Datasets:

d0rj

/

curation-corpus

like 1

Wheels attaches helmets to bikes as part of redesign

Wheels, an electric bike-sharing start-up, has redesigned its e-scooter, adding a specific place for helmets to be attached. In the new design, the helmet effectively becomes part of the vehicle's infrastructure. Located at the bottom rear of the bike, riders can use the helmet for free, unlocking it via the Wheels app. Wheels is attempting to solve the problem of getting customers, who take impulsive scooter and e-bike rides, to wear helmets. Magnetic Reed sensors in the vehicles “recognize when the helmet is being used.” and first-time riders who choose to use the helmet receive a 20% discount. 

https://www.theverge.com/2019/12/10/21003734/wheels-electric-bike-bikeshare-helmet-redesign-included

Wheels, an electric bike-share startup with operations in half a dozen US cities, has redesigned its two-wheeled vehicle to include a special spot to hold a helmet. The helmet is locked to the rear rack of the bike and is free for riders to use. The helmet can only be unlocked via the Wheels app. And for those concerned about lice and germs, a peel-off biodegradable headliner is included in each helmet. Wheels says that magnetic Reed sensors in the bike “recognize when the helmet is being used.” And the company is offering riders a 20 percent discount for using the helmet to first-time customers. Wheels has electric bikes in service in Los Angeles, San Diego, Miami, Dallas, Austin, Scottsdale, and Cleveland, as well as Stockholm, Sweden. The company was founded earlier this year by Jonathan and Joshua Viner, brothers who also founded the popular dog-walking app Wag. They have since raised nearly $100 million to fund the expansion of their rentable e-bike service. How to get customers, who often take scooter rides impulsively, to wear helmets has been one of the more intractable problems of the shared electric scooter industry. According to a recent study, only one in 190 people injured while riding e-scooters was wearing a helmet. Recently, e-scooter startup Bird said it would start giving out free rides to customers who take selfies of themselves wearing helmets in an effort to promote safety while riding electric scooters. Revel, an electric moped-sharing business with operations in Brooklyn and Washington, DC, has a similar setup as Wheels with a helmet locked in a cargo compartment in the back. Researchers calculated that there were 20 individuals injured per 100,000 e-scooter trips taken during a three-month period in Austin, Texas. As scooter companies grow, the need to ensure that customers are taking their own safety into account has become a central challenge.

Federal Reserve stress test update

Morgan Stanley and BMO Financial have produced the weakest Tier 1 leverage ratio in the Federal Reserve stress tests. Citigroup and JP Morgan Chase, however, have shown gains in both Tier 1 common equity ratios and Tier 1 leverage ratios. While Wells Fargo has demonstrated little improvement, most US banks have benefitted from the anticipation surrounding the tests as stocks began to rise, shown as shares of Citigroup rose 4.2%. 

http://www.ifre.com/update-us-banks-flex-capital-muscle-in-annual-stress-test/21253003.article

(Reuters) - Big US banks are proving themselves to be stronger and sounder in an annual regulatory stress test, even as the Federal Reserve changes doomsday scenarios to keep them on their toes. (Adds analyst comment and detail of JP Morgan result) On Thursday, the Fed said each of the 33 US banks that underwent its standardized stress test were able to stay above minimum required capital levels in severe economic and market conditions. Banks that participated last year also passed, but their capital levels have largely improved since then. Overall, the 33 banks would suffer US$385bn in loan losses over nine quarters under the most severe scenario, the Fed said. In aggregate, a key ratio measuring high-quality capital against risk-weighted assets, known as the Tier 1 common equity ratio, would drop to a low of 8.4%. That is well above the 4.5% minimum set by regulators. (Click here to see how the banks performed) Since the Fed started stress testing banks in 2009, capital levels have risen and credit quality has improved, with bad loans rolling off the books. The Fed creates new inputs for market and economic chaos each year, and shocked investors in January when it included negative interest rates in the worst-case scenario. “Today’s results are particularly notable given the more stringent test assumptions above last year’s test,” said Richard Foster, senior counsel for regulatory and legal affairs at the industry trade group Financial Services Roundtable. “Banks now hold extremely high levels of capital and liquid assets as compared with historical averages.” Analyst Steven Chubak of Nomura Securities said, “For the big banks, the results were just incredibly robust.” Capital levels surged from last year’s results as the Fed gave the big banks credit for more revenue at the end of test period than some of the banks themselves expected, Chubak said. However, Thursday’s results are just one part of the Fed’s annual stress test process, and do not even offer a glimpse at what many investors really want to know: Will banks be able to use more capital for dividends and stock buybacks? This first test – called the Dodd-Frank Act Stress Test, or DFAST – is part of the sweeping financial reform law passed in the wake of the 2007-2009 financial crisis. It relies on standardized assumptions about capital levels and distributions for the tested banks, allowing for a consistent view across the industry. Next week, the Fed will release results of a more nuanced examination known as the Comprehensive Capital Analysis and Review, or CCAR. That test evaluates banks’ individually tailored plans for surviving a crisis. The Fed gives each bank a pass or fail grade for CCAR, based not only on hard numbers, but also on qualitative measures. That means the Fed can fail a bank because it did not approve of how management went about the capital planning process. “DFAST is sort of like a dress rehearsal for the CCAR,” said Ernie Patrikis, a partner at the White & Case law firm and a former bank regulatory official at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. Thirteen banks have failed CCAR since the Fed began disclosing results, according to research firm Trepp. In an analysis carried out before DFAST results were released, Trepp analysts predicted two-thirds of the banks will likely be allowed to increase their dividends. The percentage approved for dividends has been ticking down from 72% in 2013 to 67% in 2014, and 61% in 2015. “Banks generally are doing pretty well on earnings, so there is capacity to increase their dividends,” said Matt Anderson, managing director at Trepp. Negative rate pain The Fed will announce CCAR results on June 29. Failures are embarrassing, and the Fed allows banks to resubmit capital plans based on DFAST results to give them a second chance to pass. They have until Saturday to do so. Of the 33 banks that took part in DFAST, Huntington Bancshares Inc produced the lowest minimum Tier 1 common equity ratio, of 5%, under a severely adverse scenario. Morgan Stanley and BMO Financial Corp produced the weakest Tier 1 leverage ratio – another measure of capital strength relative to assets – of 4.9%, under that scenario. Banks also released their own stress test results, based on inputs set by the Fed. The figures did not necessarily match up. For instance, Morgan Stanley’s own capital ratios under severe stress were higher than the US Federal Reserve test result, as were Wells Fargo & Co’s and BMO’s. Banks that look marginal in DFAST may well have submitted capital plans that include the issuance of securities that would dramatically affect their capital scores. And, banks with strong numbers can still fail CCAR because the Fed considered the quality of their capital planning faulty. Citigroup Inc, for example, has had surprising results for both reasons in the past. This year, Citi racked up big gains, with its Tier 1 common equity ratio rising to 9.2% from 6.8% and its Tier 1 leverage ratio improving to 6.9% from 4.6%. JP Morgan Chase & Co saw its Tier 1 common equity ratio rise to 8.3% from 6.3%. Wells Fargo improved less, possibly because it relies more on consumer deposits for funding and therefore could have been hurt more by the negative interest rate scenario. The Fed generally assumes that banks would not be able to pass along negative rates to consumers by charging them for holding their deposits. Bank stocks rose on Thursday in anticipation of the stress test results, as well as the Brexit vote. Citigroup was one of the biggest beneficiaries, with its shares rising 4.2% to close at US$44.46, and gaining another 2.9% in after-hours trading. Reporting by Lisa Lambert and David Henry

** Frozen flying in lockdown [already covered?]

Frozen food sales were up by 30% during the lockdown. Reducing food waste was highlighted as one of the key reasons that consumers are switching from fresh to frozen. Almost half of UK shoppers have become more conscious of wasting food. One quarter of consumers are buying. more frozen equivalents of their regular fresh items.

https://www.scottishgrocer.co.uk/2020/08/04/frozen-flying-in-lockdown/

Waste conscious consumers make switch FROZEN food is enjoying a revival in the UK, according to a new study commissioned by Birds Eye and Iceland. The report revealed frozen food sales were up by 30% during the lockdown. Reducing food waste was highlighted as one of the key reasons that consumers are switching from frozen to fresh, with the report claiming almost half of UK shoppers have become more conscious of wasting food since lockdown measures were introduced in March. The survey revealed one quarter of consumers aged 18-24 are buying more frozen equivalents of their regular fresh items, with 31% trying new frozen foods such as meat substitutes. According to the report, 21% of consumers are including more frozen products in their cooking and there were indications this trend is set to continue. Of those surveyed, 24% said they plan to continue buying more frozen food even as coronavirus restrictions are lifted. Steve Challouma, UK general manager at Birds Eye said: “It’s clear that whilst lockdown has brought many different challenges, new frozen shopping habits have emerged to help us save money and reduce waste, whilst still enabling us to enjoy great quality and delicious food. “The research also shows that many of us are making healthy food choices and adding more goodness to our diet – with shoppers actively buying more frozen vegetables. “We’re excited to see shoppers discovering the many benefits of frozen food.”

Money&Co completes £1m of litigation finance

Money&Co has completed another £1m of litigation finance. The platform lends money for surveyor reports to confirm that there are major issues and claims are viable. Music is a safe investment and a good way of making money during a recession. valued at 440M

https://www.p2pfinancenews.co.uk/2020/04/21/moneyco-completes-1m-of-litigation-finance-and-400000-music-loan/

Money&Co has completed another £1m of litigation finance, as well as a £400,000 loan for music publishing company Bsides Music. The litigation finance is intended for tenants to take action against landlords, or homeowners of new builds against their insurance companies, for household disrepair. The platform lends money for surveyor reports to confirm that there are major issues and claims are viable. Read more: P2P fights back as coronavirus chaos threatens UK economy Meanwhile, the music loan, which was a five-year facility and offered an eight per cent yield and A plus security, was for Bsides Music to purchase a catalogue of music rights from a songwriter who specialises in Christian music, costing £538,000 including deal costs. The company put forward £138,000 in cash and Money&Co has made up the balance by raising and providing a £400,000 loan. The platform said that it is now working on another music loan for £2.2m and is looking for other music loans. “We did a music loan and litigation finance and neither were affected by Covid-19 because irrespective of the economy and what’s going on, people are still buying music rights and there’s still a need for finance for house disrepairs,” said Nicola Horlick (pictured), chief executive of Money&Co. “There’s more downloads and streaming during the lockdown. A lot of people at work can’t listen to music whereas at home they can have music in the background whilst working so some music streaming services have benefited during the lockdown. “Similarly, people are watching video streaming services like Netflix more and music is included in film and TV so that’s a further effect. “Music is a safe investment and a good way of making money during a recession. It’s uncorrelated with the stock market and being able to put a music loan into an Innovative Finance ISA and use the tax-free wrapper, is another benefit.” Horlick said that the government’s Help to Buy scheme has led to a rise in litigation claims on new build properties. She said that the scheme has had a slightly detrimental effect on household standards with many construction firms building new properties that are not up to the full standard. “In the old days people got legal aid to help and now they can’t, so they turn to the private sector for funding some of those claims,” Horlick said. “And that continues irrespective of Covid-19.” The interest in music loans follows the platform announcing in December that it plans to launch an investment product that will provide loans to songwriters and artists secured on their music rights.

GM virus could save Florida's orange industry

A genetically modified virus could save Florida’s citrus growing industry, which has seen 90% of groves infected with the fatal citrus greening disease at an annual cost of $1bn. Southern Gardens Citrus, one of the largest orange juice manufacturers in the world, has now established a process through which antibacterial proteins from the spinach plant are inserted into trees via their genome. A treated plant is then grafted onto an infected tree, enabling its new proteins to attack the disease. If the Environmental Protection Agency grants approval, growers could be using the system from 2019. 

https://www.wired.com/2017/04/save-floridas-famous-oranges-scientists-race-weaponize-virus/

Florida’s citrus growers are running out of time. Since 2005, when a deadly disease called citrus greening first showed up in the state, they’ve been fighting a losing battle to slow the spread of the sugar-sucking bacterium behind the scourge. Today, it has infected 90 percent of Florida’s citrus groves. Fifth-generation farmers are abandoning their acres, packing factories are shuttering their operations, and the state is hemorrhaging a billion dollars every year. One way to ensure the survival of Florida’s citrus industry---and most of the country’s orange juice---is to produce resistant trees, either with traditional breeding or genetic engineering. Both approaches are proving problematic. Despite exhaustive searches, no one has found a naturally immune tree. And it will take 10 to 20 years to engineer and approve an artificially resistant tree, even with new gene-editing tools like Crispr. Growers can’t wait that long. So to buy them time, one local citrus company is developing something more like an arboreal vaccine, using a genetically modified virus to deliver bacteria-killing spinach proteins. The treatment starts with a harmless virus that lives in nearly all of Florida’s citrus trees. Years ago, University of Florida plant pathologist Bill Dawson modified a local strain of the citrus tristeza virus so that anyone could insert new bits of DNA into its genome, turning it into a protein factory---otherwise known as a viral vector. Meanwhile, Southern Gardens Citrus, one of the world's largest orange juice manufacturers, was getting on the biotech bandwagon. Initially, the company planned to rid Florida of the citrus greening disease by breeding genetically modified trees. But each one takes at least three years just to mature. “What Florida needs is something quick,” says Dawson, “because whatever you’ve heard, it’s worse than you can imagine.” Something quick, Southern Gardens realized, would be to instead inoculate trees with the vector, which they then licensed from Dawson's lab. With the vector as its syringe, Southern Gardens just needed a drug to inject. Luckily, it had already screened dozens of genes in its search for a resistant tree---from vegetables, viruses, and even a pig. One particularly promising set of genes came from the spinach plant, coding for a group of antibacterial proteins called defensins. (You have defensins too, fighting off microbes in your saliva.) These spinach defensins worked especially well to chop up C. liberibacter, the bacterium that kills citrus trees by choking off their food supplies. Southern Gardens inserted the spinach genes into the viral vector; all that was left to do was take it to where the bacteria live. Trees don’t have veins, but they do have a circulatory system of sorts. Called phloem, these pipe-like tissues transport water, sugar, and nutrients from the roots to the leaves and fruit. That’s where C. liberibacter make their home, living off the trees’ food, preventing the fruits from accumulating sugars (that’s why they stay small and green, hence “greening disease”), and eventually starving the tree to death. To access that network, Southern Gardens grafts a vector-treated plant onto the infected tree. As the virus replicates inside the tree, it becomes a spinach defensin factory, and those proteins travel through the phloem attacking every C. literibacter they meet.

Nationalism takes away from poverty issues

He not only expressed his concern about poverty but also opined that it is very important to have a space in which there can be disagreement on the fundamental ideas of what India constitutes, what is nationalism and what is economic progress.Apart from sharing his views on poverty, He also spoke about how his years at JNU helped him attain a much better sense of Indian politics.I think it is very important - even when I do not agree with people's views - to have a space in which there can be disagreement on the fundamental ideas of what India constitutes, what is nationalism.

https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/nationalism-takes-away-from-poverty-issues-warns-nobel-laureate-abhijit-banerjee-exclusive-1609548-2019-10-15

By India Today Web Desk: Abhijit Vinayak Banerjee, the Indian-origin economist who jointly won the 2019 Nobel Prize with Esther Duflo and Michael Kremer, said strident nationalism diverts attention from pressing issues like poverty, especially in a country like India. In an exclusive interview to India Today TV Consulting Editor Rajdeep Sardesai, Banerjee also said that some sort of minimum income guarantee scheme is absolutely necessary for the country. advertisement Banerjee not only expressed his concern about poverty but also opined that it is very important to have a space in which there can be disagreement on the fundamental ideas of what India constitutes, what is nationalism and what is economic progress. Apart from sharing his views on poverty, Banerjee also spoke about how his years at JNU helped him attain a much better sense of Indian politics. The Nobel laureate also opened up on his relationship with his colleague and wife Esther, his love for Indian cuisine, and on the Bengali-Nobel connection. Here is the full transcript of the interview: Rajdeep Sardesai: Give us a sense of how you are feeling at the moment with that title now before you as a Nobel laureate? Abhijit Banerjee: I am elated. I mean, how would one feel? It's just one of those things which happen to very few people if they are lucky once in their lives, so I am elated. RS: The tributes are flowing in from Indian political leaders and intellectuals. Do you feel a sense of pride in being an Indian? As an Indian, is it a particularly special moment for you? AB: Yes, I think so. For me, psychologically, I am very much an Indian. I think when I say my county, it is always India. So, for me, there is no choice there, it's essentially programmed into me. I see myself through the eyes of Indians. RS: You come through the root of a family of academics. Presidency College, then Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) and interestingly, you spent a few days in Tihar Jail for agitation. Who do you owe this great success to--your parents, your years in JNU and Presidency College or that stint in Tihar which may have put you face-to-face with poverty? AB: My parents were not poor, I mean we were a very average middle-class family of academics, but my grandfather happened to have built house literally next to one of Kolkata's largest slum. So, in our previous book, we actually write about the fact that I grew up playing with the slum kids. I had a first-hand experience of poverty. I was very jealous of them as they (slum kids) did not have to go to school. RS: In a sense, are you saying that those early years in Kolkata shaped a lot of your beliefs and eventually led you into this detailed research on poverty? AB: Early years in Kolkata, surely. I mean, that sort of makes it incumbent on me to at least engage with poverty, but I think my parents were huge influences. We had a discussion of things like poverty at home all the time -- what its consequences are, what its causes are and they would often be based on discussions on the lives of the poor at home and the facts were pretty evident to us. RS: And the years in JNU...particularly this was a period of agitation in a way in your student life. Did those years in JNU and the Tihar incident play a role in your research? AB: Yes, so I think, what it did to me was it politicised me. By that, I do not mean politicised me in the sense of becoming a member of the JNU or particular political unit of the institution. But it made me realise how important politics is. I think JNU is something very important for me. I came from Kolkata, there was Left politics which I kind of knew. But I really did not know about the rest of Indian politics. So the Lohiaites were very important for me, I got to know the Gandhians, the RSS--all of these other kinds of facets of Indian politics and it taught me a bit about how to relate to each of them, where they stand, what our conversations were. It gave me a much better sense of politics in India. advertisement RS: The reason I am asking you this is because we are in a time where JNU itself seems to be targeted by some as a space for so-called anti-national elements. The nature of the conflict between the outside world and JNU has changed. In a sense, do you believe one must revisit this rather than look at the polarisations that have been embedded into our society or the way in which JNU students tend to be demonised by some? AB: Yes, I do think that it is important for us to preserve the space for disagreement in our society. I think JNU is seen as a space for "treasonous thoughts" rather than space for legitimate disagreement. I think our entire society is worse off for that. I think it is very important - even when I do not agree with people's views - to have a space in which there can be disagreement on the fundamental ideas of what India constitutes, what is nationalism, what is economic progress. I think we need disagreement on these things because I think that disagreement makes us wiser and more able to deal with a very complex and fast-changing world. advertisement RS: Is it also, therefore, a time to look at the entire issue of poverty and how we see it because of the time in which we live? There is so much talk about neo-middle-class and neo-liberalism even in India. So, in a sense, you receiving this recognition--should it also read like you seminal book on revisiting poverty or rethinking on the way we look at poverty? AB: I think, yes, in a peculiar way. I think we have always wanted to think of it as being described by economic status. I absolutely feel that the psychological damages of poverty are extremely critical. I think the loss of dignity, displacement, living in ugly places and violence - these are critical dimensions of poverty. When I think of poverty, for instance, in the US right now, I think it is hugely associated with disempowerment, not just income-based poverty. People in the US who are classified as poor would be "very middle-class" in India. But they lack dignity, they lack a sense of wellbeing and that transforms into an extremely high mortality rate. The whites in the US are dying much faster now than they were dying five years ago. And that's not accidental, there is something to do with feeling disempowered. So I think the space for dignity, space for being in a comfort zone-these are important ideas related to poverty. advertisement RS: One of the ideas you threw up ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections was about the minimum income guarantee scheme. You were reportedly advising the Congress party or did contribute to the notion of a minimum income scheme, which Rahul Gandhi then called Nyay. Do you believe that scheme still is an idea whose time has come even though Congress lost the election? AB: I think some minimum income, whether it was that scheme or not, is certainly something we should consider because there are a bunch of people who are facing enormous risks suddenly. Everything in their life vanishes because there is too much rain or too little rain or suddenly a bank collapses and because of that, the construction of buildings comes to a halt. Therefore a lot of people lose their jobs. All of that risk needs to be mitigated somehow. We are subjecting people to an enormous amount of risk, especially in today's finance-driven, quite fragile economy. I think having a safety net for people at risk is important. RS: But you know the flipside is people say this is "handout economics" and that sort of puts a strain on resources. Do you believe that there is a general lack of empathy in our system even today? AB: Our long tradition is that Brahmins got handouts from other people. "Handouts" was not a pejorative term till somehow we in our particular modernity decided that we want these western notions of people doing what they have to for earning. Now given the amount that risks that live in society, I think that it is a bit of a fantasy. It's not that these people are lazy and lying on their backs because they are poor. They are trying very hard but the rain fails or the job vanishes. What do they do then? The brisk brick kiln closes because of an environmental permit--where do they go? I think the idea that this is simply lazy people who need to kick themselves into a state of economic betterment is kind of a fantasy that I really think we in India should know better than to buy into. RS: So you say that removing inequality should remain a fundamental objective of any government-whether it is the Narendra Modi government or a Congress government? The Modi government also claims to have launched a series of pro-poor schemes. Do you believe that must be particular in a country like India? AB: I believe, first, that there is no contradiction between having a well-functioning economy and being generous to the people who are worst off. I think the idea that high tax rates create extreme disincentives, there is no evidence for in my view. I think that high tax rates make people want to hide their money, but I think the government is getting better at finding. So I do think that there is a sense in which what I deplore about the recent downturn and its reaction. I think the government had gone the right way in raising taxes on the rich and then it was basically cut back because it is going to save the economy. I actually don't think it going to save the economy. I think the government had the right idea and we should move towards a more generous welfare state funded by higher taxes on the rich. I think that is the first step towards a stable economy where people are not desperate; they are not losing their livelihoods right and left. I think that was the right direction and I was supportive of the government's view in that general concept. I was disappointed when the taxes on rich were rolled back. RS: So you don't think that the 2019 election in a way was a rejection of the minimum income scheme in the way it was projected by some? Is there dissidence between politics and economic choices that people make? AB: In my view, people were looking for a leader who projected a view of the nation that spoke to them the most. You can see that the young, well-educated urban people are most likely to have voted for the NDA. Those are people who were not looking for handouts, they were not voting for handouts. I do not think they were voting for or against handouts. They were mostly interested in whose projecting the vision of a strong nation. I think there is a sense in which Mr. Modi constructed the most effective rhetoric and maybe the Balakot incident did not hurt as it sort of reinforced this particular factor. I don't think that the election was fought on whether there should be handouts or not. RS: But does it worry you that this sort of populist and strident nationalism shifts the focus from real issues that should matter including jobs, slowdown, and the concerns of the poor? Do you believe that strident nationalism actually works against that? AB: I absolutely believe. I think you are exactly right that this means that the central place in the political discourse is on being a strong nation and focuses on what we said to China or Pakistan, especially at a time when the economy needs a lot of TLC (tender loving care). RS: You are sharing this recognition with your wife Esther Duflo as well as Michael Kremer. What role has Esther particularly played in your life because this seems to be a match made in heaven? AB: (Laughs)...To the extent that matches are made in heaven, absolutely. I mean she plays the role of my best friend. She is someone I talk to about ideas all the time. We have very complementary skills, which is fortunate. So we do not actually step on each other's toes very much, we manage to work together with feeling that we are somehow cowing each other out. RS: What is it also about Bengalis and the Nobels - from Rabindranath Tagore to Amartya Sen and now you? What is this special connection between the Bengalis and the Nobels? AB: I don't know much about that. But let me put my affiliations more clearly. I am half Bengali and half Marathi. RS: But Dr. Amartya Sen must have played a special role for you and it must feel great to follow his footsteps. AB: In a sense, I mean, not particularly more for me but the entire generation of people like me who are in the field of development economics. I identify with him (Amartya Sen) less on ethnic grounds than on intellectual grounds. He has been an intellectual inspiration to the entire field. I think his idea that poverty needs to be fought with is inspiring. And I think he inspired many people of my generation of development economics. Both Bengalis and non-Bengalis. RS: I have been reading about you in terms of the fact that quite apart from your skills as a development economist, your great love for Bengali cuisine as well as Indian classical music. AB: That's right. I actually like all cuisines. Bengali cuisine and any other cuisine you throw at me, I am extremely greedy. RS: So how are you, Esther and Michael are going to celebrate this recognition? What do academics do when they achieve such a feat? Will you go back to the poverty lab and it's just another day or is there a special celebration that you planned? AB: Well, today we will have a very nerdy celebration. We have already had a small celebration and we will have a party with nerds like us in the evening where we will have nerdy conversations. RS: What's your message to young students studying economics or development economics? AB: I think that there is no reason to do that job at Deutsche Bank (forgive me Deutsche Bank) because they are paying you a lot. If you feel passionate about doing something, ignore all those temptations. I do feel that there is enormous excitement in doing interesting and good things. Read | Indian-origin Abhijit Banerjee wins Nobel Prize for Economics for work on global poverty Also Read | When Nobel Laureate Abhijit Banerjee spent 10 days in Tihar jail

Microsoft opens new cybersecurity centre in Mexico

As part of a global initiative to improve its customers' access to cybersecurity expertise, Microsoft will launch a cybersecurity engagement centre for Mexico and Latin American countries. By protecting, detecting and responding to security threats, Microsoft will develop its customers' cybersecurity capabilities, according the company's general manager for Mexico. The centre will focus on dismantling criminal organisations that operate through botnet schemes and will act as a headquarters for building technical capabilities. particularly among the public sector. In addition to the centre's launch, Microsoft will work closely with Mexico's government-owned Federal Police to improve its IT security programme.

http://www.4-traders.com/MICROSOFT-CORPORATION-4835/news/Microsoft-opens-cybersecurity-center-to-protect-Mexicans-23942334/

The Cybersecurity Engagement Center will bring together technology, experience and services to support government efforts against cybercrime while also helping companies and citizens to be more secure. MEXICO CITY - Feb. 24, 2017 - To reinforce its commitment to help people, companies and countries within Latin America to continue their journey towards digital transformation, Microsoft is launching a Cybersecurity Engagement Center in Mexico, part of a global initiative to present the company's unique perspective on matters of IT security, which is not only the result of several decades of experience in the development and ongoing improvement of software, but also of the operation of one of the industry's most robust and trustworthy cloud computing platforms. At Microsoft there is a strong belief that having a fixed stance on operational security is the starting point, which also implies its continuous practice. This is made a reality by the company's goals that focus on protecting, detecting and responding to security threats. 'At Microsoft, we are committed to invest in the region so we can bring our cybersecurity capabilities to customers by identifying current threats that affect the economy's prosperity. By opening this Cybersecurity Center, we are offering our clients protection from attacks and security risks, as well as ways to detect them and find solutions,' explained Jorge Silva, general manager of Microsoft Mexico. The center will serve Mexico and other Latin American countries. Some of its functions will include: Taking advantage of Microsoft's proactive role in matters of fighting cybercrime, particularly in the dismantling of criminal organizations that operate through Botnet schemes Allowing cybersecurity experts from Mexico and elsewhere in Latin America to work with Microsoft specialists to fight cybercrime together Acting as a headquarters for the development of training activities in order to support the building and strengthening of technical capabilities; these activities are geared toward authorities and the public sector 'This new center will work together with Microsoft's Cybercrime Center in Redmond, Washington. The objective is to help companies and governments with security solutions, which help them in their digital transformation through the international support of the intelligence, data analysis, avant-garde forensics and legal strategies that we offer,' added Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations, during his visit to the Cybersecurity Center in Mexico City. In conjunction with the opening of this center, Microsoft is signing with the Federal Police (in representation of the Mexican government), a Government Security Program that reinforces the work of carrying out actions focused on technological research in order to promote IT security and also to prevent and fight crimes that are committed through the internet. The agreement was signed by Manelich Castilla, commissioner general of the Federal Police, and Jorge Silva, general manager of Microsoft Mexico. Renato Sales Heredia, national security commissioner of Mexico's Secretariat of the Interior, and Jean-Philippe Courtois, executive vice president and president, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations, were present as honorary witnesses. 'By opening this center, we are bringing Microsoft's offer of security increasingly closer to customers in order to be a strategic part of their transformation, and together we will create a country and a region that are more prosperous and productive, and above all, that are safer,' concluded Jorge Silva, general manager of Microsoft Mexico. About Microsoft Microsoft (Nasdaq 'MSFT' @microsoft) is the leading platform and productivity company for the mobile-first, cloud-first world, and its mission is to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more. Lead image: Jorge Silva, General Manager of Microsoft Mexico; Renato Sales Heredia, National Security Commissioner of Mexico's Secretariat of the Interior; Jean-Philippe Courtois, Executive Vice President and President, Microsoft Global Sales, Marketing and Operations; and Alejandra Lagunes, Mexico's National Digital Strategy Coordinator.

Israeli football association to ban homophobic chants

The Israel Football Association has introduced a ban on homophobic chants, after fans targeted Maccabi Netanya goalkeeper and LGBTQ+ rights advocate Dani Amos.

https://www.jpost.com/Israel-News/Sports/Israeli-Football-Association-announces-new-ban-on-homophobic-chants-619376

Following a recent rise in occurrences of fans chanting homophobic slurs at soccer stadiums, the Israeli Football Association [IFA] announced on Sunday a new ban on chants and songs that discriminate against people with different sexual preferences and gender identities. In a statement, the IFA said that, "the disgusting phenomenon of chants regarding sexual orientation are a disciplinary violation, clear as day," citing that the IFA's guidelines already prohibit "inappropriate audience behavior." The two latest incidences of homophobic slurs being sung by fans both targeted Maccabi Netanya Goalkeeper Dani Amos, during matches against Hapoel Kiryat Shmona and, most recently, Maccabi Tel Aviv. Though Amos is not a part of the LGBTQ+ community, he has been a vocal supporter of LGBTQ+ rights and a vocal critic of homophobic and racist chants being sung in Israel's football stadiums. Following the first incident during the game against Kiryat Shmona, Amos told Walla News that "I'm not gay, I'm just fighting for the quiet people who can't talk. It's unfathomable that they try to hurt me with homophobic chants. True, the word 'gay' isn't a slur, but there was an attempt to hurt me and an entire population." Regarding the state of Israeli Football, Amos said that "our football is dark, and nothing is happening about it. I've asked to have the chants mentioned in the referee's match report. I wish this phenomenon comes to an end soon, it's disgusting. " Regarding the state of Israeli Football, Amos said that "our football is dark, and nothing is happening about it. I've asked to have the chants mentioned in the referee's match report. I wish this phenomenon comes to an end soon, it's disgusting. " After the match against Tel Aviv, Amos said, "I was not surprised by the Maccabi Tel Aviv crowd. Not even a bit."

Assets in robo-advice channel surge, as more RIAs prepare to jump in

A research initiative to identify the most successful investment advisory companies has found the use of robo-advisors to be a contributory factor. By choosing to invest in automated advisory systems they have put themselves in a strong position to acquire new clients due to their adoption of this technology. The study also found that 48 percent of these companies saw saw robo-advisors as an opportunity to reach younger clients who are likely to be more familiar with new forms of technology such as this. Furthermore, they would use this automated service to attract clients with a smaller asset base that falls below their minimum rate.

http://www.investmentnews.com/article/20160802/BLOG18/160729930/assets-in-robo-advice-channel-surge-as-more-rias-prepare-to-jump-in

The following is an excerpt from the InvestmentNews/BlackRock 2016 Elite RIA Study. It is the second iteration of a research initiative that seeks to identify the primary drivers of growth and success at the largest and most successful registered investment advisory firms. Click here to download the full study. The rise of robo-advice platforms over the last year has been significant. Assets in the robo-channel have increased to $150 billion, a 61% increase during the 12-month period ending March 31, according to our research. We expect this rate of growth to maintain, if not accelerate, in the near term, as assets continue flowing to this still nascent model, particularly as more large financial services organizations and private-equity firms invest in robo-offerings and deliver them directly to the mass market. Traditional financial advisory firms have been slow to embrace and adopt robo-technology, but our study found that a significant number of firms look to do so. Currently, just 8% of all firms in the 2016 Elite RIA Study offer a robo-platform. Among those that do not, 24% plan to do so within the next year or two. At the same time, more advisers indicated they now see the emergence of robos as an opportunity — 48% vs. 39% — compared with our 2015 Elite RIA Study. We believe this shift is due largely to another realization: A growing portion of advisers, now having been exposed more directly to robo-offerings, do not believe robos offer a fundamental service that competes with their “human touch.” When it comes to my practice, I view the emergence of robo-advice technology as primarily: 2016 advisers’ views 2015 advisers’ views Source: InvestmentNews/BlackRock 2016 Elite RIA Study What is motivating traditional advisory firms to offer a robo-platform? Among those who believe their firm could benefit from robo-advice, 78% say the No. 1 benefit is attracting new clients, and specifically new client segments (61%), such as younger clients. Sixty-four percent of those who already offer, or plan to offer, the service say the clients they want to target are those with assets below their firm’s current minimum. Effectively, traditional advisers view robo-advice as an opportunity to change the composition of their client base, rather than their overall business model. The role of a robo, it seems, could be that of an incubator — a strategic tool to acquire younger clients and/or less-profitable client relationships, while delivering lower-touch services with significantly lower operational and support costs. Adviser attitudes toward robo-advice Percentage who agree with the following statement https://s32566.pcdn.co/assets/docs src=”/wp-content/uploads2016/08/CI10632581.SVG” Source: InvestmentNews/BlackRock 2016 Elite RIA Study As these robo-accounts age and presumably grow, they should represent an opportunity for advisers to introduce more personalized — and ultimately more profitable — investment and wealth management services. All advisers should consider how, or if, a robo-extension makes sense in light of their current strategy and markets served. Both the current and next generation of investors will expect advice or services and support from traditional advisers to be delivered across digital and mobile platforms. As the technology has evolved, a number of providers — including technology companies, custodians, broker-dealers and asset managers — are now offering third-party robos that can be used by traditional advisers. We believe this will only serve to accelerate adoption rates by advisers and clients over the next two years, further embedding robo-platforms into the fabric of the financial advice model. To read more, download a copy of the InvestmentNews/BlackRock 2016 Elite RIA Study. Learn more about InvestmentNews Research’s custom-research offerings, and access our online dashboard and full suite of reports by following this link.

TalkTalk CityFibre to start Derby FTTH build in spring

CityFibre has announced that it will construct a £45m ($57.5m) 1 Gbps fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) broadband service in Derby, with work beginning late this spring. The firm aims to connect nearly every home and business, and is likely to use its existing dark fibre network in the city as a foundation for the upgrade.

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2020/03/cityfibre-to-begin-45m-derby-ftth-broadband-build-in-spring.html

Wednesday, Mar 11th, 2020 (11:44 am) - Score 2,826 After a long wait Cityfibre has finally confirmed that they will begin the £45m build of a new 1Gbps capable Fibre-to-the-Home (FTTH) broadband ISP network in the Derbyshire (England) city of Derby during “late spring” 2020, which will aim to cover “nearly every home and business” (usually reaching 85%+ of local premises). At present the operator already has a Dark Fibre network in Derby, although we couldn’t find any solid details about this on their website. Nevertheless Cityfibre usually uses their existing Dark Fibre infrastructure as the foundation for their “full fibre” build-out to local homes. The operator has also appointed Dominika Walker to be their local City Manager for the build. All of this forms part of Cityfibre’s wider £4bn private investment plan (here), which aims to deploy a Gigabit capable “full fibre” broadband network to cover around 1 million UK premises by the end of 2021, before potentially reaching their ambition of 8 million premises across 100+ cities and towns by the end of 2025 or later (c.30% of the UK). Andy Starnes, Head of City Development at CityFibre, added: “We are thrilled that Dominika has taken on this new role and will be using her experience to drive the city project forward for the benefit of its residents and businesses. Our ‘fibre to the premises’ programme is going to be a game changer in Derby and nobody is better placed than Dominika to drive home the message and help people discover more about the impact this investment will have on their city’s digital future.” The work is being fully supported by Derby City Council and its domestic UK ISP partners, such as Vodafone. A number of other providers, including TalkTalk, will also be able to offer services over the same network in the not too distant future. As usual Cityfibre’s main competition for gigabit connectivity in the city is cable operator Virgin Media, which already covers the vast majority of local premises. Openreach also has a bit of FTTP in outlying areas and they’ve deployed some slower hybrid fibre G.fast (100Mbps+) services around a fair few central areas of the city. Interestingly Glide has also connected a few areas to full fibre, albeit more business focused.

Giant food brands start building D2C platforms

Large food and drink producers are beginning to build D2C platforms. Shopify claims it recently helped Heinz set up an outlet to serve UK customers on its platform, AB InBev has begun testing its own D2C scheme in Belgium and in May PepsiCo launched PantryShop. D2C does not make up a significant proportion of sales for big brands, last year Pepsico sold $2bn worth of products (c. 3% of total sales) online via partnerships with outlets including Amazon and Walmart. However e-commerce can give them exposure to enormous numbers of potential customers and enables them to collect valuable consumer data.

https://www.economist.com/business/2020/07/26/the-worlds-leading-brands-jump-on-the-direct-selling-bandwagon

SELLING DIRECTLY to consumers used to be the preserve of upstart brands that would otherwise have been crowded off shop shelves by larger rivals. By cutting out retailers, young firms have won brand loyalty and backing from investors who have poured billions into “direct-to-consumer” companies. But those larger competitors are themselves coming to see the merits of the business model. A number of the world’s best-known brands, hitherto content to rely offline on traditional retailers and online on e-commerce giants, have in recent months built their own direct-selling operations. Others that have long had in-house e-commerce platforms are now relying on them far more heavily to make up for sagging in-store purchases. The upstarts had to carve out niches in highly concentrated industries such as spectacles (Warby Parker) or razors (Dollar Shave Club, Harry’s). Established brands already have plenty of loyal customers. So they have not needed to cut prices to offer their customers new products and deals. Rather, what have long been seen as secondary sales channels have gained in importance during the pandemic. Many people working from home have favoured the “athleisure” offerings of brands such as Nike and Lululemon over the more formal wear of now-bankrupt firms such as Brooks Brothers, J. Crew, and Neiman Marcus. And with shops closed or shunned by wary customers, the two brands’ direct-to-consumer operations, which they have invested in for years, have boomed. In their most recent quarters, Nike’s online sales spiked by 75% to just under $2bn, and Lululemon’s by 68% to $352m. Nike relied on direct-to-consumer sales for 30% of its revenues—a target it had not expected to reach until 2023. At Lululemon more than half of revenues come from the channel. Large food-and-drink companies, long content to rely on their prime position on supermarket shelves, are getting in on the act, too. In May PepsiCo launched PantryShop.com and Snacks.com to sell its drinks and snacks. Shopify, a Canadian form which helps companies set up their own e-commerce platforms, claims it finished doing so for Heinz, part of food conglomerate Kraft Heinz, in just seven days last April. The platform, Heinz to Home, serves the firm’s British customers. AB InBev, the world’s largest brewer, has begun to test its own direct-selling scheme at home in Belgium. Food firms’ furious burst of direct-to-consumer activity seems puzzling. After all, unlike boutiques and shoe shops, grocers and supermarkets—their traditional strongholds—have remained open throughout the pandemic. But many customers are nervous about crowded shops. Those who do venture out may find shelves less than fully stocked. And the data show that cravings for staple big-brand comfort foods, which for years had been losing market share to niche producers or shop-branded goods, have risen during the pandemic. Big food companies do not necessarily need their own platforms. PepsiCo sold $2bn-worth of products over the internet last year (about 3% of total sales) thanks to partnerships with Amazon, Walmart and other grocery-delivery services. The websites of e-commerce giants can put products in front of enormous numbers of potential customers. But firms that build their own direct-to-consumer operations can exert more control by keeping their sales channels in-house, something that the start-up pioneers of the business model came to value. The consumer data that brands can collect by selling on their own sites are simply too good to pass up. Since 2018, Nike has bought two data-analytics firms to help measure and track data collected from online shoppers. Last year it ended a two-year pilot programme wholesaling through Amazon, choosing to direct all to e-commerce sales through its own website. Data may be an even more important consideration for big food brands’ recent direct-to-consumer aspirations. They are less reliant on digital sales, and the webshops, being so new, will account for only a small portion of revenue for the foreseeable future. PepsiCo did not even mention its two new websites in its second-quarter earnings release on July 13th. But the firm may glean insights even from even limited purchases. Gibu Thomas, PepsiCo’s head of global e-commerce, says the company plans to use the data not only to customise online offerings but to inform in-store selling strategies as well. Information can be hard to collect from shoppers buying chips from their local supermarket or corner shop. Rather than relying on market-research reports, firms with direct sales can monitor consumers’ behaviour on their own websites. “What is different about this,” Mr Thomas said in May upon the shops’ launch, “is we’re getting data on what people are doing versus what they say they will do.”

Startup aims to make home devices smart enough to anticipate what you need

Silk Labs, a new startup company is developing technology that can make smartphone software to be easily controlled and can also make them smart enough to anticipate what people need so they won't have to manually control anything at all. The company which was founded by former employees of Mozilla Corporation focuses to make truly smart devices for people,  basically products for the home. Its Co-founder Andreas Gal said that, most of the components for any Internet of things have already been invented but the software and services are missing.

http://www.cnet.com/news/startup-aims-to-make-home-devices-smart-enough-to-anticipate-what-you-need/

SAN FRANCISCO -- The team behind an ambitious attempt to rewrite the rules of smartphone software has banded together again at a new startup called Silk Labs that hopes to profit from the spread of computing smarts far beyond today's mobile devices. Co-founders Andreas Gal, Chris Jones and Michael Vines previously worked on Mozilla's Firefox OS, software designed to power smartphones that Mozilla and a slew of industry partners hoped would loosen the grip Google and Apple hold on that important market. Firefox OS hasn't gotten too far, but at Silk Labs, the engineers believe they can sidestep those industry giants with a new collection of software and services for a coming era with billions of other interconnected devices. This technological future, called the Internet of Things, envisions computer networks linking everything from lightbulbs to traffic lights and sprinkler systems to water mains. Its backers believe it'll mean remote control for just about anything that runs on electrical power. In Gal's eyes, that interconnected technology will be more powerful if its elements aren't isolated but instead are part of a common fabric -- thus the name Silk Labs. "We are trying to provide that piece that ties Internet of Things devices together," said Gal, Mozilla's former chief technology officer, in an interview here about Silk Labs. Silk Labs is just one of many companies chasing what could be the next big computing revolution in a sequence that led from mainframes to personal computers to smartphones. It's a market that research firm International Data Corp. believes will grow from $655.8 billion last year to $1.7 trillion in 2020. To stand apart, Silk Labs is developing technology designed not just to make Internet of Things devices easy to control, but to make them smart enough to anticipate what people need so they won't have to manually control anything at all. It's no wonder companies are racing to infuse the world with computing smarts. "It's going to be bigger than the smartphone," said IDC analyst Carrie MacGillivray. A smartphone is good for lots of jobs, but it's just one device, and the Internet of Things will extend to many devices. "It's going to surround us in our house and our cars," she said. Get ready for a day when washing machines alert manufacturers directly that an agitator needs replacement, and airplane jet engines call ahead when repairs are needed. Among the big names in the market are Apple, whose HomeKit project is designed to give iPhone users an easy way to control Internet-connected gadgets, and Google, whose Brillo software can give those devices their own operating system. Intel, Microsoft and Samsung also are pushing for a place in the market, too. But because the Internet of Things will be a vastly broader market than smartphones, it won't come under the dominance of two or three big players, as happened with Google and Apple in the smartphone realm, MacGillivray said: "I don't think it's going to be as consolidated." Firefox OS team reconstituted Gal left Mozilla in June after working on the Firefox Web browser and its cousin, the Firefox OS smartphone operating system. Silk Labs' co-founders are Jones, a Mozilla programmer who co-founded Firefox OS with Gal, and Vines, the former senior director of technology at chipmaker Qualcomm and the first Qualcomm engineer to work on Firefox OS. The startup has hired eight others, too, and is seeking seed funding from venture capitalists to grow faster, Gal said. "There are probably only four or five teams in the history of humankind who built a smartphone OS from scratch, and I have one of them," Gal said. "Right now with a Wi-Fi light bulb, you can use your smartphone to turn it on and off. Ours will try to understand what you want and address your need before you know what it is." Andreas Gal, CEO, Silk Labs A lot of Internet of Things projects have been for devices that can be controlled with a smartphone -- Google Nest thermostats and Philips Hue lightbulbs, for example. Silk Labs doesn't have anything against remote control, but it wants devices that work automatically and in concert with each other. Perhaps lightbulbs will get microphones or motion detectors that help them decide when to turn on or off. Or they could judge when a person is moving to another room and wirelessly tell a TV there to tune into the evening news, for example. "We're trying to make truly smart devices for people. Right now with a Wi-Fi light bulb, you can use your smartphone to turn it on and off. Ours will try to understand what you want and address your need before you know what it is," Gal said. The company is starting with products for the home, because buyers move faster there, Gal said, but he didn't detail which products it expects on the market first. If its partnerships with hardware makers don't move fast enough, it may release an "inspirational" product through Kickstarter to show what can be done and to get programmers interested. Watch this: How Google Home will try to beat Amazon Echo 03:00 Nuts and bolts At the lowest level, Silk Labs will offer a version of the Linux operating system that will let Internet of Things devices do tasks like fetch data from their sensors and send it over the network. At a higher level, Silk Labs will support a variety of communication technologies under development like Google's Weave and the AllSeen Alliance's AllJoyn, which let Internet of Things devices discover each other on a network and share data. When it's time to write the programs that run on particular devices, Silk Labs will supply developers with a version of a higher-level programming foundation. That foundation, called Node.js, runs programs written in the JavaScript language that transforms websites from static documents into interactive applications. But that's just the nuts and bolts. One layer above that, Silk Labs will offer online services like data storage, payment mechanisms and authentication so people using a device can prove they are who they say they are. That's where Silk plans to make money, likely by combining free and paid "cloud computing" services that rely on Internet, Gal said. "The cloud services help your Internet of Things device to be smarter and better," he said. Gal argues that his history at Mozilla, which hundreds of millions of people trust with personal data as they use Firefox, demonstrates that his team has the skills necessary to ensure tight security and strong privacy. But when it comes to actual Mozilla software like Firefox OS and its components, Silk Labs is steering clear. "We ended up not using any Mozilla technology at all," he said. "The Internet of Things space is so vastly different." Silk Labs hopes to enable other companies' technology plans the same way Google accelerated the smartphone market with its Android software. "Android did a big thing for the mobile industry. It allowed an entire industry to make interesting phone devices," Gal said. "This today is completely missing in the [Internet of Things] world." Attracting support Any Internet of Things startup like Silk Labs faces a major challenge luring outside programmers who will turn a useful foundation into a rich collection of compatible products, MacGillivray said -- something Google has done with Android, for example. "The challenge for that company is to get a developer ecosystem around it," she said. "With the Internet of Things, we're going to see another large platform emerge, but there needs to be a critical mass of developers drawn to that center of gravity." Gal knows Silk Labs will have to attract that support. That was a challenge for Firefox OS, too. But Gal thinks Firefox OS was late, where Silk Labs is early, arriving just as the market is ready. "Most of the components for any Internet of Things device you can think of have already been invented. All the parts are already there -- you just have to assemble them. But software and services are missing," Gal argued. "It's an unusual point in the tech industry where software has lagged hardware."

