Comedian, actor, and entertainer Bill Bellamy will be presented with the Icon Award at the 2026 Whats Funny Comedy Festival, recognizing his decades of excellence and impact on stand-up comedy and entertainment.
The Whats Funny Comedy Festival was co-founded by Knowledge Beckom and Lil Rel Howery (“Get Out,” “Rel,” “Vacation Friends 2”) with the mission to spotlight Black and Brown comedians and make Chicago the “next great home of comedy discovery.”
The festival’s upcoming third edition will be held September 19-26 at venues throughout Chicago, including Comedy Bar, Laugh Factory, Bellagio 223, ETA Theater, and Wax Vinyl Bar. More than 50 comedians from 20 cities will perform in showcases, including Cousin Tiera, Correy Bell, Eva Evans, Rich Thomas, Shang and Chris ‘CP’ Powell, host of the latest reboot of BET’s “Comic View.”
On Sept. 21, Bellamy will receive the Icon Award during the inaugural Whats Funny Today Show Chicago Comedy Legends ceremony. Bellamy will be honored alongside 15 Chicago comedians whose careers helped shape the city’s comedy legacy. The celebration will conclude with a live taping of the “Whats Funny Today Show” podcast featuring Bellamy and special guests.
Another one of the week’s marquee events will be the live taping of Howery’s next stand-up comedy special on Sept. 20; his previous special, “Rel Talk,” was filmed during the inaugural Whats Funny Comedy Festival and released on Tubi last year. Howery will also lead a master class, sharing insights from his journey through stand-up, television and film.
“The Whats Funny Comedy Festival was created to celebrate the incredible legacy of Black comedy while creating meaningful opportunities for today’s comedians to learn, perform, and build lasting careers,” Beckom, the festival’s co-founder and executive director, said in a statement. “Every year we strive to elevate the experience for audiences and performers alike, and 2026 will be our biggest and most impactful festival yet.”
For the full schedule, tickets and additional information, visit the Whats Funny Comedy Festival website.
Vitalik Buterin says Ethereum has elevated quantum security and privacy since its 2023 roadmap.
Ethereum researchers are increasingly relying on STARKs and AI-assisted formal verification.
The roadmap also includes native rollups and explores a future beyond the EVM.
Ethereum co-founder Vitalik Buterin says quantum resistance, privacy, and AI-assisted security have become greater priorities for Ethereum since he published his 2023 roadmap.
In a post on X on Monday, Buterin said he updated his 2023 roadmap to compare its original goals with Ethereum’s current “Strawmap”—a working outline of the network’s long-term technical priorities.
“What’s most striking, however, is that some completely new things are in the strawmap that are not in this diagram, because they were not in the 2023 roadmap at all,” Buterin wrote. “These reflect changing priorities.”
Among those priorities are stronger privacy and scaling designed for a post-quantum world, alongside efforts to push the “lean-ification of the spec,” or simplify Ethereum’s technical specifications.
“A common theme in scaling, found in both state types and zkzk frames (both new ideas), is that instead of trying to maximally scale all Ethereum activity,” Buterin wrote. “We try to create specialized mechanisms that have more restrictive properties that make them more scaling-friendly, while supporting the heaviest loads incurred by users and applications today (eg. token transfers, swaps) and tomorrow (eg. privacy protocols).”
According to Buterin, advances in AI are making it practical to apply the technique more extensively to Ethereum.
Buterin said Ethereum is increasingly relying on STARKs, a cryptographic technology used to verify computations, and AI-assisted verification, to check that the protocol works as intended.
“This can only be safe with formal verification, which is itself only feasible with modern AI tools,” he wrote.
Buterin’s post comes as Ethereum has accelerated preparations for “Q-Day” and the potential threat posed by quantum computers.
In January, Buterin urged developers to adopt quantum-resistant cryptography before the threat becomes immediate, and the Ethereum Foundation formed a dedicated post-quantum team. In February, Buterin outlined a phased plan to replace four potentially vulnerable components of Ethereum’s cryptographic architecture.
In July, Buterin put quantum safety and privacy at the center of his proposed “Lean Ethereum” overhaul, which calls for replacing quantum-vulnerable cryptography with quantum-safe alternatives.
“Ethereum will be quantum-safe. Ethereum will put users’ privacy first. Ethereum will be secure,” Buterin wrote. “Ethereum will be censorship-resistant. Ethereum will be highly performant and scalable while satisfying the above. And Ethereum will be Lean.”
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Worldcoin [$WLD] surged by over 10% in the last 24 hours and sustained the upward momentum for the fourth day in a row to cross the $0.34 resistance.
The price move places $WLD at a critical point as buyers attempt to invalidate the bearish structure that has dominated price action since June.
