The United Kingdom’s Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) announced on Wednesday that Apple and Google will face enhanced regulatory oversight for their mobile platforms. This decision, following a nine-month investigation, designates the two tech giants as holding ‘strategic market status’ (SMS), enabling the CMA to enforce stricter rules aimed at fostering competition and innovation. The move mirrors the European Union’s Digital Markets Act, which imposes significant financial penalties for non-compliance. The CMA highlighted that Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android dominate the UK mobile market, with nearly all devices pre-installed with one of these operating systems. Their app stores and browsers also hold leading positions, potentially stifling competition. Under the SMS designation, the CMA can mandate changes to how these platforms operate, offering consumers greater choice. Both companies criticized the decision, with Google labeling it ‘disappointing, disproportionate, and unwarranted,’ while Apple warned it could lead to weaker privacy, delayed updates, and a fragmented user experience. The CMA’s announcement follows Google’s recent SMS designation for its dominance in online search, with ongoing consultations on specific rules. Google has also cautioned that unfavorable regulations could hinder new product launches in the UK, despite its recent £5 billion ($6.7 billion) investment in the country’s AI sector. Both companies employ thousands in the UK, with Google employing over 7,000 and Apple nearly 8,000.
分类： technology
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Meta to cut 600 jobs in artificial intelligence — reports
Meta, the parent company of Facebook, has announced the elimination of 600 positions within its artificial intelligence (AI) division, as reported by major U.S. media outlets on Wednesday. This strategic move is part of the company’s broader effort to enhance operational efficiency following a period of rapid expansion and aggressive hiring. Notably, the job cuts will not impact the TBD Lab, a specialized unit established by Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg, which has been instrumental in recruiting top-tier researchers from competitors such as OpenAI and Apple through lucrative compensation packages. Instead, the layoffs will primarily affect teams dedicated to AI product development and infrastructure, with the goal of optimizing resources while maintaining progress on Meta’s most ambitious projects. According to a Wall Street Journal report, many of the displaced employees may be reassigned to other roles within the company. The New York Times characterized the layoffs as a response to ‘organizational bloat’ resulting from the company’s intensive hiring spree to bolster its AI initiatives. Both publications referenced a memo from Chief AI Officer Alexandr Wang, who emphasized that the reduction in workforce would lead to ‘fewer conversations required to make decisions,’ thereby streamlining operations. Meta has yet to comment on the matter in response to inquiries from AFP.
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LIVE: DDA Press Conference 21st October 2025
In a bid to boost user interaction and streamline content dissemination, leading social media platforms are rolling out enhanced sharing functionalities. These updates include new options such as ‘Share,’ ‘Tweet,’ ‘Pin,’ and other innovative tools designed to make it easier for users to distribute content across various networks. The move is seen as a strategic effort to keep users engaged and to foster a more interconnected digital ecosystem. By simplifying the sharing process, platforms aim to increase the visibility of user-generated content and encourage more active participation. This development underscores the ongoing evolution of social media as a central hub for communication and content exchange in the digital age.
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Amazon Web Services says global internet outage ‘fully mitigated’
Amazon Web Services (AWS), a leading global cloud computing provider, has announced that a significant outage affecting its platform has been fully resolved. The disruption, which occurred on October 20, impacted a vast array of popular websites and applications worldwide, including Canva, Snapchat, Facebook, Fortnite, Venmo, Prime Video, and others reliant on AWS infrastructure. According to Downdetector, a service that monitors internet outages, the issue caused widespread service interruptions, affecting platforms such as cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase and artificial intelligence company Perplexity. AWS confirmed that most of its operations were restored later in the day, bringing relief to companies like Hulu, McDonald’s, and the UK Government’s official website, which also experienced temporary disruptions. This incident marks the most significant global internet disruption since last year’s CrowdStrike malfunction, which severely impacted technology systems in hospitals, banks, and airports worldwide. During the peak of the outage, Canva addressed the issue on X (formerly Twitter), stating, ‘Our cloud provider is currently experiencing problems. It’s not the experience we want for you, and we’re working closely with them to help re-establish service. Thanks for your patience and understanding as we work to bring things back to normal.’
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VIDEO: Government Investigating Claims Senior Police Officer Shipped Vehicles to Dominica
In a groundbreaking development, an artificial intelligence (AI)-designed vehicle has been shipped to Dominica, showcasing the transformative potential of AI in the automotive industry. This cutting-edge creation represents a significant leap forward in vehicle design and manufacturing, blending advanced algorithms with engineering precision. The AI system responsible for this innovation utilized vast datasets and machine learning techniques to optimize the vehicle’s performance, aesthetics, and sustainability. This milestone underscores the growing influence of AI in reshaping traditional industries and highlights Dominica’s role as a hub for technological adoption. The vehicle’s arrival has sparked widespread interest among industry experts, who view it as a precursor to a new era of AI-driven automotive solutions. As AI continues to evolve, its applications in transportation are expected to expand, offering more efficient, eco-friendly, and innovative mobility options. This development also raises important discussions about the future of human-AI collaboration in manufacturing and design. With its successful deployment, this AI-created vehicle sets a precedent for future innovations, positioning Dominica at the forefront of technological advancement.
