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From The Django weblog at 2026-02-21 09:11:04

DSF member of the month - Baptiste Mispelon

For February 2026, we welcome Baptiste Mispelon as our DSF member of the month! ⭐

Photo by Bartek Pawlik - bartpawlik.format.com

Baptiste is a long-time Django and Python contributor who co-created the Django Under the Hood conference series and serves on the Ops team maintaining its infrastructure. He has been a DSF member since November 2014. You can learn more about Baptiste by visiting Baptiste's website and his GitHub Profile.

Let’s spend some time getting to know Baptiste better!

Can you tell us a little about yourself? (hobbies, education, etc)

I'm a French immigrant living in Norway. In the day time I work as software engineer at Torchbox building Django and Wagtail sites. Education-wise I'm a "self-taught" (whatever that means) developer and started working when I was very young. In terms of hobbies, I'm a big language nerd and I'm always up for a good etymology fact. I also enjoy the outdoor whether it's on a mountain bike or on foot (still not convinced by this skiing thing they do in Norway, but I'm trying).

How did you start using Django?

I was working in a startup where I had built an unmaintainable pile of custom framework-less PHP code. I'd heard of this cool Python framework and thought it would help me bring some structure to our codebase. So I started rewriting our services bit-by-bit and eventually switched everything to Django after about a year.

In 2012, I bought a ticket to DjangoCon Europe in Zurich and went there not knowing anyone. It was one of the best decisions of my life: the Django community welcomed me and has given me so much over the years.

What other framework do you know and if there is anything you would like to have in Django if you had magical powers?

I've been making website for more than two decades now, so I've used my fair share of various technologies and frameworks, but Django is still my "daily driver" and the one I like the best. I like writing plain CSS, and when I need some extra bit of JS I like to use Alpine JS and/or HTMX: I find they work really well together with Django.

If I had magical powers and could change anything, I would remove the word "patch" from existence (and especially from the Django documentation).

What projects are you working on now?

I don't have any big projects active at the moment, I'm mostly working on client projects at work.

Which Django libraries are your favorite (core or 3rd party)?

My favorite Django library of all time is possibly django-admin-dracula. It's the perfect combination of professional and whimsical for me.

Other than that I'm also a big fan of the Wagtail CMS. I've been learning more and more about it in the past year and I've really been liking it. The code feels very Django-y and the community around it is lovely as well.

What are the top three things in Django that you like?

1) First of course is the people. I know it's a cliche but the community is what makes Django so special.

2) In terms of the framework, what brought me to it in the first place was its opinionated structure and settings. When I started working with Django I didn't really know much about web development, but Django's standard project structure and excellent defaults meant that I could just use things out of the box knowing I was building something solid. And more than that, as my skills and knowledge grew I was able to swap out those defaults with some more custom things that worked better for me. There's room to grow and the transition has always felt very smooth for me.

3) And if I had to pick a single feature, then I'd go for one that I think is underrated: assertQuerySetEqual(). I think more people should be using it!

What is it like to be in the Ops team?

It's both very exciting and very boring 😅

Most of the tasks we do are very mundane: create DNS records, update a server, deploy a fix. But because we have access and control over a big part of the infrastructure that powers the Django community, it's also a big responsibility which we don't take lightly.

I know you were one of the first members of the Django Girls Foundation board of directors. That's amazing! How did that start for you?

By 2014 I'd become good friend with Ola & Ola and in July they asked me to be a coach at the very first Django Girls workshop at EuroPython in Berlin. The energy at that event was amazing an unlike any other event I'd been a part of, so I got hooked.

I went on to coach at many other workshops after that. When Ola & Ola had the idea to start an official entity for Django Girls, they needed a token white guy and I gladly accepted the role!

You co-created Django Under the Hood series which, from what I've heard, was very successful at the time. Can you tell us a little more about this conference and its beginnings?

I'm still really proud of having been on that team and of what we achieved with this conference. So many stories to tell!

I believe it all started at the Django Village conference where Marc Tamlin and I were looking for ideas for how to bring the Django core team together.

We thought that having a conference would be a good way to give an excuse (and raise funds) for people to travel all to the same place and work on Django. Somehow we decided that Amsterdam was the perfect place for that.

Then we were extremely lucky that a bunch of talented folks actually turned that idea into a reality: Sasha, Ola, Tomek, Ola, Remco, Kasia (and many others) 💖.

As a former conference organizer and volunteer, do you have any recommendations for those who want to contribute or organize a conference?

I think our industry (and even the world in general) is in a very different place today than a decade ago when I was actively organizing conferences. Honestly I'm not sure it would be as easy today to do the things we've done.

My recommendation is to do it if you can. I've forged some real friendships in my time as an organizer, and as exhausting and stressful as it can be, it's also immensely rewarding in its own way.

The hard lesson I'd also give is that you should pay attention to who gets to come to your events, and more importantly who doesn't. Organizing a conference is essentially making a million decisions, most of which are really boring. But every decision you make has an effect when it's combined with all the others. The food you serve or don't serve, the time of year your event takes place, its location. Whether you spend your budget on fun tshirts, or on travel grants.

All of it makes a difference somehow.

Do you remember your first contribution in Django?

I do! It was commit ac8eb82abb23f7ae50ab85100619f13257b03526: a one character typo fix in an error message 😂

Is there anything else you’d like to say?

Open source is made of people, not code. You'll never go wrong by investing in your community. Claude will never love you back.

Thank you for doing the interview, Baptiste !

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-21 09:00:00

Jamee Moudud on the Intellectual Roots of Zohranomics (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani has certain ideas that make mainstream economists' head explode. Anything in the ballpark of rent control, specifically, is widely derided by defenders of the orthodoxy. But how did the orthodoxy become the orthodoxy? And how did the heterodoxy become the heterodoxy? On this episode, we speak with Jamee Moudud, a professor of economics at Sarah Lawrence College and author of the new book, Legal and Political Foundations of Capitalism. His scholarship sits at the intersection of economics and legal theory. He argues that one can not analyze the economy as if it were some separate thing that exists outside of the institutional and political realities of the time. We discuss the history of economics in the 19th and 20th centuries, and why certain ideas were adopted by the field, while others discarded and relegated to the margins.

Read more:
Mamdani Stacks NYC Board to Carry Out Promised Rent Freeze
Mamdani Threatens to Hike NYC Property Tax to Fill Budget Hole

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From More or Less at 2026-02-21 06:00:00

Did AI researchers let AI hallucinations into scientific papers? (p0n20lsz.mp3)

AI can make mistakes – and AI chatbots like ChatGPT warn you about that whenever you ask them anything.

These mistakes sometimes involve making up entirely fictitious, factually false statements known as “hallucinations”.

Whether these hallucinations matter depends on what you’re using AI for, and whether they are spotted and corrected.

The team on More or Less were slightly surprised to read a headline in Fortune magazine, claiming that a top academic AI conference accepted research papers which contained 100 AI-hallucinated citations.

You might think that the top AI researchers in the world would be careful about using AI to write their research papers.

Alex Tui, CTO and co-founder of GPTZero – whose company discovered the hallucinations – explains what’s going on.

CREDITS: Presenter and producer: Tom Colls Sound mix: James Beard Production co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2026-02-21 00:18:49

Collections: Ancient Mediterranean Mercenaries!

This week we’re going to take a look at mercenaries in the ancient Mediterranean world! This was one of the runners-up in the latest ACOUP Senate poll, coming out of quite a few requests to discuss how mercenaries functioned in antiquity. In order to keep the scope here manageable and within my expertise, I am … Continue reading Collections: Ancient Mediterranean Mercenaries! →

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2026-02-20 17:00:00

805: Universal Basic Rooster Income (9f14c5d6-513a-4fb2-a773-d429c64c5b86.mp3)

Find a cat bed and some apricots, and prepare to upgrade your chicken! While Jason’s away, we play Embark’s hit game “Arc Raiders”, a multiplayer extraction shooter where people can… be nice to each other? (Most of the time, anyway.) We talk survival tips, resource management, and—to nobody’s surprise—John’s got some opinions on the user interface. Host Brian Warren with panelists Ben McCarthy, John Siracusa, and Chip Sudderth....

From School of War at 2026-02-20 10:30:00

Ep 276: Charlie Laderman on Regime Change in Iran (NEBM9039696222.mp3)

Charlie Laderman, associate professor at the University of Florida’s Hamilton School for Classical and Civic Education, joins the show to discuss parallels between Reagan’s policy towards Cold War Poland and the crisis in Iran today. ▪️ Times 02:45 Comparing Iran and Poland 05:56 Reagan’s plan  10:15 Reheating the Cold War   12:26 ’81 coup 15:53 Sanctions and pressure 20:19 Constant agitation   27:38 End of the Cold War 34:45 The violence of the Iranian regime  37:55 Structural differences    44:32 Exiled opposition Read the article discussed in the episode - Freedom for Iran: Learning From U.S. Support for Polish Anti-Communists in the 1980s Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-20 09:00:00

A16Z's David George on How Private and Public Markets Fused Into One (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

This year could be a big one for IPOs. From Anthropic to SpaceX to OpenAI, we could see some gigantic companies hit the public market. But of course, the big story is that big, thriving companies feel less and less pressure to go public. In a different era, private giants like Databricks and Stripe might've IPO'd a long time ago. So what's changed? Why are companies comfortable staying private for so long? On this episode, we speak with David George, a general partner at Andreesen Horowitz, who leads the firm's growth investing team. He discusses how private markets have grown deeper and more liquid, which greatly reduces the need for companies to have public stock at all. We also talk about how he's thinking about the AI disruption trade, and when it makes sense for these private giants to bite the bullet and expose their stock to public investors.

Read more:
Private Equity Targets Clean Energy After Steep Drop-Off in 2025
Andreessen Horowitz Backs Unicorn Kavak in $300 Million Round

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From Battle Lines at 2026-02-20 06:00:00

Trump’s Iran plan: 'kick the door in' and hit the regime where it hurts (media.mp3)

The drumbeat of war in the Middle East is getting louder - and once again it’s Iran in America’s crosshairs.

A second round of talks over Iran’s alleged nuclear weapons programme ended this week without a deal. In the last few days, dozens of American fighter jets and refuelling tankers have joined the US's two carrier strike groups in the region. This is now the largest American military buildup in the Middle East since the Iraq war in 2003.

Venetia chats to Henry Bodkin, The Telegraph's Jerusalem correspondent, and Roland Oliphant, chief foreign affairs analyst about when war might break out and how it could unfold.

Plus Roland speaks to Maryam Mazrooei, an Iranian journalist and war photographer who fled the country after being arrested and imprisoned in 2022, about whether American-led regime change would spark a civil war in Iran.

Read - Trump sends fighter jet squadron to ‘kick the door down’ in Iran: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/18/us-military-aircraft-heading-towards-iran/

Producer: Sophie O'Sullivan

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-20 00:05:00

The Book Club: Wuthering Heights (GLT1197182799.mp3?updated=1771519502)

Why does Emily Brontë's novel, Wuthering Heights, have such an enduring romantic association? Is Heathcliff a romantic lead, or an abusive antihero? Are the characters aspirational in any way, or irredeemable? Join Dominic Sandbrook and Tabitha Syrett as they discuss all this and more. Email us: ⁠thebookclub@goalhanger.com⁠ Instagram: ⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠ TikTok: ⁠@thebookclubpodhq⁠ X: ⁠@bookclubpodhq⁠ YouTube: ⁠@TheBookClubPodHQ⁠ Senior Producer: Nicole Maslen Social Producer: Harry Balden Video Editor: James Clayden Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Django weblog at 2026-02-19 15:51:00

Plan to Adopt Contributor Covenant 3 as Django’s New Code of Conduct

Last month we announced our plan to adopt Contributor Covenant 3 as Django's new Code of Conduct through a multi-step process. Today we're excited to share that we've completed the first step of that journey!

What We've Done

We've merged new documentation that outlines how any member of the Django community can propose changes to our Code of Conduct and related policies. This creates a transparent, community-driven process for keeping our policies current and relevant.

The new process includes:

• Proposing Changes: Anyone can open an issue with a clear description of their proposed change and the rationale behind it.
• Community Review: The Code of Conduct Working Group will discuss proposals in our monthly meetings and may solicit broader community feedback through the forum, Discord, or DSF Slack.
• Approval and Announcement: Once consensus is reached, changes are merged and announced to the community. Changes to the Code of Conduct itself will be sent to the DSF Board for final approval.

How You Can Get Involved

We welcome and encourage participation from everyone in the Django community! Here's how you can engage with this process:

• Share Your Ideas: If you have suggestions for improving our Code of Conduct or related documentation, open an issue on our GitHub repo.
• Join the Discussion: Participate in community discussions about proposed changes on the forum, Discord, or DSF Slack. Keep it positive, constructive, and respectful.
• Stay Informed: Watch the Code of Conduct repository to follow along with proposed changes and discussions.
• Provide Feedback: Not comfortable with GitHub? You can also reach out via conduct@djangoproject.com, or look for anyone with the Code of Conduct WG role on Discord.

What's Next

We're moving forward with the remaining steps of our plan:

• Step 2 (target: March 15): Update our Enforcement Manual, Reporting Guidelines, and FAQs via pull request 91.
• Step 3 (target: April 15): Adopt the Contributor Covenant 3 with proposed changes from the working group.

