(Brands & Consumers)
Tech giant Microsoft has announced plans to lay off as many as 9,000 employees, as the company continues to restructure its workforce to align with its expanding ambitions in artificial intelligence (AI). The job cuts, which represent about 4% of Microsoft’s global workforce of 228,000, mark the fourth round of layoffs the company has initiated…
Singapore has enacted a new law empowering police to temporarily seize control of individuals’ bank accounts and block financial transactions if they suspect the person is at risk of being scammed. The Protection from Scams Act, which took effect on Tuesday, is the latest in a series of aggressive steps by authorities to curb the…
Australian airline Qantas has confirmed a cyberattack on a third-party customer service platform that may have compromised the personal information of up to six million individuals. The breach was detected on June 30, when the airline observed unusual activity on a system used by its contact centre to manage customer data. The exposed information includes…
Smartphone maker TECNO has officially announced the launch of its highly anticipated SPARK 40 Series, touting it as the slimmest device in the brand’s lineup to date. The announcement has stirred excitement among tech enthusiasts and style-conscious consumers eager for a sleek yet performance-driven smartphone. Designed with modern users in mind, the SPARK 40 blends…
Athleisure giant Lululemon has filed a lawsuit against Costco, accusing the wholesale retailer of selling unauthorized imitations of its popular apparel items, including its signature $128 pants. In the suit filed Friday in California, the Vancouver-based company claims that Costco’s private-label brand, Kirkland, is producing and selling apparel that closely mimics Lululemon’s designs – including…
Luckin Coffee, China’s largest coffee chain and a formidable rival to Starbucks, has officially made its U.S. debut with the opening of two locations in New York City. The move marks the company’s first foray into the American market and intensifies the competition in an already crowded coffee landscape. The two outlets, located in Greenwich…
China has announced a partial lifting of its ban on Japanese seafood imports, ending a two-year freeze that began after Japan started releasing treated wastewater from the Fukushima nuclear plant into the ocean. Beijing confirmed that it would “conditionally resume” seafood imports from the majority of Japanese regions, while maintaining restrictions on 10 out of…
New Balance is stepping confidently into the “low-profile” sneaker space with the latest colorway of its Minimus M10 model, now arriving in a striking “Urgent Red.” The brand, already known for leading various sneaker trends – from tech runners to loafer hybrids – is now using the Minimus M10 to quietly assert itself in the…
Kyoto, Japan – Speculation is mounting that Nintendo is preparing to host a major Nintendo Direct presentation in July, potentially offering a first look at the company’s 2025 game lineup. Fans have been eagerly awaiting official news, especially after Nintendo notably bypassed this month’s Summer Game Fest. Nintendo has kept a tight lid on its…
President Donald Trump has indicated that a buyer has been secured for the popular video-sharing platform TikTok, which has faced a ban in the U.S. over national security concerns. In a recent interview with Fox News, Trump stated that “a group of very wealthy people” are prepared to acquire the app, teasing a potential announcement…
The Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS Formula One Team has accelerated its partnership with adidas by unveiling a fresh take on racing-inspired footwear: the Adiracer GT in a striking “Matte Silver” finish. This collaboration follows Mercedes’ high-profile switch from PUMA to adidas in 2023, ending a 13-year relationship with the former to align with the Three Stripes. Since…
Microsoft is officially retiring one of its most recognizable – and dreaded – features: the infamous Blue Screen of Death (BSOD). The error screen, long associated with system crashes on Windows computers, will soon be replaced by a sleeker black version as part of a broader effort to improve user experience. According to a statement…
As former President Donald Trump intensifies his push for a sweeping immigration crackdown, American businesses are raising red flags, warning that the policy shift could leave critical gaps in the U.S. workforce and threaten economic stability. From health care providers in Texas to cleaning companies in Maryland, employers say they are already seeing the fallout…
British sports car manufacturer Lotus is considering relocating its production from the UK to the United States, a move that could endanger approximately 1,300 jobs at its longstanding headquarters in Hethel, Norfolk, the BBC has learned. While the company has declined to publicly confirm the reports – first revealed by the Financial Times — sources…
