A Friday report by the United Nations says Iran is using advanced technology, including drones, facial recognition and a citizen-reporting app to crack down on violations of its mandatory hijab…
more ...Belgium makes arrests in corruption probe linked to EU
BRUSSELS — Belgian federal prosecutors announced Thursday the arrests of several people as part of a corruption probe linked to the European Parliament amid reports in local media that Chinese company…
more ...Meta tests ‘Community Notes’ to replace fact-checkers
SAN FRANCISCO — Social media giant Meta on Thursday announced it would begin testing its new “Community Notes” feature across its platforms on March 18, as it shifts away from third-party…
more ...Launch pad problem delays SpaceX flight to replace NASA’s stuck astronauts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — A launch pad problem prompted SpaceX to delay a flight to the International Space Station on Wednesday to replace NASA’s two stuck astronauts. The new crew needs…
more ...Dirt-powered sensors help farmers optimize their fields
An innovative solution to remotely power devices using natural biological processes could help farmers get the most from their fields. VOA’s Kane Farabaugh has more. …
more ...China boosting development of AI for use in trade war with US
NEW DELHI — Encouraged by the enthusiastic reception to its DeepSeek artificial intelligence platform in January, China’s leaders are going all out to encourage AI companies to harness the power of…
more ...US drops antitrust case against Google over AI, not Chrome
The U.S. Department of Justice dropped a proposal Friday to force Alphabet’s Google to sell its investments in artificial intelligence companies, including OpenAI competitor Anthropic, to boost competition in online…
more ...Greenland and Afghanistan: Frontiers in race for critical minerals
Just as discoveries of fossil fuel reserves helped to shape the 20th century, the race for critical minerals is shaping the 21st. These minerals are seen as strategically crucial for…
more ...Trump to host White House crypto summit
WASHINGTON — U.S. President Donald Trump on Friday hosts top cryptocurrency players at the White House, a political boost for an industry that has struggled to gain legitimacy — and where…
more ...Trump calls to end US government’s semiconductor subsidy program
President Donald Trump is signaling a major change in how the U.S. will support growth in key domestic industries such as semiconductors. Michelle Quinn reports. …
more ...Musk fails in bid to block OpenAI becoming for-profit business
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA — A U.S. judge on Tuesday denied Elon Musk’s request to prevent OpenAI from becoming a for-profit business in a loss for the Tesla tycoon amid his feud…
more ...VOA Mandarin: Who has better humanoid robots, US or China?
Chinese tech firms and state media have spotlighted humanoid robots, which have grown in popularity since the Unitree G1 appeared to run, jump, dance and perform martial arts-like movements in…
more ...Trump, Taiwanese chipmaker announce new $100 billion plan to build five new US factories
WASHINGTON — Chip giant Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co. announced on Monday plans to make an additional $100 billion investment in the United States and build five additional chips factories in the…
more ...2 lunar landings in a week for NASA’s private moon fleet
WASHINGTON — More than 50 years passed between the last Apollo mission and the United States’ return to the lunar surface, when the first private lander touched down last February 2024.…
more ...With $500B US investment, Apple pulling away from China, analysts say
Apple announced this week it would spend $500 billion in the U.S. over the next four years and create 20,000 jobs, signaling its pro-U.S. jobs and investment policy. U.S. President…
more ...Private company’s craft rockets toward moon in latest rush of lunar landing attempts
CAPE CANAVERAL, Florida — A private company launched another lunar lander Wednesday, aiming to get closer to the moon’s south pole this time with a drone that will hop into a…
more ...Musicians release silent album to protest UK’s AI copyright changes
LONDON — More than 1,000 musicians including Kate Bush and Cat Stevens on Tuesday released a silent album to protest proposed changes to Britain’s copyright laws which could allow tech firms…
more ...Apple to build 23,200-square meter facility in Texas
U.S. tech giant Apple has announced plans to create some 20,000 jobs and invest $500 billion over the next four years in the United States. Apple says it will expand…
more ...Australia fines Telegram for delay in answering child abuse, terror questions
Sydney — Australia’s online safety regulator fined messaging platform Telegram about $640,000 on Monday for its delay in answering questions about measures the app took to prevent the spread of child…
more ...Rich in cash, Japan automaker Toyota builds city to test futuristic mobility
SUSONO — Woven City near Mount Fuji is where Japanese automaker Toyota plans to test everyday living with robotics, artificial intelligence and autonomous zero-emissions transportation. Daisuke Toyoda, an executive in charge…
more ...VOA Mandarin: How will China help developing countries promote AI?
After China’s DeepSeek gained global recognition, some argue that the U.S.-China rivalry in AI may be upended. In addition, the Chinese Communist Party is actively offering to help developing countries…
more ...EU approves $960 million in German aid for Infineon chips plant
BRUSSELS — The European Commission said Thursday it had approved 920 million-euro of German state aid, or $960 million, to Infineon Technologies for the construction of a new semiconductor manufacturing plant…
more ...VOA Mandarin: Chinese netizens prefer DeepSeek to Musk’s Grok 3
WASHINGTON — Chinese social media users are not impressed by the newly released AI model Grok 3 by Elon Musk’s xAI, retaining their preference and support for DeepSeek, the free China-made…
more ...Does AI detect breast cancer better than doctors can?
A recent study found doctors were able to detect breast cancer more often when they used artificial intelligence to help read mammogram results. As VOA’s Dora Mekouar reports, AI helped…
more ...Philippines reports intrusions targeting intelligence data
Manila, Philippines — The Philippines has detected foreign attempts to access intelligence data, but its cyber minister said on Tuesday no breaches have been recorded so far. Attempts to steal data…
more ...New downloads of DeepSeek suspended in South Korea, data protection agency says
SEOUL, SOUTH KOREA — South Korea’s data protection authority on Monday said new downloads of the Chinese AI app DeepSeek had been suspended in the country after DeepSeek acknowledged failing to…
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