Besides, the current rally helped $WLD break out above the upper boundary of the pennant consolidation pattern, indicating the potential formation of a trend reversal. A daily candle close above $0.34 will confirm the breakout.
Source: TradingView
Worldcoin’s trading activity is also supporting the recovery
That’s not all; Worldcoin’s trading volume has recorded a 150% increase to $211 million, suggesting a sharp increase in market participation as the token surges aggressively.
The surge in volume provides stronger confirmation for the breakout because sustained buying activity can help prevent the move from becoming a short-lived price spike.
Source: Santiment
Derivative data is also sparking similar signals
Worldcoin’s Open Interest gained by 10.44% to $169.4 million over the same period, indicating that traders are adding new positions as price momentum strengthens.
The network’s rising Open Interest alongside a price rally suggests fresh capital is entering the market and could amplify $WLD’s upside if buyers maintain control.
Source: Coinalyze
Moreover, long positions currently account for approximately 60% of total $WLD market exposure, giving bulls a modest advantage. This positioning supports the bullish setup, although an excessively crowded long market could also increase liquidation risks if $WLD fails to sustain its breakout.
Source: Coinalyze
Is $0.40 next for the bulls?
More than $1 million in liquidity remains concentrated between $0.37 and $0.40, creating a significant liquidity pocket above the current price.
If buyers sustain momentum, $WLD could be drawn toward this zone as its price action hunts for the unmitigated liquidation clusters.
Source: CoinGlass
Final Summary
$WLD gained by more than 10% in 24 hours, breaking above $0.34 as buyers challenge the token’s recent bearish structure.
Rising volume, Open Interest, and $1 million-plus liquidity between $0.37 and $0.40 could support a move toward $0.40.
Followers of the blind Bulgarian mystic, who died in 1996 aged 84, have claimed that two of her five prophecies for 2026 have already come true, leaving the remaining predictions to play out in the next few months.
They’re not predictions of world peace or us all winning the lottery, either. Instead, some are actually pretty bleak.
The first new prediction is perhaps the wildest: Baba Vanga is said to have claimed that a massive spacecraft will visit Earth this year.
We could soon be sharing our planet with aliens (Picture: Getty Images/iStockphoto)
Reportedly set for November, she alleged that it will enter the atmosphere and mark humanity’s first official contact with an extraterrestrial civilisation.
However, the mystic was unclear about whether the visitors come in peace or as a threat. Hopefully, it’s the former. We’d have no qualms about E.T making an appearance on Earth.
Unfortunately — and due to the state of world affairs right now — the second is a little easier to believe.
Alongside meeting aliens, Baba Vanga also predicted that 2026 would be the year World War III breaks out.
Baba Vanga is said to have predicted everything from COVID to the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami (Picture: Getty Images)
Interpretations of the prophecy say China would attempt to seize Taiwan.
Meanwhile, it’s claimed that tensions between Russia and the US would escalate into direct conflict.
Finally, the third prophecy suggests that Russian President Vladimir Putin will lose power and be replaced by a new leader, all before 2027 starts.
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For almost 20 years, Putin has ruled Russian politics. The 73-year-old is also set to stay in office until 2036, after he signed a law which allowed him to extend his rule.
That is, unless the prophecy is correct.
Putin’s future is reportedly uncertain too (Picture: POOL/AFP via Getty Images)
Speculation about Putin’s future — both political and health-wise — has circulated for years. There have been many conspiracy theories surrounding the leader, from him using body doubles to claims that he had died.
Singapore’s Silver Media Group has signed a memorandum of understanding with Indonesian boxing legend Chris John to develop “Dragon’s Dojo,” a mobile-first vertical animated series drawing on Indonesian folklore.
The project marks the first chapter of the ASERYA Asian Mythology Franchise.
The venture unites Silver Media Group with Chris John, longtime Indonesian TV executive Harun Kurniawan and Koollab Studios as co-production partners.
“Dragon’s Dojo” launches the ASERYA Universe, an interconnected Asian mythology franchise spanning animation, comics, games and merchandise. The universe pairs real-world figures with young protagonists, folklore and mythical beings drawn from across the continent, with the goal of introducing Asian stories to global audiences.
The story follows ancient creatures appearing in the modern world, prompting heroes from different countries to confront a rising darkness threatening the region. In “Dragon’s Dojo,” Chris John takes on an animated alter ego, cast as the head instructor and mentor at the show’s namesake martial arts academy, which works with young people facing hardship. As creatures from Indonesian mythology emerge to threaten his students’ community, Chris and his pupils find their fight extends beyond monsters to their own inner struggles.
The series is designed as a multi-platform franchise with potential extensions into comics, games and merchandise.
