On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. Additional emails have shown that the paedophile Jeffrey Epstein may have seen Tony Blair as key to his future schemes:

Blair and Epstein

The 'aaramco' mentioned in the above is almost certainly 'Aramco' - the Saudi Arabian Oil Company; the 'jpm' mentioned is almost certainly 'J.P. Morgan', the investment bank. As people have highlighted, we already knew about the links between Blair and JP Morgan, and indeed between JP Morgan and Epstein:

Forget Andy and Mandy. The story should be about Jes Staley, Jamie Dimon, JP Morgan and Tony Blair. JP Morgan was Epstein's banker, the mechanism through which he sheltered the massive amounts of money he moved around the world. BBC will instead show Andy on the floor ad nauseam. https://t.co/YqfLr2Uv4C pic.twitter.com/P5aDydrMg0

— Ben Tomeo (@TomeoBen) January 31, 2026

The above isn't the only mention that Blair received in the latest Epstein Files release:

Jeffrey Epstein's cellmate told the FBI that Epstein was involved in "an orgy with Tony Blair" during his interview with law enforcement. pic.twitter.com/TfM5eudMVP

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

Cover up?

There are also accusations that Blair covered for paedophiles during his time in office in the latest Epstein Files. One email sent to the FBI contained the following quote:

Tony Blair is reported to have blocked the exposure of famous names in Law, business and politics, including some in his own cabinet, during the police investigation into paedophile Internet activity known as Operation Ore, which came out of the FBI investigation in the United States called
Operation Avalanche. Neither convicted any of the big fish - as usual.

The figures in Operation Ore were enormous: 7,250 suspects identified, 4,283 homes searched, 3,744 arrests, 1,848 charged, 1, 451 convictions, 493 cautioned; 1449 children removed from suspected dangerous situations. But still no major names in the paedophile-infested elite levels of society. Operation Avalanche in the US produced 35,0070 Internet records, but only 100 charges.

It's unclear who this quote is from, but Operation Ore was indeed a real investigation.

In 2014, the Mirror reported:

One of Tony Blair's ministers was among a group of men suspected of sexually abusing children at a home run by a convicted paedophile.

But the probe was halted soon after an ex-social services boss told police of his alleged evening visits in the early 1980s.

Official documents seen by the Daily Mirror during a 16-month investigation reveal former residents told detectives that a group of paedophiles attacked children in a private flat in the home.

But two former Lambeth social services employees involved in the case suspect a cover-up because experienced detective Clive Driscoll was removed from the investigation and given other duties.

Dr Nigel Goldie was the local council leader in charge of child protection in 1998. He told the Mirror:

There were some allegations that ­children were being abused by one or two prominent persons.

There were a lot of very senior people trying to put a lid on it. There was ­something very unfortunate about the way the whole thing was dealt with.

A spokesperson from Blair refused to comment on the Mirror article.

Featured image via Epstein Files

By Willem Moore

It's half midnight on 28 January by the time I open the door to my hostel room. Less than four hours later, I am walking back through it and out onto the Royal Mile for today's adventure - documenting the shutting down of Leonardo Factory in Edinburgh.

There's a wee crowd gathered at the bus stop when I arrive. As she pulls in more appear from the shadows, masked up and at the ready… silent Scottish ninjas out to fuck with the system.

I'm not going to lie, it's kind of hard writing these pieces - it's a similar formula when you've done a few of these actions. Some awesome people do an awesome thing. Invariably, someone comes along to be a bastard. Usually theres a happy ending.

Sometimes you've really got to rely on the police to give you something good to write about. They aren't always helpful.

Edinburgh: hardly the best and brightest

By quarter past five, protestors had successfully created blockades at all four designated entrances to the Edinburgh facility. Two security guards held position in front of the gate, whilst another couple of unidentifiable individuals stalked menacingly. Later on it became clear these must have been private security - one of them overheard boasting of multiple military tours in the middle east;

I went there to help people

Okay buddy…

Police arrived shortly to assess the scene and continued to amass. There were reports of at least 30 officers gathering in a carpark around the corner.

At almost exactly 6.30am the officers not gathered in the carpark, tired and at the end of a long shift decided to move in. These state sanctioned thugs managed to get behind the line, clambering over peaceful activists to do so, eagerly helped by both private security personal. 

One wore a "Leonardo Visitor" lanyard. Both were witnessed assaulting various protestors. Police allowed this with impunity and when a journalist reporting on this tried to bring it to their attention he was directed to attend a police station if he wished to make a complaint about the incident happening within arms reach of the officers. 

https://www.thecanary.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WhatsApp-Video-2026-02-01-at-3.54.29-PM.mp4

Questions must be asked of Police Scotland. Who are these individuals and why were they allowed to assist the police in their duties? On public land? And, with no identification visible to anyone?

Why were officers on the scene not concerned about unidentified private citizens assaulting protestors?

Why was a journalist, a man of colour, told to visit a police station to report a crime happening in full view? The closest station - Drylaw -  is 15 minutes away.

A mile walking on foot for justice?

State sanctioned repression of peaceful dissent in Edinburgh

You could see how futile the effort would always end up being - theres a correlation between the violence and the desperation of an action usually. When they start pushing unarmed women into the road in the way of traffic - beeping as someone is nearly thrown under the wheels -  you know they are really clutching at straws. 

Yes two or three staff at the Edinburgh facility managed to squeeze into the gate, but in doing so the police line was stretched, distorted and finally bowed to the pressure of the crowd, intent on shutting shit down. A hasty retreat was negotiated with the crowd as officers found themselves out of their depth - exhausted and surrounded, and they were permitted to leave the scrum; the entrance once again blockaded.

They left soon after, their shifts over. Tired and beaten; the states resolve broken by a bunch of beatniks. Home, to their own reflection in the mirror.

Hanging around the next few hours things felt quiet, a little too quiet. There was a certain level of anxiety hanging in the air. Were the police regrouping? Its so easy to read into all the movements on the other side of the the road. The security guards aimlessly bumbling around, police coming and going.

It quickly became obvious they didn't have the numbers - inspectors on their phones discussing "resources" - could he loose those two officers? What a shame - theres actual policing to do - not just bullying protesters? Big sad meow for the police. Failure it was.

Lost Property?

And what a failure. Not content with being totally unable to break the Edinburgh blockade, turns out that the first shift had been even more incompetent than anyone realised… To add to the hilarity of their inability to do their jobs properly, the blue bibs were forced to come across and beg for help finding some missing equipment. What equipment did they loose? Turns out in the scuffle they managed to loose three canisters of PAVA and a set of handcuffs. 

https://www.thecanary.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WhatsApp-Video-2026-02-01-at-3.56.31-PM.mp4

Now this wasn't news to me - I had earlier found a PAVA canister in the middle of the road while live streaming and immediately handed it to an officer.

After all, who the fuck is irresponsible enough to leave a fucking firearm lying in the road…

Neither the remaining canister outstanding or the handcuffs were located. Dunno about you but I wouldn't want to be having that conversation

sorry gaffer I lost a firearm

I'm sure they were feeling pretty shitty about it - and you know what I probably would too. 

But I wouldn't then go and take that out on a journalist doing his job from a public place, legally…

https://www.thecanary.co/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/WhatsApp-Video-2026-02-01-at-3.57.43-PM.mp4

Fucking unreal.

I wish police realised that the respect they are given is earned. You don't get someone to force someone to look up to you. Just because you dragged your arse out of bed, pulled your lickle bib on and combed your hair, it doesn't make you respectable.

Let's not pretend this is anything other than what it clearly is.

No one chewed me out for disrespecting them - no one demanded my credentials.

No one shouted at and threatened me like what happened to another journalist, just for doing her job.

When two calm, professional, Muslim journalists are targeted by police while the abrasive white guy gets to carry on without even a comment you know that institutional racism is not merely confined to the MET police.

The rest of the action in Edinburgh continued without much fuss. They knew they were beat and they stayed away for the most part - besides a couple of brief journeys across the road to plead for information - when would this be over so they could leave? Activists finally had pity on them and scattered into the beautiful winter sunshine shortly after 1; the morning shift vanquished… The sounds of chanting still ringing in our ears… 

We'll be back…

So will we… 

Thank you for your action guys! See you soon!

Featured image and additional images via the Canary

By Barold

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. Additionally, the new documents further exposed Labour's Peter Mandelson.

Despite his supposed respectability (he's a lord, after all), we now know Mandelson accepted thousands of pounds from Epstein, and that he seemingly tried to avoid tax on these payments.

Since yesterday, even more emails have come out. And what we've seen paints Mandelson as a pathetic creature who couldn't stop thinking about the convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein:

AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH pic.twitter.com/4PdYu1quTc

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

The end of Mandelson

Twitter's Eyup Lovely has been documenting the pathetic emails Mandelson sent Epstein:

I made it to page 100 of 590 for the search term "Mandelson" on the Epstein files and now I'm going to take enough ketamine to erase all I have seen from my mind and feel like I'm being 3D printed into a new world where none of this is happening

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

Below, Mandelson advises Epstein on how to create some sort of suburban sex dungeon:

https://twitter.com/eyuplovely/status/2017720689604632631

There are also many messages in which Mandelson pines over his relationship with Epstein:

I'M GOING INSANE pic.twitter.com/7lnZGRySgu

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

WHAT
IS
GOING
ON pic.twitter.com/TVmSaZ3lcO

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

In this exchange, Mandelson talks about his husband in the same way that a human being might talk about their pet dog:

Jeffrey Epstein consoled Peter Mandelson after Mandelson's now-husband Reinaldo "got into [his] texts" and had a "v bad" reaction to them, requiring Epstein to personally intervene as Mandelson "cannot talk to him about these things." pic.twitter.com/M7Pbat7oto

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

What was in Mandelson's texts that disgusted his now-husband?

That's a rhetorical question; you're literally reading what those texts must have looked like.

There was also this:

Imagine how evil you have to be for Jeffrey Epstein to say this to you. pic.twitter.com/Y4NQBE4lnx

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

In another email, Epstein suggested to Mandelson that it would be "incest" for him to interfere with prince Beatrice:

Jeffrey Epstein was trying to make Tony Blair the absolute monarch of the Middle East as early as 2009. pic.twitter.com/evh981Ng0N

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

Related to that, the sicko Andrew Windsor sent pictures of his children to the paedophile Epstein:

Andrew sent photos featuring daughters Eugenie and Beatrice to paedophile Epstein: Innocent princesses are dragged into disgraced parents' scandal in latest file dump https://t.co/lKS0eANySz

— Daily Mail (@DailyMail) January 31, 2026

Outside the emails, the latest Epstein Files also contain various allegations:

In the Epstein documents, a victim mentions Peter Mandelson and Google co-founder Sergey Brin being present while they were sexually trafficked. pic.twitter.com/inQ2ZteqYY

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

British Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer features extensively in the Epstein documents, with one victim requesting the police investigate a "back door deal" betweeen Peter Mandelson, Rishi Sunak, and Starmer. pic.twitter.com/2WIZLq5zNI

— Eyup Lovely (@eyuplovely) January 31, 2026

 

And still there's more

The above isn't even the end of what's come out since yesterday.

Regarding the mysterious cash Epstein sent, Mandelson is claiming that his memory has failed him:

A spokesman for Lord Mandelson said he had no recollection of receiving $50,000 from Jeffrey Epstein.

MORE: https://t.co/IRsJ8IlwOP pic.twitter.com/eDFODK3dLh

— Mikey Smith (@mikeysmith) January 31, 2026

This may just be us, but we'd probably remember if a notorious international paedophile sent us $50k.

There's also a new image of Mandelson in his underpants with a young woman (the redaction to her face suggests she's a victim). Mandelson previously told the media he never saw any young women around Epstein:

Well, well, well! #PeterMandelson lied to the world on #bbclaurak

"There were no young girls."

Listen to him say it, then look at the photograph released as part of the #EpsteinFiles and #EpsteinTrumpCoverUp.

Why is he still in the House of Lords #Starmer? pic.twitter.com/l6cHbPfE3i

— Sinners of our time (@Daily_Sinner) January 31, 2026

And for now, that's it.

For now.

But like we've said elsewhere, Keir Starmer needs to grow a spine and throw Mandelson out of the House of Lords.

Ideally from a fifth floor window.

Also, he should strip him of his peerage.

Featured image via Epstein Files

By Willem Moore

On Laura Kuenssberg's show, Green Party leader Zack Polanski cut through the tired mainstream media obsession with playing into personality politics. Likely referring to repeated instances of career politicians advancing their own interests at the expense of their constituents, Polanski emphasises the importance of "grown-up politics," where the focus is on the substance of policy as opposed to MP's just trying to be difficult.

Polanski continues to reveal the ineffectiveness and immaturity of UK career politicians, with support from media outlets that are, predictably, in their pocket.

