US-based Qualcomm downsizes staff in Shanghai over China’s dwindling economy

Qualcomm, a major US chip company with a significant presence in China, is reportedly planning job cuts at its Shanghai office. The move comes as the company navigates ongoing technology tensions between the US and China and faces economic challenges. While Qualcomm has confirmed the layoffs in its Shanghai office, it has not disclosed the exact number of job reductions.

According to reports in China Business News, Qualcomm has denied that the job cuts will be extensive enough to lead to an office closure or a complete withdrawal from Shanghai. The reports also mentioned that Qualcomm is offering generous redundancy packages to affected employees.

A Qualcomm employee in Shanghai, speaking anonymously, confirmed that layoffs were already underway, but the scale of the job cuts appeared to be limited.

Qualcomm has a presence in over 12 Chinese cities, primarily for its semiconductor and mobile telecommunications businesses. The company has emphasized its commitment to developing advanced technology in China, particularly in the field of mobile telecommunications.

Qualcomm had previously announced its expectation of “workforce reductions” as part of its restructuring efforts to invest in key growth opportunities, citing ongoing macroeconomic and demand uncertainty. The company stated that a significant portion of these changes would occur in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023.

Qualcomm’s revenue and profit have faced challenges due to weak demand for consumer electronics. In the third quarter of fiscal 2023, the company reported a 23 per cent year-on-year drop in revenue and a 52 per cent decline in net income.

The US-China trade tensions and Beijing’s partial ban on iPhone usage by government staff may also contribute to pressure on Qualcomm, as it is a major supplier to Apple. However, the successful launch of the new iPhone 15 in mainland China could offset some of these challenges.

The overall smartphone market in China has faced headwinds, with a 4 per cent decline in sales during the second quarter of 2023, the lowest second-quarter sales since 2014, according to market research firm Counterpoint. Other US chip companies have also announced job cuts in China amid economic challenges and industrial downturns.

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Redmi Note 13 Series With 6.7-Inch AMOLED Displays Launched: Price, Specifications

Redmi launched the Note 13 series in China on Thursday, September 22. The lineup includes a base Redmi Note 13, Redmi Note 13 Pro and Redmi Note 13 Pro+ model. The series succeeds the Redmi Note 12 lineup which was also released with three models.

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Playing With Fire: Scientists discover completely new species of virus at the deepest point on Earth

In a recent scientific discovery, researchers have identified a viral organism residing in the depths of the Mariana Trench. This virus is believed to be the deepest of its kind ever found and primarily preys on specific types of bacteria.

The Mariana Trench, named after the nearby islands, is located in the Pacific Ocean and represents the Earth’s deepest oceanic trench, reaching depths of up to 36,000 feet below the surface.

Despite its almost alien environment, life has managed to adapt and thrive in this extreme habitat. Scientists have previously uncovered various life forms in the Mariana Trench, including fish, shrimp, and a variety of microorganisms. Wherever life exists, viruses are often present, seeking to exploit it.

Viruses are still a subject of debate when it comes to categorizing them as living organisms since they can only reproduce by hijacking the cellular machinery of other organisms. However, our understanding of these deep-sea viruses remains limited, and their diversity is largely unexplored.

The latest discovery of this virus was made by a team of researchers from China and Australia, and it has been given the name vB_HmeY_H4907.

The scientists isolated this virus from sediment retrieved from a depth of 8,900 meters, equivalent to over 29,000 feet below the ocean’s surface. Genetic analysis has revealed that this virus belongs to a previously unidentified family of viruses that are widespread in the world’s oceans, and the researchers have named this family Suviridae.

Furthermore, vB_HmeY_H4907 is classified as a bacteriophage, a type of virus that utilizes bacteria to replicate itself. The study detailing these findings was published in the journal Microbiology Spectrum.

Min Wang, a virologist at the Ocean University of China and one of the study’s authors stated, “To our best knowledge, this is the deepest known isolated phage in the global ocean.”

Remarkably, this virus specifically targets Halomonas bacteria, a group of bacteria known to inhabit deep-sea environments and areas near hydrothermal vents. Surprisingly, the virus and its host appear to have a rather amicable relationship.

Genetically, the virus closely resembles its host and is classified as a lysogenic phage. This means that it inserts its genetic material into the bacteria but usually does not kill it. Instead, both the virus and the bacteria replicate simultaneously. The researchers hypothesize that vB_HmeY_H4907 may have co-evolved with these bacteria to ensure its survival in the harsh conditions of the deep sea.

