Technology · Monday, November 2, 2026 · 3 sources

Samsung Galaxy S27 and S27+ tipped to keep 12-megapixel selfie cameras

Samsung’s Galaxy S27 and S27+ may retain the 12-megapixel front camera used since the Galaxy S23, according to Dutch publication GalaxyClub, cited by Gadgets 360 and the other reports. GalaxyClub’s leak suggests the rumoured S27 Pro and S27 Ultra could instead get 16-megapixel selfie cameras; Samsung has not confirmed the lineup or specifications.

Bottom line — If the leak is accurate, the 16-megapixel selfie upgrade would be reserved for Samsung’s Pro and Ultra models.

Go deeper 5

Gadgets 360 reports that the S27 and S27+ may keep triple rear cameras: 50-megapixel main, 12-megapixel ultra-wide and 10-megapixel telephoto.
The same report says Samsung may upgrade the standard models’ primary rear camera, while leaving the other two sensors unchanged.
NDTV Profit notes that camera resolution alone does not determine image quality; processing and software also matter.
Analytics Insight reports that the S27 range may include four models, adding a Pro variant; Samsung has not confirmed the lineup.
Analytics Insight lists unconfirmed US starting-price rumours of $899 for the S27 and $1,099 for the S27+. These convert to about €830 ($899) and €1,015 ($1,099), respectively.

Read the reporting 3

Gadgets 360 gadgets360.com Samsung Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+ Could Miss This Selfie Camera Upgrade Ndtvprofit ndtvprofit.com Samsung Galaxy S27, Galaxy S27+ May Retain S26 Selfie Camera; Pro, Ultra Tipped for Upgrade: Report analyticsinme analyticsinsight.net Samsung Galaxy S27 and S27+ May Skip Selfie Camera Upgrade Next Year

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World · Mon, Nov 2

Ukraine resumes strikes on Russian oil refineries despite Trump’s pressure

Ukrainian long-range drones reportedly struck the Kstovo refinery in Russia’s Nizhny Novgorod region, after attacks on other Russian energy facilities. Russian authorities reported significant damage but did not identify the site; Ukrainian officials have said Kyiv never agreed to a proposed pause in refinery strikes. Trump has pressed Ukraine to stop the attacks, which he blames for rising fuel prices.

Bottom line — Zelenskyy said Ukraine would pause refinery strikes for a month if Washington supplied Patriot missiles for the same period.

Sources The Telegraph The Guardian AFP.com +5 more

Europe · Mon, Nov 2

Belgium’s De Wever offers resignation after €10 billion budget talks collapse

Belgian Prime Minister Bart De Wever offered his resignation to King Philippe on Monday after his five-party coalition failed to agree on next year’s budget, VRT NWS reports. The government has been seeking €10 billion in cuts and tax increases; Reuters reports that the king could send De Wever back to negotiate rather than accept the resignation immediately.

Bottom line — King Philippe’s decision will determine whether De Wever gets another negotiating deadline or Belgium moves towards a new coalition or elections.

Sources euronews POLITICO Yahoo News +4 more

Science · Mon, Nov 2

MBARI films rare barreleye fish with transparent head in 4K

Researchers from the Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute filmed a barreleye fish about 90 kilometres off California, at a depth of roughly 600 metres. The team watched it for around 20 minutes using the remotely operated vehicle Doc Ricketts; senior scientist Steven Haddock said the footage may help researchers study how deep-sea animals use vision in low light.

Bottom line — MBARI has encountered the barreleye just 11 times in nearly four decades of exploration.

Sources DT News Free Press Journal Hindustan Times

Cyber Security · Mon, Nov 2

Binance reopens withdrawals after €5.5bn heist, with €3.2bn leaving in the first day

Binance resumed cryptocurrency withdrawals in phases after a security breach that the FBI attributed to North Korea’s TraderTraitor unit; the exchange put the theft at about €5.5 billion ($6.3 billion). Binance reported €3.2 billion ($3.64 billion) in net outflows during its stated reopening window, 2.1% of its €158 billion ($171 billion) in assets. The company said it had covered about 95% of the financial impact, while the remaining tokens could take longer to source.

Bottom line — Binance says it has covered 95% of the €5.5bn ($6.3bn) impact; its withdrawal figures remain disputed.

