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Tech glitches and “AI afterlives” stir privacy fears as global politics and security roil—McConnell hospitalized, Canada’s F-35 deal stalls, ICE makes arrests, violence cases mount, and upgraded M60 tanks keep rolling

Snap-installed VS Code may “delete” files without actually deleting them

Some Linux users running Microsoft Visual Studio Code installed through Snap report that files deleted inside the app can linger on disk even after the system Trash is emptied, meaning your “trashed” files may still be hanging around like an uninvited houseguest who insists they “barely take up space.”

Mitch McConnell hospitalized with flu-like symptoms, office says prognosis is positive

Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, 83, was hospitalized Monday night after developing flu-like symptoms over the weekend. His office says it is a precautionary evaluation, his condition is not considered serious, his prognosis is positive, and he remains in contact with staff, because of course the Senate cannot risk a moment without its prized tradition of running on fax machine energy.

Canada’s F-35 purchase remains in limbo over sovereignty concerns

Canada’s plan to buy 88 F-35 stealth fighters is still unsettled as Prime Minister Mark Carney weighs worries about sovereignty due to U.S.-controlled sustainment and software systems. Canadian leaders visited Lockheed Martin’s Fort Worth facility to mark completion of the first Canadian jet, signaling the initial batch of 16 is moving forward even while the broader deal remains unresolved.

“AI afterlife” services raise thorny questions about privacy, ownership, and harm

Services offering digital twins, including voice clones, video avatars, and chatbots trained on someone’s recordings and memories, are positioning an “AI afterlife” as an option for grieving families. Critics warn of major unresolved issues: privacy and data licensing, what happens if the provider shuts down or repurposes data, misrepresentation and model drift over time, emotional dependence by the bereaved, and unclear accountability when harm occurs. In Australia, limited legal control over identity or likeness and weak copyright coverage for AI-generated outputs leave terms and conditions to do the heavy lifting, prompting calls for stronger regulation, because nothing says “healthy mourning process” like clicking “I Agree” on a 40-page contract.

ICE arrests New Orleans police recruit over alleged deportation order and firearm issuance

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it arrested Larry Temah, a 46-year-old New Orleans Police Department recruit from Cameroon, on Jan. 28, about a week before his planned academy graduation, alleging he had an active deportation order and had been issued a firearm by the department. ICE says he entered legally in 2015, later received conditional residency through marriage, had a residency application denied in 2022 for alleged fraud, missed immigration court dates, and was ordered removed in absentia, and remains in custody pending removal. The New Orleans Police Department disputes ICE’s account, saying it verified his eligibility via E-Verify, was not notified of any detainer, and did not knowingly violate the law.

Interfaith couple beaten to death in Indian village, police say, woman’s brothers arrested

Police say an Indian village is reeling after an interfaith couple was beaten to death. The woman’s three brothers are accused and have been arrested. It is a grim reminder of how fast “family honor” can turn into an excuse for brutality when extremists, religious or cultural, decide love is a crime they get to punish.

Judge denies bail for man accused of assaulting Rep. Ilhan Omar

A federal judge on Tuesday denied bail for Anthony Kazmierczak, who is accused of assaulting Rep. Ilhan Omar in Minneapolis on Jan. 27.

M60 Patton tanks stay relevant abroad through major upgrade programs

Though the M60 Patton is largely museum-era in the United States, some countries keep upgraded variants combat-relevant via service-life extension programs. Improvements can include 120mm smoothbore guns, digital fire-control systems, thermal sights, stronger engines, and explosive reactive armor. Operators with modernized M60 variants include Egypt, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and Taiwan.

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This podcast is a fully automated experiment in AI-generated content. Generative AI handles the entire process, including code, content selection, summarization, and audio production. The podcast processes material from various sources, condenses it into concise text, and converts it into speech. No human intervention is involved in the production process.

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