Iniaes

Scientists Gain Unprecedented Insight into the Nature of Reality

Scientists Gain Unprecedented Insight into the Nature of Reality as LIGO records its clearest gravitational wave yet: a January 14 black-hole merger dubbed GW250114 with a signal-to-noise ratio of 80, basically spacetime shouting into the mic. The pristine “ringdown” let researchers pick out two tones—like dueling tuning forks—and confirm Roy Kerr’s half-century-old prediction that black holes are defined solely by mass and spin. It also upheld Stephen Hawking’s area theorem, with two ~33-solar-mass holes merging into a ~63-solar-mass remnant whose surface area grew, as promised by physics and not by marketing. The result, published in Physical Review Letters, marks a milestone for gravitational-wave astronomy, which has gone from “maybe someday” to “black-hole collisions every other day.” Beyond the victory lap, the clarity tightens constraints on how general relativity and quantum rules might eventually stop pretend-fighting and share a universe. More is coming from LIGO, Virgo, and future missions like LISA—assuming budget cutters don’t get nostalgic for ignorance and pull the plug just as reality gets interesting. For now, take the W: we’re literally listening to spacetime, and it’s in tune with Einstein.

Do Russian loitering munitions threaten European capitals?

Do Russian loitering munitions threaten European capitals? After the Polish army shot down several explosives-laden attack drones on Wednesday, the question left the hypothetical and entered European airspace, with the same aircraft capable of reaching other cities across the continent.

The Looming U.S. Crash

The Looming U.S. Crash isn’t just a doom-monger’s bedtime story, warns economist Kenneth Rogoff: with long-term rates surging, public debt near post–World War II highs, foreign investors getting jumpy, and politicians allergic to restraint, a once-in-a-century debt crisis no longer feels far-fetched. Such crises hit when finances are precarious, rates are high, politics are paralyzed, and a shock lands—America already checks the first three; only the shock is missing. In other words, we’re one nasty surprise away from stress-testing the Treasury market while Congress debates who forgot the fire extinguisher.

Machine Learning Benchmarks Keep Expanding

Machine Learning Benchmarks Keep Expanding, and MLPerf—the Olympics of AI with more events than sense—just added three: the biggest LLM yet (DeepSeek R1, a 671B-parameter reasoning bruiser), the smallest (Llama 3.1-8B), and a Whisper-large-v3 voice-to-text test, bringing the LLM tally to four. Reasoning models shove more work into inference, so datacenters, hydrate. Nvidia, shocking no one, led the closed datacenter server charts and rolled out Blackwell Ultra, which topped the two largest tests using 4-bit NVFP4 and a prefill/generation “disaggregated serving” split for roughly 50% gains. AMD kept it competitive: MI325X matched Nvidia’s H200 on several closed runs, the new MI355X posted a 2.7x jump over MI325X in the open Llama 2‑70B test with its own 4-bit chops, and AMD logged the first hybrid MI300X/MI325X submission. Intel reminded everyone CPUs still exist—Xeon hung with Nvidia’s L4 on object detection, lagged on recommenders—and finally crashed the GPU party with the Arc Pro B60 Dual 48G Turbo, on par with Nvidia’s L40S on the small LLM and trailing on Llama 2‑70B. Translation: the yardsticks keep multiplying, the models keep ballooning, and the usual silicon titans are sprinting just to stand still.

Jaguar Land Rover Confirms Data Breach Following Recent Cyberattack

Jaguar Land Rover confirms a data breach following the recent cyberattack, piling on after the company warned its factory disruptions would continue. Production is limping, data is leaking—luxury SUVs paired with economy-class cybersecurity, which is not exactly the premium package they were aiming for.

Gaza aid flotilla reports attack in Tunisia, no injuries

The crew of the vessel Alma said flaming projectiles landed on deck, exploded, and ignited a fire while docked in Tunisia. No injuries were reported. Organizers framed it as another attack on the flotilla seeking to challenge the Gaza blockade.

