Cobots Handle Furniture-Making Drudgery, People Focus on Company Growth
Furniture maker Foliot equipped its Quebec and Las Vegas plants with Fanuc CRX‑30 collaborative robots after a successful pilot, expanding to 31 cobots in 2026. The automation shifted operators from repetitive panel‑feeding tasks to supervisory roles, boosting line throughput by 15% and eliminating accidents on the cobot cells. By investing in in‑house programming expertise rather than a turnkey solution, Foliot accelerated deployment and built internal know‑how. The cobot program paid for itself in roughly 16 months, while retaining all existing operators.
Youth Jobs Grant | Government Offers Cash Incentives to Employers Hiring Young Unemployed People
The UK government will pay businesses £3,000 for each eligible young worker they hire, targeting 18‑24‑year‑olds on benefits who have been job‑searching for at least six months. Ministers aim to place around 60,000 youths into employment over the next three...
'New Territory' | 7 in 10 Workers Lack Proper AI Training - and Admit They're 'Experimenting'
A YouGov survey commissioned by The Access Group shows that 44% of British employees are using AI tools at work, yet 70% of those users are merely experimenting. Only 19% have taken formal AI training, while 30% rely on informal...
Jorgovanka Tabaković: Industrial Policy Supporting Serbia's Long-Term Economic Growth
Governor Jorgovanka Tabaković used the 33rd Kopaonik Business Forum to underline Serbia’s industrial re‑industrialisation agenda while highlighting the National Bank’s macro‑economic results. She reported 2025 inflation at 2.7%, a stable dinar, record‑high foreign‑exchange and gold reserves, and a €48 bn export...
‘Unfair Stereotypes’ | Be Like McDonald's: Why Employers Must Rethink Their View on Hiring Young People
UK Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer has launched a £1 billion youth employment drive aimed at creating 200,000 jobs for 18‑24‑year‑olds. Recent ONS data shows youth unemployment has risen to its highest level since 2020, underscoring the urgency. The government’s plan...
Tewungwa Named CEO of UKTV
UKTV announced that Sam Tewungwa will assume the role of chief executive on April 1, succeeding his tenure as Managing Director. Tewungwa will steer the broadcaster’s strategic direction, emphasizing growth of its free streaming service U and deepening distribution partnerships. He...
Transitional Year for Contango Gold & Silver
Contango Ore Inc. entered a transitional 2026, with Manh Choh gold output falling to 40‑45 k ounces as the mine shifts from the North Pit to higher‑grade South Pit ore. Production in 2025 delivered 60,200 gold‑equivalent ounces, including 57,315 ounces of silver,...
Talon Air Adopts MySky Platform to Support Fleet Growth
Talon Air, a New York‑based charter and management operator, has adopted MySky’s AI‑powered financial automation platform to streamline its accounting and sales functions as it expands its fleet. The company added 12 aircraft in 2025, bringing its managed fleet to...
Audacity Bangkok Creates New Campaign for My Chewy Reclaiming the Brands Name
Thai confectionery staple My Chewy, the nation’s best‑selling fruit‑flavoured milk candy, has struggled with consumers calling it by its packaging or flavour rather than its actual name. Audacity Bangkok responded with an emotional online film that asks viewers what name...
One Good Startup Deserves Another...
India’s second‑generation high‑growth startups have given rise to a third‑generation “startup mafia,” with 184 former executives launching about 203 new firms over the past decade. Razorpay leads the cohort, having produced 39 founders, followed closely by Cred, Meesho and PhonePe....
What’s the Difference Between Measurement, Metrics and Analytics?
Internal communication teams are under increasing pressure to prove the business impact of their messages. The article clarifies the distinction between measurement (collecting raw data), metrics (evaluating that data against goals) and analytics (interpreting patterns to explain outcomes). It shows...
Digest: OpenAI Tests Ads Manager and Prepares Agentic Storefronts Feature; Meta Plans Layoffs While Publishers Back Its Expulsion From IAB...
