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• EU study calls for a block on illegal live sports streams within 30 minutes
• The proposal demands that ISPs, CDNs, and VPNs take an active role
• Experts warn that rushing IP blocks could lead to massive collateral damage

A study commissioned by the European Parliament is calling for strict, binding regulations to block illegal live sports streams across the EU within 30 minutes — and Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) are also in the firing line.

For users relying on the best VPN to protect their digital privacy, this could be a major turning point. Rather than asking member countries to voluntarily crack down on copyright infringement, the report urges the EU to implement mandatory real-time blocking.

If accepted, this would mean a maximum 30-minute notice-and-takedown window for streaming intermediaries hosting the content. While network infrastructure providers — such as ISPs, CDNs, VPNs, and DNS resolvers — would be subject to dynamic and real-time blocking orders to disrupt access to those streams.

Authored by Professor Giovanni Maria Riccio at the request of the European Parliament’s Legal Affairs Committee (JURI), the study argues that the EU’s current voluntary guidelines aren't working. Specifically, according to the report, "the current EU response to live-content piracy remains fragmented and not fully adapted to the speed and technical complexity of live broadcasts."

The proposed solution heavily mirrors Italy’s controversial Piracy Shield, demanding a rapid 30-minute blocking window from the moment a rights holder files a copyright complaint.

What a 30-minute takedown means for VPN users

If these recommendations evolve into binding EU law, VPN providers could be forced to prevent users from circumventing active blocks.

This echoes what the Motion Picture Association (MPA) previously asked for when pressing for VPNs to take a more active role in policing pirated content, and this report adds significant fuel to that fire.

For the everyday internet user, this raises urgent concerns over collateral damage and internet censorship. The push for real-time blocking relies heavily on IP and DNS filtering, which is a technically imprecise method. Because a single IP address can host hundreds of legitimate websites alongside one illegal stream, innocent sites are regularly caught in the crossfire.

We've seen this play out disastrously before. In Spain, an aggressive anti-piracy campaign by La Liga resulted in over 500,000 domains being wrongly blocked. The collateral damage was so severe that critics warned La Liga's war on piracy was breaking the internet in Spain, prompting a European ISP group to demand that rightsholders be held liable for the fallout.

Despite recent legal victories, including a ruling that VPNs are lawful technical tools and NordVPN successfully fighting off piracy fines in Spain, the VPN industry remains under immense legal pressure. Following France’s previous order to block illegal streaming sites, an EU-wide regulation would set an even more dangerous precedent for online privacy.

Can a rapid-fire block actually work?

(Image credit: Shutterstock / gonin)

Professor Riccio's report acknowledges the very real risks of over-blocking inherent in live-content anti-piracy measures.

To mitigate the potential for widespread internet outages or collateral disruption to lawful services, the study recommends that blocking orders be narrowly tailored: limited strictly to the duration of the live event and subject to strict judicial or administrative oversight.

However, the report also underscores a structural driver of piracy that technical enforcement alone cannot resolve. It points out that when legal access to sports is fragmented across multiple costly, geo-restricted subscriptions, many consumers turn to illegal streams simply because lawful options are unaffordable or inaccessible.

In this context, blocking measures, however swift, risk being blunt instruments unless accompanied by improvements in the affordability, availability, and cross-border accessibility of legal offers.

For now, this remains a study rather than immediate legislation. But with the European Commission actively reviewing copyright directives in the digital market, the pressure to act on live-content piracy is mounting, and the clock on faster, more harmonised enforcement is ticking.

First there was the phone. Then there was the iPhone. And now, according to Honor, there is the Robot Phone — a “revolutionary, category-creating device that shatters the physical boundaries of traditional mobile technology.”

Now look, I love to call out marketing department hyperbole as much as the next journalist, but notwithstanding its description as the evolutionary successor to Apple’s greatest-ever product — sell 3 billion units, then we’ll have that conversation — the Chinese tech company is right to position the Robot Phone as something wholly different to what’s come before.

No smartphone I’ve ever come across features a fully motorized, three-axis mechanical gimbal built directly into its chassis, nor such a comprehensive suite of professional-grade camera features, some of which are autonomously controlled by a physically expressive AI agent (it even has a name: YOYO). We’re in full The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy territory here, and while the Robot Phone may never become as mainstream as the iPhone, it most definitely is as revolutionary as Honor wants us to believe.

First teased in October 2025, the Robot Phone appeared in prototype form at MWC 2026, before finding its way to the Cannes Film Festival and, more recently, the World Cup final (Spain’s Eric Garcia was spotted filming with the device). Now, it’s officially launched in China for ¥9,999 (around $1,500 / £1,100 / AU$2,100), and I was among the first group of journalists permitted to hold, capture, and critique the Robot Phone at its extravagant Shenzhen showcase.

Gimme, gimme, gimme a gimbal

Yes, the Robot Phone is like a prop from 2001: A Space Odyssey (Image credit: Future)

Let’s start on that gimbal, which marks the Robot Phone out as something entirely different from any of the best phones money can buy in 2026. It really is as if Honor has strapped a DJI Osmo Pocket to its flagship Magic 8 Pro, except the gimbal in question can tuck itself away into the phone’s rear panel when not in use, almost like an S Pen slipping discreetly into a Samsung Galaxy S26 Ultra.

Why would you want a gimbal attached to your phone? For several reasons. There’s the improved video stabilization, which results in steadier footage; the manual 360-degree control of the gimbal camera itself; the AI-powered subject tracking; or even the many automatic shooting modes like AI SpinShot (a 90- or 180-degree camera roll) and Tilt Locked (which locks the phone’s gimbal at your chosen angle).

@techradar

♬ Venus and Flower - Austin Farwell

This is no knock-off gimbal, either. Honor says the Robot Phone’s mechanical gimbal system — which features more than 100 individual components — is some 65% smaller than mainstream gimbal systems like the Osmo Pocket, and its structure is 200% stronger as a result. The gimbal motor itself weighs just 2.6g and facilitates movement speeds of up to 360 degrees per second, while a dedicated Flip Motor delivers a torque density of 120 Nm/L.

Full disclosure: I did not know what torque density meant before seeing the Robot Phone for myself, but I now know it’s a measure of how much twisting force a motor can produce relative to its size. A figure of 120 N·m/L is, apparently, very good — it means the Robot Phone’s motor is powerful enough to turn the gimbal with speed and precision, despite being small enough to fit snugly into the phone’s rear camera module.

And good news! This mechanical gimbal system works very well. I was skeptical about how effective a phone-mounted gimbal could possibly be, but after playing around with the Robot Phone’s various shooting modes, it produces dynamic, professional-grade footage — or at least footage that’s comparable to what you can achieve with larger, dedicated gimbals like the DJI Osmo Pocket. The key distinction, of course, is that the Robot Phone doesn’t ask you to walk around with (or purchase) a separate gimbal.

The gimbal camera is a 200MP 1/1.28-inch sensor with an f/1.6 aperture, supporting up to 4K video with special recording formats like LogC3 and ARRI Cinema. The latter comes as a result of ARRI’s partnership with Honor on the Robot Phone; the German brand — known for producing motion picture film cameras — lends its expertise to help bring Hollywood-grade color science to Honor’s smartphone pipeline.

The Honor Robot Phone (right) alongside an Insta360 gimbal (left) (Image credit: Future)

Not to get too technical, but Honor says the Robot Phone performs noise reduction earlier in the RAW domain, processes data in 14-bit 4:4:4, and outputs 10-bit LogC3 and 4:2:2 video, preserving more usable image information for post-production. ARRI LogC3, meanwhile, preserves more highlights and shadows, while ARRI Wide Gamut 3 provides a broader color spectrum.

If that all sounds like a foreign language to you, that’s because the Robot Phone is absolutely intended for video creators, rather than regular folk; its video stabilization capabilities are certainly useful for everyday shooting, but for me, they’re not leagues ahead of what you’ll get from software-based stabilization features in other phones, like Apple's Action Mode or Samsung's Super Steady with Horizontal Lock. The real juicy benefits are those post-production features, which were hard to capture and quantify in my short hands-on session, but were certainly present.

Say ‘hello’ (again) to YOYO

YOYO agent being demonstrated on the Honor Robot Phone (Image credit: Future)

I did, however, get a taste of the Robot Phone’s YOYO agent. This agentic assistant initially debuted on the Magic 8 Pro in China as a tool for carrying out cross-app smartphone tasks on your behalf — it’s not dissimilar to Google’s Gemini Intelligence feature in that way — but on the Robot Phone, YOYO uses the existence of a gimbal to express itself physically. At launch, YOYO can nod, shake its (gimbal) head, dance to music, and perform other motorized oddities, which are complemented by over 100 on-screen facial expressions.

The desired effect is that YOYO feels like a physical companion in your pocket, unlike any other smartphone-based assistant on the market. The reality is that these physical gestures and on-screen expressions are the definition of gimmickry, though the ability to give YOYO gimbal-related commands using natural language — “turn left 45 degrees” or “turn around for five seconds,” for instance — is genuinely useful, and worked well.

