Category Archives: SCI-TECH

Huawei smartphone spin-off Honor reshuffles management in wake of CEOs abrupt departure

Huawei smartphone spin-off Honor reshuffles management in wake of CEOs abrupt departure

Honor, the spin-off handset brand from Huawei Technologies, implemented further management changes this week after last Friday’s abrupt departure of its CEO, as the company prepares for a public listing amid cutthroat competition in the world’s largest smartphone market. Following the appointment of Huawei veteran Li Jian last Friday to replace outgoing CEO George Zhao Ming, Honor’s management shake-up continued as its chief marketing officer (CMO) for the China region, Jiang Hairong, also tendered his resignation, according to a report by the China Business Journal on Monday. The company’s global CMO, Guo Rui, will temporarily assume the China region role as well, according to the report. Further, Honor’s China sales chief Zheng Shubao will be replaced by eastern Jiangsu province’s regional head Chen Haoqian. Honor confirmed the changes when contacted

Pete Hegseth’s ex-wife ‘feared for her personal safety,’ former sister-in-law says

Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth arrives to his confirmation hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee in the Dirksen Senate Office Building in Washington, Jan. 14, 2025. Jim Lo Scalzo/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

In a sworn affidavit obtained by Democrats on the Senate Armed Services Committee, the former sister-in-law of defense secretary nominee Pete Hegseth said that Hegseth’s ex-wife Samantha told her she “once hid in her closet from Hegseth because she feared for her personal safety” in the home she shared with Hegseth during their marriage. The affidavit, which details concerns about allegedly abusive behavior by Hegseth against Samantha, who was Hegseth’s second wife, came from Danielle Hegseth, who was previously married to Hegseth’s brother. News of the affidavit was first reported by NBC News, which reported that Samantha refuted many of the claims in the affidavit in a statement to NBC. “There was no physical abuse in my marriage. This is the only further statement I will make to you, I

Kai Cenat: The Online Streamer Redefining Content Creation

Kai Cenat: The Online Streamer Redefining Content Creation

With over 43 million combined social media followers and ranked the fourth most followed Twitch streamer , Kai Cenat has become a global sensation. Known for his comedic content, collaborations with A-list celebrities, and authentic connection with his fans, affectionately called “the mafia,” Kai is a cultural icon. His meteoric rise to fame has earned the 23-year-old a net worth of over $14 million, according to Celebrity Net Worth. Remarkably, in March 2023, it was reported that he made $23,280 monthly just from sleep streams, translating to an annual income of $285,480. These figures will likely be much higher today with his rapidly growing audience. The Beginnings of a Digital Star Born and raised in New York City, Kai Cenat grew up in The Bronx to a Haitian father and

The New Tesla Model Y Is Here. Is It Enough?

The New Tesla Model Y Is Here. Is It Enough?

The redesigned Tesla Model Y crossover that dropped earlier this month has got some heavy lifting to do. While Tesla CEO Elon Musk has been extremely online when he’s not wheeling and dealing at Mar-a-Lago with President Donald Trump, his automaker’s core business has faltered. After years of epic growth, Tesla’s global deliveries slipped in 2024 thanks to fiercer competition in the EV space and a lineup that hasn’t quite kept up with the times.  Photo by: Tesla Tesla Model Y (2025) Enter the new Model Y. After five years on the market, Tesla’s most popular EV just got its first, long-awaited update. Industry experts tell InsideEVs the new model is a much-needed addition that could help reignite sales. But Tesla is also facing stiffer competition than ever—particularly in China—and

Gates Foundation-Backed SeamlessHR Raises $9M in Series A Extension

Gates Foundation-Backed SeamlessHR Raises M in Series A Extension

SeamlessHR, a Nigerian startup helping businesses manage HR functions, has raised a $9 million Series-A extension round. The new funding from the Gates Foundation and Helios Digital Ventures brings the startup’s total funding to $25 million. The company plans to use the investment to expand across Africa, which may include acquisitions. Last year, the company reportedly held talks to acquire another HR tech startup in Nigeria. A Step Closer To Redefining Africa’s Productivity Although the company set out to raise $10 million, it eventually raised $9 million. This new funding comes months after SeamlessHR launched new embedded finance products that enable employers and employees to access critical financing solutions, including payroll financing, to fuel their growth and business performance.  Related Post: African Remittance LemFi Secures $53M To Expand Into Europe