.@ZackPolanski is asked about who he might work with in the future & he explains its not about any individual politician but the policy platform they were offering (he mentions a few demands he'd be making - a wealth tax, action on the climate crisis, & electoral reform) pic.twitter.com/x1LexLSRUJ

— Saul Staniforth (@SaulStaniforth) February 1, 2026

Polanski: It's time to be practical and deliver

During the Kuenssberg interview on the BBC, Polanski challenged the presenter's desperate and thinly veiled efforts to depict the Green leader as incompetent simply due to the radical ideas in his policy platform. Polanski, already untroubled by questions about air travel for diplomatic missions, demonstrated once again his ability to out-maneuver the establishments preferred journalist.

Zack stated:

It depends, again, what they're putting forward as a policy platform. I think we need to take the personality politics out of it and actually say, what are the practical steps to get things done?

If I was working with another politician, I'd want some obvious demands, a wealth tax and multimillionaires and billionaires, proper action on the climate crisis and indeed proportional representation so people's votes actually counted.

Here, Polanski underscores a recurring oversight in UK politics. The priority should be the substance of policies and the principles they embody, rather than the individuals pushing them. As opposed to the familiar ego-driven self-interest of politicians promoting or obstructing policies for lucrative backhanders and future job prospects.

Your Party's Emma Jayne Park in Glasgow alongside comrades across the country has also vowed to take on personality politics, calling for its end, as we quoted in November:

I want to see socialist values clearly written into policy, which means ensuring that power is held within our grassroots communities - empowering local members to make decisions that affect their lives, prioritising their needs and voices in the party over top-down leadership models and personality politics.

According to this X account, leading media personalities like Kuenssberg have a vested interest in maintaining the ongoing practice of framing UK politics as a battle between individuals rather than ideas:

An excellent answer and one that evidently frustrated Laura Kuenssberg, for whom politics is all about personalities (preferably "big" personalities with whom she can develop unhealthily cosy relationships - e.g. Boris Johnson).#BBCLauraK https://t.co/tWN61XK0k9

— Tom Scott

Apple's AirTag is designed to run quietly in the background, helping you keep track of everyday items like keys, bags and luggage. Unlike many small trackers, an AirTag doesn't need to be charged. Instead, it uses a standard replaceable coin cell battery that typically lasts around a year, depending on usage.

When the battery runs low, your iPhone will alert you. Replacing it is a simple process that takes just a few minutes and doesn't require any tools. This guide explains how to tell when your AirTag battery needs replacing, which battery to use and how to swap it safely.

How to replace the battery in your AirTag

Replacing the battery only takes a few steps.

1. Hold the AirTag with the polished stainless steel side facing up. 

2. Press down firmly on the metal battery cover and rotate it counterclockwise. Continue turning until the cover stops moving.

3. Lift off the cover and remove the old battery.

4. Insert a new CR2032 battery with the positive (+) side facing up. Once the battery is seated correctly, the AirTag will emit a brief chime, confirming that power has been restored.

5. Place the battery cover back onto the AirTag. Align the three small tabs on the cover with the matching slots on the AirTag body.

6. Press down gently and rotate the cover clockwise until it stops. The cover should sit flush with the AirTag and feel secure once locked into place.

No pairing or setup steps are required after replacing the battery. Your AirTag will automatically reconnect to your Apple ID.

When to replace your AirTag battery

Your iPhone will automatically notify you when an AirTag battery is running low. The alert appears as a notification and doesn't interrupt tracking, but it's a good idea to replace the battery quickly to avoid losing location updates.

If you're unsure whether your AirTag battery needs replacing, open the Find My app, tap the Items tab and select your AirTag. If a message appears under the AirTag name stating "Low Battery", you'll know it needs replacing. If no message appears, it's safe to assume the battery level is fine for now. AirTags don't have a screen or any other battery indicator, but Apple does show a battery percentage for AirTags in the FindMy app. The low battery warning is the only signal Apple provides before replacement becomes necessary.

What to do if your AirTag doesn't make a sound

If you don't hear a sound after inserting the new battery, remove it and check that it's oriented correctly with the positive side facing up. You should also secure the back cover onto the AirTag as well, to see if the chime sounds after that.

If the battery is oriented properly and still doesn't trigger a sound, try a different CR2032 battery. AirTag uses a CR2032 lithium 3V coin battery, a common type available at most electronics stores, supermarkets and pharmacies. Some batteries, particularly those with thick coatings, may not make consistent contact. Apple suggests looking for packaging that states "Compatible with AirTag." Once a working battery is installed, the AirTag should resume normal operation immediately.

How often should you replace your AirTag battery

Most AirTag batteries last about a year under typical use. Frequent use of Precision Finding, sound playback or location updates may reduce battery life. iOS will notify you before the battery is fully depleted, so there's no need to replace it preemptively unless you're preparing for long-term travel or storage.

Used coin batteries should not be thrown in household trash. Many retailers and recycling centers accept lithium batteries for proper disposal. Check local recycling guidelines for battery drop-off locations. Storing used batteries in a secure container until they can be recycled helps reduce the risk of accidental contact or ingestion.

Replacing an AirTag battery is one of the simplest maintenance tasks Apple devices require. With a readily available battery and no tools involved, most users can complete the process in under a minute. As long as you pay attention to low battery notifications and follow basic safety precautions, your AirTag should continue tracking your belongings reliably with minimal effort.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/computing/accessories/how-to-replace-your-airtag-battery-130000463.html?src=rss

G2 acquires Capterra, Software Advice, and GetApp from Gartner G2 has completed a major acquisition by purchasing three of the world's most influential software discovery platforms from Gartner. The move significantly reshapes the global B2B software reviews market and strengthens G2's position in how companies evaluate and buy software. Noora Saksaa appointed CEO of Slush Slush, one of Europe's most influential tech and startup events, has named Noora Saksa as its new CEO. The leadership change signals a strategic shift toward expanding Slush beyond its annual event and building a year-round global founder platform. France moves public sector away from…

This story continues at The Next Web

CBS News, since its takeover by the Israel-fanatic Ellison family and the installation of equally Zionist Bari Weiss to run it despite her inexperience, has announced a slew of new contributors. These include Israel-supporting hack Tony Dokoupil, who shamelessly regurgitated Israel's 'terrorist' smears against a colleague it had murdered this month. They also include 'wellness bro' Peter Attia. But the CBS contributor's name also appears in this week's new Epstein file releases

CBS contributor appears in the Epstein files

He was joking with serial child-rapist Jeffrey Epstein about his "outrageous" life that Attia couldn't tell anyone about. The email is from 2015, years after Epstein's first conviction for raping a minor:

In 2016, Attia joked with Epstein that:

"pussy is, indeed, low carb. Still awaiting results on gluten content, though.

Attia does not appear to have commented publicly so far. Nor has his new boss Bari Weiss, despite having read messages sent to her about the matter, according to X:

> seen by all pic.twitter.com/x7TCStpc2V

— Chris Brunet (@chrisbrunet) January 31, 2026

Since her installation by the Ellisons, Weiss has spiked stories on CBS inconvenient to the Trump regime, including one on the torture of prisoners it has deported, and has pushed for positive coverage of the regime. She has visited Israel at least fifteen times, including during its genocide in Gaza.

Epstein was, beyond doubt, an Israeli intelligence operative. The newest release of files from investigations into his crimes has revealed witnesses alleging child rape and violence by Trump and that he was "compromised", and therefore presumably controlled, by Israel, likely as a result of his closeness to Epstein.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

LBC have reported that far-right party Reform have spent £600k in Kent on eight parking spaces, reserving six free spaces for elected councillors.

Reform won control of the local authority in May 2025 and has since sparked controversy over its spending decisions and failed savings promises in its election campaign. This latest policy is sure to spark fury among local taxpayers, with council workers now expected to pay for parking at work. According to LBC, the proposed parking charges for junior staff will raise £1m for struggling council budgets.

However, the preferential treatment extended to councillors over hard-working civil servants has further underscored Farage's disregard for the working class.

Reform council spends £600k on eight free parking spaces for senior councillorshttps://t.co/XjNveahPww

— LBC (@LBC) January 31, 2026

Lies: Reform's currency of choice

This shameful incident on Kent Council is highly revealing and indicative of Farage's true ambitions. The results of his actions also blow holes through the nonsense the grifter pushed through the mainstream media to win votes. LBC reported that the Reform-controlled council conducted a cost review report into the proposed charges, finding that they would likely lead to a reduction in office use whilst negatively impacting staff morale and ongoing recruitment.

So much for Farage's claims about the dangers to the UK economy of people working from home, a practice that has given many people a more flexible and affordable work-life balance. The changes imposed by the far-right party will likely drive further remote working, dragging the Reform leader's hypocrisy back into full view.

Our own Ed Sykes reported in October on how the 'posh-boy hatemongers' clearly having little to offer, writing:

Millionaire Nigel Farage and his Reform party don't serve ordinary people. They've attracted millions of pounds from super-rich individuals close to fossil fuels and finance. So it's hardly surprising that they want to force dangerous things like fracking onto the ordinary communities voting for them. Reform's private-school-educated climate-denier-in-chief Richard Tice is positively frothing at the mouth about the prospect. He lies about immigrants to distract people from the fact that he's another posh boy born with a silver spoon in his mouth trying to squeeze money out of ordinary people and put it in the pockets of unscrupulous CEOs.

In a post on X, Reform MP Zia Yusuf criticises the supposed £1m cost implications of civil servants working from home. Yet his party's leadership is now set to increase those very costs for Kent County Council, a risk flagged to Farage and co in the cost review report:

So what?

If they're being as productive why do they need to be in the office?

If you cared about waste then cancel the renting of unnecessary office space from your rich mates.

By the way your boss, Farage was "working" from Ascot yesterday. pic.twitter.com/0il3NY6C6n

— Socialist Opera Singer (@OperaSocialist) June 21, 2025

These X accounts highlight a familiar pattern: when billionaires chase profit, it is ordinary people who are left to bear the cost:

£600k on free parking for Reform councillors.

Staff forced to pay.

£120k on new political advisers.

Reserves raided.
Council Tax up.
Locals forced to pay.

Kent County Council under Reform: look after themselves first, send the bill to everyone else. https://t.co/t3ovDIMlLW pic.twitter.com/MVG4wjkhym

— Mario Creatura (@MarioCreatura) February 1, 2026

Anybody still think Reform UK is the voice for the working class? https://t.co/E5S2aBudky

— Workers Party of Britain (@WorkersPartyGB) February 1, 2026

Farage: The working class's so-called hero

As MAGA voters increasingly abandon Trump over his hollow promises to the working class in the US, Reform is proving just as incapable of delivering on its lofty, Trump-inspired policies. With these failures mounting, questions grow about the far-right, billionaire-backed party's prospects in the May 2026 local elections, as voters begin marking their 'homework' on councils the party already controls.

Anyone vying for office would be wise to confront these failures head-on and acknowledge who actually profits from Reform's grip on power.

The super-rich and powerful.

Featured image via the Canary

By Maddison Wheeldon

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. The files also contained new allegations against Andrew Windsor, including a tip off which accused him of being involved in torture and murder. Despite all this - and despite the fact Windsor was running around with a convicted sex offender for years - PM Keir Starmer has now refused to say the former prince should apologise.

Apologies

It's important to understand that the Epstein Files contain claims which may have no merit when investigated. At the same time, you also need to realise that:

1. We may never know which claims have merit and which don't, because the authorities have failed to investigate the many crimes linked to Epstein.
2. There is more than enough known about Windsor's activities to say he's a degenerate and a liar.

As we reported yesterday, Windsor claimed to have never met his accuser, Virginia Giuffre. Pictured below is an image of Windsor with Giuffre standing alongside Epstein's accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell:

Prince Andrew reportedly used the met police to dig up dirt on a sex trafficking victim.

I told @DailyMail that his actions are utterly despicable, using his power and connections to smear Virginia Giuffre. I call for an investigation into his action.https://t.co/vAvb9glGrc

— Dr Charlotte Proudman (@DrProudman) October 19, 2025

The latest Epstein Files contain images of Windsor looming over what appears to be a child. The fact that the US Department of Justice (DoJ) redacted this person's face indicates that they're a victim:

It very clear the Royal Palace were given detailed briefings many months ago which led to the King culling the then Duke of York - now without title Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor . pic.twitter.com/qbMSXQFoCG

— Mark Williams-Thomas (@mwilliamsthomas) January 31, 2026

There's also this:

The media are not covering the allegations that Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor tortured a girl before instructing her murder. pic.twitter.com/ZZNIDZebma

— Mukhtar (@I_amMukhtar) January 31, 2026

The above tip could be true; it could be false.

What's certifiably correct is that Windsor could have avoided all this by simply not hanging around with a notorious paedophile.

