Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Qantas has picked Airbus jets to fly its ultra-long haul routes, dealing a blow to rival plane maker Boeing. The airline selected the A350-1000 for its planned non-stop Sydney to London service, which would be the world's longest commercial flight. Qantas also delayed a final decision on whether to begin those, and other long haul services, until March 2020.Still, the win for Airbus comes as Boeing deals with the grounding of its 737 Max fleet after two deadly crashes. Qantas has been testing the ultra-long haul flights as part of its "Project Sunrise" plan. Two years ago, the airline challenged the world's two biggest plane makers to design passenger jets for the project that could fly in excess of 10,500 miles (17,000km), which means being in the air for up to 20 hours.
Source: https://www.bbc.com/news/business-50753718
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Mercedes-Benz is putting off the U.S. debut of its first electric vehicle by a year in the latest sign of just how difficult a time automakers are having replicating Tesla Inc.’s success. Daimler AG’s luxury brand will start sales of the EQC crossover in 2021 rather than early next year. The German carmaker said in an emailed statement that it’s made the strategic decision to first support growing demand for the model in Europe, where deliveries began earlier this year.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-12-13/mercedes-delays-electric-debut-after-jaguar-and-audi-suvs-flop
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Eco-friendly meatless food products shook up the fast food industry in 2019. Experts say next year's game-changing trend in sustainable consumer goods may be plant-based or "vegan" athletic shoes. Last week, Reebok, owned by Adidas (ADDDF) since 2005, unveiled the design for its first plant-based running shoe, the Float ride GROW, which is expected to hit store shelves in the fall of 2020. The upper part of the shoe is made primarily from eucalyptus. Its soles are made from castor beans and natural rubber. The scheduled debut comes two years after Reebok started selling a "vegan" version of its famed Newport (NP) Classic shoes made with cotton and corn. The more sustainable version of the NP Classics are "lifestyle" footwear not designed for athletic performance.
Source: https://edition.cnn.com/2019/12/14/business/plant-shoe-vegan/index.html
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
More than 20 million commercial and residential buildings are featured on Google Maps in the Middle East and North Africa. According to Amanda Bishop, product manager Google Maps, more than 1.2 million businesses from the MENA region have been added to the platform this year alone. She said: “The rapid pace of urbanization and development in MENA has pushed us to use new techniques to provide an accurate representation of the real world.” Bishop also revealed that over 200,000km of roads in the region have been added to Google Maps.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/technology/435281-more-than-12-million-mena-businesses-added-to-google-maps-this-year
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Softbank Vision Fund has invested an additional $200 million in Indian digital payments company Paytm, the company has said. Softbank Vision Fund’s investment is part of a $1 billion raised by Paytm in its latest round of fund raising, valuing the Indian start-up at $16 billion. US asset manager T Rowe Price, and other existing investors such as Ant Financial and Discovery Capial, are the other funds which have participated in the latest round of fund raising by Paytm. This is the largest amount raised by an Indian startup this year.
Source: www.arabianbusiness.com/banking-finance/434167-softbanks-vision-fund-pumps-in-additional-200-million-in-paytm
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Ciel, The First Group’s project currently under development in Dubai Marina, will become the world's tallest hotel when it opens by early 2023. The 82-level Ciel in Dubai Marina, which will be four meters taller than the emirate's current title holder, the Gevora on Sheikh Zayed Road, has outshone rivals to claim the top prize in three major categories at the prestigious 2019 International Property Awards. Designed by architectural firm, Norr, Ciel will reach a height of 360.4 meters and will house 1,209 luxury suites and serviced residences upon completion, First Group said in a statement.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/travel-hospitality/435405-new-dubai-hotel-to-become-worlds-tallest-by-2023
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
PillPack, the Internet pharmacy that Amazon acquired in 2018, has updated its logo and other paperwork to include a new “Amazon Pharmacy” brand, and sources say its CEO has been promoted to vice president within Amazon. Specifically, the group’s branding has changed from “PillPack, an Amazon company” to “PillPack by Amazon Pharmacy.” It’s the first public reference to Amazon Pharmacy, an entity that many analysts expect will eventually do more than mail delivery of medicines through PillPack.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/15/amazon-pharmacy-brand-comes-to-pillpack-ceo-tj-parker-promoted.html
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
The Mustang Mach-E is a groundbreaking vehicle for Ford Motorthat marks the beginning of a new-generation of all-electric vehicles and the first time the iconic name has been used on anything but a two-door pony car. Ford is betting the Mustang name will resonate with consumers and assist the company’s first all-electric SUV in standing out in an increasingly crowded field. It’s a bold decision that could dilute the Mustang name if unsuccessful. There’s also chance of political backlash since the vehicle is being produced in Mexico and imported to the U.S.
Source: https://www.cnbc.com/2019/11/15/ford-bets-on-mustangs-reputation-with-mexico-made-mach-e-suv.html
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Airbus SE Chief Executive Officer Guillaume Faury said the latest Brexit deal between Britain and European Union should pave the way for the aerospace giant to carry on making plane wings in the U.K. The British division, which employs 14,000 people and supports 110,000 supplier jobs, is “very competitive” and will remain a focus for wing production so long as a no-deal split is avoided, Faury said in an interview.
Source: https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2019-11-15/airbus-chief-pledges-to-stay-in-u-k-if-brexit-deal-goes-through
Dr. Ajith Kumar V.V
Saudi Arabia needs “over 1 million people” to work in the tourism sector if it hopes to achieve its goal of attracting 100 million visitors by 2030, according to Red Sea Development Company CEO John Pagano. Speaking at the Misk Global Forum in Riyadh on Wednesday, Pagano that volume of workers “doesn’t exist” at the moment. In the case of the Red Sea Project – which is expected to create 70,000 new jobs, the development company has launched scholarships for students to study international hospitality management overseas. The Red Sea Project alone is expected to create 70,000 new jobs in the tourism sector.
Source: https://www.arabianbusiness.com/travel-hospitality/433233-saudi-arabia-needs-1m-workers-in-tourism-sector-says-red-sea-development-co-ceo