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Motorola's Moto G (2025) stands out in the budget smartphone market with exceptional battery life lasting nearly four days and an impressive camera system, making it a strong contender for those seeking functionality without breaking the bank. While the design includes a sleek, lightweight build with a unique vegan leather finish, the screen resolution falls short for some users, affecting the overall visual experience. Despite its limitations in gaming performance due to the MediaTek Dimensity 6300 chip, the Moto G offers a compelling value proposition for casual users.

A diversified investment strategy that seeks to juice returns through leverage is gaining popularity among big money managers, more than a decade after it blew up during the 2008 financial crisis. Portable alpha uses derivatives to track returns of long-only indexes and then invests excess cash in trades beloved by hedge funds, such as trend following or market-neutral equity strategies. The approach has been adopted by over 22% of institutional investors, private banks, and family offices with $8.6 trillion in total assets.

The Royal Bank of Canada's first-quarter earnings comfortably beat analysts' expectations, but it was United States President Donald Trump's tariff threats that dominated discussions with analysts. RBC chief executive Dave McKay said the bank is preparing itself for a number of economic scenarios in the future due to the uncertainty linked to the tariffs. The bank's stress testing suggests that even under a more severe scenario, its capital levels would remain above regulatory minimums.

Alexa's new scene skipping feature allows users to jump directly to a specific part of a movie or TV show being streamed on their Fire TV device, making it easier to avoid embarrassing moments or skip through tedious scenes. This feature uses metadata from the streaming service, such as the name of the actor or character, to identify the desired scene. With this new functionality, users can now easily ask Alexa to "skip this scene" and have it automatically pick up where they left off.

Toronto-Dominion Bank and Royal Bank of Canada have topped estimates with better-than-expected wealth-management and capital-markets results, driven by higher trading activity. The country's second-largest lender and largest bank earned C$2.02 per share on an adjusted basis in its fiscal first quarter, beating the C$1.95 average analyst estimate. Earnings in their wealth-management and insurance units totaled C$680 million ($474 million) and C$980 million, respectively, reflecting market appreciation and net sales.

The European Central Bank reported a communications glitch on Thursday in its securities settlement system, which handles $1.9 trillion a day in transactions, leaving traders and bank risk managers scrambling to figure out the potential impact. The outage affected communication channels across its pan-European TARGET 2 Securities, or T2S, platform, but did not offer more specifics. Traders may face transaction processing delays due to the disruption in critical communications between central securities depositories.

The Microsoft Surface Laptop 7 has seen its price drop by 44% to $899 for the high-end variant featuring the Snapdragon X Elite SKU with 1 TB of storage. This discount brings the notebook within reach of budget-focused users while retaining its premium features and performance. The discounted price reflects a significant reduction from its original retail value, making it an attractive option for those seeking a balance of system performance, battery life, and affordability.

Ukraine's top commander, Colonel General Oleksandr Syrskyi, has visited brigades defending the Novopavlivka front in the eastern Donetsk region, where Russia has intensified its assaults. The enemy is conducting intense offensive actions in this area, trying to break through the defenses of our troops and capture three settlements. The situation on the ground is critical, with Russian forces reaching around 4.5 km from the Dnipropetrovsk region.

You probably don't need to replace your speakers as Alexa Plus, the latest voice assistant from Amazon, will work with most of its Echo devices. The new upgrade brings significant improvements over the standard version of Alexa, including enhanced AI capabilities and a more personal experience. However, some older devices may not be compatible, at least initially.

Copilot Pro for Excel is a game-changer for anyone who needs to work with data without becoming an expert in writing formulas. The tool simplifies complex tasks, such as creating graphs and highlighting cells, making it accessible to users who aren't familiar with Excel's advanced functions. Copilot's ability to create formulas on the fly saves hours of time for those who regularly work with data.

A new rumor suggests we could see the Galaxy S25 Edge on April 16, with sales starting in May, signaling a shift towards ultra-slim smartphones that may set a new standard for gadget innovation. The phone's design is reportedly sleek and compact, measuring around 6.4mm in thickness, which could make it one of the thinnest phones on the market. This development comes amidst increased competition from Apple, with Samsung eager to grab market share before its rival releases its own ultra-slim device.

The British pound traded little changed against the dollar on Thursday, clinging to a more than two-month high hit the previous day, as U.S. President Donald Trump's tariff threats turned towards the European Union. Sterling has been bolstered by expectations for relatively fewer rate cuts from the Bank of England and the European Central Bank. The pound's stability is also seen in its limited reaction to Trump's tariff talk, with analysts predicting it could outperform in the G10 space if tariffs are implemented.

