EXECUTIVE ASSISTANTS REPLACEMENT
UFC chief Dana White turns down Donald Trump's offer to become White House press secretary
Dana White turned down an offer from Donald Trump to become the White House press secretary. Trump suggested several UFC fighters join him in this role, believing they could counter political opposition. This suggestion came as the Trump administration sought a new press secretary after recent departures. White House Communications Director Steven Cheung seemed to endorse the proposal through social media.
Trump says he's asked UFC head Dana White to be his press secretary
US President Donald Trump has offered Dana White the position of White House press secretary to support his administration. This announcement comes following major transitions in Trump's team after significant midterm election losses. Trump requested White to bring along UFC fighters as assistants to defend against opposing political views. White is considering the offer, as he shared Trump's post on social media.
EloElo eyes global expansion post $80 million fundraise, aims to build ‘Netflix of micro-drama’
EloElo Group, the parent company of Story TV, successfully raised $80 million in a Series C funding round. The funding round was led by Hornbill Capital and NBCUniversal, significantly increasing the company's valuation. EloElo aims to enhance its micro-drama platform and expand into international markets. The company reported substantial user growth and high production efficiency using AI technology.
U.S. and Japanese Companies Struggle with Different Parts of AI Adoption—and Offer Different Lessons for Making It Work
Companies in both the U.S. and Japan are struggling to deploy AI, but often in very different ways. In the U.S., deployment is wide but shallow, meaning companies struggle to create real value with AI. In Japan, deployment has moved slowly, but where it has happened, it’s often deep and fruitful. Understanding what’s happening in both contexts offers important lessons for companies trying to develop an AI strategy and demonstrate ROI on their AI investments.
From SBI to Binance, how financial institutions are becoming cyberattack targets
Recent incidents involving cryptocurrency exchange Binance and Indian public sector lender State Bank of India (SBI) have once again put the spotlight on the issue. While Binance reported a security breach involving unauthorised cryptocurrency withdrawals estimated at around $6.3 billion, SBI is investigating a suspected data leak involving nearly 3,900 customer records.
Coders out, VCs in: Investors bet billions on AI-first services
The AI-native services firms’ promise of high margins and rapid growth with fewer people has attracted the interest of VC firms. If Distyl AI raised $175 million at a $1.8 billion valuation a year ago, Wonderful raised $550 million at a $5 billion valuation in September.
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UP CEO warns DEOs of action over voter roll errors, pending applications; orders daily monitoring
The Uttar Pradesh Chief Electoral Officer's office has issued warnings to District Election Officers regarding errors in electoral rolls. DEOs must monitor voter application processing and ensure no applications remain pending unnecessarily. Regular reviews of subordinate officials and their tasks are mandatory to maintain accountability. Complaints related to electoral rolls must be addressed promptly and satisfactorily, ensuring quality disposal.

Donald Trump says US to ban 'artificial intelligence' term, pushes 'super intelligence'
In a post on Truth Social, Trump questioned the continued use of the term by The Wall Street Journal and called for a shift towards the alternative terminology.

Ather rides to profit; Pronto's US AI play
Ather Energy swung to profit in the July-September quarter. This and more in today’s ETtech Top 5.

Trump’s next White House press secretary: 10 names in the running after Katie Zacharia’s 5-day exit
As the quest for a new White House press secretary begins, potential names surface including Scott Jennings, Danielle Alvarez, and Maria Bartiromo, who are currently leading the discussion. Anna Kelly, the principal deputy press secretary, also emerges as a strong contender. Otros names such as Monica Crowley, Elizabeth Pipko, and Margo Martin contribute to the buzz, with a final decision expected post-midterm elections.

Veolia opens India disaster hub as climate risks mount, commits over €1 million globally to emergency response
Veolia has opened a New Delhi hub to deploy mobile water-treatment units and trained personnel for disaster response across South and Southeast Asia.

Giant 'heat storms' are scorching the Earth. This is the story of the biggest one on record
Heat storms have increased dramatically, causing severe global consequences including excess deaths and environmental catastrophes. Recent heat storms have been identified as a new classification, representing larger and more persistent heat events. The intensity of these heat storms has worsened due to climate change and greenhouse gas emissions. Associated weather patterns have significantly disrupted ecosystems and agriculture worldwide.

Should CEOs let AI write their emails? Hachette chief David Shelley explains what leaders risk losing
Hachette CEO David Shelley warns against relying on AI to write emails, arguing that CEOs and business leaders should draft their own messages to preserve independent thinking, empathy and authenticity. With 58% of leaders in the US and UK using AI to draft emails, Shelley cautions that outsourcing workplace communication to AI could weaken essential leadership skills and create a disconnect between written messages and real-life behaviour.

Ursula Burns was ready to leave Xerox for Dell. Then one phone call changed her career path
Ursula Burns joined Xerox as an engineering intern in 1980 and nearly left for Dell during the company’s financial crisis in 2001. A phone call from board member Vernon Jordan persuaded her to reconsider. Eight years later, she became Xerox CEO, succeeding Anne Mulcahy.

