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Warning system, environment study may have prevented Uttarakhand tragedy - The Federal

Do you have money to invest and a desire to help diversify Nevadas economy? Startup NV wants to hear from you.

The nonprofit organization is holding an angel investor boot camp to introduce investors especially those from minority communities to opportunities in Nevada.

Organizers say the fragility shown by Nevadas economy during the pandemic demonstrates the need to create jobs outside of the hospitality industry.

Angel investing is a type of investment that puts dollars towards startup businesses as another way to diversify the economy, said Myisha Williams, asmall businesswoman and member of the Nevada Commission on Minority Affairs.

Williams said business owners around the state have realized that relying on one industrycan be their downfall if that industrygoes through a major downturn, as gaming and tourism did in 2020.

She said that everyone knows diversification is vitalto the state,creating a new and inclusive eco-system is one way to begin this journey and there is definitely need and opportunity.

Startup NV is part of creating that new eco-system, she said. The program guides startup businesses from concept until they start producing revenue. Williams said the nonprofit provides mentorship, pitch preparation, and, eventually, an introduction to a network of potential capital partners.

It builds a win-win venture capital network, she said.

So far, Startup NV has worked with 18 startups and raised more than $68 million in three years. Williams said the nonprofit hopes to build on its early success, and it is getting support from other businesses, nonprofits and public agencies.

Williams said Startup NV is, at this point, an educational opportunity for people.

This may not be the typical investment platform that you see," she said,"This is one that is recognizing that theres not something available now, and its creating that. And its creating it at an entry point where folks can come in learn how to do this and build from it.

Those in the investor boot camp will be asked to bring $5,000 to the table that will be pooled with other investors and then distributed to a startup of the investors' choice in late spring.

The idea, Williams said, is to bring startup businesses that have gone through Startup NV's education programs, and investors, who have done the same, together to jumpstart a new venture in Nevada.

Those interested in being part of the boot camp have to meet the Securities and Exchange Commission's angel investor requirements, which are having a net worth of$1 million or making $200,000 a year or $300,000 if someone is married.

If you meet those requirements, and you have a cool $5,000, this is a great place to put it not only are you getting to put that money into an investment but youre growing your investment network, which is new to the region and highly valuable, and two, youre getting the education you can take that with you forever, she said.

Williams is especially interested in getting people of color involved in investing. She said while many communities of color are behind in earnings, savings and liquidity that doesn't apply to everyone in those communities.

Not taking this subset of ideal investors into consideration when building a new investment eco-system would be a sorely missed opportunity, she said.

In addition, Williams said that while investors are focused on making a profit mosttend to pick products, people and innovations based a personal connectionor familiar feeling.

I would make the case that if recruitment is homogenous then investments will be as well, she said.

A growing bio-medical company that has already benefitted from the help of Startup NV is Heligenics. Its CEO Martin Schiller said the nonprofit was a big help.

Startup NV was invaluable because they kind of did some pretty good coaching, he said.

Schiller's company grew out of the Institute for Personalized Medicine at UNLV, which got some of its seed money from the Governor's Office of Economic Development or GOED.

The company isolates gene mutations that impact diseases and medical treatments. Then sells that information to companies studying specific drugs and diseases.

While much of the initial research was done at the institute, creating a business out of that research required investors, Schiller said.

About a year ago, we got our first investment and then completed our round [of funding]a little later in the year," he said,"Now, were fully funded and have been going forward with our business and are already making money.

While Schiller had taught science classes in an academic setting, pitching investors on a new biomedical company in a way they understood was a different task entirely.

After pitching 75 investors on the plan, he finally got one person excited about the project, and that person brought in other investors.

Once we got the initial round of money, we knew that we were going to be able to do this pretty quickly and then all of our investors, from the initial investment, came back with more money and more friends and completed the round, he said.

Now, the company has about 10 to 12 employees, a laboratory space that the city of Las Vegas helped it secure and several agreements with drug and medical research companies.

I think our investors are going to be pretty happy within a year, he said.

While almost everyone agrees that diversification is important for Nevada's economy, former Nevada Treasurer and current angel investor Dan Schwartz doesn't believe Nevada is going about it the right way.

One of the reasons Nevada is kind of behind is, and as state treasurer, I opposed the $750 million that the state invested in the football stadium. Thats one reason why were not getting angel investing here is because the state is supporting football stadiums, he said.

The former treasurer believes one of the biggest stumbling blocks forthe state in drawing in venture capitalists is the "cultural climate" that favors gaming and not technology startups.

I think its a cultural question of whether Nevada gets off of its addiction to gaming and entertainment and starts saying, Hey, we need to diversify, he said.

He said the state has a great climate for business, including low taxes and nopersonal income tax, but it lacks the expertise and knowledge to build companies.

In addition to where the state decides to spend its money, Schwartz points to Nevada's education system as an obstacleto investing.

Schwartz has invested in a gold mine in Nevada but most of his other investments have been in national companies headquartered in California.

Continued here:

Diversifying Nevada's Economy Might Take The Work Of Angels - KNPR

In the first of our new three-part Ericsson Spotlight Series on 5G software, we deep dive into three distinct perspectives on this topic and examine how Communication Service Providers (CSPs) can realize the full potential of 5G Core.

