IT General

Natalie Tran has spent most of her life performing. She started acting at just 5 years old, built a career in theater and film, and eventually found an unexpected creative outlet through short-form videos on TikTok. But rather than replacing her acting ambitions, content creation has become a springboard for something bigger.

In this conversation with Mashable Culture Editor Crystal Bell at VidCon 2026, Tran reflects on what happened after one of her comedy sketches went viral and how she turned that momentum into a sustainable creative career. She explains why making short-form videos taught her the fundamentals of directing, editing, and storytelling, how those skills carried over into writing and directing her first short film, Passion Project, and why she believes creators are increasingly carving out their own path into film and television.

Tran also shares her philosophy on authenticity, balancing sketch comedy with her off-camera personality, navigating comments and metrics, and why she thinks passion — not algorithms — is still the most important ingredient for building a lasting career online.

Watch the full interview above.

TL;DR: Live stream Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free on BBC iPlayer. Access this free streaming platform from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The knockout stage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup is heating up. Now Spain return to action against Austria in the Round of 32.

Spain, the European Champions, secured two decisive wins in the group stage, defeating Saudi Arabia and Uruguay. Most fans would expect them to now beat Austria, a team that crept into the knockouts thanks to a last-minute goal. This still looks like a really competitive game.

If you want to watch Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we have all the information you need.

When is Spain vs. Austria?

Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup kicks off at 3 p.m. ET on July 2. This fixture takes place at the Los Angeles Stadium.

How to watch Spain vs. Austria for free

Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup is available to live stream for free on BBC iPlayer.

BBC iPlayer is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can access this free streaming platform with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can unblock BBC iPlayer to live stream the 2026 World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Live stream Spain vs. Austria for free by following these simple steps:

1. Subscribe to a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice (the best VPNs have apps for Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Linux, and more)

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer

5. Watch Spain vs. Austria for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but most do offer free-trials or money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can access free live streams of the 2026 World Cup without actually spending anything. This obviously isn't a long-term solution, but it does give you enough time to stream Spain vs. Austria (plus more World Cup fixtures) before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for BBC iPlayer?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on BBC iPlayer, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries including the UK

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

Live stream Spain vs. Austria in the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free.

Taylor Swift's latest era? Bridal.

For months, fans have wondered when Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce would finally say "I do" after announcing their engagement last August. This week, those questions shifted into overdrive as reports of heightened security and elaborate preparations around New York City's iconic Madison Square Garden fueled speculation that the wedding is just days away. The timing has only added to the frenzy — the celebration is rumored to coincide with Fourth of July weekend, a holiday Swift has long called one of her favorites and famously celebrates with her star-studded Rhode Island parties.

SEE ALSO: In defense of Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce’s rumored MSG wedding

Whether you're a Swiftie refreshing your feed for to-the-minute updates or someone who just opened X to find "Taylor wedding" trending, it's easy to feel like you've missed a chapter.

The reports have been plentiful. The theories, even more so. Here's everything we know about the rumored wedding weekend, along with what hasn't been confirmed yet.

Is Taylor Swift getting married this weekend?

It certainly seems that way.

After months of speculation following their engagement, multiple reports now point to the 4th of July weekend as the couple's long-awaited wedding celebration. On Wednesday, the Associated Press reported that Swift and Kelce are expected to wed at Madison Square Garden on Friday evening, with a more intimate rehearsal dinner planned for Thursday night. People, meanwhile, has spent the week chronicling the wedding preparations, reporting everything from a black-tie dress code and no-phone policy to celebrity guests arriving in New York ahead of the festivities.

The preparations around New York City's Madison Square Garden have only fueled the excitement, as workers wearing Taylor Swift t-shirts have been spotted unloading equipment from trucks outside the Manhattan arena.

That said, neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly confirmed a wedding date or venue. As with nearly every milestone in their relationship, the couple appears to be keeping the biggest details under wraps until they're ready to share them.

Why is Madison Square Garden at the center of the wedding rumors?

If you've seen Madison Square Garden trending alongside Swift's name, you're not imagining things.

The iconic arena has become the focal point of wedding speculation after reports of extensive event preparations, increased security measures, and activity surrounding the venue began circulating online. Fans quickly connected the dots, wondering whether one of the world's most recognizable entertainment venues could also become the backdrop for the biggest celebrity wedding of the year.

