Briefing Desk
Latest Briefings
Concise reporting on the developments shaping internet governance and infrastructure. Browse each area for recent news, context and watchpoints.
Global patent trends: Huawei, Samsung, and Qualcomm lead, India surges
China-based firm Huawei Technologies, Samsung Electronics of the Republic of Korea, and U.S.-based Qualcomm emerged as the top users of WIPO’s international patent system in 2023. Meanwhile, innovators in India witnessed a nearly 50% surge in patent filing activity, despite a slight softening in glo…
Digital bank Onyx Private shuts down retail services, shifts focus to B2B
Onyx Private, a Miami-based digital bank supported by Y Combinator, is shuttering its banking operations and shifting focus to a B2B model.
Microsoft ceases cloud services in Russia amid Western sanctions
Microsoft will halt cloud services for Russian users this week, prompting the need for data backups advised through a Telegram channel.
Hong Kong prepares to launch ethereum ETFs ahead of US
Hong Kong’s financial institutions are seizing the lead in the crypto industry with the launch of ethereum ETFs ahead of U.S.
Nvidia unveils flagship AI chip, the B200, at GTC 2024
NVIDIA unveils Blackwell GPU at GTC 2024, promising superior AI performance and energy efficiency over Hopper.
MAXHUB with Microsoft Azure to build advanced AI solutions
MAXHUB partners with Microsoft Azure to drive global expansion and innovate AI solutions, transforming collaborative experiences.
Top tech news stories: March 19, 2024
Bitcoin slips further below $68,000, adding to weekend losses, Grab adds crypto top-ups to GrabPay and other tech news.
Chinese electric vehicle Xpeng plans to launch a mass-market brand in a month
OUR TAKEIn China, price wars are hurting the profitability of nearly all EV makers. By introducing the first right-hand drive electric car in Hong Kong and Southeast Asia, Xpeng aims to tap into these markets, leveraging competitive pricing and its strong foothold in China’s electric vehicle sector.…
Rebellions seek to become the first Korean startup AI chips company
OUR TAKE The global semiconductor industry has seen a surge in demand for AI chips, fuelled by the popularity of US start-up OpenAI’s ChatGPT.The establishment of Rebellions will be an important milestone for the South Korean chip industry, as Atom (the latest chip Rebellions makes) will be the firs…
RFCU cooperates with Sharetec for its core system update
OUR TAKE:This partnership signifies Regional’s commitment to modernizing its operations and enhancing services for members. Sharetec’s Velocity solution offers improved processes, security, and integration capabilities. The move follows a trend of credit unions leveraging fintech partnerships for di…
US tech sector cuts 50K jobs while AI field expands
Tech layoffs spike in 2024, with over 50,000 job losses; AI engineer salaries rise, averaging $190,000, signalling industry growth.
Apple pays $490M over CEO Cook’s false China sales comments
Apple settles $490M lawsuit alleging CEO misled investors on China performance, amidst 24% iPhone sales drop and Huawei’s 64% surge.
African internet outage was caused by subsea cable break
MainOne, a major West African data centre provider, links recent internet outage to a submarine cable rupture, ruling out human involvement.
India removes approval requirement for AI model launches
India no longer requires stakeholders to obtain approval before rolling out or deploying AI models to users in the South Asian market.
China to build billion-dollar national computing network
China’s development plans indicate that it believes computing power has become a core productivity of the country.