Starmer

Getting to Starmer, this is what he told the media (emphasis added):

I have always approached this question with the victims of Epstein in mind. Epstein's victims have to be the first priority. As for whether there should be an apology that's a matter for Andrew.

But yes in terms of testifying I have always said anybody who has got information should be prepared to share that information in whatever form they are asked to do that. You can't be victim-centred if you're not prepared to do that

Fuck you, Keir; you're supposed to be the leader of this country - you absolutely cannot bow out from having an opinion.

The Windsors have rinsed the UK for hundreds of millions, and they used that money to defend Andrew Windsor against these vile accusations. We shouldn't just be demanding an apology; we should be demanding these parasites return the wealth we afforded them.

Aren't they supposed to represent us on the world stage?

I don't know about you, but I don't feel represented by this.

They're all in it

Of course, Starmer isn't best placed to tackle this issue, given that he elevated the Epstein's 'best pal' Peter Mandelson, making him our ambassador to the US:

Well, well, well! #PeterMandelson lied to the world on #bbclaurak

"There were no young girls."

Listen to him say it, then look at the photograph released as part of the #EpsteinFiles and #EpsteinTrumpCoverUp.

Why is he still in the House of Lords #Starmer? pic.twitter.com/l6cHbPfE3i

— Sinners of our time (@Daily_Sinner) January 31, 2026

As people are furiously pointing out, Starmer is refusing to kick Mandelson out of the lords. Starmer is so bad on this issue, in fact, that I'm finding myself my agreeing with Simon Danczuk:

Mandelson was so close to Epstein that the paedophile sponsored the Peer's husband through college, after he'd come out of prison for child abuse. And Starmer insists on keeping "Petie" in Labour and the Lords. They are a bunch of very sick people. pic.twitter.com/rAOsEGlB6H

— Simon Danczuk (@SimonDanczuk) January 31, 2026

At the same time, Danczuk is a creep who torched his career as a Labour MP by sexting a teen. I'm drawing attention to him because he's linked to Reform now, and everyone should know Farage's bunch are no better than Starmer's when it comes to tolerating degeneracy.

Featured image via Epstein Files

By Willem Moore

Your Party MP Zarah Sultana has posted on X after speaking at the 34th national demonstration against Israel's genocide in Gaza. Sultana called out the 'so-called' ceasefire between Israel and Hamas, which technically commenced in mid-October.

Despite a supposed ceasefire, Israel has continued to kill Palestinians, with more than 500 people reportedly killed in Gaza since phase one came into force. Addressing protesters, Sultana warned that the existential threat to Palestinians remains and urged people to continue marching, boycotting and mobilising until the occupation is dismantled and Palestine is liberated.

Proud to stand among the 100,000 who marched through London today at the 34th national demonstration for Palestine.

Since the so-called "ceasefire" in October, Israel has killed more than 500 Palestinians in Gaza.

We will keep marching, boycotting and mobilising until the… pic.twitter.com/9aU5mzlbqW

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) January 31, 2026

'Deadliest day in months'

Zarah Sultana attended the rally yesterday in London, where tens of thousands of people were estimated to have attended. This protest marked the 34th demonstration in solidarity with our brothers and sisters in Palestine. Despite police pressure and intimidation tactics, people continue to flock unafraid of the consequences, to demand that our leaders finally do what is in their power to end the injustice in Gaza and the West Bank.

A US-pressured ceasefire came into effect mid-October 2025, yet Israel has continued to kill Palestinians. Albeit at a slightly slower pace than before. Pro-Palestine activists regularly criticise Western media and political institutions for perpetuating a hierarchy to the value of human life. This is especially clear when considering the scale of death, injury, and trauma inflicted on Palestinians whilst the West claim a non-existent ceasefire is in place. Recent reports show that Gaza has just seen its 'deadliest day in months' with 31 killed in just one day, whilst the media continue to parrot Trump's lines. Of those 31, six were children, in yet another reminder that the West are intent to view Palestinian children as 'Hamas' and acceptable 'collateral'.

On X, Al Jazeera broke down the outcomes of phase one of Trump's "peace plan," revealing just how little it offered Palestinians, while Israel and its allies emerged having gained a great deal:

The US has announced the launch of 'phase two' of the Trump plan to end Israel's genocidal war on Gaza, but what did phase one deliver? https://t.co/TBezOvr0FU pic.twitter.com/kwgtEfRlFs

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 16, 2026

All whilst the US thug ushers in phase two of his billionaire mates' real estate plans for Palestine.

This account on X strips away the euphemisms to reveal the underlying reality: a continuation of white, Western aggression dressed up in diplomatic language:

The latest release of the Epstein files has revealed a draft email from the serial child-rapist to software billionaire Bill Gates.

Epstein and Gates: more evidence

In the email, Epstein responds to an alleged attempt by Gates to sever their relationship, which he says will damage his public reputation. Epstein then 'shakes down' Gates for $30m to stay quiet about a sexually transmitted disease Gates had allegedly contracted and passed to his wife:

Dear Bill, ​

I cannot believe that you have chosen to both disregard and discard our friendship developed over the last 6 years. ​ I am aware that accidents happen; it is how each of us has chosen to deal with this unfortunate event that has me dismayed beyond comprehension. ​ You have decided to discharge me from my job, had Larry, your PR person, tell me that I engaged in morally inappropriate behavior, and then asked me to be the major actor in a cover-up so that you can maintain the reputation that you have worked so hard to achieve. ​

Shortly after my critical eye operation, I spent my day having your emails read to me so as not to miss a beat. ​ When I could see out of one eye, my first task was to correct my vision in that one eye so that I could read them myself. ​ I assumed the dedication to our relationship ran both ways. ​ Larry has now asked me to recommit to a confidentiality agreement and has categorically told me that you were of the firm mind that we should no longer have any direct ongoing business relationship. ​ With a total disregard for its impact on the public perception of MY reputation, you have requested that I diligently avoid the truth, tell people that Bill will not invest with me, and craft answers that suit yours and Melinda's needs. ​

In fairness, you did agree to send me a letter of recommendation should a future employer ask for one. ​ You have told me that Melinda insists on me ignoring our friendship, not even communicating with you unless Larry is copied or present. ​ Though you have consistently maintained that I could not have done a better job and that I was underpaid compared to my contribution, you then, beyond all sense of fairness and, frankly, decency, said that as "generous" compensation for keeping the Gates reputation intact, you would let me keep what we agreed I had already owned (the investment participations) and give me a total of 2 years severance, similar to that of Christine Turner, a casualty of a former accident. ​

I can assure you that if the shoe was on the other foot, I would have said, "Boris, this is not your fault. I confessed to Melinda; you didn't. ​ It was in a moment of weakness, and I promise that I will do anything within my power to make it right for you. ​ I have more money than anyone needs, and I do my utmost to structure something so that you will not be penalized for my error. ​ Lucky for me, I have enough money to mediate a horrible situation. ​Though it will not heal the injury, it will make you secure in your future. ​ In addition, I will bend over backwards to make sure your next career is rewarding and on an upswing. ​ I appreciate the fact that this event drastically alters your plans and am very aware of the career path you gave up to join the Foundation. ​ I am very sorry, but as I believe time heals all wounds, the terrible pain felt currently will eventually pass.

In that regard, I suggest I buy you the house that you so had your heart set on, and in addition to five years of severance, will buy you out of the investment contract we had agreed—30-40 percent of a hundred million dollar partnership—for 30 million dollars in today's dollars, terms and conditions to be agreed. ​ That's what I would have done had I been in your shoes.

What I did receive, however, was an unfriendly, strongly worded email telling me how employable I am and that I should not look to you for any significant financial help in the future. ​ To add insult to the injury, you then subsequently, with tears in your eyes, implore me to please delete the emails regarding your STD, your request that I provide you antibiotics that you can surreptitiously give to Melinda, and the description of your penis. ​ You also made it clear to me that I am not to refer to [redacted]. ​ That is another topic that must remain between the two of us. ​ In return for all of these requests, which I would have done without a second thought. ​

In a separate email, Epstein told Peter Mandelson, another close friend, that he had "monstrous fun" with the Microsoft founder in Seattle.

Gates has not yet commented on the allegations.

Blackmail

As one commenter put it:

That's blackmail. He's shaking Gates down for $30 million to stay quiet about an STD Gates presumably had - and passed to his wife. It looks like Epstein was on Gates' payroll. There was a similar email to Prince Andrew about a "salary" that wasn't being paid.

It seems Epstein sold himself as a "fixer" for the rich and powerful, like Roy Cohn without the law degree - but underneath it all, like Cohn, he was actually a blackmailer and extortionist.

These people went to Epstein to "fix" their problems (quiet antibiotics for an STD, no paper trail) or to get what they wanted (young women). Then he turned that info into leverage and used it to squeeze them.

The big question: was Epstein working alone, or was he a foreign state asset? Was he working for Mossad? There's some circumstantial smoke there - family links through his father‑in‑law, fake passports, unexplained wealth and more.

The final question is not really a question. Epstein has long been exposed as an Israeli intelligence asset whose 'kompromat' is said to have compromised US president Donald Trump, Epstein's "closest friend" and no doubt hundreds of others.

Featured image via the Canary

By Skwawkbox

Thirteen people were arrested at today's national Palestine Solidarity March - one of the biggest on record:

Arrests at the Palestine march

The march was overwhelmingly peaceful, despite an attempt by a hardline Zionist group to provoke. Typically of police and state bias, only one was arrested at the pro-Israel counter-demo, despite its very different nature.

Police arrested numerous people, including human rights campaigner Peter Tatchell:

Melania Trump attends the premiere of Amazon MGM Studios' "Melania" at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C., on Jan. 29, 2026. Photo: Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

It's darkly fitting that "Melania," the new $75 million snoozefest from Amazon about America's first lady, was released in theaters the same day her husband's Justice Department dropped 3 million pages of documents related to the Jeffrey Epstein case. As we now know, Epstein and Donald Trump were bosom buddies for years, and the grim specter of that relationship hangs over "Melania."

The movie's director is Brett Ratner, who six women accused of sexual assault or harassment in 2017, including one alleged victim who was 19 at the time. Ratner has been biding his time in Israel, where he has reportedly become friendly with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

In what one would hope is enough to undo Amazon's $35 million "Melania" marketing budget, Ratner is also in the new batch of Epstein files: There are photos of him and Epstein embracing two women whose identities are redacted. An earlier Epstein document dump included a photo where Ratner hugs the shirtless torso of Jean-Luc Brunel, the French modeling agent and Epstein associate who died in prison facing multiple charges of rape and sexual assault, including of a minor under the age of 15.

It's hard not to watch "Melania" with all that context top of mind. It's a big, nasty club, and we're not in it, thankfully.

This film opens by putting too fine a point on all of it. The camera pans expansively over the ocean and the beach before arriving at Mar-a-Lago and Melania Trump's red-bottomed heels. She boards a motorcade to travel to New York City, and the chorus of the Rolling Stones' "Gimme Shelter" plays: "Rape, murder, it's just a shot away." (That song was famously used to great effect in Martin Scorsese's "Casino" and "Goodfellas," films in which criminal psychopaths meet their demise after stealing and assaulting everyone in sight in service of personal enrichment and their depraved sense of morality.)

What follows is an hour and 44-minute-long lifestyle infomercial about a public figure with all the charisma and intrigue of eggshell-white paint drying. (We are reminded multiple times throughout the movie, as a tie-in with its marketing campaign, that the first lady loves the colors black and white, which are also the colors of Regal Cinemas' novelty popcorn bucket for its release.)

Melania is seen trying on a multitude of outfits ahead of her husband's second inauguration, with festivities that include no fewer than three different balls, along with a ghoul-studded candlelight dinner. At that fete, the president's table is a who's who of his donors and scions of industry: There are three separate shots of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos and his wife Lauren Sanchez. Bezos sits next to Miriam Adelson, the arch-conservative megadonor, and Trump cheerleader Elon Musk is there, too, caught on video as a brunette swoops in to sit on his lap. (For his part, Musk is also in the latest tranche of Epstein emails, asking the sex trafficker in November 2012, "What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?") Mark Zuckerberg, whose company, Meta, donated $1 million to the president's inauguration fund, doesn't appear until the inauguration luncheon, but he still shows up.

Related Apple Workers Are Livid That Tim Cook Saw "Melania" Movie Hours After CBP Killed Pretti

Melania glides over it all, her unlined face impassive and unaffected, which creates a genuinely disquieting effect. Rather than an intimate portrait of a misunderstood woman — tellingly, the tagline for the movie is simply "A new film," which is about as much as you can truthfully say about it — we're treated to platitude after platitude in voiceover narration by the first lady.

