Apple Pay Later is dead, long live Affirm loans

Summary Anthropic agrees with the U.S. government that implementing robust export controls on domestically made AI chips is essential for competing with China in the AI race. However, the company suggests some adjustments to the proposed restrictions. In a blog post released on Wednesday, Anthropic expressed its strong support for the U.S. Department's initiatives while advocating for these tweaks to enhance the effectiveness of the guidelines. Full Article

Google Wallet Expands Support for UK PassportsGoogle Wallet has announced that UK passports will soon be available as digital passes on Android devices, following the addition of US passports in December. The company is collaborating with the Rail Delivery Group to allow users to apply for Railcards using their digital IDs, although UK passport digital IDs cannot yet be used at TSA. Additionally, Google is introducing Zero Knowledge Proof technology for age verification while enhancing...

SummaryNew York’s Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is exploring AI systems for “predictive prevention” of crime on subway platforms, aiming to detect problematic behavior before incidents occur. MTA chief security officer Michael Kemper stated that the agency is piloting AI technology to trigger alerts for security or police response when unusual behavior is detected, emphasizing that the system will focus on behaviors rather than facial recognition. This initiative follows the MTA's prior use of AI for...

A high court in the Indian state of Karnataka has ordered the blocking of end-to-end encrypted email provider Proton Mail across the country. The High Court of Karnataka, on April 29, said the ruling was in response to a legal complaint filed by M Moser Design Associated India Pvt Ltd in January 2025. The complaint alleged its staff had received e-mails containing obscene, abusive content, prompting the court's decision to ban the service in India....

An analysis published in the Lancet eBioMedicine estimates that daily exposure to phthalates, particularly di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP), contributed to over 356,000 cardiovascular-related deaths globally in 2018, predominantly affecting regions in the Middle East, South Asia, and East Asia. While the study links DEHP exposure to increased heart disease mortality, it relies on statistical modeling and prior research, raising concerns about biases and the need for further long-term studies to establish causation. The findings align with...

The Metals Company has applied for a permit to commercially mine battery materials from the ocean floor, circumventing a multilateral process aimed at regulating deep-sea mining. This move has drawn criticism from other governments and environmental advocates, who argue it disregards international law and the potential environmental impact. Trump's recent executive order aimed at fast-tracking mining efforts is seen as a challenge to the international consensus on seabed resource exploitation. Full Article