The newest dispatches from the desk, filed in real time.
More than 100 authors have filed a lawsuit against Anthropic in the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California, accusing the Claude maker of using pirated copies o…
South Korean comedian Kim Kyung-wook (43) publicly warned an unidentified influencer, referred to as A, who has been impersonating his popular sub-character Tanaka. On June 18, Kim…
The Model Context Protocol (MCP) project has promoted its Enterprise-Managed Authorization (EMA) extension to stable. The extension lets organizations centrally manage MCP server a…
Shelbyville, Indiana Mayor Scott Furgeson issued a public apology after a viral video showed him making controversial remarks about renters and housing conditions. When the apology…
Shalom Daisy Daniels, a 22-year-old Nigerian social media influencer and Chinese translator known as "Witch of China," was arrested by the Lagos State Police Command over alleged c…
Le Coq Sportif released an eight-piece capsule collection on June 22, 2026 — 40 years to the day after Diego Maradona scored the 'Hand of God' goal in Argentina's 1986 World Cup qu…
FKA twigs and Lil Yachty have released a new collaborative single called 'On Your Mind.' The track appeared on r/popheads on June 19, 2026, posted by user yumbleachh. A separate po…
Singaporean actress and livestream host Joanne Peh, 43, cancelled a planned China sales livestream on June 17 after a Chinese merchant allegedly treated her disrespectfully. Peh we…
A blogger who spent two years investigating Zork's name origin discovered that Wikipedia's claim — that "zork" was MIT Dynamic Modeling Group jargon for an unfinished program — wen…
All seven seasons of Gilmore Girls will depart Netflix in the U.S. on June 30, 2026, marking the first time the series has left the platform in over a decade. Netflix confirmed the…
Paramount has set a November 2027 theatrical release for its adaptation of Gabrielle Zevin's best-selling novel 'Tomorrow, and Tomorrow, and Tomorrow.' Daisy Edgar-Jones will star,…
A Pakistani minister announced the country will abolish its sales tax on sanitary products, a policy long criticized as a 'period tax' that increased the cost of menstrual hygiene …
Valve is now showing new Steam Controller reservation holders estimated ship dates of 2027, the company told The Verge. The company has introduced a three-tier estimate system — by…
Tyra Banks filed a defamation lawsuit against Netflix over 'Reality Check: Inside America's Next Top Model,' the three-part documentary that dropped in February 2026. The former AN…
Netflix canceled its sci-fi series The Boroughs just 28 days after its debut, despite the show ranking as the platform's No. 1 English-language series for a week and amassing 9.5 m…
Tay Keith, the Grammy-nominated producer born Brytavious Chambers, was found dead Thursday in his Nashville apartment, according to local police. He was 29. No cause of death has b…
Rockstar Games quietly updated the official Grand Theft Auto 6 website on June 18, adding the game's newly revealed cover artwork and an eight-second clip of Vice City that plays a…
Sleep, the legendary stoner-metal band, have released their first new music in eight years: 'Have Spacesuit Will Travel,' out now via Third Man Records. The song will also come as …
Epilogue, maker of the $50 GB Operator accessory for Game Boy cartridges, has released a mobile app called Flashback for iOS and Android. The app lets users connect the Game Boy Ca…
The Onion's acquisition of Alex Jones's InfoWars will relaunch on July 2, 2026 as a comedy and cultural platform rather than a conspiracy network. The reboot, developed with the su…
Quinta Brunson, the creator and star of 'Abbott Elementary,' has signed a new multi-year overall deal with Disney Television Studios' 20th Television, exiting her previous pact at …
Gracie Abrams performed a cover of Ariana Grande's 'We Can't Be Friends (Wait for Your Love)' during a BBC Radio 1 Live Lounge session, as posted to r/popheads by user Frajer on Ju…
Craig Newmark, multimillionaire founder of Craigslist, has given away half a billion dollars to charity since launching the classified ads site three decades ago. In a profile publ…
Afrobeats star Davido performed at the 2026 FIFA World Cup countdown series wearing a black jacket with 46 green lapels bearing the names of 39 pupils and seven teachers recently k…
Shahid Adnan, a 43-year-old Amazon Flex delivery driver from Liverpool, was sentenced to three years in prison at Liverpool Crown Court on June 17 after admitting fraud, money laun…
