TikTok users in the United States remain in limbo as the popular app continues to be unavailable for download from Apple and Google app stores. The platform, owned by China’s ByteDance, resumed service following a temporary shutdown, but legal uncertainties have prevented its return to digital storefronts.
The impasse stems from a US law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok or face a nationwide ban due to national security concerns. President Trump recently extended the enforcement deadline, sparking debates about potential buyers, including high-profile figures like Elon Musk. However, no clear resolution has emerged, leaving users and tech giants caught in legal purgatory.
Some frustrated fans have resorted to selling devices with TikTok pre-installed for exorbitant prices on platforms like eBay. Others are attempting workarounds, such as location changes or VPNs, to regain access. Despite these efforts, confusion about TikTok’s long-term future has prompted some users to abandon the app entirely, citing dissatisfaction with political interference.
As negotiations continue, TikTok’s status in the US remains precarious, with both users and the company waiting anxiously for clarity on its fate.
CTM360, a Bahrain-based cybersecurity platform, has partnered with the ISACA Singapore Chapter to enhance Singapore’s cybersecurity landscape. By signing a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the first members’ event of 2025, this collaboration aims to elevate cybersecurity through capacity development, professional development, and fostering a culture of knowledge exchange.
The partnership focuses on hosting joint events, training programs, and workshops designed to advance cybersecurity expertise, support certification advancements, and develop innovative strategies to address evolving cyber threats. By combining their expertise, both organisations are working to enhance cybersecurity ecosystem in Singapore and equip professionals with the tools required to tackle modern challenges, ensuring cybersecurity remains a priority across industries.
The collaboration reflects a shared commitment to creating meaningful opportunities for professional growth and strengthening the cybersecurity community. It underscores the importance of equipping professionals with the necessary knowledge and tools to thrive in a rapidly evolving digital landscape.
The partnership also aims to drive impactful initiatives, promoting a safer and more resilient digital environment through collective responsibility and a focus on addressing current and future cyber threats.
Google is making a significant new investment in AI by committing more than $1 billion to Anthropic, according to a report by the Financial Times. Anthropic, a competitor to OpenAI, focuses on developing advanced AI models and tools, positioning itself as a major player in the growing AI sector.
The investment underscores Google’s ongoing commitment to bolstering its AI capabilities in a highly competitive market. As the race to dominate AI innovation intensifies, tech giants like Google are increasingly supporting smaller firms that specialise in cutting-edge developments to stay ahead.
Anthropic, founded in 2021 by former OpenAI executives, has quickly gained recognition in the AI community. The company aims to create more reliable and interpretable AI systems. Google’s backing is expected to strengthen Anthropic’s research and development efforts, further establishing it as a prominent force in the AI landscape.
President Donald Trump unveiled a $500 billion private-sector initiative on Tuesday aimed at transforming AI infrastructure in the US. The joint venture, called Stargate, brings together OpenAI, SoftBank, and Oracle to build 20 massive data centres and create over 100,000 jobs. Backers have committed $100 billion for immediate deployment, with the remainder spread over the next four years.
The announcement, made at the White House with SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son, OpenAI CEO Sam Altman, and Oracle Chairman Larry Ellison in attendance, underscores America’s push to lead in AI development. Ellison revealed that the first data centres, each half a million square feet, are already under construction in Texas. These facilities aim to power advanced AI applications, including analysing electronic health records to assist doctors.
Trump attributed the project’s launch to his leadership, with executives expressing their support. “We wouldn’t have decided to do this unless you won,” Son said. However, the ambitious project arrives amid concerns over the rising energy demands of AI data centres. Trump promised to simplify energy production for these facilities, even as experts warn of potential power shortfalls across the country in the coming decade.
The announcement comes against a backdrop of surging AI investments since OpenAI’s release of ChatGPT in 2022, which sparked widespread adoption of AI across industries. Oracle and other tech stocks, including Nvidia and Dell, climbed on the news, reflecting market enthusiasm for the Stargate project.
Oracle shares soared by nearly 9% in Frankfurt on Wednesday following an announcement from former US President Donald Trump about a groundbreaking AI initiative. Oracle, in collaboration with OpenAI and SoftBank, is set to establish a joint venture called Stargate, aiming to revolutionise AI infrastructure.
The ambitious project will see a staggering $500 billion investment, as revealed during Trump’s remarks at the White House the day before. The collaboration highlights the growing significance of AI and signals major players pooling resources to drive technological advancements in this domain.
Investor excitement around Stargate boosted Oracle’s stock performance significantly. After regular trading closed on Tuesday with a 7% rise, the company’s shares climbed an additional 3% in after-hours trading, reflecting strong market optimism.
SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son’s decision to partner with OpenAI and Oracle on a $500 billion AI venture, Stargate, showcases his bold, headline-grabbing approach to dealing with the Trump administration. The project, announced at the White House alongside President Donald Trump, promises to build AI infrastructure in the US and marks a significant part of Son’s earlier $100 billion investment pledge. SoftBank shares surged 11% following the news, reflecting investor confidence in the group’s aggressive strategy.
