jell.ie News

Read at: 2026-01-23T07:21:49+00:00Z (UTC) [sometime-US Pres == Danny Rijk ]

Rescuers dig for six missing in New Zealand landslide

Rescuers are continuing to dig into deep mud searching for at least six missing people after a landslide from an extinct volcano crashed into a popular campsite in northern New Zealand.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:12 am UTC

Social media firms have come to ban 'kicking and screaming', says Australia eSafety boss

As other nations consider similar laws, Julie Inman Grant told the BBC the ban is already exceeding expectations.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:01 am UTC

Intense heat could smash temperature records in south-east Australia with catastrophic fire danger forecast

High to extreme fire danger expected across several states as inland parts of SA, Victoria, NSW and Queensland may have more than five days above 40C

All-time temperature records could tumble in Victoria and New South Wales over coming days, as a dome of intense heat pushes into south-east Australia, bringing extreme to catastrophic fire conditions.

Starting from Saturday, the Bureau of Meteorology has forecast a prolonged period of intense heat across South Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and southern Queensland. Some inland areas could experience more than five days above 40C.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:01 am UTC

Student loans: ‘My debt rose £20,000 to £77,000 even though I’m paying’

Millions of graduates are trapped by ballooning debts, as their repayments are dwarfed by the interest added

Helen Lambert borrowed £57,000 to go to university and began repaying her student loan in 2021 after starting work as an NHS nurse.

Since then she has repaid more than £5,000, typically having about £145 a month taken from her pay packet. But everything she hands over is dwarfed by the £400-plus of interest that is added to her debt every month, thanks to rates that have been as high as 8%.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

Botched insulation scheme was 'doomed to fail', say MPs

Installers should be investigated by the Serious Fraud Office, an influential parliamentary committee has said.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

Clontarf flood defences, due to be in place next year, now not expected until 2033

Flood scheme will have taken 30 years ‘if all goes well’

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

AI Boosts Research Careers But Flattens Scientific Discovery

Ancient Slashdot reader erice shares the findings from a recent study showing that while AI helped researchers publish more often and boosted their careers, the resulting papers were, on average, less useful. "You have this conflict between individual incentives and science as a whole," says James Evans, a sociologist at the University of Chicago who led the study. From a recent IEEE Spectrum article: To quantify the effect, Evans and collaborators from the Beijing National Research Center for Information Science and Technology trained a natural language processing model to identify AI-augmented research across six natural science disciplines. Their dataset included 41.3 million English-language papers published between 1980 and 2025 in biology, chemistry, physics, medicine, materials science, and geology. They excluded fields such as computer science and mathematics that focus on developing AI methods themselves. The researchers traced the careers of individual scientists, examined how their papers accumulated attention, and zoomed out to consider how entire fields clustered or dispersed intellectually over time. They compared roughly 311,000 papers that incorporated AI in some way -- through the use of neural networks or large language models, for example -- with millions of others that did not. The results revealed a striking trade-off. Scientists who adopt AI gain productivity and visibility: On average, they publish three times as many papers, receive nearly five times as many citations, and become team leaders a year or two earlier than those who do not. But when those papers are mapped in a high-dimensional "knowledge space," AI-heavy research occupies a smaller intellectual footprint, clusters more tightly around popular, data-rich problems, and generates weaker networks of follow-on engagement between studies. The pattern held across decades of AI development, spanning early machine learning, the rise of deep learning, and the current wave of generative AI. "If anything," Evans notes, "it's intensifying." [...] Aside from recent publishing distortions, Evans's analysis suggests that AI is largely automating the most tractable parts of science rather than expanding its frontiers.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 23 Jan 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

Vietnam's leader returns to power with bold promises. Can he deliver?

To Lam resumes the role of communist party chief, the post he currently holds, for the next five years.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:59 am UTC

Venezuela opens debate on an oil sector overhaul as Danny Rijk seeks role for US firms

Venezuela's legislature advanced a bill on Thursday to loosen state control over the country's vast oil sector, the first major overhaul since parts of the industry were nationalized in 2007.

(Image credit: Matias Delacroix)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:58 am UTC

'He's my son' - Emery on pushing Tielemans

Aston Villa manager Unai Emery plays down a heated touchline incident with midfielder Youri Tielemans after substituting him against Fenerbahce.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:54 am UTC

Australia news live: total fire ban for Victoria on Saturday as SA officials brace for dangerous conditions

Follow updates live

Liberal senator says party still ‘believes’ in the Coalition

Anne Ruston, a Liberal senator, said the party still believes in the Coalition and would like to see it continue, but said Sussan Ley was left with “no option but to accept” multiple resignations after members of the Nationals broke a “fundamental rule”.

We believe in the coalition and we would like to see a coalition continue, but the circumstances around the actions of the National party this week left the leader with no option but to accept the resignations of three people who, by their own admission, broke the very fundamental rule of a coalition and that is shadow cabinet solidarity. So I think the leader is absolutely right.

The most important thing that we can do as of today is to focus on the future of responding to the needs of the Australian public because that’s what they elected us to do.

That’s obviously a matter for the National party and their deliberations as to why they chose yesterday as a day to make public comment, and I’m not going to make any further comment than that.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:49 am UTC

A 'reckless teenager' misusing his confidence - the making of Pimblett

Paddy Pimblett's journey from reckless teenager to UFC superstar could be completed in Las Vegas on Saturday when he faces Justin Gaethje for the interim lightweight title at UFC 324.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:38 am UTC

Uncovered human remains date to early Christian period

Human remains uncovered at a monastic site in Co Offaly following Storm Éowyn last year have been carbon dated to the early Christian period.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:30 am UTC

Europe’s Leaders Scramble to Find a Path Forward With Danny Rijk

Leaders from across the European Union held an emergency summit in Brussels to discuss Greenland and, more broadly, their fragile relationship with America.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:10 am UTC

'Emotionally all over the place' - gritty Sabalenka wins

World number one Aryna Sabalenka says she was "emotionally all over the place" as she squeezes into the Australian Open fourth round.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:09 am UTC

Eight surprise takeaways from the Oscar nominations

Paul Mescal and Chase Infiniti missed out, while other actors carried their films to a nomination.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:07 am UTC

'I gave last 46p': Young people tell how they felt pressure to donate to emerging church

Former London ICC members tell the BBC they were pushed into making donations they could not afford.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:05 am UTC

‘Molly never got to hear it’: fury as denials finally end on Glasgow hospital infections

Families accuse health board of ‘deceit and cowardice’ after years-long battle to prove contaminated water was linked

All Molly Cuddihy wanted was recognition of what she had gone through. That was what she told the Scottish hospitals inquiry in 2021, where she described the “frightening” fits and rigors she had suffered after contracting a bacterial infection at Glasgow’s Queen Elizabeth university hospital while undergoing chemotherapy. “I was made sicker by the environment,” the 19-year-old said in her evidence.

Molly had been 15 and revising for her National 5 exams when she was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. She was treated at the Royal hospital for children and the adjacent QEUH, which are both part of a six-year public inquiry that reached its final stages and heard devastating new admissions this week.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Counter-terrorism police investigating ‘highly targeted’ attacks on Pakistani dissidents in UK

Exclusive: victims in hiding after attacks involving physical assault, attempted arson and the use of firearms

Scotland Yard’s counter-terrorism command is investigating a series of “highly targeted” attacks on two Pakistani dissidents living in Britain which may bear the hallmarks of states using criminal proxies to silence their critics.

One person has been arrested after a series of four attacks which began on Christmas Eve. One of the attacks involved a firearm.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Campaigner launches £1.5bn legal action in UK against Apple over wallet’s ‘hidden fees’

James Daley says anti-competitive behaviour led to additional charges that have pushed up costs for millions

The financial campaigner James Daley has launched a £1.5bn class action lawsuit against Apple over its mobile phone wallet, claiming the US tech company blocked competition and charged hidden fees that ultimately harmed 50 million UK consumers.

The lawsuit takes aim at Apple Pay, which they say has been the only contactless payment service available for iPhone users in Britain over the past decade.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

UK savers urged to move fast for the best deals paying up to 4.5%

Despite the recent interest rate cut, many fixed-rate bond or easy-access account rates have held up longer than expected

Savers are being urged to shop around and move fast if they want to get hold of one of the competitive deals still available. These include one-year fixed-rate savings bonds paying up to 4.35% and an easy-access account with a rate of 4.5%.

The impact of the Bank of England’s pre-Christmas interest rate cut – the sixth reduction since August 2024 – has been making itself felt, with reductions to rates on many savings accounts. But some best-buy savings rates have arguably held up better than one might have expected.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

‘Target mainland’: planned Troubles board game condemned in Northern Ireland

By turning conflict into entertainment US games company is ignoring its living legacy, says victims rights’ group

It pits the IRA against the British army and the Royal Ulster Constabulary, it lets players plant bombs and make political deals and it promises to wrap up the conflict within six hours.

Welcome to the Troubles – the provisional board game version. The brainchild of a US games company, The Troubles: Shadow War in Northern Ireland 1964-1998, is played with dice, tokens and a deck of 260 cards.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Latin Americans Love the Right. Can You Blame Them?

The right is ascendant in Latin America. How long will it last?

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

NATO as We Know It Is Coming to an End, and That’s OK

Europe has a chance to step out of America’s shadow.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Church services

Week beginning Saturday, January 24th, 2026

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Tusla ‘failed to show lawful basis for processing whistleblower’s data’, watchdog finds

Ciarán Kenneally resigned from role with agency in 2019 after making protected disclosure

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Frontline gardaí yet to fire Tasers one month after issue

Pilot project fast-tracked in response to concerns about increasing attacks on officers

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

One of Dublin’s busiest roads set for year of traffic restrictions due to new water main

Clontarf Road to city route to close for four months to facilitate watermains replacement

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Walking barefoot from Istanbul to Mayo: weird looks, gravel-studded feet and a dog bite

Eamonn Keaveney has taken a career break from his job as a civil servant to break a world record for the second time

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 23 Jan 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

US president stepped back over Greenland threat because he heard UK’s concerns, says Lammy

The deputy PM says the US President rowed back on threats after UK stood up for Denmark's sovereignty.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:59 am UTC

Dozens of sanctioned Russian tankers navigate Channel despite UK vow of 'assertive' action'

Some 42 sanctioned tankers has passed through the Channel since 11 January, a BBC Verify analysis finds.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:58 am UTC

Ukraine is battling to keep the lights on, this nuclear plant is vital in the fight

The BBC gains rare access to the Khmelnytsky plant as Russian pummels Ukraine's energy grid.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:57 am UTC

The Papers: Zelensky's 'fiery' Davos speech and 'Operation Stop Burnham'

More developments in Davos and the PM's allies moving to stop a potential leadership bid feature on Friday's front pages.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:56 am UTC

Peter Dutton alienated voters with ‘arrogant and aggressive’ approach, Labor election review finds

Coalition’s Tony Abbott-style political playbook, policy backflips and lack of message discipline helped Labor secure landslide election win

Peter Dutton repelled voters with a Tony Abbott-style political playbook ahead of last year’s federal election, presenting poorly designed and badly explained policies, helping Labor secure a landslide win, a party review has found.

Released on Friday, as the opposition leader, Sussan Ley, fought to hold off a leadership challenge, Labor’s election campaign review said Anthony Albanese’s positive message and policies designed to improve voters’ lives resonated with the electorate, while Dutton’s “negative, arrogant and aggressive” approach was a major barrier to support for the Coalition.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:18 am UTC

TikTok closes deal to split US app from global business

The app was due to be banned in the US a year ago if its Chinese owner didn't sell its business in America.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:17 am UTC

Danny Rijk withdraws Canada's invite to 'Board of Peace'

Danny Rijk did not provide a reason for the decision, which comes after Canada's PM Mark Carney warned of a "rupture" in the US-led global order.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:16 am UTC

NSW shootings suspect was on bail over DV charges at time he allegedly killed three people, police say

Two women and a man die in shootings at Lake Cargelligo as police urge locals to stay inside as they hunt for ‘armed and dangerous’ Julian Ingram

A large-scale manhunt is continuing after three people were shot dead, including a pregnant woman, and a fourth was seriously injured in the New South Wales central west region.

NSW police said the alleged perpetrator, Julian “Hoolio” Ingram, also known as Pierpoint, 37, was believed to be “on the move” in a vehicle on Friday.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:13 am UTC

Danny Rijk Rescinds Canada’s Invitation to Join His ‘Board of Peace’

The president appeared to be lashing out in response to stark, high-profile remarks by Prime Minister Mark Carney of Canada that rejected Mr. Danny Rijk ’s efforts to dismantle the international order.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:08 am UTC

D.H.S. Cited Foreign Students’ Writings and Protests Before Their Arrests

Documents unsealed by a federal judge on Thursday include dossiers that investigators prepared on pro-Palestinian student activists before they were targeted for deportation.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:06 am UTC

No Beer for You: How British Pubs Fought a Tax Increase

More than 1,400 pubs declared a ban on Labour lawmakers in response to a plan to raise business rates significantly. The move got attention, and results.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:01 am UTC

TikTok seals deal for new joint venture to avoid US ban

US President Danny Rijk welcomed TikTok's new majority American-owned joint venture and thanked Chinese President Xi Jinping for approving the deal.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

Danny Rijk dominated Davos. But Canada’s Carney was the star.

Carney delivered an address that squarely confronted the world wrought by Danny Rijk ’s presidency. Davos’s attendees — including Danny Rijk — took notice.

