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GALION, Ohio (WCMH) -- A central Ohio community is mourning after a crash killed one teenager and left a second hospitalized. According to a Facebook post on the Northmor Local School District page, a crash on Wednesday killed 14-year-old Bobby Singh, a freshman at Northmor High School, and left junior Landon Bishop, 16, in serious [...]

WESTERVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) -- Three local students kicked off the new year with a dream come true. Ryan Tipple, Trent Carson and Lilly Carson, members of the Westerville North Marching Band, got to take the trip to Pasadena, California, and participate in the Rose Parade. “We had thousands of people at our backs cheering us [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A public letter written by an Ohio Republican and signed by 41 other representatives demanding unannounced inspections of childcare facilities, specifically in the Columbus area, appears to be inspired by anti-Somali allegations that have taken hold in conservative social media spheres. Without providing examples, Rep. Josh Williams (R-Sylvania Twp.) alleged, “There [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The Columbus Division of Fire has launched a new vehicle dedicated to responding to mental health crisis and overdose incidents. The alternative response vehicle is part of the division’s new Outreach Medicine Initiative. The goal of the alternative response vehicle is to provide a more therapeutic, comfortable environment for patients. “We [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – Central Ohio leads the state for people hospitalized for respiratory illnesses, with doctors saying the hospitalizations are mostly due to the flu as emergency rooms fill with patients. Flu activity is rapidly rising in the region, and experts say people need to protect themselves from illness. This comes just after the Ohio Department of Health [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- While many businesses and organizations closed to celebrate the new year, LifeCare Alliance treated the day just like any other, working to bring nourishment and connecting with those in need. "Today is January 1st so, to most people, it's a holiday, but to us it's a workday because we deliver meals [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Crime scene tape still surrounds a home north of Columbus, after two people were found shot dead Tuesday morning.  Police identified the victims as Spencer and Monique Tepe, a married couple in their late 30s. The two were found dead with multiple gunshot wounds at a Weinland Park home in the 1400 block of North Fourth Street, according [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A Columbus woman is in custody after she confessed to killing her 3-year-old daughter on New Year's Eve, police said. Officers responded to the 1400 block of Orson Drive at 5:34 p.m. on Wednesday after report of a child not breathing, according to the Columbus Division of Police. After Cassidy Sakoulos, [...]

BEXLEY, Ohio (WCMH) -- After 75 years, Johnson's Real Ice Cream in Bexley has closed its deli service. The ice cream shop will still serve frozen treats, but Thursday was the last day of deli service. In a an online announcement, also printed and hung up at the Bexley shop, Johnson's management said it will [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- Multiple people have been injured after various shootings across Columbus on New Year's Day. Officers first responded to a warehouse in the 2300 block of South Hamilton Road at about 1 a.m. on Thursday after report of a shooting, according to the Columbus Division of Police. Two people suffering from gunshot [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- The first Columbus location for a national Mediterranean chain, revamps of the Worthington Inn and Dublin's Bogey Inn, and a replacement for Downtown's Milestone 229 are among the new central Ohio restaurants opening in 2026. Big Chicken Bogey Inn Buckeye Family Pizza and Pub Cava Chick-fil-A Currito Fat Patty's Jaggers Johnson's [...]

Central Ohio Weather and Radar COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- A second blast of winter weather in two days to close out 2025 has prompted some central Ohio counties to issue or continue snow emergencies Thursday. Wednesday night's storm was milder than the one that left about an inch of snow on the region on New [...]

ARLINGTON, Texas (WCMH) -- There will be a new national champion in college football after the defending titleholders were dethroned in North Texas. Ohio State is searching for answers after the 24-14 loss to Miami in the Cotton Bowl, becoming the fifth team with a first-round bye to fall in the playoff quarterfinals since the [...]

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) – A variety of new laws are set to take effect in early 2026, making changes to the state’s rules on marijuana, cellphones in schools, absentee ballots and more. A list of seven notable changes coming in the new year can be found below. Minimum wage increase Effective Jan. 1 Ohio’s minimum [...]

