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Hamas says it has agreed to Israel's request to speed up release of Israeli hostages, including two men held around a decade. The bodies of members of a young family are among those it will hand over.

(Image credit: AHMAD GHARABLI)

• Epic Games has confirmed that Mortal Kombat's Sub-Zero will be coming to Fortnite in the next season
• This makes it the first game to feature characters from both Street Fighter and Mortal Kombat at the same time
• Sub-Zero will be featured in the battle pass for Chapter 6: Season 2

Fortnite will officially get characters from the Mortal Kombat universe in Chapter 6 Season 2.

Epic Games shared the announcement in a recent X / Twitter post, where artwork confirmed that the next season will add Mortal Kombat icon Sub-Zero as an earnable skin in the game's new Battle Pass.

The addition of Sub-Zero makes Fortnite the first game to allow for a Mortal Kombat vs Street Fighter showdown by featuring characters from both fighting game franchises at the same time.

The popular battle royale welcomed Street Fighter's Ryu and Chun-Li back in 2021, followed by Cammy, Blanka, and Sakura later. With both fighting games now finally represented in Fortnite, we can probably expect some creative one-on-one battles between players, minus the bloody violence, of course.

Step forward and state your name. Except you, Sub-Zero. We know who you are...C6S2 | 2.21.25 pic.twitter.com/A6B9YjVHyYFebruary 14, 2025

So far, Sub-Zero is the only Mortal Kombat to be confirmed for the game, but there's a chance more characters will be added in the future, like Scorpion, Mileena, Johnny Cage, and Raiden.

Fortnite Chapter 6 Season 2: Lawless is scheduled to kick off on February 21, 2025. The new season will take place in Crime City and will also let you play as a pickle called Big Dill, as well as returning character Midas.

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I'm really gonna miss the iPhone SE. Oh, I know it's not going anywhere, but that iconic design with its last vestige of a home button is sure to disappear, and be replaced by something elegant and also very similar to all other current iPhone 16 models. That technical and aesthetic shift could sap the iPhone SE of what made it special (or Special Edition), and that would be a crying shame.

When, if the rumors are true, Apple unveils the iPhone SE 4 tomorrow (February 19), the Cupertino tech giant will have its work cut out for it. No one expects the 4.7-inch screen, single rear camera, and arguably very iPhone 8 design to survive. But unveiling a $500 iPhone SE that looks almost exactly like an iPhone 16 mini but with no defining characteristics would be a mistake, and it's one I truly hope Apple doesn't make.

There are signs that things could go a different way. Chief among them is Apple CEO Tim Cook's teaser post, which included a GIF that appeared to show the reflection of… something. Some believe they can clearly see the reflection of the next SE in that Apple logo. I, however, see something different.

Get ready to meet the newest member of the family.Wednesday, February 19. #AppleLaunch pic.twitter.com/0ML0NfMeduFebruary 13, 2025

I wonder if Apple was teasing an all-white iPhone with a design that splits the difference between the flat edges of the iPhone 16 lineup and that classic iPhone SE of 2022. At the very least, it would mean the iPhone SE 4 looks unlike anything else in the iPhone lineup.

Realistically, if Apple doesn't do something unexpected with the design, I struggle to see how the SE can be a 'Special Edition'. We're already fairly certain that it will get the Dynamic Island (or at least the dreaded notch) and Face ID. It will, by European Union decree, be a USB-C port design, and will have at least an A17 Pro so it can support Apple Intelligence, because Apple wants that AI stuff everywhere.

It won't have class-leading cameras. If the iPhone SE 4 follows in the footsteps of its predecessors, it will have a single rear camera (but it might be 48MP) and a 12MP front-facing FaceTime camera.

This is all expected.

Mini SE

I suppose there is a chance that the iPhone SE will instead take up the mini mantle and be a reskinned iPhone 13 mini. Back in 2022, the iPhone 13 mini was a little powerhouse with a dual-camera system and the A15 Bionic driving almost all the same photographic experiences you could get on the full-size iPhone 13. At 5.4 inches, the iPhone 13 mini screen is still larger than the iPhone SE's 4.7-inch display.

If Apple goes that route, it would just have to update the screen to accommodate the Dynamic Island (or notch). I don't know if Apple would go fully Super Retina on what is supposed to be a $500 phone. The iPhone 13 mini, by the way, cost $699 / £679 / AU$1,199.

Apple's iPhone mini line never sold well, but this was likely due to that price. The cheaper iPhone SE 4 could fare better. Still, none of the changes I've described put this phone in the 'special' realm.

To be fair, I really don't know what could make the iPhone SE 4 'special'. It's unlikely that Apple would introduce some out-of-band innovation that none of the iPhone 16 models have. That's not Apple's way. The SE line is a trickle-down model; it gets what the other phones have in due course, and tech innovation does not flow upstream.

Still, I'm excited about this mid-year iPhone unveil. Apple doesn't do it very often, and it could be a great opportunity for it to surprise us, and make the iPhone SE 4 as truly special as I want it to be.

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A real estate developer-turned-Middle East envoy, Witkoff has been credited with helping broker the Israel-Hamas ceasefire and free an American from Russian prison. Here's what to know about him.

(Image credit: Chris Kleponis)

2025 is a watershed moment for AI in the enterprise, especially generative AI. Businesses across industries are integrating the technology at scale and with their critical systems and objectives. By the end of the year, more than three-quarters of enterprises will have deployed the technology, according to Gartner – up from just five percent in 2023.

This is the year that AI truly becomes entwined with business’ most coveted data, influencing their strategic decisions and interfacing directly with their customers. Meanwhile, AI regulations are proliferating: The EU AI Act is rolling out across Europe and several U.S. states have introduced AI bills.    

More than ever, enterprises must ensure their AI systems are trustworthy: explainable, fair, robust, transparent, and privacy-respecting. Only then can AI be a net positive for business. But how do they do so?

Trustworthy AI requires a framework with two important perspectives: AI governance, which sets and enforces rules to ensure AI systems are safe and ethical. And AI security, which monitors AI behavior, securing AI models, data, and applications.   

