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Amazon will now not help Alexa third-party HIPAA-eligible Abilities, which permits sufferers to share HIPAA-protected well being data with hospitals and well being insurers by way of its voice-based Alexa platform.
The corporate introduced the HIPAA-compliant information switch functionality in 2019 alongside the launch of six Alexa Abilities constructed by healthcare suppliers and different stakeholders, together with My Youngsters’s Enhanced Restoration After Surgical procedure (ERAS), Livongo Blood Sugar Lookup, Swedish Well being Join, Cigna Well being Immediately, Atrium Well being and Categorical Scripts.
Every Talent was designed to assist members, sufferers and caretakers handle care at dwelling with voice instructions.
In an e-mail to Abilities customers dated Dec. 5, Amazon mentioned it will “suppress” Abilities for customers on Dec. 9 and delete any protected well being data pertaining to their Abilities per its Alexa deletion insurance policies, in line with Voicebot.ai, which initially broke the story.
An Amazon spokesperson advised MobiHealthNews in an e-mail, “We frequently evaluate our experiences to make sure we’re investing in providers that can delight clients. We’re persevering with to speculate closely in creating healthcare experiences with first- and third-party builders, together with Alexa Sensible Properties for Healthcare.”
THE LARGER TREND
The tech and retail large has made loads of healthcare information this 12 months.
In November, the corporate introduced the launch of Amazon Clinic, a digital healthcare service that can ship look after 20 frequent circumstances, together with hair loss, heartburn, zits, dandruff and seasonal allergic reactions.
The Amazon Clinic announcement got here three months after the corporate confirmed that Amazon Care, its providers geared towards employers, would shut down at year-end.
In July, Amazon introduced plans to amass hybrid major care supplier One Medical for about $3.9 billion in money, although this deal has but to shut.
As of September, the Federal Commerce Fee was reviewing the deal. Based on a submitting with the Securities and Change Fee, One Medical father or mother firm 1Life Healthcare and Amazon obtained requests from the FTC for extra data concerning the acquisition.
Amazon has used the Alexa voice assistant for different healthcare and help providers. In September 2021, it introduced Alexa Collectively, a subscription service that permits caregivers to help and remotely monitor ageing relations of their houses, which constructed on earlier Care Hub options.
Amazon additionally expanded Alexa Sensible Properties for senior residing communities and well being programs final 12 months. The providing permits these suppliers to make use of the voice assistant at scale of their amenities.


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The original Moto X launched in 2013, and while the device is approaching the two year mark, it's still new enough for people to reasonably expect an upgrade to the newest Android releases.
Well, some owners on AT&T have taken to Google+ with screenshots of Android 5.1 coming to their hardware. The carrier has started soak testing the latest version of Lollipop in anticipation of a general rollout, but some recipients were able to get the goods without an invite.
As it turns out, the carrier has made the over-the-air update available to general users who attempt to pull it down manually.
The OTA will bump your phone up to software version 222.26.1. If you choose to wait, a notification should arrive automatically once AT&T has deemed the update ready for the general public. Either way, you can read the full release notes on Motorola's website.

domain: news


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BEIJING — China’s anticorruption campaign, compounded by the watchful eyes of Internet users intent on exposing embarrassing cases of official excess, will push Chinese luxury-goods consumers toward more discreet brands and products.
That’s according to industry analysts monitoring the impact of ongoing efforts of China’s new regime to tamp down corruption, alongside a high-level political purge of top officials, the likes of which have not been seen here for decades. The anticorruption drive has already cut into sales of some of China’s most lavish consumer items, including expensive liquor, imported luxury-brand watches and even sharks’ fins, a controversial delicacy used to make pricy soup.
Issa Rae stopped by WWD's NYC headquarters to talk about season two of "Insecure," which premieres this Sunday on HBO. Click link in bio for all the details. #wwdeye (📷: @jgreenery; Styled by @mayteallende)
A Stella McCartney sketch of a custom dress made from protein-based silk in partnership with biotech lab Bolt Threads. The dress will be displayed at The Museum of Modern Art's upcoming design exhibition, "Items: Is Fashion Modern?"


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Eight years ago, Dogfish Head and Boston Beer Company teamed up to brew a collaboration beer for the annual SAVOR craft beer and food pairing experience.
Today, the two companies announced the signing of a definitive merger agreement valued at about $300 million.
The deal is expected to close in the second quarter.
As part of the transaction, Dogfish Head co-founders Sam and Mariah Calagione will receive about 406,000 shares of Boston Beer stock (NYSE: SAM), valued at $314.60 per share, making them the largest non-institutional shareholders in the company, behind Boston Beer founder Jim Koch.
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Google announced today at its I/O developer conference that all of the Chromebooks it plans to release this year will also support Linux out of the box. That probably won't mean that much to particularly enthusiastic Linux users, who can make the operating system run on pretty much any device they want, but it offers consumers an easier way to experiment with something a little more capable than Chrome OS.
However, Chrome OS was already based on Linux. So a pedantic argument could be made that Google didn't announce much of anything today. But nobody likes a pedant--not even Hank Pym--and the point is that Chromebooks will now be able to seamlessly offer a Debian Linux experience right next to the existing Chrome OS experience (Debian being another operating system built on top of Linux).
ZDNet reported that Chromebook users will actually be able to use Chrome OS, Android and their preferred flavor of desktop Linux right next to each other. While that sounds like a user experience nightmare, it could actually prove useful. Chrome OS would be able to handle basic tasks, Linux programs could manage complex projects and then Android apps could offer app-based entertainment options.
This shift also lets Google make Chromebooks more capable without having to admit that sometimes the web isn't enough. Now the breadth of its software will match that of its hardware. The category has long encompassed low-cost devices as well as relatively expensive products, but Chrome OS makes it difficult for some consumers to justify the cost of premium devices like the Google Pixel Slate.
Being able to pick and choose from the best of three different platforms might change that. At least it will make it easier to use Linux on the Chromebooks debuting later this year; maybe that will convince more people to give the operating system a shot. Combine that with the array of available hardware, and it seems like Chromebooks are making their way from 'good for thrifty shoppers and children' to a broader audience.
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Paul and Martin Allan have acquired the Borland & Morton surgery from its retiring founding partners, after receiving a £745,000 funding package from high street lender Barclays.
The new owners plan to increase the business from four to five surgeries and widen the range of treatments available, with a particular focus on cosmetic dentistry.
Martin Allan has been a member of the team at Borland & Morton since 2011, and will now be joined in the business by his brother, and fellow dentist, Paul. The new owners will grow the team to five dentists and they intend on taking on a new trainee within the next year.
Barclays said it has seen the number and value of loans to the UK dentistry industry almost double in the last two years, amid a push to expand premises and invest in new technology to keep up with consumer demand. The package provided to Borland & Morton includes a £674,000 commercial mortgage, £56,000 loan for investing in new equipment, and an optional £15,000 overdraft facility.
The support from Barclays will enable the business to invest in a camera that allows a 3D model of teeth to be created.
Paul Allan, co-owner of Borland & Martin, said: “Borland & Morton is an established and respected surgery in the local area and we are looking forward to further enhancing the offering it provides and realising our ambitions for the business.”
Tom Every, business manager at Barclays, said: “We are pleased to assist the new owners in taking over an established business and helping them to put in place plans and goals for continued growth and success.
“Dentistry is a sector which is performing well, with an increase in demand for cosmetic treatments helping to drive that growth.”


