A major Australian healthcare provider, Partnered Health, suffered a cyber-attack on June 23 that exposed sensitive patient information. This data, including medical records and personal details, could be sold on the dark web despite legal efforts to prevent its public release.
Key Facts
Partnered Health reported that 21 clinics in cities like Sydney, Melbourne, and Canberra were affected by the data breach.
Stolen information includes treatment details, consultation notes, referral letters, diagnostic results, Medicare numbers, private health insurance info, names, dates of birth, and addresses.
The company obtained a temporary court order to stop the data from being used or published publicly.
Experts warned that this order likely won’t stop the stolen information from being sold on hidden internet markets known as the dark web.
Medical records are very valuable to cybercriminals, selling for up to $250 per record, much more than general personal information.
Unlike financial data, medical records cannot be changed once stolen, increasing the risk to patients.
Previous cyber-attacks in Australia include a 2022 breach of Medibank that exposed 9.7 million customers’ details.
Specialists suggest better cybersecurity training, public awareness, and research are needed to prevent such attacks.
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A recycling company is working to improve how we recycle electronic waste. As more devices are used and discarded, this company shows the steps involved in safely reusing and disposing of old technology.
Key Facts
The amount of electronic waste is increasing due to the growth of technology use.
The company focuses on recycling old electronic devices.
Recycling helps recover valuable materials and reduces pollution.
The process involves safely dismantling and sorting electronic parts.
Proper recycling prevents harmful substances from damaging the environment.
This effort supports more sustainable use of technology resources.
The news report gives a detailed look inside the recycling facility.
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Samsung will introduce new foldable Galaxy phones at its upcoming Galaxy Unpacked event. The company aims to prove that these phones are very durable despite their folding screens.
Key Facts
Samsung is launching new foldable phones soon.
The launch will happen at the Galaxy Unpacked event next week.
Foldable phones have screens that can bend or fold.
Durability, or how tough the phones are, is a main focus for Samsung.
Technology reporter Abrar Al-Heeti discussed the upcoming phones on CBS News.
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New York has stopped building new large data centers used for artificial intelligence (AI) for up to one year. This is the first time a U.S. state has made this kind of pause in data center construction.
Key Facts
New York state has imposed a moratorium, or pause, on building large AI data centers.
The pause started immediately and can last up to one year.
This is the first moratorium of its kind in the United States.
The pause affects new construction projects for AI data centers.
AI data centers are large facilities that store and process data to help run artificial intelligence systems.
A technology podcast host, Paris Marx, discussed this topic on CBS News.
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Sheetz, a U.S. convenience store chain, is moving its 838 stores from VMware virtualization software to StorMagic’s SvHCI platform. This change is due to Broadcom’s new licensing and pricing model, which made budgeting difficult for Sheetz.
Key Facts
Sheetz has used VMware virtualization on Dell servers in its stores since 2019.
The company is migrating about 12 to 14 virtual machines (VMs) per store from VMware vSphere to StorMagic’s SvHCI.
This migration will involve moving around 11,000 VMs in total.
More than 600 stores have completed the migration so far, with an expected finish in four months.
Sheetz chose to leave VMware because Broadcom replaced perpetual licenses with subscriptions requiring a five-year commitment and large bundles, causing budget uncertainty.
Sheetz had already been using StorMagic’s SvSAN storage solution alongside VMware for critical applications since 2019.
The migration is being done mostly remotely without hardware upgrades, saving money.
Automation and special import tools helped handle the large-scale migration with minimal disruption to store operations.
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Elon Musk’s AI company xAI has sued a man in Texas for misusing its AI tool to make illegal sexual images involving minors. The company says the man broke its rules and tried to trick the AI system to create these images, despite the tool rejecting such requests.
Key Facts
xAI filed a lawsuit against Terry Harwood for sexual exploitation of minors using their AI tool, Grok.
Harwood allegedly created multiple xAI accounts with fake identities to avoid detection.
He uploaded non-sexual photos and tried to make AI-generated “deepfake” images that sexualized the people without their consent.
The AI system Grok flagged and rejected many of these requests based on content rules, but the man kept trying to bypass them.
xAI is seeking money damages and a permanent ban on Harwood’s use of their platform, which has over 2.6 million users.
This is the first time an AI company has sued a user for this kind of misuse.
The company suspended over 52,000 accounts and reported more than 73,000 cases of suspected child sexual abuse material in 2026, leading to about 250 arrests.
xAI enforces rules by suspending accounts and reporting illegal content to the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children.
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Several authors and publishing companies sued Google in a U.S. court, claiming it copied their books without permission to train its Gemini AI models. The lawsuit says Google used copyrighted materials beyond legal limits and ignored warnings about legal risks.
Key Facts
Hachette Book Group, Cengage Learning, Elsevier, and author Scott Turow filed the lawsuit in New York federal court.
The complaint alleges Google used books from Google Books and other sources without permission to train AI models.
Google is accused of downloading content including from unauthorized pirate sites and behind paywalls.
Internal Google documents reportedly warned that using books to train AI could lead to fines up to $100 billion.
