Author: iMaster

Author: iMaster

Elon Musk’s $44 Billion Twitter Deal Gets Board Endorsement
06/21/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Twitter’s board has recommended unanimously that shareholders approve the proposed $44 billion sale of the company to billionaire and Tesla CEO Elon Musk, according to a regulatory filing Tuesday. Musk reiterated his desire to move forward with the acquisition last week during a virtual meeting with Twitter employees, though shares of Twitter remain far below

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Investors Coping With Cryptocurrency Plunge 
06/21/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

“I’m in a cryptocurrency chat group at work,” software engineer Adam Hickey of San Diego, California told VOA. Over the last few days, Hickey said, members of the group have been writing things like, “Bloodbath” and, “Are we still good?” “It shook me, honestly,” he admitted. “I just had to stop looking at my balance.

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Cartier and Amazon Target Knock-offs in US Lawsuits
06/15/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Amazon and Cartier joined forces Wednesday in U.S. court to accuse a social media influencer of working with Chinese firms to sell knock-offs of the luxury brand’s jewelry on the e-commerce giant’s site.  The online personality used sites like Instagram to pitch Cartier jewelry such as “Love bracelets” to followers and then provided links that

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Study: Facebook Fails to Catch East Africa Extremist Content
06/15/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

A new study has found that Facebook has failed to catch Islamic State group and al-Shabab extremist content in posts aimed at East Africa as the region remains under threat from violent attacks and Kenya prepares to vote in a closely contested national election.  An Associated Press series last year, drawing on leaked documents shared

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LogOn: Companies Are Building the ‘Metaverse’ but What Is It?
06/14/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Often touted as the next digital shift, the metaverse comprises three-dimensional online spaces where people can work, shop, play games, go to concerts and so on. Michelle Quinn on what the metaverse is — or might be. …

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SIPRI STUDY: World Headed for New Era of Nuclear Rearmament
06/13/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

After 35 years of decline, the number of nuclear weapons in the world is set to rise in the coming decade as global tensions flare amid Russia’s war in Ukraine, researchers said Monday.   The nine nuclear powers — Britain, China, France, India, Israel, North Korea, Pakistan, the United States and Russia — had 12,705 nuclear

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LogOn: Robot Software Makes Machinery ‘Smart’
06/07/2022 iNews,iTechnology iMaster

Robots have long been used in manufacturing and other applications that need precise, fast and repeatable tasks. But making smart robots takes software. From Boulder, Colorado, Shelley Schlender reports. …

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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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