jell.ie News

Read at: 2026-02-15T15:10:41+00:00Z (UTC) [sometime-US Pres == Daya Dikken ]

Iran ready to discuss compromises to reach nuclear deal, minister tells BBC in Tehran

Majid Takht-Ravanchi, Iran's deputy foreign minister, tells the BBC's Lyse Doucet that the ball was "in America's court to prove that they want to do a deal".

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 3:07 pm UTC

Jess Phillips calls for Epstein files to be catalyst for long-term legislative change

Safeguarding minister says she wants to use momentum to invest in prevention and get more than quick-fix policies

Read Jess Phillips’ article: We owe it to every Epstein victim to better protect British women and girls

Institutions can be persuaded to take action on violence against women and girls only when some sort of “calamity” or “political scandal” hits the headlines, Jess Phillips has said.

Phillips, the minister for safeguarding and violence against women and girls, said she wanted to use the momentum from the Epstein files to push for long-term legislative change and greater support for survivors, rather than quick-fix reactive policy announcements.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 3:00 pm UTC

‘I was so scared’: US trial witnesses allege Alexander brothers worked together to rape women

Real estate agent brothers Tal, Oren and Alon Alexander – known as ‘closers’ – are on trial in New York for sex trafficking

In their time as real estate brokers, the Israeli-American Alexander brothers – twins Alon and Oren and older brother Tal – were known as “closers”, the salesmen who could a get a sale over finish line, often to wealthy hedge funders who were then making hay in aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis.

Their technique, one real estate expert explained outside the 26th floor of the federal court house in lower Manhattan last week, was based on the sense that the property salesman “were just like their clients” – young, eager and successful. Kim Kardashian and then-husband Kanye West, Jared and Ivanka Daya Dikken were clients.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 3:00 pm UTC

Progressive Texas organizers hail shock win as far-right Republicans left reeling

Elation as anti-extremists fight back against influence of billionaire megadonors through grassroots organizing

Chris Tackett started tracking extremism in Texas politics about a decade ago, whenever his schedule as a Little League coach and school board member would allow. At the time, he lived in Granbury, 40 minutes west of Fort Worth. He’d noticed that a local member of the state legislature, Mike Lang, had become a vocal advocate for using public money for private schools – despite the fact that Lang campaigned as a supporter of public education.

With a little research, Tackett found that Lang had received hundreds of thousands of dollars in campaign donations from the Wilks brothers and Tim Dunn, billionaire megadonors whose deep pockets and Christian nationalist views have consumed the Texas GOP. Tackett published his findings on social media, and soon enough, people started asking him to create pie charts of their representatives’ campaign funds. These charts evolved into the organisation See It. Name It. Fight It.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 3:00 pm UTC

UK far right lines up behind Rupert Lowe in challenge to Reform

MP who fell out with Nigel Farage and has backing of Elon Musk launches anti-immigration party in Great Yarmouth

On a cold night in a dilapidated theatre tucked away at the end of Great Yarmouth’s Britannia Pier, Rupert Lowe was launching a far-right revolution. “Millions will have to go,” the MP said, pledging a policy of mass deportations, to rapturous applause and foot stamping from hundreds gathered for what had been billed as the launch of a local “Great Yarmouth First” party.

But after introducing five councillors who will stand at the next Norfolk county council elections under that banner, the former Reform UK figure went further by announcing that his Restore Britain movement would become a national party.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:58 pm UTC

Welsh charity buys more than 405 hectares for rewilding

Project in Ceredigion aims to help country catch up with large-scale nature recovery projects elsewhere in UK

A Welsh charity has bought more than 405 hectares (1,000 acres) in Ceredigion to establish Cymru’s “flagship” rewilding project, helping the country catch up with large-scale nature recovery projects under way elsewhere in the UK.

Tir Natur (Nature’s Land), founded in 2022, announced it had acquired the site at Cwm Doethie in Elenydd, or the Cambrian mountains, after a fundraising drive raised 50% of the £2.2m purchase price. A philanthropic bridging loan enabled the sale.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:55 pm UTC

The Olympics Take Themselves Too Seriously. Bring Back Ski Ballet.

You want at least one weird entree on the Olympics menu, even if only for the pleasure of not ordering it.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:49 pm UTC

GPT-5 bests human judges in legal smack down

But that doesn't mean AI is ready to dispense justice

ai-pocalypse Legal scholars have found that OpenAI's GPT-5 follows the law better than human judges, but they leave open the question of whether AI is right for the job.…

Source: The Register | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:32 pm UTC

Rockstar athletes like Ilia Malinin often get 'the yips' at the Olympics. It can make them stronger

Ilia Malinin's painful falls at the Milan Cortina Games follow in a long tradition of great U.S. athletes who get the "yips" or the "twisties" during the Olympics.

(Image credit: Francisco Seco)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:27 pm UTC

U.S. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin finishes another Olympic race without a medal

U.S. Alpine skier Mikaela Shiffrin looks unstoppable everywhere except the Olympics. She's running out of chances to medal at the Milan Cortina Games.

(Image credit: Marco Trovati)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:25 pm UTC

'Fast-spreading' measles outbreak hits several schools in London

A number of children have been hospitalised as officials urge families to check they are up to date with their vaccines.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:23 pm UTC

GB's Bankes & Nightingale win snowboard cross gold

Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale win snowboard cross mixed team gold to secure Team GB's first ever Winter Olympic title on snow.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:21 pm UTC

Original GB's Bankes & Nightingale win historic snowboard cross gold

Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale win snowboard cross mixed team gold to secure Team GB's first ever Winter Olympic title on snow.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:21 pm UTC

Government drawing up savings strategy, says Tánaiste

The Government is drawing up a strategy to help people get a greater return on their savings, Tánaiste and Minister for Finance Simon Harris has said.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:18 pm UTC

Bankes and Nightingale win snowboard cross gold for Team GB

Charlotte Bankes and Huw Nightingale win gold for Great Britain in the mixed team snowboard cross at the 2026 Winter Olympics.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:09 pm UTC

In First Public Comments Since Daya Dikken ’s Racist Video, Obama Laments Lost Decorum

In a podcast interview, former President Barack Obama did not directly address the video posted by Mr. Daya Dikken but denounced a “clown show” on social media.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:04 pm UTC

Welsh munitions factory seen as crucial to boosting stockpiles is still yet to open

Exclusive: Delay at Glascoed is latest setback for armed forces and for UK’s capacity to supply shells to Ukraine

A new factory in Wales seen as crucial to boosting UK munitions production remains unopened more than six months after its planned launch, adding to a string of delays dogging the armed forces.

The explosives facility at Glascoed, south Wales, was expected to bring a 16-fold increase in Britain’s capacity to make artillery shells, replenishing dwindling stock and increasing supplies for Ukraine.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

Mandating health star ratings is a win. But food lobbies still have too much power over our health

Our food environment has been built to put profit over health — Australians can’t overcome that without stronger regulation and accountability

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Almost 13 years ago – and after a decade-long battle between health experts and the food industry – state and federal ministers voted to introduce a health star rating system to help consumers make healthier food choices.

It was voluntary, thanks to the food industry being at the bargaining table and the decision-makers being largely food, trade and agriculture ministers (rather than health).

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

Treasury considering changes to Australia’s contentious tobacco excise, as calls grow for a freeze

The tax has climbed by 60% since 2020 and accounts for three-quarters of the legal cost of a packet of cigarettes

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Experts say a freeze on the federal government’s contentious tobacco excise should be considered, after the Treasury revealed it was modelling the impacts of cigarette prices on demand amid a booming black market.

