This report is from this week’s The Tech Download newsletter. Like what you see? You can subscribe here. The past week has seen some progress, albeit uneasy and stilted, being made towards ending the Iran war. A two-week ceasefire was agreed on Wednesday, and while it looks fragile, hopes of the conflict approaching a close are…
Barcelona have taken the extraordinary step of filing a formal complaint to UEFA following their controversial 2-0 Champions League defeat to Atletico Madrid. The Catalan giants are furious over what they describe as “incomprehensible refereeing” in a match defined by a bizarre handball incident that went unpunished. Barca demand answers from UEFA Barca have confirmed…
Gold prices have swung between historic highs and lower levels since late 2025, as geopolitical tensions and trade concerns have prompted some investors toward the safe-haven asset. As of April 9, the spot price was $4,810 per ounce, down from a record $5,400 in late January. For those interested in adding gold to their portfolio,…
The Euronext NV stock exchange in Paris. Nathan Laine | Bloomberg | Getty Images Shares in Europe nudged higher on Friday morning as the fragile ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran continues to test investors’ nerves. The pan-European Stoxx 600 index was seen trading up 0.3% shortly after 9:30 a.m. in London, with most sectors…
Afrika Bambaataa, a man widely considered one of the main pioneers of hip-hop, died in Pennsylvania of prostate cancer on Thursday, according to his lawyer. He was 68. Bambaataa’s sudden death was met with an outpouring of condolences from friends, family and fans across the world, who paid tribute to his profound and unmistakable impact…
To no one’s surprise, the Dodgers are out to a commanding lead in the NL West, and the Yankees look well on their way to being one of the top American League contenders. However, no one would have expected the Mariners, Red Sox, Tigers and Cubs to all be in at least a share of…
The Alibaba logo is pictured during a tour at the Alibaba office in Beijing on April 1, 2026. Wang Zhao | Afp | Getty Images A mysterious AI video model that has ascended global leaderboards has been confirmed as a project from Chinese tech giant Alibaba, in a development that could boost the company’s artificial…
BEIJING — China’s ties with countries such as Iran and Russia have raised expectations of a bigger diplomatic role, but Beijing remains focused on protecting its own domestic interests, including global exports. That stance underpins Beijing’s circumspect acknowledgment of reports that it pushed Iran toward this week’s temporary ceasefire. A New York Times report cited…
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kuomintang party chair Cheng Li-wun in Beijing on Friday, the first encounter between Xi and a sitting Taiwanese opposition leader in nearly a decade. In a readout released by Chinese state media, Xi said Beijing “welcomes any proposals conducive to the peaceful development of cross-strait relations.” That’s according to…
As Patrick Agyemang strolled through the lobby of the U.S. men’s national team’s 5-star hotel in the swanky Buckhead district of Atlanta late last month, the mother of two young soccer fans approached the lanky young striker. “Are you a player?,” she asked. Agyemang stopped, flashed his 1000-watt smile and, somewhat sheepishly, confirmed that he…
