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Frances Tiafoe Girlfriend Ayan Broomfield What to Know

Frances Tiafoe reaches his third US Open semifinal against Ben Shelton. Here's what is known about his girlfriend, Canadian tennis player Ayan Broomfield. Frances Tiafoe reached the US Open semifinals for the third time in his career on Friday, September 11, 2026, keeping alive his bid for a first Grand Slam final. The 28-year-old American, ranked world No. 12, advanced by beating Daniil Medvedev and Alex Michelsen in his previous two rounds. His opponent in the semifinal is fellow American Ben Shelton, who reached the last four by defeating Carlos Alcaraz in the quarterfinals. Shelton holds a 3-1 edge over Tiafoe in their career meetings, giving the match an added edge beyond a place in the final. Tiafoe is chasing his first Grand Slam singles title. Shelton is also seeking his first appearance in a major final, setting up a clash between two of the leading American men in the game. As Tiafoe prepared for the match, attention also turned to his personal life and his relationship with girlfriend Ayan Broomfield. Broomfield, 29, is a Canadian tennis player who competed at the collegiate level for Clemson and UCLA. The couple made their relationship public in 2018. Since then, Broomfield has been a regular presence in the stands at Tiafoe's matches, following his run through the professional tour. With a semifinal spot secured, Tiafoe now stands two wins away from a maiden Grand Slam title, beginning with the head-to-head test against Shelton. Frances Tiafoe, Ayan Broomfield, US Open semifinal, Ben Shelton, Tiafoe girlfriend, Grand Slam, American tennis

Razaullah's 81 lights up Edgbaston as Pakistan fight back

Debutant Razaullah smashed 81 off 63 balls with nine sixes at Edgbaston, dragging Pakistan back into the third Test against England on day three. A 21-year-old debutant named Razaullah hijacked the third Test between England and Pakistan at Edgbaston on Friday, hammering 81 from 63 balls to drag his side back into a match they had been expected to lose. Coming in at number nine, he struck nine sixes in an innings that lasted around two hours and left England's bowlers scrambling. By the close of day three, England needed 130 to win, a target that had looked far more comfortable before Razaullah walked to the crease in Birmingham. Instead of wrapping up the game and taking Saturday off, both sides must return for a fourth day. Razaullah arrived in international cricket almost unknown. He had played just eight first-class matches, with a single century to his name, and was picked as part of wholesale changes Pakistan made before the final Test. Selectors saw him primarily as a raw, quick fast bowler, with comparisons drawn to Waqar Younis. His name was not one England's attack had prepared for. That changed quickly. He broke two bats during his onslaught and had to call for a third, flaying the England bowling to all corners. His nine sixes equalled the most ever hit in a single Test innings in England, matching Ben Stokes' 155 against Australia during the 2023 Ashes. In one innings he cleared the rope as many times as Sir Geoffrey Boycott did across his entire 108-Test career. England captain Joe Root ran out of answers. At one stage he pushed eight fielders back to the boundary, a defensive setting that did nothing to slow the debutant, who kept swinging with the confidence of a player untroubled by the situation. Pakistan, well behind in the match and written off before a ball was bowled, batted with a freedom absent from earlier in the series. Razaullah was not alone in the fightback. Opener Shan Masood anchored the innings with a patient 95, providing the application at one end that allowed the hitting at the other. Former Pakistan captain Ramiz Raja, on BBC Test Match Special, said the innings marked the arrival of a genuine talent. "It's the first time he's been out there for Pakistan ever, and he absolutely lights up the show. This is the attitude that was needed," he said. "Someone with a strong body language and who believes in himself. They'll want him playing all formats because he's a natural in mind, body language and attitude. It was a tremendous fightback." The style of the knock drew comparisons to Pakistan's great entertainers, with echoes of Shahid Afridi and Abdul Razzaq in the way Razaullah attacked. For a player with only one first-class hundred and a reputation built on bowling pace, it was a startling introduction on the biggest stage. With 130 still to get, England remain favourites to close out the Test. But Razaullah's assault has ensured the match runs into a fourth day and handed Pakistan a contest they had appeared certain to concede. Razaullah, Pakistan cricket, England Pakistan Test, Edgbaston, third Test, Shan Masood, nine sixes, Test cricket

