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  • Solana Developers Are Preparing for an Imminent Threat: Roadmap Released

    Solana Developers Are Preparing for an Imminent Threat: Roadmap Released

    Solana has published a comprehensive roadmap on the potential impact of quantum computing on blockchain technology. The statement added that while quantum threats are still only a few years away, the ecosystem is already making significant technical preparations to address these risks.

    Anza and Firedancer, independent validation client development teams representing a large portion of the network’s stake, reached a common conclusion through their separate research efforts. Both teams identified a need for a post-quantum digital signature scheme capable of delivering compact signatures suitable for high-throughput blockchains, and opted for the Falcon algorithm. Both teams have released their initial Falcon-based application code on GitHub.

    Related News Another Weekend, Another Hacking Incident in the Crypto Market—This Time, Another Platform Has Announced It Was Hacked

    On the other hand, it was stated that the “Winternitz Vault” solution developed by Blueshift within the Solana ecosystem has been active for over two years and offers a direct quantum-resistant pathway. Earlier this year, Google Quantum AI, in a technical report it published, presented this Vault structure as a prominent example among future post-quantum studies.

    According to Solana’s roadmap, the plan is to continue quantum research and evaluate alternative solutions, primarily Falcon. If the quantum threat becomes a serious risk, the goal is to create new wallets using post-quantum solutions and migrate existing wallets to the chosen system.

    Project officials stated that this transition process was well-planned and could be completed quickly, adding that no significant negative impact on network performance was expected.

    *This is not investment advice.

  • ZachXBT accuses Worldcoin of FTX-style tactics as Musk turns up heat on Altman

    ZachXBT accuses Worldcoin of FTX-style tactics as Musk turns up heat on Altman

    Crypto sleuth ZachXBT called out Sam Altman’s Worldcoin in a post responding to Elon Musk’s “Scam Altman” broadside, saying the project deserves far more scrutiny than it gets.

    ZachXBT said Worldcoin launched the $WLD token with a predatory low float on par with Sam Bankman-Fried’s FTX companies, and preyed on people in low-income countries by exchanging small token amounts for biometric data.

    The human verification technology it promised has instead produced a black market for verified accounts, ZachXBT said, while token supply inflates at unsustainable levels and insiders quietly offload holdings via OTC.

    No one seems to mention Scam Altman’s other company WorldCoin aka World which launched with a predatory low float crypto token $WLD that was on par with SBF / FTX companies.

    They have preyed on people from low income countries for biometric data by giving away small amounts of… pic.twitter.com/dZR0X1pJzt

    — ZachXBT (@zachxbt) April 28, 2026

    This is a developing story.

  • Banijay Takes Immersive Experience ‘Luminiscence’ to Hamburg, Its Third German Location (EXCLUSIVE)

    Banijay Takes Immersive Experience ‘Luminiscence’ to Hamburg, Its Third German Location (EXCLUSIVE)

    Banijay Germany is bringing the immersive experience “Luminiscence” to Hamburg’s St. Michaelis Church, in collaboration with French immersive producer Lotchi, the creator of “Luminiscence” and part of Banijay Live.

    Hamburg becomes the third German city, following Münster and Nuremberg, to host the experience, premiering on July 2, transforming the landmark into “a striking landscape of light, sound and history,” Banijay said.

    Since its launch in 2023, “Luminiscence” has attracted more than one million visitors internationally, staging immersive productions across some of the world’s most beautiful cathedrals, churches and historic landmarks in eight countries, including France, Spain, U.K., Netherlands, Belgium, Germany, Brazil and the U.S. “Luminiscence” has been brought to 20-plus cities, with nine productions currently live.

    While maintaining its core business in TV content, Banijay Group has diversified into live events and sports in recent years with much success. The live experiences & other segment grew 18.2% last year from 336 million euros ($393 million) to 397 million euros ($465 million).

