Reports indicate that the United States government is weighing new requirements for banks to collect and report citizenship data from their customers.

Retail banks are earning enough of a profit to cover the cost of cash services and hubs, the central bank says.

A growing trend sees more CEOs directly interacting with customers, with executives citing business learning as the motive, while some observers suggest it could be a PR strategy.

Hasbro shareholders have dropped their lawsuit against the company, which alleged management overprinted 'Magic: The Gathering' cards, breached fiduciary duty, and deceived consumers.

Portuguese telecom operators Nos, Meo, and Vodafone will refund customers for days without communication services due to bad weather, addressing concerns from clients who received bills without the promised credit.

70% Of Luxury Customers Switched Brands. 3 Ways To Win Them Back  Forbes

Booking.com is providing promotional codes that allow customers to save 15% on select accommodations.

PayPal is notifying business customers after a software error in its PayPal Working Capital loan application exposed sensitive personal information, including Social Security numbers, for over five months.

Online travel agency eSky.pl is launching a new 'self catering' offering for travel packages, providing customers with flights and hotel stays that include kitchenettes.

Finnish phone operators are experiencing fierce competition for customers, with nearly 305,000 numbers transferred between operators in the last quarter of 2025, a 40% increase year-over-year.

Ministers say they are worried about the risks posed by the unlicensed market, such as companies failing to comply with laws and guidelines designed to protect customers.

Democrats are calling for the government to refund billions of dollars collected from Trump-era tariffs, with a focus on prioritizing small businesses and encouraging larger companies to pass savings to customers.

A severe blizzard has hit the northeastern United States, leaving nearly 400,000 customers without power and prompting blizzard warnings for over 40 million people.

Saudi Aramco has commenced exports of condensate from its Jafurah unconventional gas field, with initial sales directed to customers in the United States and India.

Sigurður Reynaldsson, CEO of Hagkaup, states that customers are showing significant interest in the new 'Takk' loyalty program, with 50,000 participants already.

A cafe in Marburg, Germany, called Café Satz, is attracting customers by serving dishes made from insects like mealworms, crickets, and grasshoppers, promoting them as protein-rich and environmentally friendly food.

ASA Banka in Bosnia and Herzegovina has introduced a promotional savings offer designed to provide financial security and protect assets for its customers.

Midland Bank has introduced MDB digital nano loans, making them available to its customers.

A recent analysis by the National Media and Infocommunications Authority (NMHH) in Hungary found that 22% of prepaid mobile customers spend enough to warrant switching to a more convenient monthly subscription.

Blizzards hit the eastern United States. In New York, over 5 centimeters of snow fell in just one hour. According to local media, over 115,000 customers in several states

Bunnings, a major retail chain, will soon make its products available for delivery through the Uber Eats app in New Zealand, expanding its reach to customers.

A new report reveals that 61% of Danish electricity grid hubs have little to no capacity for new customers, forcing businesses to delay their green transition efforts.

Walmart and Sam's Club are introducing significant changes aimed at helping customers save money.

Parts of northeastern Slovenia remain without electricity for a third day following a snowstorm that caused extensive damage to the distribution network, initially leaving around 70,000 customers without power.

Istanbul is increasingly attracting foreign customers for luxury watch repair and restoration services, driven by its competitive pricing and growing reputation in the industry.

Zurich taxi associations are advocating for a maximum fare to combat exorbitant prices, such as 62 francs for a 3 km ride, which are driving customers to services like Uber and Bolt.

A union secretary has attributed Royal Mail's delivery delays to a 'recruitment crisis,' stating that the company is failing its customers.

ByteDance, Alibaba and Moonshot among those targeting consumers with a promotional blitz during the week-long new year holiday

Bath & Body Works products are now officially available for purchase on Amazon, offering customers free next-day shipping.

Google's AI boss Demis Hassabis said the memory market came down to "a few suppliers of a few key components." PONTUS LUNDAHL/TT NEWS AGENCY/AFP via Getty Images Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis said that the "whole supply chain" for memory chips is constrained. "You need a lot of chips to be able to experiment on new ideas," Hassabis told CNBC. Google produces its own TPUs, but Hassabis said that there were still "key components" that were supply-constrained. The memory shortage takes no prisoners. Even Google isn't immune. AI companies are duking it out for greater and greater quantities of memory chips. The problem? The industry is heavily supply-constrained. Costs have skyrocketed, products have been tied up, and some companies — especially those in consumer electronics — are increasing prices. On the AI front, Google DeepMind CEO Demis Hassabis told CNBC that physical challenges were "constraining a lot of deployment." Google sees "so much more demand" for Gemini and its other models than it could serve, he said. "Also, it does constrain a little bit the research," Hassabis said. "You need a lot of chips to be able to experiment on new ideas at a big enough scale that you can actually see if they're going to work." Researchers want chips, whether they work at Google, Meta, OpenAI, or other Big Tech companies, and memory is a key component. Mark Zuckerberg said that AI researchers demanded two things beyond money: the fewest number of people reporting to them, and the most chips possible. Hassabis said that wherever there was a capacity constraint, there was a "choke point." "The whole supply chain is kind of strained," Hassabis said. "We're lucky, because we have our own TPUs, so we have our own chip designs." Google has long built TPUs — Tensor Processing Units — for internal use. The company also leases them to external customers through its cloud, which has also put Nvidia on edge. But even access to their own TPUs won't save Google from having to navigate the highly competitive memory market. "It still, in the end, actually comes down to a few suppliers of a few key components," Hassabis said. Three suppliers dominate memory chip production: Samsung, Micron, and SK Hynix. These companies are struggling to meet demand for chips from AI hyperscalers without dropping their longtime electronics customers. It doesn't help that AI companies mainly want a different type of memory chip than PC manufacturers do. Large language model producers want HBM (high-bandwidth memory) chips. Don't expect Google's spending on AI infrastructure and chips to go down anytime soon. On its fourth-quarter earnings call, the company projected capital expenditures of $175 billion to $185 billion for 2026. Read the original article on Business Insider

The city of Ninove is advising its merchants not to speak French in the presence of customers, a measure intended to 'preserve the Flemish character' of the city.

Starbucks is emphasizing the need for customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on increasing its afternoon sales by promoting its Refresher beverages to customers.

Starbucks is actively promoting its afternoon refresher beverages to customers.

The youth minimum wage is set to rise over this parliament, but it’s putting off employers from hiring people into their first roles When Keir Starmer was 14 years old, he got a part-time job clearing stones from a local farmer’s field. At 16, Kemi Badenoch was flipping burgers and cleaning toilets in McDonald’s. Me, I waitressed at weekends from the age of 15 in an Essex pub owned by an ex-paratrooper with two formidable rottweilers roaming behind the bar, which was a life lesson all of its own. But whatever your first job may have been, there’s a reasonable chance it combined the thrill of hard cash with several mortifying mistakes and a crash course in handling stroppy customers, taking criticism more or less gracefully and moaning about it only out of earshot. Though teenage starter jobs have been in decline for decades – for reasons varying from academic pressures on sixth-formers to the rise of side hustles on Vinted that don’t show up in official statistics – everyone still has to start somewhere, even if it’s now more likely at 18 than 14. But getting that start is becoming harder than it was. Continue reading...

Buffalo Wild Wings celebrates a judge tossing a lawsuit that accused the company of misleading customers with its 'boneless wings,' offering customer benefits as a result.

Spanish bank BBVA is introducing a new credit card and flexible fixed-term accounts offering up to three percent interest in Germany, aiming to compete with ING and allow customers access to their savings during the term.

Verizon has introduced new policies that are expected to complicate the process for customers wishing to switch providers.

