New Delhi: Elon Musk-owned X said it was directed by the Indian government to block more than 2,300 accounts, including the official handles of global news agency Reuters. According to the X’s Global Government Affairs handle, on July 3, 2025, the Indian government ordered X to block 2,355 accounts in India, including international news outlets like Reuters and ReutersWorld, under Section 69A of the IT Act. “Non-compliance risked criminal liability. The Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology demanded immediate action- within one hour- without providing justification, and required the accounts to remain blocked until further notice,” the social media platform claimed. The government later requested X to unblock Reuters and ReutersWorld, according to X. “We are deeply concerned about ongoing press censorship in India due to these blocking orders. X is exploring all legal options available. Unlike users located in India, X is restricted by Indian law in its ability to bring legal challenges against these executive orders. We urge affected users to pursue legal remedies through the courts,” said the social media platform. The Centre was yet to react to the fresh X claims. Earlier, the government had denied any role in the suspension of Reuters’ X account. “There is no requirement from the Government of India to withhold Reuters’ handle. We are continuously working with X to resolve the problem,” a government official had said. This clarification came after Reuters’ X account was found to be withheld in India, prompting concerns over press freedom and censorship. Users attempting to access the handle were shown a notice stating that the account had been withheld “in response to a legal demand”. It appears that X may have mistakenly enforced an outdated order. Despite the block on Reuters’ main and Reuters World handles, several affiliated accounts, including Reuters Tech News, Reuters Fact Check, Reuters Asia, and Reuters China, remained accessible within India.

Bitchat Bluetooth Messaging App: Jack Dorsey, the co-founder of Twitter (now X), has rolled out a new messaging app called Bitchat. This new application is designed to work entirely without an internet connection or mobile network. Unlike WhatsApp and Telegram, which require an active internet connection, Bitchat uses Bluetooth to send and receive messages. It also doesn’t require a phone number, email, or even an account.   The messages are end-to-end encrypted and disappear by default. Nothing is stored on a central server, and the app collects no personal data. Adding further, the app is now available in beta via TestFlight, and Dorsey has released a technical whitepaper detailing the architecture on GitHub. It is a decentralised platform, which means it has no central servers.   Bitchat: How It Works  Bitchat works like torrents, using a decentralized peer-to-peer system. It lets nearby Bluetooth-enabled devices send encrypted messages to each other. If someone is offline, the app can save the message and deliver it later when they’re back in range. This is helpful for people who lose connection for a while. In the future, Dorsey plans to add Wi-Fi Direct support to make messages travel faster and reach farther.  Bitchat: Messaging Range Bluetooth typically has a short range of about 100 meters, which may limit the app’s direct communication. However, Dorsey claims Bitchat can relay messages across multiple devices, extending the effective range up to 300 meters through its peer-to-peer network.  Bitchat Privacy Features  It offers strong privacy features such as opt-in-only bridging, which prevents unwanted connections, channel-level permission controls to manage access, and cryptographic identity isolation to keep user identities secure and separate across different channels and interactions. 

Ai+ Smartphone India Launch: Former Realme CEO Madhav Sheth’s latest venture, NxtQuantum, has introduced Ai+ smartphones in the Indian market. The Ai+ smartphone lineup includes two models: Pulse and Nova 5G. These handsets run on Android 15-based NxtQuantum OS, which has been fully developed in India.  The devices support regional languages and offer a customizable user experience through features like NxtQuantum’s Theme Designer Tool. The Ai+ smartphones come with secure Indian data storage on MeitY-approved Google Cloud regions and follow a zero-trust security framework. The Ai+ Pulse and Ai+ Nova 5G are available in five colour options which includes Black, Blue, Green, Pink, and Purple.  Ai+ Pulse Specifications  It features a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a 90Hz refresh rate and 450 nits of brightness, offering a smooth and vibrant viewing experience. Measuring 8.5mm in thickness and weighing approximately 193 grams, the device is powered by a Unisoc T615 octa-core processor.  The smartphone is available in two RAM variants—4GB and 6GB—paired with 64GB or 128GB of internal storage, which is expandable up to 1TB via a microSD card. On the photography front, the Ai+ Pulse is equipped with a 50MP rear camera offering CIF clarity and a 5MP front-facing camera for selfies.  Ai+ Nova Specifications The smartphone features a 6.7-inch HD+ display with a smooth 120Hz refresh rate, enhancing visual fluidity. It has a slim profile at 8.2mm thickness and weighs around 196 grams. Powered by the Unisoc T8200 processor, the device comes with 6GB or 8GB of RAM and 128GB of internal storage, expandable up to 1TB via microSD.  For photography, it offers a 50MP rear camera and a 5MP front camera. It is backed by a 5,000mAh battery with 10W charging support. The Ai+ Nova 5G also supports dual 5G SIMs, dual-band Wi-Fi, Bluetooth 5.0, and includes a 3.5mm headphone jack for added convenience.  Ai+ Pulse And Ai+ Nova Price In India And Availability  The Ai+ Pulse is available in two storage variants: the 4GB RAM with 64GB storage model is priced at Rs 4,999, while the higher-end 6GB RAM with 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs 6,999. Meanwhile, the Ai+ Nova 5G is offered in two configurations: the 6GB RAM with 128GB storage variant is priced at Rs 7,999, while the 8GB RAM with 128GB storage model is available for Rs 9,999.  Both models will be part of upcoming flash sales on July 12 and July 13, respectively, offering exclusive day-one promotions. It is now available on Flipkart.  