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani even addressed the rumors during a recent press conference about the extreme heat wave hitting the city this weekend. "My recommendation to all New Yorkers is to stay inside and stay cool. And if you happen to be getting married at Madison Square Garden, you will be staying inside, and you will be staying cool. And I think it's a good example to set for the city at large."

The mayor followed up with an Instagram post advising New Yorkers on ways to beat the heat. "Here’s what you should know about the historic heat wave headed our way," the post read. "Especially if you’re (hypothetically) having your wedding at MSG this weekend."

Whether the Garden is hosting the ceremony itself, part of the festivities, or simply another event tied to the wedding weekend remains unconfirmed.

Who's rumored to be attending Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce's wedding?

A Taylor Swift wedding was never going to be a quiet affair, at least on the internet. And the star-studded, 1000-person guest list is shaping up to be almost as headline-worthy as the wedding itself.

Several attendees have either confirmed their invitations or have been identified through reporting. Among them are San Francisco 49er George Kittle, Claire Kittle, Kansas City Chiefs coach Andy Reid, Graham Norton, and Suki Waterhouse. Other close friends, including Ed Sheeran and Zoë Kravitz, are widely expected to attend, though their invitations haven't been publicly confirmed.

One notable absence? Prince William and Catherine, Princess of Wales. After weeks of speculation, People reported that the Prince and Princess of Wales won't be making the trip to New York after all. However, the kings of New York — aka the Knicks starting five — reportedly did make the guest list.

Who else makes the final guest list remains one of the weekend's biggest mysteries. With Swift's decades-long friendships across music, film, and television, and Kelce's ties to the NFL, fans are expecting no shortage of A-list arrivals. We'll be on the lookout for Swift's childhood BFF Abigail Anderson.

What has Taylor Swift actually confirmed?

Officially? Almost nothing. That's become something of a pattern for Swift. While fans have become experts at decoding Easter eggs, the singer has increasingly chosen to share life's biggest milestones on her own terms — and often after the fact.

View this post on Instagram

Beyond announcing their engagement, neither Swift nor Kelce has publicly shared details about wedding plans, including the date, venue, or ceremony. Instead, much of what the public knows has come from reporting by outlets including the Associated Press, The New York Times, and People, which have pieced together details from permits, venue preparations, and sources familiar with the celebration.

Until Swift or Kelce makes it official, everything falls on a spectrum from credible reporting to enthusiastic internet detective work.

When will we know for sure?

Probably when Taylor Swift wants us to.

According to People, guests have been instructed to follow a strict no-phone policy, with phones reportedly being collected upon arrival. Combined with the event's extensive security measures, that could make this one of the rare celebrity weddings where very little leaks in real time.

Of course, this is Taylor Swift we're talking about. If anyone can pull off one of the year's most anticipated events without the internet immediately spoiling it, it's probably her.

Until then, the wedding remains exactly where Swift has always seemed most comfortable: at the center of the internet's attention, with millions of people trying to decode the plan while the mastermind stays one step ahead.

Are you in the market for a new NAS? While at one point in time, Synology was a default choice, these days it's not so simple. Sometimes Synology is the right pick, and other times you should go with something else entirely—like UniFi.

It seems like OpenAI CEO Sam Altman has learned a lesson from Intel. If you want the Trump administration to back off your company, simply provide them with an ownership stake in it.

According to a new report from the Financial Times, OpenAI, which is currently valued at $854 billion, is currently in early talks to give the U.S. government a five percent stake in the company. OpenAI CEO Altman has reportedly discussed the stake buy-in as a way to ease political pressure from Trump and his administration, according to the Financial Times report, which also states Altman has reportedly argued that doing so will also "share the upside of AI" with the public.

The White House has increasingly involved itself in matters related to the release of new AI models in recent months. The Trump administration reportedly requested that OpenAI stagger its future AI model releases, starting with the upcoming GPT 5.6. The U.S. government wants OpenAI to first release new AI models to a select group of close partners before any public launches.

Last month, the Trump administration forced OpenAI competitor Anthropic to remove its powerful new Claude Fable 5 and Mythos 5 AI models from public use. The administration issued an export control directive ordering a ban on foreign nationals using the models. To comply with the government order, Anthropic suspended the models entirely.

