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Saturday, January 5, 2013

Sales Records Smashed in 2012 - Private Fleet Automotive Blog

The final sales figures for 1012 are in, and they make very interesting reading.

The full press release published earlier today is reproduced below.

?Official VFACTS data released today by the Federal Chamber of Automotive Industries (FCAI) shows that a total of 1,112,032 new passenger cars, SUVs and commercial vehicles were delivered to customers during 2012. This is a new record and only the fifth time ever that more than one million vehicles were sold in a year. The 2012 total represents an increase in volume of 10.3 per cent (or 103,595 more sales) compared with 2011. Announcing the result today, FCAI Chief Executive Tony Weber said the 2012 full year result was quite a feat in a world market that has been under financial pressure in recent years. It also reflects that the Australian market is one of the most open and competitive in the world. ?Reduced tariffs as well as changing consumer preferences have contributed to making the dynamic and innovative automotive industry that we have today,? Mr Weber said. ?The 2012 sales result bears that out. Customer demand has been high and the industry has responded with a wide range of vehicles powered by a range of different fuels.?

Mr Weber commented that the record result is also notable because of changing consumer preferences which are reflected in the segments? changing market share. The single largest category was still the passenger car segment (51.9 per cent); however, the burgeoning SUV segment increased its market share by 3.3 per cent to 27.5 per cent with an all-time sales record set in 2012.

?For the second successive year a small imported car, the Mazda3, is Australia?s most popular model,? Mr Weber said. ?The same vehicles as 2011 also hold the top five spots, but in a different order.

?And three of the top ten are also built locally, dispelling any suggestion that our domestic manufacturers aren?t producing cars that Australians want to buy.? Sales results Toyota was the best-selling vehicle brand in 2011, with 218,176 sales for a market share of 19.6 per cent.

Holden and Mazda finished second and third with 114,665 sales (10.3 per cent market share) and 103,886 (9.3 per cent) respectively. Mazda3 was the best-selling model for the full year, beating the Toyota HiLux by 3,482 vehicles to finish with 44,128 sales.

Toyota Corolla was third overall with 38,799 sales, followed by the Holden Commodore (30,532) and Holden Cruze (29,161). The SUV and light commercial segments led the sales charge throughout 2012, growing by 25.3 and 12.2 per cent respectively. Looking forward Mr Weber said FCAI?s outlook for 2013 was cautiously optimistic. ?In 2012 Australia thankfully avoided much of the GFC aftermath and, with production resuming in disaster affected nations, the automotive industry was able to respond to the enthusiasm of the car buying public with great deals on an almost overwhelming range of vehicles. The record 2012 result was the culmination of these factors. ?During this election year, and with production now having caught up with back orders, FCAI forecasts a national automotive market of 1,075,000 for 2013.?

SALES RESULTS Top 10 manufacturers (by sales volume):

Rank ? Brand ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2012 ? ? ? ? ? ?2011 ? ? ? ? ? % diff

1. ? ? ? ? ?Toyota ? ? ? ? ?218,176 ? ? ?181,624 ? ? ?20.1

2. ? ? ? ? Holden ? ? ? ? ?114,665 ? ? ?126,095 ? ? ? -9.1

3. ? ? ? ? Mazda ? ? ? ? ? 103,886 ? ? ? ?88,333 ? ? ? 17.6

4. ? ? ? ?Hyundai ? ? ? ? ?91,536 ? ? ? ?87,008 ? ? ? ? 5.2

5. ? ? ? ? Ford ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?90,408 ? ? ? ?91,243 ? ? ? ?-0.9

6. ? ? ? ?Nissan ? ? ? ? ? ? 79,747 ? ? ? ?67,926 ? ? ? ?17.4

7. ? ? ? ?Mitsubish ? ? ?58,868 ? ? ? ? 61,108 ? ? ?- ?3.7

8. ? ? ? Volkswagen ? 54,835 ? ? ?44,740 ? ? ? ?22.6

9. ? ? ? Subaru ? ? ? ? ? ?40,189 ? ? ? 34,011 ? ? ? ? 18.2

10. ? ?Honda ? ? ? ? ? ? 35,8 02 ? ? ? ?30,107 ? ? ? 18.9
Source: VFACTS Top 10 individual models (by sales volume):

