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Chinese companies are aggressively recruiting foreign tech talent as a key strategy to gain technological supremacy, prompting national security concerns across Western nations and Asia, WSJ reported Wednesday, citing multiple intelligence officials and corporate sources. The campaign focuses particularly on advanced semiconductor expertise, with companies like Huawei offering triple salaries to employees at critical firms like Zeiss SMT and ASML, which produce essential components for cutting-edge chip manufacturing. These recruitment efforts intensified after Western export controls restricted China's access to advanced technology. While Taiwan and South Korea have implemented strict countermeasures, including criminal penalties for illegal talent transfers, the U.S. and Europe struggle to balance open labor markets with national security concerns. Chinese firms often obscure their origins through local ventures and persistent recruitment tactics. The strategy has shown results: Former employees have helped Chinese companies advance their technological capabilities, including SMIC's development of 7nm chips with help from ex-TSMC talent.

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Sony has confirmed the PlayStation 2 has sold over 160 million units worldwide since its 2000 launch, marking the first official acknowledgment of its record-breaking lifetime sales. The figure, revealed on Sony's 30th anniversary PlayStation website, cements PS2's position as the best-selling gaming console ever, ahead of Nintendo DS at 154.02 million units and Nintendo Switch at 146 million units.

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Need a smartphone? These Black Friday deals are the best we've seen all year on Android phones, accessories, and even iPhones.

A piracy ring that gave 22 million subscribers in Europe cheap access to content stolen from international streaming services has been shut down by Italian authorities after a two-year investigation. From a report: The criminal enterprise used a complex international IT system to "capture and resell" live programming and other on-demand content from companies including sports broadcaster DAZN, Netflix, Amazon Prime, Paramount, Sky and Disney+, prosecutors said in a statement on Wednesday. Authorities estimate the operation generated revenues of roughly $264.3 million a month [non-paywalled link], or $3.2 billion a year, and caused combined damages of more than $10.6 billion to the affected broadcast companies. "The rate of profit you get from these illegal activities with lower risk is equivalent to that of cocaine trafficking," Francesco Curcio, the criminal prosecutor who led the investigation, told reporters.

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The Portland Planning Board tabled its deliberations Tuesday night, giving airport officials additional time to address environmental concerns.

Nearly 89% of smart device manufacturers fail to disclose how long they will provide software updates for their products, a Federal Trade Commission staff study found this week. The review of 184 connected devices, including hearing aids, security cameras and door locks, revealed that 161 products lacked clear information about software support duration on their websites. Basic internet searches failed to uncover this information for two-thirds of the devices. "Consumers stand to lose a lot of money if their smart products stop delivering the features they want," said Samuel Levine, Director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. The agency warned that manufacturers' failure to provide software update information for warranted products costing over $15 may violate the Magnuson Moss Warranty Act. The FTC also cautioned that companies could violate the FTC Act if they misrepresent product usability periods. The study excluded laptops, personal computers, tablets and automobiles from its review.

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These are the best umbrellas we've tested. They'll protect you from showers and heavy rain and will hold up for the long haul.

Time to upgrade your rig? Black Friday laptop deals on our favorite models will help.

Startup Spines plans to publish up to 8,000 books in 2025 using AI, charging authors between $1,200 and $5,000 for editing, design and distribution services. The venture-backed company, which recently secured $16 million in funding, promises to reduce publishing timelines to two to three weeks while allowing authors to retain full royalties. Co-founder Yehuda Niv describes Spines as a "publishing platform" rather than self-publishing. The announcement has drawn criticism from industry professionals. Independent publisher Canongate condemned the company for automating book production "with the least possible attention, care or craft." The Society of Authors urged writers to exercise caution, citing concerns about AI systems potentially trained on unlicensed content.

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In a proposed settlement, Evolv Technology will be banned from making certain claims about its products.

In a proposed settlement, Evolv Technology will be banned from making certain claims about its products.

In a proposed settlement, Evolv Technology will be banned from making certain claims about its products.

Gearing up to shred the slopes or dive into the seas? These photography tools are made for danger.

Singapore is positioning itself as a key testing ground for autonomous vehicles, attracting major Chinese firms and establishing unified national guidelines that contrast with fragmented regulations in the U.S. and China. China's WeRide launched the country's first public autonomous bus service on Sentosa island in June, while multiple companies are deploying self-driving vehicles for logistics and transportation. The controlled rollout aligns with Singapore's strategy to address labor shortages and land constraints. Singapore topped KPMG's Autonomous Vehicles Readiness Index, with companies citing its political neutrality and stringent safety standards as major draws for testing operations.

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Are Apple's gadgets on your holiday gift lists this year? You're in luck. Our favorite MacBooks, Apple Watches, iPads, and AirPods are all on sale.

Also, new Sicilian restaurant coming to Brunswick; Beaujolais Nouveau tasting; and more local food news.

Microsoft has confirmed that Windows 11 24H2 has issues with USB-connected devices that support the Scanner Communication Language (eSCL) protocol. From a report: A compatibility hold has been applied to the hardware. The hold means that hardware connected to a USB device supporting the eSCL protocol will not be offered an upgrade to Windows 11 24H2. Microsoft said: "This issue primarily affects USB-connected multifunction devices or standalone scanners that support scan functionality and the eSCL protocol." According to Microsoft, the issue lies in device discovery. Install Windows 11 24H2, wait for it to discover USB-connected peripherals, and... nothing. Or as Microsoft put it: "You might observe that your device does not discover the USB-connected peripheral and the device discovery does not complete." The company added: "This issue is caused due to the device not switching out of eSCL mode to USB mode, which allows the scanner drivers to be matched."

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This is an essential item for all skiers and snowboarders. WIRED has tested the best helmets for all abilities and budgets.

An anonymous reader quotes a report from TechCrunch: Security researchers have uncovered two previously unknown zero-day vulnerabilities that are being actively exploited by RomCom, a Russian-linked hacking group, to target Firefox browser users and Windows device owners across Europe and North America. RomCom is a cybercrime group that is known to carry out cyberattacks and other digital intrusions for the Russian government. The group -- which was last month linked to a ransomware attack targeting Japanese tech giant Casio -- is also known for its aggressive stance against organizations allied with Ukraine, which Russia invaded in 2014. Researchers with security firm ESET say they found evidence that RomCom combined use of the two zero-day bugs -- described as such because the software makers had no time to roll out fixes before they were used to hack people -- to create a "zero click" exploit, which allows the hackers to remotely plant malware on a target's computer without any user interaction. "This level of sophistication demonstrates the threat actor's capability and intent to develop stealthy attack methods," ESET researchers Damien Schaeffer and Romain Dumont said in a blog post on Monday. [...] Schaeffer told TechCrunch that the number of potential victims from RomCom's "widespread" hacking campaign ranged from a single victim per country to as many as 250 victims, with the majority of targets based in Europe and North America. Mozilla and the Tor Project quickly patched a Firefox-based vulnerability after being alerted by ESET, with no evidence of Tor Browser exploitation. Meanwhile, Microsoft addressed a Windows vulnerability on November 12 following a report by Google's Threat Analysis Group, indicating potential use in government-backed hacking campaigns.

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In a time when AI-powered imaging software tweaks and smooths every digital photo to appear perfect, some photographers are embracing the quirky flaws of vintage digital cameras.