On Saturday, U.S. authorities issued subpoenas to controversial political commentator Hasan Piker and Medea Benjamin, co-founder of CODEPINK, following their recent visit to Cuba amid potential violations of sanctions and travel rules, according to Fox News.
Both Piker and Benjamin traveled to Cuba in March 2026 as part of the “Nuestra América Convoy,” a humanitarian aid effort aimed at delivering food, medicine, and solar panels to those in need. The mission also served as a protest against the ongoing U.S. economic sanctions imposed on Cuba.
The report from Fox News indicates that the subpoenas are being issued by the Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC), which is now investigating Piker and Benjamin for possible violations of U.S. sanctions laws concerning Cuba.
US Authorities Issue Subpoenas to Political Commentator Hasan Piker
It is also noted that individuals involved in the convoy may have established contact with Cuban officials.
In response, Medea Benjamin took to social media, writing, “Taking medical supplies to pediatric hospitals in Cuba is now a crime? Saving the lives of babies is a crime? This administration’s actions are beyond grotesque.” Hasan Piker, who also uses the handle HasanAbi, reposted her message.
Taking medical supplies to pediatric hospitals in Cuba is now a crime? Saving the lives of babies is a crime? This administration’s actions are beyond grotesque. https://t.co/xsvQGEYzb8 — Medea Benjamin (@medeabenjamin) May 24, 2026
The controversy continues as U.S. investigations unfold regarding their trip and activities connected to Cuba.
Controversial streaming personality Sneako was recently assaulted during a live session in New York City on April 14, with clips of the incident circulating widely across social media platforms.
The far-right influencer was seen walking along a sidewalk in NYC when he was abruptly approached by another individual and thrown to the ground. The reasons behind the attack remain unclear.
Video: Streamer Sneako gets punched during a New York live stream
Sneako just got sucker punched while streaming in New York pic.twitter.com/qQUWmx1HdM
— FearBuck (@FearedBuck) April 14, 2026
In response, Sneako took to X (formerly Twitter) to address the incident, assuring his followers, “I’m okay, we’ve got it under control. Going live again in an hour for Professor Jiang X Dave Smith.”
Later, he added, “I got hit, you can see it in the video. I was hit a few times, then I got up and immediately the attacker pulled out a mask and ran away. It doesn’t make sense that it was a random person.”
Sneako is known for sparking controversy through his content, which shifts from philosophical musings to unfiltered, far-right opinions on politics and other issues. Despite bans on several platforms, he has managed to return to YouTube and Kick, where he primarily shares his content.
🚨#UPDATE: Sneako appears on Kick with a chipped tooth after being attacked on the streets of New York City. pic.twitter.com/ArepM9u8CO
— R A W S A L E R T S (@rawsalerts) April 14, 2026
Digital Phablet – Twitch streamer and rapper Aspen Kartier was recently detained on charges of animal cruelty after allegedly striking a puppy during a live broadcast, igniting widespread outrage among her viewers and social media audiences.
Sources report that the individual, whose full name is Aspen Easterling, was taken into custody and transported to DeKalb County Jail following numerous complaints about the viral footage. Investigations revealed that the dog involved was a three-month-old Maltipoo discovered inside Aspen’s residence during a search warrant. Officials noted that the puppy “appeared to be in good health.”
Warning: Graphic footage below:
Aspen Kartier Arrested for Animal Cruelty After Allegedly Assaulting Her Puppy
🚨 Trigger Warning ⚠️ @aspenkartier — I can’t believe this horrible, disgusting, and cruel person… Someone needs to intervene and save that poor puppy!!!! And hold that awful person accountable!!!!! #animalabuse #ASPCA #Peta #Chicagoanimalrescue #ChicagoTwitter #ChicagoX #Chicago
— ITS_KRIA (@Orteza) January 29, 2026
Authorities confirmed that an ongoing investigation is underway. Although Aspen denied abusing the puppy, DeKalb County Animal Control took custody of the animal. As a consequence of the incident, Twitch imposed a ban on Aspen until late March 2026.
