All posts by Neel Achary

ESCP Business School has announced the appointment of Professor Cédric Denis-Rémis as Executive Vice-President of Executive Education and Corporate Relations, and Dean of ESCP School of Technology, effective February 23. He will report to Léon Laulusa, Executive President and Dean of ESCP Business School, and will serve as a member of the Executive Committee.
 
A graduate of École des Mines de Paris, Cédric Denis-Rémis holds a PhD and a Habilitation to (Supervise) Direct Research (HDR). He has built his career at the intersection of technological innovation, entrepreneurship, and higher education. He previously served as Vice-President of PSL University, where he oversaw development, innovation, entrepreneurship, and Executive Education. Prior to that, as Deputy Director of Mines Paris–PSL, he founded and directed the Institute of Higher Education in Innovation and Entrepreneurship (IHEIE).
 
He has also led several international academic initiatives, particularly in China, where he served as European Executive Director of the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy (ICARE), and later as Dean of the Shanghai JiaoTong–ParisTech Institute of Technology.
 
Deeply involved in disruptive technologies and defence topics, he was head of the French Ministry of the Armed Forces’ Red Team Defence programme. In 2018, he created the Specialised Master’s degree in DeepTech Entrepreneurship and Innovation at Mines Paris–PSL and developed two investment funds between PSL and Elaia that have invested in more than 40 deeptech companies.
 
Author of approximately sixty publications, his research focuses on the intersection of risk management and innovation management. He is also co-founder of Zénon, a think tank dedicated to climate technologies, and serves as a member of the French Defence Procurement Council.
 
By entrusting him with Executive Education, Corporate Relations, and the launch of the School of Technology, ESCP accelerates its 2026–2030 strategic plan to transform its educational model and prepare future leaders with the hybrid skills required to address the major challenges of the 21st century.
 
The ESCP School of Technology will welcome its first cohort in September 2027. The school will train students at the intersection of technological expertise, strategic vision, and managerial responsibility.

“In a context where technologies are profoundly transforming business models and skills, we need leaders capable of bridging innovation, academic excellence, and the corporate world. The appointment of Cédric Denis-Rémis fully aligns with this ambition and will contribute to the implementation of our Bold & United strategic plan,” says Professor Léon Laulusa, Dean and Executive President of ESCP Business School. 

“The convergence of management and technology has become essential. Throughout my career, I have worked at this interface, in close collaboration with academic and industry stakeholders. Joining ESCP today means contributing to a European academic project that places this convergence at the heart of its development,” says Cédric Denis-Rémis, Executive Vice-President in charge of Executive Education and Corporate Relations and Dean of ESCP School of Technology.

The creation of the ESCP School of Technology in 2027 marks the first major milestone of the Bold & United strategic plan. This plan also includes the creation of the ESCP School of Governance in 2029, completing ESCP’s ambition to establish itself as the first European University of Management by 2030.

After losing family members to chronic conditions, including his father, Ilker Hacihaliloglu decided something needed to be done to ensure that preventable diseases are discovered early rather than too late. His innovation, developed at Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey, became the company PONS, which seeks to give families “the precious gift of time.”

Hacihaliloglu, PhD, MSc, conceived of PONS’ technology during his tenure as a faculty member in the Department of Biomedical Engineering at Rutgers. He is currently an associate professor in the Departments of Radiology and Medicine at the University of British Columbia. The software enhances ultrasound images using advanced, physics-guided processing, improving image quality and standardizing structural representation across devices. By enabling effective data scaling and extraction of quantitative features, it provides clinicians with richer, more reliable information to support earlier disease detection and more accurate diagnostic assessment.

“Our ultimate goal was, and is, to be able to identify diseases at an earlier stage, like chronic conditions,” said Hacihaliloglu. “We believe that nobody should lose their loved ones to preventable diseases. The sooner we catch a disease, the sooner we can begin treatment, and the better the chances are of a successful outcome.”

Hacihaliloglu believes that PONS’ technology addresses three areas within healthcare that prevent earlier detection of diseases. For him, the primary reason is that many patients are not monitored frequently enough, often once a year or longer, and most of the testing takes place either at a hospital or as part of their regular checkup. He says there are three ways for patients to be scanned in a more decentralized care setting.

“Many leading research hospitals now operate hospital-at-home programs and are actively working to integrate imaging into these decentralized care models,” said Hacihaliloglu. “We’re seeing mobile mammography units traveling through cities, handheld ultrasound devices that connect to smartphones or tablets, and portable X-ray machines designed for bedside or community use. The challenge, however, is that portability often comes at the expense of image quality. Smaller hardware platforms, limited processing capacity, and constrained acquisition environments can reduce resolution and signal clarity, making subtle findings harder to detect.”

