Smartphones

North Korean leader's sister sports Chinese foldable phone

The North Korean leader's powerful sister Kim Yo Jong has been spotted with a likely Chinese-made foldable phone, as Pyongyang's elite skirt sanctions to get their hands on the latest gadgetry from abroad.

Technology

STMicro has shipped 5 billion chips for Starlink in past decade; that could double by 2027

Dec 15 (Reuters) - STMicroelectronics has shipped more than 5 billion radio-frequency antenna chips to Elon Musk's SpaceX for the Starlink satellite network, and chips delivered under the partnership in the next two years could double that number, a senior executive at the chipmaker told Reuters.

Internet

Tech support scammers stole US$85,000 from him. His bank declined to refund him.

A retired lawyer lost the money in a tech support scam, a type of online fraud that is surging. His bank said it couldn't recover the funds, which criminals wired from inside his account.

Technology

Analysis-Old meets new economy: AI boom to supercharge European banks' rally

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - After a stellar 2025, investors expect shares in European banks to keep heading higher in 2026, supported by strong earnings and, crucially, cost savings stemming from artificial intelligence.

Robotics

Humanoid robots take center stage at Silicon Valley summit, but scepticism remains

Robots have long been seen as a bad bet for Silicon Valley investors – too complicated, capital-intensive and "boring, honestly", says venture capitalist Modar Alaoui.

Cybersecurity

Asahi CEO mulls new cybersecurity unit as disruption drags on

Asahi Group Holdings Ltd is considering to create a new cybersecurity team after disruptions to operations and financial reporting from a September ransomware attack are expected to continue into the new year. 

Robotics

China's smaller manufacturers look to catch the automation wave

China is already the world's largest market for industrial robots, and the government is pouring billions of dollars into robotics and artificial intelligence to boost its presence in the sector.

Technology

UK regulation of cryptoassets to start in October 2027, finance ministry says

LONDON, Dec 15 (Reuters) - Britain will start regulating cryptoassets from October 2027, the finance ministry said on Monday, rules it hopes will give the industry certainty while keeping out "dodgy actors".

Video games

From Zelda to Civ VI: understanding game complexity

The art of video game complexity: what makes a game engaging?

VR

From traditional mats to virtual arenas: The rise of VR taekwondo in Malaysia

Malaysia's taekwondo scene is going virtual, with opponents sparring in the digital realm using VR headsets.

Operating systems

Windows running slow? Microsoft’s 11 quick fixes to speed up your PC

If Windows is feeling sluggish, there can be many reasons, from your computer's storage being almost full to too many programs starting with the operating system.

Social media

Meta to let users in EU 'share less personal data' for targeted ads

The parent company of Facebook and Instagram is, for the first time, set to limit the amount of personal information it forces users to share for ad tracking purposes, according to an announcement from European Union authorities.

Operating systems

Drowning in pics? Tidy your Mac library with a few clicks

Apple's Photos app on the Mac is a powerful means of sorting and managing large libraries, with built-in tools that make images easier to find.

Technology

Flying taxis to take people to London airports in minutes from 2028

Electric flying taxis may become available to London airport passengers from 2028, a UK company has announced.

Smartphones

Smartphone on your kid’s Christmas list? How to know when they’re ready.

Looking at data of nearly 11,000 families, researchers discovered that electronic media use among early adolescents was linked to more arguments and criticism among their families.

Driverless vehicle

A woman's Waymo rolled up with a stunning surprise: A man hiding in the trunk

It's the latest in a spate of robotaxi mishaps, caught on camera and spread via social media in a ritual of public shaming.

AI

A safety report card ranks AI company efforts to protect humanity

Are artificial intelligence companies keeping humanity safe from AI's potential harms? Don't bet on it, a new report card says.

Technology

Bitcoin hoarding company Strategy remains in Nasdaq 100

Dec 12 (Reuters) - Bitcoin hoarding giant Strategy clung to its place in the Nasdaq 100 on Friday, continuing its year-long stint in the benchmark at a time where analysts have raised questions over its business model.

AI

Opinion: Everyone complains about 'AI slop,' but no one can define it

The problem with this complaint is that almost no one makes the effort to define "AI slop." Is it anything produced with AI? Or any such content appearing in social media?

Technology

Google faces $129 million French asset freeze after Russian ruling, documents show

PARIS/MOSCOW, Dec 12 - The administrator of Google's defunct Russian business has obtained a temporary freeze on some 110 million euros ($129 million) of the Alphabet-owned company's assets in France, official orders seen by Reuters show.