News

Artificial intelligence could trigger a wave of website outages and cybersecurity emergencies as it uncovers software vulnerabilities faster than companies can fix them, according to industry experts.

Seven cybersecurity professionals interviewed by Reuters on October 23 warned that advances in AI were rapidly shortening the time between the discovery of security flaws and attempts to exploit them.

Research by Massachusetts-based cybersecurity company VulnCheck suggests that the number of software vulnerabilities discovered has doubled year on year, partly because of AI-assisted research.

Cloudflare chief executive Matthew Prince said he was aware of several additional critical vulnerabilities in...

Apple‘s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, is facing complaints about cracked screens, display defects and a security exploit within hours of its October 23 launch.

Several early buyers have shared photographs of damaged inner displays, showing bright vertical and horizontal lines near the folding mechanism. Similar problems have reportedly appeared on demonstration units in Apple Stores, according to The Verge.

One Australian customer, posting on Reddit under the username Midnight_Slump, said their $1,999 device broke less than six hours after purchase.

The owner reported opening the phone fewer than 20 times before hearing a cracking...

HoYoverse has unveiled Genshin Impact Version 7.2, titled Hour of Ruin, bringing together all seven Archons as Teyvat faces destruction at the hands of the Heavenly Principles.

The October 23 livestream revealed a new chapter of the Snezhnaya storyline, two playable Electro characters, an explorable region and several limited-time events.

The update is expected to arrive on November 4, following the game’s regular six-week release schedule.

The new Archon Quest continues directly after the events of Version 7.1, when the Traveler defeated Ronova, the Ruler of Death.

Following her defeat, the Nails of Retribution scattered across Teyvat begin...

South Korea’s four largest K-pop entertainment companies HYBE, SM Entertainment, JYP Entertainment and YG Entertainment have reportedly decided not to submit their artists for the Grammy Awards‘ newly introduced Best Asian Pop Music Performance category.

The decision follows earlier announcements from BTS and Stray Kids, which declined to participate in the 2027 Grammy submissions process, according to The Korea Herald.

The new category, announced by the Recording Academy in June, aims to recognise pop recordings originating from or popular in Asian markets, including K-pop, J-pop and C-pop.

However, its introduction has sparked criticism from...

Uzbek nationals form the second-largest group of foreign student visa overstayers in South Korea, with 2,033 people living in the country without valid residency status as of August 2026.

The figures come from South Korea’s Ministry of Justice and were obtained by People Power Party lawmaker Kim Hee-jung, according to a Korea Herald report.

A total of 31,665 foreign nationals who entered South Korea on student or language training visas were living in the country without permission.

Vietnamese nationals accounted for 82.8% of the total, followed by Uzbekistan with 2,033 people, Mongolia with 1,353, China with...

Beeline Uzbekistan hosted a Demo Day for VEON leadership, members of its Board of Directors and key partners, showcasing how the company is expanding its role in customers’ daily lives through connectivity, financial services, entertainment and urban mobility.

The event brought Beeline Uzbekistan’s digital portfolio into focus: OQ and hambi, payment service Beepul, entertainment platforms KINOM and riitm, AdTech solutions for businesses and opportunities for integration with Uklon, part of the VEON Group.

Together, these services support the company’s ambition to build stronger, more frequent relationships with customers throughout the day — helping people stay connected, make payments, discover content...

Four-time Formula 1 world champion Max Verstappen has revealed that medical examinations have shown problems with the lower part of his spine, which he believes have been aggravated by years of racing and the physical forces generated by modern F1 cars.

The Red Bull driver discussed his condition during a media session on October 22 ahead of the United States Grand Prix at the Circuit of the Americas (COTA) in Austin, Texas.

According to RacingNews365, Verstappen said the repeated impacts experienced by drivers, particularly on bumpy circuits, could have long-term consequences.

“I...

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4 launches on October 23, introducing new movement mechanics, weapon customisation options and multiplayer maps that could change how players approach combat.

Developed by Infinity Ward, the latest instalment returns to more grounded combat while expanding players’ control over climbing, sliding and positioning.

Ahead of the launch, IGN published a guide highlighting several mechanics that players should master before entering multiplayer matches.

Modern Warfare 4 Multiplayer is LIVE NOW! 🔥🎯 The wait is finally over! 20 multiplayer maps, 33 weapons, and over a dozen game modes are ready...