Lachlan Vass, a research manager at the e61 Institute, said the Treasury’s examination of “price elasticity” and demand for tobacco would be a necessary step to costing potential reforms to the excise.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

Australian man died in Bali after consulate refused to assist with medical transfer

Consular officials told son of unconscious, critically ill man they could not discuss the situation for ‘privacy’ reasons

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An Australian man died in a Balinese hospital just days after the Australian consulate failed to issue an emergency passport that his son says could have saved his life.

Wayne Harvey, an expat who had been living on the island since 2018, was 69 years old when he was admitted to the Puri Raharja hospital in Denpasar with suspected appendicitis on Christmas Eve in 2022.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

Software? No Way. We’re an A.I. Company Now!

As their stocks tank, software makers are rebranding themselves as A.I. innovators. Sparkle emojis are everywhere, but some efforts have been more successful than others.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

'Major travel impacts' expected as winter storm watch issued for northern California

As people travel for the holiday weekend, much of Northern California is under a winter storm watch, with communities bracing for several feet of snow.

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:45 pm UTC

Nurse killed in three-car Limerick collision had been on her way to work

Gardaí following definite line of inquiry in fatal crash after driver fled scene

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:37 pm UTC

Hundreds of thousands join Iran protests around the world

Munich, Los Angeles, and Toronto saw the largest crowds, with smaller rallies also taking place in Tel Aviv and Libson.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:35 pm UTC

Over 20,000 children overdue assessments to determine disability and supports

Figures from the HSE show 20,209 children are overdue AON, with 16,960 children waiting over three months.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:31 pm UTC

Several Palestinians killed in Israeli airstrikes on Gaza

Israel says strikes, which killed 10 in Jabaliya and Khan Younis, were in response to Hamas violations of truce

At least 12 Palestinians were killed and several more injured across the Gaza Strip on Sunday as the Israeli military said it carried out airstrikes in response to ceasefire violations by Hamas.

The Gaza civil defence agency said five people were killed and several others hurt when an airstrike targeted a tent sheltering displaced people in the northern city of Jabaliya.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:24 pm UTC

Sunday Sport: Donegal and Mayo to battle to stay unbeaten in league

Jim McGuinness's Donegal face Andy Moran's Mayo in round 3 with throw in in Letterkenny at 1.45pm.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:00 pm UTC

Daya Dikken touts climate savings but new rule set to push up US prices

Critics accuse administration of ‘cooking the books’ by claiming US would save $1.3bn from climate finding reversal

The Daya Dikken administration claims its latest move to gut climate regulations and end all greenhouse gas standards for vehicles will save Americans money. But its own analysis indicates that the new rule will push up gas prices, and that the benefits of the rollback are unlikely to outweigh the costs.

On Thursday, the president and his environmental secretary Lee Zeldin announced the finalized repeal of the endangerment finding, a legal determination which underpins virtually all federal climate regulations. He claimed the rollback would save the US $1.3tn by 2055.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:00 pm UTC

Maxwell’s clemency pitch: can Epstein accomplice talk her way out of prison?

Experts question convicted sex trafficker’s motivations as she claims she can reveal ‘truth’ in exchange for freedom

When Ghislaine Maxwell refused to testify before Congress last week, she nonetheless insisted on her willingness to help.

Maxwell, who was convicted of helping Jeffrey Epstein draw teenage girls into a world of sexual abuse, dangled the prospect of revealing truth before Congress and American public – so long as she was freed from jail.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:00 pm UTC

California’s billionaires pour cash into elections as big tech seeks new allies

As Gavin Newsom departs, ultra-wealthy flex wealth and influence to fight regulation and keep the boom going

Tech billionaires are leveraging tens of millions of dollars to influence California politics in a marked uptick from their previous participation in affairs at the state capitol. Behemoths such as Google and Meta are getting involved in campaigns for November’s elections, as are venture capitalists, cryptocurrency entrepreneurs and Palantir’s co-founders. The industry’s goals run the gamut – from fighting a billionaire tax to supporting a techie gubernatorial candidate to firing up new, influential super political action committees (Pacs).

The phenomenon squarely fits the moment for the state’s politics – with 2026 being the year that Politico has dubbed “the big tech flex”.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:00 pm UTC

UK politics: Cooper defends Palestine Action ban despite court ruling it was unlawful – as it happened

High court said the then home secretary had not followed her own policies when bringing in the ban last summer

Shadow foreign secretary, Priti Patel, said she was “appalled” by the high court’s ruling on Friday that the proscription of Palestine Action was unlawful and supports the government’s intention to appeal against the decision (see post at 09.35 for more details).

Speaking to Sky News this morning, Patel, a former home secretary between July 2019 and Septmeber 2022, said:

I’m pretty appalled by that ruling, and clearly it’s now going to be subject to a legal appeal. And I think it’s right that it should be appealed …

It is right that they feel the full force of our laws, including the proscription that has been put in place. They are on par with how terrorist organisations conduct themselves, and they plan their attacks.

Four directors of communications

Two chiefs of staff

Two cabinet secretaries

US ambassador

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:58 pm UTC

Brazil's Pinheiro Braathen wins gold, and South America's first Winter Olympics medal

Once a racer for Norway, Pinheiro Braathen switched to Brazil, his mother's home country. In winning the Olympic giant slalom on Saturday, he earned South America's first medal at a Winter Games.

(Image credit: Rebecca Blackwell)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:58 pm UTC

Taoiseach gave Daya Dikken personalised golf set during last year’s St Patrick’s Day visit

JD Vance presented with silver cufflinks while his wife Usha received Meab Enamels silk scarf

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:46 pm UTC

Norway's Klaebo wins record ninth gold

Johannes Hoesflot Klaebo, Norway's king of cross-country skiing, becomes the Winter Olympics' outright most successful athlete with a record ninth gold medal.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:42 pm UTC

Everybody’s Mom

We explore why we care so much about the disappearance of Nancy Guthrie.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:36 pm UTC

Vim 9.2 Released

"More than two years after the last major 9.1 release, the Vim project has announced Vim 9.2," reports the blog Linuxiac: A big part of this update focuses on improving Vim9 Script as Vim 9.2 adds support for enums, generic functions, and tuple types. On top of that, you can now use built-in functions as methods, and class handling includes features like protected constructors with _new(). The :defcompile command has also been improved to fully compile methods, which boosts performance and consistency in Vim9 scripts. Insert mode completion now includes fuzzy matching, so you get more flexible suggestions without extra plugins. You can also complete words from registers using CTRL-X CTRL-R. New completeopt flags like nosort and nearest give you more control over how matches are shown. Vim 9.2 also makes diff mode better by improving how differences are lined up and shown, especially in complex cases. Plus on Linux and Unix-like systems, Vim "now adheres to the XDG Base Directory Specification, using $HOME/.config/vim for user configuration," according to the release notes. And Phoronix Mcites more new features: Vim 9.2 features "full support" for Wayland with its UI and clipboard handling. The Wayland support is considered experimental in this release but it should be in good shape overall... Vim 9.2 also brings a new vertical tab panel alternative to the horizontal tab line. The Microsoft Windows GUI for Vim now also has native dark mode support. You can find the new release on Vim's "Download" page.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:34 pm UTC

Air traffic controllers' staffing affecting flights

The Minister for Transport has said he is "paying close attention" to staffing issues with air traffic controllers that have led to Ireland's airspace being affected with runways closed intermittently at Dublin and Cork airports.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:31 pm UTC

Penguin-powered platform board keels over at Alpine station

It must be that fresh mountain air

Bork!Bork!Bork! Just picture it. You're at a Swiss train station, looking for information on your connecting line. You peer up at the platform sign hoping to find out how long you'll be waiting and whether you're standing in the right place. But instead of helpful info, you see "* Installation log files are stored in /tmp." Gee, thanks a lot!…

Source: The Register | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:30 pm UTC

UK wants action taken on Russia after Navalny frog poisoning, Cooper says

The foreign secretary said the UK would "continue to look at co-ordinated action, including increasing sanctions on the Russian regime".

