Science and technology

WASHINGTON: The US Supreme Court refused to rescue TikTok on Friday from a law that required the popular short-video app to be sold by its Chinese parent company ByteDance or banned on Sunday in the United States on national security grounds – a major blow to a platform used by nearly half of all Americans. The justices ruled that the law, passed by an overwhelming bipartisan majority in Congress last year and signed by Democratic President Joe Biden, did not violate the U.S. Constitution’s First Amendment protection against government abridgment of free speech. The justices overturned a lower court’s decision that had upheld the measure after it was challenged by TikTok, ByteDance and some of the app’s users. “There is no doubt that, for more than 170 million Americans, TikTok offers a distinctive and expansive outlet for expression, means of engagement, and source of community. But Congress has determined that divestiture is necessary to address its well-supported national securit...

Apple was dethroned as China’s biggest smartphone seller in 2024, with local rivals Vivo and Huawei overtaking the iPhone maker after its annual shipments in the country declined 17%, data from research firm Canalys showed on Thursday. It was Apple’s largest-ever annual sales decline in China and involved contraction in all four quarters, including a 25% drop in the final quarter, according to the data. iPhone discounts in China- January 2025 For the full year, budget smartphone maker Vivo captured a 17% market share in China, followed by premium rival Huawei with 16% and Apple with 15%, demonstrating the growing sales pressure it faces from domestic manufacturers in one of its biggest global markets. The decline also points to how factors such as the absence of artificial intelligence capabilities in the latest iPhones sold in China, where ChatGPT is not available, are eating into Apple’s competitiveness. “This marks Apple’s worst annual performance in China,” Canalys analyst To...

Google will buy carbon credits from Varaha- an Indian initiative that turns large amounts of agricultural waste into biochar – a form of charcoal that removes carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and returns it to the soil, it said on Thursday. The deal – signed by Google and Indian supplier Varaha – is one of the biggest ever involving biochar, and is the tech giant’s first foray into India’s carbon dioxide removal (CDR) sector. Google is one of a number of big tech companies looking to offset emissions through CDR, which refers to a range of interventions designed to remove CO2 already in the atmosphere and oceans. While some developers are looking at expensive new technologies that extract CO2 directly from the air, solutions like biochar could prove a cheaper near-term option. “Biochar is a promising approach to carbon removal because it has the ability to scale worldwide, using existing technology, with positive side effects for soil health,” said Randy Spock, Google’s carbon r...

TikTok, Shein, Xiaomi and three other Chinese companies were named in a privacy complaint filed on Thursday by Austrian advocacy group Noyb which claimed the firms were unlawfully sending European Union user data to China. Noyb is known for filing complaints against American companies such as Apple, Alphabet and Meta, which has led to several investigations and billions of dollars in fines. Vienna-based Noyb (None Of Your Business) said this is their first complaint against Chinese firms. Noyb has filed six complaints in four European countries for suspension of data transfers to China and is seeking fines that can reach up to 4% of a firm’s global revenue. Noyb said Alibaba’s e-commerce site AliExpress, retailer Shein, TikTok and phone maker Xiaomi admit to sending Europeans’ personal data to China, while retailer Temu and Tencent’s messenger app WeChat transfer data to undisclosed “third countries” likely China. Under European Union’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) p...

Users of the Chinese social media app RedNote welcomed “TikTok refugees” from the United States with selfies and messages on Wednesday, as Beijing said it encouraged stronger cultural ties with other countries in response to the sudden influx. Known in China as Xiaohongshu and as a platform to find lifestyle recommendations on areas from beauty to food, the app has in recent days been transformed into an unexpected bilateral channel for U.S.-China exchanges, with users swapping photos and questions about pets, favourite foods and their lives. Not everyone was happy, though, with some grumbling that their platform was being taken over and nationalist bloggers warning against American influences. The influx of more than 700,000 new users has been driven by a looming U.S. ban on TikTok, used by 170 million Americans, on national security concerns. Many Chinese users on Wednesday posted selfies and messages saying “welcome TikTok refugees”, and responded eagerly to questions from U.S....

