Leftovers

• The Straits Times ☛ Asos co-founder Quentin Griffiths dies in Thailand after balcony fall

  Initial investigations suggest suicide and no indications of foul play.

• Science

  • Science Alert ☛ A Signal of Parkinson's May Be Hiding in Your Hair, Study Finds

    "High diagnostic potential."

  • Science Alert ☛ Gaia Detected an Entire Swarm of Black Holes Traveling Through The Milky Way

    This is fine.

  • Science Alert ☛ Something Strange Altered Earth's Magnetic Field 40 Million Years Ago

    An astonishing finding.

  • Science Alert ☛ 'Freak of Nature': Scientists Think Greenland's Ice Is Churning Like Molten Rock

    A decade-old mystery solved.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientists May Have Found The Key Cellular Process Behind Aging in Animals

    A new path to longevity?

  • Science Alert ☛ There's a Critical Thing You Can Do to Keep Alzheimer's Symptoms at Bay

    Start tonight.

  • Science Alert ☛ Scientist Reveals The Best Shoes to Wear While Lifting Weights

    It does matter.

• Career/Education

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Michigan fight over special ed services lingers, years after Covid shutdown

    A federal complaint over how Michigan should provide make-up services to students in special ed whose schools closed during COVID is in the hands of an administrative law judge.

  • CS Monitor ☛ 3 in 5 US undergrads struggle with basic needs. How some colleges are helping.

    With more than half of America’s undergraduates now reporting food or housing insecurity, a new model of support is taking hold on college campuses.

• Hardware

  • Ruben Schade ☛ Buying a new ThinkPad for the first time!

    Or: promoting what I’ve used for years to be my primary machine.

    Computers are tools

    Computers are tools for most people. They’re means to an end; a way to Get Things Done. It was true when accountants were listening to Genesis while entering numbers into VisiCalc on their Fashion Company Apple II, and when an author used WordPerfect on their XT clone to write a manuscript. Today, people get much of their lives done on these machines, and occasionally vendors even make this easier for people.

    I use computers to Get Things Done. I also happen to have made a career out of doing so. I flip bits on a screen, explain to clients how they can flip bits on a screen, and architect systems that facilitate the flipping of screen bits for others. Turns out we’re in the midst of another bubble where a lot of people think flipping bits in a profoundly less efficient and more destructive way is somehow an improvement or inevitable; but then, that’s why people like me exist to explain otherwise. It’s thankless work, but someone has to do it :).

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ The state of China's decade-long semiconductor push: still a decade behind, despite hundreds of billions spent and significant progress — examining the original 'Made in China 2025' initiative

    After 10 years and hundreds of billions of investments, China's semiconductor supply chain is still decades behind chip supply chain in America and Taiwan.

  • CNX Software ☛ MediaTek Genio 360/360P hexa/octa-core Cortex-A76/A55 AIoT SoC features 8 TOPS NPU for cost-sensitive embedded applications

    MediaTek Genio 360 and Genio 360P are respectively hexa-core and octa-core Arm Cortex-A76/A55 AIoT processors featuring a MediaTek NPU delivering up to 8 TOPS of Hey Hi (AI) performance, and designed for cost-sensitive embedded applications. The chips support up to 8GB of memory and eMMC 5.1, SPI NOR, and SD 3.0 storage interfaces.

• Health/Nutrition/Agriculture

  • Futurism ☛ Every Single Headphone That Researchers Tested Contained Horrifying Chemicals

    "These chemicals are not just additives; they may be migrating from the headphones into our body."