Sources Nairametrics MEO FinanceFeeds +8 more

Cyber Security · Mon, Nov 2

Cyberattack reports hit Swedish and Belgian supermarket cooling systems

Several ICA and Coop stores in Sweden reported overnight failures in refrigeration systems, while around 40 Delhaize stores and smaller numbers of Carrefour and Spar stores in Belgium also reported problems. ICA confirmed an incident affecting a limited number of stores but has not confirmed a cyberattack; some store managers said temperatures reached 50°C and stock was spoiled. The incidents follow attacks on hundreds of French supermarkets in October, but no link between the events has been confirmed.

Bottom line — Coop confirmed problems at six Swedish stores; the full number affected and the cause remain unclear.

Sources El País Euro Weekly News Cyber Security News +8 more

Cyber Security · Mon, Nov 2

Hackers send false nuclear warnings through Ukraine and Russia’s emergency apps

Ukraine’s Air Alert app sent false warnings of radiation, chemical danger and street fighting, including a fabricated alert about Russia’s nuclear-capable Oreshnik missile. Hours later, Russia said its emergency app had also been hacked to send false nuclear warnings. Officials said wider public-alert systems remained operational; who carried out the attacks and whether they were connected is unclear.

Bottom line — Ukraine’s Air Alert app was gradually restored, while Russia said its app’s full functionality would return by the end of the day.

Sources NBC News Openthemag www.bbc.com +9 more

Football · Mon, Nov 2

Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0 at Anfield to move three points clear

Kai Havertz scored in the 16th minute as Arsenal beat Liverpool 1-0, earning their first Premier League win at Anfield since 2012 and moving three points clear of Manchester City. Liverpool pressed for an equaliser but finished without a shot on target; manager Mikel Arteta said it was too early to draw conclusions about the title race.

Bottom line — Arsenal have 24 points after nine games; Liverpool are fifth, nine points behind.

Sources BBC Sport AS USA CBS Sports +8 more

Space · Mon, Nov 2

Hubble and Webb find 27 distant objects preserving clues to the solar system’s beginnings

NASA’s Hubble and James Webb telescopes jointly observed 27 newly discovered trans-Neptunian objects, icy bodies orbiting beyond Neptune. The objects’ colours resemble those of larger bodies despite expectations that collisions would have changed their surfaces; researchers also found fewer small objects than some planet-formation models predicted.

Bottom line — The 27 objects offer evidence about how planetesimals formed, while their unexpectedly low numbers leave models to explain.

Sources ScienceDaily ebs.publicnow.com www.cfa.harvard.edu +1 more

Science · Mon, Nov 2

Platinum bonds respond to surface structures up to 10 nanometres away

Researchers at the Max Planck Institute for Multidisciplinary Sciences and the Center for Quantum Nanoscience found that a molecule’s bond to platinum can be affected by a surface step up to about 10 nanometres away. The Science study measured ammonia, carbon monoxide and nitric oxide, finding that the distance of the effect varied by molecule and that adsorption energies changed by up to 0.2 electron volts.

Bottom line — The findings suggest models of platinum catalysts must account for surface structure beyond the atoms next to a molecule.

Sources chemeurope.com www.mpinat.mpg.de EurekAlert +5 more

Gaming Hardware · Mon, Nov 2

A modded RTX 2080 Ti doubles VRAM to 22 GB, lifting some 4K game results by up to 73%

German outlet PC Games Hardware tested an eight-year-old GeForce RTX 2080 Ti modified with 22 GB of memory, against the standard 11 GB card. Its tests found little change in most games at 1440p, but at 4K the modified card was up to 73% faster in Flight Simulator 2024 and 64% faster in Spider-Man 2; gains depended on the game and settings.

Bottom line — PC Games Hardware’s tests show that more VRAM can ease memory limits, but it does not add processing power to the RTX 2080 Ti.

Sources Wccftech www.pcsofter.com videocardz.com +5 more

Cyber Security · Mon, Nov 2

Apple warns iPhone users in 110 countries of mercenary spyware targeting

Apple says it sent high-confidence spyware warnings to iPhone users in 110 countries, after detecting what it describes as targeted mercenary spyware attacks. The company has not identified the attackers or spyware, and says an alert indicates targeting, not proof that a device was compromised.