American Express and Visa alumni have successfully raised $4 million for Rhythmic, a company that partners with brands to offer financial products to their customers.

Pokémon Center is providing a free physical item for customers who pre-order the upcoming game Pokopia from its website.

Kohl's is making significant changes to its stores in an effort to draw back customers.

Bank of America is expanding its loyalty program in an effort to draw in a larger customer base.

A US startup wants to lure customers with lucrative cargo space unavailable on today's narrowbodies. Natlius US startup Natlius unveiled plans for a dual-deck blended-wing jet with a level for passengers and another for cargo. It's a familiar setup, but the ultra-wide jet would hold more freight than existing narrowbodies. The smaller, cargo-heavy plane could be built as a designated freighter and replace the Boeing 757. Airbus' CEO recently said the future of flying is a B2-bomber-shaped "blended-wing body" plane with passengers housed inside the plane's one giant wing for maximum efficiency. Aleksey Matyushev, the CEO of the US aerospace startup Natilus, told Business Insider that his company has taken that vision one step further by redesigning its proposed blended-wing plane, Horizon, with plans to offer more lucrative cargo space while still delivering the 50% lower operating costs and up to 250 seats previously promised. Instead of the single-deck seating layout originally planned, the newly unveiled Horizon Evo — which the company expects to enter service as soon as the early 2030s — reimagines what cargo-heavy passenger jets can look like by adding a "dual-deck" layout. So far, Natilus' blended-wing vision is just a sketch on paper, and a mini-sized prototype it's been flying; actually developing and certifying the new plane type and getting it into the air is a much longer road. The dual deck design would have cargo sitting below the passengers, as is the case with traditional airplanes. Natilus Still, the dual-deck idea should be familiar to regulators and airlines, as it is the configuration of traditional tube-and-wing jets where passengers sit in a single level above the cargo hold. When installed on an ultra-wide blended-body, it results in a very cargo-heavy plane. Evo is expected to boast 2,600 cubic feet of dedicated cargo space on the lower level. For context, most Boeing 737s or Airbus A320s, which are at least 10 feet longer but have a cabin roughly half as wide despite similar wingspans, offer between roughly 1,300 and 1,800 cubic feet of belly cargo space. This cargo focus comes at a time when belly freight has become one of the most reliable money-makers in aviation (e-commerce helped keep airlines afloat during the pandemic). The lure could help break the Airbus-Boeing duopoly while also addressing a projected shortfall of roughly 15,000 narrow-body aircraft over the next two decades. "The market has gravitated toward a single-deck [blended-wing] layout because it's simpler to design and build in many ways, but I just don't see it as operationally better," Matyushev said. Natilus said its futuristic Evo jet will fit into existing airport infrastructure. Natilus California-based competitor JetZero, for example, is developing a single-deck version. Company leaders have previously said there is a lower deck for the landing gear and some cargo containers, but it could move that floor up to create more space. Making a dual-deck layout in a blended-wing aircraft is challenging. Unlike conventional jets, the design spreads volume horizontally rather than vertically, and stacking passengers above a cargo deck in this uniquely triangular-shaped airframe requires careful structural and engineering solutions. Evo's cargo economics could shake up the market for freight-reliant carriers. With roughly 11,000 cubic feet of cargo space across its two levels, Matyushev said Evo could serve as a dedicated freighter — potentially replacing planes like the Boeing 757. "There's a huge product gap left behind by the 757; companies like UPS and FedEx heavily rely on that configuration," Matyushev said. "Evo has the same volumetric capacity as a 757 but in a smaller airframe." Beyond cargo, Matyushev said the plane's unique geometry would similarly enhance the customer experience: airlines could fit the wide upper level with unique living spaces, such as a playroom or mini-offices. Natlius envisions a 12-abreast economy cabin with the potential to also install unique spaces that are not practical on traditional jetliners. Natilus He added that the economy cabin would feature more overhead bins and three aisles for better comfort, door access, and safety during evacuations: "It'd have four sets of three seats across, which is close to the A380," Matyushev said, referring to the superjumbo's possible 11-abreast seats." We're thinking about it like a widebody layout in a narrow-body type of footprint." Matyushev also said that Evo would have windows — something Airbus' top executive warned could be absent from some blended-wing designs. A windowless passenger jet could create a claustrophobic environment, and flight attendants may struggle to see outside as easily during an emergency. Natilus doesn't have a prototype of Evo, but a subscale model of its blended-wing cargo plane, called Kona, has been test-flying since 2023. Kona has secured orders from companies like US-based Ameriflight and Canada-based Norlinor, while Indian carrier SpiceJet has signed a conditional deal for 100 Evos. The above rendering shows Natilus' proposed "privacy pods" onboard the wide BWB jetliner. Natilus Natilus has raised $28 million in Series A financing to support its first full-scale Kona prototype and further development of Evo. It typically costs billions of dollars to develop passenger-ready commercial jetliners, and Natilus has a long way to go. The 737 Max cost around $2 billion to develop (before safety issues and the subsequent global grounding forced Boeing to redesign the plane). It was built on an older airframe that cost around $1.1 billion, in inflation-adjusted dollars, to develop. Meanwhile, the Airbus A320neo cost just over $1 billion to develop; it was also built on an older airframe, that originally cost around $3 billion to develop. Natilus isn't the only company betting on a Jetsons-like blended-wing aircraft. United Airlines has tentatively committed to buying up to 200 of JetZero's "Z4," which it previously described to Business Insider as a "living room in the sky." Airbus has also been developing a commercial flying wing since 2017 as part of its ZEROe program, which aims to build zero-emission airlines powered by hydrogen rather than traditional jet fuel. That project flew a demonstrator in 2019 but has since been delayed at least a decade from its initial 2035 timeline. Read the original article on Business Insider

Bath & Body Works has teamed up with Disney Princesses for a new magical collection, allowing customers to choose products inspired by their favorite princesses.

Investors Overreacting To Starlink's Threat To Traditional Telcos; Goldman Says Talk of space-based data centers has suddenly become a major conversation on Wall Street. One key driver is Elon Musk's merger of SpaceX with his AI venture, xAI, aiming to eventually build "orbital data centers" at scale. With a potential IPO later this year, the space industry - first in low-Earth orbit, then on the moon - will be center stage for years to come. Goldman analysts, led by Andrew Lee, hosted a webcast titled "Space - Datacentres Opportunity and Telecom Risk," featuring Justin Hotchkiss (Associate Partner), Gregor Eichler (Principal), and Federico Torri (Partner) from TMT consultancy Altman Solon. The webcast conversation looked ahead to a future in which space-based data centers could become a reality. Goldman's telecom analysts and tech consultants discussed two major ideas: Space data centers: Not yet deployed, but could become a reality in the near term. The advantages are low-cost solar power in space, easier cooling, no property costs, and no permitting issues. One big hurdle is the need for cheaper rocket launch costs and a lightweight cooling system. If launches drop below $200/kg and cooling hardware is very light, the cost could start to look similar to building on Earth. Satellite connectivity for telecoms: It already exists, but investors are overreacting to the idea that satellites will "replace" traditional telcos. Satellites (especially LEO networks like Starlink) have limited capacity, variable service quality, and challenging economics for serving many everyday urban customers. They're most useful where building cell towers or fiber is expensive: rural, sparsely populated, higher-income areas. Think of Starlink and other LEO networks as complementary to telecoms. A major technological leap is underway in space-based communications. Data centers in space are likely to become a reality within this decade, thanks to SpaceX's Starship rocket. Goldman's webcast suggests that Starlink and other LEO constellations should be more complementary than competitive to telcos for the foreseeable future. Lee noted: In the longer term, space data centres appear an increasingly likely reality. More relevant today, our conversation suggests the extent of investor concerns on satellite competition to telecoms and towercos are overstated - as we wrote in our 2025 satellite/telco report. Satellite technology is more likely to be complementary rather than competitive to telcos due to satellite capacity constraints, service quality restrictions, and inferior economics for the majority of geographies. Telcos can leverage satellites to extend their own network coverage into rural areas where terrestrial build-out is costly. Investing world impacts: This would imply modest downside risk to towerco growth if rural connectivity is partially rerouted via satellites. For towercos including Cellnex and INWIT, some of this satellite risk is already priced into their shares, but we do not see a catalyst for a re-rating in the near term. For telcos including TMUS (majority owned by DT), where satellite risk to its broadband growth has pressured the share price, we see scope for a rerating as investor concerns over satellite risk abate over time and ongoing consensus upgrades continue. We retain our bullish view on European telcos as laid out in our recent report - select Buy ideas include BT, Nordics, DT, KPN. We outline our key takeaways from the satellite webcast below. The big question is: At what point does Starlink start to challenge them directly? Professional subscribers can read the full note on our new Marketdesk.ai portal​​​​. Tyler Durden Tue, 02/17/2026 - 11:40