TikTok plans to shut its app for US users from Sunday, when a federal ban on the social media app could come into effect, unless the Supreme Court moves to block it, sources familiar with the matter said. The outcome of the shutdown would be different from that mandated by the law. The law would mandate a ban only on new TikTok downloads on Apple or Google app stores, while existing users could continue using it for some time. Under TikTok’s plan, people attempting to open the app will see a pop-up message directing them to a website with information about the ban, the sources said, requesting anonymity as the matter is not public. TikTok also plans to give users the option to download all their data so that they can take a record of their personal, they said. TikTok and its Chinese parent ByteDance did not immediately respond to Reuters requests for comments. The Information first reported the news. President Joe Biden had in April last year signed a law requiring Bytedance to ...

TikTok plans to keep paying US employees even if the Supreme Court does not overturn a law that would force the sale of the short-video app in the US or ban it, the company’s leadership said in an internal memo reviewed by Reuters on Tuesday. The hugely popular platform is owned by China-based ByteDance and has 7,000 employees in the US. “I cannot emphasize enough that your wellbeing is a top priority and so most importantly, I want to reinforce that as employees in the US, your employment, pay, and benefits are secure, and our offices will remain open, even if this situation hasn’t been resolved before the January 19 deadline,” the memo to TikTok employees said. Last week, the US Supreme Court seemed inclined to uphold the law, which was passed in April, despite calls from US President-elect Donald Trump and lawmakers to extend the Jan. 19 deadline. Read more: China exploring possible sale of US TikTok to Musk: report Trump, whose inauguration takes place the day after the law g...

Google Ads can be a powerful tool for businesses to reach potential customers and drive growth. But navigating the platform can be overwhelming for newcomers. This guide will walk you through the essential steps of creating and publishing effective Google Ads campaigns, from keyword research and audience targeting to ad creation and campaign optimization. 1. Account Setup & Campaign Goals Create an Account: If you don’t have one, sign up for a Google Ads account. Define Goals: Clearly define your campaign goals (e.g., increase sales, generate leads, drive website traffic, boost brand awareness). 2. Keyword Research & Audience Targeting Use the Keyword Planner: This tool helps you find relevant keywords, estimate search volume, and identify competitors. Focus on User Intent: Use keywords that reflect user intent (e.g., “buy,” “order,” “compare”). Consider Long-Tail Keywords: Target specific searches with long-tail keywords (e.g., “best Italian restaurants near me with ou...

NEW YORK: The US government said on Monday it would further restrict artificial intelligence chip (AI Chip) and technology exports, divvying up the world to keep advanced computing power in the U.S. and among its allies while finding more ways to block China’s access. The new regulations will cap the number of AI chips that can be exported to most countries and allow unlimited access to US AI technology for America’s closest allies, while also maintaining a block on exports to China, Russia, Iran and North Korea. The lengthy new rules unveiled in the final days of outgoing President Joe Biden’s administration go beyond China and are aimed at helping the U.S. keep its dominant status in AI by controlling it around the world. “The U.S. leads AI now – both AI development and AI chip design, and it’s critical that we keep it that way,” US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo said. Nvidia results show its growing lead in AI chip race The regulations cap a four-year Biden administration ef...

Firefly Aerospace’s Blue Ghost Mission one is scheduled for launch on Wednesday, January 15, transporting NASA’s scientific instruments and technology to the Moon as part of the agency’s Commercial Lunar Payload Services (CLPS) initiative and the Artemis program. The mission will take off from Launch Complex 39A at NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in Florida aboard a SpaceX Falcon 8 rocket, as reported by NASA. Following its launch, the Blue Ghost lander is expected to spend around 45 days en route to the Moon, with a planned landing on the lunar surface in early March. In addition, the lander will carry ten NASA scientific investigations aimed at enhancing our understanding of the Moon’s environment. Read more: NASA spacecraft attempts closest-ever approach to the sun This mission is integral to the agency’s Moon to Mars exploration strategy, contributing to preparations for future human expeditions to the lunar surface. Furthermore, the scientific investigations on this flight ...

