U.S. senators write to Zuckerberg after report on Instagram algorithm

(Reuters) – U.S. Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Dick Durbin and ranking Republican member Lindsey Graham said on Friday they wrote to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg regarding reports that Instagram’s algorithm facilitates child sexual abuse material. Earlier this month, CNBC reported that Instagram’s recommendation algorithms have been connecting and promoting accounts that facilitate and sell such…

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U.S. farm agency told to investigate worker complaints at Maryland research complex

By Leah Douglas WASHINGTON (Reuters) – The U.S. Office of Special Counsel (OSC) has ordered the Department of Agriculture to investigate worker complaints about poor management and safety hazards at its flagship Maryland research facility, according to a letter seen by Reuters. Reuters exclusively reported in May that workers at the Beltsville Agricultural Research Center…

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Survivors of Greece boat disaster say coastguard rope toppled boat

MALAKASA/KALAMATA, Greece (Reuters) – Survivors of a boat disaster that likely killed hundreds of migrants near Greece have given accounts of traffickers in North Africa cramming them into a clapped-out fishing trawler. They recounted hellish conditions above and below deck, with no food or water. Some also said the tragic end, when it came, was…

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Russia will emerge stronger after mutiny so no need to fret – foreign minister

By Guy Faulconbridge MOSCOW (Reuters) -Russia will emerge stronger after a failed mutiny by Wagner Group mercenaries so the West need not worry about stability in the world’s biggest nuclear power, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. President Vladimir Putin this week thanked the army and security forces for averting what he said could…

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Dutch curb chip equipment exports, drawing Chinese ire

By Toby Sterling AMSTERDAM (Reuters) -The Dutch government on Friday announced new restrictions on exports of some semiconductor equipment, boosting a U.S.-led drive to curb supplies of high-tech components to China but drawing an angry response from Beijing. “We have taken this step in the interest of our national security” said Dutch Trade Minister Liesje…

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Sticky inflation complicating ECB rate path – Makhlouf

DUBLIN (Reuters) – Euro zone inflation is proving “stickier”, meaning the decision on when to stop raising interest rates is not straightforward, European Central Bank governing council member Gabriel Makhlouf was quoted as saying on Friday. “We’ve seen a greater persistence in inflation – it’s stickier. We’re making these decisions meeting by meeting and looking…

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Ukraine to receive $1.5 billion from World Bank to support reconstruction

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine will receive $1.5 billion from the World Bank to support reconstruction and recovery, Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said on Friday. The funds will be provided with guarantees from the Japanese government and channeled to support social security and economic development, Shmyhal, whose country has been invaded by Russia, said on the Telegram…

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Factbox-Governments race to regulate AI tools

(Reuters) – Rapid advances in artificial intelligence (AI) such as Microsoft-backed OpenAI’s ChatGPT are complicating governments’ efforts to agree laws governing the use of the technology. Here are the latest steps national and international governing bodies are taking to regulate AI tools: AUSTRALIA * Seeking input on regulations The government is consulting Australia’s main science…

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New legal battles await colleges after US Supreme Court’s affirmative action ruling

By Joseph Ax, Daniel Wiessner and Tom Hals (Reuters) – The Supreme Court’s decision on Thursday barring race-conscious admissions policies will force universities to find new ways to attract a diverse student body – but experts said such efforts will likely open a new front in what has been a decades-long legal battle over race…

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