News Archives - Zoom News

23Apr

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Technology

Google Will Stick to Cookies After All

Google scraps plans to replace cookies in Chrome with its own Privacy Sandbox. The idea of phasing out third-party cookies in its browser and replacing them with another system has been floating around for six years and has taken various forms over that time.Those plans have also been met with criticism, both from privacy activists and from competing advertising companies. Now, it seems that the Privacy Sandbox is officially over. Anthony Chaves, VP for the Privacy Sandbox project, says that the current support for cookies will continue. Cookies and privacyCookies are small files that your browser keeps track of your behaviour on a website. This includes, for example, your login status or the links you have already clicked (which is why they are shown in a different colour).Advertise...

Russia Expels British Diplomats for Spying

10Mar

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Russia, UK

Russia Expels British Diplomats for Spying

Russia is expelling two British diplomats from the country because they are said to be working as spies. According to Moscow, their work for the embassy was a cover and they provided "false information" when they applied for a visa. The British government has not yet responded to the accusations. According to the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the British have revoked their accreditation and have two weeks to leave the country. A representative of the British embassy has been summoned to explain. Over the past three years, Russia has regularly expelled Western diplomats from the country and vice versa. Last month, the United Kingdom and Russia sent each other's representatives back to their home countries. The Kremlin also spoke of spying then; London responded to thi...

17Feb

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

News, Technology, US

Meta is Working on Humanoid Robots

Meta wants to play a major role in the development of humanoid robots and the AI associated with them. However, it is not yet certain whether it wants to market such a robot itself. According to Bloomberg sources, Meta has set up a new division within Reality Labs, the branch where AI and VR headsets are developed, among other things. At the same time, the company is in talks with robot companies such as Unitree Robotics and FIGure AI Inc. Meta aims to use its existing software, sensors and computing components from existing products for robot development. However, it would not yet be about building humanoid robots itself. However, that is not entirely out of the question. Meta has hired Marc Whitten to lead the new robotics department. He spent the last nine months as CEO ...

Honda and Nissan Confirm Cancellation of Merger Talks

13Feb

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Business, Japan, News

Honda and Nissan Confirm Cancellation of Merger Talks

The two Japanese car manufacturers confirmed on Thursday that the planned merger between Honda and Nissan has officially been cancelled. The Japanese business newspaper Nikkei reported earlier this month that Honda and Nissan had stopped discussing a merger. The two car manufacturers announced in December that they were looking at a merger, which would have created the third-largest car manufacturer in the world. In February, the two car manufacturers were supposed to present a plan for further negotiations. The companies' intention to join forces was seen as an attempt to catch up with American car manufacturer Tesla and Chinese companies in the electric vehicle market. Honda's CEO stated in December that it was not a rescue operation for Nissan, which cut thousands of jobs last...

Tata Steel: US Important Market With 12 Percent of Sales

10Feb

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Business, News, US

Tata Steel: US Important Market With 12 Percent of Sales

Tata Steel is closely monitoring developments surrounding the threat of new import duties on steel and aluminium from American President Donald Trump. The United States is an important market for the steel company from IJmuiden, with approximately 12 percent of total annual sales going to it. According to a spokesperson for Tata Steel, this amounts to 800,000 to 900,000 tons of steel per year going to the US. "That is not insignificant," the spokesman said. Trump has threatened to impose 25 percent duties on steel and aluminium imported from abroad. "Import duties always impact our sales abroad. If higher tariffs are imposed there, it will affect us. Although not yet known, we are preparing for all possible scenarios. The steel company supplies steel for electric car batteries...

Canada is Not for Sale: Canadian Politician Sends Message to Donald Trump

16Jan

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Canada, News, US

Canada is Not for Sale: Canadian Politician Sends Message to Donald Trump

Canadian politician and businessman Doug Ford from Ontario appeared in parliament with "Canada is not for sale" on his cap, a clear message to Donald Trump, who will officially become the new president of the United States on Monday. Doug Ford previously responded strongly to Trump's statements that Canada would like to 'incorporate' into the US. Now Ford made a splash wearing a navy blue cap with the message "Canada is not for sale." He got the idea from Trump's cap with the iconic message: "Make America Great Again." "We must unite, and we can't let President Trump divide us. He's going to try to destroy our country; he's going to try to divide our country." The 78-year-old Republican had previously threatened to retake control of the Panama Canal and expressed his intention...

UN: Iran Executed at least 901 People Last Year

7Jan

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Asia, Iran, News

UN: Iran Executed at least 901 People Last Year

UN Human Rights Commissioner Volker Türk has said that Iran executed at least 901 people last year. According to him, that is more than in 2023, when at least 853 death sentences were carried out. According to human rights organizations, Iran is one of the countries with the most executions. "It is alarming that we are again seeing an annual increase in the number of people sentenced to death in Iran," Türk said in a statement. He states that it is "high time" that this stops. The High Commissioner for Human Rights says he opposes the death penalty under all circumstances because it is "incompatible with the fundamental right to life" and also poses a risk that innocent people will be executed. Most of the people executed in 2024 were convicted of drug offences. Some of tho...

Microsoft Will Pump $80 Billion into Data Centres for AI Applications This Year

6Jan

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Business, News, Technology, US

Microsoft Will Pump $80 Billion into Data Centres for AI Applications This Year

Microsoft's chairman, Brad Smith, announced that it will invest $80 billion in data centre expansion by 2025. This is necessary to enable the enormous computing power required for AI applications. More than half of the investment is in the United States. "This reflects our confidence in the American economy," Smith said in a blog post. He also called on the new US President, Donald Trump, to support the sector and not to hinder it with "heavy regulations" regarding artificial intelligence. Race for computing powerIn the previous fiscal year, which ended in June 2024, Microsoft spent more than $50 billion on data centres. The major cloud infrastructure providers, such as Microsoft and Amazon, seem to have recently been engaged in a race for the most computing power to meet the g...

Djokovic Starts the Hunt for Hundredth Tennis Title With Success

31Dec

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Australia, News, Sports

Djokovic Starts the Hunt for Hundredth Tennis Title With Success

Tennis player Novak Djokovic has started the hunt for his hundredth tournament victory well. The 37-year-old Serbian defeated Australian Rinky Hijikata in two sets (6-3 6-3) in Brisbane and qualified for the second round. There, he will meet 38-year-old Frenchman Gaël Monfils. If Djokovic wins the tournament in Brisbane, he will become the third tennis player to reach the milestone of one hundred titles. Jimmy Connors (109) and Roger Federer (103) preceded him. The Serbian is preparing in Brisbane for the Australian Open, the Grand Slam tournament he has won ten times in Melbourne. Djokovic has won 24 Grand Slam titles in his career.

OpenAI Wants to Get Rid of Nonprofit Structure

30Dec

By Alan LorenzNo Comments

Business, News, Technology

OpenAI Wants to Get Rid of Nonprofit Structure

ChatGPT maker OpenAI is changing its structure and looking to give its for-profit arm a more significant role to attract big investors. OpenAI began in 2015 as a nonprofit organization focused on making significant steps in AI development through research. Now, the company says it needs to transform to meet that mission. Today, OpenAI has a for-profit division, which is the branch that Microsoft has been investing in for the past few years. However, that division still falls under the nonprofit OpenAI. The plan is to transform that for-profit division into a public benefit corporation (PBC). Such a PBC structure makes it easier for investors to get involved and receive shares in return. That is what OpenAI is mainly concerned with. The company acknowledges that when it started...