Each step will have its own pull request where the community can review and provide feedback before we merge. We're committed to taking the time needed to incorporate your input thoughtfully.

Thank you for being part of this important work to make Django a more welcoming and inclusive community for everyone!

From The Briefing Room at 2026-02-19 13:55:00

Should the Government ban social media for young people? (p0n21clb.mp3)

Pressure is building in the UK for a ban on social media use for young people as countries across the world watch Australia, which introduced its own ban for under 16s last December. Meanwhile, the government here is launching a public consultation on children’s use of social media which will look at a range of options, including a ban. It also said this week that it wants to create new legal powers so it can take action quickly. David Aaronovitch asks what the evidence so far tells us about social media and harm to young people and what else could be done about it short of an outright ban.

Guests: Katy Watson, Sydney Correspondent Luke Tryl, Director More in Common Professor Amy Orben, Programme Leader at the MRC Cognition and Brain Sciences Unit, University of Cambridge Professor Sonia Livingstone, Department of Media and Communications, London School of Economics Pete Etchells, Professor of Psychology and Science Communication, Bath Spa University

Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley and Kirsteen Knight Production Co-ordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-19 12:05:39

Malicious AI

Interesting:

Summary: An AI agent of unknown ownership autonomously wrote and published a personalized hit piece about me after I rejected its code, attempting to damage my reputation and shame me into accepting its changes into a mainstream python library. This represents a first-of-its-kind case study of misaligned AI behavior in the wild, and raises serious concerns about currently deployed AI agents executing blackmail threats.

Part 2 of the story. And a Wall Street Journal article.

From Strong Message Here at 2026-02-19 09:20:00

For the Sake of Transparency (with Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove) (p0n1w6jg.mp3)

Armando is joined by Natalie Haynes and Michael Gove to discuss the true meaning of transparency.

With his experience as both a politician and a journalist, Michael Gove gives his insight into how transparency can often mean the opposite. He also explains the perverse incentive for ministers to go out and defend tricky positions, and what it feels like to have your private communications laid bare in an inquiry.

And with Natalie on the show, we look at historical examples of turbulent leadership, and find out who has the dubious honour of being 'the Liz Truss of ancient Rome'.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Richard Morris Recorded at The Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-19 09:00:00

Jared Sleeper on Which Software Companies Will Survive the "SaaSpocalypse" (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

The start of the year has been an absolutely brutal one for software companies. There’s a big fear that the rise of AI and advanced coding models will pull the rug out from this industry. But even before these AI fears, software companies were seeing their growth slow. So how does the business actually work? And more importantly, what types of companies will actually survive the “SaaSpocalypse”? (Or maybe “the CaSaaStrophe”?) On this episode, we speak with Jared Sleeper, a longtime software investor who is now a partner at Avenir. We talk about the history of software, the evolution of business models, and where the threat is most acute. He also talks about why investors are so nervous, and their fears that in the long term many of these companies will be worth zero, while in the short term, they’re not even making much money on a GAAP basis.

Read more: Private Software Companies Release Earnings Early to Calm AI Nerves

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-19 00:05:00

The Fall of the Incas: Massacre in the Andes (Part 2) (GLT2938007438.mp3?updated=1771458462)

What happened when the Spanish conquistadors lead by Francisco Pizarro came face to face with the ruthless emperor of the Incan Empire, Atahualpa? How did the Incas treat their strange, pale, alien visitors with their horses? And, why did a brutal, bloody fight to the death break out between the two sides after the meeting? Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss one of the most totemic meetings of all time - the emperor of the Incas Atahualpa and the Spanish buccaneer Francisco Pizarro. Would either survive the confrontation that ensued? Become a member today and join us at The Rest Is History Festival at Hampton Court Palace on the 4th and 5th of July 2026. This is a members-only event. Join the Athelstans for guaranteed entry or become a Friend of the Show to enter the ballot. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, exclusive miniseries and more.Sign up now at ⁠therestishistory.com and find out more about the festival here.UTM: http://therestishistory.com/club?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=trihfestival&utm_term=listeners&utm_content=episodedescription _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude  Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-19 00:05:00

645. The Fall of the Incas: Massacre in the Andes (Part 2) (GLT2938007438.mp3?updated=1771499648)

What happened when the Spanish conquistadors lead by Francisco Pizarro came face to face with the ruthless emperor of the Incan Empire, Atahualpa? How did the Incas treat their strange, pale, alien visitors with their horses? And, why did a brutal, bloody fight to the death break out between the two sides after the meeting? Join Dominic and Tom, as they discuss one of the most totemic meetings of all time - the emperor of the Incas Atahualpa and the Spanish buccaneer Francisco Pizarro. Would either survive the confrontation that ensued? Become a member today and join us at The Rest Is History Festival at Hampton Court Palace on the 4th and 5th of July 2026. This is a members-only event. Join the Athelstans for guaranteed entry or become a Friend of the Show to enter the ballot. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, exclusive miniseries and more.Sign up now at ⁠therestishistory.com and find out more about the festival here.UTM: http://therestishistory.com/club?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=trihfestival&utm_term=listeners&utm_content=episodedescription _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude  Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Media Show at 2026-02-18 18:15:00

MTV’s legacy, the new Lucy Letby documentary on Netflix and the traditional ad agency in crisis. (p0n1w7qy.mp3)

On this edition of The Media Show, Ros Atkins examines the continuing public interest in the Lucy Letby case, as a new Netflix documentary reaches the top of the UK viewing rankings. He speaks to Josh Halliday, North of England Editor at The Guardian, and Dr Bethany Usher of Newcastle University, whose work focuses on the ethics of true‑crime storytelling and the development of new guidelines for the genre.

Tom Freston, co‑founder of MTV, reflects on how the channel’s launch in 1981 transformed popular culture and what its closure in the UK and Europe signifies for its legacy.

And we assess the state of the advertising industry following one of its most challenging years on record. James Kirkham, founder of Iconic, discusses his view that the traditional agency model is in steep decline, while Becky Owen, Chief Marketing Officer at Billion Dollar Boy, outlines the rapid expansion of influencer marketing and the new dynamics shaping the sector.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-18 12:03:10

AI Found Twelve New Vulnerabilities in OpenSSL

The title of the post is”What AI Security Research Looks Like When It Works,” and I agree:

In the latest OpenSSL security release> on January 27, 2026, twelve new zero-day vulnerabilities (meaning unknown to the maintainers at time of disclosure) were announced. Our AI system is responsible for the original discovery of all twelve, each found and responsibly disclosed to the OpenSSL team during the fall and winter of 2025. Of those, 10 were assigned CVE-2025 identifiers and 2 received CVE-2026 identifiers. Adding the 10 to the three we already found in the ...

From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-18 00:05:00

Greatest Paintings: Age of Enlightenment - Raeburn's Skating Minister (GLT4404067972.mp3?updated=1771345955)

How does Henry Raeburn’s Skating Minister represent both the Scottish Enlightenment and the Romantic movement? In what ways does subject Reverend Robert Walker’s personal history connect to the famous Dutch Golden Age? And, how did a controversy about the most reproduced image in Scotland  traumatise the Scottish national identity?  In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts. To hear the full episode, and all the other exclusive new episodes from Laura and Tom's paintings  series, coming out every Wednesday for the next four weeks, join The Rest is History Club at therestishistory.com To hear these exclusive new episodes from Laura and Tom every Wednesday for the next four weeks, join The Rest is History Club at ⁠therestishistory.com⁠.  NEXT WEEK… Jan 23rd: The Angelus - Jean-François Millet  _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-17 20:43:01

Password managers' promise that they can't see your vaults isn't always true

Contrary to what password managers say, a server compromise can mean game over.

From The History of Byzantium at 2026-02-17 19:31:23

Episode 341 - Mehmed and Constantinople (media.mp3)

Mehmed did not make Constantinople his capital straight away. There were political, practical and psychological arguments against it. We talk about these and how the Sultan overcame them. 

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From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-17 18:38:10

Most VMware users still "actively reducing their VMware footprint," survey finds

Broadcom's "strategy was never to keep every customer," CloudBolt report says.

From More or Less at 2026-02-17 13:14:00

Is an ancient charioteer the best paid sportsperson of all time? (p0n1lhg4.mp3)

Modern sport can seem awash with money, but it’s been claimed that the richest sportsperson of all is an ancient Roman Charioteer from the second century AD called Gaius Appuleius Diocles, with career winnings that stood at 35 million sesterces. One calculation has translated that into an astonishing $15 billion dollars today, and it’s a figure that’s stuck. But should we believe it? Duncan Weldon talks to ancient historian Professor Mary Beard from the University of Cambridge to learn more about the big business of chariot racing, and how we should think about money and wealth in the economies of the past. Presenter: Duncan Weldon Producer: Nathan Gower Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Programme Coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Engineer: James Beard

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-17 12:01:45

Side-Channel Attacks Against LLMs

Here are three papers describing different side-channel attacks against LLMs.

“Remote Timing Attacks on Efficient Language Model Inference“:

Abstract: Scaling up language models has significantly increased their capabilities. But larger models are slower models, and so there is now an extensive body of work (e.g., speculative sampling or parallel decoding) that improves the (average case) efficiency of language model generation. But these techniques introduce data-dependent timing characteristics. We show it is possible to exploit these timing differences to mount a timing attack. By monitoring the (encrypted) network traffic between a victim user and a remote language model, we can learn information about the content of messages by noting when responses are faster or slower. With complete black-box access, on open source systems we show how it is possible to learn the topic of a user’s conversation (e.g., medical advice vs. coding assistance) with 90%+ precision, and on production systems like OpenAI’s ChatGPT and Anthropic’s Claude we can distinguish between specific messages or infer the user’s language. We further show that an active adversary can leverage a boosting attack to recover PII placed in messages (e.g., phone numbers or credit card numbers) for open source systems. We conclude with potential defenses and directions for future work...

From School of War at 2026-02-17 10:30:00

Ep 275: Michael Baumgartner on Marco Rubio’s Speech and the Future of Europe (NEBM2676462458.mp3)

Rep. Michael Baumgartner of Washington State’s 5th Congressional District joins the show to give his key takeaways from the Munich Security Conference. ▪️ Times 01:34 Getting to Munich 05:22 European attitude   14:20 AOC and recalibration   17:50 Germany returns 23:59 Rubio’s speech 30:23 Ukraine   39:22 Iran and a “good” deal Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast

From Battle Lines at 2026-02-16 17:41:09

North Korea 'names' 13-year-old nuclear heiress & inside Europe’s race to rearm (media.mp3)

North Korea’s dynasty dictatorship has taken on a new leather clad, second-in-command. Reports from South Korea have suggested that Kim Jong Un’s daughter Kim Ju-ae is now the heir apparent in the totalitarian state.

Could she one day be the youngest person to command a nuclear arsenal? Roland chats to The Telegraph’s Lily Shanagher and from the University of Oxford, North Korea watcher, Dr Edward Howell, to unpack what we know from the shadows.

Plus, after the Munich Security Conference at the weekend, Europe is facing a new future without Washington’s steadying hand and will have to be less reliant on the Stars and Stripes. But is European defence manufacturing scaling up in line with these new demands? Roland speaks to Philip Lockwood from defence startup Stark to find out just how quickly the ambitions are being realised. 

Read Lily's article on Kim Ju-ae: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/16/kim-opens-neighbourhood-families-soldiers-killed-ukraine/

Pic credit: KCNA via Reuters

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Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-16 12:04:01

The Promptware Kill Chain

Attacks against modern generative artificial intelligence (AI) large language models (LLMs) pose a real threat. Yet discussions around these attacks and their potential defenses are dangerously myopic. The dominant narrative focuses on “prompt injection,” a set of techniques to embed instructions into inputs to LLM intended to perform malicious activity. This term suggests a simple, singular vulnerability. This framing obscures a more complex and dangerous reality. Attacks on LLM-based systems have evolved into a distinct class of malware execution mechanisms, which we term “promptware.” In a ...

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-16 09:00:00

Ray Wang on How AI Is Causing DRAM Prices to Surge (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

For years, DRAM -- or Dynamic Random Access Memory -- was kind of a sleepy, commoditized aspect of chip industry. Growth was steady, but modest, and prices just generally drifted lower. Suddenly all that's changed. AI has created voracious demand for DRAM and consumer facing companies are being forced to either curtail supply or raise prices due to exploding costs. But what is it about AI that consumes so much memory, and when will the market rebalance itself? On this episode, we speak with Ray Wang, an analyst at SemiAnalysis, who recently co-authored a report titled, Memory Mania: How a Once-in-Four-Decades Shortage Is Fueling a Memory Boom. We discuss the implications of this memory boom, how producers are responding to surging prices, and whether or not the Chinese companies in the space can catch up to the Korean giants, such as Samsung and Hynix.

