Tech

After decades on Linux, FreeBSD finally gave me a reason to switch

A report from Zdnet says FreeBSD is among the most stable operating systems but is more challenging to use than Linux. FreeBSD is a Unix-like OS descended from the Berkeley Software Distribution and maintains a complete system — kernel, device drivers, userland utilities, and documentation — in contrast to Linux, which provides

Culture

Finding Harmony review – a fawning King Charles documentary

A review in Theguardian says Amazon's documentary Finding Harmony: A King’s Vision presents an uncritical profile of King Charles and is, the reviewer argues, intensely frustrating to watch. The piece describes a fawning tone that frames the core message as: the world is in trouble because people

Culture

Ransom deadline passes as search for Nancy Guthrie continues

Pagesix reports the first deadline for one ransom note in the case of Savannah Guthrie’s missing mother, Nancy, passed when a purported captor demanded a “transfer” by 5 p.m. MT (7 p.m. ET) on Feb. 5. As the deadline passed, Savannah’s brother Camron posted a social-media

Culture

How to respec in Nioh 3

Pcgamer reported that Nioh 3 lets you respec both stats and skills whenever you want, though you will have to progress a little way into the game before you can use those systems. To respec stats you must complete the prologue, defeat Yamagata Masakage, and arrive in the open world

Science

A Winter Blanket Covers North Carolina

Science reports that in late January 2026 a strong, moisture-laden storm dropped snow across nearly the entire state. A NASA Earth Observatory image acquired on February 2 with the MODIS instrument on the Terra satellite shows a nearly continuous blanket of white stretching from mountain cities in the west to

Crypto

Tether invests $150M in Gold.com to expand tokenized gold

Cointelegraph reports that Tether's investment arm has acquired a $150 million stake, roughly 12%, in Gold.com to expand access to tokenized gold and to integrate Tether Gold (XAUt) into Gold.com's platform. Gold.com is a publicly listed online marketplace that sells gold and other

Culture

Black Ops 7 interactive maps for multiplayer

A guide from Polygon offers interactive maps for every Black Ops 7 multiplayer map, showing everything you could possibly need, including all objective locations. The collection highlights where objectives appear in modes such as Search & Destroy and Domination, and it was updated to add every multiplayer map introduced in

Culture

Lies of P bosses inspired Nioh 3 director to improve boss fights

In a report from Gamesradar, Nioh 3 director Masaki Fujita said the bosses in Neowiz's Pinocchio-inspired Lies of P pushed him and Team Ninja to do more with the third game's yokai boss fights. Fujita also noted that Team Ninja's work since Nioh 2

Politics

Muslims Move to Assert Political Power in New York City

Nytimes reports that Zohran Mamdani’s ascension to mayor has prompted Muslim organizers and faith leaders to seek more formal political alliances and networks. A group made up mostly of Muslim organizers and faith leaders in the Bronx voted to join the Metro Industrial Areas Foundation, one of the nation’

Tech

Xbox Game Pass Ultimate Sees a Price Cut, Moving Closer to Pre-Surge Pricing

Kotaku reports that Xbox Game Pass Ultimate has seen a price cut through StackSocial, bringing the one-month price from $30 to $25 and the three-month price from $90 to $74. The reduction moves the service partway back toward its pre-surge pricing after a 50% increase that raised the monthly fee

Culture

Bollywood film brings Taj Mahal conspiracy theory into mainstream

Nytimes reports that a new Bollywood film, "The Taj Story," has breathed life into a long-running conspiracy theory that the Taj Mahal is of Hindu origin rather than a 17th-century Mughal tomb. Directed by Tushar Amrish Goel and featuring actor Paresh Rawal, the film repackages claims that historians

World

Gus Lamont’s ‘devastated’ grandmothers hire lawyers after police declare disappearance a major crime

Reporting by Theguardian says missing four-year-old Gus Lamont’s “devastated” grandmothers have engaged lawyers a day after police declared his disappearance a major crime. South Australia police say they now believe Gus never left the family’s 60,000 hectare sheep station and that someone who lived at the station

Culture

56 Days: Prime Video erotic thriller premieres Feb. 18, 2026

Reporting by Movieweb notes Prime Video's series 56 Days will premiere on Feb. 18, 2026. The eight-episode adaptation is based on the 2021 novel by Catherine Ryan Howard. The series stars Dove Cameron and Avan Jorgia as Ciara Wise and Oliver Kennedy, who meet in Dublin and see

