Latest news with #June24
Yahoo
5 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
I'm not built for whatever I heard in Phasmophobia's Chronicle update, which adds terrifying new sounds you can't afford to run from
When you buy through links on our articles, Future and its syndication partners may earn a commission. The big Phasmophobia Chronicle update launches tomorrow, June 24, and brings a long list of bug fixes and tool reworks with it. As part of the tool shake-up, developer Kinetic Games also overhauled the journal's media section for capturing evidence. It's great if you're tired of being limited to a photo camera. But, if you're a coward like me who usually takes pictures of salt and runs, I've got bad news. The bad news being you can't do that anymore (I tried) and holy shit the new ghost noises are scary. Instead of demanding you strictly take photos as evidence of a haunting, Phasmophobia's ghost-hunting bosses now want pictures plus recorded audio and video. Apparently, all my slightly off-centered photos of disturbed salt piles are no longer worth money. I tried to sell several over the weekend in my early hands-on with the Chronicle update, but no dice. Image 1 of 4 Image 2 of 4 Image 3 of 4 Image 4 of 4 Chronicle adds a bunch of little things, like new social elements to Phasmophobia's UI and other quality-of-life goodies, but I honed in on playing with the new Sound Recorder. Since my old cheap habits were no longer a valid means to score a perfect investigation, I had to confront ghosts and stay in the room to use the Sound Recorder when they acted up. Sure, Phas players are used to all manner of ungodly racket, but forcing you to run toward the noise for a clip is a whole other ask. Especially with so many new sounds, too. I heard the usual creaky footsteps and door-slamming, but Phasmophobia added more hellish whispering and actual phrases. It captures more of the original Spirit Box charm, prompting ghosts to respond with their own disembodied voices instead of relying on bits and pieces of radio broadcasters. It's not as funny as hearing a Microsoft Sam demon get snippy in the dark, but I like it way more than the more boring Spirit Box audio of today. 2025 games: This year's upcoming releasesBest PC games: Our all-time favoritesFree PC games: Freebie festBest FPS games: Finest gunplayBest RPGs: Grand adventuresBest co-op games: Better together It's not just voices, either. At one point, I heard what sounded like two pieces of metal slamming into each other in a bathroom, and I still don't know what it was (not that I really tried to figure it out, anyway). As soon as I heard the last of it, I was already back in the truck and mashing the control panel to leave. I did a lot of that before finally working up the nerve to truly investigate a haunting. After a solid few rounds of growing annoyed by my own cowardice, my sense of self-preservation was finally out the door, and I barreled into Camp Woodwind demanding a ghost by the name of Jim Emmett tell me how old he is. He kept his age a secret, but he did whisper, "I'm watching you," over the Parabolic. Phas says I need 13 pieces of evidence like this for a perfect game, but I think one instance of ominous murmuring is proof enough—camp's haunted. When it comes to actually recording—not hearing something over the Parabolic from the other side of the map—I struggled with the Tier 1 Sound Recorder. Upgrading to the Tier 3 device predictably made the task way easier, but I still wasn't always clear on why some recordings didn't make it into the journal as evidence. I'm assuming it's some combination of being a huge wuss and good ole Phas jank, but it was never so cumbersome that I drove off in frustration. If it's not obvious already, sometimes I'm the truck friend, but that's more acceptable now. Chronicle makes things harder in plenty of ways, but it's also kind to your easily spooked buddies by adding more options for monitoring the action from a safe distance. They can watch for the usual ghost behaviors from a much nicer video interface or participate in recording footage, assuming you set the cameras up properly. On more than one occasion, I did wind up back in the ghost room trying to move cameras around for a more accurate picture, but it's nothing players aren't used to now. Sometimes a ghost would do multiple things at once, like trigger a motion sensor and throw something, so I'd wind up with a duplicate recording trying to score something unique. Duplicates are worth less and don't count toward a perfect investigation, so it's a bummer when it happens. But I just took it as a chance to play more strategically by picking up tools I was done with or taking a little more care with the record button. It's a patch I was feeling a little on the fence about, not convinced a media rework was a big deal, but I'm happily wrong. It's impressive how careful little tweaks to the Phasmophobia formula so easily reinvigorate a ghost hunt. Add a few unfamiliar sounds and limit some of my old habits, then I'm floundering like it's day one again. It's not punitive either, I don't feel punished for limiting my old shortcuts to bonuses. Instead, the Chronicle update just forces more of that giddy terror, tempting my ghost-hunting gang with more rewards for playing with an expanded toolset.