In the first episode, Prof. Sally Eaves Senior Policy Advisor, Global Foundation Cyber Studies spoke with Farjola Peco, the Head of Strategy at Ericsson Digital Services. Farjola has been tracking market trends and shares with us how she has seen greater ecosystem collaboration due to these seismic industry shifts. She explains how this new reality has driven a confluence of technologies and is currently bringing industries closer together.

5G software has the potential to revolutionize how and when entire mobile networks will be upgraded, potentially in just minutes. In looking at the future for 5G software, Farjola says she sees the Disaggregation of the value chains to create new value proposition. If we unpack that sentence around disaggregation, what we are speaking about is not just network revolution but that 5G software is enabling also a revolution in innovation via new 5G services dependent on a new level of agility, speed, latency and eco-system inter-connectivity. This will, no doubt, kickstart new revenue streams for different ecosystem players competing for various slices of the infamous pie.

Dr. Eaves pointed out in the interview that she is aware of a current rise in cyber-attacks, therefore she asserts: zero trust can be a real key imperative. However, this needs to be balanced with a continued focus on quality of experience. Dr. Eaves in addition, made the point that in order for networks to be as agile and protected as required, this will be heavily dependent on AI-led insights and automation.

Farjola in reply, commented that CSPs are indeed relentlessly focusing on efficiency and identified that they're also looking for trusted partners with whom to collaborate, in order to drive growth in the digitalization of the enterprises. And here, she highlighted two factors which are really important to be part of this growing ecosystem:

In 2017, Ericsson Digital Services took a bold decision to fully invest in cloud-native technology and this long-sighted vision means that today we are in a leadership position in Cloud-Native, 5G Core and in integrating CI/CD (Continuous Integration/ Continuous Delivery) across the full portfolio. Now we are in a pole position to deliver the future of automation and in leveraging the power of CI/CD to benefit our customers.

Farjola outlined that in order to be competitive in this changing business landscape accelerated by technologies, CSPs will really need to adopt and rely more on AI, Analytics and Cloud Computing in order to reach a zero-touch vision.

In looking ahead to 2021, Farjola also made the point that she sees a clear trend towards an increased need for life cycle management where CI/CD and DevOps practices are going to be fundamental in order to seize the first mover advantage.

The full CSP automation journey she pointed out, will take many years, and its critical to start now as change takes time, as she said: its not just about technology its also about people and the processes.

One customer highlighted in utilizing 5G software to its full potential is Telstra. Farjola highlights that Telstra are really personifying what we envisage as the future for the Telco industry. This zero-touch network that runs on the code that never sleeps. See also our joint announcement on the edge cloud for enterprises.

Its a fascinating discussion by two senior leaders in technology, the full interview which runs about 12 mins is available to watch here:

Stay tuned for the next two episodes of Spotlight series on 5G software where our subject matter experts to take a deep dive into the technology and use-cases from North America: Peo Lehto and Arvinder Anand are the guests for episode 2 and 3.

CICD (Continous Integration / Continuous Delivery)

5G Core

Zero Trust explained

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In the battle for the edge, 5G software is the Excalibur - Ericsson

Mumbai, India Dow (NYSE: DOW) and Lucro Plastecycle, a homegrownIndian recycling company, have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to develop andlaunch polyethylene (PE) film solutions using post-consumer recycled (PCR) plastics in India.This agreement introduces a close-the-loop packaging solution to help enable a circular economyin India and expands Dows plastics circularity portfolio in the Asia Pacific region.

This collaboration is aligned with Dows new sustainability target of stopping the waste bycollecting 1 MMT of plastics to be collected, reused or recycled by 2030. Under the MoU, Dowwill provide its material science and application development expertise to Lucro, a specialist inrecycling flexible plastic film waste, who will develop and manufacture the film structures. Thesefilm structures are made by processing plastic waste collected through various recycled streamsin combination with Dows virgin resins. This approach could also reduce carbon emissions whencompared to virgin PE resins and as a result could contribute to helping converters and brands tomeet their sustainability goals. The first application of the product is in collation shrink films, aform of secondary packaging commonly used for bottles, cans, and liquid cartons, and is expectedto be available in the India market later this year.

We are delighted to work with sustainability-focused partners like Lucro, who is at the forefrontof plastic recycling in India. Scrap packaging is one of the countrys highest contributors of plasticwaste and we look forward to this collaboration helping to promote the adoption of sustainablesolutions amongst brand owners and manufacturers, and contribute to a reduction in plasticsentering the environment as waste, said Bambang Candra, Asia Pacific commercial vicepresident, Dow Packaging & Specialty Plastics. Finding value in flexible waste is key for thecircular economy to set new standards for the flexible packaging industry and create a viablecircular system for flexible plastics.

Lucros trademark Plast-E-Cycle process, which converts plastic waste into granules forrecyclable and compostable products, helps to solve a fundamental challenge in India thecomplexity of recycling flexible plastic waste. This specialty made the company the first in Indiato be backed by Circulate Capitals Ocean Fund (CCOF), a Singapore-based investment funddedicated to preventing plastic waste entering the ocean and advancing the circular economy inSouth and Southeast Asia. With Circulate Capitals support, Lucro will further grow and scale itsbusiness and step up post-consumer plastic sourcing with new collection centres.