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has signed four significant tax reform bills into law, officially renaming the Federal Inland Revenue Service (FIRS) as the Nigeria Revenue Service (NRS). The newly enacted laws – the Nigeria Tax Bill, Nigeria Tax Administration Bill, Nigeria Revenue Service (Establishment) Bill, and Joint Revenue Board (Establishment) Bill – are part of…
Nigerian-born fintech giant Flutterwave has earned a spot on the 2025 TIME100 Most Influential Companies list, marking its second appearance on the prestigious global ranking. The Lagos-founded payment technology firm joins industry heavyweights including Amazon, Netflix, OpenAI, and Universal Music Group in the TITANS category – a segment reserved for companies making bold, transformative moves…
Global sportswear giant Nike has warned that import tariffs introduced under U.S. President Donald Trump’s trade policies could inflate its operating costs by as much as $1 billion this year, prompting a significant shift in the company’s supply chain strategy. Nike’s executives said the company is moving swiftly to reduce its dependence on Chinese manufacturing,…
As immigration enforcement intensifies under former President Donald Trump’s renewed crackdown, businesses across the United States are warning of mounting labour shortages that could hurt the economy and fuel inflation. In Maryland, Victor Moran, CEO of Total Quality, a cleaning company with over 1,200 staff, says he has already lost about 15 workers since the…
The BBC has rolled out a paid subscription model for its US-based digital audience, marking a significant shift in how the broadcaster delivers its news and feature content outside the UK. From now on, users accessing BBC.com in the United States will be required to pay $8.99 per month or $49.99 per year to access…
Prominent Nigerian businessman and philanthropist, Alhaji Aminu Dantata, is set to be laid to rest in Medina, Saudi Arabia, following his death on Saturday in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates. He was 94. Dantata, a respected patriarch of one of Nigeria’s most influential business families and an uncle to Africa’s richest man, Aliko Dangote, had…
Monster and CareerBuilder, once dominant players in the online job search industry, have filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy as they move to sell off core parts of their business under court supervision. The two companies, which merged in 2023 under the joint brand Monster + CareerBuilder, announced the bankruptcy filing on Tuesday, citing an “uncertain…
Dating app company Bumble Inc. has announced plans to cut approximately 30% of its global workforce – roughly 240 jobs – as it grapples with slowing growth and declining investor confidence. In a message to employees, founder and CEO Whitney Wolfe Herd described the decision as part of a broader restructuring effort aimed at preparing…
A U.S. federal judge has ruled that artificial intelligence company Anthropic did not violate copyright law by using published books to train its AI models, marking a significant development in the growing legal debate around AI training practices. The lawsuit, filed last year by three authors – including mystery novelist Andrea Bartz – accused Anthropic…
Kroger has announced plans to close approximately 60 of its grocery stores – about 5% of its total locations – over the next 18 months as part of a broader operational review. The U.S. supermarket giant disclosed the decision in its latest earnings report on Friday, stating that the closures would incur a $100 million…
Google could soon be required to provide UK users with more choice over which search engine they use, following a fresh investigation by the country’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA). Under powers granted by the UK’s new digital markets law, the CMA is assessing whether Google holds a dominant position in the online search and…
U.S. federal safety officials have reached out to Tesla following the circulation of videos on social media that appear to show its newly launched robotaxis behaving erratically on public roads. The vehicles, introduced in Austin, Texas, over the weekend, are part of Tesla CEO Elon Musk’s ambitious plan to revolutionize transportation through fully autonomous ride-hailing…
Nike is elevating the standard for running comfort with the introduction of two new additions to its Vomero line – the Vomero Premium and Vomero Plus – both built with bold stack heights and cutting-edge cushioning tech aimed at delivering maximum comfort and energy return. At the forefront of this innovation is the Nike Vomero…
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…
