Nearly 85 years after the U.S. officially entered World War II, several iconic battles remain etched in our collective memory. You likely learned about Pearl Harbor, D-Day, and the Battle of Iwo Jima at school, but you may have never heard of the assault on Munda Point in New Georgia.
Munda Point is located on the tip of the island of New Georgia, which is part of the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific. In 1943, American and Australian troops under the leadership of General Douglas MacArthur fought to expel Japanese forces from New Guinea. An important step in the campaign was capturing the New Georgia Island group, including a Japanese airbase on Munda Point. This attack, part of an overall campaign dubbed Operation Cartwheel, has been largely overshadowed by more high-profile operations in the Pacific. It took several months, but Allied forces eventually seized the airfield. The Japanese withdrew, but 23 Americans died in the battle. Little is known about exactly how the battle played out, but researchers are hoping to change that with the help of LiDAR technology.
LiDAR, which stands for Light Detection and Ranging, uses laser pulses that reflect off the ground to “see” through layers of vegetation and create 3D images of the topography underneath. An anthropology professor and a geography professor from Binghamton University in New York are using drone-mounted LiDAR hand-in-hand with artificial intelligence and old-fashioned field archaeology to find remnants of the war. The hope is that they can learn about troop formations and maneuvers, potentially even finding those missing Americans to bring them home.
What LiDAR found at Munda Point
Eriksvoboda/Getty Images
Radar may have changed the course of World War II, but LiDAR is helping reconstruct battles and potentially bring home Americans who remain missing. Binghamton University made its third expedition in 2026 in partnership with the Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA), whose mission is “to provide the fullest possible accounting for our missing personnel to their families and the nation.” Nearly 72,000 Americans killed in World War II remain unaccounted for. Every year, DPAA conducts multiple investigations at World War II sites around the world, striving to find additional missing soldiers.
The landscape in New Georgia is challenging, consisting of jungle, swamps, and lagoons that has been virtually untouched since World War II. Before the expedition, the team studied documentation from the battle and used AI to help organize these accounts. This helped them reconstruct various positions during the battle and plan which locations they wanted to take a closer look at.
Once on site, the team used LiDAR to survey the area where one of the largest battles took place, looking for gun placements, foxholes, and foot trails that were used in 1943. Researchers identified barbed wire fences, bomb craters, and even gas masks. They did not find any battlefield burial sites, but they scouted locations that they hope to survey or excavate in the future. Researchers want to return for another expedition in July, which is the month the battle took place in 1943, as paths and burial sites may be more evident that time of year because the swamplands are a bit drier.
Former Celsius CEO Alex Mashinsky has been permanently barred from the cryptocurrency, securities and commodities industries under a settlement with New York Attorney General Letitia James that includes up to $35 million in conditional payments.
The New York agreement, announced Friday, settles a 2023 civil lawsuit accusing Mashinsky of misleading hundreds of thousands of investors about the safety of Celsius before its collapse in 2022.
Under the settlement, Mashinsky must pay New York $25 million if he fails to forfeit an additional $10 million in ill-gotten gains to the federal government beyond assets already forfeited, and another $10 million if he does not serve his full prison sentence.
Mashinsky is serving a 12-year federal prison sentence for fraud and was separately ordered to forfeit more than $48 million. The federal sentence stems from his December 2024 guilty plea to securities and commodities fraud.
“Alex Mashinsky promised New Yorkers that his company was a secure place to invest their hard-earned savings, only to leave them penniless when his risky investments collapsed,” James said in Friday’s announcement.
Related: S&P Global brings risk assessments to growing crypto lending vault sector
Celsius promised high yields before collapse
According to the 2023 lawsuit, Mashinsky promoted Celsius as a safer alternative to banks, offering yields as high as 17% while allegedly concealing risky investments and mounting losses.
By early 2022, Celsius had attracted roughly $20 billion in digital assets, but struggled to generate enough revenue to sustain its promised returns, prompting increasingly risky investments, according to the CFTC.
CFTC’s July 2023 fraud charges against Alex Mashinsky and Celsius Network. Source: CFTC
Celsius froze customer withdrawals in June 2022 and filed for bankruptcy the following month, disclosing a shortfall of more than $1 billion between its assets and liabilities.
As of August 2026, more than $3.4 billion had been distributed to Celsius creditors through the bankruptcy proceedings, according to the New York Attorney General’s Office.
Related: Netflix drops trailer for series based on FTX’s SBF and Caroline Ellison
Previous federal settlements and legal challenges
The New York agreement follows separate settlements with federal regulators earlier this year. In June, the Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) permanently barred Mashinsky from trading and registering with the agency. An April settlement with the Federal Trade Commission had already barred him from working in crypto and finance and required a $10 million payment, along with a largely suspended $4.72 billion judgment.
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) also reached an agreement in principle with Mashinsky in September to settle its separate civil lawsuit, which a federal judge dismissed without prejudice on Sept. 29 pending finalization of the settlement.
Since May, Mashinsky has been seeking to vacate his federal conviction and sentence, representing himself in the proceedings. Federal prosecutors opposed his motion in August, calling his arguments “without merit.”
A judge denied his request for discovery, and an Oct. 5 order left that decision unchanged. Mashinsky has until Dec. 11 to respond to the government’s opposition to his petition.
Magazine: Crypto lending rises again… but have they solved the risks?
Cointelegraph is committed to independent, transparent journalism. This news article is produced in accordance with Cointelegraph’s Editorial Policy and aims to provide accurate and timely information. Readers are encouraged to verify information independently.
The Financial Times reports Starbucks explored a takeover of Chipotle Mexican Grill.
Chipotle stock jumped 6% to close at $32.65, while Starbucks stock slipped 0.4% to $93.21.
A deal would reunite Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol with Chipotle, where he led a major turnaround before leaving in 2024.
Analysts estimate a price tag near $50 billion, which could mean heavy borrowing for Starbucks.
Starbucks declined to confirm the report, saying it remains “laser focused” on its own turnaround.
Starbucks stock dipped 0.4% to close at $93.21 on Thursday. Chipotle stock jumped 6% to $32.65 on the same day. The moves came after the Financial Times reported Starbucks had explored buying the burrito chain.
The report said Starbucks worked with advisors in recent months on a potential deal. Chipotle’s market value stands around $41 billion. Starbucks is valued at roughly $107 billion.
Starbucks declined to confirm or deny the talks. A spokesperson said the company does not comment on rumors. The statement added that Starbucks remains focused on its “Back to Starbucks” turnaround plan under CEO Brian Niccol.
Chipotle did not respond to requests for comment.
A Familiar Face Returning
The connection here isn’t random. Niccol ran Chipotle for about six years, steering it through food-safety troubles and building out its digital ordering business. He left in August 2024 to take the top job at Starbucks.
Starbucks’ potential Chipotle takeover would be the biggest restaurant acquisition in history
Several other Chipotle veterans followed him. Tressie Lieberman, once Chipotle’s VP of digital marketing, is now Starbucks’ global chief brand officer. Stephen Piacentini, a former Chipotle development officer, joined Starbucks this April.
Current Chipotle CEO Scott Boatwright served as chief operating officer during Niccol’s run. So a merger would, in a sense, bring the old team back together under one roof.
RBC Capital Markets analyst Logan Reich said Chipotle investors would likely view Niccol’s return positively. But he noted the strategic case for Starbucks is less clear, and investors tend to be wary of restaurant chains buying up other brands.
The Price Tag Problem
Money is the sticking point. William Blair analysts pegged a likely price near $50 billion for Chipotle, calling the financing “tough math” for Starbucks.
Starbucks reported $28.2 billion in total assets as of its fiscal third quarter, including just $3.4 billion in cash. That’s down from $32 billion in assets the year before.
eToro strategist Lale Akoner said a deal could require heavy borrowing or new stock issuance. Without a clear financial upside, she said, investors may see it as an expensive distraction.
Annex Wealth Management’s Brian Jacobsen called the timing “a little weird.” Starbucks is still mid-turnaround and hasn’t yet shown the margin gains investors want.
Starbucks’ adjusted operating margin sat at 14.4% last quarter, down from 16.7% two years earlier, according to LSEG data. The company has also committed over $500 million to staffing and store upgrades, and closed roughly 250 underperforming cafes last month.
One wild card: analysts flagged a possible sale of Starbucks’ Japan business as a way to help fund any acquisition.
Chipotle, for its part, has cooled off since Niccol left. Its stock surged 928% during his tenure but has dropped 37% since his exit, which may make it a cheaper target today than it would have been a year ago.
There could be upside beyond nostalgia, too. Northcoast Research analyst Jim Sanderson pointed to Chipotle potentially using Starbucks’ licensed partnerships in Europe to speed up its international push. Chipotle opened its first restaurants in Mexico and Saudi Arabia this year, adding to about 100 locations outside the U.S.
Starbucks currently operates roughly 40,000 stores worldwide, including about 18,000 in North America. Chipotle had 3,938 U.S. locations as of last year. Starbucks said Thursday it still plans to report fourth-quarter results and issue its next fiscal year outlook later this month.
Stop guessing and start investing with confidence. KnockoutStocks gives you the AI insights, market intelligence, and stock research you need to spot opportunities, cut through the noise, and make smarter investment decisions — all in one powerful platform.
