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 March 9 till the end of the week.
This article updates throughout the week

Alibaba Leads Omdia

Perth, March 10: Alibaba Cloud has been named a Market Leader in Omdia’s Market Radar: Agentic AI Development Platform in Asia and Oceania, 2026, ranking among five leaders out of 12 global vendors evaluated. The company received the highest rating in five of seven categories, including context engineering, model support, multi-agent framework, operation and lifecycle management, and open source and community.
“Among agent development platform vendors, Alibaba Cloud stands out for its comprehensive suite of enterprise-grade capabilities, making it a top choice for enterprises to build and deploy their own AI agents,” said Omdia in the report.
The recognition highlights Alibaba Cloud’s expanding AI portfolio, including its AgentRun serverless agentic AI infrastructure platform and Model Studio, which offers access to more than 140 models, including its proprietary Qwen and Wan models as well as third-party models. According to the company, its open-source Qwen model family has surpassed 1 billion downloads worldwide and generated 200,000 derivative models.
Omdia projects the agentic AI software market in Asia and Oceania will grow from US$271 million in 2025 to US$9.7 billion by 2030, reflecting a 105 per cent compound annual growth rate. Alibaba Cloud was also named a market leader last year in Omdia’s Market Radar: GenAI Cloud Titans in Asia & Oceania 2025.

Chagee Expands to Seoul

Perth, March 10: Chagee Holdings Limited has announced its planned entry into the South Korean market, with three Seoul locations in Gangnam, Yongsan and Sinchon scheduled to open simultaneously in the second quarter of 2026. The launch will be marked by large exterior display banners at each site, starting with the Gangnam flagship, followed by Yongsan and Sinchon.
The move comes shortly after Chagee’s soft launch in Macao on February 20 and forms part of the company’s broader Asia Pacific expansion, marking its first move into East Asia outside its origin market.
“We are pleased to officially announce Chagee’s entry into Korea,” said a Chagee spokesperson.
“Even before our opening, we have seen tremendous interest from Korean consumers, and we look forward to introducing a premium tea lifestyle that offers a distinctly new experience. At Chagee, our mission is to bring people together through tea — and Korea is the next chapter in our incredible journey.”
Ahead of the opening, the brand is also running a QR-based pre-opening campaign, allowing visitors to claim a 50 per cent discount coupon for selected signature drinks, including BO•YA Jasmine Milk Tea and Peach Oolong Milk Tea, redeemable after the stores officially open.

Cooler 8 Series Launch

Perth, March 10: REDMAGIC has introduced its Cooler 8 Series, a new lineup of cooling accessories designed to help gamers and power users maintain stable performance during extended gaming and high-intensity mobile use.
The range includes two models, the Cooler 8 Pro and Cooler 8 Air, both featuring TEC cooling technology, intelligent temperature control and compatibility with smartphones and tablets through magnetic and clip-on attachments. The devices also support customizable RGB lighting via the REDMAGIC Goper app.
The Cooler 8 Pro offers up to 36W of cooling power and is designed for heavier workloads, while the Cooler 8 Air provides a lighter, more portable option aimed at everyday mobile gaming.

AI Content Backlash

Perth, March 11: Australian consumers are growing more skeptical of brands using low-quality AI-generated content, with new Klaviyo research warning that “AI slop” is becoming a major threat to brand trust. While Australia and the broader Asia-Pacific region lead the world in AI adoption, that familiarity is also making shoppers more critical of how brands use the technology.
The report found 30 per cent of consumers in Australia use AI several times a week, ahead of the US and Europe, while 85 per cent have used AI tools for shopping in the past three months. However, 39 per cent said seeing AI-generated marketing content makes them trust a brand less, and 40 per cent frequently notice poor-quality AI content in social feeds and replies multiple times a week.
Klaviyo identified four consumer groups in Australia — the AI enthusiast, AI sceptic, AI evaluator and AI holdout — but said all of them share one pattern: badly executed AI experiences can damage trust. Half of Australians surveyed said customer service chats that do not feel human are the most undesirable form of automation, while one in five said poorly personalised content makes them less likely to open future brand messages.
Marcus Rossato, head of marketing APJ at Klaviyo, said: “The honeymoon phase with AI is officially over for Australian shoppers. While these consumers lead the world in AI adoption, they have one of the highest bars for authenticity. For younger audiences and daily users, generic AI content isn’t just ineffective — it actively damages brand equity.
“What our data shows is that brands must move beyond using AI for mere efficiency and toward using it for emotion. The opportunity for brands in 2026 is not to scale content faster, but to scale value. Whether it’s the enthusiast who demands perfection or the skeptic hunting for a human touch, generic AI is now a brand killer.”

