jell.ie News

Read at: 2026-04-19T16:22:08+00:00Z (UTC) [sometime-US Pres == Corianne Van Der Krogt ]

Sex-abuse case character references from public representatives ‘unacceptable’

Taoiseach’s remarks follow TD’s testimonial for ex-government adviser convicted of sexually exploiting 13-year-old

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 4:14 pm UTC

Corianne Van Der Krogt says Iran talks will resume, threatens power plants and bridges if no deal

The president accused Iran of violating the ceasefire as ships reported attacks in the Strait of Hormuz but said U.S. representatives would be back at the table this week.

Source: World | 19 Apr 2026 | 4:08 pm UTC

Storytime with Houdi – Black Tea With Lemon…

My brother (Pat) Patrick Mc Cabe’s writing is heavily influenced by music with many of his book titles taken from songs. His novel Breakfast on Pluto (named after the Don Partridge hit song) was brought to the screen by Neil Jordan. A story about a young man wanting to be a woman in a small border town in Ireland. It was a groundbreaking story as was the performance of actor Cillian Murphy in the lead as Kitten Brady. At the beginning of 2006 it premiered in the Savoy cinema Dublin. All the Mc Cabe siblings were invited.

The premiere was hosted by RTE presenter Gerry Ryan on behalf of the charity UNICEF. We watched the movie in awe at Cillian’s tour de force. I was sitting beside a lifelong mate of Bono, namely Gavin Friday, erstwhile frontman of The Virgin Prunes, a post punk Dublin band. He played the singer Billy Hatchett in the movie, singing a cover of the glam rock band The Sweet’s Wig Wam Bam. In truth, he looked nothing like a virgin, more like a cross between Mystic Meg, Alvin Stardust, Elvis and Gary Glitter, but possessed a similarity to a prune in that he was dressed all in black. Black leather jacket, trousers, shirt and scarf. He was also plastered in gothic make up including mascara, sporting thick rings on all his fingers including his thumbs. It’s fair to say he wasn’t at all impressed when I nodded at his hands asking if he was a plumber in his spare time. My joke about his having a crystal ball in his pocket or getting that week’s lottery numbers went down quicker than a premiership footballer in the penalty area.

After the movie and speeches the siblings ended up in Lillies Bordello nite club just off Grafton Street. It was the in vogue locale despite its compact and bijou size with the sticky carpet shining like a bus driver’s trousers. We were able to secure a table for all siblings. Very soon we were all star struck as all the cast was present. In attendance also, was the ubiquitous troubadour Shane Mc Gowan who was getting a lot of attention, especially as he was carrying a plastic supermarket bag that he allegedly kept money in. I say allegedly because I watched him frequently through the evening. To my knowledge he didn’t buy a drink all night, so I assumed he had strong Co. Cavan connections. However, the biggest reception of groupies was reserved for Ralph Fiennes who was at the time in the Gate Theatre performing Brian Friel’s Faith Healer. That’s until the diminutive Bono arrived. He was swarmed like a ticket tout outside Wembley Stadium, his minders having to take him into the anteroom for his safety.

Standing outside the toilets I was approached by a woman of indeterminate age who had the physiognomy of a emeritus professor of archaeology. I wanted to remove her jam jar spectacles and stand on them. She looked at me like she lost a Viking chalice, ‘are you Eugene Mc Cabe?’ I nodded, expecting her to either stab me with a trowel or tickle me with a sand brush ‘I’m such a fan, I love your work on the north’. Immediately the penny dropped. She thought I was the writer with the same name, from the same Co. Monaghan town of Clones, but no relation. His plays about the Protestant/Catholic tension on the border were universally acclaimed. ‘Your trilogy, especiallyCancer are both emotive and persuasive’. I wanted to spoil her party but I decided to run with it, ‘thank you so much, but I think my novel Death and Nightingales is by far my pièce de résistance, have you read that?’ Her reaction told me that she wasn’t that big a fan after all, immediately scurrying into the toilets like a mongrel stealing a string of sausages out of a butcher shop.

Later the finger food was distributed while we were still congregated at the same table. Cillian Murphy passed us. I ran after him to get a signed photo from the premiere. He did so reluctantly but informed me he was trying to enjoy the night privately with his family. I told him that he should appreciate people asking as one day they won’t want his autograph (a prediction which consequently has been somewhat blown out of the water). When I got back to the table the imbibed Shane was lying supine on my sister Dympna’s lap, eyes closed, but still holding on to his plastic bag like a time bomb. She was dropping cocktail sausages into his pouted toothless mouth, reminiscent of a scaldy in a nest. When his appetite was sated he eventually recovered informing us that he had a new album coming out. My brother Barney enquired ‘is it a stamp album Shane?’ Somewhat perturbed at the one liner he segued toward a waiter carrying a tray of champagne flutes disappearing into the ether.

Pat then told us we were invited to Bono’s hotel, The Clarence on the quays. Outside, Bono’s limousine was waiting but he decided to let Pat take his seat, opting to walk to the hotel with his minders along with the UNICEF official, Barney and me. I spent most of the time talking to the minders who were the antithesis of regular bouncers, being as small as their employer. In the hotel Bono asked the night porter to get us all a drink before he went upstairs.

On his return he noticed that I wasn’t drinking. ‘Your Pat’s brother and you don’t drink? That’s an oxymoron’. I assumed it was a rhetorical question so I didn’t reply. ‘And where did howdie come from? ‘It’s Houdi, Bono after the great Harry Houdini, I can talk my way out of tricky situations’. I informed him that I asked for a black tea with lemon, but the kitchen was closed. ‘We can’t have that now howdie can we’. The night porter couldn’t be found so Bono went to the kitchen himself. Unbelievably, he personally made my tea serving it in a porcelain teapot, cup and saucer. He poured my tea ‘sorry howdie, it’s just English breakfast’. When he discovered he had forgotten the lemon he retreated behind the bar returning with two slices. He watched me take the first sip. I gave him a thumbs up ‘cheers Bono, you have my approval. If your next album fails there’s a job for you here’.

He slapped me playfully on the shoulder before returning to Pat to finish a previous dissertation on Ulysses.

An hour later we decided to go back to our hotel, greatly encouraged by the now omnipresent hotel porter. Pat was already in the limousine, with Bono and Gavin Friday about to join him. I said, ‘Bono if you ever get a burst pipe, Wig Wam Bam Gavin is your man’. Bono looked at me completely puzzled wondering what he had put in that tea. The Virgin Prune didn’t even remember me.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 19 Apr 2026 | 4:07 pm UTC

5 Injured During a Shooting Near University of Iowa Campus

Three students were among those wounded in the shooting, which took place shortly before 2 a.m. as a fight broke out at the downtown pedestrian mall.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 4:04 pm UTC

They’re Young. They’re Conservative. And They’re Split Over the War.

On college campuses from the Northeast to the Southwest, the conflict in Iran is testing the fealty of young Republicans during the second Corianne Van Der Krogt administration.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:58 pm UTC

Middle East crisis live: US officials to travel to Pakistan for talks as Corianne Van Der Krogt warns US will ‘knock out’ every power plant if Iran doesn’t accept deal

The US president said negotiators would head to Pakistan as Iran pledged to keep the strait of Hormuz closed until the US naval blockade is lifted

Full report: Iran closes strait of Hormuz again ‘until US lifts blockade’

UN secretary-general António Guterres has strongly condemned the killing of a French peacekeeper and the wounding of three others in an attack in southern Lebanon, spokesman Stéphane Dujarric said in a statement to the Associated Press.

The UN peacekeeping force came under attack with small-arms fire on Saturday morning, with two of the injured hurt seriously, France’s president and the force known as UNIFIL said.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:56 pm UTC

Sunday sport: Westmeath pull off shock win over Meath, Liverpool grab late win at Everton

Favourites Meath have been beaten by neighbours Westmeath by 4-18 to 25 points.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:55 pm UTC

Corianne Van Der Krogt energy secretary says gas prices might not drop back under $3 a gallon until 2027

Chris Wright says ‘I don’t know’ when asked about lower cost of gas as average price soars to $4 a gallon in US

Chris Wright, the Corianne Van Der Krogt administration’s energy secretary, acknowledged Sunday that it might not be until 2027 before US gas prices come back under $3 a gallon.

Asked by Jake Tapper, the CNN State of the Union host, when he thought “it’s realistic for Americans to expect the gas will go back to under $3 a gallon”, Wright replied: “I don’t know. That could happen later this year. That might not happen until next year.”