Eurozone petrochemical recovery hamstrung by second wave concerns

Oxford Economics analysts have said the recovery of the Eurozone petrochemical industry, which according to Eurostat data showed a 1% output rise across all EU members in July 2020, could be hit by rising fears of a second wave of Covid-19 infections. They said an 8% reduction in output during Q2 lockdowns had not been compensated for by the slight recovery, which was showing “early signs of fatigue”. Their report also said output rose in all EU countries except France.

https://www.icis.com/explore/resources/news/2020/09/14/10552291/eurozone-chemicals-output-up-slightly-in-july-industrial-recovery-shows-signs-of-fatigue

LONDON (ICIS)–Chemicals output in the eurozone rose slightly more than 1% in July, month on month, a lower increase than average industrial production levels, the EU’s statistical office Eurostat said on Monday. In the wider 27-country EU, chemicals output also rose slightly more than 1%. These modest increases compared with more than 4% increase in industrial production in both the EU and the eurozone. However, the increase was not enough yet to compensate for falls in output during the second quarter amid lockdowns. Analysts at Oxford Economics said the recovery was showing “early signs of fatigue” as rising coronavirus infections across Europe were denting confidence. “Eurozone industrial output has recouped a large portion of its losses since the April trough but still remains almost 8% below the pre-pandemic levels,” said the analysts. CHEMICALS RECOVERY SLOWS Among all major producing countries, chemicals output in July rose in all but France; the increases in July were much lower than in June. Eurostat did not provide year-on-year data for chemicals output across the eurozone or the EU Chemicals output (% change) July June May April March EU 1.3 2.6 -0.1 -7.6 -3.6 Eurozone 1.1 2.7 -0.4 -7.4 -4.0 Germany 3.5 2.3 -6.0 -6.9 -3.1 France -1.0 4.3 11.2 -12.6 -12.9 Italy 2.9 1.9 8.1 -11.9 -5.6 Spain 4.3 7.2 3.1 -13.2 -0.7 Poland 4.8 4.8 5.3 -13.7 -1.4 Despite the increase in average Industrial production in July, output was still 7.7% lower than a year ago in the 19-country eurozone, and 7.3% lower in the EU as a whole, said Eurostat. INDUSTRY SLOWS AS PANDEMIC EXPANDS Eurozone analysts at Oxford Economics said the recovery has taken a turn for the worse due to rising infection rates in most major countries. “The pace of recovery has declined, consistent with our view that the ‘easy wins’ of the mechanical rebound are close to being exhausted, while headwinds in the form of weak demand, limited capacity utilisation and disrupted supply chains continue to weigh on the sector,” said the analysts. “The high-frequency indicators in our Recovery Tracker point to the recovery in activity stalling in recent weeks amid the resurgence in Covid-19 infections, which is also set to weigh on the industrial recovery.” – Front page picture: A woman gets tested for Covid-19 in Prague; rising infection rates across Europe could dent industrial activity Picture source: Petr David Josek/AP/Shutterstock

Asia-Pacific to boost AI tech spending tenfold to $4.6bn by 2021

IT departments in the Asia Pacific region will increase spending on artificial intelligence (AI) tenfold to $4.6bn by 2021, according to analysts IDC. Figures show the $458m spent this year in the region (which excludes Japan) is 53% higher than in 2016, and the forecast is for this to increase at a compound annual rate of 72.9% until 2021. The biggest growth will be in the insurance, central government and education sectors, IDC predicts, while some applications, such as expert shopping advisers, will see annual expansion of up to 127%.

https://disruptive.asia/apej-4-6-billion-cognitive-ai-2021/

Spending on cognitive and artificial intelligence (AI) systems in Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) is forecast to grow from $458 million in 2017 to $4.6 billion in 2021, according to updated figures from IDC. The $458 million figure for 2017 is an increase of 53.3% over 2016. IDC is projecting a CAGR of 72.9% in spending over the 2016-2021 forecast period. “Cognitive and AI is being applied in all kinds of different areas by enterprises seeking to create better customer connections and increase efficiency and insight,” said Ashut osh Bisht, research manager for Customer Insights and Analysis at IDC Asia/Pacific. “Application of cognitive and AI systems is the foundation of the technology led transformation we are seeing drive change across almost every industry segment.” The banking and healthcare industries are forecast to have the highest spending on cognitive and AI systems this year with investments of $65.5 million and $47.3 million, respectively. Insurance, central government and education will have the highest growth rate for 2016-21, with a CAGR greater than 83%. The massive implementation of Cognitive and AI solutions in the Asia Pacific (excluding Japan) can be attributed to the fact that all industries will register a CAGR greater than 50% for the 2016-21 period, IDC says. IDC has identified 23 use cases for cognitive and AI in its Worldwide Semiannual Cognitive Artificial Intelligence Systems Spending Guide. Digital assistants ($46.3 million) and diagnostic and treatment systems ($41.9 billion) are the highest spending use cases for cognitive and AI. Intelligent processing automation, now the tenth largest use case will see enough investment growth to become the largest use case by spending by 2021 with a CAGR (2016-21) of 104.2%. Other use cases that will see rapid spending growth over the forecast period are expert shopping advisors & product recommendations (CAGR 127.1%), Public Safety and Emergency Response (111.9%) and Automated Preventative Maintenance response (109.5%). The majority of spending on cognitive and AI technology will go to software and services. Although software spending growth is expected to slow down after 2019, services spending will experience steady growth throughout the forecast, achieving a five-year CAGR of 86%. Hardware will be the smallest and slowest growing area of spending, despite a robust CAGR of 42.4%. “A message from technology solution vendors on cost reduction achieved by productivity and efficiency boost is likely to resonate with APeJ customers,” advised Jessie Cai, senior research manager at IDC. “Automation solutions are a compelling investment for organizations in the region more than anything else. Likewise, invest in ensuring good onboarding among new customers, providing them with necessary technical know-how to understand your offered solution.”

Research team create model of a 3D-printed solar power plant

The Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative (ASTRI), an ARENA-backed venture, has released a 3D-printed model of its 25MW concentrating solar thermal (CST) reference power plant. A CST plant could generate up to 90GWh of electricity p.a., with four hours of storage. According to Manuel Blanco, Director of ASTRI, "as the debate heats up around the best path forward for Australia’s renewable energy future, it’s the storage component of CST technology that will revolutionise the way we deploy solar power."

http://www.astri.org.au/uncategorized/print-your-own-solar-field/

Concentrating Solar Thermal revolution comes to a 3D printer near you Newcastle, Australia, 21st October 2015 – ASTRI, The Australian Solar Thermal Research Initiative, today provided a glimpse into Australia’s solar future with the release of a 3D printable model of its 25 MW* concentrating solar thermal (CST) reference power plant. The desktop model, a first of its kind, is an education tool that allows Australians to get ‘hands on’ with the benefits, value and opportunity that grid and fringe-of-grid concentrating solar thermal technology presents for Australia. Dr Manuel Blanco, Director of ASTRI said of the model release, “As the debate heats up around the best path forward for Australia’s renewable energy future, it’s the storage component of CST technology that will revolutionise the way we deploy solar power. “This model brings that component to life, showing how the storage tanks are positioned in conjunction with the solar tower and heliostat array to capture and dispatch energy, even when the sun isn’t shining.” A downloadable ‘STL file’, ASTRI has developed and released the model as an education tool to aid discussion with: Industry (e.g. utilities, electricity grid operators, suppliers); Government; Potential investors; Schools, education and research institutions; and Potential customers (e.g. mining and fringe-of-grid communities just to name a few) about the important role CST technology will play in Australia’s renewable energy future. A 19 x 19 centimetre model, the printable plant: Details the layout and positioning of more than 140 of the 6,377 heliostats that make up a complete solar field, along with the receiver tower and two molten salt storage tanks; the layout and positioning of more than 140 of the 6,377 heliostats that make up a complete solar field, along with the receiver tower and two molten salt storage tanks; Illustrates , when combined with a detailed field map of the full ASTRI heliostat array, a CST plant that could generate up to 90 GWh of electrical energy per year** with four hours of storage – enough to power more than 12,000 homes each year according to figures from the Australian Energy Regulator***; and , when combined with a detailed field map of the full ASTRI heliostat array, a CST plant that could generate up to 90 GWh of electrical energy per year** with four hours of storage – enough to power more than 12,000 homes each year according to figures from the Australian Energy Regulator***; and Represents the ‘common platform’ (ASTRI reference plant) into which CST technology developers, suppliers and customers can ‘plug’ new and different technologies to test their impact on reducing the levelised cost of electricity from CST plants. The ASTRI reference power plant is based on a set of standard metrics, such as weather data, subsystem efficiencies, and cost. This allows testing and development of novel subsystems to assess the best configuration for CST power plants to achieve greatest efficiency, output and to estimate return on investment. To provide a snapshot in an Australian context, the reference plant design used more than twelve years of solar data compiled by ASTRI, from Bureau of Meteorology data, at the Alice Springs world meteorology site – one of Australia’s sunniest and best locations. Can I print my own 3D CST power plant? You sure can. It’s as easy as one, two, and three. Step 1) Download the 3D printable STL file Step 2) Follow the instructions to save the file then share it with your preferred 3D print supplier Step 3) Print and then marvel at the beauty and simplicity of Australia’s solar future in the palm of your hand You can also download and print an A0 poster of the ASTRI solar field map and position your 3D model on it (just like our pic above). This will give a sense of the full size of the solar field at scale. Watch our short video of the model’s development from design to 3D print production here [youtube height=”337″ width=”600″]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D0NHttq86xc[/youtube] Five fast facts about solar: According to the International Energy Agency, by 2050, solar energy could become the largest source of electricity worldwide and CST power plants could satisfy 11% of the global electricity needs. and CST power plants could satisfy 11% of the global electricity needs. A global shift to electricity production from solar energy would avoid the emission of up to 2.1 gigatonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) each year According to figures from the US Department of Energy (DOE), in a single hour, the amount of energy from the sun that strikes the Earth is more than the entire world consumes in a year **** **** Australia captures the highest volume of solar irradiance (ideal for the production of solar thermal energy), of any country in the world. Our space, geography and exposure to direct sunlight make it the ideal location for commercial-scale solar thermal energy generation. Our space, geography and exposure to direct sunlight make it the ideal location for commercial-scale solar thermal energy generation. In 2014, clean energy generated US$310 billion in investment around the world. -ENDS- Media Enquiries Kate Hines, Communications Advisor, ASTRI +61 2 4960 6100 or [email protected] * The ASTRI plant design is 25 MW (electrical) with 4 hours storage to produce 90 GWh/year ** Based on figures from ASTRI’s reference site in Alice Springs *** Figures from the Australian Energy Regulator indicate that the average Australian household consumes approximately 7.4 MWh (electrical) per annum **** Each hour 430 quintillion Joules of energy from the sun hits the Earth. In comparison, the total amount of energy that all humans use in a year is 410 quintillion Joules About ASTRI ASTRI is an eight year international collaboration with leading research institutions, industry bodies and universities that will position Australia in concentrating solar thermal (CST) power technologies. The Australian Renewable Energy Agency (ARENA) is providing up to $35 million to support the $87.3 million initiative Full commercialisation of CST technology will build industry, create jobs and transition Australia to a low-carbon, renewable economy on a global stage ASTRI’s focus is on reducing the costs to build CST power plants, increase the efficiency of their operation and their outputs and build the skills and capability necessary to make solar power the cheapest, cleanest energy source it can be. We are doing this through the combined resource and expertise of our Australian and international University and research partners – some of the best known and most highly regarded institutions in the world Australia is precisely the location that this research and development should be taking place. Our space, geography and exposure to direct sunlight make Australia the ideal location for commercial-scale solar thermal energy generation. CST technologies present a clear economic and social opportunity for Australia To ensure Australia is positioned to capitalise on this opportunity, it is important that there is significant support for both research and the development of CST industries locally. ASTRI is a big part of this research and capacity building effort. In ASTRI, we want to deliver the next wave of energy technology at a scale that makes CST competitive, not only with current renewable energy sources, but also traditional fossil fuel power stations. The technology and capability that we are producing within ASTRI will position Australia on the global stage in this sector while creating jobs, local industry and skills for our future. About CST

Yemen’s leaders must act now to prevent coronavirus catastrophe

It is deeply concerning that some of Yemen’s leaders have shirked their responsibilities and sought to use the crisis to serve their own narrow agendas. We have heard reports of the Houthis blaming migrants for the outbreak and stopping cases of coronavirus being recorded. How Yemen's leaders respond to this threat will determine how many more Yemenis lose their lives. We have provided £810 million in UK aid to provide food, water and sanitation since the conflict began. But these humanitarian organisations can only do what Yemen’s leaders allow them to. The biggest impediment to the fight against the coronavirus remains Yemen’s horrific conflict.

https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/yemens-leaders-must-act-now-to-prevent-coronavirus-catastrophe

On 27 April, Abdulaziz Alqadhi, a local furniture store owner from Al Mansourah in Aden, became Yemen’s first officially recorded coronavirus fatality. A day later, his brother Ahmed fell victim to Covid-19 too. In the weeks since many Yemenis have lost loved ones to this deadly virus. Across Yemen, the spread of the infection is likely to be far higher than official data suggests. Sadly, this is just the beginning. Yemen is of course not alone in its exposure to this global pandemic, but in Yemen Covid-19 is menacing a country already devastated by five years of war, hunger and disease. Over the coming months, many more Yemenis will die from coronavirus – be it from the virus itself or its impact on the already fragile economy and health sector. How Yemen’s leaders respond to this threat will determine how many more Yemenis lose their lives. There is an opportunity for positive action. But it is deeply concerning that some of Yemen’s leaders have shirked their responsibilities and sought to use the crisis to serve their own narrow agendas. We have heard reports of the Houthis blaming migrants for the outbreak and stopping cases of coronavirus being recorded. We must see through this smoke screen. Across the country, needless restrictions on the international humanitarian response are preventing aid from getting to those that need it most. The UN, the WHO and international NGOs are doing all they can to save Yemeni lives. We have provided £810 million in UK aid to provide food, water and sanitation since the conflict began. But these humanitarian organisations can only do what Yemen’s leaders allow them to. In Houthi-controlled areas, these restrictions are so severe that they are preventing the delivery of aid to millions of people in need, meaning some donors have had no choice but to suspend their funding at the time when Yemen needs aid most. I call on Yemen’s leaders to immediately facilitate humanitarian access and operations to help us win the fight against coronavirus. Ultimately, the biggest impediment to the fight against the coronavirus remains Yemen’s horrific conflict. In this respect, the recent Houthi aggression towards Marib and the conflict in the south are especially concerning. The Southern Transitional Council’s self-rule declaration and latest campaign of violence only complicate UN efforts to tackle the coronavirus outbreak and reverse progress towards ending this war. On 25 March, UN Secretary-General Guterres – backed by the UK and all permanent members of the UN Security Council – called for a nationwide ceasefire in Yemen. This statement was welcomed unconditionally by all parties and, on 9 April, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia took the decision to announce a unilateral ceasefire in Yemen and to limit its military activities to purely defensive operations. In spite of the determined efforts by the UN Special Envoy, Martin Griffiths, the Yemeni parties have not yet agreed to the UN’s proposals for a nationwide ceasefire, humanitarian and economic measures, and a political process that can end this grim conflict. The UN’s proposals are Yemen’s best hope of peace and of limiting the destruction of the Covid pandemic. The decision to do so now rests in the hands of Yemen’s leaders. I encourage them to take the courageous steps needed to accelerate their engagement with the UN on Griffiths’ proposals and to agree urgently a nationwide ceasefire to spare Yemeni lives from coronavirus. Political games, aggressive statements and provocative social media have no place. Yemen was already one of the world’s most desperate humanitarian disasters. Under the shadow of coronavirus, it now faces a tragedy of unimaginable scale. For the sake of all Yemenis, Yemen’s leaders must now park their differences and agree a political solution to fight coronavirus in Yemen and provide a pathway out of this wretched conflict. This needs to include urgent steps to: facilitate humanitarian access; free political prisoners - including detained British national Luke Symons; reach agreement on a nationwide ceasefire; and build humanitarian and economic confidence. These responsible actions are within their power. It is the time to act. Actions, not words, are how the Yemeni people – and indeed the world – will judge their leaders. Millions of lives depend on it. Further information

NHS delay again 24 hour £40m over-budget phone system

The implementation of The Future Programme, an NHS 24-hour phone system serving Scotland, which was initially due to launch in October 2013, is to be delayed again after IT issues caused staff to return to the old system. Although the new technology is supposed to enhance the efficiency of the NHS, its £120m cost, reports of a £40m overspend earlier this year and ongoing safety concerns mean that the launch date needs to be put back until summer 2016. After six months overseeing the project, NHS 24 interim CEO Ian Crichton made the decision to stand down in February, allowing Angiolina Foster to take over in March.

https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/162873/nhs-24-announces-delay-40-million-budget-phone-system/

The launch of an NHS 24 phone system that is already almost three years late and more than £40 million over budget has been delayed again. The IT and call handing network – named the Future Programme – was initially due to be ready for October 2013 but has run into a series of problems with several launches aborted and staff reverting to the old system. The latest issue is said to have caused computer screens to appear blank, delaying the planned June launch. NHS 24 said the problem along with “staff feedback” means it will take the “appropriate time” to resolve the issue. It follows an incident last October when the same system crashed and staff had to resort to pen and paper to deal with patient calls. The launch of the Future Programme is still planned at some point this summer. An NHS 24 spokeswoman said: “NHS 24 has been planning to put its new technology system into service during the summer of 2016 and that plan remains the same. “Our board recently considered proposals to launch the system in June but this was dependent on full technical assurance as well as an assessment of staff readiness. “A technical issue, which was very recently highlighted by suppliers, combined with staff feedback means we must take the appropriate time to get this right. “It is important that, given previous attempts to launch the system, every aspect has been tested and is safe and effective before we go live with the technology this year. “We must also ensure our staff are confidently handling the system prior to its being put into service. “We will not put the technology into service until the board have received guidance from expert advisers and the programme team on the most suitable date to launch.” The new technology is meant to make NHS 24 more efficient but is expected to cost about £120 million. MSPs were told earlier this year of a £40 million overspend on the delayed project. Former NHS 24 interim chief executive Ian Crichton stood down in February after six months in the job. Angiolina Foster took over in March and said: “NHS 24 provides a vital service to people in Scotland every single day. “I very much look forward to working with such a committed team and to helping them achieve the service improvements that the Future Programme will bring.”

DHL launches e-cargo delivery bikes in Miami

DHL has partnered with the city of Miami and mobility logistics company Reef Technology, to launch e-cargo bikes that will make deliveries across the city. The e-cargo bikes consist of three wheels and a cargo container, which has the ability to pull 400 pounds of weight. DHL hopes to decrease congestion and pollution in the city by replacing one delivery van on the road for every e-cargo bike delivery. The project is expected to reduce approximately 101,000 kg of CO2 emissions every year, result in faster deliveries and relieve the amount of parking fines received.

https://www.supplychaindive.com/news/miami-e-cargo-bike-pilot-dhl-city-congestion-pollution/578137/

Dive Brief: The City of Miami has partnered with shipping company DHL Express and mobility logistics hub Reef Technology to pilot four low-powered electric-assist e-cargo bikes that will be used for deliveries across the city. ​ The cargo bikes will come equipped with three wheels and a cargo container. They're capable of pulling up to 400 pounds or 60 cubic feet in volume. The bikes are anticipated to reduce 101,000 kg of CO2e annually, and should help DHL achieve its short-term goal of "clean pickup and delivery solutions" for 70% of operations by 2025. Dive Insight: The pilot aims to benefit congestion and the environment, as each bike takes "one conventional delivery van off the road, reducing road traffic, noise and pollution while still providing fast efficient deliveries for customers," according to the DHL announcement. A DHL truck will carry up to nine cargo containers for the bikes, which will be sent to the Reef Hub to be hooked up to the bikes for last-mile delivery in the morning. Those same containers can be reloaded in the afternoon for outbound shipments. DHL couriers will also undergo training to operate the bikes to ensure compliance with federal, state and local traffic laws. Cargo bikes can help virtually any city cut down on growing competition at the curb. New York, which has few parking options available to delivery trucks, recently participated in a pilot with Amazon, DHL and UPS to test cargo bikes as part of a six-month project to reduce congestion, improve air quality and promote pedestrian safety. DHL said the New York Pilot would result in faster deliveries. "Our intention is this will help actually speed up delivery," Bruce Marsh, a senior manager of corporate public policy at DHL, told Supply Chain Dive last year. "It will also help us in terms of our parking fines. The city has also gotten very aggressive in terms of parking and parking management and so this will help us on that end too."

Barclays share price down as lender says au revoir to French retail division in latest non-core asset sale

Barclays will sell its French retail business in the final step of a withdrawal from retail operations in continental European locations. 74 retail branches, its life insurance business, brokerage operations and its wealth and investment management subsidiary will be sold to private equity company AnaCap Financial Partners. Though an official price has not been released, the sale will reduce Barclay’s risk weighted assets by approximately £500m, and its non-core costs annually by £130m. The deal is expected to be completed by June 2017. Shares in the bank dropped 2.4% to reach 227.60p as a result of the announcement.

http://www.cityam.com/255472/barclays-says-au-revoir-french-retail-division-latest-non

Barclays says au revoir to French retail division in latest non-core asset sale Barclays has today agreed to sell its French retail business, marking the bank's final departure from retail operations in continental Europe. The lender has agreed to sell the 74 retail branches, life insurance business, wealth and investment management arm, and brokerage operations in France to private equity firm AnaCap Financial Partners. No price was disclosed for the deal, but Barclays noted the sale would reduce its risk weighted assets by around £500m and yearly non-core costs by £130m. Read more: Financial sector's tax contribution hits a record £71.4bn "The business in France is an attractive one, with a strong customer base and proposition, but it is no longer central to our strategy," said Jes Staley, group chief executive of Barclays. "I wish the business well under new ownership and success for our dedicated colleagues who will become part of AnaCap's portfolio of companies following completion." The final sale, which is subject to regulatory sign off, is expected to complete by June next year. Barclays will maintain a French presence through its corporate and investment banking businesses in the country. Read more: Bank of England stress test results – what did the lenders have to say? Shares in the bank are down 2.4 per cent at 227.60p at time of writing. The lender has ditched a number of its non-core assets lately, including completing the sale of its Italian retail network in August.

Five German cities reject free public transport

Five cities in Germany have rejected a proposal from the country's federal government to trial free public transport in a bid to meet EU air quality targets. The environment minister, Barbara Hendricks, had written to the EU informing them that the idea was under consideration, as Germany faced the prospect of being fined by the European Commission for missing pollution targets. However, after discussions between them, the Mayors of Bonn, Essen, Mannheim, Reutlingen and Herrenberg all confirmed that they would not be proceeding with the idea, with the Mayor of Bonn calling it "unrealistic".

http://www.novinite.com/articles/188274/German+Cities+Refuse+to+Launch+Free+Public+Transport

Five cities in Germany did not approve the idea of ​​providing free public transport to improve air quality, calling it unrealistic, DPA reported. Berlin is under pressure to meet European air cleanliness standards and to avoid fines. No municipality offered free fully public local transport, Bonn Mayor Ashok Sridharan said after discussions between the five cities and the ministry of the environment. The five cities where the plan was to be tested are Bonn and Essen in North Rhine-Westphalia, and Mannheim, Reutlingen and Herrenberg in the Baden-Württemberg province. Asked whether the idea could be tested in at least one city, Sridharan replied: "I think this is quite unrealistic." Air pollution levels set by the EU are still exceeded in nearly 70 German cities, the most affected being Munich, Stuttgart and Cologne, according to an official report. The five cities, however, promised by mid-March to submit proposals to the Ministry of the Environment on how to improve the air. The main goal is to make people driving diesel-powered vehicles to use public transport, said Reitlingen Mayor Barbara Bosch. A spokesman for the ministry specified that the idea of ​​free public transport has not yet been deleted from the agenda.

TalkTalk TalkTalk hosts final dinner for Stornoway staff

TalkTalk call centre staff in Stornoway have been offered a farewell dinner by the company to mark their contribution when the Western Isles centre closes on the last day of July. The employees were offered redundancy or transfers to a mainland call centre. The Scottish government has said it will help ensure alternative employment opportunities are explored.

http://www.welovestornoway.com/index.php/home/welovesyhomepage-2/14231-final-dinner-for-talktalk-employees

Final dinner for TalkTalk employees Staff at the Stornoway TalkTalk call centre are to be given a farewell dinner by their bosses before the doors close on the centre. A total of 59 employees were handed their notice after broadband services company decided in January that their Stornoway centre was to close. A spokesman for TalkTalk’s management told welovestornoway.com today: “To mark the contribution of the team to TalkTalk over the years, we will be holding a thank you dinner in Stornoway next week.” Remaining employees at the Gleann Seilach business park centre will turn up for work for the last time next Wednesday (July 31st). Politicians and business advisers have tried to find ways to support staff, who were offered either redundancy packages or relocation to TalkTalk’s mainland centres. In early June Isles MSP Alasdair Allan asked a question in the Scottish Parliament about possible replacement jobs and other support for former employees. Minister for business, fair work and skills Jamie Hepburn,replied at that time: “The Scottish Government, Highlands and Islands Enterprise and partnership action for continuing employment—PACE—partners are continuing their contact with TalkTalk and with the staff who face redundancy to ensure that all employment opportunities are explored, and that pay support is provided.”

Vote Leave AI firm wins seven government contracts in 18 months

Faculty, which has links to senior Tory figures in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, is rapidly expanding its reach into various corners of Whitehall. The firm's first high-profile contract was with the Vote Leave campaign, which Cummings ran before becoming Boris Johnson’s chief political adviser.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/04/vote-leave-ai-firm-wins-seven-government-contracts-in-18-months?CMP=Share_AndroidApp_Sync_Dev

An artificial intelligence startup that was hired to work with Dominic Cummings on the Vote Leave campaign has been awarded at least seven government contracts worth almost £1m in the space of 18 months. Faculty, which has links to senior Tory figures in Downing Street and the Cabinet Office, is rapidly expanding its reach into various corners of Whitehall and last year was tasked with finding ways to apply artificial intelligence across government. A Cabinet Office minister, Theodore Agnew, who is responsible for the government department that promotes the use of digital technology within public services, is resisting calls to sell a £90,000 shareholding in the company amid claims of a conflict of interest. On Friday it emerged that Faculty’s chief executive, Marc Warner, attended a meeting of the government’s scientific advisory group on emergencies (Sage). Faculty’s connections to the upper echelons of the government appear to run deep. The firm’s first high-profile contract was supplying data science services to the Vote Leave campaign, which Cummings ran before becoming Boris Johnson’s chief political adviser. Cummings has for years maintained a blog documenting among other things his enthusiasm for the disruptive potential of new technologies and artificial intelligence. Faculty is run by Marc Warner, whose brother Ben Warner, a data scientist, was reportedly recruited to Downing Street last year by Cummings after running the data modelling for the Conservative party’s general election campaign. Ben Warner is a former senior employee at Faculty and is also said to have worked on Vote Leave. Ben Warner hit the headlines when the Guardian revealed he and Cummings have been attending meetings of Sage, which provides advice to ministers on Covid-19. One Sage attendee told the Guardian that Warner was a regular participant in meetings and “behaved as Cummings’ deputy”. Faculty is working at the heart of the government’s response to the pandemic. It has been processing large volumes of confidential UK patient information in an “unprecedented” data-mining operation alongside Palantir, a US firm founded by the libertarian billionaire Peter Thiel. Marc Warner disclosed in an article in the Times that he too attended a critical meeting of Sage in March before the lockdown was imposed. He argued that he needed to align Faculty’s work with that of the rest of government, including Sage. Faculty said he attended Sage as an observer. Faculty’s work on the coronavirus response is only the latest government project it has secured under the Conservative administration. One early contract, for £32,000, funded fellowships in 2018 to place data scientists in city governments to help solve local challenges. Faculty was at that time operating under its original name, Advanced Skills Initiative. Last year Faculty was awarded a £250,000 contract from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport to run a cross-government review on the adoption of artificial intelligence, announced on the same day that the company rebranded as Faculty Science. Under the contract, Faculty worked with two government departments – the Office for Artificial Intelligence and Government Digital Service (GDS) – “to identify the most significant opportunities to introduce AI across government with the aim of increasing productivity and improving the quality of public services”. One of Faculty’s shareholders is Lord Agnew, a financier who has been a government minister since 2017. He has owned shares in the firm for the past four years. They are worth around £90,000, according to its most recent filings. In February this year it was announced that Agnew had become a minister in the Cabinet Office and Treasury and had taken ministerial responsibility for the GDS, which works with official bodies to use digital technology to improve public services. A government spokesperson said Agnew had had no role in awarding any contracts to Faculty while he had been a minister. However, Spotlight on Corruption, a watchdog group, has called on Agnew to sell his shareholding in Faculty, saying it raised questions over the government’s rules on managing conflicts of interests. The government spokesperson replied that Agnew had followed the appropriate procedures by declaring his shareholding in House of Lords register of interests and under the ministerial code of conduct. Faculty said that while the GDS approved the overall budget for technology projects, it was not involved in the tendering or approval of specific contracts by individual departments. Last year Faculty also received two consultancy contracts worth £185,000 from GDS. In March it also secured a £125,000 contract to provide advice on bias mitigation in finance and recruitment to the Centre for Data Ethics and Innovation (CDEI), a government-funded board of experts who have been tasked by ministers with making recommendations about the ethical implementation of new technologies. One of the CDEI board members is Faculty’s chief commercial officer, Richard Sargeant. A Faculty spokesperson said Sargeant had recused himself from any discussions concerning the CDEI contract. A government spokesperson said Faculty was the highest-scoring bidder under a competitive tender. Faculty’s government work with Palantir on Covid-19 is based out of NHSX, the digital technology arm of the health service. This work was awarded to Faculty in March under the government’s fast-track procedures to respond to the pandemic, without any other firms being asked to bid for it. Instead of an open tender process, the Department of Health decided to extend a contract that had already been awarded to Faculty. The original contract was awarded after a competitive tender. Faculty said the extension of the contract built on its existing work with NHSX to create a new artificial intelligence laboratory. In addition, Faculty has been awarded a £264,000 contract from the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy to monitor the impact of the coronavirus on industry. In February 2018 it was reported that Faculty had a £600,000 contract from the Home Office to track terrorist videos online. Holly Searle, Faculty’s head of PR and communications, said: “Faculty has strong governance procedures in place to guard against conflicts of interest when competing for new work. All of its contracts with the government are won through the proper processes and in line with procurement rules.” The Scott Trust, the ultimate owner of the Guardian, is the sole investor in GMG Ventures, which is a minority shareholder in Faculty.

Litigation finance firm funds patent case vs Samsung

Nanoco has secured backing from a large US litigation finance specialist to sue Samsung over claims the South Korean giant stole its patented tech for QLED TVs.

https://www.thisismoney.co.uk/money/markets/article-8518489/Nanotechnology-firm-seals-funds-sue-Samsung.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490

Nanoco has secured a chunk of funding to help it pursue a lawsuit against Samsung. The London-listed nanotechnology company is alleging that the South Korean-based telecoms group, which is best known for its mobile phones and televisions, stole its unique patented techniques to create tiny specialist semiconductors. Nanoco claims Samsung then used these components, known as quantum dots, in its new range of high-tech QLED TVs. London-listed Nanoco is alleging Samsung stole its patented techniques to create tiny specialist semiconductors which it used in its new range of high-tech QLED TVs The two companies had previously worked together on developing the quantum dots, but Samsung eventually ended the collaboration. Nanoco, which is listed on London’s junior stock market AIM and has a market value of just £52million compared to Samsung’s £236billion, was unable to agree an out-of-court settlement with Samsung. It managed to engage a ‘very large US litigation finance specialist’ to pay for the case in return for a cut of any winnings. Nanoco chief executive Michael Edelman said: ‘The successful outcome of their extensive and detailed due diligence, including the use of independent experts, adds to our significant confidence in our case against Samsung.’ Samsung made no comment.

ATMs dispense more than money: Dirt and dope sticks to cash

A study led by biologist Jane Carlton at New York University identified over a hundred different strains of bacteria on dollar bills circulating in New York City including traces of DNA from pets, traces of drugs and bacteria and viruses that cause disease.

https://www.upi.com/Health_News/2017/06/22/ATMs-dispense-more-than-money-Dirt-and-dope-sticks-to-cash/1361498142398/

A study recovered traces of DNA on ATM keypads, reflecting the foods people ate in different neighborhoods. File Photo by Ezio Petersen/UPI | License Photo June 22 (UPI) -- We live in a dirty world. Wherever we go, we are among microbes. Bacteria, fungi and viruses live on our phones, bus seats, door handles and park benches. We pass these tiny organisms to each other when we share a handshake or a seat on the plane. Advertisement Now, researchers are finding we also share our microbes through our money. From tip jars to vending machines to the meter maid – each dollar, passed person to person, samples a bit of the environment it comes from and passes those bits to the next person, the next place it goes. The list of things found on our dollars includes DNA from our pets, traces of drugs and bacteria and viruses that cause disease. The findings demonstrate how money can silently record human activities, leaving behind so-called "molecular echoes." Advertisement What's on a dollar bill? In April, a new study identified over a hundred different strains of bacteria on dollar bills circulating in New York City. Some of the most common bugs on our bills included Propionibacterium acnes, a bacteria known to cause acne, and Streptococcus oralis, a common bacteria found in our mouths. RELATED FDA warns diabetics against using secondhand test strips The research team, led by biologist Jane Carlton at New York University, also discovered traces of DNA from domestic animals and from specific bacteria that are associated only with certain foods. A similar study recovered traces of DNA on ATM keypads, reflecting the foods people ate in different neighborhoods. People in central Harlem ate more domestic chicken than those in Flushing and Chinatown, who ate more species of bony fish and mollusks. The foods people ate transferred from fingers to touchscreens, where scientists could recover a bit of their most recent meals. We don't leave only food behind. Traces of cocaine can be found on almost 80 percent of dollar bills. Other drugs, including morphine, heroin, methamphetamine and amphetamine, can also be found on bills, though less commonly than cocaine. RELATED Italian airport relaxes liquid rules to let pesto on flights Identifying foods people eat or the drugs people use based on interactions with money might not seem all that useful, but scientists are also using these types of data to understand patterns of disease. Most of the microbes the researchers in New York identified do not cause disease. But other studies have suggested that disease-causing strains of bacteria or virus could be passed along with our currency. Advertisement Bacteria that cause food-borne illness – including Salmonella and a pathogenic strain of E.coli – have been shown to survive on pennies, nickels and dimes and can hide out on ATMs. Other bacteria, such as methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) which causes skin infections, are found on bank notes in the United States and Canada, but the extent to which they could spread infections is unknown. Try as we may to avoid exposure to germs, they travel with us and on us. Even if disease-causing microbes can survive in places like ATMs, the good news is that most exposures don't make us sick. Money laundering Disease transmission linked to money is rare, and no major disease outbreaks have started from our ATMs. Although it doesn't seem common for diseases to transmit through money, there are ways we could make our money cleaner. Researchers are working on ways to clean money between transactions. Putting older bills through a machine that exposes them to carbon dioxide at a specific temperature and pressure can strip dollar bills of oils and dirt left behind by human fingers, while the heat kills microbes that would otherwise linger. Advertisement U.S. money is still made from a blend of cotton and linen, which has been shown to have higher bacterial growth than plastic polymers. Several countries are transitioning from money made of natural fibers to plastic, which may be less friendly to bacteria. Canada has had plastic money since 2013, and the U.K. transitioned to a plastic-based bank note last year. Even if our money is not directly responsible for spreading disease, we can still use the dollar's travel history to track how we spread disease in other ways. The website WheresGeorge.com, created in 1998, lets users track dollar bills by recording their serial numbers. In the almost 20 years since the site's creation, WheresGeorge has tracked the geographic locations of bills totaling over a billion dollars. Now, physicists at the Max Planck Institute and University of California, Santa Barbara are using data from the WheresGeorge site to track epidemics. Information on human movement and contact rates from WheresGeorge was even used to predict the spread of the 2009 swine flu. Although we don't know the extent to which money allows diseases to spread, mom's advice is probably best when handling cash: Wash your hands and don't stick it in your mouth. Advertisement

InternetQ Pandora banks on partnerships & ads strategy

Music streaming platform Pandora is focusing on new advertising strategies and developing ongoing partnerships following growth of nearly 75% in the past year. Key partnerships with AT&T and Snap will be a major focus, alongside its recent acquisition of AdsWizz, which will help it to explore increasing numbers of advertising initiatives. These will include more programmatic audio inventory services and audio-driven advertising. Previously the company had based its expansion plans on its subscription services, including the recent introduction of a group subscription option.

https://www.androidheadlines.com/2018/06/pandoras-growth-to-hinge-on-partnerships-ads-strategy.html

According to Chief Financial Officer Naveen Chopra, Pandora’s strategy for growth moving forward will be mostly dependent on new advertising strategies and ongoing partnerships. The news follows a nearly 75-percent growth over the past year. Previously, the company had centered efforts on its Premium subscription services, including the introduction of a new competitively priced group subscription near the end of last month. Moving forward, that focus continues, heavily augmented by its partnership with Snap Inc. and AT&T. Moreover, the company plans to leverage its recent acquisition of AdsWizz to explore better advertising strategies for its core music streaming product. As explained by Chopra, the focus on Pandora Premium has shifted with the introduction of its AT&T partnership allowing users of the carrier’s unlimited plans access to the service with their plan. That serves to bring more publicity to the ad-free benefits of the plan, in addition to providing an OTT service for AT&T and more subscribers in general to Pandora. That compounds on top of the option for free-use users to watch select ads for on-demand access to the features. The partnership with Snap takes things in a slightly different direction, allowing users to include Pandora-based music alongside their Snapchat shares. The integration is expected to have a similar effect to the AT&T deal in terms of brand awareness. Not least of all, that’s because it allows for the free placement of music to a social network without dependence on YouTube or other user-based services. Direct integration is also a step away from most other apps, making it the easiest choice for including music alongside shares, which should drive more Snapchat users to the platform over time. Meanwhile, the company’s acquisition of AdWizz is also spurring new directions for Pandora’s more traditional advertising. Among those is the company’s new push to incorporate more “programmatic audio inventory” complete with advertising. The goal is to move the company’s service from an ad-supported music delivery medium to more of a dedicated audio “platform.” The company hasn’t elaborated on what that audio platform might include besides music but that’s only part of its new strategy for advertising. Another piece to that puzzle comes in the form of research into more audio-driven advertising. That’s meant to address the industry-wide move away from screen-based experiences toward audio and voice-controlled experiences. More directly, the company is looking for ways to better advertise to users who are accessing Pandora through a smart speaker or voice-interactions with their smartphones.

Reporting cyber crime can improve defences urges expert panel

Business must do more to report cybercrime, says a panel of law and business representatives at Infosecurity 2018, and added that under-reporting was a huge problem. Data provided in crime reports help the better allocation of resources and enable more arrests. The companies themselves can also benefit, with advice on how to tackle cybercrime. The National Crime Agency said reporting a cybercrime required a “leap of faith” from businesses. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) provides help for organisations and hosts the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Partnership. The panel said GDPR would play a key role in encouraging cybercrime reporting.

https://www.computerweekly.com/news/252442711/Businesses-must-report-cyber-crime-panel-urges

Under-reporting is a huge problem when it comes to cyber crime, depriving law enforcement organisations of key insights and opportunities to connect criminal activity. That was the view of a panel of law enforcement and private business representatives at Infosecurity Europe 2018 in London, discussing the importance of partnerships between the two in fighting cyber crime. By gathering data about cyber crime, law enforcement organisations can get a better picture of the nature and scale of what is really happening, in order to allocate budget and resources appropriately and enable more arrests and effective disruptive action. The panel said that by reporting cyber crime, organisations can, in turn, benefit from the expertise in law enforcement organisations on how to respond to, and mitigate, the various kinds of cyber attack. “Information from CrimeStoppers is hugely important to the effectiveness of community policing, and so we need to marshal the same good citizenship in cyber space by encouraging organisations to report cyber crime, and law enforcement can help to demystify cyber crime and the methods and motives of those behind it,” said Victoria Baines, visiting associate at the Oxford Internet Institute and formerly of Europol’s European Cybercrime Centre and Facebook’s trust and safety department. “Collaboration between US, European and other allies’ law enforcement organisations means they can be more agile in tracking cyber crime internationally by pooling information, and the more information available, the more effective that will be,” she said. “We are getting much quicker as a global community at collating and responding to cyber crime intelligence.” The panel recognised that, historically, it has not been easy for businesses to report cyber crime and that many organisations may be afraid to do so, fearing how it will affect their business operations. Ben Russell, head of threat response at the National Crime Agency’s (NCA) National Cyber Crime Unit, said: “In the UK, cyber crime reporting has certainly become a lot easier in the past 18 months, and the reality is typically very different from the perception of what will happen after a cyber crime is reported. “Many businesses are concerned that we will come in and shut down business operations or that we will make the investigation public without their consent, but that is not at all what happens.” Russell added that under section 7 under the Crime & Courts Act, organisations can share information confidentially without having to trigger a formal crime report. It is always easier the second time after a trust relationship has been established, he said, but the NCA understands that the first time often requires “a leap of faith” by the business concerned. “We can’t go out and talk to absolutely everyone, so where there is no existing relationship, businesses will have to take a leap of faith, which is difficult, but there are benefits to reporting cyber crime and working with law enforcement,” said Russell. In view of the fact that the first step is often the most difficult, Russell said the NCA is working to find ways to make it easier to understand when and how to report a cyber crime and what businesses can expect to happen as a result. “If we can get the first 24 hours in our engagement right, it tends to flow quite positively from then on,” he said. While private enterprise and law enforcement organisations exist for very different reasons, there is also a lot of common ground, said Eric Welling, deputy assistant director of the FBI’s cyber division. “We all agree on things like defending networks and preventing cyber crime that we can focus on and have conversations about,” he said. The FBI sees the same challenges, said Welling. “Transparency is extremely important. When we work with companies, we need to ensure that they understand why the FBI is asking for certain things and what the agency will do with that information,” he said. “Another challenge we are working to overcome is engaging with company boards. While you may have a good relationship with a CISO, it is key to have the same conversations with the boards and the general counsels to reach an agreement on what action to take.” A good example of collaboration around fighting cyber crime is the UK’s National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC), said Paul Midian, CISO of Dixons Carphone. “The one key reason it is successful is that it has unshackled GCHQ and enabled its experts to go into the public domain and give organisations very sensible advice,” he said. Cyber security guidance The NCSC is also publishing good, simple cyber security guidance for organisations on its website, as well as hosting the Cybersecurity Information Sharing Partnership (CISP), which enables industry and government to exchange cyber threat information in real time. Baines pointed out No More Ransom as an example of successful collaboration between international law enforcement agencies and private industry. “This has been of great benefit not only to the parties involved, but to individuals and businesses hit by ransomware through the provision of a repository of keys and applications that can decrypt data locked by different types of ransomware,” she said. “This is a good place to start because it is a task-based problem-solving initiative, and off the back of something like that, you can build a more sophisticated relationship.” Welling said that in the US, there are a number of initiatives on collaboration between law enforcement and industry, particularly the tech sector. “The National Cyber Forensics and Training Academy, for example, enables representatives of the public and private sector to work together on finding solutions to problems each side is seeing,” he said. Collaboration between the public and private sectors “is the way forward”, said Welling. “Fighting cyber crime has got to be a team sport. We all have to come at it as partners, nationally and internationally, and we have found that the private sector is definitely interested in getting involved.” In the US, various industries have also set up information sharing and analysis centres (Isacs), which are non-profit organisations that gather information on cyber threats and provide two-way sharing of information between the private and public sector. Welling added: “Various critical industry sectors, such as banking, aviation, health and water, each have their own Isac, which is a good model that works well and could be replicated elsewhere around the world.”

Tesla Shanghai Model 3 May Go Cobalt-Free Using CATL's LFP Cells — Diving Deeper

With continuing chemistry advances, LFP cells are now starting to reach energy densities (both in weight and volume) that can make good sense for decent-range passenger electric cars, especially those which use energy efficiently, like the Tesla Model 3 SR+, which has a 250 mile EPA range rating.Switching one of Tesla’s highest0volume products (Shanghai Model 3 Standard Range) over to entirely cobalt-free LFP cells — now that LFP chemistry has reached the threshold energy density — will obviously be a win in this respect.CATL’s LFP packs are reportedly already at >20% cost advantage per kWh, compared to their NCM 811 packs, according to Autohome:We know that Tesla has its own approach to battery packaging for its traditional NCA cylindrical cells, so it will be interesting to see how they work with CATL LFP cells.