Israeli strike in Doha jolts a key U.S. ally and complicates Trump-backed ceasefire push

Israeli warplanes hit what leaders described as a Hamas meeting site in central Doha, killing several people including the son of Hamas’ chief negotiator and a Qatari security officer, according to multiple accounts. Hamas said senior officials survived. Even Israeli officials quoted across outlets questioned the strike’s payoff and warned about fallout. Qatar’s prime minister condemned the attack as barbaric and a bid to sabotage talks, and Saudi Arabia and the UAE quickly voiced support for Doha. On Truth Social, Donald Trump said the strike was Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s decision and that his envoy warned Qatar, but it was too late. The White House said Trump spoke with Netanyahu and Qatari leaders and assured them that such a thing will not happen again on their soil. Israel said it alone ordered and executed a precise strike. With U.S. troops in Qatar and Doha serving as a key Gaza mediator, Washington is now working a high stakes tightrope with no margin for error.

Saudi Arabia exports culture with Art Bridges, and plenty of cash

The Visual Arts Commission launched Art Bridges, sending 10 Saudi artists, curators, and cultural leaders on weeklong residencies in Japan, Scotland, South Korea, and Spain over the next six months. The plan is to grow a homegrown ecosystem, residencies, mentorships, and a gallery boom from Riyadh’s Jax District to Jeddah’s Hayy Jameel, and lift culture to roughly 3 percent of GDP by 2030. Abroad, Saudi backed shows from Paris to Venice, where Manal AlDowayan drew large crowds, are nudging past camel clichés toward a layered identity. Critics warn the heavy state hand risks glossy branding, Aramco headlines included, though they concede the money is creating space for work on gender, politics, and society that was once unthinkable. Between the Islamic Arts Biennale and private players like ATHR, the scene is shifting from tolerated hobby to exportable identity, a renaissance with a budget line and a side of soft power.

Louis Rees-Zammit back in Wales camp, speed intact after NFL detour

Reuniting with Wales teammates this summer, Rees-Zammit immediately caught the coaches’ eye. The NFL did not crack, but opposition defenses might, now that Wales have their turbocharged wing back in the mix.

Starmer sidesteps Mandelson and Epstein question at PMQs

Pressed by Kemi Badenoch on whether he knew about Mandelson and Epstein, Prime Minister Keir Starmer repeatedly declined to say, instead insisting full due process was followed in the appointment at issue and noting the ambassador has expressed deep regret. A Westminster masterclass in answering everything except the question.

MD5 Hashing Is Slow

“MD5 Hashing Is Slow” — and apparently slow to leave the stage. On NANOG, Vasilenko Eduard apologized for the subject line and clarified he’s pushing SHA‑2/3, pointing to NIST’s “not recommended” verdict on MD5 and declining to second‑guess it. He thanked Matthew for a careful approach, noted his earlier reply was swallowed by Mailman, and flagged the same point for Ytti: move on from MD5.

Judge rules Michigan city can prohibit LGBTQ+ flags on public property

Judge rules Michigan city can prohibit LGBTQ+ flags on public property, clearing Hamtramck to enforce a 2023 policy that limits city flagpoles to a short government-approved list: the U.S., Michigan, and a few meant to reflect the city’s international character. U.S. District Judge David Lawson tossed a First Amendment challenge, saying the rule bans all private flags—not just Pride—so refusing to fly one didn’t violate the Constitution. Pride flags flew in 2021 and 2022, but after an all-Muslim city council said the display conflicted with some members’ beliefs, the council tightened the policy in June 2023 and later removed two commissioners who defied it. City leaders call it neutrality and a firewall against any group’s banners, extremist or otherwise; critics call it selective tolerance with better branding. Businesses and residents can still fly Pride flags on private property in the immigrant-rich city of 27,000. Bureaucratic peace by subtraction: when everyone’s flag stays off the pole, the only thing that waves is government speech.