When approached together, AI governance and AI security provide a 1 + 1 = 3 effect, bridging business imperatives with compliance requirements, enterprise risk, and CISO mandates. Safe, ethical systems are easier to secure; and secure systems are easier to govern. But enterprises are often overwhelmed and underprepared, and their governance and security efforts are frequently siloed – which can seriously undermine AI initiatives and investments.

Without governance + security, trust falls apart

Here is an analogy: Imagine a food manufacturer with a meticulous governance process. They carefully oversee how ingredients are grown, procured, stored, and mixed. Yet that same company keeps their factory doors unlocked and does not place tamper-proof seals on their products. Do you trust them?

On the flipside: Imagine a food manufacturer that carefully secures its factories and products – but does little to govern how food is grown, procured, stored, and mixed. Do you trust them? 

This same logic apples to AI. You cannot govern a system that is not secure. And you cannot secure a system without proper oversight.

A mix of fragmented tooling, poor communication, and skills gaps are driving this problem. There are a dearth of integrated, end-to-end tools and processes for AI security and AI governance. In many businesses, data scientists and model validators are using ad-hoc security and governance point solutions, sometimes not even formally supported by the organization. Recent IBM research revealed that fewer than half of companies surveyed are taking key steps towards trustworthy AI like reducing bias (27%), tracking data provenance (37%), making sure they can explain the decisions of their AI models (41%), or developing ethical AI policies (44%).

There is also a major skills gap: The people who create and maintain AI models are not cybersecurity experts. And security experts generally are not versed in AI. That may be why only 24% of current generative AI projects have a component to secure the initiatives, according to the IBM Institute for Business Value.

These shortcomings carry steep costs. Enterprises not only miss the full potential of AI, but also invite a range of risks and threats. Improper AI governance and security can result in incorrect outputs, including hallucinations, bias, hate, and profanity. Data breaches can become more common – costing businesses millions of dollars and violating compliance mandates. And vulnerabilities can proliferate, creating attractive targets for bad actors.

 Bridging the gap

AI governance and AI security are shared responsibilities. The two disciplines have common objectives: heightening visibility and mitigating risk. Both are also closely tied to data: Properly governing AI requires data governance. And properly securing AI requires data security.

To properly entwine the two, collaboration must happen both at the table and in the tech. Security experts need a seat at the governance table, and vice versa; CISOs, CROs, CCOs, and CSOs should be in regular communication. Their respective frameworks and strategies should be interoperable, and their investments should complement each other to avoid gaps and redundancies.

Meanwhile, the underlying technology for security and governance must be one unified, cross-functional experience. This allows employees working on day-to-day model governance and cybersecurity to stay in constant contact with shared visibility. The problem of shadow AI – unauthorized models running within an organization – provides a clear example. If just one AI model eludes governance, it undermines the whole governance strategy. AI security products can help eliminate this risk, pinpointing shadow AI models and automatically feeding them into the requisite AI governance tool. This interplay can also apply to misconfigurations and vulnerabilities.

As businesses race toward generative AI adoption, it is not enough to have individual approaches to AI governance and AI security. Businesses should have one shared approach, from the executive level down to their tactical tools. This collaboration enables businesses to unlock the power of AI – safely and securely.

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• Netskope uncovers new Go-built backdoor spreading malware
• It uses Telegram as its C2 infrastructure to send commands
• The backdoor is most likely of Russian origin, experts warn

A new backdoor threat has been spotted using Telegram as its command-and-control (C2) infrastructure, researchers have warned.

Cybersecurity researchers from Netskope observed a new backdoor built in Golang, also known as Go, a programming language best known for its simplicity, concurrency support, and efficiency in building scalable backend systems, cloud services, and networking applications.

The backdoor is capable of executing PowerShell commands, can self-destruct, and checks for and executes predefined commands. However, what makes it really stand out from the crowd is its C2 infrastructure - it uses a special function to create a bot instance, using a Telegram API token generated via Botfather. Then, it uses a separate function to continuously listen for incoming commands from a Telegram chat. Before executing any predefined actions, the malware verifies the received command’s validity.

Challenging defense

Using Telegram, or other cloud services, as a C2 server is nothing new, the researchers explained, but it is dangerous, since it is difficult for security pros to differentiate between malicious and benign information flow.

“Although the use of cloud apps as C2 channels is not something we see every day, it’s a very effective method used by attackers not only because there’s no need to implement a whole infrastructure for it, making attackers’ lives easier, but also because it’s very difficult, from a defender perspective, to differentiate what is a normal user using an API and what is a C2 communication,” Netskope said in the article.

Besides Telegram, threat actors often use OneDrive, GitHub, Dropbox, and similar cloud apps, making defenders’ lives difficult.

Netskope did not discuss the number of potential victims, but did stress that the malware is most likely of Russian origin.

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Elon Musk is not the legal administrator in charge of the "Department of Government Efficiency," the White House said in a court filing, and has "no actual or formal authority" to make decisions.

(Image credit: Andrew Harnik)

• A small amp promising supreme sound
• The AP-507 joins TEAC's Reference 500 Series
• Due out in spring, it costs $2,299 / £1,899

Money no object

We love to give practical buying advice about the latest gadgets here on TechRadar. But sometimes what we love more is to indulge in the most ridiculous, high-end, cutting-edge, luxurious tech on the planet. That's what we bring you in these Money no object columns – you can read the whole series here.

Are you a hardcore audiophile who has just won the lottery? Then great news! TEAC has just announced a super-high end amp that promises to bring big sounds to your surround system all wrapped up in a compact box.

From a specs perspective, TEAC’s AP-507 stereo power amplifier is exactly the sort of luxury product we love to attach our Money No Object label to.

Due out later this spring and priced at an eye-watering $2,299 / £1,899, the AP-507 promises to deliver top-tier audio engineering squeezed into a small form-factor design that won’t dominate your living room.

TEAC claims that despite its adorable “letter size” footprint, the AP-507 will embody “the pinnacle of audio design”, joining the firm’s Reference 500 Series of luxury sound gear. Like the rest of the range, the AP-507 amp – which will be available in black and silver – has been “designed to give music enthusiasts complete control and flexibility” when it comes to fine-tuning their sound systems.

