Science and technology

Internet services are currently down across the country, with the exact cause of the disruption yet to be identified.  More to follow from Science and Technology News - Latest science and technology news https://ift.tt/YTmUlxn

SINGAPORE: Typhoons in Southeast Asia are forming closer to coastlines, intensifying more rapidly and lasting longer over land due to climate change, according to a joint scientific study released on Wednesday. Coastal communities and cities like Hai Phong in Vietnam and the Thai capital Bangkok are “facing unprecedented threats from longer lasting and more intense storms”, a statement about the study said. Researchers from the Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore and Rowan University and the University of Pennsylvania in the United States analysed “more than 64,000 modelled historic and future storms from the 19th century through the end of the 21st century” to come up with the findings, the statement said. Published in the peer-reviewed Nature partner journal Climate and Atmospheric Science, the study “highlights significant changes in tropical cyclone behaviours in Southeast Asia”. The changes include “increased formation near coastlines and slower movement over

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 fans are speculating that Rockstar Games might release the second trailer for the game in October based on a hint in GTA Online. The trailer for the upcoming title was released in December 2023 while Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive in its earnings call in May announced that GTA 6 will be released in the Fall of 2025. The first trailer for the upcoming title showed that the game will be set in fictional Vice City, reminiscent of Miami, and appeared to feature the first playable female character in the franchise. Since then, the game’s publisher has maintained a silence about the features of the game or the release date of the second trailer. Now, fans believe that they might have spotted a hint about the release date of the second trailer. Rockstar Games took to Instagram to share a new video promoting the inclusion of a pizza deliver scooter in GTA Online. The license plate of the scooter reads “PIZZ4”, while in the upper left corner

Shares of New York-listed cryptocurrency firms gained on Monday after Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump talked up bitcoin and promised friendlier regulation for the industry. Crypto exchange Coinbase’s shares climbed 3%, while miners Bitfarms, Riot Platforms and CleanSpark were up between 4% and 5%. Trump has projected himself as the pro-bitcoin candidate ahead of the election in November. The former president’s return could be a huge win for the industry, which has often complained of excessive oversight and a hostile regulatory environment under President Joe Biden. “Any ‘Trump trade’ into U.S election should include greater allocation to bitcoin and bitcoin-linked stocks,” Bernstein analysts wrote in a note. Crypto has rapidly moved from the fringes of the financial world to the mainstream, helped by institutional investors’ backing and the approval of exchange-traded funds tied to spot price of bitcoin and ether. “The sentiment globally has been incredibly positi

Apple’s ‘Find My’ feature, renowned for assisting users locate lost iPhones, is non-functional in South Korea. This restriction applies not only to iPhones sold in the country but also to any iPhone brought into South Korea from abroad. Consequently, users cannot use “Find My” to recover lost devices or share location data, complicating simple tasks like meeting friends. Apple’s support forums and statements indicate that this limitation stems from local laws. However, the relevant Find My support page subtly notes, “Location sharing isn’t supported in South Korea and may be unavailable in other regions due to local laws.” Despite Apple’s stance, discussions on various forums and a petition on the National Assembly Petition website of South Korea question this explanation. Samsung, for instance, faces no such constraints with its equivalent location-tracking service. This discrepancy raises doubts about whether the restriction is truly law-based or a result of Apple’s internal

Apple has taken a surprising turn with iOS 18, emphasizing customization and user control across nearly every feature, rather than focusing solely on the anticipated Apple Intelligence – AI. While investors and tech enthusiasts eagerly awaited news on Apple’s AI advancements, it has become evident that iOS 18 offers much more than AI capabilities. During the height of the Android vs. iPhone debates in the 2010s, one of the main reasons users preferred Android was its extensive customization options. In contrast, Apple’s straightforward grid of icons seemed limited compared to the dynamic and customizable Android home screens. However, industry trends and the departure of Jony Ive have led Apple to embrace a new direction. The introduction of alternate app icons was a significant step toward allowing iPhone users to personalize their devices. Although Apple Intelligence shows promise, it is not yet available for testing. Therefore, this review focuses on iOS 18’s features beyond AI

