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OPPO has confirmed that its flagship smartphone, the Find X8 Ultra, will launch in April instead of March as previously rumored, but it appears that the global release of the device has been canceled. Product Manager Zhou Yibao clarified that the phone was never intended for a March unveiling, contradicting earlier reports of an imminent launch. Despite expectations for a global rollout similar to previous models, recent leaks suggest that the Find X8 Ultra may be exclusive to the Chinese market.

Western brands face tougher competition in Russian markets as Moscow legalised grey imports of Western merchandise, leading to a surge in domestic and Chinese brands. The move has given local retailers like Henderson a boost, with sales growing three times faster than the overall menswear market. As shopping malls' prime locations are now taken by Russian rivals, companies may need to rethink their strategy for returning to Russia.

Washington's push to swiftly end the conflict in Ukraine has sparked speculation that Western brands may want to return to Russia, but from fashion to cars, the markets they vacated now look more competitive than three years ago. The departure of foreign retailers has given Russian companies like Henderson a development boost, mainly by making better locations within shopping centers available. However, Western brands would need to overcome sanctions and regulatory hurdles to return in large numbers.

The European Union plans to urge India to lower its high tariffs on cars and wine to boost trade, as it seeks to reduce its reliance on China, a senior official from the bloc said, ahead of a visit by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen. The EU aims to strengthen economic and security ties with India, diversify supply chains, and reduce reliance on key products from China. This effort is part of the EU's "de-risking" strategy, which seeks to address common challenges such as cyber threats and tensions in the South China Sea and Indo-Pacific.

Amazon is set to host its first Amazon Devices event since 2023, scheduled for 10am EST / 3pm GMT / 2am ACT on Wednesday, February 26, with many expecting this to be the launching pad for a new, AI-enhanced Alexa, alongside a handful of rumored Echo and Fire TV devices. The AI-powered assistant has been largely quiet since its announcement in 2023, sparking rumors of further delays despite an anticipated unveiling. If Amazon does indeed announce a subscription plan for its smartened Alexa, it could mark a significant shift in the company's approach to its popular virtual assistant.

Milorad Dodik, the Bosnian Serb separatist leader, will face a court verdict on Wednesday regarding allegations that he defied decisions by an international official overseeing peace in the Balkan country. The court's decision could determine whether Bosnia's fragile unity is preserved or threatened. If found guilty, Dodik faces six months to five years in jail and has warned of the potential breakup of the country.

ExpressVPN's transformation of its Lightway codebase from C to Rust promises to make the service faster and more secure. With this change, ExpressVPN is now leveraging the power of Rust, a high-performance language that ensures memory safety without using a garbage collector. The updated Lightway 2.0 is only available via ExpressVPN's Aircove router with the February 4 AircoveOS v5 update.

The Federal Reserve's independence is facing growing scrutiny in Washington, D.C., with Sen. Elizabeth Warren pressing one of Donald Trump's top economic picks, Stephen Miran, to clarify his stance on the central bank's independence. As part of a 27-page letter, Warren asked Miran to commit to supporting the Fed's independence from political influence and explain his views on Fed board members' tenure and potential firing by the president. The pressure on Powell's leadership is further amplified by Trump's executive order, which gives his appointees more power over independent agencies.

March 2025 will see a significant expansion of Disney+'s content lineup, featuring the highly anticipated series Daredevil: Born Again and the sequel Moana 2, alongside Sadie Sink's film O'Dessa. The inclusion of various shows and movies, ranging from classic series like Gilmore Girls to new episodes of popular franchises, highlights Disney+'s strategy to cater to diverse audience preferences. This month promises to deliver engaging content that could strengthen Disney+'s position in the competitive streaming market.

Squarespace is offering discounted website building plans for businesses looking to establish an online presence. The company's paid plans start at $16 per month if paid annually, with additional features such as analytics, ecommerce capabilities, and scheduling tools available. Squarespace has evolved from a blogging platform into a powerhouse of website building, providing customizable templates and robust business tools.

Indian tax authorities have targeted Volkswagen for wrongly classifying its car imports for 12 years to evade $1.4 billion in taxes. The company's Audi brand lags luxury peers, and a guilty verdict could result in dues of $2.8 billion. If found liable, VW would have to pay the entire amount, including penalty and interest.

India is ready to step in as an alternative site for early-stage clinical trials to help mitigate the impact of disruptions such as the Russia-Ukraine war, an executive at contract research firm Parexel told Reuters on Wednesday. The country's growing reputation for conducting trials is driven by factors such as lower costs and a more favorable regulatory environment compared to other regions like China. India's clinical trials data market is estimated to touch $1.51 billion in 2025, according to U.S.-based GrandView Research.

