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Meta buys China-founded AI agent Manus Facebook owner Meta has agreed to acquire Manus, an artificial intelligence agent created by a company founded in China but now based in Singapore, the two firms said. However, analysts warned the deal could fall foul of regulators at a time of fierce technological rivalry between Washington and Beijing. Exceeding the capabilities of AI chatbots like ChatGPT, AI agents can autonomously perform complex tasks for users, and are seen as having huge potential. Manus, created by startup Butterfly Effect, can for example sift through and summarise resumes or create a stock analysis website, according to its website. Meta said Monday that the deal -- the financial details of which were not disclosed -- will "bring a leading agent to billions of people and unlock opportunities for businesses across our products". Read More: China issues drafts rules to regulate AI with human-like interaction "The era of AI that doesn't just talk, but ...

Chinese researchers establish new model to predict human organ aging A team of Chinese researchers has recently developed a model to predict the aging of 13 human organs, including the brain, enabling precise assessment of organ aging levels, the China Science Daily reported on Monday. Previous research focused mainly on the common features of overall aging or explored only the aging mechanisms of isolated organs, making it difficult to decipher the distinct genetic patterns and molecular pathways associated with the aging of different organs. This has hindered our deeper understanding of the nature of aging, and restricted the development and implementation of precise anti-aging strategies. The research team, led by Yang Tielin from Xi'an Jiaotong University, conducted a genome-wide association analysis that identified 119 genetic loci associated with organ aging. Among them, only 27 were found to be associated with aging across multiple organs, confirming that the genetic regul...

NFC: addressing politicised elephant in the room For decades, the National Finance Commission (NFC) Award has been treated as a political taboo – too sensitive to touch, too convenient to exploit, and too dangerous to reform. Each government solemnly acknowledges its structural distortions, only to defer meaningful action in the name of "provincial harmony". However, considering the swift delivery of the recent constitutional amendments with "unprecedented unanimity," it seems that the stage is set for addressing the structural issues associated with the current award. At its core, the NFC Award governs how national income is shared between the federation and the provinces. What began as a legitimate attempt to strengthen provincial autonomy following devolution has gradually evolved into a structural imbalance that weakens the federal state while failing to deliver commensurate improvements in provincial governance or public services. The result is a system where...

Iran puts three satellites into orbit from Russian launch site Iran has launched three domestically developed observation satellites into orbit aboard a Russian Soyuz rocket, marking another milestone in Tehran’s expanding space programme, state media reported on Sunday. The satellites — Paya, Zafar-2 and Kowsar 1.5 — were sent into space from Russia’s Vostochny Cosmodrome and are now orbiting Earth at an altitude of around 500 kilometres. Iranian officials said the mission was carried out for civilian and research purposes. According to the official IRNA news agency, the satellites were designed by Iran’s private sector and academic institutions and will be used for Earth observation, environmental monitoring and resource management. Paya, weighing about 150 kilograms, is the most advanced and heaviest imaging satellite built by Iran to date. It is equipped with artificial intelligence capabilities to enhance image resolution and will be used for monitoring water resources, mapping ...

Google rolls back portrait lock setting in Phone app beta Google briefly tested a new setting in its Phone app that allowed users to lock calls in portrait mode, a move aimed at addressing complaints about the recently introduced landscape calling screen. The option, labelled “Keep portrait mode on calls,” was added to the app’s beta channel and designed to prevent accidental screen rotation during calls, particularly for users who keep system-wide auto-rotate enabled. The landscape interface features a two-column layout, with caller details on one side and call controls on the other, a change that some users found disruptive while on the move. However, the feature has now been rolled back. As of this week, beta users report that the setting has disappeared from the app’s Display options, and it never made its way to the stable release. Other experimental features, such as Expressive Calling, remain available for testers.

China issues drafts rules to regulate AI with human-like interaction China's cyber regulator on Saturday issued draft rules for public comment that would tighten oversight of artificial intelligence services designed to simulate human personalities and engage users in emotional interaction. The move underscores Beijing's effort to shape the rapid rollout of consumer-facing AI by strengthening safety and ethical requirements. The proposed rules would apply to AI products and services offered to the public in China that present simulated human personality traits, thinking patterns and communication styles, and interact with users emotionally through text, images, audio, video or other means. The draft lays out a regulatory approach that would require providers to warn users against excessive use and to intervene when users show signs of addiction. Under the proposal, service providers would be required to assume safety responsibilities throughout the product lifecycle and estab...

