Russia proposes abandoned coal mines as potential sites for future data centers
Some exhausted open pits reach depths of approximately 300 metres
Accumulated mine water could offer another option for cooling infrastructure
Russia is considering abandoned coal mines as potential locations for data centers, following reported damage to digital infrastructure during Ukrainian drone attacks.
Ilya Seredyuk, governor of the Kemerovo region, has proposed using exhausted mining sites for computing facilities, cryptocurrency operations and other infrastructure.
The idea could reduce construction expenses while providing additional physical protection for servers against attacks from above.
Abandoned mines offer space and potential protection
Seredyuk introduced the proposal during the recent Russian Energy Week, arguing that instead of spending money to reclaim the mines, they could just build new facilities.
Some former open pits reach about 300m deep, creating substantial vertical space for infrastructure without requiring conventional surface construction across large areas.
Seredyuk also suggested that accumulated mine water and underground waterways could help lower cooling expenses.
At the moment, this is simply a proposal and the technical feasibility of such a project remains uncertain.
The governor suggested covering underground installations with roofs and developing landscaped areas above them, potentially creating parks across reclaimed mining properties.
Such arrangements could conceal server buildings from direct observation, although landscaping alone would not establish meaningful protection against aerial surveillance or precision attacks.
Modern commercial and hyperscale data centers are increasingly treated as legitimate military and strategic targets because they run cloud computing, AI, surveillance, and military-logistics networks.
Consequently, developing public parks above underground server facilities could expose civilians, including children, to potential risks if those installations became targets.
Russia's struggling coal industry could also benefit if abandoned mining properties attracted investment for alternative industrial uses.
However, converting deep open pits into dependable computing facilities would require substantial engineering assessments covering structural stability, water management, electricity supply, ventilation and emergency access.
The proposal comes amid concerns about attacks on Russia's digital infrastructure, including facilities operated by Yandex, one of the country's major technology companies.
Reports said a drone attack sparked a fire at a Yandex data center in Sasovo, within the Ryazan region, on October 8 2026.
Yandex subsequently suspended operations at the affected facility, although the company did not publicly confirm the full extent of the reported damage.
The incident raised questions about the vulnerability of concentrated computing infrastructure during continuing hostilities between Russia and Ukraine.
Russian outlet Verstka also reported that Yandex had obscured four cloud data center locations on its mapping service.
Those facilities were identified as being in Mytishchi, Kaluga, Vladimir and Sasovo, although concealing map locations does not establish that every site suffered damage.
Moving data centers underground could introduce new engineering difficulties, particularly where groundwater accumulates, or mining operations have weakened surrounding rock.
Reliable computing facilities also require continuous electricity, redundant connectivity, fire suppression, and accessible maintenance routes, regardless of their physical depth.
All these factors would need careful assessment before Russia could determine whether abandoned coal mines offer a practical alternative to conventional data center sites.
Chocolates are all well and good, but these days there are plenty of Advent calendars that hide something a little exciting — or unexpected — behind their little cardboard doors. Fans of tiny little beauty products or miniature candles are well catered for, but what about the nerds, hmm?
I've had a good old hunt around for what I think are the best nerd-friendly Advent calendars you can buy. Lego's advent calendars are an established annual delight, but I discovered that Funko Pop also makes a wide range of calendars with dinky figurines to suit various fixations. There are calendars for stationery addicts, Japanophiles, and puzzle-breakers.
While snack preferences can transcend social groups, I couldn't ignore the appeal of 12 days of artisan cheese (and associated condiments), nor the lure of Red Bull's Advent calendar variety pack. The latter contains a standard can for each of the 24 days leading up to Christmas — although it's perhaps advisable to spread out the drinking a bit more than that.
Scroll down for 12 days of Advent calendars for every kind of nerd.
Airbus’ MQ-72C rerouted itself after restricted airspace suddenly appeared during flight
Starlink carried remote commands to a cargo helicopter from 70 miles away
Shield AI’s Hivemind software helps helicopters navigate without constant pilot intervention
The US Army has tested Airbus’ MQ-72C Lakota Connector, an autonomous cargo helicopter designed to reroute around suddenly restricted airspace.
Operators controlled the helicopter from distances reaching 70 miles through communications infrastructure supporting operations beyond conventional line of sight.
The aircraft follows a flight plan supplied by a human operator, while onboard autonomy software handles navigation and responses to changing conditions.
Starlink and Hivemind enable remote control and autonomous navigation
Airbus conducted five demonstration flights at Huntsville Executive Airport in Alabama, showcasing autonomous hovering, complex turns, and conventional airport traffic patterns.
During one exercise, the aircraft encountered a newly introduced restricted airspace area and calculated an alternative route using its onboard autonomy systems.
“The aircraft had to autonomously make decisions about how it was going to route itself around the no-fly zones,” said Jaysen Yochim, Airbus’ senior director for the Aerial Logistics Connector programme.
A pilot remained aboard for safety during these trials, although Yochim said the individual never needed to assume control.
The helicopter’s autonomy depends partly on Shield AI’s Hivemind software, which interprets imagery collected by onboard sensors.
Two LiDAR sensors, facing forward and backward, work alongside a nose-mounted electro-optical camera to supply environmental information for navigation decisions.
Remote command relies on a separate communications layer, with SpaceX’s Starlink satellite network carrying instructions between ground control stations and the aircraft.
Airbus has already tested this arrangement beyond conventional line of sight, enabling human operators to issue commands from far distances.
We’ve had flights that have been autonomously commanded from up to 70 miles away. All of that is stuff that’s happened in the last year,” Yochim added.
“We also have where the aircraft can be commanded from both a ground control station like this and also with the Samsung tablet.”
Cargo conversion and military adoption remain unfinished
Airbus based the MQ 72C on its UH 72B Lakota, derived from the H145, but additional modifications remain necessary for cargo operations.
Front-mounted clamshell doors would create a passage through the cabin, allowing crews to load and unload supplies more quickly.
Although Airbus has completed initial design work and preliminary testing, flight and wind tunnel tests remain outstanding. The company expects to install the doors around 2029 or 2030.
The Army also needs better ways to supply troops following long-distance air assaults involving future MV 75A tiltrotors.
Major General David Gardner, head of the 101st Airborne Division, explained the challenge of transporting heavy equipment across hundreds of miles.
“We can put some things inside the helicopter, and we can put some things under a helicopter with a sling load. We’re not going to sling load something moving 250-ish knots for 500 miles. We’re not going to hang Humvees under that,” said Gardner.
Other contenders for autonomous military cargo delivery include the AW139, Black Hawk, Robinson R66 and Bell 505.
The Army has not announced a procurement requirement, although its interest in Airbus’ demonstration suggests autonomous cargo delivery is receiving attention.
There’s something really appealing about retro tech but it’s hard to put your finger on exactly what it is. Or maybe that’s it. You can press the chunky buttons, place a record on a turntable, hold your favorite media in your hands and feel the satisfying click of a flip phone snapping shut.