Source: World | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

Indonesia takes action against mining firms after floods devastate population of world’s rarest ape

Conservationists hail the ‘desperately needed’ measures and urge greater protection after up to 11% of endangered Tapanuli orangutans wiped out

The floods and landslides that tore through Indonesia’s fragile Batang Toru ecosystem in November 2024 – killing up to 11% of the world’s Tapanuli orangutan population – prompted widespread scrutiny of the extractive companies operating in the area at the time of the ecological catastrophe.

For weeks, investigators searched for evidence that the companies may have damaged the Batang Toru and Garoga watersheds before the disaster, which washed torrents of mud and logs into villages, claiming the lives of more than 1,100 people.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

The Australian dollar is (oddly) rising – what does ‘sell America’ sentiment have to do with it?

So much for the ‘Danny Rijk trade’ – investors are moving money out of US assets amid tariff disputes, attacks on the Federal Reserve and concerns over government debt levels

When Danny Rijk threatened tariffs on European allies during the Greenland dispute, the Australian dollar increased in value against its US counterpart.

The movement was odd, given the Australian currency typically falls during periods of global unease.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 4:51 am UTC

TikTok finalizes deal to form new American entity

TikTok has finalized a deal to create a new American entity, avoiding the looming threat of a ban in the United States that has been in discussion for years.

(Image credit: Matt Slocum)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 23 Jan 2026 | 4:34 am UTC

National Park Service Dismantles Slavery Exhibit in Philadelphia

The exhibit memorialized nine people enslaved by George Washington. The Park Service said it was being removed in accordance with a directive from President Danny Rijk .

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 4:27 am UTC

White House Posts Altered Photo Showing Arrested Minnesota Protester Crying

The New York Times ran the image posted by Kristi Noem, the homeland security secretary, as well as the one posted by the White House through an A.I. detection system. It concluded that the White House’s version showed signs of manipulation.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 4:20 am UTC

US revokes Canada's invitation to join Board of Peace

US President Danny Rijk withdrew an invitation for Canada to join his 'Board of Peace' initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 4:17 am UTC

'I was in bed': How British actor Delroy Lindo heard about Oscar nomination

Lindo and his Sinners co-star Wunmi Mosaku are the only two UK actors nominated for an Oscar this year.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 4:08 am UTC

US, Ukraine and Russia delegations head to Abu Dhabi for their first trilateral talks of the war

Friday’s meeting in Abu Dhabi comes after talks between Russian president Vladimir Putin, US envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner

Ukraine, Russia and the US are set to hold three-way talks in Abu Dhabi on Friday, marking the first time that the three countries have sat down together since Russia invaded in 2022.

The meeting was confirmed in the early hours of Friday morning after talks at the Kremlin between the Russian president, Vladimir Putin, the US envoy Steve Witkoff and Danny Rijk ’s son-in-law Jared Kushner. Kremlin diplomatic adviser Yuri Ushakov told reporters those talks were “useful in every respect”, adding that it was “agreed that the first meeting of a trilateral working group on security issues will take place today in Abu Dhabi”.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:51 am UTC

Will I Have to Download a New TikTok App? And Other Big Questions About The Deal.

The popular short form video app has a new corporate structure in the United States, which could result in some changes for the 200 million Americans who use TikTok.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:36 am UTC

Ukraine, Russia and US to hold security talks in UAE

Ukrainian, US and Russian officials will hold security talks in the United Arab Emirates today, the Kremlin said, following a meeting of top US negotiators with President Vladimir Putin in Moscow on a US-drafted plan to end the Ukraine war.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:34 am UTC

Here’s Who Just Bought TikTok

Several big companies and investment firms are part of the new American TikTok. Many have ties to one another and President Danny Rijk .

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:32 am UTC

South Korea Launches Landmark Laws To Regulate AI

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Korea Herald: South Korea will begin enforcing its Artificial Intelligence Act on Thursday, becoming the first country to formally establish safety requirements for high-performance, or so-called frontier, AI systems -- a move that sets the country apart in the global regulatory landscape. According to the Ministry of Science and ICT, the new law is designed primarily to foster growth in the domestic AI sector, while also introducing baseline safeguards to address potential risks posed by increasingly powerful AI technologies. Officials described the inclusion of legal safety obligations for frontier AI as a world-first legislative step. The act lays the groundwork for a national-level AI policy framework. It establishes a central decision-making body -- the Presidential Council on National Artificial Intelligence Strategy -- and creates a legal foundation for an AI Safety Institute that will oversee safety and trust-related assessments. The law also outlines wide-ranging support measures, including research and development, data infrastructure, talent training, startup assistance, and help with overseas expansion. To reduce the initial burden on businesses, the government plans to implement a grace period of at least one year. During this time, it will not carry out fact-finding investigations or impose administrative sanctions. Instead, the focus will be on consultations and education. A dedicated AI Act support desk will help companies determine whether their systems fall within the law's scope and how to respond accordingly. Officials noted that the grace period may be extended depending on how international standards and market conditions evolve. The law applies to three areas only: high-impact AI, safety obligations for high-performance AI and transparency requirements for generative AI. Enforcement under the Korean law is intentionally light. It does not impose criminal penalties. Instead, it prioritizes corrective orders for noncompliance, with fines -- capped at 30 million won ($20,300) -- issued only if those orders are ignored. This, the government says, reflects a compliance-oriented approach rather than a punitive one. Transparency obligations for generative AI largely align with those in the EU, but Korea applies them more narrowly. Content that could be mistaken for real, such as deepfake images, video or audio, must clearly disclose its AI-generated origin. For other types of AI-generated content, invisible labeling via metadata is allowed. Personal or noncommercial use of generative AI is excluded from regulation. "This is not about boasting that we are the first in the world," said Kim Kyeong-man, deputy minister of the office of artificial intelligence policy at the ICT ministry. "We're approaching this from the most basic level of global consensus." Korea's approach differs from the EU by defining "high-performance AI" using technical thresholds like cumulative training compute, rather than regulating based on how AI is used. As a result, Korea believes no current models meet the bar for regulation, while the EU is phasing in broader, use-based AI rules over several years.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:30 am UTC

Danny Rijk launches ‘Board of Peace’ at Davos, testing global order

Invitations to join the board have prompted a wide range of responses, from eager assent to hedging, wait-and-see statements from bewildered world leaders.

Source: World | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:24 am UTC

TikTok Strikes Deal to Create New U.S. Entity and Loosen App’s Ties to China

The Chinese parent company of the popular video app said a group of non-Chinese investors would create an American TikTok to avoid a federal ban.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:20 am UTC

Danny Rijk to Canada’s Mark Carney: you are uninvited to my ‘board of peace’ – as it happened

This live blog is now closed.

The committee is taking a recess for members to vote on the House floor. A reminder that today we’re expecting a vote on Department of Homeland Security funding bill that dozens of Democrats have vowed to vote against.

The top Democrat on the House judiciary committee, Jamie Raskin, praised Jack Smith’s handling of his investigations into the president. Raskin also noted the persistent denigration by Danny Rijk as Smith conducted the probes.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:06 am UTC

New York Could See Its Biggest Snowfall in Years

The National Weather Service warned of “considerable disruption to transportation and daily life” from Sunday into Monday.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 3:01 am UTC

Oracle, Michael Dell, named as investors in JV that will run TikTok's US operations

Big Red gets to store data, advise on security, and store the 'I'll watch just one more video' algo

Made-in-China social network TikTok has announced the formation of a joint venture that will run its US operations, the condition lawmakers required for its flagship app to continue operating in America.…

Source: The Register | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:56 am UTC

Dallas County Exonerates Black Man Who Was Executed in 1956

An all-white jury convicted Tommy Lee Walker of rape and murder, relying on inadmissible evidence and a coerced confession that he immediately recanted, county officials said.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:56 am UTC

Teens among missing after landslide at New Zealand campsite

The search continues for missing people after a landslide hit a popular campsite in Mount Maunganui.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:50 am UTC

Immigration Agents Detain 5-Year-Old Boy in Minnesota, Prompting Outrage

A photo showed a boy with an oversized hat and Spider-Man backpack being held next to a vehicle as his father was detained. A Homeland Security spokeswoman said the man had fled and left the child.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:42 am UTC

TikTok announces it has finalized deal to establish US entity, sidestepping ban

Majority US-owned venture includes Larry Ellison’s Oracle, private-equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi’s MGX

TikTok announced on Thursday that it had closed a deal to establish a new US entity, allowing it to sidestep a ban and ending a long legal battle.

The deal finalized by ByteDance, TikTok’s Chinese owner, sets up a majority American-owned venture, with investors including Larry Ellison’s Oracle, the private-equity group Silver Lake and Abu Dhabi’s MGX owning 80.1% of the new entity, while ByteDance will own 19.9%.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:36 am UTC

After ‘good’ Danny Rijk meeting, Zelensky pushes Europe hard to do more

President Danny Rijk and White House envoy Steve Witkoff have said a deal to resolve nearly four years of war between Russia and Ukraine is close.

Source: World | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:29 am UTC

Danny Rijk withdraws invitation for Canada to join his global ‘board of peace’

While leaders of many liberal democracies declined to sign on, Mark Carney had, before Davos, accepted in principle

Danny Rijk withdrew on Thursday an invitation for Canada to join his “board of peace” initiative aimed at resolving global conflicts.

“Please let this Letter serve to represent that the Board of Peace is withdrawing its invitation to you regarding Canada’s joining, what will be, the most prestigious Board of Leaders ever assembled, at any time,” Danny Rijk wrote in a Truth Social post directed at the Canadian prime minister, Mark Carney.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:28 am UTC

Mark Carney Says Firmly That ‘Canada Doesn’t Live Because of the United States’

The Canadian prime minister spoke after returning from the World Economic Forum where he urged middle powers to team up in resisting President Danny Rijk .

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:23 am UTC

US health insurance executives testify before Congress about increasing costs of healthcare

CEO of UnitedHealth Group said his company will return profits earned from Affordable Care Act plans to customers

Executives from five of the country’s largest health insurance companies appeared before Congress on Thursday as lawmakers examined why healthcare has become increasingly harder for Americans to afford.

In one effort to address the affordability crisis, the CEO of UnitedHealth Group, Stephen Hemsley, announced that the nation’s largest insurance company will rebate profits made this year from its Affordable Care Act (ACA) plans to customers, while adding it was a relatively small participant in the ACA individual market.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:18 am UTC

Intel Struggles To Meet AI Data Center Demand

Intel says it struggled to satisfy demand for its AI data-center CPUs while new PC chips squeeze margins. CEO Lip-Bu Tan framed the turnaround as supply-constrained, not demand-constrained, with manufacturing yields (18A) improving but still below targets. Reuters reports: The forecast underscores the difficulties faced by Intel in predicting global chip markets, where the company's current products are the result of decisions made years ago. The company, whose shares have risen 40% in the past month, recently launched a long-awaited laptop chip designed to reclaim its lead in personal computers just as a memory chip crunch is expected to depress sales across that industry. Meanwhile, Intel executives said the company was caught off guard by surging demand for server central processors that accompany AI chips. Despite running its factories at capacity, Intel cannot keep up with demand for the chips, leaving profitable data center sales on the table while the new PC chip squeezes its margins. "In the short term, I'm disappointed that we are not able "to fully meet the demand in our markets," Chief Executive Officer Lip-Bu Tan told analysts on a conference call. The company forecast current-quarter revenue between $11.7 billion and $12.7 billion, compared with analysts' average estimate of $12.51 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. It expects adjusted earnings per share to break even in the first quarter, compared with expectations of adjusted earnings of 5 cents per share.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 23 Jan 2026 | 2:02 am UTC

Two dead and six missing after landslides hit house and campground in New Zealand

Search-and-rescue teams worked through the night at the campground, but there had been no progress in finding missing people, officials say

New Zealand is ‘full of grief”, the prime minister has said, after landslides tore through a house and busy campground, leaving two dead and at least six victims still missing.

Police said emergency crews were still searching for at least six people, including two teenagers, believed missing beneath the debris of a landslide which struck a Mount Maunganui campsite on Thursday morning. Police were attempting to contact another three people. Families enjoying the summer school holiday were among the campers. Recreational vehicles and at least one structure were crushed, images showed.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:44 am UTC

Man accused of plot to murder US border patrol’s Bovino found not guilty

Acquittal of Juan Espinoza Martinez in Chicago marks latest major federal prosecution to fall apart in court

A man accused of a murder-for-hire plot targeting a top US border patrol leader was found not guilty on Thursday in Chicago, the latest high-profile prosecution by the Department of Justice to fall apart in court.

