French lawsuit again turns Apple’s App Store fees into a high-stakes legal test

Spotify hasn’t paid Apple a dime in fees since 2018, but a new lawsuit in France with the EU-dominant music streaming service at its center is challenging the payment rules that help power Apple’s App Store.

Apple is facing a representative action from French consumer group Consommation, Logement et Cadre de Vie (CLCV) over higher prices paid by users who subscribed to music services through the App Store. The claim argues that people who signed up on an iPhone or iPad paid about $1 to $3 more per month than if they had subscribed on the web.

AppleInsider

Apple News Loses CNN

American multinational news company CNN has abruptly pulled its content from Apple News, Semafor reports. CNN quietly removed its stories from Apple News over the weekend and there is no longer a feed from the network to subscribe to in the app. This effectively ends its distribution agreement with Apple while the two sides negotiate new terms.

Källa: Apple News Loses CNN

Hikawa iPhone Grip Sold Out on Apple Store – But New Colors Available for Preorder

Apple’s online store has sold out of the limited-edition Hikawa Phone Grip and Stand accessibility accessory it debuted late last week. However, two new color options in production are set to be released in early December and can be pre-ordered directly from Hikawa’s website.

Källa: Hikawa iPhone Grip Sold Out on Apple Store – But New Colors Available for Preorder

Justice Department insists Comey indictment was properly approved as it tries to keep case afloat

A day after the Justice Department acknowledged to a federal judge that the full grand jury had not reviewed the final indictment of former FBI Director James Comey, the Trump-appointed U.S. attorney overseeing the case abruptly reversed herself, insisting Thursday that the panel properly approved the charges as she tried to contain the fallout from earlier statements that risked imperiling the prosecution.

The latest statements from Lindsey Halligan, the hastily named interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, represent an attempt to backtrack on earlier comments the prosecution team made under persistent questioning from a judge about the seemingly jumbled process leading to the return of the two-count indictment.

Källa: Justice Department insists Comey indictment was properly approved as it tries to keep case afloat

Democrats allege spy agency work is being undermined and politicized under Trump

Top Democrats on the House and Senate intelligence committees blasted the Trump administration’s handling of intelligence matters Thursday, alleging that America’s spy agencies have been undermined and politicized under President Donald Trump.

During a floor speech, Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia said the Trump administration has rewarded loyalty over competence and purged experienced intelligence officers, including the former head of the National Security Agency. He also noted that deep cuts to intelligence agencies have shuttered efforts to combat foreign disinformation while reducing cyber defenses.

Källa: Democrats allege spy agency work is being undermined and politicized under Trump

How to know if your Asus router is one of thousands hacked by China-state hackers

Thousands of Asus routers have been hacked and are under the control of a suspected China-state group that has yet to reveal its intentions for the mass compromise, researchers said.

The hacking spree is either primarily or exclusively targeting seven models of Asus routers, all of which are no longer supported by the manufacturer, meaning they no longer receive security patches, researchers from SecurityScorecard said. So far, it’s unclear what the attackers do after gaining control of the devices. SecurityScorecard has named the operation WrtHug.

Källa: How to know if your Asus router is one of thousands hacked by China-state hackers