Bottom line — Apple has issued notifications in more than 150 countries since it began the alerts in 2021.

Sources www.techspot.com thehackernews.com Techlicious +3 more

TV/Movies · Mon, Nov 2

Netflix acquires Joel Coen’s ‘Jack of Spades’ for autumn 2027 cinema release

Netflix has acquired worldwide rights to Joel Coen’s gothic mystery, with a theatrical release planned for autumn 2027 before it reaches the streaming service. Set in the Scottish Highlands and adapted from Frances Frederica Montrésor’s 1901 novel, the film stars Patsy Ferran, Josh O’Connor, Damian Lewis and Lesley Manville.

Bottom line — Netflix plans to put ‘Jack of Spades’ in cinemas before its streaming debut in 2027.

Sources Deadline Variety TheWrap +5 more

Cyber Security · Mon, Nov 2

Polymarket will refund €3.6 million after a hijacked DebugBear script drained traders

A malicious replacement for DebugBear’s page-monitoring script used signed-in Polymarket traders’ existing access to move funds and positions on 29 October. Polymarket says 726 wallets were affected and it is returning €3.6 million ($3.9 million), including compensation for losses during a trading pause; DebugBear says its DNS records were compromised through its domain registrar.

Bottom line — Polymarket says it is adding stronger script checks after the breach, which sent about €2.4 million ($2.64 million) in POL to the attackers’ wallet.

Sources DEV Community SOFX threat-intelligence.… +4 more

Science · Mon, Nov 2

Human metabolism produced 2.05 billion tonnes of CO₂ a year by 2015

A University of Bath-led study estimates that CO₂ produced as people convert food into energy rose 74%, from 1.18 billion tonnes in 1985 to 2.05 billion tonnes in 2015. Published in The Lancet Planetary Health, the study attributes more than 60% of the increase to population growth and says the findings can improve carbon accounting; exhaled CO₂ is largely carbon recently absorbed by plants, unlike emissions from burning fossil fuels.

Bottom line — Population growth drove more than 60% of the rise, but the researchers say breathing is not driving climate change.

Sources Phys.org uniofbath Lifeboat News: The B… +3 more

Games · Mon, Nov 2

Valve’s cancelled Portal prequel F-Stop is now playable after leaks

A community has assembled a playable version of F-Stop, Valve’s cancelled 2007 Portal prequel, from assets, source code and map files leaked in separate batches. Players describe the build as about 99% complete, with some textures and dialogue missing, according to Kotaku; Valve has not commented.

Bottom line — F-Stop’s camera-based puzzles can now be played, nearly 20 years after Valve shelved the project.

Sources verge Kotaku AOL.com +6 more

Europe · Mon, Nov 2

UK links cheaper EU student fees to access to the bloc’s Made in Europe scheme

The UK government is willing to let EU students pay reduced university fees if Brussels grants British firms access to its proposed Made in Europe industrial scheme, according to The Guardian. The highest-cost option could require the government to pay universities up to €515m (£450m) a year, while UK officials called that estimate speculative and too high; talks are under way ahead of the 20 November summit.

Bottom line — The Guardian reports that student fees and Made in Europe access remain two hurdles in the UK-EU summit negotiations.

Sources The Telegraph Yorkshire Post The Scotsman +7 more

Gaming Hardware · Mon, Nov 2

Nvidia’s RTX 5080 24GB may miss January 2027 launch

Nvidia’s rumoured GeForce RTX 5080 24GB may miss its expected January 2027 launch because board partners had reportedly still not received the design kits needed to develop the card, according to Notebookcheck and Wccftech, citing Benchlife. Nvidia could still announce it at CES from 6 to 9 January, with retail availability several weeks later; the company has not confirmed the card or its schedule.

Bottom line — Benchlife reports no revised date; a launch later in Q1 2027 remains possible.

Sources www.notebookcheck.ne… Wccftech

Science · Mon, Nov 2

Egyptian ape fossil dating back 17–18 million years challenges East African origins

Researchers have described Masripithecus moghraensis, a fossil ape found at Wadi Moghra in northern Egypt, from a lower jaw dating to about 17–18 million years ago. The study, published in Science, identifies it as the first definitive Early Miocene ape fossil from North Africa and finds it closer to living apes than any known ape of similar age from East Africa, challenging assumptions about where living apes originated.