For others, the appeal might be the colorful designs that seemed to have so much more personality than the shiny black rectangles we all own now. Or maybe it's actually owning media rather than feeling like you’re constantly renting it. Whatever the reason, it’s clear plenty of people love retro tech.
However, it’s easy to romanticize a return to older tech, like the idea of listening to a Walkman on the train, taking blurry photos with an old camera or spending a lazy afternoon playing a Game Boy. But how much of the actual experience are you prepared to put up with?
Because using that Walkman also means carrying round tapes, replacing batteries and rewinding songs. The camera might need an obscure memory card and a cable you haven't seen since 2004. And your beautiful old flip phone probably isn't going to help when you're lost and need Google Maps.
I'm personally all for bringing a little retro tech back into our lives. I've got some myself. But there's a big difference between wanting the aesthetic and being willing to embrace the inconvenience.
Although, for some people, the inconvenience is also part of the experience. At a time when everything is quick, easy and frictionless it can be nice to feel like things are slower and require a little more effort.
So, before you start bidding on vintage gadgets on eBay, take our quiz to find out how much retro tech you can realistically handle. We'll test your patience, willingness to tinker and tolerance for doing things the old-fashioned way, then recommend some retro gadgets to match. Because I strongly suspect many of us might miss the way tech used to look and feel but we maybe don’t miss the way it used to work quite as much.
Ukrainian defense technology company SkyFall unveils new aerial medical evacuation drone
StarGate can collect an injured soldier and fly them to the nearest medical unit
StarGate has a one-way range of 15 kilometers, can fly autonomously, and is equipped with countermeasures
Ukrainian military personnel could soon be lifted off the battlefield by drone. Kyiv-based technology company SkyFall invited press to see its StarGate drone in action, demonstrating the carrying of a person suspended under the chassis.
A StarGate craft can carry a payload of up to 150 kilograms (330 pounds), enabling a single ground operative in body armor and with combat equipment to be rescued. The aerial medical evacuation drone can be deployed in about around 10 minutes and is equipped with anti-drone nets and other countermeasures.
Capable of a 15 kilometers range, the StarGate can travel at speeds of up to 65mph, and each craft has a basic price of $50,000, with various configurations available.
Automated evacuation
Unveiled to with a press demonstration, the StarGate was seen lifting off carrying a human in the enclosed pod underneath the craft. It has a 65 km/h (40 mph) cruise speed and can reach speeds of up to 105 km/h (65 mph), although its 15 km range does mean it needs to operate within a relatively small area.
A spokesperson for Ukrainian defense tech company SkyFall explained the origins of the concept, “The idea came directly from the front line, from the trenches,” and followed an approach from a commander of the 475th Separate Assault Regiment to find a safer way to evacuate wounded personnel.
The spokesperson explained how StarGate can improve the current rescue times. “Right now the evacuation takes from several hours to several days… with the StarGate we can evacuate a person in a matter of minutes.”
Assuming the injured personnel can make it into the stretcher, the craft can take them to safety, and medical care. “With the StarGate we can give the wounded soldier a golden chance,” he added.
SkyFall’s spokesperson attended the event with their face covered, and remained anonymous throughout.
Ambulance countermeasures
Airlifting injured personnel on the battlefield by drone has obvious challenges, not least from other drones. To help protect rescue efforts, the StarGate is equipped with some countermeasures. These include electronic jamming for attacking drones, and launching nets at attacking drones.
Modern warfare relies on electronic warfare as much as it does munitions. The StarGate has some additional features to assist in surviving GPS blocking, according to SkyFall’s spokesperson: “The drone has several AI functions that allow it to operate even in GPS-denied situations or in the environment of spoofing [and] blocking of the frequencies,” adding that while it is usually controlled by a remote operator, the case of interference, “the drone is fully autonomous.”
Design of the StarGate drone has evolved through several iterations, and SkyFall aims to build around 1,000 per month by the end of 2026. That’s potentially a lot of lives saved.
South Korea deploys Cheongwang, a laser weapon designed to destroy hostile drones
Hanwha estimates each Cheongwang engagement costs approximately $1.50
Laser weapons could reduce dependence on expensive interceptor missiles against drones
South Korea has deployed Cheongwang, a laser-based air defence system designed to destroy hostile drones without using conventional ammunition.
Developed by Hanwha Systems alongside the Agency for Defense Development, the weapon has entered operational service.
Its manufacturer estimates each engagement costs approximately $1.50, potentially reducing the financial burden of defending against inexpensive aerial threats.
The Republic of Korea Army tested Cheongwang during its TIGER+ Future Warfare Integrated Combat Exercise on October 14, 2026.
Hanwha Systems reported that the 30-kilowatt-class weapon destroyed all three drones launched during the exercise, which attracted about 500 military personnel and other observers.
Cheongwang operates by directing concentrated laser energy onto an aerial object until the resulting heat damages its structure or critical components.
Unlike conventional interceptors, the system does not require a separate missile for every engagement, provided sufficient electrical power and cooling remain available.
The manufacturer estimates that firing costs approximately $1.50 per engagement, substantially below the price of many missiles used against attack drones.
That figure does not necessarily represent the complete operating cost, since maintenance, electricity, equipment depreciation and other expenses may also affect deployment economics.
The conflicts between Russia and Ukraine as well as that between the U.S. / Israel and Iran have revealed how expensive drone interception can be. The laser technology seeks to offer a cheaper option.
“Laser weapons are core assets that will fundamentally change the game of air defense,” said Joohun Shin, head of Hanwha Systems' Laser Systems Business Centre
“Driven by unmatched technological capability and proven operational performance, we will accelerate our entry into the global market...”
Hanwha pursues more powerful mobile laser systems
Hanwha also demonstrated a 50-kilowatt Laser Armored Vehicle during the Defense Drone Technology Exhibition on September 16, 2026.
The company reported that Cheongwang neutralised four drones and two uncrewed aircraft consecutively during that separate demonstration.
The more powerful vehicle is being developed for greater mobility and potential international sales, with Hanwha displaying it at MSPO in Kielce, Poland.
Its development indicates that South Korea's defence industry is pursuing laser systems with different power levels and deployment requirements.
The United Kingdom is also advancing similar technology through DragonFire, a directed energy weapon developed by MBDA, Leonardo and QinetiQ alongside the Defence Science and Technology Laboratory.
The system struck aerial targets during trials in Scotland's Hebrides in 2024, and British authorities are advancing plans for installation aboard a Royal Navy Type 45 destroyer.
Laser weapons could offer sustained protection against repeated drone attacks, although their effectiveness depends on available power, tracking accuracy, engagement time and atmospheric conditions.
A laser can engage only a limited number of targets simultaneously, making attack volume an important consideration for operational planners.
South Korea's deployment allows Hanwha to pursue global customers seeking less expensive counter-drone options.
