COF

AMD has acquired the startup cofounded by Fei-Fei Li, the Stanford AI researcher often called the 'godmother of AI', in a deal reported at $8.2 billion, according to Fortune. The move marks one of AMD's largest acquisitions as chipmakers race to secure position in the fast-growing artificial intelligence market. Li, renowned for her pioneering work in computer vision and ImageNet, cofounded the company, and the deal is drawing wide attention across the tech and investment worlds.

Starbucks is shutting down stores across the United States, and a published list is tracking which locations have already closed. The coffee chain's latest round of closures, reported for 2026, is drawing attention as customers check whether their local branch is affected as the company continues to trim its footprint.

Coffee prices are rising in Japan, prompting consumers and businesses to look for alternative drinks. According to a report carried by Asia News Network, the search for substitutes is being driven by the climbing cost of coffee. No further details on the price increases or which substitutes are gaining popularity were provided.

Searches for nearby coffee shops have spiked as Starbucks presses ahead with a wave of store closures across the United States. Outlets including USA Today, the Idaho Statesman and the Akron Beacon Journal report locations shutting down in Boise and across Ohio, with national lists of affected stores circulating widely as customers check which shops remain open.

Newly reported research claims to reveal how coffee affects both the gut and the brain, according to a science news report. The finding suggests coffee may influence the connection between digestion and brain function, though specific details of the study, its methods, and who conducted it have not been made clear. Coffee's health effects remain a topic of ongoing scientific and public interest.

A hiker in the Norwegian mountains described how quickly the weather can turn while taking a break for lunch and coffee at a scenic spot. They noted that access rules have tightened in some areas to protect wild reindeer, giving the animals a quieter habitat, and said they may no longer be able to visit the same locations.

A science explainer is drawing attention to the question of whether dark points in light, such as shadows or dark regions, can travel faster than light. The piece is tagged with physics and cosmos topics and is circulating among science readers. Such apparent faster-than-light motion typically involves shadow edges or phase effects rather than actual matter breaking the speed limit, and interest centres on how this counterintuitive physics works.

A history item is circulating claiming that the Knights Templar issued the first international "travellers' cheques" during the Middle Ages. The medieval military order, which grew wealthy protecting pilgrims travelling to the Holy Land, reportedly allowed travellers to deposit funds in one location and withdraw them in another using letters of credit, a forerunner of modern banking instruments.

Heretic Coffee, a Portland coffee roaster, has withdrawn from a planned project to open a coffee shop in Gaza. The company's decision ends its involvement in the initiative, which had aimed to establish a cafe in the Palestinian territory. Details on the reasons for the withdrawal or the project's partners have not been widely reported, and reaction to the move remains limited so far.

A Portland coffee shop announced plans to open a free cafe in Gaza, then reversed course just one week later. The quick about-face has drawn attention and criticism, with observers questioning why the initiative was abandoned so soon after its launch and what it says about the difficulty of delivering aid-linked projects in the territory.

Vietnam, the world's second-largest coffee producer, is being examined for why its coffee beans may be more resilient than those of other producing countries. A BBC World Service Asia Specific podcast episode explores the farming practices, robusta varieties and growing conditions that could allow Vietnamese coffee to endure pressures such as climate change, pests and shifting global demand that threaten coffee elsewhere.

A quote attributed to French actor and director Jean-Louis Barrault on the nature of theatre is being shared in Ukrainian- and French-language posts, accompanied by hashtags on theatre, art and human emotions. The item reflects renewed interest in Barrault's reflections on stagecraft and the emotional, anxious intensity that theatre can evoke in performers and audiences alike.

A new world population report is being circulated and discussed, with focus on how population trends connect to inequality, poverty and education. The report's findings are prompting readers to consider what global demographic shifts mean for development and social policy worldwide.

An article recounting how, 2,220 years ago, Roman women marched to overturn the Lex Oppia, a wartime law restricting women's fashion, jewellery and luxury goods. The piece highlights a rare early example of women's collective political action in ancient Rome, drawing comparisons with modern debates over dress codes and laws policing what women may wear.

Author Stephen, who writes the Crooked Medium series of murder mysteries, argues readers are entitled to read reviews without having plots revealed. He is asking fellow reviewers to add content warnings or hide full reviews that contain spoilers. The remarks come as part of a daily discussion prompt among writers about how to handle spoilers when reviewing books.

A new study suggests decaffeinated coffee could offer a surprising advantage over regular caffeinated coffee, though the specific benefit is not detailed in initial coverage. Coffee drinkers and health watchers are sharing the finding, which challenges the common assumption that caffeinated coffee is the healthier default choice. Details of the research and its scale remain limited.

Attention has turned to the 1969 Sino-Soviet border conflict, a short but serious war between China and the Soviet Union fought along the Ussuri River, notably at Zhenbao (Damansky) Island. The fighting killed hundreds and pushed the two communist powers to the brink of nuclear war before tensions eased. With Russia and China now close partners, the history of their past confrontation is drawing renewed interest.