Author withdrawn from France's Prix Goncourt last month has repeatedly denied using artificial intelligence to write novel The publisher of top-selling Haitian Canadian writer Thélyson Orélien, who was removed from France's most prestigious literary prize list last month, has confirmed the author used artificial intelligence to help write his novel C'était ça ou mourir (It Was Either That or Die). Orélien has denied allegations that he used AI on his breakthrough novel and, last week, Canadian publisher Les Éditions du Boréal said it was standing by the 38-year-old writer. But on Wednesday, Boréal said it had conducted a further investigation into the allegations. "New information, confirmed over the past few days, indicates that artificial intelligence was used in the writing process" of the novel, a statement from Boréal said. The publisher announced it was "ending its professional relationship" with Orélien.

Deadly attacks in the kingdom, including against Saudi Aramco facilities, have heightened concerns that escalating Middle East hostilities could hit oil supplies. Oil advanced after deadly attacks in Saudi Arabia heightened concerns that escalating Middle East hostilities could hit supplies, even as exports through the Strait of Hormuz accelerate. Brent rose to trade near $110 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate was around $98. A drone strike on Saudi Aramco's Shaybah field killed two people but left operations unaffected, while an attack on the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam, Saudi Arabia, killed one. The U.S. also ordered the departure of some personnel and family members from American diplomatic facilities in the kingdom. Global benchmark Brent has surged about 80% this year after flows from the Persian Gulf were disrupted by the U.S.-Iran war, which is approaching its ninth month with little sign of a resolution.

Image caption, Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis also attacked the airport in Saudi Arabia's capital Riyadh earlier this month The US State Department has ordered some diplomats and their families to leave Saudi Arabia as attacks escalate, with three people killed in strikes across the country. Saudi authorities said debris from a drone intercepted during an attempted attack on an oil field killed two people, while one person died after a strike at the King Fahd International Airport in Dammam. Conflict between Yemen's Iran-backed Houthis and Saudi Arabia has been rising in the past month. The Houthis have responded to Saudi strikes by launching missiles and drones at airports, energy facilities and military bases in Saudi Arabia. A recent strike on Riyadh's international airport was the deadliest in the kingdom in years.

Our gifting experts are obsessively searching for holiday gifts that are unique, thoughtful and suitable for any budget. Not impressed with Google Maps? Make Waze your default on Pixel - here's how If you're tired of Google Maps failing to get you where you need to go, set Waze as the default on your Pixel. I've finally figured out how. Jack Wallen is what happens when a Gen Xer mind-melds with present-day snark.

The PHP Foundation has released a patch for the flaw but it may take time for vulnerable sites to use it to shore up their defences. The PHP Foundation has released a patch for the flaw but it may take time for vulnerable sites to use it to shore up their defences. Websites around the globe have gone dark after a serious vulnerability was found in a computer language used to build much of the world wide web. Belgian, Dutch, Finnish, French and German sites were among those that governments took down temporarily as they scrambled to patch the critical weakness in PHP, a language used by almost 70% of websites . The vulnerability in the programming language, which became public on Tuesday, sparked warnings from national security agencies in Washington and London.

A screen displays an unavailable Dutch government website, as cyber agencies warn that websites may be taken offline while PHP prepares a critical fix on Wednesday. Government websites in Europe and elsewhere went offline on Wednesday after the disclosure of critical vulnerabilities in a widely used programming language sent website operators around the world scrambling to protect their systems. Developers of the PHP programming language on Wednesday released urgent new fixes to vulnerabilities that had quietly been lurking in their software for years until they were uncovered using AI, saying that all users were "encouraged to update immediately." With tech firms warning that some hackers were already exploiting the flaws, government agencies across Europe were among those that took sites offline as a precaution. In a time of both misinformation and too much information, quality journalism is more crucial than ever. By subscribing, you can help us get the story right.

Safety Net Creator Playbook Trending Now Mashable Selects Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Getting Technical with Mashable Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Say More Versus In My Bag Mashable @Home All Series Robert Downey Jr. has a new tech job, and it's very Tony Stark Olivia Tauber is the deputy editor of digital culture, covering creators, media, movies, beauty, and more. Based in New York, her work has appeared in The New York Times, Vanity Fair, The Cut, Teen Vogue, Complex, and Interview Magazine. She holds a Master's degree in Journalism from NYU and a Bachelor's from the University of Michigan. She also runs Fan Mail, a weekly pop-culture newsletter. Robert Downey Jr. spent years playing a tech billionaire who could summon digital displays with a wave of his hand.

Safety Net Creator Playbook Trending Now Mashable Selects Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Getting Technical with Mashable Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Say More Versus In My Bag Mashable @Home All Series Skip the rigid lesson schedule and learn piano at home with flowkey for five years for $79.99 The following content is brought to you by Mashable partners. If you buy a product featured here, we may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. Whether you're just starting or looking to build on your existing skills, flowkey lets you learn piano at your own pace without sacrificing progress.

Safety Net Creator Playbook Trending Now Mashable Selects Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Getting Technical with Mashable Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Say More Versus In My Bag Mashable @Home All Series Keep your family's important information organized and encrypted for $49 The following content is brought to you by Mashable partners. If you buy a product featured here, we may earn an affiliate commission or other compensation. Deal pricing and availability subject to change after time of publication. When someone needs access to your important documents one day, you don't want them to dig through your emails and scramble through scraps of paper to find everything. The LegacyLocked Digital Estate Planning Vault gives you a single encrypted space to organize all the information your family might need.

Safety Net Creator Playbook Trending Now Mashable Selects Look Up Mashable's Best: E-readers, robovacs, laptops, earbuds, smart home and more Getting Technical with Mashable Gift Ideas For Everyone On Your List Say More Versus In My Bag Mashable @Home All Series Finally, an aerial camera that won't chop off your fingers or demand a pilot's license. Soumya is a deals writer who covers consumer tech, shopping deals, and the products people use every day. With experience writing about everything from AI tools and software to smartphones and home gadgets, she enjoys breaking down product research into clear, useful recommendations. When she's not tracking deals, she's usually comparing products, digging through reviews, and figuring out what actually makes a purchase worth it. All products featured here are independently selected by our editors and writers.