June 11, 2025

THE CLIFF NEWS

National Daily Bilingual Newspaper

Category: Technology

Urgent Alert: Delete These Fake Crypto Wallet Apps Immediately

If you’re a crypto user, you must be vigilant. Despite security protocols, malicious apps have infiltrated even the official Google Play Store, posing serious risks to your digital assets. 🚨 What Happened? Cybersecurity firm Cyble has uncovered a malware campaign involving over 20 fake apps that impersonate popular cryptocurrency wallets and exchanges. These apps appear legitimate, mimicking real wallet names and logos, but are designed to phish for your seed phrases — the keys to your crypto holdings. Once you enter your mnemonic phrase (seed phrase), the attackers can drain your wallet instantly. 🧨 Dangerous Wallets Being Mimicked Here are the 9 crypto platforms targeted by these fake apps: 📌 Even if you recognize the wallet name, don’t trust the app unless it’s from the official developer. Always check the developer’s credentials, reviews, and permissions requested. 🧠 How These Apps Work 🔐 What You Should Do Immediately ✅ Stay Safe This campaign is ongoing, so the list will likely grow. Stay alert, and share this info with anyone in your crypto circle.

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Editor03 mins

Maruti Suzuki Slashes e-Vitara EV Production by Two-Thirds Amid Rare Earth Shortage

Maruti Suzuki, India’s largest car manufacturer, has drastically scaled down its short-term production targets for its first electric vehicle, the e-Vitara, by nearly two-thirds, according to a report by Reuters. The company initially planned to produce around 26,500 units of the e-Vitara between April and September 2025, but has now revised that figure to just 8,200 units. Supply Chain Crisis Tied to Rare Earth Shortage The sharp cutback is attributed to a shortage of rare earth materials, as detailed in an internal company document accessed by Reuters. These materials are essential for the production of electric motors, especially for magnets and high-tech components used in EVs. The shortage has been further aggravated by China’s export restrictions, causing widespread disruption in the global automotive supply chain. Long-Term Target Remains Unchanged Despite the immediate setback, Maruti Suzuki has reaffirmed its annual production target of 67,000 electric vehicles for the fiscal year ending March 2026. The company plans to make up for the shortfall in the second half of the fiscal year, with revised production goals set at 58,728 units from October to March, up from the previously planned 40,437 units during that period. Strategic Importance of the e-Vitara The e-Vitara, first revealed at India’s premier auto show in January 2025, is a key component of Maruti Suzuki’s electric mobility strategy in India. It also aligns with the Indian government’s vision under Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which aims to increase EV penetration to 30% of total car sales by 2030, compared to just 2.5% last year. Global Implications This reduction in output may also impact Suzuki Motor Corporation, Maruti’s parent company, given that India is its largest market by revenue and serves as a central EV production hub. A significant number of e-Vitara units manufactured in India are slated for export to Europe and Japan, especially starting summer 2025. While the short-term outlook has been tempered by supply limitations, Maruti Suzuki appears committed to ramping up EV production in the months ahead to meet its strategic and global objectives.

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Editor03 mins

Starlink Set to Launch in India with ₹3,000 Monthly Plans and ₹33,000 Hardware Cost