Among these portable technologies, point-of-care ultrasound (POCUS) stands out as the only widely available, non-radiation–based imaging modality suitable for repeated bedside and community use. This makes it especially attractive for hospital-at-home programs and longitudinal monitoring. According to Hacihaliloglu, however, ultrasound image quality can vary significantly depending on the device, operator experience, and acquisition conditions. Historically, ultrasound has often been used as a secondary imaging tool to confirm a diagnosis rather than to detect early-stage disease. When image quality is suboptimal, subtle structural changes associated with early pathology may be missed, limiting its potential as a frontline diagnostic tool.

The challenge becomes even more complex when artificial intelligence is introduced into clinical workflows. Effective AI models require large-scale, diverse, and high-quality datasets—often involving data from thousands or even millions of patients across different regions and healthcare systems. In practice, assembling datasets of that magnitude is costly, time-consuming, and frequently infeasible, particularly in decentralized settings where device variability further complicates data consistency.

Hacihaliloglu believes PONS addresses these interconnected challenges by enhancing image quality, harmonizing data across devices, and enabling scalable data expansion. By improving structural clarity and standardizing imaging inputs, the technology strengthens diagnostic confidence, supports earlier disease detection, and enables more reliable AI-driven analysis across diverse care environments.

“PONS’ technology features a navigation system that we have developed so that the caregiver or nurse who has to collect data outside of a hospital setting can see where to move the probe, the transfuser, to a correct location to collect clinically acceptable data,” said Hacihaliloglu.

The technology also addresses the issue of quality within the field of medical imaging by “enhancing and improving image quality and providing advanced features in Ultrasound and point-of-care ultrasound,” according to their latest publication with the MAYO clinic where they validated the technology on 62,912 breast ultrasound scans collected from 688 patients. Their study showed that AI models trained on PONS’ enhanced data achieved a 64% improvement in diagnostic accuracy.

“For example, our technology can reveal small changes in a tumor that are very difficult to see on a standard ultrasound image. By making the structure and edges of a tumor clearer, it helps radiologists better understand its size and shape, which could lead to faster and more accurate diagnoses,” said Hacihaliloglu. “We believe this is crucial because the workload of radiologists right now, in general healthcare workers, is a large issue; they are overwhelmed, and the hospitals are crowded. Any solution that makes the workload more efficient is an advantage to both medical professionals and their patients.”

PONS’ technology not only enhances the image quality, but also the data, allowing for a scale-up of data sets by up to 50, which Hacihaliloglu believes will help develop generalizable AI solutions that are not biased toward race or data collection.

“PONS is filling a gap that is missing in the healthcare ecosystem, which is improving the quality of ultrasound data and scaling the size of the data,” said Hacihaliloglu. “What’s more, our technology is a software solution that works on any ultrasound machine, so it’s not tied to a specific vendor, and we have done other studies as well that show PONS’ technology enhances other imaging modalities such as X-Ray or Mammography.”

PONS was named after the region of the brain that connects the midbrain to the spinal cord—reflecting the company’s original focus on traumatic brain injury. In Latin, pons means “bridge,” a name that, Hacihaliloglu says, also captures the company’s broader mission to bring high-quality ultrasound imaging to communities and decentralized care settings. The company was founded by Hacihaliloglu and his twin brother, Soner, who serves as CEO. PONS is based in Newark and currently employs a team of eight.

“The technology developed by Dr. Hacihaliloglu has the potential to help make preventable diseases even more so,” said Deborah Perez Fernandez, PhD, MBA, executive director of the Technology Transfer unit within the Office for Research, which negotiated the license with PONS. “Our team has supported Dr. Hacihaliloglu through the patenting and licensing of his technology, and we are excited to see the positive impact it will make on the medical profession.”

“PONS is a fantastic company, based on technology that was developed here at Rutgers and has the potential to have a major impact on the world,” said Vince Smeraglia, JD, executive director of New Ventures, the team within the Office for Research that supports companies that arise from innovations developed at Rutgers. “We were proud to award Dr. Hacihaliloglu with a TechAdvance® grant in 2019, and we continue to work with Dr. Hacihaliloglu and his brother Soner to help the company grow and expand.”

“In the United States, there are a lot of regions which we call healthcare deserts, where the nearest hospital is two or three hours away,” said Hacihaliloglu. “Our technology is suitable for providing high-quality imaging to people in those areas, underserved minority groups and underrepresented groups. Because our technology is portable, it lends itself to a more decentralized care system, and we are very proud of that.”

PONS is currently advancing its technology through an NIH-funded SBIR Phase I study aimed at improving diagnostic accuracy for early-stage liver disease. The project is being conducted in close collaboration with clinicians and researchers at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital and the Rutgers Cancer Institute, with Professor David Foran serving as the lead Rutgers site Principal Investigator.