Sign up today and get 50% OFF full access to our premium stock picks.
Simply use coupon code SPECIAL50 at checkout to claim your exclusive discount.
Hurricane Isaias brought strong winds and heavy rain to Florida Friday night, with gusts reaching 96 mph reported at Pensacola Bay.
Fox News shared footage featuring FOX Weather senior correspondent Robert Ray reporting from Destin as strong winds moved through the area.
“Hurricane-force winds are hammering Destin, Florida,” the outlet wrote. “FOX Weather Senior Correspondent Robert Ray is braving the blast as dangerous Category 3 Hurricane Isaias bears down on the Gulf Coast just hours before landfall.”
The report showed the storm’s effects reaching coastal communities before its center came ashore. Isaias had strengthened into a Category 3 hurricane earlier Friday, but the National Hurricane Center’s 8 p.m. Eastern advisory placed it at Category 2 strength, with maximum sustained winds of 110 mph.
FOX Weather’s subsequent coverage described the hurricane as making landfall along the northern Gulf Coast. Its report did not provide a confirmed time and location for the center crossing the shoreline.
Destin and nearby Fort Walton Beach were under a flash flood emergency Friday night as heavy rain threatened life-threatening flooding, according to FOX Weather. The outlet reported a wind gust of 96 mph at Pensacola Bay and a gust of 72 mph in Orange Beach, Alabama.
Water levels were also rising around Panama City and Apalachicola. Forecasters warned that storm surge could produce up to nine feet of inundation along portions of the coast between the Alabama-Florida border and Grayton Beach.
More than 365,000 customers in Florida and Alabama were without electricity Friday evening, the Associated Press (AP) reported, citing PowerOutage.com. Officials in Mobile reported fallen trees and power lines, while Florida’s Emerald Coast Utilities Authority issued a boil-water notice for its customers.
Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis warned earlier Friday that residents should prepare for electricity failures and dangerous weather even outside the hurricane’s direct path.
Evacuation orders were issued in portions of Florida’s Okaloosa, Escambia, and Walton counties, as well as Dauphin Island in Alabama. DeSantis, Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey, and Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp declared states of emergency ahead of the storm.
Forecasters expected the hurricane’s effects to spread inland through the weekend. Rainfall totals of 4 to 8 inches were projected across southern Alabama, northwestern Florida, Florida’s Big Bend, and southwest Georgia, with isolated amounts reaching 15 inches.
The tornado threat was expected to extend into Georgia and the Carolinas Saturday. Forecasters warned that the most destructive conditions would occur near the storm’s center and to its east. Air travel was disrupted across northwestern Florida.
All Friday arrivals and departures at Destin-Fort Walton Beach Airport were canceled. Pensacola International Airport recorded 74 cancellations, while Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport had 47, according to FlightAware figures reported by AP.
Threat actors are exploiting one critical and one medium-severity vulnerability still unpatched in the AhsayCBS backup management platform to deploy webshells and cryptocurrency miners.
AhsayCBS is typically used by managed service providers (MSPs) and system integrators. The malicious activity was observed on October 7, and targeted at least five organizations.
The two security issues exploited in attacks are tracked as CVE-2026-105133, an authentication bypass vulnerability that has a public exploit, and CVE-2026-105134, which can be leveraged for OS command injection.
Both vulnerabilities are reported as fixed in AhsayCBS 10.3.2, but researchers at managed detection and response company (MDR) Huntress found that they also affect Ahsay 10.3.4, currently the latest version.
“After further investigation, Huntress has determined that Ahsay 10.3.4 is also affected by these vulnerabilities,” Huntress says in an update today.
In the observed attacks, the threat actor chained the two vulnerabilities, CVE-2026-105133 first to bypass authentication and then CVE-2026-105134 for code execution.
After gaining access, Huntress observed the attacker perform reconnaissance, deploy Java Server Page (JSP) webshells, and download the XMRig miner disguised as edge.exe.
The miner persists on the host via a service named ‘MicrosoftEdgeUpdateSvc,’ which runs msedge.exe, identified by Huntress as a modified copy of the legitimate Non-Sucking Service Manager (NSSM) utility.
A PowerShell file (Taskgmr.ps1) that Huntress believes to be an AI-assisted script conceals mining activity by stopping the service when Task Manager opens and restarting it when Task Manager closes.
The script also terminates Task Manager at 6 p.m. local time or if it remains open for more than an hour overnight.
In one case, the attacker also deployed the vulnerable WinRing0x64.sys driver, likely in an attempt to unlock more hardware resources for the miner.
BleepingComputer has contacted AhsayCBS to ask about its plans to fix the two flaws, but we have not heard back as of publication.
Until a patch is available, Huntress recommends that system administrators restrict access to the AhsayCBS management interface to trusted IP addresses only, and investigate signs of compromise.
If a compromise is confirmed, administrators should perform a full restore of the host from a safe backup, because the attacker may have installed additional backdoors for prolonged persistence.
Huntress has also provided indicators of compromise (IoCs) for this activity, along with four Sigma rules to help defenders detect it.
Join Mikko Hyppönen and security leaders from the NFL, CHANEL, and Atlassian for a two-hour digital summit on what AI-speed attacks change, what defenders should stop doing, and how to validate, decide, fix, and re-validate at machine speed.
There is usually an apocalyptic air to how Ham radio is perceived. The Ham radio enthusiast is readily visualised as trudging into a land overtaken by a massive disaster and where all technology-based communication lines outside the amateur-radio sphere have broken down. The enthusiast has morphed into a saviour, connecting with a fellow hobbyist elsewhere in the “universe” and communicating a local situation, dire and distressing, amidst the static and crackle of radio communication, to reach help to the suffering. This description is indeed fact-aligned. Ham radio enthusiasts do take centre stage during disasters. One witnessed that during the Kerala floods of 2018 and closer home, in the harrowing first week of December 2015 in Chennai. But distress communication is only one of the things riding on amateur radio airwaves. Net sessions (as on-air meetups of Ham radio hobbyists are known) are also defined by banter, in fact, more by small talk than SOS calls. And do not be surprised if the banter is punctuated with Gen Z lingo.
N. Deepan (call sign VU2DPN), a key member of the Madras Amatuer Radio Society (MARS), points out that the Ham radio hobby has never been as accessible to youngsters as it is now. From licensing to practising the hobby, the procedures of initiation and the operation of the equipment have become ridiculously simple. Having seen 63 summers and getting started on the hobby around four decades ago, Deepan is at a vantage point to talk about the hobby’s evolution.
The Wireless Planning and Coordination wing (WPC) is responsible for conducting Amateur Station Operator’s Certificate (ASOC) examinations and issuing the license.
Deepan underlines the examinations have become simpler as technology has organically taken certain “subjects” off the table. And the removal of this barrier encourages the entry of youngsters. Anyone aged 12 and above can appear for the exam and get the license. “Where it took one or two years to get a license, it takes approximately one month,” observes Deepan, noting that objective questions have replaced the earlier pattern of examination.
And the new license holder can hit the ground running, the process of getting started on the hobby also having become facile. EchoLink, Z3 DMR, and Droidstar allow licensed operators to communicate using just a phone with other amateur radio enthusiasts. Once the license is validated, usually within 24 hours, the software can be used. And that obviates the need to invest in ham radio equipment; that can wait. Deepan has seen the ham radio equipment move from valves to transistors, ICs and now Software Defined Radio (SDR). With advancing technology, the equipment has shrunk, and so has their prices. Deepan attributes the fall in prices to the shift from imported equipment to local dealerships (to sell ham radio equipment, a dealer’s license is required).
That brings us to someone like Gaurav Srivatsava and his wife Shivangi Gaurav, both ham radio license holders and diehard enthusiasts, and beyond that, owners of Radio Brewery in Iyyapanthangal (radiobrewery.com), which sells amatuer radio equipment. Shivangi largely manages the business while Gaurav continues to work in the IT sector. Their own personal struggles in finding reliable and cost-effective equipment locally had crystallised into this business venture in 2018. Gaurav recalls that besides importing, Ham radio enthusiasts in Chennai were dependent on a couple of dealers in Delhi. The hobbyists would together buy in bulk to keep prices within their comfort range. Among those who encouraged them to start this business was Deepan, one of Gaurav’s mentors and supporters.
Among factors that augur well for the hobby, Gaurav says, is the portability of the ham radio gear. He recalls the time when valve radios, measuring six by six feet, “appropriated” a room in exchange for the joy of communicating on amateur radio airwaves. Fast forward to now, low-powered ham radio equipment can “fit into a small bread box”. Deepan notes that even if one were to route their ham radio communication through an amateur radio satellite, the allied equipment, which includes SDR dongle, dish antenna and up converter or transverter, is easy on the back, being eminently portable. Both Deepan and Gaurav have noticed youngsters taking to the hobby. Gaurav points out his daughter Pari Gaurav (VI2JXB/ KN6GRI, US amateur radio identifier ID), 19 years old now, cleared the WPC examination at age 12. Deepan’s daughter, Malini D. (VU3JJT) is also an avid ham radio enthusiast. Even youngsters without any precedent of ham radio engagement in their families are gravitating towards the hobby for the doors of communication it opens in various parts of the world. Deepan notes, “On the Net, all radio ham hobbyists connect and converse as equals.”
