U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren is challenging Google's new Gemini AI checkout feature, raising concerns about potential privacy violations and data exploitation through the Universal Commerce Protocol, a system developed with major retailers. The inquiry highlights growing global scrutiny over data privacy and the ethical implications of AI-driven commerce, as international regulatory bodies grapple with similar issues of consumer protection in the digital marketplace.

U.S. Senator Elizabeth Warren is challenging Google's new Gemini AI checkout feature, raising concerns about potential privacy violations and data exploitation through the Universal Commerce Protocol, a system developed with major retailers. The inquiry highlights growing global scrutiny over data privacy and the ethical implications of AI-driven commerce, as international regulatory bodies grapple with similar issues of consumer protection in the digital marketplace.

Snooker world mourns the loss of John Virgo, dead at 79, a former UK Champion and beloved BBC commentator known for his iconic "where's the cue ball going?" catchphrase. Tributes pour in from legends like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby as the sport remembers Virgo's 18-year playing career and his influential role in popularizing snooker through shows like "Big Break," leaving a legacy comparable to Ted Lowe's impact on the game. A minute's silence was held at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong to honor the snooker icon.

Snooker world mourns the loss of John Virgo, dead at 79, a former UK Champion and beloved BBC commentator known for his iconic "where's the cue ball going?" catchphrase. Tributes pour in from legends like Ronnie O'Sullivan and Mark Selby as the sport remembers Virgo's 18-year playing career and his influential role in popularizing snooker through shows like "Big Break," leaving a legacy comparable to Ted Lowe's impact on the game. A minute's silence was held at the World Grand Prix in Hong Kong to honor the snooker icon.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have tragically killed 19 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement. This escalation has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about the disproportionate impact of the conflict on vulnerable populations, particularly women, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The rising death toll underscores the urgent need for renewed efforts towards a lasting and equitable peace that protects all civilians.

Israeli strikes in Gaza have tragically killed 19 Palestinians, the majority of whom were women and children, following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement. This escalation has sparked outrage and renewed concerns about the disproportionate impact of the conflict on vulnerable populations, particularly women, and the ongoing humanitarian crisis in Gaza. The rising death toll underscores the urgent need for renewed efforts towards a lasting and equitable peace that protects all civilians.

Senate Democrats Wyden and Van Hollen are criticizing the Trump administration's tariff exclusion process, alleging it unfairly favors companies with close ties to the president. They claim the opaque process lacks transparency and could lead to corruption and economic harm, raising concerns about potential cronyism. The senators are calling for greater oversight and a more equitable approach to tariff relief.

Senate Democrats Wyden and Van Hollen are criticizing the Trump administration's tariff exclusion process, alleging it unfairly favors companies with close ties to the president. They claim the opaque process lacks transparency and could lead to corruption and economic harm, raising concerns about potential cronyism. The senators are calling for greater oversight and a more equitable approach to tariff relief.

Following Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine this winter, which targeted civilian energy infrastructure, trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks are scheduled in Abu Dhabi, though Ukraine's delegation's position will be adjusted in response to the attack, according to President Zelenskyy. These developments, reported across multiple news sources, highlight the ongoing tensions and the Ukrainian president's assertion that Russia is prioritizing terror and escalation over diplomacy, using a proposed halt to attacks to stockpile missiles.

Following Russia's largest aerial attack on Ukraine this winter, which targeted civilian energy infrastructure, trilateral Ukraine-US-Russia talks are scheduled in Abu Dhabi, though Ukraine's delegation's position will be adjusted in response to the attack, according to President Zelenskyy. These developments, reported across multiple news sources, highlight the ongoing tensions and the Ukrainian president's assertion that Russia is prioritizing terror and escalation over diplomacy, using a proposed halt to attacks to stockpile missiles.

Drawing from a 2026 blog post, the author expresses concern over the diminishing opportunities for deep, prolonged thinking, a trait they value alongside building and creating. Reflecting on their university experience, the author contrasts students who seek immediate help with those who persevere independently through challenging problems, lamenting the loss of these difficult mental struggles.

Drawing from a 2026 blog post, the author expresses concern over the diminishing opportunities for deep, prolonged thinking, a trait they value alongside building and creating. Reflecting on their university experience, the author contrasts students who seek immediate help with those who persevere independently through challenging problems, lamenting the loss of these difficult mental struggles.

