Javier Morales — Entertainment & Culture Editor 
The 2026 Whitcoulls Top 100 Books List, released July 23, shows a record-breaking surge in local authorship with 26 New Zealand writers featured. While fantasy dominated the rankings—led by Rebecca Yarros’s Empyrean series—local non-fiction and memoir titles also secured significant positions in the nation’s largest annual reading barometer. 26 New Zealand writers featured A Record … Read more
As of August, astrological forecasts identify a specific group of zodiac signs—including Leo, Libra, Sagittarius, Aquarius, and Pisces—as entering a period of heightened energy, new opportunities, and potential positive changes. According to reporting from sources affiliated with the Ringier publishing house, these signs are positioned for breakthroughs in career, finance, and personal relationships. Astrologers describe … Read more
Bethesda Game Studios employees in Canada were terminated on July 17, 2026, receiving only minimum severance and losing health benefits immediately. This action occurred just weeks after staff were promised employment through September, sparking a legal complaint from the OneBGS union regarding alleged violations of Canadian labor law. The Bethesda Game Studios Union (OneBGS) reports … Read more
Following his public criticism of Christopher Nolan’s Odyssey adaptation, Elon Musk announced on July 22, 2026, that his xAI platform will use the Grok Imagine tool to create a historically accurate film version of the Homeric epic. Musk has also expressed interest in funding 100 million dollars to Mel Gibson to direct a version of … Read more
Tenisha Warner, the widow of actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner, has filed a lawsuit against her mother-in-law, Pamela Warner, seeking at least $1,276,042.46 in unpaid financial obligations. The legal action was filed in the Superior Court of DeKalb County, Georgia, on July 20, 2026, exactly one year after the death of the actor, who was best known … Read more
Tenisha Warner has filed a lawsuit in DeKalb County Superior Court against her mother-in-law, Pamela Warner, seeking more than $1.2 million from the late actor Malcolm-Jamal Warner’s estate. Filed on the one-year anniversary of the actor’s accidental drowning in Costa Rica, the suit alleges breach of contract regarding their prenuptial agreement. The legal dispute centers … Read more
Plas Johnson, the celebrated tenor saxophonist whose slinky, signature solo defined the iconic theme for the 1963 film The Pink Panther, died on July 15, 2026, at his home in Granada Hills, Los Angeles. He was 94 years old, passing just six days before what would have been his 95th birthday. Loss of Plas Johnson … Read more
Aeon Fantasy will open its new entertainment facility, Feedy Diner & Arcade, at the Aeon Minami-Haebaru store in Okinawa on July 24, 2026. The site features an American-diner-inspired space combining arcade gaming with specialized dining and photo-booth services, supported by a series of opening campaigns through late August. Expansion into Okinawa: The Feedy Diner & … Read more
European Union antitrust regulators officially signed off on the proposed $110 billion acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery by Paramount Skydance on Wednesday, according to CNBC. The regulatory clearance marks a significant milestone for the deal, which aims to combine major film studios, a vast portfolio of pay TV networks, and streaming services including HBO Max … Read more
Paramount is moving forward with a sequel to the 1990 racing drama Days of Thunder, with filmmaker Jonathan Levine currently in negotiations to direct the project. The film is set to see the return of Tom Cruise, who will reprise his role as NASCAR driver Cole Trickle. According to Variety, the project reunites Cruise with … Read more