The 500-Mile Ram 1500 REV Is Dead: Report

The 500-Mile Ram 1500 REV Is Dead: Report

Stellantis is reportedly canceling the long-range Ram 1500 REV electric pickup. With a 229 kWh battery, it had an estimated range of 500 miles. The standard-range model is still in the cards for 2026. The long-range version of the Ram 1500 REV electric pickup has been reportedly canceled. With a massive, 229-kilowatt-hour battery pack, the top Ram 1500 REV version had a target driving range of 500 miles–potentially making it the longest-range electric pickup in the world. However, that version has been canceled, according to a leaked email seen by MoparInsiders , leaving just the standard-range version of the Ram 1500 REV on the cards. As per the email, Stellantis has asked its suppliers “to immediately cease all activities related to this project and suspend all incremental spending.” The standard

OpenAI Appoints Nigerian Billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi to its Board

OpenAI Appoints Nigerian Billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi to its Board

OpenAI has announced the appointment of Nigerian billionaire Adebayo Ogunlesi to its Board of Directors.  Ogunlesi’s addition signals a strategic pivot for OpenAI, focusing on long-term global strategy, governance, and innovation in artificial intelligence. OpenAI described Ogunlesi’s appointment as integral to its mission of responsibly advancing artificial general intelligence (AGI). With decades of experience and leadership expertise across critical domains, including infrastructure investment, corporate strategy, and regulatory frameworks, Ogunlesi will bolster OpenAI’s ability to navigate the complex landscape of AI development and its real-world implications. OpenAI’s Board Chair, Bret Taylor, praised Ohunlesi, saying, “Bayo has an exceptional track record of driving success in organizations with global reach, expertly navigating complex and dynamic commercial landscapes. We’re honored to welcome him to the Board.” Related Post: Adebayo Ogunlesi Joins Africa’s Billionaire After

TikTok unavailable in app stores, goes dark for some users ahead of ban

TikTok logo on a smartphone.  Antonin Utz/AFP via Getty Images

The social media app TikTok was unavailable on app stores in the United States early Sunday morning, as a U.S. ban was expected to take effect. “TikTok and ByteDance Ltd. apps are no longer available in the United States, and visitors to the United States might have limited access to features,” Apple said in a support update. Results for the app were also unavailable on the Samsung Galaxy Store and Google Play Store, where users were given a message saying, “Downloads of this app are paused due to current US legal requirements.” The platform had become unavailable for some users Saturday evening, just ahead of a U.S. ban, with a popup message saying, “Sorry, TikTok isn’t available right now.” “A law banning TikTok has been enacted in the U.S. Unfortunately

AI-driven drug discovery aided by Greater Bay Area integration, Hong Kong-listed firm says

AI-driven drug discovery aided by Greater Bay Area integration, Hong Kong-listed firm says

XtalPi Holdings, an artificial intelligence (AI) drug discovery firm based in the Greater Bay Area, is changing the biopharmaceutical industry by leveraging AI and robotics to transform traditional approaches to drug development. The company’s self-developed large language model (LLM), the technology underpinning ChatGPT -like generative AI services, has helped increase the success rate of chemical experiments to 90 per cent from 20 to 30 per cent, according to Zhang Peiyu, the chief scientific officer at Shenzhen-based XtalPi. “There are many good opportunities [for artificial general intelligence] in vertical fields,” Zhang told the Post at its China Conference: Greater Bay Area 2025 in Guangzhou. “For the pharmaceutical industry, we have seen great potential to use LLMs for specialised domains.” Zhang anticipates that the integration of robotics and AI will reduce drug

Middle Schooler Discovers Cancer-Fighting Compound in Goose Droppings

Middle Schooler Discovers Cancer-Fighting Compound in Goose Droppings

Camarria Williams, a Chicago middle schooler, has uncovered a cancer-fighting compound in goose poop. The droppings that the 13-year-old collected contained a novel compound that scientists at the University of Illinois Chicago found to be toxic to human skin and ovarian cancer cells. STEM Program For Underserved Communities Williams made the discovery while attending the Chicago Antibiotic Discovery Lab—a 14-week STEM outreach program at the Boys and Girls Club in partnership with the University of Illinois Chicago. In a class assignment, she learned how to isolate bacteria and program a robot to catalog and track antimicrobial activity. She was drawn to the program for its unique hands-on experiences for local STEM students. “We walked around and they had these chemicals, and they were working on something. It was just fun,”