WhatsApp is developing a new feature that will allow users to reshare status updates where they have been mentioned, similar to Instagram’s feature. This feature, currently under development, will simplify the process of sharing status updates where users have been tagged. The “Reshare Status Updates” feature will enable users to reshare status updates where they have been mentioned, making it easier to share content with their contacts. A new button will be added to the status update interface to facilitate easy resharing, saving users the hassle of taking screenshots or requesting the original sharer to send the media privately. The feature is still in development and not available to beta testers yet. No specific timeline has been provided for its official release, but it is expected to roll out in an upcoming update. The reshare status updates feature is expected to enhance the user experience by simplifying content sharing. Currently, if someone wants to share a status updat

Fans began speculating about a possible delay in the release of Rockstar Games’ Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 after SAG-AFTRA announced going on a strike in the United States. Several US media outlets reported that video game actors will go on strike from July 26 after Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (SAG-AFTRA) made the call following disputes with several different publishers regarding AI-related protections. However, Kotaku quoted several publishers including Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive that the highly-anticipated GTA 6 will not be affected by the strike. “I can confirm GTA 6 is exempt,” the publication quoted an official of the publisher as saying. According to the report, the games that were in development before September 2023 will not be affected by the SAG-AFTRA strike. Read more: GTA 6: Take-Two concerned about impact of review-bombing “Due to certain provisions in the IMA [Interactive Media Agreement] contract,

SEO, or Search Engine Optimization, is the process of improving your website’s visibility on search engine results pages (SERPs). When people search for products, services, or information related to your business, SEO helps ensure your website appears higher in the search results. How SEO Works Search engines like Google use complex algorithms to crawl and index billions of web pages. These algorithms consider various factors to determine a page’s relevance and authority, including: Keywords: The words and phrases people use to search.   Content quality: The value and relevance of the information on your page. Website structure: How easy it is for search engines to navigate your site. Backlinks: Links from other websites to yours. User experience: How easy it is for visitors to find what they’re looking for. By optimizing these elements, you can improve your website’s ranking in search results, leading to increased traffic and potential customers. The Benefits of SEO Increa

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Professor Ahsan Iqbal on Friday said the final draft of the Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy would be presented to the Federal Cabinet for approval in August. Addressing a meeting of the Special Task Force on Artificial Intelligence, he directed the quarters concerned to complete the consultation process with all stakeholders as soon as possible, according to a news release. He highlighted the importance of AI in the modern era, saying “Artificial intelligence is not the future but the present reality in the world,” and highlighted it as an essential tool for advancement in multiple fields. The minister recalled that it was the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) government that established the National Center for Artificial Intelligence in 2017 and the National Task Force on Artificial Intelligence in 2023. “We have created National Centers for Excellence in Advanced Technologies under Vision 2025 and linked

More than 97% of Windows sensors are back online, CrowdStrike’s CEO George Kurtz said on Thursday, nearly a week after a software update by the cybersecurity firm triggered a global outage. The company’s Falcon platform sensor is a security agent installed on devices such as laptops and desktops that protects them from threats. The outage happened because the advanced platform contained a fault that forced computers running Microsoft’s Windows operating system to crash and show the so-called blue screen of death. Microsoft said on Saturday about 8.5 million Windows devices had been affected in the outage that had left flights grounded, forced broadcasters off air and left customers without access to services such as healthcare or banking. “Our recovery efforts have been enhanced thanks to the development of automatic recovery techniques and by mobilizing all our resources to support our customers,” Kurtz said in a post, on LinkedIn. from Science and Technology News - Latest sci