However, wider adoption will depend on independently verifiable performance and operational reliability and evidence of effectiveness.
The delightful duo are back for more wild comedy sketches, and this time, they've brought a stacked roster of guest stars with them... You can watch all three episodes of Ellie & Natasia season 2 from anywhere.
This season, we'll see Ellie White and Natasia Demetriou joined by the likes of Steve Coogan (playing a modern-day chimney sweep, of course), Sian Clifford, Jamie Demetriou, Asim Chaudhry, and Vikki Pepperdine, among others.
The bad news is there are only going to be three episodes this season rather than the six we got in season 1 (although they were only 15 minutes long previously). Still, we're sure that each 30-minute episode will be packed with plenty of laughs.
Ready to dive into this hilarious comedy show? Here's how to watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 online and on TV from anywhere for free.
Can I watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 for free?
Yes. BBC iPlayer is the streaming service you need to watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 for free.
You can also watch on the free-to-air channel BBC Two on Wednesday, October 21 at 10pm BST. Episode 2 will follow on October 28 and Episode 3 will air on November 4.
You will need an account with a UK postcode (e.g. SE1 7PB) and a valid TV Licence.
Can't access the free stream because you're away on vacation? You need a VPN – more on that below.
How to watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 from anywhere
If you're keen to watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 but you're away from the UK and access to the show is geo-blocked, then you could use a VPN to access it (assuming you're not breaching any broadcaster T&Cs, of course). You may be surprised by how simple it is to do. Plus, we have a great 75% discount on our #1 VPN...
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How to watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 in the UK
In the UK, Ellie & Natasia season 2 is available on BBC iPlayer for free.
You can also watch the series on the linear TV channel BBC Two. It airs on Wednesday, October 21 at 10pm BST, with two more episodes to arrive the week after and the week after that.
Outside the UK? Unblock your BBC iPlayer stream with NordVPN.
Can you watch Ellie & Natasia season 2 in the US?
Ellie & Natasia season 2is only available in the UK – on television and BBC iPlayer – so you can't find a broadcast or stream of the show in the States yet.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Not many people would've predicted that a Clayface movie would be part of James Gunn and Peter Safran's DC Universe (DCU). Three years after Gunn unveiled the initial DCU slate, fewer still expected a shape-shifting villain to beat heavy hitters like Batman and Wonder Woman to the big screen.
And yet, here we are. Four months after Supergirl bombed at the box office, Clayface feels like a crucible moment for a cinematic universe that's still trying to find its footing and drop a few spontaneous surprises along the way. And, while the lovingly crafted origin story delivers on the latter front, it doesn't fully succeed in helping to shape the direction of DC's fledging comic book franchise.
Face/Off
Clayface is arguably the biggest role of Welsh actor Tom Rhys Harries' career so far (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Clayface stars Tom Rhys Harries as Matt Hagen, a Gotham City native and an actor on the cusp of superstardom. However, while celebrating a career-defining Best Actor award nomination, Hagen makes the fatal error of sleeping with Mia Torrez (Joana Ribeiro), the girlfriend of high-profile mobster Markos Szabo (David Dencik). In retaliation, Szabo’s henchmen brutally attack Hagen, disfiguring his prized face and destroying his life overnight.
Clayface feels like a crucible moment for the DCU
Abandoned by his allies and, after he takes Szabo to court for his crimes, failed by the justice system, a desperate Hagen seeks out Doctor Caitlyn Corr (Naomi Ackie), a researcher testing an experimental, regenerative nanocell therapy. However, while the initial trial restores his handsome features, Hagen soon succumbs to the treatment's terrifying side effects, leading him down a self-destructive path of revenge.
Matt Hagen is left horrifically scarred by his run-in with Szabo's men (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
It might sound strange, but witnessing a full-blown origins story is a rarity in this nascent comic book universe.
Sure, Supergirl was peppered with flashbacks of Kara Zor-El's life on Krypton, while Lanterns on HBO Max spotlighted John Stewart's journey to becoming a Green Lantern. Generally, though, DC Studios has deliberately shied away from origin tropes, which makes Clayface a rare exception to the rule.
Given that Clayface remains a mystery to anyone outside hardcore comic book circles, this focus on Hagen's transformation into the monstrous Batman adversary isn't only justified, but ultimately necessary.
Acting on impulse
Hagen's emotional turbulence is captured in near-pitch perfect fashion by Harries (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
More importantly, though, Clayface gives Harries ample room to fully explore this deeply tragic individual. Hagen isn't just a monster in the making; he's a man drowning in grief, wrestling with the overwhelming despair of losing his face and career overnight, and, eventually, his humanity.
Having lost his sense of self post-attack, Hagen attempts to literally and figuratively rebuild himself with Corr's pioneering yet hazardous serum. But, as the treatment heightens his darkest impulses, his emotional turmoil curdles into unbridled rage.
Clayface gives Harries ample room to fully explore this deeply tragic individual
This descent — from heartbroken victim to full-blown villain — gives Harries complete freedom to examine and showcase Hagen's devastating psychological unraveling. Running the full emotional gamut, Harries delivers a multi-layered performance worth talking about, brilliantly veering from fear and fury, to dismay and infatuation with an ease that cements his leading man credentials.
Moreover, Harries will leave you conflicted over whether you should actually be rooting for Hagen. Yes, his personal and professional ruination will draw sympathy, but Clayface's major narrative pivot point — i.e. the moment Hagen starts enacting revenge on his betrayers — quickly sees that compassion dissipate as his killing spree devolves from tragic accidents to cold premeditation.
Hagen and Corr's complicated dynamic is exacerbated by the former's transformative unraveling (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
But, this isn't just the Harries show. A large part of Clayface's storytelling success stems from the co-dependent, emotional dynamic between Harries' Hagen and Ackie's Corr.
A large part of Clayface's storytelling success stems from the co-dependent, emotional dynamic between Hagen and Corr
Initially built on a shared idealism of proving Corr's treatment is safe to use on humans, there's a satisfying earnestness to Hagen and Corr's embryonic bond at the outset. However, as their toxic obsessions take over — particularly where Hagen's unrequited limerence toward Corr, who he romanticizes as his savior, is concerned — their connection morphs into a warped romance with shades of Fatal Attraction, Phantom of the Opera, and a dark, twisted inversion of (500) Days of Summer.
Max Minghella's Gotham police detective isn't given much to do in Clayface (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
While the exploration of this increasingly discomforting bond is worthy of praise, I was disappointed that the love triangle between Hagen, Corr, and her Gotham cop boyfriend John Borelli (played by the ever-watchable Max Minghella) wasn't examined further.
With a lean, sub-two hour runtime, there's only so much narrative runway afforded to this DCU Chapter One entry. Nonetheless, I would've liked to see more the burgeoning rivalry between Hagen and Borelli that's only lightly peppered throughout.
