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Test India-China Border Clash Updates: Clear that Govt was sleeping, soldiers paid the price, says Rahul Gandhi

20 parties will be attending the all-party meet called by Prime Minister Modi today. Home Minister Amit Shah, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and BJP president JP Nadda to also be present in the virtual meet. Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter: It's now crystal clear that: The Chinese attack in Galwan was pre-planned. GOI was fast asleep and denied the problem. The price was paid by our martyred Jawans. test1

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/india-china-border-clash-news-updates-galwan-ladakh-soldiers-killed-modi-rajnath-all-party-meet-congress-1690503-2020-06-19

Prime Minister Narendra Modi while addressing the all-party meet on China said, "Neither has anyone entered our territory, nor have any of our posts been occupied by anyone." He went further to state, "20 of our soldiers were martyred in Ladakh but they taught a lesson to whoever raised their eyes towards mother India." "Whether it is deployment or action or counter-action, our forces are doing whatever they have to do to protect our territory," PM Modi said. He added, "We have the capability that no one can even look at even an inch of our land. Today, India's forces are in different sectors and are capable of moving together. The Prime Minister concluded his remarks by saying, "Alertness expands as alertness increases and we also get notified about developments on the LAC timely. Sectors where we did not focus in the past, our soldiers are now efficiently able to monitor and respond. Till now, whoever was not asked or stopped, our soldiers now stop them at each turn. When they are questioned, tensions rise."

Lowest LCOE power achieved by single-axis, bifacial solar: study

Solar Energy Research Institute researchers in Singapore have said utility-scale solar power projects using single-axis trackers and bifacial solar panels using crystalline silicone technology produce the world’s lowest levelised cost of energy (LCOE). Second best was monofacial single-tracker panels, with bifacials on dual-axis trackers coming third as the most expensive. Their survey showed single-axis bifacial systems had the lowest LCOE for more than 90% of the globe. Apart from investigating the modules, supplied by Chinese company Longi, their survey also examined the best dimensions of a solar plant and different types of panels.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/06/05/single-axis-bifacial-pv-offers-lowest-lcoe-in-93-1-of-worlds-land-area/

A group of scientists from the Solar Energy Research Institute of Singapore has showed that combining bifacial panels and single-axis trackers is the best way to achieve the lowest levelized cost of energy in solar power projects based on crystalline silicon technology. In the study Global Techno-Economic Performance of Bifacial and Tracking Photovoltaic Systems, published in Joule, the academics said that their tests have showed that the aforementioned combination can ensure a yield that is up to 35% higher than conventional systems. Parameters The group analyzed the cost-effectiveness of both monofacial and bifacial solar plants installed with fixed-tilt, single-axis, and dual-axis tracking systems on a global scale. It said that the daily average global horizontal irradiance for several of the world’s locations was obtained from NASA’s Clouds and the Earth’s Radiant Energy System (CERES). The research team calculated direct normal irradiance (DNI) and diffuse horizontal irradiance (DHI) by applying the Orgill–Hollands' approach, which estimates diffuse fraction using the clearness index as the only variable. Daily average ambient temperature and albedo values were also included as parameters. Measurements The researchers assumed that module rows in the solar plant are properly spaced so that losses caused by shading are only marginal. Their analysis did not consider shading caused by mounting systems on the panels’ rear side. “The influence that the row-row spacing has on other cost factors, such as site preparation works, wiring, fencing, etc., has also been neglected in this work,” the researchers explained. “We do not consider governmental policies; these can have a big influence on the LCOE and therefore, determine whether it is cost effective to install a PV system in a particular location.” Soiling losses and transport costs were also excluded as parameters for the analysis. Popular content For projects built with fixed-tilt modules, the academics considered a height of 0.6 m between the panels’ lowest edge and ground, while for projects installed with trackers this height is assumed to be 1 m. The modules for the field measurements were provided by Chinese manufacturer Longi and a comparison was made between installations with monofacial monocrystalline PERC modules with front power output of 310 W and bifacial panels of the same type with front power output of 305 W. Inverter efficiency and other losses in the PV installation were considered to be 96% and 3%, respectively. Single-axis primacy “All combinations of tracking and bifacial systems improve yield, with improvements of more than 50% possible in very high latitudes,” the group wrote. “In general, with the same mounting structure, bifacial configuration outperforms monofacial configuration. Tracker configurations outperform fixed-tilt configurations significantly, with dual-axis tracker installations having marginally higher yield than one axis.” The scientists said that single-axis tracker installations have 10% higher system costs than conventional monofacial fixed-tilt systems, while two-axis tracker installations may be between 30% and 60% more expensive. “These considerably higher system costs for two-axis tracker systems are mainly due to the high cost of their mounting structure,” the explained. The cost and yield advantages for bifacial systems backed by single-axis tracking increase when project locations are at high latitudes. “In general, the tracking properties from monofacial-1T systems result in a considerable LCOE reduction compared with bifacial fixed-tilt systems (reaching values up to 21%),” the scientists concluded. “However, only for locations close to the poles, the properties of bifacial modules to capture light from both sides becomes more influential and results in lower LCOE values.” The LCOE for bifacial single-axis tracker projects is the lowest for 93.1% of the analyzed world’s land area, while monofacial single-axis tracker plants are said to achieve the second-lowest LCOE, at 87.9% of the analyzed land area. “Hence, under the current market situation, 1T systems are cost-effective and preferable,” the academics concluded.

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is donating $100 million to coronavirus relief efforts

The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is pledging up to $100 million to help contain the Coronavirus. The organization will immediately direct $20 million to groups including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization."The release of fast and flexible funding is intended to help multilateral organizations and national public health authorities rapidly scale up their virus detection capabilities and implement disease modeling analytics," the group said in a statement.

https://amp.cnn.com/cnn/2020/02/06/business/bill-melinda-gates-foundation-novel-coronavirus/index.html

Hong Kong(CNN Business) The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation is dramatically increasing the amount it's spending to combat the coronavirus, pledging up to $100 million to help contain the outbreak. The foundation said in a statement Wednesday that its funds would be used to help find a vaccine for the virus, limit its spread and improve the detection and treatment of patients. The new donation total includes $10 million the foundation had previously pledged. See more The organization will immediately direct $20 million to groups including the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the World Health Organization, which last week declared the coronavirus outbreak a global public health emergency. Funding will also be allocated to public health agencies in China and other countries affected by the outbreak. The foundation is also focusing on countries in South Asia and Africa, where it says people have higher risks of contamination due to a lack of access to good health care. Up to $20 million will go to health authorities in these regions. "The release of fast and flexible funding is intended to help multilateral organizations and national public health authorities rapidly scale up their virus detection capabilities and implement disease modeling analytics," the group said in a statement. This is "so that they can target resources where they can have the greatest impact in arresting disease spread," it added. Bill and Melinda Gates are known for their work on public health and philanthropy. In 2009, they worked with authorities in China to combat a tuberculosis outbreak in the country, contributing about $33 million to relief efforts. Bill Gates and Melinda Gates at an event in New York in 2018. In 2010, the couple committed as much as $10 billion to vaccine research over the next decade. That same year, they also started an initiative with Berkshire Hathaway's Warren Buffett called the "Giving Pledge," which encourages billionaires to give most of their wealth to charity. Bill Gates, who co-founded Microsoft (MSFT) in 1975 and is the world's second-richest person, currently has an estimated net worth of $117 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires index. Gates' team is the latest to step up as the coronavirus outbreak worsens, infecting some 28,000 people in more than 25 countries and territories. At least 560 people have been killed to date, mostly in mainland China. Other prominent business leaders have pledged millions of dollars in aid to help combat the virus. Alibaba (BABA) co-founder Jack Ma has donated 100 million yuan ($14.4 million) to vaccine research and virus treatment measures, his foundation said last week. Xiaomi CEO Lei Jun has also contributed 12.7 million yuan ($1.8 million) to relief efforts in his home province of Hubei, the epicenter of the outbreak, according to a company spokesperson.

Nest raises questions over longevity of IoT with product shutdown

Nest has announced that its Revolv smart home start-up, which it purchased in 2014, will no longer be available from mid-May. Several experts have raised concerns over the longevity of products such as Revolv, due to the expensive nature of smart home gadgets and the potential for startups to be quickly abandoned by larger supporters.

http://www.theverge.com/2016/4/4/11362928/google-nest-revolv-shutdown-smart-home-products

Nest is coming under fire following an announcement that Revolv, a smart home startup it acquired two years ago, would be permanently shutting off its product starting May 15th. The decision, announced in a quiet note on Revolv's website in February, has gone largely unnoticed and is expected to impact a very small number of consumers. However, it does raise serious questions about the longevity of smart home gadgets. The devices are often costly pieces of hardware made by small startups that may drop support at any point after being scooped up by a larger technology company. Revolv stopped selling its smart home hub, which lets you control various appliances and home automation systems with a central app, back in October 2014 when Nest acquired the company. Yet the Revolv team has maintained its product since and kept its mobile app online. Starting May 15th, Revolv's $300 hub will cease functioning entirely. "The Revolv app won’t open and the hub won’t work," reads an FAQ on Revolv's website. The company did not disclose its eventual plans to shut the service down when it was acquired. Revolv's $300 smart home hub will cease functioning on May 15th Revolv joined Nest, which similar to Google operates as a subsidiary of Alphabet, to help build out the "Works With Nest" platform. That service lets third-party products communicate with Nest's thermostats, smoke detectors, and security cameras. Revolv's smart hub is apparently not one of those products. "Revolv was a great first step toward the connected home, but we believe that Works with Nest is a better solution and are allocating resources toward that program," a Nest spokesperson told The Verge. Revolv's founders noted on their website that pouring energy into the Works With Nest program means "we can’t allocate resources to Revolv anymore and we have to shut down the service." Some Revolv users, like entrepreneur Arlo Gilbert, are incensed. "On May 15th, my house will stop working. My landscape lighting will stop turning on and off, my security lights will stop reacting to motion, and my home made vacation burglar deterrent will stop working. This is a conscious intentional decision by Google/Nest," Gilbert wrote in a scathing Medium post published yesterday. "To be clear, they are not simply ceasing to support the product, rather they are advising customers that on May 15th a container of hummus will actually be infinitely more useful than the Revolv hub." Gilbert notes how Samsung's SmartThings, a competing smart home hub, is now his only real viable replacement. "Are we just buying intentionally temporary hardware?" The number of Revolv users who've stuck with the service is likely very small. But Gilbert makes a strong point: Nest is not concerned with customers who paid for expensive hardware under the impression that it would work for years to come. The move also raises complex questions about the future of smart appliances. "Is the era of IoT [Internet of Things] bringing an end to the concept of ownership? Are we just buying intentionally temporary hardware?" Gilbert added. The situation with Revolv comes at a sensitive time for Nest. The company was the subject of a damning report from The Information last week detailing an exodus in talent and CEO Tony Fadell's struggle to continue building the company and managing its various ambitions. In the story, Fadell placed blame on members of camera maker Dropcam, which Nest acquired for $555 million in 2014, for their failure to perform as expected within his company. Dropcam founder Greg Duffy, who left the company in January 2015, fired back on Medium, saying selling his company to Fadell was a mistake and publicly calling into question Fadell's leadership and Nest's ability to make money. It's been a rough week for Nest, and it's only going to get harder going forward. As Recode reported on Friday, Google created a vesting schedule for the company to prevent key talent from leaving early on. The day that vesting period ends could be as soon as this year, Recode says, and may lead to an even larger exit of high-profile executives. Just last Friday, two Nest veterans left the company. Update at 5:07PM ET on Monday, April 4th: Added comment from Nest.

Only 56% of UK firms have capabilities to deal with cyber threats

Many UK organisations lack confidence in their ability to protect against cyber attacks, with a survey revealing only 56% believe they have sufficient in-house capabilities to manage threats. Research from Databarracks found that businesses are concerned about keeping pace with emerging security challenges, with 67% investing in safeguards to help tackle cyber threats in the past year. An increasing number of businesses said they had updated their security policy over the past 12 months, while cyber threat monitoring software is now deployed by 28% of organisations, compared to 13% in 2016.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252446750/UK-firms-concerned-about-cyber-arms-race

Only 56% of UK firms believe they have sufficient cyber security skills in-house to deal with threats, a survey has revealed. UK organisations are concerned about their abilities to keep pace with the persistent rise of new cyber security challenges, according to the latest annual Data health check survey by business continuity and IT disaster recovery firm Databarracks. Now in its 10th year, the survey questions more than 400 IT decision-makers in the UK about a series of critical issues relating to their IT, security and business continuity practices. The latest survey shows that 44% of the companies polled lack confidence in their cyber defence capabilities, despite 67% saying they had invested in safeguards to help fight against cyber threats in the past 12 months – up from just 59% in 2016. The survey shows that the types of safeguard that organisations have invested in to protect against cyber threats have changed dramatically in recent years. In 2016, only 12% of organisations said they had updated their cyber security policy in the past 12 months, compared with 26% in 2018. Similarly, cyber threat monitoring software is now used in 28% of businesses, compared with only 13% in 2016. Because of increasing digitisation, the number of businesses protecting more than 100TB of data has more than doubled in the past 10 years, the survey shows, with 16% of the 2018 respondents admitting they do not know how much data they are protecting. Although the proportion of organisations encrypting backup data has increased from 53% to 67% in the past decade, one-third still do not encrypt their backups. The survey also shows that the employment of a chief information security officer (CISO) has jumped from 1% in 2016 to 14% in 2018. Peter Groucutt, managing director of Databarracks, said investment in cyber security safeguards should translate into improved confidence, but the findings show it is yet to make a significant difference. “We are in the midst of a rapidly accelerating arms race,” he said. “Organisations are desperately trying to match criminals by working hard to improve knowledge, training and investment in security defences, but are clearly concerned about keeping pace.” But it is important that organisation do not become disheartened, said Groucutt. “While confidence levels are not where we had hoped, businesses are making positive strides and acting on the front foot to fight back, which makes us optimistic for the future,” he said. “Critically, it is not just about hiring a CISO, or introducing a new cyber security policy or investing in new threat monitoring software – it’s about all of these activities and a fundamental culture change for most organisations. “Cyber threats are evolving at such a pace that organisations cannot stand still. In previous years, organisations have failed to match these threats with action and investment. Today, businesses are fighting back and shoring up defences, as our data shows.” The research also revealed that 69% of organisations have reviewed their cyber security policies within the past 12 months, whereas in 2015, only 54% had reviewed their policies. Budgets are also rising, with 36% of organisations saying they have seen their IT security budget increase in the past 12 months, compared with 24% in 2016. Meanwhile, the proportion of organisations impacted by cyber threats in the past 12 months has dropped from 74% in 2015 to 66% in 2018. Asked whether they had put additional measures in place in response to the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), 36% of organisations said they had, up from just 13% in 2017. “Over time, as organisations see this increased proactivity and investment lead to better security, we are hopeful that confidence will also improve,” said Groucutt. The survey also reveals a positive overall trend in disaster recovery, with more rigorous governance, planning and testing, all leading to greater confidence. The proportion of companies with an IT disaster recovery plan within their business continuity plan has increased from 79% in 2016 to 82% in 2018, while those testing their disaster recovery plans has increased from 42% in 47%.

Domestic tensions rise over looming South China Sea dispute ruling

Regional tensions concerning the South China Sea are running high as a tribunal decision over Chinese maritime claims in the area is expected. Although it is not entirely clear what China itself is seeking to achieve in the South China Sea, most sides of the debate internally agree that China needs a clear and effective strategy for the region. They also agree that Beijing must establish a presence in the South China Sea that is commensurate with its newly-acquired status and power. However, the international community has a role to play in ensuring that China's policy takes a more conciliatory and cooperative turn. China, for its part, now charged with global responsibilities, needs to clarify its goals and reassure the US and its neighbours.

http://foreignpolicy.com/2016/06/23/the-fight-inside-china-over-the-south-china-sea-beijing-divided-three-camps/

With a decision from an international ad hoc tribunal tasked with reviewing China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea looming, regional tensions are running high. A key problem is that no nation involved in the current round of tension -- not even China itself -- has a crystal-clear view of what exactly Beijing is trying to achieve in the South China Sea. That’s because three different schools of thought are each struggling for dominance in Chinese analytical and policy-making circles. A look at the debate within China helps explain the lack of effective communication and the rise of strategic distrust between China, Southeast Asian nations with competing claims, and the United States. With a decision from an international ad hoc tribunal tasked with reviewing China’s maritime claims in the South China Sea looming, regional tensions are running high. A key problem is that no nation involved in the current round of tension — not even China itself — has a crystal-clear view of what exactly Beijing is trying to achieve in the South China Sea. That’s because three different schools of thought are each struggling for dominance in Chinese analytical and policy-making circles. A look at the debate within China helps explain the lack of effective communication and the rise of strategic distrust between China, Southeast Asian nations with competing claims, and the United States. China’s leaders — from President Xi Jinping to Foreign Minister Wang Yi to military leaders like Admiral Sun Jianguo — repeat the well-worn lines that the South China Sea islands have always been Chinese territory, China’s actions are legitimate measures to safeguard its own sovereignty, China will not pursue expansive policies beyond legitimate territorial claims, and limited military installations on newly built islands are for defensive purposes. Some countries in ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations), however, find these explanations unconvincing, feel threatened by China’s island-building, and therefore want the United States to check Chinese power. Some U.S. officials have claimed that China is seeking “militarization” in the region, or even “hegemony.” But in reality, it’s not at all clear that China itself really knows what it wants to achieve in the South China Sea. Broadly speaking, there are three schools of thought among Chinese analysts about optimal policies toward the region: let’s call them realists, hardliners, and moderates. Chinese academic publications, media reports, and online opinions offer a glimpse into these different views. Since last year, I have also talked to a large number of Chinese scholars, government officials, and ordinary citizens. These three camps are representative of the diversity of Chinese views, although they are certainly not exhaustive of all the different views. Because of the intensity of current tensions, Chinese analysts are under pressure to reflect vague government talking points, and sharp criticisms are rarely aired. This may explain why the outside world has commonly missed those debates. But in fact, China’s domestic debates about the South China Sea are of major importance for understanding the future directions of Chinese policy. China’s realists believe that the fundamentals of China’s current South China Sea policy are sound, with no adjustment needed. They recognize the diplomatic and reputational costs incurred, but tend to slight them because they value China’s physical presence and material capability much more highly than its image abroad. Their belief is underpinned by a crude realist understanding of international politics: material power — and not ephemeral (and in any case un-measurable) factors such as reputation, image, or international law — is the decisive factor in international politics. They thus think time is on China’s side, as long as China can manage its rise. This kind of realpolitik thinking now dominates China’s South China Sea decision-making. Realists think they are safeguarding China’s national interests by enhancing its material presence in the South China Sea. But they are uncertain about what to do with the newly constructed islands. Should Beijing push for a new round of military installations including placing offensive weapons systems, or are defensive equipments really sufficient for the status quo? Realists want power in the South China Sea, yet are unsure how much power is enough. A second school of thought — the hardliners — provides alarming answers to the questions realists haven’t yet answered. Not only do they think China should present the seven new islands —constructed out of existing features, including Fiery Cross Reef, Subi Reef, and Mischief Reef — as faits accompli to the outside world, but China should further expand its territorial and military reach in the South China Sea. Such expansion could include: building the islands into mini-bases, conquering some if not all of the features currently under other countries’ control, or turning the Nine-Dash Line map, first published in 1947 and which now serves as Beijing’s legal basis for its claims in the South China Sea, into a territorial demarcation line, thus claiming most of the South China Sea’s territorial waters for China. Hardliners have no regard for the concerns and anxieties of the outside world; they wish only to maximize China’s self-interest. It is clear that some international media reports about China claiming 90 percent of the South China Sea are actually describing this, and only this, school of thought inside China. The good news is that this view does not yet dominate high-level decision-making. Hardliners within government are usually found in the military and law enforcement agencies. A maximalist policy toward the South China Sea would certainly serve their parochial bureaucratic interests. But hardliners also reside in the Chinese general public, the vast majority of which only has a superficial and impressionistic view of the South China Sea situation. Grassroots hardliner calls for assertiveness are based on emotional nationalism, not a studied consideration of China’s interests. The difference between the hardliners and the realists is that, while the hardliners’ views are also based on realpolitik, there is an additional underpinning of hyper-nationalism, making accommodation with other countries especially difficult. Although the hardliners are not dominating current policy, the leadership cannot easily ignore or dismiss them for fear of stoking popular nationalism, a grassroots force which can easily spin out of control. The third group, the moderates, believe it’s time for China to adjust its policy to clarify, if only gradually, its goals in the South China Sea. Moderates recognize that Beijing’s current ambiguity about its territorial claims and strategic design is feeding the outside world’s fear and distrust. They fault the government for failing to provide a compelling strategic narrative and promote effective communication with the outside world. China’s habitual just-do-it approach when it comes to major strategic decisions such as island building is actually harmful to its own self-interest. By forgoing any attempt to legitimize island-building, it ensures international suspicion of rather than sympathy for China’s actions. Moderates argue that China needs to gradually clarify the Nine-Dash Line. Maintaining deliberate ambiguity would simply make the map a historical burden and an unnecessary obstacle to reaching diplomatic compromise. In their view, it is counterproductive to interpret the map as a territorial demarcation line, because doing so would make China an adversary of most Southeast Asian states as well as the United States. Were China to go down this path, they argue, it would eventually face the ominous danger of strategic over-stretch. The biggest problem for China, the moderates observe, is that it lacks a clear and effective strategy for the South China Sea. The moderates differ much from the realists and the hardliners. But the three share an extremely important area of agreement: the necessity of island-building. During my extensive conversations with leading Chinese scholars and government officials since last year, I have not come across a single person who would say island building is a mistake. They may give different reasons for construction and offer different assessments of the consequences, but they all believe that this is something China must do, sooner or later. These reasons range from the more strategic to the more mundane; from establishing a strategic foothold in the South China Sea to providing better living conditions for Chinese personnel stationed there. But they all feel that given the current stage of China’s rise, Beijing must establish a presence in the South China Sea commensurate with its newfound power and status, especially since most other claimant states already have decades-old presences in the region. Members of the international community have repeatedly criticized China’s island-building. But given the apparent national consensus inside China, and also given the fact that the United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea does not strictly proscribe building on existing maritime features, is it a good policy to keep targeting island building activities themselves? Wouldn’t it be in every nation’s interest to move on to the more strategic question of creating a new but stable regional status quo? A new status quo demands China clarify its strategic intentions. Right now, not even the Chinese leadership has a clear answer to that question. Among the three schools analyzed above, only the extreme hardliners have a quick, but highly destabilizing, answer. The rest of China is debating what China’s strategy toward the South China Sea should be. This is an important fact. It suggests that China’s South China Sea policy has not hardened yet, and is thus malleable. The international community — especially the United States and ASEAN — should create favorable conditions for shaping China’s policy toward a more conciliatory and cooperative direction. In particular, they should help raise the importance of the moderates in Chinese decision-making, turning them from a minority view to a majority consensus. The unfortunate effect of some of the rhetoric from U.S. officials about Chinese “hegemony” in East Asia is to confirm the hardliners’ view that the United States wants to contain China, thus undermining the moderates’ position within China’s domestic debate. Among the three schools discussed above, only hardliners unequivocally seek some sort of military hegemony. If American officials take this view as China’s national policy, they will simply talk past their more moderate Chinese interlocutors, creating a potentially dangerous communication gap between the two sides. For its part, China needs to clarify its policy goals and reassure its neighbors, as well as the United States. A veteran Chinese diplomat recently told me that Chinese diplomacy is currently in its “adolescence.” But a rising China with regional and global responsibilities needs to learn quickly to become an adult. SAEED KHAN/AFP/GettyImages

Cheap, frequent COVID tests could be ‘akin to vaccine,’ professor says

A Harvard epidemiologist and expert in disease testing is calling for a shift in strategy toward a cheap, daily, do-it-yourself test. The tests, which can be produced for less than a dollar, can be performed by consumers each day or every other day. If everyone who tests positive stays home, the widespread effect would be similar to that of a vaccine, breaking transmission chains across the country.

https://news.harvard.edu/gazette/story/2020/08/cheap-daily-covid-tests-could-be-akin-to-vaccine/

A Harvard epidemiologist and expert in disease testing is calling for a shift in strategy toward a cheap, daily, do-it-yourself test that he says can be as effective as a vaccine at interrupting coronavirus transmission — and is currently the only viable option for a quick return to an approximation of normal life. “These are our hope,” said Michal Mina, assistant professor of epidemiology at Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health and Brigham and Women’s Hospital. “We don’t have anything tomorrow, other than shutting down the economy and keeping schools closed.” As the pandemic’s health, economic, and educational toll mounts, Mina, a member of the Harvard Chan School’s Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics, said the paper-strip tests have already been developed and their shotgun approach to testing — cheap and widespread — provides a way back to the workplace, classroom, and other venues. The strategy, if adopted and backed by the federal government, could put hundreds of millions of tests in the hands of consumers within weeks, at a cost far less than repeated rounds of economic stimulus, Mina said. The tests, which can be produced for less than a dollar, can be performed by consumers each day or every other day. Though not as accurate as current diagnostic tests, they are nonetheless effective at detecting virus when a person is most infectious, Mina said. If everyone who tests positive stays home, he said, the widespread effect would be similar to that of a vaccine, breaking transmission chains across the country. “They can effectively be akin to a vaccine that was introduced tomorrow,” Mina said, speaking to reporters on a conference call on Friday. “We keep trying to use these diagnostic tools that just tell us what’s going on [with an individual] once every couple of months when they may be tested. It’s doing nothing to stop transmission chains.” The current test-and-trace strategy, which uses a high-accuracy, laboratory-processed test, is well-suited for detecting individual infections as a prelude to medical treatment. But its high cost and slow turnaround time make it ineffective for the broader goal of curbing transmission in the community. Mina estimated that the nation’s current testing strategy probably catches less than 3 percent of cases early enough to affect whether a person transmits the virus. But as long as those testing positive stay home, a cheap, at-home testing regimen has the potential to provide a kind of artificial herd immunity, interrupting enough transmission nationwide to cause the pandemic to stall. “What I would like to see happen is to start using testing [as] a true public health tool to break transmission chains in the same way that we know we can use masks to decrease transmission,” Mina said. “I want these tests to tell people they’re transmitting [the virus to others] at the time they’re transmitting, and [when] people can act on it because they’re getting immediate results. And I want them to take it every single day, or every other day.” Several companies have developed such tests, Mina said. Two are small, Sherlock Biosciences — whose paper-based test was developed at Harvard’s Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering — and E25 Bio, which has roots at MIT and Harvard, while a third is Minnesota-based multinational 3M, which has been working with MIT researchers to develop an inexpensive paper-based test that the company describes as being similar to at-home pregnancy tests. “[The testing method] will stop the vast majority of transmission and it will cause these outbreaks to disappear in a matter of weeks.” — Michael Mina Several hurdles stand in the way for widespread dissemination of the tests, Mina said. Perhaps the largest hurdle is regulatory. The Food and Drug Administration, in charge of approving diagnostic tests, has held up approval because the tests aren’t as accurate as nasal-swab, lab-based tests. While that would matter if they were intended as an individual diagnostic tool, Mina said that from a public health viewpoint, they are accurate enough to provide critical initial screening on a large scale. Positive test results could be followed up by a visit to the doctor and a more accurate nasal swab test or, if illness weren’t that severe, by daily testing until a person is negative. “Everyone says, ‘Why aren’t you doing this already?’ My answer is, ‘It is illegal to do this right now,’” Mina said. “Until the regulatory landscape changes, those companies have no reason to bring a product to market.” Mina said he’s concerned that approval will be contingent on making the tests closer to the accuracy of PCR (polymerase chain reaction) tests, which will likely add enough cost to short-circuit their widespread use, and their usefulness as a vehicle to interrupt the course of the pandemic. The second hurdle is resources. Since most of the companies developing these tests are small, Mina said FDA approval would mean production could begin soon, but only on the scale of millions of tests per week — well below the level needed to test a nation of 330 million daily or several times per week. What’s needed, he said, is the federal government’s financial and organizational clout to both provide resources and get companies working together. Though even a $1 per day test gets expensive if the federal government provides them free to all Americans, the cost would be far less than recent stimulus efforts, and even less than the effort to produce a vaccine, the urgency of whose development would ease if the testing regimen is effective. “It will stop the vast majority of transmission and it will cause these outbreaks to disappear in a matter of weeks,” Mina said. “This is something we can actually do at warp speed.”

Danimer, PSI to co-develop bio-based, compostable kitchen films

Danimer Scientific and Plastic Suppliers (PSI) will partner to develop home-compostable films made from Danimer's proprietary biopolymer, Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate. PSI will manufacture films that degrade without leaving microplastic traces, for use in various consumer packaging applications and industrial sectors.

https://www.dairyreporter.com/Article/2020/09/10/Danimer-Scientific-and-PSI-to-create-bio-based-home-compostable-film-packaging

PSI will use material supplied by Danimer Scientific to produce packaging films that will reliably degrade without leaving behind harmful microplastics. These films will contain Danimer Scientific's proprietary biopolymer, Nodax polyhydroxyalkanoate (PHA). Tested by University of Georgia (UGA) researchers and the UGA New Materials Institute, PHA is a proven biodegradable alternative to petrochemical plastics made from sustainable materials such as canola oil. Danimer Scientific will work with PSI to create customized resins that will offer additional end-of-life options to PSI's already existing line of compostable films. New PHA-containing films will include home, soil and marine compostable options. "We have developed a strong working relationship with PSI over the last decade creating bio-based packaging materials, and we are excited to expand our partnership by introducing one of the industry's most promising sustainable materials to their products,"​ said Stephen Croskrey, CEO of Danimer Scientific. "PHA has already proven to be a reliable eco-friendly alternative for consumer packaged goods, and this expansion into flexible packaging will help further reduce the environmental impacts of plastic waste."​ The new films will be designed for applications across food, beverage, grocery retailer, quick service restaurant, stadium foodservice, and many other consumer packaged goods (CPG) and industrial segments. "The evolution of our films' compostability in various natural environments underscores our commitment to bio-based packaging films,"​ said George Thomas, CEO of PSI. "We are dedicated to bioplastic film innovation and passionate about advancing sustainability for a healthier planet. We look forward to continuing our work with Danimer Scientific and incorporating PHA into new environmentally responsible films."​ Danimer Scientific's Nodax PHA possesses seven TÜV AUSTRIA certifications and statements of industrial and home compostability, is biodegradable in anaerobic conditions, soil, freshwater and marine environments and is 100% bio based. All of Danimer Scientific's biopolymers, including its Nodax PHA, are FDA approved for food contact.

Global organic cotton production falls 4% in 2015-16 season

Global production of organic cotton fell 4% in the 2015-2016 season, to a total of 107,980 metric tonnes, according to the annual report on the sector by non-profit Textile Exchange. India, the main producer of organic cotton, saw production fall to 60,000 metric tonnes, which still constituted 56% of the entire global output of the product, down from 67% in the previous reporting period. China was the second leading producer, responsible for 14% of overall production. Leading purchasers of organic cotton included C&A, H&M, Inditex, Nike and Tschibo.

https://www.ecotextile.com/2017101223020/shows-events/india-drags-on-organic-cotton-volumes.html

WASHINGTON – Latest organic cotton production figures show that total global production fell 4 per cent in the 2015 – 16 season with volumes at 107,980 metric tonnes as production in number one region India fell to just over 60,000 metric tonnes – still 56 per cent of total global output. In 2015/16, world cotton production declined by 19 per cent to 21.3 million tons, which was the lowest volume since 2002/03. In this period organic cotton represented an estimated 0.5 per cent of global production. Top buyers of organic cotton in this period included C&A, H&M, Tschibo, Nike and Inditex, respectively, although exact volumes purchased were not detailed in the new report released today.

M&G claims to introduce first impact private debt fund

Investment manager M&G has announced the closing of its £44.5m ($63.2m) M&G Impact Financing Fund seeking to make a positive social or environmental impact. The fund has already participated in private debt deals including lending to the developer of the regeneration of Greenwich peninsula in London, supporting US solar power and financing UK housing associations. London-based M&G said the deals will directly help build houses, provide employment and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Seed investors in the fund include Big Society Capital, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research and M&G Prudential.

http://www.funds-europe.com/news/mg-launches-first-private-debt-impact-fund

London-based investment house M&G has launched what it claims to be the first multi-sector debt fund from a mainstream asset manager that aims to achieve a positive social or environmental impact. The £44.5 million (€51 million) M&G Impact Financing Fund will invest predominately in private and illiquid debt and aims to provide investors with regular income and a total return in excess of public bonds. The diversified fund has so far participated in several private and illiquid debt deals, including lending to the developer behind the major regeneration of the Greenwich peninsula in London, supporting solar power in the US and providing finance to UK housing associations. M&G says that the deals will directly help build houses, provide employment and reduce carbon dioxide emissions. Big Society Capital, the Swedish Foundation for Strategic Environmental Research and M&G Prudential are seed investors in the fund. M&G chief executive Anne Richards said: “Asset managers are playing an essential role in putting people’s savings to work in the economy to help create better futures for everyone. “This fund is an opportunity for charities, pension funds and other like-minded investors to lend for impact by financing projects that benefit both the environment and society.” ©2018 funds europe

Nike looks to boost rewards for app-using customers

Nike is aiming to increase the rewards offered by its Nike Plus app after discovering that its users spend 40% more on the company's products than other customers. Nike is testing a range of perks designed to reward the loyalty of its app users, including vending machines that offer free products as gifts and an instant checkout service that would allow shoppers to skip the queue at its store on Fifth Avenue in New York.

https://nypost.com/2019/04/03/nike-to-add-perks-to-super-successful-customer-loyalty-program/

Nike is ramping up its loyalty program as it finds that customers who use its app are not just loyal but also big spenders. The shoemaker is testing a slew of extra perks to its Nike Plus app — including vending machines that disperse free stuff — as it finds that those users spend 40 percent more than other customers, according to Nike’s global vice president of direct stores, Cathy Sparks. Indeed, about 50 percent of the transactions at its two flagship mega-stores in New York City and Shanghai — which both opened last fall — are coming from customers who use its app, Sparks said at the WWD Retail 2030 conference on Wednesday. That has the sneaker giant beefing up the app, which already gives customers early access to new products, free shipping and VIP treatment in its stores, including a separate entrance at the Manhattan mega-store. It’s testing instant checkout in three stores, including the 68,000-square-foot location on Fifth Avenue, allowing Nike Plus customers to skip the checkout line. And at its Melrose, Calif., store it’s testing a vending machine that rewards members with free gifts every two weeks. Nike is also making “large investments” in technology that will allow its employees to look at customers’ past purchases, favorite sports and any other information they have shared about themselves on the app to offer them personalized service, Sparks said. “Loyalty programs are on fire right now,” NPD sports analyst Matt Powell told The Post. “Brands and retailers are discovering their best customers are high-leverage,” he said. The changes come as Nike seeks to take greater control of its relationship with its customers by, for example, limiting the number of retailers that can peddle its wares. Last year, the Beaverton, Ore.-based company told Wall Street analysts it is culling 25 percent of the retail outlets that sell its merchandise.

TfL and London mayor piloting small sites for SME builders program

The Mayor of London is backing a pilot project to promote the use of smaller building firms in the capital. Sadiq Khan has directed Transport for London to make available 10 small sites from its property portfolio specifically for such smaller firms, including community-led projects. A simplified bidding process will be used, alongside standardised contracts, and the project is expected to deliver 111 new homes of which 68% will be designated as affordable. The lack of available small sites is the biggest barrier to small and medium-sized construction companies building new homes, according to industry research.

https://www.propertywire.com/news/uk/small-sites-london-made-available-smaller-builders-new-homes/

A small site building pilot programme has been launched in London with the aim of using smaller builders and increasing the number of genuinely affordable new homes. Two locations have been selected for the pilot and London Mayor Sadiq Khan has instructed Transport for London to bring forward 10 of its small sites for development, with capacity ranging from between two and 42 homes. The land will be made more accessible for smaller builders through a simple bidding process with standardised legal contracts, and two of the sites will be dedicated specifically to community led housing groups. The first plots of publicly owned land to be used are at Cable Street near the Shadwell DLR in Tower Hamlets, and a site at Christchurch Road in Lambeth. Both are earmarked for community led housing and will deliver 100% affordable housing. Overall the initial 10 plots of land will deliver 111 new homes of which 68% will be affordable and the Mayor’s team has begun discussions with other public sector landowners about using their small sites for housing too. A review of the new process for bringing forward the 10 TfL pilot sites will be carried out to determine how and when the programme can be used by other public land owners in the capital. The Mayor’s new small sites programme will contribute to affordable housing delivery on public land in London. The 10 TfL sites go towards the Mayor’s target for 50% affordable housing across its portfolio on sites brought forward since he took office. Levels of affordable housing on individual sites will vary whilst ensuring the Mayor’s direction for 50% across the portfolio will be delivered. Small and medium sized builders are needed to help provide the 66,000 new homes needed each year in London, according to Barry Mortimer, director of the Federation of Master Builders (FMB) London. He pointed out that FMB research shows that a lack of available and viable land is the main barrier to small builders delivering more new homes. ‘Indeed, over half of SME house builders believe that the number of small sites available is decreasing,’ he said. ‘This move by the Mayor of London will help bring forward a small number of small sites across the capital and give SME builders the land they are crying out for. This is a step in the right direction but if we are to address London’s housing shortage, we need many more of these initiatives going forward,’ he added. Since becoming Mayor Khan has worked with his transport agency to accelerate the release of its land for development. Last year, TfL signed contracts to develop more than 1,000 homes, half of which will be affordable. This year, TfL is on track to bring forward land for at least 3,000 new homes. ‘For far too long, London’s housing market has been over reliant on large developers building the majority of our homes on large brownfield sites. The number of small sites coming forward has halved in the last decade, and we have lost almost a third of all small and medium-sized homebuilders operating in the capital,’ said Khan. ‘Through my new small sites programme, I want to make more public land available to help contribute not only to tackling the housing crisis in London, but also to reinvigorating our small and medium sized home building sector. I also want to provide more opportunities for Community Land Trusts, which is why I have earmarked two sites specifically for community led housing,’ he pointed out. ‘I am leading the way by bringing forward TfL sites to pilot my new approach, and I want to offer a real opportunity for small builders and community led housing groups to play their part in building the new and genuinely affordable homes Londoners so desperately need,’ he added. According to Graeme Craig, director of commercial development at Transport for London, as one of the biggest landowners in London TfL in an ideal position to help provide the homes that London desperately needs, deliver genuinely affordable homes and generate revenue to reinvest in the transport network. ‘We’re excited to be working with the Mayor to make our smaller sites available to small and medium size developers, housing associations and community led organisations and these ten, at locations across London, are the first of a number of small sites that we’ll be bringing to market,’ he said.

The Age of Unmanned Tractors Is Coming, But Not Without a Fight

Many farmers would rather spend big on dated, yet simple machinery than fight with companies like John Deere for the right to repair their own equipment—especially if said equipment threatens to automate them out of work.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/33805/the-age-of-unmanned-tractors-is-coming-but-not-without-a-fight-from-farmers

Most of the buzz surrounding vehicular automation and autonomy is found in the circles of transportation, where technophiles tout driverless cars as a cure-all for everything from traffic jams to environmental pollution. But operator-free vehicles have almost endless potential uses and could force businesses to rethink every industry from manufacturing to agriculture, which itself becomes increasingly automated with each passing harvest. GPS-guided tractors can already plow fields with only a semi-attentive farmer at the wheel, though if British agricultural engineer Kit Franklin has his way, the farmer may one day not even need to be there. A lecturer at farming-focused Harper Adams University, Franklin is behind the Hands Free Farm that was founded with the goal of advancing agricultural automation. In 2016, reports Bloomberg, Franklin acquired a $246,000 grant that allowed him to repurpose a hectare of university land for an almost entirely robotic farm. He then worked using a 25-year-old combine and an Iseki & Co. tractor fitted with LIDAR navigation. Using the little Iseki and combine, Franklin and his team managed to produce about five tons of barley that year, all of which was harvested using a drone equipped with a serrated poop scoop and sent to a nearby distillery for conversion into beer and gin. Franklin returned to the fields in 2018, harvesting over seven tons of wheat that were milled on-site and used to bake pizzas. This savory stunt attracted the attention of both the British government—who infused $2 million into the project—and Australian agro-tech firm Farmscan AG, which helped Hands Free Farm expand this year to a 35-hectare patch that'll be maintained almost entirely by automated farm equipment. The project has been set back some by both poor weather and the COVID-19 pandemic, but Franklin remains confident his project can achieve the kind of disruption that makes Silicon Valley venture capitalists salivate. "Ultimately, what we're talking about here is a complete ripping-up of the current marketplace for agricultural machines," Franklin told Bloomberg. "It comes down to farmers demanding it." But demand from farmers is the big question mark here. Many farmers would rather spend big on dated, yet simple machinery than fight with companies like John Deere for the right to repair their own equipment—especially if said equipment threatens to automate them out of work. "If you have that," said 68-year-old Robert Dunkley, regarding Franklin's automated Iseki at a trade show, "it does me out of a job."

