US Senate passes law requiring ByteDance to divest TikTok stateside

theregister.com The US Senate has passed a bill that compels TikTok's Chinese owner, ByteDance, to offload the app to a US-based buyer, and president Biden immediately indicated he will…

The U.S. could ban TikTok. These countries have blocked or restricted it

washingtonpost.com A previous version of this article incorrectly said a bill could lead to the forced sale of TikTok's China-based parent company, ByteDance. It could lead to the forced sale…

Talks for the first global plastics treaty underway in Ottawa

semafor.com Semafor Signals Supported by Insights from Eco Business, Bloomberg, Reuters The News Thousands of negotiators representing more than 170 nations, researchers, civil society…

Europe’s economy is under attack from all sides

economist.com A decade ago Xi Jinping was welcomed to Duisburg in Germany’s Ruhr valley. He praised the region as a hub for Chinese investment; greeted a train that had spent a fortnight…

TikTok has submitted risk assessment report on TikTok Lite to EU

theglobeandmail.com TikTok has submitted a risk assessment report on its new app TikTok Lite to the European Commission, the company said on Tuesday, averting a possible fine. The EU executive…

Apple Acquires Paris AI Startup Datakalab

pymnts.com Apple has stepped up its foray into artificial intelligence (AI) by acquiring Datakalab, a Paris-based AI tech startup. The acquisition, finalized on Dec. 17, was quietly…

Europe wants startups to do AI with supercomputers

economist.com IT IS NOT just technology firms that are fighting over the AI pie. Countries, too, want a bigger slice. As with companies, national spoils are unevenly distributed. If…

Europe’s new plan to safeguard its economy

economist.com As the Chinese proverb almost says, a journey of a thousand miles begins with a single white paper. That, at least, is how a lot of EU policy is made. On January 24th the…

Commission carries out first raid under foreign subsidies regulation

euronews.com The EU Executive has used new powers for the first time against an unnamed security equipment company. The European Commission on Tuesday carried out unannounced inspections…

Do Kwon can’t leave Montenegro, but owes the US millions

protos.com While Do Kwon languishes in a Montenegro detention facility, waiting to discover his fate, the US government has had its say on the long and drawn-out saga of his on-again,…

EU to probe Chinese wind turbine subsidies

euronews.com The European Commission has announced an inquiry into suspected illegal subsides for Chinese wind turbine producers, amid fears the domestic industry could be decimated by…

Intended highlight of the 2024 Consumer Summit was completely omitted

euronews.com A European Commission initiative aimed to let Big Tech companies voluntarily commit to a "cookie pledge", which would allow consumers to make effective choices regarding…

TikTok and YouTube show toxic content in just 23 minutes to teen boys

euronews.com A new study looked at how long it took for TikTok and YouTube Shorts to recommend misogynistic content to the accounts of young men. It takes on average 23 to 26 minutes of…

Google search boss warns employees of 'new operating reality,' urges them to move faster

cnbc.com Wearing a hoodie with the words "We use Math" on the front, Google search boss Prabhakar Raghavan had an important message for employees at an all-hands meeting last month.…

MEPs support exit from treaty allowing big oil to sue governments over climate action

euronews.com In a decisive committee vote, MEPs have supported the European Union's exit from the Energy Charter Treaty over concerns its global investor-state dispute settlement (ISDS)…

G7 need tech trust tests to counter China, Vestager says

euronews.com Tech criteria can include environmental footprint, labour rights, cybersecurity and data security, and should be objective and independent. G7 countries – Canada, France,…

It's clearer than ever that Brexit has failed

theguardian.com Only those born before 1998 could vote on Brexit, so there is no conceivable way of knowing which way today’s 18- to 30-year-olds would have felt about it. Oh, except there…

Russia Threatens Retaliation Over Potential Seizure Of Frozen Assets To Aid Ukraine

benzinga.com In the latest development, a key ally of Russian President Vladimir Putin has cautioned that Russia could retaliate harshly if the West proceeds with the seizure of nearly…

Apple sinks to 3rd place in China as iPhone sales slide

aol.com None A slide in iPhone sales has left Apple in third place in China, per Counterpoint Research estimates. • None It's the iPhone's worst performance in China since 2020 amid…

EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite app’s rewards feature

aljazeera.com European Commission says the app has ‘risks of serious damage for the mental health of users’, including minors. The European Union has launched a probe into TikTok’s…

Politicians helped kill Amazon's Roomba deal

reason.com In January 2024, Amazon terminated its agreement to acquire iRobot, the company that manufactures the Roomba robot vacuum. That company then laid off nearly one-third of its…

EU threatens to ban TikTok Lite rewards amid addiction concerns

siliconrepublic.com With no effective age verification system in place, the Commission thinks TikTok risks serious harm to children’s mental health with its ‘task and rewards’ feature. The EU…

A new version of TikTok that rewards you with Amazon vouchers and gift cards for watching videos is facing a crackdown in Europe

aol.com None TikTok's spinoff app, TikTok Lite, is under fire from European officials for its rewards program. • None The app doles out points for watching videos and logging in,…

Tesla Layoffs Reveal Need for Fresh Green Thinking

nypost.com Tens of billions of dollars in subsidies for electric vehicles. Billions more coming to subsidize charging stations. Non-stop jibberjabber about “sustainable” this and…

TikTok could face EU fines and a suspension over sister app TikTok Lite

cnn.com European officials are threatening TikTok with massive fines and a possible forced suspension this week of parts of a new spinoff app, launched this month, that regulators…

EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite's reward programme

aol.com A key feature of TikTok Lite may be suspended in the European Union on Thursday, the European Commission said, if TikTok does not provide a satisfactory response to…

EU threatens to suspend TikTok Lite’s money-for-views program over addiction fears

cnbc.com This photograph taken on April 11, 2024, in Paris, shows the logo of the Chinese social network application TikTok Lite displayed in Apple's App Store. The social network…

TikTok subject to second DSA investigation over Lite app, faces suspension

euronews.com The video sharing platform needs to provide a risk assessment by tomorrow. TikTok is subject to a second probe under the Digital Services Act (DSA) over the launch of its…

Launch of energy efficiency coalition seeks to fill investment gap

euronews.com Implementation of EU laws to slash energy use and increase efficiency in the bloc’s building stock will require a great amount of financing, according to EU officials. The…

How are Iran’s Shahed drones used on Ukraine’s frontlines?

euronews.com Here’s a look at how Shahed drones, recently used by Iran amid mounting tensions with Israel, are being used by Russia on Ukraine’s frontlines. Major Ilya Yevlash said he…

TikTok Lite’s reward program may be suspended in Europe, EU regulators say

theglobeandmail.com A key feature of TikTok’s new app TikTok Lite may be suspended in the European Union on Wednesday if the company does not provide a satisfactory response to regulators’…

Germany, Italy among countries against green light of telco update

euronews.com The future of digital policy conclusions address the incoming European Commission. Germany, Italy and the Netherlands are spearheading attempts to hold the EU Council from…

Belgium issues ultimatum over energy tax reform

euronews.com A revision of a law setting minimum levies for fuels and electricity promised to bring an end to the era of tax-free energy for airlines and ship operators, but reform has…

ECB queries Apple’s promise to open up iPhone payments

euronews.com Central bankers say pro-competition reforms still wouldn’t ensure seamless service for their new digital euro. A promise made by tech giant Apple to open up its iPhone…

Thailand Cracks Down on Unregistered Crypto Services to Tackle Cyber Crime

financemagnates.com Thailand is planning to block unauthorized cryptocurrency service providers to fight online crimes. The Office of the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) is partnering…

Italy is the Second European Country to Issue Emergency Use Authorization for Vestaron Peptide-Based Bioinsecticide for Control of Tomato Leafminer

benzinga.com Durham, North Carolina, April 22, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Italy becomes the second country in the European Union to grant farmers emergency access to Vestaron's novel…

LaLiga Targets Apple & Google Bosses For Failing to ‘Remote Delete’ IPTV App

torrentfreak.com Spain found itself at the center of a worldwide controversy last month when it was revealed that various rightsholders had somehow managed to convince a local judge to block…

