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YouTube Shorts Launches New Editing Tools As TikTok Ban Deadline Looms YouTube Shorts Launches New Editing Tools As TikTok Ban Deadline Looms
YouTube Shorts Launches New Editing Tools As TikTok Ban Deadline Looms YouTube is unveiling new creation tools on its shorter video platform that directly competes with TikTok, which faces another potential US ban. Five features are coming to YouTube Shorts later in the spring, YouTube said in a blog post on Thursday, April 3. The announcement was made just two days before a federal deadline that could pull TikTok from app stores. The new YouTube Shorts features include beat-synced editing, image and artificial intelligence-generated stickers, upgraded templates, and a redesigned video editor. "Say hello to the new and improved video editor, which has be…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Amazon Tries To Buy TikTok Days Before Possible US Ban: Report Amazon Tries To Buy TikTok Days Before Possible US Ban: Report
Amazon Tries To Buy TikTok Days Before Possible US Ban: Report Amazon has made a surprise, last-minute offer to buy TikTok's US business, just days before a federal deadline that could pull the app from hundreds of millions of phones, according to a report. The online retail giant's push to buy the popular video app was first reported by the New York Times on Wednesday, April 2. The proposal comes as TikTok faces a potential ban unless its Chinese parent company ByteDance finds a US-based buyer by Saturday, April 5. The offer was sent in a letter addressed to Vice President JD Vance and Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, a person briefed on t…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Major Upgrade Now Available Across Apple Devices: What’s Inside Major Upgrade Now Available Across Apple Devices: What’s Inside
Major Upgrade Now Available Across Apple Devices: What’s Inside Apple is rolling out a sweeping software update packed with new tools, privacy-forward AI features, and expanded support for users worldwide. The latest versions of iOS, iPadOS, and macOS—iOS 18.4, iPadOS 18.4, and macOS Sequoia 15.4 — are now available after being launched late in the day on Monday, March 31. The update brings Apple Intelligence capabilities to more regions and languages, including French, German, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese (Brazil), and Simplified Chinese. English localization has also expanded to Singapore and India. For the first time, iPhone and iP…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
'OG Facebook' Returns With Revamped Friends Tab In Meta's Latest Change 'OG Facebook' Returns With Revamped Friends Tab In Meta's Latest Change
'OG Facebook' Returns With Revamped Friends Tab In Meta's Latest Change Meta is hoping to bring back the original Facebook experience with a new Friends tab that shows only content from friends, removing recommended posts and ads.  The feature launched in the US and Canada on Thursday, Mar. 27. The addition is part of a broader effort to restore Facebook's original focus on connecting friends, according to Meta. The revamped feed only highlights content from friends, eliminating recommended posts and ads. "The new Friends tab is a throwback to OG Facebook when you only saw friends' status updates," CEO Mark Zuckerberg posted. "More OG Facebook coming soon…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Parakeets Talking May Unlock Breakthroughs In Speech Disorder, Stroke Therapies: Study Parakeets Talking May Unlock Breakthroughs In Speech Disorder, Stroke Therapies: Study
Parakeets Talking May Unlock Breakthroughs In Speech Disorder, Stroke Therapies: Study Parakeet brains and their ability to mimic human talking could help people suffering from speech disorders, according to a new study. For the first time, scientists at New York University's Grossman School of Medicine recorded brain activity in parakeets as the birds made sounds. The researchers' findings were published in the scientific journal Nature on Wednesday, Mar. 19. The NYU study found that parakeet brains generate patterns previously observed only in humans while speaking. The findings may help guide future treatments for speech disorders like apraxia, which affects spee…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Scammers Stole $14M+ Promising Passive Income From AI-Powered Amazon Shops: FTC Scammers Stole $14M+ Promising Passive Income From AI-Powered Amazon Shops: FTC
Scammers Stole $14M+ Promising Passive Income From Ai-powered Amazon Shops: FTC A federal court has temporarily shut down an online business that regulators accused of deceiving consumers out of more than $14 million with false promises of big earnings through artificial intelligence-powered online stores, officials said. The Federal Trade Commission said Click Profit, operating under names like FBALaunch and Automation Industries, misled consumers into believing they could earn large sums in passive income by selling products on platforms like Amazon, Walmart, and TikTok. The FTC announced the legal action against Click Profit in a news release on Tuesday, Mar. 18…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Google Purchasing Cybersecurity Startup Wiz In Landmark $32B Deal Google Purchasing Cybersecurity Startup Wiz In Landmark $32B Deal
Google Purchasing Cybersecurity Startup Wiz In Landmark $32B Deal Google is acquiring New York City-based cloud security firm Wiz for $32 billion in one of the largest cybersecurity acquisitions in history. Google announced the all-cash deal to purchase Wiz in a news release on Tuesday, Mar. 18. If the deal is approved, Wiz will be officially integrated into Google Cloud. The acquisition comes as online threats increase, with artificial intelligence-driven risks and multicloud security challenges growing more complex. Google Cloud executives said the deal will enhance cybersecurity offerings, lower costs for customers, and improve protection across m…

