Amazon jilted New York City on Valentine’s Day, scrapping plans to build a massive headquarters campus in Queens amid fierce opposition from politicians angry about nearly $3 billion in tax breaks and the company’s anti-union stance. With millions of jobs and a bustling economy, New York can withstand the blow, but experts say the decision … continue reading -> “Amazon’s Exit Could Scare Off Tech Companies From New York”

The Mars Opportunity Rover landed on the Red Planet’s surface in 2004 for a 90-day mission of exploration. More than 14 years later, NASA has finally closed the book on this tiny rover that wandered across Mars sending back troves of information. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …

A report says Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission are negotiating a “multibillion dollar” fine for the social network’s privacy lapses. The Washington Post said Thursday that the fine would be the largest ever imposed on a tech company. Citing unnamed sources, it also said the two sides have not yet agreed on an exact … continue reading -> “Report: Facebook, FTC Discuss Multibillion Dollar Fine”

A report says Facebook and the Federal Trade Commission are negotiating a “multibillion dollar” fine for the social network’s privacy lapses. The Washington Post said Thursday that the fine would be the largest ever imposed on a tech company. Citing unnamed sources, it also said the two sides have not yet agreed on an exact … continue reading -> “Report: Facebook, FTC Discuss Multibillion Dollar’ Fine”

Mexico’s new government is trying to slash the cost of sending cash home for Mexican families living abroad and is hoping competition from “fintechs” (financial technology) will encourage banks and services like Western Union to reduce commissions and improve exchange rates. Deputy Finance Minister Arturo Herrera said the government did not plan to place new … continue reading -> “‘Fintech’ Could Help Mexicans Abroad Send Money Home”

Google plans to invest more than $13 billion this year on new and expanded data centers and offices across the U.S. CEO Sundar Pichai announced the news in a blog post Wednesday , emphasizing the company’s growth outside its Mountain View, California, home and across the Midwest and South. “2019 marks the second year in … continue reading -> “Google to Invest $13 Billion in New US Offices, Data Centers”

As a nasty diplomatic feud deepens between the two countries over the tech company, involving arrests and execution orders, it hasn’t gone unnoticed that Huawei’s bright red fan-shaped logo is plastered prominently on the set of “Hockey Night in Canada.” TV hosts regularly remind the 1.8 million weekly viewers that program segments are “presented by … continue reading -> “China’s Huawei Soft Power Push Raises Hard Questions”

A Saudi Arabian government app that allows men in the country to monitor and control their female relatives’ travel at the click of a button should be removed from Google and Apple’s online stores, a U.S. politician and activists said on Wednesday. Human rights campaigners argued the tech giants are enabling abuses against women and … continue reading -> “Google, Apple Face Calls to Pull Saudi App Allowing Men to Monitor Wives”

For the 750 million people globally who can’t read, using a smartphone can be difficult. One company is helping illiterate and low literacy users get connected. Tina Trinh reports. …

The U.S. military wants to expand its use of artificial intelligence in warfare, but says it will take care to deploy the technology in accordance with the nation’s values.   The Pentagon outlined its first AI strategy in a report released Tuesday.   The plan calls for accelerating the use of AI systems throughout the … continue reading -> “Pentagon Outlines its First Artificial Intelligence Strategy”

Russian lawmakers backed tighter internet controls on Tuesday to defend against foreign meddling in draft legislation that critics warn could disrupt Russia’s internet and be used to stifle dissent. The legislation, which some Russian media have likened to an online “iron curtain,” passed its first of three readings in the 450-seat lower chamber of parliament. … continue reading -> “Russian Lawmakers Back Bill on ‘Sovereign’ Internet”

Social media service Reddit Inc. says it has raised $300 million in a financing round led by Chinese internet giant Tencent. Reddit’s CEO, Steve Huffman, told CNBC on Monday that values the privately held company at $3 billion. Half the new money came from Tencent, Asia’s most valuable tech company. Other investors included Sequoia, Fidelity, … continue reading -> “Reddit Value at $3B After $300M in Finance Led by Tencent”

