Twitter Opts for ‘Poison Pill’ to Repel Elon Musk Takeover 

Twitter’s board of directors on Friday voted unanimously to use a tactic called a “poison pill” to fend off Elon Musk’s attempt to take over the company. In such a defensive tactic, all Twitter shareholders except Musk could buy more shares at a discount. This would dilute the world’s richest person’s stake in the company … continue reading -> “Twitter Opts for ‘Poison Pill’ to Repel Elon Musk Takeover “

Musk Spells Out How He Would Change Twitter

Hours after announcing his $43 billion hostile takeover bid for Twitter, business magnate Elon Musk laid out some of his goals for the social media giant, including an edit button that would let users amend ill-considered tweets. Musk made the comments on the concluding day of the annual TED Conference in Vancouver. In a question-and-answer … continue reading -> “Musk Spells Out How He Would Change Twitter”

Elon Musk Offers to Buy Twitter 

Businessman Elon Musk has offered to buy Twitter, saying the social media giant “needs to be transformed as a private company.” “I invested in Twitter as I believe in its potential to be the platform for free speech around the globe, and I believe free speech is a societal imperative for a functioning democracy,” Musk … continue reading -> “Elon Musk Offers to Buy Twitter “

Russian Netflix Users Sue Streaming Giant for Leaving Market – RIA

Russian users of Netflix NFLX.O have launched a class action lawsuit against the streaming giant for leaving the Russian market, demanding 60 million roubles ($726,000) in compensation, the RIA news agency reported on Wednesday.  Netflix Inc said in March that it suspended its service in Russia and had temporarily stopped all future projects and acquisitions … continue reading -> “Russian Netflix Users Sue Streaming Giant for Leaving Market – RIA”

Former California Executive Gets Prison for $1 Billion Solar Fraud

A former energy executive in California who took part in $1 billion solar power fraud that bilked Warren Buffett’s company and many others was sentenced Tuesday to six years in federal prison and ordered to pay $624 million in restitution. Robert A. Karmann, 55, of Clayton was the chief financial officer for DC Solar, a … continue reading -> “Former California Executive Gets Prison for $1 Billion Solar Fraud”

Elon Musk Accused of Breaking Law While Buying Twitter Stock

Elon Musk’s huge Twitter investment took a new twist Tuesday with the filing of a lawsuit alleging that the colorful billionaire illegally delayed disclosing his stake in the social media company so he could buy more shares at lower prices. The complaint in New York federal court accuses Musk of violating a regulatory deadline to … continue reading -> “Elon Musk Accused of Breaking Law While Buying Twitter Stock”

Companies and Celebrities Jump into NFT Craze

The world of nonfungible tokens, or NFTs is getting a boost from companies and celebrities, who are making the digital products. But the nascent technology comes with risks. Tina Trinh reports. …

Twitter’s Top Shareholder Elon Musk Decides Not to Join Board

Twitter Inc’s biggest shareholder, Elon Musk, has decided not to join its board, Chief Executive Parag Agrawal said late on Sunday.  Musk, who calls himself a free-speech absolutist and has been critical of Twitter, disclosed a 9.1% stake on April 4 and said he plans to bring about significant improvements at the social media platform.  … continue reading -> “Twitter’s Top Shareholder Elon Musk Decides Not to Join Board”

JD.com Founder Richard Liu Leaves CEO Post

Chinese e-commerce company JD.com said Thursday that its founder Richard Liu has left his position as CEO, the latest Chinese billionaire founder to step aside amid increased government scrutiny of the country’s technology industry. Liu will hand over the reins to JD.com’s president Xu Lei, according to a company statement. Liu will remain as the … continue reading -> “JD.com Founder Richard Liu Leaves CEO Post”

Twitter to Start Testing Long-Awaited Edit Feature Soon

Twitter said on Tuesday it will begin testing a new edit feature in the coming months, surprising its users on the same day it said Tesla boss Elon Musk would join the social media company’s board.  Jay Sullivan, Twitter’s head of consumer products, said in a tweet the company had been working since last year … continue reading -> “Twitter to Start Testing Long-Awaited Edit Feature Soon”

Elon Musk Named to Twitter Board After Acquiring Massive Stock Share

A day after it was revealed he owned the largest stake in Twitter, slightly more than 9% of shares, Elon Musk has joined the company’s board of directors. The Tesla and SpaceX founder will be on the board until at least 2024, according to a regulatory filing. As a stipulation of his board membership, Musk … continue reading -> “Elon Musk Named to Twitter Board After Acquiring Massive Stock Share”

Drones Aim to Deliver Meals, Medicines to People’s Backyards

In the U.S., some restaurants and medical supply stores are turning to drones to deliver food, medicine, and other essential goods to people’s homes. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more. …

Bypassing Digital Iron Curtain, Activists Message Millions in Russia

The Kremlin’s clampdown on news of the war in Ukraine has hackers and volunteers from around the world are sending messages directly to Russian citizens’ phones to keep them informed. Matt Dibble has the story. …