Jet2 has barred two people from ever flying with it again after they brawled midair. OLI SCARFF/AFP via Getty Images British budget airline Jet2 barred two people after a midair brawl prompted a diversion on Thursday. Jet2 said it plans to "vigorously pursue" the pair to recoup costs for the diversion. Unruly passengers can face civil and criminal prosecution in addition to airline lawsuits. "Nothing beats a Jet2 holiday" — except when it ends in a midair brawl. The British budget carrier has issued lifetime bans to two passengers after a flight from Turkey to England diverted to Belgium on Thursday following a fight on board, the airline told multiple news outlets. It's unclear what caused the altercation, but videos circulating on social media show passengers screaming and pushing as cabin crew and others attempted to break it up. The plane later continued to the UK after police removed the two passengers. Jet2 said in a statement that the pair exhibited "appalling behavior" and that it would "vigorously pursue them" to recoup the costs of the diversion. Diversions aren't cheap: they can cost airlines tens of thousands of dollars in fuel, labor, and airport fees. Any hotel and transportation costs also add up. "As a family-friendly airline, we take a zero-tolerance approach to disruptive passenger behaviour, and we are very sorry that other customers and our colleagues on board had to experience this too," the airline said. Jet2 has a history of chasing down unruly passengers. In 2019, the airline barred a disruptive traveler and billed her about $115,000 after she attempted to open an exit door midair, prompting a diversion escorted by military jets. In 2022, two brothers who fought on board another Jet2 flight forced a diversion and were later charged about $68,000 and issued lifetime bans. Other airlines have taken similar approaches, seeking reimbursement from passengers whose behavior disrupted flights. Budget competitor Ryanair, for example, last year filed a lawsuit seeking about $18,000 from a passenger it described as disruptive after a diversion to Portugal in April 2024 left 160 people needing overnight accommodation. Unruly passenger incidents surged during the pandemic, when mask mandates fueled confrontations between travelers and airline staff. Data from the Federal Aviation Administration shows there were nearly 6,000 reports on US airlines in 2021 — up about 500% from roughly 1,000 the year before. Reports fell to about 2,500 in 2022 and further to roughly 1,600 in 2025, though they still remain well above pre-pandemic levels. There have been 126 reports so far in 2026. The FAA maintains a zero-tolerance policy and has issued more than $20 million in civil fines since 2020 (these are separate from the money airlines can collect through lawsuits). In more extreme cases — such as physical assaults on crew — passengers have faced criminal prosecution, including by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, resulting in larger fines and jail time. Read the original article on Business Insider

T-Mobile has launched a new loyalty program designed to save customers money, though not all subscribers may meet the qualification criteria.

Ring customers are reportedly beginning mass returns of devices after a perceived privacy betrayal, leading to a significant revolt against the smart home security company.

A guide to the best free bet offers available across UK betting sites for both new and existing customers, highlighting variations in value and restrictions.

Lisa Werner/Getty Images Gen Z now leads restaurant loyalty signups, reshaping rewards programs. Survey data shows that diners will switch brands for better, faster loyalty perks. QSR giants are doubling down on digital rewards to win Gen Z — and it's paying off. Gen Z isn't just signing up for restaurant loyalty programs. They're raising the bar for how those programs have to work. By 2024, nearly half of all new loyalty program signups came from Gen Z as the cohort overtook millennials as the most active generation in restaurant rewards programs for the first time, according to data from PAR Punchh, a loyalty program software from the foodservice tech company PAR Technology. That number has only increased as more and more of the generation, aged 14-29, start flexing their spending power. "Gen Z isn't just participating," Savneet Singh, PAR's CEO, told Business Insider. "They're redefining loyalty." National data backs up just how central these programs have become for this generation. Gen Z consumers make up a higher-than-average share of restaurant customers who say being a member of a loyalty or rewards program is important when choosing where to eat, the National Restaurant Association's 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry report showed. That holds true across dining behaviors — whether they're eating in, ordering delivery, or grabbing takeout — and across segments, from drive-thru and limited-service chains to full-service restaurants. Singh argues that the generational takeover is structural, not cyclical. Gen Z grew up with smartphones and came of age during a pandemic that turbocharged mobile ordering and digital payments. For them, digital ordering, real-time rewards, and seamless app experiences aren't just perks — they're table stakes. "When loyalty is frictionless, Gen Z shows up," Singh said. "When it's clunky, they move on immediately." Rewards programs are no longer optional New survey data from PAR underscores the significance of loyalty programs for consumers. In a December report based on a survey of 1,000 US diners, nearly 70% said loyalty programs help them manage costs in today's inflationary environment. One-third said they're using restaurant loyalty programs more often because of economic pressure, and another third said their usage has held steady. A good deal from a rewards program can make all the difference. One in four respondents said they'd switch to a less-preferred restaurant for better loyalty perks, and half said they compare offers before deciding where to eat. How restaurants respond to that demand defines which formats resonate most with younger diners. PAR's platform data shows Gen Z over-indexing at quick-service restaurants like McDonald's and Taco Bell. In 2024, they accounted for more than a third of check-ins at QSR brands, compared with 20.8% at fast-casual restaurants like Chipotle and Panera Bread. Singh said the appeal is execution: speed, price, convenience, and integrated loyalty perks in one place. Fast casual establishments, by contrast, can sit in "an awkward middle ground" — not as convenient as QSRs and not as experiential as full-service dining. In a crowded landscape where PAR found that over half of consumers prefer managing no more than five loyalty accounts, clear value and seamless execution can determine which brands make the cut. And the chains that embrace the generational trend are already seeing the payoff. Taco Bell delivered 7% same-store sales growth in the fourth quarter, driven in part by transaction gains, especially among younger customers. The Mexican chain's active loyalty members climbed 31% in 2025, and digital channels saw double-digit growth, as app-exclusive drops and rewards nudged its core customers to visit more often. CEO Sean Tresvant told Business Insider earlier this month that "loyalty is going to continue to be a big story for us," adding that Taco Bell will be "really leaning into" its rewards strategy going forward. McDonald's is also leaning heavily into digital engagement. On its fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday, CFO Ian Borden described active loyalty membership as the company's "single most important digital metric." McDonald's has about 210 million 90-day active loyalty users across 70 markets, and 46 million active users in the US, he added. Borden said that, in the US, customers visited 10 and a half times in the year before joining the loyalty program — and 26 times in the year after. "When we get consumers into our loyalty program, they visit more often, they spend more over time, and they interact with us more frequently, so they get more value in their interaction with us, and we get more value by them interacting with us," Borden said. Starbucks also recently revamped its rewards program, bringing back its tiered system, extending the window for members to redeem their free birthday reward, and introducing a quicker-to-earn tier that lets customers redeem 60 Stars for $2 off any purchase — a move that lowers the barrier to instant gratification, which Singh said is particularly appealing to Gen Z. That kind of immediacy matters. PAR's survey found that discounts and free items or upgrades remain the most influential rewards, while more than half of respondents said better reward value, such as a surprise free item after a large order, would prompt them to switch programs. For Singh, the takeaway is clear: loyalty is less about points and more about performance. The brands that make participation effortless, deliver instant value, and respect privacy boundaries won't just win Gen Z — they'll define the next era of dining. Read the original article on Business Insider