Viewers and social media users expressed their horror and distress over the footage, which appeared to show Aspen roughly handling her puppy.
Reactions from nonprofit group PETA included a statement posted on X (formerly Twitter), saying, “Following the circulation of an upsetting video allegedly showing Twitch streamer Aspen Kartier mistreating her dog, PETA coordinated with Brookhaven Police to secure an arrest on cruelty charges and ensure the dog’s rescue!”
PETA further emphasized, “Thanks to everyone who spoke out about this case! Never stay silent if you witness abuse.”
Aspen Kartier was detained last night after going viral for improper treatment of her dog 😳 [Link to footage] — clip 🛸 (@clippedszn) January 31, 2026
Authorities have indicated that their investigation is active. While Aspen insists she did not harm the dog, DeKalb County Animal Control retains custody of the puppy. The incident led Twitch to suspend her account until the end of March 2026.
Social media communities quickly condemned the act, describing the video as distressing and inexcusable, emphasizing the importance of protecting vulnerable animals from abuse.
BlockBlasters wasn’t just a game; it was a $150,000 crypto heist concealed within Steam
Source: X (@rastalandTV)
Steam’s latest crisis demonstrates how quickly a “cute indie game” can morph into a “cryptocurrency drain.”
The game, titled BlockBlasters, debuted on Steam in July, seemingly harmless with retro-inspired visuals. But on August 30, an insidious update containing malware went live. The malicious code included scripts that bypassed antivirus protections, hijacked browsers, and emptied crypto wallets.
By the time cybersecurity experts identified the attack, over $150,000 had been stolen from hundreds of victims.
One of the most severe cases involved Latvian Twitch streamer Raivo “RastalandTV” Plavnieks, who is fighting stage-4 cancer and had been fundraising through his streams to cover treatment costs. After downloading BlockBlasters during a live broadcast, he watched as $32,000 of his supporters’ donations disappeared—funds meant to keep him alive.
Valve removed the game on September 21, almost a month after the malicious update was released—yet by then, damage was done.
Every security breach represents real people suffering genuine losses. For gamers and content creators, staying vigilant online isn’t optional; it’s essential for survival. Even major gaming platforms can deliver malware if nobody’s paying attention, and if you store cryptocurrency or sensitive data on the same PC you game on, you’re basically playing Russian roulette with your finances.
The most unsettling aspect of Silent Hill f? It’s not actually Silent Hill.
Image credits: X (@Silenthilll)
Konami’s Silent Hill ‘f’ feels less like a haunting return and more like an anime-inspired spin-off with a stolen name badge.
It abandons the franchise’s signature psychological horror, complex lore, and eerie otherworldly environments for a story penned by a cosplay-obsessed anime fan, reminiscent of early 2000s schoolyard horror where classmates secretly plot murders.
The “Dark Shrine” nightmare realm is dull and repetitive rather than terrifying; the tiny, uninspired world lacks atmosphere, and untranslated environmental text leaves non-Japanese players at a disadvantage.
Combat feels sluggish, the interface is clunky, and despite a 10-hour playtime with promises of multiple endings, the game fails to evoke the series’ core horror charm. Honestly, the most disturbing thing might be how far Silent Hill ‘f’ strays from the original series.
“Yo, pass the vape—I wanna fire up Doom.”
Source: Aaron Christophel
“If it has a screen, it can run Doom.” An old saying from 1993. I thought getting Doom to run on a pregnancy test was a true achievement, but I was wrong. So naive.
Aaron Christophel, a software developer and hardware hacker, managed to run the classic shooter on the Aspire Pixo Kit. What makes this device unique is its small color display and a 32-bit microcontroller, allowing Doom to run at a choppy 6 FPS on the vape.
It’s not running natively on the vape, though. The game is streamed from a PC to the device via USB. Since the vape has just 64 KB of RAM—nowhere near the 4 MB Doom requires—it can’t run directly. Still, turning a vape into a secondary monitor is a neat trick and a fun proof of concept.
And of course, the inevitable question: Can it run Crysis?
Digital Phablet – French streamer Jean Pormanove passes away during a live broadcast, prompting an investigation.
