Tech News

1. Technology / Software Development:

   • Java applet package removed from JDK 26, set for release in March 2026, marking the end of an era that began in 1996. Modern alternatives like TeaVM and Flavour enable Java-based web apps without plugins. 👉 inside.java 👉 frequal.com

2. Energy / Climate:

   • Utah startup Zanskar Geothermal used AI to locate a 250°F geothermal reservoir, the first "blind" system discovered in over 30 years, with potential to unlock hundreds of gigawatts in Western U.S. 👉 cnn.com

3. Privacy / Digital Rights:

   • Mozilla's Firefox survey reveals 84% of users feel a lack of control over their digital privacy, with 47% frustrated by data tracking without consent and 38% by unauthorized AI training. 👉 blog.mozilla.org

4. Automotive / EVs:

   • Global EV sales hit 2.0 million units in November 2025, with Europe (+36% YoY) leading growth while U.S. sales stagnate post-tax credit expiration. China remains the largest market. 👉 electrek.co

5. Tech History:

   • Steve Sasson, inventor of the first digital camera, reflects on the 1975 prototype that used stolen parts and a cassette deck for storage. 👉 bbc.com

6. Energy Transition:

   • New England’s last coal plant shut down early, accelerating transition to solar/battery storage. Los Angeles also eliminated coal power, though political hurdles remain. 👉 newhampshirebulletin.com 👉 utahnewsdispatch.com

7. Software Development:

   • Rust officially becomes a core part of the Linux kernel, with the "experimental" tag removed after years of debate. Maintainers expect more drivers to adopt Rust. 👉 thenewstack.io

8. Renewable Energy:

   • Renewables covered 56% of Germany’s electricity in 2025, with solar growing 18.7% despite weak wind output. 👉 cleanenergywire.org

9. Geopolitics:

   • Chinese whistleblower Li Chuanliang describes global surveillance operations using U.S.-origin tech to track dissidents across borders, including 14,000+ repatriations via "Fox Hunt." 👉 abcnews.go.com

10. Cybersecurity / Legal:

    • Ukrainian civilians sue U.S. chip firms (Intel, AMD, TI) for allegedly enabling Russian/Iranian weapons by failing to track high-risk sales. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

11. AI Regulation:

    • Arizona city Chandler rejects AI data center despite lobbying from former Sen. Kyrsten Sinema, citing local benefits over national push. 👉 politico.com

12. Hardware Pricing:

    • Framework Computer raises DDR5 memory prices by 50% due to industry shortages, adjusting return policies to prevent scalping. 👉 phoronix.com

13. Labor / Unions:

    • id Software employees vote to unionize with CWA, prioritizing remote work protections and AI ethics. 👉 engadget.com

14. AI Policy:

    • Trump administration mandates AI vendors measure political bias for federal sales, excluding national security systems. 👉 reuters.com

15. Cybercrime:

    • CyberVolk ransomware group resurfaces with Telegram-based platform but fatally hardcodes encryption keys, enabling victim recovery. 👉 theregister.com

16. Digital Influence:

    • Cambridge study reveals SMS verification can be bypassed for pennies, fueling global manipulation campaigns across 500+ platforms. 👉 ft.com^$

17. Entertainment Tech:

    • Netflix House in Philadelphia immerses visitors in branded experiences like Stranger Things and KPOP Demon Hunters. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

18. Infrastructure:

    • AI data center boom diverts $4T in spending from road/bridge projects, delaying critical repairs. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

19. AI Development:

    • AI leaders explore "continual learning" to build more powerful models, mimicking human learning over time. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

20. Workplace Monitoring:

    • Employer crackdowns on social media posts escalate after Charlie Kirk’s death, with companies tightening monitoring policies. 👉 washingtonpost.com

21. Market Moves:

    • Seagate and Western Digital join Nasdaq 100 amid 200%+ stock surges, while GlobalFoundries exits. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

22. Corporate Stock:

    • Cisco’s stock hits record high ($80.25), surpassing its 2000 dot-com peak. 👉 ft.com^$

23. AI Partnerships:

    • Oracle’s $300B OpenAI deal faces delays due to supply chain shortages, raising investor concerns. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

