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World leaders have lavished praise on President Trump in order to smooth diplomatic relations — and get better deals too.

(Image credit: Jabin Botsford)

When someone says something nice about us, it can make us feel awkward and uncomfortable. Researchers explain the science behind those emotions — and make the case for accepting genuine praise.

Can Andy Farrell's men seal a series clean sweep in Sydney?

Perhaps the key to staying present is in listening to the world around you.

Slow Horses season 6: key information

- Officially wrapped filming
- No trailer released yet
- Main cast predicted to return
- Plot to follow Mick Herron’s 'Joe Country' and 'Slough House' novels
- Season 7 expected to begin shooting in September/October
- Slough House spin-off, Down Cemetery Road, in the works

Slow Horses season 6 has already finished filming, which is huge news considering season 5 isn't even out on Apple TV+ until September 24.

The gritty spy drama is getting a bit of a name for itself, not only for its thrilling action-packed scenes, but its incredible release schedule never leaving more than a year between seasons.

And it appears there's plenty more where that came from as Jackson Lamb and his team of down-and-out MI5 agents are returning for season 5, 6 and 7 over the next couple of years.

Adapted from the books by Mick Herron, Slow Horses season 6 already has a plot to follow and filming in the can, but there's plenty more to talk about when it comes to trailer, expected release date, predicted case, news, rumors and more. Though, I'll be sure to update here once season 5 hits Apple TV+.

Potential spoilers follow for Slow Horses seasons 1 to 4.

Slow Horses season 6 release date

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Apple TV+ renewed Slow Horses for season 6 just days after the season 4 finale – and, according to Deadline, the cast and crew have already finished filming.

In an official statement from Apple TV+ on the show's renewal, Jay Hunt, creative director for Europe said: "Audiences around the world have fallen in love with the Slow Horses, and I'm delighted that Gary Oldman will be leading this star-studded cast on another acerbic and action-packed adventure".

So, when it comes to the Slow Horses season 6 release date, season 4 released in September 2024 and season 5 is scheduled for September 2025. With season 6's filming done and dusted, I think I can quite confidently say that season 6 is looking at a fall 2026 release date.

Slow Horses season 6 trailer: is there one?

There's no Slow Horses season 6 trailer just yet (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Considering Slow Horses season 5 is yet to receive its own trailer, it seems incredibly unlikely that we'll get a season 6 trailer any time soon.

But, we were treated to a season 5 teaser look at the end of the season 4 finale. If that's the case this time round, mark October 22 on your calendar for the season 5 finale for a potential first look at season 6. I'll be sure to update here when it drops, too.

Slow Horses season 6 predicted cast

Gary Oldman will reprise his titular role as Jackson Lamb (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Full spoilers follow for Slow Horses season 5.

Slow Horses season 5 will air six episodes on Apple TV+ between September 24 and October 22. Since we don't know what happens yet (and we don't want to spoil it by revealing the plot of Mick Herron's 'London Rules' novel), we can only predict the cast to appear in season 6, with one known addition:

• Gary Oldman as Jackson Lamb
• Jack Lowden as River Cartwright
• Kristin Scott Thomas as Diana Taverner
• Saskia Reeves as Catherine Standish
• Christopher Chung as Roddy Ho
• Aimee-Ffion Edwards as Shirley Dander
• Rosalind Eleazar as Louisa Guy
• Ruth Bradley as Emma Flyte
• James Callis as Claude Whelan
• Tom Brooke as J.K. Coe
• Hugo Weaving as Frank Harkness
• Joanna Scanlan as Moira Tergorian
• Jonathan Pryce as David Cartwright
• Lenny Rush as TBC
• Nick Mohammed as TBC
• Hiba Bennani as TBC

So, there's a new cast member that we know for certain is joining Slow Horses season 6 and that's Doctor Who's Lenny Rush who, according to the Radio Times, was spotted filming with Oldman in January. Other than that, I'm sure it'll be full of returning favorites.

Slow Horses season 6 potential plot synopsis and rumors

Slow Horses season 6 will be adapted from 'Joe Country' and 'Slough House' (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Major spoilers follow for Slow Horses seasons 1 through 4.

Slow Horses season 6 is confirmed to be the first season that will follow not one, but two, of Mick Herron's novels. As confirmed by Deadline, these will be 'Joe Country' and 'Slough House', the sixth and seventh books in the series.

