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Microsoft celebrates 50 years of tech evolution amid AI boom Microsoft celebrates its 50th anniversary on Friday, marking five decades at the core of personal and business computing while navigating a new era dominated by artificial intelligence and cloud services. Founded in 1975 by Bill Gates and Paul Allen with a vision of putting computers in every home and office, Microsoft rose to global dominance through its Windows operating system and Office software suite. Today, the company is focused on positioning itself as a leader in AI technologies, even as it faces stiff competition from Amazon, Google, and others. “From a storytelling standpoint, they've been a boring company and a boring stock,” said eMarketer analyst Jeremy Goldman. “But they’ve built a $2.9 trillion company—that’s no small feat.” Microsoft’s shift to cloud computing, driven by CEO Satya Nadella, has fuelled recent growth. Its Azure platform, along with online versions of Office, form the backbone of its enter...

TikTok shutdown? Deal expected this week as US ban deadline nears President Donald Trump said a deal with TikTok's Chinese parent ByteDance to sell the short video app used by 170 million Americans would be struck before a deadline on Saturday. Trump set the April 5 deadline in January for TikTok to find a non-Chinese buyer or face a US ban on national security grounds due to have taken effect that month under a 2024 law. "We have a lot of potential buyers," Trump told reporters on Air Force One late on Sunday. "There's tremendous interest in Tiktok," adding, "I'd like to see Tiktok remain alive." TikTok did not immediately comment. Reuters reported on Friday private equity firm Blackstone is evaluating making a small minority investment in TikTok's US operations, according to two people familiar with the matter. Blackstone is discussing joining ByteDance's existing non-Chinese shareholders, led by Susquehanna International Group and ...

US sets sights on $1.5 trillion lithium find in McDermitt Caldera's record deposit A renewed geological assessment of the ancient McDermitt Caldera on the Oregon-Nevada border has confirmed the site holds what could be the largest known lithium deposit in the United States—potentially worth up to $1.5 trillion. Although the caldera’s lithium-rich clays have been known for years, recent evaluations suggest the scale of the deposit is far greater than previously understood. Experts say the find could help transform the US into a major player in the global battery supply chain. The McDermitt Caldera was formed by a supervolcanic eruption 16.4 million years ago. The volcanic activity created a unique geological environment that concentrated vast amounts of lithium in claystone, particularly within lakebed sediments. At the southern end of the caldera in Nevada, Lithium Americas is advancing the Thacker Pass project—set to begin extraction in 2026 with more than $2 billion in governme...

Fortnite servers down briefly for update 34.20 Fortnite players were briefly sidelined on Tuesday as Epic Games took servers offline for update 34.20, part of the ongoing Chapter 6 Season 2 rollout. The scheduled downtime began at 1am PDT (8am GMT) and concluded after approximately one hour and 38 minutes, with matchmaking restored by 2.38am PDT (9.38am GMT), according to the game's official status account on X, formerly Twitter. The patch introduces a wave of fresh content ahead of Fortnite OG Season 3, with several new quests, weapons, and collaborations teased in the files. Among the most anticipated is a crossover with Mortal Kombat, hinted at through promotional material showing Sub Zero appearing in a Fortnite loading screen. Recent updates have reinvigorated gameplay with new features like Outlaw Keycards and the Party Up Spring Raid quests. Weapons such as the Pump and Dump shotgun and SMG combo have also made an impact on player strategies. Update 34.20 is expected to ca...

Google settles $100m lawsuit for overcharging advertisers Google has agreed to pay $100 million in cash to settle a long-running lawsuit claiming it overcharged advertisers by failing to provide promised discounts and charged for clicks on ads outside the geographic areas the advertisers targeted. A preliminary settlement of the 14-year-old class action, which began in March 2011, was filed late Thursday in the San Jose, California, federal court, and requires a judge’s approval. Advertisers who participated in Google’s AdWords program, now known as Google Ads, accused the search engine operator of breaching its contract by manipulating its Smart Pricing formula to artificially reduce discounts. The advertisers also said Google, a unit of Mountain View, California-based Alphabet, misled them by failing to limit ad distribution to locations they designated, violating California’s unfair competition law. Thursday’s settlement covers advertisers who used AdWords between January 1, 2004,...

