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400tmax/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Alphabet's ( GOOG ) ( GOOGL ) unit Google agreed to pay $68M to settle a lawsuit alleging that its voice-activated assistant spied on smartphone users, violating their privacy, Reuters reported. A tentative class action settlement was filed late Friday night in the San Jose, California federal court. The settlement requires approval by U.S. District Judge...
400tmax/iStock Unreleased via Getty Images Alphabet's ( GOOG ) ( GOOGL ) unit Google agreed to pay $68M to settle a lawsuit alleging that its voice-activated assistant spied on smartphone users, violating their privacy, Reuters reported. A tentative class action settlement was filed late Friday night in the San Jose, California federal court. The settlement requires approval by U.S. District Judge Beth Labson Freeman, the report added . Smartphone users accused Google of illegally recording and spreading private conversations after Google Assistant was triggered, so as to send them targeted advertising, the report noted. Google Assistant is designed to react when people use “hot words” like as “Hey Google” or "Okay Google," similar to Apple's ( AAPL ) voice assistant Siri. Users objected to getting ads after Google Assistant misperceived what they said as hot words called "false accepts," the report noted. Apple had reached a similar $95M settlement with smartphone users in December 2024, according to the report. Google denied wrongdoing but settled to avoid the risk, cost, and uncertainty of litigation, the report added, citing court papers. Google did not immediately respond to a request for comment from Seeking Alpha. The settlement covers people who purchased Google devices or were subjected to false accepts since May 18, 2016, the report noted. Lawyers for plaintiffs may seek up to one-third of the settlement amount, or about $22.7M, for legal fees. More on Alphabet Alphabet's Big Rally: Ranking The Magnificent 7 Alphabet Q4 2025 Earnings Preview: Relating Expectations With OLS Model Alphabet: Q4 Earnings Surprises May Not Be Just About AI France’s National Assembly OKs social media ban for under-15s Anthropic asked Apple for 'several billion dollars' per year for Siri deal: report
Flood and weather warnings from both Environment Agency and the Met Office are in place across much of the UK as Storm Chandra brought heavy rain and strong winds to many areas of the UK. As day broke on Tuesday, there were almost 100 flood warnings in England and nearly 200 alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in place, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground. There 24 flood alerts...
Flood and weather warnings from both Environment Agency and the Met Office are in place across much of the UK as Storm Chandra brought heavy rain and strong winds to many areas of the UK. As day broke on Tuesday, there were almost 100 flood warnings in England and nearly 200 alerts – meaning flooding is possible – in place, with heavy rain falling on already saturated ground. There 24 flood alerts in Wales at the time of writing. A red flood warning – meaning danger to life – has been issued for a river in south-west England. Have you been affected by Storm Chandra? You can tell us about your situation below – and upload any photos you have taken of the impact. Though we’d like to hear from you, your safety and security are most important. When recording, or sharing your content with us, please put your welfare and the welfare of others first. Extreme weather events can be very unpredictable and carry very real risks. Share your experience You can tell us how you've been affected by Storm Chandra using this form. Please share your story if you are 18 or over, anonymously if you wish. For more information please see our terms of service and privacy policy Tell us here Your responses, which can be anonymous, are secure as the form is encrypted and only the Guardian has access to your contributions. We will only use the data you provide us for the purpose of the feature and we will delete any personal data when we no longer require it for this purpose. For alternative ways to get in touch securely please see our tips guide Name Where do you live? Tell us a bit about yourself (e.g. age, background, what you do for a living) Optional Tell us if you've been affected by Storm Chandra Please include as much detail as possible. Do you have any concerns? Optional Please include as much detail as possible. If you are happy to, please upload a photo here Optional Please note, the maximum file size is 5.7 MB . Choose file You can add another photo here Optional Please note, the ...
Taiwan defends TSMC's US expansion as brain drain fears mount TSMC is now worth US$1.7 trillion. The chip giant has surpassed Broadcom and Meta to become the world's sixth-largest company. But the milestone has triggered fresh concerns in Taiwan. Some fear the recently concluded US–Taiwan trade talks will drain Taiwan's tech talent. Critics worry Taiwan is trading away TSMC in exchange for prefere...