I'd level a similar criticism at the underuse of Hagen's new shape-shifting abilities, specifically with how his acting background influences his powers. Sure, he combines his craft and superhuman talents to good effect as his quest for vengeance takes over. Still, while the creativity displayed in the film's climactic, gruesomely camp set-piece is plenty of fun, I was left wanting more from a premise with so much theatrical potential.
Monster mayhem
Clayface has some issues it needs to face up to (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
Clayface doesn't fully lean into its skin-crawling body-horror potential, either. In a ironic twist for a movie about shape-shifting, the film suffers from its own identity crisis, never quite deciding whether it wants to be an uncompromising creature feature or a low-budget comic book flick.
I wish Clayface had leaned harder into viscerally repulsive territory
To be fair, there are some wonderfully grotesque moments that'll delight genre enthusiasts and leave more squeamish viewers wriggling uncomfortably in their seats. Moreover, while visual effects have an increasingly important role as Hagen's transformation progresses, it's the practical makeup that helps to really elevate Harries' performance, and add a real tactile viscosity and nauseating quality to his physical degradation.
How much more horrifying would it have been to see this full scene for the first time on the big screen? (Image credit: DC Studios/Warner Bros. Pictures)
That said, I wish it had leaned harder into viscerally repulsive territory, especially given its most nightmarish moments are featured heavily in its first, second, and third trailers. A few more of the 'show and tell' body-horror beats that Clayface handles so well, rather than deliberately dodging them with cliched, shadow-draped discretion shots, would've gone a long way to appeasing me.
Thankfully, the DCU's take on Gotham City doesn't suffer a similar atmospheric fate.
As grimy and seedy as any live-action iteration of the fictional megalopolis, Clayface presents Gotham as a stylish, neon-drenched playground. Blending rain-slicked noir aesthetics with a vibrant, comic-book palette, it creates a city that feels both oppressively dangerous and visually intoxicating. Its striking combination of Batman: The Animated Series' heightened gothic style and the gritty realism of Matt Reeves' The Batman is particularly notable, especially when you consider Clayface was originally pitched as a spin-off of the latter. Such comparisons will do little to assuage so-called 'merger bros', who want nothing more than to see Robert Pattinson's Dark Knight grapple-hook his way from Reeves' Bat-Verse to the DCU.
My verdict
Part-monster movie, part-Shakespearean tragedy, Clayface is a film of captivating contradictions. Driven by Harries' powerhouse lead performance, it delivers a surprisingly intimate and tragic character-driven story that explores the artificiality of fame, and puts a devotedly modern day spin on 'Feat of Clay', the two-part Batman: The Animated Series tale, it's inspired by. Even so, its hesitation to fully embrace its primary genre underpinnings, coupled with a few underbaked subplots and underutilized shape-shifting gags, holds it back from true greatness.
As a litmus test for the DCU, Clayface raises more questions about the franchise's broader direction after Supergirl and Lanterns. More generally, it doesn't reshape the mold for comic book cinema.
What it accomplishes, though, is far more intriguing: it proves Gunn and Safran are willing to take genuinely weird, character-focused gambles. I crave the next Batman, Wonder Woman, or Justice League film as much as the next person but, if we get more of these smaller scale offerings alongside their blockbuster brethren, Clayface will prove to be a risk worth taking.
Clayface is out now in multiple international territories, and will be released in US theaters on Friday, October 23.
I've used Bitdefender Total Security to protect my own devices for years, and I highly recommend it. I've found a great deal on the security software at Newegg that brings a year's coverage for up to 10 devices down to under $30.
• Best for: Households with multiple devices, anyone wanting protection across different operating systems, and people looking for antivirus software with additional privacy and ransomware defenses.
• Why I like it: I use Bitdefender Total Security to protect all of my devices at home, and it's much more than a traditional antivirus tool. As well as keeping you safe from viruses, spyware, Trojans, ransomware, and other malicious software, it also uses behavioral detection to identify suspicious activity and defend against unknown threats.
Today's best antivirus software deal
Total Security 2026: was $99.99 now $27.99 Bitdefender Total Security provides one year of protection for 10 Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS devices, with malware detection, ransomware defense, privacy tools, parental controls, and limited daily VPN access included.View Deal
Why we recommend it
The software can block online tracking, monitor attempts to access your webcam or microphone, and identify potentially dangerous websites. The subscription covers up to 10 devices running Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS.
The package also includes access to Bitdefender VPN, although it's limited to 200MB per day per device, which is only really enough for occasional use. Parental control features will be of interest to anyone with children, although availability and functionality depend on the OS.
In covering the software, we said: "Bitdefender tops our list and ticks every box. It performed well across our testing, boasts all the tools you need to protect your devices from malware (and more), and is nice and easy to use – regardless of platform. While some expert users might wish for a little more granular customization, we think that Bitdefender strikes the right balance in terms of configuration and ease of use."
Price context & historical value
Newegg sells the one-year, 10-device subscription for $99.99, but is currently offering it at $52.99. Enter EPF56892 at checkout to save a further $25, bringing the final price to $27.99.
That represents a $72 saving against the original price, approximately 72% off. If you activate the program on all 10 devices, the first-year cost works out to approximately $2.80 per device.
It's important to remember that this is a one-year license, rather than a permanent software purchase. You're not locked in though. What I usually do is search for a new deal around the renewal time.
You want one antivirus subscription covering Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices. It's also great for ransomware protection, malicious website detection, and privacy tools. At $27.99, this is a fantastic deal.
❌ Skip Bitdefender Total Security if...
You only need to protect one computer and are satisfied with your device's built-in antivirus software. Windows includes Microsoft Defender, and macOS and mobile operating systems have their own security protections.
DJI might not be as well-known in the power supply space as Anker, Bluetti, EcoFlow, or Jackery, but its range of portable power stations have proved rather impressive in our tests. I find them particularly good for drone operators, since the units feature SDC ports for charging DJI drones. But that's not the only use for these power stations.
The DJI Power 1000 V2, currently $400 (was $600) at Amazon, is a prime example of that, with its 1,024Wh battery capacity, 2,600W output, and a port selection that makes it well-suited for home backup during emergency power outages.
• Best for: Drone operators charging multiple devices on the move, or home-owners wanting emergency backup power for appliances, electronics, and outdoor equipment.
• What we like: The DJI Power 1000 V2 is a portable battery station that can also come along on camping trips, RV adventures, and outdoor challenges.
Today's best portable power station deal
Power 1000 V2 Portable Power Station: was $699 now $399.98 This portable power station features a 1,024Wh LFP battery, 2,600W continuous output, 37-minute charging to 80%, dual 140W USB-C ports, 10ms UPS switching, quiet operation, and five-year warranty coverage for owners.View Deal
Why we recommend it
The DJI Power 1000 V2 combines a 1,024Wh battery with 2,600W of continuous AC output, making it capable of running a wide range of appliances.