Gong Cha's founder said he opened his first few stores in strategic locations. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images Bubble tea chain Gong Cha's founder said he banked on Starbucks' success to get his first customers. He said he opened stores in South Korea next to Starbucks outlets to get a fraction of its customers. The bubble tea chain now has nearly 2,200 stores in 33 countries. The founder of the bubble tea brand Gong Cha said he had a novel idea to get his first patrons through the door. In an interview with CNBC, Martin Berry, the founder and chairman of Gong Cha group, spoke about how he came across one of the chain's outlets in Singapore before it became a global boba behemoth. Berry said he and his wife pooled $2.5 million of their savings to open the first five Gong Cha franchise stores in South Korea, a venture he said was "quite terrifying." Berry quit his banking job to go all in on bubble tea. To get his first customers in Seoul, he decided to get Starbucks' help. "So my strategy was, I'm going to put a Gong Cha — the first five stores — next to Starbucks," Berry told CNBC. "And if I can get one in a hundred people who are going into Starbucks to come and try a Gong Cha, then I've got a business." Gong Cha was founded in Taiwan in 1996 by Wu Zhenhua, and Berry entered the business in 2011 to expand the brand to South Korea and other countries. As of January, the chain had about 2,200 stores in 33 countries, including the US and Canada. The chain is known for its fragrant, fruity teas and its milk foam topping. Bubble tea brands have seen large success in recent years, with several making splashy IPOs. Mixue, the world's largest fast-food chain that sells cheap bubble tea and ice cream, has more than 45,000 stores worldwide and just opened its first outlet in New York City at the start of the year. It went public in Hong Kong last March, with its stock jumping 30% from its IPO price at market open. Other Asian beverage brands, like Luckin Coffee, have positioned themselves as Starbucks' rivals, offering similar drinks at lower prices. Luckin Coffee expanded to the US last year, with several outlets in NYC. Read the original article on Business Insider

The restaurant sector is facing a dual challenge of increasing operational costs and customers having less disposable income. This situation is making it difficult for families to afford dining out.

Parts of the aviation industry are shifting focus to wealthy customers in Asia, offering more luxurious private jets and international travel experiences.

DigitalOcean has set a target for 30% revenue growth by 2027, reporting a 150% increase in Annual Recurring Revenue (ARR) from AI customers.

The Trump administration is exploring new measures that would mandate banks to collect additional citizenship information from customers as part of its broader efforts to crack down on illegal immigration.

NTT Docomo will terminate its 3G service, which began in 2001 and is mainly used by 'feature phones' (garakei), at the end of March. While the company is urging users to switch models, other mobile carriers are also actively trying to attract these customers.

A fire erupted on the facade of the Wisła shopping mall in Płock, Poland, leading to the evacuation of customers and employees. Five fire brigades were dispatched to the scene.

Hofer is recalling a product due to safety concerns and is asking customers not to use it.

Allwyn introduces 'Instant Win,' a new entertainment experience that allows thousands of lucky customers to win prizes of up to 500 euros instantly.

Serena & Lily is running a promotion offering customers up to 25% off across its entire website this week.

Reports provide the latest interest rates for various financial products including HELOCs, home equity loans, money market accounts, mortgages, refinance options, CDs, and high-yield savings accounts, all updated for February 24, 2026.

A new offer allows customers to drive a BMW X1 or X2 with payment spread over three annual installments.

When you hear "AI" attached to a business function, ask: what happens when it's wrong? If the answer involves customers, regulators, or reputations, progress will be slower than vendor PPTs claim.

ELF Beauty CEO Tarang Amin engages with customers on TikTok Live to gather feedback and inform product launch decisions, highlighting a direct-to-consumer approach.

The CEO of Chipotle is fighting back against online criticism and uproar regarding the perception of its customer base being predominantly wealthy.

The outages were mostly caused by problems with local power lines, and coastal Massachusetts was particularly hard hit.

Customers of Dyreparken, a Norwegian zoo and amusement park, have reported that their phone numbers and booking information have been leaked.

Sorpa, the waste management company in the capital area of Iceland, will implement license plate readers at its reception stations starting March 1st. The system aims to analyze customer groups, simplify processes, and charge customers, but is expected to affect only a quarter of residents.

The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA) has commissioned a premium service centre at Bantama in Kumasi, a move aimed at bringing its services closer to residents and reducing the activities of middlemen, popularly known as “goro boys.” The Chief Executive of the Authority, Julius Neequaye Kotey, speaking at the commissioning ceremony, said the establishment of the new facility forms part of efforts to improve service delivery and enhance transparency in line with the government’s...

A café in Marburg, Germany, is gaining attention for serving novel insect-based foods like mealworm waffles, attracting customers interested in protein-rich and environmentally friendly options.

A piercing shop in Coevorden, Netherlands, has closed immediately following dozens of reports from customers experiencing ear infections, with over 150 people reportedly affected.

The Maxima retail chain is reminding customers that money accumulated on 'Ačiū' loyalty cards during 2025 will expire this week, on February 28th, after which new funds will begin to accumulate.

In addition to Elektro Maribor, firefighters, road and utility services, and civil protection also had a lot of work clearing the aftermath of the weekend's snow damage.

Starbucks Korea said Monday it will introduce a new Americano-style drink, called the Aerocano, which uses aeration to create a velvety foam while softening the espresso’s bitterness and body. The beverage, set for its global debut Thursday in Korea, is positioned as an alternative to iced Americanos and cold brew for customers seeking a lighter flavor profile. The move underscores the company’s effort to differentiate its offerings in a market with strong year-round demand for iced coffee, the

The owners of a tavern in Pandrosos, Komotini, were released by prosecutor's order after a section of the wooden floor collapsed, injuring customers.

The owners of a tavern in Greece were released by prosecutor's order after a section of the wooden floor collapsed, injuring eight customers.

A recent survey of 31,000 customers has identified America's highest-rated grocery store.

Bentley has announced it will use 100% sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) for all its air freight shipments to customers worldwide, as part of its environmental efforts.

Istanbul is emerging as a leading destination for the repair and restoration of luxury watches, attracting foreign customers with competitive prices and quality services.

Bartenders illegally "marrying" liquor bottles puts customers at risk, experts say. Learn the warning signs of this prohibited practice and how to spot it at bars.

A Slovenian businessman, Matjaž Mikuletič, has been sentenced to 20 months in prison for poisoning multiple customers with candies containing high levels of THC.

Affirm Holdings, Inc. (AFRM) has announced a new strategic deal with Lowe’s, expanding its buy-now-pay-later services to the home improvement retailer's customers.

Procore Technologies (PCOR) announced a 15.6% revenue growth to $349 million in Q4 2025, attributed to the expansion of high-value customers.

