#data-slate lockdown

[archives-of-iacon]

Administrative Update – Outreach Division

Following a regrettably public mishap involving an unfinished internal draft and an unsecured data-slate, the Archives of Iacon would like to formally inform all users that a cleared and intentional introduction post for the Archives’ Outreach Team (currently operating under the designation “C.O.G.S.”) has now been uploaded.

The contents of the post have been reviewed, redacted, un-redacted, rephrased, and ultimately approved following extensive consultation with the Senior Archivists Council and, with some internal reluctance, the acquisition of an official written endorsement from retired Optimus Prime concerning the acceptable usage of emojis in formal archival communications.

Users are reminded that C.O.G.S. is a junior-led initiative intended to promote greater public engagement with historical materials and foster cultural curiosity, particularly among younger Cybertronians. Any questions, comments, or unprompted warnings about “the state of modern data integrity” may be directed to the Outreach Team directly, as they have been advised to handle their own correspondence.

We thank our visitors for their patience and urge them to enjoy the new channel for as long as it remains intact.

—The Archives Administration

[return-to-twisted-wonderland]

🔆anon

— —

(STYX Conference Room)

Idia: *enters with Skion and Ortho behind him* I heard you guys were being trouble makers for whatever reason.

Vil: Look who decided to show up. And apparently it’s to berate the people who completed their slate of testing instead of thank them.

Leona: Welcome, idiots. Now would any of you three care to explain what’s up with the canned food and powdered stuff? Makes the cheap cafeteria food look gourmet.

Jamil: Agreed, it’s nutritionally sound, but the flavor and texture makes it inedible.

Idia: Exc-

Riddle: And I need tea as soon as possible. Rule 339 states: ‘The post meal beverage is to be lemon tea with two sugar cubes.’ We may not be on campus, but I am still Heartslabyul’s housewarden and should stick to their rules.

Idia: I-

Azul: I know better than to ask for completely unfettered internet access, but can I at least have the morning and evening papers? Preferably one focusing on world and economic news.

Skion: *lauging* Idy. You got some orders to fill.

Idia: Skia, would you shut it? *smacks the back of Skion’s head*

Skion: Hey, OW!

Idia: *turning to the OB group* I’m not your maid here. I’m not going to keep spelling it out. I’m the boss. Top dog. Highest on the chain of command. You don’t order me around.

Vil: We aren’t ordering you around, we’re asking you to complete your job. You’re supposed to treat us adequately after taking us by force, which I don’t see you or your brothers doing.

Skion: Hey, that’s not my job nor Orth’s!

Ortho: I’ve actually been trying my best to help.

Jamil: If it’s neither of your jobs, why are you here?

Skion: If you think I’m not going to take the chance to do more than sit and stare at a tablet, you’re insane.

Leona: So the Pest admits we’re just a show?

Skion: I wouldn’t call just you the show, but anyways, you all realized you all overblotted and caused so many problems for everyone around you, right? I think I can have my revenge.

Vil: Have your revenge on Leona then, you weren’t around anyone else. And Idia and Ortho weren’t even around Leona.

Leona: Just some people trying to play victim and lord it over others.

Idia: Enough! All of you. And you most certainly caused problems for us, otherwise we wouldn’t be here. I would like to get back to school just as much as you would. I just need to you to-

*loud alarms blaring as the place goes into lock down*

Idia: *instinctively flinches at the sound, his body trying to grab his little brothers, but his hands don’t move more than half an inch before he stops them and cools down*

Skion: *instinctively freezes but quickly tries to mask it by checking his tablet*

ll PA System: Testing of Subject R0S-859A and SUS-3320B will commence at 1300. Currently thawing Phantom subjects’ cages. Facility will go into full lockdown for the duration of the test for the safety of personnel. All personnel, please return to your stations immediately.

Jamil: What is this?!

Idia: *completely back to calm* An A-Class Phantom test. That’s probably going to take a while. No one leaves this room for the next two or three ours, you all are going to have to entertain yourselves.

Leona: Excuse you, Radish Sprout?

Idia: Look, STYX isn’t a place for regular people. This place studies blog, and that includes beings made of blot. They’re temporarily released into testing facilities so we can gather data.

Ortho: None of you need to worry, we have the Cerberus system for defense should anything happens. And to even get to that, something would need to go wrong with our many, many backups. So we’re all safe.

Skion: …

Riddle: So you keep Phantoms? I understand you need to study them, but where are they?

Ortho: They’re in Tartarus. That’s our containment center that was built under HQ. It holds at least ten thousand subjects.

Azul: Ten thousand?! And they’ve been here this entire time without use knowing?

Ortho: They’re all frozen, and we have all our backups and the Cerberus system. Any danger is an extremely small risk.

Leona: If there’s no risk, why is the Pest so silent? He froze the moment the sirens went off.

Skion: I think anyone would jump slightly if a siren went off when you didn’t expect. And I’m quiet because I’m checking my data. You were upset about us not doing our jobs earlier, so let me do mine.

Vil: Even if we accept that, we’re stuck here for two to three hours with absolutely nothing. Again, your job is to treat us adequately, so I expect at least something to do instead of ‘entertaining ourselves’. I won’t demand a treadmill, but a yoga mat should be reasonable.

Riddle: I’d want a book or a grimoire to brush up on my studies.

Jamil: My room last night had movies. Can we put some of them on the monitor?

Leona: I just want all of you to shut up. I’m taking a nap.

Vil: If you nap now, you’ll throw off your sleep schedule.

Skion: *whispering to Idia* If we leave them all locked up here without giving them anything, this is going to end in a brawl.

Idia: Even if we gave them what they wanted, it’d probably still end up in a fight. We’d need something for a whole group.

Ortho: Some games might work! Even if we don’t have something in hand everyone can okay with, it can distract them.

Skion: Ooooo! Games are fun!

Idia: Games really? None of them seem like the type interested in games.

Ortho: Then we’ll come up with something new if they say no. This is like having friends over! We have to show them some of what the Shroud brothers are known for, and that’s games!

Idia: What? These people aren’t friends! We don’t have-!

Ortho: *calling out to the OB group* If I may have your attention! Since we’re stuck here for the next bit I’d like to play some games to pass the time!

Idia: Ortho!

Skion: *to Idia* Looks like someone overrules Mr. ‘I’m-the-boss’ Buzzkill.

Idia: Would you?!- Uggghhh!

— —

Riddle: Games?

Azul: Exactly what kind of games?

[absolutebl]

I’m getting a general vibe that BL is/has been **taking off**, showing intense growth in terms of audience, investment, international market penetration between 2020-today—esp. looking at forward to what’s slated for 2022. Yea or nah? And I’m wondering whether/how you think “pandemic viewing” figures into this? New audiences? New production models? I just found your blog and I'm obsessed (analytical acumen + babies, all I've ever wanted).

OMFG I love questions like this. Thank you! 

Is BL Taking Off?

> Growth in terms of audience, investment, international market penetration between 2020-today (end of 2021).

I think you’re right. A true analysis would have to look at YouTube unique watch numbers for BL over time plus things like new subscribers to GaGa & Viki who then watch mainly BL. That data is all proprietary. I don’t have access. So this is pure speculation. But I would guess if not exponential growth, 2021 is at least double 2019′s numbers. 

I think we can assume huge growth in these areas (audience, investment, international market penetration) based on a number of factors, including increased output/forthcoming BL announcements from: 

Korea (who watches and analyzes global viewer markets very carefully) and really only produces when it knows it has a growing market 

Thailand, specifically GMMTV’s line up, they pay attention to not just their viewer numbers and most popular productions of the past, but also to which of their actors get the most sponsorship, awards, and social media attention. They’re doubling their BLs from last year - that’s very telling. 

Active interest from newer countries with less developed film industries intent on breaking into BL (like Cambodia, Vietnam, and Singapore for example)

These will base their 2022 line ups, funding, and commissioned projects on what was effective/popular over the last 3 years: first internally then in surrounding countries and market shares. Also they absolutely take into account what is effective (penetrative) internationally (with nationalistic concerns around global social standing, increasing tourism, and political clout). 

Don’t ever discount the power of pop culture to manipulate consumer sentiment on a global scale. I can assure you these countries know which side their BL bread is buttered on. How many of us are learning Thai or want to visit Thailand partly because of Thai Bl? You know that tourism accounts for 12-15% of Thailand’s gross GDP, right? How many people are learning Korean or tried Korean food for the first time because of Kdramas? BTS? 

> I’m wondering whether/how you think “pandemic viewing” figures into this? 

Significantly. I talked about this with regards to (what Hollywood calls) the Apple Pie Demographic (women ages 25-65). Historically Apple Pie is the hardest for the entertainment industry to target because of their habit of never actually sitting down to watch anything (because they have work, or laundry, or errands, or something their husband/child would rather watch instead). This is also the romance reader/consumer demo (which includes BL). Apple Pie is the mainstay target demo for goods (products) but NOT for the entertainment industry. 

During lockdown it was this contingent that actually sat still for the first time in decades. I think it had a huge impact on streaming service watch numbers, including BL (but also stuff like Bridgeton and romantic Kdramas). (Yes I know we queers are out there too, but sadly, we are few if mighty and mostly not statistically significant on a macro scale. Sorry us.) 

The age bracket of Apple Pie also means that Thai BL’s, in particular, likely garnered large new audiences off YouTube during lockdown. Because YouTube’s end users also skew older and into this demo (by comparison to say SnapChat or TikTok). (NOTE: Smart SEO managers would be promoting BL HARD on Pinterest because it’s the same demo again. So if you blog about BL, Pin those gifs and still of pretty boys kissing for greater traffic.) 