Circulate Capital invests in and supports pioneering companies across the waste managementand recycling industry. Lucros work is integral to closing the loop on difficult to recycle plasticwaste in India, giving a second life to post-consumer flexible plastic waste. We believe the Dow-Lucro partnership is a great example of how, with catalytic financing, the plastic eco-system canconnect and collaborate on market solutions for the benefit of the environment, said Rob Kaplan,founder and CEO, Circulate Capital.

Lucro was founded on the belief that there is value to be found in mismanaged plastic wastethrough recycling. With intent, effort and collaboration across the entire value chain, we can defineand build a new plastic value chain that ensures the material is reused and does not end up inthe environment, said Ujwal Desai, co-founder and managing director of Lucro. Our partnershipwith Dow provides us additional expertise to develop high quality, innovative and recycled-contentflexible film for businesses.

Under the MoU, Dow will utilize its industry leading team of packaging experts, material scientists,recycling equipment, blown film manufacturing and testing capabilities at Pack Studios Shanghaiand Mumbai to help Lucro develop recycled film. Following the initial application in collation shrinkfilms, the partners will explore additional applications including shipping sacks, e-commerce bagsand non-food packaging.

About DowDow (NYSE: DOW) combines global breadth, asset integration and scale, focused innovation and leading businesspositions to achieve profitable growth. The Companys ambition is to become the most innovative, customer centric,inclusive and sustainable materials science company, with a purpose to deliver a sustainable future for the worldthrough our materials science expertise and collaboration with our partners. Dows portfolio of plastics, industrialintermediates, coatings and silicones businesses delivers a broad range of differentiated science-based products andsolutions for its customers in high-growth market segments, such as packaging, infrastructure, mobility and consumercare. Dow operates 106 manufacturing sites in 31 countries and employs approximately 35,700 people. Dowdelivered sales of approximately $39 billion in 2020. References to Dow or the Company mean Dow Inc. and itssubsidiaries. For more information, please visit http://www.dow.com or follow @DowNewsroom on Twitter.

About LucroLucro Plastecycle Private Limited (Lucro) is a homegrown Indian recycling company that harnesses the possibilities ofplastic to produce high quality and innovative recycled-content products. Established in 2012, the company is an expertin recycling locally-sourced flexible plastic waste to manufacture flexible packaging products, such as shrink wrap andfilms, and supplies recycled plastic granules to manufacturers for their own production. By developing a uniqueintegrated process that covers the collection, sorting and upcycling of used flexible plastic, Lucro is committed to closingthe loop in plastic usage by transforming it from a linear to a circular economy and stopping it from reaching landfill.Today, the company is the largest supplier of recycled packaging and protective covers to leading national andinternational manufacturers in India across a range of industries such as automotive, home and retail, to help themachieve their sustainability goals. For more information, please visit http://www.lucro.in.

About Circulate CapitalCirculate Capital is an investment management firm dedicated to incubating and financing companies that preventocean plastic. We focus on the prevention of mismanaged plastic waste in countries located in South Asia andSoutheast Asia, regions that contribute disproportionately to ocean plastic pollution primarily because they often lackinvestment in critical waste and recycling infrastructure to manage the problem. We were created in collaboration withOcean Conservancy, and our founding investors include PepsiCo, Procter & Gamble, Dow, Danone, Chanel, Unilever,The Coca-Cola Company and Chevron Phillips Chemical Company LLC.

Circulate Capital invests in and supports start-ups, organizations and SMEs across the entire plastic value chain, frominnovations in material to advanced recycling technologies. It seeks to mobilize catalytic capital into the wastemanagement and recycling industry to prove that investing in this sector is scalable in South and Southeast Asia andcan generate competitive returns, while moving to solve the ocean plastic crisis.

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Dow and Lucro to Launch PCR Plastics Solution in India - waste360

A family in Florida had an unannounced visitor over the weekend: a 16'4" 300lb Burmese python.

Aaron Brown was driving through his property in Zolfo Springs on Sunday when he spotted the monster snake hiding in a pipe.

He told Fox8 he tried to summon family members to help capture it, and understandably, some were more enthusiastic than others.

Pablo Escobar's Cocaine Hippos are Invading Colombia View Story

"I tried to coach my mom to get down there and grab a hold of it, and she wasn't going for that," he said, so recruited his cousin Bobby Wilkinson instead.

"That's the biggest snake Ive ever seen," Wilkinson said, who shot and killed it.

"We started pulling him out of the culvert, and it just kept getting bigger and bigger, and I was like, 'My God, look at this thing. This is one huge snake'."

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"I said I ain't never seen one this big and never thought in my life I would have the opportunity to mess with something this big. This was one of my bucket list things."

The ridiculously-sized reptile even caught the attention of Wilkinson's heroes, the "Guardians of the Glades"; as the snake bounty hunters of the Discovery series came down to retrieve it.

