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China bans exports to US of gallium, germanium, antimony in response to chip sanctions

Bangkok —  China announced Tuesday it is banning exports to the United States of gallium, germanium, antimony and other key high-tech materials with potential military applications, as a general principle, lashing back at U.S. limits on semiconductor-related exports. The Chinese…

Airlines not switching quickly enough to green jet fuel, study says

Most of the world’s airlines are not doing enough to switch to sustainable jet fuel, according to a study by Brussels-based advocacy group Transport and Environment, which also found too little investment by oil producers in the transition. The airline…

US unveils fresh export curbs targeting China’s chip sector

Washington —  The United States announced new export restrictions Monday taking aim at China’s ability to make advanced semiconductors — used in weapon systems and artificial intelligence as competition intensifies between the world’s two biggest economies. “The United States has…

Interpol clamps down on cybercrime, arrests 1,006 suspects in Africa

DAKAR, SENEGAL —  Interpol arrested 1,006 suspects in Africa during a massive two-month operation, clamping down on cybercrime that left tens of thousands of victims, including some who were trafficked, and produced millions in financial damages, the global police organization…

Foreign smartphone sales in China drop 44% in October, data show

New data released Wednesday from a Chinese government-affiliated research firm showed sales of foreign-branded smartphones, including Apple’s iPhone, fell 44.25% year-on-year in China in October, while overall phone sales in China have increased 1.8%, Reuters reported. The data released by…

Microsoft faces antitrust investigation in US

The U.S. Federal Trade Commission has opened a broad antitrust investigation into Microsoft, including of its software licensing and cloud computing businesses, a source familiar with the matter said on Wednesday. The probe was approved by FTC Chair Lina Khan…

Australia’s House of Representatives passes bill that would ban young children from social media

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA —  Australia’s House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a bill that would ban children younger than 16 years old from social media, leaving it to the Senate to finalize the world-first law. The major parties backed the bill…

Google, Meta urge Australia to delay bill on social media ban for children

SYDNEY —  Google and Facebook-owner Meta Platforms urged the Australian government on Tuesday to delay a bill that will ban most forms of social media for children under 16, saying more time was needed to assess its potential impact. Prime…

Google to build subsea cable linking Australia’s Darwin to Christmas Island

sydney —  Australia’s Indian Ocean territory of Christmas Island will be connected by subsea cable to the northern garrison city of Darwin, a project backed by Alphabet’s Google that Australia says will boost its digital resilience. Christmas Island is 1,500…

Google’s US antitrust trial over online ad empire winds down

ALEXANDRIA, Virginia —  The U.S. Justice Department told a federal judge that Google illegally dominated online advertising technology in seeking a second antitrust win against the company. The closing arguments in Alexandria cap a 15-day trial held in September in…