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Internet connectivity collapsed across Iran on Thursday amid nationwide protests, according to web monitoring firms.  “I think we’re at a near-total disconnection from the outside world now,” Amir Rashidi, an Iranian cybersecurity researcher who works for the nonprofit Miaan Group, told TechCrunch.  Doug Madory, the director of internet analysis at Kentik, a company that monitors internet traffic worldwide, concurred, telling TechCrunch that Iran’s internet has been in “near-total blackout” since around 11:30 a.m. on the U.S. east coast on Thursday, or 8 p.m. local time in Tehran. A chart showing how internet traffic dropped in Iran on Thursday around 11:30…

CES is always chock-full of robots, and this year electronics giant LG announced a new bot, dubbed CLOid, that it claims will revolutionize household chores (as in, you won’t have to do them anymore). CLOid is described as an AI-powered home robot, designed to assist its user with a wide variety of domestic tasks — from folding laundry to making breakfast to patrolling a home for signs of trouble. The company says that, eventually, it envisions the device “evolving into an ambient-care agent that supports everyday life.” The bot was announced during LG’s keynote earlier this week, but it was also available…

Due to strong demand, RIU opened a second property in London – the Hotel Riu Plaza London The Westminster – joining the Hotel Riu Plaza London Victoria, which debuted in July 2023.“The Hotel Riu Plaza London The Westminster features 464 rooms and is located just one minute from the River Thames and Tate Britain, and within walking distance of the historic Westminster Abbey, the Houses of Parliament and the iconic Big Ben,” RIU said, adding that it is also in close proximity to iconic Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, St. James Park and the London Eye. The building, constructed in 2003,…

​XBrew Lab debuted its countertop nitro beverage machine, EverNitro, at CES this week, offering nitro coffee enthusiasts a more accessible way to enjoy the drink — without the waste and expense of traditional cartridge-based machines. If you’re unfamiliar with nitro coffee, it’s cold brew coffee infused with nitrogen gas. This process creates tiny bubbles, resulting in a silky-smooth, naturally sweeter taste — similar to drinking a Guinness. Many people also note that nitro coffee is less bitter. EverNitro is positioning itself against competitors such as NitroBrew as a long-term more affordable all-in-one solution. “We offer the quality of a commercial…

NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Austin Peay State University has reinstated a professor who was fired for his social media post after the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The Tennessee school is also paying the teacher $500,000 in the settlement.Austin Peay spokesperson Brian Dunn said Darren Michael returned to his position as a tenured faculty member at the public university in Clarksville effective Dec. 30. A copy of the settlement agreement obtained through a public records request includes a $500,000 payment and reimbursement of counseling, as reported earlier this week by WKRN-TV.Tennessee’s governor, attorney general and comptroller signed a document…

Travelers in six regions around the globe will soon have new access to an ultra-popular premium cabin from one of the world’s most luxurious airlines. Emirates has announced that it will expand its premium economy cabin to 10 new cities this year, plus add more flight frequencies with the comfortable class on routes that already offer the cabin. The swanky—yet somewhat affordable—cabin comes with additional perks and amenities, such as wider seats upholstered in cream-colored leather with a deeper recline and cushioned leg-rests. At meal time, premium economy fliers are served with Royal Doulton china tableware and can order wines typically…

NSO Group, one of the most well-known and controversial makers of government spyware, released a new transparency report on Wednesday, as the company enters what it described as “a new phase of accountability.” But the report, unlike NSO’s previous annual disclosures, lacks details about how many customers the company rejected, investigated, suspended, or terminated due to human rights abuses involving its surveillance tools. While the report contains promises to respect human rights and have controls to demand its customers do the same, the report provides no concrete evidence supporting either.  Experts and critics who have followed NSO and the spyware…

Pedestrians walk past a Saks Fifth Avenue store in Chicago, Dec. 30, 2025.Scott Olson | Getty ImagesBeleaguered retail chain Saks Global is struggling to line up as much as $1 billion in financing to keep its business afloat during a potential Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, CNBC has learned. The luxury chain has been working to secure a “debtor-in-possession” loan, which would allow it to fund operations in the event of a potential bankruptcy filing, people familiar with the matter said. But investors have so far shown little interest in lending Saks the money because they’re skeptical the company can successfully reorganize…

For the past two weeks, X has been flooded with AI-manipulated nude images, created by the Grok AI chatbot. An alarming range of women have been affected by the non-consensual nudes, including prominent models and actresses, as well as news figures, crime victims, and even world leaders.  A December 31 research paper from Copyleaks estimated roughly one image was being posted each minute, but later tests found far more. A sample gathered from January 5-6 found 6,700 per hour over the 24-hour period.  But while public figures from around the world have decried the choice to release the model without…

UC Berkeley’s ability to draw international students appears little affected by the national political scene. New international student enrollment grew by 43% at UC Berkeley this school year to 2,363, according to University of California data released Thursday, despite a federal immigration crackdown that has deterred some foreign students from studying in the U.S. Enrollment of undergraduates from California also increased, as the university welcomed 46,151 students, its largest-ever student body, up from 45,882 last year.The growth in new international students stands in sharp contrast to a 17% decrease among that group at campuses nationwide, according to a November report…