The Philippines is launching a new artificial intelligence initiative to help micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) overcome barriers to financing and digital operations. On Monday, July 20, the Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) and the Land Bank of the Philippines signed a memorandum of understanding to jointly develop AI-enabled tools designed to … Read more
Australian critical infrastructure and civilian networks are increasingly vulnerable to sophisticated cyberattacks, according to the Australian Signals Directorate (ASD). State-funded hackers, particularly those linked to Russia, are actively targeting communications, energy grids, financial services, and healthcare systems. Because the internet lacks physical borders, individual businesses and home users now act as the front line of … Read more
New Zealand businesses are moving on from the hope of a post-Covid recovery, according to the 2026 2degrees Shaping Business study. Surveying 555 decision-makers between March 10 and April 10, 2026, the research indicates that firms have shifted their focus away from waiting for a return to pre-pandemic conditions and are instead adapting to a … Read more
The Perfect Storm: Why New Zealand Businesses Are Facing a Liquidation Wave For many business owners, the current economic landscape feels less like a typical cycle and more like navigating a relentless headwind. While headlines often point to “homegrown failure,” the reality is far more nuanced. We are currently witnessing an external shock—a combination of … Read more
The End of the “Click-to-Buy” Era: Why Small Bookstores Are Pivoting to Community The landscape for independent booksellers is undergoing a seismic shift. Mandy Myles, founder of the Wānaka-based online store Bookety Book Books, recently announced the closure of her retail site, citing a reality that many small business owners know all too well: the … Read more
The Los Angeles City Council voted 11-3 on Tuesday to amend the Olympic Wage Ordinance, effectively delaying scheduled pay increases for specific hotel and airport workers. The move comes as part of a high-stakes compromise to secure the withdrawal of a ballot initiative that sought to eliminate the city’s business tax. Under the revised schedule, … Read more