Valve asks New York court to dismiss Counter-Strike lawsuit, says 'people enjoy surprises' and equating loot boxes to gambling is 'nonsensical'
In-game items have "subjective and aesthetic value" akin to baseball cards, Valve insists.
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EU Commission finds treatment of Gaza flotilla activists unacceptable
BRUSSELS, May 20 (Reuters) - The European Commission found the treatment of the Gaza flotilla activists shown in a video released by Israel's National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir is "completely unacceptable", a spokesperson said on Wednesday. "Every detained person must
Trump says Iran talks 'on borderline'
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that talks with Tehran were "on the borderline" between a deal to end the Middle East war and a resumption of strikes on Iran. Trump has given conflicting signals since announcing on Monday that he had called off renewed attacks to give
Urban aerosols grow faster in polluted air, sharpening climate model gaps
Aerosols and clouds play a key role in Earth's climate budget. However, the extent to which they reflect solar energy depends heavily on how much water the particles can absorb. This so-called hygroscopicity has so far been represented in a simplified manner in climate models.
15 Australian companies switched to a four‑day work week. It went surprisingly well
In a 1930 essay, British economist John Maynard Keynes predicted that in 100 years time, technological advances would have displaced so much human labor that people would be working 15-hour weeks—if they worked at all.
Neptune's mysterious moon Nereid may be original survivor of Triton's chaotic arrival
Neptune's far-flung moon Nereid may be the last of the planet's original companions that managed to survive a cosmic crash, scientists reported Wednesday.
The complete evolution of spin glass from order to chaos
How come our universe is full of disorder, when all elementary particles appear to follow strictly ordered laws of physics? And are there organizing principles behind disorder and apparent chaos?
An 81-Year-Old Minecraft Streamer Just Got Swatted During Cancer Fundraiser For Her Teenage Grandson
'It was kinda fun,' according to GrammaCrackers
‘Michael Jackson: The Verdict’ Doc to Pick Up ‘Michael’ Story With Sex Abuse Trial
Three-part docuseries will reexamine both sides of the 2005 trial in which Jackson was acquitted of molesting boys
RFK Jr. fires two leaders of preventive services task force
Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr has fired two of the leaders of an influential panel that determines which preventive medical services insurers must cover for free. Kennedy dismissed vice chairs John Wong and Esa Davis from the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force
How Michael Jackson’s ‘Chicago’ Went From Leftover Track to Viral Hit Decades Later
Michael Jackson’s biopic might have left some critics cold, but it’s a runaway success by every other measure. Antoine Fuqua’s “Michael” just passed $700 million at the global box office, while renewed interest in the late superstar’s catalog has sent classics like “Billie
Scientists solve 50-year mystery of plant immunity by unlocking debneyol's blueprint
In a silent war that has raged for millions of years, plants have evolved a sophisticated chemical arsenal to fight back against invading pathogens. Now, a team of researchers from Peking University and Tsinghua University has finally mapped out the blueprints for one of
Showing empathy can make you more attractive, even when you frown
People who smile empathically at someone's happiness or frown at their suffering become more attractive. Conversely, smiling out of schadenfreude does not make someone any less attractive. Roujia Feng will defend her Ph.D. thesis on May 26, based on research into the social
Raskin introduces bill to block Trump's $1.776B after GOP shoots down effort to subpoena Blanche
Rep. Jamie Raskin (D-Md.), the top Democrat on the House Judiciary Committee, introduced a bill Wednesday to bar the Justice Department's (DOJ) new $1.776 billion compensation fund to be used for payouts to those who claim to have faced weaponization at the hands of the
The Mandalorian theme is the greatest Star Wars music not by John Williams
Ludwig Göransson's score for the Disney Plus show is the only piece to create a musical identity for Star Wars distinct from John Williams
Lord of the Rings' 10-year streak of terrible games might finally come to an end
Why Warhorse Studios, the makers of Kingdom Come Deliverance 2, have a good chance of producing the first good LotR game in a very long time
Austrian ex-intelligence officer found guilty of Russia spying charges
The spy scandal has revived fears that Austria remains a hotbed of Russian espionage activity.
