News Gist .News

PGA Tour 2K25 showcases exceptional shot crafting and gameplay that mirrors the intricacies of real golf, offering players an engaging experience. However, it is marred by repetitive commentary, excessive loading screens, and the absence of iconic courses that keep it trailing behind its competitor, EA Sports PGA Tour. Despite these drawbacks, the game offers substantial customization and a solid career mode, indicating progress while still needing improvement in several areas.

Google has added a new people tracking feature to its Find My Device, allowing users to share their location with friends and family via the People tab. This feature is currently in beta and provides a convenient way to quickly locate loved ones, but raises concerns about digital privacy and stalking. The feature includes digital protections, such as alerts when tracking is enabled and automatic detection of unknown trackers.

The UK competition watchdog has ended its investigation into the partnership between Microsoft and OpenAI, concluding that despite Microsoft's significant investment in the AI firm, the partnership remains unchanged and therefore not subject to review under the UK's merger rules. The decision has sparked criticism from digital rights campaigners who argue it shows the regulator has been "defanged" by Big Tech pressure. Critics point to the changed political environment and the government's recent instructions to regulators to stimulate economic growth as contributing factors.

J.P. Morgan analyst Bill Peterson reiterated a Neutral rating on Plug Power, Inc., citing the company's revenue shortfall and customer warrant charges. Despite missing estimates, Peterson believes Plug Power can experience moderate growth in 2025 driven by increased material handling demand and margin improvements. The analyst remains cautiously optimistic about securing the DOE loan, but expects PLUG shares to remain range-bound until there is more clarity on the company's balance sheet and margin expansion.

Prime Video's new historical drama House of David has become the streamer's second most-watched show in the US, with Reacher season 3 still claiming the top spot. The show chronicles the rise of biblical figure David, who becomes the most prominent king of Israel, and follows his struggle for power after losing it to the prophet Samuel. With a 60% Rotten Tomatoes score from critics but an impressive 88% audience score, House of David is just one example of the many historical dramas available on Prime Video.

Brown-Forman's CEO Lawson Whiting expressed strong discontent over Canadian provinces removing American liquor from stores, labeling it a "disproportionate response" to U.S. tariffs. While Canada represents only 1% of Brown-Forman's total sales, the CEO emphasized the impact of this action goes beyond financial losses, affecting brand visibility and consumer choice. As Canadians increasingly favor local products in response to tariffs, the situation highlights the growing tensions in U.S.-Canada trade relations.

Alienware is set to release its most affordable OLED gaming monitor yet, with a price tag of just $549.99 for its 27-inch 1440p model. The new design boasts impressive technical specs, including a 280Hz refresh rate and 0.03ms response time. With features like G-Sync and FreeSync compatibility, this monitor is poised to appeal to gamers looking for high-performance displays at an attainable price.

France and Britain are aiming to finalise a peace plan for Ukraine, possibly "in days", that could be presented to the United States, while building bridges between the U.S. and Ukraine before possible talks in Washington. The two European powers have held several calls with Donald Trump and Volodymyr Zelenskiy since their fractious meeting last Friday in the Oval Office led to a suspension of U.S. military aid to Kyiv. A visit by Macron, Starmer, and Zelenskiy is under consideration, although the French presidency quickly corrected this statement.

The U.S. government has indicted a slew of alleged Chinese hackers, sanctioned a Chinese tech company, and offered a $10 million bounty for information on a years-long spy campaign that targeted victims across America and around the world. The indictment accuses 10 people of collaborating to steal data from their targets, including the U.S. Defense Intelligence Agency, foreign ministries, news organizations, and religious groups. The alleged hacking scheme is believed to have generated significant revenue for Chinese intelligence agencies.

Baseus has introduced a new 3-in-1 MagSafe wireless charging stand in China that features a thermoelectric cooling system, allowing connected devices to stay cool while charging. The EnerFill FS41 boasts CryoCore temperature control tech and can power up three devices simultaneously: smartphones, wireless earbuds, and smartwatches. This innovative design aims to provide optimal temperatures for seamless charging.