DJI claims the battery can recharge from empty to 80% in 37 minutes, while a full charge takes approximately 56 minutes (under suitable conditions). The station uses lithium iron phosphate (LFP) battery chemistry for long-term durability, and it is rated for 4,000 charge cycles while retaining at least 80% of its original capacity.
You get two AC outlets, two USB-A ports, and two USB-C ports capable of delivering up to 140W each. There's also SDC and SDC Lite ports for charging DJI drones. Alongside this, the unit has a UPS function with an approximately 10ms switching time to allow compatible equipment to continue receiving power when the mains supply is interrupted. For overnight use, the company quotes noise levels as low as 26dB. DJI offers up to five years of warranty coverage.
Usually priced at $699, the current deal brings the DJI Power 1000 V2 down to $399.98. That's a saving of $299.02, equivalent to approximately 43%.
It's the lowest price I've personally seen for this model and its combination of battery capacity, continuous output, and rapid recharging make it a great deal.
Should you buy it?
✅ Buy the DJI Power 1000 V2 if...
You want a portable source of electricity for camping, RV trips, outdoor work, or occasional power outages. The 2,600W output gives you flexibility and the fast recharge time reduces how long the battery needs to remain connected to mains power. The dual 140W USB-C ports are also useful.
❌ Skip the DJI Power 1000 V2 if...
You need to run large household appliances for extended periods during an outage. Yes, the 2,600W output can handle substantial loads, but the 1,024Wh battery capacity limits how long it can sustain them.
Working on a laptop is convenient until you need to keep several applications visible at the same time. The Zumwalt S8 Pro, currently $230 (was $320) at Amazon, tackles that problem by adding two 14-inch Full HD screens to your existing display.
The screen extender offers a practical way to expand your laptop's workspace. It clips onto compatible 13-inch to 17.3-inch laptops, with two additional screens that fold out on either side. You can extend your desktop across all three displays or mirror content when needed.
• Best for: People who work across multiple applications, regularly travel with their laptops, or want more display space without investing in a permanent multi-monitor setup.
• Why we like it: The main attraction is having three screens available wherever you take your laptop. You could keep a document open on the main display, use another for research, and leave email or messaging applications visible on the third.
Laptop Screen Extender: was $319.99 now $229.98 The Zumwalt S8 Pro adds two 14-inch 1080p IPS displays to compatible laptops, featuring 300-nit brightness, adjustable screens, USB-C and HDMI connectivity, an aluminum design, and a carrying case for travel.View Deal
Why we recommend it
Each of the additional screens uses a 14-inch IPS LCD panel with a 1920 x 1080 resolution, 60Hz refresh rate, and 300-nit brightness. The specifications also list 100% sRGB color coverage and 178-degree viewing angles.
Zumwalt describes the extender as having an aluminum construction, an ultra-thin profile, and adjustable screens that fold away for transportation. A protective carrying case is included and there's an integrated kickstand to help support the additional displays.
Amazon's current $229.98 price represents a 28% drop from $319.99. The extender has previously sold for $199.99, making today's price $29.99 more expensive than that earlier low.
Should you buy it?
✅ Buy the Zumwalt Laptop Screen Extender if...
You regularly work with several applications at once, need more screen space while traveling, or want to turn a compatible laptop into a three-display workstation without carrying separate monitors.
❌ Skip Zumwalt Laptop Screen Extender if...
Although the extender is advertised for Windows, Mac, ChromeOS, and other devices, your laptop needs to support the necessary video outputs. Some MacBooks have restrictions on how many external displays they can drive.
Atlassian report claims the number of developers saving significant time through AI is actually dropping
Finding information and participating in meetings are major human bottlenecks
More then four in five organizations still don't have a clear AI strategy
Nearly nine in 10 (87%) developers surveyed by Atlassian now sayAI is helping them to write and ship code faster, but despite offering significant speed improvements across certain parts of the workflow, three in four (72%) also report either the same or greater friction across the entire lifecycle.
Longer-term optimism around AI's ability to save time is also dropping, with just 25% of developers saving 10+ hours a week when using AI, compared with 68% in 2025.
Ultimately, Atlassian's findings point toward AI simply shifting the bottleneck further downstream rather than tackling time constraints altogether.
Is AI actually helping developers?
The data shows that faster code generation isn't translating into faster software delivery, with the reality of AI-assisted coding now highlighting other areas where AI could actually help. For example, half of developers struggling with finding information (51%) and meeting frequency (50%)
"Faster code is not the same as better software delivered sooner," Atlassian Customer CTO Andrew Boyagi explained. "If teams still struggle to find information, clarify requirements and move work through the delivery process, speeding up coding alone won’t translate into business outcomes."
However, many developers simply feel that AI is being implemented too quickly without consideration for its impacts. Three in five say merely using AI is seen as a positive metric – but its real-world impacts don't fall under that scope.
Companies with an effective strategy were found to be in the best position to reduce friction, where twice as many workers reported positive effects. Still, not even a fifth (17%) of developers say their employer has a clearly communicated and implemented AI strategy.
Now that we're beginning to emerge from the early, experimental years of artificial intelligence, and that use cases are starting to be identified, the report calls for greater consideration and clearer strategies from the top down in order to unlock the real benefits.
Three nuclear plants would add 2.25GW of electricity to the grid
Microsoft and Google plan to use power from those sites
Trump wants 400GW of nuclear capacity by 2050
In its ongoing effort to become an AI global superpower, the US is reportedly gearing up to restart three previously closed nuclear power plants simply to keep up with the energy demands caused by AI data centers.
Together, the three nuclear facilities would likely provide 2.25GW of electricity, or enough to power two million homes and businesses (per The Los Angeles Times).
And the US Department of Energy looks to be a major supporter of the projects, providing up to $4.4 billion in federal loans.
Dormant nuclear plants are being woken to power AI
Microsoft and Google have already signed agreements to purchase electricity from two of those facilities, with power plant restarts now slated for between 2027 and 2029, per the report.
Importantly, these likely mark the first commercial nuclear reactors to be restarted after being formally decommissioned, with rising demand for reliable and low-carbon electricity surging.
The first of three, Palisades Nuclear Plant in Michigan, closed in 2022 nine years before its license was due to expire due to its owner withdrawing from the nuclear power business. Electricity purchase agreements for the plan require it to return to service by March 2027, which is just half a year away.
Crane Clean Energy Center in Pennsylvania is also likely targeting a 2027 online date, with Duane Arnold Energy Center in Iowa looking for a 2029 go-live date.
"For anyone who wants zero carbon, nuclear provides that," nuclear engineering expert Todd Allen explained. "For the Trump administration, which really wants nuclear, this fits that story also."
This, of course, falls under Trump's nuclear plans – a May 2025 executive order revealed plans to quadruple US nuclear generating capacity from around 100GW in 2024 to 400GW by 2050.
Still, these latest plans aren't short of criticism, with concerns over the safety of aging reactors being floated, especially in a world of heightened geopolitical activity and natural disasters.