The Nothing Phone (3a) and Phone (3a) Pro's new design and features may be marred by its poor software support when compared to that of rivals. However, there's still the chance to make amends. The company has announced a relatively short lifespan for software updates, with only 3 OS upgrades and 6 years of security updates planned.

The launch of the Galaxy S26 series is almost a year away. Nonetheless, sources have already started offering insights into what to expect from Samsung's next flagships. The jury is out on whether Exynos will return for the Galaxy S26 and Galaxy S26 Plus, though.

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 5090D has topped the high-end video card chart on PassMark, delivering an impressive result despite potential challenges. The RTX 5090D managed to produce double the DirectX 12 test result of the RTX 4090, showcasing its capabilities in various benchmarks. This achievement is particularly notable given that the RTX 5090D was designed for the Chinese market and may have been overclocked.

Tencent has released a new AI model called Hunyuan Turbo S that it claims can answer queries faster than global hit DeepSeek's R1. The Hunyuan Turbo S is able to reply to queries within a second, distinguishing itself from other slow-thinking models. Tencent's success in developing the Turbo S comes after its competitors, including Alibaba's Qwen 2.5-Max model, released similar products in an effort to keep pace with DeepSeek's rapid growth.

Businesses are being plagued by API security risks, with nearly 99% affected. Report warns vulnerabilities, data exposure, and API authentication weaknesses are key issues that are causing trouble for businesses everywhere. Businesses can mitigate API risks before they can be exploited, researchers are saying.

Copilot for Teams is a brilliant personal assistant for meetings, but don't let it replace your critical thinking skills. It's an indispensable tool that simplifies tasks such as capturing meeting details and generating action points. By streamlining communication and enhancing efficiency, Copilot makes meetings more productive and manageable.

The purported benchmark of the RX 9070 XT suggests that it could match the performance level of the RTX 4080, with a FurMark score of 20,732 points in the OpenGL graphics stress test at 108p resolution. This performance level is comparable to the RX 7900 XTX and edges out the Nvidia GPU by a slight margin. The GPU's ability to maintain low temperatures during demanding workloads also suggests that it could be a strong contender in the mid-range market.

The global version of the Xiaomi 15 is likely to deliver slightly worse battery life compared to its Chinese counterpart. According to leaked specs, the device will feature a 5,240 mAh battery, whereas the Chinese version boasts a 5,400 mAh capacity. This discrepancy suggests that Xiaomi may have made some compromises in terms of power efficiency for international markets.

Helegaly's new gaming handheld is expected to launch in three colorways and features a design similar to the Powkiddy X35H, with a pair of joysticks below a d-pad and ABXY buttons. The device is equipped with an Allwinner A527 chipset, which provides promising performance for a handheld console. The device's specs are still under review, but early benchmarks suggest it could rival the Unisoc T618 in terms of gaming capabilities.

The US Supreme Court has granted temporary permission for the Trump administration's freeze on foreign aid payments to remain in place, despite opposition from protesters who argue that cuts to foreign aid programmes are unacceptable. The move came as the administration faced a midnight deadline to pay contractors and officials had argued that they could not process the payments within the timeframe set by a lower court judge. This development underscores the Trump administration's efforts to shrink the federal workforce and cut costs in its drive to reduce foreign aid.

Alibaba is among Benchmark's Best Ideas list for 2025, with analysts citing improving fundamentals and renewed growth potential. The company's e-commerce platform has seen significant gains in recent years, driven by the increasing adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) technologies. Alibaba's position as a leader in AI and cloud computing is expected to continue driving its growth prospects.

Andrew Tate, facing a judicial control obligation in Romania, has left the country and is headed to Florida, according to a source. The internet personality was under investigation on accusations of forming an organized criminal group, human trafficking, and other serious crimes. He denied all wrongdoing and plans to return to Romania by March 31 to fulfill his obligations.

Jared Padalecki and Misha Collins have officially signed on for undisclosed roles in The Boys season 5, joining their fellow Supernatural acting alumni Jensen Ackles for a full-blown reunion. The additions realize showrunner Eric Kripke's dream of re-teaming with the duo and Ackles for a post-Supernatural project. The trio will share scenes together, but it's unclear how big or small their roles will be.

