Category: News

Technology’s grip on modern life is pushing us down a dimly lit path of digital land mines

SAN FRANCISCO — SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — “Move fast and break things,” a high-tech mantra popularized 20 years ago by Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg, was supposed to be a rallying cry for game-changing innovation. It now seems more like an elegy for a society perched on a digital foundation too fragile to withstand a defective software program that was supposed to help protect computers —…

Apple reaches first union contract with store employees

The three-year deal will increase pay an average of 10%, offer other benefits. Apple has reached a tentative collective bargaining contract with the first unionized company store in the country. The International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers’ Coalition of Organized Retail Employees, which represents the employees at a retail location in Maryland, announced Friday evening that it struck a three-year deal with the company…

Justice Department says TikTok collected US user views on issues like abortion and gun control

WASHINGTON — In a fresh broadside against one of the world’s most popular technology companies, the Justice Department is accusing TikTok of harnessing the capability to gather bulk information on users based on views on divisive social issues like gun control, abortion and religion. Government lawyers wrote in documents filed late Friday to the federal appeals court in Washington that TikTok and its Beijing-based parent…

Robert Downey Jr. is returning to Marvel’s ‘Avengers’ films as a villain

SAN DIEGO — Marvel Studios returned to San Diego Comic-Con with dancing Deadpool variants and a choir for a panel that included news about the next two “Avengers” films and surprise guests, including Harrison Ford and Robert Downey Jr. Downey is returning to Marvel’s films, but not as Iron Man. He’ll play the villain Victor Von Doom, or Doctor Doom, in at least one of…

Harris freshens up her message on the economy as Trump and Republicans go after her on inflation

WASHINGTON — All of a sudden it’s Kamala Harris ‘ economy — a major opportunity as well as a possible risk for the likely Democratic presidential nominee. Shortly after President Joe Biden left the race a week ago, Harris began to craft her own narrative around the economy by putting an emphasis on ending child poverty, promoting labor unions, reducing the costs of health and…

‘Deadpool & Wolverine’ smashes R-rated record with $205M debut

Marvel is back on top with “ Deadpool & Wolverine.” The comic-book movie made a staggering $205 million in its first weekend in North American theaters, according to studio estimates Sunday. It shattered the opening record for R-rated films previously held by the first “Deadpool” ($132 million) and notched a spot in the top 10 openings of all time. Including international showings, where it’s racked…

Takeaways from AP’s story on inefficient tech slowing efforts to get homeless people off the streets

LOS ANGELES — Los Angeles is the nation’s epicenter of homelessness, where more than 45,000 people live in weather-beaten tent encampments and rusting RVs. But even in the state that is home to Silicon Valley, technology has not kept up with the long-running crisis. Billions of dollars have been spent to get homeless people off the streets in the region, but outdated computer systems with…

President Milei renews his vow to scrap export taxes as Argentina’s powerful farmers get impatient

BUENOS AIRES, Argentina — Addressing crowds of struggling farmers in flat caps and home-knit sweaters who helped vault him to power but have grown increasingly impatient with his progress, President Javier Milei on Sunday vowed to scrap export taxes and rescue Argentina’s key agricultural industry. The country’s powerful agricultural producers say they’re willing to give the libertarian more time to deliver on his free-market promises….

A manipulated video shared by Musk mimics Harris’ voice, raising concerns about AI in politics

NEW YORK — A manipulated video that mimics the voice of Vice President Kamala Harris saying things she did not say is raising concerns about the power of artificial intelligence to mislead with Election Day about three months away. The video gained attention after tech billionaire Elon Musk shared it on his social media platform X on Friday evening without explicitly noting it was originally…

European Union adds porn site XXNX to list of online platforms facing strictest digital scrutiny

The European Union says it’s adding the porn site XNXX to its list of online services facing the strictest level of scrutiny under the bloc’s digital regulations, including measures requiring users to verify their ages ByKELVIN CHAN AP business writer LONDON — The European Union said Wednesday it’s adding the porn site XNXX to its list of online services facing the strictest level of scrutiny…