Archaeologists have identified a simpler precursor to Stonehenge in the village of Bulford, Wiltshire, roughly three miles from the famous monument. The site consists of two large …
EVE Online developer Fenris Creations (formerly CCP Games) banned two partnered streamers and creators following a Pride month controversy. Lorumerth, who won Video Creator of the …
An Oklahoma father named Tyler Brodsky posted a viral TikTok detailing a confrontation at an Alabama QuikTrip after he took his two young daughters into an empty women's restroom d…
Bloodborne, the 2015 FromSoftware PS4 exclusive locked at 30 FPS since launch, can now run at 120 FPS on PlayStation 5 hardware — but only through a jailbroken console. The feat, r…
Meccha Chameleon, a Prop Hunt-style multiplayer game from developer lemorion_1224, has become one of Steam's latest breakout hits this month. Players hide by painting their white a…
Proximity Media, the company founded by filmmaker Ryan Coogler, his wife Zinzi Coogler and producer Sev Ohanian, has signed a multi-year deal with Netflix to exclusively develop ne…
Thousands of New York Knicks fans flooded Lower Manhattan on Wednesday for a ticker-tape parade celebrating the franchise's first NBA championship since 1973. The parade, which end…
The accusation stems from a video clip of Seohyun and fellow SNSD member Hyoyeon dancing to Hyoyeon's 2021 song 'Second' while Seohyun appears to flip through a magazine in the bac…
At Unreal Fest in Chicago on June 18, Epic Games revealed a 12-month roadmap for the Epic Games Store that includes features standard on Steam for over a decade: library management…
HBO Max is offering 28 percent off all three annual subscription tiers through July 15, 2026. The deal applies to new and returning subscribers, bringing the ad-supported plan down…
Rapper and entrepreneur Darkoo launched a new World Cup capsule collection through her streetwear label Fav Girl Apparel, reported by Hypebae on June 18, 2026. The collection, whic…
Walmart is offering a year of its Walmart Plus subscription for $49, down from the usual $98, ahead of Prime Day 2026. The membership includes free delivery on orders over $35, fre…
On the latest Vergecast, The Verge's David Pierce reviews Snap's new Specs AR glasses, calling them "probably the most impressive bit of face-computer technology we've seen" at $2,…
MSI has priced its Claw 8 EX AI Plus PC gaming handheld at $1,800, significantly exceeding the $1,500 ceiling many expected. The device features Intel's new Arc G3 Extreme processo…
Valve has started showing prospective Steam Controller buyers one of three estimated shipping dates: September 2026, December 2026, or sometime in 2027. Any reservations made now w…
Anti-sunscreen content is going viral on TikTok, according to multiple local news outlets covering the trend. The content promotes skipping sunscreen use, raising concerns among de…
Universal and Imagine Entertainment are developing a sequel to the 2000 live-action film How the Grinch Stole Christmas, with Jim Carrey in talks to reprise his role and Ron Howard…
Ayoub Ben Nesnes, a 26-year-old Moroccan influencer known online as Ben Nesnes, was arrested in Martil after uploading a video in which he skinned, cooked, and ate a stray dog. The…
On June 18, shortly after Rockstar Games revealed the official Grand Theft Auto 6 cover art, the White House's official Twitter account posted its own version of the artwork featur…
Charli xcx gave an interview where she toured a cemetery in Hollywood and discussed her next album, acting career, and adjusting to life after 'Brat' became a cultural phenomenon. …
Lego constructed a full-size, drivable replica of the Koenigsegg Sadair's Spear hypercar using 327,906 bricks. Koenigsegg's official test driver Markus Lundh piloted the brick car …
MrBeast (Jimmy Donaldson) and bestselling author James Patterson have officially revealed the release date and cover for their co-authored thriller novel, The Most Dangerous Games,…
A viral trend involving cheap dark-skinned baby dolls marketed as 'Natasha' stress-relief toys has ignited backlash across social media platforms. Videos showing the Black baby dol…
The New York Knicks celebrated their NBA Finals championship with a ticker-tape parade at City Hall on Wednesday, marking the franchise's first title in 53 years. The celebration i…
Reign Maker Group has taken a majority investment in Hyphen HQ, a creator talent management company, expanding its holdings in the creator economy. The deal was announced Thursday …