TikTok, the go-to platform for music discovery, launched an immersive in-app experience celebrating the release of Jimin of BTS’ highly anticipated sophomore album, MUSE. The #Jimin_Who hub offers fans worldwide a unique opportunity to engage with exclusive content, participate in challenges, and unlock limited-time rewards. By searching for related terms like ‘Jimin’ and ‘BTS’, will be presented with challenges to unlock a limited-time exclusive profile frame. Additionally, the hub features top-performing content from Jimin, including his solo work and collaborations, Fan Spotlight showcasing standout ARMY members and their creations, and an immersive experience celebrating Jimin’s sophomore album, MUSE. This initiative underscores TikTok’s commitment to empowering artists and fans to connect and create. With #kpop emerging as one of the fastest-growing genres on the platform, generating 59.8M posts and amassing 602B video views, and BTS being one of the most popular accounts, this

Meta said on Wednesday it had removed about 63,000 accounts in Nigeria that attempted to engage in financial sexual extortion scams mostly aimed at adult men in the United States. Nigerian online fraudsters, known as “Yahoo boys,” are notorious for scams that range from passing themselves off as people in financial need or Nigerian princes offering an outstanding return on an investment. Meta said in a statement the 63,000 accounts were on Instagram, adding that it had also removed 7,200 Facebook accounts, pages and groups dedicated to providing tips on scamming people. The company also took down a smaller coordinated network of around 2,500 that were linked to a group of around 20 individuals. In sexual extortion, or “sextortion”, people are threatened with the release of compromising photos, either real or faked, if they do not pay to stop them. The majority of the scammers’ attempts were unsuccessful and although mostly targeting adults, there were also attempts against minors

Tech giant Apple is working on a foldable iPhone which is likely be released as early as 2026 and could mark the biggest hardware design revamp for the company’s most popular product. According to a report by an international outlet, the California-based tech company – valued at $3.46 trillion –  contacted suppliers in Asia to manufacture parts for the new phone. The company’s plan could mimic a similar move by Samsung Electronics, which pioneered the foldable segment in 2019 in a bid to attract new customers with a major hardware design refresh. Reports stated that Apple has finalised a clamshell design for the device, dubbed “V68,” which will fold vertically from top to bottom, similar to the Samsung Galaxy Z Flip released in 2020. The Galaxy Z phones cost between $850 and $1,900 on the Samsung website. Apple’s foldable iPhone has progressed from the ideation stage, the report said, citing two people with knowledge of the matter. Foldable smartphones, powered with artificial in

Fans have been eagerly waiting for updates on Rockstar Games’ highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6, set for a release in the Fall of 2025. While the trailer for the upcoming title was released in December 2023, Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive in its earnings call in May announced that GTA 6 will be released in the Fall of 2025. Released on December 4, 2023, the trailer showed that the game will be set in fictional Vice City, reminiscent of Miami, and appeared to feature the first playable female character in the franchise. Since then, the game’s publisher has maintained a silence about the features of the game or the release date of the second trailer. Meanwhile, rumours and predictions swirl all around about the features likely to be included in the sixth instalment of Grand Theft Auto. However, a latest update by one of the developers, who have worked at Rockstar Games, has left fans concerned about GTA 6. Read more: GTA 6: Take-Two concerned about i

Chinese scientists have found water molecules in lunar soil for the first time, a discovery that could be fundamental for understanding how the moon evolved and how to exploit its resources. Chinese scientists studying moon have discovered water molecules in lunar soil for the first time, a discovery that can offer new clues to how the moon evolved and how to exploit its resources. Based on lunar soil samples returned by China’s Chang’e-5 mission in 2020, Chinese scientists have found a hydrated mineral “enriched” with molecular water, English daily South China Morning Post reported citing the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). The latest discovery is in contrast to a previous conclusion based on samples brought back by American Apollo astronauts decades ago, that revealed no sign of water and led scientists to conclude that lunar soil must be completely dry, according to Nasa. The research – carried out jointly by researchers from the Beijing National Laboratory for Condensed Mat

Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 publisher Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive has warned about the effects of review-bombing on the game’s success. Review bombing is the practice where players take to social media and review sites to criticise the issues in the game, real or imaginary. The review websites and spam comments usually leave a major effect on the games, and GTA 6 publisher Take-Two Interactive is also worried about its impact on the business. In an annual report on recent financial performance, Rockstar Games’ parent company acknowledge the effects of review-bombing on its latest releases. “Obtaining and maintaining high ratings of our games on the third-party platforms on which we operate are important as they help drive players to find our games,” the publisher wrote. Read more: GTA 6: Ubisoft reacts to Rockstar Games’ upcoming title “If the ratings of any of our games decline or if we receive significant negative reviews that result in a decrease in our r

