Technology

TOKYO — SoftBank warned investors on Monday that the value of its technology fund may have dropped by as much as $16.7 billion over the last fiscal year, as its investments have been hit hard by the fallout from the coronavirus and by big bets on unprofitable companies like WeWork. SoftBank, which had deployed a […]

This article is part of the On Tech newsletter. You can sign up here to receive it weekdays. Online shopping in a pandemic feels like a constant ethical dilemma. I thought about buying jigsaw puzzles to occupy myself in quarantine life. But I wondered whether it was worth stressing the workers who pack, ship and

SAN FRANCISCO — More than 20 days into San Francisco’s shelter-in-place orders, with hair salons and barbershops closed, I was resigned to growing out my bangs. But my husband, Matt, who had gone almost two months without a cut, began threatening to shave his head. For weeks, he had been trying to hide his floppy,

As the coronavirus pandemic continues, religion is offering spiritual calm for some. But with mass gatherings banned, communities from many religions are unable to come together in the way they normally would. As some Christians prepare to celebrate Easter Sunday, BBC Click’s Sophia Smith-Galer finds out how some churches are connecting with their congregations online.

The British video game developer James Vaughan, 33, knows what to expect when a really bad flu season or a novel disease like Covid-19 makes headlines. His 2012 video game Plague Inc., which challenges players to spread contagion around the world, surges in popularity. “It’s not nice thinking of the fact that there’s a serious

Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused the U.S. State Department of spreading disinformation by not mentioning Soviet cosmonaut Yuri Gagarin in a Facebook post about the International Day of Human Space Flight April 12, 2020, 5:38 PM 1 min read MOSCOW — Russia’s Foreign Ministry has accused the U.S. State Department of spreading disinformation by not

Wineries that want to stay viable and connected to their customers during the coronavirus pandemic are harnessing platforms such as Facebook Live to offer virtual wine experiences By ERIC RISBERG Associated Press April 12, 2020, 3:17 PM 3 min read SONOMA, Calif. — In stark contrast to the normal hustle and bustle of tourists and

Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano has spewed a column of ash 1,640 feet into the sky in the longest eruption since the explosive collapse of the island caused a deadly tsunami in 2018 By EDNA TARIGAN Associated Press April 11, 2020, 6:17 AM 1 min read JAKARTA, Indonesia — Indonesia’s Anak Krakatau volcano spewed a column

This article is part of our latest Artificial Intelligence special report, which focuses on how the technology continues to evolve and affect our lives. Most dog owners intuitively understand what their pet is saying. They know the difference between a bark for “I’m hungry” and one for “I’m hurt.” Soon, a device at home will

Shira: What are effective projects to use phone data in the pandemic, without invading people’s privacy? Natasha: The government tracking app in Singapore seems like a balanced idea. People can give it access to Bluetooth, and it logs every phone you come into contact with. If you develop the virus, health authorities get a record