Canada’s federal court on wednesday (Jan 21), overturned a government order that would have shut down TikTok’s operations in the country, allowing the short-video platform to continue functioning for now, and directed Ottawa to review the case. In November 2024, Canada’s industry ministry had ordered TikTok’s business to be dissolved, citing national security concerns, though it did not block access to the app or prevent users from creating content. TikTok, which reports over 14 million monthly users in Canada, appealed the decision.

Federal court Judge Russel Zinn, in a brief ruling, set aside the order and referred the matter back to Industry Minister Melanie Joly for review, without providing any explanation. The industry ministry stated that Joly “will now proceed with a new national security review” but could not provide further comments due to legal confidentiality rules. TikTok welcomed the court’s decision and said it looked forward to cooperating with Joly.

Prime Minister Mark Carney has been pursuing closer ties with China to mitigate the impact of US tariffs on the Canadian economy. Concerns over TikTok’s ownership by Chinese company ByteDance have drawn scrutiny from Canada and other countries, with fears that China could use the app to collect user data or advance its interests. Last September, TikTok agreed to strengthen its safeguards to prevent children from accessing its Canadian platform after an investigation found its previous measures to protect minors and personal data were insufficient.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

US Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, met with Reserve Bank of India (RBI) Governor Sanjay Malhotra on Saturday to explore greater collaboration, with a focus on the technology sector. Sharing the update on social media platform X, Gor said he “very much enjoyed” the meeting and highlighted discussions on enhanced cooperation, including the adoption of advanced U.S. technology.

During his visit, Gor also met N. Chandrasekaran, Chairperson of Tata Companies. On X, he described the meeting as productive, noting Tata’s 150-year legacy and substantial presence in the United States. Gor visited the US Consulate in Mumbai, marking his first trip to the city and signaling the start of efforts to strengthen the US-India partnership. He tweeted about the visit, emphasizing his team’s work to reinforce bilateral ties.

Gor’s Mumbai trip comes shortly after he presented his credentials to President Droupadi Murmu at Rashtrapati Bhavan on January 14. He expressed gratitude for the trust placed in him and underscored his commitment to advancing US priorities in security, trade, energy, and technology while building a strong US-India partnership for the 21st century.

In his statements, Gor described it as an honor to serve in India during a period of significant promise and opportunity, and expressed eagerness to work closely with the Indian government and people on shared goals in defense, trade, technology, and critical minerals. Rashtrapati Bhavan, in a separate post on X, confirmed that President Murmu received credentials from Mr. Chandradath Singh of Trinidad and Tobago, Dr. Robert Zischg of Austria, and Mr. Sergio Gor of the United States.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from X/@USAmbIndia.

Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited (BSNL), India’s state-owned telecom operator, has partnered with global satellite communications leader Viasat to modernize the Indian Navy’s satellite infrastructure. Announced on 16 January 2026, the collaboration aims to strengthen the Navy’s communication capabilities in response to increasing demands for secure and reliable connectivity at sea.

Under a formal agreement with the Indian Defence Forces, the Navy will integrate Viasat’s advanced Ka-band satellite systems with its existing L-band network. This hybrid setup is designed to enhance operational performance across naval platforms, including ships, submarines, and aircraft, ensuring uninterrupted connectivity in diverse maritime environments.

The initiative represents a strategic move towards a multi-band, multi-constellation satellite communication framework. By leveraging BSNL’s gateway earth stations and Viasat’s extensive global satellite network, the upgrade will expand coverage across the Indian Ocean region and beyond, supporting India’s national security priorities.

Viasat highlights that combining the L-band’s proven reliability—particularly in adverse weather and high-mobility scenarios—with Ka-band’s high-throughput capacity will transform mission-critical operations. This integration addresses longstanding limitations in bandwidth and data speed, enabling real-time intelligence sharing, command-and-control functions, and tactical data links.

Todd McDonell, President of Viasat’s international government segment, emphasized the upgrade’s impact, stating it “blends L-band resilience with Ka-band high-throughput, providing enhanced connectivity for mission-critical operations,” reflecting its relevance to modern naval operations. Gautam Sharma, Managing Director of Viasat India, confirmed that the project’s equipment has already arrived, with installation set to begin this month, moving swiftly toward operational deployment. The partnership aligns with India’s broader focus on indigenous defense capabilities under the Atmanirbhar Bharat initiative. BSNL’s domestic infrastructure expertise reduces reliance on foreign gateways while integrating advanced international technology.

