lot, the charging infrastructure is designed accordingly, operating rules are set, and a hotline and support are provided. Recording that complies with calibration law and invoicing of the charging procedures are further important aspects. At the sites in Brussels, Ingolstadt, and Neckarsulm, charging infrastructure with a total power input of 21 megawatts is already available. This corresponds to the power consumption of a small town with 14,000 inhabitants. This includes 600 charging points with an output of up to 22 kilowatts (kW) and 60 direct current charging points with an output between 50 and 350 kW. By the middle of 2022, there will be 4,500 charging points, each with an output of up to 22 kW, and approx. 50 more with an output of up to 350 kW each at the plant sites alone. A dynamic and intelligent load-management system will be controlling all power input across sites this year already, so the power connection does not need be expanded. In addition, there is the equipment of the three Audi Training Center locations at Munich airport. Audi’s largest individual charging park with a power input of 2.1 megawatts is connected to the grid here. In connection with the construction of the new ATC IV building, the solar power generated is used for the charging procedure in combination with a battery buffer storage device. The project team has also created its own navigation map on the basis of Google Maps that allows employees to see in real time where charging terminals are available. Invoicing via online systems and the integration in an internal settlement system are further services.

Oracle patches vulnerability that gives full control over machine

Oracle has released a patch to remove a vulnerability in some versions of the Oracle Solaris enterprise; attackers could previously exploit this to edit the code in memory and gain full control over a machine. The original issue was reported in 2009 and was claimed to have been fixed at the time with the code only being revisited this year, showing that the fix had only been partial. Information security company, Trustwave, were the ones to disclose the existing loophole to Oracle.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/oracle-fixes-solaris-vulnerability-could-allow-kernel-level-privilege-escalation/

Video: Oracle urges customers to install latest patch: It fixes 254 vulnerabilities A vulnerability in some versions of the Oracle Solaris enterprise OS could allow attackers to edit code in the memory and exploit it to gain full root control over a machine. The privilege escalation vulnerability -- now patched -- is present in current versions of Oracle Solaris 10 and 11 running Sun StorageTek Availability Suite (AVS) for the filesystem and could be used to access to a low-level user or service account and, from there, gain complete root access to the system. The memory corruption bug has been uncovered and detailed by researchers at Trustwave -- and its origins go all the way back to 2007. The original issue was disclosed in 2009 and apparently fixed, but researchers revisited the code this year only to find the fix was partial and loopholes still allowed the execution of malicious code. The origins of the exploit, CVE-2018-2892, lie in one small fragment of code which contains a number of separate vulnerabilities around the dereferencing pointer, the means of getting values stored in a specific memory location. "Attackers can exploit this vulnerability to take access to a low-level user or service account and gain complete root access to the entire system," Neil Kettle, application security principal consultant at SpiderLabs at Trustwave, told ZDNet. READ: Cybersecurity in an IoT and mobile world(ZDNet special report) | Download the report as a PDF(TechRepublic) An attacker exploiting this vulnerability would need direct access to a user or service account. "This can be obtained by targeting users with social engineering attacks or by exploiting vulnerabilities in existing services. Once the attacker has access to any account, this vulnerability can be very easily exploited to gain complete root control over the system," said Kettle. While the original 2007 vulnerability has probably been used in the wild, there's no confirmation that the new exploit has been used to conduct an attack. Nonetheless, Trustwave disclosed the discovery to Oracle, which has delivered a patch to fix the loophole. Recent and related coverage Oracle's latest Linux fixes: New Spectre, Lazy FPU patches beef up defenses Oracle has new fixes available for Spectre flaws affecting Linux systems on Intel and AMD chips. Oracle Access Manager security bug so serious it let anyone access protected data The moral? Don't roll your own crypto, security researcher tells Oracle. READ MORE ON CYBER SECURITY

China suspected of burning thousands of Covid-19 infected bodies creating death smog around Wuhan

Satellite images show high levels of sulfur dioxide in the air around Wuhan suggesting China’s government could be burning thousands of bodies each day as it attempts to contain the coronavirus outbreak.&nbsp;

https://www.ccn.com/coronavirus-death-smog-is-china-burning-thousands-of-infected-bodies/

Rising sulfur dioxide levels in air around Wuhan suggests Chinese government could be burning thousands of bodies to contain coronavirus outbreak. Large amounts of sulfur dioxide clusters in China is raising speculation of China burning piles of bodies. | Source: DALE DE LA REY / AFP Evidence suggests that crematoriums are running 24×7 and burning thousands of infected dead bodies in a day. Data has suggested a massive amount of sulfur dioxide is being released into the air. Sulfur concentration is especially high around Wuhan and Chongquing, the cities most affected by the Wuhan coronavirus. The massive release could be because of the crematoriums burning dead bodies en masse on the outskirts of the cities. Evidence suggesting that the Chinese government is hiding the actual severity of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak is piling up. Every estimate, whistleblower, and unconfirmed report suggest the actual number of coronavirus casualties is much higher than what the official data says. Just last week exiled Chinese billionaire Guo Wengui claimed that the total coronavirus casualties are well over 50,000. Chinese Goverment is hiding the truth about #coronavirus deaths and confirmed cases are way more then they say.. https://t.co/iNLnvwNjb8 — Tom | RetrainYourMind 📚=💰 (@Tom_RYM) February 8, 2020 This number was his estimation based on the number of bodies China’s crematoriums are burning every day. Data has surfaced recently to suggest Wengui’s estimate may be correct. Rising Sulfur Dioxide Levels Point to Overworked Crematoriums A heatmap taken from Windy shows a tremendous amount of sulfur dioxide levels in air around mainland China. Rising sulfur levels indicate a release of organic matter in the air, as a Twitter user pointed out. Ideally, there could be several reasons behind the sudden spike. Nuclear plants, garbage, and animal carcass burning or the industrial areas could all be responsible. But, the elevated levels of almost 1400 ug/m^3 could point towards mass crematoriums running overtime in these areas. For context, 80 ug/m^3 level is usually considered dangerously high. Next in line was Chongquing, a megacity in southwestern China, with 800 ug/m^3. Coincidentally, Chongquing has also been severely affected by the coronavirus outbreak. The Chinese government has shut down many major factories, coal-fuelled power plants, and manufacturing to curb the coronavirus outbreak. So there is little chance that they could be responsible for the rising levels. And if you compare the levels to other parts of the world, where these plants are operational, the stark contrast is apparent. Due to the massive rise in sulfur levels, thick smog has blanketed the city of Wuhan. Reports suggest that this smog is coming from the crematoriums on the outskirts of the city. Coronavirus Conspiracy Theories Galore After finding out about the rising sulfur levels, users of the controversial website 4chan did some digging. They pointed out that a single human corpse, when set alight, releases 113 g of sulfur dioxide. So to account for the rise in sulfur dioxide levels around Wuhan, one would have to burn 13,968 bodies. Statement of crematorium workers roughly back up the findings of 4chan users. The workers say that they have been working day and night to take care of the ever-increasing inflow of coronavirus casualties. A worker at the Wuhan crematorium confirmed they were receiving over 100 corpses a day: “We need to pick up bodies when they call us. Every day, we need at least 100 body bags. We can’t stop because we can’t leave the bodies outside for a long time.” The evidence against the Chinese government keeps piling up. Is it a coincidence every estimate, every model, every whistleblower says the actual number is much higher than what the government is reporting? It doesn’t seem so. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article do not necessarily reflect the views of CCN.com.

Preliminary Mexican power auctions show average of $20.57/MWh

The preliminary results of Mexico's third long-term power auction saw an average price of $20.57 per MWh, including clean energy certificates, more than 38% lower than the last auction a little over a year ago. Solar photovoltaic took up more than 55% of power supply contracts, compared to 44.65% of wind, while the total capacity for the preliminary projects was 2,562 MW. This round also saw external buyers participate in tenders for the first time, as Iberdrola and Menkent went up against the state-owned Comision Federal de Electricidad. The final results will be revealed on 22 November.

https://www.renewablesnow.com/news/mexicos-prelim-tender-results-show-average-price-of-usd-2057mwh-591263/

Mexico on Wednesday evening announced preliminary results of its third long-term power auction, which showed an average price of clean electricity plus clean energy certificates (CEL) of USD 20.57 (EUR 17.46) per MWh+CEL, one of the lowest globally and 38.54% down from the previous auction about a year ago. The auction, which allows power generators to win contracts for clean electricity supply and firm capacity, saw the submission of 46 economic bids, out of which 16 were preliminary selected. About USD 2.37 billion is expected to be invested in the next three years in 15 new power plants as a result of the tender. According to the announcement by the Secretariat of Energy (SENER) and the National Center for Energy Control (CENACE), the projects preliminary selected have a combined capacity of 2,562 MW. Solar photovoltaic (PV) was the leading technology, securing 55.35% of the power supply contracts, while wind won 44.65%. Solar and wind also secured 1.69% and 13.95%, respectively of the firm capacity component of the competition, where the dominant technology was gas. Below is a summary of the results: Source Power in MWh CEL Firm capacity in MW Solar PV 3,040,029 3,471,160 10 Wind 2,452,547 2,481,415 83 Gas 0 0 500 Total 5,492,575 5,952,575 593 The figures represent 90.2% of the power, 97.8% of the CELs and 41.9% of the firm capacity sought. As in the previous two tenders, the state-owned Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) will buy the three products. A new thing in this tender was the opportunity for buyers other than CFE to participate. According the the announcement, Iberdrola Clientes and Menkent (CEMEX) took part as buyers in addition to CFE. The list of provisional winners includes names such as Enel, Canadian Solar, Neoen and X-Elio. Source: CENACE The authorities said the clean power that is to be contracted in the auction is equivalent to 1.78% of Mexico's annual generation and is an important step towards achieving the goal of generating 35% of the country's electricity from clean energy sources by 2024. The final results will be announced on November 22. (USD 1 = EUR 0.849) Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

TalkTalk Hyperoptic launches big seasonal discounts

Hyperoptic has launched seasonal broadband discounts starting at £16.80 ($22) per month. New customers can choose from standalone broadband or a broadband and phone bundle, both with a 12-month minimum contract. A no-contract, broadband-only option comes in at a slightly higher monthly cost. Hyperoptic's 50 Mbps tier has a £20 one-off activation cost. All packages come with a wireless router and dynamic IP address, as well as 24/7 support and unlimited usage. The discounts are available until 31 January 2020.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2019/12/full-fibre-uk-isp-hyperoptic-launches-big-christmas-discounts.html

Monday, Dec 23rd, 2019 (9:07 am) - Score 1,846 City focused FTTP/B broadband ISP Hyperoptic, which claims to cover well over 400,000 UK premises, has today launched some big Black Friday beating discounts as part of their Christmas and New Year sale event. This is expected to run until 31st January 2020 and sees prices (50Mbps) start at just £16.80 per month. As usual new customers can pick from either a broadband & phone bundle or a broadband-only (standalone) service on a 12 month minimum contract term. You can also get a “no contract” option (broadband-only), but this tends to cost a few pounds extra per month. We note that their 50Mbps tier also carries a £20 one-off activation fee but this is free on all other tiers. All packages include unlimited usage, 24/7 support, a wireless router and a dynamic IP address or £5 extra per month for a Static IP. Hyperoptic’s network has an ambition to cover 2 million homes by the end of 2021 and then possibly 5 million by the end of 2024 (here), although they’ve been quite cagey about their roll-out progress since last year. Hyperoptic typically focuses upon installing their services into large urban apartment (multi-dwelling units) and office blocks. Take note that if you take one of the discounted packages then remember the issue the promotion code JAN20 during the order process. Package Broadband Only Broadband and Phone 50Mbps (5Mbps upload) £16.80 a month (*£22) £18.40 a month (*£25) 150Mbps (symmetric) £20.80 a month (*£35) £22.40 a month (*£38) 500Mbps (symmetric) £30.40 a month (*£50) £32 a month (*£53) 900Mbps (symmetric) £45 a month (*£60) £47 a month (*£63) * Monthly price after the first 12 month contract term.

World’s richest man Jeff Bezos offers Beacon to UK start-up

Beacon is a specialist in digital freight forwarding and supply chain finance. Bezos is understood to be participating in a $15m (&#xA3;12.2m) Series A fundraising. The Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates he is now worth $143bn. He holds a roughly 12% stake in Amazon.

https://news.sky.com/story/worlds-richest-man-jeff-bezos-offers-beacon-to-uk-start-up-11997924

Jeff Bezos, the Amazon founder who has amassed a fortune large enough to see him crowned the world's richest person, is to invest part of his wealth in a British technology start-up which wants to become a global logistics titan. Sky News can reveal that Mr Bezos has agreed to back Beacon, a specialist in digital freight forwarding and supply chain finance. Mr Bezos - who the Bloomberg Billionaires Index estimates is now worth $143bn (£116bn) - is understood to be participating in a $15m (£12.2m) Series A fundraising, to be announced by Beacon this week. Luring the world's wealthiest man as a backer represents a huge coup for Beacon, particularly because as the founder and chief executive of Amazon, Mr Bezos is intimately acquainted with the complexities of supply chain management. The tycoon, who owns the Washington Post, has a long track record of investing in start-ups, with Airbnb and Grail, a cancer detection company, among those he has backed. He holds a roughly 12% stake in Amazon, which has vied with Apple, Google's parent Alphabet, and Microsoft for the status of the world's most valuable publicly-traded company. At Friday's closing share price of $2442.37, Amazon was worth $1.22trn (£988bn). Launched in 2018, the UK-based company uses artificial intelligence, cloud and other technology to improve operational efficiency for customers organising international trade in their products. Freight forwarders act as agents between exporters and importers, taking a fee for the service they provide in arranging transport for goods from factories prior to their shipment. Advertisement Image: Bezos holds a roughly 12% stake in Amazon They also administer relevant paperwork required for exports. The biggest players in the sector include DHL, the global logistics group, and Kuehne + Nagel, but the industry's is regarded as having been slow to embrace the digital age. Beacon was set up to drive efficiencies in a historically fragmented industry, with industry sources saying this weekend that the timing of its latest fundraising was shrewd. The coronavirus pandemic has elevated the issue of supply chain integrity onto multinationals' board agendas around the world. Factories in parts of China - known as 'the workshop of the world', because of its manufacturing capacity - were closed for several weeks earlier this year because of the virus, leaving companies scrambling to find alternative production routes for their goods. Beacon is understood to have seen strong demand during the crisis from companies in the e-commerce and homewares sector, in particular. The company offers a range of services - including global ocean, air freight and truck - which can be accessed and managed on a single platform. Its technology provides both a real-time view of the global delivery of cargo and data on global shipping costs and prices, with machine-learning tools allowing it to optimise shipping routes and processes for improved cost, speed and reliability. Sources say it is markedly different to the likes of Uber Freight, a division of Uber Technologies, which offers point-to-point deliveries using trucks, with bookings made online. One insider said the provision of supply chain finance was another key differentiator for Beacon. The company helps importers to address cashflow needs by offering financing within 72 hours - a critical issue for importers who invariably have to pay suppliers before goods begin a shipment journey that can take several months. By investing in Beacon, Mr Bezos joins one of the most prominent investor line-ups of any early-stage tech company in the world. Its shareholders includes Eric Schmidt, the former Google chief executive, and Travis Kalanick, the Uber Technologies founder who was forced out of the ride-sharing start-up last year. Beacon was founded by two former Uber executives, Fraser Robinson and Dmitri Izmailov. Pierre Martin, the company's chief technology officer, previously worked at Amazon. "It is a management team with deep expertise in logistics, technology, finance and hyper-growth," a source said. According to sources close to Beacon, its new funding will be deployed to expand its workforce and invest in new technological capability. As part of the latest fundraising, 8VC, a Silicon Valley-based investor, is also acquiring a stake in the company. Beacon is said to be on course to grow its revenues fivefold this year, with the COVID-19 pandemic expected to fuel demand for its services as clients seek to make their supply chains work more smoothly. The company is also likely to benefit from supply chain complexities exacerbated by continuing Brexit-related uncertainty, investors believe. A Beacon spokesman declined to comment on Sunday.

Sculpture from India&#39;s&nbsp;Gupta period to go on display in China

16 sculptures from the Gupta Dynasty will be displayed in Beijing. The works range from 4th-6th century BC and are based on the Buddha in September this year. A cultural agreement has been signed between the two countries allowing India to host the exhibition in China.

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/varanasi/Sculptures-of-Gupta-period-to-be-exhibited-in-China/articleshow/52217070.cms

Varanasi: As many as 16 sculptures of Gupta period from Bharat Kala Bhawan in Banaras Hindu University (BHU) and the museum of Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in Sarnath will be exhibited in the Asian art section at the cultural exhibition on Gupta period. The exhibition will be held at The Palace Museum in Beijing, China from September 2016.According to the director of BKB, AK Singh, Union ministry of culture and People's Republic of China signed a cultural agreement under which India will hold an art exhibition of Gupta period in China."As a part of this, Chinese delegation had been visiting us to click pictures of sculptures from Gupta period housed at our museum," Singh told TOI on Tuesday.He further said, "Another delegation led by senior research fellow at department of court history in The Palace Museum (TPM), Luo Wenhua, arrived here on May 7 and finalised six sculptures from Gupta period to be exhibited at the art exhibition to be held in TPM in China from September 28 this year." The delegation left for Allahabad on Tuesday morning.When TOI contacted assistant archaeologist at Archaeological Survey of India's (ASI) museum in Sarnath, Neetesh Saxena said, "The delegation proposed a list of 17 sculptures of Gupta period to be exhibited at art exhibition. But as some of them cannot to be moved from museum hence, 10 were finalised which include Abhaya mudra, Bhairava mudra, cluster of votive stupas, Maitreyi, door jambs of Kamadeva and Rati, lithograph with rider and a head of Bodhisattva Avalokiteshvara."The finalised sculptures will be collected by the National Museum in New Delhi a month prior to the exhibition. The exhibition is scheduled to commence from September and the sculptures will be collected from National Museum in Delhi by August mid or end, said Saxena.Director of BKB, said that about 70-80 sculptures from Gupta period are expected to be displayed at the impending exhibition in China. The Chinese delegation is visiting various art museums including those in Delhi, Lucknow, Allahabad, Mathura and Bodh Gaya to finalise sculptures from Gupta period that can be exhibited at art exhibition in China, he said.

Mincor to raise AUD60m to reopen Western Australia nickel operation

Australian miner Mincor Resources plans to secure AUD60m ($41m) to resume operations at its Kambalda nickel mines, which it closed in 2016. The firm will raise AUD50m through a fully-underwritten share placement issued at AUD0.72 per share and AUD10m from a share purchase plan, which is not underwritten. The funding will push Mincor's cash reserve north of AUD100m, which will be used partially against the development costs of the Western Australia mines. The decision to reopen the facilities has been motivated by increased nickel prices, which recently stood at $12,547 per mt compared to $9,595 per mt in 2016.

https://smallcaps.com.au/mincor-resources-raise-60m-reopen-kambalda-nickel-operation/

Mincor Resources (ASX: MCR) will raise $60 million to revive its nickel operations at Kambalda in Western Australia, with $50 million to come through a placement and the balance from a share purchase plan (SPP). Mincor closed its Kambalda nickel mines, located 60km from Kalgoorlie, in 2016 after a sustained downturn in prices for the metal. That year the average price was US$9,595/t, compared to the closing three-month price on Wednesday in London of US$12.547/t. Mincor’s placement is fully underwritten and strategic shareholder IGO (ASX: IGO) has committed to take $13 million in new shares. The $10 million SPP is not underwritten. The placement issue price is $0.72 per share, a 12.2% discount to the last closing price. Raising to strengthen Mincor’s balance sheet ahead of development The raising will boost Mincor’s cash reserve to more than $100 million. Mincor will use the money to move to the final investment decision and finance a portion of the development costs. The cash will also allow Mincor to undertake resource extension and exploration programs centred around the Cassini Main and Cassini North deposits and at an untested 1.1km space, as well as negotiating debt funding “from a position of balance sheet strength”. The peak funding is expected to be $97 million. Mincor managing director David Southam said the capital raising marks another important milestone “in our journey to resume profitable and sustainable nickel sulphide mining at Kambalda”. It has been a busy time for Mincor with the completion of the definitive feasibility study (DFS) in March along with the maiden ore reserve at Cassini. “The past nine month has seen us complete an outstanding high-quality DFS, deliver four consecutive mineral resource upgrades and a maiden ore reserve at Cassini, while also securing all key final approvals, executing a mining contract and completing early surface works at Cassini,” Mr Southam said. Mincor also appointed key senior people for the Cassini and Northern operations. The money raised will give the company confidence to complete resource extension drilling during the development timeline at Cassini Main and test the untested 1.1km Durkin North to Long space from underground positions. Regional exploration will continue at Cassini North, Bluebush, Juno and other targets. The placement will result in the issuance of just over 69.4 million new shares. At present Mincor has 346 million shares on issue.

Souped-up SIM allows mobile payments where there&#039;s no network

Mobile payments could soon be possible in areas where mobile phones can't make a connection, thanks to a project by DigiTally. Countries that lack traditional banking structures often also have patchy mobile coverage and this can impact mobile payment services such as M-Pesa, used by almost 20 million people for transactions via SMS. DigiTally uses thin, cheap electronics to stick a chip over a SIM card which can process transactions without the need for SMS. The sender and receiver swap eight-digit codes and if the codes match the payment is authorised. Trials in Kenya have been successful.

