Nintendo Has Launched a Switch Repair Subscription in Japan

Nintendo has launched a Switch repair subscription service in Japan that costs the equivalent of around $18 / £15 a year.

As reported by VGC, Wide Care covers all Nintendo Switch hardware (standard and Lite) plus Joy-Con controllers, the TV dock and AC adapters for any natural breakdowns or accidental damage. The service costs ¥200 (around $1.50 / £1.25) a month and entitles subscribers to up to six repairs a year, including two hardware repairs with costs covered up to ¥100,000 ($739 / £615).

Nintendo has only announced the subscription service for Japan so far but IGN has asked the company if it plans to bring Wide Care to other regions.

How to Fix Joy-Con Drift At Home

While the Nintendo Switch hardware itself has proven fairly sturdy, the same cannot be said for the Joy-Con controllers, which have become infamous for their “Joy-Con drift” that the company hasn’t been able to properly address in the Switch’s five years on the market.

It announced a free repair service for this specific issue back in 2019 but it recently materialised that the repair centres themselves were so overwhelmed that mistakes were made when the controllers were meant to be fixed. The issue is so persistent that Nintendo has faced several lawsuits as a result of its Joy-Con malfunctions.

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Noise Flair XL Neckband Earphones With Up to 80 Hours Battery Life Launched in India: Price, Specifications

Noise Flair XL Bluetooth neckband earphones were launched in India on Friday. The neckband earphones feature the Environmental Sound Reduction technology. The company claims that these wireless earphones can provide up to 80 hours of uninterrupted playtime per charge. The Noise Flair XL neckband earphones are equipped with the company’s proprietary Tru Bass as well as Hyper Sync technology, which is said to automatically connect the neckband to the most recently paired device immediately as soon as both the earbuds are separated. Furthermore, they offer Bluetooth v5.2 connectivity.

Noise Flair XL price in India, availability

The price of the Noise Flair XL neckband earphones has been set at Rs. 1,499. These wireless neckband earphones from Noise can be purchased from Flipkart and the Noise official website. The Noise Flair XL neckband earphones will be available in Burgundy Red, Jet Black, Mist Grey, and Stone Blue colour variants.

Noise Flair XL specifications, features

The Noise Flair XL neckband earphones are equipped with 10mm drivers and Noise’s proprietary Tru Bass tech, as well as the company’s Hyper Sync technology, which is said to automatically connects the neckband to the most recently paired device immediately as soon as both the earbuds are separated. The neckband also features the Environmental Sound Reduction technology, which eliminates background noises to ensure clear calls and seamless communication, according to the company.

The Noise Flair XL neckband earphones also come with dual pairing capability, which allows users to connect to two devices simultaneously.

In terms of connectivity, the neckband earphones carry Bluetooth v5.2 and come with a USB Type-C charging connector. The company also claims that the newly launched Noise Flair XL neckband earphones offer 10 minutes of quick charge that can last up to 15 hours.

Moreover, the Noise Flair XL wireless neckband earphones carry an IPX5 rating, which makes them sweat and water-resistant.


Affiliate links may be automatically generated – see our ethics statement for details.

For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

Apple Books App Not Working for Some Users After iOS 15.5 Update, Fix Coming Soon: Report



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Apple Books App Not Working for Some Users After iOS 15.5 Update, Fix Coming Soon: Report

Apple Books app has stopped working for some people after they installed the iOS 15.5 update, as per user reports. People have complained that they were not able to open any books on the app. A reasonable chunk of people also reportedly pointed out that the app is crashing and their saved PDFs are gone on their iPad tablets as well. Apple released iOS 15.5 ahead of WWDC 2022 bringing new experiences to Apple Wallet and Podcasts apart from security fixes. It also released iPadOS 15.5 for eligible iPad users.

