Dunelm Posts Solid H1 Despite Softer Second Quarter
Dunelm reported a solid first‑half FY26, with total sales climbing 3.6% year‑on‑year to £926 million and digital participation rising to 41%, outpacing the broader homewares market. Market share edged up 20 basis points to 7.9%. The second quarter was softer, with sales up only 1.6% and profit before tax falling to £114 million, though free cash flow improved to £171 million. Ongoing omnichannel investments, including a new customer app and additional store openings, underpin a FY26 profit outlook of £210‑£221 million.
Cisco Donates Project CodeGuard to Coalition for Secure AI
Cisco has donated its Project CodeGuard framework to the OASIS Open‑run Coalition for Secure AI (CoSAI). The model‑agnostic security coding agent embeds best‑practice rules across the entire software development lifecycle, from design through AI‑generated code to post‑generation review. CodeGuard integrates...
How Films Use Fake Money in the UK: The Reality Behind Counterfeit Currency
The UK film industry relies on specially printed prop money instead of real cash to stage high‑value scenes safely and affordably. Legal replicas must follow Bank of England rules, such as a 25% size deviation or a clear “SPECIMEN” label,...
Viettel Deploys Nvidia DGX B200 System at Hoa Lac High Tech Park in Hanoi
Vietnam’s military‑backed telecom operator Viettel has commissioned an Nvidia DGX B200 system at its Hoa Lac High Tech Park data centre in Hanoi. The air‑cooled rack‑mounted platform houses eight B200 Tensor Core GPUs and dual Intel Xeon CPUs, delivering petaflop‑scale performance. Viettel’s...
Ask an Expert: Should Merchants Block AI Bots?
E‑commerce veteran Scot Wingo argues that merchants must decide whether to block or welcome AI bots that now crawl retail sites. Four major agents—ChatGPT, Google Gemini, Microsoft Copilot and Perplexity—collectively command roughly one billion monthly active users, and Google’s shift to AI...
A “Low-Level” Space Storm Created High-Risk Conditions for European Satellites
On 4 November 2023 a weak geomagnetic storm sparked a rare super plasma bubble that expanded far beyond its usual equatorial zone, reaching latitudes up to 46°N across Europe. The disturbance persisted for several hours, producing pronounced irregularities in total electron content...
AI Infrastructure Drives Hardware Winners in Hyperscaler CAPEX
Hardware winners of the $600B+ hyperscaler CAPEX wave 🧵 Meta, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon are prioritizing compute, power, and networking control into 2026. ~75% of spend is AI infrastructure. Price sensitivity is low. Supply is tight. This is a vendor-selection cycle,...
KOKO Failure Brings Cookstove Carbon Credit Model Into Question
KOKO Networks, a leading Kenyan clean‑cooking firm, entered administration on 1 February after the government refused the regulatory letter of authorisation needed to sell carbon credits on compliance markets. Backed by investors such as Microsoft, Mirova and a World Bank guarantee,...
Cameron Batt on Skubl and the Rise of Customer Experience Agents
Skubl, founded by Cameron Batt, offers an autonomous “Customer Experience Agent” platform that detects and repairs digital friction in real time. Unlike typical GPT‑4 wrappers, Skubl combines proprietary causal inference models and computer vision to act as an immune system...
Material Shifts State on Demand, Paving the Way for Controllable Quantum Devices
Scientists at Princeton, Nanyang Technological University and the University of Arkansas have demonstrated a reversible, structurally driven topological phase transition in the layered material GdPS by incrementally dosing potassium on its surface. ARPES measurements combined with first‑principles calculations reveal a...
James River Partners with Kalepa to Boost E&S Underwriting Efficiency
James River Insurance Company has entered a technology partnership with InsurTech firm Kalepa to embed an AI‑driven underwriting platform across its excess and surplus (E&S) lines. The collaboration targets faster quote generation, reduced manual processing, and stronger underwriting discipline to...
Publicis London Hires Duo as Global Creative Directors
Publicis London has appointed Bronwyn Sweeney and Loren Cook as joint global creative directors, expanding chief creative officer Noël Bunting’s leadership team after a strong 2025 client acquisition year. The duo, long‑time creative partners, arrive from a decade at MullenLowe...
