US President Donald Trump has dismissed national security and privacy concerns surrounding TikTok as ‘highly overrated,’ signalling once again that the popular video-sharing platform is unlikely to face a ban anytime soon. Although Congress passed legislation requiring TikTok’s Chinese parent company, ByteDance, to sell its controlling stake or face a nationwide ban, Trump has repeatedly pushed back enforcement deadlines, with the next one set for 17 September.
Trump has already issued three extensions since taking office for his second term. The first came on 20 January, after TikTok briefly went offline when the court-approved ban took effect. Another followed in April, when a potential US buyout collapsed after China objected to Trump’s tariff moves. Trump insists that American buyers remain interested but says the process is ‘complex,’ justifying further delays.
Despite the legal framework for a ban, Trump’s administration has not faced significant legal challenges over his executive orders keeping TikTok active, which contrasts with many of his other directives. The White House even launched its own TikTok account this week, underscoring the platform’s mainstream role in US politics. Trump himself admitted he is a fan, noting its popularity among his children and younger voters.
Public opinion on TikTok remains deeply divided. A Pew Research Center survey found only about one-third of Americans now support a ban, a sharp decline from half of respondents in 2023. Roughly equal shares oppose a ban or remain undecided. Among supporters of restrictions, most cite concerns about user data security. Still, with Trump downplaying risks and signalling a willingness to keep the app alive, TikTok’s future in the US looks increasingly secure.
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A ransomware attack against dialysis provider DaVita has exposed the personal data of 2.7 million people, according to a notice on the US health department’s website.
The company first disclosed the cyber incident in April, saying it had taken steps to restore operations but could not predict the scale of disruption.
DaVita confirmed that hackers gained unauthorised access to its laboratory database, which contained sensitive information belonging to some current and former patients. The firm said it is now contacting those affected and offering free credit monitoring to help protect against identity theft.
Despite the intrusion, DaVita maintained uninterrupted dialysis services across its network of nearly 3,000 outpatient clinics and home treatment programmes. The company described the cyberattack as a temporary disruption but stressed that patient care was never compromised.
Financial disclosures show the incident led to around $13.5 million in charges during the second quarter of 2025. Most of the costs were linked to system restoration and third-party support, with $1 million attributed to higher patient care expenses.
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Meta has signed a cloud computing deal with Google worth more than $10 billion, marking one of the most significant agreements in the industry.
The six-year partnership will see Meta use Google Cloud’s servers, storage, networking and other services to power its massive AI projects.
The deal comes as Meta accelerates its AI infrastructure spending, with CEO Mark Zuckerberg pledging hundreds of billions of dollars for new data centres.
Last month, Meta raised its capital expenditure forecast to $72 billion and disclosed plans to offload $2 billion in data centre assets to outside partners.
The partnership highlights a growing trend of rival technology giants collaborating on AI infrastructure. Just weeks earlier, OpenAI struck a similar deal to use Google Cloud services despite being a competitor in the AI field.
These agreements have boosted Google Cloud’s performance, which saw a 32% jump in second-quarter revenue in July, surpassing market expectations.
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Russia will require all new mobile phones and tablets sold starting in September, including a government-backed messenger called Max. Developed by Kremlin-controlled tech firm VK, the app offers messaging, video calls, mobile payments, and access to state services.
Authorities claim Max is a safe alternative to Western apps, but critics warn it could act as a state surveillance tool. The platform is reported to collect financial data, purchase history, and location details, all accessible to security services.
Journalist Andrei Okun described Max as a ‘Digital Gulag’ designed to control daily life and communications.
The move is part of Russia’s broader push to replace Western platforms. New restrictions have already limited calls on WhatsApp and Telegram, and officials hinted that WhatsApp may face a ban.
Telegram remains widely used but is expected to face greater pressure as the Kremlin directs officials to adopt Max.
VK says Max has already attracted 18 million downloads, though parts of the app remain in testing. From 2026, Russia will also require smart TVs to come preloaded with a state-backed service offering free access to government channels.
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Many data centre developers face delays due to grid constraints or unreliable utilities. To circumvent these challenges, they are embracing alternative power setups.
Popular options include solar arrays paired with battery storage, microgrid deployments, mobile gas generators, and even hydrogen fuel cells. These systems offer more control, robust uptime and faster deployment than waiting for utility upgrades.
