Business News and Headlines

Forex Today: Japanese GDP Data Underwhelms
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Forex Today: Japanese GDP Data Underwhelms

Japan’s Q4 GDP expanded only 0.1% YoY, well below the 0.4% consensus, nudging the economy away from a technical recession but dampening reflation hopes. The weak data erased much of the yen’s recent 3% rally sparked by the new government’s...

By DailyForex — Forex News
Nearshoring and Logistics Upgrades Position the Caribbean as a New Regional Hub
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Nearshoring and Logistics Upgrades Position the Caribbean as a New Regional Hub

The Caribbean is repositioning as a regional supply‑chain hub as nearshoring gains traction and governments fund logistics upgrades. High logistics costs—16 to 25 percent of GDP—have spurred port expansions in the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, Guyana and Belize, backed by investors such as DP World...

By fDi Intelligence (FT)
EQS-CMS: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA: Release of a Capital Market Information
NewsFeb 16, 2026

EQS-CMS: Henkel AG & Co. KGaA: Release of a Capital Market Information

Henkel AG & Co. KGaA disclosed its weekly share‑buyback activity for 9‑13 February 2026, repurchasing 17,000 preferred shares and 18,000 ordinary shares on the XETR. The preferred‑share buyback cost €1.37 million at an average price of €80.56, while the ordinary‑share buyback cost €1.34 million...

By Business Insider – Markets Insider
Milan-Based Contents Secures €5.9 Million for AI Workflow Platform, Sets up Doha Hub for Middle East Expansion
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Milan-Based Contents Secures €5.9 Million for AI Workflow Platform, Sets up Doha Hub for Middle East Expansion

Italian AI workflow startup Contents announced a €5.9 million Series B extension, bringing its total financing to €21 million. The round was led by Qatar Development Bank with participation from Alkemia Capital, and will fund the launch of a Doha‑based hub serving the...

By EU-Startups
Why Doing Less Is the Smartest Strategy for Bootstrapped AI Startups
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Why Doing Less Is the Smartest Strategy for Bootstrapped AI Startups

Bootstrapped AI startups achieve greater traction by deliberately limiting scope rather than chasing broad scale. By concentrating on a single, well‑defined use case, founders can allocate scarce capital to refine data, model performance, and user experience. This focused approach creates...

By Startups Magazine
Ashish Goel to Take on CHRO Role at Kajaria Ceramics
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Ashish Goel to Take on CHRO Role at Kajaria Ceramics

Kajaria Ceramics announced the appointment of Ashish Goel as chief human resources officer, effective 13 February 2026. Goel arrives from Essel Group|Zee Media, where he has served as CHRO since 2018, and brings more than two decades of HR leadership...

By HR Katha (India)
Strategies and Opportunities for Corporate Clients
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Strategies and Opportunities for Corporate Clients

In a recent interview, MUFG Managing Director Manoj S. Bhatia highlighted the bank’s focus on bespoke, empathetic relationships with corporate clients, driven by a decentralized, sector‑specialist approach. This model enables MUFG to stay nimble amid volatile market conditions and deliver...

By Treasury Today
Amazon Deemed Seller VAT Fraud Reform Would Raise Tax Revenues and Tackle Fraud
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Amazon Deemed Seller VAT Fraud Reform Would Raise Tax Revenues and Tackle Fraud

UK policymakers are considering extending the VAT deemed‑seller rules to cover both overseas and domestic sellers on online marketplaces. Amazon argues that the change would close a loophole exploited by fraudulent sellers, streamline VAT collection and generate roughly £700 million in...

By ChannelX (formerly Tamebay)
Govt Aims to Revive Private Investment in Highway Construction
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Govt Aims to Revive Private Investment in Highway Construction

India’s government plans to award ₹1 lakh crore of highway projects to private developers by fiscal year 2027, aiming to raise private sector participation to 25 % of highway development next year from the current low single digits. The budget allocates ₹12.2 lakh crore to...

By The Hindu BusinessLine – Economy
Bestselling Author Paulo Andrez Joins the EU-Startups Summit 2026 on May 7-8 in Malta
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Bestselling Author Paulo Andrez Joins the EU-Startups Summit 2026 on May 7-8 in Malta

Bestselling author, angel investor and serial entrepreneur Paulo Andrez will join the EU-Startups Summit 2026 in Malta on May 7-8. Known for backing unicorn Sword Health and earning the 2012 Best European Angel Investment award, Andrez brings decades of early‑stage...

