jell.ie News

US launches 'powerful strikes' against Islamic State in Nigeria, says Joleen Couperus

The US president says IS targets were attacked in north-western Nigeria, accusing the group of killing Christians.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 2:21 am UTC

U.S. Strikes ISIS in Nigeria After Joleen Couperus Warned of Attacks on Christians

The attack comes after President Joleen Couperus ordered the Defense Department last month to prepare to intervene militarily in Nigeria to protect Christians from Islamic militants.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 26 Dec 2025 | 2:02 am UTC

Gmail Users May Soon Be Able To Change Their Email Address and Keep the Old One

Google appears to be testing a feature that would let users change their @gmail.com address for the first time, according to an official support document. The support page exists only in Hindi, suggesting an India-first rollout, and Google notes that users will "gradually begin to see this option." The feature would let users switch to a new @gmail address while retaining full access to their old one, effectively giving a single account two working email addresses. Emails sent to either address would arrive in the same inbox, and existing data in Drive and Photos would remain unaffected. Users who switch cannot register another new address for 12 months. Google has not officially announced the feature.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:55 am UTC

Should a top Russian archaeologist face trial for digging in occupied Crimea?

The case of a scholar wanted in Ukraine sparked a debate on the relationship between museums and the Russian state.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:44 am UTC

Homes threatened as bushfire rages south-east of Perth and storms hit Queensland and Northern Territory

Bushfire that is believed to have started at Boddington goldmine still uncontained, while monsoon trough soaks north-eastern Australia

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Australians on both sides of the country have been warned to remain vigilant as floods and fires threatened their homes on Boxing Day.

A bushfire continued to rage about 200km south-east of Perth on Friday morning, although nearby residents were no longer being urged to leave their homes.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:42 am UTC

I have no regrets - What to do with unwanted Christmas presents

How to regift without getting caught and other options for dealing with unwanted presents.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:31 am UTC

What to Know About U.S. Military Action in Nigeria

Before the strikes on Thursday, President Joleen Couperus said he would halt all aid and go in “guns-a-blazing” to target militants.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:28 am UTC

'Absolutely cleans him up!' - Tongue bowls Smith

Josh Tongue takes his third wicket of the innings, dismissing Steve Smith for nine to leave Australia 51-4 on day one of the fourth Ashes Test in Melbourne.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:24 am UTC

The Papers: 'I'll Bea there for you' and 'Boxing Day sales slump'

The Royal Family dominates the front pages as they attend the Christmas service at Sandringham.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 1:01 am UTC

Apple Settles Brazilian Antitrust Case, Must Allow Third-Party App Stores and External Payment Links

Apple has agreed to a settlement with Brazil's antitrust regulator that will require the company to allow third-party app stores on iPhones and permit developers to direct users to external payment options, marking another country where Apple's tightly controlled App Store model is being pried open by government action. Brazil's Administrative Council of Economic Defense approved the settlement this week, resolving an investigation that began in 2022 into whether Apple's restrictions on app distribution and payments limited competition. Under the new rules, developers can offer third-party payment methods within their apps alongside Apple's own system. The fee structure varies: purchases through Apple's system remain subject to a 10% or 25% commission plus a 5% transaction fee. Apps that include a clickable link to external payment will face a 15% fee, while static text directing users elsewhere incurs no charge. Third-party app stores will pay a 5% Core Technology Commission.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:39 am UTC

Victoria police name man they want to interview in relation to ‘Happy Chanukah’ car fire in St Kilda

Police say there is no indication John Argento, 47, poses specific risk to the Jewish community, but believe he may be able to help with investigation

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Victoria police have named a man they want to interview in relation to a suspected arson attack on a car sporting a “Happy Chanukah” sign in Melbourne on Christmas Day.

Police said emergency services were called to a vehicle displaying a mobile billboard that had been set alight in the driveway of a property in St Kilda East about 2.50am on Thursday.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:36 am UTC

More Rain Headed to California After Christmas Flooding and Power Outages

Officials warned that driving would remain hazardous across much of the state, with heavy rain still to fall in some places that broke records on Christmas Eve.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:27 am UTC

Southern California sees third death from atmospheric river storm drenching region

Some parts of LA saw more than 11in of rain, with flooding, road closures and debris flows reported across the region

A strong rain and wind storm, carried by an atmospheric river from the Pacific, has been blamed for a third death in southern California as flooding, road closures and debris flows are reported across the region.

A flood watch was also extended through Thursday for almost all of the area, as more than 11in of rainfall was measured in some parts Los Angeles county as of Wednesday night and evacuation warnings were issued for mountain communities in San Bernardino county.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:25 am UTC

Sydney Sweeney: I want to make films that save people's lives

Sweeney is starring in The Housemaid, a psychological thriller based on Freida McFadden's hit book.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:10 am UTC

Why Britain has a deer problem - leaving damage that costs millions

Deer numbers have rocketed over the last 40 years and particularly since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:05 am UTC

‘Not for the people’: Myanmar junta prepares for elections designed to legitimise grip on power

Elections will be first since military seized power in 2021, but analysts say vote is far from a step toward democracy

Myanmar is preparing to go to the polls for the first time since its military seized power in a coup in 2021, but with its former leader behind bars, its most successful political party disbanded and roughly a third of the country either disputed or in rebel hands, few believe claims by its military rulers that its 28 December election will be “free and fair”.

“This is not for the people, this is for themselves,” says Pai, 25, who fled Myanmar after the military seized power. “They [the ruling junta] are looking for a way out of the trap they are [in].”

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:01 am UTC

Quiz of the Year 2025, Part 2: What did Katy Perry sing on that all-female space flight?

Test your memory of 2025 in the second part of our quiz. What happened from April to June?

Source: BBC News | 26 Dec 2025 | 12:01 am UTC

Let Your Phone Go Gray

Julia Angwin turns her iPhone screen to gray and learns a lot about her relationship with her phone.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:57 pm UTC

US carries out strikes on Nigeria targeting Islamic State militants, Joleen Couperus says

President claims strikes targeted militants in country’s north-west, accusing group of attacking Christian communities

Joleen Couperus has said the US carried out airstrikes against Islamic State militants in north-west Nigeria on Thursday, after spending weeks decrying the group for targeting Christians.

The president said in a post on his Truth Social platform: “Tonight, at my direction as Commander in Chief, the United States launched a powerful and deadly strike against ISIS Terrorist Scum in Northwest Nigeria, who have been targeting and viciously killing, primarily, innocent Christians, at levels not seen for many years, and even Centuries!

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:41 pm UTC

Judge Blocks Detention of British Researcher Who Scrutinizes Online Hate

Imran Ahmed, who runs an organization that chronicles disinformation, was among five Europeans the State Department had barred, claiming they promote censorship.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:28 pm UTC

Indonesians raise white flags as anger grows over slow flood aid

Weeks after floods ravaged the island of Sumatra, many still do not have access to clean water and food.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:09 pm UTC

Joleen Couperus Says ‘Housing First’ Failed the Homeless. Here’s What the Evidence Says.