The Crazy Nokia Designs That Never Saw The Light Of Day

In 1997, Nokia designed a kids’ phone that was shaped like Winnie the Pooh. Some 12 years later, the company dreamed up a phone that could stretch over your wrist and even change its appearance. These concepts never made it into people’s hands, but they are now available for your viewing pleasure at the Nokia Design Archive. Launching today, the Nokia Design Archive was developed by Aalto University in Helsinki, Finland. The online portal hosts about 700 exhibits. The full scope of the archive, however, amounts to 20,000 exhibits, so what is currently available now on the website is “just the tip of the iceberg,” says Anna Valtonen, lead researcher on the Nokia Design Archive. Valtonen previously spent 12 years at Nokia, including holding a position as the head of

TSMCs US plant unlikely to get latest chip technology ahead of Taiwan, CEO says

TSMCs US plant unlikely to get latest chip technology ahead of Taiwan, CEO says

The new US plant of Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) is unlikely to get the most advanced chip technology before factories in Taiwan owing to complex compliance issues, local construction regulations and various permitting requirements, the company’s chief executive said. TSMC chairman and chief executive C C Wei said building the new factory in Arizona has taken at least twice as long as in Taiwan, in comments detailing specific challenges for the US as the country seeks to rebuild its domestic semiconductor manufacturing sector. “Every step requires a permit, and after the permit is approved, it takes at least twice as long as in Taiwan,” Wei said late on Thursday at a National Taiwan University event. He added that it would therefore be hard for TSMC to use its latest

GWM product expansion continuing with four new models for 2025

GWM product expansion continuing with four new models for 2025

Line-up of SUVs and bakkies will be headlined by the diesel-engine Tank 300 and the facelift P Series that will be renamed P300. Part of its ever expanding product range, Great Wall Motors (GWM) has confirmed the arrival of four additional models to the South African market in the first and second quarters of the year. P300 Announced at the local market launch of the Haval H7 this week, Baoding’s second arrival will be the revised P-Series bakkie that adopts the P300 moniker as per the local market Shanhai Cannon wearing the P500 nameplate. ALSO READ: GWM bringing facelift P-Series to South Africa but with a new name Unveiled in China last June, and expected to debut locally in the first quarter, the P300’s exterior revisions from the current P-Series

Banning cellphones in schools gains popularity in red and blue states

National headlines from ABC NewsCatch up on the developing stories making headlines.

National headlines from ABC NewsCatch up on the developing stories making headlines.

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. — Arkansas’ Republican Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders and California’s Democratic Gov. Gavin Newsom have little in common ideologically, but the two have both been vocal supporters of an idea that’s been rapidly gaining bipartisan ground in the states: Students’ cellphones need to be banned during the school day. At least eight states have enacted such bans over the past two years, and proposals are being considered in several more states this year. Here is a look at the push by states for such bans. The push for cellphone bans has been driven by concerns about the impact screen time has on children’s mental health and complaints from teachers that cellphones have become a constant distraction in the classroom. Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy, who has called on

Chinese AI start-up MiniMax releases low-cost open-source models that rival top chatbots

Chinese AI start-up MiniMax releases low-cost open-source models that rival top chatbots

Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) start-up MiniMax has launched a new series of open-source models, intensifying the competition among mainland technology firms to deliver cost-effective AI systems that can rival top offerings from US competitors. The Shanghai-based company on Tuesday unveiled the MiniMax-01 large language model (LLM) family, which includes a general-purpose foundational model, the MiniMax-Text-01, and the multimodal MiniMax-VL-01 with visual capabilities. LLMs are the tech that powers text-generating AI products such as ChatGPT . In benchmark tests that MiniMax posted to its official WeChat account, the new foundational language model was shown to be on par with the world’s leading AI models in evaluations that included maths problem solving, domain knowledge, the ability to follow instructions, and avoiding hallucinations or factual errors. MiniMax’s release of an industry-leading AI system