Tech News

China says US firm under investigation for 'illegal operations'

China is investigating a US due diligence firm for "illegal" activities, a government spokesperson said Monday, after the company accused authorities of detaining five local employees and shutting down its Beijing office.. The firm said on Friday that authorities had "detained the five staff in Mintz Group's Beijing office, all of them Chinese nationals, and have closed our operations there".

First Citizens to acquire collapsed Silicon Valley Bank

US bank First Citizens said Monday it has agreed to purchase much of Silicon Valley Bank, whose collapse this month sparked global fears about the sector.. First Citizens said it had agreed to purchase "substantially all loans and certain other assets, and assume all customer deposits and certain other liabilities of Silicon Valley Bridge Bank."

Asian markets mixed as banking fears persist

Asian stocks were mixed Monday in a cautious start to what could be another rocky week for global markets after a rout in banking shares renewed fears for the sector.. The US Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) announced during Asian trade that First Citizens had agreed to buy Silicon Valley Bank, whose collapse this month had sparked fears of a global contagion in the banking sector.

Economists expect US recession, above-target inflation this year

The United States will likely enter a recession this year and face high inflation well into 2024, a majority of economists predicted in their response to a semiannual survey.. Economists also slightly raised the chances of the Fed achieving a so-called "soft landing" -- bringing down inflation while avoiding a recession -- from 27 percent in August to 30 percent in March this year. da/tjj

Asian markets mixed as banking fears persist

Asian stocks were mixed Monday in a cautious start to what could be another rocky week for global markets, after a rout in banking shares renewed fears for the sector.. After markets closed on Friday, Biden said banks are "in pretty good shape" following the recent financial sector turmoil.

Germany braces for transport 'mega-strike'

Transport staff across Germany are set to stage a major strike on Monday to push for wage hikes in the face of brisk inflation, as passengers brace for serious disruptions.. Bus and metro staff in Frankfurt also staged a strike. 

Missouri: the new haven for pot smokers in US Midwest

Sisters Juree Burgett and Tanya Knight, both in their 60s, smell various marijuana buds, assessing their options at a trendy dispensary in Missouri. . Burgett, who worked as a dietician, and Knight, a pastry chef by training, are now both retired. 

'Glaze' software aims to protect art from copycat AI

Researchers at the University of Chicago have released free "Glaze" software that they say can thwart efforts by generative artificial intelligence (AI) to copy an artist's style.. If generative AI finds a Glaze-guarded image online, it is prevented from correctly analyzing and copying the style, the team said.