What You Need to Know About M-PESA’s Ziidi Trader
Safaricom launched Ziidi Trader, integrating NSE share trading into the M‑PESA app for its 37 million users. The service eliminates the need for separate CDS accounts and brokerage paperwork, using a pooled account managed by licensed brokers while settlements occur instantly...
Amazon Launches Pay by Bank – Secure, Card-Free Payment Solution
Amazon has introduced Pay by Bank on its UK site, letting shoppers pay directly from their bank accounts without using cards. The service connects to customers' banking apps for biometric or PIN authentication, eliminating the need to store card details....
Europe Is Going All-In on Sovereign Cloud – Investment to Triple by 2027
Gartner projects European sovereign cloud IaaS spending will more than triple, rising from $6.7 billion in 2025 to over $23.1 billion in 2027, outpacing the global market whose spend is expected to double. This rapid expansion positions Europe as the third‑largest spender...
SMAART Company Launches Technology Solutions for Modern Businesses
SMAART Company is close to launching KoreCRM, a proprietary platform that consolidates revenue‑operations functions into a single system of record. The solution links lead generation, sales execution, automation, communications, and analytics while natively integrating Google Workspace. SMAAD also bundles Salesforce...
FCC Seeks Comment on SpaceX's Million Orbital Data Center Plan
The Federal Communications Commission has opened a public comment period on SpaceX’s proposal to launch a constellation of one million data‑center satellites. SpaceX argues that, once its reusable Starship is operational, the fleet could deliver 100 gigawatts of AI compute power...
UK Defence Warned Against Complacency on Drones and AI
Defence experts warned that drones and artificial intelligence are rapidly redefining warfare, yet UK armed forces remain complacent. Air Marshal Edward Stringer criticised officers for dismissing Ukraine’s lessons, emphasizing low‑cost drone integration with conventional forces. Dr. Keith Dear highlighted AI’s...
Inside Viche Financials’ Finance Flow: Redefining How Businesses Manage Finances
Viche Financials launched Finance Flow, an intelligent financial‑orchestration platform that consolidates cash‑flow, receivables, payables, scenario modelling, alerts and funding‑strategy insights into a single dashboard. The solution applies time‑series analysis, machine‑assisted pattern recognition and predictive analytics to forecast cash gaps and...
Secure Mobile Communications Market Set for Rapid Growth Amid Rising Cybersecurity Threats
The global secure mobile communications market is projected to expand from $28.5 bn in 2026 to $100.9 bn by 2033, reflecting a 19.8% compound annual growth rate. Growth is fueled by escalating cyber‑threats, stricter data‑privacy regulations, and the shift toward remote, mobile‑first...
Chemical Simulations Boosted with New Technique Achieving 94% Efficiency
Researchers at Qingdao Institute and Shandong University introduced a unified MPI parallelisation framework for wave‑function methods, demonstrated with the iCIPT2 algorithm. By abstracting each computational step into a dynamically‑scheduled loop and using a ghost‑process model, the template achieved up to...
What Is CAPS? | A Conversation with Corey Mohn
In this episode, Tom Vander Ark talks with COREY MOHN, CEO of the CAPS Network, about the organization’s unbundled, profession‑based learning pathways that give students the freedom to design their own futures, much like building with a box of LEGO...
Ambience Healthcare Appoints Mike Valli as CRO and Chief Value Officer
Ambience Healthcare announced Mike Valli as chief revenue officer and chief value officer, merging commercial leadership with outcome accountability. Valli brings over 15 years of experience from symplr and Optum, overseeing multi‑solution portfolios and large hospital partnerships. The dual role...
Exploring Belgium’s Livestock Transition: Narratives and Trade-Offs
Researchers in npj Sustainable Agriculture present a comprehensive study mapping Belgium’s livestock transition using narrative‑driven scenario analysis. The work identifies key trade‑offs between emission reductions, farm profitability, and social acceptance, while evaluating technologies from precision manure handling to cultured meat....