Houthis Reportedly Seize Red Sea Port of Mokha in Yemen

Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis have reportedly captured the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, moving closer to controlling the vital Bab al-Mandab Strait. Yemen's Houthi movement has reportedly seized the strategic Red Sea port of Mokha, a gain that brings the Iran-backed group closer to controlling one of the world's most important shipping corridors. Mokha sits on Yemen's western coast, along the approach to the Bab al-Mandab Strait. The narrow waterway is a key route for global maritime trade, and control of the surrounding coastline carries direct influence over the vessels that pass through it. The capture of the port would extend the Houthis' reach toward the strait, tightening the group's position over a chokepoint that links the Red Sea to the Gulf of Aden. That proximity is what makes Mokha a prize in the wider contest for Yemen's coastline. The reported seizure has not been independently confirmed in the available details, and the circumstances of the takeover remain limited. What is clear from the reports is the strategic value attached to the port and its location on the path to Bab al-Mandab. The Houthis are backed by Iran, a factor that shapes how the group's territorial gains along the Red Sea are viewed by regional and international observers. Their advance toward the strait places them near a passage that carries a significant share of seaborne commerce. Further confirmation and details of the situation on the ground in Mokha were not available. Houthis, Mokha port, Bab al-Mandab Strait, Yemen conflict, Red Sea shipping, Iran-backed Houthis, Yemen war

Hyundai Custo Facelift Leaks With Staria-Inspired New Face

Leaked Chinese MIIT documents reveal the facelifted Hyundai Custo minivan with a Staria-like front, vertical LED headlights and a black grille. Hyundai's Custo minivan has received its first facelift in China, with the updated model surfacing through homologation documents filed with the country's Ministry of Industry and Information Technology (MIIT). The leaked images reveal a heavily reworked front end that draws clear inspiration from the larger Staria MPV. The Custo first appeared in 2021 and is built by Beijing Hyundai, the joint venture between China's BAIC Motor and Hyundai. The same vehicle is sold under the Custin name in the Philippines, Taiwan and Vietnam, and the exterior changes shown in the leaked documents could eventually reach those markets. The Custo name is a nod to Jacques Cousteau, the French explorer credited with inventing SCUBA equipment. A completely revised front end The entire face of the minivan has been redesigned, giving the Custo a new identity. The grille now carries a black finish that stands out sharply against the white body colour shown in the leaked photos, with contrasting elements covering almost the whole front section. The update introduces vertically arranged LED headlights, with daytime running lights flanking them on the outer edges. A connected LED bar may run across the top, with either end doubling as turn indicators. A cascading grille sits in the centre and holds the Hyundai logo. Lower down, the design adds bull-bar-style elements and a faux skid plate. Familiar sides and rear The side profile has been left largely untouched. The changes there are limited to a new alloy wheel design and triangular elements added to both front fenders. The Custo continues to ride on 18-inch alloy wheels, which adopt a fresh pattern with this facelift. At the rear, the tail lights carry over unchanged, while the bumper gains new chrome elements. Depending on the variant, Hyundai will fit a single-pane sunroof at the front and a panoramic sunroof for the rear. The interior was not shown in the leaked pictures. Dimensionally, the facelifted Custo measures 4,959 mm in length, up to 1,856 mm in width and 1,733 mm in height. It has a wheelbase of 3,055 mm, and its sliding doors open into a wide aperture for access to the rear seats. Two turbo-petrol options Badges on the tailgate point to the powertrain line-up. The leaked images show 270T and 380T markings, both of which relate to the engines on offer. For Beijing Hyundai, the 270T designation refers to a 1.5-litre turbocharged petrol engine producing 270 Nm of torque and 170 bhp, paired with either a seven-speed or eight-speed automatic gearbox. The 380T badge denotes a 2.0-litre turbocharged petrol unit rated at 353 Nm and 230 bhp, mated to an eight-speed automatic transmission. Hyundai does not currently sell any minivan or MPV in India, but the Custo is part of a broad global line-up for the South Korean carmaker. The facelift keeps the model competitive in China, where it has been on sale since 2021, and the revised styling could filter through to the Custin-badged versions in Southeast Asia and Taiwan. Hyundai Custo facelift, Hyundai Custo, Beijing Hyundai, Hyundai Staria, Hyundai Custin, MIIT leak, Hyundai minivan, Custo facelift specs

