YouTube's subscription business is booming, reaching 325 million paying users across Google One and YouTube Premium, contributing to a total revenue of $60 billion for the year, a 17% increase. While ad revenue grew to $11.38 billion in Q4, it fell short of analyst expectations, prompting Alphabet to focus on expanding subscription offerings, including new YouTube TV plans, and leveraging AI tools to enhance content creation and user engagement.

YouTube's subscription business is booming, reaching 325 million paying users across Google One and YouTube Premium, contributing to a total revenue of $60 billion for the year, a 17% increase. While ad revenue grew to $11.38 billion in Q4, it fell short of analyst expectations, prompting Alphabet to focus on expanding subscription offerings, including new YouTube TV plans, and leveraging AI tools to enhance content creation and user engagement.

A cargo ship captain was sentenced to six years in jail for gross negligence manslaughter after a collision in the North Sea led to a crew member's death, highlighting the critical role of human oversight in maritime safety. The incident underscores the potential for devastating consequences when standard safety protocols, such as maintaining a proper lookout and utilizing available technology to assess collision risks, are neglected.

A cargo ship captain was sentenced to six years in jail for gross negligence manslaughter after a collision in the North Sea led to a crew member's death, highlighting the critical role of human oversight in maritime safety. The incident underscores the potential for devastating consequences when standard safety protocols, such as maintaining a proper lookout and utilizing available technology to assess collision risks, are neglected.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent developments include the discovery of skin regeneration mechanisms, a complex political situation in Venezuela, potential food poisoning cases in the UK linked to baby formula recalls, and a K-shaped economic recovery in the U.S. alongside efforts to counter China's mineral dominance and potential overhauls to school meal programs based on new USDA dietary guidelines emphasizing protein and full-fat dairy.

Drawing from multiple news sources, recent developments include the discovery of skin regeneration mechanisms, a complex political situation in Venezuela, potential food poisoning cases in the UK linked to baby formula recalls, and a K-shaped economic recovery in the U.S. alongside efforts to counter China's mineral dominance and potential overhauls to school meal programs based on new USDA dietary guidelines emphasizing protein and full-fat dairy.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Laura Poitras, the Oscar-winning director of "Citizenfour," will be the Special Guest at the opening of the 24th edition of VdRIndustry, a documentary festival program, where she will participate in an on-stage conversation and screen her latest film, "Cover-Up," a portrait of journalist Seymour Hersh. Visions du Réel's head of industry praises Poitras's politically engaged artistry and her ability to shape understanding of complex topics.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Laura Poitras, the Oscar-winning director of "Citizenfour," will be the Special Guest at the opening of the 24th edition of VdRIndustry, a documentary festival program, where she will participate in an on-stage conversation and screen her latest film, "Cover-Up," a portrait of journalist Seymour Hersh. Visions du Réel's head of industry praises Poitras's politically engaged artistry and her ability to shape understanding of complex topics.

Ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the IOC hosted a fashion showcase in Milan where Olympians from 90 national teams modeled their team kits, opening ceremony outfits, and a new Olympic outerwear collection, revealing a blend of Italian style, performance wear, and traditional designs. These events, drawing from multiple news sources, previewed the uniforms for athletes, volunteers, and staff, showcasing how fashion and function will converge at the Games.

Ahead of the 2026 Milan-Cortina Winter Olympics, the IOC hosted a fashion showcase in Milan where Olympians from 90 national teams modeled their team kits, opening ceremony outfits, and a new Olympic outerwear collection, revealing a blend of Italian style, performance wear, and traditional designs. These events, drawing from multiple news sources, previewed the uniforms for athletes, volunteers, and staff, showcasing how fashion and function will converge at the Games.

Multiple news sources report that Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine remains in hiding after fleeing a raid on his home following a disputed election where he alleged fraud and called for protests against President Museveni, who secured another term extending his decades-long rule. While in hiding, Wine has been engaged in a social media feud with Museveni's son, the country's military chief.

Multiple news sources report that Ugandan opposition leader Bobi Wine remains in hiding after fleeing a raid on his home following a disputed election where he alleged fraud and called for protests against President Museveni, who secured another term extending his decades-long rule. While in hiding, Wine has been engaged in a social media feud with Museveni's son, the country's military chief.

