(Brands & Consumers)
In a historic shift for the gaming industry, Microsoft has announced that its flagship franchise Halo will make its debut on Sony’s PlayStation 5 next year – marking the first time the iconic series will appear on a rival console. The upcoming release, titled Halo: Campaign Evolved, is a remake of the 2001 classic Halo:…
Pizza Hut, once a family favourite for its all-you-can-eat buffet, salad bar, and self-serve ice cream, is closing nearly half of its UK restaurants as customer interest wanes. The move follows the chain’s second rescue from administration this year, reducing its restaurant count from 132 to just 64. For many Britons, Pizza Hut was once…
Tesla CEO Elon Musk has defended his push for a record-breaking $1 trillion compensation package, saying it is necessary to secure his control over the company and safeguard it from what he described as “corporate terrorists.” Speaking during an investor call on Wednesday, Musk claimed that influential proxy advisory firms Institutional Shareholder Services (ISS) and…
Microsoft’s Head of Artificial Intelligence, Mustafa Suleyman, has said the company is committed to developing AI systems that are emotionally intelligent, supportive, and safe enough for children to use – a clear stance against the growing trend of romantic and adult-oriented chatbots. In an interview with CNN, Suleyman said Microsoft’s goal is to create trustworthy…
Afua Kyei, Chief Financial Officer of the Bank of England, has been named the UK’s most influential Black person, topping the 2026 Powerlist – an annual ranking that celebrates individuals of African, African-Caribbean, and African-American heritage who are making significant impact across the country. At 43, Kyei is one of the most senior finance leaders…
It sounded like a scene straight out of Ocean’s Eleven: high rollers seated around velvet tables in luxury suites, chips stacked high, cards fanned between manicured fingers – and absolutely no chance of winning. In reality, it was one of the most elaborate poker frauds in U.S. history – a “mind-boggling” operation that used X-ray…
Reebok is paying tribute to basketball legend Allen Iverson with a new footwear collection tied to the release of the Prime Video docuseries Allen Iv3rson, which explores the Hall of Famer’s life and career in unprecedented depth. To mark the launch of the limited series, the sportswear brand is revisiting Iverson’s roots at Bethel High…
Retail giant Target has announced plans to lay off around 1,000 corporate employees and eliminate 800 open positions, a move that will affect roughly 8% of its global corporate workforce, the company confirmed. Incoming CEO Michael Fiddelke, who is set to replace longtime leader Brian Cornell next year, told staff in an internal email that…
Former Binance chief executive Changpeng Zhao, widely known as “CZ”, has been granted a presidential pardon by US President Donald Trump, less than a year after serving a four-month prison sentence for violating American money-laundering laws. Zhao, the founder of the world’s largest cryptocurrency exchange, had pleaded guilty in 2023 to allowing users to bypass…
Apple could soon be required to open its iPhone ecosystem to rival app stores in the United Kingdom following a major ruling by the Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). The move marks a potential end to Apple’s long-standing “closed system,” which only allows users to download apps through its proprietary App Store. The CMA has…
Amazon has introduced a prototype of its latest innovation, AI-powered smart glasses called Amelia, designed specifically to support its delivery drivers. The wearable technology, which comes with a camera and built-in display, pairs with a waistcoat featuring a button that allows drivers to capture photos of completed deliveries. According to Beryl Tomay, Amazon’s Vice President…
Nike has officially released images of Washington Wizards guard Jordan Poole’s Nike Zoom GT Cut 3 “Milk and Cookies” Player Edition (PE), giving fans a first full look at the playful sneaker inspired by the athlete’s favorite post-game treat. First seen on Poole during the 2024 NBA season, the “Milk and Cookies” colorway caught attention…
OpenAI, the company behind ChatGPT, has launched a new artificial intelligence-powered web browser called ChatGPT Atlas, in a bold move to challenge industry giants such as Google, which dominates the market with Chrome. Unveiled on Tuesday, ChatGPT Atlas is initially available for Apple’s macOS and is designed around OpenAI’s flagship chatbot rather than the traditional…
Two gambling companies – Kwiff and Betway – have had their advertisements banned in the United Kingdom after regulators ruled that the promotions could unduly appeal to children. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) announced the decision on Wednesday following investigations into complaints about the adverts, which featured Formula 1 driver Lewis Hamilton and the Chelsea…
Pizza Hut is set to close 68 restaurants and 11 delivery sites across the UK, resulting in the loss of 1,210 jobs, after the company managing its UK operations fell into administration. DC London Pie Limited, the firm that owns and operates Pizza Hut’s UK restaurants, appointed FTI Consulting as administrators on Monday. The move…
Disney+ and Hulu experienced a sharp rise in subscription cancellations in September, following the temporary suspension of late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, new data shows. According to analytics firm Antenna, Disney+’s churn rate – the percentage of users who cancel their subscriptions – spiked from an average of 4% to 8%, representing roughly three million cancellations….
