Pro-Russian hackers claim cyberattack on French postal service
PARIS (AP) — French prosecutors say a pro-Russian hacking group has claimed responsibility for a major cyberattack on France’s national postal service. The attack halted package deliveries just days before Christmas. French intelligence agency DGSI has taken over the investigation. The cybercrime group, known as Noname057, has been linked to other cyberattacks in Europe. Central computer systems at La Poste were knocked offline Monday in a distributed denial of service attack. Postal workers couldn’t track packages, and online payments were disrupted. France and European allies accuse Russia of waging “hybrid warfare” to undermine support for Ukraine.
Virtual reality opens doors for older people to build closer connections in real life
LOS GATOS, Calif. (AP) — Many retirement developments serve as a tranquil refuge for older people who can no longer traveling to faraway places or engaging in bold adventures. But residents of hundreds of senior living communities can return to their days of wanderlust and thrill-seeking when staff members schedule a date for them to take turns donning virtual reality headsets. The headsets may transport them to Europe, immerse them in the ocean depths or soar them on hang-gliding expeditions while they sit by each other. Although VR can be isolating, a Massachusetts company has turned the technology into a catalyst for better cognition and social connections in 800 retirement communities in the United States and Canada.
EU warns of possible action after the US bars 5 Europeans accused of censorship
BRUSSELS (AP) — France, Germany, the European Union and the United Kingdom are hitting out at a U.S. decision to impose travel bans on five Europeans the Trump administration accuses of pressuring tech firms to censor or suppress American views. The EU’s executive branch, the European Commission, which supervises tech regulation in Europe, is warning that it will take action against any “unjustified measures." U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio called the five "radical" activists. They include Thierry Breton, who is the former EU commissioner responsible for supervising social media rules. The move is part of a Trump administration campaign against foreign influence over online speech.
US stocks rose again in 2025 after overcoming turbulence from tariffs and Trump's fight with the Fed
NEW YORK (AP) — This was a scary good year for investors. It was scary because the U.S. stock market plunged to several historic drops on worries about everything from President Donald Trump’s tariffs to interest rates to a possible bubble in artificial-intelligence technology. In the end, though, it was a great year for anyone with the stomach to stick through the swings. As of Monday's close the S&P 500 was on track for its third consecutive double-digit gain. Outside of stocks, bitcoin soared and then swooned and the “queasy” bond market got Trump's attention. As the year ends, fears of an AI bubble appear ready to carry over into 2026.
'60 Minutes' segment on Trump immigration policy accidentally airs online
A news segment critical of the Trump administration's immigration policy was pulled from “60 Minutes” but is now circulating online. The segment featured interviews with migrants sent to a notorious Salvadoran prison under President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown. The segment was removed from Canada's Global Television Network but still appeared on its app. Copies are now circulating online while CBS tries to take them down. CBS News chief Bari Weiss said the story did not “advance the ball” and wanted more effort to include the administration's perspective. The journalist behind the story defended its accuracy and said it was cleared by lawyers and for standards. The incident raised questions about CBS's editorial direction.
Trump administration moves to overhaul how H-1B visas are granted, ending lottery system
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Department of Homeland Security is replacing its lottery system for H-1B visas with a new approach prioritizing skilled, higher-paid foreign workers. The change follows actions by the Trump administration to reshape the visa program. Critics say it has been a pipeline for overseas workers willing to work for lower pay. A press release Tuesday says the new system will increase the probability that visas go to higher-skilled workers. It will go into effect February 27, 2026. Supporters say the program drives innovation and growth, while critics argue it often fills entry-level positions.
Google's parent buys data center energy specialist Intersect for $4.75 billion to help power AI
MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif. (AP) — Google’s corporate parent on Monday announced an agreement to buy data center energy specialist Intersect for $4.75 billion as part of its effort to secure the vast amounts of electricity needed to power artificial intelligence technology. Alphabet, which depends on Google’s search engine and other online services for most of its revenue, is buying out Intersect in its entirety after purchasing a stake in the San Francisco-based startup a year ago. Intersect focuses on securing the energy sources needed for the sprawling data centers being built to power the AI services rolling out from Google and rivals such as OpenAI.
Starlink in the crosshairs: How Russia could attack Elon Musk's conquering of space
NATO-nation intelligence services believe Russia is developing a weapon to target Starlink satellites. Intelligence findings seen by The Associated Press say the weapon could release pellets to disable multiple satellites. Analysts have doubts, saying such a weapon could create chaos in space and risk other vital orbiting systems. But a Canadian space commander told the AP that such a weapon is “not implausible.” Starlink's services are used by Ukraine. Russia views the constellation as a threat. The intelligence findings say the destructive pellets could be small enough to evade detection. Analysts say Russia might want to have such a weapon only as a deterrent or it may be no more than a research project for now.
FCC bans new Chinese-made drones, citing security risks
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Federal Communications Commission says it will ban new foreign-made drones, a move that will keep new Chinese-made drones out of the U.S. market. Monday's announcement came a year after Congress passed a defense bill that raised national security concerns about Chinese-made drones, which have become a dominant player in the U.S., widely used in farming, mapping, law enforcement and filmmaking. The FCC said a review found that all drones and critical components produced in foreign countries, not just by Chinese companies, posed “unacceptable risks to the national security of the United States and to the safety and security of U.S. persons.”
Bolivia lifts restrictions on satellite companies like Starlink to upgrade its internet connectivity
LA PAZ, Bolivia (AP) — Bolivia’s new government has issued a decree that will allow global satellite internet companies such as Starlink or Kuiper to provide internet access across the Andean nation as it tries to upgrade its technology and speed up its notoriously slow connectivity rates. Bolivia’s centrist President Rodrigo Paz signed the decree on Tuesday. It waives the restrictions placed last year on international satellite companies by the socialist administration of his predecessor, Luis Arce.Arce’s government refused to grant a license to SpaceX, which owns Starlink, to operate in Bolivia, citing data protection and national sovereignty concerns.