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan’s Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) has announced the upcoming launch of its indigenous electro-optical satellite, EO-1, on January 17. According to a SUPARCO spokesman, the EO-1 satellite has been designed to provide critical data for disaster response, agriculture, and urban planning. It will also assist in ensuring food security and water management, while enhancing the country’s ability to monitor its natural resources. “Pakistan’s indigenous EO-1 satellite is a significant step in space innovation,” said the spokesperson According to SUPARCO, the satellite will enhance nationwide monitoring of natural resources and the mission will strengthen Pakistan’s space program and technological advancements. Read more:  iCube Qamar: Pakistan’s satellite sends first image from lunar orbit Earlier in May 2024, Pakistan’s first multi-mission satellite, PAKSAT MM1 was launched from the Xichang Satellite Launch Center in China. The...

Meta-owned platform WhatsApp is set to launch a new widget, enabling users to access Meta AI directly from their Home Screen. According to a report from WaBetaInfo, this feature was identified in the latest WhatsApp beta version 2.25.1.27 for Android. The primary objective of this new feature is to facilitate easy access to Meta AI without the need to open the WhatsApp application. Once implemented, the widget will allow users to initiate conversations with Meta AI directly from their Home Screen, bypassing the WhatsApp interface. Read also: Step by step guide to create AI images on WhatsApp Additionally, the widget will provide a shortcut for users to capture and share photos with Meta AI, enabling functionalities such as photo editing or content analysis directly from the widget. It is important to note that this feature is still in development and is anticipated to be rolled out to users in the upcoming weeks. This enhancement aims to streamline the experience for Meta AI...

Venus: often dubbed “Earth’s twin” due to their similar size and proximity to the Sun, holds a captivating allure for scientists. Though shrouded in a thick, toxic atmosphere, decades of research have unveiled fascinating details about this enigmatic planet. Key Discoveries: A Hostile Environment: Venus boasts a scorching surface temperature exceeding 860 degrees Fahrenheit (460 degrees Celsius), hot enough to melt lead. This extreme heat is primarily attributed to a runaway greenhouse effect, where the thick carbon dioxide atmosphere traps heat. Volcanic Activity: Evidence suggests ongoing volcanic activity, with numerous volcanoes and lava flows scattered across the surface. Radar mapping has revealed vast lava plains, indicating past volcanic eruptions on a massive scale. A Retrograde Rotation: Venus rotates on its axis in the opposite direction of most planets, a phenomenon known as retrograde rotation. This slow rotation results in a very long day on Venus, lasting about 2...

WhatsApp is reportedly developing a new feature that will enable users to create their own AI chatbots. According to recent reports, the Meta-owned messaging platform has introduced this feature in the latest beta version for Android. This feature will allow users to design and customise AI-driven chatbots directly within the application. It appears that WhatsApp is incorporating this feature from Instagram’s personal area to enhance the overall user experience. With this addition, users will have the capability to swiftly and effortlessly create their own AI companions. To initiate the process, users will need to provide comprehensive descriptions of the AI’s personality, purpose, goals, and unique traits. For instance, users can choose whether their AI companion will emphasise productivity, entertainment, or personal assistance. Read also: WhatsApp to allow users to add images to polls Additionally, users may offer helpful suggestions, including pre-defined templates or examp...

WhatsApp is currently developing a feature that will enable users to attach images to poll options within channels. This functionality is expected to be included in coming update. As detailed from WABetaInfo report, the integration of images is particularly beneficial when textual descriptions fall short, as visuals can provide greater clarity. Channel administrators will have the capability to associate a photo with each poll option. For instance, channels focused on topics such as design, travel, or cuisine can utilise images to represent their poll choices, simplifying the decision-making process for their audience. The Meta-owned platform, WhatsApp aims to enhance user experience by allowing visual representations alongside poll choices. This addition will facilitate a clearer understanding of the options available, thereby assisting voters in making informed decisions. Read also: WhatsApp relocates operations from Pakistan due to internet slowdown WhatsApp is actively wo...

The CEO of an assessory company has dropped more details about the Nintendo Switch 2 gaming console which has been the subject of countless rumours. Eddie Tsai, the CEO of Genki, reportedly arrived at CES 2025 with a 3D-printed mockup of the hotly-anticipated gaming console. According to US media outlets, the mockup of Nintendo Switch 2 was aimed at showing off the accessories offered by Genki for handheld devices. Reports said that Eddie Tsai’s mockup was a 3D-printed model based on a Switch 2 purchased on the black market and is an accurate replica of the upcoming Nintendo console. Photos of the replica soon began making rounds of social media as fans of the gaming console noticed the device’s increased size, magnetic Joy-Cons, a second USB-C port, and a mysterious new button labelled ‘C.’ Read more: Nintendo drops update on Switch 2 announcement plans Following his participation in CES 2025, the Genki CEO claimed that the Joy-Cons are magnetic, a rumour which has been making...