Elon Musk’s satellite internet company, Starlink, is making significant strides toward launching its services in India, with operations expected to begin within the next 12 months. According to CNBC Awaaz, the service is likely to be priced at ₹3,000 per month for unlimited data, with a one-time receiver kit cost of ₹33,000. This development comes after Starlink received a key operating licence from India’s Ministry of Telecommunications on June 6, putting it in direct competition with Bharti Airtel’s OneWeb and Reliance Jio’s satellite arm, which are also authorized to offer satellite-based broadband services in the country. Aimed at Rural Connectivity with LEO Technology Starlink will provide 600–700 Gbps of bandwidth via its low-Earth orbit (LEO) satellite constellation. The service is expected to primarily cater to rural and remote regions, where traditional broadband infrastructure such as fiber-optic networks and mobile connectivity remains patchy or unavailable. Although India is known for some of the world’s lowest data tariffs, Starlink is positioning itself as a premium connectivity solution in underserved areas. Revised Pricing Reflects Regional Parity Earlier estimates by former Starlink India head Sanjay Bhargava had pegged the first-year cost at ₹1.58 lakh, dropping to ₹1.15 lakh in subsequent years. The updated pricing aligns with Starlink’s rollout in Bangladesh, where customers pay the equivalent of ₹3,000 per month with a ₹33,000 equipment cost, totaling about ₹66,000 in the first year. Regulatory Approvals Still Pending While the operational licence is a major milestone, Starlink must still secure spectrum allocation, pending final recommendations from TRAI (Telecom Regulatory Authority of India) and approval by the Department of Telecommunications (DoT). Expanding Across Asia Starlink is already operational in Japan, Malaysia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Bhutan, and Bangladesh, offering Residential Lite plans priced between ₹2,600 to ₹3,000 per month, and Standard plans that can go up to ₹6,000 depending on the country. With its India debut on the horizon, Starlink is poised to reshape connectivity options for millions living in digitally dark zones.

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Editor03 mins

NASA’s Mars Odyssey Captures Stunning Image of Arsia Mons Above Martian Clouds

In a breathtaking cosmic snapshot, NASA’s 2001 Mars Odyssey orbiter has captured Arsia Mons, one of Mars’ tallest volcanoes, appearing to rise majestically above a veil of greenish atmospheric haze. The image was taken just before dawn on May 2, 2025, offering a rare and awe-inspiring glimpse of the Red Planet’s horizon. The photograph presents a scene eerily reminiscent of Earth — a massive peak breaking through morning clouds — but it’s on Mars, highlighting the alien beauty of our planetary neighbor. The volcano, Arsia Mons, towers roughly 20 kilometers high and stretches over 400 kilometers wide, making it one of the solar system’s largest. A New Angle on the Red Planet This unique image was made possible when Odyssey’s THEMIS (Thermal Emission Imaging System) instrument pivoted 90 degrees to capture a side-on view of the Martian atmosphere and surface. Although THEMIS was originally designed to study surface composition, scientists began repurposing it in 2023 to explore Mars’ upper atmosphere by photographing the horizon. By doing so, researchers can now observe seasonal variations in clouds and dust, offering valuable clues about atmospheric dynamics on Mars — data crucial for future manned missions and climate studies. With this latest achievement, Mars Odyssey, the longest-serving spacecraft in orbit around another planet, continues to expand humanity’s understanding of Mars, not just from above, but from perspectives that mirror the view astronauts might one day see.

