Valve's highly anticipated Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset face delays due to a RAM crisis mirroring the industry-wide shortage fueled by AI demands. This setback echoes the challenges faced during the early console wars when component scarcity often dictated release schedules and pricing, leaving gamers in suspense. Valve assures fans that both devices, along with the new Steam Controller, are still slated for release in the first half of the year, but pricing and launch dates remain uncertain.

Valve's highly anticipated Steam Machine and Steam Frame VR headset face delays due to a RAM crisis mirroring the industry-wide shortage fueled by AI demands. This setback echoes the challenges faced during the early console wars when component scarcity often dictated release schedules and pricing, leaving gamers in suspense. Valve assures fans that both devices, along with the new Steam Controller, are still slated for release in the first half of the year, but pricing and launch dates remain uncertain.

Nintendo's Switch 2 is set to receive a boost with major third-party titles, including Fallout 4, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, showcasing the console's potential and the evolving landscape of multiplatform game releases. This move highlights the increasing collaboration between studios and the strategic shift towards broader accessibility in the gaming industry, potentially impacting how players engage with content across different platforms.

Nintendo's Switch 2 is set to receive a boost with major third-party titles, including Fallout 4, Indiana Jones and the Great Circle, and Final Fantasy VII Rebirth, showcasing the console's potential and the evolving landscape of multiplatform game releases. This move highlights the increasing collaboration between studios and the strategic shift towards broader accessibility in the gaming industry, potentially impacting how players engage with content across different platforms.

In 2026, the proliferation of hyperrealistic deepfakes is undermining global trust in visual media, creating a "reality crisis." Efforts to combat disinformation through AI labeling are failing due to inconsistent standards and the sheer volume of manipulated content, raising concerns about the future of shared understanding in a digitally saturated world.

In 2026, the proliferation of hyperrealistic deepfakes is undermining global trust in visual media, creating a "reality crisis." Efforts to combat disinformation through AI labeling are failing due to inconsistent standards and the sheer volume of manipulated content, raising concerns about the future of shared understanding in a digitally saturated world.

Fundamental AI has emerged with $255M in funding and a $1.2B valuation, introducing Nexus, a Large Tabular Model (LTM) designed to analyze structured data, an area where Large Language Models (LLMs) struggle. This deterministic model, diverging from the transformer architecture, promises to reshape enterprise data analysis by providing consistent insights from tabular data.

Fundamental AI has emerged with $255M in funding and a $1.2B valuation, introducing Nexus, a Large Tabular Model (LTM) designed to analyze structured data, an area where Large Language Models (LLMs) struggle. This deterministic model, diverging from the transformer architecture, promises to reshape enterprise data analysis by providing consistent insights from tabular data.

Man guilty of murdering girl, 9, playing in streetJust nowShareSaveJessica LaneandEleanor Maslin,East Yorkshire and LincolnshireShareSaveLina SavickeDeividas Skebas stabbed Lilia Valutyte outside the shop where her mother worked in 2022A man has been found guilty of murdering a nine-year-old girl as she played in the street.Deividas Skebas stabbed Lilia Valutyte outside the shop where her mother worked in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 28 July 2022.The 26-year-old admitted killing Lilia but denied her murder, claiming his responsibility was diminished by his mental state. However, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court convicted him following a trial.Skebas, formerly of Thorold Street, Boston, was remanded in custody.

Man guilty of murdering girl, 9, playing in streetJust nowShareSaveJessica LaneandEleanor Maslin,East Yorkshire and LincolnshireShareSaveLina SavickeDeividas Skebas stabbed Lilia Valutyte outside the shop where her mother worked in 2022A man has been found guilty of murdering a nine-year-old girl as she played in the street.Deividas Skebas stabbed Lilia Valutyte outside the shop where her mother worked in Boston, Lincolnshire, on 28 July 2022.The 26-year-old admitted killing Lilia but denied her murder, claiming his responsibility was diminished by his mental state. However, a jury at Lincoln Crown Court convicted him following a trial.Skebas, formerly of Thorold Street, Boston, was remanded in custody.

Drawing from multiple sources, YouTube's subscription and ad revenue are trending upwards, with 325 million paying users and a 17% increase in overall revenue to $60 billion for the year, driven by YouTube Premium and Shorts, despite ad revenue slightly missing estimates. Meanwhile, Spotify is expanding into physical books, allowing users in the U.S. and UK to purchase copies through the app.

