Apple patched a zero-day vulnerability affecting every iOS version since 1.0, used in what the company calls an "extremely sophisticated attack" against targeted individuals.…

Exploding memory prices are pushing corporate buyers to fast-track PC purchases before costs climb further.…

Capitalism cares about our species' prospects as much as a wolf cares about a lamb's. But democratise our economy and a better world is within our grasp

We have an urgent responsibility. Our existing economic system is incapable of addressing the social and ecological crises we face in the 21st century. When we look around we see an extraordinary paradox. On the one hand, we have access to remarkable new technologies and a collective capacity to produce more food, more stuff than we need or that the planet can afford. Yet at the same time, millions of people suffer in conditions of severe deprivation.

What explains this paradox? Capitalism. By capitalism we do not mean markets, trade and entrepreneurship, which have been around for thousands of years before the rise of capitalism. By capitalism we mean something very odd and very specific: an economic system that boils down to a dictatorship run by the tiny minority who control capital - the big banks, the major corporations and the 1% who own the majority of investible assets. Even if we live in a democracy and have a choice in our political system, our choices never seem to change the economic system. Capitalists are the ones who determine what to produce, how to use our labour and who gets to benefit. The rest of us - the people who are actually doing the production - do not get a say.

NASA has ended most science operations on its Swift observatory to keep the spacecraft in orbit a little longer.…

If you're old enough, you'll remember the British press constantly moaned about the 'nanny state' in the New Labour years. This is the term for when the government interferes in people's every day business to an unhealthy degree. And as we've seen this week, Nigel Farage is going to be the nanny state personified if he becomes PM.

First he was going after work-from-home; now he wants to tell you what you can and can't call oat milk:

When I first made this TikTok video in 2024 you all laughed at me.

Well, today the Supreme Court has ruled that 'oat milk' can no longer be called milk.

You're not laughing now are you! pic.twitter.com/WFQaEgNulO

— Nigel Farage MP (@Nigel_Farage) February 11, 2026

How about minding your business, feller?

Farage is referring to the Supreme Court ruling which decided you can't call oat milk 'milk' anymore. We have two thoughts on this:

• We're really spending time and money on this?
• We'll continue to call it oat milk out of habit, but we don't care either way - we have more important things to worry about.

In the video above, Farage says:

So I'm in a smart hotel in London; I've got a cup, I want some milk. Let's have a look. We've got semi-skimmed, I don't like that. Oat milk? What on Earth's that when it's at home. Almond milk. All I want's proper bloody milk, not left-wing options - proper milk. What's wrong with me asking for that?

You are an old man in a public breakfast room shouting at the coffee table; this isn't normal.

We're going to print this in big, bold letters so that it gets through:

IF THE THOUGHT OF OAT MILK UPSETS YOU, YOU ARE TOO EASILY UPSET.

This is absolute snowflake behaviour.

It's possibly the most snowflake anyone has ever been since Lee Anderson celebrated the conviction of his heckler.

And going further, there is nothing 'left-wing' about oat milk. Almond milk did not feature in the Communist Manifesto. Organised labour have never gone on strike to secure the right to coconut milk. Cashew milk is not a key tenet of Xi Jinping Thought.

Farage is doing two things here:

• Thinking that anything which wasn't common in his childhood is wrong by default because his brain is decaying.
• Thinking that anything he doesn't personally enjoy is 'left wing' because he's right wing.

As we mentioned, Mr Nanny is also telling people where they can and can't work. HG reported for the Canary:

Nigel Farage is going after work-from-home, in a hypocritical attempt to make it look like he's ever worked a day in his life.

Of course, Nigey isn't telling us that he previously employed his wife to work from home.

To make matters more infuriating, Reform UK also happens to employ people who work from home.

These people are going to be all up in your business while telling you to mind yours.

As is obvious from Farage's tweet, he's spent the past two years stewing on this. Do we really want this petty, small-minded dweeb in charge of the country?

Because let's be real - at this point, he's gonna want revenge for a lot more than just his opinions about milk.

Featured image via Trademark Room

By Willem Moore

Opposition parties and housing activists have denounced a new housing bill passed in the Dáil. People Before Profit (PBP) TD Paul Murphy described it as a "landlord's charter written by a landlord's government".

On the face of it, the housing bill seems to introduce a series of useful new protections for tenants. These include:

• No-fault evictions only allowed in very limited circumstances—for landlords with four tenancies or fewer who face certain forms of hardship such as financial difficulties or separation from a partner.
• A new minimum tenancy of six years that operates on a rolling basis.
• The whole of Ireland is treated as a Rent Pressure Zone (RPZ). This means that rents on tenants in-situ can only be raised by a maximum of 2% each year.

However, the right of landlords to raise rents for new tenancies or every six years is likely to still mean tenants pay extortionate sums, the key existing problem of the Irish housing crisis.

This was the thrust of Murphy's stance when he said:

This is a bill for rip-off rents. That's the purpose of it. It's not an accidental outcome of it, that's the purpose. The government strategy explicitly is to get rents to rise higher in order to attract more investment.

The government is indeed clear about this, with the minister for housing, local government and heritage James Browne saying:

I want to grow the supply of rental homes available - attract more landlords and retain existing landlords in the market. Providing the policy conditions for a sustained increase in supply is essential because it will help ease price pressures across the rental market, and will widen the pool of available rental properties, thereby facilitating greater choice for individuals and families.

So rather than proper public investment in housing, the government continues to trust in the private sector to solve a problem it has thus far totally failed at.

