US Seals $142 Billion Arms Deal with Saudi Arabia The United States has finalised an arms agreement with Saudi Arabia worth nearly $142 billion, marking the largest defence cooperation deal in US history. The deal was signed during former President Donald Trump’s visit to Riyadh and includes a broad range of military technologies and services. Record-Breaking Defence Package Announced A White House fact sheet stated that the deal involves more than a dozen US defence companies. It spans sectors such as air and missile defence, air force and space development, maritime security, and communications. The agreement highlights a strong US…
Author: Arushi Pandey
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OpenAI and Microsoft Redefine Partnership Ahead of Potential IPO OpenAI and Microsoft are renegotiating the terms of their multibillion-dollar partnership. The move aims to prepare the artificial intelligence firm for a future public listing while ensuring Microsoft retains access to OpenAI’s advanced technology, according to a report by the Financial Times. Equity Talks at the Core of New Deal A central focus of the discussions is how much equity Microsoft will hold in OpenAI’s for-profit business. To date, Microsoft has invested over $13 billion in the AI company. In return, it wants to secure rights to technology beyond 2030. The…
Spanish Firm Develops GPS-Style Navigation System for the Moon Spanish technology firm GMV has unveiled an innovative lunar navigation system, LUPIN, designed to make travelling on the moon as seamless as using Google Maps or Waze on Earth. The system promises to revolutionise how rovers and astronauts navigate the lunar surface. LUPIN Aims to Simplify Lunar Exploration LUPIN is part of a wider initiative by the European Space Agency to trial advanced positioning, navigation, and timing systems. As global interest in lunar exploration rises—driven by science, potential mining, and even future tourism—there is a growing need for precise and real-time…
EU Eases Emissions Deadline for Carmakers European carmakers will now have more time to meet the CO2 emissions targets for cars and vans in EU. This change may help them avoid steep fines, after the European Parliament approved a softening of the original rules on Thursday. EU Automakers Warned of Heavy Penalties European manufacturers had raised concerns about meeting the emissions goals in 2025. If enforced this year, they warned the rules could have triggered fines of up to 15 billion euros (£12.8 billion). These targets are linked to the sale of electric vehicles, a sector where European brands trail…
Appeals Court Upholds Ruling Against Injunction The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has lost its appeal against a court ruling that allowed Microsoft to proceed with its $68.7 billion acquisition of Activision Blizzard. The decision marks another setback for the agency’s efforts to block the high-profile gaming industry merger. In 2023, the FTC had asked for a preliminary injunction to halt the acquisition. The goal was to stop Microsoft and Activision from closing the deal while the FTC pursued its legal challenge, which began in 2022. However, a district court judge rejected that request. The very next day, the FTC appealed…
Zalando Accelerates Fashion Imagery with AI, Cuts Costs and Production Time Zalando, the European online fashion retailer, is now using generative artificial intelligence (AI) to create imagery faster and more efficiently for its app and website. This move is transforming how the company responds to fast-changing fashion trends and reducing costs significantly. AI Delivers Faster, Cheaper, and Trendier Content The Berlin-based company operates across 25 European markets, offering a wide range of clothing, shoes, and accessories. According to Matthias Haase, Zalando’s Vice President of Content Solutions, generative AI allows the company to quickly adapt to new fashion trends, especially those…
Chile Cancels Evacuation Orders After Powerful Earthquake Near Antarctica Authorities in Chile have cancelled evacuation orders after a powerful earthquake struck off the country’s southern coast early on Friday. The 7.4 magnitude quake triggered temporary tsunami warnings, prompting evacuations across remote areas and bases in Antarctica. Earthquake Strikes Near Cape Horn The United States Geological Survey (USGS) reported that the earthquake occurred at a shallow depth of just 10 kilometres. It hit in the Drake Passage, located between Cape Horn and Antarctica, shortly after 9 a.m. local time. Despite the strength of the quake, no immediate damage to infrastructure or…
Animated Idols Break Records and Win Hearts The members of PLAVE, one of the trendiest groups in K-pop today, have performed on stage, made TV appearances, and even landed on the Billboard Global 200 chart. Yet, these five stars—Yejun, Noah, Eunho, Bamby, and Hamin—aren’t real-life performers. They are two-dimensional virtual idols. Despite being avatars, PLAVE has gained a massive following, amassing over 470 million views on YouTube. Their popularity continues to soar, with their latest album, Caligo Pt.1, selling over one million copies in a single week since its release earlier this year. Human-Controlled Avatars with a Real-Time Fan Connection…
Robots Now Supporting Traffic Management and Patrol Duties The police department in Mianyang City, located in southwest China’s Sichuan Province, has introduced robot police officers to support law enforcement tasks, including traffic control and public safety patrols. These advanced humanoid robots are now operating alongside human officers to enhance daily policing operations. Deployed during peak traffic hours—from 08:00 in the morning until 17:00 in the afternoon—the robots are helping to manage congestion and ensure smoother vehicle movement across key city roads. Equipped with multi-modal artificial intelligence, these machines are designed to interact with their surroundings and respond intelligently to dynamic…
New CIA Campaign Aims to Reach Discontented Chinese Insiders The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) has released two new Chinese-language videos designed to persuade Chinese officials to share classified information with the United States. This marks the latest public step by the agency to strengthen its human intelligence operations targeting Beijing. The CIA’s focus on China is part of a wider strategy to gather insights from strategic rivals. This follows an earlier campaign launched in October, where the CIA invited potential informants from China, Iran, and North Korea to get in touch through secure online channels. The agency previously reported success…