Video: New Featurette - Hulu Original Series "Rivals" Season 2
Hulu’s Emmy‑ and BAFTA‑winning drama “Rivals” returns for a second season on Friday, May 15, 2026. The 12‑episode run is split into two six‑episode batches, with a three‑episode premiere kicking off the first batch and the remainder slated for later in the year. The series will stream on Hulu and on Hulu + Disney+ for bundle subscribers in the United States, while international viewers can watch via Disney+. New guest stars Hayley Atwell and Rupert Everett join a returning ensemble that includes David Tennant and Alex Hassell.
Quectel Expands IoT Reach in Brazil with Vermont Partnership
Quectel Wireless Solutions has signed a partnership with Vermont Brasil to serve as its regional representative for the full range of wireless and antenna products in Brazil. The deal leverages Vermont's nationwide footprint and technical know‑how to provide design‑in assistance...
Rising Energy Demand Needs Multi‑Source Solutions by 2040
Energy demand is rising fast. AI, data centers and electrification shape the next phase of energy systems, with global demand expected to grow by 30% by 2040. No single source can meet this alone. Info: https://t.co/KUhjRUvbdc #EuropeEnergyWeek #HannoverMesse @EEWeek partner https://t.co/xBlUG38Y3p
Registration as a Tax Adviser: What Legal Advisers Need to Know and Do
HMRC’s new tax‑adviser registration rule, effective 18 May 2026, obliges conveyancing firms that submit SDLT returns to register as tax advisers. The requirement applies if a firm interacts with HMRC on a client’s tax affairs and receives payment, regardless of whether a...
Airwaves of Power: Why the Pentagon Should Shift to a Commercial-First Spectrum Model
The Pentagon now occupies roughly 93% of U.S. mid‑band spectrum while commercial users hold only about 3%, a legacy of century‑old policy rather than current strategic need. A forthcoming FCC auction of 100 MHz in the AWS‑3 band and a larger...
Synthetic Methane’s Opening Window for Investors and Policy Makers
Synthetic methane, or e‑methane, is shifting from a technical curiosity to an investable asset because it can run through existing gas infrastructure without massive retrofits. The e‑NG Coalition tracks more than 150 projects worldwide, targeting roughly 1.3 million tonnes of production...
Mangrove Sponsoring Debut Buttonwood Re Cat Bond, Targeting $100m 2026-1 Issuance
Mangrove Property Insurance, launched in early 2025, is sponsoring its first catastrophe bond through Bermuda‑based Buttonwood Re Ltd. The company aims to raise $100 million across four tranches of the Series 2026‑1 issuance, providing both occurrence and aggregate reinsurance for named storms...
Meet the Innovator Scaling a Business to Make Roads and Sites Safer
Entrepreneur Dorian Isaacson quit consulting to launch Streetwise Technology, now Rhevia, a radar‑based driver‑alert system for zebra crossings. Within a year the Lodestar beacon was deployed in Southend‑on‑Sea, Coventry and a Nestlé trial site, and the firm secured £600,000 (≈$770,000)...
China Unveils a Fixed-Wing Drone Made of Bamboo Fibre Composite Material
China’s International Centre for Bamboo and Rattan, together with Beihang University and Long Bamboo Technology, flew the world’s first fixed‑wing drone built largely from bamboo‑based composite material. The UAV’s fuselage contains over 25% bamboo, achieving a weight reduction of more...
BDC’s New $500-Million Loan Program Will Help Smaller Businesses Adopt AI
The Business Development Bank of Canada (BDC) has launched the $500 million CAD (≈$365 million USD) LIFT loan program to help up to 1,000 Canadian small and medium‑sized enterprises adopt artificial intelligence. Loans range from $25,000 to $5 million CAD (≈$18,000–$3.65 million USD) and...
AI Search Demands a New Audience Playbook
AI-powered search engines are reshaping how readers arrive at publisher sites. While overall referral traffic may dip, the visitors who do click are more purposeful and likely to engage. A Scrunch study of AI queries about GLP‑1 drugs categorizes users...
From Insight to Action: Rethinking Media Planning in the Age of AI Agents
Caroline Sajas of Locala argues that the biggest bottleneck in media planning is not a lack of insights but the inability to translate them into actionable campaigns. A Forrester‑Amplified study finds 37% of ad spend is ineffective because data and...
