Punjab's Transport Minister, Laljit Singh Bhullar, announced plans to incorporate artificial intelligence into driving tests, aiming to enhance efficiency and accuracy. The AI system will evaluate driving skills objectively, reducing human error potential. This initiative reflects the government's commitment to leveraging technology for public service improvements. Bhullar emphasized, “AI tech will ensure transparency and fairness.” With Punjab leading this technological advancement, it could set a new standard for driving tests nationwide.
Amazon Sellers Reportedly Skipping Prime Day Due to Tariffs Content: Amazon Prime Day faces disruptions as some sellers opt out due to 145% tariffs on Chinese imports. MedCline CEO Rick Sliter plans to limit discounts despite last year’s sales boost, and Steve Green is bypassing Prime Day entirely, citing "unaffordable" costs. CFRA's Arun Sundaram highlights third-party sellers' challenges amid these tariffs, while Amazon CEO Andy Jassy discusses strategies to maintain customer-friendly prices. This shift reflects broader responses by Amazon and Walmart to the trade tensions impacting supply chains.
U.S. small businesses demonstrated resilience in Q1 2025, with 2,368 sales generating over $2 billion, a 9% rise from the previous year, per BizBuySell's Insight Report. Median sale prices increased 4% to $349,000. New tariffs led 37% of business owners to report cost hikes, impacting sales. Despite this, recession-resistant sectors like manufacturing thrived, with median sale prices up 54% to over $1 million. Strong buyer demand is poised to sustain market activity through 2025.
Canadian small business owners prioritize economic issues in federal elections, according to Daryl Ching of Vistance Capital Advisory. "The economy is the top priority," he affirms. Key concerns include tax cuts, business cost reductions, and interprovincial trade barriers. The Conservatives propose aggressive tax cuts and deregulation, while Liberals offer a $6.5 billion support program. Ching highlights a split in preference, noting shared development goals between parties and enhanced global trade relations as crucial for small businesses.
NK Singh, former Finance Commission chair, underscored the pivotal role of MSMEs in achieving India's 'Viksit Bharat' vision by 2047. Speaking at NDTV's Delhi conclave, Singh emphasized increasing MSMEs' GDP contribution from 30% to 40%. Highlighting a World Bank report, he pointed out a 31% financing gap for women-led enterprises. The Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojana has sanctioned over 52 crore loans worth Rs 32.61 lakh crore, expanding entrepreneurial opportunities nationwide.
DeepSeek is available for download in South Korea again after a suspension due to data breaches. The AI platform had been pulled over privacy law violations, notably unauthorized data transfers to China and the US. Following regulatory changes and a revised privacy policy complying with local laws, downloads on Apple's App Store and Google Play are permitted. South Korea's Personal Information Protection Commission played a key role in enforcing these changes. This move reflects tightening data privacy measures in Korea.
IBM is set to invest $150 billion in the US over five years, focusing on core areas such as mainframe and quantum computing with a $30 billion allocation. CEO Arvind Krishna emphasized IBM's longstanding commitment to American jobs, stating this move ensures IBM's leadership in advanced computing. This comes amid a broader industry trend, as firms like Apple and Nvidia enhance domestic manufacturing. IBM's strategic push aims to boost its technological dominance while invigorating the US economy.
YouTube's customer support services face disruptions due to massive power outages in Spain and Portugal, affecting team members and certain European language support. The outages, impacting various essential sectors including transportation, healthcare, and banking, could take up to 10 hours to resolve, according to Spain's power grid operator. In a social media update, YouTube confirmed they are working to restore regional support and address paused cases promptly, highlighting the widespread impact of the outages on operations.
Spotify's Partner Program, introduced earlier this year, is amplifying revenue opportunities for creators in select markets like the US, UK, Canada, and Australia. This initiative has boosted participating creators' earnings by 29% month-over-month from February to March. Video podcast adoption has spiked 28%, with major advertisers like McDonald's and Google leveraging the Spotify Audience Network. Creators report substantial engagement increases; for example, "Your Mom’s House" saw consumption jump 45%. This $100 million payout aims to solidify a thriving creator ecosystem.
Alibaba has introduced Qwen 3, an advanced artificial intelligence system, as competition among Chinese tech giants heats up. This state-of-the-art AI aims to bolster Alibaba's leading position in AI technology and cloud computing services. Qwen 3 showcases enhanced natural language processing capabilities and improved machine learning algorithms. Experts view this launch as a significant move in the ongoing tech battle, positioning Alibaba to challenge its rivals, including Tencent and Baidu, in the AI sector.