Elon Musk reportedly pressured Reddit CEO Steve Huffman on content moderation Elon Musk privately urged Reddit CEO Steve Huffman to act against subreddits restricting X links and posts targeting Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) employees, according to The Verge. The messages came after Musk publicly criticised Reddit on X, calling it “insane” that certain subreddits blocked links to his platform. He also claimed that Reddit users advocating violence against DOGE staff had “broken the law.” Shortly after their exchange, Reddit imposed a 72-hour ban on the WhitePeopleTwitter subreddit, citing a “prevalence of violent content.” The thread Musk highlighted on X was also deleted, along with hundreds of comments, including those that did not promote violence. Reddit spokesperson Gina Antonini stated: “We take any report of Reddit policy violations seriously, whether on Reddit directly or through other public or private means. We will evaluate content reported to us and take actio...

Nintendo surprises Direct focused on Switch games ahead of April showcase In a surprise move, Nintendo has announced a new Nintendo Direct set to air tonight, focusing exclusively on games for the original Nintendo Switch. The presentation comes just a week before the highly anticipated Nintendo Switch 2 Direct, scheduled for 2 April 2025. The upcoming Direct will feature 30 minutes of news and announcements about the current Switch lineup. Nintendo has confirmed that the event will not include any mention of the Switch 2, with all next-gen updates reserved for next week’s dedicated showcase. While the timing of this Direct has raised eyebrows, it’s likely to be one of the last major updates for the original Nintendo Switch before the company transitions fully into its next generation. Fans can expect smaller announcements, third-party titles, ports, and possibly a few long-anticipated games. Speculation includes the ever-elusive Hollow Knight: Silksong and smaller indie gems, though...

Playstation Plus games revealed for April Sony has announced April’s Playstation Plus Monthly Games lineup, offering subscribers three new titles spanning action, horror, and Japanese role-playing genres. Available from April 1 to May 5, the lineup includes RoboCop: Rogue City, The Texas Chain Saw Massacre, and Digimon Story: Cyber Sleuth – Hacker’s Memory. The games will be available to all PS Plus members on PS4 and PS5. RoboCop: Rogue City Players step into the metallic boots of RoboCop in this first-person action game set between the events of RoboCop 2 and 3. As the iconic law enforcement cyborg, players patrol the crime-ridden streets of Old Detroit. The game features a combination of firepower, investigation, and moral decision-making. The original RoboCop actor, Peter Weller, reprises his role to voice the character. The game includes open-area exploration, suspect interrogation, and multiple decision paths that influence the storyline. The Texas Chain Saw Massacre Inspired b...

Treasure NFT: a look at the trading platform alleged to be a fraud Treasure NFT, a platform that claims to offer AI-driven NFT trading with substantial returns, has been alleged as fraudulent scheme, with multiple red flags indicating Ponzi scheme-like activity. Initially promoted as a decentralized marketplace offering daily returns between 4.3% and 6.8%, and monthly profits of up to 30%, the platform's promises quickly unravelled as experts raised alarms about its unsustainable profit guarantees. The platform’s operations, largely targeting economically disadvantaged and less-educated communities in regions such as Pakistan’s tribal areas, Balochistan, and Sindh, seem to primarily rely on a referral-based model. New users are recruited to invest in the platform, while the profits for earlier investors are paid out by the funds from new participants—an apparent hallmark of a Ponzi scheme. This structure creates an illusion of profitability but ultimately leads to financial colla...

Machines more capable of reading thoughts of trained humans: study Machines are more capable of reading human thoughts when users are specifically trained to do so, a new Swiss study has found. The research offers a significant breakthrough in brain-machine interface (BMI) technology, with potential applications for individuals who lose the ability to speak due to strokes or other medical conditions. In the study, published in the journal Communications Biology, researchers at the University of Geneva worked with 15 volunteers to test how training affected a machine’s ability to interpret human brain signals. The participants were connected to electrodes that recorded brain activity as they silently imagined saying the syllables “fo” and “gi.” Over five consecutive days, the volunteers received real-time visual feedback on how accurately the system was interpreting their internal speech. The better the system understood the syllables, the more a visual display on a screen filled up —...

