At approximately 19:45 local time on Sunday evening, a Madrid-bound high-speed train operated by Iryo, a private firm, derailed on a straight stretch of track, near the town of Adamuz. Daily Tech gathered that the carriages crossed over to the opposing line, striking a southbound Renfe train traveling toward Huelva.At least 39 people have been confirmed dead, while dozens more have been injured in the collision. This is the worst rail disaster in Spain since the 2013 Santiago de Compostela derailment in Galicia, which claimed 80 livesMost casualties occurred in the leading carriages of the southbound Renfe train, which was pushed into a nearby embankment.Spanish Transport Minister Óscar Puente, while speaking to the press stated that the accident occurred on a section of track where such a derailment should have been technically impossible under normal conditions.Investigators are looking into why the automated braking and track-monitoring systems (ETCS) did not prevent the collision.The Spanish Red Cross has been deployed to offer psychological support to families waiting at stations in Madrid, Seville, and Málaga.All rail traffic between Madrid and the Andalusia region remains suspended, with delays expected throughout the week.
Tesla loses top spot as world’s largest electric vehicle seller to China’s BYD
By Aminu Umar Turaki Tesla has lost its position as the world’s leading electric vehicle (EV) seller to Chinese automaker BYD, marking a shift in the global EV market after a challenging year for the US company. Tesla reported vehicle sales of 1.64 million units in 2025, down 9% from the previous year, while BYD sold 2.26 million vehicles, overtaking Tesla in global rankings. The decline in Tesla’s sales comes as a result of the growing competition in the electric vehicle market, political controversy surrounding its chief executive Elon Musk, and the expiration of key electric vehicle tax incentives in the United States. Founded in 2003, Tesla long dominated the global electric vehicle space, outpacing traditional automakers and setting the pace for EV innovation. However, the market has become crowded, with Chinese manufacturers, led by BYD, expanding rapidly and gaining market share both domestically and internationally. The electric vehicle sector of China has recorded strong growth, benefiting from scale, competitive pricing, and government-backed industrial support, putting pressure on global rivals. Tesla’s challenges in 2025 were compounded by backlash linked to Elon Musk’s political activities. Musk closed alignment with US President Donald Trump in 2024, after resigning as the head of the government efficiency panel overseeing federal layoffs, a role which led protests at Tesla facilities and dampened consumer sentiment. Tesla’s sales were affected by the expiration of a $7,500 US federal tax credit for electric vehicle purchases, which ended in September after the change of a policy by the Trump administration. The loss of the incentive reduced affordability for buyers and added to downward pressure on demand. Musk exited the government panel in May to reignite the confidence of investors. Although the company continued to feel the effects throughout the year. Tesla recorded fourth-quarter sales of 418,227 vehicles, falling short of analysts’ expectations of approximately 440,000 units. Despite the sales decline, investor confidence in Tesla has remained relatively resilient. Stakeholders stated that the company’s long-term vision, includes plans to expand driverless robotaxi services and develop humanoid robots for home and industrial use.
Nigeria and Google in advanced talks for new subsea cable
The Federal Government of Nigeria is currently in talks with Google Alphabet Inc., to deploy a new undersea fiber-optic cable. This was announced on Tuesday, December 23, marking a transition by the National Information Technology Development Agency (NITDA) to eliminate a single point of failure in the digital infrastructure of the country.According to NITDA Director General Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, Nigeria currently relies on subsea cables that follow identical geographic paths to Europe. This concentration makes the $1 trillion digital economy target of Nigeria vulnerable to disruptions if a single cable is damaged.In September 2025, Google unveiled its intention to expand its footprint in Africa by announcing plans for four new infrastructure hubs, cutting across the North, South, East, and West of the continent. These hubs include landing stations and data centers designed to link its newest cables, Equiano and Umoja, to local markets. The new cable will follow a different path than existing links to Europe, in order to provide a backup that will ensure connectivity even if primary cables are damaged.A Google spokesperson confirmed that talks are at an advanced stage, building on Google’s surpassed $1 billion investment pledge for African digital transformation. Nigeria’s current reliance on cables that follow the same path is a ‘single point of failure.’ We want to increase our existing links… to help transform Nigeria into a digital hub – Kashifu Inuwa Abdullahi, DG of NITDA The new Google cable and its associated infrastructure hubs are to be completed within the next three years. This would lower the cost of wholesale data for local providers like MTN and Airtel, leading to cheaper data plans for consumers. NITDA is also working with the World Bank on a 90,000km terrestrial fiber rollout to ensure this subsea capacity reaches the last mile in rural Nigeria.