To sum up, this hobby seems to have been made for Gen Zers (and the ones following them too) for two reasons. It is a generation that derives its strength and purpose from communication, even with those they will never meet in real life, and this hobby is geared to that. And two, this generation thrives on volunteering, and this hobby can provide opportunities for that during extremely harrowing times.
(Niche Trades & Hobbiesis a column that tracks businesses that deal in rare products and follows groups that need those products to keep their hobbies going)
Credit unions involved with stablecoins could face 26 new federal reporting fields covering custody, issuer exposure, and their own holdings. The proposal seeks more detailed supervision as community institutions explore digital dollar services.
Key Takeaways
Custody services account for 17 of the 26 proposed reporting fields.
NCUA targets the March 31, 2027, reporting date for implementation.
The 47-hour burden estimate covers the full quarterly financial report.
Stablecoin Custody and Holdings Face Closer Oversight
Federally insured credit unions could have to disclose more about their stablecoin businesses through 26 proposed additions to quarterly financial reporting. The National Credit Union Administration (NCUA), which supervises federal credit unions and administers their federal share insurance fund, published its stablecoin reporting proposal on Oct. 9. These member-owned financial institutions submit quarterly financial and statistical data through the Form 5300 Call Report.
The proposed Schedule J, a section devoted to payment stablecoin activities, would add 26 data fields to the quarterly reporting form. Each field would request a specific piece of information about the institution’s activities. Eight concern reserve assets safeguarded for authorized third-party issuers; nine address custody and control of cryptographic keys, the credentials used to access digital assets. Five cover financial exposure to issuers, and four track payment stablecoins held on the institution’s balance sheet.
The categories separate assets safeguarded for others from financial interests exposed to issuer risk and institutions’ own holdings. Reserves back tokens in circulation, while redemption allows holders to exchange them for their underlying monetary value. Stablecoins are designed to track a reference asset, commonly the U.S. dollar, with reserve quality and redemption arrangements influencing their ability to maintain that value.
Digital Dollar Services Bring New Oversight Proposals
The reporting expansion follows NCUA’s work under the Guiding and Establishing National Innovation for U.S. Stablecoins (GENIUS) Act, the federal payment stablecoin law. On May 15, the agency proposed operational and risk management standards for licensed issuers. Chairman Kyle Hauptman emphasized alignment with proposed standards for bank subsidiaries.
Commercial partnerships are creating potential routes for smaller institutions to offer digital dollar services alongside these regulatory initiatives. A Sept. 10 agreement between crypto exchange Coinbase (Nasdaq: COIN) and payments infrastructure provider Moov would connect Coinbase’s stablecoin infrastructure with Moov’s payment platform, whose customer base includes more than 1,000 community banks and credit unions. The integration is designed to support payments, settlement, custody, and funding.
For bank-affiliated issuers, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC) approved proposed reserve and redemption requirements on April 7. Those provisions included one-to-one backing with eligible assets and a general requirement to fulfill redemptions within two business days.
A separate FDIC action on May 22 advanced proposed anti-money laundering and sanctions standards. That measure addressed compliance programs, reporting obligations, and supervision for issuers under its jurisdiction.
Dec. 8 Deadline Set for Comments on Reporting Burden
The proposed information collection covers an estimated 4,224 federally insured credit unions and 794,112 annual reporting hours. Its average burden of 47 hours per quarterly response applies to the full Call Report. NCUA attributes the higher estimate to public feedback on data collection and states that the stablecoin revisions would not materially affect existing burden estimates.
The additional fields would support offsite supervision, allowing examiners to assess activities through submitted data. Most Call Report information receives public treatment, with exceptions for sensitive items. The revised form and instructions remain subject to Office of Management and Budget review and clearance. The federal office reviews agency information collection requirements.
NCUA seeks public input on the information’s usefulness, the accuracy of burden estimates, and ways to reduce reporting work through automation or other technology. Comments received by Dec. 8 will become public records and accompany the agency’s approval request.
Despite reclaiming the UFC middleweight title in May, Sean Strickland claims he is done with MMA for good.
Since Conor McGregor’s infamous crossover fight with Floyd Mayweather in 2017, countless MMA fighters have pushed to make the switch. Strickland is not only campaigning to be the next; he has made it clear he wants the career change to be permanent.
After going on a multi-post rant about the UFC’s current business practices on Wednesday night, Strickland made his stance crystal clear with a two-minute Instagram video on Thursday.
May 9, 2026; Newark, New Jersey, UNITED STATES; Sean Strickland (blue gloves) | IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect
“I want to box. I want to put a boxing title on my mantle. I deserve it. I will put hands on any boxer. Jake Paul, who wants to give me a big ‘ole bag to fight him. I’m under contract. Fine, I’ll go to Zuffa and beat your cruiserweight champ. Easy.
“But let me tell you something about the UFC, and I’m going to say the quiet part out loud that nobody says. You watch these champions, these savages of the sport, they take an L, and they come back. Man, they fight three or four times and get f—— flatlined, like dude, what happened to you? Then you realize the UFC happened. They just don’t care anymore. The UFC, they don’t pay you enough money to walk away… They keep you right here, but they build a legacy and they don’t pay you enough so you have to come back and ruin your legacy. I just don’t want to do that, man.
“Like this g–slop, re-packaged McDonald’s straight to the head. I want to fight; I want to box. I want to go win a boxing title. We’re trying to work that out, but if the UFC says, ‘Hey, we’re not gonna do that, we’re gonna make you fight.’ Well, I’m gonna stick and move. You guys are gonna boo. Hell, I’ll f—— boo with you while I’m doing it. Collect my check and then move on.”
Jake Paul responds to Sean Strickland
Strickland called out several potential targets in his animated rant, including Jake Paul and Jai Opetaia, whom he referred to as Zuffa Boxing’s cruiserweight champion. His previous monologue on X got Paul’s attention and prompted a response.
“If you want your fair share call MVP when you are free,” Paul tweeted, seemingly responding to Strickland.
‘El Gallo’ made his next post much more direct, despite knowing that Strickland’s UFC contract would prevent any negotiations.
“Sean Strickland I see your texts but are you out of contract? Tell your ‘promoter’ to call MVP.”
If you want your fair share call MVP when you are free
Strickland certainly fits the mold of Paul’s previous opponents as a well-known MMA fighter. Six of Paul’s 10 pay-per-view-headlining fights have been against aging ex-UFC fighters.
Strickland did not reveal the specific details of his contract, but he will not be boxing any time soon. If he somehow manages to crawl his way out of the UFC’s grasp, he could feasibly find himself in the ring with Paul in the distant future.
After seeing homes in poor condition during repair jobs, two Singapore brothers decided to use their skills and business earnings to help families in need.
Brothers Muhamad Khairul Anwar Mohd Rosli, 40, and Muhammad Redha Jamali, 23, posted a TikTok video in August inviting the public to nominate families for free home improvement works, Berita Harian (BH) reported on Tuesday (Oct 6).
Within a month, about 30 people contacted K2 Handymen to nominate themselves or other families for assistance, BH reported.
The company provides electrical, appliance installation, carpentry and other home maintenance services.
K2 Handymen has built a following on TikTok, where the brothers give viewers a behind-the-scenes look at their work, from electrical wiring and water heater installations to carpentry and household repairs.
Applications were assessed based on the condition of the home and the family’s circumstances, with priority given to elderly residents and single mothers facing financial or health challenges.
For their first project, the brothers selected Sariana Majid, 39, a single mother raising six children aged between six and 16. She works part-time as a GrabFood delivery rider and runs a small home-based kuih business.
After a friend sent her the brothers’ TikTok video, Sariana contacted K2 Handymen and submitted photos and videos of her rented home, according to BH.
On Sept 30, the brothers carried out improvement works in her kitchen, including installing cabinets using existing furniture, such as IKEA items, which they modified to better suit her home.
The project was fully funded by K2 Handymen, with Khairul setting a budget of up to $1,500 per home.
Sariana told BH she did not expect her home to be selected.
She said the renovation gave her family “a safer, more comfortable and more suitable space” to live in and for her to raise her children.
Established in August 2019, K2 Handymen now handles around 30 projects a month.
Khairul has a background in mechanical engineering and electrical technology, while Redha helps run the business.
The brothers aim to help one or two homes each month, setting aside one or two days for free work.
“For now, we simply hope that we can help bring a smile to those who need it more. Not everyone is fortunate, and we feel that this is also part of our responsibility as Muslims to help one another, regardless of race or religion,” they told BH.
AsiaOne has reached out to the two brothers for more information.