Esoteric knows more of us are embracing CDs — and we'll love SACDs too
Meet the elite K1XE SACD player and optional PS1XE external power supply
How much is it? If you need to ask, I fear it's going to be too much…
Money no object
We love to give practical buying advice about the latest tech products here on TechRadar. But sometimes what we love even more is to indulge in the most outrageously high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious propositions on the planet. That's what we bring you in these Money No Object columns — you can read the whole series here.
So there's a CD player for everyone in 2026. TechRadar even published a roundup of 9 of the coolest new CD player releases not six weeks ago, in an effort to stay abreast of them all.
And now, there's an option for people in possession of an awful lot of money. And why not? It's your money and if you have a collection of SACDs you want to make use of, along with a sizeable chunk of cash to invest into the experience, you should be able to do so.
What am I talking about when I say 'SACD'? These delicate little beauties are shiny and circular just like your regular CDs, but the moniker stands for 'Super Audio Compact Disc'. It's a high-resolution optical audio disc format first introduced in 1999 and developed jointly by Sony and Philips Electronics. Unlike CDs, the format uses a 1-bit resolution with a sampling rate of 2.8224 MHz, also known as DSD64, to provide a data rate of 5.6 Mbps — and that walks all over your typical CD's 16-bit/44.1kHz resolution, or a data rate of 1.411 Mbps, in the hi-res audio stakes.
So, it makes sense to get a serious player for your seriously detailed recorded music, right? That's clearly what Esoteric was thinking too. Behold: the ultra-luxe K1XE SACD player. You may see it as an outrageously high-end player, for a format many people thought was largely done and gone. I call it a huge win for offline hi-res listening.
How many of us still dig SACDs? I'd say the number is growing…
(Image credit: Esoteric)
Anyway, what you're looking at in the main image (and the one above) is the Esoteric Grandioso K1XE, the ultra-luxury Japanese audio specialist's new flagship Super Audio CD player.
It features the VRDSATLAS (try saying that out loud, or writing it out several times in a news piece), Esoteric’s proprietary SACD transport mechanism, featuring an "exceptionally rigid, heavyweight platform engineered for outstanding mechanical precision". Also inbuilt is the proprietary Master Sound Discrete DAC G2, a next-generation, discrete digital-analog converter developed entirely in-house by Esoteric.
The K1XE is a fully dual-mono DAC configuration. Esoteric explains that this "large scale" architecture incorporates five independent linear power supply systems to achieve what the company calls "full-bodied sound reminiscent of vinyl playback".
OK but what's the thing on the right, in the main image above? That's the Grandioso PS1XE, an also-new optional external power supply — because you want to power this player properly, don't you? Doing so will reduce electrical interference, lower the noise floor for cleaner SACD sound, move high-voltage AC and heat a sensible way away from those sensitive audio circuits, including that beautifully rigid, hefty transport.
Esoteric's K1XE is just part of the full Grandioso range, seen here in a particularly high-end listening space (Image credit: Esoteric)
Both products will be available for international shipment from the beginning of November 2026. And it's worth considering shipping costs too (although if you're bothered by those, it's probably a little rich for the blood) because the K1XE alone weighs 34.3kg / 75lbs, which is roughly the weight of a large adult dog — think German Shepherd or Golden Retriever.
Will this glorious beast still play your regular CDs? Almost certainly. Esoteric hasn't confirmed this in its marketing, but practically all SACD players are fully backwards-compatible and are able to read the standard Red Book CD layer of an audio CD (sometimes called a CD-DA) without issue.
And that's important, because CD sales revenue was up 58% in the opening six months of 2026 (and 45% in volume) in the US, according to the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). Also, the burgeoning popularity of newer portable CD players (along with the growing trend for wired earbuds that do away with streaming and generally being online) proves that music lovers are buying new, pristine CDs alongside inheriting caches of old (possibly scratched) collections. And isn't listening to a full concept album in superior quality one of life's great pleasures?
Let's tackle pricing: both The Grandioso K1XE and PS1XE will be available worldwide starting November 2026. And I'm just going to write it quickly: the Esoteric Grandioso K1XE SACD player has an MSRP of US $45,000 / £37,999 (or around AU$72, 399). The PS-1XE external power supply is priced at $19,000 / £16,500 (approximately AU$36,199).
Just imagine how good those SACDs are going to sound though…
Prices for the highly coveted Nvidia DGX Spark mini PC are wallet-squeezing right now. Direct from Nvidia, the Mac mini-sized supercomputer is $6,950, and elsewhere, prices are massively inflated by third-party resellers (there's one for almost 10Gs at Newegg, and another for $9K at Best Buy). But there is a cheaper way to get the same level of performance without the extra cost.
Currently, the Dell Pro Precision with GB10 is listed at $5,903 at Dell. The SFF machine runs Nvidia DGX OS 7 on the GB10 Grace Blackwell Superchip with 128GB LPDDR5x, up to 8533 MT/s, and 2TB SSD storage. You can even shave a little extra off that cost, too, by opting for 1TB SSD configuration for $5,523.
• Best for: AI engineers running larger local AI models.
• Why we like it: Running the same chip and memory as Nvidia's machine, Dell's Pro Precision is a much better price than the DGX Spark, which is fast becoming like gold-dust on the market.
Pro Precision with GB10: $5903 The Dell Pro Precision is equipped with the GB10 superchip, which is also found in Nvidia's DGX Spark PC. This CPU/GPU hybrid delivers high-performance for larger AI models thanks to the 128GB onboard RAM. As always with Dell, it's configurable, with 1TB, 2TB, and 4TB storage capacities. Save an extra $53 by removing the Dell keyboard and mouse when configuring. View Deal
Why we recommend it
Although we've had excellent experiences with Dell desktops in the past, price is the primary driver for highlighting this machine. You're saving over a thousand bucks compared to Nvidia's DGX Spark.
The chip itself combines an Arm-based CPU with a Blackwell GPU, paired with a massive 128GB memory for AI-oriented tasks. For local AI inferencing and development, it has exactly the right specs.
Value verdict
Compared to the Nvidia DGX Spark, which boasts the same specs as Dell's mini PC, you're making a significant saving of $1,047. I'd ignore the inflated prices from third-party sellers - for me, the decision is really, choosing whether to buy what amounts to the same machine from Dell or get the original from Nvidia.
I'd recommend the 1TB or 2TB configurations and offload additional files to an external drive. The 4TB model adds an outlandish $2,830 to the price tag over the base model.
Should you buy it?
✅ Buy the Dell Pro Precision with GB10 if...
You plan to run large AI models locally - it's where this Grace Blackwell chip excels.
❌ Skip the Dell Pro Precision with GB10 if...
You want a general high-performance machine for non-AI tasks, or you'd prefer the official Nvidia SFF.
