Business

A new type of fandom has emerged in the modern era. Today, people join massive fan clubs with members from all over the world. Thanks to digital technology, news spreads fast and memes go viral. Photos, videos, and cultural products instantly reach audiences through the internet, social media, and streaming platforms. As a result, New Zealand has become an iconic …

Some business innovations are so groundbreaking that they don’t need any kind of built-in audience or precursor. When they launch, they gather buzz on the idea alone before booming into the mainstream. These kinds of innovations are incredibly rare, but that doesn’t mean that businesses can’t or shouldn’t innovate in more discreet ways. After all, as Forbes writes, a failure …

These days, having a job is not the only path to financial success. A lot of people have cracked the code and have found a way to make money out of the things that they enjoy doing. Most of the time, the outcome is successful. Some examples of things that people can monetize these days include streaming video games, sketching …

AI character chatbots have grown to be the most discussed use of artificial intelligence applications for the year 2025. Their use goes beyond simple and mundane conversations as they have also assumed the roles of emotional partners, artistic collaborators and entertainment aides. Thanks to the Internet and the digitalization brought by Gen Z, the conversations with digitally constructed characters keeps …

There have been long-standing concerns about the use of Non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), particularly relating to sexual harassment allegations. Those concerns have grown with the momentum of the MeToo movement. The use of NDAs stands at a critical crossroads. Imminent and future legal reforms are poised to fundamentally alter their scope and enforceability in the context of discrimination and harassment. NDAs …

The government will fast-track legislation to permanently ban fracking in the UK, in a move designed to block Reform UK’s pledge to revive the controversial practice. Ed Miliband, energy secretary, confirmed the ban will be introduced as part of the North Sea transition plan, due this autumn. Any future attempt to restart fracking would require a parliamentary repeal, forcing MPs …

Greggs is increasing prices on some of its best-known menu items as the bakery chain seeks to offset rising employment costs while managing softer sales growth. From Thursday, customers will pay 5p more for certain baked goods such as the empire biscuit, while breakfast deals will also rise in price. The two-part breakfast deal, which includes a roll and a …

Nivoda, the B2B diamond and gemstone marketplace, has secured a $60 million financing facility from i80 Group to provide embedded trade credit to jewellery retailers across more than 70 countries. The deal addresses a critical shortage of working capital in the diamond industry after traditional lenders retreated from the sector, leaving small and mid-sized retailers struggling to finance inventory purchases. …

Daniel Ek, the billionaire founder of Spotify and one of Europe’s most successful technology entrepreneurs, is stepping back from the day-to-day running of the company he launched nearly two decades ago. From January 2026, Ek will move into the role of executive chairman, with long-time lieutenants Gustav Soderstrom and Alex Norstrom jointly assuming the position of co-CEOs. The decision comes …

Royal Mail has announced it will double its apprenticeship support for small businesses, gifting another £1 million of its levy to help SMEs upskill their workforce. The move follows the success of its first £1m funding round, which was oversubscribed earlier this year. The new funding is open to SMEs with up to 250 employees that sell products online. It …