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We’re now into the middle of summer! It’s hot and the kids are probably begging to stay indoors. Unless you have constructive activities or projects planned for them, your children are going to gravitate to their electronic devices and phones. And while that’s not entirely unacceptable, prolonged exposure to electronic devices may have long term consequences.
If you’re worried about the risk of cell phone radiation for your kids, you’re not alone. Dr. Olga Naidenko, Senior Science Advisor for Children’s Enviromental Health, offers her assessment of the potential risks of radiofrequency radiation and how you might be able to minimize these risks.
Yet Another Reason for Your Kids to Unplug? The Risk of Cell Phone Radiation
Most Americans, including children, use electronic devices like cellphones, tablets and smartwatches, for hours every day – and many have developed symptoms that look like addictive behavior. In 2017, children ages 8 and younger spent, on average, 48 minutes on mobile devices daily, and 42 percent of children 8 and younger have their own tablet devices, according to Common Sense Media.
But frequent use of electronic devices may pose health risks beyond addiction.
So far, the issue of children’s exposure to radiofrequency radiation from wireless devices has been missing from the debate about children’s screen time. Research from the National Toxicology Program reveals troubling evidence that cellphone radiation could cause brain and heart cancer.
Scientists exposed laboratory animals to radiofrequency radiation at levels similar to and higher than those emitted by cellphones. The exposed animals showed a greater likelihood of developing malignant glioma, a type of brain cancer, as well as heart tumors, compared to unexposed animals. Although this study tested radiation effects on animals, it offers valuable insight into the potential risk to people, including future exposure to 5G wireless networks.
Some Guidelines to Follow
Limit children’s exposure to radiofrequency wireless devices:
- Limit their use of the phone as a toy.
- If your kids use your phone to play games, use airplane mode, so the phone does not emit radiofrequency radiation.
- Make sure to turn off wireless devices at night. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that all screens be turned off 30 minutes before bedtime, and that TVs, computers and other electronic devices not be allowed in children’s bedrooms.
- Keep the Wi-Fi router away from children’s bedrooms. Some experts recommend turning the router off at night, to decrease the radiofrequency radiation levels in your home.
Teach older children safe digital device habits like:
- Using a headset or speaker while talking on the cellphone, rather than holding it directly to your ear.
- Keeping the phone, tablet or other wireless device away from the body – for example, on a table instead of a pocket.
- At night, storing the wireless devices away from the body – never under the pillow or in bed.
To learn more, visit EWG’s Guide to Safer Cellphone Use
Visit Sun Pediatrics in Marietta
Worried about the risk of cell phone radiation for your kids? Get more advice and guidance from Dr. Hari of Sun Pediatrics. Dr. Hari is highly recommended by parents in Cobb County, Marietta, Mableton, Smyrna and Vinings. Call today to schedule an appointment and consultation.


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Global smartphone shipments fell by 2.3% on a year-over-year basis in the second quarter, according to market-research company IDC, but that drop marked the industry's best quarterly performance in a year. China and the United States saw the biggest declines, IDC said, but China's first-half drop was less severe this year than it was a year ago. Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
was the top-selling vendor in the quarter, with 22.7% market share, while Huawei Technologies Co. was second with 17.6% and Apple Inc.
was third with 10.1%. In a statement, IDC Research Manager Anthony Scarsella said that "intensified and generous trade-in programs across major markets and channels" helped drive upgrades. Apple shares are up 4% in Wednesday trading following a better-than-expected earnings report. The stock has gained 38% so far this year, as the Dow Jones Industrial Average
of which Apple is a component, has risen 17%.


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Anticipating Apple’s (AAPL) ‘Peek Performance’ Spring Event
Apple Inc.’s (AAPL) scheduled spring event on March 8, 2022, is rumored to be about internal upgrades and tweaks to the iPhone SE, the iPad Air, and the Macbook Pro.
iPhone SE 3 and iPad Air 5
The iPhone SE, which was launched in 2016, received an upgrade in April 2020 and is one of the most popular budget Apple smartphones.
The March 2022 version may now be fitted with the A15 Bionic processor currently used in iPhone 13. The new version may also have a better camera and 5G capabilities, allowing faster browsing and larger downloads. Faster processing and browsing is good news not just for users but for carriers as well.
On the flip side, the new SE 3 is rumored to continue to feature the dated home button and large bezels.
A new version of the iPad Air is also supposed to be in the works and will also have 5G and a faster processor. Both the iPhone SE 3 and the iPad Air 5 may have upgraded cameras of 12 megapixels.
The Macbook Pro, whose most recent upgraded version came in October 2021, may carry the much awaited Apple M2 processor for the first time, improving the new Pro’s performance. But whether the launch will be in March remains to be seen.
The March event could unveil the M2 in Macbook Air instead, with the Macbook Pro getting fitted out with the upgraded chip later in the year.
Apple’s proprietary silicon technology has been contributing to revenue growth since 2020, when the company moved away from using Intel Corporation’s (INTC) chips.
The M1, M1 Mac, and M1 Pro showed superior capabilities in intensive tasks such as video editing several high-resolution videos while facilitating an impressive battery life.
Two years after Apple’s first proprietary chip, the competition between Intel—whose Alder Lake mobile chip is its most powerful chip to date—and the M2 for faster and more powerful processors is still on and will be a closely watched one this year.
Read more Detail : https://www.investopedia.com/anticipating-apple-spring-event-5220997


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PORTLAND, Ore. (KPTV) - It’s the day before Thanksgiving, which means people are taking to the sky.
“It’s going to be great,” said traveler Simone Dankenbring.
The TSA expects to screen about 20 million travelers around the holiday, that’s compared to 26 million in 2019.
“I’m just kind of excited to get there after so many years of waiting to finally get on the road and travel again,” said Dankenbring.
At PDX alone, about half a million travelers are expected. That’s up about 300,000 from last year. While it’s not quite pre-pandemic levels, it’s pretty close.
That’s why people told FOX 12 they’re arriving extra early. But even with the increase in crowds this year, they said they haven’t seen long waits or long lines.
“I thought it was going to be a lot more traffic and all of that, but it was really smooth,” said Dankenbring.


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After the increase in costs, sellers are trying to maintain margins amid a low demand environment.
Trinseo, the global plastic and synthetic rubber producer, sets higher prices in June for its polystyrene (PS). The company says in a recent press note that from Jun 1 prices of its general purpose polystyrene (GPPS) and high impact polystyrene (HIPS) will increase €85/mt. The company is seeking higher prices in June also for its ABS and SAN.
INEOS Styrolution also says on its website that it plans to increase prices of its styrenics polymers. These announcements come against a backdrop of higher styrene prices and an increase in economic activity. However, it is too early in the month to have a clear view on the state of demand for PS.
Nevertheless, there are early indications that demand is not so great so far in June. The panic buying that went on during the height of the pandemic is slowing down. Besides, stocks are full for all market participants.
Moreover, there is real concern that demand will not be so different in July and August and could even slow down further. Some buyers say they plan to shut early and for longer in July due to subdued activity.
Polystyrene prices started the year on a positive note after a series of decreases at the end of 2019. But the onset of the pandemic pushed down costs of raw materials. As such, prices have been falling and at times sharply since March. But June could mark the end of this pandemic induced downward trend.


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Using an ad blocker to get rid of those pesky YouTube ads? We've got bad news for you.
YouTube is currently running a test in which it blocks video viewing for people using ad blockers. Discovered by Redditor Reddit_n_Me(opens in a new tab) (via Android Authority(opens in a new tab)), the test includes a pop-up menu that emerges if you're running an ad blocker, telling you that your video player will be "blocked after three videos."
"It looks like you may be using an ad blocker. Video Playback will be blocked unless YouTube is allowlisted or the ad blocker is disabled," the pop-up says. It then offers the users to try YouTube's paid tier, YouTube Premium, and there's also an option to "report issue" if you're not, in fact, using an ad blocker.
Reddit_n_Me didn't share any details on what type of ad blocker they were using.
YouTube confirmed the test to The Verge(opens in a new tab), saying that it's running "a small experiment globally that urges viewers with ad blockers enabled to allow ads on YouTube or try YouTube Premium.”
The company says that it takes "disabling playback very seriously," and that it will only disable playback for users who "ignore repeated requests to allow ads on YouTube."
YouTube ads, which the company claims supports "a diverse ecosystem of creators, and provides billions of people globally access for free," have become more of a nuisance in recent years, with ads becoming more frequent and longer (an experiment last year served up to 10 unskippable ads(opens in a new tab) at once to some users).
On the flip side, at $11.99 per month, YouTube Premium(opens in a new tab) is one of the pricier content plans out there (for comparison, Spotify and Netflix Basic both cost $9.99 per month), which is likely the reason why some users opt for using ad blockers to get rid of YouTube ads. The company maintains that using ad blockers violate YouTube's Terms of Service, and if this recent experiment is any indication, it will start enforcing those rules more vigilantly soon.


