Senate Rejects Measure to Force Release of Epstein Files in Close 51-49 Vote
The Senate voted 51-49 to block a Democratic amendment requiring release of Jeffrey Epstein files. While two Republicans joined Democrats, GOP leaders dismissed the measure as political theater. A bipartisan House effort now seeks to revive the push for disclosure.
Charlie Kirk Fatally Shot at Utah Valley University—Nationwide Condemnation Follows
Charlie Kirk, co-founder of Turning Point USA, was fatally shot during a campus event at Utah Valley University on Sept 10, 2025. The shooting, deemed a “political assassination,” is being investigated by federal authorities, with a person of interest in custody. The incident sparked bipartisan outrage and mourning across the U.S.
Steam Store Down Minutes After Hollow Knight: Silksong Launch
Minutes after Hollow Knight: Silksong went live, Steam’s Store and checkout pages began failing with E502 L3 errors. Libraries, downloads, and chat remain accessible, but browsing, wishlists, and purchases are intermittently down. The issue stems from heavy traffic overwhelming Steam’s web back-end. Here’s what you can do now to avoid double charges and still install your game while Valve stabilizes the servers.
OpenAI Acquires Statsig in $1.1B All-Stock Deal, Appoints Its CEO as New CTO of Applications
OpenAI acquires experimentation startup Statsig for approximately $1.1 billion in an all-stock deal; its founder Vijaye Raji joins as CTO of Applications to spearhead ChatGPT and Codex engineering efforts.
Two Japanese Men Arrested in Child Pornography Case Over Filming in Myanmar and Laos
Two Japanese men have been arrested for allegedly filming minors in lewd situations in Myanmar and Laos. One, a dentist, denies knowing the girl's age; the other remains largely silent. Police invoked extraterritorial laws and warn more charges may follow.
Fantasy Life i Update 1.5.0 Arrival Packed with New Features
Fantasy Life i’s 1.5.0 update launches August 20 with Photo Mode, mount upgrades, camera controls, multiplayer party tools, new furniture and recipes, encyclopedic expansions, and dozens of fixes.
OpenAI Unveils GPT-5: A Unified, Smarter Model Redefining AI Interaction
OpenAI has released GPT-5, a unified model that improves reasoning, accuracy, and personalization. Available across user tiers with features like personality modes, Gmail/Calendar integration, and enhanced safety systems.
UK Introduces Strict Age Verification for Adult Content, Boosting VPN and Proxy Sales
The UK's new strict age-verification laws for adult content have prompted users to seek out VPNs and proxy servers to bypass restrictions, significantly boosting sales amid privacy concerns.
Controversial YouTuber Hezumaryu Wins Nara Assembly Seat on Anti-Foreign Platform
Controversial YouTuber Hezumaryu has won a Nara Prefectural Assembly seat on an anti-foreigner platform, despite having no political experience and past arrests for harassing Chinese tourists.
Top AI Scientists Warn We're Losing Ability to Interpret AI Thinking
Top AI researchers from OpenAI, DeepMind, Anthropic, Meta, and xAI warn that emerging architectures could eliminate human-readable "chain-of-thought" reasoning, threatening transparency and AI oversight as models grow more capable.
Japanese Researchers at Kitano Hospital Pioneer Groundbreaking Tooth Regrowth Treatment
Japanese researchers at Kitano Hospital in Osaka have initiated human clinical trials of a groundbreaking antibody treatment designed to regrow teeth by reactivating dormant tooth buds, promising a revolutionary alternative to implants and dentures.
OpenAI to Launch AI-Powered Browser to Rival Google Chrome
OpenAI is set to launch its own AI-powered browser based on Chromium, featuring a ChatGPT-like chat interface and built-in “Operator” agent to streamline tasks and challenge Google Chrome’s market dominance.
July 9 Sets Record as Shortest Day in History, Sparks Talk of Negative Leap Second
On July 9, 2025, Earth recorded its shortest day ever—1.3 to 1.6 milliseconds shorter—raising the possibility of a rare “negative leap second” by 2029 to realign atomic time with planetary rotation.
Layoffs at Microsoft Hit Xbox & Studios, Perfect Dark and Everwild Cancelled
Microsoft is cutting 9,100 jobs, including in Xbox and its studios. King, ZeniMax, Turn 10 hit hardest, with cancellations of Everwild and Perfect Dark and closure of The Initiative. The restructuring aims to streamline and refocus gaming efforts.
Two Women Fatally Stabbed at Girls’ Bar in Hamamatsu, Suspect in Custody
Two women were fatally stabbed at a girls' bar in Hamamatsu, Shizuoka Prefecture, by a 41-year-old man who targeted them without provocation. The suspect, Ichiro Yamashita, has been arrested, prompting increased security measures in local nightlife venues.
Trump Tightens Cuba Policy: Stricter Travel Ban and Military Sanctions Reinstated
President Trump reinstates stringent Cuba policies: bans tourism, tightens financial sanctions on military-linked entities, restores the terrorist designation, and expands visa restrictions targeting medical mission officials.
Japanese Elementary School Teachers Arrested for Sharing Upskirt Photos in Group Chat
Two Japanese elementary school teachers were arrested after allegedly taking and sharing dozens of indecent upskirt photos of students in a private group chat. Parents and officials are demanding immediate safety reforms in schools nationwide.
Trump Signals Potential Reversal on Deportations, Citing Agriculture Crisis
President Trump announced that the U.S. may need to allow some deported undocumented immigrants to return, citing a labor crisis in agriculture and hospitality. “We might have to take some of them back,” Trump said, acknowledging the economic impact of mass deportations on farmers and food production.
OpenAI Releases o3-Pro Model for ChatGPT, Delivering Breakthroughs in Complex Reasoning
OpenAI has launched o3-Pro, its most advanced reasoning model yet, now available to ChatGPT Pro users. With tool integration and improved accuracy, it redefines what AI can do for professionals, educators, and developers alike.
Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles Remaster Introduces Full Voice Acting and Modern Enhancements
Square Enix announces "Final Fantasy Tactics: The Ivalice Chronicles," a remastered edition featuring full voice acting, updated visuals, and quality-of-life improvements. Set for release on September 30, 2025, the game will be available on multiple platforms, offering both enhanced and classic gameplay modes.