Platner holds 7 point lead over Collins in new Maine Senate poll
Maine Democratic Senate candidate Graham Platner is leading Sen. Susan Collins (R-Maine) in the race for her seat by 7 points, according to a new poll. In the Pan Atlantic Research poll, 48 percent of likely voters said they back Platner in a hypothetical matchup, while 41
Busta Rhymes to Receive Songwriting Award at NYC Anti Social Camp Event
The rap legend headlines a five-day New York gathering in June that bills itself as the world’s largest songwriting festival
Gavin Newsom’s unemployment debt ripped by California congressman
California Republican Vince Fong introduced a bill that would force the state to repay a $20 billion federal loan for COVID-19 unemployment claims.
Trump: 'We have Cuba on our mind'
President Trump on Wednesday told reporters that the administration has Cuba “on our mind” following the Justice Department's charging of former Cuban President Raúl Castro with murder. “It’s very important,” Trump said. “It was a very big moment for people, not only Cuban
Trump buys huge stake in popular Los Angeles conveyor sushi chain
Kura markets the experience as “eater-tainment,” combining traditional Japanese dishes with arcade-like elements.
Reusable tea cups have hidden thresholds for achieving environmental sustainability
By combining demand-driven life cycle assessment with a multi-objective optimization framework, researchers identified potential optimal solutions for reusable bubble tea packaging systems under actual market demand conditions. The results show that material selection and low
Fragility found in a high value shark population
The vulnerability of a shark population to losing even small numbers to fishing has been highlighted by researchers from the University of Chester and partners in the Philippines using a remote stereo camera system. The team has found that pelagic thresher sharks in the Central
Watch live: Doug Collins testifies before Senate on VA budget request
Veterans Affairs Secretary Doug Collins will testify before a Senate Veterans Affairs Committee panel on President Trump's fiscal year 2027 budget request for the department. The White House is seeking $144 billion in discretionary funding for the Veterans Affairs Department
Iranian reports: Tehran reviewing U.S. peace proposal submitted via Pakistan
The report comes hours after Trump said Iran talks were in final stages, and warned of attacks if deal fails • Trump said earlier this week he called off attacks on Iran in response to requests from several of Iran's Gulf neighbors
My friend Adriana wrote about her story game based on...
My friend Adriana wrote about her story game based on Dante’s Inferno . “In Vya, I modeled Pom after the poet Alice Notley, whose Descent of Alette (1996) is one of the great contributions to the literature of katabasis.”
Brandon Sanderson's Skyward is getting adapted into a TV series
Skyward is the first in a young adult series from Mistborn author Brandon Sanderson. He'll help adapt it for TV.
Lawmakers scrutinize sportsbooks, prediction markets at testy hearing
Senators from both parties peppered officials from the gaming and prediction market industries with questions about their aggressive marketing strategies, integrity-monitoring practices and efforts to protect consumer safety during a sometimes testy hearing on Wednesday. The
Another live service game is dead just a few months after launch
Quantic Dream has pulled the plug on Spellcasters Chronicles, and yes, there will be layoffs.
The All-American Rejects Are Rebels Without a Cause on ‘Sandbox’
The band return with strong but scattered songs on their first LP in 14 years
Play ‘Liminal Bingo,’ Pat Perry’s Participatory Photo Treasure Hunt
How many spaces on Pat Perry's bingo card can you get? Do stories and artists like this matter to you? Become a Colossal Member today and support independent arts publishing for as little as $7 per month. The article Play ‘Liminal Bingo,’ Pat Perry’s Participatory Photo
Doritos maker PepsiCo to hike prices on small chip bags: report
The planned increases were prompted by higher production, distribution and retail expenses in the US, and are not a direct response to the Iran war.
CalArts President Booed During Commencement Speech
Students held signs protesting staff layoffs at the esteemed Southern California art school as Ravi S. Rajan took the stage.
UK agrees £3.7bn trade deal with six Gulf states
The deal will remove an estimated £580m worth of tariffs from British exports, but rights groups are critical
Netflix’s Cliff Booth Movie to Get Two-Week Imax Run
The film arrives in IMAX theaters globally Thanksgiving and stars Brad Pitt.