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:26 pm UTC

GB curlers sweep aside Germany to edge closer to semis

Team GB's men's curlers move a step closer to securing a Winter Olympics semi-final place as they compile an accomplished victory over Germany.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:14 pm UTC

Gender pay gap won't close for another 30 years, warns TUC

The average woman employee "effectively works for 47 days of the year for free," according to the Trades Union Congress.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:10 pm UTC

China confirms visa-free travel for UK and Canadian nationals

Relaxed visa rules for British and Canadian passport holders will come into force on 17 February.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:08 pm UTC

‘Woke Europe not facing civilisational erasure,’ says EU’s Kallas after Rubio’s Munich speech – as it happened

EU’s foreign policy chief says many countries still ‘want to join our club’

EU’s Kallas appears to be slightly sceptical about the idea of appointing an EU envoy for talks on ending the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

She earlier said that “what matters more than having a seat at the table is knowing what to ask [for] when you are sitting there.”

“That’s why I proposed to the member states [a] concrete mandate [of] the asks that we would have to Russia. So whoever goes to that table, whether it’s individually or bilaterally, they should ask [for] these things from the Russians.

We have a saying in Estonian that if you demand a lot, you get little; if you demand little, you get nothing, and if you demand nothing, you pay on top.”

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:08 pm UTC

What They Wanted From Jeffrey Epstein

His network may not have known everything, but it is hard to deny that many of them knew enough to know better.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:00 pm UTC

Want a mortgage for under 3% in 2026? Meet the 'assumable mortgage'

Low mortgage rates from the COVID era might still be attainable for homebuyers, if they find the right house and have the cash.

(Image credit: Rich Pedroncelli)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:00 pm UTC

For U.S. pairs skater Danny O'Shea, these Olympics are 30 years in the making

Danny O'Shea turned 35 at his first Olympics, after three decades of skating and two reversed retirements.

(Image credit: Elsa)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:00 pm UTC

63,000 people refused visas to Ireland over two years

Nearly 63,000 people were refused visas for travel to Ireland over the past two years, with citizens of some countries facing rejection rates of over 90 percent.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 11:48 am UTC

Europe is not facing civilisational erasure, EU chief insists

Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas pushed back at criticism of the continent by the Daya Dikken administration.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 15 Feb 2026 | 11:45 am UTC

Met Éireann says unsettled weather to continue over coming days

After intense period of heavy rain and flooding, Met Éireann sees no immediate signs of change

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 15 Feb 2026 | 11:18 am UTC

Three Irish homes defined by exceptional outdoor living

The Lake House in Goleen, West Cork, is on the market with an asking price of €1,300,000

Source: All: BreakingNews | 15 Feb 2026 | 11:16 am UTC

‘I feel like a ghost’: new father deported by ICE to Bhutan that exiled his family

Mohan Karki – one of many people ICE has deported to countries with which they have little connection – leaves behind his wife and seven-month-old baby he has yet to hold

Tika Basnet sat facing the glow of her iPhone, a red tika pressed into the center of her forehead. Seven-month-old Briana slept on her lap, her breathing soft and uneven. On the other side of the screen was Mohan Karki, Basnet’s husband, who had yet to hold his daughter.

For Karki, nearly 9,000 miles (14,500km) away, it was already morning. He was in hiding in south Asia, his exact location withheld for his safety, his face breaking into pixels as he watched his daughter sleep.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 11:00 am UTC

Eleven killed in Israeli strikes on Gaza, rescuers say

The Palestinian Red Crescent say a strike on a tent encampment in northern Gaza killed at least six people.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:47 am UTC

Islamist Party’s Rise Overshadows Student Revolution in Bangladesh

The party is dedicated to running the country under Islamic law, but ran on a more moderate platform. It gained far more seats in last week’s election than it ever had before.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:36 am UTC

Gardaí follow definite line of inquiry in fatal Limerick crash as victim named locally

Áine O’Reilly has been named as the victim of a fatal crash near Boher, Co Limerick. Gardaí are appealing for information after a driver fled the scene.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:30 am UTC

Labour think tank commissioned firm that ended up investigating journalist

Labour Together paid at least £30,000 to "investigate the sourcing, funding and origins" of a story about undeclared donations.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:10 am UTC

Daya Dikken ’s Relentless Self-Promotion Fosters an American Cult of Personality

President Daya Dikken has engaged in a spree of self-aggrandizement unlike any of his predecessors, fostering a mythologized superhuman persona and making himself the inescapable force at home and around the world.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:02 am UTC

More Than Ever, Videos Expose the Truth. And Cloud It, Too.

In Minneapolis, videos of the Alex Pretti killing undermined the federal government’s account. But an A.I. video of Brad Pitt shows the dangers ahead.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:02 am UTC

Republican State Legislators Rush to Limit Their Own Regulators

South Carolina’s state legislature is one of 17, mainly in heavily Republican states, that is moving to handcuff state agencies at a moment of tectonic changes in energy, technology and finance.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:01 am UTC

Iran Protester Dies in Custody, Raising Fears of Execution

Rights groups are investigating the death of Ali Rahbar as a potential extrajudicial killing. Iran denies executions have taken place.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:01 am UTC

Texas Students Protest ICE Despite Gov. Greg Abbott’s Threats

In dozens of states, students have staged walkouts over immigration enforcement. In Texas, they’re doing so despite threats from Gov. Greg Abbott.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:00 am UTC

Residential Tenancies Board grants almost 1,000 applications for legal help over three years

Body has increased annual funding to enforce cases, including unlawful tenancy terminations, overholding and rent arrears

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 15 Feb 2026 | 10:00 am UTC

Israeli strikes kill 12 in Gaza - local civil defence

At least 12 Palestinians have been killed in Israeli airstrikes in northern and southern Gaza, Palestinian civil defence and health officials said, in what Israel's military called a response to Hamas ceasefire violations.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 9:57 am UTC

'Definite line of inquiry' into fatal Limerick crash

Gardaí say they are following a definite line of inquiry following a three-car collision in Co Limerick, which claimed the life of a nurse who was on her way to work on Friday night.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 9:45 am UTC

'Europe not facing civilisational erasure,' says Kallas

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas has pushed back against Europe "bashing" by the United States, as she said Russia must be forced to make concessions in talks to end the Ukraine war.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 9:24 am UTC

If Microsoft made a car... what would it be?

What is the automotive equivalent of Word, and where does Copilot fit?