Apple is exploring plans to add a telephoto camera and a larger folding display to future versions of the iPhone Duo, although engineers have yet to determine when the camera upgrade could become technically feasible.

Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman discussed the company’s plans in the latest episode of his Power On podcast, revealing that Apple is considering several improvements to its foldable smartphone.

The first-generation iPhone Duo, which goes on sale on October 23 for $1,999, has two rear cameras but lacks the dedicated telephoto lens found on Apple’s Pro models.

According to Gurman, adding optical zoom...

Microsoft reportedly spent more than $500mn developing Gears of War: E-Day, making it one of the most expensive video game productions in recent years, despite early sales estimates suggesting a difficult path to profitability.

The figure, which excludes marketing expenses, was reported by Kotaku on October 22, citing a source familiar with Xbox’s business.

Chris Dring, co-founder of The Game Business, subsequently supported the estimate, saying his own sources had confirmed the $500mn figure.

The reported spending would put the title well above several other major releases. Sony’s Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 reportedly cost approximately $300mn to...

Samsung has launched a buy-one-get-one-free television promotion in India, offering customers a second TV worth up to Rs 159,990 ($1,685) when purchasing selected models from its Vision AI range.

The offer forms part of Samsung’s Big, Bigger, Biggest festive campaign, announced on October 14 ahead of Diwali, one of India’s biggest shopping periods.

According to Samsung India, eligible customers can choose between a complimentary Vision AI television and a soundbar worth up to Rs 110,990 ($1,169).

However, the promotion does not apply to every Samsung television. The value of the free product depends on the model...

A powerful 7.0-magnitude earthquake struck northern Tibet on October 22, killing at least 16 people and injuring 65, according to the latest figures released by local authorities on Friday.

The earthquake hit Baqen County in Nagqu city at 10:33 p.m. local time, with its epicentre near Maru township, approximately 400 kilometres from the regional capital Lhasa.

JUST IN: At least 16 dead, 32 injured and hundreds of homes collapsed after a magnitude 7.0 earthquake struck Tibet, China, officials say. https://t.co/2nTZ5BL4CU

— Scope Report (@ScopeReport_) October 22, 2026

China Earthquake Networks Center (CENC) recorded...

Reality star Kylie Jenner made her Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show debut wearing a record-breaking $50mn diamond bra designed by Tashkent-born jeweller Jacob Arabo.

Walking the Los Angeles runway on October 18, Jenner revived the brand’s iconic Fantasy Bra tradition after an eight-year hiatus. The creation by Arabo’s luxury jewellery company, Jacob & Co., easily broke the previous $15mn record set by Gisele Bündchen in 2000.

The piece features 4,410 natural diamonds set entirely in 18-carat gold. A massive 75.54-carat Fancy Vivid yellow diamond serves as the centrepiece.

Millions of attempts to exploit critical vulnerabilities in PHP have been detected worldwide, just hours after the security flaws prompted governments and major websites to take services offline.

Cloudflare chief executive Matthew Prince said on October 22 that the company had recorded a sharp increase in attempted attacks following the public disclosure of the vulnerabilities.

According to Prince, Cloudflare detected thousands of attempts in the 10 hours before the announcement. That number climbed to tens of thousands within 45 minutes, hundreds of thousands within two hours and eventually millions.

The figures represent exploitation attempts rather...

Chris Pratt has confirmed that Star-Lord will return to the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), revealing that Marvel Studios has already taken concrete steps towards bringing the character back after a three-year absence.

The actor discussed his future as Peter Quill during an appearance on The Bingeworthy podcast, published by The Playlist on October 21, while promoting the second season of The Terminal List.

Pratt said he remains in contact with Marvel Studios president Kevin Feige and co-president Louis D’Esposito about fulfilling the promise made at the end of Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.

Cyberpunk 2077 just received another major free update, even though developer CD Projekt Red previously suggested it was done with big additions to the five-year-old game.

Update 2.5, nicknamed the Edgerunners 2 Update, launched on October 22. It arrives right alongside the second season of the anime Cyberpunk: Edgerunners on Netflix, bringing fresh story content, crossover gear and long-awaited gameplay features.

The biggest combat tweak is dual-wielding. Players can finally shoot two pistols or revolvers at the same time by picking up the Double Trouble perk in the Cool skill tree.