Could artificial intelligence replace the legal profession

Technology including artificial intelligence (AI) is already bringing efficiencies to the legal profession that were unthinkable a few years ago, but there is a long way to go, according to Paul Rawlinson, global chair of Baker McKenzie. He said innovations such as drones and self-driving cars were driving the legal profession to break new ground, while machine learning enabled vast amounts of data to be at lawyers' fingertips, but AI was still being used to augment the work of, rather than replace humans.

http://www.brinknews.com/will-lawyers-become-extinct-in-the-age-of-automation/?utm_source=BRINK+Subscribers&utm_campaign=3f20bfa5e7-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2018_05_08&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c3639d7c98-3f20bfa5e7-110036825

Photo: Peter Parks/AFP/Getty Images “The robots are coming.” It’s fast becoming the mantra of our age. And it comes with more than a hint of threat. I’ve noticed, especially in the last year or so, the phrase has become the go-to headline in the legal news pages when they report on technology in our industry. For our profession—where for thousands of years, trust, diligence, and good judgement have been watchwords—the idea of artificial intelligence replacing lawyers continues to be controversial. From law school and all through our careers, we are taught that the trusted adviser is what all good lawyers aspire to become. The most enduring relationships in the legal profession are the ones where the client feels and believes the lawyer has their back. And often, the most valued advice we give clients isn’t just based on how we respond when they ask, “Should I do this?” but on how we respond when they ask, “Would you do this?” Trust is hard won over time, across relationships and often, for our firm, across borders. But the world is speeding up. Globalization, technological advances, and the Internet of Things all mean there is huge pressure to be quicker, smarter, and more productive. So if machines can do the learning, will lawyers become extinct? Change Is Happening The AI that we are seeing on the market now and for the foreseeable future—which I am not naïve enough to put as any longer than three to five years—will enable us to deliver better legal services quicker, more efficiently and sometimes cheaper. But it does not fundamentally change the game—yet. But change is happening, and being simply a good lawyer is no longer enough. Let’s be clear, this is not new. The financial services industry is going through similar challenges, but there will need to be an evolution in law and regulation to allow the true potential of technology in the legal sector. If you look at document review, 30 years ago a client would pay millions to have thousands of documents manually reviewed. Thanks to technology, much of that work is now done by machines. Many other legal processes can be automated. AI and the tools that “bring it to life” are more of an opportunity than a threat: a chance to focus on the valuable work for clients; a chance to have more information to empower lawyers to make better decisions more quickly; a chance to offer young lawyers more than spending their first two years in a data room. This revolution impacts not only how we practice law, but also how the law applies to whole new sectors. Our global aviation group’s first-of-its-kind specialist drone team is a good example of how we are adapting as the world changes. Drones are revolutionizing industries, while simultaneously pushing aviation law’s boundaries because they don’t fit the standard aviation framework, and many companies entering this space for the first time need industry-specific advice to navigate this rapidly evolving legal landscape and use drones to their fullest capabilities. Driverless cars are another example. When they knock someone over, who’s to blame? Who’s going to pay? Where are the liabilities? That’s a fascinating area for a lawyer. The Future Is Bright The fundamental issue is trust. Our human instinct is to want to speak to a human. I don’t think that will change. Trust is what we crave. Empathy, human instinct, an ability to read nuances, shake hands, and build collaborative relationships are what separate us from machines. As we see, through our long-standing involvement at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting every year, the world has changed more—and faster—in the last five years than in the last 50. Businesses (our clients) demand that we not only understand the pace at which their sector is moving, but that we as lawyers harness AI to make sure we can do more with less. We don’t just talk the talk—we’ve seconded our lawyers to the WEF’s Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution to make sure we are right in the midst of the changes that are coming and that we are learning by doing. Put simply, innovation isn’t about the business of law, it’s about the business of business. So how do we keep up? By having better conversations and by having a richer understanding of the world. To listen and learn so we are better equipped. Investment in tech must be in tandem with investment in talent. Because, let’s be frank, the market will kill those who don’t adapt. They are the ones who should be scared of the machines. For them, the robots are coming. The really wise lawyers, they know it’s not one versus the other. For those who can find ways to use AI to augment, not replace, judgement and empathy, I believe the future is very bright indeed. This piece first appeared in World Economic Forum.

Cardbox Packaging Announce 100% Recyclable Packaging

Austria-based Cardbox Packaging have released innovative substitutes to plastic laminated cardboard in order to reduce plastic waste. They have released 2 new 100% recyclable packing products the “Cardbox Circular Barrier Coating Frozen Food” and “Cardbox Circular Barrier Coating Grease”. They intend to make further additions to the line in the future alluding to a product with a “water-vapour barrier”.

https://www.thepackagingportal.com/industry-news/cardbox-packaging-starts-go-to-market-phase-with-a-set-of-new-sustainable-coatings/

Austria-based Cardbox Packaging has a clear vision about its role in a circular economy. Since the middle of 2018, they have been developing a new, sustainable range of coatings in order to offer alternative packaging in the food industry. More consumers are looking for sustainable alternatives to plastic and plastic-laminated packaging to reduce plastic waste, and companies are responding. This creates considerable demand for recyclable cartonboard packaging, making use of renewable resources which offer an alternative in the discussion of Circular Economy. However, there is a substantial amount of packaging products using plastic laminated cardboard. The company’s goal has been to substitute laminated cartonboard through dispersion-based coatings in order to achieve 100% recyclability. They looked to substitute cardboard laminated (PE and OPP) materials with new coatings, then moving into PET- and other plastic laminated cartonboard, including pure plastic packaging. Now, they have rolled out two new products to the market: CBX CBC FF (Cardbox Circular Barrier Coating Frozen Food) CBX CBC GR (Cardbox Circular Barrier Coating Grease) CBX CBC FF is focused on the substitution of PE-coated cardboard material, through a 100% recyclable cardboard alternative for applications of the frozen food market including fish, fruits and vegetables. CBX CBC GR has a broader range of sustainable coatings for different greasy products, such as cakes, chocolates and pastries. “Our coatings are free of fluorine chemicals, and therefore offer an alternative to existing carton-board materials equipped with Kit treatment containing fluorine,” says Managing Director, Klaus Hockl. “A further extended product range will be rolled out in the future, targeting properties, including but not limited to, a water-vapour barrier. Additionally, we will be introducing the Eco Tray, a cardboard tray equipped with CBX CBC xx coating and sealing properties, in more details soon.”

IWG WeWork adds centres in Mumbai and Bengaluru

New York-based co-working giant WeWork is deepening its presence in India, with the opening of a location in Mumbai and the announcement of another in Bengaluru. Karan Virwani, CWeO of WeWork India, said the sites were opening in response to growing demand for places offering "greater interaction and collaboration". **Note to editor/Julie** was not sure if WW only had 6 locations in Mumbai and googlemaps brings up at least 8, so left out numerical references. https://www.google.com/search?tbm=lcl&ei=wCcmXNalKbm61fAPqIK0mA0&q=wework+mumbai+locations&oq=wework+mumbai+locations&gs_l=psy-ab.3..0.10158.11341.0.11896.7.7.0.0.0.0.204.902.0j5j1.6.0....0...1c.1.64.psy-ab..1.6.898...0i7i30k1j0i13k1.0.AaoKHcFdGnE#rlfi=hd:;si:;mv:!1m2!1d19.368403794036023!2d73.3011557568359!2m2!1d18.89678818909482!2d72.53897924316402!4m2!1d19.132764334234217!2d72.92006749999996!5i11

https://www.peoplematters.in/news/corporate/wework-expands-to-mumbai-and-bengaluru-with-new-spaces-19627?utm_source=hero_nav&utm_medium=list_post&utm_term=news&utm_campaign=WeWork+opens+new+spaces+in+Mumbai+%26+Bengaluru&utm_content=news&utm_source=peoplematters&utm_medium=interstitial&utm_campaign=learnings-of-the-day

Space, community and services platform WeWork has announced the opening of its fifth location, in Mumbai earlier this month, and unveiled its sixth location, Salarpuria Magnificia, in Bengaluru today. To consolidate its presence in India, WeWork is experiencing rapid growth with new locations. The company is offering a community bar, dedicated offices, unique conference rooms and a wellness/meditation room. With the location being pet-friendly, it also boasts an energizing game room, outdoor areas and easy access to the Tin Factory bus stop that ensures daily hassle-free commute. Karan Virwani, CWeO, WeWork India, said, “Keeping in mind the growth and expansion of new business hubs in Mumbai and Bengaluru, these locations were a natural fit and choice for our new spaces. We put our heart and soul into launching a new location based on the thorough analysis research of the locality, and surrounding neighborhood to provide a close-knit community experience for our members. We hope to fulfill the demands of our community members with the launch of these new spaces. We are confident of fulfilling the greater demands of our community members.” The company is seeing constant shifts as well as growth in demand for workspaces industry, and the workforce doesn’t want to spend their time working in silos but are seeking greater interaction and collaboration. They want to work out of spaces that inspire them and help them connect and network with people.

Why is there a housing shortage in the Netherlands? The Dutch housing crisis explained. – DutchReview

The Netherlands is struggling with a housing shortage. A combination of regulations, population growth, and economics has left the Netherlands with way less housing than it needs. By 2030, the Netherlands will have about 18.8 million inhabitants, so not only does the Netherlands need to take that into account when they planning for the future, but they also need to build extra.

https://dutchreview.com/expat/housing/why-is-there-a-housing-shortage-in-the-netherlands-the-dutch-housing-crisis-explained/

There is a huge housing crisis in the Netherlands. In the major cities, finding a place to live is expensive and difficult. Particularly for people who want to buy their first Dutch home, the market has become a nightmare over the past five to ten years. A combination of registration regulations, population growth, and privatisation has left the Netherlands with way less affordable housing than it needs. Technically speaking, to meet the Dutch housing demands, the government would have to build 845,000 homes by 2030. It’s estimated that by this time, the country will have about 18.8 million inhabitants. This is on top of the housing shortage that is already going on. READ MORE | Enough is enough: thousands of protestors in Amsterdam march against the housing crisis The Dutch housing crisis: is it a big deal? The impacts of this problem are numerous and serious. Firstly, the most obvious one: rising house prices. With rising house prices, it becomes more difficult for first-time buyers to enter the market — and if they do manage to buy a home, they risk negative equity if housing prices drop again. The housing shortage also impacts social housing: while working-class families tend to be taken care of, single individuals have a hard time getting a roof over their heads. Furthermore, homelessness is on the rise and particularly students struggle to find affordable housing. READ MORE | If you’re homeless in the Netherlands, what support is out there? While the problem is nationwide, the major Randstad cities are particularly under pressure, with Amsterdam, of course, leading the way. Utrecht, The Hague, Rotterdam and Groningen are also struggling to house their inhabitants affordably. Housing shortage in the Netherlands: the nitrogen crisis and a lack of building permits Ah, our favourite topic: the Dutch nitrogen crisis. But what does the housing crisis have to do with the nitrogen crisis? Well, the Netherlands has been struggling with too many nitrates in the air for years now. In 2019 it all came to a head. Farmers and their tractors were out on the streets to protest, but so were construction workers, at least a couple of times. The Hague was filled with tractors almost every week in the autumn and winter of 2019. Image: Cekay/Wikimedia Commons/CC4.0 The reason behind the construction workers’ protests were the new nitrogen regulations — namely the PFAS standard — imposed by the government to deal with the untenably high levels of nitrogen being emitted. For the construction industry, these regulations meant that around 18,000 building projects had to be delayed because they breached EU law, according to Reuters. Good for the environment, terrible for a country that is in desperate need of more housing. Following more protests, these regulations were eventually rolled back. However, it still takes two years from the granting of a permit to a house being ready to live in, so we are likely to be dealing with the effects of these regulations into 2022 and onwards. Housing shortage in the Netherlands: lack of free space The Netherlands is small, I think we can all agree on this. It also makes very economical use of its land, being the second biggest exporter of food produce in the world, just after the US. Agricultural space takes up 53 percent of the Netherlands. Add in the occasional nature reserve (also under threat because of the nitrogen crisis, by the way) and you’re not left with very much space at all. That means that building permits are naturally hard to come by. It is vital to protect nature reserves, even as the housing crisis takes hold. Not only do they provide sanctuary for wildlife that has otherwise been evicted from this highly urbanised country, but they also provide value to people as places to relax and exercise. There’s no point in building new houses in a country that isn’t liveable otherwise. READ MORE | Hiking in The Hague: 11 nature spots for the outdoor adventurer Who is behind the Dutch housing crisis? Partly investors The Netherlands has failed to deal effectively and fairly with property investors. A study commissioned by the ministry, and carried out by the Land Registry and the University of Amsterdam, showed that in areas where investors were buying more than 20 per cent of the properties that came on the market, they were able to manipulate the market so that they paid less per property than first time buyers or ordinary people moving house. These areas include what you would expect: Amsterdam, Groningen, The Hague, Utrecht, Rotterdam and Eindhoven. Another culprit of the Dutch housing crisis: Airbnbs and tourism In many cities around the world, the rising popularity of Airbnb has caused housing shortages where there were none before, and worsened already existing shortages. The easy money available from tourists persuaded many to convert properties into Airbnbs: but that left the locals short on places to, well, live. Overtourism has made the housing crisis in the Netherlands much worse. Image: Ivaylo Kirov/Supplied In the Netherlands, and particularly in Amsterdam, which suffers from over-tourism as a rule, Airbnbs created a real problem for local people. Thankfully, since July 2020, the Dutch government has implemented an outright ban on Airbnb rentals in three districts of the capital. On top of this, renting out your property as a holiday rental in the rest of the city is only possible with a permit and can no longer be allowed for more than 30 days of the year. Tighter lending regulations don’t make the Dutch housing shortage any better There are also some tighter lending regulations at play. These don’t necessarily mean that fewer houses are built, but what they do mean is that unless the housing crisis is resolved by building new houses, potential buyers are in a much worse position. Dutch banks are only allowed to lend buyers the value of the house they buy as a mortgage, which is sensible. The problem with that, though, is the extra costs that are incurred when you buy a house. For first-time buyers on a middle-sized income between €30,000 and €40,000 per year, those are big costs to incur. That means that people in this income bracket need to save for a long time before buying a house, so they’re left renting for longer than is ideal. The population is increasing, which means the Dutch housing shortage is getting worse The population in the Netherlands is increasing, so more housing is necessary. There are two reasons for this: natural population growth (though in the Netherlands, this is fairly low) and immigration. Finding a place to live becomes increasingly difficult for international students in the Netherlands. Image: Buro Millennial/Pexels The Netherlands has become home to lots of international students and expats over the past decade. Both tend to congregate around the Randstad, but even in Tilburg and Wageningen, both decidedly not in the Randstad, students have needed to camp out because the housing shortage was so bad in these cities. So how do we deal with the housing shortage in the Netherlands? 8 possibilities 1. Building more houses The people in the back are likely already screaming “jUst BuILd mORe HoUsEs” — but it’s nowhere near that simple. Crises don’t tend to occur when there are simple answers to the problem at hand. For one thing, the government doesn’t build houses or give out housing permits. It’s the local government, the municipalities, that give out the permits to developers to build new houses. Unfortunately, many Dutch municipalities are dragging their feet on that matter and there is also limited space available within Dutch urban areas. 2. Centralising control Given the number of control municipalities currently have (and their ineffectiveness in dealing with the housing crisis), part of the solution could be transferring some of that power to the central government. 3. More affordable types of houses should be built The housing crisis could also be ameliorated by changing the types of houses being built. First-time buyers are having a hard time getting on the property ladder: houses are too expensive, and the wrong size. New housing in the Netherlands needs to be practical to solve the Dutch housing crisis. Image: na4ev/Pixabay 4. Build more family homes and also smaller apartments Most people want to buy a house, rather than an apartment, and also want a place with a small garden. That is not, however, what is most often being built. Apartments are most commonly constructed because they are cheap and don’t take up as much space as these terraced houses. On the other side of the debate, there is also the fact that a lot of apartments are also not small enough: as more and more people choose to live alone, smaller apartments are becoming more desirable. 5. Building tiny houses (and offices) Although far a solution that supports the status quo, another solution to the Netherlands’ housing crisis might be tiny homes. An emerging phenomenon in the western world, the concept originated in the US, where many people have enormous homes filled with stuff. Minimalists and those in search of a simpler way of life were attracted to the concept of tiny homes: which have now made their way to the Netherlands. We interviewed some tiny home inhabitants, so if you want to know what life is like in a house the size of a garden shed, then we’ve got you covered. Tiny offices have also started to emerge onto the scene. 6. Cannabis concrete? Dutch innovation rarely lets us down, and that also rings true for the housing crisis. A company called Dun Agro constructed the first prefab house made from hemp back in September 2019. Given the current number of hemp farms in the Netherlands, the building company believes it could be possible to construct up to 500 of these hemp houses each year. That wouldn’t solve the housing crisis, but every little bit helps. (And who doesn’t want to tell their scandalised family back home that they live in a house made of cannabis concrete?) 7. Get rid of those dang chickens Other proposed solutions have included major changes to the Dutch agricultural model. In 2019, leftist political party D66 proposed to half the number of livestock. Apart from the sheer amount of space they take up, commercially farmed animals produce a lot of nitrogen. (Aha, it’s the nitrogen crisis again!) By halving the number of animals, D66 had hoped to allow more building to take place as a result of the drop in nitrogen output. But the plan was almost universally denounced and was followed by months of protests by farmers. 8. Tax relief for first-time buyers And, finally, there are tax measures that could be taken to make it easier for people to buy for the first time, even if that in itself would not add to the amount of housing on the market. The government has already taken some steps in the right direction and as of January 1, 2021, buyers aged, between 18 and 35 no longer have to pay the 2% transfer tax. What has your experience of the Dutch housing market been? Let us know in the comments below. Feature Image: djedj/Pixabay Editor’s Note: This article was originally published in January 2020, and was fully updated in May 2022 for your reading pleasure.

Australian Labour are to adopt a 50% renewable energy targer

Labour leader Bill Shorten has announced he will ask Labour to adopt a 50 percent renewable energy target, a breakthrough in the political debate. The conservative Abbott government, currently in power, has put much of the renewable energy bipartisan deals from 2007 to a halt, seeking investment droughts across multiple renewable energy sectors; it concludes then that Labour's new environmental targets create one of the major differences between the two parties. Polling confirms strong popularity of the move. 

http://reneweconomy.com.au/2015/labor-picks-a-winner-with-50-renewable-energy-target-26704

It seems that the Labor Party has finally had enough of joining with the Coalition in the policies of the lowest common denominator, at least in respect to renewable energy. Labor leader Bill Shorten has finally found a major issue to make a point of difference with Tony Abbott. The announcement by Shorten that he would ask Labor to adopt a 50 per cent renewable energy target – following a major push among grass-root branches – is a real breakthrough for the political debate in Australia, possibly as significant as the bipartisan deal to pursue a 20/20 renewable energy target way back in 2007. That 2007 deal led to the rebirth of the Australian renewable energy industry and billions of dollars of investment, that only came to a crashing halt when the Abbott Coalition government came to power in 2013. It wallows in uncertainty since Abbott himself declared that he doesn’t even like wind energy. The past two years, when Labor was forced by the Coalition’s incumbency to come to the table and negotiate a reduced renewable energy target, has seen an investment drought that has tainted Labor nearly as much as it has the Coalition. Finally, it is looking to gain clean air on this critical issue. Shorten confirmed the target on Wednesday, saying that Labor wanted to see more solar panels on the roof-tops of Australian homes and businesses, and it wanted to see battery technology “developed to the point that electricity from solar panels can be stored in our homes and small businesses.” He continued: “We want to make sure that investors in windfarms can be confident about investing in wind power. There is an absolutely clear cut choice between Labor and the Liberals when it comes to renewable energy.” A 50 per cent renewable energy target by 2030 serves four good purposes. Firstly, as Shorten points out, it creates a clear difference between Labor and the Coalition government, and may help Labor recapture some of the middle ground (yes, middle ground) lost to the Greens in the past two years. In turn, it pushes the Coalition to further extremes. If the Coalition really were to take climate change as seriously as they say they do, they will have no choice – at some stage – but to backflip on the climate policy, and reverse their attempt to kill the renewable energy industry. Or they could push for nuclear, which would be so unpopular and so ridiculously expensive it would be political suicide. Not that they are ready to admit that. Environment minister Greg hunt’s initial response – “this will push up electricity prices for families and pensioners” – suggests that their rhetoric and political engagement will remain in the basement for the time being. The Greens, by the way, have a 90 per cent renewable energy target by 2030. The ability to meet that target might be questioned by many, but energy spokesman Larissa Waters makes the valid point that – considering Australia was headed towards 30 per renewables by 2020 under the previous policy – a 50 per cent target by 2030 does not exactly reflect an acceleration from where we were before. Indeed, Tasmania is already at 100 per cent renewables, ACT has a 90 per cent target by 2020, South Australia has a 50 per cent target by 2025, but will get there much earlier, and Queensland has a 50 per cent target by 2030. The second strength of the Labor position is that it provides a positive element to the suite of climate policies. Carbon pricing is toxic, at least on talk-back radio and in the Murdoch press, but as the poll results revealed below illustrate, renewable energy is popular. Somehow, the renewable energy industry was ignored in the last two elections, despite the fact that more than two million homes have solar PV or solar hot water, and even incumbent utilities concede that a revolution in the way we produce and use energy is upon us. Within a few decades, half of all electricity needs will be produced and stored by consumers – households and business. Labor has finally realised that renewable energy is a powerful and positive issue in the electorate. Thirdly, a longer-term target gives confidence to the renewable energy industry. Right now, the industry is facing a policy suite that finishes at 2020, and goes no further. As we wrote last week, this would not only bring investment in large-scale renewables (with the exception of large behind-the-meter rooftop solar arrays ) to a halt once the 2020 target is met, it is creating uncertainty and investment risk for projects that are being contemplated now. If Labor did get into power, the industry could move forward with certainty. That would create added competition for projects, and it would lower the cost of finance. The ACT government has shown exactly how a liberal dose of policy certainty can benefit consumers and get things done. Fourthly, it provides a solid signal to the coal industry that the transition is happening. Bloomberg New Energy Finance provided data last week that showed that, if nothing else occurred, Australia’s energy mix would change little from 2020 to 2030, and few coal-fired generators would close. The Labor target would provide the policy signal to the ageing fleet of inefficient and highly carbon intensive coal-fired generators that they should exit the market. Polling confirms the popularity of the move. A public opinion poll commissioned by Future Super and conducted by Lonergan Research finds that 73 per cent of Australians support lifting the renewable energy target to 50 per cent or higher. The poll also found that 94 per cent of the 1053 surveyed thought that the renewable energy target should be higher than it currently is (it was recently slashed from 41,000GWh to 33,000GWh) and 15 per cent actually thought that the target should be 100 per cent renewables. The support for 100 per cent renewables increases to 20 per cent in regional areas (memo LNP). The Lonergan poll also found that Australians have a generally negative view of the government’s approach to climate change (with just 21 per cent supporting the government’s position), and 80 per cent of Australians were now concerned about the issue of climate change. Future Super managing director Simon Sheik said: “Lifting the renewable energy target is a no brainer. It is a policy supported by a large majority of the Australian population.” This suggests that the mainstream debate over the renewable energy target could be framed between the positions of Labor and the Greens, with the Coalition as the outlier. Australian homes and businesses are poised to add four or five times as much solar as exists now, as well as battery storage. The emphasis should be on ambition, and the scale of that ambition, and how the transition is managed, and not slowed by artificial barriers such as tariff changes. The Future Super poll also revealed that the community is reacting to the issue of fossil fuels in Australia, the development of fossil fuel resources, and the issue of divestment. The poll found that Australians see investing in coal as risky, with half associating the risk of coal investments as high. Forty-one per cent want banks and superannuation funds to stop investing in coal. This sentiment is strongest among young Australians (18-24 years old) where more than half (56 per cent) have indicated they to want to see banks and superannuation fund companies stop investing into coal. Chris Lonergan, the head of Lonergan Research, said: The climate issue has never been more important. Australians are moving away from traditional energy sources such as coal, and looking towards a future reliant on a renewable energy industry.” And so are the majority of political parties, if not the majority of MPs.

How Coronavirus Could Impact the Global Supply Chain by Mid-March

The impact of Covid-19 on global supply chains will force thousands of companies to throttle down or temporarily shut assembly and manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Europe, such as Fiat Chrysler. Mounting pressure to reduce supply chain costs invites strategies such as lean manufacturing, offshoring, and outsourcing. When there is a supply-chain disruption, manufacturing stops quickly because of a lack of parts.

https://hbr.org/2020/02/how-coronavirus-could-impact-the-global-supply-chain-by-mid-march

The impact of the new coronavirus epidemic on worldwide manufacturing operations will soar by mid-March. That’s when supplies from China will dry up. The effect of this crisis will by much larger than that of the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic because many more industries are dependent on China for parts and materials and companies have increased outsourcing and their use of lean production. Reports on how the Covid-19 outbreak is affecting supply chains and disrupting manufacturing operations around the world are increasing daily. But the worst is yet to come. We predict that the peak of the impact of Covid-19 on global supply chains will occur in mid-March, forcing thousands of companies to throttle down or temporarily shut assembly and manufacturing plants in the U.S. and Europe. The most vulnerable companies are those which rely heavily or solely on factories in China for parts and materials. The activity of Chinese manufacturing plants has fallen in the past month and is expected to remain depressed for months. Many analyses compare the current epidemic with the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, which created just a blip in the global financial markets. This comparison is dangerous because the relative importance of China in the worldwide economic ecosystem has increased tremendously in the past 18 years: China has more than doubled its share of trade with the rest of the world between the SARS epidemic and today, and many more industries are now heavily dependent on China. The SARS epidemic started in the Guangdong province in 2002 and led to 8,000 cases in 2003. During that year, the GDP of China represented 4.31% of the world GDP. By contrast, the number of detected cases of Covid-19 has already passed 80,000 and China represents about 16% of the world GDP, an almost four-fold increase. Equally important, mounting pressure to reduce supply chain costs motivated companies to pursue strategies such as lean manufacturing, offshoring, and outsourcing. Such cost-cutting measures mean that when there is a supply-chain disruption, manufacturing will stop quickly because of a lack of parts. The vast majority of global companies have no idea of what their risk exposure to what is going on in Asia actually is; that’s because few, if any, have complete knowledge of the locations of all the companies that provide parts to their direct suppliers. Given the current efforts by the Chinese government to quarantine almost one half of its population and the negative impact that’s having on transportation and manufacturing activities in the country, we can safely conclude that the impact of Covid-19 on Chinese manufacturing is at least an order of magnitude larger than that of SARS. As a result of events such as the 2002-2003 SARS epidemic, the March 2010 Iceland’s volcano eruption, Japan’s earthquake and tsunami in March 2011, and the flood in Thailand in August 2011, companies increased the amount of inventory they keep on hand. But they still usually carry only 15 to 30 days’ worth of inventory. It is possible that the Chinese New Year week-long vacation motivated some companies to increase their inventory coverage by another week. So, for most companies, the inventory coverage they have will allow them to match their supplies with demand, with no additional supply, for between two to five weeks, depending on the company’s supply chain strategy. If the supply of components is disrupted longer, manufacturing will have to stop. Supply lead times will also have an impact. Shipping by sea to either the U.S. or Europe takes, on average, 30 days. This implies that if Chinese plants stopped manufacturing prior to the beginning of the Chinese holiday on January 25, the last of their shipments will be arriving the last week of February. All this suggests that there will be a spike in the temporary closures of assembly and manufacturing facilities in mid-March. Some manufacturers have already had to throttle back production in their plants outside of China, and the list gets longer by the day. For example, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles NV announced on February 14 that “it is temporarily halting production at a car factory in Serbia because it can’t get parts from China.” Similarly, Hyundai said that it “decided to suspend its production lines from operating at its plants in Korea … due to disruptions in the supply of parts resulting from the coronavirus outbreak in China.” These two examples are consistent with our analysis: Because lead times from China to these countries are significantly shorter than 30 days, the disruption occurs earlier. The challenge is also significant in the high-tech industry. Indeed, on February 17, Apple announced it expected its quarterly earnings to be lower than previously expected. The company refers to two challenges, a constrained global supply of iPhones and significant drop in demand in Chinese markets. Other industries are also being hit by this double whammy. One global consumer-packaged-goods manufacturer told us that its sales in China this month are 50% lower than in February 2019. Consider also products such as bridal gowns, many of which are produced in China and sold all over the world. According to this report, the current shutdown of Chinese manufacturing facilities specializing in these products will lead to a significant supply shortage for the upcoming summer wedding season. The widening coronavirus epidemic is already affecting ports. Allard Castelein, the CEO of Rotterdam harbor said, “The effect of the coronavirus is already visible. The number of departures from Chinese ports has decreased by 20% these days.” Activity at the French port of Le Havre is also slowing and could drop by 30% within two months. And the anticipated impact on U.S. ports is starting to be factored into financial analyses. In summary, we believe we should brace for a major effect on manufacturing worldwide. It will begin to hit full force in two to three weeks and could last for months.

NVIDIA exploits efficiency curve to build high-end laptops

NVIDIA has partnered with original equipment manufacturers to create high-performance laptops that are also lightweight, thin and quiet. The graphics processing unit (GPU) manufacturer has managed to fit a 180 watt GPU into a laptop that offers just 90 watts of power by limiting the performance of the GPU to the steepest part of the efficiency performance curve. By preventing devices from operating in the last 10% of the curve, where performance returns are diminishing but the most heat is generated, NVIDIA has managed to fit a GeForce GTX 1080 into a chassis that would previously only have accommodated a GeForce GTX 1060.

http://www.hardwarezone.com.sg/feature-how-nvidias-max-q-technology-crams-so-much-graphics-power-sleek-and-light-notebook

NVIDIA’s Max-Q technology is all about finding the perfect balance What do space rockets and NVIDIA Max-Q laptops have in common? As it turns out, a laser sharp focus on creating designs that can deliver under extreme conditions. NVIDIA doesn’t want to put laptops in space, but it certainly wants to achieve the ideal in gaming laptop design, where machines are thin, powerful, and quiet. The trio have long been tangled in a sticky web of trade-offs. A powerful laptop with the top GPU would be a beast, but it would also be as thick as a brick and be as heavy too. On the other hand, if you wanted to make a thin and portable system, you’d end up making painful concessions in terms of performance and noise. NVIDIA’s Max-Q technology changes all that. At Computex 2017, NVIDIA announced that it is partnering with OEMs to make high-performance laptops that are also thin, light, and quiet. This translates into a ton of engineering work, and includes things like advanced thermal solutions, optimized in-game settings, and more efficient power regulation. Among the first to debut with Max-Q was the ASUS ROG Zephyrus, a stunning 15.6-inch notebook that measures only 17.9mm thick, weighs 2.2kg, but still features an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 graphics engine. In aerospace engineering, Max-Q refers to maximum dynamic pressure, and is the point where pressure on a craft such as a rocket peaks in tandem with increasing velocity. After that point, pressure drops off as a result of the decreasing density of air as altitude increases. Rockets are designed to withstand these stressful Max-Q conditions, and NVIDIA co-opted the term to refer to notebooks that have been built to similarly perform under the most trying conditions. Finding the sweet spot But how is NVIDIA fitting an 180-watt GPU into a laptop that provides only 90 watts of power? The operative word in Max-Q designs is efficiency. These aren’t notebooks tooled for maximum performance, and Max-Q laptops take a small performance hit of around 10 per cent. Instead, NVIDIA and its hardware partners have worked to identify the point at which efficiency is the highest. The guiding principle at the heart of their efforts is that peak performance is not peak efficiency. Beyond a certain point, increments in power consumption result in increasingly smaller gains in performance that are hardly worth the higher power draw, as seen in the graph below. Furthermore, once you change the Y-axis to plot for incremental instead of raw performance, the drop off in efficiency becomes even clearer. There just comes a point where performance increments shrink as power increases, and it makes no more sense to continue in that direction, which would also necessitate bulky designs and hefty cooling apparatus to deal with the increased power. NVIDIA is shooting for this point where efficiency peaks, and this approach has enabled its partners to make laptops that are almost 70 per cent more powerful than before, thanks to the ability to cram a GeForce GTX 1080 into chassis that would previously have only held a GeForce GTX 1060. That’s not all however, and this zeroing in on peak efficiency is combined with novel cooling solutions – such as the bottom panel of the ASUS ROG Zephyrus that opens up for more ventilation – and better voltage regulators. These optimizations apply to individual games as well, and a similar approach has been taken with regard to in-game graphics settings. NVIDIA calls this feature WhisperMode, and it helps Max-Q laptops run more quietly. In fact, the company has targeted the maximum noise level at 40dbA, which in a chart of comparative noise levels, has been lumped together with sounds like bird calls. In other words, that’s barely a peep compared to the storm that some gaming laptops can whip up. WhisperMode applies the most power-efficient graphics settings and intelligently paces the game’s frame rate, thus striking a balance between visual quality, performance and noise. Over 400 games have been profiled, so there’s a good chance that your favorite title will be able to take advantage of it. The Max-Q notebooks For all the talk about how the technology works, you’re probably more interested in seeing it in action. NVIDIA says Max-Q laptops will be available to buy starting from 27 June, and major brands like Acer, Alienware, ASUS, Gigabyte, HP, Lenovo, and MSI are already confirmed to have Max-Q laptops in the works. At Computex, we also had the chance to spend more time with the ASUS ROG Zephyrus, and you can head to our hands-on article to find out more about that laptop. That said, we’ve also caught wind of other models like the Aorus X5 MD and the updated HP Omen 15. The former is shaping up to be very impressive, with an overclockable Intel Core i7-7820HK (2.9GHz, 8MB L3 cache) processor and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080. At an event in Bangkok to talk more about its Max-Q technology, NVIDIA also showed off two more Max-Q laptops – the MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro and the Clevo P950HR. Both of them feature an NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070, and the Clevo notebook is actually the reference model that the Aftershock PRIME-15 is based on (you can expect a Max-Q version of that soon). The new MSI GS63VR Stealth Pro is an evolution of the GeForce GTX 1060-equipped model we reviewed earlier this year, and it uses the same 17.7mm-thin chassis. The weight is up slightly to 1.9kg, but it is still very light for what it offers. It is cooled by MSI’s Cooler Boost Trinity cooling solution, which comprises three 41-blade Whirlwind fans and five heat pipes to whisk heat away from the components. The CPU and GPU also each get their own thermal module, but more resources are dedicated to cooling the GPU, with two of the three fans doing just that. Note: This article was first published on June 19, 2017.

Inox Wind sells stake in power generator Sri Pavan to KPR Infra

Inox Wind has sold its 51% stake in Sri Pavan Energy to Sri KPR Infra & Projects for approximately INR510,000 ($6,700). Sri KPR owned the remaining 49%, so the deal gives the company 100% control. Turbine manufacturer Inox incorporated Sri Pavan into its Inox Wind Infrastructure Services (IWIS) operation in 2018. Following the sale, Sri Pavan will no longer be an IWIS subsidiary.

https://renewablesnow.com/news/inox-wind-sheds-power-production-firm-sri-pavan-energy-to-kpr-700189/

Indian wind turbine maker Inox Wind Ltd (BOM:539083) has offloaded its 51% stake in its wind power generation business Sri Pavan Energy Pvt Ltd to Telangana-based Sri KPR Infra & Projects Ltd for about INR 510,000 (USD 6,700/EUR 6,150). The sale was conducted by Inox Wind’s unit Inox Wind Infrastructure Services (IWISL), the wind turbine maker said in a bourse filing on Friday. Sri KPR Infra already held 49% of the acquired entity’s stock and now has taken possession of Inox Wind’s 51,000 equity shares. The stock was sold at face value of INR 10 apiece in exchange for cash. Following the move, Sri Pavan Energy will no longer be a subsidiary of Inox Wind. The entity was incorporated into the wind turbine manufacturer’s IWISL unit in April 2018 with a paid-up capital of INR million. It was created to produce and sell wind power. (INR 10 = USD 0.132/EUR 0.121) Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

Hunger eclipses fear of Covid-19 in war-ravaged Yemen

Covid-19 coronavirus is spreading unchecked in Yemen. "The nightmare Yemenis are living through continues to get worse with each passing day," said Tamuna Sabadze, IRC's Yemen country director. "With Covid-19 spreading unchecked, dwindling humanitarian funding, and increasing fighting and air strikes, Yemen is experiencing a triple emergency. Food rations for north Yemen have already been cut in half since April. An additional five million people will lose access to food assistance in November. Food prices have jumped by more than 25 percent in the past year. Last month, the US-based charity MedGlobal reported that nearly 100 health care professionals in the country had died from the virus.

https://www.middleeasteye.net/news/yemen-coronavirus-hunger-eclipses-fear-covid-19?fbclid=IwAR0RWMjMDXT9LGB-nHGi-cnPZBMEm5vDNP9F4VrMpcQmUkrqmOo5LSkWKXg

Families across Yemen are sending their children out to work and beg as households are unable to afford food and drinking water amid rising food, water and petrol prices, an international charity has said. Despite the novel coronavirus spreading mostly undetected across the poverty-hit country, data collected from more than 150 households in three provinces across southern Yemen found that respondents were more worried about going hungry than contracting the virus. The International Rescue Committee (IRC) found that nearly two-thirds of respondents reported being unable to afford food and drinking water. "The nightmare Yemenis are living through continues to get worse with each passing day," said Tamuna Sabadze, IRC's Yemen country director. "With Covid-19 spreading unchecked, dwindling humanitarian funding, and increasing fighting and air strikes, Yemen is experiencing a triple emergency. This survey brings to life the terrible economic impacts Covid-19 is having on the lives of the world's most vulnerable." Stay informed with MEE's newsletters Sign up to get the latest alerts, insights and analysis, starting with Turkey Unpacked Food insecurity is a major concern in Yemen, where a resurgence in fighting between internal and external forces, coupled with decreased humanitarian funding and access, has left millions at risk. Historic houses in Sanaa's Old City on brink of collapse after heavy rains Read More » If humanitarian assistance to the country does not increase, the number of people facing acute food insecurity this year will rise to an estimated 3.2 million people – 40 percent of the population. Almost half of all Yemeni children under five will be malnourished by the end of 2020, a rise of 20 percent. Food rations for north Yemen have already been cut in half since April and an additional five million people will lose access to food assistance in November without more funding, IRC said. According to the World Food Programme, prices for sugar and vegetable oil have jumped by more than 25 percent in the past year. The WFP said that Yemen needs $737m by the end of the year in order to help with food security for millions of Yemenis. "In order to feed their families, respondents indicated they have had to take on debts which they can’t afford to repay, reduce the amount of food they are consuming, sell off assets like land or livestock, and some have even had to send their children to work or to beg," Sabadze said. Although to date fewer than 1,900 Covid-19 cases have been officially recorded, the true figure is likely to be considerably higher due to underreporting and a lack of testing. Last month, the US-based charity MedGlobal reported that nearly 100 health care professionals in the country had died from the virus.