Papua New Guinea blocks Facebook as part of test to curb harmful content Papua New Guinea’s government has blocked Facebook, saying the move is a "test" aimed at curbing misinformation, hate speech, and explicit content. The shutdown, enforced under the country’s anti-terrorism laws, began on Monday and has continued into Tuesday. Authorities have not confirmed when access will be restored. The decision has drawn sharp criticism from opposition lawmakers, media groups, and business leaders, who argue it undermines free speech and disrupts economic activity. Police Minister Peter Tsiamalili said the government is not attempting to suppress free speech but wants to ensure "responsible usage" of social media. "The unchecked proliferation of fake news, hate speech, pornography, child exploitation, and incitement to violence on platforms such as Facebook is unacceptable," Tsiamalili said in a statement. With an estimated 1.3 million users, Facebook is the dom...

Sindh offers 30,000 digital skills scholarships in partnership with Google The Sindh government has launched a major initiative in collaboration with Google and Tech Valley Pakistan to provide over 30,000 scholarships for digital skills training to students at public sector universities across the province. Announced at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah at CM House, the programme will offer Google Career Certificates in high-demand fields including Artificial Intelligence (AI), Cybersecurity, Digital Marketing, IT Automation, and Project Management. "This partnership is a testament to our vision of transforming Sindh into a hub of innovation and skill development," Shah stated, noting that the programme will also promote gender inclusivity by ensuring at least 30% female participation. The certificates, developed by Google experts, allow students to complete flexible online courses in as little as three to six months—no degree required. Graduates from ...

Viral ‘chubby filter’ pulled from TikTok amid fears of eating disorder risks TikTok has removed a viral AI-powered “chubby filter” from its platform following widespread backlash from users and health experts, who warned that the feature encouraged body shaming and could trigger eating disorders. The filter, which digitally altered users’ photos to make them appear overweight, was developed by CapCut, a video editing app owned by ByteDance — the same parent company as TikTok. While technically separate, the filter was widely shared across TikTok, sparking outrage from users, influencers, and scientists. Initially shared in jest, many users posted before-and-after videos using the filter, with captions such as “This is my motivation to go to the gym.” But others quickly pointed out the damaging implications. “This filter is a huge step backward,” said Dr Emma Beckett, a food and nutrition scientist, in an interview with the BBC. “It fuels toxic diet culture and reinforces harmful ster...

Oxygen detected in galaxy just 300 million years after big bang Astronomers have detected oxygen in the most distant known galaxy, JADES-GS-z14-0, just 300 million years after the Big Bang. The discovery, made using the ALMA telescope, suggests galaxies formed and matured far more rapidly than previously believed. JADES-GS-z14-0, discovered in 2024, is the farthest confirmed galaxy observed, with its light traveling 13.4 billion years to reach Earth. Scientists expected the early universe to lack heavy elements, but findings show this galaxy contains significantly more oxygen than anticipated, indicating rapid star formation and chemical enrichment. The breakthrough, reported by two independent research teams, provides a more precise distance measurement of the galaxy and challenges conventional timelines of galaxy evolution. Scientists highlight the synergy between the ALMA telescope and the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST) in pushing the boundaries of early cosmic discoveries. Exp...

Leaked designs for Apple’s foldable iPhone 17: What to expect and how much will It cost? Apple's highly anticipated iPhone 17 series and its first foldable iPhone are generating significant excitement, following recent leaks that unveil major design and functionality upgrades. Set to be released in 2025, these devices promise to bring substantial changes to the smartphone market. iPhone 17 Series Leaks: What to Expect in 2025 Leaked images shared by industry insider Sonny Dickson provide a glimpse of the upcoming iPhone 17 models, including the iPhone 17, iPhone 17 Air, iPhone 17 Pro, and iPhone 17 Pro Max, expected to be unveiled in September 2025. These images, likely based on machined ‘blanks’ used for accessory development, highlight key design elements and offer a look at Apple's updated approach to its hardware. The most notable feature across all four models is the introduction of the "Capture Button" and the programmable "Action Button," first seen...

