Delaware firm seeks to pilot NovoCrete technology in Guyana

Technology

-promises cheaper, longer-lasting roads, embankmentsEhyeh Asher Ehyeh Ashar LLC, a Delaware-based company in the United States, is looking to introduce NovoCrete—an award-winning Swiss-German infrastructure technology designed to deliver more durable and cost-effective solutions to meet Guyana’s growing and varied infrastructure needs.NovoCrete is a 100% mineral-based powder, composed of alkaline and alkaline earth elements. It works by neutralizing pH levels and significantly enhancing water impermeability. When added to cement, it effectively seals open pores, resulting in a denser, more durable, and flexible structure with increased tensile strength and improved modulus of elasticity. The additive is environmentally friendly and fully recyclable, offering a sustainable solution for modern construction needs.       Chief Executive Officer of the company Uday Desai, a retired consultant to Switzerland-based Optimum Performance Infrastructure Systems (the principal company behind NovoCrete), is currently in Guyana with the aim of transferring the technology to the local market.CEO Uday Desai and a team during the site visit at the junction of Linden to Lethem road and Rockstone to Barito“After driving around and observing the City of Georgetown and part of the countryside, we believe NovoCrete can dynamically and positively address Guyana’s diverse infrastructure needs…which we estimate would be less than the current high costs for foundations, all types of roads, ports, airports, embankments; as well as preventive solutions for ocean, river erosion, and landslides,” Desai told Stabroek News.Desai expressed gratitude for the opportunity to bring the technology to Guyana, confirming that his team has already met with Minister of Public Works Juan Edghill. The Minister has suggested a test of the technology be conducted, and a site has been identified off the Linden road, leading to the significant mining areas of Rockstone and Barito.“They’ve given us a place and we’ve visited the site. But for us to bring in all our equipment and personnel, it’s a massive investment that could run into millions of dollars. So we’re still in the conversation to try and see how best we can come to an agreement where we can give a bank guarantee to the government and we build a road that they have suggested we build,” Desai shared in an interview at the Centre for Local Business Development on South Road, Georgetown.The site given the company for testing is located off the Linden road that goes to Rockstone and on to Barito, a huge mining area. “We are happy to do this test, but we need to come to some sort of understanding that we go ahead and do this particular site that we are given,” Desai shared.Specialised equipment is required for the technology hereNovoCrete technology involves mixing soil with cement to create a stabilised layer—distinct from traditional concrete, which tends to expand and contract with weather changes. Unlike concrete, which is porous and allows water to seep in and damage the structure over time, Desai explained that NovoCrete forms an impermeable barrier that prevents water penetration, significantly enhancing durability. “We can construct roads at a pace of up to one kilometer per day. However, this requires specialised equipment that is currently not available in Guyana and would need to be imported,” he informed.Beyond roads, he said NovoCrete is effective for strengthening embankments—particularly important given the extensive canal systems in Guyana. Many of these canals are below optimal standards, he observed, as they can be elevated to better manage sudden rises in water levels, preventing overflow, property damage, and water infiltration into building foundations.According to Desai, the technology’s applications are diverse, suitable not only for roads and embankments but also for airports, airfields, farm roads, and erosion control along rivers and coastlines. Moreover, it offers a cost-effective solution compared to conventional methods.Currently, he pointed out that Guyana has only one cement plant, and most of the raw materials are imported from Trinidad and Tobago. NovoCrete, though, can reduce construction costs in Guyana by 20% to 30%. More importantly, he said it ensures structures that stand the test of time—lasting decades, rather than just a few months or years.The company is in consultation with the Centre for Local Business Development for holding training programmes for various contractors once it has established its branch here.Desai recounted the technology’s origins in post-World War II Germany, where scientists sought innovative ways to rebuild devastated infrastructure while addressing contaminated soil and water systems. “The people who started to rebuild decided to do something with the infrastructure that was in place. So these gentlemen, the scientists, they got together and through a period of trial and error, they came across this environmentally friendly additive for making the infrastructure foundations.”What they did was to essentially start a process of erasing the traditional technologies. “You excavate 10 to 12 layers to build the road, so you get all this materials and then you dump it somewhere…the group felt this was a waste due to how many trucks and drivers were needed and the time it took, so they devised a system to convert the top soil into roads”, he said.