Adobe Adds Conversational AI Tools

Perth, March 11: Adobe has introduced new conversational AI features designed to make image editing easier for creators of all skill levels, including an AI Assistant in Photoshop and new editing capabilities in Adobe Firefly Image Editor.
The AI Assistant, now in public beta for Photoshop on web and mobile, allows users to edit images through a chat-based interface. Creators can type instructions to adjust lighting, remove backgrounds, or make other changes, with the assistant providing automatic edits or step-by-step guidance to achieve the desired result.
Adobe also updated Firefly Image Editor with new generative editing tools that can be controlled using text prompts. Features such as Generative Fill, Generative Remove, Generative Expand, Generative Upscale and Remove Background allow users to modify images without navigating complex menus, making it easier to refine details or change elements within a photo.
According to Adobe, the new conversational AI tools are designed to simplify multi-step editing workflows and help creators move from a rough image to a polished final result more quickly, whether they are working on social media content, fashion images or design projects.

Piastri Burger Returns

Perth, March 11: Grill’d has launched a new Oscar Piastri Chicken Burger nationwide ahead of the Formula 1 Australian Grand Prix, marking the latest collaboration between the Australian burger chain and the Melbourne-born Formula 1 driver.
The new burger follows the success of last year’s Oscar Piastri Burger, which quickly became a fan favourite. The updated version features an RSPCA-approved chicken breast with bacon, cheddar, avocado, lettuce, onion, chipotle mayo and Davidson plum barbecue sauce, served on a charcoal bun. The burger is priced at $18.90 and is available as part of a meal pack with chips, iced tea and dipping sauce.
Founder Simon Crowe says the year-long partnership is about celebrating a homegrown talent and continuing the momentum from last year. “We’re incredibly proud to be extending our partnership with Oscar for another year. He represents everything we believe in, precision, commitment and performing at the highest level, Oscar’s an Aussie hero and we’re stoked to be entering the next lap of this collaboration together.”
“After the incredible response to the first Oscar burger, we wanted to go even bigger this year, adding a new chicken option. It’s high-protein, full of flavour and built for performance, without compromising on taste. We can’t wait for customers to try it – it may even be our best burger yet.”
Oscar Piastri said the new burger is the perfect way to celebrate the season ahead:“I loved seeing how fans got around the first burger, so it’s been really fun teaming up with Grill’d again to create something new. “I’ve genuinely always loved Grill’d burgers, they’ve been a go-to for me, so getting to work together on this one has been pretty special. This year is a fresh take, it’s packed with flavour, and I can’t wait for everyone to try it ahead of the GP.”

