The New World Situation: The decline of U.S. imperialism and the centrality of the class struggle
cross-posted from: news.abolish.capital/post/2174…
The writer is the First Secretary of Workers World Party. In assessing the new world situation, we should start here in the U.S. At this moment, the epicenter of the struggle is Minneapolis. What’s happening there poses a fundamental question that is germane to the changing world situation, the global . . .
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The New World Situation: The decline of U.S. imperialism and the centrality of the class struggle
The writer is the First Secretary of Workers World Party. In assessing the new world situation, we should start here in the U.S. At this moment, the epicenter of the struggle is Minneapolis.Workers World
Weed backlash grows in Thailand as kids turn to cannabis
Youth are self-administering the plant to treat depression only to find their conditions worsen.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/straitstimes…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Weed backlash grows in Thailand as kids turn to cannabis
Youth are self-administering the plant to treat depression only to find their conditions worsen. Read more at straitstimes.com.ST
Rand Paul Only Wants Google To Be The Arbiter Of Truth When The Videos Are About Him
Just a year and a half ago, Senator Rand Paul sponsored a bill that would make it illegal for federal government employees to ask internet companies to remove any speech. Now, in a NY Post op-ed, Paul proudly announces that he did exactly that—formally contacting Google executives to demand they remove a video he didn’t like.
Rand Paul Only Wants Google To Be The Arbiter Of Truth When The Videos Are About Him
Just a year and a half ago, Senator Rand Paul sponsored a bill that would make it illegal for federal government employees to ask internet companies to remove any speech. Now, in a NY Post op-ed, P…Techdirt
Trump FCC threatens to enforce equal-time rule on late-night talk shows
FCC disputes long-standing view that the shows are exempt from equal-time rule.
HAM Radio Operators in Belarus Arrested, Face the Death Penalty
Amateur Radio Operators in Belarus Arrested, Face the Death Penalty
The Belarusian government is threatening three ham radio operators with the death penalty, detained at least seven people, and has accused them of “intercepting state secrets,” according to Belarusian state media, independent media outside of Belarus, and the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna. The arrests are an extreme attack on what is most often a wholesome hobby that has a history of being vilified by authoritarian governments in part because the technology is quite censorship resistant.The detentions were announced last week on Belarusian state TV, which claimed the men were part of a network of more than 50 people participating in the amateur radio hobby and have been accused of both “espionage” and “treason.” Authorities there said they seized more than 500 pieces of radio equipment. The men were accused on state TV of using radio to spy on the movement of government planes, though no actual evidence of this has been produced.
State TV claimed they were associated with the Belarusian Federation of Radioamateurs and Radiosportsmen (BFRR), a long-running amateur radio club and nonprofit that holds amateur radio competitions, meetups, trainings, and forums. WhatsApp and email requests to the BFRR from 404 Media were not returned.
On Reddit, Siarhei Besarab, a Belarusian amateur radio operator, posted a plea for support from others in the hobby: “MAYDAY from Belarus: Licensed operators facing death penalty.”
“I am writing this because my local community is being systematically liquidated in what I can only describe as a targeted intellectual genocide,” Besarab wrote. “They have detained over 50 licensed people, including callsigns EW1ABT, EW1AEH, and EW1ACE. These men were paraded on state television like war criminals and were coerced to publicly repent for the "crime" of technical curiosity. Propagandists presented the Belarusian Federation of Radioamateurs and Radiosportsmen (BFRR) as a front for a ‘massive spy network.’”
“State propaganda unironically claims these men were ‘pumping state secrets out of the air’ using nothing more than basic $25 Baofeng handhelds and consumer-grade SDR dongles,” he added. “Any operator knows that hardware like this is physically incapable of cracking the modern AES-256 digital encryption used by government security forces. It is a technical fraud, yet they are being charged with High Treason and Espionage. The punishment in Belarus for these charges is life in prison or the death penalty.”
The Belarusian human rights group Viasna and its associated Telegram channel confirmed the detention and said that it spoke to a cellmate of Andrei Repetsi, who said that Repetsi was unable to talk about his case in jail: “The case is secret, so Andrei never told the essence of the case in the cell. He joked that his personal file was marked ‘Top secret. Burn before reading,’” Viasna wrote.
Most hams operate amateur radios for fun, as part of competitions, or to keep in touch with other hams around the world. But the hobby has a long history of being attacked by governments in part because it is resistant to censorship. Amateur radio often works even if a natural disaster or political action takes down internet, cell, and phone services, so it is popular among people interested in search and rescue and doomsday prepping. Amateur radio has been used to share information out of Cuba, for example, and in 2021 the Cuban government jammed ham radio frequencies during anti-government protests there.
