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The International Bureau of Weights and Measures announced it will stop issuing leap seconds to Coordinated Universal Time starting in May 2027, ending a practice used since 1972 to reconcile atomic clock time with Earth's slowing rotation. Since 1972, 32 leap seconds have been added, with the last one inserted in 2016.
International timekeeping bodies have voted to abolish the leap second, the practice of periodically adjusting Coordinated Universal Time to match Earth's rotation. Instead, UTC will now be allowed to drift up to an hour from Earth's actual spin before any correction, likely via a future 'leap hour,' becomes necessary. Officials say such a correction probably won't be needed for centuries.
The General Conference on Weights and Measures voted Thursday to abolish the leap second, the periodic adjustment used to keep Coordinated Universal Time aligned with Earth's rotation. The decision ends a system that has periodically synced atomic clocks with the planet's variable spin since its introduction, following repeated technical disruptions caused by past adjustments in 2012, 2015 and 2016.
Google has begun rolling out its Universal Cart feature in the US, letting shoppers track products from multiple retailers in one saved cart within Search and the Gemini app. The tool monitors over 60 billion listings for price drops and stock alerts, suggests promotions and optimal credit cards via Google Wallet, and lets users check out through the Universal Commerce Protocol using Google Pay or complete purchases on the merchant's site. The feature, previewed at Google I/O in May, launches just before Black Friday.
Google has launched Universal Cart, a feature first shown at Google I/O in May, for US users. It lets shoppers save products found through Search or the Gemini app into one cart across multiple retailers, with alerts for price drops and restocks, and payment suggestions based on card perks and promo codes. Checkout runs through Google's Universal Commerce Protocol, an open standard it introduced earlier this year for linking AI agents with retailers.
Google has rolled out new shopping tools, including Universal Cart, which lets users save products from multiple retailers in one place via AI Mode in Search or the Gemini app, and a When to Buy Guide that advises on discount timing. The cart draws on over 60 billion listings from Google's Shopping Graph to track price drops and restocks, and integrates with Google Wallet and Google Pay to surface card perks and promo codes.
Google has launched Universal Cart, an AI-powered shopping feature first previewed at I/O in May, now live in the US within the Gemini app and Google Search. It lets users save products from multiple retailers into one shared cart, tracks price drops and restocks, surfaces promo codes, and lets shoppers pay via Google Wallet or move items to a retailer's own checkout. Integration with Gmail and YouTube is planned but has no announced timeline.
Universal Pictures released the horror film 'Other Mommy' to largely negative critical reception, yet the movie still drew a sizable opening audience, according to reporting on its box-office performance. Exact figures were not detailed, but the film is described as a significant commercial success for the studio despite the backlash.
Peacock has officially ordered a live-action television series set in the Fast & Furious universe, months after star Vin Diesel first revealed the project was in development. Details on cast, plot and premiere timing have not yet been disclosed.
Universal Studios Hollywood has agreed to build another sound barrier around its new Fast & Furious: Hollywood Drift coaster after residents of the nearby Toluca Lake neighborhood complained about riders' screams. At a meeting with over 350 attendees, park executives also agreed the ride will not operate between 8AM and 9AM for the rest of the year. The ride, which opened September 16th, already includes noise-reduction measures such as an existing sound barrier and cars designed to turn away from homes during loud moments.
Cloudflare announced plans to become a publicly trusted certificate authority, applying for inclusion in Chrome, Apple, Microsoft and Mozilla root programs. It has also signed a definitive agreement to acquire an established root from GlobalSign to ensure broad device compatibility once it starts issuing certificates, and plans to be among the first CAs supporting post-quantum certificates under Chrome's Quantum-resistant Root Program. The company says it is not yet issuing certificates but is publicly committing to the milestones ahead.
Android Authority found new text strings in a Google Messages beta build (version messages.android_20260924_00_RC00) referencing RCS video calling features, including a confirmation screen with a 'Call' button. The feature builds on the RCS Universal Profile 4.0 standard, which introduced native video calling within chat threads, and follows an earlier single string spotted in May pointing to early development.