Every day we wake up, drink a cup of coffee, and get ready for work. Following are a handful of stories from around the tech world condensed to fit into one single cup of coffee. These are the things you need to know before you step foot out of your door (or in front of a webcam) and into the real world this morning.
So sit back, grab a cup, and start your morning off right with a few “Quick Bytes” from Innovation & Tech Today.
Russia Ends Collaboration with NASA on International Space Station
Russia is ending cooperation with other countries on the International Space Station (ISS) until sanctions imposed by the United States, Canada, the European Union, and Japan are lifted.
Head of Russian space agency Roscosmos, Dmitry Rogozin made a statement on Twitter announcing the end to the collaboration on the ISS just five days after a US astronaut and two Russian cosmonauts safely returned to earth on board the Russian Soyuz MS-19 spacecraft.
The ISS could crash if Russia withdraws from its role in the program. Roscosmos ensures the station’s orbit is corrected 11 times a year on average to avoid space debris.
Elon Musk Shakes up Social Media Industry by Buying Large Stake in Twitter
Elon Musk has become the largest shareholder of Twitter Inc., after buying a 9.2% stake in the social media giant.
The investment is worth about $2.89 billion, based on Friday’s market close. Twitter shares surged about 26% in premarket trading after the disclosure of Musk’s purchase in a regulatory filing.
Musk has been critical of the platform, on which he is active daily, saying that it has failed to live up to its mission to be a free speech forum. This has led to Musk considering launching his own social media platform.
For now, it looks as though he will attempt to fix the system from within, exerting his influence through his status as a major shareholder.
Russia’s Splinternet
Russia’s war in Ukraine has edged the country closer to a closed, nation-based internet, or “splinternet.”
Dissent on social media platforms led to Roskomnadzor, the state internet regulating agency, to throttle Twitter, Facebook, and other sites.
Now, the country is accelerating its plan to create a national firewall similar to that of China’s. It will not be an easy feat, however.
By 2001, the International Center for Human Rights and Democratic Development estimated, China spent $20 billion on censorious telecom equipment every year, according to Ars Technica.
Increased sanctions and the economic impact of the ongoing conflict will make it difficult to implement a fully-insulated internet.
Hertz Set to Buy 65,000 EVs from Polestar Over the Next 5 Years
Car rental company Hertz will buy up to up to 65,000 cars from Swedish-based electric vehicle company Polestar over the next five years.
The move follows an order Hertz placed for 100,000 electric cars made by Tesla in October 2021, according to CNN. The Tesla order is one of the biggest EV purchases ever made.
The fleet of Polestars will be available in Europe this spring and in North America later this year.