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Volusia Sheriff Mike Chitwood on Monday encouraged residents to shop local in the wake of the year's two destructive hurricanes. Many businesses in Volusia and Flagler Counties have been burdened with heavy repair costs after storm damage ravaged both local terrain and infrastructure.
Chitwood told his Facebook followers, over 77,000 strong, to make an effort to look into locally-owned businesses and do their shopping there to help many of them land on their feet. The message is especially resonant with the Christmas shopping season starting this week.
Among many others, businesses like John's Appliance & Bedding, Tom Cook Jeweler, Haynes Brothers Furniture, and Granada Jewelers are running Black Friday sales that can be perused this week.
Chitwood's Facebook post also asks for additional local business owners to plug their businesses to help connect residents with the service they need to shop local. Other resources are also available to help identify useful businesses in the area, such as the Chambers of Commerce for Daytona Beach and Palm Coast.
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INTERNATIONAL CONTINGENT STILL STRONG AT BOAT SHOW
Written on the 8 June 2010
A CONSTRAINED shipping transport industry is imposing challenges on international exhibitors as they scramble to get their products to Australia on time for the Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show (SCIBS). But organisers assure the global context will be as strong as ever.
With a reduction in ocean freight as a result of a slowdown in manufacturing and consumer demand, international voyages have been cut back.
Despite the challenges it has not sunk the hopes of boat show management with a strong international component still confirmed
Participants from China, Taiwan, Korea, US, UK, New Zealand, Jordan, Italy, Netherlands, Belgium, Jordan, Turkey and Italy plus an array of Australian companies showcasing imported products will be on display. The Australian manufacturing sector is also well represented.


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The airline will purchase 15 units of Overture with passenger operation expected by 2029.
The new HondaJet Elite S builds on the success of its predecessor and boasts a slew of improvements which improve performance, comfort, and ease of operation.
Dassault’s latest business jet combines newly designed engines and safety features derived from technology used in its fighter jets.
As travel comes to a halt, the desire to leave one’s country becomes stronger and with private jets, it is now possible to explore again.
Powered by two Rolls-Royce Pearl 700 engines made specifically for the G700, the world’s largest private jet offers 6400 to 7,500 nautical mile range at speeds of up to Mach 0.90
Can military planes be sold for commercial use? Apparently so, according to this latest listing of a 1980 F-16A/B Fighting Falcon.


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During its corporate strategy meeting yesterday, Sony Group revealed that PSN sales currently amount to over $14 billion (1 trillion 800 billion yen, to be precise) across over 100 million accounts. Chairman, president, and CEO Kenichiro Yoshida said that the network remains Sony’s largest direct-to-consumer (DTC) service, and is an “important” aspect of the business.
PSN sales have consistently increased over the years
One of the slides in Yoshida’s presentation showed that network sales generated nearly 800 billion yen more in FY 2024 than they did in FY 2017. Sony remains confident that the revamped PS Plus will significantly strengthen PSN, and plans to further collaborate within and outside the group to bring more content to PSN. One of the slides showed Prime Video, Netflix, Hulu, Pluto TV, and Apple TV as examples of these collaborations.
There was also an emphasis on strengthening Sony’s DTC services overall. PlayStation users will be particularly happy to note that the company has pledged to continue improving PlayStation Direct and expand the store in multiple regions, which is of more importance now than ever before following the PS5’s launch and the general public’s inability to beat scalpers at retail. “In the gaming area, we are trying to get closer to creators through the creation of content IP while also getting closer to users through DTC services,” said Yoshida. “We are also continuing to develop PlayStation’s own online electronic commerce store [PlayStation Direct] in various regions.”
According to the executive, one of Sony’s long-term visions is to directly connect with “one billion people interested in entertainment” and the purpose of this direct connection is to “learn from users.” Sony’s DTC push goes beyond gaming, into music, film, and television content.
In other news, the Horizon Forbidden West PS5 console bundle is set to launch in the U.S., and Sony is looking towards Bungie for help in going multiplatform.


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Journera, the real-time data exchange platform for creating more seamless travel, today announced that five new travel companies have signed agreements to use their platform. They include companies in the duty free, homeshare, parking, car service and airport shuttle sectors. Journera also recently announced that travel management company AmTrav has joined the platform as the first customer in the corporate travel sector.
Together, the companies join many of the world's largest airlines and hotels to use Journera's 'whole journey' view of the traveler as the path to providing exceptional customer experiences, more personalized offers and greater economic value for travel brands. New Journera partners include:
- 3Sixty Duty Free, the company that offers inflight duty free and buy-on-board programs, airport duty free and specialty shop experiences.
- way.com, a leading marketplace for airport parking, car and other services.
- Exceptional Stays, the company that offers luxury vacation rental homes in the U.S., Mexico and Western Europe.
- Parking Access, a leading airport parking aggregator, offering travelers worldwide deep discounts on off-airport parking.
- ShuttleFare.com, which has booked over 1.75M rides with top airport transportation companies on it's simple and easy online reservation platform.
"We are pleased that brands from across the travel industry are joining Journera to provide highly customized experiences and offers for their customers," said Jeffrey Katz, CEO, Journera. "With a full journey view of the customer, Journera is helping our commercial partners create more seamless travel, generate more revenue and laser focus their marketing spend."
Journera announced the arrival of Scott Garner as Chief Revenue Officer last week to further expand the company's relationships across the travel industry.
The Journera platform brings together data from throughout the travel journey to open up new possibilities for travelers and travel companies – from identifying potential customers who are planning journeys, better anticipating their needs throughout the whole journey, and offering new services and experiences based on the traveler's real-time needs. The platform is also used to create touchless experiences such as automatically dispatching a rideshare based on real-time flight information to avoid crowds at the curb, or automatically dispatching a room key to the hotel guest upon flight arrival to facilitate 'contactless' check-in at the property.
In addition to the companies named in today's announcement, Journera's commercial partners also include Hilton, InterContinental Hotels Group, Marriott International, Hyatt Hotels Corporation, United Airlines, American Airlines and others. Together, these travel companies account for nearly 40 percent of all travel in the U.S. For more information about Journera, visit www.journera.com.


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Myanmar Internet PenetrationInternet penetration in Myanmar
- Myanmar: Internet penetration in 2016
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46 million Myanmarans are now using the Internet, 10 million more than last year.
Myanmar's Internet penetration increased by 10 million last year, according to the latest data from Eleven's Department of Transport and Communications. According to the Ministry's reports, there were about 36 million Internet surfers last year, and this number has risen to over 46 million this year (so far).
According to the survey, over 44 million fixed and cell telephones were recorded in the 2015-2016 marketing year, compared with 54 million at the end of January this year. In order to put this into perspective, last year, about 86% of the people had telephones, but this figure has risen to 105% this year.
It is not taken into consideration, however, that as a rule several Simkarten possess this. It is not surprising that most Myanmar residents use the Internet through their wireless Internet service. To make this leap in cellular and Internet penetration easier, the government plans to construct a combined of 16,965 cellular masts across the state.
At the end of January this year there were 14,872 spires in Myanmar. While 4G was launched last year, restricted frequency coverage within the national market has hindered telecommunications operators from providing 4G more quickly in other areas. Obviously, with quicker wireless Internet service comes more portable possibilities.


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Safety researchers have issued a brand new warning to Android customers and it’s clever to take discover in the event you occur to have one of many fashionable functions put in in your smartphone. It has been revealed Google lately eliminated over 30 fashionable apps from its Play Retailer after it was found the software program had the power to bombard customers with undesirable adverts and intrusive browser redirects, which might take Android followers to web sites with out them ever clicking on a hyperlink.
The invention of those malicious and adware-packed apps was made by the workforce at WhiteOps, which believes a felony group had been behind the menace. These cyber crooks first began importing the software program, designed to primarily goal the wonder and selfie market, to Google’s Play Retailer again in January 2019.
Throughout the precedent days of those assaults, Google’s safety service had been deleting a lot of the apps just a few weeks after they had been uploaded because of their malicious nature. Actually, based on WhiteOps most of those functions lasted simply 17 days earlier than being blocked.
However regardless of their quick life on the Play Retailer they nonetheless managed to amass over 500,000 downloads which makes the assault extraordinarily severe. If that wasn’t unhealthy sufficient, issues bought worse in September 2019 with the criminals altering techniques.
Android warning as Google removes over 30 apps from its fashionable retailer
The brand new threats had been made doable by both hiding the malicious code or deleting it fully – which meant they…