Outside of its gimbal and YOYO agent, the Robot Phone is every bit a 2026 flagship. It’s got a 6.3-inch display; it measures just 9.59mm thick (for context, that’s less than 1mm thicker than an iPhone 17 Pro Max); there’s a Snapdragon 8 Elite Gen 5 chipset, a sizeable 7,060mAh battery, and two additional flagship-grade cameras (a 200MP telephoto and 50MP ultra-wide).

The Robot Phone's gimbal tucks into the rear camera moduleFutureThe Robot Phone is just 9.59mm thickFutureFutureFace-on, with the gimbal deactivated, the Robot Phone looks like a regular 6.3-inch phoneFuture

In the hand, the Robot Phone doesn’t feel too dissimilar to existing 6.3-inch phones on the market, which is quite the feat given that there’s a full-on gimbal on offer here. That said, I’m not sure how well that gimbal is going to hold up to real-world use — I felt, for instance, like I could easily (or accidentally) snap off the plastic shield covering it. And that’s to say nothing of its vulnerability to dust and debris when fully extended.

But none of this really matters. The Robot Phone is not meant to be treated like a regular phone, because it is not a regular phone. Heck, almost nobody reading this can even buy it. It’s a ridiculous, remarkable product that should be thought of more like the Samsung TriFold — i.e., an example of what’s technologically possible — than as a genuine disruptor to an industry that foldable phones have barely managed to dent.

The Robot Phone is essentially Honor saying, “Look at what we’ve been able to do with technology,” and I don’t think there’s anything wrong with that. To have brought a fully functioning robotic phone to market is no mean feat, and it’s exciting to see and touch a device that’s so drastically different from the phones we’ve become used to.

In many ways, the Robot Phone is like one of those outlandish gadgets from science fiction movies. And using it made me feel like a kid again.

• A total solar eclipse can be seen today across select places in Europe
• To enjoy the spectacular celestial event you'll definitely need solar glasses
• And to photograph it, you'll want a solar filter to protect your gear

If you didn't already know it, there's a total solar eclipse today, August 12. Totality will occur in parts of Spain, Portugal, Greenland and Iceland, and a partial eclipse will be visible further afield across Europe, including the UK, and even as far as northern North America. If you're in any of those regions, it promises to be a truly unmissable spectacle.

A poll on the TechRadar WhatsApp channel showed that plenty of you are planning on photographing the 2026 eclipse (voting is still open, and you can vote below). That's great, and you should definitely go for it — but you should definitely also read our how to photograph a solar eclipse guide and, most importantly, taking precautionary measures to protect both your eyes and your gear.

You'll need solar glasses to protect your eyes while looking directly towards the Sun — with astronomical demand, good luck buying some at this late stage — but also a solar filter for your camera gear.

If you're in any doubt about the risks to camera kit, take this post by Lensrentals, as your warning. The risk to unprotected camera gear when you point it directly at the Sun, even for short periods, is clearly seen in the photos of damaged rental gear returned to Lensrentals following the 2017 solar eclipse in the US (and in the YouTube video below).

Closeup of a shutter damaged by exposure to the sun from the 2017 solar eclipse, damaged rental gear returned to Lensrentals.comLensrentalsCloseup of a shutter damaged by exposure to the sun from the 2017 solar eclipse, damaged rental gear returned to Lensrentals © 2026 Lensrentals.comLensrentalsPhotographing a solar eclipse — the risks to camera gear

Sensors were the most commonly damaged component, whether that was in a DSLR or mirrorless model. The intense light and heat generated as it was focused through the lens without a solar filter attached literally melted sensors — and you can see the permanent damage in the image above.

That's not all. Lensrentals shared photos of melted shutters, lens aperture blades (see the lead image), mirror damage in DSLRs, and even damage to a built-in ND filter system in one of its cinema cameras. All this damage is permanent, and repairs are costly.

You really don't want to take any shortcuts for today's solar eclipse. Protect yourself, and protect your gear! You can find further eclipse safety at the NASA site.

Will you be watching the solar eclipse? If you're photographing it, what gear will you be using? Make sure you vote in our poll below, and share your favorite shots with us at news@techradar.com — we'll feature your best images in our follow-up coverage.

The memory crisis that has blighted upgraders and new PC builders this year isn't going away anytime soon, but while DDR5 gets most of the attention, millions of perfectly capable PCs still use the more affordable DDR4.

The 32GB Gigastone GST Game Pro DDR4-3200 kit is now $230 (was $250) at Newegg. That's only a $20 saving, so this isn't a massive price cut, but in the current memory market, any reduction on a useful 32GB kit is welcome in my opinion.

You get two matched 16GB DDR4 modules running at 3200MHz with relatively tight CL16-18-18-38 timings. The memory operates at 1.35V and supports Intel XMP 2.0, allowing compatible systems to apply its 3200MHz performance profile without manually configuring every memory setting.

This 32GB dual-channel kit combines two 16GB DDR4-3200 modules with CL16-18-18-38 timings, 1.35V operation, XMP 2.0 support, 288-pin UDIMMs, heat spreaders, and a five-year warranty.View Deal

Also consider

This 32GB DDR4 kit combines two 16GB modules with 3200MHz speeds, CL16 timings, RGB lighting, XMP 2.0 support, 1.35V operation, and compatibility with Intel and AMD Ryzen desktop systems.View Deal

Should you buy it?

✅ Buy the Gigastone GST Game Pro if...

Your desktop already uses DDR4 and you want to move to 32GB without rebuilding the rest of your PC. That's plenty of memory for heavy multitasking, content creation, and other demanding workloads, and the two-module configuration gives you a matched dual-channel kit.

❌ Skip the Gigastone GST Game Pro if...

You're building a completely new PC around a modern DDR5 platform. DDR4 and DDR5 aren't interchangeable, so motherboard compatibility is essential. You should also check your motherboard's supported speeds and XMP capabilities before buying if you want to run the kit at its advertised 3200MHz.

Why we recommend it

DDR4-3200 with CL16 timings remains a solid specification for compatible Intel and AMD desktops. The 32GB capacity provides considerably more breathing room than an older 16GB setup, and XMP 2.0 makes reaching the rated 3200MHz speed straightforward on supported systems.

The kit also includes heat spreaders and carries a five-year warranty. There are no elaborate RGB effects or other unnecessary extras here; it's all about adding a useful amount of relatively fast DDR4 memory to an existing desktop.

Price context & historical value

Newegg has reduced the kit from $249.99 to $229.99, saving $20, or around 8%. That's a fairly modest discount, and still more than you'd have paid for it this time last year, but it's one of the cheaper options we've seen lately.

For anyone with a DDR4 machine that's otherwise doing everything they need, upgrading the memory can also make considerably more sense than moving to DDR5. Switching memory generations generally means buying a compatible motherboard and potentially a new processor, turning a RAM upgrade into a much more expensive project.

You can save even more on component upgrades when using Newegg's Trade-in program here. And for more savings, we track the best RAM deals each week.

The Catch: What to know before you buy

This is desktop DDR4 UDIMM memory, not DDR5 or laptop SO-DIMM memory, and Gigastone advises using the matched kit together. Reaching 3200MHz also depends on your processor, motherboard, and memory settings, so don't assume every DDR4 system will automatically run it at full speed.

X-Men '97 season 2 episode 9 has finally made its Disney+ debut and, while it packs way too much into its 25-minute runtime to deliver a satisfying end to the Marvel TV show's latest season, some big questions remain unanswered after its final end credits roll.

So, what happens to the titular team? Is there an end credits scene to stick around for? And how does this season's finale, titled 'Survival of the Fittest', set up the Disney+ show's next installment? I'll provide — or, at the very least, try to provide — answers to those queries below.

Be advised, full spoilers immediately follow for X-Men '97 season 2. Do not proceed past this point until you've watched it.

Does Eson the Searcher kill Nightcrawler in X-Men '97 season 2 episode 9?

Kuuuuuuurrrrt! (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

It would appear so, but we don't actually see him perish on-screen, so there's every chance that he's still alive.

But, let's back up a bit first to explain how we got to this point. In a bid to stop Apocalypse from fully taking over the mind and body of the resurrect Gambit, Rogue, Nightcrawler, and Beast travel to the deep ocean to track down Ship. That's the sentient, Celestial-built vessel that created Apocalypse in the first place.

Anyway, after the trio make their way inside, Rogue enters the Celestial Shrine and meets the Celestial known as Eson the Searcher. After a tense back and forth, Rogue convinces Eson that Gambit's life is worth saving. Accepting her argument that life can advance through love, and not just struggle as Eson claims, the latter imbues Rogue with Celestial power to battle Apocalypse one final time.

There is a caveat, though: if Rogue succeeds in her attempt to remove Apocalypse from Gambit's mind and, by proxy, saves her lover, she'll have to sacrifice her life for Gambit's, which Rogue agrees to.

