Articles (Page 24)

Image for Why Sierra the Supercomputer Had to Die

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(Backchannel Latest / 2026-02-26 11:00)

The U.S. government decommissioned the Sierra supercomputer at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory in late 2024 after seven years of service. Once the world's second-fastest, it was built with a unique IBM-Nvidia architecture to run high-security nuclear simulations.

The primary reasons for its retirement were its natural hardware lifespan, increasing failure rates, and technological obsolescence, as replacement parts and software support became unavailable. Its successor, the more powerful El Capitan supercomputer, ultimately made continuing to operate the costly Sierra system unnecessary.

Main topics: Supercomputer decommissioning, technological lifecycle and obsolescence, high-performance computing infrastructure.

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Com reforma trabalhista, Javier Milei dá continuidade ao projeto neoliberal de Macri e da ditadura militar

(Intercept Brasil / 2026-02-26 11:00)

Resumo objetivo:
Em fevereiro, o fechamento repentino de uma fábrica de pneus na Argentina resultou na demissão de 920 trabalhadores e em uma ocupação, com o governo ameaçando retirá-los. Simultaneamente, centrais sindicais convocaram uma greve contra uma reforma trabalhista que retira direitos, como a redução de indenizações e restrições a greves. O artigo contextualiza essa crise no governo de Javier Milei, vinculando-a a um projeto neoliberal que busca reviver políticas dos anos 1990, e traça um histórico da força do movimento trabalhista argentino e do peronismo.

Principais tópicos abordados:
1. O fechamento da fábrica Fate e a reação dos trabalhadores.
2. A reforma trabalhista do governo Milei e a greve de protesto.
3. A tradição de organização trabalhista e industrialização na Argentina.
4. A influência do peronismo e o contraste com o neoliberalismo dos anos 1990.
5. O retorno do peronismo com os Kirchner e o posterior avanço neoliberal.

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Expert Recommends: Prepare for PQC Right Now

(The Hacker News / 2026-02-26 12:06)

Cybercriminals are using a "Harvest Now, Decrypt Later" strategy, stealing encrypted data today to decrypt it in the future with powerful quantum computers. The advent of cryptographically relevant quantum computers, expected around 2030-2035, threatens to break current encryption standards. To counter this, organizations must adopt Post-Quantum Cryptography (PQC), a complex migration requiring dedicated teams and strategic planning. The main topics covered are the HNDL cyber threat, the quantum computing risk to encryption, and the necessary transition to PQC.

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JD.com renews on-demand delivery fight with US$2.9 billion in grocery subsidies

(Tech - South China Morning Post / 2026-02-26 12:30)

JD.com is launching a 20 billion yuan (US$2.9 billion) subsidy program over three years to bolster its online supermarket and on-demand grocery business. The subsidies will target its "Billion-Yuan Supermarket" channel with the goal of generating an additional 200 billion yuan in sales for vendors.

Analysts view this as a defensive strategy against rivals like Meituan, Pinduoduo, and Alibaba, who are encroaching on each other's core markets. The move signifies an intensifying battle for market share in China's competitive e-commerce and instant grocery delivery sectors.

The main topics covered are JD.com's subsidy initiative, the competitive e-commerce landscape in China, and the strategic battle in the on-demand grocery market.

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Facebook owner Meta presses ahead with Manus merger despite Beijing probe

(Tech - South China Morning Post / 2026-02-26 13:30)

Meta is proceeding with its integration of the acquired AI start-up Manus, moving some Singapore-based Manus employees into Meta offices and granting them system access. The operational merger includes embedding Manus's technology into Meta's Ads Manager platform to provide analytics to advertisers.

This integration continues despite an ongoing investigation by China's Ministry of Commerce into the $2 billion deal, which was launched to review compliance with export control and technology regulations.

The main topics covered are the corporate integration of Meta and Manus, the operational changes and talent transfers involved, and the regulatory scrutiny from Chinese authorities.

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Baidu touts AI chips’ potential amid sluggish fourth quarter

(Tech - South China Morning Post / 2026-02-26 14:00)

Baidu's AI-related business revenue grew 48% year-on-year to over 11 billion yuan in Q4, serving as a bright spot. However, the company's overall quarterly revenue of 32.74 billion yuan still declined 4% annually due to weak advertising demand.