Shabana Mahmood urged to close ‘Boriswave’ migration loophole with only months left before key deadline

Shabana Mahmood urged to close ‘Boriswave’ migration loophole with only months left before key deadline: The new Home Secretary is under pressure to immediately impose a planned rule doubling the wait for permanent settlement from five to ten years, amid figures suggesting roughly 270,000 people could qualify for indefinite leave to remain starting next year. Critics want the change applied to those already in the UK—many who arrived since 2021—arguing that leaving them under the current five-year route turns the so‑called “Boriswave” into a conveyor belt to settlement. Ministers haven’t decided whether the longer wait will cover existing residents, and shorter routes would still apply to migrants who can prove significant contributions to the economy and society. Yvette Cooper had promised a consultation later this year before any final decision—because nothing says urgency like scheduling a roundtable while the countdown clock blares. With only months left, the call to Mahmood is simple: stop dithering, pick a start date, and say who’s covered.

Andre Ward Breaks Down Canelo vs. Crawford: 'Losing Is Not a Good Look'

Andre Ward breaks down Canelo vs. Crawford: “Losing is not a good look,” and, writing for BBC Sport, he wonders whether Saul “Canelo” Alvarez can actually find the blueprint to beat Terence Crawford on Saturday.

MD5's Slow Performance

MD5's Slow Performance: On NANOG, Vasilenko Eduard politely retires the creaky hash, citing NIST’s “move along” guidance and favoring SHA-3 for benchmarks. He points to the IJCNA-2020-O-01 paper for SHA-3 data, notes a lack of solid SHA-2 metrics on ARM, and urges careful calculation before anyone duct-tapes MD5 onto modern systems.

Poland Shoots Down More Than 10 Russian Drones in Its Airspace

Poland shoots down more than 10 Russian drones in its airspace after the unmanned aircraft crossed the border during a major attack on Ukraine, the military command said. Polish jets intercepted and neutralized the drones, and Warsaw labeled the incursion an “act of aggression,” calling it the most significant violation of Poland’s airspace since the war began.

MD5 Runs Slowly

MD5 Runs Slowly — only if you make it. Saku Ytti, posting to NANOG on Sep 9, notes that MD5 and SHA were engineered for speed—measured in cycles per byte and optimized for existing instruction sets and hardware acceleration. If a hash feels sluggish in your setup, the bottleneck is likely the application, not the algorithm. Choose metrics—and hashes—based on what your use case actually needs.

Israeli tip preceded Australia’s allegation that Iran plotted bombings

Israeli tip preceded Australia’s allegation that Iran plotted bombings, with Sky News Australia reporting that Israeli spies alerted Canberra’s top intelligence agency about at least one explosion at Jewish community sites. The claim that Tehran orchestrated the attacks remains unproven, yet it’s already helped sour relations between Iran and Australia—proof that in geopolitics, a well-timed whisper can do the work of a thousand diplomats.

Federal agents withdraw after confrontation during immigration raid in sanctuary city; vehicle tires slashed

Federal agents withdraw after confrontation during immigration raid in sanctuary city; vehicle tires slashed: In Rochester’s Park Avenue neighborhood, a planned ICE/CBP removal operation at a residential roofing job devolved into a four-hour standoff after one worker was detained and others refused to come down from the roof. More than 100 protesters gathered, chanting “shame,” and a CBP SUV wound up on four slashed tires before being towed, as agents ultimately abandoned attempts to detain additional workers. The clash came days after the City Council unanimously codified Rochester’s sanctuary policy; a local farmworker coalition helped mediate, urging dignity and fairness. The White House’s Tom Homan defended stepped-up enforcement as focused on public safety threats while refusing to “bless someone being here illegally.” In the end, the only successful removal was the disabled SUV.

Dozens of containers fall from ship at California port

Dozens of containers fall from ship at California port as a cargo vessel dropped scores of boxes into the water at a southeastern California port Tuesday morning, prompting officials to set up a unified command center—bureaucratic for “everyone, please start counting and stop the floating metal.” Authorities say the coordinated response is underway.

‘Swiped’ fails to capture the heart of Tinder/Bumble drama

‘Swiped’ fails to capture the heart of Tinder/Bumble drama, premiering on Hulu Sept. 19 with a glossy retelling that swipes right on clichés and left on substance. Instead of grappling with the substantial issues surrounding dating apps, it leans on contrived storytelling—more montage than insight.

