Technology

U.S. agency investigating crypto firms for misconduct

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A U.S. agency that probes allegations of deceptive conduct confirmed on Monday that it had investigations open into several cryptocurrency firms for "possible misconduct."

Technology

Exclusive-Musk’s Neuralink faces federal probe, employee backlash over animal tests

(Reuters) - Elon Musk’s Neuralink, a medical device company, is under federal investigation for potential animal-welfare violations amid internal staff complaints that its animal testing is being rushed, causing needless suffering and deaths, according to documents reviewed by Reuters and sources familiar with the investigation and company operations.

Technology

Factbox-What does Elon Musk's brain chip company Neuralink do?

(Reuters) - Neuralink, the Elon Musk company that Reuters reported on Monday is the target of a federal investigation over its animal trial program, has been trying to develop a brain chip that would enable the paralyzed to walk and the blind to see.

World

Half of Kyiv's region to remain without power for days - governor

(Reuters) - About half the region surrounding the Ukrainian capital will remain without electricity for the coming days after Russian missile strikes on power facilities, the Kyiv regional governor said.

Technology

Britain finalising plans for regulation of crypto industry - FT

(Reuters) -Britain's Treasury is finalising plans for a package to regulate the cryptocurrency industry, including limits on foreign companies selling into the country and restrictions on advertising, the Financial Times reported on Monday.

Technology

Union says Microsoft will recognize unit of videogame testers

(Reuters) - Microsoft Corp will voluntarily recognize a union of about 300 videogame testers at subsidiary ZeniMax Studios if they vote to unionize, a first for the company in the United States, the Communication Workers of America union (CWA) said on Monday.

Technology

Facebook owner Meta may remove news from platform if U.S. Congress passes media bill

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Facebook parent Meta Platforms Inc on Monday threatened to remove news from its platform if the U.S. Congress passes a proposal aimed at making it easier for news organizations to negotiate collectively with companies like Alphabet Inc's Google and Facebook.

Nation

Covid-19: Malaysia detects 1,576 new infections, total cases now at 5,001,908

PETALING JAYA: Malaysia recorded 1,576 new Covid-19 infections on Monday (Dec 5), bringing the total number of cases in the country to 5,001,908 since the pandemic began.

Technology

Microsoft offers Sony 10-year contract for 'Call of Duty' releases on PlayStation - WSJ

(Reuters) - Microsoft has offered Sony a 10-year contract to make each new "Call of Duty" release available on PlayStation the same day it comes to Xbox, according to an opinion piece in the Wall Street Journal on Monday from a Microsoft executive.

World

U.S. expands deportation relief for Haitians

WASHINGTON (Reuters) -The Biden administration will expand deportation relief and access to work permits for Haitians who are already in the United States, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security said on Monday, a move that comes as Haiti's government struggles to stabilize the country.

Technology

Explainer-ChatGPT: What is OpenAI’s chatbot and what is it used for?

(Reuters) - The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in emerging technologies continues to advance rapidly. San Francisco-based OpenAI made its latest creation, the ChatGPT chatbot, available for free public testing on Nov. 30. A chatbot is a software application designed to mimic human-like conversation based on user prompts.

Nation

Anwar officially clocks in as Finance Minister

PUTRAJAYA: Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has officially clocked in at the Finance Ministry on Tuesday (Dec 6).

Technology

U.S. House committee chair says Bankman-Fried must testify next week

(Reuters) - The chair of the U.S. House of Representatives Financial Services Committee demanded on Monday that Sam Bankman-Fried, founder and former CEO of the now-bankrupt crypto exchange FTX, testify before Congress on Dec. 13.

World

Ex-U.S. lawmaker arrested for conspiring to act as agent of Venezuela

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Former U.S. lawmaker David Rivera was arrested on Monday on charges of conspiring to launder money and to illegally act as an agent of the Venezuelan government, according to a U.S. official and an indictment.

Social media

Apple faces critics over its privacy policies

Apple presents itself as a white knight on the subject of privacy, but critics say its own advertising ambitions are built on anti-competitive practices.

Technology

AT&T settles SEC charge of disclosing nonpublic information to research analysts

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission said on Monday that AT&T agreed to pay a $6.25 million penalty to settle charges of disclosing nonpublic information to research analysts.

World

Australia delays energy price talks after PM contracts COVID

SYDNEY (Reuters) - The Australian government on Tuesday delayed a key meeting of federal and state leaders called to discuss measures to contain soaring power prices after Prime Minister Anthony Albanese tested positive for COVID-19.

Technology

MercadoLibre files complaints against Apple for 'anti-competitive practices'

SAO PAULO (Reuters) -E-commerce giant MercadoLibre Inc said on Monday it has filed complaints against Apple Inc with antitrust regulators in Brazil and Mexico for anti-competitive practices, accusing the U.S.-based firm of abusing what it called a monopoly in the distribution of apps for its devices.

Technology

Crypto lender Nexo to quit United States

LONDON (Reuters) - UK-based crypto lender Nexo said on Monday it would phase out its U.S. products and services over the coming months due to clashes with regulators.

Technology

GM's BrightDrop signs first customer in Canada, unveils country's first large EV factory

(Reuters) -The first electric delivery trucks rolled off production lines at BrightDrop's new factory in Canada on Monday, when the upstart unit of General Motors Co also announced DHL Express Canada as its first customer outside the United States.