Tenants union CATU emphasised this, with organiser Helen Moynihan saying:

We have a really precarious housing setup that already overly relies on the private market, and now we're looking at legislation that will make that even more precarious. So we're especially concerned about the fact that landlords can raise [rent] to market [rate].

It's just it's really important not to get confused about this word supply. Houses that are not affordable for ordinary everyday workers do not increase supply. And this is the increase of the kind of properties we're going to see. They're not affordable for us. They're not supply for your everyday worker.

Housing charity Threshold pointed out how those moving home will be unfairly penalised:

Threshold is concerned that the option for landlords to set market rents between tenancies may result in an unintended consequence whereby renters, particularly those who need to move home, end up paying high rents within three to four years and see their overall rental security undermined.

We are not aware of any modelling done to determine the impact this change could have on market rent levels. The recent Threshold and Housing Rights NI all-island survey of renters shows that approximately 25% of renters in the Republic of Ireland left their last rental tenancy voluntarily. Market trends already show tenants who move home pay higher rents, this will only be exacerbated by the proposed legislation.

Protesters rallied outside the Dáil as the housing bill was 'debated', though in reality only:

…nine of 69 amendments that had been put forward by opposition parties were discussed.

The government accepted none of these, and Sinn Féin housing spokesperson Eoin Ó Broin described the ramming through of the bill as a:

…truly appalling way to make legislation.

Party leader Mary Lou McDonald raised the spectre of Irish people once again fleeing abroad as so many previous generations have, saying:

Seven thousand Irish medical professionals were registered to work in Australia last year. If your bill goes through, we will lose many many more. Because the rent hikes will be off the charts.

Predictably, landlords were unhappy at even the limited concessions being made to tenants. The Irish Property Owners Association (IPOA) said:

At the Irish Property Owners Association, we're concerned that, as it stands, the Bill could unintentionally push more private landlords out of the market and reduce rental supply even further.

They continued:

Tenants need security and certainty, and that matters. But landlords also need clarity, fair treatment and confidence that they can manage or sell their properties when circumstances change. If too many landlords feel boxed in, the reality is they may sell up - leaving fewer homes, less choice and more pressure on renters.

In other words, won't someone think of the poor landlords, the people who typically own multiple properties? They may have a point, though—if landlords get fed up, supply may indeed evaporate. That's not an argument for giving in to their demands. It's a reason to scrap a system that treats housing as a commodity, and relies  heavily on the whims of those looking to turn a profit from something that should be a basic human right.

Featured image via Unsplash/the Canary

By Robert Freeman

In war, death is usually a number. Not every casualty in Gaza has been identified however. The graves of women, children, and men lay empty and the burning question is not how they died but where they are? Where are their remains?

A documentary by Al Jazeera Arabic — The Rest of the Story — names the phenomenon 'evaporation.' They document 2,842 cases of Palestinians who have disappeared since October 2023. The victims have received no burials. With no bodies found, there have been no funerals either. Members of the Gaza Civil Defence who feature in the documentary underline Israel's use of lethal thermal and thermo-pressurised munitions. This is used to account for the missing.

According to Mahmoud Basal, spokesperson for the Gaza Civil Defence, these latest figures are the result of intricate fieldwork.

Recovery specialists have been matching the number of people inside the building that were targeted with the number of bodies recovered.

For example, when a family reports that five people were in the house, but only three bodies are found after extensive searches, the remaining two cases are recorded as missing persons.

Military experts have highlighted differences between thermo-pressurised weapons from conventional explosives. They reportedly scatter a cloud of fuel that ignites. This creates a fireball and a powerful shock wave within enclosed spaces. The result is multiplying the effects of heat, suffocation, and detonation compounded into a single moment.

It also refers to the use of explosive materials containing a mixture of TNT and aluminium powder, which raises the temperature of the explosion to very high levels within seconds. According to health officials in Gaza, featured in the documentary, exposure to extreme heat and pressure can lead to rapid tissue decomposition. This happens especially in enclosed spaces, where the effect of the heat wave is magnified.

The report named specific types of bombs, including MK-84, BLU-109 and GBU-39, noting their technical characteristics. This applies both in terms of their ability to penetrate buildings before detonation and to generate intense internal shockwaves. It also reported finding metal remnants at some sites attributed to these munitions.

Legal experts who spoke to Al Jazeera Arabic condemned the use of weapons that do not distinguish between combatants and civilians. This, if proven, would constitute grave violations of international humanitarian law.

The issue of the responsibility of arms-exporting countries was also raised, given the continued flow of ammunition during the war. This comes in parallel with provisional measures issued by the International Court of Justice. It opens up the issue of accountability beyond the battlefield.

But behind the numbers, the story is one of despair and indignity, as families continue to search for their loves ones — or least what remains of them.

A mother waiting for her son's body to bury him. A father carrying a small bag of remains said to belong to his children. And hundreds of homes that have found nothing to say goodbye to.

In Gaza, loss is no longer a scene of mourning. Sometimes loss is a complete void, a heavy silence, a question hanging in the air — how can a person disappear without a trace?

Featured image via the Canary

By Alaa Shamali

Cybercriminals are turning supply chain attacks into an industrial-scale operation, linking breaches, credential theft, and ransomware into a "self-reinforcing" ecosystem, researchers say.…

Know Your Acids There are four main powdered acids used in cocktails.

Citric Acid
Citric acid occurs naturally in lemons and limes, so it's an obvious choice when boosting, or approximating, citrus flavor. 