  • New York Times ☛ A Cancer Detection Test Fails in Major Study

    A closely watched clinical trial in Britain that screened blood for early detection of cancer did not show a reduction in diagnoses at later stages of the disease.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Short of staff, Michigan schools try virtual speech therapy for special ed

    As school leaders see an increase in students with disabilities, they say there aren’t enough speech professionals to go around. Virtual therapists are one answer, though no one thinks it’s ideal.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ ‘Green Houses’ offer cozier alternative to Michigan nursing homes

    Two programs are helping older Detroit area residents avoid nursing homes, improving care and potentially saving tax dollars.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Los Angeles County Files a Major Lawsuit Against Roblox—’Breeding Ground for Predators’

    Los Angeles County officials are suing Roblox with allegations that the company failed to meaningfully protect children from predators on the platform. Roblox is facing another lawsuit, this time from Los Angeles County.

  • New Yorker ☛ The Evidence on Ozempic to Treat Addiction

    Dhruv Khullar on the latest research on GLP-1 drugs, which, though typically used to manage diabetes and obesity, are showing promise as groundbreaking treatments for addictions of all kinds.

• Proprietary

  • New York Times ☛ A.I. Isn’t Coming for Every White-Collar Job. At Least Not Yet.

    Tech workers are increasingly worried that the artificial intelligence they are building will replace them. But some are optimistic that it is just one more tool to work with.

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ 30 years later, the iconic 'Bliss' green hill from backdoored Windows XP is still thriving — lucky passerby captures the hill looking almost identical to the 1996 photograph in 'super rare' event

    A Redditor travelling through Napa Valley on 18th February 2026 was lucky enough to see the iconic "Bliss" hill in a form close to the original wallpaper. This terrain is usually covered in vineyards, so it doesn't look as picturesque, but during rare times of the year, you can catch glimpses of its unaltered beauty.

  • Artificial Intelligence (AI) / LLM Slop / Plagiarism

    • The Straits Times ☛ Suspect used Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot in planning drug killings in South Korea: Police

      She asked Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot questions like what happens if one takes sleeping pills with alcohol.

    • NYPost ☛ Canadian trans shooter’s disturbing Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot messages alarmed employees — but company never alerted cops

      ChatGPT-maker Proprietary Chaffbot Company banned Canadian transgender school shooter Jesse Van Rootselaar's account over his violent behavior on the platform last year -- but never alerted authorities before he gunned down eight people in one of the country's deadliest mass killings.

    • Futurism ☛ OpenAI Flagged a Mass Shooter’s Troubling Conversations With Abusive Monopolist Microsoft Chaffbot Before the Incident, Decided Not to Warn Police

      Employees at Proprietary Chaffbot Company urged leaders to alert the police, but they opted not to.

    • Tom's Hardware ☛ OpenAI's Scam Altman warns that firms are using 'AI washing' to mask layoffs across the globe — Hey Hi (AI) boss calls out corporate excuses while warning of 'palpable' job disruption ahead

      In an interview at the India Hey Hi (AI) Impact Summit, Proprietary Chaffbot Company CEO Scam Altman mentioned his belief that Hey Hi (AI) is being used by businesses to explain unrelated layoffs, but that the technology will cause an impact in the near future.

    • Futurism ☛ Look Out, OpenAI: Perplexity Admits Hey Hi (AI) Adverts Were a Mistake, Is Now Getting Rid of Them

      When Proprietary Chaffbot Company zigged, Perplexity zagged.

    • Futurism ☛ Jack Dorsey’s New Company Falling Apart as It Forces Employees to Use AI

      "The overarching culture at Block is crumbling."

    • Futurism ☛ OpenAI’s Hardware Device Just Leaked, and You Will Cringe

      Thanks, but no thanks.

• Defence/Aggression

  • Breach Media ☛ What’s going down in Iran—and the marches in Canada calling for intervention

    Donya Ziaee and Samira Mohyeddin analyze the crackdown in Iran, Canada’s stance [...]

  • New York Times ☛ Palestinian-American Teenager Killed in West Bank Is Laid to Rest

    Nasrallah Abu Siyam, 19, was shot dead by an Israeli settler, according to a witness and Palestinian health officials, amid rising violent settler attacks in the Israeli-occupied territory.

