Thousand world-class incubators will take the Indian startup ecosystem forward: Shailendra Singh, DIPP – YourStory.com

The Startup India initiative, launched in January 2016 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, recently completed one year of existence. Shailendra Singh, Joint Secretary and CVO (Chief Vigilance Officer) at Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), took the stage at the Make in India Karnataka conference to talk about the journey so far, learnings, and the future of the Startup India initiative.

Organised by the Government of Karnataka in association with Department of Industrial Policy and Promotion (DIPP), the Government of India, and Confederation of Indian Industry (CII), the event saw sector-specific tracks and general discussions.

Shailendra Singh noted that the past year, the Startup India initiative has been an incredible journey of learning and the team never thought it would progress like it did. In the initial stage, the Startup India team had to decide which department would handle different roles and then start building on it from the ground-up. He said,

At Startup India, we are trying to build an ecosystem at the national and state level. We want to take care of startups at every stage starting from registration of a startup as a company to necessary compliances, mentoring, incubation, funding, and exit.

Singh also mentioned that all updates, be it progress so far, plans in action, and also future plans are updated on the Startup India website. He encouraged the audience to regularly visit the platform and share feedback with the government.

As Startup India is just a year old now, Singh joked that the initiative qualifies as a startup itself as it is undergoing a lot of learnings and taking inputs from the Indian population. Talking about some of the initiatives, he shared the following:

Startup India had made company registration easier and now a new company can be incorporated within two days. DIPP has also written to different states to make their norms easier and assist startups in focussing on the job and at hand instead of tip-toeing around compliances.

While the government had passedthe 10,000 crore Fund of Fundsand is the process of deploying it, Singh noted that even though the startup funding environment has not been ideal in India, the Fund of Funds is not aimed at disrupting or replacing existing models. He said,We are of course not disturbing the channel through which startups approach an angel fund or VCs.

Singh also noted that they got feedback that banks don't provide loans to startups because innovative startups are considered to be high-risk ventures. To counteract this Singh noted,

We are formulating a credit guarantee scheme of Rs 2,000 crore and hope to launch it within a month. This should take care of funding issues.

Singh noted that the government and its many bodies are helping startups validate their startup ideas through its network of mentors, incubators, and also with the government acting as a customer to many upcoming startups. Singh said,

Earlier startups were looking at only 2530 percent procurement which was done by the government. Now startups can compete with major players.

To further level the playing field, the government has also removed turnover and experience criterion for micro, small, and medium enterprises. All these measures were put into practice by interacting with the general public and understanding their pain points.

DIPP has also made the process of filing patents easier by reducing the filing charges by 80 percent and also providing a panel of 1,000 facilitators to help with the different nuances involved ranging from filing patents to intellectual property rights (IPR) issues.

While patent filing and raising funds are critical to a startups success, Singh noted that startup incubators have historically been shown to be the most important stakeholder for the startup ecosystem. Singh said,

All developed countries where startups are flourishing because they have really worked on incubators and they are doing well. That is one place we are lagging behind in. Anyone with a good idea should enter an incubator and come out with a ready product.

Many ministries, National Institute for Transforming India (NITI) Aayog, DST, and MSME are working on developing world-class incubators. The government is also inviting corporates and academic institutes to work together to build incubators. Singh said,

We should have 1,000 world-class incubators in the country to take the startup ecosystem forward.

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Thousand world-class incubators will take the Indian startup ecosystem forward: Shailendra Singh, DIPP - YourStory.com

Holly Holm’s coach thinks Cris Cyborg needs to stay clean for a year before they fight – MMAmania.com

Even though Holly Holm didn't win her fight with Germaine de Randamie at UFC 208 (or at least not yet pending an appeal with NYSAC), her team at Jackson-Winkeljohn are still looking ahead to future clashes at 145 pounds, which obviously brings up the specter of Cris Cyborg.

Whenever Cyborg's name tends to come up, we've noticed a trend of fighters humming and hawing about stepping into the cage with her. It's more of the same here, with Holly's coach Mike Winkeljohn telling Submission Radio he'd like to see Cyborg stay clean for a year before he has one of his fighters face her.

"Well you know, things are obvious," Winkeljohn said when asked about potential PED use by Cyborg. "And people are always worried about hurting peoples feelings, but if you look at her over her career, her body did change as time went on. Theres a reason why it changed. Thats it. Its black and white. Lets not lie about it, lets not be politically correct. Its not about hurting feelings. So now its not just that theyre on things and they get the fight time, but density has changed, structures have changed of your body, bone structure has changed. These things are effected by cheating and we cant go back, but at least lets go with keeping things clean for a year so at least the muscles are not getting enhanced as such. I think its only fair. its simple and Im sick and tired of worrying about hurting peoples feelings.

I would recommend [Holly] probably not take [a Cyborg fight] until Cyborg is suspended for a year, because you never know what youre going to get and you never know behind the scenes whos getting tested and whos not. ... People need to be clean to make people fight on a fair level playing field, and I think before Holly were to fight Cyborg she needs to do that.

Well, you actually do know behind the scenes who is getting tested and who isn't, because it's all on USADA's public website. According to its Athlete Test History Database, Cyborg has been tested 14 times since USADA came along last year, which is a pretty solid number of tests. Later in the Submission Radio interview, Mike Winkeljohn lauds Holm for being tested 17 times and even goes so far as to suggest it's because USADA holds a grudge against her for knocking out Ronda Rousey. Yet, we've got Cyborg here with three less tests and shes still assumed to be dirty?

I suppose that's what you're going to get when you look the way Cyborg looks. It doesn't help that she also tested positive for steroids back in 2012. This more recent second drug test failure will forever come up when people question how clean she is, but USADA seems to be on their way to clearing her of any real cheating. And at a certain point, if you're still going to question a fighter that's been tested as much as Cyborg, then what's the point of all this elaborate testing anyways?

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Holly Holm's coach thinks Cris Cyborg needs to stay clean for a year before they fight - MMAmania.com

This $425 DIY Implant Will Make You a Cyborg – Bloomberg – Bloomberg

Whats that thing sticking out of your head? a woman asks the man with a serpentine antenna between his eyes.

Neil Harbisson turns, parts his bowl-cut blond locks, and curves the antenna toward the buttinsky. Its a way to hear color, he says.

Whats it connected to? she asks.

Harbisson looks up at her with smiling, cobalt eyes. My brain.

The North Sense briefly vibrates when the wearer turns to face north.

