Author: Colin Henderson

Progress in era of productivity
Risk

Japan Issued Its First ‘Megaquake’ Warning After Powerful Tremor

Colin Henderson

Bloomberg) — An earthquake off the coast of Japan’s southern island of Kyushu prompted the government to issue its first-ever warning for a megaquake from an undersea trough running along a swath of the country’s coast.  Prime Minister Fumio Kishida called off a planned trip to Central Asia out of an abundance of caution following the warning. Bullet trains were running at reduced speeds, national broadcaster NHK is running cautionary graphics and some semiconductor-related factories temporarily halted production. Some beaches in the affected regions have been closed off for the time being, according to local reports.  A megaquake in what’s … Continue reading Japan Issued Its First ‘Megaquake’ Warning After Powerful Tremor

Geopolitics

America’s Anti-Terror Exit From Niger – WSJ

Colin Henderson

http://www.wsj.com/opinion/u-s-troops-leave-niger-biden-administration-sahel-russia-iran-5addf27d America’s Anti-Terror Exit From Niger – WSJ The U.S. had invested some $110 million in Air Base 201. The Sahel has become a global center of terrorism, and the U.S. drone base conducted intelligence-gathering and reconnaissance missions. Niger’s ruling junta has also expelled some 1,500 French troops.  The U.S. withdrawal is also creating opportunities for Iran. Senior Nigerien officials have led repeated delegations to Tehran in the past year. The U.S. has raised concerns about Iran gaining access to Niger’s abundant uranium reserves. Several recent reports in the French press have suggested Iran may seek 300 tons of refined … Continue reading America’s Anti-Terror Exit From Niger – WSJ

AI

Why Nvidia Is Still the Undisputed King of AI

Colin Henderson

Nvidia, like Apple, shows that if you want to become a giant, you’ve got to be as good at software as you are at hardware Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang. PHOTO: ANNABELLE CHIH/BLOOMBERG NEWS By Christopher Mims Aug. 9, 2024 at 9:00 pm ET Listen to article Length (9 minutes) Nvidia is famous for building AI chips, but its most important construction is a business bulwark that keeps customers in and competitors out. This barrier is made as much of software as it is of silicon. Over the past two decades, Nvidia has created what is known in tech as a “walled garden,” not unlike the one … Continue reading Why Nvidia Is Still the Undisputed King of AI

Economy

Morgan Stanley – preventative care vs sick care – growth impacts

Colin Henderson

Our Head of Europe Sustainability Research discusses how rising longevity is revolutionizing our fundamental approach from reactive to proactive treatment.—– Transcript —–Welcome to Thoughts on the Market. I’m Mike Canfield, Morgan Stanley’s European Head of Sustainability Research. Along with my colleagues, we’re bringing you a variety of perspectives; and today we’re focusing on a topic that affects everyone – how much does poor health cost us? And how are ageing populations and longer life expectancy driving a fundamental shift in healthcare? It’s Thursday, August the 8th, at 4pm in London.   As populations age across the developed world, health systems need to help … Continue reading Morgan Stanley – preventative care vs sick care – growth impacts

AI

Embedded finance marks a shift of traditional financial services

Colin Henderson

Embedded #finance is a fairly simple concept that can however become quite complex when looking at it from a business model and an industry opportunity perspective. Let me try to simplify. Embedded finance marks the shift of traditional financial services transitioning and integrating into the new economy, the so-called open economy. This transition is dominated by a few key drivers: — It completely revamps the traditional value chain, redefining the role of existing actors and introducing new ones — It drastically changes how customers consume financial services, across 3 axes: the how (new distribution channels), the when (24/7 vs specific time windows) … Continue reading Embedded finance marks a shift of traditional financial services

Geopolitics

DUBAI—Hamas’s elevation of the Oct. 7 attacks’ architect, Yahya Sinwar, as its leader cements the militant group’s strategic ties to Iran, signaling a united front between Tehran and its axis of militias in a conflict with Israel and the U.S.