Krista LeRay started her company during the pandemic. Courtesy of Penny Linn Marketing Krista LeRay started the popular needlepoint company Penny Linn Designs during the pandemic. She ran a popular blog and started the business after sharing a hand-painted canvas with followers. She says it's important to lean on others and not to give criticism more than 24 hours of attention. This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Krista LeRay, founder and CEO of Penny Linn Designs. It has been edited for length and clarity. My first needlepoint project was in college. I moved from the Chicago suburbs to the University of Kentucky for college and remember feeling struck by how preppy everything was. Everyone had these needlepoint belts that they would wear. I wanted to immerse myself in the culture, so I decided to try needlepoint. A local needlepoint store showed me how to do the basic continental stitch, and that was that. I stitched in college but then didn't think about it for a while, until my then-boyfriend (now husband) started talking about a needlepoint belt, and I said I could make him one. Then I stitched a ringbearer pillow for our wedding in 2019, and really fell back in love with the hobby. But I couldn't find the things I wanted to stitch in stores. It all felt older to me, so when the pandemic hit in 2020, and I had extra time on my hands, I started painting my own canvases. Since then, I've grown Penny Linn Designs to over 10 million in sales. I didn't set out to start a needlepoint business I worked for Major League Baseball after graduating from college in 2013, but also ran a successful blog on the side. Eventually, I started making more money from my blog than at my corporate job, and I began blogging full-time. I shared the canvas I painted with my followers. It was the green Ralph's Coffee cup. My followers started asking me if I could paint a canvas for them to stitch, and that's what led me down the path to starting Penny Linn. Things just sort of snowballed. By 2022, I was making as much as I was making from my blog, making needlepoint canvases. When I had my first son that year, I had been blogging for 10 years and had sort of hit my max with sharing my life online. It felt like a natural progression to turn my full attention to Penny Linn. My 24-hour rule helps me navigate online criticism and make my business better Throughout my blogging experience, I dealt with a lot of negative comments and cattiness. It helped me build a thick skin, something that is definitely needed when running a business. I have a 24-hour rule about dealing with criticism. I try not to read things about myself online, but if I do, I always ask whether the comment is valid. If it's not, I can push the critique aside. If it is, I give myself 24 hours to be upset about it. After that, I either move on or decide to make a change. I stick to things I feel confident about, and am not afraid to rely on others for help I only want to invest in things I'm good at and feel confident in. It's tough, but you have to decide what you're standing firm on when you grow a business. For me, that means that Penny Linn doesn't offer finishing services for our needlepoint projects. I don't want to provide a product that isn't up to my standards, and right now I don't believe we're good enough to get there. That makes some people mad, but I know it's right for us. One of the other things I do is hire people who are smarter than me for my team. I know I don't know everything, so I look to others to help guide me on things like accounting and legal issues. I design needlepoint canvases I'd want to stitch I always say that Penny Linn is for a stitcher by a stitcher. I'm the stitcher that I'm talking about. Everything we sell is something I'd want to make. For now, that means mainly smaller canvases. A lot of people coming to Penny Linn are needlepoint beginners, so the projects are easier to manage and less expensive than larger projects like Christmas stockings. As our customers continue to grow with us, we'll start offering bigger projects. Needlepoint is a popular hobby now, and I definitely worry about whether its popularity will continue. But I always remind myself that things like embroidery and needlepoint have been around since the dawn of time. Once you're a needlepointer, you're one for life. I think people will always come back to it, and we'll continue to evolve. Read the original article on Business Insider

Starbucks is focusing on increasing afternoon sales by promoting its Refresher beverages to customers.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages, aiming to increase sales in that segment.

Starbucks is looking to increase sales by encouraging customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is looking to increase sales by encouraging customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Peter Weinelt, head of Wiener Stadtwerke, stated that fossil fuel heating might still be in use in Vienna by 2040, despite plans to eliminate 400,000 gas heaters. He cited bureaucratic hurdles and ungrateful customers as major challenges.

Whole Foods Ditching Its "Dystopian" Pay-By-Palm Biometric Payment Option Whole Foods Market is shutting down its palm-scan payment system nationwide, removing the devices from more than 500 stores by June 3 after shoppers largely ignored them. The chain, owned by Amazon, had pitched the feature as a frictionless way to pay. Instead, it became an experiment few customers embraced, according to The Daily Mail. The program, called Amazon One, allowed shoppers to link their Amazon accounts to a scan of their palm and check out with a wave of the hand. Amazon says it processes more than a million biometric authentications each month across locations where the service operates, but a spokesperson said weak adoption at Whole Foods drove the decision to discontinue it there. In interviews at a Union Square store in Manhattan, none of the dozen customers surveyed had used the scanners. Several said they had never seen anyone else try. “I haven’t [used palm payment], and I haven't seen anyone use it before,” said Priscilla Flete. After learning how the system worked, she added, “It’s a bit invasive.” The Daily Mail writes that privacy worries were a common refrain. “I don't want to give my biometric data to nobody,” said Santiago Tieguec, who questioned the need for the service given that “Nowadays we have our cards in our phones.” Nusrat Abdullah, who hadn’t heard of the feature before, said, “It might be convenient, but I think your information is sensitive... I don't think paying with your hands is very safe.” Others expressed outright distrust. Gavin McGinn said, “I wouldn't trust them to have that kind of information about people, because who would they sell it to?” Brayden Stephenson, who once tested the scanner out of curiosity, was skeptical that data would truly disappear: “A lot of the time, ‘delete’ is just archive and sell off to somebody else.” Amazon disputes those fears, saying biometric data is encrypted, stored securely in the cloud and not shared with third parties. The company added that once the rollout ends, all associated customer information—including palm data—will be permanently deleted. Retail analysts say the technology’s retreat underscores a basic reality: contactless cards and mobile wallets are already fast and easy. Without a clear benefit, many shoppers saw little reason to trade more personal data for the same checkout experience. As Stephenson put it, “I already have a card. I'm not getting anything out of that.” Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 13:05

A former GAME employee shares humorous and surprising confessions, including wearing a 'funky smelling' Mario costume and interacting with celebrity customers.

Wayfair Posts Narrower Loss but Active Customers Dip  The Wall Street Journal

Target is expanding its store footprint as customers express dissatisfaction with perceived chaos in existing retail environments.

Fintech company Figure has reported a data breach that has impacted close to a million of its customers, raising concerns about customer data security.

The restaurant can keep menu term despite claim product is ‘essentially chicken nuggets’, Illinois ruling says A customer who sued the US restaurant chain Buffalo Wild Wings after finding out their “boneless wings” were not in fact made of wings has been told by a US judge that his claim has “has no meat on its bones”. Buffalo Wild Wings can continue using the term “boneless wings” on its menu even though the product is “essentially chicken nuggets”, John Tharp, a district judge, ruled, dismissing a lawsuit that claimed the chain was misleading customers. Continue reading...

A New York Pokémon card store, which gained media attention after an armed robbery, is now being forced by Nintendo to rebrand.

T-Mobile is preparing to implement significant pricing adjustments in response to a recent decline in its customer base, aiming to retain subscribers and improve market position.

Betfred is offering new UK customers £50 in free bets through its latest sign-up promotion.

