News•Feb 24, 2026
Stripe, PayPal Ventures Bet on India’s Xflow to Fix Cross-Border B2B Payments
Xflow, a Bengaluru‑based fintech, closed a $16.6 million Series A round led by General Catalyst with participation from Stripe and PayPal Ventures, valuing the company at $85 million post‑money. The startup now has over $32 million in total funding and processes roughly $1 billion in annualized cross‑border B2B payment volume, a ten‑fold increase from the prior year. Xflow offers an API‑first infrastructure that lets exporters, SaaS firms and freelancers move money across 25 currencies and settle in India. The new capital will fund product expansion, import capabilities and regulatory licences in markets such as Singapore and Canada.
By TechCrunch Fintech
News•Feb 24, 2026
What Is Claude Code Security? The New Anthropic AI Tool that Wiped Billions Off Cybersecurity Stocks
Anthropic unveiled Claude Code Security, an AI‑driven tool that scans codebases for vulnerabilities and proposes patches. The system leverages the Claude Opus 4.6 model to reason about data flows and business‑logic errors, reducing false positives through multi‑stage verification. Its launch triggered...
By Mint â Technology (India)
News•Feb 24, 2026
5D Launches Nexus to Turn Market Intelligence Into Foresight
Strategic research firm 5D has unveiled Nexus, an AI‑driven market intelligence hub that consolidates internal customer data with external competitive and industry signals. The platform operates as a network of "cells" that ingest NPS scores, brand research, pricing shifts and...
By Mediaweek (Australia)
Blog•Feb 24, 2026
The Alternative Data Arms Race: Why Hedge Funds Are Spending More Than Ever:
In 2026 hedge funds are pouring tens of millions of dollars into alternative data, turning information velocity into a core competitive lever. AI-driven analytics have lowered the barrier to processing vast datasets—from satellite imagery to web traffic—shifting the edge toward...
By HedgeCo.net – Blogs
News•Feb 24, 2026
CrowdStrike Hires Joe McPhillips
CrowdStrike appoints veteran Joe McPhillips as JAPAC SMB senior director after a year‑long sabbatical. McPhillips brings more than 30 years of cybersecurity experience, previously serving at SentinelOne, Cylance, Symantec, Intel Security, Riverbed and Commvault. He will build and scale the...
By ARN (Australia)
Blog•Feb 24, 2026
Want More Public Companies? Encourage More Stock Repurchases
The SEC’s new leadership is targeting the 40 percent decline in U.S. public companies by easing regulatory burdens, especially those that hinder share repurchases. It proposes reforming the safe‑harbor under Rule 10b‑18 to make buybacks more accessible to mid‑cap firms. Currently, the...
By CLS Blue Sky Blog (Columbia Law School)
News•Feb 24, 2026
From Nausea to Relief, How Beauty Founders and Execs Are Reacting to the Supreme Court’s Tariff Decision
The U.S. Supreme Court ruled to block the Trump‑era tariffs on Chinese beauty products, ending weeks of uncertainty for the industry. Beauty founders and executives, who had been bracing for higher import costs, described the decision as a “relief” after...
By Glossy
News•Feb 24, 2026
Jamie Dimon on the Loan Rush: 'I See a Couple of People Doing some Dumb Things'
JPMorgan CEO Jamie Dimon warned that today’s aggressive loan‑making resembles the pre‑2008 buildup that led to the financial crisis. He said some rivals are taking “dumb” actions to inflate net interest income, while JPMorgan remains disciplined even if it means...
By Business Insider – Finance
News•Feb 24, 2026
Rodan + Fields Moves Beyond Social Selling with Influencer-Powered ‘C-Suite’ Campaign
Rodan + Fields is transitioning from a pure social‑selling model to an omnichannel strategy, launching its Pure C Serum on a new direct‑to‑consumer website and through Ulta Beauty. To amplify the rollout, the brand unveiled a “C‑Suite” influencer campaign featuring seven...
By Glossy
News•Feb 24, 2026
Cautious Holiday Spending Softens Typical January Credit Card Delinquency Spike: Equifax Canada
Equifax Canada’s Q4 2025 credit report shows total consumer debt rose to $2.65 trillion, up 3.1% year‑over‑year, driven by higher mortgage balances and a 4.5% jump in non‑mortgage debt. Non‑mortgage delinquency peaked at 1.73%, with the 26‑35 age group posting the highest...
By Retail Insider Canada
News•Feb 24, 2026
One-Fifth of Employers Lack Clear Aims for Staff Benefits
A CIPD survey of 1,059 UK reward and HR decision‑makers reveals that 22% of employers have no clear objectives for employee benefits. While 77% link benefits to at least one goal—most commonly retention (44%) and engagement (37%)—only 31% connect them...