Colin Henderson

Sinwar put to rest the debate in the hours after the previous Hamas political leader, Ismail Haniyeh, was killed in a Tehran apartment under Iranian military guard. When members of the group gathered to select a replacement, Sinwar—believed to be in hiding in a Gaza tunnel—interrupted the deliberations with a message: The new leader must be someone close to Iran, said Arab and Hamas officials familiar with the matter. Iran has supported Hamas with funds and training in recent years, but the relationship between Tehran’s Shiite Muslim clerics and Gaza’s Sunni Muslim militants was historically fraught with tension. Tehran split with Hamas over its support … Continue reading DUBAI—Hamas’s elevation of the Oct. 7 attacks’ architect, Yahya Sinwar, as its leader cements the militant group’s strategic ties to Iran, signaling a united front between Tehran and its axis of militias in a conflict with Israel and the U.S.

AI

Microsoft, Palantir Team Up to Sell AI to US Defense, Intelligence Agencies

Colin Henderson

By Dina Bass and Lizette Chapman August 8, 2024 at 6:59 AM EDT Microsoft Corp. and Palantir Technologies Inc. are combining their government cloud-computing and artificial intelligence tools in a bid to sell software, including OpenAI’s GPT-4, to US defense and intelligence agencies for top-secret tasks. As part of the agreement, Palantir will integrate its products with Microsoft’s Azure cloud services for government customers, including tools meant for confidential use, and will adopt Microsoft’s Azure OpenAI service inside these secretive clouds. The combination of products will let US defense workers handle tasks like logistics, contracting and action planning, the two companies said Thursday in a statement.  … Continue reading Microsoft, Palantir Team Up to Sell AI to US Defense, Intelligence Agencies

Geopolitics

Ukraine’s Push Into Russia Is a Surprising Turn in the War

Colin Henderson

The local government in the Russian region of Kursk declared a state of emergency as military analysts reported that Ukrainian forces had advanced several miles across the border. Listen to this article · 10:03 min Learn more By Andrew E. Kramer Reporting from Kyiv, Ukraine Aug. 8, 2024Updated 4:08 p.m. ET After months of losing ground to Russia in brutal, grinding battles in Ukraine, Kyiv shifted tactics with a surprise attack into Russian territory this week that caught Moscow off guard and opened a new front in the 30-month war. Ukrainian forces have punched through Russian border defenses and seized several settlements in fighting … Continue reading Ukraine’s Push Into Russia Is a Surprising Turn in the War

Data-Framework

4 Essential Steps to Enhance Your Organization’s Data Capabilities: A Roadmap for Success

Colin Henderson

Data sits at the core of any modern organization. It drives key decisions, shapes strategies, and ultimately determines success. Yet, for many companies, data remains underutilized, and its full potential untapped. Silos of information sit fragmented across departments and systems, critical insights lay buried, and opportunities are missed. It doesn’t need to be this way. With a data maturity assessment, a clear roadmap, and a commitment to building capabilities, any organization can transform how it leverages one of its most valuable assets – data. We’ve outlined a 4-step approach to enhance your data capabilities and maximize the business value of … Continue reading 4 Essential Steps to Enhance Your Organization’s Data Capabilities: A Roadmap for Success

Geopolitics

US-China Rivalry Is Destabilizing the Middle East

Colin Henderson

Beijing’s support has emboldened Iran and made the region more volatile. Minxin PeiAugust 6, 2024 at 5:00 PM EDT Reducing America’s footprint in the Middle East to focus on China is one of President Joe Biden’s top geopolitical priorities. But extricating itself from the region has proven much harder than he might have thought. As a major regional war looms on the horizon, a deeper, although indirect, cause of the recent downward spiral in the Middle East is the global contagion of the Sino-American rivalry. Most importantly, America’s pivot to East Asia has changed Iran’s strategic calculus, while Beijing’s response … Continue reading US-China Rivalry Is Destabilizing the Middle East