Cuba Is Jamming HAM Radio Frequencies, Operators Say
Amateur radio operators regularly communicate between Florida and Cuba. Last week, mysterious signals originating from Havana jammed the most popular frequencies.Jason Koebler (VICE)
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5 Top ICE 'Corporate Collaborators' Saved $19 Billion in Taxes Under Trump: Report
"While masked officers terrorize communities—smashing into cars, harassing citizens, and inflicting violence with impunity—Trump’s corporate backers are laughing their way to the bank."
HAM Radio Operators in Belarus Arrested, Face the Death Penalty
"My local community is being systematically liquidated in what I can only describe as a targeted intellectual genocide."
Archived version: archive.is/20260122003355/404m…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Amateur Radio Operators in Belarus Arrested, Face the Death Penalty
The Belarusian government is threatening three ham radio operators with the death penalty, detained at least seven people, and has accused them of “intercepting state secrets,” according to Belarusian state media, independent media outside of Belarus, and the Belarusian human rights organization Viasna. The arrests are an extreme attack on what is most often a wholesome hobby that has a history of being vilified by authoritarian governments in part because the technology is quite censorship resistant.The detentions were announced last week on Belarusian state TV, which claimed the men were part of a network of more than 50 people participating in the amateur radio hobby and have been accused of both “espionage” and “treason.” Authorities there said they seized more than 500 pieces of radio equipment. The men were accused on state TV of using radio to spy on the movement of government planes, though no actual evidence of this has been produced.
State TV claimed they were associated with the Belarusian Federation of Radioamateurs and Radiosportsmen (BFRR), a long-running amateur radio club and nonprofit that holds amateur radio competitions, meetups, trainings, and forums. WhatsApp and email requests to the BFRR from 404 Media were not returned.
On Reddit, Siarhei Besarab, a Belarusian amateur radio operator, posted a plea for support from others in the hobby: “MAYDAY from Belarus: Licensed operators facing death penalty.”
“I am writing this because my local community is being systematically liquidated in what I can only describe as a targeted intellectual genocide,” Besarab wrote. “They have detained over 50 licensed people, including callsigns EW1ABT, EW1AEH, and EW1ACE. These men were paraded on state television like war criminals and were coerced to publicly repent for the "crime" of technical curiosity. Propagandists presented the Belarusian Federation of Radioamateurs and Radiosportsmen (BFRR) as a front for a ‘massive spy network.’”
“State propaganda unironically claims these men were ‘pumping state secrets out of the air’ using nothing more than basic $25 Baofeng handhelds and consumer-grade SDR dongles,” he added. “Any operator knows that hardware like this is physically incapable of cracking the modern AES-256 digital encryption used by government security forces. It is a technical fraud, yet they are being charged with High Treason and Espionage. The punishment in Belarus for these charges is life in prison or the death penalty.”
The Belarusian human rights group Viasna and its associated Telegram channel confirmed the detention and said that it spoke to a cellmate of Andrei Repetsi, who said that Repetsi was unable to talk about his case in jail: “The case is secret, so Andrei never told the essence of the case in the cell. He joked that his personal file was marked ‘Top secret. Burn before reading,’” Viasna wrote.
Most hams operate amateur radios for fun, as part of competitions, or to keep in touch with other hams around the world. But the hobby has a long history of being attacked by governments in part because it is resistant to censorship. Amateur radio often works even if a natural disaster or political action takes down internet, cell, and phone services, so it is popular among people interested in search and rescue and doomsday prepping. Amateur radio has been used to share information out of Cuba, for example, and in 2021 the Cuban government jammed ham radio frequencies during anti-government protests there.
Cuba Is Jamming HAM Radio Frequencies, Operators Say
Amateur radio operators regularly communicate between Florida and Cuba. Last week, mysterious signals originating from Havana jammed the most popular frequencies.Jason Koebler (VICE)
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US | Trump Claims 'Concept of a Deal' Reached for Greenland, Says He'll Cancel New Tariffs
The president says he "assumes" Denmark knows about the deal.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/gizmodo.com/…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
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Israeli fire strikes journalists and children on one of Gaza's deadliest days since ceasefire
Hospitals in Gaza say Israeli forces have killed at least 11 Palestinians on one of the deadliest days since the ceasefire between Hamas and Israel took effect in October.
