Victory for Elon Musk: US labor board abandons authority over SpaceX

The National Labor Relations Board abandoned a Biden-era complaint against SpaceX after a finding that the agency does not have jurisdiction over Elon Musk’s space company. The US labor board said SpaceX should instead be regulated under the Railway Labor Act, which governs labor relations at railroad and airline companies.

The Railway Labor Act is enforced by a separate agency, the National Mediation Board, and has different rules than the National Labor Relations Act enforced by the NLRB. For example, the Railway Labor Act has an extensive dispute-resolution process that makes it difficult for railroad and airline employees to strike. Employers regulated under the Railway Labor Act are exempt from the National Labor Relations Act.

In January 2024, an NLRB regional director alleged in a complaint that SpaceX illegally fired eight employees who, in an open letter, criticized CEO Musk as a “frequent source of embarrassment.” The complaint sought reinstatement of the employees, back pay, and letters of apology to the fired employees.

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US Had Almost No Job Growth in 2025

An anonymous reader shares a report: The U.S. economy experienced almost zero job growth in 2025, according to revised federal data. On a more encouraging note: hiring has picked up in 2026. Preliminary data had indicated that the U.S. economy added 584,000 jobs last year. But the Bureau of Labor Statistics revised that number after it received additional state data, and found that the labor market had added 181,000 jobs in all of 2025. This is far fewer than the 1.46 million jobs that were added in 2024.

One bright spot was last month, when hiring increased by 130,000 roles. This was significantly more than the 55,000 additions that had been expected by economists. “Job gains occurred in health care, social assistance, and construction, while federal government and financial activities lost jobs,” BLS said in a statement.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

How to cancel Mullvad VPN

This is going to be one of the shortest articles in my series on how to cancel your subscriptions to the best VPNs. Unlike most providers, Mullvad VPN does not automatically renew an expired subscription unless you tell it to. Thanks to its unique pricing approach, cancelling Mullvad is the default option.

When you sign up for Mullvad, you pay for as many months upfront as you want at the constant rate of 5 Euro per month (varying with exchange rates). Each month, Mullvad takes 5 Euro out of your account until there’s nothing left. If you’re no longer satisfied with Mullvad, all you have to do is stop putting money in.

The Mullvad account dashboard.
The Mullvad account dashboard.
Sam Chapman for Engadget

If you happen to have originally signed up for Mullvad earlier than the middle of 2022, you may have an auto-renewal account grandfathered in. Mid-2022 is when Mullvad stopped auto-renewing subscriptions and got rid of PayPal integration altogether, but people who had signed up before then had the option to leave auto-renewal on.

If you’re in this group, cancelling is simple. Just sign into your account page, click on the word Subscriptions, then click Unsubscribe.

How to cancel Mullvad if you subscribed through an app store

There’s one more exception to the usual method of cancelling Mullvad. If you got your subscription through an app store instead of Mullvad’s website or app, the app store is the one processing your money. You’ll need to cancel through them instead.

On an iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app, whose icon shows gray gears. Tap your name at the top of the screen to reach your Apple ID page, then tab Subscriptions. Scroll down until you find your Mullvad subscription, tap it, then hit Cancel Subscription.

On an Android phone, open the Google Play Store, whose icon is a triangle in the Google colors. At the top-right, tap the circle with the first letter of your username in it. Hit Payments & Subscriptions, scroll down to find Mullvad, then tap it and hit Cancel Subscription.

How to delete your Mullvad account

You can go the extra mile and delete your account if you’re sure you’ll never want to use Mullvad again. Send an email to support@mullvadvpn.net, provide your account number and request that the account be terminated. You’ll get a reply confirming deletion.

How to get a refund from Mullvad

Mullvad offers refunds on any purchase within 14 days. To start a refund request, send an email to support@mullvadvpn.net, including your Mullvad account number and your payment token. If you aren’t sure what your payment token is, find the charge for Mullvad on your bank statement and look for something in the format VPN*(10-digit number).