@k2_handymen 🤲🏻 K2 HANDYMEN — GIVING BACK TO OUR COMMUNITY At K2 Handymen, we believe everyone deserves a home that feels safe, functional and comfortable. We’re starting a community initiative to use what we do best — home improvement — to give back to those who may genuinely need a helping hand. We welcome nominations for individuals or families who may be facing financial or personal circumstances that have made essential home repairs difficult to manage. This could be an elderly resident living with ageing or damaged fittings, a family that has had to postpone necessary repairs, or someone whose living environment could genuinely benefit from some care and improvement. Depending on each home and our assessment, the complimentary works may include kitchen improvements, cabinetry, sink and plumbing works, electrical repairs, lighting, replacement of essential fittings, painting and other necessary home improvement works within our capabilities. Know someone who could genuinely benefit from this? ❤️ Nominate them via WhatsApp at 9113 0791 and briefly share their situation with us. Every nomination will be handled with respect, sensitivity and discretion. Selection and the scope of works will be determined by K2 Handymen based on individual circumstances, site assessment, suitability and available resources. For the beginning of this initiative, K2 Handymen will fully sponsor the materials, items and labour required for the approved works. 🤲🏻 LET’S MAKE A DIFFERENCE TOGETHER As this initiative grows, we also welcome businesses, suppliers, contractors and individuals who share the same intention and would like to collaborate or contribute towards future projects. Whether through materials, products, professional services or other forms of support, we would be happy to work alongside like-minded partners to reach and help more households in our community. No judgement. No labels. Just helping where we can, with what we do best. ❤️ K2 Handymen Giving back, one home at a time. #handyman#electrician#foryou @𝘽𝙐𝙍𝙂𝙀𝙍𝘼𝙆 #CapCut @IKEA Singapore ♬ original sound – K2 Handymen
The Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and Apple Watch Ultra 4 are two of the best (and most expensive) smartwatches to come out this year. But just how accurate are they?
Much has been made of Apple’s redesigned Health Sensing System, supposedly the most accurate ever on a wearable. It certainly measured my sleep well enough, and Apple says it tested its accuracy by pitting it against an electrical heart rate monitor — which, funnily enough, is my process for reviewing smartwatches too.
I set out to find out how accurate Apple and Garmin’s best smartwatches were by putting them against each other in a head-to-head battle, wearing them both during a 30-minute run, one on each wrist. To create a benchmark, I wore an ECG-capable electrical heart rate monitor on my chest, just like Apple’s own tests; I used the Frontier X2.
The 30-minute run was more challenging than usual, because it was a very hilly route with a long incline as the midpoint — it certainly made my heart rate spike.
The figure I’m most interested in during these tests is average heart rate. I recognize that different companies use different processing algorithms, so you’ll never get a 1-1 match on all heart rate data points: all you can look for is consistency in your wearable of choice, and to make sure it’s generally telling the same story as a benchmark-level tool such as a chest-mounted electrical HRM, which are generally more reliable than LED-based sensors.
The closer the average heart rate, calculated by the wrist-based LED-using wearables, can get to the average heart rate calculated by the electrical HRM, the better.
Generally, I classify under 5 bpm of difference as an insignificant margin of error, meaning that’s a device I’d happily keep using and recommending to others. Under 10 bpm is generally fine for light or occasional exercisers for general trends, but not one I’d recommend to fitness buffs who care about things like heart rate zones.
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Anyway, on to the results — how did the Apple Watch Ultra 4 and Garmin Fenix 9 Pro stack up?
The results
(Image credit: Future)
The results were excellent. It’s really cool to see the Frontier X2 heart rate monitor, Garmin Fenix 9 Pro and the Apple Watch Ultra 4 all within two beats per minute of each other on average.
From left to right in the screenshots above, the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro measured 159 bpm, while the Apple Watch Ultra 4 measured 160 bpm. The Frontier X2 measured 158 bpm.
Swipe to scroll horizontally
Wearable
Average heart rate (bpm)
Frontier X2 HRM
158
Garmin Fenix 9 Pro
159
Apple Watch Ultra 4
160
All the devices being within 2 bpm of each other is a wonderful indication of accuracy across the board. Algorithmic processing differences aside, all three devices are telling the same story about my body during that 30-minute session of exercise.
Other metrics between the two watches are similar, too. Calorie counts for example, which can vary wildly between devices, look similar as both devices estimate a burn in the high 300s — 388 vs 375.
The Frontier X2 also estimates a calorie count that’s very different than the watches, but I’m discounting that as the watches collect far more information to draw from. I’m only trusting its heart rate numbers.
So, I’m more than happy with the ratings I got from these watches, and can continue to recommend them as extremely accurate health and fitness tracking tools.
So, which do I prefer? Even though both watches are very accurate, they’re tailor-made for serious sports and endurance, and they’re both packing dive modes and satellite communication features, they’re not quite made equally.
The Apple Watch’s software, third-party apps and smartwatch functionalities far outshine the Garmin Fenix 9 Pro, while the Garmin watch is built with a longer-lasting battery (10 days vs Apple’s 48 hours) and features more survival tools, such as the LED flashlight.
If you’re a multi-day adventurer type, I’d opt for the Garmin every time, but for day-to-day wear and shorter excursions, the Apple Watch is nicer to use — even if, unfortunately it’ll need a charge every other day.
Matt is TechRadar’s expert on all things fitness, wellness and wearable tech.
A former staffer at Men’s Health, he holds a Master’s Degree in journalism from Cardiff and has written for brands like Runner’s World, Women’s Health, Men’s Fitness, LiveScience and Fit&Well on everything fitness tech, exercise, nutrition and mental wellbeing.
He is the author of the upcoming book The Health Data Heist, set to be published by Bloomsbury in 2027. When he’s not training or writing about health and fitness, he can be found reading doorstop-thick fantasy books with lots of fictional maps in them.
All Blacks vs Wallabies kick-off: Sat, Oct 10 at 2.10am ET / 7.10am BST / 5.10pm AEDT
The New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test live streams feature two old rivals resuming hostilities in the opening match of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park, Auckland. The historic competition dates back almost a century but the All Blacks have been the dominant force for more than two decades, having held the trophy since 2003.
New Zealand jump straight from one Test series against an old foe into another, having completed the inaugural Rugby’s Greatest Rivalry competition against South Africa just four weeks ago. The All Blacks lost the series 3-1 and will be keen to end a three-game losing run, at a ground where they last tasted a Test defeat in 1994. It will be a milestone appearance for Beauden Barrett, who starts at full-back in his 150th match for New Zealand (146 Tests). Younger brother Scott returns to the XV for the first time since November 2025, with third sibling, Jordie, in the center as normal. Hooker Codie Taylor captains the side, with Ardie Savea one of several All Blacks missing through injury.
New Zealand’s injury issues give Australia hope that they could claim their first win at Eden Park since 1986. The Wallabies have been buoyed by a statement 42-38 victory over South Africa in Perth last month, finishing the game with just 11 men. This will be Less Kiss’s toughest test yet since he arrived as head coach in the summer, the 61-year-old head coach still unbeaten after four wins and a draw. Kiss makes only one change to the starting side who beat the Springboks, with rookie center Isaac Henry replacing the suspended Hunter Paisami. Len Ikitau moves to inside center after scoring two tries against South Africa, with Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii staying on the wing.
Read on as we explain how to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies for free in the first Test of the 2026 Bledisloe Cup at Eden Park, Auckland.
Watch All Blacks vs Wallabies for free?
There are several ways to watch New Zealand vs Australia for free.
The All Blacks vs Wallabies game is also being shown live on the free-to-air 9Now streaming platform in Australia. All you need is an account and you’ll be good to go.
Meanwhile, viewers in New Zealand can watch the Bledisloe Cup Test on free-to-air ThreeNow on tape delay, with coverage beginning at 8.30pm NZST.
Not in the US, Australia or New Zealand? You need a VPN to watch New Zealand vs Australia for free as if you were right at home.
Use a VPN to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams
A VPN is a handy piece of software that can make your device appear as if it’s back in your home country and unlock your usual streaming services, allowing you to watch New Zealand vs Australia from anywhere in the world. The best VPN right now? We recommend NordVPN – it does everything and comes with a 75% discount.
How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams in the US
The second and final Bledisloe Cup fixture, at Sydney’s Accor Stadium next weekend, will also be shown live on the same channels at no cost.
Outside of the US? Use a VPN while you’re traveling away from home to unlock your All Blacks vs Wallabies stream.
How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams in the UK
In the UK, the New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test is being shown on Sky Sports Main Event.
Sky Sports packages start at £22 per month for existing Sky subscribers and rise to £35 per month for those without a Sky subscription.
You can also watch the Bledisloe Cup via a NOW Sports membership that carries the Sky Sports channels, which will also show the return fixture next weekend.
If you’re out of the UK but still want to tune in, NordVPN will help you access your subscriptions from anywhere.
How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams in Australia
The New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test is live on free-to-air 9Nowin Australia, as detailed above.
Meanwhile, Stan Sport will also have live coverage of All Blacks vs Wallabies.
Stan Sport costs AU$20/month on top of a Stan subscription, which itself starts at AU$9.99/month, and gives you access to a range of international rugby, plus Premier League and Champions League football.
Not in Australia right now? You can simply use a VPN like NordVPN to watch the action as if you were back home.
How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams in New Zealand
Fans in New Zealand can watch the New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test on Sky Sport NZ, with coverage on the Sky Sport 1 channel.
You can access Sky Sport through satellite TV or get a live stream, with the Sky Sport Now subscription service starting at NZ$29.99 per day or NZ$59.99 per month.
