National Walmart illegally opened delivery drivers' deposit accounts, U.S. says Lawsuit alleges Walmart and the payments platform Branch Messenger cost delivery drivers millions of dollars in fees, opening deposit accounts without consent and requiring their use to get paid. Alina Selyukh
National The Reddit community revives the holiday spirit after popular Secret Santa events end Swapping presents with strangers on the internet is a favorite pastime for many Reddit users. After two popular holiday gift exchanges ended, bereft merrymakers are set on keeping the tradition going. Emma Bowman
Technology Albanian prime minister says TikTok ban was not a rushed reaction Prime Minister Edi Rama said over the weekend that the government will shut down TikTok for one year, accusing the popular video service of inciting violence and bullying, especially among children. The Associated Press
Politics How AI deepfakes polluted elections in 2024 The most visible use of AI in many countries was to create memes and content whose artificial origins weren't disguised. They were often openly shared by politicians and their supporters. Shannon Bond
Technology German researchers have figured out how to use AI to identify whiskey aromas Researchers in Germany have developed algorithms to differentiate between Scotch and American whiskey. The machines can also discern the aromas in a glass of whiskey better than human testers. Christopher Intagliata Kai McNamee
Technology Biden's legacy on AI policy President Biden broke new ground on AI policy, something his predecessors did not have to deal with. Deepa Shivaram
Business How will Australia's under-16 social media ban work? We asked the law's enforcer Australia's top online internet regulator explains how the nation plans to roll out the world's first social media ban for kids under 16. Bobby Allyn
Technology With a January ban looming, TikTok's future in the U.S. is more uncertain than ever A new law gives TikTok a Jan. 19 deadline to sell to a non-Chinese company or face a nationwide ban. Law professor Alan Rozenshtein explains what this means and how President-elect Trump might intervene. Tonya Mosley
Business Supreme Court agrees to review TikTok ban-or-sale law The high court said Wednesday it will review a challenge submitted by TikTok asking for the overturn of a law that could ban the video-sharing app by Jan 19. Bobby Allyn
Arts & Life Viewers watched 20.35 billion hours on Twitch in 2024. 'Stream Big' explores why According to the Twitch 2024 community recap, viewers watched 20.35 billion hours on the live-streaming service. A forthcoming book explains why. Dhanika Pineda