Wrong Glue blamed for eighth recall of Tesla Cybertrucks Tesla has issued its eighth recall of the Cybertruck—this time for an issue far stickier than software. The company announced Thursday that it will recall more than 46,000 of its all-electric pickups due to faulty adhesive used to attach exterior stainless steel trim panels, which could detach while driving and pose a road hazard. The problem, identified by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), cannot be fixed remotely. Unlike previous Tesla recalls resolved through over-the-air updates, this fault requires owners to physically bring their trucks to a service center for repair. The recall affects Cybertrucks produced between November 2023 and February 2025, and centers around a cosmetic applique that may separate due to the use of adhesive vulnerable to “environmental embrittlement”—essentially, a glue that doesn’t hold up well in varying temperatures. Tesla says it will replace the adhesive with one more ...

X takes legal action against India's IT ministry over content blocking practices India's IT Ministry has unlawfully expanded censorship powers, allowing easier online content removal, X alleges in a lawsuit. The case marks an escalation in the legal dispute between X (formerly Twitter) and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government regarding the removal of content online. The lawsuit, filed on March 5, claims that India's IT Ministry has directed other government departments to use a government website, launched by the Ministry of Home Affairs last year, to issue content-blocking orders. Social media companies, including X, are also mandated to join this platform. X argues that the website undermines existing legal safeguards for content removal, such as those requiring orders to protect national sovereignty or public order, and lacking oversight by top officials. According to X, the new mechanism facilitates unchecked censorship and seeks to annul the directive. India...

WhatsApp limits broadcast messages to tackle spam WhatsApp, the messaging platform owned by Meta, has announced significant changes to its broadcast messaging policy aimed at reducing the growing issue of spam messages. Starting in the coming weeks, individual users will face restrictions on the number of broadcast messages they can send. According to WhatsApp, this move is designed to tackle the volume of unwanted messages and improve the user experience. During the testing phase, the platform will limit the number of broadcast messages to a set amount per month for individual users. As per early reports, Meta is planning to allow a maximum of 30 broadcast messages per month. For users who need to send more messages, Meta suggests using status updates or channels as alternatives to broadcast messages. In response to growing concerns over spam, Meta is also considering similar restrictions for business accounts. Changes for business accounts Currently, business accounts on WhatsApp a...

Nowruz 2025: Google Doodle celebrates Persian new year Google commemorated the arrival of spring with a special Doodle marking the Persian New Year, Nowruz 2025. This year, the celebration of Nowruz coincides with the first day of spring on March 20. The Doodle was designed by Pendar Yousefi, and was released as part of Google’s global recognition of the 3,000-year-old tradition that heralds renewal, hope, and the victory of light over darkness. Pendar Yousefi is a California-based UX designer known for his work on breaking down language barriers and creating inclusive digital experiences. In addition to his career in design, Yousefi has a passion for storytelling and art, and has recently released his first children’s book. The Doodle is a celebration of Nowruz’s deep cultural heritage and its message of unity, renewal, and hope. Through his work, Yousefi has captured the essence of this festive occasion, which unites people from different backgrounds and regions.     ...

Elon Musk's Grok chatbot sparks debate with 'unhinged' responses Elon Musk’s Grok, the new AI chatbot developed by xAI, has quickly become the subject of intense online discussion, drawing attention for its unfiltered, irreverent tone and controversial interactions. Unlike more neutral AI models such as OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Google’s Gemini, Grok doesn't shy away from casual language, slang, and even profanity, making it a hit on social media platforms, especially on X (formerly Twitter). The chatbot, named after the sci-fi term coined by Robert A. Heinlein, is designed to offer a more relatable, human-like experience for users. It operates with a “Unhinged” mode, available to Premium subscribers, which delivers unpredictable, often humorous, and occasionally outrageous responses. This mode, combined with Grok’s real-time access to X posts, means the AI constantly learns from the platform’s chaotic discourse, allowing it to mirror the messiness of human communication. ...

