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Saoirse Ronan Eyes Bond Villain Turn, Promises to Go Dark
1 hour ago•Source: empireonline.com
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Former MU student critically injured after Harpo's rooftop fall in Columbia
Corbin Rodenberg, 21, a former University of Missouri student and 2023 Chillicothe High School graduate, remains in critical condition after falling from Harpo's rooftop bar in downtown Columbia Sunday night; MU Health Care said doctors relieved pressure on his brain and treated skull fractures and a broken pelvis, as police closed the street and witnesses described a chaotic scene.
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Forever Forward Week: World Championships, Regis Raids, and Mega Gyarados Highlight Pokémon GO
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GTA 6 Leak Dives Into Strip Club Moment in Seventh Gameplay Clip
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Double Fine Regains IP and Publishing Rights After Leaving Xbox
Double Fine announced it has fully reacquired the IP and publishing rights to its Xbox-era games, including Psychonauts and Kiln, following its separation from Microsoft. While some titles may still show Microsoft branding during the transition, Schafer says sales now directly support the studio's runway. The studio is planning a major Kiln update with a price drop and is reviving Amnesia Fortnight as a Kickstarter-backed live game jam to help fund future projects.
Coinbase CEO forecasts Bitcoin near 400k by 2030 as U.S. crypto framework advances
Coinbase CEO Brian Armstrong told Fox Business that Bitcoin is very likely to reach about 300,000 to 400,000 by 2030, citing a White House meeting with top regulators and momentum on the Clarity Act to differentiate digital assets as securities, commodities, or stablecoins. Trump urged lawmakers to pass the act, while some banks endorsed it, and Bitcoin’s price rose after the remarks. Meanwhile, the broader push for crypto legislation underscores a shift toward clearer U.S. policy on digital assets.
GrapheneOS gears up for high-end Motorola flagships priced above Pixels
GrapheneOS says its first Motorola devices will be high-end flagships arriving in 2027 and will cost more than Pixel phones; cheaper Motorola models will follow later as Qualcomm's lower-end chipsets currently lack the same level of security and long-term software support. GrapheneOS plans to host its own AOSP repositories and align updates with major Android releases, expanding beyond Pixel phones.
Iran Claims Zero Oil Exports Amid Escalating US Pressure
Iran’s central bank chief Abdolnaser Hemmati says the country is exporting no oil as U.S. sanctions tighten access to foreign exchange, with oil revenue reportedly fallen to zero. He warned that sanctions and a stalled 60‑day framework with Washington are worsening imports and inflation, while public discontent grows. Tehran has prepared for oil losses, and the government faces ongoing economic pressure even as shipping through the Strait of Hormuz largely remains unchanged.
Rats Run Wild as Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy Leaks Ahead of Launch
PC copies of Resonance: A Plague Tale Legacy leaked a week before its August 27 launch, with DRM cracked and loading-screen images circulating online; the leak mirrors a broader 2026 pattern of early game piracies as the Asobo Studio prequel to the rat-filled horror series heads to a roughly 20-hour, narrative-driven, action-focused experience and day-one Game Pass availability.
Data Highlights Horn Island Drownings Are Rare as Nolan Wells Case Probes Unfold
New data suggests drownings around Horn Island, Mississippi are rare, even as 18-year-old Nolan Wells’ disappearance during a large July 4 party and subsequent July 6 death trigger ongoing investigations. Authorities initially warned of drowning possibilities but are reassessing the case amid parental and public scrutiny; an independent autopsy could not determine cause of death or rule out foul play, and the official autopsy results have not been released. Both official and independent investigations are ongoing, with findings expected to be presented to a grand jury.
Huawei expands the wide-screen smartphone trend with the Pura X View
Huawei unveils the Pura X View, a non-foldable glass-slab smartphone with a 6.39-inch OLED display in a 16:9.5 aspect ratio, a 6.68mm-thin profile, 201g weight, and a 7,000mAh battery, signaling a broader push into wide-screen designs beyond foldables; full specs and pricing aren’t announced and the device isn’t expected to leave China soon.
Pixel 11 Adds Bold Battery Meter and New Clock Styles to Screen Saver
Pixel 11 introduces a new Screen Saver style called Charge that shows battery percentage in bold, adds new analog and digital clock options, and supports swiping between faces; these updates appear exclusive to Pixel 11, with no official confirmation from Google yet.
Xbox Holds Just 4% Of New U.S. Physical Game Sales
A Circana report shows U.S. buyers are largely skipping Xbox physical discs this year, with Xbox at just over 4% of new physical game sales while Nintendo leads with 63% and PlayStation at 32%; analysts point to Xbox Game Pass digital access, cross‑platform releases, and production differences, and note July 2026 saw an all‑time low for new physical software amid broader declines in content spending.
Pause Point lands as Pixel 11 exclusive, Google confirms
Google confirms Android 17’s Pause Point, a Digital Wellbeing tool that pauses for 10 seconds before opening distracting apps, is currently exclusive to Pixel 11 devices; official support pages show limited availability, and while a YouTube preview mentions “select Android 17 devices” with an opt-in, there’s no timeline for broader availability—non‑Pixel users can still explore other methods to curb distractions.