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by Chris Spiker
News
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform
Meta's Community Notes To Use Tech From Elon Musk's Social Media Platform Meta's new Community Notes system will be based on algorithms developed by billionaire Elon Musk's social media platform, the company said. Meta will begin testing the crowdsourced program that aims to prevent misinformation on Tuesday, Mar. 18, the tech giant said in a blog post on Thursday, Mar. 13. The move comes as Meta replaces its third-party fact-checking program in the US for Facebook, Instagram, and Threads. Community Notes are part of CEO Mark Zuckerberg's broader shift toward what he calls "free expression" on the company’s platforms. "We’re going to take time to …

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by Chris Spiker
News
Trump, CAIR, SJP Release Statements On Columbia Protest Organizer Held By ICE In NJ Trump, CAIR, SJP Release Statements On Columbia Protest Organizer Held By ICE In NJ
Trump, CAIR, SJP Release Statements On Columbia Protest Organizer Held By ICE In NJ A Columbia University graduate detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is now at the center of a political firestorm as the Trump administration slashes federal funding to the school and enforces new visa restrictions targeting international students linked to protests. Mahmoud Khalil Detained Amid Federal Crackdown Mahmoud Khalil, a lawful permanent resident and recent Columbia graduate, was taken into custody by the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) on Saturday, March 8, outside his university-owned apartment in New York City. ICE claims his student visa was revoked, but …

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by Jillian Pikora
News
Columbia University Protest Organizer, Green Card Holder, Held By ICE On Unknown Charges Columbia University Protest Organizer, Green Card Holder, Held By ICE On Unknown Charges
Columbia University Protest Organizer, Green Card Holder, Held By ICE On Unknown Charges A Columbia University graduate who helped organize the campus’s Gaza solidarity encampment has been detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), despite being a legal permanent resident, advocates say. DHS Agents Detain Activist At His Home Mahmoud Khalil was taken into custody by Department of Homeland Security (DHS) officers at his New York City home around 8:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 8, according to advocates. The two plainclothes agents allegedly followed Khalil and his eight-months-pregnant wife into their apartment building—owned by Columbia—before confronting him without id…

