Digital World
TikTok makes AI driven ad tool available globally
AFP - 5h ago
TikTok on Thursday began letting all marketers on its platform use an artificial intelligence-powered tool for …
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After Trump's victory, US election falsehoods shift left
AFP - 6h ago
Right-wing falsehoods about voter fraud fell off a cliff after Donald Trump's victory in the US election, but American …
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'Harness the now': British singer Imogen Heap embraces AI
Nov 14 2024
Unlike the bulk of her peers, Grammy-winning British singer Imogen Heap is embracing the use of artificial intelligence …
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EU fines Meta $840 million for 'abusive' Facebook ad practices
Nov 14 2024
The EU fined online giant Meta almost 800 million euros on Thursday for breaching antitrust rules by giving users of its …
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Hotels on Booking.com can offer better rates elsewhere: EU
Nov 14 2024
Hotels listed by online travel giant Booking.com in Europe are now free to offer better rates elsewhere, the European …
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'Terrible' AI has given tech an existential headache: activist
Nov 14 2024
Technology firms are ceaselessly promoting new AI products, but climate activist Sage Lenier says AI is useless, …
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Uganda TikToker convicted for insulting president
Nov 14 2024
A Ugandan court has convicted a 21-year-old content creator for calling for the public flogging of President Yoweri …
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Dating apps move to friend zone in search of profits
Nov 14 2024
Burnt-out love-seekers are shunning dating apps in their millions, but the apps are trying to woo them back with a …
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'First Buddy': Musk takes unusual star role with Trump
Nov 14 2024
As Donald Trump prepares his return to the White House, one of his most omnipresent confidants has been not his running …
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Workers stage walkout at US maker of Fallout video game
Nov 14 2024
Hundreds of US workers at the video game giant behind Fallout staged a one-day strike Wednesday over outsourcing and …
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Trump victory signals golden era for crypto industry
Nov 13 2024
Donald Trump's triumphant return to the White House signals a potential golden era for cryptocurrencies, whose …
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UK's The Guardian stops posting on 'toxic media platform' X
Nov 13 2024
Britain's The Guardian newspaper announced Wednesday it would no longer post content from its official accounts on Elon …
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India delivery app Swiggy shares gain on market debut
Nov 13 2024
Indian food delivery firm Swiggy rose nearly 17 percent on its market debut Wednesday after raising $1.34 billion in the …
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Trump names Musk to 'efficiency' post as team takes shape
Nov 13 2024
Donald Trump announced Tuesday that the world's richest man, Elon Musk, will lead a new US government efficiency group …
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Free Facebook in EU with less targeted ads
Nov 12 2024
Under pressure by EU regulators, Meta said Tuesday it was offering non-paying users of its Facebook and Instagram …
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Tech sector gathers in Lisbon in shadow of Trump victory
Nov 12 2024
Leading lights of the tech industry met in Lisbon on Tuesday for the Web Summit, the sector's first big event since the …
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Nintendo courts non-gamers in 'about-turn' strategy
Nov 12 2024
Once confined to rectangular screens, chirpy plumber Mario and pointy-eared Princess Zelda are popping up in theme parks …
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Election fraud claims go silent after Trump win
Nov 12 2024
Right up to Election Day, Donald Trump and his backers were issuing unfounded warnings of voter fraud. But once his …
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Pharrell Williams kicks off Web Summit tech event
Nov 11 2024
One of Europe's biggest tech events, Web Summit, launched on Monday in Lisbon with pop superstar Pharrell Williams among …
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Misinformation fears mount over second Trump term
Nov 11 2024
Donald Trump's election victory paves the way for a fresh wave of misinformation, not only around politics but also on …
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UK rules drivers on Bolt ride-hailing platform are employees
Nov 08 2024
UK drivers using the Bolt ride-hailing platform should be considered employees and have access to rights such as the …
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First artwork by humanoid robot sells for over $1.0 million
Nov 08 2024
A portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, …
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Fur flies as Russia takes on young fans of 'quadrobics'
Nov 08 2024
Yana, a 12-year-old Moscovite, is worried she will have to give up her hobby of quadrobics -- a fitness and social media …
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Pharrell Williams to bring star power to Web Summit tech event
Nov 08 2024
Singer Pharrell Williams is due to kick off one of Europe's biggest tech events on Monday, the Web Summit in Lisbon, …
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First artwork by humanoid robot sells for $1.3m
Nov 08 2024
A portrait of English mathematician Alan Turing became the first artwork by a humanoid robot to be sold at auction, …
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What will Trump 2.0 mean for US tech?
