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A version of this article first appeared in the CNBC Sport newsletter with Alex Sherman, which brings you the biggest news and exclusive interviews from the worlds of sports business and media. Sign up to receive future editions, straight to your inbox. NBA Commissioner Adam Silver has a new pet project with grand ambitions — to reorganize European professional basketball with an NBA league at the top of the funnel. The NBA is full steam ahead with plans to create NBA Europe, a league with 10 to 12 permanent teams and four to six open spots, available to any FIBA-affiliated…
Omer Taha Cetin | Anadolu | Getty ImagesGoogle on Thursday rolled out Nano Banana 2, an update to its wildly popular artificial intelligence image generator.The company launched the first Nano Banana in August, and the service quickly went viral. Nano Banana Pro hit the market in November, built on Gemini 3 Pro.Google said in a blog post that Nano Banana 2 has advanced world knowledge, pulling real-time information from Gemini for more accurate renderings. The company also highlighted the new model’s increased speed, enhanced instruction following and more precise text renderings for “marketing mockups or greeting cards.”The company said Nano…
Nicolai Tangen, CEO of Norges Bank Investment Management, addresses a press conference on his company’s annual results for 2024 at Norges Bank in Oslo, Norway, on January 29, 2025.Ole Berg-rusten | Afp | Getty ImagesNorway’s $2 trillion oil fund, one of the world’s biggest investors, said Thursday that it is now using AI to screen investments for potential reputational and ethical risks. Norges Bank Investment Management (NBIM) manages the fund, which was set up in the 1990s to invest revenues from Norway’s oil and gas industry. It’s an investor in more than 7,200 companies across 60 countries and has stakes…
Students are seen on the campus of Columbia University in New York City on April 14, 2025.Charly Triballeau | AFP | Getty ImagesColumbia University said a student was detained by federal agents early Thursday, the latest sign of President Donald Trump’s nationwide escalation of immigration enforcement.The student was taken by Department of Homeland Security officials from a university-owned residential building around 6:30 a.m., according to an email from Claire Shipman, the school’s acting president, obtained by CNBC. “Our understanding at this time is that the federal agents made misrepresentations to gain entry to the building to search for a ‘missing…
State Farm on Thursday announced a historic $5 billion dividend for its car insurance members, the largest in the mutual insurance company’s 103-year history. “This dividend is possible due to State Farm Mutual’s financial strength and a stronger than expected underwriting performance, which has been reported industry wide,” the company said in a statement. Customers can expect to receive $100 refund on average, though State Farm says it will vary by state and by the amount of premium paid. State Farm reports it has also lowered premiums by about 10% across 40 states, totaling $4.6 billion in lower costs for…
Nvidia ‘s strong earnings report made it clear that the company is still donning the AI chip king crown. So, why is the stock down in Thursday’s session? The reason, according to CNBC’s Jim Cramer, is that investors are worried that Nvidia’s largest customers cannot keep spending at such a blistering pace unless they start to see a big increase in profits due to their AI efforts. Nvidia shares were down about 4% on Thursday, to roughly $188 apiece, retreating back toward the flat line year to date. “There’s a perception that all we really care about, or should care…
A Pakistani security personnel stands guard at the border along Afghanistan in Chaman, following overnight clashes between forces of the two countries. Photo: AFP The UAE’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs has strongly condemned recent terrorist attacks targeting police personnel in Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab, which resulted in multiple casualties. In a statement, the ministry reaffirmed the United Arab Emirates’ “strong condemnation of these criminal acts” and its “permanent rejection of all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability.” It expressed condolences to the families of the victims and to the government and people of Pakistan, and…
eBay’s headquarters in San Jose, California, U.S.Bloomberg | Getty ImagesEBay said Thursday it is cutting about 800 roles, or 6% of its workforce, in the latest round of layoffs at the e-commerce company.”We are taking steps to reinvest across our business and align our structure with our strategic priorities, which will affect certain roles across our workforce,” an eBay spokesperson said in a statement. “We are grateful for the contributions of the employees impacted and are committed to supporting them with care and respect.” EBay said the job cuts are spread across the company, and that decisions were made based…
Zhang Qiongli (2nd R) and students walk at Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Senior High School in Enshi, central China’s Hubei Province, Feb. 4, 2026. Zhang Qiongli, a deputy to the National People’s Congress (NPC) and a political teacher at Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture Senior High School, has been dedicated to frontline education for sixteen years.During her tenure, Zhang has put forward multiple proposals centered on students’ needs, earning wide recognition. In 2023, she recommended promoting desks and chairs tailored to the reclined rest requirements of primary and secondary school students, with related measures gradually implemented in…
Joint letter cites 27th Amendment, FCC rulings, PECA misuse and demands release of detained reportersPakistan Federal Union of Journalists members shout slogans during a protest against the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act amendments in Karachi on January 28, 2025. PHOTO: AFP Several international and domestic organisations working for human rights and press freedom have written a joint letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, expressing serious concern over the deteriorating media situation in Pakistan. The letter said that “the undersigned press freedom and human rights groups urge your government to take immediate action to uphold Pakistan’s obligations under the Constitution and the…