Yeah, whoop his ahh, Rogue (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

Fast-forward to the finale's third act, and Apocalypse ends up taking full control of Gambit. Using the revived mutant's brainwashing powers, he brings the combined forces of the X-Men and X-Force — everyone except Professor X, anyway — under his spell.

Just as all hope seems lost, Rogue shows up. Using her gifted abilities, she cleanses her fellow mutants before tackling Apoc-Gambit, who she defeats by using her famous involuntary superpower — i.e., her skin-to-skin contact ability — to wrest Apocalypse from Gambit's mind and seal him in a Celestrial crystal, which she hands to Cable.

With the day saved, and Gambit alive and well, Rogue kisses Gambit in what she expects to be a final goodbye. However, as her temporary Celestial powers dissipate, she soon realizes something's wrong because, as per her deal with Eson, she hasn't lost her life.

Is this a temporary or permanent goodbye, Kurt? (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

As it happens, as soon as Rogue left Beast and Nightcrawler on Ship to save Gambit, Nightcrawler enters the Celestial Shrine. There, he makes a new deal with Eson: spare Rogue's life and take Nightcrawler's instead, which Eson agrees to do.

Is this the last we've seen of the teleporting mutant in X-Men '97? I doubt it. After all, if Gambit's resurrection proved anything, it's that popular characters don't stay dead in this universe for long. Furthermore, we didn't actually see Eson take Nightcrawler's life so, if we take the 'no body, no death' trope into account, there's no reason to believe that the Marvel Phase 6 TV show won't reunite us with Nightcrawler at some point.

Is there a mid-credits scene or post-credits scene in the X-Men '97 season 2 finale?

Something's off about you, Val... (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

Yes, there's a mid-credits scene that lays the foundations for the X-Men animated series' third season.

In it, we're reunited with who we think is United Nations official and X-Force founder Valerie Cooper. As she thumbs through a top-secret file, we see a news bulletin state that prominent anti-mutant politician Greydon Creed has won the race to be the next US President. It's a moment that makes Nightcrawler's sacrifice all the more hurtful, to, because Creed is Nightcrawler's half-brother.

But, I digress. As Cooper tuts, she opens the aforementioned file, which contains information on the shapeshifting mutant called Mystique. It also shows her known associates, including Blob, Toad, and Pyro — all of whom are members of the Brotherhood of Mutants, of which Mystique is also a part of.

Well, hello there, Mystique! (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

Then, the door of Cooper's office opens — and in walks the real Valerie Cooper. Startled, she asks who the impersonator is. Before the real Cooper can finish her question, though, she's shot in the stomach.

Falling to the floor, Cooper watches in horror as the fake Cooper reveals her true identity: it's none other than Mystique. Smiling, she says she's "just catching up on some light reading" and then reveals that her files says Mystique wants to attack the United States. Transforming back into Cooper, Mystique adds "I'll say" before she fires again at the real Cooper as the screen cuts to black.

How does X-Men '97's season 2 finale set up its third season? And will it feature Onslaught?

Expect to see more scenes like this in X-Men '97 season 3, folks (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

There's no official plot brief to speak of, but that doesn't mean we can't predict what'll happen in season 3 following the events of 'Survival of the Fittest'.

For one, it seems Mystique and the Brotherhood of Mutants will commit to terrorizing the United States with a guerrilla warfare campaign, especially with Creed now at the helm of the western world's most powerful nation. It'll be interesting, then, to see how the X-Men approach tackling the Brotherhood and, by proxy, defending democracy and a staunch anti-mutant US President.

Speaking of the X-Men, it'll be similarly intriguing to see how they now operate. Will they continue to exist under their X-Corp rebrand, or return to being known as the X-Men? Additionally, will they learn to live alongside other mutant groups like the government-funded X-Factor and Cable-led X-Force, or can we expect to see these three teams butt heads again over how to handle threats against their kind and/or humanity as a whole?

Then there's the small matter of Onslaught. In the comics, Onslaught is a giant, sentient psionic being born from the combined subconsciouses of Professor X and Magneto, who also goes on to be one of not only the X-Men's most challenging foes, but the Marvel universe's entire hero roster.

Onslaught's debut has been tentatively teased throughout this Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU) adjacent TV show's first two seasons, so it's possible that it'll finally make its bow in X-Men '97 season 3. That said, I'd expect more teasers before Onslaught is formally introduced as the series' Big Bad further down the line. I guess we'll have to see what Marvel's got up its sleeve for next season first.

Does X-Men '97 season 3 have an official release date yet?

It's going to be something of a long wait for X-Men '97's return on Disney+ (Image credit: Marvel Animation/Disney+)

No, but it'll arrive sometime in 2027. Brad Winderbaum, who oversees Marvel's TV, animation, streaming, and comic book divisions, separately told Collider and comicbook.com that season 3 will premiere next year.

So, when is it likely to air? Currently, Daredevil: Born Again season 3 is the only other Marvel TV show slated to drop next year. The live-action series is reportedly eyeing a March 2027 launch, too, so it's incredibly unlikely that we'll see X-Men '97 season 3 before mid-2027.

My best guess? It'll follow in the footsteps of its predecessor and come out next July. MCU fans will need something to tide them over until Avengers: Secret Wars wraps up the Marvel Multiverse Saga when it hits theaters next December, so releasing X-Men '97 season 3 between Daredevil: Born Again's next chapter and the aforementioned film would cover that base.

For more Marvel coverage, find out what we know so far about Daredevil: Born Again season 3 and get the full lowdown on Avengers: Secret Wars. While you're here, learn all there is to know about Avengers: Doomsday and everything that's been revealed about VisionQuest, too.

Evaluating AI agents in production tends to focus only on positive results. Did the agent complete the task? Was the output accurate? Did the demo go well?

The answers to those questions matter, but they miss the case that determines whether an enterprise can actually trust agents with real work: what happens in the 30% of instances where something goes wrong?

In financial services, for example, an autonomous agent that mishandles a money-movement workflow doesn't turn into an innocuous support ticket. It creates legal liability that can extend across an entire business.

In healthcare, unchecked data access calls can compromise patient safety and lead to HIPAA violations. Highly regulated industries can’t treat failure as a minor inconvenience. And when the stakes are categorically higher than in most other sectors, it changes what "production-ready" means.

The problem? Most popular agent frameworks were built by teams focused on connecting large language models to reasoning loops and evaluation. While valuable, it's not the same discipline as distributed systems engineering.

Few of these frameworks were built by people who spend their careers thinking about recovery, consistency and fault isolation. Many give little thought to what happens when an agent fails mid-flight, and that gap can be very expensive once agents are handling real-world transactions.

Replaying From Scratch Doesn't Work

When a sales agent moves through a 10-step workflow and fails at step nine, the naive recovery approach is to start the entire flow over from step one. That sounds harmless until you account for what each step actually costs. Every restart means re-running every LLM call that already succeeded, burning through token spend for work that was already done correctly. At scale, that inefficiency turns a single bug into a real financial problem.

It also produces a worse experience for the people and systems downstream. In a regulated workflow, it’s sloppy work that becomes a compliance and audit problem waiting to surface.

The fix is durable execution: checkpointing that captures progress at each meaningful step, so recovery means resuming from step nine, not replaying the whole sequence. This has become standard practice in distributed systems, and agent orchestration needs to follow suit.

When you’re evaluating agent frameworks, here’s the question you should ask: if an agent fails partway through a long-running task, does the system resume from where it left off, or does it start over? The answer will tell you the difference between frameworks built for production and those built for demos.

There’s an Access Problem Nobody Talks About

Security in agentic systems presents its own version of this challenge, and it starts with a question that sounds basic but that most organizations can't seem to answer: can you prove exactly who or what did what, and when?

That question is harder to answer as agents act on behalf of other agents, which act on behalf of humans. Each layer of delegation adds ambiguity about accountability. And when you add MCP servers into the mix, the exposure compounds. MCP gives language models access to company records, patient data and internal systems. The vast majority of MCP servers in production today connect to some kind of database, and the common mistake is granting broad access to that entire data store rather than narrowly scoping what each server can see.

That distinction matters when something goes wrong. If a system with broad access suffers a breach or a supply chain compromise, the attacker gains access to the entire environment. Scoped access, where an MCP server or agent can only reach the specific data it needs for the task at hand, is one of the most overlooked design decisions in agentic architecture right now. It's also a relatively cheap problem to fix before deployment, yet one of the most expensive to fix after a breach.

Identity adds another layer. Many organizations still use traditional authentication protocols that were made for human users logging into applications, not for autonomous systems that act at machine speed and scale. Without verifiable identities for each agent and each component, malicious code can impersonate a legitimate part of the system and operate undetected.

What’s needed here is what’s known as cryptographic attestation: a tamper-proof record of everything that happened in the system tied to the specific identity that did it. That record lets you replay the system's state after the fact and determine with certainty that a specific piece of code accessed a specific system at a specific moment. Why? Because that identity was managed and enforced in real time. It's the difference between a policy that says a component “should” be trusted and a system that can prove what it actually did.