Indonesia’s dangerous return to state-controlled trade
Indonesia’s President Prabowo Subianto has unveiled one of the most consequentialeconomic interventions since the fall of Suharto: a plan to centralize exports of strategiccommodities — including palm oil, coal and ferroalloys — through a state-controlledstructure linked to the
OpenAI takes the lead in AI IPO horse race: 'Getting to public markets first is very important'
It comes after reports that the AI giant and ChatGPT owner is set to file confidentially for an IPO as soon as this week.
‘Cliff Booth’ Movie, Starring Brad Pitt, Takes Over ‘Narnia’s’ Imax Slot This Thanksgiving
Cliff Booth is returning to the big screen. “The Adventures of Cliff Booth,” the unofficial title for the sequel to Quentin Tarantino’s “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood,” will debut in Imax this Thanksgiving. Netflix has announced the film will get an exclusive two-week run on
Who Should Design NYC’s New Billie Holiday Monument?
Thomas J Price, Tavares Strachan, and Tanda Francis are in the running for a sculpture honoring the legendary jazz vocalist at the Jamaica Performing Arts Center.
US military boards Iranian-flagged oil tanker in Gulf of Oman
The U.S. military on Wednesday boarded an Iranian-flagged oil tanker in the Gulf of Oman suspected of trying to violate the U.S. naval blockade by sailing toward an Iranian port. The Marines from the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit boarded M/T Celestial Sea, which sailed under
Turkey's Erdogan tells Trump issues with Iran can be resolved, Ankara says
ANKARA, May 20 (Reuters) - Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan told U.S. President Donald Trump in a call on Wednesday he welcomed the extension of a ceasefire between the U.S. and Iran, adding he believed contested issues between the sides could be resolved, according to the
Trump: may have to hit Iran harder - or maybe not
NEW LONDON, Connecticut, May 20 (Reuters) - President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that the United States may have to attack Iran even harder but will wait and see if a deal is reached, reprising the "either/or" rhetoric he has used since announcing a ceasefire six weeks ago.
Trump says negotiations with Iran in final stages, warns of attacks if deal fails
By Jana Choukeir and Humeyra Pamuk DUBAI/WASHINGTON, May 20 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that negotiations with Iran were "in the final stages", while warning of further attacks unless Tehran agrees to a peace deal. Six weeks since Trump paused
South Korea’s Lee criticises Israel detentions, says actions ‘way out of line’
SEOUL, May 20 (Reuters) - South Korean President Lee Jae Myung on Wednesday said Israel had arrested South Korean nationals in international waters, calling the action “way out of line”. In a cabinet meeting, Lee said the South Korean citizens had been detained for reasons not
NATO summit in Ankara should reaffirm alliance's unity, Turkey to tell allies
ANKARA, May 20 (Reuters) - Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan will tell NATO foreign ministers this week that the next NATO leaders' summit, set for Ankara in July, should reaffirm the alliance's unity and integrity, a foreign ministry source said on Wednesday. • Fidan will
Israeli police force Gaza flotilla activists to kneel with hands bound, video shows
By Emily Rose JERUSALEM, May 20 (Reuters) - Israeli police on Wednesday forced activists who were aboard a Gaza-bound aid flotilla to kneel on the ground in rows with their hands tied behind their backs while a minister looked on, drawing criticism from foreign leaders and even
Germany will deploy Patriot air defence system to southeast Turkey, Ankara says
ANKARA, May 20 (Reuters) - Turkey said on Wednesday that Germany would send it a Patriot missile defence system for a six-month deployment from June to replace a system deployed as part of NATO measures in southeast Turkey to bolster air defences amid the war in Iran. In March,
Gazans barred from Hajj, animal sacrifice as major Muslim festival nears
By Nidal al-Mughrabi and Haseeb Alwazeer GAZA/CAIRO, May 20 (Reuters) - In a tent in southern Gaza, Najia Abu Lehia mourns not only her husband but also their failure to make the pilgrimage to Mecca, or Hajj, together before he died a year ago because of war and border