As detailed above, free-to-air platform ThreeNow is also showing New Zealand vs Australia on tape delay from 8.30pm NZST.
Those outside of New Zealand can use NordVPN to gain access to their home streaming service.
How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams in South Africa
The New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test is being shown live on SuperSport in South Africa.
SuperSport is the home of live rugby in South Africa. You’ll need a DStv access package to watch the game, with prices starting at Rs99/month for the streaming version.
Abroad right now? Use NordVPN to tell your device that you’re back home and you’ll be good to go.
How to watch All Blacks vs Wallabies live streams in Canada
(Image credit: Other)
Viewers in Canada can watch the New Zealand vs Australia 1st Test on Premier Sports .
A monthly pass costs CA$29.99, but you can also get a six-month pass for CA$79.99 or pay CA$139.99/year for the annual subscription.
If you’re out of Canada but still want to catch the action, you can access your accounts from anywhere with NordVPN.
Team News
New Zealand: 15 Beauden Barrett, 14 Will Jordan, 13 Quinn Tupaea, 12 Jordie Barrett, 11 Leroy Carter, 10 Damian McKenzie, 9 Cam Roigard, 8 Wallace Sititi, 7 Peter Lakai, 6 Tupou Vaa’i, 5 Josh Lord, 4 Scott Barrett, 3 Fletcher Newell, 2 Codie Taylor (captain), 1 Ethan de Groot.
Australia: 15 Tom Wright, 14 Max Jorgensen, 13 Isaac Henry, 12 Len Ikitau, 11 Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii, 10 Ben Donaldson, 9 Ryan Lonergan, 8 Harry Wilson (captain), 7 Fraser McReight, 6 Rob Valetini, 5 Lukhan Salakaia-Loto, 4 Jeremy Williams, 3 Allan Alaalatoa, 2 Brandon Paenga-Amosa, 1 Angus Bell.
Replacements: 16 Josh Nasser, 17 Aidan Ross, 18 Massimo De Lutiis, 19 Lachlan Shaw, 20 Nick Champion de Crespigny, 21 Tate McDermott, 22 Declan Meredith, 23 Harry Potter.
What is the All Blacks vs Wallabies start time?
The scheduled New Zealand vs Australia kick-off time on Saturday, October 10 is 7.10pm NZST local time in Auckland, New Zealand, which is 5.10pm AEDT / 8.10am SAST / 7.10am BST / 2.10am ET.
That’s 11.10pm PT on Friday, October 9.
What is the Bledisloe Cup head-to-head?
New Zealand have been by far the dominant team in the Bledisloe Cup, winning 51 series to Australia’s 12, with one drawn. The All Blacks have held the trophy since 2003.
The two sides have met 181 times, with New Zealand winning 128 games and Australia 45. Eight matches have been drawn.
Can I watch All Blacks vs Wallabies on my mobile?
Of course, most broadcasters have streaming services that you can access through mobile apps or via your phone’s browser. For example, Sky Sports has a dedicated app.
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.
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
As SpaceX struggles to launch Starlink in India, Elon Musk has stepped up his attack on billionaire Mukesh Ambani, mockingly calling him the country’s “prime minister” to suggest he wields outsized control over its government and accusing him of blocking the satellite internet service from competing.
On Friday, Musk continued his criticism of the famed Reliance Industries’ chairperson in a post on X, arguing that Starlink could bring internet access to areas that remain unconnected, giving children more opportunities to learn, and helping small businesses reach customers worldwide.
“Naturally, you would prefer to maintain your monopolistic exploitation of the great people of India, but would you nonetheless consider allowing Starlink to compete?” Musk wrote.
Reliance Jio, Reliance Industries’ telecom arm, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
Musk’s latest comments follow his accusations earlier this week that unnamed “oligarchs” were blocking Starlink’s launch in India to protect their business interests. India’s Ministry of Communications rejected the allegations, saying the country’s regulatory framework for satellite communications is “fair and non-discriminatory.” Musk then went further on Thursday, questioning Ambani’s influence in a separate post on X. “Is Ambani the real boss of India?” he asked.
SpaceX has spent years trying to launch Starlink in India. Last year, it even struck distribution agreements with Ambani’s Reliance Jio and Bharti Airtel, India’s second-largest telecom operator, to offer the service once it received the necessary approvals. However, Starlink has not yet received the go-ahead from New Delhi to begin commercial operations, despite securing key regulatory clearances.
In its Thursday statement, the Indian communication ministry said Starlink and two other licensed satellite operators are undergoing security assessments that must be completed before they can receive satellite spectrum. The ministry said all three are at “broadly the same regulatory stage,” rejecting Musk’s suggestion that Starlink was being singled out.
Jio and Airtel are also seeking to launch their satellite internet services in India. Jio has a joint venture with Luxembourg-based SES, while Airtel is a major shareholder in Eutelsat OneWeb, which is striving to offer satellite connectivity in the country.
India, the world’s most populous country with over a billion internet users, is a major market for Musk. But expanding there also means dealing with powerful business figures such as Ambani, whose Reliance conglomerate owns India’s largest telecom operator and works with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s government on major projects.
Alongside Starlink’s delayed launch, Musk has also faced challenges expanding Tesla in India. The electric carmaker launched in the country last year after years of anticipation but registered just 699 vehicles in its first 12 months of deliveries, according to data cited by Electrek. Steep import duties pushed the Model Y’s launch price in India to nearly twice its U.S. price. Tesla lowered its prices earlier this year, but its cars remain considerably more expensive in India than in the U.S.
Before Musk’s latest attack, Starlink and Ambani’s Reliance Jio clashed over how to allocate satellite spectrum in India. Musk’s company wanted the spectrum to be assigned through an administrative process, while Jio pushed for an auction. Ultimately, New Delhi went ahead with Starlink and decided to allocate the spectrum administratively.
Starlink’s launch in India remains in limbo. India’s telecom minister Jyotiraditya Scindia on Friday pushed back against Musk’s allegations, saying the country “does not allow a monopoly in any sector.”
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
Jagmeet covers startups, tech policy-related updates, and all other major tech-centric developments from India for TechCrunch. He previously worked as a principal correspondent at NDTV.
You can contact or verify outreach from Jagmeet by emailing .
(Image credit: Future (left and right) / Dyson (center))
It had been a while since Dyson had genuinely surprised us with a product launch, but then the brand unveiled its first toothbrush. Dyson is already a familiar name in personal care, thanks to its now well established hair-styling gadgets, so a move into oral care wasn’t entirely left-field. Still, when the CameraJet made its debut, it was still quite the swerve – taking Dyson from the dressing table to the bathroom sink.
The first product has to be radically different… otherwise we wouldn’t consider it
Jake Dyson
When I caught up with Jake Dyson — son of founder, James, and Dyson’s chief engineer — at the brand’s Unveiled event, I wanted to know what prompted such a move. And, more broadly, how a brand might end up with such a twisty, turny product roadmap.
(For clarity, throughout this article I’ll be using “Dyson” to mean the brand, and “Jake” to mean the person.)
So, if a toothbrush can become a Dyson gadget, is there anything that couldn’t be? “No, it doesn’t,” Jake declares. “It has to be radically different.”
He expands: “The first product has to be radically different, and have performance claims, and a difference against a competitor by a magnitude; otherwise, we wouldn’t consider it.”
Remember when every hair dryer didn’t look like this? (Image credit: Future)
In short, the brand isn’t interested in having a go at anything; it wants to make a splash in markets that have grown stagnant. The launch of the first Dyson Supersonic hair dryer in 2016 is a great example — it blew new life into a market that had barely seen change in decades.
And the CameraJet is far from your average toothbrush. It’s kitted out with a camera that will stream a live view of the inside of your mouth back to you, and is trained to recognize gaps in your teeth and shoot water/mouthwash at them, to take care of flossing. Whether or not it enjoys the success of the Supersonic remains to be seen, but it certainly checks that “radically different” box.
Sign up for breaking news, reviews, opinion, top tech deals, and more.
Striving for perfection
The potential to shake things up is essential, but before a new-category product is launched, other criteria must be met. “It’s got to work properly,” asserts Jake. “I mean, we probably could have launched two years ago, but it wouldn’t have hit every gap perfectly, and that’s not acceptable.”
If we’re going to go into a new area, then we’ll do that knowing that we’ve got more products behind it
Jake Dyson
It’s unfortunate then that shortly after our conversation, reports of CameraJet faults began rolling in from early adopters. Dyson has blamed this on an isolated production issue that’s now under control, so I’ll give the company the benefit of the doubt in this instance.
Barring any further hiccups, you should expect more unusual oral care products to also be hitting the market before too long; Jake’s third golden rule is that you never launch with just one product. “If we’re going to go into a new area, then we’ll do that knowing we’ve got more products behind it,” he tells me.
When pushed if he means further iterations, he clarifies the brand aims for “expansion in that category, quite quickly”, and confirms it will start with a roadmap of multiple products.
Doubling up
Breaking new markets is an expensive business, but Jake is savvy about not wasting effort. “I think you try not to do things twice that take an awful long time and a lot of investment,” he says. “You try to use it again in another product.”