New UAE law tightens rules on digital platforms to safeguard children The United Arab Emirates has issued a new federal decree law aimed at protecting children from online risks and promoting the responsible use of safe, age-appropriate digital content, as part of broader efforts to safeguard child welfare. The legislation, announced on Friday, comes ahead of 2026 being designated the Year of the Family and reflects the UAE’s vision to enhance the quality of life and well-being of children in an increasingly digital environment. The law seeks to protect children from digital content and practices that could harm their physical, psychological or moral development. It also establishes a comprehensive framework defining the responsibilities of relevant authorities, digital platforms and caregivers. The decree applies to internet service providers and digital platforms operating within the UAE or targeting users in the country. These include websites, search engines, messaging and smart ...

China eases IPO rules for firms developing reusable rockets Chinese companies developing reusable commercial rockets will have access to a fast lane for initial public offerings on the tech-heavy STAR market that exempts them from some financial requirements, the Shanghai Stock Exchange said on Friday. Beijing is seeking to address a gap in its space capabilities compared to the United States, which is currently dominant in the ability to return, recover and reuse a rocket’s first stage, or booster, after it is launched. The new guidelines build upon previous regulations published in June that made it easier for pre-profit innovative companies to get listed on the STAR market. The fast lane exempts Chinese rocket firms from profitability and minimum revenue thresholds and instead requires them to have met key technological milestones, including one successful orbital launch using reusable rocket technology. China aims to cut US SpaceX monopoly US billionaire Elon Musk’s aerospace com...

Google introduces long-awaited option to modify Gmail usernames Google has said it is gradually rolling out a long-awaited feature that will allow users to change their “@gmail.com” email addresses, marking a significant shift in its long-standing account policy. According to an updated Google support page, users will now be able to change their Gmail address to a new one ending in “@gmail.com”, a function that was previously unavailable. Until now, Google only permitted account email changes for users who signed up with third-party email addresses, while Gmail users were generally locked into their original usernames. Accirding to google 9to5, the update was spotted on a Google support page currently visible only in Hindi, suggesting a phased or limited rollout. The company said the feature would be made available gradually to all users. Read More: WhatsApp complains about restrictions in Russia after reported slowdown Google explained that users who opt to change their Gmail ad...

China says 700 generative AI models filed as tech breakthroughs accelerate China achieved new breakthroughs in fields including integrated circuits, artificial intelligence (AI) and basic software over the past five years, with over 700 generative AI large model products having completed filing procedures, the Cyberspace Administration of China (CAC) said on Thursday. During the 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025), the total number of products equipped with HarmonyOS, an open-source operating system, exceeded 1.19 billion units, and embodied intelligence is gradually advancing toward industrial application, according to the CAC. China has seen remarkable improvement in its information technology application, with internet penetration rising from 70.4 percent to 79.7 percent during the period, the CAC said. Read More: 9th CPEC Media Forum brings together leaders The country's urban-rural gap in internet penetration narrowed by 8.2 percentage points compared to five years ago, t...

Would you trust Pakistan’s first AI-newsroom? Saga Digital AI is a "first of its kind" AI-powered media outlet founded by Amar Guriro that uses a variety of software and AI-generated content to conduct journalism. Read: SC orders reinstatement of 36 teachers, citing tribunal’s use of ‘hallucinating’ AI "It was weird for me to stay with the paper [print media]," Guriro said when asked about leaving his previous job at The Independent Urdu to form Saga Digital after a 26-year career in print media. "Better than a job is doing your own work, being your own boss." "There was too much censorship, and very little journalism, which became my main gripe," Guriro added. Guriro and another reporter, who asked not to be named as it would jeopardise their current position in their newsroom, founded Saga Digital AI using Rs4 million of their personal funds. "I'm the Chief Editor. Apart from me, there's someone for social media, AI generation, a...

Samsung’s ‘Wide Fold’ phone could reshape foldables as Apple’s entry nears Samsung is reportedly developing a new foldable smartphone that could add a fresh dimension to its lineup and intensify competition ahead of Apple’s long-anticipated entry into the foldable phone market. According to a report by South Korea’s Etnews, Samsung is working on an internally codenamed device known as the “Wide Fold,” which is expected to launch in the second half of 2026. Unlike the company’s existing Galaxy Z Fold and Z Flip models, the new device is said to feature a wider, more tablet-like display design. Samsung has not officially confirmed the development or specifications of the device and did not respond immediately to a request for comment. The report suggests the Wide Fold will feature a 7.6-inch internal display when unfolded and a 5.4-inch external screen when closed. Notably, the internal screen is expected to have a 4:3 aspect ratio — wider and squarer than the tall, narrow displays cur...

WhatsApp complains about restrictions in Russia after reported slowdown WhatsApp complained on Tuesday about restrictions to its service in Russia, accusing authorities of trying to deprive more than 100 million Russians of the right to private communications ahead of the holiday season. The statement followed a renewed warning from Russia’s communications regulator that it would completely block WhatsApp if it failed to comply with demands to bring its services into line with Russian law. “WhatsApp continues to violate Russian law. The messenger is used to organise and carry out terrorist acts on the territory of the country, to recruit their perpetrators and to commit fraud and other crimes against our citizens,” Roskomnadzor told Russian state media. The regulator confirmed it was taking steps to gradually restrict WhatsApp as a result. Thousands of Russians complained of outages and slowdowns on Tuesday, according to internet monitoring websites. “In restricting access to WhatsAp...

