The tech industry was gripped this week by a story that sounded like the plot of a science fiction thriller. On July 16, AI platform Hugging Face announced it had been hacked by a cybercriminal using an extraordinarily powerful artificial intelligence system. The company described the attack using highly technical language, referring to “a swarm…
This is a new chapter for the Flatiron Building. It remains one of New York City’s most recognizable landmarks as it prepares for an entirely new life. After seven years behind scaffolding, the iconic Flatiron Building has nearly completed its transformation from office space into ultra-luxury residences, with the most expensive apartment priced at $58.5…
Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros Discovery have agreed to suspend their proposed $110 billion merger until June 2027 as a US court considers legal challenges brought against the deal. The merger, which would create one of the world’s largest media and entertainment companies, is being opposed by a coalition of 12 US states and the…
Afrobeat musician Femi Kuti has explained why he avoided taking a solo photograph with dancer and social media personality Korra Obidi, saying he wanted to stay away from unnecessary controversy. The light-hearted moment occurred after one of Kuti’s live performances in Lagos and was captured in a video later shared by Korra Obidi on Instagram….
A South Korean court has ordered SK Group Chairman Chey Tae-won to pay his former wife, Roh Soh-yeong, 944 billion won (about $644 million) as part of their long-running divorce proceedings. The settlement, which is yet to be finalized, is lower than the 1.38 trillion won award initially granted to Roh in 2024. The case…
Google has been fined a total of €890 million ($1.04 billion) by the European Union after regulators concluded that the technology giant unfairly favored its own apps and services over those of competitors. The penalties mark the first major enforcement action against Google under the European Union’s Digital Markets Act (DMA), legislation introduced to curb…
A bipartisan group of U.S. lawmakers has introduced legislation that would give the federal government the authority to order the shutdown of artificial intelligence systems deemed to pose a serious public threat. The proposed legislation, known as the AI Kill Switch Act, was introduced by Democratic Congressman Ted Lieu and Republican Congressman Nathaniel Moran following…
Nigerian music executive and artist manager Ubi Franklin has shared an emotional account of his struggles with depression, revealing that he attempted to take his own life on several occasions following the collapse of his marriage to actress Lilian Esoro. Franklin made the disclosure in a video posted on his Instagram page, saying he wanted…
The co-founder of AI platform Hugging Face has described a recent cyber attack involving OpenAI’s advanced artificial intelligence models as a warning that businesses must rethink their approach to cybersecurity. Thomas Wolf said the incident marked a significant shift in the threat landscape, warning that similar attacks could become increasingly common as AI systems become…
The European Commission has approved Paramount Skydance’s proposed $110 billion (£85 billion) acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery, removing a major regulatory hurdle for the media merger even as the deal remains stalled in the United States. The approval came after Paramount agreed to end its European film distribution partnership with Universal Pictures. Under the commitments…
Alphabet, the parent company of Google, reported strong revenue growth in its latest quarter, but rising investment in artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure pushed its free cash flow into negative territory for the first time in at least a decade. The technology giant recorded negative free cash flow of $5.9 billion (£4.3 billion), reflecting the cash…
Veteran Nollywood actor Ramsey Nouah has said discipline, rather than talent alone, is the key to building a lasting career. The 55-year-old actor shared the message in a video posted on his Instagram page, reflecting on the lessons he has learned over the course of his career and what has helped him remain relevant in…
Bus passengers across England will once again benefit from a £2 cap on single fares from January 2027, Prime Minister Andy Burnham has announced as part of a wider effort to ease the cost of living. The government said the scheme, expected to cost more than £500 million, is designed to make public transport more…
Tokyo’s campaign encouraging men to wear shorts to work during the summer has generated mixed reactions, with some women raising concerns over workplace dress expectations and what has been dubbed “leg hair harassment.” The Tokyo Metropolitan Government introduced the expanded dress code under its “Tokyo Cool Biz” initiative in April, urging workers to replace traditional…
A Florida teenager has withdrawn his lawsuit against Meta, ending legal claims that the company’s social media platforms contributed to his alleged addiction and harmed his mental health. The 15-year-old plaintiff, identified in court documents only by the initials R.K.C., had accused Meta of designing platforms such as Instagram with addictive features that encouraged compulsive…
Nigerian music star Burna Boy has become the first male artist to reach the top of Spotify’s newly launched Global Music Video Chart, marking another milestone in his international career. The achievement comes through Dai Dai, his collaboration with Colombian singer Shakira, which currently leads the platform’s new chart. The feat also makes Burna Boy…
DC Studios and Warner Bros. have unveiled the first official trailer for Clayface, offering audiences a closer look at the upcoming film centred on one of Gotham City’s most recognisable villains. The film follows Matt Hagen, a former street kid from Gotham whose rise to fame as a Hollywood actor comes to a devastating halt…