Courtesy North Sense

At an outdoor cafe at L.A.s Original Farmers Market, passersby are constantly checking out Harbisson, 34, and his partner, Moon Ribas, 31. In her left arm, she has a Bluetooth implant designed to analyze the earths seismic movements. Whats it feel like? Two heartbeats, she says.

Harbisson, whose U.K. passport shows hes the first legally recognized cyborg, was born colorblind. He designed his antennawhich translates colors into one of 360 musical tones hes memorizedback in 2003 with help from a cyberneticist. At first, he connected it to headphones and a laptop. Eventually, he persuaded a surgeon to drill into his skull, implant a chip, and fuse the antenna to his occipital bone.

The couple say merging technology with their bodies has created new senses. We are transspecies, says Ribas, whose three-year-old seismic implant vibrates at different intensities based on data from online seismographs. As with other biohackers, their claimshe says my color registers as an F sharp, for exampleare difficult to verify. But their London startup, Cyborg Nest, is manufacturing DIY kits meant to bring their transhumanism closer to the mainstream.

CEO Babitz was fitted with one in December and compares the experience to a second childhood.

Courtesy North Sense

The first kit, the North Sense, is essentially a $425 wearable implant. It does one simple thing, says co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Liviu Babitz, who was fitted with one in December. A short vibration every time youre facing north. That doesnt sound like an advantage worth body modification, but Babitz likens the experience to a second childhood. I remember my son discovering things as his senses developed and the look in his eyes when it happened, he says. I feel the same.

The sensor itself, a compass chip that detects magnetic fields, is easy to remove. The tough part is installing two pocket-size titanium barbells onto the wearers chest, like a piercing. When the skin heals, typically after a month or two, the silicone-coated North Sense slides onto the implant. Babitz says the sensor is designed to allow the free flow of air and avoid skin irritation, and its waterproof. Its certainly nowhere near as conspicuous as Harbissons antenna, though it goes a step beyond less invasive wearable devices, such as the ankle kit from startup North Paw that also vibrates when facing magnetic north.

Cyborg Nest, launched in 2015 with about $200,000 in pooled funds, began shipping North Senses in February. The company says about 1,000 people have ordered one. (Babitz verifies their identities to make sure theyre adults.) The Romanian, who used to work for the human-rights group Videre Est Credere getting cameras and other technology to oppressed communities to expose government abuses, admits his wife and friends have been skeptical. Then again, he says, laughing, What I did before I started this was no less crazy.

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Journalist Mark OConnell, who wrote To Be a Machine, a book about the transhumanist movement, isnt convinced that the niche use for the North Sense will appeal to a mass audience. I dont see it taking it off, he says. Then again, tattoos are everywhere now.

Babitz declined to discuss Cyborg Nests next projects, but Harbisson and Ribas have a wish list: a Bluetooth tooth for silent communication; a way to detect pollution; eyes in the back of the head. The big question, Harbisson says, is how to adjust a persons mental perspective to accept those kinds of inputs. The body isnt the focus, he says. Modifying our minds is what really changed us.

The bottom line: Cyborg Nest has sold about 1,000 DIY implants that vibrate when a wearer faces north, retraining their sensory comprehension.

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This $425 DIY Implant Will Make You a Cyborg - Bloomberg - Bloomberg

Injustice 2 Mobile Gameplay Video Leaks Cyborg and Scarecrow … – Shacknews

The title for iOS and Android has soft-launched in the Philippines, showing off the three as-yet-unannounced heroes.

A mobile version of Injustice 2 has soft-launched in the Philippines and gameplay footage may have inadvertently leaked two as-yet unannounced heroes that could appear in the console version when it launches in May.

The video, from mobile site All-Star Production(via EventHubs), shows off Cyborg, Green Lantern and Scarecrow among the combatants for iOS and Android. Green Lantern had previously been confirmed as playable through an alternate skin, but the other two have not been announced by either developer NetherRealm or publisher Warner Bros. Interactive. The latest revealearlier this weekwas of Cheetah, Catwoman and Poison Ivy, and the official Injustice website has the next hero(es)set to be announcedon February 23.

It is possible that the two could be exclusive to the app, as the free-to-play Injustice: Gods Among Us released in April 2013 alongside the console versions of the game had a few heroes of its own.

The console game is scheduled to be released on May 16 for PlayStation 4 and Xbox One. As for the mobile title, there is no official release date for it in the United States.

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Injustice 2 Mobile Gameplay Video Leaks Cyborg and Scarecrow ... - Shacknews

Spat over ‘Sexy Beaches’ morphs into Florida Republican feud – Miami Herald


Miami Herald
Spat over 'Sexy Beaches' morphs into Florida Republican feud
Miami Herald
What started out as a disagreement over taxpayers footing the bill for a version of Pitbull's "Sexy Beaches" video is now turning into a full-blown public relations war between Republican Gov. Rick Scott and the GOP-controlled Florida House. The two ...
Spat over 'Sexy Beaches' morphs into Florida Republican feud - WFSB 3 ConnecticutWFSB
Florida, Palm Beach County saw record tourism in 2016Sun Sentinel

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Spat over 'Sexy Beaches' morphs into Florida Republican feud - Miami Herald

Jackson Reintroduces Bill To Clean Up Beaches By Plugging Old, Leaking Oil Wells – Tri County Sentry (blog)

Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson

SACRAMENTO State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) is continuing her efforts to protect California beaches by reintroducing a bill to monitor and cap Californias old, abandoned and leaking oil wells. Senate Bill 44, the Coastal Oil Well Clean Up and Remediation Act, would require that the California State Lands Commission plug very old orphaned oil wells in California waters when the original oil company that operated the well is out of business and cannot be held responsible.

SB 44 is the reintroduction of a bill Jackson carried in 2016 that was vetoed by Governor Brown. Research completed by the State Lands Commission in 2016 identified approximately 200 improperly capped orphan oil wells that risk contaminating our coastal waters through the continual seepage of oil. The vast majority of these so-called legacy wells in California are located along the Summerland and Ellwood beaches in Santa Barbara County and along the Central Coast.

No one hoping to take a peaceful walk along the beach wants to find themselves or their family members stepping into black, toxic gunk instead, said Jackson. Oil is toxic, it is a carcinogen, it leads to poor air quality, and it is unsafe for wildlife. We dont want it on our beaches, soiling a place of beauty and economic vitality, nor do we want it near our children, our out-of-town visitors, or our fish, birds and marine life. To the extent we can prevent having our beaches soiled by it, we should. I look forward to working with the Governor this year to get this bill passed.