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/02/18/tesla-shanghai-model-3-may-go-cobalt-free-using-catls-lfp-cells-diving-deeper/amp/

Tesla is in talks with battery producer CATL* to supply lithium-iron-phosphate (LFP) cells for the Shanghai-made Tesla Model 3, according to a report by Reuters. LFP cells are slightly less energy dense than Tesla’s typical NCA cells, but are cheaper, simpler to package, and require no scarce minerals (cobalt and nickel). They are ideal for further reducing the cost of the Tesla Model 3 Standard Range Plus whilst still providing adequate range. Lithium-Iron-Phosphate Battery Pros & Cons All lithium-ion cell chemistries are gaining steady improvements in energy density and benefiting from reductions in cost. Until now, for weight-sensitive EV applications, lithium-ion cells with nickel-cobalt-manganese (NCM) or nickel-cobalt-aluminium (NCA) cathodes have typically been favoured for their higher energy density. The slightly less energy dense iron-phosphate (LFP) cathodes have been well suited to electric buses and other heavy vehicles (sanitation trucks, etc.), which have modest range requirements but demanding duty cycles and have taken over 90% of this market. LFP typically can be charged and discharged at higher power levels than their NCM and NCA cousins (let’s call these NCx), and they can endure more use cycles before degrading, giving a longer life in high-duty applications such as buses. With continuing chemistry advances, LFP cells are now starting to reach energy densities (both in weight and volume) that can make good sense for decent-range passenger electric cars, especially those which use energy efficiently, like the Tesla Model 3 SR+, which has a 250 mile EPA range rating. Although the ~55 kWh pack of the SR+ with LFP cells may weigh perhaps 40–60 kg (around 10-15%) more than the NCA version of the pack, this is only ~3% of the weight of the overall vehicle, and still well under the weight of the Model 3 Long Range variants. The slight added weight is easily compensated by adding another 1 or 2 kWh of energy to keep the overall range the same, and perhaps tweaking the motor peak power to keep peak acceleration the same. The higher energy density of batteries using NCx chemistries still gives them the edge for EVs needing to offer more energy for range closer to 300 miles (or more). Tesla’s Long Range variants will continue to use these and emerging high-density chemistries for the foreseeable future. In EVs that don’t need the most extreme energy densities, LFP has advantages of long life, high charging rates, and, perhaps most importantly, cost competitiveness with no risk of any mineral supply constraints, either now or in the future. No Mineral Constraints The cobalt supply chain required for NCx batteries is famously complex. Commercially viable cobalt deposits are uncommon globally, and some of the most viable are found in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), which supplies around two-thirds of the global cobalt market. Although most DRC supply is from modern mining techniques, as of 2016, up to 20% of supply was from “artisanal mining” often involving children and unsafe working conditions. Being associated with this form of mining obviously caries reputational risk for automakers (amongst other industries that use batteries), even the ones (like Tesla) that have committed to not sourcing cobalt from this region or other regions with such problems. Also, since it’s not always possible to have 100% accurate supply-chain tracking, Tesla and other automakers have rightfully been under pressure to reduce cobalt content in cells.

Six Ways Drones Are Revolutionizing Agriculture

PwC estimates the market for drone-powered solutions in agriculture at $32.4 billion. Drone technology will give the agriculture industry a high-technology makeover, PwC says. Drone-driven soil analysis provides data for irrigation and nitrogen-level management.

https://www.technologyreview.com/2016/07/20/158748/six-ways-drones-are-revolutionizing-agriculture/

Agricultural producers must embrace revolutionary strategies for producing food, increasing productivity, and making sustainability a priority. Drones are part of the solution, along with closer collaboration between governments, technology leaders, and industry. Six Options for Agricultural Drones Drone technology will give the agriculture industry a high-technology makeover, with planning and strategy based on real-time data gathering and processing. PwC estimates the market for drone-powered solutions in agriculture at $32.4 billion. Following are six ways aerial and ground-based drones will be used throughout the crop cycle: 1. Soil and field analysis: Drones can be instrumental at the start of the crop cycle. They produce precise 3-D maps for early soil analysis, useful in planning seed planting patterns. After planting, drone-driven soil analysis provides data for irrigation and nitrogen-level management. 2. Planting: Startups have created drone-planting systems that achieve an uptake rate of 75 percent and decrease planting costs by 85 percent. These systems shoot pods with seeds and plant nutrients into the soil, providing the plant all the nutrients necessary to sustain life. 3. Crop spraying: Distance-measuring equipment—ultrasonic echoing and lasers such as those used in the light-detection and ranging, or LiDAR, method—enables a drone to adjust altitude as the topography and geography vary, and thus avoid collisions. Consequently, drones can scan the ground and spray the correct amount of liquid, modulating distance from the ground and spraying in real time for even coverage. The result: increased efficiency with a reduction of in the amount of chemicals penetrating into groundwater. In fact, experts estimate that aerial spraying can be completed up to five times faster with drones than with traditional machinery. 4. Crop monitoring: Vast fields and low efficiency in crop monitoring together create farming’s largest obstacle. Monitoring challenges are exacerbated by increasingly unpredictable weather conditions, which drive risk and field maintenance costs. Previously, satellite imagery offered the most advanced form of monitoring. But there were drawbacks. Images had to be ordered in advance, could be taken only once a day, and were imprecise. Further, services were extremely costly and the images’ quality typically suffered on certain days. Today, time-series animations can show the precise development of a crop and reveal production inefficiencies, enabling better crop management. 5. Irrigation: Drones with hyperspectral, multispectral, or thermal sensors can identify which parts of a field are dry or need improvements. Additionally, once the crop is growing, drones allow the calculation of the vegetation index, which describes the relative density and health of the crop, and show the heat signature, the amount of energy or heat the crop emits.

France may ban fungicide use in stadiums later this year

*From editor: I'm not sure if you want some context / background added to these sports abstracts?* French football clubs may be banned from using fungicides under proposed laws being drafted for later this year.

https://www.euractiv.com/section/health-consumers/news/french-stadiums-should-ban-fungicide-use-this-year/

Fungicides, pesticides used to combat fungi, could be banned from French football stadiums this year. EURACTIV France reports. While the city of Rennes has not used any fungicides to maintain the lawns of its sports fields for almost ten years, stadiums across France have not been so quick to ban the product. Although quite a few football clubs still use fungicides for ‘good TV’ and to avoid scorched earth, Morbihan senator Joël Labbé, who also happens to have initiated a law regulating the use of pesticides in non-agricultural areas, has started to mobilise the football world to ban the product. With these chemicals being “potentially dangerous for the health of sportsmen and women” according to the senator, it is possible that the French government will extend the ban of fungicides to football fields. Ecological and Solidarity Transition Minister Elisabeth Borne is currently preparing a new draft law for the year 2020. The current Labbé law, which was voted in 2014, does prohibit the use of fungicides in all public areas of municipalities and cities, except for cemeteries and sports fields. FIFA commits to carbon-neutral 2022 football World Cup FIFA aims reach carbon neutrality at the next World Cup, to be hosted by Qatar in 2022, in spite of the numerous environmental challenges linked to the location of the event, according to a recently released sustainability strategy. Massive and dangerous use As early as 2018, a group of doctors, oncologists, toxicologists and researchers from the French National Centre for Scientific Research (CNRS), the National Institute of Health and Medical Research (Inserm) and the public research institute dedicated to agricultural science (INRA) revealed the harmful effects of fungicides on human health, particularly as they were linked to the development of certain cancers and neurodegenerative diseases. However, almost all professional football clubs continue to use these types of pesticides to improve the quality of their lawns. Particularly “for aesthetic reasons linked to the televised broadcasting of matches”, said Patrice Therre, founder of landscaping company Novarea and member of the Professional Football League (LFP)’s playing surfaces committee. “Without these chemicals, lawns would have become bare and scorched in places,” he added. Germans push back against green alternatives to artificial football pitches The EU is considering new curbs on microplastics, a decision which could also affect the synthetic turfs of countless football pitches in Germany. Yet, replacing all surfaces by real grass, although more environmentally-friendly, is hardly feasible. EURACTIV Germany reports. What about prevention? In theory, a strict procedure should be followed at the end of each fungicide treatment as a period of several days must elapse after their use before players are allowed to walk on the pitch again. But few players seem to be aware of the dangers involved. Labbé, therefore, contacted the National Union of Professional Footballers (UNFP) to inform them of these risks and to act hand in hand with the football world to ban fungicides, despite the pesticide industry lobby. Indeed, as the government is looking into changing the Labbé law, football stadiums may become ‘pesticides-free’ by the end of 2020. Playing with feelings: Football's role in climate protection Football plays a big role in the lives of many Europeans. Football clubs can reach people on an emotional level, and some use this to raise awareness about sustainability. One such example is Schalke 04, which drives environmental awareness in a traditional German coal region. Read more with EURACTIV

United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) were adopted by all United Nations Member States in 2015. They are a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet and ensure that all people enjoy peace and prosperity by 2030.

https://www.undp.org/content/undp/en/home/sustainable-development-goals.html

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), also known as the Global Goals, were adopted by the United Nations in 2015 as a universal call to action to end poverty, protect the planet, and ensure that by 2030 all people enjoy peace and prosperity. The 17 SDGs are integrated—they recognize that action in one area will affect outcomes in others, and that development must balance social, economic and environmental sustainability. Countries have committed to prioritize progress for those who're furthest behind. The SDGs are designed to end poverty, hunger, AIDS, and discrimination against women and girls. The creativity, knowhow, technology and financial resources from all of society is necessary to achieve the SDGs in every context.

Robots are taking over farms faster than expected thanks to small start-ups

The first fully autonomous farm equipment is becoming commercially available. Tractors will drive with no farmer in the cab and specialised equipment will be able to spray, plant, plow and weed cropland. It is all happening well before many analysts had predicted thanks to small start-ups.

https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/robots-farming-autonomous-equipment-canada-australia-a8919836.html

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Breaking News email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Robots are taking over farms faster than anyone saw coming, as the first fully autonomous farm equipment is becoming commercially available, meaning machines will be able to completely take over a multitude of tasks. Tractors will drive with no farmer in the cab and specialised equipment will be able to spray, plant, plow and weed cropland. And it is all happening well before many analysts had predicted thanks to small start-ups in Canada and Australia. While industry leaders Deere and CNH Industrial have not said when they will release similar offerings, Saskatchewan's Dot Technology has already sold some so-called power platforms for fully mechanised spring planting. In Australia, SwarmFarm Robotics is leasing weed-killing robots that can also do tasks like mow and spread. The companies has said their machines are smaller and smarter than the gigantic machinery they aim to replace. Sam Bradford, a farm manager at Arcturus Downs in Australia's Queensland state, was an early adopter as part of a pilot programme for SwarmFarm last year. He used four robots, each about the size of a truck, to kill weeds. Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Show all 15 1 / 15 Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot 'Pepper' during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Funabashi Hiroshi from A Fun, repairs broken'AIBO's, pet dog robots, at his office in Kasama. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A caretaker wearing a 'HAL for care support' robot suit pushes a wheelchair at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Residents follow moves made by humanoid robot 'Pepper' during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Yoichi Suzuki spends time with 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, which his father used for his rehabilitation at his house in Takahag.i Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident approaches humanoid robot 'Pepper' to pat its head during an afternoon exercise routine at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A caretaker, wearing walking rehabilitation equipment 'Tree', helps a resident with his walking training at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Yoichi Suzuki shows 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, to his bed-ridden mother at his house. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A broken'AIBO', a pet dog robot, waits for repair in A Fun's office in Kasama, Ibaraki Prefecture, Japan. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident touches 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident touches robot seal 'PARO' at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care Yoichi Suzuki and his wife take care of his bed-ridden mother as 'AIBO', a pet dog robot walks around at his house in Takahagi. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A caretaker wearing a motion assist equipment 'Muscle Suit' carries a resident from a bed to a wheelchair at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care 'AIBO', a pet dog robot, which Yoichi Suzuki's father used for his rehabilitation, is seen at Suzuki's house in Takahagi. Reuters Ageing Japan: Robots' role in future of elderly care A resident claps to call 'AIBO', a pet dog robot at Shin-tomi nursing home in Tokyo. Reuters In years past, Mr Bradford had used a 120-foot wide, 16-ton spraying machine that "looks like a massive praying mantis". It would blanket the field in chemicals, he said. But the robots were more precise. They distinguished the dull brown colour of the farm's paddock from green foliage and targeted chemicals directly at the weeds. It is a task the farm does two to three times a year over 20,000 acres. With the robots, Mr Bradford said he can save 80 per cent of his chemical costs. "The savings on chemicals is huge, but there's also savings for the environment from using less chemicals and you're also getting a better result in the end," said Mr Bradford, who has run the farm for about 10 years. Surrounding rivers run out to the Great Barrier Reef off Australia's eastern cost, making the farm particularly sensitive over its use of chemicals, he said. Costs savings have become especially crucial as a multi-year rout for prices depresses farm incomes and tightens margins. The Bloomberg Grains Spot Index is down more than 50 per cent since its peak in 2012. Meanwhile, advances in seed technology, fertilisers and other crop inputs has led to soaring yields and oversupply. Producers are eager to find any edge possible at a time when the US-China trade war is disrupting the usual flow of agriculture exports. Farmers need to get to the next level of profitability and efficiency in farming, and "we've lost sight of that with engineering that doesn't match the agronomy," said SwarmFarm's Chief Executive Officer Andrew Bate. "Robots flip that on its head. What's driving adoption in agriculture is better farming systems and better ways to grow crops." In Saskatchewan, the first commercially sold autonomous tractors made by Dot are hitting fields this spring. The Dot units will not be completely on their own this year -- farmers who bought equipment as part of a limited release are required to watch them at all times. But after this trial run, the producers will be able to let the equipment run on its own starting next year. That will open up a lot of time for the growers who will no longer need to sit behind the steering wheel. Farmers are always managing multiple tasks, said Leah Olson-Friesen, CEO of Dot. "When you look at the amount of intelligence that's sitting in the cab, they could be on the phone doing different things or outside of the cab -- there's some real opportunities there." But farmers do more than steer when they are in the cabs of their tractors, said Alex Purdy, head of John Deere Labs and director of precision agriculture technology. Deere has not yet released fully autonomous equipment because the technology that is out there is still not good enough to replace people, he said. Robot surgeon pokes its way inside pig's body to fix leaky heart Machinery that uses automation for tasks right now is more beneficial to farmers than autonomous equipment, Mr Purdy said. Artificial intelligence, deep learning and advances in computer vision are going to transform agricultural machinery even further, he said. "Automation is a never-ending journey -- there's always something that will get better over time, and there's so much opportunity that we're prioritising automation over autonomy," Mr Purdy said. A modern tractor does thousands of tasks and to provide a fully autonomous solution, a deep understanding of each of those tasks is needed to automate them, said Brett McClelland, product manager of autonomous vehicles at CNH Industrial. While CNH Industrial revealed a sleek, aggressive-looking prototype in 2016 to much fanfare, the product is still in test pilots and not yet commercially available. For some tasks, current equipment is oversized, and smaller machines might be able to successfully scout a field, for instance. But they will not be able to prepare the ground for planting carrots, where machines rip up soil 40 inches deep, Mr McClelland said. "Farmers have a demand for productivity, and they'll take it in whatever way we can give it, and technology is the new way," he said. Still, bigger will not necessarily be better going forward, according to Ohio State University professor Scott Shearer. Modern tractors can weigh more than 50,000 pounds, which compresses the soil, making it less productive. Alleviating that compaction could increase crop yields by as much as 7 per cent. Increases in precision technology will also allow for smaller robots, as was the case for Mr Bradford's fields where weed-killing spray was applied only where it was needed. "To survive, farmers are always having to try to become more efficient and to keep costs down, while improving yields," Mr Bradford said. "The way that's going to be achieved is in accuracy, by being timely with the operations and applying inputs directly where they are needed, rather than with a broad blanket approach to large areas. That's where these robots will work." The Washington Post

Affordable Care Act driving disaggregation of US healthcare

Health benefits startup Hixme is taking advantage of the new market created by the the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and offering tailor-made health insurance to consumers that offers savings up between 5% and 15%. CEO Denny Weinberg says the traditional model of employer benefits, which were bundled with other forms of insurance, is inflexible and impersonal. Hixme’s model matches people with local health plans that most closely resemble their group schemes, “re-aggregates the numbers” and presents potential clients with a five-year projection.

http://www.benefitnews.com/news/shift-to-defined-benefit-health-plans-still-a-steep-climb?feed=00000152-177d-d933-a573-ff7f3d240000

As one tech entrepreneur sees it, the time has come for a movement — one involving brokers and advisers — that will steer employee populations from group health plans to what he sees as a far more efficient individual insurance market. “Our model is based around the power of personal ownership,” says Denny Weinberg, whose company, Hixme, built a digital healthcare benefits consulting platform. In essence, it disaggregates group benefits and leverages a massive retail market created by the Affordable Care Act, which limits the effectiveness of ACA-compliant group plans. Of 22 million Americans being served by that market, about half are covered by private plans off the public exchanges without subsidized coverage. He calls it “the largest and most stable commercial pool in the country.” Under this approach, health plans are bundled with other specific types of insurance and financing as a line of credit to fill coverage gaps. Employer contributions are earmarked for individual-market plans, which are purchased through payroll deduction. Another key component is portability, with employees able to take their customized plans with them from one job to the next. They also can use savings from cheaper health insurance to help pay for commuting, childcare, pet insurance, or other options that best fit their circumstance. A steep climb As appealing as this may sound to individual-market proponents, industry observers believe acceptance of this approach could be a steep uphill climb unless it’s able to demonstrate meaningful results. “Employers want to continue offering benefits and make sure their employees have choices in terms of their coverage options and wellness incentives,” says Clare Krusing, a spokeswoman for America’s Health Insurance Plans. “The anticipated movement of employees to exchanges or individual-market coverage hasn’t taken place, and that’s because employers look very closely at how they tailor their benefits and offer a wide range of products that make sense specifically for their employees.” She says AHIP doesn’t track the number of group plans transitioning to the individual market. Steve Wojcik, VP of public policy at the National Business Group on Health, sees employers being open to alternative sources of coverage, as long as they’re better able to control costs, improve quality, provide a positive customer experience and sustain affordability. Otherwise, he says, “employers and their employees would prefer their group health plans.” While unwilling to abandon the financing of employee healthcare, Weinberg says HR and benefit executives at larger companies, as well as their CFOs, are more than happy to eliminate the cost of plan administration. Unlike auto insurance or workers’ compensation, Weinberg says “there’s no actuarial basis for tying health insurance around people that just happen to work with each other. It makes no sense at all.” A better deal Savvy healthcare consumers are drawn to individual-market plans “because it’s a better deal than attaching themselves to a spouse’s work-related insurance,” he explains. If structured correctly, Weinberg says the switch to individual from group health insurance can be done on a pretax basis. “That’s one of the very tricky issues of doing this right,” he says, noting the involvement of “some proprietary issues.” The challenge at hand is bundling gap insurance and gap financing, while maintaining this linkage on a tax-favored basis. Hixme has had extensive conversations about its approach with officials from the Department of Labor, Department of Treasury, Department of Health and Human Services and White House. Since regulators and policymakers are “desperately looking for ways to shore up the quality of the individual-market insurance pools,” Weinberg says transitioning from group to individual insurance is good from a public policy standpoint by broadening an already massive and stable health insurance risk pool. Hixme offers a sophisticated modeling tool that matches employees with a health plan in their ZIP code that most resembles their group plan, re-aggregates the numbers, presents the cost difference and projects pricing over the next five years. “In about two-thirds of the cases, we’re able to show between 5% and 15% savings in just the first year,” Weinberg reports. “Those savings continue through the next five years, because once employees now have this experience with their own money shopping, they are more shrewd purchasers and more careful thinking about their needs in the upcoming year.” A coalition Hixme’s tagline is, “Building benefits from the bottom up.” The company envisions shifting to true healthcare consumerism from powerless, third-party purchasing that was an accident of history rooted in wage and price controls. Since receiving venture funding in late 2014, it has 13 employer clients with just under 10,000 consumers and expects nearly four times that number by the end of the next open-enrollment period. Weinberg says his company is about a year away from involving brokers and advisers in helping their clients shift from group health to individual-market plans with enough accuracy and ease. “We’re working on a coalition right now that we believe will eventually be an association that is focused on what we call the group-to-individual movement,” he reports. “Our goal is to see this as really the next big wave in health financing for large employers.” Weinberg predicts “a bit of a food fight” between consultants at Aon, Willis Towers Watson and other big-name firms, as well as “the everyday broker who sells to consumers” in making this transition. He sees a great opportunity for all brokers to service with their boots on the ground the workforce of large employers on an employee-by-employee basis. He also believes the brokerage community is well-equipped to manage such a significant market transition. Looking ahead, Weinberg is bullish about the individual market’s staying power, “regardless of who is president and who is running Congress.” Not only is the quality of individual plans superior to those offered by large employers “because they’re done en masse,” he says, but it’s also worth noting that insurers are on the hook because it’s their risk.

Samsung launches unhackable phone with quantum chipset

South Korean firms Samsung and SK Telecom have partnered to develop the "unhackable" Galaxy A Quantum, a rebranded Galaxy A71 5G smartphone equipped with a quantum random number generator (QRNG) chipset. It uses photons from a light emitting diode to generate a random number, a system that is for the moment coupled solely to an SK Telecom online service. The firm said it plans to expand the use of QRNGs in other technology, while the roughly $530 Galaxy A Quantum his South Korean shops on 22 May.

https://www.techspot.com/news/85260-samsung-announces-first-phone-quantum-technology.html

Forward-looking: Think your 5G phone has the most cutting-edge technology out there? Well, here comes a handset with quantum tech. The futuristic-sounding device is the result of a partnership between Samsung and South Korea's SK Telecom, and is the world's first 5G smartphone with a quantum random number generator (QRNG) chipset. Aptly named the Galaxy A Quantum, the device is actually a rebranded Galaxy A71 5G---one of Samsung's popular mid-range handsets that launched earlier this year. Powered by the Exynos 980 SoC, the phone has a 6.7-inch OLED screen, in-display optical finger sensor, and a quad-lens camera setup. What sets the quantum version apart from the regular A71 is its inclusion of the QRNG chipset, which makes it incredibly secure. Random numbers are an essential element in many security systems, but they're not always as random as one might think, making them vulnerable to hacks. Image credit: ID Quantique The QRNG chipset, which is separate from the SoC, contains a light-emitting diode and an image sensor. ID Quantique explains that thanks to quantum noise, the LED emits a random number of photons. These are captured and counted by the image sensor's pixels, providing a series of random numbers that are fed to a random bit generator algorithm, thereby further distilling the "entropy of quantum origin" to create completely unpredictable random bits. By pairing the system with a compatible online service, the connection is unhackable, claims SK Telecom, though it only works with the company's services right now. The firm said that going forward, it "will expand its footprint in the quantum security business by integrating QRNGs to more devices and networks." The Galaxy A Quantum will go on sale May 22 in South Korea for around $530. There's no word on whether it will launch in other regions.

China issues surprising $2bn dollar-denominated bond sale

China has baffled analysts with the announcement of its first dollar-denominated bond sale in more than 10 years, despite a healthy domestic bond market worth $9tn. Some experts believe the $2m sale is an indication that the country is inching closer to opening up its financial markets to the world, while others believe Chinese authorities are looking to increase their bond market's sophistication. Alternatively, given the recent crackdown on foreign acquisitions, others suggest the bond sale is an attempt to stem outflows plaguing the central bank.

http://www.marketwatch.com/story/why-is-china-suddenly-issuing-2-billion-of-dollar-debt-2017-09-14

China is planning a return to the dollar-denominated bond market after a hiatus of more than a decade. The move is puzzling given that market participants say the country doesn’t suffer from a lack of funding. In fact, the country’s own domestic bond market is worth more than $9 trillion, more than twice the size of Germany’s bond market, according to the Bank for International Settlements. “No way will dollar-denominated bonds become an important part of China’s fixed-income market as far as the Chinese government is concerned,” said Jan Dehn, head of research at the Ashmore Group, an emerging-markets money manager. See: China preps sale of $2 billion dollar-priced bonds, first since 2004 Yet the world’s second-largest economy could be using this fledgling sale as part of its steady march to open its financial markets to the world and revamp its underdeveloped financial infrastructure, observers said. One thesis considered by market participants is that China might be aiming to create a dollar yield curve for Chinese debt issuers. A line that charts the yield across maturities, corporations can use it as a benchmark to gauge the appropriate interest rate when they sell debt. Moreover, such an instrument would allow international investors to compare Chinese bond yields with that of Treasurys and other emerging-market dollar bonds. “A sovereign yield curve is a piece of financial infrastructure. One of their benefits is that it enables us to have a clear understanding of the spread for Chinese government bonds [against U.S. sovereign debt],” said Dehn. Though the country’s bond market is one of the world’s largest, it lacks sophistication. Reports suggest Chinese corporations can earn a triple A grade, the highest rung an issue can reach, from local ratings firms with little trouble. Thirty-nine percent of domestic corporate paper is graded AAA, according to Bloomberg, yet only two U.S. companies sport the gold-plated rating And with the yuan strengthening against the greenback 5.7% year-to-date, Beijing might also feel now is an apt moment to open the door to international investors. “The timing is ripe [for China] to continue its efforts to liberalize its capital markets,” said Jonathan Shelon, chief operating officer at Kraneshares, which provides exchange-traded funds offering exposure to China’s financial markets. Foreigners currently own around 2% of China’s debt as the country’s policy makers have shown a reluctance to flog its bonds abroad. Opening up its debt markets has been unpalatable to its financial regulators as it puts the country at risk of so-called “hot money” flows, which can surge and ebb sharply and have played a role in past emerging-market currency crises. In the past, the country has struggled to prevent money from leaving the country. China’s central bank previously ran down its hefty foreign-exchange reserves significantly to prevent the yuan from weakening after concerns that China’s debt-fueled growth engine was losing steam. That pressure has abated, with reserves rising for a sixth straight month in August—a situation aided by a broadly weaker dollar DXY, +0.11% . But others argue China’s financial regulators remain paranoid that keeping the door ajar for foreign investors could end the currency’s recent stability. “They are still concerned about the reversal in the U.S. dollar. Most of the improvement has been due to the weak dollar trend and strong administrative measures to direct outward investment“ said Sacha Tihanyi, senior emerging markets strategist for TD Securities. After domestic regulators cracked down on foreign acquisitions, the river of outflows from China turned into a more manageable trickle. But analysts caution that those interpreting Beijing’s decision to issue a dollar-bond as a sign of a new dawn could be frustrated as the country’s officials have placed an importance on widening the use of the yuan among global investors and its export-focused businesses. As such, China would rather have foreign investors pick up its yuan-denominated sovereign paper. This could allow it earn the coveted-status of a reserve currency and help mitigate the problem of leaky flows that have given a headache to its central bank, which has been entangled in a battle against foreign-exchange speculators betting on the yuan to depreciate. “It’s an advantage to issue in one’s currency,” said Dehn. But as the size of the issuance expected is relatively small, and the thought process of China’s policy makers remains opaque to even seasoned observers, investors are unclear of the ultimate significance of the government’s recent move. “I don’t think anyone would know [the real reason.] From the Chinese perspective, this could be business as usual,” said Tihanyi.

'Americans are waking up': two thirds say climate crisis must be addressed | Climate change | The Guardian

More than a quarter of Americans questioned in the new CBS News poll consider climate change a “crisis”, with a further 36% defining it as a “serious problem”.However, just 44% of poll respondents said human activity was a major contributor to climate change.According to the CBS poll, 52% of Americans say “scientists agree that humans are a main cause” of the climate crisis, with 48% claiming there is disagreement among experts.

https://amp.theguardian.com/science/2019/sep/15/americans-climate-change-crisis-cbs-poll

Two-thirds of Americans believe climate change is either a crisis or a serious problem, with a majority wanting immediate action to address global heating and its damaging consequences, major new polling has found. Show more Amid a Democratic primary shaped by unprecedented alarm over the climate crisis and an insurgent youth climate movement that is sweeping the world, the polling shows substantial if uneven support for tackling the issue. More than a quarter of Americans questioned in the new CBS News poll consider climate change a “crisis”, with a further 36% defining it as a “serious problem”. Two in 10 respondents said it was a minor problem, with just 16% considering it not worrisome at all. More than half of polled Americans said they wanted the climate crisis to be confronted right away, with smaller groups happy to wait a few more years and just 18% rejecting any need to act. “Americans are finally beginning waking up to the existential threat that the climate emergency poses to our society,” said Margaret Klein Salamon, a clinical psychologist and founder of the Climate Mobilization Project. “This is huge progress for our movement – and it’s young people that have been primarily responsible for that.” But while nearly all of those questioned accept that the climate is changing, there appears to be lingering confusion over why and scientists’ confidence over the causes. Show more There is a consensus among climate scientists that the world is heating up due to human activities such as burning fossil fuels for electricity generation and transportation, as well as cutting down forests. However, just 44% of poll respondents said human activity was a major contributor to climate change. More than a quarter said our impact was minor or nonexistent. There is an even starker split on the findings of climate scientists. According to the CBS poll, 52% of Americans say “scientists agree that humans are a main cause” of the climate crisis, with 48% claiming there is disagreement among experts. “This remains a vitally important misunderstanding – if you believe global warming is just a natural cycle, you’re unlikely to support policies intended to reduce carbon pollution, like regulations and taxes,” said Anthony Leiserowitz, director of the Yale Program on Climate Change Communication, which has made similar findings in its own, long-running polling. “These results also again confirm a longstanding problem, which is that many Americans still believe scientists themselves are uncertain whether human-caused global warming is happening. “Our own and others’ research has repeatedly found that this is a critical misunderstanding, promoted by the fossil fuel industry for decades, in order to sow doubt, increase public uncertainty and thus keep people stuck in the status quo, in a ‘wait and see’ mode.” Similar to previous polls, the CBS research finds sharp ideological differences in attitudes to the climate crisis. While nearly seven in 10 Democratic voters understand that humans significantly influence the climate and 80% want immediate action, just 20% of Republicans think humans are a primary cause and barely a quarter want rapid action. On the science, nearly three-quarters of Democrats said almost all experts agree that humans are driving climate change, with just 29% of Republicans saying the same. Show more Age is another key variable. While 70% of 18- to 29-year-olds think climate change is a serious problem or crisis, just 58% over 65 concur. Younger people are far more likely to consider it a personal responsibility to address the climate crisis and to believe that a transition to 100% renewable energy is viable. Young people have been galvanized by climate science being taught in schools as well as a spreading global activist movement spearheaded by Greta Thunberg, the Swedish teenager who started a wave of school walkouts to demand action. Thunberg recently arrived in the US on a solar-powered yacht, ahead of a major United Nations climate summit in New York on 23 September. This generational divide even cuts across party affiliation, with two-thirds of Republican voters aged under 45 considering it their duty to address the climate crisis, according to the CBS poll. Just 38% of Republicans aged over 45 feel the same. “Younger Republicans are much more convinced climate change is a crisis and are supportive of action than older Republicans – which has big implications for the future of the party,” said Leiserowitz. Around three-quarters of all respondents said they understand that climate change is melting the Arctic, raising sea levels and causing warmer summers. A further two-thirds accept that hurricanes will be made more severe by global heating. Hurricane Dorian, which recently devastated parts of the Bahamas, made 38% of Americans more concerned about the climate crisis, with 56% unswayed. Leiserowitz said that the relationship between extreme weather events and concern over climate change is a complex one, with people already worried the most likely to say that their alarm has increased when a major storm or flood hits. Regardless of concern over climate change there appears to be skepticism among Americans about how much humans can do about it. Just 19% said humans can stop rising temperatures and the associated impacts, with nearly half thinking it possible to slow but not stop the changes and 23% refusing to believe humans can do anything at all. This may well influence the views of leading presidential contenders’ climate plans. Democratic hopeful Bernie Sanders, for example, has proposed a rapid remodeling of society where planet-warming emissions from transport and power generation are eradicated within just 11 years. “By saying we should merely slow and not reverse global warming, we are passively accepting the deaths of billions of people,” said Margaret Klein Salamon, of the Climate Mobilization Project. “The only thing that can protect us is an all-out, all-hands-on-deck mobilization, like we did during the second world war. Avoiding the collapse of civilization and restoring a safe climate should be every government’s top priority – at the national, state and local levels.”

US' Techmer PM makes metal-look bottle from ocean-bound plastic

US materials design firm Techmer PM has partnered with environmental change leader Primal Group and other manufacturers to develop a pearlescent bottle made from 100% recycled plastic taken from waterways. The bottle was developed to be produces at no extra cost compared to traditional containers, and Techmer is in talks with brand owners looking to offer similarly eco-friendly products. More than eight million tonnes of plastic is dumped into the world's oceans every year, according to Primal Group.

https://www.plasticstoday.com/packaging/techmer-pm-creates-world-s-first-bottle-made-100-ocean-bound-plastics/67797225658276

Making new products from plastic waste from the ocean has become a goal for both brand owners and some in the plastics industry seeking a solution for valuable plastic materials carelessly thrown into the environment by thoughtless people. In October 2016, Procter & Gamble announced its new Fairy Ocean plastic bottle , the first to use 100% recycled plastic and ocean plastic. Now, Techmer PM (Clinton, TN), a materials design company that works in partnership with plastics processors, OEMs and designers to tackle business, manufacturing and sustainability challenges, has helped create a new solution for ocean plastic. The new bottle is made from 100% recycled plastic from waste that was diverted from waterways. Recycler Envision Plastics Industries LLC (Chino, CA) created the new bottle from its OceanBound plastic. It sports a metallic, pearlescent-effect finish thanks to Techmer PM’s compounding expertise. And it signals the promise of applying innovation to address some of the world’s most pressing pollution challenges, said Techmer PM. In addition to Techmer PM and Envision Plastics, the team included environmental change leader Primal Group and bottle blowmolder Classic Containers Inc. (Ontario, CA). Techmer PM acknowledged that other companies have implemented some high-profile applications of recycled, ocean-bound plastics—such as Dell’s use of the material as packaging for one of its laptop computers—but no one, until now, has been able to produce a metallic-looking bottle made totally from waste plastics diverted or captured from at-risk areas, it said. Getting there involved overcoming several challenges. Primal Group wanted a specific color and reflective finish on the bottle for its plant science–inspired personal care product range, Vita. Typically, an extrusion-grade polyethylene would be needed in the masterbatch as a carrier for the colorant. That was not an option in this case because of Primal Group’s no-compromise approach to a truly 100% OceanBound product. The high-viscosity material supplied by Envision Plastics is a fractional melt that makes the colorant’s metallic particles without shearing them and ruining the ultimate effect. “Compounding of the recipe required additional process design to ensure the metallic and pearlescence effect pigments could be smoothly compounded into Envision’s OceanBound plastic,” said Savvas Roubanis, Sales Engineer at Techmer’s Rancho Dominguez, CA, plant. “In the end we were able to fully disperse and develop the color and [receive] approval from the Primal Group.” Aside from the necessary additives, pigments and non-resin components for a product that both Techmer PM and Classic Containers can process effectively, the balance of the recipe is 100% Envision’s OceanBound resin, Roubanis explained. Classic Containers was able to process the Techmer PM material and produce bottles within its normal, everyday processing window, which is vital to achieving the desired price point, noted Techmer PM. The resulting bottle demonstrates Techmer PM’s commitment to a clean environment. The company is in discussions with several major brand owners who are interested in offering environmentally focused options to the portion of their clientele that is keen to make sustainable purchasing choices. Primal Group notes that globally “more than 8 million tons of plastics are dumped into our oceans annually. This is overwhelming, and the environmental impact of this amount of plastic waste in our oceans is immeasurable and far-reaching. We cannot allow our biggest resource, the oceans, to become a dumping ground for plastics and other waste,” said Primal Group. Finding viable uses for plastics at risk of entering the ocean is just one means of advancing the cause, and Techmer PM said it is proud to have been able to leverage its extensive technical, process and materials design expertise to help Primal achieve its desired end result.

RBS accused of fraud and forgery by former employee and customers

The Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) has received allegations of forgery and fraud by former employee Mark Wright and prior customers, according to the BBC. The former employee told the BBC that two colleagues from the Group Compliance Unit had falsely created complaints, claiming that five customers had submitted them. The staff left the bank, but Wright has alleged that RBS did not properly investigate, and did not give him whistle-blower status. The bank has denied that this was the case. The BBC has reported that a number of prior RBS customers have alleged that the bank forged transaction and loan agreement documents, which the bank denies.

http://www.cityam.com/259194/royal-bank-scotland-accused-fraud-and-forgery-

Royal Bank of Scotland accused of fraud and forgery Royal Bank of Scotland has been accused of fraud and forgery by an ex-employee and former customers, according to a BBC report. A former employee of the lender told the BBC that two of his colleagues at RBS had fabricated complaints and alleged they were from five of his customers. Mark Wright, who worked at NatWest and remained there after it was taken over by RBS, said the employees who forged the complaints were from the bank's Group Compliance Unit. Wright's five customers later gave statements contradicting the fake complaints, and the accused staff left the bank. According to Wright, RBS failed to properly investigate the complaints, and did not afford him whistle-blower status. RBS could not be reached for comment this morning, but a spokesperson for the bank told the BBC that Wright's concerns had been thoroughly investigated and responded to, and denied that any systematic document tampering had gone on at the bank. Meanwhile, the BBC also reported a number of former RBS customers have alleged that the bank forged documents relating to transactions and loan agreements. The bank also denied these allegations. It was revealed today that RBS is one of the five UK banks that have run up a £100bn bill for bad loans and legal costs in the last five years.

CEO group poses a test for capitalism

It’s taken years, and many people doubt their commitment, but some of America’s best-known chief executives are ditching the free market fundamentalism of the Chicago School for a more liberal definition of corporate citizenship — one that evolved, in good part, through the work of Porter and Kramer and other leaders in Boston’s academic, corporate, and political realms.

http://edition.pagesuite.com/popovers/dynamic_article_popover.aspx?artguid=4f7ded81-0815-431f-bb59-b5f2a100d46b&appid=1165

CEO group poses a test for capitalism “The capitalist system is under siege. In recent years business increasingly has been viewed as a major cause of social, environmental, and economic problems. Companies are widely perceived to be prospering at the expense of the broader community.’’ A news dispatch from the campaign trail, where progressive candidates rip into insurers, drug companies, and the one percenters who run them? No, it’s the opening to a seminal 2011 article in the Harvard Business Review that lays out the concept of shared value, or “creating economic value in a way that also creates value for society by addressing its needs and challenges.’’ Its authors, Harvard Business School professor Michael E. Porter and Boston consultant Mark R. Kramer, are far from fiery populists. They argued that corporate America “must reconnect company success with social progress. Shared value is not social responsibility, philanthropy, or even sustainability, but a new way to achieve economic success.’’ That concept got a big boost Monday, when the Business Roundtable, a group of some of the country’s most powerful CEOs, threw out one of their basic tenets — that corporations exist principally to serve their shareholders. Instead, they said, they were committing their companies to a “free market economy that serves all Americans.’’ Along with profits for shareholders, companies must “deliver value’’ to customers, employees, suppliers, and the communities where they operate. It’s taken years, and many people doubt their commitment, but some of America’s best-known chief executives are ditching the free market fundamentalism of the Chicago School for a more liberal definition of corporate citizenship — one that evolved, in good part, through the work of Porter and Kramer and other leaders in Boston’s academic, corporate, and political realms. People such as Arnold Hiatt, the former CEO of Lexington-based Stride Rite and cofounder of Business Social Responsibility, a nonprofit that focuses on sustainable business strategies; Joseph Kennedy III, the Massachusetts congressman who has preached the gospel of “moral capitalism’’; and Brian Moynihan, the Wellesley resident and CEO of Bank of America, and one of the 181 signers of the Business Roundtable’s statement. (Others include Jeff Bezos of Amazon, Tim Cook of Apple, Jamie Dimon of JPMorgan Chase, Thomas Kennedy of Raytheon, and Larry Merlo of CVS Health.) The business group’s move reflects just how concerned corporate chieftains are that so many people see big companies as the enemy. They know there is a real danger that capitalism could yield to socialism or an undemocratic, crony populism if it can’t develop a bigger heart and more empathetic conscience. “It’s a critical moment,’’ Porter said Thursday in an interview. A little background. For nearly 50 years, since the end of the era of paternalistic capitalism embodied by Henry Ford, the first commandment of business has been that the needs of shareholders are paramount. Executives who believe business has a social responsibility “are — or would be if they or anyone else took them seriously — preaching pure and unadulterated socialism,’’ Milton Friedman, a Pulitzer Prize-winning economist at the University of Chicago, wrote in 1970. “Businessmen who talk this way are unwitting puppets of the intellectual forces that have been undermining the basis of a free society these past decades.’’ Friedman codified a belief that underpinned much of the thinking about corporate strategy that has held sway into the new century, as well as the “greed is good’’ mindset of corporate raiders such as Carl Icahn and the short-term “hit-the-quarterly-numbers’’ mentality so prevalent today among big investors. There were exceptions. Hiatt took over Stride Rite in 1970 two years after the company bought his small shoe-making firm in Lawrence. Stride Rite was based on Harrison Avenue in Roxbury at the time. In a neighborhood with many children of single parents, “the first thing I did was to start a children’s center [for residents and his employees],’’ he recalled in an interview. “And that’s when I saw what a difference one could make with early education.’’ Stride Rite went on to provide neighborhood children with health care services, and when it moved to Kendall Square, Hiatt opened a fitness center for employees, paid for smoking-cessation programs, and allowed workers to spend time volunteering at inner-city schools. By the time Hiatt stepped down in 1992, he had delivered some of the most consistently high returns for shareholders among US companies, and was recognized as a model for progressive corporate leadership. “For me it was trial and error,’’ he said. Throughout the 1990s, corporate social responsibility gained momentum, particularly around environmental issues. But the efforts were not central to companies’ strategies, and often were seen as a cost that ate into shareholder profit. Porter and Kramer’s big contribution was to show that making shared value integral to every aspect of business could actually improve returns. At Bank of America, Moynihan says, the choice isn’t between shareholders or other stakeholders. “We call it the genius of the ‘and.’ We been at this for years. We know that we have to look after shareholders and our other stakeholders,’’ he said. The bank makes investments, lends, and funds philanthropy to address income inequality, clean energy, health care, and affordable housing. According to Moynihan, the private sector needs to take the lead because unlike nonprofit and government spending, “solutions involving capitalism are sustainable.’’ One example, cited in Bank of America’s most recent annual report: It is more than halfway through a 10-year, $125 billion initiative focused on creating a sustainable energy future. In addition, the bank plans to be carbon neutral by 2020. Last November, Joe Kennedy, a Democrat, stood up before the New England Council, a business trade group, to urge companies to push for action to help low- and middle-income workers instead of cutting taxes for the wealthy. The Globe’s Jon Chesto reported that it was the first time Kennedy wove themes such as economic inequality, the environment, and access to health care into a plea for a more compassionate system that balances investors’ demands with society’s needs. “A moral capitalism,’’ he later explained in a op-ed for The American Prospect, is “judged not by how much it produces, but how broadly it empowers, backed by a government unafraid to set the conditions for fair and just markets.’’ In the Boston business community, many leaders are speaking out on issues such as paid family leave and equal pay for women (InkHouse CEO Beth Monaghan), transgender rights (Eastern Bank CEO Bob Rivers), and an end to managing companies for the short term (Panera cofounder Ron Shaich and hedge fund manager Seth Klarman). When the Business Roundtable issued its statement, it was closely scrutinized by investors, who fear that shared value could mean lower returns for them. Ken Bertsch, executive director of the Council of Institutional Investors, noted that the Business Roundtable’s list of stakeholders put investors last, even though they are the owners of public companies. He worries that group’s abandonment of the Friedman view of the corporation “seems to be part of an effort to erode shareholders’ rights.’’ It’s that kind of thinking that riles up Porter. Too many investors, he says, still have a view that profit and social good are inconsistent. “This is a historic moment in business,’’ he said. “Businesses have finally started to understand capitalism at a different level.’’ You can reach me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @GlobeNewsEd.