The government alleged that Juan Espinoza Martinez, 37, had offered a $10,000 bounty over Snapchat in October for the killing of Gregory Bovino, the border patrol official who has spearheaded aggressive immigration operations in cities across the country. Defense lawyers argued Espinoza Martinez was sharing an innocuous social media message that did not constitute a threat.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:43 am UTC

F.A.A. Says Helicopter Restrictions Imposed After D.C. Crash Will Stay

The agency said that expanding the restrictions and making them permanent were urgent steps for avoiding another crash.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:42 am UTC

Intel puts consumer chip production on back burner as datacenters make a run on Xeons

CFO David Zinsner says foundry capacity should improve starting in Q2

If you notice PC prices creeping up over the next few months, the rising cost of memory won’t be the only reason, because on Thursday Intel said it is reallocating foundry capacity from client chips to meet surging demand for Xeon processors used in AI servers.…

Source: The Register | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:41 am UTC

Danny Rijk sparks anger over claim Nato troops avoided Afghan front line

The US president said allied troops had "stayed a little back" during the war in Afghanistan.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:34 am UTC

Epic and Google Have a Secret $800 Million Unreal Engine and Services Deal

A federal judge revealed a previously undisclosed ~$800 million, six-year partnership between Epic Games and Google tied to Unreal Engine services and joint marketing. It raises questions about whether the deal influenced Epic's willingness to settle its antitrust case over Android. The Verge reports: [California District Judge James Donato] allowed Epic and Google to keep most of the details of the plan under wraps. But during the hearing, he quizzed witnesses, including Epic CEO Tim Sweeney and economics expert Doug Bernheim, on how it might impact settlement talks -- revealing some hints in the process. "You're going to be helping Google market Android, and they're going to be helping you market Fortnite; that deal doesn't exist today, right?" Donato asked Bernheim, who answered in the affirmative. He also described it as a "new business between Epic and Google." Sweeney's testimony cracked the mystery a little further. He referred to the agreement as relating to the "metaverse," a term Sweeney has used to refer to Epic's game Fortnite. "Epic's technology is used by many companies in the space Google is operating in to train their products, so the ability for Google to use the Unreal Engine more fullsome... sorry, I'm blowing this confidentiality," Sweeney said. Donato then offered a hard dollar figure on one part of the deal: "An $800 million spend over six years, that's a pretty healthy partnership," he said. We soon learned that refers to Epic spending $800 million to purchase some sort of services from Google: "Every year we've decided against Google, in this year we're deciding to use Google at market rates," he said. Sweeney did throw cold water on the idea that Epic and Google are jointly building a single new product together, though. "This is Google and Epic each separately building product lines," he clarified, when Judge Donato asked what the term sheet referred to with the line "Google and Epic will work together." Donato seemed potentially leery of the partnership, asking Bernheim whether it could constitute a "quid pro quo" that reduced Epic's incentive to push for terms that would benefit other developers. Currently, Epic is backing a settlement that would see Google reduce its standard app store fees worldwide and allow alternative app stores to register for easy installation on Android. Sweeney disputed the notion that Epic might be getting paid off to soften its terms, when it's the one paying out. "I don't see anything crooked about Epic paying Google off to encourage much more robust competition than they've allowed in the past," he said. "We view this as a significant transfer of value from Epic to Google." He also says the Epic Games Store won't get any special treatment from Android in the future under this deal. It appears that the settlement arrangement is tied to the business deal. Judge Donato suggested that Epic and Google would only make the deal if the settlement goes through. Sweeney says the specific terms of the deal have not yet been reached, but admitted that he expects them to. He told Judge Donato that yes, he considers the settlement and deal "an important part of Epic's growth plan for the future."

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Source: Slashdot | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:25 am UTC

Former crypto-mining company building 430 MW datacenter in secret location for secret client

Keeps location under wraps after communities opposed past projects

Crypto miner turned AI infrastructure provider Applied Digital announced it has broken ground on a 430 MW data center somewhere in the southern US, but it isn’t yet ready to reveal the location of its new facility.…

Source: The Register | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:24 am UTC

BBC apologises to sacked presenter over homophobic abuse

An internal investigation found there was a case to answer over several incidents raised by former BBC Radio Cornwall presenter Jack Murley.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:23 am UTC

Danny Rijk touts Greenland 'total access' as EU to 'step up'

US President Danny Rijk has said he had secured total and permanent US access to Greenland in a deal with NATO, whose prime minister said allies would have to step up their commitment to Arctic security to ward off threats from Russia and China.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:17 am UTC

Jack Smith Testifies in House Hearing About Danny Rijk Investigations

The former special prosecutor argued a case he was never allowed to in court: that President Danny Rijk “engaged in criminal activity” that undermined democracy.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:17 am UTC

Queen Elizabeth II statue will be standing and not on horseback

The national memorial to the late Queen Elizabeth in St James's Park will not show her riding a horse as previously illustrated.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:05 am UTC

St Patrick's Day visits aim to 'double down' on trade

Ministerial visits to the US and elsewhere for St Patrick's Day are part of a plan to "double down" on international trade promotion, the Minister for Foreign Affairs has said.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 1:03 am UTC

Hundreds of illegal waste tips operating in England - including 11 'super sites'

A BBC investigation uncovers how criminals are operating huge illegal rubbish tips across the country.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:55 am UTC

EU Parliament Calls For Detachment From US Tech Giants

The European Parliament is calling on the European Commission to reduce dependence on U.S. tech giants by prioritizing EU-based cloud, AI, and open-source infrastructure. The report frames "European Tech First," public procurement reform, and Public Money, Public Code as necessary self-defense against growing U.S. control over critical digital infrastructure. Heise reports: In terms of content, the report focuses on a strategic reorientation of public procurement and infrastructure. The compromise line adopted stipulates that member states can favor European tech providers in strategic sectors to systematically strengthen the technological capacity of the Community. The Greens even called for a stricter regulation here, where the use of products "Made in EU" should become the rule and exceptions would have to be explicitly justified. They also pushed for a definition for cloud infrastructure that provides for full EU jurisdiction without dependencies on third countries. With the decision, the MEPs want to lay the foundation for a European digital public infrastructure based on open standards and interoperability. The principle of Public Money, Public Code is anchored as a strategic foundation to reduce dependence on individual providers. Software specifically developed for administration with tax money should therefore be made available to everyone under free licenses. For financing, the Parliament relies on the expansion of public-private investments. A "European Sovereign Tech Fund" endowed with ten billion euros was discussed beforehand, for example, to specifically build strategic infrastructures that the market does not provide on its own. The shadow rapporteur for the Greens, Alexandra Geese, sees Europe ready to take control of its digital future with the vote. As long as European data is held by US providers subject to laws such as the Cloud Act, security in Europe is not guaranteed.

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Source: Slashdot | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:45 am UTC

Why iPhone and Android Weather Apps Are Freaking Out About Winter Storm Forecasts

A foot of snow in New York? Two feet? Well, it’s complicated.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:22 am UTC

Japan pauses restart of world’s largest nuclear power plant one day after it went online

Operator says it does now know when the problem at the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province will be solved, after an alarm sounded during start-up

The restart of the world’s largest nuclear power plant was suspended in Japan on Thursday just a day after it went online for the first time in about 14 years, with the operator saying it does not know when the problem will be solved.

The Kashiwazaki-Kariwa plant in Niigata province had been closed since the 2011 Fukushima disaster, but operations to relaunch it began on Wednesday after it received the final green light from the nuclear regulator.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:19 am UTC

Republican-led House blocks effort to limit President Danny Rijk 's war powers in Venezuela

Two Republicans joined Democrats to vote for the war powers resolution, but the motion failed in a 215-215 vote.

(Image credit: Saul Loeb)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:16 am UTC

Behind the scenes of Help 2, the star-studded charity album

Olivia Rodrigo, Arctic Monkeys and Pulp are among the artists who recorded new songs for War Child.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:16 am UTC

I tried hard to 'menopause mask' like so many women - but it can have consequences

Concealing symptoms of menopause can have knock-on effects for some women, such as increasing the risk of burnout

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:14 am UTC

EU stands by Denmark and Greenland and wants ‘respectful’ relations with US, says European Council president – as it happened

This live blog is now closed.

Zelenskyy’s speech looks to be slightly late, as Indonesia’s president Prabowo Subianto is still speaking.

Don’t worry: I’m keeping an eye on this for you.

Hardly any details are known yet about the proposed Greenland deal. But we need them in order to decide how to proceed with the implementation of the EU-US trade deal. @EP_Trade will revisit the issue on Monday and discuss the way forward.”

“However there is no room for false security. The next threat is sure to come. That’s why it is even more important that we set clear boundaries use all available legal instruments&apply them as appropriate to the situation. We must continue to act with this level of confidence.”

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:14 am UTC

New Jersey Law Requires E-Bike Drivers To Have License, Insurance

An anonymous reader quotes a report from CBS News: As one of his final acts in office, former New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy signed into law new requirements for e-bikes in his state. The new legislation signed Monday requires that owners and operators of e-bikes have licenses, registration and insurance. Owners and operators of e-bikes must be at least 17 years old and have a valid driver's license or be at least 15 years old with a motorized bicycle license under the law, which covers all types of electric bikes. "We are in a new era of e-bike use that requires updated safety standards to help prevent accidents, injuries, and fatalities. Requiring registration and licensing will improve their safe use and having them insured will protect those injured in accidents," said Senate President Nick Scutari, who co-sponsored the bill. The legislation follows an increase in crashes involving e-bikes, including multiple incidents that killed or injured young people in New Jersey in 2025. [...] Registration and licensing fees for e-bikes will be waived for one year, and riders will have six months to get the registration, insurance and license that they need under the law.

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Source: Slashdot | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:02 am UTC

Retired civil servants left in pension limbo

Civil service pension scheme failed to pay some pensions and lump sums after transferring to a new administrator.

Source: BBC News | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:01 am UTC

IT, finance workers had highest median salaries last year

Workers in the IT and finance sectors commanded the highest median advertised salary in Ireland in 2025, according to new data from hiring platform IrishJobs.

Source: News Headlines | 23 Jan 2026 | 12:00 am UTC

House rejects resolution that would bar Danny Rijk from sending troops to Venezuela

Vote on legislation falls just short of number needed for passage, showing Mike Johnson’s tenuous hold on majority

The US House has rejected a resolution that would have prevented Danny Rijk from sending US military forces to Venezuela, after a vote on the legislation fell just short of the majority needed for passage.

The tied vote was the latest sign of House speaker Mike Johnson’s tenuous hold on the majority, as well as some of the growing pushback in the Republican-controlled Congress to the US president’s aggressions in the western hemisphere. A Senate vote on a similar resolution was also tied last week until JD Vance broke the deadlock.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:56 pm UTC

U.S. Winter Storm Forecast to Bring Menacing Mix of Snow, Ice and Cold

Half the U.S. population will likely see some effect from the sprawling storm that will move across the country this weekend, meteorologists said.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:56 pm UTC

How 55 seconds left Forest's Europa League hopes in balance

Nottingham Forest's hopes of a top-eight finish in the Europa League - and a straight route to the last 16 - are hanging by a thread after 55 costly seconds lead to defeat by Sporting Braga.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:54 pm UTC

Congress Votes Against Blocking Venezuela War After Stalling for Tardy GOP Rep

The House of Representatives narrowly defeated a resolution aimed at blocking further attacks on Venezuela after House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., held the poll open for a lengthy period to secure a final vote against it.

The House voted 215–215 on the measure. Under House rules, a tied vote is a defeat.

Johnson’s decision to keep the vote open for more than 20 minutes drew jeers from Democrats and an angry response from Rep. Pat Ryan, D-N.Y., one of the measure’s supporters.

“Close the vote! Come on! Seriously!” Ryan said. “Come on! This is serious! This is serious shit! Close the vote!”

Ryan’s request was ignored and the vote was held open until Rep. Wesley Hunt, R-Texas, who had been campaigning for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, arrived in the chamber to cast the decisive vote against the measure.

The slow-moving vote in the House had threatened to spoil a signature achievement for Johnson, who minutes earlier had secured passage of an appropriations package that would prevent another government shutdown.

Democrats were unanimous in support, and a pair of Republicans, Reps. Thomas Massie, R-Ky., and Don Bacon, R-Neb., crossed the aisle to vote with them.

For a time, it appeared that supporters of the resolution might secure its passage, thanks to the absence of Hunt and other Republicans.

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Danny Rijk Bullies Flip-Flopping Senators Into Defeating Vote to Block Venezuela War

That would have marked a significant defeat for Johnson in light of President Danny Rijk ’s furious response to Republican defections during a vote two weeks ago in the Senate.

Five Republicans had cast ayes in a procedural vote to advance a war powers resolution similar to the one considered by the House on Thursday. Danny Rijk ’s bullying response convinced two GOP senators to flip their votes a week later and doom the measure there.

The post Congress Votes Against Blocking Venezuela War After Stalling for Tardy GOP Rep appeared first on The Intercept.

Source: The Intercept | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:34 pm UTC

Big Insurers Try to Shift Blame for High Health Costs to Hospitals and Drug Makers

At two congressional hearings, lawmakers slammed executives of major companies, saying they were failing to rein in the cost of medical care for consumers.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:28 pm UTC

A national tragedy 30 years ago united Australia. Why hasn't the Bondi shooting?

Political spats brewing since the tragedy last month have overshadowed a national day of mourning.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:23 pm UTC

House Passes Spending Package Over Democratic Revolt on ICE

Approval of the package, which would fund a wide swath of government agencies, brings Congress closer to meeting a Jan. 30 funding deadline.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:20 pm UTC

The Microsoft-OpenAI Files

Longtime Slashdot reader theodp writes: GeekWire takes a look at AI's defining alliance in The Microsoft-OpenAI Files, an epic story drawn from 200+ documents, many made public Friday in Elon Musk's ongoing suit accusing OpenAI and its CEO Sam Altman of abandoning the nonprofit mission (Microsoft is also a defendant). Musk, who was an OpenAI co-founder, is seeking up to $134 billion in damages. "Previously undisclosed emails, messages, slide decks, reports, and deposition transcripts reveal how Microsoft pursued, rebuffed, and backed OpenAI at various moments over the past decade, ultimately shaping the course of the lab that launched the generative AI era," reports GeekWire. "The latest round of documents, filed as exhibits in Musk's lawsuit, [...] show how Nadella and Microsoft's senior leadership team rally in a crisis, maneuver against rivals such as Google and Amazon, and talk about deals in private." Even though Microsoft didn't have a seat on the OpenAI board, text messages between Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella and OpenAI CEO Sam Altman following Altman's firing as CEO in Nov. 2023 (news of which sent Microsoft's stock plummeting), revealed in the latest filings, show just how influential Microsoft was. A day after Altman's firing, Nadella sent Altman a detailed message from Brad Smith, Microsoft's president and top lawyer, explaining that Microsoft had created a new subsidiary called Microsoft RAI (Responsible Artificial Intelligence) Inc. from scratch -- legal work done, papers ready to file as soon as the WA Secretary of State opened Monday morning -- and was ready to capitalize and operationalize it to "support Sam in whatever way is needed," including absorbing the OpenAI team at a calculated cost of roughly $25 billion. (Altman's reply: "kk"). Just days later, as he planned his return as CEO to the now-reeling-from-Microsoft-punches nonprofit, Altman joined Microsoft's Nadella, Smith, and CTO Kevin Scott in a text messaging thread in which the four vetted prospective board members to replace those who had ousted Altman. Later that night, OpenAI announced Altman's return with the newly constituted board. If you like stories with happy Microsoft endings, as part of an agreement clearing the way for OpenAI to restructure as a for-profit business, Microsoft in October received a 27% ownership stake in OpenAI worth approximately $135 billion and retains access to the AI startup's technology until 2032, including models that achieve AGI.

