TikTok prepares to shut down in the US before impending ban | Technology

Posted on January 19, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

TikTok suspended its service in the United States late Saturday, just before a federal ban on the Chinese-owned short video app went into effect.

This app is no longer available on Apple’s iOS App Store or Google’s Play Store. In April, the U.S. Congress passed a law requiring parent company ByteDance to sell TikTok to a non-Chinese owner or face complete shutdown. I chose the latter.

TikTok said the sale was “commercially, technically and legally impossible.” The company stuck to that policy until the end.

It took five years for the app to disappear. Donald Trump first proposed banning TikTok by executive order in mid-2020, but was unsuccessful. Various lawmakers proposed similar measures, but only one passed. The Protecting Americans from Controlled Applications by Foreign Adversaries Act was passed, requiring TikTok to be sold or banned.

“A law has been enacted in the United States that bans TikTok. Unfortunately, that means you can’t use TikTok at this time.” Luckily, once President Trump takes office, we have a solution to bring TikTok back. has expressed its intention to cooperate with Stay tuned,” a message to users trying to use the app appeared.

TikTok’s lawyers told the Supreme Court that the app will “cease use” on January 19th. After TikTok disappears from the app store and no new downloads or updates are possible, it will gradually become obsolete while the ban continues. Without regular maintenance, your app may fail to function smoothly and become vulnerable to cyber-attacks.

Users trying to access TikTok in the United States encountered the message late Saturday. Photo: Blake Montgomery/The Guardian

TikTok fought this action vigorously in court, arguing without success that blocking the much-loved app would violate its right to free speech. It seemed like the bill might die before it became law, as in Montana, where a similar provision became the first state in the U.S. to ban TikTok within its borders in 2023. The state law was overturned before it took effect.

Two days before ByteDance was due to sell the popular app used by 170 million Americans, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that the law was constitutional and its provisions should remain. did. Biden said he would leave enforcement of the bill to Trump. The White House said in a statement Friday that TikTok “should remain available to Americans, but simply under American ownership.”

In response to the ruling, TikTok chief Shou Chiu called on the president-elect to save the app. “On behalf of everyone at TikTok and our users across the United States, I want to thank President Trump for his commitment to working with us to find a solution to keep TikTok available in the United States,” he said in a video posted to TikTok. Ta. .

At the 11th hour, Trump tried to intervene on TikTok’s behalf before the Supreme Court, even though Trump himself is the author of the ban. He drew attention to the app after gaining a large audience during the 2024 presidential campaign. He is scheduled to take office on Monday and could order the Justice Department not to implement the bill, but said the Supreme Court’s ruling “should be:”respected”.It is unclear whether he will be able to completely avoid the TikTok ban.

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President Trump said Saturday that he would likely give TikTok a 90-day reprieve from a potential ban after he takes office on Monday.

“The 90-day extension is appropriate and will most likely be implemented,” he told NBC. “If we decide to do that, we’ll probably announce it on Monday.”

US TikTok users are leaking to Chinese video-sharing app Xiaohongshu (also known as RedNote) rather than YouTube Shorts or Instagram Reels, both of which are likely to gain traction after the ban.

One user said: “Before I look at your Instagram reels, I want to dropship my DNA to the doorstep of the Chinese Communist Party.”

Report contributed by Reuters

Source: www.theguardian.com

Blue Origin’s New Glenn rocket prepares for its first launch.

Posted on January 8, 2025 by Igor Mitreski

New Glenn on the launch pad in Cape Canaveral, Florida

blue origin

Blue Origin, the space company owned by Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, is scheduled to launch its first reusable New Glenn rocket on January 10th. If successful, the rocket could rival SpaceX's Falcon Heavy rocket, which has become the go-to launch vehicle for companies looking to send large payloads into orbit.

What is Newglen?

New Glenn is a 98-meter-tall rocket, the height of a 30-story building, designed to carry a payload of up to 45 tons into low-Earth orbit. It is expected to compete with SpaceX's Falcon Heavy, which can carry about 64 tons of cargo.