Global Cancer Cases Set to Reach 34 Million a Year by 2050

A new American Cancer Society and WHO analysis projects a 67% rise in annual cancer cases by 2050, with 21 million diagnosed and 9.8 million dead in 2024. Nearly 21 million people were diagnosed with cancer around the world in 2024, and 9.8 million died from it, according to a wide-ranging new analysis led by the American Cancer Society (ACS). The report warns that the annual number of new cases could reach 34 million by 2050 - a 67% jump from 2024 - driven entirely by growing and aging populations. The findings, published as Global Cancer Statistics, 2026, estimate that roughly one in five people worldwide will be diagnosed with cancer at some stage of their lives. About one in nine men and one in 13 women are expected to die from the disease. The study was carried out by researchers at ACS and the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), the World Health Organization's dedicated cancer agency, and appears in CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians, the ACS flagship journal, with the report also posted on cancer.org. Dr. Hyuna Sung, senior principal scientist for cancer surveillance at ACS and the report's lead author, framed the disease as one of the defining public health problems of the century and a leading obstacle to longer lives. Mapping where and how heavily cancer strikes, she said, is critical to directing prevention and treatment efforts fairly. She added that the scale of the burden, while sobering, also signals opportunity: close to half of all cancer deaths could be averted by tackling changeable risk factors, and a further large share could be prevented through earlier detection and prompt care. The projections rest on GLOBOCAN estimates for 2024, an IARC database that records cancer incidence and deaths across 34 types of the disease in 186 countries. The team analysed how diagnoses and deaths differ by region and by a country's Human Development Index, then applied demographic trends to forecast the load in 2050. Sharp gaps between regions The geography of cancer is deeply uneven. Incidence rates ranged by four to five times between regions, with Australia and New Zealand recording the highest and parts of Africa and South-Central Asia the lowest. Death rates diverged less sharply - by roughly two times - but the pattern still varied by place and sex. The heaviest mortality fell on men in Eastern Europe and on women in Melanesia. Lung cancer remained the most common malignancy worldwide and the deadliest, with tobacco still the primary cause. Almost 2.6 million new lung cancer cases were logged in 2024, making up 13% of all cancers, and the disease killed 1.9 million people - 19% of every cancer death recorded that year. Breast cancer's uneven toll Female breast cancer was the second most frequently diagnosed cancer overall, with about 2.4 million new cases and 694,000 deaths. Among women it topped the list for both new diagnoses and deaths. The survival numbers expose a stark divide. Women in Western Africa are twice as likely to die of breast cancer as women in Australia and New Zealand, even though the disease is diagnosed only about half as often in Western Africa. The gap points to unequal access to screening and treatment rather than to how widespread the disease is. Colorectal cancer ranked third for new diagnoses and second for deaths, with more than 2.0 million cases and 918,000 deaths. Liver cancer added 843,000 new cases and 732,000 deaths to the global tally. Taken together, the report presents both a warning and an argument for action: much of the coming rise is fixed by demography, but a large slice of the deaths is not, provided prevention, testing and care reach the people who need them most. global cancer statistics 2026, cancer cases 2050, American Cancer Society, lung cancer worldwide, breast cancer mortality, GLOBOCAN 2024, cancer prevention, IARC WH

