Nasa plans to fly two rocket through an active aurora borealis to study the phenomenal lights that flash and dance across the northern hemisphere sky. The two rockets are expected to launch into space from the Poker Flat Research Range in Fairbanks, Alaska as part of two missions led by space physicists Marilia Samara and Robert Michell from Nasa’s Goddard Space Flight Centre. The mission aims to delve deep as to why some auroras flicker, others pulsate and the rest appear to have missing patches of light in them, as…
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US TikTokers question censorship after noticing changes post-ban
NEW YORK: US TikTok users have sensed signs of censorship on the video-sharing platform, which is owned by China’s ByteDance and was revived by an executive order from President Donald Trump. TikTok users are noting a difference in the short-video app following its revival after going dark on Saturday under a new law — enacted over national security concerns during the Biden administration with bipartisan support — that requires it to be sold to a US buyer. Trump has vowed to find a solution to the ban, with several bidders…
Read MoreMeta starts testing ads on Threads
Mark Zuckerberg’s Meta has initiated testing of advertisements on Threads — its alternative to Elon Musk’s X — an executive announced Friday. Threads launch came in 2023 — eight months after Musk’s acquisition of X — when changes like paid subscriptions and reduced content moderation were driving away users and advertisers. The introduction of advertising on Threads was expected, given that Meta derives most of its revenue from ads across its free platforms. “We’re starting a small test for ads on Threads with a handful of brands in the US and…
Read MoreIndia’s multibillionaire plans to build world’s largest data centre
Indian billionaire and business icon Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance Group is planning to build world’s largest data centre by capacity in a bid to capitalise on the increasing global demand for artificial intelligence services. The conglomerate is reportedly buying Nvidia Corp’s powerful AI semiconductors and plans to set up the new data centre in Gujarat’s Jamnagar. The data hub is expected to have a total capacity of three gigawatts, according to those involved in the project, the Bloomberg News has reported. The three GW capacity would make the data centre far bigger than…
Read MoreMeta seeks AI revolution with $60bn investment in 2025
SAN FRANCISCO: Meta chief executive Mark Zuckerberg announced on Friday that the company will invest at least $60 billion in artificial intelligence during 2025, aiming to cement its position as a leader in the rapidly advancing field. “This will be a defining year for AI,” Zuckerberg said in a post on his Facebook page. Zuckerberg expects Meta AI to be the top digital assistant, used by more than a billion people, and for the tech firm’s Llama 4 to be at the forefront of AI models, according to the post.…
Read MoreIndia tribunal suspends antitrust ban on WhatsApp-Meta data sharing
NEW DELHI: A five-year data sharing ban between WhatsApp and owner Meta Platforms has been temporarily suspended, bringing major relief for the US tech company which had warned that its advertising business will be affected by the ban. The Competition Commission of India’s (CCI) directive issued in November had been challenged in November. The directive had entailed a ban on data sharing between WhatsApp and other Meta entities for advertising purposes, warning the platforms that they may have to roll back some features. 7 The CCI was also criticised by…
Read MoreIn a rare split: Musk hits out at Trump-backed AI initiative
Elon Musk Wednesday raised concerns about a $500 billion AI project unveiled by US President Donald Trump, claiming the promised funding for the investment was not actually available, AFP reported. This statement highlighted a rare rift between Musk, the world’s richest person, and Trump, with Musk having been a significant figure in the new administration after contributing $270 million to the election campaign. On his first full day in office, Trump announced a major initiative to develop AI infrastructure, backed by Japanese conglomerate SoftBank and OpenAI, the creators of ChatGPT. Trump said…
Read MoreSenators slam Musk’s smear campaign as Starlink awaits MoI clearance
After tech tycoon Elon Musk’s propaganda on social media to link UK grooming gangs to Pakistanis, senators showed serious reservations over the potential registration of Starlink, a satellite internet firm owned by the billionaire. The reservations were raised during a session of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Information Technology and Telecommunication on Wednesday, chaired by Senator Palwasha Khan at Parliament House, to deliberate on key issues including Starlink operations, the Personal Data Protection Bill, and the telecom authority’s performance. The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) chairman briefed senators that the country’s…
Read MoreEarthlings likely to witness spectacular ‘planetary parade’ by end Jan: Suparco
At least six planets of the solar system — Venus, Jupiter, Mars, Saturn, Neptune and Uranus — are likely to align in the night sky by the end of January, according to the Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (Suparco). In a statement, a Suparco spokesperson said people will be able to witness the “spectacular planetary parade” next week. Venus, Jupiter, Mars, and Saturn would be visible to the naked eye, the spokesperson said, adding that Neptune and Uranus, however, can be seen using a telescope. In another event, the…
Read MoreScammers using ‘digital arrest’ to loot people in India
BENGALURU: Scammers in India are using “digital arrest” tactic to loot people, target their savings by convincing them to hand over, transfer funds via fraud. The cybercrime known as “digital arrest” — where fraudsters pose online as law enforcement officials and order people to transfer huge amounts of money — has become so rampant that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has issued warnings. Such an incident occurred with retired professor Kamta Prasad Singh who handed over his hard-earned savings to online fraudsters impersonating police. Singh told AFP that money was his life savings. “Over the…
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