As per a report by 9to5Mac and a bunch of reviews on the App Store, people have listed a number of problems post installing the iOS 15.5 and iPadOS 15.5 updates. It seems that apart from bringing new experiences to Apple Wallet and Podcasts as well as security fixes, it also brought some issues to the Apple Books app. While some users claim that they are not able to open the app, others complain of repeated app crashes. A chunk of reviews talk about how thousands of pages of saved PDFs vanished and they are left with nothing to read. People also have syncing problems where they can’t permanently delete books that they do not want.

Amid all the problems, it seems that Apple is working on a solution. 9to5Mmac claims that the next version, the iOS 15.6, is in beta stage and the issue is not present on it. The same is the case with the beta version of iOS 16, which was unveiled at WWDC 2022 and is due to launch later this year. In both cases, the Apple Books app was reportedly found to be working fine. iOS 15.6 is said to become available to all users in the coming weeks.


For the latest tech news and reviews, follow Gadgets 360 on Twitter, Facebook, and Google News. For the latest videos on gadgets and tech, subscribe to our YouTube channel.

China Cracks Down on Over 42,000 Counterfeit Investment Apps to Combat Telecom Network Crime



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Bethesda Keeps Offering Jobs to Fallout London Modders

The team behind Fallout 4’s DLC-sized mod, Fallout London, has certainly caught the eye of Bethesda as the developer keeps offering its members jobs.

The Fallout London Twitter page shared an update (below), which explained that lead technical adviser Ryan Johnson would be leaving the modding team to start working for Bethesda. This marks the second time (that we know of) the developer has hired straight from the Fallout London team after lead writer, Stephanie Zachariadis was also hired by Bethesda in August 2021.

Not only that, but Fallout London’s project manager Dean Carter was also offered a position at Bethesda’s UK office to work on Fallout 76, though they declined in order to see the mod’s development through to the end.

The post said development would not be impacted by the departure of Johnson, meaning it should still be on track for its recently announced 2023 release window. “We have known about this move for a while and thus [Johnson] has helped collate his knowledge into invaluable design documentation so the rest of the team can work on in his stead seamlessly,” it said.

“More so, [Johnson] finished all of his expected level design tasks as well as a few extra ones we didn’t expect him to do. The man’s professionalism and dedication will honestly and truly be missed and felt throughout the team, however it brings us hand on heart joy to know that he will be taking his amazing talents to a company we all love.”

Fallout: London – which lets players explore the British capital post-apocalypse – is likely the only taste of the franchise (albeit unofficially) that fans will get for a long time. Director Todd Howard revealed recently that Fallout 5 is planned to be released after the Elder Scrolls VI, which is likely still years away given it was put to one side while Bethesda focuses on its space RPG Starfield.

Every IGN Fallout Review

Ryan Dinsdale is an IGN freelancer who occasionally remembers to tweet @thelastdinsdale. He’ll talk about The Witcher all day.



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Brian Austin Green, Sharna Burgess Had “Hard” Time Choosing Son’s Name

Brian Austin Green almost didn’t make it to his movie premiere—but he got some encouragement from Sharna Burgess.

Hours before the actor stepped out to attend the Los Angeles screening of Last the Night, the couple announced the arrival of their first child together. “Zane Walker Green born 6/28 at 12:12,” Brian tweeted June 30 along with a photo of the newborn’s hand. Sharna shared the same sweet snap to her Instagram, captioning her post, “My heart is now forever outside of my body.” 

While this is the Dancing With the Stars pro’s first child, Brian is also dad to kids Noah, 9, Bodhi, 8, and Journey, 5, who he shares with ex-wife Megan Fox. He and ex Vanessa Marcil are also parents to 20-year-old Kassius.

Though he did make it to his film premiere, held at the Fine Arts Theater in Beverly Hills, Brian told E! News it was hard saying goodbye to Zane. “Sharna was the one that forced me to come here,” he shared. “She was like, ‘I’m fine. You can’t miss this. You need to go.'”