The Meta-owned instant messaging app WhatsApp has recently unveiled a significant update allowing users to register without a phone number. According to reports, users can now maintain their anonymity, particularly crucial for individuals like journalists who require confidentiality. The new feature also expands WhatsApp’s accessibility, enabling users without reliable phone numbers, often found in remote areas, to join the platform. Now, you can use an email address or other methods to sign up. This keeps your information safer and gives more privacy, especially for people like journalists who need to stay anonymous. Businesses can also leverage this feature to offer anonymous support, fostering trust with their customers. However, this update also raises security concerns, as WhatsApp must ensure the new sign-up methods are secure and resistant to fake accounts and misuse. Cybersecurity experts have praised this move, with Dr. Jane Doe, a cybersecurity analyst, noting, “WhatsA

Google is planning to keep third-party cookies in its Chrome browser, it said on Monday, after years of pledging to phase out the tiny packets of code meant to track users on the internet. The major reversal follows concerns from advertisers – the company’s biggest source of income – saying the loss of cookies in the world’s most popular browser will limit their ability to collect information for personalizing ads, making them dependent on Google’s user databases. The UK’s Competition and Markets Authority had also scrutinized Google’s plan over concerns it would impede competition in digital advertising. “Instead of deprecating third-party cookies, we would introduce a new experience in Chrome that lets people make an informed choice that applies across their web browsing, and they’d be able to adjust that choice at any time,” Anthony Chavez, vice president of the Google-backed Privacy Sandbox initiative, said in a blog post. Since 2019, the Alphabet (GOOGL.O), opens new tab unit

WhatsApp ranks among the most popular messaging applications available. Aware of its large user base, the developers consistently introduce new features to maintain user engagement. Recently, WhatsApp launched a feature allowing users to access their accounts on multiple devices, a capability that was previously restricted. Now, linking phones as companion devices makes messaging easier. Now you can switch between phones without signing out and pick up your chats where you left off. Or if you’re a small business owner, additional employees are now able to respond to customers directly from their phones under the same WhatsApp Business account. There are no specific requirements to utilize WhatsApp’s multi-device support. Users simply need to log into their primary phone every 14 days to ensure continued connectivity across devices. Read more: ‘WhatsApp learning program’ to be launched in Lahore schools For using WhatsApp on multiple smartphones, the companion mode m

Shares of CrowdStrike plunged 13% on Monday, extending their loss-making streak, after Wall Street analysts downgraded the stock on concerns over the financial fallout from a global cyber outage last week. CrowdStrike’s glitchy update to its security software crashed computers powered by Microsoft’s Windows operating system, disrupting internet services across the globe and affecting a broad swathe of industries including airlines, banking and healthcare. Microsoft said on Saturday about 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than 1% of all Windows machines, were affected. While analysts largely expect CrowdStrike to recover from the incident given its leading position in the industry, concerns around reputational damage, a hit to new customer contracts, competition and possible legal tussles remain. “We don’t believe it will materially affect renewals, at least not in the short term … However, we do think this will at least delay deal signings, if not cause some losses in closely c

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike (CRWD.O), opens new tab said on Sunday that a significant number of the 8.5 million Microsoft (MSFT.O), opens new tab devices that were impacted as a result of a global tech outage related to a software update were back online and operational. CrowdStrike has helped develop a scalable solution that will help Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure accelerate a fix, Microsoft said, adding that the tech giant had worked with both Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform to collaborate on the “most effective approaches.” Air passengers worldwide faced delays, flight cancellations and headaches checking in as airports and airlines were caught up in the IT outage that affected numerous industries ranging from banks to media companies. from Science and Technology News - Latest science and technology news https://ift.tt/oeNlyLT