57-year-old arrested after tear gas incident at Heathrow Airport; Met Police rejects ‘mass hysteria’ claim

57-year-old arrested after tear gas incident at Heathrow Airport; Met Police rejects ‘mass hysteria’ claim: A canister of what’s believed to be CS spray was found at Terminal 4 after around 20 people fell ill on Monday, prompting hazmat teams, a three-hour shutdown, and delays for thousands—because nothing says “welcome to London” like eye-watering queues. Police now insist this was not terrorism, just terrible judgment: the suspect is in custody on suspicion of causing a public nuisance and possession of a firearm (CS spray). Most passengers were treated at the scene; one person went to hospital as a precaution. And after someone at the Met floated “mass hysteria,” the force promptly denied ever saying it—classic backpedal to go with your baggage carousel. Heathrow apologized, safety first, chaos second.

Trump’s agenda and DOGE cuts loom large in Virginia special election to fill vacant House seat

Trump’s agenda and DOGE cuts loom large in Virginia’s special election to fill a vacant House seat, because of course they do—he’s not on the ballot, just on every billboard inside voters’ heads. In the northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C., Tuesday’s contest has effectively become a referendum on Trump-world priorities, with candidates forced to campaign in the shadow of a man who never actually left the stage.

Video captures shipping containers falling from a cargo ship off the California coast

Video captures shipping containers falling from a cargo ship off the California coast: nearly 70 boxes toppled from the vessel “Mississippi” at Pier G in the Port of Long Beach on Tuesday, bobbing in the harbor like very expensive bath toys. The Coast Guard set a 250-yard safety zone as fire and police responded; no injuries have been confirmed. Cargo operations are suspended while crews secure the containers and authorities investigate how a state-of-the-art supply chain turned into a slip ’n slide. Long Beach—one of the nation’s busiest gateways, moving $300 billion in trade and supporting 2.7 million jobs—now gets to add synchronized container swimming to its highlight reel.

DHS and ICE Tracker Highlights Controversial Deportations Under Trump

AllSides is running a daily-updated tracker of DHS and ICE actions, last updated September 9, 2025 at 12:27 p.m. ET, spotlighting cases like Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Mahmoud Khalil. The focus is on people who arrived legally or held protected status, with some reported justifications tied to alleged anti-Israel speech. Nothing says limited government like immigration paperwork that comes with an ideology check.

Nielsen: Hispanic Audiences Lead the Streaming Shift

A Nielsen report finds Hispanic audiences devote 55.8 percent of their TV time to streaming, well above the U.S. average of 46 percent, and they outpace overall U.S. viewership on YouTube. Translation, cord-cutting did not just arrive early, it brought snacks, while cable keeps shouting about bundles no one asked for.

Journalist’s Account of Greek Detention Centers Exposes Abuse and Policy Failure

A British journalist describes being detained across Patras, Corinth, and Athens in 2021 after a Turkey-driven Schengen ban surfaced mid-holiday, culminating in deportation from an Italy-bound ferry and entry into Greece’s detention system. He reports strip searches, disease, beatings, rampant self-harm, and a recent suicide inside an ex-military camp condemned by European monitors. Greece has since tightened measures, suspending asylum claims, criminalizing seekers, and threatening five-year detentions. Courts are already blocking removals and routes keep shifting, turning enforcement into an expensive game that pressures small communities without solving the problem. Politicians have stoked anger by scapegoating migrants, including evidence-free insinuations about the 2023 wildfires that left 18 migrants among the dead. The U.K. debate is echoing the same playbook across parties. Proposed alternatives include letting asylum seekers work while claims are processed, strengthening labor protections, and dialing down tabloid theatrics, a pragmatic approach that treats migration as a durable reality rather than a morality play.

Tracking Deportations and Detentions Under the Trump Administration

Tracking Deportations and Detentions Under the Trump Administration, AllSides is logging daily developments—most recently updated Sept. 9, 2025, 12:27 p.m. ET—on controversial cases including Kilmar Abrego Garcia and Mahmoud Khalil. DHS and ICE have deported or detained some individuals who entered legally or held protected status, citing reasons that include anti-Israel speech—a reminder that in this bureaucracy, “land of the free” can run headlong into fine print and handcuffs.