Payments made in cash can’t be refunded, apparently because that’s considered a form of money laundering in Sweden. If you got Mullvad through a voucher, request your refund through the store the voucher came from.

Best Mullvad alternatives

Mullvad is one of the best VPNs, especially in terms of privacy. However, I’ve found it to be a bit slow at times, with a somewhat limited server network. Luckily, Proton VPN is almost as private as Mullvad — the only thing it’s missing is the ability to sign up without an email. It’s also got a larger server network and better overall download speeds.

Windscribe is another privacy-optimized VPN with a better record than Mullvad in my unblocking tests. Surfshark is the fastest VPN of them all, while ExpressVPN is ideal for beginners. If you liked Mullvad’s cheap pricing, CyberGhost is a highly affordable alternative.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/cybersecurity/vpn/how-to-cancel-mullvad-vpn-200000516.html?src=rss

Microsoft Warns Of Secure Boot Certificate Expiry Impacting PCs This Year

Microsoft Warns Of Secure Boot Certificate Expiry Impacting PCs This Year
Microsoft introduced Secure Boot back in 2011, and made it a key requirement for installation of Windows 11. And now some users will have to update their certificates in June of this year. Microsoft will handle most Secure Boot updates through Windows Update, meaning most people won’t have to worry about this. But you should still double check

Apple releases iOS 26.3 with updates that mainly benefit non-Apple devices

Apple has just released the latest major updates for iOS 26, iPadOS 26, macOS 26 Tahoe, and all the other operating systems it released back in September of 2025. The 26.3 updates for these operating systems are fairly mild, focusing mostly on bug fixes and security patches, but Apple is adding a handful of iPhone features designed to make it easier to use third-party devices in Apple’s ecosystem.

The first is a “transfer to Android” feature that will facilitate switching away from Apple’s phones into the Android ecosystem. Apple offers to transfer “photos, messages, notes, apps, and more,” as well as the user’s phone number, but won’t transfer things like Bluetooth pairing information or sensitive data from the Health app.

Whether third-party apps can have their data transferred is likely tied to the AppMigrationKit developer framework that Apple added in iOS 26.1. Apps using this framework can import and export data to and from other devices and also access and download content the app has stored in the cloud. Apple notes that AppMigrationKit only functions for transfers from an Apple device to a non-Apple device; Apple already has several systems in place for preserving and transferring data and settings when upgrading from one iPhone to another.

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Anthropic beefs up Claude’s free tier as OpenAI prepares to stuff ads into ChatGPT’s

Anthropic is upgrading Claude’s free tier, apparently to capitalize on OpenAI’s planned integration of ads into ChatGPT. On Wednesday, Anthropic said free Claude users can now create files, connect to external services, use skills and more.

Anthropic added the ability for paid users to create files in September. Starting today, free users of the chatbot can also create and edit Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Word docs and PDFs. Claude’s file creation abilities are powered by Sonnet 4.5.

Visual showing various upgrades to the free tier of Claude
Free users can now create and edit Excel spreadsheets, PowerPoint presentations, Word docs, and PDFs.
Anthropic

Meanwhile, Connectors allow free users to link Claude to third-party services. There’s a long list of available ones, including Canva, Slack, Notion, Zapier and PayPal.

Skills, on the other hand, let you teach Claude to “complete specific tasks in repeatable ways.” In short, the chatbot loads folders of instructions, scripts and other resources when performing relevant tasks. Other upgrades to the free tier include longer conversations, interactive responses and improved voice and image search.

Claude’s free-tier upgrades appear to be a direct response to ChatGPT’s planned introduction of ads for its free users. Anthropic’s announcement today ended with the tag line, “No ads in sight.” This follows the company’s promise last week that Claude will remain ad-free. Anthropic even poked fun at OpenAI’s cash-seeking move in a Super Bowl ad (below), which also took a swipe at GPT-4o’s penchant for kissing ass.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/ai/anthropic-beefs-up-claudes-free-tier-as-openai-prepares-to-stuff-ads-into-chatgpts-194100939.html?src=rss

China showcases new Moon ship and reusable rocket in one extraordinary test

China’s space program, striving to land astronauts on the Moon by 2030, carried out a test flight of a new reusable booster and crew capsule late Tuesday (US time), and the results were spectacular.