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From left: iSPIRT co-founders Naveen Tiwari, Vishnu Dusad, Bharat Goenka and Sharad Sharma, at first anniversary of the organization, Bangalore, February 4 2014 ( Photo: IndiaTechOnline)
Happy first birthday for Indian software products body, iSPIRT
Bangalore, February 5 2014: On its first birthday, the Indian Software Products Industry Roundtable (iSPIRT), a think-tank focused on the products ecosystem, finds itself in the happy position of reporting that the domestic market for software products is expected to grow at 14%, almost three times the global growth rate.
A good part of this demand for software products will come from the Small and Medium Enterprises sector as well as from India’s socially significant sectors such as healthcare and education which are struggling to scale up to meet the needs of a growing nation.
iSPIRT has released a study it commissioned for its first anniversary-- the first ‘Product Industry Monitor Report’ -- which focuses on industry demographics, founder profile, talent management and financing aspects of India’s product industry.
Presenting the report, co-author and iSPIRT Fellow Srivardhini K Jha, said India had the potential to build a $ 100 billion software product industry by 2025. . India is currently going through a period of ‘Combinatorial Innovation’, making it possible for small entrepreneurial teams to develop complex business applications quickly.
iSPIRT co-founders Naveen Tiwari, Vishnu Dusad, Bharat Goenka and Sharad Sharma were on hand at the anniversary event where the report was released. The new Software as a Service (SaaS) markets that are being created are very large and amount to a $ 600 billion global opportunity (out of the total $1.2 trillion dollar opportunity for software products), explained Sharas Sharma. For the first time, Indian SaaS product companies are part of this emerging market opportunity from the beginning and some early winners are starting to emerge. Other points from the report:
• Over 50% of software product companies are completely self-‐funded or ‘bootstrapped’.
• Lot of senior talent from MNCs is starting software product companies – close to 40% of founders come from an MNC.
• Indian software product startups are experiencing ‘talent starvation’ at the entry level.
• 78% of Indian software product startups defy the universal logic of having founders with diverse skills, and instead have homogenous founding partners.
• The three most common product sectors that companies work in are Enterprise, SaaS and Consumer.
Find a presentation on the Product Industry Monitor Reporthere


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This morning I woke with the word ‘cruising’ and began thinking about the devastation that has been caused to people who were ‘captured’ on cruise ships during the outbreak of the Coronavirus pandemic. I began thinking about the dark side of the ‘mega’ cruise ships and their impact on both people and place.
An article was written on 5 June 2019 by Freya Higgins-Desbiolles for ABC News, and how prophetic it was. Ms Higgins-Desbiolles writes that “Mega Cruise ships represent a Sword of Damocles over us in relation to their presence and risk to fragile marine reserves such as the pristine waters of Antartica. I would argue that Freya’s statement already had far wider impacts globally than Antartica and little could Freya know how this prediction would also include the outbreak of a global pandemic.
If you say that someone has the Sword of Damocles hanging over their head, you mean that they are in a situation in which something very bad could happen to them at any time.
In 2017 25.8 million people globally went on a cruise, with demand growing by 20.5 percent over the past five years. Cruise tourism caters for all incomes from the expensive, luxury end of the market to low-income wage-earners who save up for such a holiday therefore cruising has a very wide market and caters for specific attractions as a tourism experience.
The cruise ship industry is dominated by large multinational corporations, such as Royal Caribbean, Carnival, Norwegian and MSC Cruise Lines. These powerful companies are able to dictate terms of access to ports and their all-inclusive model means that too little tourist spending reaches the ports that receive them. There is a tendency to build ever-larger cruise ships and this is exacerbating problems.
One marine expert stated: “These ships burn as much fuel as whole towns. They use a lot more power than container ships and even when they burn low sulphur fuel, it’s 100 times worse than road diesel.”
Cruise ship visitation also brings negative socio-cultural impacts despite the brief duration of shore visits. The most pressing issue is the way cruise visitors add to already crowded tourist sites, such as the old city of Dubrovnik and Piazza Marco Square in Venice. Local residents are angered by such overcrowding and may even be pushed out at peak times and in peak seasons. Transport facilities can be overwhelmed and make an urban work commute difficult.
Then there is the issue of low wages, long hours, precarity and exploitation of cruise ship labour that does little to commend cruise lines as good corporate citizens. Many developing countries, such as the Philippines, provide the labour force to these cruise ships and rely on the remittance funds these workers send back. All the while having their own ports negatively impacted as ports of call to these very same cruise lines.
Cruise lines are being impacted by new regulations effecting the global marine industries to address dirty fuel by 2020. But they stand accused of “emissions dodging” “rather than paying for more expensive cleaner fuels. Such responses to regulatory changes do little to foster goodwill.
Freya writes, “Regulatory authorities need to take aim at the negative environmental impacts of powerful cruise lines and address the efforts to escape regulations through flags of convenience and poor practices such as emissions dodging and skirting maritime safety regulations”.
The outbreak of the Coronavirus has brought these Company’s under even greater scrutiny. James Walker, a Florida attorney who specialises in cases involving cruise ship passengers, said the outbreaks on cruise ships around the world were “entirely predictable” given there was so little government oversight of the industry. He said the cruise industry should have halted operations much sooner, and also criticised the US government’s response to the crisis. “It’s been abysmal,” he said. “It seems out of control quite frankly. No one seems to have a plan.”
So, who does control cruise ship regulation? If you look up the Cruise Lines International website it says that ” Cruise operations are tightly regulated with rigorous enforcement by outside authorities. These regulatory authorities set comprehensive standards for safety, security, crew member protections, health, and environmental performance.”  Clearly its complicated and seems to depend on where the cruise ship is in relation to any particular incident.
With hundreds of deaths blamed on cruise ships continuing to operate following the notification of the WHO warning regarding the global Coronavirus pandemic, multiple class action lawsuits have been filed against certain cruise lines. In Australia, the New South Wales Police have launched a criminal investigation into the conduct of Carnival Australia over whether the Company was transparent about the scale of the Covid-19 outbreak on the Ruby Princess, which is the countries single largest source of Covid-19 cases in Australia, accounting to date for a third of deaths .
If it takes a pandemic to review the industry then so be it. For local environments and local people, where these ‘mega’ cruise ships dock, the negative impact has been felt for some time. For thousands of low paid workers on cruise ships, many are still trapped at sea, with no understanding of how they can return home, as stated by US attorney James Walker , there doesn’t seem to be a plan.
Covid-19 has delivered unusual environmental benefits: cleaner air, lower carbon emissions, a respite for wildlife. Now the big question is whether we can capitalise on this moment?
When the time comes that we can return to travelling on a cruise ship or flying overseas, we will need to think about the impact that it/us is having on the local people and environment. I have enjoyed as much as any, visiting the beauty of places like Venice, but they are fragile, and perhaps the answer lies in smaller visitor numbers that are carefully monitored by local and State Governments to ensure that respect and care for the people they represent is put ahead of corporate greed. I believe that we can find a solution if we have the right balance and each one of us can make a difference by choosing to travel ethically and green.


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The three-hour event featured nearly 50 contestants from around the world competing in four categories, including interview, fitness wear, fun fashion and evening gown.
Through the American Heart Association, Pontius will spend her year as Miss Teen International 2013 promoting her platform of teaching young people to make heart healthy choices. (PRNewsFoto/International Pageants, Paula Preston)
Media Contact information:
- Submitted via press release by PR Newswire Photos
- Photo by: PRNewsFoto/International Pageants, Paula Preston