Design to Limit the Blast Radius, Not Just Patch the Damage

There's also a problem with how most organizations think about vulnerabilities. The industry's attention is almost entirely on patching known CVEs, and that's necessary. But at the same time, it misses something important: a vulnerability only becomes a known CVE after a breach has already occurred. Patch management is inherently reactive and does nothing while a system is actively compromised, by which point malicious code is already trying to move laterally through the network.

This is why runtime enforcement deserves far more attention. The goal isn't just prevention; it's containment. If a system is compromised, can you detect that a component is behaving abnormally and immediately restrict its access, even before you’ve identified or patched the underlying flaw? Limiting the blast radius in real time, rather than relying solely on detection after the fact, is what separates a contained incident from a full-scale breach.

Zero trust principles should be applied specifically to AI workloads, not just inherited from traditional cloud-native security protocols. That means strict authentication and authorization for every agent and MCP server, clear policies on what each component is allowed to access, and controls that stop compromised components from sending data outside the organization.

You Need to Prove Safety, Not Just Function

This isn’t pessimism toward AI agents; it's about engineering maturity. Every distributed system that has matured into something enterprises trust with critical workloads, from databases to cloud infrastructure, went through this same evolution. They go from optimizing for common cases to designing explicitly for the rare, expensive failure.

Agentic AI is now at that point. The organizations that get it right will be able to sit down with an auditor or a regulator and demonstrate, with evidence, exactly how their systems behave when something breaks:

- Durable recovery that doesn't waste a single completed step.

- Access that's scoped to the task, not the whole database.

- Identity that can be cryptographically verified, not just assumed.

- Containment that activates in real time, not after the fact.

These are the bars that enterprises serious about deploying AI agents at scale need to meet.

We list the best business cloud storage to manage your data.

This article was produced as part of TechRadar Pro Perspectives, our channel to feature the best and brightest minds in the technology industry today.

The views expressed here are those of the author and are not necessarily those of TechRadarPro or Future plc. If you are interested in contributing find out more here: https://www.techradar.com/pro/perspectives-how-to-submit

Things have already taken a near-fatal turn in Lioness season 3, which is something I didn't expect to happen so soon. Indeed, last week, we saw two unnamed Russian agents posing as police officers turn up at Joe's door and demand to enter her home, only for them to be killed in the process.

The entire team is called out to investigate, but when a group of "watchers" are spotted on a nearby roof, the Lionesses wonder if it's a trap... if they're here, they're not looking elsewhere.

For now, the answer hangs in the balance. So, when does season 3 episode 3 arrive on Paramount+?

What time can I watch Lioness season 3 episode 3 on Paramount+?

Lioness season 3 episode 3 will drop on one of the world's best streaming services in the US and Canada on Sunday, August 16 at 12am PT / 3am ET.

Here's when it will be released in other nations globally:

• US – 12am PT / 3am ET
• Canada – 12am PT / 3am ET
• UK – 8am BST
• India – 12:30pm IST
• Singapore – 3pm SGT
• Australia – 5pm AEST
• New Zealand – 7pm NZST

When do new episodes of Lioness season 3 come out?

(Image credit: Paramount Plus)

Lioness season 3 will have a total of eight episodes, with new entries airing weekly. That gives us the following schedule:

• Episode 1: out now
• Episode 2: out now
• Episode 3: August 16
• Episode 4: August 23
• Episode 5: August 30
• Episode 6: September 6
• Episode 7: September 13
• Episode 8: September 20

I’ve been a big fan of Shokz’s open-ear headphones for some years now. I’ve previously owned the Shokz OpenRun, and now have the Shokz OpenFit Pro as my daily driver. I find them perfect for listening to music, podcasts or audiobooks while I’m out running or cycling, and even for navigating with Google Maps turn-by-turn directions.

If you’ve long considered buying a pair — whether you’re running the upcoming Sydney marathon at the end of the month or shopping for a Father’s Day gift — but are unsure which pair(s) to get, Amazon has a slew of Shokz’ open-ear headphones discounted for a limited time.

Some of the deals include our picks for the best running headphones, the best open earbuds and the best bone conduction headphones, as well as some that are great for work calls. With prices starting at AU$109 and savings of up to 36%, there’s something for everyone here.

As one of Shokz’s more affordable offerings, the OpenMove sounds “every bit as good” as the brand’s more expensive bone conduction headphones for a much lower price, according to our review. One major caveat is that the OpenMove isn’t the most comfortable to wear for longer periods. We’ve seen this dip below AU$90 in the past, but this discount is still enough to make an affordable pair even more tempting.View Deal

The OpenFit Air comes in at a lightweight 8.7g per bud, and our reviewer claimed that they “barely felt them” while wearing the pair even on a bumpy jog or while doing burpees. The review also noted that the audio quality was great and that the option to fine-tune the sound via the Shokz app was a nice bonus. The battery is also rated for six hours, which is long enough for a full marathon. This price is also the lowest we’ve seen on Amazon AU.View Deal

The Shokz OpenRun was my long-time pair of headphones for cycling and running, until I lost them. The bone conduction technology makes them resilient in windy situations while still delivering decent audio quality. Our reviewer rated the OpenRun 4.5 out of 5 stars for the slim and lightweight design, 8-hour battery life and durability. While this has been cheaper before, this deal matches Prime Day’s price last month.View Deal

Shifting gears to something more at home in an office, the Shokz OpenComm2 comes with a noise-cancelling microphone that’s great for work calls or even for phone calls in the car. Our review of the previous-generation OpenComm found it comfortable for long wear and easier to sanitise compared to more conventional headsets. This newer model adds a dedicated physical mute button and relocates the microphone. The UC variant, which comes with a USB dongle and official Zoom integrations, is also discounted to AU$227, or 30% off.View Deal

The Shokz OpenRun Pro 2 combines the bone conduction tech of the OpenRun above and open-ear speakers for better audio quality, and it also comes with a ‘classic mode’ switch to only use bone conduction during windy conditions or for cycling. Our reviewer called the OpenRun Pro 2 the ideal runner’s headphones thanks to its lightweight form factor, comfort, stability and sound quality. This matches the all-time low price on Amazon during Prime Day.View Deal

Our reviewer loved the Shokz OpenFit 2+ so much that they called it better than a pair of Bose headphones for a much lower price, praising its great fit, audio quality, 11-hour battery life and all-day comfort for runs, daily wear and commutes. The only complaint was that the OpenFit 2+ isn’t ideal for glasses wearers, which is to be expected for this style of headphones. This price isn’t too far off from the all-time low of AU$227 from Prime Day last month.View Deal

We're well and truly into summer travel season, and if you're planning on integrating some remote working into your vacation, it's worth considering your setup. My own job is largely laptop-based, and over the years I've done a decent amount of working away from my office desk, whether at events or in order to keep things ticking over during time off. The biggest lesson I've learned is that a few well-chosen remote-working accessories can make a huge difference.

I rely on a laptop riser so that I'm not hunched over a table (my back will start hurting after around an hour, and it's all downhill from there). If my laptop is raised, I'll then add in a portable keyboard to make typing easier — my tip is to pick one with the same proportions as your regular keyboard, so your fingers know where to go — and a wireless mouse.

If I'm going to be in meetings, a great pair of noise-cancelling headphones is essential to keep things private and ensure I don't miss any info if the background noise is louder than I'd like. I also use them to help me focus in potentially distracting scenarios.

A recent addition to my own setup is a portable second monitor. It felt like a luxury when I bought it, but it's been worth every penny for me. I'm often hopping between different apps and referencing information from other sources, so having that extra screen real estate has been invaluable.

Below, I've rounded up my recommendations for an ideal remote-working setup, including premium options and budget-friendly alternatives. Not all jobs will require all this kit, so I'd recommend picking-and-mixing to suit your needs.