Mar 6: Using the advanced MIMO test capabilities of the CMP180 radio communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. successfully completed comprehensive validation and performance testing of its advanced 5×5 radio technology designed for its latest Wi-Fi 8 networking platforms. As a result, Rohde & Schwarz now offers pre-built test routines for its test platform.
 

 The CMP180 validates Wi-Fi 8 features including 5×5 MIMO.

Qualcomm Technologies has used the CMP180 radio communication tester from Rohde & Schwarz to validate advanced multi-antenna capabilities that are designed into its next-generation Wi-Fi 8 platforms, including support for 5×5 MIMO in the 2.4, 5 and 6 GHz band. Advanced 5×5 MIMO architectures help Wi‑Fi 8 platforms deliver higher capacity and more reliable connectivity across a wider range of real‑world deployment scenarios.

The industry leading CMP180 delivers full bandwidth and seamless scalability for testing leading Wi Fi 8 chipsets across the entire device lifecycle — from development to production. As a result of this collaboration, Rohde & Schwarz now offers pre built test routines and early access to key resources, enabling device manufacturers to accelerate time to market of their products.

Wi-Fi 8, based on the IEEE 802.11bn specification, builds on the foundation of Wi-Fi 7 to deliver next-level reliability, efficiency and seamless mobility. New PHY and MAC layer technologies work together to extend range, improve spectrum utilization, reduce latency and enable coordinated access across dense environments, setting the stage for ultra-high reliability (UHR) performance. Advanced antenna architectures such as 5×5 MIMO help enhance spatial efficiency and link robustness and provide a more consistent performance in real-world environments.

This new feature set of Wi-Fi 8 will accelerate the wireless LAN performance at home, in offices, venues and factories and enable applications like extended reality (XR), AI-assisted applications, real-time cloud gaming and ultra-high-definition content streaming. To realize these benefits, test equipment must support all bands, full channel bandwidths, multi-antenna operation (MIMO) and deliver best-in-class measurement accuracy at benchmarking test efficiency. Rohde & Schwarz has designed the CMP180 radio communication tester with these capabilities in mind.

The CMP180 enables Qualcomm Technologies to validate essential features of its latest Wi-Fi innovation, including:
• 5×5 MIMO performance to further improve maximum data throughput per link
• Advanced modulation and coding schemes that enable fine grained adaptation to real time radio conditions.
• Distributed-tone resource units to improve uplink performance under regulatory limits.

Goce Talaganov, Vice President Mobile Radio Testers at Rohde & Schwarz, said: “We are excited to strengthen our long-time collaboration with Qualcomm Technologies to provide a unique testing solution for the next area of Wi-Fi innovations. The CMP180’s advanced features and our close collaboration will empower device manufacturers to bring innovative Wi-Fi 8 products to market quickly and confidently.”

Ganesh Swaminathan, Vice President and General Manager, Wireless Infrastructure and Networking, Qualcomm Technologies, Inc. said: “Qualcomm Technologies’ Wi-Fi 8 portfolio is engineered to deliver next level performance, reliability and scalability across a broad range of networking use cases. As part of this portfolio approach, we are advancing innovations such as higher order MIMO to help increase performance in real world environments. Our collaboration with Rohde & Schwarz highlights the progress of these capabilities as the Wi-Fi 8 ecosystem builds momentum.”

Ponda, Mar 6:  The vibrant statewide celebrations of Shigmotsav 2026 commenced with great enthusiasm in Ponda on March 5, marking the beginning of a spectacular cultural journey that will unfold across 19 centres over 14 days. The grand Shigmotsav parade, organised by the Ponda Taluka Antruz Shigmotsav Samiti in association with the Department of Tourism, Government of Goa, began from Tisk-Ponda and witnessed an overwhelming response from locals and visitors alike.

 The parade featured traditional Romtamel performances, captivating folk dances, vibrant fancy dress presentations, and creatively designed floats that reflected Goa’s rich traditions and mythological narratives. The streets came alive with colour, rhythm, and community participation as artists from across the Goa showcased their talent.

The inaugural celebration was graced by Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr. Pramod Sawant; Hon’ble Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, Shri Shripad Naik; Hon’ble Minister for Tourism, Shri Rohan A. Khaunte; Hon’ble Member of Rajya Sabha Shri Sadanand Shet Tanavade; President, BJP Goa Pradesh Shri Damu Naik; NRI commissioner Shri Narendra Sawaikar; Former Rajya Sabha Member Shri Vinay Tendulkar; Director of Tourism Shri Kedar Naik, along with other dignitaries who extended their encouragement to participating troupes and organisers.

The shigmotsav parade commenced with Zareshwar Shigmotsav Mandal’s Romtamel, presented by a group of specially abled participants, setting an inspiring tone for the celebrations.

