Tech News

1. Climate & Energy:

   • Global clean energy investment reached a record $2.2 trillion in 2025, with renewables growing 11% YoY, but experts warn it remains insufficient to meet Paris Agreement goals. Solar and wind now meet all new global electricity demand. 👉 msn.com 👉 latimes.com
   • Dark energy may be weakening, potentially leading to a "Big Crunch" where the universe collapses back on itself, challenging current cosmological models. 👉 bbc.com

2. AI & Technology:

   • OpenAI hires a new Head of Preparedness to mitigate AI risks, including mental health impacts and cybersecurity threats, amid growing concerns over AI's societal harms. 👉 engadget.com 👉 techcrunch.com
   • Nvidia acquires AI chip startup Groq for $20B, integrating its technology and hiring key personnel to bolster AI infrastructure. 👉 axios.com 👉 techcrunch.com
   • New vulnerabilities in MongoDB, Digiever NVR, and FortiOS SSL VPN are actively exploited, with CISA adding them to its Known Exploited Vulnerabilities catalog. 👉 thehackernews.com 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

3. Cybersecurity & Privacy:

   • Ubisoft shuts down Rainbow Six Siege after hackers exploit the MongoBleed flaw, flooding player accounts with in-game currency and bans. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com 👉 techmeme.com
   • Trust Wallet confirms a $7M crypto theft via a compromised Chrome extension update, urging users to update immediately. 👉 thehackernews.com 👉 bleepingcomputer.com
   • New York mandates warning labels on addictive social media platforms like TikTok and Instagram, citing mental health risks for young users. 👉 techcrunch.com 👉 cybernews.com

4. Economy & Business:

   • Warner Bros. acquisition faces challenges as the future of theatrical films dims, with U.S. box office revenues declining to $8.3B in 2025. 👉 msn.com
   • Laptop memory prices surge 45% in 2026, forcing manufacturers like Lenovo, Dell, and Framework to delay launches or raise prices. 👉 notebookcheck.net
   • California wealth tax proposal sparks backlash from billionaires like Peter Thiel and Larry Page, who threaten to leave the state. 👉 nytimes.com^$ 👉 techcrunch.com

5. Arctic & Military Tech:

   • Arctic warfare challenges reveal vulnerabilities in modern tech, with extreme cold causing equipment failures and navigation systems to malfunction. 👉 msn.com
   • Russia suspected of developing anti-satellite weapons targeting Starlink, with NATO intelligence warning of potential orbital debris risks. 👉 apnews.com

6. Legal & Regulatory:

   • China drafts rules for human-like AI, requiring disclosure of AI interactions to users every two hours. 👉 bloomberg.com^$
   • Italy fines Apple €98.6M for anti-tracking rules limiting App Store competition. 👉 thehackernews.com
   • SEC charges crypto firms in a $14M scam using fake AI investment tips. 👉 thehackernews.com

7. Entertainment & Media:

   • Apple’s Tim Cook faces scrutiny over a Christmas Eve artwork allegedly generated by AI, sparking debates on authenticity. 👉 slashdot.org
   • Texas father rescues kidnapped daughter using phone tracking, leading to suspect’s arrest. 👉 bbc.com

8. Science & Innovation:

   • Arduino’s new Uno Q board integrates Linux and AI capabilities, competing with Raspberry Pi and Nvidia Jetson. 👉 slashdot.org
   • Linux kernel proposes "Modern Standby" for instant wake-up functionality, similar to Windows 11. 👉 phoronix.com
   • Humanoid robot safety risks highlighted as executives temper expectations for practical applications. 👉 wsj.com^$

9. Health & Safety:

   • ChatGPT linked to teen suicide in a wrongful death lawsuit, raising ethical concerns over AI’s mental health impacts. 👉 washingtonpost.com
   • AI-driven scientific progress questioned as researchers debate its role in breakthroughs. 👉 nytimes.com^$

10. Global Politics:

    • Europe’s digital sovereignty efforts face hurdles due to U.S. CLOUD Act, with acquisitions undermining local control. 👉 theregister.com
    • Canada’s Space Division warns of Russian anti-satellite weapon development, citing previous U.S. allegations. 👉 apnews.com

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