JQJO — General news · Page 91

Bose will end support for its SoundTouch Wi-Fi speakers and soundbars on February 18, 2026, disabling the cloud-based features and companion app. Some saved presets will stop working, and users won’t be able to change them; security updates will also cease. The hardware will still play via AUX or HDMI, and Bluetooth remains available, though with more latency than Wi-Fi. Bose offered little explanation beyond aging technology and unsustainable cloud infrastructure, and affected owners can trade in devices for up to $200. The older speakers won’t work with the newer Bose app, frustrating customers who invested in the system.

BBC has confirmed Sir Tony Blair met Jeffrey Epstein in Downing Street in May 2002 after lobbying by Lord Peter Mandelson, according to documents released by the National Archives under a Freedom of Information request. A restricted memo by senior civil servant Matthew Rycroft briefed Blair ahead of a 5pm meeting, describing Epstein as a financial adviser to the super-rich and a friend of Bill Clinton and Mandelson. Emails show Mandelson called Epstein "safe." Blair’s spokesperson said the meeting lasted under 30 minutes, focused on US and UK politics, and there was no subsequent contact.

Ravens quarterback Lamar Jackson was ruled out Friday, missing a second straight game with a hamstring injury. Baltimore is 4-11 without him since he became the starter. Offseason signee Cooper Rush will make his second start. With an off week next week, Jackson could return in Week 8 against the Bears. The Ravens also ruled out linebacker Roquan Smith (hamstring), fullback Pat Ricard (calf), tackle Emery Jones (shoulder), cornerback Chidobe Awuzie (hamstring) and receiver Devontez Walker (oblique). Wideout Zay Flowers (shoulder) is questionable.

Amazon Echo Show owners say ads are increasingly crowding their smart displays’ home screens, with some considering ditching or returning devices. Reports on Reddit and from The Verge describe promotional cards — including full-screen pushes for the subscription Alexa+ service, still in Early Access — appearing even over personal photo slideshows. Users can’t disable them. Amazon declined to say if ad loads rose, but said advertising is a small part of the experience and helps discovery, adding customers can swipe or give feedback. The company is expanding ad placements and says it will evolve them based on responses.

As the U.S. government shutdown hit day ten Friday, an uptick in sick calls among essential aviation staff deepened staffing strains just as 52,000 flights are slated for the Columbus Day weekend. CBS News correspondent Kris Van Cleave called the national picture "a little messy," with sporadic delays and cancellations. The share of delays tied to controller staffing surged to 53% from a typical 5%, and about 40,000 travelers were inconvenienced in Nashville. The controllers' union urged attendance, and officials warned of repercussions, though most flights still depart on time for now.

MIT President Sally Kornbluth told the White House she "cannot support" a proposed compact that would grant favorable access to federal funding if MIT and eight peers adopt President Donald Trump's political agenda. She warned it would curb free speech, undermine university independence, and depart from merit-based research funding, though MIT shares some stated values. The plan seeks tuition freezes, mandatory SAT/ACT, admissions stripped of race and sex, a binary gender policy, and steps to promote conservative viewpoints. Responses vary: UT leaders welcomed the invitation, while critics from campuses to city halls—and officials in Virginia and California—voiced opposition.

Researchers have identified a new ichthyosaur, Xiphodracon goldencapsis, from fossils found in 2001 at Golden Cap on England’s Jurassic Coast. The nearly 10-foot “sword dragon” shows an enormous eye socket, a long, sword-like snout, unusual bones around the external nostrils, and a rounder nasal opening. Almost perfectly preserved in three dimensions and on display at the Royal Ontario Museum, the specimen wasn’t studied until fall 2024. Its narrow teeth and stomach contents point to soft, small prey. Dating to 190 million years ago, it is regarded as probably the world’s most complete prehistoric reptile from the Pliensbachian period.

Orion Kerkering’s wild throw in Los Angeles ended the Phillies’ season and thrust a longtime core into uncertainty. Free agency awaits Kyle Schwarber, J.T. Realmuto and Ranger Suárez, Harrison Bader is likely to decline a mutual option, and manager Rob Thomson’s return is in question despite four playoff berths and a .580 record. Frigid bats from Bryce Harper, Trea Turner and Schwarber doomed them against the Dodgers, even as stars endorsed Thomson. The team also faces decisions on Nick Castellanos and José Alvarado, with prospects rising and a 2026 roster still seen as playoff‑caliber.

Wall Street is on edge after auto parts maker First Brands filed for bankruptcy on 29 September, revealing liabilities of $10bn-$50bn against $1bn-$10bn in assets and heavy reliance on opaque off-balance-sheet invoice financing. Arranger Raistone says up to $2.3bn has "vanished," while Jefferies reports $715m in exposure and an inquiry probes potential double-pledged invoices. The collapse, alongside auto lender Tricolor’s failure, is fueling fears about hidden risks in fast-growing private debt markets, where sparse disclosure could magnify losses and spark wider contagion, experts warn.

Browns coach Kevin Stefanski said Friday that rookie Shedeur Sanders will be the No. 2 quarterback behind starter Dillon Gabriel for Sunday’s game in Pittsburgh. After trading Joe Flacco last Tuesday, Cleveland’s roster holds only two rookie passers, Gabriel and Sanders; practice-squad quarterback Bailey Zappe would need to be signed to the active roster before Saturday. Long viewed as a developmental option and the emergency No. 3 for five games, Sanders said he feels ready. Gabriel will start in Pittsburgh, where the Browns have dropped 21 straight regular-season games. Their last regular-season win there came on Oct. 5, 2003.