India aims to install 450 GW of renewables by 2030: president

India is targeting 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and has provided 1.7 million solar pumps to farmers, President Ram Nath Kovind has announced. India had achieved 86 GW of renewable capacity by the end of last year. Kovind also said the country is shifting to a gas-based economy, with liquefied petroleum gas coverage increasing from 55% to 97%.

https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-news/india-sets-sight-for-450-gw-re-capacity-by-2030-president-kovind

India has embarked on an ambitious target of having 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 to capitalise on its clean resources, President Ram Nath Kovind said India has embarked on an ambitious target of having 450 GW of renewable energy by 2030 and also provide 17 lakh solar pumps to farmers under Pradhan Mantri-Kusum Yojana in the coming days to capitalise on this clean resource, President Ram Nath Kovind said on Friday. The country is already working on the target of having 175 GW of renewable energy by 2022 which includes 100 GW of solar and 60 GW of wind energy. As of December 2019, 86 GW of renewable energy capacity has already been achieved. This includes 34 GW of solar and 38 GW of wind energy. Besides, around 36 GW of clean energy is under installation and about 35 GW is underbidding stage. Addressing a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament, Kovind said that “keeping environment conservation in mind, my Government has enhanced the target for producing renewable energy to 450 gigawatts (GW). Under the Pradhan Mantri-Kusum Yojana, it has been targeted to provide more than 17 lakh solar pumps to farmers across the country.” He noted that under the second phase of the solar rooftop programme, the target is to generate 38 GW of electricity. In September last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced doubling India’s non-fossil fuel target to 450 GW at Climate Action Summit at UN headquarters. Kovind also told the members that after the International Solar Alliance (ISA), India has been at the forefront of a global partnership. The ISA was set up under the aegis of India. It was created to provide a dedicated platform for cooperation among solar resource-rich countries. As many as 85 countries have signed the ISA framework agreement. A total of 64 nations have ratified it. The president also said that India is playing an effective role globally in the field of clean energy and due to the efforts of the Centre, the country is moving towards a gas-based economy. “Due to the efforts of the government, LPG coverage in the country has increased from 55 percent to about 97 percent. Now we are moving towards a gas-based economy,” he said.

Shared bike and scooter rides doubled to 84m in US last year

The number of journeys taken on shared bikes and e-scooters in the US more than doubled to 84 million last year. The figures, released by the National Association of City Transportation Officials, showed that scooters were the most used form of shared micromobility transportation, with 38.5 million trips, followed by station-based bikes on 36.5 million. Nine million trips were taken on dockless shared bikes, which have become far less common in most US cities and have been largely replaced by shared e-scooters, according to the report.

https://nacto.org/2019/04/17/84-million-trips-on-shared-bikes-and-scooters/

More than double the number of trips were taken in 2018 than the year prior on shared micromobility, a fast-growing and rapidly-evolving form of transportation in the United States The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO), an association of 69 major North American cities, today released its annual comprehensive count of all shared micromobility (shared bike and e-scooter) trips in the United States. Key findings from NACTO’s 2018 shared micromobility ridership report: More than twice as many trips—84 million—were taken on shared micromobility in the U.S. as compared to the year before. 36.5 million trips were taken on station-based bike share, an increase of 9% from 2017. 9 million trips were taken on dockless shared bikes. 38.5 million trips were taken on shared scooters, reflecting the wide proliferation of vehicles in many cities. 36.5 million trips were taken on station-based bike share, an increase of 9% from 2017. 9 million trips were taken on dockless shared bikes. 38.5 million trips were taken on shared scooters, reflecting the wide proliferation of vehicles in many cities. Dockless pedal bikes have largely disappeared from most U.S. cities; in part replaced by shared scooters. Approximately 44,000 dockless pedal bikes were on the ground in the U.S. at the end of 2017, most of which are no longer in use. Most dockless bike share companies retooled their fleets to focus on e-scooters, and new e-scooter-focused companies emerged. There are now tens of thousands of e-scooters on the ground in U.S. cities. Approximately 44,000 dockless pedal bikes were on the ground in the U.S. at the end of 2017, most of which are no longer in use. Most dockless bike share companies retooled their fleets to focus on e-scooters, and new e-scooter-focused companies emerged. There are now tens of thousands of e-scooters on the ground in U.S. cities. E-bikes, while limited in rollout, have been heavily used in the cities with substantial e-bike fleets. The shared micromobility vehicles with the most use (as measured by rides/vehicle/day) are e-bikes, used twice as frequently as pedal bikes. Many bike share companies have plans to rapidly expand their e-bike fleets, with Minneapolis planning to transition entirely to an e-bike-based fleet from pedal bikes, and New York City planning for a fleet that is a third electric. The shared micromobility vehicles with the most use (as measured by rides/vehicle/day) are e-bikes, used twice as frequently as pedal bikes. Many bike share companies have plans to rapidly expand their e-bike fleets, with Minneapolis planning to transition entirely to an e-bike-based fleet from pedal bikes, and New York City planning for a fleet that is a third electric. The largest bike share systems are more heavily utilized, on a per-bike basis, than smaller systems; scooter share systems have the opposite correlation. The largest bike share systems see their bikes utilized, on average, twice per day or more (including in winter months), and most of the smallest systems see their bikes utilized less than once per day. For scooters, initial data shows the inverse: the largest fleets of shared scooters were used less than once per day, and the smallest fleets of shared scooters were used more than four times per day. Bike share benefits from a network effect of a dense network of conveniently placed bikes over a large area; scooter share ridership does not yet seem to benefit from a network effect. The largest bike share systems see their bikes utilized, on average, twice per day or more (including in winter months), and most of the smallest systems see their bikes utilized less than once per day. For scooters, initial data shows the inverse: the largest fleets of shared scooters were used less than once per day, and the smallest fleets of shared scooters were used more than four times per day. Bike share benefits from a network effect of a dense network of conveniently placed bikes over a large area; scooter share ridership does not yet seem to benefit from a network effect. Station-based bike share is most heavily utilized during traditional rush hours. Scooter share rides are more evenly dispersed throughout the day, with the highest ridership on Fridays and weekends. These findings suggest that people are using bike share and scooter share for different trip types, a finding reinforced by surveys in cities of bike share and scooter share users. “With tens of millions of trips each year, shared micromobility continues to be a popular form of transportation,” said Corinne Kisner, Executive Director of NACTO. “Cities are proactively thinking about how to harness the incredible potential of these shared services in the public right-of-way. As stewards of the public realm, it is vital that cities retain authority over their streets. State legislators must ensure that cities have the ability to plan, regulate, and manage shared micromobility systems for safe, sustainable, and equitable outcomes.” “Managing the many new shared vehicle types on city streets is a challenge,” said Kate Fillin-Yeh, Director of Strategy for NACTO. “The data cities receive from vendors can be spotty, complicating efforts to regulate systems or make good policies. Much of the equipment is new and largely untested at scale, and the market is changing rapidly, with an uncertain financial outlook. The most successful shared micromobility systems have been planned hand-in-hand with cities, and we’re excited to help cities create and support transportation options that shift more trips to sustainable, safe modes.” “Shared micromobility has the opportunity to be a game-changer for those without the means, ability, or desire to maintain a private vehicle,” said Nicole Payne, Program Manager at NACTO. “When cities, system operators, and communities plan together, cities can ensure the best outcomes for their residents: providing truly reliable, affordable, and easy-to-access transportation, expanding access to opportunity.” “Bike share in New York City has been a major success, helping make cycling our fastest-growing mode of travel,” said New York City Transportation Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. “At the same time, we believe bike share’s growth has also helped contribute to our Vision Zero goals, as last year, the safest ever on New York City streets, also saw the fewest-ever cyclist fatalities. We always appreciate NACTO’s take on the lightning-fast trends in shared micromobility, and New York City will try to remain nimble in 2019 as we grow the Citi Bike system, which accounts for nearly half the nation’s bike-share rides. Simultaneously, we plan this year to expand our dockless bike share pilot, which we began last year.” “Year after year, bike share proves itself to be a force to reckoned with in the mobility landscape,” said Waffiyyah Murray, Better Bike Share Partnership Program Manager, City of Philadelphia. “From reducing financial barriers as an affordable option for regular users, to addressing difficult commutes by ensuring seamless transition to mass transit, bike share continues to serve as a model for what equitable transportation systems should look like. With the popular emergence of scooter share, we look forward to the onset of work of dismantling barriers to equitable mobility in this new space and meeting the needs of underserved communities nationwide.” “We are proud of the progress we have made toward our Go Boston 2030 goal for bike share,” said Vineet Gupta, Director of Policy and Planning, Boston Transportation Department. “With last year’s expansion, approximately 85% of our residents can now walk to a public bike share station in 5-7 minutes, which means that they have a reliable, low-cost option for reaching jobs, educational opportunities, and open space. Making sure our residents can choose to bike is a major city goal, and we are coupling bike share expansion with the acceleration of our bike network build-out.” “Santa Monica is a launching pad for new shared micromobility systems, said Francie Stefan, Acting Chief Mobility Officer for the City of Santa Monica. “We took our lessons learned from operating one of the country’s first smart bike share programs, Breeze, to thoughtfully balance demand, public safety, and shared use of the public right-of-way. E-scooters fulfill a demand for short, quick trips and were quickly absorbed into the mobility ecosystem, and our values of innovation and sustainable transportation enabled us to incorporate them and craft our Shared Mobility Pilot Program, where we continue to learn and innovate.” “The increasing popularity of shared micromobility trips is great news for cities and anyone who works on tackling the largest source of U.S. greenhouse gas emissions—transportation,” said Lina Fedirko, Senior Program Associate, ClimateWorks Foundation. “Shared micromobility is one of the most energy and carbon-efficient modes of travel, and its rapid growth provides an opportunity to reduce emissions faster. This mode is also showing early promise of addressing last-mile connectivity gaps in cities, and enabling the reallocation of public space for shared and active mobility.” NACTO’s report also details average trip duration, distances, and prices per ride, and includes comprehensive charts and graphs showing the growth of shared micromobility across the U.S., as well as the changing landscape of this fast-growing and rapidly-evolving form of transportation. NACTO’s 2018 shared micromobility ridership report was funded by the Better Bike Share Partnership and by ClimateWorks foundation. Visit nacto.org/shared-micromobility-2018 for the full report, or download a printable version (pdf). About the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) NACTO is an association of 80 major North American cities and transit agencies formed to exchange transportation ideas, insights, and practices and cooperatively approach national transportation issues. The organization’s mission is to build cities as places for people, with safe, sustainable, accessible, and equitable transportation choices that support a strong economy and vibrant quality of life. Contact: Alexander Engel [email protected] | 646-324-2919 ###

Gen Z committed to supporting Covid-19 efforts: study

Those aged 16 to 23 (Generation Z) are taking Covid-19 seriously, according to a Harris Poll survey, with 79% backing the public wearing of masks, 77% staying at home if they are sick, and 61% following guidelines on hand-washing. The survey also reveals that 67% are prepared to miss events like their own graduation to avoid spreading the virus. Further, 81% reported stress over their family’s health, while 85% are willing to take online classes to facilitate a return to normal socialising. Generation Z’s “anxiety and resolve” have been “dramatically underestimated”, said Harris CEO John Gerzema.

https://www.axios.com/gen-z-colleges-coronavirus-poll-b67f2748-f4dd-41b8-bde1-fb094ad5afd5.html

Data: Harris; Chart: Axios Visuals Members of Generation Z say they're taking the coronavirus seriously, trying to get others to do the same, and are willing to make short-term sacrifices in order to help safely resume some parts of pre-pandemic life, according to a Harris poll shared with Axios. Why it matters: These findings are a stark contrast with the college-town outbreaks and scenes of crowded bars that have helped create a narrative of careless young people spreading the virus. By the numbers: More Gen Z respondents said the pandemic was causing them stress because they feared for the health and safety of their families (81%) than said they were stressed about their own personal situations, like missing graduation or other key milestones (67%). Majorities said they were strictly following all the important safety protocols, like wearing masks and maintaining social distancing, and trying to get others to follow along, as well. 85% said they'd be willing to take all their classes online if it meant they could socialize in person sooner. The bottom line: “We’ve dramatically underestimated this generation’s anxiety and resolve," Harris Poll CEO John Gerzema said.

US autonomous delivery companies criticise lacking regulation

US autonomous delivery firms Cruise, Wing and Nuro have spoken up about struggling to operate during the pandemic because of opaque regulations. Speaking at an online event set up by the Consumer Technology Association, representatives from the companies revealed that the mismatch of local and national laws governing the sector have not kept in step with the technology. While the companies are continuing to deliver essential goods, they all stressed the need for updated Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards, which were originally conceived before the invention of autonomous vehicles and presuppose a human driver.

https://venturebeat.com/2020/05/22/autonomous-delivery-companies-stress-need-for-clearer-rules-on-deployment/

Missed the GamesBeat Summit excitement? Don't worry! Tune in now to catch all of the live and virtual sessions here. During an online event this week hosted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA), three panelists — Cruise’s Eric Danko, Wing’s Nick Devereux, and Nuro’s Matthew Lipka — spoke about the need for regulation of autonomous delivery systems during health crises like the pandemic. All three asserted that their companies, which continue to or recently began delivering food, medical supplies, and essential goods to customers, have been hampered by a patchwork of local and federal laws that don’t adequately reflect the current technology landscape. Some experts predict the pandemic will hasten the adoption of autonomous technologies for goods transportation. Despite their need for disinfection, self-driving cars, autonomous drones, and robots can minimize the risk of spreading disease. But the laws haven’t caught up with the use case, according to Danko, Cruise’s director of federal affairs. “What’s interesting is that we’re seeing the first organic [application of] self-driving technology that’s a categorical social good no one could’ve imagined, even a few months ago … Ultimately in our industry, we need a rule-making to update [the] Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards [specifying the design, construction, performance, and durability requirements for vehicles], which were written at a time when nobody could’ve conceived of the idea of self-driving vehicles. The majority of those standards bake in the assumption of a human operator.” Momentum at the federal level has largely stalled. The U.S. Department of Transportation’s (DOT) recently announced Automated Vehicles 4.0 (AV 4.0) guidelines request — but don’t mandate — regular assessments of self-driving vehicle safety, and they permit those assessments to be completed by automakers themselves rather than by standards bodies. Advocacy groups including the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety almost immediately criticized AV 4.0 for its vagueness. And while the House of Representatives unanimously passed a bill that would create a regulatory framework for autonomous vehicles, dubbed the SELF DRIVE Act, it has yet to be taken up by the Senate. In fact, the Senate two years ago tabled a separate bill (the AV START Act) that made its way through committee in November 2017. Event Transform 2023 Join us in San Francisco on July 11-12, where top executives will share how they have integrated and optimized AI investments for success and avoided common pitfalls. Register Now That said, there’s been recent progress at the DOT’s National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), which in March moved to make changes in standards regarding autonomous vehicles. Those standards could clarify that all forward-seated passengers in a driverless vehicle should receive the same level of protection as someone seated in the front passenger seat does now, which might change how airbags deploy on what had been known as the driver-side position. They might also give companies trying to create autonomous vehicles more leeway when approaching federal standards that might not apply to them, like those that refer to a driver’s seat or a steering wheel. Elsewhere, Nuro received a two-year autonomous vehicle exemption from the NHTSA — the first ever granted — to support deployments without the equipment required for passenger vehicles. The agency said Nuro’s vehicle qualified because of its low speed (25 miles per hour maximum) and because it’s designed solely to carry goods rather than human occupants. The company is only permitted to produce and deploy up to 5,000 vehicles during the exemption period, and it will have to report information about the vehicles’ operation (including the automated driving system) and conduct outreach in communities where it will deliver goods. “The challenge with the exemption is that you get it at the end of building the vehicle. You have to build the vehicle first and then get the exemption,” Nuro policy and partnerships lead Lipka said. “[This] makes it very challenging to design a new vehicle, [because] in automotive, it generally takes four to six years to design a new vehicle.” Regulations around drone delivery remain similarly piecemeal. Like UPS’ Flight Forward drone delivery subsidiary did, the Alphabet subsidiary Wing obtained small-sized air carrier certification under the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) Part 135 rules, enabling it to kick off commercial deliveries from local merchants. But the classification was originally created to cover charter flights; under current FAA Part 107 drone rules, companies still can’t exact payment for deliveries over distances beyond a human operator’s line of sight, at night, or with fleets over a certain size. “Wing has gone through the process of getting waivers and exemptions, but that’s a difficult, time-consuming approach,” Devereux, who leads Wing’s policy and government affairs efforts, said. “We’re hopeful we can work with the FAA on a more streamlined approval process for expanded operations, a process that is truly scalable, so that the next time we’re in this kind of situation, we can react quickly, easily, and effectively.” The FAA’s work to test and evaluate the integration of civil and public drone operations into the national airspace system remains ongoing. The Integration Pilot Program (IPP), which began in 2017, aims to bring together state, local, and tribal governments including the City of San Diego, the City of Reno, and the Memphis Shelby County Airport Authority with private sector entities such as drone operators and manufacturers. But it’s set to end in October 2020, along with the exemptions the FAA granted to existing operators. “We made a compelling case for the value of this technology — it’s plain to see when you’re trying to limit human contact. What we need to do now is [prompt] action from our regulators and others to prepare with urgency for the next emergency,” Devereux said. “[W]e need the regulators to truly embrace a risk-based, performance-based approach to improving operations that shouldn’t be just a top-line message, but it needs to trickle down to all of what they are doing.”

China bans most internet users of sharing videos in latest censorship

China has blocked most social media users from sharing videos not from official sources in its latest act of censorship. Public accounts are now banned from posting "user-generated audio or video", often one of the few sources of information outside government-sanctioned views. China has some of the strictest online censorship rules in the world and is ranked as one of the worst nations for press freedom by Reporters Without Borders.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/dec/21/china-restricts-sharing-of-unofficial-videos-on-social-media

China has banned the vast majority of internet users from sharing videos not from official sources on social media, tightening censorship in what was already one of the most oppressive internet regime’s in the world. The new regulations barred public accounts from posting “user-generated audio or video”, often one of the few sources of information outside state media articles relaying the government’s version of events. China has some of the most pervasive censorship in the world. Activists have been jailed for as little as a single tweet, editors at outspoken newspapers are sacked and news articles deemed inappropriate by officials are swiftly deleted. It was ranked by Reporters Without Borders as one of the worst countries for press freedom, with conditions better than only North Korea, Syria, Turkmenistan and Eritrea. China’s two largest social media platforms were called out by name in the new rules, with the majority of videos shared on the Twitter-like Sina Weibo and WhatsApp meets Facebook WeChat. “Weibo, WeChat and other online social media are not allowed to disseminate user-generated audio or video programs about current events,” said the notice from the State Administration of Press, Publication, Radio, Film and Television. Social media companies must “strengthen management” of videos, a common euphemism for censorship. “It’s likely to weed out smaller players,” said Duncan Clark, founder of investment advisory firm BDA China, which specialises in the Chinese internet. “The government prefers to have concentration on larger sites, where it has greater sway. “There has also been an explosion of live-streaming sites in recent years, and the government is keen to rein them in and assert control,” he added. But the larger implications for China’s already limited freedom of online speech will depend on how strongly the new rules are implemented, Clark said. Videos made by internet users has boomed in the past year, with live streaming apps some of the most popular, quickly running afoul of censors. Weibo has more than 400m video views each day according to some estimates. “We are seeing short video and live video taking off,” Gaofei Wang, Weibo’s CEO, said in a recent financial filing, adding that the company’s main source of new expenses was from an increase in hosting video. Videos shot on mobile phones are often the only record of a side of China rarely seen by the outside world or the millions of Chinese who consume only government-approved media. Images that quickly spread online include the thousands of minor protests that happen every year across China, wrongdoing by police, or evidence of Tibetan self immolations. The ban comes just weeks after a draft law aimed to give local police the power to censor the internet in the wake of natural disasters, another situation where the government often struggle to control the narrative. Foreign internet companies have had to choose between censorship and access. Facebook is reportedly working on a tool that suppresses content in news feeds in an attempt to overcome a seven year ban, while Google publicly pulled out of China after it stopped complying with government censorship directives. The news landed quietly among China’s internet users, with only a handful discussing the new rules on Sina Weibo, many seemingly resigned to ever increasing censorship. “The authorities regulate everything, what a step backward for Weibo,” one user said on the online platform. “What do we do now, just give up on self-made media?” another commenter said.

Fossil-fuel subsidies dwarfed renewables by 20-fold in 2017

The large gap in subsidies between fossil fuels and renewables in 2017 has been revealed, with the former securing $3.1tn – 20 times more than its clean energy counterpart, according to an 18-month study by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena). It said direct subsidies to the fossil fuel sector were $447bn, compared to $166bn for renewables. Irena notes, however, these were "dwarfed" by $2.3tn of indirect subsidies to fossil fuels. The agency has called for changes that could reduce subsidies to $475bn for the whole energy sector, with renewables receiving $209bn.

https://www.rechargenews.com/transition/fossil-fuels-given-3-1-trillion-subsidies-at-staggering-twenty-times-level-of-renewables/2-1-868319

The global fossil fuel sector enjoyed annual subsidy support worth $3.1 trillion, a “staggering” 20 times the level the world's governments offered renewables, according to one of the first major efforts to put an accurate figure on the gap between the two. The massive total, covering direct and indirect subsidies in 2017, was arrived at after 18 months of number-crunching by the International Renewable Energy Agency (Irena) in an attempt to accurately quantify enduring subsidies for polluting energy sources that have long been condemned as a scandal by climate campaigners. “What’s quite staggering here is that direct and indirect subsidies to fossil fuels are almost 20 times higher than to renewable energy,” said Michael Taylor, head of renewable cost status and outlook at Irena. Total direct subsidies to renewables, typically via support mechanisms such as feed-in tariffs, in 2017 stood at $166bn, mostly for power generation, according to the Irena study. Direct subsidies for the fossil fuel sector were far higher at $447bn. But Taylor claimed direct subsidies are “dwarfed” by indirect benefits enjoyed by the fossil fuel industries in the form of “unpriced externalities” – costs of fossil fuel combustion that are not borne by the producers. The largest of these by far was the cost of air pollution at $2.3trillion. Irena said decisive policy support for the energy transition and a comprehensive “rebalance” of subsidies away from fossil fuels could by 2050 lead to a dramatic fall in the subsidy bill for the entire energy sector to $475bn. Renewables would take $209bn of that, with a residual $139bn for fossil fuels mostly accounted for by support for carbon capture and storage. Article continues below the advert “Contrary to popular wisdom, the energy transition can be achieved without ever ballooning subsidies,” Taylor said. New forms of subsidies may spring up to support the emergence of the hydrogen economy as the energy transition unfolds, Taylor said in response to a question from Recharge, adding that a number of markets seem to readying a “concerted effort” to get behind H 2 and push costs down quickly. “I think it’s very useful that a lot of countries are looking at hydrogen at the same time,” said the Irena official, citing a lack of co-ordination in early support for solar PV and onshore wind as a drag on those sectors becoming competitive as fast as they could have done. Irena decided to mount the huge data-crunching effort in an effort to reach a definitive global view of fossil fuel and renewable subsidies, which Taylor said had previously been subject to a wide range of methodologies and definitions, and a mostly regional or single-country approach. For example, Taylor said support to fossil fuels in Germany in the period 2014-16 could be $10bn or almost $100bn, depending on whose figures you take. “With subsidies the devil’s in the detail,” he added.

IWG Japanese trade body plans to open co-workspaces in Bangkok

The Japan External Trade Organisation (Jetro) is considering opening co-working spaces in Thailand in 2019. The group views the expansion as part of attempts to encourage cooperation between Japan and Thailand that will facilitate it aiding start-ups with moves abroad. Bangkok does not possess a start-up infrastructure but has been targeted because of the number of Japanese companies already invested there. The commitment to helping start-ups’ overseas staff is part of Jetro's aim to double venture capital investment in such companies by 2023 to JPY100bn ($890m).

https://www.bangkokpost.com/business/news/1560582/jetro-directing-startups-to-thailand-expansion

From left Kampol Choksuntasut, chairman of IoT Association; Hiroki Mitsumata, president of Jetro Bangkok; Pun-arj Chairatana, executive director of the National Innovation Agency; and Thanawat Malabuppha, president of the Thai E-Commerce Association, celebrate signing a memorandum of understanding. The Japan External Trade Organization (Jetro) is promoting cooperation between Japan and Thailand to help bring Japanese startups overseas. The group plans to open co-working spaces in Bangkok in 2019 and considers Thailand a key part of ongoing plans to train and mentor Japanese startups' overseas employees. The move is just one of Jetro's strategies to double venture capital (VC) investment in Japanese-based startups by 2023 from 0.025% of Japan's GDP, a figure of ¥100 billion, or 29 billion baht. "Japan's government has set up future investor strategies to attract local and overseas VC firms to invest in Japanese startups and grow the economy over the next four years," said Hiroki Mitsumata, president of Jetro Bangkok. In Japan, more than 10,000 startups are exploring new frontiers, but only a few have seen success in the global market. To promote startups, Japan needs to strengthen overseas expansion rather than focus on the domestic market, he said. The Japanese government aims to have 20 Japanese startups valued at US$1 billion (32.6 billion baht) -- also known as a unicorn -- by 2023. Japan has only two. Japan has selected 92 high-potential startups to grow into potential unicorns under its J-Startups project. Moreover, the Jetro Innovation Program (JIP) provides mentoring, pitching and business matching overseas. The JIP has selected seven Japanese startups to conduct business matching for the CEBIT Asean Thailand festival during Oct 18-22 at Impact Muang Thong Thani. Jetro also has a Global Acceleration Hub scheme with a ¥200-million budget to provide co-working space services, mentoring, networking with VC firms, incubators and accelerators at 12 global locations, including Singapore. Jetro is considering opening a co-working space in Bangkok because the city still does not have a fully functioning startup framework as in Singapore, but believes Bangkok has the potential to develop one because it is a large market that has many Japanese corporations already invested in Thailand. Mr Mitsumata said Japanese startups have "deep technology" such as artificial intelligence, robotics and Internet of Things (IoT), but they still lack marketing capabilities. There are several projects considering investing in Industry 4.0 themes, including medical development of simple blood tests, agriculture, fisheries, and advancement in shrimp aquaculture through IoT, he said. Japan also has a temporary office for foreign startups that Thai startups can contact to expand their opportunities. Jetro signed a memorandum of understanding with three organisations -- the National Innovation Agency, the Thai e-Commerce Association (THECA) and the Thailand IoT Association -- to exchange information to promote Japanese startups in Thailand. Pun-arj Chiratana, executive director of the National Innovation Agency, said during the next three years Thailand will enter the second phase of promoting startup investment. By having more international collaboration with Jetro and other strategic organisations, Thailand can act as a landing pad to attract overseas startups and benefit from smart visa privileges, he said. Thanawat Malabuppha, president of THECA, said online commerce in Thailand continues to grow. It is projected to increase from $900 million (29.3 billion baht) in 2015 to $11.1 billion (362 billion baht) in 2025, compound average growth of 29%. The country has the second-largest number of e-commerce users in Asean, according to a joint study conducted by Temasek and Google.

Dutch-Japanese JV opens 50 MWh German storage, Europe's biggest

EnspireME, a joint venture between Dutch utility Eneco and Japan's Mitsubishi, has commissioned a 48 MW/50 MWh energy storage system in northern Germany. Built by NEC Energy Solutions, the new facility is the largest of its kind in Europe, NEC said. Energy from the new unit's 10,000 lithium-ion battery modules will be used to help stabilise the transmission grid, and will be sold through weekly auctions. In addition, Eneco and Mitsubishi will look into linking the new storage facility to nearby wind parks.

https://renewablesnow.com/news/nec-commissions-48-mw-storage-capacity-in-germany-617324/

NEC Energy Solutions, part of Japan's NEC Corp (TYO:6701), has commissioned a 48-MW/50-MWh energy storage facility in Germany for a joint venture between Dutch utility Eneco and Japan's Mitsubishi Corp (TYO:8058). Located in Jardelund, northern Germany, the energy storage system is the largest one of its kind in Europe, NEC said in a press release on Thursday. It is owned by Germany-based EnspireME, which will use it to provide reserve capacity to European grid operators to stabilise the transmission network. Electricity stored from the facility’s 10,000 lithium-ion battery modules will be sold through weekly auctions on the German electricity market. According to the press release, Eneco and Mitsubishi will explore options for linking the battery facility to local wind parks. NEC noted it has completed the battery storage system in eight months. Its scope of work included turnkey engineering, procurement and construction (EPC) service, including the provision of the end-to-end-storage solution and controls software. The storage facility is capable of supplying about 5,300 German homes for a 24-hour period, it added. Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

Raxel Telematics to launch in Singapore

Russian-based Raxel Telematics is rolling out two new tools, onboard diagnostic (OBD) device FlexiMileage and mobile app DriveMaster, to track driver behaviour in Singapore. The move is part of Raxel's bid to capture the slowly growing motor insurance market in the country, where premiums are expected to rise by 5.2% this year. Raxel's OBD and app collect real-time data and send it to insurance companies, who can then offer drivers a personalised policy, based on their habits. It is predicted half of the world's cars will be insured by telematics by 2030.

https://sg.news.yahoo.com/telematics-rising-singaporeans-soon-rewarded-good-driving-behaviour-125615478.html

Data analytics on drivers’ behaviours will soon change the way insurance premiums are priced If you are a motor insurance company, the next time your client takes a turn too fast or slams the brakes at the last second, you will know. If you are a driver yourself, you may be able to get wallet-friendly prices on vehicle insurance and even get rewarded for a solid record of safe driving and practices. Raxel Telematics says it will soon track driver behaviour in Singapore with two products already rolled out to the market: FlexiMileage and DriveMaster. FlexiMileage is a small onboard diagnostic device that plugs into the dashboard and connects to the driver’s smartphone wirelessly. DriveMaster is a standalone mobile app that was launched this October in partnership with NTUC Income, Singapore’s leading composite insurer. With these data-driven initiatives be the future for Southeast Asia’s insurance industry? Potentially game-changing tech for the insurance industry Raxel’s technology is known to the industry as insurance telematics or Usage-Based Insurance (UBI). Such technology has tracked the safety and driving behaviours, particularly in fleets, for some time now, although the market exists mostly in the US and Europe. Global UBI market penetration is currently less than one percent, however, expected market penetration in Europe, Asia and America is estimated to be 15 per cent by 2020, with the trend growing to nearly 50 per cent of the world’s vehicles being insured with telematics policies by 2030. To date, there are 12 million active UBI policies worldwide, according to Ptolemus Consulting Group. The demand for hard-wired telematics devices is evident, in particular in Asia, where it is still a nascent field. “Traditionally, insurers rely on their customers’ claim history and some basic social-demographics, but by taking a personalised approach, insurance companies can significantly improve the predictive power of their pricing algorithms,” says Dmitry Rudash, Raxel Telematics CEO. Over the past two years, the motor insurance class, which makes up 32 per cent of the general insurance market in Singapore, is on the decline. The heightened competition and the falling car population — a total of 957,246 by end-2015 — were the major causes of this downtrend. However, motor premiums are expected to rise by 5.2 per cent in 2016, making the field a compelling place to start the business and offer new solutions for customer retention or conversion in the insurance industry. Telematics may introduce a competitive advantage to the Singaporean market with an array of more than 20 insurance options to drivers. UBI has already become a more familiar concept across the SEA market when Southeast Asian ride-hailing platform Grab and AXA Insurance Singapore announced the launch of Southeast Asia’s first usage-based commercial motor insurance for private-hire car drivers in May 2016. Plug and play (or drive) Here’s how it works: A motor insurance company plugs the OBD device into the vehicle’s dashboard or use standalone mobile up for a set period (usually up to one year). Or, customers may use a ‘try before you buy’ app for six months, understand the full capability of the technology and get a special offer to extend the insurance agreement for the next year of coverage. Both the OBD device and app, combined with the cloud platform and specially designed scoring model, will collect data in real time, track and timestamp mileage, and funnel all that data back to the insurance company. The telematics technology thus revolutionises insurers’ approach to profiling clients by providing more extensive data and knowledge about driving habits. Using this tech is a win-win situation for both users and insurance companies. Telematics opens up new revenue streams and regular touch points with a customer for insurers. The tech assesses actual drivers’ risks and introduces better pricing opportunities. It also enhances customer retention and helps to gain better access to low-risk drivers. UBI can also reduce claim frequency, processing costs and accident disputes. As for users, drivers will get notified of unsafe driving habits and receive reminders to drive safely. Users can can also get safety ratings that in turn may be exchanged into additional cost-saving benefits, such as personal offers or discounts on gas purchases–somewhat a gamified system for safe driving. A move toward smarter cities The start of algorithm-driven businesses in Asia could have major implications for industry players, consumers, society itself, and everything in-between. Thus, the popular connected car concept goes beyond simply having autopilot. Data-driven initiatives like this one can also improve algorithm-based vehicle pricing, warranties, preventive maintenance, entertainment apps and so on. Telematics enhance communication across vehicle and driver, and it provides transparency where necessary. “Driving just 20 Km/h over the speed limit in the city doubles the risk of an accident, while sharp accelerations, sudden braking and manoeuvring causes one in five accidents,” says Dmitry Rudash, Chief Executive Officer at Raxel Telematics. The startup’s system thus enables insurance company to better determine whether a client is at high or low risk of getting into an accident, and thus charge for premiums accordingly. Transparency and safety issues actually compel some transportation platform companies (such as Uber or car-sharing firm Zipcar) to integrate telematics into their business. As the automotive industry makes a big push toward autonomous cars, the largest automakers are collaborating with technology companies in their efforts to leverage robotics and AI. This includes, for instance, Toyota’s collaboration with Microsoft, or Volkswagen’s partnership with LG. Telecommunications companies like Vodafone have also started offering Telematics Usage-Based Insurance, strengthening a significant market-building opportunity for every party involved. A newcomer to watch out for Raxel Telematics has recently moved its global head office from Russia to Singapore and opened the business development operations in Southeast Asia’s tech hub to grab the opportunities in this market, including Thailand, Malaysia, Indonesia and Vietnam. The company may just yet play a big part in making Asian roads safer and in promoting low-risk driving habits. It might also help insurance business grow. The company has compiled a large storehouse of more than 100 million Km of analysed risky-driving events and real claim data. Results for the company’s partner insurers have shown a 37 per cent average decrease in claim frequency and 7 per cent margin growth due to decreased risks of fraud. To date, Raxel already has insurance partners in the Comonwealth of Independent States and Asia, including local industry leaders, such as NTUC Income (Singapore), and branches of key international players, namely Liberty Mutual (Russia) and AXA (Ukraine). Raxel provides its partners with analytics, data processing and customer risk assessment services, supporting their usage-based insurance schemes for drivers. —- Image Credit: ambrozinio / 123RF Stock Photo Author Viola Serdiukova is a tech-savvy blogger interested in startups. With an experience in the Skolkovo Foundation and a University-based business incubator, she chanced to meet daring founders throughout the world. In 2015 while studying at Boston University, she gained deep insights about how the startup culture in Boston and NYC has evolved. The views expressed here are of the author’s, and e27 may not necessarily subscribe to them. e27 invites members from Asia’s tech industry and startup community to share their honest opinions and expert knowledge with our readers. If you are interested in sharing your point of view, submit your article here. The post Telematics rising: Singaporeans can soon be rewarded for good driving behaviour appeared first on e27.

The coronavirus pandemic has totally derailed the war on plastic

Efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus have meant ramped-up hygiene measures. This has led to a proliferation of perspex and single-use plastic packaging. Commitments to tackle plastic waste have seemingly been eased or put on hold. So are global efforts to fight plastic being undone, or is this just a bump in the road?

https://www.wired.co.uk/article/coronavirus-plastic-pollution-environment

Getty Images / WIRED At first, stories of the pandemic’s environmental impact focused on blue-sky cities suddenly free of pollution, reductions in carbon emissions and jokes about “nature healing”. But as we emerge from lockdowns, one thing has become clear: plastic is back with a vengeance. Efforts to reduce the spread of coronavirus have meant ramped-up hygiene measures, leading to a proliferation of perspex “sneeze guard” screens and single-use plastic packaging. Commitments to tackle plastic waste have seemingly been eased or put on hold: the UK delayed its ban on plastic straws and many US states have delayed or reversed bans on plastic bags. So are global efforts to fight plastic being undone, or is this just a bump in the road? In the wake of a global pandemic, some parts of the plastic renaissance were inevitable. In the healthcare industry, demand for single-use personal protective equipment (PPE) has skyrocketed. By late June, two billion items of PPE had been delivered to medical and care staff across England since the start of the Covid-19 outbreak, and almost 28 billion items had been ordered overall, while French authorities ordered two billion disposable masks. Unfortunately, some of that PPE is ending up polluting oceans. Other sectors are jumping back on the plastic train too. Shops, eateries and even offices have installed perspex screens in the hope of reducing droplet transmission of Covid-19. The UK brand Perspex increased its acrylic sheet production by 300 per cent from February to March. In the US, plexiglass product manufacturers reported up to a 30-fold spike in sales. Though not single-use, it’s unclear how such screens will be disposed of when no longer needed.

US announces ban on Xinjiang goods over forced labour concerns

The US Customs and Border Protection has banned a range of imports, including cotton, computer components and clothing, from China's Xinjiang region, claiming "illicit, inhumane, and exploitative practices" were used in their manufacture. It is the latest measure against what the Trump administration deems to be Chinese human rights abuses toward ethnic minorities, particularly Uighur Muslims. In July, the US government imposed sanctions on paramilitary organisation the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps, whose operations make up 17% of the region's economy.

https://www.axios.com/us-xinjiang-cotton-imports-05182a43-0758-467f-acb1-a4497586d4e2.html?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=newsletter_axiospm&stream=top

U.S. Customs and Border Protection issued a series of orders on Monday barring some imports of cotton, apparel, hair products, computer parts and other goods from China's Xinjiang region due to the government's "illicit, inhumane, and exploitative practices of forced labor." Why it matters: The Trump administration is taking an increasingly aggressive approach to human rights abuses in Xinjiang, where the Chinese government is engaged in a sweeping campaign of demographic and cultural genocide against Uighur Muslims and other ethnic minorities. Details: The CBP orders apply to the following imports ... All products made with labor from the Lop County No. 4 Vocational Skills Education and Training Center in Xinjiang Hair products made in the Lop County Hair Product Industrial Park in Xinjiang Apparel produced by Yili Zhuowan Garment Manufacturing Co., Ltd. and Baoding LYSZD Trade and Business Co., Ltd in Xinjiang Cotton produced and processed by Xinjiang Junggar Cotton and Linen Co., Ltd. in Xinjiang Computer parts made by Hefei Bitland Information Technology Co., Ltd. in Anhui What they're saying: "The Trump administration will not stand idly by and allow foreign companies to subject vulnerable workers to forced labor while harming American businesses that respect human rights and the rule of law,” Acting CBP Commissioner Mark Morgan said in a statement. “Today’s Withhold Release Orders send a clear message to the international community that we will not tolerate the illicit, inhumane, and exploitative practices of forced labor in U.S. supply chains.” The big picture: President Trump told Axios in June that he previously held off on sanctioning officials and entities involved in the detention camps because doing so would have interfered with his trade deal with Beijing. In July, the U.S. sanctioned Chinese Communist Party officials, the Xinjiang Public Security Bureau and the Xinjiang Production and Construction Corps (XPCC) for their role in constructing and operating massive "re-education" camps, where over 1 million Uighurs have been detained. The XPCC, a paramilitary organization, is involved in the production of one-third of China's cotton, and in 2014, XPCC-controlled interests comprised 17% of Xinjiang's economy. Go deeper: U.S. seizes $800,000 shipment of Xinjiang products made with human hair

eVisit gets $2m to expand its telemedicine software platform

Arizona-based telemedicine platform provider eVisit has raised $2m in funding from investors including Kickstart Seed Fund, Arizona Founders Fund and angel investor Jeremy Andrus. eVisit's two-way platform allows video consultations between patients and physicians, and integrates with more than 20 electronic health record systems. The company, which focuses on partnering with large emergency and hospital medicine groups, will use the funds to scale its sales, marketing and support teams during expansion.

http://www.mobihealthnews.com/content/telemedicine-software-provider-evisit-raises-2m

Arizona-based telemedicine platform provider eVisit has raised $2 million from Kickstart Seed Fund, Arizona Founders Fund and angel investor Jeremy Andrus. Previously, the company raised $1 million in July 2016. The latest funding will be used to scale eVisit’s sales, marketing and support teams as they expand. As opposed to a standalone telemedicine platform, eVisit aims to extend the reach of providers and help them grow their practice by offering them a digital, two-way communication platform to conduct video visits with existing patients. eVisit’s app, available via desktop or mobile, allows providers to treat minor medical issues such as sinus infections or to follow up with a patient who underwent a procedure, plus collect payments, access medical charts for reimbursement submissions, and prescribe medications. On the backend, it also functions for patient self-scheduling. eVisit was founded in 2013 and reports considerable growth in the past year and a half. The app has reached nearly 225,000 downloads and the platform integrates with more than 20 electronic health records systems. “Our rapid growth validates the market’s need for better patient/physician communication tools and solidifies our position as the market leader in telehealth software,” eVisit CEO and founder Bret Larsen said in a statement. Activity in the telemedicine space has been quickly evolving and growing as of late. The recent landmark legislation in Texas solidified virtual care as a significant means of increasing healthcare access, and there are several approaches. For eVisit, the company isn’t taking on the task of hiring their own clinicians, as is Doctor on Demand’s model, or creating vast physician networks like Teladoc and American Well. Instead, eVisit focuses exclusively on partnering with large emergency and hospital medicine groups across the country, accounting for eight million patients. In that way, the company can cater to providers looking to increase revenue and emergency rooms looking to reduce overcrowding due to unnecessary (and often expensive) visits. “For decades, a large number of patients have relied on emergency rooms for minor medical issues because they can’t get after-hours care from their primary care doctor,” Arizona Founders Fund Managing Director and founder Romi Dhillon said in a statement. “eVisit is the perfect illustration of innovation in the telehealth industry, enabling physicians to recapture patient visits from the emergency room.”