CEO Robin Li highlighted the strong market recognition and performance of its proprietary Kunlunxin AI chips, noting broad enterprise adoption. These chips are praised for their stable, high-performance computing and compatibility across various AI models.

The main topics covered are Baidu's quarterly financial performance, the growth of its AI business segment, and the promotion of its Kunlunxin AI chip technology.

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ThreatsDay Bulletin: Kali Linux + Claude, Chrome Crash Traps, WinRAR Flaws, LockBit & 15+ Stories

(The Hacker News / 2026-02-26 14:28)

The article details several evolving cybersecurity threats, emphasizing that attacks are becoming faster and more deceptive. Key topics include the integration of AI into hacking tools like Kali Linux, the use of Android spyware by Belarusian authorities, and sophisticated cryptocurrency phishing campaigns. It highlights a dramatic acceleration in attack speeds, with "breakout times" dropping to an average of 29 minutes and the fastest lateral movement occurring in just four minutes, largely due to the abuse of legitimate credentials and AI. The report also notes a significant increase in malware-free attacks and the exploitation of vulnerabilities before public disclosure.

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UAT-10027 Targets U.S. Education and Healthcare with Dohdoor Backdoor

(The Hacker News / 2026-02-26 15:17)

A previously undocumented threat group, UAT-10027, is targeting U.S. education and healthcare sectors with a new backdoor called Dohdoor. The malware uses DNS-over-HTTPS for stealthy communications and DLL side-loading for execution, ultimately deploying a Cobalt Strike Beacon. While the campaign's financial motive and victim profile show some overlap with North Korean threat actors, a definitive attribution has not been made. The main topics covered are the identification of a new cyber threat campaign, the technical details of the Dohdoor malware, and the analysis of potential attribution to a known threat actor.

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Ex-presidente que tentou um golpe de Estado na Coreia do Sul é condenado à prisão perpétua

(Jacobin Brasil / 2026-02-26 15:24)

Resumo objetivo:
O ex-presidente sul-coreano Yoon Suk-yeol foi condenado à prisão perpétua por insurreição, após tentar um autogolpe em dezembro de 2024, que foi rejeitado pelo legislativo e gerou protestos massivos. O veredicto, contudo, reflete as profundas divisões políticas do país, com o juiz utilizando argumentos históricos ambíguos que, de certa forma, reconheceram a justificativa de Yoon para declarar lei marcial. O caso é visto como um marco na luta contra a extrema-direita, mas também evidenciou o ressurgimento e a organização dessas forças na sociedade sul-coreana.

Principais tópicos abordados: 1. A condenação de Yoon Suk-yeol por insurreição após uma tentativa fracassada de golpe de Estado. 2. As tensões políticas e divisões internas na Coreia do Sul, exacerbadas pelo caso. 3. O papel ambíguo do sistema judicial e a argumentação do juiz, que mesclou referências históricas com a defesa de Yoon. 4. O contexto do ressurgimento da extrema-direita no país e a resistência liberal e de esquerda a esse movimento.

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Qual foi o período mortal da história?

(Jacobin Brasil / 2026-02-26 15:37)

Resumo objetivo:
O livro "The Killing Age" argumenta que a modernidade foi forjada por uma revolução na capacidade de matar, impulsionada pela produção industrial de armas no século XIX. Essa dinâmica violenta, iniciada na Europa Ocidental, teria sido central para a expansão do capitalismo, do imperialismo e até para as mudanças climáticas, reestruturando o mundo pela força.

Principais tópicos abordados:
1. A violência como motor da modernidade, do capitalismo e do imperialismo.
2. O papel decisivo das inovações em armamentos (como o mosquete de pederneira) na dominação colonial e na escravização.
3. A crítica às narrativas históricas tradicionais, destacando a "revolução militar-comercial" e o conceito de "Morteceno".
4. A ligação entre a carnificina moderna, a exploração de recursos e a crise climática atual.

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OpenAI Announces Major Expansion of London Office

(Business Latest / 2026-02-26 15:56)

OpenAI plans to significantly expand its London office into its largest research hub outside the United States, aiming to hire top talent from UK universities. This move puts it in direct competition for researchers with Google DeepMind, which is also headquartered in London and has deep academic ties.