Remote working essentials

ASUS ROG Harpe Ace Mini

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent performance
• Discreet aesthetic
• Small, comfortable size

Cons

• Small size isn’t for everyone
• High price
• Scroll wheel is a bit stiff

Logitech POP Mouse

Read our full review

Pros

• Satisfying clicks
• Good customizations
• Easy three-way switching

Cons

• No side buttons
• No wired or 2.4GHz wireless
• No rechargeable battery

Bose QuietComfort Ultra Headphones

Read our full review

Pros

• Fantastic, detailed sound with rich bass
• Class-leading noise-stopping power
• Comfortable and premium, with folding design
• Great smart features

Cons

• 24-hour battery life is weak
• Some will prefer a more neutral sound
• No USB-C audio input
• No LE Audio support (but it's promised)

1More SonoFlow Pro HQ51

Read our full review

Pros

• Customizable, satisfying sound
• Effective ANC
• Fantastic battery life

Cons

• App situation is a bit messy
• Button controls appear a little cheap
• Build feels slightly flimsy

Anker 737 Power Bank (PowerCore 24K)

Read our full review

Pros

• A powerful 140W output
• A screen that shows charge rates
• Premium build quality

Cons

• Chunky dimensions
• Higher priced
• No UPS mode

Anker 87W 20000mAh Power Bank

Read our full review

Pros

• Large power output
• Well-made
• Integrated USB-C cable

Cons

• Some rivals are smaller
• Unnecessarily powerful for many
• Display lacks detailed information

UGREEN Foldable Laptop Stand

Amazon Basics Foldable Laptop Stand (UK only)

Tonmom Foldable Laptop Stand (US only)

Logitech K780 keyboard

Logitech K380 pebble keys keyboard

Read our full review

Pros

• Comfortable to type on
• Thin and compact
• Great, useful shortcuts
• Arrow keys are great

Cons

• Surprisingly cheap
• Keys might be too small for some
• Not rechargeable

Arzopa Z3FC portable monitor

Read our full review

Pros

• Lightweight and thin for travel
• High refresh rate for gaming
• 2.5K resolution
• Sleeve and braided cables included
• Better speakers than you might think

Cons

• No built-in battery
• Can be clunky using the OSD
• Runs warm after a while
• Washed-out HDR on Switch 2

ASUS ZenScreen MB27ACF 27-inch portable monitor

Read our full review

Pros

• Big screen
• Portable
• Thin
• Ideal for collaboration
• 2.5K resolution
• 99% sRGB
• Includes kickstand, hanging hooks, and monitor arm

Cons

• Not everyone needs a 27in portable display
• Average brightness
• Not wide color gamut

• Boeing lands $75 million contract for its new long-range guided bomb
• GBU-75 bomb travels over 300 nautical miles using a turbojet engine
• Boeing spent nearly $100 million of its own money before this deal

Boeing has received a $75 million Undefinitized Contract Action from the US Air Force to begin building its new long-range guided bomb.

The weapon, known as the GBU-75, pairs a 500-pound-class, or 226-kilogram, JDAM warhead with a wing kit and a compact turbojet engine.

This combination allows the bomb to travel more than 300 nautical miles, far beyond what earlier JDAM variants could achieve.

Turbojet kit extends JDAM's reach

Boeing's official designation for the kit is the BSU-111/B Payload Delivery Unit, built around the existing Joint Direct Attack Munition guidance system.

Earlier upgrades to the JDAM family included a tail kit that extended range to roughly 15 nautical miles and a wing kit that reached 40.

The new turbojet engine, designed by Kratos and designated the TDI-J85, pushes that distance well beyond 300 nautical miles now.

Boeing says it has invested nearly $100 million of its own funds into developing the JDAM LR program before this contract arrived.

"This first production contract is a major milestone for the JDAM LR program, allowing us to deliver long-range precision strike at a lower cost," said Bob Ciesla, vice president of Boeing Precision Engagement Systems.

The Air Force Life Cycle Management Center at Hill Air Force Base in Utah manages JDAM purchases for both the Air Force and Navy.

Despite that dual role, the first batch of GBU-75 bombs produced under this contract is intended for the Navy.

Testing record and contracting concerns

The Navy tested the system in April 2026, when F/A-18 Super Hornets released two JDAM LR units over the Point Mugu Sea Range in California.

On April 1, the bomb separated cleanly, ignited its engine, and flew for 34 minutes, landing within meters of its intended site.

That flight covered roughly 200 nautical miles, while a second test on April 3 added altitude changes and additional maneuvering.

"As Naval Air Forces in theater continue to rely heavily on JDAM systems, the program recognizes a critical need to provide the fleet with greater standoff range," said Capt. Sarah Abbott, the Navy's Precision Strike Weapons program manager.

The Pentagon's daily list of contract announcements had not included this award as of August 5, raising questions about disclosure timing.

Because the deal is an undefinitized contract action, Boeing began production work before both sides agreed on a final price.

The Government Accountability Office has repeatedly warned that such contracts carry financial risk, since contractors are reimbursed for allowable costs regardless of final terms.

Boeing's announcement did not disclose how many GBU-75 bombs the contract covers, what they will ultimately cost, or when deliveries will begin.

Boeing has also proposed a mining variant called QuickStrike Long Range, pairing the kit with a ship-tracking sensor for maritime use.

Taken together, the contract suggests steady confidence in the JDAM LR design, though unresolved pricing means taxpayers still do not know the program's full cost.

• Ukraine used a MAGURA drone boat to launch FPV drones against Crimea
• The operation reportedly struck equipment linked to two Russian radar systems
• MAGURA carried smaller drones toward Russian military installations along Crimea’s coastline

Group 13, a special military unit of the Ukrainian navy, claims to have struck Russian radar installations in Crimea.

The operation used MAGURA, an unmanned Ukrainian surface vessel carrying FPV drones and developed for reconnaissance, surveillance, mine warfare, and other naval security missions.

According to Ukrainian officials, the system allowed smaller drones to attack Russian military equipment from a sea-based launch platform.

MAGURA carries drones toward Crimean radar installations

During the operation, a MAGURA vessel carried FPV drones that were deployed against Russian radar-related equipment located along the Crimean coast.

Ukrainian officials identified components of the Podlyot radar complex and the Parol-4 radar interrogator among the systems attacked.

The reported mission expands the potential use of naval drones beyond direct attacks against ships and other maritime objectives.

"Now, our MAGURAs threaten the Russian occupiers and on land — this is a radical shift in the fight," said a Group 13 commander.

Group 13 has previously claimed responsibility for destroying more than nine Russian ships during operations conducted around the Black Sea.

The unit has also claimed strikes against three helicopters and two fighter aircraft, although battlefield damage assessments remain difficult to verify independently.

Ukraine has increasingly relied on unmanned systems to conduct operations against Russian military assets while limiting direct exposure of personnel.

The reported deployment gives Ukraine another way to move smaller attack drones toward military installations located beyond the immediate coastline.

Instead of using MAGURA solely against maritime targets, Ukrainian forces used the vessel to transport aircraft intended for attacks on land.

That arrangement separates the launch platform from the FPV drones that conduct the final strike against the intended military equipment.

It also allows the vessel to approach an area without requiring a crewed aircraft or surface ship to carry the drones.

Spets Techno Export says the MAGURA family was designed around a remotely operated architecture suitable for different missions at sea.

According to information from the developer, the V5 variant incorporates a hydrodynamic hull intended to improve maneuverability.

The platform can also be deployed from remote locations, allowing operators to conduct missions without placing personnel directly aboard the vessel.

Ukraine's ambitious push to become a global drone powerhouse

The MAGURA strike is one part of a far larger buildup, as Ukraine works to scale unmanned warfare production nationwide.

The Eastern European country has clearly stated its ambitions to become the world's largest drone and robot producer, with a capacity that could exceed 30 million units annually.

That figure would reportedly surpass the combined output of China, Russia, and the United States, according to Kyiv's own projections.

Ukrainian officials have confirmed plans to build 10 million drones in 2026, rising toward 20 million in the years that follow.

Those figures accompany a newly signed $1.1 billion drone agreement between Ukraine and the European Union.

Ukraine's drone ambition goes beyond developing new models, extending to converting old civilian aircraft into reusable armed drones.

Ukraine has increasingly combined different unmanned systems, using surface vessels and aircraft together during operations against Russian military assets.

Via The DroneFront

Looking for a different day?

A new Quordle puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Tuesday, August 11 (game #1660).

Quordle was one of the original Wordle alternatives and is still going strong now more than 1,500 games later. It offers a genuine challenge, though, so read on if you need some Quordle hints today — or scroll down further for the answers.

Enjoy playing word games? You can also check out my NYT Connections today and NYT Strands today pages for hints and answers for those puzzles, while Marc's Wordle today column covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about Quordle today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

Quordle today (game #1661) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 3*.

* Note that by vowel we mean the five standard vowels (A, E, I, O, U), not Y (which is sometimes counted as a vowel too).

Quordle today (game #1661) — hint #2 — repeated lettersDo any of today's Quordle answers contain repeated letters?

• The number of Quordle answers containing a repeated letter today is 1.

Quordle today (game #1661) — hint #3 — uncommon lettersDo the letters Q, Z, X or J appear in Quordle today?

• No. None of Q, Z, X or J appear among today's Quordle answers.

Quordle today (game #1661) — hint #4 — starting letters (1)Do any of today's Quordle puzzles start with the same letter?

• The number of today's Quordle answers starting with the same letter is 2.

If you just want to know the answers at this stage, simply scroll down. If you're not ready yet then here's one more clue to make things a lot easier:

Quordle today (game #1661) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• H

• C

• H

• S

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

Quordle today (game #1661) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1661, are…

• HOTLY
• CROWD
• HEART
• SWASH

I am really glad that I didn’t jump in too early when guessing my final word, as there is no way I would have got to SWASH without the help I got from the letter W in CROWD.

All in all, a tricky game — helped slightly by having two words beginning with today’s star letter, H.

