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Goodyear cuts stopping distance 30% with connected tyres

The Goodyear Tyre & Rubber Company is developing a connected tyre it claimed can reduce the stopping distance between a new and used tyre by 30%. Goodyear's intelligent tyre sends a continuous stream of data, including wear, load, inflation and temperature, to the firm's cloud-based proprietary algorithms, alongside other information from the car, enabling safety and performance to be optimised.

https://www.greencarcongress.com/2020/04/20200407-goodyear.html

The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company recently eclipsed 3 million miles of data from road tests and field trials with its connected tires. (Earlier post.) Connected tires—those with embedded sensors—are able to “talk” to the vehicle and the road and measure characteristics of the tire, leading to potential enhanced vehicle performance and safety. Initial studies have shown that Goodyear’s connected tires can reduce stopping distance lost between a new and worn tire by 30%. With the evolution to electric and autonomous vehicles, connected tires and the impact they can have on stopping distance, communication with the vehicle will only increase in importance. Goodyear’s connected, intelligent tire system continuously measures and records tire-derived information, which is paired with other vehicle data and connected to Goodyear’s cloud-based proprietary algorithms. The intelligent tires can measure tire wear, load, inflation and temperature, along with road surface conditions, in real time, allowing the vehicle to adjust and respond to these measurements and optimize vehicle performance. Consider someone driving on a slick, curvy road in cold temperatures. The driver adjusts his movements by slowing down, tapping the brakes or avoiding sudden steering. But what happens when nobody is behind the wheel? The tire is the only part of the vehicle that touches the ground and it can communicate vital information to the vehicle, enhancing safety and performance. —Chris Helsel, Goodyear’s chief technology officer While Goodyear’s connected tires are not yet available to consumers, the company is continuously testing connected tires extensively with auto makers, startups and more, developing custom products and solutions to help enhance safe riding experiences with eventual use by consumers down the road.

US suffering major bicycle shortage due to high demands

The US is experiencing a shortage of bikes due to high demands, as global supply chains remain interrupted amid the Covid-19 outbreak. The reluctance to use public transport and the need to exercise has caused sales to skyrocket, leaving shops struggling to meet demands. Bicycle shops are experiencing double, even triple, their normal customer intake. Sales have soared over 600% compared to this time last year. Manufacturers are two to three months behind on deliveries and most retailers have nearly sold out of their existing inventory. American importers predict new shipments will arrive in mid-June. 

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/18/nyregion/bike-shortage-coronavirus.html

Some bicycle shops in Brooklyn are selling twice as many bikes as usual and drawing blocklong lines of customers. A chain of shops in Phoenix is selling three times the number of bikes it typically does. A retailer in Washington, D.C., sold all its entry-level bikes by the end of April and has fielded more preorders than ever in its 50-year history. As the coronavirus pandemic shrinks life in major American cities — limiting pastimes and discouraging use of buses and subways — hundreds of thousands of Americans are flocking to one of the most basic forms of mobility: the bicycle. In March, nationwide sales of bicycles, equipment and repair services nearly doubled compared with the same period last year, according to the N.P.D. Group, a market research company. Sales of commuter and fitness bikes in the same month increased 66 percent, leisure bikes jumped 121 percent, children’s bikes went up 59 percent and electric bikes rose 85 percent. By the end of April, many stores and distributors had sold out of low-end consumer bikes. Now, the United States is facing a severe bicycle shortage as global supply chains, disrupted by the coronavirus outbreak, scramble to meet the surge in demand.

Spotify adds songwriter and producer credits to iOS

A "Song Credits" feature is being rolled out to Spotify's iOS app, giving users songwriter and producer details of individual songs. The feature has been available on Spotify's desktop application since February. Credits will become available on a song-by-song basis when record labels provide the details. In future, credits could come from publishers, songwriters and societies, said Alfons Karabuda, chairman of the European Composer and Songwriter Alliance.

https://www.theverge.com/2018/8/14/17689230/spotify-songwriter-producer-credits-display

Spotify first added the option to check out a track’s songwriter and producer credits back in February — and now, the feature is being rolled out onto iOS. On the desktop application, where the feature was first available, listeners could right-click a track and hit “Show Credits” from the menu to read up on a song’s performers, songwriters, and producers. Now, as spotted by Music Business Worldwide, those listening on the go can access these same credits by hitting the ellipses button that appears next to each song, and clicking on “Song Credits” at the end of the list. These details aren’t available for every song just yet

Travel changed after 9/11; Here's how it will look after the Covid-19 pandemic finally recedes

A recent study from Longwoods International found that 82% of travelers polled had changed their travel plans for the next six months."This also means that a lot of people are unable to take summer vacations or don't feel comfortable making bookings and travel plans for June, July, August," said Rabin, so are planning for later in the year.Griscavage said she foresees a big surge in family and multi-generational travel once people are willing to book trips again.

https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/10/heres-how-travel-will-change-after-the-covid-19-pandemic-recedes.html

Robert Kneschke / EyeEm The coronavirus has devastated economies around the world and disrupted life in ways that were unimaginable just a few months ago. The world will never be the same. But at some point, industries will start coming back online and people will start going out again. We asked travel industry experts for their thoughts on what will restore confidence for people to begin traveling once the Covid-19 pandemic finally recedes. In the latest installment of our series "The Next Normal," we look at where and how we'll actually travel once we're willing to hit the road again. *** A road trip to a national park or other attraction in a neighboring state. A week-long stay at a sanitized vacation rental property nearby. How does that sound? Your next outing might be booked through a travel advisor and insured, too. That's what a typical family vacation might look like in the U.S. once travel and tourism starts to pick up again post-pandemic, say industry experts. Just when that might happen is up in the air, yet it could be as soon as early fall or as late as next spring or beyond. The hypothetical trip incorporates several trends coming to the travel business going forward. These include traveler preferences for domestic destinations reachable by car and stays at private rental properties instead of crowded hotels and resorts. What seems sure is that any rebound in travel and tourism, brought to a screeching halt by the coronavirus pandemic, will start slowly and stay closer to home. A recent study from Longwoods International found that 82% of travelers polled had changed their travel plans for the next six months. More from Personal Finance: Cooking more under quarantine? How to trim your grocery bills Here are the world's best attractions and worst tourist traps How Americans plan to spend their stimulus checks watch now "Tourism recovery typically begins locally," said Elizabeth Monahan, spokesperson for Tripadvisor.com. "Travelers tend to first venture out closer to home, and visit their local eateries, stay local for a weekend getaway or travel domestically before a robust demand for international travel returns." Omer Rabin, managing director, Americas, for Guesty, agreed. Guesty is an Israeli-founded property management software that enables users with properties across Airbnb, Booking.com and other travel sites to automate and streamline operations. "There will be a lot of demand for domestic travel," he said. "I think that's clear to everybody in the industry right now. "We see a much better recovery and occupancy for drive-to destinations," he added. "People say 'we don't know what's going to happen with flights, but we do know that we're going to be able to get in the car and drive for three hours and have our own place and stay there for two weeks.'" In fact, the Longwoods survey found that of those that had changed their travel plans for this year, nearly a quarter, or 22%, had switched to driving from flying . Aviation industry group Airlines for America says U.S. airlines have idled 3,000 aircraft, or half the nation's fleet, due to the downturn, while the number of passengers passing through TSA checkpoints at airports is down 93% over last year. "Our clients are a little hesitant to get on an airplane right now," said Jessica Griscavage, director of marketing at McCabe World Travel in McLean, Virginia. "We're already preparing for the drive market for the remainder of the year, and probably into 2021." For its part, online travel insurance comparison site InsureMyTrip is finding that the continental U.S. is indeed the top draw for future client travel but it's also tracking some interest in domestic destinations like Hawaii, as well as the Bahamas and Caribbean destinations like Jamaica. "When people get more comfortable, they'll continue to go farther and farther away from home, starting with domestic and then moving to international, long-term," said Cheryl Golden, director of e-commerce at the Warwick, Rhode Island-based firm. (To wit, Sandals Resorts reportedly will open most of its Sandals and Beaches properties across the Caribbean June 4, and those in the Bahamas July 1.) There is a small degree of interest in flying from die-hard bargain seekers. "We've heard from a number of travelers that the low airfares available along many routes are tempting," said Tripadvisor's Monahan, although she cautions those willing to book flights that "airlines continue to adjust their cancellation and change policies for travelers across the globe in response to Covid-19." Until the virus is under control and efficient systems are in place to restore confidence in travel, it's simply too soon to tell when people can expect to start booking again. Erika Richter senior communications director, American Society of Travel Advisors "Every day and every week, it just seems like things are changing and it's really dynamic," said Golden. "It's hard for us to say right now when we think people will be ready to travel — but travel will come back." Erika Richter, senior director of communications at the American Society of Travel Advisors, said a new normal is probably necessary before bookings will pick up again. "We're still in that wait-and-see mode, because until the virus is under control and efficient systems are in place to restore confidence in travel, it's simply too soon to tell when people can expect to start booking again." And when they do, things will be different, thinks Anne Scully, a certified travel counselor and president of McCabe World Travel. "Travel's going to come back [but] we'd need a crystal ball to say when," she said. "It will be changed, I think, at least for the next 12 months." In the meantime, Scully's colleague Griscavage said she seeing a "standstill" in the agency's bookings through the holiday season — meaning little in new business but not many cancellations, either. "Those [trips] are still bought, they are not cancelled yet, though it's just too soon to tell," she said. "I'm personally not seeing a surge in [holiday] travel bookings just yet though I think that can change very quickly as states are starting to open up." There's been good news at Guesty, however, said Rabin. In the last two weeks of April, more reservations than cancellations came in. Noel Hendrickson/Getty Images "The most interesting thing is that there are more future reservations for the holidays right now than we have seen in that point of time in April 2019 for the holiday season last year," said Rabin. "Which means there's a lot of optimism and people are planning ahead." Reservations for Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's stays are up 38%, 40% and 23%, respectively, compared to the same time in 2019, Guesty found. "This also means that a lot of people are unable to take summer vacations or don't feel comfortable making bookings and travel plans for June, July, August," said Rabin, so are planning for later in the year. New flexibility in vacation-rental cancellation policies is helping, too, he added. "Travel has changed," said Scully at McCabe World Travel. "It changed after 9/11, and it changed after the economy blew up in 2008-09." Yet travel advisors then showed clients it was still possible to travel despite any economic or geopolitical changes, and perhaps "better than ever," she said. Griscavage said she foresees a big surge in family and multi-generational travel once people are willing to book trips again. "They didn't get their spring breaks, they're unsure of their summer trips," she said. "Maybe you didn't get to go to Mom and Dad's 50th anniversary or Grandma's 80th birthday. "All of these families haven't been able to be together," she added. "I think we're going to see a lot of family and multi-gen travel but in a different way, a safer way." How so? Accommodations perceived as cleaner and more isolated will find greater favor. "The question on every traveler's mind will be 'what are resorts doing to make us feel safe?'" Griscavage said. "I think we're going to see a big increase [in bookings of] villas and private homes and less crowded experiences moving forward." Scully suggested that traditional hotel properties may pivot to operate more like private villas, selling entire floors staffed "not so much with a butler but a handler who could go down to pool, for example, and make sure the lounge chairs are separated." Hotel rooms may also sit empty for several days and be completely disinfected before a new guest can check in. "These are going be not only game-changers but maybe a healthier way for us moving forward," Scully mused. "You've probably seen ridiculous shows on TV where they ask 'Is that hotel bedspread really clean?' Well, I bet now that it's really going to be spotless." Rabin agreed that sanitization will be "a very big thing." Many of Guesty's vacation home hosts are installing automatic locks that can be opened via cellphone app, are arranging for contactless food deliveries to guest units and space out rental periods, "sometimes for days," to ensure complete unit disinfecting, he said. watch now There's a definite move toward vacation homes over hotels, Rabin said. "People feel much more comfortable staying short-term rentals like vacation homes," he said. "Hotels have a lot of turnover of guests, a lot of volume, a lot of people at check-in and check-out and in the dining room." The trend is even influencing how hosts market their rental units. "If you search today for apartments on Airbnb, you will see that a lot of the hosts will put in the name of the property — 'Sanitized, highly clean, Covid-friendly' — a lot of things like that to basically signal to their customers, 'We are a safe location.'" It works: Those hosts are seeing more reservations, according to Guesty data. The firm is working to ensure all hosts can offer such contactless, cleaner stays to prospective guests, said Rabin. InsureMyTrip, for its part, is seeing a 6% increase in vacation-unit rentals over 2019, along with a decrease in hotel bookings, said Golden. "It's a trend that's just starting to happen, but I do expect we'll start to see more of this as people look to travel closer to home for vacation." If anyone booked without a travel advisor during this period, they learned they should have. Anne Scully president, McCabe World Travel Other areas of travel and tourism — from pricing and flexibility to insurance and booking methods — are also evolving: Flexibility: Once you've paid, you are now, in many cases, free to cancel flights, accommodations and other travel components almost up to the last minute. "All the vendors really need the revenue stream, and so they offer this kind of flexibility at the moment," said Rabin. "The biggest chance that they have to recoup a lot of the losses for a weak summer is in a strong winter," so they're doing what they can to encourage bookings. Scully at McCabe World Travel would like to see another change when it comes to prepayment. "When we give a hotel, a tour operator or a cruise line money, those funds for that client should be held in a kind of escrow," she said. "They don't get to use it for marketing or for something else, so when something happens, they have to give clients back money that they paid in good faith." Pricing: Costs for travel autumn-onward have not dropped much. "Most of the vendors really understand that their path to profitability and recovery in 2020 is trying to protect their prices into winter season," said Rabin. "And so we see that most of them, for very obvious reasons, want to actually sacrifice the flexibility and not sacrifice the margin." Duration: Rabin said short-term accommodations rentals, once typically between 3.5 and 5 days, are trending longer in duration, with an average 8.5- to 9-day stay. The trend stared a few weeks back when urbanites were booking month-long escapes from city centers that pushed the length of the average stay up "but now we see it as something that's really a sustainable trend, for the last month or so." Road trips ... and safaris Types of trip: Apart from close to home road trips, people seem willing to consider booking vacations that normally require a year or more of advanced planning, said ASTA's Richter. "While some travelers are booking for 2021, it really is going to depend on the traveler and where they're going," she said. African safaris, for example, require a year or more in advance of booking, especially for popular times of the year. "Those are the types of planning discussions that travel advisors are having with some of their clients," she said. "You also have to think about all of the destination weddings and honeymoons that were put on hold and need to be readjusted, and then maybe readjusted again, and again." Travel insurance: Travel insurance, once an afterthought shunned by travelers looking for a bargain, may seen an uptick. "Now more people than ever are aware of travel insurance and how it could possibly help them," said Golden at InsureMyTrip.com. "Every time we've had an event like this in the past, there's been an uptick in travel insurance that sticks." Before 9/11, about 7% of people bought travel insurance; after a surge in post-attack sales, the figure reached around 15%, she said. "We expect there will be a similar rise after coronavirus," Golden said. "It's now spiked pretty dramatically." Twenty-five percent to 30% of travelers will buy travel insurance going forward, the firm estimates. Advisor Scully has sold a lot of travel insurance of late, especially the comprehensive kind. "We upgraded our clients on insurance to 'cancel for any reason,'" she said, noting she also offers clients medical evacuation services. "Whenever we're taking a client's money and they say, 'I'm not going to insure this,' the first thing I'll say is 'Are you comfortable losing $25,000 should you not be able to travel?'" Comstock/Getty Images Travel advisors: The rise of Internet booking engines and online travel agencies from the mid-90s hit the traditional travel agent industry hard. But the trouble many travelers have had getting self-booked plans refunded or rescheduled amid the pandemic may fuel a renaissance in the fortunes of agents, who've now rebranded themselves as "travel advisors." "If anyone booked without a travel advisor during this period, they learned they should have," said Scully at McCabe World Travel. "Trying to even call the airlines — because the phones were just so jam-packed — could take 16 hours, could take two to three days." It's not just consumers who are noticing. "Our partners, our hotel partners, our cruise partners, our airline partners, our partners on land, they all know moving ahead, how valuable that travel advisor will be to their future growth," said Scully. "The role of the travel advisor has evolved so much and we are not merely transactional agents anymore," said Richter at ASTA, whose thousands of members represent 80% of all travel sold in the U.S. through the travel advisor distribution channel. "We believe strongly that the future will have a heavy emphasis on the travel advisor facilitating the future of travel." She favorably compared the roles advisors can play in both travel and personal finance. "During this crisis, folks who are concerned about their 401(k), savings and investments, they're talking to their financial advisors, [who] are helping them reassess and make short-term and long-term adjustments to their financial portfolio," said Richter. "The same is true for savvy travelers. "They are working with their travel advisor to adjust their short-term and long-term travel goals, and it's a relationship that is ongoing."

Ohio EPA gives $3.5m to expand state's EV charging capacity

The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will invest $3.5m in grants to fund Level 2 charging stations, focusing initially on poorly served areas of the state, including Toledo, Cleveland, Cincinnati and Columbus. In a study, the state EPA identified the need for EV-friendly corridors, calling for charging stations located around 50 miles apart to serve what is expected to be a growing demand.

https://www.cleveland19.com/2020/07/01/electric-car-charging-stations-about-get-big-boost-ohio/

CLEVELAND, Ohio (WOIO) -The Ohio Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced Tuesday that it will give $3.5 million dollars to expand charging capacity for electric vehicles (EV) in the state. The state has already published its “Electric Vehicle Charging Study” identifying what are being called EV friendly corridors. Millions of dollars is being invested in electric car charging stations in Ohio https://bit.ly/3dWMJT3 Posted by Cleveland 19 News on Wednesday, July 1, 2020 The study showed there need to be strategically place charging stations about every 50 miles. This $3.5 million from the Ohio EPA will be doled out in grants to build what are called ‘level 2′ charging station in counties that are designated as first priority. Most of those counties are include the state’s major metropolitan communities like Cleveland, Toledo, Columbus and Cincinnati. The State of Ohio has already identify what are being called EV friendly corridors, where there need to be more charging stations for electric vehicles. (Source: ODOT) This move is in direct relation to the many advances in jobs and factories in Ohio that are dedicated to the future of EV. Last week, Lordstown Motors rolled out the first all electric truck to be built in the Unites States. Across the street from the Lordstown Motors plant, GM announced it would build a $2.3 billion battery plant for the future of its electric vehicles. Another $5 million grant, for more charging stations, will be announced in early 2021. Copyright 2020 WOIO. All rights reserved.

Tesla to produce 5,000 Model 3 vehicles per week by the end of June

CEO Elon Musk has told shareholders that Tesla is on track to hit its target of manufacturing 5,000 Model 3 units per week by the end of June. The confident prediction follows recent upgrades at Tesla’s production facility in Fremont, California, which has added a third production line to speed up assembly. Musk expects a Model 3 with a smaller battery pack will be in production by the end of the year, with volume production of a $35,000 Model 3 starting in early 2019.

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/tesla-to-make-5000-model-3s-per-week-by-end-of-june#gs.AUYH9HI

Elon Musk told shareholders Tuesday that Tesla should hit its long-promised production target for the Model 3 sedan of 5,000 units per week by the end of June. The comments came during Tesla’s 2018 annual shareholder meeting at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. “It’s quite likely that we will achieve a 5,000-car week by the end of this month,” said Musk. Musk’s confidence in hitting the Model 3 production target is based on recent upgrades at Tesla’s Fremont, California manufacturing facility. Construction on a third general assembly line in Fremont started two weeks ago. The first Model 3 has already entered that line. “The biggest constraint on output is general assembly,” said Musk. Tesla could have produced 5,000 Model 3s per week with the original two production lines, he said, but with the addition of the third, “I’m highly confident that we can exceed 5,000 units per week.” Contrary to recent press reports asking if Tesla might be abandoning the mass market and what happened to the $35,000 Model 3, Musk assured investors Tesla has not given up on plans to manufacture the base-level version of the car. “We will definitely offer a $35,000 version of the Model 3,” said Musk. “We will definitely honor that obligation. We would do so right now if it was physically possible.” By the end of the year, he said, Tesla should be able to manufacture the Model 3 with the smaller battery pack. Volume production of the $35,000 Model 3 would begin in Q1 2019. Wait times for the Model 3 depend on where you are in the world and the configuration of the car chosen. Ordered today, wait times for Model 3s with the existing configuration would be three or four months, said Musk. The wait for the right-hand-drive version, meanwhile, could be up to 15 months. Musk repeated Tesla’s contention that should Model 3 production ramp up as expected, profitability will follow. “It’s really looking like we’re going to have positive GAAP net income next quarter, as well as positive cash flow, in Q3 and Q4,” he said. “As I said before, we do not expect to need to raise any incremental debt or equity.” Tesla plans to unveil the Model Y crossover SUV in March 2019, with production launching in the first half of 2020. Shareholders reject efforts to increase independent oversight of Tesla Coming into the meeting there was the possibility — albeit small — that shareholders might not re-elect three board members, including Kimbal Musk, Elon’s brother, nor allow Elon Musk to retain his dual CEO and board chairman titles. Tesla’s board had recommended that shareholders re-elect all three board members, as well as reject a shareholder proposal that would have required the board chairman be an independent director. According to Tesla, shareholders voted to re-elect the three board members and to permit Musk to continue wearing both hats by a supermajority vote. Speaking before the results were announced, CtW Investment Group’s Steve Diamond raised concerns about Tesla’s corporate governance. The shareholders he represents want Tesla to succeed, he said, “but the current board is an obstacle, not an aid, to these goals.” He had urged shareholders not to re-elect the slate of incumbent board members. “We did not think these individuals are a credible, independent voice for shareholders. Their lack of significant auto industry experience and human capital management experience are only their most obvious deficits,” he said. “We are also concerned about whether these highly paid directors can help the CEO focus on solving the serious financial, production, and labor relations problems now facing Tesla," he added. Next-generation Supercharger on the way, 1 GWh storage deployed globally Tesla continues to expand its Supercharger network, with just under 10,000 units deployed worldwide. The goal, said Musk, is to be able to go almost anywhere on earth using the Tesla Supercharger system. A next-generation Supercharger will go into production by the end of 2018. When that generation III Supercharger launches, said Musk, “we’re going to accelerate Supercharger expansion even more.” Tesla also announced it has deployed 1 gigawatt-hour of energy storage globally. In less than one year from the date of the 2018 shareholder meeting, said Musk, Tesla will have installed its next 1 gigawatt-hour. “The rate of stationary storage deployment is going to grow exponentially,” he added. “Next quarter, at the Gigafactory, we expect to make more battery capacity than all other EVs combined worldwide, including China.” The aggressive energy storage deployment is possible because of the massive scale of the Gigafactory. Still just one-third complete, it already takes two hours to walk the length of the factory floor, according to Musk. Construction will continue on the Gigafactory for at least the next four or five years, he said, and it “will be by far the biggest building in the world.” Tesla will eventually build 10 or 12 Gigafactories worldwide, said Musk, with the goal of localizing production at least to the continent level. Tesla will announce as soon as next month a combined battery production and vehicle assembly Gigafactory in Shanghai, China. A Europe Gigafactory announcement may come by the end of the year, with the location as of now undecided.

Sky VR gives fans virtual reality journey into sporting events

With the launch of the Sky VR app, you will be able to immerse yourself in a range of 360-degree videos from the world of sport. David Beckham is seen entering a Sky VR simulator, which takes him and the viewer to visit the world's best sports events at the touch of a button. Viewers will feel like they are trackside at Silverstone or have ringside seats watching Anthony Joshua.

https://www.skysports.com/football/news/12040/10604000/sky-vr-gives-fans-virtual-reality-journey-into-sporting-events

Want to be ringside watching Anthony Joshua? Be in the pit lane with a Formula 1 team? See Team Sky's behind-the-scenes preparations at the Tour de France? With the launch of the Sky VR app, you will be able to immerse yourself in a range of 360-degree videos from the world of sport, film and arts. Sky is to become the home of high-quality virtual reality (VR) content with the launch of the brand new app. To coincide with the app's launch, Sky is also revealing two brand new VR experiences: Sky Sports: Closer featuring David Beckham. And, coming later this autumn, the first of a series of Sky exclusive commissions - a performance from English National Ballet's production of Giselle ahead of its forthcoming UK tour. In his second piece of VR content for Sky Sports, David Beckham is seen entering a Sky VR simulator, which takes him and the viewer to visit the world's best sports events at the touch of a button. Image: David Beckham on set for filming for the app The footage was created in-house by the Sky VR Studios, in collaboration with Google. Viewers will feel like they are trackside at Silverstone or have ringside seats watching Anthony Joshua. "It was great to work with Sky and Google on this film to launch the new Sky Virtual Reality app," said Beckham. "The team from the Sky VR studio came up with an incredible concept that shows the range of sport Sky offers. "Being able to take other sports fans on a journey into some of the world's biggest sporting events was a unique opportunity." At the other end of the creative spectrum viewers can access an immersive re-imagining of a performance from English National Ballet's production of Giselle, which will be available later in October. Image: A look at the Sky VR app In addition to Giselle, Sky will commission a series of high-end VR experiences, under the Sky VR Exclusives label. Produced both in-house by the Sky VR Studios and with third-party partners, the series will build on the commitment to create VR content. This includes Sky News - US Elections and Tutankhamun's Tomb -The Search for Nefertiti. At launch the Sky VR app will be home to around twenty different pieces of 360-degree video content from Sky, Disney, Fox Innovation Lab, Warner Brothers, Baobab Studios, Jaunt, Innerspace and Surround Vision. Content highlights in the app at launch include: Star Wars: Red Carpet (Sky Cinema) - get closer to the red carpet at the premiere of Star Wars: The Force Awakens Anthony Joshua: Becoming World Champion - see Anthony as you have never seen him before, as he becomes IBF world heavyweight champion Disney - two VR experiences from The Jungle Book, enabling viewers to get up close and personal with King Louie and Kaa Warner Brothers - Suicide Squad - Squad 360 - viewers can see what it's like being a member of the Suicide Squad during a scene from the film. Team Sky - Journey to the Tour - follow the team preparing for their third Tour de France F1 - Team Williams - lets fans go behind the scenes of the Williams team, in the pit lane and in car viewing The app is available to download on a compatible mobile from Google Play or the App Store. The app will let anyone watch immersive Virtual Reality content on a Smartphone either in conjunction with a Google Cardboard headset or in 2D (360 degrees) without a headset. The app will also work when using Samsung Gear VR and Oculus Rift.

PowerVision release 4k consumer drone

PowerVision released the PowerEgg earlier this year.  UAV-related products provider PowerVision has created a consumer drone capable of capturing images and video in Ultra High Definition 4k resolution. The PowerEye drone can stay airborne for 29 minutes, and comes with a 14mm lens as standard, two controllers - allowing one person to pilot the device while the other films - object detection and first-person view camera.

https://www.ephotozine.com/article/introducing-the-powereye-drone-from-the-creators-of-the-da-vinci-inspired-camera-drone-30066

PowerVision, the team who brought the PowerEgg to everyone's attention, has released the PowerEye drone featuring a high-end micro 4/3rds camera and interchangeable lenses. The PowerEye uses a rotational gimbal equilibrium system and captures stills and video in Ultra High Definition 4k resolution using either the included 14mm lens or a variety of additional lens options, including the variable focus 14-42mm lens. Featuring a maximum flight time of over twenty-nine minutes, this adds nearly 40% more flight time than similar aircraft, and the drone comes equipped with 2 controllers so either a single pilot can capture content using the autonomous PowerModes or by putting one person in charge of piloting the aircraft and the other in charge of capturing the shot. There's also a First-Person-View camera and object detection on the front of the aircraft and while in the air, the landing gear rises ensuring a clear field of vision, and once on the ground is easily detachable. When not in use, the rotor arms fold down making it easy to transport. The PowerEye is available for £3699 from the PowerVision website.

Antisemitism is vile, says Corbyn after rabbi's criticism

Jeremy Corbyn has reiterated his belief that there is no place in Labour for antisemitism and vowed it would not be tolerated following claims from the chief rabbi that he has allowed the Labour party to become poisoned with antisemitism.If Labour achieves power, the party is planning a new body to oversee the legacy of colonialism, a race equality unit at the Treasury and reduced charges for Home Office documents and tests.Other ideas include a race equality unit at the Treasury to review spending commitments for their impact on black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities, and to end what Labour calls “rip-off charges” for passports, visas and tests from the Home Office.

https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2019/nov/26/antisemitism-jeremy-corbyn-rabbi-criticism-labour

Jeremy Corbyn has insisted there is no place in Labour for antisemitism after unprecedented claims from Britain’s chief rabbi that he has allowed the party to become riddled with prejudice. Ephraim Mirvis accused Corbyn of allowing a “poison sanctioned from the top” to take root in Labour, saying Jews were justifiably anxious about the prospect of the party forming the next government. His remarks prompted support from fellow religious leaders and former MPs. The archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby, in effect backed those criticisms with a tweet that highlighted the “deep sense of insecurity and fear felt by many British Jews”. At the launch of Labour’s race and faith manifesto in Tottenham, north London, Corbyn attempted to fight back, saying his party was tackling the problem. “Antisemitism in any form is vile and wrong. It is an evil within our society … there is no place for it and under a Labour government it will not be tolerated in any form whatsoever,” he said. “It was Labour that also passed the Human Rights Act, that set up the Equality and Human Rights Commission. It’s Labour that has to its very core the issues of justice and human rights within our society.” Mirvis is the UK’s most senior Jewish leader who represents Orthodox Judaism. In a highly unusual intervention in politics, he argued that the soul of the nation was at stake. Writing for the Times (£), he said it was not his place to tell people how to vote but argued that the way in which the Labour leadership had dealt with antisemitism was “incompatible with the British values of which we are so proud – of dignity and respect for all people”. Labour has strongly denied any suggestion that Corbyn has failed to get to grips with allegations of antisemitism, pointing to his record as an anti-racist campaigner and moves to overhaul the party’s complaints process. On Tuesday he avoided addressing Mirvis’ claims head-on, instead saying: “Sometimes, when people are challenged they say: ‘Are you tolerant of somebody else? Are you tolerant of somebody who has a different face to you or a different appearance to you?’ “I don’t like that word tolerant. I don’t tolerate people. I respect people. So, let’s do it on the basis of respect and inclusion in our society. But let’s also be clear: abuse and racism in any form is not acceptable in any way in our society.” Responding to allegations that antisemitism has been sanctioned from the top of Labour and that there is anxiety about him becoming prime minister, Corbyn said the party had taken measures to eradicate anti-Jewish hatred, as well as reach out to faith leaders. He added: “Since I became leader of the party, the party has adopted processes that didn’t exist before … a disciplinary process that didn’t exist before. “And where people have committed antisemitic acts they are brought to book or if necessary expelled from the party or suspended or asked to be educated better about it.” The Labour leader said if he got into government he would like to speak to all faith leaders and invited Mirvis to meet him. “I want to lead a government that has an open door to all of the faith leaders, so I invite the chief rabbi, I invite the archbishop of Canterbury, I invite all the other faith leaders to come talk to us about what their concerns are. “But be absolutely clear of this assurance from me. No community will be at risk because of their identity, faith, their ethnicity, their language,” he said. At the launch, the Labour peer Lord Dubs, who came to the UK as a child refugee in 1939, expressed disappointment at the rabbi’s words. “I am bitterly disappointed by what he said. I don’t accept a lot of what he said, in so far as the Labour party should have acted a lot quicker. But today of all days, for the chief rabbi to be attacking our leader, it is unjustified, unfair and I am bitterly, bitterly disappointed that he has done it,” Dubs said. Labour has faced allegations of antisemitism for more than three years, leading to the suspension of a number of high-profile figures such as Ken Livingstone and Chris Williamson, and an unprecedented EHRC investigation. Some prominent Jewish Labour politicians, including Luciana Berger and Louise Ellman, left the party after being the subject of abuse on social media. Some have accused Corbyn of endorsing antisemitic tropes and imagery. Following Mirvis’s comments, Berger, who is standing as a candidate for the Liberal Democrats, said: “Unprecedented and devastating intervention from the chief rabbi. During the the last meeting I had with Jeremy Corbyn at the end of 2017, I told him about the many public and private Facebook groups that were littered with antisemitic posts which used the Labour leader’s name/and photo in their group name. Nothing was done about it.” The chief rabbi’s comments overshadowed the announcement of new anti-racist policies including a new public body to oversee the legacy of colonialism, a race equality unit at the Treasury and reduced charges for Home Office documents and tests. The policies, launched by Corbyn, Dawn Butler, the shadow equalities secretary, and Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, follow a party-wide consultation since September. Among the policies is the creation of what would be called an emancipation educational trust. Based around examining historical injustice, it would ensure that the role of the British empire is taught in schools. The plan, some elements of which appear in the main Labour manifesto, would also cover a review into the lack of BAME teachers in schools, and an outside review into the issue of far-right extremism. Appearing on a stage at the Bernie Grant arts centre, Tan Dhesi, who is hoping to be re-elected as MP for Slough, said the new race manifesto would also call for an independent inquiry into the storming of the golden temple and an official apology for the 1919 Amritsar massacre. Abbott reminded Labour activists that they, like the late MP Grant, who entered parliament at the same time as her in 1987, should not back down on their beliefs if they were criticised by others. “It is important to remember that just because you are vilified in the here and now does not mean that you are not right,” she said. Afzal Khan, the shadow immigration minister, said Labour should not shy away from trying to tackle international issues while combatting antisemitism. “We need to heal this issue about Israel and Palestine as well. We need to do it in a fair and just manner,” he said. Responding to the chief rabbi’s comments during a campaign trip in Scotland, Boris Johnson said Corbyn was guilty of a failure of leadership. The prime minister added: “I do think it’s a very serious business when the chief rabbi speaks as he does. I have never known anything like it, and clearly it’s a failure of leadership on the part of the Labour leader that he has not been able to stamp out this virus in the Labour party. “But I’m afraid it’s accompanied with a general failure of leadership we’re seeing at the moment on Brexit.”

RE to enjoy easier post-Covid recovery than fossil fuels: report

Renewable energy (RE) is likely to be the only energy source to achieve demand growth for the rest of 2020 and is expected to recover from the impact of Covid-19 more quickly than fossil fuel, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA). Priority treatment given to small-scale RE projects feeding the grid during a fall in demand for energy is believed to be key to renewabes' resilience, the report said. The IEA expected coal-fired electricity generation to fall more than 10% this year, gas consumption to fall 5%, oil to fall 9% and nuclear 3%.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/30/solar-wind-and-hydro-resilient-during-covid-19-crisis/

Renewable energy will always fall short against fossil fuels and nuclear because solar and wind output cannot easily be configured to meet demand. That is an argument frequently levelled at the clean energy industry despite the advances being made in energy storage. However, the report published by the International Energy Agency (IEA) today, examining the implications of the Covid-19 pandemic on global energy systems, points out the decoupled nature of renewables generation and demand has proven a strength during the crisis. The Global Energy Review 2020 also undercuts the frequent complaint heard from the renewables lobby that clean energy does not enjoy sufficient policy support. The report’s authors point out the priority dispatch afforded renewables is a key reason solar, hydro and wind power have proven resilient in the face of an unprecedented slump in energy demand. The fall With the IEA predicting global energy demand will fall 6% this year, electricity generation sources more closely pegged to consumption patterns are set for a crunch time, according to the report’s authors, with solar, hydro and wind expected to be the only winners. Based on a gradual, ‘U-shaped’ economic recovery from the pandemic, the IEA estimates coal-fired electricity generation will fall more than 10% this year, as part of an 8% demand slump. Gas consumption will see its biggest ever fall – 5% – despite low prices seeing it retreat only 2% in the first quarter, and oil demand will fall 9% this year because of the slump in mobility and aviation. With nuclear-powered electricity set to fall 3% from last year’s record level and biofuels hit by mobility restrictions, renewables are expected to be the only electricity source to grow during 2020. The IEA reported the share of solar and wind power in the generation mix rose to 9% in the first quarter, compared with 8% in the same period of last year. That rise came on the back of more than 100 GW of solar generation capacity which was added in 2019 along with around 60 GW of wind facilities. Priority dispatch – in part driven by the low operating costs of renewables plants, as the IEA acknowledged – has been key to that Covid-19 resilience. Lump in hydropower, and renewables accounted for almost 28% of electricity generation in the first three months of the year. Economic recovery Popular content The IEA noted the material uncertainty about hydropower output for 2020, given its dependence on rainfall and temperature levels, but said: “Solar PV is set to increase the fastest of all renewable energy sources in 2020.” The report did, however, mention the material uncertainty affecting the small scale solar sector, with installations having “stopped or dramatically slowed” as lockdown restrictions were brought in. Economic uncertainty is expected to derail, or at least delay, the plans of many householders to install rooftop solar. In a note which will no doubt be seized upon by fossil fuel lobby groups and their political allies, the IEA report noted a faster, V-shaped economic recovery from the pandemic would lessen the blow to oil, coal and gas demand whereas an even more drawn-out recession would further accelerate the ascension of renewables. The fact that hinges solely on the amount of damage to fossil fuel demand, however, was reflected by the statement: “Renewables are the only energy source likely to experience demand growth across the remainder of 2020 regardless of the length of lockdown or strength of recovery.” Carbon emissions The fall in energy demand prompted the IEA to predict the world would see the largest fall in CO 2 emissions on record, almost 8% – nearly 2.6 gigatons. However the international body warned the rebound in emissions could be even larger – as was the case after the 2008 global financial crisis – unless economic stimulus packages being introduced by governments pegged the recovery to low-carbon conditions. In that respect, the IEA noted the recovery package pledged by the Chinese government could have existential effects on the fate of the coal industry. Little mention was made of energy storage in the report and, on the subject of e-mobility, the IEA reported that although electric vehicle (EV) sales have held up in Europe so far during the crisis, they have fallen even further than the overall rate of car purchases in China, the world’s largest EV market. Regardless of the sector-by-sector breakdown, though, there is little denying the contention of IEA executive director Fatih Birol that “the energy industry that emerges from this crisis will be significantly different from the one that came before.” Covid-19 Read pv magazine’s coverage of Covid-19; and tell us how it is affecting your solar and energy storage operations. Email [email protected] to share your experiences.

Can the Internet Handle Recent Traffic Increases? Fastly Says Yes, It Can

About FastlyFastly helps people stay better connected with the things they love. Fastly’s edge cloud platform enables customers to create great digital experiences quickly, securely, and reliably by processing, serving, and securing our customers’ applications as close to their end-users as possible — at the edge of the internet. The platform is designed to take advantage of the modern internet, to be programmable, and to support agile software development. Fastly’s customers use our edge cloud platform to ensure concertgoers can buy tickets to the live events they love, travelers can book flights seamlessly and embark on their next great adventure, and sports fans can stream events in real time, across devices. They include many of the world’s most prominent companies, including Alaska Airlines, The New York Times, and Ticketmaster.To understand internet quality in impacted regions around the globe, Fastly used two key metrics: changes in the traffic volume served to those regions as a reflection of changes in internet use, and changes in download speed measured at their servers as a reflection of internet quality.

https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20200408005584/en/Internet-Handle-Traffic-Increases-Fastly

SAN FRANCISCO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Fastly, Inc. (NYSE: FSLY), a global edge cloud platform, today announced observed traffic patterns on the internet between January and March 2020. The analysis delves into regional trends for key U.S. states and countries around the globe that are some of the most impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic (as of the end of March 2020), as well as activity within industries including gaming, streaming, digital publishing, social media, and edtech. Fastly concludes that internet quality challenges are largely related to regional policy enactments such as school closures and stay-at-home orders. Most industries are seeing upward traffic trends, with the digital publishing sector seeing the highest activity increases of industries analyzed. “ Overall, the internet is in good health,” said Fastly’s Chief Architect and Founder, Artur Bergman. “ This is partly due to the regionality of these trends, but modern websites and applications are also better able to adapt to changing internet conditions. We are seeing the internet bring people together, whether for work, entertainment, or to get in touch with family and friends. And while there’s more traffic than in previous months, the internet is resilient.” Internet Quality Challenges Correlate with Regional Policy Changes To understand internet quality in impacted regions around the globe, Fastly used two key metrics: changes in the traffic volume served to those regions as a reflection of changes in internet use, and changes in download speed measured at their servers as a reflection of internet quality. Fastly’s analysis shows regions heavily impacted by the pandemic are seeing traffic volume go up, often strongly aligned with public policy announcements and enactments about school closures and lockdowns. Download speeds trend down as people become homebound with school closures and shelter-in-place or lockdowns taking effect. The quality decreases that Fastly observed happened outside of its networks and interconnects, and seemed to be strongly correlated with regional policy and population shifts, implying that internet quality is unlikely to degrade much further for regions that are already under stay-at-home orders. Fastly has evaluated the countries of France, Italy, Japan, Spain, and the UK. Because policy shifts in the U.S. are taking place at the state level, Fastly investigated trends in the U.S. for four of the hardest hit U.S. states by COVID-19: California, Michigan, and New York and New Jersey. Fastly observed the following impacts to geographic traffic: One-month traffic trends: Over one month, from respective traffic baselines 1 , all regions analyzed reported increases in traffic with decreases in download speed, with the exceptions of Japan and California. Most notably, Italy saw a 109.3% increase in traffic, with a 35.4% decrease in download speed. Japan observed a 31.5% increase in traffic, but, markedly differentiated from other analyzed countries experiencing the impacts of COVID-19’s pandemic in their communities, it saw a 9.7% increase in download speed. Japan’s internet infrastructure seems to have absorbed this increased traffic. In the U.S., New York and New Jersey saw a 44.6% increase in traffic, but were able to weather it with a relatively modest 5.5% decrease in download speed. California saw a 46.5% increase in traffic, with a 1.2% increase in download speed. Similar to Japan, California’s internet infrastructure appears to have absorbed this increased traffic. Over one month, from respective traffic baselines , all regions analyzed reported increases in traffic with decreases in download speed, with the exceptions of Japan and California. School closures and regional stay-at-home orders: In France, Fastly observed a 45.4% increase in traffic shortly after its government announced school closures on March 12. This increase in traffic did not show a noticeable reduction in download speed, but on March 17, when schools closed and the national lockdown went into effect, download speed decreased by 20.6%. In Italy, traffic increased by 47% around February 19, after public information about lockdowns of various parts of Northern Italy began. After school closures go into effect on February 24, download speeds fall by about 9.2% between February 18 and February 24. In Japan, traffic jumps by 38% and speed decreases by 9.2% between February 25 and February 29, when school closure announcements began. School closures in Spain on March 12 mark the beginning of traffic increases of 26.2%, while there is no speed reduction. User experience: Across European nations, major streaming and VOD providers announced they would reduce the default bitrates of their video streams around March 19 in order to prevent the internet from acute strain. When analyzing traffic and download speed in France, Italy, and Spain, the reductions do not seem to have led to significant improvements in internet quality, but they may have helped keep it from deteriorating further. Additionally, beyond Europe, people who have had lower speed internet connections before coronavirus-related developments may currently be suffering from greater degradation than those who had higher speed broadband connections. Someone with a high-quality, 100Mbps internet connection might not even notice a download speed reduction of 35% — a typical 1080P video stream requires just 6Mbps and fits well within the resulting 65Mbps download speed. However someone with a lower-quality connection to the internet, such as 10Mbps, is likely to notice this quality degradation: their typical 1080P movie might now automatically adjust down to 720P to fit within the resulting 6.5Mbps. From these findings, we learn that speed decreases may be more aligned with population shifts toward more internet use from homes, rather than with a traffic increase alone. In general, most regions saw their download speeds stabilize once school closures and lockdowns were fully enacted, when most of the population became homebound. For most regions, this happened mid-to-late March. Increased Activity in Informational and Entertainment Verticals Fastly also analyzed industry-specific internet activity by comparing average requests per second (RPS), week-over-week, between two sets of dates: January 6, 2020, and February 16, 2020; and February 16, 2020, to March 29, 2020. The first set of dates represent what Fastly considers to be activity attributed to organic growth, as mainstream attention on the pandemic had not yet picked up to its current pace. The second set of dates occur during a much more dynamic era of coronavirus-related developments, and was instructive in helping understand how human behavior may be shifting in response to COVID-19. During those time frames for each of the below verticals, Fastly observed the following traffic patterns: Streaming: From February 16 to March 29, streaming observed an increase in average RPS week-over-week by 29.6%. Similarly to gaming, this notable increase could reflect increased interest in streaming media content during lockdowns and social distancing. From February 16 to March 29, streaming observed an increase in average RPS week-over-week by 29.6%. Similarly to gaming, this notable increase could reflect increased interest in streaming media content during lockdowns and social distancing. News and digital publishing: Of all verticals analyzed, these brands saw the biggest increase in average RPS week-over-week from February 16 to March 29 at 70.16%. The elevated activity may correlate to increasing newsroom attention on COVID-19-related content as the first quarter of the year progressed. Of all verticals analyzed, these brands saw the biggest increase in average RPS week-over-week from February 16 to March 29 at 70.16%. The elevated activity may correlate to increasing newsroom attention on COVID-19-related content as the first quarter of the year progressed. Social Media: Social media platforms saw a 40.88% increase in average RPS week-over-week from February 16 to March 29. The greater increases in activity might represent a window into one way people are remaining connected with each other on various social media platforms. Social media platforms saw a 40.88% increase in average RPS week-over-week from February 16 to March 29. The greater increases in activity might represent a window into one way people are remaining connected with each other on various social media platforms. GIFs/memes : Brands that help end users create and share things like memes and GIFs observed a 30.28% increase in average RPS week-over-week from February 16 to March 29. The unusually high increase in activity may indicate that, in reaction to disruptions to daily life, some consumers have turned to humor to get through difficult times and connect with others. : Brands that help end users create and share things like memes and GIFs observed a 30.28% increase in average RPS week-over-week from February 16 to March 29. The unusually high increase in activity may indicate that, in reaction to disruptions to daily life, some consumers have turned to humor to get through difficult times and connect with others. Gaming: From February 16 to March 29, gaming observed an increase in average RPS week-over-week by 28.54%. This could indicate that people are playing more virtual and online games as many communities look for ways to stay engaged while sheltering in place. From February 16 to March 29, gaming observed an increase in average RPS week-over-week by 28.54%. This could indicate that people are playing more virtual and online games as many communities look for ways to stay engaged while sheltering in place. EdTech: From February 16 to March 29, edtech observed a noticeably sharp increase in average RPS week-over-week by 34.55%. This could indicate that edtech platforms are indeed growing their usage as more school-age children are educated from home. Check out the Fastly blog that explores an in-depth view of this data and other findings. For more information about how Fastly accommodates increases in internet activity around the globe, read another recent post, “Capacity planning and network expansion in a remote-first world.” Methodology and Sources For analysis of regional traffic, Fastly used the following metrics, which were gathered from sampled TCP connection stats (tcp_info) at connection close time as part of Fastly’s fleet-wide performance monitoring infrastructure: Traffic represents the average number of data bytes per day that were delivered to various geographies from all of our servers (acked_bytes field in tcp_info). represents the average number of data bytes per day that were delivered to various geographies from all of our servers (acked_bytes field in tcp_info). Download speed represents the delivery rate reported by TCP over all connections from a region, averaged over a day (delivery_rate field in tcp_info). While the reported values are averages, various percentiles for download speeds all show similar trends and ratios to the average. For global analysis of verticals, Fastly measured average requests per second (RPS) recorded at all our servers. RPS is a count of requests received at our serves from end users every second. Significant dates on policy changes or announcements in each region were sourced from news and country, regional, state, and local announcements. The COVID Tracking Project and 2019 Novel Coronavirus COVID-19 (2019-nCoV) Data Repository by Johns Hopkins CSSE informed the confirmed COVID-19 cases trajectory on the regional graphs. About Fastly Fastly helps people stay better connected with the things they love. Fastly’s edge cloud platform enables customers to create great digital experiences quickly, securely, and reliably by processing, serving, and securing our customers’ applications as close to their end-users as possible — at the edge of the internet. The platform is designed to take advantage of the modern internet, to be programmable, and to support agile software development. Fastly’s customers use our edge cloud platform to ensure concertgoers can buy tickets to the live events they love, travelers can book flights seamlessly and embark on their next great adventure, and sports fans can stream events in real time, across devices. They include many of the world’s most prominent companies, including Alaska Airlines, The New York Times, and Ticketmaster. Forward Looking Statements This press release contains “forward-looking” statements that are based on Fastly’s beliefs and assumptions and on information currently available to Fastly on the date of this press release. Forward-looking statements may involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors that may cause its actual results, performance, or achievements to be materially different from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, those regarding the internet’s ability to handle increased activity and the likelihood of future degradation of internet quality, the health or resiliency of the internet, the continued ability of website and streaming video sites to function, the correlation between internet quality and regional stay-at-home orders, and the continuation of any of the trends described above including increased activity in informational and entertainment verticals. Except as required by law, Fastly assumes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements publicly, or to update the reasons actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in the forward-looking statements, even if new information becomes available in the future. Important factors that could cause Fastly’s actual results to differ materially are detailed from time to time in the reports Fastly files with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC), including in its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2019. Copies of reports filed with the SEC are posted on Fastly’s website and are available from Fastly without charge. 12020 baseline dates for each country/state: Italy - February 18; UK - February 27; Japan - February 18; France - February 26; Spain - March 1; California - March 1; New York and New Jersey - March 1; Michigan - March 1

Bank of Nova Scotia : Canada Regulator Reaches No-Contest Settlement with Scotiabank Units

Bank of Nova Scotia's retail brokerage units have agreed to repay nearly C$20m ($15.2m) to investors following the Ontario Securities Commission's findings that some retail clients were overcharged for more than six years. In the no-contest settlement, they also agreed to pay the regulator C$850,000 to cover investigation costs and fund its mandate to encourage fair and efficient markets. Dealers pointed to the "inadequacies" in their compliance systems. The bank said it has "taken corrective action to implement additional controls...to prevent these matters occurring in the future."

http://www.4-traders.com/BANK-OF-NOVA-SCOTIA-1409234/news/Bank-of-Nova-Scotia-Canada-Regulator-Reaches-No-Contest-Settlement-with-Scotiabank-Units-22783063/

News in other languages on THE BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA

** Five Reasons why using frozen pre-prepared food could help takeaways and restaurants after lockdown ends

Gordon Lauder, MD of frozen food distributor Central Foods, highlights how frozen food could prove a lifeline for venues as they open up for business. Using quality, pre-prepared frozen products in the kitchen could help many venues to maintain a food offering with minimal resource.

https://www.fastfoodpro.com/single-post/2020/08/01/Five-Reasons-why-using-frozen-pre-prepared-food-could-help-takeaways-and-restaurants-after-lockdown-ends

Check out some of the other great posts in this blog.