Rank ? Vehicle ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 2012 ? ? ? ? ?2011 ? ? ?% diff

1. ? ? ? ? Mazda3 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 44,128 ? ? ?41,429 ? ? ? ?6.5

2. ? ? ? Toyota HiLux ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 40,646 ? ? ?36,124 ? ? ? 12.5

3. ? ? ?Toyota Corolla ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?38,799 ? ? ?36,087 ? ? ? ? 7.5

4. ? ? Holden Commodore ? ? ? ?30,532 ? ? 40,617 ? ? -24.8

5. ? ? Holden Cruze ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?29,161 ? ? ?33,784 ? ? -13.7

6. ? ? Hyundai i30 ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?28,348 ? ? 28,869 ? ? ? ?-1.8

8. ? ? Toyota Camry ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 27,230 ? ? 19,169 ? ? ? ?42.1

7. ? ? Nissan Navara ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 26,045 ? ? 21,675 ? ? ? ?20.2

9. ? ? Toyota Yaris ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? 18,808 ? ? ?16,214 ? ? ? ?16.0

10. ? Ford Focus ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?18,586 ? ? ?12,863 ? ? ? ?44.5

Source: VFACTS?

Source: http://blog.privatefleet.com.au/home/sales-records-smashed-in-2012/

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Pakistani girl shot by Taliban leaves UK hospital

This photo made available by Queen Elizabeth Hospital, Birmingham, England shows Malala Yousufzai saying goodbye as she is discharged from the hospital to continue her rehabilitation at her family?s temporary home in the area, Friday, Jan. 4, 2013. the teenage Pakistani girl shot in the head by the Taliban for promoting girls' education has been released from the hospital after impressing doctors with her strength. Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham officials said Friday 15-year-old Malala Yousufzai will be treated as an outpatient before being readmitted for further cranial re-constructive surgery at the end of the month or in early February. (AP Photo/Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham)

LONDON (AP) ? Three months after she was shot in the head for daring to say girls should be able to get an education, a 15-year-old Pakistani hugged her nurses and smiled as she walked out of a Birmingham hospital.

Malala Yousufzai waved to a guard and smiled shyly as she cautiously strode down the hospital corridor talking to nurses in images released Friday by the Queen Elizabeth Hospital Birmingham.

"She is quite well and happy on returning home ? as we all are," Malala's father, Ziauddin, told The Associated Press.

Malala, who was released Thursday, will live with her parents and two brothers in Britain while she continues to receive treatment. She will be admitted again in the next month for another round of surgery to rebuild her skull.

Experts have been optimistic that Malala, who was airlifted from Pakistan in October to receive specialized medical care, has a good chance of recovery because the brains of teenagers are still growing and can better adapt to trauma.

"Malala is a strong young woman and has worked hard with the people caring for her to make excellent progress in her recovery," said Dr. Dave Rosser, the medical director for University Hospitals Birmingham. "Following discussions with Malala and her medical team, we decided that she would benefit from being at home with her parents and two brothers."

The Taliban targeted Malala because of her relentless objection to the group's regressive interpretation of Islam that limits girls' access to education. She was shot while returning home from school in Pakistan's scenic Swat Valley on Oct. 9.

Her case won worldwide recognition, and the teen became a symbol for the struggle for women's rights in Pakistan. In an indication of her reach, she made the shortlist for Time magazine's "Person of the Year" for 2012.

The militants have threatened to target Malala again because they say she promotes "Western thinking," but a security assessment in Britain concluded the risk was low in releasing her to her family. British police have provided security for her at the hospital, but West Midlands Police refused to comment on any security precautions for Malala or her family going forward.

Pakistani doctors removed a bullet that entered her head and traveled toward her spine before Malala's family decided to send her to Britain for specialized treatment. Pakistan is paying.

Pakistan also appointed Malala's father as its education attache in Birmingham for at least three years, meaning Malala is likely to remain in Britain for some time.