Apple wants to put Japanese mobile payment service FeliCa on the new iPhone

Apple has plans to integrate Sony’s tap-to-pay mobile phone and card service, FeliCa into an upcoming iPhone release in Japan. WIth a 0.1-secnd transaction time, experts have stated that Apple may integrate this payment service into its devices for the Japanese market as its Apple Pay service alone may not be used by Japanese consumers already using FeliCa. Depending on negotiations between Apple and Sony, this service may be available on Apple devices next year.

http://www.gsmarena.com/apple_wants_to_put_felica_mobile_payment_service_for_iphones_in_japan-blog-20146.php

Sony developed a giant tap-to-pay service in Japan which works with both plastic cards and mobile phones alike. Phones in Japan have had support for FeliCa for years and now it looks like Apple is planning to release an iPhone in Japan which takes advantage of this service. FeliCa works with vending machines, Japan’s public transit, retail stores, online shopping via an NFC reader, and in large buildings for entering pre-authorized areas. Bloomberg reports that Apple is looking to cater to the Japanese by offering this service to its customers in Japan seeing as Apple Pay might not appeal to many with Japan being years ahead of the rest of the world in mobile payments and contact-less transactions. What makes FeliCa so successful is its 0.1-second transaction time, making it perfect for the nation’s fast-paced transit system. FeliCa's various tap-to-pay applications Apple’s plans to launch the new iPhone with FeliCa have not yet been confirmed. In fact, the California-based company wouldn’t release the service with the next iPhone at launch. Instead, it would wait until perhaps halfway into the phone’s life cycle to launch this kind of service. And if the negotiations between Apple and Sony fall through, Apple would wait until the release of the 2017 iPhone to add FeliCa compatibility. The New York City’s subway system is over a century old so it will be a while before we get something like FeliCa for it. The MTA switched from tokens to flexible magnetic strip cards in 1994. It still works well today, but for arguably the most famous city in the world, our Subway system is outdated and slow compared to Japan’s. Source | Via

Viber's new in-app mobile banking system

Messaging app Viber will be soon adding a new feature to its application. Comtrade Digital Services is working on an automated banking system, with integration at various participating banks, thus growing Viber's functionality from just messaging to new services in the future. Comtrade business development director, Oliver Lynch said the new feature will "transform the payments world for retail banks, payment processors and customers", adding that Viber is "the only messaging platform that, through an API, can be directly integrated with bank's existing digital banking channels".

http://www.mobilecommercedaily.com/viber-gets-in-app-mobile-banking-system

Popular messaging application Viber is getting a much-needed commerce twist with the integration of an automated banking system, further signaling the blurring between messaging platforms and other mobile functions. The new feature is being built by Comtrade and will see the integration at several participating banks. The banking system expands the app’s functionality beyond simple messaging and into other services as well. “This solution is going to transform the payments world for retail banks, payment processors and their customers,” said Oliver Lynch, business development director at Comtrade Digital Services. “Most banks now have a mobile app, but they don’t provide such innovative, instant payment options as this. “This is the only messaging platform that, through an API, can be directly integrated with banks’ existing digital banking channels.” Mobile messaging Mobile messaging services used to be known for one thing – messaging. As counterintuitive as it may seem, that is not the case any longer. With the massive update to Apple’s ubiquitous iMessage service, adding a dedicated app store and expanding the capabilities of the messaging app, the landscape that was already shifting towards all-purpose messaging apps with a variety of functionalities was finally given the shove it needed. Now messaging apps such as Facebook Messenger are cramming their platforms full of services and features that expand the borders of what a messaging app can be. Now Viber is taking a step in that direction as well with the integration of a banking system that will live inside the messaging app and allow users to send and receive money as well as make other financial decisions without ever leaving Viber. The banking system will make use of a chatbot and will work with a variety of participating banks. Consumers can interact with their banks and make financial changes all by communicating with the chatbot within Viber. Mobile banking The demographics of who uses what on mobile devices show that younger consumers generally favor messaging applications, such as Viber or Kik, that let them combine the convenience and omnipresence regular mobile services with the social aspect of messaging. As many messaging services begin to fill out their services with more features, messaging platforms are only expected to grow ever-outward, absorbing in functionalities from many other types of apps. This happens for a number of reasons, chief among them that apps take up valuable storage space on a phone and housing those services in an app removes the download requirement. An executive from Snaps, a company that works exclusively in this area, told Mobile Commerce Daily recently that messaging would soon become the new operating system of phones (see story). And for an example of how brands are already latching onto this trend, look towards Dunkin’ Donuts, who have made strong use of messaging as a platform to purchase orders and send gift cards to friends (see story). “At Comtrade Digital Services, we are constantly telling businesses that they must be willing to embrace and drive digital transformation in order to stay ahead. That is exactly what Viber has done and I expect many will follow. This marks a whole new era of banking and we can expect a significant proportion of the world’s micro transactions to be carried out over messaging apps and social media platforms in the future. “Now, it is time for the world’s banks to welcome this new era and seek innovative solutions that will help them retain and attract customers – or be left behind.”

Regus Accusations of heavy marketing or poaching in co-working industry

Abstract: Shared office space provider WeWork has been accused of trying to poach customers from rival firms in San Diego, and Wolf Bielas, managing partner of Downtown Works, believes the company is trying to live up to its $20bn valuation. A WeWork spokeswoman said the start-up was trying to "make it as easy as possible for people join our community", but WeWork has come under fire for similarly heavy-handed marketing tactics in New York and Washington.

http://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/business/growth-development/sd-fi-cowork-market-20171027-story.html

Downtown Works, a co-working space in downtown San Diego has been opened for about a year, shown here on Wednesday, Oct. 25, 2017. Is there a limit to the San Diego County market for hip, social life-focused, shared office space — including craft beer on tap — that comes at a premium price? In almost the blink of an eye, an estimated 175,000 square feet in “co-working” office space has sprung up from North Park to Carlsbad, with the biggest concentration in downtown San Diego. What is co-working? Think open-plan offices with upbeat music, bright wall paint and colored lighting. Advertisement Snacks and drinks are provided, along with networking gatherings with other entrepreneurs and start-up founders who are flocking to this model. You can even bring your dog along. Technology start-ups with a handful of employees are common customers, but so are independent contractors. A “hot desk” -- meaning it’s not assigned to you -- typically starts at $200 to $300 a month. A tiny, private or semi-private office goes for upwards of $1,000. Use of conference rooms and other niceties can be extra. The big player arrives on the scene WeWork, the New York-based real estate juggernaut, instantly became the biggest player in town in December when it leased multiple floors in downtown’s financial district, with space for 1,700 memberships. WeWork was clearly bullish on San Diego’s entrepreneurial spirit and tech culture: At the time, it was reported as the company’s largest location in California. And, the expansion continues. On Wednesday, the company told the San Diego Union-Tribune that it has signed a lease to next year open an additional 54,000 square feet in University City, with space for nearly 1,000 desks. But WeWork’s recent aggressive sales tactics, including targeting competitors’ customers — a spokeswoman called it “spreading the WeWork love” — have called into question whether the market has become saturated and is now entering slash-and-burn tactics. Opinion is decidedly mixed. Some San Diego brokers say too many co-working companies — roughly a little over a dozen, the majority of which are downtown -- will continue to fight for a small pool of customers. “Undoubtedly, some of these co-working firms will fail,” said Jason Hughes, founder of San Diego’s Hughes Marino, which represents tenants in leasing deals and represented WeWork in its downtown lease. “There will be a bloodbath trying to lure co-working tenants from one co-working location to another.” But others say this is the long-lasting result of the Great Recession in the late 2000s, when droves of employees who lost corporate jobs learned they could string together a living as entrepreneurs in the “gig economy.” Matt Carlson of San Diego’s CBRE commercial real estate said he sees the co-working market expanding. “I think we’re going to see a lot more,” said Carlson, senior vice president. “I would not be surprised if 12 to 18 months from now, the base doubles.” Another point of view is that, while co-working is here to stay, the players who don’t get the niche right will fall by the wayside. Danny Fitzgerald of Endeavor, a San Diego brokerage company, said some neighborhood players are doing a good job localizing the co-working experience. “Here’s your surfboard, here’s your paddleboard, here’s your amenity in the neighborhood. You can ride your bike to work. You are right near home, near your kids, pick-the-kids-up-from-school kind of thing,” he said. “It’s the people who don’t — like, ‘I made my building a co-working building, but I don’t know what I want’ — that’s where there could be some shake out.” A company on an expansion binge WeWork, a 7-year-old start-up, has made the concept famous -- and also possibly raised questions about its sustainability, after headlong expansion and now aggressive marketing tactics nationally. Also last week, the company announced that, along with an investor, it is buying the Lord & Taylor flagship store on Manhattan’s Fifth Avenue for a new global WeWork headquarters. The company’s $20 billion valuation was described as “Silicon Valley pixie dust” by the Wall Street Journal recently. Some San Diego co-working innovators say they are glad that high-profile WeWork is raising the visibility of the new workplace concept. “All boats rise as more people find out about co-working and think, ‘Huh, maybe I should try it,’” said Ping Wang, who founded Kearny Mesa’s Ansir Innovation Center, a co-working and start-up hub that merged with ScaleMatrix Launch Center. “It’s not a zero-sum scenario.” But there is criticism of WeWork’s tactics — both nationally and in San Diego. Poaching, or just heavy marketing? In Little Italy, WeWork sent employees to erect an elaborate booth near competitors’ front doors. The site was a Little Italy lunchtime food truck “rodeo” directly in front of Downtown Works, a locally owned co-working space, and a few blocks away from two executive suites locations owned by the international Regus brand. Wolf Bielas, managing partner of Downtown Works, accuses WeWork of trying to poach his members by snooping around the office. Bielas said WeWork sent emails to him and some of his members soon after the booth stunt, offering them six months or a year of free rent if they sign a year or two-year lease — also promising “we will work with you” if “stuck” in a current contract. “I don’t think it’s specific to San Diego, that they took too much space,” said Bielas, who opened Downtown Works in August 2016. “I think (the aggressive marketing) is to justify their valuation” of $20 billion. Bielas is bullish on the strength of the San Diego co-working market. He has enjoyed an 80 percent occupancy rate recently, convincing him to expand co-working into another floor of his West B Street building. A Regus spokesman didn’t comment on WeWork’s marketing behavior. The company is also a big flexible-office-space player in San Diego County, with 500,000 square feet here. The great majority is executive suites — a more traditional scenario, in which a lawyer or small branch operation rents closed-door space with shared administrative support. Regus has ventured into co-working, particularly with its Spaces product in University City. WeWork has used some of these tactics elsewhere, including New York and Washington, D.C. One New York office space competitor, Knotel, engaged in its own maneuvers by parking a school bus painted with the words “graduate from co-working” in front of WeWork headquarters in New York. Asked about the company’s behavior in San Diego, a WeWork spokeswoman this week said that the company is still new to a lot of regions and that means it needs to market the business. About the booth at the weekly food truck rodeo, the spokeswoman added, “We set up a booth in an area where folks could sit and talk to WeWork about what makes WeWork unique. We want to make it as easy for as many people as possibly to join our community.” A blip, or will co-working last? At present, the regional economy is healthy and the office market is hot, with a low downtown vacancy rate of less than 12 percent, according to Jones Lang LaSalle San Diego. It’s the lowest vacancy rate since 2008, before the last recession hit. After a fast expansion during good economic times, the question looms: What happens to co-working companies during a downturn, when money for start-ups dries up and companies rein in satellite offices? Real estate professionals say the co-working model, with its high-end amenities, is more expensive than just renting offices -- for companies that need at least a small amount of space. Class A office space is going for roughly $3 per square foot in downtown San Diego right now. Star Hughes-Gorup, also of Hughes Marino, said co-working space — which her company also markets to tenants — is going for $5 to even $10 a square foot. Jones Lang LaSalle pegged the co-working cost premium at 181 percent, in a 2016 national report on shared work spaces. “Does it have legs during a recession?” asked Jason Hughes, of Hughes Marino. On the other hand, the result of the past recession was more people working as independents. “We haven’t seen a recession with this amount of co-working space out there,” said Carlson, of CBRE. “Recessions do force people to be more entrepreneurial. Will some people work from their kitchen tables until they are profitable? Sure,” he said. But they might continue going to co-working for the business connections that will become even more valuable in lean times. “You may pick up business from going into that space,” Carlson said. “Instead of hiring a full-time marketing person, or design person, they may just use the people around them.” Business [email protected] Twitter: @jensteeley

** Co-op deals: Supermarket launch ‘£5 freezer fillers’ and slash the price on hundreds of it

Co-op has launched its new food deal where you can get five freezer food items for just £5. The deal is running until August 25 and is available at most Co-op stores. LoveMoney has labelled it as a cheaper alternative to the Marks & Spencer Dine In For Two meal deal. The stock is limited and subject to availability.

https://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/1319272/coop-supermarket-launch-5-freezer-fillers-discount-hundreds-of-items

Co-op reveal their pizzas come on 'recyclable' cardboard trays Co-op has launched its new food deal where you can get five freezer food items for just £5. The deal is running until August 25 and is available at most Co-op stores. LoveMoney has shared what you can get in the offer and has labelled it as a ‘cheaper alternative’ to the Marks & Spencer Dine In For Two meal deal. Trending READ MORE Supermarket deals: Free food coupons at Tesco, Sainsbury’s and more The £5 deal includes five different frozen food items. These include: • Birds Eye 2 Battered Extra Large Fish Fillets (320g) • Birds Eye 4 Cod Fish Cakes in Crunch Crumb (198g) • McCain Oven Chip (750g) • Birds Eye Garden Peas (375g) • Nestlé Fab Extra Strawberry (6x58ml) If bought separately, these food items would cost £12.55 so you are saving a huge £7.55. LoveMoney says: “The Co-operative Food meal deal is less than half the price of the M&S Dine In deal, 50% cheaper than Tesco's offer and less expensive than Jack's £7 meal deal. READ MORE: Garden deals: 130 plants for under £10 to revamp your garden this summer Co-op deals: Supermarket launch ‘£5 freezer fillers’ and slash the price on hundreds of items Co-op has launched its new food deal where you can get five freezer food items for just £5 SUBSCRIBE Invalid email We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. More info You can pick from six different Ben & Jerry’s all which cost £5 each when bought individually. Those with membership cards can also get an extra 5 percent cash back. The Co-operative Food meal deal is less than half the price of the M&S Dine In deal, 50% cheaper than Tesco's offer and less expensive than Jack's £7 meal deal. Students can also get this deal for just £4.50 when showing a valid student discount card. Co-op is also offering a pizza meal deal for just £5 READ MORE Aldi shoppers rave about genius £4 product that keeps flies out Co-op also has a half price discount across coffee and tea which can be expensive when bought full price. You can get your hands on the Nescafe Gold Blend Barista Style (180g) for just £3.97, original price £7.95. 160 Tetley Original Tea Bags were originally £5.65 but are now just £2.82. These drink offers are running until August 18 subject to availability. You can get your hands on the Nescafe Gold Blend Barista Style (180g) for just £3.97

Statkraft buys 320 MW of solar capacity in Ireland for $17.3m

Statkraft Ireland has acquired nine solar projects totalling 320 MW in capacity for $17.3m. The assets, many of which are in advanced stages of development, were bought from JBM Solar. Some of the projects will participate in Ireland's Renewable Electricity Support Scheme. Statkraft wants 2 GW of solar capacity by 2025.

https://www.power-technology.com/news/statkraft-solar-projects-ireland/

Statkraft acquires 320MW solar project portfolio in Ireland. Credit: Statkraft. Statkraft subsidiary Statkraft Ireland has completed the acquisition of nine solar projects from JBM Solar in Ireland for an estimated fee of $17.3m (€15.5m). The nine projects have a combined capacity of 320MW. Many of the projects in the portfolio are in the advanced stages of development and some of them will participate in the upcoming Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) auctions. Statkraft Ireland managing director Kevin O’Donovan said: “We believe that Ireland will need contributions from all forms of renewable energy to meet 2030 binding targets of reaching 70% green energy. “The acquisition of this 320MW of solar energy further diversifies our own portfolio and continues our upward growth trajectory. Each MW of these developments will be necessary if we are going to be successful in tackling climate change. “Work carried out to date has ensured that the Irish electricity grid system is operating successfully with renewable energy levels of up to 65% at any given time which proves that we are not that very far away from having a Grid system which can be run almost exclusively on renewable energy.” The acquisition of the solar portfolio will be a further addition to Statkraft Ireland’s renewable energy capacity in the country, as the company has an existing onshore wind capacity of 1.25GW along with 500MW of offshore wind. Statkraft noted that the deal will allow the company to help Ireland achieve its targets outlined in the Climate Action Plan that was published in June 2019. By 2025, Statkraft aims to achieve 2,000MW of solar and 6,000MW of wind power capacity.

Kenshoo make first entry into e-commerce marketing on Amazon

Marketing company Kenshoo will use Amazon's marketing services API to deliver e-commerce marketing services to a select group of agencies and brands. Kenshoo will offer the e-commerce channel alongside its social and search marketing services.

http://www.econtentmag.com/Articles/News/News-Item/Kenshoo-Introduces-e-Commerce-Marketing-119456.htm

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HSBC

Brazilian Federal Police are reportedly investigating HSBC over suspicions that the bank brokered the payment of bribes to councillors on the government board of tax appeals, in payments that date back to at least 2005. Both the police and HSBC refused to comment on the investigation.Relevance: Investigation update

http://www1.folha.uol.com.br/mercado/2015/04/1614154-investigada-em-fraude-do-carf-recebeu-dinheiro-de-hsbc-e-opportunity.shtml

Publicidade A Polícia Federal identificou depósitos do banco HSBC e de uma empresa do Grupo Opportunity à SGR Consultoria, investigada por suspeita de intermediar o pagamento de propina a conselheiros do Carf (Conselho Administrativo de Recursos Fiscais). Os dados dessas transações financeiras constam numa representação enviada pela PF à Justiça Federal a qual a Folha teve acesso. O HSBC não quis comentar. O Grupo Opportunity nega que tenha cometido qualquer ilegalidade. O documento detalha etapas da Operação Zelotes, que revelou um suposto esquema de sonegação fiscal com participação de integrantes do Carf. O colegiado, vinculado ao Ministério da Fazenda, julga recursos a autuações aplicadas pela Receita Federal. O HSBC transferiu R$ 1,5 milhão à SGR em 29 de julho de 2005, segundo o relatório da PF, que encontrou dois processos do banco julgados no Carf "em período aproximado da transferência". Ambos eram relacionados à aquisição de ativos do Banco Bamerindus e receberam decisões favoráveis ao HSBC, de acordo com a PF. Já a Opportunity Gestora de Recursos, ligada ao banqueiro Daniel Dantas, pagou R$ 177,7 mil à SGR. Foram quatro depósitos de R$ 44,4 mil, entre abril e julho de 2009, segundo o documento. Os policiais localizaram 18 processos do Opportunity no Carf. "Somente um deles chamou a atenção", de acordo com o documento. Tanto a transferência do HSBC como as do Opportunity foram declaradas no imposto de renda da SGR Consultoria, conforme a representação da Polícia. A SGR é apontada pela PF como uma das principais peças do esquema. A empresa pertence a três ex-conselheiros do Carf: Edison Pereira Rodrigues, José Ricardo da Silva e João Batista Gruginski. Os dois primeiros são investigados na Zelotes. As investigações revelaram que conselheiros e ex-conselheiros recebiam propina de devedores da União. Em troca, eles atuavam junto ao colegiado para reduzir e até zerar as dívidas de quem desembolsava o suborno. Como a Folha revelou, a PF mapeou 74 processos do Carf em que há indícios mais fortes de manipulação. Os casos do Opportunity e do HSBC, relatados na representação enviada à Justiça, não estão entre eles. Apesar disso, investigadores ouvidos pela Folha classificaram as transações como "suspeitas". A PF disse que não comenta investigações em curso. OUTRO LADO O Grupo Opportunity negou irregularidades nos depósitos à SGR. Diz ter contratado a empresa para prestar serviços de "assessoria sobre normas contábeis e societárias". O Opportunity afirma que o processo que chamou a atenção da PF foi julgado em 2011 e não teve participação de consultoria. Diz que recorreu ao Carf para reconhecimento de crédito fiscal de R$ 208 mil e que o conselho acolheu o pleito parcialmente. O Opportunity classifica como "inconcebível" a suspeita de que contratou, em 2009, a assessoria por R$ 177 mil para obter, em 2011, o reconhecimento parcial de um crédito de R$ 46 mil. O HSBC informou que não comentaria o caso.

After Japan's first Covid-19-linked death IOC insists Tokyo Olympics will go ahead

On the day that Japan had its first death from coronavirus and China reported 5,090 new cases and 121 deaths from the disease in the preceding 24 hours, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) made a statement saying there is “absolutely no chance the Games will be postponed”. A spokesperson for the IOC said preparation for the event, which is due to start in late July, were going ahead as planned and that it was in contact with WHO and its own medical experts to ensure the necessary measure to address the situation are taken.

https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2020/feb/14/ioc-insists-tokyo-olympics-will-go-ahead-despite-coronavirus

It is the ultimate sporting get-together: 11,000 athletes from 200 countries all striving to live up to the Olympic motto – faster, higher and stronger. But as this year’s Games in Tokyo approaches it is not the usual concerns – the potential for high temperatures or the logistics of putting on the world’s biggest sporting event – that is the biggest problem for organisers. It is the coronavirus. On Friday, China reported 5,090 new cases and 121 new deaths in the previous 24 hours, Japan has also had its first death as the virus continues to spread. For now, however, the International Olympic Committee position is clear: there is absolutely no chance the Games, which are due to start in late July, will be postponed despite the growing global health emergency. But athletics was similarly upbeat before the World Indoor Championships, due to take place in Nanjing in March, was cancelled. And so was Formula One before the Shanghai Grand Prix was also shelved. The virus has also wiped out golf tournaments, matches, and almost all sports in China – including Olympic qualifying events. What is worrying medical experts is that with so many people packed into a small area there is a possibility for infectious diseases to spread. This month Toshiro Muto, the chief executive of the Tokyo organising committee, voiced some of those concerns by saying he was “seriously worried” the spread of coronavirus “could throw cold water on the momentum toward the Games”. Muto later backed down and this week the organising committee’s president Yoshiro Mori said he was clear that “We are not considering a cancellation or postponement of the Games”. An IOC spokesperson also said all preparations for Tokyo 2020 were going ahead as planned. “The IOC is in contact with the World Health Organisation, as well as its own medical experts,” he said. “We have full confidence that the relevant authorities, in particular in Japan, China and the World Health Organisation, will take all the necessary measures to address the situation.” Craig Spence, the spokesperson for the International Paralympic Committee, insisted the Paralympics will go ahead in late August. “Fear is spreading quicker than the virus, and it is important that we quell that fear,” he said. It is worth noting that next month’s Tokyo marathon is going ahead – although organisers have announced that runners based in China can defer until 2021 as many will have trouble travelling to Japan. They will also issue masks and hand sanitisers during race week. Meanwhile it remains unclear whether Chinese athletes due to compete in sporting events in Britain in the next month will take part. Public Health England confirmed there are currently no restrictions on Chinese players coming to the prestigious All-England Badminton Championships or the Gymnastics World Cup, both of which will be staged in Birmingham. However it is rumoured from within the sport that the Chinese badminton players will withdraw from all European tournaments this month, as well as from one in Germany the week before the All England event. The chief executive of Badminton England, Adrian Christy, said the advice the organiser has been given is to carry on preparations for the All England as planned. “We are monitoring the coronavirus very closely and are in touch with Public Health England several times a week – and they have been very helpful indeed,” he said. “The advice we have been given is to carry on our preparations for the All England as planned, and we are doing that. “We are also in regular touch with our international governing body who are monitoring this from a global perspective.” Birmingham will also stage a World Cup gymnastics meeting next month and a spokesperson for GB Gymnastics insisted that “as it stands it’s business as usual. “We continue to plan for the Chinese delegations competing in Birmingham at the end of next month,” he added.

China establishes national standards committee for blockchain

The Standardisation Administration of China has set up and will run a national standards committee for blockchain technology. In a statement, it said it aims to "promote high levels of openness" as well as enable high-tech innovation and promote the development of "leading, systematic and rigorous" standards. The move came after a recent TV show on China's state-run CCTV-1 channel dubbed cryptocurrencies "illegal Ponzi schemes".

https://decrypt.co/11853/china-sets-up-national-committee-for-blockchains-standards

China has launched a national standards committee for blockchain technology in a bid to drive “high-tech innovation” in the area. The committee has been set up and will be run by the Standardization Administration of China (SAC), which coordinates standardization work across the country. Announced on Wednesday, the committee said its purpose is to “help high-tech innovation”, “promote high-levels of openness” and “lead high-quality development.” AD AD The body claims to have “accelerated the construction of standardization technology organizations” and "started a batch of technical committees such as blockchain and distributed accounting technology.” In its announcement, the committee explained that it will “continue to organize and manage the technical committees” as well as “guide the relevant technical committees.” What’s more, it said it would “establish and improve the standards system of relevant fields, and formulate forward-looking, high-quality standards that are leading, systematic and rigorous.” The news comes as cryptocurrencies were recently branded “illegal Ponzi schemes” and “financial fraud” by a television program on Chinese state-run channel CCTV-1. As Decrypt reported, Chinese current affairs show Focus Report said 102 cryptocurrencies were scam “pyramid schemes” while calling over 755 tokens “air coins” and “money-grabbing schemes.” Presenters went on to say cryptocurrencies are “extremely deceptive and “confuse the blockchain concept with financial knowledge and currency knowledge.” To add to the confusion, a few weeks prior, Chinese President Xi Jinping said blockchain would be necessary for gaining economic advantage and called on the country to accelerate the development of the technology.

How Blockchain Technology Can Help Fighting Against Coronavirus

Blockchain can be used to monitor pandemic material distribution, donations, relief distribution and other responses in a fast and transparent way. High-speed cryptocurrency payment systems help to facilitate cross-border transactions within a few seconds.

https://cointelegraph.com/news/how-blockchain-technology-can-help-fighting-against-covid-19

Many financial and human resources are being deployed in the effort to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Technologies are also being used in this fight: artificial intelligence for research, 5G to increase information transmission speed and many others. Blockchain is not being left out of this fight, as it now plays an important role in helping institutions and governments around the world respond to COVID-19, and is currently being integrated into healthcare and food supply chains. How blockchain platforms can help defeat a pandemic Blockchain platforms can be used to monitor pandemic material distribution, donations, relief distribution and other responses in a fast and transparent way without the violation of user data. Digital identity is another way blockchain platforms can help defeat COVID-19: Companies can collaborate through blockchain platforms to help to research the best way to combat the coronavirus, and contact-tracing applications can be built on blockchain to allow anonymity. Blockchain can bring reliability, transparency and security to medical data. Several organizations have been accused of manipulating data during this pandemic, blockchain can help to solve them by providing transparent and immutable medical data. A blockchain-based global pandemic map can be used to track the spread of the virus, the number of infected citizens and the number of recovered citizens. Related: How Blockchain Will Revolutionize Healthcare The management of health insurance claims can be managed through blockchain and smart contracts. The role of decentralized payment systems On the other hand, a blockchain-based decentralized payment method can play a vital role in defeating the virus, as companies can receive payment through cryptocurrencies without the risk of spreading the virus through cash. Additionally, high-speed cryptocurrency payment systems help to facilitate cross-border transactions within a few seconds, allowing the transfer of funds using distributed ledger technology with the use of multiple synchronized ledgers and multiple processing nodes, which has the potential to reduce the risk from a single point-of-failure. Donation campaigns are being set up to raise money for medical research and equipment, providing relief materials during the pandemic. For example, the Covir blockchain project recently partnered with Octopus robots to fund Biosafety licenses for robots that decontaminate large buildings during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Covir’s main goal is to help Octopus robots gain licenses so its robots can be available worldwide. Blockchain can be used to promote transparency during fundraising and donation campaigns while providing a means to track the origin of funds and detect if those funds are used for the right purposes. Related: Your Crypto Taxes Can Be Donated to Charity Instead Tokenization can help countries build the economy after COVID-19 Tokenization provides a unique opportunity to rebuild society after the COVID-19 pandemic. The damage caused by the pandemic will no doubt be huge, with economic recession and a high rate of unemployment felt across the world. Blockchain platforms have made tokenization possible, enabling the division of assets in the smallest possible way. Tokenization allows the person with the smallest amount to invest and contribute to building the economy. Kelvin Cheng, the chief operating officer at BigONE exchange believes tokenization can help the economy by allowing companies to divide their assets and allowing investors to participate in tokenized assets. As he explained to Cointelegraph: “Tokenization can digitize a company’s core resources, including the capability of making profits and core assets. Asset tokenization of holding the token is equivalent to holding shares, in which people holding the token can be considered as a ‘token holder’ who can enjoy the company’s benefits. The more token the person has, the more benefit the person can get. Profit digitized means that a company’s profit can issue a dividend or buy back according to the status of the holding of the token.” Blockchain provides a unique way to contribute, build and track the COVID-19 recovery process. Perhaps when the pandemic is over, we can look at how blockchain helped get us through it, and doubters might be convinced about adopting the tech for everyday use. The views, thoughts and opinions expressed here are the authors alone and do not necessarily reflect or represent the views and opinions of Cointelegraph. This article was co-authored by Oluwatobi Joel and Virginia Mijes.

At least 172 killed in Yemen flash floods this month

Flash floods in Yemen, triggered by torrential rains, have killed at least 172 people. In the province of Maarib's displaced persons camps, 1,340 families saw their tents and belongings swept away. The houses in Yemen's UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa are also collapsing due to heavy rains, as months of floods and storms assail a country already reeling from war, food shortages, and disease. The United Nations describes this as the world's worst humanitarian crisis after years of war between a Saudi-backed government and Iran-allied Houthi rebel. In addition, and on top of the new coronavirus that is believed to be spreading largely undetected, heavy rains spread diseases like cholera, dengue fever and malaria.

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/08/172-killed-yemen-flash-floods-month-200812112022171.html

Torrential rain has also damaged homes and UNESCO-listed world heritage sites across the country. Flash floods in Yemen, triggered by torrential rains, have killed at least 172 people, and damaged homes and UNESCO-listed world heritage sites across the country, officials said. In the mainly-government-held province of Maarib east of the capital Sanaa, 19 children were among 30 people killed by the floods, a government official said. In the province’s displaced persons camps, 1,340 families saw their tents and belongings swept away. In Lahij province in the government-held south, seven people drowned when their vehicle was swept downstream, a government official told AFP news agency. Another four people were killed on the road connecting the southern provinces of Hadramawt and Shabwa, the official added. 200810081839188 The houses in Yemen’s UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa are also collapsing due to heavy rains, as months of floods and storms assail a country already reeling from war, food shortages, and disease. The distinctive brown and white mud-brick houses of Sanaa’s historic neighbourhoods, which date from before the 11th century, have long been under threat from conflict and neglect. The destruction has dealt a new blow to a country already in the grips of what the United Nations describes as the world’s worst humanitarian crisis after years of war between a Saudi-backed government and Iran-allied Houthi rebels. Five years of war have killed more than 100,000 people, left 80 percent of the population reliant on aid and pushed millions to the brink of famine. In addition, and on top of the new coronavirus that is believed to be spreading largely undetected, heavy rains spread diseases like cholera, dengue fever and malaria.

Zurich Insurance acquires minority stake in CoverWallet

Zurich Insurance has signed a deal to acquire a minority stake in US insurtech start-up CoverWallet. The arrangement builds on an existing partnership which saw the firms unveil online B2B insurance platform Zurich, Powered by CoverWallet (ZPC) back in February. The launch of ZPC, which is currently running in Spain and aims to simplify buying insurance for small businesses, marked the first time the start-up had expanded into Europe.

https://www.reinsurancene.ws/zurich-invests-in-insurtech-startup-coverwallet/

Zurich has acquired a minority stake in U.S. based Insurtech startup Coverwallet, an online platform founded in 2015 that simplifies the purchase and management of insurance for businesses. This announcement builds upon an agreement between the two companies in February that saw the launch of Zurich, Powered by Coverwallet (ZPC) – a digital insurance platform servicing small business owners (SME) in Europe, which is currently live in Spain. An application of the B2B platform, ZPC, saw the startup expand into Europe for the first time, having already secured a deal with The Hannover Group in May, for the purpose of providing it to agents for its emerging micro-small commercial business. “Following our commercial agreement with Zurich, this investment is a testament to the value Zurich sees in CoverWallet and the work we are doing to make insurance easy and convenient for small businesses in Europe,” commented Inaki Berenguer, Co-Founder and CEO at CoverWallet. Adding, “Zurich has been a terrific partner as CoverWallet launched internationally, and we are thrilled they decided to invest in our company.”

Renault Zoe is best selling European EV in the first half of 2020

The Renault Zoe has emerged as the top-selling electric vehicle (EV) in Europe during H1 2020, after the June sale of 10,000 vehicles trebled the figure from the previous month. The period saw more than 36,000 Zoe EVs sold, compared to 33,000 Tesla Model 3s and 18,000 VW e-Golf models. The figures are in contrast to those from Australia, where the Zoe has been withdrawn because of low sales. Total EV sales doubled in H1 2020, despite a 24% fall in overall car sales. In Europe, Renault has sold 300,000 Zoe EVs, and roughly 33% of sales were in France.

https://thedriven.io/2020/07/31/renault-zoe-tops-model-3-and-vw-e-golf-in-europe-electric-vehicle-sales/

The Renault Zoe has proven the best selling electric vehicle in Europe for the first half of 2020, with more than 10,000 sold in June, tripling sales from the previous month. The pleasing results for the French car maker means that the popular Zoe – which is being withdrawn from the Australia market because of poor sales and a lack of EV strategy and policy – is ahead of Tesla’s Model 3 in Europe, where EV sales are now rebounding from a Coronavirus-induced sales slump. Overall auto sales are still recovering from their Covid19 slump, and for the first six months to June 30 are down 24% from the same period a year earlier. EV sales, however, are have doubled, according to His data shows saw all-electric and plug-in hybrid sales doubled from the year earlier period to 93,000 registrations in June, bringing total plug in registrations for the first half of 2020 to 400,000, an 8.2% share of the overall market. (In Australia, the market share of EVs remains at less than 1 per cent). More than 36,000 Renault Zoe EVs were sold in the first half of 2020, All in all, Renault has now sold more than 300,000 Zoe EVs across Europe, a third of them in Frace where its 52kWh model is in full swing. Once the ID.3 arrives in September, Pontes spins a positive outcome for the market as Volkswagen fills 30,000 First Edition orders, which”added to some 11,000 Zoe’s and 17,000 Model 3’s, “should provide 58,000 registrations for September in just 3 models!” This, he says, added to some 70,000 units from the remaining market, will bring registrations to a 11-12% market share which he predicts will be a tipping point for the market. As for Tesla, Pontes says that by September we should expect to see Model 3 sales in five digit figures again as production and shipping gets back to normal post-Covid, and he still places the Model 3 as the odds on favourite for 2020’s overall best seller. Even without this expected surge, the Model 3 is outselling its segment competitors tenfold, with just 3,776 high-priced Jaguar I-Paces and 2,937 Mercedes-Benz EQC (due to low production volume suggests Pontes) have been sold to the end of June. Audi’s e-Tron also begs a mention – with more than 13,500 sales under its belt for the first half of 2020, Pontes says the VW stablemate’s domination in the all-electric E-segment, placed against against 3,111 Taycan sales and 2,506 Model S sales, is “unquestionable”. For plug-in hybrids, the Mitsubishi Outlander PHEV remains the best seller for the first half of 2020, with a little more than 14,000 units sold. However, the big surprise is the Ford Kuga PHEV, which in June sold more than 3,600 units, and more than its entire PHEV sales for 2013 – 2019! This earned it the title of top selling PHEV for June.

Westpac refunds $9.2m to affected clients

Westpac has refunded approximately AUS $9.3m to 161,414 customers following a failure to waive fees on branded savings and transaction accounts. The bank reported its failure to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission. The bank opened Westpac Choice and Westpac Reward Saver accounts between 2007 and 2013 for eligible clients under the age of 21, without waiving the appropriate fees. 28,000 customers under the age of 18 were eligible for a freedom student transaction accounts operated by St. George with no monthly service fee, but a monthly fee was charged erroneously. The refund includes an additional amount reflecting interest.

http://www.moneymanagement.com.au/news/financial-planning/westpac-refunds-92m-affected-clients

Westpac has refunded around $9.2 million to 161,414 eligible customers after it failed to waive fees on Westpac and St. George branded savings and transaction accounts. Following the Corporations Act, Westpac reported it to the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) which said it had acknowledged the cooperative approach taken by Westpac in resolving this matter. Between 2007 and 2013, Westpac Choice and Westpac Reward Saver accounts were opened for some eligible clients, aged under 21 years, without the relevant fee waivers being applied. At that time, Westpac relied on its staff to manually apply the following fee waiver benefits. Westpac also reported that there were over 28,000 customers, who were under the age of 18, and who were eligible for a freedom student transaction account, operated by St. George with no monthly service fee, but instead held a standard St. George transaction account which charged a monthly fee. ASIC deputy chairman, Peter Kell, said: Financial institutions that offer products with benefits such as fee waivers must have effective and robust systems in place to deliver the promised benefits to consumers. Businesses that rely on manual processes to apply waivers, discounts and other benefits should carefully consider how they manage the risks of processes not being followed, including having appropriate controls and procedures in place. Westpac said it had now provided refunds to the affected customers with payments including an additional amount reflecting interest. Additionally, the bank assured it would monitor the activity to ensure the correct treatment of eligible accounts and introduced an automated application of the relevant fee waivers based on the customer's date of birth submitted during the application process.