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by Jillian Pikora
Schools
More Students Than Ever Stressed Over College Admissions, New Survey Says: Here's Why More Students Than Ever Stressed Over College Admissions, New Survey Says: Here's Why
More Students Than Ever Stressed Over College Admissions, New Survey Says: Here's Why For high school seniors, spring is a nerve-wracking time as college decisions roll in — but the class of 2025 is more stressed than ever, according to a new survey. The Princeton Review said 73 percent of students and parents reported "high" or "very high" stress over the admissions process. That's the highest level in the 23-year history of the College Hopes & Worries Survey, which had its 2025 edition released on Tuesday, Mar. 4. The 2025 survey polled 9,317 students and parents about a wide variety of college-related issues. Financial Pressures, Testing, AI Concerns Financial s…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse
Store Closings Surge To Highest Level Since Pandemic: Why 2025 Could Be Worse Retail store closures surged in 2024, reaching their highest levels since the start of the pandemic, a new study said. A total of 7,325 U.S. stores closed in 2024, driven by inflation and an increasing shift toward online shopping, according to retail data firm Coresight Research. The closings marked the steepest decline in brick-and-mortar retail since nearly 10,000 stores closed in 2020. While 5,970 stores opened—the highest yearly number since 2012—closures outpaced openings by a net loss of 1,355 stores.  "Retailers that were unable to adapt supply chains and implement t…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Cash App Users To Get Refunds In $175M Order As Feds Target Fraud Cash App Users To Get Refunds In $175M Order As Feds Target Fraud
Cash App Users To Get Refunds In $175M Order As Feds Target Fraud Cash App's parent company will have to pay $175 million for poorly protecting its users from fraud and financial crimes on the payment platform, officials said. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau ordered Block to refund up to $120 million to users harmed by fraud, the federal agency said in a news release on Thursday, Jan. 16. The parent company of Cash App, which has more than 56 million accounts, must also pay a $55 million fine into the CFPB’s victims relief fund. The CFPB found that Block failed to properly investigate unauthorized transactions and deprived users of…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Microsoft 365 Raises Prices For First Time In 12 Years: Here's Why Microsoft 365 Raises Prices For First Time In 12 Years: Here's Why
Microsoft 365 Raises Prices For First Time In 12 Years: Here's Why The Microsoft 365 bundle price is increasing in the U.S. for the first time in a dozen years as the tech giant adds artificial intelligence tools into longtime products like Microsoft Word. The cost of Microsoft 365 Personal and Family subscriptions will rise by $3 per month, the company said in a blog post on Thursday, Jan. 16. It's the first price change since the software bundle launched in 2013 under the name "Office 365". Existing subscribers will see the adjustment at their next renewal. "We understand that our customers have a variety of needs and budgets, so we’re committ…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports
Meta To Cut 5% Of Lowest-Performing Workers, Zuckerberg Braces For 'Intense Year': Reports Meta will cut thousands of employees in the latest move for the controversial company that owns platforms like Facebook and Instagram, according to reports. An internal memo sent to Meta workers said five percent of low-performing employees will be terminated, Bloomberg News reported. The company that also owns WhatsApp and Threads has more than 72,000 employees, according to Meta's most recent quarterly report. A five-percent reduction would mean about 3,600 people could lose their jobs. "I've decided to raise the bar on performance management and move out low-performers faster,…

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by Chris Spiker
Business
AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years
AI Workforce Shake-Up: Nearly Half Of Companies Plan Job Cuts Within Years Nearly half of companies worldwide are planning to cut jobs within the next few years as artificial intelligence (AI) reshapes industries and automates millions of positions, according to a new global report. The World Economic Forum’s "Future of Jobs Report 2025" outlines the seismic shifts AI will bring to the global workforce, revealing both challenges and opportunities: Job Displacement: The report says 41 percent of companies intent to downsize their workforce globally between 2025 and 2030, particularly in industries reliant on routine and manual tasks such as manufacturing, customer …

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads
Just Released New iOS Update Brings AI, Custom Emoji Access To iPhones, iPads Apple has unveiled new updates that bring advanced AI and emoji tools to its iPhone and iPad devices.  Released on Wednesday, Dec. 11, iOS 18.2, iPadOS 18.2, and macOS Sequoia 15.2 expand Apple Intelligence with features like ChatGPT integration, custom emoji creation, and visual design tools. Key Updates ChatGPT Integration: Siri and Writing Tools now support ChatGPT for generating content, solving problems, and enhancing productivity. Privacy settings ensure user control over data. Image Playground: This tool allows users to design custom visuals by inputting text descriptions, wit…

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by Joe Lombardi
Politics
Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet
Former Congressman, Gubernatorial Candidate Lee Zeldin Named To Trump's Cabinet President-elect Donald Trump has selected former New York congressman and gubernatorial candidate Lee Zeldin to run the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). In a statement on Monday, Nov. 11, Trump said Zeldin "will ensure fair and swift deregulatory decisions that will be enacted in a way to unleash the power of American businesses," adding that Zeldin will still maintain "the highest environmental standards." In a post on social media, Zeldin said, "It is an honor to join President Trump’s Cabinet as EPA Administrator. "We will restore US energy dominance, revitalize our auto indu…

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by Joe Lombardi
Business
Here's Who Rank As The Richest Maryland Billionaires In New Forbes 400 Report Here's Who Rank As The Richest Maryland Billionaires In New Forbes 400 Report
Here's Who Rank As The Richest Maryland Billionaires In New Forbes 400 Report Former and current sports team owners are among the richest in Maryland, though everyone is still chasing the renowned Lerner family, according to Forbes' most recent ranking of the richest people in America. With an estimated net worth of $5.8 billion, 94-year-old Annette Lerner and her family, which owns the Washington Nationals, as well as Lerner Enterprises in Rockville, are the most wealthy in Maryland, the new report states, though they are being rapidly approached by other moguls in Maryland. According to the report, "Lerner Enterprises is among the largest owners of real estate in t…

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by Zak Failla