The Japanese audio expert is making some impressive claims that would seem to justify the AP-507’s bank balance-obliterating price tag. Sporting the firm’s next-gen custom tuned ‘NCOREx’ power amplifier module, it could be a dream amp to pair with some of the best stereo speakers.

Amped up

(Image credit: TEAC)

This tech will supposedly deliver an ultra-immersive three-dimensional soundstage, and TEAC says the AP-507 will deliver super-accurate, high efficiency, low distortion sounds thanks to its proprietary dual-mono buffer amplifier. Which is a lot of techy audio terms in order to get across that the AP-507 should make your existing speaker system sound pretty damn glorious.

Designed to be both compact and flexible, the AP-507 offers a trio of listening modes: stereo, Bi-AMP and BLT mono, all delivered at 170 watts, which really is a lot for something so small.

It’s also a lovely-looking piece of audio equipment. Then again, you’d expect that from a high-end amp that costs this kind of money – still, I love the classy aluminum chassis. Its 2.8mm thick, semi-floating top plate – also made from aluminum – is also rather eyeball-arousing.

Obviously that $2,300 / £1,899 price point is going to mean the TEAC AP-507 is a cute and compact amp that is going to be for hardcore audiophiles who've simply run out of space for a big rack system.

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Review info

Platform reviewed: PS5
Available on: PS5, PS4, Xbox Series X|S, Xbox One, PC
Release date: February 21, 2025

Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is a game that I’m stunned even exists. In the AAA gaming space, it’s so rare to see a franchise just let loose with a genuinely absurd premise. Yet with action-adventure game Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, developer Ryu Ga Gotoku Studio pulls it off with such unabashed confidence that you really just have to respect it.

And still upon reflection, it’s a premise that manages to make perfect sense for protagonist Goro Majima. For the most unhinged of the series’ legendary yakuza - a guy who’s previously had success running a cabaret club and a construction company - taking up the mantle of a pirate captain and sailing the high seas in search of lost treasure is something he’d probably do in a heartbeat. With or without the amnesia he’s struck with at the start of this game.

It’s a concept that elevates Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii from any old spinoff to a truly memorable adventure and one that absolutely stands out confidently against the backdrop of the long-running series. It’s still a Like a Dragon title through and through - with an abundance of minigames, side quests, and a massive open hub to explore - but the backdrop of piracy and treasure hunting makes Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii one of a kind.

Setting the stage

(Image credit: Sega)

Six months on from the events of Like a Dragon: Infinite Wealth, we find Majima washed up on the beach of a remote island off the coast of Hawaii. Near death and with little in the way of memories to his name, he’s mercifully saved by a child named Luke, who lives on the island with his dad and older sister.

Over the course of the first chapter, Majima repays Luke’s kindness by helping the island deal with a rather major pirate problem. And we’re talking pirates in the strictest sense: galleons outfitted with powerful cannons and menacing sails, staffed by salty treasure-hungry sea dogs. It turns out the whole thing is quite the racket in the waters surrounding Hawaii (in the Like a Dragon universe at least).

After a stint doing errands on the island, it’s not too long before Majima gets a pirate ship - the Goromaru - and a ragtag crew of his own. And so properly begins an adventure that successfully weds a Treasure Island-esque narrative with Like a Dragon’s political and faction-based intrigue. While it’s not as big on throwing you wild curveballs as the mainline series, it’s a tale that’s nonetheless entertaining and thrilling from start to finish, with an absolutely phenomenal finale to boot.

White whale, holy grail

(Image credit: Sega)

Gameplay and exploration in Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii is split into two distinct segments, those being land and sea. When you’re ashore, it’s perhaps unsurprisingly like most other Like a Dragon titles; Majima gets to fully explore the city of Honolulu (returning from Infinite Wealth) and engage in all kinds of minigames, side stories, and combat.

As in prior entries, clueless goons are more than keen to make a beeline for Majima should they spot him out and about, which is where his two distinct combat styles come into play. I’ve covered them extensively in my previews beforehand, but what you need to know is that the Mad Dog and Sea Dog styles offer incredibly unique ways to engage your foes.

Mad Dog is closer to the Majima you expect. Wielding his iconic knife, he employs rapid attacks, a powerful gap closer, throws, and more. It’s ideal for whittling down a single target or a small squad of baddies. Sea Dog is the more interesting of the two, as Majima dons his pirate garb, wields two cutlasses, and has access to a flintlock pistol and a hook. It’s much better suited to the larger-scale fights you’ll have during story missions and deck battles.

Best bit

(Image credit: Sega)

It’s hard to single out any one aspect of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii as its absolute best bit, but the sheer variety of content on offer is undoubtedly a swashbuckler’s dream. Even better, you can take it all at your own pace. Want to tick off some substories or chill with some minigames? Or do you want to take things up a notch by sinking some lily-livered sailors in the Pirates’ Coliseum? Outside of major story beats, it’s all available to you at any time.

Overall, Majima feels exceptionally powerful here, to the point where the Normal difficulty setting was honestly quite a breeze. Throw in some hilariously strong Heat Actions, Mad Dog’s Doppelganger mode, and Sea Dog’s Dark Instruments (both available via the chargeable Madness Gauge) and we have what is certainly among the most overpowered move sets in series history.

But by Davy Jones is Majima such a joy to play as. Whether it’s blasting away entire scores of lads with a charged flintlock shot or wreaking havoc with a giant ethereal chimpanzee (no, really), combat rarely feels like a drag. Enemies aren’t necessarily pushovers though, with some types wielding spears or shields to counter specific abilities.

However, as powerful as Majima feels, you’ll still need to play smart. That’s especially so when you chase after Honolulu’s bounty targets - a piece of side content that provides plenty of cash with which you can use to invest in upgrades for Majima and his ship.

Those spear guys can poke you out of the air, for example, while shielded foes will need to be robbed of their protection with the hook before significant damage can be dealt. And that’s before we’ve even gotten to kickboxers, gunners, tigers, bears, and enemies that drop a grenade on defeat. Believe it or not, they’re actually worse than the tigers and bears.

Waterworld

(Image credit: Sega)

Majima’s as much a terror out at sea, if not more so. Captaining the Goromaru is the other half of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii, and it’s unlike anything we’ve seen from the series yet. Well, perhaps besides the vehicle combat of Fist of the North Star: Lost Paradise, but that’s obviously even more of a spinoff than this game is.