AI Agents Are Redefining How Meetings Get Done
The concept of ‘business meetings’ has changed yet again. And it’s because of AI agents. Because now before every long meeting I am forced to ask myself what I want Claude Code or Claude Chrome to do for me during...
AI Agents Double Deal Volume, Close $2.4M Fast
"How we built $4.8M in pipeline from our AI agents, $2.4M closed already - Deal volume has doubled - Win rate has doubled - Agents work 24x7 - Agents have more context to pull from - $100k deal closed on Saturday" https://t.co/JjohuS42oM
Tech Trends in Ramadan Philanthropy: Contactless and Mobile Giving
Ramadan philanthropy is rapidly shifting from cash boxes to contactless and mobile donation platforms. Digital tools such as NFC, QR codes, and mobile wallets enable donors to give instantly from anywhere, boosting fundraising speed and reach. Subscription-based giving and multi-currency...
Free Lecture on Heavy‑Lift Uncrewed Air Systems
FREE #aviation lecture, RAeS Loughborough Branch, 10 Feb, 'Heavy Lift Uncrewed Air Systems' #avgeek #drones https://t.co/0txRAQ0fIY https://t.co/kvuzcxwgR0
Why It’s Not Google’s Fault when Your Campaign Flops
Marketers often blame Google, Meta or TikTok when campaigns underperform, but the real issue lies in shifting audience behavior and fragmented creative planning. Consumers now drift across search, social and niche platforms without a linear path, exposing weak, broadcast‑style ideas....
Building AI Product Sense, Part 2
In part two of "Building AI Product Sense," Dr. Marily Nika, an experienced AI product manager from Google and Meta, outlines a weekly ritual for developing AI product sense—translating model behavior into trustworthy products. She explains why Meta now includes...
Marketplacer Powers EE Trade-In Capability via Marketplace Returns Flow
EE, a major UK mobile network, has integrated device trade‑in directly into its digital purchase flow using Marketplacer’s marketplace platform. By adapting its existing returns workflow, EE launched a low‑risk, scalable solution covering six device categories with instant trade‑in quotes...
The Path to a Stronger Economy Through Financial Inclusion
The UK is at a crossroads as Labour backbenchers propose legislation to force banks to broaden affordable lending for SMEs and underserved founders. The Entrepreneurship Revolution report, commissioned by Block, reveals that over five million Britons could start a business...
Lupin Settles Myrbetriq Patent Spat with Astellas for $90m
Lupin has agreed to pay $90 million to settle U.S. patent litigation with Astellas over the over‑active bladder drug Myrbetriq. The settlement includes a $75 million option payment and ongoing per‑unit license fees until Astellas' patent expires in September 2027. The deal lets...
Reddit and AI Search Are Reshaping How Brands Get Found
Marketers are shifting focus to niche platforms and AI‑driven search, highlighted by two recent awards: Everso Media as Best Reddit Marketing Agency and Nicely Network as Best AI‑SEO Marketing Agency for 2026. Reddit’s community‑driven content now appears prominently in Google...
The Optimization Playbook: Lessons From the Central Plant
The piece explains how central‑plant optimization can unlock hidden energy savings by using simple observation, spreadsheet modeling, and customized control sequences. Real‑world examples from campuses, hospitals, and military bases show six‑figure cost reductions without expensive software. It links efficiency gains...
AI and the Future
Three years after ChatGPT's debut, Atlantic Council experts caution that current AI, built on large language models, excels at pattern‑based tasks but lacks true predictive power for complex geopolitical outcomes. They highlight AI's probabilistic nature, limited ability to generate new...
Taxing Times: Top IRS Scams to Look Out for in 2026
Tax season in 2026 is seeing a surge in sophisticated IRS‑related scams, with fraudsters leveraging AI, phishing, and fake W‑2 schemes to steal personal data and refunds. Scammers impersonate the agency via email, text, or phone, demanding payment through gift...
Medicare’s New Pilot Program Taps AI to Review Claims. Here’s Why It’s Risky
Medicare has launched a six‑year pilot called the Wasteful and Inappropriate Service Reduction (WISER) model, requiring prior authorization for 14 types of procedures and devices in traditional Medicare. The program uses artificial‑intelligence software to flag and deny claims it deems...