Drone hunters in Ukraine find new sophisticated technology feared to be from Iran

Technology

Ukrainian forces examining the wreckage of Russia’s nightly drone assaults last week uncovered a new, highly sophisticated weapon, marking a potential escalation in Moscow’s aerial capabilities.Unlike the predominantly black drones typically deployed by Russia, this newly discovered model was white and boasted an array of advanced features. It was equipped with an advanced camera, an artificial intelligence-powered computing platform, and a radio link enabling remote operation from Russia.Crucially, the drone also contained new, Iranian-made, anti-jamming technology, according to Serhii Beskrestnov, a Ukrainian electronics expert known as “Flash”. Mr Beskrestnov told The Associated Press that while most Russian attack drones are black, this new one was distinctly white.Inside, there were no markings or labels consistent with Russian-made drones. Instead, the stickers followed a “standard Iran labeling system,” Beskrestnov said.Experts who spoke to AP said the labels are not conclusive proof but the English-language words are consistent with how Iran marks its drones. It is quite possible, they said, that it was sold by Iran to Russia to test in combat.An Iranian Shahed exploding drone launched by Russia flies through the sky seconds before it struck buildings in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Oct. 17, 2022

Hackathon teams race to solve defense tech challenges as Europe boosts military capabilities

Technology

Hunched over laptops, the team of four raced to solve a challenge: how to get a set of drones to fly themselves from one place to another when GPS and other signals are jammed by an enemy. Elsewhere around the hall, groups of people — engineering students, tech workers and hobbyists — gathered around long tables to brainstorm, write computer code or tinker with more drones and other hardware. Most of them were strangers when they first gathered last month at Britain’s Sandhurst Military Academy to compete in a 24-hour “hackathon” focused on defense technology. Many were drawn to the event because they wanted to use their technical skills to work on one of the biggest challenges confronting Europe: the continent’s race to beef up its military capabilities as Russia’s war in Ukraine threatens to widen global instability. “Given the geopolitical climate, defense tech is relevant now more than ever,” said Aniketh Ramesh, a startup founder with a Ph.D. in robotics in extreme environments and one of the drone team members. The hackathon, he said, “is a good place to sort of go and contribute your ideas.” “Robotics and drones are having their iPhone moment” because costs have come down and the hardware is widely available, Ramesh said. That means building drones to do new things is more a “thinking challenge” than a technical one, he said. Ramesh already knew one teammate, a former British army paratrooper, from a previous event. They recruited two others — one engineer and one with a Ph.D. in computer vision — through the event’s group chat on Signal.The drone problem was just one of the many challenges the teams could choose to solve. The tasks were proposed by defense tech companies like German drone maker Helsing, robotics company Arx, the British military and Kyiv-based venture capital firm D3. Some worked on software, such as an algorithm to predict which way a target would move. Others came with their own ideas. One team made a plastic cup packed with sensors that could be produced in large amounts to be scattered across a battlefield. Another team built a scale model of an autonomous medical evacuation aircraft.Similar competitions have been held regularly across Europe since last year, inspired by the Ukrainian military’s on-the-fly wartime innovations to fend off the larger Russian army.The grassroots meetups are part of a wider network of defense innovation that organizers hope to foster in Europe, underscoring the continent’s scramble to churn out weapons that have been turbocharged by U.S. President Donald Trump’s persistent threats to withdraw from the NATO trans-Atlantic security alliance. The idea is to “go build a prototype, take your prototype to become a product, and go build a company” so that you can “deliver stuff to the frontline and hopefully save someone’s life,” said Benjamin Wolba, who organizes a separate but similar