Durex Pakistan removed an Instagram ad after widespread online backlash. The ad used a still from Curry Barker's horror sleeper hit Obsession showing actor Michael Johnston's chara…
At least one Hollywood agency is reportedly scouring Reddit for adaptable stories following the success of the Backrooms movie, according to The Hollywood Reporter. The Backrooms, …
Donny Strathie, a 76-year-old Falkirk season ticket holder, collapsed and died at his Boston hotel on Sunday, June 14, after watching Scotland beat Haiti 1-0 — but before he could …
Umamusume is releasing an officially licensed honey-flavored mead inspired by Tokai Teio, the fan-favorite horse girl character. The drink, called Tokai Teio Hachimi no Osake (roug…
Wendy's launched a limited-edition dill pickle-flavored shaker fries menu in Canada on June 8, 2026, rolling out across locations nationwide. The fries come with a seasoning packet…
Dollar General announced it will stock more than 2,000 items priced at $1 or less across its stores, CEO Todd Vasos said during a June 2 earnings call. The move reverses a years-lo…
Heinz launched the UK's only mayo-exclusive sandwich automat, the Auto-Mayo-Mat, at 15 Bateman Street in Soho, London on June 17-18 to celebrate National Picnic Week. The retro-sty…
Kim Gordon appeared on The Tonight Show on Wednesday to perform the title track from her 2026 album, Play Me. She wore a Knicks guard Jalen Brunson jersey during the performance. G…
German director Uwe Boll, infamous for a string of critically reviled video game adaptations in the early 2000s, has announced plans to shoot a new Alone in the Dark sequel as well…
Greyson Chance announced his fifth studio album, titled 'BOYSTOWN,' will be released in September 2026. The album will contain 11 tracks, according to a post on r/popheads. No furt…
Las Culturistas podcast co-hosts Bowen Yang and Matt Rogers performed a campy rendition of t.A.T.u.'s 'All the Things She Said' at the fifth edition of their Culture Awards, which …
A researcher identified 10,000 GitHub repositories distributing Trojan malware in what appears to be a coordinated campaign. The repositories come from different contributors, carr…
Rockstar Games officially revealed the Grand Theft Auto VI cover art on June 18, confirming a design quirk the studio has maintained since GTA III in 2001: a helicopter appears in …
Rockstar Games confirmed on June 18 that pre-orders for Grand Theft Auto VI will open on June 25 through digital storefronts on Xbox and PlayStation, as well as select retailers. T…
Kloof Street KwikSPAR in Cape Town has denied a TikTok accusation from content creator Zoe Robb, who alleged in an April video that she was banned from the store after buying groce…
The Church of England issued a formal apology Thursday for its role in forced adoptions at church-affiliated mother-and-baby homes, with practices documented from 1949 to 1976. Arc…
Starship Entertainment announced on June 18 it is pursuing legal action against individuals creating and distributing malicious posts targeting IVE member Jang Won-young. The agenc…
AMD has quietly removed Transparent Secure Memory Encryption (TSME) from its consumer Ryzen processor lineup, a security feature that encrypts data stored in memory to protect agai…
Mastodon is introducing email newsletters in its latest release, allowing writers to send posts directly to subscribers' inboxes without requiring a Mastodon account. The feature, …
The FDA reversed its earlier position on uniQure's Huntington's disease gene therapy, clearing the path for the company to file for regulatory approval. UniQure shares jumped 74% o…
Rachel Zegler performed a cover of Addison Rae's 'Fame Is a Gun' at the fifth annual Las Culturistas Culture Awards on Wednesday night, airing on Bravo and streaming on Peacock. Th…
A new TechCrunch report details how major social platforms — Threads, Instagram, TikTok, and Bluesky — are rolling out tools that let users more directly shape their recommendation…
SanDisk has launched the Optimus GX Pro 850P NVMe SSD, an officially licensed PlayStation 5 accessory available in 1TB, 2TB, 4TB, and 8TB capacities. The flagship 8TB model carries…
Travis Scott's Cactus Jack label and Nike released the Total 90 collection on June 11, a country-inspired capsule celebrating 10 nations competing in the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The c…
Former UFC champion Daniel Cormier is denying involvement in a Sunday-night tweet from his own account that posted alleged screenshots of DMs with Eric Trump. In the messages, Trum…