Archived version: archive.is/20260121222102/apne…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
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US sanctions six Palestinian aid groups it accuses of ties to Qassam Brigades
The Trump administration says the organisations take instructions from Hamas's military wing
Archived version: archive.is/newest/middleeastey…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
US sanctions six Palestinian aid groups it accuses of ties to Qassam Brigades
The US Treasury on Wednesday announced it is sanctioning six Palestinian aid organisations in Gaza that it accuses of being part of a "covert support network" for Hamas through its military wing, the Qassam Brigades.MEE staff (Middle East Eye)
ICE Officially Launches Operation 'Catch of the Day' as Maine Braces for Authoritarian Surge
“These masked men with no regard for the rule of law are causing long-term damage to our state and to our country,” said the mayor of Lewiston.
Putin claims Russia will use frozen assets to restore territories 'damaged' in its war
Russia agrees to use its financial assets frozen in the U.S. to restore territories "damaged during military actions," Russian President Vladimir Putin claimed on Jan. 21.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/kyivindepend…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
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Russian Anti-Air Missile Reportedly Misses Its Target, Hits Apartments Near Krasnodar
Independent analyses confirm that a missile incident in Novaya Adygeya led to damage in residential zones, contradicting claims of the air defenses.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/united24medi…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
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Duolingo Max Now Powered by GPT‑4 Turbo: Smarter Conversations, Better Feedback, Real Learning
Duolingo Max Now Powered by GPT‑4 Turbo: Smarter Conversations, Better Feedback, Real Learning
Fun Fact Duolingo reports that over 60% of users who try its AI-powered features return […]TechFusionDaily
Apple Partners with Google to Power Siri and Apple Intelligence Using Gemini AI
Apple Partners with Google to Power Siri and Apple Intelligence Using Gemini AI
🧠 Fun Fact to Kick Things Off Before Siri became the voice of the iPhone, […]TechFusionDaily
Theranos founder Elizabeth Holmes asks Trump to commute prison sentence
US justice department’s website shows the disgraced former CEO petitioned Donald Trump over fraud conviction
Irony alert: Hallucinated citations found in papers from NeurIPS, the prestigious AI conference
Research from startup GPTZero points to the impossible problem prestigious conferences face in the age of AI slop.
Archived version: archive.is/20260121231602/tech…
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Netflix will add TikTok-style doomscrolling feed to keep users hooked longer
Netflix announced during its Q4 earnings call that it will redesign its app in 2026 with a TikTok-style vertical video feed. The feed will feature short-form clips from Netflix shows, movies, and podcasts, essentially turning Netflix into a doomscrolling platform.
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16 Years After Citizens United, Critics Say Trump Exemplifies Dangers of Corporate Political Spending
Sixteen years after the Supreme Court's Citizens United decision, the consumer watchdog group Public Citizen says it "paves the way for demagogues like Donald Trump to seize power."
16 Years After Citizens United, Critics Say Trump Exemplifies Dangers of Corporate Political Spending
Campaigners at Public Citizen say the unchecked flood of corporate money unleashed by the Supreme Court's 2010 decision "paves the way for demagogues like Donald Trump to seize power."stephen-prager (Common Dreams)
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US-led Gaza plan to force Palestinians into dystopian re-education camp leaked
Leaked — US-led Gaza scheme to confine Palestinians in a ‘planned community’, complete with biometric tracking and political 're-education'
Archived version: archive.is/newest/thecanary.co…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
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House panel advances contempt charges against Clintons over Epstein probe
A Republican-led House committee voted on Wednesday to advance contempt of Congress resolutions against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, escalating a high-profile investigation into the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and setting the stage for potential votes by the full House next month.
House panel advances contempt charges against Clintons over Epstein probe
A Republican-led House committee voted on Wednesday to advance contempt of Congress resolutions against former President Bill Clinton and former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, escalating a high-profile investigation into the late financier Jeffr…FRANCE 24
Wind and solar overtook fossil fuels for EU power generation in 2025, report finds
Researchers say event described as ‘major tipping point’ for clean energy in era of destabilised politics
Archived version: archive.is/newest/theguardian.…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
US | New York must redraw congressional map before midterms, judge rules
Ruling presents Democrats with opportunity to pick up another US House seat in November elections
China | Hong Kong begins national security trial of Tiananmen vigil group
Beijing treats its 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown as taboo and allows no public remembrance.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/straitstimes…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Hong Kong begins national security trial of Tiananmen vigil group
Beijing treats its 1989 Tiananmen Square crackdown as taboo and allows no public remembrance. Read more at straitstimes.com.ST
Transport union boss Eslamdoust de-recognises GMB union for doing union stuff
TSSA transport union leader moves to de-recognise GMB for doing its job — representing staff.
Transport union boss de-recognises GMB for representing workers
TSSA transport union leader moves to de-recognise GMB for doing its job — representing staff. The absurdly anti-union transport unionSkwawkbox (The Canary)
Your projector screen is probably more important than your projector
Just wanted to share a lesson I learned the hard way, in case it helps someone else who is just getting into projectors.