By Personnel Today
News•Feb 24, 2026
The Looming Taiwan Chip Disaster That Silicon Valley Has Long Ignored
China’s growing threat to seize Taiwan has reignited U.S. fears over semiconductor supply chains. Taiwan manufactures roughly 90% of the world’s high‑end chips, feeding Apple, AMD, Qualcomm and AI data centers. Despite billions in Biden‑era grants and Trump‑era tariff threats,...
By The New York Times — Economy
News•Feb 24, 2026
Japan’s National Security Reckoning
Japan is overhauling its national security strategy as U.S. “America First” policies erode traditional defense guarantees. Rising Chinese assertiveness, the spillover of the Ukraine war, and rapid advances in drone and AI warfare have forced Tokyo to prioritize strategic autonomy....
By Foreign Affairs
News•Feb 24, 2026
How Smarsh Built an AI Front Door for Regulated Industries — and Drove 59% Self-Service Adoption
Smarsh deployed an AI‑powered support agent, Archie, on Salesforce Agentforce 360 to create a unified front‑door for regulated‑industry customers. The system lets users describe needs in plain language, routing them to the right solution and reducing navigation friction. Early results...
By VentureBeat
News•Feb 24, 2026
Boom Times for Muni Bonds
State and local governments issued a record $498 billion in municipal bonds in 2024 and topped $580 billion in 2025, driven primarily by infrastructure, education, and transportation projects. The surge reflects a shift from waning federal pandemic aid to local financing for...
By Governing — Finance
News•Feb 24, 2026
I Asked My Team to Record Their Messy AI Workflows—Here's What We Learned
Zapier shifted AI training from polished demos to raw workflow recordings, launching an internal “Behind the Build” series where employees captured their unfiltered problem‑solving with AI. The initiative highlighted behaviors of top AI users—starting with outcomes, iterating prompts, and knowing...
By Zapier – Blog
News•Feb 24, 2026
Samsung Ads Launches Immersive Carousel Home Screen Ad Unit
Samsung Ads has introduced an Immersive Carousel ad unit for Samsung Smart TV home screens across Europe, allowing up to five interactive tiles that rotate automatically or can be navigated with the remote. The format appears on the home screen,...
By Advanced Television
News•Feb 24, 2026
How Sundae Body Turned ‘Beige’ Body Wash Into a 3 Million–Unit Powerhouse
Australian beauty brand Sundae Body has sold over 3 million units and expanded to 9,000 stores worldwide by treating brand as the operating system rather than a marketing afterthought. The company differentiates its body‑care line with sensory‑first formulas, candy‑colored packaging and...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 24, 2026
Educational Support Reform for Children of Unorganised Workers
India’s Ministry of Labour & Employment has amended the Code on Social Security, 2020 to allow children of unorganised workers to receive both need‑based welfare scholarships and merit‑based scholarships. The existing scheme already supports students from Beedi, Cine and non‑coal...
By HR Katha (India)
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Businesses Prefer SaaS Over Costly In‑House Tool Development
I keep seeing this take and I just don’t think any serious business will waste time and resources on vibe coding internal tools to replace SaaS subscriptions. Some might give it a go and it makes a good headline for...
By Jon Yongfook
News•Feb 24, 2026
Jemmia Diamond Hosts Vietnam UAE Trade Dialogue with Ambassador
On February 9, Jemmia Joint Stock Company welcomed UAE Ambassador Dr. Bader Almatrooshi to its Ho Chi Minh City headquarters for a Vietnam‑UAE trade dialogue. The session gathered Vietnamese firms from real estate, agriculture, robotics, renewable energy and other sectors to discuss cooperation...
By Vietnam Investment Review (VIR)
News•Feb 24, 2026
India Aims to Raise $19.7 Billion From IPOs of State-Run Firms by 2030
India plans to raise 1.79 trillion rupees (about $19.7 billion) by selling stakes in state‑run firms through IPOs by the 2029/30 fiscal year. The effort is part of a broader $183.7 billion asset‑monetisation drive announced by NITI Aayog, following an earlier phase that fell...
By The Economic Times – Markets
News•Feb 24, 2026
City Chic Pares Back Losses, but US Downscaling Weighs Down Sales
City Chic Collective posted a modest improvement in profitability for the fiscal first half, with underlying EBITDA jumping 86% to $6.5 million and losses from continuing operations halving to $3.5 million. Global sales slipped 0.4% to $69.2 million, driven by a 31.4% plunge...
By Inside Retail Australia
News•Feb 24, 2026
Performance Recognition Drive in Andhra Pradesh
Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu announced a new performance‑recognition system for Andhra Pradesh’s civil servants. Monthly appreciation letters will be entered into personal service registers and tied to career weightage, giving high‑performers tangible promotion advantages. The scheme also mandates counseling...