Stranger Than Heaven director Mikinobu Abe says the game's narrative is very unique
Abe hopes that Makoto Daito, the main character, and his background resonate with players of mixed heritage and that players will engage with the narrative
Abe says, "We put a lot of focus on telling this narrative about a man's life who starts by facing a lot of racism"
Stranger Than Heavendirector Mikinobu Abe hopes the game's multi-era narrative and its mixed-heritage protagonist will resonate with players and those who have experienced discrimination.
In an interview with TechRadar Gaming, Abe explained how Stranger Than Heaven's story, which spans 50 years across five distinct eras and cities in Japan, is not a concept he's ever experienced in a video game before, and believes it's "not just entertainment."
"I would say experiencing one man's life as a narrative and as a gameplay experience is something that I have personally never played before as a video game medium. I think that aspect of the game could be something that’s not just entertainment," Abe said.
The director continued to discuss the main character, Makoto Daito, who is of Japanese-American descent, and how his mixed heritage background and the racism he experiences when he first arrives in Japan are aspects of the story that he hopes players engage with.
Abe also said that while RGG Studios was developing the narrative for Makoto, it "felt it was really natural that music would be a big part of this character," and was one of the things that would help break the barriers of the racism he experiences.
"Once he comes to Japan, he faces a lot of discrimination, and people won't even talk to him just because of his race and language," he said. "So, music was the only thing for him that would break those barriers and help him communicate with people. That was really natural for us to put into the narrative.
"Of course, Captain Orpheus is the one who's going to teach him how to make money off of music. And for Daito, because he has that experience, it was really natural for him to start making money, and you know, start showbiz as his life's work. So that's why we always wanted the concept of music in this game to tell the narrative of Makoto’s life. That was the starting point of why we wanted music."
Abe continues, saying that he and Daito's actor, Yu Shirota, have both experienced discrimination and wants players to immerse themselves in the story, even if they're only playing Stranger Than Heaven for entertainment.
"Because of the way Makoto Daito’s story is written, where he starts from a mixed-heritage background, comes to Japan, and gets discriminated against, I hope that Makoto’s life journey really speaks to people around the globe who have had similar experiences," Abe said.
"I myself have had one before, and our lead actor also had a similar experience before, so we put a lot of focus on telling this narrative about a man's life who starts by facing a lot of racism. I hope it really encourages people, as well as the player who just wants to entertain themselves while playing the game can also get immersed in this narrative."
The director concluded, "So the concept of a man's life is, I think, one of the biggest things that I would love the player to experience, and I can’t wait for them to experience."
Watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal live streams in a classic irresistible force against immovable object contest at the Allianz Arena on Champions League 2026/27 Matchday 3.
Vincent Kompany's six-time European champions fell 3-1 to Mikel Arteta's eventual runners-up just under a year ago, and Die Roten want revenge.
Kompany wasn't his usual effervescent touchline presence for the 6-1 Bundesliga demolition of RB Leipzig at the weekend, the Bayern boss suffering from illness and a painful hip. Luis Diaz's lethal hat-trick will have improved Kompany's mood, though, with the Colombian's first goals since August vital tonight with Michael Olise – 14 goal involvements in 10 outings this term – suspended after his red card in the surprising 3-3 draw with Norwegian side Viking. Harry Kane faces the club he may or may not have supported as a boy, and will look to extend Bayern's run of 24 consecutive Champions League games in which they've scored.
If the German champions have been in rare attacking form (25 goals scored in their past six games), the Gunners have been more circumspect. Since a 3-0 shellacking at Brighton, Arteta has returned to the control-first mantra that secured last term's Premier League title with a 1-0 weekend win at Nottingham Forest coming from their only shot on target. A one-time coach of Kompany's on the Manchester City backroom staff, the Basque boss saw his side beat Lille 3-0 last time out in this competition and will consider giving Sunday matchwinner Noni Madueke a start after Ebere Eze struggled.
Here's how to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in the 2026/27 Champions League from anywhere in the world.
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal
Bayern Munich XI: Neuer, Stanisic, Kim Minjae, Upamecano, Davies, Pavlovic, Laimer, Bischof, Gnabry, Saibari, Kane
You can stream Bayern Munich vs Arsenal for free on RTE2 in the Republic of Ireland and via the RTE Player streaming service.
This doesn't require an account sign-up or any subscription.
Abroad? Unlock your free Champions League stream with NordVPN.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal from anywhere
A VPN is handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it's back in your home country, so you can unlock your usual service. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 75% discount and and extra three months for free...
Not having a VPN is like leaving your front door wide open in a busy city – anyone can walk right in and take a peek.
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Get NordVPN and live stream Bayern Munich vs Arsenal from anywhere.View Deal
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal live streams in the US
In the US, you can watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal in the UCL on Paramount+.
Paramount+ subscriptions start at $8.99/month, rising to $13.99 to remove ads. You can also get a Paramount Plus trial with Walmart+ for $1 as with this sneaky trick we found.
Visiting the US from Ireland? Use a VPN whilst you're traveling away from home to unlock your free RTE Player stream of the match.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal live streams in the UK
(Image credit: Future)
In the UK, Bayern Munich vs Arsenal is being broadcast on TNT Sports 1 and their streaming platform HBO Max.
You can add TNT Sports to your Sky, Virgin Media or EE TV package, or get an HBO Max plan that includes TNT Sports. Prices start at £25.99/month if you commit to a year.
Those visiting the UK from Ireland can explore the VPN route set out above, which will help you access the free stream.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal live streams in Canada
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal will be broadcast on DAZN in Canada.
DAZN's soccer package is what you'll require, which starts at CA$24.99/month.
Not in Canada? Use NordVPN if you're away from home to watch your usual Champions League coverage.
How to watch Bayern Munich vs Arsenal live streams in Australia
(Image credit: free)
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal is available in Australia on Stan Sport.
You can pick up a Stan Sport subscription for as little as AU$29.99 per month for the basic plan containing adds. That price consists of the AU$9.99 Stan subscription fee plus the Sport add-on for AU$20.
Purchase the Stan Sport package and you'll not only get every Champions League game, but all 380 Premier League games as well.
Outside of Oz? You can use NordVPN to access your usual Champions League coverage.
When does Bayern Munich vs Arsenal kick-off?
Bayern Munich vs Arsenal kicks off at 8pm BST / 3pm ET / 12pm PT on Wednesday, 21 October
That's 6am AEDT on Thursday, 22 October.
What is the Bayern Munich vs Arsenal head-to-head record?
There have been 12 previous meetings between Bayern Munich and Arsenal, with the German side winning eight matches to the Gunners' four. There have been three draws.
Arsenal won the most recent encounter 3-1 in November 2025, which was also in the Champions League league phase. The Gunners, however, have lost their past three visits to the Allianz by an aggregate 11-2.