Caribbean Premier League: BBT vs SNP in 32nd Match Draws Indian Fans

The 32nd match of the Caribbean Premier League 2026, BBT vs SNP, is trending among Indian cricket fans following live commentary. The 32nd match of the Caribbean Premier League 2026, between BBT and SNP, has drawn attention from cricket followers in India, where the tournament climbed the Google Trends charts with more than 200 searches. The fixture is being tracked through live ball-by-ball commentary, the format that lets fans follow the T20 contest in real time even when a broadcast is not available. Interest in the match pushed "caribbean premier league" into the trending list for India. The Caribbean Premier League is the region's flagship Twenty20 competition. The 32nd match marks another step through the 2026 season's fixture list, with BBT and SNP meeting in a league-stage encounter. The surge in Indian searches points to the growing overseas audience for franchise T20 cricket beyond the Indian Premier League. Fans in India increasingly follow leagues staged in other time zones, checking scores and commentary online as matches unfold. Further details on the toss, playing conditions, team line-ups and the result were not available at the time of writing. Supporters have been relying on the live commentary feed for updates as the innings progress. The CPL season continues with more fixtures to follow, and the spike in search interest suggests Indian viewers will keep tracking the results of the remaining matches. Caribbean Premier League, CPL 2026, BBT vs SNP, 32nd match, T20 cricket, live commentary, cricket India

Elon Musk Calls India 'Realistic' After Irish Man's Citizenship Shock

An Irish man's Grok chat about moving to Kolkata revealed India's 14-year citizenship path and zero welfare. Elon Musk called the system 'realistic.' A social media exchange in which an Irish man asked Elon Musk's AI chatbot Grok how to move permanently to India drew a public response from Musk himself, who summed up the country's immigration system in three words: "India is realistic." The conversation involved an account posting as Aidan Joyce, who said he had fallen in love with India during a family visit to Kolkata and wanted to settle there for good. Joyce asked Grok how quickly he could relocate and eventually become an Indian citizen. The chatbot's answers made clear that the process would be neither fast nor simple. According to the exchange shared online, Grok told Joyce that gaining Indian citizenship could take at least 14 years, depending on his circumstances and the route he chose. He would first have to establish legal residence and then meet the requirements for naturalisation. Grok also noted that India generally does not permit dual citizenship. Anyone who becomes an Indian citizen would have to renounce their existing passport. Joyce pressed the chatbot on money. He said he had arrived with his partner and two children, was "totally skint," and asked how much the Indian state would pay the family in social welfare while they looked for work. Grok's reply was blunt: "None." It explained that India offers no cash welfare or unemployment payments to new arrivals or non-citizens, and that ration cards, pensions and most assistance require Indian citizenship plus eligibility, such as Below Poverty Line status. Formal-sector schemes, it added, need prior contributions. "Support yourselves," the bot said. Joyce then asked whether he could quickly buy a house in India. The answer was again no. The thread appeared designed as a pointed comparison for Indians who have spent years waiting for US Green Cards. It highlighted that India provides no welfare to newcomers and that, unlike in the United States where visa holders can purchase property, buying a home in India is far harder for non-citizens. What began as mockery turned into an endorsement. One user summarised the thread by noting it takes years to gain citizenship, requires renouncing a previous passport, comes with zero welfare, and ends in deportation for those who overstay. Musk weighed in to call India's system realistic, giving the viral exchange a high-profile stamp of approval. Elon Musk, Grok, Indian citizenship, India immigration, Kolkata, dual citizenship, social welfare, Aidan Joyce