And the official synopsis from Apple TV+ for season 6 is as follows: "Season six sees the Slow Horses on the run as Diana Taverner embroils them all in a fatally high-stakes game of retaliation and revenge".

To delve deeper into the plot, it's also worth taking at the synopsis's for the books. For 'Joe Country' that's: "In Slough House, the backwater for failed spies, memories are stirring, all of them bad. Catherine Standish is buying booze again, Louisa Guy is raking over the ashes of lost love, and new recruit Lech Wicinski, whose sins make him outcast even among the slow horses, is determined to discover who destroyed his career, even if he tears his life apart in the process.

"With winter taking its grip Jackson Lamb would sooner be left brooding in peace, but even he can't ignore the dried blood on his carpets. So when the man responsible for killing a slow horse breaks cover at last, Lamb sends his crew out to even the score.This time, they're heading into joe country. And they're not all coming home."

The team at Slough House return for more espionage drama (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

And for 'Slough House': "Slough House - the crumbling office building to which failed spies, the 'slow horses', are banished - has been wiped from secret service records.

"Reeling from recent losses in their ranks, the slow horses are worried they've been pushed further into the cold, and fatal accidents keep happening.

"With a new populist movement taking a grip on London's streets, the aftermath of a blunder by the Russian secret service that left a British citizen dead, and the old order ensuring that everything's for sale to the highest bidder, the world's an uncomfortable place for those deemed surplus to requirements.

"The wise move would be to find a safe place and wait for the troubles to pass.But the slow horses aren't famed for making wise decisions."

Much like the rest of Slow Horses, season 6 will also be six episodes long and while I'd usually take a look at the previous season to give an insight into the plot, it doesn't air until September/October.

I'll be sure to update here as soon as the story at Slough House has unfolded once more.

Will Slow Horses get more seasons on Apple TV+?

Slow Horses season 7 is officially on the way (Image credit: Apple TV Plus)

Slow Horses season 7 was officially confirmed by Apple TV+ in July and Deadline reported in June, whilst in conversation with Oldman, that "season 7 will begin shooting in the UK in late September or early October".

With season 5 following books 6 and 7 in Mick Herron's Slough House series, season 7 will follow 'Bad Actors'. There's also the soon-to-be published 'Clown Town' coming September 9, which could hint at at least one more season to come, but any news on this is unconfirmed.

But, there's also a Slough House spin-off series in the works titled Down Cemetery Road, based on Herron's first novel of the same name.

With filming already happening, The Hollywood Reporter revealed it will star both Emma Thompson and Ruth Wilson as Sarah Tucker and Zoë Boehm respectively.

Apple TV+'s creative director, Hunt, said of the news: "Down Cemetery Road has all the hallmarks of Mick Herron's funny and acerbic writing, and I'm delighted we will be bringing it to life for Apple TV+ with such a stellar cast".

For more Apple TV+ coverage, read our guides on Ted Lasso season 4, Foundation season 3, Presumed Innocent season 2, and Silo season 3.

This week DJI and Insta360 had a Freaky Friday situation as they announced a 360 camera and a drone respectively, tech the other is usually known for.

We also heard that OpenAI is scared of its next AI, and the UK faced the Online Saftey Act.

You can catch up on these stories and more in this week's catch up of the seven biggest tech news stories.

7. We Found My Skechers

(Image credit: Skechers)

This week, Skechers debuted the new Find My Skechers. They look like your run-of-the-mill sneakers on the outside, but hidden in each heel is a cutout that’s perfect for an Apple AirTag.

This Bluetooth tracker can then be used to help you keep track of your child if you’re out in an unfamiliar place, or help you locate any lost shoes, whether they were misplaced while out and about or while getting ready in the mad rush to get to school.

Though when we polled parents, the reactions were mixed. Predominantly because the target age range – toddlers and young children – outgrow their shoes every six months to a year. At their cheapest, Find My Sketchers cost $52 a pop, which is a lot to regularly shell out.

• Read more: These new sneakers have a secret AirTags compartment

6. The UK faced the Online Safety Act

(Image credit: Getty Images)

This week Britain was hit by the latest provisions of the Online Safety Act, introducing age verification measures designed to help prevent young people accessing age inappropriate content. However the new requirements have frustrated many adults.

A petition to repeal the UK Online Safety Act garnered over 450,000 signatures in just a few days, and some have tried all sorts of workarounds including attempting to game the system with Death Stranding’s photo mode.