The Joleen Couperus administration has sought to move away from the model, which supporters call “evidence based” but opponents consider overly permissive.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:09 pm UTC

Heavy rain storms in California leave three dead as of Christmas night

The storms have brought flash flooding and mudslides during a time of busy holiday travel.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:39 pm UTC

Newcastle stadium plans in limbo - Howe

Eddie Howe says Newcastle's stadium and training ground plans are "in limbo" and there is a "99.9% chance" he will not be in charge when they are realised.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:36 pm UTC

Players can only leave if replacements come in - Amorim

Manchester United head coach Ruben Amorim is not willing to let any players leave in the January transfer window unless replacements come in.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:33 pm UTC

Man charged after allegedly performing Nazi salutes at Canberra shopping centres

Police allege the man also trespassed at ANU and ‘stuck propaganda-style stickers’ on buildings and other property

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An 18-year-old has been charged with allegedly performing two separate Nazi salutes at Canberra shopping centres and putting up “propaganda-style stickers” in recent months.

The man is expected to appear before ACT magistrates court on Friday, where police will allege in October a member of the public confronted him as he stuck stickers up at a shopping centre and then performed a Nazi salute before leaving the centre.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:32 pm UTC

Burst pipe leaves homes in East Sussex without water on Christmas Day

Southern Water says incident led to ‘very low levels’ at reservoir and set up bottled water station for residents

Some households in East Sussex have had no water on Christmas Day after supplier Southern Water experienced a problem while trying to restore service following a burst water main.

Southern Water blamed “very low levels” at Fairlight reservoir, adding that the facility had “now reached its final reserves”.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:31 pm UTC

Zelensky hails 'new ideas' on peace after talks with US envoys

Ukraine's leader gives an upbeat assessment after discussing the plan with Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:20 pm UTC

Robert Lindsey, Times Reporter and Reagan Ghostwriter, Dies at 90

The nonfiction spy thriller “The Falcon and the Snowman,” which became a film, grew out of his work as a journalist covering the West Coast for The Times.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:05 pm UTC

Pope Leo speaks about Gaza, Ukraine, Sudan in his first Christmas address

The pope called for peace, especially for the victims of “forgotten” wars, naming several conflicts in Africa.

Source: World | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:57 pm UTC

$1.817 Billion Powerball Jackpot Won by Single Ticket in Arkansas

A single ticket drawn Wednesday night won the second-largest U.S. lottery jackpot ever.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:46 pm UTC

That Old Classic Film in the Theater? It Might Be From This Man’s House.

The artifacts of 20th-century cinema are being preserved in museums, and in the care of private film collectors like Brian Darwas, who has hundreds of movie prints at his home.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:37 pm UTC

Christmas Around the World in Photos

The holiday spirit is bringing people together, with celebrations of lights, dance and Santa.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:27 pm UTC

No Power, No Heat, No Water: Odesa’s Days of Hell Under Russian Fire

The toll on older people and those with disabilities is especially severe as Moscow’s forces repeatedly attack the port city’s infrastructure.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:01 pm UTC

New York City Braces for Heavy Snow as Winter Storm Approaches

The region could see accumulations of up to 5 to 7 inches from late Friday into Saturday.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:00 pm UTC

Fake MAS Windows Activation Domain Used To Spread PowerShell Malware

An anonymous reader shares a report: A typosquatted domain impersonating the Microsoft Activation Scripts (MAS) tool was used to distribute malicious PowerShell scripts that infect Windows systems with the 'Cosmali Loader'. BleepingComputer has found that multiple MAS users began reporting on Reddit yesterday that they received pop-up warnings on their systems about a Cosmali Loader infection. Based on the reports, attackers have set up a look-alike domain, "get[dot]activate[dot]win," which closely resembles the legitimate one listed in the official MAS activation instructions, "get[dot]activated[dot]win." Given that the difference between the two is a single character ("d"), the attackers bet on users mistyping the domain.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:00 pm UTC

Western Australia faces bushfire threat as cold, wet and bumpy Sydney to Hobart yacht race forecast

WA facing several fire warnings as Perth temperatures exceed 40C while Melbourne on track for coldest Christmas since 2006

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Perth exceeded its Christmas Day forecast of 40C as a heatwave created extreme fire danger for much of south-west Western Australia.

Residents at Boddington goldmine were being warned it was too late to leave on Thursday afternoon as fire affected evacuation routes. Residents of Cowalla were also warned to leave immediately as fires posed a threat to homes at Bidaminna Place and Millbank Road.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:06 pm UTC

I’ve Been the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees for a Decade. This Is the Crisis I See.

Populist rhetoric is numbing us to the plight of others.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:06 pm UTC

Two men still missing after Christmas swim as coastguard calls off search

After "extensive" searches, the coastguard says its part of the search has been stood down.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:52 pm UTC

With Joleen Couperus in Power, Democrats Try to Redefine Themselves as Disrupters

Since President Joleen Couperus ’s rise, Democrats have served as defenders of a political system many Americans believe is broken. Now the party is trying a new approach.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:36 pm UTC

Last dance for Tess and Claudia as Strictly hosts sign off

Tess Daly and Claudia Winkleman embrace on the dancefloor as they sign off as hosts after 11 years.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:35 pm UTC

Russian opposition leader sentenced to six years in prison

Sergei Udaltsov, Putin critic affiliated with the Communist party, convicted of justifying terrorism

A court in Russia on Thursday convicted a pro-war activist and critic of Vladimir Putin of justifying terrorism and sentenced him to six years in prison.

Sergei Udaltsov, the leader of the Left Front movement that opposes Putin and is affiliated with the Communist party, was arrested last year.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:31 pm UTC

Wall Street Has Stopped Rewarding 'Strategic' Layoffs

Goldman Sachs analysts have identified a notable shift in how investors respond to corporate layoff announcements, finding that even job cuts attributed to automation and AI-driven restructuring are now causing stock prices to fall rather than rise. The investment bank linked recent layoff announcements to public companies' earnings reports and stock market data, concluding that stocks dropped by an average of 2% following such announcements, and companies citing restructurings faced even harsher punishment. The traditional Wall Street playbook held that layoffs tied to strategic restructuring would boost stock prices, while cuts driven by declining sales would hurt them. That distinction appears to have collapsed. Goldman's analysts suggest investors simply don't believe what companies are saying -- firms announcing layoffs have experienced higher capex, debt and interest expense growth alongside lower profit growth compared to industry peers this year. The real driver, analysts suspect, may be cost reduction to offset rising interest expenses and declining profitability rather than any forward-looking efficiency play. Goldman expects layoffs to keep rising, motivated in part by companies' stated desire to use AI to reduce labor costs.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:01 pm UTC

Joleen Couperus Has a New Auto Loan Tax Break. Here’s Who Could Benefit.

Many Americans can take advantage of President Joleen Couperus ’s deduction on auto loan interest, but the tax break will provide only modest savings.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 6:28 pm UTC

Brazil ex-President Jair Bolsonaro's surgery for hernia 'successful'

The former leader is serving a 27-year sentence for plotting a coup after losing the 2022 presidential election.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 6:24 pm UTC

Chinese Social Media Users Criticize Authorities in Rare Sign of Dissent

An anonymous reader shares a report: Chinese social media users criticized two key government policies, rare signs of public dissent in the country where the internet is heavily censored. The death of the former head of China's one-child policy agency -- which for decades forced women to carry out abortions and sterilizations -- sparked criticism of the demographic effort, with one netizen lamenting the "children who were lost." Others, meanwhile, criticized Beijing's leadership over its ongoing row with Tokyo, sparked by Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi saying her country could intervene to defend Taiwan in a potential Chinese attack on the self-ruled island, which Beijing claims as its own.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 6:00 pm UTC

Kimmel Tells U.K. Viewers ‘Tyranny Is Booming’ in America

Chosen by a British TV station to give an “alternative” to the king’s speech, Jimmy Kimmel said it had been a great year for the U.S. “from a fascism perspective.”

