Reuters

TikTok Represents ‘Strategic’ Challenge, Says Top US Cyber Official

The head of the U.S. National Security Agency’s cybersecurity directorate on Monday said TikTok represents a “strategic issue” rather than an immediate “tactical” threat to the United States. Speaking at a policy conference in Northern California, Rob Joyce, director of cybersecurity for the spy agency, reiterated the agency’s earlier position that the Chinese-owned social networking […]

Wall St Equities Gain, Treasury Yields Rise as Bank Worries Ease

Wall Street equities gained and U.S. Treasury yields rose on Monday as investor concerns about the financial system were calmed after First Citizens BancShares said it would take on the deposits and loans of failed Silicon Valley Bank. The deal offered a respite after weeks of turmoil prompted by the collapse of tech-focused Silicon Valley […]

Europol Sounds Alarm about Criminal Use of ChatGPT, Sees Grim Outlook

EU police force Europol on Monday warned about the potential misuse of artificial intelligence-powered chatbot ChatGPT in phishing attempts, disinformation and cybercrime, adding to the chorus of concerns ranging from legal to ethical issues. Since its release last year, Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT has set off a tech craze, prompting rivals to launch similar products and […]

Biden Invokes Defense Production Act for Printed Circuit Board Production

U.S. President Joe Biden on Monday invoked the Defense Production Act to spend $50 million on domestic and Canadian production of printed circuit boards, citing the technology’s importance to national defense. Printed circuit boards are incorporated into missiles and radars, as well as electronics used for energy and healthcare. Without presidential action under the act, […]

Crown Resorts Says Ransomware Group Claims Accessing Some of Its Files

Crown Resorts said on Monday a ransomware group had contacted the company, claiming that they had gained access to some files related to Australia’s biggest casino operator following a data breach at a file transfer service GoAnywhere. “We were recently contacted by a ransomware group who claimed they have illegally obtained a limited number of […]

SVB Deal Steadies Banks Amid Credit Crunch Concerns

The sale of failed Silicon Valley Bank (SVB) to a regional U.S. peer helped stabilise shares in European lenders on Monday, after the sector was hammered last week by worries about systemic bank stress and a looming credit crunch. The sudden collapse of tech-focused SVB earlier this month triggered the worst banking shock since the […]

Lebanon’s Cabinet Reverses Decision to Delay Daylight’s Savings

Lebanon’s caretaker prime minister said the cabinet had voted to move clocks one hour ahead on Wednesday night, reversing his decision to postpone the move to daylight savings by a month that had sparked uproar across the country. Caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the decision had been taken after a “calm discussion”. Mikati triggered […]

Japan Lawmakers Eye Ban on TIKTOK, Others if Used Improperly

A group of Japan’s ruling Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) lawmakers plans to compile a proposal next month urging the government to ban social networking services such as TikTok if they are used for disinformation campaigns, an LDP lawmaker said on Monday. Many U.S. lawmakers are calling on the Biden administration to ban the popular Chinese-owned […]

How Two Weather Balloons Led Mexico to Ban Solar Geoengineering

On an April day, the founder of a U.S. startup called Make Sunsets stood outside a camper van in Mexico’s Baja California and released two weather balloons containing sulfur dioxide into the air, letting them float towards the stratosphere. Entrepreneur Luke Iseman said the sulfur dioxide in the balloons would deflect sunlight and cool the […]