Facebook Parent Meta Is Preparing Large-scale Layoffs This Week, Say Media

Meta Platforms Inc. is planning to begin large-scale layoffs this week that will affect thousands of employees, The Wall Street Journal reported on Sunday, citing people familiar with the matter, with an announcement planned as early as Wednesday. Meta declined to comment on the WSJ report. Facebook parent Meta in October forecasted a weak holiday … continue reading -> “Facebook Parent Meta Is Preparing Large-scale Layoffs This Week, Say Media”

South Korea’s DRX Crowned League of Legends World Champions

South Korean team DRX were crowned League of Legends world champions on Saturday after scoring a surprise 3-2 victory over compatriots T1 in a thrilling final of the eSports tournament in San Francisco. T1, the most successful team in eSports history, started as favorites and took the lead in the first round of the competition. … continue reading -> “South Korea’s DRX Crowned League of Legends World Champions”

UN Urges Musk to Ensure Twitter Respects Human Rights

U.N. rights chief Volker Turk on Saturday urged Twitter’s new owner, Elon Musk, to make respect for human rights central to the social network after he sacked around half the company’s employees. Reports of Musk laying off the platform’s entire human rights team were “not, from my perspective, an encouraging start,” Turk said in an … continue reading -> “UN Urges Musk to Ensure Twitter Respects Human Rights”

Twitter Offers $7.99 Monthly Subscription That Includes Checkmark

Twitter on Saturday launched a subscription service for $7.99 a month that includes a blue check now given only to verified accounts as new owner Elon Musk overhauls the platform’s verification system just ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. In an update to Apple iOS devices, Twitter said users who “sign up now” can receive … continue reading -> “Twitter Offers $7.99 Monthly Subscription That Includes Checkmark”

Widespread Twitter Layoffs Begin, Worry Advertisers, Civic Groups

Twitter began widespread layoffs Friday as new owner Elon Musk overhauls the company, raising grave concerns about chaos enveloping the platform and its ability to fight disinformation just days ahead of the U.S. midterm elections. The speed and size of the cuts also opened Musk and Twitter to lawsuits. At least one was filed Thursday … continue reading -> “Widespread Twitter Layoffs Begin, Worry Advertisers, Civic Groups”

Twitter Temporarily Closes Offices as Layoffs Begin

Twitter Inc temporarily closed its offices on Friday after telling employees they would be informed by email later in the day about whether they are being laid off. The move follows a week of uncertainty about the company’s future under new owner Elon Musk. The social media company said in an email to staff it … continue reading -> “Twitter Temporarily Closes Offices as Layoffs Begin”

UN: Agricultural Automation Can Boost Global Food Production

A new U.N. report finds agricultural automation can boost global food production and be a boon for small-scale farmers in developing countries. The U.N. Food and Agriculture Organization, FAO, has just released The State of Food and Agriculture 2022 report. The report’s authors said automation is rapidly changing the face of agriculture. New technologies, they … continue reading -> “UN: Agricultural Automation Can Boost Global Food Production”

LogOn: Experts Worry Digital Footprints Will Incriminate US Patients Seeking Abortions

The U.S. Supreme Court’s overturning of protections for abortion rights has intensified scrutiny of the personal data that technology firms collect. For women who live in states where most abortions are now illegal, their smartphones and devices could be used against them. Tina Trinh reports. Camera: Saqib Ul Islam, Greg Flakus …

Agromovil App Connects Small Farmers With Buyers

Small farmers produce about one-third of the world’s food. Yet they lack global visibility and face many obstacles getting their crops to larger markets.  A new app is helping to change that for some farmers in Africa. VOA’s Julie Taboh has more. Camera, production: Adam Greenbaum …

Observers: China’s Chip Talent Hurdle Worsens After Layoffs at US Firm Marvell

Santa Clara, California-based chip producer Marvell Technology has confirmed that it is eliminating research and development staffs in China – the third U.S. chipmaker that has done so this year as the U.S.-China tech rivalry intensifies. Observers say this will hobble China’s chip ambitions and worsen its talent shortfall in the field of designing and … continue reading -> “Observers: China’s Chip Talent Hurdle Worsens After Layoffs at US Firm Marvell”

Satellites Shed Light on Dictators’ Lies About Economic Growth

Several dictators are significantly overstating economic growth, according to research which looks at satellite images of countries at night. As Henry Ridgwell reports, economists have long questioned the reliability of data from autocratic regimes – including China. …

Timeline of Billionaire Elon Musk’s Bid to Control Twitter

On Oct. 4, Elon Musk reversed himself and offered to honor his original proposal to buy Twitter for $44 billion — a deal he had spent the previous several months trying to wriggle out of. He posted a video of himself arriving at Twitter headquarters Wednesday, and Thursday evening new outlets announced the deal had … continue reading -> “Timeline of Billionaire Elon Musk’s Bid to Control Twitter”

