The health department for the U.S. state of Illinois has confirmed that a years-long security lapse exposed the personal information of more than 700,000 state residents. The Illinois Department of Human Services (IDHS) said in a statement on January 2 that an internal mapping website containing residents’ personal information, which officials used for assisting with … Read more
Key takeaways Korea’s crypto bill is stalled over stablecoin issuer rules. The central bank wants banks to remain in control, often framed as a “51%” threshold. Regulators and lawmakers fear a bank-only model would limit competition. Firms are lining up, with Toss planning a won-backed stablecoin once rules are finalized. South Korea’s next major crypto … Read more
Unlock the Editor’s Digest for free Roula Khalaf, Editor of the FT, selects her favourite stories in this weekly newsletter. Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ climbdown over the taxation of Britain’s pubs is the government’s latest high-profile retreat, leaving her vulnerable to the charge that when the political heat is on she will cave in. Reeves’ decision … Read more
Food and beverage also remains an effective way of keeping customers in store for longer. Sarah Andelman, founder of consultancy Just An Idea and formerly Paris concept store Colette, points to continued novelty as key to preventing these spaces from feeling formulaic. “The way to make it feel new is by offering something you didn’t … Read more
Former Google CEO Eric Schmidt and his wife Wendy could help make history with a new project unveiled on Wednesday, the Lazuli Space Observatory. As reported by Science, the telescope was announced at a meeting of the American Astronomical Society this week, and could be the largest privately-funded space telescope in history thanks to investments … Read more
Satechi is launching a new pair of wireless keyboards with a rechargeable battery designed for easy replacement. Despite their ultrathin profiles, the compact Slim EX1 and full-size Slim EX3 both stow the removable battery in a compartment on their undersides. A wireless keyboard with an easily replaceable and rechargeable battery is hard to come by, … Read more
2026 could mark the clearest break yet from everything investors thought they understood about Bitcoin cycles. For more than a decade, markets have leaned on the four-year halving model to predict peaks, crashes and recoveries. Under that framework, 2025 should have marked the top, with 2026 shaping up as a painful down year. But a … Read more
Microsoft is launching a new feature in Copilot that will allow you to make purchases during conversations with the AI chatbot. Now, when you’re asking for suggestions about what kind of sneakers you should buy, Copilot can surface a checkout option for the product you choose directly inside the app. An example shared by Microsoft … Read more
Television Academy For the first time in almost 20 years, the Television Academy has announced a new Emmy award. The Academy on Thursday revealed the creation of the Legacy Award, which will be presented to TV programs that have made a “profound and lasting impact” on audiences, … Read more
Francesco Risso is GU’s creative director, parent company Fast Retailing announced today. His debut collection for GU is scheduled for Fall/Winter 2026. Alongside his appointment at GU, Risso will develop a new collaboration line with Uniqlo, set to launch in 2026. Established in 2006, GU is the second-largest brand in Japanese retail holding company Fast … Read more