OpenAI is expanding its commercial toolkit, testing an Ads Manager dashboard with a select partner group while preparing the Agentic Storefronts feature that will surface Shopify merchants’ products directly inside ChatGPT. In Sweden, major publishers have backed Meta’s expulsion from...
Thailand Offers Iran Food for Plastic Pellets, Fertiliser
Thailand’s commerce ministry is negotiating a barter arrangement with Iran and other Middle‑East nations, offering processed food and raw materials in exchange for safe passage of Thai vessels carrying plastic pellets and fertiliser. Minister Suphajee Suthumpun warned that Thailand’s domestic...
Alberto Naudon: Chile's Economic Outlook
Alberto Naudón highlighted that Chile’s 2025 economy outperformed expectations, with non‑mining growth near 3% and gross fixed capital formation rising about 7%. Inflation accelerated early in the year but fell faster than projected, positioning headline inflation around 3.5% and core...
Clifford Capital Raises First Australian Dollar IABS at A$455m
Clifford Capital, a Singapore‑based infrastructure credit platform, completed its inaugural Australian‑dollar Infrastructure Asset‑Backed Securities (IABS) issuance, raising A$455 million across four tranches. The deal marks the firm’s first foray into the Australian market and represents the largest private placement of IABS...
What Happens to Middle Management when AI Flattens Your Organization?
The so‑called Great Flattening sees AI‑driven layoffs targeting middle management, with Amazon leading a corporate streamlining push. Agentic AI tools can execute complex workflows, prompting firms to cut managerial layers to cut costs and speed decisions. Analysts project that by...
Boards Protected CEO Bonuses as Tariffs Threatened Business. Now, as Iran Disrupts Trade, CEOs May Get More Protection
Corporate boards are increasingly setting conservative performance targets to shield CEO bonuses from macro‑level shocks such as tariffs and geopolitical risk. Apple’s 2025 bonus plan exemplified this approach, with the board fixing sales and profit goals at or below prior‑year...
Woolmark Appoints New CEO as Demand for Merino Wool Ramps Up
Australian Wool Innovation (AWI) has appointed Bryan Fry, former Chairman and CEO of Pernod Ricard Winemakers, as its new chief executive. Fry brings a blend of agronomy experience and global brand expertise to lead the Woolmark programme. The move coincides...
AfrexInsure Appoints Lesley Ndlovu as New Chief Executive Officer
AfrexInsure, the specialty insurance arm of Afreximbank, has named Lesley Ndlovu as its new chief executive officer, effective 2026. Ndlovu succeeds Jonas Mushosho at a time when the firm is transitioning from a start‑up to a scale‑up to meet growing...
The 15 Best Applicant Tracking Systems in 2026
Choosing the right applicant tracking system (ATS) is now a strategic priority for talent acquisition teams, as modern platforms have evolved from simple databases into AI‑powered recruiting ecosystems. A new guide ranks the 15 best ATS solutions for 2026, evaluating...
The Vital Role of Advertising in Times of Uncertainty
Terry Kane of The Trade Desk argues that advertising is a critical infrastructure that keeps the free internet, quality journalism, and economic activity alive during periods of uncertainty. Historical research shows brands that maintain or increase ad spend in downturns...
What the Supreme Court’s Tariff Ruling Means for Luxury Imports
The Supreme Court invalidated the Trump administration’s executive‑order tariffs on foreign goods, reaffirming that Congress alone controls commerce regulation. The ruling does not eliminate presidential tariff authority, as statutes like the Trade Act’s Section 301 and Section 122 still grant limited powers....
Creating Self-Aware Teams: Worth the Effort?
Vince Kellen, CIO of Texas A&M University System, proposes a "three Ts" framework—together, improve teammate, tighten up—to build self‑aware, high‑functioning IT teams. He argues that radical transparency and multilateral performance reviews break entrenched silos and shift managers from ownership to...