Jacksons bill was originally inspired by the influx of oil onto Summerland Beach, south of Santa Barbara, which continues to prompt health warnings and beach closures. The oil is believed to be coming from the Becker Onshore Well and other similar wells dating back to the 1890s, long before the creation of regulatory agencies and requirements about how to properly cap unused wells, and is believed to have been leaking oil for decades. The company that operated that well is now out of business.

During the 2016 legislative session, Governor Brown approved $700,000 in funding in the state budget to remediate the Becker Onshore Well. It is estimated that the State Lands Commission will be able to start remediation of the Becker well by 2018.

SB 44 redirects up to $2 million dollars annually to a fund set aside for the remediation of additional improperly abandoned legacy wells. With this fund, the Commission can begin identifying which old wells are leaking oil and prioritize addressing the highest risk wells first.

The first hearing for the bill has not yet been set.

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Jackson Reintroduces Bill To Clean Up Beaches By Plugging Old, Leaking Oil Wells - Tri County Sentry (blog)

Spring break ideas: From beaches to Europe to new museums – The Durango Herald

NEW YORK Spring break is right around the corner. For some travelers, that means seeking out beaches and sunshine. Others may be tempted by Europe, which has become more affordable for Americans, or by spring skiing.

Airfare, destinations, bookingsAirfares vary considerably this time of year. Travelers not tied to a holiday week may find flights are cheaper at other times. Most colleges schedule a week off in March, but family vacations often revolve around school breaks for Easter (April 16 this year) or Passover (beginning April 10).

Booking.coms data shows that travel March 18-April 30 will be 2 percent more expensive overall than last year, but a few domestic destinations are cheaper, including New Orleans, 8 percent cheaper than last spring; Miami Beach, 4 percent cheaper; and Tampa, Florida, 9 percent cheaper.

And take a look at Europe: A strong U.S. dollar has made vacations there much more affordable for Americans.

Expedias top 10 destinations for March and April are Cancun, Mexico, followed by Orlando, Florida; Las Vegas; New York; Miami; Los Angeles; London; Punta Cana, Dominican Republic; Phoenix and Paris.

American Express Travels top five international destinations are London, Cancun, Rome, Paris and Tel Aviv. But American Express reports a few other spots spiking compared with last year, with spring bookings to Iceland up 150 percent, to Auckland, New Zealand, up 129 percent, to Madrid up 114 percent, to Casablanca, Morocco, 103 percent, and Zurich, 101 percent.

AAAs bookings have three Florida destinations Orlando, Fort Lauderdale and Miami in the top five domestic destinations, along with Anaheim, California (home to Disneyland), and Las Vegas. Internationally, AAAs top five are Punta Cana, Rome, Jamaica, London and the Bahamas.

At StudentUniverse, which caters to travelers 18-26, top spring break destinations are London; Los Angeles; New York; Miami; Paris; Madrid; Orlando; Barcelona, Spain; Cancun; San Juan, Puerto Rico; Tokyo and Dublin.

Debbie Sebastian, a Travel Leaders agent in Danville, Kentucky, says shes seeing lots of groups traveling with Punta Cana being the most popular choice this year. The flight times and charter options make it a great option.

March is typically the Miami airports busiest month for domestic arrivals, with 1.08 million passengers in March 2016.

Karen Malone, with Travel Leaders in Woodbury, Minnesota, says in addition to the Dominican Republic, Jamaica is also proving popular, with both destinations offering new resort choices. We here in the frozen North are attracted to those turquoise blue waters and white sand beaches, she said.

Cancuns always big for spring break, but its not just a destination for the pina colada-and-party crowd. Cancun also serves as the gateway for more quiet environs like Isla Mujeres, which is growing in popularity, as well as the entire Riviera Maya and all points directly south of Cancun, including Playa del Carmen, said Travel Leaders spokesman Steven Loucks. The region has all-inclusive resorts for every kind of traveler couples, families, multigenerational groups.

Spring skiing, spring trainingSome ski resorts schedule fun events to mark the end of winter, from concerts to costume contests and parties with a beach-and-barbecue theme. Vail, Colorados Spring Back to Vail festival is April 14-16 and includes the World Pond Skimming Championships, where skiers land in the water. Breckenridge, Colorado, has a Spring Fever festival, April 1-23.

Baseball fans often schedule trips to catch their favorite MLB teams getting ready for opening day. Late February through April 1, the Cactus League plays in the Phoenix area, the Grapefruit League plays in Florida.

Culture vulturesNot everybody hits the beach for spring break and not every family heads to theme parks. Wendy Perrin, founder of the travel planning site WendyPerrin.com, says her best spring vacations with two boys have been to Colonial Williamsburg in Williamsburg, Virginia; Paris; and a Panama Canal cruise. This year, shes taking the family to Morocco, to introduce the kids to a completely different culture.

If you like visiting museums, note two important openings this spring: the American Writers Museum in Chicago on May 16 and the Museum of the American Revolution in Philadelphia on April 19.

Other noteworthy events include the Whitney Museum of American Arts Biennial 2017 in New York, a contemporary art survey opening March 17; in Kansas City, Missouri, special exhibitions at the National World War I Museum and an April 6 commemoration of the centennial of Americas 1917 entry into the war; and at the Dallas Museum of Art, opening March 12, a survey of 200 works of Mexican modern art by Diego Rivera, Frida Kahlo and others. A new attraction opens at Graceland in early March, Elvis Presleys Memphis, with museum exhibits, a stage and more.

Finally, spring means flowers. In Washington, D.C., the National Cherry Blossom Festival runs March 20-April 16 with various Japanese-themed events, though bloom times vary depending on the weather. And at Walt Disney World in Florida, the Epcot International Flower & Garden Festival runs March 1-May 29.

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Spring break ideas: From beaches to Europe to new museums - The Durango Herald

Tiny plastic pellets found on 73% of UK beaches – The Guardian

Tiny plastic pellets, known as nurdles, found at Tregantle Cove in Newquay. Photograph: PA

A search of hundreds of beaches across the UK has found almost three-quarters of them are littered with tiny plastic pellets.

The lentil-size pellets known as nurdles are used as a raw material by industry to make new plastic products.

But searches of 279 shorelines from Shetland to Scilly revealed that 205 (73%) contained pellets.

The largest number recorded in the Great Winter Nurdle Hunt weekend in early February were found at Widemouth Bay in Cornwall, where 33 volunteers from the Widemouth Task Force collected about 127,500 pellets on a 100-metre stretch of beach.

Thousands of the tiny pellets were spotted by volunteers over a short period in locations from Porth Neigwl in Wales to the shoreline in front of the dunes at Seaton Carew near Hartlepool, County Durham, and after stormy conditions on the Isle of Wight.