How GoDaddy is changing the way Indian SMBs use AI
Online presence for enterprises have become vital, and thankfully with the advent of AI, easier as well. While creating a website, branding, logos, and finding the right potential customers was a matter of expertise in yesteryears, it can now be done without having the relevant skills and/or resources. GoDaddy, as always, is leading the way!

Ralph Lauren ties executive payouts to AI in sign of retail's shifting priorities
Ralph Lauren has replaced its sustainability metric with AI metrics in its executive incentive plan for the year 2026. This change follows a broader trend where companies focus on AI to measure performance targets. Approximately 12% of S&P 500 companies disclosed AI-related goals in their incentive plans this year. The consumer sector, however, is still lagging in incorporating AI into bonus plans compared to other sectors.

Nine ways the Trump administration could interfere with the midterms
US President Donald Trump has made efforts to exert control over the upcoming midterm elections. Many election officials are preparing for potential disruptions and challenges that could arise. Trump's history of contesting election outcomes and urging supporters to act complicates the electoral landscape. Federal investigations and other interventions could influence voter confidence and result certifications.

No love for the middle: CPHI Milan exposes India’s pharma scaling challenge
Indian pharma and chemical companies at CPHI Milan say the China+1 opportunity is real, but a “missing middle” in the MSME ecosystem, marked by financing gaps, limited scale and technology constraints, is holding back export growth.

Build some, buy some, lock into none: Aditya Birla Capital's Pankaj Gadgil on buying AI
Gadgil said companies should retain the ability to build their own tools without waiting to recreate solutions available in the market.

VCs clip all love & cash on agentic AI
As personal AI agents transform the consumer internet, Indian VCs are shifting the focus from attention-grabbing apps to intent-driven assistants, writes Himanshi Lohchab. From AI financial advisers, health companions to personal concierges, investors are betting that the next generation of consumer businesses will be built around intent, personalisation and delegation, rather than attention and app engagement.

‘What ‘no palm oil’ labels tell consumers and what they don’t
India cannot spend Rs 11,040 crore building a domestic oil palm economy while allowing brands to turn the same crop into a warning sign. The cost of that contradiction will be paid by smallholders.

US midterm elections: Who is Abdul El-Sayed? The Egyptian-American Rhodes scholar and public health expert taking on Republicans in Michigan’s Senate race
Abdul El-Sayed took an unusual route to American politics. Trained in medicine and public health, he spent years studying why people get sick and how public systems can improve their lives. Now, the 41-year-old Egyptian-American is running for the US Senate in Michigan after defeating establishment-backed Haley Stevens in the Democratic primary. A Rhodes Scholar and former Detroit health chief, he is campaigning for Medicare for All, tighter campaign finance rules and relief from rising living costs.

The auditor is no longer alone. There’s another intelligence in the room
Auditors are increasingly adopting artificial intelligence to enhance the efficiency and accuracy of audits in India. These technological advancements allow auditors to analyze vast amounts of data and detect inconsistencies effectively. AI tools automate repetitive audit tasks, which helps auditors focus on more complex decision-making processes. The role of human judgment remains essential, as AI cannot replace professional expertise in audits.

Tesla is browbeating the EU to approve its 'Full Self-Driving' tech. The pressure is working
Tesla is involved in a campaign to secure EU approval for its Full Self-Driving technology. The automaker faces criticism regarding the validity of its safety research and claims. European regulators are examining the methodology behind Tesla's assertions of crash reduction performance. Tesla officials have engaged in discussions with various regulators to alleviate concerns over the technology. The outcome of this push could significantly impact Tesla's market presence in Europe.

US, China, EU: three paths to regulating AI
The United States, China and the European Union are taking different paths to govern artificial intelligence, as calls grow worldwide to rein in its most powerful systems. The same day, Trump ordered federal agencies to replace the term "artificial intelligence" with "super intelligence" in official communications.

Trump forms 'Super Intelligence Force' to cement US dominance in next-gen AI
In a post on Truth Social, Trump wrote, "Following the Historic White House Accord on Super Intelligence, where the World's most important Technology Companies came together, and confirmed their responsibilities to the American People, I am announcing the formation of the Super Intelligence Force (SIF)."

US hackers face $1,000 monthly pay cut in controversial plan
Cyber Command analysts, developers and operators with a basic-level proficiency are set to see their incentive pay drop by as much as $1,000 a month, according to US Army documents. Meanwhile, a small group of “masters”-level soldiers who are highly trained and certified will get raises of as much as $3,500 a month, the documents show.

AI is making employees faster, but why isn't it making companies much more productive?
Artificial intelligence is helping employees improve their individual productivity, yet overall business performance remains stagnant. Many companies are unable to effectively measure the return on investment from AI adoption. Significant gaps exist between individual gains and organizational transformation, indicating potential bottlenecks. As employees increasingly adopt AI, collaboration will become more crucial for achieving better outcomes. Companies may need to focus on redesigning workflows rather than just implementing new tools.

Microsoft integrates Word, Excel deeper into Copilot
On the billing side, a Copilot subscription for $30 per user per month provides access to basic AI features, such as data analysis or document drafting. "That is the AI that you should give to everyone" in your company, Andreou said.
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