Google to settle racial bias claims with $28m payment Google has agreed to pay $28 million to settle a lawsuit alleging racial bias in its pay and career advancement practices. The settlement, which has received preliminary approval, comes after claims that the tech giant provided better pay and career opportunities to white and Asian employees compared to their Hispanic, Latino, Native American, and other minority counterparts. The lawsuit, filed in 2021 by former Google employee Ana Cantu, argued that workers from certain ethnic backgrounds were given lower starting salaries and job levels than their white and Asian colleagues, despite performing similar work. The case was built on a leaked internal document that allegedly showed discrepancies in compensation for employees of different ethnicities. Cantu's lawyers contended that this practice reinforced longstanding racial and ethnic disparities in pay and career progression at the company. The settlement has been given prelimi...

What is DOGEquest? A website called "Dogequest" has reportedly published the personal information of Tesla owners across the United States, including names, addresses, phone numbers, and emails. The site, which features an interactive map, also lists Tesla dealership locations, charging stations, and the details of employees from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), led by Elon Musk. The site’s operators have stated that they will remove personal information about Tesla owners only if they provide proof of selling their electric vehicle. The website uses a Molotov cocktail image as its cursor, further raising concerns over its potential to incite violence. "Dogequest" has been linked to several incidents of vandalism targeting Tesla owners and dealerships. Recent reports include incidents of arson, with a suspect in Las Vegas setting multiple Tesla vehicles on fire. Tesla owners, particularly those with the newly released Cybertruck, have also faced ver...

NASA astronauts Butch and Suni land safely after nine months in space After an extended nine-month mission aboard the International Space Station (ISS), NASA astronauts Butch Wilmore and Suni Williams have finally returned to Earth. Their journey home culminated in a fiery re-entry through the atmosphere before their SpaceX capsule deployed four parachutes and made a gentle splashdown off the coast of Florida. As the capsule floated in the ocean, a pod of dolphins was seen circling the spacecraft. Once the recovery ship lifted it from the water, the astronauts beamed and waved as they were helped out of the hatch, along with fellow crew members, NASA astronaut Nick Hague and cosmonaut Aleksandr Gorbunov.         View this post on Instagram                       A post shared by NASA (@nasa) The mission was initially planned to last only eight days, but technical issues with the Boeing Starliner spacecraft exten...

Google announces $32bn deal to buy Wiz Google said Tuesday it will acquire cloud security platform Wiz for $32 billion, citing the need for greater cybersecurity capacity as artificial intelligence embeds itself in technology infrastructure. The all-cash deal brings Wiz into the Google Cloud operation, boosting the capacity of consumers to use “multiple clouds” and providing “an end-to-end security platform for customers, of all types and sizes, in the AI era,” the companies said in a joint press release. The deepening influence of AI makes “cybersecurity increasingly important in defending against emergent risks and protecting national security,” the companies said. The transaction, the largest ever sought by Google or parent Alphabet, will test President Donald Trump’s openness to large takeovers after resistance to such deals by the administration of Joe Biden. Alphabet had been close to a Wiz takeover last summer, but the deal fell apart due in part to regulatory concerns, accord...

Tesla stock drops again as Elon Musk faces backlash over sales decline Tesla’s stock continued its downward trend on Monday, declining nearly 5% to $238 per share, despite a broader market recovery. The latest drop follows a series of warnings from Wall Street analysts about weakening sales and brand perception, as well as increasing competition in key global markets. In a new report issued Sunday, Mizuho analysts, led by Vijay Rakesh, revised their Tesla price target downward by $85 to $430, citing deteriorating demand. The firm also cut its 2025 vehicle delivery forecast from 2.3 million to 1.8 million, a 22% reduction that falls below the broader market consensus of 2 million deliveries. According to Mizuho’s analysis, Tesla’s sales declined significantly in major markets last month: United States: Sales fell 2% year-over-year, while the overall EV market grew by 16%. China: Sales plummeted 49%, while China’s EV sector expanded by 85%. Germany: Tesla’s sales dropped 76%, even as G...