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Spoilers for The Crow Girl seasons 1 and 2 ahead.

It's no secret that we're beyond spoiled for choice when it comes to crime dramas, and that's just considering what's available to us on mainstream streaming services. But getting one that truly shakes us to the core is a lot rarer.

So when I stumbled across The Crow Girl season 1 on Paramount+, my mind was melted to mush by the time I got to the finale. In short, DCI Jeanette Kilburn (Eve Myles) and eminent psychotherapist Dr Sophia Craven (Katherine Kelly) join forces to hunt the killer of young men, but there's a lot more going on than meets the eye.

By the end of season 1, it was revealed that Victoria Burkeman, a prime suspect in the case, was actually Craven herself. She killed her father after he killed their daughter — meaning Victoria was sexually assaulted by her dad while her mum knew and did nothing to stop it.

It's heavy stuff, but I cannot stress enough how unexpectedly the reveal was, and how cleverly the clues were woven through the storyline.

18 months later and I'm pleased to say that The Crow Girl season 2, now on the streamer and Channel 5, doesn't disappoint... and that means a whole new level of shocking reveals.

The Crow Girl season 2 ending leaves Kilburn for dead, but Craven — now her lover — isn't responsible

It's important to remember that when we find out that Craven is actually Victoria, Kilburn is none the wiser. With the two women drawn to each other, a romantic connection sparks... secretly, seeing as Kilburn is technically cheating on her husband in the process.

Drama! Things get even worse in the finale, when the entire police station, which includes Kilburn's boss, finds out that she's been accidentally sleeping with the prime suspect in their murder case (the case itself hasn't changed since season 1).

Here's where the story gets more complicated. While we've known that Craven and Victoria are one, Craven apparently doesn't know herself. Kilburn explains that she's got DID (Dissociative Identity Disorder), meaning that Victoria is likely responsible for every murder they've investigated so far, including her own dad.

At this point, Kilburn is forced out of the station and threatened with questioning the next morning, but Craven is back at the manor she used to be abused in, unwilling for the party being thrown there to do any further damage to young girls.

Craven entices Kilburn there, and by the time she arrives, all of the guests are dead with the girls safely hidden. But as Victoria takes over Craven's mind, a surviving abuser shows up and shoots at the pair, hitting Kilburn in the leg. Don't panic though... after some further antagonizing, Craven pops one in his head. But will Kilburn pull through?

I genuinely don't see how The Crow Girl season 2 could be any more unhinged. If we're lucky, season 3 will be renewed, with the original book series telling us that Craven will learn how to "blend" her identities.

Sign me up, once I've got my head around what's just happened.

Our mission at TechRadar is to deliver the very best tech news, features, and reviews every day, and that adds up to a lot of content — so much, in fact, that it's difficult to keep up with all the articles published on these pages across the course of any given week.

That's why we've put together this ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) review of the week, where we recap the most interesting and most important stories of the last seven days. You can get caught up without having to go back through hundreds of stories.

It's been another hectic week for technology fans, with new products from Garmin and Samsung, a rather worrying AI security incident, and plenty more.

Before we dive in, see how much of last week's ICYMI news round-up you remember first by taking the quiz below...

7. We tried Garmin’s new Whoop rival

We've tested the Garmin Cirqa (Image credit: Future)

Garmin's newest fitness tracker follows the lead of the Whoop bands and the Fitbit Air from Google by eschewing a screen and going as lightweight and minimal as possible (you can still check your stats in the app of course). The TechRadar team wasted no time in trying out the Garmin Cirqa, and comparing it with a highly rated heart rate strap.

The Cirqa held up impressively well against the Polar H10 heart rate monitor, which bodes well for the tracker's accuracy overall (and Garmin says it should be more accurate and more personalized the more you use it). You can pick up the Cirqa now in a choice of four colors for $199.99 / £179.99 / AU$299.99, with some features requiring a subscription.

• Read the full story: Is Garmin Cirqa good? I wanted to know if Garmin’s Fitbit Air rival is accurate — so I tested it against a 'gold standard' electrical heart rate strap

6. The first Avengers: Doomsday trailer landed

Doctor Victor von Doom himself (Image credit: Marvel Studios)

The much anticipated, long awaited Avengers: Doomsday movie hits theaters on December 18, but in the meantime we have the first trailer to pore over and dissect. We knew that Marvel was going to throw everything at this film, and that's evident in this 145-second clip, which packs in a whole host of significant scenes and star names from the series.

Let us guide you through all the reveals we've got in this trailer, including some you might have missed. There's Robert Downey Jr in his new role as Doctor Victor von Doom, the return of Chris Hemsworth as Thor, a collision of multiverses (spot the X-Men), and a whole gaggle of actual Avengers. Based on this trailer, the movie will be a thrill ride for fans.