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Better, worse or the same? Looking at the Las Vegas Raiders’ offense – NFL Nation

HENDERSON, Nev. — It’s not often a team that just played in the postseason undergoes a massive rehaul, from front office philosophy to on-the-field playcalling. Yet, here are the Las Vegas Raiders, implementing a certain Patriot Way via the arrivals of coach Josh McDaniels and general manager Dave Ziegler in January from New England.

As such, McDaniels and Ziegler are trying to put a shine on the outfit that endured the Jon Gruden/Henry Ruggs III/Damon Arnette controversies and a 1-5 midseason stretch to win four straight games at the end of the season to finish 10-7 and force their way into the playoffs for just the second time since 2002. Talent on the offensive side of the ball already exists, so not much finagling had to happen, but the new regime was able to swing a trade for the best receiver in the game to make the No. 11 overall offense a threat to be a top-five unit.

The last time the Raiders brought in a new coach, Gruden took a wrecking ball to the roster. The new regime, at least for now, seems to have taken a polishing rag to the roster. And, as owner Mark Davis said, it’s not a reset so much as taking a next step.

Breaking down the offense and judging whether the units within are better, worse or the same is an exercise in patience — hurrying up to wait and see if McDaniels truly learned from his last painful experience as a head coach with the Denver Broncos in 2009-10. Already with the reputation of an elite playcaller — especially in the red zone, an Achilles’ heel for the Raiders of late — McDaniels has the pieces in place (the No. 6 passing attack in the NFL, the No. 18-ranked scoring team) to, yes, take that next step.

Quarterbacks

How underdog Sam Mills became a HOFer
Rams defense will still be daunting
Rookie QB Ridder has impressed Falcons
Cardinals have plan for Hopkins’ return
Seattle hopes Adams benefits from scheme

Additions: Chase Garbers (rookie free agent), Nick Mullens (Cleveland Browns), Jarrett Stidham (New England Patriots)

Losses: Marcus Mariota (Atlanta Falcons), Nathan Peterman (Chicago Bears)

Returners: Derek Carr

Better, worse or the same? Better … with a caveat

Of course, a million times of course, the Raiders’ QB situation should be better with the additions of the best receiver in the game in Davante Adams and an elite playcaller in McDaniels. But keep this in mind — not only is Carr learning an entirely new offense, the QB room is almost also entirely new with Mariota gone.

Plus, Carr’s QBR dropped precipitously the last two times he changed playcallers, going from 56.1 in 2016 under Bill Musgrave to 50.5 in 2017 under Todd Downing to 46.5 in 2018 under Jon Gruden. Carr’s QBR last year with Gruden and then Greg Olson taking over upon Gruden’s resignation? Try 52.4, a year after a career-best 64.3.

Running backs

Additions: Ameer Abdullah (Carolina Panthers), Brandon Bolden (Patriots), Zamir White (fourth-round draft pick), Brittain Brown (seventh-round draft pick), Jakob Johnson (Patriots)

Losses: Peyton Barber (free agent), Jalen Richard (free agent), Alec Ingold (Miami Dolphins), Trey Ragas (free agent), Sutton Smith (free agent)

Returners: Kenyan Drake, Josh Jacobs

Better, worse or the same? Better

Given the amount of front-line talent and depth added to Jacobs, who has averaged more than 1,000 yards rushing a year in his three seasons, and Drake, who was coming into his own in the offense before a broken right ankle ended his season in Week 13, the No. 28-ranked rushing attack in the NFL has to be better, right?

Bolden knows the offense and was not brought in to simply be a mentor. Using a fourth-round pick on White should portend the future at the position, especially since Jacobs did not have his fifth-year option picked up by the new regime. In any event there are power backs (Jacobs and White), pass-catching backs (Bolden and Drake) and short-yardage backs (Johnson) in this group, so McDaniels has a variety from which to pick and play.