I’m not sure they are quite this strategic, but back to the global pull, guess what else the Apple Pie demographic is historically responsible for? Planning weddings and family vacations. As soon a lockdowns stop, I think tourism to Thailand and Korea is going to seriously spike. 

> New production models? 

Hum. This I don’t think so much. The only really new production model I’ve seen in BL is long form commercials, like literally BL that is all one big product placement (Ingredients, Skinship). And that doesn’t look like it’s taking off. It seems more like places like Korea and Taiwan are revamping existing production houses to produce more BL. 

Thailand is just expanding and growing what started in 2016 exponentially in all directions at once (it feels like). But I actually anticipate a bit of a contraction from Thailand in 2022, especially the pulps. 

Japan, I do think, is changing slightly towards Korean-length BL series (they used to mostly just do live action yaoi movies). But these kinds of series (Given, Kieta Hatsukoi, Utsukushii Kare) are really just movie length shows broken up, so I suspect they are filming them in the same way and with the same kind of team as they always have since 2004. They are just airing them differently. And I think this shift is due to the rise in web series and streaming services more than anything else. 

It’s possible production models have shifted in the Philippines and Vietnam because of BL, but I don’t know what it was before, so...?

> Talent, pairs, and the taint of BL

You didn’t ask about this but I think it’s an interesting thing to note. 

In Korea it seems to be getting more and more “okay” for idols or former idols to safely do BL without too much of a residual pong. And I say this despite Hwall et al. Color Rush issues/whatevers. I don’t know if this is a social shift in younger actors away from homophobia, or if it’s just that there are so many KBLs in production now it’s becoming an acceptable gateway into the broader Kdrama industry. 

In Thailand, BL is certainly now just another thing a Thai actor will likely do at some point in his career. There are so many BLs, and so many pairs have ended in bellyflops, I think we are going to see more and more Thai actors who just do a BL to check-off the “romcom” or “melodrama” box, or because it’s a stepping stone that’s expected of them. Possibly, this might translate to fewer and fewer co-branded pairs. Or short term pairs who only last the length of the project and promo. And more free-agent actors like Singto and Ohm who do lots of BL but with different partners. Seeing GMMTV 2022 field First, Khaotung, Mike, and Krist outside of their original BL pairings was eye-opening to say the least, and feels like a big step for Thailand. 

I think these are all signs of increasing view numbers and broader demographic appeal. Not to mention ramped up production. 

Final Thoughts 

I have a whole stats thing I've been updating throughout this year. It monitors trends and production quantity, average series length, stuff like that. So I’ll have more hard data plus final numbers for you at the end of the year. 

And I’ll link back to this post in that one.

(source)

[mostlysignssomeportents]

Office 365 spies on employees for bosses

The Shitty Tech Adoption Curve describes the process by which oppressive technology is normalized and distributed through all levels of society. The more privilege someone has, the harder it is to coerce them to use dehumanizing tech, so it starts with marginalized people.

Asylum seekers, prisoners and overseas sweatshop workers get the first version. Its roughest edges are sanded off against their tenderest places, and once it's been normalized a little, we inflict it on students, mental patients, and blue collar workers.

Lather, rinse, repeat: before long, everyone's been ropted in. If your meals were observed by a remote-monitored CCTV 20 years ago, it was because you were in a supermax prison. Today, it's because you bought a home video surveillance system from Google/Apple/Amazon.

The lockdown has been a powerful accellerant for shitty technology adoption curve: the combination of an atomized polity that can't have in-person solidarity conversations and overall precarity has kicked off a powerful shock doctrine for tech surveillance.

Pre-pandemic, work-from-home call-center workers (mostly poor Black women) lived under surveillance that transformed "work from home" to "live at work." The tech preserved the fiction that these misclassified employees were "independent contractors."

https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/02/chickenized-by-arise/#arise

Within days of the lockdown, this technological oppression raced up the privilege gradient in the form of "invigilation" software like Proctorio, cruel surveillance tools inflicted on university students. The company is pursuing its critics in court.

https://pluralistic.net/2020/10/17/proctorio-v-linkletter/#proctorio

Now, every remote worker is in line to get the treatment previously reserved for misclassified employees and college kids. Microsoft has rolled out on-by-default workplace surveillance for Office 365.

https://twitter.com/WolfieChristl/status/1331221942850949121

The tool tracks every click and interaction by employees and presents managers with leaderboards showing relative "productivity" of each employee, down to how many mentions they get in workplace emails.

As Wolfie Christie points out in his thread, the arbitrary metrics that Microsoft has chosen will have a hugely distorting effect on workplace behavior. Remember Goodhart's Law: "Any measure becomes a target, and then ceases to be a useful measure."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goodhart%27s_law

This is the quantitative fallacy on steroids: software can't measure qualitative factors like whether your work accomplished "soft goals" like "a better product" or "a conceptual breakthrough."

So they blithely vaporize these qualitative elements and do math on the dubious quantitative residue left behind. It's the data scientist's version of looking for your keys under the lamp-post: "We can't do math on it, so we won't consider it."

It's a far cry from the early days of Microsoft, when Bill Gates mocked IBM for paying programmers by how many lines of code they produced, calling it "the race to build the world's heaviest airplane."

I wonder if the programmers who built this feature are subjected to it themselves? And if not, I wonder when they will be.

I mean, they won't be in the EU. This shit is radioactively illegal under the GDPR. But Americans have FREEDOM.

Now, you may be thinking, "I bet the managers who use this tool will regret it when THEIR bosses start using it on THEM."

You're thinking too small. Microsoft has ambition: they're not subjecting MANAGERS to this, they're subjecting COMPANIES to it.

Microsoft incentivizes companies to turn on an industry-wide comparison "feature" that sends ALL YOUR EMPLOYEE DATA to Microsoft and then gives you a chart telling you how your employees fare against their counterparts elsewhere.

You get a chart. Microsoft gets fine-grained data on your company's operations - data it can sell, or mine, or you know, just lose control over and leak all over the internet. That's some unprecedented Shitty Tech Adoption Curve accelerationism right there.

Not since the day when Amazon convinced Borders Books (RIP) to use it for all digital ordering and fulfilment (giving Amazon 10)% access to all Borders' customer data) has a tech company offered a shadier B2B deal.

Last year, Slate's Future Tense and ASU's Center for Science and the Imagination asked me to write some fiction illustrating the Shitty Technology Adoption Curve. The result it "Affordances," a story that grows dismally more relevant with each passing day.

https://slate.com/technology/2019/10/affordances-cory-doctorow-sf-story-algorithmic-bias-facial-recognition.html

[shelovescontrol91]

Shawn Mendes is putting his money where his fans are. The multiplatinum recording artist is investing in 237 Global, the fan engagement company that created and launched his ShawnAccess app, which has been downloaded more than 700,000 times.

Mendes and his management company, the Andrew Gertler-led AG Artists, are leading a funding round and have joined the advisory board for the tech, services and ticketing company founded by entrepreneur and former Warner Bros. Records exec Mark Weiss to superserve superfans of music artists, athletes and other influencers. Via its apps, 237 Global offers direct access to tickets, merch, exclusive livestreams and custom content; the company also provides paid in-person and virtual VIP experiences ranging from meet-and-greets to backstage tours to private Q&As.

Notably, 237 Global also provides clients with a magic bullet they don’t get when they connect with fans via most social media platforms: Access and control of their own data.

“Artists don’t own their own data on these social platforms,” Weiss says. “We don’t say to an artist, Stop using Instagram or Twitter and start using only an app. But we say make it part of your whole ecosystem. I have a passion for  early-stage artists that are starting to buzz; it’s a great time to start collecting your own data.”

The conversation, he says, has grown more vigorous as the live music lockdown motivated both legacy and emerging artists to embrace their direct relationships with fans. At the same time, the company continues to prove its mettle and add features such as internal message boards, commerce opportunities and user-generated content.

Within the past year, 237 Global launched apps for Weezer, Barenaked Ladies, 24KGoldn, Tate McCrae and 311, among others. A New Kids on the Block app is in beta, and Avril Lavigne, Trippie Redd and Iann Dior apps are slated to drop shortly. The company has also provided interactive tour experiences for Justin Bieber and Panic! At The Disco, and is currently activating on the Hella Mega outing featuring Green Day, Fall Out Boy and Weezer, and on tour dates for Alanis Morissette and Lynyrd Skynyrd.

It’s also rapidly expanding to other verticals. Weiss just signed SmartLess, the podcast from Will Arnett, Jason Bateman and Sean Hayes, as a client and recently offered virtual meet and greets with Philadelphia Eagles’ newcomer Landon Dickerson and culture creator Maggie Lindemann. 237 Global is also working with athletes including Kansas City Chiefs defensive lineman Chris Jones to develop an app prototype for the sports arena—an area Weiss believes will soar.

“Athletes are interested in selling merch, building fandom and talking to fans outside of their franchise,” he says. “And they tend to have exposure for a long time, so they can really build their base.”

A Paradigm Shift

Weiss has been evolving what became the core DNA of 237 Global for decades as he iterated his fan engagement vision, most notably through Artist Arena, a company he launched and sold to Warner Bros. in 2011. The core thread has been consistent: Facilitating the ability of talent to connect directly with fans through widely adopted technology, and building out businesses around those connections.

“I saw the paradigm shift happening more than 20 years ago where artists could, in their own way, become their own media play. And then the question was, How do you monetize that,” Weiss says.