Cruelty Squad offers a surprisingly deep and fun gaming experience despite its trippy visuals and deliberate aesthetic choices. Players can explore a bizarre world, complete missions, and engage in tactical gameplay that rewards successful assassinations or extractions with money to spend on upgrades. The game's tone and themes are thought-provoking, making it a unique addition to the immersive sim genre.

US stock futures climbed as Wall Street braced for Nvidia's quarterly earnings report, with contracts on the Nasdaq 100 leading the advance and S&P 500 futures putting on 0.4%. The tech-heavy index has lagged behind the broader market this year, sparking concerns about its prospects amidst US tariff threats and export controls. Investors are eager to gauge revenue from Nvidia's Blackwell chips in the upcoming earnings report.

US stock futures climbed on Wednesday as investors braced for Nvidia's quarterly earnings report, with hopes for strong revenue from its Blackwell chips. However, concerns about US tariff threats and export controls weighed on the tech company's prospects. The earnings report comes amidst a broader market trend where tech stocks have lagged the S&P 500 so far this year.

Sibanye Stillwater has announced that it will not proceed with its plans to invest in the Rhyolite Ridge lithium project in Nevada, USA, following a significant price slump for the rare metal. The decision comes after updated studies showed that the project did not meet the company's investment hurdle rates at prudent pricing assumptions. Sibanye had agreed to invest $490 million for its 50% interest in the project as part of its diversification into battery metals.

The Volvo ES90 is poised to revolutionize the electric vehicle (EV) market with its cutting-edge 800-volt architecture, promising faster charging times and longer driving ranges than its predecessors. By adopting a more advanced battery management system, Volvo aims to significantly reduce charging times, making it an attractive option for customers seeking greater convenience. The ES90's innovative features are set to redefine the EV experience, with a focus on sustainability and reduced environmental impact.

UK businesses are woefully unprepared for the security risks posed by generative AI (GenAI), with nearly half lacking a documented strategy to address these threats. The speed of GenAI's evolution has caught many security teams flat-footed, and the lack of preparation is alarming, particularly given the growing concern that phishing will become an even greater threat due to GenAI. Organizations are struggling to keep pace with the evolving landscape, relying on outdated security measures and piecing together fragmented data from disparate systems.

Aston Martin will cut about 5% of its global workforce to further reduce costs and drive future investments, and delayed the launch of its first battery electric vehicle for the second time. The company expects to save about 25 million pounds ($31.6 million) from the job cuts. Aston Martin is banking on demand for its mid-engined Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicle (PHEV), 'Valhalla', to turn in positive adjusted operating earnings and free cash flow.

China held "shooting training" on Wednesday off Taiwan's southwest coast in a move Taipei described as provocative and dangerous, while a senior Chinese leader vowed unswerving efforts to bring the island under Beijing's control. China has not announced any military exercises, but its actions are part of a larger effort to increase pressure on Taiwan. The Taiwanese government rejects Beijing's sovereignty claims, saying only the island's people can decide their future.

The Oppo A5 Pro global variant is powered by a MediaTek Dimensity 6300 processor, a 120 Hz HD+ display, a 50 MP main lens, and a 5,800 mAh battery. It is now available for purchase via Oppo's official website after launching the Oppo A5 Pro in China back in December 2024. The international variant ships with a different set of specs compared to the Chinese version.

Granblue Fantasy Versus: Rising Version 2.00 is now available, introducing Sandalphon as a new playable character for the game. The update also brings plenty of new features and balance adjustments, including a new Survival mode that tasks players to progress through a 100-fight gauntlet, earning rewards along the way. Additionally, the Standard and Deluxe versions of the game have received their biggest discount yet at 61% off for a limited time.

Pope Francis, in critical condition battling double pneumonia, had a quiet night in hospital and is resting, the Vatican said on Wednesday. The 88-year-old pope is spending his 13th day at Rome's Gemelli hospital, the longest hospital stay of his nearly 12-year-old papacy. Double pneumonia is a serious infection of both lungs that can inflame and scar them, making it difficult to breathe.

A UK-based battery firm, Volklec, has announced plans to build a £1bn gigafactory at Coventry Airport by 2030. The project is expected to create around 100 initial jobs and potentially 1,000 more if the new facility comes online. Construction of the first batteries is set to begin later this year at the UK Battery Industrialisation Centre.

Sezzle Inc (SEZL) reports a 100% year-over-year revenue growth in Q4 2024, driven by the launch of new products and strategic partnerships that have helped maintain momentum throughout the quarter. The company's introduction of OnDemand has shown promising early results, with a 130% year-on-year increase in monthly on-demand and subscriber users (mods). Sezzle Inc (SEZL) anticipates double-digit revenue growth in 2025, positioning itself for continued expansion in the buy-now-pay-later market.

