Actor Channing Tatum dismissed online rumors that he ran an Instagram burner account mocking his ex‑fiancée Zoe Kravitz and her new fiancé Harry Styles. In a story posted Monday, September 21, the 46‑year‑old said he could not believe people thought he was “doing this with my free time” and called the rumors “f***in hilarious.” Tatum clarified that he only has one official Instagram handle, @channingtatum, and that the account in question, @bidness_nonya, was not his. The burner account had attracted attention after fans noticed it commenting on Kravitz and Styles, and because Tatum was its sole follower. Pop‑culture commentator Stephanie Tleiji argued that the profile was likely a fan page that had recently changed its handle, citing a birthday post that did not match Tatum’s. The account was deactivated shortly before Tatum’s statement, and no evidence has linked the actor to the account’s activity. Tatum’s remarks come amid ongoing media focus on his past relationship with Kravitz, who announced her engagement to Styles in 2025. The actor’s response was intended to quell speculation and restore his public image after the viral social‑media controversy.
Apple’s first foldable phone, the iPhone Duo, is set to launch in October and introduces software features tailored to its unique form factor. The operating system remains iOS, but the interface has been redesigned to support side‑by‑side multitasking, allowing two apps to run simultaneously on the inner screen. Apple Pencil support is added, enabling the stylus to work directly on the iPhone. The status bar has moved to the right side of the screen, consolidating signal, Wi‑Fi, and battery indicators and integrating the Dock and Dynamic Island. Hinge‑aware UI adjustments shift interactive elements away from the crease, improving usability when folded. The Duo’s camera system offers new modes such as Smart Take, which uses AI to capture photos when a pose is detected, and Kid Cue, a playful animation that encourages children to look at the camera. A tent mode turns the phone into a table clock, lighting the inner display when an alarm rings. These innovations showcase Apple’s effort to blend a foldable design with a familiar iOS experience, though some advanced camera features from the iPhone 18 Pro are absent.
Paramount Pictures and a coalition of 12 U.S. states, led by California Attorney General Rob Bonta, have agreed to terms that will allow the studio to close its pending merger with Warner Bros. Discovery. The settlement resolves the $111 billion acquisition lawsuit that had threatened to block the deal and imposed a $7 million‑per‑day ticking fee starting October 1. Under the agreement, Paramount can avoid the daily penalty if it completes the merger within roughly ten days, giving the company a short window to finalize the transaction. The states sued to prevent the merger, arguing it would grant the combined entity excessive control over basic cable and theatrical distribution, while the Writers Guild of America joined the challenge over potential wage suppression. Paramount’s CEO David Ellison pledged to release at least 30 films annually, a promise that industry observers question for its feasibility. The deal also includes structural remedies, such as keeping Paramount and Warner Bros operating independently and potentially divesting parts of Paramount’s cable business, though specific divestitures remain unannounced. Despite the settlement, the agreement does not require any divestitures or behavioral concessions, and Paramount maintains that the merger will enhance competition against tech giants. The announcement is expected later Monday, coinciding with Yom Kippur, and will formalize the terms that have been negotiated over months of litigation.
Barunson E&A is set to launch international sales for the Indonesian film adaptation of the hit Korean drama Descendants of the Sun at the Asian Contents and Film Market in Busan. The project is a big-screen version of the landmark 2016 series, which was a massive global success for K-drama.
Produced alongside Dapur Film and several other partners, the film was shot back-to-back in two parts. Director Hanung Bramantyo, known for his success with the Indonesian version of Miracle in Cell No. 7, helms the production. The cast features prominent Indonesian actors Reza Rahadian and Dian Sastrowardoyo.
While the film retains the emotional core of the original series, it relocates the romance to a specific Indonesian cultural setting. The first part of the film is currently aiming for a theatrical release in Indonesia by mid-2027. Barunson E&A will also present several other titles from its Indonesian-focused slate during the Busan market event.