This K-Pop Idol Tycoon Game Might Be Our Dream PS5 Sim
Indonesian studio Wisageni is developing "K‑Pop Idol Stories: Road to Debut," a PS5‑only tycoon game that lets players recruit, train, and manage a K‑pop girl group. The title promises an original soundtrack but no licensed artists, and it already has...
The Brief: How to Status Match Your Way to Premium Perks
Travelers can accelerate their frequent‑flyer benefits by leveraging status‑match programs, which copy a high tier from a competing airline or hotel onto a new carrier. Current offers include Virgin Atlantic’s free match for members of ten airlines and Air France/KLM’s...
FLASH FRIDAY: PDT Rule Overhaul Sparks Industry Debate
The SEC has approved FINRA’s overhaul of the Pattern Day Trader rule, scrapping the long‑standing $25,000 equity minimum and replacing it with intraday margin standards that assess risk throughout the trading day. Webull and Interactive Brokers welcomed the change, saying...
ZeroPol: Towards Circular Manufacturing of Aerospace Components
ZeroPol, a Swiss Innosuisse‑backed flagship project, announced the launch of Best Carbon Footprint Materials—a new generation of bio‑derived epoxy resins, vitrimers and debondable adhesives designed for circular aerospace composites. The initiative includes a full‑scale demonstrator of an aircraft sandwich component...
Retail Security Measures Driving Customers Away: DALBAR Study
DALBAR’s 2026 Retail Security and Loss Prevention Study surveyed 500 U.S. and Canadian shoppers and found that 38% abandoned a purchase because of in‑store security measures. Locked merchandise cabinets emerged as the most common friction point, directly linking physical barriers...
Exclusive: Australian Plant Proteins Enters Retail with ‘Nothing Else’ to Meet Clean-Label Demand
Australian Plant Proteins, rescued from insolvency, has launched the direct‑to‑consumer brand Nothing Else, offering single‑ingredient fava bean and yellow pea protein isolates produced in‑house with a solvent‑free process. Each 30 g scoop delivers 25‑26 g of complete plant protein and retails for...
Diagonal Therapeutics’ Innovative Clustering Antibodies for Vascular Diseases
Diagonal Therapeutics is advancing a pioneering platform of clustering antibodies designed to restore vascular receptor signaling, targeting the root cause of genetic vasculopathies. Its lead candidate, DIAG723, has earned FDA Orphan Drug Designation for hereditary hemorrhagic telangiectasia (HHT) and shows...
What Hormuz Exposed About Our Semiconductor Supply Chain
The closure of the Strait of Hormuz in early March has halted Qatar’s Ras Laffan helium plant, sending spot helium prices soaring and exposing a critical dependency in the semiconductor supply chain. South Korea and Taiwan source roughly two‑thirds of their...
US Navy’s Aircraft Carrier that Tested New Drone-Killing Laser Weapon Arrives in Middle East
The U.S. Navy’s Nimitz‑class carrier USS George H.W. Bush arrived in the CENTCOM area of responsibility on April 23, positioning its flight deck with a full complement of warplanes. The carrier joins the USS Abraham Lincoln and USS Gerald R....
This Week in European MedTech and HealthTech: 24th April 2026
European regulators intensified oversight this week, linking the EU AI Act with the Medical Device Regulation and launching the EU Health Technology Assessment framework, while the first four EUDAMED modules go live in May. Funding activity surged as AI‑driven admin...
Value Based Procurement on Target for June Launch, but Challenges Remain
The UK Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) is on track to launch its new value‑based procurement (VBP) assessment methodology in June, with senior officials slated to present at the Med‑Tech Expo and NHS Confederation events. Workshops and training...
£36bn Abandoned at Checkout as Mystery Shop Exposes Delivery Failures
A joint study by Retail Economics and GFS found that roughly £36bn (about $45bn) of non‑food online sales were abandoned at checkout in 2025 due to delivery‑related issues. High‑value shoppers—those who spend the most online—left 29% of their carts, compared...
IQIP, EnBW and Vattenfall to Deploy EQ-Piling at Dreekant Project
IQIP, EnBW and Vattenfall are set to carry out the first full‑scale offshore monopile installation using EQ‑Piling technology at the 1 GW Dreekant wind farm in Germany. Developed by IQIP, EQ‑Piling is a noise‑mitigation system that also promises lower CO₂ emissions...