Daily Sequence today (game #1661) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1661, are…

• NYMPH
• SNIDE
• OTTER
• CARVE

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1660, Tuesday, 11 August: ONSET, BRAWL, TEPID, SLANG
• Quordle #1659, Monday, 10 August: GAVEL, CRUSH, SPEED, ETHOS
• Quordle #1658, Sunday, 9 August: KAPPA, WIDEN, FOLIO, STEEP
• Quordle #1657, Saturday, 8 August: FUROR, BUGLE, REUSE, SCOOP
• Quordle #1656, Friday, 7 August: AMISS, SHIRK, SALSA, RABBI
• Quordle #1655, Thursday, 6 August: AMUSE, BRAND, CEDAR, BLURB
• Quordle #1654, Wednesday, 5 August: MOUND, WRONG, STOOD, WEIRD
• Quordle #1653, Tuesday, 4 August: GOOEY, TARDY, HUMAN, CHALK
• Quordle #1652, Monday, 3 August: FUNGI, MUDDY, DEBUT, MANIA
• Quordle #1651, Sunday, 2 August: BOOTH, EASEL, REACH, MAKER
• Quordle #1650, Saturday, 1 August: OMEGA, BIRCH, SMOCK, EERIE
• Quordle #1649, Friday, 31 July: MANIA, SINGE, STOOL, LOFTY
• Quordle #1648, Thursday, 30 July: MODAL, IDLER, CHUMP, LUMPY
• Quordle #1647, Wednesday, 29 July: GAWKY, ALLOY, AUDIT, LATCH
• Quordle #1646, Tuesday, 28 July: SMITE, ROACH, RUDDY, GLOBE
• Quordle #1645, Monday, 27 July: TAFFY, FIGHT, GUILD, WAGER
• Quordle #1644, Sunday, 26 July: STOMP, LIMIT, FUNKY, STEAD
• Quordle #1643, Saturday, 25 July: SALON, SHEEN, BURST, GOURD
• Quordle #1642, Friday, 24 July: DOLLY, EDIFY, LAGER, PRANK
• Quordle #1641, Thursday, 23 July: LADEN, EVICT, WOVEN, SHIRE

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Strands puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Tuesday, August 11 (game #891).

Strands is the NYT's latest word game after the likes of Wordle, Spelling Bee and Connections – and it's great fun. It can be difficult, though, so read on for my Strands hints.

Want more word-based fun? Then check out my NYT Connections today and Quordle today pages for hints and answers for those games, and Marc's Wordle today page for the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Strands today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Strands today (game #892) - hint #1 - today's themeWhat is the theme of today's NYT Strands?

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Making a difference

NYT Strands today (game #892) - hint #2 - clue words

Play any of these words to unlock the in-game hints system.

• BURP
• TENTH
• LAST
• SLOWED
• PORT
• DATE

NYT Strands today (game #892) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 12 letters

NYT Strands today (game #892) - hint #4 - spangram positionWhat are two sides of the board that today's spangram touches?

• First side: top, 3rd column

• Last side: bottom, 5th column

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Strands today (game #892) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #892, are…

• GIVE
• DONATE
• ENDOW
• BESTOW
• CONTRIBUTE
• SPANGRAM: PHILANTHROPY

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

Making a difference is what a lot of people set out to do: make their stamp on the world, let people know they are there. But, I’m not entirely sure it’s a good thing — bad people can make a difference too. Thieves make a big difference.

Personally, I prefer Arnold Schwarzenegger’s maxim “be useful” — far less likely to stray into negative territory if you are being useful. Well, unless you're a getaway driver for a gang of thieves.

Anyway, I digress. Today’s game took me a while to begin so I took a hint and then after getting GIVE and DONATE said to myself “this sounds a lot like PHILANTHROPY”. A timely reminder that money should circulate and can be used for good.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Tuesday, August 11, game #891)

• TOMATO
• ZUCCHINI
• PEPPER
• MELON
• CORN
• CARROT
• SPANGRAM: SUMMERHARVEST

What is NYT Strands?

Strands is the NYT's not-so-new-any-more word game, following Wordle and Connections. It's now a fully fledged member of the NYT's games stable that has been running for a year and which can be played on the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

I've got a full guide to how to play NYT Strands, complete with tips for solving it, so check that out if you're struggling to beat it each day.

Looking for a different day?

A new NYT Connections puzzle appears at midnight each day for your time zone – which means that some people are always playing 'today's game' while others are playing 'yesterday's'. If you're looking for Tuesday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Tuesday, August 11 (game #1157).

Good morning! Let's play Connections, the NYT's clever word game that challenges you to group answers in various categories. It can be tough, so read on if you need Connections hints.

What should you do once you've finished? Why, play some more word games of course. I've also got daily Strands hints and answers and Quordle hints and answers articles if you need help for those too, while Marc's Wordle today page covers the original viral word game.

SPOILER WARNING: Information about NYT Connections today is below, so don't read on if you don't want to know the answers.

NYT Connections today (game #1158) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• LEMON
• TREE
• HARBOR
• FINE PRINT
• GREAT WHITE
• GREEN
• GOODBYE
• NURSE
• BULL
• BING
• FOSTER
• SCOTT
• BENES
• OKAYAMA
• POISON DART
• MAINTAIN

NYT Connections today (game #1158) - hint #1 - group hints

What are some clues for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: Look after something
• GREEN: Types of amphibian species
• BLUE: Funny TV last names
• PURPLE: Hidden vibes

Need more clues?

We're firmly in spoiler territory now, but read on if you want to know what the four theme answers are for today's NYT Connections puzzles…

NYT Connections today (game #1158) - hint #2 - group answers

What are the answers for today's NYT Connections groups?

• YELLOW: HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING
• GREEN: KINDS OF FROGS
• BLUE: NBC SITCOM SURNAMES
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES

Right, the answers are below, so DO NOT SCROLL ANY FURTHER IF YOU DON'T WANT TO SEE THEM.

NYT Connections today (game #1158) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1158, are…

• YELLOW: HOLD ONTO, AS A FEELING: FOSTER, HARBOR, MAINTAIN, NURSE
• GREEN: KINDS OF FROGS: BULL, GREEN, POISON DART, TREE
• BLUE: NBC SITCOM SURNAMES: BENES, BING, LEMON, SCOTT
• PURPLE: STARTING WITH AFFIRMATIVE RESPONSES: FINE PRINT, GOODBYE, GREAT WHITE, OKAYAMA

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 3 mistakes

This was a fun game even if I did find it quite taxing.

My first mistake was thinking that GREAT WHITE indicated that there was a group of sharks — HARBOR and BULL sounded possible, so I added BENES as a possible fourth. BULL and GREAT WHITE are correct of course and a Google search told me Ben’s Shark is a thing!

When I got down to eight tiles I managed to make two mistakes, even though I knew the connection was sitcoms; BING couldn’t be much else. I recognised SCOTT from The Office but had to play around with GREEN before finally getting the right quartet. Frankly I’m annoyed at myself for not watching more Seinfeld.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Tuesday, August 11, 2026, game #1157)

• YELLOW: DOOMED: DONE, SUNK, THROUGH, TOAST
• GREEN: BASIC CABLE CHANNELS: BET, BRAVO, HISTORY, USA
• BLUE: WORDS IN AN AUCTIONEER'S CHANT: GOING, ONCE, SOLD, TWICE
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF FACIAL FEATURES: AYE, HARE, KNOWS, TUNG

What is NYT Connections?

NYT Connections is one of several increasingly popular word games made by the New York Times. It challenges you to find groups of four items that share something in common, and each group has a different difficulty level: green is easy, yellow a little harder, blue often quite tough and purple usually very difficult.

On the plus side, you don't technically need to solve the final one, as you'll be able to answer that one by a process of elimination. What's more, you can make up to four mistakes, which gives you a little bit of breathing room.

It's a little more involved than something like Wordle, however, and there are plenty of opportunities for the game to trip you up with tricks. For instance, watch out for homophones and other word games that could disguise the answers.

It's playable for free via the NYT Games site on desktop or mobile.

• Amazon’s Texas AI project could become America’s largest power plant polluter
• The facility could release 33 million tons of CO₂ annually
• Amazon plans to install 35 gas turbines capable of producing 7.65 GW

Amazon has confirmed plans to invest in a natural gas power plant that will supply electricity to a huge new AI data center in Texas.

A New York Times report claims the facility, located in Pecos County, would use 35 natural gas turbines to generate up to 7.65GW of power for the site.

Regulatory permits indicate the plant could release up to 33 million tons of CO₂ into the atmosphere each year.

Largest single source of CO₂ pollution in the US

The scale of those emissions would make the Texas plant the single largest source of CO₂ pollution from any power plant in the United States.

By comparison, the country's current worst offender, the coal-burning James H. Miller Jr. Power Plant in Alabama, emits roughly 16 million tons of CO₂ annually.