Nine IPOs Draw Rs 1.4 Lakh Crore in Bids in One Week

Six mainboard and three SME IPOs closed Friday, pulling bids of about Rs 1.4 lakh crore against a Rs 3,100 crore target. RentoMojo led with Rs 63,600 crore. Nine initial public offerings closed in Mumbai on Friday, drawing combined bids of about Rs 1.4 lakh crore against a fundraising target of roughly Rs 3,100 crore, according to bidding data from the NSE and BSE. Six of the issues were mainboard offers; the other three listed on the SME platforms of the two exchanges. It was one of the busiest weeks for India's primary market in recent times. RentoMojo ran the largest of the offers, raising a total of Rs 1,250 crore, with the post-anchor portion set at Rs 871 crore. That part of the issue was subscribed 73 times and generated demand of nearly Rs 63,600 crore - the highest of any of the nine IPOs by value. Karamtara Engineering's issue was subscribed 60 times, with post-anchor demand of Rs 40,667 crore. Among the remaining offers, LCC Projects attracted bids worth Rs 14,817 crore, ARCIL drew Rs 10,311 crore and Steamhouse India pulled in Rs 9,299 crore. The scale of the bids, far outstripping the amount the companies set out to raise, points to strong investor appetite across the batch of listings that wrapped up during the week. IPO, primary market, RentoMojo IPO, Karamtara Engineering, NSE BSE, IPO subscription, Indian stock market, mainboard IPO

NFL May Overhaul TV Packages in Next Media Rights Deal

NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell says the league could repackage its TV rights when it revisits deals, citing an opt-out after the 2029-30 season. NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell said the league is weighing whether to restructure how it sells its television game packages when it negotiates its next round of media deals, a response to how audiences now watch football and the accelerating move toward streaming. Speaking to CNBC in Melbourne, Australia, ahead of the season-opening matchup between the San Francisco 49ers and the Los Angeles Rams, Goodell said the league is in active conversations about the shape of those future rights. The Thursday night game, kicking off at 8:35 p.m. ET, marks the first time a regular-season NFL contest has been staged in Australia. Goodell said the league is talking with current broadcasters as well as prospective new ones about whether the existing bundle of packages still makes sense. "Should we repackage our current packages? Should we think differently about where we go with those things?" he said. At present, the NFL divides its schedule into several distinct rights packages. Fox and CBS, now owned by Paramount Skydance, carry Sunday afternoon games across two separate deals. NBC holds Sunday Night Football, while Monday Night Football sits with Disney's ESPN and ABC. Amazon streams Thursday Night Football. This season, Netflix also acquired the rights to five extra games. The league holds a contractual escape hatch: an opt-out it can invoke at the close of the 2029-30 season, allowing it to reopen and re-sell its packages. Goodell declined to say whether the NFL intends to pull that trigger, framing the clause as leverage rather than a commitment. "We don't have to make that decision today. That's the reason you have an option," he said. He described the provision as highly valuable, giving the league room to assess the media environment and decide how best to deliver games at the right price. Media partners in flux Several of the companies that currently carry NFL games are in the middle of major corporate upheaval, a backdrop likely to shape any renegotiation. Paramount is pursuing a $110 billion takeover of Warner Bros. Discovery, a deal held up by an antitrust challenge. Fox has struck a $22 billion agreement to buy Roku. Comcast, meanwhile, announced plans earlier this year to spin off NBCUniversal. Goodell acknowledged that the ground is shifting for everyone involved. "The world is changing for our partners. It's changing for us. It's changing for fans. Our fans are moving to other platforms," he said. He added that the league's task is to judge what is working, what is not, and which partners can carry its games to the widest audience once the option window opens. Chasing a global audience Goodell singled out international reach as a fresh strategic priority. The NFL is playing games this season in Spain, France and Brazil, part of a broader push beyond its home market. Netflix holds the worldwide broadcast rights to the 49ers-Rams game in Australia, though the commissioner noted that most NFL rights remain restricted to the United States. That global lens is relatively new for the league. Goodell said the NFL had not previously evaluated its media strategy around reaching fans around the world, and that partners capable of delivering games internationally will factor into decisions made after the opt-out date. Even as streaming grows, Goodell insisted that traditional broadcast television will stay central to the league's approach, chiefly to preserve free, over-the-air access in local markets. Every NFL game is currently available on broadcast TV, he said, and he expects that to hold. Local stations already simulcast games that air on streaming services such as Netflix and Amazon Prime Video, ensuring regional viewers can still tune in without a subscription. "One hundred percent of our games are available on broadcast television. I see that continuing," Goodell said. The comments offer an early read on how the NFL is thinking about one of the most lucrative sets of rights in media, at a moment when its longtime broadcast partners are being reshaped by mergers, spinoffs and the pull of streaming. For now, the league is keeping its options open - literally - and declining to signal its hand years before it has to play it. NFL media rights, Roger Goodell, NFL TV packages, NFL streaming, 49ers Rams Australia, Netflix NFL, NFL Thursday Night Football, sports broadcasting