series, the European Defense Tech Hackathon. Wolba’s group has held tournaments in about 10 cities in the past twelve months, including one in Lviv, Ukraine, in May, and has scheduled more this year in Sheffield, England; Gothenburg, Sweden; Marseilles, France; London; and Berlin. The European Union-backed EUDIS Defence Hackathon holds simultaneous competitions at eight universities twice a year. Meanwhile, NATO has launched DIANA, an “accelerator” program to speed up defense innovations. The competitions are producing real-world results. The winners of one European Defense Tech Hackathon were a team of Bulgarian high school students who came up with a de-mining solution that they used to found a startup. At last year’s London event, the winning team devised an idea for an anti-drone system. They went to Ukraine for more testing, and then were bought by a startup that went on to raise millions in venture capital funding, said Pass. This year, instead of a trophy, some London teams signed term sheets with investors. Hackathons have their origins in the software industry. Small teams of programmers and developers are pitted against each other in marathon brainstorming sessions to write programs that could become new products. “The beauty of the hackathon is you get a mixture of people who never normally meet,” said Wolba. “Engineers are “paired with actual investors who understand something on the commercial side, but also, critically, military end users.” Organizers want to foster a culture of nimble startups to join Europe’s defense ecosystem, traditionally dominated by a handful of big “prime” military contractors such as Britain’s BAE, Germany’s Rheinmetall and France’s Thales that are focused on building pricey hardware. “There’s definitely been a shift in the industry from the purchase of more exquisite, high-cost capabilities, such as fighter jets, or submarines, or expensive tanks, towards more low-cost systems that can give you scale advantages,” said Richard Pass, one of the co-founders of the London event. A recent aerial confrontation between Pakistan and India further highlights how Europe is at risk of losing its edge against adversaries, he said. Pass said reports that Pakistan used Chinese-made fighter jets armed with Chinese air-to-air missiles to down Indian air force planes, including three French-made Rafale jets, came as a big surprise. Not only does it show “technological parity between the Chinese and leading Western industrial nations like France,” but it also hints at China’s advantages in mass-producing fighter jets that could overwhelm Western forces, he said. Fostering a broader European defense tech start-up ecosystem is a way “to regain that technological advantage,” he said. Defense tech startup founders can ride a wave of investment as Europe moves to beef up its military capabilities. Leaders of NATO, which includes 30 European nations, are meeting this week to endorse a goal to spend 5% of gross domestic product on defense.The European Union has sought to mobilize 800 billion euros ($927 billion) to boost the 27-nation bloc’s defense, with priorities including drones, AI, autonomous systems and quantum computing. Britain, which left the EU, has meanwhile pledged to spend 10% of its defense budget on new technologies.Europe still has a long way to go. The continent’s defense tech startup ecosystem is young and about five years behind the United States, consulting firm McKinsey said in a recent report. But it’s growing rapidly as investors flock there. Venture capital investment in Europe’s defense tech sector for 2021-2024 more than quadrupled from the previous three-year period, according to Pitchbook. At the London hackathon, teams worked into the evening, fueled by chocolate bars, energy drinks, fruit and a late-night pizza delivery. Army cots were available for those who wanted to catch a few hours of sleep. Soldiers in camouflage and defense company reps hovered on the sidelines to provide advice and answer questions. CEO Andrii Solonskyi said defense hackathons are “a bit of a novelty.” The industry has traditionally been more structured and formal, because “it’s a serious business and there’s a lot of things that can go wrong,” he said. But, “what we definitely feel is that you can be very agile in defense right now.”

New Zealand’s Xero acquires Melio for up to $3 billion, marking one of Israel’s largest tech exits