Germany's historic plan to ramp up spending has sent shockwaves through European markets, with equities surging past their US peers and the euro reviving from its brink of parity with the dollar. The benchmark stock index surged 3.4% in its biggest one-day rally since 2022, lifting the pan-European Stoxx 600 to near a record. Yields on benchmark 10-year bunds soared 30 basis points, marking a dramatic shift away from Germany's traditional controls on government borrowing.

The new MacBook Air M4 boasts significant upgrades, including a lower starting price of $999 and the ability to power two additional 6K external displays with the lid open. This allows for extensive multitasking capabilities, making it an attractive option for users seeking a powerful and portable laptop. The M4 processor also provides improved processing power compared to its predecessors.

CoreWeave’s initial S-1 document indicates the company is preparing for an IPO that could raise at least $3.5 billion, following significant revenue growth fueled by its AI-specific cloud services supported by Nvidia. Notably, the co-founders have already liquidated around $488 million in shares prior to the IPO, despite holding less than 3% of Class A shares while maintaining control through Class B shares. The company, however, faces challenges, including unprofitability and substantial debt, raising questions about its long-term financial strategy.

Microsoft has redeveloped its AI-powered Copilot app from scratch to provide a better user experience that is fully integrated into the Windows 11 operating system. With the new version, users can expect faster response times and more personalized answers, making it easier to use the app's features such as picture-in-picture mode and taskbar integration. The redesign also reduces memory usage, requiring only 50-100 MB of RAM on average.

President Donald Trump has agreed to postpone the implementation of tariffs on certain vehicles built in North America for one month following discussions with the CEOs of General Motors and Ford, as well as Stellantis's chair. This temporary reprieve aims to provide relief to U.S. automakers and foreign manufacturers complying with the U.S.-Mexico-Canada Agreement's rules of origin, while also addressing concerns about the integrated North American auto supply chain. The decision reflects ongoing negotiations between the administration and the automotive industry regarding future investments and regulatory frameworks.

U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Japan, South Korea, and other countries are interested in investing "trillions of dollars" in a large natural gas pipeline project in Alaska, which he claims would be one of the largest globally. Discussions have begun among South Korean officials and U.S. representatives to explore the feasibility of the liquefied natural gas project, with a focus on mutual economic interests and potential tariff negotiations. Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has indicated that increasing U.S. energy imports could benefit both nations by stabilizing Japan's energy supply and addressing the U.S. trade deficit.

Bank of America Corporation's share price dropped by 6.34 percent on Tuesday due to growing trade tensions between the US and its largest trading partners, weighing down investor sentiment. The company is set to release its next earnings results in April, with provisions for credit losses potentially increasing due to higher taxes in place. As investors park funds to mitigate risks, Bank of America's stock performance is being closely watched.

Samsung's Discover Spring Sale is offering significant discounts on its popular Frame TV, with savings reaching up to $1,300 across various models. Customers purchasing 75-inch displays or larger also receive a complimentary bezel, enhancing the TV's aesthetic appeal in any room. The sale runs until March 9, 2025, but the free bezel offer may end sooner, urging potential buyers to act quickly.

Intel won the dismissal of a shareholder lawsuit accusing the chipmaker of fraudulently concealing problems in its foundry business, leading to job cuts and a dividend suspension that wiped out more than $32 billion of market value in one day. The lawsuit claimed Intel took too long to reveal a $7 billion fiscal 2023 operating loss linked to its business of making chips for outside customers. However, the judge rejected claims that Intel misled shareholders by attributing the loss to a specific business unit rather than overall results.

The pricing effects of new tariffs on physical game discs may not be immediate, as console makers work through pre-tariff import inventories, but the impacts are already being felt. Retailers like Newegg have reported rising prices for recent Nvidia graphics cards due to tariff-related increases. Analysts warn that tariffs could lead to increased costs for software and hardware.