Banking Trojan makes unwelcome return

A banking Trojan, previously known as Citadel, appears to have returned, targeting and is now being dubbed Atmos. French bancks have been targeted in this latest round of attacks. Now dubbed Atmos, the The servers that are servicing the Trojan Atmos have been traced back to Canada, Russia, Turkey, Ukraine, the US, and Vietnam. Danish security company, Heimdal Security, has revealed that there are around 1,000 bots in the network, although with this number is expected to increase. Atmos is being delivered with TeslaCrypt, which features both unbreakable encryption and improved data-stealing capability. Citadel proved to be one of the most successful pieces of malware of all time, capable of stealing both money and personal data.

http://www.infosecurity-magazine.com/news/citadel-banking-returns-as-atmos/

The Citadel banking Trojan is making a comeback, with a new variant dubbed Atmos. The new strain is currently targeting banks in France and it was also spotted being delivered with ransomware. The latest Control & Command servers for Atmos are located in Vietnam, Canada, Ukraine, Russia, the US and Turkey, and, there are almost 1,000 bots already recruited in the network, according to Heimdal Security. That number is likely to increase as the larger the botnet, the larger its targets can be. In an interesting development, Atmos was observed being delivered with TeslaCrypt, whose latest variant (TeslaCrypt 4) features unbreakable encryption and enhanced data-stealing capabilities. “Banking Trojans haven’t been as active as ransomware strains in the past half a year, but there’s nothing stopping them from making a comeback,” noted Andra Zaharia, a security researcher at Heimdal Security, in a blog. “And this is especially the case since users and companies tend to expose themselves to cyber-attacks for lack of adequate patching. Citadel emerged in 2011 after the source code for the Zeus banking Trojan was leaked online. It went on to become one of the most successful pieces of malware of all time, capable of stealing money, but also personal data. The FBI recently sentenced its creator, Dimitry Belorossov, a/k/a Rainerfox, to four years, six months in prison following his guilty plea for conspiring to commit computer fraud. Belorossov had infected 11 million computers worldwide, operating the botnet primarily from Russia. Belorossov remotely controlled over 7,000 victim bots, including at least one infected computer system with an IP address resolving to the Northern District of Georgia. Belorossov’s Citadel botnet contained personal information from the infected victim computers, including online banking credentials for US-based financial institutions with federally insured deposits, credit card information, and other personally identifying information. The botnet also gave Belorossov the power to execute additional code on the enslaved computers, everything from scareware to ransomware. The Microsoft Digital Crimes Unit and the FBI were eventually able to disrupt the botnet. But now Atmos has appeared—Citadel’s polymorphic successor. “So far, only a few strains of Atmos have been detected, and what they have in common is attacks targeting banks in France,” said Zaharia. “Because it’s based on Citadel, which, in turn, evolved from ZeuS, Atmos utilizes the same web injects that ZeuS became infamous for. Consequently, we can infer that this new financial malware strain is after the same objectives: money and confidential data.” Photo © John T Takai

Coronavirus May Mean Automation Is Coming Sooner Than We Thought

Peter Xing, a keynote speaker and writer on emerging technologies and associate director in technology and growth initiatives at KPMG believes the coronavirus epidemic is presenting us with ample opportunities for increased automation and remote delivery of goods and services.

https://singularityhub.com/2020/03/19/coronavirus-may-mean-automation-is-coming-sooner-than-we-thought/

We’re in the midst of a public health emergency, and life as we know it has ground to a halt. The places we usually go are closed, the events we were looking forward to are canceled, and some of us have lost our jobs or fear losing them soon. But although it may not seem like it, there are some silver linings; this crisis is bringing out the worst in some (I’m looking at you, toilet paper hoarders), but the best in many. Italians on lockdown are singing together, Spaniards on lockdown are exercising together, this entrepreneur made a DIY ventilator and put it on YouTube, and volunteers in Italy 3D printed medical valves for virus treatment at a fraction of their usual cost. Indeed, if you want to feel like there’s still hope for humanity instead of feeling like we’re about to snowball into terribleness as a species, just look at these examples—and I’m sure there are many more out there. There’s plenty of hope and opportunity to be found in this crisis. Peter Xing, a keynote speaker and writer on emerging technologies and associate director in technology and growth initiatives at KPMG, would agree. Xing believes the coronavirus epidemic is presenting us with ample opportunities for increased automation and remote delivery of goods and services. “The upside right now is the burgeoning platform of the digital transformation ecosystem,” he said. In a thought-provoking talk at Singularity University’s COVID-19 virtual summit this week, Xing explained how the outbreak is accelerating our transition to a highly-automated society—and painted a picture of what the future may look like. Confronting Scarcity You’ve probably seen them by now—the barren shelves at your local grocery store. Whether you were in the paper goods aisle, the frozen food section, or the fresh produce area, it was clear something was amiss; the shelves were empty. One of the most inexplicable items people have been panic-bulk-buying is toilet paper. Xing described this toilet paper scarcity as a prisoner’s dilemma, pointing out that we have a scarcity problem right now in terms of our mindset, not in terms of actual supply shortages. “It’s a prisoner’s dilemma in that we’re all prisoners in our homes right now, and we can either hoard or not hoard, and the outcomes depend on how we collaborate with each other,” he said. “But it’s not a zero-sum game.” Xing referenced a CNN article about why toilet paper, of all things, is one of the items people have been panic-buying most (I, too, have been utterly baffled by this phenomenon). But maybe there’d be less panic if we knew more about the production methods and supply chain involved in manufacturing toilet paper. It turns out it’s a highly automated process (you can learn more about it in this documentary by National Geographic) and requires very few people (though it does require about 27,000 trees a day—so stop bulk-buying it! Just stop!). The supply chain limitation here is in the raw material; we certainly can’t keep cutting down this many trees a day forever. But—somewhat ironically, given the Costco cartloads of TP people have been stuffing into their trunks and backseats—thanks to automation, toilet paper isn’t something stores are going to stop receiving anytime soon. Automation For All Now we have a reason to apply this level of automation to, well, pretty much everything. Though our current situation may force us into using more robots and automated systems sooner than we’d planned, it will end up saving us money and creating opportunity, Xing believes. He cited “fast-casual” restaurants (Chipotle, Panera, etc.) as a prime example. Currently, people in the US spend much more to eat at home than we do to eat in fast-casual restaurants if you take into account the cost of the food we’re preparing plus the value of the time we’re spending on cooking, grocery shopping, and cleaning up after meals. According to research from investment management firm ARK Invest, taking all these costs into account makes for about $12 per meal for food cooked at home. That’s the same as or more than the cost of grabbing a burrito or a sandwich at the joint around the corner. As more of the repetitive, low-skill tasks involved in preparing fast casual meals are automated, their cost will drop even more, giving us more incentive to forego home cooking. (But, it’s worth noting that these figures don’t take into account that eating at home is, in most cases, better for you since you’re less likely to fill your food with sugar, oil, or various other taste-enhancing but health-destroying ingredients—plus, there are those of us who get a nearly incomparable amount of joy from laboring over then savoring a homemade meal). Now that we’re not supposed to be touching each other or touching anything anyone else has touched, but we still need to eat, automating food preparation sounds appealing (and maybe necessary). Multiple food delivery services have already implemented a contactless delivery option, where customers can choose to have their food left on their doorstep. Besides the opportunities for in-restaurant automation, “This is an opportunity for automation to happen at the last mile,” said Xing. Delivery drones, robots, and autonomous trucks and vans could all play a part. In fact, use of delivery drones has ramped up in China since the outbreak. Speaking of deliveries, service robots have steadily increased in numbers at Amazon; as of late 2019, the company employed around 650,000 humans and 200,000 robots—and costs have gone down as robots have gone up. ARK Invest’s research predicts automation could add $800 billion to US GDP over the next 5 years and $12 trillion during the next 15 years. On this trajectory, GDP would end up being 40 percent higher with automation than without it. Automating Ourselves? This is all well and good, but what do these numbers and percentages mean for the average consumer, worker, or citizen? “The benefits of automation aren’t being passed on to the average citizen,” said Xing. “They’re going to the shareholders of the companies creating the automation.” This is where policies like universal basic income and universal healthcare come in; in the not-too-distant future, we may see more movement toward measures like these (depending how the election goes) that spread the benefit of automation out rather than concentrating it in a few wealthy hands. In the meantime, though, some people are benefiting from automation in ways that maybe weren’t expected. We’re in the midst of what’s probably the biggest remote-work experiment in US history, not to mention remote learning. Tools that let us digitally communicate and collaborate, like Slack, Zoom, Dropbox, and Gsuite, are enabling remote work in a way that wouldn’t have been possible 20 or even 10 years ago. In addition, Xing said, tools like DataRobot and H2O.ai are democratizing artificial intelligence by allowing almost anyone, not just data scientists or computer engineers, to run machine learning algorithms. People are codifying the steps in their own repetitive work processes and having their computers take over tasks for them. As 3D printing gets cheaper and more accessible, it’s also being more widely adopted, and people are finding more applications (case in point: the Italians mentioned above who figured out how to cheaply print a medical valve for coronavirus treatment). The Mother of Invention This movement towards a more automated society has some positives: it will help us stay healthy during times like the present, it will drive down the cost of goods and services, and it will grow our GDP in the long run. But by leaning into automation, will we be enabling a future that keeps us more physically, psychologically, and emotionally distant from each other? We’re in a crisis, and desperate times call for desperate measures. We’re sheltering in place, practicing social distancing, and trying not to touch each other. And for most of us, this is really unpleasant and difficult. We can’t wait for it to be over. For better or worse, this pandemic will likely make us pick up the pace on our path to automation, across many sectors and processes. The solutions people implement during this crisis won’t disappear when things go back to normal (and, depending who you talk to, they may never really do so). But let’s make sure to remember something. Even once robots are making our food and drones are delivering it, and our computers are doing data entry and email replies on our behalf, and we all have 3D printers to make anything we want at home—we’re still going to be human. And humans like being around each other. We like seeing one another’s faces, hearing one another’s voices, and feeling one another’s touch—in person, not on a screen or in an app. No amount of automation is going to change that, and beyond lowering costs or increasing GDP, our greatest and most crucial responsibility will always be to take care of each other. Image Credit: Gritt Zheng on Unsplash

London-listed broker enhances its voice in US with another acquisition

London-listed Tullett Prebon has acquired New York-based Creditex, the US hybrid voice broking and trading service for credit derivatives, from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), owners of the New York Stock Exchange. The deal supports Tullett Prebon's "strategic aim to grow in specialist areas," ahead of its acquisition of the ICAP global hybrid voice broking and information business later this year.

http://www.cityam.com/246521/london-listed-broker-enhances-its-voice-us-another

London-listed broker enhances its voice in US with another acquisition London-listed Tullett Prebon has announced a new US acquisition. The interdealer broker has agreed a deal for Creditex’s US hybrid voice broking business from Intercontinental Exchange (ICE), which owns the New York Stock Exchange. The team of 14 brokers, based in New York, provides voice broking and trading services for credit derivatives. Read more: US Department of Justice set to wave through ICAP-Tullett deal Tullett Prebon expects to complete its takeover of the ICAP's global hybrid voice broking and information business later this year. “This is another great deal for Tullett Prebon and demonstrates that we continue to take advantage of the profound changes in the industry to pursue attractive opportunities,” said John Phizackerley, chief executive of Tullett Prebon. Read more: ICAP offloads voice-brokerage to Tullett Prebon “For complex products where pricing does not lend itself to automation, clients find value in having expert brokers, supported by technology, available to discuss trading ideas and provide insights on the market environment and sentiment. The acquisition of this high quality CDS team is an important addition to our business and is consistent with our strategic aim to grow in specialist areas.” Voice broking is the traditional method of brokers ringing up to connect buyers and sellers, which is being increasingly challenged by the rise of electronic trading platforms, which ICAP is focusing on.

Michel Barnier optimistic of deal after PM makes concessions on Irish border

Michel Barnier has spoken of his optimism that a Brexit deal can be reached by the end of Wednesday, but EU sources said an extension to Britain’s withdrawal beyond 31 October may still be required if an agreement is secured.EU diplomats said the last-minute nature of the talks meant that time would be required after the summit for governments and parliaments to scrutinise the legal text of the deal.As a result, the EU’s leaders will only give their political rather than full formal agreement to the deal when they meet on Thursday and Friday.

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2019/oct/16/michel-barnier-optimistic-of-deal-after-pm-makes-concessions-on-irish-border

Boris Johnson is in a race against time to secure the Democratic Unionist party’s backing for his newly negotiated Brexit deal as EU leaders said they were ready to approve the agreement on Thursday if the prime minister succeeds. Plans to publish a full legal text ahead of the leaders’ summit had to be put on hold to the frustration of EU officials after the DUP raised a series of objections to the tentative agreement. With time short, Johnson told a meeting of Conservative MPs he was hopeful of a deal but it felt like he was on the Hillary Step of Mount Everest while the summit was “shrouded in mist”. The prime minister appeared to have the party’s hardline Eurosceptics onboard, including Steve Baker, who said Johnson had briefed them that the whole of the UK was leaving the customs union. But they also added a note of caution that they could not vote for any Brexit deal without seeing a legal text. The 21 former Tory MPs who have recently lost their whip could also rebel. An issue over VAT was said by Michel Barnier, the EU’s chief negotiator, to be a last-minute obstacle in the negotiations when he briefed European ambassadors on Wednesday night. But the British objection was described by EU diplomats as a “British smokescreen” to give Downing Street more time to win over the DUP’s leader, Arlene Foster. EU officials think Johnson could make a sudden move to seal the deal on Thursday morning. Earlier in the day, Donald Tusk, the president of the European council, had said the “foundations” of a Brexit deal were in place and it was only last-minute “doubts” in London that stood in the way. Under the agreement, Barnier told ambassadors that a regulatory and customs border would be drawn in the Irish Sea. Northern Ireland would legally be in the UK’s customs territory to allow the prime minister to boast that the country “whole and entire” has left the EU. But it will follow EU rules on tariffs and quotas with exceptions for people moving personal goods, such as furniture, between Great Britain and Northern Ireland and an undefined category of other goods that cannot be processed and shipped into the EU. These goods will be agreed by a joint committee of UK and EU officials in the future, giving the EU control over the list. Barnier further explained that four years after the end of the transition period, the Northern Ireland assembly at Stormont would be able to give its continued consent to continuing the arrangements. The assembly would have to decide whether to vote by a simple majority or under a vote in which 40% of both nationalist and unionist assembly members would be required to give their assent. A 60% threshold of all members would need to be passed in that case. If Stormont is not sitting, the status quo would continue. Quick Guide Why is the Irish border a stumbling block for Brexit? Show Counties and customs Inside the EU, both Ireland and Northern Ireland are part of the single market and customs union so share the same regulations and standards, allowing a soft or invisible border between the two. Britain’s exit from the EU – taking Northern Ireland with it – risks a return to a hard or policed border. The only way to avoid this post-Brexit is for regulations on both sides to remain more or less the same in key areas including food, animal welfare, medicines and product safety. The 'backstop' in Theresa May's Withdrawal Agreement was intended to address this - stating that if no future trade agreement could be reached between the EU and the UK, then rules and regulations would stay as they are. This has been rejected by Brexit supporters as a 'trap' to keep the UK in the EU's customs union, which would prevent the UK striking its own independent trade deals. There are an estimated 72m road vehicle crossings a year between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, and about 14% of those crossings are consignments of goods, some of which may cross the border several times before they reach a consumer. Brexit supporters say this can be managed by doing checks on goods away from the border, but critics say it will be difficult to police this without any physical infrastructure like border posts or cameras, which could raise tensions in the divided communities of Ireland. Interactive: A typical hour in the life of the Irish border Photograph: Design Pics Inc/Design Pics RF Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. There would be another opportunity a further four years later to give consent if they voted by simple majority, and eight years later if they took the cross-party route. A two-year notice period would be granted if Northern Ireland exited the special relationship with the EU to allow alternative arrangements to be put in place. Johnson has also made a major concession to secure a free-trade agreement with the EU. The prime minister had previously signalled he wanted to abandon a pledge to align to EU standards on the environment, workers’ rights and tax, fuelling Brussels’ fears of a regulatory race to the bottom and the creation of “Singapore on the Thames”. Barnier told EU ambassadors he now had secured a basis for fair competition, as Johnson had agreed that the quid pro quo for any free-trade agreement would be signing up to the EU’s “level-playing field” provisions, meaning a promise not to ditch EU standards. EU negotiators have long said these promises are vital, because of the UK’s economic weight and geographical proximity. Barnier told the EU ambassadors the British cabinet had backed the agreement, but stressed huge uncertainty that parliament would give its approval. Several ambassadors voiced concern about the limited time, but there was no discussion of extension. During a joint appearance with the German chancellor, Angela Merkel, the French president, Emmanuel Macron, told reporters: “I think that a deal is just being finalised and we’re going to be able to work on that tomorrow.” Tusk had said that he had hoped that a deal would have been ready by Wednesday morning but that agreement was still possible. “Yesterday evening I was ready to bet that it’s all set and agreed, today there are certain doubts on the British side,” he said. “Everything is going in the right direction, but you will have noticed yourselves that with Brexit and above all with our British partners anything is possible.” “We are still waiting for a signal from across the Channel,” said one EU diplomat. “A lot of things are happening between the cabinet, DUP and the hardest Brexiters.” Despite the prospect of a deal being struck in Brussels, EU sources said the prime minister’s pledge to leave the EU on 31 October, “do or die”, remained in doubt even if an agreement was secured. EU diplomats said the last-minute nature of the talks meant that time would be required after the summit for governments and parliaments to scrutinise the legal text of the deal. Q&A What is the European Research Group (ERG)? Show The European Research Group (ERG) is a research support group for Conservative MPs who oppose the UK's membership of the European Union. It was formed in 1993 as a response to the Maastricht Treaty which reformed the European Economic Community as the European Community. The group is part-funded by subscriptions paid out of MPs’ parliamentary expenses, and is currently chaired by MP Steve Baker, with Mark Francois as his deputy. Jacob Rees-Mogg was previously chair. The group publishes research and reports on the UK's membership of the EU, although it is secretive about its work, and does not even issue a list of members. Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. As a result, the EU’s leaders will only give their political rather than full formal agreement to the deal when they meet on Thursday and Friday. The EU27 will then want the Commons, in its “super Saturday” session, to give its assent to the revised withdrawal agreement and political declaration. Final EU agreement would be given at a later date, likely at a second summit on 29 October, once the member states had time to work through the legal text. Sources in Berlin have suggested that process could take as long as two months. “It is clear that there can only be a political agreement tomorrow or Friday because we cannot see any text. We cannot say ‘yes’ without legal scrubbing,” a diplomat said. “We need much more time.” The diplomat added that the leaders would require “clarity from the House of Commons on Saturday because we’ve had three deals before”. “This is the fourth time they want clarity from the UK side,” the diplomat added. “We won’t continue with legal scrubbing and translations to end up with something that is going to be voted down. There is a clear desire for an outcome in London that shows support.”

New Zealand's government to double insurance payouts for natural disasters

New Zealand’s government is to double insurance payouts for homes that are damaged by natural disasters in its current review of the Earthquake Commission.   The Government is also looking to double the cap on building cover to $200,000, but getting rid of contents cover, leaving that to private companies.

http://www.newstalkzb.co.nz/news/national/cost-of-insurance-could-be-set-to-rise/

There is a warning the cost of insurance could go up if proposed changes to the Earthquake Commission go ahead. The Government is looking at doubling the cap on building cover to $200,000, but scrapping contents cover, and leaving it to private companies. Labour's earthquake commission spokesperson Clayton Cosgrove said there is a danger private insurance companies will take the increased responsibility as a reason to increase premiums. "A cynical person would say like your power bill never goes down, it always goes up. Now the question then for the government is, is it better that some of these things remain with EQC?"

L'Oreal's new chief marketing officer aims to keep brand relevant

Stéphane Bérubé, the incoming chief marketing officer at French cosmetics company L’Oréal, wants to use personalisation and voice-activated systems such as Amazon's Alexa to ensure the brand remains relevant to its consumers. Speaking to journalists at the firm's Hammersmith head office, Bérubé said that while technology poses interesting opportunities, "we won’t jump into something very quickly just to be the first to do it", and added he would be working to rank L’Oréal quickly on voice search.

https://www.marketingweek.com/2017/11/13/loreal-new-cmo-brands-shouldnt-digital-strategy/

The Canadian marketer has only been in his role for two months, but feels optimistic about the opportunity to expand L’Oréal’s digital capabilities. One thing becomes clear when meeting L’Oréal’s new chief marketing officer for Western Europe – he is feeling rather optimistic. Stéphane Bérubé arrived in the UK two months ago, having spent 15 years with the business in Canada. He takes over from Hugh Pile, who is currently on sabbatical to help run his family business. Having had close relationships with the Canadian media, Bérubé invited some of the trade press into L’Oréal’s Hammersmith head office last week to formally introduce himself and talk through his plans for the region. Despite Brexit, inflation and dropping consumer confidence, Bérubé remains upbeat about the UK market and its growth potential. Besides the beauty category generally holding out in times of uncertainty, he believes Britain still has strong tech capabilities. The UK is currently the company’s fourth largest market – after the US, China and France – and thereby important to the growth of Western Europe overall. “The UK is much more advanced in digital than a lot of countries in Western Europe. We’re at the forefront of [the region] in a lot of different ways. London is the Silicon Valley of Europe,” he said. Introducing ‘O+O’ One of Bérubé’s biggest priorities is driving sales across all platforms – or as he likes to call it O+O (online plus offline). At the moment, roughly 20% of L’Oréal’s sales are delivered through ecommerce channels, but he wants digital to account for a much higher percentage. In order to achieve this, he said the brand must stop talking about ecommerce as a separate channel. We need to stop talking about digital – it’s all part of marketing. Stéphane Bérubé, L’Oréal “I don’t believe we have an online and offline consumer. Marketing needs to move from having [separate] digital priorities. We need to stop talking about what is the digital strategy. I am making a big point of this [to change] in the culture at L’Oréal,” he said. “I always smile when agencies claim they are doing digital. Honestly, maybe that was good in 2010, but in 2017 they should claim they just do marketing. We need to stop talking about digital – it’s all part of marketing.” Brands also have a job to do to convince consumers of the benefits of sharing their data, as it will lead to more personalised ads, he said, while also increasing sales for L’Oréal. He believes the fact brands are not using data correctly or know which data is most important is a wider problem, however. Bérubé said he still receives ads for nappies despite his youngest child being eight-years-old; something he describes as a “waste”. “We are in the era where consumers don’t know the benefits of data and have a negative view of it. Our priority is to bring personalisation to consumers and be super relevant. From an industry standpoint, we have not done a very good job [of explaining] why data can bring relevancy and more meaningful content,” he commented. Investing in new tech The last part of his strategy is based around L’Oréal offering a more relevant experience on every platform. He believes consumers are often overwhelmed by the number of ways brands try to reach out to them, so he wants to ensure the company takes a careful approach to new technology and doesn’t get ahead of itself. “As much as we want to be at the forefront, we won’t jump into something very quickly just to be the first to do it. We want to do it right and with a sense of purpose,” Bérubé said. Nevertheless, there is one new piece of tech that has seemingly caught his eye – voice technology. Because even though consumers might not have an Amazon Alexa device at home, many use services such as Siri on their smartphones. READ MORE: L’Oréal prioritises voice search as AR struggles to ‘ramp up’ “Research says 22% of consumers already search by voice, and by the end of 2018 this will be 40%. We need to optimise our content to rank very quickly on voice search, and this is something we’ve started looking at. We don’t have the answer yet, but it’s a space where we want to be super relevant,” he said. L’Oréal seems particularly impressed with the amount of traffic Amazon is attracting, and is eager to capitalise on that. “[It’s about how we] can take advantage of this traffic, but again it’s about staying relevant on this platform [to consumers]. While Instagram is still a social platform, Facebook has become a media platform for advertisers. Might Amazon become a media platform? Why not? The eyeballs are there. And Amazon is not just an ecommerce site, it has been collecting data for many years,” he explained. Stricter guidelines around influencers Earlier this year, L’Oréal found itself in hot water for its decision to end its contract with activist and trans influencer Munroe Bergdorf. Bergdorf had published a post on Facebook on racism and white supremacy, and expressed views that L’Oréal claimed were “at odds” with its values. Bergdorf had only been named the latest member of the brand’s ‘Beauty Squad’ 48 hours before. The group features a wide range of influencers, from bloggers and Instagram stars to singer Cheryl Tweedy, who appear in the brand’s advertising and also create collaborative content. L’Oréal has always been outspoken about its tendency to partner with influencers from different backgrounds, and claims it has even driven sales. When asked if the incident had led the company to make any changes to way it approaches influencers, Bérubé said it is in the process of implementing stricter rules when it comes to picking the right people. Yet he insisted L’Oréal will remain independent from those it works with and won’t look to influence them as it’s “against company ethics”. He concluded: “We don’t control them. It’s a very positive thing that they’re independent. We work with thousands of influencers worldwide, and we’ve had only one issue. It happens because it happens. I don’t think we need to completely change our approach, as the way we work with them is top notch.”

The UK populace is losing confidence in Brexit

The UK public is losing confidence in the Government’s ability to handle Brexit, according to a survey by polling organisation ORB International. It said 76% of respondents disapproved of the Government’s handling of the negotiations, the highest level so far and one boosted after UK Prime Minister Theresa May launched her Chequers proposals. Elsewhere in ORB’s report, 60% of respondents said May would not get the right Brexit deal and 44% said the UK would be economically worse off. The news came as ministers toured Europe trying to persuade other EU members to support the Chequers proposal.

https://www.economist.com/britain/2018/08/11/no-confidence-over-brexit

Listen to this story. Enjoy more audio and podcasts on iOS or Android Your browser does not support the <audio> element. THERESA MAY and several of her cabinet ministers have been on a charm offensive around Europe, trying to sell her Chequers plan for Brexit to doubtful European Union governments. Most recently the prime minister bearded Emmanuel Macron in the French president’s Fort Brégançon holiday retreat in the south of France. Like most EU leaders, Mr Macron is sceptical about the Chequers plan. He is also unwilling to sidestep the EU’s chief Brexit negotiator, Michel Barnier, who has already rejected several of its central elements. At the same time Mrs May has a huge challenge selling Chequers at home, both to MPs and to the public. The most recent opinion survey from ORB, an international pollster, finds that 76% of respondents disapprove of the government’s handling of the Brexit negotations, the highest number so far and a big jump since the Chequers plan was proposed. Fully 60% of respondents expect the prime minister not to get the right Brexit deal, and 44% think Britain will be worse off economically. Little wonder that talk of leaving with no deal has grown.

Chinese malware Rufus used to steal money from ATMs

Indian state police departments in Odisha, Gujarat, Bihar and West Bengal have written to the Reserve Bank of India, warning of Chinese malware, which exploits the outdated software used on Automated Teller Machine (ATM) machines. Criminals are downloading the Rufus virus, which exploits the vulnerabilities in Microsoft Windows XP software, still used by many ATMs, stealing up to INR40m ($620,000). Last year, criminals used an infected pen drive to introduce malware to ATMs in Bihar's Patna, Begusarai and Jehanabad.

http://indiatoday.intoday.in/story/cyber-crooks-using-chinese-malware-to-steal-money-from-atms/1/979053.html

By Shashank Shekhar: The new-age cyber criminal doesn't need your bank cards or account details to get a cash machine to spit out money. Using malware, they can hack into an Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and empty it out within minutes. Security agencies have cautioned the banking sector with cases of ATM breach, which do not require cards or breaking into the hardware, coming to light in parts of the country. advertisement According to investigators, a Chinese software - Rufus - is being used by criminals to access cash dispensers and loot money. Instances have been reported in Odisha, West Bengal, Bihar and Gujarat. State police departments have written to the Reserve Bank of India, informing about this loophole in the ATM security system. Sources say cyber criminals are exploiting outdated software being used in ATMs. The compromised cash machines were found to be running on the moth-eaten Microsoft Windows XP operating system. The RBI during the global WannaCry ransomware attack last month advised ATM operators to upgrade their system. "We have so far found that this malware only targets ATMs working on Windows XP, which is prone to hacking given its low security," said Cuttack deputy commissioner of police (DCP) Sanjeev Arora. The spate of hacking incidents started in the Odisha city when Rs 17 lakh was withdrawn from an ATM and similar reports started pouring in from other parts of the state, with damages mounting to Rs 40 lakh. The cyber crime branches of West Bengal and Bihar police confirmed to Mail Today about net crooks adopting this modus operandi. A senior officer in West Bengal said his team is consulting cyber crime experts to crack such cases. Last year ATM machines were targeted with a similar ploy in Bihar's Patna, Begusarai and Jehanabad. MODUS OPERANDI Investigations revealed that the hackers went to unguarded ATMs at night. The machines were subjected to a "physical" malware attack by inserting an infected pen drive in the dispenser's USB port to transfer the malicious file, causing the machine to behave erratically. "Our probe uncovered that criminals used a key to open the upper compartment of the ATMs where the computers were located. Using an infected USB drive malware was transferred and the systems were rebooted. Once they got restarted, the systems would get de-linked from the main servers of the service provider. The malware when used on an ATM generates a code, which the crooks send to their gang members, who convert the code to a password, and as soon the password is applied the ATM dispenses cash," Arora told Mail Today. advertisement The officer explained that banks would not immediately learn about the crime as crooks bypass the server and the hackers swiftly walk away without raising an alarm. Security agencies also point out that off-site ATM vendors are violating rules and are not ensuring adequate virtual and physical security of the machines, leading to such crimes. 'NEED BETTER SOFTWARE' "The government and RBI should make ATM manufacturers compulsorily install new and robust operating systems," said Mumbai-based cyber lawyer and expert Prashant Mali. "If the government plans to increase the number of ATMs, then it should ensure that they are available whenever needed. In recent cases, we have seen ATMs going down due to attacks. It not only deprives a user from withdrawing money but also exposes them to cyber criminals." Sources say following such incidents, banks have ordered a forensic audit. But neither they nor ATM manufacturers have confirmed whether a software malfunction caused the glitch. Makers of cash dispensers have denied that any security loophole exists from their end, but acknowledged that certain cases have come to their notice though these are not widespread. advertisement According to sources, the Reserve Bank of India is aware of the situation and is closely working with National Payments Corporation of India to tell banks what security steps are required to protect the machines. State police officials have asked the RBI to instruct banks to incorporate latest security features in the ATMs. ALSO READ | When cyber criminals nearly looted USD 170 million from Union Bank of India ALSO READ | How severe was WannaCry ransomware cyber attack in India? Government says nothing serious

Digital dependency may be a technological time bomb for retailers and brands

New research by Vodat International has suggested that the demands on traditional store retailers will grow rapidly over the next 5 years, with free Wifi and self-checkout systems becoming increasingly attractive to consumers. Additionally, 38% of those surveyed claimed they would continue to make the majority of their purchases in store, despite Generation Z becoming more digitally dependent.

http://www.netimperative.com/2016/08/technology-ticking-time-bomb-shape-shifting-store-meet-demands-genz/

The digital dependency of Generation Z (GenZ) could present a technological ticking ‘time-bomb’ for brands and retailers, according to new research. The report, from Vodat International, reveals that despite being digitally native – 20% said they avoid stores where possible – over a third (38%) of GenZ say they will continue to make most of their purchases in-store. Other research findings from the report include: · Top motivations for GenZ consumers to shop in-store – validation (68%), immediacy (43%) and social interaction (42%) · Top technologies that GenZ say drive them into store now – free WiFi (48%) and self-checkouts (38%) · Top tech that would encourage them into store in 2021 – fast-track ‘scan and shop’ apps (18%), augmented reality fitting rooms (18%) and virtual queue ticketing systems (17%) The ‘Coming of Age: Generation Z, the store and the technology ticking clock’ Report suggests that, despite brands and retailers’ attempts to bring digital interactions into the physical store, GenZ’s growing digital reliance could drive a gap between shopper expectations and the reality of what the store can deliver over the next five years. This, coupled with GenZ’s rising spending power – original research from the report reveals the average 12 – 18 year old in the UK expects to earn £36,509 a year by the time they turn 25 – means disappointing in-store experiences could prove a costly missed opportunity for retailers. Further findings from the report reveal that despite being digitally native – 20% said they avoid stores where possible and do all their shopping online – over a third (38%) of GenZ say they will still make most of their purchases in-store over the next five years, even if they research online before. Among the top five reasons that GenZ identify for continuing to choose to buy in-store include: · Validation – testing, trying or seeing a product in the flesh (68%) · Immediacy – being able to take an item away on the day as opposed to waiting for an online order to be fulfilled (43%) · Social interaction – combining shopping with meeting friends/ family (42%) · Cost – using the store to avoid online delivery charges (31%) · Inspiration – seeking out new styles, ideas and trends (27%) However, while GenZ’s affinity for the store will continue, their expectations and demands on in-store technology that would motivate them to visit a retailer will grow exponentially. Currently free Wifi and self-check outs are the top two technologies GenZ shoppers say drive them into bricks-and-mortar outlets (48% and 38%, respectively). By 2021, GenZ consumers say they would be drawn in-store by fast-track ‘scan and shop’ apps which link to mobile payments (18%); virtual queue ticketing systems (17%); AR fitting rooms with mirrors that scan outfits over an image of the shopper negating the need to try items on (18%); and personalised changing room booths shoppers can customise with their own lighting, temperature and background music preferences (16%). Paul Leybourne, Head of Sales at Vodat International, commented: “Generation Z will undoubtedly prove the biggest disrupting force to physical retail over the next five years. The biggest danger to retailers is that they are completely unknown; their habits do not reflect those of their predecessors, the Millennials.” “Our research shows that, for digital natives, going into the store is the embodiment of omnichannel. It is a truly blended physical and digital experience, where each channel plays to its own strength to create a better standard of customer service. The challenge is now on for retailers to bring digital capabilities – and critically the network infrastructure that supports them – into the store in order to deliver to those omnichannel expectations,” he concluded. For further information about the demands of GenZ shoppers and to find out more about how retailers can use technology to address these while future-proofing their business models, download the full report: http://www.vodat-int.com/resources. www.vodat-int.com

** Boom in fish finger sales lifts German frozen giant Frosta

Sales of the company's fish fingers rose 50 percent in the first half of 2020. Frosta brand saw 27 percent growth across Europe as consumers stockpiled in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Sales of the firm's fish fingers were up 50 percent, while Frosta's brand was up 27 percent.

https://www.intrafish.com/finance/boom-in-fish-finger-sales-lifts-german-frozen-giant-frosta/2-1-844687

German frozen seafood giant Frosta posted a near three-fold increase in first half earnings as the company benefited from stronger demand for frozen foods brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Consolidated earnings rocketed 176 percent to €13.8 million ($15.8 million), reinstating numbers back at 2018 levels. In the opening six months of 2020, group sales came in at €283 million ($323 million), a 7.8

Astonishing story of Australian camels. Why thousands of them are shot dead routinely

For close to 230 years after Janszoon landed in Australia, the continent didn't see any camel sauntering across its vast arid regions.In 1969, population of such feral camels roaming in outback Australia was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000.Culling of feral camels in Australia using helicopters has become a routine practice and is one of the three measures used to check their population (the other two are culling from ground and exclusion fencing).

https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/astonishing-story-of-australian-camels-why-thousands-of-them-are-shot-dead-routinely-1635687-2020-01-11

By Mukesh Rawat: The year was 1606. Europe by now had established itself as the leader in the 'age of discovery'. Undertaking long overseas expeditions to 'discover' unvisited distant lands had gained currency by then. India was already 'discovered' via sea route, so were Africa, North and South Americas. It was in this backdrop that Dutch explorer Willem Janszoon made landfall in Australia on February 26, 1606 and became the first European to reach the continent. advertisement In his first visit, Janszoon barely stayed in Australia, which back then was sparsely inhabited by the Aboriginals. Had he stayed put and ventured into the vast arid outback Australia, his experience of seeing the terrain may not have been very different from a similar venture today, albeit a major exception--Camels. Four-hundred-and-forty-four years ago when Janszoon landed in Australia, the humped mammals were nowhere to be seen on the continent. Not a single one of them existed back then. Cut to 2020, Australia has the world's largest herd of wild camels and their population is estimated to be about 3,00,000, spread across 37 per cent of the Australian mainland. Fed up with its camels, Australia has declared them to be a "pest" and treats them as an alien invasive species that must be urgently stopped from spreading. The most widely used method to check their population is aerial culling in which thousands of wild camels are shot down by snipers using helicopters. Around 2012, Australia was gunning down about 75,000 camels every year. Lakhs of feral camels roam in the wild in outback Australia. (Photo: Getty Images) On Wednesday (January 8), Australian authorities started a five-day operation with a target to shoot down thousands of wild camels using snipers mounted on helicopters. The exact figure is unclear but media reports suggest it can result in anything between 5,000 and 10,000 dead camels. The operation has drawn widespread condemnation world over, with many terming it to be inhumane. But how did these camels reach Australia? And how does one explain their massive population explosion over the years? TRACING THE AUSTRALIAN CAMELS For close to 230 years after Janszoon landed in Australia, the continent didn't see any camel sauntering across its vast arid regions. The reason: camels aren't native to Australia. They reached the continent to fulfill a colonial necessity. In the early half of the 19th century, the British wanted to explore the vast continent's hinterlands. In this, their horses proved to be unproductive owing to the terrain and dry weather conditions. advertisement In 1836, the colonial government in New South Wales explored the possibility of importing camels from India. But it was only in October 1840 that a camel first walked on Australian soil, but it wasn't from India. Discovery of a spring, drawing by Diogene Maillard (1840-1926) from Journey Across the Western Interior of Australia, by Colonel Peter Egerton-Warburton, 1873, from Il Giro del mondo (World Tour), Journal of geography, travel and costumes, volume III, Issue 17, March 23, 1876. (Photo: Getty Images) It was a one-humped dromedary (Camelus dromedarius). Four-six of them were to be imported from Canary Islands, however only one, named Harry, survived the long sea journey. Harry too met an unfortunate end. He was shot after he accidently killed his own master during an expedition. One account of the incident goes that Harry's master, JA Horrocks, was riding the animal and simultaneously preparing to shoot a beautiful bird which he wanted to add to his collection. Harry, who was kneeling and aloof to this, moved his body causing an accidental fire that fatally injured Horrocks. In a letter Horrocks reportedly writes, "(The bullet) took off the middle finger of my right hand and entered my left cheek, knocking out a row of teeth." advertisement Twenty-three days later, Horrocks died due to infection, but not before ordering the so-called "ill tempered" Harry to be killed. Harry's fate aside, import of camels continued and in December 1840, a male and a female camel were brought to Australia. What happened to them is not documented. Two more camels were brought the next year, and many more later on. The bullet took off the middle finger of my right hand and entered my left cheek, knocking out a row of teeth. - JA Horrocks, Harry's master Unlike horses, camels were well-suited to survive in dry regions of outback Australia. They were in demand as they could be used for travel and transportation during long journeys into the continent's interiors. Besides, their ability to carry on without drinking water for weeks was an added advantage for travels in dry regions. A camel train transporting a house in Kalgoorlie, Western Australia (1928). (Photo: WikiCommons/William E. Fretwell) Thus, for decades, camels remained valuable assets in the everyday life of colonial rulers in Australia. Their dependence was such that by 1907, the British had imported nearly 20,000 camels into Australia, largely from India, Afghanistan and the Arab world. advertisement With camels also came their riders, who were mostly Muslims. Over the decades, they played an important role in the development of Australia and also started integrating with the Aboriginal communities by initiating trade by bringing in goods like tea and tobacco. THE EXPLOSION Meanwhile, as these camels found a new home in a far-away land, the world of innovation moved on. By the dawn of the 20th century, use of motorised vehicles became popular and Australia wasn't untouched. From 1920s, the population of domestic camels in Australia began declining as people started using vehicles and abandoned camels. Over the next decade, Australia saw a "wholesale abandonment" of domestic camels. Once released in the open, these camels became feral and started multiplying rapidly. In 1969, population of such feral camels roaming in outback Australia was estimated to be between 15,000 and 20,000. In the next 20 years, their population more than doubled. It was estimated that 43,000 feral camels inhabited Australia in 1988. Feral camels in the wild in Northern Territory (NT), Australia. (Photo: WikiCommons/Mark Marathon) Between 2001 and 2008, the number of feral camels in Australia was pegged at 10,00,000 (1 million). These figures were later revised to 6,00,000 -- still a high number. Wildlife experts warned Australian authorities that if this population growth went unchecked, their number would double in 8-10 years. Soon, the Australian government adopted the National Feral Camel Action Plan and began massive culling operations. By 2013, the camel count was brought down to about 3,00,000. Today, feral camels are found across Western Australia, South Australia, Queensland and the Northern Territory, covering nearly an area of 3.3 million sq km. Thus, in the 180 years between their introduction in 1840 to the present times, camels in Australia have a come a long way: from being a valuable asset to a wild "pest". ARE THEY A PROBLEM? Nearly a century after their ancestors were 'freed' from human bondage, these feral camels today eat, sleep and roam around across the vast stretches of outback Australia. But this is too simplistic a description. The Aboriginals living in these areas complain that feral camels are cause for their misery as they aggressively compete with them and their cattle over the region's limited water resources. The area inhabited by feral camels is also one of Australia's driest parts. Year 2019 was particularly harsh for the region as temperatures soared and rain betrayed it. As such, water, which anyways is scarce here, became scarcer. WATCH | The problem of feral camels The Aboriginals have been complaining that feral camels often guzzle up and pollute their water resources, leaving little or nothing for them and their cattle, besides routinely damaging fences and grazing lands. Their other problems with camels include: Damage to culturally significant sites including religious sites, burial sites, ceremonial grounds, places (including trees) where spirits of dead people are said to dwell. Damage to vegetation and increased risks to biodiversity by competing with native animals. They disturb game species or get in the way of hunters. They cause yearly damage worth $10 million. Thus, the Aboriginals and feral camels today find themselves positioned in a struggle for survival in a region with scarce resources. THE ORDER TO SHOOT THEM DOWN On January 8, 2020, culling operation began in South Australia's remote areas and by the end nearly 10,000 camels may be shot down. The order was passed by the local government, Anangu Pitjantjatjara Yankunytjatjara (APY) Lands. In a statement APY said, "The feral camel groups are putting pressure in the remote Aboriginal communities in the APY Lands and pastoral operations as the camels search for water." It said the camel groups "pose threats" to communities, scarce water resources and are destroying and eating up food supplies, necessitating "immediate camel control". Justifying the culling in another statement on January 7, APY said it is an "urgent response" to threats posed to the local communities by an increase in the number of feral camels due to drought and extreme heat. "There is an extreme pressure on remote Aboriginal communities in the APY Lands and their pastoral operations as the camels search for water," Richard King, APY's general manager, said. Two wild camels seen in front of rock monoliths known as The Olgas in central Australia. Wild camels in drought-stricken Australia are in plague proportions, damaging the environment and property as they compete with native animals for food and water. (Photo: Reuters) Meanwhile, APY Executive Board's member Marita Baker has said her community has been "inundated by feral camels" that are "roaming the streets looking for water". "We are worried about the safety of the young children. They think it is fun to chase camels, but it is of course very dangerous," she said. "We have been stuck in stinking hot and uncomfortable conditions, feeling unwell, because the camels are coming in and knocking down fences, getting in around the houses and trying to get to water through air conditioners," Baker said. Culling of feral camels in Australia using helicopters has become a routine practice and is one of the three measures used to check their population (the other two are culling from ground and exclusion fencing). There is an extreme pressure on remote Aboriginal communities in the APY Lands and their pastoral operations as the camels search for water. - Richard King, general manager APY As on 2012, an average of 75,000 feral camels were being reportedly culled every year in Australia. In 2013, Lyndee Severin, whose team used to shoot down camels from helicopters and leave them to rot, told BBC, "It's not something that we enjoy doing, but it's something that we have to do." DOESN'T NATURE CHECK THEIR POPULATION? Camels in Australia are blessed by nature. They have the stamina and endurance to survive in harsh conditions, and the very sparsely populated outback means they haven't faced much competition from other species. Commenting upon their survival instinct, the National Feral Camel Action Plan states that these camels are hardly affected by any diseases or parasites. "Diseases and parasites don't have a major impact on feral camels in Australia. Diseases that can affect camels such as Brucellosis and Tuberculosis, camel pox or camel Trypanosomiasis are not present in Australian camel populations. Similarly, parasitic impacts on Australian feral camels appear to be minimal," the plan stated. Australian camels enjoy a near disease-free status and have no predatorstwo factors that help them boost their population immensely. (Photo: Reuters) The other factor that works strongly in their favour is that the Australian landscape hardly hosts any predator for camels. The dingo is believed to be the only potential predator, but it too attacks only the newborns and calves. Thus, besides humans, who occasionally hunt them for meat, camels in Australia hardly have enemies--a win-win situation. No wonder their population has not just ballooned but exploded. Literally. Other facts: Average lifespan : 25-40 years : 25-40 years Mortality rate : 6-9 per cent/ year : 6-9 per cent/ year Reproduction : Cows reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age : Cows reach sexual maturity at 3-4 years of age Gestation : 336-405 days : 336-405 days Reproductive lifespan : Around 25 years : Around 25 years Calving interval: Around 2 years OTHER OPTIONS STRUGGLE ALONG In recent years Australia has also explored other ways of controlling camel population, like setting up infrastructure to facilitate export of camel meat and rearing them in farms. The fact that Australian camels enjoy a near disease-free status greatly enhances their suitability for commercial use in the meat industry and even for live export. Government estimates suggest around 5,000 camels are slaughtered for human consumption every year in Australia. Other interventions include domestication and making use of products like camel milk, hair etc or setting up themed parks offering camel rides to tourists. Tourists pose for a picture during a camel safari alongside the Pacific Ocean on Lighthouse Beach, north of Sydney, Australia. (Photo: Reuters) But presently these measures are uneconomical and have failed to pick pace. The National Feral Camel Action Plan had found that though there is potential in these industries, their size is so small that they aren't geared to handle the large camel population. As for Australia, it says killing thousands of camels from helicopters is practically the best and most "humane" way to check their numbers to protect interests of Aboriginal communities and native species. Read more from Mukesh Rawat's archive, follow him on Twitter or subscribe to his updates on Facebook. ALSO READ | Drought-stricken Australia to cull 10,000 camels for drinking too much water. Twitter is angry ALSO WATCH | Details of Australia's feral camel management programe

IUMI wants refineries test low sulphur fuels for contamination

The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) is calling on refineries to ensure the low sulphur fuels they produce are not contaminated by conducting tests. IUMI argued that with governments compelling ship operators to use certain grade fuels, refineries should ensure the quality of its fuel. IUMI also noted that low sulphur fuel is not of the same quality around the world and that some fuel types contain high levels of cat fines.

https://splash247.com/iumi-calls-for-refineries-to-be-forced-to-conduct-testing-on-low-sulphur-fuels/

The International Union of Marine Insurance (IUMI) is trying to force refineries to conduct testing on low sulphur fuels ahead of the introduction of the global sulphur cap next year. The global association gave a winter update to journalists earlier this week in which it discussed the fuel issues as well as the spate of ship casualties seen in recent months. IUMI said in a statement prepared for the media that it is concerned that incidents of fuel contamination are increasing. Currently, fuel testing is undertaken by the end-user, but this ought to change, IUMI suggested. “Since governments oblige ship operators to burn certain grades of fuel, IUMI believes refineries should be compelled to conduct testing and confirm the delivery of non-contaminated fuel. If action is not taken to ensure reduced contamination, IUMI is concerned that the shipping industry will be faced with additional expense which insurance will not automatically cover,” the insurance body stated. Low sulphur fuel supply is not consistent around the world with IUMI pointing out this type of fuel often contains a high level of cat fines which onboard systems and processes often fail to filter out. Differences in flashpoint and combustibility are also evident. IUMI is calling for regulation that obliges refineries to guarantee the quality of their fuel and for vessel operators to enhance their systems, processes and training to protect their vessels against the potential impact of using low sulphur bunkers.