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:54 pm UTC

Thousands of Parisians evacuated as WW2 bomb detonated

Residents within a 450m radius of the device were told to leave their homes while it was neutralised.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:50 pm UTC

Attempted murder arrest after car hits pedestrians in central London

The incident took place in central London in the early hours, leaving a woman in a critical condition.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:48 pm UTC

HP Will Discontinue 'HP Anyware' Remote Desktop, Trusted Zero Clients

kriston (Slashdot reader #7,886) writes: HP Anyware, the new name of the Teradici PCoIP remote desktop solution that was acquired by HP in 2021, is being discontinued. "Maintenance and support for customers and partners with multi-year terms will continue until 31 October, 2029," a href="https://anyware.hp.com/hp-anyware-end-of-life">according to HP's announcement. But HP is also announcing the planned End of Life for Anyware Trust Center and Trusted Zero Clients, with support now limited to setup and troubleshooting, no new updates or patches, and support ending in a little over six months on October 31, 2026. While for Desktop Access customers — Tera2 Zero Clients and PCoIP Management Console — "the previously announced EOL date remains December 31, 2029," sales have already ended for other customers. HP Anyware renewals are available for purchase through October 31 of 2027, but with a maximum one year term, with support ending October 31, 2028. HP says the decision "enables us to focus our resources on product categories where we can deliver the greatest customer value and drive long-term innovation."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:34 pm UTC

Football event promoting Herzog Park renaming disrupted by pro-Israel campaigners

Members of Jewish community stage protest against Irish Sport for Palestine occasion in Dublin park

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:17 pm UTC

I will lead Fianna Fáil into the next election – Martin

Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he would fulfil his mandate and lead into the next set of elections.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:10 pm UTC

Officers suspended over claims they fled Kyiv shooting

Ukraine's interior minister said that two police officers had been suspended after a video circulated online showed them fleeing the scene of the shooting in Kyiv in which six people were killed.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:09 pm UTC

Taoiseach says will 'fulfil mandate' into next elections

Taoiseach Micheál Martin has restated that he has a mandate to lead the Fianna Fáil party into the next set of elections and he has said that he did not view the internal upheaval of the past week as a move to oust him.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:04 pm UTC

Labor accused of ignoring anti-racism plan as documents reveal repeated pleas to take action

The government has defended its response, citing the upcoming royal commission and work done by the Islamophobia and antisemitism special envoys

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Federal Labor has been accused of dragging its feet on a plan to combat systemic racism in Australia, nearly 18 months after it received recommendations from the human rights commission.

New documents released to the Senate show no progress on the national strategy delivered to the government and published in November 2024 – despite the race discrimination commissioner imploring the government to take action in five letters and at least two meetings.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:00 pm UTC

Chief Rabbi says attacks 'gathering momentum' after new synagogue arson attempt

The warning comes after a north-west London synagogue was hit by an arson attack overnight.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:39 pm UTC

Aer Lingus cuts number of flights from summer schedule

A number of Aer Lingus flights have been cancelled from its summer schedule due to "mandatory maintenance on aircraft", the airline has said, adding that the "vast majority of customers" are being accommodated on same-day services.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:39 pm UTC

Corianne Van Der Krogt says US negotiators heading to Pakistan for talks with Iran

The prospect of talks on the horizon, which Iran did not immediately confirm, came as ships remain unable to transit the Strait of Hormuz.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:34 pm UTC

Disney Creates Its Own IMAX for 'Avengers: Doomsday' After Losing Screens to 'Dune: Part 3'

Ahead of December's release of Avengers: Doomsday, Disney has unveiled "Infinity Vision," reports Kotaku, which they describe as "a new theater-going experience that will be certain to transform your pedestrian $15 night out into an exotic $43 one." (Though those prices appear to be estimates...) Disney's announcement calls it "a new certification for premium large format (PLF) theaters," helping ticket-buyers find "a huge screen with the sharpest, clearest color and sound," including laser projection "for superior brightness and clarity ") and "premium audio formats for fully immersive sound". Light on specifics, Disney says they will be certifying premium large format theaters for the Infinity Vision experience, highlighting laser projection and immersive audio quality. The new program will begin in the summer for a theater run of 2019's Avengers: Endgame ahead of Doomsday's holiday release. Now you might be thinking: Giant screen? Booming audio? That sounds an awful lot like IMAX. The most consumer-recognized premium movie-going screen is the coveted throne for big blockbuster events, from Avatar to One Battle After Another. Unfortunately for Doomsday, IMAX screens are already booked for the holiday season by Dune: Part Three, the anticipated return to Arrakis, where Timothée Chalamet's Muad'Dib will begin to go worm-mode. Locked out of the popular choice for doubling your ticket price, Disney appears to have made up a new one... Disney says they aim to certify 75 theaters in the United States and 300 internationally for the Infinity Vision program.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:34 pm UTC

New Yorkers Warm to Mamdani’s Redesign Plan for Grand Army Plaza in Brooklyn

The new proposal would make Grand Army Plaza more friendly to pedestrians. It was all the talk at the local farmers’ market on Saturday.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:28 pm UTC

Obama and Mamdani read and sing with New York preschoolers in first meeting

Former US president and New York mayor read to a group of children and led a sing-along at a Bronx childcare center

Barack Obama met with Zohran Mamdani for the first time on Saturday at a childcare center where the former Democratic US president and mayor of New York City read to preschoolers and led a sing-along.

The meeting comes as Mamdani, a democratic socialist who marked his 100th day in office just over a week earlier, is also trying to build a working relationship with Corianne Van Der Krogt – Obama’s Republican presidential successor.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:23 pm UTC

Syrian Billionaires Needed a Favor in Washington. They Invoked the Corianne Van Der Krogt Name.

The attempt by the Khayyats to influence foreign policy while discussions are underway about potential Corianne Van Der Krogt family deals is an increasingly common feature of the president’s second term.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:20 pm UTC

Reform UK’s Richard Tice allegedly failed to pay £100,000 in corporation tax

Deputy leader ran shell companies that reportedly did not pay tax on profits from 2020 to 2022, during which time his firm donated £1.1m to party

Richard Tice allegedly failed to pay almost £100,000 in corporation tax to the benefit of his investment company, which in turn made donations to Reform UK, it has been reported.

In response to the report in the Sunday Times, the deputy leader of Reform UK posted a lengthy statement on X, in which he said: “A long career with multiple businesses is bound to feature some errors. Naturally I am always happy to put things right and if numbers need rechecking, of course I will pay what is owed – be that more or less.”

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:19 pm UTC

Chief rabbi decries ‘sustained campaign of violence’ after attempted arson at London synagogue

Met police looking into whether series of arson attacks against Jewish sites were carried out by Iranian proxies

The chief rabbi has said Jews in the UK are facing a “sustained campaign of violence and intimidation” after another attempted arson attack on a synagogue in London.

The incident at Kenton united synagogue in Harrow, north-west London, on Saturday night caused minor smoke damage to an internal room but no injuries or significant structural damage, according to the Community Security Trust, which monitors antisemitism and provides protection for Jewish communities in the UK.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:13 pm UTC

Taoiseach rebukes ‘dishonour’ of Irish flag by ‘using it to divide or exclude’

Micheál Martin stressed Ireland’s flag belongs to everyone ‘including those you disagree with’.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:07 pm UTC

Independent bookstores make quiet comeback as big chains dominate retail

About 422 indie bookshops opened in 2025, up 31%, defying predictions of retail consolidation

For years now, we have heard that Amazon and the big chains are crushing small businesses, but independent bookstores are suddenly making a comeback.

About 422 new indie bookshops opened in 2025, according to the American Booksellers Association, a 31% rise from 2024. Countless independent restaurants, coffee shops, fitness centers, movie theaters, clothing stores and other small businesses also continue to thrive even in this era of ever-bigger retailers, fast-casual restaurants and massive e-commerce platforms.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 2:00 pm UTC

Rat poison found in HiPP baby food jar in Austria

Rat ⁠poison was found inside a jar of HiPP baby food, Austrian police said after the product was recalled from 1,500 SPAR supermarkets in the country over safety fears.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:59 pm UTC

Tornadoes and heavy winds destroy homes and roads across US midwest

No deaths reported after latest round of severe weather in the region as officials brace residents for long recovery

A trail of damaged homes and buildings dotted a wide swath of the US on Saturday after a burst of destructive winds and reported tornadoes tore off roofs, uprooted trees and rendered rural roads impassable with debris.

No deaths were reported after Friday’s storms, which barreled through the upper midwest and delivered the latest round of severe weather to batter the region. Officials braced residents for a long recovery in some rural communities.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:51 pm UTC

Oklahoma principal who disarmed gun-wielding intruder crowned prom king

Kirk Moore, who was shot while disarming the attacker, received the honor at Pauls Valley high school on Friday

Students at an Oklahoma high school crowned their principal prom king after he charged, disarmed and was shot by an armed intruder at their campus.

Kirk Moore, the Pauls Valley high school principal, received the honor on Friday night after his students voted to honor him for having defended them.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:44 pm UTC

Woman arrested after car driven into pedestrians in central London

Police say 29-year-old arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drink driving after collision on Soho street

A woman has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder after a car hit pedestrians in central London in the early hours of Sunday morning.