Semiconductor startup Positron has secured $230 million in Series B funding, led by Qatar Investment Authority, to accelerate the deployment of its high-speed memory chips for AI workloads, as reported by multiple sources. This investment reflects a broader trend of hyperscalers and countries like Qatar seeking alternatives to Nvidia and building sovereign AI infrastructure, with Positron claiming its chips can match Nvidia's performance with significantly less power.

Semiconductor startup Positron has secured $230 million in Series B funding, led by Qatar Investment Authority, to accelerate the deployment of its high-speed memory chips for AI workloads, as reported by multiple sources. This investment reflects a broader trend of hyperscalers and countries like Qatar seeking alternatives to Nvidia and building sovereign AI infrastructure, with Positron claiming its chips can match Nvidia's performance with significantly less power.

Multiple news sources report that Elon Musk's SpaceX is acquiring his AI startup xAI, known for its Grok chatbot, in a deal valuing the combined entity at over $1 trillion, making it the most valuable private company ever. This merger aims to integrate AI, space exploration, internet, and media under one umbrella, though it faces scrutiny regarding Grok's AI image generation capabilities and regulatory investigations into X (formerly Twitter).

Multiple news sources report that Elon Musk's SpaceX is acquiring his AI startup xAI, known for its Grok chatbot, in a deal valuing the combined entity at over $1 trillion, making it the most valuable private company ever. This merger aims to integrate AI, space exploration, internet, and media under one umbrella, though it faces scrutiny regarding Grok's AI image generation capabilities and regulatory investigations into X (formerly Twitter).

Multiple news sources report on a diverse range of global events leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, including Lindsey Vonn's determination to compete despite a severe knee injury and the participation of athletes and spectators after the 2022 games. Separately, sources detail international conflicts, nuclear talks, and a miraculous escape by a 12-year-old girl who fell from a ski lift in California, avoiding serious injury.

Multiple news sources report on a diverse range of global events leading up to the 2026 Winter Olympics in Milan Cortina, including Lindsey Vonn's determination to compete despite a severe knee injury and the participation of athletes and spectators after the 2022 games. Separately, sources detail international conflicts, nuclear talks, and a miraculous escape by a 12-year-old girl who fell from a ski lift in California, avoiding serious injury.

Multiple sources indicate a growing intimacy crisis in the US, with rising rates of loneliness, depression, and sexual inactivity, particularly among younger adults, despite increased opportunities for connection. Justin Garcia, executive director of the Kinsey Institute, argues that a decline in the craving for intimacy, misdirected by the digital world, is a key factor, as explored in his book "The Intimate Animal."

Multiple sources indicate a growing intimacy crisis in the US, with rising rates of loneliness, depression, and sexual inactivity, particularly among younger adults, despite increased opportunities for connection. Justin Garcia, executive director of the Kinsey Institute, argues that a decline in the craving for intimacy, misdirected by the digital world, is a key factor, as explored in his book "The Intimate Animal."

Multiple news sources indicate that Alibaba's Qwen team has released Qwen3-Coder-Next, an open-source, 80-billion-parameter AI model designed for elite coding performance with a lightweight footprint. This release intensifies the competition in the coding assistant space, challenging proprietary models from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic with its efficient Mixture-of-Experts architecture and permissive licensing.

Multiple news sources indicate that Alibaba's Qwen team has released Qwen3-Coder-Next, an open-source, 80-billion-parameter AI model designed for elite coding performance with a lightweight footprint. This release intensifies the competition in the coding assistant space, challenging proprietary models from companies like OpenAI and Anthropic with its efficient Mixture-of-Experts architecture and permissive licensing.

Databricks, building on the success of its data lakehouse concept, has launched Lakebase, a serverless operational database service aimed at enabling rapid application development and autonomous AI agent management of databases. Developed through acquisitions like Neon and Mooncake, Lakebase treats databases as ephemeral compute on data lake storage, offering a scalable and self-service infrastructure that contrasts with traditional, DBA-managed systems, according to VentureBeat.

Databricks, building on the success of its data lakehouse concept, has launched Lakebase, a serverless operational database service aimed at enabling rapid application development and autonomous AI agent management of databases. Developed through acquisitions like Neon and Mooncake, Lakebase treats databases as ephemeral compute on data lake storage, offering a scalable and self-service infrastructure that contrasts with traditional, DBA-managed systems, according to VentureBeat.