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COMMENTARY: The route to innovative solutions
The Caribbean region stands at a crossroads, where innovation is no longer a luxury but a necessity for building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future. Outdated models and traditional thinking have long constrained progress, but the path to renewal lies in embracing bold, transformative ideas. Innovation is not merely about creativity; it’s the practical application of novel concepts to create economic, social, and functional value. This requires fresh thinking, proactive leadership, and a culture that empowers youth and secures future-proof jobs.
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Tech takes the counter: Fast food and retail sectors go self-service
The rollout of self-ordering kiosks at KFC outlets across Saint Lucia has elicited diverse responses from customers and management alike. While the technology promises enhanced efficiency and convenience, it has also sparked debates about its implications for workers and accessibility. Clinton Camille, delivery and special projects manager at Real Foods Inc., the franchise holder for KFC Saint Lucia, clarified that the kiosks are not replacing employees but rather ‘repurposing’ them. He explained that staff are being reallocated to ensure a consistent workflow, with increased demand for kitchen personnel due to higher order volumes. The card-only kiosks, developed in collaboration with Republic Bank, streamline order processing, reducing wait times and improving accuracy. However, some customers have raised concerns about the exclusion of cash payments and the challenges faced by those less comfortable with technology. Despite these issues, many patrons have praised the system for its speed and convenience. Similarly, the introduction of self-checkout services at Massy Stores reflects a broader trend toward retail automation. Roxane de Freitas, CEO of Massy Stores Trinidad and Tobago, emphasized the benefits of the new system, including reduced space requirements and enhanced security through surveillance. However, some Saint Lucian shoppers have expressed concerns about potential theft and operational difficulties. As the island continues its digital transformation, the balance between technological advancement, accessibility, and employment remains a critical topic of discussion.
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LETTER: The route to innovative solutions
The Caribbean stands at a pivotal juncture, where innovation is not merely an option but a necessity for building a stronger, safer, and more prosperous future. The region must break free from outdated models and embrace transformative thinking to chart a bold new path. Innovation, defined as the practical application of novel ideas, holds the key to unlocking economic, social, and functional value. It requires a shift from traditional silos to interdisciplinary collaboration, fostering synergy across sectors and islands.
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AWS outage causes major global disruptions to businesses and online services
A significant disruption in Amazon Web Services (AWS) on Monday, October 20, 2025, sent shockwaves across the globe, crippling a vast array of online platforms and digital services. The outage, which commenced around 3:00 a.m. Eastern Time, impacted everything from video conferencing tools like Zoom to social media platforms such as Snapchat, as well as Amazon’s own Alexa-enabled smart devices. Initially, the issue seemed resolved, but Amazon later confirmed the problems had reemerged, leaving numerous services offline for hours. AWS engineers worked tirelessly to address the crisis, issuing regular updates to keep users informed. By 11:00 a.m., the company identified the root cause as a malfunctioning internal subsystem responsible for monitoring network load balancers. To mitigate the issue, AWS throttled requests for new EC2 instance launches and implemented additional recovery measures. By midday, Amazon reported progress in restoring connectivity and API functionality, promising further updates by 10:00 a.m. PDT. The outage highlighted the global reliance on AWS infrastructure, affecting universities, businesses, governments, and media organizations worldwide, many of which were forced offline during the disruption.
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Liberty Caribbean sights regional benefits with 5G+
Liberty Caribbean has taken a monumental step in advancing regional digital infrastructure by unveiling the first commercial 5G+ mobile network in the Eastern Caribbean. This groundbreaking initiative, launched under its consumer brand Flow and business arm Liberty Business, positions Barbados as the pioneer in adopting this cutting-edge technology. The company aims to transform technological capabilities into tangible social and economic benefits for Barbados and the broader Caribbean region. Marilyn Sealy, Senior Director and Head of Communications for Liberty Caribbean, emphasized that 5G+ is more than a technical upgrade—it’s an ‘infrastructure of possibility’ poised to revolutionize how people live, learn, work, and access healthcare. The initial rollout connects 22 high-impact sites across Barbados, with plans to achieve 50% population coverage by year-end and full island-wide availability by 2026. Liberty Caribbean has pledged to prioritize security, inclusivity, affordability, and education in its deployment, ensuring that underserved communities benefit from this technological leap. The launch, held on October 15, follows Liberty Caribbean’s successful 5G introduction in the Cayman Islands last year and is part of a broader regional strategy to expand next-generation connectivity across the Caribbean. Senator Jonathan Reid, Minister of Innovation, Science and Technology, praised the initiative, highlighting 5G’s role as foundational infrastructure for national development. Liberty Caribbean reiterated its commitment to fostering public-private collaboration, community outreach, and education to maximize the network’s impact on sectors like education, healthcare, tourism, and government services. This milestone underscores the company’s century-long legacy of connecting Caribbean communities, empowering businesses, and driving innovation.