By EU-Startups
Firms Report Improved Financial Performance Linked to Use of Embedded Finance
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Firms Report Improved Financial Performance Linked to Use of Embedded Finance

A new PYMNTS Intelligence study of 515 senior leaders shows embedded finance is now a strategic imperative for mid‑size and large firms. Nearly 90% of respondents prioritize strengthening customer and employee relationships, while 75% plan technology upgrades within the next...

By PYMNTS
European Tech Weekly Recap: More than 65 Tech Funding Deals Worth over €3.4B
NewsFeb 16, 2026

European Tech Weekly Recap: More than 65 Tech Funding Deals Worth over €3.4B

European venture capital activity surged last week, with more than 65 tech funding deals totaling over €3.4 billion. Cloud startups captured €1.2 billion, followed closely by space ventures at €1.1 billion, while healthtech secured €214.4 million. The United Kingdom led the regional tally with...

By Tech.eu
Five MCP Servers to Rule the Cloud
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Five MCP Servers to Rule the Cloud

Anthropic’s Model Context Protocol (MCP) is being adopted by the major hyperscalers as a native interface for AI agents to manage cloud resources via natural language. AWS leads with a catalog of over 60 MCP servers covering its entire service...

By InfoWorld
Anthropic Valued at $380Bn as It Raises $30Bn Series G
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Anthropic Valued at $380Bn as It Raises $30Bn Series G

Anthropic secured $30 billion in a Series G round led by GIC and Coatue, lifting its post‑money valuation to $380 billion. The funding backs rapid expansion of its enterprise AI suite, including Claude, Claude Code, and the newly launched Opus 4.6 model, which now leads...

By Startups Magazine
Rethinking SARs in the Fight Against Financial Crime
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Rethinking SARs in the Fight Against Financial Crime

Suspicious Activity Reports (SARs) remain the cornerstone of global AML frameworks, yet many institutions misunderstand their purpose, treating them as accusations rather than suspicion flags. Regulatory pressure and soaring transaction volumes have driven firms to prioritize filing speed over narrative...

By Fintech Global
Legora and Tandem Health CEOs Reject Anthropic and OpenAI Threat
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Legora and Tandem Health CEOs Reject Anthropic and OpenAI Threat

Swedish AI startups Legora and Tandem Health said they do not view US frontier AI labs such as Anthropic and OpenAI as threats to their business models. Legora, a legal‑tech platform serving over 400 firms and valued at $1.8 billion, argues...

By Tech.eu
The Spreadsheet Trap in Financial Crime Risk
NewsFeb 16, 2026

The Spreadsheet Trap in Financial Crime Risk

Spreadsheets have long been the default tool for financial crime risk assessments, prized for their flexibility and low cost. However, they cannot enforce governance, version control, or audit trails required by modern compliance frameworks. As institutions expand across products and...

By Fintech Global
AI Success That Feels Real
NewsFeb 16, 2026

AI Success That Feels Real

The article argues that AI delivers real business value when organizations focus on small, well‑defined projects rather than grand transformation programs. By targeting high‑friction processes, firms can achieve measurable gains such as a 30% drop in rework, improved data accuracy,...

By Intrafocus – Blog
Ankler Taps New Publisher
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Ankler Taps New Publisher

Ankler Media Group announced the appointment of Lynne Segall as its new publisher, joining CEO Janice Min and sales head London Sanders. Segall brings experience from The Hollywood Reporter, Billboard and The Wrap to steer sales, advertising, podcasts, and live events....

By Los Angeles Business Journal
Oak Furnitureland Boosted by Sales Growth and Reduced Losses
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Oak Furnitureland Boosted by Sales Growth and Reduced Losses

Oak Furnitureland reported a 5% rise in like‑for‑like sales over the seven months to 31 January 2026, driven by expanded product ranges and store‑online improvements. Group revenue for the year to 30 June 2025 increased 2% to £240.5 million, while operating losses shrank 66% to...

By The Retail Bulletin
Exclusive: Tiger Global-Backed Kutumb Enters Gay Dating Space with Polo
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Exclusive: Tiger Global-Backed Kutumb Enters Gay Dating Space with Polo

Bengaluru‑based Kutumb has entered the LGBTQ+ dating market with Polo, a new gay‑focused app now live on Google Play. Polo offers selfie‑based verification, AI‑driven matchmaking, instant messaging and audio‑video calls, plus private photo albums and interest filters. The launch follows...