On his public journey to embracing Germany’s far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), Elon Musk has frequently amplified the online content of one young supporter of the party – climate change and COVID-19 lockdown sceptic Naomi Seibt. Shortly after polls closed in June for the European Parliament elections, in which the AfD performed strongly, Seibt announced that she had voted for the party in a post to her tens of thousands of followers on X, Musk’s social media platform. An hour later, Musk responded with a question. “Why is there such a negative reaction from some about AfD?” the Tesla chief executive asked in a public reply. He followed up with a private message asking for more details, Seibt told Reuters in an interview. Reuters has not seen the private message. “I explained to him the AfD is not similar to the Nazi ideology or Hitler, but is like the 19th century liberal nationalist movement … because they wanted to be free from authoritarians in their own territory,” said ...

ISLAMABAD: International companies have started relocating their operations due to the recent slowdown in internet services in Pakistan. According to official documents, WhatsApp has moved its session server routing abroad following the recent internet disruptions. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) stated that the relocation of WhatsApp’s Content Delivery Network (CDN) outside the country has caused service disruptions for users. Many WhatsApp users faced difficulties in connecting and maintaining communication. PTA claims that internet services have improved across fixed-line and mobile networks in the country. Over the past month, fixed-line internet services have reportedly improved by two tiers, while Pakistan’s global ranking for fixed-line internet speed currently stands at 139th. Mobile network services have improved by three tiers, with Pakistan now ranked 97th globally in mobile internet speed, according to PTA. Despite these improvements, the overall impact...

Apple (AAPL.O), opens new tab clarified on Wednesday that it has never sold the data collected by its Siri voice assistant or used it to create marketing profiles, just days after settling a case in which it faced such accusations. The iPhone maker last week paid $95 million to settle a class action lawsuit in which plaintiffs alleged it routinely recorded their private conversations after they activated Siri unintentionally, and disclosed these conversations to third parties such as advertisers. Voice assistants typically react when people use “hot words” such as “Hey, Siri.” The company denied those claims and did not admit to them in its settlement last week, in which tens of millions of Apple customers may receive up to $20 per Siri-enabled device, such as iPhones and Apple Watches. “Apple has never used Siri data to build marketing profiles, never made it available for advertising, and never sold it to anyone for any purpose,” Apple said on Wednesday. Apple issued the statem...

The latest PUBG Mobile 3.6 update brings exciting new features that enhance the gaming experience for players. With improvements in vehicle control, combat options, and special event locations, this update offers fresh ways to strategise and engage in battles. Let’s explore some of the key additions. Auto-driving vehicles:  One of the standout features in this update is the auto-driving vehicle mode. Players can now activate this mode to let vehicles steer automatically, freeing them to focus on aiming and attacking enemies. This feature adds a strategic edge, making combat more fluid and engaging. New combat abilities: The PUBG Mobile 3.6 update also introduces four unique abilities that change how players approach fights: Fire : A long-range fire attack to damage enemies from a distance. Water Shield : A mobile shield that moves with the player, offering extra protection. Vine : A skill that boosts mobility, letting players leap short distances and hover briefly. Nature...

WASHINGTON: A group representing self-driving car companies on Tuesday called on the US government to do more to speed the deployment of autonomous vehicles and remove barriers to adoption. “The federal government is the one that needs to lead when it comes to vehicle design, construction and performance, and we just have not seen enough action out of the federal government in recent years,” Jeff Farrah, who heads the Autonomous Vehicle Industry Association, said in an interview. The group includes Volkswagen Ford, Alphabet’s Waymo, Amazon.com’s Zoox, Uber and others. The group released a policy framework calling on the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) to “assert its responsibility over the design, construction, and performance of autonomous vehicles and increase its efforts in key areas.” The group added that “federal inaction has created regulatory uncertainty” and warned China is determined to take the United States lead on autonomous vehicle technology. “We want to m...