Dr. Praeger’s announces new meat-alternative turkey burger

Dr Praeger’s Sensible Foods has announced a new frozen plant-based turkey burger as a new addition to their Perfect meat-alternative line. Made with only pure plant protein the Perfect Turk’y Burger is gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200901005289/en/Dr.-Praeger%E2%80%99s-Introduces-Plant-Based-Turk%E2%80%99y-Burger-Tastes

ELMWOOD PARK, N.J.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Today, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, the family owned and operated leader in the all-natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free, and kosher frozen food categories, introduces their newest meat-alternative patty — the Perfect Turk’y Burger™. The Perfect Turk’y Burger has the look, taste, and texture of your favorite turkey burger, without the meat and made only with clean ingredients. Packed with 20g Pure Plant Protein and infused with carrots, sweet potatoes, and butternut squash, the Perfect Turk’y Burger is plant-based, gluten-free, soy-free and non-GMO project verified. “At Dr. Praeger’s we’re always innovating and looking to create new products that fill the needs of our ever-evolving community,” said Dr. Praeger’s CEO Larry Praeger. “As the average consumer seeks out more options for meatless protein with real ingredients, we knew it was time to expand our Perfect product line. With few other meatless “turkey” burgers on the market, we knew we needed to deliver. I’m proud to say the Perfect Turk’y Burger now offers variety to the lineup to add an extra meat’y optionto help Americans easily consume less meat while still eating clean and getting their vegetables in.” Dr. Praeger’s has been a pioneer in the vegetable-focused frozen food space for over 25 years. In 2019 the brand launched the first product in their Perfect meat-alternative line, the Perfect Burger, as they predicted trends for an increased interest and demand for clean, high-protein alternatives to meat. Like the Perfect Turk’y Burger the Perfect Burger looks and tastes like real meat, is made with Pure Plant Protein and has less sodium and fat per serving than leading meat-alternative burgers on the market and grills up Perfectly. While best known for cult favorites such as the California Veggie Burger and Kids Littles, Dr. Praeger’s offers a range of vegan, vegetarian, gluten free, soy free, Kosher and non-GMO food options including Oaties Oatmeal Dippin’ Sticks, Fish Taco Bites, Veggie Cakes and Breakfast Bowls. Perfect Turk’y Burger is sold frozen in packs of two patties for $4.99 at grocery stores nationwide including Kroger, Jewel Osco, HEB, Stop & Shop, Sprouts, Publix, Wegmans, ShopRite, Fresh Thyme, Lunds & Byerly's and more. For more information, visit www.drpraegers.com and @drpraegers on social. About Dr. Praeger’s For over 25 years, Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods has offered delicious and convenient frozen food options for the whole family. Founded by two heart surgeons determined to make healthy food easily accessible, the company remains family-owned and operated. Dr. Praeger’s is a leader in the all-natural, vegetarian, vegan, gluten free and kosher frozen food categories and has the #1 selling SKU, California Veggie Burger at Whole Foods as well as a wide range of products including Veggie Burgers, Bowls, Cakes, Puffs and Hash Browns, sustainable Seafood items, Kid’s Littles and more. For more information visit www.drpraegers.com.

HCL Aya Healthcare buys San Diego-based Locums Unlimited

US healthcare staff supplier Aya Healthcare has acquired San Diego-based firm Locums Unlimited. The purchase gives Aya direct recruiting capacity as part of its Aya Partner Network, while CEO Alan Braynin revealed the company had added locums services to its Aya Connect platform, which has helped secure $200m in managed service contracts in the past 12 months.

https://de.advfn.com/p.php?pid=nmona&article=77547668

SAN DIEGO, May 30, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Aya Healthcare, the largest privately held travel nurse staffing and healthcare workforce solutions provider in the country, acquired Locums Unlimited on May 20, 2018, a locum tenens staffing company located in San Diego, Calif. The company will operate as a subsidiary of Aya Healthcare. Locums Unlimited specializes in the nationwide placement of physicians in locum tenen and temp to perm jobs. The company brings over 25 years combined experience to the healthcare staffing community and offers top-of-the line providers to their clients. "We're excited to join Aya Healthcare," said Sigrid Boring, President of Locums Unlimited. "By joining forces with Aya, we'll be able to expand our clientele to make an even bigger impact in the industry." Aya has added a significant number of locums agencies through the Aya Partner Network recently, but the acquisition of Locums Unlimited will give it direct recruiting capacity to further deliver enhanced locums services to its facility clients. "In this ever-changing industry, it's critical that we evolve with the needs of our clients to provide them with the best value and experience," said Alan Braynin, President and CEO of Aya Healthcare. Aya also announced that locums services are now available through its Aya Connect platform – the industry's most intuitive software platform to manage the procurement of contingent labor. "Our clients have been asking us to deliver locums through our Aya Connect platform, and now we can," added Braynin. Aya continues to experience rapid growth and has added over $200 million in new managed service contracts on Aya Connect over the last 12 months. With this new acquisition, locum tenens staffing will be added to Aya's already robust suite of healthcare staffing and workforce solutions offerings which include travel nurse, allied and per diem staffing, clinical services, MSP solutions and the Aya Connect platform. About Aya Healthcare Aya Healthcare is the largest privately held travel nurse staffing and healthcare workforce solutions provider in the country. The company continues to experience rapid growth as it reshapes the travel nurse staffing and healthcare workforce solutions segments. Aya creates exceptional experiences for their clinicians, their corporate employees and the healthcare facilities they serve. Aya's platform provides access to one of the largest sources of contract clinicians in the country, which improves efficiency, increases quality and reduces costs for healthcare systems. To learn more about Aya Healthcare, visit www.ayahealthcare.com. About Locums Unlimited Locums Unlimited brings over 25 years combined experience to the healthcare staffing community. The company offers top-of-the-line, professional providers to their group of qualified clients. Locums Unlimited takes a consultative, strategic approach to reach beyond simply recruiting to anticipate locum tenens solutions for their clients. Media Contact: Erin Stafford Director of Marketing Aya Healthcare [email protected] Mobile: 714.351.3849 View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/aya-healthcare-acquires-locums-unlimited-300656117.html SOURCE Aya Healthcare

Niche litigation funder hails ‘record’ performance as profits surge

Manolete, which funds or buys insolvency claims, floated on the junior AIM market in December 2018. Pre-tax profits before exceptional IPO costs climbed 40% to £9.5m in the year to 31 March. New case enquiries are also at all-time record levels.

https://www.lawgazette.co.uk/news/niche-litigation-funder-hails-record-performance-as-profits-surge/5104872.article

Specialist litigation funder Manolete today hailed ‘record levels’ of business in the face of Covid-19, as the company posted an upbeat set of annual results. Pre-tax profits before exceptional IPO costs climbed 40% to £9.5m in the year to 31 March, while revenue surged 36% to £18.7m. Manolete, which funds or buys insolvency claims, floated on the junior AIM market in December 2018. Last year saw a 139% increase in new core investments in UK insolvency cases, up to 141 from 59 in 2018/19 (excluding two cartel cases in the prior year). CEO Steven Cooklin commented: ’We are currently running a record 201 live cases and foresee no requirement for any further material increase in overhead costs, so the outlook for cash generation is very positive. ’Despite the challenges of COVID-19, activity levels within the business are at record levels, highlighted by the 47 new case investments (124% more than the same period last year) and 23 case completions (up from four in the same period last year) that the team has transacted in the first quarter of 2020-21.’ Coklin said new case enquiries are also at all-time record levels, ’running at around double the rate we had this time last year’. Manolete has proposed a final dividend of 3p per share, a 100% increase on last year’s 1.49p. The company’s shares climbed 7% this morning to 545p. House broker Liberum today issued a ‘buy’ recommendation, commenting: ’Since 2016 the Jackson reforms have caused third party funding to be a significantly more attractive financing method for insolvency practitioners. Following this, we believe that third party funders are seeing the start of a decade long structural growth opportunity and will become the dominant share of a £750m per annum established market. Manolete should therefore continue to enjoy significant growth in the short and medium term, whilst delivering sector-leading returns.’

Gruppo Banca Sella buys mobile finance services Vipera for £24m

Sella Open Fintech Platform (SOFP), Italian firm Gruppo Banca Sella's fintech arm, will acquire Vipera in a cash deal worth £24m ($33m). Gruppo Banca Sella purchased a stake of the mobile financial services provider in July. The company also revealed it had recently bought supply-chain finance firm Kubique.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/31987/gruppo-banca-sella-unit-to-buy-mobile-fs-firm-vipera

The fintech arm of Italy's Gruppo Banca Sella has agreed a £24 million cash deal to buy mobile financial services outfit Vipera. LSE-listed Vipera first revealed that it had been in talks with Sella Open Fintech Platform (SOFP) last month. Now, the firm's board has now recommended the offer of 7.5 pence per share, a 20% premium. Founded in 2005, Vipera has offices in London, Milan and Zurich, selling mobile banking, card management and customer engagement technology to financial institutions, including Mashreq. SOFP was recently set up by Sella to act as a holding company for its fintech business, taking on the family-owned bank's POS, ecommerce and credit card acceptance business. As well as Vipera, the unit has agreed to buy supply chain finance outfit Kubique. Luciano Martucci, chairman, Vipera says: "Gruppo Banca Sella has been a valued customer of Vipera for some time and a shareholder since July 2017. I am pleased that our increasingly close relationship has led to our shareholders being offered a fair price and to Vipera's businesses being able to develop as part of the SOFP Group."

Impossible Foods, Beyond Meat see spike in demand as coronavirus wreaks havoc on meat supply

Beyond Meat Inc. and privately-held Impossible Foods Inc. are likely benefactors in the wake of closures of major meat-packing plants hit by coronavirus outbreaks. Beyond Meat reported fiscal first-quarter results that blew past Wall Street estimates, sending its shares up 7% in extended trading.

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/impossible-foods-beyond-meat-see-spike-in-demand-as-coronavirus-wreaks-havoc-on-meat-supply-2020-05-05

A shortage of beef and pork could be a plus for two of the largest makers of plant-based meat. Beyond Meat Inc. BYND, +3.82% and privately-held Impossible Foods Inc. are likely benefactors in the wake of closures of major meat-packing plants hit by coronavirus outbreaks. The evidence was on vivid display Tuesday, after Beyond Meat reported fiscal first-quarter results that blew past Wall Street estimates, sending its shares up 7% in extended trading. Shares of Beyond Meat have surged 134% since March 18, as retailers request “expedited” deliveries to refill shelves across the country, a company spokesperson said. Beyond Meat shares catapulted 26% in trading Wednesday. A 141% jump in first-quarter revenue and profit “exceeded our expectations despite an increasingly challenging operating environment due to the COVID-19 health crisis,” Beyond Meat Chief Executive Ethan Brown said in a statement announcing the results. See also: Beyond Meat swings to profit as meat supply chain slammed by coronavirus It’s roughly the same story at Impossible Foods, where Chief Financial Officer David Lee told MarketWatch it’s “full steam ahead.” Case in point: Impossible Foods on Tuesday said its flagship Impossible Burger product will be available at 1,700 Kroger Co. KR, -0.34% stores, starting immediately. What’s more, it has announced the addition of 777 retail locations the past three months, bringing Impossible’s nationwide reach to more than 1,000 stores — including recent debuts at Albertsons Cos. Inc., Jewel-Osco, Pavilions, Safeway Inc., and Vons, bolstering Impossible’s availability in the Midwest and West. Retail expansion has coincided with record demand for the company’s beef and pork substitutes. Sales at grocery stores hit a record in March, and April will easily eclipse the previous record, according to Lee. “We have not seen any interruption in our supply chain,” Lee told MarketWatch. “While 95% of our consumers are meat eaters, the way we make our product is incredibly different. The meat industry has to grow an animal, transport it, slaughter it, process it, and turn it into the meat it serves. We bypass the animal, we go straight to the plants. We have a vastly different way to make our product that is far more efficient for us and far better for the planet.” Meanwhile, Impossible Foods products continue a test trial at Restaurant Brands International Inc.’s QSR, +0.52% Burger King chain. Beyond Meat, too, has greatly expanded its point of sales. On April 21, it began selling its products through nearly 4,200 Starbucks Inc. SBUX, -0.04% locations in China. (Starbucks on Monday said it would open more than 85% of its company-operated stores in the U.S. by the end of this week, and 90% by early June.) Additionally, Beyond Meat last month said it secured a $150 million, five-year secured revolving credit facility to maintain its growth trajectory. The credit facility provides the company with an option to expand the facility to $350 million if necessary. “We’re seeing increased pressure from retail accounts to fill orders and keep up with demand over the next several weeks,” Larry Praeger, CEO of Dr. Praeger’s Sensible Foods, a pioneer in the plant-based frozen-food sector, told MarketWatch. Its New Jersey factory is running at 75% to 80% capacity and can produce approximately 100,000 pounds daily. A new manufacturing line is in the works to double Dr. Praegers’ capacity. (Praeger’s Sensible Foods are sold at Kroger, Amazon.com Inc.’s AMZN, +2.32% Whole Foods Market, Costco Wholesale Corp. COST, +0.26% and Trader Joe’s.) It’s another tale at Tyson Foods Inc. TSN, +0.22% . The biggest U.S. meat company’s stock was battered Monday after it reported a 15% drop in earnings and production disruptions and plant closures as hundreds of its workers test positive for COVID-19. Tyson expects volumes to decline in the second half of fiscal 2020. See also: Tyson Foods stock slumps after earnings and sales miss “Operationally, we have and expect to continue to face slowdowns and temporary idling of production facilities from team member shortages or choices we make to ensure operational safety,” the company said. Tyson’s quarterly results amplify the growing narrative of a disruption in the nation’s meat supply. Costco outlets are limiting meat purchases amid dire warnings in recent weeks from food executives, while some Wendy’s Co. WEN, -0.65% restaurants have temporarily taken hamburgers off the menu. “The food supply chain is breaking,” company chairman John Tyson said in a blog post on the company’s website April 26, warning of an upcoming shortage in steak and pork. “Millions of pounds of meat will disappear” as plants close, he added. This month, the company has shuttered a meat processing plant in Pasco, Wash., that produces enough beef in one day to feed 4 million people; two of its largest facilities in Iowa and Indiana; and a chicken processing plant in Tennessee because of COVID-19 outbreaks. Tyson’s comments parallel alerts from JBS SA, the world’s biggest meat company, and Smithfield Foods Inc., the world’s top pork producer, that consumers are likely to see meat shortfalls. On Sunday, JBS said it will shut down another beef production facility in Wisconsin. The Smithfield Foods plant in Sioux Falls, S.D., was closed April 14 after two workers died and 783 others tested positive for the virus. More than 5,000 meat and food processing workers have been infected or exposed to COVID-19, according to the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union. With pork production in the U.S. down about 25%, Impossible Foods’ entry into the pork market in January would appear prescient. The company debuted its pork products at the CES tech conference in Las Vegas in January. See also: Impossible Foods adds pork to menu amid ‘most significant science project and business endeavor in the world’

Starship SN3 failure due to bad commanding. SN4 already under construction

SpaceX Starship SN3, the latest iteration of Starship test vehicles, was lost during testing at the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The incident occurred during proof testing on Friday morning. Elon Musk has since clarified the issue was the result of incorrect commanding resulting in the loss of pressure, as opposed to any material issue with the Starship build. SN4 will not require alterations to its structure, with construction work on the next Starship already taking place.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/04/spacex-starship-sn3-ground-flight-testing/

SpaceX Starship SN3, the latest iteration of Starship test vehicles, was lost during testing at the launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The incident occurred during proof testing on Friday morning. However, Elon Musk has since clarified the issue was the result of incorrect commanding resulting in the loss of pressure, as opposed to any material issue with the Starship build. As a result, SN4 will not require alterations to its structure, with construction work on the next Starship already taking place. (Lead photos by BocaChicaGal for NSF) The SN3 (Serial Number 3) vehicle incorporated lessons learned from previous vehicles and test articles and took advantage of improved manufacturing techniques and expanded facilities at SpaceX’s South Texas launch facility. The next round of testing began this week with cryogenic proof testing. These tests saw the vehicle filled with liquid nitrogen at cryogenic temperatures and flight pressures. Proof testing began on Thursday and continued through to Friday morning when SN3 failed during what appeared to be the end of the test. With Elon Musk noting “we will see what data review says in the morning, but this may have been a test configuration mistake,” on Twitter and the first-look observations, the fault may have been related to detanking or an out of spec pressurization status, rather than another structural failure under pressure. This was later confirmed in later tweets, with Mr. Musk adding specifics as to the cause of the failure. “There are redundant pressure control valves. It’s a new system and SN3 was simply commanded wrong. Rockets are hard. Good news is that this was a test configuration error, rather than a design or build mistake. Not enough pressure in the LOX tank ullage to maintain stability with a heavy load in the CH4 tank. This was done with N2.” Prior Starship test vehicles have had their campaigns cut short by failed cryogenic testing, including the last flight vehicle SpaceX rolled to the Boca Chica launch pad, Starship SN1. However, the previous losses were due to the vehicles failing to deal with pressurization testing at a structural level. Had SN3’s testing avoided a commanding issue, it would have likely completed the proof testing without issue. SpaceX’s first vehicle in Boca Chica, named Starhopper, was the first Starship test vehicle to fly under power from the Raptor rocket engine. A static fire and a tethered hop test was conducted using Raptor SN2 in April 2019. A second static fire, and two free flights to 18 meters and 150 meters in altitude, were completed in July and August 2019 using Raptor SN6. Starhopper was then retired in favor of Starship Mk1, which was originally intended to advance the Starship flight test program to higher altitudes. However, SpaceX decided not to fly the Mk1 vehicle, and instead focus on an improved design named Mk3. On November 20, 2019, the Mk1 vehicle completed a destructive cryogenic pressure test that destroyed the vehicle. SpaceX also built individual test tanks to continue improving manufacturing methods. One tank was tested until destruction on January 10, reaching a pressure of 7.1 bar. This was above the 6 bar pressure required for orbital flight. A second test tank reached 8.5 bar during a destructive test on January 29. This marked the 1.4 safety factor over the 6 bar orbital flight requirement. The updated Starship Mk3 design was renamed Starship SN1 and rolled to the launch pad to continue the flight test program. But on February 28, the SN1 vehicle was also destroyed during cryogenic testing. SpaceX fabricated a test tank designated SN2 to complete further testing. On March 8, the tank was tested successfully at cryogenic temperatures and flight pressures, including simulated engine thrust loads. Unlike other test tanks, the test was not to destruction. Starship SN3 is the culmination of all of these test articles. The vehicle was stacked in a new assembly building, beginning in mid-March. The vehicle was rolled to the launch pad and lifted onto the launch mount on March 29. Pending final preparations and checkouts at the pad. The SN3 vehicle notably featured a new internally mounted, deployable leg design, which is visible in photos shared by SpaceX CEO Elon Musk. Musk noted that the legs will be longer starting with Starship SN4. SN3 does not have a nosecone, nor forward or aft fins. The aerodynamic surfaces are likely unnecessary for the low altitude, low-speed test flights planned for Starship SN3. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1244693699772235777?s=20 Following the completion of cryogenic pressure testing, the vehicle was to be prepared for those test flights. A single Raptor engine was originally planned to be installed on Starship SN3, although it had since changed to using three Raptors that were to be installed the day after a successful cryo test. These Raptors will now be used on SN4, with Elon Musk posting a photo of the trio on Twitter. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1246701851585794048 He also added that some of SN3’s hardware, namely the thrust structure that survived the testing incident will be reused. Should all go well with SN4’s proof testing, the vehicle – consistent with previous test campaigns – would have incrementally moved towards engine firings and flights. A static fire test of the engine on SN3 was originally expected no sooner than April 1, but the beach closures which indicated this schedule were canceled early Tuesday. Closures originally associated with a 150 meter hop test was scheduled from 9:00 AM to 11:59 PM local time (14:00 to 04:59 UTC) daily from April 6 to April 8. All of those dates were postponed and will be realigned for around one month when SN4 arrives at the launch site. The static fire and hop test timeline is dependant on successful cryogenic testing, engine installation, and fueling tests. The successful Starhopper campaign utilized a similar approach to that was expected for SN3. This path will now fall on the shoulders of SN4, which has already begun construction. Over the weekend, one of SN4’s Bulkheads was flipped, in preparation for following a similar stacking process as SN3. Several steel rings – potentially all for SN4 – were also being transported around the Boca Chica base over the past few days. One SN4 has arrived at the launch site, the vehicle will undergo proof testing and be fueled for a potential static fire, to allow SpaceX teams will monitor the vehicle’s systems. If the fueling tests are successful, the teams can then continue into a static fire test. If any issues arise during fueling, the teams can take corrective action before another fueling attempt. Due to the iterative nature of the test campaign, schedule changes and delays are highly likely. Only after a successful static fire test can Starship SN4 conduct a test flight, expected to be a vertical takeoff, vertical landing flight to 150 meters in altitude. This was the path for SN3 and will likely push SN3’s test campaign to SN4. SN4 was set for high altitude flights, likely seeing a more complete Starship vehicle, consisting of a nosecone and aerodynamic fins, as well as multiple Raptor engines. The high altitude flights would also include the first in-flight re-ignition of a Raptor engine. It is likely the path will be refined to involving SN4 with SN3’s test objectives of completing a hop, before SN5 takes on the high altitude flight test. SpaceX has a goal of an orbital test flight this year. Musk recently noted that he hopes “Starship will have enough flight history to substitute for Dragon for NASA missions,” including the Cargo and Crew Dragon V2 vehicles, and the newly announced Dragon XL cargo spacecraft. The Starship vehicle and associated Super Heavy booster will eventually play a critical role in SpaceX’s overarching Mars colonization goals.

Savioke receives $13.4m for delivery robots in hospitals

Californian robot manufacturer Savioke has raised $13.4m in a funding round featuring Brain Corp, which is backed by the SoftBank Vision Fund and Qualcomm Ventures. Savioke has developed a delivery robot called Relay, and is set to expand its use from hotels to hospitals, carrying specimens, medication and supplies from one location to another. Savioke will also use the BrainOS platform to help the company scale in the face of rival firms including Diligent Robotics.

https://venturebeat.com/2018/06/28/delivery-robot-company-savioke-raises-13-4-million-to-expand-into-hospitals/

Join top executives in San Francisco on July 11-12, to hear how leaders are integrating and optimizing AI investments for success. Learn More Savioke, maker of delivery robot Relay, today announced the closure of a $13.4 million funding round. Its Relay robot has operated in hotels since last year, and the company will use the funding to place the robots into hospitals. “With the new round of funding, we are expanding into the hospital market where Relay can help nurses, lab technicians, and other healthcare workers deliver essential items like specimens, medication, and supplies throughout the hospital,” the company said in a blog post today. In the hospital environment, Savioke competes with companies like Diligent Robotics that also intend to bring specialized service robots into hospitals and laboratories. Savioke began operating in high-end hotels in the United States and Singapore last year. Relay is one of a series of robots or AI-powered services being made to autonomously carry items from place to place to complete customer orders. Event Transform 2023 Join us in San Francisco on July 11-12, where top executives will share how they have integrated and optimized AI investments for success and avoided common pitfalls. Register Now Robomart is a driverless convenience store that plans to begin a pilot program in the San Francisco Bay Area this fall, and Nuro is partnering with Kroger to deliver groceries. Startups Marble and Starship Technologies, which both recently closed funding rounds, make delivery robots that travel on sidewalks. Investors in the round include Swisslog Healthcare, NESIC, Recruit, and Brain Corp, a company backed by SoftBank Vision Fund and Qualcomm Ventures that makes self-driving technology for robots. Savioke will use Brain Corp’s BrainOS platform as part of its plan to expand into more health care environments. “Working with Brain Corp’s BrainOS platform will help Savioke scale efficiently to quickly deliver robotic solutions to our customers and partners in the global healthcare, hospitality and logistics markets,” Savioke founder and CEO Steve Cousins said in a statement. “As we continue to expand, BrainOS will allow us to better focus our internal development efforts on customer-specific applications and environments.” Established in 2014, Savioke is based in San Jose, California and has raised $31 million to date.

IWG Indian co-workspace operator starts re-opening offices

Indian co-working company Springboard Solutions has re-opened 12 of its 27 91springboard locations, following the Covid-19 lockdown. Further locations will open based upon internal health and safety assessments and government guidelines, the operator said. Opening hours have been restricted to 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., compared to the usual 24-hour opening. Social distancing rules, regular cleaning, and contactless thermal screenings are in operation. Customers have been offered free days in 91springboard offices to make up for days lost during the lockdown.

https://www.techcircle.in/2020/06/02/coworking-space-provider-91springboard-reopens-12-offices

Springboard Solutions, which owns and operates coworking solutions provider 91springboard, has reopened 12 of its 27 office spaces across the country. These offices are situated in Delhi NCR, Gurugram, Noida, Bengaluru, Hyderabad and Goa, as per a statement. The company will reopen the rest based on government advisories, and its own assessment of health and safety, the New Delhi headquartered company said. “Keeping in line with the government directive, we will now be open from 8 am to 6 pm instead of our usual 24*7 operations. All our spaces have been sanitised and deep-cleaned thoroughly. In addition to that, we have provisioned for contactless thermal screening, strong social distancing protocols (and) hourly sanitising of all surfaces,” CEO Anand Vemuri said. Founded in 2012 by IIT Delhi graduate Pranay Gupta, Cornwell alumnus Varun Chawla and Stanford graduate Vemuri, 91Springboard provides coworking spaces, a community for startups, arranges networking events and provides mentorship and investments as well. It competes with companies such as BHIVE, myHQ, InstaOffice, Wotta Workspace, Awfis, WeWork, and Innov8 in the space. Read: Coworking spaces playing a key role in shaping India’s startup ecosystem: Varun Chawla, 91springboard In March, 91springboard tweaked customer agreements to offer customers extra free days to work out of its facilities in lieu of lost days on account of Covid-19. It also launched an initiative, called Startups vs Covid19, to offer a repository of resources for Indian startups fighting against the global pandemic.

European firms that do business with Iran risk US sanctions

European companies that do business with Iran are at risk of being hit by US sanctions warned the Trump administration, after Donald Trump pulled the US out of the international nuclear deal. This is particularly concerning for the likes of French energy firm Total, which last year signed a $5bn deal to extract Iranian natural gas, French-based Airbus which is under a multi-billion dollar contract with Iran delivering jets to Iran Air, and German carmaker Volkswagen who are exporting cars to Iran.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/may/13/us-sanctions-european-countries-iran-deal-donald-trump

Donald Trump is prepared to impose sanctions on European companies that do business in Iran following his withdrawal of the US from the international nuclear deal, his administration reiterated on Sunday. Trump’s most senior foreign policy aides signalled that the US would continue pressuring allies to follow Washington in backing out of the pact, which gave Tehran relief from sanctions in exchange for halting its nuclear programme. John Bolton, Trump’s national security adviser, predicted that “the Europeans will see that it’s in their interests to come along with us” rather than continue with the 2015 deal, under which major European corporations have signed billions of dollars of contracts in Iran. Asked on CNN’s State of the Union whether that meant the Trump administration would impose sanctions against those firms, Bolton said: “It’s possible. It depends on the conduct of other governments.” US sanctions on Iran reimposed following Trump’s withdrawal not only block American firms from doing business in the country, but also bar foreign firms that do business there from accessing the entire US banking and financial system. Mike Pompeo, Trump’s secretary of state, said on Sunday wealth created in Iran under the terms of the nuclear deal “drove Iranian malign activity” in the region. He declined to rule out sanctions against European firms. “The sanctions regime that is in place now is very clear on what the requirements are,” Pompeo said on Fox News Sunday. Trump’s decision to scrap the nuclear deal was sharply criticised by European leaders, who have pledged to uphold their side of the agreement. Why would the shareholders of any business do business with the world’s central banker of international terrorism? John Bolton Alarm has been particularly high in France, whose energy giant Total last year signed a $5bn deal to extract Iranian natural gas. Airbus, the French-based plane manufacturer, has already begun delivering jets to Iran Air under a multibillion-dollar contract. Volkswagen, the German automaker, has resumed exporting cars to Iran. Richard Grenell, the new US ambassador to Berlin, warned this week in a tweet: “German companies doing business in Iran should wind down operations immediately.” Some European leaders have called for measures to nullify the US sanctions. Bruno Le Maire, the French finance minister, said last week: “We have to work among ourselves in Europe to defend our European economic sovereignty.” European Union officials have indicated they may threaten similar measures to those that pressured then president Bill Clinton to give waivers to European companies under US sanctions on countries such as Cuba during the 1990s. Trump himself hinted that there would be no concessions to European firms during remarks at the White House last week in which he confirmed the US withdrawal, which he promised during the 2016 presidential campaign. “We will be instituting the highest level of economic sanctions,” Trump said. “Any nation that helps Iran in its quest for nuclear weapons could also be strongly sanctioned by the United States.” The Chinese foreign minister, Wang Yi, meets the Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, in Beijing. Photograph: Thomas Peter/Pool/EPA Trump claimed the nuclear deal was “decaying and rotten” despite general consensus that Iran was complying with it, had dismantled its nuclear programme and was allowing international inspections. Trump officials also complained about clauses in the deal that would have relaxed restrictions on Iran after about a decade. On Sunday, Bolton asked on ABC’s This Week: “Why would any business, why would the shareholders of any business, want to do business with the world’s central banker of international terrorism?” The US has said it will allow “wind-down periods” of 90 to 180 days, depending on the industry involved, for companies to scrap existing contracts in Iran. New business deals have been immediately barred. The Iranian foreign minister, Mohammad Javad Zarif, has embarked on a tour of the deal’s other member states. He spoke hopefully in Beijing on Sunday, alongside Chinese officials. Iran’s president, Hassan Rouhani, said Trump’s decision was a “violation of morals” but said his country would remain in the deal. “If the remaining five countries continue to abide by the agreement, Iran will remain in the deal despite the will of America,” Rouhani said, in remarks broadcast on state television. Doubt has been cast over the survival of the deal by senior Iranian clerics and Revolutionary Guard officials. On Sunday, Theresa May told Rouhani in a phone call that Britain and its European partners will remain committed to the deal as long as Tehran continues to meet its obligations. The British, German, French and Iranian foreign ministers are due to meet in Brussels on Tuesday. Late on Sunday, Trump returned to the issue on Twitter. “Remember how badly Iran was behaving with the Iran Deal in place,” he wrote. “They were trying to take over the Middle East by whatever means necessary. Now, that will not happen!”

Reconsidering the Past, One Statue at a Time

From Virginia to New Mexico, protests over police brutality have brought hundreds of years of American history bubbling to the surface. A crew removed the statue of Juan de Oñate from outside the Albuquerque Museum in Albuquerque on Tuesday. The statue was removed by the city's police department.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/16/us/protests-statues-reckoning.html

Across the country, monuments criticized as symbols of historical oppression have been defaced and brought down at warp speed in recent days. The movement initially set its sights on Confederate symbols and examples of racism against African-Americans, but has since exploded into a broader cultural moment, forcing a reckoning over such issues as European colonization and the oppression of Native Americans. In New Mexico, it has surfaced generations-old tensions among Indigenous, Hispanic and Anglo residents and brought 400 years of turbulent history bubbling to the surface. “We’re at this inflection point,” said Keegan King, a member of Pueblo of Ácoma, which endured a massacre of 800 or more people directed by Oñate, the brutal Spanish conquistador and colonial governor. The Black Lives Matter movement, he said, had encouraged people to examine the history around them, and not all of it was merely written in books. “These pieces of systemic racism took the form of monuments and statues and parks,” Mr. King said. The debate over how to represent the uncomfortable parts of American history has been going on for decades, but the traction for knocking down monuments seen in recent days raises new questions about whether it will result in a fundamental shift in how history is taught to new generations.

Dangerous potential of deepfakes scares US lawmakers

US politicians have written to the Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, requesting he assess the threat posed to “public discourse and national security” by deepfakes. The AI-assisted video editing is becoming increasingly sophisticated and House representatives Carlos Curbelo, Stephanie Murphy and Adam Schiff want to ensure intelligence agencies are prepared to combat it. They have asked for a report offering possible countermeasures and inclusion of descriptions of "confirmed or suspected" deepfakes made by foreign individuals. It followers similar warnings earlier in 2018 from senators Marco Rubio and Mark Warner, the former identifying potential use by Russia in election campaigns.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/9/14/17859188/ai-deepfakes-national-security-threat-lawmakers-letter-intelligence-community

US politicians are getting increasingly worried about deepfakes — a new type of AI-assisted video editing that creates realistic results with minimal effort. Yesterday, a trio of lawmakers sent a letter to the Director of National Intelligence, Dan Coats, asking him to assess the threat posed to national security by this new form of fakery. The letter says “hyper-realistic digital forgeries” showing “convincing depictions of individuals doing or saying things they never did” could be used for blackmail and misinformation. “As deep fake technology becomes more advanced and more accessible, it could pose a threat to United States public discourse and national security,” say the letter’s signatories, House representatives Adam Schiff (D-CA), Stephanie Murphy (D-FL), and Carlos Curbelo (R-FL). Deepfakes have the potential for blackmail, misinformation, and more The trio want the intelligence community to produce a report that includes descriptions of when “confirmed or suspected” deepfakes have been produced by foreign individuals (there are no current examples of this), and to suggest potential countermeasures. In a press statement, Curbelo said: “Deep fakes have the potential to disrupt every facet of our society and trigger dangerous international and domestic consequences [...] As with any threat, our Intelligence Community must be prepared to combat deep fakes, be vigilant against them, and stand ready to protect our nation and the American people.” This isn’t the first time lawmakers have raised this issue. Earlier in the year, senators Mark Warner (D-VA) and Marco Rubio (R-FL) warned that deepfakes should be treated as a national security threat. In a speech, Rubio said the technology could supercharge misinformation campaigns led by foreign powers, singling out Russia as a particular threat. “I know for a fact that the Russian Federation at the command of Vladimir Putin tried to sow instability and chaos in American politics in 2016,” said Rubio. “They did that through Twitter bots and they did that through a couple of other measures that will increasingly come to light. But they didn’t use this. Imagine using this. Imagine injecting this in an election.” Deepfakes first came to prominence in 2016 when users on Reddit started using cutting-edge AI research to paste the faces of celebrities onto porn. The term itself doesn’t refer to any particular research, but is a portmanteau that combines “deep learning” with “fakes.” The phrase was first used by a Reddit user, but is slowly becoming synonymous with a wide-range of AI editing technology. Such tools can turn people into virtual puppets, syncing their mouths with someone else’s speech, or just making them dance like a pro. A number of organizations, including university labs, startups, and even parts of the military, are examining ways to reliably detect deepfakes. These include methods like spotting irregular blinking patterns or unrealistic skin tone. However, researchers agree that there’s no single method, and that whatever deepfake-spotting tool is created will soon be tricked by new versions of the technology. At any rate, even if there was an easy way to spot deepfakes, it wouldn’t necessarily stop the technology from being used maliciously. We know that from the spread of fake news on networks like Facebook. Even if it can be easily disproven, it can still convince those who want to believe.

Tyres, wheels impact EV range by up to 20%

Performance tyres on a Volkswagen e-Golf reduced the range of the EV by almost 20%, according to a test by the Road & Track website. Wheel design can also be a factor in EV range with a test by Car and Driver revealing a 3%, or 10-mile, increase in range for a Tesla Model 3 fitted with aero wheel covers. Future tyre designs could even generate or recover an EV’s energy.

https://www.greencarreports.com/news/1128745_tires-and-wheels-can-have-a-huge-effect-on-electric-car-range

When driving an electric car, it's important to consider the only part of the vehicle that actually touches the road. Tires can have a major impact on electric car range. Automakers often fit electric cars with low-rolling resistance tires to maximize range, albeit often at the expense of handling, as these tires offer less grip than conventional tires. That tradeoff appears to be worth it, however. As a number of back-to-back tests have shown, seemingly subtle differences to aerodynamics and rolling resistance can have a serious affect on efficiency—and thus range. Even small differences are noteworthy when it comes to range. A difference of 10% isn't likely to go noticed by an internal-combustion car driver. But it can make a difference in usability for EVs. A recent Road & Track test showed that sticky performance tires reduced the range of a Volkswagen e-Golf by nearly 20%—leading one to wonder whether they're worth the handling improvement. The magazine swapped the VW's stock 16-inch aero wheels and Bridgestone Ecopia EP422 tires for 18-inch wheels (with a less aerodynamic design) and Michelin Pilot Sport 4S tires. 2019 Volkswagen e-Golf The Pilot Sport-shod e-Golf managed an impressive 1.0g on a skidpad, compared to 0.77g for the stock and wheel-and-tire setup. But while the stock e-Golf has an EPA-rated 125-mile range, observed range dipped below 100 miles with the stickier rubber. It's not just tires. The wheel design can have a significant role in boosting efficiency. Car and Driver found last year that just using Tesla's aero wheel covers on a Model 3 improved its efficiency by more than 3%—or about 10 miles of range. That confirmed what Green Car Reports has noted before in a tire swap on a Chevrolet Bolt EV—and a corresponding range drop of roughly 10% with the higher-performance rubber. Tall, skinny tires used to be the trend for green cars, but more recently low-rolling resistance tread patterns and new compounds have helped reconcile some of the conflicting priorities. Several concept tire designs also promise to recover or generate energy for use by the car in some future that remains likely many years off.

Fortinet expands through acquisition of FortiCASB

Fortinet, a network security provider, has expanded its product range with the creation of FortiCASB, a Cloud Access Security Broker solution. The product will be rolled out through Salesforce and Office365.

http://www.enterprisenetworkingplanet.com/netsecur/fortinet-enters-cloud-access-security-broker-market-with-new-solution.html

Network security vendor Fortinet is expanding its product portfolio with a new Cloud Access Security Broker (CASB) product, suitably named FortiCASB. The CASB market has been busy in recent years as vendors and enterprises alike rush to connect on-premises users and authentication systems with cloud delivered applications and services. While some vendors have partnered with CASB technology suppliers or even acquired startups, Fortinet has taken a different route. “FortiCASB has been developed internally by Fortinet,” John Maddison, SVP of Products and Solutions at Fortinet, told EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet. “We evaluated other CASB solutions and determined that organically developing it would ensure that our customers would have seamless visibility and control as part of the Security Fabric.” Among the other CASB vendors in the market today are Symantec, which gained CASB capabilities by way of its $4.65 billion acquisition of Blue Coat in 2016. Blue Coat itself had gained its CASB product by way of the $280 million acquisition of Elastica in 2015. Networking giant Cisco has also been active in the CASB space, thanks to its $293 million acquisition of CloudLock in 2016. From a competitive differentiation perspective, Maddison said that FortiCASB provides visibility of SaaS clouds both on and off-network, providing a single policy for both. Additional he noted that the new CASB platform will benefit from Fortinet’s deep application security knowledge. “We are initially rolling out with a couple of key applications that our customers use most, Salesforce and Office365,” Maddison said. “Our long-term goal is to be the CASB provider of choice for all Fortinet customers.” As a cloud based platform, FortiCASB is deployed by an enterprise’s administrator for each SaaS service. The FortiCASB product is separate from Fortinet’s FortiGate network appliances. From an identity, application management and control perspective, FortiCASB provides a number of capabilities including: Restrictions/DLP for data stored in SaaS applications, Geo/user profiling and entitlement management, on-demand data scanning, refined policies for audit controls and audit reports. Sean Michael Kerner is a senior editor at EnterpriseNetworkingPlanet and InternetNews.com. Follow him on Twitter @TechJournalist.

Insurtech AskArvi seeks additional fundraising

Insurance web aggregator AskArvi is seeking funds for a voice-based intelligence platform to expand its personalised mobile-based services. Initial funds for development have already come from a deal with Moneycontrol. AskArvi was set up with early stage funding from American angel investors in January last year. It uses AI-enabled mobile chat through its virtual assistant Arvi to talk to young Indians who need an insurance plan. CEO Sushant Reddy said the aim was to simplify the time taken to buy insurance. AskArvi, licensed by the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India, competes with fellow aggregators Policybazaar and myinsuranceclub.

https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/askarvi-looks-to-raise-funds-for-voice-based-intelligence-platform-2542199.html

M Saraswathy Moneycontrol News Insurance web aggregator AskArvi is looking to raise another round of funds to build a voice-based intelligence platform. In an interaction with Moneycontrol, founder and chief executive officer of AskArvi, Sushant Reddy, said initial funds raised have been used for technology capacity building. In September 2017, AskArvi raised an early stage undisclosed amount of funding from a group of American angel investors. It has partnered with 12 leading insurers in the market including Bajaj Allianz, HDFC ERGO General Insurance, Apollo Munich Health Insurance among others. The company is an Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI) licensed insurance web aggregator that provides an instant, intelligent and interactive buying experience to young Indians. It uses AI-enabled mobile chat to understand the needs of customers and offer personalized plans. Reddy said their aim was to simplify the products and minimise the time taken to buy a product. Their platform currently uses chat to reduce their purchase time. The company started off in January 2017 and competes with other aggregators like Policybazaar and myinsuranceclub. Started with an idea to provide personalised experience to customers, AskArvi aims to break down the complexities of insurance. Furthermore, it aims to improve the purchase experience of customers by directing them to the relevant insurance plan as well as helping them through the sale process via the mobile chat feature. Big data and artificial intelligence are leveraged to cut down the time taken to buy a product and offer a more need-based solution to customers. AskArvi has a Virtual Insurance Assistant and reaches out to the customers by automating their pre and post sales experience. “We are largely in the health and travel insurance space right now. The idea is to expand into other areas like motor and life insurance as well. But the products need to be simple and suited to individual needs,” said Reddy.

