Thousands have taken to the streets across Albania for over a week, as a luxury resort development linked to US President Donald Trump ignites long-running discontent over corruption in the Balkan nation. The planned seaside resort in the coastal area of Zvernec, linked to Trump’s daughter, Ivanka, and her husband, Jared Kushner, has triggered protests … Read more
Golden Globe winner and Grammy nominee Teyana Taylor will be saluted as Icon of the Year at the 2026 BET Awards. Taylor will receive the special prize during the BET Awards telecast on Sunday, June 28. The show, broadcast live from the Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, will be hosted by Druski. The BET Awards … Read more
This is the June 9, 2026, edition of “The Tea, Spilled by Morning Joe” newsletter.Subscribe hereto get it delivered straight to your inbox every Monday through Friday. MIKA’S NOTE Donald Trump, top members of his administration, and his allies in Congress, are amplifying baseless claims of voter fraud in California. The president, along with Speaker … Read more
The EU ordered Meta on Tuesday to give rival AI chatbots access to its WhatsApp platform for free within five working days as it carries out an antitrust probe, or risk a heavy fine. The measure follows the launch in December of an EU investigation into the US firm’s policy of blocking access for AI … Read more
On today’s episode of “Daily Variety” podcast, Variety’s Jennifer Maas reports on Summer Game Fest, the gaming industry’s annual product showcase. Xbox and Paramount made news with strategic shifts and an executive appointment. Overall, Maas observes the mood among insiders was better at this year’s event compared to last year, when the games sector was … Read more
Perhaps the most emotionally and physically demanding sequence of “Half Man” — and given the high drama of the HBO limited series, that’s saying a lot — took less than a day to shoot. “We finished 15 minutes early,” series creator, director and star Richard Gadd tells Variety in a Making a Scene conversation presented … Read more
“The Paper” star Domhnall Gleeson hears a lot from journalists these days — and the frequent refrain from reporters is that they appreciate being seen as their profession struggles to maintain its foothold. “It’s been a common theme that people who have seen the show and are involved in journalism seem to like it and … Read more
“Whalefall” director Brian Duffield is well aware that, in most cases, the main character getting swallowed by an animal would be a bit of a buzzkill. “It would typically feel like the end of a movie,” Duffield tells Variety, cracking a wide grin. “Like, ‘RIP Austin!’” But the team at Disney’s 20th Century Studios felt … Read more
Lesley Manville will star alongside Brett Goldstein in the upcoming Amazon Prime Video comedy series “Escorted,” Variety has learned. The show was originally announced in November 2025 with an eight-episode order. The logline states, “A divorced dad (Goldstein) in Manhattan accidentally becomes a male escort in this romantic comedy about sexual dynamics, keeping secrets, and … Read more
A few months ago, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth complained that the Pentagon had officially recognized too many faith traditions, which he characterized as “impractical.” A few weeks ago, the Defense Department acted on those concerns, shrinking the list of recognized religions from 211 faiths to 31. The rather dramatic shift did not go unnoticed, though … Read more