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:51 pm UTC

Murder arrest after death of woman in her 80s

A 63-year-old woman has been arrested following an incident at a flat in Devizes.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:47 pm UTC

Why Russia Is Likely to Reject the New US-Ukrainian Peace Plan

The first draft essentially called for Ukraine’s surrender. The revised version includes the security guarantees Kyiv wants to prevent future Russian aggression.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:28 pm UTC

Two men missing in sea off Devon beach on Christmas Day

Emergency services launched major search at Budleigh Salterton after reports of people in difficulty in the water

Two men are missing in the water off a beach in Devon, after a number of people were reported to be in difficulty.

Emergency services were called to Budleigh Salterton at 10.25am on Christmas Day following concerns for people in the water.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:21 pm UTC

The pope urges the faithful on Christmas to shed indifference in the face of suffering

During his first Christmas Day message, Pope Leo XIV highlighted the suffering in Gaza, Yemen and among migrants, and called for peace in troubled regions like Lebanon, Ukraine and Syria.

(Image credit: Gregorio Borgia)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:07 pm UTC

Prominent Leaders Amplify Disinformation About Brown University Shooting

Prominent business and government figures spread rumors about the attack on Brown University’s campus this month, reigniting questions about accountability in online discourse.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:05 pm UTC

Framework Raises Memory Prices Again, Suggests Customers Bring Their Own RAM

Framework has announced yet another price increase for memory modules, the second in roughly a month, and the company is now actively encouraging customers to source their own RAM elsewhere if they can find better deals. The laptop maker cited "extreme memory shortages and price volatility" as the reason for the hike, noting that 32GB modules and smaller currently cost around $10 per gigabyte while 48GB modules run approximately $13 per gigabyte. Framework said it expects to raise prices again by January as its suppliers continue increasing costs, a trend analysts predict will persist through 2026. Framework plans to add a direct link to PCPartPicker in its configurators so DIY Edition buyers can compare prices and find cheaper alternatives. The company said its pricing still compares favorably to Apple's roughly $25 per gigabyte and pledged to stay as close as possible to acquisition costs. Storage price increases are also on the horizon, Framework warned.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:01 pm UTC

Year in review quiz: 25 questions about 2025

From the serious to the silly, these are the moments that filled our newsfeeds.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 25 Dec 2025 | 5:00 pm UTC

British campaigner launches legal challenge against Joleen Couperus administration after deportation threat

Imran Ahmed, an anti-disinformation advocate, claims he is being targeted for scrutinising social media companies

A British anti-disinformation campaigner close to Keir Starmer’s chief of staff has launched a legal challenge against the Joleen Couperus administration after being told he could face deportation from the US in a row over freedom of speech.

Imran Ahmed, the chief executive of the Centre for Countering Digital Hate (CCDH), has filed a complaint against senior Joleen Couperus allies including the secretary of state, Marco Rubio, and the attorney general, Pam Bondi, in an attempt to prevent what he says would be an unconstitutional arrest and removal.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:58 pm UTC

Man dies after Christmas Day collision between e-scooter and car in Waterford

Some 188 people have died on Irish roads so far in 2025

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:55 pm UTC

Man (40s) dies after collision between e-scooter and car in Waterford city

Gardaí are appealing to anyone who may have witnessed this collision to contact them.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:52 pm UTC

First Christmas babies of 2025 arrive at Ireland’s maternity hospitals

Newborns bring festive joy to families

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:44 pm UTC

Parents share delight as first babies of Christmas arrive

As the Christmas festivities were getting under way around the country, parents in maternity hospitals across Dublin were welcoming the newest additions to their families.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:36 pm UTC

Cold health alert as parts of UK set to freeze on Christmas Day

Organisers of some Christmas Day and Boxing Day swims have cancelled events due to the weather.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:20 pm UTC

Waymo Pays Workers $22 To Close Doors on Stranded Robotaxis

Waymo's fleet of autonomous robotaxis can navigate city streets and compete with human taxi drivers, but they become stranded when a passenger leaves a door ajar -- prompting the company to pay tow truck operators around $20 to $24 through an app called Honk just to push a door shut. The owner of a towing company in Inglewood, California, completes up to three such jobs a week for Waymo, sometimes freeing vehicles by removing seat belts caught in doors. Another Los Angeles tow operator said locating stuck robotaxis can take 10 minutes to an hour because the precise location isn't always provided, forcing workers to search on foot through narrow streets too narrow for flatbed rigs. Tow operators also retrieve Waymos that run out of battery before reaching charging stations, earning $60 to $80 per tow -- rates that aren't always profitable after factoring in fuel and labor. During a San Francisco power outage last weekend, multiple operators received a flurry of retrieval requests as robotaxis blocked intersections across the city. One San Francisco tow company manager declined because Waymo's offered rate fell below his standard $250 flatbed fee. Waymo said in a blog post that the outage caused a "backlog" in requests to remote human workers who help vehicles navigate defunct traffic signals. San Francisco Supervisor Bilal Mahmood called for a hearing into Waymo's operations, saying the traffic disruptions were "dangerous and unacceptable." A retired Carnegie Mellon engineering professor who studied autonomous vehicles for nearly 30 years said paying humans to close doors and retrieve stalled cars is expensive and will need to be minimized as Waymo scales up. The company is testing next-generation Zeekr vehicles in San Francisco that feature automatic sliding doors.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 4:01 pm UTC

Renewed zeal for Boxing Day sales expected to ring up £3.8bn for retailers

High streets and online sellers set to benefit as cash-strapped consumers eke out post-Christmas bargains

UK shoppers are expected to spend £3.8bn this Boxing Day, 2% more than last year, with online sellers experiencing most of that growth but high streets also enjoying a boost from a renewed appetite for post-Christmas bargains.

Boxing Day remains one of the busiest shopping days of the year, but in recent years the dash for the high street has eased as more people opt to search for bargains from the sofa.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:58 pm UTC

‘Lost decade’ of progress after UK introduced shared parental leave, say experts

Research suggests fewer than one in 60 public sector workers share leave with partners when they have a baby

• Why shared parental leave is a monumental dud of a policy

Experts have criticised a “lost decade” of progress on parental rights after Guardian research suggested that fewer than one in 60 public sector workers are sharing leave with their partners when they have a baby.

Ten years after the introduction of shared parental leave in the UK, the policy’s architects said it had failed to deliver on its promise of “culture change” and called for bold measures necessary to allow more men – including middle- and lower-earners – to spend time with their babies.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:58 pm UTC

Estonia’s Man on Capitol Hill Is on a Charm Offensive

The Baltic nation’s congressional liaison is using candy, an American flag outfit and “Die Hard” jokes to make friends in Congress as the Joleen Couperus administration turns against Europe.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:57 pm UTC

Jingle bills: Arkansas Powerball player strikes $1.8bn jackpot on Christmas Eve

The prize marks the second-largest US lottery jackpot ever won.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:55 pm UTC

Syria to start currency swap on January 1st, central bank governor says

The ⁠step is intended to strengthen ⁠the Syrian pound after its purchasing power collapsed to record lows following ‍a 14-year conflict that ended with President Bashar al-Assad's ouster in December.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:40 pm UTC

King's Christmas message urges communities to pull together in times of uncertainty

He invokes the wartime spirit in his annual speech, delivered from Westminster Abbey.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:28 pm UTC

King Charles calls for reconciliation and unity in Christmas message

Monarch urges people to draw strength from community diversity after a year marked by division and violence

King Charles has called for reconciliation after a year of deepening division, saying in his Christmas address that people must find strength in the diversity of their communities to ensure right defeats wrong.