Drone makes historic flight y by flying across the English Channel

A custom drone operated by UK commercial drone operator, Ocuair, has made an historic 72-minute flight across the English Channel. The flight proves "that drones can be used over distance reliably over time," said the British Model Flying Association.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/drone-makes-record-flight-across-english-channel-2016-2?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=referral?r=US&IR=T

Aeryon For all their impressive attributes, flight-time has never been a strong suit for quadcopters. Sure — short distances and quick jaunts are no problem, but lengthy drone trips rarely make the news (mostly because they just don’t happen all that often). But now, one British pilot has upended the drone world, guiding a custom quadcopter across the English Channel in a stunning 72-minute flight. It’s a first for these unmanned flying devices, and U.K. commercial drone operator Ocuair can now claim the honor of a drone’s maiden voyage across the historic waterway. The Channel has long served as a sort of yardstick for technological (and even human) achievements. From Steam ship Élise, the first steam ship to cross the waterway in the early 19th century, to Louis Blériot’s famous flight nearly a century later, the English Channel maintains a sort of prestige for marking our accomplishments. And this drone trip is no exception — the Ocuair team customized a quadcopter they named Enduro, which launched its journey from a beach in northern France. From there, Richard Gill, the company’s operations director, served as the pilot during the 21.7 mile trip across the waters. The human team followed their machine by boat, constantly staying within a range of 1,640 feet. And just over an hour and 10 minutes after takeoff, the Enduro landed safely in Dover, in the southeast of England. Video footage of the landing shows an obviously excited Gill exclaiming, “It’s been really difficult, but I’m over the moon to have achieved what we’ve done today.” The momentous achievement was verified by Simon Vaitevicius, records officer for the British Model Flying Association, who noted, “This record is so important in the context of future drone activity such as delivery of parcels and things like that, because it’s a proof of concept, proof that drones can be used over distance reliably over time.” And the Ocuair team is clearly optimistic about the future of drones as a transportation option. “Drones are going to be the new aviation horizon,” said Gill. “They’re going to change the way we do everything in the future, from delivering parcels to search-and-rescue and inspections. So, I wanted to be a part of that history.”

Lyft halts taxi service in California after court ruling

Lyft has won an emergency stay to the court ruling that forced it to stop its taxi service in California. It had originally announced the stoppage after a court ruled that its drivers, and those working for Uber, should be treated the same as employees. Lyft said it had been trying to work out an alternative plan with minimum earnings guaranteed, a health care policy and mileage expenses and will maintain the “fight” for a plan benefitting all its drivers and riders. The company has said making drivers employees would deprive them of the "flexibility" of their current contract arrangements.

https://venturebeat.com/2020/08/20/lyft-suspends-service-in-california-following-order-to-reclassify-contract-drivers-as-employees/

Missed the GamesBeat Summit excitement? Don't worry! Tune in now to catch all of the live and virtual sessions here. Updated at 12:10 p.m. Pacific: Lyft is reversing course after receiving an emergency stay in its ongoing court battle. It won’t shut down in California for the time being, although it’s unclear how long the stay will last. The original article follows. In response to a court ruling that Lyft and Uber’s thousands of drivers should be given the same protections and benefits under California labor law as employees, Lyft today announced that it will suspend ride-sharing operations throughout California. Starting at 11:59 p.m. Pacific on August 20, the company will disable the trip-booking features of its mobile, web, and voice apps. “We don’t want to suspend operations. We are going to keep up the fight for a benefits model that works for all drivers and our riders,” Lyft wrote in a statement published to its blog. “We’ve spent hundreds of hours meeting with policymakers and labor leaders to craft an alternative proposal for drivers that includes a minimum earnings guarantee, mileage reimbursement, a health care subsidy, and occupational accident insurance, without the negative consequences.” A Lyft spokesperson told VentureBeat the shutdown only affects ride-sharing operations and that the company is communicating with riders and drivers via email and in-app communications. When asked when Lyft might resume service, the spokesperson declined to provide a firm timeline. 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 Uber hasn’t yet officially confirmed whether it will follow suit. Last week, Uber CEO Dara Khosrowshahi said during an MSNBC interview the company’s ride-hailing services in California would stop “at least temporarily” if the order was not changed. In his decision on Monday, San Francisco Superior Court Judge Ethan Schulman gave Lyft and Uber 10 days to make their drivers employees. But the companies said they would need time to retool their apps and couldn’t meet this month’s deadline, and they argued that classifying drivers as employees would remove the “flexibility” of the contract model under which they’ve operated since inception. Critics point out the companies have had nearly a year to address mandates in the state’s landmark law known as Assembly Bill 5 (AB5). AB5 establishes a three-prong test requiring employers to prove contract workers are independent. Essentially, laborers must be free from an organization’s control and be performing work outside of the company’s core business — a test Uber and Lyft failed, according to Judge Schulman. In a blog post today, Lyft reiterated its talking points against AB5, saying it would result in reduced service, particularly in suburban and rural areas. The company also claims as much as 80% of drivers would lose work and the rest would face capped hourly earnings, while lower-income riders would be faced with “unaffordable” prices. AB5 went into effect in January, but Uber and Lyft chose not to comply with it, arguing that they’re tech platforms rather than transportation providers. California sued the two companies in May, which resulted in this week’s ruling. In the meantime, both companies have poured tens of millions of dollars into a ballot measure that would exempt them from the law — Proposition 22, which is set to appear on California’s ballot in November. Additionally, Uber has made changes to its product like showing fares to drivers upfront and allowing them to decline rides without facing penalties. The New York Times reported that both Uber and Lyft are considering a shift to a franchise model in California, where employment would be left to independent franchisees rather than corporate headquarters — similar to black car services and the taxi industry. Uber laid the groundwork in countries like Germany and Spain, where transportation regulations have forced it to work with fleets. But according to sources cited in the Times report, Uber and Lyft fear the model could increase operating costs by as much as hundreds of millions of dollars a year because it introduces a third party.

Enel X to provide 550 home EV chargers with Washington utilities

Enel X will provide more than 550 homes in Washington state with JuiceBox smart chargers, in separate partnerships with utilities Puget Sound Energy and Seattle City Light. The collaborations seek to encourage adoption of EVs and to help the state reach its targets of carbon-neutral electricity by 2030 and 100% clean energy by 2045. Enel X's JuiceNet platform helps EV customers to charge during periods of lower electricity costs and high renewable energy availability by analysing charging patterns and data from the grid. Enel X has over 6 GW of demand response capacity across the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2019/10/20191009-enelx.html

Enel X, the Enel Group’s advanced energy services business line, announced two EV smart charging programs with Washington state utilities—Puget Sound Energy (PSE) and Seattle City Light, serving the Bellevue and Seattle metro areas respectively—to provide more than 550 Enel X JuiceBox smart chargers to residential customers. The programs are intended to help boost EV adoption in the state by showing customers the benefits of electric mobility, while gathering insights into EV drivers’ charging behavior to learn how to efficiently scale smart-charging programs. Furthermore, the two partnerships are expected to help in meeting the state’s ambitious decarbonization targets of achieving carbon-neutral electricity by 2030 and 100% clean electricity by 2045. This year, Washington state passed two key climate policies, which chart a path to 100 percent clean electricity by 2045 and add new incentives for electric vehicles and charging infrastructure to support its decarbonization strategy. As Washington and other states embrace aggressive renewable energy portfolio standards for electric transportation, we expect smart charging to provide dual-benefits to the utility and all of its customers—not just the residents driving EVs. —Preston Roper, Head of Enel X e-Mobility, North America With these two new partnerships, Enel X North America has now announced three new utility smart charging programs in the last month, broadening its portfolio of partners across the US to more than 20 utilities in its effort to boost the development of electric mobility. Currently, Enel X has sold more than 50,000 JuiceBox smart chargers in North America. In partnership with Enel X, Puget Sound Energy recently launched the Up & Go Electric home charger program, which provides 500 qualified electric customers who apply online with a PSE-branded JuiceBox smart charging station, powered by JuiceNet software, providing the customers with a cost-effective, grid-connected charging solution and enabling the utility to support broader adoption of EVs and manage peak electricity demands. The JuiceNet platform monitors drivers’ historical charging patterns, acquires real-time input and signals from the electric grid to aggregate and manage charging station demand, allowing EV drivers to contribute by charging at times when electricity costs are lower and renewable energy is most available. The program, which experienced a high volume of interest from customers, has now reached capacity; the offer also covered 75% of installation costs up to US$2,000. Seattle City Light will provide up to 70 customers participating in the program with a JuiceBox and support for home installation for a monthly fee. Seattle City Light will use the data collected to analyze EV charging patterns to inform future programs and support continued growth of electric transportation in the region, enabling the identification of cost-effective ways to dually support grid optimization and electrification. EV adoption is expected to increase more quickly in Washington state than in other US regions. According to a report from Seattle City Light and the Rocky Mountain Institute published earlier in 2019, EVs on the road in Washington are expected to increase to 140,000 by 2030, up from 50,000 in 2019. Enel X is Enel’s global business line dedicated to developing innovative products and digital solutions in sectors in which energy is showing the greatest potential for transformation: cities, homes, industries and electric mobility. Enel X holds the leading position in demand response programmes globally, with more than 6 GW of demand response capacity currently managed and assigned in the Americas, Europe, Asia and Oceania. Enel X’s electric vehicle charging station technology, called JuiceBox, and its JuiceNet platform, provide smart management of electric vehicle charging and other distributed energy storage facilities. Enel X operates more than 50,000 electric vehicle smart charging points in 20 countries. Enel X in North America has around 3,700 business customers, spanning more than 10,400 sites, representing approximately 4.7 GW of demand response capacity and more than 20 operational behind-the-meter storage projects. The company’s intelligent DER Optimization Software is designed to analyze real-time energy and utility bill data, improve performance, and manage distributed energy assets, including behind-the-meter storage projects.

Circular economy leading to rise in plastics demand

***Not sure about this article. The story is that plastics demand is peaking, so is about to decline, but there's no figures or research to support that claim. Although feel free to send back and I will focus more on how 3D printing/ digitalisation / the sharing economy is good for the environment - probably the strongest points made in the article.***

http://www.icis.com/blogs/chemicals-and-the-economy/2017/07/plastics-demand-peaking-circular-economy-arrives/

The Stone Age didn’t end because we ran out of stones. Similarly, coal is being left in the ground because we no longer need it any more. And the same is happening to oil, as Saudi Arabia recognised last year in its Vision 2030: “Within 20 years, we will be an economy that doesn’t depend mainly on oil“. And so now the debate is moving on, to products such as plastics that are made from oil. The move began several years ago with the growing concern over plastic bags. Consumers decided they no longer wanted to live in a world filled with waste bags. Now, in a landmark new Study*, the debate is evolving to focus on the question of ‘What happens to plastic after we have used it?’ As the chart shows:  The world has produced 8.3bn tonnes of plastic over the past 60 years  Almost all of it, 91% in fact, has since been thrown away, never to be used again  But it hasn’t simply disappeared, as plastic takes around 400 years to degrade  Instead, the Study finds, 79% is filling up landfills or littering the environment and “at some point, much of it ends up in the oceans, the final sink” Nobody is claiming that this waste was created deliberately. Nobody is claiming that plastics aren’t incredibly useful – they are, and they have saved millions of lives via their use in food packaging and other critical applications. The problem is simply, ‘What happens next?’ As one of the Study authors warns: “We weren’t aware of the implications for plastic ending up in our environment until it was already there. Now we have a situation where we have to come from behind to catch up.” The good news is that potential solutions are being developed. As the video shows, Recycling Technologies, for example (where I am a director), is now trialling technology that will recycle end-of-life plastic into virgin plastic, wax and oils. Other companies are also hard at work on different solutions. And more and more effort is focused on finding ways of removing plastic from the sea, as I noted last year:  “95% of plastic packaging material value is currently lost after just a short first-use cycle  By 2050, there will be more plastics in the ocean than fish by weight, if current policies continue  Clearly, this state of affairs cannot be allowed to continue.” SUSTAINABILITY IS REPLACING GLOBALISATION AS A KEY DRIVER FOR THE ECONOMY But there is another side to this debate that is just about to move into the headlines. That is the simple question of “How do we stop putting more and more plastic into the environment?” Cleaning up the current mess is clearly critically important. But the world is also starting to realise that it needs to stop creating the problem in the first place. As always, there are a number of potential solutions potentially available:  The arrival of 3D printing dramatically reduces the volume of plastic needed to make a finished product. It operates on a very efficient “additive basis”, only using the volume that is needed, and producing very little waste  Digitalisation offers the opportunity to avoid the use of plastics – with music, for example, most people today listen via streaming services and no longer buy CDs made of plastic  The ‘sharing economy’ also reduces demand for plastic – new business models such as car-sharing, ride hailing and autonomous cars enable people to be mobile without needing to own a car The key issue is that the world is moving to adopt the principles of the circular economy as the Ellen MacArthur Foundation notes: “Underpinned by a transition to renewable energy sources, the circular model builds economic, natural and social capital.” This paradigm shift clearly creates major challenges for those countries and companies wedded to producing ever-increasing volumes of plastic. OPEC has an unpleasant shock ahead of it, for example, as its demand forecasts are based on a belief that: “Over one-third of the total demand increase between 2015 and 2040 comes from the road transportation sector (6.2 mb/d). Strong growth is also foreseen in the petrochemicals sector (3.4 mb/d)” They are forgetting the basic principle that, “What cannot continue forever, won’t continue“. After all, it took just 25 years for cars to replace horses a century ago. More recently, countries such as China and India went straight to mobile phones, and didn’t bother with landlines. And as I noted last year, underlying demand patterns are also now changing as a result of today’s ageing populations:  In the BabyBoomer-led SuperCycle, the growing population of young people needed globalisation in order to supply their needs. And they were not too worried about possible side-effects, due to the confidence of youth  But today’s globally ageing populations do not require vast new quantities of everything to be produced. And being older, they are naturally more suspicious of change, and tend to see more downside than upside Of course, change is always difficult because it creates winners and losers. That is why “business as usual” is such a popular strategy. It is therefore critically important that companies begin to prepare today to be among the winners in the world of the circular economy. As we all know: There is no such thing as a mature industry, only mature firms. And industries inhabited by mature firms often present great opportunities for the innovative”. As the 3rd chart shows, the winners in the field of plastics will be those companies and countries that focus on using their skills and expertise to develop service-based businesses. These will aim at providing sustainable solutions for people’s needs in the fields of mobility, packaging and other essential areas. The losers will be those who bury their heads in the sand, and hope that nothing will ever change. * The detailed paper is in Science Advances, ‘Production, use, and fate of all plastics ever made‘

Britain could stop the war in Yemen in days. But it won’t | David Wearing

A Channel 4 documentary exposed the depths of the UK's complicity in Saudi Arabia's bombing of Yemen. Britain has provided the Saudis with a fleet of Typhoon military jets as well as the constant supply of ammunition, components, training and technical support. A former Saudi Air Force officer stated flatly that his compatriots “can’t keep the Typhoon in the air without the British”.

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2019/apr/03/britain-war-in-yemen

Monday night’s Channel 4 documentary, Britain’s Hidden War, exposed the depths of the UK’s complicity in Saudi Arabia’s bombing of Yemen. The testimony of various interviewees confirmed what I and other expert observers have been saying for some time: that Washington and London could have pulled the plug on the Saudi campaign at any point over the past four years. Under an arms deal signed by the New Labour government, Britain has provided the Saudis with a fleet of Typhoon military jets as well as the constant supply of ammunition, components, training and technical support required to keep those jets operational. This creates a high degree of Saudi dependence on continued British support. A British former technician, stationed in Saudi Arabia until recently, told Channel 4 that if this support was withdrawn then “in seven to 14 days there wouldn’t be a jet in the sky” over Yemen. A former Saudi Air Force officer stated flatly that his compatriots “can’t keep the Typhoon in the air without the British”, and that, although US-supplied jets also play an indispensable role, the British Typhoon is so crucial that “without the Typhoon they will stop the war”. Let us recall the extent of the carnage that Britain has helped to make possible: 60,000 Yemenis are conservatively estimated to have been killed since 2016, the majority from Saudi-UAE coalition bombing. In addition, the man-made humanitarian crisis caused primarily by the blockade imposed by the coalition has led to an estimated 85,000 infant children dying from starvation or preventable disease. The UN warns that 14 million lives are at risk in what could become the world’s worst famine in 100 years. Mohammad bin Salman with Theresa May in March 2018. Photograph: Wiktor Szymanowicz/Rex Features The UK government claims that it is not a party to the war, but this is blatantly disingenuous. Britain is a crucial enabler of a Saudi bombing campaign characterised by “widespread and systematic attacks” on civilian targets, in the words of UN investigators, with a series of atrocities including instances of possible war crimes. Britain may not be an official combatant (although there are now reports of UK special forces operating on the ground) but it is an indispensable participant and accessory. If British support makes Saudi violence possible, that violence is British violence as well, making the UK significantly culpable for its human cost. This goes for the domestic, structured violence of the Gulf Arab monarchies as well. The Guardian reports exclusively this week on leaked internal Saudi investigations into the torture of political prisoners, demonstrating once again that talk of “reform” under Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is mere propaganda, masking a severe intensification of repression. In light of these latest revelations, it is tempting for us to talk of the “barbaric” practices of a “medieval” kingdom, perhaps drawing a contrast with “western values”. But Saudi Arabia is in no small part a product of our own modernity, a state less than 100 years old, established in its current form with critical support from the US and UK. Throughout the 20th century and into the 21st, through the crucial decades of state formation as the Gulf monarchs entrenched their rule, Washington and London provided the regimes with security guarantees, arms and training for their security forces. This empowered the Saudis and their fellow royals to jail and torture dissidents, crush all challengers and shut down any possibility of political change, most recently in Bahrain in 2011. Such violence has always been central to western power in the world. The Gulf monarchs have merely acted as our subcontractors. In Yemen, Britain has helped to create the world’s worst humanitarian disaster. This is a matter of incontrovertible fact, and of grave urgency. It is long past time for this country to face up to its responsibilities, and to the true nature of its role in the world.

Terrorist attack in Saudi Arabia leaves 4 dead

A terrorist attack in Riydah, Saudi Arabia has left a Saudi policeman and Bangladeshi national dead. Three attackers targeted police personnel at a security checkpoint in the region with a firefight ensuing; two of the terrorists were killed and the third injured. The investigation will continue to reveal more details.

http://www.xinhuanet.com/english/2018-07/09/c_137310832.htm

Source: Xinhua| 2018-07-09 04:59:47|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close RIYADH, July 8 (Xinhua) -- A Saudi policeman, a Bangladeshi national and two attackers were killed in a terrorist attack that targeted a security checkpoint in Saudi's Al Qassim region, Saudi Press Agency cited Saudi Interior Ministry on Sunday. A security spokesperson highlighted that the attack took place on Sunday afternoon when three terrorists shot at the police personnel, meanwhile the security forces fired back. Besides the four deaths, a third terrorist was injured and referred to hospital. He said that investigation would continue to reveal more details about the attack. Saudi Arabia has been witnessing on-and-off terrorist attacks that targeted various areas in the country, especially by sleeping cells of the Islamic State militant groups. Some of those attacks left many deaths and injuries, such as blasts against places of worships. In May, a checkpoint was targeted in Asir city that led to the death of three police personnel.

Liquidnet unveils Best Ex Replay tool aiding MiFID compliance

Liquidnet has developed an update to its Virtual High Touch suite that allows traders to recall market conditions at the time of execution. The Best Ex Replay tool will enable companies to comply with new best execution requirements under MiFID II. The tool also gives date-specific descriptions of trading conditions, with market microstructure charts and analysis covering return, volume, liquidity and spread. The analytics are powered by OTAS Technologies, which purchased Liquidnet in May 2017.

https://www.thetradenews.com/liquidnet-adds-best-ex-analytics-virtual-high-touch-suite/

Liquidnet has launched a best execution analytics tool to its Virtual High Touch (VHT) suite allowing traders to recall market conditions at the time of execution. Best Ex Replay is the latest update to the VHT suite and has been designed to allow firms to meet new best execution requirements under MiFID II. The tool provides the opportunity to repeat precise market conditions to explain the context of execution decisions and investigate orders that experienced unusual market conditions. “What we’ve heard from our global membership is that every minute that goes into manual, administrative tasks such as compliance requests and best execution analysis – while valuable – is time that comes at the expense of alpha generation,” said Natasha Shamis, global head of product at Liquidnet. “Traders need to spend their time on achieving best execution, not proving it. That’s what Best Ex Replay is for,” she added. The tool also provides a detailed description of trading conditions on a specific date with market microstructure charts and analysis covering return, volume, liquidity and spread. Users can run a performance report on an execution basis on order details for further MiFID II best execution data. “The recent introduction of MiFID II in Europe has accelerated global regulatory pressure on firms to deliver constant, detailed, and systematic best execution analysis,” said Mark Pumfrey, head of Liquidnet EMEA. “Best Ex Replay delivers meaningful execution and market information in a convenient and timely way – a broker-neutral solution covering most equity names in the US, Canada, developed Europe, Hong Kong, and Australia, whether or not an order is executed on Liquidnet.” The analytics are powered by OTAS Technologies, which Liquidnet acquired in May 2017. Liquidnet said at the time OTAS Technologies’ analytics tools would be integrated with its VHT platform.

Dengue fever vaccine issued with health warning risks

Sanofi Pasteur has admitted its dengue fever vaccine may actually make people more ill if they catch the tropical disease. The French drugs giant said Dengvaxia may only work as a barrier for people who had previously been infected. The world's first dengue vaccine become available in March but healthcare professionals worldwide are being issued with advisories about its efficacy.

http://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/health/healthcare-professionals-here-warned-about-dengue-vaccine-risk

Healthcare professionals here have been issued advisories on a dengue vaccine which could be harmful to people not previously infected by the virus. The Health Sciences Authority (HSA) said in response yesterday to queries from The Straits Times that all healthcare professionals here have been issued advisories on the vaccine, Dengvaxia. The authority added that it will further strengthen the warnings and recommendations in the prescribing information of the vaccine, as well as closely monitor it to ensure its continued safety and efficacy. The manufacturer, French pharmaceutical giant Sanofi Pasteur, said Dengvaxia was found to have a possible harmful effect when used on people who did not previously have dengue. Those who were vaccinated and later became infected could have "more cases of severe disease", Sanofi said last month. When asked, HSA said there was one report of a male patient who developed a rash three days after being vaccinated, but he has since recovered. It has had no other reports of adverse reactions to Dengvaxia. The world's first dengue vaccine, Dengvaxia has been available in Singapore since March, after HSA approved its use in patients between 12 and 45 years old in October last year. Back then, HSA flagged the potential risk of severe dengue after reviewing data from Sanofi. It informed healthcare professionals of the risk and recommended that patients consult doctors before getting the vaccine. Educational materials and the package insert of Dengvaxia carried information on the risk. Blood tests to identify previous dengue infection were also made available at major hospitals here. HSA said it is now working with Sanofi to "strengthen the package insert" to include a warning of an increased risk of hospitalisation for dengue and clinically severe dengue in vaccinated people not previously infected by dengue. However, in its alert, Sanofi had added that for those previously infected, Dengvaxia "provides persistent benefit against dengue fever". HSA noted that dengue vaccination is not part of the national immunisation programme, meaning the vaccine is given to individuals only when the benefits outweigh the risk. SEE WORLD

Nomad Foods announces organic revenue increase for 13th consecutive quarter ***

Nomad Foods reported Q1 revenue of €683m, up 10.5% YoY as consumers stockpiled frozen food. The company increased EBITA guidance for 2020, to €450m to €460m from €440m to €445m. Organic revenue increased for the 13th consecutive quarter rising 7.7% in Q1.

https://www.checkout.ie/retail/birds-eye-parent-posts-10-5-revenue-growth-first-quarter-97902

Birds Eye parent Nomad Foods has posted a 10.5% year-on-year growth in revenue to €683 million in the first quarter ended 31 March driven by an ‘unprecedented’ demand for frozen food amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “This change in consumer behaviour, which began in early March, has continued into the second quarter with in-home consumption the most meaningful driver," stated Stéfan Descheemaeker, Nomad Foods’ chief executive officer. The frozen food giant has raised its 2020 guidance and expects an adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, and amortization (EBITA) of in the region of €450 to €460 million compared to its previous estimate of approximately €440 to €445 million, the group said. “Our organisation has collectively risen to the challenge by ensuring the continuous supply of our products and brands throughout this crisis while prioritising the health and safety of our employees." Organic Revenue Increase The company’s organic revenue increased by 7.7% in the first quarter, comprising 1.4% growth in price and a 6.3% increase in volume/mix. “Nomad Foods has distinguished itself as a leader in the packaged foods sector with 13 consecutive quarters of organic revenue growth," added Sir Martin E. Franklin, Co-chairman and founder of Nomad Foods. “Further, as a frozen food pure-play, our company is uniquely positioned to service the extraordinary demand for food at home throughout this crisis.” Gross profit increased 4% to €199 million in the quarter, while gross margin declined 180 basis points to 29.1% as pricing, promotional efficiencies and mix were more than offset by the cost of goods inflation, the company added. The company saw a 14% increase in adjusted operating expenses to €97 million, following double-digit growth in advertising and promotion as well as indirect expenses. Adjusted EBITDA decreased 2% to €120 million, while adjusted profit after tax decreased 5% to €68 million. © 2020 Checkout – your source for the latest Irish retail news. Click sign-up to subscribe to Checkout.

Exactis data breach exposes personal records of over 300m

A recent leak at data-aggregation firm Exactis exposed 340 million personal records, including sensitive information such as home and email addresses, phone numbers and religious beliefs. The leak was discovered by a security researcher looking up databases on open servers, who found that the 2TB data bank was unprotected by any kind of firewall.

https://www.engadget.com/2018/06/28/exactis-leak-340-million-records/

Exactis might be fueled by data, but its recent blunder is a warning that any database without firewall protection is susceptible to leaks. The data aggregation company recently exposed over 300 million personal records -- statistically speaking, that's enough to cover the entire US population. The leak was first discovered by Vinny Troia, a security researcher and founder of Night Lion Security. On a routine investigation using Shodan -- a search engine that allows users to identify internet-connected devices -- he looked up databases on open servers, and eventually stumbled upon the Exactis database, which, rather curiously, lacked any kind of firewall. He found a 2TB data bank that stored nearly 340 million individual records, completely exposed to anyone acquainted well enough with cyber security. While credit card or social security numbers weren't put in danger, sensitive data including personal interests, home and email addresses, religious beliefs, smoking status, phone numbers, and even the number, age and sex of a family's children -- were all visible. Troia told Wired that while most data was authentic, not every piece of it was up-to-date or verifiable. Unlike Equifax, or the colossal Yahoo breach, there's currently no evidence to suggest hackers obtained any of Exactis' data and used it with malicious intent. Is there any cause for concern, then, if financial details weren't accessible? Mark Rotenberg says "certainly". Speaking with Wired, the president of the Electronic Privacy Information Center said there's still a chance fraudsters could have profiled and impersonated users. He also mentioned that most data gathered by information brokers (like Exactis) is actually retrieved from private outlets, including online subscriptions. Exactis appears reluctant to offer any comments regarding the leak, however, the company has apparently shielded the data in question -- so it's no longer available to the public. We've reached out via email for confirmation. The leak does prompt a couple of questions -- namely, why appropriate firewall protection wasn't included to begin with, and an explanation for why consumers weren't informed their data was being collected.

The Plan That Could Give Us Our Lives Back

e25 paper strip test is less sensitive than standard PCR tests but can be mass produced - in quantities of up to 10 million a day. The paper strip can produce results in 15 minutes and would tackle the abundance of tests readily available in the US. The strips can be incorporated into into every day life and bring the virus, which is currently killing more Americans per month than World War 2 to a heel.

https://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2020/08/how-to-test-every-american-for-covid-19-every-day/615217/

The U.S. has never had enough coronavirus tests. Now a group of epidemiologists, economists, and dreamers is plotting a new strategy to defeat the virus, even before a vaccine is found. Michael Mina is a professor of epidemiology at Harvard, where he studies the diagnostic testing of infectious diseases. He has watched, with disgust and disbelief, as the United States has struggled for months to obtain enough tests to fight the coronavirus. In January, he assured a newspaper reporter that he had “absolute faith” in the ability of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to contain the virus. By early March, that conviction was in crisis. “The incompetence has really exceeded what anyone would expect,” he told The New York Times. His astonishment has only intensified since. Many Americans may understand that testing has failed in this country—that it has been inadequate, in one form or another, since February. What they may not understand is that it is failing, now. In each of the past two weeks, and for the first time since the pandemic began, the country performed fewer COVID-19 tests than it did in the week prior. The system is deteriorating. Testing is a non-optional problem. Tests permit us to do the most basic task in disease control: Identify the sick, and separate them from the well. When tests are abundant, they can dispel the fear of contagion that has quieted public life. “The only thing that makes a difference in the economy is public health, and the only thing that makes a difference in public health is testing,” Simon Johnson, the former chief economist of the International Monetary Fund, told us. Optimistic timelines suggest that vaccines won’t be widely available, in the hundreds of millions of doses, until May or June. There will be a transition period in which doctors and health-care workers are vaccinated, but teachers, letter carriers, and police officers are not. We will need better testing then. But we need it now, too. Read: How the pandemic defeated America Why has testing failed so completely? By the end of March, Mina had identified a culprit: “There’s little ability for a central command unit to pool all the resources from around the country,” he said at a Harvard event. “We have no way to centralize things in this country short of declaring martial law.” It took several more months for him to find a solution to this problem, which is to circumvent it altogether. In the past several weeks, he has become an evangelist for a total revolution in how the U.S. controls the pandemic. Instead of restructuring daily life around the American way of testing, he argues, the country should build testing into the American way of life. The wand that will accomplish this feat is a thin paper strip, no longer than a finger. It is a coronavirus test. Mina says that the U.S. should mass-produce these inexpensive and relatively insensitive tests—unlike other methods, they require only a saliva sample—in quantities of tens of millions a day. These tests, which can deliver a result in 15 minutes or less, should then become a ubiquitous part of daily life. Before anyone enters a school or an office, a movie theater or a Walmart, they must take one of these tests. Test negative, and you may enter the public space. Test positive, and you are sent home. In other words: Mina wants to test nearly everyone, nearly every day. The tests Mina describes already exist: They are sitting in the office of e25 Bio, a small start-up in Cambridge, Massachusetts; half a dozen other companies are working on similar products. But implementing his vision will require changing how we think about tests. These new tests are much less sensitive than the ones we run today, which means that regulations must be relaxed before they can be sold or used. Their closest analogue is rapid dengue-virus tests, used in India, which are manufactured in a quantity of 100 million a year. Mina envisions nearly as many rapid COVID-19 tests being manufactured a day. Only the federal government, acting as customer and controller, can accomplish such a feat. If it is an audacious plan, it has an audacious payoff. Mina claims that his plan could bring the virus to heel in the U.S. within three weeks. (Other epidemiologists aren’t as sure it would work—at least without serious downsides.) His plan, while costly, is one of the few commensurate in scale to the pandemic: Even if it costs billions of dollars to realize, the U.S. is already losing billions of dollars to the virus every day. More Americans are dying of the coronavirus every month, on average, than died in the deadliest month of World War II. Donald Trump has said that the U.S. is fighting a “war” against an “invisible enemy”; Mina simply asks that the country adopt a wartime economy. George Packer: We are living in a failed state We have been covering coronavirus testing since March. For most of that time, the story has been one of failure after failure. But in the past few weeks, something has changed. After months without federal leadership, a loose confederation of scientists, economists, doctors, financiers, philanthropists, and public-health officials has assembled to fill in that gap. They have reexamined every piece of the testing system and developed a new set of tactics to address the months-long testing shortage. Mina’s plan is the most aggressive of these ideas; other groups—such as the new nonprofit Testing for America, founded by private-sector experts who helped the White House in the spring—have advanced their own plans. Taken together, they compose a box of tools that could allow the country to fix its ramshackle house. The government has also done more in the past month to stimulate the creation of new kinds of tests than it has done in any period of the pandemic so far. The National Institutes of Health has awarded $248 million in grants to companies so that they can scale up alternate forms of COVID-19 testing as quickly as possible. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has begun to support the nascent testing market as well. This investment is belated and too meager—by comparison, the government has spent more than $8 billion on vaccine development—but it is significant. If the new proposals make anything clear, it’s that it is in our power to have an abundance of tests within months—and to return life to normal, or something close to it, even before a vaccine is found. There is a way out of the pandemic. Today, if you go to the doctor with a dry cough and fever, and get swabbed for COVID-19, you will probably receive a test that was not designed for an out-of-control pandemic. It’s called a “reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction” test, or PCR, test, and it is one of the miracles of medicine. The PCR technique has allowed us to probe the genomes of the Earth: Its invention, in 1983, cleared the way for the Human Genome Project, the early diagnosis of certain cancers, and the study of ancient DNA. It works, in essence, like a zoom-and-enhance feature on a computer: Using a specific mix of chemicals, called “reagents,” and a special machine, called a “thermal cycler,” the PCR process duplicates a certain strand of genetic material hundreds of millions of times. When used to test for COVID-19, the PCR technique looks for a specific sequence of nucleotides that is unique to the coronavirus, a snippet of RNA that exists nowhere else. Whenever the PCR machine—as designed and sold, for instance, by the multinational firm Roche—encounters that strand, it makes a copy of both that sequence and a fluorescent dye. If, after multiplying both the strand and the dye hundreds of millions of times, the Roche machine detects a certain amount of the dye, its software interprets the specimen as a positive. To have a “confirmed case of COVID-19” is to have a PCR machine detect the dye in a sample and report it to a technician. Tested time and time again, the PCR technique performs stunningly well: The best-in-class PCR tests can reliably detect, in just a few hours, as few as 100 copies of viral RNA in a milliliter of spit or snot. The PCR test has anchored the American response to the pandemic. In CDC guidelines written by a council of state epidemiologists, a positive PCR result is the only way to confirm a case of COVID-19. And the Food and Drug Administration, which regulates all COVID-19 tests used in the U.S., judges every other type of test against PCR. Of the more than 62 million COVID-19 tests conducted in the U.S. since March, the overwhelming majority have been PCR. Read: There’s one big reason the U.S. economy can’t reopen However, a small but growing pile of clinical evidence—and a sky-scraping stack of real-world accounts—has revealed glaring issues with PCR tests. From a public-health perspective, the most important questions that a test can answer are: Is this person infected and contagious now? and If he’s not contagious, might he be soon? But these are not questions that even a positive PCR result can address. And especially as they’re conducted in the U.S. today, PCR tests do not tell us what we need to know to stop the virus. Imagine that, at this instant, you are exposed to and infected with the coronavirus. You now have COVID-19—it is day zero—but it is impossible for you or anyone else to know it. In the following days, the virus will silently propagate in your body, hijacking your cells and making millions of copies of itself. Around day three of your infection, there might be enough of the virus in your nasal passages and saliva that a sample of either would test positive via PCR. Soon, your respiratory system will be so crowded with the virus that you will become contagious, spraying the virus into the air whenever you talk or yell. But you likely will not think yourself sick until around day five, when you start to develop symptoms, such as a fever, dry cough, or lost sense of smell. For the next few days, you will be at your most infectious. And here is the first problem with PCR. To cut off a chain of transmission, public-health workers have to move faster than the virus. If they can test you early—around day three of your infection, for instance—and get a result back in a day or two, they may be able to isolate you before you infect too many people. But right now, the U.S. is not delivering PCR results anywhere close to that fast. Brett Giroir, the federal coronavirus-testing czar, admitted to Congress last month that even a three-day turnaround time is “not a benchmark we can achieve today.” As an outbreak raged in Arizona this summer, some PCR results took 14 days or more to come back. That’s worse than useless—“I would not call that a test,” Johnson, the economist, told us—because most bouts of COVID-19 last 14 days or fewer. “The majority of all U.S. tests are completely garbage, wasted,” Bill Gates, who has helped fund COVID-19 testing, recently said. After your symptoms start around day five, you might remain symptomatic for several days to several months. But some recent studies suggest that by day 14 or so—nine days after your symptoms began—you are no longer infectious, even if you are still symptomatic. By then, there is no longer live virus in your upper respiratory system. But because millions of dead virus particles line your mouth and nasal cavity, and because they contain strands of intact RNA, and because the PCR technique is very sensitive, you will still test positive on a PCR test. For weeks, in fact, you may test positive via PCR, even after your symptoms abate. And here is PCR’s second problem: By this point in your illness, a positive PCR test does not mean what you might expect. It does not mean that you are infectious, nor does it necessarily mean that there is live SARS-CoV-2 virus in your body. It does not make sense to trace any contacts you’ve had in the past five days, because you did not infect them. Nor does it make sense for you to stay home from work. But our country’s public-health infrastructure cannot easily distinguish between a day-two positive and a day-35 positive. The final issue with PCR tests is simple: There aren’t enough of them. The U.S. now runs more than 700,000 COVID-19 tests a day. On its own terms, this is a stupendous leap, a nearly 800-fold increase since early March. But we may be maxing out the world’s PCR capacity; supply chains are straining and snapping. For months, it has been difficult for labs to get the expensive chemical reagents that allow for RNA duplication. Earlier this summer, there was a global run on the tips of pipettes—the disposable plastic basters used to move liquid between vials. Sometimes the bottleneck is PCR machines themselves: As infections surged in Arizona last month, and people lined up to be tested, the number of tests far exceeded the machines’ capacity to run them. The COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic When tests dwindle, the entire medical system suffers. In Arizona, many doctors’ offices were short-staffed at the peak of the outbreak, because any doctor exposed to the virus needed to test negative before returning to work, and the system simply couldn’t handle the volume of tests. “We’ve had people out seven to 10 days” waiting for a negative result, Catherine Gioannetti, the medical director of health and safety for Arizona Community Physicians, told us. “It’s essentially a broken system, because we don’t have results in a timely fashion.” If labs don’t have the capacity to turn around doctors’ tests, which are often fast-tracked, they definitely do not have the capacity to test contagious people who are wholly asymptomatic. These silent spreaders may remain infectious for weeks but never develop any symptoms. They are the virus’s “secret power,” one testing executive told us, and they account for 20 to 40 percent of all infections. Some evidence suggests that they may be more infectious than symptomatic people, carrying higher viral loads for longer. The challenge is clear: We need an enormous number of tests. As some have argued since the spring, the American population at large—and not just feverish, coughing people—has to be screened. Let’s say, for instance, that you wanted to test everyone in the U.S. once a week. That’s 45 million tests a day. How can we get there? In the immediate future, the only way to increase testing is to squeeze more tests out of the existing PCR system. Our best bet to do so fast is through a technique called “pooling,” which could get a few hundred thousand more tests out of the system every day. Pooling is straightforward: Instead of testing each sample individually, laboratories combine some samples, then test that “pooled” sample as one. The technique was invented by Robert Dorfman, a Harvard statistician, to test American soldiers for syphilis during World War II. Today it is commonly used by public-health labs to test for HIV. It works as follows: A lab technician mixes 50 HIV samples together, then tests this pool. If the result is negative, then none of the patients has HIV—and the researcher has evaluated 50 samples with the same materials it takes to run one test. But if the pooled sample is positive, a new phase starts. The technician pools the same specimens again, this time into smaller groups of 10, and retests them. When one of these smaller pools is positive, she tests each individual sample in it. By the end of the process, she has tested 50 people for HIV, but used only a dozen or so tests. This approach saves her hundreds of tests over the course of a day. Pooling is a great first step to maximizing our test supply, Jon Kolstad, an economist at UC Berkeley, told us. This is in part because regulators and public-health officials are already familiar with it. The FDA has told Quest Diagnostics, LabCorp, and BioReference, three major commercial laboratories, that they can start pooling a handful of coronavirus samples at a time. In some parts of New England that haven’t seen much of the virus, pooling could triple or even quadruple the number of tests available, a team at the University of Nebraska has found. But pooling is only a stopgap. It works best for diseases that are relatively rare, such as HIV and syphilis. If a disease is too common, then the work of pooling—the laborious mixing and remixing of samples—is more work than it’s worth. (About twice as many Americans have been infected with the coronavirus as have contracted HIV since 1981.) In Arizona and some southern states burning with COVID-19, traditional pooling would not be worth the effort, the same Nebraska team found. Kolstad and Johnson, the MIT economist, are experimenting with ways to increase the efficiency of pooling. By grouping samples more deliberately, they can create larger pools of people with similar risks. A group of office workers might be at lower risk than a group of meatpackers who work close together, and even within a meatpacking plant, workers on one side of the plant might be at greater risk than those on the other. And because pooling saves money, companies and colleges and schools could run more tests. This would create a virtuous cycle. Each day, a person has a certain chance of being infected that varies with the prevalence of the disease in a community. Test every day, and there is simply less time between tests in which a person could have been infected. This makes it possible to build larger pools of people who are likely negative. Starting up these systems would require clearing logistical and regulatory hurdles—a positive coronavirus sample is a low-level biohazard, and the FDA regulates it as such. Dina Greene, who directs lab testing for Kaiser Permanente in Washington State, says that contamination problems are already difficult for labs to manage, and would be more so if labs have to manually mix together samples. Kolstad has been thinking through this problem. His team is experimenting with a different technique, which one might call “intermediate pooling.” Instead of having labs make pools on the back end, Kolstad proposes deploying trained nurses in mobile pooling labs in retrofitted vans. It would work well for nursing homes, he says: The nurses might arrive at a certain time every day, test every employee, pool the samples in the van, and then drop them off at a nearby clinical lab. (Because the FDA regulates pooling in clinical labs more strictly than in this type of “surveillance testing,” it may also be easier to obtain FDA approval for this plan.) Kolstad and his team are trying out this technique with a network of nursing homes in the Boston area, and delivering the pooled tests to a nearly complete, fully automated COVID-19 testing facility run by Gingko Bioworks, a $4 billion start-up in Massachusetts that is pitching another method to scale up U.S. testing, one that could vastly increase the pace of processing. Since its founding in 2009, Ginkgo Bioworks has specialized in synthesizing new kinds of bacteria for use in industrial processes. Its engineers spin new forms of DNA in part with genetic-sequencing machines made by Illumina, a large and publicly traded biotechnology company. But in the spring, as viral testing buckled, Ginkgo’s engineers realized that their Illumina machines could be put to another use: Instead of helping to create genes, they could identify existing ones—and do so much faster than a PCR machine can. Unlike PCR machines, which can analyze at most hundreds of individual samples per run, sequencing machines can read thousands of samples simultaneously. A high-end PCR machine, operated by a round-the-clock staff, can run up to 1,000 samples a day; a single Illumina machine can read more than 3,000 samples in half that time. Ginkgo has sharpened that advantage by building its fully automated factory in Boston, centered on Illumina machines, which it says could test about 250,000 samples a day. It aims to open the facility by mid-October; in two months more, another three could go up and Ginkgo could be testing 1 million samples each day. The company has designed its supply chain to withstand high demand. It has rejected some reagents, for instance, because it doesn’t trust that there will be enough of them; it uses saliva samples, not swabbed nose or throat samples, because it does not think there are enough swabs in the world to meet demand. The genetic-sequencing supply chain is already built for such scale because other automated factories—doing noninvasive neonatal testing, for example—already use Illumina machines. Both Ginkgo and an Illumina-backed start-up, Helix, have received NIH grants to rapidly scale up their testing. If the technique receives FDA approval, as many expect, the two companies could as much as triple the country’s testing capacity. “In three months, I think we could be at between 1 and 3 million additional tests per day in this country, without any problem at all,” John Stuelpnagel, a bioscience entrepreneur and one of the founders of Illumina, told us. The approach has its challenges. Any samples must be shipped to one of Ginkgo’s or Helix’s centralized testing locations, which imposes a huge logistical obstacle to scaling up. The incumbent testing companies—Quest and LabCorp—have achieved dominance because of their ability to collect samples from places where they’re tested. But in Ginkgo’s full vision, 1 million tests will cover far more than 1 million people. The key to this approach is “front-end pooling.” Imagine that every day, when kids arrive in their classroom, they briefly remove their mask and spit into a bag. (It is a perfect plan for second graders.) The bag would then be shipped to the nearest Ginkgo factory, which could test the pooled sample and deliver a single result for the classroom by the next morning. “If you pool together one classroom, and test that classroom together, then if you get a positive, you can send the whole classroom home,” Blythe Adamson, an economist and epidemiologist at the nonprofit Testing for America, told us. “For children, it protects their privacy—we don’t know which student” tested positive. Front-end pooling could also drive costs down, partly by saving on materials. “Do 10 people spit in one bag? That’s one-tenth the cost,” Jason Kelly, Ginkgo’s chief executive, told us. “It’s logistically simpler, because one bag shows up, not 10, so there’s 10 times less unboxing, 10 times less robotic movement.” The challenge, he said, is chiefly one of industrial design, not molecular biology: There is no FDA-approved device, at present, that will let 10 kids safely spit into one vial. We should have federally backed development and fast regulatory approval for that kind of device, Kelly said. The Ginkgo sequencing approach and front-end pooling have never been tried before, because they make sense only in a pandemic. Only at the scale of tens of thousands of tests do Ginkgo tests start to cost less than PCR, Adamson said. But at that scale, their cost drops quickly in comparison—possibly down to $20, Stuelpnagel said, if not $10, compared with more than $100 for a PCR test. “You’d never do [any of this] for HIV,” Kelly said. “It’s only in a pandemic you go, ‘Oh my God, we’re undertesting by a factor of 10.’” (Adam Maida) But what if testing needs to scale up not 10 times, but 20, or 50, or 100 times? That’s where another type of test—an antigen test—comes in. At the same time that Ginkgo and other next-gen sequencing tests should come online, antigen tests will be scaling up. Unlike a PCR or a Ginkgo-style test, an antigen test does not identify any of the virus’s genetic material. Instead, it looks for an antigen, a slightly redundant name for any chemical that’s recognized by the test. Antigen tests aren’t as sensitive as genetic tests, but what they sacrifice in accuracy, they make up in speed, cost, and convenience. Most important, an antigen test can be conducted quickly at a “point of care” location, such as a doctor’s office, nursing home, or hospital. Two of the most anticipated such tests are already on the market. Manufactured by two companies, Quidel and Becton, Dickinson, they look for an antigen called “nucleocapsid,” which is plentiful in the SARS-CoV-2 virus. The companies say they will be making a combined 14 million tests a month by the end of September; for comparison, the U.S. completed 23 million total tests in July. This scale alone will make this type of test an important factor in fall testing. Hospitals and doctors told us they are eager to get their hands on antigen tests, in part because they’re worried about dealing with COVID-19 during the coming flu season. In years past, if a patient had a cough and a runny nose in December, she would likely be diagnosed with the flu, even if she tested negative on a rapid flu test. “But now we can’t presume [patients] have the flu,” because they might have COVID-19, says Natasha Bhuyan, the West Coast medical director for One Medical, a chain of primary-care clinics. An antigen test seems to offer a way out of this dilemma. The tests cost less than half as much as standard PCR tests, and they don’t need to be sent away to a lab. They can deliver a result in 15 minutes. But this approach has downsides. While the tests work well enough, successfully identifying most people with high viral loads, they have sometimes delivered false positives. Last week, Ohio Governor Mike DeWine tested positive on the Quidel test, leading him to cancel a meeting with President Trump. But later that day, he tested negative, three times, when analyzed by PCR. And while these tests will be useful, they have their own supply-chain drawbacks. Both companies’ tests can be interpreted only with a proprietary reader, and while many clinics and offices already have these readers on hand, neither company is prepared to mass-produce them at the same scale as the tests. (Quidel now makes 2,000 of its readers a month, but is aiming to scale to 7,000 a month by September, a spokesperson told us.) Because both tests look for nucleocapsid, which exists only inside the coronavirus, they need a way to sever the virus’s outer membrane. This requires more reagents. For many technicians, these drawbacks aren’t worth the benefits. “Most people who are real lab experts are steering away from all that stuff because they can’t justify it,” Greene, the Kaiser lab director, said. The readers are a particular sticking point for Michael Mina, the Harvard epidemiologist. He calls the BD and Quidel systems “Nespresso tests,” because, just as a Nespresso pod can transform into coffee only through a Nespresso brewer, they can deliver results only when their readers are at hand. “What I want is the instant coffee of tests,” he told us. What if there was an antigen test that could be made in huge numbers and didn’t require a specialized reader? What if it worked more like a pregnancy test—a procedure you can do at home, and not only at a doctor’s office? Such tests exist—and have existed since April—and they are made by e25 Bio, a 12-person company in Cambridge. An e25 test is a paper strip, a few inches long and less than an inch wide. It needs only some spit, a saline solution, and a small cup—and it can deliver a result in 15 minutes. Like a pregnancy test, the strip has a faint line across its lower third. If you expose the strip to a sample and it fills in with color, then the test is positive. It does not require a machine, a reagent, or a doctor to work. Its unusual quality is that it does not look for the same antigen as other tests. Instead of identifying nucleocapsid, the e25 test is keyed to something on the outside of the virus. It reacts to the presence of the coronavirus’s distinctive spike protein, the structure on the virus’s “skin” that allows it to hook onto and enter human cells. “I think we’re the only company in North America that has developed a spike antigen test,” Bobby Brooke Herrera, e25’s co-founder and chief executive, told us. This has several advantages. It means, first, that the e25 test does not have to rupture the virus, which is why it doesn’t need reagents. And it means, second, that the e25 test is actually looking for something more relevant than the virus’s genetic material. The spike protein is the coronavirus’s most important structure—it plays a large part in determining the virus’s infectiousness, and it’s what both antibodies and many vaccine prototypes target—and its presence is a good proxy for the health of the virus generally. “We’ve developed our test to detect live viruses, or, in other words, spike protein,” Herrera said. Working with two manufacturers, e25 thinks that it could make 4 million tests a month as soon as it receives FDA approval. Within six weeks of approval, it could make 20 million to 40 million tests a month. In short, e25 could single-handedly add as many as 1.2 million tests a day to the national total. But FDA approval has not yet arrived, because the FDA compares every test to PCR, and no antigen test, however advanced, can stand up to the accuracy and sensitivity of the PCR technique. “The FDA, early on in the outbreak, said we had to follow a rubric of 80 percent sensitivity compared to PCR. How they got that number, I’m uncertain, but my best guess is it came from influenza epidemics in the past,” Herrera said. This requirement has made antigen tests worse, Herrera argues, because it causes manufacturers to prioritize sensitivity at the cost of speed or convenience. It’s why other antigen tests use readers, or centrifuges, or look for nucleocapsid, he contends. By slightly weakening those guidelines, to 60 or 70 percent sensitivity, the FDA could let cheaper at-home tests come to market. The models that e25 uses show that even an at-home test that caught 50 percent of positives and 90 percent of negatives could detect outbreaks and reduce COVID-19 transmission. Recall the coronavirus’s infection clock—how, from day zero of an infection to day five, the amount of the virus in your system exponentially increases; how it begins to ebb with the onset of symptoms; how, by day 14 or so, the PCR test is likely detecting only the refuse RNA of dead virus. While antigen tests need the equivalent of 100,000 viral strands per milliliter, a typical PCR test can detect a positive from as little as 1,000 strands per milliliter. There is only about a day at the beginning of an infection when the two tests would give different results—when there are more than 1,000 viral strands per milliliter of your saliva or snot but fewer than 100,000, according to Dan Larremore, a mathematician at the University of Colorado at Boulder. During that period—approximately day two or day three of an infection—antigen tests are truly inferior to PCR tests. Yet the opposite is true as COVID-19 fades: There are potentially weeks at the end of an infection when there is enough viral RNA to clear the threshold for a positive PCR test but not enough to set off an antigen test. During that period, antigen tests, such as e25’s, outperform PCR tests, Mina argues, because they identify only people who are still contagious. So why, he asks, are they judged against PCR tests—and kept off the market—for failing to find the virus when there is no intact virus to find? Antigen tests are not better than PCR tests in every instance. When someone at a hospital presents with severe COVID-19-like symptoms, for example, health-care workers cannot risk a false negative: They will need a PCR test. Some experts worry that at-home tests will have a much lower accuracy rate than advertised. Laboratory tests are conducted by professionals on machines they are familiar with, but amateurs will conduct at-home tests, which risks introducing errors not captured by official ratings or even imagined by regulators. At a national scale, this could mean that someone might have COVID-19, fail to realize it, and infect other people. “What’s concerning is the salami slicing of sensitivity. A percent here, a percent there, and pretty soon you’re talking real people,” Alex Greninger, a laboratory-medicine professor at the University of Washington, told us. Jennifer Nuzzo, an epidemiologist at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, told us that it’s not yet clear whether people who receive a positive result on an at-home test will report that information to health authorities and choose to self-isolate. But given that they are cheaper than PCR tests, have a faster turnaround time, and can be conducted at home, these paper tests do seem different, in a useful way. In some cases, they answer a more helpful question than PCR tests. There is good evidence to infer that a high viral load, which is what antigen tests detect, is correlated with infectiousness. The more virus in your body, the more contagious you are. In that light, paper antigen tests aren’t SARS-CoV-2 tests at all, not like PCR tests are. They are rapid, cheap COVID-19 contagiousness tests. That shift in thinking, Mina argues, should undergird a shift in our national strategy. Mina wants to coat the country in COVID-19 contagiousness tests. To understand the scale of his vision, start with the closest American analogue, the ubiquitous, paper-based, inexpensive at-home pregnancy test. Americans use 20 million of those each year. This is not sufficient for Mina’s plan. “Ideally, we’re making way more than 20 million [paper tests] a day,” Mina said. Entering a grocery store? Take a test first. Getting on a flight? There’s a test station at the gate. Going to work? Free coffee is provided with your mandatory test. He began pitching the idea as a moonshot in July, but it quickly took hold. By the end of the month, Howard Bauchner, the editor in chief of The Journal of the American Medical Association, gushed on a podcast that ubiquitous tests were “the best way we can get back to a semblance of working society.” The idea has gained other advocates. Last month, a panel of experts convened by the Rockefeller Foundation called for the U.S. to do 3.5 million rapid antigen tests a day, or 25 million a week—five times more than the number of PCR tests they recommended. The researchers compiled a list of 12 rapid tests in development, including e25’s, and called for an aggressive government-led effort to support them. (The Rockefeller Foundation has also provided funding to the COVID Tracking Project at The Atlantic.) “These sort of tests are on the horizon, but getting them into the hands of everyone who needs them—schools, employers, health providers, public essential workers, vulnerable communities—will require the muscle that only the federal government can provide,” the experts wrote. The muscle, specifically, of a wartime economy. The experts called for the White House to invoke the Defense Production Act, a Truman-era law that allows the federal government to compel companies to mass-produce goods in moments of national crisis. (Manufacturers are compensated for their effort at a fair price.) Only naked federal authority could push production fast enough to make enough tests in time to curb the virus, they wrote. Herrera, the e25 executive, has been waiting for months for the government to invoke such power. There is essentially no resource constraint on the raw materials that make up antigen tests, but there is a profound limit to available productive capacity. “Being able to manufacture these products,” Herrera said, “is where the bottleneck lies.” And after it has the tests, Herrera believes, the company will need help sending them where they’re most needed. If testing companies are to save the world, they need federal support to do it. And here is the tragedy—and the promise—of Mina’s moonshot: To fix testing, the federal government must do exactly what it has declined to do so far. Why is testing still a problem? Partly because the CDC and the FDA bickered in February and delayed by weeks the initial rollout of COVID-19 tests. Partly because infections continued to grow in the spring and summer, further boosting the number of tests needed to track the virus. But those reasons alone still do not explain the fundamental issue: Why has the U.S. never, not since the pandemic began, had enough tests? The answer is because the Trump administration has addressed the lack of testing as if it is a nuisance, not a national-security threat. In March and April, the White House encouraged as many different PCR companies to sell COVID-19 tests as possible, declining to endorse any one option. While this idea allowed for competition in theory, it was a nightmare in practice. It effectively forced major labs to invest in several different types of PCR machines at the same time, and to be ready to switch among them as needed, lest a reagent run short. Today, the government cannot use the Defense Production Act to remedy the shortage of PCR machines or reagents—because the private labs running the tests are too invested in too many different machines. Because of its trust in PCR, and its assumption that the pandemic would quickly abate, the administration also failed to encourage companies with alternative testing technologies to develop their products. Many companies that could have started work in April waited on the sidelines, because it wasn’t clear whether investing in COVID-19 testing would make sense, Sri Kosaraju, a member of the Testing for America governing council and a former director at JP Morgan, told us. The Trump administration hoped that the free market would right this imbalance. But firms had no incentive to invest in testing, or assurance that their investments would pay off. Consider the high costs of building an automated testing factory, as Ginkgo is doing, said Stuelpnagel, the Illumina co-founder. A company would typically amortize the costs of that investment over three to five years. But that calculation breaks down in the pandemic. “There’s no way that we’re doing high-throughput COVID testing five years from now. And I hope there’s not COVID testing being done three years from now that would require this scale of lab,” he said. Companies aren’t built to deal with that level of uncertainty, or to serve a market that would dramatically shrink, or disappear altogether, if their product did its job. Even if the experimentation would benefit the public, it doesn’t make sense for individual businesses to take on those risks. So nothing happened—for months. Only in the past few weeks has the federal government begun to address these concerns. The NIH grants awarded to Ginkgo, Helix, Quidel, and others were aimed, in part, at providing capital that would let businesses scale up quickly. And the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid has started to ensure that demand will exist for an experimental test: It has promised to buy Quidel or BD tests for every nursing home in the country. But even if those companies succeed in delivering what they’ve promised, life will not go back to normal. An extra 1 million tests a day will allow us to ramp up contact-tracing operations and slow down the virus, but they will not change the texture of daily life in the pandemic, especially if there is another resurgence of the virus in the winter. For that, Mina’s moonshot is required. It will require much more than the $200 million the federal government has invested in testing technology so far, and it will require the full might of the federal government, with its unique ability to coerce manufacturing capacity. But its costs are not astronomical. If every paper test costs $1, as Mina hopes, and every American takes a test once a week, then his plan will cost about $1.5 billion a month. Congress has already authorized at least $7 billion to fix testing that the Trump administration had declined, for months, to spend. And even if Mina’s plan cost $300 million each day, the annual expense would amount to a fraction—about 3 percent—of the more than $3 trillion Congress has already spent dealing with the economic fallout of the pandemic. Yet the plan wouldn’t merely mitigate the harm of the pandemic. It could end it. To escape the pandemic in this way, the U.S. must make hundreds of millions of contagiousness tests—tests that are not perfect, but just good enough. Mass-producing a cheap thing fast is, as it happens, something the United States is very good at, and something this country has done before. During the Second World War, the U.S. realized that the most effective way of shipping goods to Europe was not to use the fastest ship, but to use cheap “Liberty ships,” which were easy to mass-produce. The Allies “created this model of a ship that was kind of cheap, not as fast as they could make it, and not as good as they could make it,” Mark Wilson, a historian at the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, told us. “They were building cheap—one might say disposable—ships. They weren’t very good. But they just wanted to out-volume their opponents.” We must out-volume the virus, and what will matter is not the strength of any one individual ship, but the strength of the system it is part of. When the FDA regulates tests, though, it looks at the sensitivity and specificity of a single test—how well the test identifies illness in an individual—not at how the test is part of a testing regimen meant to protect society. For this reason, Mina proposes that the FDA make room for the CDC or the NIH to oversee the use of contagiousness tests. “I think the CDC could potentially create a certification process really simply. They are the public-health agency, and could say, ‘We will evaluate different manufacturers. None of these will be fully regulated by law, but here are the ones you should or should not choose.’” Paper tests do have downsides. Testing tens of millions of people each day would be an unprecedented biotechnical intervention in the country, and it might have unpredictable, nasty side effects. Mina’s plan is “being pushed without really thinking through the operational consequences,” Nuzzo said on a recent press call. Brett Giroir, the federal testing czar, has worried that a deluge of positive paper tests could lead asymptomatic people to swamp the rest of the medical system. “You do not beat the virus by shotgun testing everybody, all the time,” he said on the same call. Paper tests are based on an inference about human behavior. For example, if people knew that every paper test would catch only seven or eight infections out of every 10 (compared with PCR, which would catch all 10), would they keep taking them? Would the country’s testing system split in two, delivering PCR tests for the rich and cheap paper tests for the poor? Each way of testing for the virus is not only a technology or a medical device. Each is its own hypothesis about public health, human behavior, and market forces. So here is what May 2021 could look like: Vaccines are rolling out. You haven’t gotten your dose yet, but you are no longer social distancing. When your daughter walks into her classroom, she briefly removes her mask and spits into a plastic bag; so do all the other children and the teacher. The bag is then driven across three states and delivered to the nearest Ginkgo processing facility. When you arrive at work, you spit into a plastic cup, then step outside to drink coffee. In 15 minutes, you get a text: You passed your daily screen and may proceed into the office. You still wear your mask at your desk, and you try to avoid common areas, but local infection levels are down in the single digits. That night, you and your family meet your parents at a restaurant, and before you proceed inside, you all take another contagiousness test. It’s normal, now, to see the little cups of saliva and saline solution, each holding a strip of color-changing paper, sitting on tables near the entrance of every public place. And before you fall asleep, you get a text message from the school district. Nobody in your daughter’s class tested positive this morning—instruction can happen in person tomorrow. There is no technical obstacle to that vision. There is only a dearth of political will. “The lack of testing is a motivation problem,” Stuelpnagel said. “It’s going to take a lot of effort, but it should take a lot of effort, and we should be willing to take that effort.” Mina is frustrated that the answer is so close, and so doable, but not yet something the government is considering. “Let’s make the all-star team of people in this field, pay them whatever they need to be paid, put billions of dollars in, and get a working test in a month that could be truly scalable. Take it out of the free-market, capitalistic world and say: ‘This is a national emergency’—which,” he said, “it is.”