"Ever since the 'Guardian of the Glades' has been on, I always tell my wife I'd love to go down there and catch a snake. Just one time go catch a snake," he added. "Lo and behold, one that was astronomically huge fell in my lap because my cousin spotted it in a ditch."

If killing the creature seems cruel, it is actually encouraged by the state authorities.

Burmese pythons are not native but invasive species, and incredibly harmful to the Everglades eco-system; they'll eat everything from small mammals and other reptiles to prey as big as deer and even bobcats.

They managed to take a foothold as a result of escaped or intentionally released pets; with females able to lay up to 100 eggs, in the space of around two decades, there are now estimated to be between 100,000 and 300,000 of them hiding in the Everglades.

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Florida Family Finds Monster 16ft, 300lb Python On Their Property RM - TooFab

The newly formed JV will first pursue a digital securities exchange license in the US. Moving forward, this JV will be the key operational company building and operating a digital securities exchange that utilizes the GSX STACS blockchain technology, serving corporate issuers and investors in the sector.

Frank D. Heuszel, CEO of DSS, commented on the news of the new JV, saying:

"We have been looking for the right opportunity to accelerate our digital asset business and believe this collaboration will provide a strong foundation for success. The transformative potential of digital securities is extremely exciting, and we look forward to pursuing the massive opportunity in the US for a secondary market in securities tokens."

A key facilitator in the new JV, Samson Lee, Founder & CEO of Coinstreet Partners commented:

"For the past 4 years, Coinstreet has been focusing on primary market activities for STO and digital assets in the international market. We are delighted to establish a strategic partnership with DSS and GSX to develop a digital asset exchange in the US. This is a major step forward for Coinstreet, and it will allow us to vertically integrate our primary market services with regulated secondary trading venues in the US, which is a very important market for us."

Nick Cowan, CEO of GSX Group, added on the deal's conclusion:

"Through this strategic joint venture, we are realizing our vision to establish a paradigm shift in the capital markets. With the help of our new partners, DSS and Coinstreet, and using our underlying bespoke blockchain for securities, the GSX STACS network, we believe this new exchange will provide some exciting opportunities for US and global issuers."

According to a survey from the World Economic Forum, 10% of the world's GDP will be tokenized by 2027-- with an estimated market capitalization of US$24 trillion. With increased clarity in the regulatory framework and many positive developments in the industry, such as wider adoption of digital assets from financial institutions and innovative digital security offerings from large enterprises, both asset tokenization and digitized securities are gaining much momentum for new growth in the financial industry.

Through their JV collaboration, DSS, Coinstreet Partners, and GSX Group could become the next digital asset exchange to secure FINRA registration as an alternative trading system (ATS).

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About Document Security Systems, Inc.

DSS is a multinational company, operating businesses focused on brand protection technology, blockchain security, direct marketing, healthcare, real estate, and securitized digital assets. Its business model is based on a distribution sharing system in which shareholders will receive shares in its subsidiaries as DSS strategically spins them out into IPOs. Its historic business revolves around counterfeit deterrent and authentication technologies, smart packaging, and consumer product engagement. DSS is led by its Chairman and largest shareholder, Mr. Fai Chan, a highly successful global business veteran of more than 40 years specializing in corporate transformation while managing risk. He has successfully restructured more than 35 corporations with a combined value of US$25 billion.

For more information on DSS visithttp://www.dsssecure.com.

About Coinstreet Partners (Coinstreet)

Founded in 2017, Coinstreet is an award-winning, AI-powered decentralized investment banking group, a premium financial services firm for private wealth, and a professional consultancy firm in the Digital Asset and FinTech sectors, providing a business eco-system for the new era of digital economy. Coinstreet focuses on five key business segments: (1) Digital Asset Investment Banking, (2) Digital Asset/Wealth Management & Private Banking, (3) Digital Asset Global Distribution Coordination, (4) Asset Tokenization & Security Digitization Management Solution, and (5) Decentralized Finance & DLT Solution.

Coinstreet is a co-organizer of Global Online Investor Roadshow (www.GOIR.info) - the next generation, institutional scale, online private placement platform for private equity, alternative investments, and digital asset opportunities; and a co-organizer of TADS Awards (www.TADSawards.org) - the world's first international award for Tokenized Assets and Digitized Securities sector.

For more information on Coinstreet, visit https://coinstreet.partners/

About GSX Group

GSX Group, that owns and operates the Gibraltar Stock Exchange (GSX) is a growing Fintech ecosystem of digital securities exchanges. GSX Group seeks to build a digital ecosystem to exploit the next evolutionary stage in capital markets development: the tokenization of economies facilitating the adoption by, and convergence between, issuers and investors.

For more information on GSX Group, visit https://www.gsxgroup.global/

Safe Harbor Disclosure

This press release contains forward-looking statements that are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. Such forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements related to the Company's intended use of proceeds and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are based on management's current expectations and are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those projected. These risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control, include: risks relating to our growth strategy; our ability to obtain, perform under and maintain financing and strategic agreements and relationships; risks relating to the results of development activities; our ability to attract, integrate and retain key personnel; our need for substantial additional funds; patent and intellectual property matters; competition; as well as other risks described in the section entitled "Risk Factors" in the prospectus and in our other filings with the SEC, including, without limitation, our reports on Forms 8-K and 10-Q, all of which can be obtained on the SEC website atwww.sec.gov. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date on which they are made and reflect management's current estimates, projections, expectations and beliefs. We expressly disclaim any obligation or undertaking to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in our expectations or any changes in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based, except as required by law.