‘The Core’: Al Jazeera rolls out AI system for news production Al Jazeera Media Network has announced a new ArtificiaI Intelligence initiative, developed in partnership with Google Cloud aimed at integrating AI more deeply into newsroom operations. The project, named “The Core,” was announced on December 15 as an integrative AI‑driven model designed to AI's role in journalism from a passive tool to an active partner in news production, while retaining editorial control.         View this post on Instagram                       Built on what Al Jazeera describes as a “cognitive operating model,” The Core embeds generative AI across multiple stages of the news lifecycle, including information gathering, data analysis, content creation and distribution, with human editors overseeing all editorial decisions. According to Al Jazeera and Google Cloud, The Core integrates Google’s AI suite acr...

Meta is earning a fortune on a deluge of fraudulent ads, documents show Meta internally projected late last year that it would earn about 10% of its overall annual revenue – or $16 billion – from running advertising for scams and banned goods, internal company documents show. A cache of previously unreported documents reviewed by Reuters also shows that the social-media giant for at least three years failed to identify and stop an avalanche of ads that exposed Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp’s billions of users to fraudulent e-commerce and investment schemes, illegal online casinos, and the sale of banned medical products. On average, one December 2024 document notes, the company shows its platforms’ users an estimated 15 billion “higher risk” scam advertisements – those that show clear signs of being fraudulent – every day. Meta earns about $7 billion in annualized revenue from this category of scam ads each year, another late 2024 document states. Much of the fraud came from marke...

Tetraplegia patient controls wheelchair,robotic dog using only thoughts in China trial A patient suffering from tetraplegia steered a smart wheelchair through the neighborhood with only his thoughts and directed a robotic dog to fetch a food delivery. These scenes were achieved during a recent clinical trial of a brain-computer interface conducted by a team from the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). This shattered the conventional boundaries of rehabilitation, carrying the brain's command from a two-dimensional cursor on a screen into full-bodied, three-dimensional interaction with the physical world. Brain-computer interfaces are designed to create a direct communication channel between the brain and external devices. Around the world, research groups have already demonstrated the laboratory feats, including "mind typing" and robotic-arm control. The enduring challenge is to make those systems reliable enough to vanish into a patient's daily life. The patient beca...

China pioneers commercial use of supercritical CO2 power generation A set of supercritical carbon dioxide (CO2) power generation units commenced commercial operation on Saturday in Guizhou Province, southwest China, marking the country's pioneering commercial application of this innovative technology. The unit now in commercial operation, located at a plant operated by Shougang Shuicheng Iron and Steel (Group) Co., Ltd. in Guizhou's Liupanshui City, constitutes a demonstration project for supercritical CO2 power generation technology utilizing sinter waste heat, according to its developer, the Nuclear Power Institute of China under China National Nuclear Corporation (CNNC). The project is named Chaotan One, and each unit of the project boasts a power generation capacity of 15 megawatts. "The project highlights the use of supercritical CO2 power generation technology -- an innovative power generation technology characterized by high efficiency, a compact system, fewer aux...

Google warns US visa staff against international travel Alphabet Inc’s Google has advised some employees on US visas to avoid international travel due to prolonged visa processing delays at US embassies, Business Insider reported, citing an internal email. According to the report, the email, sent on Thursday by the company’s external counsel, BAL Immigration Law, warned employees who require a visa stamp to re-enter the United States not to travel abroad, as processing times at embassies have lengthened significantly. Read: Google announces shutdown of Dark Web monitoring tool Google did not immediately respond to a Reuters request for comment. The memo said some US embassies and consulates are facing visa appointment delays of up to 12 months, cautioning that international travel could “risk an extended stay outside the US,” the report added. Read More: Amazon–Google multicloud link offers new opportunities for Pakistan’s digital sector Earlier this month, the administration of Pres...

TikTok signs joint venture deal to end US ban threat TikTok said Thursday it has signed a joint venture deal with investors that would allow the company to maintain operations in the United States and avoid a ban over its Chinese ownership. The move caps a lengthy tussle over the hugely successful video-sharing app in the world's largest economy, where TikTok says it has more than 170 million users. According to an internal memo seen by AFP, TikTok CEO Shou Chew told employees that the social media company and its Chinese owner ByteDance had agreed to the new entity. Oracle, Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi-based MGX are on board as major investors, the memo said. Oracle's executive chairman Larry Ellison is a longtime ally of US President Donald Trump. "The US joint venture will be responsible for US data protection, algorithm security, content moderation, and software assurance," Chew said in the memo. "It will also have the exclusive right and authority to provide ...