We test and review VPN services in the context of legal recreational uses. For example:1. Accessing a service from another country (subject to the terms and conditions of that service).2. Protecting your online security and strengthening your online privacy when abroad.We do not support or condone the illegal or malicious use of VPN services. Consuming pirated content that is paid-for is neither endorsed nor approved by Future Publishing.
Wikipedia went down for many users around the world today, according to Downdetector — but the issues now seem to be resolved.
The problems started at around 10.51am ET / 3.51pm BST, when a large spike in reports appeared on the outage-tracking website — the reports peaked at just over 2,000 in the US and 850 in the UK.
It appears that some 'emergency maintenance' from Wikimedia was the culprit and appears to have now finished — but you can follow what happened in our liveblog below...
A sharp spike in reports
(Image credit: Downdetector)
Wikipedia is working okay for me here in the UK, but it isn't for thousands of users right now — the reports graph on Downdetector is now over 3,000 in the US, and it's climbing in the UK too.
The cause is so far unclear, as there are no current issues at the major cloud providers like AWS, Google Cloud or Cloudflare. I'll be digging into this and reporting back shortly...
Please try again later...
THAT’S A FIRST, I HAVE NEVER SEEN WIKIPEDIA GO DOWN LIKE THIS?everything but the index page fails to load… huhhh??? https://t.co/5DtJ51QIkiOctober 21, 2026
This is what Wikipedia and Wikimedia currently look like for many users — an "error" page with a "please try again later" message. I've also never seen it go down like that, although it's working fine for me in the UK.
Strangely, there are a few other outages running concurrently right now, including Asana and the Internet Archive. It isn't yet clear if they're related, but they did start at very similar times (around 10am ET / 3pm BST). Wikipedia is certainly the worst-hit, though.
'Emergency maintenance'
(Image credit: Wikipedia)
This probably explains today's Wikipedia issues — the Wikimedia Foundation status page says 'emergency maintenance' is in progress.
The foundation hasn't explained how long the maintenance will last or what it's for, but that should hopefully mean it's pretty short-lived...
Phew, it's back
(Image credit: Downdetector)
Good news, it looks like the Wikipedia outage was indeed short-lived — or at least only lasted an hour.
The Downdetector reports have plummeted back down to zero, which suggests that 'emergency maintenance' is now finished.
Amazon recently launched a new version of its Fire TV Stick — and the popular streaming device has already got a huge 50% discount, dropping it to a record-low price. That means you can now get the updated Amazon Fire TV Stick 4K on Amazon for $29.99 (was $59.99).
Whether you want to upgrade an old TV with smart streaming features, or prefer the Amazon interface over your current TV's app setup, the Fire TV Stick is regularly one of the cheapest and most convenient options.
As for why it's worth upgrading to this newest model, you get access to all of the biggest and most popular streaming apps with high-end 4K resolution support, speedy performance that makes navigating these apps a lot smoother, direct power from the TV so a separate AC adapter is no longer required, and an improved remote with built-in voice controls.
Overall, for $30, it's a very affordable streaming stick that comes with all of the essential features you need.
New Fire TV Stick — record-low price
Fire TV Stick 4K: was $59.99 now $29.99 Amazon's newest 4K streaming stick is already down to its lowest-ever price — only two months after launch. Considering it's only slightly more expensive than the basic HD version, you might as well pay for the upgrade to get a fancy new remote and access to higher-resolution streaming — as long as you have a 4K TV. It lacks a few premium features found in the more expensive Plus and Max models, such as improved Wi-Fi and Dolby Atmos, but this is more than enough to cover general everyday use.View Deal
An new version of the Fire TV remote comes in this package, too, which is more ergonomic and smartly designed so that you can identify and reach key buttons in an instant.
PHP discloses two critical remote code execution vulnerabilities that could enable website takeover and data theft
Details leaked before patch release, prompting an early security advisory and urgent upgrade warning
Researchers confirmed the flaws are real, with widespread impact expected across multiple PHP versions
PHP, arguably the most popular programming language for websites and web applications in the world, contains two critical-level vulnerabilities that could expose countless sites to remote code execution (RCE) attacks, the provider has revealed.
The flaws could lead to website takeovers, data theft, malicious redirects, and a whole swathe of similarly sinister situations.
Security rush hour
PHP published a new security advisory, giving admins a “heads up” on an incoming patch.
“The PHP security team would like to give advance notice of an upcoming security release,” the advisory reads.
“It is scheduled for Wednesday, 21 October 2026 at 14:00 UTC. It addresses two critical vulnerabilities, both rated CVSS v4.0 9.2. All PHP users are encouraged to prepare now so they can upgrade as soon as the release is available. We reserve the right to release earlier should details of either vulnerability become public, or should evidence of active exploitation appear in the wild.Full details, affected versions, and the fixed versions will be published with the release.”
If you’re thinking the announcement is rather unorthodox and that PHP might as well just released the patch - you’re absolutely right. The problem is that someone spilled the beans on the vulnerabilities before the official embargo was lifted, having the cybersecurity community scrambling for answers.
That ‘someone’ is a person with an alias ‘petecooper’, who published a new post on Y Combinator’s Hacker News forum earlier this week. In the post, they claimed PHP would disclose two remote code execution bugs on October 22 2026.
The post has since been deleted so we couldn’t independently verify it, but BleepingComputer says the post claimed the bugs carried CVSS scores of 10.0 and affected PHP versions dating back to PHP 5.
The post also labeled the bugs as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, which was subsequently confirmed. Therefore, the only thing that’s wrong is the CVSS score which seems to be 9.2, not 10.0.
Among the people who knew about the flaw and the upcoming patch were watchTowr, and Florian Roth, Head of Research at Nextron Systems.
The embargo on the news was set for October 20, with the patch due a day later, on October 21. However, yesterday Roth posted on X, saying “Okay, since the news is already out: an RCE vulnerability in PHP core, CVSS 10.0. Further details are scheduled for release on October 20. Only PHP 8 will receive patches.”
Leaking the zero-days
This forced PHP’s hand, not just to release the advisory, but also to send a notice to its ANNOUNCE mailing list, according to BleepingComputer.
Security researchers watchTowr confirmed the news, saying the bugs are tracked as CVE-2026-109618 and CVE-2026-109619, and that the duo is being nicknamed “php2shell” by the community. Obviously, technical details are being withheld to protect users, but most likely affect PHP versions 5, 6, 7, and 8.
"In the last hour, two remote code execution vulnerabilities in PHP have been leaked. These vulnerabilities were previously scheduled under embargo and due for release on Thursday at 11 am ET," watchTowr CEO Benjamin Harris told BleepingComputer.
"While we are not able to share technical information at this point for obvious reasons, given the sensitivity, we can confirm that these vulnerabilities are indeed real. Both of them are CVSS10 and are understood to affect PHP versions 5, 6, 7, and 8."
The researchers also told the publication they managed to successfully reproduce CVE-2026-109618, confirming the flaws actually work. Good news is, there are still no confirmed reports of the flaws being used as zero-days in the wild.
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