CATEGORIES

MICROSOFT: RUSSIA BEHIND 58% OF DETECTED STATE-BACKED HACKS

Russia accounted for most state-sponsored hacking detected by Microsoft over the past year, with a 58% share, mostly targeting government agencies and think tanks in the United States, followed by Ukraine, Britain and European NATO members, the company said.

BARRY DILLER'S IAC BUYING MAGAZINE CO MEREDITH FOR $2B

Barry Diller’s IAC is buying Meredith, one of the country’s largest magazine companies and the publisher of People, Southern Living and InStyle, in hopes of accelerating a digital shift as print fades.

SURGING NATURAL GAS PRICES: THREAT TO CONSUMERS THIS WINTER?

Brace for a rude surprise on your winter heating bills.

US, EU AGREE TO FURTHER TRADE AND TECHNOLOGY TALKS

The United States and the European Union agreed Wednesday to carry on the work of 10 expert-level panels to explore and recommend solutions to a variety of trade disputes and challenges.

US SLIGHTLY REVISES UP ITS GDP ESTIMATE FOR Q2 TO 6.7%

The U.S. economy expanded at a 6.7% annual pace from April through June, the Commerce Department said Thursday, slightly upgrading its estimate of last quarter’s growth in the face of a resurgence of COVID-19 in the form of the delta variant.

UK PERMITS DEVELOPMENT OF GENE-EDITED CROPS IN LIMATE FIGHT

Britain’s government plans to allow researchers to use gene-editing techniques to develop crops that can increase yields, reduce the need for pesticides, and cut greenhouse gas emissions as the U.K.’s exit from the European Union allows it to deviate from the bloc’s rules.

MERCK SPENDS $11.5B FOR ACCELERON, POSSIBLE BLOCKBUSTER DRUG

Merck will spend about $11.5 billion to buy Acceleron Pharma and its potential treatment for high blood pressure in vessels that connect the lungs and heart.

BAN ON SINGLE-USE PLASTIC BAGS GOES INTO EFFECT ON FRIDAY

A ban on single-use plastic bags that was originally scheduled to begin on the first of this year will go into effect Friday across Washington state.

AT&T TO REQUIRE VACCINES FOR 90,000 OF ITS UNION WORKERS

AT&T has become one of the largest employers in the U.S. to mandate vaccines for a significant number of frontline workers.

CHINA SAYS ALL CRYPTO TRANSACTIONS ILLEGAL; BITCOIN TUMBLES

China’s central bank declared all transactions involving Bitcoin and other virtual currencies illegal, stepping up a campaign to block use of unofficial digital money.

AMAZON UNVEILS ‘JETSONS'-LIKE ROAMING ROBOT FOR THE HOME

Amazon’s new robot can hear, see and follow you around the home, but its no Rosey the Robot.

Apple, Google Raise New Concerns by Yanking Russian App

Big Tech companies that operate around the globe have long promised to obey local laws and to protect civil rights while doing business.

California 1st to Set Quota Limits for Retailers like Amazon

California became the first state to bar megaretailers from firing warehouse workers for missing quotas that interfere with bathroom and rest breaks under a new law signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom that grew from Amazon’s drive to speed goods to consumers more quickly.

Apple Won't Let Fortnite Back Until Case Ends

Tim Sweeney, CEO of Fortnite maker Epic Games Inc., said Wednesday it’s been told by Apple that the game will be “blacklisted from the Apple ecosystem” until the companies’ legal case is resolved and all appeals are exhausted, which could take as long as five years.

AT LONG LAST, BALLMER, CLIPPERS BREAK GROUND ON NEW HOME

The design meetings have been going on for years.

DON'T LET SOCIAL SECURITY STEER YOU WRONG

Few retirement decisions are as critical, or as easy to get wrong, as when and how to take your Social Security benefits.

ONE TO CHARGE THEM ALL: EU DEMANDS SINGLE PLUG FOR PHONES

The European Union unveiled plans Thursday to require smartphone makers to adopt a single charging method for mobile devices.

CHINA SETS UP PLATFORM TO POLICE GAMING FIRM VIOLATIONS

Chinese regulators have set up a platform that allows the public to report on gaming companies they believe are violating restrictions on online game times for children.

NETFLIX BUYS WONKA AUTHOR DAHL'S CATALOG

Netflix has acquired the works of Roald Dahl, the late British author of celebrated children’s books such as “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.”

CHINA'S ANT GROUP TO SHARE CREDIT DATA WITH CENTRAL BANK

China’s central bank will soon have access to the private credit information of hundreds of millions of users of Ant Group’s online credit service, in a move signaling more regulatory oversight of the financial technology sector.

FACEBOOK OVERSIGHT BOARD REVIEWING ‘XCHECK' SYSTEM FOR VIPS

Facebook’s semi-independent oversight board says it will review the company’s “XCheck,” or cross check, system following an investigation by The Wall Street Journal into the use of this internal system that has exempted high-profile users from some or all of its rules.

DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats Sue NYC Over Pandemic Fee Caps

Three of the nation’s largest food delivery companies are suing New York City over a limit on fees it put in place during the pandemic to protect restaurants devastated by the forced closure of their dining rooms.

IRELAND INVESTIGATES TIKTOK OVER CHILD, CHINA DATA CONCERNS

TikTok is facing two EU data privacy investigations, one into its handling of children’s personal data and another over its data transfers to China.

TESLA BUILDS 1ST STORE ON TRIBAL LAND, DODGES STATE CAR LAWS

Carmaker Tesla has opened a store and repair shop on Native American land for the first time, marking a new approach to its years-long fight to sell cars directly to consumers and cut car dealerships out of the process.

NUCLEAR SUBMARINE DEAL WILL RESHAPE INDO-PACIFIC RELATIONS

The U.S., Britain and Australia have announced they’re forming a new security alliance that will help equip Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. The alliance will see a reshaping of relations in the Indo-Pacific region and beyond. Here’s what it might mean for various players:

INTERNET FUNDING RULE COULD FAVOR RURAL AREAS OVER CITIES

Cities and urban counties across the U.S. are raising concerns that a recent rule from President Joe Biden’s administration could preclude them from tapping into $350 billion of coronavirus relief aid to expand high-speed internet connections.

EPIC GAMES APPEALS RULING IN LAWSUIT ALLEGING APPLE MONOPOLY

Epic Games filed notice that is appealing a federal judge’s decision in a lawsuit alleging that Apple has been running an illegal monopoly that stifles competition.

COURT REJECTS LAWSUIT AGAINST NSA ON “STATE SECRETS” GROUNDS

A divided federal appeals court has upheld the dismissal of an ACLU lawsuit challenging a portion of the National Security Agency’s warrantless surveillance of Americans’ international email and phone communications.

BLOWERS, MOWERS AND MORE: AMERICAN YARDS QUIETLY GO ELECTRIC

For Jared Anderman, of Croton-on-Hudson, New York, switching from gasoline-powered tools to electric ones for lawn care was a no-brainer.

AMERICANS HAVE LITTLE TRUST IN ONLINE SECURITY

Most Americans don’t believe their personal information is secure online and aren’t satisfied with the federal government’s efforts to protect it, according to a poll.