KARACHI: The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has launched ‘Cyber Shield’, a comprehensive cyber resilience strategy, to counter growing global and domestic cyber threats to the financial ecosystem, aligning with international best practices. As part of its Vision 2028 agenda, the SBP launched Cyber Shield, a major initiative aimed at strengthening the safety and robustness of the country’s banking and financial system. The banks have been facing increasing incidents of cyber crimes, while the international organisations believe that every second Pakistani is facing the cybersecurity problem. With the rapid digitisation and very high growth of online payments, cyber threats have also increased. Bankers said the situation is not alarming, but there is a need to implement quick remedies to control it, which would help strengthen the banking system in Pakistan. Outlines key priorities to counter growing threats by 2030 “The milestones laid down in the strategy will be implemented in a phased manner by 2030. All regulated entities are required to align their internal cybersecurity programs with the strategy to ensure compliance,” said the SBP. The central bank said the strategy has been designed to better protect banks and financial institutions from cyber threats, thus ensuring that people and businesses can continue to access financial services safely. The SBP said it set out a clear roadmap to help financial institutions strengthen their systems and controls, prevent cyber incidents, respond quickly when cyber threats materialise, and recover effectively from them. “As the banking ecosystem faces increasingly sophisticated cyber threats, the strategy aims to enhance cyber defences of the regulated entities through a holistic, forward-looking and collaborative approach,” said the SBP. Bankers said cybersecurity experts are not available to meet the growing demand in financial institutions, as many young Pakistani experts prefer jobs abroad with higher pay. There is no attractive policy to retain cybersecurity experts in the country. The SBP said the Cyber Shield focuses on five key priorities: strengthening the ability of banks to withstand cyber incidents, improving governance and accountability for cybersecurity, encouraging cooperation and information-sharing across the financial sector, building skilled cyber talent, and continuously updating security practices to keep pace with new risks. “The SBP will closely monitor both global and domestic cyber developments and will update the strategy as needed to address emerging threats,” said the SBP. By strengthening cyber resilience across the banking sector, SBP aims to safeguard customers, support digital innovation in a secure environment and ensure financial stability, it added. About 90 per cent of bankers believe that cybercrime is the biggest challenge confronting the banking industry in the country, according to a previous survey conducted by PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) Pakistan. Seventy per cent list fraud as their major concern, and 60 per cent believe terrorism financing is the biggest threat, the survey showed. “Banks in Pakistan operate within an evolving financial crime compliance ecosystem,” said the survey report. Published in Dawn, February 17th, 2026

Tesla has discontinued the option for customers to buy its Full Self-Driving (FSD) software with a single upfront payment, shifting towards a subscription-only model.

Curry fishball plushies, novelty minibus signs and products inspired by Hong Kong iconography emerged as bestsellers at the city’s biggest Lunar New Year fair, with one vendor saying he made more than HK$100,000 (US$12,790) in daily sales. From first-time sellers to charities, vendors were busy attracting customers with their locally designed merchandise on Wednesday as tens of thousands of festivalgoers lined the booths at Victoria Park’s Lunar New Year Fair. Among the busiest stalls was Lo...

McDonald's reports that its strategy of focusing on value offerings is successfully attracting customers back to its restaurants.

Australian supermarket chain Coles is facing court allegations that it deliberately planned to deceive customers through 'utterly misleading' discount promotions.

An analysis suggests that Microsoft's relatively small number of paying Copilot customers could be an advantage, allowing for more focused development and adaptation.

A Beijing pastry shop experienced a surge in customers after President Xi Jinping visited it during his lunar new year tour.

The 'Helix' eVTOL flying car from Pivotal is now on sale for $190,000, requiring no pilot license and already being flown by customers.

Amazon's AWS Elemental Inference will provide entertainment companies with new AI-powered vertical video technology, allowing real-time conversion of live content into vertical video.

An article details nine common complaints customers have about the grocery retailer Aldi.

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) has introduced significant changes to its operations, empowering franchise officers, previously known as metre readers, to disconnect electricity supply to defaulting power consumers. The officers were originally equipped to access and verify meter readings and calculate power consumed by customers during their routine visits to communities.

Alon Noy is the CEO and cofounder of Astelia. Astelia An AI-powered cybersecurity startup has raised $35 million to ward off a new generation of threats. Former Israeli intelligence leaders founded Astelia to help customers plug holes in their defenses. CEO Alon Noy spoke exclusively to BI about Astelia's plans and his advice for young people in the AI era. Artificial intelligence has supercharged the cybersecurity arms race. Attackers are rushing to harness the tech to break into systems, ...

Rimi supermarket chain in Lithuania has recalled 'Honey and BBQ' marinated chicken wings after Salmonella Infantis was detected by the State Food and Veterinary Service, urging customers to return the product.

A Greek article discusses the trend of companies establishing satellite offices in Athens as a key growth strategy, bringing businesses closer to customers and local markets.

Customers in Lithuania were surprised to encounter a new 'service fee' when ordering coffee at a cafe chain with locations in Vilnius, Palanga, Klaipėda, and Telšiai, a charge they had not seen in other countries.

Vodafone will reimburse customers who received bills despite service outages caused by bad weather. The amounts will be deducted from their next invoices.

Fuel prices rise and flights are grounded after 2ft of snow drops on some parts of region — with more to come

A business meet organized for Self-Help Groups (SHGs) and customers resulted in the signing of Memoranda of Understanding (MoUs) for transactions valued at ₹13.73 crore, promoting economic activity and support for SHGs.

OpenAI has signed multi-year agreements with major consulting firms to accelerate the integration of AI agents into enterprise production workflows for its customers.

An article discusses how artificial intelligence, particularly bots, are transforming online shopping by becoming new 'customers' for merchants, shifting the dynamics of retail.

Domino's has surpassed its US sales estimates, attributing the success to promotional deals that have attracted customers looking for value.

Icelandic retailer Hagkaup has partnered with Wolt to offer alcohol delivery services. Customers can order alcohol through veigar.eu and have it delivered to their homes or picked up at Hagkaup in Skeifan.

Portugal's energy regulator ERSE has approved a mandate requiring electricity and gas suppliers to offer fractional payment plans to customers affected by Storm Kristin.

Prime Bank and Wecon Properties have partnered to provide special benefits and offers for home loan customers.

Fintech company Airwallex turned down a $1.2 billion acquisition offer from Stripe in 2018. Seven years later, the company is now valued at $8 billion and serves over 200,000 customers globally.

A new report reveals that 61% of electricity companies' connection points have little to no capacity for new customers, causing frustration for businesses and delaying the green transition in Denmark.

An article discusses the return of McDonald's Snack Wrap and why its comeback might not have resonated with customers as expected.

This article discusses why high customer satisfaction might be a cause for concern for businesses and offers strategic insights.

Saxo Bank received a significant fine in January for violating anti-money laundering laws. Internal documents have now revealed the bank's failure to adequately control high-risk customers.

While high-profile Korean startups such as Toss and Yanolja chase Wall Street valuations — following Coupang’s US listing — a British chip-equipment maker is betting on Seoul instead. TeraView, a UK firm that commercialized terahertz technology for ultraprecision semiconductor inspection, chose to list on Kosdaq rather than in London or New York. The company counts Samsung Electronics, Intel and Nvidia among its customers, supplying critical components used in advanced chip manufacturing. “TeraV

Royal Caribbean has reportedly made a quiet decision regarding its ships, which was a direct response to customer demands.

Customers in Bangladesh are experiencing significant pressure as fruit prices have sharply increased during the Ramadan period.

Major fast-food chains like Wendy's, Bojangles, and Del Taco are rolling out limited-time fish sandwiches to cater to customers seeking meatless options during Lent.

Home Depot has announced a reduction in key employee benefits, a decision reportedly influenced by ongoing struggles faced by its customers.

Bath & Body Works has begun selling its products on Amazon, aiming to reach more customers and leverage Amazon's logistics network for faster shipping.

Starbucks is emphasizing the need for customers to purchase its afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on increasing its afternoon sales by promoting its Refresher beverages to customers.

Starbucks is emphasizing the need for customers to purchase its afternoon refresher beverages as part of its sales strategy.

Starbucks is focusing on strategies to encourage customers to purchase afternoon refresher beverages.