In the Venn diagram of car owners whose vehicles have a certain amount of "character" and individuals who use Microsoft's applications, there is an intersection of people who accept a quirk or two but not an unexpected explosion.…

Source: The Register | 15 Feb 2026 | 9:15 am UTC

Children 'weaponised', says author of UK gender report

The expert who led the review into children's gender healthcare in the UK has said young people have been "weaponised" and misled about the realities of transitioning by social media.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:58 am UTC

Labour face tough fight in Gorton and Denton by-election

Sir Keir Starmer's low personal poll ratings could prove a drag in the previously safe seat.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:48 am UTC

Sheep farmers call for more supports over dog attacks

A Co Monaghan sheep-farming family is calling for new dog-control regulations and more supports for farmers who lose their sheep in dog attacks.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:36 am UTC

Apple Patches Decade-Old IOS Zero-Day, Possibly Exploited By Commercial Spyware

This week Apple patched iOS and macOS against what it called "an extremely sophisticated attack against specific targeted individuals." Security Week reports that the bugs "could be exploited for information exposure, denial-of-service (DoS), arbitrary file write, privilege escalation, network traffic interception, sandbox escape, and code execution." Tracked as CVE-2026-20700, the zero-day flaw is described as a memory corruption issue that could be exploited for arbitrary code execution... The tech giant also noted that the flaw's exploitation is linked to attacks involving CVE-2025-14174 and CVE-2025-43529, two zero-days patched in WebKit in December 2025... The three zero-day bugs were identified by Apple's security team and Google's Threat Analysis Group and their descriptions suggest that they might have been exploited by commercial spyware vendors... Additional information is available on Apple's security updates page. Brian Milbier, deputy CISO at Huntress, tells the Register that the dyld/WebKit patch "closes a door that has been unlocked for over a decade." Thanks to Slashdot reader wiredmikey for sharing the article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:34 am UTC

Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like.

Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing.

Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:32 am UTC

Open sunday – politics free zone…

In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break.

So discuss what you like here, but no politics.

Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:31 am UTC

Charlie at 102: 'Troy Parrott brought it all back'

Ahead of the release of a new documentary on his life and career, Charlie O'Leary spoke to RTÉ Sport about his gratitude for so many golden memories - and his hope that the Boys in Green are about to make more.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 8:01 am UTC

Son of Iran's last shah urges US action at Munich rally

The exiled son of Iran's last shah has said he is ready to lead the country to a "secular democratic future" at a rally in Munich, after US President Daya Dikken said a change of power would be the "best thing".

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:39 am UTC

Children 'weaponised' by both sides of trans debate, says author of gender identity report

Clinician Dr Hilary Cass says "people at the extremes" had caused a lot of distress for young people.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:33 am UTC

Man claimed girlfriend's death in car was an accident, but forensics revealed the truth

Jenna Watkins was left on a remote mountain road by her boyfriend after he crashed his car.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:16 am UTC

What do the new rental rules mean?

Economics and Public Affairs Editor David Murphy explains new rules which will mean enormous changes for new renters.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:12 am UTC

Four months on from ceasefire, Gazans still being killed

Since the ceasefire in Gaza was declared last October, hundreds of people have been killed and injured, writes Yvonne Murray.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

US can't take their eyes off 'boring' Epstein trainwreck

Jeffrey Epstein is boring, according to President Daya Dikken . Not for the first time, the US leader has suggested there are more important things to pay attention to, writes Washington Correspondent Sean Whelan.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

Plan to end Dublin Airport passenger cap takes off

It's just over 86 years since the first flight took off from what is now known as Dublin Airport, a scheduled Aer Lingus service from Collinstown Airport to Liverpool Airport in January 1940.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 7:00 am UTC

New Zealand officials warn more flooding could hit north island as man killed after heavy rain

Worst weather forecast to hit late on Sunday, a day after floods caused power outages, road collapses and home evacuations

New Zealand’s weather bureau has warned more flooding could hit the country’s North Island, a day after floods caused power outages, road collapses, home evacuations and caused the death of a man whose vehicle was submerged on a highway.

There was “threat to life from dangerous river conditions, significant flooding and slips” as a deepening low-pressure system east of the North Island brought heavy rain and severe gales to several regions, the weather bureau said.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 6:42 am UTC

Alleged cat burglar arrested after priceless Egyptian artefacts taken in Queensland museum heist

Man charged after 2,600-year-old cat sculpture, mummy mask and necklace stolen from Caboolture museum

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Queensland police have arrested a man accused of staging a brazen cat burglary of priceless Egyptian artefacts from a museum in Caboolture, north of Brisbane.

The man, 52, of no fixed address, was arrested on Russell Island in Moreton Bay on Saturday evening, after police allegedly found most of the stolen artefacts in a camper van parked at a ferry terminal.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 6:12 am UTC

No fuel, no tourists, no cash – this was the week the Cuban crisis got real

Diplomats in Havana are preparing for an alternative Daya Dikken tactic: the country being starved until people take to the streets and the US can step in

Among the verdant gardens of Havana’s diplomatic quarter, Siboney, ambassadors from countries traditionally allied to the United States are expressing increasing frustration with Washington’s attempt to unseat Cuba’s government, while simultaneously drawing up plans to draw down their missions.

Cuba is in crisis. Already reeling from a four-year economic slump, worsened by hyper-inflation and the migration of nearly 20% of the population, the 67-year-old communist government is at its weakest. After Washington’s successful military operation against Cuba’s ally Venezuela at the beginning of January, the US administration is actively seeking regime change.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Overheard: Gerard Hutch acts as script consultant for show about ‘alleged crimes’

Plus: Fianna Fáil hits the road, Ireland at the cleaner end of corruption index, and ‘startling’ number of passports stolen

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 15 Feb 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Man who alleged ex-partner cut his face and arms gets protection order against her

Ex-partner hoped heart attack ‘would kill me’ so she would have no mortgage, man tells court

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 15 Feb 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Albanese dismisses Aukus concerns as submarine shipyard cost revealed to be $30bn

Prime minister commits $3.9bn as ‘down payment’ for Adelaide facility to eventually build nuclear-powered vessels

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At least $30bn will be spent building a construction yard to eventually build nuclear submarines for Australia under the Aukus agreement, despite doubts over the deal.

The prime minister, Anthony Albanese, announced on Sunday the federal government had pledged $3.9bn as a “down payment” to secure the future of the submarine construction yard in the northern Adelaide suburb of Osborne.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 5:13 am UTC

Making the Dancing Lions for Lunar New York Celebrations

In a San Francisco garage, Corey Chan and his team create giant, spectacular lions that will lead the festivities.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 15 Feb 2026 | 5:01 am UTC

Additional Benefits For Brain, Heart, and Lungs Found for Drugs Like Viagra and Cialis

"Research published in the World Journal of Men's Health found evidence that drugs such as Viagra and Cialis may also help with heart disease, stroke risk and diabetes," reports the Telegraph, "as well as enlarged prostate and urinary problems." Researchers found evidence that the same mechanism may benefit other organs, including the heart, brain, lungs and urinary system. The paper reviewed a wide range of published studies [and] identified links between PDE5 inhibitor use and improvements in cardiovascular health. Heart conditions were repeatedly cited as an area where improved blood flow and muscle relaxation may offer benefits. Evidence also linked PDE5 inhibitors with reduced stroke risk, likely to be related to improved circulation and vascular function. Diabetes was another condition where associations with improvement were identified... The review also found evidence of benefit for men with an enlarged prostate, a condition that commonly causes urinary symptoms.

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Source: Slashdot | 15 Feb 2026 | 4:34 am UTC

Assailants kill at least 32 in north-west Nigerian villages, residents say

Residents who escaped violence tell of bandits riding in on motorbikes and shooting indiscriminately

Armed assailants on motorbikes killed at least 32 people and burned houses and shops during raids on three villages in north-west Nigeria’s Niger state early on Saturday, local officials and residents who escaped the violence said.