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-16 00:05:00

644. The Fall of the Incas: Empire of Gold (Part 1) (GLT4676536558.mp3?updated=1771269723)

Why was the Spanish conquest of the Incas one of the most pivotal moments in world history? Who was Francisco Pizarro, the buccaneer behind this bloody event? And, what was the glittering Incan Empire like?   Join Dominic and Tom, as they launch into a tale of horror, adventure, and terrible violence, which would see a mighty civilisation brought to its knees by alien invaders. As Pizarro and his Spaniards close in on the heart of the Incan Empire, would they survive their first encounter…? _______ Become a member today and join us at The Rest Is History Festival at Hampton Court Palace on the 4th and 5th of July 2026. This is a members-only event. Join the Athelstans for guaranteed entry or become a Friend of the Show to enter the ballot. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, exclusive miniseries and more.Sign up now at ⁠therestishistory.com and find out more about the festival here.UTM: http://therestishistory.com/club?utm_source=podcast&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=trihfestival&utm_term=listeners&utm_content=episodedescription _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan  Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude  Executive Producer: Dom Johnson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-16 00:05:00

644. The Fall of the Incas: Empire of Gold (Part 1) (GLT4676536558.mp3?updated=1770982902)

Why was the Spanish conquest of the Incas one of the most pivotal moments in world history? Who was Francisco Pizarro, the buccaneer behind this bloody event? And, what was the glittering Incan Empire like?   Join Dominic and Tom, as they launch into a tale of horror, adventure, and terrible violence, which would see a mighty civilisation brought to its knees by alien invaders. As Pizarro and his Spaniards close in on the heart of the Incan Empire, would they survive their first encounter…? _______ Become a member today and join us at The Rest Is History Festival at Hampton Court Palace on the 4th and 5th of July 2026. This is a members-only event. Join the Athelstans for guaranteed entry or become a Friend of the Show to enter the ballot. You'll also get ad-free listening, bonus episodes, exclusive mini-series and more. Sign up now at therestishistory.com For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan  Social Producer: Harry Baldwin Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude  Executive Producer: Dom Johnson  Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-15 13:00:00

The Sixth Bureau, Episode 1: Your Friend From Nanjing (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

It’s an open secret that the Chinese government has engaged in a global campaign to acquire intellectual property from foreign rivals. At the center of that campaign is the Ministry of State Security, China’s elusive intelligence agency. The US has apprehended hundreds of people accused of giving information to the MSS, but the agency’s inner workings have been a mystery — until now.

Today, we’re bringing you Episode 1 of The Sixth Bureau, a limited-run series from The Big Take. The series follows an MSS intelligence officer whose mission was to acquire the crown jewels of American aerospace companies. With aliases, blackmail and the occasional break-in, he targeted corporate giants. That is, until his sloppiness — and a cunning FBI sting — led to a stunning reversal: Xu Yanjun became the first Chinese intelligence officer ever convicted on American soil.

Listen to Episode 2, available now in The Big Take.

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From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-14 17:04:59

Upcoming Speaking Engagements

This is a current list of where and when I am scheduled to speak:

• I’m speaking at Ontario Tech University in Oshawa, Ontario, Canada, at 2 PM ET on Thursday, February 26, 2026.
• I’m speaking at the Personal AI Summit in Los Angeles, California, USA, on Thursday, March 5, 2026.
• I’m speaking at Tech Live: Cybersecurity in New York City, USA, on Wednesday, March 11, 2026.
• I’m giving the Ross Anderson Lecture at the University of Cambridge’s Churchill College at 5:30 PM GMT on Thursday, March 19, 2026.
• I’m speaking at RSAC 2026 in San Francisco, California, USA, on Wednesday, March 25, 2026...

From The Week in Westminster at 2026-02-14 11:00:00

14/02/2026 (p0n104zp.mp3)

Caroline Wheeler of The Sunday Times assesses the latest developments at Westminster.

After a week in which the Prime Minister had to fight for his political survival, Caroline speaks to Labour grandee, Alan Johnson, a Cabinet minister in both the Blair and Brown governments, and Peter Hyman, a former strategist for Tony Blair when he was in Number Ten.

In the wake of the scandal around Peter Mandelson, and amid concerns about the slow progress of the Terminally Ill Adults (End of Life) Bill, a new cross-party group is calling for 'wholesale' reform of the House of Lords. One of those involved is Carmen Smith of Plaid Cymru, the youngest member of the House of Lords. Lord Young of Acton, a Conservative peer and founder of the Free Speech Union, is concerned that rule changes on stripping peerages could be used to suppress speech.

Ahead of the Government's Schools White Paper, which is likely to include controversial reforms to special educational needs provision, Caroline speaks to Jo Hutchinson of the Education Policy Institute about how the system might be changed.

And, to discuss what it's like inside Number Ten at moments of political crisis, Caroline brings together Guto Harri, former Director of Communications to Boris Johnson, and Luke Sullivan, former political director for Sir Keir Starmer.

From GoodFellows: Conversations on Economics, History & Geopolitics at 2026-02-14 01:08:34

“Red Dawns” and Skiing on Stolen Land, with Frank Dikötter | GoodFellows | Hoover Institution (GoodFellows_2026-02-13_-_Frank_Dikotter_podcast_62km9.mp3)

Unlike the romanticized tale the Chinese Communist Party tells of itself—long marches and a long game of outlasting and outwitting its foes—the early years of the CCP were ones of unrepentant violence and a rise to power made possible only with external help. Frank Dikötter, the Hoover Institution’s Milias Senior Fellow and author of the forthcoming book, Red Dawn over China: How Communism Conquered a Quarter of Humanity, joins GoodFellows regulars Niall Ferguson, John Cochrane and H.R. McMaster to discuss what shaped the CCP from the years 1921–1949, plus parallels between Xi Jinping and Mao Zedong in terms of amassing power, purging rivals, and practicing economics and geopolitics. After that: the fellows debate the assertion by a New York Times columnist that Donald Trump has “lost the country,” as well as how much faith to put in economic indicators, plus songstress Billie Eilish’s belief that “no one is illegal on stolen land.”   Subscribe to GoodFellows for clarity on today’s biggest social, economic, and geostrategic shifts — only on GoodFellows.

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2026-02-14 00:03:40

Collections: Against the State – A Primer on Terrorism, Insurgency and Protest

This week, continuing in the vein of some of our previous strategy and military theory primers, I wanted to off a basic 101-level survey of the strategic theory behind efforts, in a sense, directed against the state itself, both violent approaches (what we might call ‘terroristic insurgency’) and non-violent approaches (protest). It may seem strange … Continue reading Collections: Against the State – A Primer on Terrorism, Insurgency and Protest →

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-13 22:08:39

Friday Squid Blogging: Do Squid Dream?

An exploration of the interesting question.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-13 19:40:21

After a routine code rejection, an AI agent published a hit piece on someone by name

One developer is struggling with the social implications of a drive-by AI character attack.

From The Incomparable Mothership at 2026-02-13 17:00:00

804: I Pay This Movie Rent (fd541ef3-817c-4919-9f6d-7596250da39d.mp3)

Want to see a dead body? Bring your comb, stock up on cherry flavor Pez, and stay really quiet if you see a deer. We return to the 1980s and honor Rob Reiner by discussing 1986’s “Stand By Me,” a movie Jason has somehow never seen. It’s not a movie with Things That Happen, but that’s just fine with us....

From School of War at 2026-02-13 10:30:00

Ep 274: Lawerence Freedman on Strategists and Ukraine (NEBM3927490861.mp3)

Lawerence Freedman, Emeritus Professor of War Studies at King’s College London and author of On Strategists and Strategy: Collected Essays, 2014-2024, joins the show to talk about a lifetime among strategists, and to give an update on the war in Ukraine. ▪️ Times 02:34 Essay writing 07:49 Michael Howard  18:42 Colin Gray 23:06 Timeless aspects of strategy 26:00 The goal of SDI 36:40 Tactics   41:20 Differences between tactics and strategy 45:01 Ultimate objectives  50:08 Sensible uses of nuclear weapons   52:24 Thatcher 53:59 Harsh winter in Ukraine Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-13 09:00:00

Why Adam Posen Thinks Inflation Will Surge Back to 4% (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

The future is always tough to predict, but generally when it comes to inflation, a lot of the debate is about how long it will take the Federal Reserve to get back to its 2% target. In other words, people generally agree on the direction, but disagree on the speed. But our guest on this episode violently disagrees with the consensus direction. Peterson Institute President Adam Posen thinks inflation will be back at 4% by the end of the year. He first unveiled his thesis in a piece co-written with Lazard's Peter Orszag last month. Posen argues that the lagged effect of tariffs, immigration, further fiscal easing, and declining Fed credibility will combine to cause prices to reaccelerate. In this conversation, we speak with Posen about his thesis, and why he thinks the reports of economic softening are mistaken. We also talk about the broader geopolitical landscape and whether Europe is ready to really change its relationship with the United States.

More: A Very Non-Consensus Inflation Call 

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From Battle Lines at 2026-02-13 06:02:00

Vance’s ‘Enemy Within’: How the US shocked Europe into rearmament (media.mp3)

A year ago, JD Vance gave an explosive speech at the Munich Security Conference. It marked a fundamental shift in the relationship between the US and its European allies that have since been cemented through tariff wars, a new National Security Strategy and threats to take Greenland.  

So has Europe risen to the challenge laid down by Donald Trump's administration and started to take care of its own security? Is there any trust left in the trans-Atlantic relationship? And will there be another attack on Europe at this weekend's Munich conference? 

Venetia and Roland chat to David Blair, Chief Foreign Affairs Commentator, and Joe Barnes, Brussels Correspondent to find out. 

Read Joe Barnes's story on how Europe ‘must become military superpower’ to survive without US: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/02/11/europe-must-be-military-superpower-to-survive-without-us/

Read David Blair's analysis: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/authors/d/da-de/david-blair/

Pic credit: Matthias Schrader/AP

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

Contact us with feedback or ideas:

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@RolandOliphant

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-12 22:56:02

OpenAI sidesteps Nvidia with unusually fast coding model on plate-sized chips

OpenAI's new GPT‑5.3‑Codex‑Spark is 15 times faster at coding than its predecessor.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-12 19:42:08

Attackers prompted Gemini over 100,000 times while trying to clone it, Google says

Distillation technique lets copycats mimic Gemini at a fraction of the development cost.

From The Briefing Room at 2026-02-12 14:30:00

Iran - how vulnerable is the regime? (p0n0pm1r.mp3)

In early January street protests in Iran turned deadly - thousands were killed by Iranian forces. What started as a demonstration about economic conditions had turned into demands for regime change. President Trump said he would come to the aid of protesters. But so far he hasn’t. He’s amassed a US armada in the Gulf. And last Friday talks were held in Oman between American and Iranian officials about reducing Iran’s nuclear capacity. There’s been no agreement yet but more talks are expected. David Aaronovitch asks his guests what could happen next ? And how vulnerable the Iranian regime is, both inside the country and to a potential US attack?

Guests: Kasra Naji,Special Correspondent, BBC Persian Arash Azizi, Writer and lecturer, Yale University Dr Burcu Ozcelik, Senior Research Fellow for Middle East Security at the Royal United Services Institute Dr Sanam Vakil, Director of the Middle East programme, Chatham House

Presenter: David Aaronovitch Producers: Caroline Bayley, Emma Close Production Coordinator: Maria Ogundele Sound Engineer: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

From Net Assessment at 2026-02-12 12:15:00

Is Resolute Global Leadership the Right Grand Strategy for the United States? (Net_Assessment_12_Feb_2026_v1.mp3?dest-id=808287)

In this episode, Chris, Melanie, and Zack, discuss a recent Council on Foreign Relations special report which explores varies grand strategies, and proposes an alternative known as "Resolute Global Leadership." Is this strategy realistic? Does it accurately assess the strengths and weaknesses of alternatives? And what did the report leave out, or fail to develop adequately, to ensure that it will succeed where others failed? Grievances for what Jeff Bezos has done to the Washington Post, to the Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists for their doomsday clock, and to Donald Trump for weighing in on the Japanese parliamentary elections in favor of Sanae Takaichi's Liberal Democratic Party. Attas to Takaichi for her stunning and unprecedented victory, to Javier Milei for turning around Argentina's economy, and to Anduril's Palmer Luckey for admitting that the Pentagon spends too much on the wrong stuff.

Show Links:

• America Revived: A Grand Strategy of Resolute Global Leadership, Council on Foreign Relations, January 2026

• Monica Pitrelli and Sydney Goh, U.S. can spend billions less on defense, says Anduril Industries founder, CNBC, February 6, 2026

• Benjamin Mullin, Katie Robertson and Erik Wemple, Washington Post Cuts More Than 300 Jobs, The New York Times, February 4, 2026

• Commission on the National Defense Strategy

• Jack Butler, "A Doomsday Crock," Wall Street Journal, February 5, 2026. 

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-12 12:01:31

3D Printer Surveillance

New York is contemplating a bill that adds surveillance to 3D printers:

New York’s 2026­2027 executive budget bill (S.9005 / A.10005) includes language that should alarm every maker, educator, and small manufacturer in the state. Buried in Part C is a provision requiring all 3D printers sold or delivered in New York to include “blocking technology.” This is defined as software or firmware that scans every print file through a “firearms blueprint detection algorithm” and refuses to print anything it flags as a potential firearm or firearm component...

From The Media Show at 2026-02-12 11:22:00

Revelations about the Murdoch dynasty in new book, Reporting on the Starmer crisis, Washington Post cuts, Ofcom under scrutiny (p0n0mnjh.mp3)

Gabriel Sherman joins Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins to discuss the real‑life Murdoch family battle at the heart of his new book , Bonfire of the Murdochs, including the secret Nevada court case that pitted Rupert Murdoch against his own children.