Melania admits she's a fan of AI; The audiobook of her memoir, also called "Melania," is read by an AI replica of her voice. Most of her lukewarm observations feel like they could be AI-generated as well. Among them are statements so generic they achieve utter meaninglessness: "I felt the weight of history," "Freedom is not free," and "I honor the importance of the White House." Describing the coat she wore for the inauguration, she states: "I want to feel like it's a coat." "Melania" is a stunning document, if only for its ability to say so little despite what we're informed is unprecedented access.

"Melania" is a stunning document, if only for its ability to say so little despite what we're informed is unprecedented access.

"Everyone wants to know" what it's like becoming first lady again, Melania says early on in the movie. But if early ticket sales are any indication against its massively bloated budget, she has a generous definition of "everyone." I saw the movie on opening night at Alamo Drafthouse in Brooklyn, admittedly far from MAGA America, with a mere nine strangers. Other than a few "ooohs" from my seatmate when Melania tried on a new dress, only the appearance of her husband got any reaction from the assembled faithful, who laughed easily whenever Trump said anything. The biggest laugh came from shots of Joe Biden and Kamala Harris waiting out of public view before the inauguration, where Harris's face is furrowed in disbelief, and of the mad dash to move out anything the Bidens might have touched before the Trumps arrive back at the White House.

The first time Melania and Trump are onscreen together, he greets her as she disembarks from a private jet emblazoned with TRUMP in all-capital letters. It appears that they're going to shake hands before ultimately pivoting to an embrace. Their warmth is captured elsewhere, like when Trump calls his wife to tell her the final Electoral College totals that usher him into the White House once again. "That's a good one," Melania says without mirth. "Bye, congrats."

All other efforts to humanize Melania fall similarly flat. You can practically see the boxes being checked off as they're fulfilled on screen. She is a mother who bizarrely praises Barron Trump's "composure" and calls him "very confident" as the song "It's a Man's Man's Man's World" plays. (On the campaign trail in 2016, Donald Trump memorably referred to Barron as "her son.") 

"Being hand in hand with my husband in this moment is very emotional," she tells us in voiceover. "Nobody has endured what he has over the past few years. People tried to murder him, incarcerate him, slander him, and here he is. I'm so very proud."

The lack of self-awareness is positively nauseating, and this feeling is only moderated slightly by the sheer tediousness of approving table designs, invitations, and other window-dressing.

Melania also cares deeply about "the children." (It is perhaps worth noting that she began her modeling career at 16.) On a video call with French first lady Brigitte Macron where she talks about her "Be Best" anti-bullying initiative, she makes the note "no phones till 11," a Macron recommendation, on a "Be Best"-branded notepad (Bezos for some reason is also seen on screen as part of the call, which goes unremarked upon.) While watching news coverage of the Los Angeles wildfires, a vaguely misty-eyed Melania says in voiceover, "I think about the families, the children who have lost everything." Crucially, this sympathy does not seem to extend to children killed by her husband's bombs in Gaza.

Melania at one point meets with an Israeli woman, Aviva Siegel, who was captured on October 7 and held hostage by Hamas. She was initially freed but forced to leave her husband, Keith, behind. (He was released on February 1, 2025, as part of the ceasefire deal.) "I would pray that he doesn't suffer," Melania tells her, with all the sympathy of a woman eyeing a damaged piece of produce. "I will always use my influence and power to fight for those in need," she sums up the experience in voiceover.

But Ratner goes to great lengths to convince us that Melania is also fun, even a little goofy. This does not work in the slightest. At a victory event with Trump supporters at the D.C. Capital One Arena, Melania is seen dancing ever-so-slightly to the Trump campaign mainstay "YMCA," but only as she leaves the stage; Trump does not join in. From behind sunglasses in a black SUV, Melania tells us, somewhat concerningly, that Michael Jackson is her favorite musician, and that she and Donald met him in New York. "Billie Jean" plays on the car's sound system, and Melania lightly sings along, including to the line, "Be careful of who you love," but any deeper meaning is lost on all parties involved.

Moments like these have led some to fall for the gag, and even to suggest that Ratner is making a slyly anti-Trump movie, which couldn't be further from the truth. He's a sycophant to his core, after Melania and Trump finally return to the White House after a great many parties, Ratner coos from off-camera: "Sweet dreams, Mr. President."

(As a reward for his obsequiousness, Ratner is slated to direct "Rush Hour 4," the buddy-cop series that's reportedly being revived after Trump personally leaned on Larry Ellison, a Trump supporter and media mogul who now owns Paramount, which is set to distribute the film.)

Related The Whiff of Corruption: Trump's New Perfume Has Strong Notes of Graft

As the movie mercifully draws to a close, Melania once again returns to the children, who are our future. "With the celebrations behind us, the first day of my husband's second term has arrived. There is much to accomplish in the next four years," she says like a threat. "Children will always remain my priority. … I will move forward with purpose and, of course, with style."

Moving forward, of course, means a regime of mass deportation and the trampling of our civil rights, all right in front of our faces. Her husband has ushered in an era where the unencumbered American id rules, one in which avarice, flagrant corruption, and clear bribery are the animating forces of a nation and a people. In that sense, the vacuousness of "Melania" perfectly captures the meaner, more selfish world we live in now. After all, it's always been about Trump — not us, and certainly not Melania — despite any $75 million effort to convince us otherwise.

The post "Melania" Is as Vacuous as Its Subject appeared first on The Intercept.

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When the cops arrived at a party in Cantón la Estancia, a tiny hamlet in the shadow of the San Miguel volcano, Walter Josué Huete Alvarado didn't think he had any reason to worry. He had a minor infraction on his criminal record — a DUI when he was a teenager — but that shouldn't matter in El Salvador. It happened in the United States, where he is a citizen. Yet Alvarado's U.S. passport didn't deter Salvadoran police from dragging him away, pointing to the tattoos on his hands and claiming he was a member of MS-13.

It was May 2023, the third year of Joe Biden's presidency. Alvarado, his relatives and legal counsel told The Intercept, is still incarcerated in El Salvador.

Two years before the second Trump administration targeted Kilmar Ábrego García over his tattoos and sent him to a notorious Salvadoran prison, the Biden State Department was made aware of Alvarado's detention — and, for reasons of diplomacy and optics, did nothing. Today, the world has seen the viral images of men lined up at El Salvador's Centro de Confinamiento del Terrorismo, or CECOT — heads shaved, crammed front-to-back and forced to straddle each other — as a result of Donald Trump's brutal deportation regime. But according to lawyer Jorge Palacios, the total number of U.S. citizens and residents detained in El Salvador's less prominent prisons and jails is unknown.

Palacios, who brought Alvarado's case before the United Nations, said that members of his group, Socorro Jurídico Humanitario, "have had people come to them saying their detained relatives are U.S. citizens who were visiting," as was the case with Alvarado. Families often lose touch with their loved ones after their arrests, so "exact details are limited."

In Alvarado's case, a Salvadoran police report, testimony from two of his closest relatives, and insight from legal experts offer a relatively clear picture of what happened. At the police station in Moncagua, officers disregarded his American citizenship and stomped on his passport, telling him it was worthless. Alvarado had a tattoo of the letters "L.A." — the city of his birth — but officers insisted it represented the city where MS-13 was formed. A "W" — his first initial — was actually an inverted "M," they said, and a dollar sign was an obscured "S."

The police report says Alvarado's tattoos were "ambiguous, and there is no documentary or evidentiary support indicating that Mr. Huete Alvarado belongs to any gang, organization, or structure involved in the commission of criminal acts." It was determined that "the police procedure may have been dysfunctional due to the lack of certainty regarding the individual's belonging to or links with gangs." 

Related CECOT Is What the Bukele Regime Wants You to See

Alvarado has been shuffled between a handful of prisons and penal institutions in the nearly three years since then, never receiving a trial. His situation is in many ways exceptional, given his nationality, but it reflects the broader crisis facing countless families in El Salvador struggling to understand their loved ones' perpetual, often inexplicable detentions. As similar models of criminalization are being rolled out across Latin America, Alvarado's case may offer a preview of things to come. 

When Alvarado was detained, the country of his birth was led by a Biden presidency that had, from the beginning, pitched its commitment to "upholding universal rights" as the "grounding wire of our global policy, our global power." But since the Biden administration neglected to intervene in Alvarado's detention, the authority with the best shot at saving him now is the second Trump administration, ideologically aligned with El Salvador's reactionary leadership and its sweeping gang crackdown. Now, the Salvadoran regime that has effectively disappeared thousands into an opaque network of prisons without trials is more emboldened than ever. 

Alvarado's family was initially supportive of Nayib Bukele, the bearded, grinning, bitcoin-boosting millennial and self-described dictator who rose to power the first time Trump was in office and has held onto it, despite a Salvadoran constitutional prohibition, into a second consecutive term. Murder was declining when Bukele became president in 2019, but many Salvadorans still felt trapped by widespread gang violence and drug trafficking. Bukele, like his predecessors, at first brokered a clandestine truce with gang leaders — providing "financial incentive" to artificially reduce the number of homicides. 

The pact fell apart in early 2022, and murders hit a 30-year high in a single day. Bukele enacted his "state of exception," which allowed his government to suspend constitutional rights for 30 days, paving the way for an unfettered war on organized crime. Bukele and his governing Nuevas Ideas party have renewed the suspension 39 times. 

Related She Exposed Government Abuse. Now She's Locked Up in an El Salvador Prison. 

El Salvador now has the highest incarceration rate in the world. Bukele's government has arrested more than 90,000 Salvadorans, close to 2 percent of the population, including thousands of minors. Human rights experts and lawyers estimate that as many as half of everyone detained under the state of exception have no known gang connections. Prisons are overflowing, with the cumulative system operating at over 300 percent capacity.

By some standards, El Salvador is now considered one of the safest countries in Latin America. Bukele touts record lows in homicide and last year claimed 861 consecutive days without a murder — though, as the Washington Office on Latin America noted, the tally did not include the more than 427 people who have died in custody since the state of exception was decreed. Voters, in turn, have expressed overwhelming support: Bukele had an 85 percent approval rating as of June 2025. 

Others, like Alvarado's family — with members in both El Salvador and the U.S. — soured on the regime once their relatives disappeared under the state of exception.

The Biden administration soured on Bukele, too. Initial optimism that the young right-wing leader would bring much-needed reform soon turned to criticism of El Salvador's "democratic backsliding." In May 2021, then-Vice President Kamala Harris denounced Bukele's illegal removal of the country's attorney general and the dismissal of five of its Supreme Court judges who had tried to stop him from overriding the constitution. The State Department sanctioned several members of Bukele's inner circle for bribery and undermining democratic processes, and the Treasury Department sanctioned two more for their role in the secret gang truce. 

Bukele came into conflict with the interim U.S. ambassador to El Salvador, Jean Manes, claiming on social media that Manes had tried to pressure him into freeing a politician charged with corruption. In November 2021, Manes temporarily suspended diplomatic relations with El Salvador.

Yet Alvarado's case didn't get the treatment of a high-profile American detained by an authoritarian pariah state, like Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, imprisoned in Russia just two months before Alvarado traveled to El Salvador. By May 2023, the Biden State Department had decided that Bukele's mercurial nature and tendency to lash out warranted a softer touch. No longer would they scold out in the open. Instead, according to a former State Department official familiar with the matter, the National Security Council emphasized back-channeling over public condemnation.

State Department apparatchiks hoped that smoothing relations with Bukele would help them maintain El Salvador's cooperation on immigration enforcement and counternarcotics, an official who worked under the Biden administration explained to The Intercept, and that an impending loan from the International Monetary Fund would trigger more transparency. The Bukele administration maintained that the state of exception would at some vague point be wound down, and Manes's replacement, William H. Duncan, insisted on handling any concerns about the country's punitive turn behind closed doors. 

Duncan, per two former State Department employees who asked not to be named for fear of professional consequences, "was very difficult to work with." He insisted on being the only point of contact to Bukele. Efforts by members of the State Department's Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor and Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, or WHA, to bring attention to Alvarado's case proved ineffective. Duncan's embassy was aware of the case, but he wasn't enthusiastic about efforts to push for more visits from embassy legal counselors for Alvarado. Duncan shut down anyone who tried to push for any other lateral communication, "especially any criticism," one of the State Department sources said.

These tactics would culminate in an almost subservient brand of appeasement. In June 2024, after Bukele had successfully run for a consecutive (and constitutionally prohibited) term as president, a robust delegation of Biden officials led by Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas — and flanked by Duncan and the WHA's Assistant Secretary Brian Nichols — attended the Salvadoran strongman's second inauguration. (Duncan and Nichols did not respond to The Intercept's requests for comment.)

"During the visit, Secretary Mayorkas met with President Bukele to discuss the many cultural, and economic ties our two countries share and reaffirmed the mutual commitment to address our common challenges," a DHS press briefing reads. 

Alvarado had spent just over a year behind bars.