Hospital authorities say Malala can read and speak, but cited patient confidentiality when asked whether she is well enough to continue her education in Britain.

While little has been made public about Malala's medical condition, younger brains recover more fully from trauma because they are still growing. Dr. Anders Cohen, chief of neurosurgery at the Brooklyn Hospital Center in New York, estimated she might recover up to 85 percent of the cognitive ability she had before ? more than enough to be functional.

"She'd be able to move on with life, maybe even become an activist again," said Cohen, who is not involved in Malala's treatment.

In the Swat Valley, people reacted with joy at the news of her release. Family and friends handed out sweets to neighbors in Malala's hometown of Mingora.

"Obviously we all are jubilant over her rapid recovery, and we hope that she will soon fully recover and would return back to her home town at an appropriate time," said Mahmoodul Hasan, Malala's 35-year-old cousin. Like Malala's father, he runs a private school in Mingora.

But the Swat Valley remains a tense place. Only last month, several hundred students in Mingora protested plans to have their school named after Malala, saying it would make the institution a target for the Taliban.

Malala's father vowed to return to Pakistan with his family once Malala is fully recovered.

"I thank the whole of Pakistan and all other well-wishers for praying for her and our family," he said. "What I am doing here is all temporary, and God willing we all will return to our homeland."

___

Zada reported from Mingora, Pakistan. Associated Press writers Rebecca Santana in Islamabad and Sylvia Hui in London also contributed to this story.

Associated Press

Source: http://hosted2.ap.org/APDEFAULT/cae69a7523db45408eeb2b3a98c0c9c5/Article_2013-01-04-Britain-Pakistani%20Girl/id-9979d234b3e54fca842446824962a6d8

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Friday, January 4, 2013

Interview: How Coca-Cola is working to advance sustainable global ...

Photo caption: Dr. Brovelli recently helped set up an experimental citrus orchard at the Los Chiles school in Costa Rica.?

Dr. Ernesto Brovelli is senior manager for sustainable agriculture at The Coca-Cola Company, and president of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform, the largest network of food and beverage companies dedicated to advancing sustainable agriculture.

I interviewed him recently to find out his thoughts on the New Alliance for Global Food and Nutrition Security, the G8?s plan to?lift 50 million people out of poverty over the next 10 years through agriculture.

Multi-national food and beverage companies present a huge business opportunity for farmers in the in the developing world. If more companies like Coca-Cola, either through the New Alliance or on their own, sourced food produced in an environmentally-conscious way and provided farmers access to training in a sustainable way, I?m convinced we?d see an increase in long-term poverty reduction.

Kelly: Congratulations on your election to be President of the Sustainable Agriculture Initiative (SAI) Platform. Why did you decide to take on that role?
Dr. Brovelli: There is a lot of enthusiasm for sustainable agriculture nowadays, but the SAI Platform really stands out in its potential to reach a large scale. With mounting pressures on food production systems, the SAI Platform addresses key issues for the food and beverage industry in a collaborative, science-based and actionable way. The SAI Platform just turned 10 years old and its success is evidenced in its membership base, which grew from three founding companies ? Nestle, Danone and Unilever ? to more than 40 now.

You just got back from Costa Rica. What were you doing there?
Juices are an important part of our Company?s portfolio. A few years ago, we joined forces with one of our juice suppliers and decided to launch a project on sustainable orange production, with a focus on capacity building and economic empowerment. For this project, we selected an agricultural school in one of Costa Rica?s poorest districts, called Los Chiles.

We set up an experimental citrus orchard at the Los Chiles school, and Earth University provides agronomic support. In this experimental grove, students run tests ? on composting and soil microorganisms that fix nitrogen from the air, thus reducing the fertilization needs. The students learn by doing and the juicer uses research findings from the school to inform the farmers who grow the fruit that they use.

It?s also sustainable from a business perspective: in a couple of years, the school will sell the harvests to our supplier and, even if Coca-Cola leaves, students will have gained skills and the school will have a consistent stream of revenue.