The Trump administration lifted the order on Wednesday following negotiations with Anthropic, allowing the company to make the models available to the public again. Anthropic reportedly agreed to work with the U.S. government on future AI model releases.

Anthropic and the Trump administration have openly feuded before regarding the use of AI models. Earlier this year, the Trump administration designated Anthropic a "supply-chain risk" to national security after disagreements arose over how the U.S. government could use Anthropic's AI models. 

OpenAI is likely seeking to avoid similar confrontations with the U.S. government as it prepares to go public in the near future.

Last summer, President Donald Trump openly called for the resignation of Intel CEO Lip-Bu Tan. However, Trump seemingly backed off after the U.S. government took a 10 percent stake in the chipmaker.

I was 18 for most of 2005, and I have fond memories not only about that time in my life but also the technology that came to define it. So is this pure nostalgia, or is there something desirable about a simpler time?

Jessica McCabe didn't start her channel, "How to ADHD," with the goal of becoming one of YouTube's leading mental health creators. She started it because she needed somewhere she wouldn't lose her own notes.

SEE ALSO: Jessica McCabe built 'How to ADHD' by solving her own biggest problem

At VidCon 2026, McCabe sat down with Mashable reporter Bethany Allard to discuss how that personal project evolved into a trusted resource for millions of people living with ADHD. She shares how her research process has changed over the years, why she works with researchers to ensure every video is evidence-based, how she built a team around the channel, and what she's learned about balancing authenticity with the responsibility of creating mental health content.

Watch the full conversation above.

After eight long years, it looks like Google is finally going to have to pay off that big EU fine.

Reuters reported that the Court of Justice of the European Union has ruled against Google in its latest attempt to appeal a massive €4.1 billion fine initially imposed in 2018. The EU's reasoning then and now was that Google used the Android operating system in anti-competitive ways, such as heavily incentivizing users to use Google Search and Chrome on new Android devices.

SEE ALSO: Google launches Nano Banana 2 Lite and Gemini Omni Flash. How to try them now

Google did change some of its policies over the years to duck and weave additional EU penalties, but the fine (which comes in at nearly $5 billion in U.S. dollars) is still in place, and now that Google has lost this latest appeal, it might not have much of a choice but to pay it. The "good" news for Google is that, due to a 2022 decision, the fine was cut down from €4.34 billion to €4.1 billion.

At any rate, Google isn't the first U.S. tech company to learn that the EU is serious about antitrust matters, and it probably won't be the last.

At this year’s British Grand Prix, 22 fully drivable Lego mini cars will take to the track as part of the F1 Drivers’ Parade at Silverstone, turning one of the most familiar moments of the race weekend into a full-scale Lego spectacle.

It's a really fun collaboration between Formula 1 and the Lego Group, continuing a partnership that’s already proven to be a fan favorite. Last year’s Miami Grand Prix saw Lego cars take part in the Drivers’ Parade, quickly becoming one of the most talked-about moments of the season. Now, the idea is back — and it’s even bigger this time around.

SEE ALSO: How F1 became a global obsession

Each of the 22 Lego minicars are built using more than 28,000 bricks. The Drivers’ Parade takes place about an hour and a half before lights out on Sunday, July 5, and gives fans a chance to see all 22 drivers on track together ahead of the race.

Each Lego minicar is designed in the 2026 Formula 1 team colors and includes individual driver numbers, so fans can easily spot their favorites as they circle the track.

Formula 1 aims to bring a more creative, fan-focused feel to the weekend, adding another layer of entertainment to the race experience.

“Last year’s F1 Drivers’ Parade in Miami with the Lego big build cars was one of the most memorable and talked-about moments of the season,” said Formula 1 Chief Commercial Officer Emily Prazer. “This year, we’re building on that moment to create an incredible spectacle for fans attending the British Grand Prix and those watching globally.”

The Lego Group added that fan reaction in Miami helped bring the idea back for Silverstone — this time on a bigger scale.

UPDATE: A Siren Head movie has now been confirmed by the Hollywood Reporter to be in the works at Warner Bros. Pictures, with Zach Cregger (Weapons) and Brian Duffield (Whalefall) teaming up on the script.