The rocket has two stages. The first stage is designed to land on a maritime platform, similar to the Falcon Heavy, and Blue Origin claims it can be reused for 25 missions. The top of the rocket has a disposable upper stage that can store cargo and mission payloads.

When will the launch take place?

New Glenn was cleared by the Federal Aviation Administration to launch from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida in a three-hour window beginning at 1 a.m. local time (6 a.m. GMT) on January 10.

The launch window had already been approved by the FAA as January 6th, but Blue Origin also confirmed the January 10th window for the first time. “This is our first flight, and we have prepared thoroughly for it,” said Blue Origin's Jarrett Jones. in a statement.

After announcing development of the rocket in 2016, Blue Origin initially aimed to launch New Glenn in 2020, but delays and setbacks have postponed the first launch.

What does a test flight involve?

The main purpose of the test flight, called NG-1, is to get the rocket into orbit, but the second stage will also be equipped with Blue Origin's Blue Ring Pathfinder, which includes communications equipment, power systems, and Blue Ring equipment. A collection of flight computers) will also be installed. The spacecraft will help guide and maneuver future payloads in orbit.

Blue Origin aims to emulate the success of SpaceX's rapid testing and development schedule, which involves launching as often as possible, even if some tests end in fiery explosions. “No matter what happens, we will learn, refine and apply that knowledge to our next launch,” Jones said.

Ultimately, Blue Origin asked New Glenn to launch a satellite as part of Amazon's Project Kuiper, a planned satellite internet constellation similar to SpaceX's Starlink, that would fly to the space station Blue Origin is developing. I would like to have the parts delivered.

What other rockets has Blue Origin launched?

Blue Origin has previously focused on space tourism with its New Shepard rocket, which launched founder Jeff Bezos and three other passengers to an altitude of 107 kilometers (107 kilometers) in 2021. It has since launched eight more crew members to similar altitudes, the most recent in November 2024.

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Source: www.newscientist.com

Pacific Northwest prepares for severe weather from ‘bomb cyclone’ and atmospheric river

Posted on November 20, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Thousands of homes lost power, as downed power lines and trees blocked highways in Washington state on Tuesday due to a powerful atmospheric river event, officials announced.

Forecasters stated that a storm could bring up to 15 inches of rain and heavy snowfall in the mountains. By 7 p.m. local time, about 100,000 homes and businesses in Washington and over 14,000 homes in Oregon were without power, as reported by news agencies on the Rack Website poweroutage.us.

The Bellevue, Washington, fire department warned, “Trees are falling across the city, hitting homes.” They advised residents to stay away from windows and not to go outside if possible. X was contacted on Tuesday around 8pm.

Weather forecasters warned of a whiteout snowstorm in the Cascade Range and possible 2 feet of snow in Mount Shasta, Northern California, along Interstate 5. High wind gusts of up to 90 mph were recorded on Mount Rainier and 52 mph in Seattle-Tacoma International Airport.

Known as bomb cyclones, these intense winds are caused by rapidly intensifying storm systems with decreasing atmospheric pressure. Scientists attribute this phenomenon to climate change generating more atmospheric rivers, which are significant contributors to precipitation on the West Coast.

An atmospheric river storm could bring significant rainfall over a three-day period in Northern California, with a flood watch issued in several areas. These storms help replenish water supplies after dry summers, but can also lead to severe flooding and damage.

Satellite images show a weather system moving towards the Pacific Northwest, prompting concerns of damaging winds, rain, and snow. Climate scientists are closely monitoring the storm and its potential impacts on various regions.

