Micron Technology Beats Q2 Earnings Estimates, Issues Strong AI-Driven Outlook 
Super Micro Computer Shares Plunge After Co-Founder Charged in AI Chip Smuggling Case 
U.S. Officials Express Optimism Over New CDC Director Selection Amid Vaccine Policy Turmoil 
Alibaba Bets on AI Agents to Unify Its Vast Digital Ecosystem 
SpaceX IPO Filing Expected This Week as Valuation Could Surpass $75 Billion 
Nintendo Switch 2 Production Cut as Holiday Sales Miss Targets 
SEC Eyes Shift to Semiannual Corporate Reporting, Ending 50-Year Quarterly Mandate 
Elon Musk Announces Terafab: SpaceX and Tesla to Build Dual AI Chip Factories in Austin, Texas 
UK Regulators Demand Social Media Platforms Strengthen Children's Age Verification 
OpenAI Pulls the Plug on Sora, Ending $1 Billion Disney Partnership 
Palantir's Maven AI Earns Pentagon "Program of Record" Status, Reshaping Military AI Strategy 
Trump White House Unveils National AI Policy Framework for Congress 
Golden Dome Missile Defense: Anduril and Palantir Join Forces on Trump's $185B Space Shield 
Google's TurboQuant Algorithm Sends Memory Chip Stocks Tumbling 
Explosion and Fire Erupt at Valero Oil Refinery in Port Arthur, Texas 
Elliott Investment Management Takes Multibillion-Dollar Stake in Synopsys 
Singapore has directed TikTok and Meta to block access to the social media accounts of an Australian-based former Singaporean, Zulfikar bin Mohamad Shariff, after authorities said he contributed to the radicalisation of two citizens. The Ministry of Home Affairs announced the move on Tuesday, highlighting that Zulfikar has continued spreading extremist narratives despite previous actions taken against him.
According to the ministry, Zulfikar has long promoted the rejection of Singapore’s constitutional, secular system, calling instead for the establishment of an Islamic state governed by Syariah law. Authorities said he has openly suggested that violence could be used to achieve such aims. His online activity previously led to his detention in 2016 under the Internal Security Act, which allows individuals to be held without trial or placed under strict restrictions, including limits on travel and internet usage.
The ministry noted that Zulfikar continued to sow division by portraying the Malay/Muslim community as being pressured to assimilate into the Chinese-majority society. Officials cited a TikTok video from June in which he claimed Malays and Muslims were being forced to abandon Islamic values. In addition to these allegations, Zulfikar, who renounced his Singaporean citizenship in 2020, is also accused of attempting to influence Singapore’s 2024 election from abroad.
Singapore, where the resident population comprises roughly 74% Chinese, 13.6% Malay, 9% Indian, and 3.3% from other groups, places strong emphasis on maintaining racial and religious harmony. The government said it will take firm action against any threats to social cohesion, including those originating from foreign individuals.
The blocking orders were issued under the Online Criminal Harms Act, which took effect in February 2024 and empowers authorities to curb harmful online content. TikTok and Meta have yet to respond to requests for comment.
This move underscores Singapore’s ongoing efforts to safeguard national unity and prevent extremist ideologies from spreading through social media platforms.