Alvarado's absence has been especially difficult for his daughters. His stepdaughter "feels guilty," said a relative, who requested anonymity for fear of targeting by the U.S. government. "At first it was really, really hard, because she was like, 'I feel like it's my fault.'" After getting support at school, she showed signs of improvement, the relative said, but "when she turned 15, she was like, 'I don't want to have anything, because Walter's not here.'" 

His youngest daughter was just 2 when her father was arrested. She has started asking if Alvarado has passed away. 

Bukele's army of internet trolls has mocked the family, expressing loyalty to a president they see as an effective leader against gang violence. When they posted about Alvarado's detention, the family told The Intercept, they would be greeted by accusations that he was, in fact, a gangster who deserved to be punished.

Related El Salvador's Embrace of Bitcoin Didn't Bring Prosperity — It Rode in With Waves of Repression

The Salvadoran president's popularity can be explained, in part, by previous administrations' inability to reckon with the country's post-war contradictions. El Salvador's reconciliation process in the early 1990s, overseen by the United States and the ultra-conservative Alianza Republicana Nacionalista, or ARENA, party, paved the way for the selling of the country's telecommunications, banking, and energy infrastructure off to the highest bidder and exported the country's natural commodities through the use of cheap labor. 

The austerity regime made prime breeding ground for an intricate network of organized crime in the country. The U.S. expelled Salvadoran refugees who had gotten caught up in Los Angeles drug trafficking scene, allowing La Mara Salvatrucha, or MS-13, to blossom in El Salvador's urban centers. Successive governments implemented tough-on-crime policies dubbed mano dura, Spanish for "iron fist," to no avail, and populist, left-wing politicians found it difficult to unravel this Gordian knot through redistributive politics alone. 

"It was tough, but replacing gang violence with state violence is not the answer."

"It's perfectly understandable that people support Bukele because he resolved an issue that was really hurting people," Vicki Gass, the executive director of the Latin America Working Group, told The Intercept. "You're not making a lot of money. You get remittances from your dad living in the United States. It gets extorted. A friend of mine had his whole workshop and tools stolen. You know, his livelihood, right? It was tough, but replacing gang violence with state violence is not the answer."

Boosting the image of state violence has become a useful propaganda tool of the Bukele government. The strategy is most clearly captured by CECOT, the state-of-the-art supermax prison where Ábrego García was sent last year. But it is only one of 24 prisons in the country.

Alvarado was first sent to the Centro Penal de Izalco, an older prison where detainees are fed a spartan diet and beating and medical neglect are common. These carceral facilities, where a majority of the individuals caught up in the state of exception have been sent, have been the site of hundreds of deaths from violence and lack of medical care. In 2024, Socorro Jurídico Humanitario reported that of the 235 deaths they had recorded in prisons like Izalco, 94 percent of those who died were not affiliated with any gangs. 

According to the director of the Americas division of Human Rights Watch, "torture, ill-treatment, incommunicado detention, severe violations of due process and inhumane conditions" were rampant in Izalco. 

Alvarado smuggled messages to his family through the U.S. embassy in El Salvador, saying he cried every night and that he could not stomach the food. He told his infant daughter to behave herself, and mentioned he was forced to sleep on the concrete floor in only his boxers. His family would send him food to supplement his nutrition, but he would report often not receiving the goods — reflecting a common practice in Salvadoran prisons, according to the Salvadoran human rights group Cristosal, which found that goods sent to the country's detention centers are often diverted by prison staff.

Related ICE Said They Were Being Flown to Louisiana. Their Flight Landed in Africa.

After the Biden era cool-off period, Democrats are again incensed by "the world's coolest dictator." Maryland Sen. Chris Van Hollen made a personal trip to El Salvador to lay eyes on Ábrego García, who was a Maryland resident, and the party has lambasted the cruelty of so-called "third-country" deportations under Trump. Some have been pursuing their efforts since Biden was in power: In November 2023, a group of Democratic congress members petitioned the State Department to determine how many Americans had been detained under El Salvador's state of exception. It remains unclear if they received a response.

Bukele, meanwhile, again renewed the decree in August that allows his government to detain those captured under the state of exception without trial. The tentative date for those hearings was pushed back to 2027. 

Just four months into his incarceration, Alvarado became so ill that he was transferred to the Granja Penitenciaria de Rehabilitación de Zacatecoluca, a lower security facility just a 15-minute drive from CECOT. Since then, he's been moved multiple times, most recently to the Centro Industrial de Cumplimiento de Penas y Rehabilitación, where the state holds many political and foreign prisoners. Primarily, the facility is a work camp for detainees who are considered free of any gang associations.

The post An American Citizen Has Been Stuck in El Salvador's Prison System Since the Biden Administration appeared first on The Intercept.

For years, detainees from Lebanon have languished in Israeli prisons, some without charges, others without sentences — all without justice.

Their bodies bore the cost of occupation through torture, isolation, and medical neglect. Their families bore it through silence, waiting, and erasure. Yet the most enduring violence may not have come from prison walls alone, but from the sustained failure of the Lebanese state to act.

Captives from Lebanon

As Israel violated international law with impunity and acts of terror, Lebanon's institutions watched. They issued statements and moved on — leaving detainees suspended between an occupier that abused them and a state that abandoned them.

There is no official number, but recent Lebanese reports (late 2025) indicate that around 23 Lebanese prisoners are being held by the occupational Israeli forces — including 14 captured during the most recent war.

One of them is Imad Amhaz, a Lebanese detainee who was apprehended during the previous war, who the IOF published a video of his testimony, where Imad looked tired, worn out, and raised lots of suspicion about what he was saying, as if he was forced to say it.

Mohamad Shamas — an experienced journalist specialising in war and Hezbollah — has said:

the video is not an intelligence disclosure but a strategically released media tool, intended to justify attacks on Lebanese infrastructure and embarrass Hezbollah. It serves as a manufactured psychological victory and a way to fill a political and security void through a carefully curated narrative.

Israel has always been a sociopathic entity when it comes to dealing with prisoners, regardless of their nationality. For what Israel did to Lebanese prisoners was not a series of isolated abuses; it was a deliberate system of domination built on illegality. Detention during the occupation of the South was designed to break bodies, erase identities, and terrorise entire communities.

Khiam Detention Centre, Lebanon

Facilities like Khiam Detention Centre operated outside any judicial framework — torture replaced due process and silence replaced law. Prisoners were held without charges, without trials, and without timelines; not because evidence was lacking, but because legality was never the point. It is never a point when it comes to Israeli detention centres, in Palestine or formerly in Lebanon. 

Cells were small, dark, and overcrowded, often underground, with minimal ventilation and little exposure to daylight. Prisoners were frequently kept in solitary confinement, sometimes for weeks or months.

The lack of natural light and silence was itself a form of punishment, designed to disorient and break detainees psychologically, as former Lebanese prisoner Nizar Haidar describes to the Canary, where he was imprisoned for fighting alongside the Lebanese Communist Party against the Israeli occupational forces in southeastern Lebanon back in the 80s. 

He also adds:

interrogation was systematic and brutal. I still suffer from the physical torture, the beatings, stress positions, electric shocks, and suspension

This comes alongside psychological abuse such as threats against family members — many prisoners did not know whether their families were alive or not. In addition to that, there was sleep deprivation and mock executions.

He explains that the:

screams from interrogation rooms were often audible throughout the prison, creating a constant atmosphere of fear.

Prisoners of war

As for today, the imprisoned Lebanese in Israeli prisons during the last war have suffered from deliberate violations, as per the "committee of detained and liberated", of the Third Geneva Convention on the treatment of prisoners of war, as well as the Fourth Geneva Convention on the protection of civilians in times of war, such as:

1. Torture and ill-treatment of prisoners, including physical and psychological abuse such as beatings, strip searches, and threats, beginning from the very moment of capture.
2. Deprivation of basic necessities, particularly water and food, in addition to a severe lack of essential living requirements.
3. Deliberate medical neglect, accompanied by the failure to provide adequate healthcare.
4. Collective punishment imposed by the occupying power on prisoners and their families.
5. Arbitrary arrests without distinction between combatants and civilians, carried out under inhumane conditions.
6. Preventing the International Committee of the Red Cross from visiting detainees, and denying prisoners the right to communicate with their families and with lawyers responsible for following up on their legal status.

On the other hand, if Israel's detention of Lebanese captives is a crime of occupation, then the Lebanese state's response has been one of systematic abandonment.

Government! What government?

For decades, successive governments, presidents, and parliaments have failed to treat detainees as a national priority, reducing their fate to an occasional slogan rather than a sustained political and legal battle. Beyond statements of concern, the state has taken no serious action to document abuses, pursue international legal mechanisms, or apply consistent diplomatic pressure for their release.

Families of detainees have been left to navigate uncertainty alone without clear information, legal support, or institutional backing. The Lebanese government has neither established a permanent body to follow detainee cases nor ensured coordination with international organisations.

In practice, prisoners have been treated as expendable files, activated only when negotiations or political interests require them, then discarded once the moment passes.

This failure is not merely bureaucratic; it is political.

By refusing to confront Israel's violations in international forums, and by failing to mobilise legal accountability mechanisms, the Lebanese state has implicitly accepted a reality in which its citizens can be imprisoned indefinitely without consequence.

Silence, in this context, is not neutrality, it is complicity.

A state that cannot fend for its detained citizens cannot claim sovereignty. The continued neglect of Lebanese prisoners is a stark reminder that while individuals endured torture, isolation, and years stolen from their lives, the institutions meant to protect them chose inertia.

This absence of action has become a second punishment on those taken captive — one imposed not by the colonial occupier, but by their country itself.

Featured image via the Canary

By Mohamad Kleit

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child.

While it's welcome to finally see these files coming out, it's not welcome to see so many redactions; especially as many of these redactions are likely illegal. It's also not welcome that the Department of Justice (DoJ) is still sitting on files.

In response to this, survivors have now spoken out.

Speaking out

The statement from survivors reads:

This latest release of Jeffrey Epstein files is being sold as transparency, but what it actually does is expose survivors. Once again, survivors are having their names and identifying information exposed, while the men who abused us remain hidden and protected. That is outrageous. As survivors, we should never be the ones named, scrutinized, and retraumatized while Epstein's enablers continue to benefit from secrecy. This is a betrayal of the very people this process is supposed to serve.

Virginia Roberts Giuffre alone reported many abusers connected to Epstein's network, yet the public still does not have the full truth about who enabled him, who participated in his exploitation, and who has been shielded for years. Hundreds of women have come forward with additional reports like hers. The scale of this failure is staggering and indefensible.

The Justice Department cannot claim it is finished releasing files until every legally required document is released and every abuser and enabler is fully exposed. We need to hear directly from Attorney General Pam Bondi when she appears before the House Judiciary Committee on February 11. Survivors deserve answers, and the public deserves the truth.

This is not over. We will not stop until the truth is fully revealed and every perpetrator is finally held accountable. As we have always said, this is not about politics. We hope Democrats and Republicans will stand with survivors in continuing to demand the full release of the Epstein files.

We look forward to hearing from Attorney General Pam Bondi on February 11.

Epstein Files redactions

As we previously reported, the US congress passed the Epstein Files Transparency Act in 2025 which required the Justice Department to publish all of the documents relevant to Epstein. While it was permissible to redact information and images relevant to victims, it was not permissible to redact information to protect individuals' reputations and/or feelings.

It certainly wasn't permissible to delete files after the fact when they clearly did not contain redactable material, and yet this is what we've seen:

File "468," which featured a photograph of Trump with young women in swimsuits burried in a drawer, has been pulled from the DOJ's website.

The original URL for the file now brings you to a page that reads "AccessDenied" pic.twitter.com/dWGnzz5jUZ

— Alexander Willis (@ReporterWillis) December 20, 2025

There are certainly fewer redactions in the latest release, because we've seen information like the following:

JUST IN - Trump accused of raping a 13-yo in newly released epstein files pic.twitter.com/zUA8E96mUt

—

In the run-up to the Gorton & Denton by-election campaign, Green Party volunteers have taken to the streets. And unlike Reform MP Lee Anderson, they seem to have taken their photo in the correct constituency:

Hundreds of volunteers hitting the streets this morning in Gorton and Denton.

Lower bills, tax the super-rich - hope will win.

Only the Greens can stop Reform in this by-election. pic.twitter.com/1lko5FQyu4

— The Green Party (@TheGreenParty) January 31, 2026

Green Party — 'Hope will win'

The Green Party candidate in Gorton & Denton is Hannah Spencer. Writing in Huffington Post, Spencer gave an idea of who she is and what she's hoping to achieve:

I'm not your average politician. I didn't go to university to study politics. I'm a plumber in Manchester - and through that job I spend my days in kitchens, bathrooms and front rooms. And from what I see, people are struggling.

