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GSC Game World sets 20 August launch for Stalker 2 Cost of Hope
GSC Game World has confirmed that STALKER 2’s first substantial expansion, Cost of Hope, will launch on 20 August, alongside a large free 2.0 update for the base game. The release marks a significant milestone for the survival horror shooter, which debuted in 2024 and has since been refined by continued developer support. The story-driven…
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Meccha Chameleon suffers a hack: devs address Steam malware scare and “malicious mod map issue,” confirm “all the hackers have been banned” so the official Discord is back
The developers behind co-op game Meccha Chameleon have confirmed the title was targeted by hackers, prompting concerns over a Steam malware scare and a “malicious mod map issue” affecting players. In response, the team took action against those responsible and has now reported that the incident has been resolved. The developers stated that “all the…
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Meta AI direct messages now available to all Threads users worldwide
Meta has completed the rollout of the ability for all Threads users worldwide to send direct messages to Meta AI, expanding a feature it first tested publicly on Threads’ main feed in May 2026. The company says the change responds to user feedback requesting more private, contextual interactions with the AI without needing to share…
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Vatican scrambles to patch ‘phishing goldmine’ app promoted by the Pope: ‘Prayer infrastructure on the framework you learn in week 2 of a Node.js bootcamp’
A Vatican-promoted app has been criticised by security researchers as a “phishing goldmine” after being found to run on outdated, poorly secured web infrastructure, despite receiving a public endorsement from the Pope. Commentators likened its technical setup to something a novice developer might build only a few weeks into learning basic web frameworks, raising concerns…
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This $9 key physically locks your most addictive apps
Autonomous has launched a $9 physical device called Autonomous Key, an NFC keyfob designed to help people curb compulsive smartphone use by locking distracting apps behind a physical scan. Unlike conventional screen-time tools, which rely on users tapping through their own notifications or timers, the key forces a deliberate action to regain access, and users…
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So how do you get access to the Qantas chairman’s lounge? Alan Joyce has some tips
Alan Joyce, Qantas’s former chief executive, has detailed for the first time how the airline decides who gets into its exclusive chairman’s lounge, in a new memoir that also denies the perk was ever used to sway politicians. The revelations matter because the lounge’s secretive membership process has long fuelled speculation, including at a Senate…
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Tariffs didn’t bring manufacturing jobs back to the US
Trade policy under the Trump administration has continued to shift rapidly amid tariff measures and geopolitical tension, including conflict involving Iran, but this has not achieved its stated goal of bringing manufacturing jobs back to the United States. In a Decoder podcast interview, Evan Smith, co-founder and chief executive of supply-chain software firm Altana, told…
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Guide: The Duskbloods Network Test Sign Up Dates, Times & How To Join
FromSoftware’s upcoming Switch 2 exclusive, The Duskbloods, is holding a closed network test in late August, and Nintendo has opened a sign-up window for players hoping to take part. Because places are not guaranteed, prospective testers must register in advance and wait to be told whether their application has been accepted, giving fans of the…
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Oil prices fall as US pauses strikes on Iran over strait of Hormuz
Oil prices fell sharply on Monday after the US paused its bombing campaign against Iran around the strait of Hormuz, with traders betting the pause could avert a further escalation that would restrict global oil supplies. This matters because the Iran conflict has disrupted oil and gas flows from Gulf states since late February and,…