The New Alliance for Global Food and Nutrition Security is a global initiative that seeks to bring new private sector companies into African agriculture. What are the risks of this?
I appreciate you asking this. It is very important that we walk into projects of vast scale with thoughtfulness. For a community, if done right, the New Alliance can bring new sources of income and business that should carry on, even if a major player leaves.

We need to recognize the importance of enhancing food production, but doing so in a sustainable manner, without jeopardizing natural resources. We do not want increased yields if there are serious unintended consequences.? It is clear that we need to produce more food, but any time there is agricultural expansion,? we need to be cognizant of the possible environmental costs of this new activity, and we must do environmental assessments ahead of time, looking at watershed status, water quality, biodiversity, etc.

We also need to place particular emphasis on soil health as healthy soils underpin productivity.? Water is receiving a lot of attention these days, but there is a clear connectivity between water and soil. Finally, I get distraught when I think only of increasing yields to feed a growing population, but forget about what happens after food leaves the farm. ?In many places, 50 percent of food gets lost before it reaches houses. This conundrum of feeding a growing population is a serious one. When we waste food, we are not only wasting nutrients, we?re wasting water, agrochemicals, labor and land.

What can companies do to maximize the benefit they bring to Africa and minimize the risks?
First ? conduct evaluations before starting a project, not just on environmental conditions, but also on how the project might affect communities, whether it can be financially sustainable in the long-term and what policies might need to shift to support it.

Second ? success is contingent on projects being both top-down and bottom-up. Active participation and consultation is critical, NOT just checking the box to say you?ve consulted. Stakeholder consultation is exactly what we did in the Los Chile project, which is why it was so successful and so widely accepted in the community.

Third ? the sustainability agenda will only make a difference if it is holistic and science-based. Sustainable agriculture lies precisely at a junction of a number of disciplines from agronomy, to food science, from anthropology to finance.

Fourth ? share, share, share. Learn from one another so that everyone benefits. Embark on projects together and share your knowledge about what worked ? and what didn?t.

SAI Platform is a ?pre-competitive? industry platform. To learn more about SAI Platform, visit http://www.saiplatform.org/. Also, tell ONE: how do you think food and beverage corporations can act more sustainably in your country?

Source: http://www.one.org/us/2013/01/03/interview-how-coca-cola-is-working-to-advance-sustainable-global-agriculture/

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Oregon teen arrested after ?drivin drunk? post on Facebook

After Facebook friends reported him, an Oregon teen who posted a 'drivin drunk' status was arrested for saying via Facebook that he hit a car and ran.

By Associated Press / January 4, 2013

Jacob Cox Brown was arrested after he made this post on Facebook.

Astoria, Ore. Police/AP

Enlarge

Jacob Cox-Brown might want to adjust his Facebook privacy settings.

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Police in the coastal city of Astoria, Ore., arrested the teenager after he allegedly confessed via Facebook that he had been driving?drunk on New Year's Eve and hit someone's car.

Deputy Chief Brad Johnston said yesterday that officers were investigating a hit and run involving a sideswiped car that sustained significant damage ? a second car was also hit ? when two Facebook friends of Cox-Brown contacted authorities, reporting a Facebook post in which the 18-year-old wrote: "Drivin drunk ... classsic ;) but to whoever's vehicle i hit i am sorry. :P"

One of his friends sent a Facebook message to an Astoria police officer; the other called the station, Johnston said. Officers went to Cox-Brown's house and found a vehicle that matched the damage done to the two vehicles. Police also connected pieces from the crash scene to the vehicle registered to Cox-Brown.

"He denied it initially, and it wasn't until he was confronted with overwhelming evidence that he finally admitted to it," Johnston said.

Cox-Brown, who has more than 650 Facebook friends, did not immediately respond to a Facebook message seeking comment. He does not have a phone number listed in his name.

Cox-Brown was charged with failure to perform the duties of a driver. He was booked into the Clastsop County Jail and released on his own recognizance. He avoided a charge of drunken driving because he was interviewed hours after the incident and the Facebook post is not sufficient evidence that he was intoxicated.

"We can't just convict somebody based on the fact that they said they were drunk," Johnston said.