Satellite images show the weather system moving closer to the Pacific Northwest on Tuesday morning.
NOAA

As the storm progresses, residents in affected areas are advised to stay updated on weather alerts and follow safety guidelines to minimize risks and potential damage.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Reddit Prepares for Initial Public Offering and Stock Market Debut

Posted on February 23, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Reddit is on the cusp of its highly-anticipated stock market debut, which is expected to be the largest IPO by a major social network in four years. The company’s financial performance was revealed in a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission on Thursday, which also disclosed that OpenAI founder and CEO Sam Altman holds an 8.7% stake in the social media group, making him the largest shareholder.

Trading under the ticker symbol “RDDT” on the New York Stock Exchange, Reddit’s long-awaited listing (scheduled for March) is set to be the largest social media IPO since Pinterest went public in 2019.

The company has not yet determined the number of shares to be offered or the price range for the proposed offering, as stated in a statement by Reddit.

The IPO filing also revealed that Reddit experienced a loss of $90.8 million in 2023, despite a roughly 21% increase in revenue. The platform boasts 267.5 million weekly active users, over 100,000 active communities, and 1 billion total posts.

Advance Magazine Publishers holds the largest stake in the company at 30.1%, while Chinese multinational Tencent owns 11%.

The planned IPO comes nearly 20 years after Reddit’s launch and will be a significant event for the platform, which still lags behind other social media giants such as Facebook and Twitter. The filing also outlined Reddit’s unique plan to allow its most active users to buy stock at the IPO. Additionally, Reddit plans to reward certain users with shares through a tiered system based on their contributions to the platform.

Reddit was valued at $10 billion in a 2021 funding round, and it is anticipated that the company will aim for a similar valuation with its upcoming stock sale. It’s expected to ask to sell nearly 10% of its stock, as reported by Reuters.

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Reddit also cited data licensing agreements as a source of revenue in its filing, disclosing a recent deal with Google worth $203 million. This deal, announced on Wednesday, will allow Reddit’s content to be used to train Google’s artificial intelligence (AI) models, generating approximately $60 million annually, as reported by Reuters.

The filing outlined Reddit’s belief that its growing platform data will become a key element in training large-scale language models and will also serve as an additional monetization channel for the company.

Reddit initially filed for an IPO in 2021 but postponed its public offering due to challenging economic conditions and poor performance among listed technology stocks. Morgan Stanley and Goldman Sachs have been named lead underwriters for the IPO, along with more than a dozen other banks.

Source: www.theguardian.com

Japan prepares for precision ‘lunar sniper’ landing mission

Posted on January 19, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

TOKYO — Japan will attempt a precision landing on Friday, aiming to become the fifth country to land a spacecraft on the moon. This would be a boost for a space program that has been hit by a wave of setbacks and overshadowed by rival China.

was namedmoon sniper'', the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA)'s spacecraft is attempting to land within 100 meters (328 feet) of its target, but JAXA says the technology is unprecedented and that it will It is said to be essential in the search for human habitability.

Japan is increasingly seeking to play a larger role in space, partnering with Washington to counter China's military and technological might.Japan boast In collaboration with many private space startup companies, astronaut To the moon as part of NASA's Artemis program.

However, JAXA has faced multiple setbacks, including launch failure In March, a new flagship rocket, the H3, was announced, aimed at matching cost competitiveness with private rocket providers like SpaceX.

JAXA's Smart Lander for Lunar Exploration (SLIM) spacecraft will begin its 20-minute touchdown phase on a one-way mission at midnight Saturday (15:00 GMT Friday), covering an area about two kinetic tracks on the lunar surface. Attempt to land at the target location. The slope of a crater just south of the moon's equator.

“No other country has achieved this. If Japan can prove that it has this technology, it will provide a huge advantage for future international missions like Artemis,” said Shinichiro Sakai, JAXA's SLIM project manager. said.

Chandrayaan 3 in India in August Had made The historic touchdown to the Moon's South Pole was a major technological feat considering the rugged terrain and underlines India's rise as a nation. Major players In space.

JAXA emphasizes that its high-precision technology will be a powerful tool in future exploration of the hilly lunar poles, which are considered a potential source of oxygen, fuel and water. Japan is also planning an unmanned lunar polar exploration jointly with India in 2025.

