Suspected Russian drone attacks sank a cargo ship and forced the evacuation of another vessel within two dozen miles of the coast of Bulgaria in the Black Sea on October 13. The latest attacks mean that five ships have been attacked in the exclusive economic zones of NATO member countries—spurring requests for NATO to redeploy counter-drone systems to provide more protection.
Although there is no hard proof that the drone attacks originated from Russia, one of the ships that came under attack was the Ukrainian-operated coastal freighter Chelsea 3, registered under the flag of Malta. Bulgarian Prime Minister Rumen Radev told the Russian ambassador in Sofia that “it makes no sense for Ukraine to destroy its own ships in the Black Sea, and the results of these strikes favor Russia’s interests,” according to The Associated Press.
All 15 members of the Ukrainian-owned Chelsea 3 were safely evacuated by Bulgarian rescue operations after the ship was reportedly struck by three aerial drones.
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Finding a pair of headphones or earbuds that precisely meet your needs—whether you’re using them at the gym, while working from home, or even when showering—doesn’t have to mean shelling out a ton of money. The best of them can be really expensive, yes, but if you're a patient shopper, you can usually find a good deal on just about any pair of headphones.
With that said, here are the best deals, discounts, and sales you can find on earbuds and headphones right now. I'll be regularly updating this list as offers come and go, so check back in as needed—but given these prices can change at any time, I would advise you not to wait if you spot a pair that fits your needs and budget.
Nothing keeps impressing with its value. The Nothing Ear (a) earbuds come with a companion app that lets you customize the sound with presets or adjust the bass, mids, and highs individually. They support AAC, SBC, and LDAC codecs, Bluetooth 5.3, plus multipoint for two devices at once, ANC, and a 9.5-hour battery life. If you have a Nothing phone, you can use a pinch-to-speak ChatGPT feature. You can now get them for $66.99 (originally $109 at launch).
The best Apple headphones are $120 off
The new AirPods Max 2 currently have a rare discount and are down to $429 (originally $549.99), their second-lowest price yet. The biggest upgrades to the AirPods Max 2 include the new "dynamic range" amplifier, live translation, and Apple's H2 chip. But there are many other upgrades also worth noting.
The older but still capable Shokz OpenRun Pros are discounted to $109.95 ($179.95 at launch), the lowest price they've reached. If you've never used bone conduction headphones, they're worth a try, and the Shokz OpenPros are a great introduction to the technology. As the name implies, these are meant to be used on outdoor runs. They have an IP55 rating for dust- and water-resistance, are lightweight and comfortable, and can be worn with bicycle helmets and sunglasses. You can use them as everyday headphones too; they can even take calls, but you'll need to be mindful of the fact that they don't block any competing sound.
The Beats Fit Pro earbuds are $75 off
The Beats Fit Pro (1st Gen) earbuds aren’t the newest exercise earbuds on the market (or even in the Beats line; that would be the Powerbeats Pro 2), but they’re a classic option with ANC and a comfortable fit, making them a sportier version of the AirPods Pro, with a slight edge when it comes to battery life. You can get a pair in white or pink for $124.95 (originally $199.95), their lowest price ever.
The older and refurbished Sony 1000XM5 are just $160
If you don't need the latest XM6 headphone, the older XM5 version are still incredible headphones. Right now, a refurbished pair is $159.99 on Amazon. A new pair will run you $298, which is still a pretty good deal compared to the $399.99 launch price.
The Sony WH-CH720N are just $104
Not everyone needs or can spend nearly half a grand on the latest Sony headphones. If this sounds like you and are looking for a bargain on a budget, then perhaps the more affordable Sony WH-CH720N could work for you. While they're not quite as premium, they're significantly cheaper and offer good enough quality for most people. You can get them for $103.99 (originally $179.99) on Amazon right now.
The Sleep A30 earbuds are $50 off
The new Sleep A30 earbuds have ANC and new features the older A20 model didn't have—and despite their recent release this past August, they're already significantly discounted. They are my favorite earbuds for sleep, and right now, you can get them for $168.99 (originally $229.99), the lowest price ever.