Johnston said the department is fairly active in social media and it has been useful in several cases. He added that the takeaway from this case is not that people should be careful about what they post on Facebook: "No, the message is stop and contact people when you run into their cars."

Source: http://rss.csmonitor.com/~r/feeds/csm/~3/z9K1zZIAObA/Oregon-teen-arrested-after-drivin-drunk-post-on-Facebook

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GM recalls more than 69K vehicles that could roll away

10 hrs.

Paul A. Eisenstein , The Detroit Bureau

General Motors is recalling nearly 70,000 late-model SUVs, pickups and vans because of potential defective transmission interlocks that could let the vehicles roll away after being parked.

More than a dozen different 2013 models are involved in the recall, 54,686 of the vehicles sold in the U.S., 6,310 in Canada, with nearly 8,000 more delivered in Mexico and overseas markets that mostly include the Mideast.?

The Detroit Bureau:?Subaru starts year with major recall

The vehicles may be equipped with a fractured park lock cable as well as a malformed steering column lock component. Under certain conditions this could allow a driver to inadvertently remove the vehicle?s key even if the transmission was not shifted into the Park position.

The defect may also override the federally mandated transmission interlock allowing a motorist to accidentally shift from Park into another gear without having their foot on the brake.?

The Detroit Bureau:?New Corvette, Honda Mini-Crossover on Schedule for Detroit Auto Show

?Either of these scenarios may cause the vehicle to roll away after the driver has exited the vehicle, resulting in a possible vehicle crash and/or injury,? GM said in a filing with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

A GM official says no crashes or injuries have been reported, however.? The defect was discovered by workers at the GM Arlington Assembly plant last month.

All the vehicles covered by the recall were produced between November and December of last year and are 2013 models.?

They include the 2013 Cadillac Escalade, Escalade ESV and Escalade EXT; Chevrolet Avalanche, Express, Silverado HD, Silverado LD, Suburban and Tahoe; and GMC Savana, Sierra HD, Sierra LD, Yukon and Yukon XL.?

The Detroit Bureau:?Washington State nicking EV owners for an extra $100 registration fee

Most of the vehicles are actually believed to still be in transit or sitting on dealer lots. Only about 1,000 have likely already been delivered to customers and GM plans to notify those owners to bring their trucks in for inspection and, if necessary, to have the steering column replaced.? Repairs will be made at no charge.

This is the second big recall of 2013 following a day after Subaru announced it would notify 634,000 owners of a potential defect that could cause a short circuit and possibly a vehicle fire ? however, only about 54,000 of those vehicles will actually need repairs.

The GM recall follows less than a month after Honda called back 800,000 minivans and crossovers, including its Odyssey and Pilot models, to fix a similar transmission defect that could let vehicles roll away after being parked.?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/gm-recalls-more-69-000-vehicles-could-roll-away-1B7821894

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Help wanted: Diamond polishers in Israel

14 hrs.

Ari Rabinovitch and Tova Cohen , Reuters

RAMAT GAN, Israel - Diamond manufacturing is a dwindling trade in Israel. The country has one of the world's hottest diamond exchanges, but polishers and cutters of the precious stones have been replaced by cheaper workers in newer hubs like India and China.?

Israel wants to bring them back. To do so, it plans on recruiting a legion of ultra-Orthodox Jews, who because of their dedication to prayer and study, have been unable or unwilling to join the work force, putting a heavy weight on the economy.?

The job of a diamond polisher, however, is unique, said Bumi Traub, president of the Israel Diamond Manufacturers Association. It need not disrupt their pious lifestyle.?

"The profession is fitting. You deal with the rock, and if you need to go pray, no one will bother you," he said.?

The door to Traub's office requires a fingerprint scan. Security is tight in the four-building exchange where annual turnover of trading reaches $25 billion each year.?

About a third of rough diamonds produced in the world each year pass through the Jewish state and diamonds account for more than a fifth of the country's industrial exports.?

It was a natural sector to develop when Israel was founded 64 years ago, since the small stones have been choice merchandise for generations of Jews who had to quickly flee from riots and persecution.?