SOURCE Coinstreet Partners

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Document Security Systems, Inc., Coinstreet Partners and GSX Group Collaborate to Develop Digital Asset Exchange Business in the US - PRNewswire

Kevin Markell

Can you provide an overview of what Harman has seen evolve in the digital cockpit in the past year or two, and how you see that developing to introduce new capabilities over the next couple of years?

We're seeing the value of the vehicle shift from RPM to what we call "EPM", or Experiences Per Mile.

The most significant shifts in the digital cockpit reflects the key trends in mobility today. It is clearer than ever before that our cars are about much more than moving us from point A to point B. Safety is expected but brilliant experiences are demanded and we're seeing the value of the vehicle shift from RPM to what we call "EPM", or Experiences Per Mile. This means that functionality, safety and advanced entertainment needs to be perfectly integrated with the car, and connect the occupant with their digital life. We're supporting our OEM partners in this journey to leverage Harman's differentiated technologies, iconic brands, and eco-systems to bring these experiences to life.

Harman started off 2021 by showcasing three fully-integrated digital cockpit solutions at our virtual Harman ExPLORE event. These illustrated how the car can leverage Harman technology to create the perfect environment for gaming, creating content, and experiencing a drive-in concert. These are what we call 'ExPs', or experience concepts that are capable of solving modern mobility pain points. Each features Harman technology that is available today, and we foresee vehicles offering this level of experience in the near future.

Looking forward, one of the biggest developments over the next few years will be further integration of vehicle systems and an even greater blending of in-vehicle and mobile lifestyles. Digital cockpit architectures have already become more powerful and capable of integrating Advanced Driver Assistance System (ADAS) functionality, advanced audio features, and rich connections with cloud-based services. At Harman, we're focused on digital cockpit solutions that are fully integrated so our OEM partners can deliver the experiences that customers want, continue to reinforce brand differentiation, and perhaps most importantly, future-proof their solutions as mobility continues to evolve dramatically.

In what ways are intelligent cockpit systems' capabilities different to those of current electronic cockpit systems? Why are they expected to be the future of infotainment?

I think the biggest difference is right there in the name; intelligent. Current electronic cockpit systems operate in separate silos: the head-up display, the instrument cluster and the infotainment system all display relevant information but often do not operate in harmony. The intelligent digital cockpit combines everything through a single platform driver safety features, cloud services, connectivity services, audio process, and integrated in-vehicle infotainment. By operating through a single platform, hardware resources can be shared to increase efficiency, improve security and driver experience, whilst simultaneously understanding how to reduce weight, cost and upgradability.

What role will 5G play in autonomous car technology?

The adoption of 5G is an imperative step in the move towards autonomous driving, and Harman will launch the industry's first 5G system in 2021. By leveraging the high speeds and lower latencies of 5G, our OEM partners and other eco-system members can create vehicle-to-everything (V2X) advanced safety features that mitigate road conflicts, and use peer-to-peer signals to warn drivers and pedestrians of potential hazards. It is not just inside the vehicle, but outside too, with local councils and governments being able to improve nearby road infrastructure to help improve roadway efficiency, using V2X-enabled Roadside Units (RSU) to control traffic lights, utility poles and traffic metering systems.

We are seeing semiconductor companies working toward network access devices that will essentially turn autonomous vehicles into mobile data centres. Is this another spin-off benefit that you recognise from 5G?

There can be as many as 50 individual compute blocks in the car that communicate with each other over in-vehicle networks and gateways that manage security and policy.

Computers have been part of the modern automobile for over 20 years. In today's modern cars, there can be as many as 50 individual compute blocks in the car that communicate with each other over in-vehicle networks and gateways that manage security and policy. As in-car computing capabilities continue to expand to support new features and 5G networks provide secure communication with network and cloud-based services the car will have similar capabilities to a data centre with cyber-secure gateways, general purpose compute blocks to host the applications and services, and storage for algorithms and applications.

We are hearing a lot about how the accessibility of connected technologies like 5G, IoT, Augmented Reality, OTA and AI is increasing rapidly. What is Harman doing to make these digital experiences seamless?

Harman has been investing in these technologies for many years, and has already launched IoT, Augmented Reality, and OTA solutions in the market with several OEMs and as mentioned before will launch our 5G solution this year. Going forward, we will expand our portfolio to leverage AI to build even smarter solutions, including software that anticipates connectivity disruption and bandwidth demands miles in advance. It will prepare downloads in areas with good connectivity, or even in free or lower-price connectivity areas, to optimise performance and reduce the cost of data consumption. For energy efficiency, Harman's software will shut off transmission and reception during periods of no connectivity to support battery life, which is particularly beneficial in electric vehicles. Most importantly, this will all be happening behind the scenes. So, neither driver nor passengers will be aware of connectivity issues.