Cobras Score HCLTech

Perth, March 11: HCLTech has partnered with Hockey Victoria to support the Melbourne Cobras, the new franchise set to debut in Australia’s Hockey One League this year. The Cobras will become the eighth team in the national competition.
The Melbourne Cobras are being positioned as a globally connected and inclusive franchise, bringing together Indian international players and local talent as part of Hockey Victoria’s push to strengthen the sport in the region and reflect community diversity.
Under the partnership, HCLTech will design and develop a digital fan engagement platform for Hockey Victoria and the Melbourne Cobras. The platform will include live match insights, interactive content and personalised features aimed at helping fans in Australia and India connect more closely with the team and the sport.
“We are proud to partner with Hockey Victoria to launch the Melbourne Cobras,” said Sonia Eland, Executive Vice President and Country Manager, Australia and New Zealand, HCLTech. “We have helped leading sports organizations around the world build strong, scalable fan platforms and we are excited to bring that experience here to create a more connected fan experience and help grow hockey across Australia and India.”
Andrew Skillern, Chief Executive Officer of Hockey Victoria, said, “The launch of the Melbourne Cobras represents a defining moment for Hockey Victoria and for the future of our sport. From the outset, our vision was to build a team that reflects the diversity of our community while showcasing world-class hockey talent on an international stage. Partnering with HCLTech enables us to offer a truly innovative and inclusive experience for fans.”

Schools Tackle Manosphere

Perth, March 11: A new guide has been released to help Australian teachers and school staff respond to the growing spread of sexist and misogynistic views in classrooms linked to manosphere content. Developed by Monash University researchers in partnership with Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), the resource explains key manosphere beliefs, recruitment pathways, links to violence and the role social media plays in exposing boys and young men to harmful content.
The guide, An introductory guide to the Manosphere and the impacts for young people, teachers and schools, was created in response to reports from educators facing baiting questions, classroom disruptions and rising disrespectful behaviour linked to viral “manfluencer” content. It also provides practical advice on recognising tactics used to derail lessons, responding to coordinated intimidation and understanding how algorithms can quickly lead users from harmless content to more extreme material.
ANROWS CEO Dr Tessa Boyd-Caine said teachers were on the frontline of the issue, often facing attempts to undermine their authority and disrupt lessons. “We know there are girls and young women who feel unsafe at school due to boys’ behaviours. These feelings can impact their schooling, fuelling anxiety, reducing their class participation or even leading them to skip class or school,” Dr Boyd-Caine said.
“At the same time, many boys and young men feel uncomfortable with the misogyny they witness online and the behaviour of their peers at school, but feel unsafe or unable to challenge it. We aren’t just providing a report on the problem; we are providing a roadmap for school communities to recognise these tactics and reclaim the classroom as a safe space for everyone.”
Lead researcher Dr Naomi Pfitzner said the guide gives schools an evidence-based starting point to understand the manosphere and help students navigate harmful narratives, while co-author Dr Stephanie Wescott said the phenomenon was no longer fringe and was shaping young people’s attitudes and behaviours in real ways. The guide is being distributed to schools and is available through the ANROWS and Monash University websites.

Malaysia Airlines extends Doha suspension to March 20

Perth, March 12: Malaysia Airlines has extended the temporary suspension of its Doha services until March 20, 2026, as security concerns and airspace restrictions continue to affect the region.
The airline said flights to Doha were first suspended from February 28 due to airspace closures and that it is continuing to monitor the situation through risk assessments and relevant Notice to Airmen before deciding when services can safely resume.
Malaysia Airlines is also increasing widebody capacity between Asia and Europe to support affected passengers travelling onward and reuniting with family members, with flights operating on alternative routes that avoid impacted areas.
All other services, including Jeddah, Madinah, London and Paris, continue to operate as scheduled.

Scoot Launches Campaign

Perth, March 12: Scoot has launched the third edition of its Singapore Superfans campaign in partnership with the Singapore Tourism Board, rolling out a multi-market promotion across Australia, China, India, Indonesia and Malaysia aimed at encouraging travellers to explore Singapore in new ways.
The campaign places the Merlion at the centre of a social-first marketing push, with content across Instagram, TikTok and Red Note, alongside a creator-led challenge called #MerlionMadeMeDoIt, where participants can win trips to Singapore worth up to SGD 3,500 including flights, accommodation and experiences.
Scoot will also run a limited-time sale from March 20 to March 27, 2026, offering special fares to Singapore for travellers in participating markets.