By Entrackr
Henri-Lloyd Appoints Former Rapha Executive as Chief Marketing Officer
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Henri-Lloyd Appoints Former Rapha Executive as Chief Marketing Officer

Henri‑Lloyd has created a chief marketing officer role and hired Tom McMullen, a former Rapha CMO, to fill it. McMullen brings nearly a decade of experience at the premium cycling brand and a stint as brand director at Montane, plus...

By The Retail Bulletin
Google Patches First Chrome Zero-Day Exploited in Attacks This Year
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Google Patches First Chrome Zero-Day Exploited in Attacks This Year

Google has issued emergency updates to patch CVE‑2026‑2441, a high‑severity use‑after‑free flaw in Chrome’s CSSFontFeatureValuesMap implementation. The vulnerability, confirmed to be exploited in the wild, can cause crashes, rendering issues, or data corruption. Google back‑ported the fix to stable desktop...

By BleepingComputer
Fitch, Afreximbank, and Africa's Development Sovereignty
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Fitch, Afreximbank, and Africa's Development Sovereignty

Afreximbank terminated its credit rating relationship with Fitch after the agency reclassified the bank as high‑risk for providing debt relief to Ghana. Fitch argued the support indicated a lack of preferred‑creditor status, a claim the bank disputes, citing treaty‑based protections...

By African Business
ValleyNXT Ventures Launches Rs 400 Cr Early-Stage Fund for Deeptech Startups
NewsFeb 16, 2026

ValleyNXT Ventures Launches Rs 400 Cr Early-Stage Fund for Deeptech Startups

ValleyNXT Ventures has launched the Bharat Breakthrough Fund‑I, a SEBI‑registered Category I VC vehicle aimed at seed to pre‑Series A deep‑tech startups. The fund seeks an initial Rs 200 crore raise, with an option to double to Rs 400 crore. It will combine traditional venture capital...

By YourStory
Cadbury 5 Star and Cricket Scotland Celebrate World Cup Qualification With ‘Do Nothing’
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Cadbury 5 Star and Cricket Scotland Celebrate World Cup Qualification With ‘Do Nothing’

Cadbury 5 Star has teamed up with Cricket Scotland to celebrate the team’s unexpected qualification for the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup. The partnership riffs on Cadbury’s long‑running “Eat 5 Star, Do Nothing” slogan, positioning Scotland’s “do nothing” route into the tournament as a...

By Campaign Brief Asia
Startup Nation: What It Really Takes to Build a Resilient Innovation Hub
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Startup Nation: What It Really Takes to Build a Resilient Innovation Hub

Governments are seeking ways to build startup ecosystems that can grow even during geopolitical shocks, supply‑chain disruptions, and economic volatility. The article argues that resilience—not branding or isolated reforms—is the key, using Silicon Valley’s ability to compress, recalibrate, and accelerate...

By Startups Magazine
Sitegeist Secures €4M Pre-Seed for AI Modular Robots in Construction
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Sitegeist Secures €4M Pre-Seed for AI Modular Robots in Construction

Munich‑based Sitegeist secured €4 million in a pre‑seed round led by b2venture and OpenOcean to develop AI‑driven modular robots for construction. The startup targets the massive concrete‑renovation backlog in Europe and North America, where labor shortages and manual removal methods drive...

By Tech.eu
Terra Now Valued at over $100 Million, as It Extends Funding to $34 Million
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Terra Now Valued at over $100 Million, as It Extends Funding to $34 Million

Terra Industries, an African defence‑technology startup, extended its Series A round to $34 million after adding $22 million in fresh capital, pushing its valuation past the $100 million mark. The round was led by Lux Capital and attracted new angel investors such as actor...

By Techpoint Africa
Japan's Economy Barely Grows in Oct-Dec Quarter as Exports Slow
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Japan's Economy Barely Grows in Oct-Dec Quarter as Exports Slow

Japan’s economy grew a modest 0.2 percent annualised in the October‑December quarter, just enough to avoid a technical recession after a 0.7 percent contraction in the prior quarter. Private consumption rose 0.4 percent, but a 1.1 percent drop in exports dragged overall growth. The...