In Harman's opinion, what is foreseen for the next five years/decade? What challenges will the industry face to bring these aims to fruition?

The shift towards focusing on 'experiences' will be driving disruption and innovation throughout the next decade. We've spoken about how important it is to be consumer-centric. Today's digital cockpit solutions and future ones will be designed with this in mind. Systems will be smarter and more adaptable, will blend the physical with the digital, and will work seamlessly with applications and services that consumers use throughout their day.

No other industry player has the broad suite of technologies and capabilities that Harman is able to offer. Bringing all the elements together seamlessly in the digital cockpit is a major challenge, and Harman's expertise means we're able to do this and create something truly unique for our partners.

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5G and the digital cockpit Q&A with Harman - just-auto.com

Sea grass

DRIED Posidonia, the sea grass found in abundance around Mallorca which is an important part of the Mediterranean eco system is being used for the first time as insulation on the roof of a hosing association building in Palma.

Forest fire

SOME 75 people were evacuated from their homes after a forest fire broke out in Alcudia on Tuesday February 9. Strong winds had meant that a controlled burning got out of hand and two helicopters were used to put it out.

Up in smoke

MASKS had to be worn at the Son Reus incinerator this Tuesday, not just because of the pandemic but due to the fact that three tons of different drugs seized in Mallorca during 2020 were being destroyed in the flames.

Too mobile

A PHONE tower constructed on the roof of the Post Office in the centre of Palma was blown down due to strong winds that hit Mallorca on Wednesday. The area was cordoned off whilst it was decided how best to remove the damaged tower.

Joining forces

MEMBERS of the now defunct Balearic Resistance have announced that they will join forces with the Sumam political party with the long-term intention of trying to oust the existing ruling party in the Balearic Government.

Rubbish strike

UNIONS representing workers from the Melchor Mascar waste disposal company have advised that with negotiations having broken down they intend to call a strike in the Riaguer district municipalities effective from Thursday February 11.

Bargaining chip

AN unexpected result of Brexit is causing problems for Mallorcan potato growers as they are now required to supply a special certificate and additional information when exporting their product to the UK.

Thank you for taking the time to read this news article Recent news in brief collected from around Mallorca.

Married to Ophelia in Gibraltar in 1978, John has spent much of his life travelling on security print and minting business and visited every continent except Antarctica.

Having retired several years ago, the couple moved to their house in Estepona and John became a regular news writer for the EWN Media Group taking particular interest in Finance, Gibraltar and Costa del Sol Social Scene.

Share your story with us by emailing newsdesk@euroweeklynews.com, by calling +34 951 38 61 61 or by messaging our Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/EuroWeeklyNews

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Recent news in brief collected from around Mallorca - Euro Weekly News

By Michelle Power and Meagan Dewar

In December, Antarctica lost its status as the last continent free of COVID-19 when 36 people at the Chilean Bernardo O'Higgins research station tested positive. The station's isolation from other bases and fewer researchers in the continent means the outbreak is now likely contained.

However, we know all too well how unpredictable and pervasive the virus can be. And while there's currently less risk for humans in Antarctica, the potential for the COVID-19 virus to jump to Antarctica's unique and already vulnerable wildlife has scientists extremely concerned.

We're among a global team of 15 scientists who assessed the risks of the COVID-19 virus to Antarctic wildlife, and the pathways the virus could take into the fragile ecosystem. Antarctic wildlife haven't yet been tested for the COVID-19 virus, and if it does make its way into these charismatic animals, we don't know how it could affect them or the continent's ecosystem stability.

Bernardo O Higgins Station in Antarctica, where 36 people tested positive to COVID-19. Stone Monki/Wikimedia, CC BY-SA

The COVID-19 virus is one of seven coronaviruses found in people all have animal origins (dubbed "zoonoses"), and vary in their ability to infect different hosts. The COVID-19 virus is thought to have originated in an animal and spread to people through an unknown intermediate host, while the SARS outbreak of 2002-2004 likely came from raccoon dogs or civets.

Given the general ubiquity of coronaviruses and the rapid saturation of the global environment with the COVID-19 virus, it's paramount we explore the risk for it to spread from people to other animals, known as "reverse zoonoses."

The World Organization for Animal Health is monitoring cases of the COVID-19 virus in animals. To date, only a few species around the globe have been found to be susceptible, including mink, felines (such as lions, tigers and cats), dogs and a ferret.

Whether the animal gets sick and recovers depends on the species. For example, researchers found infected adolescent cats got sick but could fight off the virus, while dogs were much more resistant.

While mink, dogs or cats are not in Antarctica, more than 100 million flying seabirds, 45% of the world's penguin species, 50% of the world's seal populations and 17% of the world's whale and dolphin species inhabit the continent.

In a 2020 study, researchers ran computer simulations and found cetaceans whales, dolphins or porpoises have a high susceptibility of infection from the virus, based on the makeup of their genetic receptors to the virus. Seals and birds had a lower risk of infection.

We concluded that direct contact with people poses the greatest risk for spreading the virus to wildlife, with researchers more likely vectors than tourists. Researchers have closer contact with wildlife: many Antarctic species are found near research stations, and wildlife studies often require direct handling and close proximity to animals.