Monsters that have long been haunting the internet are finding their way to the big screen.

2026 has already been a huge year for the world of creepypasta (internet urban legends) intersecting with Hollywood. Backrooms, Kane Parsons' feature length adaptation of his own series of YouTube shorts, has brought in $300 million at the global box office in four weeks. The Third Parent, an upcoming horror movie based on Elias Witherow's Tommy Taffy short story series that went viral on Reddit's r/NoSleep sub, is due for release next January.

The question is, will another internet nightmare soon be joining their ranks? Could Siren Head, the towering monster created by artist Trevor Henderson, be the next creepypasta to get the movie treatment? Nothing is confirmed yet — but if you look closely, there are clues.

SEE ALSO: 'Backrooms' review: Does the online creepypasta make a good full-length movie? What is Siren Head?

In a nutshell, Siren Head is a monster the height of a telegraph pole that's capable of blending into its surroundings while it hunts human prey. It was created by Henderson back in 2018, after a follower called Cally sent him an image of a graveyard framed against a blue sky. At this point Henderson was quickly building his social media by drawing monsters that he'd splice into photos. He liked Cally's image, and tried to draw something that he thought would look scary standing among the tombstones. Just like that, Siren Head was born.

"I was just drawing a long, emaciated figure, and I just had the idea to put a siren for its head because a) that noise has always terrified me, and b) I've always been kind of obsessed with the idea of numbers stations," Henderson told Mashable back in 2022. "Numbers stations are these radio broadcasts that are constantly playing — and no-one can identify their origins or what they're supposed to accomplish — that are just weird snippets of music, and strange voices saying odd number combinations. There's a lot of theories that they're like old Russian spy channels that have been abandoned and are still counting out codes."

Credit: Trevor Henderson

It's difficult to overstate just how popular Siren Head has become in the years since Henderson shared that first image. It was a slow burn initially, but when YouTuber Markiplier — who recently had his own feature film success with Iron Lung — started talking about the monster on his channel in early 2020, millions of people tuned in.

The thing is now all over the internet. Siren Head-inspired content has millions of views on TikTok and YouTube. There are multiple unofficial Siren Head games on Steam and merchandise on Amazon (much of which has been created without Henderson's knowledge or permission).

"The internet just kind of takes stuff," Henderson said. "And there's not a lot you can do, really, especially when a character blows up like Siren Head did. It kind of stops becoming yours, in some ways, and starts becoming everyone's."

Is a Siren Head movie in the works?

Speculation around a possible movie adaptation has been ramping up over the past week. There's been a couple of reasons for this. First, Henderson has started posting frequently about the creature again on Instagram.

By itself, this isn't that unusual. Although Henderson has created hundreds of monsters, Siren Head is a favorite that pops up now and then. But it's worth noting that the frequency of his posts has dialled up — there have been a handful over the last week alone, including some found footage-style Reels featuring the creature's trademark siren call.

What's even more intriguing, though, is who's been commenting on these posts.

View this post on Instagram

Beneath the above image, which Henderson posted about a week ago, movie producer Scott Glassgold replied with several eyes emoji. Glassgold, who founded production company 12:01 Films, is a big name in the horror movie space, particularly when it comes to adaptations based on viral internet urban legends (he's previously been involved in a number of deals, including stories that originally started on Reddit).

Credit: Instagram

Glassgold's comment didn't go unnoticed. A commenter asked him directly about the possibility of a Siren Head movie in response, to which he replied with three slightly cryptic siren emoji. Henderson himself then responded to Glassgold with a little megaphone. Mashable reached out to Glassgold to ask about the possibility of a film, and his response was just as cryptic. "I'm a huge fan of Trevor's and will be first in line to see anything he does," Glassgold said.

Henderson, when asked about the potential for a movie, also didn't give much away. “I'd be delighted," he told Mashable. "I think Siren Head has a lot of potential to be expanded into a film, but we’ll have to see. Either way, it makes me very happy that people still respond positively to the creature design in 2026."

Credit: Instagram Credit: Instagram

So, what does it all mean? Well so far, there have been no official announcements and this is all speculative. But Glassgold's comments — plus the fact he's been sharing Henderson's recent Siren Head Reels — seem too deliberate to be chalked up to mere coincidence.