Drawing from multiple sources, YouTube's subscription and ad revenue are trending upwards, with 325 million paying users and a 17% increase in overall revenue to $60 billion for the year, driven by YouTube Premium and Shorts, despite ad revenue slightly missing estimates. Meanwhile, Spotify is expanding into physical books, allowing users in the U.S. and UK to purchase copies through the app.

Multiple news sources report that a bipartisan group of senators has sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg questioning the company's delay in implementing privacy protections for teen accounts, citing concerns raised by unsealed court documents alleging Meta prioritized user engagement over user well-being. The senators are seeking more information about the decision-making process behind the delay and whether Meta suppressed research into the negative impacts of its platforms on users.

Multiple news sources report that a bipartisan group of senators has sent a letter to Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg questioning the company's delay in implementing privacy protections for teen accounts, citing concerns raised by unsealed court documents alleging Meta prioritized user engagement over user well-being. The senators are seeking more information about the decision-making process behind the delay and whether Meta suppressed research into the negative impacts of its platforms on users.

Drawing from multiple news sources, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is touring Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to strengthen energy, defense, and trade cooperation amidst shifting global alliances and rising regional tensions, particularly concerns regarding Iran. Discussions with Gulf leaders have focused on economic partnerships, energy security (especially LNG from Qatar), military ties, and addressing regional security risks, as Germany seeks to diversify its partnerships in response to global power dynamics and the disruption of European energy supplies.

Drawing from multiple news sources, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is touring Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and the UAE to strengthen energy, defense, and trade cooperation amidst shifting global alliances and rising regional tensions, particularly concerns regarding Iran. Discussions with Gulf leaders have focused on economic partnerships, energy security (especially LNG from Qatar), military ties, and addressing regional security risks, as Germany seeks to diversify its partnerships in response to global power dynamics and the disruption of European energy supplies.

As athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics, the value of gold and silver Olympic medals has significantly increased due to soaring precious metal prices, with gold nearly doubling and silver increasing by 182% since early 2025. This surge means that the raw material value of each gold and silver medal will be thousands of dollars, although the symbolic and historical value of the medals far surpasses their material worth, according to multiple news sources.

As athletes prepare for the 2026 Winter Olympics, the value of gold and silver Olympic medals has significantly increased due to soaring precious metal prices, with gold nearly doubling and silver increasing by 182% since early 2025. This surge means that the raw material value of each gold and silver medal will be thousands of dollars, although the symbolic and historical value of the medals far surpasses their material worth, according to multiple news sources.

Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on various world events, have experienced a surge in popularity, particularly since the Trump administration, raising concerns about their potential to influence media coverage and even sway political outcomes. These platforms, explored by Saahil Desai in an interview, function similarly to stock markets, enabling individuals to profit from predicting future events, but their increasing integration with media organizations raises ethical questions about objectivity and manipulation.

Prediction markets, which allow users to bet on various world events, have experienced a surge in popularity, particularly since the Trump administration, raising concerns about their potential to influence media coverage and even sway political outcomes. These platforms, explored by Saahil Desai in an interview, function similarly to stock markets, enabling individuals to profit from predicting future events, but their increasing integration with media organizations raises ethical questions about objectivity and manipulation.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the US has initiated a plan to counter China's dominance in critical mineral mining and processing by forming a trade zone with allies like the UK, EU, Japan, and others, aiming to secure access to minerals essential for technologies like smartphones and electric vehicle batteries. This strategy involves potential tariffs to stabilize prices and encourage investment in the mining sector, alongside coordinated trade policies with Japan and the European Commission.

Drawing from multiple news sources, the US has initiated a plan to counter China's dominance in critical mineral mining and processing by forming a trade zone with allies like the UK, EU, Japan, and others, aiming to secure access to minerals essential for technologies like smartphones and electric vehicle batteries. This strategy involves potential tariffs to stabilize prices and encourage investment in the mining sector, alongside coordinated trade policies with Japan and the European Commission.

Multiple news sources report that an Australian man has been charged with 596 child abuse-related offenses after a Queensland Police investigation, Operation Xray Wick, uncovered over 23,000 images and videos of 459 victims, some as young as seven, whom he allegedly groomed on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025. The 27-year-old suspect, initially arrested in February 2025, used multiple online profiles to target children, and authorities are working with international partners to identify and support all victims.

Multiple news sources report that an Australian man has been charged with 596 child abuse-related offenses after a Queensland Police investigation, Operation Xray Wick, uncovered over 23,000 images and videos of 459 victims, some as young as seven, whom he allegedly groomed on social media and gaming platforms between 2018 and 2025. The 27-year-old suspect, initially arrested in February 2025, used multiple online profiles to target children, and authorities are working with international partners to identify and support all victims.