  • New York Times ☛ How China Is Stoking Fear About Travel to Japan

    From earthquake warnings to bear attack alerts, Beijing is deploying a campaign of exaggeration and disinformation to punish Tokyo’s support for Taiwan.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US, China fighter jets briefly face off near South Korea: Report

    US fighter jets reportedly left an airbase in Pyeongtaek for drills above international waters on Feb 18.

  • The Straits Times ☛ US imports more from Taiwan than China for first time in decades

    US purchase of goods from China plunged 44 per cent in December from 2024.

  • New York Times ☛ As Convicted Felon Considers Second Iran Attack, It Could Be Deadlier Than the First

    Within days of the U.S. strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last year, all sides agreed to a cease-fire. This time could be different.

  • New York Times ☛ U.S. Planes Land at Jordan Base, a Key Hub for Planning Possible Iran Strikes

    At least 60 attack aircraft are parked at the base, which has become a key hub for U.S. military planning for possible strikes on Iran.

  • JURIST ☛ US Supreme Court strikes down Convicted Felon’s tariffs as unlawful

    The US Supreme Court handed down its landmark decision Friday on the legality of President The Insurrectionist’s imposition of tariffs under the International Emergency Economic Powers Act (IEEPA). In a 6-3 decision, the Court held that the IEEPA does not authorize the president to impose tariffs.

  • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man calls Supreme Court decision to strike down his tariffs 'deeply disappointing'

    US President The Insurrectionist said Friday that the Supreme Court decision declaring his sweeping global tariffs illegal was "deeply disappointing", adding that he was "absolutely ashamed" of "certain members" of the conservative-dominated court who ruled against him.

  • Bridge Michigan ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man vows temporary 10% global tariff after justices nix earlier effort

    The Supreme Court has struck down President The Insurrectionist’s far-reaching global tariffs, a decision with major implications for Michigan.

  • CS Monitor ☛ Why did the Supreme Court rule against tariffs? Here’s what the justices said.

    The Supreme Court struck down the Convicted Felon administration’s use of an emergency economic law to set broad tariffs, reasoning that the 1977 law did not grant the president such sweeping power. President The Insurrectionist vowed to use other laws to keep tariffs up.

  • New York Times ☛ After Supreme Court Loss, Convicted Felon Plans to Impose Global Tariffs Using Different Laws

    The administration has been preparing for months for the possibility that the Supreme Court would rule against the president and developed contingency plans.

  • France24 ☛ Dihydroxyacetone Man considers strike on Iran as Tehran says draft nuclear deal coming soon

    US President The Insurrectionist on Friday said he was considering a limited strike on Iran as he sent a major naval buildup to the region with the goal of pressurising Tehran to cut a deal that would curb its nuclear programme. Iran's foreign minister said a draft proposal for an agreement with Washington would be ready in a matter of days.

  • France24 ☛ US Supreme Court strikes down The Insurrectionist’s sweeping tariffs

    Kethevane Gorjestani has more.

  • New Yorker ☛ The MAGA Agenda Is Sinking in Popularity. What Might The Insurrectionist Do?

    What to expect at the State of the Union.

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Japan PM says China seeks to change status quo ‘with force or coercion’

    China is stepping up attempts to change the status quo “by force or coercion”, Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said Friday, while adding she wanted “stable and constructive” ties with Beijing.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Japan PM Takaichi warns of China ‘coercion’, vows security overhaul

    Her four-month tenure has been marked by a diplomatic dispute with China.

  • JURIST ☛ Australia bars citizen from returning from Syria under counterterrorism powers

    Australia issued a Temporary Exclusion Order (TEO) on Wednesday to prevent an Australian citizen in detention in northeast Syria from returning home because of security concerns. Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke confirmed that the TEO has been issued under the Counter-Terrorism (Temporary Exclusion Orders) Act 2019 (Cth).