A massive fire broke out at a warehouse in Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, prompting authorities to issue a shelter-in-place order affecting thousands of residents. The blaze was cover…
Treyarch and Activision confirmed on June 17 that Call of Duty: Black Ops (2010) and Call of Duty: Black Ops 2 (2012) are being ported to PlayStation consoles. The ports, handled b…
A second official trailer for Spider-Man: Brand New Day dropped June 17, 2026, confirming Mark Ruffalo's return as the Hulk. The footage, which leaked earlier and was subsequently …
Apple CEO Tim Cook told The Wall Street Journal that price increases are 'unavoidable' due to an ongoing memory shortage, calling the current situation 'unsustainable.' Cook said A…
State Farm Arena stopped Kai Cenat's Streamer University auditions in Atlanta on Wednesday after thousands of aspiring content creators gathered for the event, prompting safety con…
Twitch has permanently banned IRL streamer Nina Lin around June 16, 2026, days after she was arrested by NYPD during New York Knicks championship celebrations in NYC. The ban comes…
Volkswagen has begun blocking users running GrapheneOS, a privacy-focused Android operating system, from accessing the Volkswagen connected-car app. Reports surfaced on the Graphen…
UCLA's 2026 Hollywood Diversity Report found that representation in 2025 streaming films fell across nearly every metric — fewer women and people of color in directing, writing, an…
The UK plans to ban social media for all children under 16 starting next year, implementing more aggressive age restrictions than any other country with similar legislation. The mo…
Instagram launched a settings tool in early June that shows users the topics the algorithm thinks they care about, letting them adjust their feed preferences directly. TikTok's 'Ma…
Daveigh Chase, the actor who voiced Lilo in Disney's 2002 animated film Lilo & Stitch and played Samara Morgan in The Ring, died Tuesday at age 35. Her boyfriend, Roy Hernandez, to…
Italian families, including that of 12-year-old Rossella Ugues who died by suicide, have filed Italy's first collective lawsuit against Meta and TikTok. The suit alleges the platfo…
Epic Games announced Lore, an MIT-licensed, open-source version control system written in Rust and designed for large-file workflows in games and entertainment. The tool supports o…
Rockstar Games announced that starting June 18, players can upgrade older versions of Grand Theft Auto V to the PS5/Xbox Series X|S version at no cost. The free upgrade covers PS4 …
Photobucket, the image-hosting service popular in the mid-2000s forum era, now charges users $5 to export their own stored photos. A blog post on Lutr.dev recounts the author's exp…
Haley Metzger, a 31-year-old Instagram creator who goes by @MayorHaley despite not holding office, is using her 49,000-follower platform to cover Colorado's June 30 primary ballot.…
Heartstopper fans are calling out sexually explicit reactions to the final film's trailer after social media users posted comments asking whether teenage characters Nick and Charli…
Australian director Warwick Thornton attended a post-screening event at the Shanghai International Film Festival following the Chinese premiere of his latest feature 'Wolfram.' The…
SM Entertainment is facing backlash from K-pop fans who accuse the agency of xenophobia over its styling of Hearts2Hearts member Carmen ahead of the group's second mini album 'Lemo…
Z ai's GLM-5.2 is now the leading open-weight model on the Artificial Analysis Intelligence Index, scoring 51 — 11 points higher than its predecessor GLM-5.1. The model, which has …
Florida officials filed a lawsuit Monday in St. Lucie County state court accusing TikTok of violating state child-protection laws by allowing children under 14 to create accounts a…
Gurugram Police have registered an FIR against comedian Pranit More and Himanshu Jangra over a viral video known as the '370 Biryani' controversy. The case was filed following a co…
Teen creators in the UK are pushing back against the country's new ban on social media for under-16s, arguing it will stifle a generation of creative talent. Ziame Stewart, a 15-ye…
Tom Holland has publicly suggested Owen Cooper, the young star of Netflix's 'Adolescence,' as his potential successor for the Spider-Man role in the MCU. The endorsement came via a…
A Russian dissident artist and blogger known for his political caricatures of President Vladimir Putin has been shot and killed in Poland, according to BBC and Moscow Times reports…
