Apple faces a setback as the International Trade Commission orders the halt of Series 9 and Ultra 2 Apple Watch sales before Christmas. Accused of incorporating trade secrets by tech firm Masimo, Apple complies, pausing online sales from December 21 and in-store sales from Christmas Eve. A Presidential Review Period, lasting until December 25, will determine the ban's fate. Apple disagrees with the order, vowing legal and technical pursuit. The dispute centers on blood oxygen sensing technology. Customers affected are urged to stay tuned for updates as Apple explores options to swiftly return the halted models to the U.S. market.

Twitter experienced a major global outage on Thursday morning that prevented tweets from showing up in users' feeds. While the platform itself remained accessible, user timelines were completely empty across all tabs like Following, For You and Lists. The cause of the glitch is still unclear but tweets continue to be posted, as evident by the quick rise of the #TwitterDown hashtag. However, tweeted content is not visible to other users while the outage persists. There is no estimate yet on when full Twitter functionality may resume and timelines start populated again. The fresh issue underscores Elon Musk's ongoing struggles with stabilizing his newly-acquired company.

The European Union initiates formal proceedings against X, owned by Elon Musk, citing potential breaches of Digital Services Act rules. The allegations involve countering illegal content, disinformation, and transparency obligations. X asserts cooperation with regulatory processes, emphasizing the importance of a non-political and lawful investigation. The Digital Services Act introduces stringent regulations, allowing substantial fines or suspension for major tech firms failing to protect users from extreme content. The investigation, the first under the DSA, follows prior EU scrutiny of X over the spread of terrorist content and hate speech.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai, in a recent all-hands meeting, defended the decision to lay off 12,000 employees, stating it was crucial to navigate economic changes and position the company for future growth. While acknowledging the impact on morale, Pichai emphasized the necessity of the layoffs, noting that delaying the decision would have hindered the company's ability to adapt and invest strategically. The layoffs, representing 6% of Alphabet's workforce, were characterized as a challenging but essential move amid a shifting global landscape.

The Indian government issues a high-risk alert for Samsung Galaxy phone users, citing multiple vulnerabilities that could compromise security. The advisory from CERT-In emphasizes the urgency of updating the phone's operating system or firmware to mitigate risks. Vulnerabilities affect Samsung Mobile Android versions 11 to 14, posing threats like unauthorized access, data theft, and code execution. Users are urged to promptly install Samsung's released fix to safeguard against potential cyber threats. Neglecting updates could expose phones to security breaches, allowing hackers to exploit weaknesses.

Google Maps unveils a new feature, "eco-friendly routing," available in select countries and soon to launch in India. Users can now choose energy-efficient routes, reducing fuel usage and CO2 emissions. The feature suggests alternative routes based on a vehicle's engine type, showing estimates for fuel or energy efficiency. Two-wheelers in India will also benefit from fuel-efficient route options. To activate, users navigate to settings, tap "Prefer fuel-efficient routes," and select their engine type. Google emphasizes the AI-driven feature considers hills, traffic, and constant speeds for optimal efficiency.   [Representative image]

During his annual news conference, Russian President Vladimir Putin faced an unexpected encounter with an artificial intelligence-generated version of himself. The AI double, appearing via video link, questioned Putin about his views on artificial intelligence. Amid laughter from the audience, Putin, in his fourth hour of questioning, responded, "I see you may resemble me and speak with my voice. But I have thought about it and decided that only one person must be like me and speak with my voice, and that will be me." The incident added a surreal twist to the marathon event, leaving attendees amused.            

In a surprising turn, India's Ministry of Commerce and Industry, led by junior minister Som Parkash, announced a halt in considering tax reductions on imported electric vehicles, potentially derailing Tesla's market entry. The government, committed to its "Make-in-India" initiative, emphasized promoting domestic and foreign investment in the electric vehicle sector. This unexpected move follows recent talks between Tesla and India, where both sides were nearing an agreement involving car sales starting next year and a proposed factory within two years. The development raises uncertainties about the future of Tesla's expansion plans in India.

German Ambassador to India, Philipp Ackermann, proudly announces an improved visa service, highlighting the swift issuance of visas to Indian citizens. Ackermann notes a significant reduction in waiting times, ranging from two to five days for an appointment, a notable enhancement compared to the previous year. Expressing satisfaction with the current visa process, he anticipates further improvements in the coming year. Ackermann also reflects on the robust India-Germany relationship, citing Chancellor Olaf Scholz's two visits to India this year and the successful G20 Summit hosted by India. The envoy envisions continued growth in bilateral ties.

In the opening address at the Global Partnership on Artificial Intelligence summit, Prime Minister Narendra Modi declared, "AI has the potential to revolutionize India's tech landscape, but it also poses risks." He underscored the dual nature of AI, cautioning, "AI tools in the hands of terrorists is also a big threat." Expressing concern about deepfake technology, he added, "Deepfake is a challenge for the world." Modi urged international collaboration, stating, "We need to plan how to tackle this," emphasizing the necessity for a responsible global framework for ethical AI use. The warning aligns with escalating worries over AI's illicit and unethical applications.