Tight Ends

Additions: Cole Fotheringham (undrafted rookie), Jacob Hollister (Jacksonville Jaguars), Jesper Horsted (Bears)

Losses: Derek Carrier (free agent), Daniel Helm (free agent)

Returners: Darren Waller, Foster Moreau, Nick Bowers

Better, worse or the same? Same

While rumors were flying that Waller, who is in line for a contract extension, was in line to be traded, the former Pro Bowler was instead watching old tape of Rob Gronkowski doing his thing in McDaniels’ offense to better prepare himself for a similar role. And if Waller can stay healthy — he missed six games with knee and back issues — he will be the perfect complement to Adams, who will take the top off of defenses, and Pro Bowler Hunter Renfrow, who will work underneath from the slot.

But Waller, who set a franchise record with 107 catches in 2020, had just 55 last season and you have to wonder if his production goes down again with the addition of Adams, the emergence of Renfrow and Carr’s ever-growing trust in Moreau. Especially with said extension in play.

Receivers

Additions: Davante Adams (Green Bay Packers), Keelan Cole (New York Jets), Justin Hall (rookie free agent), Mack Hollins (Dolphins), Demarcus Robinson (Kansas City Chiefs), Jordan Veasy (Houston Texans)

Losses: Bryan Edwards (Falcons), Zay Jones (Jaguars), DeSean Jackson (free agent), Henry Ruggs III (released)

Returners: Hunter Renfrow, Dillon Stoner, DJ Turner, Tyron Johnson

Better, worse or the same? Better

Adding the best receiver in the NFL who, I don’t know if you’ve heard this yet but, also happens to be the college bestie of the QB? Yeah, the Raiders receiver room is the best it has been since Carr entered the NFL in 2014. Adams has averaged 108 catches for 1,328 yards and 12 TDs the last four years. Him joining Waller and Renfrow gives the Raiders one of the most feared pass-catching trios in the league. Period.

The additions of Hollins and Robinson provide some versatility and special teams opportunities, but it all revolves around Adams and how quickly he and Carr can reignite their chemistry without upsetting the vibe already set with Waller and Renfrow. Tim Brown and Jerry Rice 2.0? Pump the brakes a bit there, but this is the best WR room since the two Hall of Famers wore Silver and Black at the turn of the century.

Offensive line

Additions: Dylan Parham (third-round draft pick), Thayer Munford (seventh-round draft pick), Alex Bars (Bears), Bamidele Olaseni (rookie free agent), Tyrone Wheatley Jr. (Bears), Jordan Meredith (no team in 2021)

Losses: Richie Incognito (free agent), Nick Martin (free agent), Jeremiah Poutasi (free agent),

Returners: Kolton Miller, John Simpson, Andre James, Alex Leatherwood, Denzelle Good, Brandon Parker, Lester Cotton Sr., Jermaine Eluemunor, Hroniss Grasu, Jackson Barton

Better, worse or the same? Same

Are the Raiders really going to run it back with the same O-line that contributed to Carr being sacked 40 times in 2021, the second-most of his career? On the surface, it looks like it. But the two keys could be Good, who was lost for the season with a torn ACL in his left knee in the opener last year, regaining his form and, thus, his position at right guard, and Leatherwood, last year’s first-round pick, regaining his right tackle spot after being relegated to right guard in Week 5.

The fact the new regime selected an interior lineman (Parham) with its first pick spoke volumes. A summer O-line prediction, then — LT Miller, LG Parham, C James, RG Good, RT Leatherwood, with Parker the swing tackle. Not sexy, but workable. Unless it collapses — again — and serves as another built-in excuse.

Coming soon: Defense

Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Yair Lapid, Israel’s New Prime Minister, Played the Long Game to Power

JERUSALEM — Nearly a decade ago Yair Lapid, then the new leader of Israel’s political center, was asked by a television interviewer if he envisaged becoming prime minister after the next election.

“I assume so,” he replied, though he had been elected to Parliament for the first time just a week earlier.