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Editor02 mins

iOS 26 Preview: 10 Features to Expect at WWDC 2025

Apple’s WWDC 2025 kicks off tomorrow, and while developers may flock for coding tools and AI updates, most iPhone users will be watching closely for what iOS 26 has to offer. The next version of Apple’s mobile operating system appears to focus on meaningful refinements and intelligent enhancements—prioritising utility over flashy gimmicks. Here’s a preview of the 10 biggest features expected to be unveiled: 1. Apple Vision Pro-Inspired Visual Overhaul iOS 26 may introduce the most significant design refresh since iOS 7. Drawing inspiration from the Vision Pro headset, the UI could feature translucent elements, rounded app icons, and a more immersive aesthetic. Apps like Phone, Safari, and Camera are expected to receive interface tweaks, offering more streamlined and visually elegant experiences. 2. Emoji Fusion Get ready for emoji mashups. iOS 26 could let users combine two emojis to create custom ones—perfect for adding creativity and humour to your chats. Think: alien + pizza = alien craving pizza. It’s a lighthearted, expressive feature reminiscent of sticker culture. 3. AI-Powered Battery Health Optimization Apple is infusing AI into practical features. A new smart battery mode may learn your daily phone usage and intelligently manage background processes, extending battery life without compromising performance—no need to toggle low-power mode manually. 4. Real-Time Message Translation The Messages app could get smarter with AI-driven real-time translation, allowing instant translation of incoming texts in different languages. Whether you’re travelling or chatting with international friends, language barriers could become a thing of the past. 5. New Messages Features: Polls & Chat Personalisation Group chats may become more interactive with built-in polls and AI-suggested options for easy decision-making. Plus, you might soon be able to customise chat backgrounds, giving each conversation its own vibe—similar to WhatsApp or Instagram DMs. 6. Live Voice Translation—Everywhere Beyond text, Apple may roll out live voice translation, possibly integrated into phone calls and AirPods. Imagine having a conversation with someone who speaks another language—with real-time translation happening in your ears. Global travel just got easier. 7. Accessibility Upgrades iOS 26 is set to expand Reader Mode system-wide, making text easier to digest across all apps. Apple also plans to improve App Store labels, offering more clear and consistent information for users with visual or cognitive needs. 8. Seamless Captive Wi-Fi Login Logging in to public Wi-Fi at airports, hotels, or cafes could become less frustrating. iOS 26 might allow smoother connection to captive networks, reducing repeated pop-ups and login screens—a small tweak with big convenience. 9. AI Health Coach Apple is turning the Health app into a smart lifestyle companion. A virtual health coach could use your health data to suggest personalised wellness goals, including exercise, sleep, and even diet recommendations. Expect tools to track food intake, like caffeine and carbs, aiding users with fitness or medical needs. 10. More Subtle, Integrated AI Across iOS Instead of launching its own chatbot, Apple appears to be threading “Apple Intelligence” quietly through the system—enhancing apps like Messages, Health, and Battery without disrupting the user experience. It’s AI, the Apple way—useful, invisible, and private. As iOS 26 gears up to be revealed, Apple seems focused on delivering smarter, cleaner, and more personalised experiences. It’s not a revolution—it’s refinement. And for many users, that’s exactly what the iPhone needs next.

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Editor05 mins

Bill Atkinson, Visionary Apple Software Designer Who Brought Graphics to Personal Computing, Dies at 74

Bill Atkinson, a pioneering software designer at Apple Computer and one of the key figures behind the rise of graphical user interfaces, died on Thursday night, June 5, 2025, at his home in Portola Valley, California. He was 74. His family confirmed the cause of death as pancreatic cancer in a Facebook post. Atkinson’s groundbreaking contributions helped shape the way millions interact with computers today. He was the creator of QuickDraw, a foundational software component used in Apple’s Lisa and Macintosh computers. This sophisticated graphics library enabled the display of images, shapes, and text on a screen, paving the way for a user-friendly graphical interface that visually simulated a desktop environment. QuickDraw was first developed for the Lisa computer, launched in 1983. Though the Lisa was a commercial failure due to its steep $10,000 price tag (equivalent to about $33,000 today), it introduced many of the user-friendly features that would become iconic in Apple’s later machines. A year later, in 1984, QuickDraw was integral to the Macintosh’s revolutionary graphical user interface, which introduced the concept of folders, icons, and application windows to everyday users. Atkinson is also widely credited with inventing the pull-down menu and the double-click gesture—two essential features that transformed user interaction by making navigation intuitive. Before these innovations, personal computers were almost entirely text-based, requiring users to memorize and type complex commands. His work helped make computing accessible to a much broader audience. Apple’s graphical interface drew inspiration from earlier work at Xerox’s Palo Alto Research Center (PARC), where computer scientist Alan Kay envisioned a portable educational computer he called the “Dynabook.” In 1979, Apple co-founder Steve Jobs and a select group of engineers, including Atkinson, were given a private demonstration of the Dynabook project. However, they were not permitted to study the underlying software, forcing the Apple team to develop their own systems—leading to major technical breakthroughs. Atkinson’s innovations not only shaped Apple’s future but also influenced the entire computing industry. His contributions helped transform the computer from a tool for specialists into a device for the masses, forever changing how we interact with technology.