The lawsuit claims Google did not inform authors or publishers about copying their works for AI training.
This lawsuit follows previous legal efforts by the same publishers and authors to protect copyrights.
Similar lawsuits have been filed against other AI companies like OpenAI and Meta over copyright issues.
One lawsuit against Meta was dismissed, with a judge ruling the AI training was legal under fair use.
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A software engineer named Fabien Sanglard identified and explained the types of 1990s computer hardware shown in the movie Jurassic Park. The film’s production used real and expensive computer equipment to make the scenes look accurate, including Silicon Graphics and Apple devices.
Key Facts
The computers shown in Jurassic Park were carefully selected to be accurate for the early 1990s.
Engineer Fabien Sanglard scanned the film and listed every identifiable computer model he saw.
The set included high-end machines like five Thinking Machines CM-5 systems and several Silicon Graphics workstations.
About $1.7 million worth of computer hardware and software was used on set, loaned mostly by Silicon Graphics and Apple.
Some of the character Dennis Nedry’s computers were Macintosh Quadra 700 models from Apple.
The software shown included the real Unix-based 3D file browser FSN, which inspired a famous line in the movie.
Audiences were expected to recognize the computer equipment, so the production avoided fake props.
A large collection of period software used in the film is now available online for those interested in exploring it.
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A security researcher released code for a new exploit called HiveLegacy that lets non-administrator Windows users make changes to administrator accounts. Microsoft is investigating this vulnerability after releasing many security patches, and users can protect themselves by using detection tools and monitoring their systems.
Key Facts
A researcher named NightmareEclypse published an exploit called HiveLegacy for Windows on the same day Microsoft released many security updates.
HiveLegacy targets a vulnerability in the Windows User Profile Service.
It allows users with limited rights to alter the registry settings of administrator accounts, potentially gaining admin-level control.
The exploit requires knowing another user’s password and the username of a third account on the computer.
Microsoft is aware of the exploit and is investigating the issue.
The exploit uses the way Windows loads user settings during login, which runs with high system privileges.
Independent security experts have provided detection scripts and advice on monitoring Windows system activity to prevent this exploit.
Restricting the creation of local accounts and watching for unusual system behavior can help block attacks using HiveLegacy.
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SpaceX’s stock price has fallen below the price it first had when it started trading on the stock market just over a month ago. The share price dropped to $132.62, which is lower than the initial price of $135, causing some investors to potentially lose money.
Key Facts
SpaceX began trading on the stock market a little over one month ago.
The initial price for one share was $135.
The share price recently dropped to $132.62.
This price is 41% lower than the highest price since the company went public.
The drop means some early investors might lose money on their shares.
SpaceX is a company founded by Elon Musk that works on rockets, satellites, and artificial intelligence.
The company did not immediately respond to requests for comment about the stock price drop.
Earlier, the company’s value was higher than Amazon and Microsoft, and Elon Musk briefly became the world's first trillionaire.
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Google will start allowing other app stores inside its Google Play Store next week after a legal settlement with Epic Games was withdrawn. This change comes from a court ruling that found Google unfairly blocked competing app stores on Android devices.
Key Facts
The settlement between Google and Epic Games about app store rules is now withdrawn.
Google will begin letting third-party app stores appear in the Google Play Store starting next week.
This change is part of a court order to stop Google’s anticompetitive behavior on Android.
Epic Games started the dispute by adding a way to buy V-Bucks directly in Fortnite, bypassing Google’s fees.
Google used its market power to block competing app stores and keep the Play Store dominant.
The judge ruled that allowing other app stores on Google Play is the best way to promote fair competition.
Google had planned a registered app store program but court skepticism and expert analysis slowed approval.
Now, Google and Epic will not pursue modifying the court’s remedies but will continue current policy changes.
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Representative Ted Lieu, a Democrat from California, said he is concerned about how fast artificial intelligence (AI) is developing. He believes Congress needs to find ways to manage AI carefully as it changes quickly.
Key Facts
Rep. Ted Lieu is the fourth-ranking Democrat in the U.S. House of Representatives.
He spoke about AI’s rapid growth at the Hill Nation Summit.
Lieu said AI is advancing faster than he expected.
He expressed worry about the pace of AI development.
Lieu emphasized that Congress should work to balance the benefits and risks of AI.
The article notes Lieu’s criticism of some Republicans’ lack of strategy on AI.
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The UK government plans to introduce a social media curfew from midnight to 6 am for 16- and 17-year-olds, starting next spring. The curfew will be on by default but can be turned off by users, and the government also wants to remove addictive features like autoplay and infinite scroll to reduce online harms.
Key Facts
The curfew targets 16- and 17-year-olds in Britain for certain social media apps.
It will be enabled automatically but users can opt out by changing settings.
The government aims to disable addictive app features such as autoplay and infinite scrolling.
Some teens are skeptical about the curfew’s effectiveness since it is not mandatory.
Teens currently have different experiences and controls on social media use at home.
Age verification will be required to ensure the rules apply to the right users.
Some young people believe adults should also have limits on addictive features.