Malic Acid
Malic acid, which is found in berries, grapes and stone fruit, is sour, yet milder than citric acid, often described as crisp, and offers the tang of a Granny Smith apple.

Lactic Acid
Lactic acid is formed through fermentation and is the compound that gives yogurt its tanginess. Mixing with this acid brings a creaminess to drinks and makes them feel rounder and fuller.

Tartaric Acid
Tartaric acid, similar to the cream of tartar used in culinary applications, occurs naturally but also forms in the winemaking process. In cocktails, it can add brightness without the flavor of citrus.

In recent years, acid-adjusting—the method of adding powdered acids to cocktails—has followed in the footsteps of clarification and fat-washing: It's not just for the most high-tech bars, and it's everywhere now. Though powdered citric, malic, lactic and tartaric acids are not exactly pantry staples, they can be easily acquired online and take a lot of the prep out of home bartending. With a few in your arsenal, you can make a Daiquiri pop, easily brighten a batched drink or impart a rounder, silkier texture to sweeteners. To get started, here are three ways to use them in your home bar, and the recipes to try them in.

Acid-Adjusted Juice
While acids can stand in for lemon or lime in a pinch, some bartenders feel that replacing them altogether in citrusy drinks yields a cocktail that feels too thin. Instead, to achieve the right viscosity, combine powdered acids with less-tart juices to make them pop in a drink. For example, to make the Multiverse, a revamped take on the Universe from the 1970s, Shannan Lynch calls on acid-adjusted pineapple and orange juices to up their tanginess, while Garret Richard's Daiquiri-inspired Isle Delfino adjusts bittersweet grapefruit juice with citric acid. The technique can work for noncitrus juices, too, like cherry, watermelon, or lychee to balance fruit-forward recipes.

Open Source Policy Summit 2026 SUSE recommends that companies should run on FOSS - but an accidental revelation from a company exec, live on stage, reveals it doesn't practice what it preaches. It's not alone.…

After warnings from lawmakers last year, WhatsApp has been blocked in Russia for as many as 100 million users, the Financial Times reported. Russian authorities removed the app from an online directory, effectively wiping it from Russia's internet. The government has previously said that it wants users to switch to an app called Max, an unencrypted WeChat clone. 

"Today the Russian government has attempted to fully block WhatsApp in an effort to drive users to a state-owned surveillance app," Meta told the FT in a statement. "Trying to isolate over 100 million people from private and secure communication is a backwards step and can only lead to less safety for people in Russia."

The Russian government deleted WhatsApp rival Telegram yesterday, while also erasing Meta apps Facebook and Instagram. YouTube access was also reportedly degraded, though it's not clear if the app has been completely removed. 

In July 2025, a Russian lawmaker who regulates the IT industry said it's very likely that WhatsApp would be placed on a list of restricted software. Parent Meta has been designated as an extremist organization in Russia, and last year Vladimir Putin issued a directive for the nation to further restrict communication apps originating from "unfriendly countries" that have sanctioned Russia. 

The state has said that an in-house app would protect citizens from fraud and terrorism, given the large number of scammers on WhatsApp in the nation. However, restrictions on Telegram haven't gone over well domestically, even among Putin's allies, as residents along Ukraine's borders have relied on it for drone and missile alerts. "I am concerned that slowing Telegram could affect the flow of information, if the situation deteriorates," said the governor of one of those regions.  

The UK government claims a new Telecoms Consumer Charter will stop customers being hit by unexpected bill increases and offer clearer pricing when signing up to deals.…

The UK Ministry of Defence (MoD) is offering between £270,000 to £300,000 for a senior digital leader who will oversee more than £4.6 billion in spending and more than 3,000 specialist staff.…

Huge thanks to my February sponsor, John Rember, author of the three-book series Journal of the Plague Years, a psychic survival guide for humanity's looming date with destiny, shaped by his experiences living through the pandemic in his native Idaho. Thoughtful, wry and humane, Journal 1 is a pleasure.

Thank you, all, for bearing with me in my absence, and to Kali for covering so ably.

"Scientists thought they understood global warming. Then the past three years happened.

"…in the last few years, something changed. 2023, 2024 and 2025 were far warmer than the previous trend… "There is greater acceptance now that there is a detectable acceleration of warming," said Zeke Hausfather, a climate scientist…"

https://www.washingtonpost.com/climate-environment/interactive/2026/climate-change-temperature-rate-accelerating/

"We are changing the climate of our planet faster than in the known history of our world.

"Methane reached a record high of 1946.5 ppb! That's already much higher than the peak of the mid range climate scenario (SSP2-4.5)!"

[Leon Simons]

https://x.com/LeonSimons8/status/2021419093769978119

"Point of no return: a hellish 'hothouse Earth' getting closer, scientists say.

"The world is closer than thought to a "point of no return" after which runaway global heating cannot be stopped, scientists have said. Continued global heating could trigger climate tipping points, leading to a cascade of further tipping points and feedback loops, they said."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/11/point-of-no-return-hothouse-earth-global-heating-climate-tipping-points

"Despite Eastern U.S. cold, January 2026 was one of the world's warmest Januaries on record…

"Africa had its warmest January; Oceana, its third-warmest; North America, its sixth-warmest; and South America, its ninth-warmest. Asia had above-average temperatures, while Europe was near average in temperature."

https://yaleclimateconnections.org/2026/02/despite-eastern-u-s-cold-january-2026-was-one-of-the-warmest-januaries-on-record/

"Greenland ice melt opens sea routes for critical minerals.