KRAFTON Chairman Chang Byung-Gyu Returns to MMORPGs: Hiring Begins for 'TERA 2'
KRAFTON announced public recruitment for senior development positions on its upcoming MMORPG “TERA 2,” signaling a move beyond planning into full‑scale production. The hiring drive covers seven key roles, including senior programmers, action designers, and lead artists, all tasked with building...
Splash Wrap: Why the Hormuz Conflict Is a World War
The Hormuz shipping crisis has sent freight slot prices soaring to $385,000, with some bids exceeding $1 million, while disrupting global fertilizer and sulphur supplies. The International Maritime Organization’s secretary‑general called for immediate de‑escalation to safeguard freedom of navigation. Panama Canal...
Russia Offers the CKU Railway Help and a Snarky Remark
China, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan are advancing the CKU railway, a cross‑border link that will join China’s standard‑gauge network with Central Asian routes. Russia’s deputy transport minister Dmitriy Zverev visited Bishkek and pledged Russian technology, staff training and rolling‑stock assistance. He...
Signit Closes $15M Funding Round to Expand AI-Powered Contract Management Across Saudi Arabia
Signit, a Saudi digital‑signature and contract platform, closed a $15 million Series A led by Raed Ventures. The round also included STV, Seedra, Takamol and Suhail Ventures. With more than 700 customers across government, finance, healthcare and enterprise, Signit is expanding into...
Saros Review Round-Up: Best Game Of The Year So Far
Saros entered OpenCritic with a 92 average, instantly becoming the highest‑rated game of 2026 and surpassing early leaders like Resident Evil Requiem and Pokemon Pokopia. The PlayStation 5 exclusive, developed by Housemarque, builds on Returnal’s mechanics while delivering a smoother, more...
Two Ammonia-Fueled Ammonia Carriers to Sport Wärtsilä Systems in 2027
Wärtsilä Gas Solutions will equip two 51,350 m³ ammonia‑fueled carriers with cargo‑handling and fuel‑gas supply systems. The vessels, built at China’s Nantong CIMC Sinopacific yard for a Navigator Gas‑Amon Maritime joint venture, can run on dual‑fuel ammonia or LPG engines. Wärtsilä booked the...
Grameenphone's Q1 Revenue Dips 2% Amid Macroeconomic Pressure
Grameenphone reported first‑quarter 2026 revenue of BDT 37.6 billion (about $350 million), a 2 percent year‑on‑year decline. The dip reflects a tougher macro‑economic backdrop in Bangladesh, including high inflation and currency pressure. Voice service revenues fell, while data usage continued to grow, partially offsetting...
France Establishes New Seabed Warfare Observatory
France has created the Seabed Warfare Observatory (MFM) within the Defence Ministry’s strategic research arm to monitor emerging threats in the ocean floor domain. Led by retired Rear Admiral Jacques Mallard, the observatory will publish three monitoring notes in 2026, starting...
42BR Barristers and 4 Brick Court to Combine
42BR Barristers will merge with 4 Brick Court this summer, adding 34 of the latter's barristers and their pupils to its existing 60‑member team. The combined set will operate as a single‑site chamber of over 150 members, retaining current clerking...
Singapore Gas Supply Secure; Higher Power Prices May Benefit Units: Sembcorp
Sembcorp Industries assured that Singapore's gas supply stays secure despite the Middle East conflict, thanks to diversified piped natural gas and LNG contracts that exclude the region for 2026. The firm said higher wholesale power prices could let its power...
The Anti-Prestige Prestige Show: Why ‘The Pitt’ Is the Cure for What Ails TV
The Pitt, HBO Max’s low‑budget medical drama, just wrapped its second 15‑episode season, delivering each hour for $4‑5 million—a stark contrast to the $7 million‑plus per‑episode costs of legacy prestige shows. By filming on a single Warner Bros. soundstage with handheld cameras and...
Sharing Embargoed Samples May Violate NDA, Even After Release
If one media org under temporary NDA ships their sample to another media org who isn't under that NDA, but they both post results after the embargo, did the first technically break their NDA? 🤔 What if they then admit...
Lisa Rinna Wants This Traitors Co-Star To Be the Next Bachelorette
Actress and former "Dancing with the Stars" contestant Lisa Rinna has publicly backed her "Traitors" co‑star Maura Higgins as a potential lead for the next season of ABC's "The Bachelorette." Higgins, who was recently announced as a competitor on "Dancing...