Nov 07 2024
What will Donald Trump's second stint in the White House mean for a US tech industry in the throes of an artificial …
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French parliament approves bill to rein in tourist rentals
Nov 07 2024
The French parliament on Thursday approved a bill aimed at tightening the regulation of tourist accommodation such as …
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French lawmakers back bill to tighten Airbnb regulation
Nov 07 2024
French lawmakers on Thursday backed a bill aimed at increasing the regulation of tourist accommodation such as Airbnb to …
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Australia moves to ban children under 16 from social media
Nov 07 2024
Australia's prime minister on Thursday vowed to ban children under 16 from social media, saying the pervasive influence …
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Ottawa to shut TikTok's Canada offices, says app can still be used
Nov 07 2024
Canada said Wednesday it is shutting down TikTok's offices in the country following a security review, but people will …
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Ottawa to shut TikTok's Canada operations, says app can still be used
Nov 07 2024
Ottawa said Wednesday it is shutting TikTok's operations in Canada following a security review, but Canadians will still …
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As Musk's big Trump bet pays off, US government faces 'hardcore' reform
Nov 06 2024
Elon Musk, the world's richest man, is positioned to have sweeping powers in the second Trump administration as a deputy …
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Dutch court upholds e-cigarette flavour ban
Nov 06 2024
A Dutch court on Wednesday upheld a government ban on sweet flavours for e-cigarettes, arguing they encouraged young …
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Taiwan students design drones for mock battle, as China threat looms
Nov 06 2024
At a drone testing field in southwestern Taiwan, university students watch anxiously as unmanned aerial vehicles they …
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Thousands protest in Serbian city over fatal roof collapse
Nov 05 2024
Thousands of protesters, red paint and smashed windows at the city hall: The Serbian city where a train station roof …
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Dutch, French authorities raid Netflix offices in tax probe
Nov 05 2024
French and Dutch authorities raided streaming giant Netflix's offices in Paris and Amsterdam on Tuesday as part of a tax …
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South Korea fines Meta for illegal collection of user data
Nov 05 2024
US tech giant Meta illegally harvested sensitive data including on sexual orientation from nearly a million South Korean …
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World's first wooden satellite launched into space
Nov 05 2024
The world's first wooden satellite has blasted off on a SpaceX rocket, its Japanese developers said Tuesday, part of a …
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Fake X accounts promote COP hosts UAE, Azerbaijan
Nov 04 2024
The social media platform X has for months been aflush with praise for United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan in posts …
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Nuts! NY authorities euthanize Instagram squirrel star
Nov 01 2024
A squirrel named Peanut who was propelled to the heights of internet celebrity has been euthanized, New York authorities …
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Nvidia to join Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Intel
Nov 01 2024
Chip giant Nvidia will join the Dow Jones Industrial Average, the iconic Wall Street index announced Friday, …
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Fake US election video signals sprawling Russian disinformation ops
Nov 01 2024
American intelligence officials on Friday blamed Russia for a fake video of a Haitian immigrant claiming to have voted …
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Indonesia adds Google Pixel phones to ban list with iPhone 16
Nov 01 2024
Indonesia has banned the sale of Google Pixel phones over the tech giant's failure to meet investment regulations, its …
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TikTok bandits terrorise, transfix Pakistan riverlands
Nov 01 2024
With a showman's flair and an outlaw's moustache, the Pakistani gangster dials the hotline on his own most wanted notice …
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Deceptive 'bait-and-switch' Facebook groups snare US voters: study
Nov 01 2024
Dozens of Facebook groups bill themselves as Kamala Harris fan pages but mount racist attacks, criticize her record on …
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Musk's millions: Five ways the world's richest man helps Trump
Oct 31 2024
