Salesforce, the global leader in CRM announced it has signed a definitive agreement to acquire Fin, formerly Intercom, an industry-leading customer agent company. Under the terms of the agreement, Salesforce will acquire Fin for approximately $3.6 billion, subject to customary purchase price adjustments. Fin’s core offering, its AI Agent, resolves complex customer queries end-to-end, across every channel, including live chat, email, WhatsApp, SMS, phone, and Slack. The AI Agent is powered by the company’s proprietary AI model, Apex, that is purpose-built for customer support and has demonstrated industry-leading resolution rates that outperform top commercially available frontier models. “We’re thrilled to welcome Fin to...
HSBC becomes presenting partner of the China Open, premier annual tennis tournament
The China Open (“China Open”), China’s premier annual tennis tournament, and HSBC Group (“HSBC”) jointly announced at the Beijing Capital Diamond Court of National Tennis Center in Beijing that HSBC will become the Presenting Partner of the China Open starting from 2026. The partnership marks the beginning of a strategic alliance that will support the tournament’s ambition to become one of the world’s leading men’s and women’s tennis events. This partnership coincides with the 20th edition of the China Open, a milestone moment as the tournament firmly establishes itself as one of the most influential tennis events in Asia. Through...
British Airways marks 80 years of flying to the USA and announces significant lounge investment
British Airways Since that inaugural flight in 1946 by BOAC, the airline has been at the forefront of transatlantic travel, operating the supersonic Concorde, inventing the lie-flat business bed and building one of the world’s most enduring and extensive transatlantic networks. From early long-haul crossings to today’s modern fleet and extensive network, British Airways has continuously evolved while staying true to its commitment to service and a unique British experience. New York – the airline’s first US destination – remains at the hub of its global network today and the airline now serves 27 destinations across the United States, connecting...
New York to consider future dual-city bid for Winter Olympics
The state of New York is forming an exploratory committee to consider whether Lake Placid and New York City should bid to co-host a future Winter Olympics. The announcement Monday from Gov. Kathy Hochul’s office suggested a dual-hosting format, the likes of which Milan and Cortina pulled off at this year’s Olympics. It does not mention a year, though with the 2034 Games going to Salt Lake City and with Switzerland tabbed as the preferred bidder for 2038, the first likely available spot for New York to host would be 2042. “The time is now to return the Olympic flame...
Generative AI is rewriting the rules of service delivery in the South African living room
With the global AI television market projected to reach $56.4 billion by 2034, the smart television is no longer a passive content repository. It’s becoming an intelligence layer that anticipates consumer needs before they are expressed. Cape Town, South Africa – The era of the passive screen is over. For years, the smart television operating system was little more than a static grid of applications waiting for a command. Today, that paradigm is undergoing a structural collapse. Driven by the latest advancements in generative artificial intelligence, the television is transitioning from a display device to the central intelligence node of...
Corteva urges Farmers to Act on early Signs of Herbicide resistance
As herbicide resistance continues to increase globally, South African farmers are under growing pressure to identify potential resistance in advance. According to Corteva Agriscience, a serious oversight in weed management is assuming that herbicide resistance only becomes a concern once herbicides completely fail. In fact, the warning signs often appear years earlier. “Herbicide resistance develops gradually and farmers usually see the first indicators long before a serious control failure occurs,” says Dr. Elbé Hugo, Category Marketing Lead: Herbicides at Corteva. “The challenge is recognising those warning signs early enough to make management adjustments before resistant populations become dominant.” At field...
Trust, Verify, Repeat: Why source credibility will define the future of fraud prevention
Artificial intelligence is not just changing how fraud is committed, it is changing how trust is established. Today, fraudsters can use AI to generate convincing documents, create synthetic identities, manipulate images, and even build entire digital footprints that appear legitimate at first glance. As these technologies become more sophisticated and accessible, organisations face a growing challenge: how do you verify information when almost anything can be fabricated? For years, fraud prevention has focused on verifying identities, credentials and transactions. Those checks remain essential, but in the AI era, there is an even more fundamental question that businesses need to ask:...
L’Oréal South Africa Leads the Future of Beauty Marketing With Groundbreaking Roblox Expansion
L’Oréal South Africa is redefining beauty engagement through a major expansion into gaming and immersive digital experiences, becoming one of the first beauty groups in the region to activate multiple leading brands simultaneously within Roblox. Bringing together Maybelline New York, Garnier, and CeraVe under one unified innovation strategy, L’Oréal South Africa is launching interactive experiences designed for Gen Z and Gen Alpha audiences, focusing on immersive storytelling, education, entertainment, and participation rather than traditional advertising. As Roblox continues to grow as one of the world’s leading digital ecosystems for younger audiences, L’Oréal South Africa is positioning itself at the forefront of...
Afogreen Build Highlights Growing Adoption of Building Performance Modelling in Australia
As sustainability requirements and operational performance expectations evolve, building performance modelling is becoming increasingly important across Australia’s construction sector. Afogreen Build, an Environmentally Sustainable Development (ESD) consultancy, has observed growing demand for integrated modelling approaches that help architects and building owners evaluate factors like energy efficiency, occupant comfort, and sustainability outcomes. Building Performance Modelling as a Strategic ToolIntegrated modelling uses computer-based simulations to predict how a building will perform even before it is constructed. By analysing factors such as energy consumption, indoor comfort, daylight access, airflow, and operational efficiency, it helps project teams understand how design decisions may affect a building’s...
OpenAI announced it hired Prabhjeet Singh, former president of Uber’s India
OpenAI has described India as its most important customer base outside America, but until now the company had no single executive running the country. That gap is now filled with the hiring of Prabhjeet Singh, a veteran who spent years building Uber’s business across India and South Asia. An OpenAI spokesperson said, “India is our most important customer base outside America,” underscoring the strategic weight of the appointment. In his new role, Singh will be responsible for areas including consumer expansion, corporate uptake, collaborations, regulatory affairs, and daily management. He joins a team that already includes Pragya Misra, who was hired in 2024...