She added:

Of course not everyone in Britain is struggling. In fact, the 50 richest families hold more wealth than 50% of the population. That kind of wealth is unimaginable to the people of Gorton and Denton, and despite widespread calls for a proper wealth tax, it's a wealth that this government seems happy to watch accumulate.

Earlier in the day, Novara's Aaron Bastani reported on the response to Green activists in the area:

Today is the first day where the Gorton and Denton by-election campaign REALLY gets going.

A Green source says they're surprised at just how good the response is on streets they've not canvassed hard in the past.

Meanwhile Labour don't have a candidate yet.

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. Now, investigators have identified an email which suggests Trump may have had contact with Epstein long after the president is supposed to have broken off contact:

Trump says he cut off Epstein in 2003.

But in 2011 Epstein called Trump….

About Virginia Giuffre….

After asking his lawyer PI (who was recommended by Trump) if there "are any other alternatives" pic.twitter.com/lDJYGC2lxX

— Adam Cochran (adamscochran.eth) (@adamscochran) January 30, 2026

Trump's 'vrginnia'

It's important to note that the above doesn't confirm a phone call took place. It's not a good look for Trump, however, considering everything else in the latest release of Epstein Files:

JUST IN - Trump accused of raping a 13-yo in newly released epstein files pic.twitter.com/IbRk7KuSH2

— Ounka (@OunkaOnX) January 30, 2026

MASSIVE BREAKING: A witness swore under penalty of perjury that Donald Trump threatened a young girl, telling her she could "disappear like another 12-year-old female," and then threatened to kill her entire family, according to Epstein-related court records.
This allegation… pic.twitter.com/y22zPWTb10

— Brian Krassenstein (@krassenstein) January 31, 2026

Despite the spelling mistake, journalist Adam Cochran assumed that Epstein was talking about the late Virginia Giuffre. Giuffre accused the disgraced Andrew Windsor (formally prince Andrew) or sexual assault. In 2025, Trump claimed that Giuffre had been an employee at his spa, but Epstein "stole her".

As PBS reported, there have been conflicting statements from Trump and his inner circle as to when the president last had contact with Epstein. The range is between 2003 and 2007 — before Epstein's sex crime conviction in 2008. If Trump and Epstein spoke in 2011, this will show the president has lied about crucial information regarding his relationship with the dead paedophile.

Revelations

The latest release has shone a new light on the relationship between Epstein and the following individuals:

• Andrew Windsor.
• Elon Musk.
• Robin Leach.

And that's really just scratching the surface; there's also this on Trump's secretary of commerce:

Trump's secretary of commerce, Howard Lutnick, said recently in an interview that a 2005 visit to Jeffrey Epstein's home left him so revolted that he cut ties with Epstein.

Emails released today tell a different story, showing Lutnick remained in contact for years afterward,… pic.twitter.com/TryAhDcT1h

— Republicans against Trump (@RpsAgainstTrump) January 30, 2026

There are three million pages of documents in this latest release, and we'll continue to update you as people unearth new information.

Featured image via Epstein Files

By Willem Moore

Steve Rotheram, mayor of the Liverpool City Region, has slammed the unnamed Starmer stooges who keep briefing against Andy Burnham. It's yet another sign that the PM is losing control of his party.

Cowards

In full, Rotheram said:

Enough already. I've kept my counsel so far because there were assurances from the Prime Minister that anonymous briefings against Andy Burnham would stop.

These gutless people hide behind the cloak of anonymity - just like the keyboard warriors they rail against.

Well, if they want to know what it took to turn devolution from a nice idea into a living, breathing, delivering reality, I'd happily debate them.

If they want to know about the bravery it took to break ranks in cabinet to get an independent panel to investigate the unlawful killing of 97 British citizens - bring it on.

If they want to know what the use of political power is - then we can compare which campaigns they have assisted with compared to Andy. But of course that would require them to go on the record.

These anonymous attacks help nobody but our opponents.

For the sake of our party, please just stop.

For reference, the following is an example of the continued briefing against Burnham:

Cabinet minister on Andy Burnham in the Times:

"He's been handed everything on a plate for his whole career. He's now angry because people won't make way for his second coming. It's typical Andy."

— James Heale (@JAHeale) January 31, 2026

The decision to not let Burnham stand in Gorton & Denton went down poorly with pretty much everyone besides the handful of weirdos and sycophants who support Starmer. And as things stand, it looks the decision could very well lose Labour a previously safe seat:

In Gorton and Denton, Reform beat Labour on current polling…

Unless Andy Burnham is the candidate pic.twitter.com/W7b52Eoei2

— Oli Dugmore (@OliDugmore) January 23, 2026

Starmer's camp on a downward spiral

While this is bad enough, it's made so much worse by the Starmer camp's inability to stop provoking the situation.

People are furious at them.

But because they have no respect for people's intelligence, they think they're one briefing away from everyone buying the propaganda.

Rotheram's intervention has shown that Starmer and his lackey's have zero political instincts, and it's why the PM is not long for his position.

Featured image via BBC

By Willem Moore

The US has arrested the journalist Don Lemon. As people are highlighting, it's a worrying sign the Trump regime will continue lurching right until something stops it:

Don Lemon speaks outside of the courtroom after release: "I have spent my entire life covering the news. I will not stop now … I will not be silenced." pic.twitter.com/zgXKXlDQwC

— philip lewis (@Phil_Lewis_) January 30, 2026

Trump's crackdown

The former CNN anchor was arrested after covering an anti-ICE protest in Minnesota:

"We're not with the activists we're just reporting on them."

This is from Don Lemon's reporting at the St. Paul church. Arresting journalists for simply highlighting what's happening in this country is a gross violation of our First Amendment rights.

He must be released… pic.twitter.com/4I3sKYtuw4

— Senator Patty Murray (@PattyMurray) January 30, 2026

'ICE' is the acronym of the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency. While the agency exists to enforce immigration laws, Trump has used ICE to sow terror and division in US cities. As we've extensively covered, this has seen ICE agents publicly murder two individuals this month alone — Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti.

Obviously, the murder of these people is worse than what's happened to Lemon. At the same time, the arrest should be seen as a continuation of the state-sanctioned oppression of the Trump regime.

They want people scared.

They want people silent.

They want people ignorant.

And Lemon is not the only journalist to face arrest:

These are the four journalists arrested by Trump's fascist DOJ….Georgia Fort, Jamael Lydell Lundy, Don Lemon and Trahern Jeen Crews….probably just a coincidence that they're all Black, right? pic.twitter.com/qFHLQRERfV

— Wu Tang is for the Children (@WUTangKids) January 30, 2026

Independent journalist Georgia Fort was, like Don Lemon, arrested for doing her job: documenting a protest of public concern. When members of the press are taken into custody simply for filming and reporting, it sends a chilling message to every journalist in America. The First… pic.twitter.com/nmFF0pp5b2

— Ben Crump (@AttorneyCrump) January 30, 2026

 

Politician Bernie Sanders and actor Jane Fonda have spoken out on Lemon's behalf:

ICE is occupying communities and shooting Americans.

Now, former CNN anchor Don Lemon has been arrested for covering what ICE is doing.

Arresting journalists is what happens in tin-pot dictatorships.

We must fight back against authoritarianism.

— Bernie Sanders (@BernieSanders) January 30, 2026

JANE FONDA: "I know Don Lemon. My husband created CNN. And I will fight for their right to speak… they arrested the wrong Don. This is how autocrats act. We can't fall for it." pic.twitter.com/EWwe3WuVXf

— The Tennessee Holler (@TheTNHoller) January 31, 2026

A Distraction?

Many, many people have suggested that pretty much everything happening right now is a distraction from the Epstein Files:

Trump arrested Don Lemon today to distract from the Epstein file release

Stay focused everybody pic.twitter.com/J8Jrdl72OS

— WTFGOP (@doggintrump) January 30, 2026

Don Lemon was arrested before any of the Epstein child rapists.

— Secular Talk (KyleKulinskiShow@bsky.social) (@KyleKulinski) January 30, 2026

The problem with the 'distraction' narrative is that it ignores the dedicated zealots surrounding Trump:

If you've never heard a speech by Hitler's Minister of Propaganda Joseph Goebbels, this speech by Stephen Miller was plagiarized from JG's 1932 speech, "The Storm Is Coming." And these fascist freaks wonder why the democratic free world sees them as Nazis. pic.twitter.com/uTQ5OdDzQ0

— Bill Madden (@maddenifico) September 24, 2025

To these people, the distraction is the Epstein Files; the mission is the crackdown on civil liberties.

Featured image via USA Today 

By Willem Moore

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. Another person featured in the latest release is Peter Mandelson. And once again, Mandelson's connections to Epstein are shaming the Labour government which made him ambassador to the US:

And Mandelson remains in the Lords…?
FT tomorrow. pic.twitter.com/O0MoXC1hWU

— Tim Walker (@ThatTimWalker) January 30, 2026

Criminal?

The Financial Times (FT) has published a lengthy piece discussing Mandelson's connections to Epstein. They also revealed that they first heard about the payments to his husband in September, but they couldn't confirm them until the latest Epstein Files release:

A trove of emails released on Friday finally confirmed one of the biggest secrets in recent British politics, which the FT was first told about last September but had hitherto been unable to print.

The emails proved that in 2009 and 2010 Reinaldo Avila da Silva, the Brazilian partner of Lord Peter Mandelson, was taking regular undisclosed payments of thousands of pounds from Jeffrey Epstein, even after the disgraced American financier had been jailed for soliciting prostitution from an underage girl in July 2008.

Reportedly, Mandelson asked for the paedo Epstein to make these payments in smaller amounts to avoid tax:

BREAKING: Mandelson asked Epstein to frame lump sums and $2k/month payments as loans to his husband to dodge tax https://t.co/cDy4yP0HeV pic.twitter.com/JeKzUtrBHX

— Joe Rich (@joerichlaw) January 31, 2026

We're sorry, but we find it hard to believe Mandelson was so hard up for cash he had to:

1. Beg for cash from a convicted sex offender.
2. Have the cash parcelled out into smaller payments to avoid paying tax.

And if he was that hard up for cash, fuck him.

Maybe he should have got a proper job like the rest of us?

Mandelson's time to go

The FT piece ends as follows:

Downing Street and the Labour Party both refused to comment. One official said Mandelson had taken a leave of absence from the House of Lords and was therefore not technically a Labour peer at present. "Membership of our whip for someone on leave of absence only becomes an issue when/if they apply to return to the House," they said.

But another MP said: "It's time he was suspended, put on a disciplinary and then expelled."

Many others are calling for Mandelson to get the boot (and also that he should be sacked):

Keir Starmer helped expel Jeremy Corbyn from the Labour Party but he still allows Peter Mandelson to remain a Labour peer in the House of Lords. Mandelson who once said 'We're all Thatcherites now,' and that Labour is perfectly at ease with people who are 'filthy rich.' Mandelson… pic.twitter.com/8vJq0I2TVr

— MikeD (@mjdaly57) January 31, 2026

Corbyn was attacked, smeared and thrown out of the Labour Party. Mandelson is still a Lord. They really are rotten to the core aren't they https://t.co/UedyldTARp pic.twitter.com/HTFe0ngZ3I

— Cantona & Best (@bestcanton7) January 31, 2026

If Mandelson was illegally avoiding tax, he needs to face legal consequences.

Given how corrupt the British state is, however, that of course seems unlikely.

Featured image via PNGTree

By Willem Moore

Advance UK is a British political party which was formed by the ex-Reform politician Ben Habib. Habib did not leave Reform UK on good terms, and neither did Nick Buckley, who is now looking to challenge candidate Matt Goodwin in the Gorton & Denton by-election:

I am delighted @NickBuckleyMBE will be standing for @_AdvanceUK in the Gorton and Denton by election.

Nick is a proud patriot, local to the area where he also based his charity, Mancunian Way. His MBE was for charitable work.

Nick offers real change, not the same old or the…

— Ben Habib (@benhabib6) January 31, 2026

From Reform UK to Advance UK

According to the Guardian, Ben Habib quit Reform after "pushing for members to have more power":

Advance UK is a democratic movement. Members endorse our mission, not the other way around. No censorship. No cronyism. Just serious, open politics. pic.twitter.com/lItBkNsKBz

— Ben Habib (@BackBrexitBen) August 9, 2025

Habib has since attacked Farage:

Ben Habib

Previously Reform's deputy leader, until he was ousted by Farage.

"He's not fit to be prime minister" pic.twitter.com/wpZUqo2kJx

— Sebastian Salek (@sebastiansalek) March 13, 2025

As Rose Cocker reported for the Canary:

Advance UK launched back in September 2025. It was founded by tech billionaire Ben Habib, the former deputy leader of Reform UK. Both Tommy Robinson and Elon Musk have thrown their weight behind the far-right newcomers.

Advance UK will actually drive change.