Unprecedented decoupling of carbon emissions from global economic growth

Global economic growth has increased for the third year in a row without a corresponding rise in carbon dioxide emissions, an “unprecedented” occurrence. Global emissions reached 36.3bn tonnes in 2015, with a predicted rise to 36.4bn in 2016. The difference between the 0.2% predicted rise and the more than 3% rise seen in the 200s is largely due to China’s declining emissions and the US’ improvements in energy efficiency and new use of natural gas. The global economy, in contrast, has grown more than 3% per year.

http://www.brinknews.com/global-fossil-fuel-emissions-have-stalled/

Photo: Kevin Frayer/Getty Images For the third year in a row, global carbon dioxide emissions from fossil fuels and industry have barely grown, while the global economy has continued to grow strongly. This level of decoupling of carbon emissions from global economic growth is unprecedented. Global CO₂ emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels and industry (including cement production) were 36.3 billion tonnes in 2015—the same as in 2014—and are projected to rise only 0.2 percent in 2016, to reach 36.4 billion tonnes. This is a remarkable departure from emissions growth rates of 2.3 percent for the previous decade and more than 3 percent during the 2000s. Given this good news, we have an extraordinary opportunity to extend the changes that have driven the slowdown and spark the great decline in emissions needed to stabilize the world’s climate. This result is part of the annual carbon assessment released by the Global Carbon Project, a global consortium of scientists and think tanks under the umbrella of Future Earth and sponsored by institutions from around the world. Fossil Fuel and Industry Emissions The slowdown in emissions growth has been primarily driven by China. After strong growth since the early 2000s, emissions in China have leveled off and may even be declining. This change is largely due to economic factors, such as the end of the construction boom and weaker global demand for steel. Efforts to reduce air pollution and the growth of solar and wind energy have played a role too, albeit a smaller one. The United States has also played a role in the global emissions slowdown, largely driven by improvements in energy efficiency, the replacement of coal with natural gas and, to a lesser extent, renewable energy. What makes the three-year trend most remarkable is the fact that the global economy grew at more than 3 percent per year during this time. Previously, falling emissions were driven by stagnant or shrinking economies, such as during the global financial crisis of 2008. Together, developed countries showed a strong declining trend in emissions, cutting them by 1.7 percent in 2015. This decline was despite emissions growth of 1.4 percent in the European Union after more than a decade of declining emissions. Emissions from emerging economies and developing countries grew by 0.9 percent, with the fourth-highest emitter, India, growing at 5.2 percent in 2015. More importantly, the transfer of CO₂ emissions from developed countries to less developed countries (via trade of goods and services produced in places different to where they are consumed) has declined since 2007. Deforestation and other changes in land use added another 4.8 billion tonnes of CO₂ in 2015, on top of the 36.3 billion tonnes of CO₂ emitted from fossil fuels and industry. This is a significant increase of 42 percent over the average emissions of the previous decade. This jump in land use change emissions was largely the result of increased fires at the deforestation frontiers, particularly in Southeast Asia, driven by dry conditions brought by a strong El Niño in 2015-2016. In general, though, long-term trends for emissions from deforestation and other land use change appear to be lower for the most recent decade than they were in the 1990s and early 2000s. The Carbon Quota When combining emissions from fossil fuels, industry and land use change, the global economy released another 41 billion tonnes into the atmosphere in 2015 and will add roughly the same amount again this year. We now need to turn this lack of growth to actual declines in emissions as soon as possible. Otherwise, it will be a challenge to keep cumulative emissions below the level that would avoid a 2 degrees Celsius warming, as required under the Paris Agreement. As part of our carbon budget assessment, we estimate that cumulative emissions from 1870 (the reference year used by the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change to calculate carbon budgets) to the end of 2016 will be 2,075 billion tonnes of CO₂. The remaining quota to avoid the 2 degree threshold, assuming constant emissions, would be consumed, at best, in less than 25 years (with remaining quota estimates ranging from 450 to 1,050 billion tonnes of CO₂). Ultimately, we must reduce emissions to net zero to stabilize the climate. This piece first appeared on The Conversation.

Siemens offers climate activist role on board as firm makes mine decision

The chief executive of engineering giant Siemens has offered a 23-year-old climate protestor a seat on one of its boards, as it prepares to make a decision on its involvement with a controversial Australian coal mine on Monday.Joe Kaeser met with Lisa Neubauer, a prominent figure in Greta Thunberg’s “Fridays for Future” movement, last week and asked her to join the supervisory board of Siemens’ new energy division.After her meeting, Neubauer, who reportedly refused the role, took to Twitter to call on Kaeser and Siemens to “rise up to their responsibility and withdraw from the Adani case.

https://www.cityam.com/siemens-offers-climate-activist-role-on-board-as-firm-makes-adani-mine-decision/

Siemens offers climate activist role on board as firm makes Adani mine decision The chief executive of engineering giant Siemens has offered a 23-year-old climate protestor a seat on one of its boards, as it prepares to make a decision on its involvement with a controversial Australian coal mine on Monday. Joe Kaeser met with Lisa Neubauer, a prominent figure in Greta Thunberg’s “Fridays for Future” movement, last week and asked her to join the supervisory board of Siemens’ new energy division. Read more: Siemens UK Juergen Maier announces early retirement Neubauer has led protests against the new mine, which is being developed by India’s Adani in Queensland, and will produce eight to 10m tonnes of coal a year. Siemens has an €18m (£15.3m) contract with Adani to provide signalling technology for the mine’s railway. After her meeting, Neubauer, who reportedly refused the role, took to Twitter to call on Kaeser and Siemens to “rise up to their responsibility and withdraw from the Adani case. “The world is on fire and all are asked to act accordingly”, she added. Kaeser has been an advocate of youth climate protestors, and has called for companies to do more to help avert the oncoming climate crisis. In December he tweetd that he would look into concerns around Adani, saying he had not been aware of them before. Read more: Coal powered generation set for record fall in 2019 “Siemens ‘ view and decision may or may not change”, he added: “But you deserve an answer.” Siemens Energy, which comprises Siemens’ current fossil-fuel and renewable energy and electricity divisions, will become an independent entity in April and is expected to list in September.

Uttar Pradesh power firm reprimanded for late wind approvals

The Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) has been ordered to identify who was responsible for the two-year delay in approving the tariff, power sale agreement and power procurement for 439.9 MW of wind schemes. The state regulator also learned power was being procured from the projects without its approval, and the Power Trading Corporation had not been paid by UPPCL.

https://mercomindia.com/uppcl-reprimanded-delay-getting-approvals-wind-projects/

The Uttar Pradesh Energy Regulatory Commission (UPERC) has directed the Uttar Pradesh Power Corporation (UPPCL) to explain the delay in obtaining approvals for buying and scheduling of power from 439.9 MW of wind projects. The issue relates to a petition that was filed by the UPPCL for accepting the delay in the adoption of a tariff, approval of power sale agreement, and power procurement for these projects. The PSA for the projects were signed in 2017, and the power projects were commissioned in 2018. According to the petition, UPPCL had delayed the filing of a petition for the approval of the PSA of these projects by almost two years. Further, the state load dispatch center (SLDC) was scheduling power from these projects without the approval of the commission. Upon investigation by the UPERC, it was also found that UPPCL had not made the payments for the power that it had procured by the intermediary – Power Trading Corporation of India (PTC). Expressing its displeasure at both UPPCL and PTC for not abiding by the Electricity Act, the commission has directed UPPCL to provide an affidavit within a week to assign the responsibility and taking actions against those responsible for the delay in filing the petition. The petition will be heard again on October 10, 2019.

First half 2017 wind turbine orders declined: Navigant

India's switch from feed-in tariffs to an auction system adversely affected the number of wind turbines ordered during H1 2017, according to a report by Navigant Research. It said orders totalled 11.6 GW, compared to 13.4 GW for the same period in 2016. Navigant also cited last year's acquisition of Acciona by Nordex and the 2017 merger between Siemens and Gamesa as possible contributing factors depressing order numbers, and revealed the Asia Pacific region saw the biggest drop of more than 1.5 GW, chalking up 2.8 GW of orders during the first half of this year.

https://www.renewablesnow.com/news/wind-turbine-orders-fall-in-h1-2017-navigant-591990/

Wind turbine orders announced globally in the first half of 2017 totalled 11.6 GW, according to a report by Navigant Research. This is a drop from 14.7 GW in the second half of 2016 and 13.4 GW in the first half of 2016. According to the market research firm, the decline can be partly attributed to the change in the Indian wind sector from a feed-in tariffs (FiT) mechanism to auctions. Navigant said that while the global wind industry has been recently shaken up by two big mergers -- Nordex's (ETR:NDX1) acquisition of Acciona in the spring of 2016 and the combination of Siemens and Gamesa earlier this year, -- it is hard to trace the fall in orders back to them. Its report tracks all publicly announced wind turbine orders without orders for the Chinese market. Compared with the second half of 2016, orders were down significantly in all regions. Asia Pacific was the leading region with 2.8 GW of orders in the first half of 2017, but also saw the biggest decline of more than 1.5 GW. Europe was second, followed by North America, Latin America with 742 MW of orders, and the Middle East and Africa with 199 MW. Denmark's Vestas Wind Systems A/S (CPH:VWS) was again the number one turbine supplier with about 4.3 GW of orders in the six-month period. General Electric Co (NYSE:GE) climbed to second place, while Siemens Gamesa Renewable Energy SA (BME:SGRE), Suzlon Energy Ltd (BOM:532667) and Senvion SA (ETR:SEN) were third, fourth and fifth, respectively. Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

What Is Modular Construction? | Modular Building Institute

Modular construction is a process in which a building is constructed off-site, under controlled plant conditions, using the same materials and designing to the same codes and standards as conventionally built facilities – but in about half the time. Buildings are produced in “modules” that when put together on site, reflect the identical design intent and specifications of the most sophisticated site-built facility – without compromise.

https://www.modular.org/HtmlPage.aspx?name=why_modular

Discover the Benefits of Modular Construction: Why Not Build Modular? Structurally, modular buildings are generally stronger than site-built construction because each module is engineered to independently withstand the rigors of transportation and craning onto foundations. Once together and sealed, the modules become one integrated wall, floor, and roof assembly. Explore what modular construction options. Building offsite ensures better construction quality management. Manufacturing plants have stringent QA/QC programs with independent inspection and testing protocols that promote superior quality of construction every step of the way. Beyond quality management and improved completion time, modular construction offers numerous other benefits to owners. Removing approximately 80% of the building construction activity from the site location significantly reduces site disruption, vehicular traffic, and improves overall safety and security. Highly active businesses such as those in the education and healthcare markets have need for reduced on-site activity and offsite construction eliminates a large part of ongoing construction hazards, ensuring a tremendous advantage when building new projects. For architects, developers, and owners alike, modular construction companies today can work with levels of design and construction sophistication that will exceed all expectations, rivaling their site-built counterparts. It is beneficial that when exploring the various project delivery methods, offsite construction is chosen early in the design development process, and the project built around that methodology, to avoid redesigning. Most modular companies, however, can take a site-built design and create a modular version when required, so it’s never too late to explore the possibilities! As owners and designers explore the benefits of Modular Contruction and look for more sustainable designs for improved environmental impact, modular construction is inherently a natural fit. Building in a controlled environment reduces waste through avoidance upstream rather than diversion downstream. This, along with improved quality management throughout the construction process and significantly less on-site activity and disturbance, inherently promotes sustainability. High quality, sustainable, innovative, efficient, cost-effective, and shorter time to completion.

** Poor potato harvest hits McCain UK’s profits

McCain UK's operating profits fell 63% to £21.3m in the year to 30 June 2019. Low temperatures and heavy snowfall in 2018 followed by a dry summer led to one of the weakest potato crops in more than 40 years. McCain said it maintained a value share of 54% of the UK frozen potato category.

https://www.potatonewstoday.com/2020/07/10/poor-potato-harvest-hits-mccain-uks-profits/

Feel free to get in touch with Lukie! He will be most happy to share potato news stories from your country on Potato News Today. [email protected] [email protected] Connect on LinkedIn Follow on Twitter About us

White Island volcano: British couple feared missing make contact

A British couple reported missing after a volcano erupted on an island in New Zealand have made contact with concerned relatives.Karl Rakos, 57, and Deborah Rakos, 50, from Darlington, County Durham, were on a cruise of New Zealand and Australia and had been listed missing on an unofficial Red Cross website.Police said 47 people were on the uninhabited island at the time of the eruption – 24 from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two each from China and the UK, and one from Malaysia.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2019/dec/10/white-island-volcano-fears-grow-for-british-couple

A British couple reported missing after a volcano erupted on an island in New Zealand have made contact with concerned relatives. Karl Rakos, 57, and Deborah Rakos, 50, from Darlington, County Durham, were on a cruise of New Zealand and Australia and had been listed missing on an unofficial Red Cross website. Karl’s mother, 77-year-old Jean Rakos, said family members had been concerned that they had not heard from the couple since news of the disaster broke. But on Tuesday evening she confirmed the couple had made contact and were on a cruise ship heading for Australia. Speaking from her home in Ferryhill, County Durham, she said: “He’s on the ship. He’s on his way to Australia. He will be there tomorrow.” The UK high commissioner in New Zealand has confirmed there are two British women among the wounded in hospital, but has not identified them. Police said 47 people were on the uninhabited island at the time of the eruption – 24 from Australia, nine from the US, five from New Zealand, four from Germany, two each from China and the UK, and one from Malaysia. Six people are known to have died and a further eight are feared to have perished. 01:41 'The scale is devastating': families and Ardern react after New Zealand volcano erupts – video Jacinda Ardern, the New Zealand prime minister, said reconnaissance flights showed no signs of life on the island, as witnesses detailed the horrific burns suffered by those caught up in Monday’s eruption. The confirmed death toll rose to six on Tuesday evening after one of the 31 people being treated for burns died. Twenty-seven of those taken to hospital had sustained greater than 30% body surface burns, said Dr Pete Watson from the Ministry of Health, and more deaths among the injured were expected. Police said they had boats stationed 1,000 metres off the coast of White Island, but had been unable to send drones to test gas levels and do reconnaissance missions because of persistent strong winds. Helicopter pilots said they were willing to fly over on body-retrieval missions, but were being hamstrung by red tape and an overly cautious emergency response plan. Every year, about 10,000 tourists take boat trips and helicopter tours to view the dramatic landscape of White Island, or Whakaari. Some have questioned whether the privately owned island, which is New Zealand’s most active cone volcano, should have been operating as a tourist destination. The island previously experienced a short eruption in 2016, in which no one was hurt. Meanwhile, Matthew Evans, 38, who is originally from Carmarthen in Wales and was one of the Britons listed as missing on a Red Cross website, has been found safe and well. His brother Ian Evans said: “He was travelling with his new wife, he was trekking at the time and we were concerned because we hadn’t heard from him for 24 hours. “But they are safe. They were in the North Island, away from the Bay of Plenty. They said they had no idea what had gone on.”

Nomad Foods house hold penetration reaches 44%

Nomad Foods reported a 4% increase in household penetration in the UK, Italy and Germany, its three largest markets, in Q2 reaching 44%. Millennials accounted for the strongest uptick, in part due to Nomads new Green Cuisine plant-based protein line. The company said the affordability and convenience of frozen foods would likely see it fair well during the looming recession.

https://www.foodnavigator.com/Article/2020/08/07/Nomad-Foods-predicts-permanent-shift-toward-frozen-produce?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS

The Birds Eye, Iglo and Green Cuisine owner reported that its revenue rose to €683 million in the first quarter of 2020, a rise of 10.5% compared to the first quarter of 2019. Gross profit increased 4% to €199 million. The company also upped its earnings estimates for the full year. It now expects EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization) of €450 to €460 million versus the prior expectation of €440 to €445 million. Stéfan Descheemaeker, Nomad Foods’ Chief Executive Officer, told a conference call with investors that frozen food has proven to be one of the fastest-growing and most durable FMCG categories throughout Europe in the past four months. “First quarter revenues and earnings were significantly ahead of our expectations due to the unprecedented level of consumer demand for frozen food driven by the COVID-19 pandemic,"​ he said. "This change in consumer behaviour, which began in early March, has continued into the second quarter with in-home consumption the most meaningful driver. 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."​ He added that the company’s portfolio, which also includes Findus, Aunt Bessie's and Goodfella's, “is concentrated in the sweet spots of the packaged food space, in frozen, branded and retail”.​ Noam Gottesman, Nomad Foods’ Co-Chairman and Founder, said consumer sentiment amid the COVID crisis has seen shoppers gravitate towards more familiar, established and well-regarded brands. “Our business model and supply chain are demonstrating extreme resilience as we all adapt to the current situation. As consumers eat more meals at home and gravitate towards brands they trust, we are addressing a growing need for quality, convenient, and reliable products.”​ CEO Descheemaeker added that the trend toward frozen food and home cooking among consumers would stick. “We experienced continued robust demand throughout the second quarter, even as restrictions were relaxed across Europe beginning in early May. Frozen food has proven to be one of the most durable consumer categories throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, a testament to its role in offering families quick and nutritious meal solutions at home. These are values which we believe will transcend beyond this acute period and appeal to a broader set of consumers in a post-COVID-19 world.”​ New cohorts in the frozen category ​ Descheemaeker said there was new interest in the Nomad brand among younger consumers. “The impact of COVID-19 has undeniably accelerated our top and bottom line results due in large part to an influx of new consumers discovering our brands and significant repeat behavior since the start of the pandemic,”​ he said. “During the second quarter, we recruited an unprecedented number of new consumers into our portfolio with 12-week household penetration up 4 percentage points to 44% across our three largest markets.” ​ Across each of its three largest markets, the UK, Italy and Germany, millennials demonstrated the strongest spending growth among new consumers. Descheemaeker said this was “​a clear indication that our power brands Birds Eye, Iglo and Findus are resonating with this important and influential set of shoppers.”​ Nomad also announced it will continue to expand its range of Birds Eye Green Cuisine meat substitute products. Green Cuisine was available in only two countries at the start of the year. It is now available in 10 European markets, and will be in all of Nomad’s markets by early 2021. “Our expansion of Green Cuisine will only further strengthen our appeal among millennials, given the high-value that they are assign on food that is healthy, convenient and sustainable,”​ noted Descheemaeker. “Consumer interest in our iconic brands has never been higher. Moreover, expansions into the plant-protein space through Green Cuisine positions the company for the possibility of accelerated organic revenue growth in the years to come.” ​ The recession-proof category? ​ Descheemaeker told investors he was confident Nomad was well-placed to fend off the threat from private-label brands, whose market share he estimated had stabilised and even declined in some countries in the past four months. He added that frozen food, as an affordable and convenient option, would appeal to consumers ahead of “likely recession​” in Europe. Private level “does well [in recession] as well”,​ he admitted. But thanks to its core product range, the retention of new consumers and investments “we believe that we have what it takes to do well during these times”.​

EV startup Rivian raises another $2.5b from T. Rowe Price

EV company Rivian has raised $2.5bn through investment firm T Rowe Price and is set to build 100,000 electric delivery vehicles for Amazon in 2021, with plans to launch an SUV and pickup truck. Investors in the start-up’s latest funding round included Amazon, Baron Capital, BlackRock, Fidelity Management and Research and Soros Fund Management. Ford has already invested $500m in Rivian and announced joint EV developments, and Amazon invested $700m at the beginning of 2019. Rivian’s factory is a former Mitsubishi facility in Illinois.

https://eu.freep.com/story/money/cars/2020/07/10/rivian-t-rowe-price/5414550002/

Associated Press Electric vehicle startup Rivian says it has raised another $2.5 billion in funding from accounts advised by investment firm T. Rowe Price. The company has a contract with Amazon to build 100,000 electric delivery vans starting next year at its factory, a former Mitsubishi plant in Normal, Illinois. Rivian also is rolling out a pickup truck and an SUV for sale to consumers next year. The company said Friday that investors in this round include Soros Fund Management, Coatue, Fidelity Management and Research, and Baron Capital Group. Amazon and hedge fund BlackRock have invested previously and also are part of this round, Rivian said. More:Rivian hires a rising star at GM as the battle for EV dominance heats up More:Alexandra Ford English, daughter of Bill Ford Jr., replaces Joe Hinrichs on Rivian board The new investment won't bring any more seats to the Rivian board, the company said. In April of 2019, Ford invested a half-billion dollars into Rivian and said the companies would work jointly to develop electric vehicles. That deal was in addition to a $700 million investment from Amazon that was announced in February of 2019. Most of Rivian's operations are in San Jose and Irvine, California, but it also has a large engineering and administrative office near Detroit. The company employs about 2,300 people.

Islamic robo-adviser Wahed raises £6m to expand

Wahed Invest has raised an additional £6m ($7.9m) from existing investors, valuing the company at £75m. The US-based, halal-compliant digital investment platform, which launched in the UK earlier this year, plans to use the cash to further its international expansion plans. The company is also applying for an E-Money licence from the UK’s FCA that would allow it to offer millions of Muslims an alternative place to deposit their money. According to a survey conducted by Wahed, 84% of respondents said they are not confident that existing Islamic banks are fully halal. 

http://www.businesscloud.co.uk/news/islamic-investment-platform-bags-6m-for-expansion

Wahed Invest, an online investment platform compliant with Islamic law, has raised an additional £6 million this year to expand the reach of its global savings solution. The FinTech platform received the funding from existing investors Boston-based Cue Ball Capital and BECO Capital, a Middle Eastern VC fund known for backing a variety of regional start-ups. This brings the young company’s total funding to nearly £12m since inception and has raised its valuation to over £75m. Wahed, which first launched in the US in 2017 and expanded to the UK in August 2018, revolutionised the industry with its halal digital investment platform, which is fully compliant with Islamic law. This allows savers from all income brackets to invest in a globally diversified portfolio of ethically responsible stocks, Sukuk and gold with as little as £100 minimum investment. “After gaining positive traction in the US and UK, we are excited to be able to carry this momentum into the rest of the world through our international expansion,” said founder and CEO Junaid Wahedna. “Wahed aspires to provide a non-lending-based savings solution to over 1.5 billion Muslims worldwide and to play a lead role in fostering innovation in the growing Islamic Finance sector.” Wahed is also in the process of registering for the E-Money License with the FCA. The platform will offer a practical solution to the millions of Muslims who do not wish to deposit their money with traditional banks. Currently, existing Islamic banks still function as lending institutions by using Shariah-compliant lending structures. Wahedna said: “Our survey results show that 84 per cent of respondents do not trust existing Islamic Banks as being truly Islamic. We want to offer a pure investment-based savings solution with no lending components.” Following a successful launch in the US and UK, Wahed plans on launching in the Gulf Corporation Council (GCC) and ASEAN markets, which have a young and rapidly growing demographic of Muslim consumers. According to Accenture, only one per cent of the $50bn investment in FinTech since 2010 has been in the MENA region.

Blockchain technology: Power to influence ticketing and salaries in football

Football clubs are starting to tap the potential of blockchain technology as an innovative way to deal with long-standing issues such as ticket scalping, fan engagement and the payment of players' salaries. The technology could also be used together with big data analytics, to identify future football stars, says Olivier Jarosz, head of club affairs at the Switzerland-based European Club Association.

https://www.theweek.in/news/sports/2018/09/25/From-ticketing-to-salaries-football-explores-power-of-blockchain.html

Football clubs are starting to tap the potential of blockchain technology as an innovative way to deal with long-standing issues such as ticket scalping, fan engagement and the payment of players' salaries. Considered by many as revolutionary as the internet, a blockchain is a database that is shared across a network of hundreds of computers. Once a record has been added to the chain, it is very difficult to tamper with. And to ensure all copies of the database are the same, the network makes constant checks. Blockchains have been used most prominently as the tool behind cryptocurrency Bitcoin, but many other possible uses from medical records to banking—and now sports—are emerging. "Blockchain has the power to be the underlying infrastructure upon which sport functions," Michael Broughton of Sports Investment Partners was reported as saying as the two-day World Football Summit got underway in Madrid. After French champions Paris Saint-Germain announced earlier this month that they were launching their own cryptocurrency in partnership with Socios.com, a blockchain company based in Malta, Italian giants Juventus announced on Monday they would do the same. Fans of the two clubs will be able to buy club-branded tokens that come with voting rights as well as access to exclusive content and rewards. English side Arsenal announced in January they had reached an agreement with California-based Cashbet to launch their own cryptocurrency which would be used to bet on matches. The technology could also have significant implications for ticket sales. European football governing body UEFA used blockchain technology to sell all of the tickets for the Super Cup final in Tallinn in August between Real Madrid and Atletico Madrid over mobile phones, preventing the duplication of tickets. In a sign of the growing interest of the football world in blockchain, Barcelona's Argentine star Lionel Messi in December became a brand ambassador for Israeli start-up Sirin Labs which has developed an ultra-secure mobile phone that uses the technology. Former Liverpool and England striker Michael Owen earlier this year invested in Hong Kong-based Global Crypto Offering Exchange (GCOX), a global platform that allows celebrities to create and list their own "tokens". The technology is even starting—albeit on a very small scale—to be used to pay players, which some believe could help stamp out corruption in football. Gibraltar United announced in July that it would become the world's first football club to pay its players in cryptocurrency while tiny Turkish club Harunustaspor made global headlines at the start of the year by announcing it had carried out the world's first football transfer of a player in bitcoins. "It could bring transparency to world of football," said Pablo Dana of Heritage Sports Holding which owns Gibraltar United and in August bought 25 per cent of Italian third division side Rimini using a digital currency. Broughton agreed, saying "having a player's identify and registration on the blockchain could provide greater transparency to the transfer and ownership systems". The technology could also be used together with big data analytics, to identify future football stars, according to Olivier Jarosz, head of club affairs at the Switzerland-based European Club Association. "You can go through the database and try to find out the biggest potentials without sending 200 scouts," he said. But Sam Jones of the London Football Exchange warned that "you can't insure yourself" against some of the new cryptpocurrencies that use blockchain. "You relying on hope and hope is the key ingredient of a bubble," he said.

India ranks among top 10 power consumers globally

India was the third-biggest global consumer of electricity, with consumption of 1,164 TWh up to November 2019, according to data from the International Energy Agency. China was the top consumer with 5,537 TWh, while the US consumed 3,738 TWh. Japan, Russia and Korea ranked fourth to sixth. Meanwhile, India featured in the top four non-OECD (Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) consumers of electricity for 2017, along with China, Russia and Brazil, which together accounted for 37.2% of global consumption. The share of electricity production of non-OECD countries was 57% in 2017.

https://www.saurenergy.com/solar-energy-news/india-among-top-10-power-consuming-countries-globally

With electricity consumption reached to 1,164 TWh in the country till November 2019, India ranked third among the top ten electricity consuming countries across the globe, as per the key statistics data of IEA. Power consumption is undoubtedly one of the major parameters which define the speed of growth and development of any country. Asian powerhouse China grabbed the top position with its power consumption reached at 5,537 TWh, followed by IT giant the United States of America with 3,738 TWh of electricity consumption, the report stated. Following China, US and India, countries which secured the fourth, fifth and sixth positions were Japan, Russia and Korea with 964 TWh, 761 TWh and 523 TWh of power consumption respectively. Additionally, Germany stood at number seven with 519 TWh of electricity consumption, followed by Canada who was consuming 509 TWh of electricity, according to the IEA 2019 report. Meanwhile, Brazil and France remained on the ninth and tenth places with 499 TWh and 437 TWh of electricity consumption, added the report. Besides global electricity consumption, India also remained in the top four non-OECD consumers of electricity in 2017 were China, India, Russia and Brazil, together represent 37.2 percent of global consumption, said IEA. The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) is an international organisation working towards building better policies for better lives. In non-OECD consumers also, China remained the largest consumer with 46.7 percent share of total non-OECD consumption due to higher demand in its industrial hub. On the other side, gross electricity production globally was 2.5 percent higher in 2017, as compared to the previous year, the report added. Although, global electricity production on a year-on-year basis grown continuously since 1974, except for between 2008 and 2009, when the global financial crisis caused an appreciable decline in production. Significantly, the share of production of non-OECD countries in 2017 reached 57 percent of global electricity generation, which is more than double the share they held in 1974. Meanwhile, the annual production growth between 2000 and 2010 averaged 1.1 percent in OECD countries, as against 6.4 percent in non-OECD countries.

Farming manufacturer John Deere sinks as trade war takes its toll on agricultural orders

John Deere sank after announcing its projected net income would be lower than analysts expected. Deere fell 5.3% in opening trading, after its CEO cited the trade war as one of the main reasons for the fall in income, saying that "lingering trade tensions" were causing uncertainty among farmers. The fall wiped roughly $3 billion from Deere's market cap of $55.62 billion.

https://markets.businessinsider.com/news/stocks/john-deere-stock-stinks-as-trade-war-hits-agricultural-orders-2019-11-1028722354#

John Deere, the farming equipment manufacturer, sank after announcing its projected net income would be lower than analysts expected. Deere fell 5.3% in opening trading, after its CEO cited the trade war as one of the main reasons for the fall in income, saying that "lingering trade tensions" were causing uncertainty among farmers. Last month new data revealed that farming bankruptcies were at their highest point since 2011. View Business Insider's homepage for more stories. Sign up for our newsletter to get the inside scoop on what traders are talking about — delivered daily to your inbox. Loading Something is loading. Thanks for signing up! Access your favorite topics in a personalized feed while you're on the go. download the app Email address By clicking ‘Sign up’, you agree to receive marketing emails from Insider as well as other partner offers and accept our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy John Deere, the farming equipment manufacturer, is plunging after announcing that its projected net income will be lower than analysts expected after orders for new equipment declined due to the trade war. Deere's stock fell 5.3% in opening trading at 9:30 a.m. in New York, after saying its full-year fiscal 2020 forecast would be $2.7 billion to $3.1 billion, compared to the $3.46 billion average analyst estimate collected by Bloomberg. The fall wiped roughly $3 billion from Deere's market cap of $55.62 billion at Tuesday's close after the stock rallied just shy of 20% since the start of the year. In its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings statement, CEO John May said that the lowered outlook "reflected continued uncertainties in the agricultural sector," led by "lingering trade tensions coupled with a year of difficult growing and harvesting conditions." May added that this caused farmers to become "cautious about making major investments in new equipment." Deere also had a negative outlook for 2020 in both agriculture and turf, and construction and forestry segments. Agriculture and turf sales are expected to decline 5-10%, while construction and forestry is expected to fall 10-15%. "At the same time, general economic conditions have remained favorable. This has supported demand for smaller equipment and led to solid results for Deere's construction and forestry business, which had a record year for sales and operating profit," May said in the statement. Deere reported net income of $2.27 per share for the quarter, compared with $2.42 per share in the same period last year. Farmers in the last year have been plagued by tariffs damaging orders for American agricultural goods. Just last month, data from the American Farm Bureau Federation showed that farm bankruptcies are at their highest level since 2011. Soybean farmers have been particularly affected, mainly due to the crop being one of the largest export sectors from the US to China. For Trump's reelection campaign, farming support is expected to play a crucial part, given that many farmers are located in areas that could swing the election. Earlier this week, a new study showed that Trump's trade war cost seats for the Republicans in Congress in 2018. The Trump administration has also given billions in payouts to farmers to counter the effects of the trade war. However, the study showed that the payouts allocated before the elections had little effect on votes because the money went to areas that were already strongly Republican.

David Hockney: Britain's most expensive living artists

David Hockney will turn 80 in July. Tate Britain intends to mark this milestone for the artist, who's career stretches back 60 years. His work spans from the universally- recognised swimming pool art to his more recent oeuvre, drawings on his iPad. The substantial 160 works will travel to the Centre Pompidou in Paris and on to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Hockney has already transferred some of his own works estimated at £81.5 million to the David Hockney Foundation and he plans to give further gifts to the Tate, where three of his paintings already hang. In a 2015 documentary, the artist and philanthropist stated that "he does not want to become a machine for producing items of value."

https://news.artnet.com/people/randall-wright-david-hockney-documentary-481496

Randall Wright’s documentary Hockney offers a deeply personal portrait of the British artist. And yet, viewers may see less of David Hockney in action than they would expect. The focus, instead, is on the all-encompassing creative passions of one man, on both his personal struggles and triumphs. Wright has made a film that is perfect for Hockney’s existing fans, but does not serve as a much-needed primer on the artist. In this way, the filmmakers seem unconcerned with establishing Hockney’s career trajectory or exploring his place within the art historical canon. Instead, the BBC documentary was described by BBC controller Kim Shillinglaw as a “frank and unparalleled visual diary.” Despite its flaws, Hockney’s life makes for compelling cinema. There is love, there is heartbreak, and there is tragedy (in the form of the AIDS crisis), even as career milestones are glossed over. A child of the Depression “brought up in austerity,” as he himself put it, the Yorkshire-born artist moved to the US as a young man, living first in New York, and then California, where he fell in love with Los Angeles. “When I arrived here, somebody said ‘why have you come to his cultural desert?'” Hockney recalled in archival footage, explaining that he was drawn to the magic of Hollywood when he was growing up. In the film’s earliest moments, a friend describes the artist as “a Russian peasant, a right Boris!” It’s a fitting introduction to a man who has been dying his hair platinum blonde since watching a Clairol TV ad in the 1960s that said “everybody should go blond,” who has been so devoted to depicting LA in his work. Unfortunately, we couldn’t tell you who described the artist so colorfully, because it’s incredibly difficult to keep track of who is saying what in Hockney. Identifying title cards appear only sporadically, and never explain the speaker’s relationship to the artist. You might recognize the artist Ed Ruscha, but Wright isn’t about to tell you who he is, or why he’s an authority on Hockney. In another scene, there’s a great story about Hockney spilling ink on a college friend’s parents white carpet—”Dad, we should have him sign it! It’ll be worth millions in a couple of years!”—but good luck figuring out that friend’s name. This approach feels diary-esque, in the way a journal keeper might refer to acquaintances by first name alone, without introductory preamble or helpful exposition. Hockney’s jarringly-personal archival video footage also makes an appearance in the film, without explanation. However, Wright’s incorporation of these home movies, as well as old photographs, is among the film’s highlights. Adorable video of a young Hockney dancing at a college party is followed some time later by a shot of the artist walking down the hallway of his London apartment, casually stripping off his underwear to slip into the shower. When Hockney breaks up with his first love, Peter Schlesinger, his heart-wrenching sadness is captured on film, the artist lying on a waterbed, crying on the shoulder of his best friend, curator and art critic Henry Geldzahler. Hockney was also deeply affected by the AIDS crisis, which he says claimed the lives of perhaps two thirds of his friends. “When I think of all those people… New York would be different” had they not died, Hockney said. “There would be Bohemia still.” In the face of such tragedy, it was art that allowed Hockney to keep going. “The art is the thing that gives him the anchor in his life and in the the world,” said one friend. The primal, almost life-giving importance that art has to David Hockney is more significant to his career than any auction record or museum retrospective. “I’m interested in ways of looking,” said Hockney. “Everybody does look, it’s just a matter of how hard they’re willing look.” The drive to effectively communicate what he sees has pushed Hockney to explore many different means of image-making, often by finding new and unexpected uses of technology, from photos and photocopiers to HD video cameras. His current iPad paintings, for instance, were presaged by his use of the fax machine, which he once used to transmit an entire work to an exhibition in South America. There’s another reason Hockney has produced such radically different series of works over the years, a friend in the film noted: “He does not want to become a machine for producing items of value.” This idea is what drives the artist, but it is unfortunate that so much of his professional life is missing from the film. Hockney is currently in limited release, and is screening in New York at the Metrograph and the Film Society Lincoln Center. Follow Artnet News on Facebook:

David Hockney: Britain's most expensive living artists

David Hockney will turn 80 in July. Tate Britain intends to mark this milestone for the artist, who's career stretches back 60 years. His work spans from the universally- recognised swimming pool art to his more recent oeuvre, drawings on his iPad. The substantial 160 works will travel to the Centre Pompidou in Paris and on to the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Hockney has already transferred some of his own works estimated at £81.5 million to the David Hockney Foundation and he plans to give further gifts to the Tate, where three of his paintings already hang. In a 2015 documentary, the artist and philanthropist stated that "he does not want to become a machine for producing items of value."

https://news.artnet.com/art-world/tate-premieres-david-hockney-retrospective-431837

Just in time for the beloved artist’s 80th birthday (next July 9), Tate Britain will host a massive retrospective for David Hockney in 2017. As one of Britain’s most expensive living artists, Hockney has had a long, illustrious artistic career, and the museum plans on covering all sixty years’ worth of paintings, drawings, prints, photographs, and videos. The show dives deep into his oeuvre—yes, fans of the artist’s homoerotic swimming pool series will be satisfied—with everything from Hockney’s early 1960s love paintings to his most recent ventures, including drawings done on the artist’s iPad. “We’re looking back over a lifetime with this exhibition,” Hockney told the Guardian. “I hope, like me, people will enjoy seeing how the roots of my new and recent work can be seen in the developments over the years.” Tate Britain states that the retrospective will be the artist’s most comprehensive exhibition, featuring a number of works that have yet to make their public debuts. The show, which boasts a hefty 160 works, will travel to Centre Pompidou in Paris and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York after its premiere. “We’ve shaped the show and made a selection and then he’s made suggestions and we’ve shifted the emphasis a bit and there are some works he’s asked us to think about,” the exhibition’s co-curator Chris Stephens said to the Guardian. Hockney’s longtime residence in California earned him two major retrospectives at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art in decades past: David Hockney: A Retrospective in 1988 and David Hockney: A Drawing Retrospective in 1996. More recently, in 2013, the DeYoung museum in San Francisco presented a survey of Hockey’s work since 2002. “David Hockney” will be on view at Tate Britain, February 9–May 29, 2017. Follow Artnet News on Facebook:

IWG Booming co-working market in Vietnam draws foreign operators

The co-working market is strengthening in Vietnam and global market leader WeWork is set to launch its own sites in the country. Savills Vietnam said 43 co-working spaces opened in Hanoi and 15 in Ho Chi Minh City in the past four years. Operators included local firms Toong, Up and Hatch, and international companies Regus, Hive, CEO Suite and Kloud. WeWork bought Chinese competitor Naked Hub in April, which is planning to open five locations in Vietnam this year. Co-working makes up 3% of office rental in Vietnam and is expected to be as much as 15% within five years.

http://www.vir.com.vn/co-working-draws-foreign-operators-61477.html

US giant WeWork is making an entry into the Vietnamese co-working market, Photo: Le Toan The world’s largest co-working space operator WeWork, valued at $20 billion, will likely make competition in the local market grow fiercer if it decides to launch its own co-working spaces in Vietnam. According to the latest report by real estate services provider Savills Vietnam, 43 co-working spaces have been opened in Hanoi and 15 in Ho Chi Minh City since early 2014. The growing market includes local names like Toong, Up, and Hatch as well as foreign operators like Regus (UK), Hive (Hong Kong), CEO Suite (South Korea), and Kloud (Singapore). To serve millennial professionals, most co-working spaces are concentrated in the city centre, namely the four inner districts of Hanoi and the central districts 1, 2, 3, and 4 plus Binh Thanh and Phu Nhuan districts in Ho Chi Minh City, all of which boast a high density of firms, commercial space, and entertainment areas. Will WeWork devour the market? Prior to eyeing Vietnam, WeWork expanded in Asia through mergers and acquisitions (M&A) deals. Last year, the US firm acquired a Singapore-based counterpart Spacemob, which followed a very similar model to WeWork’s, without disclosing the terms of the deal. With Spacemob, WeWork was able to enter Singapore, widely seen as Asia’s most innovative country, as well as Indonesia, Southeast Asia’s most populous country. In April the giant announced a $400 million deal to buy Naked Hub, one of its main competitors in China, to enter the most populous market in the world. Naked Hub is an offshoot of China-based luxury resort company Naked Group that was started in 2015 by Grant Horsfield and Delphine Yip-Horsfield. The company is primarily anchored in China, with most of its locations in Beijing and Shanghai, but it has expanded into Australia, Hong Kong and Vietnam. All told, it claims to have 10,000 members across its 24 office locations. According to the company’s website, five Naked Hub locations are slated to be opened in Ho Chi Minh City and Hanoi in 2018. As of now, Naked Hub in E-Town in Ho Chi Minh City and Naked Hub in Indochina Plaza in Hanoi are among the most crowded locations in the community. A WeWork insider declined to tell VIR about the giant’s detailed plans for Vietnam, but did say that the company would not go the way of M&A in the country. Exciting market that creates no fear Do Hoai Nam, co-founder of domestic operator Up, told VIR that ASEAN-based Grab acquiring global giant Uber’s operations in the regional market shows the key role the “local element” can play. Up tends to attract relatively new startup companies, so it chooses locations that are home to young startups. Up has co-operated with Ho Chi Minh City University of Technology to create a common working space and nursery business startup with legal support services and personnel. Bui Trung Kien, deputy director of Commercial Leasing of Savills Hanoi, said that every co-working space is different in its business model and its target customers. He explained there are units geared towards young entrepreneurs, startups, and freelancers, while some are aimed at small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) or foreign corporations looking to rent office space in Vietnam, adding that the co-working market in Vietnam is competitive and developing in a healthy way. According to Kien, the entry of a giant like WeWork would certainly have an impact on the co-working market in Vietnam. However, he added each that firm has its own competitive advantages and the presence of international firms would make the market more dynamic and professional. Taking a lesson from the giant, local co-working spaces, which mostly serve startups and freelancers, could make their business models more flexible and attract potential corporate clients. Nguyen Hoai An, director of Consultancy Services at CBRE Vietnam, told VIR that as millennials account for 91 per cent of clients in local co-working spaces, much higher than the global average of 67 per cent, more firms are bound to join the market to meet the demand. Local operators welcome diversity To date, well-known local operator Toong, founded in 2015, is the only domestic operator to receive strategic investment from foreign investors–Openasia Group and Indochina Capital–and form strategic partnerships with other companies such as CapitaLand, United Overseas Bank, International Enterprise Singapore, and Vanguard Hotels. Speaking on the possibility of the US giant coming to Vietnam, a Toong representative said the company was “happy to welcome foreign operators”, adding that the market is big enough for many more players. Toong, which is not only developing more spaces in Vietnam, but is also expanding to Cambodia and Laos this year, said that, “The more operators in the market, the more choices customers have.“ Toong’s representative asserted the company’s belief that successful firms are the ones which hold a clear vision and work hard to offer great value to their target customers. He also told VIR that the company believes its target customers are different from WeWork’s. As the latest comer to the market last month, CoGo co-working space is positioning itself as a world-class investment unit, with an average of 2,500 square metres to each of its locations, which are focused on Grade A and B office buildings. Most of the SMEs it calls clients operate in a stable manner, so the style of office design is more professional rather than reminiscent of a cafe. Kien of Savills Hanoi said that thanks to the scale advantage, rent will be one of the strengths of CoGo, since its prices range 20-30 per cent below the average. Kien also expects that the participation of more and more companies will get more businesses to move away from traditional offices and use co-working spaces. Kien added that the co-working market in Vietnam accounts for about 3 per cent of the total office rental market, which is still lower than the ratio of 5 per cent seen in other regional markets. It is expected to reach 10-15 per cent over the next five years.

