China’s Chang’e-7 Mission Targets Water at the Moon’s South Pole China is preparing to launch Chang’e-7, its most technologically complex lunar mission so far, in a search for frozen water inside permanently shadowed craters near the Moon’s south pole. The uncrewed mission takes its name from a mythical Chinese goddess of the Moon. It will deploy a robotic lander, rover and “hopping” probe to explore some of the coldest terrain in the solar system. The mission will also mark a significant step towards China’s long-term goal of establishing a permanent human presence on the Moon. Beijing plans a crewed lunar…
Author: Kanika Sharma
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Unitree Shares Soar Nearly Six-Fold in Landmark Robotics Debut Shares in Unitree, one of China’s best-known humanoid robot makers, surged nearly six-fold during its trading debut in Shanghai, marking a major moment for the country’s rapidly expanding robotics sector. The company, which competes with Hyundai Motor Group-owned Boston Dynamics and Tesla, has attracted global attention for robots capable of running, dancing and performing martial arts. It is also one of the world’s largest producers of humanoid and quadruped robots. For China, Unitree has become a symbol of national pride. Influential private technology companies and state-run organisations have backed the company…
Apple to Change App Tracking Rules After German Competition Probe Apple will change rules governing how app developers use personal data for targeted advertising on iPhones and iPads after Germany’s competition authority closed a years-long investigation into its App Tracking Transparency framework. The Federal Cartel Office (FCO) found that Apple’s framework gave its own apps more favourable consent prompts than those shown to third-party developers. As a result, the authority said the approach could breach competition rules. Changes to App Tracking Transparency Under commitments agreed with the FCO, Apple must redesign consent pop-ups for third-party apps. The changes aim to…
Nvidia Revises OpenAI Ohio Data Centre Financing Plans Nvidia has revised its plans to support a proposed OpenAI data centre project in Ohio, with the chipmaker now expected to initially guarantee less than $120 billion, down from the $250 billion previously discussed, the Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter. The change marks a significant reduction in Nvidia’s planned financial exposure to the project. It also follows concerns from investors about the risks associated with large financing commitments linked to AI infrastructure. Nvidia and OpenAI Near Agreement The Wall Street Journal reported that Nvidia and…
Ukraine Says Long-Range Strikes Hit Russian Airfield and Rocket Centre Ukraine said on Saturday that its long-range strikes hit a Russian military airfield and a rocket centre that Kyiv says supports Russia’s emerging satellite internet network. President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said Flamingo cruise missiles struck the rocket facility, located about 900 km (560 miles) from Ukraine’s border. The attack formed part of Kyiv’s campaign to pressure Moscow to end the more than four-year war by striking targets deep inside Russia. “It is important that Russia’s war potential be reduced,” Zelenskiy said in a post on X. He added that peace was…
Microsoft Reassesses China Strategy Amid Rising Geopolitical Risks Microsoft once regarded the idea of leaving China as unthinkable. However, the company has spent the past five years closing at least 15 branch offices and joint ventures in the country as geopolitical tensions, regulatory pressures and technological competition reshape its China strategy. In 2010, Google was preparing to leave China because of concerns over censorship and cyberattacks. The decision was welcomed by democracy activists, but Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and then-CEO Steve Ballmer suggested Google was overreacting. Since then, Microsoft’s approach has changed significantly. The company considered leaving the Chinese market…
German Advocacy Group Files Complaint Over Meta AI Glasses A German digital rights group has filed a criminal complaint against Meta and other companies selling the technology group’s AI glasses in Germany, arguing that the devices breach privacy laws. Digital rights organisation HateAid said on Wednesday that the launch of the Ray-Ban Meta Wayfarer, in particular, violated German digital privacy rules. The complaint adds to growing legal scrutiny in a country where privacy rights are highly valued. “There’s no place to escape from smart glasses. You have to expect at any moment to be filmed and then exposed on the…
Americans Back Stricter Social Media Rules For Children, Reuters/Ipsos Poll Finds A bipartisan majority of Americans support stronger government rules for how social media companies operate, including age-verification requirements aimed at keeping younger children off social media, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll was conducted over the six days ending August 3. It comes as companies including Meta Platforms and Google’s YouTube face growing legal pressure over how they treat young users. A trial is expected to begin on Wednesday over allegations from state prosecutors that Meta designed its products to addict young users. Meta denies the allegations. The…
The United States on Friday sanctioned an unlicensed multi-state cryptocurrency exchange, alleging that it processed millions of dollars in cryptocurrency for Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) and other groups linked to the Iranian state. The designation follows a Reuters investigation published on July 31 that identified the Dubai-based exchange, Shelbit, as a hub in a $4 billion Iranian sanctions evasion scheme. The investigation found that Shelbit moved cryptocurrency on behalf of Iran’s central bank, one of the world’s largest illegal online gambling networks, and addresses that the Israeli government linked to the IRGC. US Sanctions Shelbit Founder The…
New Mexico Court Orders Meta to Pay $567 Million Over Teen Mental Health A New Mexico state court has ordered Meta to pay $567 million into a fund supporting teen mental health and to introduce sweeping changes to how Facebook and Instagram operate for young users. The decision follows a ruling that the company created a public nuisance by harming children’s wellbeing through the design and operation of its social media platforms. Judge Bryan Biedscheid in Santa Fe ruled in favour of New Mexico Attorney General Raúl Torrez, who argued that Meta deliberately designed its platforms to encourage excessive use…