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The Apple Watch Saga
Good morning, and happy new year to you! Can’t believe it’s already 2024 either, time flies and so does news.
Here is a quick breakdown of what happened this week:
Apple watches banned, then unbanned...
the US provides the last aid package for Ukraine until Congress approves
and why countries are reluctant to join the Red Sea task force
Apple watch ban appealed
It’s been a turbulent couple of months for Apple, after it was ordered in October by the ITC to stop selling it’s newest Apple watches due to a patent dispute with medical company Masimo over it’s pulse oximetry technology.
Apple was hoping for a veto by the White House on Boxing day but the Joe Biden administration declined.
The US appeals court temporarily lifted the ban on Wednesday after Apple requested a halt until US customs determine if the new software changes are enough to allow the watch back into the markets.
But how did Apple get into this mess?
Project Rover 2012
In a Bloomberg interview, CEO of Masimo, Joe Kiani revealed that Apple lacked the technology to make a smartwatch with pulse oximetry so they started Project Rover to see who could.
The project identified the top 50 companies using pulse ox technology. The two leading companies, Masimo and Cercacor, both led by Kiani.
Which Kiani later says led them to poach their employees and steal Masimo’s technology.
“They didn’t have to steal our people — we could have worked with them,”. “These guys have been caught with their hands in the cookie jar, and — instead of being embarrassed and doing the right thing — they’re blaming everybody and fighting everybody.”
Apple’s rebuttal
Apple argues that Masimo sued it to clear the field for its own consumer-focused wearables. Masimo recently released the W1, a square smartwatch with an array of health sensors.
USA provides last aid package to Ukraine for 2023
The US has delivered $250 million in aid to Ukraine this week. It is the last package it can give to the country without congress approval.
But why hit the brakes now?
Financial support for Ukraine is wavering as Senate blocked a $61 billion emergency aid package. Majority of the republicans voted against sending more foreign aid stating that they first have to look after their own national security interests, insisting that Biden make concessions for domestic security issues in order to garner support in congress for more foreign aid.
The Joe Biden administration and the U.S. congress have directed more than $75 billion in assistance to Ukraine, which includes humanitarian, financial, and military support.
US allies reluctant on joining Red Sea task force
It has been two weeks since the United states announced a special operation - Operation Prosperity Guardian and led the newly formed Red Sea Task back into the now seemingly Houthi controlled waters.
The operation comes after multiple cargo ships have been hijacked by Yemens Houthi’s.
Why is the Houthi’s Hijacking cargo ships?
The Houthi’s aim to prevent cargo ships from using the Red Sea - a vital trading route, from reaching Israel’s ports.
The blockade is a response by the militant group to Israel’s aerial bombardment of Gaza after the Hamas attack on October 7th which claimed 1200 lives.
"If Gaza does not receive the food and medicine it needs, all ships in the Red Sea bound for Israeli ports, regardless of their nationality, will become a target for our armed forces"
Israel’s military campaign has left over 21 000 people dead in Gaza with it’s 2.3 million population short of food and sanitation. A UN backed report warned that risk of famine increases everyday.
Why the hesitance to join the operation?
US Secretary of Defense, Lloyd Austin mentioned that more than 20 countries have joined the operation, but has only listed twelve so far: Britain, Bahrain, Canada, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Seychelles, Spain, Greece, and Australia.
Austin added that eight of the countries decline to be publicly mentioned.
However, Italy and Spain have distanced themselves from the operation
Spain's Defence Ministry said it would only participate in NATO-led missions or EU-coordinated operations.
Italy adding that this is only part of its existing operations and not part of Operation Guardian prosperity
UAE and Saudi Arabia announced they had no interest in the venture.
Public anger at Israel’s offensive may explain reluctance of political leaders involvement as a recent YouGov poll found that strong majorities of Western Europeans – particularly Spain and Italy – think Israel should stop military action in Gaza.
Countries may also be worried that participating in the operation could lead to retaliatory actions by the Houthi rebels against their own ships.
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