The demonstration “marks a significant breakthrough in the development of [China’s] manned lunar exploration program,” the China Manned Space Agency (CMSA) said in a statement. China and the United States are racing to accomplish the next human landing on the Moon in a competition for national prestige and lunar resources. The Long March 10 rocket and Mengzhou spacecraft, both tested Tuesday, are core elements of China’s lunar architecture.

The launch of a subscale version of the Long March 10 rocket, still in development, provided engineers with an opportunity to verify the performance of an important part of the new Mengzhou capsule’s safety system. The test began with liftoff of the Long March 10 booster from a new launch pad at Wenchang Space Launch Site on Hainan Island, China’s southernmost province, at 10 pm EST Tuesday (03:00 UTC or 11 am Beijing time Wednesday).

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Apple just released iOS 26.3 alongside updates for the Mac, iPad and Apple Watch

Apple has released the software update 26.3 for its various platforms. This includes the iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. In other words, don’t be surprised when your iPhone notifies you of a pending update.

Unfortunately, there isn’t all that much to talk about here. Consider this a minor update that focuses primarily on bug fixes, which is important but not exactly fun. It is worth noting that the new iOS and iPadOS has an especially long list of fixes. There are 37 security issues addressed by the update, according to a report by 9to5Mac

iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3 do include a new tool for transitioning from an Apple device to an Android device, which is handy. It transfers photos, notes, messages, apps and other data to an Android phone but doesn’t do anything with health data, protected notes or photos. There’s also a new option to forward notifications from an iPhone or iPad to another device, but only for users in the EU

The update to macOS Tahoe 26.3 is just bug fixes and security enhancements. The same goes for watchOS 26.3.

Why the small fries update? Rumors have been swirling that Apple is saving the big guns for the next release. Insiders have suggested that software update 26.4 will include the long-awaited Siri refresh and new emoji functionality.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/mobile/smartphones/apple-just-released-ios-263-alongside-updates-for-the-mac-ipad-and-apple-watch-193532483.html?src=rss

TikTok’s First US-Exclusive Feature Is a Local Feed That Wants Your Location Data

It hasn’t been a month since the U.S. arm of TikTok came under new ownership, and already American users are getting an exclusive feature. In a surprise move, the app today introduced a new “Local Feed” specific to U.S. users, ostensibly aimed at helping Americans see content from their immediate area. Technically, it’s similar to the “Nearby Feed” that was introduced in the U.K. and Europe in December, though this specific iteration might differ in the minor details, like the name, and more importantly, which data it accesses. Specifically, the company wants access to your GPS data to power the Local Feed, but it’s not making it transparent how exactly it will be used.

TikTok’s new Local Feed

TikTok announced its Local Feed today, and it has already popped up in my app without the need for an update. It’s located to the left of the Following feed, and tapping on it brings you to a scrollable list of posts rather than the usual “swipe-to-navigate” autoplaying videos. TikTok says that the feed is “designed to help you discover and connect with content, businesses, and services wherever you are,” and yeah, what I saw was mostly restaurant recommendations for New York City.

It’s worth noting that I was already occasionally getting these recommendations on my For You feed, and when I go on vacation, these posts usually change to match wherever I’m staying. So the app’s algorithm did already take location into account, however it got that information (more on that later). But the Local Feed allows you to choose when to see those posts, instead of waiting for the For You feed to show them to you. (Note that while it does originally display as a scrollable list, hopping into a video will allow you to swipe through the feed as usual.)