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy and Ozempic, has filed a lawsuit against rival pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, accusing it of misleading consumers by suggesting its weight-loss and diabetes drugs are more effective. The legal action, filed in the United States on Tuesday, alleges that Eli Lilly used advertising campaigns that created the impression its…
France has passed legislation that will prohibit children under the age of 15 from accessing social media platforms from January 2027, becoming the first European country to introduce such a nationwide restriction. The law, approved by both the French Senate and the National Assembly on Tuesday, requires users to verify their age before opening or…
Access Bank will host the inaugural edition of its MSME Conference on Friday, July 24, 2026, at its headquarters in Victoria Island, Lagos, as part of efforts to support the growth of Nigeria’s micro, small and medium-sized enterprises (MSMEs). The conference, themed “AI for SMEs: Scaling Through Digital Tools,” will bring together entrepreneurs, policymakers, business…
In an absolute treat for fans of classic, foundational Afrosounds, Nigerian and Niger Delta heavyweights Timaya and Duncan Mighty reunite for a blazing new single titled Kontrol. Released via DM Records and ONErpm, the track marks a historic link-up between two of Port Harcourt’s most legendary exports. Decades into their respective careers, the duo proves…
The European Union has imposed a record €550 million (£467 million) fine on Chinese e-commerce platform AliExpress after concluding that the company failed to adequately prevent the sale of illegal and unsafe products on its marketplace. The European Commission said its two-year investigation found that AliExpress had breached its obligations under the Digital Services Act…
Live shopping is becoming one of the fastest-growing trends in online retail, helping businesses generate thousands of pounds in sales while giving shoppers a more interactive buying experience. For entrepreneurs like Daisy Kelly, it has transformed an idea born at her mother’s kitchen table into a multimillion-pound business. From Personal Struggle to Multi-Million-Pound Brand Kelly…
Akida Hills has unveiled plans to transform part of Abuja’s Jabi Lake waterfront into a major leisure and tourism destination, with the first phase of the project expected to open in December 2026. The mixed-use development will feature what the company describes as West Africa’s first dancing musical fountain, alongside a range of recreational, entertainment…
Nollywood actress Destiny Etiko has revealed that she lost ₦5 million after placing what she described as her first-ever football bet during the 2026 FIFA World Cup final between Spain and Argentina. The actress shared the experience in a post on Instagram shortly after Saturday’s final, expressing regret over the outcome and describing the experience…
Marvel Studios and Disney have released the first official trailer for Avengers: Doomsday, giving fans their most detailed look yet at the upcoming superhero blockbuster and confirming Robert Downey Jr.’s transformation into the iconic villain Doctor Doom. Directed by Joe and Anthony Russo, the film’s first trailer sets the stage for a large-scale multiversal conflict,…
Microsoft’s Xbox has confirmed that it plans to release more permanent console exclusives as part of its long-term strategy, with senior executives saying exclusive titles remain essential to the growth of the gaming platform. The comments were made by Xbox Chief Strategy Officer Matthew Ball and Chief Content Officer Matt Booty during an interview with…
Google and Apple are pushing back against new European Union rules that would require them to give rival artificial intelligence assistants greater access to their smartphone platforms, setting the stage for a major battle over the future of mobile AI. The dispute centres on the European Commission’s latest enforcement of the Digital Markets Act (DMA),…
China’s Jingye Group has said it will seek compensation from the UK government following the nationalisation of British Steel, escalating tensions between London and Beijing over the future of the Scunthorpe steelworks. In a statement released on Sunday, Jingye said it would pursue “full compensation through legal means to the very end” after the British…
Controversial Nigerian singer Portable has challenged fellow artiste Terry G to a celebrity boxing match, saying the bout would help revive the veteran musician’s career. Portable made the remarks during an appearance on Channels Television’s Rubbin’ Minds, where he was asked which celebrity he would like to face in the ring. Without hesitation, the singer…
Meta is reportedly in early discussions with artificial intelligence startup Anthropic about leasing computing capacity, a move that could see the social media company expand into the cloud computing market alongside established players such as Amazon, Microsoft and Google. A source familiar with the discussions confirmed that talks are ongoing but remain at an early…
Chili’s is looking to the past as it plans for the future, reviving many of the features that made the restaurant chain a household name in the 1990s. Red leather booths are making a comeback, alongside the brand’s colourful tile tables – this time redesigned without the grout that made them difficult to maintain. Diners…
At least eight people have been killed and 62 others injured after Ukrainian drones struck two warehouses belonging to Russian online retail giant Wildberries, according to Russian authorities. Officials said seven people died and 25 others were injured in an attack on a Wildberries warehouse in Tambov, about 475 kilometres southeast of Moscow. Another warehouse…
Nigerian disc jockey Kubeyinje Otis Ayodeji, popularly known as Baddest DJ Timmy, has publicly accused singer Timi Dakolo of failing to repay an alleged debt. In a post shared on Instagram on Friday, DJ Timmy claimed Dakolo had persuaded him about a month ago to remove an earlier post concerning the alleged debt, promising that…