Digital Galaxy record $134m loss in Q1 2018

Crypto-focused merchant bank Galaxy Digital has reported loses of approximately $134m in Q1 of this year. This will likely be due to the markets slump, resulting in the bank losing an estimated $13.5 million in its trading business, as well as $85.5 million of unrealised loss on digital assets. The remaining loses stemmed from paper losses on investments, as well as a higher proportion its principal investing business. With $281.7 million in assets, and $225.8 million of it in digital assets and investments, a decline in the crypto-market values was inevitably going to be detrimental on the banks revenues. 

https://cointelegraph.com/news/crypto-merchant-bank-galaxy-digital-lost-134-million-in-the-first-quarter-of-2018

Mike Novogratz’s crypto-focused merchant bank Galaxy Digital released its first quarter report for 2018, posting a $134 million loss as cryptocurrency markets slumped, according to Bloomberg July 26. Galaxy Digital lost $13.5 million in its trading business, with $85.5 million of unrealized loss on digital assets, $1.1 million in paper losses on investments, and $22.9 million in paper loss on investments in its principal investing business. As of March 31, Galaxy digital had $281.7 million in assets, of which $225.8 million were digital assets and investments. Novogratz, who founded Galaxy Digital last year, wants to build an institutional-level merchant bank for the blockchain and cryptocurrency industries. In order to list the company on Canada’s TSX Venture Exchange, Canadian regulators require that the companies release financial statements. Novogratz said in a statement: "I am very proud of the progress that we have made since the beginning of the year. We have assembled a world-class team with deep institutional knowledge and expertise and have also made significant strides in scaling our four core business lines.” Galaxy digital recently led a $52.5 million fundraising round for crypto-lending startup Blockfi. With the new round of investment, Blockfi will reportedly be able to expand its business to new jurisdictions and to support more cryptocurrencies. Earlier this month, Mike Novogratz predicted that mass adoption of crypto and blockchain is “still five to six years away.” Novogratz said that one of the major obstacles preventing widespread adoption is the increasing “cost of technical talent” as well as the doubts of conventional investors, who are aggravated by “no clear precedent for the financial industry.”

1000 page report

Some reports have suggested that the 1,000 page report submitted by the monitor installed at HSBC to the Department of Justice, which has not yet been made public, contains allegations that the bank is not complying with the deferred prosecution agreement it reached with prosecutors in 2012, and that the bank is still laundering money for Mexican drug cartels and international terrorist organisations. A whistle-blower, John Cruz, has said that accounts that were used for money laundering before the 2012 settlement are still operational. The report on HSBC’s compliance with the settlement terms, compiled by former prosecutor Michael Cherkasky, has been submitted to New York Attorney Loretta Lynch, whose nomination to US Attorney General is reportedly being stalled by concerns over her handling of the HSBC case, given that she oversaw the 2012 investigation into HSBC, and allegedly failed to act on key evidence brought forward by two whistle-blowers.Relevance: Concerns over regulatory compliance

http://www.wnd.com/2015/04/lynch-suggests-hsbc-still-laundering-for-drugs-terror/

NEW YORK – Loretta Lynch, the Obama administration nominee to replace Eric Holder as U.S. attorney general, has admitted HSBC is not complying with the deferred prosecution agreement she signed for the Justice Department, apparently confirming whistleblower suspicions that the bank is continuing to launder money for Mexican drug cartels and international terrorist organizations. According to a summary letter not yet published on the DOJ website, Lynch forwarded to HSBC a highly critical 1,000-page report, also not yet published on the DOJ website, in which the outside monitor appointed to oversee the deferred prosecution agreement, former New York prosecutor Michael Cherkasky, charges HSBC has been unduly slow to comply with the requirements imposed on the bank. “I’m confident HSBC never quit money-laundering despite the Department of Justice settlement in December 2012,” HSBC whistleblower John Cruz told WND, in February. “About six months ago, I called some of my friends at the bank and found out the same bank employees that were involved in the money laundering before I was fried are still there. We checked and bank managers refused to close the accounts they were using for money laundering.” As WND reported, Lynch's confirmation vote in the Senate initially was postponed after Sen. David Vitter, R-La., a member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, opened the investigation of Lynch's role in the HSBC deferred prosecution after his staff quizzed Cruz, a former HSBC employeewhose trove of original evidence of money laundering was reported first by WND. TRENDING: How the feds will control you by controlling your finances Read the backstory inside the HSBC scandal – how WND first exposed the massive money-laundering scheme and the fallout from the discovery. In 2012, Lynch, as the U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, oversaw the investigation of drug-related, international money-laundering allegations that culminated in a deferred prosecution agreement in which HSBC admitted “willful criminal activity” and paid a $1.9 billion fine in return for the U.S. Department of Justice not bringing criminal charges against any HSBC employee. The Cherkasky report, reported Bloomberg Business, "cites a litany of problems with the bank’s reforms and compliance procedures, finding that the pace of change is inadequate, said the people, who asked not to be named because the report isn’t public." "In at least one instance, a bank manager shouted at an internal auditor who was critical of his work." In another example, Bloomberg said, the monitor "discovered that documents justifying a decision to resolve a client alert were created after the fact although they were presented as being contemporaneous." Meanwhile, controls in countries with high levels of financial risk, such as Oman and the Philippines, are inadequate, according to the people. Reuters reported Lynch, in her letter accompanying the Cherkasky report, accused the bank of being “too slow” in complying, especially when it came to improving HSBC’s corporate culture and in getting adequate money-laundering compliance technology implemented in the U.S. banking operations. Lynch pointed to instances in which senior bankers interfered with compliance reviews, reflecting a "combativeness" and "basic lack of cooperativeness," while compliance technology systems suffered from "fragmentation and a lack of connectivity," Reuters reported. Cruz: 'HSBC never stopped' “In my personal opinion, HSBC is still doing the criminal money-laundering activity they were found to be doing in the first place,” Cruz said. “The recent allegations coming out of HSBC’s private bank in Switzerland only provide more proof for the allegations I’ve made from the beginning that HSBC is a criminal enterprise engaged in massive tax evasion schemes as they launder money for drug cartels and terrorists around the world.” Cruz gave WND a list of 15 HSBC employees at the bank while he was an employee that he named as people he suspected of being involved in the money-laundering activity or that he informed about it. WND phone calls found that six on the list were still HSBC employees, though none reached by WND were willing to discuss Cruz or his allegations of HSBC money laundering. As WND reported March 26 Lynch admitted to the Senate Judiciary Committee that her investigators in the probe of HSBC were aware of evidence compiled by Cruz but she chose, nevertheless, not to bring criminal charges. Lynch provided written answers to questions submitted by committee chairman Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, in a document posted on the panel's website dated Feb. 18. In response to Grassley, Lynch, as U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of New York, acknowledged Department of Justice "investigators did speak with and receive documents and information from Mr. Cruz." "Based on the in formation he provided, we took appropriate additional investigative steps, including requiring additional information from HSBC," she replied to the senator. "Investigators carefully considered the information he provided as we considered whether there was sufficient admissible evidence to prosecute violations at HSBC and whether any such prosecution otherwise would have been consistent with the principles of federal prosecution contained in the United States Attorney’s Manual," said Lynch. "Ultimately, HSBC entered into a DPA that required remarkable reforms based on Bank Secrecy Act and sanctions violations, and that explicitly provides no protection from prosecution for conduct outside of the Statement of Facts. Lynch repeatedly emphasized, however, the DOJ settlement with HSBC was limited to criminal violations of the Bank Secrecy Act. “Note that we did not charge HSBC with money laundering,” Lynch told the Senate Judiciary Committee. “Rather, HSBC’s failure to maintain an effective anti-money laundering program violated the Bank Secrecy Act by creating a corporate environment that failed to stop others from laundering money through HSBC.” Grassley noted Cruz spoke with IRS criminal investigators in Colorado in early 2012 and provided approximately 1,000 pages of documents and 30 hours of audio recordings to the IRS and the Securities and Exchange Commission in whistleblower submissions in July 2012. Grassley also pointed out that Cruz provided the material to the Department of Justice in September 2012, more than two months before Lynch's office filed the deferred prosecution agreement Dec. 11, 2012. Grassley asserted the Cruz documents “suggest the extent of HSBC’s criminal conduct may not have been fully described in the Statement of Facts associated with the [deferred prosecution agreement] reached with the government." When initially asked by Grassley if HSBC provided any of the Cruz documents to the Department of Justice, Lynch answered: “I understand that investigators spoke with and received documents from Mr. Cruz, and after speaking with Mr. Cruz, required information from HSBC; I am not aware at this time whether HSBC then supplied documents identical to those that Mr. Cruz had supplied.” Grassley then asked, if HSBC did provide the Cruz documents to the DOJ, why was the criminal money-laundering scheme Cruz exposed not included in the HSBC Statement of Facts or used as the basis for criminal prosecutions. “Investigators considered the information and documents provided by Mr. Cruz, and took appropriate additional investigative steps,” Lynch responded. “I should reiterate, however, that the DPA reached with HSBC in 2012 addressed only the charges filed in the criminal information, which are limited to violations of the Bank Secrecy Act for failure to maintain an adequate anti-money laundering program and sanctions violations.” Lynch emphasized there was nothing in the DPA that would prevent subsequent prosecution of HSBC employees for criminal money-laundering. WND exposed HSBC money laundering Breaking the story on Feb. 1, 2012, WND reported Cruz delivered to WND approximately 1,000 pages of customer account records he pulled from the HSBC computer system before he was fired by senior management, who had no interest in investigating his claim to have discovered illegal money-laundering activity at the bank. Cruz began working at HSBC Jan. 14, 2008, and was terminated for “poor job performance” Feb. 17, 2010. In his position as an account relationship manager, Cruz worked in the HSBC southern New York region, which accounts for about half of HSBC’s North American revenue. He was assigned to work with several branch managers to identify accounts where HSBC might introduce additional banking services. “The Obama administration is continuing to cover up its role in the HSBC money laundering scandal,” Cruz told WND in a telephone interview Thursday. “The IRS has blocked every legal effort I have made to be credited as a whistleblower in the HSBC billion-dollar settlement,” Cruz said. “It is impossible that the Obama administration did not know HSBC was laundering drug money for the Mexican cartels, because the documentation I had showed the laundered money passed through the federal wire-transfer services.” HSBC a 'criminal enterprise' As WND reported in May 2012, Cruz charged that HSBC was a “criminal organization” involved in a “culture of crime.” “Money comes in daily, thousands of dollars, always in even amounts,” he said. “You look at a statement and it says ‘transfer,’ but where did it go? There’s no account number or tracking number that documents where the transaction went.” Cruz contended that HSBC was running what amounted to a “shell game.” “So many of these businesses are conducted out of a person’s home,” he said. “I would walk into these homes. There’s a couch, there’s a chair, a desk, but the house is empty – a couple of Mercedes sitting out front – but where is the business? It’s only online transactions of money-in and money-out.” Identity theft To implement the money-laundering scheme, Cruz charged the 1,000 pages of customer account records suggest HSBC relies on identity theft to capture legitimate Social Security numbers to create bogus retail and commercial bank accounts. Through the accounts, HSBC employees systematically deposited and withdrew hundreds of millions of dollars on a daily basis, apparently without the knowledge of the identity theft victims. “When an individual finds out they got a loan they never knew about, 5 percent of that loan went to the accounting firm that made up the phony tax returns and the other 95 percent of that loan went to the manager,” he charged. “One manager was involved in the transaction, another manager was involved in notarizing the transaction, and senior management was involved where they signed off permission to give the loans even when the loans get rejected by underwriting.” On July 17, 2012, the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, released a majority and minority 330-page staff report titled “U.S. Vulnerabilities to Money Laundering, Drugs, and Terrorist Financing: HSBC Case History.” It documented HSBC’s role in illegally laundering drug money for Mexican cartels Middle Eastern terrorists. “In an age of international terrorism, drug violence in our streets and on our borders, and organized crime, stopping illicit money flows that support those atrocities is a national security imperative,” said Sen. Carl Levin, D-Mich., the chairman of the Senate Permanent Subcommittee on Investigations, upon the release of the report. “HSBC used its U.S. bank as a gateway into the U.S. financial system for some HSBC affiliates around the world to provide U.S. dollar services to clients while playing fast and loose with U.S. banking rules,” Levin continued. “Due to poor AML [Anti-Money Laundering] controls, HBUS exposed the United States to Mexican drug money, suspicious travelers cheques, bearer share corporations, and rogue jurisdictions. The bank’s federal bank regulator, the OCC, tolerated HSBC’s weak AML system for years. If an international bank won’t police its own affiliates to stop illicit money, the regulatory agencies should consider whether to revoke the charter of the U.S. bank being used to aid and abet that illicit money.” Senate vote expected in mid-April On Wednesday, Politico reported Sen. Robert Menendez, D-N.J., despite being indicted by the Department of Justice on federal corruption charges, intends to vote for Lynch’s confirmation when it comes to the Senate floor. Politico calculated that Menendez’s vote, plus the rest of the Senate Democratic Caucus in the Senate, plus the four GOP Senators that have indicated their support for Lynch, would place the expected number of votes at 50, requiring Vice President Joe Biden to vote for her confirmation to break the tie. However, Reuters report Lynch received a boost Thursday when Sen. Mark Kirk, R-Ill., announced his support, possibly providing a crucial 51st vote. "I am confident from my conversation with Loretta Lynch that she will be a valuable partner in confronting the gang violence that is robbing families of their children every day in Chicago," Kirk said in a statement. Last week, Sen. John McCain, R-Ariz., announced he would oppose Lynch’s confirmation and demanded that Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., apologize for telling the press that the GOP was putting the Lynch nomination at the “back of the bus. McCain interpreted that to mean the Obama administration had decided to “play the race” card to get Lynch confirmed as the first African-American woman nominated to be attorney general.

Electric ‘cargo bikes’ are taking over Germany

German companies are using electric cargo bikes to transport and deliver products across cities. Throughout Germany, specifically in Berlin and Frankfurt, electric cargo bikes have become a more popular green alternative than electric cars. In 2018, only 36,000 electric cars were purchased, according to motor vehicle authority KBA, and 40,000 cargo bikes were sold, according to The Two-Wheel Industry Association (ZIV), double the amount than in 2017. The cargo bikes are equipped with a motor, which helps assist pedalling, and have a large cargo crate attached.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/09/04/electric-cargo-bikes-taking-germany-climate-sensitive-alternative-10685781/

A German postman on a bike meets a German parcel delivery service courier with an E-Cargobike in Berlin (Reuters) Germany, that well-known powerhouse of the automotive industry, is apparently falling very much in love with electric bikes. Specifically, electric ‘cargo bikes’ that are being used by companies to transport goods around cities and deliver them to customers. The reason is simple enough: using an electric bike to ferry your goods around has a much lower carbon footprint than cars, vans or trucks. Climate change is the top concern for Germans, opinion polls show, but government subsidies to boost sales of electric cars have not gained traction. Only 36,000 electric cars were sold in Germany last year, compared with 25,000 in 2017, according to motor vehicle authority KBA. The picture is much rosier for these cargo bikes, three-wheeled vehicles that have a motor to help with pedalling and a large cargo basket that can fit kids, pets and shopping and so make them popular with parents. A German parcel delivery service courier rides an E-Cargobike in Berlin (Reuters) The Two-Wheel Industry Association (ZIV) keeps data on the machines and says 40,000 were sold last year, almost twice as many as in 2017. ‘I think Germans have realised, especially in cities like Berlin and Frankfurt that a cargo bike can replace a second car,’ said ZIV head Siegfried Neuberger. ‘You can use it to go shopping, you can take the kids to daycare and so it’s very practical, environment-friendly, sustainable and healthy, which makes it very attractive to Germans,’ he added.

Sinclair Pharma UK clinics offering cash in on "ethnicity surgery"

A number of clinics in the UK are reportedly offering “ethnicity surgery” to make patients from Asia, Africa and the Middle East look more Western. Some plastic surgeons claim a number of some of the procedures are unethical but little can be done to address the situation without regulatory intervention, because with many non-invasive treatments such as fillers and Bbotox are being almost completely unregulated.  Relevance: A range of treatments are mentioned in the linked article from blepharoplasty to surgically add an eyelid crease and skin whitening to jaw and nose reshaping.  Dermal fillers and hHyaluronic acid such as Perfectha and Sculptra are used in nose reshaping procedures.

http://www.mirror.co.uk/lifestyle/health/drastic-cosmetic-surgery-women-prepared-7686767

The "ethnicity surgery" sees Asian noses plumped up, Chinese and Indonesian people given eye creases and even full body whitening, reports The New Day Drastic cosmetic surgery women are prepared to suffer in bid to fit ideals of Western beauty Dozens of British clinics are cashing in on “ ethnicity surgery ” where doctors often use painful procedures to make patients look more Western. Some UK centres offer re-shaping work to plump up flat Asian noses, slim wide jaws and give Chinese and Indonesian people eyelid creases. Other clinics offer full body skin whitening, which could be used to lighten black skin tones. Some businesses do not even bother to hide the fact that they want to make eastern-born patients look more English or American. Others imply Asian women should to strive to have a ­perfectly oval face. One of the more popular, and more frequently advertised, treatments is Asian ­blepharoplasty – the surgical addition of an eyelid crease. Image: Getty) Getty) One website says: “Asians are born with eyelids that do not have a crease, but doctors can surgically create this crease and give a patient a double eyelid. "This makes your eyes look larger, more open and more attractive.” Read more:Air steward looks like Barbie’s Ken after spending £305,000 on 42 plastic surgery ops Some plastic surgeons claim that many of the procedures are unethical but said little could be done without ­government regulations. Clinics that offer non-invasive surgical treatments like fillers and botox, which can be used to change the shape of facial features, are almost completely unregulated, leading to gaps in the standard of treatment. They do not need to be registered with the health regulator, the Care Quality Commission. The Centre for Advanced Facial Cosmetic and Plastic Surgery in London carries out many operations to add an eyelid crease. Its website also talks about “ethnic rhinoplasty”, saying it treats people of African, Afro-Caribbean, South East Asian and Middle Eastern descent. The website claims the clinic can refine “bulbous” Asian noses and reduce nostril size. It adds: “Asian noses are anatomically different to Caucasian noses and required different surgical techniques to achieve a more natural appearance. "Asian noses are often characterised by a relatively low nasal bridge which makes the nose appear relatively small and thicker skin which can result in the tip of the nose being bulbous.” Read more:Transgender woman dies after undergoing illegal backstreet bum implant surgery At the London Cosmetic Clinic in Knightsbridge they use dermal fillers to build up small noses and reduce the hooks on others. The before and after pictures all show Asian or Malaysian people. The website says the procedure, which starts at £550, uses fillers and Hyaluronic acid to boost flat, wide noses. At the Aestha clinic in London’s Wimpole Street, Asian patients are told that beauty means being “perfectly pale” and with a “flawless face oval.” The website adds: “We recognise that Asians have different desires from aesthetic treatments. "Being beautiful is hard work – perfectly pale and glowing skin, flawless face oval, defined nose and chin and tri-dimensional face profile. All this can be achieved with a touch of our experts!” Treatments include oval face contouring, “skin-lightening and brightening injections” and “eye opening with cosmetic injectables and dermal fillers”. Some clinics also offer full body whitening for people who feel their skin tone is too dark. At Bianca Estelle Aesthetics in London, they offer Meso-infusion treatments injected via the muscles to lighten skin – claiming the trend is on the increase thanks to pop stars Rihanna and Beyonce. Its website says: “Skin lightening is a trend which is on the increase. “Spearheaded by the ­aggressive forces of airbrushed advertising, the desire for a ­cosmetically lightened ­complexion finds appeal across the globe. “This is a safe method of skin lightening that provides even and natural looking results over the whole body.” The clinic told one of our investigators that the treatments would not only lighten the skin but also improve health and energy. Auction site eBay also offers skin whitening treatments. One £9.99 product from Bolton, Lancs, shows before and after pictures of a woman with black skin who is then much lighter. The product also promises to give a “clean, brighter, more evenly toned complexion”. Dr Christian says Image: Getty Images) Getty Images) There is a sinister suggestion behind much of this advertising that whiter skin is somehow better or more desirable. There are medical conditions that can cause an increase in skin pigmentation which, if undiagnosed, can be very serious. Doctors can prescribe creams to help lighten these areas in a controlled manner. But you should be very wary of buying unregulated products online with unknown ingredients and unsuitable concentrations. Is it wrong to try to look different? Ash Mosahebi, a member of the British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS), said “Morally, this is a difficult question. All cosmetic procedures are done to improve a feature that the person doesn’t like. "However, if that leans towards changing someone’s ethnicity that is blurring the boundaries a bit. “If an Asian patient comes to me, I will advise them to improve things but still keep their ethnicity intact. "It just looks odd to have a western nose or a western eye in an Asian face. “If someone told me outright they hated their ethnicity, I would not perform surgery on them. But I’m sure some people would. “An ethical plastic surgeon is there to improve a feature, not obliterate it. "If someone comes and says they want to look Scandinavian instead of like an Asian, that’s not the way it should be. That’s psychotherapy. “Skin whitening is not an ethical thing to do. The sad thing is, if someone will pay for it, someone is probably offering it.”

US judge rules that Bitcoin is money under law

A judge in Florida has ruled that Bitcoin is not a legitimate currency. This came as she dismissed criminal charges including money laundering and unauthorised transfer against Miami-based Bitcoin seller, Michell Abner Espinoza. She said that the Bitcoin ‘’has a long way to go before it is the equivalent of money.”

https://www.law360.com/banking/articles/821059/fla-judge-says-bitcoin-isn-t-money-under-the-law

By Carolina Bolado (July 25, 2016, 7:33 PM EDT) -- A Florida judge ruled Monday that Bitcoin is not money as she dismissed criminal charges against a Miami man for illegally selling the online currency, which the judge said still "has a long way to go before it is the equivalent of money."... Stay ahead of the curve In the legal profession, information is the key to success. You have to know what’s happening with clients, competitors, practice areas, and industries. Law360 provides the intelligence you need to remain an expert and beat the competition. Access to case data within articles (numbers, filings, courts, nature of suit, and more.) Access to attached documents such as briefs, petitions, complaints, decisions, motions, etc. Create custom alerts for specific article and case topics and so much more! TRY LAW360 FREE FOR SEVEN DAYS

California’s 33rd hydrogen cell refuelling station opens near LA

A new hydrogen cell refuelling station has opened near Los Angeles in California. The facility has been sited at an existing petrol station in the city of Thousand Oaks, and is only the 33rd such hydrogen fuel plant in California. It was installed by FirstElement Fuel, a company in California specialising in building retail hydrogen infrastructure to support the growth of hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. However, the slow growth of such a network suggests vehicle manufactures are not currently fully behind the technology.

https://cleantechnica.com/2018/04/03/california-gets-33rd-hydrogen-fuel-cell-car-refueling-station-why-the-slow-pace-of-infrastructure-development/

California’s 33rd hydrogen fuel cell vehicle refueling station was recently opened — at an existing gas/petrol refueling station in the city of Thousand Oaks, just northwest of Los Angeles. The new hydrogen fuel cell vehicle refueling station was developed by FirstElement Fuel, reportedly, and is located at 3102 Thousand Oaks Blvd., Thousand Oaks, CA 91362. The new refueling station is open 24 hours a day (no doubt why it’s located at an existing gas station complex). A press release on the matter provides a bit more information: “Thousand Oaks is the second largest city in Ventura County, northwest of Los Angeles. Ventura is often described as being part of California’s Central Coast. To learn more about the station, you can visit CaFCP’s station map at http://cafcp.org/stationmap. CaFCP also has a mobile-friendly website, Station Operational Status System (SOSS), that shows station availability and provides other station information (hours of operation, address, H2 station operator and developer, etc.): http://m.cafcp.org.” So, why am I covering this? Because even after all of the years of development, all of the money involved, and all of the PR statements, there are still only 33 places in all of California were hydrogen fuel cell vehicle owners can refill their tanks. And, that’s the situation in the only state in the USA with retail hydrogen vehicle refueling infrastructure. (There are 4 non-retail stations in the eastern USA.) So, I have to ask here: How can hydrogen fuel cell vehicle proponents still claim that refueling infrastructure development is being taken serious by the auto manufacturers claiming to support the vehicles? How can proponents still claim that hydrogen fuel cell cars (in the USA) are anything other than a PR exercise and distraction meant to excuse slow action to date on EVs? By the way, those hydrogen refueling stations are bloody expensive, which is one major reason why there are only 33 in the USA. Sign up for Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast: I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ... Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps —— grow. So ...

London-based blockchain startup Setl claims funding "milestone" and big name board members, as Rachel Lomax and Ed Richards join Sir David Walker

Rachel Lomax, former deputy governor of the Bank of England, and Ed Richards, ex-chief executive of broadcast regulator Ofcom have joined the board of London-based blockchain start-up Setl, in non-executive roles. The announcement of their appointment follows Setl's first private funding round. Another appointment would be revealed in due course.

http://www.cityam.com/245566/blockchain-startup-claims-funding-milestone-and-big-name

Blockchain startup claims funding “milestone” and big name board members London-based blockchain startup Setl has named two new high-profile board members after closing its first private funding round. Rachel Lomax, the former deputy governor of the Bank of England, and Ed Richards, the former chief executive of broadcast regulator Ofcom, have joined ex-Barclays chairman Sir David Walker on the board. Setl also said it would be naming a further appointment shortly. Read more: Breaking the mould: What the future of insurance looks like Launched in July 2015, Setl is a blockchain-based payment processor and settlement company. The platform claims to be able to process more than 1.4bn transactions a day. "This is a milestone in the development of Setl and one which I believe strengthens the company’s position significantly," said Walker, Setl's chairman. "At this stage in the company’s growth it is important to choose the right partners and to deliver a dependably resilient product to the market." Read more: This British blockchain startup just hired a major banker He added: "We are also delighted to confirm further appointments to the board. Joining as non-executives are Rachel Lomax and Ed Richards. Each of these directors brings a wealth of experience in the financial, regulatory and corporate governance spheres. Their oversight of the growth and development of Setl will be invaluable to the executive team and shareholders alike." Peter Randall, Setl chief executive, said: “We are pleased to announce that we have closed fundraising with initial partners and have agreed scope on a number of projects."

Decentralised food marketplace, INS, starts ICO

Blockchain-based start-up INS Ecosystem has launched its initial coin offering (ICO) as it seeks to raise between 20,000 and 60,000 ETH to develop its decentralised grocery platform, set to pilot next year. The company aims to connect consumers with manufacturers and producers, with transactions powered by smart contracts and INS tokens offered as rewards and incentives. The funds raised from the ICO, which has a minimum investment of 0.1 ETH and runs until 25 December, will be used for R&D, sales and marketing, among other operations. **Notes to editors** hard/soft cap info from here: https://ins.world/#token_sale

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/decentralized-consumer-ecosystem-ins-launches-token-sale-to-transform-the-grocery-industry-661847953.html

NEW YORK, December 4, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- INS Ecosystem, the decentralized grocery marketplace, has announced the launch of its token sale, commencing today at 11am GMT and concluding December 25, 2017. Aiming to transform the $8.5 trillion USD global grocery market, INS Ecosystem was founded by Peter Fedchenkov and Dmitry Zhulin and is set to pilot in 2018. The platform connects manufacturers directly with consumers with an aim to overcome retailer domination, and in turn, save consumers up to 30%. INS Founder, Peter Fedchenkov said, "While the nature of the average consumer has completely changed over the last several decades, the grocery industry has yet to capitalize on the emergence of new technologies. Blockchain in particular allows for more transparent pricing, innovative loyalty schemes, and the accurate collection of consumer data, thoroughly improving the consumer and manufacturer retail experience." Within the INS Ecosystem, all manufacturers will be able to list and sell products directly to consumers, gain customer feedback, and reward loyal customers. Smart contracts will also power loyalty programs, and blockchain technology will make the supply chain more efficient and trim costs. The INS Ecosystem token (INS) serves as a method to power direct manufacturer to consumer loyalty programs and can be used as a means of payment. To date, INS has garnered strong industry support and formal interest from some of the largest manufacturers globally, including 2 Sisters Storteboom, Reckitt Benckiser, Valio, Capebe, FrieslandCampina, and Borjomi. In total, INS has seen hundreds of independent suppliers from the UK, Netherlands, Brazil, Italy, Russia, and other countries explore joining the platform on its launch. "The direct-to-consumer movement is on the agenda of consumer packaged goods companies globally. Consumers want control over what they can buy, just as manufacturers want control over how they can sell their products, in turn making a marketplace backed by blockchain the perfect bridge between those two motivations," added Fedchenkov. The token sale for the INS Ecosystem will close on December 25, 2017, or once it reaches the target raise of 60,000 ETH. Interested parties can use ETH, BTC, LTC, DASH, and bank transfers to participate in the sale. The INS Ecosystem token sale will see INS Ecosystem tokens sold at a rate of 1 ETH = 300 INS. The minimum purchase to enter the token sale is 0.1 ETH. The funds raised from the token sale will correspond with the INS roadmap, with funding allocated for research and development; infrastructure; administration and operations; marketing and sales; and legal and contingency services. Specializing in investing in blockchain infrastructure and digital currency, the asset management firm Collinstar Capital strives to support platforms at the forefront of their respective verticals. The 2,000ETH invested in INS by the Australia-based organization brings the platform one step closer to deploying its ecosystem in the largest cities around the world. The Perth-based crypto and blockchain investments fund Blockchain Ventures was also part of the investment round. "At INS we are eager to support and facilitate the adoption of emerging technologies within the FMCG sector. Our project is certainly an ambitious one, but it is a goal that we wholeheartedly expect to achieve. The widespread support we have received encourages us to keep striving to create the best experience for all parties," concluded Fedchenkov. For more information visit https://ins.world/ and https://t.me/ins_ecosystem. INS Founder Peter Fedchenkov is available for interview About INS INS Ecosystem is a scalable decentralized blockchain-based platform that enables consumers to buy groceries directly from manufacturers at lower prices, with convenience. Aiming to disrupt the $8.5 trillion global grocery market, INS Ecosystem connects manufacturers directly with consumers with an aim to overcome retailer domination. The INS concept is validated by consumer interest and received strong support from manufacturers. INS Ecosystem has received interest from a number of large manufacturers such as 2 Sisters Storteboom, Reckitt Benckiser, Valio, FrieslandCampina, Capebe and Borjomi who are looking at the option of joining the ecosystem in the future. All manufacturers will be able to list and sell products directly to consumers, gain customer feedback, and reward loyal customers. INS's smart contracts power loyalty programs and their innovative use of blockchain enables an efficient, transparent supply chain. The INS token serves as a method to power direct manufacturer-to-consumer loyalty programs and can be used as a means of payment. Media Contact: Alex Sheehan Account Supervisor // Wachsman PR [email protected] // +353-87-097-9702 SOURCE INS Ecosystem

Kingfisher NHS staff rush to Screwfix, Wickes as stocks of masks run low

NHS staff are buying face masks from Screwfix and Wickes, according to an unnamed doctor. The clinician said his NHS Trust could run out of face masks and gloves by 19 March, adding that the stores are also now running out of supplies. When supplies run out, NHS workers will face the decision of treating infectious patients without protective equipment or refusing to treat patients and leaving them to die, he warned.

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11203852/coronavirus-nhs-staff-face-masks-diy-stores/

A TOP doctor tonight revealed panicked NHS staff are being forced to buy face masks from DIY stores. The consultant, working in one of the nation’s busiest NHS intensive care units, said staff were panicked by the pandemic. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates 1 An experienced medic said his NHS Trust could run out of masks and gloves by tomorrow due to the Covid-19 surge (stock image) Credit: ITV Speaking anonymously, the experienced medic told The Sun his NHS Trust could run out of masks and gloves by tomorrow due to the Covid-19 surge. And desperate doctors are now buying their own supplies from DIY stores. He said: “I’ve never seen people afraid like this. “We do not have enough protective equipment, and consultants are buying their own masks from Screwfix and Wickes, but even they have now run out of stock. “We have around two days’ worth of supply then we have to make a big decision. The question is do we treat infectious patients without protection and risk ourselves falling ill, or refuse to treat patients and let them die? Top NHS doctor “The question is do we treat infectious patients without protection and risk ourselves falling ill, or refuse to treat patients and let them die? “It is an incredibly hard choice, and a lot of doctors and nurses have young families or older relatives they care for, and they must also think of them.” The senior doctor said there was anxiety among older NHS workers that they could be particularly vulnerable. And he revealed around a third of consultants were having to self-isolate because family members had fallen sick. He said: “There is real anxiety among senior staff. Some of our consultants are older and would be at greater risk if they became infected. “Around a third of intensive care consultants are already off, as someone in their household is ill. Tap to see where Covid-19 is near you “We desperately need to bring in more testing of NHS staff so we can give people the all clear and get as many back on the front line as possible. “Our clinical leadership have been fantastic, but we are all deeply concerned about the lack of support we are getting. “We need to cancel all elective operations right now to free up beds and ask private providers to help out, or we will be swamped. “We have plans to quadruple our number of intensive beds, but they are no use without staff. “Many of us have young families, and both partners work for the NHS. CORONAVIRUS CRISIS - BE IN THE KNOW Get the latest coronavirus news, facts and figures from around the world - plus essential advice for you and your family. To receive our Covid-19 newsletter in your inbox every tea time, sign up here. To follow us on Facebook, simply 'Like' our Coronavirus page. “We need to see some form of childcare provision for frontline workers so they can continue to treat patients when schools or nurseries inevitably close. “Without immediate action to support the NHS and its staff, it will simply buckle under the weight of demand in the weeks and months ahead. “Our feeling is that we will not cope with the surge, but we will continue to do our best against the odds.” Boris Johnson insists they are prioritising the testing of NHS staff during coronavirus crisis with 25,000 tests a day

KFC and Alibaba roll out facial scan payment in China

Customers of a KFC branch in Hangzhou, eastern China, can now pay using facial recognition software. Customers approach a virtual men, choose the item they want to purchase, then choose "facial scan" to pay. Users need to input their mobile number as an extra layer of verification, but the technology works even if the phone is switched off. The system has been launched with Ant Financial, the financial services spinoff of e-commerce giant Alibaba.

https://qz.com/1067460/in-china-facial-recognition-is-used-to-buy-kfc-board-planes-and-catch-drug-users/

China is facing a tech boom that’s equal parts inspiring and alarming. Over the past several months, private companies and government entities have successfully deployed facial recognition technology for a number of different purposes, ranging from shopping to public safety. The speed of the rollout is a sign of how China’s ambitions in artificial intelligence are advancing rapidly—and in a manner that will make Western techies envious, and privacy advocates queasy. Advertisement On the commercial side, dual curtain-raisings highlight how facial recognition to pay for things looks set to go mainstream in China. Ant Financial, the financial services spinoff of e-commerce giant Alibaba, today (Sept. 1) announced it has rolled out a service with a KFC branch in Hangzhou, in eastern China, that lets customer pay for orders with their faces. It works just as one might expect—diners approach a virtual menu, select the item they want to purchase, and then choose “facial scan” as a payment option. Users must input their phone numbers as an extra layer of verification, but the technology still works even if one’s phone is turned off, an Ant Financial spokesperson tells Quartz. A promotional video shows a young female customer scanning her face while donning a wig and appearing with friends, to tout that the technology can recognize an individual even if they are disguised or in a group. Alibaba’s Jack Ma first introduced the technology at a tech conference in Germany in 2015, dubbing it “smile to pay.” While Ant Financial has since let users login to its Alipay mobile payments app using facial scan, the KFC partnership marks the first time it has been rolled out for commerce. An Ant Financial spokesperson tells Quartz that it intends to roll out the scanning at more locations later. Advertisement Meanwhile, on Aug. 31, news of a similar service coming from Alibaba’s arch-rival JD.com spread widely across Chinese tech blogs. According to Techweb (link in Chinese), a customer at a JD product showroom in Beijing spotted a checkout system wherein users who have already uploaded an image of themselves to one of JD’s apps can approach a iPad, which then scans the person’s face to complete a purchase. JD declined to share more details about the technology other than stating it is in its early stage. Yet simple commerce isn’t the only area where facial recognition technology is emerging in China. It’s quickly becoming integrated into China’s extensive surveillance apparatus (paywall). And while it indeed can be used as an effective tool to ensure safety and security, some of its use cases point toward a grim future for privacy. On Monday, media in the northern Chinese city of Qingdao reported that police had apprehended 19 individuals at an annual beer festival who tested positive for drug use. How did they do it? Authorities simply spread 18 cameras across the premise’s four entrances and recorded the faces of more than two million attendees. Police identified individuals with past histories of drug abuse—Chinese law requires people caught using illegal drugs to register with authorities—tested them on the spot, and arrested those with positive results. Meanwhile, in late July, authorities in Macau, which is technically a special administrative region of China with a government separate from Beijing, installed facial recognition on 680 ATMs across the city. Out-of-towners regularly travel to the casino hub to gamble and get easy access to foreign exchange, which has become increasingly difficult to do within the mainland. The facial-recognition feature only affects holders of UnionPay cards, the main payment provider in mainland China, and marks an attempt from Beijing to make it even harder to surreptitiously move capital out of its borders. Advertisement Other uses for facial recognition in China straddle the line between innovative and invasive. In Shenzhen, the city government recently introduced a device in 12 taxis that verifies the ID of a driver (link in Chinese) using facial recognition. China Southern Airlines recently introduced facial recognition instead of boarding passes, something that JetBlue is also experimenting with in the US. Beijing Normal University implemented a facial recognition system as a check-in system for one of its women’s dormitories. And an amusement park made headlines globally when it started using facial recognition to combat toilet paper theft in its restrooms. The speed of deployment for facial recognition in China follows the country’s commitment to boosting its capabilities in artificial intelligence. In July, Beijing openly committed to making AI a “new, important” part of the economy by 2020. While overseas tech giants could implement similar technology at an equivalent speed, or much faster, public resistance will likely slow those efforts. Chinese people, on the other hand, tend to be less wary about sharing personal information online. And the Communist Party, facing no political opposition or democratic checks, can implement controversial technology with little pushback. This all means that facial recognition in China looks set to steadily move beyond few novelty cases toward near ubiquity.