Logitech’s CEO, Hanneke Faber, has suggested that artificial intelligence agents could soon become standard participants in corporate boardrooms – and possibly replace human board members in the future. Speaking at Fortune’s Most Powerful Women Summit in Washington this week, Faber said she believes AI tools have the potential to reshape how companies make decisions and…
The long-awaited Sleeping Dogs film adaptation has taken a significant step forward, as actor and producer Simu Liu confirmed that the first script draft is complete. Based on the 2012 video game of the same name, Sleeping Dogs follows Wei Shen, an undercover police officer infiltrating the Hong Kong underworld. The open-world action game became…
Nike is reviving one of its lesser-known early-2000s silhouettes with a striking new look, as the Air Max TL 2.5 gets a fresh “University Red/Black” colourway. The model, which re-emerged earlier this year as part of Nike’s nostalgic push into Y2K-era designs, continues to gain traction among retro sneaker fans despite not achieving the mainstream…
Leslie Benzies, the celebrated producer behind Grand Theft Auto V, is facing mounting criticism after the disastrous launch of his new studio’s debut game, MindsEye. Three weeks after its release in June 2025, the ambitious sci-fi title from Build a Rocket Boy (BARB) – Benzies’ Edinburgh-based studio – was branded “broken,” “buggy,” and “the worst…
UK bookmaker Betfred has warned that all 1,287 of its High Street shops could shut down if Chancellor Rachel Reeves raises taxes on gambling firms. Fred Done, the company’s co-founder and chairman, told the BBC that such a move would threaten 7,500 jobs and could spell the end of Betfred’s physical betting operations in the…
Lamborghini’s chief executive Stephan Winkelmann has confirmed that the iconic Italian automaker will continue to produce cars with internal combustion engines for at least another decade, as demand for fully electric vehicles cools among luxury buyers. Speaking to the BBC at Lamborghini’s London showroom, Winkelmann said the brand’s customers still crave “the sound and the…
Instagram is set to roll out new parental controls that will allow parents to stop teenagers from chatting with the app’s AI characters, its parent company Meta announced on Friday. The feature, expected to launch early next year, will let parents completely disable teens’ access to AI chat features or selectively block certain AI characters….
Pharmaceutical giant Johnson & Johnson (J&J) is facing a massive legal challenge in the United Kingdom, where more than 3,000 people have filed a lawsuit accusing the company of knowingly selling asbestos-contaminated baby powder linked to cancer. The case, filed by law firm KP Law against J&J and its subsidiary Kenvue Ltd, alleges that the…
The UK government has fined nearly 500 companies, including Centrica – the parent company of British Gas – Euro Garages (EG Group), and Holland & Barrett, for failing to pay workers the national minimum wage. The Department for Business and Trade (DBT) said the named employers were ordered to repay over £6 million to about…
Rwanda is set to become Africa’s leading destination for artificial intelligence (AI) development following a $17.5 million (Rwf25 billion) investment from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation to establish the Rwanda AI Scaling Hub. The initiative, scheduled to launch next year, aims to accelerate the creation and deployment of AI-driven solutions across healthcare, education, and…
Nike is adding sparkle to performance footwear with its latest collaboration with Swarovski – a women’s running collection that fuses sport and luxury through crystal detailing. Following the reveal of the Swarovski Pegasus Premium earlier this year, the partnership continues with the release of a crystal-adorned Nike Vomero Plus. The new design features a sleek,…
The Canadian government has warned multinational car manufacturer Stellantis that it may face legal action if it proceeds with plans to move production of the Jeep Compass from Ontario to Illinois. Earlier this week, Stellantis announced a $13 billion (£9.68 billion) investment in the United States, which includes shifting manufacturing of the popular SUV model…
Nestlé has announced plans to eliminate 16,000 jobs globally over the next two years as its new Chief Executive Officer, Philipp Navratil, moves to streamline operations and focus on higher-return products. The Swiss food and beverage giant said the cuts are part of a broader effort to accelerate growth and strengthen efficiency amid increasing competition….
