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.

Multiple news sources report that Russian-state hackers, known as APT28, rapidly exploited a Microsoft Office vulnerability (CVE-2026-21509) within 48 hours of its patch release, compromising diplomatic, maritime, and transport organizations across multiple countries through a sophisticated, stealthy spear-phishing campaign that utilized novel, encrypted exploits and legitimate cloud services to evade detection. The campaign, which began January 28, delivered at least 29 distinct email lures to organizations in nine countries, primarily in Eastern Europe.

Multiple news sources report that Russian-state hackers, known as APT28, rapidly exploited a Microsoft Office vulnerability (CVE-2026-21509) within 48 hours of its patch release, compromising diplomatic, maritime, and transport organizations across multiple countries through a sophisticated, stealthy spear-phishing campaign that utilized novel, encrypted exploits and legitimate cloud services to evade detection. The campaign, which began January 28, delivered at least 29 distinct email lures to organizations in nine countries, primarily in Eastern Europe.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's interim leader is navigating a complex political landscape, balancing demands from the U.S. and expectations from Chavista hardliners following Maduro's ousting. Additionally, the 2026 Winter Olympics will introduce ski mountaineering as a new sport, marking the first time in over three decades that an entirely new sport has been added to the Games.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's interim leader is navigating a complex political landscape, balancing demands from the U.S. and expectations from Chavista hardliners following Maduro's ousting. Additionally, the 2026 Winter Olympics will introduce ski mountaineering as a new sport, marking the first time in over three decades that an entirely new sport has been added to the Games.

Multiple news sources report that Spotify, despite raising prices for users, is expanding its audiobook business by allowing U.S. and UK users to purchase physical books through the app via a partnership with Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores, and introducing features like Page Match and Audiobook Recaps to enhance the user experience. This move positions Spotify as a competitor to major booksellers by offering both digital and physical formats and aiming to become a comprehensive platform for book lovers.

Multiple news sources report that Spotify, despite raising prices for users, is expanding its audiobook business by allowing U.S. and UK users to purchase physical books through the app via a partnership with Bookshop.org, supporting independent bookstores, and introducing features like Page Match and Audiobook Recaps to enhance the user experience. This move positions Spotify as a competitor to major booksellers by offering both digital and physical formats and aiming to become a comprehensive platform for book lovers.

Multiple news sources cover a wide range of current events, including privacy concerns at Pinterest, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, debates on transgender athletes, and the potential for AI to cause skill obsolescence, as well as investigations into figures like Savannah Guthrie's mother and a Pentagon leak. Additionally, advancements in smart home technology like the Thread protocol, designed for low-power, low-latency mesh networks, are being explored alongside concerns about CPU firmware and Intel's misspelled CPUIDs.

Multiple news sources cover a wide range of current events, including privacy concerns at Pinterest, Russian attacks on Ukrainian energy infrastructure, debates on transgender athletes, and the potential for AI to cause skill obsolescence, as well as investigations into figures like Savannah Guthrie's mother and a Pentagon leak. Additionally, advancements in smart home technology like the Thread protocol, designed for low-power, low-latency mesh networks, are being explored alongside concerns about CPU firmware and Intel's misspelled CPUIDs.

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.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the global landscape is marked by controversies ranging from tech company issues and international tensions to shifting immigration policies, highlighted by a poll showing growing disapproval of ICE and Trump's policies. Amidst these developments, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is launching a congressional campaign focused on dismantling Trump's immigration policies, while concerns emerge over AI-driven job displacement and health risks linked to social media trends.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the global landscape is marked by controversies ranging from tech company issues and international tensions to shifting immigration policies, highlighted by a poll showing growing disapproval of ICE and Trump's policies. Amidst these developments, former Capitol Police officer Harry Dunn is launching a congressional campaign focused on dismantling Trump's immigration policies, while concerns emerge over AI-driven job displacement and health risks linked to social media trends.

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.

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.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's interim leader is navigating a complex situation, balancing demands from the U.S. and expectations from Chavista hardliners following Maduro's ousting, while new USDA dietary guidelines emphasizing protein and full-fat dairy may significantly impact school meals and nutrition standards nationwide.

Multiple news sources report that Venezuela's interim leader is navigating a complex situation, balancing demands from the U.S. and expectations from Chavista hardliners following Maduro's ousting, while new USDA dietary guidelines emphasizing protein and full-fat dairy may significantly impact school meals and nutrition standards nationwide.