Addressing the gathering, Hon’ble Chief Minister Dr Pramod Sawant highlighted that Shigmo remains one of Goa’s most cherished cultural festivals, offering a significant platform for local artists and traditional performers. While remembering former Agriculture Minister and MLA Ponda, late Shri Ravi Naik, said that the celebration which was earlier started in Ponda (Antruz Mahal) has today grown into a festival celebrated on a much larger scale. He noted that Shri Ravi Naik had initiated efforts to take Shigmotsav across Goa so that the festival could be celebrated widely and also contribute to strengthening the tourism sector. He added that the festival reflects the unity of the people of Goa and highlighted the vision of a clean and beautiful Goa, stating that just as people take pride in preserving their art and traditions, there is an equal responsibility to protect and care for the land of Goa.

Hon’ble Union Minister of State for New and Renewable Energy, Government of India, Shri Shripad Naik congratulated all the participating groups for their dedication to preserving the traditions of Shigmo, noting that their hard work and commitment keep Goa’s cultural heritage alive. He said the groups put in immense effort to present the festival, and people gather to witness it in a spirit of mutual respect and appreciation. He also assured that the government stands firmly with them in their efforts to preserve and carry forward these traditions.

Speaking on the occasion, the Tourism Minister Shri Rohan Khaunte stated that Shigmotsav reflects the essence of Goa’s traditions, art forms, and storytelling legacy. With the Goa Beyond Beaches initiative started in 2022, we have focused on promoting cultural and spiritual tourism as well. Under the Ekadasha Teertha initiative, eleven temples across Goa have been identified to highlight the state’s rich spiritual heritage. Our aim is to present the true essence of Goa to visitors. We have also scaled up festivals such as Chikhal Kalo, Shigmo and Veerbhadra so that international tourists can experience Goan culture and traditions in their authentic form. He also announced that this year the infrastructure grant provided to Shigmostav committees has been increased by ₹1 lakh.

The Shigmotsav parades will continue across Goa in the coming days, bringing vibrant celebrations to different towns. After Ponda on March 5, the festivities will move to Calangute on March 6 and Panaji on March 7. The celebrations will then take over Mapusa on March 8 and Curchorem on March 9, followed by Bicholim on March 10 and Sanquelim on March 11. On March 12, the parades will be held at Shiroda and Sanguem, while Dharbandora and Cuncolim will host the celebrations on March 13. The vibrant procession will then reach Margao on March 14, followed by Vasco and Porvorim on March 15. The festivities will continue in Valpoi on March 16, Pernem and Quepem on March 17, and will culminate in Mandrem and Canacona on March 18.

The Department of Tourism invites citizens and visitors to immerse themselves in the festivities and witness the grandeur of one of Goa’s most significant cultural celebrations.

Bengaluru, Mar 06: CheerioAI, an AI-powered all-in-one customer engagement platform focused on optimizing the CAC-to-LTV equation, has raised ₹8 crore in a Seed funding round led by Artha Venture Fund II (AVF II). The round also saw participation from Hyderabad Angels, TiE Angels, LetsVenture, VC Mint, Invention Engine, and notable angel investors including Arjun Vaidya, Anand Shahni (WedMeGood), Vivek Mathur (ex-Elevation Capital), Ajeet Khurana, along with early customers such as Habuild and Nitin Verma (InstaAstro).

 The funding will be used to develop multi-modal AI capabilities, including a proprietary small-model LLM for ad generation, expand CheerioAI’s platform from messaging into voice and video, scale AI-driven automation, and strengthen enterprise-grade capabilities to help businesses drive higher engagement, faster growth, and improved ROI while ensuring security and compliance.

CheerioAI’s revenue has grown 450% year-on-year over the past two years. Over the next six months, the company plans to expand its team across engineering, AI, enterprise sales, and customer success to support scaling and global expansion.

Speaking on the announcement, Nishant Das, Co-founder of CheerioAI, said:

“Avinash, Priam, and I are thrilled to partner with Artha and our co-investors. This investment strongly validates our vision and will help us deepen our AI-driven automation capabilities while accelerating expansion into the enterprise segment. At CheerioAI, we envision a future where businesses operate with just three employees — the business founder, the technology founder, and CheerioAI. This funding is a crucial step toward making that vision a reality.”

CheerioAI addresses a major challenge faced by modern enterprises — fragmented communication across multiple digital channels, which often leads to inconsistent customer experiences, higher churn, and operational inefficiencies. The platform unifies marketing, support, and sales workflows across WhatsApp, email, SMS, social messaging, and in-app communication, enabling businesses to automate customer engagement and improve lifetime value.

Commenting on the investment, Anirudh A. Damani, Managing Partner at Artha Venture Fund, said:

“Our decision to invest in CheerioAI is anchored in our strong conviction around the long-term opportunity this team is building. As enterprises operate across an increasingly complex set of digital channels, customer retention and lifetime value optimization have become mission critical. Cheerio’s AI-native approach to orchestrating customer engagement positions it to become a category-defining platform.”