Technology

New Zealand-based fintech giant Xero has agreed to acquire Israeli startup Melio in a deal valued at up to $3 billion, including earnouts, the companies announced on Wednesday. The acquisition, first revealed by Calcalist, is structured as a mix of cash and equity and will give Xero full control of Melio’s payments infrastructure and client network in the United States, its most strategic growth market.Melio, founded in 2018 and based in New York and Tel Aviv, provides accounts payable and receivable solutions to over 80,000 U.S. small businesses. With more than $30 billion in payments processed and $187 million in annualized revenue, Melio has emerged as a key player in digitizing how American businesses manage bills, vendors, and cash flow.For Xero, a publicly traded company on the Australian Securities Exchange with global ambitions, the deal represents a defining push into the U.S. market. “We’re acquiring Melio, a leading US B2B payments platform that strongly aligns with our 3×3 strategy and US growth ambitions,” said Xero CEO Sukhinder Singh Cassidy. “Adding Melio’s world-class team, technology platform, and innovative A/P solutions enables a step change in our North America scale.”The upfront payment totals $2.5 billion, with an additional $500 million in performance-based and time-based payouts over three years for Melio employees. The transaction, one of Israel’s largest tech exits, is expected to close within six months, subject to customary regulatory approvals, including U.S. antitrust clearance, and shareholder consent. Xero has already secured enough shareholder support from Melio to move forward with the merger.In October 2024, Melio raised a $150 million Series E at a valuation of approximately $2 billion, a notable drop from its previous round, which valued the company at nearly double that amount.Melio is led by CEO and co-founder Matan Bar, CTO and co-founder Ilan Atias, and President Tomer Barel. The company employs around 600 people, with approximately 400 based in its Israel offices. Melio’s co-founder and CEO Matan Bar, who previously led product at PayPal and played a central role in developing Venmo, will lead the combined U.S. business under Xero. “Joining Xero is an incredible opportunity for the Melio team to further our mission to reinvent the way businesses pay each other,” Bar said in a statement. “We’re excited by our shared purpose to scale in the US and combine Xero’s accounting capabilities with Melio’s payments solutions.”Related articles:Melio has grown not only through direct sales but also by quietly powering payment infrastructure behind major brands. Its syndication model, essentially white-labeling Melio’s software to banks and SaaS companies, has attracted clients like Fiserv, Capital One, and Shopify. Through Fiserv alone, Melio’s technology reaches approximately 3,500 U.S. financial institutions that collectively serve 18 million small businesses.This embedded technology strategy was a key attraction for Xero, which intends to integrate Melio’s payments engine into its core accounting platform while preserving and expanding these syndication partnerships. Xero executives noted that the acquisition will triple their North American revenue on day one and help diversify the company’s business model beyond software subscriptions, introducing a meaningful transactional revenue stream.The deal also arrives at a time when small and medium businesses are increasingly demanding integrated platforms that unify accounting and payments. Roughly 78% of U.S. SMBs rate such integration as a top priority, according to Xero. By addressing this demand, Xero aims to deepen its relationships with accountants, bookkeepers, and business owners, a customer base traditionally fragmented across various platforms.

Iran not relinquish its right to peaceful nuclear technology

Technology

Addressing the UN Disarmament Conference on Tuesday, Ali Bahreini emphasized that the United States, despite being both a permanent member of the UN Security Council and signatory of the Non-Proliferation Treaty (N.P.T.), collaborated with the Israeli regime and launched an attack on Iran’s nuclear sites, relying on an unbalanced report by the director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).This attack targeted not only Iran, but also the entire global non-proliferation system, the ambassador added.
He criticized the US for working with a nuclear-armed regime that has not signed the NPT., warning that the act of aggression against Iran will leave a stain on US record with widespread consequences for international peace and security.
Bahreini stressed that since 1970, Iran has adhered to the NPT and advocated only for the peaceful use of nuclear energy.  Nevertheless, Iran has faced unfair sanctions and military assaults on its safeguarded facilities.
He urged the UN, including the Security Council, the Secretary-General, and the IAEA, to respond swiftly and firmly to the gross violation of international law by the United States and Israeli regime.
He concluded by saying that Iran has consistently shown its resolve and strength in defending its land, people, and rights, and would not hesitate to protect itself if attacked.
During the session, the majority of the conference members condemned the US and Israeli military aggression against Iran and called for pursuing a peaceful resolution regarding Iran’s nuclear program.
MNA

RFK Jr. wants every American to use ‘wearable’ health data-collecting technology

Technology

Health and Human Services Secretary Robert Kennedy Jr. wants all Americans to use “wearable” technology to track their health as part of his “MAHA” agenda.