However, analysts argue that Son’s methods, rooted in rapid decision-making and high-risk bets, are difficult for traditional Japanese corporations to replicate. Japan Inc’s emphasis on long-term planning contrasts sharply with Son’s willingness to embrace Trump’s pro-investment stance to navigate potential tariffs and trade pressures. The reluctance of other Japanese executives to engage directly with Trump highlights a broader struggle to adapt in a politically charged environment.
Son’s flashy investments draw comparisons to his previous $50 billion pledge during Trump’s first term and underscore his vision for AI as a transformative technology. While his moves are reestablishing SoftBank as a global player after setbacks like WeWork’s collapse, questions remain about how the Stargate project will be funded and whether traditional Japanese companies can adapt their strategies to find similar success in Trump’s America.
Microsoft announced changes to its longstanding agreement with OpenAI following the AI leader’s new partnership with Oracle and SoftBank on a $500 billion AI data centre project, Stargate. The joint venture, unveiled by President Donald Trump at the White House, aims to solidify US leadership in AI, leveraging Nvidia chips and other cutting-edge technologies.
While Microsoft retains exclusive rights to OpenAI’s APIs, the amendments now allow OpenAI to build additional capacity outside of Microsoft’s infrastructure. This paves the way for Oracle’s involvement in Stargate, which will operate as a separate entity with governance rights shared among founding members and external investors like UAE’s MGX. SoftBank CEO Masayoshi Son will chair the venture’s board.
Despite this shift, Microsoft remains a central technology partner, continuing to benefit from revenue-sharing agreements with OpenAI and maintaining exclusivity over key offerings through its Azure cloud service. “The key elements of our partnership remain intact through 2030,” Microsoft said, reaffirming its commitment to OpenAI’s long-term growth.
Oracle and OpenAI have not commented on Microsoft’s statements, but the partnership underscores the strategic realignments shaping the future of AI infrastructure in the US.
A state-of-the-art £225 million supercomputer, Isambard-AI, is set to become the most powerful in the UK when fully operational this summer. Based at the National Composites Centre in Bristol, the system uses artificial intelligence to aid in developing vaccines and drugs for diseases such as Alzheimer’s, heart disease, and cancer. Researchers are already using its vast computational power to enhance melanoma detection across diverse skin tones.
Professor Simon McIntosh-Smith, a high-performance computing expert at the University of Bristol in the UK, described Isambard-AI as “potentially world-changing.” By simulating molecular interactions, the AI can drastically cut the time and cost of drug development, which traditionally relied on educated guesses and laborious physical experiments. The system virtually screens millions of potential treatments, allowing researchers to identify promising candidates faster.
Despite concerns about its energy consumption, the supercomputer is designed to operate efficiently and may even repurpose its waste heat to warm local homes and businesses. Highlighting the project’s broader significance, Professor McIntosh-Smith likened Isambard-AI to the invention of the internet, emphasising its potential to save millions of lives while keeping its research publicly accessible.
The UK government has introduced a new AI assistant named ‘Humphrey,’ inspired by the scheming character Sir Humphrey Appleby from the sitcom Yes, Minister. This innovative suite of digital tools aims to modernise civil service workflows, reduce costs, and simplify tasks such as summarising public feedback and searching parliamentary records.
The initiative forms part of a broader overhaul of government digital services, announced by Science and Technology Secretary Peter Kyle. Central to this plan are two new apps for secure document storage, including digital driving licences. The Humphrey AI tools, particularly Consult and Parlex, are designed to replace costly external consultants and assist policymakers in navigating parliamentary debates.
Despite the programme’s ambitions, the choice of name has sparked debate. Critics like Tim Flagg from UKAI argue that the association with Sir Humphrey’s ‘devious and controlling’ persona might undermine trust in the technology. However, Flagg also expressed optimism about the government’s technical capabilities, calling the project a positive step towards embracing AI.
The UK government insists that these tools will foster efficiency and collaboration, with improved data sharing between departments being another key feature of the initiative. By cutting consultancy costs and increasing transparency, officials hope Humphrey will become a symbol of progress, rather than parody.
Wintermute has strengthened its collaboration with TRON DAO to enhance liquidity and improve trading efficiency within the TRON ecosystem. By leveraging Wintermute’s expertise in providing liquidity for TRX, the native token of the TRON blockchain, the partnership aims to support major TRX trading pairs across various exchanges. The collaboration ensures a more seamless trading experience, helping new users easily engage with the TRON ecosystem.
Wintermute will cover both centralised and decentralised exchanges, offering competitive spreads and market insights to create a sustainable liquidity model. In addition to supporting the TRON DeFi ecosystem, Wintermute will serve as an OTC partner for TRX, USDT, USDD, and other tokens like TRUMP and MELANIA. This will help reduce market volatility, minimise slippage, and improve overall market stability.
The partnership has received positive remarks from both sides. Moshe Shen, Director of Business Development at Wintermute, emphasised the firm’s commitment to supporting leading ecosystems in crypto, while Sam Elfarra, a TRON community spokesperson, praised Wintermute’s role in improving accessibility within DeFi. The alliance underscores a shared vision of advancing blockchain innovation and providing a more efficient experience for users globally.