I recently upgraded to a pretty decent 4K laser projector and for the first week, I was just using a smooth, matte-white wall as my screen. To be honest, I was underwhelmed. The image was dull and looked washed out unless the room was pitch black, which is totally impractical for watching sports or casual viewing.
I was close to thinking I'd wasted my money on the projector. After some digging on various forums, I realized my bottleneck wasn't the projector—it was the surface.
I decided to properly invest in an ALR (Ambient Light Rejecting) screen. I ended up getting a VIVIDSTORM screen, and the difference is not subtle, it is night and day.
The contrast has skyrocketed, and colors actually pop now, even with some indirect daylight in the room. It finally looks like the high-end, cinematic image I was expecting to get.
TL;DR: Don't cheap out on your screen! A great screen with a good projector beats a great projector on a mediocre surface every single time. It's the component that brings the whole experience together.
Even Democrats Who Crafted ICE Funding Compromise Are Questioning It
Fearing primaries for abetting Trump’s crackdown, top Democrats are turning away from a deal they crafted to avoid another government shutdown.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/theintercept…
Source: US may gain sovereignty over small areas in Greenland
Denmark plans to grant the United States sovereignty over small pockets of land in Greenland under a draft agreement, sources told The New York Times.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/swedenherald…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Four in five blind people struggle with gap at UK train stations, survey finds
RNIB research uncovers high anxiety around rail travel with some having fallen into gaps or been trapped in doors
Urgent call for action as England found to be among worst in Europe for child health
MPs called for the ‘urgent’ rebuilding of the health visitor workforce amid the findings
Australia holds day of mourning for Bondi Beach shooting victims
Candles will be lit in windows and on doorsteps around the country.
Archived version: archive.is/newest/straitstimes…
Disclaimer: The article linked is from a single source with a single perspective. Make sure to cross-check information against multiple sources to get a comprehensive view on the situation.
Australia holds day of mourning for Bondi Beach shooting victims
Candles will be lit in windows and on doorsteps around the country. Read more at straitstimes.com.ST
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Not to be outdone by OpenAI, Apple is reportedly developing an AI wearable
Should this wearable materialize, it could be released as early as 2027, according to a report on the device.
New Android malware uses AI to click on hidden browser ads
A new family of Android click-fraud trojans leverages TensorFlow machine learning models to automatically detect and interact with specific advertisement elements.
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Bill seeking oversight of AI exports advances to House
Trump's decision to green-light the sale of Nvidia H200 GPUs to China isn't sitting well with some of his Republican colleagues in the House of Representatives. These GOP politicians have proposed a bill that would give Congress final say over the export of AI chips to China and other countries of concern.Introduced by Rep. Brian Mast (R‑FL) in December, the "AI Overwatch Act" would give the House Foreign Affairs Committee, which Mast chairs, and the Senate Banking Committee at least 30 days to review and, if necessary, block the export of sensitive AI chips to adversary nations.
On Wednesday, the Foreign Affairs Committee voted overwhelmingly to advance the measure to the House of Representatives with a favorable recommendation.
"When the United States considers selling a C-130 or a fighter jet, or an engine that goes on one of those airframes, or ordnance that goes on the wing of a jet, or the avionics that go in a cockpit, or anything that has military use, it goes through a process known as the foreign military sales process," Mast said during a Foreign Affairs Committee meeting on Wednesday.
House GOP wants final say on AI chip exports after Trump gives Nvidia a China hall pass
: Bill still needs to pass the House and Senate before the president can sign or veto itTobias Mann (The Register)
Leaked Doc: Homeland Security's Domestic Terror Obsession
The annual assessment, which has been prepared since 2020, purports to offer a holistic assessment to threats to the Western Hemisphere. These assessments have consistently focused on what you imagine: southern border security, the drug trade, immigration, and critical infrastructure protection in the United States.
But this year’s assessment, marked “For Official Use Only” and not yet released to the public, identifies violent extremism on the part of American citizens as the priority and greatest threat.
One phrase in particular stands out to me as new: potential terrorism based upon “class-based or economic grievances.” (The term has not appeared in any previous assessment.)
Leaked Doc: Homeland Security's Domestic Terror Obsession
Forget Greenland; the American public are the real targetKen Klippenstein
Minnesota statewide strike, economic blackout to protest ICE on Friday
Minnesota statewide strike, economic blackout to protest ICE on Friday
The event, called “A Day of Truth and Freedom,” is being organized by union representatives, faith leaders and community members.Mary Divine (Twin Cities)
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in reply to BrikoX • • •Killing starving children is Israel's specialty.