The Kennedy-clan strongman revealed his agency’s plan Tuesday for a massive push for Americans — who have an obesity rate of 40% — to use wearable data-collecting technology such as FitBits, Oura Rings, and Apple Watches, to promote healthier lifestyles.

“We’re about to launch the biggest advertising campaign in HHS history to encourage Americans to use wearables,” Kennedy said in a House Committee on Energy and Commerce hearing on Tuesday.

Robert Kennedy Jr. said he wants all Americans to use “wearable” technology to track their health as part of his “MAHA” agenda. X / @SecKennedy

“It’s a way people can take control over their own health. They can take responsibility. They can see, as you know, what food is doing to their glucose levels, their heart rates, and a number of other metrics, as they eat it,” the secretary said in the statement, which was also posted to X.

“We think that wearables are a key to the MAHA agenda of making America healthy again and my vision is that every American is wearing a wearable in four years,” he concluded.

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Kennedy expressed the belief that with accurate and timely health data, Americans will exert better judgment in their diet and will even opt for more exercise.

The Trump official has previously argued during his Senate confirmation hearing that obesity in the United States poses a national security risk affecting military readiness.

Close up of a hand touching a smartwatch with a health app on the screen, a gadget for a fitness active lifestyle. sitthiphong – stock.adobe.com

President Trump’s nominee for Surgeon General, Dr. Casey Means, is also an advocate for wearable Continuous Glucose Monitor (CGM) products.

In a blog post for her own CGM-producing company, Levels, Means argued that the “small plastic discs” can “reduce global metabolic suffering” and provide much-needed help to the “93.2 percent of people” in the US suffering from metabolic issues.

Means’ Levels technology attaches to the users’ arms and sends accurate, second-by-second metabolic data to their smartphone.

A diabetic woman with a glucose sensor uses a mobile phone to measure her blood sugar level. Pixel-Shot – stock.adobe.com

Kennedy revealed last week that coffee giant Starbucks will make MAHA-inspired amendments to its menu — though the company already avoids artificial flavors, dyes, high fructose corn syrup, and other unhealthy additives.

RFK Jr. took his first pound of flesh off of Americans earlier this year when he outlawed the use of artificial dyes in American food products.