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Editor04 mins

China Rejects Rare Earth Magnet Export to Sona Comstar, Sparking Supply Fears for Indian Auto Sector

China has rejected one of the rare earth magnet (REM) export applications filed by Indian auto component giant Sona Comstar, raising alarm bells across India’s automotive industry. This marks the first known rejection for an Indian company under China’s new export control regime, introduced in April, which mandates stricter licensing and documentation for exports of sensitive materials. Sona Comstar, a critical supplier to global automotive names such as Ford, Toyota, Hyundai, and Volkswagen, and to Indian OEMs like Maruti Suzuki, Bajaj Auto, and TVS Motor, had submitted two applications to import rare earth magnets. Of these, one has been denied, while the other remains under review. The rejection comes at a time when REMs are already in tight global supply, and Indian manufacturers are increasingly concerned about disruptions. Sources indicated that while the denial is not necessarily final—Sona can reapply—it reflects the tightening regulatory environment and the urgency with which Indian firms now need to seek alternatives or engage diplomatically. Production Concerns Mount Among Indian Auto Majors While Maruti Suzuki reported no immediate impact on its domestic operations, its parent company, Suzuki Motor Corporation, has suspended production of the Swift model in Japan, citing REM-related shortages. The more pressing warnings have come from Bajaj Auto and TVS Motor, two of Sona Comstar’s key domestic clients. TVS Motor managing director Sudarshan Venu noted that disruptions could begin as early as June or July. “There will be a cost increase to the customer. We are trying to de-risk, but the price impact is real,” he said. Bajaj Auto also expects inventory depletion to lead to serious production bottlenecks if supplies don’t resume in time. Export Controls Tighten Under China’s revised export rules, importers must now submit detailed end-use certificates, explaining how and where REMs will be used. These certificates undergo stringent vetting by Chinese authorities. Globally, many companies have seen their requests turned down and are now seeking diplomatic solutions or resubmitting paperwork with updated justifications. Sona Comstar’s proactive submission may have made it among the first to be processed—and thus, one of the first to face rejection. However, the company has not issued a public statement on the matter. Industry Eyes Diplomatic Outreach In response to the growing uncertainty, Indian auto component manufacturers are reportedly planning to send a delegation to China. The goal would be to assure Chinese regulators of the purely civilian and commercial use of REMs and seek expedited processing of pending applications. However, efforts to engage directly with Chinese authorities have yet to yield results. With demand for electric vehicles rising and rare earth components becoming increasingly strategic, this episode could signal deeper geopolitical tensions spilling over into industrial supply chains. For Indian automakers and suppliers, the race is now on to diversify sources, manage inventories, and avoid production slowdowns in the critical months ahead.

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Editor05 mins

Global IT Layoffs Surge in 2025 Amid Economic Uncertainty and AI Restructuring

The global information technology (IT) sector continues to witness a wave of job cuts in 2025, following a period of mass hiring during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new report by Trueup reveals that more than 62,000 employees have been laid off across 284 IT companies in the first five months of the year. Tech giants such as Google, Microsoft, Intel, and Apple are among the major players slashing jobs across various departments. While the scale of layoffs appears to have reduced compared to 2024—when approximately 2.4 lakh tech workers lost their jobs—the trend remains concerning. In May 2025 alone, over 16,000 employees were let go, suggesting that the sector is still grappling with post-pandemic economic realignments. Experts attribute these layoffs to global geopolitical tensions, ongoing wars, and a volatile economic climate marked by high inflation, interest rates, and uncertainty. These factors have compelled tech companies to cut spending, focus on profitability, and restructure their operations to remain competitive. Additionally, the race for dominance in AI technology is reshaping workforce strategies. Many companies are reducing traditional roles while investing heavily in AI development, leading to reorganisation-driven layoffs. Microsoft recently laid off more than 6,000 employees, targeting middle management roles as part of a broader effort to simplify its organisational structure and increase managerial span of control. CEO Satya Nadella clarified that the decision was based on structural changes, not individual performance, and aligns with the company’s push to bolster its AI capabilities. Google, on the other hand, has cut hundreds of roles in its Global Business Organisation and software divisions, including Pixel, Android, and Chrome teams. In May alone, around 200 employees from its business operations were shown the door. Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp, is also set to eliminate over 3,000 jobs this year. CEO Mark Zuckerberg cited a company-wide restructuring and an effort to “raise performance standards” as the primary drivers behind the layoffs. Teams in Reality Labs, including Oculus Studios—responsible for VR content and the Supernatural fitness app—have been particularly affected. Despite the downturn, many of these companies continue to hire in AI and engineering roles, reflecting a shift in priorities rather than a full-scale contraction. The evolving dynamics underscore a major transformation in the global tech industry, as firms adapt to economic pressure and the fast-changing landscape of artificial intelligence.

