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Iran Cracks Down on Uprising, Thousands Feared Dead
Iranian authorities initiated a brutal crackdown on widespread protests in early January 2026, resulting in a massacre that may have claimed the lives of tens of thousands, according to Time magazine. The government shut down the internet on January 8th and authorized security forces to use lethal force against demonstrators.
The scale of the violence is difficult to verify due to the government's information blackout, but Iranian health officials told Time that the death toll could far exceed most estimates, potentially reaching 30,000 in a 48-hour period. The protests, reminiscent of the 1979 revolution that brought the Islamic Republic to power, saw ordinary citizens demanding an end to what they perceived as a despotic regime.
President Donald Trump had pledged U.S. support, but ultimately, no intervention occurred, Time reported. The regime quelled the uprising through extreme force.
In other news, Amazon Web Services CEO Matt Garman expressed skepticism about Elon Musk's vision of space-based data centers. Speaking at a tech conference in San Francisco on Tuesday, Garman acknowledged the potential benefits of locating data centers in space, such as access to solar energy and the cooling effects of the atmosphere. However, he emphasized the significant obstacles, particularly the high cost of transporting equipment. "I don’t know if you’ve seen a rac," Garman said, alluding to the logistical challenges. Amazon currently operates over 900 data centers worldwide.
Meanwhile, the entertainment world is anticipating the revival of "The Muppet Show" on ABC and Disney, scheduled for February 4th, according to Time. The reboot aims to recapture the magic of the original, which aired in the 1970s and became a cultural phenomenon. The Muppets franchise has seen numerous iterations, including "Muppet Babies" and the mockumentary-style sitcom "The Muppets," but many have been seen as attempts to recreate the success of the original.
In the tech sector, Microsoft is preparing to launch its seventh iteration of Windows widgets, slated for release in 2026, according to Hacker News. The company has been grappling with the challenge of surfacing live information without requiring users to launch an app since 1997. Previous attempts, including Push (1997), Glass (2007), and Board (2021), have failed due to issues such as performance, security, and privacy. "Every constraint you'll hit today exists because of a specific past disaster," Pavel Osadchuk wrote in Hacker News.
And lastly, Fortune reported on the emergence of a memecoin associated with former President Donald Trump. The coin gained traction during an inauguration weekend event attended by blockchain industry executives and investors. Some observers noted the speed with which Trump, known for branding various ventures, capitalized on the crypto trend.
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