Such energy independence also increases site flexibility. Operators can choose locations without worrying about grid strengthening or local permitting delays, enhancing both scalability and disaster resilience.
As demand for cloud and AI capacity grows, hybrid energy architectures are proving vital. They ensure continuity and avoid overtaxed grid infrastructure.
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Security researchers at Kaspersky discovered that hackers used Skype to distribute a Remote Access Trojan known as GodRAT. Initially spread via malicious screensaver files disguised as financial documents, the malware employed steganography to conceal shellcode inside image files, which then downloaded GodRAT from a remote server.
Once activated, GodRAT collected detailed system information, including OS specs, antivirus presence, user account data and more. The trojan could also download additional plugins such as file explorers and password stealers. In some cases, it deployed a second malware, AsyncRAT, granting attackers prolonged access.
GodRAT appears to be an evolution of previous tools, such as AwesomePuppet, and shares artifacts with Gh0st RAT, suggesting a link to the Winnti APT group. While Kaspersky did not disclose the number of victims, the campaign primarily targeted small and medium-sized businesses in the UAE, Hong Kong, Jordan, and Lebanon. Cybercrime using Skype as a vector reportedly ceased around March 2025 as criminals shifted to other distribution channels.
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Microsoft has limited certain Chinese companies’ access to its early warning system for cybersecurity vulnerabilities following suspicions about their involvement in recent SharePoint hacking attempts.
The decision restricts the sharing of proof-of-concept code, which mimics genuine malicious software. While valuable for cybersecurity professionals strengthening their systems, the code can also be misused by hackers.
The restrictions follow Microsoft’s observation of exploitation attempts targeting SharePoint servers in July. Concerns arose that a member of the Microsoft Active Protections Program may have repurposed early warnings for offensive activity.
Microsoft maintains that it regularly reviews participants and suspends those violating contracts, including prohibitions on participating in cyber attacks.
Beijing has denied involvement in the hacking, while Microsoft has refrained from disclosing which companies were affected or details of the ongoing investigation.
Analysts note that balancing collaboration with international security partners and preventing information misuse remains a key challenge for global cybersecurity programmes.
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Europol has warned that a reported $50,000 reward for information on two members of the Qilin ransomware group is fake. The message, circulating on Telegram, claimed the suspects, known as Haise and XORacle, coordinate affiliates and manage extortion operations.
Europol clarified that it does not operate a Telegram channel and that the message does not originate from its official accounts, which are active on Instagram, LinkedIn, X, Bluesky, YouTube, and Facebook.
Qilin, also known as Agenda, has been active since 2022 and, in 2025, listed over 400 victims on its leak website, including media and pharmaceutical companies.
Recent attacks, such as the one targeting Inotiv, demonstrate the group’s ongoing threat. Analysts note that cybercriminals often circulate false claims to undermine competitors, mislead affiliates, or sow distrust within rival gangs.
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A new study in Robot Learning has introduced a robotic system that combines machine learning with decision-making to analyse water samples. The approach enables robots to detect, classify, and distinguish drinking water on Earth and potentially other planets.
Researchers used a hybrid method that merged the TOPSIS decision-making technique with a Random Forest Classifier trained on the Water Quality and Potability Dataset from Kaggle. By applying data balancing techniques, classification accuracy rose from 69% to 73%.
The robotic prototype includes thrusters, motors, solar power, sensors, and a robotic arm for sample collection. Water samples are tested in real time, with the onboard model classifying them as drinkable.
The system has the potential for rapid crisis response, sustainable water management, and planetary exploration, although challenges remain regarding sensor accuracy, data noise, and scalability. Researchers emphasise that further testing is necessary before real-world deployment.
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Citi has expanded its digital client platform, CitiDirect Commercial Banking, with new AI capabilities to improve customer service and security.
The platform now supports over half of Citi’s global commercial banking client base and handles around 2.3 million sessions.
AI features assist in fraud detection, automate customer queries, and provide real-time onboarding updates and guidance.
KYC renewals have been simplified through automated alerts and pre-filled forms, cutting effort and processing time for clients.
Live in markets including the UK, US, India, and others, the platform has received positive feedback from over 10,000 users. Citi says the enhancements are part of a broader effort to make mid-sized corporate banking faster, more innovative, and more efficient.
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