Your brief - 12h (12 articles)

TechCrunch reports that the United States and Australia have finalized a major agreement to invest $3 billion in critical minerals projects over the next six months. This deal, valued at $8.5 billion in total, reflects a strategic move by both nations to reduce reliance on China, which has imposed restrictions on critical minerals exports. The U.S. Department of Defense is also set to invest in a gallium refinery in Western Australia, marking a step toward domestic production of materials essential for electronics and defense technologies. On another note, Australia has committed to purchasing $1.2 billion worth of autonomous underwater vehicles (AUVs) from U.S. startup Anduril, showcasing the growing defense tech cooperation between the two allies. This agreement comes amidst rising geopolitical tensions with China, highlighting an effort to secure supply chains and technological independence. Source 1 Source 11 Source 28

According to TechCrunch, Meta's AI-powered mobile app experienced a surge in daily active users, increasing from 775,000 to 2.7 million in less than a month. This growth coincided with the launch of the Vibes feed, which introduces short-form AI-generated videos, a feature believed to have attracted new users. The app installs have also spiked to 300,000 downloads per day, reflecting the increasing appeal of AI-enhanced tools. Analysts suggest that Meta may have benefited indirectly from OpenAI's invite-only platform, as users unable to access OpenAI’s offering explored alternatives. While Meta's success underscores the appetite for AI innovations, the reliance on competitive differentiation raises questions about the sustainability of such rapid growth. Source 6

TechCrunch reports that Anthropic has introduced a web-based version of its AI coding assistant, Claude Code, aiming to make advanced coding tools accessible to a broader audience. Previously limited to command-line interfaces, Claude Code now allows developers to create and manage coding agents through a browser or mobile app. The tool is already generating significant revenue, accounting for over $500 million annually. As Anthropic expands its reach, the company faces competition from established players like GitHub Copilot and Google's AI tools, but its focus on user-friendly design and collaboration could distinguish it in the crowded market. Source 8 Source 9

Tech Radar reports that Microsoft resolved a critical vulnerability in its ASP.NET Core's Kestrel web server, identified as CVE-2025-55315, which scored 9.9/10 in severity. The bug, termed an HTTP request smuggling flaw, allowed attackers to bypass security controls, access credentials, and alter files. Microsoft has released updates for affected versions of .NET and Visual Studio to address the issue. While the company acted swiftly, the high-risk nature of the vulnerability underscores ongoing challenges in securing widely used platforms, especially as they are integrated into increasingly complex ecosystems. Source 27

A significant AWS outage disrupted over 1,000 websites and services globally, including major platforms like Signal, Reddit, and Slack, according to Tech Radar and The Register. The issue originated in AWS's US-EAST-1 region, which houses critical infrastructure for global services, revealing the vulnerabilities of centralized cloud systems. Experts argue that reliance on a single region for control-plane functions exacerbates risks. The incident has sparked calls for decentralization and multi-cloud strategies to mitigate future disruptions. While AWS has taken steps to restore services, the outage highlights the need for greater resiliency in cloud architecture. Source 19 Source 30 Source 33

New Scientist reveals that women who breastfeed may develop specialized CD8+ T cells in breast tissue, which could lower the risk of breast cancer. In a study involving 260 women, researchers found these immune cells persisted for decades, acting as a protective mechanism against malignancies. Animal studies further demonstrated reduced tumor growth in mice that completed breastfeeding cycles. While the findings provide insight into the biological benefits of lactation, researchers stress that breastfeeding is a personal choice and may not guarantee immunity against cancer. This discovery could inform future treatments and prevention strategies. Source 34

Politico Europe reports that the EU's foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, rejected President Donald Trump's suggestion that Ukraine should cede the Donbas region to Russia as part of a peace deal. Kallas emphasized that such an action would set a dangerous precedent, undermining international law and encouraging the use of force. The EU's stance highlights a divergence with the U.S. administration's approach to resolving the conflict. While some EU leaders remain cautious about Ukraine retaining all its territory, the bloc broadly supports Kyiv’s sovereignty. This disagreement underscores the complexities of international diplomacy in the ongoing war. Source 17