More than 600 volunteers took part in the hunt organised by Fidra, the Scottish environmental charity, in collaboration with the Environmental Investigation Agency, Fauna and Flora International, Greenpeace, the Marine Conservation Society and Surfers Against Sewage.

The lightweight nurdles can escape into the environment at various points during their manufacture, transport or use, spilling into rivers and oceans or getting into drains where they are washed out to sea. It is thought that billions are lost in the UK each year.

Nurdles are one of the main sources of primary microplastics small pieces of plastic that have not come from larger items broken down into little bits in European seas and can cause damage to wildlife.

Experts say they soak up chemical pollutants from their surroundings and then release the toxins into the animals, such as birds and fish, that eat them.

Results from the hunt will be fed into the governments consultation on microplastics, which is looking at ways of tackling the problem.

Madeleine Berg, projects officer at Fidra, said she was delighted so many nurdle hunters braved the winter weather to take part.

The information weve gathered will be vital to show the government that pellets are found on beaches all around the UK and, importantly, that so many people care about the issue.

Simple precautionary measures can help spillages and ensure nurdles do not end up in our environment. We are asking the government to ensure best practice is in place along the full plastic supply chain, and any further nurdle pollution is stopped.

Fidra has been working with the UK plastics industry since 2012 to promote best practice to end further pellet pollution.

View Fidras interactive map to see where nurdle pollution has been found across the UK in the past few years.

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Tiny plastic pellets found on 73% of UK beaches - The Guardian

Ebony Chorale of the Palm Beaches celebrates 25 years in the community – WPTV.com

WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. - It's a joyful noise that you've probably never heard.

For the last 25 years, the Ebony Chorale of the Palm Beaches has been belting out tunes in all genres.

Their primary focus is bringing light to a dark, yet hopeful chapter, of American history.

Our mission is the performance and preservation of the Negro spiritual, the song that grew out the slavery experience, says Dr. Orville Lawton, founder of the Chorale.

It gives a strong sense of our heritage, and understanding from whence we've come, and we're trying to get to, Chorale president Lee Hooks added.

Lawton says there was interest in the idea from the very beginning.

I got 25 singers that I knew and asked them to bring someone, and by the time we did the dedication, I actually had 100 singers, Lawton said.

In those 25 years, their travels have taken the Chorale around the world, from performing in West Africa, to right here in our area, where the group performed with the Palm Beach Opera earlier this month.

Claudine Cotton has been with the Chorale since the beginning.

It wraps you, it warms you, and when you're finished, you're tired, but you feel great, said Cotton. Its a good group to be with. In here, everybody gets along.

Leslie Powell, on the other hand, just joined last August.

It is amazing, said Powell. And to say that I have a voice in the group, I feel like that's truly a blessing.

It's a group made up of men and women, old and young, from different backgrounds.

They all want to send a united message they say is still relevant today, of a past that shouldn't be forgotten, and a brighter future they hope to embrace.

All of it done in a language we can all understand.

Music actually transforms people's ideas, makes them look at things a different way when they can hear it, and feel it, and be a part of it.

The Ebony Chorale will be having their 25th anniversary celebration on May 28 at 5 p.m., at Palm Beach Lakes High School.

For more information, visit here.

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Ebony Chorale of the Palm Beaches celebrates 25 years in the community - WPTV.com

Astronomy shoots for the stars – V Spectator

Written by Bryce Ethridge, Staff Writer

College: the final frontier. These are the voyages of the starship Blazer. Its a four-year mission for astronomy majors: explore Odum library, seek out new ways to stay up all night, and boldly go where plenty of students have gone before.

Astronomy isnt just a field in the Department of Physics, Astronomy and Geosciences students can major in.

Not only does the department provide courses for students who decide to major in these sciences, it also holds events that allow students and the community to learn about the stars, like planetarium shows.

Last Friday the department held three showings in the planetarium, giving families and students a view of the penumbral eclipse and black holes. Professor of Physics and Astronomy, Dr. Martha Leake, held the reins of the show as she took the audience on a journey through the stars.

In addition to the penumbral eclipse, Mars and Venus were also visible, as well as quite a few constellations such as Cassiopeia, Ursa Major and Ursa Minor. Dr. Leake also gave the audience a tip about the North Star.

The easiest way to find the North Star is to find the Big Dipper (Ursa Major), Dr. Leake said. If you look for the brightest star, you might end up following Rigel or Venus.

As the presentation continued, Dr. Leake told the audience what the title of the show, Whispers from the Cosmos, came from.

The chirp that black holes make when merging is the whisper from the cosmos, Dr. Leake said.

Dr. Leake ended the show by telling the audience her plan to consume them with a black hole: a simulated one which she then showed on the projector.

The astronomy department also has an astronomy club called the Valdosta State Astronomical Society, and the department gives back to the community.

We give planetarium shows free of charge to school groups and civic organizations during the daytime, Dr. Kenneth Rumstay, professor of physics and astronomy, said. We also give free tutoring services for students in introductory courses (for astronomy).

As another service to the community, all science departments including astronomy have Science Saturday, where professors from VSU set up experiments and activities for children around the community.

Part of what makes VSUs astronomy department so strong is their part in the creation of the Southeastern Association for Research of Astronomy. The organization currently has three telescopes around the world. One is in Arizona, one is in Chile and one is on the island of La Palma.

To be honest, the southern skies in Georgia are not very good for astronomy, but these three telescopes are under superior skies, Dr. Rumstay said. We dont have to go there to use them; we operate them from our offices or homes over the internet.

Dr. Rumstay said even though the sky isnt clear in Valdosta, VSU still has the ability to send astronomy students around the world to do research.

Planetarium shows premiere once a month, and the next show, The Soot Between the Stars, is set for March 10.

Shows are free to VSU students, and go on sale at 6 p.m. on Friday, though lines form much earlier.

Tickets are distributed as place-holders on a first come, first serve basis.

Parties no bigger than seven may reserve their tickets together at one time.

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Astronomy shoots for the stars - V Spectator

Love of Astronomy Brings Caltech Professor to SoPas – South Pasadena Review

Inspiring the next generation of scientists is one of the key factors drawing Professor Dr. Andrew Howard into the field of astronomy.

Today, the South Pasadena resident is among the faculty at California Institute of Technology, better known as Caltech, where he has an opportunity to develop the most brilliant minds at a university primarily devoted to the instruction of technical arts and applied sciences.