For the Navy, the timing is critical. Amid rising geopolitical tensions in the Indo-Pacific and along contested sea lanes, robust satellite communications are vital for maritime domain awareness, fleet coordination, and deterrence. Ka-band operates in the 26.5–40 GHz frequency range, offering much higher data rates—up to gigabits per second—compared to L-band’s 1–2 GHz. Although Ka-band requires precise alignment and is vulnerable to rain fade, the multi-band approach mitigates these challenges through intelligent band-switching.

Viasat’s global network, including high-capacity satellites like ViaSat-3, will enable beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) communication essential for blue-water operations stretching from the Arabian Sea to the South China Sea. BSNL’s earth stations will function as primary hubs for traffic management and signal processing, enhancing national control over communications while minimizing latency and adhering to Defence Ministry security standards. The project also enhances interoperability with allied forces. As India strengthens defence cooperation through Quad and bilateral initiatives, standardized satellite communications will support joint exercises and humanitarian missions across the Indo-Pacific.

Initial capabilities are expected online by mid-2026, with full multi-band integration following extensive testing. The Navy’s current L-band systems, such as Inmarsat, will continue as a backup, ensuring zero operational downtime during the transition. Economically, the initiative promotes local industry. Viasat’s in-country equipment delivery creates jobs in installation, maintenance, and training, while BSNL gains expertise in military-grade satellite communications, potentially opening opportunities with the Army and Air Force.

Challenges include spectrum management and cyber-hardening the network against electronic warfare threats, with support from DRDO entities like the Defence Electronics Research Laboratory for indigenous encryption solutions. The upgrade positions the Navy to adopt emerging technologies such as low-Earth orbit (LEO) constellations, complementing ISRO’s GSAT series and advancing India toward a fully sovereign multi-orbit satellite architecture. The BSNL-Viasat collaboration represents a significant advancement in India’s naval communications, combining resilience, speed, and strategic autonomy to meet modern maritime challenges.
Disclaimer: This image is taken from communications today

Elon Musk’s startup xAI has imposed restrictions on the image-generation feature of its Grok chatbot on X after the tool faced backlash for creating sexualized images. Previously, users could instruct Grok to edit photos of people, including removing clothing and placing them in sexualized poses—often without consent—and the chatbot would publish these images in replies on the platform.

As of Friday, Grok informed users that image generation and editing are now limited to paying subscribers. This appears to have stopped the bot from automatically creating and posting such images in response to user comments, though users can still generate sexualized images through the Grok tab on X or the standalone Grok app without a subscription and post them manually.

When asked for comment, xAI responded to Reuters with an automated message saying, "Legacy Media Lies," while X did not immediately reply. Musk previously stated that anyone using Grok to create illegal content would face the same consequences as uploading such material directly. A Reuters reporter tested Grok by asking it to transform a photo into a bikini-clad version; the bot declined, noting the feature is subscription-only.

The European Commission criticized the restrictions, saying limiting access to paying subscribers does not address the core issue of unlawful sexualized images. Other governments and regulators have also condemned the content and opened inquiries, pressuring the platform to prevent and remove illegal material. German media minister Wolfram Weimer described the flood of semi-nude images as the “industrialization of sexual harassment.”
Disclaimer: This image is taken from Reuters.

This year, Nanyang Technological University (NTU) flagged three students for academic misconduct, alleging that they relied on generative AI tools in their assignments. What boundaries should govern AI usage, at what point does it become misconduct, and is it time to rethink how assignments are structured and evaluated? Steven Chia and Otelli Edwards discuss these questions with Associate Professor Ben Leong, director of the AI Centre for Educational Technologies at NUS, and Jeremy Soo, co-founder of Nex AI.

Disclaimer: This podcast is taken from CNA.

In Made in SG, Melanie Oliveiro interviews Singaporeans working in the artificial intelligence space to explore how they are shaping and mentoring the next generation of AI-driven content creators. Jayce Tham, co-founder of media agency CreativesAtWork and generative AI content studio Dear.AI, shares how professionals in Singapore can use generative AI to enhance storytelling, content marketing, and production processes. Filmmaker, influencer, and Dear.AI Creative Director Jaze Phua discusses how AI fuels creative expression, enabling content creators to blend humour, narrative, and pop culture to produce highly shareable, viral content.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

During the daily market analysis segment on Open For Business, hosts Andrea Heng and Genevieve Woo engage in a detailed discussion with Mel Siew, who serves as the Portfolio Manager for Asia Public Credit at Muzinich & Co., covering insights, trends, and key developments impacting financial markets across the region.

Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.

Authorities are alerting the public to a new scam that uses fake digital identity cards. Could our tendency to casually share NRIC or passport scans via messages or email be making it easier for scammers? Daniel Martin discusses this with Matthias Yeo, CEO of CyberXCenter, a company dedicated to strengthening cybersecurity in Singapore.
Disclaimer: This Podcast is taken from CNA.