A proposed California “billionaire tax” has been cleared to appear on the statewide ballot, setting up a high-stakes fight over whether the state should impose a new levy aimed at its wealthiest residents. The measure advanced despite opposition from prominent figures in the tech industry and is now positioned for a public vote. The proposal,…
A group of California billionaires and their allies has launched a well-funded campaign to defeat a proposed state tax aimed at raising money for health care, setting up a high-stakes political fight ahead of the November election. The proposal, often described as a “billionaire tax,” is slated to qualify for the November ballot, according to…
Iran’s supreme leader said he authorized a deal and approved direct talks with the United States, signaling a major shift in how Tehran is handling negotiations with Washington. The remarks, reported by Axios and other outlets, attributed the decision to Iran’s supreme leader. Separate coverage from Anadolu Ajansı quoted him as saying he had “a…
Amazon is moving to sell its in-house artificial intelligence chips to customers, signaling a more direct challenge to Nvidia’s dominance in the data center market. Executives at Amazon have confirmed the company is in discussions about offering its internally developed AI chips for sale beyond Amazon’s own operations. The effort would position Amazon not only…
Oil prices fell after Vice President JD Vance said more than 12 million barrels of oil moved through the Strait of Hormuz as a U.S.-Iran deal took effect, easing immediate concerns about supply disruptions tied to the conflict involving Iran and Israel. In public remarks reported by multiple outlets, Vance put the figure at about…
Sen. JD Vance said the United States is not giving Iran “a cent” as he defended President Donald Trump’s newly signed peace deal, pushing back on claims that the agreement involves U.S. payments to Tehran. Vance’s comments came as questions continue to surround the U.S.-Iran deal that Trump formally signed, including unresolved concerns about Iran’s…
Microsoft’s new Outlook app is drawing fresh criticism after users reported noticeable delays in routine actions that Outlook Classic performs immediately, including waits of roughly 10 seconds for tasks that typically feel instant in the legacy desktop program. The complaints center on the “New Outlook” experience that Microsoft has been promoting on Windows 11, positioned…
HP’s new OmniBook Ultra 14 is drawing comparisons with Dell’s XPS 14 as the latest wave of premium Windows laptops hits the market, with early coverage pointing to a single standout advantage for HP’s new 14-inch model. The OmniBook Ultra 14 is HP’s newest entry in its OmniBook lineup, a category that sits in the…
The Bank of England kept its benchmark interest rate unchanged at 3.75% on Wednesday, holding borrowing costs steady as policymakers weigh mixed inflation signals alongside shifting expectations tied to prospects for an Iran war peace deal. The decision, reported by CNBC, leaves the central bank’s key rate at 3.75% following a stretch in which UK…
Qantas has confirmed it will launch its first “Project Sunrise” nonstop flights between Sydney and London in late 2027, putting a firm start date on a long-planned ultra-long-haul service expected to take about 22 hours. The airline said the Sydney-to-London route will be the first Project Sunrise service to enter operation. Qantas has positioned the…
Google Photos has begun expanding its AI-powered “Edit with Ask Photos” feature to additional countries, widening access to a tool that lets users make photo edits by describing what they want in natural language. The rollout is tied to recent Google updates to Photos and other Pixel-related features, and it brings the AI editing experience…
The Strait of Hormuz is reopening, but the restart is expected to take weeks before it meaningfully clears a shipping backlog and reduces pressure on oil markets, according to recent reports. The waterway is one of the world’s most important transit points for crude oil and liquefied natural gas, and disruptions there can quickly ripple…