The Iowa Democratic Party on Monday proposed the biggest changes to the state’s famed caucuses in nearly 50 years by recommending Iowans be able to participate virtually.   If approved, the measure would allow people to caucus using telephones or smart devices during the days leading up to the Feb. 3 caucus night.   It’s … continue reading -> “Iowa Democrats Propose ‘Virtual’ Caucuses in 2020”

U.S. President Donald Trump on Monday signed an executive order asking federal government agencies to dedicate more resources and investment into research, promotion and training on artificial intelligence, known as AI. Under the American AI Initiative, the administration is directing agencies to prioritize AI investments in research and development, increase access to federal data and … continue reading -> “Trump Administration Unveils Order to Prioritize, Promote AI”

A much-hyped network upgrade called “5G” means different things to different people. To industry proponents, it’s the next huge innovation in wireless internet. To the U.S. government, it’s the backbone technology of a future that America will wrestle with China to control. To many average people, it’s simply a mystery. The technology is one of … continue reading -> “AP Explains: The Promise and Hype of 5G Wireless”

A new type of solar panel promises a cheap, flexible way to get more power from the sun. They may help the growing renewable energy industry expand even faster. VOA’s Steve Baragona has more. …

In Algeria, it was banned from bidding for public contracts after one of its executives was convicted of bribery.   In Zambia, it was probed over allegations of bribery involving a multi-million-dollar contract to build cell towers in rural areas.   In the Solomon Islands, it was accused of offering millions of dollars to the … continue reading -> “Huawei Global Business Model Relied on Bribes, Corruption”

Scientists are helping patients fight flu, diabetes and other maladies with the help of a smart watch that monitors body chemistry for blood sugar, sweat and other data. Researchers at the University of Texas at Dallas say it can also help couples get pregnant by tracking the stress. Mariia Prus traveled to Texas to learn … continue reading -> “Smart Watch Fights Flu and Diabetes, Helps Couples Get Pregnant”

A new kind of electric car charging point has been switched on in London. It’s designed to make electric vehicle, or EV, charging infrastructure cheaper and greener. It also acts as a data port, as VOA’s Mariama Diallo reports. …

One of the world’s top research universities, the U.S.-based University of California, Berkeley, has stopped new research projects with Huawei Technologies, a Chinese telecommunications giant. The university’s suspension, which took effect on January 30, came after the U.S. Department of Justice filed criminal charges against the corporation and some of its affiliates two days earlier. … continue reading -> “Top US University Suspends New Research Projects with Chinese Telecom Giant Huawei”

What you need to know about the next generation of broadband technology. …

Up to 85 percent of the jobs that today’s college students will have in 11 years haven’t been invented yet. That’s according to a panel of experts assembled by the Institute for the Future, although an exact percentage is impossible to predict. The IFTF, a nonprofit that seeks to identify emerging trends and their impacts … continue reading -> “Most of 2030’s Jobs Haven’t Been Invented Yet”

There is no real preparation for dealing with the reality of being in a combat zone. But training helps, and that’s the idea behind a virtual reality exercise that the International Committee of the Red Cross is providing to field employees. VOA’s Kevin Enochs reports. …

Apple Inc. on Thursday rolled out software updates to iPhones to fix a privacy issue in its FaceTime video calling service, and said it would contribute toward the education of the Arizona teenager who discovered the problem.  The software bug, which had let users hear audio from people who had not yet answered a video call, was discovered by … continue reading -> “Apple to Contribute to Teen’s Education for Spotting FaceTime Bug “

Apple Inc has moved its modem chip engineering effort into its in-house hardware technology group from its supply chain unit, two people familiar with the move told Reuters, a sign the tech company is looking to develop a key component of its iPhones after years of buying it from outside suppliers. Modems are an indispensable … continue reading -> “Apple Puts Modem Engineering Unit Into Chip Design Group”