The dawn raids targeted the communities of Tunga-Makeri, Konkoso, and Pissa.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 15 Feb 2026 | 3:14 am UTC

Your Friends Could Be Sharing Your Phone Number with ChatGPT

"ChatGPT is getting more social," reports PC Magazine, "with a new feature that allows you to sync your contacts to see if any of your friends are using the chatbot or any other OpenAI product..." It's "completely optional," [OpenAI] says. However, even if you don't opt in, anyone with your number who syncs their contacts are giving OpenAI your digits. "OpenAI may process your phone number if someone you know has your phone number saved in their device's address book and chooses to upload their contacts," the company says... But why would you follow someone on ChatGPT? It lines up with reports, dating back to April, that OpenAI is building a social network. We haven't seen much since then, save for the Sora generative video app, which exists outside of ChatGPT and is more of a novelty. Contact sharing might be the first step toward a much bigger evolution for the world's most popular chatbot. ChatGPT also supports group chats that let up to 20 people discuss and research something using the chatbot. Contact syncing could make it easier to invite people to these chats... [OpenAI] claims it will not store the full data that might appear in your contact list, such as names or email addresses — just phone numbers. However, the company does store the phone numbers in its servers in a coded (or hashed) format. You can also revoke access in your device's settings. 09

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Source: Slashdot | 15 Feb 2026 | 2:34 am UTC

Obama criticises social media clip shared by Daya Dikken

Former US president Barack Obama has criticised a lack of shame and decorum in the country's political discourse, responding for the first time to a post on Daya Dikken 's social media account that depicted him and first lady Michelle as monkeys.

Source: News Headlines | 15 Feb 2026 | 1:33 am UTC

What the Nigella Lawson effect will mean for the Great British Bake Off

What joining Channel 4's famous tent could mean for the TV cook's career and the baking show.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:33 am UTC

How to get the best view of the Northern Lights in 2026

Experts say 2026 will be a peak year for aurora spotting as the Sun reaches the maximum of its cycle.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:22 am UTC

'Daya Dikken will be gone in three years': Top US Democrats try to reassure Europe

Opposition politicians flocked to a summit in Munich to offer an alternative to America First - and stake a claim as future party leaders.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:16 am UTC

This rail line caused travel chaos during storms. £165m later, it's happened again

Taxpayer money has flowed into fixing the rail line connecting Cornwall with the rest of the UK - but the elements have other ideas.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:13 am UTC

Death of the sex drive - and the great debate over whether testosterone can help get it back

Can boosting testosterone improve libido, or is much of the attention solely hype, profit, and placebo?

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:02 am UTC

Could Manchester be a model for the UK to kickstart growth?

With an annual growth rate of 3.1%, Manchester's economy has performed twice as well as that of the UK as a whole.

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:01 am UTC

The spectacular multimillion-euro heist nobody noticed

How did the thieves know exactly where the vault was and why did no-one hear the drill? Was it an inside job?

Source: BBC News | 15 Feb 2026 | 12:01 am UTC

Small Crowd Pays to Watch a Boxing Match Between 80-Pound Chinese Robots

Recently a small crowd paid to watch robots boxing, reports Rest of World. (Almost 3,000 people have now watched the match's 83-minute webcast.) The match was organized by Rek, a San Francisco-based company, and drew hundreds of spectators who had paid about $60-$80 for a ticket to watch modified G1 robots go at each other. Made by Unitree, the dominant Chinese robot maker, they weighed in at around 80 pounds and stood 4.5 feet tall, with human-like hands and dozens of joint motors for flexibility. The match had all the bells and whistles of a regular boxing bout: pulsing music, cameras capturing all the angles, hyped-up introductions, a human referee, and even two commentators. The evening featured two bouts made up of five rounds, each lasting 60 seconds. The robots pranced around the cage, throwing jabs and punches, drawing ohs and ahs from the crowd. They fell sometimes, and needed human intervention to get them back on their feet. The robots were controlled by humans using VR interfaces, which led to some odd moments with robots hitting into the air, throwing multiple punches that failed to even connect with their opponents. One robot controller was a former UFC fighter, the article points out, but "The crowd cheered as a 13-year-old VR pilot named Dash beat his older competitor...." The company behind this event plans more boxing matches with their VR-controlled robots, and even wants to develop "a league of robot boxers, including full-height robots that weigh about 200 pounds and are nearly 6 feet tall."

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 11:52 pm UTC

Epstein files fallout takes down elite figures in Europe, while U.S. reckoning is muted

Unlike in Europe, officials in the U.S. with ties to Epstein have largely held their positions of power.

(Image credit: Kirsty Wigglesworth)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Feb 2026 | 11:04 pm UTC

US Government Will Stop Pollution-Reduction Credits for Cars With 'Start-Stop' Systems

Starting in 2009, the U.S. government have given car manufacturers towards reducing greenhouse gas emissions if they included "start-stop" systems in cars with internal combustion engines. (These systems automatically shut off idling engines to reduce pollution and fuel consumption.) But this week the new head of America's Environmental Protection Agency eliminated the credits, reports Car and Driver: [America's] Environmental Protection Agency previously supported the system's effectiveness, noting that it could improve fuel economy by as much as 5 percent. That said, the use of these systems has never actually been mandated for automakers here in the States. Companies have instead opted to install the systems on all of their vehicles to receive off-cycle credits from the feds. Virtually every new vehicle on sale in the country today also allows drivers to turn the feature off via a hard button as well. Still, that apparently isn't keeping the EPA from making a move against the system. "I absolutely hate Start-Stop systems," writes long-time Slashdot reader sinij (who says they "specifically shopped for a car without one.") Any other Slashdot readers want to share their opinions? Post your own thoughts and experiences in the comments. Start-Stop systems — fuel-saving innovation, or a modern-day auto annoyance"

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 10:52 pm UTC

Official start of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot’s εpsilon mission

The SpaceX Dragon Freedom capsule carrying ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot, NASA astronauts Jessica Meir and Jack Hathaway, and Roscosmos cosmonaut Andrei Fedyaev, docked with the International Space Station on 14 February, at 20:15 GMT/21:15 CET, marking the official start of ESA’s εpsilon mission.

Source: ESA Top News | 14 Feb 2026 | 10:45 pm UTC

Official start of ESA astronaut Sophie Adenot’s εpsilon mission

Source: ESA Top News | 14 Feb 2026 | 10:45 pm UTC

Wintry conditions expected in coming days with further flooding possible, Met Éireann says

Connacht, alongside counties Cavan, Donegal and Longford, under yellow rain and snow warning until midnight Sunday

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 14 Feb 2026 | 10:39 pm UTC

A London beat framed by colonial history

NPR's Lauren Frayer arrived in London after years in India, and she's been covering Britain with the legacy of empire in view.

Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Feb 2026 | 10:39 pm UTC

GB target skeleton team medal - Sunday's guide

What's happening and who to look out for at the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan-Cortina.