The Nothing Ear (Open) is just $99
The Nothing Ear (Open) are Nothing's open-ear earbuds from 2024, and they're currently $99 ($149) for Prime Members, the lowest price they've ever been. They come with a multipoint connection, so you can hook them up to your phone and laptop simultaneously. There's also a "Find My Earbud" feature that plays a loud sound on the earbuds if you misplace them. There's also a low-lag mode with 120 milliseconds of latency for gaming, so the audio will be in sync with your actions. If you use a supported Nothing phone, this feature is automatic, and there's also a ChatGPT integration that you can access directly through the earbuds.
This is your chance to get the AirPods Pro 3 for $199
The AirPods Pro 3 are a big step up. The third iteration of Apple's iconic earbuds comes with a number of quality-of-life and software improvements that make them worth the typical premium over the AirPods Pro 2—and right now, the AirPods Pro 3 are even cheaper than the previous generation. They're $199 on Amazon, down from $249 and matching their second-lowest price ever, according to price-tracking tools.
Microsoft's monthly Patch Tuesday bug count has been trending higher since the beginning of the summer, and October is no different. The company just issued fixes for a record 1,411 vulnerabilities, including three zero-days, which are flaws that have been actively exploited or publicly disclosed before an official patch is available, making them especially risky.
For comparison, in October 2025, Microsoft issued patches for fewer than 180 flaws—six of which were zero-days—which was considered a large update at the time. Fixes typically numbered in the double digits until the middle of this year, when the totals jumped to 206 (June), 570 (July), 400 (August), and 966 (last month). That steep increase is largely attributable to AI models, which are making it easier for bad actors to develop hacking tools to exploit vulnerabilities, and for companies to find and patch these flaws more quickly. This means that update cycles are being shortened and/or include a significantly higher number of fixes. Companies like Microsoft are using AI to discover and address bugs, though AI isn't as good at the latter, and may, in some cases, introduce additional vulnerabilities in the process.
October's Patch Tuesday fixes 1,411 flaws, including three zero-days
As BleepingComputer reports, the October 2026 security update addresses flaws across the following categories: 677 elevation-of-privilege vulnerabilities, 40 security feature bypass vulnerabilities, 317 remote-code-execution vulnerabilities, 254 information disclosure vulnerabilities, 28 spoofing vulnerabilities, and 73 denial-of-service vulnerabilities. 70 of the bugs are rated "critical" and include remote code execution, elevation of privilege, and spoofing flaws. Microsoft patched an additional 348 bugs earlier this month for various Azure, Mariner, and Microsoft products.
One of the zero-days patched this month has been actively exploited in the wild. CVE-2026-96951 is a security feature bypass vulnerability in Windows Shell that allows attackers unauthorized access over a network. Microsoft has not provided details on who disclosed this flaw or how it was exploited.
The other two zero-days were publicly disclosed. CVE-2026-108398 is a security feature bypass vulnerability in the .NET framework that would allow attackers to bypass Windows Defender Application Control restrictions and run unauthorized applications without user interaction. This flaw has been attributed to James Forshaw of Google Project Zero. Finally, CVE-2026-92707 is a denial-of-service vulnerability in MessagePack-CSharp credited to an anonymous source.
You should update your PC ASAP
PC users should ensure that they download and install all security updates as soon as they're available. Patch Tuesday typically releases on the second Tuesday of every month around 10 a.m. PT and should be applied automatically. However, given the increasing risk, it's a good idea to confirm your machine's update status via Start > Settings > Windows Update > Check for Windows updates.
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Samsung’s HW-Q600F soundbar is down to $389.99 at Amazon from $499.99, a $110 discount that brings it to its lowest price ever, according to price trackers. This 2025 model sits in the middle of Samsung’s Q-Series lineup and pairs a sleek, angular bar with a subwoofer in a 3.1.2 setup, where the bar’s nine drivers cover the left, center, and right channels as well as two up-firing height channels. Those up-firing drivers let it handle Dolby Atmos and other object-based audio correctly, an advantage over Samsung’s 5.1-channel HW-B750F, though it gives up the extra audio channels, app support, and broader connectivity of the pricier HW-Q800F.
