Major Players

China is considering allowing ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Information carried by Reuters. The potential approval would open access to advanced US-made semiconductors for two of China's largest technology companies, amid ongoing restrictions and negotiations over chip exports between Washington and Beijing.

OpenAI approached Hugging Face with an early investment offer, which set off competing bids for the AI startup before Nvidia ultimately agreed to a $13 billion deal. The report sheds light on how the French-American machine learning platform became one of the most sought-after assets in artificial intelligence, with major tech players moving quickly once OpenAI's interest became known.

Two Chinese electric vehicle makers, Geely and Nio, have announced a deal, according to a New York Times report. The agreement is being read as a sign that China's crowded EV market, marked by intense price competition and thin margins, is entering a phase of consolidation, with weaker automakers expected to merge or be absorbed by larger rivals.

The US Senate has passed a major overhaul of college sports rules, described by supporters as 'bringing order to chaos' in collegiate athletics. The legislation aims to impose a national framework on a landscape reshaped by player compensation and conference realignment. Details of the bill's provisions and its path in the House remain limited, and reaction from the NCAA, schools and athletes is still emerging.

Samsung has pledged $1.0 billion to an AI infrastructure company backed by private equity firm KKR and chipmaker Nvidia, according to The Wall Street Journal. The investment underscores Samsung's push to expand its footprint in artificial intelligence infrastructure amid intense global competition for AI capacity, hardware and data-center resources. Details on the target company's valuation and Samsung's strategic plans for the stake were not disclosed in the report.

The US Senate has approved a wide-ranging bill to regulate college sports, advancing despite opposition from some Democrats. The legislation would impose federal rules on the college athletics system, which has been reshaped in recent years by player compensation and conference realignment. The bill now moves to the House, and the split within Democratic ranks highlights ongoing disagreements over how far Congress should go in overseeing the NCAA and athlete rights.

The US Senate has passed a college sports bill aimed at limiting athlete payments and transfers, according to multiple major news outlets. The legislation would rein in the name, image and likeness deals and free transfer movement that have reshaped college athletics in recent years. Reaction is focused on how the measure would affect student athletes' earning power and the balance of power between universities, conferences and players.

Chinese authorities are considering permitting ByteDance and Alibaba to purchase new Nvidia chips, according to a report by The Straits Times. The move would mark a potential easing of restrictions on access to advanced US semiconductors for major Chinese tech firms, amid ongoing tensions over technology exports between Washington and Beijing.

Nvidia has brought together a group of partners including Anthropic and Arm for an AI security platform. The initiative suggests Nvidia is positioning itself at the centre of safety and security standards for artificial intelligence infrastructure, working alongside leading AI and chip companies. Details on the platform's scope and rollout were not immediately available.

Elena Rybakina has taken over the top spot in the WTA singles world rankings, according to the latest complete list of the women's tennis standings. Her rise to No.1 comes as the race for places at the year-end WTA Finals intensifies, with top players battling for ranking points in the closing stretch of the season. Tennis fans are following the rankings closely as the shake-up marks a major shift at the top of the women's game.

Justin Verlander has announced his retirement from Major League Baseball, closing out a career spanning nearly two decades. The three-time Cy Young Award winner and multiple World Series champion pitched for the Tigers, Astros and Mets, and finishes among the top strikeout pitchers in league history. Fans and fellow players have been flooding social media with tributes to one of his era's defining pitchers.

Manchester City face multiple Premier League charges over alleged breaches of financial regulations, and attention is turning to how the case could affect the squad. Questions are being raised about players' futures, potential points deductions or relegation consequences, and the uncertainty hanging over the club while proceedings continue.

England white-ball captain Jos Buttler has been ruled out of the tri-series, while the England and Wales Cricket Board works on preparing new central contracts for its players. The dual developments come as England manage injuries and plan their squad structure ahead of a busy international schedule. Fans are following how England will reshuffle its leadership and line-up in Buttler's absence.

YouTube and Meta have reversed their earlier decisions and will now accept advertising for the 'Musk' trailer, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The shift means promotional material for the film can run on both major digital platforms, and the reversal is drawing attention as a notable about-face by two of the biggest players in online advertising.

John McEnroe has said tennis players need to boycott the Grand Slams to win greater prize money, as the sport's players end their public protest over pay. The comment puts fresh pressure on the four major tournaments after a campaign that drew attention to the gap between player earnings and the revenue the Grand Slams generate. Debate over player pay in tennis continues to build.

CNBC's Daily Open newsletter reports that major AI companies are pivoting from a race to develop technology quickly toward prioritizing risk aversion — the headline's phrase is 'from need for speed to seatbelts.' The item frames this as a notable change in how the industry's biggest players are approaching AI development and the risks that come with it.

Thales, Bull and the French Alternative Energies and Atomic Energy Commission (CEA) are working together on software for quantum computers intended for use by the French armed forces. The partnership highlights France's push to develop quantum technology for defence applications, and observers are sharing the news across French-language tech and science circles.

A new project called AnyPS5 is under development as a compatibility layer designed to run PlayStation 5 games natively on Windows and Linux, without the performance overhead of a classic emulator. If it works as promised, it could let PC players run PS5 titles directly, drawing comparisons to existing translation layers. Details on compatibility and performance remain scarce so far.

South Korean authorities are re-examining the country's ban on crypto market-making activity amid a rapid rise in stablecoin trading and interest. Regulators are weighing whether the prohibition still fits a market increasingly shaped by stablecoins, and the review has drawn attention from investors and industry players watching whether Seoul will loosen rules for domestic crypto trading.

Reports claim OpenAI's interest triggered a bidding war over Hugging Face before Nvidia moved in with a $13 billion deal. The claim suggests the AI open-source platform drew competing offers from major industry players, underscoring how fiercely companies are competing for AI assets. Details on the parties, timing, and confirmation of the transaction remain limited.

Karl-Anthony Towns has said he wants a contract extension to remain with the New York Knicks, according to ESPN. The star center joined the Knicks and is signaling a desire for a long-term commitment from the franchise. The report has drawn attention from NBA fans discussing what the extension could mean for the team's roster and salary cap plans going forward.

Average Major League Baseball game times are rising again, and ESPN reports that the introduction of the automated ball-strike system, known as robot umpires, is one contributing factor. The challenge system, in which players request reviews of calls, adds stoppages to games. The trend comes despite the pitch clock that had previously shortened games to record lows, prompting renewed debate about pace of play.

Major institutional investors are divided on where Bitcoin heads next, with large market bets shifting in both directions. Reports highlight a split in positioning among big players, leaving the market without a clear directional consensus as volatility and uncertainty continue around the cryptocurrency's near-term outlook.

Trent Alexander-Arnold has become the subject of fresh transfer speculation, with Liverpool named among the clubs interested in signing him, according to ESPN's transfer rumor roundup. The English right-back left Liverpool for Real Madrid in 2025, and any reported return to his boyhood club is likely to draw strong reaction from supporters of both teams.

Egypt plan to leave Mohamed Salah out of their Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against South Sudan, citing concerns over the state of the pitch. The decision reflects caution over the Liverpool forward's fitness on a surface deemed risky, with Egypt already in a strong qualifying position and eager to avoid injury to their star player.

Leonardo DiCaprio and Anna Wintour were among the celebrities attending the Laver Cup, the team tennis event co-founded by Roger Federer. Their presence drew attention alongside the on-court action, adding star power to the stands as the tournament brought together top players from Team Europe and the rest of the world.