News In Brief

Welcome to our ‘News In Brief’ column in which we digest all the news releases for you in no more than five paragraphs.
Below are snippets of all the media releases we received from Sept 1 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week.

iBASIS Expands in APAC

Sydney, Sept 3: iBASIS has signed an Asset Sale and Purchase Agreement with Telstra International to acquire its wholesale voice, IPX, and messaging contracts. The deal, announced September 3 in Paris and Sydney, expands iBASIS’ presence in Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, and New Zealand, and gives it exclusive rights to serve Digicel Pacific across six island nations.
The move strengthens iBASIS’ role in consolidating the international wholesale telecom market. Both companies’ CEOs highlighted continuity for customers and accelerated growth for iBASIS. The agreement includes the transfer of customer contracts and staff, with closing expected before year-end 2025, subject to regulatory approval.

Samsara Eco Launches Plant

Sydney, Sept 3: Australian biotech firm Samsara Eco has opened its first commercial plant in Jerrabomberra, marking a major milestone in scaling circular plastics. The facility will use the company’s AI-powered enzymatic recycling technology, EosEco, to break down mixed plastics into virgin-identical raw materials like nylon 6,6 and polyester.
CEO and founder Paul Riley said the plant represents a tipping point for circularity, with capacity to produce the equivalent of hundreds of thousands of garments annually. Circular materials from the site will feature in upcoming product lines for global brands such as lululemon and in trials with partners across textiles, automotive, and packaging.
The Jerrabomberra hub also sets the stage for Samsara Eco’s first large-scale nylon 6,6 commercial plant in Asia, planned for 2028. Investors including Main Sequence, Temasek, Greycroft, and Hitachi Ventures praised the milestone as a breakthrough in circular economy innovation.

Cozzie Livs Crisis Persists

Sydney, Sept 1: A new Finder survey has found that 88 per cent of Australians believe the cost of living crisis is not over, despite 44 per cent of economists saying otherwise. The poll of 1,014 respondents equates to 18.8 million people who still feel the financial strain.
Baby boomers (95 per cent) and gen X (92 per cent) reported feeling the most pressure, compared to gen Y (84 per cent) and gen Z (83 per cent). Men (14 per cent) were more likely than women (9 per cent) to say the crisis had ended.
Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said many households are still struggling, with older generations particularly vulnerable. He urged Australians to focus on what they can control, such as switching providers or cancelling unused subscriptions.
The survey contrasts with Finder’s RBA Cash Rate Survey, in which nearly half of experts declared the crisis over.

Australia Post, Shopify Link

Sydney, Sept 1: Australia Post and Shopify have launched a new integration to streamline shipping for Australian businesses. The connection allows merchants to book shipments, print labels and track parcels directly within Shopify, with tracking numbers automatically assigned to outgoing deliveries.
Around 40 per cent of Australia Post’s ‘My Post Business’ customers already use Shopify, making the integration a significant upgrade for thousands of businesses.
Australia Post’s Gary Starr said the partnership comes as online shopping spending hit $19.2 billion in the last quarter, up 15 per cent year-on-year, while Shopify’s Shaun Broughton said it provides essential tools to support small and growing businesses across the country.

Finder reveals Australia’s favourite retailers for 2025

Sydney, Sept 3: Finder has announced the winners of its 2025 Customer Satisfaction Awards, based on feedback from over 60,000 Australian consumers. The awards highlight the most popular brands across categories including appliances, furniture, food, fitness and more.
Appliances Online led with nine awards, including legendary customer service in whitegoods and electronics. Bunnings and Chemist Warehouse followed with six wins each, while Budget Pet Products, HungryPanda, Kennards Self-Storage, LVLY and Pickles Auctions each secured five.
Other standouts included Specsavers, which took four awards in the optical store category, and Adairs, which was the most represented furniture retailer. Bob Jane T-Marts dominated the car tyre category, while ALDI was again named top value bottle shop.
Graham Cooke, head of consumer research at Finder, said the awards were designed to empower Australians to make better purchasing decisions.
“Whether you’re in the market for a new appliance, picking up pet supplies, or craving an ice-cream fix, our top-rated brands will help point you in the right direction.
“With feedback from over 60,000 shoppers, Finder’s Customer Satisfaction Awards provide a reliable insight into what Australians are loving most.
“The winners were recognised across a range of factors including value for money and legendary service.”
Finder also noted Australians are spending heavily online, with the average weekly spend in August at $263 (excluding groceries), and $209 on groceries.