The White House is struggling to contain disputes following Elon Musk's ultimatum to federal workers to list their accomplishments or lose their jobs, with tensions between senior staffers and Musk emerging. The plan was meant to be overseen by cabinet secretaries, but it appears to have fallen apart after Trump urged Musk to "get more aggressive" with his Department of Government Efficiency team. The situation has exposed deep fault lines between Musk and White House staff, raising concerns about the autonomy of the special government employee.

Salesforce's stock has fallen nearly 5% after the company issued a disappointing earnings outlook for 2025, citing slowing adoption of its artificial intelligence agent platform, Agentforce. The software giant had previously reported optimism around the financial impact of Agentforce, with shares rising 16% in the six months prior to the earnings release. However, analysts now expect modest contribution to revenue this year and a more meaningful benefit in 2026.

Amazon Web Services has unveiled a quantum computing chip called Ocelot, which uses "cat" qubits to reduce the number of needed physical qubits. The technology aims to shave as much as five years off the development timeline for commercially useful quantum computers. By leveraging this approach, AWS hopes to create machines with only 100,000 qubits rather than a million.

The Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra is now available at its lowest price yet, directly from Samsung, with a saving of $230 off the usual price of $649. The watch features a rugged titanium design, excellent health tracking features, and extensive battery life. With its impressive array of features and durable construction, the Galaxy Watch Ultra remains an excellent choice for Android users.

Scientists expect a major earthquake in northern Chile soon as the country's mineral-rich north holds significant copper and lithium production sites, with GPS technology helping monitor tectonic plate movements. Chile is located on the seismically active Ring of Fire that surrounds the Pacific Ocean, where the Nazca and South American tectonic plates crash into each other, causing earthquakes and mountains. The anticipation of a major earthquake in northern Chile raises concerns about potential damage to infrastructure and the environment.

CP+, the largest camera and video show globally, is currently taking place in Yokohama, Japan, showcasing the latest innovations from major brands like Canon, Sony, and Panasonic. The event runs from February 27 to March 2, offering an essential platform for manufacturers to unveil new cameras, lenses, and accessories amid growing anticipation from industry enthusiasts. With the absence of other significant exhibitions like Photokina, CP+ has become a pivotal event for photography professionals to explore emerging technologies and trends.

Three of Canada's big five lenders - Royal Bank of Canada, TD Bank and CIBC - on Thursday beat analyst expectations for quarterly profit, boosted by strong wealth management and capital markets earnings. Lower interest rates increased appetite for dealmaking, underwriting and other corporate banking activities while the wealth management business, a capital-light and fee-based business, has also boomed recently, powered by a rise in the number of high net-worth individuals and increasing investments. The lenders took steps to bolster their provisions for credit losses reserves amid geopolitical uncertainty and an ongoing tariff threat from the US government.

Starmer seeks U.S. security "backstop" for Ukraine amid rising tensions with Russia. Trump has shattered foreign policy and domestic policy norms since the start of his second term, rattling allies by advocating for U.S. ownership of the Gaza Strip and promising trade tariffs on U.S. friends and foes alike. Starmer's visit aims to reassure Trump that Europe will provide support and security guarantees to Ukraine if peace talks with Russia are successful.

Despite Nvidia reporting a substantial 78% surge in quarterly revenue, investor enthusiasm waned amid concerns over a potential slowdown in the U.S. economy and ongoing geopolitical tensions related to tariffs. The stock's slight decline following the earnings report highlights the heightened expectations from investors, who are growing increasingly wary of the long-term sustainability of growth in the tech sector. As tariffs threaten to complicate global trade dynamics, confidence in both consumer and business spending remains fragile.

Nvidia's quarterly numbers fell short of investor expectations, with sales coming in slightly under forecast despite a strong performance from its Blackwell chip. The company warned of tighter profit margins as it ramps up production for the new design, and US tariffs pose another risk to results. This mixed outlook comes at a time when the AI industry is facing uncertainty.

The Honor Magic V4 is expected to go against the Oppo Find N5 in terms of thickness, and it seems the foldable will beat Oppo's latest offering in terms of performance. At least, that's what one of the company officials has suggested. Recent reports have suggested that Honor's upcoming folding smartphone could be 8.9 mm or thinner than the current thinnest foldable phone on the market.

Bongino's appointment raises concerns of FBI politicization. Former FBI employees and prosecutors worry that Patel's loyalists may misuse their power to target Trump critics. The unprecedented appointments reflect broader tensions surrounding executive power, accountability, and the implications of the new director's actions within government agencies.

Royal Bank of Canada has declared a quarterly common share dividend of $1.48 per share, payable on or after May 23, 2025, to common shareholders of record at the close of business on April 24, 2025. The bank's board also declared dividends for several series of non-cumulative first preferred shares, with varying payment dates and amounts. This move underscores the ongoing dividend payments tradition of Canada's largest banks.