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2110566-souped-up-sim-allows-mobile-payments-where-theres-no-network/

Another way to pay Noor Khamis/Reuters Money may soon become even more mobile. A fresh project allows people to make mobile payments even in areas where their cellphone is unable to connect to a network. The DigiTally project could benefit people in countries that lack traditional banking infrastructure. Such countries also often have spotty cellphone coverage, and this can limit the impact of mobile payment services such as M-Pesa, which enables transactions via SMS messaging. Nearly 20 million people rely on M-Pesa in Kenya alone, with millions more in other countries from Romania to Afghanistan. Many of the world’s poorest people don’t have much access to mobile payment systems, says Ross Anderson, a computer scientist at the University of Cambridge who runs the project, “because the GSM network near them is ropy or non-existent”. Advertisement Anderson and his team want to extend mobile payments to these communities, as well as other areas without a mobile service, such as islands, mountains and deserts. They also want the system to work without technologies such as Bluetooth or near-field communication, so it could be used with even the simplest feature phones. Chip device DigiTally achieves this by using thin, cheap electronics that can be stuck over existing SIM cards and inserted into phones. This device contains a chip that can process and authenticate transactions without the need to use SMS messaging. To transfer money from one phone to another, the sender and receiver swap eight-digit codes generated by the overlay device. Each plugs the other’s code into their own device to confirm they are happy with the transaction. If both codes match, the payment is authorised. When the phones next connect to the network, their transaction history is uploaded to the servers of the mobile payment system used. In September, Anderson’s team trialled DigiTally for a week in Nairobi, Kenya, at a bookshop, two coffee shops and a university canteen. Anderson says that even with the extra bother of validating codes, the system was welcomed in the busy environment of the cafe because it was faster than waiting for an SMS to travel over the network to confirm a normal M-Pesa transaction. Anderson says that DigiTally will be made available on an open-source basis in early 2017. He presented the project at the Conference on Computer and Communications Security in Vienna, Austria, last week.

Mindful Chef launches frozen ready meals in Ocado

UK D2C meal kit brand Mindful Chef is making a major move into retail launching a trio of frozen ready meals into Ocado with plans to expand it in due course. The move to introduce the range, which is billed as being free from refined carbs, gluten and dairy, follows a 387% increase in the company’s sales of frozen meals since the pandemic with some customers spending more than £500 on single orders.

https://www.thegrocer.co.uk/new-product-development/mindful-chef-makes-retail-move-with-frozen-ready-meal-trio/646581.article#:~:text=Mindful%20Chef%20is%20making%20a,sweet%20potato%20mash%20%E2%80%93%20into%20Ocado.

Mindful Chef is making a major move into retail. The meal kit delivery brand has launched a trio of frozen meals – spicy panang chicken curry with black rice, chicken tikka masala with brown rice and creamy coconut fish pie with sweet potato mash – into Ocado. They are all billed as being free from refined carbs, gluten and dairy. Mindful Chef CEO Tim Lee called it a “significant” play for the brand, adding it was “one that we hope to expand upon further in the future”. He said the business had seen a 387% spike in sales of its frozen meals since the outbreak of coronavirus, as well as a “significant increase in basket size, with multiple frozen customers spending over £500 in one order, equating to over 80 frozen meals”. Mindful Chef mounted a £25m fundraise in April, with Lee saying at the time he expected to secure the cash for a minority stake by the summer. The brand has also recently expanded its range of frozen foods and smoothie mixes available to order from its website. New meals include the likes of Keralan cod curry with black rice, pesto salmon and Mediterranean-style lentils, and cashew carbonara with tofu and brown rice penne. It comes as frozen foods have been a major winner since coronavirus hit the UK. According to recent data compiled by Kantar and the British Frozen Food Federation, value sales of frozen in the 12 weeks to 14 June skyrocketed 19.4% on volumes up 17.5% - that’s a £285m increase. British Frozen Food Federation CEO Richard Harrow suggested this was “hardly surprising, given the long shelf-life, reduced food waste, value for money and variety of food on offer”.

UK women earn £300k less than men over working life

New analysis by recruitment agency Robert Half shows that UK women are likely to earn £300,000 less than men over their working lives. The analysis comes at the same time as a survey for the Fawcett Society showed that 46% of people think women become less committed to their job after becoming mothers, compared with just 11% who thought the same of men after becoming fathers Maria Miller, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said that the gender pay gap is unlikely to be closed within a generation, suggesting that the gap is particularly acute for women over 40 due to the lack of quality part-time work and lack of effective shared parental-leave policies. The UK is currently ranked 16th out of 33 countries for gender equality at work.

http://www.theguardian.com/society/2016/mar/07/gender-pay-gap-to-remain-for-thousands-says-conservative-mp

David Cameron will fail to deliver on a pledge to close the gender pay gap within a generation, according to a senior Conservative MP who used to be the Cabinet minister for women and equalities. Maria Miller, chair of a parliamentary select committee that scrutinises gender equality, told the Guardian: “The government thinks the issue has been resolved, and it has for women working full-time under the age of 35 but not for thousands of others. “The gender pay gap is particularly acute for women over 40 – and that is because of the lack of quality part-time working and lack of effective shared parental-leave policies. The evidence is clear. The government needs to take a long, hard look at their policies.” Miller highlighted that although the government has introduced parental leave, statistics showed that “at most 8%” of men will take up the option of extended time off with their newborns. Speaking before International Women’s Day, she added: “Without the support of men, women won’t see the gap eliminated.” She said there was an urgent need for more jobs that were flexible and for a bigger push to ensure men share the burden of childcare. It came as a survey of more than 8,000 people by the Fawcett Society found that 46% think women become less committed to their job after becoming mothers. That compared with just 11% who thought the same of men, while 29% of respondents said fathers became more committed to work. The poll by Survation found that three-quarters of men take leave of two weeks or less after the birth of a child, with a third taking just one to five days. It found that women still do the lion’s share when it comes to childcare. The women’s rights group said the figures revealed that women suffered a “motherhood penalty” while fathers were granted a “daddy bonus”. Sam Smethers, the chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: “We need a decent, dedicated period of leave for dads, paid closer to replacement income rate so that they can afford to take it.” A government spokesman said: “The gender pay gap has been falling almost continuously, is at the lowest on record, and has been virtually eliminated for women under 40 working full-time. Thanks to the reforms this government is introducing, we expect that trend to continue. “Only last month, we unveiled a raft of measures requiring companies with more than 250 employees to publish their gender pay gap and we are extending that duty across the public sector. We must all be ambitious and take action to close the gap once and for all.” The survey results come amid calls for a change in parliament to allow job sharing among MPs. The campaign is being spearheaded by the shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, who said: “Job sharing for MPs is an idea whose time has come. It will help open up the opportunity for disabled people to serve as MPs and make the Commons more representative of the community we are supposed to represent.” Women’s rights are at the centre of the debate over women’s future in the European Union, with polls suggesting that most undecided voters are female. Labour MP Emma Reynolds said: “The campaign so far has been dominated by men. It is clear that women are more receptive to other women making the arguments. Women need to be more visible in this campaign. “The aggressive tone of the debate risks switching off women voters. Arguments about abstract notions of sovereignty don’t strike a chord with many women. We need to make granular arguments about how the EU affects women’s lives and their families.” Reynolds, and other female voices supporting the in campaign such as Green party MP Caroline Lucas, argue that the EU secures guarantees for women around part-time work and maternity leave. But the out campaigners will be pushing for women’s support as well on Tuesday, as they set up a new group called Women for Britain. The Conservative minister Priti Patel will give a speech comparing her fight to that of Emmeline Pankhurst. “As a suffragette, Pankhurst fought for the rights of women to have a vote, a voice and a say in how their society is governed and who governs it,” she said. “In many ways, Women for Britain are fighting for the same cause.”

UK women earn £300k less than men over working life

New analysis by recruitment agency Robert Half shows that UK women are likely to earn £300,000 less than men over their working lives. The analysis comes at the same time as a survey for the Fawcett Society showed that 46% of people think women become less committed to their job after becoming mothers, compared with just 11% who thought the same of men after becoming fathers Maria Miller, Chair of the Women and Equalities Select Committee, said that the gender pay gap is unlikely to be closed within a generation, suggesting that the gap is particularly acute for women over 40 due to the lack of quality part-time work and lack of effective shared parental-leave policies. The UK is currently ranked 16th out of 33 countries for gender equality at work.

http://www.theguardian.com/money/2016/mar/07/gender-pay-gap-uk-women-earn-300000-less-men-lifetime

Women are likely to earn £300,000 less than men over their working lives, according to a new analysis that has sparked fresh calls for more shared parental leave to close the UK’s stubborn gender pay gap. Before International Women’s Day on Tuesday, figures show a gap of £5,732, or 24%, in average full-time annual salaries between women and men – more than four decades after the Equal Pay Act of 1970 was introduced. Over a career of 52 years, that gap translates into a lifetime earnings shortfall of £298,064 for female employees, according to the analysis by the recruitment company Robert Half. The Fawcett Society, a women’s rights organisation, said the analysis was the latest evidence of a financial price paid by many women after having children. “The gender pay gap becomes a significant lifetime pay penalty. The gap widens for older women and becomes a significant pensions gap in retirement,” said the Fawcett Society’s chief executive Sam Smethers. “The impact of having children means that as men’s careers take off, women’s often stagnate or decline,” she said. “Their salaries never fully recover. We have to make it easier for men to share care, create flexibility first at work and open up more senior roles as quality part-time jobs.” The analysis by Robert Half also highlighted faster growth for men’s full-time salaries of 1.6% compared with 1.4% for women in the year to April 2015, based on earnings figures from the Office for National Statistics (ONS). That took the median gross pay for full-time male employees to £29,934, compared with £24,202 for women. The average for men and women combined was £27,645. Katy Tanner, a director at Robert Half UK, said there were important lessons for employers as they increasingly report skills shortages. “As in-demand candidates continue to be in the driver’s seat, employers are needing to offer competitive remuneration and benefits packages above industry averages,” she said. “International Women’s Day provides a platform to highlight the importance for rewarding all employees fairly on the basis of their contribution to the organisation, rather than their gender or indeed any other point of difference.” While this new analysis puts the gender pay gap at 24%, the ONS estimates the shortfall is 9.4%. The two measures differ because the ONS compares median hourly earnings – rather than annual earnings – and excludes overtime. It does this because overtime can skew results, given that men work relatively more overtime than women. Using hourly earnings better accounts for the fact that men work on average more hours than women, in the ONS’s view. The pay gap of 9.4% in April 2015, the latest figure available, marked a drop from 9.6% in 2014 and was the lowest since records began in 1997 – but the ONS noted “the gap has changed relatively little in recent years”. Commenting on the potential £300,000 lifetime gap highlighted in Monday’s analysis, the TUC general secretary, Frances O’Grady, said: “Far more must be done to tackle the UK’s gender pay gap. We need more quality part-time jobs, better-paid fathers’ leave and more free childcare from the end of maternity leave to help mothers get back to work after having children.” A government spokesman said: “This government has gone further than ever before in tackling the gender pay gap. Only last month we unveiled a raft of measures requiring companies with more than 250 employees to publish their gender pay gap and we are extending that duty across the public sector. “We are making progress with business towards the elimination of the gender pay gap. There will always be more to do but we expect that progress to continue as we continue towards a truly equal workforce in all sectors.” David Cameron has vowed to “end the gender pay gap in a generation”, and last year set out new rules forcing every company that employs more than 250 people to publish the pay differences. The UK has also introduced shared parental leave, but equality campaigners are concerned too few families can afford for fathers to take it. The UK has made headway in some respects on gender equality at work, according to separate research published on Monday that shows the country rising up a “women in work” league table. Britain climbed to 16th place from 21st the year before, in a ranking of 33 countries by the consultants PwC. Iceland, Norway and Sweden held their top three places in the table, which is based on data from 2014. Pay equality statistics Pay equality statistics. The authors put the UK’s improvement down to a drop in female unemployment and narrowing of the gender pay gap. But it found many women in Britain were struggling to return to work after having children or career breaks and noted a relatively low share of women in full-time employment, where the UK is 30th out of 33 countries. Despite a narrowing pay gap, the UK still lags behind on women’s earnings. PwC says the UK gender pay gap dropped from 20% to 18% in the latest index but was still higher than the average of 17% for the OECD. PwC estimates that closing the gender pay gap would bring an £80bn boost to overall female earnings in the UK – a £5,500 average pay rise for every working woman. Swedish aspirations It also sees wider benefits to the economy from increasing the female employment rate. If the UK could match Sweden’s 60% female employment rate, it could boost GDP by 9% or £170bn, the Women in Work report said. “It is encouraging that the UK is making progress on the employment prospects for women, but there is still a way to go before we match the Nordic countries,” said Yong Jing Teow, economist at PwC. “There are now more women in work due to the improving economy – but where we fall down is on how many of these women are in full-time work.”

'We feel compelled': the doctors planning to return to NHS frontline

Recently retired doctors and nurses are to return as part of the national effort to fight coronavirus.One such example of this is Dr Mohammad Jawad, a specialist in infectious diseases who is also part of a team advising GPs, hospitals and schools about Covid-19 for Public Health England. Dr Jawad said: “Some of my colleagues have made a firm decision to return.Jawad, who worked as a doctor for two years and last saw a patient five years ago, said he would likely take up a support role, to free up more experienced staff.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/20/compelled-doctors-planning-return-nhs-frontline-coronavirus

Doctors not currently practising have told the Guardian how they plan to return to the NHS frontline, in response to the government plea reminiscent of wartime Britain in which they were told: “Your NHS needs you.” They described the crisis as a generation-defining moment and said they were keen to help, after seeing medical staff in Italy working in conditions “akin to a war zone”. Earlier, Matt Hancock, the health secretary, called for doctors and nurses who have recently left the health service to return as part of the national effort to fight coronavirus. Quick Guide What to do if you have coronavirus symptoms in the UK Show Symptoms are defined by the NHS as either: a high temperature - you feel hot to touch on your chest or back a new continuous cough - this means you've started coughing repeatedly NHS advice is that anyone with symptoms should stay at home for at least 7 days. If you live with other people, they should stay at home for at least 14 days, to avoid spreading the infection outside the home. After 14 days, anyone you live with who does not have symptoms can return to their normal routine. But, if anyone in your home gets symptoms, they should stay at home for 7 days from the day their symptoms start. Even if it means they're at home for longer than 14 days. If you live with someone who is 70 or over, has a long-term condition, is pregnant or has a weakened immune system, try to find somewhere else for them to stay for 14 days. If you have to stay at home together, try to keep away from each other as much as possible. After 7 days, if you no longer have a high temperature you can return to your normal routine. If you still have a high temperature, stay at home until your temperature returns to normal. If you still have a cough after 7 days, but your temperature is normal, you do not need to continue staying at home. A cough can last for several weeks after the infection has gone. Staying at home means you should: not go to work, school or public areas not use public transport or taxis not have visitors, such as friends and family, in your home not go out to buy food or collect medicine – order them by phone or online, or ask someone else to drop them off at your home You can use your garden, if you have one. You can also leave the house to exercise – but stay at least 2 metres away from other people. If you have symptoms of coronavirus, use the NHS 111 coronavirus service to find out what to do. Source: NHS England on 23 March 2020 Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. Dr Mohammed Jawad, a public health researcher at Imperial College London, said he plans to return to the NHS frontline and knows “dozens and dozens” of others who plan to do the same. Jawad, a specialist in infectious diseases who is also part of a team advising GPs, hospitals and schools about Covid-19 for Public Health England, said: “Some of my colleagues have made a firm decision to return. We feel compelled to do our bit for the NHS.” “A lot of us have come straight out of medical school into public health, so it is not that long since we saw our last patient. Everyone I’ve spoken to is at least thinking about returning and is not ruling it out. I’ve spoken to dozens and dozens of people. What we are really worried about is there being enough doctors to deal with the surge of people needing hospital treatment.” Jawad’s wife, also in public health, plans to go back too, he said. The pair, who have a baby daughter, would need to retrain. “We are both in a similar position, both public health doctors. For us, it would need a complete rethink on how we do things. We would need to call in favours and would need help with childcare, errands and transport.” Jawad, who worked as a doctor for two years and last saw a patient five years ago, said he would likely take up a support role, to free up more experienced staff. “Ordinarily, it would take six weeks to retrain, but I expect that would be expedited. I would be happy to free up NHS doctors skilled in advanced clinical procedure, in intensive care, to help with the important but more menial tasks, including ward rounds and paperwork.” Jawad said it was “ingrained” in a doctors genetic make up to respond to calls of altriusm and he expected many retired doctors to heed Hancock’s call. He said one of the biggest worries was becoming infected and bringing the infection home. “I would really like to see testing of health workers implemented as soon as possible.” The General Medical Council is writing to 15,500 doctors who have retired since 2017 and the Nursing and Midwifery Council is asking 50,000 nurses whose registration has lapsed in the last three years. Another researcher, who did not want to be named because he was in discussions with his employers over swapping roles, said he made a decision after seeing the conditions of Italian hospitals, and urged people in Britain to heed the government’s advice to stay home. “Looking at Italy, it looks like the working conditions are akin to a war zone,” the researcher said. “People are still going to the pub here, but it is not any less likely to be as bad here.” He said he would also need retraining. “I could not just walk into a Covid-19 ward. I would need a structured, supervised return. If someone had worked as a respiratory consultant for 40 years, they could do that, but I would do ward round, cannulas, talking to relatives, writing prescriptions, whatever we could do to help. “It is such an unprecedented and surreal situation for many people to grasp the gravity of it. But hospitals are going to be overrun and everyone has a duty to stop socialising. This will be a generation-defining moment. You want to say years down the line you did your bit.” 01:38 ‘Coronavirus has hospitals on a war footing’: A&E doctor calls for urgent help – video Sixty-two-year-old GP, John, took early retirement for health reasons five years ago but has continued to work part time since. He said he would be happy to continue working during the coronavirus outbreak but thinks that Hancock’s call to action may be problematic. “He was giving the impression this morning that we would be given a couple of hours training then put on an ITU in charge of a ventilator,” he said. “That would probably be even more dangerous for the patient than for me. Most retired doctors are not intensivists or respiratory physicians and I think they would be much more likely to volunteer if they knew what jobs they were likely to be offered.”

