(Brands & Consumers)
McDonald’s has unveiled a new $5 value meal aimed at attracting customers amid rising inflation and sluggish sales. Starting June 25, the fast-food giant will offer the “$5 Meal Deal” at US locations for a limited time. The meal includes a choice of a McDouble cheeseburger or a McChicken sandwich, small french fries, a 4-piece…
Elon Musk, who previously made headlines by telling advertisers to “go f**k yourself,” is now attempting to mend fences with the very community he once alienated. On Wednesday, Musk attended the Cannes Lions, the world’s largest advertising festival held in the South of France, where he engaged in a notably different tone. In an interview…
ByteDance, the parent company of TikTok, is venturing into the realm of social media once again with the testing of its latest app, “Whee.” This move comes amidst ongoing regulatory scrutiny and potential bans on TikTok in various countries. Whee, described by many as a direct competitor to Instagram, offers a private photo-sharing experience akin…
A significant computer system outage hit car dealerships across the US and Canada due to a cyber incident at CDK Global, a key data provider. CDK’s software is utilized by 15,000 auto dealers, severely impacting their operations. CDK spokesperson Lisa Finney confirmed the incident in a statement to CNN, saying, “We are actively investigating a…
Pilots at major airlines have been cautioned that bird strikes on Boeing 737 Max engines could result in smoke infiltrating the passenger cabin. This warning was issued by both Southwest Airlines and American Airlines after receiving alerts from Boeing. According to documents obtained by CNN, Boeing informed the airlines in February about potential issues stemming…
Spotify has launched a dedicated Amapiano Hub to celebrate the 10-year anniversary of the South African dance and music genre, marking a significant milestone in its global recognition. Following a year after the unveiling of its Afrobeats platform, “Journey of a Billion Streams,” Spotify aims to shine a spotlight on Amapiano. The genre amassed over…
London’s stock market has surpassed Paris as concerns mount over the outcome of France’s upcoming parliamentary elections. According to Bloomberg’s data compiled on Monday, all stocks listed in the United Kingdom now total approximately $3.18 trillion, slightly ahead of the $3.13 trillion total for French-listed shares. Despite Paris’s CAC All-Share index marginally exceeding London’s FTSE…
Electric vehicle startup Fisker has filed for bankruptcy, the company announced on Tuesday. The move follows warnings earlier this year about its financial instability, with the company admitting in February that it might not have enough funds to sustain operations through the next year. Discussions with an existing investor for additional funding have not resulted…
Boeing CEO Dave Calhoun is set to address recent safety concerns and cultural issues within the company during a recent Senate testimony. In his prepared remarks, Calhoun plans to acknowledge the company’s shortcomings while rebutting allegations of retaliation against whistleblowers. “Much has been said about Boeing’s culture. We’ve heard those concerns loud and clear,” Calhoun’s…
The United States government has taken legal action against software giant Adobe, accusing the company of engaging in deceptive practices and failing to disclose critical information to consumers regarding its subscription services. In a lawsuit filed by the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), Adobe is accused of violating consumer protection laws by imposing “hidden” termination fees…
In an unprecedented move, Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has called on Congress to mandate warning labels on social media apps, likening the threat they pose to children’s mental health to that of cigarettes and alcohol. Dr. Murthy’s urgent plea, outlined in an op-ed published in the New York Times on Monday, highlights growing concerns…
McDonald’s, in a surprising move, has decided to pause the implementation of artificial intelligence (AI) ordering technology in more than 100 drive-thru systems across the United States. The fast-food giant had been collaborating with IBM to develop and test AI-driven, voice-automated ordering systems as part of its efforts to enhance customer experience and streamline operations….