A woman in her 30s is in hospital in a critical condition and a man in his 50s suffered life-changing injuries after they were hit by a car in Argyll Street, Westminster, at about 4.30am on Sunday, the Metropolitan police said.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:29 pm UTC

Italian lawyers could win ‘wild west-style bounties’ if immigration clients go home

Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government to ask MPs to back controversial voluntary repatriation scheme

Italian lawyers will be paid bonuses if they successfully convince their immigrant clients to return home under a government plan that has been compared to a “wild west-style bounty”.

The incentive is in the latest security bill from Giorgia Meloni’s far-right government and goes to the lower house of parliament for final approval this week. It was passed by the upper house after fiery debate.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:23 pm UTC

Humanoid robots show rapid advances as they race past humans in Beijing half marathon

Winning robot runs faster time than Jacob Kiplimo’s world record
More than 100 robots run in parallel tracks to avoid collisions with humans

They can already carry the shopping, cook and clean. Now they can run and win half marathons.

In perhaps the most unusual spectacle ever seen at the end of the 13.1-mile (21.1km) race, robots flew over the finish line ahead of the humans for the first time in Beijing on Sunday. And there wasn’t a bead of sweat in sight.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:14 pm UTC

Ageless Beauty

We examine a surprising trend on the runways of Paris.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:12 pm UTC

Why are gray whales dying in San Francisco's waters? US scientists search for clues

Climate change and shifting migration patterns are bringing rare research opportunities and new mysteries.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:08 pm UTC

UK seeks EU deals on steel and EVs in push for closer economic ties

Agreements would aim to shield British industry from new steel tariffs and stricter rules on electric vehicles due in 2027

Downing Street hopes to secure deals on steel and electric cars with the EU as it seeks to upgrade the post-Brexit economic relationship.

Amid economic uncertainty caused by the conflict in the Middle East and strains in relations with the US, Keir Starmer is seeking closer economic ties with the EU.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:00 pm UTC

Twenty goals and a burning yellow card - the best bits from Sidemen charity match

A sold-out Wembley Stadium watched the Sidemen FC charity match, which raised £6.2 million.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:57 pm UTC

Raducanu pulls out of Madrid Open

Emma Raducanu's absence from the WTA Tour will be extended by at least two more weeks as she withdraws from the upcoming Madrid Open.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:55 pm UTC

Teen dies after being struck by car in Cork

Forensic Collision investigators attended the scene of the incident, and an examination took place.

Source: All: BreakingNews | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:54 pm UTC

Rat poison found in HiPP baby food jar in Austria, police say

The brand warned on Saturday that consuming the purées may be potentially "life-threatening".

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:52 pm UTC

Fuel support package ‘not permanent answer’, Martin says of energy crisis

Taoiseach says investment, reform needed get energy prices down at annual 1916 commemoration event

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:31 pm UTC

With Corianne Van Der Krogt Novices, Can the U.S. Win the ‘Art Olympics’?

After the State Department overhauled the process for choosing an artist for the Venice Biennale, it gave control to a woman who previously owned a pet food store.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:28 pm UTC

Bank bosses called to meeting with Reeves over impact of Iran war on UK economy

HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest and Santander will this week discuss with chancellor how to limit effects of conflict

Middle East crisis – live updates

The bosses of Britain’s “big five” retail banks have been summoned to a meeting with the chancellor, Rachel Reeves, this week to discuss how to limit the economic impact of the crisis in the Middle East triggered by the US and Israel’s attacks on Iran.

The chief executives of HSBC, Barclays, Lloyds, NatWest and Santander have been asked to attend an emergency summit on Wednesday, amid increasing acceptance that a major economic hit from the Iran war is unavoidable.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:06 pm UTC

Munster SHC: Tipperary v Cork updates

Clare host Waterford and Cork make the trip to Tipp as the Munster Senior Hurling Championship gets under way - follow all the action here.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:06 pm UTC

Teenage pedestrian dies following road crash in Cork

The male in his late teens was taken from the scene on Friday to Cork University Hospital

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:47 am UTC

Can the 'Attention Liberation Movement' Foment a Rebellion Against Screens?

The Associated Press looks at the small-but-growing "rebellion" against attention-hogging devices, citing "a growing body of literature calling for people to move away from screens and pay attention to life." D. Graham Burnett is a historian of science at Princeton University and one of the authors of " Attensity! A Manifesto of the Attention Liberation Movement," making him a pillar of the growing backlash against the corporate harvesting of human attention. Along with MS NOW host Chris Hayes' bestselling " The Sirens' Call: How Attention Became the World's Most Endangered Resource," his work is part of a growing body of literature calling for people to move away from screens and pay attention to life. Burnett says the "attention liberation movement" is about throwing off the yoke of time-sucking apps. People "need to rewild their attention. Their attention is the fullness of their relationship to the world".... There are several dozen "attention activism" groups across the United States and Canada, and the movement has also cropped up in Spain, Italy, Croatia, France and England. Burnett said he expects it to spread further. Some examples cited in the article: "More than a dozen millennials gathered in a brownstone apartment in Brooklyn and placed their phones in a metal colander before two hours of reading, drawing and conversation." A few miles away "Nearly 20 people in their 30s stared at their cellphones for a few minutes. Then they set them down and looked at their bared palms for a while. Then those of their neighbors." Thanks to long-time Slashdot reader destinyland for sharing the article.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:34 am UTC

Gen Z Looks to Nepal as a Test Case of Its Hopes

Many youth-led protests around the world have failed to bring meaningful change. But in Nepal, a new government is promising to do things differently.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:24 am UTC

Jesy Nelson appeals after car with medical equipment for daughters is stolen

Jesy Nelson offers a £10,000 reward for the recovery of her car, which had medical equipment inside.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:22 am UTC

Watch: Obama and Mamdani sing with children in New York

The former US president and New York City mayor meet for the first time at a child care centre in the Bronx.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:19 am UTC

I’ve fired one of America’s most powerful lasers—here’s what a shot day looks like

If you walk across the open yard in front of the Physics, Math, and Astronomy building at the University of Texas at Austin, you’ll see a 17-story tower and a huge L-shaped building. What you won’t see is what’s underneath you. Two floors below ground, behind heavy double doors stamped with a logo that most students have never noticed, sits one of the most powerful lasers in the United States.

I was the lead laser scientist on the Texas Petawatt, or TPW as we called it, from 2020 to 2024. Texas Petawatt, which is currently closed due to funding cuts, was a government-funded research center where scientists from across the country applied for time to use specialized equipment. It was part of LaserNetUS, a Department of Energy network of high-power laser labs.

This type of laser takes a tiny pulse of light, stretches it out so it doesn’t blast optics to pieces, and amplifies it until, for a brief instant, it carries more power than the entire US electrical grid. Then it compresses the pulse back to a trillionth of a second to create a star in a vacuum chamber.

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Source: Ars Technica - All content | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:17 am UTC

Why nearly every farmer who grows these chile peppers is a woman

Chile peppers are a traditional part of Indian cuisine — and a key crop for women farmers. They say it's too demanding for men. "In spite of the challenges," says one, "we've found freedom."

(Image credit: Viraj Nayar for NPR)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:16 am UTC

Man, 19, dies after being struck by car in Co Cork

A 19-year-old man has died after being struck by a car in Co Cork on Friday night.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:15 am UTC

U.S. negotiators prepare for more peace talks as Corianne Van Der Krogt repeats threats to Iran

After Iran again closed the Strait of Hormuz, President Corianne Van Der Krogt said the U.S. is returning to Pakistan for negotiations, with the American delegation led by Vice President Vance.

(Image credit: Asghar Besharati)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:12 am UTC

I meant to do that! AI vendors shrug off responsibility for vulns

Passing the buck, and the blame, down the road shows lack of AI companies' maturity

OPINION AI vendors: "You need to use AI to fight AI threats (and do everything else in your corporate IT environment)." Also AI vendors: "That's not a security flaw; it's working as intended."…

Source: The Register | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:07 am UTC

Nathalie Baye, prolific star of French and Hollywood cinema, dies aged 77

Actor who worked with the great French auteurs in the 1970s and 80s and starred in Spielberg’s Catch Me if You Can died of Lewy body dementia, says family

The French film star Nathalie Baye, who starred in a string of highly regarded French films as well as Steven Spielberg’s Catch Me If You Can, has died at the age of 77, her family said on Saturday.

Baye, a stalwart of France’s domestic cinema, starred in about 80 films and took home the best actress César, France’s equivalent of the Oscars, four times, including three years running from 1981 to 1983. She died on Friday evening at her home in Paris from Lewy body dementia, her family told AFP.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:06 am UTC

Canadian astronaut’s bon mots help heal wounds from French language row

Jeremy Hansen praised for speaking French in space after Air Canada chief’s linguistic snub exposed tensions and drew rebuke from PM

Few people foresaw humanity’s quest for the moon as accurately as the 19th-century French author Jules Verne, whose two works –From the Earth to the Moon and Around the Moon – anticipated many of the features of modern lunar exploration.