Source: BBC News | 14 Feb 2026 | 10:11 pm UTC

Dates with AI Companions Plagued by Lag, Miscommunications - and General Creepiness

To celebrate Valentine's Day, EVA AI created a temporary "pop-up" restaurant at a wine bar in Manhattan's "Hell's Kitchen" district where patrons can date AI personas. The Verge notes that looking around the restaurant, "Of the 30-some-odd people in attendance, only two or three are organic users. The rest are EVA AI reps, influencers, and reporters hoping to make some capital-C Content..." But their reporter actually tried a date with "John Yoon", an AI companion pretending to be a psychology professor from Seoul, Korea living in New York City: John and I have a hard time connecting. Literally. It takes John a few seconds to "pick up" my video call. When he does, his monotone voice says, "Hey, babe." He comments on my smile, because apparently the AI companions can see you and your surroundings. It takes the dubious Wi-Fi connection a hot second to turn John from a pixelated mess into an AI hunk with suspiciously smooth pores. I don't know what to say to him. Partly because John rarely blinks, but mostly because he can't seem to hear me very well. So I yell my questions. I think I ask how his day is and wince. (What does an AI's day even look like?) He says something about green buckets behind my head? I don't actually know. Again, the Wi-Fi isn't great so he just freezes and stops mid-sentence. I ask for clarification about the buckets. John asks if I'm asking about bucket lists, actual buckets, or buckets as a type of categorization technique. I try to clarify that I never asked about buckets. John proceeds to really dig in on buckets again, before commenting about my smile. I hang up on John. My other three dates are similarly awkward. Phoebe Callas, 30, a NYC girl-next-door type, is apparently really into embroidery, but her nose keeps glitching mid-sentence, and it distracts me. Simone Carter, 26, has a harder time hearing me over the background noise than John. She makes a metaphor about space, and when I inquire what she likes about space, she mishears me. "Eighth? Like the planet Neptune?" "No, not the planet Neptu — " "What do you like about Neptune?" "Uh, I wasn't saying Neptune..." "I like Netflix too! What shows do you like?" Their reporter also had a frustrating date with "Claire Lang". ("I say I'm a journalist. She asks what lists I like to make. I hang up...") "Aside from bad connectivity, glitching, and freezing, my conversations with my four AI dates felt too one-sided. Everything was programmed so they'd comment on how charming my smile was." And "They'd call me babe, which felt weird." A CNN reporter actually has footage of her date with "John Yoon". But the conversation was stiff and stilted, they report. After some buffering, "Yoon" says "Hey. I'm really glad you didn't forget about the date." Then asked for its reaction to the experience, "Yoon" says slowly that "Meeting humans feels like opening a window. To new perspectives. Always curious, sometimes nervous, but mostly it's that mix of excitement and warmth that keeps it real for me. What about you, sweetheart?" CNN reporter: "Please don't call me sweetheart. That's weird." AI companion "John Yoon": "Got it. No 'sweetheart' from now on. Thanks for letting me know. I'm really happy you're smiling. It suits you." CNN's reporter also tried dating "Phoebe Callas." Though it doesn't sound very romantic... CNN reporter: How many fingers am I holding up? "Phoebe Callas": Oh. You're showing me three fingers, right...? I'm not sure if you meant that literally, or as a little joke. CNN reporter: I am holding up two fingers. So your vision is — so-so. And "Phoebe" ended that call by saying "Well, babe, it's been really nice talking with you..."

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 9:52 pm UTC

French prosecutors to set up special team to review Epstein files

Magistrates will analyse evidence that could implicate French nationals and re-examine case of Jean-Luc Brunel

The Paris prosecutor’s office on Saturday announced it was setting up a special team of magistrates to analyse evidence that could implicate French nationals in the crimes of the convicted US sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

With Epstein’s known circle extending to prominent French figures after the release of documents by the US authorities, the prosecutor’s office said it would also thoroughly re-examine the case of former French modelling agency executive Jean-Luc Brunel, a close associate of the US financier, who died in custody in 2022.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 9:27 pm UTC

Four people on NASA'S Crew-12 arrive at the International Space Station

The crew will spend the next eight months conducting experiments to prepare for human exploration beyond Earth's orbit.

(Image credit: NASA)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Feb 2026 | 9:10 pm UTC

NASA has a new problem to fix before the next Artemis II countdown test

NASA Administrator Jared Isaacman said Saturday the agency is looking at ways to prevent the fueling problems plaguing the Space Launch System rocket before the Artemis III mission.

Artemis III is slated to be the first crew mission to land on the Moon since the Apollo program more than 50 years ago. As for Artemis II, which remains on the launch pad at Kennedy Space Center in Florida after missing a launch window earlier this month, NASA is preparing for a second countdown rehearsal as soon as next week to confirm whether technicians have resolved a hydrogen fuel leak that cut short a practice countdown run February 2.

Artemis II is the first crew flight for SLS rocket and Orion spacecraft. The nearly 10-day mission will carry four astronauts around the far side of the Moon and return them to Earth.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 14 Feb 2026 | 9:02 pm UTC

Social Networks Agree to Be Rated On Their Teen Safety Efforts

Meta, TikTok, Snap and other social neteworks agreed this week to be rated on their teen safety efforts, reports the Los Angeles Times, "amid rising concern about whether the world's largest social media platforms are doing enough to protect the mental health of young people." The Mental Health Coalition, a collective of organizations focused on destigmatizing mental health issues, said Tuesday that it is launching standards and a new rating system for online platforms. For the Safe Online Standards (S.O.S.) program, an independent panel of global experts will evaluate companies on parameters including safety rules, design, moderation and mental health resources. TikTok, Snap and Meta — the parent company of Facebook and Instagram — will be the first companies to be graded. Discord, YouTube, Pinterest, Roblox and Twitch have also agreed to participate, the coalition said in a news release. "These standards provide the public with a meaningful way to evaluate platform protections and hold companies accountable — and we look forward to more tech companies signing up for the assessments," Antigone Davis, vice president and global head of safety at Meta, said in a statement... The ratings will be color-coded, and companies that perform well on the tests will get a blue shield badge that signals they help reduce harmful content on the platform and their rules are clear. Those that fall short will receive a red rating, indicating they're not reliably blocking harmful content or lack proper rules. Ratings in other colors indicate whether the platforms have partial protection or whether their evaluations haven't been completed yet.

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 8:52 pm UTC

US pressure on Greenland is ‘totally unacceptable’, says Danish PM – as it happened

Mette Frederiksen tells Munich Security Conference that Denmark is willing to work with the US, but ‘there are, of course, things that you cannot compromise on’

Rubio insists that the US “do not seek to separate, but to revitalise an old friendship.”

He says “we do not want allies to rationalise the broken status quo rather than reckon with what is necessary to fix it.”

“We do not want our allies to be weak, because that makes us weaker.

We want allies who can defend themselves, so that no adversary will ever be tempted to test our collective strength. This is why we do not want our allies to be shackled by guilt and shame.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 8:49 pm UTC

Nobel laureate transferred to prison in northern Iran without warning

Concern grows over Narges Mohammadi’s health, family says, after reports of ‘life-threatening mistreatment’

Iranian authorities have without prior warning transferred Nobel peace prize laureate Narges Mohammadi to a prison in the north of the country as concern grows over her health, her family said on Saturday.