Former football star Michael Essien faces the threat of losing two of his properties in Ghana as a court has ordered their auction to recover outstanding debts. The Ghanaian court intervened as creditors sought to recoup loans extended to Essien, whose financial woes have spiralled into a crisis. Reports from Ghana indicate that the properties…
BMW enthusiasts and luxury roadster aficionados, brace yourselves for the ultimate automotive experience with the 2025 BMW Z4 M40i. Sporting a stunning Skyscraper Grey exterior, this convertible masterpiece represents the pinnacle of automotive engineering and design. Beneath its sleek and sculpted exterior lies a powerhouse of performance. The 2025 Z4 M40i boasts a robust 3.0-liter…
Washington Post’s new publisher and CEO, Will Lewis, is under intense scrutiny following allegations of unethical journalism practices from his past tenure at the Sunday Times. A New York Times report on Saturday revealed that Lewis allegedly used fraudulent methods to gather information for articles in the early 2000s. The report, citing a former co-worker,…
A controversial new property law in Florida has left many Chinese residents feeling marginalized and unwelcome. The legislation, signed by Governor Ron DeSantis, prohibits Chinese nationals without U.S. green cards from purchasing property in the state, sparking confusion and frustration among affected individuals. Jin Bian, a 31-year-old software engineer from Nanjing, China, who has lived…
![Ukonwa Ojo and Adeoyin Okuboyejo [Taeps Animation Studios]](https://i0.wp.com/lifestyle.swishinteractiv.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Ukonwa-Ojo-and-Adeoyin-Okuboyejo-Taeps-Animation-Studios.jpg?fit=768%2C306&ssl=1)
Zaia Ventures, the venture capital firm founded by former Prime Video executive Ukonwa Ojo in 2022, has acquired a stake in Taeps Animation Studios, a rising animation studio based in Lagos. Taeps garnered acclaim for its short animated film, Ewa, which was nominated for Best Animation Short Film at the African Film Festival (AFRIFF) in…
International sportswear giant Adidas is investigating allegations of large-scale bribery involving senior staff members in China, as reported by the Financial Times (FT). The inquiry follows a whistleblower complaint received by the company, accusing several employees of accepting substantial kickbacks. According to the anonymous letter, purportedly authored by “employees of Adidas China,” senior staff members…
Federal authorities and Boeing are investigating a rare and unsafe oscillation experienced by a Boeing 737 Max 8 during a recent Southwest Airlines flight. The flight, designated as Southwest 746, encountered a back-and-forth roll, known as a Dutch roll, on May 25. This motion, characterized by the nose of the aircraft tracing a figure-eight, is…
A Texas bankruptcy judge has ruled against the proposed liquidation of Alex Jones’ company, Free Speech Systems, which owns Infowars. Instead, the judge has approved the liquidation of Jones’ personal assets, a move aimed at benefiting the creditors. Judge Chris Lopez stated that the prolonged Infowars bankruptcy process needed to end to allow the families…
In a significant ruling, a judge has ordered the liquidation of Infowars host Alex Jones’ personal assets, potentially paving the way for compensation to the families of the victims of the 2012 Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting. This decision comes after Jones and his company, Free Speech Systems, faced defamation judgments totalling $1.5 billion for…
U.S. regulators are investigating an incident involving a Boeing 737 Max 8 operated by Southwest Airlines, which experienced a potentially hazardous “Dutch roll” while in flight. This investigation is one of two new inquiries confirmed by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) concerning Boeing aircraft. The “Dutch roll” event, which causes the plane to rock side…
In a decisive move, Tesla shareholders have re-approved a multi-billion-dollar pay package for CEO Elon Musk that had previously been struck down by a Delaware judge. The decision was made at Tesla’s annual meeting on Thursday, alongside the approval to shift the company’s incorporation from Delaware to Texas. Tesla announced on Friday that the pay…
Two female Apple employees have filed a lawsuit against the tech giant, alleging that the company pays women less than men for equivalent work. The lawsuit, filed on Thursday, seeks class-action status to represent over 12,000 current and former female employees in Apple’s engineering, marketing, and AppleCare divisions. This lawsuit places Apple among other major…