Farage is weak sauce who will do nothing. https://t.co/Vnw2uTdRRi

— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) August 26, 2025

Nick Buckley, meanwhile, quit Reform in June 2025, stating:

I have just cancelled my membership of Reform UK.

I gave them 6 months and I am non the wiser what they are about or want. Their campaign is still 'We Are Not Tories Or Labour' - even though they will take any defection from any politician.

The best they can be is a stepping stone from today's failings to something better tomorrow.

At the present moment, they are still worth voting for because there is nothing else on offer with a chance of winning seats.

But do not place all your faith in this party to save us for I cannot see how they do it. They are preparing the stage for something better that will come - and hopefully come soon.

Form

As one pollster noted, Buckley has beaten Reform in an election before (although the situation was very different in 2024):

Gorton and Denton just got a lot more interesting.

Nick Buckley (ex-Reform) ran as an independent for Manchester mayor in 2024 and came 3rd, pushing Reform into 4th place.

If Galloway also announces he is running, then the vote will be so split, 25% will be enough to win. https://t.co/YyO7aLDfQN

— Marwan

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. Another person named and pictured in the latest release is Richard Branson, with the exposed communication proving particularly damning for the Virgin billionaire:

On Sept. 11, 2013, Richard Branson emailed Jeffrey Epstein saying it was "really nice seeing you" and added that he'd love to meet again — "as long as you bring your harem." pic.twitter.com/MZlV60GW30

— Amber Woods @ Amber Speaks Up (@AmberWoods100) January 31, 2026

Richard Branson's friendly advice

As revealed by the leaked email, Branson gave Epstein "public relations" advice relating to his conviction for sex crimes:

Billionaire Richard Branson to Epstein: 'any time you're in the area would love to see you. As long as you bring your HAREM!'

'As a single man you seem to have a penchant for women. But there's nothing wrong with that'

RT pic.twitter.com/1n7CApwPLE

— Moh Musthafa Hussain (@musthafaaa) January 31, 2026

In the email above, Branson says:

I think if Bill Gates was willing to say that you've been a brilliant advisor to him, that you slipped up many years ago by sleeping with a 17½ year old woman and were punished for it, that you've more than learnt your lesson and have done nothing that's against the law since and, yes, as a single man you seem to have a penchant for women. But there's nothing wrong with that. Anyway something along those lines.

Epstein was convicted in 2008 — five years before this exchange. He was accused of worse than what Branson references, but escaped potential justice as a result of an "unprecedented" sweetheart deal. As PBS reported:

Epstein allegedly abused dozens of minors at his homes in Manhattan and Palm Beach, Florida. He enlisted girls to recruit other minors to his trafficking ring. And prosecutors said they seized scores of photos of fully or partially nude girls.

Epstein, who has been seen in the past as a friend of President Trump and former President Clinton, first faced other sex crime charges back in 2006 and 2007. At the time, he could have faced life in prison for allegations with underage girls. But the prosecutor in the case, Alex Acosta, now President Trump's labor secretary, struck a more lenient deal.

Epstein served just 13 months in a county jail for these charges. A Miami Herald investigation earlier this year raised new questions about this deal and brought forward new victims.

The US Attorney's Office wrote in 2019:

The indictment unsealed today alleges that, between 2002 through 2005, EPSTEIN sexually exploited and abused dozens of underage girls by enticing them to engage in sex acts with him in exchange for money. Epstein allegedly worked with several employees and associates to ensure that he had a steady supply of minor victims to abuse, and paid several of those victims themselves to recruit other underage girls to engage in similar sex acts for money. He committed these offenses in locations including New York, New York, and Palm Beach, Florida. EPSTEIN is expected to be presented in Manhattan federal court this afternoon before U.S. Magistrate Judge Henry B. Pitman. The case is assigned to U.S. District Judge Richard M. Berman.

While Branson may not have been aware of Epstein's broader operation, he knew about the statutory rape of a 17-year-old, and that Epstein maintained what Branson referred to as a "harem".

Recommendation

As noted, Branson suggested that a recommendation from Bill Gates would work in Epstein's favour. Gates also featured in the latest Epstein Files release:

Wow. In the Epstein emails DOJ dropped, Jeffrey sent himself emails memorializing a fight he had with Bill Gates. In it he says that Bill Gates got STD's from Russian hookers, and then asked Jeffrey for antibiotics that Bill could secretly give to Melinda without her noticing.

In another deadly night of Israeli violations, the death toll in the Gaza Strip rose to 32 after a series of air strikes, despite a supposed ceasefire.

West of Gaza City, near the Al-Abbas intersection, Israeli aircraft struck a residential apartment. Four civilians were killed, including two children and a woman. Others were injured. The apartment housed a civilian family and was reduced to rubble within moments. The strike came without any prior warning.

Israeli airstrikes in West, North and South of Gaza

In the central governorate, Israeli aircraft also targeted eastern areas, causing further casualties and injuries as air strikes continued over populated zones. Another raid hit a residential apartment in Gaza City's Al-Daraj neighbourhood, near the Jabalia bus station. Five civilians were injured, and panic spread through nearby homes.

In the south of the Strip, displaced families sheltering in tents were also targeted. In the Asdaa area north of Khan Yunis, an air strike hit a tent housing displaced people. Seven members of the Abu Hadaid family were killed. Other martyrs were reported in neighbouring tents. The toll remains preliminary and is expected to rise.

In a particularly serious escalation, Israeli aircraft bombed the Sheikh Radwan police station north of Gaza City. Thirteen people were killed.

Among the dead were four female officers from the Palestinian Women's Police Force: Najoud al-Madhoun, Nafisa al-Arabeed, Sara al-Khatib, and Sundus al-Qouqa. Other police officers, staff, and civilians were also killed. Reports indicate that several people remain missing under the rubble.

Local sources have described the ceasefire as a "false truce" that has failed to stop the killings. Instead, they say it has provided political cover for continued attacks. Since the ceasefire was declared on 10 October 2025, more than 590 Israeli violations have been documented. These include air strikes, gunfire, and attacks on civilian areas.

At least 400 civilians have been killed, with more than 900 injured during this period.

With every new raid, the credibility of the ceasefire erodes further. Gaza continues to pay the price for a war that, in reality, has never stopped.

Featured image provided via author

By Alaa Shamali

As we've previously reported, Elon Musk's X/Twitter is rife with foreign accounts who pretend to be Western nationalists. If you're wondering why they do this, the answer is simple; to make money.

Musk pays users he likes for getting likes and retweets, so the people of the world found a way to juice engagement. Specifically, they realised racists in Europe and America are complete morons who will excitedly retweet any old shite that appears on their timeline.

Now, these exo-nationalists are swarming Hannah Spencer — the Green candidate for Gorton & Denton:

The way these accounts have come out in full force is making me more confident we'll win to be honest. https://t.co/3B2HJghQFB

— cez (@cezthesocialist) January 31, 2026

Pricks for clicks

The account above is called 'The British Patriot':

If we click on where the account is posting from, this is what we see:

You see the 'i' symbol to the right of 'United Kingdom'; that indicates they're using a VPN to obscure their location. The reason they're doing this is because they're not actually British. Should the account owner wish to dispute this, please get in touch with evidence.

We won't hold our breath!

You'll note that The Not-British Patriot proudly carries a quote from Elon Musk on their Twitter banner. Musk isn't British, obviously, but he does like interfering in our politics, and he will gleefully promote accounts which suck up to him.

The Not-British Patriot is just one of many false nationalist accounts. The interesting thing is many of these accounts are doing better than actual Brits. If we were some racist dipshit, we'd be complaining these foreigners are taking our jobs — not retweeting them.

As Novara's Aaron Bastani highlighted, The Not-British Patriot was actually claiming the Green candidate was someone else entirely at first:

Crazy that complete lies, about something as important as a democratic election, are now normal.

This account has 250k followers & is followed by a ton of influential people in the media.

This is a *criminal offence* under Section 106 of the Representation of the People Act. https://t.co/dk4Sf41vEG

— Aaron Bastani (@AaronBastani) January 29, 2026

'Criminal' if they're in the UK, anyway, which they're not.

Clearly the UK's legal framework needs to catch up with what's happening here.

Him indoors

According to Spencer, she isn't married (but does seem to be in a relationship):

Hannah Spencer dealing with the lie that she has a husband four months ago.

She's literally just a normal person, the right-wing bots are rattled that the Greens picked a great candidate

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. One of the darkest new allegations to emerge is the following:

WTAF
"witnessed Robin Leach strangle a young girl to death at a party". pic.twitter.com/Wf9f3o0ejk

— AnthonyAndrews (@anthon7yandrews) January 30, 2026

Robin Leach in the Epstein Files

Robin Leach was a British-American TV host. Between 1984 and 1995, he hosted Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous, and he died in 2018.

Journalist Adam Cochran said the following about the accusation against Leach:

This claim is wild for a few reasons:

* Robin Leach wasn't a well known figure after the mid-90s.

* At the time this claim was made, Leach was on his deathbed after a stroke - no real defamation angle.

* Leach and Trump were close friends, Leach was even at Trump's wedding to Maples.

* Leach went to Trump's parties at Trump Golf Course in Rancho Palo Verdes.

* Another claim, claimed there was a sex-trafficking ring at Trump's Golf Course in Rancho Palo Verdes, that involved rape and violent torture - but that one didn't know the names of the men involved.

Those two claims when taken together are compelling enough to investigate.

But, from the release so far… they were never investigated…

Others have made similar points:

You know this shit is real because what American teenager in the 2000s would include Robin Leach of all people in their fake allegations. https://t.co/XI2haggETa

— Notelu (@N0telu) January 30, 2026

There's no political motive or even much of a publicity motive for a false testimony to include Robin Leach many years later.

Ergo I believe that it is likely true.

He was a close associate of at Trump and frequently attended his beauty pageants. pic.twitter.com/EDiCZWrrPz

— Witold U.

On 30 January, the US Department of Justice (DoJ) released the latest tranche of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contained allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child. Another person who features heavily in the released documents is Elon Musk. This has come as a shock to some, because Musk previously denied having links to Epstein:

Sent from Musk to Epstein on Christmas Day at 6am. https://t.co/Jx5o80a38H

— Mehdi Hasan (@mehdirhasan) January 31, 2026

'The ratio'

In the email above, Musk said:

Do you have any parties planned? I've been working to the edge of sanity this year and so, once my kids head home after Christmas, I really want to hit the party scene in St Barts or elsewhere and let loose. The invitation is much appreciated, but a peaceful island experience is the opposite of what I'm looking for.

Reading this, do you feel like Musk was unaware of what Epstein's parties were like? Because it sure doesn't read like that to us.

Epstein responded:

Understood , I will see you on st Barth, , the ratio  on my island  might make Talilah uncomfortable

St. Barts is one of the Virgin Islands, as is Little Saint James (the late Epstein's private island). By 'Talilah', Epstein no doubt means Talulah Riley, who was married to Musk from 2010 to 2012 (and then again from 2013 to 2016).

Currently, we don't know what happened next. Musk may have dumped Talulah for the evening to party on Little Saint James; he could also have met Epstein on St. Barts, or not met up with him at all.

Clearly, however, the two men shared a familiarity which Musk has repeatedly denied.

This was all in 2012 by the way — four years after Epstein was convicted of sex crimes.

It didn't end in 2012 either:

This exchange with @elonmusk from 2013, years after it was known Epstein was a pedophile and trafficker, is pretty damning. Why is he so eager to get to the island?
Epstein's response: "always space for you" pic.twitter.com/P0BfTELd8n

— Jason Paladino (@jason_paladino) January 30, 2026

There's more

Additional emails further highlight the relationship between Musk and Epstein:

Elon to Jeffrey Epstein: "Is there a good time to visit?" pic.twitter.com/cCC1CEb89M

— evan loves worf (@esjesjesj) January 30, 2026

Elon Musk in an actual email to Epstein:

"What day/night will be the wildest party on your island?" https://t.co/bcUagvXoBv pic.twitter.com/BdTP6UiN1S

— Fred Lambert (@FredLambert) January 30, 2026

Musk has previously claimed Epstein never toured his other company, SpaceX. The problem is that we now know Epstein emailed Musk to say "thanks for the tour":

This tweet by @elonmusk addressing allegations that Jeffrey Epstein toured SpaceX appears to be a lie. https://t.co/ac4PSI4YYN pic.twitter.com/Kd1jiqXE9j

— TrueAnon (@TrueAnonPod) January 30, 2026

Unbelievable—Jeffrey Epstein appears to bring three girls to visit @elonmusk at SpaceX in 2013. Mary Beth was Elon Musks personal assistant at the time. pic.twitter.com/9T6Fusghqg

— TrueAnon (@TrueAnonPod) January 30, 2026

Seemingly, the tour didn't stop there either:

Looks like they may have gone to Musks house in Bel Air afterwards pic.twitter.com/GomNuHuxGx

— TrueAnon (@TrueAnonPod) January 30, 2026

As TrueAnon further highlighted, Musk's brother Kimball was also mentioned:

Kimball Musk, brother of @elonmusk assures Jeffrey Epstein he won't hurt his "girl" https://t.co/v7IbuNmSWd pic.twitter.com/9EVwB4CqmT

— TrueAnon (@TrueAnonPod) January 30, 2026

Elon Musk — suppression?