    For St. Michaelis, “Luminiscence” will employ state-of-the-art 360° projection technology, innovative lighting effects, original music compositions, live singing and organ music, with an ensemble of conductors, organists and a choir from the region. It will feature the singer Lucia Duchoňová, and organists Magne H. Draagen and Paul Fasang.

    Ingrid Langheld, CEO of Banijay Germany Live, said: “’Luminiscence’ has proven its ability to draw audiences across cultures, bringing history to life using technology and music. Its continued expansion in Germany reflects both the strength of the creative concept from Lotchi and our team’s expertise in delivering experiences at scale. Bringing ‘Luminiscence’ to St. Michaelis is a milestone in our German journey and a fantastic example of how collaboration drives growth and business diversification.”

    Alexander Röder, senior pastor at St. Michaelis, said: “Through this project, our bright and airy Baroque church is being revealed in a unique way, and St. Michaelis and its eventful history are brought magnificently to life for the audience through light, music and narration.”

    François de Brugada, CEO of Banijay Live, added: “When Lotchi joined Banijay Live, ‘Luminiscence’ had already proven its concept in four French cathedrals. One year later, the show is successfully running across Europe, the U.K., the U.S.A. and Brazil – powered by Banijay Entertainment’s leading network of local talent. St. Michaelis in Hamburg is yet another perfect match between ‘Luminiscence’s’ bold creative and technical vision and the exceptional local expertise of Banijay Germany.”

    “Luminiscence” at St. Michaelis is produced by Banijay Germany Live and Cape Cross.

  • Recap: Thunder advance, Magic, Nuggets win

    Recap: Thunder advance, Magic, Nuggets win

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander and the Thunder advanced to the second round by finishing their sweep of the Suns.

    We’re bringing you the best of the 2026 NBA Playoffs, presented by Google, with the NBA.com live blog, featuring all of the meaningful moments, performances, observations, news, notes and highlights from Monday’s action.

    The Magic defeated the Pistons 94-88 in a defensive slugfest, led by Desmond Bane (22 pts, 5 3PM), earning a 3-1 lead in the series. They have a chance to become the seventh No. 8 seed to overcome a No. 1 seed on Wednesday.

    The Thunder advanced to the second round by beating the Suns 122-113, as Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 pts) and crew earned their third first round sweep in three years.

    The Nuggets controlled the game against the Timberwolves, winning 125-113 behind Nikola Jokić (27 pts, 12 reb, 16 ast, 2 blk).

    What we know about Monday’s games:

    • The Magic earned a 3-1 lead, while the Thunder advanced to the second round and the Nuggets cut their disadvantage to 3-2.
    • Postgame Pressers:
    • Magic-Pistons will reconvene Wednesday (7 ET, Prime), while Nuggets-Timberwolves will be back on Thursday.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 1:40 ET

    Postgame Presser: Timberwolves-Nuggets

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 1:35 ET

    Monday’s results

    Nikola Jokić (27 pts, 12 reb, 16 ast, 2 blk) is your top performer of the night.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 1:23 ET

    Nuggets win to return to force Game 6

    125-113, as the Nuggets forced 25 turnovers and dominated inside with 62 points in the paint to outlast the Timberwolves.

    Nikola Jokić (27 pts, 12 reb, 16 ast, 2 blk) was in command, doing all that on just 16 shots.

    Julius Randle (26 pts) led six Wolves in double figures in defeat.

    This series will be back in action on Thursday.

    “Tonight was the only thing that mattered,” said Cameron Johnson (18 pts). “Everybody came out with the same mindset, the same focus.”

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 1:03 ET

    One time for Shai Gilgeous-Alexander

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 12:42 ET

    Postgame Presser: Thunder-Suns

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 12:32 ET

    What a pass from the Joker

    Nikola Jokić (18 pts, 11 reb, 15 ast) just spun an absolute dime to Christian Braun for the slam, as the Nuggets open up a 94-72 lead over the Timberwolves with just under a minute remaining in the third quarter.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 12:15 ET

    Thunder advance to the second round

    131-122, sparked by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 pts, 5 ast), Chet Holmgren (22 pts, 8 reb, 2 stl) and Ajay Mitchell (18 pts, team-high +23).