The plan to revitalize manufacturing will cost millions of dollars and the diamond sector, for the first time, is turning to the government for help. The government, eager to get as many ultra-Orthodox working as possible, is on board.?

Industry troubles
The global financial crisis has taken a toll on the diamond trade, and Israel was not spared. Turnover was nearly halved at the outset in 2009, though in 2011 it returned to pre-crisis levels. A smaller drop is again expected for 2012.?

The damage has been moderate compared to other major hubs such as India, according to Yair Sahar, president of the Israel Diamond Exchange.?

"In other centers the leverage was tremendous, as opposed to here where we were much more conservative," he said, referring to the low level of debt among Israeli firms. "We entered the crisis more prepared, so to speak."?

There have, however, been other problems.?

The price for raw material has risen faster than that of the final product, eating away at profits. And a money laundering and tax evasion scandal at the start of 2012 scared away some customers. The investigations have ended and, so far, no one has been charged.?

The diamond trading floor in Ramat Gan, a suburb of Tel Aviv, is the biggest in the world. Armed guards escort non-members and on one wall are mug shots of problematic dealers whom customers are urged to avoid.?

Diamonds change hands freely across the rows of long dark tables that line the hall. On one side a seller could be local. A buyer across the way could represent some anonymous client on a different continent.?

They scrutinize the stones under a magnifying glass, weigh them on sensitive scales and when a deal is reached they say "mazal ubracha", a Hebrew phrase recognized in centers around the world meaning "luck and blessings".?

In 2011, rough diamond imports to Israel topped $4.4 billion and $7.2 billion in polished diamonds were exported. Every second diamond sold in the United States, according to value, came from Israel.?

But only $1.5 billion of the stones were cut and polished locally, a much lower percentage than a decade ago. The rest were sent abroad to foreign firms or Israeli-owned factories.?

"Once, everyone who sat in this room was a manufacturer," billionaire dealer Lev Leviev said at the opening of a Gemological Institute of America (GIA) laboratory in September. "There was not a diamantaire who was not a manufacturer, and over the years we lost it."?

Salaries were just too cheap to compete with, he said, first in India, the world's biggest importer of rough diamonds, and later in China.?

Israel has subsisted on larger, high-end stones whose owners pay more to have them manufactured close to home. But industry leaders hope to change that, in part because polishers in developing countries are demanding more money.?

"I think we are there, more or less. With rocks of one carat plus, I think we are in a place where the (wage) gap doesn't justify running to manufacture abroad," said Sahar.?

The GIA decision to open its lab in Israel was a first step. Manufacturers can now have their diamonds graded and evaluated in Israel rather than sending them to the United States.?

"It's critical for the growth, for the international branding of the export business, and we think that we're a good partner to help the manufacturing grow," GIA President and CEO Donna Baker told Reuters when the lab opened.?

By cutting costs and allowing increased turnover, it will add between $30 million and $50 million a year to the industry.?

New blood
At the peak of manufacturing in the 1980s, there were 20,000 people cutting and polishing diamonds in Israel. That has dropped to about 2,000.?

"There is no new manpower. Most polishers are 50 years old and up," said Roy Fuchs, who owns a factory a few minutes walk from the exchange. "If they don't invest and bring in new blood, there simply won't be manufacturing."?

To make it happen, the industry realizes it needs help, and for the first time, it is looking for assistance.?

"It's not easy. You need cooperation with the government," said Udi Sheintal, the Israel Diamond Institute's managing director. "Here in the middle of Ramat Gan, you don't get incentives. There are only incentives for certain populations, like the haredi."?

The term haredi, which in Hebrew means "those who tremble before God", refers to people who strictly observe Jewish law. They dress in traditional black outfits, the men do not shave their beards and they spend their days in study and prayer.?

Some 8-10 percent of Israelis are haredi. For the most part they live in insular communities, are exempt from mandatory military service and, according to the Bank of Israel, less than half of ultra-Orthodox men work.?

The issue has created a rift in the mostly secular Israeli society and put a strain on an otherwise robust economy. The government has already earmarked $200 million over the next five years to encourage haredi integration in the work force.?