Insurtech Digital Risk pulls in £2.25m in funding

UK insurance provider Digital Risks has raised £2.25m ($2.92m) of funding to support the growth of its digital-first service. The investment round was led by Concentric, with other backers including Atami Capital, Seedcamp, London Co-Investment Fund and Beazley. The London-based company has developed software to automate the insurance-buying and management process. Clients have their individual risks considered to identify the most suitable provider, and can then pay for their cover on a monthly subscription basis, which can be cancelled at any time.

http://www.finsmes.com/2018/07/business-insurance-startup-digital-risks-raises-2-25m-in-funding.html?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=twitter&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+finsmes%2FcNHu+%28FinSMEs%29

Digital Risks, a London, UK-based digital-first insurance provider for technology and media businesses, raised £2.25m in funding. The round was led by Concentric, with participation from Atami Capital, Seedcamp, London Co-Investment Fund and Beazley. The company intends to use the funds to focus on growth, through scaling its marketing, tripling its team and developing new online insurance products, and expand internationally, starting with initial moves into Europe in the next 12 months. Co-founded by Cameron Shearer and Ben Rose, Digital Risks has developed proprietary software that automates the entire process of buying and managing insurance. Rather than providing a simple price comparison service, or consolidating the customer’s risks to a single underwriter, the platform considers risks individually and places them with the most suitable provider with a flexible monthly subscription model, suited to today’s digital-first businesses. Clients can pay monthly and modify or cancel their cover at any time. Its products are backed by underwriters, including Aviva, Tokio Marine and Beazley. The company has customers including startups in sectors spanning software development and IT services, media, digitised traditional businesses, plus new technology sub-sectors like fintech, medtech and edtech. FinSMEs 16/07/2018

Data-hungry regulations push StanChart to invest in data mining

Standard Charted is building a repository to host all of its trade data, aiming to create a “single golden source”. The bank plans to use the data to improve its ability to model illiquid products in preparation for the impending market risk capital rules that penalise firms for patchy liquidity and incomplete trade data. The firm is also developing algorithms that use historical data to create synthetic time series for use where products suffer from a liquidity gap. 

https://www.risk.net/risk-management/6141196/frtb-spurs-data-mining-push-at-stanchart?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=RN.Daily.DU.A.M-F0600&utm_source=RN.DCM.Scheduled_Updates&im_amfcid=15123586&im_amfmdf=1f878e6de983dbba82889bc19f1dc737

Standard Chartered is turning to data mining techniques in a bid to bolster its ability to model illiquid products, ahead of new market risk capital rules that punish markets suffering patchy liquidity and gaps in trade data. The lender is building a central repository to host all of its trade data, which Albert Chung, the bank’s head of market risk analytics, Asia, for group market risk models, hopes will allow its risk and finance teams to share a “single golden source of data”. Such efforts

Conagra Brands make efforts to retain new consumers post covid-19 ***

Chicago based Conagra Brands, like all frozen food manufacturers, are attempting to find ways to hold on to new consumers in a post covid-19 market. Conagra Brands are excited by the spike but are aware it will not last instead are using this situation to reinforce their supply chain, retain new customers and find tangible long-term success for the company.

https://www.foodbusinessnews.net/articles/16350-conagra-brands-sees-unique-window-of-opportunity

CHICAGO – Conagra Brands is intent on not going back to pre-pandemic levels of demand. Even as the demand surge caused by the coronavirus (COVID-19) and subsequent stay-at-home orders subsides, management is focusing on maintaining demand levels above pre-COVID-19 levels. “Instead of choosing to simply accept the elevated demand as transitory and focus on maximizing near-term margins, we have chosen to bolster the long-term earnings potential of our company,” said Sean M. Connolly, president and chief executive officer, during a June 30 conference call to discuss fiscal 2020 results. “We believe the dynamic environment in which we find ourselves provides a unique window of opportunity to maintain the current momentum such that we maximize our long-term value-creation potential. (To) make that possible, we need to make investments focused on doing everything in our power to ensure the physical availability of our products.” Mr. Connolly elaborated on how he sees COVID-19 affecting consumers now and into the future. “Consumers are legitimately rediscovering certain things in their house, whether it's their kitchens, their freezers, being together, and they like it,” he said. “They’re also discovering that some of the things that they thought existed actually have changed quite a bit. So, for example, the quality of frozen food. “So, you put both of those things together, and there is clearly an element of pleasant surprise that consumers have when it comes to cooking at home. And given the tremendous value proposition of cooking at home and that we are in a recessionary environment, it’s entirely plausible that these dynamics persist for some time, especially with the news changing hourly on COVID and what’s happening with positive cases.” Areas of future investment include increasing manufacturing capacity, ensuring supply chain effectiveness, e-commerce and product innovation. As an example, Mr. Connolly said Conagra’s Birds Eye brand hit its ceiling on capacity during the quarter and the company is investing to ensure it doesn’t happen in the future. “These investments in our supply chain will allow us to efficiently meet the elevated demand we are seeing today and expect to see going forward,” he said. “This is an important example of that investment.” The elevated level of demand had a dramatic impact on the company’s performance during fiscal 2020, ended May 31. Net income rose 24% to $842 million, equal to $1.72 per share on the common stock. Fiscal 2020 sales rose 16% to $11 billion. Other than Conagra Brands’ Foodservice business unit, the three others saw significant sales increases, including both Grocery & Snacks and Refrigerated and Frozen Foods, which were double-digit increases. Refrigerated & Frozen Food sales rose 22% during the year to $4.6 billion. Mr. Connolly said Conagra’s frozen food business gained share during the fourth quarter and he sees room for additional gains as the company works out the capacity issues around the Birds Eye Brand. Grocery & Snacks sales rose 18% during the year to $4.6 billion. In the fourth quarter, snack sales grew 20% and grocery product sales rose 46%. “These businesses are proving to be a distinct benefit to our portfolio,” Mr. Connolly said. “But while we’re pleased with our results for the quarter and the year, we are particularly excited about what the quarter has taught us about the opportunity that lies ahead as consumers have shifted their behaviors and eating habits.” International business unit sales rose 7% during the year to $881 million and Foodservice sales fell 6% to $952.4 million. Citing uncertainty in the market, management only offered guidance for the first quarter of fiscal 2021. “We hope that when we report Q1 results, we will be in a position to give you a further update on our outlook,” Mr. Connolly said. “While we don’t expect the next few months to drive as much change as the past few, we expect to know a lot more by then.” The company expects first-quarter sales to rise 10% to 13% when compared to the first quarter of fiscal 2020 and adjusted earnings per share to be in the range of 54¢ to 59¢. “We are expecting the elevated retail demand to continue into Q1 although at a lower rate than Q4, leading us to our Q1 organic net sales expectation of plus 10% to plus 13%,” said David S. Marberger, chief financial officer. “We continue to expect the favorable operating leverage from the elevated volumes in Q1 to offset the additional COVID-related costs.” Making forecasting difficult is understanding when demand levels will ease and when retailers will begin to rebuild inventories, Mr. Connolly said. “The question, of course, is when will that happen?” he said. “We’ve seen demand slow recently, but it’s still at very, very high levels. “You also heard me talk about how we are making investments to increase capacities, but there’s an upper control limit to how we can do that. So, for the foreseeable future, in the near term, we are running flat out. And much of what we make and leaves our plants is going straight through to the consumer. When that slows down and the inventory levels build back is one of the wildcards that’s virtually impossible to predict.”

Baofeng to up Chinese solar park capacity to 1 GW

China's Baofeng Group will expand its 640 MW solar farm in the Binhe New District, Ningxia Province to 1 GW. Huawei, which provided 13,000 inverters for the initial grid-connected phase, is set to supply more for the expansion, though grid connection has not been confirmed. The solar site is also the location of a goji berry plantation.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/09/03/giant-agrivoltaic-project-in-china/

Chinese internet information services provider Baofeng Group is expanding the capacity of a 640 MW solar park in the Binhe New District on the eastern banks of the Yellow River in the Ningxia Province to 1 GW. In this giant project, the company is combining PV power generation with the production of goji berries, which are an ingredient in traditional Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese and Japanese medicine. A spokesperson from Chinese inverter maker Huawei, which is providing its products for the project, told pv magazine that the Baofeng Group began managing 107 square kilometers of desertified land in the area 2014, and that it initially planted alfalfa to improve the soil. The perennial flowering plant was then removed to enable the construction of the solar plants and, upon its completion, goji berries were planted underneath the panels. “This helped resume goji farming in the region, which in turn revived an otherwise dead expanse of desert,” the spokeperson said. The first 640 MW section of the project, which relies on 13,000 Huawei smart string inverters, was grid-connected under China's feed-in program for solar energy in 2016. According to Huawei, the facility was built in a sustainable way. “The ecosystem in this region has improved, the number of small wild animals has increased significantly, like sparrows, hares and pheasants,” Huawei representative added. The solar power plant is said to effectively reduce land moisture evaporation by between 30 and 40%. The vegetation coverage has purportedly increased by 85% while significantly improving the regional climate. “All the plantation use the drip irrigation because that area has very little precipitation,” the spokesperson further explained. The panels were installed at a height of 2.9 m, which not only offers enough room for the cultivation of goji berries, but also ensures optimal operation and maintenance activities, the company claims, adding that Baofeng uses drones and Huawei Smart Management System for the plant inspection. When the remaining 360 MW section of the plant will be grid-connected was not specified. Popular content According to a recent study from the United States, PV projects linked to agriculture have thus far shown the highest potential when combined with leafy greens such as lettuce and spinach, as well as with root crops such as potatoes, radishes, beets and carrots. The authors of the paper, however, also believe that a combination such as strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and lingonberries could also provide for strong power and crop yields. “But we haven’t checked this yet,” they said. “On the ‘likely not a good idea’ side are tall crops that may interfere more with the panels like corn or orchard crops.” Another study from the University of Arizona stated that the shade from solar panels growing crops can help produce to two or three times more fruit and vegetables than conventional agriculture setups. The group presented the results of a multi-year research project investigating how chiltepin peppers, jalapenos and cherry tomato plants grew in the shade of PV panels in a dry location. German renewable energy company BayWa r.e. and its Dutch subsidiary, GroenLeven, are building five pilot agrivoltaic power projects in the Netherlands, where they are testing five different types of crops: blueberries, red currants, raspberries, strawberries and blackberries.

Azerbaijan&#39;s&nbsp;Socar hikes&nbsp;production at refinery in&nbsp;Turkey

Azerbaijani oil company Socar is increasing production at its new Star refinery in Turkey and buying sour crude from Russia at a time of tightening sour crude markets in the Mediterranean, according to sources. The state-run company has reached the midway point in its processing capacity of 200,000 barrels per day at the new refinery and could reach full capacity in April. Cuts in output from OPEC countries, along with US sanctions on Venezuela and Iran, have led to shortages of heavy and sour crude in Europe, leading to an increase in prices.

https://oilprice.com/Latest-Energy-News/World-News/Sour-Crude-Oil-Market-To-Tighten-Further-in-Mediterranean.html

Azerbaijan’s state oil firm SOCAR is ramping up production at its new refinery in Turkey and is actively buying sour crude grades for the facility, additionally tightening the already tight sour crude market in the Mediterranean and Europe, crude traders and sources tell Reuters. SOCAR’s oil refinery STAR is designed to have a processing capacity of 200,000 bpd, and it has already reached half that planned capacity, sources familiar with the refinery start-up told Reuters. Full capacity could be reached as soon as next month, and SOCAR is actively buying Russia’s Urals sour crude grade at a time when supply of sour and heavy crudes in the Mediterranean and Europe is tightening. OPEC’s production cuts and the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela and Iran have been limiting the availability of heavy and sour crude grades to Europe, where prices for sour and heavier grades, including Russia’s Urals, have recently shot up amid an increasingly tightening market. The U.S. sanctions on Iran had already limited some of the heavy grade supply into Europe. Then with the new round of OPEC/non-OPEC cuts that began in January, Iraq’s Basra Light and Heavy—typically very popular among European refiners—have also been in short supply on the spot market in Europe as Iraq is diverting more barrels of Basra to the premium market for Middle Eastern producers: Asia. To top off the sanctions on Iran and the OPEC cuts, the U.S. sanctions on Venezuela at the end of January further tightened the heavy crude market in Europe, and traders expect the market to tighten even more in the coming months. The sanctions on Venezuela and on Iran, as well as OPEC’s cuts, have led to a huge imbalance between light sweet grades and heavy sour grades, especially in Europe, as Middle Eastern and other oil producers are targeting to keep their sales on the Asian market. Due to tighter supply of medium and heavy sour crude oil, Middle Eastern benchmarks for sour crude grades traded higher than Brent Crude prices at the beginning of February in a rarely seen development in global oil prices. ADVERTISEMENT By Tsvetana Paraskova for Oilprice.com More Top Reads From Oilprice.com:

Nationwide to help mortgage borrowers go green with £1bn fund

Nationwide Building Society has made £1bn available to reduce the carbon footprint of Britain’s homes as it called on the government to make the Help to Buy scheme greener, review council tax and create incentives for housebuilders to build more EPC A-rated homes.Nationwide’s chief executive Joe Garner has urged the government to commission an independent review of council tax to explore how linking taxation to a home’s energy efficiency can incentivise green home improvements.He also called on other lenders to follow Nationwide’s lead and offer discounted rates for EPC A-rated new-build homes and green home improvements.

https://www.yourmoney.com/mortgages/nationwide-to-help-mortgage-borrowers-go-green-with-1bn-fund/

Nationwide Building Society has made £1bn available to reduce the carbon footprint of Britain’s homes as it called on the government to make the Help to Buy scheme greener, review council tax and create incentives for housebuilders to build more EPC A-rated homes. The £1bn fund will finance the development of a new range of green mortgages at “preferential” rates if the borrower is buying a new-build EPC A-rated home. The fund will also be used to give borrowers loans of up to £25,000 for green home improvements and retrofitting. These loans will have rates which start from one per cent for the first two years. The building society said incentives for consumers are “the only realistic way” to help people make their homes greener. Wider reforms Nationwide’s chief executive Joe Garner has urged the government to commission an independent review of council tax to explore how linking taxation to a home’s energy efficiency can incentivise green home improvements. Garner also wants the government to transition the Help to Buy scheme to a new Help to Green programme to deliver more EPC A-rated homes with taxpayer support. He also called on other lenders to follow Nationwide’s lead and offer discounted rates for EPC A-rated new-build homes and green home improvements. Garner said: “Nationwide Building Society’s core social purpose is to help people into a place fit to call home. There is now also an urgent imperative to reduce carbon emissions from those homes. “Our suggested reforms are about creating meaningful incentives for people to green their homes. It’s not about penalising those in society who are least able to pay or putting the burden on local authorities.” “This is the greatest mutual challenge we face, and we will only make a difference if we work together,” he added. Dr. Rhian-Mari Thomas, chief executive of Green Finance Institute, said: “Developing the market for financing net-zero carbon and climate-resilient homes is a key objective of the Green Finance Institute’s Coalition for the Energy Efficiency of Buildings. “We welcome the leadership shown by Nationwide in supporting homeowners and consumers with innovative financial products.”

Bricklaying robot twice as fast as humans

please link to this story about another robot bricklayer: http://www.domain.com.au/news/worldfirst-robot-brickie-hadrian-can-build-a-house-in-two-days-20150714-giaw96/ The comparison with human bricky was taken from a few discussion threads that we can't cite in the story but they are all giving similar numbers, so OK to assume 500-700 a day A US-based company, Construction Robotics, has created a brick-laying robot called the semi-automated mason or SAM which can lay 500 to 700 bricks per day. The robot has been in use for a few years but came to public prominence when a gif of the robot became viral. As we previously reported in July 2015, Perth-based company Fastbrick Robotics was developing a robot called “Hadrian” that could lay 1,000 bricks per hour. The robot had the potential to erect the brick frame of a house in just two days, rather than in weeks. Over AUD$7m was spent on the 10 year project.

http://pickle.nine.com.au/2016/10/10/16/47/brick-laying-robot

Sheep playing on 'vertical' cliffside baffle viewers If the video above has you turning your phone around to try to fix the screen, don't worry - that's how it's meant to look.

Not only honey bees, native bees may also be facing a ‘pandemic’: Scientists

The extent of pathogen impact on solitary bees is unknown, but it is crucial as they comprise majority of the approximately 20,000 bee species on the planet. The strains could contribute to colony collapse, a phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a honey bee colony disappear, leaving behind a queen, food, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees.

https://www.downtoearth.org.in/news/wildlife-biodiversity/not-only-honey-bees-native-bees-may-also-be-facing-a-pandemic-scientists-72229

The extent of pathogen impact on solitary bees is unknown, but it is crucial as they comprise majority of the approximately 20,000 bee species on the planet A fungal pathogen has been infecting bees around the world for at least two decades. And scientists are calling it a pandemic. The unicellular pathogen Nosema causes the most common and widespread disease in adult honey bees. It has been exclusively documented in European honeybee, though it is also found in bees across Europe, Canada and Kenya. The pathogen is impacting the native, solitary bees, the extent of which is unknown, according to University of Colorado Boulder researchers. The results were published in the journal PLOS Pathogens. The information is crucial as solitary bees comprise a majority of the approximately 20,000 bee species on the planet. “More work needs to be done to understand Nosema infections in native bee species and the potential consequences to native ecosystems, if native bees suffer a similar fate as honeybees when infected,” said Arthur Grupe, lead author and researcher in the Department of Ecology and Evolutionary Biology. The different strains of Nosema — Nosema apis, Nosema ceranae, Nosema bombi — are the most common strains to cause infections in bees. Nosema ceranae causes year-round infections in hives; so far, only Nosema bombi, which infects bumblebees, has been documented in Colorado. While N apis was the only known unicellular honey bee pathogen until 1996, when the second species, N ceranae, was identified from the Asian honey bee. Reserachers have underlined the need to better understand how these Nosema strains travel through the globe and affect native, solitary bees. The strains could contribute to colony collapse, a phenomenon that occurs when the majority of worker bees in a honey bee colony disappear, leaving behind a queen, food, and a few nurse bees to care for the remaining immature bees. Other concerns The pandemic has ecologists worried over the fate of not only bees, but plants as well. If a species of bees is wiped out, the plant exclusively dependant on it for pollination may die away too. Another major concern is that of pathogen spillover, which may happen when infected bees from commercial hives leave the fungus on flowers and infect the native bees. But only a little is known about what is happening, say researchers. “That's one of the reasons why we think it's so important for people to start doing this kind of surveillance work and sampling more native bees,” University of Colarado Boulder quoted co-author Alisha Quandt as saying.

Billionaire Vinik closes hedge fund 8 months after relaunch

The US billionaire Jeffrey Vinik has closed his Vinik Asset Management (VAM) hedge fund eight months after relaunching the scheme. Vinik said it had been much harder to raise money than he had anticipated, despite the funds rising by 4.8% on a net basis between 1 March and 30 September. VAM held more than $500m in assets, but Vinik said the fund needed between $2bn and $3bn for the economics of the business to be viable. The funds will close by 15 November. Editor: I'd suggest changing "8" to "eight" in the headline.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/10/23/billionaire-investor-jeffrey-vinik-closes-hedge-fund-less-than-a-year-after-its-relaunch.html

Jeffrey Vinik, the billionaire investor who relaunched his hedge fund earlier this year, is cutting his comeback tour short. "It has been much harder to raise money over the last several months than I anticipated," Vinik said in a letter dated Wednesday to investors. The Wall Street Journal first reported the news. CNBC later confirmed it. "The climate for raising long-short equity hedge fund assets has been far more difficult than I expected, and performance of the VAM funds, while good ... has not provided the necessary momentum to bring in our desired level of investments." Vinik Asset Management funds rose 4.8% on a net basis between March 1 and Sept. 30, the letter said. The funds will close by Nov. 15. The fund manager, who made a name for himself running Fidelity's Magellan fund before going out on his own, announced his comeback in mid-January. At the time, he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" that "the fire in my belly still burns." But Vinik had a hard time raising money. Vinik Asset Management had more than $500 million in assets, according to the Journal, but Vinik hoped to raise between $2 billion and $3 billion. Vinik, who owns the Tampa Bay Lightning hockey team, told the Journal he needed to raise more money for the "economics" of the business to "make sense." The asset-management industry has been under pressure lately as the rise in passive investment vehicles such as exchanged-traded funds has pressured fees. Subscribe to CNBC on YouTube.

Coinsnap expands services to europe

Coinsnap, the leading providers of bitcoin payment modules for e-commerce vendors. Coinsnap‘s bitcoin payment module can be quickly installed by the online merchants, or can be integrated into more than 30 leading shopping cart systems including Magento, shopware, plentyMarkets and OXID eShop without any charges. Coinsnap offers merchants a unique complete package comprising a shopping cart module, calculation of bitcoin exchange rates, collection of incoming bitcoin payments and sale of bitcoins on the market, and posting of payment amounts to the merchant’s account in the official currency of the shop, all via a cost-effective and easy-to-install process. Coinsnap charges a discount of 1% and a transaction fee of €0.10 for its services.   

http://www.financialit.net/content/bitcoin-payment-provider-coinsnap-expands-his-market-presence-whole-europe

Bitcoin payment provider Coinsnap expands his market presence to whole Europe The payment option Bitcoin is an intrinsic part of the payment page in e-commerce areas such as entertainment, games, gaming, software and data backup. The 100-percent payment assurance for customers and online merchants coupled with immediate payment processing provides everyone involved with a high degree of reliability, particularly for cross-border transactions.Owing to the sharp increase in the number of cross border purchases made online, Bitcoin is now advancing into the focus of traditional e-commerce retailers as a payment option to reduce the risk of fraud and avoid time and resource-consuming identity checks. As a Bitcoin payment provider deployed throughout Europe, Coinsnap offers all internationally active market participants the cutting-edge infrastructure they need for this, along with payment technology 'Made in Germany', underpinned by more than 20 years of payment expertise. For more information visit www.coinsnap.eu Simple shop integration - individual price display - Bitcoin-typical savings Coinsnap provides e-commerce companies with all-round technological compatibility. This makes integration into existing systems via the Coinsnap API possible, while connections to more than 30 popular shop systems are also available including Magento, shopware, plentyMarkets and OXID eShop. Coinsnap does not charge any fees for either of the integration paths. The connection, including individual customisation, can be set-up in a few hours with the help of Coinsnap Technical Support. With focus on the customer, the prices set in various currencies and Bitcoin can thus be displayed on the product pages and in the payment process. Payment processing is also focussed towards the merchant: Coinsnap transfers the sales price to the merchant's bank account without any currency conversion loss, and Bitcoin transactions direct to an internal or private merchant wallet are also possible. For administration and analysis, all processes can be viewed in detail on the Coinsnap Dashboard and evaluated statistically. Coinsnap charges a discount of 1% and a transaction fee of €0.10 for its services. This ensures that the online shop retains all Bitcoin-typical cost benefits that distinguish the virtual currency from other payment options. Payment technology 'Made in Germany' - long-standing industry expertise Coinsnap belongs to a group of companies, which has been developing services and infrastructure for online payment 'Made in Germany ' throughout Europe for more than 20 years, the subsidiaries of which have been granted European finance institute licenses. The team is made up exclusively of highly experienced payment professionals. Coinsnap is headed up by its CEO Stephan Wetzmueller, a payment industry insider with also more than 20 years of market experience in senior management positions and as an entrepreneur. As a result, customers receive via Coinsnap cutting-edge payment technology and expert know-how in Bitcoin integration and payment processing. Shop system connections: http://www.coinsnap.eu/en/public/merchant-shop-module.html API documentation: http://doc.coinsnap.eu/#howto

Octillion reaches milestone of 100,000 EVs on the road

US turnkey lithium-ion battery supplier Octillion Power Systems has surpassed 100,000 EVs powered by its products on the road, clocking over two billion km driven. Octillion has experienced significant growth over the past decade and now has over 3 GWh of production capacity, with plans to double this by 2024. The firm has positioned itself as the leading battery pack producer in India, where it has delivered power to over 600 buses, while 20% of EVs in China are fitted with Octillion batteries.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/07/20200728-octillion.html

Octillion Power Systems, a provider of advanced lithium-ion storage systems for electric mobility, announced it has reached two milestones: 100,000 electric vehicles worldwide powered by its batteries and 2 billion kilometers driven. Octillion has seen rapid growth in production capacity, experience, and partnerships over the last decade. With operations in the United States, India and China, the company has expanded production capacity to more than 3 gigawatt hours (GWh) to meet the increasing demand for EVs as the market matures; the company plans to double this capacity in the next three to four years. Octillion continues to increase its market share and customer base across the globe. In India, for example, Octillion has become the leading battery pack manufacturer after having shipped more than 600 buses worth of batteries to the country’s rapidly expanding market. In the US, Octillion supplies batteries to companies such as Colorado’s Lightning Systems, a fast-growing commercial fleet electric powertrain manufacturer, as well as other commercial OEMs. Over the past 10 years, our engineers have designed more than 150 different EV pack variants, making our ‘platform-based strategy’ a versatile hallmark that our customers rely on. —Paul Beach, president, Octillion Power Systems This 600V battery designed and built by Octillion can be configured for use in a wide arrange of commercial and passenger electric vehicle applications. Octillion is a turnkey battery supplier for the transportation market providing its customers with a bridge from design to manufacturing. Octillion’s products undergo a robust design process including extensive thermal modeling, fully integrated BMS, and standardized production processes that offers a customized package solution. Twenty percent of the electric vehicles in China today are using Octillion batteries, the company said. Octillion was founded in 2009 by a group of engineers in the US and China. Dr. Peng Zhou is chairman and co-founder of Octillion. After graduation from Stanford University with a Ph.D in mechanical and electrical engineering, Dr. Zhou accumulated more than 16 years of experience in the global advanced energy storage industry. Dr. Zhou previously served as director of Tesla’s research and development from 2006 to 2008 and chief engineer for Tesla’s Model S powertrain. Octillion holds more than 270 patents covering key battery management technologies, including liquid-cooling systems, battery thermal runway detecting systems, thermal management modules, battery safety monitoring methodologies, and overcharging prevention techniques.