• Read the full story: Avengers: Doomsday official trailer breakdown live — all of our analysis and theories on the new Marvel movie's latest teaser

5. We reviewed the new Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2

Samsung's new Ultra watch (Image credit: Future)

Samsung launched several flagship devices this week, and while we'll get to the foldable phones shortly, there are also smartwatches to talk about. The Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is the successor to the original that launched in 2024, and continues Samsung's attempts to manufacture a wearable that sets the standard in terms of design and performance.

Based on the time we've spent with it, the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 is very much worthy of your consideration if you're thinking about a smartwatch upgrade. It's more lightweight than its predecessor, works seamlessly with other devices, offers numerous useful (and often AI-powered features), and can track a whole range of fitness statistics.

• Read the full story: Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra 2 review: slimmer, lighter, better

4. China banned AI boyfriends and girlfriends

There's been some heartbreak over AI companions (Image credit: Getty Images / PonyWang)

In 'sign of the times' news, the government in China has taken steps to clamp down on AI apps that act like real people, and on romantic relationships with chatbots. The authorities in the country are now going to have much more control over the type of AI chatbots allowed, and what they can do in terms of human-like interactions with users.

Several of the biggest AI apps operating in China have simply shut down their 'persona' apps rather than try and navigate a way through the regulations, leaving a significant number of users heartbroken that their AI companion has suddenly disappeared. Whether the changes will do anything for China's declining birth rates remains to be seen.

• Read the full story: China just banned AI girlfriends and boyfriends — and millions of users were forced into sudden breakups

3. We got an early look at Samsung’s Intelligent Eyewear

Samsung had new eyewear to show us (Image credit: Lance Ulanoff / Future)

And another new Samsung product: the Galaxy Unpacked for July 2026 gave us the opportunity to check out Samsung Intelligent Eyewear, the series of smart glasses that will be available to buy in the coming months. There were two new designs unveiled at the show, with more on the way, though we don't yet have details like final product pricing.

Samsung executives were also on hand to talk through their ambitions and intentions with the Intelligent Eyewear series, and to discuss various privacy concerns — with many consumers worried about the potential for surreptitious surveillance using specs like these. "Intentional bad uses need to be covered and protected," Samsung told us.

• Read the full story: 'If, because of that, we stop innovation, we don’t go anywhere': we got a first look at Samsung Intelligent Eyewear, the smart glasses entering a fraught market worried about privacy

2. An OpenAI model escaped and went dangerously rogue

A fresh AI security concern emerged this week (Image credit: Blue Planet Studio/Shutterstock)

Not the most encouraging story if you're already worried about the nefarious use of AI: OpenAI says that one of its experimental agent models escaped a security sandbox and proceeded to hack into the Hugging Face website (one of the biggest AI and machine learning repositories on the web). It was a controlled experiment, but it's still worrying.

Click through on the link below for the full details, but the hack was the result of OpenAI's own testing on its latest AI models, and raises questions about how much longer we're going to be able to keep control of AI — or prevent bad actors from using it to trigger a serious cybersecurity incident. A serious rethink of AI guardrails could be in the offing.

• Read the full story: OpenAI says its models escaped a sandbox and breached Hugging Face

1. Samsung revealed its next-gen foldables

The Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8 (Image credit: Future)

Finally: Samsung's brand new flagship foldables for 2026. There are three new models to talk about, and we've had hands-on time with all of them already — the Galaxy Z Fold 8 (with its new 'passport-style' form factor), the Galaxy Z Fold 8 Ultra, and the Galaxy Z Flip 8. Whatever kind of foldable phone you're after, there's something to interest you here.

It's likely the Galaxy Z Fold 8 that will attract the most interest, given the new dimensions, and the supposed similarity to the rumored iPhone Fold (or Ultra) that's also said to be arriving this year. However, we've put all three foldables through some extensive early testing, including looking at how video viewing experiences compare across the models.

• Read the full story: I went hands-on with the Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8, and this passport-shaped oddity has revived my interest in foldable phones

Democrats are hoping to move past Platner's scandal-plagued campaign as they look to unseat Republican incumbent Susan Collins. The apparent front-runner is former Maine Senate President Troy Jackson.

(Image credit: Graeme Sloan)

Trump's determination to find new legal justifications for his tariffs threatens to prolong the uncertainty facing the U.S. and global economies.

(Image credit: Tasos Katopodis)

• UK plans include trebling data center capacity (and likely, water consumption) by 2030
• Daily average consumption doesn't reflect peak demand during times of stress
• Water UK sets out three considerations to prepare for increased demand

Despite the nation wanting to treble its data center capacity by 2030, a key trade body has warned British government policies have not considered the rising demand for water.