  • Russia, Belarus, and War in Ukraine

    • LRT ☛ Vilnius tech firm NTLAB in legal battle with government over national security ruling

      Vilnius-based technology company NTLAB has launched a legal challenge against the Lithuanian government after being declared a threat to national security.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian military intelligence warns of hostile state recruitment on social control media

      Lithuania’s military intelligence has warned that hostile states are actively attempting to recruit individuals via social control media and online messaging platforms.

    • New York Times ☛ Head of Russia’s Antidoping Agency Was Involved in 2014 Doping Scheme, Whistle-Blower Claims

      The accusation surfaced as Russia tries to re-establish its Olympics eligibility.

    • New York Times ☛ Russia Takes the Gulag Out of the Gulag History Museum in Moscow

      The museum had preserved the history of brutality inflicted by the Soviet Union on its people. It will now focus on Nazi war crimes.

    • The Straits Times ☛ 7 Chinese tourists dead after bus sinks in Russia’s Lake Baikal

      The world’s deepest lake, located north of Mongolia, is a popular destination for tourists.

    • RFERL ☛ Russian Woman, Who Allegedly Drunk-Texted FBI Agents, Pleads Guilty To Lying About FSB Ties

      A Russian woman who was charged with lying to the FBI about her ties to Russia's main intelligence agency -- and then drunk-texted an FBI agent while out on bail -- has pleaded guilty.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuanian interior minister bans rapper Gio Pika from entering country

      Lithuania’s Interior Minister, Vladislavas Kondratovičius, has prohibited the Russian rapper Gio Pika, whose real name is Georgy Dzhioev, from entering the country until February 19, 2031.

    • LRT ☛ Lithuania’s Micevičius to skip Paralympics opening ceremony

      Lithuanian Paralympic snowboarder Rapolas Micevičius will not attend the opening ceremony of the Milan-Cortina Paralympics, joining other athletes boycotting the event over a decision to allow Russian and Belarusian competitors to take part under their national flags.

    • New York Times ☛ In Ukraine, Senators See War’s Impact and Press for Stronger U.S. Support

      Senate Democrats traveled to Kyiv and Odessa to show solidarity with the war-torn nation and make the case that the United States should do more, including imposing harsh sanctions on Russia.

    • New York Times ☛ Ukrainian Women Tell Their Stories of Sexual Violence by Russian Soldiers

      Hundreds of Ukrainian women and girls have reported sexual violence by Russian troops during the four-year war in Ukraine.

    • New York Times ☛ Hungary Poses Unexpected Hurdle to Europe’s 90-Billion Euro Loan to Ukraine

      While the delay may prove to be procedural, Hungary signaled that it could cause problems as the European Union works to send money to Ukraine.

    • France24 ☛ 'We will be able to defend Ukraine' thanks to EU loan: Ambassador Vsevolod Chentsov

      As part of FRANCE 24’s and Talking Europe’s coverage of the fourth anniversary of the war in Ukraine, we host veteran diplomat Vsevolod Chentsov, Ukraine’s ambassador to the European Union. He highlights the critical assistance the EU is providing for the country’s military, budgetary, and energy needs, saying that the solidarity shown by Ukraine’s European allies "cannot be underestimated".

    • France24 ☛ War in Ukraine: Four young Ukrainians tell us how they see their future

      Their names are Oleksandr, Sofiia, Bohdan and Angelina. Aged between 18 and 28, these young Ukrainians are living in a country still at war.As Tuesday marks the fourth year of Russia’s large-scale invasion in Ukraine, France 24 gives them the floor, to know more about their hopes, their fears and their dreams for the future.

    • France24 ☛ How Russian drones are terrorising civilians in Ukraine

      Four years after Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, drones have transformed the battlefield. But they have also brought the war to Ukrainians’ doorstep. Small drones known as FPVs and long-range Shahed drones are terrorising Ukrainian civilians. In a special report in collaboration with RFI Ukraine, our Observers recount their day-to-day reality.