Coronavirus expected to hit MENA renewables project funding

The Covid-19 outbreak could reduce financing for renewable schemes in the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, analysts have warned. The simultaneous appearance on the market of several independent power and water projects, delayed because of the pandemic, could limit financing opportunities, hindering the growth of MENA's nascent renewables sector.

https://www.power-technology.com/comment/middle-east-renewables-programme/

The energy sector has been implementing major adjustments to mitigate the severe disruption in the global supply chain seen over the past two months. Credit: P.V.R.Murty / Shutterstock. The ongoing coronavirus crisis and low oil prices have made the region’s oil-exporting economies that have identified tourism, hospitality and logistics as key pillars of their economic diversification programmes especially vulnerable. The interlocking crisis could also affect the region’s nascent renewable energy programmes. Up to 90GW of renewable energy capacity, mainly solar and wind power, is planned across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region over the next ten to 20 years. Of these, an estimated 15GW are under execution, while half of that capacity is under the tendering phase. Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Morocco and the UAE have some of the region’s largest renewable energy programmes. “There is potentially two to three months delay in new project awards and implementation as a result of the ongoing crisis,” says Ramses Khalil, general manager for Saudi Arabia and Egypt of Australia-based Worley. “But the renewable energy programmes in the region will continue regardless of the price of oil because renewable energy is a direct substitute for electricity generated from fossil fuels.” Demand growth Notably a significant economic contraction will inevitably reduce demand for electricity and water over the short-term. The scale of the measures being undertaken to mitigate economic risks of a similar outbreak in the future could also dampen long-term demand. However, a short-term slowdown will not necessarily present a shock to the region’s electricity markets, a senior consultant tells MEED. “On the demand side, tariff reform has already significantly slowed demand growth in the GCC countries,” explains Brendan Cronin, management consulting head in the Middle East at consultancy AFRY. “Covid-19 means that an overall fall in demand growth is now highly likely for 2020. Population and economic growth fundamentals will mean that demand growth will return in to 2021 and beyond, but the level of growth depends on the future oil price.” On the supply side, it is understood that the independent power producer (IPP) tender pipeline is driven less by demand growth and more by the potential to reduce gas cost by moving towards low-cost renewables, such as solar PV and wind, and seawater reverse osmosis (SWRO) desalination technology. “We need to therefore look at what is happening in the gas market and focus on the forward rather than spot prices,” Cronin tells MEED, adding that Afry expects the international netback gas price for 2023 to be around $4 a million British thermal unit (MMBtu), which is down $1.5/MMBtu since the start of the year. “This is still at a level where new renewables and reverse osmosis [projects] can deliver savings to the system … so these tenders should proceed,” the executive explains. “But uncertainty has certainly increased as offtakers and policymakers take time to re-assess.” Supply chain Similar to other industries, the energy sector has been implementing major adjustments to mitigate the severe disruption in the global supply chain seen over the past two months. “We have seen that some developers have been forced to switch away from Chinese components at greater cost to the developer,” points out Cronin. “However, the power development supply chain is global and has driven down costs significantly. We do not think that this will fundamentally change.” The current situation has demonstrated that constructing an IPP has risks that cannot always be anticipated and, as Conin says, “Covid-19 may lead to increased equity return expectations.” Project funding and finance risks The ongoing crisis is expected to affect project funding and financing availability. Prior to the crisis, the region, particularly Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Saudi Arabia, led the world in terms of low tariffs for independent power and water projects. This was made possible primarily by the availability of financing from international and local investment companies, equity funding by state clients, and the rapid reduction in engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) costs as new technologies become available. However, the global nature of the supply chain means IPPs and independent water projects (IWPs) that are being delayed now could come back to the market simultaneously once the system is restored, potentially limiting the availability of financing for IPPs and IWPs in the region. “That is a likely scenario that could slow down IPP implementation post-crisis,” points out a DIFC-based senior transaction adviser. “Some international investment banks could set up exposure limits by sector or by country.” Cronin also says there is a risk of credit spreads increasing as government offtakers will be seen as less creditworthy in a low oil price and low growth environment. However, he expects that the impact will be small for most of the GCC states with the exception of Oman. “Oman’s budget deficit in combination with low oil prices is going to make project funding challenging in the current market,” he said. Despite these risks, it is expected that fully-fledged IPP projects will have better prospects than energy projects that are being procured on an EPC basis due to the reduction in state budgets. “In countries like Saudi Arabia, the full IPPs will be a little easier [to implement] compared to EPC projects, which could come to a halt,” the transaction adviser warns. This implies that renewable energy IPPs such as those being procured under the kingdom’s competitive bidding process have a higher likelihood of pushing ahead compared with the schemes being planned through direct negotiations. “The government revenue is proportional to oil prices,” one of the consultants explains. “We make more, we pay more; we make less we pay less, that’s inescapable.” This article is published by MEED, the world’s leading source of business intelligence about the Middle East. MEED provides exclusive news, data and analysis on the Middle East every day. For access to MEED’S Middle East business intelligence, subscribe here.

Enel X finalises EV charging roaming agreements

Enel X is set to expand its public charging network from 10,500 to more than 30,000 after securing e-roaming agreements with Allego, as well as Innogy and Bosch. The deal means Enel JuicePass app users can access an extra 19,500 charging stations via the Hubject platform, across the Netherlands, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany without needing a new contract. Enel X, which owns an interest in Hubject, plans to roll out more e-roaming solutions in the future.

https://www.electrive.com/2020/06/03/enel-x-now-roaming-with-allego-bosch-and-innogy/

The Italian energy provider Enel has concluded eRoaming agreements with Allego, Bosch and Innogy through its subsidiary Enel X. The Enel X network will thus grow from 10,500 to over 30,000 public charging points. Using Hubject’s platform, users of the Enel JuicePass app can now access 19,500 additional charging points in Belgium, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands without having to conclude new contracts. Enel X acquired a stake in Hubject last September. The majority of the new charging points are Allego. The Dutch network has more than 15,000 public charging stations in the EU. According to Enel X, these include 200 charging points with more than 175 kW and over 1,000 with charging capacities from 50 to 175 kW. Innogy has connected around 4,000 public charging points to the Hubject network. Bosch contributes around 550 charging points. “Looking ahead, we will continue to launch similar eRoaming initiatives to foster economic recovery through our sustainable business model,” said Francesco Venturini, CEO of Enel X. “Towards this aim, we will also be leveraging on the vast opportunities offered by the Hubject network, to create a true pan-European electric highway that will drive Europeans through this challenging period towards a truly open society.” - ADVERTISEMENT - Enel X has also given an outlook on the growth Venturini is aiming for: Enel X currently has 100,000 charging points, but this figure also includes private charging points at homes and companies. This figure is expected to rise to 736,000 charging points by 2022. Enel X says that interoperability, or eRoaming, is a structural component of their mission to create charging solutions for all types of use (home, office, transit) that are accessible through a single point of access, namely Enel X’s JuicePass app. This means that there is a single interface for customers to charge at home and work as well as allowing access to Enel X’s and its partner’s public charging points and now, eventually, the entire Hubject network encompassing 20,000 charging points. Enel X operates its charging points in its home country Italy, but also in Spain and Romania as well as those in third party networks. Also, there are several roaming agreements to enable JuicePass users to charge in other European countries – such as Austria, Belgium, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Hungary and Ireland. enelx.com

BHP Billiton ordered to reserve &pound;330m for dam disaster

BHP Billiton and Vale, the mining giants and joint venture partners of Samarco Minerao S.A. have been ordered by a Brazilian court to reserve £330m ($491.5m) of funds currently frozen in assets within Brazil, with potentially billions more to follow, it was reported today. This is the penalty for their part in Brazil’s worst ever environmental disaster, when one of the company’s dams recently collapsed, causing 17 fatalities so far. The partners have also been instructed by the courts to undertake extensive remediation plans to aid the environmental and socio-economic recovery of the area. Recommendations include consultancy evaluations of fish contamination, prevention of waste leakage, implementation of pest control measures, river bank mud removal and lagoon sludge prevention plans. Samarco Minerao S.A. also hired New York law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP to investigate exactly what led to the disaster. BHP Billiton has committed itself to helping relocate displaced communities before 25 December 2015.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/samarco-dam-disaster-bhp-billiton-ordered-to-set-aside-cash-by-brazilian-court-2015-12

Protestors perform lying in muddy water which they splashed at the entrance to Vale headquarters on November 16, 2015 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Mario Tama/Getty Images A Brazilian court has ordered BHP Billiton and Vale to set aside £330 million ($491.5 million) with the possibility of billions more, frozen the mining giants' assets in the country, and ordered it to carry out extensive environmental and social work in the region hit by a dam burst at its joint venture. In short, Brazil is throwing the book at the pair. The action against the two mining goliaths relates to the catastrophe that hit the Samarco iron ore operation in Minas Gerais, Brazil, on November 5. BHP and Vale each own 50% of Samarco. The disaster saw a dam collapse and release 60 million cubic metres of mud downstream into the water systems of hundreds of towns and cities. Brazil's President has compared the disaster to the 2010 BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico and dubbed it Brazil's worst ever environmental disaster. BHP confirmed in an update on Tuesday that the death toll for the collapse has risen to 17, from an earlier estimate of 13. Two people remain missing. Brazil's government is suing BHP and Vale for "at least" 20 billion Brazilian reals (£3.3 billion, $4.9 billion) and, as part of the proceedings, a Brazilian court has made some preliminary demands of the pair. In its update on Tuesday, BHP says it has been ordered to: Deposit BRL 2 billion (£330 million, $491.5 million) to a Court-managed bank account within 30 days. That's 10% of the total reparations the government is after. Samarco faces a daily fine of BRL 1.5 million (£250,000, $370,000) for non-compliance with this deadline; Restrictions have been placed on the mining exploration concessions held by Samarco in Brazil, meaning the mining rights can't be sold or transferred — in other words, the assets are frozen; The pair must undertake extensive remediation plans including: "preventing leakage of waste from the Fundão tailings dam, engaging a consultant to evaluate contamination of fish and implement pest control, removal of mud from the Rio Doce banks, adoption of measures to prevent sludge from reaching the lagoon, and presentation of a comprehensive plan for environmental recovery and socio-economic recovery." The Bento Rodrigues district is pictured covered with mud after a dam owned by Vale and BHP Billiton burst in Mariana, Brazil. REUTERS/Ricardo Moraes BHP says in its update that additional water quality testing shows the material leaked into the water system is non-toxic, although it does contain traces of heavy metals. The company has also drafted in a veteran executive to lead its Brazilian team on the ground and hired New York law firm Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP to investigate just what went wrong with the dam. BHP says in the statement: Samarco continues to work with the government authorities in Brazil to relocate displaced people from temporary accommodation to rented housing and to distribute living wage debit cards to those who have been impacted. All displaced people will have been given the opportunity to relocate before 25 December 2015. Community access bridges are being rebuilt and public service centres have been established in affected communities. Planning for the reconstruction of impacted communities has also commenced.

Duke Energy selects three sites to add 224.3 MW solar in Florida

Duke Energy Florida has named the sites for three solar plants at Duette, Charlie Creek and Archer, with a total capacity of 224.3 MW, which are expected to be completed in 2021. The company’s state president, Catherine Stempien, said it was part of Duke’s $1bn plans to supply 700 MW of green energy by 2022. The company wants to operate 1.7 GW of solar in the state within a decade. Including the three new projects, Duke is running or building more than 500 MW of solar plants. Its plans include storage, updated grids and transport electrification schemes.

https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2020/05/duke-energy-florida-planning-new-solar-projects-in-state/

Duke Energy Florida (DEF) filed the locations of its three newest solar power plants, which will provide clean energy to the utility’s customers, adding a proposed 224.3 MW of new solar to the state. The three solar projects are: The 74.5-MW Duette Solar Power Plant, which will be about 227,000 single-axis solar tracking panels on 520 acres in Manatee County. The 74.9-MW Charlie Creek Solar Power Plant, which will be 235,000 single-axis solar tracking panels on 610 acres in Hardee County. The 74.9-MW Archer Solar Power Plant will be 220,000 single-axis tracking solar panels on 630 acres in Alachua County. During construction, each solar project is expected to create approximately 200 to 300 temporary jobs. All three solar power plants will be owned, operated and maintained by Duke Energy Florida and are expected to be finished in late 2021. “The Archer, Duette and Charlie Creek solar power plants will complete Duke Energy Florida’s commitment to customers to provide 700 MW of clean, green energy by 2022,” said Catherine Stempien, Duke Energy Florida state president. “Once operational, our solar power plants will eliminate nearly 3 billion pounds of carbon dioxide emissions each year. The sun shines bright here in Florida, and we are committed to making more solar investments in the years to come.” Duke Energy Florida currently has more than 500 MW of solar generation under construction or in operation, excluding these latest three projects. The company is investing an estimated $1 billion to construct or acquire a total of 700 MW of solar power facilities from 2018 through 2022 in Florida and is planning to reach a total of almost 1,700 MW of solar generation over the next 10 years. Duke Energy Florida recently completed two other facilities: The 245,000-panel, 74.9-MW Columbia Solar Power Plant in Columbia County, began serving customers on March 17, 2020. The 300,000-panel, 74.5-MW DeBary Solar Power Plant in Volusia County, began serving customers on May 14, 2020. Duke Energy Florida is buying existing solar projects and using a competitive process to select DEF solar contractors, solar panels and project material suppliers. The utility plans to invest in additional solar power plants, battery storage technology, shared solar, transportation electrification and a modernized power grid for its customer base. News item from Duke Energy

Decoin, the crypto-exchange startup which is disturbing the market

Through offering up to 20% of revenues to coin holders registered on the developing DTEP Exchange and Trading Platform, Decoin has the ability to disrupt both the crypto-credit card and trading markets. Additionally, the company offers a variety of crypto-credit cards operating with the coin's wallet, permitting 'native coinholders' the opportunity to spend their digital currency wherever and whenever they please. Having received $4m of investment, and completing the development of its new and improved blockchain ecosystem, Decoin has the capability to disrupt two mass markets within crypto. 

https://cointelegraph.com/press-releases/decoin-the-blockchain-startup-disrupting-the-crypto-credit-card-market

Decoin Offers Revenue Sharing to Coin Holders with Innovative DTEP Exchange and Trading Platform. From Revenue Sharing to Crypto-Credit Cards: How Decoin Is Making Waves In The Blockchain Space. Cryptocurrency became a mainstream phenomenon near the end of 2017. Popular publications started reporting on it, investors of various demographics began investing in it, and it seemed like mass adoption of cryptocurrency was plausible in the near future. This is where Decoin—a blockchain startup disrupting the status quo by offering tremendous value from revenue sharing to crypto-credit cards—comes in. Meet Decoin Decoin is developing a trading and exchange platform that offers redistributed revenues to coin holders. This means that coinholders registered on the DTEP exchange will be eligable to receive up to 20% of trading revenue generated by the exchange. Moreover, the company is offering its own suite of crypto-credit cards—five types of cards, to be exact—operating directly with the coin's wallet, offering native coin holders the flexibility to spend their digital currency whenever and wherever they are. Having already reached its soft cap ICO fundraising goal, Decoin is poised for success in its attempt to disrupt the crypto-credit card market. "Reaching the soft cap of $4,000,000 is an exciting moment," says Shay Perry, CEO of Decoin. "We are happy with the support of the community and will soon announce further developments in the project." Decoin Making Strong Progress Placing user security at the forefront of its priority list, Decoin is storing 97% of the funds offline in cold storage while the remaining 3% will be insured. Additionally, the company's DTEP exchange is scheduled to launch in approximately 4-6 months—at the same time the company expects to obtain its licensing from the Singaporean RMO. This critical milestone in the company's roadmap will enable DTEP to operate worldwide, fully licensed. As a further addition of value behind the scenes of Decoin's crypto-credit card product, the company has updated its blockchain ecosystem and fully developed its technology. This means that 100% of its coins and wallets are prepared for activation and launch—upon completion of the ICO on October 26th, 2018, the coins will be allocated to investors' private wallets. "There are funds from all over the world that are interested in investing in our project," says Perry. "And we are very happy to be reaching this moment of small success on a long path still to go." The global economy is slowly shifting towards an entirely digital framework. Decoin’s innovative crypto-credit card solution—along with its well-developed "revenue-sharing exchange" and professional team—may prove interesting for end users. If Decoin continues on its current path of swift productivity and success, the company may become an industry-leader in both the crypto-credit card as well as the exchange and trading platform markets. Learn more about the ICO project as well as the related information here. Follow us on social networks: Telegram Twitter Facebook Bitcointalk ANN WhitePaper Company name: RT 2008 Ltd. Company site: https://www.decoin.io Company contact: Ofir sahar Company email: [email protected]

ETF industry needs consolidated tape in order to secure future growth

The exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry needs a standardised consolidated tape to continue at its current level of growth, according to panellists at the ETFs Global Markets Roundtable in London. The panel also said that ETFs have stood up to market volatility with little impact to primary markets. The introduction of MiFID II has been positive for the industry in terms of providing transparency. The panel said exchanges must do more to compete against the request-for-quote (RFQ) trading method.

https://www.thetradenews.com/etfs-growth-threatened-lack-consolidated-tape/

The sustained growth levels of the exchange-traded fund (ETF) industry could be under threat due to a lack of a consolidated tape, according to several senior market participants. Speaking at the ETFs Global Markets Roundtable in London this week, panellists agreed that with around 18,000 data points, a standardised consolidated tape is a “desperate need” for the industry. “Currently, the level of visibility on trading volumes is the biggest obstacle to the growth of ETFs,” said Gregoire Blanc, head of capital markets at Lyxor ETFs. “It’s extremely difficult to locate and go through those data sets, and growth and price formation could be prevented from being fully unlocked as a result.” Henry Reece, head of sales at Susquehanna International Group, added, “The lack of a consolidated tape is a major factor. “We need this as a market maker to get to know the industry better and our buy-side or institutional clients. Staying on top of that is a real challenge,” The panel also said that despite concerns having been raised around ETFs and liquidity, the product has stood up to the test of market volatility with very little impact to primary markets. Jason Xavier, head of EMEA ETF capital markets at Franklin Templeton Investments, reiterated the importance of ETFs in times of market stress and agreed that the industry is in desperate need for a consolidated tape. “When Brexit happened and we saw volatility, authorised participants (APs) and market makers stepped in and provided that liquidity. I am still yet to see a trade fail because nobody stepped in to provide liquidity,” Xavier said. Furthermore, the introduction of MiFID II has been a positive for the industry with more transparency providing greater investor confidence. However, to offer clients comprehensive and useable data, regulators need to introduce a consolidated tape. The panel also decided that exchanges need to do more to compete against the request-for -quote (RFQ) trading method. Reece told delegates that exchanges are important as they offer visible liquidity and they centrally clear transactions, although RFQs offer more comfort in knowing who you are trading with. “RFQ is in a difficult position at the moment with best execution requirements and there is a greying distinction between RFQ and exchanges trying to win optimum flow,” he said. “A large part of our business is over-the-counter (OTC) but we try to stay agnostic to preferences. Exchanges have to solve the issue of maintaining a bilateral agreement that the RFQ method offers.”