With an opportunity to teach, hanging onto his every word last week was a younger generation, as Howard joined a dozen guest speakers sharing the knowledge of their professions at Marengo Elementary Schools Science Night, an annual event designed to spark an interest in science with hands-on, kid-friendly experiments.

While others talked about cells, robotics and a myriad of other discoveries, including clouds and rainbows, Howards field of expertise for the many students and parents who visited classroom 6, focused on planets as he took them on a simulated tour of the solar system.

Thousands of stars are visible to the naked eye, some millions of light years away, was all it took for the South Pasadena resident to be astounded by the natural showcase to become interested in the field of astronomy as a child. Howard was one of those kids who grew up enjoying science in the classroom. He studied physics in college and grad school, and became an astronomer about a decade ago.

Ive been interested in planets in our solar system and in other solar systems for a long time, he explained, noting in his daily work, We try to discover and analyze them, figure out what they are made of to see if they are similar to the earth.

Thats what brought him to Caltech, where he is a professor doing research this year on planets. Coming to Southern California from the University of Hawaii, Howard and his wife, Sarah, have two children, Calla, 5, who will enter kindergarten in the fall and Ian, 8, a third grader at Marengo Elementary School. While in Hawaii, he taught an intro astronomy class, the solar system for grad students and a class on a particular kind of planet called super-Earths. Prior to working in Hawaii, Howard worked in the Astronomy Department at U.C. Berkeley.

While it might be difficult for some to give up the good life of living in Hawaii, Howard and his family like the small town feel of living in South Pasadena just fine, noting that the schools are great and the proximity to the Caltech campus made the town an ideal choice.

For Howard, to think beyond Earth, to look beyond the planet he calls home and study the universe as a career holds a certain mystique. Working in Southern California among some of the most gifted scientists at Caltech was difficult to pass up.

During Marengos Science Night program, the fascination grew among the young, curious students captivated by his line of work while many inquisitive minds peppered him with questions. Interactive, Howard asked what their favorite planets were, what they are made of and touched on a myriad areas of the astronomy field, amazed by their knowledge of outer space.

When asked how many planets are in the universe, he responded, We think that almost every star has its own planets. There are 100 billion stars in the galaxy, so at least that many.

The fascination of astronomy for many is that planets are places and you can imagine going there, he explained. You can get transported there. Not all the other sciences are personal in that way.

During his series of talks at Marengo School, Howard told the kids, Believe it or not my job is to find planets. Its a pretty fun job, before showing them all the planets that orbit the sun Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus and Neptune.

Venus is the hottest planet because its closest to the sun. Mercury is closer to the sun, but Venus is slightly hotter because it has a thick atmosphere that acts like a blanket (global warming), he explained. Planets are also made rocks and gases, which the bright, young students pointed out, prompting Howard to ask, Are you guys going to astronomy school?

Asking his final question, the Caltech researcher wanted to know which planets can support life in the solar system. Earth, certainly, noting the obvious before one youngster insisted living on any planet might be possible if youre wearing all that gear and stuff, meaning what an astronaut would don for a mission into outer space.

Yeah, maybe, if you went to REI, said a laughing Howard, giving the benefit of the doubt.

The possibility exists that life could be supported on Mars and the moons that orbit around Jupiter and Saturn. In his daily discoveries, Howard examines if there are other Earths, how did our solar system form and are there other planetary systems out there?

When it comes to planets, Earth is Howards favorite because I live here, he told the students. Sparking some amusement, one child said, Earth is my favorite because its where all the good restaurants are located, when Howard asked: What is your favorite planet?

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Love of Astronomy Brings Caltech Professor to SoPas - South Pasadena Review

Free events this week range from Astronomy on Tap to Go Fever show – Austin American-Statesman

The Brewers Table Pop-Up at Austin Beerworks. The upcoming restaurant-brewery from Jake Maddux has thrown pop-ups in the past, but this one will be a chance to try The Brewers Tables flagship brew, the Common Lager, as well as bar bites. 1 to 4 p.m. 3009 Industrial Terrace. facebook.com/events/1360012917404654/.

Finding Refuge in Austin at the Austin History Center. This timely historical exhibit explores the experiences of displacement, forced migration, and resettlement among various communities in Austin from 1848 to 1980 using documents, photographs and objects from the centers archival collections. Opening reception 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday. 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays-Saturdays, 12 to 6 p.m. Sundays through Sept. 17. 810 Guadalupe St. 512-974-7480,library.austintexas.gov/ahc/about-us.

Astronomy on Tap. This months cosmic talk will explore white dwarfs, distant worlds and space reconnaissance technology. One featured speaker, Greg Zeimann, will even explain how beer and far-flung galaxies have a lot in common. 7:30 to 9:30 p.m. The North Door, 502 Brushy St. ndvenue.com.

Harry Ransom Center lecture: Mary Hutchinson Observed: From Bloomsbury to Beckett. This illustrated lecture from Brenda Bynum, a former resident artist at Emory University, documents Hutchinsons impact on 20th century arts and letters. 7 to 8 p.m. 300 W. 21st St. hrc.utexas.edu/events/.

Go Fever at Waterloo Records. Australian musician Acey Monaro has assembled a group comprised of members of her favorite Austin bands, including Benjamin Burdick of Star Parks, to perform surf pop songs with rock-and-roll influences. The band will release a debut LP on Feb. 24. 5 p.m. 600A N. Lamar Blvd. 512-474-2500, waterloorecords.com.

Under the Skin at ICOSA Collective. The collection of new sculptural works by Anna Pedersen and Terra Goolsby features disembodied elements of a more traditional whole, connecting grotesque images with ones of feminine strength and sexuality. Opening reception 7 to 10 p.m. 12 to 5 p.m. Saturdays or by appointment through March 25. 702 Shady Lane, Suite 190. 512-920-2062, icosacollective.com/home.

Johnny Cashs 85th Birthday Bash at Mean Eyed Cat. Live music from Band in Black will serenade this celebration of Mean Eyed Cats favorite musician. There will also be beer drink specials, $5 Mean Nachos and Stubbs concert ticket giveaways. 7 to 11 p.m. 1621 W. Fifth St. themeaneyedcat.com/events/.

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Free events this week range from Astronomy on Tap to Go Fever show - Austin American-Statesman

Indian engineers need to stop being so afraid of the term artificial intelligence – Quartz

Artificial intelligence (AI) is being counted (pdf) among the hottest startup sectors in India this year, but the highly specialised space is struggling to grow due to the lack of a primary input: engineers.