Tourists, however, are still a concerning vector, as they visit penguin roosts and seal haul-out sites (where seals rest or breed) in large numbers. For instance, a staggering 73,991 tourists traveled to the continent between October 2019 and April 2020, when COVID-19 was just emerging.

Each visitor to Antarctica carries millions of microbial passengers, such as bacteria, and many of these microbes are left behind when the visitors leave. Most are likely benign and probably die off. But if the pandemic has taught us anything, it takes only one powerful organism to jump hosts to cause a pandemic.

There are guidelines for visitors to reduce the risk of introducing infectious microbes. This includes cleaning clothes and equipment before heading to Antarctica and between animal colonies, and keeping at least five meters away from animals.

These rules are no longer enough in COVID times, and more measures must be taken.

The first and most crucial step to protect Antarctic wildlife is controlling human-to-human spread, particularly at research stations. Everyone heading to Antarctica should be tested and quarantined prior to traveling, with regular ongoing tests throughout the season. The fewer people with COVID-19 in Antarctica, the less opportunity the virus has to jump to animal hosts.

Second, close contact with wildlife should be restricted to essential scientific purposes only. All handling procedures should be re-evaluated, given how much we just don't know about the virus.

We recommend all scientific personnel wear appropriate protective equipment (including masks) at all times when handling, or in close proximity to, Antarctic wildlife. Similar recommendations are in place for those working with wildlife in Australia.

Migrating animals that may have picked up COVID-19 from other parts of the world could also spread it to other wildlife in Antarctica. Skuas, for example, migrate to Antarctica from the South American coast, where there are enormous cases of COVID-19.

And then there's the issue of sewage. Around 37% of bases release untreated sewage directly into the Antarctic ecosystem. Meanwhile, an estimated 57,000 to 114,000 liters of sewage per day is dumped from ships into the Southern Ocean.

Fragments of the COVID virus can be found in wastewater, but these fragments aren't infectious, so sewage isn't considered a transmission risk. However, there are other potentially dangerous microbes found in sewage that could be spread to animals, such as antibiotic-resistant bacteria.

We can curb the general risk of microbes from sewage if the Antarctic Treaty formally recognizes microbes as invasive species and a threat to the Antarctic ecosystem. This would support better biosecurity practices and environmental control of waste.

In these early stages of the pandemic, scientists are scrambling to understand complexity of COVID-19 and the virus's characteristics. Meanwhile, the virus continues to evolve.

Until the true risk of cross-species transmission is known, precautions must be taken to reduce the risk of spread to all wildlife. We don't want to see the human footprint becoming an epidemic among Antarctic wildlife, a scenario that can be mitigated by better processes and behaviors.

Michelle Power is an Associate Professor in the Department of Biological Sciences, Macquarie University.

Meagan Dewar is a Lecturer, Federation University Australia.

Disclosure statement: Michelle Power receives funding from The Australian Antarctic Division, Australian Research Council and Inspiring Australia. Meagan Dewar receives funding from Department of Environment and Energy (Australian Antarctic Science).

Reposted with permission from The Conversation.

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COVID Has Reached Antarctica, and Scientists Are Extremely Concerned for Its Wildlife - EcoWatch

Coventry, in the Electric Heartland

Urban Air Port chose Coventry for the first site due to its location in the heart of the UKs industrial North and because it is a historic hub for the automobile and aerospace industry, with a pool of people and skills that can support the manufacturing industries of the future. The citys location provides easy access within four hours to most parts of the country. In December 2020, Coventry was named the best UK town for electric cars. Air-One will be unveiled during Coventrys UK city of culture celebrations in 2021 and continue to form part of the Commonwealth Games in 2022.

Cars need roads. Trains need rails. Planes need airports. eVTOLs will need Urban Air Ports, said Ricky Sandhu, founder and executive chairman of Urban Air Port. Urban Air Port will improve connectivity across our cities, boost productivity and help the UK to take the lead in a whole new clean global economy. Flying cars used to be a futuristic flight of fancy. Air-One will bring clean urban air transport to the masses and unleash a new airborne world of zero emission mobility.

Pamela Cohn, Chief Operating Officer for the Urban Air Mobility Division of Hyundai Motor Group, added, As we advance our eVTOL aircraft programme, development of supporting infrastructure is imperative. Air-One is a unique project that is set to help lead the way in developing a robust, accessible and intermodal infrastructure network for future mobility.

Gary Cutts, UK Research and Innovation Future Flight Challenge Director, continued, Urban Air Port has the potential to revolutionise cities across the world, making them more connected, cleaner and accelerating our green economic recovery. This project epitomises the purpose of the Future Flight Challenge fund and will help to position the UK at the vanguard of electric urban air mobility.

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Urban Air Mobility Gets a Foot on the Ground with Coventry's Urban Air Port - Inside Unmanned Systems

Researchers from Doon University, Dehra Dun, India, have reported the presence of 15 pharmaceutical and personal care products (PPCPs) in the Ganges near two Hindu pilgrimage cities. These pollutants include caffeine, anti-inflammatory drugs, common antibiotics, beta blockers, antibacterials, and insect repellents.

