Crooked Bough News Round-up

— States may sue to prevent Paramount, Warner Bros. merger

 

at 6/5/26 6:41pm

The attorneys general of several states are preparing to file a lawsuit to prevent the merger of Paramount Skydance and Warner Bros. Discovery.

— Treasury Dept. asks banks to look for signs of illegal immigrant labor

 

at 6/5/26 5:29pm

The Treasury Department issued an advisory to financial institutions to "be vigilant" against signs of unlawful employment of illegal immigrants.

— President Lee calls remains repatriation proof of U.S.-South Korea alliance

 

at 6/5/26 5:12pm

President Lee said that mutual repatriation of Korean War remains by S. Korea & U.S. is "the most compelling evidence" of an alliance forged in blood.

— S. Korea Protesters block Seoul counting center after ballot dispute

 

at 6/5/26 4:37pm

Protesters who had blocked a polling station in Seoul's Songpa district for two nights and three days moved Friday to a vote-counting center.

— South Korea election chief to resign over ballot shortage

 

at 6/5/26 4:31pm

S. Korea's election chief said he will resign to take responsibility for ballot shortages that disrupted voting during the June 3 local elections.

— South Korea says nuclear sub plan still calls for local build

 

at 6/5/26 4:27pm

S. Korea's presidential office said no major change in the plan to build nuclear-powered submarines in S. Korea as Seoul and Washington resume talks.

— Samsung Electronics to offer $261M in vouchers to customers

 

at 6/5/26 4:23pm

Samsung said Friday it will launch a monthlong customer appreciation campaign worth 400 billion won, as part of a broader social contribution plan.

— South Korean President to visit Europe for G7 summit, Vatican meeting

 

at 6/5/26 4:17pm

President Lee Jae-myung will visit Europe from Tuesday through June 18 to attend the Seven summit in Évian, France, and hold meetings, official said

— South Korean air defense stocks surge on Middle East demand

 

at 6/5/26 4:11pm

S. Korean defense stocks are surging as Middle Eastern countries press for faster deliveries of Korean-made missile defense systems, officials said.

— South Africa rolls out twice-yearly HIV prevention drug

 

at 6/5/26 3:41pm

South African officials on Friday announced that the HIV prevention drug Lenacapavir is now available there, calling it a "turning point."

— Anthropic warns that AI needs a 'brake pedal'

 

at 6/5/26 1:58pm

Artificial intelligence company Anthropic issued a warning about systems that can improve themselves and said that humans need a way to intervene.

— Paraguayan fans try to resell World Cup tickets after U.S. visa denials

 

at 6/5/26 1:46pm

Paraguayan fans have begun to resell tickets for national team matches at the World Cup after visa applications to travel to the U.S. were denied

— Brendan Banfield sentenced to life for killing wife, stranger

 

at 6/5/26 12:59pm

Brendan Banfield, a man convicted of killing his wife and a stranger in a plot with an au pair, was sentenced Friday to life in prison without parole.

— Lebanon appeals for additional $331.5 million in aid

 

at 6/5/26 12:27pm

Lebanon on Friday launched a new, urgent humanitarian appeal, its second since the latest escalation in the Israel-Hezbollah war began in March.

— Judge: Trump must restart immigration, asylum processing

 

at 6/5/26 12:01pm

A federal judge canceled a batch of Trump's immigration policies, forcing the administration to begin processing immigration and asylum applications.

— 'Lioness' Season 3 to premiere on Paramount+ in August

 

at 6/5/26 11:46am

"Lioness," the spy thriller from Taylor Sheridan starring Zoe Saldaña and Nicole Kidman, will return for a third season on Paramount+ in August.

— Watch: World's largest game of human foosball played in Ontario

 

at 6/5/26 11:43am

The Ontario Lottery and Gaming Corp. celebrated the upcoming FIFA World Cup by organizing the world's largest game of human foosball.

— ISS crew returns after brief stint in 'safe haven' because of leaks

 

at 6/5/26 11:31am

NASA briefly moved five of the seven crew members aboard the International Space Station to the docked SpaceX Crew Dragon "Freedom" due to leaks.

— Michigan man's road trip ritual leads to $2M lottery prize

 

at 6/5/26 11:26am

A Michigan man's ritual of always buying a scratch-off lottery ticket before a road trip paid off with a $2 million top prize.

— Rising costs in Argentina, much of Latin America send retirees to work

 

at 6/5/26 11:26am

A growing number of retirees in Argentina and across Latin America are returning to work to supplement incomes that no longer cover basic expenses.

— Phoebe Bridgers to kick off 'Lost' tour in September

 

at 6/5/26 11:20am

Phoebe Bridgers announced "The Lost Tour," a new tour of North America and Europe, on Friday. She told fans "no phones" at the concerts.

As of 6/5/26 6:52pm. Last new 6/5/26 6:52pm.