Gmail, Drive, Sheets, and various other Google services have become integral to our daily operations, and for good reason. Google offers 15GB of complimentary storage, facilitating our work processes. However, this free space can quickly become depleted due to factors such as WhatsApp backups, media files, email attachments, promotional messages, and other documents, which can hinder our productivity. If your Google account is nearing its storage limit or is completely full, you may be seeking ways to reclaim some space. You have come to the right place. We have assembled a list of strategies to help you free up storage while ensuring your daily workflow remains seamless. Read more: Google integrates Gmail, YouTube into its Bard AI chatbot How to reduce space: Remove unnecessary or old emails: Gmail storage can become congested with spam, newsletters, and other promotional content that consumes valuable space. It is advisable to regularly delete irrelevant emails from your i...

Rockstar Games’ hotly-anticipated Grand Theft Auto (GTA) 6 has been the subject of countless rumours and reports since its first trailer was released in 2023. The developer and its parent company Take-Two Interactive have remained tight-lipped about the game and its features since it was announced in 2024 that GTA 6 would be released in the Fall of 2025. Since then, several reports suggested that Rockstar Games might delay the game to 2026, however, Take-Two Interactive has reaffirmed that plans were in place to release the game in 2025. The lack of any new media or the second trailer for GTA 6 has further intensified the speculation that the game might face a delay. Now, an official of Rockstar Games seemed to have put such rumours to rest with a post in which he shared the poster of the sixth title in the Grand Theft Auto series. Read more: GTA 6 trailer on Chinese platform reveals stunning details of upcoming title Georgio Jankowski, Senior Talent Acquisition Specialist at Ro...

ISLAMABAD: The number of cellular subscribers in Pakistan reached 193,238,238 million, with a mobile teledensity of 79.10 percent, by the end of November 2024, according to data from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). The data also revealed that mobile broadband subscribers have grown to 139 million, achieving a mobile penetration rate of 56.90 percent. In addition, fixed telephone subscribers stood at 3 million, reflecting a fixed teledensity of 1.10 percent, while broadband subscribers totaled 143 million, with a broadband penetration rate of 58.39 percent. It is important to mention here that, as many as 86,000 SIMs were blocked for anti-state activities, Parliamentary Secretary Sajid Mehdi told the National Assembly (NA). He was responding to a call-to-attention notice regarding the spread of fake news on social media platforms in the National Assembly by Asiya Naz Tanoli. Parliamentary Secretary Sajid Mehdi admitted that the government had blocked the social med...

Uranus, the seventh planet from the Sun, is a unique and enigmatic world. Its pale blue-green hue and unusual axial tilt – it essentially rotates on its side – have captivated scientists for centuries. While our understanding of this distant ice giant has grown significantly, there are still many mysteries to unravel.   Key Discoveries: A Sideways World: Uranus’s extreme axial tilt is unlike any other planet in our solar system. This peculiar orientation likely resulted from a colossal collision early in its history. A Ring System: While not as prominent as Saturn’s, Uranus possesses a system of thirteen rings, composed primarily of dark particles. A Diverse Moon System: Uranus has 27 known moons, each with its own unique characteristics. Some, like Miranda, exhibit bizarre geological features, suggesting a violent past. A Methane-Rich Atmosphere: Uranus’s blue-green color is a result of the absorption of red light by methane in its atmosphere. This atmosphere also contains h...

Samsung has been ruling the smartphone industry for quite some time. Samsung’s foldable phones have continued to impress, and as we look forward to 2025, new insights into the upcoming models have emerged. According to Android Authority , Samsung’s next generation of foldable phones will evolve, with information from the latest beta code for One UI 7 (Samsung’s version of Android 15) shedding light on what’s to come. A tech team recently explored this beta code and uncovered some intriguing details about the next wave of foldables. Among the findings were two model numbers: the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 7 and Galaxy Z Flip 7. But that’s not all. It seems Samsung will also introduce a successor to the Galaxy Z Fold Special Edition. This phone could have a wider global launch compared to its predecessor, which is currently exclusive to South Korea. Read More: Samsung announces major update for Galaxy A-series models The Z Fold Special Edition was already known for being lighter, thinn...