Bottom line — The study points to northern Africa and the Middle East as a possible home of the common ancestor of living apes.

Sources NewsBytes en.wikipedia.org Discover Magazine +3 more

Games · Mon, Nov 2

Rockstar previews six GTA 6 radio stations and confirms on-demand podcasts

Rockstar has published playable previews of six GTA 6 radio stations, spanning Latin music, country, African music, metal, pop and Southern hip-hop. The studio also confirmed that players can listen to radio and on-demand podcasts on foot through headphones or earbuds connected to the protagonists’ smartphones, as well as in vehicles.

Bottom line — The six previews include 18 identified tracks, but Rockstar has not disclosed the full station count or podcast line-up.

Sources https://tech-insider… gamersbeacon.com GTA6ERA +1 more

Global Economy · Mon, Nov 2

Bank of England expected to raise rates to 4% as UK inflation accelerates

The Bank of England is widely expected to raise its benchmark rate by a quarter-point to 4% on Thursday, its first increase since August 2023. UK inflation reached 3.5% in September, and the Office for Budget Responsibility forecasts it will approach 4% early next year; the Bank will also publish updated economic and inflation forecasts.

Bottom line — Markets have priced in further increases, but Oxford Economics’ Alexander Harvey says Thursday’s move need not begin a prolonged hiking cycle.

Sources Financial Times News FXStreet

TV/Movies · Mon, Nov 2

John Leeson, the voice of Doctor Who’s K9, dies aged 83

Leeson, best known for voicing the robotic dog K9 in Doctor Who, died peacefully on 1 November after a summer of illness, his son Guy Ducker announced. He first voiced K9 in 1977 and reprised the role in the original series, its revival and spin-offs.

Bottom line — Leeson voiced K9 across decades of Doctor Who, from The Invisible Enemy in 1977 to later spin-offs and audio dramas.

Sources Bleeding Cool News en.wikipedia.org Doctor Who TV +7 more

Europe · Mon, Nov 2

US backs proposal to restore Russian gas sales to Europe via Ukraine

The US is backing a proposal to restart Russian gas sales to Europe through pipelines crossing Ukraine, as part of efforts to secure an energy truce before winter, the Wall Street Journal reported, citing US, European and Ukrainian officials. Envoys Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff raised the idea in visits to Moscow and Kyiv in September; a US intermediary could handle sales, with proceeds held in escrow and Ukraine earning transit fees.

Bottom line — The proposal runs against the EU’s requirement to phase out Russian gas imports by the end of 2027.

Sources The Times of India Bruegel | The Brusse… Wilson Center +7 more

World · Mon, Nov 2

Zelenskyy offers to meet Putin in Türkiye as Kyiv seeks a leaders’ summit

Volodymyr Zelenskyy said he is ready to meet Vladimir Putin in Türkiye, with Recep Tayyip Erdoğan potentially hosting a trilateral summit that also includes Donald Trump. In an interview with CNN Türk, Zelenskyy said technical teams would discuss energy and maritime ceasefires and prisoner exchanges, while leaders should address a full ceasefire, security guarantees, reconstruction and territorial issues.

Bottom line — Zelenskyy says Ukraine will not recognise Russian control of its occupied territories, including Crimea.

Sources Українська правда Georgia Today on the… Hurriyet Daily News +7 more

Global Economy · Mon, Nov 2

AfD shifts from euro exit towards rewriting EU rules as it eyes power

Germany’s AfD is debating whether to replace its founding call to quit the euro with a strategy to renegotiate EU treaties and create a looser union. A paper presented by co-leader Alice Weidel proposes national opt-outs and stricter budget enforcement, while leaving euro membership open and a referendum as a fallback if reform fails, according to Reuters.

Bottom line — The AfD’s euro stance remains contested: a youth-wing resolution backing a European idea was withdrawn after failing to win enough support.

Sources www.japantimes.co.jp US News & World Repo… en.wikipedia.org +5 more

Health · Mon, Nov 2

COVID jabs linked to longer survival for cancer patients on immunotherapy

A 2026 Frontiers meta-analysis of 10 observational studies, covering 4,929 patients receiving immune checkpoint inhibitors, found COVID-19 vaccination was associated with longer overall and progression-free survival. The authors stress that the evidence cannot establish cause and effect; a separate Nature study reported similar associations and proposed an immune-activation mechanism.