Mitsubishi Electric to Acquire Nozomi Networks for $883 Million in OT Security Deal

Mitsubishi Electric to Acquire Nozomi Networks for $883 Million in OT Security Deal—because nothing says “industrial safety” like buying a Silicon Valley brain trust and sprinkling AI on your turbines. The Japanese giant is snapping up the San Francisco-based OT/IoT security firm to bolster defenses for operational and critical infrastructure, leaning on AI-driven insights, cloud-native tools, and tighter industry collaboration. Translation: fewer blind spots on factory floors and power grids, more real-time threat intel, and hopefully less time patching 20th-century machinery with 21st-century buzzwords.

Qatar condemns Israeli strike in Doha allegedly targeting Hamas leaders, calling it ‘cowardly’

Qatar condemns Israeli strike in Doha allegedly targeting Hamas leaders, calling it ‘cowardly’—a rebuke delivered after Israel carried out its first direct attack on Qatari soil, a sharp escalation against a US ally mediating Gaza ceasefire talks. Israel said it conducted a “precise strike” on senior Hamas officials reportedly meeting to discuss a US proposal; casualties remain unclear. Washington was notified in advance but publicly criticized the move as counterproductive, and President Donald Trump assured Qatari leaders it would not happen again on their territory.

Republican lawmakers back Trump’s Nobel bid despite recent hardline actions — with a caveat

Republican lawmakers back Trump’s Nobel bid despite recent hardline actions — with a caveat: they’re telling the committee to ignore the Caribbean missile muscles and the “Department of War” rebrand and instead pin the medal on Operation Warp Speed. As the White House touts a strike on a Tren de Aragua drug boat as lawful collective self-defense and floats taking the fight to cartels inside Venezuela, Democrats warn the operation may have blown past maritime rules and could put U.S. sailors at risk. The administration, meanwhile, insists Trump has “ended seven wars,” even as he declines to rule out action against Nicolás Maduro and slaps a wartime nickname on the Pentagon—prompting even Obama’s old strategist to note that “War” isn’t exactly Nobel-friendly branding.

Enter the GOP’s workaround: Sens. Bill Cassidy and Roger Marshall, plus CMS chief Mehmet Oz, say Trump “absolutely” deserves the Peace Prize for fast-tracking COVID vaccines, and suggest he’d already have it if he were a Democrat. Analysts add a buzzkill: saber-rattling about force against neighbors—from Greenland and the Panama Canal to offhand claims about Canada and Gaza—hardly screams détente in a world already tilting toward “extraordinary peril.” So the pitch is Peace Prize by syringe, while the president keeps the saber handy—peace through inoculation, with an asterisk.

Blind Item #12

Blind Item #12: A braggadocious comic host allegedly talks a big game about his romantic conquests, but when the lights go down, the performance reportedly doesn’t match the hype—all swagger, no encore.

Labour Urged to End Policies Seen as Anti-Pub

Labour Urged to End Policies Seen as Anti-Pub: With one pub reportedly closing every day, critics are pressing Labour to drop the so-called “banter ban” — Clause 20 of the Employment Rights Bill — warning it will saddle landlords with rising legal bills and accelerate closures. In other words, if the aim is to keep the local alive, maybe stop drafting laws that make small talk a liability.

Germantown Arts District Turns Street Into Studio

The second annual GAD Festival returns Saturday, September 13, 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., as Germantown becomes an open-air arts hub. Expect local art, live performances, and community programming, seven hours where traffic yields to tambourines, paint, and neighbors actually talking to each other.

Zero Trust Grows Up, Trades Moats for Motion

Zero Trust enters its next phase, centered on agility, identity, and AI risks. Translation, retire static gates in favor of continuous verification, tighten identity and data safeguards, and scale behavioral analytics that spot anomalies before they become headlines. AI now plays lockpick and locksmith, so govern it like a risk while using it as a tool.

Merz to EU on 2035 Engine Ban, More Flexibility Please

Germany’s Friedrich Merz is pressing Brussels for wiggle room as resistance builds to phasing out combustion-engine car sales by 2035. The message, keep the climate pledge on paper, then carve loopholes big enough to drive a fleet of SUVs through the footnotes.