When he began working five years ago with former Artist Arena exec Gertler and Mendes, fresh off of Vines, everything coalesced. “Forward-thinking are the best words I can use to describe Shawn and Andrew and everybody in that camp. They’ve pushed the envelope for the live fan experience in terms of VIP for so long, and have been such a great partner for us,” he says. “For them now to show this vote of confidence to be investing in us is just incredible.”

“Mark’s dedication to providing incredible service to fans and artists is unmatched in the industry,” says Gertler. “I learned a great deal from working at Artist Arena and am excited to continue this longstanding relationship with Mark and 237 Global.”

Other seed investors include Bret Disend of Ozone Entertainment, Jonathan Gordon and David Ruttenberg of RGI, Matt Galle of CAA and Photo Finish Records, Steve Greenberg of S-Curve Records, Jeremy Levin and David Silberstein of Megahouse Music, business manager Phil Sarna and entertainment attorney Lisa Socransky. Weiss says 237 Global will be going into a series A funding round in the coming months.

Also coming are additional monetization plays. Aside from generating income from custom app creation and management—which Weiss says runs “in the six figures” per app—the company takes a cut of any income generated directly on the app, be it a VIP experience or merch sale. Artists are able to sell a portion of tickets through the app, Weiss says, via a longstanding arrangement with Ticketmaster based on the fan club model which enables them to directly sell a small allocation, usually 8 percent-10 percent depending on the venue.

Most often, though, fans are directed to promoter and ticketing company platforms for ticket sales, says Weiss. “One of the things we built into our apps is a very robust tour section, and we like to think we’re helping everyone in the ecosystem because we are here to help sell more tickets. And we want to drive more livestreams, we want to drive more audio streams, we want to drive more podcast listeners, more merch sales.”

To that end, he’s exploring an elevated marketing relationship with promoters around the apps’ ability to generate those sales. “We are having discussions around our own internal data and algorithms to see if there’s some kind of marketing arrangement that might happen should we start to prove we really are moving a lot of tickets,” he says.

A subscription model is also in the works. “We think subscription income will ultimately become a big game-changer,” Weiss says. “Download the app and get some level of first access to tickets or content or merch. We’ve experimented with that a bit and we’ve seen that this kind of first access drives memberships.”

[renee-writer]

NEWS QUICK READS: by Q The Storm Rider

💥IT'S HAPPENING!!

_Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven will step down in November

_British commander in Afghanistan calls.for Joe biden's court-martial

_Aussies begin to resist the lockdowns.."‘They can’t arrest us all’: Horse-mounted protesters steal the show at Australian anti-lockdown rally

_France: Thousands rally in Paris against COVID health pass for 6th consecutive weekend

_Vaccinated Rev. Jesse Jackson and His Wife Jacqueline Have Been Hospitalized

_Chaotic scenes as protesters break through police barricades in Melbourne, Australia

_NIH Director Admits School Mask Mandates Enforced on Children Are Not Based on COVID-19 Data

_20,595 DEAD 1.9 MILLION INJURED (50% SERIOUS) REPORTED IN EUROPEAN UNION’S DATABASE OF ADVERSE DRUG REACTIONS FOR COVID-19 SHOTS

_Covid vaccine trials were stopped in animals because they kept dying revealed and Texas Senate hearing

_Brazil Court Rules Against Google Over Censorship of Trump Statements: Allan Dos Santos

_More Than Half of Israeli COVID-19 Patients Vaccinated as ‘Breakthrough Cases’ Rise

_Border Patrol Seizes Thousands of Fake CDC COVID-19 Vaccine Cards From China

_ Rail workers are going on strike against the vaccine passport in France from August 28th to October 17th!

_2nd round of German railways STRIKES to begin

_Amazing energy in Amsterdam as the Netherlands joined the millions around the world making their voices heard against Coronavirus tyranny.

_16 COUNTRIES through Europe will hold Protests in major cities and capitals in the next week's with hundreds of cities slated across the world to protest against the Lockdowns, vaccines, vaccines passports. Vaccines mandates.

_Donald Trump says “Everything woke turns to shit!.” and had over tens of millions tune into his live speech Saturday night

_BCC drops for major stories on vaccines deaths. Vaccines booster schemes and Warning if."catching Covid now better than more vaccines?" "Gain immunity either through vaccines or Infection"

_The vaccinated are worried and the scientists don't have answers_ article by Kristen V Brown hits Bloomberg

__________________________________________

*SUMMER ON 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥

RISE OF THE PEOPLE!!!!!

IT HAD TO BE THIS WAY

17

[96thdayofrage]

Japan's central government has declared a third state of emergency due to the COVID-19 pandemic with new restrictions imposed in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto and Hyogo prefectures. Local leaders requested the move as they face a sharp rise in new coronavirus cases.

The declaration comes as Tokyo prepares to host the Summer Olympics, slated to begin in July, and just before Japan enters one of its biggest holiday seasons, Golden Week, in late April.

The emergency measures stop short of a full lockdown, but they impose limits on restaurants and other businesses. The strictest rules will apply to places that sell alcohol or offer karaoke. They'll be asked to close entirely, while many other establishments will close at 8 p.m. The new policies, which carry fines but largely rely on voluntary compliance, go into effect on Sunday and will run through at least May 11.

Nationwide, Japan is seeing spikes in new cases and hospitalizations, both of which are soaring toward the record heights that were seen at the start of 2021. Some 5,452 people tested positive for the coronavirus on Thursday, according to the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare.

Health officials attribute much of the new wave of cases to the rapid spread of new coronavirus variants that were first detected in the United Kingdom and other countries, Kyodo News reports.

In the Tokyo region, government and sporting officials have continually been forced to adjust plans for the 2020 Games, which were postponed until this summer due to the pandemic. Last month, organizers said no international fans will be allowed to attend the games this summer.

The Olympic torch relay, which has been making its way around Japan, has been rerouted away from public roads in Osaka, site of the worst spike in new cases. And while statues of the mascots for the Tokyo Olympics and Paralympics have now been officially unveiled, they're not yet on full public display due to fears about the spread of the coronavirus, according to public broadcaster NHK.

Japanese health officials are also concerned about the country's very low vaccination rate. Fewer than 850,000 people in Japan are fully vaccinated — a strikingly low number for an advanced country with a population of about 126 million.

Japan's health ministry has authorized only one vaccine, made by Pfizer/BioNTech. That decision came in mid-February, putting the country well behind its peers in the massive effort to roll out and administer vaccine doses to protect against COVID-19. Many Japanese people are also wary of vaccines after a decades-long string of scandals undermined public trust.

Overall, Japan has reported about 560,000 coronavirus cases and 9,800 COVID-19 deaths, according to the latest government data.

[newstfionline]

Thursday, February 25, 2021

COVID-19 cases falling (nearly) everywhere (Foreign Policy) New COVID-19 cases and deaths have dropped worldwide for the sixth consecutive week, according to figures compiled by the World Health Organization. The WHO recorded 2.4 million new cases last week, a drop of 11 percent compared to the previous week. The 66,000 deaths last week represented a 20 percent decline. Five out of the six WHO regions now show a consistent downward trend in new cases, although the trendline in the Eastern Mediterranean region remains flat due to continued case increases in Iran and Iraq.

Not to be sniffed at: Agony of post-COVID-19 loss of smell (AP) The doctor slid a miniature camera into the patient’s right nostril, making her whole nose glow red with its bright miniature light. “Tickles a bit, eh?” he asked as he rummaged around her nasal passages, the discomfort causing tears to well in her eyes and roll down her cheeks. The patient, Gabriella Forgione, wasn’t complaining. The 25-year-old pharmacy worker was happy to be prodded and poked at the hospital in Nice, in southern France, to advance her increasingly pressing quest to recover her sense of smell. Along with her sense of taste, it suddenly vanished when she fell ill with COVID-19 in November, and neither has returned. Being deprived of the pleasures of food and the scents of things that she loves are proving tough on her body and mind. Shorn of odors both good and bad, Forgione is losing weight and self-confidence. “Sometimes I ask myself, ‘Do I stink?’” she confessed. “Normally, I wear perfume and like for things to smell nice. Not being able to smell bothers me greatly.” A year into the coronavirus pandemic, doctors and researchers are still striving to better understand and treat the accompanying epidemic of COVID-19-related anosmia—loss of smell—draining much of the joy of life from an increasing number of sensorially frustrated longer-term sufferers like Forgione.

Biden to order sweeping review of U.S. supply chain weak spots (Washington Post) President Biden on Wednesday will formally order a 100-day government review of potential vulnerabilities in U.S. supply chains for critical items, including computer chips, medical gear, electric-vehicle batteries and specialized minerals. The directive comes as U.S. automakers are grappling with a severe shortage of semiconductors, essential ingredients in the high-tech entertainment and navigation systems that fill modern passenger vehicles. Biden’s executive order, which he is scheduled to sign this afternoon, also is aimed at avoiding a repeat of the shortages of personal protective gear such as masks and gloves experienced last year during the early months of the coronavirus pandemic. The president’s order, which had been anticipated, represents the partial fulfillment of a campaign pledge. But mandating a government study will be the easy part. Extensively modifying U.S. supply lines and reducing the country’s dependence upon foreign suppliers—after decades of globalization—could prove difficult and costly.

U.S. seeks to return to U.N. human rights body (Reuters) The United States will seek election to the U.N. Human Rights Council later this year, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said on Wednesday, marking the Biden administration’s latest international re-engagement. Blinken, addressing the council by recorded video, said that President Joseph Biden’s administration would work to eliminate what he called the Geneva forum’s “disproportionate focus” on U.S. ally Israel. The council, set up in 2006, has a stand-alone item on the Palestinian territories on its agenda every session, the only issue with such treatment, which both Democratic and Republican administrations have opposed.