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Editor04 mins

Quake in the Ground, Ripples in the Sky: Earthquakes Can Disrupt Space Too, Japanese Scientists Reveal

When a powerful earthquake shakes the Earth, the effects don’t stop at the surface. According to a groundbreaking new study from Nagoya University in Japan, shockwaves from a 7.5-magnitude earthquake on the Noto Peninsula (January 1, 2024) not only damaged infrastructure on land — they rippled all the way into space, disrupting satellite signals by disturbing the ionosphere, a crucial part of Earth’s upper atmosphere. The research, published in Earth, Planets and Space, marks the first-ever 3D visualisation of earthquake-driven atmospheric disturbances, using signal delay data from over 4,500 Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) receivers across Japan. 🌌 What Is the Ionosphere and Why Does It Matter? 🌍 Earthquake Sends Sound Waves Skyward The earthquake generated low-frequency sound waves that travelled vertically into the atmosphere, creating ripples in ionized particles. These disruptions slowed down satellite signals, allowing scientists to track the timing and strength of the disturbances and reconstruct a 3D map of the ionosphere’s reaction — a method similar to a medical CT scan. 🌊 Surprising Ripples in the Sky Roughly 10 minutes after the quake, wave-like patterns appeared in the ionosphere, resembling ripples on a pond. But researchers noticed something unusual: 🔍 A Fault-Line Revelation Lead author Dr. Weizheng Fu and his team revised the model by factoring in the 150-kilometre fault line along which the earthquake ruptured. Rather than a single origin point, the sound waves were generated along the fault line, with different sections rupturing about 30 seconds apart. This new model perfectly matched the strange, tilted wave patterns seen in the ionosphere — changing how scientists understand the atmospheric impact of large seismic events. 📡 Why This Matters In short: when Earth rumbles, space listens — and now, thanks to this study, we can finally see how.

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Editor04 mins

India’s Pivotal Role Recognized in 2025 Breakthrough Prize for LHC Experiments

India has made global headlines in the world of science as the 2025 Breakthrough Prize in Fundamental Physics—often dubbed the “Oscars of Science”—has been awarded to researchers involved in the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) experiments at CERN, Switzerland. Indian scientists and institutions have played a vital role in two of the LHC’s flagship experiments: ALICE and CMS, reaffirming India’s long-standing tradition of excellence in high-energy physics. 🔬 Why in News? The award recognizes thousands of researchers worldwide who co-authored scientific papers based on Run-2 data from 2015 to mid-2024 at the LHC. This global honor includes numerous Indian scientists, whose work has been instrumental in areas like: 🏆 About the Breakthrough Prize 🔬 About CERN & LHC 🇮🇳 India’s Long-standing Collaboration with CERN 🔧 India’s Key Contributions to ALICE & CMS 🔸 ALICE (A Large Ion Collider Experiment) 🔹 CMS (Compact Muon Solenoid) 🧪 Technical & Computing Infrastructure 🎓 Academic & Training Impact 🔭 Future Indian Contributions 🏁 Conclusion India’s role in the LHC’s transformative research has been integral and sustained, blending scientific rigor with engineering excellence. The 2025 Breakthrough Prize stands as a testament to the global impact of Indian science, and positions the country as a leading force in cutting-edge physics well into the future.

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Editor04 mins
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