Most people are onboard with the idea behind the rules, but aren’t keen on needing to share their ID with websites – especially foreign websites – as they’re worried their data might be mishandled. Despite the concerns, the Government has said it won't be repealing the measures.

• Read more: Over 450,000 Brits want to repeal the UK Online Safety Act

5. Google Home's crisis got worse

(Image credit: Future)

Last week, we reported on a growing number of complaints about Google Home devices, with the smart home gadgets failing to deal with commands properly or throwing up other bugs.

This week, it seems the problem got worse, with many reporting their voice controls for smart lights were now completely broken and not working at all.

The situation has gotten so bad that US law firm Kaplan Gore has announced it has "begun investigating a possible class action" against Google because so many users are now reporting broken functionality, despite most of these devices having worked fine in the past.

• Read more: Google Home devices are continuing to break

4. DJI Osmo 360 landed

(Image credit: DJI)

The 360 camera space has been dominated by Insta360 for years, but it finally has some proper competition following the arrival of the DJI Osmo 360. What's more, they could soon be joined by the GoPro Max 2, which was recently teased by GoPro.

Considering it's DJI's first foray into the market, the Osmo 360 impresses straight off the bat, delivering what DJI says are several industry firsts, the most notable of which are its twin 1-inch sensors with 8K video recording up to 50fps. Those sensors are effectively twice the size of the Insta360 X5's, our current favorite 360 camera, and should give DJI's model the upper hand for image quality, especially with richer 10-bit color depth.

Based on specs, the Osmo 360 has the edge over the X5, but it's real-world use that matters the most, and the X5 is our favorite model for a reason. It has stellar battery life, and its lenses can be replaced in the event of damage. We are currently conducting our hands-on versus of the two models, and it's making for a titanic battle.

• Read more: Can DJI's first 360 camera dethrone the X5?

3. Insta360 revealed the world’s first 360 drone

(Image credit: Antigravity, Insta360)

DJI isn’t used to having competition in the skies, but this week, its first serious rival for years flew into town. The undisputed king of 360 cameras, Insta360, has announced its new Antigravity platform, which will soon give us the first drone with a 360-degree camera.

Okay, but what’s the benefit of a flying, all-seeing camera? The main one is that, in theory, you won’t need to worry about perfectly shooting aerial videos as you fly, because you’ll be able to reframe them later. We’re looking forward to experiencing that in person when the Antigravity drone fully launches later this month.

• Read more: Has DJI just met its match? Insta360 unveils Antigravity – the world’s first 360 drone

2. ChatGPT helped us study

(Image credit: OpenAI)

ChatGPT has added a new feature called Study mode to its paid-for and free accounts that turns the famous chatbot into an unpaid study tutor for your kids. Parents often panic about ChatGPT being used by their children to avoid actually learning anything, but Study mode is different. It’s pretty safe for kids to use because it teaches them how to arrive at the answer, rather than just giving them the answer. It’s more of an interactive back-and-forth chat about the question being posed, which encourages them to learn as they go.

Of course, you don’t need to let your kids have all the fun with it. You can use Study mode yourself to learn any new subject. Having the ability to turn ChatGPT into a proper tutor is pretty handy, so whatever it is you want to learn – whether that’s a new language or how to code – now you’ve got the perfect excuse to get started.

• Read more: OpenAI added Study mode to ChatGPT, even for free accounts

1. OpenAI was scared by its AI

(Image credit: Shutterstock/ DIA TV)

OpenAI CEO Sam Altman revealed details about his company's testing of GPT-5 (the next-gen brain for ChatGPT) by saying he got scared by the AI, and comparing it to The Manhattan Project.

The over-the-top analogy might evoke some level of keen scientific minds coming to a major breakthrough, but his other comments made OpenAI seem either reckless or incompetent.

Even if he's exaggerating, we don't know if either of those descriptions should be attached to the kind of company that might decide how next-gen AI power is deployed.

• Read more: OpenAI's CEO says he's scared of GPT-5

A federal appeals court ruled Friday to uphold a lower court's temporary order blocking the Trump administration from conducting indiscriminate immigration stops and arrests in Southern California.

(Image credit: Jae C. Hong)

• Wi-Fi 8 plans to fix edge-of-coverage dropouts where extenders usually fail to keep things running smoothly
• Wi-Fi 7 maxes out throughput while Wi-Fi 8 makes sure it works everywhere, every time
• Wi-Fi 8 to introduce Single Mobility Domains so devices roam between access points without getting interrupted

Only hours after the official ratification of Wi-Fi 7, early details of its successor, Wi-Fi 8, are already making waves.