Wells Fargo recently terminated over a dozen employees accused of falsifying keyboard activity to create the illusion of working, according to a disclosure made to the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority and reported by Bloomberg. CNN confirmed the firings, which followed an investigation into allegations that some staff used methods to simulate active work. During the…
Apple has reclaimed its title as the most valuable public company in the United States, surpassing Microsoft on Thursday. The tech giant’s stock surged following announcements at its annual Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC), including new generative AI features for iPhones. Apple’s market capitalization closed at approximately $3.29 trillion, edging out Microsoft’s $3.28 trillion. Apple shares…
Infinix, a prominent technology brand committed to empowering today’s youth, has inaugurated the newly renovated ICT Student Resource Centre at the University of Ibadan. This significant event, which took place on Thursday, June 13, 2024, underscores the fruitful collaboration between Infinix and the university. The partnership aims to enhance the academic, entrepreneurial, social, and technical…
Valve Corporation, the owner of Steam, the world’s largest digital distribution platform for PC games, finds itself embroiled in a legal quagmire as it faces a lawsuit amounting to £656 million. The lawsuit alleges that Valve leveraged its market dominance to overcharge a staggering 14 million UK gamers. Digital rights campaigner Vicki Shotbolt, spearheading the…
Apple is encountering intensifying legal battles as four additional U.S. states have aligned with the federal government’s antitrust lawsuit, alleging monopolistic practices within the smartphone market. Indiana, Massachusetts, Nevada, and Washington have formally joined the Justice Department’s civil case against Apple, according to a statement released by the agency. The initial complaint, filed in March,…
Judges have recently heard an appeal by Elizabeth Holmes, the founder of Theranos, challenging her conviction for defrauding investors in her blood-testing company. An appeal was also presented for Ramesh “Sunny” Balwani, the startup’s president and Holmes’s former partner, in the San Francisco federal court. Holmes and Balwani were tried separately in 2022 and received…
Samsung Electronics Co. has unveiled a series of technological advancements designed to attract AI chip manufacturers to its production facilities. The announcement was made at the company’s annual foundry forum held at its US chip headquarters in San Jose, California. Despite being the world’s leading memory-chip maker, Samsung is striving to close the gap with…
Eight former SpaceX employees have filed a lawsuit against the company and its CEO, Elon Musk, alleging wrongful termination after they criticized the company’s work environment and Musk’s public behaviour. The lawsuit, filed in California state court, claims that Musk ordered their dismissal after they highlighted pervasive sexual harassment and a toxic “Animal House”-style culture…
Co-working giant WeWork has officially exited Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, but questions linger about its long-term viability. The company, once a Wall Street darling valued at nearly $47 billion, filed for bankruptcy in November 2023 after struggling with massive debt and unsustainable real estate costs. To survive, WeWork shed over $4 billion in debt, secured…
Boeing continues to face challenges in attracting new orders for its commercial jets, with sales remaining stagnant amidst ongoing safety questions and production woes. In May, the aviation giant reported a meagre four new jet orders, all for the 787 Dreamliner, with no orders for the troubled 737 Max. This marked a decline from the…
Investors are eagerly embracing the shares of Raspberry Pi, a British manufacturer of compact computers, following its debut on the London Stock Exchange on Tuesday. Raspberry Pi’s stock surged by up to 40% in early trading, settling slightly lower at £3.85 ($4.90) by 11:54 a.m. ET, still boasting a remarkable 38% increase above its listing…
In a bid to compete in the ongoing value menu wars and attract budget-conscious consumers, Starbucks has unveiled its latest offering – the “Pairings Menu,” combining drinks and breakfast items at discounted prices. Released on Tuesday, the “Pairings Menu” aims to rejuvenate spending and appeal to cost-conscious customers amidst concerns over rising fast-food prices and…
Elon Musk has moved to dismiss his lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman, bringing an end to a legal dispute that has lasted several months between the co-founders of the artificial intelligence startup. In February, Musk, who co-founded OpenAI in 2015, filed a lawsuit accusing the company of deviating from its original nonprofit mission…
