Chinese tanker retreats twice from US’ Hormuz blockade in 48 hours
A fully laden Chinese tanker has twice turned back from the US blockade of traffic leaving Iranian ports, despite setting off from the UAE. The incident highlights how Chinese commercial vessels are weighing up the risks posed by the naval blockade, with analysts saying no country’s ships are receiving “special treatment” at present. The Rich Starry sailed east through the Strait of Hormuz into the Gulf of Oman around 2am local time on Tuesday, according to data from Mingkun Technology, a...
China’s CATL to invest US$4.4 billion in mining arm to secure EV battery supply chain
Contemporary Amperex Technology Ltd (CATL), China’s electric vehicle (EV) battery king, plans to earmark 30 billion yuan (US$4.4 billion) to establish a subsidiary to manage and expand mining assets, after the global energy shock paved the way for a quicker entry into the world’s automotive and energy storage system (ESS) markets. The investment arm, in line with CATL’s long-term growth strategy, would integrate existing mining assets, pursue high-quality mineral projects at home and abroad, and...
This energy startup’s bet on 100-year-old grid tech is paying off
Demand for electrical transformers, fueled in part by AI data centers, has grown so high that one prominent investor is backing a new startup that uses a very old technology. Ayr Energy makes transformers with iron-cores, the same basic tech used in the grid for over a century. A number of other startups have popped up to dethrone the iron-core transformer, but Ayr and its investors think there’s plenty of life left in the old tech. Judging by the company’s order book, now north of $500 million,...
Chipmakers AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm are all investing in this buzzy self-driving tech startup
Chipmakers AMD, Arm, and Qualcomm have invested $60 million into UK self-driving technology startup Wayve as part of an extension to its recent $1.2 billion Series D funding round, the companies announced Wednesday. Wayve already brought in a who’s who of strategic investors for its Series D round, including Mercedes-Benz, Nissan, and Stellantis, and returning backers Nvidia, Microsoft, and Uber. Other earlier investors like Eclipse, Balderton, and SoftBank Vision Fund 2 also joined the ro...
North Korea’s nuclear weapons production capabilities increase significantly — IAEA
Rafael Grossi also stated that he has no reason to believe that Russia could transfer nuclear technology applicable to the military to North Korea
Perplexity AI Chief Communications Officer’s 'message' for Google: Web search is 'primitive’
Perplexity AI is challenging the status quo in online search, arguing that current technology is primitive and ripe for AI-driven innovation. The company believes the real breakthrough lies in enhancing the 'read' function of the web, moving beyond simple link retrieval to deliver direct, objective-based answers. This approach targets 'curious decision-makers' rather than relying on traditional ad models.
China tests submarine cable cutter at 3,500-metre depth
A Chinese deep-sea mission has successfully tested an advanced device capable of cutting through underwater structures such as submarine cable at a depth of thousands of metres. The “Haiyang Dizhi 2” research vessel completed its first deep-sea scientific mission of 2026 last Saturday, according to the Ministry of Natural Resources. The expedition included a cutting test of a deep-sea electro-hydrostatic actuator at a depth of 3,500 metres (11,483 feet), using technology that has drawn attention...
Screen time opponents target 1-on-1 devices in schools after success with cellphone bans
Personal laptops, Chromebooks and iPads are on the chopping block in many classrooms as parents and advocates look to expand efforts to limit technology in schools. Despite millions of dollars spent by districts before and especially during the COVID-19 pandemic to give students 1-to-1 personal devices, the tides are turning as some worry about the distractions and…
UAE Central Bank to develop e-KYC platform
Abu Dhabi: The UAE Central Bank is developing a nationwide unified Know Your Customer (eKYC) platform, following the signing of a technical partnership agreement with the global technology company Norbloc AB.The platform will address challenges arising from the duplication of customer due diligence processes, reduce compliance costs, and strengthen financial stability and competitiveness, further reinforcing the UAE’s leadership in the global digital financial landscape.The new platform will enh...
Charlie Chaplin’s ‘The Kid’ Gets Vertical Makeover on U.K. Microdrama App TattleTV (EXCLUSIVE)
U.K. microdrama platform TattleTV – billed as the country’s first dedicated app of its kind – has adapted Charlie Chaplin’s 1921 feature “The Kid” for vertical mobile viewing, making the silent-era film available exclusively to U.S. audiences. The technology works by generating new image data to fill a vertical frame rather than sacrificing the original […]
Victory Giant Is Said Set to Price Hong Kong Listing at Top of Range
Victory Giant Technology Huizhou Co. is likely to price its Hong Kong listing at the top of the marketed range, according to people familiar with the matter, in a sign of strong demand for the city’s biggest share sale in seven months.