He further added that the round received strong ecosystem validation, with the opportunity referred by one of Artha’s LPs and additional investments coming from founders within its portfolio.

Varun Aggarwal, Founder of Change Engine at Invention Engine, said:

“At Invention Engine, we stand behind exceptional founders taking bold product bets that reshape enterprise workflows. Cheerio’s team demonstrated both ambition and execution, and we believe their AI-led approach to customer engagement will redefine how enterprises drive retention and lifetime value.”

Currently, CheerioAI works with 150+ enterprise customers across six industries and has generated over ₹500 crore in additional revenue for its clients through intelligent retention automation. With growing demand for scalable AI-driven engagement solutions, the company aims to become the default platform for customer lifecycle orchestration, enabling businesses to transform fragmented interactions into seamless, outcome-driven engagements.

Looking ahead, CheerioAI plans to expand its AI capabilities across automation, agentic workflows, and performance optimization, while maintaining a modular architecture that can integrate with evolving AI models. The company aims to empower enterprises globally by automating the majority of customer touchpoints, improving retention, and maximizing lifetime value.

Mar 6, Bonn / Campo Grande – An interim report which provides an update to the landmark State of the World’s Migratory Species (2024) warns that 49% of migratory species populations conserved by the global UN treaty are declining, (5% more in just two years), and 24% of species face extinction (2% more).

The new warnings are set to be presented to the 15th Meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS COP15), a legally binding treaty of the United Nations, in Campo Grande Brazil 23-29 March.

The week-long COP is one of the most important global meetings for wildlife conservation. With high-level political attention from host-country Brazil, the meeting is set to tackle an ambitious set of actions addressing a vital aspect of the global biodiversity crisis.

Billions of individual aquatic, avian, and terrestrial wild animals migrate across lands, rivers, oceans and skies. They are essential to the well-functioning of nature and to human well-being, pollinating plants, transporting nutrients, regulating ecosystems, controlling pests, storing carbon and sustaining livelihoods and cultures worldwide.

Their survival depends on coordinated action across the full length of their migratory routes, which can cross multiple national borders and even continents.

Developed for CMS by the UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC) and other contributors, the interim report tracks significant changes in the conservation status of migratory species and highlights emerging trends to provide new information focusing on:

• Recent significant changes in the conservation status of species listed under the Convention on Migratory Species (CMS-listed) since the 2024 baseline, based on data from the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.
• Newly reported population trends and changes in extinction risk documented in the scientific literature.

The report also underlines encouraging developments:

• Advances in mapping of migratory pathways to inform decision-making. Initiatives to map migrations are gathering momentum. This includes those spotlighted in the report – the Global Initiative on Ungulate Migration (GIUM), the Migratory Connectivity in the Ocean (MiCO) system, and BirdLife International’s work to identify and map six major marine flyways.
• Progress in identifying and safeguarding important habitats and migratory corridors.
• Recovery of some species through coordinated action.

Other key findings:

• 26 CMS-listed species, including 18 migratory shorebirds, have moved to higher extinction risk categories.
• 7 CMS-listed species have improved, including the saiga antelope, scimitar-horned oryx, and Mediterranean monk seal.
• 9,372 Key Biodiversity Areas (KBAs) important for CMS-listed species have been identified.
• 47% of the area covered by KBAs is not covered by protected and conserved areas.
• Progress has been made on filling gaps in knowledge on important habitats and migratory routes for sharks/rays and marine mammals, and new initiatives will identify areas for marine turtles.
• Despite some important successes, key indicators – such as the overall proportion of CMS-listed species with decreasing populations – are heading in the wrong direction.

The new report is based on the latest available data, including significant changes in conservation status, newly reported population trends, and recent progress in identifying and protecting critical habitats and migratory pathways.

This focused update provides Parties with the latest available evidence ahead of COP15 deliberations, helping to identify priority areas for action in advance of the next full report in 2029 at COP16.

Overexploitation, and habitat loss and fragmentation, are the two greatest threats to migratory species worldwide, notes CMS Executive Secretary Amy Fraenkel.

“The first global report was a wake-up call,” she said. “This interim update shows that the alarm is still sounding. Some species are responding to concerted conservation action, but too many continue to face mounting pressures across their migratory routes. We must respond to this evidence with coordinated and effective international action.”

The report underscores the need for action to improve the status of all migratory species listed on the Convention, but most urgently for the species listed on CMS Appendix I, where migratory species in danger of extinction throughout all or a significant portion of their range, are listed.

These 188 Appendix I species include terrestrial mammals (28), aquatic mammals (23), birds (103), reptiles (8), and fish (26).