New Zealand suspect frozen food imports are responsible for Covid-19 spike

New Zealand authorities are currently investigating how a family of 4 have become infected with Covid-19 suspecting it may have come into the country in frozen food or the packaging it is in. One family member works in a frozen food store with the virus being known to survive longer in colder environments.

https://archynewsy.com/new-zealand-the-coronavirus-is-back-maybe-imported-with-a-load-of-frozen-foods-first-4-cases-after-102-days/

Nineveh.. Disclosure of delay and irregularities in the implementation of projects and the disappearance of official records Posted on January 12, 2023

Findus US launch hampered by covid-19

Ocean Beauty’s plan to launch the Findus frozen food range in US in autumn 2020 has been hampered by covid-19 related disruptions.

https://www.intrafish.com/markets/nomad-ocean-beautys-us-market-roll-out-of-findus-brand-hampered-by-covid-disruptions/2-1-828775

The planned rollout of Nomad Foods' Findus brand across the United States has been "interrupted" as a result of the global disruption brought about by the coronavirus pandemic, the company told IntraFish. Nomad Foods, which owns the Findus brand and also sells Birds Eye and Iglo brands across Europe, first announced its partnership with Seattle-based Ocean Beauty in February 2019. Under the agreement, Findus frozen seafood products are being sold through Ocean Beauty's US distribution network into both retail and foodservice channels.

Alexander Kalis

Mr Alexander Kalis is the Managing Partner of Milltrust International LLP in the United Kingdom. He is a seasoned investment and business professional with an award-winning track record managing institutional capital. Prior to co-founding Milltrust, he was most recently Founder &amp; Managing Partner at Think Alternative Advisors LLP, an Emerging Markets research and advisory firm.

https://www.milltrust.com/about/milltrust-team/alexander-kalis/

Alexander Kalis MANAGING PARTNER MILLTRUST INTERNATIONAL LLP Alexander Kalis is the Managing Partner of Milltrust International LLP in the United Kingdom, which he co-founded in December 2010. At Milltrust, Mr Kalis is Group Head of Investments, Head of Sustainability & Impact. As a passionate leader in the fight against climate change and in channelling private sector capital into profitable impact-driven investment solutions, Mr Kalis led Milltrust’s focus towards sustainable impact investments which the firm has fully embraced under its mantra of ‘Sustainable Prosperity’. Mr Kalis serves as Portfolio Adviser and Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee for The Climate Impact Asia Fund, a pioneering long-only environmental ESG impact equity fund which he initiated and launched in exclusive partnership with WWF-Hong Kong. Annualising over 24% since inception, the fund was nominated as a finalist for Best Impact Equity Fund by Investment Week Sustainable & ESG Investment Awards 2021 and was awarded the Environmental Finance Impact Awards for Impact Initiative of the Year 2020 as well as a nominated finalist for the Pension & Investments Brightest Idea Award 2020. Mr Kalis is also the Co-Portfolio Manager of the top-performing Milltrust Global Emerging Markets Fund (ESG) and strategy, launched in 2012. The fund has won numerous awards including #2 Best Emerging Markets Fund for the year 2019 by Barclayhedge and has annualised over 10% since the inception of the strategy, delivering over 5% annualised alpha over the MSCI Emerging Markets Index. Mr Kalis also serves on the investment committee of Milltrust’s Climate Impact, Agri Capital Markets and Future Health co-investor platforms and on the Future Health SPV, a venture capital fund seeking to tap into the secular growth trends in healthcare by investing in high potential companies with a focus on the science of ageing and technology that enables early detection and management of illness, leading to better outcomes in the key areas of immunisation, diagnostics, telehealth, medical devices, mental health, artificial intelligence and sustainable food & proteins. Leveraging his multi-disciplinary experience, Mr Kalis was appointed an Independent Expert at EIT Climate-KIC in November 2019, Europe’s largest public-private partnership and supported by the European Institute of Innovation and Technology (EIT), with responsibilities for addressing climate change mitigation and adaptation, evaluating innovation and entrepreneurship project proposals and monitoring the progress, outcome and impact of these programmes. Until the successful acquisition in November 2021 of Milltrust’s subsidiary and Agtech and Science-Focused adviser, Milltrust Agricultural Investments and associated investment funds, Mr Kalis served as the Portfolio Manager of The British Innovation Fund, an impact-driven venture capital fund investing in UK-wide university science and technology spin-outs and start-ups that have commercialised pioneering and protected IP emanating from world-class university research in the fields of healthcare, medical technology, life sciences, biotech, food-tech, sustainable protein, and agri-tech, offering real-world impactful solutions to some of the world’s biggest challenges. Mr Kalis was also the Portfolio Manager of the Milltrust Australia and New Zealand Buy & Lease Sustainable Agriculture Funds that focused on purchasing Australian and New Zealand farmland (real assets) and leasing these farms to regional and international operators, sustainably generating a range of agricultural produce across various crops, dairy and livestock. Mr Kalis is a seasoned investment and business professional with a long track record managing institutional capital including two decades at top-tier asset management firms. Between 2007 and 2009, Mr Kalis was Portfolio Manager of the Optimal Asian Opportunities (Ireland) Fund (US$ 300m AUM). The Optimal Asian Opportunities (Ireland) Fund ranked one of the top 10 Asia Pacific funds during the Global Financial Crisis. Mr Kalis was previously overseeing Asia research at Edmond de Rothschild Asset Management in London between 2002-2007, exclusively dedicated to the Asian Capital Holdings Fund which grew from USD 200 million to USD 1.3 billion during his tenure. The fund achieved strong performance as one of the best performing Asia Pacific funds in the industry and won the award for Best Asian Fund by Eurekahedge in 2004. Immediately prior to co-founding Milltrust, he was Managing Partner at Think Alternative Advisors LLP, an Emerging Markets research and advisory firm he founded which was acquired by Milltrust International Group in 2010. He is a frequent commentator at industry conferences and in the financial media. He speaks fluent English, French and Dutch, and holds a Master’s in Management from the Université Catholique de Louvain in Belgium.

IoT mapped: The emerging landscape of smart things

The International data corporation statistics show that, the deployed IoT characteristic devices by 2013 was 9.1 billion which is expected to reach 50 billion by 2025. &nbsp;More IoT ideas are expected to be implemented in areas such as People eg. health care, education, Vehicles, Homes, Towns, commerce and industrial using powerful and capable portable devices. There are other lot of things we haven't thought of. The devices are available, we just need to work on more standards, reliability, resilience and security.

http://venturebeat.com/2015/08/23/iot-mapped-the-emerging-landscape-of-smart-things/

Join top executives in San Francisco on July 11-12, to hear how leaders are integrating and optimizing AI investments for success. Learn More No one really knows how many “things” there are deployed today that have IoT characteristics. IDC’s 2013 estimate was about 9.1 billion, growing to about 28 billion by 2020 and over 50 billion by 2025. You can get pretty much any other number you want, but all the estimates are very large. So what are all these IoT things doing and why are they there? Here’s our attempt to map out the IoT landscape (click to enlarge). As you can see, there are a whole lot of possible organizational approaches to the constituent parts of IoT. We have chosen a “halo” approach, looking at how IoT principles will be applied to individual people, their surroundings (vehicles and homes), the organization of those surroundings (towns and cities and the highways and other transit systems that connect them), the range of social activities (essentially commerce, but also travel, hospitality, entertainment and leisure) that go on in those surroundings and finally the underpinnings of those activities (“industrial” including agriculture, energy and transport and logistics). We’re not claiming this is an exhaustive taxonomy (we’ve excluded all military and some law enforcement specific uses) or that this is the best way to organize things, but we think it’s a useful start and has been helpful in explaining the opportunity to the businesses we advise. The size of the circles aren’t important. They’re basically an indication of how far away from the individual each collection of potential IoT ideas will be implemented, but even that isn’t fully consistent – there will be interactions between people and IoT ideas in the workplace as well as in the home or in the store. So what we have here are six general areas of opportunity. 1. People We are already familiar with increasingly powerful and capable portable devices, but most of what we carry around with us on a daily basis isn’t yet “smart” in an IoT sense. Your clothes don’t know how often they’ve been worn or washed. Your shoes don’t know how many steps they have taken. Your keys can’t tell you if you locked the door when you left for work and so on. All these things are likely to be possible within a decade. The ability of all these items to communicate with each other (and with your phone) in a “Personal Area Network” exists today – albeit lacking some important security and privacy features. We have added in two additional people-focused areas for IoT: * Personal health, fitness and diet and the broader health care diagnostics and treatment industry. This is likely to be a huge new marketplace as global nutrition and health improves and life expectancy continues to grow along with expectations for a long, active life. Traditional incident-based care provision probably won’t scale economically and a new, predictive and proactive model will be needed. Continuous monitoring of various health and wellness indicators offers the potential to intervene early in many situations that today lead to the development of chronic disease conditions. * Education and training. Beyond the basic education process, which has been in need of improvement for decades, IoT offers the opportunity to personalize training in and out of the classroom, with teaching and practice tuned to the individual on the basis of measured performance. 2. Vehicles Our next area of IoT opportunity is vehicles – and for the purposes of our model, this is mostly personal transport, including passenger buses. We’re not assuming that anything fundamental happens to usage patterns here – Uber, Lyft, and ZipCar not withstanding – and cars and light trucks are already sophisticated computing platforms with a lot of data processing to control engine and drive train performance, vehicle handling dynamics and, increasingly, driver assistance and safety. While we may eventually get to fully automated driving, there’s plenty of room in the interim for new ideas around navigation, incident avoidance, dynamic route management, and integrated infotainment. 3. Homes The “Homes” category consists of four main subcategories: * Safety and security (locks, cameras, motion detectors, fire/smoke/water/gas/intruder alarms, etc.) * Infotainment (already moving ahead with Smart TVs and personalized streaming services) * Environmental controls (also moving with “learning” thermostats) * Metering The big opportunities here are related to integration and usability. There are lots of things available today, but they are not simple, standardized, or reliable enough for mass adoption. There are also opportunities with IoT for appliances – from performance tuning, usage optimization, and preventive maintenance to acting as data sources for commerce via automatic “inventory” management. Applainces could also come with “smart” storage spaces that remember what’s in them, help you find things, and remind you to restock – or handle inventory automatically. 4. Towns From homes we move to the broader social context of neighborhoods, towns, and cities. Now the opportunity is to make structures and collections of structures “smart,” as well as the infrastructure, services, and utilities that connect and support them. Once everything is instrumented, continuously monitored, and analyzed, we can improve the use of capital assets (better traffic flows on highways; better use of structures; easier ingress and egress; more efficient use of energy; more “on demand” rather than regularly scheduled services like trash collection and recycling pick up — and so on) via smart roads, bridges, buildings, and utility infrastructure. 5. Commerce The “Commerce” category mostly covers “smart” retail in stores (at the store, shelf and SKU level) but also includes mass transit platforms for commuter and long distance rail and air travel, hospitality and entertainment platforms, personalized digital signage, real time individualized pricing (including coupons anddiscounts,) and similar opportunities. 6. Industrial This is another big potential market covering everything from crops and livestock (farming and ranching in the Agriculture sub-category) to oil and gas production and transportation. In between, there are many opportunities to add to existing telemetry to power continuous analytics at the individual component or system level and to aggregate data for trend analysis, demand management, and capacity planning. It will be clear that a lot of these opportunities will (or should) interact with each other. The digital “you” that’s represented by your personal area network (PAN) will interact with your vehicle (which has a bigger battery and/or can generate electricity to power a longer range radio for better bandwidth and reach) to estimate travel times, find you the most convenient airport parking, and remember where you left the car when you return. Or order you an Uber ride. If you’re eating out, your PAN can make a reservation, schedule a rendezvous with friends, advise on the diet and the health consequences of your menu selections, remind you to take your meds, and warn you if you shouldn’t be driving home. Your messages, texts, and emails can always find you. Your smart home systems can schedule maintenance visits and the delivery of refills for everyday consumables and can watch for the best price purchase opportunities. Aggregated demand at the personal level flows to local, regional, and national levels for predictive use and capacity management in the commercial and industrial markets. Short-term fluctuations can be smoothed out or, if that’s not possible, at least planned for and warned about. Pricing can be adjusted. Capacity repurposed. Yields improved. That’s the potential of IoT – and there’s probably a lot of other things that we haven’t thought of yet. Most of the parts are already available, if immature. We need more work on standards, interoperability guarantees, reliability, resilience, and security – all of which are being worked on. IoT is coming, and there will be very little that it won’t impact to some degree. John Parkinson is CEO of Entertainment Experience LLC and an Affiliate Partner at Waterstone Management Group. He has served as CTO and in similar capacities for large global companies including TransUnion, Cap Gemini, AXIS Capital, and Ernst & Young Consulting. He currently provides business, technology, and operational strategy advice to a range of global businesses and works with PE investors to select, improve, and monetize portfolio companies through ParkWood Advisors, which he founded in 2005.

How emerging technology will evolve the fan experience in sport

Across the globe, organisations are edging ahead when it comes to delivering an enhanced fan experience. In order to successfully leverage technology and optimise commercial opportunities, organisations must take a strategic data-driven approach. Data about an individual plays a critical role in enhancing the viewing experience, as it allows you to personalise it. With emerging technologies, the sports industry and its major players have an exciting opportunity to make that relationship with fans even stronger – building brand value and driving new avenues of growth.

https://www.ns-businesshub.com/business/sport-technology-fan-experience/

Whether it's VR headsets to stream motorsport races or deploying 5G in stadiums, sport as we know it is being transformed by emerging tech Emerging technologies like 5G could have a profound impact on fan experience at live sports events (Credit: PxHere) It’s no secret the impact of technology on sport is growing by each season, but many teams and organisations aren’t extracting enough value from it. Rory Burghes, a UK vice-president for global tech consultancy Capgemini’s accelerated solutions environment and applied innovation exchange programmes, outlines how they can take greater advantage. It’s no secret that digital technologies are redefining sport. From leveraging data analytics and deep learning to analyse a player’s performance, to helping umpires reach fair decisions through computer vision – the latest innovations are already evolving gameplay across the globe. However, while technology continues to turn professional sports into data-driven, digitally-enhanced competitions, its biggest impact is perhaps felt off the field. Because while technology is playing an increasing role in athlete performance, it is the fan experience that offers a significant opportunity in terms of brand value and growth for the industry. Being a fan was once a fairly passive activity that involved going to games or watching them on television. Now sports fandom is a whole new ballgame, with the development and use of interactive content, social media platforms, wearable tech, connected venues and even a new football league controlled by fans. And these developments are being embraced by their audience. In fact, recent research from Capgemini found that 69% of fans think that the use of emerging technologies has enhanced their viewing experience. In 2020, sports organisations must seize the opportunity to capitalise further on the appetite for heightened sports fan engagement – here’s how – and why – they can leverage technology to do so. Harnessing emerging technology in sport for a better fan experience Across the globe, we’re already witnessing a number of organisations edging ahead when it comes to delivering an enhanced fan experience. To date, much of the innovation has been focused on augmenting the fan experience at home with new ways of consuming the broadcast. Technology that creates 3D footage to layer over broadcasts is innovatively being used to stimulate the in-stadium experience. Elsewhere, FOX Sports teamed up with virtual reality specialist Next VR to allow fans to use VR headsets to stream NASCAR races, US Open Golf Championship matches and Premier Boxing Champions. The platform gives sports bodies valuable insights into fans’ viewing habits. These immersive viewing experiences are growing alongside a spike in online consumption amongst fans. These days, people expect to be able to watch anything, anytime, on any screen – and sports are no exception. With the emergence of 5G, and the additional capacity it will bring, this trend only looks set to accelerate. What’s more, pushing the boundaries between sports and fan engagement even further is the rise of eSports. By allowing not only professionals but also amateurs to actively participate in games, eSports are creating new opportunities for traditional sports to grow their fan base and attract new audiences. As proof of this, Capgemini’s research found that nearly 50% of fans below 35 feel that eSports have increased their engagement with traditional sports. But fans are not only engaging with emerging technologies to consume sports, they are also willing to reward organisations that offer them a good tech-enabled experience. When a fan has a good experience with technology – either in or out of the stadium – it has a positive knock-on effect in terms of their overall engagement. For example, 56% of those who enjoyed their tech-enabled experience said they have gone to more physical matches at their team’s stadium as a result, while 60% said they have increased the number of matches they stream online. A positive tech-enabled experience also offers a significant commercial upside. Capgemini’s research found that nearly half of fans (49%) said they have often increased their spending on merchandise following a good experience, and 92% said they increased their spend on online subscriptions for watching matches (either often or a few times). In 2020, there is a clear return on investment for deploying technology both on and off the field. Paving the way for a data-driven approach in sport using new technology In order to successfully leverage technology and optimise commercial opportunities, organisations must take a strategic data-driven approach. Data about an individual plays a critical role in enhancing the viewing experience, as it allows you to personalise it. Realising this opportunity, however, represents a significant challenge due to the ongoing consumer mistrust of data use within organisations. To combat this, sports organisations must seek consumer consent to how their data is being used. While this may not yet be a legal requirement everywhere, it can go a long way in building consumer trust and acceptance in areas such as biometrics or collecting personal identifiable information. Organisations must be transparent about the use of consumer data and share with fans the steps that are being taken to protect it, which also involves building awareness of the kind of data being collected and how it is used. Critically, organisations must also demonstrate the value that consumers stand to gain from this data exchange and share incentives where applicable. Mapping back to expectations Gaining consumer trust is one thing, but organisations must also identify user needs before investing in and deploying new tech if they wish to do so successfully. This requires them to map out and understand the needs and expectations of fans, identify which technologies can support those expectations, and then curate experiences that significantly enhance the overall fan experience. Added to this, they must consider what the ROI potential is, and whether services are sustainable. At the moment, technology’s success in meeting fans’ expectations is patchy. Capgemini’s research analysed a number of tech use cases deployed inside and outside the stadium – such as biometrics or high-speed Wi-Fi – and found a considerable degree of dissatisfaction. Given that high-speed internet connectivity is critical to the in-stadium fan experience, networks and connectivity have to be state of the art. With an eye on the future, the deployment of 5G in stadiums could be key to meeting these expectations, enabling better VR capabilities and increased social media traffic driving greater online engagement. When selecting technologies and designing solutions, it’s vital that businesses keep the fan experience front of mind. In order to truly map back to expectations, design should be led by fan experience, not technology. How technology can add to fans’ passion for sport People are passionate about sport. And with today’s emerging technologies, the sports industry and its major players have an exciting opportunity to make that relationship with fans even stronger – building brand value and driving new avenues of growth. But, to make the most of that opportunity, they will have to change the way they play the technology game. They need a laser focus on the user experience, a data-driven approach and a strategic perspective on technology adoption. That is what it will take to be a game changer.

How High Will E-commerce Sales Go?

E-commerce's share of total retail sales is expected to rise from 8.9% in 2017 to just over 15% in 2022, totaling nearly $892 billion. Digital-impacted retail sales, which include purchases made online and purchases made in-store by consumers who used a digital channel to research or browse, will rise even higher. Mobile will be a key driver of digital growth.

https://www.cbre.us/real-estate-services/real-estate-industries/omnichannel/the-definitive-guide-to-omnichannel-real-estate/by-the-numbers/how-high-will-e-commerce-sales-go#:~:text=Forecast%20e%2Dcommerce%20sales&text=E%2Dcommerce's%20share%20of%20total,2022%2C%20totaling%20nearly%20%24892%20billion.&text=Digital%2Dimpacted%20sales%20are%20forecast,by%202022%20(Figure%202).

As e-commerce sales continue to grow, some observers wonder whether e-commerce will eventually overtake or completely replace physical store sales. CBRE has studied this question extensively and found that demographic variables, usage of internet, ease of payment and infrastructure access will play the largest roles in determining the future of e-commerce penetration. We outline several key trends below that will mark both medium- and long-term e-commerce growth. Forecast E-Commerce Sales Figure 1: Forecast E-commerce Share of Total Retail Source: CBRE Research, Q1 2022. E-commerce’s share of total retail sales is expected to rise from 20.7.% in 2021 to 23.4% in 2023, averaging 1.3 percentage point each year. However, digital-impacted retail sales, which include purchases made online and purchases made in-store by consumers who used a digital channel to research or browse, are expected to rise even higher. Digital-impacted sales are forecast to total more than $2.4 trillion and account for more than 58% of total retail sales by 2023. Looking Beyond: Is There a Ceiling? It is difficult to predict where e-commerce’s share of total retail sales will peak. The answer will depend heavily on several factors. A ceiling, if it does exist, will vary significantly by digital channel, geography and category. South Korea has an e-commerce penetration rate as high as 35%, so the U.S. still may have a lot of potential growth. Variations by Retail Category E-commerce growth has varied greatly by retail category and by retail price point. Across categories, soft goods like apparel and digitally driven goods like electronics have shown higher e-commerce growth than other categories like health and beauty, which consumers still prefer to purchase in-store. Price point is also an important determinant of e-commerce penetration, with luxury, off-price, discount and value retailers showing greater resistance to online growth than mid-priced brands. Though newer technologies, such as virtual reality and facial recognition, may make online purchases easier across all categories, the ceiling for e-commerce growth is likely to differ by category. Geographical Differences Though reliable data on e-commerce share by U.S. regional markets is very limited, e-commerce buying patterns are expected to vary among urban, suburban and rural consumers. These variations reflect different levels of access to physical store networks, lifestyles and distribution costs for retailers. Online grocery growth, for example, is likely to reach higher levels in urban centers than in suburban and rural areas, given downtown consumers’ limited access to large supermarkets. At the same time, other categories will see lower e-commerce growth in the cities than in the suburbs, since urban consumers have easy access to dense physical store networks.

Neste to transform refinery to keep pace with energy transition

Finland's Neste is planning to transform its Porvoo refinery into a facility for co-processing renewable and circular fuels. The company is also exploring closing refinery operations in Naantali and refocusing the site on terminal and harbour operations. The plans are in line with the global shift toward renewables, and achieving the company’s 2035 carbon neutral production target, CEO Peter Vanacker said. The energy transition is happening sooner than expected, prompting a review of refinery operations, he added.

https://biofuels-news.com/news/neste-pledges-to-restructure-its-refinery-operations-in-finland/

Neste pledges to restructure its refinery operations in Finland Neste is planning to restructure its refinery operations in Porvoo and Naantali in Finland. The company is exploring the shutdown of its refinery operations in Naantali and focusing the Naantali site on the terminal and harbour operations, as well as transforming the Porvoo refinery operations to co-processing renewable and circular raw materials. The sustainable solutions company said the demand for fossil oil products would continue to decline and the share of renewable energy solutions would continue to grow in the coming years and fundamental changes were needed to secure the competitiveness of Neste’s business. Neste’s president and CEO Peter Vanacker said: “The energy transition is proceeding faster than expected. The forthcoming operating and maintenance investments in the Naantali refinery are not viable nor sustainable in a situation where there is large over-capacity for oil refining globally. “Although the time is not optimal, and this news is unfortunate for many of us, the planned actions to develop our refinery operations are urgently needed to maintain operations and strategic capabilities in refining in Finland and to secure Oil Products’ competitiveness.” The plans would mean up to 470 redundancies, including possible outsourcing. The planned changes are expected to result in annual fixed cost savings of about €50 million. “Neste’s ambition is to become a global leader in renewable and circular solutions, and to achieve carbon neutral production by 2035. The planned changes will support the transformation of the Porvoo refinery into a leading sustainable, safe and efficient refinery, enabled by our highly innovative and efficient Neste people,” Vanacker added.

US nuclear weapons research helping to strengthen climate models

Climate simulation models are becoming more accurate thanks to the work of nuclear weapons modellers in the US. Scientists at the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory used a supercomputer to create 100,000 years of climate simulations featuring a range of scenarios. Working with sea ice researcher Ivana Cvijanovic, the nuclear scientists were able to more accurately reflect the rates of sea ice loss, helping to provide evidence of the previously theorised link between polar retreats and droughts in California.

https://www.technologyreview.com/s/609974/how-nuclear-weapons-research-revealed-new-climate-threats/?utm_source=newsletters&utm_medium=email&utm_content=2018-02-08&utm_campaign=the_download

Lucas stops short of saying they’ve pinpointed the missing puzzle pieces in sea ice models. But by allowing for a range of “plausible” variations, “we find that we can explain most, but not all, of the differences between observations and [sea ice model] simulations,” he said in an e-mail. Lucas checks out new supercomputers at Lawrence Livermore Lab. The perfect setup The experiment also created a much finer tool for Cvijanovic to explore the question she’d long pondered: Why did ancient periods of rapid warming in the Northern Hemisphere, known as Dansgaard–Oeschger events, seem to coincide with dramatic precipitation shifts all the way down in the tropics? Toward the end of her PhD work at the University of Copenhagen, in 2011 and 2012, Cvijanovic was part of a modeling group that tried to make sense of these abrupt climatic changes evident in Greenland ice core samples. She had made some crude attempts to explore these connections by adding energy fluxes in simulations, which essentially cranked up sea ice loss in artificial ways. But her colleague’s work at Lawrence Livermore enabled her to model extreme ice loss in a more realistic manner, by tweaking parameters within what’s considered the possible level of variation in nature. “That was that perfect setup,” she says. “You’re not doing anything unphysical; you’re not cheating to observe this sea ice loss.” Cvijanovic focused on the three variables that Lucas’s work found had the most powerful effects. She ran the model several dozen times, ultimately cranking up those variables to the far end of their ranges. It sometimes took an entire week to run a single analysis on the supercomputers at Lawrence Livermore, so the process took months. But eventually a clear picture began to form. With little ice to reflect heat back into space, the region steadily warms. A small amount of that additional heat reaches the tropics, but it’s enough to trigger changes in wind and precipitation that alter convection and circulation patterns. These, in turn, produce massive waves of high- and low-pressure areas in the atmosphere, building up a persistent ridge that lands in the North Pacific. That feature steers storms north, away from California and toward Alaska and Canada. It was a difficult experiment that depended on years of collective improvements in climate-modeling technology and techniques. More work is required to test the findings, and determine how other processes may magnify or diminish the effect of melting Arctic sea ice, other scientists say. But the simulation provided some of the first real evidence of the theorized connection between ice loss and distant droughts, and it sounded a stark warning about California’s looming dangers.