Freedom of speech the real issue in Spain (Washington Post) Thousands of protesters have taken to the streets in some of Spain’s largest cities every night for a week, often clashing with police. In Barcelona on Saturday, authorities said they detained 38 people and recorded injuries among 13. The anger of the young protesters is centered on the arrest of a man who until recently was an obscure figure: Pablo Rivadulla, a rapper better known by his stage name, Pablo Hasél. But the demonstrations are about far more than one man’s arrest, speaking to growing concern inside and out of Spain about the effect of the country’s anti-terrorism laws and lèse-majesté statutes circumscribing the freedom of expression.

Covid inspires 1,200 new German words (The Guardian) From coronamüde (tired of Covid-19) to Coronafrisur (corona hairstyle), a German project is documenting the huge number of new words coined in the last year as the language races to keep up with lives radically changed by the pandemic. The list, compiled by the Leibniz Institute for the German Language, an organisation that documents German language in the past and present, already comprises more than 1,200 new German words—many more than the 200 seen in an average year. It includes feelings many can relate to, such as overzoomed (stressed by too many video calls), Coronaangst (when you have anxiety about the virus) and Impfneid (envy of those who have been vaccinated). Other new words reveal the often strange reality of life under restrictions: Kuschelkontakt (cuddle contact) for the specific person you meet for cuddles and Abstandsbier (distance beer) for when you drink with friends at a safe distance. The words also capture specific moments during the pandemic. For example, Balkonsänger (balcony singer) is someone who sings to people from their balcony, which was popular during the spring lockdown. Hamsteritis, referring to the urge to stockpile food, was also commonly used at the start of the crisis.

China uses patriotism test to sweep aside last outlet for Hong Kong democracy (Washington Post) Serving as a district councilor in Hong Kong means addressing everyday concerns such as pest control, traffic issues and helping elderly residents pay bills. One of the few perks of the modest office is having a say, alongside tycoons and Beijing loyalists, in choosing Hong Kong’s leader. On Tuesday, Hong Kong’s government announced that anyone running for these local positions will need to be a “patriot”—meaning they must swear loyalty not to their constituents but to Beijing and the Communist Party—as China moves to quash the territory’s last avenue of democracy. The changes, which are expected to be introduced to the legislature—where there is no viable opposition—next month and become law soon thereafter, will trigger the expulsion of several young pro-democracy councilors, even if they read the oath as instructed. Disqualified candidates will be barred from running in any elections for five years. With Tuesday’s announcement, the councils, the only fully democratic body in Hong Kong, fall in line with China’s broader reshaping of a city once known for its boisterous political culture as democratically chosen representatives are replaced with Beijing loyalists.

The Mekong River (Nikkei Asia) There are 60 million people who live along the lower Mekong River, and they were in for a rough surprise in early January when China drastically cut the discharge from the Jinghong Dam in Yunnan Province. The “tests”—which were slated to end January 24—entailed cutting the flow of the river from 1,900 cubic meters per second to just 1,000 cubic meters per second, but the final day of tests came and went and the volume is still down. That this occurred in the middle of the dry season was particularly rough for Thailand, Cambodia, Laos and Vietnam, countries that depend on the river. China has begun to draw international ire over their management of the river, which it has built 11 large dams on.

A Digital Firewall in Myanmar (NYT) The Myanmar soldiers descended before dawn on Feb. 1, bearing rifles and wire cutters. At gunpoint, they ordered technicians at telecom operators to switch off the internet. For good measure, the soldiers snipped wires without knowing what they were severing, according to an eyewitness and a person briefed on the events. The data center raids in Yangon and other cities in Myanmar were part of a coordinated strike in which the military seized power, locked up the country’s elected leaders and took most of its internet users offline. Since the coup, the military has repeatedly shut off the internet and cut access to major social media sites, isolating a country that had only in the past few years linked to the outside world. The military regime has also floated legislation that could criminalize the mildest opinions expressed online. So far, the Tatmadaw, as the Myanmar military is known, has depended on cruder forms of control to restrict the flow of information. But the army seems serious about setting up a digital fence to more aggressively filter what people see and do online. Such a comprehensive firewall may also exact a heavy price: The internet outages since the coup have paralyzed a struggling economy. Longer disruptions will damage local business interests and foreign investor confidence as well as the military’s own vast business interests.

Iraq’s struggling Christians hope for boost from pope visit (AP) Nasser Banyameen speaks about his hometown of Qaraqosh in the historical heartland of Iraqi Christianity with nostalgia. Before Islamic State group fighters swept through the Nineveh Plains in northern Iraq. Before the militants shattered his sense of peace. Before panicked relatives and neighbors fled, some never to return. Iraq’s Christian communities in the area were dealt a severe blow when they were scattered by the IS onslaught in 2014, further shrinking the country’s already dwindling Christian population. Many hope their struggle to endure will get a boost from a historic visit by Pope Francis planned in March. Among the places on his itinerary is Qaraqosh, where this week Vatican and Iraqi flags fluttered from light poles, some adorned with the pope’s image. Francis’ visit, his first foreign trip since the coronavirus pandemic and the first ever by a pope to Iraq, is a sign that “You’re not alone,” said Monsignor Segundo Tejado Muñoz, the undersecretary of the Vatican’s development office. “There’s someone who is thinking of you, who is with you. And these signs are so important. So important.”

Syria’s economic woes (NYT) In a private meeting with pro-government journalists, President Bashar al-Assad was asked about Syria’s economic meltdown: the currency collapse that has gutted salaries, the skyrocketing prices for basic goods and the chronic shortages of fuel and bread. “I know,” he said, according to two people with knowledge of the discussion. “I know.” But he offered no concrete steps to stem the crisis beyond floating this idea: Television channels should cancel cooking shows so as not to taunt Syrians with images of unattainable food. As the 10-year anniversary of Syria’s civil war looms, Mr. al-Assad’s most immediate threats are not the rebel factions and foreign powers that still control large swaths of the country. Instead, it is the crushing economic crisis that has hobbled the reconstruction of destroyed cities, impoverished the population and left a growing number of Syrians struggling to get enough food. Food prices have more than doubled in the last year. The World Food Program warned this month that 60 percent of Syrians, or 12.4 million people, were at risk of going hungry, the highest number ever recorded.

The Deadliest Middle East Construction Project Since The Pyramids (The Guardian) On December 2, 2010, FIFA announced that Qatar would host the 2022 World Cup —- a first for a Middle East nation. Over the next ten years, thousands of migrant laborers from India, Pakistan, Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka came to Qatar to work on the elaborate preparations for the world’s biggest football tournament. Sadly, during that period at least 6,500 of those workers died, according to an analysis by the Guardian. The findings were compiled from government sources, and mean that an average of 12 migrant workers from the five South Asian nations have died each week since the announcement was made. The total death toll is significantly higher because the figures don’t include deaths from other countries like the Philippines and Kenya that send large numbers of workers to Qatar. Also not included are deaths occurring in the final months of 2020. More deaths have undoubtedly occurred since preparations for the 2022 tournament continue.

The value of housework (Foreign Policy) In a landmark ruling, a Beijing divorce court has ordered a man to pay his wife for five years of unpaid housework during their marriage. The award does not amount to much, roughly $1,100 dollars per year, but marks a new era in Chinese divorce law after the government introduced a new civil code. Under the new code, an aggrieved spouse is entitled to seek compensation if they shouldered more domestic responsibilities—with no prenuptial agreement necessary. The case follows a similar one in Argentina in 2019, when a divorce court ordered a husband to pay his wife of 27 years $179,000 in recognition of her unpaid domestic work. According to Organisation for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) figures, Chinese women spend roughly four hours per day on unpaid work—with their U.S. counterparts clocking in nearly the same amount. American men are closer to closing the gap than Chinese men, however. American men spending about 2.5 hours per day on unpaid labor, while Chinese men spend just 1.6 hours.

[nationaldoorstep]

Top 5 Markets for Multifamily Construction Activity | Resident First Focus

The five metros on this list account for almost a third of the units under development nationwide, based on Yardi Matrix data.

Multifamily development activity during the first and second quarters was impacted by lockdown measures, even though many states either classified construction as essential or allowed it to continue with minor restrictions. According to NMHC, the majority of multifamily developers reported that the COVID-19 crisis has slowed down their projects.

According to Yardi Matrix data, 600,900 units were underway throughout the country, as of June. The bulk of construction is concentrated in major multifamily markets, where demand for new supply was high before the pandemic. The total number of apartments underway in the five metros on this list account for 30.6 percent of the nation’s pipeline.

5. HOUSTON

More than 28,000 units were underway in Houston in June. In the metro’s West End-Downtown submarket, GID was working on the 600-unit second phase of The Sovereign at Regent Square. Expected to come online by the end of 2022, the project is part of a three-phase community, with the final phase still in the planning and permitting stages. When completed, the upcoming property will be the submarket’s fifth-largest community and the largest to come online in more than a decade.

Houston has faced a series of challenges over the past couple of years, which have heavily impacted its economy and multifamily market. This year, the coronavirus pandemic pushed oil prices to an 18-year low, severely affecting the energy sector and the metro’s overall employment. Houston lost more than 250,000 jobs in the 12 months ending in May, with unemployment rising from 5.5 percent in March to 14.3 percent in April. And according to June estimates, while the metro managed to slightly bounce back from these losses and improve its unemployment rate to 9.9 percent, its economy will likely continue to contract over the coming quarters.