We assess the reporting of a turbulent week in Westminster with Catherine Neilan, Whitehall Editor at The Observer and Simon Nixon, publisher of the Wealth of Nations newsletter and a former journalist at the Wall Street Journal and The Times.

As The Washington Post lays off around 300 staff, we talk to one of them, reporter Marissa Lang and former senior managing editor, Cameron Barr, assesses what comes next.

And we discuss the issue of balance and due impartiality in the digital age as Ofcom faces criticism for declining to investigate a GB News interview with Donald Trump. Producers: Lisa Jenkinson & Dan Hardoon

From Strong Message Here at 2026-02-12 09:45:00

Psychodrama (with Stewart Lee) (p0n0hfgl.mp3)

Stewart Lee joins Armando to examine the language around political pyschodramas. We've discussed political language becoming maximalist, but it also gone into warp speed?

Looking at whether 'stumbling' is in fact a good thing, we also manage to find new names for Wes Streeting, Peter Mandelson and Andrew (you know which one).

We also find time to discuss the fake news that has been stinking up the White House, jellyfish anuses and slapstick.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: Pete Strauss Recorded at The Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-12 09:00:00

New CFTC Chairman Michael Selig on How to Regulate Prediction Markets (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

We are rapidly entering a world in which there are odds on virtually everything. During the recent Super Bowl, the big prediction market platforms didn't just offer bets on the game itself, but also on more exotic facets, such as the first song that Bad Bunny would sing, even who would join Bad Bunny in the performance. And while a lot of people thinks this looks like gambling, it's actually regulated by the CFTC, an agency created in the 1970s to regulate derivatives. On this episode, we speak with new CFTC Chairman Michael Selig, who was nominated by President Trump and took his position in December. We talk to him about his philosophy, and why it is that these new bets are regulated as financial instruments, rather than gambling products. We talk about the tension that emerges when 18-year-olds can place bets on sports via prediction markets, even though in many states have laws on sports gambling, either banning it outright, or requiring participants to be at least 21. We also talk about crypto regulation, and whether perpetual futures -- which have exploded in the crypto space -- could soon be coming to traditional markets.

Read more:
Jump Trading Poised to Gain Stakes in Kalshi and Polymarket
Gambling Stocks Sag as Prediction Markets Steal Super Bowl Bets

Only http://Bloomberg.com subscribers can get the Odd Lots newsletter in their inbox each week, plus unlimited access to the site and app. Subscribe at  bloomberg.com/subscriptions/oddlots

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-12 00:05:00

643. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Carthage Destroyed (Part 4) (GLT7699509622.mp3?updated=1770726905)

Three decades after the defeat of Hannibal, how had the Roman Empire managed to conquer vast swathes of the known world? Why did the predatory eyes of this terrifying behemoth turn once more to Carthage? And, could this mighty city defy the odds and repel Rome one last time…? Join Tom and Dominic as they reach the climactic, final phase of the Punic Wars; the greatest military struggle of all ancient history. _______ To hear our previous series on the rise of Carthage, Hannibal, and the battle of Cannae, go to episodes: 421, 422, 423, 424, 568, 569, 570, 571. _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at ⁠⁠the⁠restishistory.com⁠⁠⁠ For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to ⁠⁠www.goalhanger.com⁠ _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-11 22:11:40

Once-hobbled Lumma Stealer is back with lures that are hard to resist

ClickFix bait, combined with advanced Castleloader malware, is installing Lumma "at scale."

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-11 20:44:19

OpenAI researcher quits over ChatGPT ads, warns of "Facebook" path

Zoë Hitzig resigned on the same day OpenAI began testing ads in its chatbot.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-11 14:48:14

Rewiring Democracy Ebook is on Sale

I just noticed that the ebook version of Rewriring Democracy is on sale for $5 on Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, Books A Million, Google Play, Kobo, and presumably everywhere else in the US. I have no idea how long this will last.

From The Django weblog at 2026-02-11 14:44:22

Django Steering Council 2025 Year in Review

The members of the Steering Council wanted to provide you all with a quick TL;DR of our work in 2025.

First off, we were elected at the end of 2024 and got started in earnest in early 2025 with the mission to revive and dramatically increase the role of the Steering Council.

We're meeting for a video conference at least monthly, you can deep dive into the meeting notes to see what we've been up to. We also have set up Slack channels we use to communicate in between meetings to keep action items moving along.

One of the first things we did was temporarily suspend much of the process around DEP 10. Its heart is in the right place, but it's just too complex and cumbersome day-to-day with a primarily volunteer organization. We're slowly making progress on a revamped and simplified process that addresses our concerns. It is our goal to finish this before our terms expire.

New Features Process

We've moved the process for proposing new features out of the Django Forum and mailing lists to new-features Github repository.

We made this change for a variety of reasons, but the largest being to reduce the workload for the Django Fellows in shepherding the process and answering related questions.

Community Ecosystem Page

One of our main goals is to increase the visibility of the amazing Django third-party package ecosystem. Long time Django users know which packages to use, which you can trust, and which ones may be perfect for certain use cases. However, MANY newer or more casual Django users are often unaware of these great tools and not sure where to even begin.

As a first step, we've added the Community Ecosystem page which highlights several amazing resources to keep in touch with what is going on with Django, how to find recommended packages, and a sample list of those packages the Steering Council itself recommends and uses frequently.

Administrative bits

There has been work on better formalizing and documenting our processes and building documentation to make it much easier for the next Steering Council members.

There has also been fair bit of work around helping organize Google Summer of Code participants to help ensure the projects undertaken are ones that will ultimately be accepted smoothly into Django.

Another area we have focused on is a simplified DEP process. We're still formalizing this, but the idea is to have the Steering Council do the majority of the heavy lifting on writing these and in a format that is shorter/simpler to reduce the friction of creating larger more complicated DEPs.

We have also been in discussions with various third parties about acquiring funding for some of the new features and updates on the horizon.

It's been a productive year and we're aiming to have 2026 be as productive if not more so. We're still setting all of our 2026 goals and will report on those soon.

Please reach out to the Steering Council directly if you have any questions or concerns.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-11 12:03:22

Prompt Injection Via Road Signs

Interesting research: “CHAI: Command Hijacking Against Embodied AI.”

Abstract: Embodied Artificial Intelligence (AI) promises to handle edge cases in robotic vehicle systems where data is scarce by using common-sense reasoning grounded in perception and action to generalize beyond training distributions and adapt to novel real-world situations. These capabilities, however, also create new security risks. In this paper, we introduce CHAI (Command Hijacking against embodied AI), a new class of prompt-based attacks that exploit the multimodal language interpretation abilities of Large Visual-Language Models (LVLMs). CHAI embeds deceptive natural language instructions, such as misleading signs, in visual input, systematically searches the token space, builds a dictionary of prompts, and guides an attacker model to generate Visual Attack Prompts. We evaluate CHAI on four LVLM agents; drone emergency landing, autonomous driving, and aerial object tracking, and on a real robotic vehicle. Our experiments show that CHAI consistently outperforms state-of-the-art attacks. By exploiting the semantic and multimodal reasoning strengths of next-generation embodied AI systems, CHAI underscores the urgent need for defenses that extend beyond traditional adversarial robustness...

From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-11 00:05:00

Greatest Paintings: The Ghost of Spain – Velázquez’s Las Meninas (GLT3233503404.mp3?updated=1770724169)

Why does Diego Velázquez’ Las Meninas represent the fading Spanish Golden Age? How did he challenge the boundaries between viewer and artwork? And, in what ways does his defining style foreshadow Impressionism and serve as an indirect image of his own genius? In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts. FUTURE EPISODES....
 Feb 18th: The Skating Minister - Henry Raeburn
 Feb 25th: The Angelus - Jean-François Millet _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The History of Byzantium at 2026-02-10 14:19:04

Episode 340 - Questions XVII (media.mp3)

We look at all your questions about the siege of 1453. As well as the Palaiologan era in general.

If you want to hear more about Trebizond then check out Byzansimp's Youtube series

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-10 12:03:50

AI-Generated Text and the Detection Arms Race

In 2023, the science fiction literary magazine Clarkesworld stopped accepting new submissions because so many were generated by artificial intelligence. Near as the editors could tell, many submitters pasted the magazine’s detailed story guidelines into an AI and sent in the results. And they weren’t alone. Other fiction magazines have also reported a high number of AI-generated submissions.

This is only one example of a ubiquitous trend. A legacy system relied on the difficulty of writing and cognition to limit volume. Generative AI overwhelms the system because the humans on the receiving end can’t keep up...

From Breaking History at 2026-02-10 09:00:00

The Reluctant Prince: Can Reza Pahlavi Lead Iran’s Future? Q&A with Eli Lake (CBS4515473332.mp3?updated=1770692118)

As Iran’s regime faces mounting internal pressure, one name keeps resurfacing: Reza Pahlavi, the exiled son of the last shah. But is he a viable future leader, or simply the most recognizable symbol of a free Iran? In this conversation, host Eli Lake and producer Poppy Damon unpack the strange political moment Pahlavi finds himself in—popular with many Iranians, yet viewed skeptically by parts of the opposition and treated cautiously by Washington. Can he unite the stakeholders to bring about democracy? Or is he likely to get in the way of a future without monarchs? Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

From School of War at 2026-02-09 19:07:00

Ep 273: Matthew Kroenig on China’s Nuclear Test (NEBM1368990437.mp3)

Matthew Kroenig, Professor in the Department of Government and the Edmund A. Walsh School of Foreign Service at Georgetown University, joins the show to talk about the new nuclear age the world is entering. ▪️ Times 03:27 Secret Chinese testing 07:35 Seismic monitoring and de-coupling 11:40 U.S. testing plan  15:30 Why might we need more nuclear weapons? 18:01 New START 21:23 How many nukes are needed? 27:04 If deterrence fails  30:20 Limits, if any Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Battle Lines at 2026-02-09 15:58:59

Project Vault: Trump's battle to break China’s mineral stranglehold (media.mp3)

Donald Trump has moved the war for critical minerals from the margins of policy to the heart of great power rivalry. In this episode of Battle Lines, we look at Project Vault, America's bid to take back control of the critical minerals and rare earths supply chain from China. 

This bid to build a vast new stockpile and industrial strategy was unveiled at the inaugural US Critical Minerals Ministerial Summit last week. Supporters see it as a necessary first step to protect American industry and national security. Critics warn that for middle countries, it may simply shift dependencies rather than break them.

Venetia talks to Sibylline Chief Analyst Sam Olsen to unpack what Project Vault really means, why processing matters more than mining, and how China has weaponised its dominance in ways OPEC never could. 

Plus, a deep dive on how Greenland fits into the West's rare earths strategy. Greenland Energy, Business and Mineral Resources Minister Naaja Nathanielsen on that Trump deal, Chinese influence and the challenges of mining on the island. 

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

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From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-09 12:04:29

LLMs are Getting a Lot Better and Faster at Finding and Exploiting Zero-Days

This is amazing:

Opus 4.6 is notably better at finding high-severity vulnerabilities than previous models and a sign of how quickly things are moving. Security teams have been automating vulnerability discovery for years, investing heavily in fuzzing infrastructure and custom harnesses to find bugs at scale. But what stood out in early testing is how quickly Opus 4.6 found vulnerabilities out of the box without task-specific tooling, custom scaffolding, or specialized prompting. Even more interesting is how it found them. Fuzzers work by throwing massive amounts of random inputs at code to see what breaks. Opus 4.6 reads and reasons about code the way a human researcher would­—looking at past fixes to find similar bugs that weren’t addressed, spotting patterns that tend to cause problems, or understanding a piece of logic well enough to know exactly what input would break it. When we pointed Opus 4.6 at some of the most well-tested codebases (projects that have had fuzzers running against them for years, ...

