SoftwareTelecom

Mozilla Launches Free Firefox VPN Beta in Browser Security Push

Mozilla has initiated beta testing for a free, browser-integrated VPN service within Firefox. The new feature provides IP address concealment and traffic encryption exclusively for browser activity. Currently available through random selection to users with Mozilla accounts.

Firefox VPN Enters Beta Testing Phase

Mozilla has launched experimental testing of a free, VPN service built directly into its Firefox browser, according to company announcements. The new feature, currently in limited beta availability, represents Mozilla’s latest effort to enhance user privacy within the browsing experience. Sources indicate this browser-only VPN differs significantly from the company’s existing standalone VPN product, focusing specifically on encrypting traffic that passes through Firefox rather than protecting entire devices.

AITechnology

Apple AI Search Lead Departs for Meta in Latest Talent Blow to Siri Overhaul

Apple’s artificial intelligence division has lost its recently appointed AKI group leader Ke Yang to Meta, according to Bloomberg reports. The departure marks the latest in a series of senior exits from Apple’s AI teams as the company races to overhaul Siri capabilities.

Apple’s AI Search Leadership Shakeup

Apple’s artificial intelligence division has experienced another significant leadership change with the departure of Ke Yang, who was recently appointed to lead the company’s AI-driven web search initiative, according to reports from Bloomberg’s Mark Gurman. Yang has reportedly joined Meta Platforms, marking the latest in a series of senior executive exits from Apple Inc.‘s artificial intelligence teams.

EconomyFinance

UK Mortgage Defaults Drop for First Time Since 2022 as Financial Pressure Eases

UK lenders have reported the first decline in mortgage defaults since 2022, according to a Bank of England survey. The data suggests financial pressure on homeowners is easing as interest rates begin to moderate from recent highs.

Mortgage Defaults Show First Improvement in Three Years

UK mortgage loan defaults have declined for the first time in three years during the third quarter, according to a Bank of England survey that suggests financial pressure on homeowners is easing. Default rates on household secured loans reportedly dropped to minus 8.1 in the third quarter, down from 0.8 in the previous three months, according to the quarterly survey of banks and building societies.

BusinessFinance

Top Hedge Fund Traders Capture 25% of Profits Amid Talent War, Goldman Report Reveals

Elite traders at leading hedge funds are reportedly securing nearly a quarter of the profits they generate for investors. According to Goldman Sachs analysis, compensation at top firms has reached unprecedented levels, with multi-manager platforms driving industry transformation.

Hedge Fund Compensation Reaches Record Highs

Top traders at major hedge funds are reportedly taking home almost 25% of the profits they generate for investors, according to a recent analysis from Goldman Sachs. The investment bank’s report indicates that multi-manager platforms including Citadel and Millennium have extended their dominance across the industry, creating intense competition for top trading talent.

AIStartups

Former OpenAI Researcher Leopold Aschenbrenner Launches $1.5B AI Hedge Fund After Viral Essay

A 23-year-old former OpenAI researcher has launched a hedge fund managing over $1.5 billion focused on artificial intelligence investments. Leopold Aschenbrenner’s viral essay on AI’s future has divided Silicon Valley, with supporters calling him a genius and critics dismissing him as inexperienced.

From OpenAI Exit to Billion-Dollar AI Hedge Fund

A 23-year-old former OpenAI researcher has reportedly launched a hedge fund managing more than $1.5 billion in assets, according to reports from Fortune. Leopold Aschenbrenner, who was previously fired from the artificial intelligence research company, has become what sources indicate is the latest poster child for the AI investing boom following the viral success of his 165-page monograph “Situational Awareness: The Decade Ahead.”

EnergyPolicy

South Africa’s Cabinet Approves R2.23-Trillion IRP 2025 Energy Plan, Minister to Brief Public

Cabinet has approved the new Integrated Resource Plan for electricity, referred to as IRP 2025, which outlines a R2.23-trillion investment in South Africa’s energy future. Electricity and Energy Minister Dr Kgosientsho Ramokgopa will provide a detailed briefing on the plan on October 19, with the full policy to be published in the Government Gazette.

Major Energy Policy Shift Approved

South Africa’s Cabinet has approved the new Integrated Resource Plan for electricity, which is being referred to as ‘IRP 2025’, according to official statements. The plan represents what sources indicate is a significant update to the country’s energy policy framework, focusing on both immediate capacity constraints and long-term sustainability goals.

SemiconductorsTechnology

Samsung Invests $773 Million in ASML High NA EUV Tools to Challenge TSMC in 2nm Chip Race

Samsung Electronics is making a massive KRW1.1 trillion investment in ASML’s cutting-edge High NA EUV lithography equipment, according to industry reports. The move positions Samsung to compete aggressively with TSMC and Intel in the race toward 2nm semiconductor technology and beyond. Sources indicate this strategic investment could help Samsung close the gap in advanced chip manufacturing capabilities.

Samsung’s Major Semiconductor Equipment Investment

Samsung Electronics is reportedly pouring approximately KRW1.1 trillion (US$773 million) into next-generation chipmaking equipment in what analysts suggest is a strategic move to strengthen its position against semiconductor rivals TSMC and Intel. According to reports, the Korean tech giant plans to deploy ASML’s advanced High NA EUV lithography tools for its 2nm process and beyond, with these advanced chips potentially powering future products including Samsung’s own Exynos 2600 processor and Tesla’s next-generation artificial intelligence hardware.