Yahoo
11 hours ago
- Yahoo
P Diddy trial replay: Prosecutors and Combs' lawyers focus on 'freak offs' as testimony ends
This page reflects the news from Sean "Diddy" Combs' trial on Tuesday, June 24. For the latest updates from Diddy's trial, read USA TODAY's live coverage for Wednesday, June 25. This story contains graphic descriptions that some readers may find disturbing. Sean "Diddy" Combs' bombshell criminal trial entered its homestretch after prosecutors finalized their case against the embattled hip-hop mogul, and his defense lawyers quickly wrapped up their response. Attorneys for the U.S. government and Combs' legal team on June 24 focused on graphic evidence from the rapper's alleged "freak off" sex parties. They went over video footage, text messages and other materials as they questioned Homeland Security agent Joseph Cerciello about everything from travel and hotel records to payments for male escorts. Diddy on trial newsletter: Step inside the courtroom as music mogul faces sex-crimes charges. Prosecutors continued to paint a picture of Combs and his employees being personally involved with organizing "freak offs," working with escorts, Combs' partners and others. They rested their case midday, handing it over to the defense team to make their argument in the sweeping federal sex-crimes case. Combs' lawyers largely argued that the rapper's former partners were willingly in relationships with him, and he didn't conspire with his orbit of employees. They will not call any witnesses. Combs, 55, was arrested in September and charged with sex trafficking, racketeering and transportation to engage in prostitution. He has pleaded not guilty. Combs' lawyers rested their case in less than a half hour on June 24. They did not call any witnesses to the stand. Their arguments, which began at roughly 3:07 p.m. and ended at 3:31 p.m., mainly focused on romantic − and occasionally explicit − texts between Combs and his ex-girlfriend Cassie Ventura Fine. In one text exchange from Feb. 14, 2017, Ventura Fine said, "Omg thank you so much," and Combs replied, "Teamwork makes the dream work. Happy Valentine's Day." In another exchange from that year, Combs said he wanted to have sex "for 48 hours." Ventura Fine replied, "How you want to do it?" and Combs responded, "You think you can FO without being high?" FO referred to "freak offs." She responded that she could participate without using drugs. A 2017 text exchange showed Ventura Fine asking for a picture of Combs' genitals. In another, Ventura Fine said, "I miss you," and Combs responded, "So what you gonna do?" She replied, "Be your little freak." The embattled rapper verbally confirmed on June 24 he did not want to take the stand – one of the only times Combs spoke out loud during his weekslong trial. Judge Arun Subramanian asked Combs' lead lawyer Marc Agnifilo if he spoke with his client about his right to testify, and Agnifilo said they discussed it at length. Combs exchanged a few remarks with the judge, saying he was doing "great" and that he thought the judge was managing the trial well. The rapper said it was "solely my decision" not to to testify, and he "thoroughly" discussed it with his legal team. After jurors were dismissed for a break, Combs' defense lawyers asked the judge for a swift acquittal. The move is known as a "Rule 29 motion," and it's typical in criminal trials. Combs' lawyer Alexandra Shapiro argued that "no reasonable juror could find him guilty" based on the evidence prosecutors have provided. While addressing Combs' racketeering charge, the lawyer claimed that the government failed to show that employees conspired with the rapper to commit any potential crimes. She admitted employees ran errands and helped set up and clean hotel rooms, but she said "they did not have anything to do with what went on with Combs and his girlfriends in the hotel room – other than that they used a lot of baby oil and Astroglide, drank alcohol, and maybe did drugs." Shapiro also claimed Combs didn't involve his staff in booking escorts. She noted that it was almost always Ventura Fine and another ex-girlfriend identified under the pseudonym "Jane" who assisted. In fact, Shapiro said, Combs went out of his way to hide escorts from his employees by not letting them come to his house at times. Finally, she explained that several witnesses testified about Combs' security repeatedly trying to stop him from being violent with his partners. Shapiro appeared to be arguing that these were moments in which Combs' employees disobeyed him – instead of allegedly conspiring with him. As Combs' defense sought acquittal, they also tried to cast doubt on allegations against Combs of witness tampering, forced labor, kidnaping, sex trafficking and transportation for the purposes of prostitution. Regarding the alleged sex trafficking of Ventura Fine and "Jane," Shapiro reiterated the defense's oft-used phrase that "Domestic violence is not sex trafficking." His lawyers have acknowledged the rapper has previously been violent – but they deny he's guilty of sex trafficking. Text messages between Ventura Fine and Combs showed she sometimes wanted to participate in "freak offs," per his attorney. As for transporting sex workers, Shapiro claimed there was no evidence the escorts were paid to engage in prostitution – as opposed to being compensated for their time. People were paid even when