Today: 7 February 2026
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‘BritCard’ Shock: UK to Force Digital IDs by 2029—Here’s What It Is, Why It’s Explosive, and How It Stacks Up Against EU Wallets, Estonia’s e‑ID and India’s Aadhaar

‘BritCard’ Shock: UK to Force Digital IDs by 2029—Here’s What It Is, Why It’s Explosive, and How It Stacks Up Against EU Wallets, Estonia’s e‑ID and India’s Aadhaar

Key facts (as of September 28, 2025) The in‑depth report What exactly is “BritCard”? Downing Street announced a national digital ID to be mandatory for Right to Work (RtW) checks by the end of this Parliament. The government says a BritCard credential would sit in a GOV.UK wallet on a person’s phone, similar in feel to the NHS App or contactless payments, with a promise of free enrollment. A formal explainer pledges convenience for citizens and a phased expansion to public‑service access; RtW is slated as the first mandated use‑case. GOV.UK+1 The vision reported so far: a credential that employers,
28 September 2025
‘Hoarse Voice’ Could Be COVID: “Stratus” Variant Surges—Symptoms Doctors Flag, Where It’s Rising, and What Still Works

‘Hoarse Voice’ Could Be COVID: “Stratus” Variant Surges—Symptoms Doctors Flag, Where It’s Rising, and What Still Works

What is the “Stratus” COVID variant? “Stratus” is the colloquial name for XFG, a recombinant Omicron descendant (from LF.7 and LP.8.1.2). WHO added XFG to its monitoring list in late June and, based on available evidence, concluded the “additional public‑health risk … is low.” WHO’s lab summary notes spike‑protein changes (e.g., at positions 478 and 487) that can modestly increase immune escape compared with earlier JN.1‑family strains. World Health Organization Globally, XFG gained speed over the summer. WHO’s dashboard reports XFG was ~67% of submitted sequences in the week ending 31 Aug 2025; the runner‑up, NB.1.8.1 (“Nimbus”), accounted for ~21%.
28 September 2025
Exposing AI Bias: 10 Powerful Ways to Fight Algorithmic Discrimination

AI Megatrends 2025: The Next Wave Is Here—Why Data‑Center Power, AI Agents & Edge Devices Could Reshape Markets (and Portfolios) Now

Key facts (what changed this week) The three AI megatrends shaping the next phase 1) Hyperscale compute + energy: AI “super‑factories” What’s happening. Frontier models, agents and video‑native AI are pushing demand from chips to power, cooling, memory and networking. The Stargate program alone is racing toward multi‑gigawatt campuses; Nvidia committed up to $100B in supply/investment to OpenAI, underscoring how intertwined vendors and model labs have become. Reuters+1 Power & water constraints. PJM’s service area is straining under data‑center load, prompting demand‑response pacts (e.g., Google) and federal fast‑track permitting for plants and transmission. Expect siting to follow available gigawatts and
28 September 2025
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Inside China’s Hidden Cyber Machine: How the MSS and ‘Salt Typhoon’ Put Spies in Your Phone Network — and What Comes Next

Inside China’s Hidden Cyber Machine: How the MSS and ‘Salt Typhoon’ Put Spies in Your Phone Network — and What Comes Next

Key facts (as of September 28, 2025) The big picture: from “quiet persistence” to a global telecom dragnet The past year has made clear that China’s cyber apparatus—centered on the Ministry of State Security (MSS) and buttressed by commercial contractors—has retooled for scale and stealth. A rare, globe‑spanning advisory issued by CISA, NSA, FBI, and allied cyber agencies documents how an MSS‑linked cluster overlapping with Salt Typhoon burrowed into telecoms and backbone providers across dozens of countries, abusing network edge devices and trusted interconnects more than individual laptops and servers. CISA Rather than showcase pricey zero‑days, the campaign chain‑exploited widely
28 September 2025
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NVIDIA’s $4 Trillion AI Revolution: How the Chipmaker Overtook Apple and Microsoft

Nvidia’s $100B AI Gambit: Brilliant Empire-Building or Dot-Com Déjà Vu?