In an extraordinary twist that has upended an already unpredictable election, the world's richest man has become Donald …
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OpenAI releases ChatGPT search engine, taking on Google
Oct 31 2024
OpenAI on Thursday beefed up its ChatGPT generative AI chatbot with search engine capabilities, as the startup takes on …
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Musk a no-show at $1 mn giveaway US court hearing
Oct 31 2024
Billionaire Elon Musk dodged a Philadelphia court hearing on Thursday after asking to move a lawsuit seeking to halt his …
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Musk to appear in court as part of Trump campaign suit
Oct 31 2024
Billionaire Elon Musk was expected in court in Philadelphia on Thursday, after a judge ordered him to attend a hearing …
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Faker: eSports legend and South Korea 'national treasure'
Oct 31 2024
Lee Sang-hyeok wanted only to be a "normal kid". He was anything but, and is now a multi-millionaire eSports superstar …
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Meta shows strong growth as AI spending surges
Oct 30 2024
Facebook owner Meta saw net income and revenues top expectations on Wednesday as the company said it would expand …
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China's second-generation factory owners go digital to combat challenges
Oct 30 2024
Dressed in a pristine white knit top, Robyn Qiu cut an incongruous figure in her parents' dusty, hangar-like metal …
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Global police shut down malware group 'targeting millions'
Oct 29 2024
A global police operation shut down the servers of one of the world's largest malware platforms that targeted millions …
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Apple rolls out AI features across devices
Oct 28 2024
Apple on Monday rolled out its first set of artificial intelligence features, dubbed "Apple Intelligence," across its …
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Waymo ramps up robotaxi push with $5.6 bn in funding
Oct 25 2024
Waymo on Friday said it raised $5.6 billion from investors to expand a robotaxi program now operating in Los Angeles, …
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Google urged to step up efforts to demonetize climate falsehoods
Oct 24 2024
Civil society groups implored Google on Thursday to rigorously enforce its policy to demonetize environmental …
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US unveils national security plan to step up use of AI
Oct 24 2024
The United States on Thursday ordered the Pentagon and intelligence agencies to step up use of artificial intelligence …
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Ireland fines LinkedIn 310 mn euros over EU data breach
Oct 24 2024
An Irish regulator helping to police European Union data privacy said Thursday it had fined professional networking …
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US unveils national security memorandum on AI
Oct 24 2024
The United States unveiled Thursday a framework to address national security risks posed by artificial intelligence, a …
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Taiwan's TSMC stops shipments to client after chips sent to Huawei
Oct 24 2024
Taiwanese chipmaking giant TSMC halted shipments to a customer this month after its semiconductors were sent to China's …
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Microsoft pushes for gaming supremacy with 'Call of Duty' release
Oct 24 2024
Microsoft's ambition to become the "Netflix of video games" faces a huge test this week with the release of "Call of …
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Perplexity seeks news allies as it challenges Google
Oct 23 2024
Perplexity AI chief Aravind Srinivas said Wednesday that he hopes to collaborate with news publishers which accuse the …
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US fines Apple and Goldman Sachs over Apple Card
Oct 23 2024
The United States fined Apple and Goldman Sachs a total of $89 million on Wednesday, accusing them of deceiving users of …
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Wolfspeed and ZF put German chip factory on ice
Oct 23 2024
US chipmaker Wolfspeed and the auto supplier ZF have put plans for a semiconductor factory in Germany on ice, local …
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Don't let tech gurus decide the future: Nobel winner Simon Johnson
Oct 23 2024
Should our future by decided by the bosses of big tech firms? For Nobel economics prize winner Simon Johnson, giving too …
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ABBA's Bjorn among 11,000 artists issuing AI warning
Oct 23 2024
Thousands of artists including ABBA singer Bjorn Ulvaeus, Hollywood actress Julianne Moore and Nobel laureate Kazuo …
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Is Musk's million-dollar US voter lottery legal?
