-
EU drops Usmanov and Fridman from blacklist as Russia sanctions continue
The EU has removed Russian billionaires Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman from its sanctions list, after France and Luxembourg pressed for their delisting. The decision enabled the bloc to preserve broader sanctions against Russia, but angered many member states and Ukraine, which said it weakened Europe’s unity and created a dangerous precedent. To secure unanimous…
-
Kara Swisher to depart CNN after Paramount-WBD merger settlement
Kara Swisher, a prominent CNN contributor since 2023, is leaving the network following a legal settlement that cleared the way for Paramount Global to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery. Swisher announced on her Pivot podcast that she has requested early termination of her contract—originally set to expire on 31 December—because she opposes the incoming ownership led…
-
Motorola unveils first phone powered by Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6
Motorola has become the first manufacturer to announce a smartphone featuring Qualcomm’s top-tier Snapdragon 8 Elite Extreme Gen 6 chipset with the Signature 27, positioning it as the company’s most advanced flagship device in several years. The phone features a distinctive design with an unusually shaped camera arrangement, available in two colour options with different…
-
Putin secures record supermajority as AI bubble fears intensify
Russia votes amid mobilisation worries whilst leading figures warn AI boom may be speculative with no proven productivity gains.
-
Best Buy bundles free Pixel Buds 2A with eligible Googlebook preorders
Best Buy is offering free Pixel Buds 2A earbuds in hazel with preorders for qualifying Googlebook laptops, giving prospective buyers an added incentive to try Google’s new Android-powered machines. The promotion runs until 25 October 2026, with some laptops expected to ship from 5 October. Eligible models come from Acer, Lenovo, Asus, HP and Dell.…
-
Dem AG running for higher office dodges questions on bid to free man who killed pregnant woman
Nevada’s Democratic Attorney General Aaron Ford sponsored a clemency application for Norman Smith, a man convicted of killing a pregnant woman, Tineshea Adams, in 2015 whilst out on bail for armed robbery charges. Although Ford’s sponsorship elevated Smith’s case from administrative queue to official hearing, the Board of Pardons Commissioners ultimately denied the bid. Ford’s…
-
Billboard Hot 100 Top 10 Countdown for Sept. 26, 2026 | Billboard News
Ella Langley’s “Choosin’ Texas” has made chart history by becoming the longest-running No. 1 single on the Billboard Hot 100. The result highlights the song’s exceptional staying power, while Karol G also reaches a new peak with “BbY WOW”. For the week dated 26 September 2026, “Choosin’ Texas” leads the chart for a record 23rd…
-
Anthropic and OpenAI launch cheaper models for enterprise and professional work
Anthropic and OpenAI have released cheaper AI models aimed at enterprise and professional users, despite ongoing debate about slowing frontier AI development. Anthropic’s Opus 5.5 focuses on complex business work, financial analysis and coding, while OpenAI’s GPT-6 Sol and Luna target professional tasks, coding and computer use. Opus 5.5 costs $4 per million input tokens…
-
Disney Details Consumer Products Reorg With Expanded Roles For Cathleen Taff, Lisa Baldzicki
Disney is restructuring its Consumer Products division, moving global licensing and publishing under the Studios division effective 4 October, whilst keeping parks merchandise and Disney Stores under Experiences. This reorganisation aims to align the licensing and publishing businesses more closely with Disney’s creative content groups and represents a significant shift in how the company manages…
-
EU delists Usmanov and Fridman while extending Russia sanctions
The European Union has agreed to remove two Russian billionaires, Alisher Usmanov and Mikhail Fridman, from its sanctions list, whilst extending restrictions on nearly 3,000 individuals and companies linked to Russia’s war on Ukraine for a further three years. The decision represents a contentious compromise reached under time pressure, as France and Luxembourg used their…