Google’s parent company, Alphabet Inc., has announced plans to invest $15 billion in constructing a new artificial intelligence (AI) data hub in Visakhapatnam, a port city in Andhra Pradesh, southern India. According to Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, the project represents Google’s largest AI hub investment outside the United States, and the funds will be…
Authorities in the United States and the United Kingdom have seized more than $14 billion worth of bitcoin in what officials describe as one of the largest financial crackdowns in history. The operation targeted Chen Zhi, a UK and Cambodian national accused of running a vast cryptocurrency fraud empire under the Prince Group conglomerate. Chen,…
Microsoft has dismissed growing speculation that it plans to abandon its Xbox hardware business, following reports that major U.S. retailers Walmart and Target were scaling back or removing Xbox products from store shelves. The tech giant’s clarification came after a weekend of confusion sparked by social media posts claiming Xbox consoles had disappeared from certain…
A major class-action lawsuit has opened at the High Court in London against five of the world’s leading car manufacturers accused of using illegal software to cheat emissions tests. The companies – Mercedes, Ford, Peugeot/Citroën, Renault, and Nissan – are alleged to have installed “defeat devices” that made their vehicles appear more environmentally friendly during…
Warner Bros. and New Line Cinema have officially given the go-ahead for Mortal Kombat 3, marking the third installment in the studio’s rebooted fighting game franchise. The announcement was made by Mortal Kombat II screenwriter Jeremy Slater during a panel at New York Comic-Con, where he confirmed that work on the next film is already…
YouTube has begun reinstating some previously banned users, allowing them to create new accounts and even re-upload videos that were once flagged under now-defunct content policies. The move follows a recent policy shift announced by the platform, which comes amid growing political scrutiny from U.S. lawmakers over how social media companies handle content moderation and…
Silver has soared past $50 an ounce for the first time since 1980, marking its highest level in four decades and capping a remarkable 75% price surge so far this year. The rally has been driven by a combination of investor demand for safe-haven assets, strong industrial use, and tightening global supply. Spot silver prices…
Tech giant Google may soon be required to make significant changes to how its search engine operates in the United Kingdom, following a major decision by the country’s competition regulator. The Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has formally designated Google’s search services as holding “strategic market status” (SMS) under new digital competition laws that came…
Japan’s largest beer producer, Asahi Group Holdings, is grappling with widespread supply disruptions after a major cyberattack forced the company to temporarily halt production at most of its domestic factories late last month. The attack crippled Asahi’s digital infrastructure, leaving it unable to process orders electronically. Although operations have resumed at all 30 production sites…
OpenAI’s latest innovation, Sora, has stormed to over one million downloads in less than five days – a milestone it reached even faster than the company’s viral chatbot, ChatGPT, did at launch. The text-to-video app, now topping the Apple App Store charts in the United States, allows users to create 10-second, hyper-realistic videos simply by…
Californians frustrated by blaring commercials while streaming their favorite shows are about to get some relief, thanks to a new state law that limits ad volume on streaming platforms. Signed by Governor Gavin Newsom, the law makes it illegal for streaming services to play ads louder than the main video content being watched. It extends…
Tesla is under fresh scrutiny from US safety regulators following reports that some of its vehicles equipped with Full Self-Driving (FSD) technology have violated traffic laws – including driving on the wrong side of the road and running red lights. According to a filing from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), the agency has…
Discord has revealed that personal identification photos belonging to roughly 70,000 users may have been compromised following a cyber-attack on one of its third-party service providers. The company, which hosts more than 200 million users globally, said the incident did not involve a direct breach of its own systems. Instead, hackers reportedly targeted an external…
China has announced stricter export regulations on rare earth materials – essential components in the production of high-tech goods such as semiconductors, electric vehicles, and defense equipment. The move, unveiled by the Ministry of Commerce, is aimed at “safeguarding national security” and formalises restrictions that were previously applied on a case-by-case basis. Under the new…
Macau – the world’s most famous gambling destination – is branching into new territory with the opening of what is being called the world’s first “resort hospital.” The new facility, which opened this week inside the Studio City complex, marks the city’s bold step toward becoming a hub for healthcare tourism. Studio City, a Hollywood-themed…
Snapchat is facing widespread criticism from users after announcing plans to charge for storing older photos and videos saved on the app – a feature millions have long used for free. The move, unveiled by parent company Snap in September, will introduce fees for users who exceed five gigabytes of “Memories” storage – the section…
Japanese designer Fumito Ganryu has teamed up once again with PUMA to unveil a bold reinterpretation of the PUMA Mostro, blending avant-garde craftsmanship with cutting-edge technology. The two-shoe capsule marks the second collaboration between the designer’s namesake label and the German sportswear giant, pushing the limits of experimental sneaker design. Ganryu, a protégé of Comme…
The Metropolitan Police say they have dismantled an international phone theft ring believed to have smuggled as many as 40,000 stolen mobile phones from the UK to China over the past year. Eighteen suspects were arrested and more than 2,000 stolen devices recovered in what the force described as Britain’s biggest-ever operation targeting mobile phone…
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has recorded a staggering 880% increase in its UK sales for September, cementing Britain as its largest market outside China. According to the company, it sold 11,271 vehicles during the month, driven largely by strong demand for the plug-in hybrid version of its Seal U SUV. The surge coincides with…
Nike is bringing fresh flair to one of its most unconventional silhouettes. The iconic Air Rift – a shoe inspired by Kenya’s barefoot runners and beloved by Japanese fashion circles of the ’90s – is returning this holiday season in a striking faux snakeskin design. Originally created by Nike designer Kip Buck, the Air Rift…
Taylor Swift’s latest cinematic venture has taken the box office by storm. In a remarkable debut, Taylor Swift: The Official Release Party of a Showgirl grossed approximately $33 million in North America during its opening weekend—an impressive feat for a film announced just two weeks prior. The three-day limited release coincided with the launch of…