Forget getting people of our choice, we dont even get applications when we advertise for positions for our AI team, said 25-year-old Tushar Chhabra, co-founder of Cron Systems, which builds internet of things (IOT)-related solutions for the defence sector. Its as if people are scared of the words artificial intelligence. They start freaking out when we ask them questions about AI.

India has over 170 startups focused purely on AI, which have together raised over $36 million. The sector has received validation from marquee investors like Sequoia Capital, Kalaari Capital, and business icon Ratan Tata. But entrepreneurs are struggling to expand due to a shortage of engineers with skills related to robotics, machine learning, analytics, and automation.

Racetrack.ai co-founders Subrat Parida and Navneet Gupta say that around 40% of their working time is spent searching for the right talent. Bengaluru-based Racetrack.ai has built an AI-driven communication bot called Marvin. People are the core strength of a startup. So hiring for a startup is very challenging. We are not looking for the regular tech talent and, since AI is a relatively new field in India, you dont get people with past experience in working on those technologies, Parida, also the CEO, told Quartz.

Only 4% of AI professionals in India have actually worked on cutting-edge technologies like deep learning and neural networks, which are the key ingredients for building advanced AI-related solutions, according to recruitment startup Belong, which often helps its clients discover and recruit AI professionals.

Also, many such companies require candidates with PhD degrees in AI-related technologies, which is rare in India.

While it takes a company just a month to find a good app developer, it could take up to three months to fill up a position in the AI space, said Harishankaran K, co-founder and CTO of HackerRank, which helps companies hire tech talent through coding challenges.

India is among the top countries in terms of the number of engineers graduating every year. But the engineering talent here has traditionally been largely focused on IT and not research and innovation.

Fields like AI require a mindset of research and experimentation. But most aspiring engineers in India follow a pattern: finish school, go to IIT, do an MBA, and then take up a job, said PK Viswanathan, professor of business intelligence at the Great Lakes Institute of Management in Chennai. To work on AI, you need people who not only have a strong technology background, but also have analytical thinking, puzzle-solving skills, and they should not be scared of numbers, he added.

Ironically, the subject has been a part of the curriculum at some engineering schools for almost a decade. However, what is taught there is mostly irrelevant to the real world.

Sachin Jaiswal, who graduated from IIT Kharagpur in 2011, studied some aspects of AI back in college. But whatever he is doing at his two-year-old startup Niki.aiit has built a bot that lets users order anything through a chat interfaceis based on what he learned in his earlier jobs, he said.

A lot of people are disillusioned when they come out of college and begin their first jobs, said Jaiswal, whose startup is backed by Ratan Tata.

In fact, even now, when he interacts with graduates from elite institutes to hire them, he sees a glaring gap between what these youngsters have learned and what is needed on the work floor.

Given the shortage of AI-related talent in India, several startups aspire to tap Silicon Valley. But thats not a feasible solution for young teams.

A few months back, Chhabra of Cron Systems was in talks with a US-based engineer, an IIT-Delhi alumnus working on AI for seven years. The guy asked for Rs2.5 crore per annum as salary. As a startup you cannot afford that price, said Chhabra.

Cron Systems has found a jugaad to solve their problem, Chhabra said. Late last year, the company hired a bunch of engineers with basic skills needed to create AI-related solutions and trained them.

We broke down AI into smaller pieces and hired six tech professionals who understood those basic skills well. Then we conducted a three-month training for these people and brought them onboard with what we do, Chhabra said.

Niki.ai, too, is following this hire-and-train model. Training takes time and investment but we have no option because we need the talent, Jaiswal of Niki.ai told Quartz. If we had better access to talent, things would have been better.

Gurugram-based AI startup Staqu has started partnering with academic institutions to build a steady pipeline of engineers and researchers.

Despite this struggle, entrepreneurs and investors in India feel bullish.

In an ecosystem where e-commerce and food delivery hog the limelight, a recent report by venture lending firm InnoVen Capital named AI one of the most under-hyped sectors. But that is set to change, said London-based angel investor Sanjay Choudhary.

In September 2016, Choudhary invested in Delhi-based AI startup Corseco Technologies. He regularly interacts with the companys team and the genuine issue of finding talent comes up frequently, he told Quartz.

India is a late entrant into the AI space and talent crunch will be a challenge for the industry for some time to come, he said. But I plan to continue investing in AI in India because I feel that the space has a lot of potential and needs to be supported.

While there seems no end to the struggle, Jaiswal of Niki.ai sees a silver lining: Talent crunch ensures that companies cant enter the field easily. So we have a competitive edge.

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Indian engineers need to stop being so afraid of the term artificial intelligence - Quartz

‘Uncanny Valley’ explores human experience through artificial intelligence – Laramie Boomerang

A production by a local theater troupe looks to explore questions about science and technology while cutting to the core of what it means to be human.

Uncanny Valley, a presentation of Laramie-based Relative Theatrics, premiered Wednesday and continues with performances through Feb. 25, including today. Performances begin at 7:30 p.m. in the Gryphon Theatre, 710 Garfield St. Tickets are $10 in advance or $15 on the day of the show. Student and senior discounts are available for Thursdays show for $8. Tickets are available at http://www.gryphontheatre.org or at the Laramie Plains Civic Center offices from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Friday.

Director James Hockenberry said the play is about the relationship between neuroscientist Claire, played by Alison Harkin, and the non-biological being Julian, played by Ryan Archibald. Though it covers the newsworthy topic of artificial intelligence, Hockenberry said the plays subject matter is more about the human experience.

The flashy bit is about artificial intelligence, but really its about how they relate to each other and how she teaches him what it means to be human, and the fact thats not all good stuff, he said. Theres quite a bit of negative in what it means to be human and go through life interacting with other people. She doesnt mean to reveal some of that to him, but he sort of picks up on it.

With an audience living in a world where artificial intelligence technology is a reality, Hockenberry said the plays final act begs the question of where humanity goes from here.

In a world where A.I. is possible or coming around the corner maybe even here whats the next step for humanity? he asked. If we havent figured out those issues of dealing with ourselves, are we really ready for the next step?

The mission statement for Relative Theatrics includes making sure performances are risky and relevant, Hockenberry said. With contemporarily relevant and controversial subject matter, he said Uncanny Valley was an obvious choice for the theater troupe.

This play is incredibly topical despite being set 40-some-odd-years in the future, Hockenberry said. It deals with income inequality, it deals with issues of power and honesty and basic human needs, the relationships between family members it even features a billionaire, which is a big topic in America right now.

Though hes a self-described science fiction fan, Hockenberry said he really appreciates the way Uncanny Valley explores profound questions that arent bound by the subject matter of the play.

