SpaceX Catches Starship Booster Again, but Test Flight 7 Ends in Explosion

SpaceX successfully caught the Super Heavy booster for the second time during its seventh Starship test flight. However, the upper stage, Starship, was lost after SpaceX lost contact 8.5 minutes into the flight due to an “oxygen/fuel leak” that caused pressure buildup.

Key Highlights:
  • CEO Elon Musk announced plans to add fire suppression systems and improve venting to prevent future issues.
  • The ship was loaded with 10 dummy Starlink satellites for its first payload test.
  • SpaceX upgraded Starship with new avionics, cameras, and heat tiles to test re-entry technologies.
  • Debris was spotted over Turks and Caicos, prompting FAA action.

Read more on TechCrunch.

Why Did Hindenburg, the Short-Seller Behind Adani’s $150 Billion Market Crash, Shut Down?

Hindenburg Research, known for its critical reports on Gautam Adani, is shutting down after achieving its goals. The firm’s 2023 report triggered a $150 billion selloff in Adani Group’s shares, though most losses were later recovered. Founder Nathan Anderson cited a planned conclusion after completing investigations as the reason for closure.

Founded with no traditional finance background, Hindenburg faced early lawsuits and financial struggles. Its 11-member team led investigations resulting in charges against nearly 100 individuals. Anderson highlighted their impact, saying, “We shook empires that needed shaking,” while acknowledging the toll the work took on personal lives.

Read more on Economic Times.

Microsoft Pauses Hiring in U.S. Consulting Division Amid Cost-Cutting Efforts

Microsoft is taking steps to tighten its budget by temporarily halting hiring in its U.S. consulting division, as shared in an internal memo. The decision, first reported by CNBC, is part of the company’s broader strategy to manage expenses while prioritizing significant investments in artificial intelligence (AI).

Derek Danois, a leader in Microsoft’s consulting arm, explained that the hiring freeze includes backfilling existing roles. The team has also been asked to cut back on travel for internal meetings, opting for remote sessions, and to reduce marketing and non-essential spending by 35%.

These adjustments come as Microsoft continues to pour resources into building data centers to support its ambitious AI projects, with plans to invest $80 billion in fiscal 2025. While these changes aim to keep costs in check, Microsoft remains focused on driving innovation and supporting its global teams.

The company hasn’t yet commented on the reports, but these measures align with its efforts to balance operational efficiency and future-focused investments.

Read more on Thehindu.

Meta Voices Concerns Over Antitrust Ruling in India

Meta has raised concerns about a recent decision by India’s Competition Commission (CCI), which found the company had misused its dominant position by bundling certain features on its platforms. According to Meta, this ruling could lead to some features being scaled back, which might affect both users and businesses that depend on its services.

While Meta is committed to complying with regulations, the company has highlighted the potential challenges this decision poses for its operations in India. It hopes to work closely with authorities to find a balanced approach that allows it to continue offering valuable tools and experiences to its millions of users in the country.

This situation reflects the increasing regulatory pressure on big tech companies and Meta’s efforts to navigate these challenges while staying connected with its users in one of its largest markets.

Read more on reuters.

Zypp Electric has successfully raised Rs 55.4 crore in its current Series C funding round

Zypp Electric, a Gurugram-based EV-as-a-service platform, is raising ₹55.4 crore ($6.5 million) from 16 investors in its Series C round, valuing the company at $335-350 million. Earlier in May 2024, it raised $15 million led by ENEOS. Founded in 2017, its partners include Zomato, Swiggy, Flipkart, and more.

Read more on YourStory

Blaize is set to be the first AI chip startup to go public in 2025

Blaize, an AI chip startup started by ex-Intel engineers, is gearing up to go public on Nasdaq through a SPAC deal this Tuesday, as reported by TechCrunch.

Founded in 2011 and based in El Dorado Hills, California, Blaize focuses on AI chips designed for edge applications like drones, robots, and smart cameras. The company has garnered support from investors including Samsung and Mercedes-Benz, raising a total of $335 million.

Even though it reported a loss of $87.5 million in 2023 on just $3.8 million in revenue, Blaize is highlighting $400 million in deals, which includes a significant $104 million defense contract in EMEA aimed at developing systems that can detect drones and identify troops. CEO Dinakar Munagala believes that edge computing is the way forward because it offers advantages in cost, latency, and privacy. While Nvidia is concentrating on data centers, Blaize is putting its energy into practical AI solutions that address real-world needs that often get overlooked.

Read more on TechCrunch

Flying cars and groundbreaking apps empowering people with disabilities: Tech innovations take the spotlight at CES 2025.

At CES 2025, groundbreaking technologies took the spotlight, with innovations aimed at empowering people with disabilities and futuristic concepts like flying cars generating excitement. Key highlights included an app designed to enhance accessibility and independence for individuals with disabilities, leveraging AI and voice commands. Meanwhile, flying car prototypes showcased the future of urban mobility, drawing significant attention for their potential to revolutionize transportation. Other advancements included wearable health tech, next-gen robotics, and immersive virtual reality experiences, underscoring how technology continues to shape the future. The event highlighted global strides toward inclusivity, sustainability, and smarter living through technological innovation.

Read more on thehindu.

Matt Mullenweg deactivates WordPress accounts of key contributors.

In a recent blog post, Mullenweg shared that he had disabled the WordPress.org accounts of a few contributors, such as Joost de Valk and Karim Marucchi. This action was taken due to their supposed intentions to create a fork of WordPress, according to TechCrunch. This decision comes after these contributors expressed interest in spearheading the next WordPress update, particularly after Automattic announced it would be scaling back its support for the open-source project.

Read more on TechCrunch.

SC Halts ₹1 Lakh Crore GST Notices Against Online Gaming Firms Over Tax Fraud


The Supreme Court has put a hold on GST showcase notices totaling over ₹1 lakh crore that were sent to online gaming companies and casinos due to accusations of tax evasion. A bench led by Justices J B Pardiwala and R Mahadevan paused the proceedings and has set a date for the next hearing on March 18. A change to the GST law in October 2023 required foreign gaming companies to register in India and imposed a 28% GST on the total value of bets. Companies like Games 24×7 and Head Digital Works have challenged these hefty demands, leading the Supreme Court to take over cases from nine high courts in order to issue a unified decision.

Read more on Presstrustofindia.

Will TikTok Be Banned? Supreme Court to Decide Soon


The U.S. Supreme Court heard arguments on a potential TikTok ban unless ByteDance sells its U.S. operations by January 19, 2025. The justices leaned towards national security over free speech. Frank McCourt and Kevin O’Leary proposed buying TikTok’s U.S. assets. If no sale happens, TikTok could be banned from U.S. app stores, affecting its functionality. The outcome might influence future cases involving foreign tech in the U.S.

Read more on CNNBusiness.