Sky TV’s four‑part docuseries "The Wargame" uses generative AI to simulate a Russian missile strike on UK soil, aiming to test a fictional cabinet’s crisis response. The series features former MPs in key roles - Prime Minister Lord Gove, Deputy Prime Minister Nicola Sturgeon, Defence Secretary Dame Penny Mordaunt, and others - making real‑time decisions as producers orchestrate a staged escalation. AI‑generated visual effects depict missile impacts on UK targets, a choice the producers say highlights the paradox of AI’s potential dangers while showcasing its creative power. Episodes drop nightly on Sky and NOW from September 21, with the show interspersed with faux COBR‑style boardroom scenes and social‑media clips of influencers reacting to the fictional events. Sturgeon, at the launch, urged viewers to move beyond optimism bias and seriously consider preparedness for a possible conflict. The series claims to give the public a “wake‑up call” about the UK’s perceived military unpreparedness, positioning the show as a crucial, if unsettling, educational tool. By blending political drama with cutting‑edge AI, the docuseries seeks to prompt discussion on national resilience and the role of emerging technologies in defense planning.
Mason Henderson, a 21‑year‑old from southeastern Texas, was diagnosed with a rare diffuse hemispheric glioma that spread to his spinal fluid after 18 months of ineffective chemotherapy. After a failed clinical trial in New York City, his doctors at Baylor College of Medicine and NYU Langone Health turned to the PARP inhibitor Lynparza, a drug approved for ovarian cancer but not for his tumor type. The treatment, prescribed on January 16, was denied coverage by Liviniti, the pharmacy benefit manager, citing lack of FDA approval for the diagnosis. Henderson’s family appealed to Jefferson County’s review board, which authorized an independent medical reviewer who recommended a different drug, but the doctors disagreed. AstraZeneca also declined to donate the medication, leaving the family to face an estimated $8,700 monthly out‑of‑pocket cost. The case highlights a broader problem: insurers often lag behind genomic testing and emerging science when determining coverage for ultra‑rare cancers. Experts from Weill Cornell Medicine noted that large clinical trials are unlikely for such rare tumors, forcing clinicians to rely on limited evidence and biologically reasonable assumptions. Despite the obstacles, Henderson’s team continues to pursue experimental therapies, underscoring the urgent need for clearer reimbursement pathways for patients with rare malignancies.
Bill Watterson’s long‑running comic strip Calvin and Hobbes includes a 1987 storyline in which the mischievous boy and his tiger friend care for an injured baby raccoon. The strips, published from March 9 to March 18, depict Calvin’s attempts to help the animal and his mother’s warnings that the raccoon may not survive. When the raccoon dies that night, Calvin is devastated, and the narrative follows his grieving process and his struggle to understand death. Watterson uses the episode to explore childhood innocence, the fragility of life, and the necessity of accepting loss. The strip ends with Calvin learning that death is part of life’s cycle and that people must cherish moments even when they cannot fully comprehend them. The story’s emotional depth has kept it relevant for decades, resonating with readers who have experienced loss in their own lives. The comic’s simple yet profound treatment of mortality continues to illustrate how comics can address complex human emotions.
Lionel Messi added his 101st goal for Inter Miami with a free‑kick in a 2‑2 MLS match against San Diego FC on Sunday night. Anders Dreyer opened the scoring for San Diego with a chip over goalkeeper Dayne St. Clair in the 12th minute, and doubled his tally in the 82nd minute. Messi’s strike came in the 24th minute, his 20th league goal of the season, and followed his 100th goal for the club four days earlier in the Campeones Cup. Luis Suárez gave Miami a 1‑0 lead in the 74th minute, but San Diego levelled again eight minutes later. Inter Miami’s record now stands at 12‑4‑10 with 46 points. The match also highlighted FIFA’s announcement that the 2027 Women’s Champions Cup final phase will be hosted at Inter Miami’s Nu Stadium in January.
Middlesex lifted the Metro Bank One Day Cup after a 31‑run victory over Leicestershire at Trent Bridge, ending a 36‑year List A trophy drought. Ryan Higgins delivered a maiden List A century, scoring 115 from 115 balls, while Harry Duke added 55 as the pair forged a 135‑run sixth‑wicket partnership that took Middlesex to 231 all out. Leicestershire’s New Zealand batter Nick Kelly hit 103 off 107 balls, but Ian Holland’s 5‑for‑36 and Tom Helm’s 3‑for‑32 restricted the Foxes to 200. Middlesex’s Toby Roland‑Jones claimed 3‑27 and 21‑year‑old Naayva Sharma finished the tournament as the leading wicket‑taker with 20 wickets. The win marks Middlesex’s first List A final triumph since 1990 and lifts the county out of a long trophy drought. Leicestershire, meanwhile, remains under pressure after a points deduction in the County Championship that threatens relegation. The victory provides a morale boost for Middlesex’s squad and fans alike, while the loss underscores the challenges faced by the Foxes.