There’s a ton to do out on the high seas, with exploring the vast waters surrounding Hawaii and other notable locales forming a good chunk of the playthrough. You can engage in ship battles, explore uncharted islands for lost treasure, and even undertake a massive side story that has Majima and crew taking down the Devil Flags - a notorious pirate armada.

One thing to note is that content with the Goromaru is noticeably harder than anything else in the game. Enemy ships can pack a punch, especially those of higher ranks. So, you’ll need to do some groundwork in order to make your ship as powerful as possible. That’ll come in the form of scouting new crew members you can find dotted around Honolulu, as well as upgrading the ship’s durability and firepower.

Your shipmates will also level up when they’re staffed on the ship, and certain members can provide unique First Mate or Squad Leader buffs if they’ve been assigned to those positions. Such buffs include increasing damage you deal to an enemy ship’s stern, or increasing the number of times you can shoot out a smokescreen to obscure enemy vision while you resuscitate downed crewmates or put out hazards like fires or poison mist.

(Image credit: Sega)

You’ll also be able to take your crew into the Madlantis Pirates’ Coliseum, a substantial bit of side content where you’ll engage in ship battles of escalating difficulty. Defeating the enemy ship will then transition you to a deck battle, where your entire crew faces off against the enemy’s on their own ship. It’s a genuine thrill to see so many characters clash against each other in combat like this, and while it can get quite messy and nonsensical, it’s still great chaotic fun.

Manning the Goromaru is a part of the game that I found to be the most engrossing. Ticking off content and participating in minigames to unlock new crew members always feels fulfilling, and definitely incentivizes you to try out activities like Dragon Kart, Crazy Delivery, and the usual smattering of side activities to unlock even more goodies.

There are a few stubborn barnacles to deal with out on the ocean, though. Engagements with enemy ships can get quite lengthy later on in the game, which does add to overall sea travel time. And while the Goromaru can boost and make use of air currents to sail swiftly, the simple act of traveling from A to B can still take a good chunk of time. Especially when you’re constantly running into other fleets.

The sea is also the only place in the game where you’ll experience notable performance drops (at least I did on the PS5 review version I tested), especially when inclement weather such as rain storms get involved. It’s nothing horrible or unplayable, but definitely worth noting if you’re playing on console.

Should I play Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii?

(Image credit: Sega) Play it if...

You want a compact Like a Dragon adventure
Similar to Like a Dragon Gaiden: The Man Who Erased His Name before it, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii’s run time is shorter than the length of its name, making for a much more digestible experience.

You love pirates
It really is as simple as that. If you’re pining for a swashbuckling adventure the likes of which we seldom see in video games, Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii will scratch that itch and then some.

Don't play it if...

You’re not caught up on the series
While the game is generally friendlier to newcomers than others, it does still mention and feature characters and events from prior entries, and spoils major story beats from Infinite Wealth, so play at your own risk if you’re still making your way through the wider series.

Accessibility

The accessibility options in Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii are something of a treasure trove, too, with plenty on offer to accommodate gamers of all stripes.

Some highlights include options for automatic quick time events, stick control swapping, reducing the motion of waves out at sea, thorough subtitle options (including backgrounds and character names), and three distinct color vision assistance settings (deuteranopia, protanopia, and tritanopia). Full button configuration is also supported.

How I reviewed Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii

My full playthrough of Like a Dragon: Pirate Yakuza in Hawaii took 25 hours to finish on PS5, playing on an LG CX OLED TV with the DualSense Wireless Controller.

While I finished the main story, the Goro Pirates side story, and tackled the majority of available side content, this was by no means a completionist run. If you’re going for 100% - that’s fully completing all side content including the exhaustive challenge list - expect to sink in anywhere between 30-40 hours.

First reviewed February 2025

Sonus Faber Lumina II: Two minute review

Since the early 1980s, Sonus Faber has been creating high-performance, high-end loudspeakers and charging a (generally perfectly justifiable) arm and a leg for them. But in a move not many people saw coming, the company decided to democratize its ‘Made in Italy’ cachet by launching a pair of speakers that sell for an almost-mainstream $1,499 / £999 /AU$2,200 per pair. They’re called the Sonus Faber Lumina II.

In many ways, the Lumina II are Sonus Faber business as usual. The standard of build and finish is impeccable, the materials are premium (although the company’s customary use of real leather will no doubt alienate as many people as it excites), the look is sophisticated and understated. And, sure enough, there’s a little ‘Made in Italy’ sticker on the cabinet's rear, just to let you know you're dealing with something a little special even among the heady brands that make the best stereo speakers.

In many ways, the Sonus Faber Lumina II sound like their money’s-worth, as well as looking and feeling like it. They’re a balanced, insightful and nicely detailed listen, are able to organize a soundstage well, and with unarguable talent where frequency response and tonal fidelity are concerned. No, they’re far from the punchiest speakers around – they run out of meaningful puff quite early in the bass frequencies – and they’re not enthusiastic about bigger volume levels, either.

But for some people, the fact that this is Sonus Faber we’re talking about will be enough to overlook these (admittedly fairly mild) shortcomings. The harder-headed consumer, though, knows that the Sonus Faber Lumina II are far from the only choice at this sort of money – the likes of the KEF LS50 Meta loom large.

(Image credit: Future) Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Price and release date

• Released June 15, 2021
• $1,499 / £999 / AU$2,199

The Sonus Faber Lumina II are on sale now, and in the United Kingdom a pair will cost you £999. In the United States, you’re looking at $1,499, while in Australia they’ll set you back AU$2,199.

Passive standmounting speakers at this sort of money are not exactly a rarity, of course. So, apart from the ‘handmade in Italy’ cachet, what does Sonus Faber have up its beautifully tailored sleeve?

(Image credit: Future) Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Features

• 29mm ‘damped apex dome’ tweeter
• 150mm pulp/fibre mid/bass driver
• Front-facing bass reflex port

As a pair of small and (relatively) affordable passive loudspeakers, the Sonus Faber Lumina II aren’t exactly awash with features, but those they have are of high quality and are utterly fit for purpose.