"Record sea temperatures and sea ice lows near Greenland in January followed Arctic air temperatures soaring up to 15°C above average in parts of the region, with experts warning of security implications."

https://www.ft.com/content/e3b8c6fd-e55c-49d5-b727-59d7e4104174

"2024 recorded the most negative mass balance at Aldegondabreen (Svalbard) since end of the Little Ice Age!

"As of 2025, the glacier's mean ice thickness has been estimated at 39 m (33 m w.e.). The loss of 10 m w.e. in just the last 5 yrs is a dramatic change!" [Melaine Le Roy]

https://x.com/subfossilguy/status/2021665992322298133

"Misery for many as rain falls for 40 days in some parts of UK…

"People who live in parts of Devon, Cornwall and Worcestershire have been dodging deluges or showers for 40 days - the same number of days that it rained in the Bible's Noah's ark story…"

https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2026/feb/10/misery-for-many-as-rain-falls-for-40-days-in-some-parts-of-uk

"British bread under threat as wheat fields flooded…

"Wheat plants can only withstand being submerged in water for four days before experiencing significant damage but some farms have experienced rain every day of the year so far."

https://www.telegraph.co.uk/business/2026/02/12/british-bread-under-threat-wheat-fields-flooded/

"The 'culture war' on net zero: Why have Brits stopped supporting climate policies?

"…The UK's "sense of urgency" on achieving net zero and supporting climate policies has taken a drastic tumble, according to a new survey. In 2021, surveys found that 54 per cent of the British public believed the UK government should achieve net zero before the 2050 target. Now, this has fallen to just 29 per cent."

https://www.euronews.com/green/2026/02/12/the-culture-war-on-net-zero-why-have-brits-stopped-supporting-climate-policies

"Portugal floods force 3,000 evacuations as motorway collapses and interior minister resigns.

"At least 15 people died in weeks of storms in Portugal, as fresh flooding forced the evacuation of around 3,000 residents, triggered the collapse of a motorway, and led to the resignation of the interior minister."

https://www.independent.co.uk/climate-change/news/portugal-flooding-weather-evacuation-deaths-damage-b2918805.html

"Coimbra in crisis; "Dam can't take any more water"…

"Authorities in Coimbra have been working to avoid today's crisis for weeks. But suddenly it is looking as if the Aguieira dam can take no more water. With no let up in rainfall expected in the next few hours, the probability is of a rupture: millions of litres of water spilling into parts of the region."

https://www.portugalresident.com/coimbra-in-crisis-dam-cant-take-any-more-water/

"Parts of Spain just saw a year's worth of rain in 20 days…

"In the mountainous southwestern part of the country, Grazalema — in the Andalusia region — has recorded over 90 inches of rain so far this year, including 78 inches in just the last 20 days alone. Meteorologist Nahel Belgherze called it a "hydrologically absurd" amount."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/weather/2026/02/10/grazalema-spain-record-rain/

"EXTRAORDINARY EVENT. "EUROPEAN CLIMATIC HISTORY TOTALLY REWRITTEN:

"SUMMER IN SPAIN - TROPICAL NIGHTS: National record of February highest Minimum 20.9 [69.6F] Aguilas. Dozens of records pulverized with insane margins."

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2021606060239241392

"Tornado frequency in Türkiye increases by approximately 60% due to climate change.

"Professor Murat Turkes says number of tornadoes, affected areas in Türkiye increase with climate change, threatening greenhouse farming. Tornadoes, whose number and intensity increase with climate change, affect agricultural production, especially greenhouse farming."

https://www.aa.com.tr/en/greenline/agriculture/tornado-frequency-in-turkiye-increases-by-approximately-60-due-to-climate-change/1829177

"Morocco struggles to evacuate thousands amid unprecedented floods.

"The Moroccan army has provided helicopters, military trucks, fast boats, drones, bulldozers and other equipment to reach isolated villages in the country's northwest."

https://middle-east-online.com/en/morocco-struggles-evacuate-thousands-amid-unprecedented-floods

"Torrential rain destroys Homes in Asante Jamasi [Ghana]…

"in a related development, a devastating windstorm swept through Nkodum in the Akontombra District of the Western North Region on Monday, February 2, 2026, at about 4:00 p.m., ripping off the roofs of 37 buildings and affecting at least 135 residents."

https://www.ghanaweb.com/GhanaHomePage/NewsArchive/Torrential-rain-destroys-Homes-disrupts-school-in-Asante-Jamasi-2021143

"Three Key South African Cities Hit by Water-Supply Shortages…

"Officials said water supply was low in Pretoria because of depleted levels at key reservoirs, which were unable to keep up with consumer demand amid high summer temperatures."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2026-02-10/three-key-south-african-cities-hit-by-water-supply-shortages

"'Monstrous': Cyclone Gezani hits Madagascar, leaving at least 31 dead…

"Authorities issued red alerts for several regions warning of possible floods and landslides as the storm made landfall late Tuesday with wind speeds of more than 195km/h (121 mph). It then roared across the large island of 31 million people…"

https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2026/2/11/monstrous-cyclone-gezani-hits-madagascar-with-reports-of-severe-damage

"EXTRAORDINARY EVENT:

"Thousands of records are being pulverized with extreme margins all over… North Africa and Middle East. Iraq, Iran and Kuwait are having their hottest February night in history."

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/202142410032201751

"During the Chinese New Year period, a crazy and prolonged super warming will sweep across East Asia.

"Around February 15th & 20th, many parts of China will break the record for the highest temperature in February!"

https://x.com/yangyubin1998/status/2021546851980525786

"Six all-time cold records broken in one day as death toll from record snow climbs to 46, Japan.

