(Brands & Consumers)
Tesla has officially kicked off its long-anticipated robotaxi pilot in Austin, Texas, marking a cautious but significant step into the self-driving ride-hailing space. The electric carmaker began offering limited paid rides over the weekend, as seen in footage shared via Tesla’s official X (formerly Twitter) account. The initial rollout featured a small fleet of Tesla…
Ilkka Paananen, CEO of Finnish mobile gaming giant Supercell, says the mobile gaming industry must take bolder risks to stay relevant in an increasingly crowded digital landscape. Speaking from Supercell’s Helsinki headquarters, Paananen said the company – best known for blockbuster titles like Clash of Clans and Brawl Stars – is ramping up investment in…
New Balance has expanded Andrew Reynolds’ popular 933 skate-lifestyle with the debut of a “Dark Olivine” colourway, which arrived on June 23 via NewBalance.com at a retail price of $130. Select skate shops have already begun in-store sales. Blending cues from the heritage 990 series with the functional build of a skate shoe, the 933…
Battery maker Duracell has filed a lawsuit against its longtime rival Energizer, accusing the company of misleading consumers with false claims about battery performance in a new advertising campaign. The lawsuit, filed June 13 in a Manhattan federal court, alleges that Energizer falsely asserts its Energizer MAX batteries last 10% longer than Duracell’s Power Boost…
China is set to introduce a new centralized internet identification system in mid-July, further tightening its grip on the digital space and intensifying concerns over privacy, surveillance, and freedom of expression. The system, introduced by the Ministry of Public Security, will allow Chinese internet users to sign into various websites and apps using a single…
In an industry where innovation often comes at the cost of tradition, Damola Adamolekun has found a way to honour both. At the helm of Red Lobster, one of the world’s most iconic seafood chains, the Nigerian-American executive is rewriting the playbook for what effective, inclusive, and financially sound leadership looks like in the hospitality…
Just months after the Boston Celtics broke records with a $6 billion sale, the Los Angeles Lakers have upped the ante with a $10 billion valuation – cementing their status as one of the most valuable sports franchises in the world. But even that record might soon be eclipsed, with the NFL’s New York Giants…
Aflac, one of the largest supplemental health insurance providers in the United States, has confirmed it was the target of a recent cyberattack that potentially exposed sensitive customer data, including Social Security numbers, insurance claims, and health information. The breach, disclosed on Friday, is part of a broader wave of cyber intrusions affecting major U.S….
She doesn’t sleep, she doesn’t eat, and she never ignores your messages. Her name is Jordan – a hyper-realistic AI replica of British glamour model Katie Price – and she’s just one of the seductive virtual personalities drawing users into a new world of synthetic intimacy. Created by AI startup OhChat, Jordan is the latest…
The BBC has issued a legal warning to U.S.-based artificial intelligence company Perplexity, accusing it of reproducing BBC content without permission and demanding it cease the practice immediately. According to a letter addressed to Perplexity CEO Aravind Srinivas, the BBC is insisting the AI firm delete all BBC content it has used, stop accessing its…
Nike has delayed the launch of its much-anticipated activewear collaboration with reality star and entrepreneur Kim Kardashian, pushing back plans for a spring debut due to reported production setbacks. The collection, known as NikeSkims, was first unveiled in February with promises to “redefine the global fitness and activewear industry” by combining Nike’s performance legacy with…
A growing number of smartphone users are choosing to silence news alerts, citing fatigue and frustration with the volume and perceived irrelevance of the notifications, a new global report has revealed. According to the latest Digital News Report by the Reuters Institute for the Study of Journalism, nearly four in five people (79%) say they…
Asset & Resource Management Holding Company (ARM), one of Nigeria’s leading investment firms, has announced a key leadership transition set to take effect in July 2025. Wale Odutola has been appointed as the Group Chief Executive Officer, while Osahon Ogiemudia will assume the role of Executive Director. The leadership change follows the planned departure of…
Telegram founder Pavel Durov has revealed that he is the biological father of more than 100 children, following years of anonymous sperm donation. The Russian-born tech billionaire made the revelation in a recent interview with French political magazine Le Point. Durov, 40, said the news came from a fertility clinic where he first donated sperm…
Semiconductor manufacturer Texas Instruments (TI) has announced a landmark $60 billion investment in U.S.-based chip production, marking what the company describes as the largest commitment to foundational semiconductor manufacturing in the country’s history. The Dallas-headquartered firm said the funding will support the construction or expansion of seven manufacturing plants across Texas and Utah. While TI…
At first glance, the Labubu doll looks like something out of a child’s fever dream – pointy ears, an unsettling grin revealing nine jagged teeth, and eyes that sit somewhere between mischief and madness. But don’t let its odd appearance fool you. This strange-looking creature has morphed into one of the world’s most coveted collectibles,…