Seoul: Samsung Electronics on Tuesday estimated its second-quarter operating profit plunged 55.9% from a year earlier due to sluggish chip business and the fallout from US trade policies, missing market expectations. The world’s biggest maker of memory chips expected an operating profit of 4.59 trillion won ($3.4 billion) for the quarter ending in June, sharply down from 10.44 trillion won a year earlier, according to an earnings guidance released by Samsung Electronics. From the previous quarter, operating profit sank 31.2 percent from 6.69 trillion won. The operating profit was 23.4 percent lower than the average estimate, according to a survey by Yonhap Infomax, the financial data firm of Yonhap News Agency. Revenue edged down 0.1 percent to 74 trillion won. The data for net earnings was not available. In a separate release, Samsung Electronics attributed the sharp on-quarter decline in profit to inventory replenishments and the impact of the U.S. ban on exports of advanced AI chips to China. For the upcoming quarter, Samsung Electronics expects a rebound in demand and sales of premium high bandwidth memory (HBM) chips, despite reports that its HBM products failed to pass quality tests by U.S. artificial intelligence (AI) chip leader Nvidia Corp. “The memory business saw a decline in performance due to one-off costs, such as provisions for inventory asset valuation,” the company said in a statement. “However, improved HBM products are currently being evaluated and shipped to customers.” It also noted that its non-memory division, including its foundry segment, is expected to reduce losses in the third quarter, backed by better utilisation rates amid a gradual recovery in demand. Although Samsung did not disclose detailed earnings by business division, market analysts estimated that its semiconductor unit posted an operating profit of around 1 trillion won in the first quarter. Experts pointed to sluggish sales of HBM products, a decline in NAND flash prices and a stronger Korean won as key factors behind Samsung Electronics’ worse-than-expected performance in the second quarter. The launch of the flagship Galaxy S series smartphone in January, which contributed to a 10 percent year-on-year sales increase in the first quarter, had little impact on the company’s second-quarter results. Its conventional television and home appliance businesses are also expected to have seen a drop in profitability during the period on U.S. tariff impacts. Despite the weak showing, analysts forecast a rebound in the third quarter, backed by a recovery in memory chip prices. “Samsung Electronics’ operating profit appears to have bottomed out in the second quarter and is expected to show gradual improvement,” said Roh Geun-chang, chief researcher at Hyundai Motor Securities Co., citing anticipated gains in HBM sales. The company will release its final earnings report later in the month.

OnePlus Nord Series India Launch: OnePlus, a Chinese smartphone manufacturer, is set to launch the Nord series along with the next-generation OnePlus Buds 4  in the Summer Launch Event on July 8, 2025, at 2:00 PM IST. The Nord series include the OnePlus Nord 5 and OnePlus Nord CE 5  smartphones. The OnePlus Nord series is likely to refresh OnePlus’ positioning in the midrange market, challenging the best from Samsung, Oppo, Vivo, iQOO and Nothing.   OnePlus Summer Launch Event Live: Where To Watch   The OnePlus fans around the world can catch all the action from the Summer Launch Event via livestream. The event will be broadcast on OnePlus’ official website and YouTube channel, with real-time updates shared across the brand’s social media platforms.  Ready for liftoff? The #OnePlusNord5Series and #OnePlusBuds4 drop tomorrow! Join us live on YouTube and #UpYourGame.#OnePlusNordCE5 #OnePlusNord5 #OnePlusSummerLaunchEvent pic.twitter.com/HESG1ye3KN — OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) July 7, 2025 OnePlus Nord 5 Specifications (Expected) The smartphone is equipped with the Snapdragon 8s Gen 3 chipset and LPDDR5X RAM, delivering console-grade gaming with ray tracing, 144fps support, and an expansive 7,300 mm² Cryo-Velocity cooling system. The phone sports a dual rear camera setup (50MP + 8MP) featuring Sony’s LYT-700 sensor, along with a 50MP front camera with autofocus—both capable of recording 4K at 60fps and capturing Ultra HDR LivePhotos.  OnePlus Nord CE 5 Specifications (Expected) The budget-friendly variant is powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 8350 Apex chip, achieving an impressive AnTuTu score of over 1.47 million, and features the same LPDDR5X RAM. It boasts a massive 7,100mAh battery with 80W SUPERVOOC fast charging (0–100% in just 59 minutes), along with Bypass Charging and Battery Health Magic. On the photography front, it is equipped with a 50MP Sony LYT-600 sensor featuring OIS and 4K HDR video capabilities.  OnePlus Buds 4 Specifications (Expected) The earbuds offer up to 11 hours of standalone playback and up to 45 hours with the charging case, ensuring long-lasting use. They come equipped with dual drivers and dual DACs, supporting Hi-Res LHDC 5.0, 3D Audio, and a low-latency 47ms Game Mode for an immersive listening experience. Adding further, they include smart features like AI-powered translation, intuitive slide gestures, Steady Connect for stable connectivity, Google Fast Pair for quick setup, and Dual-Device Connection for seamless switching between devices.  OnePlus Nord 5, Nord CE 5 Price In India (Expected) The OnePlus Nord 5 is expected to be priced between Rs 30,000 and Rs 35,000, while the Nord CE 5 is likely to come in at a more affordable Rs 25,000. However, official pricing details are yet to be confirmed by the company.