Author: iMaster

Author: iMaster

Musk Threatens to Kill Twitter Deal Over Fake Account Data
06/06/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Elon Musk accused Twitter of “actively resisting and thwarting his information rights,” as the Tesla founder attempts to get information about fake and spam accounts on the platform. The accusation came in a letter Musk sent to Twitter Monday in which he warned he could walk away from the $44 billion deal to take over

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Autonomous Mayflower Reaches American Shores — in Canada 
06/06/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A crewless robotic boat that had tried to retrace the 1620 sea voyage of the Mayflower has finally reached the shores of North America — this time in Canada instead of the Massachusetts coast where its namesake landed more than 400 years ago.  The sleek autonomous trimaran docked in Halifax, Nova Scotia, on Sunday, after

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Explainer: What Is Bitcoin Mining? 
06/02/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

For many, grasping the concept behind cryptocurrencies is difficult enough. But let’s try to take a closer look into how they work. Matt Dibble explains. …

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Big Data and Farmers Create Instant Wetlands to Help Migrating Birds
06/02/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Guided by data from a bird-watching app, conservationists and farmers are creating instant wetlands for birds travelling thousands of miles. Matt Dibble has the story …

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LogOn: DNA Molecules May Ease Future Data Storage Crunch
05/31/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Researchers say DNA can replace hard drives to help store the world’s ever-increasing digital output. Matt Dibble has the story    …

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Companion Robot Responds to User’s Emotional Cues, Health Needs
05/27/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The arrival of the pandemic intensified feelings of loneliness and social isolation for millions of older people, many of whom were already battling depression and other health issues. For those struggling, a robot companion might make a difference, and states like New York are starting to provide them to residents free of charge. VOA’s Julie

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Sanctions Frustrating Russian Ransomware Actors
05/25/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Russia’s invasion of Ukraine appears to be having an unanticipated impact in cyberspace — a decrease in the number of ransomware attacks.  “We have seen a recent decline since the Ukrainian invasion,” Rob Joyce, the U.S. National Security Agency’s director of cybersecurity, told a virtual forum Wednesday.  Joyce said one reason for the decrease in

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Meta Returns with Africa Day Campaign
05/24/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Meta, the company that owns Facebook, is hosting its second annual Africa Day campaign to promote Africans who are making a global impact. The content producer for the film project, South African filmmaker Tarryn Crossman, said Meta identified eight innovators, creators and businesspeople on the continent whose stories the company wanted told for the “Made

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Facebook, Instagram to Reveal More on How Ads Target Users
05/24/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

 Facebook parent Meta said it will start publicly providing more details about how advertisers target people with political ads just months ahead of the U.S. midterm elections.  The announcement follows years of criticism that the social media platforms withhold too much information about how campaigns, special interest groups and politicians use the platform to target

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With Roe in Doubt, Some Fear Tech Surveillance of Pregnancy
05/22/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

When Chandler Jones realized she was pregnant during her junior year of college, she turned to a trusted source for information and advice. Her cellphone. “I couldn’t imagine before the internet, trying to navigate this,” said Jones, 26, who graduated Tuesday from the University of Baltimore School of Law. “I didn’t know if hospitals did

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Solar Crowdfunding Project Benefiting Zimbabwe’s Farmers
05/22/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A South African company that promotes solar power and uses crowdsourcing to raise capital is financing a solar-powered farm in Zimbabwe that is also benefiting neighboring farmers. The company, The Sun Exchange, raised $1.4 million for the farm. Columbus Mavhunga reports from Marondera, Zimbabwe. …

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China’s COVID Lockdowns May Affect iPhone Shipments
05/21/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The Apple Store at Union Square, the heart of San Francisco’s upscale tourist district, had drawn more than 30 customers within a few minutes of opening Friday morning. Visitors, couples and even a preschool-age boy browsed the atrium packed with iPhone 13s and watches to try out. A sign urged people to trade in old

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Scanning the Corpse’s Face: Ukrainians Using Facial Recognition Technology to Identify Russian Soldiers
05/20/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The Ukrainian government is using facial recognition software to identify Russian soldiers captured and dead. VOA’s Julie Taboh spoke with one software company CEO and an official with the Ukrainian national police about how the technology is contributing to the war effort …

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Canada to Ban Huawei and ZTE From 5G Networks
05/20/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Canada will ban Chinese telecommunications giants Huawei and ZTE from its 5G wireless networks because of national security concerns, officials said Thursday.  The long-awaited move follows those of the United States and other key allies and comes on the heels of a diplomatic row between Ottawa and Beijing over the detention of a senior Huawei

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Twitter Policy Aims to Clear Fog of War Misinformation
05/19/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Twitter is stepping up its fight against misinformation with a new policy cracking down on posts that spread potentially dangerous false stories. The change is part of a broader effort to promote accurate information during times of conflict or crisis.  Starting Thursday, the platform will no longer automatically recommend or emphasize posts that make misleading

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Nigeria Becoming Destination for Africa’s Promising Tech Startups
05/18/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

In February, the Nigerian technology startup CrowdForce announced a big break: It had received $3.6 million from investors to expand its financial services operations to many more underserved communities.   Co-founder and Chief Executive Officer Tomi Ayorinde said new funding will boost its mobile agent network from 7,000 to 21,000 this year. “We were looking to scale

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Musk: Doubt About Spam Accounts Could Scuttle Twitter Deal
05/17/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Tesla CEO Elon Musk says his deal to buy Twitter can’t move forward unless the company shows public proof that less than 5% of the accounts on the social media platform are fake or spam. Musk made the comment in a reply to another user on Twitter early Tuesday. He spent much of the previous

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Convicted Killer Turned Tech Whiz Confronts His Sordid Past
05/16/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

When he was 20 years old, Harel Hershtik planned and executed a murder, a crime that a quarter of a century later is still widely remembered for its grisly details. Today, he is the brains behind an Israeli health-tech startup, poised to make millions of dollars with the backing of prominent public figures and deep-pocket

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IBM: 6 Black Colleges Getting Cybersecurity Centers
05/16/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Six historically Black universities in five Southern states will be getting the first IBM cybersecurity centers aimed at training underrepresented communities, the company said. The schools are Xavier University of Louisiana, that state’s Southern University System, North Carolina A&T, South Carolina State, Clark Atlanta and Morgan State universities, according to a news release Tuesday. “Technology-related

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The Next New Thing: Companies Are Building the ‘Metaverse’ but What Is It?
05/13/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

The “metaverse” has been touted as the next digital shift, 3-dimensional online spaces where people will shop, work, play games, and go to concerts. VOA’s Michelle Quinn is looking at what the Metaverse is or might be. VOA footage and video editing by Matt Dibble. …

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Musk Says $44-billion Twitter Deal Temporarily On Hold
05/13/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Elon Musk said on Friday his $44-billion deal for Twitter Inc was temporarily on hold, citing pending details on spam and fake accounts. “Twitter deal temporarily on hold pending details supporting calculation that spam/fake accounts do indeed represent less than 5% of users,” Musk said in a tweet. Shares of the social media company fell

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US, China Vie for Africa Mobile Phone Sector
05/13/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Africa, in recent years, has become the new frontier where China and the United States, the world’s two biggest economic superpowers, are competing for influence in a key industry: telecommunications. This week, Ethiopia celebrated the launch of a 5G network powered by China’s telecom giant Huawei in Addis Ababa. Just before that, on a visit

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