Police reports state that Raphaël Graven, also known as Jean Pormanove, was found deceased at his residence in Contes, a town located north of Nice.
Throughout his streams, the 46-year-old exhibited episodes of violence and was reported to have insufficient sleep. According to local media, he peacefully died in his sleep while live on air.
Clara Chappaz, a French government minister, confirmed that a criminal investigation is currently ongoing. She described Mr. Gravenove’s death and the violent circumstances he endured as an “absolutely horrifying” experience, mentioning that he had been subjected to humiliation for months.
Kick, a live-streaming platform similar to Twitch, allows users to broadcast content and engage with viewers in real time. A representative from Kick told the BBC that the company is “urgently investigating” the circumstances surrounding the streamer’s death.
“We are deeply saddened by the passing of Jean Pormanove and offer our condolences to his family, friends, and community,” they stated.
The platform’s community guidelines aim to “protect creators,” and Kick’s spokesperson emphasized the company’s commitment to maintaining these standards across the platform.
Chappaz, who oversees digital technologies and artificial intelligence, stated she has brought this matter to the attention of Arcom, France’s media regulator, as well as Pharos, a system used to report online content.
France’s High Commissioner for Children, Sarah El Haïry, described the incident as “horrifying.”
On social media, she stressed the importance of content moderation, stating, “There is an enormous responsibility on platforms to monitor online content so that our children are not exposed to violence. I urge parents to be vigilant,” she wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
The prosecutor’s office has launched an investigation into the death and has ordered an autopsy.
Mr. Pormanove had amassed over one million followers on all his social media channels, including a dedicated community on Kick.
He shared his thoughts and updates regularly, and many followers remembered him fondly. Owen Cenazandotti, also known as Naruto, referred to him as his “brother, sidekick, partner,” and requested that people respect his memory by refraining from sharing videos of his final moments online.
He expressed his grief on Instagram, asking fans to honor Jean Pormanove’s memory and to respect his dignity during this difficult time.
The second annual Esports World Cup (EWC) is currently taking place and has sparked debate in the esports community. This event is funded by Saudi Arabia’s public investment fund (PIF), which has raised concerns about sportswashing, a strategy where sports events are used to improve a country’s image.
Saudi Arabia has a history of human rights violations. In 2022, the nation executed over 190 people, including 81 in one day, according to Human Rights Watch. Being LGBTQ+ is illegal and can lead to the death penalty, as reported by Human Dignity Trust.
Women in Saudi Arabia must have a male guardian for almost all activities, including getting jobs, traveling, and even medical procedures. Individuals protesting this system have been detained and subjected to torture, including electrocution and sexual assault, according to Amnesty International.
Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman was found to have ordered the assassination of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in 2018, as stated in an investigation by the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency (The Washington Post).
Many other human rights abuses are documented in Saudi Arabia.
The League of Legends part of the EWC will start on July 16. Notable streamer Christian “IWDominate” Rivera announced that he will not co-stream the event, even though he was offered a significant sum of money for it.
Rivera stated, “I will not be co-streaming EWC. I was offered an ungodly amount of money (more than three times what I make in a month on stream) for five days, but I didn’t feel right taking the offer.” He added that while he understands others might accept such offers due to financial pressures, he prefers to skip the event and resume streaming when the League of Legends Pro League returns in six days.
In contrast, popular streamer Marc Robert “Caedrel” Lamont plans to stream the event, leading to mixed reactions from his followers. A community centered on Lamont, known as Pedro’s Peepos, is actively discussing his decision to co-stream.
Lamont claims his stream is neutral regarding politics, but some fans criticize this view, arguing that ignoring the political issues surrounding the event is a political stance itself (source).
Meanwhile, Riot Games, the developer of League of Legends, allowed the EWC to sponsor this year’s Mid-Season Invitational and has paused its competitive schedule for the past two years to let top teams compete in the event.
This isn’t the first time Riot faced backlash over Saudi sponsorship. In 2020, the League of Legends European Championship (LEC) tried to secure a sponsorship with Neom, a planned city in Saudi Arabia, but withdrew after on-air talent protested the deal.