Assassin’s Creed developer Ubisoft has commented on the impact of Rockstar Games’ highly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 on gaming industry. Responding to question during its earnings call, Ubisoft CEO Yves Guillemot termed GTA 6 a positive thing for the gaming industry, a gaming website reported. According to him, the release of the sixth instalment of Grand Theft Auto will mean “more people come to play.” Recalling Ubisoft’s Assassin’s Creed IV: Black Flag from 2013, Guillemot said that their game enjoyed record sales despite its release a month after GTA V. While he called the trend counter-intuitive, Guillemot said that it was something that worked for Ubisoft in general. It is pertinent to mention that Rockstar Games has remained tight-lipped about the game other than confirming that the upcoming title will arrive in Fall of 2025. Read more: GTA 6 leak suggests introduction of exciting new feature In May this year, Rockstar Games’ parent company Take-Two Interactive a

A global tech outage that was related to a software update by cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike affected nearly 8.5 million Microsoft devices, Microsoft said in a blog on Saturday. “We currently estimate that CrowdStrike’s update affected 8.5 million Windows devices, or less than one percent of all Windows machines,” it said in the blog. CrowdStrike has helped develop a scalable solution that will help Microsoft’s Azure infrastructure accelerate a fix, Microsoft said, adding that the tech giant had worked with both Amazon Web Services and Google Cloud Platform to collaborate on the “most effective approaches.” Air passengers worldwide faced delays, flight cancellations and headaches checking in as airports and airlines were caught up in the IT outage that affected numerous industries ranging from banks to media companies. from Science and Technology News - Latest science and technology news https://ift.tt/oxzw2Z8

Services from  airlines  to  healthcare , shipping and  finance  were coming back online on Friday after a mistake in a security software update sparked hours-long global computer systems outages, another incident highlighting the vulnerability of the world’s interconnected technologies. After the outage was resolved, companies were dealing with backlogs of delayed and canceled flights and medical appointments, missed orders and other issues that could take days to resolve. Businesses also face questions about how to avoid future blackouts triggered by technology meant to safeguard their systems. A software update by global  cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike  one of the largest operators in the industry, triggered systems problems that grounded flights, forced broadcasters off air and left customers  without access to services such as healthcare or banking. Global shipper FedEx  faced major disruptions  and some moderators who police content on  Meta’s Facebook  were hit. CrowdStrike

Hundreds of flights were canceled or delayed in India due to a global outage in Microsoft applications on Friday. IndiGo, an Indian carrier said that several of its flights were canceled or delayed due to outages faced by its cloud server software, an Indian media outlet reported. “This outage, which began on July 19, has severely disrupted airline operations by impacting critical systems used for flight operations, passenger check-in, and baggage handling. Airlines, airports and other transport systems across the world are facing similar issues,” IndiGo said in a statement. The airlines revealed that it switched to manual operations in which the staff members were handing hand-written boarding passes and documents for check-ins. Amid the Microsoft outage, major airports in India’s Delhi, Mumbai, and Bengaluru were shifted to manual operations causing severe delays in routine operations. IndiGo has since asked its passengers to inquire about their flight before leaving for airpor

Cybersecurity firm CrowdStrike has deployed a fix for an issue that triggered a major tech outage that affected industries ranging from airlines to banking to healthcare worldwide, the company’s CEO said on Friday. Microsoft said separately it had fixed the underlying cause for the outage of its 365 apps and services including Teams and OneDrive, but residual impact was affecting some services. “This is not a security incident or cyberattack. The issue has been identified, isolated and a fix has been deployed,” CrowdStrike CEO George Kurtz said in a post on social media platform X. The issue stemmed from a defect found in a single content update for Microsoft Windows hosts, Kurtz said, adding Mac and Linux hosts were not impacted by the issue. Shares of CrowdStrike tumbled nearly 12% in premarket trading, while Microsoft was down 1.4%. A massive IT outage was disrupting operations at companies across multiple industries on Friday, with major airlines halting flights, some broadca