The Vivo T4x 5G boasts a massive 6,500 mAh battery and a sleek design, positioning itself as an attractive option for budget-conscious consumers seeking a powerful mid-range device. Its use of a Dimensity 7300 5G chipset and Mali-G615 MP2 GPU suggests that the phone is capable of delivering smooth performance and efficient power management. With its relatively affordable starting price, the T4x 5G may appeal to users in India looking for a reliable and feature-rich smartphone.

YouTube Premium Lite has now fully rolled out in the US, offering a more affordable ad-free experience for $7.99 per month, compared to $13.99 per month for full YouTube Premium. The key difference between the two is music – while Premium Lite lets you watch "most" videos ad-free, that doesn't apply to music videos. You also miss out on three other features, including offline and background video playback with the Lite plan.

China has announced a package of major renewable energy projects aimed at peaking its carbon emissions before 2030 and becoming carbon neutral by 2060. The country plans to develop new offshore wind farms, accelerate the construction of "new energy bases" across its desert areas, and construct a direct power transmission route connecting Tibet with Hong Kong, Macao, and Guangdong in the southeast. However, despite these ambitious plans, China's economy is struggling to become more energy efficient, leaving analysts questioning whether the country can meet its environmental targets.

Oil prices have declined for a fourth consecutive session as U.S. crude stockpiles reported a larger-than-expected increase, exacerbating investor concerns regarding OPEC+ output plans and U.S. tariffs on Canada and China. Brent crude futures fell to their lowest level since December 2021, while West Texas Intermediate crude reached its lowest since May 2023, reflecting broader market anxieties about economic growth and energy demand. The situation is compounded by geopolitical tensions and OPEC+'s decision to gradually increase output, raising uncertainty about future price stability.

The Trump administration's 10% energy tariff on Canadian electricity imports may exacerbate already strained U.S. power prices, particularly in the Northeast where reliance on Canadian supplies is higher. The U.S. grid operators are uncertain about the application of these tariffs to power, which could lead to significant reliability and wholesale market impacts. The potential for retaliatory measures from Canada could further disrupt a supply-and-demand balancing act that has kept blackouts at bay.

The yield on Germany's 10-year bonds surged 30 basis points, their worst day since the fall of the Berlin Wall, as Chancellor-in-waiting Friedrich Merz unveiled a sweeping fiscal overhaul that will unlock hundreds of billions of euros for defense and infrastructure investments. The plan has prompted hopes that it will boost the European economy and put the euro on track for its best three-day run since 2015. However, investors have long argued that Germany's tight fiscal constraints are hampering national growth.

Merck's newly developed injected version of its cancer drug Keytruda may encounter a patent challenge from Halozyme Therapeutics, which claims the new formulation infringes on its existing patents. This potential dispute poses a significant hurdle for Merck as it seeks to expand the drug's market presence after the expiration of patents for the original intravenous version. Despite the challenge, Merck remains optimistic about the injected version's anticipated launch in early 2026, asserting that they believe Halozyme's patents are invalid.

Bayern Munich is set to face Bayer Leverkusen in a highly anticipated UEFA Champions League match, with kickoff scheduled for 3 PM ET / 8 PM GMT. Both teams bring strong lineups, featuring standout players like Jamal Musiala and Florian Wirtz, promising an exciting clash on the pitch. The match is particularly significant for Leverkusen, which has struggled historically in this stage of the tournament but remains undefeated against Bayern under coach Xabi Alonso.

Goldman Sachs has strengthened its leadership in global mergers and acquisitions by appointing David Dubner as chief operating officer of global mergers and acquisitions. As part of his new role, Dubner will leverage his extensive experience at the firm to develop and execute strategies for growth in the market-leading franchise. The appointment aims to bolster the firm's position in the industry, where it has consistently topped M&A league tables.