The stock market may be President Trump's most potent check on his executive power, as its fluctuations can influence his policy decisions without requiring Congressional approval or judicial oversight. The president appears to be influenced by market movements, particularly when faced with economic challenges, and is willing to adjust policies in response to changing investor sentiment. However, this reliance on market feedback may also be a double-edged sword for Trump's economic agenda.

You.com's Advanced Research & Insights (ARI) agent can analyze up to 400 sources and output a comprehensive report in five minutes, delivering "professional-grade" research reports for enterprises. The tool functions as a management consultant, saving companies money in the long run by providing in-depth analysis and recommendations. ARI's ability to maintain contextual understanding while processing hundreds of sources simultaneously sets it apart from competitors.

Amazon has unveiled its first-generation quantum computing chip called Ocelot, marking the company's entry into the growing field of quantum computing. The chip is designed to efficiently address errors and position Amazon well for tackling the next phase of quantum computing: scaling. By overcoming current limitations in bosonic error correction, Amazon aims to accelerate practical quantum computers.

Bose QuietComfort Ultra still leads in comfort and convenience features among all flagship over-ear headphones, maintaining its top spot in terms of overall listening experience despite being released nearly two years ago. Its excellent noise-canceling properties remain unmatched by competitors, including the Sony WH-1000XM5 and Apple's AirPods Max. The software updates from Bose have enhanced performance without sacrificing any of these desirable features.

The Sony Bravia X90L continues to stand out as one of the top-performing TVs in its price range, offering real-world picture performance and Sony upscaling technology that delivers great video for movies, sports, cable, and streaming. The X90L has an excellent remote with backlighting, a good balance of buttons, and Google TV built-in, making it a great choice for daily use. Its color accuracy, precision brightness, 120Hz smooth motion, and 4K image processing make it one of the most recommended TVs in its class.

US inflation is moving in the wrong direction again, with most metrics showing a resurgence in price pressures across various industries. The Federal Reserve's preferred gauge of underlying inflation is expected to have picked up in January, ahead of data due Friday, fueling concerns about interest rates and the overall economy. Policymakers are closely monitoring labor-market growth and supply chain pressures as key drivers of inflation.

Unpairing your Apple Watch from an old iPhone is essential before selling or upgrading the device, as it protects your personal health data and ensures the new owner can use the watch without issues. The process can be done either through the Apple Watch app on your iPhone or directly on the watch itself if the iPhone is unavailable, although the latter method does not remove the Activation Lock. Proper unpairing not only backs up your settings but also streamlines the transition to a new device.

A report by the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre reveals that more than 1,000 Syrians died in detention at a military airport on the outskirts of Damascus, killed by execution, torture or maltreatment. The victims were held in facilities across Damascus, with some sites showing clear signs of mass graves, including trenches dug during periods consistent with witness testimony. The report's findings are based on documents, witness testimony, and satellite imagery.

The upcoming PlayStation Plus Monthly Games for March offer a treasure trove of free titles, including Dragon Age: The Veilguard and Sonic Colors: Ultimate. These games will be available to claim from March 4 to March 31, providing subscribers with an incredible value proposition. By claiming these games, PS Plus members will have access to a substantial amount of content, including hours of gameplay and role-playing experiences.

HSBC is reducing staff numbers at its China digital wealth business Pinnacle by nearly half, or about 900 people, two sources said, a sharp reversal of the bank's ambition for the unit as part of its expansion plans in that country. The staff reduction involves layoffs, natural attrition and transfers to other units within the banking group in China. HSBC is restructuring globally to reduce long-term costs and boost profits at the bank.

The system requirements for Metal Gear Solid Delta: Snake Eater have been revealed, confirming that players will need significant hardware to run the game smoothly. Konami recommends an RTX 3080 GPU for optimal performance and at least 100G of free space on PC players' systems. The minimum requirements suggest a more modest setup, but still indicate a substantial investment in graphics power.

Cantor analyst Thomas Blakey emphasizes the growing importance of artificial intelligence in the stock market, highlighting the momentum behind smaller AI companies, particularly SoundHound AI and BigBear.ai. SoundHound specializes in conversational AI and voice recognition, offering innovative solutions across various industries, while BigBear.ai's focus remains on data analytics and decision-making tools. The analysts are poised to identify which of these companies presents a stronger investment opportunity as AI technology continues to evolve.