Reddit receives FTC inquiry on AI-related deals ahead of IPO
Reddit said on Friday that the Federal Trade Commission sent a letter to the company about its data-licensing business related to the training of artificial intelligence systems. The inquiry The company said it had received the letter from the FTC on March 14. According to Reddit, “Given the novel n…
True IDC invests $280m in Thailand’s AI-ready data centres
True Internet Data Center Company Limited, known as True IDC, commits over 10 billion baht ($278 million) to expand its data centre and cloud services in Thailand. The investment, spanning 2024 to 2027, focuses on enhancing infrastructure, sustainability, and operational excellence. VIRTU…
BDx Indonesia proudly joins NVIDIA’s AI cloud initiative
BDx Data Centers is proud to be associated with Indosat Ooredoo Hutchison and Lintasarta, its BDx Indonesia joint venture partners, in the historic collaboration with technology giant NVIDIA to propel Indonesia to the forefront of the global AI cloud community. As key players in Indonesia’s telecomm…
CtrlS to triple its data centre count to 25 by FY25
CtrlS Datacenters Ltd, the largest Rated-4 data centre provider in Asia, aims to triple its data centre count to approximately 25 by 2024-25. The company plans to expand its footprint by an additional 5 million square feet from the current 1.2 million square feet. As part of its expansion, CtrlS is …
Equinix and Private AI: Safeguard data, maximize control
Milind Wagle, CIO of Equinix: Learn how to leverage AI while safeguarding privacy and retaining control over your data While the advantages of AI are evident, enterprises require a cautious, strategic approach to reap those benefits without jeopardizing their valuable intellectual property. This is …
Blockchain Expo North America 2024: Latest in Web3, NFTs, crypto
The 8th Blockchain Expo North America, set for June 5–6, 2024, explores the latest advancements in web3, NFTs, cryptocurrency.
Mastercard trials enhanced subscription management in the US
Mastercard is piloting a subscription management system in the U.S. to offer clients enhanced control over subscription payments.
US-based spot bitcoin ETFs net inflows dropped by 80%
OUR TAKE:The recent decline in spot Bitcoin ETF inflows reflects investor caution amid market volatility, regulatory uncertainty, and macroeconomic factors. The fluctuating BTC price and anticipation of the Federal Open Market Committee meeting are likely influencing investor sentiment.— Iris Deng, …
Tencent Launches Innovative AI Video Tool ‘Follow-Your-Click’
OUR TAKEUnlike ChatGPT, Tencent’s Follow-Your-Click combines images with simple text prompts that can be converted into short video clips with a single click.While other models require users to describe in detail how and where they want the image to move, Follow-Your-Click allows for a more specific…
Chinese selfie app Meitu finds a new way while using artificial intelligence
OUR TAKEMeitu hailed the success of its refocus on artificial intelligence (AI) following a series of misfired bets ranging from cryptocurrencies to smartphones.This Hong Kong-listed company, which saw its profits surge 233% year on year to US$51.3 million and revenue grow nearly 30%, highlighted th…
Levenue buys MidFunder to accelerate growth in Switzerland
Levenue, Europe’s largest revenue-based financing company, has acquired Zurich-based FinTech MidFunder, to accelerate its growth in Switzerland. Levenue acquires Switzerland financing company MidFunder Currently, Levenue is serving subscription-based companies in 16 Europe. The agreement between Lev…
TikTok urges US users to call senators to vote no on TikTok ban
OUR TAKEThe demand for ByteDance to divest TikTok reflects heightened concerns over national security and data privacy, amid ongoing geopolitical tensions.This move shows the growing scrutiny and regulatory challenges faced by tech companies operating in global markets, particularly those with signi…
Meta wins appeal of the court order to stop using its name in Brazil
According to Reuters, Facebook-parent Meta, on Friday won an appeal overturning a previous court ruling that barred it from using its name in Brazil due to confusion with another company. The process The Barueri-based firm Meta Services, which registered its brand in the late 2000s with Brazils’s Na…
Top tech news stories today: March 18, 2024
Stay informed with news covering moves by SpaceX, tech industry updates from Microsoft, and legal battles involving Apple and Meta.
IETF 119 officially kicks off in Brisbane
On March 16, 2024, IETF 119 officially began at the Brisbane Convention & Exhibition Centre in Brisbane, Australia. There were a total of 1286 registered entities at the conference, including 668 on site entities and 618 online entities. What’s for the very first day? The first two days …
Microsoft the latest to waive cloud egress fees
Microsoft joins AWS and Google in eliminating data egress fees, aligning with EU regulations and addressing regulatory scrutiny.
iBASIS unveils Multi-Operator FWA solution
iBASIS, an international provider of communications solutions for operators and digital players, introduces the industry’s inaugural multi-carrier Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) solution. Leveraging iBASIS’s GSMA standards-based eSIM technology, this offering revolutionizes FWA connectivity. Supported …
Paralysed patients walk again after Singapore RESTORES trial
The trial, led by a team of medical professionals in Singapore, restored mobility with spinal cord stimulation and physiotherapy.