From Release notes from govuk-frontend at 2026-02-09 11:31:43

GOV.UK Frontend v6.0.0

<h2>Breaking changes</h2> <h3>Make sure you're using Dart Sass v1.79.0 or newer to compile your Sass stylesheets</h3> <p>GOV.UK Frontend no longer supports Ruby Sass, LibSass or versions of Dart Sass older than v1.79.0. Update your project to <a href="https://sass-lang.com/dart-sass/" rel="nofollow">Dart Sass v1.79.0 or newer</a> before updating to GOV.UK Frontend v6.0.</p> <p>We made these changes in the following pull requests:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6311">#6311: Remove support for Ruby Sass and LibSass</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6366">#6366: Update Dart Sass tests minimum version to 1.79.0</a></li> </ul> <h3>Update to the new type scale</h3> <p>We’ve applied the new type scale that was first introduced in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.2.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.2.0</a> as an opt-in feature.</p> <p>The type scale increases the size of text on small screens, improving legibility and accessibility.</p> <p>We've also removed size 14 from the type scale. The smallest size in the type scale is now 16.</p> <p>See the Design System website for an overview of the <a href="https://design-system.service.gov.uk/get-started/new-type-scale/" rel="nofollow">changes to the type scale in the Design System</a>.</p> <p>You should test your service against the new type scale to see if you need to make any adjustments, particularly on small screens.</p> <h4>Stop using size 14 from the type scale</h4> <p>You'll now see an error when compiling your Sass if you pass <code>$size: 14</code> to the <code>govuk-font-size</code> or <code>govuk-font</code> mixins.</p> <p>Update your code to use a different size.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6417">pull request #6417: Remove 14 from the type scale</a>.</p> <h5>Stop using the <code>govuk-body-xs</code> and <code>govuk-!-font-size-14</code> classes</h5> <p>Update your service to remove or replace references to the <code>govuk-body-xs</code> or <code>govuk-!-font-size-14</code> classes.</p> <p>We've removed these classes from GOV.UK Frontend.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6417">pull request #6417: Remove 14 from the type scale</a>.</p> <h4>Remove references to the <code>$govuk-new-typography-scale</code> feature flag</h4> <p>Remove any references to the <code>$govuk-new-typography-scale</code> feature flag from your code. We've now removed this feature flag.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6421">pull request #6421: Turn the new type scale on by default</a>.</p> <h3>Use GOV.UK brand colours</h3> <p>We’ve updated GOV.UK Frontend to use the GOV.UK web palette from v1.0 of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/govuk-brand-guidelines" rel="nofollow">GOV.UK brand guidelines</a>.</p> <p>To improve colour contrast and legibility, we’ve also added:</p> <ul> <li>25% and 50% shades for all colours except brown</li> <li>a 10% shade for blue</li> </ul> <p>We’ve also made green and its tints and shades slightly darker.</p> <p>A future version of the brand guidelines will contain these improvements.</p> <h4>Changes to colours in the web palette</h4> <p>The web palette in the brand guidelines reduces the number of named colours but introduces tints and shades for each colour. We've updated GOV.UK Frontend to use the same approach.</p> <p>We’ve updated these colours:</p> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Colour</th> <th>Previous colour</th> <th>Change</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><code>green</code></td> <td><code>#00703c</code></td> <td>Updated to <code>#0f7a52</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>red</code></td> <td><code>#d4351c</code></td> <td>Updated to <code>#ca3535</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>purple</code></td> <td><code>#4c2c92</code></td> <td>Updated to <code>#54319f</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>brown</code></td> <td><code>#b58840</code></td> <td>Updated to <code>#99704a</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>pink</code></td> <td><code>#d53880</code></td> <td>Renamed to <code>magenta</code> and updated to <code>#ca357c</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>turquoise</code></td> <td><code>#28a197</code></td> <td>Renamed to <code>teal</code> and updated to <code>#158187</code></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>We’ve removed these colours:</p> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Colour</th> <th>Previous colour</th> <th>Suggested replacement</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><code>light-blue</code></td> <td><code>#5694ca</code></td> <td>Blue tint 25% (exact match)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>light-pink</code></td> <td><code>#f499be</code></td> <td>Magenta tint 50% (<code>#e59abe</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>light-green</code></td> <td><code>#85994b</code></td> <td>Green tint 25% (<code>#4b9b7d</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>dark-blue</code></td> <td><code>#003078</code></td> <td>Blue shade 50% (<code>#0f385c</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>light-purple</code></td> <td><code>#6f72af</code></td> <td>Purple tint 25% (<code>#7f65b7</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>bright-purple</code></td> <td><code>#912b88</code></td> <td>Magenta shade 25% (<code>#98285d</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>dark-grey</code></td> <td><code>#505a5f</code></td> <td>Black tint 25% (<code>#484949</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>mid-grey</code></td> <td><code>#b1b4b6</code></td> <td>Black tint 80% (<code>#cecece</code>)</td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>light-grey</code></td> <td><code>#f3f2f1</code></td> <td>Black tint 95% (<code>#f3f3f3</code>)</td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>We have not made any changes to <code>black</code>, <code>white</code>, <code>blue</code>, <code>yellow</code> or <code>orange</code>.</p> <p>We made these changes in the following pull requests:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6326">#6326: Use brand palette through <code>govuk-colour</code></a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6335">#6335: Update button colours to use <code>govuk_palette</code></a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6336">#6336: Update tag colours to use <code>govuk_palette</code></a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6337">#6337: Update file upload colours to use <code>govuk_palette</code></a></li> </ul> <h4>Check your service’s colours</h4> <p>If your service uses any custom components, make sure they still work with the new web palette in terms of accessibility and design. Where possible, you should use colours from the new web palette.</p> <p>If you’re already using the <a href="https://frontend.design-system.service.gov.uk/sass-api-reference/#govuk-colour" rel="nofollow"><code>govuk-colour</code> function</a> in your project, your service will automatically update to use the new web palette.</p> <p>If you're using a colour that we’ve renamed or that no longer exists, the <code>govuk-colour</code> function will log a warning and automatically return the suggested replacement.</p> <h4>Use <code>govuk-colour</code> to access tints and shades</h4> <p>The <a href="https://frontend.design-system.service.gov.uk/sass-api-reference/#govuk-colour" rel="nofollow"><code>govuk-colour</code> function</a> now accepts a <code>$variant</code> option to access tints or shades of a colour.</p> <p>If you do not set a<code>$variant</code> option, the <code>govuk-colour</code> function will return the primary variant of the colour.</p> <p>For example:</p> <div class="highlight highlight-source-css-scss notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-v">$app-colour</span>: <span class="pl-c1">govuk-colour</span>(<span class="pl-s"><span class="pl-pds">'</span>blue<span class="pl-pds">'</span></span>); <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-c">//</span> Returns the 'Primary blue' colour</span> <span class="pl-v">$component-colour</span>: <span class="pl-c1">govuk-colour</span>(<span class="pl-s"><span class="pl-pds">'</span>red<span class="pl-pds">'</span></span>, <span class="pl-v">$variant</span><span class="pl-v">:</span> <span class="pl-s"><span class="pl-pds">'</span>tint-25<span class="pl-pds">'</span></span>) <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-c">//</span> Returns the 'Red tint 25%' colour</span></pre></div> <p>See the Design System website for the <a href="https://design-system.service.gov.uk/styles/colour/#govuk-web-palette" rel="nofollow">list of available colours, tints and shades in the web palette</a>.</p> <h4>Stop using <code>$govuk-colours</code></h4> <p>We’ve removed the <code>$govuk-colours</code> variable from GOV.UK Frontend. Use the <a href="https://frontend.design-system.service.gov.uk/sass-api-reference/#govuk-colour" rel="nofollow"><code>govuk-colour</code> function</a> to access colours from the web palette.</p> <p>You can no longer override the colour palette in GOV.UK Frontend.</p> <h4>Stop using <code>govuk-tint</code> and <code>govuk-shade</code></h4> <p>We’ve removed the <code>govuk-tint</code> and <code>govuk-shade</code> functions for applying tints and shades to colours by percentage.</p> <p>Replace them with tints and shades from the web palette that are as close as possible to the colours you were previously using.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6639">pull request #6639: Remove <code>govuk-tint</code> and <code>govuk-shade</code> functions</a>.</p> <h4>Update any light blue, turquoise or pink tags</h4> <p>The <code>govuk-tag--light-blue</code> colour modifier class for tags no longer exists. If you use tags of this colour, update them to use a different colour.</p> <p>You’ll also need to replace:</p> <ul> <li><code>govuk-tag--turquoise</code> with <code>govuk-tag--teal</code></li> <li><code>govuk-tag--pink</code> with <code>govuk-tag--magenta</code></li> </ul> <p>We'll remove the <code>govuk-tag--turquoise</code> and <code>govuk-tag--pink</code> modifier classes in a future breaking release.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6416">pull request #6416: Deprecate turquoise and pink tag colour modifiers</a>.</p> <h3>Use the new Sass API and CSS custom properties for functional colours (formerly 'applied colours')</h3> <p>We’ve improved the way we reference colours for essential page elements in GOV.UK Frontend, renaming 'applied colours' to 'functional colours' and making them available as CSS custom properties.</p> <p>Functional colours are colours playing a specific role in the user interface. For example, there are functional colours for the page background, text and links.</p> <p>You can reference the custom properties for functional colours in your own CSS code, but do not assign new values to them.</p> <h4>Use <code>govuk-functional-colour</code> to access functional colours</h4> <p>The Sass variables for accessing functional colours are deprecated, and we’ll remove them in a future breaking release.</p> <p>To make it easier for you to update, the Sass variables for accessing functional colours are still available. However, these variables now return a reference to a custom property, so you’ll get an error message if you have any code that expects a colour.</p> <p>Update references to these variables to use the <a href="https://frontend.design-system.service.gov.uk/sass-api-reference/#govuk-functional-colour" rel="nofollow"><code>govuk-functional-colour</code> function</a>.</p> <table> <thead> <tr> <th>Deprecated Sass variable</th> <th>Replacement <code>govuk-functional-colour</code> call</th> </tr> </thead> <tbody> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-brand-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(brand)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-text-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(text)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-template-background-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(template-background)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-body-background-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(body-background)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-print-text-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(print-text)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-secondary-text-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(secondary-text)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-focus-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(focus)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-focus-text-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(focus-text)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-error-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(error)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-success-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(success)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-border-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(border)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-input-border-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(input-border)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-hover-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(hover)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-link-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(link)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-link-visited-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(link-visited)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-link-hover-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(link-hover)</code></td> </tr> <tr> <td><code>$govuk-link-active-colour</code></td> <td><code>govuk-functional-colour(link-active)</code></td> </tr> </tbody> </table> <p>We made these changes in the following pull requests:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6377">#6377: Refactor applied colours so they're stored in a Map</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6420">#6420: Access applied colours through custom properties</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6437">#6437: Restore Sass variables for applied colours</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6444">#6444: Rename applied colours to functional colours</a></li> </ul> <h4>Use <code>$govuk-functional-colours</code> to redefine functional colours</h4> <p>The deprecated Sass variables listed in the previous section are now read-only.</p> <p>If you were customising a functional colour before importing GOV.UK Frontend, you'll now see a warning.</p> <p>Update your code to <a href="https://frontend.design-system.service.gov.uk/sass-api-reference/#govuk-functional-colours" rel="nofollow">assign a map of the colours you want to customise to the <code>$govuk-functional-colours</code> variable</a> instead.</p> <h4>Use <code>$govuk-output-custom-properties</code> to control whether custom properties are included in your CSS</h4> <p>If your service uses multiple stylesheets, you can use the <a href="https://frontend.design-system.service.gov.uk/sass-api-reference/#govuk-output-custom-properties" rel="nofollow"><code>$govuk-output-custom-properties</code> setting</a> to prevent custom properties (including the new custom properties for functional colours) from being included in your secondary stylesheets.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6606">pull request #6606: Enable better control over custom property outputting</a>.</p> <h3>Stop using the old GOV.UK logo and colour palette</h3> <p>You should now only use the refreshed GOV.UK branding and remove any rebrand feature flags.</p> <p>We’ve made the refreshed (blue-based) GOV.UK branding the default appearance of the GOV.UK header and GOV.UK footer components and removed the previous (mostly black) branding as an option.</p> <p>We've also updated the colours used in the Service navigation and Cookie banner components.</p> <p>With these changes, only <a href="https://www.gov.uk/service-manual/design/making-your-service-look-like-govuk" rel="nofollow">services on the GOV.UK website</a> should use the GOV.UK header and GOV.UK footer components. Services outside of the <a href="https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/govuk-proposition" rel="nofollow">GOV.UK proposition</a> should stop using the header and footer components and instead create their own.</p> <p>If you’re using GOV.UK Frontend's Nunjucks template, you should now remove the <code>govukRebrand</code> feature flag.</p> <p>If you’re using GOV.UK Frontend's Nunjucks macros without the template or have overridden the default header and footer components, you should remove the <code>rebrand</code> parameter from references to the <code>govukHeader</code> and <code>govukFooter</code> macros.</p> <p>If you’re not using the Nunjucks template, remove the <code>govuk-template--rebranded</code> class from the <code>&lt;html&gt;</code> element and update the HTML for the icons, Open Graph image and theme colour to remove references to the <code>rebrand</code> folder.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-basic notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">meta</span> <span class="pl-c1">name</span>="<span class="pl-s">theme-color</span>" <span class="pl-c1">content</span>="<span class="pl-s">#1d70b8</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">link</span> <span class="pl-c1">rel</span>="<span class="pl-s">icon</span>" <span class="pl-c1">sizes</span>="<span class="pl-s">48x48</span>" <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">/assets/images/favicon.ico</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">link</span> <span class="pl-c1">rel</span>="<span class="pl-s">icon</span>" <span class="pl-c1">sizes</span>="<span class="pl-s">any</span>" <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">/assets/images/favicon.svg</span>" <span class="pl-c1">type</span>="<span class="pl-s">image/svg+xml</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">link</span> <span class="pl-c1">rel</span>="<span class="pl-s">mask-icon</span>" <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">/assets/images/govuk-icon-mask.svg</span>" <span class="pl-c1">color</span>="<span class="pl-s">#1d70b8</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">link</span> <span class="pl-c1">rel</span>="<span class="pl-s">apple-touch-icon</span>" <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">/assets/images/govuk-icon-180.png</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">link</span> <span class="pl-c1">rel</span>="<span class="pl-s">manifest</span>" <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">/assets/manifest.json</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">meta</span> <span class="pl-c1">property</span>="<span class="pl-s">og:image</span>" <span class="pl-c1">content</span>="<span class="pl-s">&lt;SERVICE URL&gt;/assets/images/govuk-opengraph-image.png</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span></pre></div> <p>We made these changes in the following pull requests:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6617">#6617: Remove rebrand switch from govukLogo</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6618">#6618: Remove rebrand switch logic from GOV.UK Header</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6619">#6619: Remove rebrand switch from govukFooter</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6621">#6621: Remove rebrand flag from template</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6622">#6622: Remove rebrand flag from service navigation</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6623">#6623: Remove rebrand flag from cookie banner</a></li> </ul> <h4>Stop using the St. Edward's Crown and <code>useTudorCrown</code> parameter</h4> <p>GOV.UK updated its logo to replace the St. Edward's Crown with the Tudor Crown in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.1.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.1.0</a>. The Tudor Crown became the default in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.2.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.2.0</a>, which is when we deprecated the option to switch between crowns.</p> <p>We've now removed the GOV.UK header component's <code>useTudorCrown</code> parameter and assets relating to the St. Edward's Crown.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6414">pull request #6414: Remove <code>useTudorCrown</code> parameter and St. Edwards crown assets</a>.</p> <h4>Remove the <code>rebrand</code> feature flag from your prototype config</h4> <p>If you're using the Prototype Kit, remove the <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/blob/main/CHANGELOG.md#use-the-refreshed-govuk-brand-in-your-prototype-kit-prototype"><code>rebrand</code> option from your prototype's <code>app/config.json</code></a>.</p> <h3>Changes to the page template</h3> <p>We’ve updated the options of the page template to provide consistent naming and functionality across the template.</p> <p>These changes offer more flexibility in the template, with new Nunjucks variables and blocks to customise the <code>&lt;header&gt;</code>, <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> and <code>&lt;main&gt;</code> elements. These new options allow you to:</p> <ul> <li>add classes and attributes</li> <li>override default content</li> <li>insert content at the start or end of the blocks</li> </ul> <h4>Update Nunjucks blocks around the GOV.UK header</h4> <p>We've changed the page structure around the header to separate the header element (<code>&lt;header&gt;</code>) from the GOV.UK header component. This lets you include other components, such as the Service navigation and Phase banner components, within the header element of each page.