Bottom line — Across 10 studies, vaccinated patients had a pooled overall-survival hazard ratio of 0.51, but prospective trials are still needed.

Sources ascopubs.org www.nature.com Frontiers +4 more

Apple · Mon, Nov 2

Apple plans 2027 Touch MacBook Pros with M7 Pro and M7 Max chips

Apple is planning second-generation touchscreen MacBook Pro models for 2027, with M7 Pro and M7 Max chips and new AI-focused hardware capabilities, Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman reports. He also says Apple is preparing an entry-level 14-inch MacBook Pro with a standard M7 chip and the slimmer design and bezels of the redesigned models.

Bottom line — Gurman’s report points to M7 Pro and M7 Max Touch models in 2027, but Apple has not confirmed the plans.

Sources firstpost The Apple Post Apple Support +2 more

World · Mon, Nov 2

Drone strikes leave Sudan’s power grid increasingly dependent on a handful of stations

Drone strikes have hit electricity infrastructure across Sudan, including substations in Al-Dabbah and Abu Hamad, where Sunday’s attacks cut power, according to AP News. Sudanese rights group Emergency Lawyers said 15 facilities were targeted in October; the Sudanese government and the group blamed the Rapid Support Forces, which did not immediately comment to AP. The outages have disrupted water supplies and businesses and threatened hospitals, medicine storage and irrigation.

Bottom line — Emergency Lawyers counted 15 electricity facilities attacked in October, as Sudan’s grid faces further strain.

Sources AP News AL-MONITOR: The Midd… Ground News +2 more

Technology · Mon, Nov 2

Samsung Galaxy S27 and S27+ tipped to keep 12-megapixel selfie cameras

Bottom line — If the leak is accurate, the 16-megapixel selfie upgrade would be reserved for Samsung’s Pro and Ultra models.

Sources Gadgets 360 www.ndtvprofit.com analyticsinme

Technology · Mon, Nov 2

Microsoft calendar errors follow Canada’s decision to stop seasonal clock changes

Parts of British Columbia, Alberta and Manitoba stopped changing their clocks on 1 November, but Microsoft’s software had not fully adapted, The Register reports. Microsoft said some Outlook meetings scheduled after the change may show the wrong time; users must update existing events, while fixes for recurring meetings and other services are still in development or pending.

Bottom line — Microsoft’s recurring-meeting fix has no confirmed arrival date.

Sources theregister co.usembassy.gov MicrosoftLearn +5 more

Football · Mon, Nov 2

Al-Hilal weighs €55m January bid for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes

Al-Hilal are considering an offer of about €55 million (£46 million) for Manchester United captain Bruno Fernandes in January, according to reports citing Italian outlet Tuttomercatoweb. Fernandes’s contract runs to June 2027, with United holding an option to extend it by a year; reports say renewal talks have stalled, but no formal bid has been made.

Bottom line — Any move would depend on a formal offer, Manchester United’s willingness to sell and Fernandes’s decision.

Sources goal Yahoo Sports Man United News And … +4 more

Global Economy · Mon, Nov 2

Kazimir says markets are underestimating the ECB rate rises needed to curb inflation

Slovak central bank chief Peter Kazimir said the ECB will need to raise interest rates again, warning that markets may underestimate how much tightening is required to keep inflation from becoming entrenched. The ECB held rates last week; Kazimir said the pause was not a finish line and that the question is how much more action is needed.

Bottom line — Markets price in two to three ECB rate rises over the next year, but Kazimir says that may not be enough.

Sources www.bloomberg.com PrimeXBT Standard +6 more

Gaming Hardware · Mon, Nov 2

Nvidia’s RTX 5090 reaches €8,680 in the US as GPU prices surge

TechSpot’s October survey of 10 countries found gaming GPU prices rose 11% on average month on month, after increases of 7% in September and 15% in August. The RTX 5090’s cheapest available US listing reached €8,680 ($9,400), 370% above its launch MSRP; Nvidia has denied reports that the card is discontinued, TechSpot reports.