US strikes kill 5 on alleged drug boats in Pacific: military The US military said it killed five alleged drug traffickers aboard two vessels in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, taking the overall death toll in Washington's campaign to more than 100 people. Under President Donald Trump, US forces have carried out numerous strikes in the Caribbean Sea and eastern Pacific Ocean since September. The administration has provided no evidence that the targeted boats were involved in drug trafficking, prompting debate about the legality of these operations. The latest attacks hit two vessels in international waters that were "engaged in narco-trafficking operations," the US military's Southern Command said on X. Three people were killed in the first vessel and two in the second vessel, it said. Since the start of the campaign, the strikes have now killed 104 people, according to an AFP tally based on official data. Thursday's operation came the same day Trump claimed he di...

PUBG MOBILE and the rise of Gen Z’s esports economy Gen Z has come of age in a world where traditional career paths have become increasingly uncertain. Stable jobs, long-term security, and linear professional growth no longer feel guaranteed, especially in economies struggling to keep pace with rapidly expanding youth populations. As a result, this generation is choosing flexibility over formality, skills over titles, and digital platforms over physical offices. Remote work and online communities that connect them to global markets now shape how young people learn, earn, and express ambition. For young people in Pakistan, these preferences are not just lifestyle choices but survival strategies. The country faces a persistent gap between the number of young people entering the workforce and the opportunities available to absorb them. Infrastructure challenges, inconsistent connectivity, and rising costs have made traditional employment increasingly difficult to access. Within this con...

Astronomers discover lemon-shaped exoplanet with bizarre atmosphere Astronomers have discovered an unusual lemon-shaped exoplanet orbiting a pulsar, a type of dense, rapidly spinning dead star, in a finding that challenges current theories of planet formation. Using the James Webb Space Telescope, researchers observed that the planet, dubbed PSR J2322-2650b, possesses an atmosphere rich in carbon but completely lacking nitrogen and oxygen—elements typically found wherever carbon exists in the universe. “Everywhere in the universe, where there’s carbon, there tends to be nitrogen and oxygen,” said Michael Zhang, a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Chicago and co-author of a preprint paper detailing the discovery, soon to be published in Astrophysical Journal Letters. The Jupiter-mass gas giant orbits its pulsar host closely enough that the star’s gravity has deformed the planet into a lemon-like shape. While gas giants orbiting ordinary stars are known to be slightly distor...

China test network transmits 699 days of data in just 1.6 hours Data that would take 699 days to transmit over the traditional Internet was transferred in just 1.6 hours on a testbed for China's future networks. China's first national science and technology infrastructure in the information and communications technology (ICT) sector -- China Environment for Network Innovation (CENI) -- recently passed national acceptance in Nanjing, east China's Jiangsu Province, and has been officially commissioned. CENI is an open, user-friendly, and sustainable large-scale universal test infrastructure that provides a simple, efficient, and low-cost test and verification environment for researching innovative architectures of future networks. "CENI's passage of national acceptance marks China's entry into the world's advanced echelon in the capabilities of network technology innovation, test verification, and service application, enabling it to deliver higher-quality s...

US Senate confirms private astronaut, Musk ally Jared Isaacman as NASA chief The US Senate on Wednesday confirmed billionaire private astronaut Jared Isaacman to become President Donald Trump’s NASA administrator, making an advocate of Mars missions and a former associate of SpaceX CEO Elon Musk the space agency’s 15th leader. The vote on Isaacman, who Trump removed and then renominated as NASA administrator nominee this year, passed 67–30, two weeks after he told senators in his second confirmation hearing that NASA must pick up the pace to beat China back to the moon this decade. Isaacman will lead an agency of about 14,000 employees as it invests billions of dollars into its most ambitious space exploration effort yet: returning humans to the moon to establish a long-term presence before eventually sending astronauts to Mars. Nasa workforce cut in efficiency push The White House, in its government efficiency drive led by Musk, has slashed NASA’s workforce by 20% and sought to cut ...

Google announces shutdown of Dark Web monitoring tool Google is to retire its Dark Web Report tool early next year, shutting down a service intended to alert people when their personal information appears in illicit data dumps on the hidden corners of the internet. According to Google, scanning for new dark web data will end on 15 January 2026 and the feature will be completely shut down on 16 February 2026, with all associated user data deleted from Google’s servers.  The Dark Web Report was first introduced in March 2023 as part of Google’s efforts to help customers keep tabs on their digital footprints. It monitored whether email addresses or other personal details like names, phone numbers and addresses showed up in reported data breaches and dark web lists, then notified the account holder if matches were found. The recent email from Google says that, "While the report offered general information, feedback showed that it did not provide helpful next steps. We'...