</p> <p>You’ll need to follow different instructions to upgrade, depending on how you create the page headers in your service. In all cases, you should make sure your page includes a single <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element after you’ve made the changes.</p> <p>If you’re using GOV.UK Frontend's template and are overriding the <code>govukHeader</code> component, update references to the <code>header</code> Nunjucks block to use <code>govukHeader</code> instead.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-nunjucks notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Previously <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">header</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukHeader</span>() <span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Now <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukHeader</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukHeader</span>() <span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span></pre></div> <p>If you’re not using GOV.UK Frontend's template but are using the <code>govukHeader</code> component, update your template to include a <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element around the component.</p> <p>If you’re not using the <code>header</code> Nunjucks block at any point, or you're only using the block to remove it, you do not need to change anything.</p> <p>If you’re not using Nunjucks, change the existing GOV.UK header to a <code>&lt;div&gt;</code> element and wrap it, along with any other header components, with a <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-basic notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">header</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-template__header</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-header</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> [...] <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-service-navigation</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> [...] <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">header</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span></pre></div> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6536">pull request #6536: Refactor heading to detach element from component</a>.</p> <h4>Use the <code>container</code> block instead of the <code>main</code> block to replace the width container</h4> <p>We've reduced the scope of the <code>main</code> block to only replace the <code>&lt;main&gt;</code> element,<br /> rather than the whole <code>&lt;div class="govuk-width-container"&gt;</code> element.</p> <p>If you were previously using the <code>main</code> block, use the new <code>container</code> block instead.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-nunjucks notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Previously <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">main</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-c">&lt;!--</span> Your markup <span class="pl-c">--&gt;</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Now <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">container</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-c">&lt;!--</span> Your markup <span class="pl-c">--&gt;</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span></pre></div> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6538">pull request #6538: Make Page template options besides header and footer follow conventions</a>.</p> <h4>Update Nunjucks blocks around the GOV.UK footer</h4> <p>We've changed the page structure around the footer to separate the <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> element from the GOV.UK footer component. This lets you include other components within the footer element (<code>&lt;footer&gt;</code>) of each page.</p> <p>You’ll need to follow different instructions to upgrade, depending on how you create the page footers in your service. In all cases, you should make sure your page includes a single <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> element after you’ve made the changes.</p> <p>If you’re using GOV.UK Frontend's template and overriding the <code>govukFooter</code> component, update references to the <code>footer</code> Nunjucks block to use <code>govukFooter</code> instead.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-nunjucks notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Previously <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">footer</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukFooter</span>() <span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Now <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukFooter</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukFooter</span>() <span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span></pre></div> <p>If you’re not using GOV.UK Frontend's template but are using the <code>govukFooter</code> component, update your template to include a <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> element around the component.</p> <p>If you’re not using the <code>footer</code> Nunjucks block at any point, or you're only using the block in order to remove it, you do not need to change anything.</p> <p>If you’re not using Nunjucks, change the existing GOV.UK footer to a <code>&lt;div&gt;</code> element and wrap it with a <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> element.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-basic notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">footer</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-template__footer</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-footer</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> [...] <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">footer</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span></pre></div> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6537">pull request #6537: Refactor footer to detach element from component</a>.</p> <h4>Customise the template's <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element</h4> <p>If you use Nunjucks, you can customise the appearance and content of the template's <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element with new blocks and variables.</p> <p>New variables:</p> <ul> <li><code>headerClasses</code> applies custom classes to the element</li> <li><code>headerAttributes</code> applies custom HTML attributes to the element</li> </ul> <p>New Nunjucks blocks:</p> <ul> <li><code>headerStart</code> inserts HTML immediately after the element's opening tag, and <code>headerEnd</code> inserts HTML immediately before the element's closing tag</li> <li><code>govukHeader</code> lets you customise the <code>govukHeader</code> component without affecting other parts of the header</li> </ul> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6536">pull request #6536: Refactor heading to detach element from component</a>.</p> <h4>Customise the <code>&lt;div class="govuk-width-container"&gt;</code> element</h4> <p>We've added new variables and blocks to allow you to further customise the <code>&lt;div class="govuk-width-container"&gt;</code> element.</p> <p>The new <code>containerAttributes</code> variable applies custom HTML attributes to the element.</p> <p>The new <code>containerStart</code> block inserts HTML immediately after the element's opening tag. The new<br /> <code>containerEnd</code> block inserts HTML immediately before the element's closing tag.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6538">pull request #6538: Make Page template options besides header and footer follow conventions</a>.</p> <h4>Use <code>mainAttributes</code> to add attributes to the <code>&lt;main&gt;</code> element</h4> <p>We've added a new <code>mainAttributes</code> variable to apply custom HTML attributes to the <code>&lt;main&gt;</code> element.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6538">pull request #6538: Make Page template options besides header and footer follow conventions</a>.</p> <h4>Customise the template's <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> element</h4> <p>If you’re using Nunjucks, you can customise the appearance and content of the template's <code>&lt;footer&gt;</code> element with new blocks and variables.</p> <p>We’ve introduced the following new variables:</p> <ul> <li><code>footerClasses</code> applies custom classes to the element</li> <li><code>footerAttributes</code> applies custom HTML attributes to the element</li> </ul> <p>We’ve introduced the following new Nunjucks blocks:</p> <ul> <li><code>footerStart</code> inserts HTML immediately after the element's opening tag</li> <li><code>footerEnd</code> inserts HTML immediately before the element's closing tag</li> <li><code>govukFooter</code> lets you customise the <code>govukFooter</code> component without affecting other parts of the footer</li> </ul> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6537">pull request #6537: Refactor footer to detach element from component</a>.</p> <h3>We’ve now removed previously deprecated features</h3> <h4>We’ve removed previously deprecated features from our Sass</h4> <h5>Stop importing GOV.UK Frontend's Sass using <code>all</code></h5> <p>We deprecated GOV.UK Frontend's <code>all.scss</code> file and partials in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.8.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.8.0</a> and replaced them with equivalent <a href="https://sass-lang.com/documentation/at-rules/use/#index-files" rel="nofollow">Sass <code>index</code> files</a>. We've now removed the <code>all.scss</code> files entirely.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6412">pull request #6412: Remove <code>all.scss</code> file and partials</a>.</p> <h5>Stop using the <code>govuk-responsive-typography</code> Sass mixin</h5> <p>We renamed the <code>govuk-responsive-typography</code> Sass mixin to <code>govuk-font-size</code> in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.1.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.1.0</a>. We've now removed the previous name entirely.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6387">pull request #6387: Remove <code>govuk-responsive-typography</code> mixin</a>.</p> <h4>We’ve removed previously deprecated features from our Header component</h4> <h5>Stop including the service name and navigation items in the GOV.UK header component</h5> <p>We deprecated including the service name and navigation in the GOV.UK header component in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.9.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.9.0</a>.</p> <p>We've now removed this functionality.</p> <p>You should now use the <a href="https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/service-navigation/" rel="nofollow">Service navigation component</a> for service names and service-level navigation.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6423">pull request #6423: Remove service name and navigation from Header component</a>.</p> <h5>Update the class on the GOV.UK logo link in the GOV.UK header component</h5> <p>We've updated the value of the <code>class</code> attribute on the link to the GOV.UK homepage to <code>govuk-header__homepage-link</code>.</p> <p>If you're not using Nunjucks macros, you'll need to update this class manually.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-basic notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-c">&lt;!-- Before --&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">a</span> <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">//gov.uk</span>" <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-header__link govuk-header__link--homepage</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> [...] <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">a</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-c">&lt;!-- After --&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">a</span> <span class="pl-c1">href</span>="<span class="pl-s">//gov.uk</span>" <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-header__homepage-link</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> [...] <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">a</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span></pre></div> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6423">pull request #6423: Remove service name and navigation from Header component</a>.</p> <h4>We’ve removed previously deprecated features from our colours</h4> <h5>Stop using the <code>$legacy</code> parameter in <code>govuk-colour</code></h5> <p>We’ve removed the <code>$legacy</code> parameter of the <code>govuk-colour</code> function, so you should remove any usage of it.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6326">pull request #6326: Use brand palette through <code>govuk-colour</code></a>.</p> <h5>Stop using <code>$govuk-canvas-background-colour</code></h5> <p>We renamed <code>$govuk-canvas-background-colour</code> to <code>$govuk-template-background-colour</code> in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.10.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.10.0</a>. We've now removed the previous variable entirely. You should access the colour of the template background using <code>govuk-functional-colour(template-background)</code>.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6413">pull request #6413: Remove <code>$govuk-canvas-background-colour</code></a>.</p> <h5>Update to the latest organisation colour palette</h5> <p>We updated the organisation colour palette in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.9.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.9.0</a>.</p> <p>The new palette was initially opt-in, using the <code>$govuk-new-organisation-colours</code> feature flag. The updated palette is now the only palette available, so you must remove the feature flag from your code.</p> <p>As part of this work, we removed the deprecated <code>$websafe</code> parameter of the <code>govuk-organisation-colour</code> function. Use the <code>$contrast-safe</code> parameter when calling the function instead.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6390">pull request #6390: Remove legacy organisation colour palette</a>.</p> <h5>Update references to deprecated organisations in the organisation colour palette</h5> <p>We've removed deprecated organisations from the organisation colour palette. These organisations had ceased to exist or had been renamed before 2025.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6426">pull request #6426: Remove deprecated organisation colours</a>.</p> <h4>Update references to <code>govuk-pagination__item--ellipses</code> class from the HTML for the Pagination component</h4> <p>We deprecated the <code>govuk-pagination__item--ellipses</code> class in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.13.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.13.0</a>, and we've now removed it.</p> <p>If you're not using Nunjucks macros, you should update instances of this class to use the <code>govuk-pagination__item--ellipsis</code> class instead.</p> <p>If you're using Nunjucks macros, you do not need to change anything.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6382">pull request #6382: Remove deprecated <code>govuk-pagination__item--ellipses</code> class</a>.</p> <h4>Stop using the <code>element</code> parameter of the Button component</h4> <p>We deprecated the <code>element</code> parameter of the Button component Nunjucks macro in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.1.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.1.0</a>, and we've now removed it.</p> <p>The component is now output as a link if the <code>href</code> parameter is set. Otherwise, it's a <code>button</code> element.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6383">pull request #6383: Remove element parameter from Button component</a>.</p> <h4>We've removed other features we've previously deprecated</h4> <h5>Remove references to the <code>$govuk-show-breakpoints</code> feature flag</h5> <p>The <code>$govuk-show-breakpoints</code> feature flag in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.13.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.13.0</a> was only intended for use as a local development aid and not for production services, and we've now removed it.</p> <h5>Stop using the <code>--govuk-frontend-breakpoint</code> CSS custom properties</h5> <p>We renamed CSS custom properties starting <code>--govuk-frontend-breakpoint</code> to begin with <code>--govuk-breakpoint</code> in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/releases/tag/v5.11.0">GOV.UK Frontend 5.11.0</a>. We've now removed the previous names for these properties.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6385">pull request #6385: Remove <code>--govuk-frontend-breakpoint</code> CSS properties</a>.</p> <h2>Recommended changes</h2> <h3>Use the <code>govukSkipLink</code> block instead of <code>skipLink</code></h3> <p>We're deprecating the <code>skipLink</code> block and replacing it with a <code>govukSkipLink</code> block so all blocks replacing GOV.UK Frontend elements have the same name as the component's macro.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-nunjucks notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Previously <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">skipLink</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukSkipLink</span>()<span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-c"><span class="pl-e">{#</span> Now <span class="pl-e">#}</span></span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukSkipLink</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukSkipLink</span>()<span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span></pre></div> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6538">pull request #6538: Make Page template options besides header and footer follow conventions</a>.</p> <h3>Use the <code>containerStart</code> block instead of <code>beforeContent</code></h3> <p>We're deprecating the <code>beforeContent</code> block and replacing it with a <code>containerStart</code> block so all blocks adding content at the start of an element are named <code>...Start</code> to make its name better match what it does.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6538">pull request #6538: Make Page template options besides header and footer follow conventions</a>.</p> <h3>Check that the GOV.UK logo links to the GOV.UK homepage</h3> <p>We've updated the default value of <code>homepageUrl</code> to point to the GOV.UK homepage.</p> <p>The previous default value pointed at the root of the current domain. On services, this caused the GOV.UK logo to link to the homepage of the service, rather than the GOV.UK homepage.</p> <p>Unless you operate a GOV.UK branded product, the GOV.UK logo should always link to the homepage of GOV.UK. Use the <a href="https://design-system.service.gov.uk/components/service-navigation/" rel="nofollow">Service navigation component</a> to provide a link to a local homepage.</p> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6418">pull request #6418: Update default <code>homepageUrl</code> to point to GOV.UK homepage</a>.</p> <h3>Move any Phase banner components to the <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element</h3> <p>We now recommend placing Phase banner components in the <code>&lt;header&gt;</code> element of the page.</p> <p>If you're using GOV.UK Frontend's Nunjucks template and macros, create a <code>headerEnd</code> block and move the <code>govukPhaseBanner</code> macro into it.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-nunjucks notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">block</span> <span class="pl-smi">headerEnd</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span> <span class="pl-e">{{</span> <span class="pl-smi">govukPhaseBanner</span>({}) <span class="pl-e">}}</span> <span class="pl-e">{%</span> <span class="pl-k">endblock</span> <span class="pl-e">%}</span></pre></div> <p>If you're not using Nunjucks, move the Phase banner's HTML to before the <code>&lt;/header&gt;</code> closing tag and add the <code>govuk-width-container</code> class to prevent the banner from stretching wider than the page's content.</p> <div class="highlight highlight-text-html-basic notranslate position-relative overflow-auto"><pre><span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">header</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-template__header</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-c">&lt;!-- Other header content --&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span> <span class="pl-c1">class</span>="<span class="pl-s">govuk-phase-banner govuk-width-container</span>"<span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-c">&lt;!-- Phase banner content --&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">div</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span> <span class="pl-kos">&lt;/</span><span class="pl-ent">header</span><span class="pl-kos">&gt;</span></pre></div> <p>We made this change in <a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6546">pull request #6546: Add <code>govuk-width-container</code> class to Phase banner component</a>.</p> <h2>Fixes</h2> <p>We've made fixes to GOV.UK Frontend in the following pull requests:</p> <ul> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/5311">#5311: Remove non-operational value parameter from file upload component</a></li> <li><a href="https://github.com/alphagov/govuk-frontend/pull/6677">#6677: Update DESZN organisation colour</a></li> </ul>