Italy regulator fines TikTok US$11 million for ‘French scar challenge’
Italy’s competition watchdog has fined three units of social media giant TikTok US$11 million in total for inadequate checks on content potentially harmful to young or vulnerable users on Thursday. Another blow for TikTok The antitrust agency (AGCM), said Thursday that TikTok, which is owned by Ch…
Oracle adds generative AI features to finance, supply chain software
OUR TAKEOracle’s decision represents a significant advancement in enterprise technology. By leveraging AI capabilities, Oracle helps customers improve decision-making and enhance the employee and customer experience. For Oracle, a late entrant to the cloud market, these features are a core part of w…
Juniper adds AI-native advancements for networking solutions
Juniper Networks revamps its partner program for AI-driven services, boosting its market position ahead of its $14B acquisition by HPE.
Smartphone maker Xiaomi to deliver first electric vehicle in China this month
Xiaomi will begin delivering its first electric vehicle in China this month, joining fierce price competition in its home market.
Bitcoin price forecast: 5 experts look to 2024 and beyond
Bitcoin continues to draw investors with potential for growth. Experts including Max Keiser and Peter Brandt offer various perspectives.
Payment firm Ryft adds Amex for UK ecomm companies
U.S. payment company Ryft partners with American Express, aiming to bolster payment options for UK eCommerce merchants by Amex cards.
OpenAI expands media ties with news partners for chatbot training
OpenAI teams up with the media and publication businesses Prisa Media and Le Monde, aiming to enhance news delivery and model training.
Hong Kong regulators warn against unlicenced Bybit exchange
The Securities & Futures Commission of Hong Kong issued a warning on March 14 against crypto exchange Bybit for operating without licensing.
MicroStrategy offers $500M more in bonds for bitcoin purchase #2
MicroStrategy, a software provider, plans to use convertible bonds to purchase bitcoin for the second time in less than 10 days.
Nvidia to bring eye-popping new chips next week
OUR TAKE:The unveiling of Nvidia’s B100 AI processor marks a significant leap in AI computing, cementing the company’s position as a market leader. With soaring demand for its chips and software, Nvidia’s expansion into cloud services poses a potential threat to existing providers. The company’s sto…
Apple buys Canadian start-up DarwinAI as it races to add features
OUR TAKEHe acquisition allows for the visual inspection of parts in the manufacturing process with DarwinAI’s technology and serves customers in a range of industries. Also, it can use its core technology to make AI systems smaller and faster. This work will help Apple focused on running AI on its d…
Top tech news stories today: March 15, 2024
Solana’s popularity could lead to potential threat, Nvidia offers developers a peek at new AI chip next week and other tech news.
Apple buys AI startup DarwinAI, absorbing some tech staffers, Bloomberg reports
OUR TAKE:Apple’s acquisition of DarwinAI marks a strategic move into generative AI, aligning with CEO Tim Cook’s promise to innovate in this space. This signals Apple’s intent to integrate AI capabilities directly into its devices and software, potentially reshaping user experiences. The company’s e…
Oracle adds generative AI features across its corporate software lineup
OUR TAKE:This move by Oracle to incorporate generative intelligence features into its financial services shows its commitment to staying competitive in the market. By investing in AI technologies and collaborating with tech industry experts, they aim to enhance productivity and save time for employe…
Spotify launches video feature in 11 markets
Spotify introduces MV for Premium subscribers globally, offering global hits and local favourites, with user feedback-driven improvements.
Visa, Western Union expand cross-border money transfers
Visa and Western Union established a seven-year partnership to enhance cross-border money transfers to bank accounts and Visa cards.
South Africa to licence 60 digital asset exchanges by month end
South Africa to mandate licenses for about 60 cryptocurrency firms by month-end, leading the continent in digital asset exchange regulation.