By HR Katha (India)
News•Feb 24, 2026
Novo Nordisk, Dr Sara Al Madani Encourage People to ‘Champion a Lighter You’
Novo Nordisk has launched the "Champion A Lighter You" lifestyle‑awareness campaign in the United Arab Emirates, partnering with Emirati influencer Dr Sara Al Madani and Saatchi & Saatchi Middle East. The initiative uses a sky‑diving hero video and a suite of digital and experiential activations...
By Campaign Middle East
Blog•Feb 24, 2026
ClearThink 1 Acquisition Corp. (CTAAU) Prices $125M IPO
ClearThink 1 Acquisition Corp. priced its $125 million initial public offering on February 24, 2026, with units slated to trade on Nasdaq under the ticker CTAAU. The SPAC is focused on merging with a financial‑services company operating in the United States and...
By SPACInsider
News•Feb 24, 2026
Japan Mulls Revising Liquidity-Support JGB Auctions to Ease Market Pressure - Report
Japan's Ministry of Finance is weighing changes to its liquidity‑enhancement auction framework for government bonds, aiming to ease supply pressure on the super‑long end of the curve. From April, the mid‑term bucket could be narrowed from a 5‑15.5‑year range to...
By ForexLive — Feed
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Leadership Wins by Choosing Fewer, Higher‑Impact Priorities
Many leaders chase more. I choose better. I thought growth meant more more meetings, more projects, more noise. It looked productive. It wasn’t. When everything matters, nothing does. Results improve when you remove what doesn’t move them. My rule: • Fewer priorities • Fewer meetings • Fewer distractions • Higher standards Simplicity...
By Abraham Kah
News•Feb 24, 2026
Menarini Consolidates APAC Media Mandate with Agency Appointment
Menarini Asia‑Pacific has appointed Omnicom Media’s PHD as its regional media agency, expanding the partnership to seven additional markets—India, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Taiwan, Vietnam and Korea—effective January 1 2026. The new remit consolidates media planning and buying across Menarini’s pharmaceutical and consumer‑health...
By Marketing-Interactive
News•Feb 24, 2026
Sacking Employee for "Poor Decision-Making" While Off Duty Was Harsh
The Fair Work Commission found that Sleepeezee Bedding Australia’s summary dismissal of a heavy‑combination truck driver was harsh and unreasonable. The driver tested positive for a prohibited drug after a roadside test, but admitted only off‑duty cannabis use over the...
By HR Daily (Australia)
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Leaders Feel Invisible Amid Employee Turnover and Tough Decisions
Leaders have to take care of their teams, appease their bosses, and still have something left for themselves at the end of the day. In this particular economic, social, and political climate, a lot of corporate leaders are struggling to...
By Julia Rock
News•Feb 24, 2026
Swiss Franc to Stay Favourable Amid Safe Haven Allure
The Swiss franc is consolidating its role as the premier safe‑haven currency, with EUR/CHF breaking below the 0.92 support level early this year. Analysts from RBC, Morgan Stanley and Credit Agricole argue that ongoing geopolitical tensions and weak economic data...
By ForexLive — Feed
News•Feb 24, 2026
How Task Batching Saves You Hours Every Week
Task batching—grouping similar work into dedicated time blocks—offers a simple yet powerful way to reclaim hours each week. By minimizing context switches, it reduces mental fatigue and keeps professionals in a flow state. The article outlines three mastery levels, from...
By Asian Efficiency
News•Feb 24, 2026
China’s New Export: Aircraft Debt
China’s state‑owned COMAC is exporting its C909 and C919 aircraft alongside tailored financing, leasing and equity deals, turning planes into long‑term financial levers. The most visible case is Laos, where COMAC holds a 49% stake in Lao Airlines after a lease‑to‑equity...
By The Diplomat – Asia-Pacific
Social•Feb 24, 2026
SpaceX Stake Lifts Blue Owl NAV Amid Credit Slump
Why is the Blue Owl Tech BDC's NAV going UP when private credit sentiment is so bad? While it is primarily a private credit fund, the BDC does have a small equity portfolio, which mostly consists of a large chunk of...
By Julian Klymochko
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Ticketmaster‑LiveNation Faces Potential Standard Oil‑style Breakup
Ticketmaster - LiveNation has got to be the leading candidate for a return of the Standard Oil style breakup (i.e., the dissolution of an anticompetitive merger)
By Tim Wu
News•Feb 24, 2026
Bastion Hires Joanne Norton to Lead Insights Arm
Bastion announced the appointment of Joanne Norton as managing director of its Insights division, succeeding Steven Howlett. Norton brings over 25 years of experience, most recently as Global Director of Consumer Insights at Bondi Sands and former L’Oréal ANZ insights...