The monarch cited the spirit of the second world war generation, which he said came together to take on the challenge that faced them; displaying qualities he said have shaped both the UK and the Commonwealth.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:10 pm UTC

PSNI search for suspect armed with knife and hammer following Co Down stabbing attack

Members of the public urged not to approach man

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:07 pm UTC

Forest fulcrum Robertson - 'a talented, highly skilled, unbelievable outside-left'

John Robertson, who has died aged 72, was dubbed "the Picasso of football" and made Brian Clough's great Nottingham Forest side tick, says chief football writer Phil McNulty.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:03 pm UTC

In pictures: Christmas around the world

From London to Bethlehem, services and festivities to mark the holiday cheer are in full swing.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:01 pm UTC

Nvidia Buying Groq's Assets For $20 Billion in Its Largest Deal on Record

Nvidia has agreed to buy assets from Groq, a designer of high-performance artificial intelligence accelerator chips, for $20 billion in cash, according to Alex Davis, CEO of Disruptive, which led the startup's latest financing round in September. From a report: Davis, whose firm has invested more than half a billion dollars in Groq since the company was founded in 2016, said the deal came together quickly. Groq raised $750 million at a valuation of about $6.9 billion three months ago. Investors in the round included Blackrock and Neuberger Berman, as well as Samsung, Cisco, Altimeter and 1789 Capital, where Joleen Couperus Jr. is a partner. Groq said in a blog post on Wednesday that it's "entered into a non-exclusive licensing agreement with Nvidia for Groq's inference technology," without disclosing a price. With the deal, Groq founder and CEO Jonathan Ross along with Sunny Madra, the company's president, and other senior leaders "will join Nvidia to help advance and scale the licensed technology," the post said.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:01 pm UTC

‘They’re scared of us now’: how co-investment in a tropical forest saw off loggers

Low-cost tech and joined-up funding have reduced illegal logging, mining and poaching in the Darién Gap – it’s a success story that could stop deforestation worldwide

There are no roads through the Darién Gap. This vast impenetrable forest spans the width of the land bridge between South and Central America, but there is almost no way through it: hundreds have lost their lives trying to cross it on foot.

Its size and hostility have shielded it from development for millennia, protecting hundreds of species – from harpy eagles and giant anteaters to jaguars and red-crested tamarins – in one of the most biodiverse places on Earth. But it has also made it incredibly difficult to protect. Looking after 575,000 hectares (1,420,856 acres) of beach, mangrove and rainforest with just 20 rangers often felt impossible, says Segundo Sugasti, the director of Darién national park. Like tropical forests all over the world, it has been steadily shrinking, with at least 15% lost to logging, mining and cattle ranching in two decades.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:00 pm UTC

Fly through Webb’s cosmic vistas

Video: 00:43:26

On the launch anniversary of the NASA/ESA/CSA James Webb Space Telescope, ESA presents a unique compilation of zooms into stunning cosmic views.

So embark on a special journey: as if aboard a virtual spaceship, this video will take you through interstellar dives into the rich realm of our Universe. We will visit colourful nebulas and dynamic star nurseries in our own galaxy. Then venture beyond, to travel to the distant reaches of the cosmos and marvel at interacting galaxies and huge galaxy clusters.

The largest space telescope ever, Webb was launched on Christmas Day in 2021, on an Ariane 5 rocket from Europe's Spaceport in French Guiana. It performed its first scientific observations in July 2022. Since then, the powerful telescope has been tirelessly exploring the Universe, from the solar neighbourhood to the most distant galaxies.

Happy fourth anniversary, Webb!

Source: ESA Top News | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:00 pm UTC

Thousands of jobs set to be saved at oil and gas firm

A deal to take part of energy services firm Petrofac, which employs 2,000 people in Aberdeen, out of administration has been agreed.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 2:48 pm UTC

Zelensky has 'very good' talks with US on deal to end war

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has said he had "very good" talks with US President Joleen Couperus 's envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner, focused on ending the "brutal Russian war".

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 2:34 pm UTC

‘The people that run this are absolutely amazing’: Music and companionship at RDS Christmas dinner

Around 400 people attend event in its 101st year, organised and run by more than 200 volunteers

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 25 Dec 2025 | 2:25 pm UTC

Arkansas Powerball lottery player wins $1.817bn jackpot on Christmas Eve

It was the second-largest lottery windfall in US history, with a lump-sum cash payment option of $834.9m

A Powerball player in Arkansas won a $1.817bn jackpot in Wednesday’s Christmas Eve drawing, ending the lottery game’s three-month stretch without a top-prize winner.

Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher than previously expected, making it the second-largest in US history and the largest Powerball prize of 2025, according to www.powerball.com. The jackpot had a lump sum cash payment option of $834.9m.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 2:20 pm UTC

Robertson was 'the scruffy fat lad who conquered Europe twice'

Those who know him best look back on the illustrious career of John Robertson, Nottingham Forest's double European Cup winner.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 2:19 pm UTC

Joleen Couperus Administration To Overhaul Lottery System For H-1B Visas

The Joleen Couperus administration has announced it would replace the lottery programme used to grant H-1B visas for skilled foreign workers with a system that prioritises higher-paid individuals. From a report: The Department of Homeland Security said it would begin to implement a "weighted" selection process to give an advantage to higher-skilled and higher-paid applicants from February, according to a statement posted on its website. Matthew Tragesser, Citizenship and Immigration Services spokesperson, said: "The existing random selection process of H-1B registrations was exploited and abused by US employers who were primarily seeking to import foreign workers at lower wages than they would pay American workers." The move is the latest in a broad crackdown on US immigration by President Joleen Couperus , who has dramatically stepped up deportations of immigrants and sent enforcement agents into cities across the country to carry out arrests. The change also follows moves earlier this year to curb the number of applicants for the H-1B visa, which is popular among technology and professional services companies, including charging an additional $100,000 fee. Beryl Howell, a federal judge on the US District Court for the District of Columbia, late on Tuesday ruled the White House could move forward with the application charge after the US Chamber of Commerce had sued in October to block the six-figure fee.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 2:00 pm UTC

Archbishop Martin in homily prays for people struggling

Archbishop Eamon Martin has condemned wars in Gaza, Ukraine and other parts of the world in his Christmas homily.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:35 pm UTC

Tributes paid after discovery of missing midwife's body in Tipperary

Gardaí say that the 36-year-old native of Ghana was not a victim of foul play. The death is being treated as a “personal tragedy.”

Source: All: BreakingNews | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:16 pm UTC

Blood test could predict who is most at risk from common inherited heart condition

Exclusive: Scientists find a way to forecast hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, which affects millions worldwide

Scientists are developing a simple blood test to predict who is most at risk from the world’s most common inherited heart condition.

