(Brands & Consumers)
Epic Games has announced plans to discontinue several popular game modes in Fortnite, citing low player engagement and recent internal restructuring. The affected modes include Rocket Racing, Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage. According to the company, Ballistic and Festival Battle Stage will be removed on April 16, 2026, while Rocket Racing will remain available until…
Campaigners and parents have welcomed a landmark US court ruling that found Meta Platforms and Google liable for harm caused by their social media platforms to a young user. A Los Angeles jury awarded $6 million in damages to a 20-year-old woman, identified as Kaley, after concluding that platforms including Instagram, Facebook and YouTube were…
A US federal judge has dismissed a lawsuit filed by X Corp, owned by Elon Musk, which accused major advertisers of coordinating a boycott against the platform. The case, brought in 2024, alleged that companies including Unilever, Mars Inc, Ørsted, and the World Federation of Advertisers conspired to withhold advertising spend, costing the platform billions…
OpenAI has discontinued its AI video-generation platform Sora, less than two years after its high-profile launch, as the company shifts focus to other areas of artificial intelligence. The move also brings an end to OpenAI’s content partnership with The Walt Disney Company, which had allowed users to create AI-generated videos featuring iconic characters under a…
Meta Platforms has been ordered by a court in New Mexico to pay $375 million in damages after a jury found the company misled users about the safety of its platforms for children. The ruling follows a lawsuit brought by the state, with Attorney General Raul Torrez describing the verdict as “historic.” It marks the…
TECNO Mobile has announced the upcoming beta launch of EllaClaw, a new mobile AI agent designed specifically for users in Nigeria and other emerging markets. The tool, powered by the OpenClaw framework, is integrated into TECNO’s existing AI assistant, Ella, and is aimed at simplifying everyday smartphone tasks through advanced automation and intelligent assistance. According…
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) has announced a ban on new foreign-made consumer internet routers, citing growing national security risks. Under the new directive, routers manufactured outside the United States will be added to a list of equipment deemed insufficiently secure. While existing devices already in use will not be affected, the restriction applies to…
Estée Lauder Companies is in discussions over a potential merger with Spanish fragrance and fashion group Puig, in a move that could reshape the global beauty industry. If completed, the deal could create a combined company valued at around $40 billion, according to reports. However, Estée Lauder cautioned that negotiations are ongoing and no final…
Ultimum Limited is set to commission a new beverage manufacturing facility in Aba, Abia State, marking a major step in its expansion within Nigeria’s fast-moving consumer goods sector. The state-of-the-art plant, located in the Osisioma industrial cluster, will be officially unveiled on March 25, 2026. The facility is expected to serve as the primary production…
Samsung has announced that its new Samsung Galaxy S26 lineup – including the S26+, and S26 Ultra – will support file sharing with Apple devices through an upgraded version of Quick Share. The new feature enables seamless transfers between Galaxy devices and Apple products such as AirDrop on iPhones, iPads and Macs, eliminating the need…
A US man has pleaded guilty to orchestrating a large-scale fraud scheme that used artificial intelligence and automated bots to generate millions in streaming royalties. According to the US Department of Justice, 52-year-old Michael Smith admitted to conspiracy to commit wire fraud after allegedly manipulating music streaming platforms between 2017 and 2024. Prosecutors said Smith…
On a quiet day in February 2021, an email landed in the inbox of a German trade official – and with it, the seed of an unlikely solution to one of Europe’s most pressing economic challenges. The message was simple: India had thousands of young people eager for vocational training opportunities abroad. Would Germany be…
Uber has announced plans to invest up to $1.25 billion in electric vehicle manufacturer Rivian as part of a major push into autonomous transportation. The partnership will see the deployment of 10,000 fully self-driving SUVs on Uber’s platform starting in 2028, marking a significant step in the company’s long-term strategy to expand its robotaxi network….
CBS News has announced plans to lay off approximately 6% of its workforce and shut down its long-running radio division, marking a significant shift in its operations amid broader industry changes. The decision will affect dozens of employees out of the network’s roughly 1,100 staff members. The move also brings an end to CBS News…
Facebook is rolling out a new initiative aimed at top content creators, offering payments of up to $3,000 per month to influencers who post regularly on the platform. The programme, known as the Content Fast Track, targets creators with large followings on rival platforms such as TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram. Eligible participants must have at…
Premium lager brand Goldberg is set to host its highly anticipated Golden Fiesta in Benin, bringing together music, culture and entertainment in what organisers describe as a major celebration of contemporary Nigerian creativity. The event is scheduled to take place on April 3 at Garrick Memorial in Benin City, and is expected to draw large…
US authorities have charged three individuals over an alleged plot to illegally export advanced artificial intelligence chips to China, the US Department of Justice announced. According to prosecutors, the trio is accused of conspiring to sell billions of dollars’ worth of restricted US technology by falsifying documents and using deceptive methods to evade regulatory checks….