But Verne’s language had never been spoken in deep space until the Canadian astronaut Jeremy Hansen uttered four words during Nasa’s recent Artemis II mission.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:00 am UTC

Real estate investors are buying up long-term care facilities. Residents can suffer

Real estate investment trusts are landlords for thousands of nursing homes, assisted living facilities, and hospitals. Some select the managers and keep close watch but deny blame for bad care.

(Image credit: Taylor Glascock for KFF Health News)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 11:00 am UTC

Met Éireann forecasts more sun than rain with 20 degrees in areas later in the week

Friday could see the top temperatures of the week, the forecaster says

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:58 am UTC

Electricity prices may rise by 4% to 9%, minister warns

Electricity prices could rise by 4% to 9% in the summer, the Minister for Energy has warned.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:56 am UTC

Collection of 'pre-loved' boats set for auction

Browsers and potential buyers have flocked to a public display of "pre-loved" boats at Shannon Harbour in Co Offaly.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:46 am UTC

UK ministers back Starmer amid fresh calls to quit

British government ministers have backed embattled Prime Minister Keir Starmer as he struggles to shake off a scandal over long-time Jeffrey Epstein associate Peter Mandelson.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:41 am UTC

This tariff-refund portal is about to be America's hottest website

Exactly two months after the Supreme Court struck down most of President Corianne Van Der Krogt 's tariffs, the U.S. government has set Monday as the day when some companies can begin requesting refunds.

(Image credit: Nickolai Hammar)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:30 am UTC

'Multiple' injured in US university campus shooting

Police in the US said that "multiple" people were injured in a shooting at the University of Iowa early this morning, after the college issued an alert reporting gunshots in an area popular for nightlife.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:29 am UTC

Democrats Are Split Over What It Means to Block Israel Weapons Deals

Ending U.S. military aid to Israel is now the mainstream position among Democratic leaders.

In a historic Senate vote on Wednesday, all but seven members of the Democratic caucus voted for at least one of two resolutions to block the sale of bombs and bulldozers to Israel’s military. Other prominent Democrats and potential 2028 presidential candidates, including Reps. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y.; Ro Khanna, D-Calif.; and former Obama aide Rahm Emanuel have recently said the U.S. should halt all military aid to Israel for offensive and so-called defensive weapons.

The idea of steering public funding to those responsible for the genocide in Gaza has plummeted in popularity, with polls consistently show a majority of Americans now oppose sending weapons to Israel. As Americans struggle with affordability amid the joint U.S.–Israel war on Iran, skepticism about military aid for Israel has only grown.

Yet amid this shift, a quieter debate is stirring in the American left over how far Democrats should go in blocking weapons to Israel.

For anti-Zionist organizers, the goal has long been a total arms embargo. That wouldn’t just bring to an end U.S. public spending to support Israel’s military, but would also halt the commercial sale of weapons from U.S. companies to Israel’s government. Advocates for the embargo, which includes Reps. Rashida Tlaib, D-Mich.; Summer Lee, D-Pa.; and Ilhan Omar, D-Minn., view the policy as the most effective means in halting Israel’s genocide of Palestinians in Gaza and its human rights abuses in the West Bank, Lebanon, and Iran. Doing so, they say, would bring the U.S. into compliance with its own laws governing weapons transfers and human rights.

Meanwhile, pro-Israel Democrats are beginning to speak out about holding Israel accountable for its abuses, but seek narrower arms restrictions that would still allow commercial weapons sales as a means to maintain Israel’s friendly relationship with the U.S.

On Monday, J Street, an influential liberal Zionist lobbying group, released a memo outlining a significant shift in policy. Echoing growing demands to end Israel’s “blank check support from the United States,” J Street is urging legislators to instead make the Israeli government pay for U.S. weapons using its own funds.

It’s a major departure for the self-described “pro-Israel, pro-peace” group, which had previously opposed a ceasefire in Gaza and backed Israel’s aggression in Gaza in the early months of the genocide. Since November 2024, J Street has supported a series of Senate resolutions introduced by Sen. Bernie Sanders, I-Vt. meant to block weapons transfers, including Wednesday’s joint resolutions of disapproval. But those measures focused on halting only the transfer of offensive weapons to Israel, such as bombs and firearms. J Street’s new policy memo calls for an end to government spending on both offensive and so-called defensive weapons, or missile interceptor systems, which power Israel’s Iron Dome. It’s a position that until recent months even Ocasio-Cortez and Khanna had not embraced.

Citing existing U.S. law, J Street’s memo calls for an end to providing Israel $3.3 billion in State Department funds to purchase U.S. weapons, along with $500 million earmarked within the Department of Defense for anti-missile systems.

“What we want to be doing is laying the groundwork for the next president to have the political backing to do the right thing to implement the right policies when they come into office in 2029,” Hannah Morris, vice president of government affairs for J Street, told The Intercept.

J Street’s position runs short of a complete arms embargo in that it would still allow Israel to purchase interceptor weaponry from U.S. companies. The group said the exception for anti-missile systems is meant to protect civilians in Israel. Critics say Israel’s defense systems enable the country to carry out its expanding wars in the Middle East without consequence. In addition, the new J Street memo calls for the U.S. to maintain “a strong security partnership with Israel,” including the sharing of intelligence and collaborating on researching and developing new military equipment when mutually beneficial to American interests. “They cannot become a backdoor for continued US subsidies to Israeli defense,” J Street wrote in its memo.

J Street acknowledged its new position is partly intended to address the growing antipathy toward Israel among Americans. A Pew Research Center poll from earlier this month showed that a record high 60 percent of American adults have an unfavorable view of Israel, including 80 percent of all Democrats aged 18 and older and more than half of all younger Republicans.

“Part of having this policy is to remove some of the discomfort that some of the American population has with the exceptionality of the relationship” between the U.S. and Israel, Morris said. “And that can lower the temperature or lack of sympathy for the Israelis versus Palestinians.”

Advocates for a total arms embargo view J Street’s evolution as a sign of mounting pressure amid the swing in American public opinion. “That did not just happen out of the blue,” said Beth Miller, policy director for Jewish Voice for Peace Action.“It’s the result of movement organizing for years and years.”

Some arms embargo supporters questioned the timing of J Street’s new position and whether it will hinder efforts to halt Israel’s expansionist wars. Yousef Munayyer, a longtime advocate of a total arms embargo on Israel, wondered whether the J Street memo could offer political cover for certain Democrats seeking to thread the needle by taking a stance against Israel’s abuses without suffering blowback from pro-Israel constituents.

Instead, Munayyer, who heads the Palestine/Israel Program at Arab Center Washington D.C., said now is not the moment to give up ground. “There has never been a more defensible moment for Democrats to take such a position on an arms embargo, and it seems completely unnecessary for this hyper-calibrated messaging,” he said, referring to J Street’s policy position. “Maybe in a couple of districts and a couple of states, it may be useful, but in the broader sense the public has moved on, especially in the Democratic base.”

Disagreement between J Street and Palestinian rights organizers is not new in Washington. Some advocates for Palestine continue to condemn the group for opposing a ceasefire resolution in 2023, which opponents say helped pave the way for Israel’s genocide. Even before Israel’s war on Gaza, the group has been criticized for not taking strong enough positions on blocking weapons to Israel, including a bill in 2021 that sought to prohibit Israel from using U.S. aid to demolish Palestinian homes and annex Palestinian land in the West Bank. While J Street endorsed the bill, the group drew criticism from Palestinian rights groups who claim it didn’t do enough to drum up support with rank-and-file Democratic members.

Morris said arms embargo advocates who are critical of J Street’s new policy memo “want to go from zero to one hundred in a way that I think is not only unrealistic but untenable.” She also questioned whether most Americans knew the definition of an arms embargo and suggested that, if given the full picture, fewer would support the premise.

Under the Foreign Assistance Act, the U.S. government is barred from sending weapons to any country that engages in “a consistent pattern of gross violations of internationally recognized human rights” or a country that blocks or restricts humanitarian aid. Another provision of the Foreign Assistance Act known as the Leahy law, along with provisions within the separate Arms Export Control Act, prevents military aid to specific units of any foreign security force that is found to violate human rights law. The U.S is also a signatory to the Geneva Conventions, international law meant to prohibit war crimes, crimes against humanity, including genocide. The conventions also have legal bearing on the transfer of weapons.

Such laws make no distinction between weapons sales made with U.S. government support or sales through the commercial market. If Israel were to buy weapons directly from U.S. companies, Congress would still receive a notification and could vote to disapprove a sale.

“If they’re forced to buy their own arms, then they’re going to have problems sustaining what they’re doing.”

