Science and Technology

In a revealing interview, Irina Bolgar, once romantically involved with Pavel Durov, the creator of Telegram, revealed details about their nearly decade-long relationship, marked by opulence and legal disputes. The interview was part of an extensive investigation conducted by journalists Adam Satariano and Paul Mozur who traveled to Geneva to gather information directly from Bolgar. According to Bolgar, their life together included summers at a sprawling resort in Sardinia that cost about $1 million a month and residences such as a beachfront penthouse in Dubai with a private elevator. Their trips often involved private jets to destinations such as Paris,…

On October 3, 2024, OpenAI announced the establishment of a $4 billion credit facility with several large banks, strengthening its financial resources following a substantial $6.6 billion investment round. This new round of debt financing reflects the company's ability to engage with leading global financial institutions for significant capital acquisitions, crucial to its continued expansion into artificial intelligence technologies. The news comes shortly after OpenAI confirmed a new round of equity investment, placing its valuation at a whopping $157 billion. This rating places it among the best private startups globally. Lead investors in this round included Thrive Capital, Microsoft, Nvidia,…

Stellantis, a major player in the automotive industry with a portfolio of well-known brands such as Chrysler, Fiat, Jeep, Peugeot and Ram, is facing a number of significant obstacles. The company has seen a worrying decline in both sales and profits. Retailers have increasingly expressed their frustration at the excess of unsold inventory, directing their disappointment at both Stellantis and its CEO, who have faced harsh criticism for the situation. Additionally, the company's stock value has nearly halved since reaching its peak in March. This Monday, Stellantis announced that its annual profits will likely be lower than previously expected, primarily…

Apple's latest iOS update, iOS 18, introduces changes that could have a significant impact on the growth of social networking apps. A change to the contact sharing feature, known as “contact syncing,” could make it harder for new apps to quickly acquire users. Historically, contact syncing has been a crucial tool for social apps to connect users with their existing contacts and suggest potential connections. This feature played a critical role in the early success of popular apps like Instagram, WhatsApp, and Snapchat. However, the revised contact sharing permissions in iOS 18 could present challenges for developers of newer social…

Elon Musk's social media platform, X (formerly known as Twitter), is reportedly seeking reinstatement in Brazil after being suspended in August. The suspension is due to X's failure to comply with court orders to remove misinformation and delete accounts linked to disinformation campaigns. The move to reinstate X comes amid reports that the platform is attempting to settle outstanding fines with Brazilian authorities. These fines reportedly exceed $3 million and were imposed for failure to comply with court orders. Brazil is one of X's largest markets and boasts over 20 million users. The suspension has likely impacted the platform's growth…

Tesla's third-quarter sales data offers a glimmer of hope for the electric car market. After a difficult first half of 2024, the automaker reported a 6.4% increase in deliveries compared to the same period last year. This marks Tesla's first quarterly sales increase this year and suggests a potential recovery in demand for electric vehicles. Analysts highlight several factors that could favor this rise. Lower interest rates, implemented by the Federal Reserve and central banks around the world, could make electric cars more accessible to buyers. Tesla itself has offered financing deals with attractive rates, further attracting consumers. While the…