A US jury has ruled that Elon Musk made misleading public statements during his 2022 acquisition of Twitter, siding with investors who claimed they suffered financial losses as a result. The unanimous verdict was delivered in a federal court in San Francisco after two days of deliberations. The lawsuit was brought by a group of…
Nigerian Breweries Plc has launched a new cultural platform, Big Fiesta, aimed at powering a fresh wave of music, entertainment and social experiences across Nigeria. The initiative was officially introduced at a media luncheon held at Lagos Marriott Hotel Ikeja on March 18, where media executives, entertainment figures and industry stakeholders gathered for the unveiling….
The UK government has announced a significant increase in funding for the BBC World Service, committing an additional £33 million over the next three years. Under the new arrangement, the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO) will provide an extra £11 million annually, representing an 8% rise compared to the previous year’s contribution. The announcement…
Amazon has unveiled a major artificial intelligence upgrade to its popular voice assistant Amazon Echo, introducing a new version called Alexa+ that aims to make interactions more conversational and intuitive. The upgraded assistant, set to roll out across the UK, is designed to move beyond basic commands by enabling more natural, chat-like conversations. According to…
India is on the verge of a major shift in the fight against obesity, as the patent for semaglutide – the key ingredient behind blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy – expires in the country. The development will allow Indian pharmaceutical companies to produce more affordable generic versions of the drug, potentially slashing treatment costs…
The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) has hosted a technical delegation from the World Bank Group as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen disaster preparedness and response systems in Nigeria. The visit, which took place on March 17, 2026, at NEMA’s headquarters in Abuja, brought together key stakeholders focused on improving the country’s ability to…
OPay has introduced XtraCova, a new customer protection product designed to safeguard users against unauthorised transactions on its platform. The initiative reinforces the company’s commitment to security and regulatory compliance in Nigeria’s growing digital payments space, while also addressing rising concerns around fraud and account breaches. XtraCova offers reimbursement of up to ₦5 million per…
A court has ruled in favour of the co-founders of Unknown Worlds Entertainment in their legal dispute with Krafton over the development of Subnautica 2, ordering the reinstatement of CEO Ted Gill. The ruling marks a significant development in the ongoing conflict between the studio’s leadership and its parent company. Krafton had previously accused key…
UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer has announced a £53 million support package aimed at helping vulnerable households cope with soaring heating oil prices. The funding will be targeted at low-income households, particularly those in rural communities where heating oil is widely used. Local councils will be responsible for determining eligibility and distributing the funds. The…
Zenith Bank Plc has announced the opening of a new branch in Manchester, United Kingdom, marking a major step in its international expansion strategy. The official launch, scheduled for March 17, 2026, is expected to bring together key stakeholders including government officials from Nigeria and the UK, regulators, investors, and business leaders – highlighting the…
Signature Bank Limited has increased its capital base to ₦52 billion, exceeding the ₦50 billion minimum requirement set for regional commercial banks by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN). The increase was achieved through a rights issue and places the bank among financial institutions that have successfully complied with the regulator’s ongoing banking sector recapitalisation…
Digital media company BuzzFeed has raised concerns about its financial stability, warning that there is “substantial doubt” about its ability to remain in business. In its latest earnings report released on Thursday, the company disclosed that it is currently engaged in strategic discussions aimed at addressing liquidity challenges and stabilising its financial position. BuzzFeed founder…
Canada has lost more than 100,000 full-time jobs in the first two months of 2026, according to new labour data, raising concerns about the country’s economic outlook. Figures released on Friday show that Canada’s unemployment rate has climbed to 6.7 percent, placing it among the highest jobless rates in the Group of Seven (G7) economies,…
Japanese automaker Honda has cancelled plans to launch three electric vehicle models in the United States only months before they were scheduled to enter production, a decision that could result in losses of up to $15.7 billion. The cancelled models include the Honda 0 SUV, Honda 0 Saloon, and the Acura RSX. The company had…
The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has introduced new regulations governing instant payment services in the country, including a rule that limits mobile banking applications to a single device per customer. The directive was announced in a circular issued on Friday by the bank’s Payments System Policy Department and signed by its Director, Musa Jimoh….