Drones used to combat Zika outbreaks in Brazil

Unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) are being used to fight an outbreak of Aedes aegypti mosquitoes, which transmit dengue and zika virus, in Cuiabá, the capital city of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. The Cuiabá municipal government has partnered with Loglab to map and monitor mosquito larvae, using UAVs to identify breeding sites, prioritise programmes to deal with them and assist crews on the ground. The use of drones forms part of the Integrated Health System project, which is under development by Loglab at the request of the Municipal Health Secretary.

https://dronebelow.com/2018/03/15/drones-combat-dengue-and-zika-outbreaks-in-brazil/

The Aedes aegypti mosquito is a carrier of Malaria, Encephalitis, Dengue and Zika virus. 5 ( 2 ) Unmanned aerial vehicles are being used in the recognition of outbreaks of proliferation of mosquitoes transmitting dengue and zika virus in Cuiabá, capital city of the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso. Authorities fighting the Aedes aegypti mosquito have new allies – drones. In order to deal with the mosquito-associated epidemics, which transmit disease viruses such as dengue fever, zika virus and chikungunya and yellow fevers, a partnership between the company Loglab and the Cuiabá Municipal Government has commenced the mapping and monitoring of mosquito larvae in Mato Grosso. According to the founder of Loglab, Fernando Pereira, the UAV is a new weapon in the war against the mosquito. With advanced technology, breeding sites are identified from the top most efficiently and quickly. “A more efficient form of combat, as the drone identifies and marks mosquito-focused sites via geographic points, and that data is passed on to ground crews that can increase the effectiveness of their work. What generates cost and personal savings, ” he points out. According to information from the local authorities, the UAV will fly over the districts marked as the worst areas for mosquito proliferation by the LIRAa (Aedes aegypti Rapid Infestation Index Survey). The resulting maps, which will contain information about the main breeding sites computed by region, street and house, will serve as a guide for the Preventive Action Committee against the Aedes aegypti mosquito to prioritise programs to combat Aedes. Unlike an recreational consumer drone, the professional UAV technology being used is 200 times more productive than traditional methods, and can gather information on a large scale. By capturing photogrammetric images that can accurately locate and georeference the breeding centre, analysis is done and a database created. “At the end, a photogrammetric block of the regions is delivered, along with the database of potential foci,” explains system analyst Leonardo Heros. In addition, the images have at least 10 times more resolution than satellite images. “These are virtually real-time images, unlike satellites that may have up to a few years of lag. Another point is the speed in collecting information…we managed to make a neighborhood like Pedro 90, which has about 500 blocks, in a few hours,” he says. The neighborhood, which has about 25 thousand inhabitants, is among the most worrisome of Cuiabá according to the survey. Sampling indicated Aedes aegypti outbreaks throughout the region and of these, more than 70% were in containers of water storage, whether in use or abandoned. Garbage is also another usual suspect, representing 30% of breeding sites. The use of drones for mapping and monitoring mosquito larvae is part of an Integrated Health System project, which Loglab is developing for the Municipal Health Secretary. “The project will integrate the entire health network of the City Hall, whether medical records electronic, attendance control, preventive actions like drone. For example, UPA do Morada do Ouro and the Distribution Center, already have the system in place, these two places are as a pilot project, to understand the difficulties and then to expand”, explains Fernando Pereira. How useful was this post? Click on a star to rate it! Submit Rating Average rating 5 / 5. Vote count: 2 No votes so far! Be the first to rate this post. As you found this post useful... Follow us on social media! We are sorry that this post was not useful for you! Let us improve this post! Tell us how we can improve this post? Submit Feedback

California robot teaches itself to walk like toddler

A California robot named Darwin has been teaching itself to walk just like a human toddler. Developed by Pieter Abbeel and his team at UC Berkeley's Robot Learning Lab, a neural network designed to mimic the brain has prepared Darwin to take baby steps that allow responses to new situations, as opposed to simply responding to programming. Known as “reinforcement learning”, this is an exciting leap towards enabling robots to adapt to situations in a trial-and-error fashion, which is similar to how a human child would respond.

http://www.nbcnews.com/tech/innovation/california-robot-teaching-itself-walk-human-toddler-n475106

Will robots soon be able to teach themselves ... everything? There's a robot in California teaching itself to walk. Its name is Darwin, and like a toddler, it teeters back and forth, trying and falling, and then trying again before getting it right — all in a UC Berkeley lab. But it's not actually Darwin doing all this. It's a neural network designed to mimic the human brain. Darwin's baby steps speak to what many researchers believe will be the greatest leap in robotics — a kind of general machine learning that allows robots to adapt to new situations rather than respond to narrow programming. Darwin UC Berkeley Robot Learning Lab Developed by Pieter Abbeel and his team at UC Berkeley's Robot Learning Lab, the neural network that allows Darwin to learn is not programmed to perform any specific functions, like walking or climbing stairs. The team is using what's called "reinforcement learning" to try and make the robots adapt to situations as a human child would. Like a child's brain, reinforcement technology invokes the trial-and-error process. "Imagine learning a new skill, like how to ride a bike," said John Schulman, a Ph.D. candidate in computer science at UC Berkeley in Abbeel's group. You're going to fall a lot, but then, "after some practice, you figure it out." Related: 'Father of Robotics' Joseph Engelberger Dies at Age 90 Robots are pretty good at walking on flat ground, but anytime a variable is introduced, like a step or a slope, they often can't adapt. Earlier this year, at the DARPA Robotics Challenge, some of the most high-tech robots in the world competed through a set of obstacles designed to mimic real-world disaster situations, like Fukushima. Nearly all of them failed, prompting a parade of GIFs on the Internet depicting falling robots. For typically structured settings, like in factories, robots are programmed to repeat the same function over and over again, said Sergey Levine, another scientist working with Abbeel. For complex environments that might change, they need to be more sophisticated and able to adapt, Levine said. To enable the robots to adapt, the team at UC Berkeley is developing technology that doesn't address specific behaviors. "We've started looking at much less restrictive representations," Levine said. "We are basically not telling the robot anything about doing the task." Instead, they are using large neural networks that are general purpose. "It's kind of like the difference between a circuit built for one specific job," he explained, "and a general-purpose computer." This approach enables the team to explore other functionalities, as well. Related: Researchers Aim to Teach Robots How and When to Say 'No' to Humans "There's very little in these algorithms that's specific to [locomotion]," Levine said. "In reality, these methods are really designed from the ground up to be general." They aren't aimed at walking, or grasping, or doing the dishes — but can be applied to all of those things. Less restrictive technology is also apt to make robots cheaper to build. "Right now if, for example, you have a company that builds robots, for every piece of hardware that you build, you also have to figure out how you are going to manually control it," Levine said. If a robot can learn on its own, the manual inputs needed for it to function would be fewer, thereby making it less costly to make. In real scenarios, it's really difficult to anticipate every situation in advance, and it's nearly impossible to program for every situation, said Martial Hebert, a professor at The Robotics Institute at Carnegie Mellon University. "The grand challenge is to be able to teach robots how to do end-to-end tasks." In an ideal world, a robot will be able to learn simply by demonstration, with no need for expensive, time-consuming programming, Herbert said, adding, "It will be much easier to configure them," he said. That, in turn, could help lower the purchase price for robots, making them accessible to everyday consumers — which right now they aren't. Boston Dynamics' Atlas robot, used by several DARPA teams in the Challenge, carries a price tag of over $1 million. Related: NASA Teams Up With Universities to Prep Robots for Space Exploration "To get robots into our everyday environments will require equipping them with the ability to deal with a very large range of variation," Abbeel said. "My belief is that the most practical way to equip robots with such skills is to equip them with the ability to learn." The scientists at UC Berkeley hope to move closer to a world where robots are autonomous, nimbly performing many functions typically done by humans. In the future, robots may be able to provide care for the elderly, conduct rescue efforts, clean up in disaster areas and even deliver mail, Schulman said. There are still many situations that will need remote human control, like for operations that need to be executed very precisely, Hebert said. But the recent research suggests a new direction for the robotics field. "It's moving away from pre-programming of robots and toward robots that are more and more able to generalize from example," he said. Abbeel's team is attempting to flesh out this shift. "More work is necessary to move these results from simulation to the real world, but I think eventually this research will have a very big impact on robotics," Schulman said. "It might be the path to actual humanoid robots, like Star Wars' C-3PO."

Unilever&#39;s chief marketing officer Keith Weed to retire

Unilever’s high-profile chief marketing and communications officer plans to retire after 35 years with the company. During his tenure, Keith Weed advocated for better diversity in advertising, stood against dishonest practices in influencer markets, and argued for improved measurement from digital platforms. He also reintegrated production and improved efficiencies, such as cutting the number of ad agencies Unilever used. A successor has not been announced, but his marketing role may be broken up, with responsibilities assigned to specific departments. News of his retirement comes just after the announcement of Alan Jope as Unilever’s new CEO, replacing Paul Polman.

http://www.adnews.com.au/news/unilever-cmo-keith-weed-to-exit

Keith Weed Keith Weed is retiring as Unilever's chief marketing and communications officer after 35 years at the FMCG giant. The news comes a week after it was revealed Alan Jope will succeed Paul Polman as CEO. Weed is one of the world’s most high profile marketers, taking a bold stance on dodgy practices in influencer marketing, advocated for better measurement from digital platforms and championed for greater diversity in advertising. In his reign he has overseen a series of efficiency moves, reducing the number of agencies the company works with and bringing production in house. "I have been privileged to lead some of the best marketing, sustainability and communication teams in the world," Weed said in a statement. " As the world's second largest advertiser, we have been able to leverage our scale for effectiveness and efficiencies, and we have also been able to leverage our scale for good, leading to greater responsibility, transparency and accountability in the advertising and digital industry." Weed’s successor is yet to be announced, but reports suggest Unilever could scrap the CMO role and instead assign responsibility for the marketing functions to marketing heads within each of its three categories: beauty and personal care, home care, and food and refreshments. Have something to say on this? Share your views in the comments section below. Or if you have a news story or tip-off, drop us a line at [email protected] Sign up to the AdNews newsletter, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for breaking stories and campaigns throughout the day.

Test shows Digital Asset platform can process 27,000 trades per sec

Fintech company Digital Asset’s blockchain has processed four times the number of trades per second than the Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation’s (DTCC) distributed ledger prototype, according to the results of a test by consultancy GFT. It said the test simulated a typical trading day and DA’s platform processed more than 27,000 trades per second for what it called a “sustained period”. The latest trial of DTCC’s version, meanwhile, handled 6,300 trades per second for five hours, although the DTCC said it only tested basic functions. The Australian Securities Exchange is replacing its post-trade equities system with a DA-designed platform.

https://www.thetradenews.com/digital-asset-blockchain-platform-processed-27000-trades-per-second-latest-test/

A new test of the Digital Asset (DA) blockchain platform showed it processed upwards of 27,000 trades per second, far exceeding the latest prototype developed by market infrastructure DTCC. The test, conducted by IT financial services consultancy GFT, confirmed the platform could support 27,000 trades per second for a sustained period of time, which equates to approximately 81,000 distributed ledger technology (DLT) transaction updates per second. DA provided GFT with access to the platform’s code base and a production-like environment to simulate a typical trade day for a cash equities market and a real-time market simulation based on historical data. “GFT’s performance test demonstrates the throughput capacity of the DA Platform can meet the demands of major markets. We are delighted that GFT’s findings have validated that the highest standards of integrity and privacy do not sacrifice performance,” said Blythe Masters, CEO, Digital Asset. “We are very optimistic about what this outcome will mean for the industry at large.” The Australia Securities Exchange (ASX) is currently underway with replacing its post-trade equities platform with a DLT platform designed by DA. Earlier this week, DTCC released results of its blockchain-based clearing and settlement platform for the US equity market, and revealed it could process nearly 6,300 trades per second for five continuous hours, totalling 115 million trades daily. However, the DTCC emphasised the test is a starting point for using DLT for settlement, and only basic functionality was tested, with additional work required to determine if the technology can be used to meet the resiliency, securitiy and operational needs to replace its existing system.

Climate Change Is Aggravating the Suffering in Yemen

Yemen has never had enough arable land (less than 3 percent) to support its population (28 million people). Now its population is starving today not because food can’t grow there, but because of a long-standing economic crisis exacerbated by the three-year war. “Both sides are using food as a weapon of war, but the crisis is caused primarily by a brutal air, land and sea blockade imposed by a Saudi Arabia-led coalition,” according to CNN. As The Guardian explained last year, “Although remote rural areas are able to grow corn and other basic crops during the rainy season, climate change has had an impact on their ability to survive during conflict. In the past, villages would store enough food to last for three or four months in times of emergency. In recent years less rainfall, resulting in reduced harvests, means little if any food is stored for periods of crisis.” In Yemen, people have been warning about its effects for almost a decade, well before the civil war began. “Possible climate change impacts, such as more violent and less predictable rainfall and a hotter and possibly drier climate,” a 2010 World Bank report read, “would place Yemen’s people and economy under further stress.”

https://newrepublic.com/article/152011/climate-change-aggravating-suffering-yemen

As The Guardian explained last year, “Although remote rural areas are able to grow corn and other basic crops during the rainy season, climate change has had an impact on their ability to survive during conflict. In the past, villages would store enough food to last for three or four months in times of emergency. In recent years less rainfall, resulting in reduced harvests, means little if any food is stored for periods of crisis.” Drought has also contributed to water scarcity, which, Elayah argues, is driving conflict. “The civil war in Yemen seems to be a politically-motivated competition for power among many actors with varying motives,” he wrote in his paper. “But underlying all other motives is the ongoing need by all parties to secure access to the diminishing water supply.” The idea that climate change is an exacerbating factor of conflict—such as the war in Syria—isn’t new. “The countries suffering from wars and conflicts are the same countries who are also struggling from problems of climate change,” Elayah said. That the effects of climate change have partly caused these wars, however, is still a controversial theory within the scientific community.

what could derail Japan's floating offshore wind power dreams?

BMI Research expects Japan's push to develop emerging floating offshore wind power technology to face a number of hurdles over the coming decade. The most notable challenge will be cost - as floating offshore Wind power projects only exist in the form of pilot projects to date. To commercialise the technology, economies of scale will be required. This is really cool!

https://asian-power.com/project/news/heres-what-could-derail-japans-floating-offshore-wind-power-dreams

Strong government support will be difficult to obtain. BMI Research expects Japan's push to develop emerging floating offshore wind power technology to face a number of hurdles over the coming decade. The most notable challenge will be cost - as floating offshore wind power projects only exist in the form of pilot projects to date. To commercialise the technology, economies of scale will be required, equipment costs will need to be cut and expertise needs to be developed. The cost of floating wind is much higher than established fixed-bottom technology, and a substantial amount of government support will thus be necessary - which will be limited in Japan, given the government's focus on reducing electricity costs. Here's more from BMI Research:

AES Tiete, Renova talks for 1.8 GW wind collapse

Renova Energia said talks with AES Tiete Energia covering a BRL516m ($125.4m) 1.8 GW wind project have collapsed after the two failed to agree commercial conditions. Renova said it will continue to seek an extension to a BRL993m loan from the Brazilian Development Bank, initially slated for the 743 MW Alto Sertao III complex, part of the doomed scheme.

https://renewablesnow.com/news/aes-tiete-ends-negotiations-with-renova-for-big-wind-buy-672369/

Brazilian energy firm AES Tiete Energia SA announced on Thursday it has ended negotiations with Renova Energia SA (BVMF:RNEW11) to acquire the roughly 743-MW Alto Sertao III wind power complex plus a 1.1-GW wind project pipeline. The deal, valued at BRL 516 million (USD 125.4m/EUR 113.5m), was terminated as the parties failed to reach an agreement regarding the commercial conditions, Renova said in its filling. Тhe Alto Sertao III project is divided into Phase A (438 MW), already in pre-operational stage, and Phase B (305 MW). National power watchdog Aneel had previously blocked the planned transfer of Phase B to AES Tiete. Although this deal has fallen apart, Renova has reiterated that it is negotiating with the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) to extend for three more months the maturity of a BRL-993-million bridge loan, currently scheduled for October 15, 2019. The financing was initially provided by BNDES for the execution of the works on the Alto Sertao III wind power complex. (BRL 1 = USD 0.243/EUR 0.220) Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

UN poised to take significant measures against North Korea following test claims

In a statement released following an emergency meeting of the UN Security Council on 6 January, the UN strongly condemned North Korea’s actions. The statement described the country’s alleged hydrogen bomb test as a “clear violation of (past) resolutions…and of the nonproliferation regime”. It warned that North Korea should expect to face “significant” punitive measures although no indication was given as to what these may involve. International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) director-general Yukiya Amano revealed that the organisation was ready to contribute to the peaceful resolution of this nuclear issue “by resuming its nuclear verification activities in the DPRK once a political agreement is reached among the countries concerned”. North Korea has faced UN Security Council sanctions arising from its nuclear weapons programme since it first tested an atomic device in 2006.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/north-koreas-hydrogen-bomb-claims-2016-1?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=referral?r=US&IR=T

A sales assistant watches TV sets broadcasting a news report on North Korea's nuclear test, in Seoul, January 6, 2016. Reuters The U.N. Security Council is planning to hold an emergency meeting on Wednesday to discuss North Korea's reported test of a hydrogen bomb, the U.S. mission to the United Nations said. Speaking to Reuters on condition of anonymity, several diplomats said the meeting was scheduled to take place at 11 a.m. ET (1600 GMT). The diplomats said the meeting would likely be held behind closed doors. "The United States and Japan have requested emergency Security Council consultations for (Wednesday) morning regarding North Korea's alleged nuclear test," Hagar Chemali, spokeswoman for the U.S. mission, said in a statement. "While we cannot confirm at this time that a test was carried out, we condemn any violation of UNSC (U.N. Security Council) Resolutions and again call on North Korea to abide by its international obligations and commitments," she added. North Korea said it had successfully conducted a test of a miniaturized hydrogen nuclear device on Wednesday morning, marking a significant advance in the isolated state's strike capabilities and ringing alarm bells in Japan and South Korea. "We plan to work with other countries so that a resolution with strong content can be adopted at the U.N. Security Council as swiftly as possible," Japanese Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida told reporters. It was not immediately clear what action, if any, the 15-nation council was planning to take in response to the North Korean statement that it had conducted a fourth nuclear test. Pyongyang has been under U.N. Security Council sanctions due to its nuclear weapons program since it first tested an atomic device in 2006. One Western diplomat said that if the latest North Korean nuclear test was confirmed, council members would seek to expand existing U.N. sanctions against Pyongyang. (Additional reporting by Michelle Nichols; Editing by Richard Pullin, Robert Birsel and Chizu Nomiyama)

Pinterest’s Lens can now recognize 2.5 billion home and fashion objects

Lens can now recognize more than 2.5 billion objects across home and fashion Pins, including tattoos, nails, sunglasses, cats, wedding dresses, plants, quilts, brownies, natural hairstyles, home decor, art, food, and more. According to a GroupM study, 80% of Pinterest users start with visual search when shopping compared with 58% of non-Pinners.

https://venturebeat.com/2019/09/17/pinterests-lens-can-now-recognize-2-5-billion-home-and-fashion-objects/

Missed the GamesBeat Summit excitement? Don't worry! Tune in now to catch all of the live and virtual sessions here. In 2017, Pinterest debuted Lens in beta, an online/offline visual search tool that taps AI to identify objects captured from Pins or by a smartphone and suggest related themes and products. Lens went on to launch broadly and contribute substantially to the over 600 million searches performed across Pinterest’s mobile apps and browser extensions, an over 140% uptick from Lens’ launch day. Today, Pinterest announced that it’s improving Lens with new flows designed to make it easier to perform searches from photos, and it said that it’ll begin incorporating shoppable Pins — Pins with products, pricing information, and a direct link to checkout — directly into visual search results. Additionally, Pinterest revealed that Lens can now recognize more than 2.5 billion objects across home and fashion Pins, including tattoos, nails, sunglasses, cats, wedding dresses, plants, quilts, brownies, natural hairstyles, home decor, art, food, and more. (For comparison, that’s 1.5 billion more products than Google Lens, Google’s AI-powered analysis tool, could recognize in December 2018.) “Lens is smarter than ever,” wrote Pinterest in a blog post. “Computer vision technology is no longer just a futuristic idea — it’s made its way out of the labs and into the hands of Pinners who use the technology every day. From camera search where a picture is entered as the query, to saving Pins, visual signals power search, recommendations and results across Pinterest.” Thanks to the new and improved Lens experience, users can turn pictures saved in camera rolls or newly captured photos into Pins and share them to a Board for posterity. Lens will suggest items related to those photos and others snapped in the real world. And when Lens is used within a fashion or home Pin, it’ll bubble up a shoppable Product Pin along with visually similar ideas to try or buy. 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 According to a GroupM study commissioned by Pinterest, 80% of Pinterest users start with visual search when shopping compared with 58% of non-Pinners, while 61% and 49% say visual search “elevates their experience” while in-store browsing and helps them develop a better relationship with brands. “These are our latest updates make it easy to go from inspiration to purchase, whether that inspiration sparks on Pinterest or in the real world,” wrote Pinterest. Following its initial public offering (IPO), Pinterest has increasingly pivoted its attention toward brands, and it’s not difficult to see why. According to estimates, 59% of millennials have discovered products on Pinterest, putting the platform on par with Instagram. And Oracle Data Cloud surveys reveal that Pinterest users spend 29% more while shopping than non-users. Lens Your Look, which lets you take a picture of an item of clothing and find similar options, rolled out in 2017, while Shop the Look, which helps users buy products from companies and influencers that work with Pinterest, became fully automated last month. Those upgrades coincided with expanded product buying and selling capabilities like Catalogs, which let users convert their entire inventory into shoppable Pins. Along with those were refreshed recommendations that serve results resembling users’ saved Pins and populate dynamically based on available inventory from merchants with shoppable Pins, as well as Related Products, which appear under product Pins to showcase items uploaded by brands.

**** Where Unilever's product labeling initiative could have a huge impact

CPG behemoth Unilever is committing to net-zero emissions from all products by 2039. The company is spending $1 billion on climate and nature projects over 10 years. Each of its products will be labeled with information about the carbon emitted in the product. Consumers, especially younger adults, consistently say climate concerns influence their purchasing.

https://www.greenbiz.com/article/where-unilevers-product-labeling-initiative-could-have-huge-impact

One of the most significant projects in sustainable food in 2020 was unveiled last week. The news is important partly because of the company involved: CPG behemoth Unilever, which reaches 2.5 billion consumers every day through 400 brands, which range from Ben & Jerry’s to Hellmann’s and appear on shelves in 190 countries. The other reason is that the plan is genuinely ambitious. The company is committing to net-zero emissions from all products by 2039, spending $1 billion on climate and nature projects over 10 years, and planning on labeling each of its products with information about the carbon emitted in the product’s creation. This last point is particularly significant. Consumers, especially younger adults, consistently say that climate concerns influence their purchasing. Yet this influence is diluted because most people have little insight into the emissions linked to specific products. Clearly communicating emissions on every product could leverage those concerns in a scalable way, boosting sales of low-carbon products and punishing emissions-heavy options. So will Unilever’s labeling decision change the way people shop? We can’t say for sure, because most consumers have never seen a carbon label. But there’s evidence for optimism. Clearly communicating emissions on every product could leverage those concerns in a scalable way, boosting sales of low-carbon products and punishing emissions-heavy options. There’s data on the impact of other kinds of labels, for instance. Over the past five years, several countries, including Chile, Mexico and Israel, have attached health warnings to sodas and other sugary beverages. A meta-analysis of 23 studies of these initiatives, released last month, showed the labels work: Consumers who see them are less likely to purchase high-sugar drinks. When carbon labels have been deployed, usually in small experiments, they also seem to work. Researchers at Chalmers Technological University in Sweden, for example, looked at the impact of emissions information on meal choices at their institution’s cafeteria. Sales of high-carbon meat dishes fell by almost 5 percent — a modest drop, but significant for an initial experiment based on a simple intervention. A final reason for optimism is that while Unilever is by far the biggest food company to roll out carbon labels, it is not alone. Oatly and Quorn recently announced plans to start displaying carbon footprint data on products. Twelve food and beverage brands also have earned the new Climate Neutral certification and began displaying the associated label. Put all that together, and it looks like Unilever’s move could trigger structural change. But before I get carried away, let’s look at two factors that could undermine its impact. First up is the label itself. In an email, Rebecca Marmot, Unilever’s CSO, told me that her company is focusing on collecting footprint data and will turn to the labels once that’s in place. How Unilever eventually communicates carbon levels will be critical. How big will the label be? Where will it appear? Will consumers be able to make sense of it? It won’t be an easy challenge. Space on food packaging is extremely tight, and consumers are already exposed to multiple labels relating to sustainability. (457, by one count). The second issue is cost. Of those 457 labels, organic is probably the most well known. Demand for organic food has shown double-digit growth in many recent years, yet it still accounts for around only 5 percent of U.S. food sales and less than 1 percent of planted acreage. Cost is critical here: Surveys show that organic food has a 7.5 percent premium, with some goods, including milk, eggs and bread, costing close to twice as much. This is a reminder that for many consumers, cost trumps environmental concerns. In a way, though, that’s what makes the Unilever announcement so exciting. We’re talking here about the company behind Knorr, Lipton and Magnum. These are not niche brands targeted at affluent, sustainability-minded consumers willing to pay more. By introducing carbon labeling into everyday products found in the biggest chains and the smallest corner stores, Unilever is testing whether environmental concerns resonate with a much, much larger segment of consumers. This article was adapted from the GreenBiz Food Weekly newsletter. Sign up here to receive your own free subscription.

Militant group al-Shabab becoming rising threat in East African states

Piece on this already ran in Black Swans on 16 August - Bloomberg article can you fork the piece from there?   East Africa's Inter-Governmental Authority on Development (IGAD) has claimed that al-Shabab has now become a "transnational" organisation which projects threats of extremist violence far beyond Somalia. Due to al-Shabab having staged attacks in Kenya, Uganda, Djibouti and Ethiopia, the IGAD report emphasises that the threat posed by the group through out East Africa has only increased. Abdirahman Sahal, director of a Mogadishu-based centre on extremism, has claimed that a key factor for this increase is the fact that "they only need one or two people to attack a key place, to blow themselves up". 

http://www.newsgram.com/east-african-states-see-rising-threat-from-militant-group-al-shabab/

IGAD came to the same conclusion, that it needs to counter al-Shabab both inside and outside Somalia. But whether the countries of the region can exert more pressure on al-Shabab inside Somalia, by cooperating at a level they have not achieved during the past nine years, remains to be seen.

Freelancer Statistics UK 2020 - How Many Are There and What Skills Are in Demand?

There are currently over 2 million Freelancers in the UK. Business Support (22% of total) is the most popular sector amongst freelancers, followed by Design (20% of total) and then Writing &amp; Translation (17% of total). Freelancers are extremely valuable members of the UK workforce, currently contributing approximately £125 billion to our economy.

https://www.microbizmag.co.uk/freelancing-statistics-uk-2020/

In this article we delve into freelance statistics in the UK to find out which careers are most popular amongst freelancers and which types of freelance skills are the most in demand in 2023. We also have a chat with some successful freelancers to find out why they chose to go down this career route and what they enjoy about most freelancing. UK Freelance Industry Statistics 2023 Graphic design and copywriting are (based on Google search data) the most in demand freelance skills. There are currently over 2 million Freelancers in the UK For the majority (1.77 million), working on a freelance basis is their main occupation, whereas for others, taking part in Freelance work tends to be part of a secondary job role. Freelancers are extremely valuable members of the UK workforce, currently contributing approximately £125 billion to our economy. Which freelance roles are most in demand according to search statistics? To find out which types of freelance skills have the most demand in the UK, we conducted some keyword research to find out how many searches are made each month for a variety of freelance skills. To do this we used the tool Keyword Finder which allowed us to see the average number of monthly searches for each term over the past year. The table below shows the freelance skills that received the highest volume of searches over the last year (as of February 2023). Search Query Average Number of Searches Per Month in Google UK freelance graphic designer 1900 freelance writing 2500 freelance copywriter 2600 freelance web designer 1,100 freelance web developer 980 freelance photographer 1000 freelance designer 870 freelance accountant 1000 freelance seo consultant 720 freelance social media manager 780 ppc consultant 810 freelance marketing 950 freelance seo 890 freelance seo expert 240 freelance translator 470 ppc freelancer 330 As you can see from the table, the most in demand* skills from freelancers are held by writers and web designers. Certain skills, we reckon, are likely to retain their place on this list! As more people look to get side hustles and online businesses like ecommerce stores started, designers and freelance web devs are likely to be in demand for the long haul. *We’ve based this research on the assumption that many of the people searching for these terms are likely to be in the process of looking to hire a freelancer with the required skill. And of course, none of these even accounts for the phenomenally fast growing area of gig workers. So why are these skills so popular and in such high demand? Rapid advancements in technology (particularly those since the turn of the century), appear to have created the perfect windows of opportunity for many workers to go solo. Accounting software, wifi, file sharing services, video calls, and more, are beginning to make running your own business, or going Freelance successfully, a much easier venture than it once was. A recent report from the Association of Independent Professionals and the Self Employed (IPSE) has also observed this correlation, identifying a significant growth in the number of highly skilled freelancers over the past decade, with the number of Freelancers in the UK increasing by 46% from 2008 to 2017. The IPSE’s policy development manager Jordan Marshall comments, “Being self-employed allows young people, in particular, to work on the projects they are truly passionate about, when and where they want. Technology has made this all so much easier, whether finding work through online platforms or even being a ‘digital nomad’ – travelling the world while doing remote freelance work”. What are the most popular roles amongst freelancers? A study conducted by the price comparison site MoneySupermarket has found that the most popular sectors for freelancing in the UK are: Business Support (22%) Design (20%) Writing and Translation (17%) Sales and Marketing (13%) Video, Photo and Audio (9%) Website Development (9%) Software Development and Mobile (6%) Social Media (4%) As you can see from the list above, the most popular sector amongst Freelancers in the UK is Business Support (22%), closely followed by Design (20%). Writing and Translation is the third most favoured area, accounting for 17% of all Freelancers in the UK. Is going freelance worth taking the risk? As with any career option, there are many benefits and potential drawbacks to becoming a Freelancer. We spoke with professional photographer Simon Pendrigh, who has worked on a freelance basis for the past 15 years after taking redundancy from a regional newspaper group in the UK. Why did you go Freelance? “I decided to become a Freelance Photographer at a time when a lot of the newspapers were having to let go of their staff. I found that the opportunities that came with going freelance were far greater than working for someone else.” Were there any drawbacks of setting up on your own? “I did worry about not having a steady income, but I had 30 years experience behind me, and a large network of contacts so I soon realised that wasn’t going to be a problem. When it came down to it, I was willing to work really hard to build good relationships with current and potential clients and I’m passionate about what I do, which is most important in my opinion.” So how did going Freelance affect your personal life? “I was much less stressed without having deadlines looming over me, staff to manage, etc. It really benefited my health, and it meant that I could spend more time with my family, and work on my own terms, which really made a difference for me.” We also had a chat with Hana Bednarova who spoke to us about her experience in becoming a Freelance Digital PR Specialist. What made you choose to become a Freelancer? “I always wanted to do my own thing. I worked for some great agencies and I enjoyed every minute of it, however, I always wondered what it would be like to be my own boss and to be the sole decision maker when it comes to work that I do and for whom. I went freelance back in 2017 and I would do it again over and over. It’s the best decision I’ve ever made.” Do you find Freelancing challenging? “It can be difficult at times, you are the only one, so it can get lonely and also very busy and frustrating. But it’s also very rewarding. You are in charge of your workload, income and time.” We hope this article has provided you with a good insight into the world of Freelancers in the UK in 2020. For more industry statistics surrounding different types of career paths, head over to our recent post on Micro Business Statistics in the UK. 5

Google terminates&nbsp;controversial Chinese search project

Google has told the Senate judiciary committee it has terminated Project Dragonfly, its controversial censored Chinese search engine project. The search engine app would have blacklisted "websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest". When the project became public knowledge it was extremely controversial with US politicians, human rights campaigners and Google's own employees. The company's CEO, Sundar Pichai, had previously said Google was "not close to launching a search product" in China but had not outright ruled out eventually creating one for the world's largest economy.

https://arstechnica.com/tech-policy/2019/07/censored-chinese-search-project-is-terminated-google-rep-testifies/

Google has ended all work on its censored Chinese search engine, a company representative testified on Tuesday. “We have terminated Project Dragonfly,” said Karan Bhatia, Google's vice president of public policy, at a hearing before the Senate Judiciary Committee. The secret project was first revealed by the Intercept a year ago. The new search engine would have initially been offered as an Android app, and it would have reportedly blacklisted "websites and search terms about human rights, democracy, religion, and peaceful protest," according to the Intercept. While the concept of a censored Chinese search engine is controversial in the United States, it also represents a big business opportunity for Google. China has the world's largest population and its second largest economy, with hundreds of millions of active Internet users. After the effort was revealed, Google came under pressure from employees, human rights advocates, and US elected officials to abandon it. Google CEO Sundar Pichai reassured angry employees last August that Google was "not close to launching a search product" in China. But Pichai didn't rule out launching a censored search project. He took a similar position when he testified before Congress in December, saying, "right now, we have no plans to launch search in China" but declined to rule out such an effort in the future. Google insisted to Buzzfeed that this week's testimony wasn't a new development. The company pointed to a March statement saying that "there is no work being undertaken on such a project" and that "team members have moved to new projects." But Bhatia's Tuesday statement was Google's clearest statement yet that the company won't be building a censored search engine in China.

No-deal Brexit: ministers to suspend parliament

A meeting of opposition MPs, convened by Jeremy Corbyn, agreed on Tuesday to let legislative efforts take priority over a confidence vote in the new government as a mechanism to stop no deal – a priority that could be changed given the curtailing of the parliamentary timetable.The proposed new timetable would leave MPs with a far narrower window to pass anti-no deal legislation, cutting it short by two weeks, with new dates likely to be:The new timetable may give enough time to pass a new Brexit deal in parliament between the EU council and 31 October, with MPs being presented with the option of backing the deal or heading for no deal.Rumours swirled in Westminster that plans were afoot to stymie MPs’ efforts to stop no deal after it was revealed that Sajid Javid, the chancellor, would hold a fast-tracked spending review on the day after MPs return to parliament next week, promising a cash boost for schools, hospitals and policing.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/aug/28/chancellor-sajid-javid-fast-tracked-spending-review-fuels-talk-of-early-election

Boris Johnson has set up an extraordinary confrontation with MPs when they return to Westminster next week by announcing that he has asked the Queen to suspend parliament for five weeks from mid-September. The prime minister claimed there would be “ample time” to debate Brexit, as he wrote to MPs on Wednesday, saying he had spoken to the Queen and asked her to suspend parliament from “the second sitting week in September”. Later on Wednesday the Queen approved the order. MPs will then not return to Westminster until 14 October, when he said there would be a new Queen’s speech, setting out what he called a “bold and ambitious domestic legislative agenda for the renewal of our country after Brexit”. The effect of the decision will be to curtail the time MPs have to introduce legislation or other measures aimed at preventing a no-deal Brexit – and increase the pressure on Jeremy Corbyn to table a vote of no confidence next week. If Johnson lost that vote, there would then be a 14-day period in which Corbyn, or an alternative candidate, could seek to assemble a majority. If no new government emerges, a general election would then have to be held. But government sources insist Johnson is determined not to go to the polls before Britain is due to leave the EU. “We have been very clear that if there’s a no confidence vote, he won’t resign. We get to set an election date. We don’t want an election, but if we have to set a date, it’s going to be after the 31 October,” said a senior government source. Asked if he was denying opposition MPs the time to stop a no-deal Brexit, the prime minister told Sky News: “No, that is completely untrue. We are bringing forward a new legislative programme on crime, hospitals, making sure we have the education funding we need.” In the letter to colleagues, Johnson said MPs would be able to debate his approach to the EU negotiations before the European council on 17 October, at which any new deal would have to be agreed by the EU27 – and to vote on it afterwards. Allow Scribd content? This article includes content provided by Scribd. We ask for your permission before anything is loaded, as they may be using cookies and other technologies. To view this content, click 'Allow and continue'. Allow and continue “Parliament will have the opportunity to debate the government’s overall programme, and approach to Brexit, in the run-up to EU Council, and then vote on this on 21 and 22 October, once we know the outcome of the council. “Should I succeed in agreeing a deal with the EU, parliament will then have the opportunity to pass the bill required for ratification of the deal ahead of 31 October,” he said. In practice, given MPs do not sit on most Fridays, they are only likely to lose between four and six sitting days in parliament, depending on which day parliament is prorogued on the second week of September. MPs would have been due to hold conference recess anyway, from 12 September until 7 October. Leaked emails revealed at the weekend that Johnson had sought legal advice about proroguing parliament for five weeks from early September, when MPs are already expected to break briefly for party conferences. Q&A What does 'prorogue parliament' mean? Show Prorogation is the official term that marks the end of a parliamentary session. After being advised to do so by the prime minister, the Queen formally prorogues parliament. This takes the form of an announcement in the House of Lords on the Queen’s behalf. It is a speech, written by the government, which usually describes the bills that have been passed during that session and summarises what has been achieved. It means that all work on existing legislation stops, and MPs and Lords stop sitting. Prorogation also automatically kills any bills, early day motions or questions to ministers going through parliament. Parliament can then be reopened a few days later with a fresh slate of legislation intentions, set out in a new Queen’s speech at the formal state opening of parliament. Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. On Wednesday morning, the Conservative chairman, James Cleverly, confirmed the move on Twitter, saying that planning to hold a Queen’s speech was something that “all new governments do”. Or to put it another way: Government to hold a Queen’s Speech, just as all new Governments do. https://t.co/fgKSmLdOzb — James Cleverly MP (@JamesCleverly) August 28, 2019 Labour’s deputy leader, Tom Watson, called the move “an utterly scandalous affront to our democracy. We cannot let this happen.” A meeting of opposition MPs, convened by Jeremy Corbyn, agreed on Tuesday to let legislative efforts take priority over a confidence vote in the new government as a mechanism to stop no deal – a priority that could be changed given the curtailing of the parliamentary timetable. The proposed new timetable would leave MPs with a far narrower window to pass anti-no deal legislation, cutting it short by two weeks, with new dates likely to be: MPs returning on 3 September. A new spending review on 4 September. Parliament prorogued before party conferences on 12 September. Parliament returns for Queen’s speech on 14 October. The EU council meets on 17 October, potentially to agree any new Brexit deal. The UK would be due to leave the EU on 31 October. Rumours swirled in Westminster on Tuesday that plans were afoot to stymie MPs’ efforts to stop no deal after it was revealed that Sajid Javid, the chancellor, would hold a fast-tracked spending review on the day after MPs return to parliament next week, promising a cash boost for schools, hospitals and policing.. The swift timing of the review came as the first major speech by the chancellor was abruptly cancelled by the Treasury with less than 24 hours’ notice. A Treasury spokesman said the speech had been cancelled because the one-year spending review, called a spending round, which had been expected to take place later this autumn, was being fast-tracked. Javid, writing in the Daily Telegraph, suggested he would not break his predecessor Philip Hammond’s strict fiscal rules, saying the government could “afford to spend more on the people’s priorities – without breaking the rules around what the government should spend – and we’ll do that in a few key areas like schools, hospitals and police.” The chancellor said his economic priorities were health, education and policing, suggesting that other key areas including housing may get overlooked for major investment. He said: “Health and education aren’t just the names of departments – they’re lifelines of opportunity, just as they were for me. The teachers who persuaded me that I had what it takes to study economics, and put me on the path to becoming chancellor of the exchequer. “The police officers who kept us safe when the street I grew up on became a centre for drug dealers. The NHS that cared for my dad in his final days. These aren’t just numbers on a spreadsheet. They’re the beating heart of our country.” The shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, said: “Nobody is fooled into believing that this is a proper and normal spending review. It’s a one off pre-election panic-driven stunt budget. Whitehall sources suggested there was considerable concern MPs could trigger a vote of no confidence in the government and an early general election, which could lead to departments being left in the dark about spending plans, with budgets running out in 2020. “We want people to be able to plan and there is a reason it is in early September because of the risks when MPs return to the house that week,” one source said. The 12-month review, instead of the usual three-year review, is intended as a short-term measure to give departments new budgets and also free up officials to focus on preparing for Brexit.

Conquering the Food Challenge through Agriculture 3.0

Agriculture companies are turning to digital techniques for the next wave of yield and efficiency improvements. Sensor-connected crops, fields, machinery and livestock give farmers greater visibility into their operations. Remote- or machine-controlled farm equipment allows for more precision operations and significant reductions in labor costs.

https://www.bain.com/insights/conquering-the-food-challenge-through-agriculture-3/

Enter Agriculture 3.0, with its state-of-the-art digital capabilities that represent the biggest advances in decades. Agriculture companies, including growers, equipment manufacturers, input providers and new technology-focused entrants, are turning to digital techniques for the next wave of yield and efficiency improvements. Sensor-connected crops, fields, machinery and livestock give farmers greater visibility into their operations, far surpassing previously available data collection methods. Software suites analyze the collected data and help farmers make better, faster decisions. Remote- or machine-controlled farm equipment allows for more precision operations and significant reductions in labor costs. The simple farming techniques that we call Agriculture 1.0 prevailed for millennia, until a succession of developments—ranging from seed genetics and fertilization to modern irrigation and mechanization—built the basis for Agriculture 2.0. Those advances spawned a productivity revolution that enabled countries such as Argentina to increase their tonnage by more than 7% each year since the late 1980s. These and other new technologies arrive at a critical moment in history. Population and consumption growth in developing nations is expected to push crop demand nearly 50% higher than the 2010 level by 2050 (see Figure 1). The exploding demand for food will require a corresponding rise in the global supply produced, especially from developing nations like China, Brazil, Argentina and India—the key countries in the equation. But can they meet the challenge? To feed the world, governments everywhere need to help growers make optimal use of their land and improve yield efficiency, leapfrogging into the wonders of Agriculture 3.0 (see the sidebar “Agriculture 3.0, explained”). Yet most countries still need to expand their best practices for Agriculture 2.0 before they can even think of deploying new techniques to bring their agriculture sectors to full potential. The challenge is particularly great in the developing countries of Latin America, Asia and Africa, where a limited understanding of what they could achieve prevents the different stakeholders from advancing together toward a more ambitious agenda. Bain & Company research shows that the majority of countries unintentionally restrict themselves from creating substantial economic value from their agriculture in two fundamental ways. First, many countries still manage their agriculture sectors based on tradition and empirical knowledge, rather than a comprehensive analytical approach. For example, it is common for countries to view each crop independently, focusing on maximizing the output for that specific crop, without determining the potential trade-offs of growing competing—and equally viable—crops on the same land. Indeed, regardless of a country’s level of agricultural advancement, there’s a crucial (and tricky) first step in the journey to full potential: clearly understanding the best options. Would a particular country derive more socioeconomic benefits by growing sugarcane on land now used for raising cattle, for example? Or would the country be better off if it instead used that land to grow cocoa trees and integrate downstream with the export chocolate business, even considering the five years typically required for cocoa to start generating cash flow? The second issue: A lack of coordination among the many stakeholders—including local governments, sector agencies, farmers, NGOs and multinational organizations like the United Nations—can thwart efforts. All have their own agendas and, sometimes, conflicting goals. Consider how different stakeholders would likely react when a certain crop faces a cyclical loss of competitiveness. Farmers and trade associations might press for tactical protectionist measures, whereas a multinational organization might focus on building the structural foundations of fair trade by promoting true competition. Meanwhile, an NGO might be more interested in the social impact of diminished income through that crop. Solving these fundamental problems starts when governments understand the broader strategic picture of full-potential agriculture and align that vision with private industry (see the sidebars “Why it’s government’s role” and “Getting started”). Regardless of the type of government, several elements must be in place before the sector can progress from Agriculture 1.0 to Agriculture 3.0. Those elements include development of logistics infrastructure, appropriate financing and insurance tools, and market liquidity and access (avoiding bottlenecks through intermediaries that ultimately harm farmers), along with addressing the often thorny issue of land ownership. Among the examples of government actions that have helped advance agriculture: Brazil’s ethanol program, which transitioned from heavy incentives in the 1970s to full market dynamics today. In the absence of government and private-sector alignment, however, even the best intentions and efforts fail to deliver significant results. Consider that Brazil’s annual tonnage increased by only 2.2% between 2009 and 2014. Chile was slightly more productive, with a 2.6% growth rate, while Colombia’s tonnage grew by only 1.2%. Working with governments around the world, Bain has found that the most effective countries systematically address these obstacles, stepping up to the challenge of feeding the world while improving their economies. For most countries, the size of the prize is as great as doubling agro-industrial GDP, coupled with substantial job creation. Our analysis shows that, in developing countries, a twofold increase in agro-industrial GDP can generate enough jobs to reduce total unemployment by 25%. Achieving such benefits requires defining the particular agro-industrial strategy that will yield the best results. The first major step for any country is to complete an area prioritization exercise, using Big Data and evolving digital capabilities to evaluate the agro-ecological characteristics of fertile micro-segments of its land.1 Looking at plots as small as 2 hectares or as large as 200 hectares, it can determine the potential productivity of competing crops in fine detail. Next, it needs to factor in the socioeconomic value of each crop—not only what it contributes to employment but also to primary GDP (through the agricultural production itself) and potential downstream GDP (through the processing, refining and manufacturing associated with the crop), together with the profits it generates for the farmer. With that analysis in hand, a government can gauge the best use of land and the specific trade-offs between the options—essential for promoting a long-term agro-industrial agenda, defining the most appropriate incentive policies and engaging all stakeholders. This approach optimizes the economic results for export-oriented countries, like those of Latin America, as well as countries aiming for self-sufficiency. It takes into account the mix of crops that would yield the largest economic benefit, including the trade-off between producing what you do best and importing what you need, or producing locally what you need in lieu of exports. While we have worked with government clients throughout the world to advance their agricultural agendas, the experience of one Latin American country best illustrates how a government can use the method to obtain a clear view of its full potential. Relying on agro-ecological information, this Latin American government ranked the potential yields (marginal, moderate or optimal) for crops such as cocoa, bananas, coffee and palm, covering more than 60,000 polygons of fertile land that wasn’t part of natural reserves or parks, or otherwise protected (see Figures 2 and 3). With the help of Agriculture 3.0 techniques, it then took an important giant step: It compared the potential yields among those different crops to determine the winner in each of the polygons. Why is it so rare for governments to take the simple step of comparing the potentials for different crops? As we mentioned, most countries have a siloed approach to crop management, and, lacking tools and proper governance, there’s little incentive for cooperation among teams tasked with different crops. As a result, countries tend to give minimal thought to the trade-offs among those crops. As part of its systematic approach, the Latin American country not only considered how it could maximize producer margins but also broadened the view of each crop in each land area by evaluating the potential for downstream integration. For example, based on agricultural output and producer margins alone, bananas seemed like the best crop for many polygons. However, by analyzing the crop’s value chain and the processes and products involved, the country discovered that bananas offered significantly less opportunity than cocoa for downstream development beyond the primary crop. While processing of bananas included a limited number of products such as sweets and flour, cocoa offered far more downstream opportunity for expanding production and activities in products and subproducts—everything from cocoa butter and industrial chocolate to cocoa shells and fertilizer (see Figure 4). In fact, the agro-industrial multiplier for cocoa was 2.50, more than twice the 1.05 level for bananas. The agro-industrial multiplier (agricultural GDP plus related industrial GDP, divided by agricultural GDP) provides a much broader and more realistic indication than the primary agricultural GDP of a crop’s potential overall contribution. Beyond this first result, a host of additional considerations came into play. In this case, the government factored in the opportunity cost of switching from one crop to another, taking into account the cost of eliminating the initial crop and planting the new one, along with the number of nonproductive years, which is especially critical for crops like cocoa and palm. In the four or five years it takes a new palm tree to start ramping up production, for example, the producer would miss the profits that an annual crop like corn would have generated. Palm may be more attractive in the long run, but it’s an unrealistic option for a farmer who is either insufficiently capitalized or who can’t obtain adequate financing to navigate through that cashless period. Other countries will have their own considerations to accommodate, such as the role of indigenous farming in the social fabric of a community, or environmental issues such as maintaining corridors for wildlife migration. The Latin American government then looked at its findings in light of the country’s overall economic priorities. It needed to make a choice. It compared the potential effects of each crop on the country’s primary agricultural GDP, the related agro-industrial GDP, wages and producer margins. In the end, producer margins became the top criterion for making trade-offs: It was best for convincing farmers about proposed area redistributions, reassuring them that they would be able to take care of their own needs first. This analysis provided a clear picture of the specific productivity, crop-switch and infrastructure initiatives (such as irrigation and roads) the country would need to implement, as well as how it could integrate the more advanced techniques of Agriculture 3.0. As a result, the government could develop a much stronger set of incentive policies tailored to farmers’ specific challenges, enhancing their competitiveness while promoting the best outcome for the country. Finally, the government needed to consider implementation challenges and find a way to prevent the false starts, stalls and duplication of efforts that come with weak governance. It laid out a strong governance structure involving both public and private stakeholders, with well-defined key performance indicators to track progress for all parties. Under the plan, parties spanning government ministries, private-sector representatives, trade associations, development agencies and NGOs come together from the strategy definition stage all the way to execution in the fields. The Latin American country now has a solid plan in place that could double its agro-industrial GDP within the next 15 years, in our estimate (see Figure 5). By systematically bringing its crop productivity and downstream integration to full potential, it stands to become an unexpected agricultural leader, proving that tackling the daunting food challenge can yield major rewards: boosting employment by more than 200,000 jobs and increasing GDP, while delivering on the growing demand for food. Agriculture 3.0, explained When Agriculture 3.0 is fully available, with digital capabilities widely implemented and connected, producers will be able to increase yields and lower costs with a host of new technology solutions. It will look like this: Better and cheaper satellite mapping, enhanced by more precise crop identification and growth algorithms, allows for improved monitoring of crop status. Field sensors collect data on nutrient quality, moisture, weather and other factors that affect yields. Super-accurate yield maps determine precise seed and input prescriptions for each plot. Variable-rate seeders and applicators provide each plot with the optimal amount of inputs. Autonomous equipment navigates fields with limited or no oversight. Drones survey plots to monitor weeds, yield and soil quality. Real-time livestock data allows farmers to identify sick or in-heat animals. Farmers input data, view analyses and make decisions from mobile devices in the field. Data is stored in a central repository and in the cloud, where it can be accessed for analysis. Farmers access data from their home control centers, or from online portals offered by precision agriculture companies. Real-time data on machine performance helps predict and prevent maintenance issues, increasing equipment uptime. Already, some producers are stepping into this future. For example, India’s Chitale Dairy tracks its cows’ location and status via radio-frequency identification, maintaining a database on the herd. But such digital capabilities will be commonplace on the farm only after three waves of innovation. Wave 1 involves adopting point solutions that are commercially available today, such as GPS, automated steering, sprayer control, logistics, drones, satellites, custom application of inputs, and advanced water, weather and yield sensors. Wave 2 will involve implementing decision support systems as they evolve, such as predictive maintenance, autonomous vehicles and drones, and real-time, multi-node data and analytics. Wave 3 will require connected ecosystems: autonomous fleets; full-farm solutions with interconnected telematics; real-time, multi-node data and analytics; and automated real-time application of inputs. Delivering the farm of the future means overcoming numerous challenges, everything from establishing regulations and standards for autonomous vehicles to allaying producer concerns about the security and ownership of sensitive farm data. Companies developing digital solutions also need to create trust with farmers, prove the value of technologies such as data-based growing and build an installed base to make their offerings profitable. José de Sá, a partner with Bain's Agribusiness practice, discusses how digital can help governments in developing economies derive better insights into how to invest in agricultural activity. Why it’s government’s role Farming is the world’s oldest economic activity, so there’s no shortage of professionals or institutions with an expert opinion on the agricultural chain. The problem is that, as in the ancient Indian parable of the seven blind people and the elephant, while each might be right about part of the solution, they are all wrong on the whole. And here lies the importance of governments playing the central developmental role in their respective countries. Our experience shows that governments achieve the best results when they take the lead in understanding the bigger picture, create the framework for collaboration and use rigorous analysis to guide their decisions. In the most successful cases, governments establish a pro-business environment that allows the private sector to contribute the best possible intelligence on the status quo, and then actively participate in discussions involving where to play (which crops to plant and where) and how to win (what tools, programs and incentives to use). Governments then carry this collaborative approach through to implementation, communicating clearly about the path forward with all stakeholders to establish a convergence of purpose. When a government fails to be proactive, it often ends up becoming either a roadblock to development or an unfocused protectionist machine that, from a socioeconomic perspective, ultimately creates more harm than good. Getting started To achieve full-potential agriculture, governments need to fight the fragmentation of responsibilities that we find in many countries by consolidating leadership for the entire value chain, from the primary crop activity to the industrial steps downstream. The governance structure should enable leaders to quickly make decisions and take action on key elements such as incentives, financing, infrastructure and education. This setup not only promotes agility and effectiveness, it also sends a strong signal to the investment community, which will quickly recognize the value of a pro-business environment. By engaging the private sector, both in general and through crop-specific committees, governments can make companies their partners in a full-potential strategy. With all this in place, governments can define the strategy. That entails: analyzing the status quo; strategically characterizing the various crop value chains from a global perspective; launching remedial data-gathering efforts to provide vital pieces of missing information; running various optimization scenarios; understanding the trade-offs and making the appropriate choices; and determining the enabling elements—that is, the incentives to put in place, the infrastructure to build, the financing to offer and the education to provide. 1 Agro-ecological characteristics include land slope, depth, texture, stoniness, pH, salinity, toxicity, fertility, drainage, precipitation, temperature, humidity, altitude, irrigation and others, the combination of which determines potential crop yields. José de Sá is a partner in Bain & Company’s São Paulo office and a member of the firm’s Social & Public Sector practice. Frederic Declercq is a Bain partner based in São Paulo, and Dalton Maine and Fernando Martins are partners based in Chicago; all three are members of the Agribusiness sector of Bain’s Industrial Goods & Services practice.