    Oklahoma City led by as many as 15 in a contest that saw nine lead changes and six ties. It’s their third-straight first round sweep in the last three years.

    Collin Gillespie (20 pts, 6 3PM) was the top scorer for the Suns.

    APRIL 28, 2026 / 12:07 ET

    One time for Jamal Cain

    Just a classic posterization here.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 11:45 ET

    Denver up 60-51 at the break

    Nikola Jokić (13 pts, 6 reb, 10 ast) knocked down a 3-pointer as the second quarter wound down, while Jamal Murray (10 pts) is doing his thing.

    Julius Randle (12 pts, 3 reb) is the top scorer for the Timberwolves, who have committed 14 turnovers so far.

    “It’s a dogfight. That’s just how it’s going to be,” said Spencer Jones (9 pts). “We’re just being really physical.”

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 11:30 ET

    Thunder lead 106-98 after three

    Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (26 pts, 5 ast) has the Thunder on the verge of advancing to the second round, as they lead the Suns with one quarter to go.

    Oklahoma City is 15-of-30 from 3-point range so far, outdoing Phoenix, which is 13-of-29 (44.8%).

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 11:11 ET

    Postgame Presser: Pistons-Magic

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 10:57 ET

    Orlando wins, takes 3-1 lead

    94-88, led by Desmond Bane (22 pts), Franz Wagner (19 pts) and Paolo Banchero (18 pts, 8 reb).

    The Magic shot just 32.8% from the field, but forced 20 turnovers by the Pistons and won the rebounding battle 69-63 to earn 10 more field goal attempts on the night. Detroit shot 39.8% from the field in this defensive struggle.

    Wendell Carter Jr. (12 pts, 11 reb) played Jalen Duren (12 pts, 8 reb) to a standstill, leaving the Pistons searching for a scoring advantage from their secondary players.

    Cade Cunningham (25 pts, 9 reb, 6 ast) fought his way to a reasonable night, but Tobias Harris (20 pts) and Duren were the only other scorers to crack double digits. The Pistons were just 6-of-30 (20%) from 3-point range.

    A No. 8 seed has upset a No. 1 seed six times in NBA history.

    • 2023: Heat over Bucks (4-1)
    • 2012: 76ers over Bulls (4-2)
    • 2011: Grizzlies over Spurs (4-2)
    • 2007: Warriors over Mavericks (4-2)
    • 1999: Knicks over Heat (3-2)
    • 1994: Nuggets over SuperSonics (3-2)

    Can the Pistons become the seventh? The series will reconvene on Wednesday at 7 ET.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 10:47 ET

    Thunder lead Suns 75-67 at the break

    Phoenix is fighting to stay alive, but Oklahoma City is relentless. The Thunder are outshooting the Suns 61.4% to 59.5% from the field, led by Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (17 pts on nine shots).

    Collin Gillespie (17 pts) leads the Suns in scoring.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 10:45 ET

    ‘The bank is open late’

    Desmond Bane (22 pts) just kissed a 3-pointer off the glass to give the Magic a 92-86 lead with 1:16 to go in the fourth.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 10:33 ET

    Pistons and Magic going down to the wire

    87-85 with 4:14 to go, as these two tough Eastern Conference squads battle it out.

    The game is getting physical late. Catch the finish on NBC and Peacock!

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 10:21 ET

    Jamal Cain hits the trampoline

    Oh my, Jamal Cain just detonated all over Jalen Duren. A 121.5 on the Dunk Score Scale!

    “He just kept going up,” said Austin Rivers. “The arena is still buzzing.”

    82-77 Magic with 7:41 to go in the fourth quarter.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 10:05 ET

    Thunder lead Suns early

    30-26 Oklahoma City, but Collin Gillespie (11 pts on 4-of-4 shooting) and Dillon Brooks (9 pts) are going off for Phoenix.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 9:47 ET

    Pistons start the third on a run

    63-58 Magic with 6:29 to go in the third quarter, after Orlando started the quarter on a 9-2 run.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 9:30 ET

    Magic lead 54-52 at the break

    It’s been a back-and-forth battle in the Kia Center so far tonight, with both teams holding double-digit leads in the first half.

