(Brands & Consumers)
For more than two decades, the gaming industry has been built around a familiar trio: Nintendo, PlayStation and Xbox. Each generation has reshuffled the pecking order, but the trio itself has felt unshakeable. Then Valve walked in with a shoebox-sized console and quietly asked a dangerous question: What if the living room doesn’t need Xbox…
Target and Starbucks are joining forces this holiday season in a bid to win back cautious consumers and revive slowing store traffic. Beginning Monday, shoppers will find a new Frozen Peppermint Hot Chocolate available only at Starbucks cafés located inside Target stores – the first holiday beverage collaboration between the two companies. Nearly all of…
For more than a decade, Stephen Curry and Under Armour looked inseparable – a superstar and a sportswear underdog rising together, rewriting basketball, culture, and commerce in real time. From the moment Curry laced up his first signature shoe with the Maryland-based brand, it felt like a partnership built to last a lifetime. But 13…
For more than a decade, smartphone brands have insisted that thinner is better. Slimmer silhouettes, lighter frames, and ultra-minimalist designs have dominated keynotes and marketing campaigns. But in 2025, something remarkable has happened: consumers seem to have finally lost patience with the trade-offs that come with that obsession. The clearest sign? Reports of sluggish sales…
Netflix is taking its boldest step yet into gaming as it works to transform itself from a streaming platform into a full-scale entertainment ecosystem. The company has unveiled a new suite of interactive games that can be played directly on televisions, using smartphones as controllers – a move executives say marks the beginning of a…
Disney and YouTube TV have reached a new multi-year carriage agreement, bringing an end to a two-week blackout that coincided with a major election night and left millions of subscribers without access to key channels. The deal restores Disney’s full suite of sports, entertainment and news networks – including ESPN, ABC, FX, National Geographic, and…
Rockstar Games’ Western blockbuster Red Dead Redemption appears to be heading to a new generation of consoles, after fresh ratings surfaced from the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) for the PlayStation 5, Xbox Series consoles and Nintendo’s upcoming Switch 2. While Rockstar has yet to make an official announcement, the new listings strongly suggest that…
Holidaymakers around the world have been ordered to leave their accommodation without notice after short-term rentals company Sonder abruptly filed for bankruptcy, triggering mass disruption across its global network of serviced apartments. The collapse follows Marriott International’s decision to terminate its leasing agreement with Sonder just one year after the partnership began. The deal allowed…
Apple is facing widespread ridicule after unveiling its latest accessory – a minimalist carrying case for its iPhone range that retails for £219.95. The product, named the iPhone Pocket, was announced on Tuesday as part of a limited-edition collaboration with Japanese fashion brand Issey Miyake. However, social media users quickly dismissed it as an overpriced…
Kim Kardashian’s shapewear label, Skims, has reached a new milestone, securing a $5 billion (£2.93 billion) valuation following a fresh $225 million funding round. The latest investment – which includes backing from Goldman Sachs’ private investment arm – will help the brand accelerate its global expansion and open more physical stores, according to a company…
Mercedes Formula 1 team boss Toto Wolff is reportedly close to selling a portion of his stake in a deal that values the championship-winning outfit at £4.6 billion – the highest valuation ever recorded for an F1 team. According to reports first published by Sportico and independently confirmed by the BBC, Wolff, who owns one-third…
Ryanair has announced that it will no longer accept printed boarding passes as the airline transitions to a 100% digital system starting this Wednesday. The move, according to the budget carrier, aims to streamline the boarding process, reduce costs, and support environmental sustainability. Passengers are now required to check in online before arriving at the…
The owner of Guinness, Diageo, has appointed former Tesco chief executive Sir Dave Lewis as its new CEO, as the drinks giant moves to reverse a decline in sales across several of its key markets. Sir Dave is set to assume the role on 1 January. He replaces Debra Crew, who stepped down in the…
When police raided a quiet Hampstead mansion in 2018, they expected a fraud suspect. They did not expect to uncover what would become one of the largest cryptocurrency seizures in UK history. The house belonged to Qian Zhimin, a woman now known in both London and her native China as the so-called “Cryptoqueen” – accused…