The $100B Bet on OpenAI On September 22, 2025 Nvidia and OpenAI unveiled a historic infrastructure partnership. Under the agreement, OpenAI will deploy 10 gigawatts of Nvidia’s latest AI systems – roughly 4–5 million GPUs – in new data centers for training and inference nasdaq.com. Nvidia will progressively fund up to $100 billion of this build-out, providing cash injections as each gigawatt of capacity is completed reuters.com. In practice, this means Nvidia puts up the capital for OpenAI’s growth, which is then spent on Nvidia’s own chips and platforms. OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman hailed the deal: “There’s no partner but NVIDIA that
28 September 2025
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Samsung S26 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Clash of the 2026 Flagship Titans

Samsung S26 Ultra vs Xiaomi 17 Pro Max: Clash of the 2026 Flagship Titans

With those facts in mind, let’s dive deeper into what each flagship offers and how they stack up. Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra: Rumors and Expectations Samsung is shaking up the S-series for 2026. Industry leaks suggest Samsung will unveil the Galaxy S26 Ultra (alongside a new “S26 Edge” and base S26/S26 Pro) at an Unpacked event in early 2026 ts2.tech ts2.tech. Reports even hint at premium pricing (~₹159,990 in India, ~$1,900) ts2.tech. As PhoneArena notes, the S26 Ultra name will stick, but Samsung may drop the old “Plus” name in favor of a slimmed-down “Edge” model ts2.tech ts2.tech. Rumors emphasize
28 September 2025
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$1B Fusion Lab Headed to Albuquerque — Is Clean Energy on the Horizon?

$1B Fusion Lab Headed to Albuquerque — Is Clean Energy on the Horizon?

A $1B Fusion Campus: Albuquerque’s Big Bet Albuquerque’s leaders and New Mexico’s government see Pacific Fusion’s campus as a historic win. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham described the company’s decision as proof that “our state can compete—and win in the race to attract the most innovative companies in the world” losalamosreporter.com. The state’s $1 billion incentive package (mostly in bonds and performance-based tax relief) helped secure the deal over competing California sites kob.com cosmico.org. Mesa del Sol – a growing tech park on Albuquerque’s south side – was chosen for its power availability, space and nearby skilled workforce. The site already hosts
28 September 2025
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Samsung S26 vs OnePlus 15: Monster Specs, 60W Charging & a 7,000mAh Battery Clash

Samsung S26 vs OnePlus 15: Monster Specs, 60W Charging & a 7,000mAh Battery Clash

Launch Timeline and Model Lineup Samsung appears to stick to its traditional January launch. PhoneArena predicts a mid‑Jan/early‑Feb 2026 Unpacked event phonearena.com. That report (by Iskra Petrova) also highlights a naming shake‑up: “rumors claim there won’t be a Galaxy S26 Plus anymore… instead we’ll be getting a Galaxy S26 Edge,” and only the Ultra keeps the “Ultra” name phonearena.com. In other words, expect Galaxy S26, S26 Edge (the new slim “Plus” successor), S26 Pro, and S26 Ultra. Samsung itself hasn’t confirmed anything, but multiple leaks back this up phonearena.com ts2.tech. OnePlus is on a faster cycle. After skipping a “14”
28 September 2025
UK Wind Power “Racket” Exposed: Octopus Energy Reveals £650m Wasted on Idle Turbines – Is Our Grid Broken?

UK Wind Power “Racket” Exposed: Octopus Energy Reveals £650m Wasted on Idle Turbines – Is Our Grid Broken?

Octopus’s campaign has thrust the curtailment problem into the spotlight. Greg Jackson bluntly told The Independent that wind farm owners (some of whom also run gas plants) “realise there is a bunch of generators…that won’t get to market because of grid congestion, so they pay them anyway, and then they find someone else to fill the gaps” the-independent.com. In other words, billpayers fund idle wind farms and pricey backup power – a situation Jackson labels “a racket” the-independent.com the-independent.com. He illustrated it like “building a factory where there [are] no roads and then being paid for what you might have
28 September 2025
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OnePlus 15 Leak Bombshell: Radical Design, Monster Battery & Next-Gen Power

OnePlus 15 Unveiling: Jaw-Dropping Specs, Price & Launch Date Leaked

Design & Display: A Bold New Look OnePlus has radically redesigned its flagship’s appearance. Leaked images and the official teaser confirm the rear camera layout has changed from the usual circular Hasselblad module to a vertical pill-shaped island androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. This new square-ish bump (top-left corner) houses three lenses and a flash. The black color shown off (“Absolute Black”) is very glossy and premium-looking androidcentral.com. The company says it did this following positive feedback on similar designs (like the current OnePlus 13s), blending OnePlus styling with Apple-inspired cues androidcentral.com androidcentral.com. The front of the phone, as previewed by OnePlus staff,
28 September 2025
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Samsung Galaxy S26 Leak Bombshell: 200MP Camera Monster, AI Upgrades & Radical Lineup Shake-Up

Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra Rumors: 60W Charging, AI Magic & January 2026 Launch – What We Know So Far

With these key points in mind, here is a deeper look at what the rumors and reports are saying about the Galaxy S26 series – and how it will compare to the current S25 phones. Launch Date and Model Lineup All signs point to a traditional Samsung Unpacked event in early 2026. PhoneArena expects the S26 reveal in mid-January or early February phonearena.com (Samsung has typically unveiled S series phones on a Wednesday in late Jan/early Feb). This matches reports that Samsung is preparing an early 2026 launch. A Times Now (LatestLY) report specifically notes the S26 series “might launch
28 September 2025
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AI Stocks Frenzy! Nvidia, Microsoft Soar on OpenAI Drive – Is a Bubble Brewing?

AI Stocks Frenzy! Nvidia, Microsoft Soar on OpenAI Drive – Is a Bubble Brewing?

The late-September surge left US indexes near record highs on renewed AI optimism. “There needs to be a catalyst for stocks to move materially higher,” notes Oliver Pursche of Wealthspire Advisors, warning that stretched valuations mean markets may be ignoring potential headwinds reuters.com. Dan Moczulski of eToro cautions retail investors: “The risk comes when people treat generic models like ChatGPT or Gemini as crystal balls” reuters.com. Even OpenAI’s CEO Sam Altman has admitted the AI industry faces “bubble fear” despite explosive revenue growth nasdaq.com. In short, AI-focused stocks and funds have drawn massive investor attention and flows, driven by big
28 September 2025
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Precious Metals Bonanza: Gold & Silver Smash Records as Platinum and Palladium Rally

Precious Metals Bonanza: Gold & Silver Smash Records as Platinum and Palladium Rally

Overview of Precious Metals Price Movements Late-September 2025 saw a broad rally across the precious metals. Gold futures hit fresh all-time highs – by Sept. 26, December gold settled near $3,809/oz reuters.com. Silver climbed in lockstep, reaching about $46.41 on Sept. 26 (a 14-year peak) reuters.com. Platinum and palladium likewise surged: platinum hit $1,568.21 on Friday (its best in over 12 years) reuters.com, and palladium jumped above $1,280. These gains pushed all four metals into strong bull-market territory (e.g. gold is up roughly 35–40% for 2025). Traders note that all sectors of bullion demand are rallying – and even traditionally lagging metals
28 September 2025
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Trump Tariffs Spark Asian Market Meltdown: Stocks Dive, Rupee Crashes & Gold Soars

Trump Tariffs Spark Asian Market Meltdown: Stocks Dive, Rupee Crashes & Gold Soars

Regional Stock Market Performance China & Hong Kong: Mainland markets were modestly lower. The Shanghai Composite traded near 3,820–3,830 (about –0.7%) on Friday reuters.com, dragged by global tech weakness and trade jitters. Hong Kong’s Hang Seng fell over 1% on Friday reuters.com, led by declines in technology and financials. Chinese data showed some stabilization – for example, August industrial profits jumped 20.4% YoY (recovering from a July decline) reuters.com – but analysts note demand remains weak. Beijing’s central bank, meeting on Tuesday, said it would “step up adjustments” and keep policy loose to shore up growth reuters.com. The PBOC also
28 September 2025
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Crypto Mayhem: Bitcoin & Ethereum Dive as Global Regulators, DeFi Hacks and Bullish Prophets Shake Up Markets (Sept 27–28, 2025)

European Stocks Surge Amid Tariff Twists and Bank Boosts – What’s Next for October?