Bushfire Evacuation Simulator Secures Esteemed Award in the United States

Technology

A transformative collaboration that connects experts across multiple continents has ushered in a new era for bushfire management, paving the way for enhanced fire safety through advanced technology. The groundbreaking initiative has birthed a state-of-the-art bushfire evacuation simulator tailored to visualize the spread of fires and predict human movement under various conditions. This innovative tool, dubbed WUI-NITY, factors in elements such as traffic congestion and fluctuating weather patterns to deliver critical insights into community evacuation timelines during bushfire crises. A diverse coalition of researchers from RMIT University in Australia, Imperial College London in the UK, Canada’s National Research Council, and Lund University in Sweden has united efforts for over eight years to bring this project to fruition. Their relentless dedication to fire safety recently garnered recognition in the form of the Foundation Medal, one of the highest honors awarded by the US National Fire Protection Association (NFPA). This accolade underscores the profound impact of their collaborative efforts in enhancing bushfire response strategies. Dr. Erica Kuligowski, a key leader in this initiative from RMIT University, articulated the simulator’s significance in bridging a critical gap in bushfire disaster management. WUI-NITY provides indispensable data on potential evacuation movements and the timing required for effective emergency planning as communities brace themselves for impending bushfire seasons. By addressing these critical aspects, the simulator empowers emergency services and local authorities with the tools necessary to orchestrate safe and efficient evacuations. .adsslot_hrPoz2SimH{width:728px !important;height:90px !important;}@media(max-width:1199px){ .adsslot_hrPoz2SimH{width:468px !important;height:60px !important;}}@media(max-width:767px){ .adsslot_hrPoz2SimH{width:320px !important;height:50px !important;}} ADVERTISEMENT The simulator is designed to incorporate a plethora of variables that can impact evacuation effectiveness. Dr. Kuligowski highlighted that the model includes scenarios such as blocked escape routes, shelters reaching capacity, car accidents, and even road lane reversals triggered by ongoing fires. Capturing these complexities is vital for authorities striving to manage evacuations and firefighting operations as comprehensively and effectively as possible. In an era where such simulation tools are few and far between, WUI-NITY stands out for its unique ability to integrate bushfire dynamics with pedestrian and traffic movements. The rigorous validation process, which involved real-time traffic data, virtual reality driving simulations, and social media analytics, sets this simulator apart from other products in the field. This validation is paramount, as it not only enhances the simulator’s reliability but also builds confidence among its users. The RMIT team’s innovative approach included groundbreaking social media data mining techniques to study evacuation behavior, complemented by contributions from partner organizations utilizing virtual reality technology to explore driving reactions in wildfire scenarios. This multifaceted approach enriches the simulator’s capability to replicate realistic bushfire conditions, providing emergency planners with detailed insights into how people could behave in a crisis. WUI-NITY has also undergone extensive testing in real-world scenarios, notably during large-scale community evacuation drills, including a significant exercise in Roxborough Park, Colorado. These practical applications have helped refine the model, adding layers of realism and depth to the simulations. By aligning the simulator closely with on-the-ground experiences, the research team is bolstering its practical utility for emergency responders. The success in developing WUI-NITY is not solely attributed to its individual components but rather to the cooperative spirit that marks the collaboration among the research institutions and their diverse array of expertise. The significance of teamwork in crafting a tool of this caliber cannot be overstated, as it embodies a fusion of knowledge and innovation from multiple fields. Steve Gwynne, who was part of the research team at GHD before moving on to the University of Greenwich, reflected on the positive impact of the collaboration. He noted that the overarching goal has always been twofold: firstly, to demonstrate the tangible benefits of quantifying evacuation performance and secondly, to provide a thorough example of how such quantitative analysis can be achieved. This strong commitment to stakeholder engagement illustrates the broader implications of their work, showcasing how informed decision-making can result in enhanced disaster management strategies. The WUI-NITY tool, accompanied by a comprehensive user guide, is freely accessible online, inviting interested authorities and individuals to leverage its capabilities in their respective capacities. Continuous development efforts are aimed at refining the simulator further, tailoring it to meet emerging needs in bushfire management, underscoring the responsiveness of the research team to real-world applications. Looking ahead, the RMIT team plans to conduct interviews with evacuation planners and decision-makers over the coming year. These conversations will inform ongoing improvements to the WUI-NITY tool, ensuring that it remains relevant and effective as bushfire challenges persist and evolve. This proactive approach signifies commitment not just to technological advancement but also to real-world impact. The project exemplifies the importance of innovation, collaboration, and community involvement in tackling the growing challenges posed by climate change and increasing wildfire occurrences. As more regions wrestle with heavier and more frequent wildfires, tools like WUI-NITY can play a pivotal role in enhancing public safety and minimizing loss. In conclusion, WUI-NITY is not just a technological achievement; it represents a monumental shift in how we approach disaster management. By harnessing the power of modern tools, interdisciplinary collaboration, and real-time data analysis, this simulator has the potential to save lives and improve the resilience of communities facing the threat of bushfires in the future. The efforts of the award-winning researchers across several nations epitomize what can be achieved when brilliant minds unite toward a common goal. Subject of Research: Bushfire evacuation simulationArticle Title: Advanced Bushfire Evacuation Simulator Honored for Safety InnovationNews Publication Date: October 2023Web References:References:Image Credits: NFPA KeywordsTags: bushfire management technologycommunity evacuation strategiesemergency preparedness for bushfiresevacuation simulation toolsfire safety innovationsinternational research collaborationNational Fire Protection Association awardpredictive modeling for disaster responseRMIT University bushfire researchtraffic congestion impact on evacuationsweather patterns and fire spreadWUI-NITY bushfire simulator