Here's what Anthony Andrews said on Musk's website X/Twitter:

Can confirm file exists. I am looking into this as we speak. If so, this should end many high profile people including the owner of this site. https://t.co/C9nz5PTWFI

— AnthonyAndrews (@anthon7yandrews) January 30, 2026

We weren't familiar with Andrews, so we clicked on his name to see his profile, where we were greeted with the following:

We can't confirm what's going on here, but it's not a good look.

Oh, and if any of the above tweets aren't working when you read this, we're sure you can guess why.

Expect more information to emerge over the coming days, as the latest release contains "three million pages, 180,000 images and 2,000 videos" according to the BBC.

Featured image via WEF

By Willem Moore

In response to the latest announcement from the Trump regime, Your Party MP Zarah Sultana has said the following:

Cuba is next on Trump's expansionist hit-list.

The only "threat" it poses is existing as a sovereign state that refuses to bow to US imperialism.

Blocking all fuel supplies is collective punishment and a war crime. It must be opposed.

Hands off Cuba! Hands off Latin America! https://t.co/22dkUEDiam

— Zarah Sultana MP (@zarahsultana) January 31, 2026

You'll note the Trump regime's announcement was made before the latest release of Epstein Files. As we reported, the release contains allegations Trump is 'compromised' by Israel, and that he raped and beat a child.

Zarah Sultana — 'Hands off Cuba!'

As Drop Site highlighted, a recent Financial Times report claimed:

Cuba has just 15-20 days of oil left, after US pressure helped halt Venezuelan shipments and Mexico's Pemex suspended a delivery. The shortage has already fueled near-daily blackouts and fuel rationing. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said that her government provides oil to Cuba via contracts with Pemex and via humanitarian aid mechanisms, the latter she said would continue.

The order tightens a blockade strategy that leverages economic collapse and humanitarian crisis under the guise of national security.

A key driver of regime change in Cuba is secretary of state Marco Rubio, who Trump referred to as "little Marco" when they competed for the presidential nomination in 2016:

This campaign exchanges between Donald Trump and his current Secretary of State is the funniest video you'll see today… Trump called him LITTLE MARCO

As we've reported, Reform's candidate for Gorton & Denton is the academic and establishment insider Matt Goodwin. The constituency has a high percentage of black and minority ethnic voters (44%) — people that Goodwin has suggested are 'not British'. This is already creating a problem for Goodwin, and it won't help that he's has now attracted the support of England's most notorious far-right activist:

Matt Goodwin is desperately trying to pretend he is not racist.

Luckily for him Tommy Robinson has his back… pic.twitter.com/SezC6DF389

— Harry Eccles (@Heccles94) January 30, 2026

Little Tommy Robinson

As we previously reported, Generation Remigration spoke at Robinson's Unite the Kingdom rally. 'Remigration' is the plan to mass deport migrants and their descendants from European countries. And as we said at the time:

We're not quite sure how that will work in Britain given the continuous influxes of populations we've experienced since the Roman Empire, except we are sure, obviously - they're talking about deporting Black and brown people.

Tommy Robinson's friends would happily deport 44% of the Gorton & Denton population; so would Robinson, presumably, given his continued promotion of remigration:

He's 100% correct, the time is now . REMIGRATION https://t.co/jGwMGkz8dF

— Tommy Robinson

During a speech at the Institute for Government's annual conference, health secretary Wes Streeting admitted that Labour austerity, branded as 'efficiency savings', is having an impact on care:

There are some parts of the service that have oversteered and therefore are underdelivering on elective activity

In context, Streeting means the Labour cuts are going too far. But that's quite the understatement. Age Concern warned in October 2025 that corridor care had increased by 525-fold since 2015/16. That follows 5,000 nurses coming forward in January 2025 to expose the dire state of the corridor care crises, with testimonies from staff.

Healthcare funding, dramatic cuts continued by Labour

Historically, healthcare funding had increased by 3.6% every year. That's partly because the population is ageing. But under the Conservatives last government healthcare spending increased at an average of just 1.3% per year. On top of that, the Tories demanded £22 billion in 'efficiency savings' from 2010-15.

In fact, according to the British Medical Association (BMA), there has been a real terms cumulative underspend of £425bn in public health spending since 2009/10.

Following that, Labour has pledged a 2.2% increase in health spending until 2028/29. But that's completely undermined by the governing party mandating 4% 'efficiency savings'. That's actually represents a 1.8% cut, putting staff working long hours under increased pressure.

We are way behind many of our counterparts' healthcare developments, including the number of beds and doctors.

The cuts: in focus

The Lowdown has been investigating how individual NHS trusts are responding to the 'efficiency saving' cuts. They note:

In Hampshire, Portsmouth Hospitals University NHS Trust announced the cut of 549 roles as part of a joint plan with the Isle of Wight trust to deliver a 7% workforce reduction and £39m in savings in 2025/26.

A University Hospitals of Leicester NHS Trust Plan reduces roles by 1,611 in 2025/26, and managers opened a process to find voluntary redundancies in July.

Vacancy freezes were introduced at many trusts, including Gateshead Health NHS Foundation Trust (FT), Bradford Teaching Hospitals NHS FT, and University Hospitals Sussex NHS FT.

Many neoliberals view the health service (and the state in general) as a cash cow they can milk through private provision. We need to restore the NHS as a fully public organisation and improve its services rather than head in the wrong direction.

Featured image via the Canary

By James Wright

Five Years Ago

This week in 2021, we looked at the future of net neutrality under the new interim FCC boss, and at how broadband monopolies continued to get money for networks they never fully deployed. Twitter got immunity from a banned user's lawsuit thanks to Section 230, while dozens of human rights groups were telling congress not to gut Section 230 on their behalf, and we wrote about how revoking 230 would not "save democracy". This came as House Republicans announced their big, unconstitutional, ridiculous plan to take on Big Tech, and we wrote about how they could actually tackle the sector by just trying to stop being insane.

Ten Years Ago

This week in 2016, the New York Times filed a ridiculous copyright lawsuit over a book mocking the paper for glamorizing war, a writer tried to claim libel and copyright infringement over a screencap of her tweet appearing in an article, and a judge tossed out the silly idea that the monkey of monkey selfie fame could hold the copyright to the photo. Meanwhile, copyright troll Malibu Media trotted out an "expert" witness who appeared to be completely clueless, Pissed Consumer got the go ahead to take on Roca Labs over its bogus DMCA takedowns, and we dedicated an episode of the podcast to looking at just how bad the TPP was.

Fifteen Years Ago

This week in 2011, the big copyright troll in the news was ACS:Law, as an accounting firm that was helping it collect fines tried to call off the whole thing followed by ACS:Law apparently giving up entirely, but soon there was a new trolling operation on the block involving Paris Hilton's sex tape, and another with a porn company trying out a twist on the technique, while a copyright troll in Germany was using debt collectors to pressure people to pay up. Meanwhile, IP experts were saying ACTA was inconsistent with EU law, the US government was pushing pro- and anti-privacy internet rules at the same time, and Apple began using its special security screws to prevent people from opening their iPhones.

NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang told reporters that the company will "invest a great deal of money" in OpenAI's latest funding round, according to Bloomberg, after The Wall Street Journal on Friday reported that the two companies were rethinking a previous $100 billion deal that hasn't "progressed beyond the early stages" of negotiations. Speaking to reporters in Taipei this weekend, Huang reportedly said it could be "the largest investment we've ever made." 

NVIDIA and OpenAI jointly announced in September that NVIDIA would be investing up to $100 billion in OpenAI to build 10 gigawatts of AI data centers. The companies said then that they were targeting the second half of 2026 for the first phase of the project to go online. Citing sources familiar with the discussions, The Wall Street Journal reported that Huang has highlighted privately that the agreement was nonbinding and has criticized OpenAI's business approach as lacking discipline. 

According to Bloomberg, however, Huang called the report's claims "nonsense," and told reporters on Saturday, "I believe in OpenAI. The work that they do is incredible. They're one of the most consequential companies of our time." But, Bloomberg reports, he said NVIDIA's investment in this funding round wouldn't come near $100 billion.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/nvidia-is-still-planning-to-make-a-huge-investment-in-openai-ceo-says-205521528.html?src=rss

There may be plenty of gaming handhelds out there, but there aren't many horizontal options that let you play childhood favorites in the original 4:3 aspect ratio. To address that gap, Ayaneo launched a premium option with the Pocket S Mini. As a "true 4:3 retro handheld," the Pocket S Mini won't have those pesky vertical black bars whenever you're emulating video games from the CRT television era.

Handhelds like the Anbernic RG405M and even Ayaneo's own Pocket Air Mini already offer a 4:3 aspect ratio, but the Pocket S Mini presents a more high-end build with a full metal frame and a glass front panel. The 4.2-inch LCD screen has a resolution of 1,280 x 960 and is flanked by Hall effect joysticks with RGB lighting, Hall effect triggers and "crystal-textured" buttons. Inside, the Pocket S Mini runs on a Snapdragon G3x Gen 2 chip and is powered by a 6,000mAh battery.

Ayaneo

Unlike most of Ayaneo's other devices, the Pocket S Mini isn't being done through a crowdfunding campaign. It's already available on Ayaneo's website with a starting early bird price of $319 for either the Obsidian Black or Ice Soul White options with 8GB of memory and 128GB of storage. As usual, the Retro Power colorway will only be available with the highest specs of 16GB of memory and 512GB of storage, starting at $479. We're not sure when Ayaneo will end early bird pricing, but the prices will eventually jump to between $399 and $559 for retail pricing.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/gaming/ayaneos-pocket-s-mini-has-the-perfect-aspect-ratio-for-revisiting-classic-console-games-203926701.html?src=rss

OnlyFans is looking to cash out once again, but this time in a deal that would value it at several billion dollars less than a potential sale that previously fell through. As reported by TechCrunch, the online platform known for subscription-based pornographic content is in talks to sell a majority stake to Architect Capital, an investment firm based in San Francisco.

According to the report, the proposed deal includes $3.5 billion in equity and $2 billion in debt, which values OnlyFans at $5.5 billion. TechCrunch also reported that Architect Capital and OnlyFans are currently in exclusive talks, where the website's owner can't negotiate with other potential buyers for a certain amount of time.

With no set timeline yet for the deal, the deal is far from an official closing. Last year, OnlyFans' owner Leonid Radvinsky was also negotiating with another investment firm, Forest Road Company, to sell the platform. Although that deal never went through, the talks leading up to the sale valued OnlyFans at a much higher $8 billion. The London-based website, which still doesn't want to be known as just a porn site, is still growing and reported a nine percent increase in gross revenue for its 2024 fiscal year, earning more than $7.2 billion.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/social-media/onlyfans-is-reportedly-in-talks-to-sell-a-60-percent-stake-to-a-san-francisco-investment-firm-191842666.html?src=rss

Elon Musk and his aerospace company have requested to build a network that's 100 times the number of satellites that are currently in orbit. On Friday, SpaceX filed an application with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to launch a million satellites meant to create an "orbital data center." This isn't the first time we're hearing of Musk's plans to build an orbital data center, as it was mentioned by company insiders following the news that the CEO was reportedly preparing to take SpaceX public.

According to the filing spotted by PCMag, this data center would run off solar power and deliver computing capacity for artificial intelligence needs. SpaceX is requesting to "deploy a system of up to one million satellites to operate within narrow orbital shells spanning up to 50 km each," as detailed in the filing. According to SpaceX's filing, "orbital data centers are the most efficient way to meet the accelerating demand for AI computing power" since they use "solar power with little operating and maintenance costs."

To give some scale of the astronomical number of satellites SpaceX is asking for, the company recently hit a milestone of the 11,000th Starlink satellite launched. There aren't as many in orbit since the satellites can run into issues, but an unofficial website that tracks Starlink stats claims there are more than 9,600 satellites in orbit as of January 30, 2026. The FCC is likely to whittle down the amount that SpaceX is asking for in its filing, as the federal agency has done in the past. Earlier this month, the FCC approved SpaceX's request to deploy 7,500 more Starlink satellites, following another 7,500 launched in 2022. However, it's much less than the nearly 30,000 amount that SpaceX first asked for in 2020.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/science/space/spacex-wants-to-launch-a-constellation-of-a-million-satellites-to-power-ai-needs-175607771.html?src=rss