Bottom line — TechSpot says GPU prices rose 35% in three months, with no sign yet of a peak.

Sources Wccftech .partofstyle en.wikipedia.org +1 more

Gaming Hardware · Mon, Nov 2

Intel projects Nova Lake gaming gains of up to 33% over its current flagship

Leaked Intel projections put a 28-core Nova Lake-S configuration up to 33% ahead of the Core Ultra 9 285K in gaming; the standard 28-core model is projected to be 16% faster. The estimates use DDR5-8000 memory and higher power limits than the comparison system, and are not independent benchmark results.

Bottom line — Intel's August projections put the top 28-core Nova Lake-S configuration 33% ahead, but reviews will test whether that holds.

Sources Lowyat.NET Teknoloji Haberleri …

Health · Mon, Nov 2

Microsoft’s diagnostic AI scores 83% in simulated medical cases

Microsoft says its MAI-DxO system correctly diagnosed 83% of 304 complex medical cases, compared with 36% for generalist doctors using reference materials. The study, published in Science, used existing cases rather than treating patients; doctors were assessed individually, and the researchers did not compare the system with specialist teams.

Bottom line — MAI-DxO remains a research system; Microsoft’s results need testing with real patients.

Sources Yahoo Tech Fox News

Global Economy · Mon, Nov 2

Eurozone banks tighten business and consumer lending as loan demand falls

Eurozone banks tightened standards for business loans and consumer credit in the third quarter of 2026, while demand fell for business, housing and consumer loans, the ECB’s October Bank Lending Survey found. Banks cited higher interest rates, weaker confidence and greater risk perceptions; they expect further tightening in the fourth quarter.

Bottom line — A net 27% of banks reported falling housing-loan demand in the third quarter, and 36% expect it to decline further.

Sources Cyprus Mail

TV/Movies · Mon, Nov 2

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil tops $400 million worldwide

Zach Cregger’s Resident Evil has grossed about $400 million worldwide, making it the highest-grossing film in the eight-film live-action franchise, according to Variety. The film has taken $157.4 million in North America and $242.6 million overseas; it also surpasses Cregger’s Weapons, which grossed $270 million, according to Insider Gaming.

Bottom line — Resident Evil has passed the franchise’s previous record-holder, Resident Evil: Afterlife.

Sources Yahoo Insider Gaming Game Rant

Games · Mon, Nov 2

Nagoshi Studio dissolves, leaving Gang of Dragon’s future uncertain

Nagoshi Studio, founded by Like a Dragon creator Toshihiro Nagoshi, was dissolved by a shareholders’ resolution on October 31, according to a notice in Japan’s Official Gazette. NetEase had reportedly withdrawn funding after the game needed at least ¥7 billion (€41 million; $44.4 million) more to finish, and Gang of Dragon has no confirmed new backer or release plan.

Bottom line — Gang of Dragon remains listed on Steam, but no successor studio or cancellation has been announced.

Sources Beebom TOY PEOPLE VGChartz +4 more

Science · Mon, Nov 2

Global Meteor Network confirms two annual showers from comets yet to be found

Researchers using years of Global Meteor Network data have identified two new annual meteor showers, M2026-R1 and M2026-S1, which the International Astronomical Union has added to its Meteor Data Center list. Their retrograde orbits point to Halley-type comets, but searches found no matching parent bodies in the JPL comet catalogue, according to Tech Times.

Bottom line — M2026-R1 peaks around 18 July and M2026-S1 around 19 August; both trace debris from an unidentified comet.

Sources Tech Times Global Meteor Networ… tammojan.github.io +4 more

World · Mon, Nov 2

Iran offers a two-day Hormuz reopening plan as Washington warns of alternatives

At the Manama Dialogue in Bahrain, US Assistant Secretary of State Donald Blome said diplomatic channels with Tehran remained open but Washington was prepared to take another course if shipping through the Strait of Hormuz was not restored. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said talks with Qatari mediators were continuing on a plan to reopen the strait within two days, conditional on the US meeting Tehran’s demands.

Bottom line — The proposed two-day reopening depends on Tehran’s conditions, including sanctions relief and a reduced US military presence.