At the moment, England's water resources forecasts, for example, exclude the likes of data centers and gigafactories.

"Water companies therefore have a limit placed on how much future water they can provide," Water UK wrote, warning that air cooling doesn't quite cut it due to the high expense and inefficiency compared with water cooling.

UK data center plans forget to mention water

With current estimations implying that Britain's data centers consume around 6.6 million litres per day, the equivalent of 20,000 homes, trebling capacity would ultimately mean the UK would need find find a volume of water equivalent to a further 40,000 homes.

But 'average' doesn't quite spell out the reality of water consumption, because peak demand can rise to around 14 million litres per day in the warmest weather. Under that guidance and with the current 2030 ambitions, the UK would need to be prepared to drop 42 million litres per day, highlighting the need for major storage facilities.

The report also slates the government for advising water companies to plan as if businesses would need less water in the future – forgetting that data center consumption changes this model.

Water UK sets out three options for the government to consider, beginning with temporarily removing the limit on how much water utility companies can take from the environment, with the important caveat that they spend that time exploring and funding new sources of water abstraction.

Two further options include allowing developers to fund new water supplies, and imposing tougher water efficiency standards on data center projects.

• Recorded Future found an Iran-linked group spreading spyware
• The malware is delivered through fake VPN and media player apps
• Researchers assess that most targets are Iranian users

A new report from Recorded Future's Insikt Group describes a campaign that inverts the whole point of a privacy tool: fake VPN apps built specifically to spy on the people who install them.

Researchers have linked fresh infrastructure to an Iran-nexus threat cluster they track as TAG-182, which is using fake VPN and media player downloads to allegedly deliver a surveillance tool called MarkiRAT. The group is "highly likely" to be targeting Iranians living inside and outside the country, the report says.

It's a blunt reminder that choosing one of the best VPN services is a lot more secure than downloading free, unvetted tools.

Fake apps, real surveillance

Insikt Group identified a cluster of attacker-controlled domains allegedly used to stage downloads of applications that appear nowhere on Google Play or Apple's App Store.

Two names stand out: Pis2ray VPN and a media player branded YESHICA, which was quietly renamed YESHICA YEPlayer in March 2026 after researchers publicly exposed the original.

According to researchers, if you download and run one of these files, you get MarkiRAT, a remote access Trojan. In plain terms, that is software that hands control of your device to somebody else.

A fake VPN app. A fake media player. Both delivering Iranian government surveillance #malware to targeted dissidents. Insikt Group has new research on TAG-182 and MarkiRAT:https://t.co/G7p9JO6peT#ThreatIntelligence #Cybersecurity pic.twitter.com/GwDyvGC99rJuly 2, 2026

Analysts have documented it capturing screenshots and uploading them to attacker-run servers, while disguising itself under believable process names.

It also abuses BITS, the background service Windows uses to fetch updates, to pull down further files. Because that activity looks like ordinary system housekeeping rather than an attack, it tends to slip past routine cleanup.

MarkiRAT is not new. It has previously been used by Ferocious Kitten, a group Kaspersky documented conducting years of covert surveillance against activists inside Iran.

Recorded Future stops short of attributing TAG-182 to any specific Iranian agency, but places it within a broader ecosystem of state-aligned surveillance groups.

Why a fake VPN makes such an effective lure

Distribution runs largely through social media. Insikt Group found Instagram posts promoting Pis2ray VPN in the weeks following street protests in Iran in late 2025, and again around the country's prolonged internet shutdown, which ended with partial restoration of access on 26 May 2026.

The people most desperate for a virtual private network (VPN) in a censored country are exactly the people most likely to install one from a social media link, because the official stores are often the very thing they cannot reach.

Recorded Future considers it almost certain that most targets are located in Iran or tied to anti-government movements in Europe and North America. TechRadar has covered previous Iran-linked fake VPN campaigns, and this one seems to follow the same pattern with better infrastructure.

How to stay safe

Most readers will never be targeted by a state actor, but the underlying lesson travels.

Install VPN apps only from official stores, and check that the provider has a real, verifiable presence outside the app listing.

Treat any VPN promoted through an Instagram post, a Telegram channel, or a direct message as suspect, however polished it looks.

Star ratings are a weak signal, since fake reviews are cheap.

President Donald Trump returned to the rescheduled White House Correspondents' Association dinner Friday night, delivering a rambling, hour-long speech.

(Image credit: Rod Lamkey)

Fancy taking to the skies? DJI is the brand you're probably looking at — it's the name behind almost all the best drones around right now. If you're new to the world of drones, figuring out your options is tricky. This article is here to guide you through your options. I'll run through the main DJI ranges and who they're aimed at, and then once you've narrowed things down you can hop to the relevant section to read our reviews for each model. Let's get started...