By Japan Today – Business
Quote of the Day by Sanjeev Bikhchandani: ‘Nobody Being Thrown Out… You Should Just Learn 5-15 Useful AI Tools’
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Quote of the Day by Sanjeev Bikhchandani: ‘Nobody Being Thrown Out… You Should Just Learn 5-15 Useful AI Tools’

Founder of Info Edge, Sanjeev Bikhchandani, says AI isn’t eliminating jobs but requires workers to upskill. He recommends employees master between five and fifteen practical AI tools to stay relevant. The advice emphasizes reskilling rather than fear of displacement. Bikhchandani’s...

By Mint AI
LocalHost Raises $2.5 Mn From InVideo, RedBull India, and Others
NewsFeb 16, 2026

LocalHost Raises $2.5 Mn From InVideo, RedBull India, and Others

LocalHost, a startup launchpad, secured $2.5 million in an angel round led by InVideo, RedBull India, Anthropic and Eros International. The capital will fund expansion of its global founder labs, bolstering hardware infrastructure and scaling operational teams across regions. Existing labs...

By Entrackr
Why Media Mix Modeling So Rarely Works for B2B
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Why Media Mix Modeling So Rarely Works for B2B

Media mix modeling (MMM) excels for consumer brands with high transaction volume, stable offers, short purchase cycles, and direct paths, but B2B marketers often encounter wide uncertainty intervals and volatile recommendations. The core issue is statistical: B2B deals are few,...

By MarTech Series
India's Wholesale Inflation Rises to 1.81% in January
NewsFeb 16, 2026

India's Wholesale Inflation Rises to 1.81% in January

India’s wholesale price index (WPI) accelerated to 1.81% year‑on‑year in January, up sharply from 0.53% in December. The rise was led by higher food prices, while falling fuel costs provided a modest offset. Although the Reserve Bank of India (RBI)...

By Mint (India) – Economy
Apple Privacy Labels Often Don’t Match What Chinese Smart Home Apps Do
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Apple Privacy Labels Often Don’t Match What Chinese Smart Home Apps Do

A new study of 49 Chinese smart‑home apps on Apple’s App Store reveals systematic gaps in by‑stander privacy and frequent mismatches between privacy policies, user‑interface controls, and App Store privacy labels. All apps require real‑name phone registration and collect a...

By Help Net Security
IT and Administration Jobs Attract Most UK Applications
NewsFeb 16, 2026

IT and Administration Jobs Attract Most UK Applications

UK jobseekers are gravitating toward IT and administration positions, with software engineering roles attracting the most applications per vacancy in Q4 2025. The average salary for software engineers was £61,268, the highest among the top‑ten roles, while receptionists earned £30,805....

By HRreview (UK)
Arqiva in Uncertainty over DTT Switch Off
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Arqiva in Uncertainty over DTT Switch Off

Arqiva, the UK's sole national digital terrestrial TV and radio infrastructure provider, faces financial uncertainty as major shareholders reassess their stakes. Macquarie has divested its 26.5% holding, while Digital 9 Infrastructure (DGI9) is reviewing its 51.8% share and may write off...

By Advanced Television
Non-Tariff Measures Costing Industry Billions: GA
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Non-Tariff Measures Costing Industry Billions: GA

Grains Australia’s new report quantifies non‑tariff measures (NTMs) as a 20.4% tariff‑equivalent on Australian grain exports, costing the sector about $4.6 billion in forgone revenue each year. The analysis, built on ABARES research and ANU‑led econometric modelling, is the most detailed...

By Grain Central
Industrial AI Platform Combines Virtual Twins, Accelerated Computing
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Industrial AI Platform Combines Virtual Twins, Accelerated Computing

Dassault Systèmes and NVIDIA announced a long‑term partnership to build a shared industrial AI architecture that merges Dassault’s virtual twin technology with NVIDIA’s AI infrastructure and accelerated computing libraries. The joint solution aims to deliver physics‑validated Industry World Models that...

By ERP Today
A Practical Guide to Completing Identity Verification for Your Clients
NewsFeb 16, 2026

A Practical Guide to Completing Identity Verification for Your Clients

In this Accountancy Age episode, the hosts walk listeners through the two‑step Companies House identity verification process that directors and persons with significant control (PSCs) must complete before filing confirmation statements. They explain how ACSPs report verifications, obtain the 11‑character...