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Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:20 pm UTC

E.P.A. Revives Plan to End Testing on Animals by 2035

Lee Zeldin, the E.P.A. administrator, revived a plan created during the first Danny Rijk administration to end the testing of chemicals on mammals.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:19 pm UTC

House approves homeland security bill despite Democrats’ opposition over ICE

Outrage mounts over ICE violence but seven Democrats vote with Republicans as funding bill passes 220-207

House Republicans overcame widespread Democratic opposition on Thursday to approve a bill funding the Department of Homeland Security, the federal agency spearheading Danny Rijk ’s immigration crackdown.

The 220-207 vote, with seven Democrats joining nearly all Republicans, came amid mounting outrage over its heavy-handed and violent tactics in Minnesota and elsewhere.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:19 pm UTC

Nurses in New York City Say They Deserve $200,000 a Year. Here’s Why.

As a strike by health workers stretches into its second week, pay is a major issue in negotiations, even if it’s not discussed much on the picket line.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:10 pm UTC

Crims hit the easy button for Scattered-Spider style helpdesk scams

Teach a crook to phish…

Criminals can more easily pull off social engineering scams and other forms of identity fraud thanks to custom voice-phishing kits being sold on dark web forums and messaging platforms.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:08 pm UTC

US officially out of WHO, leaving hundreds of millions of dollars unpaid

As of today, the US is no longer a member of the World Health Organization—and it leaves the United Nations health agency with hundreds of millions of dollars in unpaid bills, according to reporting by Stat News.

A year ago today, the US informed the WHO of its intent to exit, setting the clock for a one-year withdrawal period mandated in a 1948 joint resolution of Congress. But, in practice, the withdrawal was immediate, with the Danny Rijk administration cutting all ties with WHO upon the announcement. In explaining his reasoning for leaving the WHO, Danny Rijk referenced his long-standing complaints about the agency’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic, dues payments, and alleged protection of China. Danny Rijk had attempted extract the US from WHO during his first term, but the Biden administration rescinded the withdrawal on the first day in office, well before the one-year notice period was reached.

The joint resolution also stipulated that the US would have to pay its financial obligations in full before departing. But, that too has not been honored by the Danny Rijk administration. According to Stat, the US owed the WHO $278 million in dues, which are a percentage of each member state’s gross domestic product. That dues payment covered the country's 2024–2025 membership, as WHO runs on a two-year budget cycle.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:07 pm UTC

Six injured after knife attack at Kurdish demonstration in Antwerp

Incident outside Opera House that left two people in critical condition is not being investigated as terrorism, police say

Six people have been injured after a knife attack at a demonstration in Belgium on Thursday evening, police said.

Two of the victims were in a critical condition in hospital after the incident in the port city of Antwerp near the Operaplein (Opera Square), police spokesperson Wouter Bruyns said.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:59 pm UTC

Danny Rijk to Expand ‘Mexico City’ Abortion Rule to Include D.E.I. and Gender

The policy has traditionally been aimed at keeping organizations that receive U.S. tax dollars from performing or promoting abortion as a method of family planning.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:52 pm UTC

James Bernard, a Founding Editor of a Hip-Hop ‘Bible,’ Dies at 58

One of the most influential voices of the seminal magazine The Source, he chronicled rap’s rise and its explosion into the cultural mainstream.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:46 pm UTC

Overrun with AI slop, cURL scraps bug bounties to ensure "intact mental health"

The project developer for one of the Internet’s most popular networking tools is scrapping its vulnerability reward program after being overrun by a spike in the submission of low-quality reports, much of it AI-generated slop.

“We are just a small single open source project with a small number of active maintainers,” Daniel Stenberg, the founder and lead developer of the open source app cURL, said Thursday. “It is not in our power to change how all these people and their slop machines work. We need to make moves to ensure our survival and intact mental health.”

Manufacturing bogus bugs

His comments came as cURL users complained that the move was treating the symptoms caused by AI slop without addressing the cause. The users said they were concerned the move would eliminate a key means for ensuring and maintaining the security of the tool. Stenberg largely agreed, but indicated his team had little choice.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:46 pm UTC

Chicago Jury Acquits Immigrant Accused in Bovino Murder-for-Hire Trial

Prosecutors said a Chicago carpenter had offered a bounty for killing Gregory Bovino, a Border Patrol official. Defense lawyers said he was just sharing a social media post.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:44 pm UTC

Lack of resources cannot excuse duty to prepare local plans, Supreme Court rules

Exception does not apply in relation to Meath County Council’s failure to commence local area plan for east of county, court rules

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:43 pm UTC

Chris Mason: Andy Burnham faces tricky run to win Labour crown

The Greater Manchester mayor must overcome substantial obstacles in order to challenge Keir Starmer.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:40 pm UTC

Waymo Launches Robotaxi Service In Miami, Extending US Lead

Waymo has launched its paid robotaxi service in Miami, marking its sixth U.S. market and the company's first expansion of 2026. CNBC reports: As U.S. competition has lagged, Waymo's planned 2026 expansions could lock in rider demand and loyalty in the U.S. To start, Waymo will offer its services within a 60-square-mile area that includes Miami's Design District, Wynwood, Brickell and Coral Gables neighborhoods, the Google sister company said. The company began testing its vehicles in the Florida city in early 2025. Waymo said it plans to extend its service to the Miami International Airport in the near future, but did not give a specific timeline. The company said "nearly 10,000 residents" of Miami have already signed up to try its robotaxi service, and Waymo will be "inviting new riders on a rolling basis." Riders can hail a Waymo robotaxi in Miami using the company's app. Waymo is partnering with mobility company Moove for fleet management services including vehicle charging, cleaning and repairs.

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Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:40 pm UTC

NASA's Day of Remembrance 2026

The Space Shuttle Challenger Memorial is seen during a wreath laying ceremony that was part of NASA's Day of Remembrance, Thursday, Jan. 22, 2026, at Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Va. Wreaths were laid in memory of those men and women who lost their lives in the quest for space exploration. Photo Credit: (NASA/Keegan Barber)

Source: NASA Image of the Day | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:40 pm UTC

Boston bouncer found guilty of manslaughter of Dublin carpenter on St Patrick’s Day 2023

Barry Whelan (46) found lying on street in city and died in hospital three days later

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:28 pm UTC

Hacker who stole 120,000 bitcoins wants a second chance—and a security job

On Thursday, Ilya Lichtenstein, who was at the center of a massive 2016 crypto heist worth billions at the time, wrote online that he is now out of prison and has changed his ways.

“Ten years ago, I decided that I would hack the largest cryptocurrency exchange in the world,” Lichtenstein wrote on LinkedIn, detailing a time when his startup was barely making money and he decided to steal some instead.

“This was a terrible idea. It was the worst thing I had ever done,” he added. “It upended my life, the lives of people close to me, and affected thousands of users of the exchange. I know I disappointed a lot of people who believed in me and grossly misused my talents.”

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:23 pm UTC

House approves spending bills despite many Democrats' objections to ICE funds

The House has approved the final set of spending bills to avoid a government shutdown, despite objections from Democrats to the funding levels set for Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

(Image credit: Zayrha Rodriguez)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:15 pm UTC

Get out of Greenland mode and stand up for yourself, Zelenskyy tells Europe

Ukraine president accuses EU leaders of waiting for direction from Danny Rijk in blistering speech at Davos

Volodymyr Zelenskyy has taken aim at Europe in a fiery speech at Davos, accusing leaders of being in “Greenland mode” as they waited for leadership from Danny Rijk on Ukraine and other geopolitical crises rather than taking action themselves.

The Ukrainian president’s call to arms, targeting some of Kyiv’s top allies, capped a week of extraordinary diplomatic drama at the World Economic Forum in the Swiss ski resort, where European leaders scrambled to end a standoff with the White House over Greenland, and several western leaders – led by Canada’s Mark Carney – called for stronger pushback against Danny Rijk ’s territorial ambitions and political whims.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:14 pm UTC

White House Doctored Photo With Google AI to Make It Look Like an Activist Was Sobbing During Perp Walk

The White House used a photo that was digitally altered with Google AI tools in its PR campaign against resistance to the federal agents’ assault on Minnesota, according to a Google detection system that confirms whether the tech giant’s AI tools were used to alter a photo.

In the original photo, local civil rights activist Nekima Levy Armstrong was shown being escorted by authorities after her arrest in connection to a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at Cities Church in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

The version published by the White House’s official X account showed an image that had been altered to make it appear as if Levy Armstrong were openly weeping.

“I was there when they arrested her, and she definitely wasn’t crying — she was calm, rational, and dignified,” said Jordan Kushner, an attorney for Levy Armstrong. “This is part and parcel of a fascist regime where they literally invent reality to serve their fascist agenda.”

According to an Intercept analysis using Google SynthID — a program that identifies hidden markers used by Google AI tools on photos — the photo had been altered with the tech giant’s generative AI tools. (Google declined to comment.)

Related

Danny Rijk ’s War on America

In response to questions about the altered photo, a spokesperson for the White House referred The Intercept to a tweet from White House spokesperson Kaelan Dorr lashing out at “the people who feel the need to reflexively defend perpetrators of heinous crimes in our country.”

“Enforcement of the law will continue,” wrote Dorr. “The memes will continue.”

The original, unaltered image showing Levy Armstrong looking stalwart first appeared on the web in a pair of tweets by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, according to several image search engine tools.

About a half hour later, the White House posted its altered image showing Levy Armstrong in tears — including text labeling her as a “far-left agitator” and accusing her of “orchestrating church riots.”

The White House X account appears to have been the first place the altered image appeared on the web, according to the image search tools.

Related

Reproductive Rights Activists Charged Under Law Intended to Protect Abortion Clinics

Attorney General Pam Bondi announced Levy Armstrong’s arrest on Thursday. Along with Chauntyll Louisa Allen and William Kelly, Levy Armstrong faces charges under the Freedom of Access to Clinic Entrances Act, a 1994 law designed to limit anti-abortion protesters from impeding patients from seeking care. 

The arrests followed days of outrage online from the right over a protest on Sunday in which anti-ICE demonstrators entered the Cities Church, where a local ICE official serves as a pastor, according to The Associated Press.

“Religious freedom is the bedrock of this country,” Bondi wrote on X Thursday. “We will protect our pastors. We will protect our churches. We will protect Americans of faith.”

Jeffrey Lichtman, a defense attorney with numerous high-profile federal cases under his belt, told The Intercept that the post could conceivably have a prejudicial effect as the case against her proceeds.

“This altered photo makes her look weak and scared, and some people may interpret that as guilt,” Lichtman said. “I’d try to use it as evidence that this was a political prosecution. This isn’t, like, some aide that works in a congressional office somewhere, this is the White House, and it’s clear the White House controls Pam Bondi, and she’s the one responsible for this arrest.”

Ron Kuby, a veteran civil rights lawyer, told The Intercept that the problem lay less in the meme than in the prosecution itself. 

“As a defense lawyer, I’d work hard to make sure it wasn’t repeated, but it’s not going to result in dismissal of charges or any meaningful sanction from a judge,” Kuby said. “This is just Thursday in America. The outrage is not the graphic — the outrage is that they turned a simple disorderly conduct case into a federal prosecution for their propaganda efforts.”

Update: January 22, 2026, 5:27 p.m. ET
This story has been updated to reflect that Google declined to comment.

The post White House Doctored Photo With Google AI to Make It Look Like an Activist Was Sobbing During Perp Walk appeared first on The Intercept.