4. LOS ANGELES

At the end of June, developers were working on almost 30,000 units in metro Los Angeles. In the Hyde Park submarket, Carmel Partners is developing the metro’s largest project, the 1,210-unit Cumulus. Constructed with the help of a $462.7 million loan from Pacific Life Insurance Co., the development is located within an Opportunity Zone and is expected to come online as early as the first quarter of 2022. 

Prior to the pandemic, 2020 deliveries forecast in the metro was expected to surpass the number of units completed last year by more than 70 percent. But as California was one of the first states to impose a stay-at-home order and as the number of confirmed coronavirus cases spiked over the past month, uncertainty looms over the number of projects expected to reach completion by year-end. While the leisure and hospitality sector shrunk by 43.9 percent, construction jobs only contracted by 4 percent during the same period. In total, the metro lost more than 600,000 jobs in the 12 months ending in May. 

3. MIAMI

Developers were working on projects totaling more than 33,500 units in the metro in June. But as Florida became the pandemic’s new epicenter by mid-July, it is uncertain how many of these projects will deliver on time. As of June, the largest project underway was Melo Group’s Downtown 5th, a 1,042-unit property expected to come online in the first quarter of 2023. Earlier this year, the company opened Miami Plaza, a 425-unit community in the Arts and Entertainment District of downtown Miami. The asset marks the firm’s final development in its plan to bring more than 2,000 transit-oriented apartments to the area.

Miami’s strong job market, driven by its business-friendly climate, has felt the burden of the health crisis. The metro lost 121,100 positions in the 12 months ending in May, equal to a 9.6 percent plunge. As expected, the leisure and hospitality sector was the hardest hit, down by 37.3 percent, or almost 55,000 positions. Meanwhile, with construction deemed essential during the state’s stay-at-home order, leisure and hospitality was the only major sector to remain afloat during the first months of the pandemic, adding 3,400 positions. Overall, the metro’s unemployment rate rose from 4.1 percent in March to 13.4 percent in April, and then dropped to 11.3 percent, according to June estimates.

2. WASHINGTON, D.C.

More than 39,000 units were underway in the metro at the end of June. Lerner Enterprises’ upcoming 1,618-unit Black Hill Germantown is expected to reshape the Germantown-Montgomery Village submarket. Part of the company’s mixed-use master plan, the multifamily project is slated for completion as early as the end of 2020. The overall development is expected to include more than 3 million square feet of office space, a hotel, and some 90,000 square feet of retail. At full build-out, the multifamily segment will be the submarket’s largest community to date.

Before the pandemic, D.C. saw positive employment growth thanks in part to its leisure and hospitality sector, one of the best-performing industries in Washington, D.C. But as the city was forced to issue a shelter-in-place order at the end of March, employment in the metro began to contract, down by 317,900 positions in the 12 months ending in April, with tourism-related jobs accounting for more than half of that. Leisure and hospitality declined by more than 45 percent, diminishing its share of the total employment pool to just shy of 6 percent. However, June estimates showed that construction jobs, which dropped 5.1 percent year-over-year through April, started to increase in May.

1. DALLAS

Developers were busy in Dallas, with more than 53,000 units under construction as of June. Columbus Realty Partners is developing the largest project in the metro—the 1,625-unit expansion of its Parkside at Craig Ranch campus. Five of the six buildings are expected to reach completion this year, with the largest one slated for delivery in 2022. Furthermore, the four phases of the development pushed North Frisco-West McKinney to the top of our breakdown of the most active North Dallas submarkets for development activity.

Texas and Dallas have both taken significant steps toward diversifying their economies in recent years. This, coupled with the metro’s highly skilled workforce and business-friendly environment, made Dallas attractive to a series of smaller and larger companies looking to expand their operations to new markets. As a result, Dallas strengthened its financial activities sector, leading the nation with the highest number of new jobs added to the sector in 2019. Financial activities was the only industry exempt from the total jobs lost in the metro—150,400 positions—in the 12 months ending in April when. The current health crisis, however, has forced a break in Dallas’s outstanding expansion, but not in terms of development activity.

______________

Author’s note: Yardi Matrix covers all multifamily properties of 50-plus units in size across 133 markets in the United States. This ranking reflects properties that are under construction within that sample group. This article was originally published in Multifamily Housing News on Aug. 21, 2020.

[phinnsyreads]

Item #: SCP-057

Object Class: Safe

Special Containment Procedures: Site-57 has been constructed to facilitate SCP-057 as relocation is not feasible. It is highly improbable that any outside knowledge of the artifact exists based on the circumstances of its discovery and thus security is of minimal concern. No containment procedures are required other than the prevention of unauthorized access. All research will be delegated to Dr. Lewis and Dr. Walston unless further specified.

Due to the irretrievability of those placed inside SCP-057, access will be granted with the approval of no fewer than two (2) members of O5.

Description: SCP-057 is a subterranean chamber with an approximate cylindrical height of three (3) meters and diameter of eighteen (18) meters. Artifact is comprised of impenetrable slate-coloured stone. Inside the chamber are dozens of parallelepiped monoliths extending from floor to ceiling that slide in various directions while SCP-057 is active. It was discovered several meters below █████ on ██/██/████ during the construction of a secure containment enclosure for SCP-███. Consequently, SCP-███ was assigned an alternate location at Site-██.

An entrance to the chamber is located on the north-east side. When a human enters, the door shuts and the walls inside the chamber move in such a way as to require the subject's constant attention to maintain a safe course through the artifact. The monoliths slowly open and close until the subject either surrenders or exhausts themselves, at which time SCP-057 crushes them and reverts to its original, inactive state after a period of approximately twenty (20) seconds. This process lasts only as long as the subject inside SCP-057 is alive and has proven to take days. Extended testing proposals to gauge the limits of the artifact have been discouraged. All tests on animals, machines, and cadavers have proven futile. Only a living human being is able to initiate this process upon entering SCP-057.

Incident 057-1: During the excavation of the artifact, a worker employed by the Foundation for the unearthing process entered the chamber without permission at roughly 12:57 AM on ██/██/████. Upon entering the artifact the door shut and a dull rumble began to emanate from the chamber. Standard lockdown procedure was initiated and all personnel in the vicinity were evacuated. A Remote Operated Vehicle (ROV) was deployed in order to safely determine the cause of the event and to gauge any possible threat of SCP-057. Aside from the rumbling noises produced during the event, no anomalous effects outside of the artifact were observed. At 4:32 AM of the following day, SCP-057 suddenly shut down and returned to its original state as the door shifted back into its open position. At 5:32 AM, the area was declared safe and the excavation process was completed without further incident. The worker in question was never recovered.

Experiment Log 057-1: A controlled experiment for the purpose of exploring the interior of SCP-057 was requested by Drs. Lewis and Walston on ██/██/████ and approved shortly thereafter by O5 Council. D-1021 was equipped with a radio able to send and receive transmissions to and from the Doctors. Upon entering the chamber the artifact behaved as expected with the door abruptly shutting behind D-1021. The following is the recording of the communication between Dr. Lewis, Dr. Walston and D-1021.

[BEGIN LOG]

D-1021: Hey, you didn't tell me the door would close. Can you open it again? This place gives me the heebie-jeebies. Dr. Lewis: Negative, please proceed as advised and describe your surroundings. D-1021: Okay... Well, there are a bunch of stone columns in here, and they keep rearranging their positions. I… Dr. Walston: D-1021? What is your status? D-1021: Damn column snuck up on me. They’re moving around, arranging themselves so they… [Pause] Dr. Walston: What is it? D-1021: The columns behind me are closing up. The ones ahead of me are spreading out… I don't like this. [Inaudible] can't see the door anymore. Dr. Lewis: Stay calm. Move with the columns and you'll be fine. D-1021: If I stand still, they'll crush me. I have to keep moving or they’ll crush me. [Seventeen seconds of silence] How long am I gonna be in here? Dr. Walston: It'll be over soon, you're doing fine. Just keep moving. D-1021: But what if I’m trapped in here? I… [D-1021 begins to hyperventilate] I'm trapped and they're gonna crush me and- Dr. Lewis: D-1… Hey, listen! Get a hold of yourself. The columns will eventually lead you to an exit. Please relax and continue. [Subject calms down noticeably] D-1021: So... there’s an exit? Thank god. I was scared there for a minute that I’d never-

[Transmission is momentarily cut by Dr. Walston]

Dr. Walston: We don’t know there’s an exit, why would you say that?

Dr. Lewis: Why would you say it would be over soon?

[Dr. Walston resumes transmission. D-1021 had continued to speak.]

D-1021: -I can do this, I can do this. Dr. Walston: Yep, keep it up and you'll be right as rain. You're doing a great job. You'll... have no trouble making parole once this is over. [The experiment continues without incident for another forty-one (41) minutes. At this point, D-1021 becomes noticeably distressed again.] D-1021: I saw how big this place is from the outside. Am I going in a circle? Dr. Lewis: Negative. Continue to proceed through the opening columns. You should find the exit- D-1021: There is no fucking exit! You bastards trapped me in here and now I'm fucking… trapped! [Subject begins to hyperventilate again] Dr. Walston: You are not trapped, D-1021. Continue to the exit or you will be forced to- D-1021: Forced to what!? There's nothing you can do to me I'm gonna fucking die I'm gonna die- Dr. Lewis: D-1-0-2-1! Panicking will only exacerbate your situation. Focus! [D-1021 breaks into tears. She continues to cry for the next two (2) hours as she makes her way through the columns and does not reply to any questions. Eventually, the crying ceases] D-1021: So this is it. [Deep exhalation] I’m gonna die. I guess I’ll just stop and close my eyes. Maybe it won’t be so bad. [Several seconds of silence] I can’t. I can’t. I can’t, I can’t. I can't. [D-1021 continues to repeat this. Eventually she trails off and falls silent] Dr. Walston: D-1021? [D-1021 stops in her tracks, Faint sobbing is audible] Dr. Walston: D-1021, proceed through the room as advised! D-1021: I.. I… [D-1021’s gentle sobbing abruptly cuts off. Brief, loud cracking and snapping sounds are heard before the transmission is lost.]

