AIVA, an AI-native mobility brand, was officially unveiled in Beijing on 9 June 2026. AIVA will collaborate with Volcano Engine, ByteDance’s cloud and AI platform, to jointly define, design, and develop a new generation of AI vehicles. Volcano Engine will provide AIVA with advanced capabilities, including the Doubao AI Foundation Model and intelligent cockpit, enabling smarter in-vehicle interactions. At the launch event, AIVA unveiled its brand name and logo, introducing a development philosophy centered on “AI-first vehicle creation”—where AI comes before the car itself. It is believed that AI-native vehicles will fundamentally redefine the relationship between people and automobiles. AIVA...
Hisense SA launches Landmark Soweto Soccer Pitch Development with a Bafana Bafana Wish from the Community
Thursday marked a landmark day for grassroots football in Soweto as Hisense South Africa officially launched the development of a new community soccer pitch, using the moment to send a powerful message of support from the community to Bafana Bafana. Held at the iconic Soweto Towers, the event marked the beginning of a long-term project that will create a safe, inspiring and purpose-built space for young South Africans to play, train and grow through football. Once completed, the pitch will host youth soccer cups and community football programmes designed to develop skills, build confidence and open new pathways for local...
Media Entrepreneur and Journalist Mehdi Hasan announce the launch of Zeteo UK
A popular independent lefty American media company is expanding to the United Kingdom. On Tuesday, Zeteo, the Substack founded by former MSNBC anchor Mehdi Hasan, plans to announce that it is launching Zeteo UK, a standalone site that will begin publishing this week, with a hard launch date in September. The outlet said it is hiring Shehab Khan, a former host at ITV News, and Becky Gardiner, a former Guardian editor. It’s also bringing on Sangita Myska to host a video podcast series, and hiring a roster of new contributors, including Owen Jones and Peter Oborne. “The UK, where I was...
SHEIN Expands Marketplace Seller Education Offering with Product Safety and Quality Compliance Series
Global online fashion and lifestyle retailer, SHEIN announced the launch of a new product safety and quality compliance training series for marketplace sellers, delivered in collaboration with leading third-party testing, inspection and certification (TIC) organizations, including Bureau Veritas, Intertek, SGS, and TÜV SÜD. The series will cover regulatory updates, product safety requirements, testing standards, and industry best practices to help sellers navigate evolving compliance rules across global markets. The first session kicked off on 29 May 2026, with a livestream hosted by a TIC partner, focused on product safety and quality compliance for children’s toys. Replays of the livestream are available...
WARC’s Future of Media 2026 Report: South Africa’s TV currency is being rebuilt
“THE OLD PLAYBOOK IS FINISHED. SO IS THE WAY WE MEASURE TV IN SOUTH AFRICA” Global ad spend forecasts from WARC’s Future of Media 2026 Report, the collapse of South Africa’s traditional pay-TV model, and the rise of AI-powered search should act as stark wake-up calls for marketers, warns award-winning digital agency TDMC – a view reinforced by South African data from Google, TDMC’s Premier Partner. WARC’s Future of Media 2026 Report opened with a sentence that should have stopped every South African marketer in their tracks: “The established model for media planning and buying is breaking apart, and nobody knows...
Payroll is about processing, not babysitting writes Sandra Crous, Managing Director of Deel Local Payroll
“I’m only important when something goes wrong,” a payroll administrator once confided in me. “If I make a mistake, then suddenly I get emails. People become rude and angry. But I have to push those same people for things I need to complete the work. It really takes the enjoyment out of this career.” I understand completely. Payroll is often treated like a distant family member or the neighbour we never talk to unless there is a serious reason. People usually only contact payroll when there is a problem or if they need something: an error in their salary, updates...
INIU SnapGo Air 10000mAh Power Bank Launches with Qi2.2 Fast Magnetic Charging
Global charging brand INIU has officially launched its new SnapGo Air 10000mAh Magnetic Power Bank. As one of the most well-rounded magnetic power banks in terms of functionality, SnapGo Air embodies the philosophy “Sleek Power. Solid Confidence.”By combining faster wireless charging, an ultra-slim profile, and versatile power delivery, the new model sets a new benchmark for everyday portable energy. Designed for seamless daily comfort, SnapGo Air is one of the slimmest Qi2.2 magnetic power banks available. Measuring just 0.5 inches (13.8 mm) thick, it features an anodized aluminum body with a soft-touch finish that feels refined and durable. Its slim profile...
Fifa changes tunes on plastic water bottles ban at World Cup 2026
Fifa has again amended its water bottle policy for the World Cup in North America, allowing fans to bring in one sealed, disposable 20-ounce (590ml) bottle into stadiums. Ticket holders had previously been permitted an empty, transparent and reusable bottle up to one litre but an update earlier this week confirmed reusable bottles were no longer permitted. The move was criticised by fan groups and scientific experts, who were already concerned about the impact of extreme heat on the welfare of spectators, while the UK prime minister, Keir Starmer, called the measure “wrong” and said it was “about making money”. But Fifa has partially...
What the IPL reveals about the changing nature of fan engagement
Each IPL season continues to deliver one of the largest audience scales in global sport. But the more important shift is not how many fans are watching — it is how much of that engagement is being translated into value. Fan interaction today extends well beyond the live broadcast, with users moving across apps, content platforms, match centres and second-screen experiences throughout the tournament. This creates a continuous engagement layer, where platforms integrating fan loyalty programmes are seeing 5–6x higher engagement time compared to non-integrated environments. What this signals is not just a change in consumption, but a change in opportunity. Fans...
Boeing Delivers Riyadh Air’s First Two 787 Dreamliner Jets
Boeing and Riyadh Air announced that the new carrier’s first two passenger airplanes, 787 Dreamliners, were delivered and arrived in Riyadh, a milestone for the airline as it prepares to launch commercial service. “To see our very first custom-built 787 Dreamliner airplanes touch down in Riyadh is a historic moment for us, and a momentous day for Saudi aviation,” said Riyadh Air CEO Tony Douglas. “I couldn’t be more excited or more confident about the future and the legacy we are creating. Not only are we building an airline, we are opening a new gateway to the world from the...