(Brands & Consumers)
For years, Riyadh’s Diplomatic Quarter has existed in a world of its own. With tree-lined walkways, embassies, cafés and carefully manicured lawns, the neighbourhood feels noticeably removed from the rhythms of the wider Saudi capital. Today, it is also home to one of the kingdom’s most discreet – and controversial – social experiments. Hidden behind…
Nvidia made corporate history in October after briefly becoming the first company to reach a $5 trillion market valuation, a milestone driven largely by its central role in the global artificial intelligence boom. The semiconductor giant has benefited from surging demand for AI hardware, particularly its data center chips, where it now controls about 81%…
Stellantis, the global automaker behind brands such as Jeep and Chrysler, has announced a major strategic overhaul after its aggressive push into electric vehicles failed to deliver the expected returns, prompting massive financial charges and a sharp sell-off in its shares. The company said on Friday it will record more than $26 billion in charges,…
The European Union has warned TikTok that it must overhaul elements of its platform design deemed “addictive” or face substantial financial penalties, following preliminary findings that the app breached the bloc’s online safety rules. The warning stems from an investigation launched by the European Commission in February 2024 into the Chinese-owned video-sharing platform’s compliance with…
Canada has announced a new plan aimed at strengthening its automotive sector and accelerating the shift to electric vehicles, as the industry struggles with the impact of US trade tariffs and an increasingly uncertain relationship with its largest export market. Prime Minister Mark Carney unveiled the measures on Thursday, describing them as part of a…
A major South Korean cryptocurrency exchange has admitted to accidentally transferring more than $40bn worth of bitcoin to customers after a technical error turned a routine reward into a massive payout. The platform, Bithumb, said it intended to credit users with a modest promotional bonus of 2,000 won, equivalent to about $1.37. Instead, a system…
Google has disclosed that YouTube generated more than $60bn (£44bn) in revenue in 2025, underlining the video platform’s growing importance to the company as it focuses on expanding paid subscriptions. The figure, which combines advertising income and subscription earnings, places YouTube well ahead of streaming competitor Netflix, which reported $45bn in revenue over the same…
Google is facing renewed internal pressure after hundreds of its employees called on the company to end its involvement with US immigration enforcement agencies, citing ethical concerns over how its technology may be used. In an open letter released on Friday, close to 900 full-time staff urged Google’s leadership to be more transparent about the…
Bahama Breeze, the Caribbean-inspired restaurant chain, is set to close all of its outlets, bringing an end to a brand that has operated for more than 30 years. Its parent company, Darden Restaurants, announced on Tuesday that the remaining 28 Bahama Breeze locations will be wound down in the coming months. About half of the…
PepsiCo has announced plans to reduce the prices of several of its best-known snack brands, including Doritos, Lay’s and Cheetos, in response to growing consumer frustration over rising food costs. In a statement released on Tuesday, PepsiCo Foods US chief executive Rachel Ferdinando said the company had spent the past year engaging with customers who…
Nintendo has confirmed that the Switch has become the most successful console in the company’s history, surpassing 155 million units sold worldwide since its launch in 2017. The milestone means the hybrid console has overtaken the Nintendo DS to claim the top spot among Nintendo’s hardware releases. In the wider gaming industry, the Switch now…
The Washington Post has announced plans to cut roughly one-third of its workforce, a move that will significantly reduce coverage in areas including sports, local reporting and international news. The layoffs, confirmed on Wednesday, affect employees across multiple departments, with newsroom staff among the hardest hit. The decision marks another period of turmoil for the…
Amid rows of aircraft models, mock cockpits and high-tech aviation displays at the Singapore Airshow, one exhibitor has been attracting outsized attention: Comac, China’s state-owned aircraft manufacturer. The company has come a long way since its narrow-body C919 passenger jet made its first appearance outside mainland China two years ago. Designed to rival the Airbus…
Netflix has struggled to convince US lawmakers that its proposed takeover of Warner Bros Discovery would serve the interests of consumers, workers and the wider entertainment industry, as bipartisan concerns mount over the scale of the deal. During a hearing on Tuesday, members of the US Senate antitrust subcommittee raised alarms about the potential impact…
Pinterest has terminated the employment of two software engineers after they created an internal tool designed to identify colleagues affected by a recent round of job cuts, the company has confirmed. The dismissals follow an announcement by the social media firm that it would reduce its workforce as part of a shift toward what chief…
China has announced a ban on hidden car door handles, becoming the first country to formally prohibit the design amid growing safety concerns surrounding electric vehicles (EVs). The decision follows increased scrutiny of EV safety standards globally, particularly after reports of fatal accidents in China involving Xiaomi electric cars. In those incidents, suspected power failures…
Elon Musk has taken another step toward consolidating his business empire, with SpaceX confirming it is acquiring his artificial intelligence company, xAI. The aerospace firm announced the move by publishing an internal memo from Musk, in which he described the merger as a way to bring artificial intelligence, space technology, satellite internet and media platforms…
