Protocol Village: Fountain, Podcast App With Bitcoin Lightning Network Payments, Launches Redesign
New York City Moves to End Most Uses of Solitary Confinement
EU state’s leader pledges to block Ukraine’s NATO bid
Letting Kiev into the bloc would mean WWIII, Slovakian PM Robert Fico has said
Slovakia will not agree to letting Ukraine become a member of NATO, Prime Minister Robert Fico has said in an interview.…
Great British Bake Off’s festive Christmas desserts aren’t so naughty after all
![four smiling people at a festive picnic table munching on a tasty snack](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/bakeoff1-800x533.jpg)
Enlarge / Great British Bake Off judges Paul Hollywood and Prue Leith (top) and presenters Alison Hammond and Noel Fielding. (credit: Mark Bourdillon/Love Productions/Channel 4)
The Great British Bake Off (TGBBO)—aka The Great British Baking Show in the US and Canada—features amateur bakers competing each week in a series of baking challenges, culminating in a single winner.
Putin Green-lights Russian Digital Ruble Tax Law
![A form that has been stamped with an “approved stamp,” being signed by a fountain pen.](https://cryptonews.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/1703083177-adobestock_151062939.jpeg)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed off on a law that will see the digital ruble incorporated into the nation’s tax code.…
Senate Wraps Up Year, Punting Ukraine Aid and Other Issues to 2024
All-inclusive holidays ‘far from being all in’ as tourists spending ‘hundreds of pounds on extras’
Warner Bros. Discovery in Talks to Merge With Paramount
For the first time, ULA’s Vulcan rocket is fully stacked at Cape Canaveral
![United Launch Alliance's first Vulcan rocket stands 202 feet (61.6 meters) tall with the addition of its payload fairing.](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/53411134640_bac69f0726_k-800x600.jpg)
Enlarge / United Launch Alliance's first Vulcan rocket stands 202 feet (61.6 meters) tall with the addition of its payload fairing.
Lexus’ LBX is the luxury city car you never knew you didn’t need
A “Compliance Car” is a vehicle designed not to be sold in large quantities but to satisfy rules around range-wide consumption.…
We Found 14 Popular Christmas Toys Worth Gifting (and 3 to Avoid)
Between Midjourney and DALL-E 3, Which AI Image Generator Is Best
Midjourney and DALL-E 3 are two of the best known AI image generators available right now, and you can easily get started with either (or both) of them today.…
The Colorado Ruling is Likely to Land Before the Supreme Court
Man Cleared of Murder After More Than 48 Years in Prison
The four podcast stories that will shape 2024
![Play and pause buttons](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/q2UImdMtC_J-Jau9OPV6poJPz4g=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72984507/STK427_Audio_Buttons_01.0.jpg)
This is Hot Pod, The Verge’s newsletter about podcasting and the audio industry. Sign up here for more.…
The People’s Joker Will Finally Get a Theatrical Release in 2024
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Last year the Toronto International Film Festival played host to The People’s Joker, a queer, comedic re-imagining of Batman’s legendary foil in a Gotham City where crime was outlawed.…
With Trump Declared an ‘Insurrectionist,’ His Rivals Pull Their Punches, Again
7.1 million miles, 3 minor injuries: Waymo’s safety data looks good
![Sensors on top of a Waymo car.](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/IPACE_2-800x533.jpg)
Enlarge (credit: Waymo)
Waymo on Wednesday released new crash data based on the company's first 7.1 million miles of fully driverless operations in Arizona and California.
The Speed of Culture Podcast: What Do 2023 Holiday Shopping Trends Mean for 2024 Retail Spending?
The first annual VTuber Awards was a win for VR
On stream, Filian took the stage at the center of a colossal arena, lit with violet spotlights and surrounded by crowds of fans holding lightsticks.…
U.S. Charges Hezbollah Operative in 1994 Bombing of Argentina Jewish Center
U.S. Defense Chief Says Israeli Shift Would Reduce Fears of a Regional War
Emerge 2023 Company of the Year: Nvidia
The Best Deals on Laptops That Will Arrive by Christmas
Surprising someone with a new laptop can be a tricky endeavor unless you were given clear directions as to what they're looking for in a new machine.…
What Is the 14th Amendment, and How Could It Disqualify Trump in Colorado?
All iPhone 16 models to get A18 processor according to iOS 18 code leak
The FTC proposes new rules to curb the monetization of children’s data
![An illustration featuring eyes and locks](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/YHMX6qG1Girw09OIq_ssIHStEyw=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72984454/acastro_190204_1777_privacy_0002.0.jpg)
The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has proposed new changes to the regulations it currently enforces under the Children’s Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), seeking to further limit the collection and use of children’s data by tech companies, especially when used for targeted advertising.…
Steam is going to let you hide the games you don’t want your friends to see
![The Steam logo](https://cdn.vox-cdn.com/thumbor/LtZ4S5jihRVOq9tsrS0-XmLDjd0=/0x0:2040x1360/1310x873/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/72984451/STK138_Stream_Kradtke_03.0.jpg)
Valve announced a new privacy feature for the Steam client today that lets players choose whether certain games they buy and own are visible to others on the platform.…