The research team intends to further investigate the molecular-level interactions between deep-sea phages and their hosts. Additionally, they will continue their quest to uncover other unique viruses in the world’s most inhospitable environments.

Min Wang emphasized, “Extreme environments offer optimal prospects for unearthing novel viruses.”

While the discovery of an enigmatic oceanic microbe unknown to humanity may evoke thoughts of a horror movie plot, it’s important to note that viruses, in general, are highly specialized to their hosts and environments.

Therefore, it is highly unlikely that a deep-sea phage would pose any threat to humans on land if encountered. In contrast, terrestrial phages are being studied for their potential use as weapons against drug-resistant bacteria.

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Vivo T2 Pro 5G With MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, 66W Fast Charging Launched in India: Price, Specifications

Vivo T2 Pro 5G was launched in India on Friday. It runs on MediaTek Dimensity 7200 SoC, coupled with 8GB of RAM. The Vivo T2 Pro 5G sports a 64-megapixel dual rear camera unit and is backed by a 4,600mAh battery with 66W fast charging support.

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Tecno Phantom V Flip 5G With 6.9-inch Full-HD+ Flexible AMOLED Display Launched in India: Price, Specifications

Tecno Phantom V Flip 5G was launched on Friday. This is the second foldable smartphone by the company. Tecno Phantom V Fold was unveiled at the Mobile World Congress 2023 event in Barcelona earlier this year and later released in India in April. The Phantom V Flip clamshell foldable is now available with a circular outer display with the camera unit encircling it.

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TSwift Lift: Elon Musk tries to woo Taylor Swift to boost traffic on X, wants to stream ‘The Eras Tour’

When Taylor Swift visits a city for a tour, her impact on the local economy shoots up. This phenomenon, even has a name, and is referred to as the “TSwift Lift.” Even the US Federal Reserve has taken notice and incorporated it into its studies on the economic effects of her concerts. Elon Musk also hopes that he can replicate the TSwift Lift, but on his platform X.

In a surprising turn of events, Elon Musk, has reached out to Swift for assistance in revitalizing his platform. Musk, who acquired Twitter’s parent company for $44 billion almost a year ago, responded to Swift’s post about new tracks from her re-recorded 1989 album, addressing her 94 million followers.

Swift’s Era tour is expected to be the first to break the $1 billion mark in ticket sales and could result in nearly $5 billion in total spending. Fans are willing to shell out more than $1,300 each for the privilege of attending her live performances.

Musk suggested, “I recommend sharing some music or concert videos directly on the X platform.” He recently celebrated the exclusive debut of Tucker Carlson’s new show on the platform.

Musk has faced challenges with X, including controversies involving conspiracy theories and positions favoured by the alt-right, resulting in a 60 per cent decline in US advertisers.

Consequently, X fell short of its goal to achieve cashflow break-even in the second quarter, and despite laying off 80 per cent of its workforce, it continues to deplete its cash reserves.

Musk also recently announced plans to introduce a new monthly fee to combat bot farms that deter advertisers from reaching real consumers.

Bluesky, a new competitor platform supported by Twitter co-founder Jack Dorsey, attracted a record number of users after Musk’s fee announcement.

Musk later clarified that he intended to introduce a new, lower-priced subscription tier below the existing $8 per month premium subscription but did not provide details on the benefits users would receive for “a few dollars” a month.

While Musk sought Swift’s assistance in boosting his platform, Swift did not respond to his request. Given Swift’s track record of generating prosperity wherever she goes, it’s probable that Musk’s financially struggling platform needs her more than she needs it.

Additionally, Musk’s well-publicized friendship with Kanye West, who has had public disagreements with Swift, could pose a challenge in itself. Musk claimed to have more monthly users than ever, with 550 million on X, surpassing Twitter’s last reported figure as a publicly traded company by more than twice.

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Amazfit Cheetah Round, Amazfit Cheetah Square With Over 150 Sports Modes, Bluetooth Calling Launched in India

Amazfit Cheetah series smartwatches have been launched in India. The new wearables feature Bluetooth calling support and are equipped with a SpO2 sensor and heart rate tracker. The smartwatches have 5ATM water resistance.

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