Here's hoping the creepypasta-to-movie pipeline gets a telegraph pole-sized extension in the near future.

Disclosure: The author of this text shares the same film/TV representative as Trevor Henderson. All reporting was conducted independently.

TL;DR: All 104 matches of the 2026 World Cup are available to watch for free on BBC iPlayer/ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN, an Official Supporter of the FIFA World Cup 2026.

The world is watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

16 cities across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada are welcoming the best international sides from around the world as they compete for arguably the biggest prize in sport. Huge names like Kylian Mbappé, Erling Haaland, and Lionel Messi are shining brightly, but there's still so much more to come from the knockout rounds.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 FIFA World Cup from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the FIFA World Cup?

The World Cup is an international football competition between senior men's national teams. The 2026 World Cup has been expanded to 48 teams, split into 12 groups of four teams. The top two teams in each group and the eight best third-placed teams will progress to the knockout rounds.

The defending champions are Argentina. They won their third title at the 2022 World Cup after defeating France in an epic final.

When is the 2026 FIFA World Cup?

The 2026 World Cup is the 23rd edition of this famous competition. This year's tournament takes place from June 11 to July 19.

How to watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free

A number of streaming platforms are offering free coverage of the 2026 FIFA World Cup:

• Australia — SBS

• Austria — ORF and ServusTV

• Belgium — RTBF and VRT

• France — M6

• Germany — ARD and ZDF

• Ireland — RTÉ

• Italy — RAI

• Norway — NRK

• Netherlands — NOS

• Spain — RTVE

• UK — BBC iPlayer and ITVX (recommended)

These streaming services are geo-restricted, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in another location, meaning you can livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit BBC iPlayer or ITVX (recommended)

5. Watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 FIFA World Cup without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream this tournament before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for the FIFA World Cup?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99. That covers you for the duration of the World Cup.

SAVE OVER $10: As of July 2, the Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower (10372) has dropped to a new low price of $55.95 at Amazon. That's $14.04 off its full price of $69.99.

Opens in a new window Credit: Lego Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower Building (10372) $55.95 at Amazon
$69.99 Save $14.04   Get Deal

If you're looking for a sweet Lego set to piece together this summer, look no further than the Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower (10372).

This build is a delightfully colorful display for your home, and if you're hoping to grab it, we have good news: Amazon has it on sale right now. Even better, it's sitting at a new all-time low price. As of July 2, Amazon has slashed the price of this set down to $55.95, which is $14.04 off its original full price. Who knows how long it'll stay at this price.

SEE ALSO: Lego's Olivia Rodrigo collab just dropped: Where to buy, preorder details, price

The 660-piece Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower creates a pretty purple hibiscus flower display that features five large flowers, four buds that are opening, and two young flower nodes

Of course, the real highlight here is that this floral display will last you forever. No need to worry about watering or maintenance, which is a big win if caring for flowers and plants isn't really your strong suit. It's also worth noting that it's recommended for adults ages 18 and up. However, if you know someone younger who's interested, just help them out with the assembly.

This Lego deal is one you definitely don't want to miss. Act fast to grab the Lego Botanicals Hibiscus Flower at a new low price at Amazon.

Want to learn more about getting the best out of your tech? Sign up for Mashable's Top Stories and Deals newsletters today.

The Dephy Sidekick is a powered ankle exoskeleton that brings wearable robotics beyond smartwatches and fitness trackers. Designed to reduce calf strain and provide extra assistance while walking, the consumer-focused device promises a smoother, less demanding stride. We put the $4,500 wearable to the test to see how it performs in everyday use.

TL;DR: The new Motorola Razr is available for free with T-Mobile. Claim this offer by activating a new line on an Experience More plan.

Opens in a new window Credit: Motorola Motorola Razr Free when you activate a new line on an Experience More plan. Shop Now

I'm old, but I can still remember the feeling of slamming shut your foldable Motorola Razr back in the '00s. It was the ultimate power move, and I'm so glad it's back.

Flip phones have completed their journey from retro nostalgia to absolute must-haves, and mobile carriers like T-Mobile are making it easier than ever to join the revolution.