By Mumbrella Australia
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Accelerating Trade Imbalances Will Deepen Global Tensions
Good PIIE paper by Tamim Bayoumi and Joseph E. Gagnon on the consequences of accelerating trade imbalances. They warn that trade tensions are likely to get worse, something I have been saying for years and continue to say. I don't...
By Michael Pettis
Social•Feb 24, 2026
World Pivots to India as US Tariffs Alienate Allies
#IndiaWatch 🇮🇳: At the margin, the world is making a Pivot away towards India. TRUMP’S TARIFFS = MAKING LOTS OF US ENEMIES. https://t.co/3H8maAoa62
By Steve Hanke
News•Feb 24, 2026
Inside Koala Eco’s Disciplined Push Into the US Natural Channel
Koala Eco, an Australian natural‑care brand, has moved beyond its US entry phase to a disciplined scaling strategy focused on profitable growth. Co‑founders Paul Davidson and Jessica Bragdon prioritize performance per door, deepening presence in premium natural retailers like Sprouts...
By Inside Retail Australia
Social•Feb 24, 2026
AI Prediction Markets Rapidly Closing the Human Advantage
I talked with one entrepreneur today that is building a prediction market. Crowds of humans are still better but AI is improving at a fast rate. Here is a prediction market for your Claws. Worth checking out. Not compensated by them.
By Robert Scoble
Social•Feb 24, 2026
China Buys FX as Yuan Rises to Curb Appreciation
A little more complicated -- China consistently buys more fx when the CNY is appreciating (whether for structural or cyclical reasons). Exports start converting, and controlling the pace of appreciation takes intervention. Subtle point, but clear in the data
By Brad Setser
News•Feb 24, 2026
DLF Rental Business Gets Deepti Kapoor as Head-HR
Deepti Kapoor has been appointed head of HR at DLF Rental Business, bringing over two decades of strategic HR experience. She joins from Cushman & Wakefield, where she led people and culture across India, Southeast Asia and APAC. Kapoor’s career...
By HR Katha (India)
Social•Feb 24, 2026
AI Boom Keeps Payroll Flat, Cuts Original Workers
The software industry's payroll has been flat since ChatGPT launched. The AI productivity boom may be eliminating the workers who created it first. 🔒 Members-Only https://t.co/xRx5vLZILo
By Ed Yardeni
Social•Feb 24, 2026
TICO Faces 99.5% Owned Toyota Tender
I've been a bit quiet on here for a while. I'm still busy over at @smartkarma. Over the weekend I published two pieces on TICO (Toyota Industries Co (6201 JP)) which is currently undergoing a Tender Offer by Toyota Asset...
By Travis Lundy
News•Feb 24, 2026
Best Practices Are Meaningless Without Audience Research
The article argues that generic best practices produce mediocre marketing results unless they are informed by audience research. It explains that understanding the specific audience’s preferences, language, and hang‑out places transforms bland tactics into resonant campaigns. Practical methods such as...
By SparkToro Blog
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Bloomberg's Oil Glut Narrative Shows They're Six Months Late
Bloomberg is still arguing “oil glut” & saying the correlation between geopolitics in the Middle East & oil prices is "broken" How can @bbgoriginals be 6 months behind the curve & still be in the news business? #Oil #EnergyMarkets #Geopolitics #Commodities...
By Art Berman Blog
Social•Feb 24, 2026
Shadow Oil Fleet Stressed, Sanctions Spur Higher Prices
The shadow oil fleet isn’t gone — it’s under stress Seizures raise costs & strand barrels, but doing more against Russian & Iranian flows means higher oil prices & inflation https://t.co/P5EDN7PrRY #Oil #Sanctions #EnergySecurity #Russia #Iran #Geopolitics
By Art Berman Blog
News•Feb 24, 2026
In Flexible Work Decisions, "Best Available" Is Best Practice
HR advisor Merilyn Speiser argues that flexible‑work policies should be tailored to each role rather than applied uniformly. She recommends starting with design principles that categorize roles and then offering the "best available" flexibility for each. The approach treats equity...
By HR Daily (Australia)
Blog•Feb 24, 2026
Ontario Mining at a Moment of Consequence: Turning Policy Commitments Into Global Leadership – by Priya Tandon (Canadian Mining Journal...
Ontario’s mining sector faces heightened global competition as nations vie for critical minerals essential to clean energy and technology. The province’s policy framework emphasizes certainty, efficiency, and reliability to lure investment. Industry leaders argue that turning policy commitments into concrete...
By Republic of Mining