tech

Russia blocks Meta’s WhatsApp, the country’s most popular messaging app

The Russian government has fully blocked Meta’s WhatsApp, the country’s most popular messaging app, over what a Kremlin spokesman called the company’s “unwillingness to comply with Russian law.” In a statement, Meta said WhatsApp has more than 100 million users in the country, which would represent two-thirds of the Russian population.

While this represents a major disruption for Russian users, it’s unlikely to be financially devastating for Meta.

The company does not break out revenue from Russia, but since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Meta has been labeled an “extremist organization” in Russia, and advertising on its platforms has been banned.

Meta called the move a “backwards step” that “can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.”

Russia fully blocks WhatsApp, talks up state-backed alternative

Russia fully blocks WhatsApp, talks up state-backed alternative

While this represents a major disruption for Russian users, it’s unlikely to be financially devastating for Meta.

The company does not break out revenue from Russia, but since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Meta has been labeled an “extremist organization” in Russia, and advertising on its platforms has been banned.

Meta called the move a “backwards step” that “can only lead to less safety for people in Russia.”

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SOLV Energy ringing the bell at Nasdaq

tech

Apple’s smartphone market share is growing in China

Apple is starting 2026 strong in China.

After staging a comeback last year as consumers flocked to the iPhone 17 lineup, the US company is continuing to gain ground.

Apple’s iPhones accounted for 19% of smartphone sales in China in January, up from 14% a year earlier, according to Counterpoint Research. That marks Apple’s highest January market share in five years, putting it just a fraction of a percentage point behind market leader Huawei.

Last quarter, Greater China revenue made up about 18% of Apple’s total sales as it remains an important region for the company.

Waymo CEO Tekedra Mawakana says she thinks the company could reach 1 million weekly paid autonomous rides this year, Bloomberg reports. That would be more than double the roughly 400,000 weekly rides the Alphabet subsidiary is currently providing after quadrupling service in 2025.

The company plans to get there by adding new vehicle models to its fleet and expanding into additional markets this year, including Washington, Detroit, Las Vegas, San Diego, and Denver. Waymo currently operates in six cities, having expanded to Miami in January, and has more than 2,000 fully driverless vehicles on the road.

Its biggest competitor, Tesla, says it is operating about 500 robotaxis, which for the most part have human drivers, in two markets: Austin and the San Francisco Bay Area.

tech

China-made Tesla deliveries fell at home but surged abroad in January

In January, sales of China-made Teslas fell 45% to 18,485 within China, Tesla’s second-largest market.

That’s their lowest level since 2022, according to CnEVPost, citing China Passenger Car Association data.

At the same time, exports from Tesla’s Shanghai plant, which makes cars for markets in Europe and across Asia, jumped 71% to 50,644 vehicles, their second-highest level on record.

It’s unclear whether the jump reflects increased demand abroad or production reallocations amid tepid local sales. Tesla, and EVs in general, have been struggling in China due to fierce local competition and cuts to EV tax exemptions.

Tesla Jan deliveries in China decline 45% while Shanghai plant exports surge 71%

Tesla Jan deliveries in China decline 45% while Shanghai plant exports surge 71%

It’s unclear whether the jump reflects increased demand abroad or production reallocations amid tepid local sales. Tesla, and EVs in general, have been struggling in China due to fierce local competition and cuts to EV tax exemptions.

tech

Apple stock takes a hit on report it’s pushing back AI Siri features — again

Apple customers may have to wait even longer for the company’s long-awaited AI Siri, Bloomberg reports.

The iPhone maker had been planning to include a number of upgrades to Siri in a March operating system update, but the company now is planning to spread those out over future versions. That means some features first announced in June 2024 — an AI Siri that can tap into personal data and on-screen content — might not arrive until September with iOS 27.

The postponements happened after “testing uncovered fresh problems with the software,” Bloomberg said, including instances where Siri didn’t properly process queries or took too long to respond.

The stock, which had been trading up more than 2% today, has pared some of those gains on the news.

For what it’s worth, Apple’s iPhone sales — a record last quarter — don’t appear to be suffering for lack of AI.

Apple’s Latest Attempt to Launch the New Siri Runs Into Snags

Apple’s Latest Attempt to Launch the New Siri Runs Into Snags

The postponements happened after “testing uncovered fresh problems with the software,” Bloomberg said, including instances where Siri didn’t properly process queries or took too long to respond.

The stock, which had been trading up more than 2% today, has pared some of those gains on the news.

For what it’s worth, Apple’s iPhone sales — a record last quarter — don’t appear to be suffering for lack of AI.

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