COMPUTING & GAMING

Your WIRED  daily briefing. Today, WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum is leaving Facebook's board after reported internal clashes over user privacy, Iran has banned the Telegram messaging app, growing up without animals could adversely affect mental health and more. 1. WhatsApp founder leaves Facebook over encryption and privacy concerns WhatsApp co-founder Jan Koum has announced that he's leaving Facebook and his position on its board. Although his departure post is suitably bland, Washington Post sources say that Koum is leaving following clashes over WhatsApp users' personal details being used for advertising and proposed changes that would weaken the app's strong end-to-end encryption. Facebook bought WhatsApp in 2014. Koum's fellow co-founder, Brian Acton, left in 2017 and has since been a harsh critic of Facebook's approach to user privacy. 2. Iran has banned Telegram Iran has issued a national ban of the Telegram instant messaging app, whic...

Excerpts: Paratopic is a short, grimy horror game with a style straight out of 1998 It can be difficult to find time to finish a video game, especially if you only hav...

Your WIRED  daily briefing. Today, Amber Rudd has resigned after a leaked memo revealed deportation targets set by her department, three neonicotinoids have been banned for outdoor use across Europe, a man has been banned from driving after getting into his Tesla's passenger seat on the motorway and more. 1. Amber Rudd resigns in wake of deportation targets leak Home secretary Amber Rudd has resigned after a leaked memo revealed that her department was aware of and responsible for setting targets of "12,800 enforced returns" of migrants, something Rudd had previously denied ( The Guardian ). The leak comes in the wake of many months of forced deportations and the denial of life-saving medical treatment to British citizens of migrant backgrounds, including members of the Windrush generation, who were invited to the UK between 1948 and 1971, primarily from Caribbean nations once colonised by Britain. In her resignation letter, Rudd claims that she had ...

Excerpts: The gorgeous Studio Ghibli-style art of Ni No Kuni II From the game to your wall Continue reading… Read on » ...

  Five WIRED stories you may have missed this week   The Moto G6 exposes the identity crisis plaguing Android's top-end There are real differences between the Moto G6 and a phone four times the price. But they’re not noticeable enough to justify sky-high prices.   Al Gore: ‘We're in the early stages of a sustainability revolution' The sustainability revolution has taken off, but there's more work to do. Former US vice-president Al Gore and veteran investor David Blood explain why they're championing thoughtful firms.    Marvel's Avengers: Infinity War thrills, despite lacklustre villains Marvel's superhero showdown arrives - but is it worth the hype?     Russia's Telegram block tests Putin's ability to control the web Telegram is still widely available in Russia as the country's communications regulator struggles to enforce a nationwide block.   The best soundbars for any budget W...

Excerpts: K-Swiss is designing a pair of sneakers for an e-sports team The line between professional athlete and professional gamer continues to blur: today shoe compa...

Excerpts: PlayStation 4 sales may have peaked The PlayStation 4 has been a huge success for Sony, but it looks like things are slowing down — at least in terms of hard...