It was a rookie mistake. Mr. Lapid, then better known as a popular television host, journalist, actor and songwriter, was widely ridiculed as a cocky and superficial political novice.

By the time he finally stepped into the coveted office at midnight on Thursday, albeit as the prime minister of a caretaker government following the collapse of the ruling coalition, he had grown considerably in experience and public stature.

As the leader of the centrist Yesh Atid, or There is a Future, party, now Israel’s second largest after Benjamin Netanyahu’s conservative Likud, Mr. Lapid, 58, has since served in government as a minister of finance, strategic affairs, foreign affairs and as an alternate prime minister, along with a stint as the leader of the opposition.

“Once in politics he learned the business quite quickly,” Nahum Barnea, a veteran Israeli political columnist for the popular Yediot Ahronot newspaper, said in an interview.

Mr. Lapid is expected to remain in charge until an election scheduled for Nov. 1 and for some weeks or months after it, as the parties typically require lengthy negotiations to put together a new coalition.

While many new parties in Israel have risen and fallen from fashion within one election cycle, Mr. Lapid succeeded in building a party with a strong infrastructure and an army of volunteer foot soldiers.

Another positive surprise, Mr. Barnea said, was how Mr. Lapid learned to “put aside his ego” and concede to others as he played a long game in his bid for power.

When Yesh Atid joined forces with other centrist parties under the banner of the Blue and White alliance in 2019, Mr. Lapid, the No. 2 on the slate, willingly gave up on an agreement he had with the No. 1, Benny Gantz, a former military chief, to rotate the premiership if they won an upcoming election.

Mr. Lapid, who lacks the security credentials that have eased the paths of other Israelis into power, understood that the agreement was harming Blue and White’s chances.

More striking was what happened after the March 2021 election, the fourth inconclusive ballot to be held within two years, as Mr. Netanyahu repeatedly tried to cling to power despite being on trial for corruption.

Mr. Netanyahu again failed to cobble together a majority and as a result, Mr. Lapid, the runner-up, was given the opportunity to form a government. He succeeded in assembling an ideologically diverse coalition of eight parties with a razor-thin majority.

And in what many viewed as a selfless act untypical of Israeli politicians, he allowed Naftali Bennett, a coalition partner who led a small, right-wing party, to take the first turn as prime minister in another rotation pact, because Mr. Bennett was seen as more acceptable to the right-wing flank of the coalition.

That arrangement lasted a year. Under the terms of their coalition agreement, Mr. Lapid was supposed to take over from Mr. Bennett in August 2023. But in a reflection of the unifying and inclusive political climate they strove to create after years of toxic divisiveness, Mr. Bennett announced that he was honoring their pact and would hand over the reins to Mr. Lapid with the dissolution of Parliament.

The powers of a caretaker government are limited, so Mr. Lapid is unlikely to introduce any significant policy changes, but he will have the advantage of campaigning for the next election as the incumbent. He will also have the chance to welcome President Biden in mid-July, when he makes his first trip to the Middle East since he took office.

In a head-to-head election race with Mr. Netanyahu — who is leading in the polls despite his continuing legal troubles — Mr. Lapid can hold his own as a polished, articulate and telegenic communicator.

The son of Yosef Lapid, an often abrasive former government minister and Holocaust survivor, and Shulamit Lapid, a novelist, Mr. Lapid was known during his television days for his amicable interviewing style. With his good looks and suave manner, his celebrity status stemmed in part from his image as a quintessential Israeli.

One of his more successful songs, “Living on Sheinkin,” referring to a trendy street in Tel Aviv, became a hit for an Israeli girl band in the late 1980s.

Mr. Lapid founded Yesh Atid in 2012. The party was the surprise of the election the following year, winning 19 seats in the 120-seat Parliament. Mr. Lapid became finance minister in a Netanyahu-led government.