there was no sex, Shapiro said. In addition there is 'no evidence' Combs was involved in the Kid Cudi arson incident, Shapiro said. The rapper, whose real name is Scott Mescudi, testified that his car was destroyed by a Molotov cocktail around the same time he was dating Ventura Fine, and there was major friction with Combs over the relationship. Combs defense attorney Teny Geragos kept Cerciello on the stand for more than three hours and went through dozens of texts between Combs and Jane. Some of the messages were seemingly loving and warm, while others were explicit about alleged freak-offs. Several messages revolved around keeping their private life behind closed doors. In one of the text exchanges, Jane asked Combs to have an employee print a non-disclosure agreement. After Combs asked Jane about an escort they hired, she replied that he "seems cool, babe," adding, "Hopefully he doesn't know anyone we know lol. I'm just gonna make sure he signs the paper." Jurors also saw another text exchange between Combs and Paul Arthur, his personal trainer and an alleged participant in "freak offs." "She's so horny, I need help!" Combs wrote, adding, "This is a 911 freak emergency!" Arthur simply replied "lol." Combs continued to send a picture of Shaquille O'Neill, one of the "trifecta" of basketball legends that they frequently used as nicknames during "freak offs." Jurors were shown more videos of "freak-offs" as Geragos ended cross-examination. Prosecutors have rested their case in Combs' trial, meaning it's Combs' lawyer's turn to present their argument. However, the attorneys are not expected to call any witnesses. Combs' defense team told Subramanian they wanted to introduce more texts between Combs and Ventura Fine into evidence. In one message, Combs said "You think you can freak off without getting high?" and she replied yes. The prosecution said it should have been discussed when Combs' ex-girlfriend was on the stand, but the judge disagreed. In another text, Combs suggested he and Ventura Fine go to couples counseling, but she declined. Subramanian said it wasn't sufficiently relevant, and the messages are not going into evidence for the case. But why these message? Combs' lawyers have repeatedly tried to show Ventura Fine wasn't coerced in her relationship with Combs. While on the stand, the singer alleged he physically, sexually and psychologically abused her for years. As Cerciello continued his testimony on June 23, the jury was shown several videos of Jane. Lead prosecutor Maurene Comey called the videos "explicit" several times. The jury watched the footage for about 20 minutes while wearing headphones. The monitors that had been shown to the courtroom gallery were turned off, and reporters couldn't see the videos. Cerciello said all the videos featured Jane and sex worker Sly Williams. Combs was also seen in some of the footage. The agent mainly looked up and around the courtroom gallery rather than at his screen while the videos played. Discover WITNESS: Access our exclusive collection of true crime stories, podcasts, videos and more During the June 23 hearing, Combs' defense attorney Teny Geragos introduced text messages between Combs and Jane, in which the anonymous witness was enthusiastic about some sexual acts between the couple. "I really had a great night," Jane said in one message. The move comes as Combs' lawyers have argued that many of the rapper's partners were willing participants in his alleged sexual performances. Geragos also played sealed videos for Cerciello and the jury, but there was no audio or visuals for the courtroom. During a September 2024 press conference, U.S. attorney Damian Williams detailed the paraphernalia discovered during the federal raids of Combs' homes. The items included multiple AR-15 guns, large-capacity magazines, "evidence" of Combs' alleged sex crimes and over 1,000 bottles of baby oil and lubricant. According to Combs' original indictment, the baby oil bottles were used during the hip-hop mogul's alleged "freak-off" parties, which were described as "elaborate and produced sex performances" that involved sex workers. Combs and his employees conducted "freak offs" by booking hotel rooms and stocking them with supplies such as baby oil, lube, extra bedsheets and lighting, per the indictment. The rapper allegedly "arranged, directed" and "masturbated" during these sometimes dayslong "performances," and drugs were reportedly distributed to victims, in part, to keep them "obedient and compliant." Combs is facing federal sex-crimes and trafficking charges in a sprawling case that has eroded his status as a power player and kingmaker in the entertainment industry. He was arrested in September 2024 and later charged with racketeering, sex trafficking and transportation to engage in prostitution. The rapper has pleaded not guilty to the five counts against him. Racketeering is the participation in an illegal scheme under the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Statute, or RICO, as a way for the U.S. government to prosecute organizations that contribute to criminal activity. Using RICO law, which is typically aimed at targeting multi-person criminal organizations, prosecutors allege that Combs coerced victims, some of whom they say were sex workers, through intimidation and narcotics to participate in "freak offs" — sometimes dayslong sex performances that federal prosecutors allege they have on video. The trial will not be televised, as cameras are typically not allowed in federal criminal trial proceedings. USA TODAY will be reporting live from the courtroom. Sign up for our newsletter for more updates. Contributing: USA TODAY staff If you are a survivor of sexual assault, RAINN offers support through the National Sexual Assault Hotline at (4673) and and en Español If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, call the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233 or text "START" to 88788. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: P Diddy trial recap: Combs' lawyers, prosecutors focus on 'freak offs'