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-09 09:00:00

Ricardo Hausmann Explains How the Venezuelan Economy Collapsed (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

Ricardo Hausmann is a professor at the Harvard Kennedy School and the director of Harvard's Growth Lab. We've talked to him multiple times in the past about the necessary preconditions for economies to grow and thrive. But in addition to his academic work, Hausmann was previously a policymaker in Venezuela, including a stint at the country's central bank prior to the election of Hugo Chavez. In this conversation, we talk about how Venezuela went from being the largest oil exporter in the world (even larger than Saudi Arabia for a time) to becoming the ultimate economic basket case. We also talk about the huge challenge the country will face in reinvigorating its economy, and why he believes that will be impossible as long as the remnants of the Maduro government remain in charge.

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-09 00:05:00

642. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Bloodbath in Africa (Part 3) (GLT1285518636.mp3?updated=1770658202)

Would the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio successfully march on Africa? What happened when Hannibal and Scipio - the greatest commanders of their age - came head to head at the Battle of Zama, in the ultimate showdown? And, what would be the fate of these two titans of the ancient world? Join Tom and Dominic, as they discuss the Roman Republic’s audacious invasion of North Africa under the leadership of the dashing Scipio, and his clash with Hannibal. _______ To hear our previous series on the rise of Carthage, Hannibal, and the battle of Cannae, go to episodes: 421, 422, 423, 424, 568, 569, 570, 571. _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at ⁠the⁠restishistory.com⁠⁠ For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to ⁠www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-09 00:05:00

642. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Bloodbath in Africa (Part 3) (GLT1285518636.mp3?updated=1770394182)

Would the Roman general Publius Cornelius Scipio successfully march on Africa? What happened when Hannibal and Scipio - the greatest commanders of their age - came head to head at the Battle of Zama, in the ultimate showdown? And, what would be the fate of these two titans of the ancient world? Join Tom and Dominic, as they discuss the Roman Republic’s audacious invasion of North Africa under the leadership of the dashing Scipio, and his clash with Hannibal. _______ To hear our previous series on the rise of Carthage, Hannibal, and the battle of Cannae, go to episodes: 421, 422, 423, 424, 568, 569, 570, 571. _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at ⁠the⁠restishistory.com⁠⁠ For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to ⁠www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-08 13:00:00

Evolving Money: The Tokenization Tipping Point (Sponsored Content) (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

In less than three years, the amount of tokenized real-world assets has grown eightfold, to more than $30 billion across equities, fixed income, private assets, real estate and more. And that’s just the start of the tokenization revolution, experts predict, because of four main drivers:  Increased liquidity for illiquid assets, broader investor access, operational efficiency, and global distribution and interoperability.

This episode is sponsored by Coinbase.

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From The Week in Westminster at 2026-02-07 11:30:00

07/02/2026 (p0mzn2v3.mp3)

The Guardian's political editor Pippa Crerar assesses the latest developments at Westminster.

The Mandelson scandal dominated the week and Pippa discusses it with Labour MP Natalie Fleet, herself a survivor of grooming and a member of the Women and Equalities Committee and senior Conservative MP, Sir Bernard Jenkin.

To debate the government's EU reset, Pippa brought together Lord Peter Lilley, a former Conservative cabinet minister and long-term Eurosceptic. And the MP Anneliese Dodds, who is a former chair of the Labour party and was previously a member of the European parliament.

Labour MP Chris Curtis and Kate Ogden, a higher education expert from the Institute for Fiscal Studies talk about student loans.

And historian Sir Anthony Seldon and seasoned journalist and political biographer Anne Perkins discuss where the Mandelson scandal ranks in the long history of political scandals.

From More or Less at 2026-02-07 06:00:00

Is this Premier League striker a secret maths genius? (p0mz2q3z.mp3)

Chelsea striker Liam Delap has recently stunned fans on Instagram by apparently doing incredibly complicated calculations in his head, finding what’s known as the cube root of some very large numbers.

But is he really a human calculator? Or is there something else going on? Tim Harford speaks to Rob Eastaway, mathematician and author of ‘Maths on the Back of an Envelope’ to learn about the trick you can use to pull this off - and while he’s here we also ask him about the trend of more goals being scored in the Premier League.

Presenter: Tim Harford Producers: Nathan Gower Series Producer: Tom Colls Editor: Richard Vadon Programme Coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound Engineer: James Beard Credit: Video of Liam Delap from Chelsea’s Instagram account, chelseafc

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-06 23:40:58

Sixteen Claude AI agents working together created a new C compiler

The $20,000 experiment compiled a Linux kernel but needed deep human management.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-06 22:16:51

Malicious packages for dYdX cryptocurrency exchange empties user wallets

Incident is at least the third time the exchange has been targeted by thieves.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-06 22:01:05

Friday Squid Blogging: Squid Fishing Tips

This is a video of advice for squid fishing in Puget Sound.

As usual, you can also use this squid post to talk about the security stories in the news that I haven’t covered.

Blog moderation policy.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-06 20:43:52

I Am in the Epstein Files

Once. Someone named “Vincenzo lozzo” wrote to Epstein in email, in 2016: “I wouldn’t pay too much attention to this, Schneier has a long tradition of dramatizing and misunderstanding things.” The topic of the email is DDoS attacks, and it is unclear what I am dramatizing and misunderstanding.

Rabbi Schneier is also mentioned, also incidentally, also once. As far as either of us know, we are not related.

From A Collection of Unmitigated Pedantry at 2026-02-06 19:13:51

Fireside Friday, February 6, 2026 (On Ancient Migrations)

Hey folks, Fireside this week! I have ended up a bit behind in my work and as always it is the blog that much suffer first. In this case, we have in two weeks twice managed to have snow which only increased my workload (it didn’t cancel any of my classes, but did require me … Continue reading Fireside Friday, February 6, 2026 (On Ancient Migrations) →

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-06 19:11:58

Lots More With Charlie McElligott on This Week's SaaSpocalypse (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

This week has been a pretty wild one in markets. Some of the most popular trades of recent years — like going long software, crypto, or gold — suddenly collapsed. Of course, there are plenty of things you can point to as the proximate cause of the selloff. AI is now an existential threat to SaaS. Bitcoin has seen some unflattering headlines. The nomination of Kevin Warsh as the next Federal Reserve chair stalled the debasement trade. But the way the market functions has also changed enormously, arguably leading to faster and more violent moves. On this episode, we catch up with Charlie McElligott, cross-asset macro strategist at Nomura, who explains just how much market mechanics have shifted, and talks about the flows and positioning he's seeing right now.

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From The Incomparable Mothership at 2026-02-06 19:00:10

803: Doing the Good Loon's Work (53b98e35-3cd3-411f-b6f6-3462c64a04c6.mp3)

Celebrate Valentine’s Day with The Incomparable. It’s time to discuss that Canadian hockey show everyone’s been talking about. “Heated Rivalry” just wants to know, “Will you come to the cottage this summer?”...

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-06 12:00:36

iPhone Lockdown Mode Protects Washington Post Reporter

404Media is reporting that the FBI could not access a reporter’s iPhone because it had Lockdown Mode enabled:

The court record shows what devices and data the FBI was able to ultimately access, and which devices it could not, after raiding the home of the reporter, Hannah Natanson, in January as part of an investigation into leaks of classified information. It also provides rare insight into the apparent effectiveness of Lockdown Mode, or at least how effective it might be before the FBI may try other techniques to access the device.

“Because the iPhone was in Lockdown mode, CART could not extract that device,” the court record reads, referring to the FBI’s Computer Analysis Response Team, a unit focused on performing forensic analyses of seized devices. The document is written by the government, and is opposing the return of Natanson’s devices...

From School of War at 2026-02-06 10:30:00

Ep 272: Beatrice Heuser on Why Leaders Make Bad Decisions (NEBM2399590587.mp3)

Beatrice Heuser, Distinguished Professor at the Brussels School of Governance in the Free University of Brussels and author of Flawed Strategy: Why Smart Leaders Make Bad Decisions, joins the show to discuss decision-making and strategic thinking. ▪️ Times 02:58 Economists and strategy 07:59 Acting rationally vs logically 15:00 Mirror imaging  20:01 How should we study strategy? 27:17 Denial 32:18 Strategic intelligence failures 36:15 Hidden causes 38:57 Everyone does it Follow along on Instagram, X @schoolofwarpod, and YouTube @SchoolofWarPodcast Find more content on our School of War Substack

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-06 09:00:00

How a Former Fed Vice-Chair Is thinking About the Next Fed Chair (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

The nomination of Kevin Warsh to be the next chair of the Federal Reserve obviously has big implications for markets. But it also comes with some interesting sociological questions too. What role does the Fed chair actually play in setting monetary policy? How do they communicate -- and influence -- members of the Fed board? How do they communicate to markets? What happens when someone who's been advocating major regime change at the central bank is now running it? And how do they balance independence with politics? In this episode, we speak with Richard Clarida, former Fed vice-chair and now global economic advisor to Pimco. We talk about what a Fed chair actually does and what we know about Warsh's policy stances so far, as well as why Clarida thinks there may be more volatility in the bond market as a result.

Read more:
Bonds Rally as Job-Market Angst Backs Fed Rate-Cut Outlook
Bessent Declines to Draw Line on Removing Fed Member for Policy

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From Battle Lines at 2026-02-06 06:02:00

‘UK's biggest post-war scandal' and the China-Russia threat: shadow defence sec James Cartlidge (media.mp3)

Was Peter Mandelson's appointment as UK ambassador to the US a national security risk? Should the US and UK bomb Iran to spark regime change? Will Nato survive Trump? And how should European countries deal with the threat of China?