For everyday listening, the HW-Q600F performs particularly well, with balanced tuning across the stereo and center channels that keeps dialogue clear without requiring much adjustment. It also preserves the dynamics of a soundtrack, so an explosion still lands with more force than the conversation before it. Dolby Atmos also brings a modest sense of height, and effects track cleanly from left to right. Surround sound, on the other hand, is less convincing, since the soundbar doesn’t include rear satellite speakers and downmixes surround formats, which limits its ability to convincingly place effects behind you. You do get a graphic equalizer and sound presets for adjusting the audio to your preferences, though without a companion app, you’ll be making those changes through the included remote.
On the connectivity side, the bar includes an HDMI input, so you can plug a game console into it and pass video through to your TV, while an optical port covers older devices. That said, HDMI audio latency runs slightly high, potentially requiring an adjustment in your TV's settings to keep dialogue synchronized with what's happening on screen. As for wireless connectivity, it is limited to Bluetooth, meaning no wifi streaming or multi-room audio. Also, Samsung's SpaceFit Sound Pro room correction and Q-Symphony integration, which lets the TV’s speakers play alongside the bar, only work with compatible Samsung sets.
YouTube TV is one of several streaming services for live TV—and a particularly good pick for sports fans who want to be able to watch and record every matchup from their favorite leagues. If YouTube TV is your platform of choice, here are the tips and tricks to optimize your experience.
Set up family sharing to separate recommendations and storage limits
If you and members of your household have wildly different streaming tastes, you can create unique profiles for each person to prevent recommendations from one from influencing another and to separate DVR libraries. A single subscription can be shared with five additional family members, who technically must reside in the same household, and those who are outside of the home need to check in once every three months (more on that below) to maintain access. You're also limited to three active streams at a time, so six people can't be watching on six separate devices at once.
Regularly reset your YouTube TV 90-day home area allowance
If you travel frequently or are part of family sharing based anywhere besides your home, make sure you launch YouTube TV whenever you are in the account's home area. YouTube TV requires all users to check in every 90 days to avoid losing access when away from your home area. (For baseball fans, MLB imposes viewing restrictions after just 30 days.) If you get in the habit of resetting your 90-day window, you're less likely to find yourself locked out when you're on the road.
Create custom multiviews to monitor multiple games or content types at once
YouTube TV has pre-built multiviews that show you three or four channels at once—these are often either several games across a single sport or a combination of sports channels. Earlier this year, the platform launched customizable multiview, which allows you to select up to four channels across content categories. This means you can choose the specific games you want or mix and match sports with news, TV shows, and movies so that everyone in your household can be entertained. From any livestream, press the down button and select Multiview > Your multiview to choose up to four channels.
Use “catch up through key plays” to get curated highlights before syncing with live action
YouTube TV is heavy on features benefiting sports fans. If you can't begin a broadcast when a game starts, the platform offers you several options when you launch the stream: Start from the beginning, join live, or catch up to live through key plays. The latter shows you only the highlights of the action then drops you into the live stream, so you don't miss anything important but don't have to watch or fast-forward through the entire game to see what's happening now. You can also find the key plays view via Scores & stats at the bottom of the screen. This feature is supported for events from the NFL, NBA, MLB, NHL, college football, and college basketball.
Hide sports scores to avoid spoilers until you can watch a recorded game
Another way to avoid spoilers for live sports is to hide scores, which prevents final scores or live previews from launching before you start watching. For NFL, NBA, and MLB games, you can hide scores on a team-by-team or league-wide basis. If a league doesn't have pages for individual teams, you can hide scores for the whole league. On the team or league page, go to More and turn on Hide all scores for this team/league.
