Tech

Diplomacy & Trade

Two Staffordshire men jailed for cocaine supply after raids yield stun gun, cash

Two men from Staffordshire landed prison sentences after police raids uncovered more than £3,000 in cocaine, thousands in cash and a stun gun. Jake Holford, 23, received three years while Cameron Preece, 22, got four years and eight months at Stafford Crown Court.

WH News 6 months

Markets

Unity, Providus Banks Merger Advances Toward N200B Capital Goal

The merger of Unity Bank Plc and Providus Bank Limited moves forward after strong shareholder approval and key regulatory nods, positioning the combined entity to exceed Nigeria's N200 billion national banking capital threshold. Integration efforts continue with a final court sanction pending.

WH News 6 months

AI

Emotional ads top tech in Olympics and Super Bowl research

Emotional storytelling drove the strongest advertising results during the 2026 Winter Olympics and Super Bowl, according to System1 research. Campaigns heavy on artificial intelligence averaged just 2.1 Stars out of five.

WH News 6 months

Innovation

LEGO Unveils SMART Bricks Launching March 2026

LEGO Group plans to release SMART Bricks on March 1, 2026, embedding lights, sounds and motion sensors into standard-looking bricks to enhance play without apps or screens. The debut sets feature Star Wars builds like a Millennium Falcon and TIE Fighter with interactive engine noises and lightsaber effects.

WH News 6 months

Corporate

Consumers Battle Unwanted Subscriptions Amid Dark Patterns

Millions of Americans grapple with accidental subscriptions for everything from toilet paper to iron supplements, often trapped by deceptive online tactics that make cancellation a nightmare. Experts warn these 'dark patterns' drain wallets and exploit forgetfulness in the booming $1.5 trillion subscription economy.

WH News 6 months

Economy

Vietnam Eyes 10% Growth in 2026 After 8% Surge Led by Exports, FDI

Vietnam's economy expanded 8.02 percent in 2025, driven by surging exports, record foreign direct investment and robust public spending. Officials now target 10 percent or higher growth in 2026 amid challenges from moderating global demand and U.S. tariffs.

WH News 6 months

AI

ProEnergy Supply, OpenSolar Launch AI Inventory Platform for Distributors

ProEnergy Supply has partnered with OpenSolar on an AI-driven platform that lets distributors sell inventory directly to 28,000 solar professionals during system design. The tool connects distributor ERP systems to OpenSolar's new 'Shop' feature for instant purchases.

WH News 6 months

AI

Anthropic CEO Sees India Shaping AI Opportunities and Risks

India will shape the opportunities and risks of powerful AI systems, Anthropic CEO Dario Amodei said. He described AI progress as exponential, with models poised to exceed human cognition in many areas within years.

WH News 6 months

AI

India Launches AI Training for 250,000 by 2047 to Reach Grassroots

India's Minister of State for Electronics and IT launched a joint AWS-NASSCOM initiative on Feb. 17, 2026, to train over 250,000 people in AI and cloud computing by 2047. The program targets grassroots communities to ensure technology benefits extend beyond urban centers.

WH News 6 months

AI

CII and MeitY Host AI Conference on Economic Growth and Cyber Defense

The Confederation of Indian Industry joined forces with India's Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology and the IndiaAI Mission to host a conference on democratizing AI resources for economic growth and social good. The event focused on cyber defense strategies for an AI-driven world.

WH News 6 months

Wirtschaft

Ormat schließt 150-MW-Geothermie-Deal mit NV Energy für Google

Ormat Technologies hat einen langfristigen Vertrag mit NV Energy unterzeichnet. Das Unternehmen liefert bis zu 150 Megawatt Geothermie-Strom für Googles Rechenzentren in Nevada.

WH News 6 months

Corporate

Pine Labs Teams with OpenAI for AI-Optimized Merchant Payments

Pine Labs is integrating OpenAI's AI models into its payment systems to automate complex financial tasks like supplier negotiations and cross-border settlements. The move creates what the companies call an 'agentic commerce' stack for high-volume transactions.

WH News 6 months

Corporate

Nigeria to Review MTN’s IHS Towers Acquisition

Nigeria's federal government will scrutinize MTN Group's acquisition of IHS Towers to protect consumers and ensure sector stability. Communications Minister Bosun Tijani announced the review Wednesday.

WH News 6 months

Energy Transition

Nigeria CBN Governor Cardoso Calls for Climate-Resilient African Industrialization

Olayemi Cardoso, governor of Nigeria's Central Bank, urged African nations to pursue industrialization, job creation and climate-resilient growth during a keynote speech at the Egypt 30by30 Programme. He stressed collaboration on green finance and risk-aware financial systems to lift millions from poverty.

WH News 6 months

Europe

UK Bars Entry to Foreign-Born British Kids Without Passports from Feb 25

British children born overseas face denial of entry to the UK starting February 25 unless they carry a British passport or a £589 certificate of entitlement. The Home Office rule targets dual citizens, blocking use of the new £16 electronic travel authorisation available to foreigners.

WH News 6 months