Index Performances: Broad Gains, Sector Rotation European benchmarks climbed on Friday, shrugging off mid-week lows. The pan-European STOXX 600 closed +0.8% investing.com. Country indices ended higher: Spain’s IBEX 35 led with ~+1.3%, the CAC 40 (France) +0.97%, the DAX (Germany) +0.87%, and the FTSE 100 (UK) +0.77% reuters.com investing.com. Week-over-week, gains were modest – STOXX 600 was just 0.07% higher investing.com – reflecting a recovery from tariff-led fears. By sector, financials and industrials outperformed. European insurers (e.g. Munich Re, SCOR) jumped ~2% on the day investing.com, driven partly by dovish global rate signals and M&A chatter. Materials and industrial stocks
28 September 2025
Crypto Mayhem: Bitcoin & Ethereum Dive as Global Regulators, DeFi Hacks and Bullish Prophets Shake Up Markets (Sept 27–28, 2025)

Crypto Mayhem: Bitcoin & Ethereum Dive as Global Regulators, DeFi Hacks and Bullish Prophets Shake Up Markets (Sept 27–28, 2025)

Chart: Bitcoin price and futures open interest (USD). BTC hovered ~$109K with open interest ~$78B, reflecting sustained trading activity on Sep 27. (Source: CoinGlass) Chart: Top crypto assets (prices and 24h change). BTC ~$109.3K, ETH ~$3,995, BNB ~$969, SOL ~$201, XRP ~$2.78 as of Sep 27. (Source: CoinGecko) Sources: Authoritative crypto news outlets and financial press (Coindesk, Cointelegraph, Decrypt, The Economic Times, Binance Research, etc.) were used for all facts above m.economictimes.com cointelegraph.com ainvest.com binance.com. Wherever possible, direct quotes from industry experts (SEC/CFTC chairs, CEO’s, policy heads) are cited. Links are provided for verification (see references).
28 September 2025
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Wall Street Feels the Heat (and Thrill): Fed Cuts, Tariffs & Mega-Mergers Set NYSE Buzz

Nasdaq Surges Amid AI Frenzy and Fed Optimism – EA Skyrockets on $50B Buyout Buzz

Sources: Major financial news outlets including Reuters, Nasdaq.com and mainstream analysts’ reports (cited) provided the above insights and quotes reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com reuters.com. Each development is drawn from these verifiable sources for accuracy.
28 September 2025
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Wall Street Feels the Heat (and Thrill): Fed Cuts, Tariffs & Mega-Mergers Set NYSE Buzz

Wall Street Feels the Heat (and Thrill): Fed Cuts, Tariffs & Mega-Mergers Set NYSE Buzz

Key Facts Finance & Banking Fed policy: The Fed’s Sept. 17 decision to cut rates (to 4.00–4.25%) was driven by slowing growth and job gains, though inflation has crept up federalreserve.gov. Fed Chair Powell and colleagues signaled further cuts ahead, but warned that inflation upside risks remain high federalreserve.gov reuters.com. Fed Vice Chair Bowman urged a commitment to cuts to shore up jobs reuters.com, while a strategist noted Powell was dovish but noncommittal on timing reuters.com. Bank stocks: Regional banks held mixed news. First Horizon (FHN) was downgraded by one analyst firm (citing weakening outlook), while other analysts actually raised
28 September 2025
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Cosmic Showcase: What’s Up in the Sky on Sept 28–29, 2025

Cosmic Showcase: What’s Up in the Sky on Sept 28–29, 2025

Meteor Showers and Fireballs This weekend’s meteor activity will be modest. No major shower peaks on Sept 28–29. The Orionids (parent comet Halley) have just started but are weak – current rates are well under 1 meteor/hour and won’t peak until Oct. 23 amsmeteors.org. The only notable shower is the Southern Taurids (from comet 2P/Encke), active Sept 23–Nov 12 with a broad radiant. AMS predicts a Southern Taurid rate of about 3/hour around local midnight (the radiant in Pisces, best near 1 a.m.) amsmeteors.org. All other named showers (epsilon Geminids, sextantids, etc.) are producing <1/hr amsmeteors.org amsmeteors.org. Thus most meteors will be
28 September 2025
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1 … 1,504 1,505 1,506 1,507 1,508 … 1,636

Stock Market Today

SAP stock price: Treasury stake tops 5% as buyback focus builds into next week

SAP stock price: Treasury stake tops 5% as buyback focus builds into next week

7 February 2026
SAP SE closed at 171.22 euros on Xetra Friday, up 0.43%, after disclosing its treasury shares rose above 5% of capital, reaching 61,737,035 shares. The increase follows the launch of a buyback plan worth up to 2.6 billion euros through July 2026. SAP’s U.S. shares finished at $203.34. Investors await SAP’s Integrated Report on Feb. 26 and next results on April 23.
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