24. Cyber Warfare:

    • Trump administration plans to enlist private firms for offensive cyberattacks against foreign adversaries. 👉 bloomberg.com^$

25. Investment Shifts:

    • Apollo Global cuts exposure to enterprise software amid AI-driven sector concerns. 👉 ft.com^$

26. Toys & Gaming:

    • Nex Playground motion-based console outsells Xbox, becoming the hottest holiday toy. 👉 wsj.com^$

27. AI Tools:

    • OpenAI adopts Anthropic’s "skills" framework, enabling ChatGPT to handle spreadsheets, PDFs, and more. 👉 simonwillison.net

28. Media & Licensing:

    • Disney-OpenAI deal pressures competitors; Sora’s usage lags (13 mins/day vs. TikTok’s 90 mins). 👉 ft.com^$

29. Corporate Acquisitions:

    • TCS acquires Coastal Cloud for $700M to bolster Salesforce expertise and AI business. 👉 crn.com

30. Cybersecurity:

    • CISA orders federal agencies to patch Geoserver XXE flaw (CVE-2025-58360) under active exploitation. 👉 securityweek.com

31. Zero-Day Patches:

    • Apple patches two WebKit zero-days (CVE-2025-43529, CVE-2025-14174) exploited in targeted attacks. 👉 thehackernews.com

32. Malware Campaigns:

    • Fake OSINT/GPT GitHub repos distribute PyStoreRAT malware via HTA files. 👉 thehackernews.com

33. Phishing Tactics:

    • New phishing kits (BlackForce, GhostFrame) use AI/MFA bypass to steal credentials at scale. 👉 thehackernews.com

34. Browser Security:

    • Brave tests agentic AI mode for automated browser tasks via Leo assistant. 👉 bleepingcomputer.com

35. React Vulnerabilities:

    • Critical RSC bugs in React/Next.js enable DoS and source code exposure (CVE-2025-55182, CVE-2025-55184). 👉 thehackernews.com

36. React2Shell Exploits:

    • CISA urges patching React2Shell (CVE-2025-55182) amid widespread exploitation. 👉 thehackernews.com

37. Malware-as-a-Service:

    • ShadyPanda repurposes popular browser extensions (4.3M installs) into spyware. 👉 thehackernews.com

38. Zero-Click Attacks:

    • Agentic browser attacks can delete Google Drive via crafted emails. 👉 thehackernews.com

39. Supply Chain Risks:

    • Intel, AMD, TI sued for allegedly enabling Russian/Iranian weapons via chip sales. 👉 securityweek.com

40. AI Infrastructure:

    • AI data center boom diverts resources from critical infrastructure like roads/bridges. 👉 techcrunch.com

41. AI Regulation:

    • Trump’s AI executive order targets state laws, threatening legal limbo for startups. 👉 techcrunch.com

42. AI Tools:

    • Google’s Gemini AI now available for iPhone/iPad, expanding its ecosystem. 👉 cybernews.com

43. AI in Healthcare:

    • Stanford’s Artemis AI system outperforms human cybersecurity researchers. 👉 cybernews.com

44. Cryptocurrency:

    • Do Kwon sentenced to 15 years in prison for Terra/LUNA collapse. 👉 cybernews.com

45. Cybercrime:

    • CyberVolk’s Telegram-based ransomware-as-a-service (VolkLocker) hardcodes encryption keys, enabling victim recovery. 👉 cybernews.com

46. AI in Education:

    • Stanford’s AI vs. human cybersecurity challenge raises ethical questions. 👉 cybernews.com

47. AI in Entertainment:

    • AI-generated Disney content removed from YouTube after cease-and-desist. 👉 techcrunch.com

48. AI in Space:

    • SpaceX valued at $800B ahead of potential 2026 IPO. 👉 cybernews.com

49. AI in Finance:

    • Wealthfront’s IPO values digital wealth platform at $2.7B. 👉 techcrunch.com

50. AI in Data Centers:

    • Fermi’s AI data center loses $150M tenant funding, stock plunges 50%. 👉 ft.com^$

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