    Franz Wagner (17 pts on 12 shots) is the lead scorer for Orlando, while Cade Cunningham (16 pts, 3 reb, 4 ast) is the top man for Detroit.

    The Pistons have 12 giveaways so far — nearing their average of 17 for the series. Orlando’s taken advantage to the tune of a 19-3 advantage in points off turnovers.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 9:05 ET

    Detroit takes a lead

    46-37 Pistons with 4:36 to go in the first half.

    Tobias Harris (10 pts on 4-of-5 shooting) has been crucial early for Detroit, steadying them during Orlando’s early surge and providing consistent scoring.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 8:44 ET

    Pistons lead after one

    Detroit battled back to take a 27-26 lead at the end of the first quarter.

    Cade Cunningham (10 pts, 3 reb, 2 ast) took command of the Pistons’ attack despite four turnovers, while Franz Wagner (8 pts, 3 stl) leads the Magic in scoring.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 8:20 ET

    Detroit can’t keep possession

    Seven turnovers in the first six minutes for the Pistons, including on five straight possessions. Orlando has an early 12-3 lead in points of turnovers.

    19-10 Orlando with 6:13 to go in the first.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 8:13 ET

    Magic force an early timeout

    12-5 Orlando to start the contest on NBC and Peacock, with Wendell Carter Jr. and Desmond Bane knocking down early 3-pointers.

    Bane hit seven 3-pointers in Game 3 — Detroit would like to avoid seeing that again.

    Carter Jr.’s confidence is a bellwether for this series. He’s been threatening to outdo the All-Star Jalen Duren — if that happens, we could have an upset.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 7:45 ET

    Starting Lineups: Pistons-Magic, Game 4

    Cade Cunningham and the Detroit Pistons look to even their 2026 NBA Playoffs first-round series against the Orlando Magic on NBC and Peacock at 8 ET.

    Detroit:

    • PG Cade Cunningham
    • SG Duncan Robinson
    • SF Ausar Thompson
    • PF Tobias Harris
    • C Jalen Duren

    Orlando:

    • PG Jalen Suggs
    • SG Desmond Bane
    • SF Franz Wagner
    • PF Paolo Banchero
    • C Wendell Carter Jr.

    Watch the matchup between Wendell Carter Jr. and Jalen Duren tonight — Carter had 14 points and 17 rebounds in Game 3, dominating the pivot battle.

    APRIL 27, 2026 / 7:30 ET

    Monday’s injury report

    Kevin Huerter is available for the Pistons, while Jonathan Isaac is out for the Magic.

    Jalen Williams is out for the Thunder. Jordan Goodwin is questionable for the Suns, while Mark Williams is out.

    Donte DiVincenzo and Anthony Edwards are out for the Timberwolves. Aaron Gordon is questionable for the Nuggets, while Peyton Watson is out.

  • Bitcoin loses $77,000, ether, solana slide as Hormuz standoff lifts oil to 3-week high

    Bitcoin loses $77,000, ether, solana slide as Hormuz standoff lifts oil to 3-week high

    Bitcoin has been rejected at $79,000 three times in eight sessions. The level is now defining the range.

    Bitcoin traded at $76,923 on Tuesday morning, down 2.4% over 24 hours after climbing to $79,399 on Monday and reversing through the day. Ether fell 3.7% to $2,290, XRP slipped 3.2% to $1.39, Solana dropped 3.9% to $84.10, and BNB declined 1.8% to $625. The whole top 10 closed red on 24 hours outside Tron and Dogecoin.

    Brent crude rose 1% to above $109 a barrel, extending its rally to a seventh day after Iran’s interim deal proposal to reopen the Strait of Hormuz failed to advance over the weekend. The White House said US officials were discussing the latest Iranian proposal but maintained “red lines” on any deal to end the eight-week war.