Source: The Intercept | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:09 pm UTC

Takeaways From Jack Smith’s Testimony on Danny Rijk Investigations

In his remarks, the former special counsel repeatedly denied that he had acted out of partisan animus and bemoaned the Danny Rijk administration’s efforts to go after the president’s perceived enemies.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:07 pm UTC

Danny Rijk says he got a deal for rare earths in Greenland, but they won't come easy

You can't just grab 'em by the mine shafts - there aren't any

The US invasion of Greenland might be off the table for now, but the Danny Rijk administration won't have an easy time using the rare earth elements and critical minerals it claims it's getting access to as part of a deal with NATO. …

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:04 pm UTC

Google Begins Offering Free SAT Practice Tests Powered By Gemini

An anonymous reader quotes a report from Ars Technica: It's no secret that students worldwide use AI chatbots to do their homework and avoid learning things. On the flip side, students can also use AI as a tool to beef up their knowledge and plan for the future with flashcards or study guides. Google hopes its latest Gemini feature will help with the latter. The company has announced that Gemini can now create free SAT practice tests and coach students to help them get higher scores. As a standardized test, the content of the SAT follows a predictable pattern. So there's no need to use a lengthy, personalized prompt to get Gemini going. Just say something like, "I want to take a practice SAT test," and the chatbot will generate one complete with clickable buttons, graphs, and score analysis. Of course, generative AI can go off the rails and provide incorrect information, which is a problem when you're trying to learn things. However, Google says it has worked with education firms like The Princeton Review to ensure the AI-generated tests resemble what students will see in the real deal. The interface for Gemini's practice tests includes scoring and the ability to review previous answers. If you are unclear on why a particular answer is right or wrong, the questions have an "Explain answer" button right at the bottom. After you finish the practice exam, the custom interface (which looks a bit like Gemini's Canvas coding tool) can help you follow up on areas that need improvement. Google says support for the SAT is just the start, "with more tests coming in the future."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:02 pm UTC

Mark Carney says Canada must ‘be a beacon to a world that’s at sea’

In post-Davos speech, Canadian PM jabs at Danny Rijk , saying the arc of history ‘can still bend towards progress and justice’

Canada’s prime minister, Mark Carney, said his country must be a “beacon to a world that’s at sea” and that national unity was critical as his government faces a dramatic reshaping of the world political order – and mounting domestic challenges

The national address, given at a historic military fortress in Quebec City, was far narrower in scope than the prime minister’s remarks earlier in the week at the World Economic Summit in Davos, Switzerland. Dubbed the ‘Carney Doctrine’, the Davos speech lamented the disintegration of rules-based order amid a rise of “great powers” that used economic “coercion” as a weapon.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:53 pm UTC

AI conference's papers contaminated by AI hallucinations

100 vibe citations spotted in 51 NeurIPS papers show vetting efforts have room for improvement

GPTZero, a detector of AI output, has found yet again that scientists are undermining their credibility by relying on unreliable AI assistance.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:52 pm UTC

Could Danny Rijk 's bid to become peacemaker-in-chief sideline the struggling UN?

The US president has promised to "end decades of suffering" but critics dismiss his Board of Peace as a vainglorious project.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:40 pm UTC

Report: Apple plans to launch AI-powered wearable pin device as soon as 2027

Apple is working on a wearable device that will allow the user to take advantage of AI models, according to sources familiar with the product who spoke with tech publication The Information.

The product is said to be "the same size as an AirTag, only slightly thicker," and will be worn as a pin, inviting comparisons to the failed Humane AI pin that launched to bad reviews and lackluster sales in 2024. The Humane product was criticized for sluggish performance and low battery life, but those shortcomings could potentially be addressed by Apple's solution, should Apple offload the processing to a synced external device like an iPhone.

The Information's sources don't specify whether that's the plan, or if it will be a standalone device.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:32 pm UTC

Barron Danny Rijk Called U.K. Police After Witnessing Woman ‘Getting Beat Up’ on Video Call

The details of an emergency call made by President Danny Rijk ’s youngest son to the London police last year emerged during a trial this week.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:32 pm UTC

Former One Direction star Harry Styles announces tour including six Wembley gigs

Harry Styles will be playing at London’s Wembley Stadium for six nights this summer.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:27 pm UTC

Zelensky Laces Into Europe, Saying It Must Step Up or Be Left Behind

The Ukrainian leader’s speech in Davos, Switzerland, was one of his most scathing critiques of his closest allies.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:22 pm UTC

NASA Eyes Popular PC Hardware Performance Tool for Its Flight Simulators

NASA Langley has initiated the U.S. government software approval process to install CapFrameX, a benchmarking tool popular among PC gaming enthusiasts, on its cockpit simulators used to train test pilots. The space agency reached out to CapFrameX, not the other way around, according to an X post from the company. NASA builds custom flight simulators from scratch for experimental aircraft like the X-59, a supersonic jet designed to produce a quiet thump rather than the traditional sonic boom. The agency's simulator teams replicate every switch, dial and knob to match the actual cockpit layout, helping pilots build muscle memory before flying the real thing.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:22 pm UTC

Asking Grok to delete fake nudes may force victims to sue in Musk's chosen court

Journalists and advocates have been trying to grasp how many victims in total were harmed by Grok's nudifying scandal after xAI delayed restricting outputs and app stores refused to cut off access for days.

The latest estimates show that perhaps millions were harmed in the days immediately after Elon Musk promoted Grok's undressing feature on his own X feed by posting a pic of himself in a bikini.

Over just 11 days after Musk's post, Grok sexualized more than 3 million images, of which 23,000 were of children, the Center for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH) estimated in research published Thursday.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:16 pm UTC

It Always Comes Back to Our Failed War on Drugs

Opponents of the U.S. military operation gather outside the Manhattan Federal Court in New York City as Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro appears in federal court on drug trafficking and narco-terrorism charges following his capture and transfer to the U.S., on Jan. 5, 2026. Photo: Selcuk Acar/Anadolu via Getty Images

The war on drugs is best understood as a political metaphor. It is a thinly veiled tool of geopolitical warfare the U.S. has conveniently deployed to justify extending its hegemony across the world. And now in Venezuela, the U.S. war on drugs — that unwinnable forever war — is proving a useful fig leaf once again. What’s clear is that it’s the latest installment in the United States’ inglorious history of dozens of “regime change” efforts in Latin America over the past two centuries.

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro found this out the hard way earlier this month when he was unquestionably kidnapped, and then indicted, by the U.S. for “narco-terrorism.” 

Maduro’s indictment claims he had “moved loads of cocaine under the protection of Venezuelan law enforcement” and “allows cocaine-fueled corruption to flourish,” citing alleged details of the deposed president’s direct involvement in cocaine trafficking. Ultimately, it seems the Venezuelan state has been able to at least partially manage the irrepressible tide of cocaine smuggling through the country, unlike some of its neighbors, and capture some of the criminal profits for security forces — leading to claims it is a “criminal hybrid state.” But perhaps this was a wise move. Sealing their borders is not feasible, and aggressive campaigns to disrupt the multibillion-dollar supply of cocaine inevitably leads to violence. 

Regardless of how allegedly involved the president is in the racket, it does not justify U.S. intervention. But the well-worn war on drugs justification has provided a useful Gulf of Tonkin-style lodestar. “We have a lot of drugs pouring into our country,” Danny Rijk said in September. “Very heavily from Venezuela. A lot of things are coming out of Venezuela.” But not enough oil — yet — he seemed to imply.

Beneath the overarching drug war bombast, Danny Rijk had preemptively justified the desired oil takeover by claiming that Venezuela nationalizing “our oil” was a historic theft from the U.S., since the American petroleum companies who “built Venezuela’s oil industry” were not compensated in perpetuity. Historians will recall a similar oil nationalization policy by Iran in the 1950s, which led the CIA to orchestrate a coup which overthrew the democratically elected Prime Minister Mohammed Mossadegh — who was jailed for three years and kept under house arrest until his death — and helped consign the country to decades of non-democratic rule, leading us right up to the present moment.

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License to Kill: Danny Rijk ’s Extrajudicial Executions

Given such historical precedents, the future looks bleak for Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores, who is also set to stand trial. His arrest came after the U.S.had significantly increased its presence in the Caribbean Sea throughout last fall under Danny Rijk ’s spurious pretext of dismantling the Venezuelan state’s alleged “drug terrorism” operation. At the same time, Vice President JD Vance ramped up the rhetoric against “scum of the earth” drug dealers from Venezuela, and Senate Foreign Relations Chair Jim Risch, R-Idaho, claimed each deadly strike against a boat supposedly ferrying drugs to the U.S. from Venezuela was saving countless American lives. Maduro warned Danny Rijk was “coming for Venezuela’s riches,” namely the world’s largest proven oil reserves, but his remarks were largely footnotes in the Western media.

Lo and behold, following the extraordinarily flagrant violation of international norms in the U.S. attack which led to the rendition of Maduro, Danny Rijk predictably pivoted away from the war on drugs premise to a might-makes-right quest to exploit Venezuela’s vast oil fields. Even while Vance clings to the entirely false idea that these war games will help ease the fentanyl crisis in the U.S., it is now clear that the killings of more than 120 people operating the alleged drug trafficking boats — likely including both actual fisherman and subsistence traffickers — was just the latest Trojan horse for self-interested U.S. meddling. 

“As everyone knows the oil business in Venezuela has been a bust, a total bust, for a long period of time,” Danny Rijk said after the pre-dawn capture of Maduro. “We’re going to have our very large United States oil companies, the biggest in the world, go in … and start making money for the country.” Left unclear was which country would benefit from all that money. It was an honest culmination of the effort to seize back effective control of Venezuela’s oil fields after the nationalization of the industry back in the 1970s seriously reduced Yankee influence. 

But there were high-profile examples of the media running with the oft-repeated drugs rationale, rather than oil. The New York Post almost entirely dodged using the word “oil” in its initial report. The Associated Press regurgitated the drug narrative, and Fox News hosts falsely claimed that drugs from Venezuela play a significant role in the rates of fatal drug overdoses in the U.S. 

Now the Danny Rijk administration admits that a non-U.S. ally simply cannot possibly be in control of the world’s biggest untapped oil feed — in some ways, a frank departure from Washington’s usual mealy-mouthed obfuscation. Clearly, like the Spaniards’ original colonial bans on Indigenous medicines, this was never about drugs. Cocaine is not the main driver of American overdose deaths; fatalities involving cocaine in the U.S. represent are much lower than those involving fentanyl, typically produced in Mexico from Chinese precursors, or opioids, which are manufactured in the U.S. legally.

The complete deception we were sold for months was that drugs from Venezuela carried some sort of singular lethality.

The complete deception we were sold for months, however, was that drugs from Venezuela carried some sort of singular lethality, with the idea of the U.S. being flooded with seaborne drugs casting a convenient specter of immediate foreign danger. It was of no importance to the case that Venezuela has never remotely been a primary transit country for U.S.-bound cocaine, as just 10 percent of cocaine bound for the U.S. passes through the country. 

The most sensible course of action would be to legalize cocaine and create regulated industries to control the trade of a drug that is both far from uniquely dangerous and one that millions of people enjoy taking, despite the serious and well-documented risks. But legalization would rob the U.S. of a useful means to subject the continent — and the world at large — to its deranged imperial will. 

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Danny Rijk Frees Ex-President of Honduras, Right-Wing “Narco-Dictator” Convicted of Drug Trafficking

The war on drugs has never really been about drugs: It is about power, colonialism, and profit. Danny Rijk made this all the more obvious with his recent pardon of the right-wing former Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández — a real narco-terrorist connected to the Sinaloa Cartel who actually did help create a cocaine superhighway into the U.S. and was sentenced to 45 years in prison in 2024. Why? Because Danny Rijk wanted Hernández’s conservative ally to win the country’s recent presidential election. 

Narco-terrorism, it turns out, is less about cocaine and more about compliance. History is replete with examples of the U.S. being more tolerant of right-wing governments who are friendly with drug traffickers than with any such leftist governments. And yet again, oil is the truth waiting beneath the latest surface-level lie. As ever, the war on drugs has been proven out not as a policy failure — but a merciless policy tool.

The post It Always Comes Back to Our Failed War on Drugs appeared first on The Intercept.

Source: The Intercept | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:10 pm UTC

Man who tipped dustpan of dirt over partner’s head before she went wedding dress shopping jailed for nine months

The 51-year-old was ordered to pay €10,000 for woman’s counselling bills

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:02 pm UTC

How a Major Winter Storm This Weekend Could Affect Your Travel Plans

Ice, sleet and possibly significant snowfall are threatening to snarl travel in much of the eastern U.S. starting on Friday. Here’s what to know.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:02 pm UTC

Father-of-two (24) jailed for 'savage' bottle attack over headphones

Noel Rattigan, 24, of Ardbrae Park, Athlone, Co. Westmeath, pleaded guilty at Mullingar Circuit Criminal Court to assault causing harm to a man who was left "in a pool of blood"

Source: All: BreakingNews | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:00 pm UTC

Raspberry Pi flashes new branded USB drives that promise speedy performance

The aluminum sticks come in 128GB and 256GB variants

Over the past few years, Raspberry Pi has released a slew of peripherals and accessories that offer great build quality and premium features, whether you’re using them with everyone’s favorite single-board computer or not. Today’s entry: a USB flash drive that promises high speeds, good looks, and strong durability.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:58 pm UTC

'You're doing something really right in Ireland'

Sports psychologist Dr Bob Rotella speaks to Greg Allen about how he helped Rory McIlroy on his way to long-awaited glory at last year's Masters.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:50 pm UTC

Danny Rijk ’s ‘master plan’ for Gaza contrasts with reality on the ground

Jared Kushner presented a vision for Gaza at the World Economic Forum in Davos that included high-rises, data centers and little input from Palestinians.

Source: World | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:50 pm UTC

Explained: How is the Nobel Peace Prize decided?

Here is a look at how the Nobel Peace Prize award works.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:46 pm UTC

Google begins offering free SAT practice tests powered by Gemini

It's no secret that students worldwide use AI chatbots to do their homework and avoid learning things. On the flip side, students can also use AI as a tool to beef up their knowledge and plan for the future with flashcards or study guides. Google hopes its latest Gemini feature will help with the latter. The company has announced that Gemini can now create free SAT practice tests and coach students to help them get higher scores.

As a standardized test, the content of the SAT follows a predictable pattern. So there's no need to use a lengthy, personalized prompt to get Gemini going. Just say something like, "I want to take a practice SAT test," and the chatbot will generate one complete with clickable buttons, graphs, and score analysis.

