(Brands & Consumers)
Nvidia has suffered the largest single-day market value loss in U.S. history, shedding nearly $600 billion amid fears that a new open-source AI model from Chinese startup DeepSeek could disrupt the industry. The company’s stock plunged 17%, closing at $118.58, marking its worst trading day since March 2020. Nvidia’s market capitalization dropped from $3.5 trillion…
Starbucks is planning a major menu overhaul, reducing its beverage and food options by about 30% in the coming months as part of a strategy to streamline operations, shorten wait times, and enhance customer satisfaction. CEO Brian Niccol announced the move during the company’s earnings call on Tuesday, though he did not specify which items…
Frontier Airlines has made a new bid to merge with Spirit Airlines, aiming to save the struggling low-cost carrier from bankruptcy – nearly two years after a previous deal between the two airlines collapsed. In a statement released Wednesday, Frontier argued that the merger would create a stronger budget airline while providing significant financial value…
Spotify has achieved a milestone by paying a record $10 billion to the music industry in 2024, marking the highest annual payout from a single retailer. This represents a significant leap from the $9 billion paid in royalties in 2023, bringing Spotify’s lifetime contributions to nearly $60 billion. The Swedish streaming platform’s growth reflects the…
Retro gaming enthusiasts have a new reason to celebrate as Retro Remake opens pre-orders for the SuperStation One, an open-source FPGA clone of Sony’s PS One console. Designed to replicate the look and feel of Sony’s iconic gaming device, the SuperStation One boasts compatibility with original hardware while offering modern connectivity options and expanded functionality….
Google Maps is set to update its platform to reflect a recent executive order renaming the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. The change follows a directive signed by former President Donald Trump, emphasizing the renaming as part of an initiative to “honour American greatness.” In a statement on X (formerly Twitter), Google…
A French-language AI chatbot named Lucie, supported by the French government, was taken offline following widespread criticism over inaccurate and bizarre responses. The chatbot, designed to promote the French language in artificial intelligence, faced backlash after making errors such as calling cow’s eggs edible and miscalculating basic equations. Lucie, developed by a consortium including the…
WhatsApp is set to roll out a feature allowing iOS users to manage multiple accounts on a single device. According to a report from WABetaInfo, the feature is currently in testing and will be included in an upcoming app update. To activate multiple accounts, users will need two separate phone numbers, as each WhatsApp account…
Phil Spencer, the head of Xbox, has confirmed that more Xbox-exclusive games will soon become available on other platforms, including rival consoles like the PlayStation 5. The announcement came during an interview on Gamertag Radio with host Danny Peña, where Spencer discussed the brand’s evolving strategy and its focus on accessibility for players worldwide. Spencer…
Negotiations are underway involving Oracle, Microsoft, and TikTok’s parent company, ByteDance, as efforts continue to address national security concerns while preserving TikTok’s U.S. operations. Sources close to the discussions revealed that the proposed deal could see ByteDance retain a minority stake in the company, with Oracle playing a key oversight role. Under the proposed arrangement,…
Kia America has issued a recall for more than 80,000 vehicles due to a defect involving floor wiring beneath the front passenger seat. The issue could interfere with the proper deployment of airbags and seat belts or trigger unintended side curtain airbag deployment, according to filings with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). The…
Meta, under Mark Zuckerberg’s leadership, has experienced a series of controversial changes recently, including the removal of fact-checkers, a shift towards free speech, and the elimination of diversity and inclusion programs. These changes sparked outrage from some users, with calls for boycotts and account deletions in protest. However, despite initial concerns, Meta’s user numbers have…
Security researchers have uncovered significant vulnerabilities in Subaru’s Starlink system, exposing millions of vehicles to potential remote hacking and extensive location tracking. While Subaru denies selling location data, the findings have raised serious concerns about privacy and security in the era of connected cars. The vulnerability came to light when security researcher Sam Curry, while…
In a surprising shift, former President Donald Trump has downplayed the national security concerns surrounding TikTok, a stance that contradicts his earlier efforts to ban the app over fears of Chinese espionage. “Is it that important for China to be spying on young people? On young kids watching crazy videos?” Trump remarked recently, sparking fresh…
Costco is making a significant change at its food courts, bringing back Coca-Cola as its fountain soda provider and ending its decade-long partnership with Pepsi. The switch is set to take place this summer, as confirmed by Costco CEO Ron Vachris during the company’s annual shareholders meeting. “We will be converting our food court fountain…
Sony Set to End Blu-ray Media Production, Marking a Shift from Physical Media Sony has announced it will cease Blu-ray media production in February, signalling another step away from physical media in favour of digital distribution. Alongside Blu-ray, the company will also halt the manufacturing of MiniDiscs, MD data, and MiniDV cassettes. The move follows…
Elon Musk’s Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) has set its sights on the U.S. penny, citing the high costs associated with producing the one-cent coin. In a post on X, DOGE revealed that the penny cost U.S. taxpayers over $179 million in the 2023 fiscal year, with each coin requiring more than three cents to…
Samsung has set a new standard in mobile technology with the launch of the Galaxy S25, a smartphone that combines cutting-edge hardware and revolutionary AI integration to deliver a seamless user experience. The culmination of years of development and collaboration with Google and Qualcomm, the Galaxy S25 takes personalized, AI-powered interactions to a level that…
CNN has announced a 6% reduction in its workforce, resulting in the loss of approximately 200 jobs, as part of a significant overhaul of its operations. The restructuring, revealed Thursday, includes a revamped weekday show lineup, a fresh digital strategy, and the introduction of new streaming and subscriber services. CEO Mark Thompson detailed the changes…
Global payment processing giant Stripe recently laid off 300 employees, or approximately 3.5% of its workforce, but the announcement was overshadowed by an unusual error. In termination emails sent to affected staff, the company accidentally included an image of a cartoon duck, a spokesperson confirmed to CNN. Adding to the confusion, some employees received incorrect…
Nigerian actress Jemima Osunde has shared details of a prolonged health battle stemming from an incident three years ago when she consumed contaminated food while on a film set. In a post on X.com on Thursday, the actress revealed she contracted Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori), a stomach-infecting bacterium, after eating food provided during the shoot….