The brand-new Motorola Razr launched with a fairly heavy $769.99 price tag, but not at T-Mobile. For a limited time, T-Mobile is giving away the Motorola Razr for free. And the best part? Unlike most high-profile phone deals like this, you don't need to hand over an eligible trade-in device to qualify.

To claim this limited-time offer, you simply need to activate a new line on T-Mobile's Experience More plan. It really is that easy.

T-Mobile is obviously not a charity. They are still picking up the full $769.99 tab for your new flip phone, but they are doing so via 24 consecutive monthly bill credits. Each month, your statement will display a standard finance charge for the phone, immediately followed by an equal promotional credit that balances that charge down to nothing.

What's happening here is you are entering a two-year commitment with the network. If you decide to cancel your service, move to a competing carrier, or try to upgrade to next year's model before those 24 months are completed, the remaining unpaid balance on the phone's retail value will become due immediately.

You will also need to pay tax on the full retail value of the device upfront, plus the industry-standard $35 connection charge. That's a small price to pay for a $770 premium foldable.

And it really is premium. You get a massive 3.6-inch Extreme AMOLED cover screen with a 90Hz refresh rate and a peak brightness of 1,700 nits. Motorola also upgraded the camera suite, packing a massive 50-megapixel main sensor alongside a highly capable 50-megapixel ultrawide lens.

It's all powered by the MediaTek Dimensity 7450X processor, with 8GB of RAM, 256GB of built-in storage, and a robust 4,800mAh battery that easily stretches past 36 hours of regular use.

Score the new Motorola Razr for free with T-Mobile.

TL;DR: All fixtures of the 2026 Nations Championship are available to watch for free on ITVX. Access these free live streams from anywhere in the world with ExpressVPN.

This is shaping up to be a special year for sport.

The schedule has been ridiculously busy this year. We've hardly had time to breathe between the Winter Olympics, T20 World Cup, and World Cup, and now the world of rugby has dropped a totally new competition to grab its share of the spotlight.

The Nations Championship is changing the game. This fresh tournament promises to deliver six rounds of elite matchups between top international sides followed by a blockbuster Finals Weekend. It feels like the Rugby World Cup without the filler.

If you're interested in watching the 2026 Nations Championship from anywhere in the world, we've got all the information you need.

What is the Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is an international rugby union competition featuring 12 men's teams. The teams are divided into two pools of six (Northern Hemisphere and Southern Hemisphere). Over two international windows, each team plays all the teams in the opposite pool once. Every team plays three games at home and three away.

After six rounds, a finals series will be contested over three days with each team matched against the same ranked team in the other pool to decide final placements.

When is the 2026 Nations Championship?

The 2026 Nations Championship is the first edition of this competition. This year's tournament runs from the first round of fixtures on July 4 to the final on Nov. 29. The first round of fixtures is as follows:

• New Zealand vs. France — 8:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Japan vs. Italy — 9:40 a.m. BST on July 4

• Australia vs. Ireland — 11:10 a.m. BST on July 4

• Fiji vs. Wales — 2:10 p.m. BST on July 4

• South Africa vs. England — 4:40 p.m. BST on July 4

• Argentina vs. Scotland — 8:10 p.m. BST on July 4

How to watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free

The 2026 Nations Championship is available to live stream for free on ITVX.

ITVX is geo-restricted to the UK, but anyone can secure access with a VPN. These tools can hide your real IP address (digital location) and connect you to a secure server in the UK, meaning you can livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world.

Livestream the 2026 Nations Championship for free by following these simple steps:

1. Sign up for a streaming-friendly VPN (we recommend ExpressVPN)

2. Download the app to your device of choice

3. Open up the app and connect to a server in the UK

4. Visit ITVX

5. Watch the 2026 Nations Championship for free from anywhere in the world

Opens in a new window Credit: ExpressVPN ExpressVPN (1-Month Plan) $12.99 only at ExpressVPN Get Deal

The best VPNs for streaming are not free, but they do tend to offer generous money-back guarantees. By leveraging these offers, you can watch the 2026 Nations Championship without committing your cash. This is obviously not a long-term strategy, but it gives you enough time to stream multiple weekends before recovering your investment.

