In Jonesboro, Arkansas, Christopher Hellenthal, 20, dressed as Spider-Man, swiftly helped a man in a wheelchair cross a busy intersection. The act, captured by Jonesboro Police Department cameras, went viral, highlighting a moment of real-life heroism.
A mural in Barcelona celebrating Spain's World Cup hero Ferran Torres was vandalised within 24 hours of its unveiling. The artwork, created by TVBoy, was defaced multiple times with political messages reflecting Catalan identity tensions before being cleaned by the City Council.
Immigration agents fatally shot Lorenzo Salgado Araujo in Houston, Texas, and Joan Sebastián Durán Guerrero in Biddeford, Maine, within a week. These killings, part of a broader pattern of militarized enforcement, have ignited widespread grief and outrage, leading to protests and calls for independent investigations and accountability from ICE and DHS.
Genomics research in Ningxia, China, reveals a significant fusion of East and West human genes. Over a million Han dynasty immigrants, predominantly males, moved into the region starting in 127 BC, integrating with local populations through trade and conflict over 4,000 years.
Fox's acquisition of Roku is poised to reshape the streaming landscape. Expect The Roku Channel to become exclusive to Roku devices, IoT efforts to be phased out, and a potential surge for the budget streamer Howdy. International expansion and sports content integration are also key future developments.
Two children, aged one and five, have died after being struck by a car in a pram in Sydney's south-west. Witnesses attempted to rescue the children, with some tipping the car over to free one child. The driver, a 56-year-old man, was arrested.
Two children under five, seated in a pram, were struck and killed by a car in Sydney's south-west on Wednesday. A 33-year-old woman known to the children was treated for minor injuries, while the 56-year-old male driver was arrested for mandatory testing. Investigations are ongoing.
Un cruce en Queens, Nueva York, ha sido nombrado Pelé para conmemorar el 50 aniversario del debut del legendario futbolista en Estados Unidos con el New York Cosmos. El evento atrajo a miles de aficionados y periodistas, impulsando el fútbol en el país.
AI-generated videos depicting Russian soldiers, often as heroes or returning from war, are gaining traction among families of servicemen. While offering comfort to some grieving relatives, the practice sparks outrage in Ukraine and ethical debates globally.
Apple TV+ relies on a few hit shows to drive viewership, unlike Netflix's broad catalog engagement. This model, similar to premium cable, faces challenges in the streaming era, though Apple's aggregator role and device ecosystem offer unique advantages.
Kaohsiung City has invested NT$62.1 million over four years to upgrade traffic signals at 83 intersections near 71 schools, enhancing child safety during commutes. The project, which includes pedestrian signals and clearer traffic rules, aims to create a safer school environment.
Beijing is implementing new regulations for electric bicycles and scooters, moving from unbridled micro-mobility to a state-guided model. New rules require helmets and address safety risks, infrastructural deficits, and spatial chaos, following a rise in fatalities.
AI video tools are shifting from generating short clips to comprehensive production agents. Companies like Luma AI and Google are developing systems that assist in the entire filmmaking process, from concept to final video, aiming to improve efficiency and consistency in Hollywood.
AI super PACs are becoming political forces, funding rivalries and influencing elections. Meanwhile, Congress grapples with regulating prediction markets, facing opposition from established industries. The Clarity Act, concerning stablecoins, also faces procedural and political hurdles.
A train driver, Sayomporn Sonkul, who tested positive for drugs and lacked a valid license, is blamed for a fatal collision. He allegedly ignored a red flag, leading to the crash with a bus.
At least eight people died and 35 were injured when a goods train collided with a bus in Bangkok, Thailand on Saturday. The bus burst into flames following the impact at a busy downtown intersection.
Two tourists from Hong Kong died and two others were injured in a single-vehicle crash near Rakaia, New Zealand on Friday, May 15. The Chinese consulate in Christchurch confirmed the incident and is providing consular assistance.
This is Lowpass by Janko Roettgers, a newsletter on the ever-evolving intersection of tech and entertainment, syndicated just for The Verge subscribers once a week. Netflix has been building a new internal studio called INKubator that aims to use AI to produce short-form animated content: The streamer is hiring for a wide variety of roles, […]
Katie Haun’s venture firm closes a $1 billion fund to target crypto infrastructure and systems for AI agents to transact autonomously.
Hangzhou has deployed 15 humanoid robots to assist traffic police with road management during the May holiday period. The robots are directing traffic and interacting with the public in the city, a known hub for artificial intelligence.
Indonesia's President Prabowo has pledged to improve railway safety after a crash in Bekasi, ordering immediate upgrades to level crossings including building overpasses and adding guard posts. The crash exposed critical weaknesses in Indonesia's rail network, including unguarded crossings, ageing infrastructure and fragmented regulatory responsibility.
Former Apple Vision Pro developer Mark Drummond has launched Pixi, an iPhone AR app that lets users send interactive animated characters to friends via iMessage or WhatsApp. The app, launching in coming weeks, uses on-device AI to detect facial expressions and recognize objects, allowing characters to interact with recipients' environments. Drummond argues that mobile devices outperform headsets like Vision Pro for AR storytelling due to accessibility, compute power, and social sharing capabilities.
Twenty-five years after the original iPod launched, a nostalgia-driven revival is underway. Google searches for MP3 players tripled since last fall, and a Reddit community for digital audio players draws 90,000 weekly visitors. Startup founder Tom Kell is launching Sleevenote, a $200 device with a 4-inch square screen that prioritizes album art and full album playback over playlists and algorithms. The device targets the millions who buy music on Bandcamp and similar platforms, capitalizing on streaming backlash and subscription fatigue.
Bitcoin is nearing the $80,000 mark, fueled by a massive short squeeze and temporary diplomatic relief in the Middle East. Investors are also recalibrating expectations for a potential shift in Federal Reserve policy under nominee Kevin Warsh.