Many in the new generation of ultra-Orthodox are open to the idea of getting jobs. The key is finding one that fits, said Bezalel Cohen, 38, who has worked for years to promote employment among his fellow haredis.?

"The diamond industry's initiative (to hire ultra-Orthodox)has potential to really succeed," he said. "As long as the pay and training is proper, it should take off."?

Aside from helping to pay the salaries for newly hired haredis, the government will offer grants to small exporters and marketing support.?

Employment plan
The Trade Ministry's diamond controller, Shmuel Mordechai, said the government backs the idea and has funded similar programs in other financial sectors. It would have helped even earlier, he said, but the diamond industry was never interested.?

"They lived in their bubble, they said, 'Don't bother us, don't help us'. In recent years, because of difficulties in the industry and because we opened up our tools to them, they understand," he said.?

One of the more advanced plans Mordechai described is that of an independent service plant where dealers bring their rough diamonds. Such a plant would cost $1-$2 million and employ 30-40 workers. The government will help recruit the ultra-Orthodox.?

"In any plant they set up here and bring employment, we will give help with salaries and other incentives," he said. "If two or three are set up, it will catch on. If the first one succeeds, others will follow."?

Traub, from the manufacturer's association, intends to create dozens of new private factories. He has already spoken to leading rabbis in the community to win their support.?

"I'm speaking of starting with hundreds and going to thousands of haredi workers," he said. "Manufacturing attracts clients. Barring a global crisis, I think we will grow at least 10 percent a year in export."?

Source: http://www.nbcnews.com/business/wanted-diamond-polishers-israel-piety-not-problem-1C7800802

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Coroner IDs Bieber paparazzo killed by car

By Courtney Hazlett, NBC News

Two days after a paparazzo died trying to get a photo of pop star Justin Bieber, the L.A. County coroner's office?has identifed the photographer as 29-year-old Christopher James Guerra.

On New Year's Day, Guerra had pulled over on L.A.'s busy Sepulveda Boulevard near the Getty Center Drive exit of the 405 Freeway to photograph a traffic stop involving a Ferrari registered to Bieber, according to the LAPD. He was crossing Sepulveda heading east, away from the traffic stop, when he was hit by a 2007 Toyota Highlander that was traveling south at about 5:50 p.m.

"It could happen to any one of us," veteran paparazzo Rick Mendoza told TODAY. "We?re dealing with a billion-dollar industry called Hollywood, and this ain?t no joke. And it is money that drives you."

NBC Latino: Photographers discuss risks, rights for celeb chasers

And that money that might not have amounted to much. Longtime celebrity photographer Dave Allocca and multiple industry sources told NBC News that a plain shot of Bieber in his Ferarri likely would have fetched no more than $100. As it turns out, Bieber wasn't even in the car at the time of the accident.

Bieber issued a statement Wednesday saying that "hopefully this tragedy will finally inspire meaningful legislation." Miley Cyrus tweeted similarly, "Hope this paparazzi/JB accident brings on some changes in ?13 Paparazzi are dangerous! Wasn?t Princess DI enough of a wake up call?!"

Gene Blevins / Reuters

Los Angeles police look over the car that struck and killed a celebrity photographer who was trying to take photographs of a Ferrari registered to pop star Justin Bieber.

Police described the accident involving Guerra at the scene on Tuesday night. "While the highway patrolman was conducting his investigation of the speeding violation of the Ferrari (that Guerra was photographing), he noticed a (white male) cross four lanes of traffic and was taking pictures of the traffic stop," LAPD Sgt. Rudy Lopez said.

"He told him to get back to his vehicle, the individual refused to, he had to order him twice," the officer continued. "Eventually the individual with the camera did turn around, walked back in the direction of the vehicle, [and] in the roadway he was struck by an uninvolved vehicle."

Guerra was taken by ambulance to nearby Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 6:20 p.m.

The 69-year-old woman behind the wheel of the car that hit Guerra has been cooperating with authorities, police told the Los Angeles Times. It's unlikely that she'll face charges in connection with the accident.