More than 15,000 Amazon contract drivers filed arbitration claims against the tech giant, alleging that they were misclassified as independent contractors rather than employees, thereby denying them minimum wage and overtime rights. This legal action highlights a significant issue within the growing gig economy, where millions of workers use platforms like Lyft, Uber, DoorDash, and…
A class action lawsuit filed on Tuesday alleges that RTX Corporation, previously known as Raytheon Technologies, has been discriminating against job seekers aged 40 and above. The lawsuit, submitted by the AARP Foundation along with two law firms at the U.S. District Court for the District of Massachusetts, contends that certain job advertisements from the…
Elon Musk is voicing strong opposition to Apple’s newly announced partnership with OpenAI, creators of ChatGPT. The Tesla and SpaceX CEO declared on Monday that he would ban Apple devices from his companies if Apple proceeds with integrating OpenAI’s technology into its operating systems. In a post on X, Musk stated that integrating OpenAI at…
At its annual Worldwide Developers Conference on Monday, Apple introduced its first generative AI features for the iPhone, marking a significant shift towards AI integration in its products. The company launched several new tools under the “Apple Intelligence” banner, including personalized Genmoji—AI-generated emojis—and a more advanced Siri capable of answering complex queries and managing personal…
Elizabeth Holmes, the infamous former CEO of Theranos, is making a determined bid to overturn her 11-year prison sentence for defrauding investors. Holmes’ legal team is set to argue her appeal before a California court on Tuesday, challenging several decisions made during her 2022 trial. Holmes, currently serving her sentence in a minimum-security facility in…
Apple is gearing up for one of its most significant events in recent years at the upcoming Worldwide Developers Conference (WWDC). The company is expected to announce a partnership with OpenAI, the creator of ChatGPT, and introduce new generative AI tools for its mobile operating system. The anticipated AI integration could drive iPhone sales and…
Next week, Tesla shareholders will cast their votes on whether CEO Elon Musk deserves a massive compensation package previously struck down by a judge, and whether the company should relocate its state of incorporation from Delaware to Texas. Five months ago, a Delaware judge nullified the $50 billion pay package granted to Musk by Tesla’s…
Elliott Investment Management has acquired a $1.9 billion stake in Southwest Airlines, urging significant leadership changes at the Dallas-based carrier. Announcing their position on Monday, Elliott criticized Southwest’s current leadership for poor execution and an outdated strategy that has resulted in disappointing outcomes for shareholders, employees, and customers. “Southwest’s poor execution and leadership’s stubborn unwillingness…
Adults and teenagers aiming to cut back on their screen time are increasingly swapping their smartphones for simpler, “dumb” models. The ability to track daily screen time on smartphones can lead to an uncomfortable realization: a once-useful tool has turned into an obsession. This is a sentiment echoed by 16-year-old Luke Martin from Canada, who…
A US federal judge ruled on Friday that Google’s antitrust lawsuit, initiated by the US government, will be decided by a judge rather than a jury after Google paid $2.3 million to cover the lawsuit’s monetary damages. This antitrust case, focusing on Google’s advertising technology, marks the Biden administration’s first major antitrust action against a…
Stellantis has announced the recall of 211,581 SUVs and pickup trucks due to a software malfunction that could lead to the failure of their electronic stability control (ESC) systems. The issue, according to Stellantis, originates from a defective anti-lock braking system, which consequently disables the ESC system. This safety feature is crucial for maintaining steering…
Keith Gill, the investor famously known as “Roaring Kitty,” has sparked another wave of interest in meme stocks, prompting Wall Street to consider regulatory action. Gill, who previously played a significant role in the 2021 GameStop trading frenzy, disclosed in a recent Reddit post that he purchased nearly $116 million worth of GameStop stock and…
In an era where some of the world’s largest corporations are deeply invested in artificial intelligence, U.S. lawmakers are only now beginning to recognize the potential dangers posed by this rapidly advancing technology. Despite AI’s complexity and the urgent pleas from its creators to slow development, Congress has yet to pass any significant legislation to…