A release from Qualcomm noted Wi-Fi 8 isn’t promising faster peak speeds; instead, it focuses on improving stability, cutting latency, and ensuring smoother performance in environments with many connected devices.

Where Wi-Fi 7 emphasized raw throughput and bandwidth gains, Wi-Fi 8 is being designed to sustain those benefits under pressure, ensuring consistent delivery even in crowded or interference-prone settings.

Rethinking the role of Wi-Fi

Two core trends are shaping the direction of Wi-Fi 8. First is the growing ecosystem of personal devices such as AR glasses and next-gen health monitors, which demand seamless and low-latency connections to nearby companion devices.

Second is the rise of AI-powered systems that depend on fast, reliable access to edge or cloud-based intelligence.

Together, these trends are pushing local networks, including your Wi-Fi router or even a mobile 5G router, into territory they weren’t originally designed for.

Wi-Fi 8 is being framed as the foundational layer of connectivity that will underpin these increasingly dynamic and latency-sensitive systems.

And unlike a basic Wi-Fi extender that simply expands signal reach, the new standard rethinks how access points work together, how devices roam, and how signal quality is preserved at the edge of coverage zones.

What gives Wi-Fi 8 its edge is the ongoing development of the 802.11bn standard.

Several core features aim to make Wi-Fi more reliable in the real world, not just in ideal lab conditions.

One of the key innovations is “Single Mobility Domains,” which allow devices to move across multiple access points without experiencing disruptions, something particularly beneficial in environments like airports, hospitals, or multi-floor offices.

Another major improvement is performance at the edge, the outer limits of a signal’s reach.

Current setups, even with a Wi-Fi extender, often suffer drops and delays in these areas - Wi-Fi 8 introduces physical layer updates meant to improve consistency without relying on brute-force signal strength.

Multi-access point coordination is another shift, and this is ideal for large venues or dense urban housing - as rather than each unit operating in isolation, Wi-Fi 8 envisions coordinated networks that intelligently share airtime and avoid overlap.

On-device coexistence, especially where radios like Bluetooth or ultra-wideband compete for antenna space, is also receiving attention.

Wi-Fi 8, expected to be finalized by 2028, reflects a deeper rethink of what modern connectivity actually requires.

The push isn’t for headline-grabbing throughput figures but for a wireless experience that performs like wired infrastructure.

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Here are the answers for The New York Times Mini Crossword for Aug. 2.

A three-day National Transportation Safety Board hearing on the deadliest U.S. aviation accident in decades dug into problems with altimeters, chopper routes and the busy Washington, D.C., airspace.

(Image credit: Kayla Bartkowski)

A coalition of 16 states and D.C. argue in the lawsuit that the Trump administration is trying to effectuate a national ban on gender-affirming care for youth by intimidating hospitals and doctors. 

(Image credit: Justin Sullivan)

A fatal collision in 2019 occurred when a Tesla driver had Autopilot mode engaged.

• Labels like “Verified” give a false sense of safety but don’t reflect real extension behavior
• Browser DevTools were never meant to track how extensions behave across tabs and over time
• Malicious extensions often act normally until specific triggers make their hidden features come alive

The unchecked spread of malicious browser extensions continues to expose users to spyware and other threats, largely due to deep-seated flaws in how the software handles extension security.

New research from SquareX claims many people still rely on superficial trust markers like “Verified” or “Chrome Featured,” which have repeatedly failed to prevent widespread compromise.

These markers, while intended to reassure users, often offer little insight into the actual behavior of an extension.

Labels offer little protection against dynamic threats

A central issue lies in the limitations of Browser DevTools, which were designed in the late 2000s for web page debugging.

These tools were never meant to inspect the far more complex behavior of modern browser extensions, which can run scripts, take screenshots, and operate across tabs, actions that existing DevTools struggle to trace or attribute.

This creates an environment where malicious behaviors can remain hidden, even as they collect data or manipulate web content.

The failure of these DevTools lies in their inability to provide telemetry that isolates extension behavior from standard web activity.

For instance, when a script is injected into a web page by an extension, DevTools lack the means to distinguish it from the page’s native functions.

The Geco Colorpick incident offers an example of how trust indicators can fail catastrophically - according to findings from Koi Research, 18 malicious extensions were able to distribute spyware to 2.3 million users, despite carrying the highly visible “Verified” label.