Parties that are Range States to Appendix I-listed species are required to provide strict protection, including the prohibition of taking (such as hunting or capturing), protecting and restoring important habitats, and addressing obstacles that impede the species’ migration. Among other measures, a Global Initiative on Taking of Migratory Species (GTI) is expected to be launched at COP15. The new CMS-initiated initiative is designed to help governments, experts and local communities to ensure that any taking of migratory species is legal, sustainable and safe. It focuses on new findings that the threat of taking for domestic use is far greater than international trade.

“If we intervene only at the point of crisis, we risk acting too late,” said Fraenkel. “By strengthening governance, monitoring, legislation and community engagement upstream, we can reduce pressure on these remarkable animals and put them on the path to lasting recovery.”

Building on a landmark baseline

The 2024 State of the World’s Migratory Species report marked the first comprehensive global assessment of migratory animals, covering the 1,189 species listed at that time in CMS Appendices I and II and its analysis is linked to over 3,000 additional migratory species. It found that:

• 70 CMS-listed species had become more endangered over the previous three decades, compared to just 14 that improved in status.
• Migratory fish populations had declined by 90% on average since the 1970s and 97% of CMS-listed migratory fish species face extinction.
• More than half of Key Biodiversity Areas important for CMS-listed species lacked protected status.

The interim report update ensures that governments at CMS COP15 have the most current scientific picture before them.

“We have a baseline. We have better tools. And we have growing public awareness,” Fraenkel said. “The question before governments at COP15 is straightforward: will we match this knowledge with the political will and investment needed to secure the future of the world’s migratory species?”

Other key reports presented at COP15:

• Impacts of Deep-Sea Mining on Migratory Species: Review and Knowledge Gap

The study offers a thorough assessment of how deep-sea mining (1,000–6,000 meters) may impact key ocean species. Its findings reveal that sediment plumes and wastewater from mining can disrupt animal navigation, feeding, and prey availability, as well as introduce metal-contaminated particles into food webs. Other risks include habitat damage, more ship strikes, and persistent noise in sensitive marine environments.

Almost half of marine mammals covered by the Convention would be impacted. Other affected groups include sharks and rays, marine reptiles, seabirds and bony fish.

• Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes

Some of the longest, most important migrations of species on Earth are happening beneath the surface of the world’s rivers, and they face significant threats from overuse, fragmentation, and pollution. This report identifies 325 new candidate species that could benefit from being added to CMS Appendices.

◾ Pre-COP15 media briefing (Zoom)

Thursday 5 March | 10 am EST / 11 am AMT / 3 pm GMT / 4 pm CET

Registration required: https://bit.ly/cmscop15-media-briefing

An interactive media briefing on COP15 to elaborate on the scope, structure, objectives, and what to expect in terms of resources, events, interview opportunities and logistics.

• Amy Fraenkel, Executive Secretary, CMS
• Kelly Malsch, Head of Nature Conserved, UN Environment Programme World Conservation Monitoring Centre (UNEP-WCMC), and lead author, State of the World’s Migratory Species: Interim Report (2026)
• Zeb Hogan, CMS Scientific Councillor, and lead author, Global Assessment of Migratory Freshwater Fishes

◾ At a Glance: CMS and COP15

With some 100 agenda items, issues on the table at COP15 span a vast range and include deep-sea mining impacts, illegal and unsustainable take, bycatch, habitat loss and fragmentation, light, noise and other forms of marine pollution, vessel strikes, priority areas for conserving marine migratory species, safeguarding ecological connectivity and migratory corridors, infrastructure and renewable energy impacts, as well as insect decline, climate change and other cross-cutting risks.

The Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals is a legally binding international treaty under the United Nations. CMS is one of the most important global frameworks for wildlife conservation and plays a vital role in addressing the global biodiversity crisis.

By fostering international collaboration, supporting research, and developing conservation agreements and actions among the Range States in which these species are found, CMS ensures the long-term survival of migratory species of wild animals and their habitats, and the vital benefits they provide.

132 countries plus the European Union are Parties to CMS. In addition, several non-Party countries have signed one or more binding CMS Agreements to protect migratory species.

The Conference of the Parties (COP) is the governing body of CMS, which meets every 3 years to review progress, add new species under the Treaty, and strengthen actions to address conservation needs as well as continuing or emerging threats.

At COP15, governments, scientists, conservationists, indigenous peoples and local communities, environmental leaders, and civil society from around the world will address urgent conservation challenges facing migratory species that cross international boundaries.

Venue: Bosque Expo, Campo Grande, Brazil (bosquedosipes.com/bosque-expo) Dates: Monday 23 March to Sunday 29 March 2026 (Time zone: AMT – Amazon Standard Time UTC/GMT -4 hours) COP15 accreditation: https://bit.ly/cms-cop15-media-registration

International Women’s Day 2026: 4 Tips for Young Women Aspiring to Build a Career in Medicine, Inspired by SGU Women Doctors

Medicine demands resilience, compassion, and lifelong learning. For young women pursuing a medical career, success depends not only on academic excellence, but also on thoughtful planning, adaptability, and personal well-being.