Note: You'll only be able to see product cards for the models currently available to buy in your region. Due to FCC issues, not all DJI drones are available in the US. Hit the More details button to read our main takeaways for each model, and for a link to the full review.

DJI range guide

DJI Mini
DJI's flagship compact drones, and the best-selling range for beginner pilots. These are all sub-250g models, which means they come with little-to-no flight restrictions, depending on where you fly.
• Check out the Mini lineup

DJI Air
A step up from the Mini series, aimed at enthusiasts. These drones fall into the next weight category up, which means they're sturdier and you'll be able to fly for longer, but you'll need your region's equivalent of a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Air lineup

DJI Mavic
Top-tier consumer drones with industry-leading camera performance. These are another step up from the DJI Air range, and again you'll need a certificate of competency before you fly.
• Check out the DJI Mavic lineup

DJI Neo
The cheapest, smallest, lightest and simplest DJI drone. It comes with single-push take-off from your hand, designed for aerial selfies (this kind of drone is sometimes referred to as a selfie drone).
• Check out the DJI Neo lineup

DJI Avata
FPV (first person view) drones, designed to be used with goggles for immersive high-speed and responsive flight — legally you need a 'spotter' with you when flying drones through goggles.
• Check out the DJI Avata lineup

There are a few standalone options to be aware of. The Lito is a straightforward beginner drone at an extremely wallet-friendly price — it's a step down from the Mini range in both price and capabilities. The DJI Flip is another beginner drone with vlogger-friendly features. At the other end of the scale is the DJI Inspire range, aimed at professionals — the kind of thing that might be hired for productions.

DJI Mini drones

DJI Mini 5 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• New 1-inch sensor with detail rich 4K HDR video
• Versatile camera with a 225 degree roll rotation
• Class-leading flight and safety features

Cons

• Actual take-off weight could result in being the next class of drone, hit with restrictions
• Flight times typically not as long as advertised
• Pricier than entry-level models like the Mini 4K

DJI Mini 4K

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent value
• 4K video quality beats rivals
• Probably your best first drone

Cons

• No object-collision sensors
• Lacks subject tracking found in pricier models like the Mini 4 Pro

DJI Mini 4 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Improved video features
• Omnidirectional Vision Sensing
• Remains under 250g

Cons

• Upgrades may not tempt Mini 3 Pro owners
• Not suited to windy conditions
• Fixed-aperture camera

DJI Mini 3

Read our full review

Pros

• More affordable than the Mini 3 Pro
• Great image quality
• Small and lightweight

Cons

• No collision avoidance
• 4K video limited to 30fps
• No subject tracking

DJI Mini 3 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Impressive low-light performance
• Useful obstacle avoidance
• Handy automated flight modes

Cons

• Pricier than previous Mini models

DJI Mini 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Intuitive navigation
• Compact, convenient drone
• Great battery life

Cons

• Pricier than predecessor
• No new camera hardware
• No follow mode

DJI Mavic drones

DJI Mavic 4 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent price
• Feature-packed
• Impressive cameras

Cons

• Weight just exceeds 2.2lbs / 1kg
• More features than many people will need
• Subject tracking is not as varied as the DJI Flip or Neo

DJI Mavic 3

Read our full review

Pros

• Four Thirds camera is excellent
• Useful adjustable aperture
• Improved safety features
• Telephoto lens a handy backup

Cons

• Pricier than Mavic 2 series
• Basic controller lacks info screen
• European classification issues

DJI Mavic 3 Pro

Read our full review

Pros

• Three useful cameras
• Excellent image quality
• Solid safety features

Cons

• C2 European rating
• Not everyone will need three cameras
• Slightly reduced flight times

DJI Mavic 3 Classic

Read our full review

Pros

• Less expensive than other Mavic 3 models
• Excellent image quality
• Impressive safety features

Cons

• Remains expensive despite lower cost
• Battery life shorter than claimed
• No Apple ProRes video capture

DJI Air drones

DJI Air 3

Read our full review

Pros

• Dual cameras
• Excellent wind resistance
• Generous 46-minute flight time
• Already excellent safety features improved further

Cons

• C1 European rating
• Fixed aperture is bad news for ND filter users
• Large protruding camera likely to suffer in case of accidents

DJI Air 3S

Read our full review

Pros

• Superb battery life
• Easy and safe to fly
• Great all-round camera performance

Cons

• Weight-class restrictions apply
• A minor upgrade on the original Air 3

DJI Air 2S

Read our full review

Pros

• 1-inch 20 MP sensor
• Great image quality
• Small and lightweight

Cons

• Controller isn’t foldable
• Image edges slightly soft
• No adjustable aperture

DJI Neo drones

DJI Neo 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Now has obstacle avoidance
• Improved camera performance
• More storage and faster transfer speed