How to see the Local Feed on your TikTok account

The Local Feed showed up for me automatically when I opened my app today, but TikTok says there are a few situations where you might not see it, or if you do see it, where it might not show any content. For instance, accounts belonging to users under 18 supposedly won’t see content in their Local Feed, and neither will private accounts, or accounts where post privacy is set to Friends or Only You.

It’s unclear how the Local Feed uses your GPS data

The author's Privacy settings on TikTok (left) and iPhone (center, right)

Credit: Michelle Ehrhardt

Maybe most concerning in TikTok’s new announcement is a disclaimer towards the bottom of the post, explaining that TikTok will use your GPS location to help power the Local Feed. The company says this feature is off by default, entirely optional, and only available to accounts for users who are 18 or older. Still, I have a few quibbles.

First, it’s difficult to know where to adjust these permissions, because they’re not located in the TikTok app. Instead, they rely on your device settings. On iPhone, that’s under Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services, while the exact steps will vary among Android phones. In device settings, you can see which apps have access to your location, and tap on them to restrict access. This differs from previous TikTok app, which allowed you to access your Location Services settings from within the app itself; that button no longer appears for me on the Settings and privacy > Privacy page despite it being shown there in Europe’s Nearby Feed announcement. It’s still mentioned on TikTok support pages, and I’ve reached out to TikTok for clarification as to what happened to it.

My bigger question is this: While TikTok was not listed among the apps in my device’s Location Services settings, I still had access to locally pinpointed content within the Local Feed, and it was still able load new content upon refreshing the feed and even restarting the app. This persisted even after I had turned off Location Services on my device entirely, and perhaps more concerningly, even after I switched to a private account, which TikTok said should not see content in the Local Feed. I’ve reached out to TikTok for clarification on this.

There are a few possible answers to these questions. The first is that it’s possible that even after I disabled my location or took my account private, the Local Feed continued to refresh using data it had already collected before I made those changes. As for why I couldn’t find the location services button in its usual location under the settings tab, that might be related to the app’s new Privacy Policy, which now gives it permission to gather your “precise location” so long as you have location services turned on for your device—bypassing the need for a separate toggle within the app.

To be fair to TikTok, all of this information would have been accessible to the app even before the Local Feed made its debut, but the Local Feed does make it a bit more obvious that TikTok knows where you are. That said, your location is supposedly only tracked when the app is in active use.

Amazon’s same-day prescription deliveries are coming to even more cities

Amazon has announced that it will bring its same-day prescription delivery service to 4,500 new cities and towns by the end of 2026. The company originally launched Amazon Pharmacy in 2020 with a two-day delivery option, and has continued to increase the availability and delivery speed of the service in the years that followed, including expanding access to nearly half of all US residents in 2024.

The company’s announcement doesn’t break down all the new cities same-day deliveries will be available in, but does note that the delivery option is coming to Idaho and Massachusetts for the first time. In the past, access to same-day deliveries has been determined by where Amazon has fulfillment centers that it can open pharmacies in. Amazon Pharmacy also offers next-day delivery and in some cities, the ability to pick up prescriptions from Amazon’s OneMedical offices.

Amazon reportedly applied for Amazon Pharmacy trademarks in the UK, Canada and Australia in 2020, but has yet to expand its prescription delivery service to those regions. In 2023, Amazon launched RxPass, a separate $5 per month subscription that lets Amazon Prime customers order from a collection over 50 common medications for a flat fee. Amazon began letting Medicare recipients access the subscription in 2024.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/big-tech/amazons-same-day-prescription-deliveries-are-coming-to-even-more-cities-192221224.html?src=rss

This Aggressive Spyware Is Targeting Both Android and iOS Devices

Threat actors don’t have to work that hard to obtain sophisticated malware to deploy against unsuspecting targets. A new spyware platform known as ZeroDayRAT is reportedly being sold on Telegram, complete with customer support and updates.

According to mobile security company iVerify, this aggressive spyware grants full remote control over devices running Android 15 through 16 and iOS versions up to iOS 26. Once deployed, it allows everything from user profiling and location tracking to live surveillance and financial theft.