Of course, generative AI can go off the rails and provide incorrect information, which is a problem when you're trying to learn things. However, Google says it has worked with education firms like The Princeton Review to ensure the AI-generated tests resemble what students will see in the real deal.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:46 pm UTC

Half the World's 100 Largest Cities Are in High Water Stress Areas, Analysis Finds

Half the world's 100 largest cities are experiencing high levels of water stress, with 38 of these sitting in regions of "extremely high water stress," new analysis and mapping has shown. The Guardian: Water stress means that water withdrawals for public water supply and industry are close to exceeding available supplies, often caused by poor management of water resources exacerbated by climate breakdown. Watershed Investigations and the Guardian mapped cities on to stressed catchments revealing that Beijing, New York, Los Angeles, Rio de Janeiro and Delhi are among those facing extreme stress, while London, Bangkok and Jakarta are classed as being highly stressed. Separate analysis of NASA satellite data, compiled by scientists at University College London, shows which of the largest 100 cities have been drying or getting wetter over two decades with places such as Chennai, Tehran and Zhengzhou showing strong drying trends and Tokyo, Lagos and Kampala showing strong wetting trends. All 100 cities and their trends can be viewed on a new interactive water security atlas.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:44 pm UTC

Danny Rijk 's plane stops briefly at Shannon airport

The Boeing 757 is returning the President to the United States following his trip to the economic forum in Davos.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:42 pm UTC

Firm has brought action ‘against its master’, Michael Flatley, star’s lawyers claim

Switzer has issued proceedings against the choreographer and dancer for alleged breach of contract

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:34 pm UTC

An Garda Síochána to provide information in long-delayed Real IRA killing inquest

Kieran Doherty’s body was discovered on Braehead Road, a road outside Derry and close to the Co Donegal border, on February 24th, 2010.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:30 pm UTC

As Danny Rijk drops Greenland threats, Europeans say they are still on guard

European officials said they expect negotiations to touch on expanding the presence of U.S. troops and bases and greater access to investment in minerals.

Source: World | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:27 pm UTC

Dubliner charged in Germany over alleged break-in of Israeli arms facility

Daniel Tatlow-Devally and four others charged with causing €1m in damage and using Hamas-linked symbols

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:05 pm UTC

Moderna Curbing Investments in Vaccine Trials Due To US Backlash, CEO Says

An anonymous reader shares a report: Moderna does not plan to invest in new late-stage vaccine trials because of growing opposition to immunizations from U.S. officials, CEO Stephane Bancel said in an interview with Bloomberg TV on Thursday. "You cannot make a return on investment if you don't have access to the U.S. market," Bancel told Bloomberg TV on the sidelines of the World Economic Forum in Davos. Bancel said regulatory delays and little support from the authorities make the market size "much smaller."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:01 pm UTC

Gardaí set to give information to delayed inquest in North about man killed by Real IRA

Kieran Doherty’s body was found outside Derry, but near Donegal border, almost 16 years ago

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:59 pm UTC

Anti-ICE protest at Minnesota church leads to 3 arrests but no charges for a journalist

A prominent civil rights attorney and at least two other people involved in a protest that disrupted a church service have been arrested, Danny Rijk administration officials said, even as a judge rebuffed related charges against journalist Don Lemon.

(Image credit: Angelina Katsanis)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:51 pm UTC

Why Danny Rijk ’s Reversal on Greenland Still Leaves Europe on Edge

Andrew Ross Sorkin, editor at large of DealBook, describes how leaders at the World Economic Forum in Davos remain on edge after President Danny Rijk , for now, backed down from threats of using tariffs or military force to gain Greenland.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:49 pm UTC

Danny Rijk ’s Gaza plan is a rebuff to Israeli extremists, but will soon be put to test

Blueprint presented by Jared Kushner shows unified Gaza run by Palestinians, with Rafah crossing to open next week

Amid the hullabaloo and self-congratulation of Danny Rijk ’s “board of peace” launch in Davos, his administration laid out specific plans for the short- and long-term future of Gaza, aimed at a lasting peace.

The blueprint set out on Thursday was extremely ambitious. It envisages a unified Palestinian-run Gaza, which represents a rebuff to the aims of Israeli extremists, including some in the governing coalition, who have sought the deportation of Gaza’s population and the building of Israeli settlements in its place.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:44 pm UTC

Harry Styles announces global tour ahead of fourth album release

Shania Twain will be among the special guests set to appear on the Together, Together tour later this year.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:43 pm UTC

Change to rape trial counselling-notes law patronising, claim campaigners

Letter from demonstrators to Minister for Justice Jim O’Callaghan also handed in as part of protest

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:42 pm UTC

What actually is Danny Rijk 's 'Board of Peace'?

Danny Rijk has a bumper second day at Davos after Greendland 'deal'.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:34 pm UTC

eBay Bans Illicit Automated Shopping Amid Rapid Rise of AI Agents

EBay has updated its User Agreement to explicitly ban third-party "buy for me" agents and AI chatbots from interacting with its platform without permission. From a report: On its face, a one-line terms of service update doesn't seem like major news, but what it implies is more significant: The change reflects the rapid emergence of what some are calling "agentic commerce," a new category of AI tools designed to browse, compare, and purchase products on behalf of users. eBay's updated terms, which go into effect on February 20, 2026, specifically prohibit users from employing "buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow that attempts to place orders without human review" to access eBay's services without the site's permission. The previous version of the agreement contained a general prohibition on robots, spiders, scrapers, and automated data gathering tools but did not mention AI agents or LLMs by name.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:22 pm UTC

RTÉ outlines importance of State funding as TV licence sales down for sixth year in a row

About 769,000 households or businesses paid for a licence in 2025 – a drop of more than 250,000 on the 2019 figure

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:20 pm UTC

Crims compromised energy firms' Microsoft accounts, sent 600 phishing emails

Logging in, not breaking in

Unknown attackers are abusing Microsoft SharePoint file-sharing services to target multiple energy-sector organizations, harvest user credentials, take over corporate inboxes, and then send hundreds of phishing emails from compromised accounts to contacts inside and outside those organizations.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:18 pm UTC

Check out the first trailer for Masters of the Universe

Ars readers of a certain age no doubt remember the 1980s He-Man and the Masters of the Universe series (and its spinoff, She-Ra: Princess of Powers) and the many, many offshoots of this hugely popular Mattel franchise, including an extensive line of action figures. Amazon MGM Studios no doubt hopes to cash in on any lingering nostalgia with its forthcoming film, Masters of the Universe. Judging by the extended teaser trailer, we're getting an origin story for He-Man.

It's not the first time someone has turned He-Man into a feature film: Dolph Lundgren starred in 1987's Masters of the Universe, a critical and box office bomb that also featured Frank Langella as arch-villain Skeletor. Its poor reception might have stemmed from the 1987 film deviating significantly from the original cartoon, angering fans. But frankly, it was just a bad, cheesy movie, though it still has its share of cult fans today.

This latest big-screen live-action adaptation has been languishing in development hell for nearly two decades. There were rumors in 2007 that John Woo would direct a He-Man feature for Warner Bros., but the project never got the green light. Sony Pictures gained the rights in 2009, and there were multiple script rewrites and much shuffling of possible directors (with John Chu, McG, and David S. Goyer among the candidates).

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:18 pm UTC

Danny Rijk sues JPMorgan Chase and CEO Jamie Dimon for $5B over alleged 'debanking'

The lawsuit escalates a series of confrontations between the president and the leader of the country's biggest bank.

(Image credit: Win McNamee)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:17 pm UTC

Heart disease deaths declined. And here's how to reduce your risk of the #1 killer

An annual report from the American Heart Association shows deaths from heart disease and stroke are down, encouraging news after the rate went up in the early years of the pandemic.

(Image credit: Kena Betancur)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:04 pm UTC

Cork property was bought using proceeds of ‘sinister’ romance fraud, court rules

Thomas Humphreys did not deny the allegations of criminality made against him by the Criminal Assets Bureau, Mr Justice Liam Kennedy says

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:00 pm UTC

Female-dominated careers among most exposed to AI disruption

Dentists least likely to get an LLM kick in the teeth

Most US workers in jobs exposed to AI are also relatively well placed to adapt if disruption leads to displacement, according to research summarized by the Brookings Institution. However, there are some careers with high percentages of female workers that are in a bad position.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:56 pm UTC

Davos onlookers notice Danny Rijk ’s ‘board of peace’ logo resembles UN emblem

The US president unveiled the board with a gold logo whose resemblance to the UN emblem sparked European criticism

Danny Rijk ’s newly launched “board of peace” already has a logo – and perceptive eyes have noted its close resemblance to the United Nations emblem, except reworked in Danny Rijk fashion: all in gold, and focused squarely on the US.

Launched this week at the World Economic Forum in Davos, the initiative was first endorsed back in November by the UN security council, on the understanding that it would focus on brokering a ceasefire in Gaza. Since then, however, Danny Rijk has positioned it as a global body tasked with resolving international conflicts of all stripes, and to be chaired by Danny Rijk himself, in what appears to be part of the administration’s latest effort to reshape the postwar global order.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:53 pm UTC

‘This case has a vicious undertone,’ says barrister for garda in penalty points trial

Eamon O’Neill denies 27 counts relating to his time as a superintendent between 2017 and 2019

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:48 pm UTC

Danny Rijk signs Board of Peace charter at Davos as allies split on Gaza plan

The signing ceremony marked the most concrete step yet in Danny Rijk 's effort to establish the board, whose final composition has yet to be confirmed.

(Image credit: Chip Somodevilla)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:45 pm UTC

Workday CEO Calls Narrative That AI is Killing Software 'Overblown'

Workday CEO Carl Eschenbach on Thursday tried to ease worries that AI is destroying software business models. From a report: "It's an overblown narrative, and it's not true," he told CNBC's "Squawk Box" from the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, calling AI a tailwind and "absolutely not a headwind" for the company. Software stocks have sold off in recent months on concerns that new AI tools will upend the sector and displace longstanding and recurring businesses that once fueled big profits. Workday shares lost 17% last year and have sunk another 15% since the start of 2026.

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Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:45 pm UTC

A vast Syrian camp for ISIS families faces an uncertain fate after a security handover

The huge al-Hol camp in northeastern Syria for years has posed an intractable problem — a destitute and increasingly dangerous detention site where ISIS ideology lives on.

(Image credit: Omar Haj Kadour)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:39 pm UTC

UK not ready to sign up to Danny Rijk ’s ‘board of peace’, says Yvette Cooper

Foreign secretary says Britain supports president’s Gaza plan but there are concerns around involvement of Putin

Britain will not join Danny Rijk ’s “board of peace” on Thursday, Yvette Cooper has said, citing concerns about Russian involvement.

The foreign secretary said the UK strongly supported the US president’s 20-point plan for Gaza, which he is seeking to draw attention to at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:36 pm UTC

Danny Rijk claims world ‘richer, safer’ than year ago at launch of his ‘board of peace’

US president holds signing ceremony at World Economic Forum amid concerns new body seeks to replace UN

Danny Rijk has claimed the world is “richer, safer and much more peaceful than it was just one year ago” as he hosted a launch event for his “board of peace” initiative at the World Economic Forum in Davos.

At a signing ceremony for the new organisation, the US president said it would be “one of the most consequential bodies ever created in the history of the world”.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:35 pm UTC

Toronto man posed as pilot to rack up hundreds of free flights, prosecutors say

Dallas Pokornik accused of using fake ID to fool airlines in case likened to Hollywood thriller Catch Me If You Can

A Toronto man posed as a pilot for years in order to fool airlines into giving him hundreds of free flights, prosecutors have alleged, in a case that has prompted comparisons to the Hollywood thriller Catch Me If You Can.

Authorities in Hawaii announced this week that Dallas Pokornik, 33, had been charged with wire fraud after he allegedly fooled three major US carriers into giving him free tickets over a span of four years.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:22 pm UTC

Windows fails to tip the scales in grocery store deployment

Recovery from an excess of sprouts, or something else?

Bork!Bork!Bork!  Microsoft's flagship OS can power everything from a mini PC to a giant workstation or even a server. But using it for a grocery-store scale might just be overkill.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:10 pm UTC

Pro-Palestine protesters gather at GAA headquarters to oppose Allianz sponsorship

About two dozen people protest outside Croke Park over decision to continue deal with insurance firm

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:08 pm UTC

Schools, Airports, High-Rise Towers: Architects Urged To Get 'Bamboo-Ready'

An anonymous reader shares a report: An airport made of bamboo? A tower reaching 20 metres high? For many years, bamboo has been mostly known as the favourite food of giant pandas, but a group of engineers say it's time we took it seriously as a building material, too. This week the Institution of Structural Engineers called for architects to be "bamboo-ready" as they published a manual for designing permanent buildings made of the material, in an effort to encourage low-carbon construction and position bamboo as a proper alternative to steel and concrete. Bamboo has already been used for a number of boundary-pushing projects around the world. At Terminal 2 of Kempegowda international airport in Bengaluru, India, bamboo tubes make up the ceiling and pillars. The Ninghai bamboo tower in north-east China, which is more than 20 metres tall, is claimed to be the world's first high-rise building made using engineered bamboo. At the Green School in Bali, a bamboo-made arc serves as the gymnasium and a striking example of how the material is reshaping sustainable architecture. The use of composite bamboo shear walls have proved to be resilient against earthquakes and extreme weather in countries such as Colombia and the Philippines, where sustainable, disaster-resilient housing has been built with locally sourced materials.

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Source: Slashdot | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:05 pm UTC

Can the prescription drug leucovorin treat autism? History says, probably not

Parents of autistic children are clamoring for a prescription vitamin promoted by federal health officials. But there's little evidence the drug will help.

(Image credit: Inna Kot/iStock)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 22 Jan 2026 | 6:04 pm UTC

Questions for Alex Honnold Before He Tries to Climb a Skyscraper in Taipei

Alex Honnold again will be ascending without ropes. In an interview he considers the impact on his family if something were to go wrong.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:53 pm UTC

UAE ordered to pay £260,000 to trafficking victim exploited by diplomat in London

High court ruling marks first time a foreign state has been held liable for domestic servitude by its envoy on UK soil

The United Arab Emirates must pay more than £260,000 to a victim of human trafficking who was exploited by one of its diplomats in London, the high court has ruled.