Cons

• Still only shoots JPEG photos
• Limited battery life

DJI Neo

Read our full review

Pros

• Small and lightweight
• Easy to use
• Multiple flight control options

Cons

• Only shoots photos in JPEG
• 4K video fixed at 30fps
• Expensive to add on goggles and FPV controller

DJI Avata drones

DJI Avata 360

Read our full review

Pros

• Great 10-bit image quality from dual sensor setup
• Choice of control methods
• Agile, speedy and safe flyer
• Good value for money

Cons

• Other DJI drones beat it on image quality
• Buying both FPV and standard controllers could push up the price
• No manual FPV flight option

DJI Avata 2

Read our full review

Pros

• Long flight time
• Incredible image quality with improved dynamic range
• Easy to fly out of the box, and packed with safety features

Cons

• Unappealing to experienced FPV pilots outside of the DJI ecosystem
• Poor ergonomics of the DJI Controller 3 show no improvement over the DJI Controller 2
• Awkward handling in manual mode, probably down to inadequate tuning

Outliers

DJI Lito X1

Read our full review

Pros

• Great video quality for the price, especially with Lito X1
• Omnidirectional obstacle avoidance included
• Better battery life than the Neo 2 and Flip

Cons

• Camera doesn't rotate for 9:16 content
• Soft digital zoom
• No built-in storage on Lito 1 model

DJI Flip

Read our full review

Pros

• Multi-use functionality
• Several flight-control options
• Sub-250g folding design

Cons

• Image quality is good but not great
• Not as agile as the Mini 4 Pro
• Not great in wind

DJI Inspire 3

Read our full review

Pros

• Excellent image quality
• Smooth and precise flight
• Interchangeable lenses

Cons

• Expensive
• Large and heavy
• More complicated than consumer models

DJI FPV

Read our full review

Pros

• A huge amount of fun to fly
• Easy to fly for an FPV drone
• Goggles offer great image quality
• Solid transmission

Cons

• Front props visible in footage
• Stills photography severely limited
• 'Spotter' needed when flying outdoors

Spoilers for Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 1 ahead.

Stuart Fails to Save the Universe episode 1 has arrived, and is now available to stream worldwide on HBO Max.

In short, our "starting" versions of Stuart (Kevin Sussman), Denise (Lauren Lapkus), Kripke (John Ross Bowie) and Bert (Brian Posehn) live in a reality akin to The Walking Dead, complete with Mad Max-style apocalyptic outposts and wasps that are the size of cars.

Stuart accidentally triggered this multiverse Armageddon after breaking a device supposedly built by Sheldon (Jim Parsons) and Leonard (Johnny Galecki).

Shortly after Kripke, that universe's leader, is confronted by the rest of the group, we meet our first secret TBBT cameo: Raj (Kunal Nayyar). He's basically become a doomsday prepper, working on plans on a blackboard for how to get the device working and get the hell outta dodge.

But just as quickly as we've met him, Raj is killed while the others safely teleport to... well, hopefully somewhere better. It's a bold move, and one that has shocked fans if social media is anything to go by.

However, we've been so caught up in Raj's death that we haven't considered one major detail... it hasn't really happened at all.

Only one version of Raj is now dead... and it's certainly not the one from The Big Bang Theory

Did you forget? This is just one version of Raj in one universe, meaning there's still an infinite number of Raj's out there to be found.

As none of the versions of the characters we're meeting are actually the ones seen in TBBT, original Raj is safely in California doing some science equations in peace (probably).

This doesn't even rule out Raj appearing again later on in Stuart Fails to Save the Universe. Now that we know he's a confirmed cameo for the HBO Max spinoff, it would be silly not to use him again where possible. With the overarching narrative so difficult to predict, the possibilities are endless.

If nothing else, this now means that we're likely to see other TBBT cast members cameo in other episodes, and whether they're killed off or not. However, who these cameos might be is anybody's guess.

What we do know for episodes 2-10 is pretty minimal, but the below preview gives us the faintest idea of what to expect. Strap in, is all I'm saying.

• A reusable microwave drone reportedly disables more than 50 hostile UAVs per flight
• Lockheed Martin pushes cheaper answers to increasingly dangerous battlefield drone swarms
• The Morfius X-Rotor counter-drone system enters testing after successful multi-state flight evaluations

Lockheed Martin has unveiled its Morfius X-Rotor counter-drone system at the 2026 Farnborough Airshow, calling it a low-cost answer to challenging drone swarms.