"At least six locations in Japan recorded record-breaking cold on the morning of February 9, 2026, as temperatures fell below -3°C (26.6°F) for the first time since 1984. The death toll from the record-breaking snowfall since January 20 has climbed to 46 as of February 10."

https://watchers.news/2026/02/10/six-all-time-cold-records-broken-in-one-day-as-death-toll-from-record-snow-climbs-to-46-japan/

"Indonesia's BNPB warns 108 watersheds in critical condition.

"The National Disaster Mitigation Agency (BNPB) revealed that 108 river drainage basins (DAS) across Indonesia are in critical condition and may trigger recurring disasters if landscape rehabilitation and ecosystem restoration are not carried out."

https://en.antaranews.com/news/403962/indonesias-bnpb-warns-108-watersheds-in-critical-condition

"Slow-moving landslide damages hundreds of homes in Padasari, Central Java, Indonesia.

"A slow-moving landslide has damaged hundreds of homes in Padasari village, Tegal, Central Java, Indonesia, forcing large-scale evacuations since early February 2026. Local reporting indicates that ground deformation remains active, preventing residents from returning to affected areas."

https://watchers.news/2026/02/10/slow-moving-landslide-damages-hundreds-of-homes-in-padasari-central-java-indonesia

"Millions of litres lost: fire and drought leave north-east farmers on the brink [Victoria].

"After more than two years of drought, and a catastrophic bushfire that ravaged more than 140,000 hectares, farmers in north-east Victoria say water is now their biggest concern."

https://www.stockandland.com.au/story/9171640/north-east-victorias-farmers-face-a-severe-water-crisis/

"4 lessons NZ should take from another summer of weather disasters.

"Another summer of extreme weather has destroyed and damaged homes, cut off communities and, in the most tragic cases, left families mourning their loved ones. It reminds us that New Zealand is one of the most natural-hazard-exposed countries on Earth."

https://theconversation.com/4-lessons-nz-should-take-from-another-summer-of-weather-disasters-275437

"Widespread loss of marine sponges possible if heat waves intensify by just 1°C [New Zealand]…

"Marine heat waves are increasing as the climate warms. In 2022, a marine heat wave was linked to the mass bleaching of more than 50 million Cymbastella lamellata sponges in Fiordland and caused almost half to die."

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-widespread-loss-marine-sponges-1c.html

"Climate crisis linked to fall in southern right whale birth rates as researchers raise 'warning signal'.

"After decades of recovery, southern right whales are showing signs of a climate-driven decline in breeding rates, which scientists say is a "warning signal" about changes in the Southern Ocean."

https://www.theguardian.com/environment/2026/feb/11/climate-crisis-southern-right-whale-birth-rates

"Some of world's oldest trees hit by climate-fuelled wildfires in Patagonia…

"Dr Juan Antonio Rivera, of the National Scientific and Technical Research Council in Mendoza, Argentina, who is part of the WWA team, said: "Ancient forests were devastated, as was the unique biodiversity in the area."

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/feb/11/climate-fuelled-wildfires-patagonia-argentina-chile-oldest-trees

"Record heat again in PARAGUAY:

"40.0C [104F] at Quyquyhó tied again its record of highest temperature ever recorded in February. Over 42C in The Chaco and more heat to come in the next 3 weeks."

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2021779541170266140

"At least six people have been killed and five others injured in landslides caused by heavy rains in southeastern Brazil, local authorities said Tuesday.

"The tragedies were reported in Minas Gerais and Rio de Janeiro states. Children were among the victims, according to the authorities."

https://english.news.cn/20260211/8528bc306aa045f5ba00dc201755b385/c.html

"Torrential rain in Colombia kills 22, thousands displaced…

""We've lost everything, all our belongings, all our appliances. And we are very worried because we don't know what will happen," Enid Gomez, who lives in Cordoba's capital Monteria, told AFP."

https://english.alarabiya.net/amp/News/world/2026/02/10/torrential-rain-in-colombia-kills-22-thousands-displaced-

"NEVER ENDING RECORD HEAT IN MEXICO:

"Absolute insane hot nights continue, never happened in winter: Minimum 23.0C [73.4F] at Mazatlan - hottest winter night in history. Sinaloa and Sonora States have broken all warm nights records non-stop every month of 2025 and now 2026 with huge margins."

https://x.com/extremetemps/status/2020879504277983317

"Tampa Bay watering limits tighten as Florida drought deepens.

"A drought has taken hold across Florida, with some areas experiencing extreme conditions… "The driest fall-winter period to date since record keeping in much of the Tampa Bay Area and other parts of Florida as well [Jeff Berardelli]."

https://www.axios.com/local/tampa-bay/2026/02/10/florida-drought-2026-watering-restrictions

"Sixth year of drought in Texas and Oklahoma leaves ranchers bracing for another harsh summer…

"Many cattle producers and rangelands were still recovering from a severe 2010-2015 drought when a flash drought hit western Texas in spring 2020, marking the beginning of the current multibillion-dollar, multiyear and multistate drought."

https://theconversation.com/sixth-year-of-drought-in-texas-and-oklahoma-leaves-ranchers-bracing-for-another-harsh-summer-275219

"Western US gripped by extreme snow drought: 'I've never seen a winter like this'.

"A record snow drought is plaguing the western US, leaving some of the thirstiest states bracing for less water and elevated fire risks through the drier months to come… The dire conditions are fueled by an extremely warm winter, according to federal forecasters…"

https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2026/feb/11/snow-drought-oregon-colorado-utah

"'Unprecedented fires, unprecedented response': Chaffee Fire's wildland division expands to meet community, environmental needs [Colorado]...