Google must open up 'walled garden': The&Partnership

Advertising agency The&Partnership has called on the likes of Google and Facebook to open up their walled gardens to independent ad verification software. The firm believes that funds lost to ad fraud could be significantly reduced if the tech companies would let third-party ad verification solutions in. If the tech firms refuse entry to verification providers, they are "denying our clients the clean, brand-safe environments they quite rightly demand", said The&Partnership founder Johnny Hornby.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/297997/agency-urges-google-to-allow-third-party-ad-verifi.html

by Richard Whitman , Columnist, March 27, 2017 As a follow up to its study which found up to $16.4 billion could be lost to ad fraud in 2017, The&Partnership is, well, basically demanding that Google, Facebook, et al open up their walled gardens and allow inside third party purveyors of ad verification solutions such as Adloox, a company The&Partnership partnered with for the study. The&Partnership argues ad spend lost to ad fraud could be reduced to single digits if only the giants would allow in solutions such as Adlooz. Currently the big boys don't allow in third party solutions of this type. Arguing for a doorway into the walled garden, The&Partnership Founder Johnny Hornby said, "Without this, not only are these platforms denying our clients the clean, brand-safe environments they quite rightly demand - but advertisers also lack full transparency and visibility in terms of the money they are losing to fraudulent advertising and advertising that never gets seen. If Google wants to see advertisers returning to YouTube in significant numbers. it is going to have to move quickly." Hornby suggests Google needs to do two things, "Firstly, Google needs to stop marking its own homework, fully opening up its walled gardens to independent, specialist ad verification software, to give brands the visibility and transparency they deserve. Secondly, Google will need to start looking at brand safety from completely the other end of the telescope. Instead of allowing huge volumes of content to become ad-enabled every minute, and then endeavoring to convince advertisers that the dangerous and offensive content among it will be found and weeded out, it should be presenting advertisers only with advertising opportunities that have already been pre-vetted and found to be 100% safe." Does anyone think Google is actually going to allow this? Of course, they could just buy Adloox and then there might be some actual headway.

Tesco says it will stockpile food, but opportunities limited

Tesco has said it would be difficult to stockpile food ahead of a potential no-deal Brexit. The supermarket is unable to make concrete preparations while negotiations affecting the country’s direction are ongoing. CEO Dave King said Tesco was unsure it could guarantee supplies of fresh food in the event of no agreement between the government and the EU, but establishing a solution regarding imports would be its priority in the coming months. Stockpiling dry food is not an issue for the company.

https://www.independent.co.uk/news/business/news/tesco-food-stockpiling-no-deal-brexit-a8566571.html

Sign up to our free Brexit and beyond email for the latest headlines on what Brexit is meaning for the UK Sign up to our Brexit email for the latest insight Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy notice Thanks for signing up to the Brexit and beyond email {{ #verifyErrors }} {{ message }} {{ /verifyErrors }} {{ ^verifyErrors }} Something went wrong. Please try again later {{ /verifyErrors }} Tesco has warned that opportunities to stockpile food in order to prepare for a no-deal Brexit are “very, very limited”. Chief executive Dave Lewis said that ensuring supplies of food remain uninterrupted was the “single biggest challenge” facing supermarkets as the UK prepares to leave the EU. Despite the urgent need to plan for Brexit, Mr Lewis said Britain's biggest retailer was still unable to fully prepare until the outcome of negotiations becomes clearer. The supermarket chain is in “wait and see mode”, he said. Recommended Aldi considers stockpiling food to cope with Brexit “The biggest single challenge will be in a no-deal scenario and what happens with fresh food. “The possibility of stockpiling fresh food is very, very limited,” Mr Lewis said, adding that supplies of dry food could be built up. He said plans to ensure fresh food imports are not held up is “where all our attention will be in the lead up (to Brexit)”. The comments came as Tesco unveiled rising half-year sales and profits, boosted by its takeover of wholesaler Booker. Tesco delivered its 11th quarter in a row of rising like-for-like sales in the UK and Ireland while pre-tax profits for the six months to 25 August rose to £564m, 2 per cent higher than the same period last year. Underlying operating profits were up 24.4 per cent to £933m in the first half. Despite the results, Tesco’s share price slumped almost 9 per cent on Wednesday as disappointing performance left earnings short of expectations. Aldi revealed on Monday that it has considered stockpiling food as part of its preparations for Brexit. But chief executive Giles Hurley added that Aldi's increased fresh food range would make this more difficult. Brexit casualties Show all 10 1 / 10 Brexit casualties Brexit casualties Andrea Jenkyns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary at the ministry for housing, communities and local government role May 2018 - The Morley and Outwood MP said: “We want to see a new relationship with Europe, with a new model not enjoyed by other countries – nothing that leaves us half-in, half-out. “And in order to achieve this, we need to leave the customs union.” Ms Jenkyn’s also said she wished to dedicate more of her time to Parliament’s influential Exiting the European Union select committee, after a series of “unbalanced” reports produced by MPs PA Brexit casualties David Davis - Resigned from Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - quit following a major row with May over her plans for post-Brexit relations with the EU. Davis resignation letter said: “As you know there have been a significant number of occasions in the last year or so on which I have disagreed with the Number 10 policy line, ranging from accepting the [European] Commission’s sequencing of negotiations, through to the language on Northern Ireland in the December Joint Report. “At each stage I have accepted collective responsibility because it is part of my task to find workable compromises, and because I considered it was still possible to deliver on the mandate of the referendum, and on our manifesto commitment to leave the Customs Union and the Single Market. “I am afraid that I think the current trend of policy and tactics is making that look less and less likely.” He went on to argue that the “general direction” of Ms May’s policies would leave the UK “in at best a weak negotiating position, and possibly an inescapable one”. AFP/Getty Brexit casualties Steve Baker - Resigned from Minister at the Department for Exiting the European Union role July 2018 - Mr Baker, a key Tory figure in the Leave campaign, was David Davis’s main lieutenant at Dexeu, and was hailed as ”courageous and principled” by other Brexiteer Tories as he also left. Reuters Brexit casualties Boris Johnson - Resigned from Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. In his resignation letter to the prime minister, Mr Johnson said: "On Friday, I acknowledged that my side of the argument were too few to prevail and congratulated you on at least reaching a Cabinet decision on the way forward. "As I said then, the government now has a song to sing. "The trouble is that I have practised the words over the weekend and find that they stick in the throat." Reuters Brexit casualties Conor Burns - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary to Foreign Secretary role July 2018 - A Brexit supporter who worked alongside Boris Johnson stated in his resignation letter: “I've decided it's time to have greater freedom. I want to see the referendum result respected. And there are other areas of policy I want to speak more openly on.” Rex Brexit casualties Chris Green - Resigned from Department for Transport role July 2018 - The Bolton West MP said: "Parliament overwhelmingly decided to give the decision of whether to leave or remain in the European Union to the British people and they made an unambiguous decision that we ought to leave. "I have always understood the idea in 'Brexit means Brexit' is that the final deal should be clear to me and my constituents - that we have, in no uncertain terms, left the European Union. Twitter Ads info and privacy "The direction the negotiations had been taking have suggested that we would not really leave the EU and the conclusion and statements following the Chequers summit confirmed my fears. "I recognise that delivering Brexit is challenging, however I had hoped at tonight's meeting that there would be some certainty that my fears were unfounded but, instead, they have been confirmed. "I have been grateful for the opportunity to serve as Parliamentary Private Secretary and it is with regret that I offer my resignation with immediate effect." PA Brexit casualties Maria Caulfield - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for women role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. Lewes MP warned that the direction of travel did “not fully embrace the opportunities that Brexit can provide”. Ms Caulfield said in her letter to the PM: “The policy may assuage vested interests, but the voters will find out and their representatives will be found out. This policy will be bad for our country and bad for the party. “The direct consequences of that will be prime minister Corbyn.” PA Brexit casualties Ben Bradley - Resigned from Conservative Party vice-chair for young people role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. The Mansfield MP said: “I admit that I voted to Remain in that ballot. What has swayed me over the last two years to fully back the Brexit vision is the immense opportunities that are available from global trade, and for the ability for Britain to be an outward looking nation in control of our own destiny once again. “I fear that this agreement at Chequers damages those opportunities; that being tied to EU regulations, and the EU tying our hands when seeking to make new trade agreements, will be the worst of all worlds if we do not deliver Brexit in spirit as well as in name, then we are handing Jeremy Corbyn the keys to No10.” PA Brexit casualties Robert Courts - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. MP Mr Courts said: “I have taken a very difficult decision to resign my position as [parliamentary private secretary] to express discontent with the Chequers [plans] in votes tomorrow. “I had to think who I wanted to see in the mirror for the rest of my life. I cannot tell the people of Woxon that I support the proposals in their current form.” Getty Brexit casualties Scott Mann - Resigned from Parliamentary Private Secretary role July 2018 - resigned over May's Chequers plan. "I fear elements of the Brexit white paper will inevitably put me in direct conflict with the views expressed by a large section of my constituents. I am not prepared to compromise their wishes to deliver a watered-down Brexit. "The residents of North Cornwall made it very clear that they wish to have control over our fishery, our agricultural policy, our money, our laws and our borders. I will evaluate those principles against the Brexit white paper and ensure that I vote in line with their wishes." Rex “While I think storage of additional stock is worth considering, based on storage and shelf life that would be very challenging,” he said. Brexit Secretary Dominic Raab said in July that the government is making plans to secure food supply in the event of a no-deal Brexit. But he said it was “wrong to describe it as the Government doing the stockpiling”, indicating that industry would need to take the lead.

Irish physicists create advanced solar flare warning system

Physicists from Trinity College Dublin have developed a solar storm alarm system that will soon allow us to see exactly when a solar storm on the sun occurs and thereby prepare our electronics systems accordingly.  Occasionally, the Earth finds itself in the firing line of massive bursts of solar radiation, that whilst not a physical threat, could disturb the magnetic field which in turn would lead to electronically-powered devices and power grids to overload, causing huge disruptions.   It is hoped that the system, called the magnetometer array, will be operational within a year’s time.

https://www.siliconrepublic.com/innovation/2015/07/07/irish-physicists-develop-advanced-solar-flare-warning-system

With the help of a solar storm alarm system developed by physicists from Trinity College Dublin (TCD) the Earth may soon be able to see exactly when a solar storm on the sun occurs, and prepare our electronics systems for an imminent impact. While solar flare eruptions on the surface of the sun are frequent, for the most part they pose little-if-any threat to those of us on Earth with our atmosphere protecting us from any harmful radiation that is projected our way. However, on occasion, the Earth will find itself in the firing line of a massive burst of solar radiation that, while not posing much in the way of a physical threat to us, can cause great disturbances in our magnetic field, which can ultimately lead to electrically-powered devices and power grids overloading, causing serious disruptions. Looking at examples, the recent St Patrick’s Day solar flare that created beautiful northern lights above the skies of Ireland posed no threat to those below, but the 1989 solar flare that struck the atmosphere above Canada in 1989 knocked out power for 6m Canadians, disrupted radio communications and cost the country’s government CA$13bn (€9bn) in damages. For this reason, monitoring when a solar flare occurs and seeing what effect it might have for us is critical for the power grid infrastructure both here and in the UK, and it will soon be aided by TCD’s magnetometer array, which can detect activity in the Earth’s atmosphere and at least give 10 minutes of notice to those who need to know the information most. “A warning message from our magnetometer network developed by Trinity and the Dublin Institute for Advanced Studies notified me of the onset of a large geomagnetic storm as I watched the St Patrick’s Day parade with my family,” said Peter Gallagher, associate professor of physics at TCD, of the magnetometer’s testing. He continued: “My research student Sean Blake quickly ran the British Geological Survey’s magnetic storm model to see if there were any threats to the Irish power grid. Despite the storm’s size, no significant effects were predicted, or indeed reported.” The magnetometer is also just one of several atmospheric monitoring devices used by the TCD research team that can pick up a solar flare three days before it reaches us here on Earth. While the St Patrick’s Day event proved to be harmless from an electronics point of view, the system developed by the TCD team will allow for much more detailed future research and offer a historical model to work from during future research, offering rich detail of what occurred during a particular atmospheric event. According to Gallagher, however, the magnetometer array is still in a proof of concept stage, but after successful testing during the St Patrick’s Day event, it is hoped to be fully operational within a year’s time. Solar flare image via Shutterstock

Case IH Unveils Autonomous Concept Tractor

Case IH has unveiled an autonomous concept tractor. It features a fully interactive interface, which allows an operator to remotely monitor preprogrammed operations. The onboard system automatically accounts for implement widths and plots the most efficient paths depending on the terrain, obstructions and other machines in use in the same field.

https://www.agriculture.com/news/machinery/case-ih-unveils-autonomous-concept-tractor#:~:text=Case%20IH%20and%20CNH%20Industrial's,to%20remotely%20monitor%20preprogrammed%20operations.

Would you be willing to invest in a completely autonomous tractor? With the unveiling of its Autonomous Concept Tractor, it's a question Case IH wants farmers to answer. “We just want to know how much interest producers have in these autonomous features, and what else they would like to see from us,” says Leo Bose, Advanced Farming Systems (AFS) marketing manager. “It’s not a product launch by any means. But it could certainly lead to one, or several, down the road.” Case IH and CNH Industrial’s Innovation Group based the cabless concept on an existing Magnum tractor with reimagined styling. It features a fully interactive interface, which allows an operator to remotely monitor preprogrammed operations. The onboard system automatically accounts for implement widths and plots the most efficient paths depending on the terrain, obstructions and other machines in use in the same field. The operator can supervise and adjust the paths remotely via a desktop computer or portable tablet interface. “An autonomous tractor like this could seamlessly integrate into an existing farm machinery fleet, with minimal operational changes,” says Bose. “Multiple autonomous vehicles could be put to work in one field or separate fields, on the same tasks or consecutive ones. It could allow a person working with no employees to operate multiple tractors, or could complement very large operations that have challenges finding ample skilled workers.” Safety first Through the use of radar, LiDAR and onboard video cameras, the vehicle can sense stationary or moving obstacles in its path and will stop on its own until the operator, notified by audio and visual alerts, assigns a new path. The vehicle will also stop immediately if the GPS signal or position data is lost, or if the manual stop button is pushed. Machine tasks can also be modified in real time with remote interface or automatic weather warnings. CNH Industrial collaborated with Autonomous Solutions Incorporated, ASI, a Utah-based company, in the development of this concept autonomous technology. The focus on future innovations that help farmers achieve high-efficiency farming practices is part of Case’s new “Rethink Productivity” tagline. “We’re officially adopting ‘Rethink Productivity’ as our North American brand tagline because it embodies both our approach to equipment innovation and our customers’ approach to their operations,” says Tom Dean, marketing director for Case IH North America. “In today’s ag economy, producers know they must focus on achieving the highest level of efficiency if they want to grow and succeed. That’s why we are intensifying our focus on the combination of advanced technologies and agronomic design in the pursuit of High-Efficiency Farming.” Visit caseih.com to learn more.

IWG WeWork, Bunker Labs expand Veterans in Residence scheme

WeWork and veteran entrepreneurs non-profit Bunker Labs are to expand their Veterans in Residence programme. The initiative aims to support military families by providing fully subsidised office space, business mentorship schemes and community engagement services for six months to veterans or their spouses who operate businesses. Two new locations, in Boston and Washington DC, will add to the 14 already included in the scheme across the US.

https://citybizlist.com/article/513450/wework-names-second-cohort-for-dc-veterans-in-residence-program

With Veterans Day commemorated this week, WeWork named the second cohort of companies for its Veterans in Residence program in D.C. The coworking company teamed once again with Bunker Labs, a nonprofit dedicated to helping new veteran entrepreneurs start their own businesses. In November 2017, WeWork announced a commitment to hire 1,500 veterans over the next five years. The Veterans in Residence program launched in Denver the summer of 2017, launched in 10 additional cities on Veterans Day 2017 and has grown to 14 cities across the U.S., including D.C. and Philly (heads up Tehchnical.ly Philly), with 250 current and alumni participants of the program. To commemorate Veterans Day 2018, WeWork, Bunker Labs, current Veterans in Residence and local veteran service organizations across the U.S. hosted Opportunity Fairs in the 14 cities where the Veterans in Residence program is happening to give veterans and military service members a chance to meet and connect. READ FULL ARTICLE HERE

Future Generali introduces insurance chatbot, WhatsApp service

Indian insurer Future Generali has launched a new chatbot and a seperate WhatsApp service. The Robotic Enabled Virtual Assistant (REVA) is designed to assist customers in real time with buying policies, and will be launched in August across a number of platforms, including the company's website, mobile app, social media pages and Amazon Echo. The "WhatsApp for Service" has already been launched, providing services including policy renewal, document verification and policy sharing via the messaging app. The company says it delivered more than 5,000 policies to customers in the two weeks after the service was launched.

https://cio.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/corporate-news/future-generali-india-life-insurance-launches-whatsapp-for-service-chatbot-reva-to-deliver-real-time-services-to-customers/64975297

Advt Join the community of 2M+ industry professionals Subscribe to our newsletter to get latest insights & analysis. Enter Email Download ETCIO App Get Realtime updates Save your favourite articles Scan to download App Mumbai, 13th July 2018 – Future Generali India Life Insurance , today announced the launch of two digital initiatives- chatbot REVA (Robotic Enabled Virtual Assistant ) and a unique ‘ WhatsApp for Service ’ initiative – a first in the life insurance space. While using artificial intelligence and natural language processing , both these digital platforms will provide policyholders solutions to their policy related queries on real time basis.The ‘WhatsApp for Service’ is an initiative designed to empower customers to access their policies and provide them a host of services over WhatsApp ranging from policy sharing, Aadhar/PAN document verification to policy renewal, premium alerts, document collection and receiving important updates. The same will soon accommodate customer requests for unit statement, claims, premium paid certificate, renewal payments etc. Every time a new customer is onboarded, a soft copy of the policy shall be issued to the customer on WhatsApp. The 24x7 on-the-go service will aim to expedite service delivery and improve customer experience significantly by making it convenient and simple for customers to access our services. We have already delivered over 5,000 policies in two weeks of service being released to our customers.REVA (Robotics Enabled Virtual Assistant), with the help of natural language conversion feature, will function like an insurance guide to assist customers through their policy buying and policy enquiry process, providing solutions to queries in real time. Customers will be able to seek responses through the bot’s ‘conversation’ or ‘menu’ options thereby navigating with utmost ease for policy documents, policy status, premium due date, premium due amount, fund value, nearest branch details, etc. at a click. Furthermore, REVA will also cater to diverse customer service requests like request for soft copy of policy document, unit statement, premium paid certificate and renewal payments. REVA shall be launched for customers in August and will be available on the company’s website, customer portal, mobile app, social media page in addition to Amazon Echo.Commenting on the occasion, Munish Sharda, MD & CEO, Future Generali India Life Insurance, said “The Indian insurance sector is growing rapidly as innovation in the arenas of digital, technology, machine learning and AI, are advancing by leaps and bounds. To ensure that we stay ahead on trends and to deliver a unique and differentiated experience to our customers, we at Future Generali India Life Insurance, believe it is important to build relevant platforms that help provide improved access to policyholders with regards to their insurance policies. While REVA will be aiding quick and effective guidance to customers without any human intervention, our ‘WhatsApp for Service’ initiative will help reach out to policyholders with information at a time that is convenient to them and on a medium that is deemed the most omnipresent. With these offerings, we continue to leverage technology and build on our credo of providing simpler, smarter, faster insurance solutions to our customers.”

Automated farming: good news for food security, bad news for job security?

Growing automation probably means the continued decline of rural life. The issue of labour is even more important for the economies of the global south, where there are fewer urban job opportunities. In those countries, technologies that take labour out of the fields may undermine efforts to reduce poverty and enhance development.

https://www.theguardian.com/sustainable-business/2016/feb/18/automated-farming-food-security-rural-jobs-unemployment-technology

Around the world, but especially in the developing world, food and farming systems continue to rely on 20th century technology. But this is changing. The same information technologies that brought us the internet and transformations in medicine are now revolutionising farming. It’s a new era for agriculture and it’s taking off in at least two distinct areas. On the farm, technology is changing the way farmers manage farmland and farm animals – such as the use of satellite driven geo-positioning systems and sensors that detect nutrients and water in soil. This technology is enabling tractors, harvesters and planters to make decisions about what to plant, when to fertilise, and how much to irrigate. As this technology progresses, equipment will ultimately be able to tailor decisions on a metre-by-metre basis. Robots already do much of the harvesting of lettuce and tomatoes in our greenhouses. And it’s even becoming feasible to place fitness trackers on farm animals to monitor their health and welfare. The dairy industry has been at the vanguard of this where robotic milking and computer controlled feeding equipment allow for the careful management of individual animals within a herd. A similar tech revolution is happening with the genetics of the plants we grow and the animals we raise. Genomic tools are on the cusp of allowing scientists to rapidly and inexpensively evaluate the genetic code of individual plants and animals. This makes it much easier to identify individual plants and animals that are particularly robust or productive. This knowledge, in combination with traditional breeding, can accelerate how quickly we improve the genetic potential of our crops and livestock. Scientists at UK research institute the John Innes Centre, for example, are attempting to create a strain of barley that would make its own ammonium fertiliser from nitrogen in the soil, something which could save farmers the cost of artificial fertilisers. Taken together, both farm and genome-scale technologies are boosting the efficiency of modern farming, which is increasingly important to feed a growing population set to reach almost 10 billion by 2050. But this is just the beginning. Many experts are looking forward to a future where the Internet of Things (where physical objects such as vehicles, buildings and devices are connected to collect and exchange data) is applied to food and farming to create an Internet of Living Things. In this future, advanced sensors embedded in fields, waterways, irrigation systems and tractors will combine with machine-learning systems, genome-identifying devices and data dashboards to give rise to a generation of smart farming technology that will have the capacity to sense and respond to its environment in a way that maximises production while minimising negative impact. However, there are problems. In many of the poorer parts of the world, sophisticated agricultural technologies are much less important than education, healthcare, access to capital, sound governance and basic infrastructure. For the HIV positive farmer supporting her family on just one hectare in rural Malawi, satellite driven tractors and high productivity beef germplasm are about as useful as a moondust. Furthermore, many of these technologies require very little human labour. For example, Japanese company Spread has recently announced that robots will carry out all but one of the tasks required to grow tens of thousands of lettuces each day in its indoor automated farm. For countries in the industrial world, this growing automation probably means the continued decline of rural life. The issue of labour is even more important for the economies of the global south, where there are fewer urban job opportunities. In those countries, technologies that take labour out of the fields may undermine efforts to reduce poverty and enhance development. Similar to the fear that Uber and Google cars will make taxi and lorry drivers obsolete, will the same thing happen to farmers? In the brave new world of satellite driven tractors and robotic milking parlours, where will rural communities and cultures fit? And for countries still dependent on agricultural labour, what will people do to survive? The answers to these questions are not simple but the outcome of them will help define global society over the next hundred years. Evan Fraser is Canada research chair and professor of geography. Sylvain Charlebois is professor of food distribution and policy. They work at the University of Guelph, Canada and are affiliated with the university’s Food Institute

No hotel buffets when holidays resume, says tour operator Tui

The travel group Tui has published detailed plans for how it will run its hotels after coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted, including limits on popular self-service buffets and a ban on football tournaments.Guests at Tui’s 400 hotels will also find their range of entertainment and activities curtailed to maintain physical distancing.“With this set of measures we are creating a framework required to ensure we can offer our guests enjoyable and safe holiday experiences as soon as travel restrictions are lifted,” said Ebel.

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2020/may/11/no-hotel-buffets-when-holidays-resume-says-tour-operator-tui

The travel group Tui has published detailed plans for how it will run its hotels after coronavirus travel restrictions are lifted, including limits on popular self-service buffets and a ban on football tournaments. The UK’s biggest tour operator, which specialises in package holidays, plans to introduce the measures across all its own-brand hotels and make them “available” to joint-venture and partner hotels. The 10-point plan, which will be implemented when strict coronavirus restrictions end, include reducing all-you-can eat buffets “to a minimum”. “Self-service offers such as buffets will be reduced to a minimum,” the company said. “Wherever possible, food and beverages will be served to guests by staff wearing protective masks.” Guests at Tui’s 400 hotels will also find their range of entertainment and activities curtailed to maintain physical distancing. “Only events, sports and entertainment involving a small number of participants and without close contact will be made available,” Tui’s new rules state. “Golf or tennis, for example, can take place, but football tournaments cannot.” Other measures include a push to online check-ins and employees keeping a 1.5m distance from guests in public areas such as restaurants, gyms and corridors. Tables in restaurants, which will operate at a “significantly” reduced capacity with longer hours to spread guest usage, will “only be cleaned when guests have vacated them”. More disinfectant dispensers will be made available throughout Tui’s hotels, while “extensive new cleaning practices” will be put in place for rooms. Areas such as bathrooms and heavily used devices such as TV remote controls “will receive particular attention”. “Customer surveys clearly indicate that safety and hygiene will be of paramount importance for holidaymakers after the lockdown,” said Sebastian Ebel, a member of the group’s executive board. “We are laying the foundations for an agile and safe return to business so we can be ready to offer our unique holiday experiences again as soon as possible.” Tui said that it will be training all of its employees at its own hotels, starting this week. At partner hotels not operated by Tui, there will be a training and inspection programme using the hygiene and safety consultancy Cristal International Standards. Tui said that its 10-point plan is in addition to statutory regulations at any holiday destination where it operates. The company also said that the destination measures it has published form part of a wider package that includes plans in its retail outlets, flights, transfers to hotels, local excursions offered to holidaymakers and cruises. “With this set of measures we are creating a framework required to ensure we can offer our guests enjoyable and safe holiday experiences as soon as travel restrictions are lifted,” said Ebel. Tui has been forced to cancel trips affecting almost 1 million holidaymakers. At the end of last month the company cancelled all beach holidays involving travel on or before 11 June. Cruises later in the year are also affected after the company postponed the launch of Tui River Cruises until 26 November.

Jeff Bezos Buying $165 Million Estate, a California Record

Setting a new high for a home sold in California, Mr. Bezos is paying $165 million for a Beverly Hills estate owned by David Geffen, the media mogul and co-founder of DreamWorks, according to two people familiar with the purchase.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/14/business/bezos-geffen-warner-estate.amp.html

The national housing market has cooled, but in Los Angeles the ultrarich are still shattering price records. An heiress to the Formula One racing empire sold her home for $119.75 million last July. In December, Lachlan Murdoch paid $150 million for a home in Bel Air. The latest buyer at the top: Jeff Bezos, the Amazon chief and world’s richest person. Setting a new high for a home sold in California, Mr. Bezos is paying $165 million for a Beverly Hills estate owned by David Geffen, the media mogul and co-founder of DreamWorks, according to two people familiar with the purchase. That wasn’t all. In a separate transaction, Bezos Expeditions, which oversees The Washington Post and Mr. Bezos’ charitable foundation, is buying 120 undeveloped acres in Beverly Hills for $90 million, the two people said. The land was put on the market for $150 million in 2018 by the estate of Paul Allen, the Microsoft co-founder, who died that year. Most recently, the asking price was $110 million. Both deals are in the contract stage and not yet final. The superrich are spending huge amounts for some of California’s premier properties. Mr. Murdoch, chief executive of the Fox Corporation, bought Chartwell, which TV viewers of a certain age may remember as the Clampetts’ home in “The Beverly Hillbillies.” Petra Ecclestone, whose father, Bernie Ecclestone, ran Formula One for more than 40 years, sold the Manor. The television producer Aaron Spelling had built the mansion, in the city’s Holmby Hills neighborhood, in 1988.

MoPub founder launches in-app header bidding start-up

MoPub co-founder Jim Payne has launched MAX, a platform connecting publishers with programmatic demand for unified auctions. An ad request sees the platform's software development tools simultaneously query all possible buyers for a live bid, with the highest bidder winning. The start-up has received $3.5m in seed funding, led by Payne's investment fund, Breakpoint Capital and angel investors, which will go towards the expansion of its engineering team. San Francisco-based MAX is planning to expand to Europe and Asia.

https://adexchanger.com/mobile/former-mopub-execs-launch-max-a-solution-for-in-app-header-bidding/

MoPub co-founder and former CEO Jim Payne is getting his next startup off the ground with MAX, a platform that helps mobile publishers sell programmatically. The company launched Thursday following around six months of beta-testing with a $3.5 million seed round led by Payne’s investment fund, Breakpoint Capital, and a handful of angels. They include Brian Long, co-founder of TapCommerce, which sold to Twitter in 2014, the year after MoPub did the same. Two of MAX’s publisher customers – casual game studios Miniclip and MobilityWare – are also participating in the round. It’s unusual for clients to pitch in on funding one of their vendors. “But they’re just really excited about the concept of programmatic enablement and solving some of the problems that have been lingering in the mobile ecosystem for a long time,” Payne said. MAX, which stands for mobile ad exchange, connects apps with programmatic demand and enables them to participate in unified auctions or take advantage of OpenRTB in other ways, like data-driven audience extension across their own properties. When an ad request hits the MAX platform, its SDK simultaneously queries all of the possible buyers for a live bid. The highest bidder wins. The in-app header bidding space – or, more accurately, parallel bidding, since apps don’t have headers – is heating up. In January, MoPub started testing its own solution to ditch mediation in favor of programmatic bidding for all demand sources. AdMob followed suit with open bidding for apps in March, just around the same time Oath revamped its super auction tech for mobile ad network mediation. Just like their desktop cohorts, mobile publishers and ad networks leave money on the table by sticking with the waterfall, said Dan Sack, CEO of MAX and another MoPub vet. “By bringing all of the bidders into one room on mobile, publishers are able to drive up demand for their inventory,” Sack said. “Our platform allows publishers to work directly with as many key programmatic buyers as possible, including demand-side platforms.” The direct connection is key, Sack said. Publishers increasingly want to bypass the exchange – and their fees – and go straight to a DSP, but the technical burden of the required programmatic pipes is prohibitive. “There hasn’t been a mechanism for publishers to share their inventory in real time without giving up a substantial chunk of gross advertising spend to the exchange,” Sack said. “But the days of gigantic margins, hidden fees, buy-side fees and ad networks not exposing publisher fees – that’s all crashing down right now.” At the same time, publishers don’t have to rip and replace anything in their existing stack to use the technology, said Payne, who acknowledged that the move toward a unified auction is “a work in progress.” “We created this as a way to generate incremental revenue for publishers, and it can coexist with what they have already,” he said. “But over time, we expect that the lion’s share of publisher revenue will come through a fully unified publisher auction.” MAX connects publishers with multiple sources of demand in an OpenRTB environment, and it makes its money by charging a SaaS platform fee. Leveling the demand playing field also reduces the latency found in the waterfall, where pricing is based on the average historical eCPM, rather than what advertisers are willing to pay in the moment. In a waterfall setup, ad requests move consecutively down a preset list of demand sources until the supply-side platform’s SDK finds a willing buyer. All that “ping-ponging back and forth takes time,” Sack said – sometimes up to a minute. “It’s fairly well-known at this point that waterfalls cause latency that slows down ad serving, which means publishers are showing fewer impressions,” he said. “But from what we’ve observed so far, publishers are grossly underestimating the impact of latency on their ability to make money.” And it’s all about making money. Some ad networks were reticent to move to programmatic bidding. Why risk competing for impressions, rather than getting paid on conversion? For that reason, a few key players on the buy side are still holding out, though Sack said he’s hopeful they’ll “come around” as the platform continues to onboard supply. But many have already changed their tune in response to publishers pushing for access to dynamic demand. “Networks realize that they’re also missing out on a ton of valuable inventory if they don’t have the top spot in a publisher’s waterfall,” Sack said. MAX is working with 12 publishers, 20 DSPs and a handful of networks and exchanges. The lineup of publishers in its pipeline will allow MAX to reach several billion daily ad requests within the next few months, Sack said. The $3.5 million in seed funding will primarily go toward growing the engineering team. Total company headcount stands at 10, with plans to grow to 15 this quarter. MAX, which has its headquarters in San Francisco, also plans to expand internationally to Europe and Asia.

Chinese regulator says AI must promote mainstream values

Chinese regulators have said the AI used by the country’s social media, websites and apps must direct users to approved material and the promotion of China. It wants them to not recommend content threatening national security, containing sexual material or promoting extravagance, gossip and scandals. The Cyberspace Administration of China's draft regulations said technology should promote mainstream values and cover subjects such as the thoughts of Xi Jinping and socialist values. Party mouthpiece People’s Daily said internet platforms have tried to control content themselves but failed because their technology focused on users’ interests not content quality.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/politics/article/3026784/chinas-internet-regulator-orders-online-ai-algorithms-promote

China’s ruling Communist Party is increasingly turning to technology to cement its ideological control over society. Photo: Shutterstock

JD.com signs alliance with Russian Post

Chinese ecommerce site, JD.com, has signed a delivery pact with Russian Post, Russia's national postal operator. This means deliver of goods order on JD.com will be quicker than normal shipments from China, ensuring prompt and reliable service to Russian customers.

http://europe.chinadaily.com.cn/epaper/2015-08/14/content_21595496.htm

Russian Post, JD.com form alliance Updated: 2015-08-14 08:57 By Huang Ying(China Daily Europe) Cross-border growth potential predicted as e-commerce firm signs delivery pact with postal operator JD.com Inc, China's largest online direct sales company, has taken a further step in overseas expansion in Russia by teaming up with Russian Post, the national postal operator. The two parties signed a strategic cooperation agreement on July 29 in Moscow, in which Russian Post is authorized to directly deliver goods from en.jd.com to locations within Russia. Under the deal, the delivery of parcels from abroad would be conducted through designated postal operators in China and other countries. Delivery of goods ordered on en.jd.com will be faster than normal shipments from China, said Sergey Malyshev, deputy general-director of Russian Post, according to media reports. Eighty percent of the products delivered by Russian Post are Chinese goods, Malyshev said. The partnership with Russia's largest logistics company will help ensure prompt and reliable delivery of goods to Russian customers, said Victor Xu, who runs JD.com's international business. In May, JD.com entered into a contract with SPSR Express, another Russian logistics service provider, according to media reports. Other JD.com partners in Russia include online retailer Ulmart and online wallet companies Yandex.money and Qiwi. "Choosing to partner with local e-commerce platforms and logistics operators will facilitate JD.com's process of expansion in Russia, as these local companies understand the market better and have access to large customers," says Zhang Zhouping, senior analyst with the China E-commerce Research Center, a major third-party research institute in China. As more and more Chinese e-commerce companies seek to expand overseas, Russia has become an important battleground because it is believed to have great potential for cross-border e-commerce. In comparison, other European countries enjoy better infrastructure in terms of e-commerce development, including complete logistics networks and consumer demand for online shopping, Zhang says. "Russia, as an emerging country in the cross-border e-commerce sector, holds huge potential for growth and it will be a lucrative market." Russia is Europe's largest single Internet market by users, and its e-commerce industry is growing fast, said Xu, who spoke during a news conference in June in Moscow to launch a Russian-language site. "I'm optimistic about the prospect of cross-border e-commerce business in Russia," says Wang Xiaoxing, an analyst with the information technology consultancy Analysys International in Beijing. Russia is one of the export destinations with fastest growth for China, and it is also a partner in China's Belt and Road Initiative, which was proposed by President Xi Jinping in 2013 to promote growth along the maritime and overland routes of the ancient Silk Roads, Wang explains. Last year, cross-border e-commerce business in Russia was worth about $7 billion, with $4.4 billion contributed by online purchases made in China, according to Russian media. Last year, the goods China imported from Russia were valued at $41.6 billion (37.4 billion euros), up 4.9 percent from the previous year, while the value of goods China exported to Russia increased 8.2 percent year-on-year to $53.7 billion, according to the General Administration of Customs. Another e-commerce giant in China Alibaba Group Holding Ltd, which is JD.com's main competitor, also puts Russia high on its overseas expansion agenda. Transaction sales generated from Russia have exceeded 30 percent of AliExpress' total sales, says Ebrun, a Beijing-based Chinese e-commerce consulting firm. AliExpress is the cross-border e-commerce site Alibaba launched in 2010. AliExpress has become the most visited e-commerce site in Russia, according to a survey conducted in July of 2014 by market research company TNS. Jack Ma, founder and chairman of Alibaba, has told Xinhua News Agency that his company will increase investment in human resources and technology in Russia. In addition to growing cross-border transactions via AliExpress, many retailers in Europe have come to know more about products that the Chinese market offers online, and they often visit China before placing large orders, says Wang. "Another practical effect that e-commerce platforms in China have is that they help to improve information equivalence between Chinese and foreign players," Wang says. Zhang says: "Even though AliExpress has taken a fairly large market share in Russia's cross-border e-commerce sector, there is great market potential for JD.com to develop." Zhang says the current percentage of online shopping customers in Russia's total population is not large. Although JD.com does not own its warehouses or agencies in Russia, Xu said all these facilities will be added with the development of its business in the country. JD.com and Russian Post are working to integrate their IT systems, said Xu. Russian customers will be able to track the status and location of their parcels in the postal operator's mobile application when integration is complete. [email protected] (China Daily European Weekly 08/14/2015 page19)

Overstock announces shares from rights to be issued on T0

Overstock.com will offer one million of its preferred shares for sale to stockholders on its t0 issuance and trading platform, in a demonstration of the blockchain-based system's functionality. At the same time, stockholders will also be given the chance to acquire shares of its Blockchain Series A Preferred, to be traded exclusively on the platform. Overstock CEO Patrick M Byrne said: "the history of capital markets is entering a new era, the era of blockchain-based securities."

http://globenewswire.com/news-release/2016/10/25/882695/0/en/Overstock-com-Announces-Rights-Offering-Including-Blockchain-Shares-on-t0-Platform.html?f=22&fvtc=7

SALT LAKE CITY, Oct. 25, 2016 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) today announced that its board of directors has approved a non-transferable rights offering. The offering will allow Overstock’s stockholders of record to purchase shares of its preferred stock, including preferred shares to be issued and traded exclusively on a registered alternative trading system using the t0 issuance and trading platform developed by Overstock’s majority-owned financial technology subsidiary t0. Overstock is planning the rights offering primarily to enable t0 to demonstrate the operation of the t0 platform, while providing Overstock’s stockholders of record the opportunity to participate. Overstock intends to offer up to one million shares of its preferred stock, and will give stockholders the opportunity to subscribe for shares of its Blockchain Series A Preferred, which will trade exclusively on the alternative trading system. Stockholders will also have an opportunity to subscribe for an alternative series of its voting preferred stock, which will be economically identical to the Blockchain shares but will trade in the over-the-counter market. “This is the culmination of over two years of true innovation and hard work,” said Overstock CEO Patrick M. Byrne. “Through this public issuance of blockchain-based securities the history of capital markets is entering a new era, the era of blockchain-based securities.” The rights offering will be made by a distribution of one non-transferable subscription right for each ten shares of common stock owned on the record date, plus one additional right for any balance of nine or fewer shares held. The distribution of the subscription rights settles T+3, so in order to be considered a stockholder of record you must own the common stock in your brokerage account as of 4:00 PM ET on Monday, November 7, 2016, which is three trading days before the record date of November 10, 2016. The proposed rights offering will include an over-subscription privilege, which will entitle each rights holder that exercises its basic subscription privilege in full the right to purchase additional shares of preferred stock that remain unsubscribed at the expiration of the rights offering, if any. Both the basic and over-subscription privileges are subject to proration. The basic and over-subscription privileges may be exercised during the subscription period of November 15, 2016 through 5:00 PM ET on December 6, 2016, subject to proration. Overstock may extend the offering up to an additional 30 days, in which case the offering would continue on a subscriptions first-in, first-served basis, with the potential for pro rata allocation of shares among participants subscribing on the day, if any, on which the offering becomes over-subscribed. The subscription exercise price (the “Subscription Price”) is expected be the lower of: (1) 95% of the volume-weighted average trading price (VWAP) for the five trading days ending November 11, 2016 (the “Maximum Price”), and (2) 95% of the VWAP for the five trading days ending December 6, 2016. Subscribers will be required to fund their subscriptions at the Maximum Price. Overstock recommends that current stockholders consider notifying their broker or financial advisor about the upcoming rights offering to ensure they will maximize their ability to participate in the rights offering. The expected calendar is: Monday, November 7, 2016 Ownership Day; must own OSTK common stock by 4:00 PM ET to become a stockholder of record on the Record Date. Tuesday, November 8, 2016 Shares trade Ex-Right Thursday, November 10, 2016 Record Date Monday, November 14, 2016 Announcement of Maximum Price Tuesday, November 15, 2016 Subscription Period Begins Tuesday, December 6, 2016 Subscription Period expires at 5:00 PM ET and Final Price is determined. The rights offering will be made pursuant to Overstock’s effective shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (Reg. No. 333-203607) on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the “SEC”), and a prospectus supplement to be filed with the SEC prior to the commencement of the rights offering. The information herein is not complete and is subject to change. This press release is not an offer to sell these securities and is not soliciting an offer to buy these securities. The offering can be made only by a final prospectus, including a prospectus supplement. Investors should consider investment objectives, risks, charges and expenses carefully before investing. The base prospectus included in the registration statement contains this and additional information about Overstock, and the prospectus supplement will contain this and additional information about the rights offering, and rights holders should read both carefully before exercising their rights and investing. Requests for copies of the base prospectus and the prospectus supplement when available, and questions from stockholders relating to the rights offering may be directed to the information agent for the rights offering, as follows: Information Agent: Georgeson LLC 1290 Avenue of the Americas 9th Floor New York, NY 10104 (866) 432-2791 [email protected] Source Capital Group invites any broker dealers interested in participating in the rights offering to contact Source’s syndicate department at [email protected]. About Overstock.com Overstock.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:OSTK) is an online retailer based in Salt Lake City, Utah that sells a broad range of products at low prices, including furniture, rugs, bedding, electronics, clothing, and jewelry. Additional stores within Overstock include Worldstock.com, dedicated to selling artisan-crafted products to help developing nations around the world and Main Street Revolution, supporting small-scale entrepreneurs in the U.S. by providing them with a national customer base. Other community-focused initiatives include Farmers Market and pet adoptions. Forbes ranked Overstock in its list of the Top 100 Most Trustworthy Companies in 2014. Overstock sells internationally under the name O.co and regularly posts information about the company and other related matters under Investor Relations on its website. O, Overstock.com, O.com, O.co, Club O, Main Street Revolution, Worldstock and OVillage are registered trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. O.biz and Space Shift are also trademarks of Overstock.com, Inc. Other service marks, trademarks and trade names which may be referred to herein are the property of their respective owners. About Source Capital Group, Inc. Source Capital Group, Inc. was founded in 1992 as a boutique investment banking firm specializing in small to medium-sized transactions, and continues to focus its investment banking activities in those segments of the market. Source Capital has grown to include businesses in general securities, emerging market securities, distressed and high yield debt securities, investment management, mortgages and business lending. Source Capital’s mission is to provide excellent service and independent, unbiased and tailor-made advice. Source Capital is registered as a broker-dealer with the SEC and in 50 states, the District of Columbia and Puerto Rico, and is a member of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and the Securities Investor Protection Corporation. Forward-Looking Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Such forward-looking statements include all statements other than statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements are inherently difficult to predict. Actual results, including all matters relating to the rights offering and all matters relating to our future financial results, could differ materially for a variety of reasons. Information about factors that could potentially affect our financial results is included in our Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June 30, 2016 which we filed with the SEC on August 4, 2016. These and our other subsequent filings with the SEC identify important factors that could cause our actual results to differ materially from those contained in our projections, estimates and other forward-looking statements. Overstock.com, Inc. has filed a registration statement (including a prospectus) with the SEC for the offering to which this communication relates. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus in that registration statement, the applicable prospectus supplement for any securities offered pursuant to the registration statement, and other documents that Overstock.com, Inc. has filed or files in the future with the SEC for more complete information about Overstock.com, Inc. and the offering. You may get these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC Web site at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, Overstock.com, Inc. will arrange to send you the prospectus if you request it by calling 1-801-947-5409.

French tax body to decide on Socgen Kerviel affair "within days"

Michel Sapin, Frances Minister of Finance, has confirmed that a decision will be made "within days" on whether Societe Generale’s $2.44bn tax deduction to subsidise losses made by trader Jerome Kerviel will be reclaimed. Analysts have warned however that a reclaim of the governmental aid would put the bank’s dividend at risk as well as affect its capital adequacy ratios.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/wires/reuters/article-3900564/French-tax-body-decide-Socgen-Kerviel-affair-days.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

French tax body to decide on Socgen Kerviel affair "within days" PARIS, Nov 3 (Reuters) - State tax experts will decide "within days" whether a 2.2 billion euros ($2.44 billion) tax deduction granted to Societe Generale after losses caused by its rogue trader Jerome Kerviel should be reclaimed, France's finance minister said on Thursday. Michel Sapin told France Info radio he had ask his tax administration officials to act swiftly. "I think it is a matter of days," he said. A French court said in September the former trader was liable for only 1 million euros of the 4.9 billion in losses he racked up at the bank in 2008, the latest in a series of judgements on the case. At the time, Societe Generale had been allowed to set off about 2.2 billion euros in tax against the loss.