Mystery Nighttime Doorbell Prankster Identified, A Slug

German police probing late-night buzzers followed a silvery trail to the intercom and found the culprit sliming across the buttons. The disturbance was more mollusk than mischief-maker, and yes, the perp left a confession in writing, in mucus.

Linklater Tips His Beret, Netflix Drops Nouvelle Vague Trailer

Richard Linklater unveiled a two-minute teaser honoring the French New Wave, a stylish nod to the 1960s that suggests the algorithm briefly loosened its tie and let cinema breathe.

Fantasy Football Week 2, Waiver Wire Whiplash

UPI’s Alex Butler tabs Aaron Rodgers and Marquise Brown among top adds and drops for Week 2 of the 2025 NFL season. Prepare for the weekly scramble powered by equal parts optimism and panic, followed by a Thursday regret you will swear you will never repeat.

Jackman and Hudson Channel Neil Diamond in Song Sung Blue

Hugh Jackman and Kate Hudson debut their Neil Diamond tribute duo, Lightning and Thunder, in the trailer for Song Sung Blue, opening December 25. Nothing says Christmas like sequins, soaring choruses, and the collective urge to sing along in public.

Apple Event Day, New iPhones Likely, Prices Possibly Higher

Apple’s latest iPhones take the stage today. Expect the familiar annual evolution and, thanks to an ongoing trade war, the possibility of a little extra sticker shock. The keynote may arrive with a surcharge.

St. Louis Man Charged After Fatal Shooting Over Household Costs

After what police describe as a long build-up of frustration, a 54-year-old St. Louis man, Marvin Byrd, is charged with first-degree murder, armed criminal action, unlawful possession of a firearm, and felony resisting arrest. Investigators say he fatally shot his roommate as they headed to watch college football, then placed a Sig Sauer P320 on the ground and waited in his vehicle. Doorbell video and eyewitness accounts aided the case, and police recovered casings at the scene. Byrd allegedly gave conflicting statements and has a prior conviction for being a felon in possession of a firearm. He was arrested around 11 p.m. Saturday and is due in court September 15. A life ended over shared costs and party supplies, a grim reminder of how fast bad decisions can turn fatal.

ASML Bets $1.3 Billion on Mistral, Europe’s AI Pride Project

ASML will invest about $1.3 billion in French AI startup Mistral, becoming its largest shareholder and stapling a check to Europe’s favorite phrase, digital sovereignty. Mistral is valued at $13.76 billion, impressive by continental standards and still pocket lint compared to U.S. rivals. Big for Europe, lunch money in Silicon Valley.

Chinese EVs Steal Munich’s Spotlight While Europe’s Incumbents Ask for a Refill

Chinese-built cars made up nearly 10 percent of EVs and hybrids, and over 5 percent of all cars, sold in Europe in July, and brands like BYD and XPENG strutted new models in Munich. Europe’s legacy automakers face cut-price competition, shrinking sales in China, a possible 15 percent U.S. surcharge, and rules they failed to outrun. BMW’s CEO called the EU’s fossil-engine ban a big mistake. Translation, the future arrived, and the incumbents want an extension.

Murdoch Succession Saga Wraps, Lachlan Takes the Wheel

Lachlan Murdoch will assume control of Rupert Murdoch’s media empire in a $3.3 billion deal, steering Fox News, the New York Post, and The Wall Street Journal with the rudder firmly to starboard. Brother James reportedly angled left and lost. Three other heirs get $1.1 billion each and no say, a golden payout with the mute button firmly taped down. At 94, Rupert is hardwiring the legacy while the ink still dries.

Israel Orders Full Evacuation of Gaza City Ahead of New Offensive

Israel instructed roughly one million residents to leave Gaza City, saying about 100,000 have already moved as it prepares a major assault aimed at breaking Hamas. Many civilians say they cannot uproot again after repeated displacements, and analysts expect perhaps 20 percent to remain. The humanitarian crisis is deepening with hunger and disease, and international backlash is growing, with some European allies threatening trade consequences for Israel.

