NSF Director Resigns Amid Funding Cuts, DEI Crackdown | JQJO

Cyber‑security firm Wiz Research announced on Wednesday that it had discovered severe security flaws in PHP, a programming language that powers about 70 percent of the world’s websites. OpenAI called the bug “one of the most impactful vulnerabilities in recent memory.” The flaws could allow attackers to take control of servers, steal data, and deface sites. Governments from the U.K. to Japan are rushing to patch affected sites. The U.S. National Security Agency warned organizations to maintain heightened awareness, while the U.K.’s National Cyber Security Centre urged immediate updates. Dozens of British, Finnish, French and Chinese government services were taken offline, and Japan’s Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi issued an urgent call for action. Cloudflare’s Matthew Prince reported tens of thousands of exploitation attempts in the first 45 minutes after the disclosure.

Anthropic deputy security chief Jason Clinton warned of a "vulnerability tsunami" that could expose critical infrastructure. He urged companies to patch core network vulnerabilities before exploitation. Andrew Curran highlighted active threats to energy, food, and water infrastructure, noting probing activity. He also reported a hack of Quest Diagnostics, which serves roughly half of U.S. hospitals. Matt Shumer warned of large‑scale disruptions from AI, describing a scenario where personal data leaks and service outages could occur. Shumer advised updating software, avoiding unfamiliar sites, and unplugging unused smart devices to protect accounts.

Tom Skerritt, the Emmy‑winning actor known for Top Gun and Picket Fences, died at age ninety‑three. He passed away on a Wednesday of natural causes, according to his family. Skerritt’s career spanned more than one hundred and seventy productions, beginning with a supporting role in War Hunt in 1962. He portrayed the flight instructor in Top Gun in 1986 and the sheriff in Picket Fences from 1992 to 1996. He won an Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1993. Skerritt also appeared in Alien, Steel Magnolias, and Contact, and made his Broadway debut in 2013.

A teenage girl was killed at a home in Arcadia. The suspected shooter fled the scene and later attempted to take his own life in Pasadena, officials said.

The Philadelphia 76ers erased a first‑half deficit of 29 points to win 114‑106 over the Cleveland Cavaliers, moving to 2‑0 on the season. Tyrese Maxey led the comeback with 32 points, 3 rebounds, 6 assists, 2 steals and 2 turnovers, while Joel Embiid added 24 points and 7 rebounds. Philadelphia’s defensive intensity surged in the second half, scoring 14 fast‑break points in the third quarter and maintaining pressure on Cleveland throughout the game.

Fortune’s latest report, based on Microsoft insiders, projects the next Xbox, the Helix, to cost between $1,200 and $1,800 when it launches in 2028. The Verge notes that Microsoft has historically subsidized console prices, citing a 2021 statement that the company sells hardware at a loss to profit from games and Xbox Game Pass. In 2023, Microsoft reportedly spent $1.5 billion to keep the Series X and Series S priced at $499 and $299, respectively. The report suggests that the Helix price could be reduced if Microsoft again chooses to subsidize the console.