Esure's share price rises 33% following Bain's takeover

The UK car insurer has accepted a £1.17bn ($1.5bn) takeover bid from private equity firm Bain Capital. The share price rose 33% on Monday, it's highest ever, finishing at 280 pence a share, with the CEO and founder Peter Wood expecting to see a £371m windfall. Bain will not sack any of the 1850 employees as they wish to invest heavily to ensure enhanced growth for the start up insurer.

https://www.insurancejournal.com/news/international/2018/08/13/497796.htm

ESure Group Plc has received an unsolicited offer of about 1.17 billion pounds ($1.5 billion) from Bain Capital Private Equity LP as private equity firms seek to consolidate the insurance industry. The offer of about 280 pence a share in cash is a 37 percent premium to the closing price on Friday, the U.K. insurer said in a statement on Monday. ESure’s board of directors expects to recommend the bid. The shares rose as much as 33 percent, the most ever, on Monday. Private equity firms are increasingly getting involved in insurance takeover deals in the region, wagering their investing expertise can help lift returns from managing premium income. Firms including Apollo Global Management LLC have already been buying up similar insurers in the U.S., while Cinven is in exclusive talks to acquire a retirement products unit of AXA SA, having already acquired Guardian Financial Services in the U.K., Eurovita in Italy, and Viridium in Germany. ESure provides insurance services for cars, vans, travel, motorbikes and pets. [Editor’s note: ESure is headquartered in Reigate, England]. Copyright 2023 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers

John Deere updates 5R Series tractors for 2019

John Deere has announced several updates to its 5R Series tractors from 90 to 125hp, designed to increase their versatility and suitability for small and medium sized livestock and arable farms. To improve their connectivity for precision farming operations, from spring 2019 the tractors will be available AutoTrac and ISObus-ready. JDLink telematics will also be available ex-factory, together with a remote display access (RDA) five-year subscription.

https://www.farminguk.com/news/john-deere-updates-5r-series-tractors-for-2019_51013.html

John Deere has announced several updates to its 5R Series tractors from 90 to 125hp, designed to increase their versatility and suitability for small and medium sized livestock and arable farms. To improve their connectivity for precision farming operations, from spring 2019 the tractors will be available AutoTrac and ISObus-ready. JDLink telematics will also be available ex-factory, together with a remote display access (RDA) five-year subscription. Other new features include an extendable pick-up hitch with hydraulic push-back through the rear SCVs to improve rear visibility, and variable ratio steering (VRS). This requires AutoTrac for operation and is selectable through a dedicated switch on the tractor cab’s B-post. The 5090R, 5100R, 5115R and 5125R tractors are equipped with fuel efficient, Stage IIIB compliant 4.5-litre John Deere PWX engines. These diesel-only four-cylinder engines deliver 10 extra hp for transport applications via their transport power management (TPM) system. Three transmission options start with the entry level 16/16 CommandQuad Manual featuring four ranges and four powershiftable gears within each range. Also available are a 16/16 CommandQuad and a 32/16 Command8 transmission, which has eight powershiftable gears and an ECO mode that enables a top speed of 40kph at only 1759 engine rpm. All three transmissions offer a fully automatic clutch, individual start-up gears, individually settable speeds and an electric park lock. Automatic shifting is standard on the premium Command8 and optional on the 16/16 CommandQuad. Front axle suspension and an optional maintenance-free mechanical cab suspension system are available, while the air suspended Grammer seat from the 6R Series features up to 15 degrees of swivel, lumbar adjustment and an optional heating system. The 5R Series combines a one-piece curved frame design with a low centre of gravity and has a turning radius of just 3.75m for excellent manoeuvrability, even when fitted with a front loader. For loader operation there is a choice of mechanical or new E joysticks, both linked to the tractor seat, and rear lift capacity is 4.7 or optionally 5.3 tonnes. In addition, and designed for use in narrow row crops, other specialist crops and vineyards, 5RN Series tractors feature a minimum width of 1.7m, a narrow cab and mechanical front wheel drive.

Litigation financing may help law firms weather the C-19 storm

Like many other businesses, law firms have been negatively impacted by the pandemic making litigation financing an attractive option for companies looking to preserve their cash flow. While champerty was banned in several states, a recent move by Minnesota Supreme Court’s abolishing the century-old common-law prohibition allows the state join the rest of the US in allowing third-party litigation financing.

https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/07/10/2060478/0/en/Litigation-Funding-During-COVID-19-For-Law-Firms-How-Litigation-Financing-Can-Provide-Stimulus.html

West Palm Beach, FL, July 10, 2020 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- West Plan Bech - FL / - The effect of ​quarantining has had an ​adverse impact on the Nation’s economy. Unfortunately, this impact could be moderate to severe and may possibly lead to the worst ​financial ​and economic crisis ever. The economic downturn ​as a result of the pandemic fallout, has ​even reached the legal industry. Millions of legal professionals have been impacted by the COVID-19 economic crisis. Requirement for Litigation Funding Like any other business it’s clear attorneys would want to protect their livelihoods and insure the survival of their law firms by seeking to preserve their cash flow in these times. So, it’s no wonder they may be trying to discover creative ways to achieve this, by looking for new sources of capital. Here comes litigation financing or litigation funding into the picture to help law firms and litigants. The requirement for litigation financing and its expansion during this pandemic situation is huge and quite useful for the legal world to meet the demands of lawyers and their clients. As per Bruce Jones [1] Minnesota Supreme Court’s Abolishment of Century-Old Common-Law Prohibition Against Champerty Paves Way for Third-Party Litigation Financing, Although Litigation Finance was prevalent in the US for more than 2 decades, there were several states that had laws banning the practice. However a recent ​ unanimous decision by the Minnesota Supreme Court, abolished Minnesota’s common-law prohibition against champerty and maintenance, allowing Minnesota to ​join the rest of the country in allowing third-party litigation financing. For the less practiced, the Old English term of champerty is “an agreement to divide litigation proceeds between the owner of the litigated claim and a party unrelated to the lawsuit who supports or helps enforce the claim” and maintenance is “improper assistance in prosecuting or defending a lawsuit given to a litigant by someone who has no bona fide interest in the case, meddling in someone else’s litigation.” How Litigation Funding Can Help Law Firms During COVID-19 It is essential for lawyers and litigants to have adequate funding in place in order to file suit and manage the cost and expenses for a variety of litigation cases. Especially, litigants should make sure they have enough funds to pay court fees, appoint a lawyer and bear other expenses that are required to move forward on the case. At the same time they have to focus on their business recovery. Attorneys need strong financial support to meet the client requirement, retain new clients, cover the office expenses and expand their practice without financial hassles. And often claimants need help covering litigation costs and expenses for services like, e-discovery/ ESI, where data has to be assessed, managed and hosted, have document analysis teams manage the reviewing of sometimes 100’s of thousands of documents and hire experts to create financial damage models. Having the resources to help with litigation expenses and costs becomes critical. Lawyers who can provide the financing for these services will distinguish themselves from their brethren. Also, it may mean the difference of whether a suit moves forward or never gets litigated in the first place. Having the necessary litigation funding in place would help the lawyers expand their practice and help their litigants manage their costs. Today, litigation funding has evolved and is being used in a variety of different ways. There are some instances when service providers for both plaintiffs and defendants can align themselves with corporations who provide litigation support services, by either deferring payment to the end, win or lose or based on the success of the case or success based funding. This can be done either directly with the plaintiff or through their representative attorneys, by having these entities share the cost and risk of litigating these expensive and complex criminal and civil litigation cases. These new financing models are allowing future litigation the opportunity to move forward either by deferring payment or through contingency financing. As per Rene Perras [2] How Does Discovery Work in A Complex Litigation Case? How Law Firms Can Use E-Discovery Expenses To Operate Efficiently? What is e-Discovery or ESI? Today paper and manila folders have been replaced with some form of an electronically stored information (ESI) unit. These new motions for discovery or evidentiary requests are now defined as e-Discovery or ESI. All types of storage devices are now being used. What hasn’t changed in complex litigation is how to find the proof to get to the truth. In the new digital world when data continues to grow exponentially driving up case expenses. The ability to sort, process and most importantly authenticate the provenance of data in an organized manner is paramount. E-Discovery, when managed by technology specialists and software athletes, whose expertise is managed document review, can reduce the stress of high stakes complex litigation. Well-crafted storytelling is derived from e-discovery, utilizing a best practice approach, will develop the trial strategy necessary to create all future arguments, motions, and depositions ensuring a robust and comprehensive trial preparedness, proving beyond a reasonable doubt the merits of your case. Litigation Financial Providers Can Help Reputed litigation financial providers are capable of deploying funding into the market even in the midst of a pandemic to help law firms and litigants. Litigation funding would help the legal world receive the sufficient funds to support law firms and their respective claimants. This will help the legal world recover faster from the economic crisis, helps law firms and claimants protect themselves and insure the survival of their assets. For Goal Driven LinkedIn Branding & Lead Generation with authority news distribution for law firms. Media Contact: Rene Perras - E-Discovery/ESI and Managed Document Review Consultant for Law Firms https://reneperras.com Tel: 561-758-5373 Rene-perras Rene-perras Resource: [1] https://www.natlawreview.com/article/minnesota-supreme-court-s-abolishment-century-old-common-law-prohibition-against [2] https://www.globenewswire.com/news-release/2020/02/07/1981981/0/en/How-Law-Firms-Can-Use-E-Discovery-Expenses-To-Operate-Efficiently.html Attachment

Rice prices to climb in Thailand, India and Vietnam due to drought

Rice prices in Thailand, India and Vietnam are poised to climb due to the deepening drought crisis.  Thailand’s dams are at a state ‘more critical than the 1987 and 1998 severe drought situations’ says the Electricity Generating Authority of Thailand.  Despite the announcement by Thailand’s government that they would be able to draw from its stockpiles, in the long term the situation is bleak with farmers being told to delay planting this year’s crop due to low dam levels.  In Vietnam, the government had asked farmers to switch to drought-tolerant crops instead of rice, however the prolonged water shortage has meant that even these plants have not grown well.

http://wildsingaporenews.blogspot.co.uk/2015/07/thailand-rice-prices-poised-to-climb-as.html#.VZv7c-1VhBd

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Database to crackdown on looted art

The British Museum and Scotland Yard are to produce a publicly available database of 80,000 objects which have been sold or have been in private collection since 1970. The project will be funded by a £1m ($1.375m) grant from the British government's Cultural Protection Fund. There is no current comprehensive database of objects sold before the late 1990s as auction catalogues were not on line and the information held by libraries in Egypt is not complete. Sotheby's, Christies and Bonhams along with antiquities dealers are cooperating and providing any information from catalogues and other inventories they hold.

https://www.theartnewspaper.com/news/scotland-yard-joins-global-crackdown-on-looted-pharaonic-antiquities

Scotland Yard is working with the British Museum and the governments of Egypt and Sudan to tackle the looting of pharaonic antiquities. The plan is to create a publicly available database of 80,000 objects that have been identified as having passed through the trade or have been in private collections since 1970, the year of the Unesco convention on cultural property. The scheme is being funded with a £1m grant from the British government’s Cultural Protection Fund, administered by the British Council. Although the presence of antiquities on the database will not mean that they are either clean or tainted, it will assist enforcement officers and police in tracking down provenance. The database will also include some objects that are known to have gone missing from Egypt or Sudan but still remain untraced. However, the fuller records of losses held by the antiquities authorities in Egypt and Sudan are treated as confidential; the two governments only release details selectively. The project is being overseen by Neal Spencer, the British Museum’s keeper of Ancient Egypt and Sudan, who has seen “a serious increase in the illicit trade in pharaonic antiquities in recent years”. He says the new database should “help flag up objects where there are issues”. It will also be possible to identify suspicious patterns: “One might notice an increase in funerary material of the 25th dynasty from a particular site, and enforcement agencies would be very interested in that.” While Scotland Yard—the headquarters of London’s Metropolitan Police—is not directly involved in creating the database, it is giving advice and is one of the three key partners, along with Egypt’s ministry of antiquities and Sudan’s National Corporation for Antiquities and Museums. At present, the available documentation is widely dispersed and not readily accessible or searchable. Many of the most important objects have passed through auction houses but their catalogues are only available online from the late 1990s. No libraries in Cairo or Khartoum have comprehensive collections of earlier paper catalogues. The major auctioneers—Sotheby’s, Christie’s and Bonhams—have agreed to provide data for the initiative. Antiquities dealers are also being approached to supply catalogues and possibly unpublished inventory material. Exhibition catalogues recording objects in private hands will be used as well. The first tranche of data is due to go online at the end of this year, with the remainder expected to follow in 2019. Very minor objects, such as a single scarab or bead, will not be included. Eventually it is hoped to expand the database to include pre-1970 information. Marcel Marée, the British Museum curator running the project, stresses that they “will not be proactively chasing criminals, which is the role of law enforcement agencies, but we will make the market more transparent”. The scheme will also help train Egyptian and Sudanese antiquities staff to deal with the international market and track down illicitly exported items. A dozen trainees are due to come to the British Museum, with the first group arriving in July. If the project proves a success, it could be used as a model for other parts of the world suffering from looting. The “circulating artefacts” database, as it is known, will be searchable on the web without charge. Although its primary purpose is to help law enforcement, it should also prove to be an invaluable resource for scholars.

Fujitsu drones to monitor endangered fauna in New South Wales

The New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage is partnering with Japanese tech company Fujitsu on a project that will use drones to map and identify at-risk plants and animals in the region. Lee Stewart, head of sustainability for Oceania, said Project Owl would gather data on the roughly "1,000 species of flora and fauna that are endangered", particularly the Acacia dangarensis. He added the drones would initially fly at different altitudes, while the data generated would be used to train an AI engine.

https://www.zdnet.com/article/fujitsu-using-drones-and-analytics-to-protect-native-endangered-species/

(Image: Shutterstock / Dmitry Kalinovsky) Fujitsu is announcing a project alongside the New South Wales Office of Environment and Heritage that uses drones to better track the status of endangered flora and fauna. At the Fujitsu World Tour 2018 in Sydney on Tuesday, head of sustainability for Oceania Lee Stewart detailed Project Owl, which was born out of the idea of using technology to generate better sustainable and environmental outcomes. "The motivation around endangered species protection Australia is very high; in New South Wales alone there's about 1,000 species of flora and fauna that are endangered," Stewart explained. "Scientists and governments want to know where they are, where they're thriving, where they're not, where they could potentially be growing better or thriving in certain conditions, and how we can make better planning decisions in the future." When building out IT and sustainability projects for customers, Stewart said Fujitsu asks where their main source of emissions come from. "I was really surprised with the answer -- they said their biggest emissions come from jet fuel," he explained. "I had this idea in my head could we actually replace helicopters with unmanned vehicles at a lower cost, lower emissions, and create a better outcome using video analytics." One focus of Project Owl is to gain further insight into an endangered type of flora, Acacia dangarensis, confined to the summit and surrounding slopes of Mount Dangar, south of Merriwa, within the Goulburn River National Park in NSW. "This tree is only found in this area, and we're not sure how many there are and where they're starting to grow, or are their populations increasing or decreasing," Stewart continued. "First thing is we will fly to survey the area at different altitudes, collecting different levels of imagery, and then from there we're taking all of that data and we're going to spend a lot of time in our labs training the artificial intelligence engine about identifying what that species is and program the video analytics so that when we come back here again we might be able to fly it at a higher, faster altitude, cover more ground in less time." PREVIOUS AND RELATED COVERAGE Fujitsu teams up with Vault Systems to go after government cloud The Protected Cloud product will offer software-, infrastructure-, backup-, and desktop-as-a-service to government users. Planet analytics: big data, sustainability, and environmental impact What is the relation between big data applications and sustainability? What is the net effect of improved efficiency versus increased resource consumption, who gets to measure this, and how? The 5 greenest tech companies in 2018 (TechRepublic) Tech giants are rethinking their reliance on 19th-century energy sources and hazardous chemicals. How Australia's government-by-parrot is flying backward on drones If Australia wants to be a leading digital economy, the government must plan ahead with a clear head, not just react to the latest tabloid scare campaigns. AI-powered autonomous drone could bring new capabilities to agriculture, logistics, more (TechRepublic) The nano drone can move without human assistance and is considered the first of its kind.

COVID-19, Football & Digital: 2020/21 Season & Beyond

Sponsors want true partnerships; companies are looking for increased alignment on brand and purpose with digital marketing platforms underpinned by data. Diversifying fan base: Ahead of the 2019/20 season, clubs were focusing on the diversification of their fan base including initiatives to better understand ‘Generation Z’. Content strategy: fans are now able to interact with swathes of digital content outside of the traditional matchday. New trend: Innovation: audiences are watching how-to-videos, game walk-throughs, professional gamers, athletes livestreaming their play, and eSports competition. With the cancellation of live sports, many professional athletes have stayed connected with their fans by streaming and commenting on their own video gameplay. Moreover, the Premier League launched the inaugural ePremier League Invitational competition during lockdown.

https://www2.deloitte.com/uk/en/pages/sports-business-group/articles/covid-19-football-and-digital-2020-21-season-and-beyond.html#

Personalised experience In-stadium experience – changed and accelerated Uncertainty looms over the prospect of fans return to football stadiums for the upcoming 20/21 season. Whilst some recent announcements may provide hope that a measure of normality can return, in countries that have been more severely impacted by COVID-19, it is unlikely that we will see full-stadiums any time soon and questions will be asked about whether the stadium experience will ever be the same again. We may see leagues adopt a “phasing approach” similar to the National Rugby League (NRL) in Australia. The “phasing approach” at first consisted of fans confined to corporate boxes, and has now progressed to hosting up to 10,000 fans in larger, modern stadia. In New Zealand, all restrictions on mass gatherings have now been relaxed and attending live sports events has proved immensely popular. The first four games of the Kiwis’ ‘Super Rugby Aotearoa’ tournament had an average of 26,000 people in attendance, a 100% increase on club rugby attendance prior to the global pandemic. Unfortunately for sports fans in countries such as the UK, the return back to the stadium may be slow and uncertain. At the time of writing (July 2020), the Deloitte State of the Consumer Tracker highlights public reluctance to use public transport – 57% of people plan to limit their use of public transport over the next three months whilst only 24% of people plan to use rail travel for leisure purposes. Meanwhile 36% of people are delaying large purchases, which may include expenditure on season tickets or corporate entertaining. Clubs will therefore want to use the data they have about non-season ticket holders to increase ticket sales and utilise all available capacity once a return to the stadium is possible. A key question for the in-stadium experience is whether fans will want to “stay around for longer” in a post-COVID-19 environment. As outlined in the Deloitte Football Money League, creating a memorable spectator experience is vitally important in encouraging fans to extend their visits, increase their expenditure and book return visits. This can be facilitated through creating a positive environment in the stadium, in which it is easy to locate seating and seamless to purchase merchandise, food and drinks. Social distancing requirements are likely to accelerate the use of digital technologies to improve the fan experience, particularly if staggered entry and exit times are enforced; thereby fortifying extended stays at stadiums as a component of how event operators manage social distancing. This is likely to include using contactless technology (e.g. tickets, parking and cashless vendors) to reduce physical touchpoints and digital tools to monitor and optimise queuing times or provide at seat or click and collect delivery. At home experience – accelerated The demand for ‘At Home’ experiences will be even more important in the near future. In the 2019/20 season we saw football come back ‘behind closed doors’, but minimal change to the at-home experience was delivered. In other sports, such as Tennis’s Schroders Battle of the Brits tournament, there was a noticeable increase in player engagement such as in-play player /coach / commentator interaction that was broadcast in real-time to viewers at home. There was also an increase in social interaction during games, for example replicating the experience of watching football alongside a friend, which is something that Generation Z have been demanding over the last couple of years. Clubs will need to look to build on these experiments to continue to enhance the experience and engage fans during the 90 minutes of the game. The extent to which this is possible will of course depend in part on the rights held centrally and those held by the club. Interesting discussions lie ahead as broadcasters seek to enhance their product whilst clubs seek to hold on to the rights that allow them to create their own content. Digital experience – unchanged Fan expectations are changing. They are expecting unique services, offerings and insights through experiences that are personalised and contextualised. Clubs can use technology to deliver a scalable, tailored, omni-channel experience that transforms fans from spectators to participants, whatever the time and place. These initial predictions, made in the Deloitte Football Money League, remain largely unchanged, however the impacts of COVID-19, may cause clubs to increase their attention on fans at home and the future in-stadium experience. New trend: Innovation – new revenue streams The potential absence of fans in stadia for at least part the 2020/21 football season and the associated loss of matchday revenue means that clubs may be spurred to accelerate the exploration of alternative revenue streams. As outlined in our Football Money League report, clubs’ ability to boost revenue streams that they control directly will have a significant impact on their financial prosperity. The impact of COVID-19 provides a catalyst for fresh ideas and innovation. In accordance with the Deloitte Digital media trends survey, prior to COVID-19, around 25% of consumers watched livestreamed and recorded video of others playing video games each week. For Millennials and Gen Z, it was around 50%. Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, these numbers have held strong, with audiences predominantly watching how-to-videos, game walk-throughs, professional gamers, athletes livestreaming their play, and eSports competition. With the cancellation of live sports, many professional athletes have stayed connected with their fans by streaming and commenting on their own video gameplay. Moreover, the Premier League launched the inaugural ePremier League Invitational competition during lockdown. According to Nielsen Sports, the final between Trent Alexander-Arnold (Liverpool) and Diogo Jota (Wolves) attracted three million viewers on Facebook and 394,000 viewers on YouTube, demonstrating a 275% rise in viewership from the opening round to the final. It is likely that this phenomenon of playing, streaming, watching, and socialising within video games will continue to grow and expand when lockdowns and restrictions are eased. During lockdown, football clubs used their brand to help their fanbase and the wider community adjust to the ‘new normal’. This is evidenced by the Premier League’s Primary Stars and Spurs’ home-schooling initiatives. Clubs also began to use their fitness and exercise credentials to produce video content via digital channels. For example, Liverpool’s ‘LFC Home Workouts’ series with Andreas Kornmayer (Head of Fitness and Conditioning) and Chelsea’s 20 minute videos, which featured players training with shirt sponsor, Nike. Joe Wicks’ high intensity interval training routines, aimed at all ages and fitness-levels, have formed a central component of people’s lives during lockdown, with his online videos being viewed by up to 950,000 people at a time. Online workout platforms, such as Les Mills On Demand (900% increase in use since January 2020) and Peloton (where 23,000 people participated in a single class), have also seen a massive surge in demand. How people fuel this proliferation of exercise has also changed. Deloitte’s retail and consumer product trends report found that COVID-19 has accelerated the adoption of non-traditional models in “essential” categories such as food, grocery and pharmacy. For example, in April, consumer spend on meal kits, online grocers, and prepared food delivery services increased by 40%. In particular, the rise in relevance and revenue of meal kit providers, such as HelloFresh and Gousto, may prove an appetising partner for many football clubs and players alike.

Unlocking the power of cities for sustainable development

Cities and urban areas are key to global prosperity and we have an important window of opportunity to make it smarter, more productive, sustainable and inclusive. The coming decades will see us accommodate some 2 billion new urban citizens. Over the coming decade we estimate that US$78 trillion will be invested in urban infrastructure.

https://www.pwc.co.uk/industries/government-public-sector/international-development/insights/unlocking-the-power-of-cities-in-emerging-markets.html

We work with clients across the sector to deliver results that make a difference to us all. From enhancing the UK’s transport and digital networks, improving patient access to lifesaving drugs through to strengthening the UK’s ability to tackle terrorist threats, our focus is on outcomes. And our passion for making a difference guides our work. Business and government need to work together to achieve shared outcomes for wider society. COVID-19 has made this more important than ever before. As the UK emerges from the pandemic, it faces new challenges: how to meet future infrastructure needs, ensuring the UK has the skills it needs for tomorrow’s jobs, reducing climate change and addressing inequality. We will work to help business and government develop stronger relationships that can deliver a fair recovery.

Electric scooters to get green light to go on Britain's public roads

Electric scooters will be allowed on public roads for the first time under a Department for Transport proposal. The legalisation of e-scooters is just one proposal in a wider plan to enable a “transport revolution. Emerging technologies are “ripping up the rule book”.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2020/mar/16/electric-scooters-get-green-light-to-go-on-britains-public-roads

Electric scooters will be allowed on public roads for the first time under a Department for Transport proposal which will consult on the rules required to allow the new technology to operate safely, the government has announced. The legalisation of e-scooters is just one proposal in a wider plan to enable a “transport revolution”, which also involves projects to trial medical deliveries to the Isle of Wight using autonomous drones, and a test of self-driving cars between Bristol and Bath. But the scooters, which are already in widespread, if unlawful, use across the UK, will initially only be allowed in four “future transport zones”: Portsmouth and Southampton; the West of England Combined Authority (WECA); Derby and Nottingham; and the West Midlands. The transport secretary, Grant Shapps, said the emerging technologies were “ripping up the rule book”. He continued: “Our groundbreaking future of transport programme marks the biggest review of transport laws in a generation and will pave the way for exciting new transport technology to be tested, cementing the UK’s position as a world-leading innovator. “This review will ensure we understand the potential impacts of a wide range of new transport types such as e-scooters, helping to properly inform any decisions on legalisation.” In other countries, electronic scooters have become strongly associated with rental apps, such as Lime, Bird, and the Uber subsidiary Jump. However, the legal situation has prevented them from operating e-scooters in the UK, except for Bird, which found a loophole that allowed the company to trial a service that remained exclusively on private land in London’s Olympic Park. Lime, which runs an electric bike rental scheme in the UK, welcomed the news. The company’s director of UK policy and government affairs, Alan Clarke, said: “We’re delighted that the government is exploring offering greener ways to travel. “Shared electric scooters are a safe, emission-free, affordable and convenient way of getting around. They help take cars off the road, with around a quarter of e-scooter trips replacing a car journey, cutting congestion and reducing air pollution.” The government needs to amend legislation before the pilot schemes can begin, however, meaning it will be several months until e-scooters are allowed on UK roads. Under current laws, powered transport must fall into one of three broad categories: cars and motorcycles, which require licences, MOT checks and registration; electric bikes, which are effectively treated as normal bicycles provided they are pedal-assist; and electric wheelchairs and mobility scooters, which have a special allowance to be used on pavements. The trial will assess what new restrictions should be put in place, such as a minimum age for riders, speed limits, licensing, insurance and helmets. Other topics include minimum design standards, whether they should be allowed in cycle lanes, and what powers local authorities should have to manage e-scooter hire firms. The absence of legislation enabling legal use of e-scooters on public roads has not prevented them being sold in Britain, however. The YouTube star and TV presenter Emily Hartridge became the first person in the UK to be killed while riding an e-scooter when she was struck by a lorry in Battersea, south London, in July last year, and the Metropolitan police stopped nearly 100 riders in London in a single week last summer.

Carnegie eyes UK for its biggest wave energy project

Perth-based company, Carnegie Wave Energy, says it is likely to build its biggest wave energy project to date in the UK, with a planned 15MW project, taking advantage of generous government support on tariffs and grants in what is emerging as the biggest wave energy market in the world. CEO Michael Ottaviano says Carnegie will build the project at its Garden Island test bed, using its latest CETO 6 technology. Ottaviano says the UK project will occur in two stages, firstly a single CETO 6 unit followed by the balance of the project, which could be for nine to 14 further units, taking the installation size to 10MW or 15MW. The company has so far spent AUD100m on R&D but says it is well capitalised.

http://www.power-technology.com/news/newscarnegie-wave-energy-secures-fund-commercialisation-wave-electricity-technology-4733535

Wave Carnegie Energy, the Australian developer of the CETO Wave Energy Technology, has secured a $20m loan from Commonwealth Bank of Australia for further development of the technology and its commercialisation. The additional funding will help the company making the technology export ready for global application. The loan will replace the existing $20m loan the company had secured from the Australian’s Government’s Clean Energy Finance Corporation (CEFC). Wave Carnegie Energy chief financial officer Aidan Flynn said: "This cost competitive capital from the CBA will help Carnegie take a significant step forward in our development and commercialisation of the CETO technology, including the integration of CETO into a microgrid with other renewable energy sources. "This cost competitive capital from the CBA will help Carnegie take a significant step forward in our development and commercialisation of the CETO technology." "This will put us in a strong position to compete in the global, developing wave energy market." The CETO system converts ocean wave energy into electricity and desalinated water. It features a pump, pod and hoses / fluid connection and tether connects the pods to the foundation of the connector, which consists of synthetic rope. The submerged buoys drive pumps and generators that are contained offshore, within the buoy itself, with power delivered back to shore through subsea cables to power desalination plants, as well as for export into the grid. Compared to offshore wind farms, it is claimed to be safer as it operates under water while making less visual impact. The CETO 6 unit plans to generate 1MW, which is four times the capacity of its CETO 5 used in the Perth Project. It has already received $11m funding from the Australian Renewable Energy Agency’s Emerging Renewables Programme. The generated clean energy will be supplied to the Australian Department of Defence at Australia’s largest naval base, HMAS Stirling, on Garden Island in Western Australia. Commonwealth Bank Corporate Financial Services WA general manager Gary McGrath said: "The wave energy sector is an industry of the future with great potential for Australia to be a world leader and exporter of renewable energy technology." The bank has also agreed to provide an additional loan of $1m for the Garden Island Microgrid (GIMG) Project. The GIMG Project is a wave integrated microgrid project located on Garden Island, WA, which will use the CETO 6 Project currently underway. It will also be integrated with the existing operating desalination plant along with a new additional Solar Photovoltaic (PV) farm, energy storage and a control system. The detailed design phase and construction of GIMG project is expected to start in 2016 ahead of CETO 6 construction.

Growth of Brazilian ethanol slowed by fall in demand: Covid-19

Brazil's growing ethanol market has started to slow amid a fall in demand caused by the coronavirus outbreak and the Saudi-Russian oil price war where lower oil prices are making ethanol less competitive. In the first two weeks of March, Brazil had 32 sugar-derived ethanol units operating and 11 corn-derived ethanol plants, compared with 25 units and six plants in the same period last year. Some companies are shifting production to alcohol-based cleaning supplies to help tackle the Covid-19 pandemic while investors could also prioritise sugar production instead of fuel.

https://biofuels-news.com/news/brazils-ethanol-production-takes-a-hit-as-global-virus-impact-mounts/

Brazil’s ethanol production takes a hit as global virus impact mounts Concerns are growing as to whether Brazil will be able to maintain its recent growth pace for ethanol production as demand for biofuels reduces as the global Covid19 impact continues to bite. The Latin American country produced 244m litres of ethanol from sugarcane during the first two weeks of March, according to Brazilian sugarcane industry association Única. Ethanol output from corn the same period amounted to 85.6mn litres. A total of 32 sugar units and 11 corn plants were operating in the first half of this month, compared to 25 units and six plants, respectively, in the same period last year. In the two-week period, anhydrous ethanol used in gasoline mixes registered 383mn litres in sales, up 3% year-on-year, while hydrous ethanol, which is used directly as fuel, saw sales of 691m litres. Brazil’s ethanol products are also becoming less competitive due to the sharp reduction in oil prices after Saudi-Arabia and Russia failed to agree on oil output cuts. Investors could concentrate on prioritising sugar production over fuels. And some of those companies are also increasing the output of cleaning supplies based on alcohol to help fight the COVID-19 pandemic. “With the reductions made so far in gasoline prices ethanol producers are already due to face difficulties,” said Rodrigo Leão, coordinator of the institute for technical studies of oil, gas, and biofuels. Unica said reductions in gasoline prices were not felt yet by final consumers and that the effects of current market conditions will start to show when final numbers for March are released. In order to help trading and distribution firms, sector regulator ANP said it would make mandatory ethanol stock rules more flexible.

Power Plant may have to help in Californian drought

Desperation for a new water supply due to droughts in California has lead the San Luis Obispo Counter Supervisors to approach the PG&E’s Diablo Canyon Power Plant.  The company can produce nearly a million gallons of water a day but this has only been available for internal use so far.  The plan is to buy 60% of this hopefully non-contaminated water from PG&E, which is critically needed in the short term.  It is not clear how much this will cost residents and businesses in the region.

http://www.sott.net/article/298720-Diablo-Canyon-Nuclear-Power-Plant-a-soon-to-be-new-water-source-for-the-county

"We could pump this to a treatment facility or build a separate treatment facility here and tie it into other existing water systems," says Jones. "This is an opportunity to create new water and to get us water that we critically need in the short term and for the long term as well," says San Luis Obispo County Supervisor Adam Hill. "We never want to see our CAL FIRE guys or our city fire guys having to deal with not having enough water," says Hill. San Luis Obispo County Supervisors are looking to the only new water source in the county, the desalination plant at PG&E's Diablo Canyon Power Plant.operating for the past 30 years. However, the drinkable water it is making, is only used at the power plant."It is our drinking water, it is the water we use in the kitchen, we operate it in the plant, it is all the water we use on site," says Tom Jones, who oversees the desal facility at the power plant. "The water started in the Pacific, went through our water treatment plant -- it is a water desalination facility.The harsh drought leaving a dry mark on the state, officials say this water can be used for much more than the plant's uses.In the state of California, this is the largest operating desalination plant that can produce up to one million gallons of water a day, butHill does not want that extra water to go waste. He says his plan is to buy the extra 60 percent from PG&E.With the depleting reservoirs, time is of the essence."It would be a couple months to a year or two," says Jones. "We would have to construct a pipeline from Diablo Canyon to the front gate which is about seven and a half miles,County officials say the first priority areas are the South County basins. Next would be the Los Osos area. Eventually, the county's goal is to expand the desal plant to be able to sell the water to neighboring counties.It is not clear how much that water would cost residents or how much the county would spend on the project.

New Zealand rules out frozen food as cause of COVID-19 outbreak

New Zealand have now dismissed previous suspicions of the recent spike in Covid-19 coming from imported frozen meats from the USA. The reason behind the spike of 13 new cases is still unknown.

https://www.news18.com/news/world/new-zealand-rules-out-covid-19-outbreak-links-to-freight-or-frozen-items-2796743.html

WELLINGTON/SYDNEY New Zealand on Tuesday ruled out the possibility that a coronavirus outbreak in its biggest city of Auckland came from frozen food items or freight, as it reported 13 new cases. Investigations suggested the virus had not come through chilled services or material arriving from overseas at an Americold cold-storage facility in Auckland where one of the recently infected individuals worked, health officials said. “Seems clear now that the possibility is being ruled out from that investigation," Director General of Health Ashley Bloomfield told reporters. The origin of the latest outbreak is still unknown, and transmission through the environment in the cold storage was one theory being considered. New Zealand has fared far better than most countries during the pandemic, but an abrupt resurgence of COVID-19 last week in Auckland prompted the government to extend a lockdown for the city’s 1.7 million residents until Aug. 26, while social distancing rules are in place in other towns and cities. An additional 13 cases were reported in the community on Tuesday, taking the total number of active cases to 90, of which 69 were linked to the outbreak in Auckland. New Zealand’s total number of coronavirus infections now stands at 1,293, with 22 deaths. New Zealanders celebrated when the country passed 100 days without any community transmission earlier this month. With an election due in mid-October, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern is keen to remind voters of her government’s track record on fighting the virus. “Every other single country in the world has experienced resurgence. We went longer than many, our outbreak is certainly not as significant as what we are seeing in Vietnam, in Hong Kong, in South Korea or in Australia," she told state broadcaster TVNZ. Disclaimer: This post has been auto-published from an agency feed without any modifications to the text and has not been reviewed by an editor

Morningstar buys Sustainalytics stake as data market consolidates

Chicago-based Morningstar has acquired a 40% stake in Sustainalytics, an environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research firm. The deal will see Steven Smit, Morningstar's head of sustainability, join the Sustainalytics board of directors, and the latter firm's executive team take a minority equity stake in Morningstar in exchange. The rest of the terms of the acquisition were undisclosed. Last year, the two companies entered into a strategic collaboration that resulted in the launch of the Morningstar Sustainability Rating.

https://www.ipe.com/news/esg/morningstar-buys-40-of-esg-data-firm-sustainalytics/10020020.article

Investment research firm Morningstar has acquired a 40% stake in environmental, social, and governance (ESG) research and ratings firm Sustainalytics, in a sign of the growing consolidation in the field. The terms of the deal were not disclosed, although Steven Smit, head of sustainability at Morningstar, will join the Sustainalytics board of directors. The Sustainalytics executive team has also taken a minority equity stake in the company. It is the third major merger and acquisition deal involving investment data firms in less than year. In October 2016, S&P Dow Jones Indices picked up a controlling stake in carbon and environmental data company Trucost, while ISS acquired the investment climate data division of South Pole Group last month. Morningstar said the direct investment in Sustainalytics was “an important milestone in its long-term sustainability strategy and [would support] Sustainalytics’ ability to deliver high-quality, innovative ESG products and services to the global investment community”. The deal followed a strategic collaboration between the two firms that resulted in the launch of the Morningstar Sustainability Rating in March 2016 for global mutual and exchange-traded funds (ETFs). Morningstar CEO Kunal Kapoor said the deal allowed Morningstar to build on the momentum from the launch of the Sustainability Rating. “We have the largest ESG fund coverage universe today, and we look forward to continuing to meet the increasingly sophisticated ESG needs and requirements of our clients through integrated solutions and innovative research that highlights good stewardship, lower costs, and transparency for investors,” Kapoor said. The Morningstar Sustainability Rating, which covers more than 35,000 mutual funds and ETFs, uses Sustainalytics’ company-level ESG research, allowing investors to gauge how well companies held in their funds are managing ESG issues. In October 2016, Morningstar launched the Global Sustainability Index Family, a series of 27 global equity indexes designed to provide a standard for sustainability investing. It also released company-level ESG metrics for the holdings of 35,000 mutual funds and ETFs in April 2017. A tool enabling investors to screen portfolios for various ethical issues was launched in June 2017. Michael Jantzi, chief executive officer of Sustainalytics, said: “Close collaboration with Morningstar over the last two years has helped to broaden distribution of our ESG research, allowing Sustainalytics to work with more asset managers and owners to integrate ESG into their investment processes.”

ExxonMobil trials FAME-based marine biofuel oil in Rotterdam

ExxonMobil has conducted successful sea trials of its inaugural 0.5% sulphur residual-based biofuel oil, which contains second generation waste-based fatty acid methyl esters (FAME) and can cut CO2 emissions by up to 40%. The trials were conducted in collaboration with Stena Bulk in Rotterdam. The fuel can be used in unmodified marine applications and is expected to support the International Maritime Organization’s shipping emissions targets. The trial included evaluating on-board storage, treatment and handling. The biofuel was used in engines and on-board machinery. The trial was an important step towards supplying low-emission fuel to meet customer demand, said ExxonMobil.

https://biofuels-news.com/news/exxonmobil-successfully-trials-first-marine-biofuel-oil/

ExxonMobil successfully trials first marine biofuel oil ExxonMobil has completed a successful sea trial of the company’s first marine biofuel oil with shipping company Stena Bulk bunkered in the port of Rotterdam. The marine biofuel oil is a 0.50% sulphur residual-based fuel (VLSFO) processed with a second generation waste-based FAME component - and will be available later this year – initially in Rotterdam - before wider launch across the ExxonMobil port network. The trial demonstrated that the marine biofuel oil, which can provide a CO2 emission reduction of up to 40% compared with conventional marine fuel, can be used in a relevant marine application without modification. This also supports the International Maritime Organisation’s ambition to reduce total annual emissions from international shipping by 2050. “With new marine fuels coming to market recently, the need for quality fuels that are both reliable and ISO compliant has never been greater,” said Cowan Lee, Marine Fuels marketing manager at ExxonMobil. “ExxonMobil’s new marine bio fuel oil meets that growing need as it has been extensively tested, is sulphur compliant and can make a significant contribution in helping operators reduce their CO2 emissions.” He added: “As operators face increasingly stringent regulations and significant pressure from customers to demonstrate their commitment to reducing GHG emissions, this is an important next step in providing the lower-emissions fuels that operators want and need.” The Stena Bulk sea trial was carried out while the vessel was in commercial operation. The trial included evaluation of on-board storage, handling, and treatment and the fuel was consumed in engines and other machinery on-board. “We believe biofuels have an important role to play in accelerating the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions in shipping," said Erik Hånell, president and CEO of Stena Bulk.

Aust authorities warn on cyber security

The Australian government has warned about the real possibility of a major cyber attack on one of its secure networks, following the publication of a Threat Report last week. The report by the Australian Cyber Security Centre grades the existing threat level as low; however, they have warned that within three years, terrorist organisations will have the capacity to compromise a secure network with significant consequences. At present, terrorist groups are focusing their efforts on using the internet for propaganda purposes whilst trying to embarrass the government. This situation will change if terrorists gain access to the right people with the knowledge and expertise required to carry out cyber espionage.

http://www.9news.com.au/national/2016/10/12/06/11/aust-authorities-warn-on-cyber-security

The Australian government warns the prospect of terrorists launching a significant cyber attack on one of its secure networks is real and serious. A new report by the Australian Cyber Security Centre ranks the current threat level as low, with terrorist groups more likely to embarrass governments and exploit the internet for propaganda purposes. But it predicts that within three years, they could have the ability to compromise a secure network with "disruptive and destructive effect". "Of course they're developing their wherewithal when it comes to this area and they're looking to see 'ok, can we use cyber as an offensive weapon?'," Dan Tehan, the minister assisting the prime minister for cyber security, said. "The real danger is if they're able to recruit and get the right people, then they will be able to use cyber as an offensive weapon and that's what we've got to be aware of." The 2016 Threat Report, released on Wednesday, said foreign states represented the greatest level of threat to Australian government networks. It revealed that last year's cyber attack on the Bureau of Meteorology was the work of a foreign intelligence service, which managed to install malicious software and steal sensitive documents. Mr Tehan wouldn't specify which country, but said it showed cyber espionage was alive and well. "We have to make sure that we're taking all the steps necessary to keep us safe, because the threat is there and the threat is real," he said. The prime minister's special adviser on cyber security, Alastair MacGibbon, hopes sharing details of the breach will increase public awareness of cyber threats. "Until we talk about it, like any other social problem, we will never get to the right solutions," he told ABC TV. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten said Labor was committed to working constructively with the government, its agencies and authorities to improving cyber security. "I do not for one moment underestimate the cyber threat to the security of government agencies and others," he told reporters. "Australia is a great country, we do a lot of things that other people are jealous of and would like to be like us so cyber security is absolutely an appropriate national priority for this parliament and for Labor to work with the Liberals." The report said there were 1095 serious cyber security incidents on government systems in the 18 months to June 30. A total of 14,804 incidents affecting Australian businesses - 418 of which involved systems of national interest - were reported between July 2015 and June this year.