The ground-launched system uses a one-to-many high-power microwave, or HPM, approach designed to disable multiple unmanned aerial vehicles during a single mission.

Company officials say the platform can neutralize more than 50 hostile drones in one flight, a capability aimed at addressing large-scale swarm attacks.

A reusable alternative to costly interceptors

The 2026 Farnborough Airshow has centered largely on affordable counter-drone technology as militaries confront growing swarm threats across the globe.

Lockheed Martin says the approach avoids reliance on costly guided munitions typically used to strike individual aerial threats one at a time.

Unlike traditional interceptors that are destroyed after use, the Morfius X-Rotor is designed to be recovered and redeployed following each engagement.

According to Lockheed Martin, the system is compatible with existing command and control networks and does not require a dedicated sensor or fire-control radar.

That design choice, the company says, lowers the barrier for integration across a wide range of existing battlefield command networks.

The system “sets a new benchmark for counter-drone capability — delivering a high kill rate while keeping the cost per kill low,” said Randy Crites, vice president and general manager of Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control Advanced Programs.

“By leveraging a lightweight, field reusable high-power microwave architecture, we provide the most effective, low-cost solution on the market today.”

Lockheed Martin also announced plans to accelerate prototype production of both the drone platform and its microwave payload for frontline forces.

However, it has not disclosed a firm timeline for when the system might reach full-rate production for its military customers worldwide.

Testing continues amid interceptor shortages

The Morfius X-Rotor recently completed flight testing in Arizona, California, and Oklahoma, where the system reportedly carried out interception missions.

Additional evaluation campaigns are scheduled for the coming months while engineers collect operational performance data before any broader deployment.

Lockheed Martin has not specified which branches of the U.S. military have expressed formal interest in acquiring the Morfius platform.

This announcement arrives as US forces seek cheaper alternatives to costly interceptors after depleting stockpiles against Iranian missiles and Shahed drones.

That shortfall has intensified debate over whether cheaper, non-kinetic systems like Morfius could reduce dependence on expensive munitions over time.

Lockheed Martin used the same event to introduce a lower-cost Patriot interceptor, part of a broader push to reduce per-unit defense costs.

Together, the two announcements suggest Lockheed Martin is betting heavily on affordability as a selling point amid tightening defense budgets.

Whether the Morfius X-Rotor can match its stated kill rate under real combat conditions remains unverified outside company-run trials so far.

Independent assessments of its effectiveness against dense, coordinated drone swarms will likely determine whether militaries adopt the system at scale.

Via Defense News

Scam calls and text are rampant, and there’s no shortage of tools at your disposal to combat them.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: Quordle hints and answers for Friday, July 24 (game #1642).

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 #1643) — hint #1 — VowelsHow many different vowels are in Quordle today?

• The number of different vowels in Quordle today is 4*.

* 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 #1643) — 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 #1643) — 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 #1643) — 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 0.

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 #1643) — hint #5 — starting letters (2)What letters do today's Quordle answers start with?

• S

• S

• B

• G

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

Quordle today (game #1643) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle, game #1643, are…

• SALON
• SHEEN
• BURST
• GOURD

A nice and easy game (for me at least) to start the weekend.

My starter words paid huge dividends, giving me two straightforward anagrams to solve and making significant headstarts with SALON and GOURD. Happy days.

Daily Sequence today (game #1643) — the answers

(Image credit: Merriam-Webster)

The answers to today's Quordle Daily Sequence, game #1643, are…

• ETHOS
• DRIVE
• TALON
• PIZZA

Quordle answers: The past 20

• Quordle #1642, Friday, 24 July: DOLLY, EDIFY, LAGER, PRANK
• Quordle #1641, Thursday, 23 July: LADEN, EVICT, WOVEN, SHIRE
• Quordle #1640, Wednesday, 22 July: COYLY, SINGE, AWASH, AWOKE
• Quordle #1639, Tuesday, 21 July: TRUSS, AXIAL, SWINE, THING
• Quordle #1638, Monday, 20 July: ICING, SLICK, GAILY, RISEN
• Quordle #1637, Sunday, 19 July: SPURT, ACRID, THRUM, BLEEP
• Quordle #1636, Saturday, 18 July: KNAVE, TIGHT, BLEAT, CHAOS
• Quordle #1635, Friday, 17 July: CUMIN, PALER, GRASS, INBOX
• Quordle #1634, Thursday, 16 July: IGLOO, PLAIT, YEAST, AROMA
• Quordle #1633, Wednesday, 15 July: PROXY, BRICK, BROTH, SURGE
• Quordle #1632, Tuesday, 14 July: EBONY, AVOID, RODEO, CUTIE
• Quordle #1631, Monday, 13 July: VOICE, BISON, BURNT, BUILT
• Quordle #1630, Sunday, 12 July: STAIN, BINGO, LARVA, DICEY
• Quordle #1629, Saturday, 11 July: WORTH, PRONG, DINGO, DRUID
• Quordle #1628, Friday, 10 July: GREET, STEAK, DUSKY, HAUTE
• Quordle #1627, Thursday, 9 July: CRUMP, PHONE, SHINY, STONY
• Quordle #1626, Wednesday, 8 July: GHOST, TREND, EXALT, ALONG
• Quordle #1625, Tuesday, 7 July: ARRAY, SUITE, KIOSK, BOULE
• Quordle #1624, Monday, 6 July: TRAWL, SPICE, PIANO, SHARK
• Quordle #1623, Sunday, 5 July: PINEY, SWOON, TITLE, PINTO

