Riya Microsoft has disabled a set of cloud and artificial-intelligence services used by a unit within Israel’s Ministry of Defence after an internal review found elements of reporting that alleged the company’s Azure platform was being used in the mass surveillance of Palestinians. The company’s vice-chair and president, Brad Smith, told staff that Microsoft had “ceased … Read more
Washington — President Donald Trump on Thursday announced a dramatic set of new import duties that would, if implemented, impose heavy tariffs on a range of goods — including branded pharmaceuticals, heavy trucks and kitchen cabinets — a move the White House says is intended to protect U.S. industry and national security but that economists … Read more
Quick rules before you start Silicone / Rubber / Sport bands Good for: sweat, workouts, swimming. Leather bands Good for: dress watches — be gentle. Metal bands (stainless steel, plated links) Milanese / mesh loops Nylon / Fabric / Woven bands Resin / TPU / Other plastics Treat like silicone: mild soap + water, soft … Read more
Here’s a concise, sourced update on the deal announced this week and the open questions that remain. Who the buyers are (so far): A group led by Oracle and private-equity firm Silver Lake — with participation from Abu Dhabi investor MGX and other investors — is set to acquire a controlling stake in TikTok’s U.S. … Read more
Short answer: Yes — but only if we build and deploy it deliberately.AI today can deliver big social and economic benefits (better healthcare diagnostics, smarter grids, climate modelling, efficiency gains across industry), but it also creates substantial environmental costs unless developers, operators, regulators and users adopt concrete technical and policy measures. Below is a compact, … Read more
Washington — Two bipartisan U.S. senators this week demanded detailed information from Match Group — the parent company of Tinder, Hinge and OkCupid — about the company’s efforts to detect and prevent romance scams, saying lawmakers are concerned the platforms’ design and algorithms may be enabling fraud. Sens. Maggie Hassan (D-N.H.) and Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) … Read more
Los Angeles / New York — The fourth season of HBO Max’s Hacks — a sharp, sometimes savage comedy about the business and politics of late-night TV — has suddenly felt less fictional and more prescient as real-world turmoil hit late-night programs this month. Storylines in the series about creative clashes, corporate pressure and public … Read more
Los Angeles — Alexandra Grant, the artist and longtime partner of actor Keanu Reeves, took to social media this week to put an end to persistent rumours that the couple had quietly tied the knot. Grant posted an intimate photo of her and Reeves sharing a kiss at James Turrell’s Roden Crater and used the … Read more
Los Angeles — Jessica Chastain pushed back publicly on Apple TV+’s decision to indefinitely delay the premiere of The Savant, saying she and the streamer are “not aligned” over the move that followed the fatal shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Academy Award-winning actor and executive producer said she disagrees with pausing the political-thriller … Read more