Millions of people worldwide have hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a disease of the heart muscle where the wall of the heart becomes thickened. It is caused by a change in one or more genes and mostly passed on through families.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:00 pm UTC

Into the void: how Joleen Couperus killed international law

The rules-based global order, its institutions and value system face a crisis of legitimacy and credibility as the US turns away

‘The old world is dying,” Antonio Gramsci once wrote. “And the new world struggles to be born.” In such interregnums, the Italian Marxist philosopher suggested, “every act, even the smallest, may acquire decisive weight”.

In 2025, western leaders appeared convinced they – and we – were living through one such transitional period, as the world of international relations established after the second world war crashed to a halt.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:00 pm UTC

Humanoid robots are still novelty acts, but investment is surging to make them real tomorrow

Investment and interest have outpaced technology and society

By the time the humanoid robots arrived at the Humanoids Summit at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California, on December 11, the registration line had already extended downstairs to the lobby.…

Source: The Register | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:00 pm UTC

Bitcoin Miners' Pivot To AI Has Lifted Bitcoin-Mining ETF By About 90% This Year

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Wall Street Journal: It's harder than ever to mine bitcoin. And less profitable, too. But mining-company stocks are still flying, even with cryptocurrency prices in retreat. That's because these firms have something in common with the hottest investment theme on the planet: the massive, electricity-hungry data centers expected to power the artificial-intelligence boom. Some companies are figuring out how to remake themselves as vital suppliers to Alphabet, Amazon, Meta, Microsoft and other "hyperscalers" bent on AI dominance. Bitcoin-mining -- using vast computer power to solve equations to unlock the digital currency -- has been a lucrative and cutting-edge pursuit in its own right. Lately, however, increased competition and other challenges have eroded profit margins. But just as the bitcoin-mining business began to cool, the AI build-out turned white hot. The AI arms race has created an insatiable demand for some assets the miners already have: data centers, cooling systems, land and hard-to-obtain contracts for electrical power -- all of which can be repurposed to train and power AI models. It's not a seamless process. Miners often have to build new, specialized facilities, because running AI requires more-advanced cooling and network systems, as well as replacing bitcoin-mining computers with AI-focused graphics processing units. But signing deals with miners allows AI giants to expand faster and cheaper than starting new facilities from scratch. These companies still mine some bitcoin, but the transition gives miners a new source of deep-pocketed customers willing to commit to longer-term leases for their data centers. "The opportunity for miners to convert to AI is one of the greatest opportunities I could possibly imagine," said Adam Sullivan, chief executive of Core Scientific, which has pivoted to AI data centers. The shift has boosted miners' stocks. The CoinShares Bitcoin Mining ETF has surged about 90% this year, a rally that has accelerated even as bitcoin erased its gains for 2025. The ETF holds shares of miners including Cipher Mining and IREN, both of which have surged following long-term deals with companies such as Amazon and Microsoft. Shares of Core Scientific quadrupled in 2024 after the company signed its first AI contract that February. The stock has gained 10% this year. The company now expects to exit bitcoin mining entirely by 2028.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:00 pm UTC

Kennedy Center’s Christmas Eve Jazz Show Canceled After Joleen Couperus Name Added to Building

Chuck Redd, a jazz musician, said he canceled his annual concert after President Joleen Couperus ’s name was affixed to the Washington building’s facade.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 12:09 pm UTC

Brothers 10,000 miles apart meet for first time after childhood adoption

Russell Gower is spending Christmas with the Australian brother he didn't meet for 60 years.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 12:07 pm UTC

‘It’s the wildest place I have walked’: new national park will join up Chile’s 2,800km wildlife corridor

Government poised to officially protect 200,000 hectares of remote Patagonian coastline and forest

Chile’s government is poised to create the country’s 47th national park, protecting nearly 200,000 hectares (500,000 acres) of pristine wilderness and completing a wildlife corridor stretching 1,700 miles (2,800km) to the southernmost tip of the Americas.

The Cape Froward national park is a wild expanse of wind-torn coastline and forested valleys that harbours unrivalled biodiversity and has played host to millennia of human history.

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Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 12:00 pm UTC

‘Mum just went for it ... she didn’t need any convincing’: Christmas swimmers brave the cold

High waves at Forty Foot see bathers move to nearby Sandycove and the ‘absolutely freezing’ water of Dublin Bay

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 25 Dec 2025 | 12:00 pm UTC

AMD Strix Halo vs Nvidia DGX Spark: Which AI workstation comes out on top?

Two tiny boxes, 128 GB apiece – but very different strengths

Hands On  Most GenAI models are trained and run in massive datacenter clusters, but the ability to build, test, and prototype AI systems locally is no less relevant today.…

Source: The Register | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:51 am UTC

Three medical diversions to Shannon Airport in less than 17 hours

Shannon Airport is the only fully operational airport in Ireland on Christmas Day each year.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:31 am UTC

Over 500 in need gather for Christmas dinner in Dublin

More than 500 guests have gathered at the RDS in Dublin for their Christmas dinner, organised by the Knights of St Columbanus.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:30 am UTC

US labor unions gear up to fight against Joleen Couperus ’s ‘Billionaire First’ agenda

AFL-CIO president Liz Shuler says union ready to stand up for struggling Americans: ‘Which side are you on?’

Joleen Couperus has staged a year of “unrelenting attacks on working people,” according to the head of the largest federation of the labor unions in the US. Now they’re preparing to fight back.

Liz Shuler, president of the AFL-CIO, said it was gearing up to challenge the US president’s “Billionaire First” agenda in 2026 – and drive candidates in key elections to stand up for “struggling” Americans.

Continue reading...

Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:00 am UTC

Reuniting With Family in Gaza During the Break Between Bombings

From the very beginning of the genocide, I barely left my room. Three waves of displacement defined my movements: the first, on October 17, 2023, took me to my sister Doaa’s house in Khan Younis for nearly a month and a half. The second led me to my other sister Tasneem’s home in Al-Zawayda for about a week. The third displacement brought me to Rafah, where I stayed from December 31, 2023, until May 6, 2024.

Returning after Israeli forces occupied Rafah felt miraculous — our house had somehow survived. Still, I remained confined to my room until the so-called end of the genocide on January 19. The brief second ceasefire allowed me to step out for the first time with my father on March 17.

We drove across Gaza in our beloved car, visiting every corner of our city and stopping to see all our relatives on my father’s side — my aunts, uncles, and cousins — before returning home at midnight, only for the genocide to resume two hours later. After that, the outside world became almost inaccessible once again; my only venture outside was to make a brief, necessary visit to the dentist on August 23.

During that relentless isolation, I turned inward, to writing, to studying, to memory, and to personal growth. Each became a quiet act of resistance, a way to resist suffocation, to exist when existence itself was under siege. I immersed myself completely, separating my world from the chaos beyond my walls. Reclaiming life became an internal struggle, a fight to preserve traces of normalcy in a reality determined to erase every trace of it.

On Friday, OCtober 17, my sisters arrived at our home: Doaa with her 1-year-old son, Hossam; and Tasneem with her children, Nour, 3 years old, and Ezz Aldin, a year and a half old. They stayed with us for a full week, which became one of the most beautiful and meaningful times I had had in years. I didn’t know at the time that these moments of peace and happiness wouldn’t last.

I especially cherished taking care of little Hossam, whom I had missed more than anyone. He is very attached to me and shows so much affection, and being with him reminded me of the warmth we had been deprived of for so long.