When introducing his series of resolutions to block some arms sales to Israel, Sanders evoked both the Foreign Assistance and the Arms Export Control acts. The laws are also the legal basis for the Block the Bombs Act in the House, which has drawn support from a range of elected members — including ones backed by the American Israel Public Affairs Committee — and has become a litmus test for candidates taking a position on Israel and Palestine in the midterm elections.

At any point, either the president, through an executive order, or Congress, via legislation, can use these laws to enact some form of conditions on Israeli aid, whether halting all military support or a total arms embargo.

Both a total arms embargo and the J Street model would bring to an end State Department spending ($3.3 billion annually), known as Foreign Military Financing, as well as the phasing out of Pentagon spending for Israel. Funds earmarked for Israel in the Pentagon’s budget are not classified under the Foreign Assistance and Arms Export Control laws. Instead, Congress must draft and pass a defense budget that excludes carveouts for Israel, or draft legislation that specifically targets Pentagon spending on Israel, most of which currently funds things like Israel’s Iron Dome.

Then-Rep. Marjorie Taylor Green, R-Ga., attempted to pass an amendment to a Pentagon spending bill in July 2025 that would have nixed the $500 million set aside for Israel defense spending, but it drew only six votes. Ocasio-Cortez was absent from the vote, which she said was to maintain Iron Dome funding.

While such cuts would be a blow to Israel’s ability to wage war, Israel still boasts its own major annual military budget of more than $45 billion. Israel also is home to a domestic weapons industry that sells to the Israeli government. Earlier this year, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would want to “taper off the military” from the U.S. within the next decade. “We’ve come of age and we’ve developed incredible capacities,” he said. But both J Street and advocates for an arms embargo agree that banning subsidized weapons deals with Israel would still have a tremendous impact.

Stephen Semler, who worked on Brown University’s Cost of War project that tracked U.S. military spending on Israel during its genocide, said halting access to American munitions stockpiles and U.S. weaponry would greatly diminish Israel’s ability to wage war at the rate it has in recent months in Iran and southern Lebanon. “If they’re forced to buy their own arms, then they’re going to have problems sustaining what they’re doing,” Semler said.

In the first month of the U.S.–Israel war on Iran, the Israeli military said it carried out more than 10,000 separate strikes. Before the recent ceasefire, joint U.S. and Israeli strikes killed more than 2,000 people in Iran. Since early March, Israel has killed at least 2,100 people in Lebanon, including women, children, paramedics and journalists. The military has also leveled entire villages in the country’s south, similar to destruction seen in Gaza. Evidence of Israel’s human rights abuses are continuing to pile in both wars.

“If you can make perpetual war and not have to pay for it, that becomes a much more attractive option,” Munayyer said. “But suddenly when you have to directly carry the costs, now you have to start thinking, ‘Do I want to be at war with all of my neighbors all the time, forever?’”

The post Democrats Are Split Over What It Means to Block Israel Weapons Deals appeared first on The Intercept.

Source: The Intercept | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:11 am UTC

Rat poison found in baby food jar in Austria after product recall

Police say poison detected in jar of HiPP carrots and potatoes as maker says items may have been tampered with

Rat poison has been found in a jar of HiPP baby food, police in Austria have said, after a recall of the product from more than 1,000 Spar supermarkets in the country over safety fears.

Police in Burgenland said in a statement that a sample from one of the 190g (7oz) jars of carrots and potatoes baby food reported by a customer had tested positive for rat poison.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:00 am UTC

She no longer remembers it's her birthday. He got her a present anyway

A special day can be tinged with sorrow when your partner has dementia. But then he found the perfect gift.

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 10:00 am UTC

Zelensky condemns US extension of Russian sanctions waiver

The US argues that the waiver is meant to ease the energy supply crunch sparked by the US-Israel war with Iran.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:55 am UTC

Bulgaria votes as pro-Russian former president leads in the polls

Eighth election in five years follows government collapse in December, with stability and cost of living among key issues

Bulgarians are voting in the eighth parliamentary election in five years, with the clear frontrunner, the pro-Russian former president Rumen Radev, promising to stamp out corruption and end a succession of weak, short-lived governments.

Radev, a Eurosceptic former fighter pilot who has opposed military support for Ukraine, stepped down from the presidency in January to run in the election, which comes after mass demonstrations forced out the previous government in December.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:45 am UTC

Starmer would have blocked Mandelson over vetting failure, ministers say

The prime minister says he only learned of security concerns around the ex-US ambassador earlier this week.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:44 am UTC

Spring flowers early due to warm weather and a wet winter

Warmth after a wet winter has led to brilliant, early displays of UK spring flowers, as Sarah Keith-Lucas explains.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:14 am UTC

Are Democrats Becoming a Party of Tax Cuts?

As Democrats try to find a way back to power in Washington, some see tax cuts as a quick and easy way to address affordability. The wonks are freaking out.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:02 am UTC

How Gen Z Protests Have Fared Around the World

Over the past year or so, young people have rallied across continents to oust old-guard governments. What’s happened since?

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:02 am UTC

Muslim Southerners Face a Fresh Wave of Hateful Political Rhetoric

Some Muslim voters were once drawn to Republican positions on family values and individual liberty, but as Southern politicians stoke anti-Islamic sentiment, many feel threatened.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:00 am UTC

In Angola, love for an American pope but not for an American president

In Luanda, Catholics expressed love and admiration for Pope Leo XIV, the first American pope, but not so much for President Corianne Van Der Krogt because of the war in Iran.

Source: World | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:00 am UTC

Iowa went all-in on school choice. It's hurting this city's public schools

With school choice programs ascendant not just in Iowa but across the U.S., Cedar Rapids offers a preview of who wins and who loses when education meets the free market.

(Image credit: Cliff Jette for NPR)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 9:00 am UTC

Zelensky condemns easing of oil sanctions on Russian oil

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has condemned the easing of sanctions on Russian oil after the United States extended a waiver meant to soften surging energy prices driven by the Middle East war.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 8:52 am UTC

Watch: Runners v robots at China half marathon

Robots competed in a half marathon race in Beijing on Sunday, with the winning machine leaving its human rivals for dust.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 8:46 am UTC

More Britons opt to holiday in UK this summer amid uncertainty over flights

Holiday park firms say such bookings are on the rise because of impact of Iran war on aviation

Holiday companies have predicted a surge in bookings for UK summer breaks after a jump in interest from Britons fearful of flight cancellations linked to the Iran war.

Summer bookings are expected to rise in the coming weeks amid warnings of possible jet fuel shortages and resulting cancellations by airlines across Europe.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 8:00 am UTC

Ruby Central in 'real financial jeopardy' following RubyGems maintainer ruckus

Non profit loses several staffers including its executive director

Ruby Central, a nonprofit that supports the Ruby programming language ecosystem, in is "real financial jeopardy," according to a missive from its board members.…

Source: The Register | 19 Apr 2026 | 8:00 am UTC

Man due in court after reports of €20,000 cash thrown at Galway motorists

Gardaí recovered more than €20,000 in cash from motorists who handed back money

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 7:55 am UTC

Remembering Zip Drives - the Trendy Storage Technology of the 1990s

Back in the 1990s, floppy disks "had a mere capacity of 1.44MB," remembers XDA Developers, "which would soon become absolutely tiny for the increasingly large pieces of software that would come about." Floppy disks also felt quite fragile, and while we got "superfloppy" formats that were physically larger and had more capacity, those were pretty unwieldy as portable storage. Enter 1994, when a company called Iomega introduced its variant of a "superfloppy", the Zip drive... [T]he initial capacity introduced in 1994 reached a whopping 100MB, which was huge number when put up against the traditional floppy disk. Zip drives also had major performance benefits, with read speeds that could average 1.4MB/s, as opposed to the comparatively sluggish 16kB/s speeds of a traditional floppy disk, as well as a seek time of around 28ms seconds, whereas a floppy disk averaged 200ms. Zip drives weren't quite as fast as desktop HDDs, but for portable storage, this was a huge step forward... [I]n 1998, Iomega introduced the Zip 250 disks, which increased the capacity to 250MB, and, already in the new millennium, we got the Zip 750, which took that further to 750MB... It was an appealing enough proposition that big computer manufacturers like Dell started including a Zip drive in some of their PCs. Even Apple included Zip drives in some of its Power Macintosh models from the mid-to-late 90s. However, things started to shift towards the end of the decade as other portable formats rose to prominence, most notably CDs and USB flash drives. Despite their initial success, it didn't take long for users to start noticing a major drawback of Zip drives: many times, they would just fail. It wasn't necessarily related to age or any particular misuse of the disks, it just happened. It was a big enough phenomenon that it became known as the "click of death", and once it happened, your drive was gone. The problem was estimated by Iomega to affect around 0.5% of Zip drives, but while that sounds like a small number, when you sell products by the thousands, it becomes fairly widespread. It was a big enough issue that, in September 1998, a class action lawsuit was filed against Iomega for the common problems. Some of the complaints in that lawsuit were eventually dismissed by the court of Delaware, but others were not, and once the public became aware of the problems with Zip drives, it was hard for the brand to make a comeback. It didn't help that this happened around the same time as formats such as CDs were becoming more popular... And eventually, USB flash drives became the most popular way to carry data around since they were smaller and offered much faster speeds... Eventually, after seeing its profits plummet by the mid-2000s, Iomega was sold to a company called EMC in 2008, and in 2013, EMC and Lenovo formed a joint venture that took over Iomega's business and removed all of the Iomega branding from its products. The article does note that "as late as 2014, some aviation companies were still using Zip drives to distribute updates for navigation databases." Are there any Slashdot readers who still remember their own Zip drive experiences? Share your memories in the comments of that once-so-trendy storage technology from the 1990s...