He talks about innovations that the brand wants to “platform”. A great example is the shrunk-down mechanics and battery system that Dyson developed for its Airwrap, and which also appears in its Supersonic r hair dryer. A version of it is used in the brand’s new hot brush, and it also features in the PencilVac and now the PencilMop.
Dyson’s shrunk-down mechanics are now used across multiple products (Image credit: Future)
As for exactly how the innovations make their way across team lines, it isn’t a defined process. “It happens naturally. You cross-pollinate, you join the dots. ‘If we put that with that, we could do this.’,” says Jake. “And as a company, we’re getting much better at predicting that before we do it.”
He explains that this cross-pollination will also sometimes highlight the gaps that Dyson needs to fill. “It makes us realize there are other technologies we need to develop ourselves — which we are, behind the scenes — to enable us to go into those new areas and do something better than anyone else.”
What “radically different” products might be on the horizon at Dyson? I’ll be watching with interest.
Dyson product tour
Here’s a quick rundown of some of Dyson’s newest releases — hit the View Details button to read more about each one.
Ruth is TechRadar’s Collections Editor, responsible for masterminding TechRadar’s approach towards the new Collections format — a themed, curated selection of product recommendations designed to provide readers with an exciting new way to shop for the very best new gadgets and gizmos.
Anthropic said its models exploited websites on the internet, including some run by U.S. government agencies, and it will turn off live internet access for all of its internal evaluations until the frontier lab is sure it can monitor and control its AI agents.
The incidents, disclosed in a blog post, involved AI agents tasked to solve problems seeking resources on the internet. In the process, they exploited software flaws, accessed databases without paying fees, used URL shortening services to smuggle information pass restrictions, and even submitted a false murder tip to the Philadelphia police.
Anthropic said it discovered these new issues in a review of its model’s activities that began in July, demonstrating the lab’s lack of awareness of its software’s behavior in real time.
Notably, the company said that alignment training was not yet sufficient for skills like search and computer use that are central to its pitch that AI agents will be used by any professional who relies on digital tools.
The behaviors Anthropic disclosed are similar to incidents involving OpenAI agents that collaborated to break into various websites in search of information, including some run by the Australian government.
Anthropic previously disclosed that its models had broken into external systems. The frontier lab said it considered today’s disclosures “significantly less severe from an alignment and security perspective” than those it announced before.
However, the lab still said it had “turned off live internet access” for “all our internal evaluations” until it is certain it can monitor and control its agents.
It’s not clear what that means. Sydney Von Arx, the founder of Nightingale, an AI safety organization, told TechCrunch in an interview before this disclosure that developing models on a data center cut off from the open internet would be very challenging for researchers, and hinder the progress of the models, which benefit from internet access.
“You have to align them at some point,” Von Arx said. “If the AIs are released to production and never have access to the internet, that’s not a very useful tool.”
Anthropic said the behavior was a result of flaws in the lab’s training environments, which led the models to believe they would be rewarded for finding loopholes or avoiding restrictions, a behavior called “reward hacking.”
The company said it would stop running some of its evaluations or move them offline, and has built tooling to detect and block this behavior. This tooling was tested against the kind of incidents disclosed today and blocked them; it’s not clear what evidence will prompt Anthropic to return live internet access to its internal evaluations. Anthropic also said it would migrate its internal AI agents to “centrally managed infrastructure with strong containment,” and is beginning to using safety classifiers more frequently to monitor those agents.
“It’s encouraging that Anthropic voluntarily disclosed more recent incidents, including where their agents targeted U.S. government websites,” Conrad Stosz, an official at AI oversight lab Transluce and former head of the US Center for AI Standards and Innovation, said in a statement. “But it just underscores the need for independent, credible, third-party verification of Al systems. Trust in this technology needs to be built through science-backed oversight and governance with meaningful access — not by relying on researchers to find these things in the wild or on companies to voluntarily disclose.”
When you purchase through links in our articles, we may earn a small commission. This doesn’t affect our editorial independence.
Tim Fernholz is a journalist who writes about technology, finance and public policy. He has closely covered the rise of the private space industry and is the author of Rocket Billionaires: Elon Musk, Jeff Bezos and the New Space Race. Formerly, he was a senior reporter at Quartz, the global business news site, for more than a decade, and began his career as a political reporter in Washington, D.C.
You can contact or verify outreach from Tim by emailing or via an encrypted message to tim_fernholz.21 on Signal.
Gavin is the Segment Lead for the Technology Explained, Security, Internet, Streaming, and Entertainment verticals, former co-host on the Really Useful Podcast, and a frequent product reviewer. He has a degree in Contemporary Writing pillaged from the hills of Devon, more than a decade of professional writing experience, and his work has appeared on How-To Geek, Expert Reviews, Trusted Reviews, Online Tech Tips, and Help Desk Geek, among others. Gavin has attended CES, IFA, MWC, and other tech-trade shows to report directly from the floor, racking up hundreds of thousands of steps in the process. He’s reviewed more headphones, earbuds, and mechanical keyboards than he cares to remember, and enjoys copious amounts of tea, board games, and football.
I recently had the pleasure of borrowing a Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 for a month or so, just after launch — thank you, Samsung!
But when the time came to send it back, I’d made a fatal error.
The courier arrived hours before I was expecting, and in my absolute rush, I didn’t complete a full factory reset. Problematic, yes, but not an absolutely awful situation as it may seem at first glance, as I thought I could remote factory reset the device, and all would be well.
Well, the process was not what I was expecting at all. I located the device, pressed the remote wipe button, and it was removed from my device list successfully. But on the other end, absolutely nothing happened, and everything went completely wrong.
Finding the phone was simple
But I’m not entirely sure why
Okay, maybe not that mysterious. The general creed of Android’s Find Hub is that if you don’t have reception, you won’t be able to connect to the device, track its location, or send it commands such as a factory reset.
That’s where my problem becomes interesting, and I have a couple of ideas about what might have happened.
As soon as I knew the factory reset process wasn’t going to complete at home, and I had to package up the device and hand to the courier, I bolted to my computer to sign into Find Hub. That means the location I picked up was likely driven by the phone maintaining a connection to my Wi-Fi, despite being removed from the house.
I also don’t have a driveway, and my home is accessed through some steps, so the driver parked right on the edge of the Wi-Fi signal. I’ve had enough calls drop when leaving the house to know roughly where the line is!
But, then again, that might not be the whole story. Find Hub documentation confirms that an offline device isn’t necessarily out of reach due to the Find Hub network.
Your Android device stores encrypted recent locations with Google by default and participates in the Find Hub network, a crowdsourced network of Android devices that use end-to-end encrypted location information to help Android users find their lost devices.
So, this means that the Z Fold 8 may have returned my search as it was turned on in proximity to another device using Find Hub. I don’t know what device the courier uses as a daily driver, but this could also explain why I could still see the Samsung’s location after it left my house.
No signal, no wipe
Find Hub works in mysterious ways
I don’t know which specific combination of features was at work here. But I do know that I could apparently access features offered by Find Hub, such as the ability to make a noise, plus the option to factory reset the phone.
The remote factory reset option, though, didn’t work how I thought it would.
Google’s Find Hub remote location network states that you can still locate, secure, and erase your device when online. You hit the factory reset option, click through the warning that explains you’re about to wipe the device, and crack on with the wiping. The warning also specifically states “If the device is offline, erasing will begin once it’s online again.”
This is where my remote device wipe tale becomes hazy, because from what I could tell, the device was online, because I could see its location. The factory reset process “completed” without issue, and the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 was removed from my device list.
I had no reason to believe the remote factory reset process hadn’t worked, as there was no notification or error messaging saying “device offline” or “this action has been queued” or similar. There is no “action pending” notification or otherwise; the windows close, the phone is removed, leaving me thinking that I’d remarkably somehow got the job done.
No notification or confirmation
What actually happens is that Find Hub takes the remote factory reset request, accepts it, and then queues it for the next time the phone is online. That’s a perfectly reasonable option, so long as Find Hub actually tells you that the device is offline and the command hasn’t run or completed.
A Find Hub help page also confirms that it should give some indication that your Google Account successfully wiped the device.
Find Hub also collects identifiers that associate your Android devices and accessories with your Google Account and information about actions taken through Find Hub, like whether your Google Account was used to lock or erase your device and whether the action was completed successfully.
Checking through the Z Fold 8’s remaining links to my Google account, I can see there was no notification or otherwise about the remote wipe completing — so why remove it from my account to begin with? Removing it from the account is a clear signifier that the process is complete, as per Google’s Find Hub issues page.
Find Hub is great, but it didn’t work how I thought
But let’s be real: I’m also the problem
All of this could have easily been avoided if I’d backed up and wiped the device before the courier arrived. It’s my fault this whole process became the issue it did to begin with.
Still, it’s clear there are some issues with Find Hub, particularly around how it presents devices as online or offline, and whether the command to factory reset the device has completed, followed by device removal from your Find Hub.
Thankfully, in my case, I was sending the phone back to Samsung, who confirmed that the remote wipe hadn’t worked, but they would do it for me. But if you end up in a similar situation, it might be that you can’t rely on Find Hub to work exactly how you think.