** Coronavirus found on frozen shrimp packaging ‘but risk from food low’

Authorities testing imported food have since found six Covid-19 positive samples from nearly 223,000 samples. Authorities have also found six positive samples of the coronavirus in frozen seafood products made of imported shrimps. The outbreak was first reported on June 19, 2020, in Beijing.

https://www.scmp.com/news/china/society/article/3092717/frozen-shrimp-packaging-found-positive-coronavirus-risk-food

Frozen seafood products made of imported shrimps are seen inside a sealed freezer at a supermarket following a new outbreak of the coronavirus disease in Beijing, China on June 19, 2020. Authorities testing imported food have since found six Covid-19 positive samples from nearly 223,000 samples. Photo: Reuters

Harvard team build world's first completely "soft robot"

Scientists at the Wyss Institute for Biologically Inspired Engineering have created the world's first entirely autonomous soft robot. Dubbed the Octobot, the body of the device is 3D printed and it is fuelled by hydrogen peroxide. The gas created from the chemical allows the Octobot's to move autonomously in a groundbreaking, predetermined sequence as it deflates one limb and inflates another to produce movement. The next generation of Octobots will be able to "swim and interact with objects around it."

http://www.medgadget.com/2016/08/octobot-completely-soft-flexible-robot-may-one-day-invade-bodies.html

Harvard University researchers built what they describe as the world’s first completely soft robot. The device looks like an octopus and is appropriately named Octobot. Though it resembles a toy, the core technology within it may one day be used for medical applications such as minimally invasive surgery and imaging of the GI tract. To overcome the limitations of commonly used technologies, such as rigid batteries and other electronics, the team harnessed more exotic methods to build the Octobot. Instead of a battery, the robot uses a chemical reaction fueled by hydrogen peroxide to power its movement, which happens inside a 3D printed network made of a composition of different materials. Replacing traditional electronics is a microfluidic logic system that self-controls the release of the hydrogen peroxide and so how fast the robot moves. Here’s a Harvard video showing off the Octobot: Study in Nature: An integrated design and fabrication strategy for entirely soft, autonomous robots…

Coronavirus: Frozen food sales boom by £285m

Frozen sales rose in value by 19.4% and volume was up 17.5% in the period from the end of March to 14 June. The growth in sales was double the increase in value experienced in the previous 12-week period to 22 March. Ice cream and frozen fish sales were up in value and volume by 8.9% and 8.8% respectively.

https://www.foodmanufacture.co.uk/Article/2020/07/08/Coronavirus-Frozen-food-sales-boom-during-lockdown-with-sales-up-285m

The latest statistics from Kantar and the British Frozen Food Federation (BFFF) showed the growth in sales was double the increase in value experienced in the previous 12-week period to 22 March. Frozen sales rose in value by 19.4% and volume was up 17.5% in the period from the end of March to 14 June. In the previous 12-week period the value growth was 9.7% and volume 9.3%. Richard Harrow, BFFF chief executive, said: “We now know more consumers than ever have been shopping in the frozen aisle since mid-March. This is hardly surprising, given the long shelf-life, reduced food waste, value for money and variety of food on offer there.”​ Fish fingers​ In April, sales of fish fingers and frozen peas were skyrocketing as millions of hungry schoolchildren swapped school dinners for lunchtime at home, the latest figures from the BFFF and Kantar revealed. In the four weeks from 23 February to 22 March, British shoppers spent an extra £131m​​ on everything, from ice cream to frozen meat and poultry, as they filled up their freezers before the lockdown began on 23 March. The recent 12-week data also revealed that frozen outperformed the total grocery market, as well as fresh and chilled food sales, in both value and volume. Long-term, frozen sales were on an upward trajectory, reported Kantar. Data covering the 52 weeks from 16 June 2019 to 14 June 2020 showed that sales of frozen food reached £6.7bn, a rise in value of 6.1%, and that volume grew by 5.4%. Frozen veg sales up​ ​ Kantar statistics showed that, over the last year, frozen veg was up 9.4% in volume and frozen pizza up 9.5% in volume. Ice cream and frozen fish sales were up in value by 8.9% and 8.8% respectively. These findings were supported by recently released research commissioned by BFFF members Iceland and Birds Eye, which found that more than a quarter (26%) of 18- to 24-year-olds were buying more frozen equivalents of their regular fresh items while 40% had been stocking up on healthy frozen options, including frozen vegetables, fruit, meat and fish. Almost a third (31%) were trying new frozen foods, such as meat substitutes, added the report.”​ ​

Rightmove plans to reverse the male-dominated leadership culture

Property website Rightmove has pledged to take action to address the under-representation of women in its leadership. Despite 51% of its workforce being female, just 24% of senior managers in the company are women, according to new figures published in its annual report. This has resulted in a gender pay gap, and the report notes that the the technology sector in general suffers from a problem of gender imbalance. The company has set out plans including new flexible working arrangements and is aiming for more than 33% of its leadership team to be women by 2020.

http://www.propertyindustryeye.com/rightmove-admits-gender-pay-gap-because-so-few-managers-are-women/

Post navigation Rightmove has told its shareholders that it expects further growth this year, with estate agents continuing to increase their spend. In its newly issued annual report for last year – when revenue and underlying profit were both up 11% – the portal says income per advertiser is still rising, with traffic to Rightmove growing for a 16th consecutive year. Although the report warns that low housing transactions could mean a reduction in the number of agents, and also carries the risk of a reduced advertising spend by surviving agents, it suggests that other advertising mediums would be most affected. The report also shows how male dominated Rightmove is in its management, despite 51% of its workforce being female. However, just 24% of senior managers are women. The annual report admits that women are under-represented in the higher paid senior management sector, but also says that men are under-represented in the “customer experience team”. The fact that so fewer women are seniors has led to a gender pay gap, says Rightmove, which stresses that technology “is a sector blighted by a lack of gender diversity, but accepting the status quo is not in our DNA”. The report sets out steps to reverse the male-dominated leadership culture, including new flexible working relationships. It plans to exceed a target of 33% of the leadership team being female by 2020. The annual report also sets out pay arrangements for its top people, saying that if CEO Peter Brooks-Johnson exceeds all targets this year, he will earn over £2m. However, this would not be unusual: both his predecessors, Nick McKittrick, who retired last year aged under 50, and Ed Williams who stepped down in 2013, earned more than this. Williams earned almost £5m in 2011, says the annual report. Non-executive directors of Rightmove will earn upwards of £50,000, with chairman Scott Forbes due to get £170,000. Their pay is unchanged from last year. Rightmove’s AGM, where shareholders will be asked to approve the remuneration packages, is on May 4.

Earth Island Sues 10 Companies, Including Coke, Pepsi, and Nestle, Over Plastic Use - NOT plastic producers, just users.

Earth Island Institute, has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against ten companies — including giants like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle — for their contribution to the plastic pollution crisis.“Fundamentally, the lawsuit seeks to hold corporations accountable for their share of plastic pollution and their claims that plastic packaging is recyclable,” If this lawsuit is anything like recent climate litigation seeking to hold big oil accountable for its contribution to climate change, it could be the first in a tide of lawsuits by other organizations, as well as cities and states, to hold Big Plastic responsible for global plastic pollution, and force major actors to rethink their business practices.

https://earthisland.org/journal/index.php/articles/entry/earth-island-coke-pepsi-nestle-plastic-pollution-lawsuit

Earth Island Sues 10 Companies, Including Coke, Pepsi, and Nestle, Over Plastic Use Lawsuit seeks to hold major food, beverage, and consumer goods companies accountable for plastic pollution. Zoe Loftus-Farren Earth Island Institute, which publishes Earth Island Journal, has filed a first-of-its-kind lawsuit against ten companies — including giants like Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Nestle — for their contribution to the plastic pollution crisis. Bay Area-based Earth Island Institute has filed a lawsuit to hold companies like Coke and PepsiCo accountable for contribution to plastic pollution in California. Photo by Bo Eide. Coke, Pepsi, and Nestle alone are responsible for 14 percent of plastic that pollutes our oceans, according to a 2018 report by the global campaign Break Free from Plastic. A 2019 audit, also conducted by Break Free from Plastic, identified several of the other companies named in the lawsuit as among those most responsible for plastic pollution. “Fundamentally, the lawsuit seeks to hold corporations accountable for their share of plastic pollution and their claims that plastic packaging is recyclable,” says Sumona Majumdar, general counsel for Earth Island, which filed the lawsuit on behalf of itself and several fiscally-sponsored projects that are fighting to stop plastic pollution and protect marine environments. “For too long, they have pushed those costs onto the public, and that includes nonprofits like Earth Island that are using charitable funds to clean up their mess.” Plastics are pretty much inescapable these days — and that’s by design. The plastics industry has flooded the market with just about every conceivable type of single-use plastic product, including bags, packaging, cutlery, and much more. Much of this non-biodigredable waste ends up in our oceans, rivers, and coastal areas, while still more will take up space in our landfills for generations to come. The lawsuit, which was filed in California state court today and includes public nuisance, breach of warranty, and negligence claims, among others, follows in the vein of similar efforts to hold Big Oil, Big Tobacco, and Big Pharma responsible for their knowing contribution to public harms and simultaneous effort to obscure those harms and deflect blame. Majumdar says the legal strategy is similar because Big Plastic’s playbook has been similar to that used by these other industries. “These companies push a product and then create misinformation campaigns so the public isn’t fully aware of the harms of the products when making purchasing decisions,” she says. In the case of plastics, a major part of that misinformation campaign has been the idea that plastic is recyclable, and that any shortcomings when it comes to recycling are those of the consumer, not the producer. “This is the first lawsuit directly to take on these plastic peddlers who for years have spread the fake narrative that their products can be recycled when they know in many cases this is simply not true,” says Josh Floum, president of Earth Island’s Board of Directors. In reality, the vast majority of plastics labeled as recyclable will never be recycled, either in the US or globally. Of the estimated 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic that have been produced since 1950, when the plastics industry took off, only 9 percent has been recycled. What’s not recycled is either incinerated — a practice that raises a host of concerns about air pollution, public health, and environmental justice — or ends up as waste. (Most plastic can only be usefully recycled once, which means even that 9 percent is only temporarily diverted from the waste stream.) Some 8.3 billion metric tons of plastic have been produced globally since around 1950. Only 9 percent has been recycled. Photo via Shutterstock. Low recycling rates in the United States can be attributed to a variety of factors. For one, the cost of producing “virgin” plastics using petroleum is relatively low compared to producing recycled plastic products. Ninety-one percent of Coke’s packaging is made of virgin plastic, for example, and at Unilever the figure is 99 percent. For another, recycling facilities in the US simply can’t process the volume of plastic produced here. In fact, in recent years, official recycling rates in the US have dropped even lower as countries like China and Malaysia that used to accept our “recyclables” have closed this plastics pipeline, though the ethics and environmental benefits of this waste trajectory have long been in question. Experts estimate that recycling rates in the US could now be closer to 3 or 4 percent. The environmental toll of using so much plastic and recycling so little is well documented. Production itself is a major source of greenhouse gas emissions. Plastics are a petroleum-based product, and an estimated 4 to 8 percent of global oil consumption is related to producing them. (Plastics incineration also releases greenhouse gases into the atmosphere, contributing to the global climate crisis.) The harms don’t end with production. An estimated 150 million metric tons of plastic currently pollute the marine environment, and an additional 8 to 20 million tons are added each year. This plastic breaks down into smaller and smaller pieces over time, and is commonly found in sand, seagrass, and more. It is also commonly ingested by marine and terrestrial animals. Plastic waste also often entraps or constricts wildlife, diminishing their ability to move and eat. Humans also ingest microplastics, typically through drinking water. As David McGuire, director of Shark Stewards, another Earth Island project, says, plastic waste is insidious. “As a marine biologist, as someone who lives every day in and around the ocean, I experience this first hand and I experience it every day,” he says. “There’s not a day that I swim in the San Francisco Bay or that I surf and I don’t pick up a piece of plastic.” By suing major corporations that made money from the sale of single use plastics, Earth Island hopes to recoup some of the costs of cleaning this plastic out of oceans and waterways, and mitigating harm to humans and wildlife alike in California. If this lawsuit is anything like recent climate litigation seeking to hold big oil accountable for its contribution to climate change, it could be the first in a tide of lawsuits by other organizations, as well as cities and states, to hold Big Plastic responsible for global plastic pollution, and force major actors to rethink their business practices. Or as Dianna Cohen, CEO and co-founder of Earth Island’s Plastic Pollution Coalition, says, “This lawsuit is a step towards a world free of plastic pollution. The writing is on the wall that the system that has been created is not sustainable.”

Neil Ferguson right to resign for breaking lockdown, says minister

Home Office minister James Brokenshire said Prof Neil Ferguson was right to resign as the government’s leading epidemiological adviser. He said Ferguson had made an “error of judgment and stressed that the government’s physical distancing guidelines must be followed by law.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/06/neil-ferguson-right-to-resign-for-breaking-lockdown-rules-says-minister-coronavirus

The UK health secretary has said he would back the police in any action they wish to take over Prof Neil Ferguson breaking social distancing rules by having a woman visit him at his home. Ferguson, an epidemiologist who has helped shape the government’s response to coronavirus and who advocated the lockdown, made the right decision to resign, Matt Hancock told Sky News. Hancock said: “I back the police here. They will take their decisions independently from ministers, that’s quite right, it’s always been like that. “Even though I have got a clear answer to what I think, as a minister the way we run the police is that they make decisions like this. So I give them their space to make that decision, but I think he took the right decision to resign.” Scotland Yard said later no further action would be taken against Ferguson. A Met police statement criticised his behaviour as “plainly disappointing” but ruled out issuing a fine because he “has taken responsibility” after resigning. The police declined to say whether officers had spoken directly to Ferguson. Ferguson, who works with an Imperial College London team whose modelling influenced the government’s decision to move to a lockdown, resigned after the Telegraph revealed that Antonia Staats had crossed London from her family home to visit him on at least two occasions, on 30 March and 8 April, since lockdown measures were imposed. The scandal was revealed on Tuesday, when figures showed the UK’s official death toll from coronavirus had exceeded that of Italy to become the highest in Europe. Hancock said physical distancing rules were very important and everyone should follow them. He said he had supported the Scottish police warning to Dr Catherine Calderwood, the Scottish chief medical officer who visited her second home during lockdown. He described Ferguson’s decision to flout lockdown rules as “extraordinary” and one that had left him “speechless”. Asked whether he was speechless by the presenter, Kay Burley, he said: “I am.” “Prof Ferguson is a very, very eminent and impressive scientist and the science he’s done has been an important part of what we’ve listened to, and I think he took the right decision to resign,” Hancock added. He said he would not have fought for Ferguson to keep his job. Earlier, another senior minister urged people to stick unequivocally to the coronavirus lockdown. James Brokenshire, a Home Office minister, said Ferguson had made an “error of judgment” and was right to resign. He stressed that the government’s physical distancing guidelines must be followed by law and were “there to protect us all”. He said Ferguson’s resignation had been “an appropriate course” because other people had tried so hard to stick to the lockdown, even though it had been hard not to see loved ones. In a round of broadcast interviews, Brokenshire stressed it was still important to follow the lockdown rules before Thursday’s review of whether they should be extended, and any decision to ease them would be “careful, cautious and thoughtful”. Pressed on why the outcome has been so bad in the UK, Brokenshire gave the clearest acknowledgment yet that the government accepted it had made errors in its response to the coronavirus outbreak. He told Sky News: “There is an acknowledgement mistakes have been made – no government is going to get everything right. But we will have plenty of time for searching questions and to reflect on the actions that were taken.” Later, he hinted at the inevitability of a public inquiry, saying there would be a “firm and clear opportunity to look at those issues”. He said Sir Patrick Vallance, the UK government’s chief scientific adviser, had already acknowledged that testing should have been increased sooner. Q&A What is contact tracing? Show Contact tracing is one of the most basic planks of public health responses to a pandemic like the coronavirus. It means literally tracking down anyone that somebody with an infection may have had contact with in the days before they became ill. It was – and always will be – central to the fight against Ebola, for instance. In west Africa in 2014-15, there were large teams of people who would trace relatives and knock on the doors of neighbours and friends to find anyone who might have become infected by touching the sick person. Most people who get Covid-19 will be infected by their friends, neighbours, family or work colleagues, so they will be first on the list. It is not likely anyone will get infected by someone they do not know, passing on the street. It is still assumed there has to be reasonable exposure – originally experts said people would need to be together for 15 minutes, less than 2 metres apart. So a contact tracer will want to know who the person testing positive met and talked to over the two or three days before they developed symptoms and went into isolation. South Korea has large teams of contact tracers and notably chased down all the contacts of a religious group, many of whose members fell ill. That outbreak was efficiently stamped out by contact tracing and quarantine. Singapore and Hong Kong have also espoused testing and contact tracing and so has Germany. All those countries have had relatively low death rates so far. The World Health Organization says it should be the “backbone of the response” in every country. Sarah Boseley Health editor Was this helpful? Thank you for your feedback. However, the minister appeared to suggest testing levels had been low because of “capacity constraints”, while at the time politicians and scientists were saying a widespread testing regime was not necessary because the point had passed for trying to contain and suppress the virus. He said: “Would there have been benefit in having that extra capacity, as Patrick Vallance highlighted in his evidence yesterday? Yes. “The challenge that we had was that we have some fantastic laboratories, some fantastic expertise, but it has been the capacity restraints that we have had, and therefore that has posed challenges, but also that has now been ramped up to go from 2,000 tests [per day] in February to 120,000 at the end of April.”

Broadridge joins banks to test blockchain voting system

US servicing company Broadridge Financial Solutions has completed testing of a pilot programme, run alongside a traditional annual general meeting (AGM), using blockchain technology to improve global proxy vote transparency and analytics. Alongside banks JPMorgan, Banco Santander and Northern Trust, the pilot, built on the Ethereum blockchain, employed smart contracts and cryptography to ensure role-based access to voting data from the beginning of the voting process to the AGM.

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/broadridge-jp-morgan-northern-trust-and-banco-santander-successfully-complete-pilot-of-blockchain-based-proxy-vote-solution-300437857.html

LAKE SUCCESS, N.Y., April 11, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR), J.P. Morgan, Northern Trust and Banco Santander today announced the successful completion of a pilot which employs a blockchain technology to enhance global proxy vote transparency and analytics. The pilot, Broadridge's first application of blockchain technology, provides transparency by adapting distributed ledger technology capabilities to provide daily insight into vote progress throughout the issuer's proxy voting period, from meeting announcement date to the annual general meeting. The application ensures role-based access to voting data through use of cryptography and smart contract technology and is built on an Ethereum blockchain platform. "This pilot demonstrates Broadridge's commitment to developing innovative technology solutions to enhance transparency in the global proxy voting process for the mutual benefit of all stakeholders, ultimately improving corporate governance for all," said Vijay Mayadas, Senior Vice President and Global Head of Corporate Strategy at Broadridge. "We believe blockchain will drive increased quality and efficiency in the voting chain by reducing complexity that exists within the process today," he added. "We are pleased to partner with Broadridge in undertaking this innovative endeavor as we explore the use of blockchain to drive efficiencies across the custody space," said Chris Rowland, Global Head of Custody at J.P. Morgan. "Corporate Governance is a key focus for our custody clients and we are pleased to collaborate with Broadridge on this important initiative,'' said Justin Chapman, Global Head of Market Advocacy & Innovation Research at Northern Trust. ''Providing end-to-end vote transparency using blockchain as an enabler has the potential to significantly improve the proxy voting process." Julio Faura, head of the Blockchain Lab at Banco Santander, said, "After piloting this blockchain-based platform with Broadridge, we see that proxy voting makes an interesting case where distributed ledgers and smart contracts can add transparency and efficiency to financial services, to the benefit of our corporate and institutional clients." "The success of this pilot program reflects Broadridge's unique ability to leverage our domain expertise and deliver blockchain innovation to all industry participants," said Patricia Rosch, senior executive managing Broadridge's international proxy business. The pilot was run in support of a corporate issuer's annual general meeting (AGM) and included participation of Santander Investment, the issuer's agent. The pilot was run in parallel of the AGM, with the blockchain being utilized to produce a "shadow" digital register of the proxy voting taking place in the traditional model. About Broadridge Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. (NYSE: BR) is a leading provider of investor communications and technology-driven solutions for broker-dealers, banks, mutual funds and other corporations. Broadridge's investor and customer communications, securities processing and managed services solutions help clients reduce their capital investments in operations infrastructure, allowing them to increase their focus on core business activities. With more than 50 years of experience, Broadridge' s infrastructure underpins proxy voting services for over 90% of public companies and mutual funds in North America and processes on average $5 trillion in equity and fixed income trades per day. Broadridge employs approximately 10,000 associates in 16 countries. For more information about Broadridge, please visit www.broadridge.com. About J.P. Morgan JPMorgan Chase & Co. (NYSE: JPM) is a leading global financial services firm with assets of $2.5 trillion and operations worldwide. The Firm is a leader in investment banking, financial services for consumers and small businesses, commercial banking, financial transaction processing, and asset management. A component of the Dow Jones Industrial Average, JPMorgan Chase & Co. serves millions of consumers in the United States and many of the world's most prominent corporate, institutional and government clients under its J.P. Morgan and Chase brands. Information about JPMorgan Chase & Co. is available at www.jpmorganchase.com. About Northern Trust Northern Trust Corporation (Nasdaq: NTRS) is a leading provider of wealth management, asset servicing, asset management and banking to corporations, institutions, affluent families and individuals. Founded in Chicago in 1889, Northern Trust has offices in the United States in 19 states and Washington, D.C., and 22 international locations in Canada, Europe, the Middle East and the Asia-Pacific region. As of December 31, 2016, Northern Trust had assets under custody of US$6.7 trillion, and assets under management of US$942 billion. For more than 125 years, Northern Trust has earned distinction as an industry leader for exceptional service, financial expertise, integrity and innovation. Visit northerntrust.com or follow us on Twitter @NorthernTrust. © 2017 Northern Trust Corporation. Head Office: 50 South La Salle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603 U.S.A. Incorporated with limited liability in the U.S. Products and services provided by subsidiaries of Northern Trust Corporation may vary in different markets and are offered in accordance with local regulation. For legal and regulatory information about individual market offices, visit northerntrust.com/disclosures. About Banco Santander Banco Santander (SAN SM, STD US, BNC LN) is a leading retail and commercial bank, headquartered in Spain, with a meaningful market share in 10 core countries in Europe and the Americas. It is among the world's top banks by market capitalization. The bank's purpose is to help people and businesses prosper, in a way that is simple, personal and fair. Founded in 1857, Santander had EUR 1.52 trillion in managed funds, 125 million customers, 12,200 branches and 188,000 employees at the close of 2016. Santander made attributable profit of EUR 6,204 million in 2016, an increase of 4% compared to the previous year. Contact Information: Investors: W. Edings Thibault Head of Investor Relations +1 516-472-5129 [email protected] Media: Brett Philbin Edelman +1 212-704-8263 [email protected] SOURCE Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc. Related Links http://www.broadridge.com

Semcon, PowerCell use vision technology for fuel cell efficiency

Automotive company Semcon and fuel cell maker PowerCell are developing a robotic cell using vision technology, as part of a project to streamline fuel cell production and improve cell efficiency. The robotic cell will automate a section of the production process which needs a high level of precision, said Semcon technical project manager, Thomas Lydhig, adding that the advanced vision technology will ensure accuracy and quality. The cell, which uses QR codes for traceability, will begin operating at the end of 2020.

https://www.h2-view.com/story/semcon-powercell-collaborate-on-green-fuel-cells/

Semcon, PowerCell collaborate on green fuel cells Semcon and fuel cell manufacturer PowerCell are developing a new robotic cell with the use of vision technology that will streamline the production of fuel cells for the vehicles of the future. The Swedish automotive industry company said it has been engaged to develop and deploy an entirely new robotic cell for testing new fuel cell production technology with the aim of making the fuel cells more efficient. “This new robotic cell will fully automate part of the production flow, which requires high precision,” said Thomas Lydhig, Technical Project Manager at Semcon.

Italian taxi fleet accepts bitcoin payments

Cooperativa RadioTaxi 3570, one of Italy’s largest taxi fleets, has started to accept bitcoin payments. The company has partnered with Chainside, a startup enabling businesses to accept bitcoin, in order to offer these services. Chainside’s platform is being integrated into a widely-used taxi-booking platform that RadioTaxi is featured on.

http://www.econotimes.com/Italian-taxi-fleet-accepts-bitcoin-payments-394212

Cooperativa RadioTaxi 3570, one of Italy’s largest taxi fleet, announced that it has started accepting bitcoin payments. Along with credit card, Bancomat, and PayPal, the company has listed bitcoin, under its ‘Payment methods’, bitcoin.com reported. The company has partnered with Chainside, a startup enabling businesses to accept bitcoin, to offer wallet, invoice, and monitoring services. The Chainside platform is integrated into URI’s booking app for smartphones and tablets – IT Taxi – that is widely being used, including RadioTaxi 3570. Customers who wish to pay through bitcoins after their trip can opt for bitcoin payments and will be redirected to a page on Chainside. Once payment is received, confirmation is sent back to IT Taxi. Last year, RadioTaxi and Chainside co-hosted a hackathon for the industry in Rome – ‘TaxiHack’. It was the first hackathon for innovations dedicated to taxi service that saw BitTaxi, an app that allows customers to pay for rides in bitcoin, as the winner. "Of course, to think that everyone can accept being paid in Bitcoin is hard to imagine, but what we want to walk from this initiative is that we are not as conservative and opposed to innovation as we often describe . We have always seen innovation as a growth stimulus. We want to give a strong signal to our competitors," the president of the cooperative Loreno Bittarelli commented after the event (loosely translated).

***Cargill to Debut Plant-based Patty and Faux Ground Meat Products

Sign of niche going mainstream. Private label = competition [or source of plant-based]Minnetonka, Minnesota-headquartered Cargill announced on February 24 that its new private label plant-based hamburger patties and faux ground meat products will hit retailers shelves and be distributed to restaurant operators in North America by early April. The soy and pea protein-based products were developed through culinary insight, extensive consumer research and innovation.

https://www.frozenfoodsbiz.com/cargill-to-debut-plant-based-patty-and-faux-ground-meat-products/

Beyond Meat, Impossible Foods and other producers of plant-based imitation meat products are about to see another player enter the expanding field, this time from one of the world’s biggest privately held agriculture commodities and food ingredients companies. Minnetonka, Minnesota-headquartered Cargill announced on February 24 that its new private label plant-based hamburger patties and faux ground meat products will hit retailers shelves and be distributed to restaurant operators in North America by early April. The offerings are part of the international company’s inclusive approach to the future of protein – advancing both animal and alternative protein products to meet the expected 70% growth in global demand for protein over the next 30 years. The soy and pea protein-based products, which were developed through culinary insight, extensive consumer research and innovation, are made in Cargill facilities and presented as “an important next step in bringing more protein options to retail stores, cafeterias, fast food outlets, restaurants and other global locations.” “We’ve created some of the best tasting products available in the plant-based category today,” said Elizabeth Gutschenritter, managing director of Cargill’s alternative protein team. “We’ve combined our deep knowledge of plant proteins with our expertise in R&D, product development and production to deliver products consumers will love.” “Cargill has a strong history of providing high-quality protein products to customers,” said Gutschenritter. “Producing plant-based products across our global supply chain is the logical next step to expanding our ability to meet consumer needs and bring new value to this category.” Brian Sikes, leader of he company’s global protein and salt business, commented: “Cargill’s strategy for both food and feed is based on helping customers thrive in a world where demand for protein is rising.” Cargill, which generated almost $114.7 billion in sales during 2018, has invested $7 billion globally in animal protein in the last five years, while making strategic investments in the alternative protein space. “We need to keep all protein options on the table,” said Sikes. “Whether you are eating alternative or animal protein, Cargill will be at the center of the plate.”

Pressure on Bank of England to cut rates further easesTwitterFacebookGoogle+Whats AppMailDownDownDownDownClose

Growth in the UK economy during September has eased the pressure on the Bank of England to reduce interest rates again, with some insiders saying it would be "unlikely" the Bank would act again this year. The announcement followed data from the Markit/CIPS services purchasing managers' index (PMI), which was "above economists' expectations" and comes on the back of rising activity in the services, manufacturing and construction sectors. However, deputy governor of the Bank of England, Ben Broadbent warned Brexit could still cause an "insidious" hit to the economy.

http://news.sky.com/story/pressure-on-bank-to-cut-rates-further-eases-10606269

The prospect of more Bank of England action to support the economy this year after its post-Brexit vote stutter has widened, according to experts following the release of closely-watched data. The Markit/CIPS services purchasing managers' index (PMI) showed expansion in September in line with that of the previous month. The reading came in above economists' expectations and followed figures for the construction and manufacturing sectors earlier this week which also pointed to rising activity. The survey for the service sector, which accounts for more than 75% of all UK output, showed new business expanded at its fastest rate since February - aided by the collapse in the value of the pound. But it also raised the prospect of growing cost pressures through overseas purchases. The findings were echoed by the deputy governor of the Bank of England, Ben Broadbent, who told an audience in London on Wednesday that while the pound's plunge was helping support UK growth, Brexit uncertainty could cause an "insidious" hit to the economy. The Bank of England's policy action to bolster economic stimulus in August, including the cut in interest rates to 0.25%, has been credited with bolstering confidence and preventing a slowdown. Commentators suggested it was unlikely the Bank would need to act again this year, unless conditions deteriorate significantly. In a note to give its response to the PMI data, Capital Economics pointed to the likelihood of the new Chancellor loosening the purse strings in his Autumn Statement in a bid to prop up growth. Advertisement Yael Selfin, head of macroeconomics at KPMG, said: "PMI figures for September show businesses have largely shrugged off the initial shock of the referendum results. "Rising employment opportunities in the service sector should keep consumers spending while manufacturing industry is enjoying the benefits of a weaker pound." David Noble, group chief executive at the Chartered Institute of Procurement and Supply, said the PMI results would bring much-needed cheer to policymakers. "Though the overall activity index still remained below its long-term average and had dipped slightly compared to August, it reflected a modest revival of fortunes for services businesses," he said.

AdBlock Plus and Flattr partner to offer users cash based on site usage

Adblock Plus will begin an open beta test with Sweden’s Flattr, an automated online micropayment system, to give away money based on usage to your favourite web domains. The service will be called Flattr Plus. Seeing average donations of €5 per month, should this system be integrated into Adblock Plus’s install base, donations could reach millions or even billions, according to observers. Critics however question the efficacy of this system in the US.

http://www.mediapost.com/publications/article/282241/

by John Motavalli , Columnist, August 10, 2016 Are European-style micropayments the solution for ad blocking? AdBlock Plus thinks so. German-based Adblock Plus is the ad-blocking leader, with 300 million downloads. It recently announced it is available for the Anniversary Update to Windows 10. Users can install Adblock Plus for Microsoft Edge “and start blocking annoying advertisements in Microsoft’s new standard browser.” Adblock Plus also is looking to develop ad blocking for Windows Mobile and XBox. That is a lot of ad blocking going on. But help may be on the way for beleaguered publishers and bloggers. Towards the end of the year, Adblock Plus will start an open beta test with Sweden’s Flattr, a system that actually automates micropayments, doling out cash payments based on usage to your favorite Web domains. The new service will be called Flattr Plus. MediaPost’s Joe Mandese sounded skeptical about this concept last month. We have a different take. advertisement advertisement According to Ben Williams, a spokesman for Adblock Plus, Flattr Plus could become a significant revenue driver for the Web. Flattr Plus will work this way: A person who installs the software would have a proposed budget for the month. He gives the example of a budget of $5.40. Based on visits to 42 domains in one month, a hypothetical user who viewed 30 pages of wired.com would pay Wired 61 cents. Users could indicate not to “Flattr” a particular domain if they don’t want to pay for it. Sixty-one cents doesn’t sound like much, but let’s think some more about those 300 million Adblock Plus downloads. In Europe, where Flattr has been around for awhile, the average donation is 5 euros a month. But if Flattr Plus is embraced across the Adblock Plus install base, it could result in significant amounts — millions, even billions, Williams projects. Why Pay For What’s Free? Why would someone use Flattr Plus when the Internet is basically free? The Flattr Plus Web site puts it this way: “Journalists, artists, bloggers and other creators get your money, so they can continue to create great things. And you just made the Internet a little bit better” by using Flattr Plus. It’s a little like philanthropy. Obviously, you don’t have to install Flattr Plus. This is not completely different from the Dutch-based Blendle concept that we wrote about earlier, currently in beta in the USA, in which stories from U.S. and European news media are offered at 19 cents each. The New York Times has invested heavily in Blendle, indicating either that they believe in micropayments, or that they’re desperate. Perhaps both. At the re:publica conference in Berlin earlier this year, Peter Sunde, co-founder of Flattr, and Laura Sophie Dornheim, of Adblock Plus, introduced Flattr Plus. Sunde called it a “no-click payment system, honoring quality experiences rather than clickbait.” Sunde and Dornheim basically described an Internet payment system that is completely dysfunctional, and we can’t totally disagree with that. But the USA is not Europe, not by a long shot. A lot of things that work in Europe tend to flounder here. Does this mean Americans are less altruistic than Europeans? I’m not sure. The USA is the origin of the “Internet wants to be free” mantra. Americans don’t really think much about who pays for all that content that floods the medium. It’s just there. But Americans also have proven, at least with television, that when somebody builds a better channel, like Netflix and Amazon have done, they will pay for it. They get a bill every month that is generally deducted automatically, and rarely think about it. Subscribe once, and it just keeps on coming. Flattr Plus could be like that, with the notable exception that you have to pay for Netflix, but you don’t have to install Flattr Plus. Let’s look at this another way. Adblock Plus worked closely with Microsoft on its release for the Anniversary Update to Windows 10. Suppose the Flattr Plus concept catches on. Isn’t it conceivable that browsers could, some time in the future, come with this kind of software installed and mandatory? It would actually be a bit fairer system than cable packaging, in that with automated micropayments, users would only pay for programming they actually watch, while fans who care nothing about sports currently pay through the nose for programming they never view at all. Programmatic Dominated By A Few Platforms Why do I think this concept is being discussed somewhere? Something has to happen. Right now, programmatic advertising is so dominated by two, maybe three, huge platforms that thousands of publishers and bloggers are looking at as alternatives to advertising. Flattr Plus may seem utopian. But do you have a better idea? Publishers dealing with ad blocking seem desperate these days. If you go to time.com with an ad blocker as we did, for example, you’ll see a weird message that proclaims “You Broke Time!” with material about imagining Time without ads. What then follows is a bizarre page with dissolving type. We’re not sure what this is meant to convey, but as a weapon against ad blocking it seems pretty lame. If this is the best that publishers can come up with, micro-payments don’t sound that crazy. While we were writing this story, Facebook announced it would circumvent Adblock Plus and other ad blockers. “Ads support our mission of giving people the power to share and making the world more open and connected,” it said. “Rather than paying ad blocking companies to unblock the ads we show — as some of these companies have invited us to do in the past — we’re putting control in people’s hands with our updated ad preferences and our other advertising controls.” An anonymous commentator on the ABP blog quipped, “They are such idiots at farcebook. This will be a fun challenge. I am sure we’ll continue to be able to block all their ad drivel, no problem.”

** Storing Energy in the Freezer: Long-Duration Thermal Storage Comes of Age

Cold storage facilities have long been a target for energy-efficiency and demand-response programs. Thermal energy storage is currently a small but growing portion of the behind-the-meter energy storage market. Some promising companies with mechanically complex thermal energy storage solutions have exited the business or turned to software-based offerings.

https://www.greentechmedia.com/articles/read/storing-energy-in-the-freezer-long-duration-thermal-storage-comes-of-age

Jason Dreisbach fields at least half a dozen calls every week from people trying to sell him a technology to lower his energy costs. As the owner of Dreisbach Enterprises, a cold-storage facility owner with operations in Northern California, he's a popular target. Cold storage — from frozen food warehouses to grocery and restaurant refrigeration — has one of the highest energy costs of any industry; energy expenditures are usually second only to payroll. Dreisbach endures sales pitches that run the gamut of energy solutions, from LED lighting to rooftop solar to fuel cells. When Viking Cold Solutions reached out in 2017 with a thermal energy storage technology, his interest was piqued because, even though he had many questions, “it was not a foreign concept,” he said. The battle in cold storage is not keeping things cold, but rather removing heat. “We are constantly fighting [British thermal unit] intrusion,” Dreisbach explained. Viking Cold offered something that aided in the battle. Cold storage facilities have long been a target for energy-efficiency and demand-response programs because of their intense energy needs. And yet, these ubiquitous facilities have not been fully tapped for their energy savings or potential as flexible energy resources. Some promising companies with mechanically complex thermal energy storage solutions targeting the commercial sectors, including the cold chain, have exited the business or turned to software-based offerings only. It’s a tough sell to get any business, especially grocers or frozen-food warehouses, to give up valuable square footage for any energy storage solution, or to put their customers’ products in jeopardy to save on costs. Because of this, Viking Cold has found that many of its potential clients have had limited success with demand-management participation. And until recently, most utilities have not actively sought out long-duration energy storage as part of their grid flexibility portfolio. Now, that is all changing. A big target, easily overlooked Viking Cold Solutions didn’t set out to develop a technology for utilities to tap as a grid resource. Its founder simply wanted to move more frozen foods more efficiently between Jacksonville, Florida and Puerto Rico for clients such as Sam’s Club. The patented solution leverages thermal energy storage to the benefit of frozen-food storage providers and utilities. In simple terms, all thermal energy solutions involve the heating or chilling of water or another medium, which is then used to shift energy loads. In the case of Viking Cold’s technology, it also improves efficiency. Thermal energy storage is currently a small but growing portion of the behind-the-meter energy storage market, according to Wood Mackenzie's energy storage analysts. Source: Wood Mackenzie Power & Renewables Viking Cold’s technology for frozen-food warehouses looks like a radiator that sits atop the frozen-food racking. It’s made of sealed plastic bottles filled with water and hydrated salt solutions that act as a phase-change material to absorb heat infiltration inside the freezers. There are no mechanical system components, but the phase-change material is paired with an intelligence platform that optimizes temperatures and energy use and interfaces with nearly any building or warehouse management system. “With our technology, we essentially treat the phase-change material like a thermal battery,” said James Bell, president and CEO of Viking Cold Solutions. “We know precisely how much energy is in there. Prior to thermal energy storage, people had just guessed.” He further noted that energy-saving practices for this sector have traditionally used the food or the building as the energy-storage medium, “but now we have something specifically designed for energy storage that is safe for both food and the environment.” The systems can deliver over 12 hours of load-shifting while improving refrigeration efficiency an average of 25 percent. Born in Florida, coming of age in California Dreisbach Enterprises and San Diego Food Bank are two of the California-based operations that have invested in Viking Cold’s technology to run their operations more efficiently. In thermal energy storage, they have found a powerful long-duration storage solution that helps them do everything from integrating renewables more profitably to increasing resiliency during power disruptions, as well as participating in multiple utility programs in ways they couldn’t before. Viking Cold is an approved project developer in California’s Self-Generation Incentive Program, which provides funds for behind-the-meter energy storage deployments. The average cold-storage warehouse has approximately 1 megawatt of energy storage potential, according to Viking Cold. In the case of Dreisbach Enterprises, in 2017 it installed the technology in a portion of one of its 100,000-square-foot Northern California facilities, which now reduces nearly half a megawatt of freezer load for 13 hours every day. Prior to the installation, Dreisbach used the conventional cold-storage industry practice known as flywheeling (also called floating), which consists of sub-cooling the food and then shutting off refrigeration systems during the expensive six-hour peak demand-charge period. “What Viking Cold has allowed us to do is [to avoid] sub-cooling to the degree that we had, and then ride it out for much longer,” said Dreisbach. “Instead of six hours, we ride 12 or 13 hours, six days a week, without turning on our more major compressors.” The result is a 22-month payback period instead of 36. There have been other benefits: It’s simply not as uncomfortable in the warehouse when employees are working because the fans are blowing less; operations and maintenance needs and costs have been reduced, and during a recent 24-hour outage caused by a nearby Pacific Gas & Electric transformer, temperatures rose only about 5 degrees, said Dreisbach, compared to the rise of approximately 15 degrees that would have occurred without Viking Cold’s thermal energy storage (TES) technology. San Diego Food Bank's TES system has allowed the organization to essentially shut down compressors overnight and leverage its onsite solar array to power more of the refrigeration during the day. The facility has also reduced its morning peak, which occurs before the solar array is generating energy, by about 12 kilowatts. The overall energy savings have amounted to nearly 40 percent. San Diego Food Bank was able to shift its runtime to better leverage its solar generation and eliminate 95% of overnight grid-sourced refrigeration load. (Source: Viking Cold Solutions) A distributed energy resource for the taking While thermal energy storage has been available for a long time in various forms, the current juncture seems particularly well suited to the solution. Lithium-ion batteries, which dominate the energy storage market, offer about two hours of storage for utilities to tap. For heavy refrigeration loads, Viking Cold has found lithium-ion batteries are neither feasible nor economical when compared to its TES, which has a levelized cost of energy of less than $0.02 per kilowatt-hour. At the same time, the need to incentivize load-shifting takes on new importance as intermittent wind and solar are rapidly added to the grid, and as peak mitigation increasingly becomes a focus as utilities look to displace inefficient peaker plants. Regulators are more frequently tasking utilities with providing “all-of-the-above” resource plans that include a range of distributed energy resources, energy storage in particular. Finally, utilities are looking for opportunities to be proactive with value-added services for their largest customers to prevent them from defecting. Viking Cold’s technology can address these varying utility challenges, but it is often still viewed through an efficiency lens. That’s fine with Bell, who says the company is focused first and foremost on serving its cold-chain customers. That’s an important distinction, as some other promising thermal energy providers have prioritized chasing utility and municipal contracts rather than focusing on end-use customers. If Viking Cold can also work with energy providers, the company sees that as icing on the cake. “A year or two ago, we had maybe one or two utilities that had incentives for us,” said Collin Coker, VP of sales and marketing at Viking Cold Solutions. “Now we have dozens.” The very nature of those incentives is also evolving. A large, investor-owned Midwestern utility is building a program that will incentivize the storage capacity of TES systems like Viking Cold’s. “Overall, the thermal energy storage vendor ecosystem isn’t crowded today, but may see more competition as more utilities include incentives for this technology and customers realize the value proposition offered by TES,” Wood Mackenzie analysts noted in a 2019 Energy Storage Monitor report. In the past year, Viking Cold has found that both utilities and cold-storage companies are approaching the company with their challenges, rather than simply hoping someone like Dreisbach returns the sales team’s calls. “Down the road, I see this looking like insulation did 100 years ago,” said Bell. “Now you wouldn’t even consider a building without insulation. Going forward, why would anyone build a temperature-controlled facility without the efficiency and resiliency of TES?”

Health insurance company launches medical ATMs in India

Indian company Max Bupa Health Insurance is deploying health-related ATMs offering non-intrusive medical examinations as a stepping stone to simple health insurance cover. For up to INR10 lakh (approximately $1,550), customers can have their blood pressure, weight, blood oxygen levels and temperature measured, before the ATM offers a range of suitable insurance products. Initially, 20 machines will be installed in Bank of Baroda branches within a month, before being expanded to 100 machines in six months.

https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/business/india-business/in-a-first-max-bupa-launches-health-atms/articleshow/61176946.cms

Mumbai: Max Bupa Health Insurance (MBHI) has launched health ATMs — the first such innovation in the country. These machines will conduct non-intrusive medical tests and issue health policies for up to Rs 10 lakh without manual intervention.The health ATMs will initially be installed in branches of banks that partner Max Bupa for distribution. “This will simplify the purchase journey for health insurance products and more importantly ensure that the policy is delivered seamlessly to them. What ATMs did to banking, we should be able to do for health insurance with these machines,” said Ashish Mehrotra, MD & CEO, MBHI.The company will initially launch around 20 machines in Bank of Baroda within a month. This will be expanded to 100 in three to six months.Max Bupa is working with a health startup to launch this service. To keep this simple the company has decided to restrict the medical tests to non-intrusive tests and provide simple indemnity covers instead of the company’s flagship policy which requires more documentation. To buy the policy, the proposer has to key in his mobile number and enter the validation code and biometrics in the machine. The machine will then measure various parameters starting from height, weight, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels and temperature. The data will be used to calculate parameters such as body mass index bone mass , and muscle mass. The data will be transmitted and analysed real-time to arrive at a health score.“The machine will then offer the right kind of products which are more suitable to you. If you choose to buy the decisioning engine will take a call and push the policy immediately,” said Mehrotra.While this would too a large extent substitute premedical tests, there would be cases like those where the proposer has a pre-existing condition, which will require comprehensive medical tests.Initially, the purchases will be available for bank customers as this would take care of the ‘know your customer’ requirements. In future, the company is looking at using biometrics for customer authentication

Underinsured new risk categories need to be addressed: Marcus Ryu

There is a significant issue of underinsurance in new risk categories that needs to be addressed, says founder of Guidewire, Marcus Ryu, who is seen as one of the global thought leaders on insurance. Ryu pointed to risks to individuals including those created by the sharing economy and drones and risks to enterprises relating to potential supply chain disruption and product recalls, citing Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 recall which he said could cost the firm at least $5bn in losses. Guidewire is one of the biggest general insurance technology firms in the world.

http://www.insurancetimes.co.uk/tech-guru-urges-industry-to-tackle-underinsurance/1420118.article

Guidewire founder says new categories of risks are being left underinsured Guidewire founder Marcus Ryu told a packed audience of more than 1,500 insurance people that there is a big underinsurance issue and the industry needs tackle it more extensively. Ryu’s Guidewire is one of the biggest general insurance technology firms in the world, handling more than $500bn (£409bn) in premiums. Ryu, widely seen as one of the global thought leaders on insurance, said that one of the biggest issues he comes across is underinsurance of emerging risks, something which insurers have not yet grasped the nettle on. Giving one of the keynote addresses at the Guidewire Connections 2016 conference in San Francisco, Ryu said: “Entirely new categories of risks have emerged which are going underinsured. For individuals there are the new risks of a sharing economy and drones. For enterprises, there are the commercial risks of supply chain disruption and product recall.” Ryu referred to Samsung’s Galaxy Note 7 phone, which had to be recalled because of battery fires, which he said could cost the consumer electronics firm “at least $5bn in losses”. He added: “And then there is the estimated half a trillion dollar loss every year of cybercrime. These enormous risk are going almost entirely self-insured today.” Ryu stated some key emerging risks were ride sharing, temporary rentals, cyber crime, extreme weather, equipment failure, drones, product recalls and supply chain. “The P&C [insurance] industry is essential to our way of life. As an efficient risk intermediary, it ought to be larger and more pervasive than it is today, or at least we believe so at Guidewire. “Fulfilling this potential means answering the market’s mandate, to bring to market products addressed to temporary risks, easy for policyholders to understand and buy, and serviced more efficiently. “Hence Guidewire’s mission, to deliver the software that P&C insurers need to adapt to succeed in a time of rapid industry change and to ensure that every customer succeeds in the journey.”