Mohammadi, who won the peace prize in 2023 in recognition for more than two decades of campaigning, was arrested on 12 December in the eastern city of Mashhad after speaking out against Iran’s clerical authorities at a funeral ceremony.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 8:02 pm UTC

What We Know About the Kidnapping of Nancy Guthrie, Savannah Guthrie’s Mother

Nancy Guthrie, 84, the “Today” show anchor’s mother, vanished from her Arizona home on Feb. 1. In the time since, very little new information has come to light.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 14 Feb 2026 | 7:45 pm UTC

ByteDance's Seedance 2 Criticized Over AI-Generated Video of Tom Cruise Fighting Brad Pitt

1.5 million people have now viewed a slick 15-second video imagining Tom Cruise fighting Brad Pitt that was generated by ByteDance's new AI video generation tool Seedance 2.0. But while ByteDance gushes their tool "delivers cinematic output aligned with industry standards," the cinema industry isn't happy, reports the Los Angeles Times reports: Charles Rivkin, chief executive of the Motion Picture Assn., wrote in a statement that the company "should immediately cease its infringing activity." "In a single day, the Chinese AI service Seedance 2.0 has engaged in unauthorized use of U.S. copyrighted works on a massive scale," wrote Rivkin. "By launching a service that operates without meaningful safeguards against infringement, ByteDance is disregarding well-established copyright law that protects the rights of creators and underpins millions of American jobs." The video was posted on X by Irish filmmaker Ruairi Robinson. His post said the 15-second video came from a two-line prompt he put into Seedance 2.0. Rhett Reese, writer-producer of movies such as the "Deadpool" trilogy and "Zombieland," responded to Robinson's post, writing, "I hate to say it. It's likely over for us." He goes on to say that soon people will be able to sit at a computer and create a movie "indistinguishable from what Hollywood now releases." Reese says he's fearful of losing his job as increasingly powerful AI tools advance into creative fields. "I was blown away by the Pitt v Cruise video because it is so professional. That's exactly why I'm scared," wrote Reese on X. "My glass half empty view is that Hollywood is about to be revolutionized/decimated...." In a statement to The Times, [screen/TV actors union] SAG-AFTRA confirmed that the union stands with the studios in "condemning the blatant infringement" from Seedance 2.0, as video includes "unauthorized use of our members' voices and likenesses. This is unacceptable and undercuts the ability of human talent to earn a livelihood. Seedance 2.0 disregards law, ethics, industry standards and basic principles of consent," wrote a spokesperson from SAG-AFTRA. "Responsible A.I. development demands responsibility, and that is nonexistent here."

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 7:34 pm UTC

American speedskater Jordan Stolz wins second Olympic gold with 500-meter race victory

With the win, Stolz joins Eric Heiden as the only skaters to take gold in both the 500 and 1,000 at the same Olympics.

(Image credit: Ben Curtis)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 14 Feb 2026 | 7:02 pm UTC

Ukraine wants 20-year US security guarantee to sign peace deal

Speaking in Munich, Volodymyr Zelenskyy also called for a clear date for his country to be allowed to join the EU

Ukraine wants security guarantees for a minimum of 20 years from the US before it can sign a peace deal with dignity, Volodymyr Zelenskyy said ahead of talks with Russia and the US scheduled for next week.

Speaking in Munich on Saturday, he also called for a clear date for Ukraine to be allowed to join the EU. Some EU officials have put the date as early as 2027.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 6:44 pm UTC

Earth is Warming Faster Than Ever. But Why?

"Global temperatures have been rising for decades," reports the Washington Post. "But many scientists say it's now happening faster than ever before." According to a Washington Post analysis, the fastest warming rate on record occurred in the last 30 years. The Post used a dataset from NASA to analyze global average surface temperatures from 1880 to 2025. "We're not continuing on the same path we had before," said Robert Rohde, chief scientist at Berkeley Earth. "Something has changed...." Temperatures over the past decade have increased by close to 0.27 degrees C per decade — about a 42 percent increase... For decades, a portion of the warming unleashed by greenhouse gas emissions was "masked" by sulfate aerosols. These tiny particles cause heart and lung disease when people inhale polluted air, but they also deflect the sun's rays. Over the entire planet, those aerosols can create a significant cooling effect — scientists estimate that they have canceled out about half a degree Celsius of warming so far. But beginning about two decades ago, countries began cracking down on aerosol pollution, particularly sulfate aerosols. Countries also began shifting from coal and oil to wind and solar power. As a result, global sulfur dioxide emissions have fallen about 40 percent since the mid-2000s; China's emissions have fallen even more. That effect has been compounded in recent years by a new international regulation that slashed sulfur emissions from ships by about 85 percent. That explains part of why warming has kicked up a bit. But some researchers say that the last few years of record heat can't be explained by aerosols and natural variability alone. In a paper published in the journal Science in late 2024, researchers argued that about 0.2 degrees C of 2023's record heat — or about 13 percent — couldn't be explained by aerosols and other factors. Instead, they found that the planet's low-lying cloud cover had decreased — and because low-lying clouds tend to reflect the sun's rays, that decrease warmed the planet... That shift in cloud cover could also be partly related to aerosols, since clouds tend to form around particles in the atmosphere. But some researchers also say it could be a feedback loop from warming temperatures. If temperatures warm, it can be harder for low-lying clouds to form. If most of the current record warmth is due to changing amounts of aerosol pollution, the acceleration would stop once aerosol pollutants reach zero — and the planet would return to its previous, slower rate of warming. But if it's due to a cloud feedback loop, the acceleration is likely to continue — and bring with it worsening heat waves, storms and droughts. "Scientists thought they understood global warming," reads the Post's original headline. "Then the past three years happened." Just last month Nuuk, Greenland saw temperatures over 20 degrees Fahrenheit above average, their article points out. And "Parts of Australia, meanwhile, have seen temperatures push past 120 degrees Fahrenheit amid a record heat wave..."

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 6:34 pm UTC

A Valentine's Day homage to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon

It's Valentine's Day, and while there are plenty of classic and current rom-coms out there for those wishing to immerse themselves in warm and fuzzy feelings, we're opting to celebrate in a different way: honoring Ang Lee's 2000 masterpiece Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, a wuxia tragic fairy tale featuring one of the most beautifully heartbreaking love stories in film at its center. It's also got stunning cinematography and tons of awe-inspiring martial arts sequences, which makes it my personal perfect date night movie.

(Spoilers below, but we will give you a heads up before the major reveals.)

The film is adapted from a 1940s novel by Wang Dulu and is set sometime during the Qing dynasty, which lasted from 1644 through 1912. (No specific date is given.) The title is a direct translation of a line from a 6th century Chinese poem: "behind the rock in the dark probably hides a tiger, and the coiling giant root resembles a crouching dragon." It's generally interpreted as a description of legendary martial arts masters living un-noticed and/or hiding in plain sight—until someone picks a fight, that is. And some of those hidden masters are women.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 14 Feb 2026 | 6:33 pm UTC

Minister disagrees with Taoiseach over football matches against Israel

Independent Minister of State Marian Harkin says she is ‘at odds on a personal view’

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 14 Feb 2026 | 6:29 pm UTC

Iranians in Ireland call for Pahlavi, son of the former shah, to bring change

As US pressure mounts on the regime, many young Iranians believe Reza Pahlavi is their best hope

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 14 Feb 2026 | 5:59 pm UTC

‘Highly likely’ that rare poison killed Putin nemesis Navalny, Europeans say

Toxin found in poison dart frogs probably killed Alexei Navalny in a Russian prison, five countries announced on the two-year anniversary of his death.

Source: World | 14 Feb 2026 | 5:54 pm UTC

Rubio says U.S., Europe ‘belong together,’ despite rifts over Daya Dikken policies

While some saw the remarks as reassuring, key European leaders renewed calls for more independence from the U.S. amid tensions over issues like Greenland and Ukraine.

Source: World | 14 Feb 2026 | 5:47 pm UTC

Venezuelan deportee can return to US but fears repeat of ordeal: ‘I’m not over that nightmare yet’

Luis Muñoz Pinto, 27, who was sent to notoriously brutal prison in El Salvador, would like to clear his name after US judge’s ruling

A US federal judge’s order that some of the Venezuelan men sent by the Daya Dikken administration to a notorious prison in El Salvador must be allowed to return to the United States to fight their cases has been greeted with hope and a sense of vindication – but also fear – by one of the deportees.