The expansion is seen as a positive signal for the UK's AI ecosystem, potentially creating a "flywheel effect" where early-career hires eventually start new labs in the country. The London team will focus on core model development, with an emphasis on safety, reliability, and performance evaluation for technologies like GPT.

The announcement is viewed by the UK government as a strong endorsement of the nation's AI research landscape, even as the country works to scale its data center and power infrastructure to meet the computational demands of AI firms.

Main topics: OpenAI's international expansion, competition for AI research talent in the UK, and the development of the UK's AI industry and infrastructure.

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Hong Kong ignites next wave of global innovation as Start-up Express 2026 opens for application

(Tech - South China Morning Post / 2026-02-26 16:00)

The Hong Kong Trade Development Council (HKTDC) has opened applications for its Start-up Express 2026 programme, a development scheme for early-stage tech companies with international ambitions. The programme selects ten winners annually, providing them with training, mentoring, and investor matching to help them expand globally.

Applicant companies must have been incorporated after January 1, 2019, and have raised less than US$10 million. The selection process involves multiple stages, narrowing down to 40 companies, then 20 finalists, before choosing the final ten winners.

The 2025 cohort highlights a strong focus on healthtech, AI, and green innovation within Hong Kong's start-up ecosystem. Examples include companies developing AI-powered mental health tools, AI for drug development and neurological screening, a virus-free gene delivery system for cell therapy, a portable device for early retinal disease detection, and smart insoles for children's foot health.

Main Topics: Start-up Express 2026 application launch, programme structure and benefits, and examples of innovative healthtech/AI companies from the 2025 cohort.

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Huawei targets global comeback with Mate 80 Pro smartphone, new smartwatch

(Tech - South China Morning Post / 2026-02-26 16:01)

Huawei has launched its Mate 80 Pro smartphone and a new smartwatch in Madrid, marking a renewed push into the global market. The overseas version of the phone uses Huawei's self-designed Kirin 9030 Pro chip but runs on an Android-based system, unlike the domestic model which uses HarmonyOS.

This launch represents Huawei's comeback with its flagship Mate series internationally, four years after its last global Mate model. The move follows the company's recovery from US sanctions and its recent reclaiming of the top market share position in China from Apple.

The main topics covered are Huawei's global product launch, the specifications of its new devices, and its competitive resurgence in the smartphone market.

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Private Prison Falsified Records in Detainee’s Death in ICE Custody

(The Intercept / 2026-02-26 16:04)

A federal death review found that staff at a GEO Group-run immigrant prison in Pennsylvania serially falsified safety records for Frankline Okpu, a Cameroonian man who died in solitary confinement in 2023. Despite documenting 94 missed or falsified visual checks and other violations of medical standards, ICE declined to penalize GEO Group and instead awarded the company an additional $4 million in funding.

The review detailed that GEO staff failed to conduct required 15-minute checks on Okpu, with surveillance footage showing many logged checks never occurred or were performed improperly. ICE investigators also found GEO violated standards by falsifying a medical refusal form and failing to conduct a documented face-to-face medical encounter before Okpu was found unresponsive.

The main topics covered are the death of an immigrant detainee, systemic falsification of safety and medical records by prison staff, and the lack of accountability or consequences for the private prison operator despite these findings.

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Zohran Mamdani Kept Columbia Student in New York — Then Phoned With Trump to Secure Her Release

(The Intercept / 2026-02-26 16:22)

Elmina Aghayeva, a Columbia University neuroscience student from Azerbaijan detained by ICE for an alleged visa violation, has been released from federal custody. Her release followed interventions by New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani, who raised the issue directly with President Donald Trump.

The arrest has sparked controversy due to the tactics used by federal agents, who allegedly gained entry to university housing by misrepresenting themselves as NYPD officers searching for a missing person. Students and public officials, including a city council member, have condemned these actions as a violation of the student's Fourth Amendment rights.

The Department of Homeland Security stated the arrest was due to a lack of proper student visa, with no pending appeals. The incident has prompted protests and accusations of deceptive, potentially criminal conduct by federal authorities.

Main Topics: The arrest and release of the student; the alleged deceptive tactics used by federal agents during the arrest; the political and public response to the incident.