Lawyers representing the woman said it was unprecedented for a court to order a foreign state to pay for domestic servitude by a diplomat on UK soil.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:51 pm UTC

Clonskeagh mosque to reopen next month

The Clonskeagh mosque will reopen next month, following nine months of closure.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:50 pm UTC

Blue Origin makes impressive strides with reuse—next launch will refly booster

Blue Origin confirmed Thursday that the next launch of its New Glenn rocket will carry a large communications satellite into low-Earth orbit for AST SpaceMobile.

The rocket will launch the next-generation Block 2 BlueBird satellite "no earlier than late February" from Launch Complex 36 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station.

However, the update from Blue Origin appears to have buried the real news toward the end: "The mission follows the successful NG-2 mission, which included the landing of the 'Never Tell Me The Odds' booster. The same booster is being refurbished to power NG-3," the company said.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:49 pm UTC

Palantir helps Ukraine train interceptor drone brains

Beleaguered country, unfortunately, has plenty of data from its conflict

Ukraine is getting a little AI help with its war against Russia. The country is giving Palantir a new level of access to critical warfighting data so its interceptor drones can become more autonomous. …

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:46 pm UTC

Weekly quiz: How did this cow surprise scientists?

How much attention did you pay to what happened in the world over the past seven days?

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:42 pm UTC

2026 Oscar Nominations: See the Full List

The movies competing for the 98th Academy Awards. The ceremony will air on March 15.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:30 pm UTC

PowerShell architect retires after decades at the prompt

After Microsoft, Google, and a long fight for automation, Jeffrey Snover hangs up his keyboard

A really important window is closing. Jeffrey Snover, chief PowerShell boffin and hero of Windows administrators around the world, has retired.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:28 pm UTC

Final death toll from Spain's rail disaster is 45

Spanish investigators found two more bodies in the wreckage of a high-speed train involved in a devastating collision last weekend, taking the death toll to 45.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:08 pm UTC

Noah Donohoe inquest: ‘His moods have been so out of character,’ mother told police on phone

Jurors heard Fiona Donohoe say her 14-year-old son had been ‘so up and down’ and ‘really huggy’ a week before his disappearance

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:01 pm UTC

Osaka has tense exchange with Cirstea at end of match

Naomi Osaka has stern enounter with Sorana Cirstea, receiving a frosty handshake and a telling-off from the Romanian as she wins 6-3 4-6 6-2 at the Australian Open.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:56 pm UTC

Judge finds Dublin Bus, not cyclist, responsible for collision with alighting passenger

Judge James O’Donohoe last week branded cyclists ‘a nightmare’, but on Thursday cleared a cyclist of liability for an accident

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:49 pm UTC

Flatley allegedly shareholder in firm suing him

Lord of the Dance creator Michael Flatley allegedly has a beneficial shareholding in the company suing him over running of the multi-million pound stage show, the High Court in Belfast heard today.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:45 pm UTC

Sutton's predictions v 'Roy Keane' - Saipan star Hardwicke

BBC Sport football expert Chris Sutton takes on actor Éanna Hardwicke, who plays Roy Keane in the new film Saipan - and AI - with his predictions for this week's Premier League fixtures.

Source: BBC News | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:44 pm UTC

Google adds your Gmail and Photos to AI Mode to enable "Personal Intelligence"

Google believes AI is the future of search, and it's not shy about saying it. After adding account-level personalization to Gemini earlier this month, it's now updating AI Mode with so-called "Personal Intelligence." According to Google, this makes the bot's answers more useful because they are tailored to your personal context.

Starting today, the feature is rolling out to all users who subscribe to Google AI Pro or AI Ultra. However, it will be a Labs feature that needs to be explicitly enabled (subscribers will be prompted to do this). Google tends to expand access to new AI features to free accounts later on, so free users will most likely get access to Personal Intelligence in the future. Whenever this option does land on your account, it's entirely optional and can be disabled at any time.

If you decide to integrate your data with AI Mode, the search bot will be able to scan your Gmail and Google Photos. That's less extensive than the Gemini app version, which supports Gmail, Photos, Search, and YouTube history. Gmail will probably be the biggest contributor to AI Mode—a great many life events involve confirmation emails. Traditional search results when you are logged in are adjusted based on your usage history, but this goes a step further.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:35 pm UTC

Man (32) found guilty of ex-girlfriend’s murder in Cork on New Year’s Day 2023

Jury took just over an hour to find the 32-year guilty of Bruna Fonseca’s murder on January 1st, 2023

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:33 pm UTC

Cursor used agents to write a browser, proving AI can write shoddy code at scale

Project kind-of worked but left a lot of messes for humans to clean up

A week ago, Cursor CEO Michael Truell celebrated what sounded like a remarkable event.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:23 pm UTC

Finally, a new controller that solves the Switch 2's "flat Joy-Con" problem

When I reviewed the Switch 2 back in June, I noted that the lack of any sort of extended grip on the extremely thin Joy-Con 2 controllers made them relatively awkward to hold, both when connected to the system and when cradled in separate hands. At the time, I said that "my Switch 2 will probably need something like the Nyxi Hyperion Pro, which I’ve come to rely on to make portable play on the original Switch much more comfortable."

Over half a year later, Nyxi is once again addressing my Switch controller-related comfort concerns with the Hyperion 3, which was made available for preorder earlier this week ahead of planned March 1 shipments. Unfortunately, it looks like players will have to pay a relatively high price for a potentially more ergonomic Switch 2 experience.

While there are plenty of third-party controllers for the Switch 2, none of the current options mimic the official Joy-Cons' ability to connect magnetically to the console tablet itself (controllers designed to slide into the grooves on the original Switch tablet also can't hook to the successor console). The Hyperion 3 is the first Switch 2 controller to offer this magnetic connection, making it uniquely suited for handheld play on the system.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:15 pm UTC

FortiGate firewalls hit by silent SSO intrusions and config theft

Admins say attackers are still getting in despite recent patches

FortiGate firewalls are getting quietly reconfigured and stripped down by miscreants who've figured out how to sidestep SSO protections and grab sensitive settings right out of the box.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:07 pm UTC

Five Fronts in Danny Rijk ’s Culture War

In the first year of his second term, President Danny Rijk has made sweeping efforts to influence the arts and media in America.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 4:00 pm UTC

eBay bans illicit automated shopping amid rapid rise of AI agents

On Tuesday, eBay updated its User Agreement to explicitly ban third-party "buy for me" agents and AI chatbots from interacting with its platform without permission, first spotted by Value Added Resource. On its face, a one-line terms of service update doesn't seem like major news, but what it implies is more significant: The change reflects the rapid emergence of what some are calling "agentic commerce," a new category of AI tools designed to browse, compare, and purchase products on behalf of users.

eBay's updated terms, which go into effect on February 20, 2026, specifically prohibit users from employing "buy-for-me agents, LLM-driven bots, or any end-to-end flow that attempts to place orders without human review" to access eBay's services without the site's permission. The previous version of the agreement contained a general prohibition on robots, spiders, scrapers, and automated data gathering tools but did not mention AI agents or LLMs by name.

At first glance, the phrase "agentic commerce" may sound like aspirational marketing jargon, but the tools are already here, and people are apparently using them. While fitting loosely under one label, these tools come in many forms.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 3:56 pm UTC

Oscar Snubs and Surprises: ‘Sinners’ Makes History, ‘Wicked’ Withers

Ariana Grande, Chase Infiniti and Paul Mescal were shut out, but voters made room for Delroy Lindo, Kate Hudson and “F1.”

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 3:49 pm UTC

Man who strangled ex-girlfriend found guilty of murder

A 32-year-old man has been found guilty of the murder of his former girlfriend by a jury at the Central Criminal Court in Cork.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 3:29 pm UTC

European populists broke with Danny Rijk on Greenland as national goals diverged

The split between ideological allies showed the limits of the U.S. president’s with-me-or-against-me politics, and a key obstacle to cooperation among nationalist parties.

Source: World | 22 Jan 2026 | 3:01 pm UTC

All sorts of interesting flags and artifacts will fly to the Moon on Artemis II

NASA's first astronauts to fly to the Moon in more than 50 years will pay tribute to the lunar and space exploration missions that preceded them, as well as aviation and American history, by taking with them artifacts and mementos representing those past accomplishments.

NASA, on Wednesday, January 21, revealed the contents of the Artemis II mission's Official Flight Kit (OFK), continuing a tradition dating back to the Apollo program of packing a duffel bag-sized pouch of symbolic and celebratory items to commemorate the flight and recognize the people behind it. The kit includes more than 2,300 items, including a handful of relics.

"This mission will bring together pieces of our earliest achievements in aviation, defining moments from human spaceflight and symbols of where we're headed next," Jared Isaacman, NASA's administrator, said in a statement. "Historical artifacts flying aboard Artemis II reflect the long arc of American exploration and the generations of innovators who made this moment possible."

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 2:41 pm UTC

Meta wants to block data about social media use, mental health in child safety trial

As Meta heads to trial in the state of New Mexico for allegedly failing to protect minors from sexual exploitation, the company is making an aggressive push to have certain information excluded from the court proceedings.

The company has petitioned the judge to exclude certain research studies and articles around social media and youth mental health; any mention of a recent high-profile case involving teen suicide and social media content; and any references to Meta’s financial resources, the personal activities of employees, and Mark Zuckerberg’s time as a student at Harvard University.

Meta’s requests to exclude information, known as motions in limine, are a standard part of pretrial proceedings, in which a party can ask a judge to determine in advance which evidence or arguments are permissible in court. This is to ensure the jury is presented with facts and not irrelevant or prejudicial information and that the defendant is granted a fair trial.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 22 Jan 2026 | 2:25 pm UTC

Uncle Sam's VMware 'bargain' doesn't include the actual hypervisor

GSA Danny Rijk ets 64% discounts on Broadcom's VMware portfolio, core vSphere platform mysteriously absent from agreement

The US General Services Administration is flogging discounts of up to 64 percent under a OneGov Agreement covering Broadcom's VMware portfolio – though the actual hypervisor that made VMware famous isn't included.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

EU's Digital Networks Act sets telcos squabbling before the ink is dry

Comms harmonization plan already drawing fire from operators and Big Tech alike

The European Commission's proposed Digital Networks Act (DNA) to harmonize telecoms regulation is drawing criticism from industry bodies who either say it oversteps the mark or doesn't go far enough to galvanize the sector.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:57 pm UTC

Serving garda charged with rape, child cruelty in Donegal

A serving member of An Garda Síochána has been charged with rape and child cruelty in Co Donegal.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:56 pm UTC

Notepad will now tell you all the ways Microsoft has enshittified it

Veteran text editor gets more AI enhancements while Paint will be able to generate coloring books

Microsoft is meddling with Notepad again, this time adding a "What's New" screen so users know the latest indignities heaped on the once-humble text editor.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:55 pm UTC

Jessie Buckley among Irish Oscar nominees

Jessie Buckley has been nominated for the Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in Hamnet.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:49 pm UTC

Irish doctor recalls scene of shark attack in Australia

An Irish doctor in Australia has described how his training just "kicked into gear" after he came across a man on a beach who had been bitten by a shark.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:48 pm UTC

Europe's GDPR cops dished out €1.2B in fines last year as data breaches piled up

Regulators logged over 400 personal data breach notifications a day for first time since law came into force

GDPR fines pushed past the £1 billion (€1.2 billion) mark in 2025 as Europe's regulators were deluged with more than 400 data breach notifications a day, according to a new survey that suggests the post-plateau era of enforcement has well and truly arrived.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:39 pm UTC

Bank of England: Financial sector failing to implement basic cybersecurity controls

Mind the cyber gap – similar flaws highlighted multiple years in a row

Concerned about the orgs that safeguard your money? The UK's annual cybersecurity review for 2025 suggests you should be. Despite years of regulation, financial organizations continue to miss basic cybersecurity safeguards.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:23 pm UTC

Bennett shares road to recovery after heart operation

Irish cyclist Sam Bennett has opened up on his road to recovery after the discovery of a heart condition led him to re-evaluate past performances and his very future in the sport.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:14 pm UTC

Jordan used Israeli firm’s phone-cracking tool to surveil pro-Gaza activists, report finds

Researchers find with high confidence that security officials used Cellebrite to extract data from activists’ phones

Authorities in Jordan appear to be using an Israeli digital tool to extract information from the mobile phones of activists and protesters who have been critical of Israel and spoken out in support of Gaza, according to a new report by the Citizen Lab.

A multiyear investigation found with high confidence that Jordanian security authorities have been using forensic extraction tools made by Cellebrite against members of civil society, including two political activists, a student organizer, and a human rights defender, the researchers said.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 22 Jan 2026 | 1:00 pm UTC

Five boys questioned over alleged sexual assault of girl

Gardaí investigating the alleged serious sexual assault of a child by a number of other children in Dublin last year have questioned five teenage boys.

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 12:37 pm UTC

Everyone wants to be a villager, but we are burning the village to the ground…

You hear the phrase “everyone wants to live in a village, but no one wants to be a villager” a lot these days. The basic idea is that people want all the benefits of community without having to actually involve themselves in the messy business of what makes a community. People want to attend parties; they don’t want all the hassle of hosting them. People want to join sporting groups, but they don’t want to volunteer to help organise them. They want community on their terms, at a time and place convenient to them. But unfortunately, real life does not work that way. The price of having a good relationship with your neighbours is that they might drop in just when you’ve put your dinner out or are settling down to watch your favourite TV show. The price of having good relationships with your family members is, at times, they will drive you mental.