Mourinho and Klopp hit out over Manchester City appeal verdict

Manchester City's two-year ban from European competition has been lifted. Court of arbitration for sport said City had failed to cooperate with Uefa investigations. Court said most of the alleged breaches were either not established or time-barred. Jose Mourinho believes financial fair play is dead in the water. UEFA are corrupt.

https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/14/mourinho-and-klopp-hit-out-over-manchester-city-appeal-verdict-tottenham-liverpool-disgraceful

José Mourinho and Jürgen Klopp have strongly criticised the court of arbitration for sport’s ruling over the Manchester City case, with Tottenham’s manager describing the outcome as “disgraceful” and his Liverpool counterpart calling it a bad day for football. City’s two-year ban from European competition, imposed by Uefa after it found the club guilty of a serious breach of financial fair play rules, was lifted by Cas. The court said City had failed to cooperate with Uefa’s investigations but found that “most of the alleged breaches were either not established or time-barred”. City have always strenuously denied wrongdoing and the full Cas judgment is expected to be made public in the coming days. Mourinho referred to the ruling as a “disaster” and said it would now be “better to open the circus door” and allow clubs to spend whatever they liked. He believes financial fair play is dead in the water; Uefa has said it and the European Club Association remain committed to the principles of FFP. Cas imposed a €10m (£9m) fine on City, reduced from €30m, after finding they had obstructed Uefa’s investigation. To Mourinho, if City must pay that money they have to be guilty of something serious and, in this case, that ought to translate into a European ban. On the other hand, if the club have done nothing wrong, then they should pay nothing. “It’s a disgraceful decision,” Mourinho said. “If Man City is not guilty of it, to be punished by some millions is a disgrace. If you’re not guilty you’re not punished. In the other way, if you’re guilty you should be banned. In any case, it’s a disaster. “I’m not saying Man City is guilty. I’m saying if you’re not guilty you don’t pay. You are not punished, even with a pound. I know that money is quite easy for them but it’s just a principle. Why are you paying £8m or £9m if you are not guilty? If they are not guilty the decision is a disgrace. If you are guilty the decision is also a disgrace. My criticism is not for Man City. I’m nobody to know if they’re guilty or not. My criticism is for the decision.” Mourinho was asked whether he felt City had got lucky. “Maybe they got unlucky,” he replied. “Maybe they don’t deserve to be punished by one single pound and they were punished in £8m or £9m. Maybe they’re a victim.” The Spurs manager also mentioned how “other clubs” had avoided European bans following allegations of financial wrongdoing. “I truly believe FFP is gone. So new owners, probably they will have this feeling of the circus opened the door so let’s go and enjoy it. “Don’t pay, go in, come out, do what they want inside, stay for the clowns’ show, go out because I don’t like the horses’ show. There is no control. Let people enjoy the freedom.” Klopp also voiced concerns regarding FFP and believes the decision could clear the way for a breakaway league by the world’s richest owners. “I really hope that FFP stays because it gives at least kind of borders where you can go to, but not over it,” the Liverpool manager said. “I think that is good for football. If you start doing it like nobody has to care any more at all, and the richest people or countries can do what they want in football, then that could make the competition really difficult. I think that would lead automatically to a kind of world super league with 10 clubs. “I don’t know exactly the clubs. It depends then not on the name of the clubs but the people who own the clubs.” The Fiver: sign up and get our daily football email. Klopp admitted he was happy for City to have Champions League football, with Liverpool’s chances of retaining the Premier League title in mind. But he believes the Cas decision could pave the way for overspending. “I am happy City can play Champions League next year because if I think about the league and City has 10-12 games less for resting players I don’t see any chance for any teams in the league to be honest … But I don’t think it was a good day for football, to be honest, because I think FFP is a good idea. “It is there for protecting teams, protecting the competition. That was the idea in the start, that nobody overspends. That the big clubs before the season have to make sure that the money they want to spend is based on the right sources, let me say it like this. “[Otherwise] it is not about revenues any more. It is about if someone is ready to spend a billion a year of his own money.” He said that would be akin to allowing an aeroplane into a motor race. “It is a little bit like Formula One. If you open the door to a private jet and you see who is quicker, the aeroplane will win.”

Augmented reality start-up’s glasses detect people’s temperature

Hangzhou-based Rokid has developed a pair of glasses to screen for signs of a fever. Fitted with an infrared sensor and camera, the glasses measure temperatures in real time. The start-up that develops augmented reality products for the gaming and manufacturing sectors aims to upgrade the technology to take multiple reading simultaneously.

https://nypost.com/2020/05/01/chinese-startup-rokid-sees-opportunity-with-covid-fighting-smart-glasses/

HANGZHOU, China – A Chinese startup that develops augmented-reality products for use in manufacturing and gaming has found a promising growth area in the midst of a global pandemic – wearable glasses that measure temperatures on the move. In response to the COVID-19 outbreak in late 2019, Hangzhou-based startup Rokid developed a pair of glasses to help screen for symptoms. Rokid Vice President Xiang Wenjie says demand has risen for the company’s T1 glasses, developed in only two weeks, after it sold roughly 1,000 pairs to governments, industrial parks and schools. “Apart from fixed temperature measurement, T1 can provide portable, distant and prompt temperature checking, which would be a great help,” Xiang said. Equipped with an infrared sensor and a camera, the glasses allow the wearer to “see” peoples’ temperatures. Rokid says on its website that it completed a round of “billion-dollar” financing in 2018, led by Singapore state investor Temasek, Swiss bank Credit Suisse and others. The company said it is now is upgrading the T1 to take multiple temperature readings simultaneously for use in places like malls and airports. One office park in Hangzhou is replacing fixed thermometer stands with glasses after a flood of employees returning to work made temperature checks a headache for property management. “With more new products coming out, especially these glasses, we think we can use them to conduct contactless temperature measurement, they are very efficient when faced with a big crowd of people,” said Jin Keli, president of Greentown Property Management. Rokid is not the only Chinese tech startup involved in the fight against COVID-19. Thermal imaging systems made by face recognition giant SenseTime have been installed in railway stations across China. The new coronavirus, first detected in Wuhan, the capital city of China’s central Hubei province, has so far killed more than 4,600 people and infected nearly 83,000 in mainland China.

Quest Oracle Community take Intellichief ECM as partner

IntelliChief has announced that it has been chosen as a partner by Quest Oracle Community, for use of its workflow enterprise content management (ECM) solutions and automated document management. The deal expands on the company’s existing support of regional Quest Oracle Community user groups, and its status as an Oracle PartnerNetwork Member and Gold Level Product Integration member.

http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2018/12/10/1664316/0/en/IntelliChief-ECM-Named-Quest-Oracle-Community-Partner.html

Tampa, FL, Dec. 10, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- IntelliChief, LLC, an Oracle PartnerNetwork Member, Gold Level Product Integration member, and provider of automated document management and workflow enterprise content management (ECM) solutions, announces IntelliChief ECM named Quest Oracle Community Partner. The designation reflects the company’s ongoing support of regional Quest Oracle Community user groups, and progressive product development of Accounts Payable automation and Orders Processing automation for JD Edwards EnterpriseOne, JD Edwards World, Oracle E-Business Suite and PeopleSoft users. Also attributed was the company’s industry-noted product advancements in the areas of multi-format automated document capture and indexing, AI and robotic process automation (RPA) and company-specific process configured workflow, providing mobile access for all staff and stakeholders. IntelliChief’s enterprise AI-powered automated document management focus benefit at manufacturer’s departmental level, encompassing Accounts Payable, Order Processing, Finance, Purchasing, Sales Management, Customer Service, Human Resources-HCM, IT Legal, and Logistics/Distribution. IntelliChief ECM provides a smooth, automated transition from costly manual document management and workflow functions. Its industry-awarded automated capture, validation, database update and real-time analytic visibility enables users to capture documentation in any format, index contents and validate with data in their ERP and line of business applications. It lifecycle-manages all related documentation, facilitates optimized interdepartmental processes workflow automation and cash flow optimization. For IntelliChief ECM information, contact IntelliChief. About IntelliChief, LLC IntelliChief enterprise content management (ECM) provides enterprise-class business processes document management and workflow automation solutions for Accounts Payable, Orders Processing, HCM and other interdepartmental usage. With decades of expertise in the market and seamless integration with leading enterprise resource planning (ERP) and line of business systems, IntelliChief thoroughly automates companies’ document management, achieving full ROI typically within a year of implementation. Users can create, capture, manage, archive, retrieve and distribute mission-critical documents directly from their familiar ERP screens, automating and streamlining business processes workflow throughout their organization. www.intellichief.com ###

Lyft files draft registration statement ahead of expected IPO

San Francisco ride-hailing service Lyft filed a draft registration statement with the US Securities and Exchange Commission amid growing speculation it will hold an initial public offering (IPO) in early 2019. The company, which has a 35% US market share, was most recently valued at $15bn and sought bank assistance with a potential listing in October. Rival Uber is also set to launch an IPO and is reportedly targeting a valuation of $120bn.

https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/lyft-files-paperwork-to-prepare-for-ipo

Lyft has become the first major ride-hailing company to file to go public, beating rival Uber. The firm has filed a confidential draft registration statement with regulators ahead of an IPO, which is expected to happen in early 2019. The company has submitted a statement to the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), the first step towards becoming a publicly-traded firm on the US stock markets. Once the SEC completes its review of the filing, more details including an initial number of shares, pricing and targeted valuation are likely to become public. Lyft was most recently valued at $15bn (£11.7bn), and an IPO is likely to drive that price even higher. While Uber is also thought to be targeting 2019 for an IPO, the filing gives Lyft a considerable head start against its rival when it comes to reaching that target first. Lyft first began sourcing banks to help with the ICO in October; Credit Suisse were chosen to assist with the public offering, and JPMorgan and Jefferies also thought to be involved. Lyft currently has a 35 per cent market share in the US, and is branching out beyond traditional ride-hailing, having recently acquired bike share operator Motivate. However, it is dwarfed by Uber, which is reportedly targeting a valuation of $120bn for its IPO, and which has been self-reporting quarterly financial statements to drum up interest among investors. Uber’s IPO has likely been delayed by its past few years of controversy, which have seen it dealing with the departure of embattled former CEO Travis Kalanick and a data breach that was covered up by the company. During this time, the platform lost a number of users to Lyft, which greatly benefitted from its comparatively drama-free image.

Facebook moves to stop publishers achieving cheap distribution

Facebook is taking further measures to restrict page owners from sharing third-party content in exchange for money from publishers. The platform has made changes to its branded content guidelines, making it against the rules for page owners to accept anything "of value" in exchange for sharing content they did not produce themselves. This "influencer" model had become a successful distribution method for a number of publishers, who were able to gain traffic at rates lower than Facebook's advertising rates. A number of these are now looking at ways they can avert the new restrictions.

https://digiday.com/media/facebooks-new-branded-content-guidelines-will-force-publishers-abandon-business-model/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digidaydis&utm_source=uk&utm_content=180212

One by one, Facebook is cutting off access to the cheap traffic pipelines publishers used to tap on the platform, and it’s forcing some publishers to abandon tactics that defined their businesses. Last month, Diply, a publisher that gets 85 percent of its desktop traffic from Facebook, according to SimilarWeb, informed the owners of many of the Facebook pages that Diply pays to distribute its content, saying it would soon stop sending them content to share, according to multiple publishers that work with the same influencers Diply works with. Diply said in a statement that it had not made a final decision on the matter. “We have heard other publishers are pausing their influencer program,” the statement read. “We’re using our data to determine any next steps for Diply.” The move was a response to a change Facebook made to its branded-content guidelines on Jan. 25, which stated that page owners were not permitted to accept “anything of value” in exchange for sharing content that they did not have a hand in creating through their pages. Failure to abide by these rules, which take effect March 1, would result in warnings or, in cases of repeated violations, the shutdown of offenders’ pages. Facebook’s guidelines are designed to limit the practice of Facebook pages sharing links to third-party websites in exchange for money. The practice, which for celebrities including George Takei has become an open secret as well as a major source of revenue, started boosting traffic for sites including Elite Daily and ViralNova several years ago. Other celebrities that distribute content for pay include Lil’ Wayne and Marlon Wayans. The new guidelines do not affect publishers that engage in link-sharing agreements, where two publishers share links from one another’s pages. While the regulations contain some gray areas that some publishers say they’re exploring, multiple publishers say the new rules create a distribution problem with no easy solutions. “There were publishers who had built entire businesses on this content model, and as recently as six months ago, they were saying everything was great,” said the founder of one company that distributed Facebook content that way. “Gone are the days when social publishers enjoyed relatively cheap distribution of their low-quality content through influencer pages.” Some publishers believe they’ve identified workarounds for the new rules. Gary Lipovetsky, the CEO of Providr, a Canadian publisher that creates content then distributes it using a network of hundreds of influencers’ Facebook pages, including those belonging to Marlon Wayans and Lil’ Wayne, said in a post that he believes that if an influencer adds a paragraph-length description or caption to the post, it satisfies Facebook’s requirements. To further insulate itself against the changes, Providr is also building software that will add page owners’ names to the content it distributes on Facebook. “I understand why Facebook’s doing it,” Lipovetsky added. “Their mandate is to continuously improve the user experience on their platform. I actually believe this is going to improve pages’ organic reach.” The decision Diply and other publishers have made to stop sharing this kind of content has created a knock-on effect. Some influencers, apparently willing to risk running afoul of Facebook’s new guidelines, have been hunting for alternative sources of content they can distribute for money, according to an audience development executive at a publisher that’s used influencers for social distribution. That executive said his company has been fielding such inquiries from influencers lately. “Influencers are absolutely panicking,” the executive said. “There’s guys out there that have built the pages, and they live off monetizing them in this fashion.” Facebook’s move is its latest effort to limit traffic arbitrage on its platform. Over the past several years, a small cottage industry of publishers and influencers has used one another as cost-effective distribution nodes inside Facebook, offering site visits for as little as a penny per visit, below the going rate for distribution on Facebook. The referral traffic that powered these traffic deals will not be easily replaced, which could jeopardize the existence of some publishers. “There’s nothing else that delivers this kind of traffic,” said the founder of one company that used Facebook to distribute content in this manner. The determining factor, he added, will be how aggressively Facebook polices its platform. “It all comes down to enforcement,” he said. “How is Facebook supposed to know if George Takei posted something because he liked it or if he posted it because he got paid?”

FCA moves to protect investors from 'greenwashing'

Greenwashing is a phenomenon of growing concern in the financial sector which sees funds and firms market products and investments to appear more sustainable&nbsp;and ethical than they really are.In a feedback statement published today (October 16 2019) the regulator said deterring greenwashing and ensuring consumers can assess if a product is genuinely green would remain an active area of focus in its "supervisory and policy work".If consumers find it difficult to validate firms' claims about the products they are being offered, the FCA warned, the products will be at risk of greenwashing.

https://www.ftadviser.com/regulation/2019/10/16/fca-moves-to-protect-investors-from-greenwashing/

The Financial Conduct Authority has promised to challenge firms it deems to be "greenwashing" products as it moves to protect consumers from being misled over the sustainability of their investments.

Liverpool Transfers

According to figures from Football Critic, all three rank among the top 15 attackers in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to touches in the opposition box per non-penalty goal (NPG): Salah is top with 13.9, Firmino is sixth with 10.2 and Mane is 12th with 9.3.With that in mind, it’s worth noting the other names on the list include Norwich’s Teemu Pukki, a more orthodox central striker whose game is built on taking big chances laid on by a strong supporting cast, and players like Ciro Immobile and Kylian Mbappe, who average more than four shots per game (Firmino and Mane are down on 3.2 and 2.6 respectively there, while Salah is still shy of four).

https://www.liverpool.com/liverpool-fc-news/liverpool-salah-firmino-mane-werner-18209131

You can tell Liverpool’s front three are great without the use of statistics, but there are cases where the numbers can really underline the impact made by Roberto Firmino, Sadio Mane and Mohamed Salah. We’re not just talking raw numbers, either, although all three have consistently posted strong numbers when it comes to non-penalty goals and assists per 90 minutes in a Liverpool shirt. While some stats can reflect short-term form, others can point to a longer-term pattern which can be relied upon to provide a positive outcome more often than not. And when we look at touches in the box per non-penalty goal, there’s plenty that catches the eye from a Liverpool perspective. This particular stat might not be among the most common or even the most penetrable in football, but it gives some indication of the regularity with which Firmino, Mane and Salah are getting into the right areas. According to figures from Football Critic, all three rank among the top 15 attackers in Europe’s top five leagues when it comes to touches in the opposition box per non-penalty goal (NPG): Salah is top with 13.9, Firmino is sixth with 10.2 and Mane is 12th with 9.3. The figures tell you a bit about those three players themselves, but also reveal a great deal about the rest of Liverpool’s attacking play: no other European club has more than two names on the list, and Bayern Munich - with Robert Lewandowski and Serge Gnabry - are the only other club with more than one. It points to a supply line working effectively enough to give forwards the ball in dangerous positions, but also to give them enough time and space in such positions to ensure they’re not rushed into shooting immediately for fear of a comparable chance not presenting itself in a hurry. With that in mind, it’s worth noting the other names on the list include Norwich’s Teemu Pukki, a more orthodox central striker whose game is built on taking big chances laid on by a strong supporting cast, and players like Ciro Immobile and Kylian Mbappe, who average more than four shots per game (Firmino and Mane are down on 3.2 and 2.6 respectively there, while Salah is still shy of four). It’s hardly a surprise to see the list dominated by top strikers in teams who create a lot of chances, and it’s intriguing to see Reds target Timo Werner near the top. The RB Leipzig striker edges out Firmino with 10.6 touches in the box per NPG, and is one of just three Bundesliga players involved (along with the aforementioned Bayern duo). He also ranks high for NPG contributions (goals and assists) per 90, with only Mbappe beating his 1.10 average. There will always be concerns about players not being given the same opportunities in a new league, and Premier League defenders may well present a different sort of challenge to that faced by Werner in the Bundesliga, but if he does move to Liverpool he’d at least be joining a team which sets up to give its forwards plenty of the ball in dangerous positions. Liverpool’s current front three seem confident enough in their own abilities - and in the abilities of those around them to supply them - to take plenty of touches in the opposition box, knowing that a goal for them at the end of it isn’t essential and the moves don’t even need to end with them taking the final shot. When you know the chances will continue to fall your way, it can be easier not to end up too downbeat on those occasions where you don’t find the net. If a forward is turning almost every touch in the opposition box into a goal, it could mean he’s on fire but it could also mean he’s converting at an unsustainable rate. Getting plenty of the ball, and having the luxury of plenty of touches in the opponents’ area? That suggests you’re regularly getting yourself into dangerous positions, and if you’re still contributing to a high number of goals then that’s probably a good sign.

Stay away from Lake District despite easing of lockdown, police say

Police in the Lake District have urged people to stay away from the national park. Parts of Cumbria have the highest coronavirus infection rates in the UK. There are fears that the relaxation of lockdown will lead to a further spike. Police issued more than 100 fines over the bank holiday weekend to people making non-essential journeys.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/11/stay-away-from-lake-district-despite-easing-lockdown-police-say

Police in the Lake District have urged people to “take a long hard look at your own conscience” and stay away from the national park – despite the prime minister telling people they can drive to beauty spots for exercise in England from Wednesday. Parts of Cumbria have the highest coronavirus infection rates in the UK, prompting fears that the relaxation of lockdown will lead to a further spike. Across the country on Monday morning, officials in other tourist destinations were frantically discussing how to interpret Boris Johnson’s easing of lockdown measures while keeping local populations safe. In the early hours of Monday morning South Lakes police tweeted a map showing infection rates in the county, saying: “Before considering travelling to #Cumbria #LakeDistrict please grab a brew, examine this map, and take a long hard look at your own conscience. We urge you to use common sense and to continue to exercise close to your own home. We need to break the cycle of infection #lockdown.” Cumbria police issued more than 100 fines over the bank holiday weekend to people making non-essential journeys, according to its assistant chief constable, Andrew Slattery. “That’s double the amount we’ve issued over the entire rest of the lockdown,” he said, blaming newspaper headlines for “giving the impression lockdown was over”. Hotels, campsites, cafes, pubs and public toilets will remain closed for the foreseeable future, said Slattery. “Just attracting people to the Lake District with no facilities isn’t going to benefit the economy at all and in fact it might set it back.” He added: “If people come en masse to the Lake District next weekend it will make social distancing very difficult if they congregate in the same car parks, go on the same busy footpaths in the honeypot areas.” Tony Watson, the head of communications at the Lake District national park, tweeted: “Before travelling to the #lakedistrict, please be kind and consider our rural communities. There have been four times the deaths in Cumbria than in the whole of Australia. Just because you technically can come, doesn’t mean you should.” Richard Leafe, national park authority’s chief executive, said: “Following the government’s announcement that people will be able to travel for exercise from Wednesday, we know that many will be keen to visit the Lake District. This is understandable for the many physical and mental health benefits the national park provides. However, sadly Cumbria currently has one of the highest Covid-19 infection rates in the UK, therefore keeping our staff and local communities safe must remain our priority. “For example, our mountain rescue teams are made up of volunteers, many of whom work in the NHS and other frontline professions, so we cannot afford to put unnecessary pressure on them. So for now, we’re asking people not to rush back to the Lake District. Help protect our communities – the fells will still be here when this passes.” The latest figures show Barrow-in-Furness in west Cumbria has the highest infection rate in England, with 804 cases per 100,000 people. Lancaster is second with 513 and South Lakeland third with 482. But Aaron Cummins,the chief executive of Morecambe Bay NHS trust, which covers Barrow and South Lakeland, said the figures should be viewed with caution. “As a trust, we have been testing our colleagues and their family members, local care home staff and other key workers for a significant amount of time and in large numbers. It is important that these figures are viewed in this context,” he said. Colin Cox, the director of public health for Cumbria, said the new guidance would “go down like a lead balloon” in the region. “Cumbria is a beautiful place and we are usually very welcoming of visitors, but this does feel like a difficult time for us to be accepting more visitors coming in. Our infection rates are still quite high and inevitably there are going to be some tensions created by this.” Cox said he would have liked the travel restrictions to remain in place until there was “a robust contract tracing system” in place. “I would have preferred to have had a few weeks of the contract tracing system under my belt before we released the lockdown quite as much as we have,” he said. Tim Farron, the Liberal Democrat MP for the South Lakeland constituency of Westmorland and Lonsdale, has written an open letter to the prime minister asking him to limit the number of miles people can drive for exercise “to help prevent the inevitable high influx of people travelling to the Lakes, the Dales and south Cumbria”. Farron told Johnson: “With there being no changes to the guidance issued by the Welsh government, Snowdonia will still be off limits for people living in Manchester and Liverpool meaning that we are likely to see an even higher number of visitors descending to the Lake District than we otherwise would have done.” In his address to the nation on Sunday night, Johnson said: “From this Wednesday, we want to encourage people to take more and even unlimited amounts of outdoor exercise. You can sit in the sun in your local park, you can drive to other destinations, you can even play sports but only with members of your own household.”