So, reading from the top of the front of each speaker, there’s a 29mm tweeter of Sonus Faber’s own ‘damped apex dome’ design, which features a silk diaphragm and is mounted using a visco-elastic baffle to effectively isolate the vibration it produces from the cabinet. Below here there’s a 150mm mid/bass driver – a cone made from a combination of natural fibres and cellulose pulp. It sits in what Sonus Faber describes as an ‘ultra-free compression basket’, and the promise is of high linearity and dynamic performance.

The speakers stand on a little plastic plinth – there’s a little gap between the main cabinet and the plinth where a bass reflex port faces forwards. This makes the Lumina II nicely forgiving of positioning in your room, notwithstanding a few rather unusual positioning issues thrown up further down in the ‘design’ section.

The overall arrangement is good for a frequency response of 55Hz - 24kHz, according to Sonus Faber. Crossover is at an unremarkable 1.8kHz, sensitivity is an equally ordinary 85dB, and nominal impedance is four ohms. The manufacturer suggests that any worthwhile amplifier with 50 watts or more available should be able to drive the Lumina II without issues.

• Features score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Sound quality

• Detailed and spacious presentation
• Organized and unflappable…
• …unless you decide to listen at bigger volumes

If you’re familiar with any of Sonus Faber’s products from the turn of the century onwards, the overall emphasis of the Lumina II sound isn’t going to come as much of a surprise. No matter the sort of stuff you like to listen to, and no matter the source of it, these speakers are a balanced, naturalistic and periodically absorbing listen.

The tonal balance of the Lumina II is carefully neutral, so a nicely organic recording like Nico’s The Fairest of the Seasons enjoys a true-to-life depiction of the small string section, acoustic guitar, and expressive and unmistakable vocal. There’s plenty of detail revealed and contextualized at every part of the frequency range, and the Sonus Faber travel from top to bottom in a smooth and undemonstrative manner. No part of the frequency range gets overstated and, apart from the very lowest frequencies, no part is underplayed. The crossover between tweeter and mid/bass driver is all-but imperceptible.

The speakers do good work with harmonic variations, and are quite explicit where soundstaging is concerned, too. There’s a respectable degree of dynamic headroom available, and a willingness to track even the smaller changes in attack or intensity carefully.

Switch to a copy of Aw, Shoot! by CMAT and the Lumina II’s ability to open up a fairly compressed and dense recording is straightforwardly impressive. It can create appreciable space on the soundstage, and where less accomplished speakers present this recording as a sort of aural wedding cake, with element piled on top of element, the Sonus Faber bring some order to bear. Detail levels are good all over again, and the ability to tease out the finer, more transient occurrences in a recording and let them enjoy a little breathing space is not to be sniffed at.

There’s appreciable bite and shine at the top of the frequency range, but nothing too threatening or hard-edged – there’s real refinement to the treble response here. The midrange is eloquent and revealing, and – up to a point – low frequencies are just as substantial and well-resolved as everything going on above them.

The Lumina II don’t so much run out of extension at the bottom of the frequency range – not by the standards of reasonably compact standmounters, anyway – as run out of conviction. There’s a lack of power and drive towards the bottom of their frequency response which can make for a slightly lightweight rendition of whatever it is you’re listening to. Low frequencies are nicely controlled, so rhythmic expression is convincing, but outright ‘punch’ is in rather short supply.

It’s equally safe to say that volume is a factor in the Sonus Faber comfort zone. At moderate volumes the Lumina II are a composed, insightful and well-organized listen, with talents that extend well beyond ‘unflappability’. But if you up the ante, volume-wise, a fair bit of that composure deserts them, along with some of their powers of organization. The can begin to sound just fractionally two-dimensional and ever-so-slightly stressed. Dial the volume down just a little and normal service is quickly resumed.

• Sound quality score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Design

• Choice of three finishes
• Leather-covered sides and top surface
• 304 x 180 x 263mm (HxWxD)

Obviously you’ll make up your own mind as to the decorative potential (or otherwise) of the Sonus Faber Lumina II. What can’t be argued with is the quality of construction or finish – these are impeccably made loudspeakers. The company’s ongoing determination to cover a good portion of its speakers in leather (both sides and the top of this model) won’t sit well for those who’d prefer a vegan option, but as far as ‘craftsmanship’ is concerned, the Lumina II have plenty in evidence.

Each speaker is a tidy 304 x 180 x 263mm (HxWxD), and if you choose either of the ‘walnut with maple inlays’ or ‘wenge with maple inlays’ the front baffle is of multilayered wood with real wood veneer. The piano black alternative is glossy, all right, and also built of multilayered wood but it’s quite reflective, so is not perhaps the first choice for those who may wish to use their Lumina II as part of a home theater set-up in a darkened room.

At the rear of each cabinet there are four nickel-plated speaker binding terminals that can be used with bare wire, banana plugs or spade connectors. Biwiring or biamping is perfectly straightforward.

Although the configuration of the speakers makes them quite forgiving of room position, the liberal use of leather does not. The company is quite unequivocal: you should not position your Lumina II near windows or sources of heat, and they should not be exposed to direct sunlight. Perhaps lots of leather isn’t such a brilliant idea after all…

• Design score: 4 / 5

(Image credit: Future) Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Value

‘Made in Italy’ seldom comes cheap, and in a market dominated by speakers that have been ‘designed and engineered’ in one place and then inevitably ‘made in China’, it’s quite a prestigious point of difference. And where materials, build quality and the standard of finish are concerned, it’s hard to argue that you’re not getting full value here.

And up to a point, that’s all true when it comes to sound quality, too. But a look at the ‘also consider’ section below lets you know that if you’re prepared to forgo a bit of the undeniable Sonus Faber cachet, better pound-for-pound performance is available…

• Value score: 4 / 5

Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Should you buy them? Buy them if...

You’re a sucker for Italian design
Like every Sonus Faber product, the Lumina II are a visual and tactile treat.

You enjoy open, detailed and naturalistic sound
These speakers have a real talent for opening up a recording and peering deep inside.

You do your listening in a darkened room
The leather finish means these speakers are more affected by sunlight than most.