[END LOG]

Strangely, D-1021 did not report any sightings of the remains of the excavation worker lost in Event 057-1. Accordingly, no efforts were made for the recovery of D-1021’s remains. As a result of this inconclusive data, reclassification of SCP-057 to Euclid is pending.]

===

[The voice of D-1021 was provided by @mezzoprime.] [The voice of Dr. Lewis was provided by Brittany Carlton.] [The voice of Dr. Walston was provided by Breck Wilhite.]

===

[Enjoy the podcast? Consider supporting us on Patreon! Patrons get access to bonus Joke episodes, outtakes, and can even request episodes on specific SCP objects.]

[madrasbook]

New Zealanders, Famous for Being Laid Back, Get on Top of Covid-19

Are New Zealanders as laid back as they are famous for? Thus went a query on Quora. Yes, in a nice way, said one software engineer who lived in New Zealand. Yes, agreed a New Zealand author too, but with a caveat – “Until you push us into a corner or do something we view as unfair or unjust. Then watch out. We are a warrior nation at heart. And we won’t back down from something that feels wrong to us.” One Indian software engineer disagreed and said ‘laid back’ should be substituted with ‘pragmatism’. The positive identity of New Zealanders is tied to Kiwi ingenuity as they often can come up with unconventional solutions to problems.

As an Indian, I only know the famous Kiwi cricketers as they were called until the term ‘Kiwi’ sort of came to be identified with a racist slant. Now they are Black Caps. Who can forget the famous and charismatic Richard Hadlee, one of the four great all-rounders of his time (Kapil Dev, Ian Botham and Imran Khan being the other three)? Then there was Martin Crowe, who stole our hearts with his beautiful cover drives, and also in the way he fought cancer and finally was consumed by it one day. Kane Williamson, the cool captain of the present New Zealand cricket team, stood like a rock when handed out what looked like an unfair defeat in the World Cup final in 2019. He said, “The players are shattered at the moment.”

New Zealand PM the Knight in the Country’s Shining Armour

But the New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern didn’t let the nation get shattered when it needed her the most.

For a country of 4.91 million people today, with more than one-fourth of them overseas-born, Prime Minister Ardern’s response to the rampaging pandemic – that threatened the Britons to almost the brink and exposed the many deficiencies in their response – ensured that it was contained in a stellar way in this isolated nation, which in 1907 became self-governing Dominion of New Zealand under the British Crown. In 1983, the country technically severed the imperial connection through the new letter patent ‘Realm of New Zealand’, repealing the Imperial Letter Patent of 1917, and cut off the remaining link by removing the residual power of British Parliament to legislate for New Zealand by bringing in the Constitutional Act 1986. Always shadowed by its more famous trans-Tasman rival, Australia, New Zealand today has shown to the world what a determined leadership in a crisis can do. The kind and firm Prime Minister, who faced more crises in her short term at the helm, has proved much more capable of handling them superbly. The world stood up and took note of this centre-left Labour leader, who stitched up a delicate coalition to win the 2017 polls, when terrorists struck in a mosque in Christchurch in March 2019, as she led the nation in providing an empathetic leadership. Close on its heels came the Whaakari/White Island volcano eruption in December 2019 and Prime Minister Ardern again led the nation with determination.

Britain’s Feet of Clay and New Zealand’s Grip over the Situation

The Sunday Times from London made a scathing expose of the British government’s ‘laid back’ response to the coronavirus infections that was initially brushed off as non-threatening. The Times report alleged that the British Prime Minister Boris Johnson – who later was to get infected with the coronavirus necessitating his admission into the ICU of St. Thomas’ Hospital and who eventually recovered from Covid-19 – was taking it easy and holidaying, mired in personal problems of his life, at a crucial time period in late February when tough decisions such as a lockdown should have been made. Poor modelling and a belief in herd immunity, repeatedly parroted by the establishment as enough to take of the disease in itself, resulted in British government’s initial intrepid response. When the British PM finally woke up to strike a lockdown in late March, things were under water. The death toll in UK (in hospitals as of April 19, 2020) has crossed 15,000 and infections well over 100,000.

While you could also take a sympathetic view that the British government, which sent as much as 270,000 pieces of support equipment to China on its request, did not foresee a worst situation as it eventually panned out, staying under the Covid-19 curve and then fighting it out. The situation seems overwhelming as the NHS is trying to procure enough PPEs and put in the required number of ICU beds. The good news is that people staying in hospitals from the Covid-19 disease is showing signs of tapering off. But the British government had to fight hard to bring the situation under its control, which seems to have not happened completely yet.

What makes New Zealand a role-model in its fight against coronavirus infections is the foresight with which the Prime Minister responded to the developing situation. Although, like many nations, New Zealand stopped incoming flights and people into the country late February, Prime Minister Ardern clamped a nationwide lockdown from March 25, 2020, a day after the British PM announced it from March 24, alarmed by the situation in Italy and Spain and modelling studies, which suggested 80,000 infections and 14,000 deaths if the situation goes unchecked in New Zealand. At that time, New Zealand had 102 cases of coronavirus infections and not a single death. The message to New Zealanders was “Act as if you have Covid-19. This will save lives.” The emphasis was on what was called a bubble – a smaller area where you could move around for biking and walking, say just your neighbourhood, with social distancing.

A Clear Elimination Strategy and Ashley Bloomfield a National Hero

As on April 19, 2020, only nine people have died from Covid-19 and 1431 infected with the coronavirus in New Zealand. Recoveries are at an impressive 912 cases. For a country of nearly 5 million people, there are only 519 active cases. New Zealand’s policy of ‘elimination’, rather than containment pursued by the United States and other Western nations, “is working,” reported the Washington Post in its report on April 7. A simple stat on this would make the situation clear: the number of new infections was lower than the number of recovered cases.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/asia_pacific/new-zealand-isnt-just-flattening-the-curve-its-squashing-it/2020/04/07/6cab3a4a-7822-11ea-a311-adb1344719a9_story.html

In New Zealand’s fight against the pandemic. at the forefront is the nation’s Director General of Health, Dr. Ashley Bloomfield, whose press conferences – at times addressed alongside Prime Minister Ardern – have become a huge hit among New Zealanders for the precise way in which he delivers data. It even prompted New Zealanders to make him New Zealander of the Year 2021 for his “competent, calm and factual” updates. But he is humble enough to say, “I am lucky to be part of a fantastic team.”

https://www.tvnz.co.nz/one-news/new-zealand/dr-ashley-bloomfield-responds-humbly-news-petition-him-new-zealander-year

On April 6, Tess Nicole called Ashley Bloomfield “the country’s unassuming rock star.”

https://slate.com/news-and-politics/2020/04/new-zealand-covid-19-coronavirus-ashley-bloomfield.html

Typical New Zealander Coming to the Fore

“New Zealand is a low-context country,” said Rosie, host of the YouTube channel, NotEvenFrench, in one of her YouTube videos. Rosie is a New Zealander who lives in Paris with her French partner. She says New Zealanders are open, warm and friendly and believe in clear and straightforward communication. And they are casual in their dress sense too, she emphasised, preferring flip-flops and even walking barefoot. “New Zealand is a beautiful country,” she points out and there cannot be two views on that. Bountiful nature is spread across New Zealand, uninhibited in some parts, with only the cities and urban areas a bit dense with populace.

Prime Minister Ardern uses the characteristic New Zealander trait of open and clear communication. She takes pains to explain, repeat and emphasise. She is active on Facebook and goes Facebook live to delve into questions posed by the people of her country. When announcing the lockdown on March 23, she clearly explained the rules of the lockdown. And when the imminent end of the lockdown is slated for April 22, a month after it was clamped, the New Zealand PM has started explaining the rules for relaxation from level 4 (complete lockdown) to level 3 (lockdown with some relaxations but strict on social distancing). She gets to the bottom of it, clearly explaining the implications of various scenarios, including what it would mean to scale down to level 3 and what precautions that the country has to take to adhere to those. She also cautions that a revert to level 4 might happen if there are flagrant violations.

New Zealand’s Future

The New Zealand government has also understood the pain of its countrymen during the lockdown and Finance Minister Grant Robertson announced a series of concessions including a six-month holiday on principal and tax on mortgages. The Government also plans to implement a business finance guarantee for small and medium businesses to protect jobs and support the economy in the unprecedented times.

https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-newzealand-banks/new-zealand-announces-mortgage-holiday-business-finance-support-to-cushion-virus-impact-idUSKBN21B0CA

But as everywhere, economic slump is a worrying outcome of the lockdown. And how economy will fare during the lockdown and after the lockdown is lifted is a challenge that the New Zealand government is confronted with. New Zealand is slated to go to polls in September 2020, and if Jacinda Ardern would pull it off again also remains to be seen.

Cricket-crazy Indians little realise that rugby is a religion in New Zealand. And the country won the Rugby World Cup in 2015. There was a YouTube video released then: The Greatest haka ever?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yiKFYTFJ_kw

Well, for now, it could be the greatest haka seeing the way Jacinda Ardern and Dr. Ashley Bloomfield are leading the Covid-19 campaign for the All Blacks.