Elon Musk Completes $44 Billion Acquisition of Twitter

Elon Musk became Twitter Inc’s new owner on Thursday, firing top executives he had accused of misleading him and providing little clarity over how he will achieve the lofty ambitions he has outlined for the influential social media platform. The CEO of electric car maker Tesla Inc TSLA.O has said he wants to “defeat” spam … continue reading -> “Elon Musk Completes $44 Billion Acquisition of Twitter”

US Rolls Out Voluntary Cybersecurity Goals

The United States is trying to make it easier for companies and organizations to bolster their cybersecurity in the face of growing attacks aimed at crippling their operations, stealing their data or demanding ransom payments. Officials with the Department of Homeland Security and the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) rolled out their new Cybersecurity … continue reading -> “US Rolls Out Voluntary Cybersecurity Goals”

Musk Says He Doesn’t Seek ‘Free-for-All Hellscape’ for Twitter

Elon Musk is telling Twitter advertisers he is buying the platform to “help humanity” and doesn’t want it to become a “free-for-all hellscape” where anything can be said with no consequences. The message to advertisers posted Thursday on Twitter came a day before Musk’s deadline for closing his $44 billion deal to buy the social-media … continue reading -> “Musk Says He Doesn’t Seek ‘Free-for-All Hellscape’ for Twitter”

LogOn: US Navy Turns to Driverless Ships for Indo-Pacific Strategy

As the U.S. military considers China’s military strength in the Indo-Pacific region, the U.S. Navy is turning to driverless ships to multiply its forces. VOA’s Jessica Stone takes us along for a closer look at this military innovation. Camera: Keith Lane …

US Technology Helps Improve Crop Yields in Drought-stricken Africa 

More frequent and severe droughts in Africa are hampering food production, especially in arid parts of the continent where farmers struggle to eke out a living. A water retention system developed in the U.S. is helping African farmers fight the trend and improve crop yields in drought-affected areas. Juma Majanga reports from Kibwezi, Kenya.   …

Companies Weigh Fallout From US Ban on Sending Chip Tech to China

The Biden administration’s announcement earlier this month that it would ban the transfer of advanced U.S. semiconductor technology to China continues to reverberate through global markets. The ruling by the Department of Commerce affects not only U.S. firms that sell to China but any company whose products contain American semiconductor technology. In mainland China, according … continue reading -> “Companies Weigh Fallout From US Ban on Sending Chip Tech to China”

Doorbell Cameras: Deterring Criminals, as Residents Become ‘Cops on the Beat’

More and more, people are installing video doorbells and surveillance cameras in and around their homes to protect against unwanted intruders. But while many consumers feel the devices provide some peace of mind, some observers are concerned that they trigger personal biases toward those captured on camera. VOA’s Julie Taboh has this report. Michelle Quinn … continue reading -> “Doorbell Cameras: Deterring Criminals, as Residents Become ‘Cops on the Beat’”

Something New Under the Sun: Floating Solar Panels 

Who said there is nothing new under the sun?  One of the hottest innovations for the non-polluting generation of electricity is floating photo-voltaics, or FPV, which involves anchoring solar panels in bodies of water, especially lakes, reservoirs and seas. Some projects in Asia incorporate thousands of panels to generate hundreds of megawatts. FPV got a … continue reading -> “Something New Under the Sun: Floating Solar Panels ”

Secretary Blinken Promotes Tech Diplomacy in Silicon Valley

Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Silicon Valley this week comes as the Biden administration is promoting more investment in technology but also enacting more restrictions on selling technology to businesses in China. Michelle Quinn reports. …

Musk Says SpaceX Will Keep Funding Starlink for Ukraine

Elon Musk said Saturday his rocket company, SpaceX, would continue to fund its Starlink internet service in Ukraine, citing the need for “good deeds,” a day after he said it could no longer afford to do so. Musk tweeted: “the hell with it … even though starlink is still losing money & other companies are … continue reading -> “Musk Says SpaceX Will Keep Funding Starlink for Ukraine”

Indian Village Disconnects With ‘Daily Digital Detox’ Initiative

In a remote village in India, a siren can be heard from the local temple every night at 7 p.m. — signaling the commencement of a daily “digital detox.” For the next 90 minutes, the population of 3,000 in Sangli district’s Mohityanche Vadgaon lays aside all the electronic gadgets in the vicinity, including mobile phones … continue reading -> “Indian Village Disconnects With ‘Daily Digital Detox’ Initiative”

Experts: Cyberattacks on US Airport Websites Highlight Ongoing Threats

Cybersecurity experts say that the October 10 attack on at least 14 U.S. airport websites, including those in Los Angeles and Chicago, appears to be the work of the Russian hacking group Killnet. As Mike O’Sullivan reports, the disruptions were a minor inconvenience for airline passengers, but experts say they highlight a major threat. …

Some Airport Websites Go Offline; Cause Being Investigated

The websites for some major U.S. airports went down early Monday in an apparent coordinated denial-of-service attack, although officials said flights were not affected.  The attacks followed a call by a shadowy group of pro-Russian hackers that calls itself Killnet for coordinated denial-of-service attacks on the targets. The group published a target list on its … continue reading -> “Some Airport Websites Go Offline; Cause Being Investigated”