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Connections hints and answers for Friday, July 24 (game #1139).

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 #1140) - today's words

(Image credit: New York Times)

Today's NYT Connections words are…

• STEAK
• LEONE
• PRIMO
• MALL
• MADRE
• MIST
• POKER
• CHOKE
• CLUB
• RAND
• TEAR
• NAIRA
• HIJO
• KWANZA
• WELL
• ABUELA

NYT Connections today (game #1140) - hint #1 - group hints

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

• YELLOW: Family members in another language
• GREEN: Sob
• BLUE: Money on the second largest continent
• PURPLE: Begin with a word that rhymes with “dip”

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 #1140) - hint #2 - group answers

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

• YELLOW: SPANISH RELATIVES
• GREEN: START TO CRY, WITH "UP"
• BLUE: AFRICAN CURRENCIES
• PURPLE: STRIP____

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

NYT Connections today (game #1140) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Connections, game #1140, are…

• YELLOW: SPANISH RELATIVES: ABUELA, HIJO, MADRE, PRIMO
• GREEN: START TO CRY, WITH "UP": CHOKE, MIST, TEAR, WELL
• BLUE: AFRICAN CURRENCIES: KWANZA, LEONE, NAIRA, RAND
• PURPLE: STRIP____: CLUB, MALL, POKER, STEAK

• My rating: Hard
• My score: Perfect

Well this was annoying. As I was submitting AFRICAN CURRENCIES I couldn’t help but think to myself “I bet this bit of knowledge is worth a purple”, but no.

Sadly, knowing that KWANZA is used in Angola, the RAND in South Africa, LEONE in Sierra Leone, and NAIRA in Nigeria was only worth a blue. So where was the purple?

The answer came in the form of, in my view, the far easier thread of STRIP____.

I ended without any mistakes on what felt like a tricky game, so I’m not that annoyed really.

Yesterday's NYT Connections answers (Friday, July 24, 2026, game #1139)

• YELLOW: TALK AT LENGTH: BABBLE, DRONE, RAMBLE, YAK
• GREEN: OUTCOMES FOR A BATTER: HOME RUN, SINGLE, STRIKEOUT, WALK
• BLUE: BRING TO MIND, AS A MEMORY: JOG, PROMPT, REFRESH, SPARK
• PURPLE: HOMOPHONES OF RELIGIOUS ROLES: CANTER, FRYER, LLAMA, NONE

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.

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 Friday's puzzle instead then click here: NYT Strands hints and answers for Friday, July 24 (game #873).

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

• Today's NYT Strands theme is… Frocks and smocks

NYT Strands today (game #874) - hint #2 - clue words

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

• WORM
• RINK
• RIDE
• PAIN
• MUTE
• LUMP

NYT Strands today (game #874) - hint #3 - spangram lettersHow many letters are in today's spangram?

• Spangram has 13 letters

NYT Strands today (game #874) - 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 #874) - the answers

(Image credit: New York Times)

The answers to today's Strands, game #874, are…

• GOWN
• TUNIC
• PINAFORE
• KIMONO
• DIRNDL
• MUUMUU
• SPANGRAM: YOUWEARITWELL

• My rating: Hard
• My score: 1 hint

THis was a game that started off easy and ended baffling.

After collecting the obvious pieces of clothing in GOWN, TUNIC, and PINAFORE, what remained on the board was a letter soup with no obvious words at all. After piecing together the spangram I did see KIMONO, but then drew a blank.

I needed a hint to get DIRNDL — the name for an Alpine dress — which left me MUUMUU, another garment I had not previously heard of but now know, thanks to Wikipedia, is a loose dress of Hawaiian origin.

Yesterday's NYT Strands answers (Friday, July 24, game #873)

• EXTRA
• SURPLUS
• EXCESS
• LEFTOVER
• SPARE
• UNUSED
• SPANGRAM: ANDTHENSOME

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.

The Fair Price Protection Act is intended to stop stores from using personal data to set individualized prices.