Ford is considering discontinuing the F-150 Lightning, the electric pickup once positioned as a milestone in the company’s transition toward battery-powered vehicles, according to reports of internal discussions. Sources familiar with the matter told The Wall Street Journal that senior executives are evaluating whether the all-electric version of Ford’s flagship truck still makes strategic sense…
There are numbers we understand, and then there are numbers so enormous they slip through the fingers of ordinary imagination. One trillion falls firmly in the latter category. Yet that figure entered public conversation again after Tesla shareholders voted to reinstate Elon Musk’s massive compensation plan – one that, if Tesla meets certain market and…
Wendy’s is preparing to shut down a significant number of its U.S. restaurants as the fast-food chain works to reverse declining performance. Interim CEO Ken Cook told investors on Friday that the company expects to close a “mid single-digit percentage” of its roughly 6,000 domestic locations. That estimate places the number of closures between about…
Tesla’s humanoid robot, Optimus, has been appearing increasingly in public spaces, from company showrooms to manufacturing floors, and even in a widely shared photo with reality star Kim Kardashian. But CEO Elon Musk says the long-term vision for the robot extends far beyond occasional demonstrations. Since unveiling the prototype in 2022, Musk has argued that…
Millions of mobile users in India are set to receive a year of free access to ChatGPT’s new low-cost “Go” chatbot, following similar partnerships recently announced by Google and Perplexity AI. The move forms part of a wider strategy by global tech companies to expand their user base in one of the world’s fastest-growing digital…
Rockstar Games has announced another delay to the release of Grand Theft Auto 6, shifting its launch date to 19 November 2026. The highly anticipated title was originally slated for autumn 2025 before being postponed to May 2026. This latest adjustment marks the second official delay. In a statement released on Thursday, the developer said…
Qatar Airways is set to divest its entire shareholding in Cathay Pacific, bringing an end to an eight-year investment in Hong Kong’s flagship airline. The Qatari carrier will sell its 9.6% stake back to Cathay for approximately $896 million, according to a statement filed on Wednesday. The transaction, priced at $1.40 per share, is still…
Automaker Stellantis is recalling approximately 375,000 Jeep plug-in hybrid SUVs worldwide due to a battery defect linked to vehicle fires. The company is urging affected owners to park their vehicles outdoors and avoid charging them until repairs are completed. The recall affects certain 2020–2025 Jeep Wrangler 4xe models and 2022–2026 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4xe models….
French authorities have begun steps to suspend online retail giant Shein’s platform in the country, following an investigation into the sale of childlike sex dolls on its site. The announcement came just over an hour after Shein opened its first-ever physical store inside the BHV Marais department store in Paris, an event marked by long…
Yum! Brands, the company behind KFC, Taco Bell and Pizza Hut, is weighing the possibility of selling Pizza Hut as the chain continues to face declining sales and mounting competition in the fast-food pizza market. The move follows several quarters of falling same-store sales in the United States, which accounts for about 42% of Pizza…
Tesla shareholders are set for a pivotal decision as the company’s annual general meeting approaches on Thursday, with a major vote on whether chief executive Elon Musk should receive a compensation package that could eventually be worth nearly $1 trillion. In the run-up to the vote, Tesla has launched an extensive campaign to rally shareholder…
Artificial intelligence firm OpenAI has entered a $38 billion (£29 billion) cloud computing agreement with Amazon Web Services (AWS), marking one of the largest technology partnerships of 2025 and a major step in diversifying its computing infrastructure beyond Microsoft. The seven-year deal grants OpenAI access to Nvidia graphics processing units (GPUs) hosted on Amazon’s cloud…
Starbucks has announced plans to sell a 60% stake in its China business to private equity firm Boyu Capital in a $4 billion deal, marking one of the largest consumer market transactions in China in recent years. Under the new structure, Starbucks will retain a 40% ownership stake in its Chinese retail operations and maintain…
Once known for its upbeat red-haired mascot and “fresh, never frozen” promise, Wendy’s is now facing a harsh reality – the burger chain is struggling to find its footing amid declining sales, executive shakeups, and tough competition from industry giants. Wendy’s stock has plunged by nearly 50% in 2025, and the company is currently without…