Fast Company
a day ago
- Business
- Fast Company
Intuit bets big on AI to boost efficiency and trust in QuickBooks
When it comes to AI agents, the makers of QuickBooks are hoping that you're 'into it.' Intuit—the fintech platform that owns TurboTax, Credit Karma, Mailchimp, and QuickBooks—announced that it has implemented a new set of AI agents into its products. The company showcased how the AI agents work within QuickBooks at an event on June 24, and Fast Company was able to see a demonstration of how the agents can help business owners and entrepreneurs use them to speed up their bookkeeping and accounting processes. QuickBooks will incorporate a Payments Agent, an Accounting Agent, a Customer Agent, and a Finance Agent, all of which are designed to become intimately familiar with a business's specific customer base and financial track record, offer up insights, and make additional analyses. And though it's just now being rolled out, the new AI capabilities have been in the works for a long time. 'This is five or six years in the making,' Sasan Goodarzi, Intuit's CEO, tells Fast Company. 'We've made huge investments in the past five years,' he says, and the company has taken its time because when it comes to bookkeeping and accounting, 'accuracy matters.' In other words, Goodarzi says that while an AI tool like ChatGPT might spit out wrong or incorrect information, a customer relying on QuickBooks to crunch their numbers needs to be absolutely sure and trust in Intuit's accuracy—otherwise, they could find themselves with serious issues. As such, Intuit wanted to make sure everything was above board before launching to its full customer base. 'If it screws up, it's a big problem,' he says. Additionally, Goodarzi says that business owners are relying on a huge number of apps and platforms to run their companies, an issue that Intuit is trying to simplify. 'What I'm hearing from customers all the time is that they're over-digitized, there are too many apps. They're not getting the benefit from their time and money,' he says. 'This is about creating a one-stop shop, a refreshed way to discover all of the capabilities within QuickBooks,' he says, noting that many of Intuit's customers are unaware of how many tools exist within the QuickBooks ecosystem. And it's the discovery and engagement with those tools that Goodarzi says 'has been the area of the most positive feedback.' But the primary question: Are the AI implementations actually producing value for users? Yes, Goodarzi says. He notes that during the testing phase, the new AI capabilities have led to significant time and money savings for users, though that can be difficult to quantify, and expects that the new features will both resonate with QuickBooks' wider user base when they officially launch on July 1, and help the company's bottom line. 'I was talking about AI changing the world six years ago, and people were laughing at me,' he says. Now, 'we're actually seeing natural adoption, driving incredible value.' The extended deadline for Fast Company's Next Big Things in Tech Awards is this Friday, June 27, at 11:59 p.m. PT. Apply today.
Yahoo
2 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
‘60s teen heartthrob dies at 81 following Stage 4 cancer diagnosis
Bobby Sherman, a well-known singer and actor from the 1960s, has died at age 81. Brigitte Poublon, Sherman's wife, announced her husband's death in a joint Instagram post with close friend John Stamos on Tuesday, June 24. 'Bobby left this world holding my hand — just as he held up our life with love, courage, and unwavering grace through all 29 beautiful years of marriage," Poublon wrote. 'I was his Cinderella, and he was my Prince Charming. Even in his final days, he stayed strong for me. That's who Bobby was — brave, gentle, and full of light.' 'He lived with integrity, gave without hesitation, and loved with his whole heart,' she continued. 'Though our family feels his loss profoundly, we also feel the warmth of his legacy — his voice, his laughter, his music, his mission.' While no official cause of death was disclosed, Sherman was diagnosed with Stage 4 cancer in March. Poublon told Fox News in April that her husband was fighting kidney cancer that had 'spread everywhere,' adding he was 'terminally ill.' 'He's just sleeping more and his body's not working anymore,' Poublon told Fox News. 'Everything's shutting down.' She also told Fox News that the outpouring of love and support from Sherman's fans has 'been overwhelming.' This was something Poublon reiterated in her tribute post to Sherman. 