Technology

Smuggled Starlink dishes throw lifeline to some in war-torn Sudan
Smuggled Starlink dishes throw lifeline to some in war-torn Sudan
by  AFP

On a street corner in the Sudanese town of Tamboul, dozens of people tap feverishly on their phones, calling loved ones and moving money through online apps. The banking system has collapsed and millions can now access money only via the Bank of Khartoum's app, Bankak.

Colombia guerrillas lure youth on TikTok
Colombia guerrillas lure youth on TikTok
by  AFP

With promises of wealth and images glorifying fighters among vast fields of coca leaves, Colombia's modern-day guerrillas are urging young people to join their ranks via TikTok. "I want to join" a young woman commented on a TikTok video set to Mexican corrido drug ballads.

Eilish, Smokey Robinson urge protection against AI
Eilish, Smokey Robinson urge protection against AI
by  AFP

Hundreds of artists and songwriters including Billie Eilish, Smokey Robinson and the estate of Frank Sinatra signed an open letter released Tuesday urging protections against what they called an "assault on human creativity" posed by artificial intelligence.

Will Musk help Trump with cash, not just tweets?
Will Musk help Trump with cash, not just tweets?
by  AFP

Elon Musk, one of the world's richest people, says he won't directly back Joe Biden or Donald Trump in the US election -- but one look at his X feed makes clear his heart is with the Republican. - 'Dark money' - If Musk wanted to help Trump more directly, he could hand over limitless cash anonymously, according US election laws.

'Grave step backwards': Meta shuts monitoring tool in election year
'Grave step backwards': Meta shuts monitoring tool in election year
by  AFP

A digital tool considered vital in tracking viral falsehoods, CrowdTangle will be decommissioned by Facebook owner Meta in a major election year, a move researchers fear will disrupt efforts to detect an expected firehose of political misinformation. The tool also made dashboards available to the public to track what major candidates were posting on their official and campaign pages.