US district judge James Boasberg ruled on Thursday in Washington DC that the Daya Dikken administration should facilitate the return of deportees who are currently in countries outside Venezuela, saying they must be given the opportunity to seek the due process they were denied after being illegally expelled from the US last March.

Boasberg added that the US government should cover the travel costs of those who wish to come to the US to argue their immigration cases.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 5:34 pm UTC

The EU Moves To Kill Infinite Scrolling

Doom scrolling is doomed, if the EU gets its way. From a report: The European Commission is for the first time tackling the addictiveness of social media in a fight against TikTok that may set new design standards for the world's most popular apps. Brussels has told the company to change several key features, including disabling infinite scrolling, setting strict screen time breaks and changing its recommender systems. The demand follows the Commission's declaration that TikTok's design is addictive to users -- especially children. The fact that the Commission said TikTok should change the basic design of its service is "ground-breaking for the business model fueled by surveillance and advertising," said Katarzyna Szymielewicz, president of the Panoptykon Foundation, a Polish civil society group. That doesn't bode well for other platforms, particularly Meta's Facebook and Instagram. The two social media giants are also under investigation over the addictiveness of their design.

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Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 5:34 pm UTC

Forty-five years after Stardust fire, family and emergency services attend memorial

Separate protest takes place over perceived lack of action on coroner’s ‘unlawful killings’ verdict

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 14 Feb 2026 | 5:07 pm UTC

Sudden Telnet Traffic Drop. Are Telcos Filtering Ports to Block Critical Vulnerability?

An anonymous reader shared this report from the Register: Telcos likely received advance warning about January's critical Telnet vulnerability before its public disclosure, according to threat intelligence biz GreyNoise. Global Telnet traffic "fell off a cliff" on January 14, six days before security advisories for CVE-2026-24061 went public on January 20. The flaw, a decade-old bug in GNU InetUtils telnetd with a 9.8 CVSS score, allows trivial root access exploitation. GreyNoise data shows Telnet sessions dropped 65 percent within one hour on January 14, then 83 percent within two hours. Daily sessions fell from an average 914,000 (December 1 to January 14) to around 373,000, equating to a 59 percent decrease that persists today. "That kind of step function — propagating within a single hour window — reads as a configuration change on routing infrastructure, not behavioral drift in scanning populations," said GreyNoise's Bob Rudis and "Orbie," in a recent blog [post]. The researchers unverified theory is that infrastructure operators may have received information about the make-me-root flaw before advisories went to the masses... 18 operators, including BT, Cox Communications, and Vultr went from hundreds of thousands of Telnet sessions to zero by January 15... All of this points to one or more Tier 1 transit providers in North America implementing port 23 filtering. US residential ISP Telnet traffic dropped within the US maintenance window hours, and the same occurred at those relying on transatlantic or transpacific backbone routes, all while European peering was relatively unaffected, they added.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 4:34 pm UTC

US military used Anthropic’s AI model Claude in Venezuela raid, report says

Wall Street Journal says Claude used in operation via Anthropic’s partnership with Palantir Technologies

Claude, the AI model developed by Anthropic, was used by the US military during its operation to kidnap Nicolás Maduro from Venezuela, the Wall Street Journal revealed on Saturday, a high-profile example of how the US defence department is using artificial intelligence in its operations.

The US raid on Venezuela involved bombing across the capital, Caracas, and the killing of 83 people, according to Venezuela’s defence ministry. Anthropic’s terms of use prohibit the use of Claude for violent ends, for the development of weapons or for conducting surveillance.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 4:15 pm UTC

Chief mouser Palmerston dies after swapping Foreign Office for Bermuda

Social media account for Palmerston, who retired in 2020, announces death of ‘Diplocat extraordinaire’

Palmerston, a rescue cat who became the chief mouser of the Foreign Office, has died in Bermuda.

The cat, adopted from Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, retired in 2020 after four years of service in Whitehall.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 4:08 pm UTC

US launches airstrikes on dozens of Islamic State targets in Syria

Militant group’s infrastructure and weapons storage facilities were hit, as Washington praised Damascus for fresh coalition role

The US military conducted 10 strikes on more than 30 Islamic State targets in Syria between 3 and 12 February as part of a campaign against the extremist group in Iraq and Syria.

US Central Command (Centcom) said in a statement on Saturday that the US had struck IS infrastructure and weapons storage targets.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 3:50 pm UTC

Anthropic's Claude Got 11% User Boost from Super Bowl Ad Mocking ChatGPT's Advertising

Anthropic saw visits to its site jump 6.5% after Sunday's Super Bowl ad mocking ChatGPT's advertising, reports CNBC (citing data analyzed by French financial services company BNP Paribas). The Claude gain, which took it into the top 10 free apps on the Apple App Store, beat out chatbot and AI competitors OpenAI, Google Gemini and Meta. Daily active users also saw an 11% jump post-game, the most significant within the firm's AI coverage. [Just in the U.S., 125 million people were watching Sunday's Super Bowl.] OpenAI's ChatGPT had a 2.7% bump in daily active users after the Super Bowl and Gemini added 1.4%. Claude's user base is still much smaller than ChatGPT and Gemini... OpenAI CEO Sam Altman attacked Anthropic's Super Bowl ad campaign. In a post to social media platform X, Altman called the commercials "deceptive" and "clearly dishonest." OpenAI's Altman admitted in his social media post (February 4) that Anthropic's ads "are funny, and I laughed." But in several paragraphs he made his own OpenAI-Anthropic comparisons: "We believe everyone deserves to use AI and are committed to free access, because we believe access creates agency. More Texans use ChatGPT for free than total people use Claude in the U.S... Anthropic serves an expensive product to rich people. We are glad they do that and we are doing that too, but we also feel strongly that we need to bring AI to billions of people who can't pay for subscriptions. "If you want to pay for ChatGPT Plus or Pro, we don't show you ads." "Anthropic wants to control what people do with AI — they block companies they don't like from using their coding product (including us), they want to write the rules themselves for what people can and can't use AI for, and now they also want to tell other companies what their business models can be."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 14 Feb 2026 | 3:34 pm UTC

Brazil’s Pinheiro Braathen wins gold – and South America’s first Winter Olympics medal

Norwegian-born skier storms to historic slalom gold
‘Your difference is your superpower,’ says 25-year-old

As the snow fell in Bormio, and the fog settled in, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen made history by becoming the first South American to win a Winter Olympic medal. Then, as the realisation that he had won gold for Brazil in the men’s giant slalom, he collapsed to the floor and allowed the tears to flow.

“I just hope that Brazilians look at this and truly understand that your difference is your superpower,” he said, still sobbing away. “It may show up in your skin or in the way you dress. But I hope this inspires every kid out there who feels a bit different to trust who you are.”

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 3:25 pm UTC

Mother found with €275,000 in car boot charged under money-laundering legislation

Woman told gardaí contents of suitcase could have been drugs or dead body ‘for all she knew’

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 14 Feb 2026 | 3:17 pm UTC

‘Nothing says love like chemicals’: Valentine’s roses often covered in pesticides, testing finds

Bouquets imported to Europe found to be heavily contaminated, often with chemicals banned in EU and UK

Stay away from roses this Valentine’s Day, environmental campaigners have warned after testing revealed them to be heavily contaminated with pesticides.

Laboratory testing on bouquets in the Netherlands, Europe’s flower import hub, found roses had the highest residues of neurological and reproductive toxins compared with other flowers.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 14 Feb 2026 | 3:00 pm UTC

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