I definitely got my fill of tech jargon, but at the same time, what really drew me to it are those human elements, which are timeless, he said.

One of the performances unique aspects is that the audience joins the actors on the stage. Tickets are limited to 50 per show to fit audience members on the same plane as the actors, which Hockenberry said allows for an experience unique to sitting in chairs off-stage.

Its a very intimate viewing experience, he said. We have so many people that hear that, and their just trained I sit in the audience and the stage happens somewhere else. With this, theyll be right up there in it. While were not interactive in the way a comedy show might, its impossible to not feel connected to the action when youre so close to it. When you can hear the intake of breath before a line, I think thats what Id say to someone whos never experience Relative Theatrics before, youve maybe never experienced anything like this.

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'Uncanny Valley' explores human experience through artificial intelligence - Laramie Boomerang

Artificial intelligence and the promise of a changing federal landscape – Washington Technology

EMERGING TECH

The future of federal IT belongs to CIOs who can build flexible, nimble organizations able to maximize the advantage of existing technologies like cloud services and automated machine intelligence while laying the groundwork for a range of emerging technologies on the horizon.

Thats according to a new report on government technology trends for 2017 published Wednesday by Deloitte. Researchers identified eight technologies they believe have an opportunity to disrupt and change the way the federal government leverages information, data and software over the next two years.

Some are a continuation of existing trends that are already established, like IT consolidation and greater reliance on cloud-based software and services. Others, like artificial intelligence, mixed reality and nanotechnology veer more into the outer edges of what is currently possible today, but may have far more relevance a few years down the line.

Scott Buchholtz, director of systems integration at Deloitte, said he is optimistic that the changing federal landscape will provide both the necessary space and incentive for CIOs to start thinking beyond their old legacy architectures.

I believe that some of the changing demographics in the marketplace, some of the restrictions on budgets that were likely to see and some of the convergence going on are likely to make government more open to automation and the role of technologythat a lot of our commercial clients have been using for years, said Buchholtz.

That includes tools like artificial intelligence, machine learning, along with virtual and augmented reality. Buccholtz said these still-nascent technologies have the potential for broad application in federal IT, but need more trailblazers willing to create successful and relevant test cases.

Last year, the Obama administration encouraged agencies to create their own high-risk, high-reward research on AI, remarking, the walls between humans and AI systems are slowly beginning to erode. Last October, the General Services Administration launched new digital communities to provide agency guidance on how to incorporate AI and mixed reality.

According to Deniece Peterson, director of federal market analysis at Deltek (disclosure: the author previously worked at Deltek), this has set the stage for IT managers to start laying the groundwork for some these technologies in 2017 and begin pilot and test programs to build a case for broader adoption down the line.

When it comes to dollars, a lot of this is stuff thats popping up in R&D [budgets] so when they want to expand it, they have an example to point to, Peterson said.

Breaking down the silos between IT and the agencies they serve is another trend that is expected to accelerate over the next two years. Building on past consolidation efforts, IT unbounded is Deloittes term for the process federal CIOs are using to change their operations in order to better match the nimble, adaptable nature of their private sector counterparts.

These efforts might get a boost in the form of a new president who hails from the private sector and has often spoke of making government work more like a business.

I believe that the new administration is placing a very different focus than has traditionally been the case on technology and management of technology, Buchholtz said. Were still in the early days, so it remains to be seen, but there are many indications that theres going to be a much higher expectation for outcomes and results, particularly in the technology space.

Peterson said a Trump administration may have the will to change the way federal IT works, but bureaucratic red tape and the long-term nature of the budget, appropriations and contracting cycles perpetually leave agencies dealing with yesterdays technology solutions.

Absent passage of legislative reform such as the Modernizing Government Technology Act, that process is likely to continue hampering efforts to make the federal government more nimble.

If the Trump administrations intent could meet with Congress passing [IT modernization reform], it will be a step in the right direction, said Peterson.

Rounding out Deloittes other trends are a greater reliance on inevitable architecture like cloud-based services and automated technologies that have been steadily gaining traction over the past few years, along with a list of exponential technologies like quantum computing, nanotechnology and biotechnology. These are the tools that Deloitte thinks will form the foundations of the modern IT architecture. To get there, Buchholtz said IT managers will need the freedom to think outside the box and discard the risk-adverse mindset that currently dominates federal decision making.

I think its important to realize that we collectively as a country have created an environment where failed experiments are punished disproportionately to success, Buchholtz said. We need to figure out how to better enable those with vision to fail small and fail quickly, but also get up, keep going and learn [the necessary] lessons.

About the Author

Derek B. Johnson is a freelance writer.

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Artificial intelligence and the promise of a changing federal landscape - Washington Technology

BRIEF-LMI Aerospace to be acquired by Sonaca Group – Reuters

Feb 17 LMI Aerospace Inc

* LMI Aerospace enters into merger agreement to be acquired by Sonaca Group

* Under agreement, LMI shareholders will receive $14 per share in an all-cash transaction

* Offer represents a 52 percent premium over LMI's closing share price on Feb. 16, 2017, of $9.19 per share

* In connection with merger agreement, Sonaca has obtained debt and equity financing commitments

* LMI Aerospace - Upon transaction close, lmi will operate as LMI Aerospace - a Member of Sonaca Group, with headquarters remaining in St. Louis.

* Korte will continue to serve as LMI Aerospace CEO and will report directly to Delvaux

* Lazard served as financial advisors to LMI; Credit Suisse served as financial advisors to Sonaca

* LMI's independent directors unanimously approved transaction

Source text for Eikon:

Further company coverage:

* Monotype announces fourth quarter and full year 2016 results

* Researchers reported that hs-410, in combination with bcg, continues to be generally well-tolerated

Feb 17 Enbridge Inc , Canada's largest pipeline company, reported a 3.4 percent fall in fourth-quarter profit, hurt by charges, including for asset impairment and restructuring.

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BRIEF-LMI Aerospace to be acquired by Sonaca Group - Reuters

WMU’s aerospace initiative launches new project – Western Herald

The Western Aerospace Launch Initiative is on the brink of exploring space with their latest project. Dr. Kristina Lemmer, one of the heads of the group and a professor of Mechanical and Aerospace engineering, is helping WALI achieve getting a satellite into space.

WALI is all about the people who make up the group. It is mostly made up of engineering students, but any student is welcome to join.

Satellite design takes all types, Lemmer said.

For this reason, a large combination of different engineering students are in this club. They are a group of highly skilled and motivated students who strive to gain skills that they can apply to their future. They also work with local schools and students to further their experience and learning.