Sony’s partnership with AMD is once again proving fruitful as development on the PlayStation 6 continues to progress smoothly. According to recent leaks, the chip design for the next-generation console is nearly complete and poised to enter the manufacturing phase. Renowned industry insider KeplerL2 revealed that the PlayStation 6’s system-on-a-chip (SoC) has moved into pre-silicon…
A startling advancement from DeepSeek, a one-year-old Chinese AI startup, has sent shockwaves through the global technology industry, causing U.S. stock markets to tumble on Monday. The company unveiled its R1 AI model, comparable to ChatGPT, but with a groundbreaking edge: it was developed at a fraction of the cost spent by American tech giants….
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is reportedly making significant progress in negotiations to prevent the popular app from being banned in the United States. Bill Ford, CEO of General Atlantic and a member of ByteDance’s board, shared insights at an Axios-hosted event in Davos, Switzerland, on Wednesday. He expressed optimism that a resolution could…
Singer Chris Brown has filed a $500 million defamation lawsuit against Warner Bros. and production company Ample Entertainment, accusing them of promoting false allegations of rape in the documentary Chris Brown: A History of Violence. The film, which premiered in October 2024, features claims from an unidentified woman alleging Brown raped her aboard music mogul…
Millions of TikTok users across the United States celebrated a temporary reprieve after former President Donald Trump delayed the enforcement of a controversial legal ban on the popular social media platform. The decision, which provides a 75-day extension, allows TikTok’s U.S. operations to continue while discussions over a potential sale or partnership unfold. The executive…
JetBlue Airways has introduced Venmo as a payment option for booking flights, marking a first in the airline industry. The announcement highlights JetBlue’s effort to enhance customer convenience and modernize its payment options. Passengers can now use Venmo to purchase flights on the airline’s website, with plans to expand the feature to its mobile app…
Netflix has announced price hikes for most subscription tiers in the US and Canada, following its largest-ever quarterly subscriber surge. The streaming giant reported an addition of 19 million new subscribers in the last quarter of 2024, bringing its global total to 302 million users. This unprecedented growth was attributed to several high-profile events and…
The gaming world is abuzz with speculation following a report from industry analyst Matthew Ball, who suggests that Grand Theft Auto VI could debut with a price tag of up to $100. This pricing strategy, if realized, might set a new standard for AAA titles and spark a significant shift in the gaming industry’s pricing…
The global appetite for Champagne is on the decline, with shipments from France falling nearly 10% last year to 271 million bottles. This marks the second consecutive year of reduced sales, as inflation and economic uncertainty temper consumer enthusiasm for celebrations. According to Comité Champagne, a trade body representing over 16,000 winegrowers and 320 Champagne…
Tesla, a leader in the U.S. electric vehicle market, is grappling with unexpected challenges following the launch of its highly anticipated Cybertruck. Initially envisioned as a game-changing product, the vehicle’s pricing strategy and production hurdles are forcing the company to reassess its plans, influencing both consumer expectations and industry benchmarks. From $39,900 to Over $100,000:…
Instagram is unveiling a series of updates seemingly designed to draw in TikTok users as uncertainty looms over the future of the popular short-video app. The changes, announced by Instagram and parent company Meta over the weekend, include new features that closely resemble TikTok’s format and tools. On Sunday, Meta introduced a video creation app…
In a notable escalation of its fight against piracy, Nintendo’s legal efforts have led to the arrest of a 58-year-old man in Japan for modifying and selling Nintendo Switch consoles preloaded with pirated games. This marks the first known criminal case in Japan targeting modifications that circumvent the Switch’s copyright protections. Fumihiro Otobe, a transportation…
Microsoft’s gaming division faced a pivotal moment in 2021 when CEO Satya Nadella weighed the possibility of shutting down Xbox. Instead, Nadella made a high-stakes decision to double down on gaming by acquiring two major developers: ZeniMax Media, the parent company of Bethesda, for $7 billion in 2021, and Activision Blizzard for $75.4 billion in…
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has filed a lawsuit against PepsiCo, accusing the beverage and snack giant of engaging in illegal price discrimination by providing a significant financial advantage to a major retailer, reportedly Walmart, according to sources familiar with the case. The FTC alleges that PepsiCo granted the retailer, whose name was redacted in…
Meta has announced plans to reduce its workforce by approximately 5%, targeting what it describes as “low performers.” The move, which could affect around 3,600 employees based on Meta’s 72,000-strong workforce as of September, was confirmed on Tuesday. In an internal memo first reported by Bloomberg, CEO Mark Zuckerberg explained the rationale behind the decision:…