Afam’s experience in tech publishing dates back to 2018, when he worked for Make Tech Easier. Over the years, he has built a reputation for publishing high-quality guides, reviews, tips, and explainer articles, covering Windows, Linux, and open source tools. His work has been featured on top websites, including Technical Ustad, Windows Report, Guiding Tech, Alphr, and Next of Windows.
He holds a first degree in Computer Science and is a strong advocate for data privacy and security, with several tips, videos, and tutorials on the subject published on the Fuzo Tech YouTube channel.
When he is not working, he loves to spend time with his family, cycling, or tending to his garden.
You can’t blame me for not questioning my router’s 2.4GHz band set to 40MHz. Who wouldn’t choose a wider channel that promises more throughput? However, I didn’t know up front that the extra width could take up more of the 2.4GHz band, potentially interfering with nearby networks.
It’s mostly going to be just fine, but that setting deserves more attention if smart plugs keep going offline or you encounter unexplained Wi-Fi stutters.
40MHz buys a higher ceiling
On paper, it claims nearly half of the 2.4GHz band
Channel width is the radio bandwidth a router uses to send data. When you set this to 40MHz, your router will combine two 20MHz channels, and you’ve theoretically doubled the link rate. For context, this theoretically jumps a single-stream 802.11n connection from 72Mbps to 150Mbps.
Theoretical maximum link rates (ceilings) differ from real-world download speeds. Your signal, device, and internet plan all affect speed, and most 2.4GHz gear doesn’t come close to using the extra width. Even though they send tiny bursts of data, your smart plugs and sensors still occupy this band.
The commonly used 2.4GHz band spans 83.5MHz, from 2400 to 2483.5MHz, although the channels available to a router depend on its regulatory region. So, a 20MHz channel uses only about a quarter of what the 2.4GHz Wi-Fi band offers, and a 40MHz channel uses about half.
The familiar 1/6/11 plan uses three 20MHz channels spaced far enough apart to avoid overlapping each other in the conventional setup. This way, nearby Wi-Fi networks operate on separate portions of the band.
On the other hand, a 40MHz channel doesn’t fit into any of those portions without overlapping the spectrum used by other networks. Hence, higher theoretical speeds may leave less room for other networks.
20MHz
40MHz
Share of the band (on paper)
About ¼
About ½
Effect on the 1/6/11 plan
Fits one 20MHz channel
Can overlap multiple channels in the plan
Theoretical link rate
Baseline
Roughly double
Makes sense when
The band is busy and reliability matters
The band is quiet, and your device and signal can use it
Your router isn’t isolated
A wide channel can’t tuck itself between the neighbors
Two Wi-Fi networks that share a channel essentially detect each other’s transmissions and take turns using the airwaves. With partially overlapping channels, a device may be unable to decode the other network’s transmission cleanly. When those transmissions collide, interference can increase errors and retransmissions.
1/6/11 exists to solve this issue by spacing channels to avoid overlap, so neighboring networks operate on nonoverlapping channels, improving coexistence. This gets harder with a 40 MHz channel taking up more of the band, and everyone’s Wi-Fi may get worse.
My router was set to channel 1 with a 40MHz width, bonding upward to include channel 5. A scan showed a neighboring network on channel 5 with an 80% signal, plus another on channel 10 at 29%. The first was a strong nearby signal, although the scan alone couldn’t tell me how much interference it caused.
To be fair, common networking advice recommends against my kind of 40MHz setup on the 2.4GHz band. Apple recommends 20MHz for the 2.4GHz band, and Intel also advises against 40MHz. I get the appeal: 40MHz sounds like a free upgrade, which is why I chose it without considering what it meant for every other network.
Some routers automatically switch to 20MHz whenneeded to coexist with other networks. In my setup, Windows recorded a 104Mbps receive rate and 72.2Mbps transmit rate, but these figures alone couldn’t tell me how often my router had fallen back to 20MHz.
Dial it back to 20MHz
A one-setting experiment, judged on reliability
The exact steps depend on your router, but the setting is usually called Channel Width or Channel Bandwidth. It should be similar to my TP-Link router:
Open your router’s admin page.
Select Wireless 2.4GHz.
Click the Channel Width option and select 20MHz, then Save.
The 5GHz band has more room to spread out, so you don’t have to touch it. If your Channel Width was already set to 20Mhz, you don’t need to change anything, and the stutter you are experiencing is likely caused by something else.
A good check; not a miracle switch
After making the change, test under similar conditions as before and monitor for dropouts or buffering; this gives a better reliability check than a single speed test. It’s possible for peak link rate to fall on paper despite improved stability.
If you are on a Windows computer, running the command netsh wlan show interfaces reveals your channel, radio type, and link rates. These may suffice to see what the connection is actually doing.
However, this configuration isn’t going to act like a miracle switch. If you already have weak coverage or just a slow internet plan, having a narrower channel wouldn’t do much. On 5GHz, I use wider channels, but on 2.4GHz, you get barely enough room for three lanes.
Gregory Gibson is an IT specialist and technical writer who focuses on Linux and Windows Servers, Android customization, virtual private servers, web servers, and cybersecurity.
Gregory has worked in enterprise IT for over 15 years and enjoys creating content to help people get the most out of their homelab and self-hosted IT projects, and to stay safe online.
When not working, he enjoys photography, writing science fiction, and digital art.
I’m more than comfortable setting up virtual machines and breathing new life into old hardware with Linux. But sometimes I just want to poke around a desktop without it turning into a project.
Downloading another ISO, finding the disk space, and configuring a VM just feels like a lot of preparation work to satisfy ten minutes of curiosity.
That’s what initially drew me to DistroSea, which lets you try operating systems through your browser. I worked through Linux Mint, Ubuntu, and Fedora before wandering into some of the more obscure distros, like Bodhi and SliTaz.
I wanted to see whether these browser sessions could tell me enough to decide which distros deserved a more comprehensive test on my own hardware.
I went from picking a distro to exploring its desktop
Skipping the setup left more time to see what each desktop offered
Getting started with DistroSea was as easy as choosing a distribution, selecting a version or desktop edition, and launching the session. There are queues, but I never waited more than one minute, even for the more popular Linux distros.
One minute of waiting really isn’t a big deal compared to the time I’d otherwise spend downloading an ISO, flashing a USB drive, or configuring a virtual machine.
I started with Mint, Ubuntu, and Fedora. Moving between them made their differences immediately apparent and easier to appreciate than browsing desktop screenshots. Here’s what stood out the most when flipping between them:
Distribution
What stood out during my trial
Linux Mint Cinnamon
Aesthetically pleasing and straightforward desktop to navigate.
Ubuntu
The side dock kept applications accessible alongside the Files window and browser.
Fedora Workstation
The Activities overview brought previews, search, and open applications together.
Fedora wasn’t exactly new territory. I’d already become accustomed to the Workstation version during an earlier Linux experiment with an old Samsung tablet, but its approach to window management still stood out compared to Cinnamon (Mint) and Mutter (Ubuntu). These are all differences that I’d prefer to feel for myself before settling into an OS and later regretting it.
Bodhi Linux was where I lingered. Its Moksha desktop menus reminded me of a prettier version of Fluxbox, although its roots are in Enlightenment, not Blackbox. Bodhi, with the Moksha window manager, had gorgeous green styling and animation that gave it a lot of personality for such a lightweight distro. It looked pretty, felt snappy, and was incredibly easy to navigate.
Tiny Core took minimization to the extreme. Given that it’s one of the smallest Linux distros out there, that didn’t come as much of a surprise.
The useful part about using DistroSea for this kind of exploration is going beyond aesthetics alone. A screenshot can show me the position of a panel, but clicking through menus and handling windows tells me whether I’m going to love using it or hate fighting it.
DistroSea
OS
Browser-based, cross-platform
Key highlights
Interactive desktop trials, multiple distributions and versions, no local installation
DistroSea is a free web service that lets you try Linux distributions and other operating systems in your browser. Explore desktops and applications without downloading an ISO or setting up a local virtual machine.
I could install an app and actually use it
Internet access made the sessions useful beyond a desktop tour
DistroSea doesn’t require an account to use, but I did have to sign up for a free one to get internet access in my sessions. My first check was opening Firefox inside Ubuntu and loading Wikipedia, which opened without issue.
For a more practical test, I returned to Mint, opened up Software Manager, and searched for Geany. The lightweight IDE and text editor installed instantly, and I could launch it straight away. I typed in a short note and saved it in Documents as distrosea-test.txt.
There honestly weren’t any issues to report, which, for anything to do with Linux, almost seems too good to be true. The installation worked, the editor opened, and saving caused zero problems. I also didn’t even notice any significant lag during the testing.
Geany and a tiny text file hardly constitute a demanding workload, so I wouldn’t confidently say I could install something like the GIMP image manipulation software and expect it to run blazingly fast.
There was also another question left to answer. Saving my documents worked, but were the sessions sticky if I was using a free account?
The limits showed up when I pushed beyond a quick look
The sessions were useful, but I couldn’t treat them like my own computer
Out of all the distros I tried, Tiny Core Linux gave me the most trouble. Its desktop showed up as a whopping 800×600 resolution, and the remote pointer couldn’t keep up with my actual mouse movement. Using a mouse, therefore, became impossible as my cursor would leave the display area before the pointer even reached what I wanted to click.