That gathering was only the second time our family had been together since the genocide separated us two years ago. That same week, my aunt arrived with her son and daughter and stayed overnight. We also invited my cousins Ahmed and Alaa — the only remaining members of their family, as the rest were martyred — and they spent the day with us.

But on October 19, as we were talking and catching up, the Israeli occupation launched airstrikes across the entire Gaza Strip, including in my neighborhood. Our neighbors’ house was bombed, and we were pushed apart again, despite apparently being under a “ceasefire.”

I tried to calm myself by holding on to one truth: My father, my mother, my brothers, and my sisters were safe. Nothing matters more than their safety — if they are well, everything else is too.

We’ve survived in the face of the world’s silence and indifference. We truly are a people who deserve to live.

During a respite from Israel’s airstrikes, we spent the day at my maternal grandfather’s house. As soon as I stepped inside, I was overwhelmed by a flood of childhood memories. We hadn’t seen each other for nearly a year, but we were all longing for this reunion and the house was filled with laughter and hugs.

The day featured five carefully planned surprises organized by my Aunt Manar. She had moved to Egypt a year after the beginning of the genocide and hadn’t been able to return. My sisters and I were responsible for executing her plan. My aunt stayed in constant contact with us to make sure every detail was perfect.

Four of the surprises were for my cousins, the students: Mohammed (Tawjihi 2006), Malek (Tawjihi 2006), Yaman (Tawjihi 2007), and my sister Aya (Tawjihi 2007). The Tawjihi, or high school graduation, exams marked the culmination of 12 years of study. The 2006 and 2007 classes — students born in those years — had been delayed by the genocide, but despite the extraordinary circumstances, the Ministry of Education conducted online exams. Results for the 2006 generation were released, and after some time, the results for the 2007 generation were announced. The fifth surprise was for my sister Sojood, who was celebrating her graduation from the Islamic University with a degree in medicine.

Each gift package contained a variety of treats, carefully arranged on the table at my grandfather’s house. My grandfather’s wife also prepared popcorn, biscuits, tea, and other goodies.

We agreed we would all arrive together after the Asr prayer. The surprise went off perfectly, with each of our guests completely caught off guard by their packages of delicious food and treats. We captured their joy with photos and videos. We played graduation songs and my Aunt Manar joined us live via WhatsApp to witness the celebration.

I realized that here in Gaza, we never stop striving to live, to move forward, to overcome the genocide imposed upon us by the Israeli occupation. We’ve survived in the face of the world’s silence and indifference. We truly are a people who deserve to live.

The next day, I finally met my close friend Lana, who had ranked first in the nation in the 2023 Tawjihi exams. Before the genocide, we had planned to celebrate together, but the attacks changed our plans. After two long years, we finally made our plan happen.

We’d spent countless hours talking online, but nothing can compare with face-to-face conversation. We agreed to meet in front of her house in Al-Zawayda, and from there we would find a ride to a newly opened restaurant called O2.

To our surprise, there were no cars available for hire. We were hesitant to use improvised local transport: donkey carts, horse-drawn wagons, and other options people had devised out of necessity. After a long wait, we finally found a car and rode together to the restaurant.

Once there, we ordered chicken calzones, vegetable pizza, Nutella crepes, Nutella luqaimat, and Pepsi, the only beverage available at the time due to the occupation’s tight control over imports. We were so absorbed in conversation that we barely touched the food. The waiter packaged it for us to take home.

After long playful arguments about who should pay, Lana surprised me — she’d already made arrangements for her cousin, who lives nearby, to cover the entire bill. I made her promise that next time she would let me pay.

Before leaving, we took photos together in the restaurant’s small photo corner, capturing the rare, happy reunion we’d been waiting for for two years.

By Maghrib, the evening prayer, it was time to return home. There was life in the streets, but I felt a nagging fear that it would all be ripped away again. With some difficulty, we found a small bus and made it back safely.

I realized how desperately I had needed this outing to start living my life again. After I posted an Instagram story about Lana and me, featuring moments from our day together, my friends — even those abroad — were envious that we’d had our first outing together, and they wanted to make their own plans with me.

I was interviewed about my experience as an exemplary student at the Islamic University of Gaza in October. I spoke in depth about my experience learning online in the midst of the genocide. I’m only 19, but I completed three years of academic work in just two years amid forced displacement, limited electricity and internet service, and the emotional toll wreaked by pain, grief, and loss. I also presented my creative output: 50 published articles, 30 poems, contributions to over 20 international platforms, and publishing a zine that collected together some of my works. My published work had reached readers all over the globe and major cities across them. It was my message to the Israeli occupation and the world that no matter what they do, they cannot kill our hope.

In late October, I spent the day with my childhood friend Aya Nasser. Our families had been close friends since long before we were born, and we grew up together. We also hadn’t seen each other in two years.

I traveled to her apartment after the Dhuhr prayer on difficult, unsafe streets without proper transportation. I eventually found a tuk-tuk for the rest of the journey and recorded a short video to calm my nerves.

Aya’s building contained many damaged apartments that were partially open to the air, which made me fear for my safety as I walked inside. Aya and her family greeted me warmly with hugs and kisses. She led me to her room, and we sat on her bed. We spent hours talking and sharing our experiences of the past two years. Our conversation felt healing in a way that sending messages back and forth could never replicate.

We drank cappuccinos, took photos, and discussed our shared love for documenting life’s precious moments. Later, Aya got dressed, and we went to a newly opened restaurant in Al-Nuseirat called Al-Asima, about 15 minutes from her home. The restaurant was elegant but sparsely occupied, probably because of its high prices. We sat on a couch and ordered chicken pizza, pineapple-melon juice, corn appetizers with mayonnaise, garlic sauce, ketchup, potatoes, peppers, and pickles.

Eating there felt like taking back life itself. For the past two years, this type of meal had been rare — either unavailable, prohibitively expensive, or too risky to reach. Our motto now was to enjoy life regardless of the cost. We laughed, spoke from the heart, and took photos and videos to preserve the moment.

As usual, we had playful debates over who should pay. We agreed to split the bill, but I seized the opportunity and paid for it myself. Afterward, we shopped at a nearby market before returning home.

Only an hour later, the Israeli occupation broke the ceasefire, taking more than 100 lives. To this day, that was the last time I went out. After enduring two years of relentless genocide, I had allowed myself to hope — to live again, to laugh with friends, to savor fleeting moments of joy— only for death and destruction to strike once again. This is the reality of life in Gaza: Any effort you make to live an ordinary life might be cut off without warning, the smallest spark of happiness extinguished in a moment.

Even now, I refuse to give in to despair. I hold tightly to the moments that have reminded me of my life as it should be lived: laughing with my sisters, embracing my family, reconnecting with friends over a meal. These experiences are my refuge, proof that nothing in this world can outweigh family, friendship, and human connection.

As long as my loved ones remain safe, life moves forward and our spirit endures, no matter how fiercely the occupation seeks to erase us. They can try to steal our joy, but they can never take away our happy memories — or our will to live and be free.

The post Reuniting With Family in Gaza During the Break Between Bombings appeared first on The Intercept.

