AI, Gaming, Global Momentum – 2025 Headlines

News

International

• S Korea announces lowering of some tariffs as part of new US trade deal – BBC News
• Israeli strikes in Gaza kill 104, health ministry says, after Hamas accused of killing soldier – BBC News
• Dutch election tight race as anti‑Islam populist Wilders’ hope of power declines – BBC News
• Ben & Jerry’s co‑founder says Unilever blocked Palestine‑themed ice cream – BBC News

UK & National

• Sir David Attenborough backs bid to buy Rothbury Estate – BBC News
• Migrant sex offender deported from UK, government says – BBC News
• Damning report finds ‘culture of mistrust’ at maternity unit – BBC News
• Budget black hole could be up to £40 bn – Sky News
• Premier League’s Brittain seeks extra time as Manchester City verdict looms – Sky News

Technology

• ‘Close eye’ will be kept on OpenAI’s for‑profit conversion, says attorney general – Sky News

Food & Lifestyle

• Top chef on spag​‑bol hack, the Burger King item you can’t beat, and two things customers should stop doing – Sky News

Transportation & Accidents

• Investigation after woman left behind by cruise ship dies on island – BBC News
• Woman saved after slipping while boarding a moving train – BBC News

AI

AI Partnerships & Funding

• Microsoft gets 27% stake in OpenAI, and a $250B Azure commitment – GeekWire – AI
• The next chapter of the Microsoft–OpenAI partnership – OpenAI Blog
• Built to benefit everyone – OpenAI Blog

AI Tools & Models

• DeepSeek may have found a new way to improve AI’s ability to remember – Technology Review – AI
• Introducing gpt-oss-safeguard – OpenAI Blog
• IBM’s open source Granite 4.0 Nano AI models are small enough to run locally directly in your browser – VentureBeat – AI
• Microsoft’s Copilot can now build apps and automate your job — here’s how it works – VentureBeat – AI
• GitHub’s Agent HQ aims to solve enterprises’ biggest AI coding problem: Too many agents, no central control – VentureBeat – AI
• Doppel’s AI defense system stops attacks before they spread – OpenAI Blog

AI Adoption & ROI

• The AI Hype Index: Data centers’ neighbors are pivoting to power blackouts – Technology Review – AI
• Knowledge preservation powered by ChatGPT – OpenAI Blog
• Finding return on AI investments across industries – Technology Review – AI
• An AI adoption riddle – Technology Review – AI

AI Ethics, Policy & Security

• The Download: Microsoft’s stance on erotic AI, and an AI hype mystery – Technology Review – AI
• “We will never build a sex robot,” says Mustafa Suleyman – Technology Review – AI

AI for Climate

• Roundtables: Seeking Climate Solutions in Turbulent Times – Technology Review – AI

AI Business Applications

• Intuit learned to build AI agents for finance the hard way: Trust lost in buckets, earned back in spoonfuls – VentureBeat – AI
• PayPal’s Agentic Commerce Play Shows Why Flexibility, Not Standards, Will Define the Next E-Commerce Wave – VentureBeat – AI
• A tale of two Seattles in the age of AI: Harsh realities and new hope for the tech community – GeekWire – AI

Technology

Gaming & Laptops

• Early Black Friday Nintendo Switch deals 2025 – ZDNet
• Amazon UK’s first major Switch 2 bundle discount – TechRadar
• Acer Nitro V 16 AI Review: sub‑$900 gaming laptop – Wired
• OnePlus 15 launch details – TechRadar

Gaming Accessories

• Razer HyperFlux V2 Wireless Charging System Review: $120 mousepad – Wired

Phones & Wearables

• Amazon cuts £300 off Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra – TechRadar
• Creative Aurvana Ace 3 earbuds review – TechRadar

AI & Data

• AI Data Center in your backyard – Gizmodo
• Acer Nitro V 16 AI Review – Wired

Security & VPN

• How to cancel your Surfshark subscription – Engadget
• Reacting slowly to a security breach opens up your business to more threats – TechRadar

Streaming & Media

• Disney addresses Doctor Who’s future on Disney+ – TechRadar
• Best live TV streaming services of 2025 – ZDNet

Amazon Alexa & Echo

• Amazon Echo Studio launch – Mashable
• Amazon Echo Dot Max launch – Mashable

PDF & Cloud Tools

• PDF Expert Premium Plan sale – Mashable
• PDF Converter Pro lifetime – Mashable
• Internxt Cloud Storage 100TB lifetime – Mashable

Misc Tech & News

• OnlyFans goes to Business School – Wired
• Windows handheld “Xbox” issue – The Verge
• Sam’s Club Plus membership sale – Mashable

Gaming

Amazon Gaming Division Changes

• Amazon isn’t closing MMO New World right away, but it won’t guarantee the life of the game past 2026 – Eurogamer
• Amazon Games is making major layoffs as it shifts focus away from MMOs to its Luna cloud gaming platform – PC Gamer
• Amazon reportedly “gutting” its video game division as part of 14,000 company wide job cuts – Eurogamer

Outer Worlds 2 – Patches and Criticism

• The Outer Worlds 2 pre‑launch hotfix makes you less likely to fall through the world or have to fight a closet – Rock Paper Shotgun
• So, it turns out The Outer Worlds 2 spent 95% of its runtime mocking me for a purchase I didn’t make – Rock Paper Shotgun

Star Wars Media (TV, Anime, Action Figures)

• Star Wars: Visions Volume 3 Review – IGN
• Lanterns ‘Is In a Lot Of Ways About Replacement’ and ‘That Push And Pull Between’ Hal Jordan and John Stewart – IGN
• Dark Forces’ Kyle Katarn Gets a Star Wars The Black Series Action Figure – IGN
• Star Wars: The Acolyte Showrunner Confirms Plans to Reveal the Stranger’s Connection to Kylo Ren in Future Seasons – IGN

Darkwood Sequel Development

• Overlooked top‑down horror Darkwood is getting a sequel and surprise new developer – Eurogamer
• The Pathologic devs are making Darkwood 2 with Acid Wizard’s blessing in a frankly outrageous piece of horror synergy – Rock Paper Shotgun

Arc Raiders Release Strategy

• “It needs to start somewhere” Arc Raiders dev really doesn’t seem to be concerned about launching between Call of Duty and Battlefield – Eurogamer

Retro Gaming – Simon the Sorcerer

• 30 years later, I’ve finally played a Simon the Sorcerer game – was it always this naff? – Eurogamer

Board Game – Doom Arena

• Doom Arena Board Game Hands‑On Preview: Rip and Tear on the Tabletop – IGN

Gaming Peripherals – Secretlab Desk

• The New Secretlab Magnus Evo Desk Is Now Available, Comes Highly Recommended for Gamers – IGN

Film Adaptations – American Psycho

• New American Psycho Movie Won’t Gender‑Swap Serial Killer Protagonist or Star Margot Robbie – IGN

Game DLC – Vampire Survivors

• FREE Vampire Survivors: Ante Chamber DLC is out now, introducing characters from Balatro! – GG.deals

Battlefield 6 – New Modes

• Battlefield 6’s battle royale mode REDSEC is out now and surprise surprise, there’s a new Gauntlet mode attached – Rock Paper Shotgun