Brazil Eyes Oil Windfall to Fund Fuel Tax Cuts
Brazil’s government introduced a bill that would channel extra oil‑price revenue—driven by the U.S.–Israel‑Iran conflict—into temporary cuts on federal fuel taxes. The plan targets PIS, Cofins and CIDE levies on gasoline and ethanol for a two‑month period, with each 10‑cent‑per‑real...
Navigating China’s Digital Discovery
Dida, an AI‑first B2B travel distribution platform, has teamed up with Thailand’s Tourism Authority to push the Trusted Thailand initiative across China. The partnership shifts focus from sheer visitor numbers to high‑value, experience‑driven luxury travelers, using dominant Chinese social channels...
Disney Exec on if Taylor Frankie Paul’s Canceled Bachelorette Season Will Ever Air
Rob Mills, Disney Television's EVP of unscripted, said the fate of The Bachelorette Season 22 starring Taylor Frankie Paul remains uncertain after the show was pulled amid controversy. He noted that production on The Secret Lives of Mormon Wives is set...
The Bulk Marketing Era Is Over: India's DPDP Act Is the Turning Point Nobody Can Ignore
India’s Digital Personal Data Protection (DPDP) Act, enacted in 2023 with rules effective in 2025, mandates purpose‑specific, granular consent for all marketing data and imposes penalties up to ₹250 crore (≈$30 million). Full compliance is required by May 13, 2027, forcing brands to abandon...
'SEGA Universe': Reviving Classic Games
SEGA announced "SEGA Universe," a multi‑platform initiative to redevelop its classic game IPs. The project, unveiled with a dedicated website, concept video and an official X account, will celebrate milestone anniversaries in 2026, including OutRun’s 40th and Streets of Rage’s...
Thailand Recovers as Japan’s Safety Perception Falls Among Chinese Travellers
Dragon Trail International’s latest Chinese Traveller Sentiment Report shows Japan’s safety perception among Chinese tourists plunging to a 37% “safe” rating, the lowest since China reopened in 2023. In contrast, Thailand rebounded, climbing seven spots and achieving its highest safety...
2026 Volkswagen ID. Buzz Gets AWD, V2L and Smarter Tech
Volkswagen’s 2026 ID. Buzz receives a major refresh, adding a 4MOTION all‑wheel‑drive version with a combined 250 kW output and up to 1.8 tonnes towing capacity. The van now offers vehicle‑to‑load (V2L) capability delivering up to 2 kW of continuous power for camping or...
Telecom News: TDIP Scheme for 6G, TRAI, SoftBank, Ericsson, Freshwave
India’s telecom market added 9.28 million new subscribers in March, taking the total to roughly 1.33 billion users and pushing broadband connections past 1.06 billion. The government unveiled a revamped ₹203 crore (≈$24.5 million) TDIP scheme to accelerate indigenous 6G and 5G‑Advanced research, targeting startups,...
New Peugeot Concepts Could Preview Next 508 and a Flagship SUV
Peugeot unveiled two electric concepts, the Concept 6 estate and Concept 8 SUV, at the Beijing Motor Show. Both models are slated for an initial launch in China through the Dongfeng partnership, with plans for global export. The Concept 6 hints at a...
Why Japan Should Help Pay for Indonesia’s Coal Exit
Indonesia, one of the world’s largest coal producers, faces a pivotal transition as it pledges net‑zero emissions and renewable expansion. The authors argue that a bilateral Japan‑Indonesia just‑transition fund, focused on coal‑dependent provinces such as West Java and East Kalimantan,...
Ascott Advances AI Infrastructure with Focus on Agent-Led Travel
Ascott is investing in AI‑focused infrastructure to shift toward agent‑led travel planning and booking, partnering with Accenture, Amadeus and EHL Hospitality Business School. Its AI concierge Cubby has handled over 900,000 guest enquiries since 2023 and will evolve into a...
Telecom News: Deutsche Telekom, T-Mobile US, TE Connectivity, MTN Nigeria, Airtel
Deutsche Telekom’s shares fell after reports it is weighing a full merger with its U.S. unit, T‑Mobile, which could create a $300 billion telecom giant serving over 200 million customers. TE Connectivity beat profit forecasts but missed revenue, citing higher input costs...