    • France24 ☛ Macron's readiness to talk to Putin "a very good idea": EU Council former president Charles Michel

      As FRANCE 24 covers another grim milestone in Ukraine – four years of full-scale war – Talking Europe hosts the former president of the EU Council, Charles Michel, who was in the job when that geopolitical earthquake struck the European continent on February 24, 2022. We also bring you a special feature, “Ukraine: Europe on the front line”, about the EU’s wide-ranging support for Ukraine, by our reporter Mélina Huet.

• Transparency/Investigative Reporting

  • New York Times ☛ Epstein Scandal Leaves Some Young Convicted Felon Voters Feeling Betrayed

    Drawn to Hell Toupée for his pledge to take down the political elite, some of his young constituents say he has failed them.

  • Federal News Network ☛ DOJ’s first $1M antitrust whistleblower award may sway corporate views on risk—and on employees

    "This is a good first step: It's real, it's quick, it's a significant amount. I still think the proof is in the cases they're able to bring," Ann O'Brien said.

• Environment

  • Energy/Transportation

    • Bridge Michigan ☛ Michigan county’s argument against solar farms? They’re a health hazard

      St. Clair County plans to appeal a judge’s decision striking down the county’s attempt to use health policies as a way to regulate large-scale renewable and battery storage projects.

    • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong’s CK Hutchison seeks negotiations over Panama Canal ports

      Hong Kong-based CK Hutchison Holdings asked the Panamanian government on Thursday to enter negotiations to allow it to continue operating the Panama Canal’s two terminal ports, a company spokesperson said.

  • Wildlife/Nature

    • France24 ☛ Can forest schools teach children how to care for the environment?

      According to recent research, three-quarters of children spend less time outdoors than prison inmates. Around the world, forest schools are gaining popularity, offering an alternative to traditional classrooms within four walls. Down to Earth visited one such school in Switzerland, where children learn through outdoor play and exploration.

    • The Straits Times ☛ Man given 2-year prison term in Indonesia’s Medan for selling protected sun bear

      The sun bear is the world's smallest bear and is native to Indonesia and Malaysia.

• Finance

  • The Straits Times ☛ North Korea’s Kim opens 9th party congress citing economic achievements

    The North Korean leader said the economy had overcome recession.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Malaysia weighing impact of US tariff ruling, says trade minister

    In 2025, total bilateral trade reached about RM367 billion (S$119 billion).

  • Hong Kong Free Press ☛ Hong Kong jobless rate rises slightly to 3.9%

    Hong Kong’s unemployment rate rose slightly to 3.9 per cent between November and January, according to the Census and Statistics Department (C&SD). The jobless rate returned to 3.9 per cent in the latest three-month period after remaining at 3.8 per cent in the previous three C&SD reports, which covered the period between August and December.

  • The Straits Times ☛ South Korea says US trade deal still intact after Convicted Felon tariff ruling

    Seoul has pledged a full-scale response to protect national interests and Korean companies.

  • The Straits Times ☛ Proposed RTS Link fare of $5 to $7 ‘affordable’ for many Malaysians, but may still be steep for some

    Lower-income workers and those used to taking the bus or riding motorcycles to Singapore may find it costly.

• AstroTurf/Lobbying/Politics

  • New York Times ☛ U.K. Police Contacting Security Officers Who Once Protected Former Prince Andrew

    The authorities also searched a mansion used by Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, who was arrested in connection with an investigation into suspicion of misconduct in public office.

• Censorship/Free Speech

  • New York Times ☛ China’s ‘King of Banned Films’ Wants to Change the Subject

    Acclaimed overseas for defying censors, Lou Ye is more interested in reaching Chinese audiences, as he holds up a cinematic mirror to their lives in modern China.

  • AccessNow ☛ #KeepItOn: authorities must reverse social control media shutdown order and restore access in Gabon

    We urgently demand the government of Gabon to immediately reverse orders to shut down social control media indefinitely in the country. The order is in gross violation of national and international human rights frameworks and must not be allowed to continue.