First Solar Inc (FSLR) has reported a 27% increase in net sales for 2024, reaching $4.2 billion, despite production issues and international market uncertainties. The company's manufacturing capacity has increased to 21 gigawatts at year-end 2024, with a record 14.1 gigawatts of module sales in 2024. First Solar Inc is now on track to begin commercial operations at its new Louisiana facility in the second half of 2025.

Chinese President Xi Jinping called on officials to stay composed in the face of domestic and global challenges, signaling Beijing will take a measured approach to the Trump administration's new trade and investment restrictions. The comments coincide with President Donald Trump taking his most sweeping actions yet against China in his second term, raising concerns that ties may soon worsen. This delicate dance between calm restraint and firm resolve reflects the complexities of China's response to US pressure.

Porch Group Inc has reported a record adjusted EBITDA of $42 million in Q4 2024, with net income reaching $30 million. The company provided an optimistic outlook for 2025, with adjusted EBITDA guidance of $60 million at the midpoint. Porch Group Inc is expected to transition into a commission and fee-based model, resulting in approximately 80% gross margins.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090 Laptop GPU has made its debut on PassMark, achieving the title of the best-performing mobile GPU, although it faces limitations in the GPU Compute test due to software support issues. With a benchmark score of 28,280, it surpasses the RTX 4090 Laptop GPU, but the performance gains are minimal, raising questions about its efficiency relative to its predecessor. The situation suggests that while the RTX 5090 shows promise, its full potential may not be realized until software compatibility is improved.

Hong Kong aims to cut spending by slashing 10,000 civil service jobs in an effort to rein in a rising deficit, and plans a big AI push as it navigates headwinds from global economic uncertainty, geopolitical tensions and a weak property market. The government's fiscal consolidation programme will see a cumulative reduction in public expenditure by 7% from now till fiscal year ending on March 31, 2028. Public sector salaries will also be frozen this year.

Apple's decision to remove its advanced data security tool, Advanced Data Protection (ADP), for UK customers has raised concerns about reduced protections for iCloud users. The move comes after the Home Office requested access to data stored in iCloud accounts, something Apple cannot currently do due to end-to-end encryption. As a result, UK iCloud users will lose the ability to protect their data with an extra layer of encryption.

Insurers will struggle to dodge climate-change tab as governments won't tolerate permanent insurance dead zones and can't afford to pay up themselves. Governments won’t tolerate permanent insurance dead zones and can’t afford to pay up themselves, leading property and casualty firms to foot the bill one way or another. The costs of climate-related disasters are rising, with global economic losses from natural disasters hitting $368 billion in 2024.

Bristol's Astral Systems is pioneering a new method of producing radioisotopes for cancer scans using nuclear fusion technology, aiming to address the supply chain vulnerabilities that have affected patient care in the UK. By developing small reactors that can be built near hospitals for a fraction of the cost of traditional nuclear plants, the start-up seeks to eliminate delays in obtaining essential materials for cancer diagnoses. This innovation is poised to significantly enhance the reliability of cancer treatment processes, especially in light of previous supply disruptions.

Survivor 48 will be made available to watch online from anywhere with a VPN and potentially for free, as the show has traditionally been broadcast in various countries without a centralized streaming platform. The show's production team has not announced any official streaming partners or release dates yet, but fans can keep an eye on the official Survivor website and social media channels for updates. Viewers may also be able to access episodes through popular streaming services like Hulu or Amazon Prime Video.

Comino has unveiled its Grando water-cooled workstation that can accommodate up to eight AMD GPUs and potentially Intel Arc cards, offering unparalleled performance and flexibility in the high-performance computing sector. The system's liquid cooling capabilities allow for efficient heat dissipation, enabling users to run demanding workloads without throttling. Comino's flagship product is designed to future-proof multiple Nvidia generations, making it an attractive option for professionals seeking cutting-edge computing power.

Kim Jong Un called for building a strong, modern army to cope with any war during a visit to a military academy, citing the need for perfect readiness in the face of an increasingly aggressive international situation. The current state of North Korean military facilities was deemed inadequate by Kim, who demanded tasks be completed to refurbish them and enhance education on modern warfare practices. This emphasis on military preparedness comes as North Korea has sent thousands of troops to Russia to support its war against Ukraine.

Nvidia's quarterly earnings are expected to shape the market's perception of the AI chip industry, with investors eagerly awaiting guidance on sales and future growth prospects. The company's performance will be closely watched as it navigates a rapidly evolving landscape dominated by Chinese startups like DeepSeek, which has disrupted traditional power dynamics in the field. As Nvidia seeks to maintain its leadership position, analysts will scrutinize the company's strategy for expanding its H20 chip business.