[abhigmi]

Dump Trucks Market to Observe Rugged Expansion at a Top CAGR by 2030

The dump trucks market is poised to grow significantly by 2030 owing to rising mining activities in various regions around the world. In addition, prevalent recycling activities, along with rapid urbanization, are likely to further augment market growth over the forecast period.

Dump trucks are a major part of the construction sector as they help efficiently transfer materials and dump them in the required place, reducing human efforts. Following the COVID-19 outbreak, the mining & construction sector witnessed a halt in business activities due to the implementation of strict lockdowns that caused disruptions in the supply chain and the transportation of raw materials.

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However, relaxation in lockdown restrictions and an increase in research and development activities boosted technological advancements in the dump trucks market. In February 2022, a study by a team from the Tarbiat Modares University conducted a reliability assessment of dump trucks in a heterogeneous operating environment. The research related the risks associated with dump trucks to season, operator skill, and the elevation difference between loading and dumping points.

Moreover, major players have been focusing on developing innovative products and adopting growth strategies to extend their customer reach, thereby fostering the dump trucks market outlook. To cite an instance, in June 2021, Hitachi Construction Machinery, a Japanese construction equipment company, announced a collaboration with ABB, a multinational technology leader, to build an engineless and full battery rigid frame dump truck with a custom-built energy-based storage system, decreasing GHG emissions and offering a way to achieve net-zero emissions.

In another instance, in March 2022, XCMG Group, a China-based heavy machinery manufacturer, rolled out the world's largest 440-ton mining dump truck, its XCMG XDE440, in batches to mining firm Zijin Mining. The dump trucks were supplied for Zijin Mining's Bor copper mine located in Serbia, furthering the long-term strategic collaboration between the two companies.

The dump trucks market has been bifurcated in terms of end-use, type, and region.

Based on type, the dump trucks industry has been split into articulated and rigid. The articulated segment is expected to witness massive growth over the assessment timeframe. Growing demand for technologically advanced articulated dump trucks is set to propel market growth for powered catamarans.

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With regards to end-use, the market has been divided into mining and construction. Rapidly surging mining activities in the Asian industry are estimated to boost the growth of the mining segment in the forthcoming years.

From the regional perspective, the Middle East & Africa dump trucks market is slated to progress significantly through the forecast period. Huge investments in construction and infrastructure development projects are foreseen to bolster market expansion in the Middle East region.

Table of Contents (ToC) of the report:

Chapter 1   Methodology & Scope

1.1    Scope and definition

1.2    Methodology & forecast parameters

1.3    COVID-19 impact

1.3.1    North America

1.3.2    Europe

1.3.3    Asia Pacific

1.3.4    Latin America

1.3.5    Middle East & Africa

1.4    Data sources

1.4.1    Secondary

1.5    Industry Glossary

Chapter 2   Executive Summary

2.1    Dump trucks industry 3600 synopsis, 2018 - 2030

2.1.1    Business trends

2.1.2    Regional trends

2.1.3    Type trends

2.1.4    End-use trends

Browse complete Table of Contents (ToC) of this research report @ https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/dump-trucks-market

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[sudeepkedar]

Fleet Management Market 2023-2032; Growth Forecast & Industry Share Report

As per a recent research report, Global Fleet Management Market share is likely to surpass USD 70 billion valuation by 2032.

The fleet management market is slated to progress at a significant growth rate through 2032 owing to growing emphasis on improving vehicle connectivity. In addition, the increasing adoption of cloud computing services across multiple industry verticals, along with the inclusion of AI technology in fleet management solutions, is likely to boost market growth over the forecast period.

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The COVID-19 pandemic had a positive impact on industry growth due to changing preference of enterprises towards effective remote fleet management systems as a result of restriction of movement and stringent lockdowns. Furthermore, the remote working trends altered driver utilization patterns of telematics tools.

Moreover, the major players in the industry have been focusing on innovating fleet management products and strategic partnerships and collaborations with private and government organizations to strengthen their market standing. For instance, in September 2022, Garmin International Inc., an American technology company, announced that its Garmin G3000 integrated flight deck was selected by the U.S. Department of Defense for Avionics Reconfiguration and Tactical Enhancement for Inventory (ARTEMIS) Program.

The fleet management market has been bifurcated based on deployment model, solution, end-use, vehicle, and region.

With respect to solution, the industry has been classified into operation management, driver management, vehicle tracking system, and others. The others segment is anticipated to capture more than 4% market share by 2032. The segment includes accident management and vehicle maintenance solutions that play a vital role in road management, which is likely to bolster segment growth.

On the basis of end-use, the fleet management market has been categorized into transportation, construction, manufacturing, utility, and others. The manufacturing segment accounted for over $1.6 billion in revenue in 2022 as a result of stringent regulations on heavy equipment in the manufacturing sector that are encouraging enterprises to use fleet management services and systems.

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Meanwhile, the fleet management industry from the others end-use segment is estimated to hold more than 4.5% market share by 2032. Supply chain operations utilized in diverse industry verticals to expand fleet capacity with the addition of vehicles is fostering segment growth. For instance, in March 2021, Stewarts of Tayside Limited, a food production company in Scotland, added nine units of Volvo's FH 500 6x2 Globetrotter XL tractor vehicles to its vehicle fleet.

In the regional context, the Europe fleet management market reached a valuation of more than $4 billion in 2022. The growing sales of commercial vehicles, extensive digitization, and the launch of automotive leasing services have proven lucrative for the market scenario in the region. According to the European Automobile Manufacturers Association, in March 2021, registration of commercial vehicles increased by 95.3% with approximately 204,046 units in Europe.

About Global Market Insights:

Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.

Contact us:

Arun Hegde Corporate Sales, USA Global Market Insights, Inc. Phone:1-302-846-7766 Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688 Email: sales@gminsights.com  

[research--blog]

Cloud Security Market Worth $83.03 Billion by 2029 

According to a new market research report titled, ‘Cloud Security Market by Component (Solutions, Services), Security Type (Network Security, Application Security), Service Model, Organization Size, and End User (BFSI, Government, Retail, and Other End Users) - Global Forecast to 2029,’ the cloud security market is expected to reach $83.03 billion by 2029, at a CAGR of 13.1% during the forecast period of 2022 to 2029. Download Free Report Sample Now @ https://www.meticulousresearch.com/download-sample-report/cp_id=5379

Cloud security refers to the technologies, policies, controls, and services that protect cloud data, applications, and infrastructure from threats. Cloud security offers several benefits, such as high performance, reliability, comprehensive vulnerability coverage, advanced threat detection, and secure real-time applications. Furthermore, cloud security solutions are extensively used in various industries, including retail, BFSI, government, and IT & Telecom.

The growth of the cloud security market is driven by the growing significance of cloud security solutions in the BFSI sector, the increasing sophistication of cyberattacks and espionage, the rising number of cloud security regulations, and the growing adoption of BYOD devices. Furthermore, the development of smart infrastructure and the growing need for cloud security solutions among SMEs is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for the cloud security market. However, the lack of visibility or control and misconceptions & lack of knowledge regarding cloud security solutions restrains the growth of this market.

Impact of COVID-19 on the Cloud Security Market

The COVID-19 pandemic adversely impacted the global economy. Nationwide lockdowns and social distancing norms were imposed across several countries, negatively affecting multiple industries, including the cloud security industry. Uncertainty regarding the duration of the lockdowns made it difficult for the key market players to anticipate the recovery of the cloud security market. Furthermore, numerous cloud security providers faced immense pressure across various fronts due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

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However, economies are recovering rapidly, and there is an increase in smart infrastructure development and the adoption of cloud security solutions in the BFSI sector, which is expected to offer significant growth opportunities for players operating in the cloud security market. Furthermore, several businesses are increasingly adopting cloud security solutions. Local governments are also undertaking several relief steps to mitigate the negative impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Thus, these factors are expected to enable the recovery of the cloud security market by 2023.

To provide efficient analysis, Meticulous Research® has segmented this market based on component (solutions and services), security type (network security, application security, endpoint security, other security types), organization size (large enterprises, SMEs), service model (IaaS, PaaS, SaaS), end user (BFSI, retail, government, aerospace & defense, IT & telecom, healthcare, manufacturing, energy & utilities, and other end users), and geography (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa). The study also evaluates industry competitors and analyzes the market at the regional and country levels.

Based on component, in 2022, the solutions segment is expected to account for the larger share of the cloud security market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the increasing focus on solution-centric security capabilities, the rise in cybercrime and espionage, and the increasing R&D investments to improve cloud security solutions. However, the services segment is slated to register the higher CAGR during the forecast period due to the wide adoption of cloud security services across BFSI, retail, and healthcare sectors, resulting in the increased demand for consulting, training & support, and integration services.

Based on security type, in 2022, the network security segment is expected to account for the larger share of the cloud security market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the growing adoption of the BYOD devices trend, the increasing cyber threats at network points, and the rising need for network security & privacy. This segment is also slated to register the higher CAGR during the forecast period.

Quick Buy – Cloud Security Market- Global Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast (2022-2029), Research Report: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/Checkout/23245787

Based on end user, in 2022, the retail segment is expected to account for the largest share of the cloud security market. The large market share of this segment is attributed to the rising penetration of e-commerce platforms, the increasing number of ransomware attacks and online thefts, and the growing need for end-to-end security. However, the healthcare segment is projected to record the highest CAGR during the forecast period, which can be attributed to the rising adoption of telemedicine devices and remote healthcare services, the growing number of cyberattacks, and the increasing need for secure medical network infrastructure.

Based on geography, North America is expected to account for the largest share of the cloud security market. North America’s major market share is attributed to the presence of prominent major market players offering advanced cloud security solutions. Furthermore, the rising number of cybercrimes and data breaches, the increasing investments in cloud security solutions, strong government initiatives, and the high adoption rate of cloud security solutions to enhance IT infrastructure are driving the growth of this regional market.

