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Solar-powered roof wraps new mega-modern opera house

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Solar-powered roof wraps new mega-modern opera house

In the heart of Priština, the capital of Kosovo, a small country in Southeast Europe, an architectural and cultural revolution is underway. 

The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre, recently unveiled, promises to become a landmark not just for the city but for the entire region. 

As the first opera house in Kosovo, this project represents a monumental step forward for a nation that has been steadily building its cultural identity since gaining independence in 2008. 

Combining cutting-edge technology, sustainable design and a deep connection to local traditions, the theater is poised to captivate audiences from around the world.

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The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre (Bjarke Ingels Group)

A solar-powered symbol of tradition

The theater’s most eye-catching feature is its flowing, undulating roof, which spans an impressive area and is entirely clad in solar panels. These photovoltaic panels are designed to generate renewable energy on-site, significantly reducing the building’s environmental impact while also lowering its operational costs. 

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The roof’s design is more than just functional; it takes inspiration from the xhubleta, a traditional bell-shaped skirt worn by women in Kosovo. This cultural reference transforms the structure into a modern symbol of national pride while creating an exterior that is both elegant and dynamic. The roof’s soft curves intuitively guide visitors toward key entrances and spaces, making navigation seamless and inviting from every angle.

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The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre (Bjarke Ingels Group)

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Architecture that balances beauty and functionality

Inside, the theater is designed to deliver an unparalleled experience for performers and audiences alike. The central foyer, illuminated by a massive skylight, serves as a welcoming hub that connects all four performance spaces. These include a 1,200-seat Concert Hall, a 1,000-seat Theatre Hall, a 300-seat Recital Hall and a flexible Theatre Room. Each space is crafted with meticulous attention to acoustics and sightlines to ensure every performance feels intimate and immersive.

The interior design features curved wooden elements that not only add sculptural beauty but also enhance sound quality throughout the venue. The use of natural materials like timber creates a warm and cohesive atmosphere, while deep velvet upholstery and acoustic curtains add both comfort and functionality.

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The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre (Bjarke Ingels Group)

A BIRDHOUSE-INSPIRED TINY HOUSE NESTLED IN NATURE THAT RUNS ON SOLAR POWER 

Connecting culture with community

The theater does not stand alone; it has been carefully integrated into its urban surroundings to serve as both a cultural hub and a public gathering space. Located near major landmarks like the Palace of Youth and Sports and Fadil Vokrri Stadium, the building sits at the heart of Priština’s emerging cultural district. A large public staircase connects the theater directly to Garibaldi Street, improving pedestrian access while creating an inviting plaza where locals and visitors can gather. The existing podium of the nearby Palace of Youth has been extended to merge with the theater’s base, further enhancing connectivity and activating the area as a vibrant public space.

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The surrounding landscape has been thoughtfully designed to complement the building’s architecture while promoting biodiversity. Natural stone paving is interspersed with planted islands featuring beech trees and other vegetation native to the region. These green spaces provide shade during warmer months while adding seasonal variety to the environment.

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A collaborative vision

The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre is a collaborative effort between some of Europe’s most innovative designers. Bjarke Ingels Group, an internationally renowned architecture firm based in Denmark, partnered with ALB-Architect to bring this vision to life. Commissioned by Kosovo’s Ministry of Culture, Youth, and Sport, the project reflects a shared commitment to creating a space that meets both artistic and community needs. Bjarke Ingels himself described the theater as “an efficient factory for artistic performances,” emphasizing its adaptability and functionality alongside its striking visual appeal.

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The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre (Bjarke Ingels Group)

Kurt’s key takeaways

The Kosovo Opera and Ballet Theatre is truly a remarkable blend of modern technology and sustainable practices, all while paying homage to local traditions. With its stunning solar-powered roof and inviting spaces designed for artistic excellence and community engagement, this theater is set to shine as a beacon of innovation in Southeast Europe and beyond. As Kosovo carves out its place on the international cultural map, this landmark is sure to play a vital role in shaping the future narrative of the nation.

Could integrating solar technology into iconic buildings, like this opera house, change how we view renewable energy in the U.S., or is it just architectural eye candy? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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A pirated iOS port of Blue Prince is climbing the App Store charts

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A pirated iOS port of Blue Prince is climbing the App Store charts

Apple’s App Store review has yet again let at least one unofficial mobile port of a hot new game show up on the store – this time, it’s Blue Prince.

In a joint post on Monday, Blue Prince’s developer, Dogubomb, and its publisher, Raw Fury, said that they have “received reports of games claiming to be Blue Prince on iOS.” Currently, the game is only available on Steam, Xbox, and PlayStation.

I easily found one iOS copy of the game just by searching Blue Prince on the App Store – it was the first search result. The icon looks like it would be the icon for a hypothetical mobile version of the game, the listing has screenshots that look like they’re indeed from Blue Prince, and the description for the game matches the description on Steam.

But on the iOS clone’s listing, the game’s seller is listed as “Samet Altinay,” and I can’t find any connection between this person and Blue Prince outside of this App Store listing. The copyright is also attributed to “DogBomb,” instead of Dogubomb.

I purchased this unofficial version of Blue Prince, which costs $9.99, and installed it on my iPhone 16 Pro to test it out. In a few minutes of playing, it appears to be a barely-modified version of the actual Blue Prince game, though with a few tweaks to make it better-suited for mobile, like a virtual joystick. I’ve also already run into a major bug: when I tried to walk through one of the doors from the Entrance Hall, I fell through the floor.

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Apple didn’t immediately reply to a request for comment. According to the listing, this unofficial mobile port is the #8 paid app in the Entertainment category on iOS. But so far, it only has one three-star review, with the writer saying they also hit a bug that caused them to fall through the floor.