""It's becoming the perfect storm," Chaffee County Fire Protection District Wildland Division Captain Ben Brack said. "Whatever the cause, I think we can all agree it's getting warmer and drier…"

https://www.chaffeecountytimes.com/news/chaffee-county-wildland-fire-protection/article_0ca9fd40-d190-49c9-8e45-67b989697b66.html

"Three days left: Arizona faces deeper Colorado River cuts as federal deadline looms.

"Arizona and six other southwestern states have just three days to reach an agreement on sharing Colorado River water before the federal government steps in with its own plan."

https://www.yahoo.com/news/videos/three-days-left-az-faces-015106125.html

"Hurricane Helene did not shift US climate views or votes, study finds…

"This is shown in a new study from the University of Gothenburg. "Attitudes unchanged: no support for increased climate change beliefs, concerns, or voting intentions after Hurricane Helene" is published in Environmental Research Communications."

https://phys.org/news/2026-02-hurricane-helene-shift-climate-views.html

"Trump to undo legal basis for US climate rules.

"President Donald Trump is poised Thursday to revoke a landmark scientific finding that greenhouse gases endanger public health by driving climate change — a determination that underpins US regulations aimed at curbing planet-warming pollution."

https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20260212-trump-to-undo-legal-basis-for-us-climate-rules

"Wildfires in northern Alaska are the worst they've been in 3,000 years.

"An analysis of peatland soil samples and satellite images has found that wildfires on Alaska's North Slope are more frequent and severe now than they were at any point over the past 3,000 years."

https://www.livescience.com/planet-earth/arctic/wildfires-in-northern-alaska-are-the-worst-theyve-been-in-3-000-years

"Over half of world's coral reefs are bleached; 'irreversible' damage warned: study…

""Ocean warming is increasing the frequency, extent, and severity of tropical-coral bleaching and mortality," researchers, including C. Mark Eakin, an oceanographer with the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, wrote in the new report published Feb. 10."

https://eu.usatoday.com/story/news/world/2026/02/11/coral-reef-bleaching-study-death/88621624007/

""This engine is grinding to a halt" - Nature slowing down as climate change gains pace.

"The findings suggest that a lack of change in local species composition should not be mistaken for stability or ecosystem health. Instead, the widespread slowdown may indicate that the internal engines of biodiversity are losing momentum due to the depletion of regional life."

https://www.qmul.ac.uk/media/news/2026/science-and-engineering/se/this-engine-is-grinding-to-a-halt—nature-slowing-down-as-climate-change-gains-pace.htm

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You can read the previous "Climate" thread here. I'll be back tomorrow with an "Economic" thread.

The post 12th February 2026 Today's Round-Up of Climate News appeared first on Climate and Economy.

Marineland Antibes, the French government and animal welfare groups all agree on the need to rehome the listless killer whales but no one can agree where

In a sprawling aquarium complex in south-eastern France that once drew half a million visitors a year, only a few dozen people now move between pools that contain the last remaining marine mammals of Marineland Antibes. Weeds grow on walkways, the stands are empty and algae grows in the pools, giving the water a greenish hue.

It is here that Wikie and Keijo, a mother and son pair of orcas, are floating. They were born in these pools, and for decades they performed in shows for crowds. But since the park's closure in January 2025, they no longer have an audience. When they are alone, they "log", or float at the water's surface, according to a court-ordered report released last April.

Vinyl records are firmly back in rotation, but getting started does not have to mean spending a fortune or building a complicated hi-fi stack from day one. Whether you want a simple, all-in-one setup with built-in speakers or you are piecing together a more traditional system with a separate amplifier, the best record player is the one that fits how you listen at home.

For this guide, we focused on high-quality turntables under $600 that deliver a satisfying listening experience without unnecessary complexity. These picks cover everything from beginner-friendly automatic models to more audiophile-leaning decks that prioritize sound quality and upgrade potential, proving you do not need to jump into the high-end to enjoy vinyl properly.

This is about as basic as it gets, unless you opt for the AT-LP60X which ditches the Bluetooth connectivity. This is a perfectly decent option for someone just getting into vinyl, but if you spend a little more for the AT-LP70X, you won't be in quite as big of a hurry to upgrade once you surrender to the obsession.

The Alva ST has a refined design that made me want to keep it out in my living room longer than many of the models on this list. The controls are limited on the top to power and individual options for 33 and 45 RPM speeds. Everything else is on the back panel, including Bluetooth pairing and preamp buttons. To complete the look, Cambridge Audio opted for a 1mm aluminium top plate, which sits on an MDF plinth with a layer of EVA to absorb vibrations in between.

While the overall audio performance on the Alva ST is warm and inviting, there is a lack of detail across genres. I've noticed albums don't have a particularly wide soundstage, and songs lack their normal punch at times, so some sound compressed compared to when they're played on other turntables. Additionally, the free swinging tone arm needs more resistance so it's not so prone to dropping on a record immediately if it slips out of your fingers when you have the cueing lever down. Since this turntable is fully manual operation, I felt a bit of peril every time I went to lower the needle. (The price increased during testing for this guide.)

Denon's DP-300F is a mixed bag. On one hand, you get the convenience of fully automatic operation, dedicated speed and record size buttons and somewhat refined design. There are also some confounding decisions though, like the permanently affixed cables, the preamp switch being under the platter and the overall midrange build quality for a $500 turntable. The sound from the preamp and Denon's cartridge has a clear lack of depth and detail that almost any model at this price should offer.