    The MSCI Asia Pacific Index was little changed, with Japanese stocks supported by the Bank of Japan’s 6-3 split decision to keep policy unchanged. The yen strengthened 0.3% to around 159 per dollar.

    Two readings of the bitcoin tape are circulating among market analysts.

    Mike Novogratz of Galaxy Digital said in a note that US retail investors have returned to the market and the combination of retail demand, institutional capital, and limited supply creates the foundation for further upside. Santiment data shows whales accumulated more than 40,000 BTC over the past two weeks, and the firm flagged a sharp shift in sentiment from fear to fear-of-missing-out over a short period.

    Analysis firm CryptoQuant takes the opposite view. Founder Ki Young-Ju said in an X post that bitcoin’s push above $79,000 was driven primarily by a short squeeze in the derivatives market rather than sustained spot demand, and that large-scale short covering leaves the market vulnerable to a reversal once the squeeze exhausts.

    Funding rates on perpetual futures across major exchanges remain negative on a 7-day basis at -0.13% per Coinglass, meaning shorts are still paying longs to hold positions, the pattern that historically precedes both squeezes and the unwinding of squeezes.

    The two views are not mutually exclusive. Spot demand from retail and institutions can be returning at the same time that the rally toward $79,000 was front-loaded by short covering. The test is whether the next attempt at the level brings fresh spot bids or runs out of shorts to squeeze.

    Corporate accumulation continues regardless. Strategy bought $3.9 billion of bitcoin in April per Bloomberg, the firm’s largest monthly accumulation in a year.

    Japanese company Metaplanet announced a $50 million bond issuance Tuesday to finance new bitcoin purchases, the latest in a series of yen-denominated debt deals the firm has used to build one of the largest corporate bitcoin treasuries outside the US.

    The week’s catalysts arrive Wednesday and Thursday.

    The Federal Reserve announces its policy decision Wednesday with traders pricing higher odds of a rate cut after the Justice Department closed its probe into Fed Chair Jerome Powell.

    Megacap tech earnings from Alphabet, Microsoft, Amazon, and Meta on Wednesday and Apple on Thursday represent roughly a quarter of the S&P 500’s market capitalization.

    Either the Fed or a strong earnings beat could provide the catalyst needed to push bitcoin through $80,000. Without one, the third rejection from the level starts to define the upper end of the range rather than precede a breakout.

  • What next as XRP drops 3% under $1.40 on strong selling

    What next as XRP drops 3% under $1.40 on strong selling

    $XRP finally gave way at $1.40, and the way it broke matters more than the move itself. This wasn’t a slow drift lower. It was a high-volume push that cleared a level buyers had defended for weeks. Once that kind of support goes, it usually doesn’t snap back quickly. It tends to flip, and that’s exactly the test now.

    News Background

    • Bitcoin dominance pushed toward 60%, reinforcing a rotation out of altcoins and limiting follow-through demand for $XRP.

    • The multi-month triangle structure that had been compressing price finally resolved, with the move breaking lower instead of triggering the expected upside expansion.

    Price Action Summary

    • $XRP dropped from $1.44 to $1.39, breaking cleanly through the $1.40 support zone.
    • The move was driven by a sharp spike in participation, not thin liquidity.
    • Price is now stabilizing just below the breakdown level, trading in a tight $1.39–$1.40 range.

    Technical Analysis

    • The key shift is structural. $1.40 was support, now it’s resistance unless reclaimed quickly.
    • Volume expanding into the breakdown confirms real selling pressure, not just positioning noise.
    • The triangle pattern that held price for weeks has resolved lower, removing the compression support.
    • Short-term bounces are showing up, but they’re reactive, not strong enough to reverse the move yet.

    What traders should watch

    • $1.40 is now the pivot. Reclaim it with volume, and the breakdown starts to look like a fakeout.
    • $1.37 is the next downside level. Losing that opens the path toward deeper support near $1.31.
    • If price keeps holding below $1.40, sellers stay in control and rallies are likely to get sold.

