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 show a 20% rise in self‑service success, 25% faster issue resolution and a 30% boost in service‑rep productivity, with 59% of customers adopting the new interface. The rollout highlights the critical role of clean, compliant data in scaling AI for heavily regulated sectors.
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...
Off Season Taps Into the NBA’s Growing Merchandise Sales with New Licensed Fashion Collection
Off Season, the fashion label known for NFL‑centric apparel, launched its first NBA‑focused ready‑to‑wear collection, featuring items from halter tops to track jackets. The line spotlights a select group of teams—including the Knicks, Warriors, Lakers and Clippers—and is sold through...
EU Fleets Law Could Provide Over Half the EV Sales Carmakers Need in 2030 — New Research
Transport & Environment research finds that an EU fleet‑electrification law could provide 57 % of the electric‑vehicle sales carmakers need to meet their 2030 CO₂ targets, but only if the Commission raises the proposed targets. The current draft sets an average 45 % EV...
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,...
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...
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...
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...
Amazon Opens 2nd Largest Asia Office in Bengaluru for 7,000 Employees
Amazon has opened its second‑largest office in Asia, a 12‑storey, 1.1 million‑square‑foot campus in Bengaluru that will house more than 7,000 employees across e‑commerce, payments, technology and seller services. The facility features flexible workspaces, extensive recreation amenities and sustainable building practices...
Behind the Resurgence: Zomato, Swiggy Regain Food Delivery Momentum in the Dec Quarter
India’s food‑delivery duopoly posted a strong rebound in the October‑December quarter, with Zomato’s gross order value climbing 21.3% and Swiggy’s rising 20.5%, both surpassing the 20% growth threshold. Monthly transacting users grew 21.5% to 24.9 million for Zomato and 18.1 million for...
New Battery Made “Exclusively” For Homes Launches Onto Red-Hot Australian Market
Energy‑LIB, a China‑based firm, has launched the LIB HomeStack battery and inverter in Australia, positioning it as the first system built exclusively for residential use. The stackable units come in 16 kWh, 32 kWh and 48 kWh capacities, operate at under 25 decibels and...
Earn Double Avios with LeShuttle – and a Reminder of How the Partnership Works
LeShuttle launched Club LeShuttle, adopting Avios as its loyalty currency, the first non‑airline partner. Members earn 3 Avios per £1 on standard tickets and 6 per £1 on Flexiplus, with a double‑Avios promotion offering 6 and 12 Avios respectively for...
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...
Afghanistan Bombing: What’s Pakistan’s Strategy as India-Taliban Ties Grow?
Pakistan’s military responded to a spate of cross‑border attacks by launching airstrikes in Afghanistan’s Nangarhar and Paktika provinces, claiming to hit TTP sanctuaries and killing dozens of militants. Kabul rejected the narrative, saying the strikes hit a religious school and...
Meink Lays Out New Vision for Acquisition
Secretary Troy E. Meink announced the creation of 27 Portfolio Acquisition Executives (PAEs) – 18 for the Air Force and nine for the Space Force – to give a single leader end‑to‑end authority over requirements, development, and sustainment. The new...
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...
Death Howl Launch Trailer – Soulslike Deckbuilder Lands on Nintendo Switch
11 Bit Studios released the launch trailer for Death Howl, a Soulslike deck‑builder arriving on Nintendo Switch this week. Players guide hunter Ro through a mythic Spirit Realm, exploring four realms, 13 regions, and confronting over 30 enemy types. The game offers...
Conan O’Brien Says He Reaches “More People Now” After Leaving Late-Night
Conan O'Brien says his podcast "Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend" and HBO Max travel series now reach more people than his former TBS late‑night show, which ended in 2021. He argues the traditional late‑night talk‑show format is fading, replaced by...
Cotton On Accelerates India Growth with Apparel Group Partnership
Cotton On Group has signed a licensing partnership with Apparel Group to accelerate its expansion in India. The agreement outlines a phased omnichannel rollout that will launch brick‑and‑mortar stores, a dedicated e‑commerce site, and presence on key digital marketplaces. Apparel...
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...
TNC Gets Qld TLC
The Queensland government has granted True North Copper $400,000 under its Collaborative Development Program to evaluate the potential value of legacy mine waste at the Mt Oxide site in the state’s northwest. The funding is intended to fund detailed sampling, metallurgical...
Russia's Kaspersky Fights Western Sanctions
Kaspersky Lab faces a cascade of Western sanctions that have crippled its European and U.S. operations. Germany’s BSI warning has slashed German sales by roughly 80%, while the U.S. Treasury and Commerce departments have barred Kaspersky products and placed senior...