Thought you were done with...

Two of YouTube‘s biggest technology reviewers, Marques Brownlee (MKBHD) and Arun Maini (Mrwhosetheboss), have published their reviews of Apple‘s first foldable smartphone, the iPhone Duo, highlighting its impressive display alongside several compromises that make its $2,000 price difficult to justify.

Both reviewers praised Apple’s hardware engineering, particularly the hinge, anti-reflective inner display and battery efficiency. However, they raised concerns about the phone’s weight, limited camera system and lack of optimised third-party applications.

Brownlee described the device as highly polished in its smaller design details but still rough around the edges when it comes to everyday usability.

Maini was less convinced...

Blackpink member Lisa has reignited dating rumours with Thai actor Blue Pongtiwat after the pair were reportedly spotted together in Bangkok on October 19, adding to months of speculation about their relationship.

Photographs circulating on social media showed the two walking along Song Wat Road in Thailand’s capital, according to The Korea Herald.

The latest sighting followed reports that Pongtiwat had joined Lisa and members of her family for dinner at a Bangkok restaurant on October 15.

Kedekatan Lisa BLACKPINK dengan aktor Thailand Blue Pongtiwat Tangwancharoen kembali ramai dibicarakan netizen! Kali ini, foto...

Electronic Arts (EA) is shutting down BioWare, the Canadian studio behind Mass Effect, Dragon Age and Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic, ending its 31-year history and cancelling development of the next Mass Effect game.

The company confirmed the decision on October 21 as part of a wider restructuring involving approximately 400 job cuts, or 3% of its workforce. Around 50 BioWare employees are expected to lose their jobs, Bloomberg reported.

“After more than three decades of shared adventures, BioWare is closing and early development on the next Mass Effect project...

Major websites and government services across the world have gone offline after researchers discovered two critical security vulnerabilities in PHP, a programming language used by much of the internet.

The flaws prompted governments and cybersecurity agencies to warn website operators to install emergency updates or temporarily shut down affected services, according to BBC News.

Among the affected organisations were the BBC, Wikipedia, the Internet Archive, Finland’s government and Edinburgh City Council. Some websites were deliberately taken offline as a precaution rather than because of a confirmed cyberattack.

Other reported disruptions affected 4chan, DeviantArt and government services...

Welsh explorer Ash Dykes and his crew have been out of contact with their support team for more than 16 hours while kayaking through the Congo Basin, raising concerns about their safety during a 700-kilometre expedition.

A statement published on Dykes’ official Instagram account on October 21 said his support team had not received any communication from the adventurer or his companions.

“It’s been more than 16 hours since we last heard from Ash and the team which is concerning,” the statement read. “We will endeavour to keep you posted and let you all know as...

Uzbekistan has officially approved changes to its Latin-based alphabet after President Shavkat Mirziyoyev signed a law replacing four existing letter forms, according to Saida Mirziyoyeva, head of the Presidential Administration.

Mirziyoyeva announced the decision on October 21, which coincides with Uzbek Language Day, describing it as the correction of a longstanding historical mistake.

“At last, a historical mistake of many years has been corrected,” she wrote on her Telegram channel.

The revised alphabet replaces four letters and letter combinations with characters containing diacritical marks. The changes are intended to simplify Uzbek...

Global convenience store chain 7-Eleven has shut down all 31 remaining outlets in India, ending its five-year partnership with Reliance Retail after struggling to establish a profitable business in the country.

The stores, located in Mumbai and Pune, closed on September 30, 2026. Japanese parent company Seven & i Holdings confirmed the closures on October 6, according to AFP.

The chain entered India in October 2021 through a franchise agreement with Reliance Retail, opening its first store in Mumbai. Its network later expanded to approximately 60 outlets before declining to 31 by September 2026.

TWICE member Dahyun and South Korean actor Cha Woo Min have begun filming a new romance film, tentatively titled Clouds Roll Like Gureumi, which is scheduled for release in 2027.

Production company Take One Studio confirmed on October 21 that filming was under way, according to Naver.

The coming-of-age story follows two high school students from different backgrounds whose relationship develops into their first romance.

Dahyun will portray Gu Reum, a 17-year-old student who has used a wheelchair throughout her life because of paralysis affecting her lower body. Despite the challenges she faces, Gu Reum is confident, cheerful and...