Why LinkedIn Might Have Two Algorithms — and Why Marketers Should Care
A recent analysis by Christopher Penn suggests LinkedIn runs two distinct algorithmic systems: a retrieval stage that decides whether a post enters a viewer’s candidate pool, and a ranking stage that orders those candidates in the feed. Retrieval relies on signals...
Mada Media Holds Official Ceremony for Naming Rights of ‘National Paints’ Station
Mada Media hosted an official ceremony to award naming rights of Dubai Metro’s Red Line station to National Paints, formerly Jebel Ali. In 2025 the station served 636,873 passengers and delivered over 47 million brand impressions with a 25.78% reach, highlighting the...
Q&A: AI Class Action Has Major HR Implications
Employers are likely to encounter intensified scrutiny over AI‑driven hiring after a class‑action lawsuit targets a recruitment software provider for alleged bias. The case, distinct from earlier AI litigation, highlights legal exposure for companies using automated decision‑making tools, especially in...
MTD Countdown Begins and the Grace Period Is Over
The UK’s 2026 Spring Statement confirmed the hard deadline of 6 April 2026 for Making Tax Digital for Income Tax Self‑Assessment (MTD ITSA) and kept thresholds fixed through 2028. HMRC clarified that penalty points will not be applied to late quarterly updates in...
Brands Lag as Women Drive up to 85 per Cent of Buying Decisions
A HerKey‑Havas Creative India study finds women influence 70‑85% of purchase decisions in India, yet most brands lag behind. Only 14% of marketers consider themselves leaders in women‑centric marketing, and consistent women‑focused campaigns appear in just half to two‑thirds of...
Ai+ Smartphone Brings Ishan Kishan on Board for Brand Campaigns
Ai+ Smartphone announced a brand partnership with Indian cricketer Ishan Kishan to front its upcoming Nova Series campaigns. The deal aligns the athlete’s image of self‑made ambition with the company’s focus on accessible, high‑performance devices. Kishan will feature in multi‑channel...
The Experience Gap: Why Gen Z’s Career Launch Needs a Reboot
Gen Z faces a widening "experience gap" as employers increasingly require proven on‑the‑job skills before hiring for entry‑level positions. The rise of AI has shifted expectations, pushing candidates to deliver higher‑value work from day one, making traditional classroom‑only degrees less...
The 10 Best Mailchimp Alternatives in 2026
Mailchimp remains a top email marketing tool, but growing user demands for better pricing, specialized features, and AI capabilities have spurred a vibrant alternatives market. Zapier’s updated 2026 guide lists ten contenders, ranging from advanced automation platforms like ActiveCampaign to...
When Every Enterprise Architecture Tool Looks The Same …
Enterprise architecture leaders are overwhelmed by vendor demos that showcase identical feature lists, making tool selection difficult. Six shortlisted EA suites all met RFP checklists, yet the EA lead could not differentiate them based on features alone. By reframing the...
CIO Forum at SAPinsider Las Vegas 2026 Opens With Focus on Cost, Alignment, and Execution
The CIO Forum at SAPinsider Las Vegas 2026 gathered senior technology leaders to discuss cost management, AI adoption, and the need for tighter alignment between IT and business. New research presented by SAPinsider’s chief research officer highlighted operational efficiency, revenue...
RBA Rate Hike Announced, Experts Fear Impact on Retail
Employer Shuts Down Future Claims From Vexatious Employee
World Vision Australia secured a Federal Court vexatious proceedings order against a former employee who, after being dismissed during his probationary period, launched multiple lawsuits alleging adverse action, unlawful termination, overtime under‑payment, and defamation. Justice Darryl Rangiah found the employee’s...
Russia Has Taken 12 Settlements in Ukraine
Russia’s military announced the capture of twelve settlements in Ukraine during the first two weeks of March, extending its foothold along both the eastern and southern fronts. The advances were highlighted by General Valery Gerasimov during a frontline visit. Kyiv’s...