He rode in on a wave of middle-class frustration with Israel’s ever rising cost of living and housing, which had given rise to widespread social justice protests in 2011. One of his catchphrases was, “Where’s the money?”

In his first years in politics, he championed popular demands for a more equal sharing of the burden, particularly an end to automatic military exemptions for thousands of ultra-Orthodox students who opt for full-time Torah study, as well as a reduction in taxes that were choking the middle class.

Mainly popular in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and secular, suburban Israel, Mr. Lapid and his party have suffered in the past from taking safe, centrist positions that were less engaging than those of more ideological parties.

“At first the political center was very amorphous,” said Orit Galili-Zucker, a former strategic communications adviser to Mr. Netanyahu and a political branding expert. “It wasn’t clear what it was.”

At times, when Mr. Lapid tried to appeal to soft-right voters, he was accused of blowing with the wind and saying what he thought people wanted to hear. He has denounced supporters of boycotts against Israel and its settlements in the occupied West Bank as antisemites and has harshly criticized an Israeli anti-occupation group that collects testimony from former soldiers, called Breaking the Silence.

Now, Ms. Galili-Zucker said, he has established himself as being more on the center-left. He has stated his support for a two-state solution to the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, even if that seems unattainable right now.

At the same time, he has become more accommodating toward the ultra-Orthodox parties, which have been linchpins of most governing coalitions in recent decades.

A father of three and a former amateur boxer with a black belt in karate, Mr. Lapid is married to Lihi Lapid, a successful writer. Their daughter, Yael, is on the autism spectrum, and Mr. Lapid became emotional in May when the cabinet discussed additional funding for people with disabilities, telling the ministers, “This is the most important thing you will ever do.”

After his father died in 2008, at 77, Mr. Lapid wrote “Memories After My Death,” the story of his father’s life from his days in the ghetto of Budapest through his period as minister of justice in Ariel Sharon’s government.

Mr. Lapid once related in a television interview that his father told him four days before he died, “Yairi, I am leaving for you a family and a state.”

After Parliament was dissolved on Thursday, and hours before he formally took over as prime minister, Mr. Lapid headed straight to Yad Vashem, Israel’s official Holocaust memorial.

“There,” he wrote on Twitter, “I promised my late father that I will always keep Israel strong and capable of defending itself and protecting its children.”



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

William Saliba’s new shirt number confirmed as Arsenal open to Nicolas Pepe loan departure



Arsenal starlet William Saliba will wear the no.2 shirt next season upon his return to the Premier League side, according to the Premier League website.

The 21-year-old defender was initially handed no.4 when he joined the club in 2019, but lost it last summer upon the arrival of Ben White, who took it off the then on-loan Frenchman.

Now back with the side, it appears as though he will have to settle for a new number, though it is the same one that he donned while on loan most recently with Marseilles.

The change hints that, as was always likely, Hector Bellerin (who formerly wore that shirt) will be leaving the club once again this summer after a successful loan spell at Real Betis.

Pepe free to leave

In more unsurprising news, Arsenal are open to a loan move away for club-record signing Nicolas Pepe, who has flattered to deceive in north London and only managed 681 minutes in the top flight last campaign.

There seem to be few possible destinations for the Ivorian on a permanent deal, though the arrival of Christophe Galtier at PSG may change that. However, at present, it seems as though a loan move with an option to buy at around £20m is the most likely outcome this summer.


Read more:

Friday’s transfer rumours: Ake, Dembele, Raphinha, Phillips & more

Official: Tottenham complete signing of Richarlison


Arsenal betting odds, next game:

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal odds: result, both teams to score, correct score & goalscorers

Crystal Palace vs Arsenal Result/Both teams score Yes No
Crystal Palace 9/2 5/1
Arsenal 10/3
Draw 10/3 11/1