Starbucks is focusing on increasing afternoon sales, specifically promoting its Refresher beverages to attract more customers during that time.

NY Gov. Kathy Hochul Kills Plan To Allow Robotaxi Operations Outside NYC New York Governor Kathy Hochul has withdrawn a proposal that would allow commercial robotaxi pilot operations outside New York City limits without a human safety operator in the vehicle. The decision was first reported by Bloomberg News earlier Thursday and is a major setback for Waymo as it attempts a rapid US expansion this year. Bloomberg reported: The proposal, which Hochul had included in a policy preview she presented last month, would have allowed autonomous-vehicle companies such as Waymo to apply for permission to pilot their services without human operators in the vehicle. The decision to withdraw the plan was confirmed Thursday by the governor's office to Bloomberg News. "While we are disappointed by the Governor's decision, we're committed to bringing our service to New York and will work with the state legislature to advance this issue," a Waymo spokesperson said in a statement provided to Bloomberg. Last week, Waymo co-chief executive Tekedra Mawakana told Bloomberg TV that the Hochul administration showed interest in launching robotaxis. Even if it were outside the NYC metro area, "that gives us an opportunity to grow more fans," Mawakana said, adding that some customers of the service have been requesting robotaxis within city boundaries. To note, Waymo is currently testing in NYC, but it is not yet operating a driverless commercial robotaxi service. As of early 2026, its activity includes a small fleet with safety drivers in parts of Manhattan and Downtown Brooklyn. "We hear from thousands of New Yorkers who have experienced Waymo in other cities and want access to it at home," the Waymo spokesperson added. "They want the safety, privacy and comfort that riders in other major cities already enjoy." Last month, Goldman analyst Eric Sheridan provided clients with an update on the North American autonomous-vehicle (AV) rideshare market, which is quickly gaining momentum. Read the report here. "The rise in commercial autonomous vehicle deployments remains a key debate among investors and has continued to gain momentum throughout 2025. In the medium term, we believe that AV rideshare could represent a mid-single-digit percentage of total rideshare industry bookings," Sheridan said. Current robotaxi operations The lingering question: who persuaded Hochul to kill the robotaxi expansion proposal? Tyler Durden Thu, 02/19/2026 - 16:40

Figma's stock has seen a significant increase, attributed to its integration of AI, which is driving up spending in the software design sector.

Panera Bread confirms cybersecurity incident exposing customer contact information as class-action lawsuits are filed and hackers leak 760-megabyte archive of stolen data.

Wayfair Posts Narrower Loss but Active Customers Dip  The Wall Street Journal

DoorDash reported worse-than-expected fourth-quarter earnings on Wednesday. Jeffrey Greenberg/Universal Images Group via Getty Images DoorDash has a key advantage over Amazon in grocery delivery, CEO Tony Xu said Wednesday. The delivery service offers a wider variety owing to its myriad partnerships with grocers, Xu said. Amazon is ramping up its grocery delivery, creating more competition for DoorDash and Instacart. DoorDash CEO Tony Xu says that his company's grocery offering has a key advantage over Amazon: choice. Amazon is doubling down on grocery delivery, especially perishables like produce and ice cream. The retail and tech giant said last month that it's expanding same- and next-day grocery delivery to more parts of the US this year, adding to the thousands of towns and cities it already serves — news that sent shares of Instacart and DoorDash tumbling at the time. DoorDash, though, has something that shoppers want and that Amazon isn't replicating, Xu said on the company's fourth-quarter earnings call on Wednesday. Unlike Amazon, which owns Whole Foods and several of its own food brands, DoorDash works with existing grocery chains. The delivery service has struck deals in recent years. Last year, it expanded its partnership with Kroger and signed new deals with regional chains, including Schnucks in the Midwest. Few customers complete all their grocery shopping at a single chain, Xu said. Many stop at multiple stores each week, especially to find specific fresh groceries, such as produce, meat, and seafood. "Consumers prefer choice," Xu said on the call, adding that he expects there to "continue to be very strong interest in the DoorDash product" as a result. DoorDash is also expanding its services for retailers, such as fulfillment through its DashMarts, convenience store-sized retail spaces designed for picking and delivering orders. Xu said DoorDash is "doing that for every single grocer so that they have the capability to compete against companies like Amazon." DoorDash shares rose as much as 14% in after-market trading on Wednesday, despite disappointing fourth-quarter earnings and guidance for 2026. The company's stock took its biggest one-day hit in November after it unveiled plans to spend hundreds of millions of dollars on tech improvements. While DoorDash has become known for restaurant deliveries, its gig workers are increasingly making grocery deliveries — many of which make more financial sense for DoorDash. Xu said DoorDash has attracted more big grocery orders from customers, not just small fill-in trips. That matters in the grocery industry, where grocers tend to make more money when customers buy a wider range of goods. "People use us for both the quick runs as well as the stock-up use cases," he said. Ravi Inukonda, DoorDash's CFO, said on the call that DoorDash's retail and grocery business expects to "be unit-economic positive" in the second half of 2026. Have a tip? Contact this reporter at abitter@businessinsider.com or via encrypted messaging app Signal at 808-854-4501. Use a personal email address, a nonwork WiFi network, and a nonwork device; here's our guide to sharing information securely. Read the original article on Business Insider

Microsoft and CrowdStrike have broadened their collaboration, making CrowdStrike's Falcon platform accessible to all customers via the Microsoft Marketplace.

Economic uncertainty drives customers to snap up 22-carat gold bars and coins or sell off unworn jewellery “With everything that’s going on in the economy and Donald Trump banging his chest against th

The telecoms group said it lost 138,400 broadband customers and 397,500 mobile customers on a net basis in 2025.

A new bill in Illinois aims to require service providers to give customers a two-hour notice before their arrival.