Over three seasons, Doon scientists studied the river waters of two cities in the rapidly industrializing Himalayan state of Uttarakhand: Haridwar, where the Ganges enters India's northern plains from the Himalayas, and Rishikesh, 21 kilometers away. Haridwar and Rishikesh, with a combined population of 400,000, attract an estimated 20 million tourists and pilgrims annually.

In particular, the scientists analyzed the water at its point of entry into the two cities and at sites before its entry into a sewage treatment plant and after sewage treatment. The study could provide useful baseline data for forecasting and evaluating the efficiency of future antipollution measures of the river basin restoration program, the authors added.

"Compared to previous studies that analyzed samples along various locations along the Ganges, this is the first comprehensive, intensive study in a particular city along the river," said Surendra Suthar, an associate professor at Doon University and one of the study's authors.

PPCP concentrations near the cities varied, with the highest measured concentration being 1,104.84 nanograms per liter. Researchers found higher PPCP concentrations at the lower, more populated reaches of the river. The concentrations, especially of anti-inflammatory drugs and antibiotics, were also higher in winter, possibly because of decreased biodegradation associated with lower temperatures and inadequate sunlight, the report said. The study also showed that PPCPs in the region were associated with a higher risk of algal blooms and a moderate risk to the health of river fish.

"The high load of PPCPs during summer and winter could be attributed to the excessive tourist visits for recreational activities and spiritual congregations during these seasons," according to the report, to be published in Chemosphere in April.

Paucity of Studies

There are few studies on PPCPs in Indian rivers. "Such studies are expensive, as they require sophisticated instruments," Suthar explained.

"Sewage, treated or untreated, flowing into the rivers is the main polluter," said Keshava Balakrishna, a professor in the Department of Civil Engineering, Manipal Institute of Technology. Sewage and effluent have long been associated with chemical pollution, as people flush medicines, cosmetics, and hygiene products down the toilet or throw them in the trash. The waste ends up in water treatment plants and landfills and then makes its way into water supplies such as the Ganges.

"Aquaculture, agricultural farms, and pharma industries can be other important sources," Balakrishna added.

In 2020, Balakrishna's team reported the presence of PPCPs in two tropical rivers in southwestern India, the Swarna and Netravati, which empty into the Arabian Sea.

A 2017 review by a team of scientists including Balakrishna in Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety found higher levels of pharmaceuticals in Indian water treatment plants compared with developed countries. The review also pointed out the paucity of studies in India on the fate of pharmaceutical products in water bodies and their impact on human health, "despite India being one of the world leaders in pharmaceutical production and consumption."

The 2017 review reported that studies from other countries indicated that PPCPs in rivers could accumulate in aquatic organisms and enter the food web. Antibiotic resistance among microbes is the main threat to human and ecological health, Balakrishna said. "Low doses of antibiotics in a river can be consumed by pathogens in the river, [which then] become superbugs, and multiply."

Suthar, too, cautions about both toxicity in the food web and the emergence of antibiotic resistance in pathogens contaminating river waters. "If we add up all the individual contaminant levels for 1 liter of water, the collective dose will be very toxic, especially if they bioaccumulate in organisms, including some rare species in the Ganges such as the Ganges dolphins," he said. "And microbes in the waters will become resistant to the drugs."

A 2019 global review of PPCPs in rivers reported that "no global legal maximum environmental concentrations exist for pharmaceutically active compounds," despite poor understanding of the combined acute and chronic effects of PPCPs on flora, fauna, and human health.

The global review went on to say that primary and secondary wastewater treatment plants "generally are unable to remove these pollutants, leading to their migration into drinking water supplies," and recommended advanced tertiary water treatment processes, such as oxidation and adsorption. It also suggested advanced methods for accurate and continuous monitoring of pharmaceuticals in the environment and strict regulations for effluent release.

In India, most antipollution efforts are directed at surface water treatment and focus on parameters such as chemical oxygen demand, biological oxygen demand, nitrates, and bacteria, said Suthar. "We need a policy that looks at PPCPs too."

Chemical Footprints

The source of the Ganges is the Gangotri Glacier, high in the Himalayas less than 200 kilometers from Haridwar. The recent findings on PPCPs in the Ganges add to research documenting chemical and microplastic pollution throughout the mountain range, including the world's highest peak, Mount Everest, said Kimberley Miner, a scientist at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory in California and a research assistant professor at the Climate Change Institute, University of Maine. "Our team found PFAS [polyfluoroalkyl substances], DDT [dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane], and toxic metals on the mountain, suggesting that the chemical footprint left by trekkers may be as large as the visible trash and pollution footprint."

The new Ganges research also echoes recent studies tracing PPCPs on European glaciers, where researchers traced chemical pollutants to the use of perfumes in personal care products like soap. Perfumed soaps and ointments are also associated with PPCPs in Haridwar and Rishikesh, where mass bathing events are part of tourism and pilgrimage activities.

This story originally appeared in Eos and is republished here as part of Covering Climate Now, a global journalism collaboration strengthening coverage of the climate story.

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U.S. Subway Platforms Have Highly Polluted Air - EcoWatch