Science & Technology
US firm Firefly makes its first moon landing with uncrewed Blue Ghost spacecraft
By Reuters The size of a compact car, the four-legged Blue Ghost carried 10 scientific payloads as it touched down at 3:35am ET (0835 GMT) near an ancient volcanic vent on Mare Crisium, a large basin in the northeast corner of the moon’s Earth-facing side.
Skype’s final call set for May as Microsoft prioritizes Teams
By Reuters Shutting down Skype will help Microsoft focus on its homegrown Teams service by simplifying its communication offerings, the software giant said on Friday.
AI robots may hold key to nursing Japan’s ageing population
By Reuters The 150-kg (330 lb) artificial intelligence-driven humanoid robot called AIREC is a prototype future “caregiver” for Japan’s rapidly ageing population and chronic shortage of aged-care workers.
E-governance board introduces blueprint for digital transformation
By Aarati Ray Plan proposes the establishment of several institutions to strengthen Nepal’s digital infrastructure.
Musk’s Starlink races with Chinese rivals to dominate satellite internet
By Reuters Musk’s primacy in space is seen as a threat by Beijing, which is both investing heavily in rivals and funding military research into tools that track satellite constellations.
DeepSeek to share some AI model code, doubling down on open source
By Reuters The company’s commitment to open-source has distinguished it from most AI firms in China, which like their US rivals lean towards closed-sourced models.
CAN Federation recommends changes to National AI Policy
By Post Report Calls for stronger safeguards, clearer legal frameworks and support for local AI innovation.
Trump says TikTok deadline could be extended
By Reuters The app’s fate has been up in the air since a law requiring its Chinese owner ByteDance to either sell it on national security grounds or face a ban took effect on January 19.
Elon Musk-led group makes $97 billion bid for control of OpenAI
By Reuters OpenAI is now trying to transition into a for-profit from a nonprofit entity, which it says is required to secure the capital needed for developing the best AI models.
Scientists predict devastation if asteroid Bennu strikes Earth in 2182
By Reuters A new research based on computer simulations show such an impact would inject 100-400 million tons of dust into the atmosphere, causing disruptions in climate, atmospheric chemistry and global photosynthesis lasting three to four years.
Why blocking China’s DeepSeek from using US AI may be difficult
By Reuters Stopping distillation is challenging due to open-source models and detection difficulties.
TikTok is restoring service, thanks Trump
By Reuters In a message to users hours before the rally, TikTok said: “As a result of president Trump’s efforts, TikTok is back in the US”
TikTok stops working for US users, disappears from Apple, Google stores
By Reuters President-elect Donald Trump said earlier in the day he would “most likely” give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from the ban after he takes office on Monday, a promise TikTok cited in a notice posted to users on the app.
US Supreme Court upholds law banning TikTok
By Reuters The case pitted free speech rights against national security concerns in the age of social media.
Experts warn of growing AI risks for ‘Generation Beta’
By Aarati Ray Having AI in daily life has opportunities and challenges, particularly in cybersecurity and digital education.
Fast-forming alien planet has astronomers intrigued
By Reuters It is located in our Milky Way galaxy about 520 light-years from Earth.
Lessons on coding and AI to start in fourth grade: Indonesia Education Minister
By The Jakarta Post Elementary and Secondary Education Minister Abdul Mu’ti also said that the ministry is looking into the possibility of hiring new instructors to teach AI and coding or collaborating with institutions already specialising in the two subjects.
AI to detect accidents in real-time in Malaysia
By The Star The ARIDS can be accessed using a mobile phone and runs continuously using Google traffic data to provide accident notifications and analyse the functioning of traffic lights.
China’s humanoid robot industry records robust profits
By China Daily Revenue reached 246.71 billion yuan ($34.59 billion) in the first nine months of 2024, up 9.21 percent on a yearly basis, while net profits recorded 13.94 billion yuan, up 14.82 percent year-on-year.
Osaka-Kansai Expo: Robot avatars to be operated by online visitors
By The Japan News A team of researchers, mainly from the Advanced Telecommunications Research Institute International, plans to introduce the technology so people outside the venue can join visitors and tour one of the pavilions.