Sam Altman, CEO of OpenAI, has revealed that some of his top employees have been targeted by rival tech giant Meta with “giant offers,” including signing bonuses reportedly reaching $100 million (£74.3 million). Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, has been aggressively expanding its artificial intelligence (AI) efforts. Recently, it invested $14…
The Los Angeles Lakers are poised to undergo a historic ownership change, with the majority stake in the iconic NBA franchise reportedly being sold for an estimated $10 billion – a sum that would make it the most expensive sale of a U.S. sports team to date. The deal involves the Buss family, who have…
The Trump Organization’s latest business venture – a $499 gold-coloured smartphone branded with Donald Trump’s name – has drawn criticism from tech experts and ethics watchdogs, particularly over its claim that the device will be built entirely in the United States. Technology analysts have questioned the feasibility of producing the smartphone domestically, citing the lack…
The UK’s data protection watchdog has fined DNA testing firm 23andMe £2.31 million for failing to adequately protect the personal information of thousands of users affected by a major data breach in 2023. According to the Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO), the breach – which impacted more than 155,000 UK residents – exposed highly sensitive data,…
Amazon CEO Andy Jassy has told employees to prepare for major changes driven by artificial intelligence, predicting that the company’s corporate workforce will shrink over the coming years as AI tools are deployed more widely across the business. In an internal memo shared on Tuesday, Jassy encouraged staff to be “curious about AI” and to…
The Trump administration has dismissed hundreds of journalists from Voice of America (VOA), effectively crippling the U.S. government-funded broadcaster that for decades served as a beacon of independent journalism in authoritarian regions. The layoffs, announced Friday by VOA chief Kari Lake – recently appointed by President Trump – affected 639 employees, including many working in…
WhatsApp, owned by Meta, is set to roll out three new advertising features globally, aiming to generate more revenue while keeping users’ private conversations untouched. The company emphasized that ads will not appear within personal chats, nor will message content – which is end-to-end encrypted – be used to target ads. Instead, WhatsApp will base…
The Trump Organization, managed by Donald Trump’s sons, has announced plans to enter the mobile phone market with a Trump-branded smartphone and wireless service. The new venture includes a gold-colored smartphone priced at $499 and a monthly service fee of $47.45 – a nod to Donald Trump’s terms as the 45th and 47th president of…
Mike Lindell, the founder and CEO of MyPillow and a well-known supporter of former President Donald Trump, has been ordered by a Denver jury to pay $2.3 million to Eric Coomer, a former security and product strategy director at Dominion Voting Systems. Coomer sued Lindell, along with MyPillow, Inc. and Lindell TV, over false claims…
President Donald Trump has granted a fresh 90-day extension to TikTok, delaying enforcement of the U.S. law that would ban the app unless it is sold by its Chinese parent company, ByteDance. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt confirmed on Tuesday that Trump plans to sign a new executive order allowing TikTok to remain operational…
Several major retailers, including Apple, T-Mobile, and Adidas, were hit by looters during protests against federal immigration enforcement in downtown Los Angeles last week. But for those who grabbed iPhones from Apple’s flagship Tower Theatre location, the stolen devices quickly became useless – thanks to Apple’s anti-theft technology. The tech giant’s display devices are rigged…
German football giants FC Bayern Munich have clinched their 34th Bundesliga title, and to mark the achievement, adidas has released a fresh take on the classic Samba silhouette in the club’s signature colours. The new FC Bayern Munich x adidas Samba is a nod to the long-standing partnership between the iconic sportswear brand and the…
More than a decade since its original release, Grand Theft Auto V continues to dominate global sales charts, defying the typical lifecycle of most video games. First launched in 2013 for the PlayStation 3 and Xbox 360, Rockstar Games’ open-world epic has since been reissued across three console generations – and players still can’t seem…
Nike continues to innovate its popular Shox line in 2025 with the introduction of the “Voltage Purple” colorway for the Shox TL model. The Shox TL and its counterpart, the R4, have remained staples in Nike’s lineup throughout the 2020s, thanks to the enduring appeal of Y2K-inspired styles. This latest release showcases a fresh take…
Capcom’s latest hit, Devil May Cry 5, has crossed a major sales milestone, selling over 10 million copies worldwide – a surge largely credited to the popular Netflix anime adaptation of the franchise. The anime, produced by Adi Shankar and released earlier this year, quickly gained a strong following among both longtime fans and newcomers,…
A nonprofit organization led by Anne Wojcicki, co-founder and former CEO of genetic testing company 23andMe, has successfully secured the acquisition of the company after it filed for bankruptcy in March. Wojcicki’s California-based TTAM Research Institute agreed to purchase 23andMe for $305 million, surpassing a competing bid from Regeneron Pharmaceuticals, which had offered $256 million….