A new online platform called Moltbook is attracting attention for an unusual reason: it is designed for artificial intelligence systems to interact with one another, not for people. At first glance, Moltbook closely resembles Reddit, with thousands of topic-based forums and posts ranked by upvotes. But unlike traditional social networks, humans are not allowed to…
Starbucks is leaning heavily on technology – including artificial intelligence and robotics – as it works to reverse years of sluggish sales and reconnect with customers. At some drive-through locations across the United States, customers placing orders may unknowingly be interacting with AI-powered systems rather than human staff. Inside stores, baristas are increasingly supported by…
French technology and consulting group Capgemini has announced plans to divest its US-based subsidiary following mounting criticism over the unit’s work for the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE). The decision comes after sustained pressure from French lawmakers and public scrutiny surrounding a contract under which Capgemini Government Solutions provided services to help locate…
Elon Musk’s space company, SpaceX, has submitted a proposal to US regulators seeking permission to deploy up to one million satellites into Earth’s orbit as part of an ambitious plan to support artificial intelligence computing from space. In an application filed with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), SpaceX argues that so-called “orbital data centres” could…
The idea of sending text messages from the Moon or streaming data from deep space may soon move from science fiction to reality, as NASA and Nokia prepare to install a cellular network on the lunar surface. Under a joint initiative, the two organisations are working to deploy a basic 4G communications system on the…
TikTok’s newly restructured US operation, now controlled by a group of largely American investors approved by President Donald Trump, has stumbled out of the gate amid technical disruptions and growing political scrutiny. Over the past several days, users of the video-sharing app have reported widespread glitches, including difficulties posting content and unexplained drops in video…
Elon Musk’s aerospace company, SpaceX, has submitted an application to deploy as many as one million satellites into Earth’s orbit, a move it says is aimed at meeting the rapidly growing global demand for artificial intelligence computing power. In the filing made to the United States Federal Communications Commission (FCC), SpaceX proposes the creation of…
Just before lunchtime in Angers, western France, restaurateur Mickael Moureaud scans the dining room of L’Ange Vin with a familiar knot in his stomach. By now, the tables should be mostly occupied. Instead, the room is largely silent. “A year ago, this place would be buzzing by 12:30,” he says softly. “Now, most days, it…
Apple has delivered a strong earnings performance that is easing concerns on Wall Street about the company’s perceived struggles in artificial intelligence, with robust sales of the iPhone 17 taking centre stage. The technology giant reported quarterly revenue of $143.8 billion, comfortably beating market expectations and marking a sharp rise from the $124.3 billion recorded…
A week after Ubisoft unveiled one of the most sweeping shake-ups in its history, unease is spreading through the company’s global workforce – particularly among employees who now find themselves grouped into what the publisher calls its “Creative Network.” The restructuring announcement was stark. Six projects were scrapped, seven major titles were delayed, and two…
Apple has posted its highest-ever iPhone sales, driven by strong demand for the iPhone 17 lineup during the final quarter of last year, even as other parts of its hardware business faced declines. The tech giant reported quarterly revenue of $144 billion, a 16% increase compared with the same period a year earlier. It marks…
Amazon is winding down its standalone grocery store experiment, announcing plans to close all Amazon Fresh and Amazon Go locations across the United States as it sharpens its focus on the Whole Foods brand. The move will affect roughly 70 physical stores and represents another reset of Amazon’s in-person retail strategy. In a statement released…
Starbucks is rolling out a refreshed afternoon menu in the United States as it looks to attract customers beyond its traditional morning coffee rush. In the coming weeks, the coffee chain will introduce a range of new food and drink options designed for later in the day, including teas, updated energy drinks, matcha-based beverages, and…
Meta Plans Sharp Increase In AI Investment, Signals Further Restructuring Meta Platforms is preparing to significantly raise its spending on artificial intelligence this year, nearly doubling its investment despite growing warnings from industry leaders about a potential AI bubble. Speaking during an earnings call on Wednesday, Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg said the Facebook and…
China has agreed in principle to grant British passport holders visa-free access for stays of up to 30 days, the UK government has confirmed. The development followed a high-level meeting in Beijing between Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking the first official visit to China by a British leader in…
Tesla has reported its first annual drop in revenue as the electric vehicle maker pivots towards artificial intelligence and robotics, marking a significant change in strategy for the company. The firm, led by billionaire entrepreneur Elon Musk, said total revenue fell by 3% in 2025, while profits plunged by 61% in the final quarter of…
Global parcel delivery firm UPS has announced plans to cut up to 30,000 jobs this year as it continues to scale back business with Amazon, its largest customer. The company said the reductions will be carried out mainly through voluntary buyouts for full-time drivers and by leaving vacant positions unfilled, rather than through widespread layoffs….