What ZeroDayRAT can gather from your device

This spyware has wide-ranging capabilities that, according to iVerify, have traditionally been found on platforms sponsored by state actors. Here’s a look at what ZeroDayRAT can do:

  • Collect information about the device, such as model, OS, battery, country, lock status, SIM and carrier info, app usage, live activity, and SMS message previews. This allows threat actors to develop user profiles for further targeting.

  • Pull GPS coordinates, capture notifications from apps and systems, and harvest account information, such as usernames and emails.

  • Send SMS messages and receive verification codes to bypass two-factor authentication.

  • Log keystrokes (including biometric unlocks, gestures, and app launches), access the camera and microphone, and screen record.

  • Log crypto wallet addresses and target banking and payment app credentials via overlay attacks.

How to protect against spyware

ZeroDayRAT can infect your device only if a malicious binary—an APK on Android or iOS payload—is downloaded and installed. These may be distributed through phishing, such as links sent via emails, texts, or messaging platforms, as well as in fake app stores.

All standard guidance for avoiding scams and malware applies: never click links in unsolicited communication, including conversations in apps like Telegram and WhatsApp, and only download apps and extensions from official, trusted sources.

Users at high risk of being targeted and anyone who wants an extra layer of security can consider enabling Lockdown Mode (iOS) or Advanced Protection (Android).

EVs Could Be Cheaper To Own Than Gas Cars in Africa by 2040

Electric vehicles accounted for just 1% of new car sales across Africa in 2025, but a study published in Nature Energy by researchers at ETH Zurich finds that EVs paired with solar off-grid charging systems — solar panels, batteries and an inverter — could become cheaper to own than gas-powered equivalents across most of the continent by 2040.

The analysis considered total cost of ownership including sticker price, financing and fuel or charging costs, but excluded policy-related factors like taxes and subsidies. Electric two-wheelers could reach cost parity even sooner, by the end of the decade, thanks to smaller battery packs.

Small cars remain the toughest segment. The biggest obstacle is financing: in some African countries, political instability and economic uncertainty push borrowing costs so high that interest on an EV loan can exceed the vehicle’s purchase price. South Africa, Mauritius and Botswana are already near the financing conditions needed for cost parity; countries like Sudan and Ghana would need drastic cuts.


Read more of this story at Slashdot.

SISU Racing Club Championships New York Edition Announced Beginning March 3

The SISU Racing Club Championships return for their third edition in March, and this year they’re taking the fight to the brand-new roads of Zwift’s New York map.

Riders will be tested across four disciplines: an individual time trial, a criterium, a climbing route, and an endurance road race. Every stage matters and every second counts, as winners in each category will be decided based on combined time.

Registration

Registration is now open. To be included in the final results, fill out the registration form, join the SISU Racing Club in the Companion app (where the race events can be found), and make sure you’re registered on ZwiftPower.

All Zwifters are welcome to race. While this is a Club Championship for SISU (meaning the top-placed SISU rider will be crowned Club Champion), everyone is welcome to compete.

Race Schedule

Toefield Tornado (Individual Time Trial) – Tuesday, March 3

The championships kick off with a true test of focus and pacing. Toefield Tornado is all about riding the knife-edge between power and precision as racers face the clock alone. Smooth lines, disciplined pacing, and mental toughness will define the early leaderboard—and set the tone for the battles to come.

Avon Flyer x 8 Laps (Criterium) – Tuesday, March 10

Fast, furious, and relentlessly tactical, the Avon Flyer brings pure criterium chaos to the streets of New York. Expect tight racing, constant accelerations, and decisive moments in the blink of an eye. Positioning is everything, and only the sharpest racers will survive the speed and sprint for glory.

Points in each grade will be awarded as follows:

  • FAL (First Across The Line) at Centre Sprint at the end of laps 2, 5, and 6 to the first 20 riders: 40, 38, 36, 34, 32, 30, 28, 26, 24, 22, 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2.
  • The first 20 riders in each grade across the line at the end of the race will be awarded: 250, 240, 230, 220, 200, 180, 160, 140, 130, 110, 100, 90, 80, 70, 60, 50, 40, 30, 20, 10.