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Dr. Iyer evaluates a 3D printed patient-specific heart model during a surgery dry run prior to treating the patient.
Physicians at the Jacobs Institute, a newly designated Stratasys-supported Center of Excellence, the University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center (CTRC) and Kaleida Health’s Vascular Institute in Buffalo, New York, have been relying on Stratasys’ PolyJet 3D printing solutions to develop treatment plans for life-threatening vascular issues such as aneurysms, stroke and blood clots. In addition to making exact models to match specific patients, Stratasys 3D Printers are being used to create pieces for medical training as well and to develop trial runs for new treatment protocols.
“We use 3D printing technology and materials to create a lifelike vascular environment that isn’t achievable any other way,” said Mike Springer, Director of Operations and Entrepreneurship at the Jacobs Institute.
Complex, Life-Threatening Problems Get Personalized Attention
Based on patients’ CT and MRI data, the 3D printed models that emerge from Stratasys’ PolyJet-based 3D Printers are extremely precise. Physicians can use them to create treatment plans, to practice surgeries in advance and to visually explain to patients how they will be treated.
Second-year medical students in training using 3D printed vascular models.
“3D printing is valuable in planning complex procedures with a team. Without it, we prepare for complications on a theoretical basis,” said Dr. Vijay Iyer, an interventional cardiologist. “Many times, despite the best theoretical planning, we are faced with circumstances where we don’t know what to do.”
Converting real patient-derived anatomy into realistic 3D models allows physicians to integrate visual and tactile clues into their surgical plan. Physical models allow the team to test theories and reveal potential complications before the patient is on the table and time is critical.
Rare conditions are no longer “untrainable.” 3D printing provides the chance for physicians in training and researchers to deal with complex health care situations based on real cases. Instead of waiting to train on new procedures, physicians at the Jacobs Institute use 3D printed vascular models of patients with stroke, clots, aneurysms and other pathologies to develop surgical skills in a no-risk environment. Models are customized to present a range of anatomies so physician participants are exposed to a variety of real-life scenarios when treating patients. Training on 3D printed models can be done virtually anywhere, avoiding the cost and complexity of operating in the controlled environments required for animals and human cadavers. Additionally, 3D printed models can mimic a range of tissues more realistically than processed cadavers, which no longer retain the feeling of live tissue.
This 3D printed vascular testing model allows medical device designers and engineers to gather valuable performance feedback on device performance.
“3D vascular models represent a new paradigm for training the next generation of doctors. This paradigm includes surgical and endovascular simulation and skills evaluation before they are allowed to treat patients,” said Dr. L. Nelson Hopkins, founder of the Jacobs Institute and the Gates Vascular Institute.
Validating Device Performance with 3D Printed Anatomical Models
3D printed sectioning block used for rodent brain dissection. The slices created by the segmentation fixture are 2 mm thick and the slots allow a 200-micron blade.
3D printing enables the Jacobs Institute to accelerate and improve medical device design, and the team at CTRC also does preclinical testing for product validation using customized anatomical models to capture feedback on device performance.
“Recently, we tested how effectively a particular device could reach the brain depending on tortuosity of the anatomy. We designed a series of models with differing levels of tortuosity, then tested the devices,” said Dr. Adnan Siddiqui, chief medical officer at the Jacobs Institute, vice chairman and professor of neurosurgery at University at Buffalo Neurosurgery, and director of neurosurgical stroke service at Kaleida Health. “This is impossible to do in animals and patients, but 3D printing makes it easy in a smooth, streamlined process.”
In addition to improving new device performance, the early feedback that designers glean from real-anatomy testing lets them avoid costly, potentially unsuccessful animal testing.
The Jacobs Institute, Kaleida Health’s Gates Vascular Institute and University at Buffalo’s Clinical and Translational Research Center use 3D printing as a platform for developing cutting-edge medical solutions.
Ciprian Ionita, Ph.D., is a research assistant professor of biomedical engineering and neurosurgery at University at Buffalo. His team at the Jacobs Institute regularly uses a 3D printer to create custom fixtures for scientific equipment and experiments. “Using our in-house Stratasys 3D printer, we don’t rely on external machine shops that would generate both lag time and expense. Most of these fixtures and components can be 3D printed within a few hours,” said Dr. Ionita.
Through its collaboration with GVI and CTRC, the Jacobs Institute is harnessing the power of a 3D printing platform in all aspects of health care.
Watch this video to learn how 3D printing is becoming an indispensable tool for the future of medicine!


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Mercedes-Benz may move production of its EQS SUV out of its plant in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, to free up space for a planned electric GLC-Class.
Citing supplier sources, Automotive News (subscription required) reported on Thursday that Mercedes is expected to cease production of the EQS SUV in the U.S. after a single generation, and build a successor model at a plant in Bremen, Germany. The changeover is expected to happen late this decade.
The Bremen plant currently builds the C-Class, E-Class, and EQE sedans, as well as the GLC-Class and EQC crossovers. The EQC is the model that the electric GLC-Class will directly replace, a model originally planned for U.S. sale but canceled at the last minute.
To fill the gap at the Tuscaloosa plant, Automotive News, citing information from market research company AutoForecast Solutions, reported that Mercedes will add production of the electric GLC-Class, possibly starting as early as the first quarter of 2026.
2023 Mercedes-Benz EQS SUV production in Tuscaloosa, Alabama
Mercedes only builds around 20,000 EQS SUVs annually but the electric GLC-Class is expected to have volumes of more than double that figure.
Camouflaged prototypes for the electric GLC-Class have already been spotted testing. The prototypes point to a vehicle with distinct styling to the gas-powered GLC-Class already on sale.
Unlike the EQC, which uses a platform shared with the previous-generation GLC-Class, the electric GLC-Class, which is expected to debut in 2025, will ride on a dedicated EV platform, likely Mercedes’ upcoming MMA platform designed for compact EVs but also capable of supporting hybrids. The move will mean a range of 300 miles or more will be possible.


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Not long ago, Meizu officially announced that it will hold “Watch Me! Meizu’s Intelligent Life Press Conference brings a new way of life in the name of intelligence.
The event was dominated by the long-preheated Meizu Watch, Meizu’s first smartwatch product, which is officially defined as a full smartwatch.
Meizu Smart Watch is now available on Meizu’s official website and Meizu’s own JD.com store, Meizu announced on its official Weibo account this afternoon.
It is worth mentioning that this morning Meizu officially announced the core configuration of this product for the first time. It will be equipped with the Snapdragon Wear 4100 flagship chip specially built by Qualcomm for smart wearable devices, which can provide extremely strong performance guarantee. It is officially called “a new generation of small-screen full-blood flagship”.
The Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 is powered by a new 12nm chip, which can dramatically improve battery life. It also has four A53 cores and a maximum power frequency of 1.7GHz, which is an 85% improvement in theoretical performance compared to the previous generation.
In addition, the Qualcomm Snapdragon Wear 4100 chip comes with the Adreno A504 GPU, which is 250 percent faster than its predecessor.
Such a high standard flagship chip, coupled with Meizu’s Flyme for Watch system specially designed for smart watches, will bring the use experience comparable to that of mobile phones. Its overall fluency and functionality will be outstanding among smart watches, and it also supports the installation of third-party APPs, greatly improving its practicability.
It is worth mentioning that Meizu’s full smartwatch will also be equipped with the standard eSIM independent communication architecture, which is called as a “mobile-level watch”. It can completely get rid of mobile phones to realize 4G network connection, call and other operations, and can be used independently.


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With the launch of Chrome OS tablets, Google is going all-in with touch support by adding a tablet mode to its operating system. Although the platform was designed around a keyboard and mouse interface when it launched, Google has slowly embraced more touch features over the years. Most recently, Acer announced the Chromebook Tab 10 as the first Chrome OS-powered tablet in late March, and we now have a little more information on how Google plans to optimize Chrome OS for tablet use.
According to a report on XDA-Developers, code within Chrome OS reveals that device manufacturers can automatically enable a full-screen app launcher in tablet mode, Currently, the Chrome OS app launcher shows just one row of recently used apps along with a search bar at the top, but the new tablet-optimized launcher would look more like the app drawer on Android smartphones.
With more Chrome OS-powered hardware launching with touch support — tablets, convertibles, and detachables are a few of the form factors that are available — the changes that Google makes to the app launcher will help users transition from the keyboard and mouse to a touchscreen-first experience.
While this new behavior will benefit tablet-only devices, like Acer’s Chromebook Tab 10 and HP’s new Chrome OS tablet with a detachable keyboard, users of convertible Chrome OS devices with a 360-degree rotating screen like the Pixelbook will likely also benefit.
Additionally, when the tablet launcher is engaged, pressing on the home button will minimize all apps rather than open the launcher.
In recent years, Google has brought more touch features to Chrome OS, and the touch-optimized app launcher is a natural progression. Most notably, Google allowed Android apps to run on Chrome OS devices, blurring the lines between Android and Chrome OS even further. Manufacturers like Samsung are also contributing to the evolution of Chrome OS by adding pen support to the Chromebook Pro.
According to TechRadar, Chrome OS is also borrowing some of Android’s designs with rounded, tappable buttons — and a user interface with information cards. Currently, there is no release date for the new version of Chrome OS, but an updated Chrome browser with better touch support is slated for a September 2 launch.


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The UK’s most established multi-service healthcare franchise, Kare Plus is taking to the road in March and brining the award-winning franchise opportunity to you!
Hosting four discovery sessions for those interested in owning their own Kare Plus business, the Franchise Team will be visiting Weetwood Hall Hotel in Leeds during both the afternoon and evening on Thursday 9th March, before heading to Middlesbrough’s Jurys Inn Hotel on Friday 10th March for a further two sessions.
Offering the chance for potential business owners to learn more about the multi-income opportunity, the Kare Plus business model will be explained, available territories will be highlighted, earning potential discussed and the benefits of the support systems made clear.
Kare Plus currently has numerous franchise opportunities available in Northern England, and Director of Operations, Dominic Rothwell is certain these Discovery Days will provide a fantastic opportunity to meet the organisation and help you learn more about the UK’s most established multi-service healthcare franchise: “We are currently getting a lot of interested in our territories all across the UK, especially those up North, so we have decided to bring Kare Plus to them!
“After our presentation, we will be available for Q&A sessions as well as 1-2-1s with those who are interested in taking the next step to run their own business.”
If you would like to book your place at one of the Discovery Days, visit www.kareplusfranchising.co.uk, or contact Kare Plus Franchising on 01952 783 338 or firstname.lastname@example.org.