Kenya Gets Huawei-Linked Chinese Communications Cable

China has connected a high-speed, multimillion-dollar, 15,000-kilometer undersea cable to Kenya, as Beijing advances what’s been dubbed its “digital silk road,” and Africa seeks the infrastructure it badly needs for better internet connectivity.   Chinese giant Huawei is a shareholder in the $425-million PEACE cable, which stands for “Pakistan and East Africa Connecting Europe.” It … continue reading -> “Kenya Gets Huawei-Linked Chinese Communications Cable”

Fighting Food Waste: Technology Tells Restaurants What They Are Throwing Away

Up to 40% of food in the U.S. is discarded. But as VOA’s Julie Taboh reports, a company in the Netherlands has come up with technology that can help reduce food waste in industrial kitchens. Camera: Tina Trinh, Orbisk;          Produced by Julie Taboh, Adam Greenbaum …

EU Negotiators Agree on Landmark Law to Curb Big Tech

Negotiators from the European Parliament and EU member states agreed Thursday on a landmark law to curb the market dominance of U.S. big tech giants such as Google, Meta, Amazon and Apple. Meeting in Brussels, the lawmakers nailed down a long list of do’s and don’ts that will single out the world’s most iconic web … continue reading -> “EU Negotiators Agree on Landmark Law to Curb Big Tech”

Russian Agents Charged With Targeting US Nuclear Plant, Saudi Oil Refinery

U.S. and British officials on Thursday accused the Russian government of running a yearslong campaign to hack into critical infrastructure, including an American nuclear plant and a Saudi oil refinery. The announcement was paired with the unsealing of criminal charges against four Russian government officials, whom the U.S. Department of Justice accused of carrying out … continue reading -> “Russian Agents Charged With Targeting US Nuclear Plant, Saudi Oil Refinery”

Seattle-Based Teenager Designed Relocation Website for Ukrainian Refugees

Seattle-based teenager Avi Schiffmann is doing what he can to help Ukrainian refugees. He has launched a website that helps refugees find safe places to stay, matching refugees with people willing to share their homes. Anush Avetisyan has the story, narrated by Anna Rice. …

Hackers Hit Authentication Firm Okta; Customers ‘May Have Been Impacted’ 

Okta whose authentication services are used by companies including Fedex and Moody’s to provide access to their networks, said on Tuesday that it had been hit by hackers and that some customers may have been affected. The scope of the breach is still unclear, but it could have major consequences because thousands of companies rely … continue reading -> “Hackers Hit Authentication Firm Okta; Customers ‘May Have Been Impacted’ “

Microsoft Faces Anti-Competition Complaint in Europe

Three companies have lodged a complaint with the European Commission against Microsoft, accusing the U.S. technology giant of anti-competitive practices in its cloud services, sources told AFP on Saturday, confirming media reports. Microsoft is “undermining fair competition and limiting the choice of consumers” in the computing cloud services market, said one of the three, French … continue reading -> “Microsoft Faces Anti-Competition Complaint in Europe”

Visual Explainer: Russian Disinformation 

Before Russia invaded Ukraine, the groundwork had already begun — online. Russian disinformation is a key part of what many are calling a hybrid war.  VOA’s Tina Trinh explains. …

Facebook Owner to Help Train Australian Politicians, Influencers in Run-up to Election

Facebook owner Meta Platforms FB.O will help train Australian political candidates on aspects of cyber security and coach influencers to stop the spread of misinformation in a bid to boost the integrity of an upcoming election, it said on Tuesday. Australia has not yet set a date for its next election, which is due by … continue reading -> “Facebook Owner to Help Train Australian Politicians, Influencers in Run-up to Election”

Corporations and Big Tech Find Ways to Help Ukraine 

For many Ukrainians, staying online has been daunting as Russia attacks telecoms and power supplies, but some people, like Oleg Kutkov, a software and communications engineer, are testing out a new way to stay connected. In a FaceTime interview with VOA Mandarin from Kyiv, Kutkov held up the components of the two-part terminal needed to … continue reading -> “Corporations and Big Tech Find Ways to Help Ukraine ”

Everyday Things Created by Black Inventors

From the three-light traffic signal, refrigerated trucks, automatic elevator doors, color monitors for desktop computers, to the shape of the modern ironing board, the clothes wringer, blood banks, laser treatment for cataracts, home security systems and the super-soaker children’s toy, many objects and services Americans use every day were invented by Black men and women. … continue reading -> “Everyday Things Created by Black Inventors”

Deportation Agents Use Smartphone App to Monitor Immigrants

U.S. authorities have broadly expanded the use of a smartphone app during the coronavirus pandemic to ensure immigrants released from detention will attend deportation hearings, a requirement that advocates say violates their privacy and makes them feel they’re not free. More than 125,000 people — many of them stopped at the U.S.-Mexico border — are … continue reading -> “Deportation Agents Use Smartphone App to Monitor Immigrants”