The Newspaper Trick That Keeps Your Car Carpet Dry in Monsoon

A few sheets of old newspaper placed under your car's floor mats can absorb moisture, trap dirt and protect the carpet during the rainy season. A few sheets of old newspaper can serve a surprisingly practical purpose inside a car during the rainy season. Placed beneath the floor mats, newspaper helps tackle one of the most common problems drivers face in wet weather: moisture. Water, mud and dampness often enter the car on the soles of shoes and collect around the footwell, and while rubber or fabric mats catch most of the visible dirt, moisture can linger underneath and leave the carpet damp. Newspaper works as a simple absorbent layer. It soaks up some of that moisture before it settles into the carpet, and it is cheap, easy to find and quick to replace once it becomes wet. The catch is that it is a temporary measure. It manages small amounts of dampness but does not replace proper cleaning and drying. How the newspaper works under the mat Newspaper is made from paper fibres that absorb water well. Placed beneath a floor mat, it can soak up moisture reaching the footwell from wet shoes or damp mats, stopping water from sitting on the carpet for too long. Moisture often gets trapped between a wet mat and the carpet below it. A sheet of newspaper between the two adds an extra absorbent layer that collects some of that water. This is especially useful on rainy days, when shoes and mats carry more moisture into the vehicle. Dampness left under the mats for too long can produce an unpleasant smell. By absorbing excess water and keeping the carpet drier, newspaper can help limit that. It should be swapped out regularly, though, and it will not clear odours that are already present. The paper also acts as an early warning. If the sheets turn wet, it is a clear sign that water has collected in that spot, giving drivers a simple way to catch the problem early and dry the carpet before it worsens. Newspaper catches mud, sand and other debris carried in on wet shoes, keeping much of the dirt off the carpet and making the car easier to clean. When the paper becomes dirty or soggy, it can simply be removed and replaced with fresh sheets. What drivers should keep in mind Replacing wet newspaper regularly is essential. The paper only helps while it is dry; once soaked, it should not be left in place, because it can keep the carpet damp instead. Remove the wet sheets, check the carpet underneath and let the area dry before putting in fresh paper. Newspaper is not a permanent fix. It handles minor moisture, but if the carpet becomes consistently wet, the mats should be lifted out and the affected area dried thoroughly. Leaving moisture trapped beneath the mat for long stretches can create a more stubborn problem. More is not better when it comes to layers. Piling on extra sheets to soak up additional water can make the mat uneven, and loose or bulky layers may stop it from sitting securely. A few sheets that fit neatly underneath, without making the mat too thick, are enough. Extra caution is needed around the driver's mat. Loose paper there could shift the mat out of position, so the newspaper must stay flat and fully tucked underneath without creeping towards the pedals. The mat itself should remain firmly in place to avoid any obstruction while driving. car carpet rainy season, newspaper under car mats, car floor mat moisture, car interior monsoon care, absorb car footwell moisture, protect car carpet dampness, car cleaning tips rain, damp car smell fix