1855 kicks off with a bombshell AP investigation revealing how Silicon Valley giants IBM, Intel, NVIDIA, Oracle, and more spent decades building China’s surveillance state. Also covered, malicious Chrome extensions stealing credentials from 170+ sites, Microsoft’s ambitious Rust migration plans, China’s combat-ready humanoid robot, and Japan restarting the world’s largest nuclear plant.

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Full Summary

Cochrane opens episode 1855 with a bombshell. The Associated Press released a major investigation into Silicon Valley’s role building China’s surveillance state. Companies like IBM, Intel, NVIDIA, and Oracle sold technologies for facial recognition and predictive policing. These tools enabled mass detention in Xinjiang. Cochrane expressed horror at the findings and emphasized American companies’ complicity in human rights abuses.

Next, the podcast covered serious browser security concerns. Two malicious Chrome extensions had been stealing credentials from over 170 websites for years. Cochrane stressed the need for caution when installing plugins. He also highlighted how attackers exploit trusted extensions through manipulative tactics.

Additionally, Cochrane discussed Microsoft’s ambitious plan to replace all C/C++ code with Rust by 2030. The company faces ongoing security challenges from memory safety issues in legacy languages. However, he noted this remains a research project rather than an official goal. Still, the move reflects broader industry trends toward Rust adoption.

The episode then featured GitHub Universe 2025’s most influential open-source projects. Cochrane remarked on how the development landscape continues to evolve. TypeScript has emerged as a dominant language alongside new tools that streamline workflows.

Meanwhile, advancements in humanoid robotics took center stage. Engine AI unveiled its T800 combat-ready humanoid robot with impressive features. The company even released a viral video of the robot kicking its CEO to prove authenticity.

Following this, Cochrane covered the Blackbird flying car prototype. This eVTOL innovation showcases paradigm-shifting propulsion technology. It could transform urban transportation in the coming decades.

The podcast also reviewed Android Central’s best smartphones of 2025. OnePlus 15 claimed the top spot thanks to its impressive specs and consumer-focused features.

Furthermore, Cochrane addressed a controversial topic: Anna’s Archive scraping Spotify’s entire library. He expressed mixed feelings about the situation. On one hand, artists and the music industry face real harm. On the other, questions about digital preservation and access deserve consideration.

Finally, the episode explored groundbreaking brain simulation research. Japan’s Fugaku supercomputer enabled unprecedented neural modeling. This marks a significant step toward understanding neurological diseases.

Cochrane wrapped up by discussing Japan’s plans to restart the Kashiwazaki-Kariwa nuclear plant. Local residents remain concerned about safety despite government approval. The decision reflects Japan’s shifting energy strategy post-Fukushima.

As the episode closed, Cochrane wished listeners a Happy New Year. He encouraged self-reflection and thanked everyone for tuning in throughout the year.

Show Links

1. Silicon Valley’s Role in Building China’s Surveillance State
2. Two Chrome Extensions Caught Secretly Stealing Credentials from Over 170 Sites
3. Microsoft to Replace All C/C++ Code With Rust By 2030
4. This Year’s Most Influential Open Source Projects
5. EngineAI Unveils T800: Combat-Ready Humanoid Targets Mass Production
6. Aviation Startup Shares Incredible Video of Prototype EV’s Maiden Takeoff Flight
7. Android Central’s Best of 2025: Phones
8. Pirate Archivist Group Scrapes Spotify’s 300TB Library
9. This Breakthrough Brain Simulation Captures a True Brain at Work
10. Japan Prepares to Restart World’s Biggest Nuclear Plant

The post Money over Ethics: Silicon Valley and China’s Police State #1855 appeared first on Geek News Central.

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- It was a year of accomplishments, changes and challenges for Ohio’s environmental policy, with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources making improvements to the state’s public land and conservation efforts and earning national recognition. Meanwhile, state budget cuts and the construction of new data centers have led to new fears about [...]

WORTHINGTON, Ohio (WCMH) -- Starting Thursday, sharpshooters will be able to begin operations in Worthington’s residential neighborhoods to reduce the deer population. However, one resident is temporarily protected from it happening on their property. “Our issue to me is not a deer issue. It’s a safety issue,” said Kevin Callinan, a Worthington resident. He filed [...]