Powerups: Draft, Ghost, Aero

Events will be held in multiple time zones, with the total points determining the Club Championships (should there be a tie on points, the fastest time will determine the winner).

Stay Puft Pursuit (Climb) – Tuesday, March 17

The championships turn uphill on Stay Puft Pursuit, where raw watts meet resolve. This is a climber’s proving ground—no hiding, just sustained effort and inner strength. Gaps open quickly here, and contenders will need to dig deep to stay in the championship fight.

Powerups: Draft, Feather, Aero

Fuhgeddaboudit (Road Race) – Saturday, March 28

It all comes down to the Fuhgeddaboudit road race—longer, tougher, and packed with opportunity for bold moves. Endurance, teamwork, and race IQ collide on this iconic New York route. Championships will be won and lost here as riders empty the tank in one final showdown.

Powerups: Draft, Feather, Aero, Anvil

February Tune-Up: 3 Training Focuses for March Peak

With the championships in March, February is about sharpening—not smashing yourself.

1. Discipline-Specific Intensity

  • One TT-style workout per week (10–15 min steady efforts at race power).
  • One VO₂ / anaerobic session for crit readiness (30–90 sec repeats).
  • One sweet spot or threshold climb simulation.

2. Fatigue-Resistance Training

  • Long endurance ride with race-pace efforts late in the session.
  • Practice fuelling exactly as you will on race day.

3. Race Craft & Recovery

  • Jump into shorter races to sharpen positioning and pack skills.
  • Prioritise sleep and easy days—fitness gains come from recovery, not just watts.

Zwift Racing Score

Riders enter using peak Zwift Race Score from the last 30 days for category enforcement. Race categories will be:

  • 690-1000 (A Grade)
  • 520-690 (B Grade)
  • 350-520 (C Grade)
  • 180-350 (D Grade)
  • 1-180 (E Grade)

More Information

  • All riders are welcome – the SISU Club Champion title goes to the top SISU Racing member.
  • Overall GC decided on combined time across all four stages (iTT + Crit + Climb + Road Race).
  • Open events with separate Men’s and Women’s results.
  • Race one discipline or all four – specialists welcome, all-rounders rewarded.
  • Mass start racing with all riders visible, true to SISU spirit.
  • ZwiftPower profile required.
  • ZPower riders and riders without heart rate data will be excluded from results.
  • Learn more on SISU’s Club Championships homepage.

The Helldivers movie will star Jason Momoa and hits theaters on November 10, 2027

Jason Momoa will be playing the lead in the forthcoming film adaptation of the Helldivers gaming franchise, according to a report by Variety. The games don’t have a story-driven protagonist, so Momoa is likely to play a currently unnamed soldier.

We also have a release date for the Helldivers film. It comes out on November 10, 2027. That’s a while from now, but at least it gives fans something to look forward to. The movie is being directed by Justin Lin, who is best known for helming several entries in the Fast & Furious franchise. However, he also directed Star Trek Beyond, proving he can do sci-fi.

Gary Dauberman is penning the script. He wrote both It and It Chapter Two, in addition to the horror film Annabelle and its follow-ups. Dauberman is mostly a horror guy, so we’ll have to see how he handles high-octane science fiction.

For the uninitiated, Helldivers is a co-op shooter franchise that’s heavily inspired by the movie Starship Troopers. The games are set in a hyper-patriotic dystopia called Super Earth. Helldivers 2 dropped back in 2024, though was recently released for Xbox.

Sony hasn’t announced any other actors who will be joining Momoa. We’ll keep you updated when more casting news drops.

This article originally appeared on Engadget at https://www.engadget.com/entertainment/tv-movies/the-helldivers-movie-will-star-jason-momoa-and-hits-theaters-on-november-10-2027-183445038.html?src=rss