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Spain increases exports by 33%
The world's lemon production increased significantly last year, according to data from the World Citrus Organisation, a global platform for dialogue and action that brings together citrus producing countries. In 2018, production volume was still at 5.7 million mt; in 2020, 6.5 million mt were already registered. Exports also increased noticeably, partly due to the Covid-19 pandemic: Lemons are considered one of the best sources of vitamin C and strengthen the immune system. Spain was able to increase its lemon exports by a full 33% in March 2020 compared to March 2019. A new consumer record was set in European households in the months of March and April 2020, reads a statement from the Association of Lemon and Pomelo Producers in Spain (Asociación Interprofesional de Limón y Pomelo, or AILIMPO). Germany considerably increased its imports. In the 2019-2020 season, lemon imports from the Mediterranean region increased by 16% and amount to 220,000 mt.
Pesticides and pests restrict imports into the EU
Things are not going well for lemon producers in Turkey. After repeated notifications by the European Rapid Alert System for Food and Feed (RASFF) due to high pesticide residues, the European Commission has banned the import and marketing of Turkish lemons in the EU. In addition, in August 2020, the import of lemons from Argentina was banned to prevent the introduction and spread of Phyllosticta citricarpa, a harmful organism that causes the Citrus Black Spot disease. The European model, however, meets demanding standards, so European lemons are usually of very good quality. In addition, farmers have a manual for the treatment and cultivation of lemons in order to obtain a healthy and high-quality product and to avoid problems like in other growing areas. "Food safety and plant health are the key points. The manual is a fundamental and indispensable tool to offer guarantees of the highest quality and food safety," assures Antonio Moreno, president of AILIMPO.
Europe establishes itself
Europe maintains its position as world market leader thanks to its high standards in production and high-quality results. With over 9 million lemon trees, the European Mediterranean region is the main cultivation area, and the trend is growing. In 2020, a crop of 1.9 million mt could be achieved here. This establishes the EU as the world's leading supplier of lemons, ahead of Argentina (1.5 million mt), the USA (798,000 mt) and Turkey (700,000 mt). With 1.2 million tonnes of lemons grown in 2020, Spain is the most important European lemon producer.


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Looks like the Tesla Roadster has a playmate.
It’s been two years since the burgeoning Geely Group took a controlling stake in Lotus, and it’s been relatively quiet in Norfolk since. Aside from producing what felt like one special edition Exige or Evora out every month, the company’s also returned to profit. And as a result of it making money, it’s now getting on with producing its first new model in 11-years. It’s called the Type 130 and boy, does it move the game on for Lotus
For one, it’s fully electric. Which means that our assumptions were right when Group Lotus PLC signed an agreement to work with Williams Advanced Engineering recently. Second, it’s the first all-new model from the brand with Geely money, meaning an altogether better quality product than we’re used to seeing from the brand.
The thing is, while we’d love to wax lyrical about Lotus’ return to form and ever-bright future, Lotus has only revealed one image of what appears to be a bit of the Type 130 in smoke-form. We don’t know anything about the powertrain, cabin layout (could it be a GT or a proper sports car?), or even the price. All we know is that the full reveal is scheduled for later this year in London, where we’ll learn a lot more about the new era of Lotus.
We’re excited. Are you?


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By Junji Koike, principal at the Nomura Research Institute’s Global Infrastructure Consulting Division
Governments around the world are slapping regulations on Internet giants, such as Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon, known collectively as GAFA. GAFA have triggered the decline of local retailing and the leakage of personal data. Measures had to be taken, and it is thought this trend will not reverse.
The markets of nations worldwide were on the verge of being controlled by GAFA, and now we are at a turning point where the markets will fragment. At the same time, it also presents local companies with business opportunities. This article will showcase three kinds of digital platform businesses likely to flourish.
First are digital platform businesses tailored to the unique characteristics of a given region. These businesses will create a niche position. For example, M-Pesa, a mobile phone-based money transfer, financing and microfinancing service, has spread throughout East Africa because it catered to the local context where few people have bank accounts but many have mobile phones. Other examples include Indonesia’s ride-hailing app Go-Jek, that mainly targets motorbike taxis, and India’s StoreKing, an e-commerce platform that enables micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises in rural areas to sell on the Internet.
Second are digital platform businesses that target specific industries. These businesses offer platform-based solutions targeting such sectors as agriculture, education, and health. DigiFarm offers agricultural information and financial services to hundreds of thousands of farmers in Kenya. Ping An Good Doctor, a one-stop healthcare platform, matches up doctors and patients and is thought to be used by 200 million people in China. Educational software firm Arco Platform is used by hundreds of thousands of students in Brazil.
Third are digital platform businesses that revolutionize existing businesses through digital technology. Indonesian state-owned oil company PT Pertamina, jointly with state-run PT Bank Mandiri, has introduced mobile payment services at its gas stations nationwide and has enabled customers to top up their prepaid e-money cards by harnessing the bank’s nationwide ATM network. There are high expectations for platforms that leverage existing assets because they can expand into many fields such as restaurants, shopping, and utility fee payments.
In March 2019, Google was fined $1.7 billion by the European Commission for engaging in anti-competitive practices in Internet advertising. Many issues related to the protection of personal data have been exposed through Facebook. In addition to business, there are many extremely important aspects of the GAFA matter, including democracy and personal dignity.
Given the current situation, the enormously powerful GAFA are declining now, and it may not be long before the post-GAFA era dawns. Competition is heating up in platform businesses in nations around the world. Japanese companies are being called upon to get actively involved in various ways, including providing capital and engaging in technology tie-ups, instead of letting these opportunities slip by.


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Introduced: April 2019
Suggested Retail Price: $4.99
Product Snapshot: LesserEvil, the better-for-you snack brand known for its Organic Popcorn and Grain Free Paleo Puffs, is adding a new product line to its budding portfolio of snacking innovation with Grain Free Egg White Curls.
The new product, launching with three protein-packed flavors at Whole Foods Market in April and retailers nationwide in August, is crafted with organic cassava flour, responsibly sourced, cage-free egg whites, and coated with organic avocado oil and Himalayan pink salt. All three flavors—Egg & Cheese, Himalayan Pink Salt, and Huevos Rancheros—will feature six grams of clean protein from sustainably sourced cage-free eggs. Grain-Free Egg White Curls will be available at a suggested retail price of $4.99 per 4oz bag.
The introduction of Egg White Curls comes just months after the launch of the brand’s successful predecessor, Grain Free Paleo Puffs, which made its national debut last summer. As a vertically integrated company, LesserEvil is moving aggressively to shore up its leadership position in the functional snack space with a steady stream of innovation, soon to be enhanced further with the expansion of its family-owned and operated manufacturing facility this Spring.
“The decision to leverage our unique production capabilities and become a first-mover into egg whites was a no-brainer for us, particularly given our consumers’ appetite for clean protein-enriched snacks,” said LesserEvil president and CEO, Charles Coristine. “As with our organic Popcorn and Puffs, we saw the Egg White Curls as the perfect opportunity to extend our grain-free focus and deliver a new line drawing on existing LesserEvil equities while seizing on a wide-open gap in the marketplace.”
The timing of the egg white launch coincides with the company’s efforts to refresh its overall brand platform. LesserEvil has teamed up with the branding experts at Seattle-based Retail Voodoo to analyze and refine LesserEvil’s packaging, positioning and messaging towards a more cohesive look-and-feel across all products. The output of the project, dubbed “The Snack Guru”, will help connect customers to the array of LesserEvil snacks—and their respective nutritional benefits—throughout store shelves. The exercise has also helped the company more succinctly define and communicate its mission: to transform snack time into a mindful moment by providing sinfully tasty snacks made from the cleanest, most sustainable ingredients available.