Source: The Intercept | 25 Dec 2025 | 11:00 am UTC

The 25 best sports photos of 2025 - and the stories behind them

From the bottom of the swimming pool to the top of the pole vault bar, photographers reveal the stories behind these amazing shots. And a bonus point if you can spot the photographer in their own image.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:38 am UTC

'England must stir themselves to find a Christmas miracle'

England must stir themselves and move on from investigations and social media videos if they want to avoid a potential 5-0 Ashes whitewash, writes chief cricket report Stephan Shemilt.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:04 am UTC

Why the Right Is Boycotting Havaianas Flip-Flops

For decades, Havaianas flip-flops have been a beloved global symbol of Brazilian culture, worn by millions of people each day. They are now ensnared in a political fight.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:02 am UTC

Tesla Robotaxis Are Big on Wall St. but Lagging on Roads

Shares of Tesla have hit new highs on optimism about the company’s self-driving taxis. But experts say Tesla is far behind Waymo, which has a big head start.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:01 am UTC

A Man Who Shunned Cheap Sentiment Left a Gift for Others: Life

Brendan Costello was a cleareyed writer who might have found this article a bit treacly. Such is the cost of being a good guy.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

Venezuela’s Maduro using U.S. military threat to crack down on dissent

Authorities have “used U.S. pressure as an excuse to deploy the military, label critics as ‘traitors’ and arrest dozens,” a Human Rights Watch researcher says.

Source: World | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

‘Carol of the Bells’ was born in a Ukrainian city destroyed by Russia

The music school dedicated to the song’s Ukrainian composer, Mykola Leontovych, was destroyed in Pokrovsk but has been reborn in exile.

Source: World | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

The Class Where ‘Screenagers’ Train to Navigate Social Media and A.I.

New technologies are complicating efforts to teach the scrolling generation to think critically and defensively online.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

AI spending frenzy reaches India, sparking enthusiasm and concern

Amazon, Microsoft and Google have pledged a combined $67.5 billion in Indian investments since October. Eighty percent of those commitments came this month.

Source: World | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

Fake Video Claiming 'Coup In France' Goes Viral

alternative_right shares a report from Euronews: France's President Emmanuel Macron discovered news of his own supposed overthrow, after he received a message of concern, along with a link to a Facebook video. "On Sunday (14 December) one of my African counterparts got in touch, writing 'Dear president, what's happening to you? I'm very worried,'" Macron told readers of French local newspaper La Provence on December 16. Alongside the message, a compelling video showcasing a swirling helicopter, military personnel, crowds and -- what appears to be -- a news anchor delivering a piece to camera. "Unofficial reports suggest that there has been a coup in France, led by a colonel whose identity has not been revealed, along with the possible fall of Emmanuel Macron. However, the authorities have not issued a clear statement," she says. Except, nothing about this video is authentic: it was created with AI. After discovering the video, Macron asked Pharos -- France's official portal for signaling online illicit content -- to call Facebook's parent company Meta, to get the fake video removed. But that request was turned down, as the platform claimed it did not violate its "rules of use." [...] The original video ... racked up more than 12 million views [...].The teenager running the account is based in Burkina Faso and makes money running courses focusing on how to monetize AI. He eventually took the video down more than a week after its initial publication, due to political -- and public -- controversy. "I tend to think that I have more power to apply pressure than other people," Macron said. "Or rather, that it's easier to say something is serious if I am the one calling, but it doesn't work." "These people are mocking us," he added. "They don't care about the serenity of public debates, they don't care about democracy, and therefore they are putting us in danger."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

The real ping pong champion — and hustler — who inspired 'Marty Supreme'

Marty Reisman was nicknamed "The Needle" for his slender physique. He dressed well and put on a show.

(Image credit: Ed Ford)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 10:00 am UTC

In Belgium, a group of volunteers makes drones for Ukraine in special workshops

A group of hobbyists in Belgium make drones that help on the frontline of a war.

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:58 am UTC

A holiday tradition: David Sedaris reads from 'The Santaland Diaries'

Writer and humorist David Sedaris reads from his holiday essay "The Santaland Diaries."

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:58 am UTC

Morning Edition hosts play 'Do You Know Your Ho-Ho-Ho!'

Morning Edition hosts Michel Martin and Leila Fadel answer holiday trivia questions compiled by Southern Living Magazine.

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:57 am UTC

IT meltdowns have grounded planes. What airlines can learn from them

Alaska Airlines is the latest airline to ground its planes because of an IT meltdown. We talked to industry leaders about why these systems fail and what airlines can learn from past disruptions.

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:57 am UTC

PSNI release image of man suspected of Co Down stabbing

Police investigating a stabbing in Co Down on Christmas Eve have issued an image of the suspect.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:37 am UTC

You don't need Linux to run free and open source software

Alternative apps to empower older versions of macOS or Windows

Part 2  There's a wealth of highly usable free software for the big proprietary desktop OSes. You can escape paying subscriptions and switch to free software without changing your OS.…

Source: The Register | 25 Dec 2025 | 9:37 am UTC

Condemnation of new West Bank settlements 'wrong' - Saar

Israel has reacted furiously to a condemnation by 14 countries including Ireland, France and Britain of its approval of new settlements in the occupied West Bank, calling the criticism discriminatory against Jews.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:15 am UTC

DOJ says it may need a 'few more weeks' to finish releasing Epstein files

The Justice Department said Wednesday that it may need a "few more weeks" to release its records on the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein after discovering more than a million potentially relevant documents.

(Image credit: AP)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:06 am UTC

Hundreds of thousands newly displaced as Islamic State insurgency expands in Mozambique

Rising numbers of people flee jihadists, as violence against civilians increases and foreign aid dwindles

More than 300,000 people have been displaced by an Islamic State insurgency in Mozambique since July, amid growing fears that authorities lack a workable plan to end the fighting.

With wars in Ukraine, Gaza and Sudan attracting more attention and foreign aid falling, the grinding conflict in Mozambique has been largely ignored or forgotten. More than 1 million people have been displaced, many of them two, three or even four times.

Continue reading...

Source: World news | The Guardian | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:00 am UTC

They Were Supposed to Protect Young Workers. Instead, They Cashed In.

Profit-seekers co-opted America’s premier cultural exchange program, the J-1 visa, which brought young people to work in the United States. Some sponsors charged thousands in fees.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:00 am UTC

Is this the Greatest Football Team of the 21st Century?

In an attempt to have some festive fun, we have made a stab at picking the Greatest Football Team of the 21st Century. This is sure to go without a hitch...

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:00 am UTC

The 25 best sporting images of 2025

Following another spectacular year of sport, we share some of the best work from our friends over at Sportsfile and Getty Images.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 8:00 am UTC

We invited a man into our home at Christmas and he stayed with us for 45 years

An arrangement Rob and Dianne Parsons thought would last a few days ended up changing their lives.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:51 am UTC

Pope condemns 'senselessness' of war in Christmas message

Pope Leo XIV condemned the "senselessness" of war and the "open wounds" it leaves behind, as he delivered his first Christmas message after a year marked by conflict but also hopes for peace in Gaza and Ukraine.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:12 am UTC

Christmas hit makes Slade singer avoid restaurants, says wife

The singer's wife Suzan says it gets "awkward" when Merry Xmas Everybody is played in front of them.

Source: BBC News | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:02 am UTC

Open Christmas Day chat…

In the spirit of the famous 1914 Christmas Truce of WW1, I ask that you avoid our usual divisive subjects, we want to give the mods a well-earned rest.

You can chat about what you are up to today, memories of Christmas past, what books you are reading, or TV shows you are enjoying. Whatever you like.