EDF, Total among leading bidders for 1.4 GW Saudi solar tenders

Saudi Arabia's shortlisted bidders for the second round of the National Renewable Energy Program include EDF and Total. The tender covers four solar plants totalling 1.4 GW and two photovoltaic sites equalling 70 MW. Other shortlisted developers include ACWA Power, Masdar, First Solar, Marubeni and Al Blagha Holding. The lowest shortlisted bid was $0.0161 per kWh. Successful bidders will receive 25-year power purchase agreements.

https://www.pv-magazine.com/2020/04/03/lowest-shortlisted-bid-in-saudi-1-47-gw-tender-was-0-0161-kwh/

Saudi Arabia has announced the shortlisted bidders of the second round of its National Renewable Energy Program (NREP) tender, which includes four solar plants totaling 1.4 GW, in addition to another procurement round for two PV facilities equaling 70 MW. Prospective developers submitted four bids for the first of the two tenders, which was launched in July, the Renewable Energy Project Development Office (REPDO) said. The successful bidders will be awarded 25-year power purchase agreements. Al-Faisaliah The two lowest bidders for the largest of the plants, the 600 MW Al-Faisaliah PV IP project, were extremely close, REPDO said, noting that the difference in the levelized cost of energy was within the statistical margin of error. As a result, the Saudi Ministry of Energy decided to proceed with a with a Best and Final Offer (BAFO). The two selected consortia – led by Saudi energy company ACWA Power and UAE-based solar developer Masdar, respectively – will not have to submit a final offer. The BAFO is a procurement strategy that is often utilized when the evaluation experts determine that the price could or should be better, or when some elements of an offer are confusing and need to be more clearly defined. “The results of the bids in respect of Al-Faisaliah PV IPP will be announced in April 2020 after completion of the BAFO,” REPDO said. Jeddah REPDO has shortlisted two consortia for the 300 MW Jeddah PV IPP project. The first group, which includes Masdar and French utility EDF, offered an LCOE of SAR0.0609042/kWh. The other group, led by ACWA Power, submitted a bid of SAR0.06215/kWh. Rabigh For the 300 MW Rabigh PV IPP project, the shortlisted bidders were Japanese trading giant Marubeni, which offered SAR0.06381138/kWh, and a consortium led by ACWA Power, which proposed an LCOE of SAR0.06597/kWh. Popular content Qurrayat For the 200 MW Qurrayat PV IPP project, the lowest bid was submitted by ACWA Power at SAR0.06688/kWh. The second shortlisted bidder, French oil producer Total, offered SAR0.0678555/kWh. REPDO also revealed that the shortlisted bidders for two more solar projects, totaling 70 MW. Madinah and Rahfa For the 50 MW Madinah PV IPP project, the Saudi authorities shortlisted two consortia led by Al Blagha Holding and U.S. module manufacturer First Solar, respectively. The first group offered an LCOE of SAR0.0727533/kWh, while the second offered SAR0.011.35/kWh For the 20 MW RafhaPV IPP project, REPDO shortlisted the same consortia. l Blagha Holding offered SAR0.0130772/kWh, while First Solar bid SAR0.01904/kWh. The second round of the program initially drew 250 bidders. In July, REPDO said the number of bidders it had narrowed the bidders down to 60 companies, including 28 that were based in Saudi Arabia. In the first round of the procurement program, REPDO assigned 300 MW of solar capacity to a single facility, the Sakaka solar project which is now operational. That first tender drew global attention by attracting the lowest solar electricity price ever bid, with French energy giant EDF offering to generate solar power for an LCOE of SAR0.06697/kWh. The bid was rejected, however, with Saudi energy giant ACWA Power ultimately winning with an offer of SAR0.08872/kWh. The third round of the program – intended for allocating another 1.2 GW of PV – was launched in January.

SEC pushing for more transparency of sell-side order routing

The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is calling for brokers to disclose more information about how they handle investors’ orders. The agency has passed amendments to Rule 606 of Regulation NMS, requiring the sell-side to provide, upon the request of a customer who places a “not held” order, a standardised set of disclosures regarding the company’s handling of that customer’s orders. The amendment aims to make it easier for investors to make informed decisions about brokers with which they do business, and how those brokers deal with their orders.

http://www.tradersmagazine.com/news/regulation/rule-606-amended-pushes-brokers-for-more-order-routing-information-118526-1.html?ET=tradersmagazine:e4189:4625438a:&st=email

Rule 606 Amendment Pushes Brokers for More Order Routing Information The brokers will have to open up their book just a little bit more these days. The Securities and Exchange Commission recently passed amendments to Rule 606 of Reg NMS that require the sell-side to disclose more information about how they handle, route and treat orders and what they might be getting paid for those decisions. Score one for more transparency for the buy-side and retail investor. As first reported by ThinkAdvisor, the amended rule Rule 606(b)(3) requires a broker, upon a request of a customer who places a “not held” order (e.g., an order in which the customer gives the firm price and time discretion), to provide the customer with a standardized set of individualized disclosures concerning the firm’s handling of the customer’s orders, the agency explains. The amendments will be out for a 60-day comment period. To view the SEC release in full, please click here It was also reported that SEC Chairman Jay Clayton said in announcing the amended rule that “in the 18 years since the Commission originally adopted its order handling and routing disclosure rules, technology and innovation have driven significant changes in the way that our equities market functions and investors transact.” The rule amendment “will make it easier for investors to evaluate how their brokers handle their orders and ultimately make more informed choices about the brokers with whom they do business.” For the complete story, please click here For more information on related topics, visit the following channels:

Saxo Bank furthers its reach into Asia with new Chinese office

Saxo Bank has purchased a new office in the Shanghai World Financial Centre as it looks to increase the size of its business in Asia. It is located within the Shanghai free-trade zone which enables them to have unrestricted foreign currency exchange alongside a tax-free period of ten years for the businesses situated here. The Danish company is expecting to improve its results with greater trading activity in Asia.

http://www.financemagnates.com/forex/brokers/saxo-bank-looks-to-china-with-new-office-in-shanghai-free-trade-zone/

Danish Multi-Asset Multi-Asset Composed of varying asset classes, multi-asset is a blanket designation combining different classes such bonds, equities, cash equivalents, fixed income, and alternative investments.When compared to traditional balanced funds, multi-asset solutions differ because they target specific investment outcomes. This includes outcomes such as return above inflation as opposed to gauging performance against standardized benchmarks.Given the composition of multi-asset classes, they need to be dynamically Composed of varying asset classes, multi-asset is a blanket designation combining different classes such bonds, equities, cash equivalents, fixed income, and alternative investments.When compared to traditional balanced funds, multi-asset solutions differ because they target specific investment outcomes. This includes outcomes such as return above inflation as opposed to gauging performance against standardized benchmarks.Given the composition of multi-asset classes, they need to be dynamically Read this Term broker, Saxo Bank, announced that is has opened a new China office, furthering its reach into Asia. The move comes as the company seeks to expand its business in the region. The new office is located in the Shanghai World Financial Centre, Lujiazui, within the Shanghai free-trade zone. Lujiazui has been developed specifically as a new financial district of Shanghai and the free-trade zone, which was established in 2013, permitting yuan convertibility and unrestricted foreign currency Exchange Exchange An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv An exchange is known as a marketplace that supports the trading of derivatives, commodities, securities, and other financial instruments.Generally, an exchange is accessible through a digital platform or sometimes at a tangible address where investors organize to perform trading. Among the chief responsibilities of an exchange would be to uphold honest and fair-trading practices. These are instrumental in making sure that the distribution of supported security rates on that exchange are effectiv Read this Term, and a tax-free period of 10 years for the businesses in the area. In a joint statement, the broker’s co-founders and co-CEOs, Kim Fournais and Lars Seier Christensen, laid out the strategic rationale for the opening of the new office in Shanghai. “The People’s Republic of China (PRC) will become one of the most important markets globally. With China’s initiation of the Silk Road land route and maritime equivalent … a new phase of expansion and economic development will increase demand for financial services.” A new phase of expansion and economic development [in China] will increase demand for financial services. They added: “As businesses and people increasingly becoming self-directed in the way they approach their investments, they need modern technology and a comprehensive multi-asset product offering and that is exactly what Saxo Bank offers.” The strategic focus on Asia is affirmed by the recent acquisition of 9.9% of the company’s shares by Sinar Mas Group. An Indonesian conglomerate with investments in a wide variety of industries including financial services, real estate, pulp and paper and telecom, Sinar Mas Group is expected to act as a strategic partner, and assist Saxo Bank in growing their business in the Asian markets. The mainland China office will be headed up by Echo Zhao, a long-time employee of Saxo Bank, beginning her career with Saxo Bank A/S in Copenhagen over a decade ago. A native of mainland China, she will report to Adam Reynolds, CEO Asia Pacific. “We are thrilled to be opening our office in the Shanghai free-trade zone. We have seen trading volumes and demand for content expanding within the region rapidly since the opening of our Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore 9 years ago, and we are delighted to be committing further to Asia and the burgeoning China market by working within the Shanghai Free-Trade Zone regulatory framework,” said Mr. Fournais and Mr. Christensen. No doubt the company will be expecting the increased trading activity in Asia to boost its results, after incurring a net loss of -$73.1 million during H1 2015, hurt in large part by the upheaval caused by the SNB event earlier this year.

Voltalia wins 140 MW Albanian solar tender, supported by EBRD

Voltalia has won a 140 MW solar power tender in Albania backed by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD). The French renewables company will sell half the power it generates to the open market and the other half to the state energy operator in Albania for €24.89($27.72)/MWh. The country’s power currently comes mostly from hydro projects, and apart from the Voltalia deal, Albania’s energy ministry has also launched a solar tender for a €100m project.

https://www.renewablesnow.com/news/frances-voltalia-wins-140-mw-solar-park-tender-in-albania-ebrd-700510/

French renewables company Voltalia has won a tender for the construction and operation of a 140 MW solar power plant in Albania's Karavasta coastal area supported by the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the bank said. Albania's prime minister Edi Rama and minister of infrastructure and energy Belinda Balluku announced the winning bid in a televised event on Wednesday, after the tender went ahead despite the coronavirus pandemic, the EBRD said in a statement. "It follows three years of extensive preparation for entry into the solar market from the EBRD, including technical assistance and policy dialogue to help develop solar power," the bank noted. Under the contract, Voltalia will sell half the electricity produced at the solar park to Albania's state energy distribution company for 24.89 euro per MW/hour, less than half the price ceiling of 55 euro, which confirms the value of preparing a tender in line with international best practice, the EBRD said. The remaining half will be sold in the market. The project will help diversify the energy sources of Albania which relies almost entirely on hydro power, increase the country's resilience to climate change, and bring in much needed foreign investment, EBRD head of office in Albania, Matteo Colangeli, said in the statement. Albania's energy ministry opened a tender for the construction of the solar park near the southwestern city of Fier in January. The project is expected to have a total cost of around 100 million euro ($110 million), Belinda Balluku said back then. More than 20 international companies have submitted bids, she added. ($ = 0.9084 euro) Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

Owners of dirty ships will increasingly struggle to borrow

Andy Dacy, the chief executive of JPMorgan Asset Management’s global transportation group told a meeting at the International Shipping Week that shipping loans will go only to clean vessels. “There is not an institutional investor today in the Western world that is not thinking about the impact of environmental, social and governance factors,” Dacy said. JPMorgan is the latest financial institution to warn shipowners to abide by a series of measures coming into force in January 2020 and extending to 2050 that aim to cut emissions from oceangoing vessels.A group of 11 banks, with have a combined shipping portfolio of about $100 bn, or 25% of the global ship-finance market, have signed on to an industrial framework known as the Poseidon Principles, which aims to direct new money for shipping toward environmentally friendly vessels. The banks, which includes Citigroup, Société Générale SA and DNB ASA have said they will take climate considerations into account when extending new shipping loans.

https://www.hellenicshippingnews.com/j-p-morgan-says-shipping-loans-will-go-only-to-clean-vessels/

J.P. Morgan Says Shipping Loans Will Go Only to Clean Vessels J.P. Morgan Asset Management is joining a chorus of global financiers saying that protecting the environment will be a key consideration for extending shipping loans. “There is not an institutional investor today in the Western world that is not thinking about the impact of environmental, social and governance factors,” Andy Dacy, the chief executive of the finance firm’s global transportation group, told a meeting at the International Shipping Week here. “Anyone looking for [shipping] capital, if you’re not employing such a strategy, it’s going to be increasingly very difficult to get capital.” Mr. Dacy said. The group is the latest financial institution to warn shipowners to abide by a series of measures kicking off next year and extending to 2050 that are aimed at cutting emissions from oceangoing vessels. Starting on Jan. 1, 2020, some 60,000 ships will be required to reduce sulfur emissions by more than 80%. Many are preparing to switch to new low-sulfur fuel mixes or blends that are still under development, a move industry executives say will add some $50 billion in new fuel costs over the next three to four years. The move is mandated by the International Maritime Organization, an arm of the United Nations that works as the global marine regulator. The IMO has also set a timeline to cut greenhouse gas emissions from ships by 40% by 2030 and by 50% by 2050. Ships move the world’s commodities like oil, iron ore and grains and the vast majority of manufactured goods. They also contribute around 3% of the world’s global pollution, an amount comparable to major emitting countries, according to Oceana, a group of independent foundations that monitors ocean pollution. Mr. Dacy said maritime financing decisions over the past decade were driven by private-equity firms coming into shipping. Now, with private equity largely looking to exit the industry after several years of consolidation, institutional investors are looking beyond balance sheets to guarantees by shipowners that they will abide by the IMO climate regulations and timelines. “And it’s not just about environmental impact,” Mr. Dacy said. “It’s how do you treat your crew, how do you work with constituents in the industry to create a transparent organization.” So far 11 banks—including Citigroup Inc., France’s Société Générale SA and Norway’s DNB ASA —say they will take climate considerations into account when extending new shipping loans. The banks, which have a combined shipping portfolio of about $100 billion, or about one-fourth of the global ship-finance market, have signed on to an industrial framework known as the Poseidon Principles, which seeks to direct new money for shipping toward environmentally friendly vessels. Chinese banks, which control about 25% of all ship finance and more than half of all shipbuilding capacity, are expected to place climate criteria in their ship financing portfolios over the next two years, according to shipping and bank executives. The principles are also supported by some of the industry’s biggest ocean cargo movers, including Danish shipping giant A.P. Møller-Maersk A/S, agriculture commodities giant Cargill Inc. and Belgium-based tanker operator Euronav NV. Experts say cutting carbon-dioxide emissions substantially over the coming years will require that new vessels begin running on alternative fuel sources such as biofuels or hydrogen power. Ships that run on such fuels could take years to develop, according to industry executives. Source: Wall Street Journal

UPS Orders 10,000 Electric Delivery Vans From Arrival

The Arrival electric delivery vans are priced about the same as conventional delivery vans but have 50% lower operating costs.Arrival says the delivery business, with its predictable routes and the ability to recharge vehicles overnight, makes commercial vehicles perfectly suited for the switch to electric propulsion.

https://cleantechnica.com/2020/01/29/ups-orders-10000-electric-delivery-vans-from-arrival/

When Hyundai and KIA announced last week that they were jointly investing $100 million in UK startup Arrival, they probably knew something we didn’t know — until now. UPS has signed a deal with Arrival to buy 10,000 of its electric delivery vans between now and 2024 and to possibly purchase another 10,000 after that. The vans will be placed in service in the UK, Europe, and North America. UPS has also invested an undisclosed amount in the company. The reason why UPS would do this is pretty simple. The Arrival electric delivery vans are priced about the same as conventional delivery vans but have 50% lower operating costs. What fleet manager wouldn’t get excited about that deal? In an e-mail to CleanTechnica, Denis Sverdlov, CEO of Arrival, said, “UPS has been a strong strategic partner of Arrival, providing valuable insight to how electric delivery vans are used on the road and how they can be optimized for drivers. Together our teams have been creating bespoke electric vehicles, based on our flexible skateboard platforms, that meet the end-to-end needs of UPS from driving, loading/unloading, depot and back office operations. We are pleased that today’s investment and vehicle order creates even closer ties between our two companies.” Arrival has developed components, sustainable materials, and software to customize both the vehicles commercial fleet owners use as well as strategies to streamline their operations to drive down costs. Arrival’s unique skateboard platforms allow the company to create vehicles in any weight, type, size, or shape to match customer requirements. The company’s micro-factories can be rapidly deployed close to areas of demand across the globe. In theory, that means those micro-factories could be located near the UPS hubs where the delivery vans will be used. It will be interesting to see how the micro-factory concept plays out in practice. In the same e-mail, Avinash Rugoobur, chief strategy officer for Arrival, added, “Arrival has created Generation 2 electric vehicles that are better in price, design and experience than traditional fossil fuel vehicles and existing EVs. This gives fleet managers a highly compelling commercial and environmental reason to switch to electric and will accelerate the adoption of electric technology globally. At Arrival, we believe these are among the most impactful areas to start the transition to a fully electric future, and our partnership with UPS will drive us both towards our shared vision of cleaner mobility.” The market for delivery vans and trucks is huge. Many of them are powered by diesel engines because of their reputation for longevity and fuel efficiency. But they also spew fine particulates into the atmosphere in their wake (gasoline engines do also, but to a lesser degree). The medical and scientific communities are just beginning to understand the impact those particles have on human health. Not to put too fine a point on it, they are known to promote respiratory and circulatory diseases that make people sick and shorten their lives. That is why it is imperative that we stop burning fossil fuels in our vehicles. (Slowing global heating is another excellent reason to do so.) But if you are a fleet manager, operating costs are the bottom line. If Arrival can really make electric delivery vans that do the job reliably at lower cost than conventional vans, the world will beat a path to their door, demanding they make more — an enviable position for any startup. Worldwide, there are more than 300 million commercial vans and trucks on the road. As internet shopping has exploded in popularity, the need for more delivery vehicles has risen as well. Over the past decade the number of parcels delivered per day in NYC alone has quadrupled to 1.5 million while van mileage in the UK has grown 56% since 2000. Amazon is leading the charge to deliver stuff that people used to go to stores to purchase. It has invested $700 million in Rivian and ordered 10,000 electric delivery vans from it as well as it attempts to keep its operations as green as possible during a period of explosive growth. Arrival says the delivery business, with its predictable routes and the ability to recharge vehicles overnight, makes commercial vehicles perfectly suited for the switch to electric propulsion. The ability to have an impact on climate change at the same time is just the icing on the cake. Sign up for Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Former Tesla Battery Expert Leading Lyten Into New Lithium-Sulfur Battery Era — Podcast: I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps — gasp — grow. So ... Sign up for daily news updates from CleanTechnica on email. Or follow us on Google News Have a tip for CleanTechnica, want to advertise, or want to suggest a guest for our CleanTech Talk podcast? Contact us here I don't like paywalls. You don't like paywalls. Who likes paywalls? Here at CleanTechnica, we implemented a limited paywall for a while, but it always felt wrong — and it was always tough to decide what we should put behind there. In theory, your most exclusive and best content goes behind a paywall. But then fewer people read it! We just don't like paywalls, and so we've decided to ditch ours. Unfortunately, the media business is still a tough, cut-throat business with tiny margins. It's a never-ending Olympic challenge to stay above water or even perhaps —— grow. So ...

Trump’s Trade Appeals to China Still Left Farmers Reeling

Soybean, dairy and pig farmers saw their businesses dry up as the world’s most populous nation put tariffs on more than $70 billion of American products. Soybean exports fell to just $3.1 billion in 2018 from $12.2 billion in 2017.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/business/economy/trump-china-trade-war-farmers.html

Many farmers and farm groups are conservative leaning, and they have generally been solid supporters of Mr. Trump, even when his actions threatened their export markets. But in the depths of the trade war — like last August, when China announced it was halting agricultural purchases from the United States and Mr. Trump threatened to tax every Chinese export to America — even the president’s more steadfast supporters began to waver. Still, rather than back down, Mr. Trump has spent heavily to shore up the farm economy. The administration announced a total of $28 billion in aid for farmers in 2018 and 2019, funds the president says come from the tariffs levied on China. The administration secured another $23.5 billion to help American farmers through the $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus package passed in March. There were indications last year that China might have been increasing purchases ahead of pivotal rounds of the trade talks. In September, traders reported 10 boatloads of soybeans being shipped from the United States to China ahead of negotiations that were scheduled for October. China also stepped up its purchases of American pork that month. Chad E. Hart, an economist at Iowa State University, said Chinese purchases of American farm goods did pick up around the time of Mr. Trump and Mr. Xi’s meetings — which he called a “standard practice” that Beijing used to “signal momentum” in its discussions. “It’s something we tend to see from China in any sort of negotiation,” Mr. Hart said. Veronica Nigh, an economist at the American Farm Bureau, cautioned that fluctuations in the weekly data in any year could stem from a variety of factors — including weather and currency swings — making it difficult to pinpoint whether purchases were the direct result of the Chinese government’s accommodating Mr. Trump’s wishes.

Tasers when they fail

A year-long investigation by APM Reports shows that police rate Tasers as considerably less effective. More than 250 fatal police shootings nationwide between 2015 and 2017 occurred after a Taser failed to incapacitate a suspect. In 106 of those cases, the suspect became more violent after receiving the electrical shock.

https://www.apmreports.org/story/2019/05/09/when-tasers-fail

Tasers have become an essential tool for police, but how effective are they? An APM Reports investigation finds that officers in some big cities rated Tasers as unreliable up to 40 percent of the time, and in three large departments, newer models were less effective than older ones. In 258 cases over three years, a Taser failed to subdue someone who was then shot and killed by police. Phil Grenon is exactly the kind of person the Taser was designed to save. At 76, he'd long struggled with mental illness, and his condition had recently deteriorated. One day, he'd started shouting threats to his neighbors through the walls of his Burlington, Vermont, apartment, and they called the police. Grenon had no history of violence — he was a devoted father and grandfather — but he'd lately been having paranoid delusions. So when two patrol officers showed up at his door early on the evening of March 21, 2016, Grenon confronted them with a knife in each hand. The Taser was created for precisely this scenario: when police need to protect themselves but don't need lethal force. The Taser employs electricity to lock up a person's muscles for a few seconds, long enough for an officer to disarm and handcuff a suspect, usually without inflicting severe injury. In the past two decades, Tasers have become a ubiquitous law-enforcement tool. Most patrol officers in the United States carry them, and every year tens of thousands of Americans are shot with them. The weapons are produced by Axon Enterprise Inc., which has a monopoly on the American market. The company has long promoted Tasers to police as a reliable and effective alternative to guns. In fact, Axon's slogan is "Protect life," and the company keeps a running tally on its website of the hundreds of thousands of lives it says it's saved. Over the years, Axon has claimed that Tasers are between 80 and 97 percent effective at subduing a suspect in the field. But a year-long investigation by APM Reports shows that police rate Tasers as considerably less effective. Data from some of the largest police departments in the nation reveals that officers rate their Tasers as effective as little as 55 percent of the time, or just a little better than a coin flip. When Tasers fail to subdue someone, the results can be life-threatening — for police, and especially for the public. APM Reports found more than 250 fatal police shootings nationwide between 2015 and 2017 that occurred after a Taser failed to incapacitate a suspect. In 106 of them, the suspect became more violent after receiving the electrical shock, according to a review of case files and media reports, suggesting the Taser may have made a bad situation worse. FULL DATABASE Tased, then shot APM Reports also found evidence that two of Axon's newer models may be less effective than older ones. Data from three of the nation's largest cities — New York, Los Angeles and Houston — showed that officers rated newer-model Tasers as less effective than older ones. It's not clear why the newer models were rated as less effective, though two modifications were noteworthy. Beginning in 2009, Axon reduced the power of its weapons, a change the company said would be safer for suspects. In the Taser model that Houston is using, Axon also altered the angle at which darts leave the weapon. The change meant officers needed to be farther from suspects for the weapon to work reliably — a tough requirement, because data from some cities shows police most often fire Tasers within 7 feet of a suspect. All told, the company has sold more than 600,000 of the Taser models that police rate as less effective than older versions. Most of them likely remain in circulation. A Taser X26 on the belt of a California Highway Patrol officer. The older, more powerful X26 was popular with police. Danny Moloshok | AP Many police officers, and even some police chiefs, seem unaware of how often Tasers fail to subdue suspects, and most departments spend little time investigating the reasons why. The only public hints are often a little-noticed phrase that appears again and again in news stories about fatal police shootings across the country: "The Taser failed." But at least one big-city department already knew. Since 2015, the Los Angeles Police Department's own data showed that its Tasers were less effective than the previous model, subduing suspects little more than half the time. Yet the LAPD officials neglected to investigate the problem — and then they bought thousands more Tasers. For more than three years, the LAPD has required virtually all its patrol officers to carry those newer Tasers and use them in volatile, life-threatening encounters, even though its officers were consistently giving them lower marks for effectiveness. Axon canceled a scheduled interview with APM Reports, but in a written response, the company raised concerns about the accuracy of police department databases tracking the effectiveness of its Tasers. "[Tasers] are the most studied less lethal tool on an officer's belt," the Axon statement read. "These studies, along with nearly 4 million field deployments over 25 years, establish they are the most safe and effective less-lethal use of force tool available to law enforcement." Nevertheless, Axon — a publicly traded company — has taken in hundreds of millions in taxpayer dollars selling weapons to protect life that work considerably less often than the company has claimed. 'Put down that knife' When Phil Grenon came to his door holding two knives that evening in March 2016, the two Burlington officers, David Bowers and Durwin Ellerman, backed up. Ellerman pulled his gun. Bowers drew a Taser. For two tense minutes — recorded on the officers' body cameras — Grenon stood silently while the officers begged him to drop the knives. Then he finally spoke. "I'm a lawyer," he said. "I'm a psychiatrist." "Well, tell me more about that, but put down that knife," Bowers replied calmly, his Taser still trained on Grenon. "I just did, you stupid son of a bitch," Grenon screamed back. "Leave me alone!" Phil Grenon Courtesy of Niki Grenon Carpenter Grenon was not a doctor or a lawyer. After graduating from the University of Vermont in 1967, he'd thought about law school and even took the LSAT, but he ended up getting a master's degree in education. Grenon taught at the community college level before his mental illness made that impossible. Mental illness ran in his family. His mother was committed to a state mental hospital when he was about 9, and he and his four brothers were sent to an orphanage. There, he would later tell friends, he was physically and sexually abused. After Phil stopped working, Sally, his wife at the time, supported the family working as a nurse while Phil became a stay-at-home dad to their daughter, Niki. When Sally and Phil divorced in 1998, Niki helped him find a subsidized apartment in an old brick building in Burlington, where he'd lived ever since. Phil found friends and made a life for himself. He liked to talk politics over coffee with a high school buddy who had become his state senator. He wrote letters to the editor of the Burlington Free Press, defending the dignity of the mentally ill. "Many, many have been unable to fulfill their dreams because they have been stricken with this dreaded and misunderstood disease," he wrote in 1999. "For the injustices of a painful bio-chemical imbalance in the brain, and a strong social rejection, one would rather be dead or have cancer." Grenon could be gruff, even rude, to the neighbors he didn't like. Everybody knew he had mental illness. But around the winter of 2015, it got worse. He was convinced someone was out to get him. He scribbled a rambling letter predicting "vagrant[s] ... dressed in police uniforms" would come to his door. He vowed to "kill them before they kill me." But even as he increasingly struggled with paranoia, he still called Niki and his grandkids every Sunday. Standing in his doorway, Grenon never said another word to the officers. As Grenon stepped forward to slam the door, Bowers squeezed the trigger of his Taser. For the weapon to work, a lot has to go right. First, an officer must hit the target. Tasers simultaneously shoot two barbed darts attached to thin, electrified wires. Both darts have to hit the target to deliver a debilitating jolt of electricity. Each dart must strike within an inch or so of the skin — or better yet, penetrate it — to create a complete electrical circuit. If someone is wearing a heavy coat or loose clothing, the electricity may not arc into the body enough to lock up muscles. There's also a chance that a person convulsing under the Taser's power will manage to remove one of the darts — or break the wires that lead back to the Taser, ending the flow of electricity. Where the darts hit matters, too. They must be at least a foot apart from each other when they hit someone for the electricity to flow through enough muscle to reliably incapacitate the person. To Bowers and Ellerman, it looked like at least one dart missed or got snagged on Grenon's door when it closed. Whatever the reason, the weapon had no effect. It wouldn't be the last time a Taser failed to subdue him that night. 'The Steve Jobs of law enforcement' Axon co-founder and CEO Rick Smith, center, meets with members of the Vallejo (California) Police Department in 2015. The company was then called Taser International. Rich Pedroncelli | AP Some 400,000 American patrol officers carry Tasers on their hips, and the man who put them there is Rick Smith. The 48-year-old founder and CEO of Axon has built his company into one of the top suppliers of technology to law enforcement. Axon is outfitting police across the country with body cameras, surveillance drones and virtual-reality simulators. And Smith even has a vision of using artificial intelligence to write police reports. He's jokingly referred to himself as the "Steve Jobs of law enforcement." But the foundation of the company has always been the Taser. The weapon was invented in the early 1970s by Jack Cover, a physicist living in Southern California. Cover named his creation "Taser" as a loose acronym for "Tom Swift and His Electric Rifle," a young adult science fiction novel he'd read as a boy. He sold his patents to a company named Tasertron. Early Tasers were too big to fit on a cop's belt, and regulatory barriers made them difficult to sell to consumers. In September 1993, Smith, a 23-year-old fresh out of business school, founded the company that would become Axon. He was particularly interested in electrical weapons. He contacted Cover, who, as luck would have it, had been nurturing an idea for a new kind of Taser, one that used compressed nitrogen gas instead of gunpowder to propel its darts. Smith and Cover built what they called the Air Taser, and Smith's company began selling it. But the fledgling business nearly went bankrupt because the patents held by its competitor, Tasertron, prevented it from selling weapons to U.S. police departments. Smith held on thanks to a cash infusion from his father. Tasertron's patent expired in 1998, which allowed Smith to sell his weapons to police. But to convince cops to make the switch, he needed to solve a big problem: His weapons weren't powerful enough. With the company's last million dollars, he "dialed up" the electrical charge in every Taser pulse and crammed more muscle-contracting pulses into every second. He also modified the weapon so it looked more like a gun and could fit neatly into a holster. The resulting models, the M26 and its smaller successor, the X26, were hot sellers with police departments. Smith changed the name of the company to Taser International and took it public. By 2003, it was dominating the market and bought up what was left of Tasertron for just $1 million. From then on, Smith's Taser International had the market to itself. Last year, the company now called Axon reported $420 million in sales, up 22 percent. The company took in $253 million of that from Tasers. Less reliant on Tasers Since 2012, Axon's Taser sales have more than doubled. But the noteworthy growth area in the company has been in body cameras and the data storage plans that come with them. Sales in that part of the company have grown 29-fold over the same time period, meaning Taser sales are making up a smaller percentage of Axon's revenue. SOURCE: Axon Enterprise Inc. annual reports How often they work Tasers are popular with police departments because they can prevent shootings while also protecting officers. Unlike a night stick, a Taser can be used at a safe distance, and unlike pepper spray, there's no blowback. Every year, tens of thousands of people, some of whom might have otherwise been shot by the police, are taken into custody without lasting injury thanks to a Taser. Axon has made varying claims over the years about how reliably its Tasers incapacitate suspects. In earnings calls and marketing materials, company officials have asserted that Tasers are effective 86 percent, 94 percent, and 97 percent of the time in the field. The company has even claimed success rates of 99 or 100 percent in testing and demonstrations. Axon no longer makes such precise assertions of effectiveness in its marketing materials. Still, as recently as 2015, Smith said in an interview that the weapons subdued people "80 to 95 percent" of the time in the field. But the APM Reports investigation found that police rate Tasers as less effective at bringing people down than the company has claimed. APM Reports sought data on Taser usage from police departments in the nation's 20 largest cities and received usable data from 12 of them. The departments show a wide range of effectiveness, in part due to varying definitions and measures. For instance, the LAPD counted every trigger pull as a Taser usage. Other departments, such as the New York Police Department, only track each officer's Taser, not trigger pulls. Consider an incident in which an officer shocks a suspect with a Taser three times, and the first two attempts fail to subdue the suspect, but the third one does. In L.A., the effectiveness rate would be 33 percent (three trigger pulls, one incapacitation); in New York, the effectiveness rate for the same incident would be 100 percent (one officer with a Taser, one incapacitation). Taser effectiveness Axon CEO Rick Smith claimed in 2015 that Tasers were "80 to 95 percent effective in the field." Data from some of the biggest departments in the country show a much lower range than that. It's important to note that every police department has its own way of tracking and defining effectiveness, and for this reason, their data isn't directly comparable. Also, the time period of the data varies among departments. POLICE DEPARTMENT EFFECTIVE RATE Atlanta 67.8% Charlotte-Mecklenburg 69.7% Columbus 77.3% Dallas 68.0% Denver 73.6% El Paso 79.5% Ft. Worth 62.4% Houston 73.7% Indianapolis 54.7% Los Angeles 57.1% New York 77.4% Seattle 60.6% The department with the highest rated effectiveness — El Paso, Texas — corresponds to the lowest end of Axon's claims: 80 percent. But 7 of the 12 departments had effectiveness rates below 70 percent. In Los Angeles (57 percent) and Indianapolis (55 percent), a Taser failed to subdue someone at least four out of every 10 times. In its statement to APM Reports, Axon said that data from police departments doesn't accurately reflect Taser effectiveness because it may not include instances when a suspect was subdued after an officer merely displayed or threatened to fire a Taser. The company argues that just the sight of the weapon can be a significant deterrent to a suspect, incidents that should count as effective use. In most cases, the data that APM Reports obtained from those 12 major police departments included only instances in which Tasers were fired. And none of the departments — over years of engagements and more than 30,000 uses — saw effectiveness rates near 95 percent, the top of the range claimed by Smith in 2015. Each time a Taser fails to incapacitate someone, lives are potentially at risk, as the company has acknowledged. "Quality is crucial in our devices, because when an officer needs our device to work, it's got to work every time or somebody's going to get injured or killed," the company's then-vice president of training and education, Rick Guilbault, said in a 2011 marketing video. Axon CEO Rick Smith, left, appears on stage in October at the company's 25th anniversary party in Orlando. He shakes hands with a young employee dressed as Officer Ion, the fictional law enforcement superhero who serves as the company's new mascot. Joey Roulette for APM Reports And Rick Smith knows it, too. In October, he took the stage at Axon's 25th anniversary party, held at a House of Blues in Orlando. The party coincided with the International Association of Chiefs of Police's annual conference, and the place was packed with law enforcement officers. They gave him a rousing cheer. Smith told the officers that he understood how high the stakes are when police use a Taser. "We know as our technology has gotten better you've come to rely on it more and more, and it's really painful for you and for us when it doesn't work, when it doesn't get the job done," he said. "And that's what keeps us up at night." The standoff Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo was on the shooting range of the Vermont Police Academy, 60 miles south of Burlington, when he got the call that a mentally ill man armed with knives was in a standoff with his officers. Del Pozo was 41 years old at the time and only seven months into his job. Ivy League educated and media savvy, he came to Burlington after 18 years at the NYPD. Del Pozo had commanded two precincts in New York and seen his share of police shootings. He could tell the situation with Grenon could end badly, and he quickly drove to the scene to try to save Grenon's life. "I was happy to see when I got there that the scene was under control," del Pozo said. "They were taking their time, and they were trying to get him to talk so they could negotiate." Grenon was alone in his apartment. He couldn't hurt anyone except possibly himself. The officers used a new tactic that del Pozo had brought to Burlington from the NYPD. They tied a rope around the doorknob and anchored it, so Grenon couldn't burst into the hallway and provoke the cops into shooting him. The door wasn't going to open until the police decided to open it. They had time on their side, so they waited. They tried to reach his psychiatrist, but she was out of the country. They called his phone more than a dozen times and left messages offering to help him. "Your daughter is worried about you," Officer Mike Henry said in one of the voicemails. "We can't leave until we talk to you." Grenon remained silent. It wasn't clear whether he was still alive, and the cops wanted to see what was going on in the apartment. The police department didn't own a drill or a saw, so del Pozo went home and got his tools. They cut holes in the walls and inserted a camera. "What we saw was nothing," del Pozo said. "We just saw empty rooms." Almost four hours after Grenon had slammed the door, the officers entered the apartment. Grenon was hiding in the shower, still holding the knives. He didn't attack the officers. Didn't say a word. Didn't even move. Plan A was to smoke him out with a device called a PepperBall, which is a glorified paintball gun that shoots rubbery plastic balls filled with a chemical irritant similar to pepper spray. Officer Henry crept up to the door of the bathroom and fired eight capsules. They struck the shower wall above Grenon's head. As they burst, the noxious powder inside rained down. But he only let out one tiny cough. As the dust spread through the apartment, it seemed to affect everybody but Grenon. All the officers in the room were wracked with coughing fits. "Note to self," Sgt. James Trieb said to no one in particular, "never use Pepperball again inside of close quarters." Trieb and del Pozo decided it was time to try the Taser again. The plan was to disarm Grenon with a Taser and pin him to the wall with a plastic shield, allowing officers to put him in handcuffs and take him to the hospital. The cops lined up at the bathroom door. Officer Ellerman stood at the front of the line. In one hand, he held a shield. In the other, a Taser. What goes wrong? When a Taser doesn't bring down a suspect, it's often hard to know exactly why it failed. That's partly because police departments typically don't investigate the cause. But it's also because there are so many factors that can influence how well a Taser performs, from where the darts hit, to what the suspect was wearing. Axon has long acknowledged two key variables in this complex equation: power level and distance. Since its early days, the company has understood the relationship between the level of electricity coursing through a Taser's wires and its ability to incapacitate a suspect. Increasing the electrical charge made the M26 and X26 big sellers and popular with police. But then, in 2009, the company changed course. Axon reduced the power in its next generation of Tasers, including popular models called the X2 and the X26P. They had roughly half the electrical charge of the X26. The two-shot Taser X2 at a convention in Las Vegas, January 2012. The X2, released in 2011, packed about half the electrical charge of its predecessor. Ethan Miller | Getty Images The company said in its marketing materials that the X2 and X26P would have a "significantly improved safety margin." The decision to reduce power came when the company was simultaneously fighting dozens of product liability lawsuits, alleging Tasers caused death or serious injury. Axon also added new warnings to its products as part of a more cautious "risk management" strategy. The lawsuits peaked in 2011, when the company was fighting 55 of them. After releasing the X2 in 2011 and the X26P in 2013, Axon's legal exposure has steadily declined. As of this spring, the company is facing just eight active product liability suits. But two new lawsuits have recently emerged, claiming that the lower-powered Tasers don't put out enough juice to protect police. There's one in New Orleans, from the family of an officer who was shot and killed after his lower-powered X26P Taser was allegedly ineffective. And there's another from a Houston police officer who says she was injured in a fight after her Taser X2 failed to subdue a suspect. The company has vigorously contested the allegations in the suits. Axon claims its tests prove that the X2 and X26P are just as effective as their more powerful predecessors, but there is just one publicly available study supporting that claim. Axon medical director Dr. Jeff Ho presented a paper comparing the effectiveness of the different models in 2012. The study found the newer weapons were just as effective as the old ones at preventing volunteers from completing a simulated attack with a rubber knife. But that study involved only four people, who each received just two Taser shocks. Dr. Jeff Ho, Axon's medical director, during a presentation at the annual Society for Academic Emergency Medicine meeting in 2012. Axon on YouTube Ho, who's a part-time sheriff's deputy in Meeker County, Minnesota, and an emergency room physician at Hennepin Health, a hospital based in Minneapolis, did conduct a few other studies comparing the effectiveness of Taser models, according to a report he prepared in response to the Houston lawsuit. The report says those studies also showed the lower-powered Tasers were just as good as the higher-powered ones. In all, they involved 150 test subjects. Axon's marketing materials have claimed the newer models were actually "more effective" than their predecessors, though Ho's findings did not support this claim. Rather, Ho found that the different models "have very similar incapacitation characteristics when compared to each other." Data from some of the largest police departments in the U.S. conflicts with Dr. Ho's conclusion that the X2 and X26P work just as well as their more powerful predecessors. Police in New York, Los Angeles and Houston reported lower levels of effectiveness when using the X2 or X26P. While each city tracks effectiveness differently, the declines in effectiveness in New York, L.A. and Houston were remarkably similar. In each city, the lower-powered weapons were 6 to 7 percentage points less effective than previous models. Given the size of the datasets, each city saw a statistically significant correlation between the lower-powered Tasers and the decline in effectiveness. Combined, the datasets for the three cities covered nearly 14,900 Taser uses. APM Reports conducted an analysis of the data to determine what other factors — such as offense type or the rank of the officer involved — might account for the drop in effectiveness. Even controlling for those other potential factors, the analysis found that the model of Taser remained an important predictor of effectiveness. HOW WE DID IT Our methodology to test effectiveness Reporters also collected data from other large U.S. police departments. Other cities didn't have usable data because they either changed methodologies for tracking effectiveness or used Tasers too infrequently to have a large enough sample size. But none of the cities reviewed saw effectiveness increase after switching to the X2 or X26P. J. Patrick Reilly, an electrical engineer who spent most of his career doing scientific research at Johns Hopkins University's Applied Physics Laboratory and has studied Tasers, said that reducing the power could have made the weapons less effective. "I think it's a reasonable bet that as you reduce this charge, you were going to reduce the probability of making the subject fall down," he said. Jack Cover displays an early Taser in January 1976. AP There's another key factor in whether a Taser is likely to make someone fall down — distance. Tasers are typically designed to work best at a specific range from the target. If officers are too far away, they'll likely miss the shot. But if officers are too close, the Taser is less likely to halt someone. That's because the darts, when they hit the target, won't be far enough apart to lock up someone's muscles. Over 25 years, Axon has changed its recommended spread between the darts. Early on, the company said that the darts needed to hit only 4 inches apart to incapacitate someone. It later asserted that the darts needed to be 9 to 12 inches apart. And it now recommends at least a 12-inch spread between the darts for electricity to flow through enough muscle to reliably bring someone down. When a Taser is fired, the darts spread apart from each other as they fly through the air toward a suspect. That means the range at which a Taser can effectively be used largely depends on how quickly those darts spread apart and how long it takes them to reach the desired 12-inch spread (see graphic). Axon's earlier models were designed to work best at longer range. Most of its models, dating to 1994, had darts spread apart such that they'd be reliably effective at 7 feet or more. When the company released the Taser X2 in 2011, it narrowed the angle at which the darts spread apart. That meant officers had to be even farther away — at least 9 feet — for the X2 to reliably bring someone down. However, none of those distances apparently reflect the reality on the street, where the violent encounters that send officers reaching for their Tasers often happen much closer. APM Reports obtained databases from two large departments — New York and Fort Worth — that track the distances at which officers fired their Tasers. Both departments found that about 75 percent of Taser discharges happen at 7 feet or less. The data suggests the possibility that virtually all Tasers currently in circulation are typically not used at the ranges where they are most effective. And the re-designed Taser X2 may have exacerbated that potential problem, even though it was promoted as being more effective than previous models. Police use Tasers more often at close range Data from New York City and Fort Worth shows that officers most often use Tasers inside of 6 feet from a suspect. That's closer than the recommended 7- to 15-foot range of the X2 and X26P Tasers. SOURCE: New York and Fort Worth police departments Finding the right range Over the years, Axon has tinkered with the ranges of its Tasers. For most of the company's history, it put a priority on longer-range accuracy at the expense of performance in close quarters — where the company now acknowledges Tasers are most often used. Range is dictated by how rapidly the two Taser darts separate after being fired. The company recommends that the darts strike at least 12 inches from each other to reliably incapacitate a suspect. If the darts separate at a wider angle, they are more effective at close range. If they separate at a narrower angle, they'll work better at longer distances. Below we show the varying separation angles of the darts on different Taser models and how those different angles affected the weapons' ranges. 1974 Early Tasers Tasers were around for decades before Axon was founded. The first weapons had a 12-degree separation between darts. This meant they would spread 12 inches apart at a distance of about four feet. 1994 First Axon Tasers When Axon first started selling weapons under the name Air Taser, it chose a narrower launch angle for the darts: 8 degrees. As a result, the darts spread apart more gradually and took 7 feet to achieve the recommended separation. The 8-degree design was later used in the popular M26, X26 and X26P Tasers. 2009 Axon's 'Smart Cartridge' Tasers Axon narrowed the dart spread even further when it released the Taser X3 and its more popular successor the X2. The "Smart Cartridges" for these weapons had a 7-degree angle. Their darts wouldn't reach the recommended separation until they'd traveled roughly 9 feet. Using the weapon at closer than 9 feet would likely reduce the chances of incapacitating the suspect. That didn't jibe with how officers were using the weapons in the field. Data from two major departments show the large majority of Taser uses happen closer than 9 feet. 2018 Taser 7 In its newest model, Axon went back to the original design — a 12-degree spread between the darts. The company says this will make the new Taser 7 more likely to incapacitate someone at the closer ranges where Tasers are typically used by police. Illustrations by Andrea Edstrom The best Taser yet In October 2018, Axon released its first new Taser in five years, claiming it would be the most effective ever. In his speech at the anniversary party in Orlando, Smith promised the new Taser 7 would be "stronger, faster and smarter than any that has come before it." Axon says there's nothing wrong with the lower-powered models. But the company made a number of alterations in the new Taser 7, designed to address longstanding problems that police experienced with earlier models — including better darts and improved laser sights. At a training session outside Fort Worth last year, the first question on the mind of Sgt. Karl Johnson was: What about "the power issues?" Johnson, a Taser instructor from Saginaw, Texas, told an Axon executive that the last time the company came out with a new weapon, "the volume got turned down on the effectiveness of the device no matter where the probes were deployed." Johnson didn't mention it, but a few years earlier an officer from his department had shot and killed a man named Michael Dale Brown after a Taser X26P failed to subdue him. Technically, Axon didn't turn up the electrical output of the Taser 7, but it focused the energy in shorter, more concentrated and more frequent bursts. The company claims delivering electricity in that condensed manner will make the device more effective. Taser trainers run practice drills with the new Taser 7 in the ballroom of a conference center outside Fort Worth, Texas, in October. Curtis Gilbert | APM Reports But perhaps the most dramatic change is that the Taser 7 is the first device Axon has ever designed to be reliably effective when a police officer is face-to-face with a suspect, as close as 4 feet. To make the weapon work better at such close range, Axon had to widen the angle at which the darts spread apart when they're fired. The Taser 7 fires darts at a 12-degree angle, an increase from seven or eight degrees in previous models. That 12-degree angle is not a new idea, however. It is the original angle used in Tasers dating to the 1970s and made by Tasertron through the early 2000s, according to James McNulty, who was an executive with Tasertron. The realization that a 12-degree angle might work better in real-life situations isn't new, either. In 2000, a Canadian police sergeant published a study of Taser effectiveness and wrote, "Based upon the fact that the wider the dart spread, the better the takedown, Tasertron's 12-degree separation would have a better Taser effect over a larger body surface especially within the 2.5-12 foot range where most Taser applications take place." Axon was certainly aware of that study. It is included in an index of Taser research the company touts on its website. Yet it never used a 12-degree angle in its weapons until just last year. The company continues to sell the older models with a narrower angle, and hundreds of thousands of them remain in circulation. Axon didn't answer questions about why it hasn't produced cartridges with darts that fire at a 12-degree angle for the X2 and X26P, which would allow those weapons to be more effective at closer distances. In its statement to APM Reports, Axon said that it's constantly trying to improve its weapons based on feedback from officers. "The TASER 7 is the result of Axon's commitment to develop new, innovative products and improve its existing products," the company wrote. "Some of those developments sought to address common reasons why a [Taser] may not cause [muscle incapacitation]." 'We did not expect him to move that fast' Hours into the standoff, Phil Grenon was still hiding in his shower, and the police were preparing to storm the bathroom. The key to their new plan was the Taser. They would stun him, and he'd drop the knives. Then they could pin him down with shields, put him in handcuffs and get him safely to the hospital. Sgt. Trieb took a broom he found in the apartment, reached over Officer Ellerman's shoulder with it and swept back the shower curtain. Again, Grenon said nothing. He stood there clutching his knives and turned his body toward the officers. Ellerman pulled the trigger on his Taser. "The plan stops working the moment they fire the Taser," Chief del Pozo later explained. The darts appeared to hit Grenon this time, and he let out a scream that could be heard on the street below. Grenon looked down at his sweater, where the Taser darts had lodged. And then, to the astonishment of the officers watching, he simply brushed them away. "He pulled the fucking barbs out of himself," Ellerman later told investigators. As soon as Grenon removed one of the barbed darts, he broke the circuit, and electricity stopped flowing. Pulling out the darts of a Taser is something Axon co-founders Rick and Tom Smith have portrayed in the past as unlikely because the person being shocked is temporarily paralyzed. "What's to stop a perpetrator from breaking those wires off?" cable TV host Leo Laporte asked Rick Smith in 2002. "The 50,000 volts that's going through his body," Smith replied with a grin. "Have you ever seen a test subject able to yank these [darts] out?" Nightline co-anchor Bill Weir asked Tom Smith in 2011. "No," Smith answered quickly. "You can't control motor function." But the Axon training materials the Burlington Police Department used in 2016 did mention the possibility that someone being tased could retain muscle control, "particularly in arms and legs." That was clearly the case with Grenon. "The Tasers hurt him enough to make him really angry and to aggravate his episode, and yet did not hurt him enough to incapacitate him," del Pozo said. Grenon was no longer cowering in silence. With a howl, he stepped out of the shower, knives swinging. The officers backed up into the bedroom, and Grenon chased after them. "We did not expect him to move that fast," Ellerman said. Another officer, Chase Vivori, tried his Taser too. "It looked like a good hit, I thought would have had an effect, but it didn't," Vivori told investigators. There was hardly any time to tell whether Vivori's Taser would be any more effective than the others, because a moment later, Officer Bowers fired six bullets from his G22 handgun in the space of about two seconds. Grenon fell to the floor, bullet holes in his chest, thigh, groin and abdomen. He died soon after. He also had six smaller marks on his body, the kind Tasers leave behind. "By the time we were done with this encounter, unfortunately, the room was just a crisscross mess of Taser wires," del Pozo said. Taser barbs Composite photo: Getty, Joey Roulette The shootings Grenon's story is like hundreds of others all over the country. Police end up shooting someone after their Tasers prove ineffective. APM Reports found more than 250 similar cases over just a three-year period. In a wooded area in California, a suspected burglar named Joseph Melvin was hiding from the cops. When Officer Michael Dietrick tried to arrest him, Melvin fought back. So Dietrick fired his Taser. "It didn't deter or slow him down in the fight at all," Dietrick told investigators. "If anything, I feel like it just ramped it up." Melvin got ahold of Dietrick's flashlight and started beating him over the head with it. Dietrick drew his gun and killed Melvin. In a suburb of Miami, a mentally ill man named Cornelius Brown walked into a convenience store swinging a broom handle. When an officer confronted him, he ran away. Other cops showed up and began firing Tasers at him. Five officers discharged Tasers that night. None were effective, and two officers finally shot and killed Brown. And in a suburban housing development north of Seattle, a veteran suffering from PTSD and drug abuse called 911. Juan Salinas said he wanted to "kill cops," but really he wanted them to kill him. When officers arrived, Salinas was stalking the streets, covered in blood. In one hand he held a knife. The other was wrapped in an American flag. An officer fired a Taser, but it wasn't effective, because one dart either missed or got snagged in the flag. Salinas finally ran toward the cops, and one of them shot him in the abdomen. The stories all follow the same disturbing pattern. They start with police using a Taser. It's ineffective. Officers resort to firearms, and someone ends up dead. In more than 100 cases, a suspect appeared to become more aggressive after a Taser failed to bring him or her down. TASED, THEN SHOT Tasers could have saved Cornelius Brown, if only they had worked the way the police hoped. Officers tried to subdue him five times with Tasers; all were unsuccessful. He's one of the 258 cases in our full database. Reading the investigative reports and news coverage, it's hard to escape a chilling conclusion: Had the Tasers performed the way the police hoped, these people would probably still be alive. In some cases, it's obvious why the Taser didn't work, because one or both of the electrified darts missed their target. But with many of the shootings, it's much murkier. The darts hit. They just don't do much. And the investigators spend little time trying to figure out why. They tend to focus on the bullets that proved fatal, not the Tasers that proved ineffective. The use of a Taser is usually treated only as evidence that officers did everything they could to avoid deadly force. The Phil Grenon shooting was no different. The Vermont State Police didn't investigate why the Taser failed during its review of the incident, records show. Less than two months after the shooting, Chittenden County State's Attorney T.J. Donovan (now Vermont's Attorney General) ruled the shooting justified, and the Burlington Police Department released the videos recorded by the cameras the officers wore on their uniforms that night. It wasn't until the next year, on the anniversary of Grenon's death, that his niece, Sarah Grenon, could bring herself to watch. "I don't even know why I watched it," she said. "I guess just to maybe find out what went so wrong." That's when she saw how close Grenon was to Ellerman when the officer fired the Taser. Ellerman was in the bathroom doorway. Grenon was in the shower. "They were face-to-face," she said. Grenon appeared to be 3 to 4 feet away from Ellerman, based on measurements APM Reports conducted of his old apartment. Sarah started researching Tasers. She discovered that the model the Burlington police were using, the X2, is reliably effective only at a distance of 9 feet or more. It would have been difficult to achieve that kind of distance in Grenon's tiny bathroom. "If I know that, they should have known that," Sarah said. "Why didn't they know that?" APM Reports obtained the Taser X2 training PowerPoint that Axon supplied to police departments such as Burlington in 2016. The training presentation states that people can sometimes fight through the shock of a Taser or pull the darts out of themselves, especially when using the X2 at close range. But the 222-slide "X2 User Course" never explicitly states that officers shouldn't use the weapon at those ranges. It asserts that the "preferred range" of the weapon is "7 to 15 feet from target." On a slide titled "Deployment Distance Considerations," it states that using the X2 from zero to 7 feet away can result in greater accuracy, but less "muscle mass affected." The presentation advises officers firing at such close range to "split the belt line," meaning land one dart above the waist and one below the waist, which is exactly where Ellerman told investigators he aimed. An autopsy confirmed Grenon's body had marks from Taser darts above and below his waist. Yet despite the officers following the Axon training for firing at close range, the only apparent effect the Tasers had on Grenon was to enrage him. Axon's new Taser 7 is designed to improve performance at close range, but the change came too late for Phil Grenon. A standoff in Burlington This video includes body camera footage from the assault on Phil Grenon's apartment on March 21, 2016, and recordings of officers' statements to investigators after the incident. A department that knew The decline in Taser effectiveness is especially evident in Los Angeles. The LAPD was an early adopter of the Taser, and nearly every one of its patrol officers now carries one, though the department's own research has shown that Tasers are far less effective than the company has claimed. In March 2016, the LAPD released a report showing a decline in effectiveness at the same time that officers started carrying the new X26P. Three years later, the department has yet to investigate the reasons for the decline in Taser effectiveness. After the 2016 report's release, the Los Angeles Times found that ineffective Tasers were a recurring element in a number of the city's police shootings. Then-Chief Charlie Beck went on local television to defend the weapons. He described Tasers as just one of several force options, all of which are crucial to officers, but not foolproof. "None of them are 100 percent effective, and I think that's important to note," Beck told KTLA5. "[W]e have to have realistic expectations." Tasers were the most widely used weapon that year, outpacing chemical sprays, batons or bean bag shotguns. The drop in effectiveness came while the LAPD was in the midst of a Taser buying spree. Between 2014 and 2015, the department purchased more than 3,100 units. And in 2015, officials ordered virtually every patrol officer to carry an X26P. By 2015, when officers began widely using those new X26P Tasers, the weapons were proving to be less reliable. The consequences of those failures were, at times, deadly. There were 21 fatal police shootings by LAPD in 2015 and in at least five of those incidents LAPD officers had tried an X26P before resorting to a gun. In April 2016, as the LAPD was deciding how to respond to questions about Taser effectiveness, then-Assistant Chief Michel Moore questioned the significance of the department's own stats. In an email obtained by APM Reports, he chalked up the inquiries to "a rumor" that the new X26P was less effective. Internally, Moore, who's now the chief of police, called for additional research. But Moore's confidence in Tasers remained steadfast, internal correspondence shows, and he wanted more of them. After the LA Times editorial board chimed in the following week cautioning the department not to count on Tasers as a "magic solution" for reducing police shootings, Moore directed a staffer to "Please prepare a rebuttal to support the added devices." In summer 2016, the department officials made a few changes meant to bolster Taser effectiveness: They purchased new cartridges with a range up to 25 feet and had longer barbs they hoped would more easily penetrate heavy clothing. The department later went on to revise some of its policies on when Tasers should be used, a change that officials say is responsible for a significant decline in the number of Taser uses by LAPD officers in the past year. But a records request turned up no evidence of LAPD research on why its officers were rating the X26P Tasers as less reliable. LAPD officials say the department did study why the department's overall effectiveness rate (about 57 percent) was so much lower than other major departments. The answer was that LAPD tracked Taser data in a more detailed way, counting every trigger pull as a Taser usage. Not only did the LAPD choose not to investigate the decline in reliability, the department doubled down on the weapons. Less than four months after releasing its initial report, on June 24, 2016, the department agreed to buy 4,400 more Tasers. Newer Tasers less effective in three departments Officers in three of the nation's largest police departments rated the lower-powered X2 and X26P models less effective at subduing suspects. The aftermath Officer David Bowers was just 23 when he shot and killed Phil Grenon. He'd been with the Burlington Police Department less than two years. When he pulled the trigger, he estimated Grenon was only 4 or 5 feet away from him, slashing at officers with a knife. Bowers was terrified, both for his life and for the other cops in the room. He opened fire, he told investigators, because he knew no one else was in the position to do it in time. The awful responsibility fell to him. Officer David Bowers Vermont State Police case file As Grenon lay dying on the floor, the chemical irritant from the Pepperballs the officers had used earlier still hung in the air. Bowers watched as his fellow officers turned over Grenon's body to give him first aid. Bowers saw one of his bullet holes. All of a sudden, he couldn't breathe. He walked out of the apartment. Bowers wasn't physically hurt, but the police chief sent him to the hospital, just to be safe. He wanted to talk to his parents about what happened, but he figured he shouldn't go into the details with the investigation going on. He was worried they'd somehow be dragged into it. The only people he felt safe confiding in were his lawyer and his union rep. The next night, he couldn't sleep. In the morning, he grabbed his phone and sent a text message to his ex-girlfriend. He didn't want to involve her, but there was something he couldn't get out of his head. "It was very eerie to me how he just didn't say a word," he told the investigators. There was something else that bothered him. He couldn't believe it had been so easy for Grenon to overcome the effects of the Taser. Bowers had just gone through Taser training a few weeks earlier. He'd seen people get shocked, and it always seemed to work perfectly. "Watching this guy being tased, and walking toward us swinging a knife at us, shocked me," he said. Burlington police don't use Tasers often. It's the biggest municipal police department in Vermont, which isn't saying much. It has about 100 officers, and the year Grenon was shot, department records show only seven officers discharged their Tasers. Three of those were during the incident with Grenon. None of the officers who fired Tasers that day had used the devices in the field during the previous six years — if ever. Chief del Pozo had never used a Taser in the line of duty, either, though he'd carried one for much of his career as a supervisor in the New York Police Department. But his general impression before that day was that the devices were highly effective. "I've learned a lot about Tasers since the Phil Grenon incident, some of which surprised me," del Pozo said. He learned the X2 Tasers the department had bought at the end of 2015 put out less electricity than the ones the department had before. And he learned those Tasers fail to subdue suspects more often than he ever would have expected. "The Taser is this complicated piece of machinery with electricity, and its success is contingent on a lot of different factors of human physiology and luck," del Pozo said. "It's the most complicated thing a cop has on his or her belt." Burlington Police Chief Brandon del Pozo Caleb Kenna So, in the wake of the Phil Grenon shooting, the Burlington police department went looking for simpler solutions. It spent about $250,000 to buy a big truck and outfit it with every piece of equipment that could possibly help in case of standoffs, mental health calls, and hostage negotiations: shields, power tools, lights and communication equipment. There are a couple of items on the Emergency Response Vehicle del Pozo wished the department had back in 2016. One is called a Y-bar. It's an 8-foot-long steel pole with a semi-circle at one end, about the size of a man's chest. If the cops had one, del Pozo explained, they could have simply pinned Phil to the shower wall at a safe distance. That way, he couldn't have threatened the officers. The rig also carries a couple old-fashioned chrome-plated fire extinguishers, filled with pressurized water. "If you spray that at someone's face, they cannot advance toward you," del Pozo said. "They have to look away, or put their hand up in front of their eyes. That and a metal bar shaped like a Y can mean the difference between having to shoot someone or not." There are no Tasers on the Emergency Response Vehicle, but Burlington police officers still carry them on their belts. Del Pozo says Tasers can be useful as a last alternative to using a gun, and he wants his officers to have as many options as possible. But the Phil Grenon shooting has changed the way he thinks about Tasers. "Knowing what I know now, if all things are being equal, and there's a man with a knife in a bathroom down the street from this police headquarters, we would not make the same plan. We would not say the best way to end this after hours and hours, is to send in a team that will rely on a Taser," del Pozo said. "If you're using [a Taser] to conclude a stable situation, you better have a back-up plan, because there's a good chance it's not going to work." Additional reporting by Nikki Pederson, Alex Smith and Joey Roulette. Support for this project came from the Corporation for Public Broadcasting. Don't miss our next investigation Enter your email below to receive notifications of new stories.