COVID-19 testing facility ready

Collinson, Swissport and Heathrow announced a pilot of the tests in July. French tourists spent an estimated £1.7 billion in the UK last year. The tests will be transported using the same protocols as the NHS uses for home swab tests. Collinson and Swissport announce dedicated COVID-19 testing facility is ready for use at Heathrow’s Terminal 2, with the same to be ready at Terminal 5 by end of monthCollinson, Swissport and Heathrow asking UK Government to release inbound passengers who test negative from quarantine early

https://www.heathrow.com/latest-news/covid19-testing-facility-ready

The UK is now in the position to benefit from the experience of other markets and implement inbound PCR testing to safely restart more of the travel sector including ‘red’ listed countries and long-haul routes. The positive economic impact will be significant. Six more countries were recently added to the UK’s ‘red’ list, including France – the UK’s fourth largest trading partner and the second most important tourist market for the UK. Last year French tourists spent an estimated £1.7 billion in the UK, accounting for around 8% of all tourist spending. In total, overseas residents spent £28.4 billion on visits to the UK in 2019, indicating the devastating scale of economic impact if inbound travel cannot safely restart. Collinson’s recent survey of 22,000 frequent flying Priority Pass members found that nearly 3 in 4 (71%) are ready to return to travel either immediately or within the next 3-6 months, but unpredictable factors such as quarantines and border controls represent their top concern about returning to air travel. 74% identify this as a worry, and accordingly, half of travellers are willing to pay for a COVID-19 test to help ease travel restrictions. Inside the new testing area in Terminal 2, Collinson nurses will be on hand to assist in taking a swab within the facility, which is then transported by Swissport staff to a specifically dedicated Collinson biotech lab near Heathrow. The tests will be transported using the same protocols as the NHS uses for home swab tests. Heathrow CEO, John Holland-Kaye, said: “Testing will not only avoid the “quarantine roulette” that so many passengers faced in Spain and France, it will also open up flights to key trading partners such as the US, Canada and Singapore. The government’s own research shows that a double test has a high level of accuracy in screening for COVID. This facility is an oven-ready opportunity to see how Britain can safely reopen for business, as other countries are doing.” With Government support, the pilot of the new testing procedure could be available as a private service to anyone with a flight landing in Heathrow Terminal 2, and within a few weeks for those arriving in Terminal 5. Collinson, Swissport and Heathrow announced a pilot of the tests in July and have been in discussions with various government departments in the search for a testing model that will enable safe travel and reduce the impact of quarantine. The tests proposed for the procedure are the ‘gold-standard’ PCR tests, sensitive enough to detect COVID-19 particles even before a passenger has displayed any symptoms, and before they become infectious. Airport testing is still the most viable solution to increasing travel while keeping virus spread low,” added David Evans, Joint CEO at Collinson. “We’re pleased to announce that our solution is ready to give a massively needed boost to international trade as well as inbound business and leisure travel, crucial to the recovery of so many sectors. This can all be done with the reassurance that this is science led, making it safe to do so.

New website and Facebook page offer details on cyber threats

A response team led by Hong Kong's productivity council has released free real-time anti-malware programmes to protect the public against ransomware. In partnership with IT and cybersecurity councils, the group released the software to a website and Facebook page. The group also plans to release free anti-malware tools for smartphones, said Wilson Wong, General Manager at Honk Kong Productivity Council.

http://www.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/education-community/article/2109829/how-hong-kong-productivity-council-can-help-you

Details on new website and Facebook page are available to users, following ransomware wave in May

Redrow Help to Buy sees private housing output rise 28.8%

Redrow CEO Steve Morgan has called on the government to extend the Help to Buy scheme, which he said was used by just under 40% of the housebuilder's private reservations in H1 2017. Morgan warned of a "significant effect on the market place" if the scheme ends in 2021. Private housing output grew 28.8% during the five years of the Help to Buy Equity Loan, according to data from the Office for National Statistics. Redrow Chairman, John Tutte, said the industry is delivering, with an increase in output of 74% in four years. However, construction output is falling.

http://www.showhouse.co.uk/news/value-private-housebuilding-work-hits-record-high/

Five years of the Help to Buy Equity Loan has sent private housing output soaring 28.8% over its pre-recession peak, reigniting calls for the scheme to be continued past 2021. Construction output continues to fall, however private housebuilding remains a bright spot and output remains at historically high levels, according to the latest ONS data. “People talk about the industry not delivering, but the industry has increased its output by 74% in four years,” said John Tutte, Chairman of Redrow. “There were 217,000 net additions last year, which is ahead of the targets set in the Conservative Manifesto in 2016. The industry is delivering.” The £403 million increase in private housing work in December 2017, which represents the fifth consecutive month of growth, has led to the value of private housing work reaching its highest level on record. Rebecca Larkin, Senior Economist at the Construction Products Association, said, “Overall growth in construction activity slowed significantly over the course of 2017, with output falling since Q2 and rising only 0.9% in annual terms in Q4. “The quarter saw continued growth in private housing driven by five years of the Help to Buy equity loan… However, even with the government’s £7.4 billion equity loan outlay so far and a further £10 billion set aside, housebuilding activity could not offset the broad downturn in R&M, commercial and industrial. “Underscoring the supportive effects of the government’s Help to Buy policy, private housing output is now 28.8% higher than its pre-recession peak. By contrast, commercial output is 26.4% below its historic high, whilst industrial output is 28.5% lower.” The news comes as UK Finance data revealed that 2017 saw the number of first-time buyers reach its highest level in a decade. Many housebuilders have attributed positive results to the Help to Buy scheme. Redrow recently said that in the first half of the financial year just under 40% of its private reservations utilised Help to Buy, prompting its bosses to urge the government to guarantee the scheme’s future beyond 2021. “Help to Buy has delivered more homes for the country as a time they are desperately needed,” said Steve Morgan, CEO of Redrow. “If it’s pulled, it could have a significant effect on the market place. Is that really what we want as a country? We need to deliver more new homes, not less. Taking away what is a principle driver of new homes isn’t wise.” Did you like this? Share it:

Vox Media expands programmatic with custom units over direct response

Vox Media has made the deliberate decision to scale its Concert programmatic ad platform by targeting branding, rather than direct response, despite difficulties in scaling, according to Ryan Pauley, GM of Concert. In Q4 2017, Vox signed up six clients and aims to register twice that amount during Q1 2018, before targeting new customers. Pauley said the platform's customers who use Vox Media’s first-party data see 15-second video ad completion rates soar past 50%, and said the biggest challenge for Concert would be raising awareness.

https://digiday.com/media/vox-media-takes-measured-approach-growing-programmatic-marketplace/?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=digidaydis&utm_source=uk&utm_content=180109

Most ad tech platforms blindly chase scale when growing their business, but Vox Media is taking a more careful approach in expanding its programmatic marketplace. After announcing in September that it would start selling ads programmatically for its ad platform Concert, Vox Media signed on six clients for the product in the fourth quarter of 2017, and it plans to add a dozen more in the first quarter of 2018, said Ryan Pauley, gm of Concert. The custom units it sells programmatically are geared toward branding, not direct response, so for now it is targeting a select group of big brands rather than chasing the thousands of long-tail advertisers that fuel most ad tech platforms. Going after fewer advertisers helps keep the quality of advertisers high, but it also makes the platform tougher to scale. Of the seven ad agencies that responded to interview requests for this story, none had used Concert to buy ads programmatically. Pauley acknowledged that one of the biggest challenges for Concert this year will be growing marketers’ awareness of the product. But Concert’s incremental programmatic growth is intentional, he argued. So far, Vox Media has targeted advertisers that it already works with to use Concert. But by the end of the first quarter, Pauley expects it will start pitching advertisers it doesn’t already have relationships with. Launched in 2016, Concert is an ad marketplace that features inventory from select publishers such as Vox Media, NBCUniversal and Condé Nast. Pauley wouldn’t say how much of Concert’s inventory comes from Vox Media’s own properties, which include SB Nation, The Verge and Eater, or share pricing terms. He said Concert’s head count has roughly doubled in the past 12 months from 10 to 20. A Vox Media spokesperson said the number of total advertisers using Concert doubled from about 100 at the end of 2016 to about 200 at the end of 2017. Since the bulk of digital ad buying now occurs programmatically, it has become more common for premium publishers to sell their custom units and proprietary audience data to advertisers this way. About a month ago, Vox Media began using its first-party user data to create custom audience segments for advertisers using Concert. This data allows advertisers to be more precise with user targeting and avoid the perils of third-party data, Pauley said. Concert advertisers that use Vox Media’s first-party data for their targeting see video ad completion rates for 15-second ads more than double to past 50 percent, Pauley said. When using this data, the number of users who click, swipe or scroll over an ad also doubles to about 30 percent. Leveraging first-party data and programmatically selling custom units in this manner allows publishers such as Vox Media to package together programmatic direct deals that advertisers can’t find on the open market, which helps publishers increase CPMs. Other publishers that sell custom ads this way include The New York Times and USA Today. Michael Santee, programmatic media director at ad agency Cramer-Krasselt, said having the option to buy high-impact units programmatically simply makes it easier for buyers to manage campaigns. When custom units were the sole domain of direct sales, agencies had to coordinate across departments to make sure they were reaching the correct audience and not overtargeting individual users, Santee said. But for advertisers that rely on automated buying, campaign management can now be done more effectively in a single department when publishers sell custom units programmatically. “For years, automation in advertising meant that [ad buyers] had to make sacrifices on the ad creative,” Pauley said. “We want marketers to not have to sacrifice that.”

Extinction Rebellion vows to bring cities to a standstill in October

Members of Extinction Rebellion will occupy areas of the capital for two weeks from October 7, urging the government to take urgent action to tackle climate change.Extinction Rebellion has emerged as the premier protest movement for climate change activists.Extinction Rebellion (XR) says direct action is needed to force governments to act urgently on climate change and wildlife declines and halt a 'sixth mass extinction'.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7499031/amp/Extinction-Rebellion-vows-bring-London-standstill-two-weeks-October.html

Climate change activists to occupy parts of central London from October 7 to 14 Areas expected to be occupied are Trafalgar Square, Home Office and The Mall Will form part of an 'International Rebellion' involving 60 cities across the world The Metropolitan Police today said it was aware of planned protests next month Thousands of climate change activists are set to bring central London to a standstill next month - promising protests larger than those seen in April. Members of Extinction Rebellion will occupy areas of the capital for two weeks from October 7, urging the government to take urgent action to tackle climate change. ADVERTISEMENT It will form part of an 'International Rebellion', which organisers hope will see demonstrations in 60 cities across the world including in Paris, New York, Buenos Aires and Delhi. Protesters are expected to block roads, bridges and transport links as they shut down capital cities around the world in a bid to get governments' attention. The group has published its plan for which areas of London it hopes to occupy, including Trafalgar Square, codenamed Burning Earth, and Westminster Bridge, codenamed The Beacon. Members of Extinction Rebellion will occupy areas of the capital for two weeks from October 7, urging the government to take urgent action to tackle climate change (an Extinction Rebellion protest is pictured in London last week) Protesters are next month expected to block roads, bridges and transport links as they shut down capital cities around the world in a bid to get governments' attention An Extinction Rebellion protest was held in Dover on Saturday, but on nothing like the scale expected in London next month Areas that Extinction Rebellion plan to occupy include, Trafalgar Square, The Mall, Horse Guards Parade, the Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, The Treasury, the Home Office, the Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, Whitehall, Westminster Bridge, Millbank, Victoria Tower Gardens and Lambeth Bridge The locations Extinction Rebellion are expected to occupy. Burning Earth – Trafalgar Square; Peace Rebellion – Horse Guards Parade; Beyond Politics – Whitehall; The Beacon – Westminster Bridge; Global Justice – Millbank; Rewilding North – Victoria Tower Gardens; Bridging Communities – Lambeth Bridge; The Garden City – Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs; We Are All Crew – Home Office; Power in Truth – Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy; Love Rebellion – The Treasury; The Future is Here – The Mall Which parts of London are Extinction Rebellion expected to occupy? Trafalgar Square (Burning Earth) (Burning Earth) Horse Guards Parade (Peace Rebellion) (Peace Rebellion) Whitehall (Beyond Politics) (Beyond Politics) Westminster Bridge (The Beacon) (The Beacon) Millbank (Global Justice) (Global Justice) Victoria Tower Gardens (Rewilding North) (Rewilding North) Lambeth Bridge (Bridging Communities) (Bridging Communities) Department of Environment, Food & Rural Affairs (The Garden City) (The Garden City) Home Office (We Are All Crew) (We Are All Crew) Department of Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy (Power in Truth) (Power in Truth) The Treasury (Love Rebellion) (Love Rebellion) The Mall (The Future is Here) ADVERTISEMENT The Metropolitan Police has said it is aware of a number of planned demonstrations and protests by Extinction Rebellion and that its response will be 'appropriate and proportionate'. Sarah Lunnon of Extinction Rebellion UK said: 'We hope that world leaders understand that the Climate and Ecological Emergency means that 'the rules must change' and it is time to let go of that which is killing us. 'Business as Usual is destroying our planet's capacity to sustain life; humanity faces a growing risk of societal collapse in 10-20 years due to mass starvation, migration and war. 'More rhetoric at this stage will not help, that is why we have been left with no other choice but to shut down capital cities to raise the alarm. 'The collapse of our climate and ecosystems has already begun, and is in fact accelerating beyond predictions. We are vulnerable, all of us.' Some 1,130 people were arrested during the protests in April, as more than 10,000 police officers were deployed to deal with the situation. The action has seen Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus blocked, a 'die-in' at the Natural History Museum, and activists gluing themselves to objects. ADVERTISEMENT Eco-protesters have urged ministers to declare a climate emergency to avoid what it calls a 'sixth mass extinction' of species on Earth. Ms Lunnon continued: 'Our food supply is in peril as extreme weather spreads out across the globe and devastates lives and livelihoods. It is no secret – scientists express their panic daily. 'Wildfires are ripping across the Arctic. Ice is melting at speeds never thought possible. Deadly heatwaves are crippling countries around the world. 'We have to tell the truth: we're out of time. It is time for everybody now to rebel.' Police carry away a protester during the climate demonstration at Oxford Circus in April. The action saw both Waterloo Bridge and Oxford Circus blocked, a 'die-in' at the Natural History Museum, and activists gluing themselves to objects. Actress Emma Thompson joined climate protesters in Oxford Street on April 19. Some 1,130 people were arrested during the protests in April, as more than 10,000 police officers were deployed to deal with the situation Extinction Rebellion protesters lying down inside the main hall of Natural History Museum during the April protests Protests in London are expected to take place in areas including Trafalgar Square, Horse Guards Parade, Whitehall and Westminster Bridge. In a statement, Extinction Rebellion said: 'It is expected that thousands more ordinary citizens – with parents, builders, footballers, doctors, teachers, musicians, scientists, CEOs, farmers, with other movements aligned to the cause – will join and peacefully block more than eleven key areas until Extinction Rebellion’s demands – for truth, action and a democracy fit for purpose – are met.' It is demanding three things. That the government 'tell the truth' by declaring a climate and ecological emergency, that it 'act now' to halt biodiversity loss and reduce greenhouse gas emissions to net zero by 2025 and that it create a citizens' assembly on climate and ecological justice. The Metropolitan Police said today that it was aware of the protests and that it would be deploying officers to maintain public order. A spokesman said: 'The Met is aware of a number of planned demonstrations and protests by Extinction Rebellion commencing Monday, 7 October through to Monday, 14 October, expected to take place across a number of central London locations. ADVERTISEMENT 'The Met have been preparing for this protest for several weeks now. The policing operation will be proportionate to balance the right to a peaceful protest, while ensuring disruption to communities is kept to a minimum. 'Officers from across the Met will be deployed to support the public order operation, balanced against policing the rest of London.' Extinction Rebellion eco-activists wreaked misery on drivers in Manchester earlier this month by barricading main roads as part of a four-day 'uprising' The climate campaigners in Manchester wheeled a large boat reading 'planet before profit' into the normally busy Deansgate crossroads in Manchester earlier this month Earlier this month, Extinction Rebellion eco-activists wreaked misery on drivers in Manchester by barricading main roads as part of a four-day 'uprising'. The climate campaigners wheeled a large boat reading 'planet before profit' into the normally busy Deansgate crossroads to kick off the rally which is expected to be attended by hundreds over the weekend. The demonstrators reportedly chose to occupy this particular junction owing to its allegedly unlawful levels of air pollution. And last week, millions of people including hundreds of thousands of schoolchildren took to the streets in 150 countries today for the largest climate protest in history - involving a number of climate change groups. Extinction Rebellion grew out of the activist group 'Rising Up!' which unsuccessfully tried to stop the expansion of Heathrow Airport. Established in Britain in May 2018, the group has been organised and partly financed by a private limited company called Compassionate Revolution. XR now has more than 100 groups across Britain alone, with up to 10,000 supporters drawn to the protests in London this week.

More than half of UK SMEs unaware of open banking benefits: study

More than half (54%) of small enterprises in the UK are unaware of the benefits open banking can have on their operations, according to a study from Ipsos Mori. The same percentage of businesses have concerns over open banking regulations while only 17% of surveyed businesses said they are prepared for the adoption of open banking initiatives. The study involved surveying decision makers at 400 UK businesses. 

http://www.fstech.co.uk/fst/Majority_Unaware_Open_Banking_Benefits.php

More than half (54 per cent) of UK businesses are unaware of the potential benefits of Open Banking, according to a new survey, which also revealed that just 17 per cent consider themselves to be completely prepared for the move to the new model. An Ipsos Mori survey of 400 financial decision-makers in UK businesses, for payments processor Bottomline Technologies, found that many are struggling to keep up with the pace of new regulations, with concerns raised around Open Banking (54 per cent), New Payments Architecture (51 per cent) and the ISO20022 regulation (52 per cent). Nigel Savory, managing director for Europe at Bottomline, said Open Banking offers small businesses the opportunity to free up time previously spent on back office activity. He explained that small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) could use Open Banking protocols to “easily gain access to their different banking transactions, balances and history through trusted organisations – whether that’s a financial institution of choice or an approved Payment Service Provider (PSP)”. The report also found mounting fears amongst businesses of the risks associated with payments fraud, with 87 per cent saying they had been unable to recover more than half their losses due to cyber fraud, with that figure rising to 93 per cent for SMEs. The average financial loss through fraud sits at £240,092 – with the majority of fraud losses having increased from within the £10,000 to £49,000 bracket in 2018 to between £50,000 and £250,000 this year. The report also revealed that external cyber fraud continues to draw the most concern, with 78 per cent of respondents noting they are concerned either ‘a fair amount’ or ‘a great deal’ about such an attack affecting their business. Financial decision makers are also concerned about being deceived into making a fraudulent payment (68 per cent) as well as insider fraud and collusion (61 per cent) taking place within the business. When it came to payments processing, over a third (37 per cent) of financial decision makers said their businesses is planning to adopt real-time payments within the next 12 months. Savory added: “Regulations such as Open Banking have huge potential to radically alter the payments landscape, and we are beginning to see small companies hold consumer-like expectations when it comes to the seamless experience of real-time payments.” Share Story:

DP World joins Maersk and IBM’s blockchain platform

Dubai-based terminal operator aims to connect all its 82 marine and inland container terminals, as well as feeder companies and logistics divisions with TradeLens. The platform brings together data from the entire global supply chain ecosystem including shippers, port operators and shipping lines. DP World has already connected Cochin Port in India with the TradeLens platform via API technology.

https://container-mag.com/2020/05/28/dp-world-joins-maersk-and-ibms-blockchain-platform/

DP World has completed the early stages of integration with TradeLens, a blockchain-based digital container logistics platform jointly developed by A.P. Moller – Maersk and IBM, as the parties try to accelerate the digitisation of global supply chains. The Dubai-based terminal operator aims to connect all its 82 marine and inland container terminals, as well as feeder companies and logistics divisions with TradeLens. The blockchain platform brings together data from the entire global supply chain ecosystem including shippers, port operators and shipping lines, aiming to modernise manual and paper-based documents, replacing them with blockchain enabled digital solutions.