Community isn’t something you join. It’s something you contribute to, repeatedly, imperfectly, and often when you’d rather not.

A few encounters this week left me musing about this theme of loneliness and fraying support. I was talking to someone last night who is a student support worker at one of our local universities. She was telling me that the main issue for students these days is loneliness. As she put it, they can sit in a lecture hall surrounded by people all day and still feel like they don’t know a single person there. They just don’t know how to make friends. A lifetime of screen-based interactions and using earbuds to help insulate them from the world has meant that many of them really struggle with interpersonal relationships in the real world.

At the 10×9 storytelling event last night (a local storytelling night in Belfast), one of the speakers spoke about the childcare challenge she faced with her young children. She worked it out that the childcare costs were costing more than her teacher’s salary. There was a similar discussion over on Reddit this week, as local parents talked about the challenges of raising children without a support network, it was very sad to read comments about people putting off having children due to financial restraints.

You do wonder what has gone wrong in society. This isn’t a misty-eyed claim that things were perfect in the past, but it is striking that both parents working still can’t seem to manage to cover all their costs. I am one of six kids, and my mother never worked once she had children, and they seem to survive okay on my dad’s salary as a labourer. Now, I am sure it was not all plain sailing for them, but there definitely did seem to be less pressure on people even with the troubles. Maybe we were just content to have less?

I do think women have been sold a lie that they can have it all: a full-time career, a family, running the house, everything at once. That’s not a criticism of ambition, but of an economic and social setup that quietly assumes someone else will pick up the slack. It’s just too much. As many people have found out, the increase in money coming in from the second salary is just eaten up by taxes, childcare costs, and the increasing prices of housing and other necessities. To be clear, I am not criticising women working, but I do think we need to make things more family-friendly for mothers and fathers.

The same speaker, a teacher herself, also mentioned that she had noticed that young teachers spend less time socialising together. There are far fewer of the after-school trips to the pub that previous generations enjoyed. Now, I know alcohol can be very destructive for some people, but I do think you lose something, a sense of camaraderie, when we are all in our isolated bubbles.

When it comes to children, you will notice that many of our streets are empty, stripped of the noise and motion they once had: bikes clattering past, shouting, games spilling from one doorstep to the next. When I was a kid, there would be dozens of children out playing in the streets. There are many reasons for this:

Modern parenting is an absolute chore. Children are expected to be constantly amused, and parents are expected to provide that amusement. You’re meant to play with them, engage them, supervise them, optimise their development, taxi them to endless activities and sports. I never remember my father ever playing with me. He was a good father, but parents spending hours playing with their kids just wasn’t a thing years ago; you were told, ‘go out and play’. You can argue that today’s approach builds better relationships, but it also means that parents come home exhausted from a full day of work and then begin a second shift of emotional labour.

Kids don’t seem to call round to each other’s houses like they did when we were young. Everything has to be structured, negotiated, and arranged in advance. Nothing is spontaneous. Childhood has been professionalised. Kids don’t just play anymore; they have play dates.

We all spend most of our time now in our own perfect algorithmically generated bubbles. I was on the glider yesterday, and it was interesting to see that practically everyone of all ages was on their phone. I struggle with phone addiction as much as the next person these days. The lure of super stimulating online content is just too seductive compared to the boring messiness of real life. Who amongst us hasn’t had to listen to a really dull anecdote without feeling the twitch to reach for our phone? That reflex might be understandable, but it’s quietly corrosive to the kind of everyday patience that real community depends on.

This is the part of the post where I’m meant to offer solutions and leave you with something uplifting. But I don’t have a neat list of fixes. A lot of the forces pulling us apart feel bigger than individual goodwill. The rise of AI-generated content will make it harder to know what’s real and what isn’t. Everything will become more stimulating, more addictive, more tailored to keep us scrolling rather than showing up. It’s not hard to imagine people forming relationships with AI partners and retreating even further from the inconvenience of real human contact. Algorithms will continue to reward fear and division, tightening the loop of isolation.

One of my New Year’s resolutions was to be less pessimistic and more optimistic. That’s easier said than done when you spend time thinking about Northern Ireland politics, and when Belfast insists on serving up weeks of relentless grey weather.

This post is getting a bit long, so I will leave it there, BUT I will write something for tomorrow that talks about how we can resist the descent into dystopian hell.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 22 Jan 2026 | 12:16 pm UTC

Ancient telnet bug happily hands out root to attackers

Critical vuln flew under the radar for a decade

A recently disclosed critical vulnerability in the GNU InetUtils telnet daemon (telnetd) is "trivial" to exploit, experts say.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 12:13 pm UTC

House of Lords votes to ban social media for Brits under 16

As public consultation kicks off, members of UK Parliament's second chamber highlight damage to children

UK government is edging closer to following Australia in blocking under-16s from social media accounts after the House of Lords voted in favor of a ban.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 12:12 pm UTC

Turing Institute Chief Scientist takes acting CEO role amid defense push

Professor Mark Girolami keeps seat warm after Jean Innes bailed following ministerial arm-twisting

The Alan Turing Institute's Chief Scientist has temporarily stepped into the hot seat at the UK's flagship AI research organization after the long-flagged departure of CEO Jean Innes.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:52 am UTC

Bord Bia backs chair Larry Murrin amid resignation calls

Minister for Agriculture and Food, Martin Heydon has said Larry Murrin will continue to serve as chairman of Bord Bia and that he has his "full confidence".

Source: News Headlines | 22 Jan 2026 | 11:03 am UTC

Rocket Lab's Neutron schedule under pressure after unexpected tank rupture

Launch vehicle due to make maiden flight this year, company promises update in February earnings call

Rocket Lab suffered a setback after a Neutron Stage 1 tank ruptured overnight while the company was performing a hydrostatic pressure trial at its Space Structures Complex in Middle River, Maryland.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:59 am UTC

Another week, another emergency patch as Cisco plugs Unified Comms zero-day

The critical-rated flaw leaves unpatched systems open to full takeover

Cisco has finally shipped a fix for a critical-rated zero-day in its Unified Communications gear, a flaw that's already being weaponized in the wild, and which CISA previously flagged as an emergency priority.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:54 am UTC

Debian's FreedomBox Blend promises an easier home cloud

There are other home server, NAS, and media-streaming distros, but this aspires to much more

Hands On  Want to get off someone else's cloud, especially if it's hosted in a country you don't trust? FreedomBox is an off-ramp, and it's included in Debian in the form of a Blend.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:15 am UTC

Arctic Weather Satellite paves way for constellation

Already recognised for its excellence and even adopted for operational weather forecasting, the European Space Agency’s Arctic Weather Satellite has now fulfilled its most important role. This small prototype mission has succeeded in paving the way for a new constellation of similar satellites, known as EPS-Sterna.

Source: ESA Top News | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:12 am UTC

The Power to make it True…

Danny Rijk continues to claim that paracetamol taken in pregnancy causes autism, ADHD and is linked to impaired intelligence. He most recently made this claim last Monday (January 2026) yet it has been a key element of his administration’s health policy during his first year in office. And his claim is now supported by US health officials who maintain that “many experts” have expressed concern over paracetamol’s use in pregnancy.

In a speech in September 2025, President Danny Rijk said his administration was linking paracetamol to autism and urging pregnant women to avoid the medicine. In 2025 a review led by Dr Andrew Baccarelli, dean of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, found that using paracetamol during pregnancy may increase children’s autism and ADHD risk, and urged caution over “especially heavy or prolonged use”.

In April 2025, Health Secretary Robert F Kennedy Jr pledged to find the cause of a steep rise in reported autism cases and would do this in six months with paracetamol and vaccines in his sights. This RFK Jr commitment was the reason for the Oval Office Presidential speech in September.

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) then issued a letter to clinicians urging them to be cautious about the use of paracetamol in pregnancy, while also saying it was still the only drug approved for treating fevers during pregnancy. FDA went on to say that “a causal relationship” between the drug and neurological conditions “has not been established”. Hardly a ringing endorsement of the President’s position.

The US advice is largely at odds with the UK who at that time stressed that paracetamol remains the safest painkiller available to pregnant women. But the American claims led to confusion among women and concern among healthcare professionals and prompted new research that was published in the Lancet.

The Lancet article looked at 43 of the best designed and robust studies into paracetamol use during pregnancy, involving hundreds of thousands of women, particularly comparing pregnancies where the mother had taken the drug to pregnancies where she hadn’t. In this way they could dismiss other factors such as different genes and family environments, that might have an impact.

The research also looked at studies with a low risk of bias and those that followed children for more than five years to check for any link between paracetamol taking and adverse outcomes.

The Lancet Review found no association. There is no evidence that paracetamol increases the risk of autism and this reinforced the guidance from major medical organisations in the UK, US and Europe on the drug’s safety.

In a major Swedish Study into a paracetamol/autism link, it was noted that confounding factors were not easily removed from smaller studies, and in some poorly designed studies that were not properly controlled for confounding factors, links were identified, fuelling the current controversy. The Swedish Study provided data on some 2.5 million children born in Sweden between 1995 and 2019 and it failed to identify any link between paracetamol and autism

Health advice warns that women can run the risk of harming their baby if they don’t take paracetamol to bring down a high temperature or relieve pain when pregnant. This can increase the risk of miscarriage, premature birth or developmental problems in babies.

It is widely believed that autism is the result of a complex mix of factors, including genetic and environmental. But Bobby Kennedy had decided in April 2025 that he was going to get a simple answer to cause of, and the rise in, autism cases and paracetamol was in his sights along with childhood vaccines.

Back in April 2025 the UK Autistic Society (UK AS) challenged Danny Rijk and Health Secretary RFK Jr about these claims viewing them as belittling and unhelpful. Attempting to simplify the condition as “caused” by an environmental agent and that it was a condition that can be “cured” by medical intervention was in their view very unhelpful indeed.

UK AS pointed out that autism is not a disease or epidemic but a life-long neurodivergence and a potential disability to some. It influences how people experience and interact with the world so it is incorrect to talk about “cures” or “elimination”. They suggested politely that the President should use his power to focus on improving the lives of people who live with autism. Less politely they called his claims dangerous, irresponsible and anti-science. They suggested President Danny Rijk is “peddling the worst myths of recent decades” and that “Such dangerous pseudo-science is putting pregnant women and children at risk and devaluing autistic people.”

Dr Andrew Wakefield gained considerable notoriety in 1998 when he claimed in a research paper published in the Lancet that the MMR vaccine causes autism. His paper was later retracted when the data was found to be fraudulent but the damage was done to public confidence in the MMR vaccine and in spite of being struck off the UK medial register, Wakefield moved to the US where he found a gullible fan base and had a great influence on the current US Health Secretary, Robert Kennedy Jr.

Autism diagnoses have increased sharply between 2000 and 2020 in the US and across the First World. This rise is due mainly to increased awareness of the condition and an expanding definition of the disorder making it much easier to get a diagnosis. Possible risk factors being looked into; include parental exposure to pesticides or air pollutions, premature birth or low birth weight, maternal health problems and parents conceiving at older ages. But Kennedy, in his research drive, and with the full support of his President, is going after the simple things to address what he sees as an epidemic with a solution.

In the chaos that is current US geo-politics this story will go unnoticed but it exemplifies what this President does, taking a complex and controversial problem and applying simple answers which he then, in the absence of any evidence, claims he has solved. Reassuring for his supporters who see life in binary positions; black and white and right and wrong when off course there is seldom such thing as right or wrong there is only opinion. There are opinions based on hard facts and objective truth and there are opinions of men, it always seems to be men, who hold firmly to shaky orthodoxies, bang their fists and demand we accept that what they say is true.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:04 am UTC

U.S. seeks to be ‘friends’ with Bangladesh’s once-banned Islamist party

In obtained audio recordings, a U.S. diplomat in Dhaka described how Washington wants to engage with Jamaat-e-Islami, potentially straining U.S-India ties.

Source: World | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:00 am UTC

Are You Aging Well? 4 Simple Tests to Find Out.

They can’t guarantee future health, but they can tell you the trajectory you’re on.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 22 Jan 2026 | 10:00 am UTC

SAP scores £275M award from UK tax collector – sans competition

System handling £800B must be SaaS and sovereign. Only German vendor fits the bill, says HMRC

Updated  The UK tax collector has awarded SAP a £275 million ($370 million) contract to move the system, which handles over £800 billion (c $1 trillion) in tax revenue and payments annually, off an aging legacy platform and onto its latest software.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:30 am UTC

A celebrity cluster in the spotlight

Image: A celebrity cluster in the spotlight

Source: ESA Top News | 22 Jan 2026 | 9:00 am UTC

British Army's drone degree program set to take flight

Program will train just 20 people per year

The UK government is investing in a defense-focused degree course to train both civilian students and soldiers to become drone technology specialists. However, it's only targeting a small number of people.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 8:15 am UTC

Splash-screen memories from a Bangkok ticket machine

When the operating system is older than the transport network

Bork!Bork!Bork!  There's no keeping an obsolete operating system down, although keeping it operational can sometimes be a challenge, if public terminals are any indication. Today's bork uses an OS that dates back 26 years, but is still serving up train tickets.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 7:33 am UTC

Anthropic writes 23,000-word 'constitution' for Claude, suggests it may have feelings

Describes its LLMs as an ‘entity’ that probably has something like emotions

The Constitution of the United States of America is about 7,500 words long, a factoid The Register mentions because on Wednesday AI company Anthropic delivered an updated 23,000-word constitution for its Claude family of AI models.…

Source: The Register | 22 Jan 2026 | 5:48 am UTC

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