Social network Instagram has announced that the end-to-end encryption of private messages (E2EE) will no longer work from May 8, 2026. Users have already started receiving notifications with a recommendation to save important dialogs and media files in advance, as after the disconnection it will be impossible to access protected correspondence.
In South Korea, innovation in rainwater management has reached a new level: instead of draining into storm water channels and polluting rivers, cities are using a system that turns the streets into a kind of giant sponge. Hidden beneath the asphalt are huge underground reservoirs that accumulate every drop of rain and allow it to be used as efficiently as possible.
Ryan Dice, founder and CEO of the marketing company DigitalMarketer, shared his views on the rapid spread of artificial intelligence. In his opinion, the main danger is not that technology will become smarter than people, but that people themselves will gradually stop thinking for themselves.
The global fashion industry is going through a period of slowdown. According to the forecasts of consulting companies, growth in the fashion segment remains unstable and low. Against this background, the beauty market shows the opposite dynamics. According to analysts’ estimates, the global beauty market has already reached about 450 billion dollars, and its average annual growth until 2030 may be about 5%. This is why many fashion companies are actively developing the production of cosmetics and perfumes, considering this segment as an additional source of income.
The winners of the 98th Academy Awards were announced in Los Angeles. The main triumphants of the evening were “Battle Beyond the Battle” and “Sinners”, who shared the key awards between them.
The British news agency Reuters has published a large-scale investigation into the identity of the legendary street artist Banksy, whose real name has for decades remained one of the most discussed mysteries of contemporary art.
Lucid Motors has unveiled a new autonomous vehicle concept called Lunar, a compact two-seat robotaxi designed specifically to work in transportation services. The prototype was shown during an investor presentation in New York, where the company also revealed plans to develop autonomous transportation and expand its business beyond premium electric vehicles.
In Italy, one of the most discussed deals on the art market in recent years has been completed: the state has purchased the “Portrait of Maffeo Barberini”, recognized as an authentic work by Michelangelo Merisi da Caravaggio, for 30 million euros. After much debate about the provenance of the work, the authorities decided to exercise the right of first refusal to prevent the painting from leaving the country.
The International Energy Agency (IEA) has agreed the largest ever release of strategic oil reserves – 400 million barrels – to curb the rise in oil prices caused by the war with Iran. The decision to release the reserves was made unanimously by the IEA’s 32 member countries on March 11.
In Sydney, construction is well underway on the unusual Atlassian Central skyscraper, which is already standing out on the city skyline thanks to its bold architectural design. It will be one of the world’s tallest towers with a hybrid timber structure combining wood, steel and concrete – materials that provide both strength and stability.
Fraudsters have modernized a well-known scheme for hacking into accounts on Telegram and other messengers. As before, the attackers use a request to vote for a child, but now they have added a new emotional element – a story about the possibility of receiving a grant for expensive treatment.
The Bank of England plans to change the appearance of national banknotes: instead of portraits of famous historical figures, they may feature images of wildlife. The final decision on which species of animals or plants will be placed on the banknotes will be made after public discussion, which is scheduled for the summer of 2026.
Financial experts of the French company BNP Paribas admitted that Nike may consider the possibility of selling the Converse brand, owned by the sports giant since 2003. The basis for such assumptions were both the decline in the brand’s financial performance and significant changes in management and cost structure.
Chinese garment factories have announced price increases amid a sharp rise in the cost of chemical fibers, including polyester and acrylic. The cost of these materials has increased by more than 10 percent since the start of U.S. and Israeli military action against Iran, according to representatives of seven factories in the country’s southern and eastern provinces.
The Chinese Ministry of Defense has announced the potential threats that the uncontrolled introduction of artificial intelligence technologies into the military sphere may bring. According to Jiang Bin, a spokesman for the ministry, such a development could resemble the plot of the famous science fiction movie The Terminator.
The escalation of the conflict around Iran is beginning to go far beyond geopolitics and is gradually affecting the global automotive industry. Experts note that tensions in the Middle East are already affecting business expectations, and automakers are being forced to revise their plans for the coming months.
The modern world is literally filled with calls to “get out of your comfort zone” if you want to achieve success. Bloggers, coaches and personal growth coaches convince us that it is only through discomfort and stress that we can realize our ambitions. However, this idea is far from the truth and often does more harm than good.
French automobile concern Renault has announced large-scale plans to update the model range: by the end of the decade the company intends to introduce 36 new cars. This is stated in the official message of the manufacturer.
German apparel and accessories maker Hugo Boss AG summarized its 2025 financial results, recording a rise in net profit despite a slight decline in revenue.
A trial has begun in Istanbul against the city’s mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu, who many observers see as Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan’s main possible rival in future elections.