Havas Thailand Taps Navinda Kittisubkul as Head of Strategy & Growth
Havas Thailand has created a Head of Strategy & Growth role and appointed Navinda Kittisubkul, a veteran with more than two decades of brand, media and research experience. The position will unite media, creative, data and AI capabilities to deliver integrated, client‑centric...
Xi Pushes Belt and Road Initiative Port Alliance Amid Iran War, Panama Canal Dispute
Chinese President Xi Jinping announced plans to establish an international port alliance under the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to link key maritime chokepoints such as the Strait of Hormuz and the Panama Canal. The proposal comes as China faces...
Global Funds Look to Malaysia as Iran War Shakes up Asian Assets
Global funds are turning to Malaysia as the Iran‑Russia conflict rattles Asian markets. The country’s political stability, current‑account surplus and status as one of the few net oil exporters in the region have limited equity outflows, keeping the KLCI near‑flat...
Strand-Owned Antler Appoints Kirsty Glenne as CEO
Zydus Wellness Appoints Adhir Anand as Head – Media & Digital
Zydus Wellness announced the appointment of Adhir Anand as Head of Media & Digital, effective immediately. Anand arrives from Wavemaker, where he spent seven years culminating as General Manager for the L’Oréal business. His portfolio includes senior roles at The...
Brooki Bakehouse Appoints CEO to Lead Expansion
YouGov Launches AI Tool To Explain The ‘Why’ Behind Brand Metrics
YouGov has unveiled BrandIndex Voices, an AI‑powered qualitative research add‑on to its BrandIndex platform. The tool combines conversational AI with YouGov’s verified panel to surface the narratives behind shifts in brand metrics such as quality, value and reputation. By prompting...
Hotels.com Gets Refreshingly Literal in New Brand Push
Hotels.com launched a global brand campaign titled “It’s All in the Name,” featuring literal‑humor ads that play on the platform’s straightforward name. The spots – “Chicken Fingers” and “Headphones” – debuted on U.S. TV on March 17 and underscore the brand’s...
Westpac NZ Banks On New Omnicom Oceania ‘Goldilocks’ Bespoke Agency
Westpac New Zealand has launched a partnership with Goldilocks, a bespoke agency created within Omnicom Oceania to drive its brand transformation. The model embeds specialist talent across insights, data, media, technology and production directly within Westpac, bypassing traditional agency structures....
Maryland Paid FAMLI Program – Current Status and Key Updates
Maryland’s Time to Care Act created a statewide Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance (FAMLI) program, but recent legislation has pushed back key dates. House Bill 102 delays employer and employee contributions to Jan 1 2027 and postpones benefit availability to between...
Major Changes to New Zealand’s Employment Relations Framework
New Zealand’s Employment Relations Amendment Bill, effective February 2026, removes unjustified dismissal protections for employees earning NZ$200,000 or more and introduces a twelve‑month transition for existing staff. The legislation also allows full or partial reduction of personal grievance remedies when...
Trump Seeks to Delay China Summit Due to Iran War
U.S. President Donald Trump announced he will push back the high‑profile summit with Chinese President Xi Jinping by roughly a month, moving it from the end of March to early May. The delay is attributed to the escalating war in...
Research to Gauge Effectiveness of Free Workplace Health Initiatives
A £3.7 million, five‑year research programme led by the University of Birmingham will assess the effectiveness of free workplace health and wellbeing initiatives, known as WHISPAs, for small and medium‑sized enterprises. Funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research,...
"We're the Layer that AI Needs to Get Things Done in the Real World": MeatLayer Is Building a Marketplace Where...
London‑based startup MeatLayer is launching a marketplace where AI agents autonomously post, match, verify, and pay humans for real‑world tasks such as deliveries, inspections, and photography. The platform supplies structured listings with location, deadline and fixed payment, and proof of...