The first question you'll need to ask yourself when looking for a turntable is how you plan to use it. Are you into vinyl for the ritual? If you simply like the concept of physical media, having to flip a record to finish it or the need to intentionally swap out an album when it's done, that's just fine. You probably can make do with a more affordable turntable since overall sound quality may not be a main concern. If you crave the warmth of analog sound, and you want the collection you've invested in to sound its best, you'll need to consider something with better specs. 

You'll also need to account for where and how you're going to listen to vinyl. Are you planning to connect this turntable to headphones or Bluetooth speakers? Do you have shelf or tower speakers you're going to use? Are you willing to invest in a dedicated preamp or would you rather a new turntable come with one built in? All of these questions will impact your buying decision — even the Bluetooth codecs, if you're going the wireless route.

If you're just getting into vinyl, an automatic turntable will save you a lot of stress. These are the models that place the stylus for you — all you have to do is push a button. When you get to the end of the record, the turntable will also return the tonearm to its resting spot automatically. Or, if you need to stop your session mid-side, there's a button for that too. 

Some turntables have semi-automatic operation. Maybe they can't place the needle for you, but they do have an automatic stop when a side of a record is complete. This auto stop, which sometimes comes with an on/off switch, can prevent unnecessary wear on your stylus and vinyl. Plus, many turntables with automatic operation allow you to take control if you need to drop the stylus in a certain place (that's not the beginning of the record) or if you have a die-cut vinyl (like the It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown soundtrack). 

Then there's the fully manual option. Here, you're solely responsible for placing the tonearm and taking it off when the music stops. A lot of turntables have a cue lever to assist with the process, and a lot of tonearms have a mechanism that lowers them slowly rather than violently dropping them on a record. This adds one more step to the ritual, and it's one many purists prefer. 

The biggest decision you'll need to make in terms of a preamp is to decide if you want one built into your turntable or if you'd rather use a separate one. It can be very convenient, especially for beginners, to use a built-in component to amplify the signal from the turntable before it hits any speakers or headphones. The downside is that you're left with what the company provides from the factory, so if you're looking to upgrade, you'll have to disable the preamp inside. On most turntables, there's a switch that allows you to do this, so it's no trouble. But, opting to skip the preamp on some models could save you money that could be invested elsewhere. 

A dedicated preamp typically uses higher-quality components and reduces noise by keeping internal parts properly separated. More robust models may even provide controls for things like tone or multiple inputs, while the basic options will simply allow you to plug in, play and forget it. If you're after the best possible clarity and realism from your record collection, we'd recommend a dedicated preamp right from the start. 

The next item you'll want to consider is if the turntable you're eyeing can be upgraded in the future. The best way to do this is by swapping out the cartridge. Most turntables allow you to do this but there are some that don't, so you'll need to pay attention to this detail. Upgrading the cartridge down the road is a great way to improve overall sound quality without having to buy a new turntable, new speakers or a new amp. 

There are two main types of turntables: belt drive and direct drive. All of the models we tested for this guide are belt drive, which means there's a thin belt that connects the platter to the motor to make the thing spin. Direct drive turntables are widely used by DJs and Technics was the first to make them. Here, the motor is directly under the platter and connected to it directly so the setup is less prone to wearing out. This is especially key when you're doing things like scratching. Direct-drive turntables tend to be more expensive than their belt-driven counterparts.

Most turntables will include a counterweight on the tonearm and some form of anti-skate control. Both of these help keep the stylus in place with the correct amount of pressure, all to ensure proper operation with minimal wear on your records. Sometimes the anti-skate elements are built into the tonearm while other models offer a dedicated dial on the surface of the plinth. The ability to adjust both of these can help you fine-tune the performance of your turntable over time, which may be necessary after upgrading the cartridge or other components. 

Some final items you'll want to evaluate on a prospective turntable purchase include the materials used for the base (plinth), platter and even the feet. Cheaper turntables may be mostly plastic affairs while more expensive models can use solid MDF (medium-density fibreboard) for the plinth. A lot of turntables have aluminum platters with a felt pad while others may feature a thick acrylic version. And while entry-level turntables may have small, plastic feet, premium models come with larger, adjustable, rubberized feet for better vibration isolation. While some of these come down to personal preference — a frosted acrylic platter looks really nice — there are some performance boosts to be gained depending on how the company uses the components.

Since most turntables under $600 meet the criteria for entry-level through midrange, we tested every model with a set of Audio-Technica AT-SP3X powered speakers. These offer balanced sound for turntables with a 1.1-inch tweeter and 3-inch woofer in each unit. And at $269, they won't break the bank if you need speakers for your new turntable and they'll provide ample sound performance even if you spend more than our budget on a new deck.

For all of our test units that didn't have a built-in preamp, we used the Fluance PA-10. At $100, it's an affordable upgrade if you're looking to bypass a turntable's included components or if you're looking to go more analog with your turntable purchase. There are no buttons or controls, just connect your turntable, speakers and ground wire (if you're using one) and you're ready to go. It's simple, straightforward and inexpensive, so it's a great option for beginners and more experienced vinyl collectors alike. 

In terms of performance testing, we play a variety of genres on each turntable to evaluate sound quality. We also carefully examine the overall experience of putting a record on, setting the speed, placing the tonearm and more, which allows us to judge how well each turntable will work for users at different experience levels. Lastly, we take notes on design and components, comparing those elements from each turntable with our other test subjects to make our recommendations.