Chan Gin Kai, founder and CEO of Silver Media Group, said Asia holds some of the richest histories, cultures and mythologies in the world, but many of these stories remain little known outside their home countries.
“With ASERYA, we want to build an interconnected universe where these stories can come alive for a new generation of audiences,” Chan said. “‘Dragon’s Dojo’ is the beginning of that journey in Indonesia, combining the legacy of a true champion in Chris John with the power of mythology, action and values-driven storytelling. As we open the door to a wider universe of stories from across Asia, we hope to share this rich heritage with the world.”
Chris John said martial arts involves more than learning how to fight, teaching discipline, respect, courage and how to face life’s challenges. “Throughout my career, boxing has taught me that the greatest victories are not only achieved in the ring, but also in overcoming the challenges we face every day,” he said. “‘Dragon’s Dojo’ brings these values into an exciting adventure where young people can discover their strength, purpose and the courage to find their own path while experiencing the richness of Indonesian mythology.”
Kurniawan said Indonesia has extraordinary stories, legends and cultural heritage passed down through generations. “‘Dragon’s Dojo’ gives us an opportunity to bring these elements into a contemporary format and introduce them to audiences around the world,” he said. “We are creating something that is proudly Indonesian while being part of a much larger Asian storytelling universe.”
Koollab Studios co-founder Oliver Guse said the future of entertainment will be shaped by the collaboration between human creativity, technology and new approaches to storytelling. “At Koollab Studios, we believe innovation should empower creators to tell bigger and more ambitious stories while preserving the authenticity and emotional heart that make them meaningful,” Guse said. “‘Dragon’s Dojo’ represents an exciting opportunity to combine creative vision with new production possibilities, bringing Indonesia’s rich culture and mythology to audiences around the world.”
“Dragon’s Dojo” is in development, with production and release details to be announced.
Silver Media Group, founded by Golden Horse Award-winning producer Chan Gin Kai, manages a portfolio of more than 1,500 intellectual property assets spanning film, animation, games and graphic novels. The company has partnered with a fund manager licensed by the Monetary Authority of Singapore to establish the Silver Media Fund, an institutional-grade media investment vehicle focused on developing and financing scalable IP.
Koollab Studios was co-founded by Guse, who has spent three decades working in animation production, and focuses on production workflows built around emerging technologies.
“We view this as the first of several rulemakings the SEC will undertake to provide regulatory certainty for crypto assets after the Senate failed before the August recess to advance the Clarity Act on crypto market structure,” TD Cowen analyst Jaret Seiberg wrote in a client note sent after the SEC’s notice.
The proposal is expected to give a path to crypto firms enabling them to raise capital for projects without triggering SEC registration requirements, and the businesses are also expected to be provided an exit path for getting clear of the agency’s jurisdiction when they’re not engaged in hands-on management of the projects anymore.
Before this, Atkins and the agency had rolled through a lengthy series of crypto policy statements meant to clarify its regulatory position on digital assets, but the staff statements have little long-term durability. A formal rulemaking would be more difficult to reverse in the future.
But the rule will likely take further months to develop and finalize. This first stage will come with a comment period — typically two or three months — and be followed by a potentially lengthy rewrite.
Reg Crypto would join some of the other significant steps the agency has taken or is still working on to foster the U.S. crypto industry. One of the major moves was a joint stance with the Commodity Futures Trading Commission on a “taxonomy” to define how they view various crypto assets and which jurisdictions they belong in. The agency is also still working on its tokenized securities approach, which Atkins routinely mentions as one of the SEC’s marquee crypto maneuvers.
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A jaw-dropping photo taken with an iPhone 250 miles above Earth has captured the incredible sight of a super typhoon over the Pacific Ocean.
The image was taken by Nasa astronaut Anil Menon while aboard the International Space Station (ISS), offering a stunning bird’s-eye view of the colossal storm system churning across the ocean below.
The picture, which was taken on August 2, reveals a tightly wound spiral of towering cloud bands wrapped around a clearly defined eye as the cyclone made its way across the western Pacific.
While the dramatic photo looked like it had been photographed using specialist camera equipment, it was actually taken on an iPhone – a capability made possible after Nasa recently began allowing astronauts to carry personal smartphones on missions.
Sharing the image, Menon wrote: ‘The Pacific Ocean this morning from the cupola with an iPhone.’
The super typhoon as seen from space – and it’s breathtaking (Picture: Anil Menon/Cover Images)
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Viewed from orbit, the immense scale of the weather system becomes clear, with the storm dominating hundreds of miles of open ocean in a single frame.
He didn’t identify the storm by name, but Menon’s image is believed to have captured Super Typhoon Dolphin, which rapidly strengthened over exceptionally warm waters before moving towards Japan earlier this week.
