Author: Jack Mulligan
Board invites higher bid from Paramount Warner Bros. Discovery has entered a delicate balancing act, reopening limited discussions with Paramount while continuing to back its existing merger agreement with Netflix and urging shareholders to reject Paramount’s hostile offer. The board said it wants to hear Paramount’s “best and final proposal,” signaling that it is open to a higher price. At the same time, Warner is moving forward with plans to secure shareholder approval of its previously announced transaction with Netflix. The situation underscores the high-stakes maneuvering around a company valued in the tens of billions of dollars. Under the current…
Memory crunch fuels price concerns Gamers hoping for cheaper hardware or quick next-generation launches may be disappointed. Surging demand for memory chips used in artificial intelligence data centers is tightening supply of DRAM and NAND storage, pushing up costs for console makers and potentially delaying future devices. AI infrastructure expansion has absorbed vast quantities of RAM and solid-state storage, making it harder even for major technology companies to secure components at stable prices. According to Bloomberg, Nintendo is weighing a potential price increase for its $450 Switch 2, citing people familiar with the matter. The device already launched at a…
Geneva diplomacy ahead of second round Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi met Monday in Geneva with Rafael Grossi, director-general of the International Atomic Energy Agency, in a move seen as a prelude to renewed negotiations with the United States over Tehran’s nuclear program. The encounter comes one day before a second round of indirect US-Iran talks hosted by Oman. Araghchi also confirmed he would meet Omani Foreign Minister Badr al-Busaidi, whose government is facilitating the discussions. Writing on social media, the Iranian diplomat said he had arrived with “real ideas” for what he described as a fair agreement, while rejecting…
December brings first monthly decline since summer Industrial activity in the euro area contracted in December, ending a four-month stretch of expansion, according to new figures released by Eurostat. Output fell by 1.4% compared with November, reversing the previous month’s 0.3% increase and marking the first decline since August. The downturn was broad-based across most major industrial categories. Capital goods recorded the sharpest drop, falling 1.9% month on month. Energy production and non-durable consumer goods each slipped by 0.3%, while intermediate goods declined by 0.1%. Durable consumer goods stood out as the sole area of growth, rising 0.2%. Annual growth…
Federal Authority Invoked President Donald Trump announced Monday that his administration is taking control of the Washington, D.C., Metropolitan Police Department and deploying National Guard troops. He invoked Section 740 of the District’s Home Rule Act, which allows the president to temporarily assume control of the capital’s police if “special conditions of an emergency nature exist.” The statute limits this authority to 30 days unless Congress approves an extension. Trump appointed U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi to take command immediately. Crime Rates and Conflicting Narratives Trump justified the move by claiming crime in D.C. is “out of control,” calling the…
American households have so far absorbed 22% of the extra costs from President Donald Trump’s new wave of import tariffs. Goldman Sachs projects that share will surge to 67% by October if current pricing trends hold. The tariffs include a 10% blanket duty on all imports, additional rates for specific countries, and targeted product measures such as those on automobiles. Businesses and Exporters Shouldered Early Costs Until midyear, U.S. businesses carried roughly 64% of tariff-related costs, while foreign exporters absorbed about 14% by cutting prices to remain competitive. That dynamic is shifting as companies pass more of the burden to…
OpenAI has launched GPT-5, its most advanced AI chatbot to date, described as “smarter, faster, and more useful” than its predecessors. The model promises PhD-level expertise in areas like coding and writing, improved reasoning, fewer inaccuracies, and a more human-like interaction experience. Its release marks a new chapter in the competitive AI landscape, where tech leaders race to offer the most capable chatbots. Advanced Capabilities and Reasoning GPT-5 introduces significant upgrades in reasoning, logic, and inference. According to OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, the model can build complete software solutions, provide detailed explanations, and deliver highly accurate answers. He compared the…
Ben Shelton captured the biggest victory of his young tennis career, winning the National Bank Open in Toronto by defeating 11th-seeded Karen Khachanov of Russia 6-7 (5), 6-4, 7-6 (3). The 22-year-old American, seeded fourth, became the first U.S. player to win the prestigious Masters 1000 hard-court tournament since Andy Roddick in 2003. A Breakthrough Performance Shelton’s victory marks his third career title, following previous wins on hard courts in Tokyo (2023) and clay in Houston (2024). This week in Toronto, he delivered his best tennis when it counted most, particularly in high-pressure moments. His performance was highlighted by resilience…
Streaming debut prioritizes sports, news, and stability Fox Corp. will officially enter the direct-to-consumer streaming race with the August 21 launch of Fox One, priced at $19.99 per month. CEO Lachlan Murdoch announced the launch during the company’s Q2 earnings call, positioning the platform as a modest but strategic move anchored in live sports, news, and legacy content. Fox One will include access to the full Fox content slate — from Fox’s NFL and Big Ten college football coverage to playoff MLB games, soccer, and other live sports — alongside Fox News Channel, Fox Business, and remaining original content from…
New models aim for accessibility and customization OpenAI has launched two open-weight language models, gpt-oss-120b and gpt-oss-20b, marking its first open-weight release since GPT-2 in 2019. These models are text-only and designed to offer developers, researchers, and businesses a lower-cost, customizable alternative to closed models. The release is part of OpenAI’s broader effort to promote transparency and decentralize access to powerful AI tools. Open-weight models expose their parameter data, allowing third parties to run and tailor them as needed. However, unlike open-source models, they don’t provide access to full source code. The announcement follows similar moves by competitors such as…