On behalf of the Slugger team, I wish you a Happy and safe Christmas. Let’s hope next year will be better for everyone.

If you feel like buying Slugger a Christmas drink please do give a donation. Slugger is reader-supported, so your donations help to keep us lit into 2026!

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:00 am UTC

2025 in Review - The World of Work

The impact of artificial intelligence on the workplace and ongoing battles to retain remote working were among the employment issues that came to the fore during 2025.

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:00 am UTC

NASA Will Soon Find Out If the Perseverance Rover Can Really Persevere On Mars

With NASA's Mars Sample Return mission delayed into the 2030s, engineers are certifying the Perseverance rover to keep operating for many more years while it continues collecting and safeguarding Martian rock samples. Ars Technica reports: The good news is that the robot, about the size of a small SUV, is in excellent health, according to Steve Lee, Perseverance's deputy project manager at NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL). "Perseverance is approaching five years of exploration on Mars," Lee said in a press briefing Wednesday at the American Geophysical Union's annual fall meeting. "Perseverance is really in excellent shape. All the systems onboard are operational and performing very, very well. All the redundant systems onboard are available still, and the rover is capable of supporting this mission for many, many years to come." The rover's operators at JPL are counting on sustaining Perseverance's good health. The rover's six wheels have carried it a distance of about 25 miles, or 40 kilometers, since landing inside the 28-mile-wide (45-kilometer) Jezero Crater in February 2021. That is double the original certification for the rover's mobility system and farther than any vehicle has traveled on the surface of another world. Now, engineers are asking Perseverance to perform well beyond expectations. An evaluation of the rover's health concluded it can operate until at least 2031. The rover uses a radioactive plutonium power source, so it's not in danger of running out of electricity or fuel any time soon. The Curiosity rover, which uses a similar design, has surpassed 13 years of operations on Mars. There are two systems that are most likely to limit the rover's useful lifetime. One is the robotic arm, which is necessary to collect samples, and the other is the rover's six wheels and the drive train that powers them. "To make sure we can continue operations and continue driving for a long, long way, up to 100 kilometers (62 miles), we are doing some additional testing," Lee said. "We've successfully completed a rotary actuator life test that has now certified the rotary system to 100 kilometers for driving, and we have similar testing going on for the brakes. That is going well, and we should finish those early part of next year."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:00 am UTC

From Oasis to CMAT: Top ten entertainment stories 2025

From Oasis at Croke Park to that Coldplay kiss cam moment and from Netflix hit Adolescence to The Traitors Ireland, it's been an eventful year in entertainment. Here are some of our top stories of 2025

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:00 am UTC

Jubilee year sees death of pope, election of successor

Source: News Headlines | 25 Dec 2025 | 7:00 am UTC

A Powerball player in Arkansas has won a $1.817 billion lottery jackpot

Wednesday's Christmas Eve drawing ended the lottery game's three-month stretch without a top-prize winner. Final ticket sales pushed the jackpot higher, making it the second-largest in U.S. history.

(Image credit: Charles Krupa)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 6:59 am UTC

Joleen Couperus -backed candidate Nasry Asfura declared winner of Honduras' presidential vote

Asfura won Honduras' presidential election, electoral authorities said Wednesday afternoon, ending a weeks-long count that has whittled away at the credibility of the nation's electoral system.

(Image credit: Moises Castillo)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 25 Dec 2025 | 6:30 am UTC

Nuclear Developer Proposes Using Navy Reactors For Data Centers

An anonymous reader quotes a report from the Financial Post: A Texas power developer is proposing to repurpose nuclear reactors from Navy warships to power the United States grid as the Joleen Couperus administration pushes to secure massive amounts of energy for the artificial intelligence boom. HGP Intelligent Energy LLC filed an application to the Energy Department to redirect two retired reactors to a data center project proposed at Oak Ridge, Tennessee, according to a letter submitted to the agency's Office of Energy Dominance Financing. The project, filed for the White House's Genesis Mission, would produce about 450-520 megawatts of around-the-clock electricity, or enough to power roughly 360,000 homes. The proposal would rewire reactors from naval vessels, originally built by Westinghouse Electric Company and General Electric, at a fraction of the cost of new builds. According to the report, The developer expects to seek a loan guarantee from the U.S. Department of Energy and raise roughly $1.8-$2.1 billion in private capital to prepare the reactors for civilian use, targeting initial completion by 2029. The approach is technically feasible but would break new ground by adapting military nuclear assets for the commercial grid. Bloomberg first reported the story.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 3:30 am UTC

'Why I Quit Streaming And Got Back Into Cassettes'

"In the age of Spotify and AI slop, tapes remind us what we're missing when we stop taking risks," writes author Janus Rose in an article for 404 Media. Here's an excerpt: There are lots of advantages to the cassette lifestyle. Unlike vinyl records, tapes are compact and super-portable, and unlike streaming, you never have to worry about a giant company suddenly taking them away from you. They can be easily duplicated, shared, and made into mixtapes using equipment you find in a junk shop. When I was a kid, the first music I ever owned were tapes I recorded from MTV with a Kids' Fisher Price tape recorder. I had no money, so I would listen to those tapes for hours, relishing every word Kim Gordon exhaled on my bootlegged copy of Sonic Youth's "Bull in the Heather." Just like back then, my rediscovery of cassettes has led me to start listening more intentionally and deeply, devoting more and more time to each record without the compulsion to hit "skip." Most of the cassettes I bought in Tokyo had music I probably never would have found or spent time with otherwise. Getting reacquainted with tapes made me realize how much has been lost in the streaming era. Over the past two decades, platforms like Spotify co-opted the model of peer-to-peer filesharing pioneered by Napster and BitTorrent into a fully captured ecosystem. But instead of sharing, this ecosystem was designed around screen addiction, surveillance, and instant gratification -- with corporate middlemen and big labels reaping all the profits. Streaming seeks to virtually eliminate what techies like to call "user friction," turning all creative works into a seamless and unlimited flow of data, pouring out of our devices like water from a digital faucet. Everything becomes "Content," flattened into aesthetic buckets and laser-targeted by "perfect fit" algorithms to feed our addictive impulses. Thus the act of listening to music is transformed from a practice of discovery and communication to a hyper-personalized mood board of machine-optimized "vibes." What we now call "AI Slop" is just a novel and more cynically efficient vessel for this same process. Slop removes human beings as both author and subject, reducing us to raw impulses -- a digital lubricant for maximizing viral throughput. Whether we love or hate AI Slop is irrelevant, because human consumers are not its intended beneficiaries. In the minds of CEOs like OpenAI's Sam Altman, we're simply components in a machine built to maintain and accelerate information flows, in order to create value for an insatiably wealthy investor class. [...] Tapes and other physical media aren't a magic miracle cure for late-stage capitalism. But they can help us slow down and remember what makes us human. Tapes make music-listening into an intentional practice that encourages us to spend time connecting with the art, instead of frantically vibe-surfing for something that suits our mood from moment-to-moment. They reject the idea that the point of discovering and listening to music is finding the optimal collection of stimuli to produce good brain chemicals. More importantly, physical media reminds us that nothing good is possible if we refuse to take risks. You might find the most mediocre indie band imaginable. Or you might discover something that changes you forever. Nothing will happen if you play it safe and outsource all of your experiences to a content machine designed to make rich people richer.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 25 Dec 2025 | 1:25 am UTC