Most popular AI chatbots providing 'unintentional' misinformation to users ahead of EU elections

euronews.com Google has introduced more restrictions after a new study showed Europe's most used AI chatbots were providing inaccurate election-related answers. Four of Europe's most…

Should European countries abolish inheritance taxes?

euronews.com The "death tax" is one of the most emotive and controversial levies, but what would its abolition mean for inequality? "Nothing is certain except death and taxes," American…

Sandoz confirms European Commission approval of Pyzchiva® (ustekinumab), further strengthening immunology offering

benzinga.com Pyzchiva® approved as one of first ustekinumab biosimilars in Europe • EC approval based on robust development program confirming match to reference medicine in terms of…

Portugal is a major medical cannabis grower but not for local patients

euronews.com In 2023, Portugal exported 11 tonnes of cannabis but only 17 kg were sold within its borders. Patients still resort to the black market although the plant is legal in the…

How green are parties' manifestos vying in the European election?

euronews.com Some political forces present concrete pledges while others offer general commitments to preserve the environment, keep up with the energy transition and tackle chemical and…

Italian author accuses state broadcaster of censorship of antifascist monologue

theguardian.com A high-profile Italian author has accused Rai of censorship after his antifascist monologue was abruptly stopped from being aired, in what he called the “definitive…

Crypto regulation redefined: How MiCA affects your company

cryptoslate.com The following is a guest post by Mark Gofaizen, Senior Partner at Gofaizen & Sherle. As the MiCA regulation that will reshape the crypto industry approaches, crypto…

Chinese lidar sensor maker Hesai eyes European plant as adoption of technology widens amid falling costs

scmp.com Currently, six out of every 10 new electric vehicles (EVs) worldwide are sold in mainland China, where industry officials view lidars as an essential component in developing…

AI and blockchain: A match made in heaven or hell

cryptoslate.com The following is a guest post by Kadan Stadelmann, CTO of Komodo Blockchain. From AI Models on Bitcoin to AI training data on a layer 2 blockchain, coins linked to AI crypto…

U.S. pushes allies over seized Russia assets at IMF and World Bank meetings

washingtonpost.com The House is expected later today to approve $61 billion in aid to Ukraine, ending six months of squabbling over continued U.S. funding of the war against Russia. But the…

AI Chatbots Refuse to Produce ‘Controversial’ Output − Why That’s a Free Speech Problem

nakedcapitalism.com Yves here. It should come as now surprise that our self-styled betters are using tech wherever they can to block or minimize ideas and discussions they find threatening to…

EU Regulators Set to Accept Apple’s Proposals on Tap-and-Go Tech

pymnts.com antitrust regulators are reportedly preparing to approve Apple’s tap-and-go mobile payments system proposals as early as May. The tech company had proposed to open the…

Apple’s offer to open up tap-and-go tech to be approved by EU next month, sources say

theglobeandmail.com Apple’s AAPL-Q offer to open its tap-and-go mobile payments system to rivals is set to be approved by EU antitrust regulators as soon as next month after it tweaked some of…

Meta, TikTok, X invited to stress-test DSA election guidelines

euronews.com Companies will work through possible scenarios such as a disinformation campaign that aims to undermine the EU vote. Meta, TikTok, X and other online platforms have been…

Biden hails the U.S. as the ‘strongest economy in the world’ but its hot inflation is angering allies as their currencies flop

fortune.com As Joe Biden this week hailed America’s booming economy as the strongest in the world during a reelection campaign tour of battleground-state Pennsylvania, global finance…

German cars are the best in the world, its finance minister insists: 'They do not have to fear Chinese competition'

cnbc.com German carmakers do not have to fear competition from China and are still considered the best in the world, German Finance Minister Christian Lindner told CNBC. "German cars…

Vifor Pharma offers to rectify anti-competitive behaviour against rival

aol.com Drug maker Vifor Pharma has offered to rectify its disparaging campaign against the closest rival to its blockbuster iron deficiency medicine Ferinject, EU antitrust…

France requests legal opinion on cyber certificate, postponing deal

euronews.com An agreement could come in the next expert meetings in May or June. France has requested an opinion by the Council’s legal service on the pending cybersecurity certification…