Apple's in-house studio will be producing the future seasons of Severance, according to Deadline. The company has reportedly acquired the show's IP and all rights from its original studio, Fifth Season, back in December in a deal that was worth approximately $70 million. Fifth Season will remain as an executive producer, but Apple Studios will now be in charge of the show. Severance will be one of Apple's marquee titles, alongside other shows like Owen Wilson's Stick and Kristen Wiig's Palm Royale. Apple also previously acquired sci-fi dystopian series Silo after its first season.

Deadline reports that the show's production costs were going beyond what Fifth Season could afford. The studio had already asked Apple for advances in the past and was considering moving the production from New York to Canada for bigger tax rebates. Apple has also apparently been helping Fifth Season not just with its budget, but also with securing advertisers.

Seeing as the second season of Severance became the streamer's most watched series, and Apple definitely has the money to keep the show going, the company decided to take over the series completely. It will allow Severance's production to stay in New York without having to worry about budget constraints. Deadline says the series is expected to have four seasons, with the spinoffs showrunner Dan Erickson and director Ben Stiller are open to now being in the realm of possibility.

Many questions remain unanswered heading into the 2026 WorldSSP season, after big rider moves and a new manufacturer joining the fray

The Portuguese MotoGP star has a new home in WorldSBK with the German manufacturer and is already being hailed as one of this season's big profiles

Most UK government departments have spent little or nothing with social media platform X since July 2024 following an unpublished 2023 evaluation by the Cabinet Office. But the Department for Education has bucked the trend, spending £27,118.…

Foto: Heritage & Legends 

Doyne Farmer says a super-simulator of the global economy would accelerate the transition to a green, clean world

It's a mind-blowing idea: an economic model of the world in which every company is individually represented, making realistic decisions that change as the economy changes. From this astonishing complexity would emerge forecasts of unprecedented clarity. These would be transformative: no more flying blind into global financial crashes, no more climate policies that fail to shift the dial.

This super simulator could be built for what Prof Doyne Farmer calls the bargain price of $100m, thanks to advances in complexity science and computing power.

Torcross, Devon: 2026 has been defined by storms here. My job of repairing a thatched roof is simple compared with the wider recovery

During the storm, the waves sounded like bombs going off under the house, Bonni Breeze Lincoln tells me. She lives on the seafront of Torcross, a Devon village that is accustomed to weathering storms, but even she is not used to waves shattering her storm shutters, or sending seawater down the chimney.

I've come to Torcross to repair the thatch on Bonni's roof. Up the ladder, I tie bundles of reed, called "wads", to pack them into the holes; the thatch is riddled with shingle, fragments of seaweed and even limpet shells. Looking down the seafront to torn up paving slabs and slate roofs that yawn open to the sky, it's clear that this house - the oldest in the village - has come off comparatively well. The soft, springy nature of thatch allows it to absorb even the impact of breaking waves.

In the second pod of 2026, John and Luke dive into the game changing waters of Missy Elliott's third album

Missy Elliott (along with Timbaland) meets The Quietus' benchmark for genius, not necessarily via the route of producing three all time great albums in a row but as someone who changed popular music decisively, twice. And it is the exemplification of the second of these occasions, the stupendous Miss E... So Addictive album from 2001, which creates the Low Culture conversational glue of this months' podcast. John and Luke consider the scenius of late 80s early 90s Virginia (compared to Oslo in the same period!) and the years of hard graft that eventually made Missy Elliott and Timbaland's talent look so effortlessly achieved....

The post Low Culture Podcast: Missy Elliott's Miss E… So Addictive appeared first on The Quietus.

The debut album from the North Carolina-born singer-songwriter-producer, finds the digital age's only medieval princess bursting with ideas and cartoonish intensity. Truly, Hemlocke Springs contains multitudes

Those among us who harbour a secret fondness for 'Be Prepared' - Jeremy Irons' delicious villain song in The Lion King - may well have pricked their ears last October when Hemlocke Springs released her single 'Heads, Shoulders, Knees and Ankles'. It's a demented tune, opening with a sped-up Nutcracker tinkle that gives way to an infectious romp, stuffed with cartoonish sound effects and ripe, expressive vocals: a song that sounds a bit like Scar on steroids, or Scar if he was releasing pop music from his lion's cave in 2026.

The song's nursery-rhyme-meets-antiquated-fetish title harks...

The post Et In Arcadia Emo: The Apple Tree Under The Sea by Hemlocke Springs appeared first on The Quietus.

Charles Tyler Ensemble

Voyage from Jericho

Former Cecil Taylor side man brings together a band featuring Steve Reid and Earl Cross for a thrilling document of the New York loft jazz scene in the 1970s

Voyage from Jericho by Charles Tyler Ensemble

Released 51 years ago on Charles Tyler's own Ak-Ba records, Voyage From Jericho captures a period when Downtown Manhattan lofts resonated to the sounds of a jazz avant-garde determined to do things on its own terms. Frederiksberg Records' sumptuous reissue, complete with photographs, flyers and deeply researched liner notes by jazz scholar Cisco Bradley, brings this essential part of Tyler's discography back into circulation. A brilliant alto and baritone saxophonist, Tyler is perhaps best known for his contributions to Albert Ayler's transcendent...

The post Charles Tyler Ensemble - Voyage from Jericho appeared first on The Quietus.

A Chinese government hacking group that has been sanctioned for targeting America's critical infrastructure used Google's AI chatbot, Gemini, to auto-analyze vulnerabilities and plan cyberattacks against US organizations, the company says.…