Customize your YouTube TV Live Guide to minimize scrolling
If you aren't sure what you want to watch on YouTube TV and none of the recommendations do it for you, you can use the platform's Live Guide just like the channel guide from traditional cable. However, this version is customizable, so you don't have to scroll through dozens of channels you never watch to reach the ones you do. On the web browser or app, go to Settings > Live Guide to reorder, favorite, or hide channels from your list. This can't be done directly from a streaming box, but when you open the live guide on your TV, select the Custom filter view to see your updates.
Pause your YouTube TV watch history when you don’t want content informing your algorithm
Your watch history informs recommendations on YouTube and YouTube TV, which is useful for discovering new content but also means that your algorithm can be influenced by anything and everything you watch. If you don't want certain content affecting what you're served—let's say you're binge-watching a show you wouldn't normally or you have someone staying at your house and using your account—you can pause your watch history temporarily. Tap your profile photo, go to Settings > Privacy, and toggle on Pause watch history.
Select specific teams or franchises for recording to keep your library under control
YouTube TV has unlimited DVR, but that doesn't mean you need to fill your storage with content you don't plan to watch. You can record everything from an entire sport or league, or you can select only the specific teams or franchises you care about. This depends on how you set up recording: You can search for the league and tap Add + or the "+" icon to get every game, or search for your favorite team or individual matchup. DVR playback has similar options to live events you start on delay, including resuming where you left off and watching key plays.
Switch from VOD to DVR versions on playback to skip ad breaks
Some content you record from the live feed may also be available as video on demand (VOD). With the former, you can fast-forward through ads; with the latter, ads can't be skipped. However, you may be able to choose your version if you used DVR. Click down on the stream to see whether you're on VOD or DVR, then go back to the show page and select Choose a Version > DVR (if available).
Check Stats for Nerds to diagnose streaming issues
If you have technical issues with YouTube TV, the built-in Stats for Nerds feature can help you diagnose the problem (and whether it's coming from your network or YouTube TV itself). For example, if your resolution drops significantly, connection speed, buffer health, and dropped frames can give you a clue as to whether your wifi is the culprit. Access Stats for Nerds on your TV via player controls > More > Bug icon. On your computer, right-click on the video player; on mobile, tap More > Stats from the video player.
Ukrainian troops have been caught off guard by restrictions on Elon Musk’s Starlink satellite Internet systems that disrupted frontline operations, while Kyiv received no warning from its partners of a Russian missile attack on its energy facilities for the second day running, according to Ukrainian officials.
Starlink terminals used by Ukrainian drone units began experiencing signal failures at speeds above 160 km/h, disrupting several missions early on Wednesday morning, according to military personnel and senior Ukrainian officials.
“Logistics at the frontline and middle strikes are badly limited,” one senior official familiar with the situation on the front told the FT. Ukraine’s middle strikes target Russian military supply lines and logistics. The limitations came with “no warning, just in the middle of the night,” the official said.
Despite the expansion of Starlink and other communications satellite services, most of the world’s Internet traffic still travels through subsea cables crisscrossing the ocean floors. Those fiber-optic cables coexist with a network of oil and gas pipelines and submarine power cables—and all these crucial links connecting countries and continents now face growing sabotage risks as gray-zone warfare and open conflicts have become widespread.
The rising risks to the world’s invisible infrastructure beneath the waves are the main subject of a new book by Elisabeth Braw, a senior fellow at the Atlantic Council who leads the Threats to the Global Maritime Order Initiative. Her book, titled Undersea War, explores the modern rise in suspicious incidents in which ships dragging their anchors for unusually long periods have cut or damaged undersea cables and pipelines, from the Baltic Sea to the Pacific Ocean.
Braw acknowledges that about 60 percent of undersea cable damage is primarily due to human error during fishing and shipping activities, when weighted nets or anchors drag across the seabed. Natural hazards like storms and undersea landslides also account for a smaller proportion of such incidents. In total, between 150 and 200 cables are damaged each year and usually repaired quickly.
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