LONDON: Optima Health, a leading UK-based provider of corporate health and wellbeing solutions, announced Friday it has agreed to acquire Ireland’s Cognate Health Limited in a deal worth up to €9 million ($9.7 million). The acquisition marks Optima’s first expansion into the Republic of Ireland, adding approximately €7 million in annual revenue and €1 million in…
AI and cybersecurity pioneer Matt Kraning joins Menlo Ventures as partner
MENLO PARK: Menlo Ventures, a leading venture capital firm, announced Tuesday that Matt Kraning has joined as its newest partner. Kraning, a seasoned entrepreneur and technologist, will focus on investments in artificial intelligence, enterprise SaaS, national defense, and cybersecurity. Kraning previously co-founded and served as chief technology officer of Expanse, a cybersecurity company acquired by…
Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure Ltd. acquires transmission line in Uruguay
MONTEVIDEO: Atlantica Sustainable Infrastructure Ltd. has officially acquired a 132-mile transmission line in Uruguay, further strengthening its footprint in the region. This transmission line, operational since 2019, is under a lease agreement with Uruguay’s state-run electricity company, UTE, until 2049. As part of this deal, UTE pays a fixed tariff in U.S. dollars, adjusted monthly for inflation….
Ransomware attacks hit historic high in Q1 2025
RICHMOND: Ransomware attacks surged to a record high in the first quarter of 2025, with victims increasing by 102% compared to the same period last year, according to a new report from cybersecurity firm GRIT. The quarterly GRIT report, released Wednesday, documented 2,063 ransomware victims in Q1, the highest number ever recorded. The findings also revealed a…
Waymo’s driverless fleet embarks on Tokyo data collection mission
Waymo, the self-driving technology company under Alphabet, is set to begin testing its driverless vehicles on public roads in Japan next week, marking its first international endeavor. The milestone “road trip” aims to collect data on Japanese driving nuances, such as left-hand traffic and dense urban navigation. Although Waymo has not confirmed plans to launch…
Ancoris acquires Sundown Solutions to form new tech business, Telana
SIMONSTONE: Sundown Solutions, a Lancashire-based technology consultancy, has been acquired by Bracknell-headquartered Ancoris to create a new tech business named Telana, the companies announced Tuesday. The financial terms of the deal were not disclosed. Telana, derived from a term meaning “where treasures are kept,” aims to serve as a market-leading, end-to-end innovation provider, leveraging expertise…
EnSilica partners with European satellite operator for custom satellite chip development
EnSilica plc (AIM: ENSI), a leader in mixed-signal application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), announced the signing of a binding Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with a major European satellite operator. The agreement includes a contract for a feasibility study to develop a high-value satellite payload ASIC. The feasibility study is set to begin this month, contributing non-recurring…
Barlow Travel Group, Helloworld Travel ,to acquire , in New Zealand,
WELLINGTON: Helloworld Travel Limited (ASX: HLO) announced Thursday it has agreed to acquire 100% of Wellington-based Barlow Travel Group (BTG), a corporate travel business that employs 30 staff, primarily at its Wellington headquarters. Founded in 2011 by Peter Barlow, Barlow Travel Group operates as BCD Travel in New Zealand under license from Netherlands-based BCD Travel,…
What is trade war: causes, consequences, and key players
But what is a trade war? At its core, it’s an economic battle where countries impose tariffs or trade barriers against each other, leading to cycles of retaliation. From higher consumer prices to disrupted supply chains, these conflicts reshape industries, strain diplomatic relations, and even alter the course of global markets. On April 9, 2025,…
Asian Development Bank forecasts moderate growth for Asia Pacific amid trade war
MANILA: The Asian Development Bank (ADB) projected growth in Asia Pacific to moderate to 4.9% in 2025 and 4.7% in 2026, citing rising trade barriers and a slowdown in China’s property sector. The forecasts, finalized before new U.S. tariffs were announced on April 2, highlight the region’s resilience despite global headwinds. In its Asian Development…
BYD brings luxury Denza EVs to Europe as trade disputes loom
Stocks reverse losses after president temporarily eases trade war measures MILAN: Chinese electric vehicle giant BYD is expanding its presence in Europe with the launch of its premium Denza brand, despite escalating trade tensions between China and the European Union. The automaker announced Wednesday at Brera Design Week in Milan that its first European Denza…
Markets Rally as Trump Announces Tariff Relief; Dow Soars 2,476 Points
Stocks reverse losses after president temporarily eases trade war measures U.S. stocks staged a dramatic rebound Wednesday after President Trump announced a temporary easing of trade tariffs, sparking the biggest single-day rally in months. The Dow Jones Industrial Average rocketed up 2,476 points (6.6%) to 39,683 by mid-afternoon, while the S&P 500 surged 7.8% and…