ExpressVPN's regular 30-day money-back guarantee is not available for any subscriptions purchased during the FIFA World Cup between June 10 and July 11. ExpressVPN remains our top pick for sport, but you will need to pay the monthly rate until that offer comes back into play. Alternatively, Proton VPN still offers that all-important money-back guarantee.

What is the best VPN for ITVX?

ExpressVPN is the best choice for bypassing geo-restrictions to stream live sport on ITVX, for a number of reasons:

• Servers in 105 countries

• Easy-to-use app available on all major devices including iPhone, Android, Windows, Mac, and more

• Strict no-logging policy so your data is secure

• Fast connection speeds free from throttling

• Up to 10 simultaneous connections

• 30-day money-back guarantee (after FIFA World Cup)

A two-year subscription to ExpressVPN is on sale for $68.40 and includes an extra four months for free — 81% off for a limited time. This plan includes a year of free unlimited cloud backup and usually offers a generous 30-day money-back guarantee. Alternatively, you can get a one-month plan for just $12.99.

Live stream the 2026 Nations Championship for free with ExpressVPN.

The start of July means it's time for Netflix to unveil its latest lineup of new shows. Per usual, it's a mix of returning shows and brand-new programs. Kicking things off is a new iteration of Netflix's Worst Ever franchise, and this version will make you look at your neighbor differently. Then, the streamer launches an adaptation of beloved children's novels.

SAVE $40: As of July 2, the JBL Charge 6 is on sale for $159.95 at Amazon. That’s $40 off a rugged speaker with up to 28 hours of battery life.

Opens in a new window Credit: JBL JBL Charge 6 $159.95 at Amazon
$199.95 Save $40   Get Deal

The JBL Charge 6 is getting a solid price cut right now, dropping to $159.95 at Amazon from its usual $199.95. That’s $40 off, or a 20% discount, on a rugged portable speaker that packs a long battery life, a built-in power bank, and enough volume to handle outdoor hangs without breaking a sweat.

The JBL Charge 6 stood out in our roundup of the best portable Bluetooth speakers, where it was named the best option for most people. We also liked its ability to double as a power bank for charging devices on the go, along with its punchy, room-filling sound that stays clear even at higher volumes.

SEE ALSO: The 9 best waterproof Bluetooth speakers, tested poolside

Add in its waterproof, dust-proof build and long battery life, and it’s easy to see why it’s our go-to pick for everyday listening. The JBL Charge 6 also tops our roundup of the best JBL speakers, where we put it through tests for sound quality, portability, waterproofing, and everyday fun factor. It came out as our best overall JBL pick because of its bold, lively audio, all-day battery life, and rugged build that’s ready for everything from backyard hangs to beach trips.

We also liked its versatility, with customizable EQ, real-time sound tuning, and support for pairing multiple JBL speakers for a larger setup when you need it. As you can probably tell, we never really tire of recommending the Charge 6 — and for good reason.

Pick up the JBL Charge 6 Portable Bluetooth Speaker on Amazon while this deal lasts.

Elon Musk's X is having another go at building out its creator tools, with a refreshed "command centre" rolling out for livestreamers, aiming to rival competitors like Twitch and YouTube.

Announced by X head of product Nikita Bier on Wednesday, Live Studio should make it easier for creators to manage their livestreams and control settings like making chat subscriber-only.

In the post, a video mocks up a livestreamed launch from Musk-owned SpaceX, managed through Live Studio.

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

Live Studio will replace X's existing Media Studio Producer. It's part of the site's Creator Studio, where folks who pay for $3 per month for X's Premium subscription can manage their content and view analytics in one spot. From Live Studio, creators can go live, create private test streams, schedule streams, broadcast with external software and gear using Real-Time Messaging Protocol (RTMP), and monitor live audience data.

SEE ALSO: Want to post over 50 times a day on X? You'll have to pay.

X has a guide to using Live Studio on its website, which has more detail and FAQs, including how creators can manage chat settings before and during a livestream. This means streamers can limit chat to subscribers if they want to or leave them it to everyone.

It's not available everywhere though, only for X users in select U.S. states (Virginia, Oregon, California), as well as cities including Sydney, Seoul, Mumbai, Singapore, Paris, São Paulo, Frankfurt, Dublin, and Tokyo.