Adobe Names APAC Chief

Sydney, Sept 3: Adobe has appointed Ben Goodman as President of Asia Pacific (APAC) and Digital Experience (DX) Japan. Reporting to Chief Revenue Officer Stephen Frieder, Goodman will oversee Adobe’s regional business and DX operations in Japan.
Goodman, who previously led Okta’s Asia Pacific and Japan operations, returns to Adobe where he was Managing Director of Digital Experience Sales in APAC in 2019–2020. With over 20 years of leadership experience across the region, he brings a strong track record in driving growth and transformation.
“Ben’s leadership experience aligns perfectly with Adobe’s ambitions in APAC and Japan. He brings a strong vision for growth, a strong record of delivering customer value and a proven history of building successful teams across this diverse region,” said Frieder.
“APAC and Japan are emerging leaders in adopting and scaling innovation like AI, and businesses are looking to seize this opportunity to deliver highly relevant and engaging customer experiences. I am energised at the opportunity to foster Adobe’s collaboration with our customers and partners to drive experience-centric growth,” said Goodman.

Severe Morning Sickness Toll

Sydney, Sept 4: A national study published in PLOS ONE has revealed the profound emotional and physical toll of hyperemesis gravidarum (HG), a severe form of pregnancy nausea and vomiting. Surveying 289 Australian women, researchers found 54 per cent had considered terminating a pregnancy due to HG, while 90 per cent had thought about not having more children.
The condition was linked to high rates of anxiety and depression, with 62 per cent experiencing these feelings often or always during pregnancy. More than half reported major disruptions to work, relationships, childcare, and daily tasks, while 37 per cent requested early induction of labour to end their pregnancy sooner.
Only half of respondents rated common treatments effective, with ondansetron, doxylamine, and corticosteroids seen as most helpful, though many reported serious side effects. Nearly a third discontinued metoclopramide due to adverse reactions.
Lead author Associate Professor Luke Grzeskowiak of Flinders University said urgent improvements are needed in evidence-based, compassionate care. Co-author Caitlin Kay-Smith, founder of Hyperemesis Australia, urged clinicians to move beyond dismissing symptoms as routine pregnancy sickness. The study, co-designed with Hyperemesis Australia and supported by the Robinson Research Institute, calls for further research and investment in support services.

High Court Grants Appeal

Sydney, Sept 5: The High Court of Australia has granted the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) special leave to appeal on questions of statutory interpretation concerning whether Block Earner’s discontinued product was a financial product.
The leave is conditional on ASIC covering Block Earner’s costs.
The appeal follows the Full Federal Court’s April 2025 decision that the product was not a financial product, derivative, or managed investment scheme, with no contraventions or customer harm found.
A hearing date is expected in the first half of 2026. Block Earner will continue offering regulated crypto-backed products and services.

SailPoint, HCLTech Partner

Sydney, Sept 5: SailPoint and HCLTech have formed a partnership to deliver modern identity security solutions designed for AI-enabled enterprises.
The collaboration combines SailPoint’s AI-driven Atlas platform with HCLTech’s global cybersecurity expertise to help organizations manage identity at scale, enforce policy across hybrid and multicloud environments, and govern access for GenAI applications.
HCLTech has also been recognized as a SailPoint Global Delivery Admiral Partner, the highest delivery status awarded for customer satisfaction, deployment scale, certified expertise, and long-term impact.