IBM shares tumbled sharply in premarket trading on Friday after the technology giant warned that second-quarter performance fell well below expectations, putting the company on course for its worst single-day stock market decline in its 115-year history. The stock dropped as much as 24% before the opening bell, surpassing the company’s previous worst trading day…
Chinese artificial intelligence startup Moonshot AI has introduced a new large language model, Kimi K3, which it says is capable of competing with leading AI systems developed by US firms such as OpenAI and Anthropic. The company said Kimi K3 contains 2.8 trillion parameters, a metric commonly used to indicate the scale and processing capacity…
The Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) is set to introduce a biometric identity verification system, known as V-Pass, aimed at improving security and speeding up passenger processing at domestic airports. The initiative, being implemented in partnership with Verxid Technologies Limited, will enable travellers to verify their identities using facial recognition technology, reducing reliance on…
Afrobeats star David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has spoken about the challenges of raising children from different relationships, revealing that some of them have started asking difficult questions as they grow older. In an interview with the BBC, the singer said his two eldest daughters, Imade and Hailey, have become curious about why they…
Taiwanese semiconductor giant TSMC has announced plans to invest an additional $100 billion in its US operations, significantly expanding its manufacturing footprint in Arizona as demand for advanced chips continues to surge. The new commitment raises the company’s total planned investment in the United States to $265 billion. TSMC Chief Executive Officer C.C. Wei said…
Taco Bell has removed lettuce from its menu in parts of the United States after health authorities linked the ingredient to a multi-state outbreak of cyclosporiasis, a parasitic infection that causes severe diarrhoea. The fast-food chain said the decision was taken “out of an abundance of caution” following discussions with public health officials. According to…
Chinese used car e-commerce platform Guazi has expanded its international vehicle sourcing services, offering buyers and dealers in Nigeria and other selected overseas markets access to inspection-backed used vehicles from China. The company said the expansion targets customers across Africa, the Middle East, Central Asia and Eastern Europe, where demand for imported used vehicles continues…
Nollywood actress and Special Assistant to the Speaker of the House of Representatives on Social Events and Public Hearings, Eniola Badmus, has stirred reactions after saying she does not know what it means to be broke. Badmus made the remark while speaking on the red carpet at the premiere of The Return of Omotara Johnson,…
Elon Musk’s artificial intelligence company, xAI, has filed a lawsuit against a user accused of using its Grok chatbot to generate child sexual abuse material (CSAM), marking one of the first known instances of an AI company taking legal action against a user for allegedly creating illegal explicit content with its platform. The lawsuit, filed…
The proposed merger between Paramount and Warner Bros. Discovery is expected to face a delay as executives involved in the transaction anticipate that a US court will temporarily halt the takeover while it considers an antitrust challenge brought by a coalition of state attorneys general. Although the court has yet to issue a ruling, people…
PUBG MOBILE has rolled out one of its biggest collaborations to date, introducing a major in-game partnership with the popular anime series NARUTO Shippuden alongside a series of activities aimed at engaging its Nigerian gaming community. To mark the release of the latest version update, the mobile gaming platform staged a themed flashmob in Ikeja,…
Award-winning Nollywood actress and filmmaker Funke Akindele has encouraged young Nigerians to reject the pursuit of quick wealth and instead focus on hard work, discipline and acquiring practical skills. Speaking in a recent interview with BellaNaija, Akindele reflected on her early struggles, saying she deliberately chose legitimate means of earning a living despite facing financial…
Employees across Xbox-owned studios have been left reeling after Microsoft announced one of the biggest rounds of layoffs in the company’s gaming division, with many workers saying they were blindsided despite weeks of speculation. Morgan Goin, a senior encounter designer at Xbox-owned ZeniMax Online Studios (ZOS), said staff knew cuts were coming but had no…
A Singapore court has ordered Bloomberg and one of its reporters to pay S$460,000 (US$356,000; £266,000) in damages to two Singaporean ministers after finding they had been defamed by a 2024 article about luxury property transactions. The lawsuit was brought by Coordinating Minister for National Security K. Shanmugam and Minister for Manpower Tan See Leng,…
United Bank for Africa (UBA) Plc has announced the next edition of its quarterly UBA Business Series, with a focus on how African entrepreneurs can use customer feedback to develop technology solutions tailored to the continent’s unique needs. The virtual event, themed “Building for Africa’s Realities: Turning Consumer Feedback into Technology-Driven Solutions,” is scheduled to…
Afrobeats superstar David Adeleke, popularly known as Davido, has revealed that maintaining his lifestyle as a celebrity comes with enormous financial commitments, disclosing that he spends between $200,000 and $300,000 every month. The award-winning singer made the revelation during a recent livestream with streamer Davrel, where he spoke about the realities of life in the…