China's Debt Model Creates Danger Of Stagnation Authored by Daniel Lacalle, The latest social financing figures from China show an economy that is increasingly relying on government debt while private demand for credit remains weak. The strength of the Chinese technology sector and its exporting companies gives enough room for leverage. However, behind the weak private sector credit demand lies an evident economic slowdown that the Chinese government acknowledges, challenging consumption patterns, a significant overcapacity problem, and the depth of the housing crisis. The current economic model, focused on delivering 5% real economic growth, requires larger doses of debt to achieve smaller increments of growth, especially productive sector growth. The government has focused on reducing debt and overcapacity imbalances while reorienting its exports and financial system to lessen dependence on the US dollar; however, the main challenge for the Chinese economy remains boosting consumer demand, despite rate cuts and easing financial conditions. To understand the intensity of debt of the Chinese model, we must go to the year 2000 and see the acceleration in the flow of debt, not just the current stock. At that time, real GDP growth was around 8–9%, so each percentage point of growth came with roughly 13–16 points of debt‑to‑GDP. Government debt was very low, at around 25% of GDP, and most leverage sat in the state-owned corporate sector with modest household debt. China was able to deliver near‑double‑digit growth with a total non‑financial debt ratio barely above 120% of GDP. By 2023, non‑financial sector debt had risen to about 285% of GDP, more than doubling its level of 2000. Chinese think‑tanks and official commentators put the “macro leverage ratio” closer to 300% of GDP by 2025, according to the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The macro leverage ratio rose by 11.8 percentage points to 302.3 percent in 2025, exceeding the 10.1-point increase reported in 2024. Over the same period, the trend of real GDP growth has slowed to roughly 4–5%, so each percentage point of growth now requires around 60–75 points of debt‑to‑GDP, more than three times the debt per point of growth required in 2000. Furthermore, it comes mostly from government debt. In January 2026, aggregate social financing jumped by 7.22 trillion yuan, significantly higher than in the same month of 2025 and above market expectations, consistent with 5% annual GDP growth and a larger composition of the public sector in the mix. Outstanding social financing reached 449.11 trillion yuan at the end of January, rising 8.2% year‑on‑year, while money supply (M2) rose by 9%.​ New yuan bank loans were 4.7 trillion yuan, about 420 billion less than a year earlier and significantly below consensus, showing the weak private‑sector credit demand and the prudent approach of Chinese customers and businesses to debt addition. RMB loans outstanding stood at 276.62 trillion yuan, up only 6.1% year‑on‑year, clearly below the pace of overall financing and money growth. The driver of credit growth in China is no longer households and private firms but the government and state-owned companies. The real estate problem has impacted Chinese families in numerous ways. Not only did most of them see the value of their homes decline, but many families invested in the attractive yields of real estate developers’ commercial paper, which led to large losses and even the wipe-out of savings for many. Additionally, despite the excess in supply of houses, prices have not fallen enough to warrant enough appetite for new mortgages, as affordability remains an issue and the traditional prudence of Chinese citizens when it comes to consuming and borrowing adds to the challenge. Beijing plans to issue 4.4 trillion yuan in local government special‑purpose bonds in 2025, 500 billion more than in 2024, looking to boost government investment and a “proactive fiscal policy,” knowing that raising taxes would be exceedingly negative for growth and consumption. Local governments are expected to issue more than 10 trillion yuan in bonds in 2025, including refinancing, general bonds, and new special bonds. The Chinese government knows that it can manage more debt but also sees the weak investment and household spending and acknowledges that large tax increases would be counterproductive.  However, to prevent future debt-driven stagnation, a focus on productivity is necessary. The official budget sets a deficit of 4% for 2025. However, once all budget items are consolidated, including government funds, special bonds, and off‑budget vehicles, this true fiscal deficit in 2025 is closer to 9%, up from 7.7% in 2024, according to Rhodium Group and JP Morgan. China increasingly relies on hidden or almost fiscal borrowing to support growth. With outstanding social financing now around 449 trillion yuan and real growth around 4–5%, each incremental point of GDP is increasingly linked with a much larger stock of debt than a decade ago. This rising credit intensity of growth may prevent a significant slowdown but may create a significant fiscal challenge in the future. The Chinese model demands high growth and low taxes; any change to the fiscal system will be negative. For years, local governments relied on the sale of land for property development to collect tax receipts. Thus, the drag from real estate is evident in the economy and in fiscal sustainability. Real estate development investment fell 13.9% year‑on‑year in the first three quarters of 2025, with residential investment down 12.9%, the steepest drop since 2021, according to official figures. Property investment and sales both posted double‑digit declines in 2024, and forecasters expect real estate investment to fall another 11% and sales to drop 7.5% in 2025, according to Reuters, with further declines in 2026 before stabilizing only in 2027… if it happens as fast as consensus estimates. The property sector, once a key engine for economic growth and tax receipts, absorbs new credit to stabilize its accounts without boosting growth or creating a multiplier effect. Additionally, China’s industrial capacity utilization remained at 74.9% at the end of 2025, well below the 78.4% peak reached in 2021. Overcapacity is clear in steel, autos, legacy chips, and parts of sectors like green tech, where expansion has surpassed domestic and external demand. Thus, the purchasing managers’ indices show weak new orders and foreign demand, while bankruptcies and insolvencies have risen, although not to levels that would indicate a financial crisis.​ The Chinese economy needs to reopen, improve investor and legal security and allow the housing slump to materialize fully to see the type of productive economic growth it needs to avoid much larger increases in debt. Otherwise, the risk of stagnation will likely be elevated as population growth stalls, overcapacity remains, and the stock of unsold property becomes a larger liability.   Tyler Durden Mon, 02/16/2026 - 22:25

Bub's Bar-B-Q is preparing to close its doors at the end of the month, inviting customers to say goodbye.

Prime Bank and RS Gold have announced a partnership aimed at providing electric vehicle (EV) benefits to customers of Neera, fostering sustainable transportation solutions.

Staff and customers tell the BBC prioritising parcels can mean missed NHS appointments and late payment fines.

Fiddelke at a Target event in December. Ilya S. Savenok/Getty Images for Target Target CEO Michael Fiddelke has been in his new job for two weeks now — and he's been busy. His appointment was met with skepticism over whether he'd make the changes needed to get on track. Fiddelke's early moves show he's determined to make his own mark on the company. Michael Fiddelke is working like a man with something to prove. Target's newest CEO has been in the job for two weeks now, and he's wasted no time getting down to business on some of the retailer's most difficult problems. "He's got off to a running start," Global Data retail analyst Neil Saunders told Business Insider. "He wants change, but I think he's also keen to be seen that he wants change at Target." Fiddelke's CEO appointment was met with skepticism by many, including Saunders, who questioned whether the longtime Bullseye employee would be willing to make meaningful changes to get the company back on track. Critics also pointed to the board's decision to keep outgoing CEO Brian Cornell on as executive chairman. Such a move has tied the hands of new CEOs at other companies that have tried it, several leadership experts told Business Insider. Fiddelke's early moves indicate he is determined to make his own mark In his first companywide meeting, Fiddelke said Target "didn't do enough" to maintain trust with its customers in recent years and that he's moving to reconnect those communities, Bloomberg reported. Fiddelke said in that meeting that Target was committing an additional $1 million to its Bullseye Builds community program and that company employees had logged more than a million hours of volunteer service in 2025. Target has found itself in the national spotlight in recent weeks as federal immigration agents crack down on its hometown of Minneapolis and the company previously faced criticism over its decision to roll back diversity efforts in 2025. "If yesterday was a true glimpse of Fiddelke stepping up, honestly, it's a good start," one employee who listened to the meeting told Business Insider the following day. "He seems to be very much on point with trying to restore guests' faith in us as a company," the person also said. Fiddelke also dove right into the field, visiting stores and distribution centers in Dallas and near his hometown of Manchester, Iowa, fulfilling a commitment he made in the days leading up to his start date. The new boss has had to make tough choices, too. On Monday, the company laid off 500 workers across its district offices and supply chain, a move it said would translate into beefed-up labor hours in stores across the US. The resource shift reflects Fiddelke's focus on improving the shopping experience to get Target back to growth. "Adding labor to the stores is a good move," former Target board member Gerald Storch told Business Insider. "The stores had gotten too messy, the lines had gotten too long upon checkout, and there were too many items out of stock." The day following that announcement, Target revealed two C-suite appointments that underscore the Fiddelke strategy, with a new chief merchant and chief operating officer taking over for outgoing execs Jill Sando and Rick Gomez. The moves also simplify the top of Target's org chart. Fiddelke's start has set a distinct tone for how he intends to run Target, and now the task is to sustain that effort in the months and years ahead. He's now responsible for fixing three years of flat or declining sales, a rocky relationship with customers and employees, and a race with competitors who have been charging forward without those same headwinds. Storch said Target has a lot of fundamental issues. "That's not going to be solved in two weeks," he said. Still, Saunders said there's something to be said for coming out of the gate with gusto. "It takes a long time to fix these things, and it takes even longer to push them through into customer perception and behaviors," he said. "The next best thing is being able to say, 'Look, we know there are problems, and we're getting on with remedying them." Read the original article on Business Insider

Royal Mail staff and customers report that the prioritization of parcels is leading to letters being undelivered for weeks, potentially causing missed NHS appointments and late payment fines.

T-Mobile is launching a new free service in an effort to retain customers, following a period of subscriber losses.

Apollo is reportedly in discussions to provide investment funds to Revolut customers across Europe, expanding financial product offerings.