• Freedom of Information / Freedom of the Press

  • Press Gazette ☛ Chris Boffey: Star reporter, news editor, mentor and ‘great human being’

    "Threatened, shot at, fire bombed, sued, asked to spy, investigated by Mi5 and taken the occasional drink."

  • Press Gazette ☛ Women’s interest magazine sales 2025: Harper’s Bazaar grows in print and digital

    Full breakdown of women's interest magazine sales for 2025.

  • Press Gazette ☛ Just 11 out of 131 ABC-audited magazines grew sales in 2025

    Full breakdown of UK print magazine sales risers and fallers in 2025.

• Civil Rights / Policing / Accessibility

  • New York Times ☛ Nazi Execution Photos Went Up For Sale. Greece Stopped It.

    The images of political prisoners, taken just before they were killed by Nazis in 1944, were put up for auction on eBay. The sale was pulled shortly thereafter.

• Internet Policy/Net Neutrality

  • Zimbabwe ☛ Liquid Now Offering 4 Hours of Free Public WiFi, Here’s What You Should Know

    Liquid has quietly switched on free public WiFi that gives users up to 4 hours of internet access.

• Digital Restrictions (DRM)

  • Futurism ☛ Lockheed Martin F-35s Can Be Jailbroken Like $80 Million iPhones, European Military Chief Says

    "You can jailbreak an F-35 just like an iPhone."

Monopolies/Monopsonies

• France24 ☛ Raoul Peck documents the dystopian warnings from '1984'

  Where many filmmakers might have made a conventional biopic about George Orwell, Raoul Peck chose instead to use the British author’s own words to craft an urgent documentary – one that serves as a warning about the dangers of totalitarianism today. The Haitian director joins us to discuss his new film, “2+2 = 5”, which explores how fragile democracies can be in the face of “alternative facts,” mass surveillance and media monopolies. Peck explains how Orwell’s warnings are playing out across the world – and why the resilience of civil society may be our only hope.

• Digital Music News ☛ U.S. Senators Are Officially Throwing Their Weight Around In the FTC v. Live Nation Lawsuit — With the BOTS Act Taking Center Stage

  U.S. Senators from both sides of the aisle are officially throwing their weight around in the FTC’s high-stakes BOTS Act lawsuit against Live Nation — a suit that’s now gaining greater steam alongside the DOJ’s concurrent litigation.

• Patents

  • Tom's Hardware ☛ Acer and Asus shut down support for PC and laptops in wake of patent monopoly dispute ruling, drivers and updates inaccessible to existing customers — German website finds a workaround (Update)

    Asus and Acer bring German websites down, leaving users without support or downloads due to the companies' recent spat with Nokia over the HEVC codec.

  • JUVE ☛ BMS and Johnson & Johnson battle over novel CAR-T cell therapy in Europe

    Bristol Myers Squibb and Johnson & Johnson are competitors in the market for novel cancer therapies known to experts as CAR-T cell therapies. In 2025, BMS acquired the US cell and gene therapy company 2seventy bio for around $300 million.

• Copyrights

  • Latvia ☛ Latvian nature museum wants your best bird photos

    In February, the Latvian National Museum of Nature traditionally announces its photo competition "My Bird 2026", inviting Latvian bird photographers to participate. The best works from the competition will be on display in a spectacular photo exhibition starting on April 11th, according to the museum.

  • Latvia ☛ Future of music is human, says Latvia's Sonarworks

    For most of the past century, the role of a music producer encompassed a careful balance of craft, judgment, technical skill, and taste. Producers shaped performances, sculpted sound, managed personalities, and translated emotion into recordings. Technology has always played a role in that process, but it largely functioned as an extension of human intent. Consoles, tape machines, synthesizers, DAWs, and plugins responded to decisions made by people.

  • Digital Music News ☛ Ramsey Elkholy’s Monotronic Sues Pangea Entertainment Over Lack of Promotion In Alleged Breach of Contract

    Indie band Monotronic is suing Pangea Entertainment for alleged breach of contract that resulted in a lack of distribution for the band’s music.