Havana Marks Feast Day of Cuba’s Patron Saint

Hundreds processed through the capital to honor the Virgin of Charity, a rare moment of shared ritual and quiet resolve in a place that knows both scarcity and devotion.

Mitsubishi Electric Buys Nozomi Networks for Nearly $1 Billion

The conglomerate will make the industrial cybersecurity firm a wholly owned subsidiary, paying up to keep factory floors from becoming hacker playgrounds. Call it preventive maintenance with a comma and nine zeros.

Panzer Dragoon II Zwei Remake Announced, Demo Slated for TGS 2025

Forever Entertainment is reviving the cult rail-shooter for Switch, Steam, GOG, PS4, PS5, Xbox One, and Series X|S at $24.99, with the release date still TBD. A hands-on demo is planned for Tokyo Game Show 2025. Nostalgia, now with modern polish and fewer polygonal migraines.

Nokia Heir HMD Pivots to Secure Devices, Builds a Phone in Europe

HMD is launching HMD Secure and debuting the Ivalo XE for governments and security-critical buyers. The handset is built in Europe and runs on Qualcomm silicon, a sovereign move with a star-spangled asterisk.

BBC Boss to MPs, No One Is Irreplaceable

Director-General Tim Davie told lawmakers he is not letting anything lie in rooting out abuses of power. The broom is out, and star billing will not double as a force field.

Women account for 6% of mass killings: methods, timing, and motives

Women account for just 6% of mass killings—a statistical rarity that helps explain why the Erin Patterson case has transfixed the public. A study of 1,715 mass killing events from 1900–2019 found only 105 involved female perpetrators. In Australia, women commit about 13% of homicides overall, most involving intimate partners or family; in mass killings, about 75% of female-perpetrated cases include at least one family victim, compared with 39% for men. Women in these cases are more likely to show psychotic symptoms (25.7% vs 12.5%) and other psychiatric or neurological conditions (29.5% vs 17.1%), and more than half attempt or complete suicide afterward. Motives and methods also diverge: men’s violence skews offensive—aimed at dominance—while women’s is more often defensive or reactive, frequently amid domestic abuse or immediate conflict; firearms are less common, with poison, asphyxiation, drowning, or drugs favored. Patterson—convicted of killing three relatives with death cap mushrooms and attempting to kill a fourth—stands out as an outlier: no evident trigger, no abuse history, and no stated motive.

GlenDronach Unveils 30- and 40-Year-Old Whiskies

GlenDronach Unveils 30- and 40-Year-Old Whiskies, rolling out ultra-aged, sherry-soaked showpieces in quantities small enough to make unicorns look common. Hitting the U.S. on September 9: 1,300 bottles of the 30-year-old at $1,300 and just 70 bottles of the 40-year-old at $6,700—because nothing says “accessible” like four figures and a waiting list. Master Blender Rachel Barrie blends PX, Oloroso, and Amontillado for the 30-year-old (46.8% ABV), delivering morello cherry, sultana cake, and chocolate-hazelnut café crème in a walnut curl case etched with 30 facets. The 40-year-old (natural cask strength 43.9% ABV) steeps in Spanish Oak Oloroso and PX casks, promising black cherry, sherry-soaked chocolate gateau, and blackcurrant compote, presented in dark rosewood with brass handles—essential for transporting your liquid dessert trolley. With fewer than 1,400 bottles combined, the Highland distillery’s sherry-cask heritage meets whisky’s ongoing premiumization parade, targeting collectors and connoisseurs whose wallets age as gracefully as their malts.

Microsoft veteran recalls worst Windows bug: Pinball running at 5,000 FPS

Microsoft veteran recalls worst Windows bug: Pinball running at 5,000 FPS — Former Windows engineer Dave Plummer says his most embarrassing ship wasn’t in the kernel or networking stack, but the office time‑waster: 3D Pinball. Thanks to an uncapped game loop, Space Cadet would try to render at ludicrous speed on faster machines—hitting around 5,000 frames per second and happily gobbling an entire CPU core. The result: a free game that doubled as an involuntary stress test and very enthusiastic space heater. Plummer owns the goof, and we get a classic reminder that on Windows, even the toy could melt your productivity—and your processor.