British shadow defence secretary and former procurement minister James Cartlidge joins Roland and Venetia to discuss the biggest news stories in British and global defence at the moment, from Russia's Yantar 'spy ship' to the 'poison chalice' and beleagured Ajax tank program.

We want to hear why you enjoy Battle Lines! Email us: battlelines@telegraph.co.uk

Read Sophia Yan's story on how China is powering Putin’s deadly new Oreshnik missiles: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2026/01/28/china-helping-russia-build-nuclear-capable-missile/

Read Roland's analysis of the Army’s £6bn Ajax disaster: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/2025/12/23/inside-army-ajax-disaster/

Producer: Peter Shevlin

Executive Producer: Louisa Wells

► Sign up to our most popular newsletter, From the Editor. Look forward to receiving free-thinking comment and the day's biggest stories, every morning. telegraph.co.uk/fromtheeditor

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From Emperors of Rome at 2026-02-06 03:48:48

Tetrarchy (260206-diocletian03.mp3)

Diocletian and Maximian have established themselves as co-Emperors, working together to amicably administrate a sprawling Roman Empire. But with Persians to the east, Britons to the west, and discontent all around… maybe it’s time for more laurel wreaths?

Support Emperors of Rome on Patreon: patreon.com/romepodcast

Episode CCLI (251)

Part III of Diocletian

Guest: Professor Caillan Davenport (Centre for Classical Studies, Australian National University)

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-05 22:47:54

AI companies want you to stop chatting with bots and start managing them

Claude Opus 4.6 and OpenAI Frontier pitch a future of supervising AI agents.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-05 17:46:59

OpenAI is hoppin' mad about Anthropic's new Super Bowl TV ads

Sam Altman calls AI competitor "dishonest" and "authoritarian" in lengthy post on X.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-05 14:21:20

Increase of AI bots on the Internet sparks arms race

Publishers are rolling out more aggressive defenses.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-05 12:00:07

Backdoor in Notepad++

Hackers associated with the Chinese government used a Trojaned version of Notepad++ to deliver malware to selected users.

Notepad++ said that officials with the unnamed provider hosting the update infrastructure consulted with incident responders and found that it remained compromised until September 2. Even then, the attackers maintained credentials to the internal services until December 2, a capability that allowed them to continue redirecting selected update traffic to malicious servers. The threat actor “specifically targeted Notepad++ domain with the goal of exploiting insufficient update verification controls that existed in older versions of Notepad++.” Event logs indicate that the hackers tried to re-exploit one of the weaknesses after it was fixed but that the attempt failed...

From Strong Message Here at 2026-02-05 09:45:00

You've Let Your Country Down (with Emily Maitlis) (p0mz255t.mp3)

Has a man once described as 'teflon' finally run out of spin? Peter Mandelson suggests he needs to run an investigation into himself, but to do an investigation into his language, Armando is joined by host of the News Agents, Emily Maitlis.

We discuss revelations in the Epstein files, and why it brings to mind Dickens. Are we wiser to the language of political scandal than we used to be? And is it impossible to spin a story in the modern media environment.

We also look at why it's so frustrating, if politically wise, how often political figures suffer bouts of selective amnesia.

Got a strong message for Armando? Email us at strongmessagehere@bbc.co.uk

Sound editing: Chris Maclean Production Coordinator: Asha Osborne-Grinter Executive Producer: James Robinson Recorded at The Sound Company

Produced by Gwyn Rhys Davies and Sasha Bobak. A BBC Studios production for Radio 4.

From Odd Lots at 2026-02-05 09:00:00

This Is How The US Can Become a Player in Rare Earth Metals (audio.mp3?utm_source=Podcast&in_playlist=982f5071-765c-403d-969d-ae27003a8d83)

China's dominance of the rare earths market is well known. This not only creates potential vulnerabilities for companies, should access to those rare earths ever get cut off, it also gives China significant leverage in trade negotiations right now. Of course, the issue is not that China is naturally endowed with more of these materials, but rather that, over the decades, it's built up an industrial ecosystem to mine and process them. So, is there any prospect of the US entering the arena in a way that's actually competitive? Our guest says yes. Heidi Crebo-Rediker is a senior fellow in the Center for Geoeconomics Studies at the Council on Foreign Relations. Earlier in her career, she was the US State Department's first chief economist. For the CFR, Heidi has undertaken an extensive study of the US position with respect to rare earths and developed a broad set of suggestions for how the US can actually compete. She discusses the resources we have right now, and the technologies and policies that could make the US competitive in this arena.

Read the report here: https://www.cfr.org/report/leapfrogging-chinas-critical-minerals-dominance/

Read more:
Why China’s Grip on Critical Minerals Is So Hard to Break
EU to Offer US Critical Minerals Partnership to Check China

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From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-05 00:05:00

641. Rome’s Greatest Enemy: Hannibal’s Nemesis (Part 2) (GLT6811115289.mp3?updated=1770217211)

What happened at the Battle of Ibera, a totemic though overlooked battle of the Punic Wars? With the forces of Carthage closing in on a depleted Rome, would a young Roman, Publius Cornelius Scipio resurrect the fortunes of the Republic? And, could he destroy Carthage’s most crucial power base in Europe? Join Tom and Dominic, as they discuss this next phase of the Carthaginian Wars. _______ To hear our previous series on the rise of Carthage, Hannibal, and the battle of Cannae, go to episodes: 421, 422, 423, 424, 568, 569, 570, 571. _______ Join The Rest Is History Club: Unlock the full experience of the show – with exclusive bonus episodes, ad-free listening, early access to every series and live show tickets, a members-only newsletter, discounted books from the show, and access to our private Discord chatroom. Sign up directly at the⁠restishistory.com⁠ For more Goalhanger Podcasts, head to www.goalhanger.com _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-04 23:08:04

Microsoft releases urgent Office patch. Russian-state hackers pounce.

The window to patch vulnerabilities is shrinking rapidly.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-04 21:15:07

Should AI chatbots have ads? Anthropic says no.

ChatGPT competitor comes out swinging with Super Bowl ad mocking AI product pitches.

From The Media Show at 2026-02-04 19:32:00

Tina Brown on the latest Epstein files, the boundaries of behind-the-scenes access in sport, reporting on a rocket launch (p0mz3tjw.mp3)

On The Media Show Katie Razzall and Ros Atkins consider the new Epstein files and how journalists work through huge document releases while avoiding misinterpretation. The Financial Times’ Jim Pickard explains how newsrooms decide what is reliable and what is not and the veteran editor Tina Brown gives her take from across the Atlantic. We look at the growing demand for behind the scenes cameras in sport. Former British tennis number one Johanna Konta and Minal Modha from Ampere Analysis discuss how much access athletes should be expected to give and whether privacy is being eroded. And finally, with the delay of the Artemis II mission the BBC’s Science Editor Rebecca Morelle and Dr Chris Lintott from The Sky at Night talk about launch scrubs, shifting timelines and the practical realities of reporting on spaceflight.

Producer: Lisa Jenkinson Assistant Producer: Emily Channon

From The Django weblog at 2026-02-04 16:00:00

Recent trends in the work of the Django Security Team

Yesterday, Django issued security releases mitigating six vulnerabilities of varying severity. Django is a secure web framework, and that hasn’t changed. What feels new is the remarkable consistency across the reports we receive now.

Almost every report now is a variation on a prior vulnerability. Instead of uncovering new classes of issues, these reports explore how an underlying pattern from a recent advisory might surface in a similar code path or under a slightly different configuration. These reports are often technically plausible but only sometimes worth fixing. Over time, this has shifted the Security Team’s work away from discovery towards deciding how far a given precedent should extend and whether the impact of the marginal variation rises to the level of a vulnerability.

Take yesterday’s releases:

We patched a “low” severity user enumeration vulnerability in the mod_wsgi authentication handler (CVE 2025-13473). It’s a straightforward variation on CVE 2024-39329, which affected authentication more generally.

We also patched two potential denial-of-service vulnerabilities when handling large, malformed inputs. One exploits inefficient string concatenation in header parsing under ASGI (CVE 2025-14550). Concatenating strings in a loop is known to be slow, and we’ve done fixes in public where the impact is low. The other one (CVE 2026-1285) exploits deeply nested entities. December’s vulnerability in the XML serializer (CVE 2025-64460) was about those very two themes.

Finally, we also patched three potential SQL injection vulnerabilities. One envisioned a developer passing unsanitized user input to a niche feature of the PostGIS backend (CVE 2026-1207), much like CVE 2020-9402. Our security reporting policy assumes that developers are aware of the risks when passing unsanitized user input directly to the ORM. But the division between SQL statements and parameters is well ingrained, and the expectation is that Django will not fail to escape parameters. The last two vulnerabilities (CVE 2026-1287 and CVE 2026-1312) targeted user-controlled column aliases, the latest in a stream of reports stemming from CVE 2022-28346, involving unpacking **kwargs into .filter() and friends, including four security releases in a row in late 2025. You might ask, “who would unpack **kwargs into the ORM?!” But imagine letting users name aggregations in configurable reports. You would have something more like a parameter, and so you would appreciate some protection against crafted inputs.

On top of all that, on a nearly daily basis we get reports duplicating other pending reports, or even reports about vulnerabilities that have already been fixed and publicized. Clearly, reporters are using LLMs to generate (initially) plausible variations.

Security releases come with costs to the community. They interrupt our users’ development workflows, and they also severely interrupt ours.

There are alternatives. The long tail of reports about user-controlled aliases presents an obvious one: we can just re-architect that area. (Thanks to Simon Charette for a pull request doing just that!) Beyond that, there are more drastic alternatives. We can confirm fewer vulnerabilities by placing a higher value on a user's duty to validate inputs, placing a lower value on our prior precedents, or fixing lower severity issues publicly. The risk there is underreacting, or seeing our development workflow disrupted anyway when a decision not to confirm a vulnerability is challenged.

Reporters are clearly benefiting from our commitment to being consistent. For the moment, the Security Team hopes that reacting in a consistent way—even if it means sometimes issuing six patches—outweighs the cost of the security process. It’s something we’re weighing.

As always, keep the responsibly vetted reports coming to security@djangoproject.com.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-04 12:02:10

US Declassifies Information on JUMPSEAT Spy Satellites

The US National Reconnaissance Office has declassified information about a fleet of spy satellites operating between 1971 and 2006.

I’m actually impressed to see a declassification only two decades after decommission.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-04 12:00:37

So yeah, I vibe-coded a log colorizer—and I feel good about it

Some semi-unhinged musings on where LLMs fit into my life—and how I'll keep using them.

From The Rest Is History at 2026-02-04 00:05:00

The Arnolfini Portrait, with Laura Cumming (GLT4423895710.mp3?updated=1770114147)

Why is Jan Van Eyck’s Arnolfini Portrait perceived as one of the greatest mysteries of the arts? What elements and symbolisms provoke debates about its identity and meaning? And, what do we know about its provenance, its travels through European royal courts, and its influence on Diego Velázquez?  In this new The Rest Is History Club series, Tom is joined by art critic and author Laura Cumming to discuss the histories behind famous paintings and put them in their historical contexts.  To hear the full episode, and all the other exclusive new episodes from Laura and Tom's paintings  series, coming out every Wednesday for the next four weeks, join The Rest is History Club at therestishistory.com FUTURE EPISODES.... Feb 11th: Las Meninas - Diego Velázquez Feb 18th: The Skating Minister - Henry Raeburn Feb 25th: The Angelus - Jean-François Millet  _______ Twitter: @TheRestHistory @holland_tom @dcsandbrook Video Editors: Jack Meek + Harry Swan Social Producer: Harry Balden Producers: Tabby Syrett & Aaliyah Akude Executive Producer: Dom Johnson Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-03 22:44:15

Nvidia's $100 billion OpenAI deal has seemingly vanished

Two AI giants shake market confidence after investment fails to materialize.

From The History of Byzantium at 2026-02-03 17:51:00

Episode 339 - What Happened Next? (media.mp3)

We follow events after the Ottomans broke through the walls of Constantinople. Taking the story up to the Sultans triumphant return to Edirne.

To win the game Seljuk: Byzantium Besieged email me thehistoryofbyzantium at gmail.com before February 28th. See an interview with the creator here.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

From The Django weblog at 2026-02-03 14:13:48

Django security releases issued: 6.0.2, 5.2.11, and 4.2.28

In accordance with our security release policy, the Django team is issuing releases for Django 6.0.2, Django 5.2.11, and Django 4.2.28. These releases address the security issues detailed below. We encourage all users of Django to upgrade as soon as possible.

From Schneier on Security at 2026-02-03 12:05:25

Microsoft is Giving the FBI BitLocker Keys

Microsoft gives the FBI the ability to decrypt BitLocker in response to court orders: about twenty times per year.

It’s possible for users to store those keys on a device they own, but Microsoft also recommends BitLocker users store their keys on its servers for convenience. While that means someone can access their data if they forget their password, or if repeated failed attempts to login lock the device, it also makes them vulnerable to law enforcement subpoenas and warrants.

From Biz & IT - Ars Technica at 2026-02-03 12:00:01

The rise of Moltbook suggests viral AI prompts may be the next big security threat

We don't need self-replicating AI models to have problems, just self-replicating prompts.