Amazon had pledged to eliminate its planet-warming emissions by 2040 under a voluntary agreement known as the Climate Pledge.

The company co-founded that particular coalition in 2019, alongside more than 700 other large global businesses.

Despite that pledge, Amazon's own emissions have continued climbing every year, a trend the company links to the rapid expansion of AI infrastructure.

"The world looks different now than when we co-founded the climate pledge," said Margaret Callahan, an Amazon spokeswoman, in a recent statement.

She insisted that the company remained fully and genuinely committed to reducing emissions across all of its global business operations.

Gas power is fast becoming the industry's default choice

Amazon is far from alone in choosing gas power over ordinary electricity grid connections to fuel its rapidly expanding AI ambitions.

Industry analysts say hyperscale companies are increasingly building dedicated on-site power plants rather than waiting years to connect new data centers to overloaded electricity grids.

“We’re going to see an explosion of off-grid gas projects,” Amazon’s plan “could be a foreshadowing of what’s to come,” said Michael Thomas, founder of Cleanview.

Environmental groups have raised alarms about both the local and global consequences of such large-scale gas burning near residential communities.

"It's going to absolutely have a huge impact on the environment and public health," said Kathryn Guerra, a campaign director at Public Citizen.

Unfortunately, the Trump administration has actively encouraged this shift toward fossil-fuel-powered data centers, favouring oil, natural gas and coal over renewable energy sources.

Other tech firms are pursuing alternative routes, including Microsoft's nuclear deal at Three Mile Island and Meta's push toward securing 1GW of orbital solar capacity but gas seems to remain the preferred route.

It wouldn’t be a PlayStation exclusive without some matching hardware, right?

It’s an approach we’ve seen the gaming giant take before, and personally, I’ve always had a soft spot for the various Spider-Man-themed PS5 editions. Those consoles understood that a limited-edition PlayStation doesn’t necessarily need to reinvent the hardware itself. Rather, the right colors and a design that makes the console feel like part of the game.

Sony is taking a very similar approach with Marvel’s Wolverine, by unveiling a collection of matching hardware, including a limited-edition PS5 Digital Edition console — just be ready for the price, though.

More critically, though, we also have two DualSense controllers and console covers for both PS5 Slim and PS5 Pro. And, perhaps unsurprisingly, you get your pick between Wolverine's iconic yellow and a more subtle but still on-theme choice of 'Adamantium'.

Here's the full lineup, which lands on September 15, 2026, but will go up for preorder on August 19, 2026.

• DualSense Wireless Controller in Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition: $84.99 / £74.99
• DualSense Wireless Controller in Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition: $84.99 / £74.99
• PlayStation 5 Cover in Battle Yellow Limited Edition: $74.99 / £64.99
• PlayStation 5 Pro Cover in Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition: $74.99 / £64.99
• PlayStation 5 Pro Cover in Marvel’s Wolverine Adamantium Limited Edition: $74.99 / £64.99
• PlayStation 5 Digital in Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition Bundle with DualSense controller: $649.99 / £569.99

The center of the collection is Marvel’s Wolverine Battle Yellow Limited Edition PS5 Digital Edition bundle. This pairs the iconic yellow console with a matching DualSense controller and a copy of the game. The design is inspired by Insomniac’s “Battle Reborn” suit, with the familiar yellow finish broken up by claw marks across the hardware.

And it works quite well, as rather than slapping a Wolverine logo onto a yellow PS5, Sony has made the console look as though Wolverine himself has gotten his claws on and into it.

(Image credit: PlayStation)

That design language carries over to the standalone Battle Yellow DualSense, as well as limited-edition console covers for existing PS5 and PS5 Pro owners. So you don't necessarily need to buy another PS5 to bring a little Wolverine into your setup, which is especially good news considering the price increases. And yes, the bundle does carry a hefty $649.99 / £569.99 price tag, but you can get the Wolverine yellow DualSense for $84.99 / £74.99 or snap up a PS5 cover for $74.99 / £64.99.

(Image credit: PlayStation)

Sony's also giving you the option of trading the yellow finish for a metallic look inspired by the Adamantium material bonded to Logan. It’s a much more understated design, but arguably a better fit if you want something a little more subtle. This will be available as a cover for the PS5 Pro exclusively or as a DualSense Controller.

“I wanted to show Wolverine at his fiercest for Marvel’s Wolverine Limited Edition PS5 Console bundle and accessories,” explained Jock, a graphic artist who worked on Marvel’s Wolverine, who starts by drawing and was excited to ‘marry cutting-edge hardware with the energy and looseness of hand-drawn ink.’

“I’m stunned by how well the console and accessories captured the raw energy of the drawing, bringing Wolverine to life in a completely unique way,” concluded Jock. And it does look stunning and instantly recognizable as Wolverine.

You can see that philosophy pretty clearly in the final designs.

(Image credit: PlayStation)

Preorders for Marvel’s Wolverine limited-edition hardware begin August 19 at 10 a.m. local time, with everything releasing and launching officially September 15 alongside the game.

So, yes, it wouldn't really be a major PlayStation exclusive without some matching hardware, and if Sony’s goal was to make a PS5 look like Wolverine had personally gotten his claws into it, mission accomplished.

There is something to be said about doubling down on physical products as Sony is pushing the charge with ending discs for titles. Good news is that along with the title art for Marvel’s Wolverine, Insomniac has confirmed a physical disc is in the box and will launch the game properly as well.

Australian singer-songwriter Nick Cave has enjoyed a long and successful career as a frontman, musician, and vocalist. His influence is far-reaching, and he's attracted many fans through the decades, although one online encounter prompted a massive response to the rise of AI-generated impersonations of his style and work.

Art through suffering

Months after OpenAI launched ChatGPT for the first time, Nick Cave wrote a lengthy critique on his blog about the use of this tool by fans in replicating some of his work.

Quote of the day

This article is part of TechRadar Pro's QOTD project to provide an insight into the minds of the brightest and most recognized figures in the technology industry today and in years gone by. Read the full series here.

In his blog, Cave opined about the origins of music and the conditions needed to generate genuinely human-centric music – and suffering, namely the "internal human struggle of creation" – is the key ingredient.

As far as he's concerned, he added, algorithms don't feel. He admitted that ChatGPT was, at the time, in its infancy and will always have further to go. But he was steadfast in his views that any AI-generated lyrics, or even full songs, would never capture an audience's attention in the same way that innate human artistry could.

Cloud sounds

Despite Cave's views, that hasn't abated the world from experimenting with AI-generated music – and there's been an explosion in both 'slop' as well as catchy machine-made music.

There's been a huge rise in the number of tools that can generate music, including tools like Canva's built-in generator, Gemini's Lyria 3, and specialist tools like Suno AI.

It's no surprise that Deezer suggested in November last year that a third of songs uploaded to its platform were AI-generated. The situation has escalated recently, however, with its in-house AI detection tool now finding that figure rising to more than 50% of daily uploads, amounting to 90,000 songs.

• Pentagon backs $820 million expansion of domestic drone component manufacturing capacity
• PDW plans to expand its Huntsville facility for military drone production
• Funding will increase production of propulsion, power, and vision systems

The Pentagon has conditionally committed up to $820 million to Performance Drone Works (PDW) for expanding domestic UAS component manufacturing capacity.

The financing is meant to expand domestic manufacturing of critical unmanned aerial system components across several distinct product and technology categories.

PDW will have to expand manufacturing at its 90,000-square-foot facility in Huntsville, Alabama, while additional production will involve local industry partners.

Components for smaller military drones

The production will cover Group 1 and Group 2 UAS platforms, representing relatively lightweight systems used for lower-altitude military operations.

Under US military classifications, Group 1 drones weigh less than 20 pounds and operate at service ceilings of up to 1,200 feet.

Group 2 systems weigh no more than 55 pounds and operate below 3,500 feet under the Pentagon's established classification framework.

The funding, therefore, concerns components that support smaller aircraft rather than larger unmanned systems used for longer-range military missions.

Combined with private capital, the commitment is expected to increase production of propulsion systems, power controls, and vision technologies for military applications.

Before financing becomes final, PDW must satisfy financial, legal, and technical requirements under the federal lending process, set by the Department of Defense.

Pentagon tightens controls on foreign drone components

The Pentagon is seeking to reduce dependence on overseas sources as concerns grow over foreign components entering critical military drone supply chains.

The effort follows an executive order issued last year supporting expanded US manufacturing for next-generation tactical autonomous systems.

“Achieving Secretary Hegseth’s mandate for drone dominance requires a secure and resilient industrial base here at home,” said Emil Michael, US Under Secretary of Defense for Research and Engineering.

The Office of Strategic Capital's commitment therefore supports broader efforts to increase domestic capacity for components considered important to national defense.

“America’s ability to respond tomorrow depends on the industrial capacity we build today,” said James Slider, CEO of PDW.

“This conditional commitment … would support the critical need of strengthening domestic manufacturing and restoring America’s ability to build the capabilities our nation depends on.”