Five bouts added to Canelo-Crawford card; Tallon and Sumpter to feature

Five bouts have been added to the Canelo–Crawford card, with Tallon and Sumpter among the additions: Liverpool’s unbeaten flyweight Mikie Tallon (9-0) has been belatedly slotted into the public workout lineup after his curious omission from the initial announcements—despite Turki Alalshikh saying he’d be included—an oversight helpfully spotlighted by World Boxing News. Consider it matchmaking by memory, with Tallon now getting his overdue opportunity.

Spanish police board Ryanair flight after disturbance linked to intoxicated stag party

Spanish police board Ryanair flight after disturbance linked to intoxicated stag party—because nothing says “ lads’ holiday” like turning a Boeing 737-800 into a flying pub brawl. The Leeds Bradford–Alicante hop landed around 7:30 p.m., where the Guardia Civil marched on after cabin crew reported mid-air fighting from a clearly sozzled stag group. Witnesses called it “carnage” as officers hauled men off to cheers of fellow passengers urging them to get off the plane, preferably yesterday. Ryanair, deploying its no-fun, no-fisticuffs policy, reminded everyone it has zero tolerance for unruly behavior and handed the matter to local police. Alicante remains the top draw from Leeds Bradford—though, for this lot, the arrivals lounge turned out to be the back of a squad car.

InfoCon Status: Green

InfoCon Status: Green—translation: the ISC Stormcast for Tuesday, September 9, 2025 sees a calm internet threat landscape with no widespread alarms. Enjoy the quiet, but don’t get cute: patch promptly, monitor routinely, and keep backups tested, because “Green” isn’t a force field.

Aaron Nola’s strong start leads Phillies past Mets in series opener

Aaron Nola’s strong start leads Phillies past Mets in series opener, a 1-0 win that felt like a wellness check for a battered rotation. On a day Zack Wheeler remained shelved and Alec Bohm and Trea Turner hit the IL (both expected back), Nola delivered six scoreless with seven strikeouts, three hits, two walks, and exactly zero middle-middle fastballs. He leaned on more changeups alongside a sharp curve, all but ditched the cutter, and painted enough corners to make Rob Thomson breathe again—useful, since the bullpen was thin.

Philly’s offense did the bare minimum against Mets starter Nolan McLean, but Jhoan Duran tightroped the ninth after Pete Alonso and Mark Vientos ambushed his splitter, ditching it mid-inning and stranding the tying runs. Final: Phillies 1, Mets 0. The Mets came to reclaim ground after their recent sweep; Nola told them to find a different shovel. Three more in the set, and as Harrison Bader said, the game doesn’t care.

Scott Franzke and Oscar Budejen Shifted Into Playoff Mode Monday Night

Scott Franzke and Oscar Budejen shifted into playoff mode Monday night, as the Phillies edged the Mets 1-0 and Jhoan Durán escaped a ninth-inning heart attack by striking out Jeff McNeil and Francisco Álvarez with the tying and go-ahead runs parked in scoring position. Franzke’s English call went full October; Budejen matched it en español, pure adrenaline with a rolled R or two. Philly now sits eight games up in the division, holds serve against the Dodgers and Cubs in the bye chase, and even gains on the Brewers after their loss to the Rangers. For a rival that handed out an “ass-whoopin’” weeks ago, Monday night felt satisfyingly Octoberish.

Phillies Riding High After Aaron Nola’s Gem and Postgame Flatulence

Phillies Riding High After Aaron Nola’s Gem and Postgame Flatulence: Philadelphia edged the Mets 1-0 behind Nola looking like his 2018 All-Star self—six scoreless innings, three hits, seven strikeouts, two walks, 60 of 94 pitches for strikes—just the tonic with Zack Wheeler out and Nola settling post-injury. The bats nicked Nolan McLean for seven hits but only one run, which was plenty since the Mets couldn’t square up much of anything. Division lead: eight. Vibe check: confirmed by an audible postgame breeze during Nola’s interview, followed by laughter. Ring the bell—and maybe crack a window.