Recent advancements in large language models, particularly Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.5, have sparked both excitement and concern within the AI community, as highlighted by METR's analysis indicating capabilities exceeding previously projected exponential growth. However, experts caution against overinterpreting these results, emphasizing the significant uncertainties in current evaluation methods and the limited scope of the metrics used to assess overall AI abilities.

Recent advancements in large language models, particularly Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.5, have sparked both excitement and concern within the AI community, as highlighted by METR's analysis indicating capabilities exceeding previously projected exponential growth. However, experts caution against overinterpreting these results, emphasizing the significant uncertainties in current evaluation methods and the limited scope of the metrics used to assess overall AI abilities.

Multiple sources report that Substack is notifying users about a data breach from October 2025, discovered on February 3rd, 2026, which exposed email addresses and phone numbers. While passwords and financial information remain secure, Substack is investigating the incident, bolstering security, and advising users to be cautious of suspicious communications.

Multiple sources report that Substack is notifying users about a data breach from October 2025, discovered on February 3rd, 2026, which exposed email addresses and phone numbers. While passwords and financial information remain secure, Substack is investigating the incident, bolstering security, and advising users to be cautious of suspicious communications.

Multiple news sources report that newly released Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein reveal further details and include names like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and former Prince Andrew, who is shown in concerning photos with an unidentified woman. The release, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, follows previous disclosures of documents involving other prominent figures, none of whom have been accused of wrongdoing, while Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Multiple news sources report that newly released Justice Department files related to Jeffrey Epstein reveal further details and include names like Bill Gates, Elon Musk, and former Prince Andrew, who is shown in concerning photos with an unidentified woman. The release, mandated by the Epstein Files Transparency Act, follows previous disclosures of documents involving other prominent figures, none of whom have been accused of wrongdoing, while Prince Andrew has repeatedly denied any wrongdoing.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, plans to transform the notorious El Helicoide prison, once intended as a futuristic drive-through shopping center but later used for political torture under Chávez and Maduro, into a cultural center for police families and the community. Critics view this move, part of a larger effort to demonstrate change since Maduro's capture, as an attempt to erase the regime's history of repression and rehabilitate a symbol of Venezuela's decline.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's acting president, Delcy Rodríguez, plans to transform the notorious El Helicoide prison, once intended as a futuristic drive-through shopping center but later used for political torture under Chávez and Maduro, into a cultural center for police families and the community. Critics view this move, part of a larger effort to demonstrate change since Maduro's capture, as an attempt to erase the regime's history of repression and rehabilitate a symbol of Venezuela's decline.

Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on a range of world events, including political outcomes and potential conflicts, have seen a surge in popularity, particularly since Trump's presidency. These platforms, explored by Saahil Desai in The Atlantic, function like stock markets for forecasting the future but raise concerns about potential manipulation and the influence of betting odds on media coverage.

Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on a range of world events, including political outcomes and potential conflicts, have seen a surge in popularity, particularly since Trump's presidency. These platforms, explored by Saahil Desai in The Atlantic, function like stock markets for forecasting the future but raise concerns about potential manipulation and the influence of betting odds on media coverage.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Azerbaijan's state oil fund, SOFAZ, is experiencing significant revenue gains due to rising gold prices, a trend fueled by global instability and increased gold holdings among sovereign investors. SOFAZ strategically uses gold as a hedge against economic shocks and market volatility, with gold now comprising 38.2% of its investment portfolio to stabilize the fund and protect Azerbaijan's financial reserves, despite short-term price fluctuations influenced by global economic announcements.

Drawing from multiple news sources, Azerbaijan's state oil fund, SOFAZ, is experiencing significant revenue gains due to rising gold prices, a trend fueled by global instability and increased gold holdings among sovereign investors. SOFAZ strategically uses gold as a hedge against economic shocks and market volatility, with gold now comprising 38.2% of its investment portfolio to stabilize the fund and protect Azerbaijan's financial reserves, despite short-term price fluctuations influenced by global economic announcements.