'As he rested, I read him fan letters from all over the world — words of love and gratitude that lifted his spirits and reminded him of how deeply he was cherished. He soaked up every word with that familiar sparkle in his eye. And yes, he still found time to crack well-timed jokes,' she wrote in the Instagram post. 'Thank you to every fan who ever sang along, who ever wrote a letter, who ever sent love his way. He felt it. Rest gently, my love.' The singer and actor has also received support from several industry friends, including John Stamos who met Sherman at the Brigitte and Bobby Sherman Children's Foundation a few years ago, according to Fox News. 'We've been best friends ever [since],' Poublon told the outlet. 'John's been very great about giving support the last few years too.' Born in California, Sherman became a teen idol in the 1960s and early 1970s, according to PEOPLE. He had a series of successful singles, including 'Easy Come, Easy Go,' 'Julie, Do Ya Love Me' and 'Little Woman,' which peaked at No. 3 on the Billboard Hot 100 and sold more than a million copies. Sherman's big break came when portrayed Jeremy Bolt, a charmer and romantic, in the western TV series, 'Here Come the Brides.' Sherman left show business in the 1970s and became a certified medical emergency technician and instructor for the Los Angeles Police Department, according to his wife. 'He was a man of service,' Poublon wrote. 'He saved lives. He showed us what real heroism looks like — quiet, selfless, and deeply human." In addition to his wife, Sherman is survived by his two sons — Tyler and Christopher — and six grandchildren. Pop star shares 'lows and highs' amid breast cancer diagnosis Country star recovering after hospitalized for 'not making sense' on stage Legendary musician boycotting Rock & Roll Hall of Fame induction Chart-topping '60s pop singer dies at 82: 'He will be greatly missed' TV icon expecting 8th child at age 70 Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
3 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Olivia Newton-John Documentary About Her Rise and Challenges She Faced After Worldwide Fame Heading to Netflix
Netflix announced on Tuesday, June 24, that a new documentary about Olivia Newton-John will be released on the streaming service The untitled project will be directed by Oscar-nominated filmmaker Nicole Newnham The streamer did not announce when the film will be releasedOlivia Newton-John fans will get an entirely new look at the late actress and her career in an upcoming documentary. Netflix announced on Tuesday, June 24, that a new documentary directed by Nicole Newnham will come to the streamer, a Netflix spokesperson confirmed to PEOPLE. Newnham's 2020 Netflix documentary Crip Camp: A Disability Revolution, earned an Oscar nomination. The untitled film will explore 'the music, life, and magic of beloved pop star and cultural phenom Olivia Newton-John,' according to a release, per Deadline, which was the first to report the news. 'In her own words, through vivid archival and via reminiscences from close friends and collaborators, we'll follow Olivia's journey as the world falls madly in love with her and she ascends to the height of fame, only to be confronted by challenges of epic proportions.' 'This is the story of a woman who was perpetually underestimated despite her mesmerizing talent, ultimately silencing her detractors by pushing through phenomenal loss and pain with grace and gratitude,' the release read. 'By discovering how to stay true to her beliefs, Olivia changed our culture for the better, bending it towards kindness, inclusivity, and love.' 'Olivia always signed her letters 'love and light' and that is the shimmering and hopeful legacy she has left us,' Newnham said, per Deadline. 'As a young girl, I fell in love with her, listening to Grease on the record player on repeat. But this unique filmmaking journey – deep into the archives and into the amazing community of Olivia's close friends and family – has revealed a complex and extraordinary woman whose impact on the world is still rippling outwards.' The documentary will be produced by R.J. Cutler and his production company This Machine, which previously worked on Billie Eilish: The World's a Little Blurry, Elton John: Never Too Late and Martha. Newton-John died of breast cancer in August 2022. She was 73. She announced in May 2017 that she was diagnosed with breast cancer, which had metastasized to the sacrum. Newton-John was born in the U.K. in 1948, before her family moved to Australia when she was 5 years old. After winning an Australian TV talent contest, she began touring with Pat Farrar for their act Pat & Olivia. By 1971, her solo career had kicked off, with two albums – If Not For You and Olivia. Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. In 1978, the 12-time Grammy nominee's acting career took off with Grease, in which she starred opposite John Travolta. The Golden Globe nominee then starred in the 1980 musical, Xanadu, before later appearing with Travolta again in 1983's Two of a Kind. Despite a few other film and television roles, Newton-John's focus returned to music. In 1992, she revealed her first diagnosis with breast cancer. Her battle — which included a partial mastectomy, chemotherapy and breast reconstruction — ultimately led to the creation of the Olivia Newton-John Cancer Wellness & Research Centre in Melbourne. Newton-John spent the rest of her life as an advocate for cancer awareness and research. Read the original article on People