Sava Reports World-First 10-Day Clinical Evidence for Continuous Glucose Monitoring
Sava Technologies announced the first 10‑day clinical evidence for continuous glucose monitoring using its proprietary microsensor technology. In an independent study of 46 Type 1 and insulin‑dependent Type 2 diabetes patients, the microsensor showed a mean absolute relative difference (MARD) within 0.8...
Red Oak Appoints Kirk Sadler as Chief Product Officer
Red Oak, a compliance connectivity platform for financial services, announced the appointment of Kirk Sadler as chief product officer. Sadler joins with over twenty years of B2B enterprise software experience, most recently as vice‑president of product at Mitratech. His role...
DuckDuckGo Enables AI Voice Chat without Saving Voice Data
DuckDuckGo has integrated AI-powered voice chat into its Duck.ai assistant, allowing users to converse with the model using spoken input. The company emphasizes that audio streams are processed in real time and are not stored after the session, with encryption...
Jollyes Launches ‘Lowest Price Pet Brand in the UK’
Jollyes Pets has introduced Simply Jollyes, the UK's lowest‑priced own‑label pet range, covering food and accessories for dogs, cats, small pets and birds. The line launches with 22 products and will be stocked in all 118 Jollyes stores this month,...
Guidance ‘Black Hole’ Sparks Charity Soft Opt-In Warning
The new Data (Use & Access) Act introduces a “soft opt‑in” rule for charities, allowing them to send marketing emails and texts to supporters who have shown interest without prior consent. The amendment could unlock up to £290 million in additional...
SailPoint Sees Rising Demand for Adaptive Identity Security
SailPoint reports growing demand for adaptive identity security as enterprises grapple with an influx of non‑human identities such as AI agents, machines, and service accounts. The company unveiled its Agent Identity Security feature, enabling discovery, classification, and governance of these...
‘Vanishingly Small’: Anthropic’s Daniela Amodei Downplays AI Impact on Jobs Amid ‘SaaSpocalypse’ Fears
Anthropic president Daniela Amodei told ABC News that AI will only replace a vanishingly small number of jobs, emphasizing that human skills such as critical thinking, empathy and communication will become more valuable. She highlighted the importance of humanities education...
Navitas Unveils Breakthrough 10 kW DC-DC Platform Delivering 98.5% Efficiency for 800 VDC Next-Gen AI Data Centers
Navitas Semiconductor introduced a 10 kW GaN‑based DC‑DC platform that delivers up to 98.5% peak efficiency and 2.1 kW/in³ power density for 800 V and ±400 V data‑center architectures. The full‑brick module operates at a 1 MHz switching frequency using advanced 650 V and 100 V GaNFast...
Tracking Post-Acute Infection Syndromes Over Time
Researchers introduced latent transition analysis (LTA) to map the longitudinal trajectories of post‑acute infection syndromes (PAIS), revealing distinct symptom phenotypes and their transition probabilities. By integrating symptom scores, biomarkers, and patient‑reported outcomes across multiple time points, the study quantified how...
Cosco Debuts Beibu Gulf and Middle East Car Carrier Service
Cosco Shipping Car Carriers has launched a monthly ro‑ro liner linking the Beibu Gulf ports of Qinzhou and Nansha with the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia. The service, operated by the vessel Cosco Shengshi, will transport roughly 2,000 commercial vehicles...
AlgoSec Study Finds Enterprises Seek More Control in Network Security
AlgoSec’s State of Network Security Report, based on over 500 global respondents, reveals enterprises are shifting toward unified policy control amid rapid cloud growth, AI‑driven traffic, and hybrid workloads. Sixty‑five percent of organizations have already adjusted to AI‑powered threats, with...
Why AI-Ready ERP Depends on Industrial-Scale Cloud Infrastructure
Enterprise software is entering an AI‑driven era, and ERP systems must now prove they can run large language models reliably, securely, and at scale. Oracle’s NetSuite highlights its advantage by being built as a shared, multi‑user platform on a unified...