Their biggest project right now is working with the Air Force to design a CubeSat to launch into space. A CubeSat is a very small, cubic satellite that is about 10 cm by 10 cm. Depending on the designer of the satellite, its mission can change, but its basic mission is to send data from space back to Earth.

There are two ways that a CubeSat can be launched, either directly off a launch vehicle or from the International Space Station. WALI is unsure which route they will take because they are still in the first phases of designing, developing, and putting the satellite out into space. The Air Force helps that process along.

The Air Force put out a call to universities to design a satellite to be launched into space. This started a year ago with eight other universities involved along with WMU. It is a program that has been around since 1999, and its goal is to train tomorrows space professionals.

It provides the students with experiences that they cant get anywhere else, Lemmer said.

The Air Force provides a team of dedicated professionals that always keep in check with the students and go over all the different aspects of the satellite project. The students have to document everything in their specific mission called the P-spec mission.

The P-spec mission goal is to analyze plasma produced by an electric propulsion device while in orbit. They will have a six unit satellite that separates into a four unit and a two unit. They have yet to determine exactly how to analyze electric propulsion thrusters while in orbit, so there is still a lot of work to do.

The soonest launch wouldnt be until January of 2020. The Air Force encourages the whole community to get behind the project. There are multiple phases that go into the making and launching of this satellite, but they are hoping to get it done well in the quickest time they can.

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WMU's aerospace initiative launches new project - Western Herald

Strata, Reliance form partnership to advance aerospace composites – CompositesWorld

Abu Dhabi-basedStrata Manufacturing PJSC (Strata) and Reliance Defence Limited (RDL, Mumabi, India) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to collaborate on aerospace composites manufacturing capabilities between India and the United Arab Emirates. The partnership will look at opportunities in the production of carbon fiber aerostructures, prepegs as well as 3D printing of aerospace components and airframe panels.

The Dhirubhai Ambani Aerospace Park, located at the Multi-modal International Cargo Hub and Airport at Nagpur (MIHAN), is being considered by Reliance Defence Limited (RDL) for a new facility to support its aerospace ambitions, and forms part of the emerging aerospace industry in India.

As an established player in the advanced manufacturing of aerostructures, we are keen to grow our capabilities globally with Reliance and expand our operational footprint by capitalizing on innovative, cost-effective solutions that can benefit our customers whilst enhancing our financial performance. The collaboration between the UAE and India has been instrumental in promoting knowledge transfer and strengthening ties between businesses to jointly invest in developingworld-class products, says Badr Al Olama, CEO of Strata.

He says by working with Reliance, the company sees a significant opportunity that can lead to the creation of a new tier-one global supplier: designing, developing and manufacturing major aircraft components - such as wings and empennages - for the next generation of aircrafts.

The project has the potential to bring in significant foreign direct investment and cutting-edge technology in this niche composite aircraft manufacturing segment, says RajeshDhingra, president of Reliance Defence & Aerospace. 3D printing enables us to produce assembly and machining fixtures in one-quarter the time and at one-half the cost as conventional machining.

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Strata, Reliance form partnership to advance aerospace composites - CompositesWorld

LMI Aerospace being acquired by Belgium’s Sonaca Group – STLtoday.com

LMI Aerospace, a St. Charles-based aerospace components manufacturer, has entered into a merger agreement to be acquired by Sonaca Group of Belgium.

Under the agreement, LMI shareholders will receive $14 per share in an all-cash transaction, the company said. The offer represents a 52 percent premium over LMI's closing share price Thursday of $9.19 per share.

After the deal closes, LMI will operate as LMI Aerospace - a member of Sonaca Group, with headquarters remaining in St. Charles, the company said in a statement. Daniel Korte will continue to serve as LMI Aerospace's CEO.

This deal brings our combined company to the forefront as a leader in the design and manufacture of complex aerostructures while working to diversify our global customer base, Korte said in a statement. In addition, LMI and Sonaca have complementary product portfolios while largely serving different aerospace primes and Tier 1 suppliers around the world, enabling us to better serve our customers.

Lazard served as financial advisors to LMI and Credit Suisse served as financial advisors to Sonaca.

The addition of LMI Aerospace to the Sonaca Group supports our vision to expand our capabilities in the United States, Bernard Delvaux, Sonaca's CEO said in the statement. Sonaca and LMI have both distinguished themselves in the industry through capabilities such as wing movables, wing panels, complex fuselage and structural assemblies, and together we will be able to strengthen our competitive advantage in the global aerospace market.

LMI also announced expectations for full-year 2016 results. The company said it expects its fiscal year net sales to range between $345.7 million and $346.7 million. The company said financial results for 2016 were negatively impacted by lower sales primarily due to customer delays, higher-than-expected medical costs and unanticipated engineering changes on a design-build contract.

Reuters contributed to this story.

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LMI Aerospace being acquired by Belgium's Sonaca Group - STLtoday.com

Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) Hits New 52-Week High – Zacks.com

by Sanghamitra Saha Published on February 17, 2017

XAR

For investors seeking momentum, SPDR S&P Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR - Free Report) is probably on radar now. The fund just hit a 52-week high and is up about 46.3% from its 52-week low price of $46.37/share.

But are more gains in store for this ETF? Lets take a quick look at the fund and the near-term outlook on it to get a better idea on where it might be headed:

XAR in Focus

This ETF tracks the S&P Aerospace & Defense Select Industry Index, giving investors exposure to the U.S. aerospace & defense industry. The fund holds 38 stocks in its basket. It charges 35 bps in fees and expenses. The product has Arconic Inc., Huntington Ingalls Industries, TASER International Inc., BWX Technologies Inc. and Boeing Company as the top holdings (see: all the Industrials ETFs here).

Why the Move?

This Aerospace & Defense ETF has been gathering momentum recently on decent earnings. President Trumps promises of increased military spending are possibly giving a boost to the sector. Plus, Trump is likely to visit Boeings North Carolina facility for the rollout of the first 787-10 Dreamliner on Friday. This possibility of a better relation between Boeing and Trump (who previously accused Boeing for charging high costs for Air Force One) is benefiting the fund.

More Gains Ahead?

It seems that XAR might continue with its strength given a Zacks ETF Rank of 1 or Strong Buy rating with a Medium risk outlook. Moreover, the fund has a positive weighted alpha of 39.90. A positive weighted alpha hint at more gains. As a result, there is definitely still some promise for investors who want to ride on this surging ETF.

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Aerospace & Defense ETF (XAR) Hits New 52-Week High - Zacks.com