Pull&Bear Closes Last Store in Singapore
Pull&Bear has closed its last Singapore store at VivoCity, ending a 20‑year physical retail presence in the city‑state. The brand confirmed the shutdown on its website and directed returns to Zara’s VivoCity location. Inditex, Pull&Bear’s parent, has been trimming its...
Topshelf Records Drops Ekko Astral
Topshelf Records announced it is ending its relationship with Washington, D.C. punk band Ekko Astral and will not release their forthcoming album *The Beltway Is Burning*. The label cited the ongoing feud between frontwoman Jael Holzman and former drummer Miri...
Marks & Spencer Looks Set to Exit the Philippines
Marks & Spencer’s Philippine franchise, operated by the former Rustan’s Group now owned by SSI Group, has shuttered several key locations, cutting its footprint from over 20 stores to 13. Recent closures at TriNoma, Robinsons Manila, Marquee Mall and possibly...
This Startup Wants to Make Chicken Cheaper in Nigeria with a Simple Solution
Cubeseed Africa is launching a digital marketplace that links Nigerian poultry farmers directly with restaurants, hotels and other buyers, bypassing traditional middlemen. By using escrow payments and a Sterling Bank‑backed credit line, the platform guarantees timely funds for farmers while...
Local Developer Pitches Gigawatt-Hour Big Battery to Help Perth Quit Coal
Western Australian developer RE Developments has lodged a $500 million proposal for a 250 MW/1 GWh battery at Baldavis, south of Perth. The project is one of 18 storage installations planned along the 330 kV transmission corridor linking Collie’s energy hub to the city. It...
Manager Unfairly Sacked for "Sounding Out" Career Change Using Work Email
The Fair Work Commission ruled that a national sales manager at Volando Group was unfairly dismissed after using his work email to send a résumé and explore a health‑and‑wellness career. Deputy President Tony Slevin found the conduct was not “serious or...
Isaac Hayes’ Estate Reaches Settlement with Trump Over Use Of “Hold On, I’m Coming”
Isaac Hayes’ estate settled its lawsuit against former President Donald Trump over the unauthorized use of the 1966 hit “Hold On, I’m Coming.” The estate had sued for $3 million, citing more than 130 instances of the song at campaign events,...
HMC Says “Fantastic” Wind, Solar and Battery Assets Can Rival Real Estate as the Fund’s Biggest Earner
HMC Capital’s Energy Transition Fund, after buying Neoen’s Victorian renewable assets and battery developer Stor‑Energy, secured a KKR commitment of up to $603 million, falling short of its $1 billion target and prompting a 16% share decline. CEO David Di Pilla defended the...
How Microsoft Is Silencing World of Warcraft's French Localization
Microsoft has introduced AI‑generation clauses into contracts for French voice actors working on World of Warcraft, prompting many to refuse and be replaced by Quebec‑based talent. The change first surfaced when the Midnight pre‑patch omitted French dubbing, revealing that human...
Westfield Operator Scentre Group Grows Income for Fifth Consecutive Year
Scentre Group, operator of 42 Westfield malls in Australia and New Zealand, reported its fifth year of consecutive growth in 2025. Customer visits rose 2.7% to 540 million, occupancy reached 99.8%, and business partner sales hit $30 billion. Funds from operations increased 4.9%...
IKEA Returns to Australian Survivor: Redemption as Major Brand Sponsor
IKEA is returning as the principal sponsor for Australian Survivor: Redemption, extending its partnership with Network 10 and Paramount+. The renewed deal deepens in‑show integration, featuring IKEA‑branded food rewards, sleep solutions, and daily gift‑card competitions during pivotal moments. The brand cites...
All Puzzles in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5
All Puzzles in Poppy Playtime: Chapter 5 article lists every major puzzle and solution across the game’s levels. It details mechanics such as GrabPack platform building, light‑switch sequences, code lockers, and valve activation, highlighting increased difficulty for newcomers. The guide...
India's Tech Infra as Public Good Can Be Emulated for AI Across Global South, Says ITU Official
India’s digital public infrastructure—most notably Aadhaar and UPI—has been highlighted by ITU strategic‑engagement chief Fred Werner as a replicable model for AI diffusion across the Global South. Werner argues that the country’s ability to scale technology for over a billion...
New Anomalies Serve-Up Camp-Scale Potential for Loyal Metals at Highway Reward
Australian explorer Loyal Metals has used high‑resolution gravity imaging to identify a large, vertically extensive copper‑gold volcanogenic massive sulphide (VHMS) system at its Highway Reward project in Queensland. The newly defined anomaly extends well beyond the historic mine’s deepest level...
Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition Delayed to Unannounced Date
Dragami Games announced that Lollipop Chainsaw RePOP – Nintendo Switch 2 Edition, originally slated for March 26, 2026, has been delayed to an unspecified date. The postponement stems from significant updates required for both the new Switch 2 build and the...
Apple to Shift some Mac Mini Production to Houston From Asia, WSJ Reports
Apple announced it will begin assembling a portion of its Mac Mini desktop computers at Foxconn’s new plant in north Houston later this year, while maintaining Asian production lines. The move aligns with the company’s broader $600 billion U.S. investment commitment...
Millennials and Gen Z Are Spending Smarter, Not Less, on Travel in 2026
Millennials and Gen Z are maintaining or expanding travel budgets in 2026, with 88 % planning to keep or increase spending despite economic headwinds. The Klook Travel Pulse 2026 report shows APAC leading growth, as travelers there are 50 % more likely than their...
Drug-Controlled CAR T Cells May Enable Safer Immunotherapy
Researchers at EPFL have created a drug‑controlled CAR‑T platform called DROP‑CAR that can be turned off on demand with the FDA‑approved BCL‑2 inhibitor venetoclax. The system places a reversible protein‑protein interaction on the cell surface, causing the CAR to dissociate...
Visible Gold Reinforces Precious Metals Potential at Argent’s Kempfield
Argent Minerals reported the first visible gold at its Kempfield polymetallic project, intersected in diamond hole AKDD212 at roughly 194 m depth within Lode 100. The coarse, free gold particles occur alongside carbonate veining in sulphidic volcanic rocks, confirming high‑grade gold shoots...
Visa Expands Latin America Footprint: To Acquire Argentina’s Prisma Medios De Pago and Newpay
Visa announced the acquisition of Argentina’s Prisma Medios de Pago and the fintech platform Newpay, marking a strategic push into Latin America’s payments ecosystem. The combined deal, valued at over $200 million, will be funded largely with cash. By integrating Prisma’s...
Why Tumi Is Doubling Down on Function as Asia Travels Again
Tumi has relaunched its Alpha collection, positioning it as a performance‑driven luxury line built for modern movement. The brand’s global campaign, fronted by Lando Norris and Chinese actor Wei Daxun, stresses purpose‑filled travel. In Asia‑Pacific, Tumi tailors its approach: Hong...
How Freedom Furniture Is Turning Casual Browsers Into Loyal Customers
Freedom Furniture is leveraging AI to unify its omnichannel retail experience, from discovery to post‑sale service. By expanding its catalog from 12,000 to over 70,000 SKUs through a dropship model, the retailer relies on AI‑driven search and recommendation engines that...
Adore Beauty Sales Soar but Black Friday ‘Overperformance’ Hurts Profits
Adore Beauty posted an 8.7% year‑on‑year revenue increase to $111.9 million, delivering a record underlying EBITDA of $4.1 million, up 14.5%. The strong Black Friday‑Cyber Monday sales drove a 120‑basis‑point dip in gross profit margin, falling to 35% as discounting intensified. The...
Boeing Demonstrates Large Language Model for Space-Grade Hardware
Boeing Space Mission Systems engineers have proven that a large language model can run on commercial off‑the‑shelf hardware and interpret satellite telemetry in natural language. The lab‑based test showed the model can generate human‑readable health reports, reducing latency compared with...
Felton Industries Launches Manufacturing Push with Tow & Fold Mobile Grandstand Range
Australian outdoor‑furniture maker Felton Industries has introduced the Tow & Fold mobile grandstand, a towable trailer that expands into a nine‑tier, 200‑seat spectator platform. The system targets regional councils, schools and event operators seeking high‑capacity, flexible seating without the labor‑intensive...
Home Loan Dealbreaker: Credit Score Red Flags Lenders Won’t Ignore
A strong credit score remains the linchpin for securing a home loan, especially as interest rates climb and property price growth slows. Lenders assess borrowers through the five C's—character, capacity, capital, collateral and conditions—using the credit report as a proxy...
Airtel New Rs 1099 Plan Comes with Unlimited 4G and 5G
Bharti Airtel launched a Rs 1099 prepaid plan that includes unlimited voice calls, 100 SMS per day and a combined 300 GB of 4G/5G data every 28 days. The offering is valid for 84 days, extending beyond the typical monthly cycle. While...
Have Tank, Will Travel in Deep Snow Delivery Demo
Deep Snow Delivery’s demo debuted on Steam and itch.io, offering an atmospheric post‑apocalyptic cargo run using a battered tank. Players must manage limited upgrades, navigate treacherous snowy hills, and balance scrap sales with profitable deliveries. Nighttime runs add a striking...