Tech News

1. AI / Tech Industry:

   • Cursor vulnerability exposed: Developers without admin privileges can exploit a flaw in Cursor and AWS Bedrock, potentially draining budgets by raising spending limits to $1M, according to OX Security. 👉 cybernews.com
   • Google faces EU antitrust probe: The European Commission investigates whether Google used publishers' content to train AI models, potentially violating competition rules. 👉 reuters.com 👉 ft.com^$
   • US approves Nvidia H200 chip sales to China: Despite security concerns, the US allows Nvidia to export H200 chips to China, with Huawei offering comparable AI systems. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 wsj.com^$
   • Microsoft invests $17.5B in India: Satya Nadella announces a $17.5B investment in AI and cloud infrastructure, Microsoft’s largest commitment in Asia, to support India’s AI ambitions. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Microsoft invests $7.5B in Canada: The company pledges a $19B total investment in AI infrastructure, including $7.5B over two years, to bolster Canada’s AI capabilities. 👉 reuters.com 👉 bloomberg.com^$

2. Cybersecurity / Threats:

   • North Korean hackers exploit React2Shell: APT TA423 uses the React2Shell vulnerability to deploy EtherRAT malware, leveraging Ethereum smart contracts for C2 and Linux persistence mechanisms. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Storm-0249 escalates ransomware attacks: The threat actor combines domain spoofing, DLL side-loading, and fileless PowerShell execution to bypass defenses and facilitate ransomware operations. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • STAC6565 targets Canada: The threat cluster, linked to Gold Blade, deploys QWCrypt ransomware, primarily affecting Canadian organizations. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Malicious VS Code extensions: Two extensions, BigBlack.bitcoin-black and BigBlack.codo-ai, steal developer data, including code, emails, and WiFi passwords. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • Google Chrome adds security layer: New defenses block indirect prompt injection threats in AI-powered browsing, including a User Alignment Critic to evaluate agent actions. 👉 thehackernews.com

3. Social Media / Regulation:

   • Australia bans social media for under-16s: The world’s first ban on major platforms for users under 16 takes effect, affecting TikTok, Facebook, Instagram, and others. 👉 theguardian.com 👉 bbc.com
   • Reddit introduces global safety features: New tools for under-18 users, including stricter chat settings, are launched ahead of Australia’s ban. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Crunchyroll ends free ad-supported streaming: The platform shuts down its free tier, requiring users to subscribe starting December 31. 👉 cordcuttersnews.com

4. Business / Investments:

   • SpaceX plans $1.5T IPO: The company aims for a mid-to-late 2026 IPO, targeting a valuation far above $30B. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 reuters.com
   • Fal raises $140M at $4.5B valuation: AI startup Fal secures Series D funding led by Sequoia, tripling its valuation. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Anthropic and Accenture sign $300M+ AI deal: The partnership aims to deliver AI services to businesses, with Accenture becoming one of Anthropic’s top enterprise customers. 👉 bloomberg.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com
   • US Navy partners with Palantir: A $448M deal for ShipOS software to speed up shipbuilding and improve supply chain visibility. 👉 axios.com 👉 wsj.com^$

5. Healthcare / Science:

   • CRISPR gene-editing success: Baby KJ Muldoon, treated for a urea-cycle disorder, becomes a healthy 1-year-old, marking a breakthrough in rare disease treatment. 👉 msn.com
   • CRISPR therapy for rare diseases: FDA proposes a new drug pathway to accelerate approvals for personalized gene-editing treatments. 👉 msn.com
   • 2025 set to be second/third warmest year: EU’s Copernicus Climate Change Service confirms 2025 will likely be the second or third hottest year on record, exceeding 1.5°C above pre-industrial levels. 👉 reuters.com

6. Economy / Markets:

   • Microsoft raises Microsoft 365 prices: Starting July 2026, subscription plans for businesses and governments will increase, with the steepest hikes for small business and frontline worker plans. 👉 reuters.com
   • Apple stock recovery: Apple’s stock surges 35% since June, outperforming AI-focused peers like Meta and Microsoft, reflecting cautious AI spending. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Global AI investment surge: Business spending on generative AI hits $37B in 2025, up from $11.5B in 2024, with Anthropic gaining significant market share. 👉 menlovc.com

7. Entertainment / Media:

   • Spotify expands music videos: Premium subscribers in the US and Canada gain access to music videos, challenging YouTube’s market share. 👉 reuters.com
   • Hinge CEO launches AI dating app: Justin McLeod steps down to found Overtone, an AI-driven dating service backed by Match Group. 👉 fastcompany.com 👉 techcrunch.com

8. AI / Innovation:

   • Google Photos introduces video editing tools: New features include specialized templates, preset music, text overlays, and a redesigned video editor. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Mistral launches Devstral 2: New AI coding models with 123B and 24B parameters, including a CLI tool for end-to-end code automation. 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Pebble unveils Index 01 smart ring: A $75 device with an on-device LLM for voice note processing, shipping in March 2026. 👉 wired.com 👉 bloomberg.com^$

9. Regulation / Policy:

   • EU probes Google’s AI practices: Investigation into whether Google used publishers' and YouTube content to train AI models without fair compensation. 👉 ft.com^$
   • US Navy and Palantir partnership: A $448M deal for ShipOS software to enhance shipbuilding and supply chain visibility. 👉 axios.com
   • US approves Nvidia H200 chip exports: Despite security concerns, the US allows Nvidia to export H200 chips to China, with Huawei offering comparable AI systems. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

10. Energy / Infrastructure:

    • Boom Aerospace’s Superpower turbine: A 42MW natural gas turbine for AI data centers, leveraging supersonic engine technology. 👉 techcrunch.com
    • Microsoft invests in AI infrastructure: $17.5B in India and $7.5B in Canada for AI and cloud computing. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
    • SpaceX plans IPO: Targeting a valuation of $1.5T in 2026, the largest IPO ever. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

11. Finance / Economy:

    • Microsoft 365 price hikes: Starting July 2026, with the steepest increases for small business and frontline worker plans. 👉 reuters.com
    • Apple’s stock performance: Surges 35% since June, outperforming AI-focused peers. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
    • Global AI spending: Business investment in generative AI hits $37B in 2025, up from $11.5B in 2024. 👉 menlovc.com

12. Data Privacy / Security:

    • Microsoft December Patch Tuesday: Fixes 57 vulnerabilities, including three zero-days, in Windows and supported software. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
    • Fortinet warns of critical FortiCloud SSO flaws: Two vulnerabilities allow attackers to bypass authentication in FortiOS, FortiWeb, FortiProxy, and FortiSwitchManager. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
    • Spain arrests teen hacker: A 19-year-old allegedly stole and attempted to sell 64M records from nine companies. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
    • North Korean hackers exploit React2Shell: Deploy EtherRAT malware using Ethereum smart contracts for C2 and Linux persistence mechanisms. 👉 thehackernews.com

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