Diners at a popular fried chicken restaurant in Seoul were in for an unexpected treat when three of the world’s most influential tech leaders – Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang, Samsung Electronics chairman Lee Jae-yong, and Hyundai Motor Group executive chair Chung Eui-sun – walked in for dinner and ended up paying everyone’s bill. The trio,…
Amazon’s decision to lay off 14,000 employees was not financially motivated, according to chief executive Andy Jassy, who described the move as a necessary step to preserve the company’s culture and agility. Speaking during Amazon’s quarterly earnings call on Thursday, Jassy said the layoffs were “not really financially driven, and it’s not even really AI…
Saudi Arabia is making an aggressive push to establish itself as one of the world’s leading players in artificial intelligence, channeling its vast oil wealth into the fast-growing tech sector through a new national AI company called Humain. Backed by the Kingdom’s nearly $1 trillion sovereign wealth fund, Humain is developing a full AI ecosystem…
Millions of subscribers in the United States have lost access to Disney-owned channels, including ESPN, ABC, National Geographic, and the Disney Channel, after negotiations between Disney and YouTube TV collapsed over a fee dispute. The blackout began shortly before midnight on Thursday, the deadline for the two media giants to reach a new licensing agreement….
US semiconductor powerhouse Nvidia has announced a series of major partnerships with South Korea’s government and leading corporations, including Samsung, LG, Hyundai, and several others, to supply over 260,000 advanced artificial intelligence (AI) chips. The chips will be deployed across South Korea’s factories and data centres to power AI-driven production in semiconductors, robotics, and autonomous…
World Athletics has revealed that it fell victim to a €1.5 million (£1.3 million) corporate theft, leading to the dismissal of staff members and the involvement of law enforcement agencies. The global athletics governing body said the financial fraud – carried out by two employees and a contracted consultant over several years – was uncovered…
Apple CEO Tim Cook says the company’s newest iPhones have received “a tremendous response” worldwide, as the tech giant reported strong quarterly earnings and forecasted record-breaking sales for the holiday period. The firm launched its thinnest iPhone ever – the iPhone Air – alongside upgraded iPhone 17 models in September, driving what Cook described as…
Nvidia has reached a historic milestone, becoming the first company in the world to hit a $5 trillion market valuation, cementing its position as the undisputed leader of the artificial intelligence (AI) revolution. The U.S.-based semiconductor giant, once known primarily for its gaming graphics chips, has rapidly evolved into the backbone of global AI infrastructure….
Global technology leaders Meta, Alphabet, and Microsoft are ramping up spending on artificial intelligence (AI) as competition intensifies to dominate the rapidly expanding sector. The massive investments, revealed in fresh earnings reports on Wednesday, highlight the growing financial stakes in an AI boom that has fuelled record stock market valuations. Meta announced plans to boost…
OpenAI has officially completed its transition from a non-profit research organisation to a for-profit entity – a move that positions the company to attract billions in new investments and possibly prepare for a future stock market listing. As part of the restructuring, OpenAI and Microsoft have revised their long-standing partnership, granting the tech giant a…
Ben Cohen, co-founder of the globally renowned ice cream brand Ben & Jerry’s, has accused its parent company, Unilever, of preventing the launch of a new ice cream flavour meant to express “solidarity with Palestine.” Cohen revealed plans to independently produce the flavour under his personal activist brand, Ben’s Best, after claiming that Unilever had…
Amazon is reportedly preparing to lay off as many as 30,000 corporate employees, marking one of the largest workforce reductions in its history. The cuts, expected to begin as early as tomorrow, could affect nearly 10% of the company’s corporate staff, according to reports. News agency Reuters first reported the development, while CNN said it…
OpenAI has released new data suggesting that a small percentage of ChatGPT users may display signs of serious mental health conditions, including psychosis, mania, or suicidal thoughts. According to the company, around 0.07% of active weekly users show possible indicators of mental health emergencies. While OpenAI described such cases as “extremely rare,” the figure could…
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…