 This International Women’s Day 2026, we celebrate women physicians who are shaping the future of healthcare and mentoring the next generation. Drawing on insights from women graduates of St. George’s University (SGU) School of Medicine, here are four practical tips to help aspiring women doctors build meaningful, sustainable careers.

1. Adopt a practical approach to work-life balance

Achieving work-life balance requires clear goals, disciplined planning, and self-awareness. Following structured schedules supports daily productivity, while making time for personal interests helps maintain mental well-being. These small, consistent breaks play a key role in preventing burnout and sustaining long-term success.

Reflecting on her personal journey,Nanditha Guruvaiah, MD ’23  shares, “Achieving the perfect work-life balance is something I’m still working on. I would credit my academic success to the fact that I knew what my goals were very early on, and I created multiple plans to make sure my goals came to fruition. I’m also a stickler for schedules and I try my best to complete my tasks for that day. On the other hand, I try to devote at least one hour a day to something other than studying that will make me happy like watching a TV show, going for a walk, or listening to an audiobook. This small but important habit goes a long way in avoiding burnout.”

2. Build a medical career that extends beyond clinical practice

While patient care remains central, many physicians find fulfillment by extending their impact beyond the clinic. Opportunities in public health, advocacy, research, and medical journalism allow doctors to address broader healthcare challenges and empower underserved communities.

Geraldine Nabeta, MD ’23reflects, “I aim to build a career focused on the health and human rights of underserved populations. Naturally, I want to practice medicine and participate in academic medicine, but I would also love to empower the health of communities globally via medical journalism.”

3. Develop career navigation skills early

A successful medical career requires strong organisational and planning skills. From managing exams to navigating applications and professional networks, early preparation helps aspiring physicians stay competitive and focused on long-term goals.

4. Think strategically about your career path

Women doctors emphasize that planning strategically helps aspiring physicians position themselves for meaningful opportunities, while staying adaptable to evolving interests and emerging fields in medicine.

As we recognize the achievements of women in medicine this International Women’s Day, their experiences offer valuable guidance for aspiring physicians ready to shape the future of healthcare. For more information on the programs and tracks available through SGU School of Medicine, visit SGU’s website. 

 

Taipei, Taiwan – Mar 6: AVer Information Inc., an award-winning provider of AI audio-video solutions, will exhibit at HIMSS 2026, March 9–12, 2026, at the Venetian Expo & Convention Center in Las Vegas, Nevada. In booth #4016, stand #12 at the Taiwan Medtech Pavilion, AVer will showcase its medical grade PTZ cameras, including the MD330UI and MD331UI, designed to support telemedicine, Tele-ICU, and remote patient monitoring workflows.

“HIMSS brings together healthcare technology leaders focused on practical solutions that improve the patient experience,” said Aaron Gaunt, Senior Product Manager for AVer Information Inc. USA. “Our medical grade PTZ cameras are built to give clinicians clearer visibility and reliable communication tools in telehealth and acute care environments.”

AVer will feature the MD330UI, a PTZ medical camera engineered to support detailed, real-time patient assessments. The MD330UI is IEC 60601-1-2 certified and delivers 30X optical zoom with 4K output resolution. The MD330UI’s detachable camera head allows clinicians to move between wide-angle room views and close-up examinations, supporting wound checks, skin inspections, and other detailed evaluations. Featuring integrated audio with noise reduction, fast autofocus, and one-button snapshot functionality, the MD330UI is designed to streamline remote consultations and clinical documentation.

The MD331UI will also be demonstrated as a flexible solution for Tele-ICU monitoring and telehealth carts. Equipped with 4K resolution, 30X zoom, and remote control functionality, the MD331UI enables clinicians to capture detailed patient images from multiple angles. The MD331UI includes an embedded audio system with omni and directional microphones, a 10W speakerphone and noise reduction to support clear communication between care teams and patients.

AVer’s medical grade cameras are compatible with secure telehealth platforms, including VSee, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and RingCentral, enabling integration into existing healthcare IT infrastructures. The MD330UI and MD331UI are designed to support physicians, nurses, and telehealth providers across hospitals, intensive care units, outpatient clinics, and home health environments.

 

 

 

London, Mar 6: In 2025, studying abroad became more uncertain than many students expected. The new rules on Visa policies in the USA and rising financial concerns made thousands rethink their plans to study abroad. Many postponed their applications. Some chose different countries. Others dropped the idea entirely. 

 Harini Shanmugasundaram chose a different path. Today, the young dentist from Chennai is pursuing her master’s degree in Biomedical Science with a concentration in neuroscience at Rutgers University in New Jersey. Just a few years ago, the thought of studying and working in research labs thousands of miles away from home felt like something far beyond her reach.