Don't buy them if...

You’re vegan
The leather finish might be a dealbreaker.

You like to listen loud
The composure that’s such an admirable part of the Lumina II's sound can go astray at big volumes.

You consider ‘wallop’ to be a positive word
Other speakers of comparable size and price can dig deeper and hit harder.

(Image credit: Future) Sonus Faber Lumina II review: Also consider

KEF LS50 Meta
All price-comparable speakers tend to look a bit agricultural next to the Sonus Faber Lumina II but KEF’s outstanding LS50 Meta have a strong look of their own and, most importantly, the sort of all-around excellence the Lumina II can’t quite match. The ever-expanding number of available colors and dramatic visuals of the driver array don’t do any harm, either…View Deal

Sonus Faber Lumina II review: How I tested

• Connected to a Naim Uniti Nova, listening to Qobuz and Tidal tracks
• Also hooked up a Rega Apollo for CDs; Cambridge Audio/Clearaudio for vinyl

During my spell listening to the Sonus Faber Lumina II, they were powered by a Naim Uniti Nova streamer/amplifier capable of delivering 70 watts of power per channel. I also used the Naim for listening to Qobuz and Tidal, as it is both a streamer and an amplifier.

I listened to compact discs using a Rega Apollo player, and vinyl via both the Cambridge Audio Alva TT v2 and Clearaudio Concept turntables.

The Lumina II remained in my listening space for the test's entirety – the area is nothing too sophisticated, it’s a fairly ordinary (though not particularly reflective) room that works excellently for my purposes. Using this disparate sources, I listened to myriad different recordings, from a plenty of genres, and from a wide range of eras.

• First reviewed: February 2025
• Read more about how we test

Argentinian president Javier Milei is facing calls for impeachment and a possible criminal investigation for his role in the rise and fast collapse of a memecoin.

This delicately poised tie sees the Dutch team take a slender one-goal lead to the San Siro.

• A Reddit user spotted AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D at an astonishingly low price at a Walmart store
• A similarly deep discount on Intel's i5 14600K was seen at the same store
• This comes amid Nvidia and AMD's preparation for new GPU launches

At a time when the hunt for the latest Nvidia and AMD GPUs is perhaps at its most competitive among PC gamers, you may not be keeping an eye out for CPU deals - but one lucky individual has shared what could be the best CPU discount of the year so far.

As reported by VideoCardz, a Redditor spotted AMD's Ryzen 7 7800X3D at a Walmart store that was discounted to $99.75 (pictured below) due to its PC department closure - an enormous discount from its regular listed price of $399 (£419.99 / AU$780).

The AMD chip is lauded as one of the best gaming processors, boasting eight cores and 16 threads as well as a 4.20GHz clock speed, so this is an absolute steal to say the least.

It's safe to say that you'll likely never find it at such a low price again. It isn't unusual for some listed prices for PC hardware at online retailers to drop far below retail price by mistake (with some orders still honored at that price), but this is a different case as it's a legitimate price drop in-store for whoever grabs it first.

A similar discount was available on Intel's i5 14600K which dropped to an insane $77.25 down from $309 (£229.99 / AU$419.99) - this packs 14 cores and 20 threads, ideal for gaming and multitasking duties. The Redditor didn’t specify which Walmart store this was at, and there’s sadly no sign of such deep price cuts making their way to online retailers - as much as I would love to see that.

7800 3d is 99$ at my Walmart from r/pcmasterrace If only this could happen to GPUs...

Over on the GPU side of things, Nvidia's RTX 5090 and RTX 5080 are already out in the wild, but you're probably not going to find any of them at MSRP thanks to scalpers and an extremely limited supply.

The rest of the RTX 5000 lineup is fast approaching, with the RTX 5070 Ti confirmed to be launching on February 20 and the RTX 5070 following on March 5 - these will go up against AMD's Radeon RX 9000 series cards which are also due to launch in early March, and given the current state of the market, I'd imagine the scalpers will be hard at ‘work’ again.

With this fresh influx of cards, I hope we see significant price drops for both Nvidia's RTX 4000 series and AMD's Radeon RX 7000 series - while we’re unlikely to see discounts as steep as the aforementioned price cut on the 7800X3D, I don't think it's too much to expect some more reasonable pricing - after all, it’s still difficult to find an RTX 4090 below its original launch price, even two years after its launch.

We know that the RTX 4000 series is mostly discontinued at this point since Team Green stopped production of most Lovelace GPUs in preparation for the RTX 5000 series - so if we’re going to start seeing price drops on third-party cards at online retailers, it should be soon.

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• Microsoft has announced a $700m investment into Polish digital infrastucture
• The funds will focus on AI capabilities and cybersecurity
• This is the second phase of the company's expendeture

Microsoft has announced its second major investment in Polish digital infrastructure, with the firm pledging to spend PLN 2.8 billion ($700 million) by June 2026 with the aim of expanding the nation’s ‘hyperscale cloud and artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure’.

Part of the investment will be in collaboration with the Polish National Defence agency in order to enhance the national cybersecurity framework. Poland currently ranks 3rd in Europe and 9th in the world in its vulnerability to attacks from foreign-backed threat actors, according to Microsoft’s Digital Defense report.

That’s not all, as Microsoft confirms there will be a ‘final phase’ after this is completed - although it's not yet clear what that will be.

Expanding the digital sector

Investments are also being made into the Polish language model, Bielik, underscoring a ‘vote of confidence in Poland’s leadership and economy’, Brad Smith, Vice Chair and President of Microsoft confirmed.

In 2020, Microsoft launched the first cloud computing region in Poland, building three independent data centers and investing $1billion in the project.

Between 2020 and 2023, Microsoft also trained 430,000 Polish citizens in digital skills, and has committed to training 1 million Polish teachers, information workers, software developers, with the ‘skills and capabilities to help accelerate Poland’s digital transformation across various sectors’.

“This is an investment that will provide Poles, especially the younger generation, with access to the most modern tools and opportunities offered by the best in the world,” said Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk.

“Microsoft will also be conducting AI training in Poland. Tools, money, and investments are important, as is cooperation with our people and companies, but we will achieve the desired effects also by taking advantage of training opportunities.”

