• Bluesky’s ‘Live Now’ badge is available to everyone

    January 16, 2026

    After testing the feature in a limited beta, Bluesky is making its “Live Now” badge for streamers available for everyone on the social network to try. Live Now is included as part of Bluesky’s v1.114 update, alongside “cashtags,” a separate type of hashtag for collecting conversations about publicly-traded companies. Bluesky first started testing its Live Now badge in May 2025 with a limited group of accounts, including the official NBA account. The feature lets Twitch streamers with Bluesky profiles append a Live Now badge to their profile picture that links directly to their livestream. Live Now badges are limited to…

  • Parloa triples its valuation in 8 months to $3B with $350M raise

    January 16, 2026

    Berlin-based Parloa has raised $350 million in Series D funding from existing investors, valuing the six-year-old customer service AI startup at $3 billion. The round comes just eight months after the company raised $120 million at a $1 billion valuation. The new round was led by General Catalyst, with participation from returning backers, including EQT Ventures, Altimeter Capital, Durable Capital, and Mosaic Ventures. Parloa is one of many startups developing AI agents that promise to automate the kind of customer service work previously handled by human representatives and help desk staff. The company’s competitors include Sierra, co-founded by OpenAI chairman…

  • GAC locks in EV hatch as fourth model for Australia

    January 16, 2026

    Just a few months after GAC launched in Australia with three models, the Chinese brand has confirmed that it will add another in the form of a small electric hatchback by mid-2026. The 2026 GAC Aion UT will launch locally in the second quarter of this year (April-June), joining the already-launched Aion V mid-size electric SUV, Emzoom small petrol SUV, and M8 plug-in hybrid people mover. Pricing and full specifications have yet to be confirmed, though GAC Australia president Kevin Shu says the Aion UT is another piece in the brand’s rapidly evolving local puzzle. “Our strategy of ‘In Australia,…

  • Spotify raises its subscription prices in the US again

    January 16, 2026

    Spotify raised prices for its subscription plan in the U.S. for the third time in three years, as it hiked the monthly plan from $11.99 per month to $12.99 per month. The company sent an email to its paid users notifying them of the new price, which is applicable from the next monthly billing cycle. Image Credits:Spotify “Occasional updates to pricing across our markets reflect the value that Spotify delivers, enabling us to continue offering the best possible experience and benefit artists,” the company said in a blog post. In November 2025, the Financial Times reported that the audio platform…

  • Australia’s best-selling vehicles in 2025 by state and territory

    January 16, 2026

    Last year the Ford Ranger ute was Australia’s best-selling model overall, with the Toyota RAV4 mid-size SUV in second place and the Toyota HiLux ute sitting in the third. Drill down to the state/territory level, however, and the leaderboard changes. The Ranger was only tops in two states, with the HiLux taking the crown in two states and a territory, and the RAV4 leading in two states and a territory. A look at the top 20 best-selling models in each jurisdiction reveals some further surprises. CarExpert can save you thousands on a new car. Click here to get a great…

  • 2026 Ford Mustang Dark Horse SC: New supercharged hero for Blue Oval pony car

    January 16, 2026

    Ford has announced a more powerful Dark Horse SC version of the Mustang for the US, packing a version of the 5.2-litre supercharged ‘Predator’ V8 from the hardcore Mustang GTD, but don’t hold your breath for it to be offered in Australia. Pricing and engine outputs are yet to be revealed for North America, where the Dark Horse SC will be available around mid-2026, and positioned between the standard Dark Horse and the GTD flagship. However, a high expected price tag and Australia’s New Vehicle Efficiency Standard (NVES) make it unlikely to be sold here, even if the SC was…

  • Senate passes minibus bill funding NASA, rejecting Trump’s proposed cuts

    January 16, 2026

    After a tumultuous 2025 that saw it lose around 4,000 employees, NASA finally has an operating budget for 2026, and one that largely preserves its scientific capabilities. On Thursday, the Senate passed an appropriations bill funding NASA, alongside the National Science Foundation and a handful of other federal agencies. Going into the appropriations process, the president called for a 24 percent year over year reduction to NASA’s total operating budget. As part of that plan, the White House wanted to reduce the Science Mission Directorate’s funding by nearly half, a move that would have forced NASA to cancel 55 ongoing…

  • How one startup is using prebiotics to try and ease the copper shortage

    January 16, 2026

    Five years from now, the world might start running short on copper, the critical mineral used in everything from data centers to electric vehicles. Absent any changes, the world could face a severe shortfall as early as 2040, with demand exceeding supply by as much as 25%.  If copper seems expensive today, just wait a few years. Companies and investors have been pouring money into the sector as demand ramps up. AI minerals startup KoBold, for example, raised $537 million last year to exploit a copper deposit it found in Zambia. But with a little help from some microbes, today’s…

  • ‘Baby’ Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen EV spied ahead of 2027 launch

    January 16, 2026

    An electric version of the Mercedes-Benz ‘Baby G-Wagen’ has been spied during cold-weather testing in Europe, despite reports the automaker has privately labelled the larger electric G-Class a “complete flop” since its 2024 introduction. Expected to be unveiled late this year ahead of a likely 2027 launch, the ‘Baby G-Wagen’ – its official name has yet to be announced – has been confirmed by Mercedes-Benz as a smaller version of its iconic G-Class, also known as the G-Wagen. The German brand teased the new SUV at last year’s Munich motor show. The larger G-Wagen is already offered with an electric…