Premier League table

# Team MP D P
1 Leeds United 0 0 0
2 Manchester City 0 0 0
3 Manchester United 0 0 0
4 West Ham United 0 0 0
5 Everton FC 0 0 0
6 Southampton FC 0 0 0
7 Chelsea FC 0 0 0
8 Arsenal FC 0 0 0
9 Newcastle United 0 0 0
10 Leicester City 0 0 0
11 Liverpool FC 0 0 0
12 Aston Villa 0 0 0
13 Tottenham Hotspur 0 0 0
14 Fulham FC 0 0 0
15 Wolverhampton Wanderers 0 0 0
16 Crystal Palace 0 0 0
17 Nottingham Forest 0 0 0
18 Brighton & Hove Albion 0 0 0
19 AFC Bournemouth 0 0 0
20 Brentford FC 0 0 0
Player Team Goals
Salah, Mohamed Liverpool FC 23
Son, Heung Min Tottenham Hotspur 23
Ronaldo, Cristiano Manchester United 18
Kane, Harry Tottenham Hotspur 17
Mane, Sadio Liverpool FC 16
De Bruyne, Kevin Manchester City 15
Jota, Diogo Liverpool FC 15
Vardy, Jamie Leicester City 15
Zaha, Wilfried Crystal Palace 14
Sterling, Raheem Manchester City 13
Bowen, Jarrod West Ham United 12
Maddison, James Leicester City 12
Toney, Ivan Brentford FC 12
Mount, Mason Chelsea FC 11
Saka, Bukayo Arsenal FC 11
Mahrez, Riyad Manchester City 11
Richarlison Everton FC 11
Pukki, Teemu Norwich City 11
Raphinha Leeds United 11
Watkins, Ollie Aston Villa 11



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

IPBES Shoring up Private Sector Support for Biodiversity Science — Global Issues

River and mountain in the interior of Dominica. IPBES’ collaboration with the private sector funds research and evidence that helps businesses make better-informed decisions to protect biodiversity. Credit: JAK/IPS
  • by Alison Kentish (dominica)
  • Inter Press Service

For years, the Intergovernmental Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) has been one of the world’s most visible forces for policy and action, informed by science, to protect and restore nature.

IPBES is also now making headway in its goal of ensuring that biodiversity issues receive a similar level of priority and awareness to that of the climate crisis – as well as increased funding. An important part of this involves diversifying its funding sources to include the private sector and philanthropic organisations.

Funded primarily by voluntary contributions from its member governments, IPBES recently announced landmark collaborations with the luxury industry’s Kering Group, global fashion retailer H&M, the BNP Paribas Foundation, AXA Research Fund and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

“There is a dual purpose in the way we have engaged with the private sector over the last few years, both to find opportunities for their support and to engage them more closely with our work and its outcomes, so that they can use those in their own activities as well,” IPBES Head of Communications Rob Spaull told IPS.

To protect the objectivity and credibility of the Platform’s scientific research, formal collaboration with private sector companies follows a rigorous due diligence process that can take up to one year and is spearheaded by a legal team from the United Nations Environment Programme, which hosts the IPBES secretariat.

“We ensure that any kind of contribution that might be received from the private sector has no influence on the science that IPBES publishes. It was really important for our member States that we implement a model that protects the independence of the Platform,” Spaull said. “We accept contributions, but those contributions go into the IPBES Trust Fund.”

IPBES says the science is clear – businesses can be a vital part of the solution to the biodiversity crisis.

“We want to help the private sector move forward, and we want them on board with us. Our vision is that through their commitment to the work of IPBES, we also help the private sector to better understand and decrease its impact on biodiversity,” said Sonia Gueorguiev, IPBES Head of Development.

“More and more businesses are understanding how biodiversity is strongly interlinked with their core business, as companies rely on nature for resources, and they are recognising how important it is for them, both for ethical and economic reasons, to progressively incorporate biodiversity into their strategies and business models.”

IPBES has produced some of the world’s leading and most cited scientific reports, including the 2019 Global Assessment Report, which concluded that one million species of plants and animals face extinction, while human activity has significantly altered 75 percent of the earth’s land surface and over 60 percent of the ocean area.

