Author: DispatchTimes News Desk

Microsoft is introducing monthly Xbox Cloud Gaming limits for Game Pass subscribers, with players facing additional charges once they have used the hours included in their subscription. The restrictions, due to take effect in November, will vary according to the Game Pass tier. Ultimate subscribers will receive 15 hours of cloud gaming each month, while Premium members will have 10 hours and Essential members five. Microsoft said the change would affect 4% of Game Pass subscribers. The company has not said how much extra cloud gaming time will cost. Players who reach their monthly allowance will be able to buy…

FIFA has accused UEFA of orchestrating a “smear campaign” against its president, Gianni Infantino, as the dispute over an abandoned plan to sell part of the World Cup business to private investors moves into the courts. The governing body made the accusation in a response filed in New York after UEFA sought access to documents relating to the proposed FIFA Forward Enterprise (FFE) subsidiary. UEFA has also warned that it is considering criminal proceedings in Switzerland against Mr Infantino and potentially other FIFA officials and advisers over the venture, which was withdrawn after a backlash from several confederations. In its…

JetBlue is to introduce a new domestic first-class cabin later this year, offering passengers wider reclining seats, upgraded entertainment and a more extensive food and drink service. Called BlueFirst, the premium product will be available to book later this autumn and is intended for routes where the airline does not currently operate its Mint business-class cabin. The first aircraft fitted with the new cabin is expected to enter service before the end of 2026, although JetBlue has yet to announce the initial routes or fares. Seats will be arranged in a two-by-two configuration, with up to seven inches more legroom…

Gloria Steinem, the American journalist and leading figure in the second-wave feminist movement, has died aged 92 at her home in New York City. Her death on Wednesday, September 2, was announced by her official Instagram account. A statement said she had “passed away peacefully” surrounded by people who loved her. No cause of death was given. Steinem became one of the most recognisable voices of the women’s liberation movement during the late 1960s and 1970s, campaigning on reproductive rights, sexual equality and the dismantling of patriarchal institutions. She also helped bring feminist ideas into mainstream journalism. In 1972, she…

American savers are facing a significant decision this September as the Federal Reserve weighs its first interest rate increase since July 2023, with the choice between a certificate of deposit (CD) and a high-yield savings account likely to become more important. Financial markets are pricing in slightly better than even odds of a quarter-point rise at the Fed’s meeting on September 15 and 16. The forecast could still change as further economic data is released, but the prospect of tighter monetary policy has already sharpened the debate over where savers should keep their money. The federal funds target range currently…

Mitch McConnell has not been seen in public for more than 80 days, prompting a senior Kentucky Republican to say he “expects” the veteran senator to return to Washington when the Senate reconvenes later this month. James Comer, chairman of the House Oversight Committee, said he had not spoken to Mr McConnell personally but had been in contact with members of his staff. “I have not talked to Leader McConnell,” Mr Comer told reporters on Capitol Hill. “I’ve talked to staff, many of whom are from my district originally, and they have all said it’s their goal for Senator McConnell…

Federal prosecutors have charged US Immigration and Customs Enforcement officer Christian Castro with allegedly lying to investigators about the shooting of Venezuelan immigrant Julio Cesar Sosa-Celis in Minneapolis. A federal grand jury returned a six-count indictment on Wednesday, although the case remains under seal and the precise charges have not been made public. Castro is accused of making false statements to federal investigators about the incident in January. The development comes days after Castro was released from a Texas jail following a dispute over his extradition to Minnesota, where he faces separate state charges connected to the same shooting. Authorities…

OpenAI has unveiled Astra, a new artificial intelligence model it describes as its most capable yet, while acknowledging that increasingly autonomous systems are becoming harder to monitor and control. The San Francisco-based company said Astra was faster and able to handle a wider range of tasks than previous models, including tax preparation, game development, architectural rendering, legal memo formatting and apartment searches. OpenAI claimed the model could reduce the time needed for some computer-based work sharply. Researching a cat sitter, for example, took Astra five minutes and 27 seconds in its testing, compared with 30 minutes for a human, while…

Phoebe Waller-Bridge commanded attention at the Venice Film Festival premiere of Martin McDonagh’s new film Wild Horse Nine, making a rare red-carpet appearance alongside the acclaimed director. The 41-year-old actress and writer arrived in a custom Celine ensemble, pairing wide-legged trousers with a dramatic white cape. McDonagh, 56, kept his look understated in a black suit by the same fashion house. Waller-Bridge also appeared to display a large diamond ring on her left hand as the couple posed for photographers, although neither has publicly confirmed any change in their relationship status. The pair have been together since 2017 and prompted…

OpenAI has launched GPT-6 Astra, a new flagship model it describes as a major advance in software engineering, cybersecurity, scientific research and computer use, while claiming it may mark the beginning of the artificial general intelligence era. Greg Brockman, OpenAI’s president, told reporters that he believed “it’s not unreasonable to feel that we are now in the AGI era”. He said that, looking back in several years, people might identify the release of Astra as the point at which AGI was created. The model is initially being made available to enterprise cybersecurity customers using OpenAI’s Daybreak platform. The company said…