Culture

'Sons of Anarchy' Star’s Misunderstood Crime Thriller Is Finally Getting Its Due

Coverage from Collider notes that Deadfall, the 2012 crime thriller featuring Charlie Hunnam, is seeing renewed attention after popping up on free streaming and reaching the #9 position on Tubi in the U.S., according to FlixPatrol. The film was widely panned on release and had a limited theatrical run,

Sports

Goal ranks Messi top of MLS top 25 ahead of 2026 season

Goal ranks the top 25 players in MLS ahead of the 2026 season, placing Lionel Messi at No. 1. The list also features Son Heung-Min and Thomas Muller among its highest-ranked players. Goal says the rankings draw on statistics, the eye test and what players mean to their teams. The

Sports

Cristiano Ronaldo warned by Saudi Pro League amid transfer dispute

Theguardian reports Cristiano Ronaldo has been told by the Saudi Pro League that “no individual – however significant – determines decisions beyond their own club” amid a dispute over transfer spending. The Portuguese forward, who turned 41 on Thursday, is believed to be unhappy with Al‑Nassr’s lack of activity in

Business

AI integrated into Coach and Kate Spade design workflows

Businessinsider reports that Tapestry said Coach and Kate Spade designers now use AI in their day-to-day work, but the design process still begins with hand-drawn sketches, CEO Joanne Crevoiserat said on an earnings call. Crevoiserat said AI helps designers iterate on sketches, apply color multipliers and make design tweaks much

World

The Olympics Are a Show Of Global Harmony. The World is Anything But.

Nytimes reports that the Winter Games opening in Italy come during one of the greatest periods of geopolitical turmoil since World War II, making the Olympic ideal of peaceful, rule-bound competition feel discordant with fraying diplomatic norms. The article notes recent U.S. actions — including a military intervention ordered against

Culture

Prize crossword No 29,918

Theguardian: Prize crossword No 29,918. 1 down. Want to accommodate Charlie round town, OK? 6 letters. 2 down. What often awaits you at A&E? Visit with no parking taking a very long time. 6 letters. 3 down. Reverses, so doing showing hesitation. 5-5 letters. 4 down.

Sports

2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics: Where to Watch and Schedule

Nbc reported that the 2026 Milan Cortina Winter Olympics officially run February 6–22, with NBC as the broadcast home, Peacock streaming every sport and event, and additional coverage on CNBC and USA Network. Peacock will offer Multiview and a new Rinkside Live feature, and NBC’s coverage will include

Tech

How we test headphones at ZDNET in 2026

A report from Zdnet outlines how its reviewers test headphones and earbuds by using them in everyday life, often receiving review units before public availability and conducting long-term assessments to determine which features excel and which fall flat. The site labels a device ZDNET Recommended when it is above average

Culture

Jessica Simpson's 12-year-old son towers over pop star in sweet snap

Pagesix reports Jessica Simpson shared a snap on her Instagram Story showing her 12-year-old son Ace towering over her and planting a kiss on her head. She wrote, “My 12-year-old Ace is much taller than his Mama,” across the photo. The picture appeared to be taken after a sporting event,

Culture

The Secret Agent makers on Oscars, dictators and death threats

Reporting by Theguardian says The Secret Agent, an unusually long non-English political period drama, has become an awards magnet and will compete in four Oscar categories, including best picture and best actor for Wagner Moura. Moura and director Kleber Mendonça Filho, who bonded two decades ago and share origins in

Culture

How to beat Yamagata Masakage in Nioh 3

Reporting by Pcgamer notes Burst Break is crucial against Yamagata Masakage in Nioh 3. Use Burst Break with R (RT on controller) when he flashes red to deal big Ki damage, making it easier to stun him and press Y to perform a Grapple; Burst Break also swaps you between

Tech

The Epic Games Store Can’t Beat Steam But It Might Become The Next Discord

Kotaku reports the Epic Games Store still feels like a glorified Fortnite launcher for many users, but Epic says non‑Epic playtime rose even as total gameplay hours fell. Epic VP Steve Allison highlighted that of 67 million average monthly active users, about 26 percent are Fortnite players and the