Wanda to buy assets worth $1bn from founder Wang Jianlin

A unit of China's Dalian Wanda Group, Wanda Hotel Development, is to buy assets worth over $1bn from firms controlled by its founder Wang Jianlin, marking the latest in a series of deals by the group. Dalian Wanda Group is currently under siege by regulators; this move will make Wanda Hotel an offshore “strategic platform".

http://variety.com/2017/biz/asia/china-wanda-shuffles-theme-park-hotel-assets-1202521561/

Wanda Hotel Development, a Hong Kong-listed unit of China’s entertainment to property giant Dalian Wanda group, is to spend $1 billion to buy theme park and hotel management businesses from other parts of the group. Currently under siege, Dalian Wanda says that the moves will make Wanda Hotel an offshore “strategic platform.” In a regulatory filing made late at night on Wednesday, Wanda Hotel Development said that it would pay $926 million (RMB6.3 billion) to Dalian Wanda chairman Wang Jianlin’s private company Wanda Culture to buy Wanda Travel. The company is mainly involved in theme park design, construction and operation management. Wanda Hotel Development will pay a further $110 million (RMB750 million) to another Wang company, Dalian Wanda Commercial, for Wanda Hotel Management. Its business is hotel design, construction and management. Third, Wanda Hotel Development will sell Wang its interests in four property companies, currently working on developments in London, Chicago, Australia and Guilin, China. The value was not disclosed. “Wanda Hotel Development will become a strategic platform as Wanda group’s Hong Kong-listed company focusing on theme park and hotel operation and management,” the company said. While it is unclear from the latest filing, that would appear to set Wanda Hotel Development as the company to manage the hotels and theme parks that Dalian Wanda is currently selling off. In July, Dalian Wanda created a stir by announcing that it would sell its tourism and theme park businesses to another property developer, Sunac, in a bid to slash group borrowings. Under the terms of a revised deal, which also showed that the Qingdao film studios are part of the disposal to Sunac, Dalian Wanda sees itself as retaining a 9% ownership position in the leisure businesses, and a similar stake in a portfolio of 77 hotels that it is proposing to sell to another developer R&F Properties. Despite the proposed change of ownership, the parks and hotels will continue to be branded as Wanda properties. Wanda Hotel Development’s shares had been suspended on Wednesday. They are expected to resume trading on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange on Thursday.

Identity verification becoming obsolete due to data breaches

Data breaches, in which personal data such as Social Security numbers and addresses are stolen, have rendered the traditional form of customer identification almost obsolete, write Chris Debrusk and Paul Mee, partners at Oliver Wyman. In an article for brinknews.com, they cite how using text messages or even fingerprints as a form of identification can be compromised, and call on banks and other organisations to create a system relying on information known only to the institution and customer.

http://www.brinknews.com/data-breaches-are-endangering-identity-verification/?utm_source=BRINK+Subscribers&utm_campaign=822dfe3f6d-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2017_10_19&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_c3639d7c98-822dfe3f6d-110036825

Photo Illustration: Leon Neal/Getty Images The recent Equifax data breach affecting the personal and financial data of 143 million Americans has had a profound effect on consumers. While their credit cards can be re-issued with new numbers, their legal names, addresses, Social Security numbers, and birthdates cannot. Equally profound are the implications for companies that use information stored by credit bureaus as a mechanism for confirming the identity of new and returning customers. At many companies, standard procedures for confirming customer identity involve asking for the last four digits of a Social Security number. The safety of this procedure is now in question. It is reasonable to assume that all these social security numbers are now circulating among fraudsters and offered for sale on the dark web. Other standard procedures for confirming identity require the consumer to answer challenge questions based on the contents of their credit file. For example, a consumer may be asked whether or not they took out an auto loan during the last six months, and if so, for what type of vehicle. Or they might be asked to confirm a prior address. These methods are now far less safe as the underlying information has been hacked. In fact, there is a real question as to which commonly used identity-confirmation processes are still viable. Banks, mortgage companies, insurance companies, asset managers, telecommunication companies, medical and health companies, hospitals and other organizations hold critical information on their customers and often their money. These organizations arguably have a moral and fiduciary obligation to prevent fraudsters from obtaining data and using it to take over accounts or open new accounts fraudulently. If organizations fail to protect their customers, they may expose themselves to legal action as well as punitive responses from regulators. ID verification needs to start relying on information that is only known to the company and its customer. Arguably, the safety of using Social Security numbers in authentication has been declining for some years and certainly since the large-scale hack of the IRS in 2015. However, the last four digits of the Social Security number are still casually assumed to be confidential information in identity verification processes. Companies need to start relying on information that is truly only known to the company and its customer. Rethinking Customer Identity Confirmation When considering fraud risk and procedures for avoiding customer account opening or takeover by fraudsters, the use of third-party information for identity confirmation is arguably less reliable than ever before. Adapting to this new reality will complicate many existing processes, especially those that support account password resets. If a customer cannot access their account, you cannot readily confirm identity using past transaction history. The only information that can be used with confidence for identity confirmation is that which is unique to the consumer and the verifying company. Companies could employ a statistical approach that relies on a broad range of different types of information, the totality of which is unlikely to be available to a fraudster. However, the constant onslaught of data breaches and ongoing innovation by fraudsters and other bad actors renders even this approach problematic. Another challenge: Many organizations only encrypt and protect key data such as Social Security numbers, not the information they will now need to use to confirm identity. Companies must now reevaluate what information should be deemed sensitive or critical across databases and customer support systems. Then they must determine how to protect this information from leakage or unauthorized access. Rethinking Two-Factor Verification Today, many organizations use two-factor authentication to protect against account takeover attempts, phishing, and other fraudulent activities. The most common approach is to leverage a customer’s mobile phone and a text message to confirm identity. But the information likely released in the Equifax breach (and other breaches) could be the same information used to confirm customer identity by mobile phone companies. Using text messages to support two-factor authentication processes has always been a dubious approach, as mobile phone companies have had difficulty preventing fraudsters from taking control of their customers’ phones. Given the Equifax breach, alternative approaches should be examined. Biometrics is another potential tool for confirming identity, though there have been many examples of smartphone fingerprint readers being spoofed by fakes. Emerging capabilities to perform facial recognition and iris scanning via mobile phones are worth watching, but they won’t address the immediate challenge of confirming identity. Identifying New Customers The most difficult part of authentication typically occurs when a new customer opens an account. For complex financial products, this can be less of a concern due to the larger quantities of information that need to be collected, extensive know-your-customer processes and the sheer amount of time that opening a new account requires. Yet, as more consumer account opening processes are digitized and the time-to-first-transaction decreases, companies need to redesign the processes by which they confirm that the new customer truly is the person they claim to be. This will be even more critical for products that allow a customer to establish an immediate liability such as a short-term loan or that aim to provide an immediate service for a deferred payment. Industry groups such as the FIDO Alliance are attempting to create industry-wide standards and to support new solutions to the identity problem. This is all to the good, but in light of the Equifax data breach, every organization must perform a comprehensive audit of its own customer identity processes and ensure that is properly assessing the risk of process failures. Given the increasing sophistication of attackers, the question is not if, but when will you be attacked and compromised. Too often organizations focus on the potential for the direct losses—fines, litigation and remediation—that result from compromised customer accounts, rather than the reputational harm in terms of brand value and customer loyalty. With these factors in mind, senior executives need to ask: “Are we fully prepared to respond to a large-scale information breach?” and “How do we protect our customers in the best possible manner?”

Thai banks highten their fintech efforts

Bangkok Bank (BBL) are discussing the addition of a new CVC business unit which would allow them to fund external tech start-ups directly using the approved initial investment budget of 2 billion baht. While SCB have already created their own CVC firm, the bank has also set aside $50million to invest in tech start-ups with KBank following closely behind with a renewed focus on fintech investment. The banks new investment arms will work to acquire new innovative fintech businesses, with only an estimated 30% of investment being funnelled into existing tech companies by some banks.

http://www.bangkokpost.com/business/finance/961541/banks-enter-fintech-start-up-sphere

An employee of Finnomena Co shows a website for stock investors at the Startup Thailand 2016, an event held recently by the government to promote startups. PATTARACHAI PREECHAPANICH The greater presence of local commercial banks in corporate venture capital (CVC) is making financial technology (fintech) start-ups red-hot investments. Bangkok Bank (BBL) is the latest to enter the fintech fray to keep pace with the latest developments in the sector. Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) and Kasikornbank (KBank) have already launched their own CVC firms to invest in tech start-ups. Banks are following telecom companies that invested in tech start-ups including fintech the past two years. CVC is a corporate investment unit that directly funds external start-ups, providing cash for an equity stake in a small but innovative or specialist firm. The larger firm may also provide management and marketing expertise. Fintech start-ups create innovative products and services that compete with the traditional financial services industry. Virasak Sutanthavibul, BBL's senior executive vice-president for commercial banking, said the company's board approved an initial investment budget of 2 billion baht for its CVC. The budget is slated for tech start-ups, he said at Startup Thailand 2016 last week. BBL is considering whether to set up a new CVC business unit. Arthid Nanthawithaya, chief executive of SCB, said the bank had set aside US$50 million to invest in tech start-ups locally and overseas. Last month SCB formed wholly owned subsidiary Digital Venture Co to manage and operate its venture capital. "Our new investment arm is set to acquire innovative businesses, especially in the fintech sector, to make inroads in the digital arena," said Mr Arthid. Somkid Jiranuntarat, vice-chairman of Kasikorn Business Technology Group, a subsidiary of KBank, said the bank was also focusing on fintech investment. Thanapong Na Ranong, vice-president and head of the venture capital team at InTouch Holdings, said the telecom sector took a leading role in investing in tech start-ups. "E-payment and peer-to-peer lending services [the practice of lending money directly to individuals or businesses through an online service] are fast-growing areas," he said. Punnamas Vichitkulwongsa, chief executive of Ascend Group, a subsidiary of CP Group, said it established a new CVC this year to capitalise on the burgeoning fintech industry. Ascend plans to limit its investment to less than 30% in existing tech companies. The company is also looking to develop innovative services by finding and hiring talent to drive its businesses, with Ascend holding a majority stake of 90% in any new ventures it creates. Mr Punnamas said it planned to target fintech services including payments, insurance, e-commerce, customer relationship management, cloud computing and logistics for investment. Sompoat Chansomboon, director for business innovation of Total Access Communication (DTAC), said the company's incubator programme -- DTAC Accelerate -- planned to invest in pre-seed funding for local tech start-ups with investment of less than 1.5 million baht. "We have a policy to invest in any awesome teams that can solve daily problems in life that benefit over 1 million people," he said. Since its inception in 2013, DTAC Accelerate has had 11 teams participate with the programme. Mr Sompoat said DTAC allocated 100 million baht this year to invest in fintech, medical technology, the Internet of Things, artificial intelligence and telecommunications. Vilaiporn Taweelappontong, lead partner of PwC Consulting (Thailand), said fintech was gaining significant momentum and reshaping financial services. Banking and payments industries are feeling the pressure from fintech companies as they could lose their market share. PwC estimated within three to five years, cumulative investment in fintech globally would exceed $150 billion.

Chinese companies reap financial benefits from World Cup

With many previous sponsors being deterred from an association with the World Cup due to the FIFA corruption scandal, Chinese companies filled a void created by sponsors such as Sony and Johnson & Johnson. Chinese companies accounted for over 30% of the $2.4bn in advertising costs from the World Cup in Russia, with returns stemming from a global audience of around 3.2bn people. The highest contributing companies, as listed by FIFA were; Dalian Wanda Group, Hisense, Vivo and Mengniu Dairy.

http://english.chosun.com/site/data/html_dir/2018/07/17/2018071701327.html

That is reminiscent of the strategies that major Korean companies such as Samsung Electronics and Hyundai Motor started to employ some 20 years ago. They have been active in sponsoring the Olympics, World Cup and other sporting events as well as world-famous sports clubs to let the world know about their brands and enhance their image. Chinese companies flocked to sponsor the monthlong global football event and succeeded in promoting their presence among 3.2 billion viewers watching the event around the world. France may have clinched the trophy at the World Cup in Russia, which ended on Sunday, but it is said in the marketing industry that the true winner is China. Four Chinese companies were among the 12 top FIFA partners and sponsors of this year's World Cup. They were real estate giant Dalian Wanda Group, TV manufacturer Hisense, smartphone maker Vivo and Mengniu Dairy. Three others -- electric scooter company Yadea, apparel maker Diking and virtual reality glasses maker Luci -- were included among "national supporters," the third tier of FIFA’s sponsorship that allows companies in pre-defined global regions to promote their products in their domestic markets. According to U.K.-based market researcher Zenith, Chinese companies accounted for more than a third of the US$2.4 billion in advertising costs for the World Cup in Russia. They spent twice as much as U.S. companies ($400 million) and 13 times more than firms from the host nation ($64 million). They filled the void created by the exit of global sponsors such as Sony and Johnson & Johnson in 2015 amid a FIFA corruption scandal. The tacit encouragement of Chinese President Xi Jinping, reportedly an avid football fan, also played a role. The hefty sponsorship will prove highly beneficial. In the 10 years during which Samsung Electronics sponsored English football club Chelsea from 2005, its European sales rose 111 percent and brand awareness increased 68 percent. China's sports marketing is also in full swing in India, where Samsung recently built a smartphone factory. Vivo and OPPO, the two main brands of Chinese smartphone maker BBK, are now major sponsors of cricket matches and teams in the country. OPPO will pay 10.8 billion rupees (W178 billion, US$1=W1,129) over the next five years to become an official sponsor of the Indian national cricket team. That is five times the amount paid by former sponsor Star India. OPPO's main competitor for the sponsorship deal was its affiliate Vivo. Undeterred, Vivo has since signed a five-year deal to become the official sponsor of the Indian Premier League cricket tournament. Vivo offered 4.5 times more than the previous sponsor. Indian media reported that the local cricket world was surprised to see a previously unknown Chinese company account for more than half of India's total sports sponsorship fees. OPPO and Vivo are now the third and fourth biggest smartphone makers in India's burgeoning telecommunication market. Meanwhile, Chinese telecom equipment and smartphone maker Huawei has been strengthening its European marketing by signing sponsorship deals with famed football clubs AC Milan, Arsenal and Paris St. Germain.

UK's Contact Tracing App Will Reportedly Use Apple/Google Solution After All

Apple and Google created the API to allow iPhones and Android smartphones to interface with one another for contact tracing purposes. If and when you happen to be nearby someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, you can receive a notification and take the appropriate steps to self isolate and seek medical help if necessary. Apple released the API as part of iOS 13.5 last month.

https://www.macrumors.com/2020/06/18/uk-contact-tracing-app-apple-google-api/

In what appears to be a reversal of course, the BBC today reported that the United Kingdom's National Health Service will adopt Apple's and Google's Exposure Notification API for its COVID-19 contact tracing app after all. Other countries that have committed to using the API include Italy, Latvia, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, and Saudi Arabia, among others. Apple released the API as part of iOS 13.5 last month. At the time, the company said that 22 countries had requested and received access to the API, along with the U.S. states of Alabama, North Dakota, and South Carolina. Apple and Google created the API to allow iPhones and Android smartphones to interface with one another for contact tracing purposes. If and when you happen to be nearby someone who later tests positive for COVID-19, you can receive a notification and take the appropriate steps to self isolate and seek medical help if necessary. The API relies on Bluetooth, is designed with privacy in mind, and is disabled by default. Read our Exposure Notification guide for more details.

US plant-based meal kit firm launches single serve frozen meals

US subscription plant-based meal kit start-up Purple Carrot has created a range of single serve plant-based frozen meals. Mirroring the nutritional philosophy core to its meal kit range, the four meals were developed in partnership with Conagra Brands and will be available from Whole Food Market stores from July.

https://www.newkerala.com/news/2020/128268.htm

Purple Carrot Launches New Single Serve, Frozen Meals in Retail BOSTON: Purple Carrot, known for its e-commerce subscription plant-based meal kit, announced their new 100% plant-based, single serve meals are now available in the frozen aisle at most Whole Foods Market stores across the country. Purple Carrot Launches New Single Serve, Frozen Meals in Retail Shared Recently! Purple Carrot created these meals with the same flavor profiles and nutritional philosophies that are core to its meal kit offering.The frozen foods market has been growing exponentially during the last few years, specifically for products that align with consumer demand for more plant-based options, according to the National Frozen and Refrigerated Foods Association.As more and more consumers are seeking to add plant-based options to their weekly routines but aren't ready to commit to a full lifestyle change, these single-serve meals offer a perfect way to get a taste of what plant-based foods can offer, said Andy Levitt, Founder and CEO of Purple Carrot. From the beginning, Purple Carrot has been dedicated to creating incredible plant-based meals that even non-plant-based consumers will love, and our new frozen line is no different.Developed in partnership with Conagra Brands, Purple Carrot will launch four (4) single serve meals includingPlant-Based Meatball Marinara - made with Gardein Meatless MeatballsMaple Chipotle Veggie BowlSweet Corn Elote BowlFiesta Pepper Bowl - made with Gardein Beefless GroundWe are excited to partner with Purple Carrot on this endeavor, said Tara Rozalowsky, VP/GM at Conagra Brands. They have built a large, successful direct to consumer model for plant-based meal solutions and together, we plan to take that equity across the retail space, increasing the access points for flexitarians and plant-based lifestyle enthusiasts to have complete meal solutions, including frozen options that are entirely plant based, vegan and non-GMO comfort foods.Consumers will be able to purchase these meals across nearly all Whole Food Market stores in the US starting the first week in July. The single serve frozen meals have an MSRP of $5.29. Specific product offerings and pricing depend on location.About Purple CarrotPurple Carrot started with just a seed of an idea in 2014 encourage people to eat more plants for their health and the health of the planet. Today, it is leading the charge for people to adopt a plant-based lifestyle. Purple Carrot's irresistible, globally-inspired recipes, fresh ingredients, and meals are available in the U.S. and Japan. To learn more about Purple Carrot, visit www.purplecarrot.comAbout Conagra BrandsConagra Brands, Inc. (NYSE CAG), headquartered in Chicago, is one of North America's leading branded food companies. Guided by an entrepreneurial spirit, Conagra Brands combines a rich heritage of making great food with a sharpened focus on innovation. The company's portfolio is evolving to satisfy people's changing food preferences. Conagra's iconic brands, such as Birds Eye, Marie Callender's, Banquet, Healthy Choice, Slim Jim, Reddi-wip, and Vlasic, as well as emerging brands, including Angie's BOOMCHICKAPOP, Duke's, Earth Balance, Gardein, and Frontera, offer choices for every occasion. For more information, visit www.conagrabrands.com.PRN20 July 2020

M&G buys digital wealth management platform from Royal London

Royal London has sold Ascentric to M&G for an undisclosed sum. The digital wealth management platform for financial advisors has £14bn of AuA and 90,000 customers. The deal is subject to regulatory approval.

https://www.standard.co.uk/business/mg-buys-ascentric-platform-from-royal-london-a4451446.html

P ension and insurance mutual Royal London has sold its Ascentric platform to M&G for an undisclosed sum following an overhaul by the new chief executive Barry O'Dwyer. Ascentric, which has £14 billion of assets and 90,000 customers, was bought by Royal London in 2007 and is used by IFAs to manage client money. M&G, spun off from the Pru last year, has £352 billion of assets under management and the deal will only marginally increase that sum. Royal London chief Barry O'Dwyer came in last year and undertook a strategic review of the group. He said the company was still committed to the adviser market. "As part of our strategic review of the business, we explored a number of options for Ascentric. "The business has been performing well following its re-platforming and we sought an outcome that would take it to its next phase of growth. We believe that a sale to M&G delivers this for Ascentric and I am pleased to have found a buyer who has a strong commitment to Ascentric's client and customer base and who is looking to further grow the business." M&G chief John Foley said: "This deal strengthens our position in the UK savings and investment market, complementing our existing offering to advisers and customers with a well-established digital wealth management platform. "Ascentric's platform will also accelerate our ability to provide a wider range of M&G and Prudential investment solutions to more customers, through the tax wrappers and service propositions they favour. Advisers will also benefit as we invest to grow the platform. Fenchurch advised Royal London on the sale. It needs regulatory approval.

UK calls for drastic action in Yemen as coronavirus infections reach one million

Infections may have already reached one million, according to UK aid-funded research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. The £160 million package, from the UK Government, will help to tackle the spread of coronavirus in Yemen and is expected to provide over 700,000 medical consultations, train 12,000 healthcare workers to work safely in a coronavirus environment, and provide a much-needed boost to nearly 4,000 health centres to continue providing existing health services. The new funding also aims to provide support to at least 300,000 vulnerable people each month to help them buy food and household essentials, treat 40,000 children for malnutrition and provide 1 million people with improved water supply and basic sanitation.

https://www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-calls-for-drastic-action-in-yemen-as-coronavirus-infections-reach-one-million

The UK Minister for the Middle East, James Cleverly MP, has expressed his deep concern at the rapidly rising number of coronavirus infections in Yemen amid an ongoing conflict and humanitarian crisis. Infections may have already reached one million, according to UK aid-funded research by the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine which projects a worst-case scenario of up to 85,000 deaths. During a ‘virtual visit’, involving calls with senior figures from the Yemeni authorities and the UN, Mr Cleverly set out how the UK is supporting the coronavirus response in Yemen and called for drastic action to avoid a humanitarian catastrophe. The Minister highlighted the need for further support to the UN, which fell $1 billion short of its target at the Saudi-hosted pledging conference earlier this month. The UK pledged £160 million at the conference, one of the biggest donations on the day, to support the frontline coronavirus response. The pledge takes the UK’s total commitment to nearly £1 billion since the conflict began in 2014, which has helped to feed millions of Yemenis, as well as provide access to water and sanitation. After 6 years of conflict and the recent Houthi offensive on Marib, Mr Cleverly stressed to Yemen’s leaders that the only way to permanently end the suffering is with a comprehensive political solution. He urged the parties to swiftly agree to the proposals presented by the UN Special Envoy to Yemen, Martin Griffiths. During the visit, Mr Cleverly said: This visit has allowed me to hear about the devastating impact coronavirus is already having in Yemen, and I was deeply concerned to hear that there have been over a million cases. All parties to the conflict must work with the UN so there is safe access for food and medicine supplies. The virtual nature of the visit meant I was able to see how UK aid is helping Yemeni people by seeing the inside of a hospital, homes and camps, as well as talking to vulnerable people receiving support. I am grateful to all of those working to deliver vital life-saving aid to Yemen, which is needed now more than ever as coronavirus continues to spread across the country. But only a political solution can end the misery and prevent even more loss of life. I urge Yemen’s leaders to redouble their efforts and agree to the UN’s proposals. Notes to editors

Glance's mobile payment system chosen by Canadian restaurants

The British Columbia Restaurant & Food Services Association (BCRFA) has selected Glance Technologies as its preferred mobile payments provider. The organisation said it had evaluated other solutions but chose the Glance PayMe platform after seeing it in use elsewhere, highlighting its anti-fraud protection. The app works with 15 point of sale systems across North America, representing over 500,000 installations. As well as mobile pay, it provides digital rewards and food service features designed to aid efficiency. Glance will gain access to more than 3,000 BCRFA members with the partnership.

https://www.mobilepaymentstoday.com/news/glance-mobile-payment-choice-for-canadian-restaurateurs-group/

Glance Technologies Inc. is now the preferred mobile payments solution for the British Columbia Restaurant & Food Services Association, which boasts 3,000-plus members, and members will have access to the Glance PayMe platform. "After having carefully evaluated other mobile payment solutions and gaining insight from successful locations that currently accept Glance Pay, Glance provides the most robust technology powered by their superior anti-fraud protection. I know first hand, as a user, that Glance Pay is the best-in-class option for our association," BCRFA President Ian Tostenson said in a press release. The Glace Pay app is fully integrated with 15 POS systems, representing more than 500,000 installations across North America. The app offer mobile pay as well as built-in digital rewards and efficiency-enhancing features for food service. "This endorsement aligns well with Glance's aggressive growth plans and our readiness to showcase our cutting-edge solutions to this highly competitive industry that needs Glance's solution to solve its operational pain points and boost bottom-line revenue," Glance Technologies CEO Desmond Griffin said in the release. More than 530,000 restaurant businesses across Canada and the U.S. are represented by food service industry associations and the BCRFA partnership allows Glance access to this alliance.

Long March 3B launches Chinasat-18 - waiting on status

The CZ-3B features enlarged launch propellant tanks, improved computer systems, a larger 4.2 meter diameter payload fairing and the addition of four strap-on boosters in the core stage that provide additional help during the first phase of the launch.The CZ-3B/G2 (Enhanced Version) launch vehicle was developed from the CZ-3B with a lengthened first core stage and strap-on boosters, increasing the GTO capacity up to 5,500kg.The first launch from Xichang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984, when the Chang Zheng-3 (Y-1) was launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2019/08/long-march-3b-launches-chinasat-18/

China launched Zhongxing-18 (or Chinasat-18) – a civilian communications satellite – on Monday via the use of a Long March-3B/G2 (Chang Zheng-3B/G2) rocket. The launch took place at 12:03 UTC from the LC2 pad at the Xichang Satellite Launch Center. However, the usual announcement of a successful separation has yet to published by Chinese State media. Originally scheduled to launch in the first quarter of 2019, the ZX-18 is based on the DFH-4E satellite bus. It will be used for civil telecommunications for Chinese TV, phone, radio and internet. It is equipped with 30 Ku-band transponders, Ka broadband communication services with 14 Ka-band MSS spot user beams and Ka-band broadcasting services with 2 Ka BSS-band transponders within the service coverage areas. The DFH-4 is the third generation communications satellite bus in China with increased power, strong payload capacity and extended service life. It consists of a propulsion module, service modules and solar arrays. Its dimensions are 2360mm×2100mm×3600mm, with a liftoff mass of 5,200 kg. Solar Array Power is 10.5 kW (EOL) and payload power is 8 kW. The platform can be equipped with C, Ku, Ka and L transponders. It uses a 3-axis stabilization mode and its station-keeping precision is west/east ±0.05° and north/south ±0.05°. Antenna Pointing Precision＜0.1°. Its service lifetime in orbit is 15 years. To meet the demand of international satellite launch market, especially for high power and heavy communications satellites, the development of Long March-3B (Chang Zheng-3B) launch vehicle was started in 1986 based on the fight proven technology of Long March launch vehicles. Developed from the Chang Zheng-3A, the Chang Zheng-3B is at the moment the most powerful launch vehicle on the Chinese space launch fleet. The CZ-3B features enlarged launch propellant tanks, improved computer systems, a larger 4.2 meter diameter payload fairing and the addition of four strap-on boosters in the core stage that provide additional help during the first phase of the launch. The rocket is capable of launching a 11,200 kg satellite to a low Earth orbit or a 5,100 kg cargo to a geosynchronous transfer orbit. The CZ-3B/G2 (Enhanced Version) launch vehicle was developed from the CZ-3B with a lengthened first core stage and strap-on boosters, increasing the GTO capacity up to 5,500kg. On May 14, 2007, the first flight of CZ-3B/G2 was performed successfully, accurately sending the NigcomSat-1 into pre-determined orbit. With the GTO launch capability of 5,500kg, CZ-3B/G2 is dedicated for launching heavy GEO communications satellite. The rocket structure also combines all sub-systems and is composed of four strap-on boosters, a first stage, a second stage, a third stage and payload fairing. The first two stages, as well as the four strap-on boosters, use hypergolic (N2O4/UDMH) fuel while the third stage uses cryogenic (LOX/LH2) fuel. The total length of the CZ-3B is 54.838 meters, with a diameter of 3.35 meters on the core stage and 3.00 meters on the third stage. On the first stage, the CZ-3B uses a YF-21C engine with a 2,961.6 kN thrust and a specific impulse of 2,556.5 Ns/kg. The first stage diameter is 3.35 m and the stage length is 23.272 m. Each strap-on booster is equipped with a YF-25 engine with a 740.4 kN thrust and a specific impulse of 2,556.2 Ns/kg. The strap-on booster diameter is 2.25 m and the strap-on booster length is 15.326 m. The second stage is equipped with a YF-24E (main engine – 742 kN / 2,922.57 Ns/kg; four vernier engines – 47.1 kN / 2,910.5 Ns/kg each). The second stage diameter is 3.35 m and the stage length is 12.920 m. The third stage is equipped with a YF-75 engine developing 167.17 kN and with a specific impulse of 4,295 Ns/kg. The fairing diameter of the CZ-3B is 4.00 meters and has a length of 9.56 meters. The CZ-3B can also use the new Yuanzheng-1 (“Expedition-1″) upper stage that uses a small thrust 6.5 kN engine burning UDMH/N2O4 with specific impulse at 3,092 m/s. The upper stage can conduct two burns, having a 6.5 hour lifetime and is capable of achieving a variety of orbits. This upper stage was not used on this launch. Typical flight sequence for the CZ-3B/G2 sees the launch pitching over 10 seconds after liftoff from the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre. Boosters shutdown 2 minutes and 7 seconds after liftoff, separation from the first stage one second latter. First stage shutdown takes place at 1 minute 25 seconds into the flight. The separation between the first and second stage takes place at 1 minute 26 seconds, following fairing separation at T+3 minutes 35 seconds. Stage 2 main engine shutdown occurs 326 seconds into the flight, following by the shutdown of the vernier engines 15 seconds later. The separation between the second and the third stage and the ignition of the third stage takes place one second after the shutdown of the vernier engines of the second stage. The first burn of the third stage will last for 4 minutes and 44 seconds. After the end of the first burn of the third stage follows a coast phase that ends at T+20 minutes and 58 seconds with the third stage initiating its second burn. This will have a 179 seconds duration. After the end of the second burn of the third stage, the launcher initiates a 20 second velocity adjustment maneuver. Spacecraft separation usually takes place at T+25 minutes 38 seconds after launch. However, no confirmation has been provided at this time. The Xichang Satellite Launch Centre is situated in the Sichuan Province, south-western China and is the country’s launch site for geosynchronous orbital launches. Equipped with two launch pads (LC2 and LC3), the center has a dedicated railway and highway lead directly to the launch site. The Command and Control Centre is located seven kilometers south-west of the launch pad, providing flight and safety control during launch rehearsal and launch. Other facilities on the Xichang Satellite Launch Centre are the Launch Control Centre, propellant fuelling systems, communications systems for launch command, telephone and data communications for users, and support equipment for meteorological monitoring and forecasting. The first launch from Xichang took place at 12:25UTC on January 29, 1984, when the Chang Zheng-3 (Y-1) was launched the Shiyan Weixing (14670 1984-008A) communications satellite into orbit.