  • Bitcoin support resistance flip in play as longs to shorts delta highlights bullish bias

    Bitcoin support resistance flip in play as longs to shorts delta highlights bullish bias

  • Netflix Sets Korean Political Thriller ‘The Generals’ From ‘Narco-Saints’ Director Yoon Jong-bin

    Netflix Sets Korean Political Thriller ‘The Generals’ From ‘Narco-Saints’ Director Yoon Jong-bin

    Netflix is doubling down on Korea’s appetite for political period thrillers. The streamer revealed Monday that it has begun production on The Generals (working title), a new film from acclaimed director Yoon Jong-bin chronicling the rise of South Korean dictator-turned-president Roh Tae-woo, the longtime second-in-command to military strongman Chun Doo-hwan.

    The project marks Yoon’s first feature in eight years — following The Spy Gone North, which premiered at Cannes in 2018 — and his second project at Netflix after Narco-Saints, the hit limited series that launched on the streamer in 2022.

    The film centers on Roh Tae-woo (Son Suk-ku), a figure who publicly presents himself as an “ordinary man” while maneuvering behind the scenes beside dictator Chun Doo-hwan (Ha Jung-woo), who wields absolute authority. Surrounded by allies, rivals, and functionaries with their own agendas, Roh navigates a dense network of relationships in his bid to claim the top seat for himself. 

    Among Korea’s most respected mid-career filmmakers, Yoon is known for taut dissections of how people survive inside rigid hierarchies, from his breakthrough The Unforgiven (2005), about Korea’s compulsory military service, to later hits like the Busan mob movie Nameless Gangster (2012) and espionage drama The Spy Gone North (2018). The Generals finds him returning to the theme, “once again exploring the human thirst for power and the mechanisms of survival against a backdrop of political turbulence,” according to Netflix.  

    The film’s cast puts two of Korea’s most in-demand leading men opposite each other for the first time. Son Suk-ku broke through with the Netflix military-drama series D.P. (2021) before headlining the streamer’s A Killer Paradox (2024) and the recent Disney+ mystery hit Nine Puzzles. Ha Jung-woo, meanwhile, is among Korea’s most decorated actors, known for his regular work with Yoon (Nameless Gangster, Kundo: Age of the Rampant and Narco-Saints) as well as leading auteurs like Na Hong-jin (Chaser, The Yellow Sea) and Park Chan-wook (The Handmaiden). 

    The supporting ensemble includes Ji Chang-wook (The Sound of Magic, The Worst of Evil, Revolver) playing Heo Hak-seong, a junior officer who becomes a thorn in Roh’s side; Hyun Bong-sik (Narco-Saints, A Killer Paradox, Aema) as Jung Ho-joong, a classmate and friend to both Roh and Chun; and Seo Hyun-woo (Decision to Leave, My Name Is Loh Kiwan) playing Park Cheol-woong, a prosecutor and Roh’s trusted chief of staff.

    The Generals (WT) is a joint production between Moonlight Film (Karma, Narco-Saints, The Match, Nine Puzzles) and Sanai Pictures (Mission: Cross, Revolver, Hunt), and will stream exclusively on Netflix.

    Politically charged dramas engaging with South Korea‘s authoritarian past are a staple of the local industry, but the genre has struck an especially strong commercial chord of late. 12.12: The Day, the Kim Sung-su-directed political drama that turned the December 1979 coup into a riveting ticking-clock thriller, became the top-grossing Korean film of 2023, helping to revive the country’s ailing post-pandemic theatrical business. Woo Min-ho’s Harbin, a sweeping period thriller about a 1909 plot to assassinate Japan’s first prime minister and resident-general of Korea, also dominated the Korean box office for a month at the end of 2024. 

  • Italy extradites Chinese cyber-espionage suspect to US

    Italy extradites Chinese cyber-espionage suspect to US

    US prosecutors say 34-year-old Xu Zewei hacked into universities to steal vaccine research during COVID-19 pandemic. 

