Daily Tech News Digest – 2026-10-21

Top tech headlines from BBC Technology, TechRadar and Ars Technica in the last 24 hours.

BBC Technology

• Cyber chiefs tell websites to make critical safety update or go offline
  Two critical vulnerabilities have been identified with PHP, a programming language which is widely used across the internet.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:14:10 GMT
• Elon Musk confirms he is considering merging Tesla and SpaceX
  Musk says special committees within both companies have been formed to look at a possible mega-merger.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:42:49 GMT
• Why is Elon Musk plotting a mega-merger of SpaceX and Tesla?
  Musk says there's "a lot to be gained" by combining the firms in what would be the biggest merger in history.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 06:36:39 GMT
• The tech helping crack decades-old cold cases
  Investigative genetic genealogy can help hunt down criminals but raises worries over privacy.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 23:13:24 GMT
• Tech Life
  The next generation of chip is thinner and flexible when compared to traditional silicon.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:45:00 GMT
• OpenAI CEO Sam Altman wins dismissal of sister's lawsuit
  A US district judge dismissed the case after Ann Altman had refused to attend an independent medical examination.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:42:32 GMT
• Google resolves cloud outage affecting UK banks and websites
  Revolut was one of the hardest hit, with banking services going down for many customers.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:03:19 GMT

TechRadar Tech

• Lawsuits claim delivery robots recorded biometric data without permission
  Two lawsuits filed in Chicago claim that delivery robots carried out face and body scans without permission.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:24:10 +0000
• Unitree reveals 'kung fu' robot bodyguard with eight-hour battery life
  Unitree Robotics has revealed its impressive new H2-X Kung Fu Legend Guardian robot —a humanoid bodyguard from our sci-fi dreams.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:22:16 +0000
• Anomalith producer reveals that 'liminal spaces, including things like the Backrooms' inspired the upcoming third-person survival shooter
  We dive into the weird world of Anomalith, FuRyu's upcoming survival shooter, with its producer.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:20:57 +0000
• ‘It's our mission to empower every person and every organization on the planet to achieve more’: Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella outlines what businesses need to conquer the AI frontier ecosystem
  Microsoft wants to help lead the way when it comes to getting your business up to speed on AI.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:06:42 +0000
• Apple iPhone Duo review: this is the foldable Apple fans have been waiting for
  After living with the iPhone Duo for a week, I'm convinced this is the foldable phone Apple fans have always wanted.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000
• I’ve been watching my Dawn of War 4 armies dominate enemies, completely cover maps, and take more resource points than you can shake a Gretchen at, and it’s reminded me why I fell in love with the first game all those years ago
  Dawn of War 4 triumphantly takes the series back to its roots with chaotic action, brilliantly detailed units, and a truly compelling campaign
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 12:00:00 +0000
• Trump says data centers should pay locals to get them on side — but last time they offered $10,000 and the residents called it a bribe
  Opposition to data centers could turn into a lucrative business for local residents.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:43:13 +0000
• ChatGPT can now make its own games — so I asked it to reinvent 5 arcade classics
  What happens when you ask ChatGPT to recreate Snake, Tetris, Pong, Pac-Man and Space Invaders? I tested its new game-making abilities to find out.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:31:48 +0000
• Nvidia RTX 6060 GPU could be a long way off, and may fall short of the PS6
  If you're waiting for Nvidia's next affordable GPU, you might have to be very patient indeed.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:23:26 +0000
• Many firms are still falling behind when it comes to getting their AI infrastructure up to speed
  Many EMEA enterprises are being held back by their data infrastructure, but they're actually struggling with complex regulations.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:02:20 +0000
• 4 cheap headphones and earbuds we've tested to avoid 'headphone dodger' fines — they're all cheaper than the £100 you'll pay if you're caught
  UK legislation now means people who play audio aloud on their phone could face £100 fines on buses.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:49:25 +0000
• When technology becomes part of the talent infrastructure
  AI-ready PCs and smarter device strategies improve employee experience, productivity, and retention.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:49:10 +0000
• Stop choosing the wrong Agentic AI use cases
  Why businesses must rethink agentic AI before scaling costly, ineffective use cases.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:19:41 +0000
• Foldable phones could be hot – in more ways than one
  Foldable phones expose the thermal limits of edge AI and the need for new cooling solutions.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 10:16:50 +0000
• Why enterprise AI needs real-time conversations, not just documents
  Building a true enterprise brain requires capturing the dynamic context hidden within business conversations.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 08:46:45 +0000
• How to watch Where's Wanda season 2 online – stream the German dark comedy from anywhere
  Here's how to watch Where's Wanda season 2 from anywhere, as Dedo and Carlotta deal with the fallout of their daughter's actions.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 05:00:00 +0000
• 'How do you know what's real?': US utilities are making AI data centers prove they exist before handing over power connections — as 50% of planned buildouts are currently being delayed, stalled, or canceled
  Many providers are stuck on an awkward conundrum about their newest customers: are they real?
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 01:10:00 +0000
• Trump officials asked CISA to secretly hack a voting machine — and not disclose any vulnerabilities they found
  The vulnerabilities were not to be disclosed to anyone outside the White House, CISA was told.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:20:00 +0000
• Amazon hikes Prime membership by up to 30% in Australia ahead of Black Friday and holiday sales
  Three years after the last price increase, Amazon Australia is once again hiking Prime membership subscriptions to AU$12.99 per month or AU$99 per year.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:14:03 +0000
• Should I buy a Kindle Scribe or a Kindle Scribe Colorsoft? Here's what you need to know
  A Kindle, but with added writing features? Sounds great — but there are a few downsides to be aware of.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 00:00:00 +0000