Nintendo has officially announced the release of its highly anticipated next-generation console, the Nintendo Switch 2, set to debut in 2025. This revelation comes after years of speculation and growing excitement among gaming enthusiasts worldwide. In a promotional video accompanying the announcement, the Switch 2 retains the portable and versatile design of its predecessor but…
Toyota’s truck and engine manufacturing subsidiary, Hino Motors, has agreed to a $1.6 billion settlement with U.S. authorities over fraudulent diesel emissions practices. The agreement includes criminal and civil penalties and resolves allegations of selling more than 105,000 diesel engines in the United States from 2010 to 2022 that failed to meet emissions standards. The…
Spirit Airlines has announced the elimination of 200 positions as part of its cost-cutting measures following its November Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The airline attributed the bankruptcy to mounting debt, heightened competition among low-cost carriers, and the collapse of merger attempts with other airlines. A Spirit spokesperson explained that the job cuts were intended to…
In a digital landscape increasingly dominated by glitchy AI tools and misinformation-prone social platforms, Wikipedia has emerged as one of the most dependable sources of information on the internet. Consider a recent experience: while watching The Godfather over Thanksgiving, a straightforward query about Marlon Brando’s age during the film’s release yielded a baffling response from…
Apple has temporarily disabled its new artificial intelligence (AI) feature for summarizing news notifications after multiple incidents of inaccurate and misleading headlines sparked criticism from media organizations and press freedom advocates. The feature, part of Apple’s widely promoted Apple Intelligence service, faced scrutiny after generating false headlines that closely resembled standard push notifications. The errors…
Sony has reportedly cancelled two unannounced PlayStation live-service games, including a God of War title in development at Bluepoint Games and another project by Bend Studio. The decision followed a “recent review,” with Sony reiterating its commitment to supporting both single-player and multiplayer game development. The revelation came through a report by Bloomberg’s Jason Schreier,…
The New Balance 2002R remains a staple in the brand’s lifestyle lineup, even as newer models like the 9060 and 1906R gain momentum in 2025. Known for its durability and timeless design, the 2002R continues to attract attention with fresh and appealing colourways. The latest iteration, dubbed “Dried Apricot,” pairs vibrant orange tones with complementary…
In a high-profile move, President Donald Trump signed an executive order on Monday that temporarily halts the enforcement of a law banning TikTok and offers legal protection to companies associated with the platform. The order pauses the ban for 75 days, aiming to provide time for a resolution that addresses national security concerns while preserving…
Microsoft has announced it will stop supporting Microsoft 365 apps, including Office apps, on Windows 10 devices after October 14, 2025. The move aligns with Windows 10’s scheduled end of support and will require users to upgrade to Windows 11 to continue receiving support for Microsoft 365 applications. In a blog post, Microsoft stated, “Microsoft…
OpenAI has launched a beta feature called “Tasks” for ChatGPT, enabling users to schedule reminders and future actions. This feature aims to expand ChatGPT’s capabilities beyond real-time interactions, making it function more like a digital assistant. Available to Plus, Team, and Pro subscribers, the Tasks feature allows users to schedule various activities, such as daily…
More than 400 Washington Post staff members have sent a letter to owner Jeff Bezos, raising concerns about the newspaper’s current leadership and its future. The letter, signed by prominent journalists, follows a wave of talent departures and calls for Bezos to take a more active role in addressing their concerns. The letter, obtained by…
The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filed a lawsuit against Elon Musk on Tuesday, accusing him of failing to properly disclose his growing ownership stake in Twitter – now rebranded as X – in a timely manner, as required by federal law. The SEC claims this delay allowed Musk to purchase shares at “artificially…
Boeing ended 2024 with a notable surge in orders for December, but the year overall marked one of the company’s most difficult periods in recent memory, as production struggles and a significant strike hindered recovery efforts. The aerospace giant reported 142 gross orders for December, driven largely by demand for its 737 Max aircraft. While…
TikTok has restored access to its platform for 170 million U.S. users after President-elect Donald Trump announced plans to issue an executive order granting the app a temporary reprieve. The move came just hours after the app went offline due to a law banning it on national security grounds, which took effect on Sunday. The…