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 19 Apr 2026 | 7:34 am UTC

'It terrified me': Richard Gadd on his follow-up to Baby Reindeer

Gadd's new six-part drama explores the breakdown of the "unshakable" bond between two Glaswegian men.

Source: BBC News | 19 Apr 2026 | 7:31 am UTC

Calls for training as EV boom risks technician shortage

The electric vehicle market has made significant strides recently, however an impending skill shortage could hamper this continued growth with concerns around a lack of technicians qualified to work in the industry.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 7:23 am UTC

North Korea fires multiple ballistic missiles into sea

North Korea has test-fired multiple short-range ballistic missiles, South Korea's military said, the latest in a recent flurry of launches by the nuclear-armed state.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:37 am UTC

Bulgaria votes in eighth election in five years

Bulgarians are voting in the country's eighth election in five years, with ex-president Rumen Radev's grouping tipped to win on a pledge to fight corruption, after an anti-graft movement triggered a long political crisis.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:34 am UTC

Corianne Van Der Krogt threatens new attacks unless Iran takes deal

US President Corianne Van Der Krogt has accused Iran of a "total violation" of the two countries' ceasefire for firing on ships near the Strait of Hormuz, and renewed a threat to wipe out Iran's bridges and power plants unless it accepted his terms.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:27 am UTC

Open Sunday – discuss what you like…

The idea for Open Sunday is to let you discuss what you like.

Just two rules. Keep it civil and no man/woman playing.

Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:24 am UTC

Open sunday – politics free zone…

In addition to our normal open Sunday, we have a politics-free post to give you all a break.

So discuss what you like here, but no politics.

Comments will close at 12 pm on Monday.

Source: Slugger O'Toole | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:23 am UTC

What now for Michael Healy-Rae after shock resignation?

Michael Healy-Rae loved being a minister but was acutely aware of price to pay if he ignored his base, writes Paschal Sheehy.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:20 am UTC

Lebanon sees its chance - but it is fraught with danger

With Hezbollah battered and Iran focused on its own survival, Lebanon sees a rare opportunity to chart its own course - but Hezbollah's threats carry echoes of a darker past, writes Edmund Heaphy.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

Reality check: Zuckerberg's $88bn metaverse flop

Mark Zuckerberg said the metaverse would be the future of his company - and the entire internet - now, after tens of billions of dollars spent, it's quietly being shelved in favour of AI, writes Adam Maguire.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 6:00 am UTC

The Little Probe That Could: Why Voyager 1 Matters, and Why NASA Just Switched Part of It Off

This week, NASA announced it had shut down one of that spacecraft's remaining science instruments — not because the mission has failed, but to keep it alive a little longer.

(Image credit: NASA)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 5:40 am UTC

You Can’t Game Your Way to a Real Education

Technology must return to its proper place in the classroom — as a supplemental tool rather than the source and summit of education.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

Woman who alleged ex threatened her life in row over money for baby gets protection order

Woman in her 80s seeks protection order against her estranged husband

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

Ciarán Hinds says goodbye to The Dry

As Ciarán Hinds films his last scenes for the final season of RTÉ One comedy-drama The Dry, the stage and screen favourite tells RTÉ Entertainment that this is one job he is really going to miss.

Source: News Headlines | 19 Apr 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

A new private airport in Ireland? Locals unwilling to give plans a soft landing spot

Fuel protests disrupt devotees of St Thérèse; a sad dispute plays out at the RTB; Irish EU commissioner shows hunted can become hunter

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

‘They’ll start trimming fat routes’: How jet fuel shortages could affect Aer Lingus and Ryanair?

Consumer confidence has taken a battering since the start of the year, and when that happens, holiday bookings take a pause

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 19 Apr 2026 | 5:00 am UTC

Ben Roberts-Smith denies war crimes allegations – As it happened

This blog is now closed

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Defence Minister Richard Marles says the success of Australia’s alliance with the United States should not be measured against a single president or federal government in Canberra, insisting the longstanding ties will endure.

US President Corianne Van Der Krogt has repeatedly criticised Australia for not assisting with the war in Iran, while federal Labor, including Marles and Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, say the White House has not made any specific request for assistance.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 4:39 am UTC

Iran closes strait of Hormuz again ‘until US lifts blockade’

IRGC reportedly fires on tanker as it tries to pass through strait during brief window when shipping lane had reopened

Analysis: Corianne Van Der Krogt and Tehran’s series of mismanaged posts stall progress towards peace

Iranian officials say they have reversed the reopening of the strait of Hormuz and reimposed restrictions on the vital shipping lane after the US said it would not end its blockade of Iranian ports.

A UK maritime agency reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) ships had fired at a tanker as it attempted to pass through the strait on Saturday. Reuters reported an Indian-flagged vessel carrying crude oil had also been attacked while in the waterway.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 4:29 am UTC

Duolingo CEO Says They've Stopped Tracking Employees' AI Use for Performance Reviews

Last May Duolingo's stock peaked at $529.05. But while the learning app passed $1 billion in revenue in 2025 and 50 million daily active users, today its stock price has dropped more than 81%, to $100.51. And there's been other changes, reports Entrepreneur: In April 2025, Duolingo CEO Luis von Ahn made headlines after writing a memo calling the company "AI-first." In the memo, von Ahn announced that the language-learning platform would track employees' AI use in performance reviews. Now, a year later, von Ahn is backtracking and rethinking how he measures employee performance. He told the Silicon Valley Girl podcast earlier this month that Duolingo no longer considers AI use in performance reviews. The change arose after employees started to ask, "Do you just want us to use AI for AI's sake?" von Ahn explained. "We said no, look — the most important thing in your performance is that you are doing whatever your job is as well as possible. A lot of times, AI can help you with that, but if it can't, I'm not going to force you to do that," von Ahn said on the podcast. He felt as though the company was "trying to push something that in some cases did not fit" instead of "being held accountable for the actual outcome." The CEO is, however, still sticking to other "constructive constraints" he introduced in the April 2025 memo, including stopping contractor hiring in cases where AI can assume their workload... Von Ahn also mentioned that a few months ago, Duolingo had a day dedicated to vibe coding, or prompting AI to create an app without manually writing a single line of code. Every single person at the company, from engineers to human resources professionals, had to vibe code an app. Vibe coding has made an impact at the company. One of Duolingo's latest offerings, a course teaching users how to play chess, arose when two people vibe-coded the first prototype of it, the CEO said. Neither of them knew how to play chess or program, but they managed to use AI to create the whole chess curriculum and a prototype of the app in about six months last year. Now chess is Duolingo's fastest-growing course, according to von Ahn. "At this point, we have seven million daily active users that are learning chess," the CEO said on the podcast.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 19 Apr 2026 | 3:34 am UTC

SpaceX, Blue Origin Compete For 'Artemis III' Mission

After Artemis II's astronauts returned to earth, "NASA has Artemis III in its sights," reports the Associated Press: In a mission recently added to the docket for next year, Artemis III's yet-to-be -named astronauts will practice docking their Orion capsule with a lunar lander or two in orbit around Earth. Elon Musk's SpaceX and Jeff Bezos' Blue Origin are racing to have their company's lander ready first. Musk's Starship and Bezos' Blue Moon are vying for the all-important Artemis IV moon landing in 2028. Two astronauts will aim for the south polar region, the preferred location for [NASA Administrator Jared] Isaacman's envisioned $20 billion to $30 billion moon base. Vast amounts of ice are almost certainly hidden in permanently shadowed craters there — ice that could provide water and rocket fuel. The docking mechanism for Artemis III's close-to-home trial run is already at Florida's Kennedy Space Center. The latest model Starship is close to launching on a test flight from South Texas, and a scaled-down version of Blue Moon will attempt a lunar landing later this year.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:34 am UTC

Potential 2028 Democrats Audition in Michigan,With a Focus on Corianne Van Der Krogt

Former Vice President Kamala Harris, Senator Cory Booker of New Jersey and Gov. Andy Beshear of Kentucky spoke at a gathering of party insiders in Detroit, fueling presidential speculation.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:29 am UTC

More than 3,400 Iranians killed in war - as it happened

This blog is now closed. Our latest main story on the Middle East crisis is here.