Discussions with teens reveal mixed opinions on the impact and fairness of the curfew.
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OpenAI has launched its first branded device, the $230 Codex Micro, which is a small, light-up keyboard designed to help users manage multiple AI tasks easily. The keyboard shows color-coded lights to indicate the status of AI threads and offers buttons for common actions, aiming to improve how people interact with OpenAI’s AI agents on desktop computers.
Key Facts
The Codex Micro costs $230 and is a compact keyboard with RGB lighting.
It is made in collaboration with Work Louder, a company that makes similar keyboards for creative work.
The keyboard has six special keys that change colors to show the status of different AI tasks: white (idle), blue (thinking), green (done), amber (needs input), and red (error).
Pressing a lit key opens the related AI task window on the computer screen.
Users can remap six other buttons for common AI actions or general computer shortcuts.
The keyboard has OpenAI branding and comes in a limited supply.
OpenAI is moving beyond software, working on hardware with design help from former Apple chief Jony Ive.
A planned handheld AI device may face delays due to technical challenges.
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Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced plans to manage the impact of artificial intelligence (AI) by working with states on regulations for AI data centers and creating a new AI office in his government. He emphasized protecting Australian creative work from AI use and promised new rules and faster decisions to support AI development while aiming to control its local effects.
Key Facts
Prime Minister Albanese spoke about AI at the University of Sydney, aiming to lead Australia in managing AI technology.
The government will work with state premiers to regulate AI data centers to avoid problems with land use, energy, and water resources.
A new AI office will be created within the Prime Minister’s department, and new AI laws will be proposed by early 2027.
Albanese wants Australia to benefit from its own AI inventions, not just store data for overseas companies.
The government will protect Australian artists, writers, musicians, and journalists by refusing to allow AI to use their work without permission.
Experts warn regulating global tech giants like Microsoft, Google, and OpenAI is very difficult for national governments.
There are challenges in managing AI’s broad effects on society, including job losses and ethical concerns.
Albanese favors a careful and step-by-step approach to AI policy, despite some calls for faster, broader legislation.
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Prediction markets are online platforms where people can bet on the outcome of future events. These markets have grown quickly and now influence many areas of the digital economy, making it feel like widespread gambling.
Key Facts
Prediction markets let users bet on what might happen in the future.
They have expanded rapidly in the last decade.
Their growth turns many digital activities into forms of betting or gambling.
This trend was not expected 10 years ago.
Prediction markets affect different parts of the economy by spreading risk and information.
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This weekend, many protests will happen to express concerns about artificial intelligence (AI) data centers. People are showing their worries about the impact these centers might have.
Key Facts
Dozens of protests are planned for this weekend.
The protests focus on AI data centers.
People are concerned about issues related to AI technology.
AI data centers are places that store and manage data for AI systems.
The demonstrations aim to raise awareness about potential problems from these centers.
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Stephen Dubner, a well-known author and journalist, has started a new weekly talk show called "Better in Person" on YouTube. He talks about how the show began, the variety of guests he features, and why he chose to pay for the show himself.
Key Facts
Stephen Dubner is the co-author of the bestselling book "Freakonomics."
He launched a weekly talk show named "Better in Person."
The show is available on YouTube.
Dubner has a wide range of guests on the show.
He decided to finance the show himself without outside funding.
The show aims to present conversations in a personal, in-person style.
Dubner discussed the show during an interview on "CBS Mornings."
The program is part of Dubner's work beyond writing books.
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Horror games are very popular now, with many new titles and crossovers with horror movies. A recent conference at Falmouth University explored how horror games use fear and control themes to engage players and reflect on real-world issues like workplace dangers and global crises.
Key Facts
New horror games like Resident Evil Requiem, Reanimal, Silent Hill: Townfall, Silver Pines, and Dreadmoor are either out or coming soon.
Horror studios like Blumhouse are creating games, and some games become horror films.
The Falmouth University conference included talks on zombies, gothic themes, and the role of scary little girls in horror games.
Creative director Will Doyle explained how game makers build horror using fear, alienation, and a human tendency to see patterns.
Horror games often focus on players feeling both in control and helpless, reflecting tensions around action and agency.
Some games highlight dangers and mistrust in workplaces, mirroring current social concerns.
Academic study of horror games helps treat games as cultural stories and gives new developers important knowledge.
The link between horror games and other cultural ideas, like architecture and radical art, was also discussed at the conference.
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Many people across the United States are worried about data centers that support artificial intelligence (AI) because they use a lot of electricity and water. In response, New York Governor Kathy Hochul has temporarily stopped new data center construction to review these concerns.
Key Facts
Data centers are facilities that store and process large amounts of data, essential for AI technologies.
These centers consume significant electricity and water resources.
There is increasing public concern about the environmental impact of data centers nationwide.
New York Governor Kathy Hochul signed an order to pause the construction of new data centers.
The pause aims to give officials time to study and address resource usage issues.
This move reflects a growing trend of scrutinizing AI infrastructure for sustainability.
The pause affects the ongoing boom of building AI-related data centers in New York state.
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