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General Motors has announced this week that it is combining its operations in Africa into a new business unit with immediate effect.
GM Africa will now incorporate Sub-Saharan operations, including manufacturing in South Africa, with North Africa, including its production facilities in Egypt and Kenya.
“Bringing our operations in Africa together will enable us to take advantage of synergies across the continent,” said Tim Lee, GM vice president, Global Manufacturing, and president, International Operations. “It will put GM in a strong position to expand in the a part of the world that has tremendous long-term potential for vehicles sales growth.”
The company does business in more than 50 markets on the continent and last year it sold around 180,500 vehicles there. Just under 70,000 vehicles were sold in South Africa and just under 10,000 in Sub-Saharan Africa markets.
Chevrolet is the company’s main brand across Africa, including the Aveo small sedan, Cruze compact sedan and the Spark. The Chevrolet Utility remains number one in the sub-one tonne segment and it introduced the Trailblazer SUV last November. In addition it began assembly of the Chevrolet Move passenger van at its facility in the Egypt’s 6th of October City near Cairo last year.
The move appears to further a regional consolidation that took place two years ago when GM North Africa was integrated with Egypt and took in activity across Libya, Algeria, Tunisia, Morocco, Western Sahara and Mauritania. Meanwhile, activity in Sub-Saharan Africa, which included all other countries on the continent, was integrated with GM South Africa.
That re-structuring was in support of plans to grow vehicle exports, using South Africa as a base, in Sub-Saharan countries according to the company (read more here).
However, a spokesperson for the company said it was too early to comment on how the latest move would impact on transport and logistics activity or further plans to grow vehicle exports.
The consolidation of the business has led to a number of executive moves at the company. Mario Spangenberg, who is currently president and managing director of GM North Africa, will become president and managing director of the overall GM Africa unit, based at the division’s headquarters in Port Elizabeth in South Africa.
“We are pleased to have Mario, a proven leader and an agent of change, overseeing our Africa operations,” said Mark Barnes, GMIO vice president, Sales, Marketing and Aftersales, and chief country operations manager, Africa and Australia. “He has done an outstanding job growing GM’s business in North Africa, despite intense political and economic change.”
Tarek Atta, who was GM Egypt director of manufacturing and engineering, will become managing director of GM Egypt and North Africa, reporting to Spangenberg.
Edgar Lourençon, who has been managing director of GM South Africa and president of GM Sub-Saharan Africa since 2009, is moving back to South America later this year following a period spent assisting in the transition to the new organisation in Africa. That transition will include overseeing the launch of a new pick up in South Africa and further strengthening the Isuzu relationship.
GM South exported its first shipment of Isuzu KB models to Kenya last year.
Lourençon was previously director of Quality and director of Sales and Field Operations for GM in Latin America amongst other roles.


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Why Australia Should Fight for the Trans-Pacific Partnership
This weekend in Vietnam, at the sidelines of an APEC meeting, Australian Trade Minister Steven Ciobo will meet with trade ministers from ten other countries to discuss the future of the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP).
There were twelve TPP members, until Donald Trump (in one of his first acts as president) withdrew the United States from the agreement in January.
Many celebrated the TPP’s demise. Some civil society groups saw its Investor-State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) provisions as an attack on sovereignty. Some commentators argued that it was a bad deal—according to the World Bank Group, Australia’s GDP would only increase by 0.7% by 2030. (By contrast, Vietnam’s would increase by 10%.) Others, who supported the TPP, saw little point pursuing an agreement without the United States.
So, given all this, why should Australia be at the forefront of resurrecting the TPP? There are two reasons—one economic, one political.
First, it is a good agreement for Australia’s economy. It gives Australian businesses new market access to some countries (Canada, Mexico and Peru) as well as improved market access to others. It has measures to ensure goods and services flow more freely between members. And when it comes to trade agreements, bigger is better. Even without the United States, the 11 remaining countries represent over one-eighth of global GDP. This is important because it creates a free (or more accurately, freer) trade zone between these markets, meaning there are significantly lower transaction costs for goods and services traded within the region.
The World Bank estimates the TPP (including the United States) would ‘only’ increase Australia’s GDP by 0.7% by 2030—but for context that’s around $12bn in today’s dollars. There aren’t many other reform options currently on the table that can deliver that sort of number. Plus, the Bank notes that the benefits accrue slowly, then accelerate. It takes businesses time to develop new markets, or optimise their supply chains. So, the real benefits will be seen over the long term. But increasing GDP is only half the story. This measure doesn’t include the benefits to consumers and business from greater choice and lower prices that would ultimately come from removing restrictions on imports.
(As an aside, one of the points that often gets overlooked is that the main beneficiaries of the TPP are developing countries. What other policy could deliver major GDP boosts to developing countries, improve their labour and environmental protections, while at the same time deliver a material increase to our own wealth?)
Secondly, it would help to reset the trade debate in Australia. Over the years, the TPP became the ideal straw man for the anti-trade movement to attack. While it’s normal for trade negotiations to be done behind closed doors, with the 12 parties involved in the TPP, many imaginations wandered to almost conspiracy-theory realms: multi-nationals over-riding sovereign governments, the end of the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme. An effective scare-campaign was run, based on worst-possible scenarios.
But now the detail is out. People can go to the DFAT website and read the dreaded ISDS clauses for themselves and make up their own mind. If they do, they’ll see an agreement that was drafted to attempt to allay concerns, with ‘carve-outs’ for areas like public health and the environment. Yes, it allows for investors to sue governments, in instances such the expropriation of an investment without adequate compensation. But while this could be interpreted as eroding sovereignty, isn’t it more properly seen strengthening the rule of law?
A resurrected TPP could be a rare opportunity for a trade agreement to be finalised with the details publicly available. It will give the chance for an informed public discussion about the pros and cons of these measures. And negotiators might find that with greater consultation and openness, there may be tweaks that could improve the agreement.
Since negotiations began in 2010, the TPP has become lightening-rod for anti-trade, anti-big business sentiment. But it’s important to remember that negotiations started under Labour and were continued by the Coalition. It was meant to be one of the main legacies of its champion, President Barack Obama. It is not a conspiracy by multinationals to erode the power of sovereign governments. It is an agreement that, if implemented, will benefit big business in Australia… as well as consumers and SMEs (who the Export Council represent). It will do far more for developing countries than our stagnant aid budget. We wish Steven Ciobo well in Vietnam.


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Nintendo president Satoru Iwata has revealed that the video game company has no plans to reduce its pricing on its Nintendo DS and Nintendo Wii consoles this year, citing consumer demand for both systems as its reasoning for the decision.
This announcement comes after the release of Nintendo’s full year financial report
yesterday, in which the company reported seeing profits rise by 48% to $2.5 billion. Nintendo predicts profits up to $3.1 billion for the coming fiscal year.
According to Reuters, Satoru Iwata
told an analyst meeting
, "Our earnings projection for the year is not based on hardware price cuts, and I don't think we are going to need them.”
To date, Nintendo, Japan's third-largest company in market value, has sold 24 million Wii consoles ($249 each) and 71 million DS handhelds ($129 each). In its 2007 financial year, Nintendo sold 18.61 million Wii and 30.31 million DS systems. The Wii’s price has remained unchanged since the console's launch November 2006.


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Stellantis wants to build low-cost electric cars, but is encountering resistance in the United States from the union of employees in the car industry.
That reports news medium Automotive News. For Stellantis - the parent company of, among others Peugeot, Fiat, Citroën, Opel and ten other car brands - reaching an agreement with the union is very important, as keeping production costs low is crucial to the development of a low-cost electric car with a target price of $25,000.
When will we see the first really good affordable EV? Sign up for our free newsletter and be the first to know!
However, Stellantis' desire to keep production costs low is inconsistent with the demand of the automotive workers' union (UAW) to raise wages and improve benefits. The contract negotiations between Stellantis and the UAW are therefore very difficult. Currently, it looks like building the $25,000 electric car will be impossible.
“Stellantis’ severe budget cuts have resulted in closed factories and destroyed communities,” said UAW president Shawn Fain. “The business model that Stellantis is using is not right, and until they take a different approach, the $25,000 EV is never going to happen.” According to Fain, Stellantis has "spit in the face" of UAW members with proposals such as stricter attendance rules, reduced health care coverage and other concessions.
Stellantis CEO Carlos Tavares, speaking to Automotive News, emphasizes the importance of a positive outcome of the contract negotiations between Stellantis and the UAW: “We have to work very hard to reach that price point. It is important that we discuss with our union partners how we can make affordable electric cars in the US that the middle class can buy and are profitable at the same time.”
According to Tavares, if the negotiations fail, there is a danger that the high production costs will be passed on to customers. In this way, according to the CEO, the middle class is priced out of the EV market. After all, in this situation the price difference between cars with a combustion engine and electric cars would continue to exist.
In Europe, Stellantis is further developing the affordable EV of 25,000 euros. So will the Citroën ë-C3 will be introduced in early 2024, and the affordable electric Fiat Panda July 11, 2024 will be presented:
This post was last modified on August 17, 2023 3:22 am
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Growing through disruption: New rules of marketing effectiveness in APAC
To master the new rules of marketing effectiveness post-pandemic, brands must be agile and focus on risk intelligence to grow; they have to get creative right as content consumption soars; and they must use insights and data strategically to tap media and communication opportunities.
Uncertainty still lingers in APAC, even for markets seemingly on top of the pandemic. But as disruptive events continue to change the business landscape, they also open up new opportunities for growth. To win, it’s imperative for brands to master the new rules of marketing effectiveness – no matter the budget.
Agility is essential but brands must hedge against the uncertainty of timing
Kantar Consulting’s Knowledge lead Walker Smith predicts “2021 will be an 18-month year” and across APAC, that will move us from our current “COVID now” dominated by ongoing uncertainty, to a “COVID normal” opening up opportunities as populations are vaccinated.
Finally, the long-awaited arrival of a “COVID social” surge in pent-up demand and social connections will be gratefully welcomed.
But as Walker identifies, the greatest competency required is “hedging against the uncertainty of timing”. 2021 is likely a prelude to the coming era of disruptions and brands must adapt quickly to rapidly changing demands playing out differently in each market.


text: According to the FBI, the price of an electronic healthcare record on the Black Market is around $50. US. Compare that with the price of only $1. for someone’s Social Security Number. Given that, after a breach, no healthcare organization wants to “buy back” all that was stolen, even assuming they could. A better plan is to spend serious money on data security before a (reportable) breach occurs. It pays to know how much it costs per record to budget for security, and to spend that money wisely.