Google delays full switch from Assistant to Gemini on Android
By Oluwatunmise Omoseyin Google has delayed its plan to fully replace Google Assistant with its Gemini AI on Android devices, pushing the transition into 2026. The company had earlier indicated that Gemini would become the default assistant on most Android phones by the end of 2025. However, Google says it needs more time to ensure a smooth and reliable experience for users before completing the switch. Gemini, designed to handle voice commands, app controls and smart home tasks, has already been set as the default assistant on new devices such as the Pixel 9 series. Still, Google Assistant continues to run alongside Gemini on many Android phones. Google explained that replacing Assistant, which has been part of Android for nearly a decade, is more complex than expected. Gemini requires more processing power and memory, and only devices running Android 10 or later with at least 2GB of RAM will be eligible for the upgrade. This means some older and low-end phones, especially in developing markets, may not support Gemini fully. Google said it wants to avoid performance issues that could affect everyday tasks like setting alarms, navigation and voice dictation. Google aims to improve Gemini’s speed, accuracy and reliability, by extending the timeline, before making it the sole assistant on Android. For now, both services will continue to coexist, with Gemini gradually taking on more responsibilities as updates are released.
Australia enforces new law banning social media use for children under 16
By Aminu Umar Turaki Australia has introduced a new law that bans children under the age of 16 from using social media platforms. Following the implementation of the law, many teenagers discovered that their social media accounts were no longer accessible.The law places responsibility on major social media companies, including Meta, TikTok, and YouTube, to ensure that users under 16 do not have accounts on their platforms. Companies that fail to comply could face heavy financial penalties.Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the law is designed to protect children from harmful online content. He described it as a necessary step that could encourage other countries to take similar action.Australia is the first country to introduce such a strict nationwide ban. Unlike in some other countries, parents are not allowed to give consent for children under 16 to use social media. The online safety regulator of the country, Julie Inman Grant, said authorities will begin monitoring social media companies to ensure compliance. She stressed that parents and children will not face punishment, as enforcement will focus solely on the companies.Many parents have welcomed the ban, believing it will help reduce cyberbullying and to protect the mental health of their children. However, critics argue the ban may make it harder for teenagers to stay connected with friends, especially those living far away. The Australian government has acknowledged that the law may face challenges in its early stages but stated that it is important to ensure safer online spaces for children.
STMicro ships over 5 billion chips to Starlink, deliveries to rise by 2027
By Oluwatunmise Omoseyin STMicroelectronics has shipped more than 5 billion radio frequency antenna chips to Elon Musk’s SpaceX for use in the Starlink satellite internet network. Remi El Ouazzane, the president of STMicro’s microcontrollers and digital integrated circuits division, in an interview, stated that shipments linked to Starlink could double within the next two years and that Starlink’s technology is likely to be adopted widely across the industry; The past 10 years of user terminals in terms of volume could actually double over the next two years. I expect many lower-orbit satellite players to leverage the technology – El Ouazzane The chips supplied by STMicro are radio frequency front end modules used in Starlink user terminals. They are designed to handle high data speeds and operate reliably in tough space conditions. STMicro has been working with SpaceX since around 2015, supplying components as Starlink expanded into a global satellite internet service. Starlink currently operates in more than 150 markets worldwide and serves around 8 million users, according to information published on its website. The network relies on thousands of low Earth orbit satellites to deliver broadband internet, particularly in areas with limited traditional connectivity. The space sector is moving from government led projects towards commercial networks. Companies such as SpaceX, OneWeb, Eutelsat and Amazon are investing heavily in low Earth orbit satellite systems, thereby increasing the demand for specialised chips that supports high data rates and withstand extreme environments. The company is also working with European partners including Thales and Eutelsat on projects like the Iris 2 satellite constellation by the European Union.