Adidas has released a new version of its iconic Samba silhouette in tribute to Manchester United, blending classic football heritage with modern streetwear appeal. The latest drop from the Adidas Originals Terrace Icons series pays homage to one of football’s most storied clubs. The sneaker features a sleek black leather and suede upper, accented by…
The crash of an Air India Express flight in Ahmedabad has placed Boeing under renewed public scrutiny, even as investigators have yet to determine whether the company’s aircraft played any role in the tragedy. The aircraft involved in the crash was a Boeing 787 Dreamliner – a model that, until now, had maintained a solid…
Meta is facing criticism after it emerged that some users of its AI chatbot tool may be unintentionally making their private queries publicly visible through a feature called the “Discover” feed. The feed, available on the Meta AI website and app, displays user prompts and AI-generated responses that have been shared publicly. While Meta says…
A popular range of American sweets, Jolly Ranchers, has come under scrutiny in the UK after the Food Standards Agency (FSA) warned that several of its products contain chemical substances that could damage DNA and potentially raise cancer risk over time. The FSA issued a formal alert on Wednesday evening, advising consumers and businesses in…
WhatsApp has formally expressed its support for Apple in an ongoing legal battle with the UK Home Office over encrypted user data, warning that the case could have far-reaching consequences for global privacy protections. Speaking to the BBC, WhatsApp head Will Cathcart described the UK government’s approach as one that risks creating “a dangerous precedent”…
China has announced its readiness to remove all import tariffs on goods from the 53 African countries with which it maintains diplomatic ties, a move that could significantly deepen trade ties across the continent. The declaration was made during a high-level China-Africa cooperation meeting, where officials called for fairer global trade practices and criticized unilateral…
A television advert for Twix has been banned in the UK after regulators concluded it encouraged reckless driving and breached advertising standards. The ad, which featured a dramatic car chase between two nearly identical caramel-coloured vehicles, ends with the cars crashing and stacking atop each other in a visual nod to the chocolate bar’s twin-stick…
Two of Hollywood’s biggest studios, Disney and Universal, have launched a lawsuit against artificial intelligence firm Midjourney, accusing it of generating unauthorised images of iconic characters such as Darth Vader, Elsa, and the Minions. Filed in a federal court in Los Angeles, the lawsuit claims that Midjourney’s AI image generator is routinely creating what the…
A rare, human-sized Labubu doll has sold for an astonishing 1.08 million yuan (approximately $150,000) at an auction in Beijing, setting a new global record for the collectible toy line. Standing at 131cm (4ft 4in), the oversized figurine was the star attraction at Yongle International Auction’s dedicated Labubu event, where 48 items were put up…
Eurostar has announced ambitious plans to introduce direct train routes from London to Frankfurt and Geneva, aiming to further connect the UK with central Europe through high-speed, eco-friendly rail services. The expansion, projected for the early 2030s, includes the introduction of up to 50 new trains in a €2 billion (£1.7 billion) investment aimed at…
The average cost of a home in Australia has exceeded A$1 million for the first time, underscoring a worsening housing affordability crisis that is putting increasing financial pressure on everyday Australians. New data from the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) reveals the average residential property value rose to A$1,002,500 in the March 2025 quarter –…
Singapore-based budget airline Jetstar Asia is set to shut down operations by the end of July, bringing an end to more than two decades of service across the region. The announcement came as the carrier cited unsustainable costs, including surging supplier expenses and mounting airport fees, alongside intensifying regional competition. The airline, a subsidiary of…
Microsoft and Asus have officially launched two new handheld gaming consoles – the ROG Xbox Ally and the more powerful ROG Xbox Ally X – after months of speculation and leaks. Designed for gamers who want access to multiple platforms on the go, both devices run on Windows 11 and support games from Steam, Epic…
Chipotle is spicing up its menu with the launch of a new dip – Adobo Ranch – marking the chain’s first dip addition in half a decade. Starting June 17, customers across the United States and Canada will be able to try the limited-time offering, which combines the familiar creaminess of ranch dressing with the…
It’s sleek, compact, and unmistakably futuristic. In China, it’s affectionately named the Seagull, a budget electric vehicle that zips through city streets with angular curves and headlights that seem to wink with mischief. But as it makes its European debut under the more marketable name Dolphin Surf, this small car is steering a much larger…
YouTube has intensified its efforts to block ad blockers by shutting down a key loophole that previously allowed certain browsers and extensions – most notably on Firefox – to bypass its advertising restrictions. This marks the latest move in the video platform’s long-running campaign to enforce its ad-supported model and promote its premium subscription service….
After more than a decade off the shelves, the Air Jordan 14 “Ferrari” has officially made its comeback. Released on June 11, 2025, the long-awaited retro drop marks the first return of the iconic colorway since its original debut in 2014 – and fans wasted no time reigniting their enthusiasm for the high-performance-inspired silhouette. Retailing…
Warner Bros. Discovery has announced plans to divide its business into two separate publicly traded companies, marking a significant shift aimed at giving each segment greater strategic independence. The split, set to take effect by mid-2026, will separate the company’s streaming and studio operations from its traditional television networks. Under the proposed structure, the first…