Google and GM launch US clean energy alliance

Leading firms, including Disney, Facebook, Google, Johnson & Johnson, Salesforce and Walmart, have launched a trade organisation that will help companies benefit from new ways to purchase clean energy. Over the past six years, firms including Alphabet, General Motors and Walmart have purchased blocks of energy from power plant owners and utilities, thereby underwriting the construction of new renewables projects. The Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance aims to expand the market from the 16 gigawatts of new renewable capacity supported by such deals in the US last year to 60 gigawatts by 2025.

https://www.cnbc.com/2019/03/27/corporate-giants-form-alliance-to-create-a-boom-in-us-clean-energy.html?wpisrc=nl_energy202&wpmm=1

Some of the nation's top tech firms, manufacturers and consumer companies are banding together to create a boom in renewable energy purchases throughout corporate America. The corporate giants and their nonprofit partners on Thursday launched the Renewable Energy Buyers Alliance, a trade organization that will help companies take advantage of new ways to purchase clean energy. The goal is to support construction of new green power projects by striking renewable energy deals pioneered by companies such as Google parent Alphabet , General Motors and Walmart in recent years. "This is really about bringing as many players to the market as possible and giving everyone access to clean energy," said Michael Terrell, head of energy market strategy at Google. Over the last six years, a handful of corporate giants have created a new way of meeting their sustainable energy goals. By striking deals to buy blocks of energy from utilities and power plant owners, they are underwriting the construction of new wind towers, solar farms and other renewable projects. Under the banner of REBA, these pioneers aim to empower tens of thousands of companies to buy renewable energy in the coming years — increasing the market from roughly 5,000 companies today. Through last year, companies signed enough corporate renewable deals to support nearly 16 gigawatts of new renewable energy capacity in the U.S. REBA aims to accelerate that activity and grow the market to 60 gigawatts by 2025. That is a lot of renewable energy. It's roughly equal to all the solar photovoltaic power capacity available across the U.S. in 2018. Corporate America has a major role to play, because commercial and industrial power users are the leading cause of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions in the U.S., said Miranda Ballentine, REBA's founding CEO. But beyond the early adopters, few companies have developed the expertise to enter into corporate renewable deals. "Most of these large buyers have never really done anything different than what you or I do, which is paying an energy bill," Ballentine said. REBA will leverage the lessons learned by the early adopters that make up its board, including tech titans Google, Facebook and Salesforce and consumer giants Disney , Walmart and Johnson & Johnson . The group aims to remove barriers to entry by fine-tuning contracts, tackling regulatory and policy hurdles, piloting new clean technology programs and helping companies establish internal systems to ease the path to buying clean energy. Terrell, the energy market strategist at Google, said entering a corporate renewable deal should be as simple as clicking a button and getting renewable power sent to a data center. However, it's not nearly that easy today, and that's where corporations have a role to play, he said. Google long wanted to tap Georgia's low-cost solar energy to power its Douglas County data center outside Atlanta, but regional markets didn't allow companies to directly purchase renewable energy from utilities. By partnering with Walmart, Target and Johnson & Johnson, Google worked with the state last year to create a new program for companies to buy clean energy directly from Georgia Power. Opening up these markets provides another path for companies to reach ambitious clean energy goals. REBA board member General Motors blew past its 2020 clean energy target a few years ago by adopting traditional methods such as installing solar panels, said Rob Threlkeld, GM's global manager for renewable energy. When GM announced plans to power 350 operations around the world with 100 percent renewable energy, striking corporate renewable deals became a pillar of its plan. Threlkeld sees an opportunity for carmakers and other companies with vast supply chains to act as force multipliers within their industries by empowering their networks to follow in their footsteps. "Many of our more advanced members — the Walmarts and Apples and General Motors and J&Js — really are now encouraging or requiring suppliers and vendor partners to come along on this clean energy journey with them," he said. REBA will launch with about 200 corporate buyers and 125 renewable energy developers and service providers. The trade group grows out of programs supported by nonprofit organizations the Rocky Mountain Institute, World Wildlife Fund, World Resources Institute and Business for Social Responsibility.

PrecisionHawk announces acquisition of Droners and Airvid

PrecisionHawk has acquired Droners and AirVid as it seeks to make its network of commercially-licensed drone pilots the largest in the US. The company helps businesses use drones in a variety of industries by providing unmanned aerial vehicles, software and services. It has now bought Droners, which helps operators hire drone pilots specialising in aerial photography, and AirVid – a platform that allows users find pilots involved in a range of services including cinematography and mapping. PrecisionHawk said the merger would allow it to build the "best platform for drone pilots" and offer enterprise clients "the on-demand services they require".

https://venturebeat.com/2018/02/08/precisionhawk-acquires-droners-and-airvid-to-create-a-massive-network-of-licensed-drone-pilots/

Missed the GamesBeat Summit excitement? Don't worry! Tune in now to catch all of the live and virtual sessions here. PrecisionHawk has announced a duo of acquisitions as the commercial drone company looks to build the biggest network of commercially licensed drone pilots in the U.S. Founded out of Raleigh, North Carolina in 2010, PrecisionHawk supplies drones, software, and services for companies to put unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) to use across numerous industries such as insurance and construction. The two startups that have been bought by PrecisionHawk are Rhode Island-based Droners, a platform dedicated to helping drone operators hire licensed drone pilots specializing in aerial photography; and Ontario, Canada-based AirVid, which serves as a platform for finding all manner of drone pilots dealing in photo, video, cinematography, surveying, mapping, and more. The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) passed new rules back in 2016 allowing drones to be used commercially in the U.S. Buoyed by this green light, the commercial drone market is now estimated to become a $127 billion industry by 2020, according to PwC, and investors are lining up to take a piece of the new wave of UAV startups. An estimated $454 million was thrown at UAV startups in 2016 alone, and PrecisionHawk itself has nabbed around $104 million in funding — $75 million of which came just two weeks ago. At the time of its big raise last month, PrecisionHawk said that “strategic acquisitions” would be one of the avenues it would pursue as part of its growth, and it hasn’t hung around. These latest transactions represent PrecisionHawk’s second and third known acquisitions, after it snapped up aerial imagery company Terraserver in 2015. Drones need pilots (but maybe not for long), which is why PrecisionHawk wants to create a wide-reaching network of licensed drone pilots which companies can call upon to not only maneuver the drones, but capture imagery as required by the client. The company said that it plans to merge both companies under the “Droners” brand to form an immediate network of 15,000 drone pilots, which will be used not only as a channel for connecting drone pilots with companies directly, but will also serve PrecisionHawk’s own enterprise client base. Droners founder Dave Brown will head up the new PrecisionHawk pilot network development team, while AirVid founder Patrick Egan will stay on as a consultant and assist with integrating the respective platforms. “Droners and AirVid share our mission of helping drone operators turn their passion into a profession,” noted PrecisionHawk CEO Michael Chasen. “Combined with PrecisionHawk’s expertise in providing professional drone services to the enterprise, this merger enables us to build the best platform for drone pilots while simultaneously providing our enterprise clients with the on-demand services they require.”

ABA adopts guidance for litigation financing

The American Bar Association voted to adopt “Best Practices for Third-Party Litigation Funding” on 3 August. The move establishes&nbsp;a slew of national guidelines that law firms, consumers and legal funding companies should follow.

https://www.americanbar.org/news/abanews/aba-news-archives/2020/08/aba-house-begins-historic-meeting-by-adopting-range-of-new-polic/

The American Bar Association House of Delegates convened Aug. 3 for a two-day meeting, tackling the first batch of more than 50 resolutions on its agenda, adopting new policy on ensuring those in incarceration have voting privileges, establishing best practices for third-party litigation funding and urging governments to improve their reports on police misconduct. On tap for day two are policy proposals that urge state lawyer-licensing authorities to make public health issues paramount for upcoming bar exams and provide options for recent graduates who cannot take the bar; a measure to establish June 19 or Juneteenth as a national holiday to commemorate the end of slavery; and a resolution that is intended to curtail the defense of qualified immunity in civil suits brought against law enforcement officers. The HOD, as the ABA policy-making body is known, is meeting virtually because of the COVID-19 pandemic. It includes 597 delegates from state, local and specialty bar associations, and its sessions conclude the virtual 2020 ABA Annual Meeting, which began July 29. With attention focused on police misconduct in the wake of the May 25 homicide of George Floyd and other police incidents, the HOD adopted Resolution 116A, which asks governments to enact laws that require law enforcement agencies to keep records of instances of deadly force as well as allegations of non-lethal excessive force. It also urges that a fully independent prosecutor be appointed when an individual dies in the custody of or during an encounter with a law enforcement officer. Through Resolution 111A, the House established the ABA Best Practices for Third-Party Litigation Funding as policy. It is intended to serve as a guide for lawyers new to the practice of third-party litigation as well as more experienced attorneys and recommends that lawyers, who engage in third-party financing, detail the arrangement in writing, include the non-recourse or restricted nature of the financing, ensure that the client retains control of the case and protect the attorney-client relationship. It does not take a position on the use of the practice, which has ballooned into a major industry in the past few years. The delegates also adopted two new policies that urge appropriate governmental entities to allow those incarcerated to vote. Resolution 116E recommends governments provide a process to allow eligible pre-trial detainees to obtain a ballot and be able to vote despite their detention. And Resolution 116H advocates for the repeal of laws that disenfranchise persons based upon criminal conviction and that voting rights be restored, without any requirements to fulfill financial obligations, for those currently and formerly incarcerated. In other business, the HOD adopted: Resolution 109B, which gives the Council of the Section of Legal Education and Admissions to the Bar greater latitude to act quickly to address an emergency, such as the COVID-19 pandemic, to provide temporary relief from a rule or the requirements of a standard. The council acts as an independent arm of the ABA for the accreditation of law schools nationally, and the change would allow it to respond more quickly to emergency requests from law schools, such as seeking approval to offer more online classes. Resolution 100B, which urges governmental bodies to enact legislation banning race discrimination on the basis of the texture, style or appearance of a person’s hair and encourages implicit bias training to eradicate discrimination based on these factors. A narrow exception to ABA Model Rule 1.8(e), which bars financial support for clients. Under Resolution 107, a lawyer representing an indigent client, either on a contingency fee or through a clinic on a pro bono basis, would be allowed to provide modest gifts, including for food, rent, transportation, medicine and other basic living expenses. Resolution 114, which urge that all national governments observe, respect and protect the independence of the International Criminal Court, a global judicial body. The new policy also condemned threats by governments to the ICC and its officers and personnel in the performance of their duties. The status of all HOD resolutions can be found here.

Severn Trent Water to install more than 350 EV charge points

Severn Trent Water has started installing 352 charging points for its own EV fleet in partnership with EVBox, using 176 double EVBox BusinessLine chargers. The water company’s Capital Delivery and Commercial Director Helen Miles said the installation was a “major milestone” in its plans for a completely electric vehicle fleet by 2030.

https://www.zap-map.com/severn-trent-water-roll-out-350-ev-charge-points-to-electrify-fleet/

Severn Trent Water is installing more than 350 electric vehicle charge points from EVBox, as part of plans to electrify its fleet. The move sees the UK’s second-largest water company set to install 176 double EVBox BusinessLine units, giving Severn Trent Water 352 connectors to charge from across its region. These will be installed at operational sites, offices, and transport workshops throughout the Midlands, with Severn Trent’s region spanning from Mid-Wales to Rutland, and from the Humber down to the Bristol Channel. Charge points are not expected to be made available for general public charging, but will instead be for fleet and visitor usage. Helen Miles, Capital Delivery and Commercial Director of Severn Trent, said: “This partnership with EVBox, who will supply over 300 electric vehicle charging points across our sites, is a major milestone in our bid to have a fleet of vehicles that are entirely electric by 2030. “We’re delighted to have EVBox onboard with us for this exciting journey. They’re experts in their industry and we’ll no doubt benefit from all of their experience and passion for delivering cleaner and greener ways to travel.” Jonathan Goose, Regional Director UK & Ireland of EVBox, said: “Our vision at EVBox is to help establish a zero-emission future. I am happy to see that companies like Severn Trent are sharing this passion by encouraging carbon neutrality and sustainable transport. “Workplace charging plays a crucial role when it comes to the transition to eMobility, and we’re proud to help Severn Trent to realize its goal of electrifying its fleet entirely within the next 10 years.”

Caribbean needs re-think of Marshall Plan or risk spiralling down

The devastation wrought by successive hurricanes in the Caribbean can be fixed with a 21st-century Marshall Plan, according to Patrick Doherty, president of Long Haul Capital Group. In an article for Brink News, Doherty spelled out how now is the time to adopt decentralised water systems, turn to renewable smart grids with storage and embrace electric vehicles. He added communities could also develop 'hurricane-hardened' greenhouses and fabricate composite-panel buildings capable of withstanding extreme weather events.

http://www.brinknews.com/a-marshall-plan-for-the-caribbean/?utm_source=BRINK+Subscribers&utm_campaign=7d2649cccf-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_06&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c3639d7c98-7d2649cccf-110036825

Photo: Ricardo Arduengo/AFP/Getty Images With his island home wrecked by Irma and witnessing the damage in the neighboring British Virgin Islands, Richard Branson, the billionaire entrepreneur and climate change leader, called for a sustainable “Marshall Plan” for the hurricane-affected Caribbean. The historic analogy is apt. The region is not only suffering apocalyptic devastation because of hurricanes Irma, Jose, and Maria, but the 39 million residents of the Caribbean are exposed to an annual Atlantic hurricane season that on average produces 16 named storms—storms whose power is only going to increase as a result of global warming. While greater relief efforts are needed to save lives and reduce suffering, now is the time to articulate the core concepts behind such a Marshall Plan that would build a better, more resilient and sustainable Caribbean. If we do not, today’s necessity will become tomorrow’s normal—and the region will spiral downward. This is not rocket science, but it will require thinking systemically to redesign old patterns of settlement and commerce that exacerbate the region’s vulnerability. Here, five key sectors must be woven into a new, more resilient fabric: buildings, energy, transportation, food, and water. (Full disclosure: My business is helping find solutions in many of these sectors). Buildings Early reports indicate modern stick-frame construction failed to protect against the storm’s powerful winds, which topped out at 185 mph. Concrete and cement block buildings performed better, but roof damage was nearly universal. As a result, people were injured, killed, and are now exposed to the elements. Better wind protection means quickly transitioning building codes to prioritize materials and designs that can deliver such protection at prices all islanders can afford. The leading contenders here are homes built of composite structural insulated panels. Developed in the world of naval architecture, where racing boats routinely travel at similar speeds in water that is 1,000 times denser than air, composite-panel buildings can be designed to sustain 200-plus mph winds, retain local architectural vernacular, and achieve net zero energy consumption. Even better, these building materials turn out to be less expensive than lumber and can be manufactured on-island, diversifying local economies. Energy Island energy is dominated by centralized fossil fuel generation. Both sides of this design failed during the storms. Centralized systems created single points of failure, and in places like Puerto Rico, Barbuda, and the British Virgin Islands, it will take months to restore power to pre-storm levels, putting lives in danger. As for fossil fuels, beyond the longer-term problem of carbon emissions, the fuel is imported at great expense, making island prices per kilowatt-hour in some places 400 percent of the mainland. This is a classic case where future logic can be adopted now. It is time to build distributed, renewable smart grids with battery storage. Grid-scale battery storage is being rolled out now in many places and is the perfect solution for higher-cost island energy systems. Tesla is in talks with Caribbean stakeholders about expediting battery solutions. Mr. Branson’s own hardened solar power arrays and buried cables survived the record winds and were back on line the next day. Mandating the same across the region is essential to reducing disruption and suffering. A ‘Marshall Plan’ for the Caribbean is needed to build better, more resilient and sustainable economies. Transportation Transportation on the islands is predominantly by car for passengers and by truck for goods, both of which require imported gas or diesel fuel. When the hurricanes hit, transportation became a nightmare scenario: Access to roads was cut, ports damaged and supply lines obliterated. People are trapped, unable to remove obstacles in the roads or find gasoline. And relief efforts are unable to move food, supplies and medicines to those in need, while containers of goods are stacking up in the port, as is the case in Puerto Rico. This is the moment to leapfrog to an electric-only future. For island nations rich with sunlight and trade winds, a smart-grid design can create the infrastructure that would allow for car and truck batteries to become distributed, emergency storage. With the ability to recharge a vehicle at any home, the population will be able to solve more of its own problems, faster. Even better, connecting communities with electric streetcar and light rail systems using on board power can provide more affordable transportation for islanders while also expediting post-storm restoration of freight service to move the right quantities of supplies to the right places. Such systems typically come with a maintenance car that has a plow and a crane that can be used to get the system running in the event of track blockage. The cars themselves can be housed in a reinforced “car barn.” A smart design entails having a maintenance car and car barn for each segment at risk of being cut off in the aftermath of a natural disaster. Food The islands import most of their food. This means that when ports and roads are cut off, and home pantries are destroyed or depleted, people go hungry. The old logic is rooted in the idea of comparative advantage. With island earnings driven by tourism, it seems to makes sense to import food for both tourists and islanders. But even before the storms, the reality was that imported food was unhealthy, with cheap, high-calorie foods being over-consumed and fresh, expensive produce limited by price. As a result, island populations are experiencing an epidemic of obesity and diabetes. It’s time to diversify island economies and build hurricane-hardened greenhouses in the interior of the islands. While the land area required for grain production means islands will never replace agricultural imports, by creating a distributed network of survivable farms, the islands will have a food buffer that will help local employment and create a strategic reserve of fresh foods. With the global movement toward local produce, in normal times, farms can profitably service the tourist sector and then button up with high-strength composite shelters when storms threaten. Water Much like energy, water systems in the islands are centralized, powered by fossil fuels, and often running desalination plants. Larger towns may also have a centralized water treatment facility. When these go down, the entire population is cut off from potable water, creating extreme risk of dehydration and cholera. For vulnerable populations such as the elderly and young children, this will be deadly. The centralized municipal water systems of the 20th century are no longer the best choice. District-level systems can provide greater resilience and redundancy, and with advances in closed-loop treatment, they can be charged once and fed with annual rainfall, eliminating the energy- and cost-intensive desalination process. For more isolated home sites and small commercial buildings, small-scale systems are already on the market. From Moment to Marshall Plan Well-integrated, these five adaptations would save lives and treasure. They would encourage green rebuilding in residential town and village centers and along new light rail routes. And they would improve the household economics for most islanders by reducing energy and transportation costs while improving health. Those same walkable places would increase foot traffic for shopkeepers, public markets, and small businesses, enticing tourists out of the resort and into the high street. The brilliance of the original Marshall Plan was that the nations of Europe decided for themselves how to put the funding to best use. Island leaders would do well to work with their constituents as well as donors, aid agencies and other institutions to create the space to plan out how to rebuild these systems better. But it should be the private sector that keeps the government’s feet on the fire—especially insurance. The odds are 100 percent that more hurricanes will rake these islands. Only by building resilience and sustainability into a new system logic that reduces everyone’s vulnerability will we in fact restore the prosperity and security of the Caribbean.