    Published On 28 Apr 2026

    Italy has extradited an accused Chinese hacker wanted in the United States for allegedly stealing vaccine research at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

    Italian authorities handed over the “dangerous foreign hacker” to the US following his arrest in Milan last July on suspicion of conducting cyberattacks against universities and other institutions engaged in COVID-related research, the Italian National Police said in a statement on Monday.

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    The suspect and his co-conspirators allegedly exploited cybersecurity flaws in email software to target thousands of computers in a Chinese state-sponsored cyber-espionage campaign dubbed “Hafnium”, Italian police said.

    The US Department of Justice said the suspect, 34-year-old Xu Zewei, had targeted universities, immunologists, and virologists under the direction of China’s Ministry of State Security while employed at the “enabling” company Shanghai Powerock Network.

    Prosecutors said the targeted institutions included a university in southern Texas and a law firm with offices in Washington, DC, and worldwide.

    Xu appeared in the US District Court in Houston, Texas, on Monday to face nine criminal counts, including wire fraud and conspiracy to obtain information by unauthorised access to protected computers, according to US prosecutors.

    “The United States is committed to pursuing hackers who steal information from US businesses and universities and threaten our cybersecurity,” Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A Eisenberg said in a statement.

    “I commend the prosecutors and investigators who have worked hard and sought justice for years in this investigation, and we look forward to proving our case in court,” Eisenberg said.

    The Chinese Embassy in Washington, DC, did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

    Beijing has previously denied conducting hacking operations in the US and elsewhere around the world, branding such claims as “groundless accusations” and “smears”.

    Xu’s lawyers in Italy and the US, Simona Candido and Dan Cogdell, did not immediately respond to requests for comment.

    If convicted, Xu could face up to 20 years in prison for each count of the most serious charges against him.

  • Lisa Kudrow Says the ‘Friends’ Writers Were ‘Mostly Men’ Who Stayed ‘Up Late Discussing Their Sexual Fantasies’ About Her Female Co-Stars

    Lisa Kudrow Says the ‘Friends’ Writers Were ‘Mostly Men’ Who Stayed ‘Up Late Discussing Their Sexual Fantasies’ About Her Female Co-Stars

    Lisa Kudrow recently told The Times of London that she had to endure some “mean stuff” from the writing staff of “Friends,” who were “mostly men,” during her 10-season run on the NBC sitcom. Kudrow, who starred as the free-spirited Phoebe Buffay, said the writers reprimanded the cast for forgetting lines and spent their off-hours fantasizing about her female co-stars.

    “There was definitely mean stuff going on behind the scenes,” Kudrow said. “Don’t forget we were recording in front of a live audience of 400, and if you messed up one of these writers’ lines or it didn’t get the perfect response they could be like, ‘Can’t the bitch fucking read? She’s not even trying. She fucked up my line.’”

    She added that, in the writers’ room, “the guys would be up late discussing their sexual fantasies about Jennifer [Aniston] and Courteney [Cox]. It was intense.”

    Kudrow described the writers’ treatment of the cast as “brutal,” but she said she didn’t pay them much mind since most of their illicit behavior happened behind closed doors.

    “Oh, it could be brutal, but these guys — and it was mostly men in there — were sitting up until 3 a.m. trying to write the show so my attitude was, ‘Say what you like about me behind my back because then it doesn’t matter,’ ” she said.

    The behavior of the “Friends” writing team was famously exposed by Amaani Lyle back in the early 2000s. Lyle, who worked on the show in 1999 on Season 6, brought a lawsuit against Warner Bros. Television for the writers’ room conduct. In the suit, she claimed that the “Friends” scribes frequently made sexual and racist remarks, and as the writers’ assistant, she was forced to take notes on everything that was said in the room. The case eventually made it to the Supreme Court, which ruled against Lyle after deciding the coarse demeanor was a necessary part of the work environment.