To address this, SquareX has proposed a new framework involving a modified browser and what it calls Browser AI Agents.

This combination is designed to simulate varied user behaviors and conditions, drawing out hidden or delayed responses from extensions.

The approach is part of what SquareX terms the Extension Monitoring Sandbox, a setup that enables dynamic analysis based on real-time activity rather than just static code inspection.

At the moment, many organizations continue to rely on free antivirus tools or built-in browser protections that cannot keep up with the evolving threat landscape.

The gap between perceived and actual security leaves both individuals and companies vulnerable.

The long-term impact of this initiative remains to be seen, but it reflects a growing recognition that browser-based threats demand more than superficial safeguards.

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Dr. Seema Jilani is a pediatrician who has been providing medical care to children in Gaza.

• Cheats and mods are now frontlines for cybercrime targeting gamers' wallets and private data
• Verified crypto wallets like MetaMask and Exodus are being drained through browser injection
• Trojan.Scavenger abuses overlooked flaws to disable browser safety and manipulate trusted extensions

Gamers seeking performance enhancements or special abilities through third-party patches and mods may be unwittingly exposing themselves to sophisticated malware, experts have warned.

Recent findings from Dr.Web revealed a malware family known as “Trojan.Scavenger” which targets Windows users by disguising itself as cheats or enhancements for popular games.

This seemingly harmless mod can ultimately compromise crypto wallets, password managers, and web browsers, posing serious risks to user privacy and digital assets.

When cheats become covert threats

The infection chain begins when users download ZIP archives claiming to improve performance in games including the likes of Grand Theft Auto 5 or Oblivion Remastered.

These archives contain modified dynamic libraries, sometimes renamed with extensions like .ASI to resemble legitimate plugin formats.

When the user follows the installation instructions, the malicious library is placed in the same folder as the target game. If the game does not properly validate its libraries, the trojan loads automatically at startup.

In some cases, flaws in library search priorities are essential to the malware’s success, allowing it to hijack execution within the host application.

Once loaded, the malware establishes contact with a command-and-control server using encrypted communication. This process includes verifying encryption keys and checking timestamp consistency, which is meant to evade analysis and block antivirus detection.

The malware doesn’t stop with the initial payload. In more complex infections, it deploys additional trojans that embed themselves in Chromium-based browsers like Chrome, Edge, Opera, and Yandex.

These trojans interfere with browser sandboxing, disable extension verification, and replace legitimate extensions with modified versions.

Crypto wallets such as MetaMask and Phantom, as well as password managers like Bitwarden and LastPass, are among the affected applications.

Modified extensions collect mnemonic phrases, private keys, and stored passwords, which are then transmitted to the attackers' servers.

Exodus, a popular crypto wallet, is also targeted using similar techniques.

By exploiting library loading behavior, the malware extracts sensitive JSON entries, including passphrases and seed data required for generating private keys.

How to stay safe

To stay safe, always apply caution when accessing unofficial content.

Avoid downloading mods or cheats from sketchy forums or unverified sources, especially those shared on torrent platforms or through poorly moderated social media channels.

Antivirus software, while helpful, must be regularly updated to stay effective against evolving threats.

Android antivirus tools may protect mobile platforms, but on desktop systems, more capable solutions are necessary.

Good social media management also helps reduce exposure to malicious content. Limiting interaction with communities known for spreading cracked software or shady patches can lower the risk.

Lastly, checking file paths, verifying digital signatures when available, and restricting admin privileges on daily-use accounts can make it harder for malware to execute successfully.

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• Hackers says they attacked Mailchimp and stole user data - and the community laughed it off

Today 16 states and the District of Columbia filed a lawsuit in support of children's hospitals and doctors that have provided gender-affirming care for minors, contending the Trump administration has acted illegally in pressuring doctors and children's hospitals to stop.

A new study from Oxford University finds that a common European songbird sometimes divorces its partner between breeding seasons.

One topic dominated online conversation this week: the American Eagle jeans ad featuring actress Sydney Sweeney. We break down why people are so worked up about it.

(Image credit: American Eagle)

BRICS is an economic alliance that includes Brazil, Russia, India, China, South Africa and several other nations. So why has this alliance generated so much animosity from President Trump?

Here are hints and the answers for the NYT Connections: Sports Edition puzzle No. 313 for Saturday, Aug. 2.