A tree submerged in a river after Typhoon Dolphin hit China’s Zhejiang province (Picture: AP)
China has evacuated more than 1,000,000 from their homes after the typhoon brought heavy rain and strong winds, triggering a red alert.
Winds hit 94mph when it hit the Zhejiang province on Sunday.
The photograph was taken from the ISS’s Cupola – a seven-window observation module widely regarded as offering astronauts the best views of Earth.
Solana is currently trading above $76, following a recovery of more than 6% over the past week, along with the rest of the top crypto market.
With several bullish signals now aligning, one analyst believes $SOL could be headed toward a level not seen since February 2026 if the current setup confirms a breakout.
Constructive Picture
According to Ali Martinez, Solana appears to be trading within a parallel channel, and $78 has emerged as an important level. A break above the mid-range near this level could push $SOL toward the channel’s upper boundary around $100.
The analyst also identified a buy signal from the TD Sequential on the crypto asset’s daily chart. The setup typically anticipates a 1-4 candle upswing or the start of a new “bullish countdown.” The resistance trendline at $78.7 is near the mid-range, which makes it a crucial level for confirmation.
At the same time, the MACD has printed a golden cross, adding another sign that $SOL may be approaching an upside breakout. If these signals are confirmed, Martinez says that the altcoin could be on its way to $100.
Trader Pepesso previously said that $SOL had one of the cleanest setups in crypto. At the time, he pointed to the $45-$60 range as the area to watch, while explaining that the same zone had triggered the asset’s 2023-2024 bull run. A move back into that range would still fit the accumulation view, as long as $45 held on a retest. A decisive break below it would invalidate the setup.
On the upside, Pepesso identified $100 as the first major confirmation point. If $SOL reclaimed that level, the $150-$200 range would come into focus, followed by a potential move toward the previous cycle high.
Ethereum Stays on Top of RWA Market as Solana Strengthens Its Position
Base Passes Solana in Curated Capital Milestone (Flash News)
Big Moves
Away from the price chart, the blockchain had a busy week on the network side. For example, BlackRock also brought another investment product to Solana with the launch of BRSRV, a money market fund designed to support stablecoin reserves.
Meanwhile, Western Union’s launch of Stablecard also added another real-world use case for the blockchain. The digital wallet and Visa-secured credit card use USDPT, a US dollar-backed stablecoin issued by Anchorage Digital Bank on Solana.
Take-Two Interactive also brought tokenized TTWO shares to the network through Backpack Securities, with each token backed 1:1 by the underlying stock.
Additionally, Solana processed a record 1.01 billion non-vote transactions in a single week. Tokenized equities also recorded around $1.45 billion in volume in July, giving the network about 82% of the global market share.
The war on Iran is exposing shortages in US weapons stockpiles, raising questions about years of defence spending. As a former Pentagon official points out, after less than five months of fighting the US is already running out of ammunition against a ‘middle-tier country’.
The BFI London Film Festival has announced that two of the U.K.’s most acclaimed producers will lead the industry program at its upcoming 70th edition.
Pippa Harris, who produced “Hamnet,” “1917” and is currently working on “The Beatles” biopics, and James Wilson, who produced “The Zone of Interest,” “The Voice of Hind Rajab” and “Under the Skin,” are set to take part in their own spotlight conversations as part of the LFF’s industry forum.
Harris and Wilson will, according to the festival, discuss their careers, current projects and navigating the international film and TV market in a rapidly changing landscape.
“This year our industry programme puts a spotlight on producers and the vital role they play in shepherding artistic visions from their earliest stages through to the screen,” said BFI London Film Festival director Kristy Matheson. “I’m delighted that industry colleagues will have the opportunity to hear from Pippa Harris and James Wilson – two esteemed producers whose unique creative careers have given us some of the most memorable and critically acclaimed films of recent years.”
Harris is best-known for her longstanding partnership with Sam Mendes, with whom she co-founded Neal Street Productions. Alongside Oscar and BAFTA winners “Hamnet” and “1917,” her film credits including “Revolutionary Road,” “Jarhead” and recent family feature “The Magic Faraway Tree,” while on TV her productions include “Call the Midwife,” “Penny Dreadful” and “Britannia.”
Wilson, meanwhile, has an ongoing collaboration with director Jonathan Glazer, with whom he’s worked on both the Oscar and BAFTA-winning “The Zone of Interest” and “Under the Skin.” Last year, he produced Kaouther Ben Hania’s Oscar-nominated “The Voice of Hind Rajab,” while his other credits include Lynne Ramsay’s “You Were Never Really Here,” Aneil Karia’s “Hamlet” and “20,000 Days on Earth,” directed by Iain Forsyth and Jane Pollard.
The full LFF industry forum programme will be announced mid- September. The festival runs Oct 7-18.
