Author: damazah@gmail.com

A prominent US senator is asking the National Security Agency to provide guidance to the general public on best practices for using virtual private networks to secure their communications from spying by foreign adversaries. VPNs funnel all of a user’s Internet traffic through an encrypted connection to a remote server. The design provides strong assurances that no one between the user and the server can read the encrypted contents. VPNs also allow users to hide their IP addresses from the destination servers they communicate with. While US agencies have previously recommended use of VPNs, none have given recommendations on which…

It’s that time of year again: a select group of scientists have been summoned to a ceremony to receive coveted prizes, be showered in paper planes, and leave with a 10tn dollar bill, albeit in the form of a phased-out note from Zimbabwe. It is, of course, the annual Ig Nobel awards.Not to be confused with the more prestigious and career-changing Nobel prizes that will be announced in Scandinavia next month, the satirical Ig Nobels are awarded for achievements that “first make people laugh and then make them think”.On Thursday, real Nobel laureates were on stage to hand out the…

Nigeria has produced several footballers who have earned recognition among the world’s best players, with a number of them receiving nominations for the prestigious Ballon d’Or award over the years. From the golden generation of the 1990s to the modern era, Nigerian stars have featured on the shortlist for football’s most coveted individual prize. Finidi George was among the first Nigerians to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination. The former Ajax and Real Betis winger was nominated in 1995 and finished 21st in the voting. Also nominated in 1995 were former Super Eagles stars Daniel Amokachi and Austin ‘Jay-Jay’ Okocha, who…

Legendary R&B singer Mary J. Blige was on the receiving end of a barrage of online abuse after the release late last month of a video advertisement circulated by AI music generator Suno, in which she is seen seemingly collaborating and responding positively to an AI-generated song that sounds remarkably like her work. There was just one problem: She hadn’t approved the ad, and the deal with Suno was made by an individual who did not have the authority to do so. In a statement to Variety, a rep for Suno wrote: “Ms. Blige is an icon who we all…

As smartphones have become central to daily life and business activities, consumers are increasingly shifting preference to devices that combine innovation with practical value. Market research underscores battery life, price-to-value ratio, and camera quality as user priority features driving smartphone sales. Xiaomi is tapping into this reality with its line up, including latest REDMI 17 that combines  features targeted at everyday smartphone needs. The brand describes the device as value-driven that is built around extended battery life, immersive display, capable cameras, and a refreshed design that guarantees overall reliability. It cited evolving interest in smartphones for communication, social media, streaming,…

The United States House of Representatives has passed a bill to penalise American universities for boycotting Israel or its academic institutions, including those located in the occupied West Bank, a move that critics say violates freedom of expression.Lawmakers approved the measure in a 237-169 vote on Thursday, with 33 Democrats joining the Republican majority. Two Republicans broke ranks with their party to reject the bill.Recommended Stories list of 3 itemsend of listThe proposal will still needs to be adopted by the Republican-controlled Senate and signed by President Donald Trump to become law.If passed, it would bar universities that boycott “an…

LAGOS, Nigeria – 3 September 2026 – Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. announced Galaxy S26 FE, the newest addition to the Galaxy S26 family and the first in the lineup to launch with One UI 9 — bringing the latest premium Galaxy experiences to more users from day one. With enhanced camera capabilities and more context-aware Galaxy AI, it elevates how users capture, create and connect every day.Built around what users value most in a thin and light design, Galaxy S26 FE carries the iconic Galaxy S experience forward. “Galaxy S26 FE is purposefully designed to deliver the signature strengths of…

Leonard Nnadim, Abia State Commander of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA) has called for stronger collaboration with the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), in the fight against drug abuse, impaired driving and other forms of crime in the State. Nnadim made the call Wednesday when he paid a courtesy visit to the Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Abia State Command, as part of efforts to strengthen inter-agency collaboration. Nnadim emphasised the importance of sustained collaboration between both agencies, particularly in addressing the dangers posed by illicit drugs to road users and the wider society. He highlighted the Agency’s…

It just became much easier to access one of the world’s most capable open-weight AI models, stripped of its guardrails and refusals to perform harmful tasks. Named after a technique that removes a model’s tendency to refuse harmful requests, startup Abliteration.ai has turned that removal into a service. The platform hosts modified versions of open-weight models with their guardrails removed, including Z.ai’s recently released GLM-5.3, which users can query from a web browser or access through an API.  The company said in a recent social media post that its goal is to enable others to perform “offensive cyber, red-teaming, and…

Four Palestine Action activists convicted of criminal damage “with a terrorist connection” after raiding an Elbit Systems factory in the UK are appealing their convictions. The ruling marked the first time property damage was categorised as “terrorism” in a British court.Published On 3 Sep 20263 Sep 2026Share Four imprisoned Palestine Action activists appeal ‘terrorism’ sentences on social mediashare-nodesSharegoogleAdd Al Jazeera on Googleinfo