Microsoft’s not alone in its investment in the country, as in 2025, Google spent $2 billion on a new data center in Poland to develop the cloud computing and AI infrastructure.

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• Huge new data center is coming to South Korea
• Construction of 3GW facility is set to be complete by 2028
• The project will cost upwards of $10 billion, but could reach $35bn

Construction for the world’s largest data center has been given the go-ahead in South Korea, and is predicted to bring in an initial revenue of $3.5 billion - with an initial project size of $10 billion and the potential to reach $35 billion.

The data center will be built in the Jeollanam-do province, and will have a 3GW capacity - marking a huge advancement in Korea’s tech leadership, reportedly being able to, ‘triple' the capacity of current hyper-scale facilities operated by the likes of Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.

The project was co-founded by LG Electronics heir Brian Koo and Dr. Amin Badr-El-Din in partnership with Stock Farm Road, who have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Governor Kim of the Jeollanam-do province.

Rapid development

The center is set to complete construction by 2028, by which time the worldwide market is projected to grow to $438.70 billion.

Despite the significant challenges data center development faces, such as a dramatic increase in energy and water consumption, as well as consistent needs for infrastructure upgrades to keep up with, Koo noted the project could, ‘elevate Korea and the region to a new level of technological advancement and economic prosperity’.

Countries across the globe are developing their data center infrastructure, with Meta committing to spending $10 billion dollars to build a new project in the US - although this is only expected to generate 500 direct jobs once completed.

“This is more than just a technological milestone; it's a strategic leap forward for Korea's global technological leadership,” said co-founder Dr. Amin Badr-El-Din.

"We are incredibly proud to partner with Stock Farm Road and the Jeollanam-do government to build this crucial infrastructure, creating an unprecedented opportunity to build the foundation for next-generation AI.”

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• Apple's debuting a custom Apple TV patch for each of the 30 MLS teams
• The new designs have dropped ahead of the 30th season of Major League Soccer
• Apple’s global head of sports marketing says the logos reflect the visual identity of each of the 30 clubs

The 30th season of Major League Soccer is about to kick off, and thanks to the league’s partnership with Apple, you’ll be able to stream every game with no blackouts via an MLS Season Pass subscription on Apple TV, one of the best streaming services around.

Further, to recognize the anniversary season beyond debuting a new show and hyping up the crowd with a new documentary, Apple’s taking a pen to its logo – a very rare occurrence. Apple’s putting a fresh spin on the Apple TV logo, well, actually, 30 fresh spins, one for each team in Major League Soccer.

That means Lionel Messi and his teammates on Inter Miami CF are sporting an Apple logo with a pink spotting star and zebra stripes, while Emil Forsberg of the New York Red Bulls’ Apple TV logo is a mix of gold, red, and white. Each and every player will be sporting the custom Apple TV patch on the left sleeve of their player kits for the entire 2025 season. That’s 30 recreations of the Apple logo, and TechRadar chatted with Emeka Ofodile, Apple’s global head of sports marketing, about this custom treatment.

(Image credit: Apple)

“As we were approaching the 2025 season, we’d been collectively brainstorming how to celebrate this landmark season in a memorable way. The creative minds at Apple developed the concept, which felt authentic to MLS and the partnership and like the perfect way to commemorate the 30th season milestone,” explained Ofodile. The bespoke nature of each really captures the jerseys, logo, and overall branding of each team. It leads to a colorful take on the Apple logo, which goes beyond the early days rainbow apple and even the custom invites normally sent for an Apple Special Event.

On why now was the right time to put a fresh spin on the logo, Ofodile called out the 30th anniversary and said, “we wanted to nod to the incredible visual identity of each of the 30 clubs.” While the individual designs were made in-house at Apple, it was also collaborative with the teams: “We worked closely to make sure the designs felt authentic to each club and the feedback has been really positive,” explained Ofodile.

(Image credit: Apple)

For now, the custom patches are just on the player kits, meaning that to spot them, you’ll need to watch for the players on the field, professional photography of the games, or even player profile shots. We’re sharing a few of them in the gallery below. It would be neat to see these custom badges included in the live broadcasts, though, and we asked Ofodile on that or where else Apple is thinking about including these.

“Player kits will be the primary place fans can see this collaboration in MLS Season Pass broadcasts. We’re also exploring fun ways to spotlight this collaboration, including in our popular studio shows and across social channels,” explained Ofodile. It sounds like we’ll need to keep an eye on the shows and produced content to see if the badges make an appearance. Who knows, they might end up being a larger part of the teams represented in playoffs later this season, the League’s Cup tournament, or in the All-Star game.

Ofodile shared that Apple is focused on finding creative ways to partner with Major League Soccer, and clearly, the custom takes on the logo are from this work. It’s a really fun approach and for fans of the sport as well as Apple, it really lets creativity shine through. We’ve also seen Apple expand MLS into some of its other services, including locations around stadiums in Apple Maps and custom playlists in Apple Music; Ofodile shared that “we’re excited to continue exploring new opportunities to engage fans and grow the league’s fandom throughout the season.”

It sounds like these Apple TV sleeve patches might just be the start, and if it’s a hint at the other projects in the works, it'll be an exciting season. I, for one, am excited to see the Apple logo and Apple TV one spun in a few different styles.

Let us know which are your favorites in the comment below, and you can tune into the first match of the 2025 season between Inter Miami CF and New York City FC at 2:30 PM ET on February 22, 2025, on MLS Season Pass on Apple TV.

If you subscribe to Apple TV Plus, MLS Season Pass is $12.99 a month and $79. Otherwise, it's $14.99 a month or $99 for the season. You'll get access to every game plus analysis via shows, a back library of games, and documentaries that can be streamed from many devices – basically wherever Apple TV is available. That now includes Android phones, as the Apple TV app for Android has launched as well.

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• Rainbow Six Siege is getting a massive graphics and gameplay overhaul
• Siege X is the tactical shooter's 'biggest transformation in the game's history'
• The Rainbow Six Siege Showcase is set for March, which will provide an in-depth look at the update

Ubisoft has announced Rainbow Six Siege X, an upcoming update for the first-person tactical shooter that will see " major upgrades all around".