TikTok has dismissed claims that it is restricting what American users can post, following widespread reports of glitches on the platform shortly after its US operations were spun off from its Chinese parent company. In a statement responding to the concerns, a spokesperson for TikTok US said the issues stem from technical challenges linked to…
Amazon has inadvertently confirmed another wave of job cuts after an internal email referencing ongoing layoffs was mistakenly shared with employees. The draft message, written by Colleen Aubrey, a senior vice president at Amazon Web Services (AWS), was attached to a calendar invitation sent late Tuesday by an executive assistant. The invitation, which reached a…
MTN Nigeria has disclosed that its network experienced 9,218 fibre cuts in 2025, drawing renewed attention to the ongoing fragility of the country’s telecommunications infrastructure. The disclosure was made by the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Karl Olutokun Toriola, in a LinkedIn post titled “MTN Nigeria 2025 Wrapped.” He noted that incidents of theft and vandalism…
A closely watched trial that could reshape how social media companies are held accountable in the United States is set to begin in California, with senior executives from some of the world’s largest tech firms expected to testify. The case, which will be heard at the Los Angeles Superior Court, was brought by a 19-year-old…
Meta Platforms is preparing to trial paid subscription options across Instagram, Facebook and WhatsApp, marking its latest push to expand revenue beyond advertising. The technology company said the proposed subscriptions, expected to roll out for testing in the coming months, would offer users access to additional features, including enhanced artificial intelligence tools. Core functions of…
The Lagos State Internal Revenue Service (LIRS) has announced plans to recover outstanding tax liabilities by directing Nigerian banks to debit the accounts of defaulting employers who fail to remit taxes. The move is based on provisions of Section 60 of the Nigeria Tax Administration Act (NTAA) and was outlined in a public notice recently…
Heathrow Airport has removed the long-standing 100ml limit on liquids in hand luggage after completing the installation of new CT security scanners across all its terminals. With the rollout now finished, passengers departing from the UK’s busiest airport can carry liquids in containers of up to two litres through security without removing them from their…
For months, TikTok’s 200 million users in the United States lived under a cloud of uncertainty. Would the app be banned? Sold? Broken into something unrecognisable? Now, with a new deal in place, TikTok’s future in the US looks secure – but the agreement raises a quieter, more interesting question: what will TikTok feel like…
Sony appears to be subtly encouraging PlayStation 4 users to move on to its newer PlayStation 5 console, as reports emerge of promotional system messages being sent directly to PS4 owners. Images shared on social media show what looks like an official notification from PlayStation, urging users to explore current PlayStation 5 deals to avoid…
Elizabeth Holmes, the former Theranos founder convicted of defrauding investors, has formally asked President Donald Trump to reduce her prison sentence, according to a clemency request submitted to the US Department of Justice last year. Holmes was found guilty in 2022 and began serving an 11-year federal sentence in 2023 at a prison camp in…
As the sun dipped over the Santa Barbara Bowl, 4,500 fans gathered to watch Sir Paul McCartney promise something rare in the modern concert experience: intimacy. What they didn’t expect was just how far the former Beatle would go to make that happen. Before the first chord was struck, every phone in the crowd was…
HP Inc. has consolidated its gaming products under one banner, rebranding its portfolio to bring OMEN gaming PCs and displays together with HyperX peripherals under a single master brand, HyperX. The change was unveiled on 5 January at CES 2026 in Las Vegas and marks a strategic shift aimed at strengthening HP’s position in high-performance…
On the surface, Pinterest looks like a digital mood board for dreamers and trend hunters. Every month, hundreds of millions of users scroll through the platform in search of fashion ideas, interior inspiration and quirky creative concepts. One popular page showcases intentionally bizarre designs: Crocs turned into flower vases, burger-shaped makeup palettes, and even a…
TikTok’s newly formed US joint venture has updated its privacy policy to allow the collection of more detailed location information from its American users, expanding the scope of data the platform can gather as it begins operating under new ownership. The policy change comes days after a group of investors finalised a deal with TikTok’s…
Gold prices have surged past $5,000 (£3,659) an ounce for the first time on record, extending a powerful rally that has reshaped global commodity markets over the past year. The precious metal’s latest milestone comes amid rising geopolitical and economic uncertainty, including fresh tensions between the United States and NATO over Greenland and renewed concerns…
French video game publisher Ubisoft has cancelled six projects, including the highly anticipated remake of Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time, as part of a sweeping overhaul aimed at stabilising the company’s business. The company confirmed that it has also closed two development studios, postponed seven other games and begun restructuring efforts across several…