German project seeks best routes for electric air commuting

The German Aerospace Center and aerospace research institute Bauhaus Luftfahrt are collaborating on the Cooperation for Commuter Research project, which is exploring the feasibility of electric commuter aircraft. Engineers are researching how best to work around the limitations of electric aircraft, such as heavy batteries and shorter ranges than conventional aircraft. The project is working on a 19-seat electric-hybrid aircraft with a 200 km range, which could extend to 400 km as the technology advances. Researchers claimed such an aircraft could be suitable for transport between remote areas of Canada with low passenger numbers and between medium-sized European cities.

https://newatlas.com/aircraft/electric-aircraft-short-range-commuting-routes/

The German Aerospace Center, Deutsches Zentrum für Luft und Raumfahrt (DLR), and aerospace research institute Bauhaus Luftfahrt are studying how to make electric commuter aircraft practical. The Cooperation for Commuter Research (CoCoRe) project is using the example of a 19-seat hybrid-electric commuter aircraft capable of flying from Mannheim to Berlin to learn more about the economics and environmental impact of the technology. Electric aircraft have a number of advantages over conventional ones. Not only are they zero-emission, but they are mechanically simpler and easier to maintain. However, they also suffer from relying on very heavy batteries that hold much less energy than a tank of aviation fuel, resulting in much lower payloads and shorter ranges. As a result, engineers are looking at how to work within the limitations of the technology and find the best niche to exploit. CoCoRe's brief is to look at prop-drive, 19-seater, commuter-class aircraft like the Dornier Do 228 and the Jetstream 31. These tend to operate on short-range routes, which are more suited to electric propulsion. "According to our research, 56 percent of 19-seaters worldwide fly distances of less than 200 km (125 mi) and 83 percent fly less than 350 km (217 mi). This usage pattern means that the combination of fully electric flight enhanced by range extenders will prevent the majority of carbon dioxide emissions caused by commuter aircraft," says Annika Paul of Bauhaus Luftfahrt. The study assumed a hybrid-electric aircraft with various modifications, like batteries installed over the landing gear nacelles for better takeoff and landing characteristics as well as ease of swapping out the batteries. These batteries, weighing in at two tonnes, give the aircraft a takeoff weight of 8.6 tonnes and a 200-km range, which is extended to 1,000 km (620 mi) through the use of supplemental gas turbines that the researchers say are important for safety reasons as well as allowing for longer flights. According to the researchers, the flight range can be extended to over 400 km (250 mi) as batteries become more efficient, airframes become lighter, and multi-propeller designs become more advanced. From an economic point of view, the CoCoRe project says that such hybrid-electric aircraft could find a niche in places like Canada, which have routes in remote areas with few passengers, or between medium-sized European cities, including Mannheim to Berlin, Bremen to Berlin and Münster to Leipzig. The researchers also say technology advances to increase the number of charge-discharge cycles from around 1,000 and increases in carbon dioxide prices would also improve the economic prospects for electric aircraft. Source: DLR

Rumours Samsung will launch new smartphone with foldable screen

  HSBC analysts are predicting that Samsung, the South Korean electronics manufacturer, is going to launch a smartphone with a foldable screen in the second half of 2016 as the company tries harder to regain its market share, news reports have highlighted this week. Being developed under the codename “Project Valley”, the fold would present users with a far bigger screen, which could prove useful for apps and consuming media without drastically increasing the size of the device. Samsung was one of the first to introduce larger screens, before its rival Apple came along with the larger-sized iPhone 6, which saw them attain their most profitable quarter of any company ever, whilst Samsung’s profits and sales plummeted. It is reportedly hoped that the introduction of Samsung’s new foldable screen smartphone will go some way towards redressing the balance of interests in this lucrative market.  

http://uk.businessinsider.com/samsung-foldable-screen-smartphone-2016-hsbc-analysts-prediction-unique-2016-1

Samsung might be preparing to launch a smartphone that is radically different from anything else on the market. Analysts at HSBC are predicting that the South Korean electronics manufacturer is going to launch a smartphone with a foldable screen in the second half of 2016. Samsung has been looking into foldable-screen technology for years, and there are rumours that it is developing a smartphone under the codename Project Valley. (Samsung has never acknowledged this.) The fold would let users have a far bigger screen — useful for apps and consuming media — without drastically increasing the size of the device. But few expect it to make its way to market any time soon. However, a new report on foldable screen technology from the bank HSBC argues that the tech "will be here sooner than we think." "The foldable smartphone is upon us" HSBC analysts argue that Samsung is likely to be one of the first to utilise the technology commercially, and we should expect to see a launch this year. (This won't be in its flagship Galaxy S line, by the way: That's due to launch in Q1 and rumours make no mention of a folding screen.) Here's the analysts' rationale — emphasis ours: We think Samsung will likely introduce foldable OLED smartphones as early as 2H16, versus market expectations of 2017, as the company tries harder to regain market share. In our view, foldable OLED smartphones could transform Samsung’s smartphone business, with the potential to become a ‘killer’ feature in the premium smartphone space given that (1) a foldable OLED model would provide it with a high degree of product differentiation; (2) it gives users the best of both world’s – namely, a larger screen size in a smaller form factor; and (3) it could enable the company to capture market share in both the smartphone and tablet markets with a single product. The coming roll-out of foldable OLED smartphones also bodes well for growth across the entire OLED panel supply chain: from the panel makers to equipment makers to materials suppliers. In short: Samsung is struggling to regain market share, and a foldable screen would give it a truly unique selling point, setting it apart from every other product on the market. And, as an added bonus, the larger screen sizes the fold would create would let Samsung gobble up part of the tablet market too. It makes sense. It's worth pointing out that HSBC doesn't seem to have an inside source here — or at least, not one it's acknowledging. It's just making a prediction. But strategically, it does make sense. Samsung smartphones have succeeded best when they're unique — when they offer the consumer something that no-one else can. The South Korean company was one of the first to introduce larger screens, and as such used to dominate high-end smartphone sales. But then Apple came along with the larger-sized iPhone 6 — which handed Apple its best ever sales, as well as the most profitable quarter of any company ever. Meanwhile, Samsung profits, and sales, plummeted. (Samsung's sales have also been hurt by the rise of low-cost Asian smartphone vendors like Xiaomi and Huawei.) Samsung's year-on-year sales figures for Q2 2014 and 2015. Gartner In 2015, Samsung made a similar mistake again with the S6, its flagship smartphone. It built two versions of the device — the S6, and the S6 Edge, which is more expensive, and has a curved screen. The Galaxy S6 edge+ and Galaxy Note5. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Samsung According to a report in The Wall Street Journal in July 2015, Samsung assumed demand for the devices would be around four to one in favour of the regular S6. But the Edge has turned out to be much more popular, and demand is closer to one to one. The company was left scrambling, with excess inventory of S6 units and not nearly enough of the more expensive S6 Edge units to satisfy demand. It sounds like a good problem to have — your phone is too popular! But it's also totally avoidable, and damaged Samsung's potential sales. A truly unique selling point This is Samsung's chance to be unique. Aroid via Flickr One of the rumoured features for the S7 — Samsung's next big phone — is a pressure-sensitive screen. It is rumoured that the smartphone will be able to tell how hard you are pressing on the screen and react accordingly — a feature very similar to Apple's "Force Touch," which it introduced to the iPhone 6s back in September 2015. Samsung has been accused of copying Apple like this for years, and has even been targeted by lawsuits alleging that it has infringed upon the Cupertino company's patents. A foldable smartphone, on the other hand, would be truly unique — and ideally positioned to grab swathes of the high-end smartphone market.

Enel begins building out 133 MW expansion to Brazil solar park

Enel Green Power's Brazilian subsidiary, Enel Green Power Brasil Participacoes (EGPB), has started work on the €100m ($110m), 133 MW expansion of its Sao Goncalo solar park. The plant is South America's biggest under construction and the latest addition will take its overall capacity to 608 MW. EGPB said Sao Goncalo will generate more than 1,500 GWh per year and offset around 860,000 mt of CO2 emissions.

https://www.power-technology.com/news/enel-green-power-brazil/

Enel Green Power Brasil Participações (EGPB), the Brazilian subsidiary of Enel Green Power has started construction of 133MW of new solar capacity. The company will invest €100m ($110m) for the construction of its São Gonçalo solar park expansion, which will increase its overall capacity to 608MW. The São Gonçalo solar park is located in São Gonçalo do Gurguéia, in Brazil’s northeastern state of Piauí. Enel Green Power head Antonio Cammisecra said: “We are further expanding São Gonçalo, South America’s largest solar plant currently under construction, reinforcing our commitment to boost our renewable capacity in Brazil, where we are the main player in both solar and wind in terms of installed capacity and project portfolio. “São Gonçalo’s production profile will further benefit from our innovation leadership, including through state-of-the-art generation technologies. “The plant will dedicate a significant portion of its output, including the entire production from its new expansion, to Brazil’s free energy market, which is increasingly attractive to renewable investors.” Enel also tweeted: “The Brazilian sun will shine down on our new and improved São Gonçalo solar park: we have begun construction on a 133 MW expansion of our project, reaching the 608 MW of total capacity.” The solar plant will be equipped with Enel’s bifacial solar modules, which have been designed to capture solar energy from both sides of the panel and are expected to increase power generation by nearly 18%. It is expected to commence commercial operations in 2020. Once fully operational, the entire 608MW solar plant will have the capacity to generate more than 1,500GWh annually, while offsetting around 860,000t of carbon emissions into the atmosphere each year. The São Gonçalo solar park has already signed power supply contracts with corporate customers and power distribution companies operating in the country’s regulated market.

IWG IFRS 16 seen reshaping commercial property map

New accounting rule IFRS 16 will require companies to include operational leases in their balance sheets and could see the transfer of assets worth around $2tn. The change brings increased transparency, giving multinational companies a clear overview of real estate leases, which are typically managed locally, according to IWG Sweden manager Patrik Olveback. That will prompt managers to examine the cost and use of properties. While IFRS 16 comes into force in January, it has already added momentum to the flexible workspace sector and will be a catalyst in redefining how businesses view office space, Olveback said.

https://www.realtid.se/debatt/ny-standard-redovisning-ritar-om-fastighetskartan

De nya redovisningsstandarder som träder i kraft år 2019 kommer att bidra till en förändring av hur företag närmar sig och hanterar företagsfastigheter. Det skriver Patrik Ölvebäck, Country Manager för IWG Sverige. Mycket har redan skrivits om IFRS 16 och hur detta kommer påverka rådande redovisningspraxis – speciellt vad gäller stora företag med en omfattande fastighetsportfölj. IFRS 16 innebär kort och gott att företag, från den 1 januari 2019, kommer vara skyldiga att inkludera operationella leasingavtal i balansräkningen. Som ett resultat av detta förespås det att hyrda tillgångar till ett värde av omkring 2 biljoner dollar för första gången kommer synliggöras. Även om det nya kravet inte påverkar det underliggande kassaflödet i ett företag, så kan det komma att leda till stora förändringar inom företagen. Ekonomichefer får en tydligare överblick över hur mycket deras verksamhet globalt spenderar på operationella leasingavtal – och då särskilt på fastigheter. Annons För många stora multinationella företag, där leasingkontrakt vanligtvis både ordnas och förvaltas lokalt, kommer detta att vara en möjlighet för ekonomichefer att både se och utmana behovet av sådana leasingavtal i större utsträckning än tidigare. När synligheten ökar kommer chefer att fråga hur mycket deras fastighetsportfölj används, vad beläggningsgraden är och som tidigare nämnt, hur stort värdet är på leasingavtalen. De kommer att fråga om det finns ett effektivare sätt att få tillgång till en bättre företagsfastighetsportfölj – och där kommer många gånger svaret att bli flexibla arbetsytor. Flexibla arbetsutrymmen innefattar on demand-kontor, utrymmen för co-working, samt mötesrum och de bistår med den gemenskap och service som tillhör traditionella arbetsutrymmen. Annons Efterfrågan på on demand-lösningar ökar konstant och bidrar till en fundamental förändring i hur vi arbetar. Omställningen av var och hur vi arbetar återspeglas i en rapport från fastighetsrådgivnings- och kapitalförvaltningsfirman JLL, som förutser att kommersiella fastighetsportföljer till 30 procent kommer bestå av flexibla arbetsutrymmen år 2030. IFRS 16 har skapat momentum inom fastighetsbranschen. Allt eftersom företag och verksamheter kommer gå igenom nödvändiga omstruktureringar för att uppfylla den nya redovisningsstandarden, så är chansen stor att efterfrågan på kortare leasingavtal kommer öka. Kortare leasingtider kommer i sin tur påverka fastighetsvärdet, eftersom längre leasingperioder är fördelaktigt om fastigheter överlåts till en ny hyresvärd. Annons Flexibla arbetsytor är en lösning, eftersom workspace-aktörer kan förbinda sig till längre leasingavtal med hyresvärdar, samtidigt som de kan erbjuda sina kunder och partners korttidsavtal. Att IFRS 16 kommer påverka många aspekter av företagande, främst inom den administrativa arenan, kan inte avfärdas. Men IFRS 16 lär också bli en katalysator för, och en avgörande faktor i hur vi förstår och definierar både kontorsytor och arbetslivet framöver. Patrik Ölvebäck Country Manager för IWG Sverige

Nuclear energy tainted by fallout from Fukushima

A new poll out from UK research firm Ipsos MORI, referenced in Carbon Brief, suggests that the meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in March last year will seriously affect global energy policy, given the impact it has had on public perception of nuclear power. The poll suggests that social, cultural, economic and political factors continue to be more influential in swaying sentiment on nuclear power than fundamental measures such as power usage or energy dependency. According to Ipsos Mori figures, ahead of the Fukushima disaster, the International Energy Agency predicted new nuclear plants would add 360 GW of energy capacity before 2035, a prediction that was halved after the event.  

http://www.carbonbrief.org/poll-fukushimas-consequences-for-the-global-energy-mix

SCIENCE 15:00 Poll: Fukushima’s consequences for the global energy mix | March 15. 2012.15:00 The meltdown at the Fukushima nuclear plant in March last year has left an indelible mark on public opinion that will have a serious impact on global energy policy and public perception of nuclear power, according to a new poll out last week. But the extent to which Fukushima has shaped attitudes to nuclear is not straightforward and depends on social, political and cultural influences, the report concludes. Ipsos Mori found the incident has had an impact on “all sectors, countries and players”. According to its After Fukushima report: “[T]he public supports [governments’] fundamental policy aims of protecting supplies, diversifying sources and stabilising costs. However, views on how governments should achieve this, and on the role of nuclear power in particular, are influenced by social, cultural, economic and political factors to a far greater extent than more fundamental measures such as power usage or energy dependency.” Ipsos says understanding public attitudes to different energy sources is important for governments grappling with questions such as how to protect countries from energy shocks, how to displace fossil fuel use with renewables and whether nuclear power is a feasible solution. The authors say: “[These questions] are affected as much by politics as policy: public concern and acceptability are central. and therefore understanding public opinion and how this varies between countries is vital.” Just as the UK’s mad cow disease scare still has people all over the world checking meat labels for their beef’s provenance, “there will be a ‘before’ and an ‘after’ Fukushima” effect, the poll says, which has renewed fears about nuclear power and contamination from the plant, whether realistic or not. Global concern Source: Ipsos Mori Ipsos’s questions on public concern about energy and environmental issues reveals that while energy costs are high on peoples’s agenda, so is worry about the impact of burning fossil fuels on the environment. Nearly as high are concern about dependence on foreign-produced energy and risks from nuclear fallout. Different fuels Coupled with this, renewable sources receive significant public support in comparison to fossil fuels such as gas and coal. Nuclear is the least-supported. However, further questions reveal doubts about renewables’ reliability. Nuclear, coal, oil and gas, meanwhile, are considered more reliable. Nuclear The Fukushima disaster has already created shifts in the global energy mix. Ipsos quotes figures that suggest that before Fukushima, the International Energy Agency predicted new nuclear plants would add 360 gigawatts of energy capacity before 2035. After the meltdown, however, the IEA reduced this prediction by half. But changes in global opinion on nuclear are different depending on country, and they appear to have been temporary, Ipsos says. In Britain, support bounced back to previous levels later in 2011. These regional differences lends weight to the pollsters’ conclusion that social, cultural, economic and political factors influence views on how governments should achieve energy policy aims. For example, the report concludes: “[In Britain] there remains a high level of support for nuclear power resulting from an in-built resistance to dependency on other countries or single sources, while in Japan there is a clear economic imperative to retain nuclear power capacity which may explain why, even after Fukushima, support for nuclear power remains particularly high.” In contrast, in Germany and Italy where there exist “political pressures and long-standing cultural aversions to nuclear power”, it has already been abandoned. Conclusions The trends evident in Ipsos’s findings reveal a complex picture, and suggest that policymakers need to get to grips with a wide range of different factors if they want to get public support for a particular energy approach. It’s particularly interesting, for example, that the polling suggests people really don’t like high-carbon energy sources, prefer renewables, and have concerns about their reliability – all at the same time. Perhaps most obviously, the poll also suggests that the societal side of the nuclear debate is far from over.

*** Pandemic Is Expected to Bring More Lawsuits, and More Backers

An investment strategy that funds lawsuits is expected to grow as more companies become involved in litigation during the economic downturn. "Peter Suarez has invested in litigation financing since 2015. His return is 38 percent, but losses can be big, too," an investor says. "I'm not a lawyer, I'm just a guy who likes to have fun," a lawyer says.

https://www.nytimes.com/2020/06/19/your-money/lawsuits-litigation-finance-coronavirus.html

LexShares got its start as a fundless sponsor in 2014. Bigger firms are primarily backed by pension funds and sovereign wealth funds, but LexShares counts many individuals as investors. They all have to be accredited investors, which means they have more than $1 million in investable assets or an annual salary greater than $200,000. It is raising a second fund, at $100 million, only two years after its first $25 million fund. “We’re coming back because these deals fill up so quickly, so it’s hard to create a diversified pool of these investments,” said Jay Greenberg, chief executive of LexShares. The fund has a 70 percent victory rate, he said, but only 43 of 103 cases have been resolved. As in other fund structures, the litigation funds are paid a management fee and then take a hefty cut of the settlement, depending on the success of the case. With litigants, the funds negotiate their return up front. In some cases, it’s a percentage of the settlement; in others, it’s a multiple of the money they invest depending on how long it takes for the case to settle. If it takes three years, for example, they might ask to be paid back three times their money. In all cases, the investment is nonrecourse financing, meaning if the company or lawyers lose the case, they don’t owe the investors anything. This aspect is appealing because law firms and companies can minimize some of their risk while still having access to working capital. It’s also why investors need to ensure that they spread their money across many cases. “There isn’t any case I’d put more than $25,000 in,” Mr. Parizek said. “There are some I liked and thought it would be great to put in $250,000 and win big, but you never know.”

Millennials are unhappy with mobile banking, falling for plenty of scams

Two separate studies have found that millennials do not like mobile banking and that many of them fall for online scams. A Microsoft-commissioned study of 1,000 participants from 12 countries found that two-thirds experienced a cyber scam, with half of those affected being millennials. Microsoft commented that scammers are leveraging pop-ups, unsolicited emails and scam websites to catch younger victims. A separate US and UK study found that millennials are unhappy with mobile banking, with a survey of 700 people finding that 93% of people abandoning a banking transaction because of forgotten passwords and other security issues.

https://www.siliconrepublic.com/enterprise/millennials-mobile-banking-cyberattack-scam

A pair of studies into millennials’ attitude to the online world made for two surprising findings: they don’t like mobile banking and they fall for an awful lot of online scams. Picture the average victim of malware or some other type of phishing cyberattack. Now picture someone who’s more at home in a bank than using an app. Do they look the same? Well they should, though you’re probably thinking of the wrong demographic. Millennials are, according to recent research, far from the polished article online. Millennials: A surprise Microsoft recently commissioned a major study into 1,000 people from 12 countries, investigating their experiences with online scams. The results were… surprising. While two-thirds have experienced a cyber scam, and 10pc have actually lost money to a cyber scam, half of those affected were millennials. India, China and the US were particular hot zones for fraud, across a survey that also took in Australia, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, France, Germany, Great Britain, Singapore and South Africa. According to Microsoft, these results may – at first glance – appear surprising, but the study reveals something quite telling: fraudsters’ tactics are evolving. “By leveraging pop-ups, unsolicited email and scam websites as additional entry points for scams, fraudsters are reaching a broader number of people including younger than expected victims,” said the company. While older people affected by cybercrime tend to be reached over the phone, it’s dodgy websites that hit millennials hardest. Millennials: Educate together “Above all, the best thing you can do to help protect yourself is to educate yourself,” said Microsoft although, as is proven each year when a new list of terrible password choices emerges, that’s easier said than done. A separate study in the US and UK showed millennials are unenthused by mobile banking; this is despite the alternative being mind-numbingly painful for humanity. It has been estimated that millennial buying power will reach $1.4trn by the end of the decade, so keeping the demographic happy should be a priority. However, things like security uncertainty and even the general inability to remember logins and passwords are scuppering the experience for many. In a survey of 700 people, 93pc confirmed that they have abandoned a banking transaction – applying for a credit card, opening a new account or simply accessing an existing account – on at least one occasion. Millennials: Password woes The primary challenge millennials cited in these transactions was a forgotten password. “The digital transformation of banking and financial services creates enormous opportunity for both customers and businesses, but the insights from our research confirm a critical need to improve customer experience to meet the requirements of millennials,” said Jumio CEO Stephen Stuut. “As concerns around data security reach new heights, the call to action for businesses is clear: protect customers from fraudulent account access, by creating new ways to validate identity that make the customer experience more seamless, not more complex.” Jumio’s report is rather self-serving, in that it is a company operating in the digital ID verification sphere (which it cites as a way around this surprising obstruction), though the results of its survey are still interesting. Indeed, as disruption throughout the banking system continues, those that streamline experiences will rise to the top.

Smriti Mandhana loses top spot in ODI rankings after missing ODI series vs South Africa

Star Indian batswoman Smriti Mandhana has lost her top spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for women batters. Mandhana, who did not feature in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, has been replaced by New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite at the top of the rankings. In the list of all-rounders, Deepti Sharma has moved down to the third spot while Shikha Pandey has entered the top 10. test

https://www.indiatoday.in/sports/cricket/story/smriti-mandhana-loses-top-spot-icc-odi-rankings-women-batters-mithali-raj-1609600-2019-10-15

By Indo-Asian News Service: Star Indian batswoman Smriti Mandhana has lost her top spot in the latest ICC ODI rankings for women batters. Mandhana, who did not feature in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa, has been replaced by New Zealand's Amy Satterthwaite at the top of the rankings. The 23-year-old batter had suffered a fracture in her right toe during a practice session before the start of the ODI series against the Proteas which India won 3-0. advertisement Skipper Mithali Raj has also moved down to the seventh spot. Raj recently became the first woman cricketer to complete 20 years in international cricket. In the bowlers' rankings, Jhulan Goswami, Shikha Pandey and Poonam Yadav have also moved down to 6th, 8th and 9th positions respectively. In the list of all-rounders, Deepti Sharma has moved down to the third spot while Shikha Pandey has entered the top 10. Also Read | Not many great captains apart from Virat Kohli and Kane Williamson: Shoaib Akhtar Also see:

Taiwan based YangMing Marine's forecast for 2018 is bearish

Taiwan's Yang Ming Marine Transport Corporation has released a bearish outlook for 2018 amid slow demand in the worldwide container shipping sector. Yang Ming predicts its bottom line returned to the black at the end of 2017, but added that prospects are not likely to significantly improve until next year. Earnings would depend on market conditions and oil prices and prospects for the sector as a whole remain unclear, said Chairman Bronson Hsieh.

http://www.taipeitimes.com/News/biz/archives/2018/03/01/2003688443

Yang Ming Marine prospects not likely to improve this year HIGHER COSTS: A rising oil price, which is likely to be 20 percent higher than last year, would translate to higher fuel costs, Yang Ming’s Bronson Hsieh said By Ted Chen / Staff reporter Yang Ming Marine Transport Corp (陽明海運) on Monday gave a conservative outlook on its earnings this year amid sluggish demand in the global container shipping sector. While the company expects its bottom line to have returned to the black at the end of last year, prospects are not likely to improve significantly until next year, Yang Ming Marine chairman Bronson Hsieh (謝志堅) said. Prospects remain unclear for the global container shipping sector this year and earnings would depend on market conditions and the oil price, he said. While Alphaliner expects supply growth to continue to outpace demand growth this year at 5.9 percent against 5.1 percent, the sector could outperform the forecast if factors such as capacity disruptions from China’s holiday seasons in May and October are included, Hsieh said, adding that an upward revision of global economic growth could also create demand. In addition to the US and Europe, robust economic growth is expected in central and south America, as well as India, he said. The company is also expecting growth in Southeast Asia as its commitment to the government’s New Southbound Policy begins to bear fruit, with shipping in the region seeing a 15 percent rise to 1.3 million twenty-foot-equivalent units last year. However, a rising oil price, which is expected to be 20 percent higher than last year at between US$60 and US$65 per barrel, would translate into higher fuel costs, he added. Yang Ming Marine has not yet released its results for the final quarter of last year. The company recorded net income of NT$1.26 billion (US$43.1 million) in the third quarter of last year, or earnings per share of NT$0.73, its first profitable quarter since 2013. Cumulative losses stood at NT$82 million at the end of the third quarter, or losses per share of NT$0.05. Separately, SinoPac Securities Investment Service Corp (永豐投顧) is upbeat on the nation’s dry bulk carriers on expectations of higher freight prices next month as post-holiday inventory restocking begins. The Baltic Dry Index — which tracks the costs of transporting dry commodities such as coal, iron ore and grain on 20 shipping routes — last week posted a 4.7 percent rebound to 1,146 points, SinoPac Securities said in a report published on Friday last week. The index could climb as high as 2,000 points this year as fewer new bulk shippers are being added to global capacity, the report said.

Chinese investors caught out as Australian banks cut off cash for property to foreigners

Chinese investors are finding difficulties in paying off their Australian property investments following moves by Australia’s largest banks including National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank and Westpac to limit lending opportunities to foreign investors. With 50,000 Chinese investors worried about financing, many are applying for loans from other Asian banks, particularly in Singapore, to supplement their finances. However most will not get approvals in time, according to Beijing-based property consultant David Wang.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3977466/Australian-banks-cut-loans-thousands-Chinese-property-investors-burned-dodgy-applications.html

Chinese investors are struggling to pay off their Australian property investments after the big banks scaled back lending to foreigners as part of a crackdown on fraudulent loan applications. Australia's big four lenders - National Australia Bank, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and Westpac – tightened lending rules for foreign investors about six months ago, property consultant David Wang told the ABC. Westpac in April stopped lending to borrowers who lived outside Australia while the other banks announced they would apply stricter lending criteria for foreign customers. Mr Wang, a Beijing-based expert, said about 50,000 Chinese investors are now worried about how they will finance their Australian home loans. Chinese investors are clambering to hold onto their Australian property investments after a handful of fraudulent loan applications pushed banks to cut back on foreign lending (stock image) 'Say about 30 per cent of them are able to pay it all upfront, that leaves about 30,000 investors here who are affected — that's quite a large number,' he said. Cai Yiyi bought an apartment at Burwood, in Sydney's inner west, earlier this year, with a $93,000 deposit. 'Seeing I'm not able to pay the remaining $530,000 up front, I could try to find another bank,' she told ABC. 'Otherwise, I could try to on-sell the contract to someone else to at least get the value of my deposit back, but I've heard this is difficult.' Australia's big four banks – NAB, Commonwealth Bank, ANZ and Westpac – decided to reduce the amount they are lending to foreign investors about six months ago (stock image) Mr Wang said many investors are trying to get loans from other Asian banks, especially in Singapore. But he said many of them won't be approved in time.

The future of drones in farming

Data, and the analysis derived from drone flights, is critically important to a farmer. The most common use case of drone derived data and analytics is early weed and disease detection, which protects crop yield and reduces herbicide use. Farmers also look for plant counting analytics, which can increase yield by improving early-season replanting and better predict yields.

https://www.futurefarming.com/Machinery/Articles/2020/5/The-future-of-drones-in-farming-582058E/

American Robotics supplies farmers with a fully-automated drone system. We asked Reese Mozer, CEO of American Robotics, 5 questions about their technology and the future of drones in farming. Data, and the analysis derived from drone flights, is critically important to a farmer. The most common use case of drone derived data and analytics is early weed and disease detection, which protects crop yield and reduces herbicide use. Farmers also look for plant counting analytics, which can increase yield by improving early-season replanting and better predict yields, in the data they are looking for from a drone system. These use cases and others also have a valuable labor savings component as well, as human crop scouting, either by farm staff or a paid agronomist, is potentially reduced. American Robotics Scout System American Robotics’ Scout System, a fully-automated drone system, takes care of the mission planning, flight, charging, data processing, and data analysis, so their customers only need to focus on what to do with that information. Scout was introduced back in 2017. Future Farming asked American Robotics CEO Reese Mozer 5 questions about what the Scout system has to offer and how the company sees the future of drones in farming. Text continues underneath image UAV Scout is ‘parked’ in a closed weatherproof hub or station located in a field. The hub is part of a turn-key package, consisting of an autonomous UAV with visual and multispectral cameras. The hub not only houses the UAV, it also takes care of charging, data processing and data transfer. – Photo: American Robotics You have developed a fully autonomous drone system. How does it work and why is it a viable tool for farmers? “American Robotics has developed the next generation of drone technology: a fully-automated drone system capable of continuous, unattended operation. Once installed, autonomous Scout drones work with automated base stations to capture, process, analyse, and transfer data remotely to users. Each base station charges and houses its drone to prepare for the next flight, while processing and uploading the data collected to ScoutView, American Robotics’ web portal and analytics interface. Over the past five years,we have developed a portfolio of IP that allows our technology to operate continuously and reliably with no humans in the field. Through innovations in robot autonomy, machine vision, edge computing and AI, American Robotics has created an end-to-end solution that allows users to focus on what matters: the data.” The only way drones can find their place on the farm is if the human operator is removed from the loop and data is processed automatically on site “The automation enabled by our Scout systems is the key to finally unlocking drones as a viable tool for farmers. Despite the hype surrounding drones for the past decade, our industry remains caught in a scenario where this technology is neither being used on a regular basis nor in a scalable manner. The only way drones can find their place on the farm is if the human operator is removed from the loop and data is processed automatically on site, allowing farmers to focus their time and their resources on the information this technology produces. To that end, we have developed an end-to-end solution that is optimised specifically for the agriculture industry. Scout systems collect and analyse data in ways not previously possible, unlocking actionable insights in real time at a fraction of the prior cost.” How do you see the future of drones in agriculture? What more applications can we expect in the future? “The future of drones in agriculture is unlocked through one critical step: automation. Farmers do not have the time to be drone pilots, and the only way to cover the United States’ massive expanse of acres in a scalable manner is through automated drones. Once this is achieved, the next generation of precision agriculture is enabled through ultra-high resolution, high frequency data. If we look to the future, where automated drone systems are as common as tractors, we will see increased collaboration between technologies on the farm, further unleashing the benefits of precision agriculture. This will include teaming between automated drones and automated ground equipment, synthesizing aerial image data with ground sensors and weather data, developing a collaborative set of AI that will eventually mimic and improve upon the daily tasks of the farm.” Text continues underneath image Reese Mozer, CEO of American Robotics: “If we look to the future, where automated drone systems are as common as tractors, we will see increased collaboration between technologies on the farm, further unleashing the benefits of precision agriculture.” – Photo: American Robotics Why should you prefer drones over – for instance – satellites, or sensors on sprayers and/or in-field sensors? “The agriculture industry has been attempting to collect data from the air for the last 50 years through a number of different technologies. This includes satellites, manned aircraft, and more recently manually operated drones. The issue, however, has been that each of these technologies has one or more shortcomings that have prohibited them from fulfilling the promise of valuable, actionable, and scalable data collection.” Imaging a farm a handful of times per season has little-to-no value “When looking at the equation of what it takes to make aerial data valuable, actionable, and scalable, you arrive at a set of performance characteristics: image resolution, collection frequency, data accuracy, and cost per acre of acquisition. Why are these important? Because imaging a farm a handful of times per season has little-to-no value, and collecting data at low resolution may provide a general sense of overall health, but does little to actually diagnose the cause of those problems nor do so early enough to take corrective actions.” “Though manually operated drones initially appeared promising, they fall prohibitively short on cost per acre of acquisition, and thus the ability to capture that data at any reasonable frequency or scale.” “To solve this problem, there is only one solution that can check all of these boxes and unlock the next generation of data-based farming that this industry has been working towards for decades: fully-automated drones. With our Scout system, the most expensive aspects of operating drones have been eliminated, allowing for sub-cm flights to occur multiple times per day, every day of the year. And because of these performance capabilities, we are able to provide actionable data in real-time with zero effort from the farmer.” How can a farmer truly add value to his operation using drones? “The use cases enabled by our Scout system vary between crop type and customer type. At a high level, each use case is about finding problems early and precisely, so a farmer can save money on inputs, labor, and yield. Once installed in a farm, a Scout system will give a continuous and accurate picture of the health of each plant in each field on a daily basis. This information is then analysed within ScoutView to alert farmers when and where things are changing, how fast those changes are occuring, and help diagnose what might be causing this variation or stress. Examples of value enabled by the Scout system include early weed detection, early pest detection, early disease detection, drought stress detection, irrigation management and optimisation, early season replanting management, pesticide efficacy studies, and harvest planning.” When does it make sense financially for a farmer to invest in drone technology, and once he does, how does he get the most out of it? “With previous drone technologies, a farmer is likely to spend more time and money flying it then extracting any value. As a result, there are few if any cases where manually operated drones make financial sense. In contrast, our fully-automated Scout system eliminates the most costly aspects of operating drones, while at the same time delivering the highest performance at the lowest possible cost. Included with each Scout system is a proprietary analytics software package that goes beyond pretty pictures and produces actionable insights at sub-cm resolutions. If a farmer’s operation has weeds, diseases, pests, drought, or other stressors that go undetected before affecting yield, or if a farmer is looking to adopt and expand their precision agriculture techniques, an our Scout system will improve the bottom line.”

Florida Senate passes bill legalising self-driving cars

Florida's state senate has unanimously passed a bill to authorise human-free, self-driving cars. The legislation, which will now be passed to Governor Ron DeSantis for approval, would lay the foundations for ride-hailing companies like Uber and Lyft to deploy driverless vehicles, and includes insurance criteria for the service. The bill is an update of current Florida regulations, which allow self-driving cars as long as a human is sitting in the driver's seat to take over if necessary. Republican state congressman Jason Fischer, who sponsored the bill's introduction, stated his aim is to make Florida a hub for the new technology.

https://miami.cbslocal.com/2019/05/02/new-bill-could-put-self-driving-vehicles-on-florida-streets-soon/

TALLAHASSEE (CBSMiami/AP) — A bill on its way to Governor Ron DeSantis comes with the possibility of human-less self-driving cars hitting the Sunshine State's streets in the near future. The Senate unanimously passed the bill with no debate on Wednesday, a move that could pave the way for companies like Uber and Lyft to deploy fleets of driverless vehicles. The measure also sets up insurance parameters for on-demand ride companies that use self-driving cars. The House unanimously passed the measure last week. The measure updates current law that allows self-driving vehicles if a person is in the car as a backup. House sponsor Rep. Jason Fischer has said he wants Florida to be a leader in allowing the new technology on state roadways. (© Copyright 2018 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

The Queen heads for Parliament to unveil Boris Johnson's plans

In a statement released alongside the speech, Mr Johnson said:  'This Queen's speech delivers on my promise as prime minister to get this amazing country of ours moving again.At the same time ministers are preparing to rush through a Bill to ratify any Brexit deal Mr Johnson is able to agree this week in Brussels in time for Britain to leave on the EU on October 31.The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill will put a legal obligation on restaurateurs to 'pass on all trips, gratuities and services charges to workers without deductions'Despite the pomp and pageantry around the Queen's Speech, it is likely to be voted down in the coming days as Boris Johnson is more than 40 votes short of a House of Commons majority.

https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-7570599/The-Queen-heads-Parliament-unveil-Boris-Johnsons-plans.html

