The Apple fight on streaming and super apps helped set it up for an antitrust case
Apple has been sued by the US Department of Justice for allegedly abusing its market power and stifling competition in the App Store. The lawsuit claims that Apple has blocked cloud gaming apps to give users access to desirable apps and content without having to pay for Apple hardware. It added that Apple also prevented users from using cross-platform messaging apps.
The anti-diversity, equity and inclusion bill has been approved by Alabama lawmakers
The US state of Alabama has given final approval to a bill that would ban paid help with absentee ballot applications. The bill would make it a Misdemeanor to distribute a pre-filled absentee ballot application to a voter or return another voter’s completed application. If you gave or received a payment for distributing, ordering, requesting, collecting, completing, pre-filling, obtaining or delivering anAbsentee Ballot application, it would be a felony.
Stores will remain open even though the arts and crafts giant has filed for bankruptcy
US-based arts and crafts retailer Joann has filed for bankruptcy, which will result in the company being taken into private ownership. It has struck a deal with its lenders for $132 million to help reduce its debt by $505 million, the company said on Monday. The company was founded in 1921 and has operations in the US, Canada and Mexico.
The minimum wage law in Minneapolis is a hot topic for ride-sharing companies
The Minneapolis City Council has voted to stop ride-hail firms including Uber and Lyft from operating in the city. The vote came after Mayor Jacob Frey vetoed an ordinance that guaranteed drivers minimum wage of $1.40 per mile and 51 cents per minute while carrying a rider. Uber said it’s disappointed the council chose to ignore data and “kick Uber out of the Twin Cities”.
The fate of TikTok now rests with the Senate
The US House of Representatives has passed a bill that would force TikTok’s parent company ByteDance to divest the app within six months of the law’s enactment or face a nationwide ban. The House passed the bill on a voice vote. Earlier, the US intelligence official released a report saying Chinese government had used TikTok to promote its propaganda to Americans.
More than a million aerial site measurement shows US oil and gas system emissions
Methane from US oil and natural gas production can be seen around the world 15 times a day, as per a report by Environmental Defense Fund. The agency added that it analysed aerial data from nearly one million surveyed sites in the US. The study found that methane emissions from US oil and natural gas production fell by more than 30% between 2005 and 2016.
TheAirbnbbans all indoor security cameras
Airbnb has announced that it will no longer allow guests or hosts to use security cameras or any other surveillance device in their homes or apartments. The new policy will take effect on April 30. It added that it may remove listings or accounts for violations and may penalise violators by removing those listings or accounts.
The creation of OpenAI was inspired by fear
An internal investigation by WilmerHale found that former OpenAI CEO Drew Altman was fired from the startup after it became clear “there was a significant risk of litigation against the company”, OpenAI said in a blogpost. Altman was fired last fall after he made inappropriate comments about a board member’s business. He was cleared by an investigation by WilmerHale.
Corporate America has a new climate rule, will it work to reduce global warming?
The US Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has adopted new rules that will require companies to disclose their emissions of greenhouse gases. Under the rules, companies will have to report their direct emissions of greenhouse gases and energy use that are “material” or ” essential” for investors’ understanding of their financial situation. The rules will be incomplete due to scope three.
Here is how tech giants are responding to the EU competition rules
The US FTC announced new rules that restrict Google’s ability to throttle or limit the ability to use third-party apps and services for its services, including Search. However, Google said that it would be willing to let third-party companies co-exist with its services. It also said it wouldn’t “condition” app store access of third-party developers on using their payments systems.