Oct 22 2024
Donald Trump surrogate Elon Musk's offer of a million dollars to one registered voter in a swing state every day until …
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Beware: US election disinformation masked as 'breaking news'
Oct 21 2024
"Breaking" news, screamed an online post by a conservative American influencer as he pushed disinformation about Kamala …
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Google wins delay in opening Android app store to rivals
Oct 19 2024
A US judge on Friday let Google delay opening Android-powered smartphones to rival app shops, suspending a November 1 …
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Google wins delay opening Android app store to rivals
Oct 18 2024
A US judge on Friday let Google put off opening Android-powered smartphones to rival app shops while the tech titan …
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US regulator probes Tesla's self-driving mode after crashes
Oct 18 2024
The US auto safety regulator said Friday that it has opened an investigation into Tesla's Full Self-Driving (FSD) …
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Meta unveils AI tie-up with horror movie producers
Oct 18 2024
Tech giant Meta has unveiled a partnership with horror film production company Blumhouse to road-test its latest AI …
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Drought forces Big Tech to rethink thirsty LatAm data centers
Oct 18 2024
A prolonged drought in much of South America has forced tech giants like Google and Amazon to rework their plans for …
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Netflix adds millions of subscribers but growth slows
Oct 17 2024
Netflix on Thursday said it added more than five million subscribers in the recently ended quarter but signaled slowing …
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TikTok, Facebook approve ads with US election disinformation, study says
Oct 17 2024
TikTok and Facebook approved advertisements containing blatant US election falsehoods just weeks ahead of the vote, a …
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Onboard wifi is latest frontline in airline competition
Oct 17 2024
Free onboard wifi has become the latest battleground between the world's leading airlines as the once expensive and …
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Instagram moves to face rising tide of sextortion scams
Oct 17 2024
Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, on Thursday announced new measures to fight sextortion, a form of …
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'Love match' apps rival traditional matchmaking in Pakistan
Oct 17 2024
Pakistan's traditional matchmakers play a revered role in moulding daughters into potential brides, but marriage apps …
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Amazon bets on nuclear power to fuel AI ambitions
Oct 16 2024
Amazon announced significant investments in nuclear energy on Wednesday, joining other tech giants in aiming to meet the …
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Musk's X escapes tough EU competition rules
Oct 16 2024
Tech billionaire Elon Musk's X platform will not face the EU's stringent competition rules aimed at keeping digital …
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Myanmar and China have lowest internet freedom, says study
Oct 16 2024
Myanmar and China have the world's worst internet freedom, with declines reported in a number of other countries led by …
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Fake AI history photos cloud the past
Oct 16 2024
A wave of touching photos showing great moments in time is fascinating amateur historians online. The problem? They are …
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Trump's crypto platform falters on first day of sales
Oct 16 2024
Former US president Donald Trump's cryptocurrency platform had a faltering sales launch Tuesday, with only a fraction of …
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Russia, China step up cybercriminal recruitment, warns Microsoft
Oct 15 2024
Russia, China and North Korea are becoming more aggressive and sophisticated in their recruitment of cybercriminals to …
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Google signs nuclear power deal with startup Kairos
Oct 14 2024
Google on Monday signed a deal to get electricity from small nuclear reactors to help power artificial intelligence.
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Pakistan 'vigilantes' behind rise in online blasphemy cases
Oct 14 2024
Aroosa Khan's son was chatting on WhatsApp but suddenly found himself the target of "vigilante" investigators who …
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'Stolen satire' feeds US election misinformation
Oct 14 2024
Did a Donald Trump supporter burn down his house while igniting an LGBTQ flag? Did a conservative think tank recommend …
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Ubisoft fears assassin's hit over falling sales
Oct 13 2024
Ubisoft's battle to maintain its share price has become almost as epic as its "Assassin's Creed" franchise as the video …
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Last-minute legal ruling allows betting on US election
Oct 12 2024
Millions of dollars have poured into bets on who will win the US election after a last-minute court ruling opened up …
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X says 'alert' to manipulation efforts after pro-Russia bots report
Oct 11 2024
X was "alert" to any platform manipulation attempts, the Elon Musk-owned site told AFP Friday, following a report that …
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Brazil orders closure of 2,000 betting sites
Oct 11 2024
Brazilian authorities on Friday began closing down more than 2,000 betting sites, including those that sponsors popular …
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Supercharged hurricanes trigger 'perfect storm' for disinformation
Oct 11 2024
Monster hurricanes slamming the United States in recent weeks have triggered a torrent of misinformation, with …
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EU questions shopping app Temu over illegal products risk
Oct 11 2024
The EU on Friday told Chinese-founded e-commerce platform Temu to hand over more information as it suspects the site is …
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Han Kang's books sell out in South Korea after Nobel win
Oct 11 2024
Major South Korean bookstores sold out of author Han Kang's books Friday, as sales skyrocketed and the share price of …
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Musk unveils robotaxi, pledges it 'before 2027'
Oct 11 2024
Elon Musk on Thursday unveiled what he said was a robotaxi capable of self-driving, predicting it would be available by …
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