Ars Technica Technology

• Review: Carrie is a triumphant remix with one major flaw
  Mike Flanagan defies the odds with a re-imagining of Stephen King's classic that is well worth watching.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:19:12 +0000
• The past, present, and future share a show floor at Pinball Expo 2026
  Flipping through the highlights in and around Pinball Expo 2026.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 11:00:04 +0000
• PHP warns it plans to release 2 emergency patches imminently
  Unconfirmed report claims PHP2Shell exploit remotely executes code on PHP sites.
  Wed, 21 Oct 2026 02:12:18 +0000
• Merging SpaceX and Tesla would be a "good idea," Musk says
  "I do think there's a lot of merit to combining the companies."
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 22:04:54 +0000
• Cops raid office of RFK Jr. allies planning “unethical” vaccine trial on babies
  Guinea-Bissau police said hepatitis B vaccine doses were taken as part of an investigation.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:44:34 +0000
• Microsoft reportedly projects $1,200 to $1,800 price for 2028 Project Helix
  Xbox maker is also apparently planning its own gaming handheld for next year.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 21:14:33 +0000
• JustWatch, which tackles streaming fragmentation, launches own streaming service
  A lifetime ad-free subscription is available.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:20:12 +0000
• Meta drops the word "train" from its commercial TOS after AI backlash
  Meta changes AI scraping policy but won’t add language respecting robots.txt.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:07:58 +0000
• Gemini's Personal Intelligence is coming to cars
  It's probably time to audit your Gemini settings.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 20:00:33 +0000
• OpenBSD 8.0 arrives with security record still intact
  OpenBSD 8.0 lands with Intel Arc support, ARM64 hibernation, and 64-vCPU guests
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:57:18 +0000
• The Internet goes on high alert after discovery of 8 compromised TLS certs
  Intermediate certs allow anyone to mint web credentials for any Internet server.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:47:35 +0000
• TP-Link tries to appease Trump admin with pledge to assemble routers in US
  TP-Link can't sell latest routers in US despite rivals getting FCC approvals.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:25:14 +0000
• Does anyone actually want to win the medium-lift race in the United States?
  Ars Technica is here to help with a guide to the medium-lift space race.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 19:13:31 +0000
• Ukraine’s drone rescue of wounded soldier puts much touted idea into practice
  Ukraine’s latest drone innovation may boost bleak odds of evacuating casualties.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:22:54 +0000
• Quantum error correction goes well beyond breakeven
  A demo of error-corrected qubits shows big reductions in errors as they grow.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 18:08:57 +0000
• Meta tries to scapegoat staff who downloaded torrents to spare execs
  Meta argues nobody “decided” to pirate books to train AI.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 17:40:20 +0000
• Polestar tries to quantify what it’s like to drive a performance car
  Drivers had electrodes strapped to their heads as they tested EVs on track.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 14:53:07 +0000
• Meta Muse exposes users' personal and business secrets when they share conversations
  Meta is suspending the sharing feature while it investigates its privacy.
  Tue, 20 Oct 2026 12:33:13 +0000

— Auto-generated digest