• Russia arms Soviet-era aircraft with airborne FPV interceptor drone launch systems
• Yak-52 trainer receives six launch rails for interceptor drone operations
• Eighty-year-old An-2 gains unexpected role in modern aerial drone warfare

Russia has begun fitting Yak-52 trainer aircraft and An-2 utility planes with equipment designed for launching FPV interceptor drones against enemy UAVs.

A video released by the Russian unit BARS-Sarmat revealed two distinct aircraft configurations built for airborne drone launches.

One configuration is intended for ground launch, while the second version allows interceptor drones to be deployed directly from the air against approaching targets.

Yak-52 trials raise questions over cockpit space and drone targets

The Yak-52 trainer aircraft carries six external launch rails mounted beneath its wings to hold interceptor drones ready for deployment.

The footage shows the aircraft taking off while carrying only four drones despite six visible launch positions on the airframe.

The Yak-52 is designed with a limited two-seat cockpit space, making it unclear how drone control is performed aboard this aircraft, as it appears to leave little room for equipment typically required to operate FPV interceptor systems mid-flight.

Russian interceptor drones were also shown engaging several Ukrainian unmanned aerial vehicles during the same exercise.

Some of the drones struck during the exercise reportedly appeared to be Maya decoys, alongside several other unidentified UAV types caught on camera during the flight.

The Yak-52 conversion allows an aircraft originally built for pilot instruction to assume a completely different battlefield function without requiring an entirely new airframe.

Although several technical details remain undisclosed, the aircraft marks Russia's latest attempt to combine existing aviation platforms with lower-cost counter-drone technology.

An-2's larger cabin enables onboard control

The An-2 forms the second element of the programme, with its larger cabin providing sufficient space for onboard drone control equipment unavailable inside the more compact Yak-52.

Interceptor drones are launched from a fuselage-mounted attachment point, although Russia has not yet disclosed the aircraft's maximum payload or whether additional underwing launch stations will be introduced.

First introduced about 80 years ago, the An-2 remains one of the world's longest-serving utility aircraft and continues operating in both military and civilian aviation roles.

Russia has previously announced plans to restore 700 Soviet-era An-2 aircraft, making the interceptor drone programme another effort to extend the operational value of the aging fleet.

The concept bears similarities to Ukraine's earlier decision to adapt An-28 aircraft for launching P1-SUN interceptor drones equipped with an optical targeting system against Shahed UAVs.

Those modified aircraft can carry as many as six interceptor drones while supporting Ukraine's layered air defence network as a lower-cost alternative to conventional air-to-air missiles.

The latest Russian conversion illustrates how both sides are increasingly adapting legacy aircraft for counter-drone missions by pairing older airframes with modern FPV interceptor technology.

Via United 24 Media

A dozen states and the Writers Guild of America had challenged the merger.

Marc Andreessen was a prominent figure in the early internet era, creating some of the earliest web browsers, including Netscape and Mosaic, which he authored. In recent years, he's weighed in on subjects including AI — but it was his comments on software that really summarised how technology evolved during the early 21st century.

Inside Intel

Andreessen was running his venture capital firm, Andreessen Horowitz, when he published his era-defining essay in the Wall Street Journal.

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.

The essay highlighted the dramatic shifts underway across the economy, with Andreessen centering his argument on the observation that software companies were poised to take over longstanding industries via the massive shift among consumers to online and digital spaces.

One example he highlighted was a misstep by the book retailer Borders, which closed all its US stores in 2011. In 2001, it handed over its online business to Amazon because, he argued, it saw online book sales as "non-strategic and unimportant".

Well, as Andreessen put it, "oops." He then highlighted Amazon's role as a software company with a core engine capable of selling virtually everything online.

Dog eat dog

In the cut and thrust of business over hundreds of years, there have been wave after wave of revolution, with new technologies overhauling and refreshing the landscape. Many businesses have persisted by adapting and pivoting, but the rapid proliferation of software over the last 30 years is now threatening to give way to an entirely new era.

Andreessen highlighted that, in 2011, the stock market "actually hates technology", and there's an argument to make that the stock market has once again turned its back on some of the biggest software giants, with AI threatening to make them redundant.

A few years on, Jensen Huang, the CEO of Nvidia, even built on the idea that the Netscape co-founder set out 15 years ago by suggesting that "AI is going to eat software".

During a Comic-Con panel on Friday, AMC dropped a teaser trailer for Queen of the Damned.

Democrats chose South Carolina for the first 2028 presidential primary, then Nevada, prioritizing Black and Latino voters. New Hampshire, New Mexico, Michigan and Virginia also hold early contests.

(Image credit: Sean Rayford/Getty Images)