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There are stock buybacks and then there is the new Home Depot (HD) buyback. In case you are wondering why shares of the home improvement retailer are surging $2 this morning to more than $40 per share on news that was leaked to the market earlier this week with little movement in the stock (the company’s $10 billion sale of HD Supply), it’s because of the company’s new buyback program. Home Depot has decided to couple the $10 billion in proceeds from the sale of their wholesale business with $12 billion from a new senior note issuance to initiate a buyback of $22.5 billion. Yes, that’s not a typo, a $22.5 billion buyback.
Regardless of your view on share buybacks, there is no doubt that they are a hot concept right now. Home Depot’s market cap before today was only $75 billion, so this new buyback is truly enormous, representing 30% of the company’s outstanding shares. The company says it will complete the program as soon as is practical.
In case you are wondering how long that might take, Home Depot repurchased 174 million shares in 2006, for $6.7 billion. Given influx of cash they will be seeing shortly, it’s likely they could accelerate that pace a little bit at the very least. It seems reasonable that they could complete the buyback in three years with no trouble, and perhaps faster if they wanted to really be aggressive.
It remains to be seen what type of impact this could have on the company’s earnings. We know it will be accretive but by just how much is more of a question. Home Depot intends to update its guidance (ex HD Supply) in July. We could dig through the company’s past SEC filings to determine the impact from jettisoning HD Supply from their results, but until we hear whether expectations for the core retail business will have to be slashed yet again, we won’t really have a good idea of how much the buyback will boost the stock’s declining earnings.
Full Disclosure: No position in Home Depot at the time of writing


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Tech giant Google’s plans for its Pixel smartphone lineup for 2023 to 2025 have been leaked.
“An anonymous but trustworthy source” revealed the major shifts the tech giant is going to take with its Pixel series in 2023, 2024 and 2025, reports Android Authority.
The source claimed that while some aspects of the plan are known, others are still up in the air.
For 2023, the source confirmed that two Pixel phones codenamed ‘lynx’ and ‘felix’ will launch around the company’s annual developer conference ‘Google I/O’ in April or May.
Earlier, these two smartphones had leaked, with ‘lynx’ referring to the Pixel 7a and ‘felix’ to the Pixel Fold.
Later in 2023, the tech giant will launch two new phones– the Pixel 8 and Pixel 8 Pro.
The source said that the company is considering moving away from annual launches of A series smartphones and instead going for a biennial launch (every two years).
In the fall of 2024, the tech giant is likely to launch its Pixel 9 series. However, for the first time, the series will have three devices according to the source.
The Pixel 9 model is expected to be like an Apple iPhone 14, the report said.
The company is also planning to launch a follow-up foldable in 2024.
Talking about 2025, the source said that Google is looking at several choices for its Pixel lineup, which will be influenced by the success or failure of its 2023 and 2024 plans.
Google is also considering the idea of launching a flip-style foldable smartphone in the fall 2025, to compete with the Galaxy Z Flip series.
(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)


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Home Tags Gmail
Google just wrapped up its Google I/O 2023 event with a new smartphone, the first foldable phone and tablet, and many new...
Google has recently added Google Chat inside of the Gmail app. Here's how to start chatting from Gmail.
Amp up your productivity and brand visibility with 35 hours of content on GSuite, Google Ads, Analytics, and other amazing Google apps!
Spark email by Readdle, with a 4.6 rating on the Google Play Store and over 500,000 downloads, got a massive update today. New Design Spark email...
Now that Inbox hias been given the kiss of death, we take a look at a few of the other options available to try and keep tabs on your emails.
Ensuring your online accounts stay secure is a constant battle. Which is why today we dive into what two-factor authentication is or how it can help protect you.
Google is set to retire Inbox in March of 2019. Now is the time for Inbox fans to say your goodbyes and migrate to Gmail or find a new email app.
Undo for Gmail is a feature that is so long overdue we can't believe it didn't already exist until recently.
Google started rolling out Confidential mode for Gmail on Android this week. Check your device now to see if it's available for you.
Make sure no third-party app developer has access to your Gmails by following these simple steps. You can do so from your Android or desktop.
During the Google I/O 2018 keynote, a new feature was announced for Gmail. Smart Compose allows Gmail to automatically compose emails all by using the tab key while you're typing.
There were quite a few announcements made during the Google I/O 2018 keynote. We take a look at all of the announcements and condense them into the seven biggest.
During its I/O 2018 keynote, Google laid the future roadmaps for some of its products including Google Photos, Gmail, and Assistant.
On top of launching a new interface for Gmail, Google also introduce a new to-do list app called ask. You can downloaded right now on your Android.
In addition to releasing an update to the Gmail interface, Google has pushed an update to its Tasks application. Here's a look at what it can, and can't do.


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The news just keeps coming from The Hut Group, the giant UK-based beauty retailer and technology company. On Wednesday, it announced that it had acquired Perricone MD, the popular US prestige skincare brand, for $60m.
The Hut Group’s much anticipated IPO will see its shares priced at £5 each giving it a market cap of £5.4bn, the company has said. It added that the 374m shares being sold make up around 35% of its total share count.
The Hut Group has published details of its highly anticipated stock market float with confirmation that it will go ahead with the IPO and that it plans to list on the London Stock Exchange’s main market this month.
The Hut Group confirmed what had been widely expected on Thursday morning — that it’s going to float on the London Stock Exchange. It also revealed impressive percentage growth figures and its strength in key markets.
British e-commerce firm The Hut Group could launch an initial public offering (IPO) as early as this week in a deal that could value the company at up to 4.5 billion pounds ($5.9 billion), sources said.
There’s speculation that fast-expanding beauty giant The Hut Group (THG) is mulling a stock market flotation. A report at the weekend said that it has been lining up meetings with some big-name investors.
The Hut Group, the beauty giant that’s big and getting bigger at speed, said on Monday that its THG Ingenuity operation has signed £100 million worth of partnerships with global beauty brands and brand owners.


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Japan disasters may reduce new car inventories
Lower production schedule could affect local dealers
- Andy Ashby
Japan’s earthquake and tsunami on March 11 could affect the inventory of Memphis-area car dealerships this summer.
On April 19, Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America Inc. announced it will continue production suspensions on Mondays and Fridays until June 3. During the same period, production will run at 50 percent on Tuesday through Thursday.
Lexus, a brand of Toyota, has most of its cars assembled in Japan.
Lexus of Memphis hasn’t been affected yet, but inventory eventually will be, according to Bryan Smith, general manager.
“I think through the summer months, I think my car inventory is going to get very thin,” he says. “I could be carrying more of a 10-15 day supply as opposed to a 45-day supply.”
Lexus of Memphis is currently selling 75-85 new vehicles a month and Smith tries to keep a 45-day supply. The biggest effect of natural disasters in Japan would mean the inventory of new vehicles being reduced for a period of time.
“I’d say it’d be a short-term issue, not a long-term issue,” Smith says. “I expect that at some point this summer, we’ll feel the effect of that.”
Many of Toyota’s vehicle parts come from Japan, where the company previously announced its manufacturing facilities production could drop 50 percent.
“We are trying to continue production as much as possible and keep our workforce intact in order to facilitate a smooth transition back to full production when all parts are available,” says Steve St. Angelo, executive vice president of Toyota North America.
Production plans beyond June 3 will be determined at a later date, according to a company release.
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