Nvidia's fourth-quarter sales are expected to be around $38.5 billion, with investors eagerly awaiting the company's strategy for maintaining its breakneck pace in artificial intelligence. The earnings report is crucial not only for Nvidia but also for the broader AI industry, which has seen Chinese startup DeepSeek challenge traditional players like Nvidia and US tech giants. Investors are watching closely to see if Nvidia can sustain its growth despite increasing competition and geopolitical tensions.

Tesla is experiencing a significant decline in sales, particularly in Europe, as consumer sentiment shifts negatively towards CEO Elon Musk amid his controversial political involvement. Many loyal customers, like Tae Helton, are reassessing their support for the brand due to Musk's actions and statements, leading to a 45% drop in sales across Europe in January. This backlash raises concerns about the long-term impact on Tesla's brand loyalty and investor confidence as Musk's political affiliations increasingly overshadow the company's mission.

Timothee Chalamet, Ariana Grande, and other Oscar nominees attended a film academy dinner on Tuesday, marking the final gathering before Sunday's red-carpet awards show. The event gave contestants a chance to mingle with each other and some even chatted with their competitors during the reception. Academy President Janet Yang emphasized the importance of honoring talent in the industry, touting the awards as a celebration that brings joy to people worldwide.

The US dollar rebounded from its weakest level in 11 weeks on Wednesday as investors sought refuge in safe-haven assets amid weak economic data and uncertainty over tariff implementation. The currency's gain was partly attributed to signs of deceleration in the US economy and concerns about the impact of US policy, which sent interest rates volatility and sticky inflation rising. The US dollar index rose 0.30% to 106.56, driven by policy uncertainty that can delay business undertakings and be disinflationary.

The European Commission's planned energy measures could reduce the EU's fossil fuel import bill by 45 billion euros ($47.3 billion) this year, with annual savings potentially rising to 130 billion euros by 2030. The proposed policies include speeding up permits for renewable energy projects and increasing state aid for clean industries. These measures aim to support European industries struggling with weak demand, cheap imports, and higher energy costs.

Copper futures surged after President Donald Trump ordered the US Commerce Department to examine possible imports tariffs on all forms of the metal, leading to significant price gains and a boost in shares of US-traded copper miners. The move is part of a broader effort by the Trump administration to protect domestic industries through sector-specific levies. As a result, global copper markets have experienced major dislocations this year, with traders betting on tariffs opening a gap between prices in America and the rest of the world.

A U.S. agency has halted the terminations of six federal government employees who were targeted in a mass firing by President Donald Trump's administration, citing grounds for believing that agencies acted unlawfully in carrying out the reductions-in-force. The Merit Systems Protection Board's decision to stay the terminations applies only to the six employees, but their lawyers hope to expand it to cover others. The decision comes at the request of the U.S. Office of Special Counsel, which protects federal employees from being punished for whistle-blowing and other practices.

At least 18 people were killed and 23 injured in eastern Thailand on Wednesday after the brakes failed on a tour bus and it rolled upside down into a ditch, police said. The bus, carrying 49 people, including Thai nationals and foreigners, was traveling from Bueng Kan to Rayong when the accident occurred. Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the accident.

The Iniu B6 power bank, with its 10,000mAh capacity and 20W fast-charge capability, offers excellent performance at an affordable price, making it a top choice for on-the-go charging needs. Its lightweight design, alongside useful features like a digital display and LED torch, enhances user experience and convenience, although the soft-touch finish may be prone to scratches. With impressive test results and a three-year warranty, the B6 proves to be a dependable option for those looking for a reliable power source.

Concerns have been raised about businesses 'taking advantage' of Aussies by slapping on surcharges for everything. An Australian restaurant was found to be surcharging for cash and card at wildly different rates, highlighting the need for clearer regulations. The move could have significant implications for consumers who are increasingly being nickel-and-dimed by merchants.

U.S. Treasury yields regained some lost ground on Wednesday, but concerns over the country's economic outlook remain. The benchmark 10-year yield rose to 4.3271% after President Donald Trump's tax-cut agenda was passed by the House of Representatives. Investors anticipate more debt issuance ahead, which is expected to drive up yields.

The Liberal Party of Canada will soon choose a leader that will replace Justin Trudeau and become Canada's next prime minister, with the candidates making their case to voters in back-to-back debates in both English and French. The focus on how Canada should respond to US President Donald Trump's threats has dominated the agenda, with the candidates presenting varying strategies for dealing with what many have dubbed an "existential threat". The outcome of these debates will significantly impact the Liberal Party's direction, particularly under Trump's pressure.

Cook Islands Prime Minister Mark Brown survived a vote of no confidence in parliament over his deals with China that strained relations with New Zealand. The opposition motion to oust Brown's cabinet was defeated 13-9, with two members abstaining from voting. The government holds 14 seats in the 24-seat unicameral parliament while the opposition holds 10.