Saudi Arabia continues to invest heavily in esports, funding both the Esports World Cup and various teams under the Team Falcons name across different game titles.
League of Legends Details
League of Legends
Released: October 27, 2009
ESRB: T for Teen: Blood, Fantasy Violence, Mild Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Tobacco
At CES 2025, FiiO unveiled three exciting new audio products, ranging from an economical portable player to a robust headphone amplifier/DAC/streamer blend, along with their first full-size network music streamer featuring a striking 7.8-inch touchscreen. All models are set to launch in late January.
FiiO S15, $1,000
Fiio
This marks FiiO's first full-size music streamer, making excellent use of the spacious layout with a large 7.8-inch touchscreen that nearly fills the front panel. It runs on FiiO OS, rooted in Android 12, allowing users to navigate and manage the streamer’s extensive settings.
Powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 660 processor (4GB RAM/64GB ROM), this Roon Ready device features an AK4191+AK4499EX DAC configuration and includes an M.2 hard drive slot for expanded storage. FiiO claims it integrates their proprietary DAPS (digital audio purification system), engineered around a custom Android audio core and a low-jitter clock coprocessor, operating at both system and application levels to support appropriate PCM and DSD music sampling rates.
Connectivity options are abundant, including:
Coaxial in: up to 192kHz/24bit
Coaxial out: up to 384kHz/24bit; DSD128 (D2P/DOP)
Optical in: up to 96kHz/24bit
Optical out: up to 192kHz/24bit
HDMI in: up to 192kHz/24bit
HDMI out: up to 192kHz/24bit
Bluetooth transmission: AAC/SBC/aptX/aptX HD/LDAC/LHDC
Bluetooth reception: SBC/AAC/aptX/aptX-LL/aptX-HD/aptX-Adaptive/LDAC
Local playback supports up to 384kHz/32bit PCM and DSD256 (native), while the USB DAC can handle up to 768kHz/32bit PCM and DSD512 (native), with identical specs available in USB Audio mode.
FiiO K17, $900
Fiio
The FiiO K17 serves as an advanced headphone amplifier, delivering 4000mW per channel with front-facing outputs to accommodate a variety of headphone connections. It also functions as a capable streaming device. The 3.93-inch touchscreen primarily displays visually appealing VU meters, but it also provides access to streaming, Bluetooth, and local USB playback features.
Equipped with the same AKM flagship DAC chips (AK4191 + AK4499EX) as the S15, the K17 boasts multiple digital and analog inputs and outputs, including an RCA input for connection to a turntable. It comes with a remote control, along with the FiiO Connect app for customized settings and adjustable touchscreen displays. To create a complete audio system, simply pair it with powered speakers.
Additional specifications include:
Global 31-band professional-grade high-precision lossless PEQ
Three ultra-low phase noise femtosecond oscillators
Fully balanced audio architecture
35-watt low-noise, low-frequency linear power supply
3.93-inch LCD touchscreen
Dual-band WiFi (2.4G/5G) and a 1000M Ethernet port
FiiO JM21, $149
Fiio
Nostalgia for the iPod era has sparked interest in the FiiO JM21, which is available for $149. This Android 13 portable music player features a slim design of just 13mm and claims a battery life of up to 12 hours.
Equipped with dual CS43198 DACs, 3GB of RAM, and 32GB of expandable storage (up to 2TB via MicroSD), it allows for far more music storage and playback than older iPod models. Additionally, it offers dual headphone outputs—3.5mm unbalanced and 4.4mm balanced.
Full specifications have yet to be released, so details on Bluetooth support and native DSD file playback remain unclear; however, here’s what we know:
Qualcomm Snapdragon 680
Amp: SGM8262
Dimensions: 120.7 x 68 x 13mm
Display: 4.7-inch bezel-less screen (750×1334)
Operating system: Android 13
Wi-Fi: supports both 2.4GHz and 5GHz, with DLNA, AirPlay, and Wi-Fi song transfer functionalities