Amazon secures patent for body language detecting drones

Amazon has been issued a patent for drones that can recognise human gestures when delivering packages. Customers will be able to change the trajectory and speed of the drone through voice and arm movements. U.S. based Prime members will have access to drone delivery in a few months once safety measures have been completed, but at least 10 FAA-approved pilot schemes have been planned for the start of May. Gur Kimchi, the Vice President of Amazon Prime Air, is positive they will receive the green light by 2019.  

https://www.chainstoreage.com/technology/alexa-based-delivery-drones-way/

Amazon doesn’t just want customers to use drones to receive package deliveries, the company wants shoppers to interact with them, too.The online giant was awarded a patent this week for a drone that can be configured to deliver packages based on its recognition of human gestures and voice commands. The patent was filed with the United States Patent and Trademark Office on July 18, 2016. According to the filing , the unmanned device could be equipped with propulsion technology that manages the drone’s speed and trajectory, a sensor, and management system. The management system can be programmed to detect human gestures — both visual and audial — via the sensor, a move that will instruct the drone where to go.For example, the unmanned device could be on its way to a customer’s home. Upon arrival, the customer can speak or gesture to the drone where they would like their package delivered. The drone’s sensors can interact with a database of stored gestures. Upon matching the customer’s action, the device can adjust its propulsion, trajectory, and speed to modify its delivery location, the filing explained.The document didn't reveal any plans for Amazon to leverage the technology.This is the newest drone-based patent that Amazon has pursued to improve its fulfillment and delivery efforts. In February, the online giant was granted two patents, both supporting a wristband that can pinpoint the location of warehouse employees and track their hand movements in real-time. The solutions are based on haptic technology, which relates to manipulating objects using the sense of touch.Last summer, Amazon filed a patent application for “ground-based mobile maintenance facilities for unmanned aerial vehicles.” Simply put, these hubs would be dedicated to accommodating, loading, launching, receiving and maintaining the delivery drones.

Enhancing Digital Fan Engagement

The future of sports broadcasting includes new ways to keep fans engaged and capture their attention with compelling, authentic experiences. There is significant opportunity for continued technological advancement for fans looking to consume sports across devices and integrate augmented reality (AR), virtual reality (VR), social media, and gambling into their viewing experience.

https://www2.deloitte.com/us/en/pages/technology-media-and-telecommunications/articles/enhancing-digital-fan-engagement.html

The future of sports broadcasting: Sports that follow fans While exclusive rights deals lock some sports content into certain providers and channels, the mechanism through which fans reach those channels, and what they expect from the broadcast itself, is evolving. For more than 75 percent of fans surveyed, cable and satellite TV remains the preferred viewing options; only 61 percent of Millennials prefer cable and satellite TV.10 Instead, the percent of Millennials who prefer TV streaming options edged higher.11 This shift is occurring as fans, across all age groups, place increasing importance on convenience—the ability to watch via whichever device fits the needs of the fan was the second most important attribute in our study. Specifically, fans rated convenience nearly 2.5 times more important than most other factors, and Millennial fans rated this the most important attribute.12 As the rollout of 5G improves wireless connectivity and the quality of device screens gradually increases, fans will likely continue to look to their mobile devices for sports viewing, leading to an increase from more than 10 percent of all fans and more than 20 percent of Millennials who say they watch on a tablet or phone today, and connecting to the fan desire for ease of access at a time when leagues and teams continue to explore exclusive licensing agreements.13 Back to top

IWG Co-workspace operators lean on digital as workers stay home

Co-working space providers are focusing on digitisation and IoT technology during the Covid-19 pandemic. With flexible working becoming potentially more widespread as people return to work, co-working firms are implementing features to improve client safety and wellbeing, such as thermal temperature screening at entrances, sanitisation schedules and a raft of contact-free services. For instance, Indian firm Smartworks has developed a mobile app allowing users to book IoT-enabled meeting rooms, where lights, power and televisions can be controlled without touching, while food and an e-concierge service can also be ordered through the app.

https://www.expresscomputer.in/news/co-working-spaces-are-going-increasing-digital-banking-on-iot/57071/

Co-working spaces have been redefining the concept of traditional working, and they have been inculcating various forms of technology to bring in a massive amount of disruption in the space. Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and Internet of Things (IoT) have been fuelling this disruption. Neetish Sarda, Founder, Smartworks explains why technology is the need of the hour. At a time when everyone is working remotely, how is your coworking space adapting to it? As businesses adapt to a more flexible work paradigm, we foresee increased demand for coworking spaces as the occupiers are likely to continue with flexible workspace providers as compared to the traditional workspace. We believe the physical constraints and mandated social distancing norms will make coworking spaces the first choice for many organisations since work from home comes with its challenges. The clients now want to shift to more segregated workspaces than take up one big office space at a location to ensure continuity of operations. Our presence across 9 Metro cities with more than 4 Mn sq.ft area provides us with an opportunity to cater to enterprise demands, which are now looking at “de-densify” their offices—both to help their employees and restart business recovery or continuity plans. As opposed to 20000 sq.ft sq ft office space, Smartworks leases approx 3,00,000 sq. ft office spaces. We are working closely with our clients to ensure that they experience a hassle-free work routine at their workspaces. How is Smartworks adapting to the technical advances being an agile firm? Smartworks have been investing in technology since inception and are always looking for innovative ways to drive efficiency for our client members. COVID-19 has accelerated the digitalization of workspaces. To avoid the transmission of germs at workspaces, we have enabled contactless technology that is proving to be a greater interest for our clients. Our innovative technology ecosystem provides flexible and on-demand places to support convenience, functionality, and well-being. What kind of technology are you implementing? This pandemic has made the contactless tech necessity for workspace providers, which was early seen to be a good option. We have been investing in technology for a long time now. Whether it is our facial recognition system at the entrance or the fully loaded mobile app, Smartworks is ensuring members have a hassle-free experience even during these difficult times. Members can book our IoT-enabled Meeting rooms through the Smartworks app and also control the amenities inside such as light, TV & power through the in-built feature- no physical touch required. Smartworks has the following technology interventions for day to day routine without any physical touch, all inbuilt into a mobile app – Ordering food or beverages from a conference room Raising a request for support, Real-Time feedback sharing, Humanoid for a contactless Visitor Management system, E-Concierge services From mobile-based touch-less building access to health self-declaration forms, facility fumigation and deep cleaning updates, and all-important announcements /notifications, Smartworks is focusing on creating a tech-enabled environment for smooth office experience. Has there been any faltering so far? The outbreak has impacted every industry globally and brought with itself a great deal of uncertainty and slowdown. As a market leader in the space, we continue remaining bullish on the industry and will continue our expansion once things improve. We have seen an almost 50-60 percent jump in the number of inquiries in the last few weeks though the deal conversions will take a longer time than usual. We have been working closely with our clients and keeping them abreast of all developments at our centres through regular communication and webinars. Do you have any particular strategy in place to battle the pandemic? The priority for every business currently is a safe return to the workplace to continue operations. We have been working closely with our partners and global investors to learn from the best practices followed across the globe. To ensure business continuity, we have implemented a lot of non-negotiable measures for the health and safety of all.

Poland to hold 2.5 GW wind, solar auction on 5 December

Poland will launch a 2.5 GW tender on 5 December for wind and solar projects with over 1 MW generation capacity and with grid and construction permits approved. Only 2.5 GW of 7.46 GW of the wind power capacity that has secured grid connection also has construction approval, the Polish Institute for Renewable Energy has indicated. Subsequently, solar is expected to perform better than at the previous auction, when it secured just 1 MW. The majority of Poland's 1 GW solar capacity is made up of projects no larger than 1 MW awarded in auctions held between 2016 and 2018.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2019/11/20/polish-2-5-gw-solar-and-wind-auction-on-december-5/

A date has been set for the next two procurement rounds. Poland’s Energy Regulatory Office will hold two solar and wind energy capacity auctions early next month, according to the Polish Institute for Renewable Energy (IEO). The procurement exercise for projects with a generation capacity of more than 1 MW will be held on December 5, with the tender for smaller installations on December 10. The first exercise is expected to allocate around 2.5 GW of renewables capacity and should offer brighter prospects for solar developers after PV secured only 1 MW of capacity in last year’s tender. The IEO said only projects holding grid and construction approval permits are eligible for the procurement and claimed only 2.5 GW of the 7.46 GW of wind projects with grid-connection approval had also secured construction permits. Some of the permitted wind power projects face possible difficulty raising finance, according to the IEO, which contrasted that industry with solar, which it says is on the rise in Poland with 1.4 GW of generation capacity receiving grid approval and 650 MW of projects holding building permits. Opportunities Popular content “Perhaps, therefore, such a large contracted capacity for this auction will open up opportunities for large solar projects and give them a chance to compete with wind projects,” stated IEO analysts. The only solar parks under development in Poland are being planned as unsubsidized projects. They include solar facilities proposed by state-owned utility Polska Grupa Energetyczna, a project under development by power company and coal miner Tauron Polska Energia SA and a large scale PV plant at a depleted area of the extensive Adamów brown coal mine in Turek county, among others. Under the Energy Policy of Poland until 2040 policy, the government wants to reach 20 GW of solar capacity by that point. Wind – currently the most developed Polish renewable industry – is only projected to hit 10 GW. Poland passed 1 GW of solar energy capacity deployment by the end of September, most of it assigned in the auctions for projects no larger than 1 MW that were held between 2016 and 2018.

Iranian hackers sanctioned for stealing IP&nbsp;from&nbsp;320 universities

A US indictment revealed Iranian government-backed hackers stole $3.4bn worth of IP and research from 36 US firms and 320 universities from 2013 onward. The firms affected spanned a range of industries including tech, banks consultants, media and law. Spearfishing and password spraying were used to compromise 8,000 email accounts belonging to professors. The US Office of Foreign Assets has imposed sanctions on nine hackers and the Mabna Institute, who the US believe was set up to steal information for Iranian research.

https://www.wired.com/story/iran-cyberattacks-us-universities-indictment/

In its latest drumbeat against the cyber activities of Iran, the US government Friday charged nine Iranian hackers with a massive three-year campaign to penetrate and steal more than 31 terabytes of information—totaling more than $3 billion in intellectual property—from more than 300 American and foreign universities. The effort, detailed in a 21-page indictment unsealed Friday, amounted to “one of the largest state-sponsored hacking campaigns ever prosecuted by the Department of Justice,” said Geoffrey Berman, the US Attorney for the Southern District, which brought the case. The effort netted a lengthy list of victims, including 144 universities based in the US, and another 176 spread across 21 foreign countries. The group also hit 47 private sector companies, government targets as varied as the US Department of Labor, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, and the states of Hawaii and Indiana, along with the United Nations. The hacking campaign focused on a Tehran-based organization called the Mabna Institute, which served as a clearinghouse for contractors and hackers-for-hire who were tasked with penetrating and stealing data, intellectual property, and the contents of professors’ email inboxes. According to the FBI’s investigation, two of the defendants—Gholamreza Rafatnejad and Ehsan Mohammadi—founded the Mabna Institute around 2013. “While the company’s name may sound legitimate, the so-called institute was set up for one reason only: To steal scientific resources from other countries around the world,” Berman said. Rafatnejad organized the hacking efforts and coordinated with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, while Mohammadi served as Mabna’s managing director. “This case is critically important because it will disrupt the activities of the Institute and it will deter similar crimes by other perpetrators. The indictment publicly identifies the conspirators. In this time of public identification, it helps to deter state-sponsored computer intrusions by stripping hackers of their anonymity and by imposing real consequences,” Rod Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, said at the morning announcement in Washington. “Revealing the Mabna Institute’s nefarious activities makes it harder for them to do business.” 'It helps to deter state-sponsored computer intrusions by stripping hackers of their anonymity and by imposing real consequences.' Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosentsein According to the Justice Department, many of the network intrusions began with sophisticated “spear-phishing” campaigns, with emails to target professors appearing to come from fellow academics at other schools. Links in the emails would direct the professors to pages that made it appear that they had accidentally logged out of their university account and needed to reenter their user credentials. All together, the campaign targeted more than 100,000 professors, and the Iranian hackers managed to successfully penetrate about 8,000 accounts, including 3,768 at US schools. One of the defendants, Mostafa Sadeghi, who the indictment labels a “prolific Iran-based computer hacker,” was single-handedly responsible for the compromise of more than 1,000 of those accounts, and helped train the others on hacking techniques. The stolen data was used by the IRGC as well as sold through two websites, Megapaper.ir, which was partially owned by Sadeghi, and Gigapaper.ir. According to the indictment, Gigapaper offered stolen university credentials for sale so customers could directly access the online library resources, like electronic books and LEXIS-NEXIS databases, of US and foreign universities. The hacking effort also targeted private sector companies, including media and entertainment companies, a law firm, two banking and investment firms, a healthcare company, and even a stock images company. In that effort, the indictment says, the hackers used “password spraying” tactics to assemble publicly available lists of user emails and then attempt to access them using common passwords; the approach allowed them access to 36 American companies and 11 more in Europe. Once the hackers gained access to an account, they would both exfiltrate the existing contents and also set up forwarding rules to pass future emails directly to them.

Societe Generale testing payment cards based on fingerprints

Société Générale is testing a payment card containing a fingerprint reader, so that users can make contactless payments of any amount without using a PIN number or tapping. When the card is delivered the customer records their own fingerprint, and no part of it is transmitted to a bank or merchant. The card will also work for conventional card payments and at ATMs.

https://www.finextra.com/newsarticle/32805/sogen-tests-biometric-cards-for-limitless-contactless-payments

Societe Generale is trialling a payments card with a built in fingerprint reader that enables users to make contactless payments of any amount. Using technology from Idemia, the biometric element eliminates the need for shoppers to enter a PIN, letting them tap and pay for any amount. When a customer receives the card, they record their fingerprint themselves. Because the data is verified directly on the card, no element of it is transmitted to either the bank or merchant. The card also functions normally for all contact-type payments in-store, on the internet and ATM withdrawals.

Five risk areas needing clarification in Brexit talks: AFME

A Brussels-based lobbying group, the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME) has outlined five areas at risk that need clarification during Brexit talks so as to "maintain financial stability." These are potential restrictions on sharing of personal data between the EU and the UK which could "severely disrupt the ability of businesses to continue to transfer personal data"; risk to the continuity of cross-border contracts, particularly OTC derivatives where a quarter of all cross-border trades could be affected; clarity over jurisdiction; recognising clearing houses; and clarification over the Bank Recovery and Resolution Directive (BRRD) which prevents taxpayers bailouts.

http://uk.businessinsider.com/risks-to-uk-and-eu-financial-markets-after-brexit-afme-report-2018-1?r=US&IR=T

Brexit could fundamentally alter the UK and EU's relationship when it comes to financial services. Major financial institutions on both sides of the channel are tied together by 40 years worth of incredibly complex regulation. Ensuring that these regulations still apply, and serve all parties well, provides major risks to the markets, a report from the Association for Financial Markets in Europe says. LONDON — With just 15 months until Britain formally leaves the European Union, it is still hugely unclear what the relationship between the UK and the rest of the continent will look like after Brexit. Uncertainty over the future agreement is a major drag on certain sections of the UK's (and to some extent the EU's) economy, with businesses delaying investments until they have a clearer picture of what Brexit actually means for them and their businesses. Nowhere is that uncertainty more profound than in the financial services sector, which relies heavily on cross-border cooperation. Much has been made of the fact that when Britain exits the European Single Market it will be forced to relinquish its financial passport — a set of rules and regulations which allow UK-based finance firms to trade with and sell their services into Europe — but other issues remain for financial firms on both sides of the channel. In a report released this week, the Association for Financial Markets in Europe (AFME), a Brussels-based lobbying group, highlights five areas of risk to Europe-wide financial services, which the AFME's chief executive, Simon Lewis says provides a "summary of some of the most significant cliff edge risks that need to be avoided through transitional arrangements and further action." "In order to maintain financial stability, EU and UK policymakers should urgently clarify actions to mitigate these cliff edge risks," Lewis adds. 1. Data sharing "Restrictions on sharing of personal data between the EU27 and the UK as a result of Brexit could severely disrupt the ability of businesses to continue to transfer personal data post Brexit," the AFME's report says. Data sharing is an area of concern previously flagged by the Bank of England, which in September said that the failure to secure an agreement on data sharing after Brexit could pose risks to financial stability. 2. Continuity of derivatives contracts "When the UK leaves the single market, existing passports enabling UK-based firms to engage in regulated activity in the EU27 (and vice versa) will cease," the AFME said. "This creates important questions for businesses regarding the continuity of services under existing cross-border contracts." This could have a particular impact on the OTC derivatives markets, with AFME estimating that as many as a quarter of all cross-border trades could be affected. Euro derivative clearing has been a major point of contention between the UK and EU in the past, with EU authorities fighting to force clearing to occur in the eurozone, rather than in London. 3. Jurisdiction The legal rules that apply to financial services firms and contracts, and which jurisdiction they come from, is another major risk, the AFME says. "There is a very significant volume of financial services contracts where the parties have chosen the jurisdiction of the English courts," the report notes. "It is therefore important to provide clarit y that continued recognition will be provided to the choice of jurisdiction throughout the UK and EU and that judgments of the courts of a Member State and of the UK will continue to be enforced throughout the UK and EU27." 4. Recognising clearinghouses Central counterparties, or CCPs, are a major part of European financial market infrastructure, with their main role being to help facilitate trading done in European derivatives and equities markets. Ensuring that a framework is in place to enable major EU banks to use UK CCPs — many of Europe's biggest clearing houses are based in Britain — is a major concern for the AFME. "EU27 banks could find themselves in breach of regulation for maintaining positions in UK CCPs that would no longer be authorised or recognised under EU regulation," its report says. EU27 banks may also be required to hold a significantly increased amount of regulatory capital against positions in UK CCPs. 5. Financial failures

Omni Bridgeway enters the Japanese market

Omni Bridgeway has extended its global footprint investing in a Japanese law firm and litigation financer that specialises in employee pay disputes and personal injury claims. The global litigation financing company is taking an equity stake in Japan Legal Network as well as providing a litigation financing facility. Founded in 2015, Japan Legal Network provides a first of its kind service in Japan.

https://litigationfinancejournal.com/omni-bridgeway-invests-in-japanese-legal-business-to-provide-access-to-justice-for-japanese-claimaints/

SYDNEY, 16 July 2020: Omni Bridgeway Limited (ASX:OBL), announces a new legal finance facility and an equity investment in an exciting new Japanese business providing Japanese clients with access to justice, without the associated costs and risks of pursuing their claims. These developments extend Omni Bridgeway’s global footprint and allows Japanese citizens to experience a service others have come to know and trust around the world. They also draw on Omni Bridgeway’s expertise in providing innovative LegalTech solutions and enhance the company’s portfolio of LegalTech investments. Established in April 2015 by two highly-experienced lawyers, Japan Legal Network Co., Ltd (Japan Legal Network) offers finance service similar to After The Event (ATE) insurance for clients pursuing legal actions in the corporate and other sectors (such as employees seeking reimbursement of un-paid wages). The ATE finance covers claimants’ legal expenses and is novel for Japan. Mr Yasufumi Minamitani, Representative Director and one of the founders of Japan Legal Network (previously an Attorney at leading Japanese law firm Nishimura Asahi and a business consultant at Boston Consulting Group), said: “Japanese claimants have traditionally not had an avenue to progress their legal rights while outsourcing the costs and risks to a finance institution at the same time. Japan Legal Network is the first service of this kind in Japan and provides clients with the capital and expertise to pursue their rights.” Co-founder of Japan Legal Network, Mr Nobuhisa Hayano (previously an Attorney at leading Japanese Law firm Oh-ebashi Partners) added: “Thanks to Omni Bridgeway’s investment, we are assisting thousands of claimants in recovering their damages and advocating for a fairer society in Japan.“ Mr. Seiichiro Wada, Representative Director of Monex Ventures, Inc. who is a co-investor with Omni Bridgeway, said: “Although consultation services to lawyers and other experts have become widespread and access to justice has become easier in Japan, there are many cases in which victims have to give up filing a lawsuit due to the financial burden. We also believe that there are many people and corporations who have a legal problem, but are unable to take action due to their customs or beliefs. We hope that the finance service provided by Japan Legal Network will become widespread and facilitate the use of legal professional services and that it will help people and corporations struggling with legal issues to resolve them.“ Tom Glasgow, Chief Investment Officer – Asia at Omni Bridgeway, said: “Omni Bridgeway has the largest team of its kind in Asia and the world and we are delighted to support Japan Legal Network and be at the forefront yet again of introducing new finance services to another part of Asia”. ABOUT OMNI BRIDGEWAY Omni Bridgeway is the global leader in dispute resolution finance, with expertise in civil and common law legal and recovery systems, and operations spanning Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, the Middle East, the UK and the US. Omni Bridgeway offers dispute finance from case inception through to post-judgment enforcement and recovery. Since 1986 it has established a proud record of funding disputes and enforcement proceedings around the world. Omni Bridgeway is listed on the Australian Securities Exchange (ASX:OBL) and includes the leading dispute funders formerly known as IMF Bentham Limited, Bentham IMF and ROLAND ProzessFinanz. It also includes a joint venture with IFC (part of the World Bank Group). About John Freund Related Follow us on social media

The Oil and Gas Industry in Energy Transitions – Analysis - IEA

The report is based on the WEO Sustainable Development Scenario and the Stated Policies Scenario. The SDS charts a path fully consistent with the Paris Agreement. The STEPS provides an indication of where today&#x2019;s policy ambitions and plans would lead the energy sector.

https://www.iea.org/reports/the-oil-and-gas-industry-in-energy-transitions

The oil and gas industry is facing increasing demands to clarify the implications of energy transitions for their operations and business models, and to explain the contributions that they can make to reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and to achieving the goals of the Paris Agreement. The increasing social and environmental pressures on many oil and gas companies raise complex questions about the role of these fuels in a changing energy economy, and the position of these companies in the societies in which they operate. But the core question, against a backdrop of rising GHG emissions, is a relatively simple one: should today’s oil and gas companies be viewed only as part of the problem, or could they also be crucial in solving it? This is the topic taken up by the International Energy Agency (IEA) in this report, which builds on a multi‑year programme of analysis on the future of oil and gas in the IEA World Energy Outlook (WEO) series. This report does not aim to provide definitive answers, not least because of the wide diversity of oil and gas companies and company strategies around the world. It does aim to map out the risks facing different parts of the industry, as well as the range of options and responses.

Ragn-Sells, HZI develop process for recycling flue gas residues

Swedish recycling company Ragn-Sells has selected Hitachi Zosen Inova (HZI) to build a flue gas treatment residue processing facility at its Stockholm base. The plant will extract materials including potassium chloride, sodium chloride and calcium chloride salts, along with ammonium sulphate from flue gas residues, which can then be used in industrial and chemical processes. The plant will combine ash leaching technology with brine cleaning and salt recovery, said Stefan Forsberg from HZI. Construction work is set to begin in the autumn.

https://bioenergyinternational.com/technology-suppliers/ragn-sells-and-hzi-to-build-flue-gas-residue-processing-facility-in-sweden

In Sweden, recycling company Ragn-Sells AB and Swiss cleantech company Hitachi Zosen Inova AG (HZI) are to build a facility for processing flue gas treatment residues at Ragn-Sells Högbytorp facility in northwest Stockholm. The process enables salts to be extracted from the flue gas residues which can then be reused in industrial and chemical processes. The flue gas treatment residue processing facility is being built at the Högbytorp site of the Swedish recycling company Ragn-Sells and will collect and wash residues from industrial processes, enabling the recovery of various commercial salts. Following a joint project development phase, the client, Ragn-Sells Treatment & Detox AB, has commissioned HZI to supply and integrate the entire process technology. HZI is a well-known name in plant construction and has many years of process technology experience. These were crucial factors in our choice of partner for this project, said Ulrik Améen, Project Manager at Ragn-Sells. Realizing a Sustainable Circular Economy With the objective of creating a sustainable circular solution, once commissioned the installation will extract useful materials such as potassium chloride, sodium chloride, and calcium chloride salts as well as ammonium sulphate from the residue. These materials can then be reused for industrial or chemical purposes. For HZI this project marks a return to familiar territory: in the past, the company has successfully developed and installed diverse fly ash washing systems at thermal waste treatment plants. Given the various interpretations of the European legislation on treatment and landfilling fly ash and residues in different countries, the Ragn-Sells facility marks the way forward. We’re proud to be able to contribute our know-how and experience to this prestigious project, said Ruedi Frey, Senior Engineer at HZI. The solution produced by the washing process will then be vapourised in a distillation process, with the crystallised salts separated out. After that, the cleaned residue will be dewatered and used as feedstock for new production processes. What makes this project special, is that we combine the proven ash leaching technology with brine cleaning and salt recovery for the first time, said Stefan Forsberg, Service Manager at HZI. Work to build the relevant section of the building will begin in autumn 2020, and assembly of the process technology will follow in January 2021.

Jair Bolsonaro claims NGOs behind Amazon forest fire surge – but provides no evidence

The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has accused environmental groups of setting fires in the Amazon as he tries to deflect growing international criticism of his failure to protect the world’s biggest rainforest.In Brazil’s Amazonas state, heat from forest fires has been above average every day this month, according to data provided to the Guardian by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring The story was similar in Rondônia state, where there have been 10 days this month where fire heat has been more than double the average for the time of year.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/aug/21/jair-bolsonaro-accuses-ngos-setting-fire-amazon-rainforest

The Brazilian president, Jair Bolsonaro, has accused environmental groups of setting fires in the Amazon as he tries to deflect growing international criticism of his failure to protect the world’s biggest rainforest. A surge of fires in several Amazonian states this month followed reports that farmers were feeling emboldened to clear land for crop fields and cattle ranches because the new Brazilian government was keen to open up the region to economic activity. Brazil has had more than 72,000 fire outbreaks so far this year, an 84% increase on the same period in 2018, according to the country’s National Institute for Space Research. More than half of them were in the Amazon. There was a sharp spike in deforestation during July, which has been followed by extensive burning in August. Local newspapers say farmers in some regions are organising “fire days” to take advantage of weaker enforcement by the authorities. Since Bolsonaro took power the environment agency has issued fewer penalties, and ministers have made clear that their sympathies are with loggers rather than the indigenous groups who live in the forest. The head of Brazil’s space agency was fired last month after the president disputed the official deforestation data from satellites. An international outcry has prompted Norway and Germany to halt donations to Brazil’s Amazon fund, which supports many environmental NGOs as well as government agencies. There have also been calls for Europe to block a trade deal with Brazil and other South American nations. Bolsonaro suggested the fires were started by environmental NGOs to embarrass his government. “On the question of burning in the Amazon, which in my opinion may have been initiated by NGOs because they lost money, what is the intention? To bring problems to Brazil,” the president told a steel industry congress in Brasilia. He made a similar allegation earlier in the day when he suggested groups had gone out with cameras and started fires so they could film them. Asked whether he had evidence, or whether he could name the NGOs involved, Bolsonaro said there were no written records and it was just his feeling. A Nasa images shows several fires burning in Brazilian states. Photograph: HO/AFP/Getty Images Environmental activists said his comments were an absurd attempt to deflect attention from the problem of poor oversight and tacit encouragement of illegal forest clearance. “Those who destroy the Amazon and let deforestation continue unabated are encouraged by the Bolsonaro government’s actions and policies. Since taking office, the current government has been systematically dismantling Brazil’s environmental policy,” said Danicley Aguiar, of Greenpeace Brazil. In Brazil’s Amazonas state, heat from forest fires has been above average every day this month, according to data provided to the Guardian by the Copernicus Atmosphere Monitoring Service. On the peak day, 15 August, the energy released into the atmosphere from this state was about 700% higher than the average for this date over the previous 15 years. The story was similar in Rondônia state, where there have been 10 days this month where fire heat has been more than double the average for the time of year. 01:49 Large swathes of the Amazon rainforest are burning – video report It is unclear which fires have been deliberately set by farmers to clear land and which were accidental or natural. The problem is not restricted to Brazil. Neighbouring Bolivia is also experiencing unusually large wildfires that have reportedly destroyed 5,180 sq km (2,000 sq miles) of forest. Video from the country’s Santa Cruz department shows monkeys and other animals scurrying in search of shelter amid a landscape reduced to blackened stumps, bare branches and ashes. Copernicus satellite images show it was primarily a fire in Bolivia that led to the darkening of the skies during the day on Monday in São Paulo, thousands of miles away.

Brazilian researchers develop miniaturised spectroscopy for drones

Researchers from Brazil's University of Campinas and the University of California San Diego have developed a Fourier-transform Infrared spectrometer based on silicon photonics, making it small enough to use in a smartphone or drone. In an article published in Nature Communications, the team used a laser calibration method to overcome silicon's non-linear distortions, creating a chip that had a broadband spectrum with a resolution of 0.38THz. The researchers are now working on integrating a light source and photodetectors.

https://www.theengineer.co.uk/spectroscopy-portable-greenhouse-gas/

Brazilian researchers devise method for making an infrared spectrometer that could fit into a drone or smart phone Fourier-transform Infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy is a basic tool for chemistry. Infrared radiation excites the bonds between atoms in organic molecules, making them vibrate at a frequency which is characteristic to the type of bond. The main advantage of FTIR is that it uses a burst of multifrequency infrared radiation, rather than slowly scanning across frequencies. Processors incorporated into the spectrometer analyse the waveform transmitted through the sample, using a mathematical technique called a Fourier transform to derive the frequencies which were absorbed. Schematic representation of the FTIR chip. (left); with microscope view of the actual device (right) Despite this being a very established technology, FTIR spectrometers are large instruments, usually confined to laboratories. Researchers from the University of Campinas’ device research laboratory in Brazil, collaborating with colleagues at the University of California San Diego, have now developed an FTIR spectrometer based on silicon photonics, a technique which uses the optical properties of silicon, whose components can be made using the same processes used to mass manufacture electronic components. Resulting from the PhD project of Mario César Mendez Machado de Souza, the device uses silicon waveguides, a basic type of components in silicon photonics. The main problem that Souza had to overcome was that the refractive index of silicon, which determines how fast different wavelengths of light travel in it, is a thermo-optical effect; that is, it is temperature dependent. To achieve high resolution, the temperature needs to be high, and this induces non-linear changes in refractive index, making it hard to control. "In practice, what happens when a thermo-optical effect is applied to a silicon-based infrared spectrometer with integrated photonics is that the Fourier transform mathematical operations used to convert the radiation spectrum data collected produce completely wrong results," Souza explained. To overcome this, Sousa and his colleagues developed a laser calibration method to quantify and correct the distortions caused by nonlinearity. In a paper in Nature Communications, they explain how they developed an FTIR chip based on standard silicon photonic fabrication procedures measuring only 1 mm² in area. In laboratory tests, the chip produced a broadband spectrum with a resolution of 0.38THz, comparable with the resolution of the few commercially available portable spectrometers. "The device we developed is far from optimised but still achieves resolutions comparable with those of the portable free-space optics-based spectrometers available in the market today," Souza said. Sousa and his team are now attempting to integrate a light source and photodetectors into the same platform as the FTIR chip, which is compatible with standard, low-cost optical fibre technology. Such a device would be suitable for use in the field, where it could detect and analyse atmospheric pollutants as well as greenhouse gases, mounted, for example, on a drone. CLICK HERE FOR MORE ENGINEERING NEWS

SoundHound release smart speaker to challenge Amazon and Google

Audio recognition company SoundHound has released a new smart speaker called the SoundHound Hurricane in a bid to rival Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home products. The Hurricane is being created by audio company Boombotix and is being launched through Kickstarter for the estimated price of $199. The device uses a personal algorithm software (PAL) that will be able to learn your daily routine and tailor playlists accordingly. The Hurricane will be able to answer queries, and will feature two full-range drivers, a noise cancelling microphone and a 10-watt active four inch subwoofer.

http://www.phonearena.com/news/SoundHound-introduces-the-Hurricane---a-direct-competitor-to-Amazon-Echo-and-Google-Home_id86670

For those who aren't familiar, SoundHound released an app by the name of Hound back in 2015. The Hound app uses the company's Hound virtual assistant that functions a whole lot like Siri and the Google Assistant. The Hound app can be used to ask for your local forecast, see what movies are playing nearby, do a quick Internet search, etc. The service has made considerably improvements since its first release, and Hound is now finally making its way off of Android and iOS and will soon be moving directly into your home with SoundHound's Hurricane speaker. The speaker itself is actually being made by Boombotix, and while Hound is certainly quite prominent in the Hurricane speaker, both SoundHound and Boombotix are putting a rather strong emphasis on listening to music over anything else. The Hurricane will connect to the Internet via your home Wi-Fi connection, and if you want to take it out and about, you can connect it to your phone via Bluetooth and use it that way as well. Packed inside the Hurricane are two full-range drivers, 5-watt 2-inch mid-range speakers, 3-watt 33-millimeter tweeters, and a 10-watt 4-inch subwoofer. And, for when you do find yourself asking Hound various questions, there's an echo canceling mic to help it hear you clearly and accurately. According to Boombotix's CEO Season Sullivan, "It's great to have those side skills, but for us, really the focus was on making a really great music experience first." Amazon's Echo was criticized upon its release for offering shallow and lackluster audio quality, so with Boombotix and SoundHound honing in on audio quality above all else, the Hurricane has potential to be a really attractive solution for audiophiles who want some smarts in their next Bluetooth speaker. The Hurricane is currently available for purchase on Kickstarter for the price of $199, and shipments are expected to go out to backers sometime in late December. At the tail end of 2014, Amazon officially took the wraps off of their latest creation - Amazon Echo. Echo was a bit of an oddball when Amazon announced it, and while it took some time for the device to pick up steam, the Echo has evolved into something quite powerful just about 2 years later. Amazon's Alexa virtual assistant has constantly been getting smarter and smarter since the Echo's initial release, and thanks to devices like Amazon's Tap and Dot, Alexa is now more portable and easy-to-access than ever before. Google announced a direct competitor to Amazon Echo back at their press event earlier this month with Google Home, and hot off the heels of that, SoundHound is now getting their feet wet in the market of smart speakers with the Hurricane.

SoundHound release smart speaker to challenge Amazon and Google

Audio recognition company SoundHound has released a new smart speaker called the SoundHound Hurricane in a bid to rival Amazon’s Echo and Google’s Home products. The Hurricane is being created by audio company Boombotix and is being launched through Kickstarter for the estimated price of $199. The device uses a personal algorithm software (PAL) that will be able to learn your daily routine and tailor playlists accordingly. The Hurricane will be able to answer queries, and will feature two full-range drivers, a noise cancelling microphone and a 10-watt active four inch subwoofer.

http://www.techradar.com/news/soundhounds-new-smart-speaker-hopes-to-rock-you-like-a-hurricane

Google Home and Amazon Echo have so far soaked up the spotlight as the two main choices for a connected, AI-imbued smart speaker in 2016. But there’s a new third-party candidate in this year’s race called the SoundHound Hurricane that promises to do everything the other two can do for $199 (around £160/AU$260). The Hurricane, which was unveiled today on Kickstarter , is being developed by Boombotix, an audio company that in the past has produced a number of portable Bluetooth speakers. According to Boombotix’s Kickstarter page, the Hurricane will use the Hound voice recognition service to process requests and stream audio content via Slacker Radio. What separates the Hurricane from the Echo or Google Home is the personal algorithm software (PAL) that Boombotix claims will learn your daily routine and tailor playlists to match your current activity. Like the aforementioned smart speakers, the Hurricane will have a “wake phrase” – in this case, “OK Hound” – and have the ability to answer context-aware queries like “How hot is it in Los Angeles?” and “Where’s the best place to get pizza there?” without repeating location names. In terms of hardware the SoundHound Hurricane will pack in two full-range drivers, a 10-watt active four-inch subwoofer and a noise-cancelling microphone into its 8.5 x 8 x 5 inch (W x H x D) frame. The SoundHound Hurricane is available to pre-order on Kickstarter for a limited time for $169 (about £140/$220) and is expected to ship sometime in late December. Via Engadget

On-demand insurance sees popularity surge in Japan

The popularity of short-term insurance policies, bought via a smartphone and only used when a policyholder needs specific coverage is growing in Japan. Insurer Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance has sold 6.5 million such policies since introducing on-demand coverage in 2012. Another Japanese insurer, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, plans to begin selling one-day "leisure" insurance, allowing customers to purchase coverage for activities such as mountain climbing or golf in 24-hour increments. 

http://mainichi.jp/english/articles/20180228/p2a/00m/0na/012000c

A new type of short-term insurance that can be used for sports, leisure and day trips is becoming increasingly common in Japan. Known as "on-demand insurance," the policy can be bought for short periods of time whenever necessary and can be purchased easily via smartphones. The introduction of such plans shows that insurance firms are looking for new ways to attract customers by responding to changes in people's lifestyles. With people becoming increasingly budget-conscious, consumers are showing a greater interest in using and sharing goods and services only when necessary. As a result, insurance policies that offer short-term coverage "only when needed" -- marking a shift from traditional contracts that last for a year or more -- are becoming more common. A good example of on-demand insurance is one-day car insurance. This plan can be bought by people intending to briefly drive a car borrowed from a friend or relative. The policy has emerged following an increase in the number of people, particularly young adults, not owning a car -- and has led to more contracts being sealed. Insurance giants such as Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance Co., which began selling one-day car insurance from 2012 onward, have seen the cumulative total of contracts in this category hit 6.5 million as of the end of January 2018. In April this year, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Co. will start selling "one-day leisure insurance," which can be bought in 24-hour units for outdoor activities such as golf or mountain climbing. The insurance can be bought easily via smartphones, with the fee simply being added to the consumer's monthly phone bill. For activities such as skiing and snowboarding, a 500-yen insurance premium provides compensation up to 100,000 yen for injuries, and up to 300 million yen if the insurance policy holder causes injuries to other people or breaks objects. Until recently, short-term insurance was limited to overseas travel insurance, so the introduction of on-demand insurance, structured in 24-hour units, is a definite selling point. In addition, Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance has teamed up with NTT Docomo Inc., and Sompo Japan Nipponkoa Insurance Inc. has joined forces with Softbank Group Corp. to offer on-demand insurance. Sompo Japan's insurance-related revenue in 2017 reportedly increased by 20 percent compared to 2016. Moreover, on-demand insurance for objects has also entered the market. Warrantee Inc., an Osaka-based IT venture firm, released an insurance app in November 2017, which provides compensation for broken digital cameras within three years after purchase, at a fee of 39 yen per day. The insurance can be used specifically on days when consumers go out carrying digital cameras. The insurance payouts are handled by Tokio Marine & Nichido Fire Insurance, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance, and Aioi Nissay Dowa Insurance Co., and the app had been downloaded 3,000 times as of mid-February 2018. There are plans to extend this type of insurance to computers and household electronic goods, with the aim of securing 100,000 contracts per year. In April 2017, Sompo Japan invested in a venture company in the U.S. that has been developing on-demand insurance for personal belongings, with plans to start operations in Japan in mid-2018. "We are proactively pressing ahead with the development of goods and services that can respond to diversifying needs," says Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance. Competition in this new field of on-demand insurance looks set to become increasingly tough.

China's chickens at risk of coronavirus impacts

Travel restrictions imposed to control the spread of coronavirus are preventing animal feed deliveries. Experts predict a massive problem for the livestock sector still recovering from the impact of African swine fever last year.&nbsp;

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/02/06/millions-of-chickens-at-risk-amid-china-lockdowns-due-to-coronavirus.html

As the outbreak spread, Chinese authorities have shut roads and highways, and even halted long-distance buses. The shutdowns in China's provinces have hit supply chains, with transport restrictions preventing much needed animal feed such as soybean meal from getting delivered to poultry farms, according to analysts and Chinese state media. Following its pork crisis, China's poultry farmers are now in dire straits because of the coronavirus outbreak. Millions of chickens may soon perish in coming days as much-needed feed is not getting to them in time. This is going to create massive problems in the livestock sector. Even if a local plant has resumed operations, it will still be longer than normal for delivery due to logistics problems. The supply of soybean meal is short to begin with, said financial services company INTL FCStone in a note on Monday, adding that the extension of business shutdowns will exacerbate the shortage. "This is going to create massive problems in the livestock sector. Even if a local plant has resumed operations, it will still be longer than normal for delivery due to logistics problems (lack of labor, road closures, road checks)," wrote Darin Friedrichs, senior Asia commodity analyst at company INTL FCStone. "I think in many regions the transport issue (is impacting) the chicken production. It is expected that not only Q1 production but Q2 would be impacted," Chenjun Pan, senior analyst at Rabobank, told CNBC. Already, farmers in Hubei — the epicenter of the virus outbreak — are in a "very distressed" situation, Hubei's poultry association wrote in a letter to the national-level China Animal Agriculture Association last week. The letter said transportation is basically paralyzed, and most large-scale farms will face severe shortage of feed soon, which will hit operations. The China Animal Agriculture Association asked feed producers to send 18,000 tons of corn and 12,000 tons of soybean meal to Hubei. According to China's state-owned Global Times, there are around 348 million chickens in Hubei, which is the sixth largest poultry producing province in China. Hubei, also a key egg producer, slaughters about 500 million birds each year. Poultry businesses in Hubei are "in dire need" of feed, said Global Times in a piece over the weekend, adding that existing stocks would only last between three to five days. It cited farmers who said millions of chickens will soon die without new supplies. Some farmers have been reducing daily feeds in order to make supplies last longer, the report said.