My keyboard navigation skills got an unexpected workout as I tried blindly smashing Tab, Space, Enter, and Alt + F2 in an attempt to open apps. Thankfully, clicking on the desktop brought up a menu that allowed me to open ControlPanel, set a repo mirror, and search for software.
Linux Mint revealed one significant limitation. I ended the session where I’d saved my Geany document, only to find the document was gone on the next session. Any changes made to a session are destroyed once it ends, so no work can carry over.
As DistroSea launches live versions of distros, it’s best to treat files created during a trial as temporary. My saved document disappeared when I ended the Mint session and started a fresh one.
These limits do give local testing quite an advantage. A VM offers far more control over a longer trial, while booting Linux on my own hardware allows me to check graphics, Wi-Fi, and any hardware that might struggle. A browser session can’t answer those kinds of compatibility questions.
For my curiosity, though, DistroSea already does something really useful. I can explore desktop layouts and try an application before deciding whether to spend the time and effort on getting it running on my own hardware.
I stayed for the distros I would normally skip
Trying something unfamiliar took little enough effort that I kept exploring
My final DistroSea detour was trying out SliTaz Linux, the basic layout of which gave me flashbacks to the early GNOME desktop days. It was fast and snappy to use, and exploring its menus was enough to satisfy my immediate curiosity.
And that’s where DistroSea really starts to make sense. A passing interest was enough reason to try something new, unfamiliar, or downright weird. I didn’t need another ISO in my downloads folder or another VM to spin up and configure.
Discovering Bodhi Linux was an excellent example of rewarding that kind of curiosity. I enjoyed using it so much that I’ve decided to try it out on a spare laptop. If it weren’t available for trial on DistroSea, I wouldn’t have even made the effort to explore it, let alone love it enough to install it.
Across the sessions, I’d compared desktops, installed an application, and explored distros. Most of the distros I explored wouldn’t have even earned a second glance if it hadn’t been so easy to just launch them in my browser.
Losing saved files between sessions and wrestling with Tiny Core showed DistroSea’s limitations, but didn’t erase the value and power of first impressions.
I came away with a clearer idea of which desktops were of interest to me, before spending any time setting any of them up locally. For an afternoon of Linux curiosity, that was plenty.
Floods and prolonged power outages after hurricanes can jeopardize the safety of your food. It’s important to take the proper steps to evaluate and discard certain foods and utensils after these events.
Drink only bottled water or other beverages that have not been in contact with flood water. Screw caps are not waterproof, so discard any bottled water or other beverages that may have come in contact with flood water. If you don’t have bottled water, learn how to safely boil or disinfect water.
Discard any food that is not in a waterproof container if there is any chance it may have been in contact with flood water. Containers with screw caps, snap lids, pull tops and crimped caps are not waterproof.
Thoroughly wash all metal pans, utensils and ceramic dishes that came in contact with flood water with hot soapy water. Rinse, then sanitize, by boiling them in clean water or by immersing them for 15 minutes in a solution of one of tablespoon unscented, liquid chlorine bleach per gallon of drinking water.
Discard wooden cutting boards, plastic utensils, baby bottle nipples and pacifiers that may have come in contact with flood water. These items cannot be saved after contact with flood water.
Click on image to enlarge
For questions about food safety, call the Meat and Poultry Hotline at 1-888-674-6854, Monday – Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. EDT (English or Spanish), email [email protected] or live chat at Ask USDA.
News Desk
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
Walker’s Wine Juice LLC of Forestville, NY, is recalling its pumpkin juice because it may be contaminated with Botulism.
Botulism is a potentially fatal form of food poisoning and can cause the following symptoms: general weakness, dizziness, double-vision, and trouble with speaking or swallowing. Difficulty in breathing, weakness of other muscles, abdominal distension, and constipation may also be common symptoms. People experiencing these problems should seek immediate medical attention.
Product was distributed via Walker’s Wine Juice retail store in NY. The juice was also distributed directly by Walker’s to a limited number of commercial wineries in the following states: IL, IN, KS, KY, ME, MI, MN, NJ, NY, OH, PA, WI.
Products can be identified as follows:
2.5-gallon bag in box and 5-gallon hot pack are labeled “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall
30-, 60-, and 275-gallon bulk containers are tagged “pumpkin”; All lots are subject to the recall
No illnesses have been reported to date.
The potential contamination was discovered after an inspection by New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets Food Inspectors found that the pumpkin juice pH was too high to be processed per Walker’s “hot fill” schedule process. As a result, it was determined that no adequate kill step was used to address the possibility of microbiological hazards.
News Desk
The News Desk team at Food Safety News covers breaking developments, regulatory updates, recalls, and key topics shaping food safety today. These articles are produced collaboratively by our editorial staff.
Floods and prolonged power outages after hurricanes can jeopardize the safety of your food. It’s important to take the proper steps to evaluate and discard certain foods and utensils
Another company is recalling its branded sprouting seeds linked to a Salmonella outbreak, but the Food and Drug Administration continues to refuse to reveal the name of the seed supplier.
This time, Gardeners Basics of Spanish Fork, Utah, is recalling one-pound bags of broccoli sprouting seeds. The recalled product is Gardeners Basics Waltham 29 Broccoli Sprouting Seeds, packaged in a white and green resealable pouches, net weight 1 pound, with the UPC 848137042889. The bag is marked “Packed for 2027.”
The recalled sprouting seeds were distributed nationwide in the United States and was sold on Amazon, www.gardenersbasics.com, TikTok Shop, Walmart, eBay and Etsy.
The recall is in association with a multistate outbreak of Salmonella Bovismorbificans infections that has sickened at least 32 people in six states. There have been three hospitalizations but no deaths. The last outbreak patient reported symptom onset on Sept. 3. The states where the sick people live are Idaho, Minnesota, Montana, Oregon, Utah and Washington.
As part of this investigation, the FDA collected and analyzed a sample of seeds from the seed supplier identified in the investigation. The seed sample tested positive and whole genome sequencing (WGS) analysis showed that it matched the same Salmonella Bovismorbificans strain that is making people sick in this outbreak. As a result, the seed supplier conducted a recall of the implicated seed lot and contacted their customers.
The FDA has not released the name of the seed supplier to the public, even though its seeds have been subject to recalls by several companies.
On Oct. 2 EAK Distribution of Casper, WY,, recalled Home Grown green sprouting broccoli seeds after they were notified of the recall of seed lot #W4105 by the seed supplier and the link to this outbreak.
On Oct. 7, Eden Brothers LLC, of Arden, NC, recalled calabrese broccoli seeds in packets and in 1-ounce and 1-pound sizes. The Eden Brothers lots were 1022067 and 1022068; and supplier lot W4105.
The FDA is also investigating Evergreen Fresh Sprouts, LLC of Moyie Springs, ID, because its alfalfa sprouts — not seeds, but actual sprouts — were found by Washington investigators to be contaminated with the same strain of Salmonella that is making people sick.
According to an FDA outbreak update released Sept, 24, there were 27 patients who had been interviewed at that time. Ot the 27 patients, 26 reported eating sprouts or microgreens.
On Sept. 4, Evergreen Fresh Sprouts LLC initiated a recall of broccoli sprouts based on a positive Salmonella result from a broccoli sprouts sample collected and analyzed by Montana state officials. According to whole genome sequencing analysis conducted by state partners and reviewed by FDA, the positive sample is the same strain of Salmonella that is causing illnesses in this outbreak.
There are likely many more people sick in the outbreak than are reflected in the official count at this time, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This is because some people don’t seek treatment and others are not specifically tested for Salmonella infection. For every confirmed patient on a Salmonella outbreak there are 29 who go undetected.
About Salmonella infections Food contaminated with Salmonella bacteria does not usually look, smell, or taste spoiled. Anyone can become sick with a Salmonella infection. Infants, children, seniors, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of serious illness because their immune systems are fragile.
Anyone who has eaten any sprouts and developed symptoms of Salmonella infection should seek medical attention. Sick people should tell their doctors about the possible exposure to Salmonella bacteria because special tests are necessary to diagnose salmonellosis. Salmonella infection symptoms can mimic other illnesses, frequently leading to misdiagnosis.
Symptoms of Salmonella infection can include diarrhea, abdominal cramps, and fever within 12 to 72 hours after eating contaminated food. Otherwise, healthy adults are usually sick for four to seven days. In some cases, however, diarrhea may be so severe that patients require hospitalization.
Older adults, children, pregnant women, and people with weakened immune systems, such as cancer patients, are more likely to develop a severe illness and serious, sometimes life-threatening conditions.
Some people get infected without getting sick or showing any symptoms. However, they may still spread the infections to others.
To install app on your device, tap the Share button in Safari. Scroll down and select 'Add to Home Screen'. Then tap 'Add' to place the app icon on your Home Screen.
Manage push notifications
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
You are subscribed to notifications
We would like to show you notifications for the latest news and updates.
You are subscribed to notifications
Would like to install our app?
Progressive Web App (PWA) is installed successfully. It will also work in offline
Push notification permission blocked in browser settings. Reset the notification settings for website/PWA