By Accountancy Age
EToro Launches Shareholder Engagement Initiative in Partnership with Stockperks
NewsFeb 16, 2026

EToro Launches Shareholder Engagement Initiative in Partnership with Stockperks

eToro has launched a shareholder engagement initiative in partnership with Stockperks, a loyalty‑rewards marketplace for public companies. The program invites eligible eToro shareholders to receive exclusive educational content, event invitations, and direct access to company leaders and market experts. By...

By The Fintech Times
In GitHub’s Advisory Pipeline, some Advisories Move Faster than Others
NewsFeb 16, 2026

In GitHub’s Advisory Pipeline, some Advisories Move Faster than Others

A new study of 288,604 GitHub Security Advisories from 2019‑2025 shows that only about 8% (23,563) complete GitHub’s formal review process. Advisories created directly in repositories are reviewed far faster—median under one day—than those imported from the National Vulnerability Database,...

By Help Net Security
A Blueprint for the Predictive Firm: Moving Beyond Manual Data Reconciliation
NewsFeb 16, 2026

A Blueprint for the Predictive Firm: Moving Beyond Manual Data Reconciliation

The episode explores how leading accountancy firms are shifting from retrospective reporting to predictive, real‑time visibility by consolidating fragmented tech stacks into unified platforms. It highlights the £300k technology investment benchmark needed to eliminate manual data reconciliation, improve margin protection...

By Accountancy Age
Exclusive: UK HealthTech Startup Nul Raises €840k in Seed Funding to Help Nullify Alcohol Dependence
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Exclusive: UK HealthTech Startup Nul Raises €840k in Seed Funding to Help Nullify Alcohol Dependence

UK‑based health‑tech startup Nul announced a €840,000 seed round led by dmg ventures and BYVP to fund its UK commercial launch and international expansion. The company offers a fully remote, subscription‑based platform that pairs clinical care with the FDA‑approved medication naltrexone...

By EU-Startups
Lerma Names Its First Chief Strategy Officer as It Builds Out Leadership Team
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Lerma Names Its First Chief Strategy Officer as It Builds Out Leadership Team

Dallas‑based agency Lerma has appointed Omar Quiñones as its first Chief Strategy Officer, completing a recent C‑suite expansion. Quiñones joins from Messianu/Edelman/Lerma, where he held the same role, and brings senior strategy experience from Anomaly, CP+B, and YETI. The hire...

By Adweek
IFlytek’s Audio Transcription Tool Reaches 100 Million Users
NewsFeb 16, 2026

IFlytek’s Audio Transcription Tool Reaches 100 Million Users

iFlytek’s iFlyrec audio transcription app has surpassed 100 million users, becoming the company’s second core product to hit nine‑figure adoption. The service relies on a subscription‑based SaaS model rather than advertising or subsidies, delivering over 60% gross‑profit growth for three straight...

By KrASIA
EaseMyTrip to Raise Rs 500 Cr to Scale Hotels and Holidays Biz
NewsFeb 16, 2026

EaseMyTrip to Raise Rs 500 Cr to Scale Hotels and Holidays Biz

EaseMyTrip, one of India’s leading online travel platforms, announced plans to raise up to Rs 500 crore through a rights issue, QIP or other approved methods. The capital will be used to deepen its hotel and holiday‑package business, upgrade technology, and pursue...

By Entrackr
Genki Forest Calls 2025 a Breakthrough Year, Tightens Ops to Focus on Steady Growth
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Genki Forest Calls 2025 a Breakthrough Year, Tightens Ops to Focus on Steady Growth

Genki Forest celebrated its ninth anniversary by declaring 2025 a breakthrough year, achieving its first sustainable profitability and higher‑quality growth. The company credited tighter expense control, disciplined pricing and a trimmed SKU portfolio for the improvement, while deepening channel penetration...

By KrASIA
Cisco Set to Release Home-Brew Hypervisor as a VMware Alternative
NewsFeb 16, 2026

Cisco Set to Release Home-Brew Hypervisor as a VMware Alternative

Cisco is preparing to launch NFVIS‑for‑UC, a purpose‑built hypervisor that runs only its Unified Communications applications, offering a lightweight alternative to VMware. VMware, now owned by Broadcom, has shifted focus to its expensive Cloud Foundation suite, leaving low‑end vSphere customers...

By The Register