PS6 price leak suggests affordable console despite recent Sony cost increases
Science & TechnologyPS6 price leak suggests affordable console despite recent Sony cost increasesBy Web Desk-Apr 15, 2026A renowned gaming insider claims the unconfirmed PlayStation 6 could be priced much lower than fans might initially expect. While Sony has not officially announced the next-generation console, the gaming console company previously stated that a new system remains top of mind. This rumor comes as Sony plans to increase the prices of several PlayStation models starting April...
Nintendo Switch 2 rumored to get limited edition Zelda console
Science & TechnologyNintendo Switch 2 rumored to get limited edition Zelda consoleBy Web Desk-Apr 15, 2026A gaming insider suggests Nintendo plans to launch its first limited-edition Switch 2 console. Over the years, Nintendo has released various limited editions, such as the Pikachu Nintendo 64, the Legend of Zelda: Majora’s Mask 3DS XL, and multiple Switch 2 editions, including ones for Pokémon Scarlet & Violet, The Legend of Zelda: Tears of the Kingdom, and Animal Crossing: New Horizo...
Anthropic cofounder says degrees that seemed mismatch to age of AI are now worthwhile
Anthropic cofounder Jack Clark highlighted the growing relevance of liberal arts degrees in the AI era, emphasizing how understanding history and narratives aids in comprehending future technology. He noted that interdisciplinary synthesis and critical thinking, rather than just rote programming, are becoming crucial skills for navigating AI's complexities.
YouTube livestream viewers to see fewer ads after Super Chat purchases
Must ReadScience & TechnologyYouTube livestream viewers to see fewer ads after Super Chat purchasesBy Web Desk-Apr 15, 2026YouTube has recently come under scrutiny for increasing ad frequency during videos and livestreams, whether intentionally or not. The latest platform update impacts livestream viewers by showing fewer ads under specific conditions. Recently, YouTube announced several changes to livestreams, two of which are notable. According to their press release, livestreams will now...
India has a chance to be Asia’s gateway for global capital
The core principle is simple: Do not tax the gateway. Benefits to India will come from the second-order effects — the jobs, the investments, the technology, the capital that flows through GIFT into Asia and the world
WhatsApp Web users may soon get 50 new desktop theme options
Must ReadScience & TechnologyWhatsApp Web users may soon get 50 new desktop theme optionsBy Web Desk-Apr 15, 2026WhatsApp Web may soon offer nearly 50 new desktop themes to enhance your cross-platform messaging experience. As the desktop extension of your mobile app, WhatsApp Web has traditionally received fewer updates. However, WABetaInfo reports that Meta is developing 49 new themes that will be available for users to customize their experience while using WhatsApp Web. Mobile users have...
Mark Zuckerberg creates AI clone of himself to interact with Meta staff
Must ReadScience & TechnologyMark Zuckerberg creates AI clone of himself to interact with Meta staffBy Web Desk-Apr 15, 2026Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg has created an AI similar to himself to engage in conversations and provide feedback to the company’s staff. According to the Financial Times, Zuckerberg is developing an AI agent to help manage his workload. This initiative coincides with Meta investing billions in data centers and recruiting research talent to lead in the artificial intelligen...
Trump swings for Moon with nuclear reactor plans as China, Russia team up in space race
A memo released by the Trump administration on Tuesday detailed a goal of having a nuclear reactor on the Moon’s surface by 2030, a move that furthers the United States’ quest for supremacy in space over China and Russia.In the six-page document, the White House Office of Science and Technology Policy wrote that incorporating nuclear energy in space will be essential to advancing U.S. efforts in "space exploration, commerce, and defense applications.""Nuclear power in space will give us the sust...
WhatsApp Web users may soon get 50 new desktop theme options
Must ReadScience & TechnologyWhatsApp Web users may soon get 50 new desktop theme optionsBy Web Desk-Apr 15, 2026WhatsApp Web may soon offer nearly 50 new desktop themes to enhance your cross-platform messaging experience. As the desktop extension of your mobile app, WhatsApp Web has traditionally received fewer updates. However, WABetaInfo reports that Meta is developing 49 new themes that will be available for users to customize their experience while using WhatsApp Web. Mobile users have...