Sources The Tribune www.newkerala.com www.malaysiasun.com +5 more

Cyber Security · Mon, Nov 2

Lenovo’s AES-256 fingerprint USB drive contained an unencrypted SD card

Security researcher Xusheng Li found that Lenovo’s ThinkPlus FU100 stored files unencrypted on a standard SD card; its fingerprint reader only controlled the USB connection. Lenovo later issued fixes for the FU100 and other devices, while Li’s follow-up research, reported by Tom’s Hardware, found hardcoded keys and other weaknesses in USB security products from several manufacturers.

Bottom line — Lenovo rated its advisory high severity; Li found Netac’s encryption tool had a fixed key and no patch was available as of his March talk.

Sources Tom GIGAZINE AI News Leader +2 more

Technology · Mon, Nov 2

Surrey researchers find hydrated sodium material nearly doubles battery charge

University of Surrey researchers found that retaining water in a sodium vanadate hydrate cathode boosted its charge capacity, charging speed and stability compared with its dried counterpart. The material held nearly twice as much charge as typical sodium-ion cathodes and remained stable for more than 400 cycles, according to the study in the Journal of Materials Chemistry A. In salt-water tests, the battery also removed sodium ions while a graphite electrode extracted chloride, a process known as electrochemical desalination.

Bottom line — The Surrey team’s salt-water tests point to a possible battery that stores energy while desalinating water.

Sources TechSpot www.surrey.ac.uk ScienceDaily

Space · Mon, Nov 2

Mars’s 36 northern polar craters show seasonal changes in bright ice deposits

Researchers examined images of 36 craters near Mars’s north pole taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter between 2006 and 2025. The study, published in JGR: Planets, found changing bright deposits in 32 craters, consistent with seasonal ice or frost shifts; the other four showed no brightness changes.

Bottom line — The 32 changing craters point to local frost cycles, not a uniform response across Mars’s northern polar region.

Sources Universe Today en.wikipedia.org www.eaps.purdue.edu +2 more

Space · Mon, Nov 2

NASA seeks commercial plans to boost or safely retire Hubble by 2032

NASA has asked companies how they could raise the Hubble Space Telescope’s orbit, service it or guide it to a controlled disposal. The telescope is losing altitude and could re-enter Earth’s atmosphere in 2033 or 2034, according to NASA; any mission would need to happen by 2032. The request for information does not commit NASA to funding or buying a mission.

Bottom line — Companies have until 30 November to respond, but NASA has set aside no money for a mission.

Sources SatellitePro ME CIO News Mashable India +5 more

Europe · Mon, Nov 2

Iliana Yotova wins Bulgaria’s presidential runoff with 58% in initial counts

Acting President Iliana Yotova received 58% in initial counts of Bulgaria’s presidential runoff, against about 38% for former interim prime minister Andrey Gyurov, according to polling agencies cited by the Associated Press and Al Jazeera. Gyurov conceded; official results were expected on Monday. If confirmed, Yotova will become Bulgaria’s first elected female head of state.

Bottom line — Yotova’s result gives Prime Minister Rumen Radev’s governing camp the presidency as well as its parliamentary majority.

Sources Yahoo News Los Angeles Times dw.com +3 more

World · Mon, Nov 2

Israeli strikes kill eight in Gaza, including a four-year-old boy

Hospital officials said strikes killed three people, including a four-year-old boy, in Gaza City and five in Khan Younis. The Israeli military said it had attacked military operatives; it has not provided further information or evidence, according to the BBC. The strikes came amid a ceasefire that began in October 2025, during which Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 1,570 Palestinians have been killed.

Bottom line — Gaza’s Health Ministry puts the death toll since the October 2023 war began at 74,594.

Sources www.bbc.com BBC News arabnews +3 more

AI · Mon, Nov 2

South Korea exports jump 93.7% as AI chip shipments surge

South Korea’s exports rose 93.7% year on year in October to €106.2 billion (US$115.28 billion), their strongest increase since January 1974. The trade ministry said semiconductor exports climbed 259.4% as global investment in AI infrastructure supported demand; the holiday calendar also meant more working days than a year earlier.

Bottom line — Trade minister Kim Jung-kwan said South Korea is on course to exceed €920.9 billion (US$1 trillion) in annual exports within November.

Sources Yahoo! Finance Taipei Times The Manila times +7 more