Advertisement brexit countdown_bg Created with Sketch. Boris Johnson renewed his 'do or die' vow to get Brexit done by Halloween today as the Queen unveiled his plans. Amid great pomp and ceremony, the monarch delivered the government's new legislative package making clear that its 'priority has always been to secure the UK's departure from the EU on October 31'. Opening Parliament, the Queen said the government was determined to seize the 'opportunities' of cutting ties with the bloc. The commitment comes despite fears that Brexit talks are deadlocked in Brussels again, although the Irish deputy PM insisted this morning that a deal is still 'possible'. Remainer MPs have already passed a law ordering the PM to seek a delay if no agreement with Brussels is reached this week. The Queen's Speech proposals included tougher sentences for foreign criminals and child abusers, as well as a crackdown on illegal immigrants. In a waypointer for the UK's post-Brexit future, the speech confirmed plans to introduce a Australian-style points-based immigration system. And it focused on proposals to boost the NHS with more funding, as well as underlining the government's environmental credentials. The government will consult on a 2 per cent council tax charge to raise more money for adult social care, as announced at the Spending Review last month. In a statement accompanying the speech, Mr Johnson insisted he would 'get this amazing country of ours moving again'. 'People are tired of stasis, gridlock and waiting for change... and they don't want to wait any longer to get Brexit done.' However, critics have pointed out that none of the Bills being put forward are actually likely to become law, given the government is around 40 votes short of a majority and an election is looming potentially within weeks. Labour has accused the PM of making the monarch read out a Tory 'party political broadcast' and branded the whole event a 'farce'. Opening Parliament, the Queen said the government was determined to seize the 'opportunities' of cutting ties with the EU Queen Elizabeth II rides with Britain's Prince Charles in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach on the Mall in London this morning Yeomen of the Guard pass through the Peers' Lobby to attend the State Opening of Parliament today Jacob Rees-Mogg (left) looked to be enjoying himself ahead of the ceremony. Speaker John Bercow (right) was in his ceremonial gown for the event today Britain's Prime Minister Boris Johnson and Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn walk through the Peers Lobby this morning The Imperial State Crown is carried on a cushion at the State Opening of Parliament in Westminster this morning There has not been a state opening - one of the great ceremonies of the Westminster calendar - since June 2017. The proposed bills at a glance The Queen's Speech set out 26 separate Bills, as well as other legislative action and measures. 1. Immigration & Social Coordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill: Will end freedom of movement and introduce a points-based immigration system. The new system is due to be in place from 2021 and is also expected to include measures to encourage migrants to live in areas outside of London when they come to the UK. It is hoped that this proposal would help to balance out the UK economy and to counter the so-called 'brain drain' of highly-skilled workers moving to the capital. 2-8. Sentencing Bill; Foreign National Offenders Bill; Sentencing (Pre-Consolidated Amendments) Bill; Prisoners (Disclosure of Information About Victims) Bill; Serious Violence Bill; Police Protections Bill; Extradition (Provisional Arrest) Bill: The government is planning to change sentencing rules so that criminals convicted of serious offences are forced to serve longer prison sentences. At the moment many of the worst criminals are eligible to be released after serving half of their sentence. Ministers want to extend the amount of time people found guilty of the most serious violent and sexual offences will have to serve before they are able to be let out. There will also be a crackdown on foreign offenders who breach deportation orders. Meanwhile, parole rules are being tightened to take into account whether a murderer has previously withheld information about their victims. 9. NHS Health Investigations Bill: To create a new independent body with legal powers to ensure patient safety. 10. Pension Schemes Bill: Beefing up pensions regulator's powers, with criminal sanctions against people who 'recklessly' put funds at risk The most serious abuses would be liable to a seven-year prison sentence and a civil fine of £1million. 11. Domestic Abuse Bill: Legislation to stop abusers from being able to cross-examine victims, and define domestic abuse in law. The Bill fell in the previous session due to the illegal prorogation of Parliament. 12. 'Fair Tips' Bill: Would create a legal obligation on employers to pass on tips to workers in full and on a 'transparent' basis - a proposal first made when David Cameron was PM in 2016. 13. Divorce, Dissolution and Separation Bill - remove the need to demonstrate blame for quick divorces. 14. Animal Welfare (Sentencing) Bill - increases maximum sentence for animal cruelty offences from six months to five years. Confirms in law that animals are 'sentient beings'. 15. Environment Bill: To bring in a legally-binding target to reduce plastic waste and to ensure cleaner air. It is also due to contain measures to clean up Britain's air, cut pollution and restore the nation's biodiversity. 16. European Union (Withdrawal Agreement) Bill: A vehicle for the as-yet incomplete deal with the EU. 17-19. Agriculture Bill, Fisheries Bill, Trade Bill: Legislation to pave the way for the UK's departure from the EU. 20. Telecommunications Infrastructure (Leasehold Property) Bill: Speeding up the rollout of superfast broadband. 21. Air Traffic Management and Unmanned Aircraft Bill: Measures to crack down on drones. 22. Medicines and Medical Devices Bill: Law to 'make it simpler for NHS hospitals to manufacture and trial the most innovative medicines and diagnostic devices'. 23. Historical Institutional Abuse (Northern Ireland) Bill: Compensating victims of historical abuse at children's homes, and creating a commissioner. 24. Windrush Compensation Scheme (Expenditure) Bill 26. High Speed Rail 2 (West Midlands – Crewe) Bill 26. Birmingham Commonwealth Games Bill Other measures not in Bills: Electoral Integrity: The government is bringing forward measures introducing a legal requirement for voters to show photographic identification before they are allowed to vote in an election. It will also crack down on the proxy voting by reducing the number of relatives who are allowed to vote on somebody's behalf. Railway reform: A white paper to set out proposals to overhaul the current franchising system and create a new commercial model Building safety standards: The establishment of a new regulator with powers to impose criminal sanctions for breaches of building regulations Railway reform - a white paper setting out proposals to overhaul the current system of franchising and creating a new commercial model. Social care: No legislation, but restating pledge to consult on a 2 per cent council tax charge to raise an extra £500million for local authorities Mental health reform: Reduce detentions under the Mental Health Act by ensuring more people get the treatment they need Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 - -> Parliament has just ended the longest session in modern history as wrangling over Brexit continued to dominate proceedings. Mr Johnson also had one attempt to prorogue the Houses struck down by the Supreme Court after they ruled he had given illegal advice to the Queen. However, the second bid proceeded without a problem. The Queen did not wear her Imperial Crown today in a break with tradition on a day that presents a glorious display of British pomp and circumstance. The 93-year-old monarch wore her full dress and regalia, including cloak - making it the first time she has worn the full outfit but not the crown. She instead wore the lighter George IV diadem, which dates back to 1821. She was accompanied by Prince Charles, as the Duke of Edinburgh has retired from official duties. The monarch said: 'My government's priority has always been top secure the UK's departure from the Eu on October 31. 'My Government intends to work towards a new partnership with the EU, based on free trade and friendly cooperation.' As is traditional, the Queen's representative, Black Rod had the doors of the Commons chamber slammed in her face, before being admitted to summon MPs to the Upper House. Labour veteran Dennis Skinner gave his usual abrasive comment, telling the official: 'I'm not going.' The politicians then filed through to the lavish Lords chamber, where the Queen delivers the address. Mr Johnson made an awkward attempt to start up conversation with Jeremy Corbyn as they walked side-by-side, but the Labour leader seemed to blank him. Mr Johnson's partner Carrie Symonds and father Stanley were on hand to watch the grand reopening of Parliament. In a statement released alongside the speech, Mr Johnson said: 'This Queen's speech delivers on my promise as prime minister to get this amazing country of ours moving again. 'People are tired of stasis, gridlock and waiting for change. They don't want to wait for improvements in their hospitals. They don't want to wait for their streets to be made safer. They don't want to wait for their schools to have the funding they need to give their children the superb education they deserve. 'And they don't want to wait any longer to get Brexit done and to answer that clarion call of 17.4million people in the greatest exercise of democracy in our national history.' In total there were 26 Bills listed - with seven relating to crime and justice. Measures outlined in the speech include strengthening environmental protections, improving the NHS, and raising living standards through increasing the national living wage to £10.50 an hour. On adult social care, the Government has pledged to 'bring forward proposals' for reform, but the lack of a specific Bill dealing with the situation is likely to draw fire from the opposition. A consultation was announced at the Spending Review last month for a 2 per cent precept on council tax, which would raise around £500million to help local authorities meet 'rising demand'. A Pensions Schemes Bill will beef up the regulator's powers, with criminal sanctions against people who 'recklessly' put funds at risk. The most serious abuses would be liable to a seven-year prison sentence and a civil fine of £1million. A 'Fair Tips' Bill would create a legal obligation on employers to pass on tips to workers in full and on a 'transparent' basis - a proposal first made when David Cameron was PM in 2016. At the same time ministers are preparing to rush through a Bill to ratify any Brexit deal Mr Johnson is able to agree this week in Brussels in time for Britain to leave on the EU on October 31. But crime and punishment was at the heart of the speech, spelling out that prison terms for those who sneak back into the UK in breach of deportation orders will be lengthened from weeks to years. And the worst offenders would no longer be freed halfway through their sentences. Rapists and killers would instead serve at least two thirds of their time. Another law would see murderers who refuse to reveal where they buried their victims spending longer behind bars. The proposed legislation will extend to paedophiles who stay silent about their victims. This follows anger over the release of depraved nursery worker Vanessa George after just a decade inside. The Queen said: 'New sentencing laws will see that the most serious offenders spend longer in custody to reflect better the severity of their crimes.' Home Secretary Priti Patel said: 'Deterring foreign criminals from re-entering the country and putting those that do behind bars for longer will make our country safer.' The Queen waited patiently in the Lords chamber for MPs to trail in from the House of Commons for her speech today The monarch was assisted by Prince Charles as she carried out her constitutional duties at Parliament today The Queen's ceremonial train was draped over the stairs as she sat in the throne to deliver her speech today Speaker John Bercow chatted to Black Rod Sarah Clarke - the first woman to hold the role - as they walked to the Lords What happens next in the Brexit crisis? Here is how the coming weeks could pan out: Today: Parliament returns for the Queen's Speech. Negotiations continue in Brussels. Wednesday: The final deadline for having an agreement place for sign-off by EU leaders. Thursday-Friday: A crunch EU summit in Brussels. Any deal could be signed off by leaders here. If the talks have broken down, expect Boris Johnson to either boycott the event, or stage a dramatic walkout. Saturday: Parliament will sit on Saturday for the first time since the Falklands War. If there is no Brexit deal by this date Remainer legislation obliges the PM to beg the EU for an extension to avoid No Deal. Mr Johnson is likely to force a vote to make MPs 'own' any delay, having said he would rather 'die in a ditch' than accept one. If there is a deal in place, there will be a make-or-break vote on whether to back it. If passed by the Commons, the government will start rushing legislation through Parliament immediately. Monday: Jeremy Corbyn has said that he will let Mr Johnson trigger an election after an extension has been secured. This would probably be the first day when a motion can be brought to a vote under the Fixed Term Parliaments Act, or a confidence vote can be held. October 31: The current deadline for the UK to leave the EU, which Mr Johnson has described as 'do or die'. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_2 - -> Around 400 criminals are estimated to breach deportation orders each year. Those who are caught face a maximum of six months in jail but typically serve just ten weeks. Ministers have decided the tougher sentences should stretch to years, but have not yet agreed a tariff. They say the legislation will also disrupt the activities of networks that facilitate the illegal return of offenders. In August it was revealed that an Albanian double murderer was twice allowed to sneak into Britain and live here for 13 years. Gentian Doda, a member of a notorious crime syndicate, was granted a British passport under a false name while on the run for the killings, which included gunning down an innocent young father with a Kalashnikov. A separate measure in the Queen's Speech aims to ensure paedophiles who fail to reveal the identity of their victims will stay in prison for longer. The proposal to penalise criminals who stay silent comes under 'Helen's Law' after Helen McCourt, a 22-year-old insurance clerk murdered in 1988 by pub landlord Ian Simms. He has always refused to reveal the location of her body. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland wants to extend this legislation to cover sexual abusers after public outrage over the case of George, 49. Despite refusing to say which toddlers she had molested in the nursery where she worked in Plymouth she was released after just ten years in jail. Domestic violence will also be tackled under the legislative proposals. More than 732,000 such offences were recorded by police in the year to March – a 22 per cent annual increase. Ministers could put 2% on council tax to ease social care crisis The government has pledged to ease the social care crisis by introducing a 2 per cent council tax charge. A consultation on the move - which would raise around £500million to help local authorities meet 'rising demand' - was first announced at the Spending Review last month. In her speech today, the Queen said ministers will 'bring forward proposals' for reform. But the lack of a specific Bill dealing with the situation is likely to draw fire from the opposition. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_3 - -> A Domestic Abuse Bill was brought to Parliament in July by Theresa May but it was automatically dropped when Parliament was suspended and ministers have now kept a promise to reintroduce it. The government is bringing forward an Electoral integrity Bill which will introduce a legal requirement for voters to show photographic identification before they are allowed to vote in an election. It will also crack down on the proxy voting by reducing the number of relatives who are allowed to vote on somebody's behalf. The pledge is has prompted Labour anger, with the party ardently against the introduction of voter ID because it believes it will disenfranchise large groups of people. Labour former leader Ed Miliband accused the Government of trying to restrict access to voting with proposals on the use of photo ID. Mr Johnson's partner Carrie Symonds (left) and father Stanley took their places in the Lords gallery to watch the event The scene in the House of Lords ahead of the State Opening of Parliament by Queen Elizabeth II in Westminster today Baroness Mone was among the peers in the House to hear the monarch's speech today amid high security (right) The Queen wears the George IV diadem as she sits next to the Imperial State Crown which is placed on a cushion today Queen Elizabeth II sits with Prince Charles on the Sovereign's throne in the House of Lords ahead the Queen's Speech today The Queen left Buckingham Palace this morning on the short drive to Parliament in her Diamond Jubilee State Coach, accompanied by the Prince of Wales. He Tweeted: 'Photo ID to vote without any evidence of a problem such an obvious US voter suppression move...plus in small print of briefing document making people re-apply for postal votes every three years....more bureaucracy to disenfranchise more people, particularly older voters.' Queen wears lighter crown for ceremony The Queen was back in royal robes and a glittering gown for the State Opening of Parliament today. In 2017, the monarch wore a day dress and blue hat with yellow flowers which sparked comparisons to the European flag, and arrived by car. The pomp was scaled back two years ago because the ceremony, after which the Queen dashed off to Royal Ascot, fell too close to Trooping the Colour. For 2019, the monarch, who this time travelled in a carriage procession in the Diamond Jubilee State Coach with the Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall, returned wearing most of her regalia. But the 93-year-old head of state wore the George IV Diadem throughout, rather than switching into the heavy Imperial State Crown. The Imperial State Crown, made of more than 3,000 gemstones and weighing two pounds and 13 ounces, was instead carried through the House of Lords on a red and gold cushion and placed on a table alongside the Queen for the duration of her speech. It is not the first time the Queen has not worn the Imperial State Crown during a full ceremonial State Opening of Parliament. She was without it in 1952, as the first State Opening of her reign fell before her 1953 coronation. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_4 - -> Mr Johnson is promising to ensure all tips are paid to waiting staff following an outcry that some major restaurant chains - such as Giraffe and Prezzo - were keeping as much as 10 per cent of tips paid by card. The Employment (Allocation of Tips) Bill will put a legal obligation on restaurateurs to 'pass on all trips, gratuities and services charges to workers without deductions' Despite the pomp and pageantry around the Queen's Speech, it is likely to be voted down in the coming days as Boris Johnson is more than 40 votes short of a House of Commons majority. Instead, the proposals will form the backbone of the Conservatives' manifesto for an election expected in weeks. Labour's Shadow Home Secretary Diane Abbott said: 'It is hypocritical for the Tories to set out these plans when they were the ones who imposed cuts and let crime soar in the first place. Everything was cut, from schools, to the NHS, to the police, to mental health services. They all had terrible consequences. 'This Queen's Speech is farcical. It is just an uncosted wish list which the Government has no intention and no means to deliver, and nothing more than a pre-election party political broadcast. 'We always argued that cuts have consequences.' SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford tweeted: 'The Queen's Speech was an election broadcast for the Tory Party more than anything else. 'A speech heavy on law & order from a Prime Minister willing to break the law.' Liberal Democrat leader Jo Swinson said: 'This Queen's Speech is a charade.' The Band of the Coldstream Guards march past Buckingham Palace ahead of the State Opening of Parliament today Military bands perform along The Mall ahead of the State Opening of Parliament at the Palace of Westminster today The state opening is one of the great events of pomp and ceremony in the United Kingdom's political calendar Yeomen of the Guard were decked out ready for their big day at Westminster ahead of the Queen's Speech today Lady Usher of the Black Rod Sarah Clarke (right) prepares to take part in the State Opening of Parliament this morning Boris Johnson had his flu jab in No10 today before heading to the Houses of Parliament for the Queen's Speech Boris Johnson to outline plan to end freedom of movement of EU citizens to the UK 'once and for all' One of the key planks of the Prime Minister's first ever Queen's Speech would see the UK's immigration strategy dramatically overhauled. Ending freedom of movement is at the heart of the Immigration and Social Co-ordination (EU Withdrawal) Bill which would see an Australian points-based style system implemented. The new system is due to be in place from 2021 and is also expected to include measures to encourage migrants to live in areas outside of London when they come to the UK. It is hoped that this proposal would help to balance out the UK economy and to counter the so-called 'brain drain' of highly-skilled workers moving to the capital. The proposals have long been trailed by the government and Priti Patel, the Home Secretary, confirmed the direction of travel in her Conservative Party conference speech earlier this month. She told Tory activists at the time: 'As Home Secretary at this defining moment in our country's history, I have a particular responsibility when it comes to taking back control. 'It is to end the free movement of people once and for all. Instead we will introduce an Australian style points-based immigration system. One that works in the best interests of Britain.' Government plans to get tougher on throw-away plastics Theresa May worked hard to try to re-position the Tories as the party of the environment and Mr Johnson is expected to continue that push in today's Queen's Speech. The government is bringing forward an Environment Bill which will introduce a legally-binding target designed to reduce plastic waste. It is also due to contain measures to clean up Britain's air, cut pollution and restore the nation's biodiversity. Crackdown on crime the centrepiece of Boris Johnson's Queen's Speech The PM's first Queen's Speech is heavy on proposals designed to toughen up the criminal justice system. The government is planning to change sentencing rules so that criminals convicted of serious offences are forced to serve longer prison sentences. At the moment many of the worst criminals are eligible to be released after serving half of their sentence. Ministers want to extend the amount of time people found guilty of the most serious violent and sexual offences will have to serve before they are able to be let out. There will also be a crackdown on foreign offenders who breach deportation orders. Meanwhile, parole rules are likely to be tightened to take into account whether a murderer has previously withheld information about their victims. Major overhaul of railway franchise system to improve train reliability and performance The Department for Transport launched the Williams Review back in September 2018 to examine the current make up of the UK's railway system. The Queen's Speech commited the government to bringing forward a white paper based on the findings of that review. It is thought that it will pledge to scrap the current franchising model in favour of a system which is underpinned by more of a focus on performance and reliability. The government hopes that building in performance-related incentives and penalties into the system will help improve the UK's creaking railway network. Government proposes new building regulator in bid to prevent repeat of Grenfell Tower fire The government is proposing to introduce of tougher building safety standards in the Queen's Speech. There is also set to be a new regulator to enforce them in order to prevent a repeat of the devastating Grenfell Tower fire. The new regulator is likely to have powers to impose criminal sanctions on companies found to be in breach of building regulations. Boris Johnson to promise to improve patient safety in the NHS The Queen's Speech included an NHS Health Investigations Bill which will create a new independent body with legal powers to ensure patient safety. The independent health service safety investigations body would have scope to act not just in the NHS but also in social care providers. The PM is also due to continue his predecessor's drive to improve mental health care with successive government's having been accused of not acting fast enough to tackle the issue. The mental health reform is likely to pledge to reduce detentions under the Mental Health Act by making sure that people get the treatment they need. Tories to pledge to make UK voting system watertight The government is bringing forward an Electoral integrity Bill which will introduce a legal requirement for voters to show photographic identification before they are allowed to vote in an election. It is also expected to contain a crackdown on the proxy voting by reducing the number of relatives who are allowed to vote on somebody's behalf. The pledge is has prompted Labour anger, with the party ardently against the introduction of voter ID because it believes it will disenfranchise large groups of people. Cat Smith, Labour's shadow minister for voter engagement, said it amounted to a 'blatant attempt by the Tories to rig the result of the next general election'. Ireland insists a Brexit deal IS still possible as Dublin's deputy PM arrives in Luxembourg for talks - despite fears negotiations will collapse over customs partnership amid Tory fury at EU demands Dublin today injected fresh optimism into ongoing Brexit talks as Simon Coveney said a divorce deal could still be agreed before a crunch EU summit on Thursday. The Irish deputy PM sounded a positive note as he told reporters this morning he believed 'a deal is possible' and that an accord 'may even be possible this week'. However, he also warned that 'we're not there yet' as time runs out ahead of a meeting of European leaders in Brussels at the end of the week. Despite Mr Coveney's optimism of a way forward being agreed, the path to an accord remains fraught with difficulty as Tory anger at the EU's chief Brexit negotiator Michel Barnier continues to grow after he demanded more concessions. Mr Barnier wants Downing Street to move even further towards the bloc's negotiating position despite mounting fears that a watered down deal will never go through Parliament. Despite Boris Johnson having already given ground on democratic mechanisms in Northern Ireland, Mr Barnier emerged from a weekend of frantic talks to insist the UK's blueprint is still not acceptable. The two teams had locked themselves away in the EU Commission's headquarters to hammer out a compromise in time for the start of Thursday's summit - the last scheduled meeting before the Brexit deadline of October 31. Hopes of a breakthrough rose after Mr Johnson and Irish premier Leo Varadkar declared they could see the 'pathway to a deal' last week. But Mr Barnier, who is viewed by many as the biggest roadblock to a settlement, said there had not been 'as much progress' as anticipated during a briefing last night. He said Britain had failed to satisfy the EU's concerns on customs checks, which has dogged talks surrounding the replacement of the backstop - a mechanism to prevent a hard border in Ireland. Both sides have said they want a deal but the government is still adamant the UK will leave the EU with or without an agreement on October 31 despite the fact there is now an anti-No Deal in place which will force the PM to ask Brussels for an extension. Jacob Rees-Mogg last night suggested the government is pinning its hopes of having the option of a No Deal Brexit on the EU simply rejecting any request for a delay. Michel Barnier, pictured alongside Simon Coveney in Brussels on October 8, told ambassadors that Britain's Irish backstop alternative is still not acceptable French President Emmanuel Macron welcomed German Chancellor Angela Merkel for a meeting at the Elysee Palace yesterday. She told reporters the UK would be the EU's competitor after Brexit Details of the compromise plan put forward by Boris Johnson last week are yet to be confirmed but it is thought the proposed way forward is based on a 'customs partnership' between Britain and the EU The Commons Leader told the BBC: 'Theresa May got an extension not through UK law but through EU law and, until the 1972 European Communities Act is repealed, EU law is superior law in the UK. 'And the Remainiacs all know that, because they know that it takes two to tango and any extension has to be agreed by the council.' What are the sticking points in the Brexit talks? Last week Boris Johnson and Leo Varadkar came up with the principles of a new blueprint that brought Brexit talks back from the dead. However, while both sides are now entertaining that a deal could be possible, significant sticking points remain. Customs checks: Mr Johnson's proposed way forward is thought to involve Northern Ireland leaving the EU's customs union along with the rest of the UK. However, the bloc's tariffs would be collected on goods heading to the province from mainland Britain in a so-called 'customs partnership' so that they are all EU compliant when they arrive on the island of Ireland. If those goods then stayed in Northern Ireland - and within the UK - then the business receiving them would be eligible for a rebate on the EU tariff charged. The EU is concerned about the complexity of the plan, the potential for smuggling, and whether technology exists to implement it. Northern Irish Consent: The two sides are also thought to have come up with a democratic consent mechanism for Northern Ireland to give the assembly a say on what should happen with border arrangements in the future. However, they have hit problems on the technical feasibility of the proposals amid concerns that the offer made by the UK would effectively give the DUP a veto. A compromise is believed to be in the works but it is currently unclear exactly what it is. Fears PM's plan is basically the same as one considered by Theresa May: The customs partnership model which Mr Johnson is believed to have offered the EU is broadly based on proposals previously explored by Mrs May. Those proposals were dismissed at the time as being too difficult to implement. There are also concerns that they will effectively mean Northern Ireland being treated differently to the rest of the UK - a red line for the DUP and hardline Brexiteers. Advertisement !- - ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/ru/news/none/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_5 - -> EU diplomats have been briefing that the 'clock is ticking' - although it is now expected that talks will be allowed to continue up to the eve of the summit, rather than being halted tomorrow as was initially planned. Former Cabinet minister Owen Paterson was among those who vented anger at what they view as the obstructive attitude from Brussels. 'They keep chiselling for more concessions that dilute what appears to be a very generous offer for RE them. The point comes when you have to say enough is enough,' he told the Daily Telegraph. A current Cabinet minister warned: 'What the EU needs to understand is all their very clever negotiating tactics don't mean anything if you can't get it through the House of Commons.' Steve Baker, head of the Tory Eurosceptic ERG group, said Remainer MPs had encouraged EU intransigence by passing legislation demanding a Brexit extension. 'The right way to deal with such hard negotiators is good faith, clarity of purpose, ferocious reasonableness, absolute resolve and indefatigable courage,' he said. 'So it's a pity failing MPs without these characteristics passed the Surrender Act.' DUP deputy leader Nigel Dodds also voiced doubts over the weekend, suggesting a dual status arrangement would not work and Northern Ireland must stay fully within the UK customs union. Mr Coveney tried to restore some optimism this morning as he said he still believes a deal can be done this week. 'A deal is possible and it's possible this month,' he told reporters as he arrived for talks with EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg this morning. 'It may even be possible this week, but we're not there yet. 'As Michel Barnier said yesterday, there's still a lot of work to be done so I hope that we can make more progress today.' He added: 'On Brexit the less we say now the better.' Meanwhile, German Chancellor Angela Merkel warned that the UK is about to become a 'competitor' after holding talks with Emmanuel Macron over dinner last night. Her comments represent a major shift in tone and suggest that European leaders are now beginning to accept that Brexit will usher in a new geo-political dynamic between Britain and the bloc. Mr Barnier stopped short of calling off the talks, which will continue today and tomorrow. But his bleak assessment dampened hopes of an imminent breakthrough, which is needed if Britain is to leave the EU on October 31 as Mr Johnson repeatedly promises. One senior EU diplomat said: 'It's a kind of Groundhog Day that continues tomorrow on customs.' Another added: 'It'll be difficult to have a legal text ready for the summit, but still not impossible if there's some movement.' A third diplomat said: 'There's momentum but probably not enough time. Negotiations are, as expected, not easy. But they are moving forward.' EU officials had already privately said there was little chance of reaching a deal in time. Mr Johnson's plan involves creating two customs areas on the island of Ireland, which one senior EU source close to the negotiations described as 'mind-bogglingly' complex. They added: 'This requires careful legal work you can't do hastily. That makes it all very tricky.' The plan would see Northern Ireland being subject to EU customs tariffs as goods cross the Irish Sea from mainland Britain. But Northern Irish businesses would claim back rebates, meaning it would de facto remain within UK customs jurisdiction. A meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg today had been targeted as the moment at which details of a final divorce deal could be made public. Mr Macron, pictured meeting the incoming president of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen in Paris this morning, is believed to be opposed to a lengthy Brexit delay Under the terms of the so-called Benn Act, Mr Johnson must accept whatever extension is offered by the EU if there is no agreement before the Halloween deadline. Any new legal text will have to be translated into all of the bloc's languages and subjected to scrutiny by its legal services. The EU Parliament must then pass it, where it would have to go through committee hearings before facing a full vote. One EU source said it was 'really unlikely' all these processes could take place by the end of the month. UK Government spokesman said there had been 'constructive discussions' but that there is still 'a significant amount of work to be done'.

Foresight spends $28m on 231 MW Swedish wind farm

UK investment manager Foresight has bought the 231 MW Skaftasen wind farm in Sweden from Arise for more than €25m ($27.8m). Arise is currently building the farm and after the sale will provide management services. The deal involved shares in Skaftasen Vindkraft, which holds the project rights, being sold to Foresight’s Swedish fund FW Skaftasen BidCo. The agreement also includes a production-based earn-out scheme which could be up to €4.5m.

https://renewablesnow.com/news/foresight-buys-231-mw-swedish-wind-project-from-arise-680005/

Arise AB (STO:ARISE) has signed a deal to sell its 231-MW Skaftasen wind farm project in Sweden to funds managed by UK investment manager Foresight Group LLP for over EUR 25 million (USD 27.8m). The Swedish onshore wind farm developer unveiled the deal on Wednesday, saying this is its largest project sale to date. Under its terms, it will get a fixed amount of EUR 19.1 million plus an additional EUR 6.4 million in variable consideration that will be allocated after the project’s construction is over. The transaction, which was completed on the day of the announcement, involved the sale of shares in Skaftasen Vindkraft AB, the company which holds the rights to the wind project, to Foresight-controlled FW Skaftasen BidCo AB. The deal also includes an additional production-based earn-out scheme of up to EUR 4.5 million. According to Arise’s estimates, it will have a positive impact on its earnings of around SEK 210 million (USD 22.4m/EUR 20.1m) in total in the three years between 2019 and 2021, with SEK 140 million to be booked in the last quarter of 2019. The variable part of the purchase amount depends on how the project’s construction will proceed versus plan and budget. Arise will manage the wind farm’s construction, which has already been initiated, and will provide asset management services following commissioning. The power plant will be equipped with 35 Siemens Gamesa turbines of 6.6 MW each, planned to go live in late 2021. The acquisition is Foresight Group’s first greenfield onshore wind investment in Sweden. (EUR 1.0 = USD 1.114) (SEK 1.0 = USD 0.107/EUR 0.096) Choose your newsletter by Renewables Now. Join for free!

Court orders Deutsche Bank to pay investors damages-INSIDE Korea JoongAng Daily

The Seoul Central District Court has ordered Deutsche Bank to pay KRW8.55m ($7.28m) to six plaintiffs who invested in local equity-linked securities (ELS) products in 2007. The plaintiffs invested in Korea Investment & Securities' ELS products based on the shares of KB Kookmin Bank and Samsung. Deutsche Bank (contracted by Korea Investment to hedge the products), decreased KB Kookmin's prices by offloading its shares when the market closed on the expiry day in August 2009. The plaintiffs claimed they suffered a loss of around 25% from their investment.

http://koreajoongangdaily.joins.com/news/article/Article.aspx?aid=3028957

Court orders Deutsche Bank to pay investors damages A lower court ordered Deutsche Bank on Friday to compensate investors for damage it caused by manipulating stock prices, in the nation’s first-ever ruling on a securities-related class-action suit.The Seoul Central District Court ordered the Germany-based financial services company to pay a total of 8.55 billion won ($7.28 million) to six plaintiffs who invested in local equity-linked securities products in 2007.An ELS is structured to link yields to the performance of underlying assets, such as individual stocks. The instrument does not guarantee principal but promises relatively high yields.The plaintiffs invested in Korea Investment & Securities’ ELS products based on shares of KB Kookmin Bank and Samsung Electronics in 2007. Deutsche Bank, which Korea Investment contracted with to hedge the products, lowered KB Kookmin’s stock prices by unloading its shares just before the market closed on the expiry day in August 2009. The plaintiffs claimed they suffered an around 25 percent loss from their investment.The ruling marked the first case made under the Securities-Related Class Action Act since the law took effect in 2005. YONHAP

Agencies using own technology see better performance than in-house

Almost half of ad agencies said they improved performance by using their own technology, says research by ExchangeWire and Iponweb. Their report said 49% of agencies used their own technology, 34% combined theirs with third-party technology and 17% said they only used third-party providers. The report said 63% of agencies using their own technology reported better data activation, creative optimisation, audience segmentation and campaign data while just 33% of those using someone else’s technology said the same. Of those who did not rely exclusively on their own technology, 71% said set-up costs were a deterrent while 67% cited maintenance costs.

https://mobilemarketingmagazine.com/in-house-programmatic-ad-media-buying-exchangewire-iponweb

49 per cent of advertising agencies conduct their programmatic media buying with their own technology, achieving better performance than their non-in-house counterparts. According to research from ExchangeWire and Iponweb, 34 per cent of ad agencies combine their own technology with third-party tech and 17 per cent only rely on third-party offerings. The survey of 129 professionals working in programmatic media across APAC, EMEA, and North America found that agencies using their own technology exclusively rated their performance more highly in data activation, creative optimisation, audience segmentation, campaign measurement and analytics, and measuring incremental impact of media buys. The research also found that 63 per cent of agencies exclusively using their own programmatic media buying tech report improvements in their abilities to build relationships with publishers, while only 33 per cent of those not only using their own tech feel the same. “Agencies that own and therefore control their own technology stack have the competitive edge thanks to better performance across a range of programmatic touch points. Owning technology also gives an agency better visibility of clients’ campaigns, enabling them to drive up ROI,” said Brian Fitzpatrick, general manager of demand solutions IponWeb. “Owned technology also gives agencies the transparency across the ad tech supply chain that is increasingly being demanded by clients; as a result they are better equipped to tackle issues such as the tech tax, ad fraud, viewability and brand safety. And, as illustrated by the research, it helps agencies build the all-important links to publishers and inventory.” Despite the benefits of using owned technology for programmatic media buying, there are some shortcomings. 71 per cent of agencies that don’t exclusively use their own technology cite the cost of set up as a problem for them, while 67 per cent see the cost of maintenance as a deterrent. Although, those that exclusively use their own technology see it as being more cost efficient.

Lyreco trialling electric ‘barges’ and e-bikes for fulfilment in Paris

Office supply distributor, Lyreco, has partnered up with AMME, a start-up combining electric barges and e-bikes, in order to make last-mile deliveries across the centre of Paris. The goods are delivered by the electric barges, which can carry up to seven tons, and dropped off at different destinations along the river. E-bikes then pick up and deliver these products to customers' homes. By 2021, Lyreco plans to increase the number of e-bike deliveries to 700 daily and in turn, reduce CO2 emissions by 25 tons, while decreasing the number of delivery vehicles it operates.

https://www.opi.net/news/region/002-europe/lyreco-testing-electric-barges-for-paris-deliveries/

Lyreco testing electric barges for Paris deliveries Lyreco is looking to reduce its carbon footprint by making deliveries in the centre of the French capital Paris using electric-powered barges.

Nikola disputes fraud charges posed by Hindenburg report

Electric lorry company Nikola has defended itself against fraud claims by Hindenburg Research, calling a report by the short-selling firm “false and defamatory”. Hindenburg had claimed a video by Nikola of one of its lorries moving downhill was staged and the vehicle was freewheeling. Start-up Nikola, in which General Motors has bought an 11% stake, admitted the lorry was freewheeling but said it had not suggested it was moving “under its own propulsion”. Nikola said it had told the SEC about Hindenburg’s report, that it would co-operate in an SEC inquiry and had hired a law firm.

https://www.theverge.com/2020/9/14/21436126/nikola-fraud-allegation-hindenburg-short-seller-electric-truck

Nikola Corp., the buzzy electric trucking company, is defending itself against charges of fraud that were made by short-selling firm Hindenburg Research. The allegations came just days after GM announced it was taking an 11 percent stake in the startup. Nikola said the report from Hindenburg Research is “false and defamatory” and was “designed to provide a false impression to investors and to negatively manipulate the market in order to financially benefit short sellers, including Hindenburg itself.” The startup said it has briefed the US Securities and Exchange Commission on the report and will cooperate with the agency regarding its “inquiry.” (A spokesperson for the SEC declined to comment.) The Phoenix-based company also said it had hired law firm Kirkland and Ellis to evaluate its options. “false and defamatory” Hindenburg’s report, released September 10th, is titled “How to Parlay an Ocean of Lies into a Partnership with the Largest Auto OEM in America” — a reference to the news that GM was teaming up with Nikola to help engineer and manufacture the startup’s battery-electric and hydrogen fuel cell vehicles. Hindenburg claims that Nikola had engaged in “lies and deception” in showcasing its electric vehicle technology, including staging a video that showed one of its trucks cruising down a hill. “Our investigation of the site and text messages from a former employee reveal that the video was an elaborate ruse,” Hindenburg writes, “Nikola had the truck towed to the top of a hill on a remote stretch of road and simply filmed it rolling down the hill.” In a statement Monday, Nikola said there were “dozens” of inaccurate statements in the report, and it outlined several examples. But the company isn’t disputing that it staged the video that appeared to show the truck as functional. “Nikola never stated its truck was driving under its own propulsion in the video, although the truck was designed to do just that (as described in previous point),” the company states. “The truck was showcased and filmed by a third party for a commercial. Nikola described this third-party video on the Company’s social media as ‘In Motion.’ It was never described as ‘under its own propulsion’ or ‘powertrain driven.’” “Nikola never stated its truck was driving under its own propulsion in the video” The company said it ultimately decided not to complete the vehicle and instead shift resources to another truck called the Nikola Two. Nikola claims that a preproduction version of this truck, “hydrogen-electric powered semi-truck for the medium and long-haul trucking sectors,” will be ready for testing in 2021. “This three-year-old video of a Nikola prototype is irrelevant except for the fact that the short seller is trying to use it for its main thesis,” the company added. “The fact is, Nikola has real working hydrogen fuel-cell powered semi-trucks.” Founded in 2015, Nikola aims to make zero-emission big rigs using hydrogen fuel cell technology. While a number of companies like Tesla, Daimler, Freightliner, and other established players and startups are working on all-electric trucks, Nikola is one of the few pursuing hydrogen-powered big rigs.

Fitbit releases "high fashion" Alta wearable

Fitbit is to release its new "high fashion" Alta activity tracker band in the U.S. in March 2016 with global availability set for April 2016, according to reports this week. The new USD$130 multi-coloured stainless steel Fitbit Alta wearables are designed to look more like hybrid bracelet watches than exercise monitoring devices, and are reportedly durable, flexible and slim enough to withstand intense activity whilst still remaining as visually appealing as a piece of fine jewellery. This new development by Fitbit reflects the wider interest being shown by global companies such as Huawei and Fossil in making fitness trackers beautiful, whilst signifying the great future potential of this market.

http://www.wired.com/2016/02/fitbit-alta-is-another-wearable-for-the-high-fashion-crowd/

In the last few years, Fitbit has become the Kleenex of the fitness-tracker market---its products are synonymous with the entire category. But the company has a certain reputation. A Fitbit, in short, is "that thing everyone wears even though it's ugly because it makes you a better person." That works for some people, but not for everyone and not all the time. The market is changing. Utility is not enough anymore, and the company's latest products are beginning to chart a more fashion-forward path. It started with the Blaze, a smartwatch-style tracker with interchangeable bands. Now comes Alta, a modular wearable designed to look more like a bracelet than, well, than a Fitbit. The $130 stainless-steel band comes in silver and (soon) gold, with black, blue, teal, or plum bands. Or, you can splurge on the genuine leather band for $60 more, with stainless steel and gold bangles coming later this year for $100. It still looks a bit like a fitness tracker, or at least like a very chunky, very peculiar rectangular watch, but it doesn't look cheap or out of place next to your Gucci. Most of the combinations look quite nice, and feel much more like fine jewelry than anything the company's ever made before. Though, to be fair, that's not a high bar. But at its core, the Alta is still very much a Fitbit. That means you get the same activity and sleep tracking along with exercise recognition and the occasional reminder to get up and move around. It will push important call, text, and calendar notifications from your phone to your Fitbit. You can see your data on the Alta's long, rectangular OLED screen, or in the Fitbit app. It's durable as can be, capable of taking all manner of beatings otherwise unbecoming of jewelry. There's nothing terribly surprising here. Every Fitbit does Fitbit things, and they all do them well.

SN4 becomes first full-scale Starship prototype to pass cryogenic proof test

SN4 is SpaceX's first full-scale Starship prototype to pass a cryogenic proof test. Cryogenic proof is one of the first tests necessary to prove the vehicle’s flight-worthiness. With the successful test, SpaceX teams will now work towards a static fire, and then potentially a hop to 150 meters.

https://www.nasaspaceflight.com/2020/04/starship-sn4-set-for-test/

Starship SN4 became SpaceX’s first full-scale Starship prototype to pass a cryogenic proof test on Sunday evening at SpaceX’s launch site in Boca Chica, Texas. The cryogenic proof is one of the first tests necessary to prove the vehicle’s flight-worthiness. With the successful test, SpaceX teams will now work towards a static fire, and then potentially a hop to 150 meters. SN4 follows the Mk1, SN1, and SN3 full-scale Starship prototypes. The previous full-scale builds all failed cryogenic proof testing. The cryogenic proof is when the Starship is filled with liquid nitrogen to verify that its tanks can withstand flight pressures. Until Sunday, the only Starship prototype to pass cryogenic proof testing was SN2. However, SN2 was only a partially assembled tank section rather than a full-scale vehicle. With the prior setbacks, the pressure was on SN4 both literally and figuratively to make it past the cryogenic proof test. There was optimism ahead of SN4’s proof, as the most recent failure of SN3 was not a result of a welding problem. Welding issues had plagued the previous prototypes. Instead, a simple test configuration mistake caused a substantial pressure difference between the liquid oxygen and methane tanks. Consequently, the liquid oxygen tank collapsed under the weight of a fully fueled methane tank above it. This mistake was not one that was likely to be repeated with SN4. SN4 passed cryo proof! 😅 pic.twitter.com/EJakThZRGF — Elon Musk (@elonmusk) April 27, 2020 In the end, SN4 passed the cryogenic proof test – hitting 4.9 bar. SpaceX CEO Elon Musk admitted in a tweet that this was “kind of a soft ball…” However, “that’s enough to fly,” he added. It is now expected to move on to engine testing within the coming days. Currently, SpaceX has three flight-ready Raptor engines waiting for the opportunity to participate in the testing. One of these engines will be installed on SN4. A Raptor engine is not installed until after the cryogenic proof test, as that test uses hydraulic pistons to simulate the forces created by Raptors during flight. After SpaceX performs the Raptor installation on SN4, teams will need to conduct checkouts of the engine on the vehicle. These will include gimbal, ignitor, and fuel pre-burner tests, among others. Only then will SpaceX be ready to attempt a static fire. April 29 was originally the target for a static fire test, but a one day delay with the cryogenic proof test means that the static fire is now likely targeting no earlier than April 30. Like SpaceX’s previous static fire attempts with the smaller Starhopper vehicle, it may take a few tries before the company can successfully execute the static fire test. After all, it will be the first time that SpaceX fully fuels a Starship with cryogenic methane and liquid oxygen. As a result, there is a good chance that small kinks with the ground support equipment will have to be worked out ahead of the static fire. If all goes well with the static fire, SpaceX may then elect to proceed with a small hop of the Starship SN4 prototype. Until the testing incident with SN3, SpaceX had planned to hop that vehicle to around 150 meters. SpaceX is currently hoping to now perform that flight with SN4. However, test plans are constantly evolving. What is certain is that SN4 will be limited to only small hops that do not require a relight of the Raptor engines, according to a tweet from Musk. https://twitter.com/elonmusk/status/1250613503888519168?s=20 Musk explained that this is because the vehicle will not be outfitted with the control surfaces necessary for the vehicle to perform flights where the engines are shut down and then relit. Either the SN5 or SN6 vehicles will get flaps installed, according to Musk. The flap design has been modified slightly from what SpaceX most recently unveiled with the Starship Mk1 vehicle. Both of the upcoming SN5 and SN6 vehicles are also expected to get nosecones, something that a Starship prototype has yet to have with it at the pad. The nose cone will not only house the payloads for the operational Starships, but it will also include the liquid oxygen header tank. The placement of the header tank in the tip of the nose cone helps keep the center of mass of the vehicle forward. This is important for when a Starship is descending through an atmosphere without a payload. The construction of the SN5 vehicle is already well underway. Numerous sections have already been spotted inside of the large production tents at SpaceX’s Boca Chica facility. Furthermore, a piece of the SN5 tank section was moved into the high bay just hours after SN4 was rolled to the pad on Thursday afternoon. While SN4 will not be receiving a nose cone, the vehicle has had several heat tiles installed on its surface. A cluster of tiles has been placed along both the engine section and towards the top of the tank section. The production version of Starship will eventually have an entire side of the vehicle covered in heat tiles to allow the vehicle to safely reenter Earth’s atmosphere and eventually enter the atmospheres of other planets. Including heat tiles on SN4 will allow SpaceX to gain experience with the mounting process and to verify that the tiles stay properly secured to the Starship during testing. For daily updates on the progress in Boca Chica, subscribe to the NASASpaceflight YouTube channel.

Researchers develop membrane for methane production from CO2

Researchers at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in the US have developed a membrane of sodium ions and zeolite crystals that allows water to pass through during the conversion of CO2 to methanol but not the gases. In addition, methanol production was increased as the process was not hampered by water. The team is now planning to form a company to develop the product for commercial use.

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2020-02/rpi-wma020520.php

TROY, N.Y. -- Methanol is a versatile and efficient chemical used as fuel in the production of countless products. Carbon dioxide (CO2), on the other hand, is a greenhouse gas that is the unwanted byproduct of many industrial processes. Converting CO2 to methanol is one way to put CO2 to good use. In research published today in Science, chemical engineers from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute demonstrated how to make that conversion process from CO2 to methanol more efficient by using a highly effective separation membrane they produced. This breakthrough, the researchers said, could improve a number of industry processes that depend on chemical reactions where water is a byproduct. For example, the chemical reaction responsible for the transformation of CO2 into methanol also produces water, which severely restricts the continued reaction. The Rensselaer team set out to find a way to filter out the water as the reaction is happening, without losing other essential gas molecules. The researchers assembled a membrane made up of sodium ions and zeolite crystals that was able to carefully and quickly permeate water through small pores -- known as water-conduction nanochannels -- without losing gas molecules. "The sodium can actually regulate, or tune, gas permeation," said Miao Yu, an endowed chair professor of chemical and biological engineering and a member of the Center for Biotechnology and Interdisciplinary Studies (CBIS) at Rensselaer, who led this research. "It's like the sodium ions are standing at the gate and only allow water to go through. When the inert gas comes in, the ions will block the gas." In the past, Yu said, this type of membrane was susceptible to defects that would allow other gas molecules to leak out. His team developed a new strategy to optimize the assembly of the crystals, which eliminated those defects. When water was effectively removed from the process, Yu said, the team found that the chemical reaction was able to happen very quickly. "When we can remove the water, the equilibrium shifts, which means more CO2 will be converted and more methanol will be produced," said Huazheng Li, a postdoctoral researcher at Rensselaer and first author on the paper. "This research is a prime example of the significant contributions Professor Yu and his team are making to address interdisciplinary challenges in the area of water, energy, and the environment," said Deepak Vashishth, director of CBIS. "Development and deployment of such tailored membranes by Professor Yu's group promise to be highly effective and practical." The team is now working to develop a scalable process and a startup company that would allow this membrane to be used commercially to produce high purity methanol. Yu said this membrane could also be used to improve a number of other reactions. "In industry there are so many reactions limited by water," Yu said. "This is the only membrane that can work highly efficiently under the harsh reaction conditions." ### About Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute Founded in 1824, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute is America's first technological research university. Rensselaer encompasses five schools, 32 research centers, more than 145 academic programs, and a dynamic community made up of more than 7,900 students and over 100,000 living alumni. Rensselaer faculty and alumni include more than 145 National Academy members, six members of the National Inventors Hall of Fame, six National Medal of Technology winners, five National Medal of Science winners, and a Nobel Prize winner in Physics. With nearly 200 years of experience advancing scientific and technological knowledge, Rensselaer remains focused on addressing global challenges with a spirit of ingenuity and collaboration. To learn more, please visit http://www.rpi.edu.

US military drone programme using Google's AI technology

The US Department of Defence (DoD) is using Google's TensorFlow artificial intelligence (AI) system to analyse images captured by drones, as part of its Project Maven initiative. Drew Cukor, chief of the DoD’s Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Function Team, said the AI was used to help assessors identify objects in images, while a Google spokesperson said "the technology flags images for human review, and is for non-offensive uses only". However, the Alphabet-owned company has said the partnership has caused consternation among some Google employees, and said it was "actively discussing this important topic internally".

https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2018/mar/07/google-ai-us-department-of-defense-military-drone-project-maven-tensorflow

Google’s artificial intelligence technologies are being used by the US military for one of its drone projects, causing controversy both inside and outside the company. Google’s TensorFlow AI systems are being used by the US Department of Defense’s (DoD) Project Maven, which was established in July last year to use machine learning and artificial intelligence to analyse the vast amount of footage shot by US drones. The initial intention is to have AI analyse the video, detect objects of interest and flag them for a human analyst to review. Drew Cukor, chief of the DoD’s Algorithmic Warfare Cross-Function Team, said in July: “People and computers will work symbiotically to increase the ability of weapon systems to detect objects. Eventually we hope that one analyst will be able to do twice as much work, potentially three times as much, as they’re doing now. That’s our goal.” Project Maven forms part of the $7.4bn spent on AI and data processing by the DoD, and has seen the Pentagon partner with various academics and experts in the field of AI and data processing. It has reportedly already been put into use against Islamic State. A Google spokesperson said: “This specific project is a pilot with the Department of Defense, to provide open source TensorFlow APIs that can assist in object recognition on unclassified data. The technology flags images for human review, and is for non-offensive uses only.” While Google has long worked with government agencies providing technology and services, alongside cloud providers such as Amazon and Microsoft, the move to aid Project Maven has reportedly caused much internal debate at the search company. According to people talking to Gizmodo, some Google employees were outraged when they discovered the use of the company’s AI. “Military use of machine learning naturally raises valid concerns. We’re actively discussing this important topic internally and with others as we continue to develop policies and safeguards around the development and use of our machine learning technologies,” said Google. Both former Alphabet executive chairman, Eric Schmidt, and Google executive Milo Medin are members of the Defense Innovation Board, which advises the Pentagon on cloud and data systems. Google has a mixed history with defence contracts. When it bought robotics firm Shaft, it pulled the company’s systems from a Pentagon competition, while it cut defence-related contracts on buying the satellite startup Skybox. When it owned robotics firm Boston Dynamics, the company was attempting to make a robotic packhorse for ground troops, which was ultimately rejected by the US marines because it was too noisy. The company’s cloud services division currently does not offer systems designed to hold information classified as secret, where its competitors Amazon and Microsoft do. When Google bought the UK’s artificial intelligence firm DeepMind in 2014 for £400m, the company set up an AI ethics board, which was tasked with reviewing the company’s use of AI, although details of the board were still not made public three years later.

UK Government holds off RBS sale as the bank is accused of flawed documents

The UK Government is delaying selling more Royal Bank of Scotland (RBS) shares until next year after the bank reported weaker-than-predicted third quarter results since it undermined the Treasury's plans to cut its 72.8% stake further.  Also reported on Wednesday in the Times were the accusations that RBS used secret, flawed documents that may have influenced some compensation payouts to victims of the interest rate swaps mis-selling scandal; these included a record of a sales call that never took place; RBS denies the accusations.

http://www.theguardian.com/business/2015/nov/05/campaigners-urge-george-osborne-to-resist-rbs-sell-off

George Osborne is being urged to stop the selloff of Royal Bank of Scotland shares at a loss before a parliamentary debate on the future of the bailed-out bank. Campaigners for banking reform argue that the public is opposed to the fire sale of the government stake in the bank, which fell for the first time in August when the chancellor sanctioned the sale of shares at a £1bn loss to the taxpayer. The stake was reduced from 79% to 74% and the government has stated that its objective is to sell off its entire holding in RBS, which was rescued by £45bn of taxpayer funds during the 2008 and 2009 crisis. The government’s stake in RBS and the future of UK banking will be discussed in the Commons on Thursday, in a debate scheduled by the backbench business committee and proposed by Labour MP Kate Osamor. The campaigners – including from Move Your Money – want the state-owned bank to be directed to support rural communities and play its part in boosting the economy. They cite a petition calling for an end to the RBS sale which received 119,000 signatures. A spokesman for Move Your Money said: “The British public is overwhelmingly opposed to the reckless fire sale of RBS back to the people who caused the financial crisis. Public opinion cannot be clearer on this issue – we own RBS, so it should work for us.” A survey by Populus in October found that just over half of respondents (53%) were aware that the government was selling off the stake in RBS. Of those with an opinion, the sale was opposed by three out of four people. An open letter has also been written to Osborne by campaigners for banking reform, including from the trade union Unite and economics professors, calling him to rethink his approach. “[On Thursday], MPs will debate a motion to suspend the sale of RBS shares pending a full consideration of the other options, including turning it into a network of regional banks. “We fully support this motion and urge the government to undertake a proper, independent review of how the public stake in RBS should be dealt with to best support the government’s stated objectives of getting the best value for the taxpayer and maximising support for the economy,” the letter says. “In our view, the only way to make good our investment in RBS is to treat it as an opportunity to fix our broken banking system.”

India's largest e-commerce company makes mobile payments acquisition

Indian e-commerce company Flipkart has acquired PhonePe as part of its plan to build a payments business to compete with PayTM and Snapdeal. This Bangalore-based company was co-founded by two former employees from Flipkart and will continue to operate as an independent business in spite of the acquisition. The financial details of this transaction have not yet been disclosed. PhonePe is developing a product based on India’s Unified Payments Interface (UPI), a new form of electronic payments processing where users make a financial transaction using a mobile number, payments address or unique identification. This system is to be launched in April. Online payments have been viewed as the main obstacle to mass uptake of online shopping in India; however, UPI promises to revolutionaries the entire system.

http://www.thehindubusinessline.com/info-tech/flipkart-acquires-mobile-payments-firm-phonepe/article8422281.ece?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSS&utm_campaign=RSS_Syndication

India’s largest e-commerce company Flipkart has acquired PhonePe, a Bengaluru-based mobile payments company, which was co-founded by ex-Flipkart employees Sameer Nigam and Rahul Chari. The financial details of the acquisition were not divulged. PhonePe is building India’s a Unified Payments Interface (UPI) based product, which is, planned to go live in April. The interface will allow users to transact using their unique identification and mobile phone number or virtual payments address without sharing any other bank details. “Payments has been one of the biggest hurdles for mass adoption of online shopping in India. UPI has the potential of transforming the entire payments ecosystem in the country. The acquisition of PhonePe is in-line with Flipkart’s focus on driving innovation on the payments front. I am delighted that two Flipkart veterans – Sameer and Rahul are at the helm of this initiative,” Binny Bansal, CEO, Flipkart, said. The PhonePe team will transition to Flipkart but will function as an independent business unit, the company said in a statement.