Professor Kazuto Saiki of Ritsumeikan University, who developed the SLIM near-infrared camera that analyzes lunar rocks after landing, says, “Japan cannot compete with the United States, China, and India in terms of resources when it comes to developing lunar surface projects.'' .

“We should focus on building popular technologies such as pinpoint landings and near-infrared cameras that foreign exploration projects aim to adopt.”

JAXA has twice landed on small asteroids, but landing on the moon is much more difficult due to gravity, as seen in many recent failures.

Last year, a Japanese probe to start ispace crashes into the moon RussiaThe Luna 25 followed suit. A lander from American startup Astrobotic suffered a fuel leak last week. Force Giving up a touchdown attempt.

“Mistakes happen, but Japan is a very experienced space power and has been conducting very complex space operations for many years,” said Bredin Bowen, an associate professor at the University of Leicester who specializes in space policy. To tell.

“Japan may not be as big as the old United States or the Soviet Union or today's China, but it has always been there in terms of capability and niche advanced technology.''

SLIM's high-precision landing “won't be a game changer,” but its demonstration and the construction of lightweight spacecraft that Japan has been pursuing could reduce the cost of each mission and bring moonshots to space agencies around the world. Bowen added that there is.

JAXA says it will take up to a month to verify whether SLIM achieved its high-precision goals after touchdown.

Upon landing, SLIM will also deploy two mini-probes, a hopping vehicle the size of a microwave oven and a wheeled rover the size of a baseball, to take photos of the spacecraft. The robot was jointly developed by technology giant Sony Group, toy maker Takara Tomy, and several Japanese universities.

Source: www.nbcnews.com

Japanese lander Slim prepares to touch down on the moon

Posted on January 18, 2024 by Igor Mitreski

Artist's thoughts on SLIM after landing on the moon

JAXA

Japan is preparing for its first moon landing. The Smart Lunar Survey Lander (SLIM) is scheduled to land on the lunar surface on January 19th. If all goes well, Japan will become the fifth country to land a probe on the moon, following the United States, Soviet Union, China and India.

SLIM launched in September 2023 and took a long, narrow path to the moon, making a steep descent to conserve fuel. It entered lunar orbit in December and has since taken images of the lunar surface and slowly lowered its altitude in preparation for landing.

This spacecraft's landing technique is so precise that it has been nicknamed the “Moon Sniper.” It is designed to match images from its onboard camera with data from other lunar rovers to determine its location and autonomously navigate to a precise landing site. “[It] “We can expect 20 minutes of breathless, numbing fear,” said Kenji Kushiki, one of the mission managers at the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA). in a statement.

If successful, future missions will be equipped to land exactly where they want to land, rather than within a few dozen square kilometers of their desired spot, as is the case today. “Lunar orbiting satellites… have provided a large amount of high-resolution observation data of the lunar surface,” Kushiki said. “Thus, interest in lunar science and resource exploration has shifted from 'somewhere on the moon's surface' to 'that rock next to this particular crater.'”

When the spacecraft lands, it releases a pair of probes with new and strange ways to travel across the moon's surface. Lunar Expedition Vehicle-1 (LEV-1) is designed to fly around rather than roam on wheels like traditional rovers. LEV-2 is a sphere slightly smaller than a tennis ball that was designed by toy manufacturers to roll on the ground. take a picture. The lander itself also carries scientific instruments to survey the area around the crater that will be the target of the landing.

The landing is part of a large-scale international effort to explore the moon. India's Chandrayaan-3 lander reached the moon's surface in August 2023, but there were a series of failures. A lander sent by Japan's iSpace company crashed last April, Russia's Luna 25 had a similar accident in August, and more recently the US crashed. Astrobotic's Peregrine lander suffered a fuel leak and failed to reach the moon. If this mission is successful, it could be the moment when lunar exploration gets back on track.