Finally, the U.S. Is About to Get Its First Offshore Wind Power

Europe has been ahead of the US in regards to utilising offshore wind power but that could be about to change. The US is ready to switch on its first offshore wind farm; a set of turbines off Rhode Island, that signals their embrace of renewable energy sources. The nation has vast potential for this alternative energy source with 4,200 gigawatts in domestic waters that could generate power for a large section of the mainland. This is a welcome bit of news after a year of slow progress and hesitant or false starts. Furthermore, the company behind this technology, Deepwater Wind has plans beyond this first set of wind turbines that include an offshore project for Long Island as well as the expansion of the Rhode Island; installing more than 200 turbines to deliver 1,000 megawatts of capacity.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/602233/finally-the-us-is-about-to-get-its-first-offshore-wind-power/

But it’s also an important toehold. The company behind the project, Deepwater Wind, has far greater ambitions, including a 90-megawatt offshore project meant to bring wind power to Long Island, and a further expansion of its wind farm in Rhode Island to include up to 1,000 megawatts of capacity spread over 200 turbines. Across the country, developers have drawn up plans for almost five gigawatts' worth of offshore turbines. It’s not clear, however, that offshore wind is primed to compete with other forms of power. Installing huge turbines at sea is pricey—the Block Island project cost $300 million. It was made feasible by the power purchase agreement between Deepwater Wind and the utility company National Grid, which guarantees that Deepwater will get premium prices for power from the turbines for the next two decades. That only makes sense because of a second unique quirk: Block Island residents get their electricity from diesel generators, which are exorbitantly expensive to run. So the high prices Deepwater needs to make the project profitable still come in as a bargain. Then there’s the issue of transmission. As part of the project, Deepwater has built a transmission cable to Block Island and another, longer one to mainland Rhode Island. But scaling up this project to include, say, a large chunk of the East Coast, is easier said than done. In 2010, for example, Google said it would invest in a proposal to build an offshore wind “backbone” called the Atlantic Wind Connection. Expected to cost up to $5 billion to complete, it was meant to provide high-tech transmission lines that could shuttle offshore wind power to the mainland grid from New Jersey to Virginia. But as of last year, the project still hadn’t started and was in serious danger of never getting off the ground. America’s offshore clean energy revolution, it would seem, could still use a bit more wind in its sails. (Read more: New York Times, Electrek, “Is Offshore Wind Making Any Progress?” “Wind Fuels the North Sea’s Next Energy Boom”)

Bombardier to deliver planes in Canada using Gevo SAF

US independent fuel supplier Avfuel has added airplane manufacturer Bombardier to its list of customers, providing the firm with its first batch of 7,300 gallons of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). Bombardier will use it to deliver new planes to Canada. The delivery resulted in a two mt drop in life-cycle emissions. Avfuel blends traditional jet fuel with SAF made from cornstarch by Gevo.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/12/20191208-gevosaf.html

Avfuel is providing Bombardier with an inaugural shipment of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for new customer aircraft deliveries in Canada. Avfuel sources SAF from Gevo and blends it with petroleum-based jet fuel. This mixture is then tested for fuel quality and to ensure it meets ASTM D1655 standards. The product has a net benefit to the environment across its lifecycle. Created from cornstarch, for every one million gallons of the concentrated SAF that is produced, approximately 10 million pounds of animal feed and protein is sold into the food chain, and the final jet fuel product burns cleaner, reducing carbon emissions released into the atmosphere. In total, Avfuel supplied 7,300 gallons (27,600 liters) of SAF to Bombardier to fuel its new customer aircraft deliveries. In total, the sustainable product provided a two metric ton reduction in life cycle CO 2 emissions. Supply of SAF continues to be the most challenging hurdle to bringing the product to market on a commercial scale. As such, Avfuel hopes raising awareness through initiatives such as this will help inspire commitments by operators to use the product. By creating the demand, Avfuel’s aim is to encourage further production for greater sustainable representation in the fuel supply chain. We are committed to playing our role in making SAF a reality in the marketplace—one of the best ways to do that at the moment is by demonstrating its use. By capitalizing on opportunities to work with leading OEMs, Avfuel can help business aviation attain its sustainability goals. We appreciate Bombardier for its collaboration in this initiative and for our continued partnership with Gevo. —C.R. Sincock, executive vice president for Avfuel Avfuel provides fuel and services to the global aviation industry and is the leading independent supplier in the United States.

U.S. Oil Companies Find Energy Independence Isn’t So Profitable

For decades, elected leaders and corporate executives have chased a dream of independence from unstable or unfriendly foreign oil producers.Mission accomplished: Oil companies are producing record amounts of crude oil and natural gas in the United States and have become major exporters.The value of oil and gas stocks as a proportion of the S&P 500 over the last six years has dropped to about 4.6 percent, from 8.7 percent.

https://www.nytimes.com/2019/06/30/business/energy-environment/oil-companies-profit.html?smid=nytcore-ios-share

Domestic oil production has increased by more than 60 percent since 2013, to over 12 million barrels a day, making the United States the biggest producer of oil and natural gas in the world and slashing imports. That growth has also reduced the clout and profits of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia, enabling President Trump to impose sanctions on Iran and Venezuela without risking higher gasoline prices or shortages. Rising tensions with Iran after attacks on two oil tankers and a United States surveillance drone have lifted oil prices, but there has been little impact on the supply outlook so far. Oil executives say the United States is set to become an even bigger factor because a further five million or so barrels of daily crude oil production are on the way in the next few years. Russia would have to drill deep into the Arctic to keep up, a prohibitively expensive proposition, and experts don’t think Saudi Arabia can increase production significantly. But the share price of Exxon Mobil, the largest American oil company, is barely above where it was a decade ago. In years past, investors might have celebrated Occidental Petroleum’s proposed acquisition of Anadarko Petroleum, which has some of the most lucrative oil fields in the country. Instead, Occidental’s shares have fallen by about 10 percent since that deal in early May. In the last four years, roughly 175 oil and gas companies in the United States and Canada with debts totaling about $100 billion have filed for bankruptcy protection. Many borrowed heavily when oil and gas prices were far higher, only to collectively overproduce and undercut their commodity prices. At least six companies have gone bankrupt this year, and Weatherford International, the fourth-leading oil services company, which owes investors $7.7 billion, is expected to file for bankruptcy protection on Monday.

Major auto manufacturers and HERE take on Google Maps

Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are teaming up for the first time to share data generated by their cars, thanks to a project led by map tech company, HERE, which is jointly owned by the car manufacturers. The scheme sees the trio's cars fitted with an array of sensors, with data fed to the cloud and disseminated to other connected Audi, BMW and Mercedes' vehicles. While the technical hurdles are considerable, as the data extracted from each car is very different, creating a connected platform for all vehicles could lead to an Internet of Things for the automative universe.

http://www.autoworldnews.com/articles/20590/20160927/formed-alliance-audi-bmw-and-mercedes-join-forces-for-data-sharing-network.htm

Audi, BMW and Mercedes reached an agreement with the company "Here" to send real - time data from their cars and thus promote connectivity on the road. This formed alliance is for the further development of the brands' autonomous cars where maximum safety can now be achieved. It can also be the beginning of the development of flying cars. Here: the intelligent mapping of the future Earlier this year, we talked about "Here" intelligent mapping of the future Acquired jointly by Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz to Nokia for 2800 million euros. These maps are considered a key technology for the development of autonomous driving as it will provide cartographic data in real time and share it through the network too. To advance towards the data-sharing network is one of the most important events to have occurred in the auto industry in recent months. This alliance is it succeed will hugely change the autonomous car industry and thousands of lives will be save. However, the road to developing this will be tough. The data from a BMW 3 Series are very different from those of a BMW 5 Series, and much more different are those of an Audi or Mercedes. A Revolution Coming The movement means a step up from Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz to maintain control of the technology used on their cars at a time when technological giants such as Tesla, Apple and Google have introduced one foot in the automotive industry, possessing one of the most important assets in these times, the data and information. The idea HERE is to establish a channel of communication between cars of different brands that will make a revolution. The idea of the connected car is to offer a huge range of services, the most important focused on security. Thus, if an Audi car found on its route a thick fog, or a tree that fell in the road, a broken car or an accident, it could warn nearby BMW and Mercedes-Benz equipped with this technology and prevent further collision or other accidents. Further processing of those information to create services, such as planning an alternative route to avoid traffic jam after an accident, will also be added. As to when this technology will arrive, Audi, BMW, Mercedes-Benz is positive that it will start testing soon, probably at the first half of 2017. And in 2018, HERE servers will be programmed on the three manufacturer cars and collect information. It is also worth noting that Audi, BMW and Mercedes-Benz are open for other car manufacturers to join them. If more brands will join this agreement, it will be easier to create a global data network that would enable the arrival of a safe and very efficient autonomous car. Time will tell if this is the way to go.

UK Spaceport at Sutherland enters public consultation phase

Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which is backing the £17.3m project to design and build Space Hub Sutherland, lodged a proposal of application notice with the Highland Council on Wednesday, a notice that effectively triggers the start of a process that will lead to a formal application for planning consent being submitted to the local authority at the end of December.Roy Kirk, HIE’s Space Hub Sutherland project director, said he hoped many local people would take up the opportunity to find out more and offer valuable feedback on the proposals.“Space Hub Sutherland is now approaching a very exciting stage where we will shortly be able to start presenting the detail of our plans to stakeholders, including people who live in the vicinity of the launch site,” noted Mr. Kirk.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/09/uk-spaceport-at-sutherland-enters-public-consultation-phase/

The UK’s new domestic spaceport in the Scottish Highlands has moved into a public consultation phase. Space Hub Sutherland is hoping to launch up to 10 small sat missions per year. Development agency Highlands and Islands Enterprise (HIE), which is backing the £17.3m project to design and build Space Hub Sutherland, lodged a proposal of application notice with the Highland Council on Wednesday, a notice that effectively triggers the start of a process that will lead to a formal application for planning consent being submitted to the local authority at the end of December. The news comes a month after the Melness Crofters Estate – which owns the land on the Moine Peninsula – agreed to a lease to HIE for the development of the area – once planning permission has been secured. The lease option agreement with HIE officially came into effect on 1 August 2019. As part of pre-planning consultation, HIE is organizing public events with the local community in October and November. Roy Kirk, HIE’s Space Hub Sutherland project director, said he hoped many local people would take up the opportunity to find out more and offer valuable feedback on the proposals. “Space Hub Sutherland is now approaching a very exciting stage where we will shortly be able to start presenting the detail of our plans to stakeholders, including people who live in the vicinity of the launch site,” noted Mr. Kirk. “We’ve been holding informal drop-in sessions at different locations for a few months now and delivering presentations to community groups and business organizations, which have been well-received. “It’s really important for local people to have a chance to find out what the spaceport will mean for the area, and that we listen to their views to help shape our planning application.” HIE has approved £9.8m to develop Space Hub Sutherland, and the UK Space Agency has awarded £2.5m. A further £5m is being sought from the Nuclear Decommissioning Authority. UKSA has also awarded grants to two companies that plan to launch satellites from Sutherland – Lockheed Martin Space Systems and Orbex, which has already established a manufacturing facility in the Moray town of Forres. The first launch from the launch site is set to take place in 2021, with Orbex’s Prime rocket set for a maiden flight carrying an experimental payload from UK-based Surrey Satellite Technology Ltd. (SSTL). Orbex has also confirmed that it will launch an upcoming satellite in SSTL’s line of demonstrators by 2023. In addition to the initial launch contracts, Orbex stated earlier this year that Swiss-based Astrocast SA selected Orbex to launch multiple nanosatellites for the development of a planet-wide Internet of Things (IoT) network. Prime is the first commercial rocket engine designed to work with biopropane, a clean-burning, renewable fuel source that cuts carbon emissions by 90 percent compared to fossil hydrocarbon fuels, supplied by Orbex’s new exclusive BioLPG fuel partner Calor. Prime sports a specially-formulated lightweight carbon fiber and aluminum composite – and includes the world’s largest 3-D printed rocket engine. With the UK Space sector showing continued growth, a domestic launch site was always the next obvious step. The increasing demand for small sat launches also provides a viable business opportunity for the class of rocket that will launch from Sutherland. “This is a hugely ambitious project, not only for Sutherland but for the whole of the UK,” added Mr. Kirk. “The British space sector is in a phase of expansion at present and the Highlands and Islands have the natural assets, skills base and supply chain expertise to capitalize on the huge opportunity this presents. An economic impact assessment commissioned by HIE in 2018 concluded that the project could generate around 400 jobs across the Highlands and Islands, including 40 or so skilled positions at the space hub itself. In addition to a launch pad complex, the spaceport will include an operations and control center, launch towers, an assembly building, an antenna farm, access roads, car parking and security fencing.

DoE grants $5.1m to EPRI for modular nuclear technology

The US Department of Energy (DoE) has granted $5.1m to the Electric Power Research Institute (EPRI) for the development of modular electron beam welding technology for a nuclear reactor demonstration project. The project will work to reduce welding time by up to 90%, to demonstrate a weld in less than 90 minutes and to reach a modular-in-chamber electron beam welding capability for a NuScale Power design reactor pressure vessel.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/08/20200816-epri.html

The US Department of Energy (DOE) is awarding $5.1 million to the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) to develop modular-in-chamber electron beam welding capability for a future domestic advanced reactor demonstration project. This project has a total value of approximately $6.5 million of which DOE will provide approximately $5.1 million. The award is through the Office of Nuclear Energy’s (NE) funding opportunity announcement (FOA) US Industry Opportunities for Advanced Nuclear Technology Development. This is the ninth round of funding provided through this FOA. DOE announced previous funding awards in 2018, 2019, and 2020. Subsequent application reviews and selection processes will be conducted through December 2022, as supported by Congressional appropriations. The solicitation is broken into three funding pathways: First-of-a-Kind (FOAK) Nuclear Demonstration Readiness Project pathway, intended to address major advanced reactor design development projects or complex technology advancements for existing plants which have significant technical and licensing risk and have the potential to be deployed by the mid-to-late 2020s. Advanced Reactor Development Projects pathway, which allows a broad scope of proposed concepts and ideas that are best suited to improving the capabilities and commercialization potential of advanced reactor designs and technologies. Regulatory Assistance Grants pathway, which provide direct support for resolving design regulatory issues, regulatory review of licensing topical reports or papers, and other efforts focused on obtaining certification and licensing approvals for advanced reactor designs and capabilities. The EPRI project was selected under the Advanced Reactor Development Projects pathway: Establishing Modular In-Chamber Electron Beam Welding (MIC-EBW) Phase II – Under this proposal, DOE will award $5.1 million to the Electric Power Research Institute, Inc. (EPRI) of Palo Alto, California and Charlotte, North Carolina to: Develop and establish MIC-EBW capability at a major US fabricator. Reduce overall welding time by up to 90% compared to conventional welding technologies. Successfully demonstrate a 10-foot (3.05-meter) diameter, 4.375-inch (110-millimeter) thick vessel EB weld in less than 90 minutes of welding time (current state of the art is several weeks). Establish MIC-EBW capability to perform major reactor pressure vessel (RPV) girth welds for a NuScale Power design RPV. Develop manufacturing process plans based on technology and required post weld inspection/heat treatment. Total Award Value is $6,492,021.

Californian fire may be among the worst in its history

A flare-up on the western edge of Southern California's largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing Sunday, as wind-fanned flames churned through canyons and down hillsides toward coastal towns.The so-called Thomas Fire is only 15 percent contained, now threatening the city of Santa Barbara and the nearby coastal town of Carpinteria, and is on track to become one of the worst wildfires in California history. It has already destroyed 583 structures and scorched 173,000 acres, the authorities say. New evacuations were ordered in Carpinteria, which been under fire threat for days.The new evacuation zone extends within two miles of the Santa Barbara Zoo.Zoo Director Nancy McToldridge said in a statement that there was 'no immediate danger' from the fire and that the zoo was closed with all animals inside to shelter from smoke. 

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-5164983/New-evacuations-huge-Southern-California-fire-flares-up.html

Advertisement A flare-up on the western edge of Southern California's largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing Sunday, as wind-fanned flames churned through canyons and down hillsides toward coastal towns. The so-called Thomas Fire is only 15 percent contained, now threatening the city of Santa Barbara and the nearby coastal town of Carpinteria, and is on track to become one of the worst wildfires in California history. It has already destroyed 583 structures and scorched 173,000 acres, the authorities say. New evacuations were ordered in Carpinteria, which been under fire threat for days. The new evacuation zone extends within two miles of the Santa Barbara Zoo. Zoo Director Nancy McToldridge said in a statement that there was 'no immediate danger' from the fire and that the zoo was closed with all animals inside to shelter from smoke. 'We drill for and are prepared for emergencies,' she said, adding that an evacuation plan for the animals was in place if needed. Meanwhile, crews with help from water-dropping aircraft saved several homes as unpredictable gusts sent the blaze churning deeper into foothill areas northwest of Los Angeles that haven't burned in decades. Santa Barbara County firefighters work on structure protection early Sunday morning, keeping a close eye on nearby flames atop Shepard Mesa Road in Carpinteria, California. The area has been evacuated by law enforcement Firefighters knock down flames as they advance on homes atop Shepherd Mesa Road early Sunday in Carpinteria, California. A flare-up on the western edge of Southern California's largest and most destructive wildfire sent residents fleeing Flames are seen approaching Carpinteria early Sunday. Crews with help from water-dropping aircraft saved several homes as unpredictable gusts sent the blaze churning deeper into areas northwest of Los Angeles that haven't burned in decades The massive Thomas Fire (top left) has burned 173,000 acres and is quickly encroaching on Carpinteria and Santa Barbara This map shows the new mandatory evacuation zones in red and voluntary evacuation zones in yellow. The voluntary evacuation zone extends within two miles of the Santa Barbara Zoo, which shut down and is taking emergency precautions 'The winds are kind of squirrely right now,' said Santa Barbara County fire spokesman Mike Eliason. 'Some places the smoke is going straight up in the air, and others it's blowing sideways. Depends on what canyon we're in.' The department posted a photo of one residence engulfed in flames before dawn. It's unclear whether other structures burned. Thousands of homes in the county were without power. Firefighters made significant progress Saturday on other fronts of the enormous fire that started Dec. 4 in neighboring Ventura County. Containment was way up on other major blazes in Los Angeles, Riverside and San Diego counties. Forecasters said Santa Ana winds that whipped fires across the region last week were expected to die down later Sunday - but not before creating possible gusts topping 50 mph. The Santa Barbara County Fire Department posted this photo of one residence engulfed in flames before dawn Sunday. It's unclear whether other structures burned. Thousands of homes in the county were without power Flames advance on homes off Shepard Mesa Road at 5.45am Sunday in Carpinteria. New evacuations were ordered in the seaside city in Santa Barbara County that has been under fire threat for days Firefighters light backfire while trying to keep a wildfire from jumping Santa Ana Road near Ventura, California on Saturday A plane drops fire retardant on a wildfire on Friday in Fallbrook, California. The wind-swept blazes have forced tens of thousands of evacuations and destroyed dozens of homes in Southern California Firefighters light backfire while trying to keep a wildfire from jumping Santa Ana Road near Ventura on Saturday A lack of rain has officials on edge statewide because of parched conditions and no end in sight to the typical fire season. 'This is the new normal,' Gov. Jerry Brown warned Saturday after surveying damage from the deadly Ventura fire. 'We're about ready to have firefighting at Christmas. This is very odd and unusual.' High fire risk is expected to last into January and the governor and experts said climate change is making it a year-round threat. Overall, the fires have destroyed nearly 800 homes and other buildings, killed dozens of horses and forced more than 200,000 people to flee flames that have burned over 270 square miles (700 square kilometers) since Dec. 4. One death, so far, a 70-year-old woman who crashed her car on an evacuation route, is attributed to the fire in Santa Paula, a small city where the fire began. Dick Marsala looks through debris from his destroyed home after a wildfire roared through the Rancho Monserate Country Club on Friday in Bonsall, California Fire crews search for hot spots among destroyed homes in the Rancho Monserate Country Club community Friday Firefighter Simon Garcia gets a hug from a woman who did not give her name after she arrived to find her house was intact The Ventura County blaze continued to burn into rugged mountains in the Los Padres National Forest near the little town of Ojai and toward a preserve established for endangered California condors. As fires burned in Ventura and Los Angeles counties, firefighters were already in place north of San Diego on Thursday when a major fire erupted and rapidly spread in the Fallbrook area, known for its avocado groves and horse stables in the rolling hills. The fire swept through the San Luis Rey Training Facility, where it killed more than 40 elite thoroughbreds and destroyed more than 100 homes - most of them in a retirement community. Three people were burned trying to escape the fire that continued to smolder Sunday. Most of last week's fires were in places that burned in the past, including one in the ritzy Los Angeles neighborhood of Bel-Air that burned six homes and another in the city's rugged foothills above the community of Sylmar and in Santa Paula.

Japanese researchers experimenting with AI to decode brain activity

Scientists at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan have used artificial intelligence (AI) and deep neural networks to enable a computer to recreate an image seen by a human according to a paper on BioRxiv. Over 10 months, subjects were asked to study images while their brain activity was logged. The team then reverse-engineered the data while an algorithm reconstructed the image. Even more excitingly, the AI software was able to repeat feat, albeit less successfully, when the human subjects simply thought about their image.

https://www.cnbc.com/2018/01/08/japanese-scientists-use-artificial-intelligence-to-decode-thoughts.html

Imagine a reality where computers can visualize what you are thinking. Sound far out? It's now closer to becoming a reality thanks to four scientists at Kyoto University in Kyoto, Japan. In late December, Guohua Shen, Tomoyasu Horikawa, Kei Majima and Yukiyasu Kamitani released the results of their recent research on using artificial intelligence to decode thoughts on the scientific platform, BioRxiv. Machine learning has previously been used to study brain scans (MRIs, or magnetic resonance imaging) and generate visualizations of what a person is thinking when referring to simple, binary images like black and white letters or simple geographic shapes (as shown in Figure 2 here). But the scientists from Kyoto developed new techniques of "decoding" thoughts using deep neural networks (artificial intelligence). The new technique allows the scientists to decode more sophisticated "hierarchical" images, which have multiple layers of color and structure, like a picture of a bird or a man wearing a cowboy hat, for example. Deep image reconstruction: Natural images (seen images), GIF version "We have been studying methods to reconstruct or recreate an image a person is seeing just by looking at the person's brain activity," Kamitani, one of the scientists, tells CNBC Make It. "Our previous method was to assume that an image consists of pixels or simple shapes. But it's known that our brain processes visual information hierarchically extracting different levels of features or components of different complexities." And the new AI research allows computers to detect objects, not just binary pixels. "These neural networks or AI model can be used as a proxy for the hierarchical structure of the human brain," Kamitani says. Deep image reconstruction: Visual imagery, GIF version For the research, over the course of 10 months, three subjects were shown natural images (like photographs of a bird or a person), artificial geometric shapes and alphabetical letters for varying lengths of time. In some instances, brain activity was measured while a subject was looking at one of 25 images. In other cases, it was logged afterward, when subjects were asked to think of the image they were previously shown. Once the brain activity was scanned, a computer reverse-engineered (or "decoded") the information to generate visualizations of a subjects' thoughts. The flowchart, embedded below, is made by the research team at the Kamitani Lab at Kyoto University and breaks down the science of how a visualization is "decoded."