After completing her dentistry degree in Chennai in 2024, Harini began her career as an intern at a government dental hospital in her hometown;  everything was moving exactly as planned. But somewhere in the background, a different kind of curiosity was taking shape.

Like many people, Harini watched the pandemic unfold in real time. She saw how the world came to a standstill as researchers across countries raced to find answers. The speed, urgency and scale of that global effort stayed with her.

“It was fascinating to see how scientists, governments and pharmaceutical companies came together to solve a real-world problem,” Harini says. “That’s when I realised healthcare is not only about clinical practice. There is a whole world of research that shapes the future of medicine.”

It was at that point she began to explore biomedical research. She researched postgraduate programs in various countries and ultimately chose the US due to its strong research ecosystem and thriving biotechnology industry.

However, the timing was far from ideal. When Harini received her admission offer, visa uncertainty dominated international student discussions. Many applicants reconsidered their decisions. At the same time, universities across the United States were dealing with federal research funding cuts, adding another layer of uncertainty for students planning to pursue research-based programmes.

Still, everything fell into place just in time. Her admission and loan approval came days before a worldwide pause on visa applications. She managed to secure an appointment, attended her interview, and received her visa.

When she arrived on campus, she discovered something unexpected. She was the only Indian student in her program. 

Harini’s biggest challenge was not academic. It was financial. Coming from a modest family background, Harini did not want her parents to carry the burden of funding her international education. “They did offer to support me,” she says. “But I wanted this decision to be completely mine.” Harini chose to take responsibility for her study abroad journey herself. She applied for an international student loan through Prodigy Finance and received approval in just ten days. The quick support allowed her to continue her plans without placing pressure on her parents.

Sonal Kapoor, Global Chief Business Officer at Prodigy Finance, says stories like Harini’s reflect the resilience and ambition of many international students. “At Prodigy Finance, we believe talented students should not have to pause their dreams because of financial barriers,” Kapoor says. Even during a year of visa uncertainties, Harini remained determined. She secured funding based on her future earning potential, making sure her family did not have to carry the financial burden. 

Studying abroad has its own challenges, and Harini felt it hard; her first few months meant adjusting to a new way of studying, learning to live in a different country, experiencing a new culture, and dealing with moments of homesickness. Looking back now, she sees that period as part of her growth. 

Her ambitions now go far beyond earning a degree. Harini hopes to pursue a PhD and eventually start a biotechnology company focused on developing solutions that improve people’s lives, and hopes to bring that innovation back to India in the future. 

This Women’s Day, her story carries a simple message for young women across the country. When Harini first spoke about studying abroad, some people suggested she should think about marriage before her education. She never opposed the idea of marriage. She simply believed building something for herself had to come first. Her journey from Chennai to New Jersey shows what determination and curiosity can achieve. Sometimes the most powerful decision a woman can make is simply choosing her own future.

New Delhi, Mar 6: International Data Corporation (IDC) has reported that India’s wearable device market declined 4.0% YoY in 2025, reaching 114.2 million units, marking its second consecutive annual drop. The decline was largely driven by a 17.6% YoY fall in smartwatch shipments, even as average selling prices (ASPs) rose, reflecting a gradual shift toward premium devices and value-driven consumer preferences.

Despite the overall market contraction, realme emerged as one of the top five wearable brands in India in 2025. realme recorded an impressive 27.8% year-over-year growth compared to 2024 and secured a 6.2% market share in the overall wearable category. This growth underscores the brand’s expanding footprint and strong acceptance among young consumers, even during a challenging market cycle.

In the TWS segment, realme ranked No. 5 in the category, registering a 26.3% growth in 2025 versus 2024 and capturing a 7.3% market share as per IDC. This performance highlights realme’s resilience and its ability to drive demand through innovation-led offerings and competitive positioning in a maturing market.

Since 2025, realme has significantly deepened its commitment to “Make in India” by commencing local manufacturing of its AIoT product portfolio including popular products like the realme Buds Air 8, realme Buds Clip and smartwatches through a strategic partnership with Optiemus Electronics Ltd.. Under this initiative, realme and Optiemus are targeting the production of 5 million AIoT devices annually, while creating over 2,000 new jobs and strengthening the domestic supply chain. Building on this, realme is positioned to scale its manufacturing footprint even further in 2026, reinforcing its role in India’s tech manufacturing ecosystem and accelerating growth in both local and global markets.

According to IDC, while shipment volumes softened, premiumization trends continued across wearable categories, with consumers increasingly prioritizing advanced features, health-centric capabilities, and ecosystem integration. Emerging segments such as smart glasses and over-the-ear audio devices also demonstrated strong momentum, indicating evolving user preferences beyond traditional wearables.

realme remains committed to delivering innovation-driven wearable products tailored for young and tech-savvy consumers, reinforcing its ambition to be a leading technology brand in India’s evolving smart device ecosystem.