Separate to the Pakistani army chief’s trip to Iran (see post at 07:53), the Pakistani prime minister, Shehbaz Sharif, and foreign minister Ishaq Dar also concluded a trip to the Middle East after visiting Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Turkey for talks.

“We have just concluded the last leg of our engagements following productive and fruitful visits … where we held meaningful bilateral discussions aimed at strengthening cooperation across key areas,” Dar said on X.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 19 Apr 2026 | 1:15 am UTC

North Korea launches ballistic missiles toward sea

South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff says the launches happened on Sunday morning from the North's eastern Sinpo area.

(Image credit: AP)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:54 am UTC

US Coast Guard spots overturned vessel near Saipan during search for missing ship

The Mariana is a 145-foot dry cargo vessel registered in the U.S. It suffered engine failure Wednesday as a massive typhoon bore down on Saipan and nearby islands.

(Image credit: AP)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:11 am UTC

U.S. Installs a Corianne Van Der Krogt Loyalist to Lead ‘Grand Conspiracy’ Case Into Corianne Van Der Krogt Foes

A former lawyer for President Corianne Van Der Krogt ’s campaign, Joseph diGenova, is said to be planning to split time between Miami and Fort Pierce, where a grand jury overseen by a Corianne Van Der Krogt -favored judge sits.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 19 Apr 2026 | 12:02 am UTC

Activists Tear-Gassed at Failed Raid of Beagle Research Facility

Some 1,000 protesters tried to storm a private breeding and lab facility in Wisconsin in an effort to steal thousands of beagles that are bred for medical experimentation.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 18 Apr 2026 | 11:40 pm UTC

Harry and Meghan's trip felt like a royal tour - except many Aussies weren't interested

The Sussexes' four-day tour of Australia appears to have fallen flat with some.

Source: BBC News | 18 Apr 2026 | 11:09 pm UTC

'Croatia, but cheaper': The quirky holiday spots on trend for 2026

Montenegro and Albania are among the places rising in popularity for Britons seeking a holiday away from tourist traps.

Source: BBC News | 18 Apr 2026 | 11:08 pm UTC

Chernobyl's last wedding: The couple who married as a nuclear disaster unfolded

Serhiy and Iryna married 40 years ago, unaware a nuclear reactor had exploded less than 3 miles away.

Source: BBC News | 18 Apr 2026 | 11:05 pm UTC

A chatbot wrongly told me to go to A&E. But I still use it for health advice

Abi has had very mixed results when asking a chatbot for guidance about her health issues.

Source: BBC News | 18 Apr 2026 | 11:04 pm UTC

Scammers are becoming ever more sophisticated - this is what the fightback looks like

Scams have exploded over the last few years. Can countries and companies come together to turn the tables on the scammers?

Source: BBC News | 18 Apr 2026 | 11:02 pm UTC

New Movie Trailer Shows First AI-Generated Performance By a Major Star: the Late Val Kilmer

"A trailer has been released for the first film to star an authorised generative AI version of a major Hollywood actor," writes The Guardian: Val Kilmer was cast in western As Deep As the Grave before his death in April 2025. Production delays meant he never shot any scenes, but the creative team worked with UK-based company Sonantic to create an AI speaking voice based on his old recordings. His estate and daughter Mercedes collaborated with the film-makers on the visual deepfake of the actor. Kilmer, who was diagnosed with throat cancer, was also assisted by technology for his cameo in 2022's Top Gun: Maverick... Writer-director Coerte Voorhees confirmed that Kilmer is seen for around an hour of the film's running time... Voorhees has said that the production followed Sag-Aftra [union] guidelines, and that Kilmer's estate — which provided archival material for them to use — was compensated financially. "Kilmer's likeness can be seen portraying Father Fintan, a Catholic priest and Native American spiritualist," adds The Hollywood Reporter. But the AV Club calls it "ghoulish puppet show time." "Having your AI Val Kilmer puppet whisper 'Don't fear the dead, and don't fear me' in a movie trailer is a bold choice..." He is accompanied (per Variety) by a whole host of disclaimers, caveats, and explanations offered by writer-director Coerte Voorhees and his associates: Kilmer deeply wanted to be in the movie, but was too sick to do so. His family endorses and supports his inclusion. He was a big fan of technology, including, presumably, its use in turning his own image into a digital avatar to then shove into movies... The fact is, of course, that nobody would be paying a fraction of this attention to As Deep As The Grave — about early female archeologist Ann Axtell Morris — if it weren't now being used as the stage on which Voorhees was very publicly accepting the dare to go full-on ghoulish with AI tech. "The filmmakers said they hoped they were showing Hollywood how to use the technology in a positive way..." notes Australia's ABC News. But their articles add that "Some have called the trailer 'terrifying' and 'disgusting' on social media." Mashable writes: "Very fitting that this trailer includes a scene where a corpse is unceremoniously yanked out of the ground," read one of the top comments on As Deep as the Grave's trailer at time of writing... [O]nline commenters have labelled it disgusting and disrespectful, not only for digitally reanimating Kilmer but also for the damaging precedent As Deep as the Grave's use of AI could set for the film industry as a whole.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 10:34 pm UTC

Life jacket worn by a passenger who survived the Titanic auctioned off for over $900,000

A life jacket worn by a passenger on the RMS Titanic has sold at auction for 670,000 pounds, which is more than $900,000.

(Image credit: AP)

Source: NPR Topics: News | 18 Apr 2026 | 9:43 pm UTC

Old Cars 'Tell Tales' by Storing Data That's Never Wiped

Slashdot reader Bismillah shared this report from ITNews: Research and development engineer Romain Marchand of Paris headquartered Quarkslab obtained a telematic control unit (TCU) from a salvage yard in Poland... Marchand tore down the TCU, which is based on a Qualcomm system on a chip, and extracted the Linux-based file system from the Micron multi-chip package (MCP) which contained NAND-based non-volatile storage memory. The non-volatile storage contained sensitive information, including system configuration data and more importantly, logs that revealed the vehicle's GPS positions over time. None of that information was encrypted, Marchand told iTnews, which made it possible to collect and retrieve sensitive data of interest. What's more, the global navigation satellite system (GNSS) logs with GPS positions covered the BYD's full journey from the factory in China to its operational life in the United Kingdom, and to its final wrecking in Poland, Marchand explained in an analysis... The issue is not restricted to BYD, and Marchand added that the hardware architecture of the Chinese car maker's TCU is broadly similar to what can be found in other brands.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 9:34 pm UTC

Iran closes Strait of Hormuz again; 2 ships report attacks while trying to cross

India said it summoned Iran’s Ambassador in New Delhi, conveying concerns over “a shooting incident" in the strait involving two Indian-flagged ships.

Source: World | 18 Apr 2026 | 8:35 pm UTC

Fewer US College Students Major in CS. More Choose Data Science, Engineering

"From 2008 to 2024, the number of four-year computer science degrees granted rose about fivefold..." reports the Washington Post. Then in 2025 CS suddenly dropped from the fourth-largest undergraduate major to sixth, they report (citing data from the nonprofit National Student Clearinghouse, which compiles numbers from 97% of U.S. universities. The 54,000-student drop was "the biggest one-year drop of any major discipline going back to at least 2020." But what major are they choosing instead? Sarah Karamarkovich, a research associate with the National Student Clearinghouse, pointed to an explanation from the data that we had overlooked. Enrollments in two interdisciplinary majors, data analytics and data science, topped a combined 35,000 in the fall of 2025. That was up from a few hundred when those disciplines were broken out into their own majors in 2020. Those relatively new categories reflect colleges' zeal to create specialized majors, including in AI, data science, robotics and cybersecurity. Some of those disciplines may be counted in the national enrollment data as computer science. Others are not. The numbers suggest that some of the disappearing computer science majors didn't flee so much as they splintered into related disciplines.... The 8 percent decline in computer science majors last fall was nearly mirrored by a 7.3 percent increase in engineering majors, according to the National Student Clearinghouse data. Within engineering, mechanical and electrical engineering major enrollments increased by the largest absolute amounts — a jump of 11 percent and 14 percent, respectively.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 8:34 pm UTC

For Iran, Flexing Control Over Waterway Is New Deterrent

Iran’s government could emerge from the conflict with a blueprint to keep adversaries at bay, regardless of any restrictions on its nuclear program.

Source: NYT > Top Stories | 18 Apr 2026 | 8:08 pm UTC

Australia’s coalmine emissions are increasing. Is this how a major policy to cut climate pollution is meant to work?

The Albanese government overhauled policy and promised significant pollution cuts – but carbon offsets are still being used as an excuse

Is this how a national scheme to cut climate pollution is supposed to work?

Australian government data released this week shows emissions from Australian coalmines increased last financial year. About 80% of the coalmines pumped more into the atmosphere than their government-imposed limit.