Britain shifts towards military intervention into Libya

The UK government has said that it is ready to consider any request from the new Libyan government for support in countering ISIS. Foreign Secretary Philip Hammond who travelled to the country on 18 April to meet the leaders of the UN-backed administration, which is currently based at Tripoli’s naval base, revealed that such a request was “quite possible” and likely to be made in relation to the coastal city of Sirte. Hammond ruled out the use of ground troops used in combat, but suggested that military personnel could be deployed to help train the new administration’s army and police. He also suggested that the UK could also offer naval or air support. On his return from Libya, Hammond argued that ISIS was currently “thin on the ground” in the country, suggesting that: “There are many pointers that now is the time to move against them.” This reflects the wider concern that ISIS is looking to gain a foothold in Libya following its losses in Iraq and Syria.

http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/british-jets-could-bomb-isis-fighters-in-libya-uk-government-says-a6991756.html

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email 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 View from Westminster email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Renewed Western military intervention in Libya has inched closer after the Government said it would be ready to consider any request from the new government in Tripoli for naval or air support to help dislodge Isis from its stronghold in the country. Philip Hammond, the Foreign Secretary, who this week travelled to Libya to meet leaders of the UN-backed government of national accord (GNA), said that it was “quite possible” such a request would be made in relation to the coastal city of Sirte, which fell to Isis a year ago. Recommended Read more Philip Hammond visits Libya to support new unity government While ruling out UK ground troops being deployed to the country in a combat role, Mr Hammond confirmed that the UK would be ready to contribute to an international force to train fledgling Libyan administration’s army and police force. Libya has been embroiled in political chaos since the fall of Colonel Muammar Gaddafi during a Western-backed rebellion in 2011. The GNA was formed in January and established itself in Tripoli last month. Western powers are hopeful it can unite Libyans, combat Isis and restore order to the country, which Mr Hammond said was currently divided between around 120 competing groups. Speaking to MPs in the House of Commons on his return from Tripoli, Mr Hammond said Isis was currently “thin on the ground” in Libya, with around 3,000 fighters. “There are many pointers that now is the time to move against them”. However, he said that no request had yet been received, and that if Britain were to take military action, it would require the approval of MPs. “I can envisage Prime Minister Sarraj, if his government is successful, being able to muster enough ground forces to mount an attack on the Daesh (Isis) stronghold around Sirte,” he said. “It is certainly the case that the Libyans will not be able to develop either naval or air assets in any reasonable period of time to support such an operation and indeed it is quite possible that from a military point of view they would seek assistance from outside…There has been no such request, no discussion of such a request but if it comes we will consider it and if we think the UK should participate in such an action we will come to the House and seek a vote.” Mr Hammond said that the numbers of troops that would be sent in the event of the Libyan government requesting a military training force would be in the tens or hundreds, and would be part of wider international UN-backed efforts. But the Government faced warnings that troops on the ground in Libya in any capacity would be a risk. Crispin Blunt, the Conservative chair of the House of Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, warned the Foreign Secretary that he was “dancing on pretty thin ice” in trying to differentiate between a training mission and a combat mission in a country as unstable as Libya. Mr Blunt has previously warned that even a training mission would “inevitably be seen as Western intervention” in Libya and would risk British troops coming under attack from “various militia and Islamic State”. Mr Hammond said that there was a “big difference between training and advising troops and engaging in combat activities”, pointing to the UK’s existing role in training military forces in Afghanistan and Iraq. Isis captured the coastal city of Sirte last year. The city, near the birthplace of Colonel Gaddafi, became a key battleground during the country’s civil war and was also the site of the dictator’s eventual capture and execution. Members of the United Nations Support Mission in Libya met in Tunisia last week to discuss ways in which the international community could support the new Libyan government. Asked whether the UK had discussed military options in Libya with international allies, the Prime Minister’s spokesperson said: “There have been discussions between international partners on what the international community can do to support the Libyan government on a whole range of issues including technical assistance, what support we can offer on the security side. “We were involved in driving forward some of those discussions in a meeting that took place in Tunis last week, on broader support of the new national government of Libya.”

Coronavirus sends orders for industrial robots soaring amid labor shortages

China's light-weight robot manufacturer Rokae Robot told the Global Times on Sunday that its shipments are forecast to surge about 50 percent in 2020. Labor-intensive manufacturing firms expressed eagerness for automation due to labor shortages, whilst companies who were automated before the outbreak have been "barely affected". According to Cong Yi, a professor at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, automation will improve manufacturing safety and efficiency, helping companies to resist risk and maintain long-term competitiveness.

https://www.globaltimes.cn/content/1181352.shtml

Contestants compete in the 3rd National Industrial Robot Technology Application Skills Competition in Jinan, capital of east China's Shandong Province, on October. 18, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng) RELATED ARTICLES: Sales of domestic industrial robots saw first decrease in H1 As Chinese companies struggle to reopen amid labor shortages caused by strict coronavirus control measures across the country, demand for industrial robots and highly automated production lines has been catalyzed recently.China's light-weight robot manufacturer Rokae Robot told the Global Times on Sunday that its shipments are forecast to surge about 50 percent in 2020, as labor-intensive manufacturing firms expressed eagerness for automation due to labor shortages amid the coronavirus outbreak.On February 8, when most companies were waiting to resume operations due to the outbreak, Rokae Robot's plant in Zoucheng, East China's Shandong Province, began its delivery of a flat pipe stacker to Skawina, Poland. It was the company's first delivery after the Spring Festival."After we officially resumed production on February 12, we received many inquiries from potential clients, while many old clients said they'll make more orders," said CEO Tuo Hua, noting that the management figuring out how to meet the requirements of new orders by several labor-intensive factories.SIASUN, a high-tech robotics company belonging to the Chinese Academy of Sciences, told the Global Times on Monday that the company has received orders for nearly 100 sets of smart production lines for face masks, with the first few dozen pieces of equipment expected to roll off the production line soon.Amid a nationwide clampdown on traffic to contain the spread of the virus, hundreds of millions of workers can't return to their posts, forcing companies to send buses to villages to pick up their employees or give financial incentives."It's extremely hard for labor-intensive industries to find workers, but those adopting automated production lines are barely affected by the outbreak, sparking demand for robots replacing labor or automation solutions," Tuo told the Global Times on Sunday.He considered the trend a positive stimulus to the industrial robot industry in the long run, although there may be delivery challenges in the short term, and some clients may cut their fixed-asset investment budgets because of macroeconomic downward pressure.China is the world's largest industrial robot market. The country's installations stood at 154,000 units in 2018, accounting for 36 percent of the global total. The robots are mainly used in industries such as automobiles, electronics, metals and machinery."A substantial growth in applying industrial robots in a range of segments of the manufacturing sector will give rise to the development of special robots, setting off a new boom for industrial robots' applications," Wang Guoyao, deputy secretary of the Zhejiang Robot Industry Association, told the Global Times on Sunday.Since the outbreak, robots have been applied in many scenarios like package delivery, disinfection and body temperature tests to reduce human contact. Chinese e-commerce platform JD.com launched robot and drone deliveries in the epicenter Wuhan, Central China's Hubei Province in early February, while it also arranged two drones to spray disinfectant in an industrial city of North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region."If the disease can be controlled by April as some experts predict, domestic companies' demand for industrial robots will be on the rise in 2020," Wang said, adding that obvious growth won't be noticed for months as manufacturing companies' production lines need remodeling to introduce automation.Cong Yi, a professor at Tianjin University of Finance and Economics, told the Global Times on Sunday that domestic manufacturers should seize the opportunity to seek upgrading."Automation and intelligence will not only improve manufacturing safety and efficiency. Those factors will also help companies resist risks and maintain long-term competitiveness," he said.

AT&T to end targeted ads program, give all users lowest available price

AT&T is bringing an end to its controversial Internet Preferences advertising program in October, according to reports. While AT&T says the move is to "simplify our offering for our customers", it also comes ahead of stricter privacy rules which could be imposed by the Federal Communications Commission. AT&T customers who wanted to pay the lowest rate for its its GigaPower fiber Internet service had to opt into the service to benefit. FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has said users' internet service providers are "uniquely capable of inspecting a customer's entire Web browsing history."

http://arstechnica.com/information-technology/2016/09/att-to-end-targeted-ads-program-give-all-users-lowest-available-price/

AT&T is getting rid of Internet Preferences, the controversial program that analyzes home Internet customers' Web browsing habits in order to serve up targeted ads. “To simplify our offering for our customers, we plan to end the optional Internet Preferences advertising program related to our fastest Internet speed tiers," an AT&T spokesperson confirmed to Ars today. "As a result, all customers on these tiers will receive the best rate we have available for their speed tier in their area. We’ll begin communicating this update to customers early next week.” Data collection and targeted ads will be shut off, AT&T also confirmed. Since AT&T introduced Internet Preferences for its GigaPower fiber Internet service in 2013, customers had to opt into the traffic scanning program in order to receive the lowest available rate. Customers who wanted more privacy had to pay another $29 a month for standalone Internet access; bundles including TV or phone service could cost more than $60 extra when customers didn't opt in. The lowest price depends on how much competition is in each city. AT&T tended to match Google Fiber's $70 price for gigabit Internet in cities where both ISPs operate, while charging more elsewhere. Last year, AT&T customers outside Google Fiber areas had to pay an extra $40 a month, even with Internet Preferences enabled, though more recently it's been an extra $20. AT&T never detailed exactly how it was scanning customer traffic, but the program likely uses deep packet inspection. The program collects data regardless of a Web browser's privacy settings for cookies, do-not-track, and private browsing. Customers could encrypt their traffic with a VPN, but that requires signing up for a separate service that might slow down their Web browsing. “Your ISP handles all of your network traffic” AT&T told us it will "sunset the Internet Preferences program beginning in October," but didn't offer any further explanation of why it's making the change. Perhaps the program wasn't as profitable as AT&T hoped. The company could also be wary of a Federal Communications Commission proceeding that may implement stricter privacy rules before the end of the year, though those rules are expected to allow ISPs to use targeted ads as long as customers provide their consent. Advertisement Internet users will continue to see plenty of targeted ads from individual websites, but FCC Chairman Tom Wheeler has argued that ISPs are uniquely capable of inspecting a customer's entire Web browsing history. "Your ISP handles all of your network traffic," Wheeler wrote in March, when introducing his proposed rules. "That means it has a broad view of all of your unencrypted online activity—when you are online, the websites you visit, and the apps you use. If you have a mobile device, your provider can track your physical location throughout the day in real time. Even when data is encrypted, your broadband provider can piece together significant amounts of information about you—including private information such as a chronic medical condition or financial problems—based on your online activity." AT&T's targeted ads generally appeared on websites, but the program also included e-mail marketing and postal mailings. Even as AT&T plans to end Internet Preferences, it has spoken out against the FCC's proposed regulations, arguing that ISPs shouldn't face stricter rules than websites like Google and Facebook. Some AT&T customer service representatives have already told subscribers of the advertising program's impending demise. We contacted AT&T about its plans for Internet Preferences yesterday, after a reader pointed us to a DSLReports forum thread on the topic. "I was just on the phone with someone at AT&T sorting out billing issues. She read an internal memo that said that they were going to do away with the Internet Preference for Gigapower users on October 2," one DSLReports forum member wrote. "To clarify, 'Internet Preferences' is what they call the 'deep packet inspection to target ads at us, the customers.'" Another customer who just signed up for AT&T Internet service reported being told something similar. "Sir, if I were you I would be concerned about this as well," an AT&T rep told the customer, according to a forum post. "But on October 2, the [Internet] Preferences will be going away. We will still be selling (Gigapower) at $70 and applying the discount, but we will be discontinuing the option to opt-in to Internet Preferences." The forum thread also includes what appears to be an AT&T internal memo that said the company will sunset Internet Preferences "and automatically offer all customers the same low rate available in their area." The memo said the "vast majority" of fiber customers had opted into the program.

Tech Mahindra to develop AI-based solutions with SEW

India’s Tech Mahindra will partner with US-based Smart Energy Water (SEW) to develop AI and machine learning-backed solutions that aim to accelerate the digitisation of energy and water utilities. Under the collaboration, SEW and Tech will develop personalised end-to-end solutions for utility industry customers designed to increase efficiency and improve the customer experience.

https://www.technicalreviewmiddleeast.com/power-a-water/water-a-environment/tech-mahindra-partners-with-and-smart-energy-water-for-energy-and-water-utility

Tech Mahindra partners with and Smart Energy Water for energy and water utility Tech Mahindra and Smart Energy Water (SEW) have announced a global partnership to accelerate digital transformation for energy and water utility industry The aim is to accelerate digital transformation for energy and water utility industry. (Image source: Alex Stemmer/Adobe Stock) Under the terms of the partnership, Tech Mahindra will deliver end-to-end digital solutions accelerating digital transformation for enterprises to make them future-ready with the seamless transformation of operations and enhance the customer experience. Tech Mahindra will assist SEW in their product development journey to build industry solutions, further to manage speed, scale, and availability for successful integration of cloud services, systems integration, managed services, and consulting services projects. As part of the collaboration, SEW?s digital customer experience (CX), workforce experience (WX), artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning (ML) will enable clients to develop a cost-effective digital transformation strategy. Ritesh Idnani, president, business process services, Tech Mahindra, said, ? As a global digital transformation provider, we support enterprises to adapt the fast-changing digital landscape with scalable, replicable and sustainable outputs. The partnership with Smart Energy Water (SEW) will enable our energy and utility customers to develop agility and generate greater efficiencies across operational business units, thus significantly improving customer experience and accelerating innovation in rapidly changing markets.? Tech Mahindra and SEW will develop and deliver personalised solution for the utility industry customers that can meet dynamic customer needs and create a connected experience. The partnership between Tech Mahindra and SEW will help in a rapid and consistent deployment of solutions, reduce customer query resolution time, enable high-quality automation resulting in the reduction of manual errors to give customers a strategic edge in the industry. As part of the TechMNxt.NOW charter, Tech Mahindra is focused on futurising the utility industry with a strategic transformation approach, powered by disruptive technologies, helping in delivering our promise to our customers to Run Better, Change Faster and Grow Greater.

Australia's grid can handle 75% renewable power: AEMO study

The Australian electricity market's frameworks and operating approaches must change before 2025 in order to allow more of the country's power to come from wind and solar, according to a study conducted by the Australian Energy Market Operator. The organization maintained that the country's grid has the technical capacity to run with 75% of its electricity generation coming from renewables. However, clean energy could be limited 50% or 60% of the electricity supply if alterations to markets and regulatory requirements are not made. 

https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2020/apr/30/australias-electricity-grid-could-run-with-75-renewables-market-operator-says

Australia already has the technical capacity to safely run a power grid in which 75% of the electricity comes from wind and solar and, if it gets regulations right, should occasionally reach this level within five years. A study by the Australian Energy Market Operator (Aemo) looking at how to incorporate more renewable energy into the system while maintaining grid security found wind and solar capacity was increasing rapidly, but the operation of the electricity market could hold it back unless settings were changed. Audrey Zibelman, Aemo’s chief executive, said the study made it clear that “operating approaches and market frameworks” were becoming less effective as more renewable energy was injected into the grid. “Australia already has the technical capability to safely operate a power system where three quarters of our energy at times comes from wind and solar generation,” she said. “However, to do so requires changes in our markets and regulatory requirements. Otherwise, Aemo will be required to limit the contribution of these wind and solar resources to 50% or 60% of electricity supply at any point in time, even though they are the lowest cost way of providing electricity.” The overall share of renewable energy in the National Electricity Market (NEM) reached 26% over the past month, according to the website Open NEM. It has occasionally risen to more than 50% for brief sunny and windy periods when demand for heating and air-conditioning was low. The Aemo study, published on Thursday, calls for changes well before 2025 to allow greater use of clean energy, including the introduction of new standards to maximise the potential of rooftop solar panels and construction of new transmission lines. It says Aemo found no insurmountable reasons why the grid could not not operate securely at even higher levels of wind and solar generation after 2025, especially given the pace of technological advancement. Key challenges to overcome in the short term include increasing variability and uncertainty in energy supply, dealing with changes in frequency and system strength, and the impact of greater generation from distributed sources, which differ from the traditional model of each state having a handful of large power plants. The report comes as Aemo celebrates steps taken last week to allow energy generated at five solar farms in western Victoria and south-western New South Wales to resume full power supply into the grid after stability issues were dealt with. The plants had been limited to half capacity for eight months due to grid congestion. A great bit of news on Friday evening - thanks for everyone’s help and a first for this use of technology https://t.co/poVyPjxit2 — Audrey Zibelman (@aazibelman) April 24, 2020 The Clean Energy Council has warned, and academics have found, that transmission and storage limitations are among the greatest roadblocks to the expansion of renewable energy. There has also been criticism of the Australian Electricity Market Commission, which sets rules for the grid, as being resistant to changes that would accelerate the influx of relatively cheap, variable clean energy. The report does not mention another often raised roadblock to future clean energy investment: the lack of an overarching national policy to guide the closure and replacement of coal-fired plants. The National Electricity Market, which covers the grid-connected country bar Western Australia and the Northern Territory, already has 17 gigawatts of wind and solar capacity. Aemo found under a “central” scenario mapped before the onset of Covid-19 that this could increase to 27 gigawatts by 2025. Zibelman said Aemo did not underestimate the scale of the work required to successfully adapt the national market, and said the report – the first in a multi-year project – would have far-reaching implications for the energy sector. “Given the pace and complexity of change in the [market], the study highlights the need for flexible market and regulatory frameworks that can adapt swiftly and effectively as our understanding of the changing power system evolves,” she said. In a statement on Thursday, the energy and emissions reduction minister, Angus Taylor, said the report highlighted the challenges of integrating record amounts of renewable energy into the grid. Taylor said the study recognised solar and wind energy “aren’t enough”, and the inertia in the system provided by synchronous generation would be crucial to maintaining grid security. He said an example of synchronous generation was a gas-fired plant, which runs on fossil fuel. It follows Taylor last week saying he wanted a “gas-fired recovery” from the Covid-19 pandemic.

India to have 135 GW renewables by 2024: Bridge to India

India is forecast to reach 82 GW of solar capacity and 53 GW of wind capacity by the end of 2024, according to the India Renewables Outlook 2024 report from Bridge to India. However, progress on projects is stalling for policy, execution and financial reasons, the report said. Advances in technology and competition are expected to contribute to lower tariffs but tenders are forecast to become more complex. Energy storage is expected to have huge potential in the future.

https://www.pv-tech.org/news/india-to-hit-82gw-of-solar-by-2024-bridge-to-india

India is projected to reach solar and wind power capacity of 82GW and 53GW respectively by the end of 2024 assuming a largely status-quo policy environment, according to a new report by consultancy Bridge to India. As per the chart above, this includes nearly 50GW of utility-scale solar, nearly 16GW of rooftop PV and more than 6.5GW of open-access solar. In its 'India Renewables Outlook 2024 report', Bridge to India pointed at three major variables affecting future trajectory for renewable power. These include policy support, power demand growth and thermal power plant load factors (PLFs). Policy friction between central and state governments was highlighted as a major drawback. Stagnation takes hold amid tricky execution and financing Looking at the present-day picture more closely, Bridge to India stated that “mega tenders are being pushed but actual progress is stagnating”. Policy, execution and financial pressures have slowed sector activity and raised concerns about the viability of projects under development. The Indian government's rhetoric over renewable energy targets is still seen as too ambitious; Bridge to India went as far as to say that the narrative is “usually too zealous, self-seeking and/ or lacking in intellectual rigour”. Nonetheless, the overall scene remains promising with solar and wind now by far the two cheapest greenfield power sources, with penetration growing from 3% to 10% in the last five years. Key trends ahead

EA now makes more money from Ultimate Team microtransactions then FIFA itself

Ultimate Team microtransactions now make up 28% of all EA’s sales. That's more than FIFA itself. The numbers are going up every year, sitting at 16% of total revenues in 2017 and 21% in 2018.

https://metro.co.uk/2019/07/25/ultimate-team-microtransactions-now-make-money-fifa-10461286/

FIFA Ultimate Team – EA’s most profitable product Ultimate Team microtransactions now make up 28% of all EA’s sales – more than FIFA itself. Pre-order Starfield premium edition and play it five days early Big publishers like EA and Activision are increasingly seeing more and more of their profits come from microtransactions, rather than the sale of video games themselves – and EA’s latest financial results have revealed just how unbalanced that relationship is becoming. As the modern-day equivalent to collecting Panini stickers, Ultimate Team in general last year accounted for a staggering 28% of the company’s net revenues. Although EA has tried to add microtransactions to many of its games (sometimes with limited success, as exemplified by the infamous Star Wars: Battlefront II) it’s the Ultimate Team mode in its various sports games where they’ve always proven the most popular. EA didn’t break down any of the statistics by individual games, with only a vague admission that a ‘substantial portion’ was down purely to the FIFA franchise – where Ultimate Team has always been especially popular. The numbers are going up every year, sitting at 16% of total revenues in 2017 and 21% in 2018. But even that 2017 figure is more than what EA make from sales of FIFA itself, with revenues from FIFA 19 accounting for only 14% of net sales last year. At the moment, 55% of EA’s revenues come from the actual sale of games, with everything else down to microtransactions and other ‘live service’ products like EA Access. That percentage decreases every year though, and will almost certainly reach the halfway point by the start of the next generation, becoming common place for not just EA but other major publishers as well. Which in turn explains why EA are so keen to prevent governments from classifying loot boxes as gambling, something which the UK gambling commission grudgingly agreed with but which is certain to be a subject legal experts will return to in the future. Email [email protected], leave a comment below, and follow us on Twitter

Southwestern counties begin to turn against Brexit in recent poll

Voters in the South West region of the UK now oppose Brexit, while a greater proportion of voters would like a second referendum, according to a YouGov survey, commissioned by the People's Vote campaign for a new referendum. Putting aside the "don't know" and those that would not vote, 51% of respondents would back Remain and 49% would back Leave in a new referendum, while 42% of respondents would like another vote compared to 35% who would not. Former YouGov president Peter Kellner called the poll the first "significant test" of public opinion since the 2016 vote.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/brexit-support-conservative-seats-uk-region-south-west-eu-referendum-poll-a8483406.html

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight 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 Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} The English region that could be crucial to a Conservative election victory and backed leaving the European Union in 2016 has swung against Brexit, according to a new poll. A YouGov survey shows people in the southwest now oppose the UK’s departure amid the chaos of the negotiations and the mounting prospect of a no-deal Brexit. The poll – commissioned by the People’s Vote campaign for a fresh referendum – adds that a greater proportion of people want another chance to vote on Brexit, by a margin of 42 per cent to 35 per cent. The Independent has launched its own Final Say campaign, pushing for the British people to have a referendum on the final deal eventually proposed by Theresa May, with more than half a million people having signed the petition. It also comes as the president of the Royal Society and Nobel prize-winning biologist Venki Ramakrishnan warned that a no-deal Brexit would be devastating for the UK’s science industry. According to the YouGov poll, when respondents were asked how they would vote if a fresh referendum were to be held, 46 per cent said they would Remain a member of the EU, 43 per cent opted for Leave, 6 per cent replied “don’t know” and a further 6 per cent said they would not vote. When pollsters excluded the don’t knows and would not vote, 51 per cent said they would back Remain while 49 per cent believed Leave would be the best option. At the 2016 referendum around 53 per cent of voters in the southwest cast their ballot for Leave while 47 opted Remain. The region is particularly crucial for the Conservatives as it often cited as being crucial to David Cameron’s surprise majority victory at the 2015 general election as his party swept away seats from the Liberal Democrats, who lost all of their 15 MPs. And at the 2017 snap election Theresa May’s party held 47 seats in the southwest while losing four – three to Labour and one to the Liberal Democrats. Peter Kellner, the former YouGov president, said the poll is the first “significant test” of public opinion in the region on Brexit since the 2016 referendum and demonstrates that “attitudes are beginning to shift”. People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Show all 30 1 / 30 People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Rex People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young protestor shouts as she takes part in the People's Vote demonstration against Brexit Getty Images People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal A protester's pro-EU t-shirt EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Gina Miller and Caroline Lucas EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Tens of thousands of people march through London EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EPA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Demonstrators at the People's Vote March Getty People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal 'Two months too young to decide on my future' REUTERS People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal A young girl joins in the march PA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal An EU flag is draped across the statue of Winston Chruchill in Parliament Square REUTERS People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal AFP/Getty Images People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Vince Cable MP, Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller, Tony Robinson and Caroline Lucas MP join with crowds PA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal PA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Crowds gather on Pall Mall PA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal A man resembling Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, joins EU supporters Reuters People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Reuters People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal People gather in Trafalgar Square REUTERS People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal Pro-EU campaigner Gina Miller and Tony Robinson PA People's Vote march – demanding vote on final Brexit deal EU supporters, calling on the government to give Britons a vote on the final Brexit deal, participate in the 'People's Vote' march REUTERS The poll also adds that 42 per cent of people would support a fresh public vote when negotiations with the bloc are completed and 35 per cent said they would oppose it. But if the prime minister’s negotiations in Brussels break down and the UK has to choose between staying in the EU or leaving without a deal, 47 per cent said they would prefer a fresh public vote while 27 per cent opted to hand the decision to MPs. “Voters in the southwest support a People’s Vote on any final Brexit deal negotiated by the government by a clear margin which rises much higher with the prospect of leaving the EU without any deal,” Mr Kellner added. The findings come ahead of a rally – organised by the People’s Vote campaign – in Bristol this weekend, with speakers including the senior Conservative MP Sarah Wollaston and the Liberal Democrat leader Sir Vince Cable. Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 / 10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: “We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries – nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. “And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union.” Ms Jenkyn’s also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliament’s influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of “unbalanced” reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: “As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commission’s sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. “At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. “I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely.” He went on to argue that the “general direction” of Ms May’s policies would leave the UK “in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one”. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Davis’s main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as ”courageous and principled” by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: “I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on.” Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did “not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide”. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: “The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. “The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn.” PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: “I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. “I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10.” PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: “I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. “I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form.” Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex Mr Kellner continued: “Opinion is still very polarised with big differences between the views of young people and older voters but it is interesting to see how many Leave supporters have concerns about the possible impact of Brexit on their region. “And the findings will put pressure on political parties as well. Labour voters in the southwest are at odds with their party’s official pro-Brexit position and this poll will make uncomfortable reading for local MPs who are toeing the party line.” The Labour MP Ben Bradshaw, who represents Exeter, said: “Whether they voted Leave or Remain in the referendum, members of the public from all walks of life in the southwest now want to take back control of the Brexit process from Westminster and demand a People’s Vote.” He added: “The botched Brexit being dumped on the southwest’s doorstep by politicians in Westminster will be a disaster for this brilliant region, its economy, its culture and its young people. “My own party is in danger of letting down its voters and young people in particular. I urge my colleagues who do not yet support a People’s Vote to study this poll and ask themselves whether they came into politics to stand against the views of our supporters or do they want to join us in the southwest in demanding our democratic voice is heard on Brexit.”

Farmers Are Buying Up Old Tractors Because New Ones Are Pointlessly Complicated and Expensive

Farmers are seeking out gently-used, simpler, and much cheaper tractors from the 1970s and '80s. While a major repair—such as an engine —may cost $15,000, this far undercuts the price to fix a modern, software-riddled machine. Because of all this, those old models are in high demand.

https://www.thedrive.com/news/31761/enormous-costs-of-new-tractors-drive-demand-of-40-year-old-equipment-to-all-time-highs

There's a looming issue for many of America's farmers, and it's got nothing to do with climate or trade deals or the EPA. No, what's really starting to hurt is the price of equipment—more specifically, large machines like tractors, harvesters, and the like. A new tractor in 2019 can cost as much as a damn house, and with DIY fixes often stymied by proprietary software and a lack of available parts, dealer repairs can stretch into the mid-five-figure range. So as the Minneapolis Star-Tribune reports, more farmers are taking a page out of the car enthusiast handbook and seeking out gently-used, simpler, and much cheaper tractors from the 1970s and '80s. A lot more farmers, in fact. Enough to drive up the price of something like an 800-hour 1979 John Deere 4640 to over $60,000 at a Minnesota auction last August, which is more than double the price a well-worn example would fetch, but still a bargain compared to a new $150,000 rig. (Tractors' lives are measured in hours of operation, not miles, with the average hard-working farm tractor logging around 500 hours per year.) Imagine buying a '79 Pontiac Trans Am with 20,000 miles on it, and you get the picture. The difference is, no farmer is paying that much for a low-hour tractor from the Carter Administration without planning on using it day in and day out until it breaks—then fixing it on their own, on the cheap. “They cost a fraction of the price, and then the operating costs are much less because they’re so much easier to fix,” said Kris Folland, a Minnesota farmer, to the Star Tribune. While a major repair—such as an engine or transmission—may cost $15,000 on a Malaise-era tractor, this far undercuts the price charged by a dealership to fix a modern, software-riddled machine. As manufacturers pack more technology than ever into today's tractors, they've also made it next-to-impossible for people to wrench on their own rigs by locking key systems behind firewalls only a dealer can unlock, using proprietary tools in assembly, and limiting the resale of spare parts. Getty Images Angry farmers have waged a very public battle with John Deere over this issue for several years now as right-to-repair bills of various scopes are being considered by over a dozen state legislators around the country, including Minnesota. Currently, only Massachusetts has a law in place, and it's limited to cars—but its implementation in 2013 is why everyone in the country, normal buyers and indy shops, can access the same diagnostic information and manuals for their 2002-newer cars that were previously limited to franchise dealerships (for a price, but still). A large majority of farmers are eager to see the same thing happen with tractors. Because of all this, those old models are in high demand. Sellers, including traditional farm equipment auction houses, know this and the effect is clear. Tractors that cost around $20,000 a few years back, such as a 1979 John Deere 4440 series, are now fetching nearly $45,000. Prices have doubled this decade, but that's still far below the $150,000 to $200,000 you'd pay for a new tractor that's fundamentally the same vehicle. But when will the price of throwback equipment reach its peak? That's yet to be seen. Given their lack of troublesome computer software, as well as taxing emissions equipment, they're a hard bargain to pass up. And it's not like these older machines can't be retrofitted with modern tech such as satellite-guided automatic steering. “The main reason we do this is to make money,” Folland said. “Older equipment is a way to reduce your cost per bushel to become more profitable.”

Australia Post Accelerator explores blockchains implementation in digitizing identities, registries and e-voting

Blockchain technology could be the answer to ensuring a secure identity when digitising areas such as health, education and government services, according to Australia Post Accelerator partner Rick Wingfield. He told delegates at the annual Technology in Government conference that the key to digitising these services was trust, and the use of a public ledger to store data, alongside a "two-key infrastructure" would go a long way toward making digitisation a reality.

http://www.econotimes.com/Australia-Post-Accelerator-explores-blockchains-implementation-in-digitizing-identities-registries-and-e-voting-252963

Australia Post Accelerator has started exploring three potential areas which could be transformed using blockchain technology. Australia Post Accelerator partner Rick Wingfield made the announcement at the annual Technology in Government conference, ZDNet reported. Winfield explained that the company has started prototyping in the area of identity, registries and e-voting. "If we're going to successfully digitise the economy and the hard parts of the economy that haven't been digitised yet ... the hard things like health, education, and government services, those things require trust. If we're going to digitise some of those things, then we need to know someone is who they say they are," he said. Wingfield highlighted security concerns if people's private information is put on a public ledger. He, however, said that the technology can help digitise the physical process of verifying a person's identity and can simplify registry accreditation. The incubation arm of Australia Post is also looking into is e-voting, as the pseudonymous nature of blockchain will ensure that people's votes will remain anonymous, similar to the current voting system, he said. "[T]he [blockchain] technology has a really good use to creating a lot more control for the citizen; putting citizens in control of their data, and potentially using the two key infrastructure for citizens to jointly encrypt their data with whichever government, department, or corporate that owns that data, so it can only be unlocked with the two keys”, he said. Earlier in March, reports suggested that Australia Post was considering blockchain technology to store digital identities, hoping that it will transform its service provision.

The FCA is making senior management responsible for the culture in their firms

Andrew Bailey, the chief executive of the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), says that the FCA is making senior management responsible for their firms’ culture. He explains that changes in banking culture will take time to reflect the implementation of the senior managers and certification regime and insurers scheme introduced by the FCA over six months ago. He reports that the FCA has generally seen responsibility being taken, though he accepts that there is still work to be done. The regime will extend to cover all financial services companies, including asset managers and hedge funds, in 2018.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2016/sep/27/the-fca-is-making-senior-management-responsible-for-the-culture-in-their-firms

At the end of last year, it was reported that the Financial Conduct Authority was dropping its review into banking culture. This led to a number of commentators saying the FCA doesn’t care about culture in financial services. I have been chief executive of the FCA for three months and I can tell you that nothing could be further from the truth. Culture matters a great deal. However, culture is not a tangible thing that can be taken down from a shelf and inspected. Culture is a way of doing things and a set of attitudes that determine behaviour by everyone involved in the organisation. It is shaped by many influences – incentive structures, risk management, the effectiveness of management and governance – all of which are examined by FCA supervisors in the firms we regulate. Getting the culture right means that the senior management of firms needs to set the right tone from the top – they need to take responsibility for the culture in their firms. Just over six months ago, thesenior managers and certification regime was introduced for all banks and building societies, and a parallel regime came in for insurers. These changes place responsibility at the heart of how these firms conduct themselves. As chief executive of the FCA, I am responsible for the organisation that regulates the conduct of over 56,000 financial firms. I am rightly held to account – byparliament and ultimately by the public we serve. I believe in taking responsibility for my actions and that the FCA must live by the principles it espouses. Just before the new accountability regime was introduced, I was at an event debating the concept of responsibility – with many arguing that it is a difficult thing to define. A young lady stood up and said that she didn’t know what all the fuss was about – she was teaching her children to take responsibility for their actions – so why should people who work in financial services be any different? Six months on is a good amount of time to see how the new regime is bedding in. Generally, we have observed that firms are taking their responsibilities seriously and have broadly got the regime right. But we recognise culture change takes time and there is still more to do. So we have to keep a watchful eye on the progress firms are making. Since the regime was introduced, we have been undertaking work to ensure that senior manager responsibilities are properly allocated and understood in firms. In some cases, we have seen evidence of overlapping or unclear allocation of responsibilities. In other cases firms appear to be sharing responsibility amongst more junior staff, obscuring who is genuinely responsible. This goes against the intention of the senior managers and certification regime and should not continue. The regime will be extended in 2018 to cover all financial services firms, including asset managers and hedge funds. This means that the same high standards will apply in both the banking and the “shadow banking” sectors and supports a level playing field for competition. Trust in financial services will only be rebuilt when the public truly believe that senior managers in our financial institutions are taking responsibility for the actions they take.

Data breaches soared by 17% in 2019: ‘We also saw the rise of a significant new threat’

The number of reported data breaches rose 17% to 1,473 in 2019 from 1,257 a year earlier. But there was a roughly 50% drop in the number of overall records exposed in 2019. Fraudsters who gain access to certain sensitive information can go on to open new lines of credit, commit identity theft. “We also saw the rise of a significant new threat — data exposure from unsecured databases — and growth of an existing tactic known as credential stuffing where data thieves use seemingly innocuous information like stolen email addresses and logins to attempt to access various kinds of accounts,” the ITRC report said. “Third-party vendors also continued to be a source of data breaches through accidental release or supply chain cyberattacks.”

https://www.marketwatch.com/story/data-breaches-soared-by-17-in-2019-but-theres-some-good-news-too-2020-01-29

Data breaches were on the rise last year, but there’s a silver lining. The number of reported data breaches rose 17% to 1,473 in 2019 from 1,257 a year earlier, according to a new report by the nonprofit Identity Theft Resource Center, suggesting that a trend-defying drop in data breaches recorded in 2018 was a mere “blip.” ITRC president and CEO Eva Velasquez called the recent rise in data breaches “a serious issue.” “It would appear that 2018 was an anomaly in how many data breaches were reported and the number of records exposed,” Velasquez said in a statement. “The 2019 reporting year sees a return to the pattern of the ever-increasing number of breaches and volume of records exposed.” But the ITRC analysis, which was sponsored by the cybersecurity solutions company CyberScout, also found there was a roughly 50% drop in the number of overall records exposed in 2019, and a 65% reduction — from more than 471 million in 2018 to under 165 million in 2019 — in the exposure of “sensitive personally identifiable information.” The 2018 Marriott MAR, +0.72% breach, during which the hospitality company announced there had been unauthorized access of up to 383 million records, including passport numbers and payment card numbers, skewed the sensitive-records data “significantly,” the ITRC said. (Marriott did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) Personally identifiable information (PII) can include Social Security numbers, driver’s license numbers, bank-account information and dates of birth, the ITRC says. Fraudsters who gain access to certain sensitive information can go on to open new lines of credit, commit identity theft and make fraudulent financial charges. Experts recommend that consumers protect against identity fraud by freezing their credit with the major credit bureaus and monitoring their financial transactions. “Banking, credit and financial-sector breaches in 2019 were responsible for exposing some 61% of the sensitive records, despite having just 8% of breaches that year.” “We also saw the rise of a significant new threat — data exposure from unsecured databases — and growth of an existing tactic known as credential stuffing where data thieves use seemingly innocuous information like stolen email addresses and logins to attempt to access various kinds of accounts,” the ITRC report said. “Third-party vendors also continued to be a source of data breaches through accidental release or supply chain cyberattacks.” What’s more, many companies in 2019 didn’t password-protect their cloud-based data, the report said. It remains largely unknown whether criminals ever accessed this data. The average total cost of a data breach for U.S.businesses is nearly $8.2 million, the highest of any country sampled, according to a 2019 analysis sponsored by IBM Security and conducted by the Ponemon Institute, a privacy and security research center. The average cost per lost record in the U.S. is $242, and the health-care industry has the highest industry average for cost per record, found the report, which was based on interviews with 500 companies in 16 states and regions that had experienced recent data breaches. While the greatest number of data breaches in 2019 occurred in the business sector (644), making up 44% of all 2019 breaches, the ITRC found that these business-sector breaches exposed just 11% of all sensitive records. In fact, banking, credit and financial-sector breaches in 2019 were responsible for exposing some 61% of the sensitive records, despite having just 8% of breaches that year. Of course, 2019 was the year Capital One COF, +0.19% revealed that a hacker had accessed the personal information of more than 100 million people, including Social Security numbers for around 140,000 people and 80,000 bank-account numbers. This breach accounted for 99% of sensitive records exposed within that sector, the ITRC said. (Capital One did not immediately return a request for comment.) The nonprofit also warned that non-sensitive personally identifiable information, like user names and passwords, had increasingly become targets “as many people use non-sensitive PII, such as usernames and passwords, to guard sensitive PII such as financial account details.” Many consumers reuse online credentials or use similar ones for the ease of remembering, the ITRC added. But bad actors can leverage their initial access to non-sensitive information into accessing “a wide variety of personal information” if people use the same credentials for both sensitive and non-sensitive accounts. One way to avoid this pitfall is to use a password manager. Hacking accounted for the highest share of data breaches at 39%, followed by “unauthorized access” at 36.5%. But the latter method exposed 86% of sensitive records that were exposed.