Taiwan defends TSMC's US expansion as brain drain fears mount TSMC is now worth US$1.7 trillion. The chip giant has surpassed Broadcom and Meta to become the world's sixth-largest company. But the milestone has triggered fresh concerns in Taiwan. Some fear the recently concluded US–Taiwan trade talks will drain Taiwan's tech talent. Critics worry Taiwan is trading away TSMC in exchange for preferential treatment in machine tools, traditional industries, and Section 232 products. Taiwan's government disagrees. Deputy Minister of Economic Affairs Chin-tsang Ho says using foreign resources and talent is now essential for TSMC's continued growth. Strategic partnership takes shape Ho laid out his vision at a January 26, 2026, meeting of the Legislative Yuan's Finance Committee. Central bank officials and finance ministry leaders reported on the trade agreement's impact on Taiwan's finance, industries, employment, and markets. The numbers tell a compelling story. Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA) data projects that Taiwan and the US will dominate advanced chip production. By 2030, they'll control an 85%–15% split of sub-5nm semiconductor capacity. That shifts slightly to an 80%–20% split by 2036. Taiwan will be the world's leading semiconductor and AI manufacturer. The US will become the foremost AI application center. This strategic partnership is already reshaping global tech. Ho emphasized TSMC's position. The company achieves the best chip yield rates in Taiwan. But as the world's sixth-largest company, it must expand globally. It needs local manpower, resources, and customer proximity abroad to sustain growth. Supply chain restructuring accelerates National Development Council (NDC) Deputy Minister Shien-quey Kao sees bigger forces at work. The global supply chain is entering a second wave of restructuring. Taiwan has secured a "Taiwan model" for entering the US supply chain. The US has pledged concrete support. Taiwanese companies will get help accessing land, uti...
BlackJack3D/E+ via Getty Images After a multi-year drought, the iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) has been quietly having a fantastic run, returning about 28% for 2025, dwarfing its modest returns in 2023, alongside losses in 2022, 2024, amid a renewed risk appetite, a healthy environment of IPO & M&A activity, alongside a sturdy show by large-cap biotechs, where IBB derives its weights from. Data...
BlackJack3D/E+ via Getty Images After a multi-year drought, the iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) has been quietly having a fantastic run, returning about 28% for 2025, dwarfing its modest returns in 2023, alongside losses in 2022, 2024, amid a renewed risk appetite, a healthy environment of IPO & M&A activity, alongside a sturdy show by large-cap biotechs, where IBB derives its weights from. Data by YCharts As we move forward, 2026 looks like a promising year, given the number of catalysts within the biotechs world that investors keep a close eye on, growing M&A activity, alongside a release of FDA authorizations, and an increasing use of AI technologies that will fast-track biotechs timelines, benefiting many of IBB's constituents. Unlike some of its peers, such as XBI, which is equal-weighted across its portfolio and as a consequence offers riskier exposure to smaller companies, IBB's focus on the cash-flow-positive giants such as Amgen ( AMGN ), Vertex ( VRTX ), and Gilead ( GILD ) creates a "safe" entry into the innovation cycle, given its ability to better manage idiosyncratic risk. The Fund iShares Biotechnology ETF ( IBB ) is a passive fund seeking to replicate the performance of the NYSE Biotechnology Index . Key details about the index are that it is market cap weighted, free float adjusted, and quarterly rebalanced. The number of constituents is variable, while constituents must have a market cap of at least $200 million to be included in the index, an average daily traded volume in the last three months of at least 100 thousand shares, and the maximum weighting is set at 9% for an individual issuer, and the total weighting of issuers with at least 4.5% weight cannot be over 36%. Given these criteria, the fund cannot have a severely concentrated structure. You can read up more on the methodology of the index here . The number of holdings currently is 258, the fund inception date is February 5, 2001, and the fund AUM is $8.65 billion, defining it as a larg...
Opendoor's fundamentals don't quite line up with the incredible rally in its stock last year. Opendoor Technologies (OPEN 2.33%) stock delivered a return of 264% in 2025, but that only tells a small part of the story. The stock hit a record low of $0.51 in June before rocketing higher by more than 2,000%, to reach $10.87 by September, as retail investors whipped up a buying frenzy using social med...
Opendoor's fundamentals don't quite line up with the incredible rally in its stock last year. Opendoor Technologies (OPEN 2.33%) stock delivered a return of 264% in 2025, but that only tells a small part of the story. The stock hit a record low of $0.51 in June before rocketing higher by more than 2,000%, to reach $10.87 by September, as retail investors whipped up a buying frenzy using social media platforms like Reddit and X (formerly Twitter). Opendoor operates in the real estate sector, so with the U.S. Federal Reserve cutting interest rates six times since late 2024, a little optimism from investors might be warranted. However, this company faces some structural issues that will be very difficult to overcome, even with a new chief executive officer who's implementing a fresh strategy. Here's what could be in store for Opendoor stock during 2026. Opendoor's business model has a concerning track record Selling a home is an enormous undertaking for most owners, which is why they hire a professional agent to manage the process. But not even the best agents can guarantee a timely sale, which leaves the seller in a state of uncertainty for weeks or even months. Opendoor operates a direct-buying service. Willing sellers can enter some basic details about their home on the company's website, and they will be presented with a cash offer they can accept or reject. If they choose to proceed, Opendoor can get the deal closed in just a couple of weeks -- no open homes, no uncertain settlements, no fuss. The company makes money by attempting to flip the house for a profit, which is straightforward when real estate prices are rising but extremely risky when the housing market is weak. After the last housing boom peaked in 2021, companies like Zillow and Redfin shut their direct-buying businesses because they were suffering substantial losses. In fact, Zillow's direct-buying service was losing so much money that it threatened the financial stability of the entire company. Unfo...