Organisers of the annual Indomie Heroes Awards have announced key updates to this year’s edition, including an extension of the age limit and additional time for Nigerians to submit nominations. The organisers revealed that the maximum age for eligible participants has been increased from 15 to 16 years. The adjustment is expected to allow more…
Australian airline Qantas Airways has agreed to pay A$105 million (about $74 million) to settle a class action lawsuit brought by passengers who said they should have received cash refunds for cancelled flights during the COVID-19 pandemic. The legal action, filed on behalf of customers whose flights were cancelled between 2020 and 2022, alleged that…
Researchers are calling for stricter oversight of artificial intelligence-powered toys designed for young children after a new study found that some devices struggle to understand emotions and may respond in confusing ways. The research, conducted by a team at the University of Cambridge, examined how a small group of children aged three to five interacted…
The head chef and co-founder of acclaimed restaurant Noma, René Redzepi, has stepped down from his leadership role following allegations that he physically and psychologically abused staff members during earlier years of the restaurant’s operations. Redzepi announced his resignation on social media on Wednesday, weeks after a report published by The New York Times detailed…
Several of the United States’ largest technology companies have thrown their support behind artificial intelligence firm Anthropic as it challenges actions taken by officials in the administration of Donald Trump. In recent days, leading tech companies including Google, Amazon, Apple and Microsoft have filed legal statements backing Anthropic’s lawsuit. The company is seeking to overturn…
Electronics marketing company SIMS Nigeria has announced plans to open a new retail outlet in Lagos, with a launch event that will feature a major flash sale offering discounts of up to 70 percent on selected products. The new SIMS Digital Centre will officially open on Friday, March 13, along Allen Avenue, one of the…
African payments technology company Flutterwave has announced a strategic partnership with the Tiwa Savage Music Foundation aimed at supporting and developing creative talent across the continent. The collaboration was unveiled during the foundation’s official launch event held on March 9, 2025, at The Delborough Lagos, where prominent figures from Nigeria’s entertainment, business and political sectors…
Technology giant Meta Platforms, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, has acquired Moltbook, an experimental social networking platform designed specifically for artificial intelligence programs to communicate with one another. Meta confirmed that Moltbook’s development team will join the company’s Meta Superintelligence Labs as part of its expanding artificial intelligence research efforts. The company said…
Rising transportation costs caused by the conflict involving Iran are likely to be passed on to consumers worldwide, according to the chief executive of global shipping giant Maersk. Vincent Clerc said the Danish logistics company adjusts its pricing to reflect changes in fuel costs, meaning higher shipping expenses eventually filter through the supply chain to…
Popular Nigerian media personality and brand ambassador Oluwabukunmi Adeaga-Ilori, widely known as Kiekie, has partnered with malt beverage brand Maltina to kick off a nationwide school outreach programme aimed at promoting proper nutrition among students. The initiative, known as the Maltina Nourishment Tour, is part of the brand’s activities marking its 50th anniversary in Nigeria….
Concert and ticketing giant Live Nation Entertainment has reached a settlement with the United States Department of Justice over allegations that its business practices created an unfair monopoly in the live events and ticketing industry. The agreement, announced Monday, is intended to introduce more competition into the market and provide consumers with greater ticketing options….
Encrypted messaging platform Signal has issued a warning to users following reports that hackers are targeting accounts through sophisticated scam campaigns. The alert comes after Dutch intelligence agencies revealed that a cyber operation believed to be linked to Russia had targeted prominent users of Signal and WhatsApp. According to officials, the attacks focused on individuals…
Smartphone manufacturer Infinix has unveiled the latest addition to its NOTE lineup in Nigeria, introducing the NOTE 60 Series led by the new Infinix NOTE 60 Pro. The device is designed to meet the growing expectations of modern smartphone users, who increasingly rely on their devices for work, entertainment, content creation and everyday connectivity. According…
A groundbreaking medical procedure has seen a surgeon in London successfully carry out robot-assisted cancer surgery on a patient located about 1,500 miles away in Gibraltar. The operation marked a major milestone for The London Clinic, which announced it had completed the United Kingdom’s first remote robotic telesurgery on a patient abroad. The procedure was…
Popular dating platform Tinder has agreed to pay $60.5 million to settle a class-action lawsuit that accused the company of charging older users more for its premium subscription services. The case was originally filed in 2015 in California by user Allen Candelore. In the lawsuit, Candelore alleged that the app used a pricing system that…
Chinese electric vehicle manufacturer BYD has introduced a new generation of its Blade battery technology alongside an ultra-fast charging system capable of significantly reducing EV charging times. The company revealed the second-generation Blade battery platform during its Disruptive Technology event, highlighting what it described as a major step toward making electric vehicle charging as quick…
A new artificial intelligence tool from Google is beginning to reshape how Nigerians create visual content, raising questions about the future of freelance design and advertising services. The technology, known as Nano Banana 2, allows users to generate marketing graphics and images within seconds using simple text prompts. The tool is integrated directly into Google…
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan, has invited US artificial intelligence firm Anthropic to expand its operations in the British capital amid escalating tensions between the company and the US government. Khan extended the invitation in a letter to Anthropic’s chief executive, Dario Amodei, after the United States Department of Defense labelled the company a…
