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Netflix confirms $587 million cash deal for Ben Affleck’s AI firm
Netflix has confirmed it paid approximately $587 million in cash to acquire InterPositive, the artificial intelligence company founded by actor and filmmaker Ben Affleck, closing out months of speculation since the deal was first announced in March 2026. The figure, disclosed in a securities filing, resolved the last unanswered question about an acquisition that had…
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A24 Addresses Copyright Strikes on Backrooms Fan Art After Director Kane Parsons Promises to Investigate
A24 has clarified that recent copyright takedown notices affecting fan-made Backrooms artwork were unintentional, following a promise from director Kane Parsons to investigate the issue. The studio issued an Instagram statement on 17 July, two days after Parsons responded to a Reddit user whose wallpaper design had been removed from Redbubble over an infringement claim,…
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‘Leo has surpassed Diego’: after two decades Argentina embraces Messi
Argentina’s football team have reached Sunday’s World Cup final against Spain after an impressive 2-1 semi-final win over England, in a match hailed as fresh proof that the country has fully embraced Lionel Messi as its footballing icon. The victory marks a symbolic shift for Argentina, whose footballing identity was for decades defined almost exclusively…
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The actor who turned down ‘Saving Private Ryan’ because of Marlon Brando: “I would choose him”
Spielberg or Brando? The post The actor who turned down ‘Saving Private Ryan’ because of Marlon Brando: “I would choose him” first appeared on Far Out Magazine.
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“Don’t fall for it”: Union says Fallout 5 and Elder Scrolls 6 news shouldn’t distract you from huge Bethesda layoffs as Xbox CEO praises the series’ “remarkable” achievements
Xbox and Bethesda’s parent leadership praised the “remarkable” success of the Fallout and Elder Scrolls franchises, and teased future instalments, at the same time as reports emerged of significant layoffs at Bethesda. A union representing games industry workers has warned fans and press not to let excitement over Fallout 5 or Elder Scrolls 6 news…
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Smoke, travel and Trump threaten New York’s grand World Cup finale
New York’s staging of the World Cup final at MetLife Stadium on Sunday has been overshadowed by thick smoke from Canadian wildfires that has blanketed the city and much of the eastern seaboard, prompting air quality warnings and flight cancellations. The problem is particularly unwelcome given the city was chosen for the final largely for…
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Bright Eyes & The Lumineers cover The Felice Brothers for new tribute comp ‘Felice County Fair’
Bright Eyes and The Lumineers have released covers of songs by The Felice Brothers for *Felice County Fair: A Celebration of The Felice Brothers*, an upcoming tribute album. The releases highlight the influence of the New York folk-rock group’s songwriting on prominent artists in adjacent Americana and indie-folk scenes. Bright Eyes cover “Wonderful Life”, originally…
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CDC and FDA link lettuce at Taco Bell in five states to cyclospora outbreak
US health officials have traced a growing outbreak of the parasite cyclospora to shredded iceberg lettuce served at Taco Bell restaurants in Indiana, Kentucky, Michigan, Ohio and West Virginia. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) confirmed the link on Thursday, and the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) identified a single Mexican supplier, though…
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AI-driven memory crunch jolts India’s smartphone market
India’s smartphone market is experiencing a sharp downturn as a global shortage of memory chips, driven by surging AI data centre demand, pushes up handset prices. Manufacturers such as Samsung, SK Hynix and Micron have redirected production towards high-bandwidth memory used in AI accelerators, which is far more profitable than the standard RAM and storage…
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One anti-war critic fined, another held as Russia clamps down on opponents
Russian authorities have intensified their crackdown on critics of the war in Ukraine, detaining blogger Ilya Remeslo and blocking politician Boris Nadezhdin from standing for parliament. The moves highlight the Kremlin’s continued efforts to silence dissent, even as reports suggest President Vladimir Putin’s popularity may be slipping amid economic pressures linked to the conflict. Remeslo,…