The first teaser trailer for Siege X was just released, which you can watch below. The update is described as "the biggest transformation in the game's history, including new tactical gameplay, graphical and audio upgrades, and more".

It doesn't sound like a Rainbow Six Siege sequel, but more of an evolution of the game that has been running since 2015. We could potentially see some improvements for the current generation as well.

A new blog post offers more insight, where Ubisoft said Siege X will usher in "a new era" that "sets the stage for the years to come of tactical and unique gameplay".

"The R6 team has been working tirelessly to bring to life the biggest transformation in the game's history and its purpose is to reinforce Rainbow Six Siege's position at the top of tactical first-person shooters by introducing new ways to play, deepened tactical gameplay, refined game feel and major upgrades all around," Ubisoft added.

Ubisoft will be broadcasting the Rainbow Six Siege X Showcase on March 13, 2025, at 5PM GMT / 6PM CET / 12PM EST over on its Twitch Channel.

The event will also be held in person in Atlanta, Georgia, and promises "an immersive and one-of-a-kind Siege experience" for those in attendance, and offer new details about the Siege X update.

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OnePlus Watch 3: One minute review

Writing this OnePlus Watch 3 review, I was struck by how much smaller of a leap we've seen from the OnePlus Watch 2 to the OnePlus Watch 3, compared to the leap the Watch 2 made from the original. The first OnePlus Watch was considered bad by every metric, but the OnePlus Watch 2 was a spectacular improvement in every way.

The OnePlus Watch 3 has much less work to do, iterating on an already successful design. Like the OnePlus Watch 2, it’s got the look of a classic dress watch with its outer casing and bezel, now upgraded from stainless steel to titanium. Its AMOLED display is now comprised of 2D sapphire crystal for improved durability, and its battery life has been extended from the OnePlus Watch 2’s 100 hours to 120 hours, beating rivals like the Samsung Galaxy Watch Ultra and Apple Watch Ultra for longevity.

I’ve only used it for a few hours, but functionally it performs as smoothly and as well as any Wear OS watch I’ve yet used, including the Google Pixel Watch 3. It’s an option most Android phone users should consider, and it’s sure to make its way into our best Android watches list in future.

Its usability is vastly improved by the addition of a rotating digital crown, allowing for easier scrolling and navigation, especially during sweaty workouts in which the touchscreen would be harder (or grosser) to use.

My main gripe is with the watch’s size: I would have loved to see OnePlus bring out a second, smaller model for those with smaller wrists. Many people, including a lot of women, will find it’s just too big and heavy for daily wear. However, this issue aside, it’s a powerful, robust daily driver with modern health tools and a timeless look.

OnePlus Watch 3: Specifications OnePlus Watch 3: price and availability

(Image credit: Future)

• £319 in the UK (approximately $400 / AU$630)
• Available in the UK / EU
• Availability for other regions is TBC

The OnePlus Watch 3 is available in the UK, where it's priced at £319 (approximately $400 / AU$630), and in the EU. It's available to order from today.

We’re currently unsure if the watch will be available in the US and AU markets, but will update this full review with that information when we get it.

OnePlus Watch 3: Design

(Image credit: Future)

• Sumptuous screen
• Rotating crown
• Very big for smaller wrists

As mentioned, the OnePlus Watch 3 shares many design similarities with the OnePlus Watch 2. However, there are a few changes both under the hood and, erm, over it. The watch still runs Wear OS 5 on its Snapdragon W5 chipset, but it also runs a second operating system, RTOS, powered by a new BES2800 MCU chip.

By switching from Wear OS to the low-power RTOS, the OnePLus Watch 3 is able to extend its battery life. In conjunction with the new chip, a bigger 631mAh battery means the Watch 3 lasts up to 120 hours, compared with the older model's 100 hours.

The shape and design of the OnePlus Watch 3 are very similar to the Watch 2 pictured below. At 46.6mm x 47.6mm x 11mm, not including the thickness of the sensor, it’s a hefty watch at 81g including strap. It might look like a timeless metal dress watch, which helps, but the sheer size of it will be off-putting to a lot of people.

However, its size does mean it’s packing a lovely big screen. Its 2D sapphire crystal and buttery-smooth AMOLED puts out 2,000 nits, the same brightness as the Apple Watch Ultra 2. The big screen makes reading messages and notifications a pleasure rather than an annoyance to, doubly so thanks to the other big new addition: a rotating digital crown. Pressing the crown takes you back to the main menu, and its wheel is used for scrolling, while the side button starts workouts. Coupled with the touchscreen, it’s all very intuitive, and a design that will be familiar to users of the best Apple Watches.

OnePlus Watch 3: Features

(Image credit: Future)

• 60-second heart health check-in
• New ECG functionality
• Dual-frequency GPS

As well as the rotating digital crown, tougher new screen and bezel, and longer battery life, there are software features aplenty, both new and returning. The beauty of the best Android watches (much like the best Apple Watches) is that you can stuff them full of third-party apps, and it’s the same case here. I’ve already got Strava, Spotify, AllTrails, Audible… all my usual suspects.

First up among the new stuff is the 60-second health check-in. By pressing your finger on the All-In_one sensor button, the OnePlus Watch 3 measures your heart rate, conducts an electrocardiograph scan (this feature will be available later in the year), and tracks blood oxygen levels, mental wellness, wrist temperature, sleep quality, and a new metric called ‘vascular age’, similar to Garmin’s Fitness Age, but specifically tailored to heart health.

A big emphasis is placed on heart heath, with vascular elasticity measured and the new ECG functionality working with this to create benchmarks based on age. Essentially, the OnePlus Watch 3 can tell you a rough idea of how 'old' your heart is in comparison to the rest of your body. If you’re in your thirties but very fit, you might have the heart of a 25-year-old for example, whereas someone out-of-shape might have a heart age edging towards the forties.

GPS is now dual-frequency for additional accuracy. The Watch’s basic workout app supports over 100 different sports mode, but only 11 of these offer ‘professional modes’ or unique metrics, such as running. The rest are nice-to-haves for instant input into your digital training diary.

I’ll be adding a Performance section, along with final scores, in my full review after I've worn and tested the watch over a longer period. Check back soon!