And X really wants creators to use the tool, with Bier tweeting that the company will "be rewarding creators who livestream by allocating $1 million in the upcoming cycle" though did not detail how this budget would be distributed, just "more details to follow."

This Tweet is currently unavailable. It might be loading or has been removed.

If X isn't your platform of choice — I can't put my finger on why — there are others like Twitch, YouTube, Instagram, and TikTok where you can go live.

And if you're not sure where to even start, check out Mashable's In My Bag series for the gear you'll need, this year's VidCon hub for inspiration, and meet the Mashable 101, the creators shaping digital culture right now.

Featured Video For You The best creator advice we heard at VidCon 2026

The explicit tube site Pornhub is now blocked in 25 U.S. states.

This is due to age-verification laws. These laws vary state by state, but typically require visitors of a site with over a third of explicit content to submit a government ID or other form of age authentication. Louisiana was the first state to enact such a bill a couple of years ago, and now others have followed suit. In June, the Supreme Court deemed Texas's age-verification law constitutional, setting a precedent for such bills that come before and after.

The best VPNs for Pornhub: Best for Porn ExpressVPN 30-day money-back guarantee Shop Now Best for security Proton VPN 30-day money-back guarantee Shop Now Best for beginners TunnelBear 30-day money-back guarantee Shop Now

According to one preliminary study, age verification won't work to keep minors off porn sites. This is because of software like VPNs that allow someone to appear to be in a different location, and because of non-compliant websites. (The Florida attorney general is suing foreign-based porn sites for not instituting age verification.) Yet, these laws keep getting passed — and are encroaching on non-explicit websites as well, experts told Mashable.

While Pornhub is not blocked in Louisiana, it is blocked in these states:

• Alabama

• Arizona

• Arkansas

• Florida

• Georgia

• Idah

• Indiana

• Iowa

• Kansas

• Kentucky

• Mississippi

• Missouri

• Montana

• Nebraska

• North Carolina

• North Dakota

• Oklahoma

• South Carolina

• South Dakota

• Tennessee

• Texas

• Utah

• Virginia

• West Virginia

• Wyoming

Pornhub isn't blocked in Ohio despite the state's age-verification law, due to a clause stating that establishing age verification methods doesn't apply to a provider of an interactive computer service (Aylo considers itself one).

In Louisiana, where users must submit ID to view Pornhub, the site has seen traffic decline by around 80 percent, Aylo (Pornhub's parent company) told Mashable.

"These people did not stop looking for porn. They just migrated to darker corners of the internet that don't ask users to verify age, that don't follow the law, that don't take user safety seriously, and that often don't even moderate content. In practice, the laws have just made the internet more dangerous for adults and children," Aylo stated when asked for comment by Mashable back in January.

In a statement to Mashable, Aylo continued:

First, to be clear, Aylo has publicly supported age verification of users for years, but we believe that any law to this effect must preserve user safety and privacy, and must effectively protect children from accessing content intended for adults.

Unfortunately, the way many jurisdictions worldwide have chosen to implement age verification is ineffective, haphazard, and dangerous. Any regulations that require hundreds of thousands of adult sites to collect significant amounts of highly sensitive personal information is putting user safety in jeopardy. Moreover, as experience has demonstrated, unless properly enforced, users will simply access non-compliant sites or find other methods of evading these laws.

Industry experts say that, in addition to not working for their intended purpose, age verification laws also raise concerns about privacy protection and safety since websites now have to host (even more of) people's personal information. It will be harder to be anonymous online, which experts warn is dangerous to free speech. Adult industry experts Mashable spoke to in an explainer on age-verification laws advocated for device-level filters, as did Aylo in its statement.

SEE ALSO: YouTube will begin using AI for age verification next week

Some in the adult industry worry about what Trump's second presidential term will bring due to the conservative policy outline Project 2025 and its measures to ban porn. One of Project 2025's authors, Russell Vought, was caught on a secret recording stating that age-verification laws are the "back door" to a broader porn ban.

Running your own LLM is surprisingly easy. Using software such as Ollama or LM Studio, you can install and run local AI models that work completely offline. The size and speed of the models will depend on your hardware, but you can run small models even on modest hardware; the real challenge is deciding what to do with your local LLM once you have it up and running.