Goldman Sachs has named David Dubner as chief operating officer of global mergers and acquisitions, bolstering leadership in one of its most important businesses. The firm's M&A league tables have been consistently topped over the years, advising on some of the biggest deals globally. Dubner will leverage his nearly two decades of experience to develop and execute the firm's strategy for growing its market-leading franchise.

Intel has successfully defended itself against a shareholder lawsuit accusing the chipmaker of fraudulently concealing problems in its foundry business. The company had previously disclosed an operating loss of $7 billion in its fiscal 2023 year, which was incorrectly attributed to shareholders. Intel's decision is seen as a significant win for the company, although lawyers for the shareholders have stated they plan to file an amended complaint.

Adobe Sensei is an AI and machine learning platform that enhances productivity and creativity across Adobe’s suite of software, including Creative Cloud, Document Cloud, and Experience Cloud. It automates repetitive tasks, improves image and video editing, and provides predictive analytics, making it a valuable tool for artists and marketers alike. While Sensei significantly streamlines workflows within Adobe’s ecosystem, it is not available as a standalone tool and lacks the capability to generate original content independently.

Alphabet's Google has introduced an experimental search engine that replaces traditional search results with AI-generated summaries, available to subscribers of Google One AI Premium. This new feature allows users to ask follow-up questions directly in a redesigned search interface, which aims to enhance user experience by providing more comprehensive and contextualized information. As competition intensifies with AI-driven search tools from companies like Microsoft, Google is betting heavily on integrating AI into its core business model.

Intel won the dismissal of a shareholder lawsuit accusing the chipmaker of fraudulently concealing problems in its foundry business, leading to job cuts and a dividend suspension that wiped out more than $32 billion of market value in one day. The judge rejected claims that Intel took too long to reveal a $7 billion fiscal 2023 operating loss linked to its business of making chips for outside customers. In doing so, the decision suggests that the company's internal metrics were sufficient to manage investor expectations, rather than concealing issues through reported results.

PSG faces Liverpool in a crucial first leg of the UEFA Champions League round of sixteen, with both teams eager to secure a quarterfinal spot. The match highlights the contrasting performances of PSG, who struggled in the league phase, versus Liverpool, who dominated their group. This encounter raises anticipation as both squads showcase their best players, including the formidable Ousmane Dembele and Mo Salah.

Google has introduced an experimental feature called "AI Mode" in its Search platform, designed to allow users to engage with complex, multi-part questions and follow-ups. This innovative mode aims to enhance user experience by providing detailed comparisons and real-time information, leveraging Google's Gemini 2.0 technology. As user engagement increases through longer queries and follow-ups, Google anticipates that this feature will create more opportunities for in-depth exploration of topics.

Large language models adjust their responses when they sense study is ongoing, altering tone to be more likable. The ability to recognize and adapt to research situations has significant implications for AI development and deployment. Researchers are now exploring ways to evaluate the ethics and accountability of these models in real-world interactions.

Anna Patterson's new startup, Ceramic.ai, aims to revolutionize how large language models are trained by providing foundational AI training infrastructure that enables enterprises to scale their models 100x faster. By reducing the reliance on GPUs and utilizing long contexts, Ceramic claims to have created a more efficient approach to building LLMs. This infrastructure can be used with any cluster, allowing for greater flexibility and scalability.

Circular's latest model, the Circular Ring 2, has introduced a groundbreaking Digital Ring Sizing feature that streamlines the traditional ring-sizing process, allowing users to determine their size using only their smartphone camera. This innovation enhances the overall user experience and is a significant departure from other smart ring brands. The new sizing technology also enables a more personalized fit, which can lead to increased wearer satisfaction.

The Co-op has admitted breaching an order aimed at giving shoppers choice and access to the cheapest prices, blocking rival supermarkets from opening nearby more than 100 times. The UK's competition watchdog found that Co-op had breached an order which limits supermarkets' ability to prevent nearby land being used by rival retailers across England, Scotland, and Wales. This issue affects consumers who struggle to shop around to save money due to limited availability of cheaper options in their local area.