That urgency around domestic sourcing is not just theoretical: a recent incident in the U.K. showed what can go wrong when foreign components slip into military hardware unnoticed.

The U.K. Navy recently discovered its K3 Scout surveillance drones sent “heartbeat communications” to China.

Though the U.K. swiftly disconnected the drones from the internet after discovering the communications, the incident raised concerns about foreign-made equipment operating in sensitive military environments.

“If we cannot say with confidence what is inside our own military equipment, we cannot say it is ours, or that we are sovereign,” said Alicia Kearns, the UK Shadow Minister for National Security and Safeguarding

“When cameras built on Chinese parts are found recording our special forces – their faces, training and operations – we should not be surprised, we should be furious that we still haven’t woken up to the realities of the threat we face.”

Via The DroneFront

• Nashville's Metro Council voted 27 to 5 to authorize acquiring the 23.49-acre site next to the Nashville Zoo by negotiation or condemnation
• This comes after a local fight escalated into a national campaign with a 500,000-signature petition
• The vote grants an option rather than a commitment: no negotiations have begun, an amendment requires an appraisal and a three-week wait, and it must still prove public need to a court

Nashville's Metro Council has voted 27 to 5 , to authorize the city to take the land where DC BLOX plans to build a data center next door to the Nashville Zoo at Grassmere.

It is, to date, the most aggressive move yet by an American city against a data center project, and it arrives after a local zoning fight escalated into a national one, replete with a petition carrying more than half a million signatures and objections from celebrities including Brad Paisley, Sheryl Crow and Jack White.

It is however, strictly speaking for now, not a decision to use eminent domain at all yet.

A national story as eminent domain runs the other way

In a session that ran past midnight, the passed bill (BL2026-1489) authorizes Metro to acquire the 23.49-acre property at 648 Grassmere Park through "negotiation or condemnation." Those are two different things, and the legislation permits either.

The mayor's office has explicitly said that the vote does not commit Metro to buying the land, only that it gives the city the option, and that negotiations on a purchase price have not begun.

The bill also has other limitations in play: an amendment from Councilmember Quin Evans Segall added two more brakes: an appraisal must be presented to the council, and Metro must wait a minimum of three weeks from the vote before proceeding. Even after that, condemnation requires Metro to demonstrate to a court that it genuinely needs the property for public use. The stated uses are offices, warehouse space, and employee training.

The reason this is a national story is that eminent domain generally runs the other way; the standard version of this story is a utility or a developer using the state's condemnation power to clear land for infrastructure, over the objections of whoever happens to live on it.

Georgia Power did exactly that recently, acquiring 30 residential properties to connect a substation to a power plant, in a state where data center growth is driving load.

Rick Schwartz, the zoo's president and CEO, has made a point that tends to get flattened in coverage. DC BLOX has pledged to limit sound, and Schwartz's response is that decibel levels are not the issue. The concern is tonal noise transmitted as vibration, occurring continuously with no overnight relief, which could disturb animals near the proposed buildout site.

The clouded leopard exhibit sits closest to the proposed site, which matters because the zoo's breeding program for the species relies on a hand-rearing regimen built over three decades, designed to gradually acclimate cubs to human noise and prevent stress.

Zoo officials also point to stormwater: the zoo's waterway infrastructure is already classified as impaired for siltation and habitat alteration, and runoff from a hardened industrial site upstream would not help. Schwartz has said the zoo is unwilling to pursue a compromise, citing a lack of transparency from the developer.

DC BLOX closed on the property on July 17 2026 for $23 million. Davidson County assessed it at around $37 million last year. Under Tennessee law, Metro could owe fair market value, which puts the floor above what the developer paid three weeks before the council voted.

There are other regulations in play that could, however, completely neuter the situation. In late July, the council passed Nashville's first data center regulations, along with a moratorium on new permit approvals that runs through December 1, preventing construction from starting. Separately, two challenges to the zoning administrator's land-use designation for the property are pending with the Board of Zoning Appeals, filed by the zoo among others, and could put a proverbial spanner in the works.

Nashville is not an outlier in wanting this fight, only in the tool it has attempted to use to prevent a buildout. There are more than 70 active data center moratoriums nationwide, over 200 communities weighing restrictions, and at least 14 states considering similar measures.

What makes this case worth watching is not the vote itself, but whether a city can actually afford to follow through, both legislatively and potentially down the line, financially.

Apple may or may not be working on a mostly-glass 20th anniversary iPhone. This long-rumored passion project would not necessarily transform the iPhone into a fully translucent device, but would extend the front and back glass panels so that they almost meet around a far thinner metal border.

But like a rabbit hiding inside the secret compartment of a magician's hat, the device, depending on your perspective, might not exist and may only appear through the force of sheer will or alchemy.

What's not in question is that the iPhone will celebrate 20 years of existence that started on January 9, 2007, the day Apple founder and CEO Steve Jobs held it aloft at Macworld in San Francisco. That it didn't ship for another six months is unlikely to dissuade Apple from engaging in some introspection and external celebration.

That might include a glassy iPhone.

On one side, we have an analyst stating that, owing to poor manufacturing yields, Apple scrapped plans for the 20th anniversary device. On the other side, we have Apple soothsayer Bloomberg's Mark Gurman claiming the glass iPhone is on track. In the middle, though, is the reality of a device that challenges the limits of physics and promises more glass than metal.

I think it's safe to say that Apple will ultimately produce an exciting, albeit practical, 20th anniversary device that we may get off-schedule in mid-2027. If the design is particularly challenging, then it may be a limited run, priced like a museum piece, and mostly never used by the relative handful or so Apple enthusiasts who manage to score one.

Buried under the [rumor] mill

The entire saga, though, led me to a different realization. I mean, what are we even talking about here? This conversation about a 20th anniversary iPhone is raging (and has been for years) just weeks before Apple unveils not just its iPhone 18 line, but the highly anticipated folding iPhone or iPhone Ultra.

That's a big deal, even more so because the flexible device will be held up not by long-time CEO Tim Cook, but by John Ternus, who will have officially taken over the reins just days before (September 1). It's a huge moment for the company and the tech industry.

And yet we're still obsessed with "what's next?"

No doubt, most tech companies suffer from this a little bit, but nothing like the insatiable curiosity that's dogged Apple since the launch of the first iPhone. The tech rumor mill was, in some ways, developed simply to support all the leaks and guesswork surrounding much of what Apple does, especially as it pertains to the iPhone.

We're still obsessed with "what's next?"

This impulse didn't take years to develop. It was on full display in 2007. This October 9, 2007, story mused about whether or not the next iPhone would feature an Intel chip. This CNet feature obsessed somewhat presciently over a potential name change ("the 2G iPhone"). And the 2009 YouTube video went on an iPhone design deep dive, even touching on the never-delivered "iPhone Nano".

Apple, I'm certain, doesn't mind the attention, and as long as the leaks are not breaking the law or revealing clearly stolen information, they're happy to let the rumors percolate. For those working on these new devices, however, there must also be some level of frustration.

Just imagine if you're working on a big project and your customers say, "Yeah, great, but what about the next one?" Or every time you serve dinner, your family asks what you're making for tomorrow or begins speculating on what you might make and how it'll obviously be better than what you just served.

Apple can never get away from attention, turning our distractible heads toward the future.

When I attend an Apple iPhone launch event, I always laugh at how stories about the next iteration appear right after the launch of the still new iPhone — one I haven't even reviewed yet.

None of this serves consumers, who are usually still struggling to understand their current devices and maybe some of the new hardware currently on offer. Talking about a distant and sometimes improbable future only confuses and probably frustrates them.

Who is this serving?

Lately, the impulse to look past the present is creating this sonic dissonance wherein the pundits cannot even agree on the fundamentals of an uncertain future. They're free to make proclamations, even wildly different ones, because Apple will naturally never tell them (or us) otherwise. The information is so contrasting that it becomes useless (even if markets sometimes move on these rumors).

It's gotten so out of hand that we're already discussing the iPhone Ultra 2 and the Ultra 3. That's right, the unreleased folding phone has, according to rumor, been greenlit for second and third iterations. This is the only scientific proof we have that vacuums have weight and, in fact, get heavier over time. (Narrator: Pure vacuums have zero mass and weight.)

What if we stopped trying to fill these information vacuums with pure speculation and unfounded guesswork? What if we stopped fixating on the "what's next" and stuck with the "what's new," especially at least until we understand the impact of the new thing?

How, for example, will the folding iPhone, which may or may not be called Ultra, fare? It too is entering an uncertain future where it will compete with the well-established Samsung Galaxy Z8 line, especially that oddball Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8.

As you may have noticed, for as popular as Samsung is, it doesn't really suffer or enjoy a rumor mill in quite the same way. Yes, there are always rumors about the next Galaxy line, but they're usually confined to the upcoming model release and not two or more years down the line.

I'm excited about Apple's next iPhone and am honestly over speculating about anything beyond that. Perhaps you and Apple are too.