Dogubomb and Raw Fury have not officially announced an iOS port of Blue Prince. “We have no news about other platforms at this time, but if that changes we will make an official announcement,” they said in the post. “While we investigate we would kindly ask that you do not purchase or download these apps.”

Apple has previously allowed copycats of games like Wordle and Palworld to appear on the App Store.

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FBI warns of time-traveling hackers

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FBI warns of time-traveling hackers

Cybercriminals always find new ways to scam you, whether it’s mimicking a government agency, creating a fake website or delivering malware disguised as a software update. Just when you think you’ve seen it all, they come up with a new trick.

This time, the FBI has issued an alert: Hackers are using a “time-traveling” technique to bypass your device’s security measures. No, we’re not talking about actual time travel (though wouldn’t that be something?). This is a sophisticated cyberattack where hackers manipulate a system’s internal clock to sneak past security defenses.

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A man working on his laptops (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

What you need to know

The concept of “time-traveling hackers” refers not to literal time travel but to a sophisticated cyberattack technique where hackers manipulate a system’s internal clock to bypass security measures. This attack is reportedly tied to the Medusa ransomware gang.

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In this type of attack, hackers exploit expired security certificates by altering the system date on a targeted device to a time when those certificates were still valid. For example, a security certificate that expired in, say, 2020 could be made usable again if the system’s clock is set back to 2019. This allows malicious software signed with these outdated certificates to be recognized as legitimate by the system, effectively “traveling back in time” from a security perspective. 

This technique was notably used in the Medusa ransomware attacks, which targeted critical infrastructure and prompted an FBI cybersecurity advisory (AA25-071A) earlier in 2025. The campaign has affected over 300 critical infrastructure targets. The attackers combined this method with social engineering and exploited unpatched vulnerabilities, amplifying the threat. 

The FBI has warned that such attacks pose a significant risk, as they can disable modern security protections like Windows Defender by tricking the system into accepting outdated drivers or software.

FBI warns of time-traveling hackers

A woman working on her laptop and scrolling on her phone (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

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What does the FBI recommend?

Traditional search and rescue tools, like rigid robots and specialized cameras, often struggle in disaster zones. Cameras follow only straight paths, forcing teams to cut through debris just to see further in. Rigid robots are vulnerable in tight, unstable spaces and expensive to repair when damaged. And manual probing is slow, exhausting and risks responder safety.

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FBI warns of time-traveling hackers

A man working on his laptop (Kurt “CyberGuy” Knutsson)

RELENTLESS HACKERS ABANDON WINDOWS TO TARGET YOUR APPLE ID

5 ways to stay safe from Medusa malware

1) Use strong antivirus software: A strong antivirus isn’t just for catching old-school viruses anymore. It can detect phishing links, block malicious downloads and stop ransomware before it gets a foothold. Since the Medusa gang uses fake updates and social engineering to trick users, having strong antivirus software adds a critical layer of protection against threats you might not see coming. Get my picks of the best 2025 antivirus protection winners for your Windows, Mac, Android and iOS devices.

2) Enable two-factor authentication (2FA): The FBI specifically recommends enabling 2FA across all services, especially for high-value targets like webmail accounts, VPNs and remote access tools. 2FA makes it significantly harder for attackers to break in, even if they’ve managed to steal your username and password through phishing or other tactics.

3) Use strong, unique passwords: Many ransomware groups, including Medusa, rely on reused or weak passwords to gain access. Using a strong password (think long, random and unique to each account) greatly reduces that risk. A password manager can help you generate and store complex passwords so you don’t have to remember them all yourself. Get more details about my best expert-reviewed password managers of 2025 here.

4) Monitor for suspicious system time changes: The core of this “time-traveling” attack is clock manipulation: Hackers roll back a device’s clock to a time when expired security certificates were still valid. This allows outdated and potentially malicious software to appear trustworthy. Be alert to unexpected system time changes, and if you’re managing an organization, use tools that flag and log these types of configuration shifts.

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5) Keep systems updated and patch known vulnerabilities: The Medusa ransomware campaign has a track record of exploiting unpatched systems. That means old software, outdated drivers and ignored security updates can all become entry points. Regularly installing updates for your OS, applications and drivers is one of the most effective ways to stay protected. Don’t put off those system notifications; they exist for a reason.

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Kurt’s key takeaway

The Medusa attack is a good example of how cybercriminals are shifting tactics. Instead of relying on traditional methods like brute force or obvious exploits, they are targeting the basic logic that systems depend on to function. In this case, it is something as simple as the system clock. This kind of strategy challenges the way we think about security. It is not just about building stronger defenses but also about questioning the default assumptions built into the technology we use every day.

How do you think technology companies can better support individual users in protecting their data and devices? Let us know by writing us at Cyberguy.com/Contact.

For more of my tech tips and security alerts, subscribe to my free CyberGuy Report Newsletter by heading to Cyberguy.com/Newsletter.

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Nike is facing a lawsuit from people who bought its NFTs

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Nike is facing a lawsuit from people who bought its NFTs

A group of people sued Nike this week over its decision to wind down its virtual show project RTFKT last year. The buyers of the digital assets accuse Nike of causing “the rug to be pulled out from under them,” and say they wouldn’t have bought its NFTs if they’d known they were “unregistered securities,” reports Reuters.

Filed in New York’s Eastern District, the proposed class action lawsuit seeks “unspecified damages of more than $5 million for alleged violations of New York, California, Florida and Oregon consumer protection laws.”

Nike tried to jump into the NFT game by buying RTFKT in 2021. But, like Starbucks Odyssey, it never quite worked out and the company abandoned the idea, announcing in December via the RTFKT X account that it planned to “wind down RTFKT operations” by the end of January this year.

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