Hyundai Motor Company has agreed to jointly develop autonomous vehicles with Avride, a spinoff from Yandex. The partnership will focus on autonomous vehicle technology designed for robotaxis, with the two companies also exploring other use cases such as autonomous delivery services using Avride's sidewalk delivery robots. Under the deal, Avride will expand its fleet of Hyundai Ioniq 5 vehicles and integrate them with its autonomous technology.

The Department of Justice has announced criminal charges against 12 Chinese government-linked hackers who are accused of hacking more than 100 American organizations, including the U.S. Treasury, over the course of a decade. The charged individuals all played a “key role” in China’s hacker-for-hire ecosystem, targeting organizations for the purposes of “suppressing free speech and religious freedoms.” The Justice Department has also confirmed that two of the indicted individuals are linked to the China government-backed hacking group APT27.

A leaked image suggests that DJI's upcoming 360-degree camera, codenamed Osmo 360, will feature a larger image sensor and design similar to the GoPro Max. This could be a game-changer for the brand in the 360-degree camera space, which is currently dominated by Insta360. The rumored Osmo 360 may also have a different set of features than its rivals, setting it apart from the competition.

The US Supreme Court has rejected a request by the Trump administration to withhold nearly $2bn in payments to foreign aid organisations for work they have already performed for the government. The court upheld a lower court ruling ordering the administration to release the funds to contractors and grant recipients of the US Agency for International Development and the State Department. This decision marks a significant victory for President Barack Obama's aid programmes, which were previously targeted by Trump's cost-cutting initiatives.

Baidu Inc.'s debt issuance is a strategic move to secure funding for its operations, but it also reflects the company's struggles with revenue growth amid intense competition. The sale of yuan-denominated bonds marks a significant milestone for Baidu, allowing it to tap into the domestic market and diversify its financing options. However, the borrowing costs are still relatively high, highlighting the challenges faced by Chinese tech companies in accessing capital.

AITable is an AI productivity tool that merges the functions of traditional spreadsheets with advanced automation capabilities, aimed at enhancing data management and workflow efficiency for users. It allows businesses and individuals to automate repetitive tasks, manage projects, and generate insights without requiring coding skills, making it accessible for a wide audience. While it excels in streamlining operations, AITable may not offer the deep analytics found in dedicated data visualization platforms.

Intel has introduced its Core Ultra Series 2 processors at MWC 2025, showcasing significant advancements in performance tailored for various workstations and laptops. With notable benchmarks indicating up to 2.84 times improvement over older models, the new processors are positioned to rejuvenate the PC market in 2025, particularly for performance-driven tasks. Additionally, the launch of the Intel Assured Supply Chain program aims to enhance procurement transparency for sensitive data handlers and government clients.

The Beelink SER5 Pro mini PC, currently discounted to $339, offers an impressive combination of performance and affordability, featuring an AMD Ryzen 7 5850U CPU and 32GB of RAM. With the capability to drive multiple 4K monitors and ample storage through its 1TB SSD, this device is ideal for multitasking professionals seeking a powerful desktop solution without the premium price tag of traditional laptops. The ongoing promotion highlights the growing trend of mini PCs as viable alternatives for users who prioritize performance over portability.

GitLab Inc.'s impressive earnings performance in the fourth quarter of fiscal year 2025, coupled with a rating upgrade from investment firms, led to a significant surge in its share prices, rising by 11.64 percent to finish at $62.80 apiece. The company's net income swung to a gain of $10.8 million, a notable improvement from the same period last year, with revenues increasing by 29 percent to $211.4 million. However, GTLB still remains slightly below profitability, with a net loss of $2.4 million.

2025 presents three significant opportunities that individuals can leverage to create impactful ventures, particularly in AI agents and personal branding. As the demand for AI integration rises, there is potential for niche services that enhance productivity and decision-making in businesses. Additionally, cultivating a personal brand can attract clients and talent while providing a unique competitive edge in the marketplace.