However, Asia-Pacific is projected to register the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The rapid infrastructural growth in Asia-Pacific, especially in China, South Korea, Japan, and India, the rising number of cybercrimes, and the growing awareness about the importance of cloud security among small and medium-sized organizations are expected to offer significant opportunities for the growth of the cloud security market.

The key players operating in the cloud security market are Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Checkpoint Software Technologies, Ltd. (Israel), Broadcom, Inc. (U.S.), Palo Alto Networks, Inc. (U.S.), Cisco Systems, Inc. (U.S.), McAfee, LLC. (U.S.), Fortinet, Inc. (U.S.), Imperva, Inc. (U.S.), Cloudflare, Inc. (U.S.), Aqua Security Software Ltd. (Israel), Qualys, Inc. (U.S.), Tenable, Inc. (U.S.), Netskope, Inc. (U.S.), and CrowdStrike, Inc. (U.S.).

To gain more insights into the market with a detailed table of content and figures, click here: https://www.meticulousresearch.com/product/cloud-security-market-5379

[qrtumb]

Global Real Estate Software for Builders and Real Estate Agents Market Research Report

Global Real Estate Software for Builders and Real Estate Agents Market was valued at USD 9290.30 million in 2021 and is slated to reach at USD 16,619.06 million by 2027 at a CAGR of 7.93 % from 2022-2027.

Real estate is a special and distinct solution created for property agents, real estate agencies, and builders. It is an end-to-end programme that agents use to generate intelligent reports that provide insight as well as manage property leads and automate daily booking activities for project management.

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Market Drivers

CRM software assists realtors in moving renters, staying organised, closing sales transactions on properties, and following up with possible buyers. CRM software also contributes to increased efficiency and productivity by informing clients and customers about recent updates and speeding up routine operations. The growing use of business applications and smart technologies for project management may increase demand for Customer Relationship Management, driving the growth rate of the real estate software for builders and real estate agent’s market. The real estate programme includes certain marketing features to assist with email interaction and automation. Furthermore, real estate software such as CRM integrated with a relevant market solution may boost the marketing potential and sales of commercial organisations. Several CRM software elements contribute in the development of a more accurate consumer profile. Furthermore, the automated lead scoring feature of this CRM software assists in prioritising the sale. Real estate software assists both commercial and residential property builders in tracking connected duties such as legal document storage, transaction updates, property management, and convenient property account handling. Several countries have also seen an increase in the number of retail establishments that require knowledge of building and property leases. Real estate software solutions can assist customers and enterprises in gaining critical knowledge.

The real estate sector deals with a lot of personal data related to builders and real estate agents, which must be kept secure in order to maintain the protection of client information, especially when it is housed in the cloud. This is due to the fact that any unauthorised user can access the data, resulting in significant losses for the organisation. The digital security element of real estate software is available to builders and real estate agents. Customer relationship management (CRM) software provides record-based security, which prevents unauthorised users' access to personal information, as well as role-based security, which assigns privileges to specific types of users. The cloud-based software is also introducing external security features which is likely to generate profitable chances for the expansion of market

Market Restraints

The biggest downside of real estate software for builders and real estate agents is its high cost. This software would increase the IT budget. Adoption of real estate solutions necessitates upgraded network infrastructure and hardware. Furthermore, hefty investments and training costs may limit market expansion to some extent. Property management sectors are migrating to internet platforms, which may raise the cost of real estate software for builders and real estate brokers and stifle market growth.

Impact of COVID-19

The COVID-19 epidemic has afflicted people all around the world. Many limitations on the movement of persons and commodities, as well as complete lockdowns, were imposed by the governments of several nations to mitigate the effects of the new coronavirus, which affected all enterprises in some manner. During this pandemic, the market for real estate software for builders and real estate agents suffers. The cessation of construction operations led in a decline in demand for real estate software in the global market.

Market Segmentation

Global Real Estate Software for Builders and Real Estate Agents Market is segmented into Product Type and Application. By Product Type such as Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP), Property Management System (PMS), Customer Relationship Management (CRM) and Others. By Application such as Small Enterprises, Medium Enterprises, and Large Enterprises.

Regional Analysis

Global Real Estate Software for Builders and Real Estate Agents Market is segmented into five regions North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. Asia-Pacific dominates the real estate software for builders and real estate agents’ industry, because logistics and property division require suitable space control. Furthermore, the most advanced feature foundation and support at competitive prices are anticipated to improve the region's future growth.

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Key Players

This report includes a list of numerous Key Players, namely Yardi Systems Inc. (U.S.), Microsoft (U.S.), SAP (Germany), RealPage Inc. (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), MRI Software LLC (U.S.), Oracle (U.S.), Salesforce, Inc. (U.S.), Sage Group plc (U.K.), Cisco System Inc, (U.S.).

Market Taxonomy

By Product Type

• Enterprise Resource Planning (ERP) • Property Management System (PMS) • Customer Relationship ManagemBrent (CRM) • Others

By Application

• Small Enterprises • Medium Enterprises • Large Enterprises

By Region

• North America • Latin America • Europe • Asia Pacific • Middle East & Africa.

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[researchvishal]

Infusion Pumps Market: Industry Future Set To Massive Growth With High CAGR Value By 2030

According to a recent market study by Future Market Insights (FMI), the global infusion pumps market size was estimated to be worth US$ 4.4 billion in 2022 and is projected to grow to US$ 6.6 billion by 2030.

As per World Health Organization’s projections, there were 422 million diabetic people as of 2014, with a 5% increase in premature mortality.

Consequently, there has also been an increase in associated co-morbidities such as strokes, heart attacks, kidney failure and visual impairment. As a result, infusion pump usage has upticked in order to provide the appropriate medication and nutritional input.

To facilitate efficient drug delivery, manufacturers have incorporated various technological advancements in recent years. Additionally, the advent of wearable and smart infusion pumps is further fueling the market’s revenue prospects.

Global Infusion Pumps Market- Key Takeaways

Rising prevalence of cancer to push forward oncology-grade infusion pumps usage in the coming years

Ambulatory pumps are poised to hold major sway in the wake of swift drug and nutrient delivery

Europe to pivot global infusion pumps market growth, capturing over 1/3rd of the revenue pie

Global infusion pumps market is likely to surpass US$ 6 Bn by 2030-end

Favorable business reimbursement policies are expected to bolster infusion pumps demand in coming years

COVID-19 Impact Analysis

The COVID-19 pandemic is anticipated to have a moderate impact on the global infusion pumps market. In the initial months of the pandemic’s onset, a slump in the demand-supply equation was observed. This was in response to the imposition of lockdowns and social distancing protocols. Eventually, a resurgence was recorded.

In recent months, regulatory authorities such as the U.S Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued emergency use authorization to increase the availability of infusion pumps and related accessories. Infusion pumps have been pivotal in administering vital medicines and parenteral nutrition to patients admitted for chronic ailments.

As hospitals reach a saturation point, governments are providing flexibility to infusion pump manufacturers to address supply shortages by permitting them to resume operations. This is slated to sustain the infusion pumps market demand in the short-term forecast.

 “Manufacturers are concentrating on embedding smart data assimilation software within their product designs to facilitate seamless and error-free infusion procedures across healthcare settings,” infers the FMI analyst.

Global Infusion Pumps Market- Competitive Intelligence

Prominent players in the infusion pumps landscape include Fresenius Kabi AG, Terumo Corporation, Medtronic Plc, Baxter International Plc., Smith Medical, MOOG Inc., Johnson & Johnson Services Inc., ICU Medical Inc. and Becton Dickinson & Company among others.

Product launches, expansions, collaborations and other inorganic strategies are being pursued by the aforementioned players. In 2021, Terumo Corporation announced the launch of its TERUFUSION Infusion Pump Type LM Series which utilize smart cutting-edge IT solutions to deliver optimal management and prevents inadvertent excess infusion of drugs into the patient.

In 2010, Hospira Inc. partnered with Smith Medical to market and promote various infusion pumps. The companies collaborated in order to co-promote Hospira’s Symbiq and Plum A+ general infusion pumps along with its Hospira MedNet safety software. The venture also promoted Smith Medical’s Medfusion syringe pumps with the PharmGuard Medication Safety Software.

For more Information @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/infusion-pumps-market 

More Insights on the Infusion Pumps Market Report

A recent market study published by FMI on the ophthalmic lasers market includes the global industry analysis of 2015-2021 & opportunity assessment for 2022-2030, and delivers a comprehensive assessment of the most important market dynamics.

The report incorporates an unbiased analysis of the following segments: product type (syringe pumps, ambulatory pumps, volumetric pumps, implantable pumps, insulin pumps, enteral pumps, PCA pumps and pump accessories), application (chemotherapy/oncology, pediatrics/neonatology, analgesia, gastroenterology, hematology and diabetes), end-user (hospitals, ambulatory surgical centers, homecare, clinics and others) and region (North America, Latin America, Europe, MEA, East Asia, South Asia and Oceania).

Key Segments:

By Product Type:

Syringe Pumps

Ambulatory Pumps

Volumetric Pumps

Peristaltic

Cassette/Piston

Implantable Pumps

Insulin Pumps

Enteral Pumps

PCA Pumps

Pump Accessories

By Application:

Chemotherapy/Oncology

Pediatrics/Neonatology

Analgesia

Gastroenterology

Hematology

Diabetes

By End User:

Hospitals

Ambulatory Surgical Centers

Home Care

Clinics

Others