For Spaull, IPBES’ budget pales in comparison to the Platform’s value, which includes the many years of voluntary expert contributions to every IPBES report.

“For example, on the Global Assessment Report, we did a bit of a back-of-the-envelope calculation and added up the different person-hours that were contributed free of charge by the experts over the three years that they worked on the report. It added up to more than 17 years of work, which was essentially a voluntary expert contribution to the Platform. The operating budget doesn’t actually reflect the immense value that is created by the Platform.”

These recent private sector collaborations are a solid foundation for IPBES’ funding diversification but represent a small fraction of what is needed for greater financial stability.

“They are a good start, but they are still a start. That is one of the reasons why we are looking forward to the future where hopefully, we will be able to expand into new sectors with other kinds of private sector and philanthropic organisations in a similar way,” said Spaull.

IPBES is already working on a number of new reports. Two highly anticipated assessments will be released in July, after four years of work, one on the Sustainable Use of Wild Species, and one on the Diverse Values and Valuation of Nature.

IPBES will publish another report next year on invasive alien species and their control and is already working on one about reaching simultaneously sustainable development goals related to biodiversity, water, food and health, as well as one on transformative change. A new business and biodiversity assessment is also planned that will assist businesses with assessing their impacts and dependence on biodiversity.

“The IPBES assessments enjoy strong global recognition and visibility,” Gueorguiev said. “As populations of plants and animals are shrinking and nature’s contributions to people diminish, individuals and providers of funds will make consumption and investment choices that will exclude those companies whose activities contribute to the decline of biodiversity. Public-private partnerships and collaborations are one of the solutions to both the biodiversity crisis and the climate crisis,” said Gueorguiev.

“Biodiversity is set to become a social issue as unavoidable as climate change, and we are working with companies with strong sustainability leadership in their industries, which can enable them to set sustainability standards,” she said.

IPS UN Bureau Report


Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram

© Inter Press Service (2022) — All Rights ReservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service



Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

OpenSea NFT Marketplace Suffers Data Breach Leaking Email IDs of Users: Here What You Need to Know

OpenSea, the largest non-fungible token (NFT) marketplace by trading volume, has suffered a data breach after an employee at the platform’s email delivery partner – Customer.io – leaked user data. In a blog post on Thursday, the marketplace said that an employee of Customer.io “misused their employee access to download and share email addresses – provided by OpenSea users and subscribers to our newsletter – with an unauthorised external party.” According to OpenSea, all customers who have shared their email with the platform in the past should assume they have been impacted by the breach.

In a blog post, OpenSea’s head of security Cory Hardman said that an employee of Customer.io, OpenSea’s email delivery vendor, abused their access by downloading and externally sharing customer data.

“If you have shared your email with OpenSea in the past, you should assume you were impacted,” he wrote. “We are working with Customer.io in their ongoing investigation, and we have reported this incident to law enforcement.”

The company further warned customers might face phishing attacks — attempts by cybercriminals posing as credible institutions with the aim to obtain sensitive information — by using a domain name similar to the official “opensea.io,” such as “opensea.org” or “opensae.io.”

Hardman also shared a set of safety recommendations that would help defend against phishing attempts advising them to be suspicious of any emails trying to impersonate OpenSea, not to download and open email attachments, and to check the URLs of pages linked in OpenSea emails.

Users are also urged never to share or confirm their passwords or secret wallet phrases and never to sign wallet transactions if prompted directly via email.

Some customers took to Twitter to share screenshots showing that OpenSea contacted them by email to inform them about the breach.

A similar incident occurred in March, when hackers breached third-party marketing vendor HubSpot to target large crypto stakeholders. NYDIG, Pantera Capital, BlockFi, Circle and Swan Bitcoin were among the affected companies.




Check out our Latest News and Follow us at Facebook

Original Source

Exit mobile version