Apple Unveils Foldable iPhone Duo as Ternus Debuts as CEO

Apple's launch event brought the folding iPhone Duo, the iPhone 18 Pro, and new Apple Watches with an always-on microphone, in John Ternus's first outing as CEO. John Ternus introduced Apple's first folding phone, the iPhone Duo, in his first public appearance as the company's chief executive. The debut, staged at Apple's launch event, paired a high-profile product with a high-profile leadership change, giving the new CEO a marquee device to headline his opening act. The iPhone Duo marks Apple's entry into a category that Android manufacturers have occupied for years. Rather than break new ground on the format, Apple appears to have studied its rivals closely, selecting the features it judged to work best from existing Android foldables and building around them. The Verge's Allison Johnson tested the new phones in Cupertino ahead of the event. The iPhone 18 Pro and its variable aperture Alongside the foldable, Apple introduced the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. The headline camera change is a new variable aperture, which lets the lens open and close to different f-stops. But the standout improvement may be simpler than the mechanism suggests. The more meaningful gain appears to be the wider maximum aperture itself, which lets in more light, rather than the added ability to stop the lens down to narrower settings. New Apple Watches that listen Apple also refreshed its smartwatch line with the Apple Watch Series 12 and the Apple Watch Ultra 4. Both carry a new sensor array, raising the question of whether the added hardware delivers genuinely new health metrics or simply more loosely defined wellness data. Victoria Song tested the watches for The Verge. The more striking addition is on the software and privacy side. Both new watches can keep a microphone switched on at all times, using it to summarize the conversations a wearer has throughout the day. The Series 12 pairs this with an always-on Siri capable of generating AI recaps of a user's day. Apple published a document explaining how the listening features are designed to protect user privacy, an acknowledgment that an always-listening wrist device invites scrutiny. Local AI and the OpenAI math dispute The event coverage extended beyond Apple's own hardware. In a separate segment, The Verge's Nilay Patel and David Imel spoke with AI researcher CJ Trowbridge about the current state of running local large language models directly on the Mac, a growing interest for users who want to keep AI workloads on their own machines rather than in the cloud. Attention also turned to a controversy surrounding OpenAI. The company has claimed a significant mathematical breakthrough, but the announcement has unsettled parts of the academic community. Mathematicians are pressing OpenAI for proof that it did not rely on their existing work to reach the result, and the dispute has cast a shadow over what the company presented as a milestone. Several shorter items rounded out the week's technology news. The so-called Trump phone was hit with a $250 price increase. Sony returned to one of its best-known audio products, revisiting the XM4 headphones six years after their original release. And Hori released an electronic take on the Ocarina of Time that, by design, requires no musical ability to play. Together, the announcements point to a busy stretch for Apple and the wider industry. For Apple, the day carried added weight: a new foldable, a redesigned camera system, and a set of always-listening wearables all arrived under a new chief executive making his first impression from the stage. iPhone Duo, foldable iPhone, John Ternus Apple CEO, iPhone 18 Pro, Apple Watch Series 12, Apple Watch Ultra 4, variable aperture camera, Apple AI features

Companies Start Tying Promotions to How Staff Use AI

A growing number of companies are linking career progression to how employees use artificial intelligence, raising questions about fairness at work. A growing number of companies are linking career progression to how their employees use artificial intelligence, making the technology a factor in who gets promoted. The shift ties advancement not only to results but to how readily workers adopt AI tools in their day-to-day jobs. As the practice spreads, it has drawn a pointed question: is it fair to judge someone's career on their use of AI? Supporters see the move as a way to push adoption of tools that are reshaping how work gets done. By rewarding staff who lean into AI, firms signal that the skills matter and encourage the rest of the workforce to follow. Critics counter that access to tools, training and the nature of a given role can vary widely between employees. Measuring workers by AI use, rather than the quality of their output, risks penalising those whose jobs offer fewer chances to apply it. The debate lands as employers weigh how to fold rapidly changing technology into long-standing systems for evaluating and promoting staff. For now, the trend is spreading faster than any settled answer on whether it is fair. AI in the workplace, promotions and AI, career progression, artificial intelligence at work, employee performance, workplace fairness, AI adoption