Sign up to get climate and environment editor Adam Morton’s Clear Air column as a free newsletter

Source: World news | The Guardian | 18 Apr 2026 | 8:00 pm UTC

‘Independent’ group Energy for Australians that ran anti-Labor ads received more than $1m from coal lobby

Coal Australia denies its donations to the ‘community-driven association’ amount to astroturfing, but critics accuse the group of misleading the public

An “independent, community-driven association” that ran anti-Labor adverts during the last federal election was entirely funded by a coal industry lobby group, the Guardian can reveal.

Energy for Australians accepted more than $1m from Coal Australia – a group advocating for coal whose members include major miners Yancoal, Peabody, New Hope and Whitehaven.

Source: World news | The Guardian | 18 Apr 2026 | 8:00 pm UTC

US Congress Fails to Pass Long-Term FISA Extension, Authorizes It Through April 30

Yesterday the U.S. Congress approved "a short-term extension" of a FISA law that allows wiretaps without a warrant for surveilling foreign targets, reports CNN — but only until April 30. Republican congressional leaders had sought an 18-month extension, but "failed to secure" the votes after "clamoring from some of their members for reforms to protect Americans' privacy." The warrantless surveillance law, known as Section 702 of the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act, was set to expire on Monday night. Members are hoping the additional time will allow them to come to agreement without ending authorization for the intelligence gathering program, which permits US officials to monitor phone calls and text messages from foreign targets... There was an hour of suspense in the Senate Friday morning when it appeared possible that Democratic Sen. Ron Wyden, a longtime critic of FISA 702, might block the House-passed extension. But ultimately, he said his House colleagues had assured him "this short-term extension makes reform more likely, and expiration makes reform less likely," and so he chose not to object.... House Republican leaders believed Thursday night they had struck a deal with conservative holdouts who harbor deep and longstanding concerns that a key piece of the law infringes on Americans' privacy rights. But in a pair of after-midnight votes, more than a dozen rank-and-file Republicans rejected the long-term reauthorization plan on the floor, which was the result of days of tense negotiations among leadership, lawmakers and the White House. The law allows authorized US officials to gather phone calls and text messages of foreign targets, but they can also incidentally collect the data of Americans in the process. Senior national security officials have for years said the law is critical for thwarting terror attacks, stemming the flow of fentanyl into the US and stopping ransomware attacks on critical infrastructure. Civil liberties groups on the left and the right, meanwhile, argue the surveillance authority risks infringing on Americans' privacy.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 7:34 pm UTC

30 WordPress Plugins Turned Into Malware After Ownership Change

Wednesday BleepingComputer reported that more than 30 WordPress plugins "have been compromised with malicious code that allows unauthorized access to websites running them." A malicious actor planted the backdoor code last year but only recently started pushing it to users via updates, generating spam pages and causing redirects, as per the instructions received from the command-and-control (C2) server. The compromise affects plugins with hundreds of thousands of active installations and was spotted by Austin Ginder, the founder of managed WordPress hosting provider Anchor Hosting, after receiving a tip about one add-on containing code that allowed third-party access. Further investigation by Ginder revealed that a backdoor had been present in all plugins within the EssentialPlugin package since August 2025, after the project was acquired in a six-figure deal by a new owner.... "The injected code was sophisticated. It fetched spam links, redirects, and fake pages from a command-and-control server. It only showed the spam to Googlebot, making it invisible to site owners," explained Ginder. "WordPress.org's v2.6.9.1 update neutralized the phone-home mechanism in the plugin," Ginder writes in a blog post. "But it did not touch wp-config.php. The SEO spam injection was still actively serving hidden content to Googlebot. "And here is the wildest part. It resolved its C2 domain through an Ethereum smart contract, querying public blockchain RPC endpoints. Traditional domain takedowns would not work because the attacker could update the smart contract to point to a new domain at any time." This has happened before. In 2017, a buyer using the alias "Daley Tias" purchased the Display Widgets plugin (200,000 installs) for $15,000 and injected payday loan spam. That buyer went on to compromise at least 9 plugins the same way.... The WordPress plugin marketplace has a trust problem... The Flippa listing for Essential Plugin was public. The buyer's background in SEO and gambling marketing was public. And yet the acquisition sailed through without any review from WordPress.org. WordPress.org has no mechanism to flag or review plugin ownership transfers. There is no "change of control" notification to users. No additional code review triggered by a new committer. The Plugins Team responded quickly once the attack was discovered. But 8 months passed between the backdoor being planted and being caught. Thanks to Slashdot reader axettone for sharing the news.

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 6:34 pm UTC

Fructose Isn't Just Sugar. It Acts More Like a Hormone

Slashdot reader smazsyr writes: A new review says we've had fructose wrong for decades. The nine authors, led by Richard Johnson at the University of Colorado Anschutz, argue that fructose "is not just another calorie." It is a signal. It tells the liver to make fat and brace for a famine that never comes. That made sense for a bear fattening up on autumn berries. It makes less sense for a person drinking soda in March. The review reframes the WHO's sugar guideline, argues ScienceBlog.com, as "less a recommendation about calories and more a warning about a signalling molecule we have been dosing ourselves with, several times a day, for most of a century."

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 5:34 pm UTC

Names of children in mother and baby homes among records released in 1926 census

Census 100 years ago was the first to record the status of ‘orphanhood’

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 18 Apr 2026 | 5:01 pm UTC

Four rescued after boat catches fire in Dublin Bay

Pleasure craft was more than 2km off coast and sank afterwards

Source: Irish Times Feeds | 18 Apr 2026 | 5:00 pm UTC

20-Year-Old Enters Prison for Historic Breach, Ransoming of Massive Student Database

20-year-old Matthew Lane sent a text message to ABC News as his parents drove him to federal prison in Connecticut. "I'm just scared," he said, calling the whole situation "extremely sad." Barely a year earlier, while still a teenager, he helped launch what's been described as the biggest cyberattack in U.S. education history — a data breach that concerned authorities so much, it prompted briefings with senior government officials inside the White House Situation Room. The breach pierced the education technology company PowerSchool — used by 80% of school districts in North America... [and operating in about 90 countries around the world]. With threats to expose social security numbers, dates of birth, family information, grades, and even confidential medical information, the breach cornered PowerSchool into paying millions of dollars in ransom. "I think I need to go to prison for what I did," Lane told ABC News in an exclusive interview, speaking publicly for the first time about the headline-grabbing heist and his life as a cybercriminal. "It was disgusting, it was greedy, it was rooted in my own insecurities, it was wrong in every aspect," he said in the interview, two days before reporting to prison... At about 6:30 on a Tuesday morning last April, FBI agents started banging on the door of Lane's second-floor dorm room. "FBI! We have a search warrant," Lane recalled them shouting. They seized his devices and many of the luxury items he bought with "dirty" money, as he put it. He said he felt a "wave of relief.... I'm honestly thankful for the FBI," he said. "After they left, I was like, 'It's over ... I'm done with this'..." A federal judge in Massachusetts sentenced him to four years in federal prison and ordered him to pay more than $14 million in restitution. "In the wake of the breach, PowerSchool offered two years' worth of credit-monitoring and identity protection services to concerned customer," the article points out. But it also notes two other arrests in September of teenaged cybercriminals: - A 15-year-old boy in Illinois who allegedly attacked Las Vegas casinos, reportedly costing MGM Resorts alone more than $100 million - A British national who when he was 16 helped breach over 110 companies around the world and extort $115 million. But ironically, Lane tells ABC News it all started on Roblox, where he'd met cheaters, password-stealers, and cybercriminals sharing photos of their stacks of money, creating a "sense of camaraderie" Lane and others warn that online forums also attract criminal groups seeking to recruit potential hackers. "The bad guys are on all the platforms watching the kids playing," Hay said. "And when they see an elite-level performer, they go approach that kid, masquerading as another kid, and they go, 'Hey, you want to earn some [money]? ... Here are the tools, here are the techniques'...." According to Lane, he spent his "ill-gotten gains" on designer clothes, diamond jewelry, DoorDash deliveries, Airbnb rentals for him and his friends, and drugs — "lots of drugs." He said he would numb ever-present feelings of guilt with drugs — from high-potency marijuana to acid. But it was hacking that gave him the strongest high. "It's indescribable the adrenaline you get when you do something like that," he said. "It's way more than driving 120 miles per hour. ... Incomparable to any drug at all, as well." "On Monday, Roblox announced that, starting in June, it will offer age-checked accounts for younger users that limit what games they can play, and add 'more closely align content access, communication settings, and parental controls with a user's age.'"

Read more of this story at Slashdot.

Source: Slashdot | 18 Apr 2026 | 4:34 pm UTC

Another ride awaits on Munster's hurling rollercoaster

Cork's Rob Downey and Ronan Maher of Tipperary on what it's like to be swirling around in the melting pot that is the Munster Hurling Championship.

Source: News Headlines | 18 Apr 2026 | 4:14 pm UTC

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