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Mrs Brown’s Boys star Dermot O’Neill in tears at wife’s funeral as his co-star makes heartbreaking confession

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June 8, 2026

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Dermot O’Neill in tears at wife’s funeral as his co-star makes heartbreaking confession

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Dermot O’Neill has revealed that his late wife Patricia “Chickie” O’Neill planned parts of her own funeral, including karaoke at the afters to lift the mood.

The actor spoke after the service for Chickie, who died last week aged 60.

Supported by a walking stick and wearing his trademark ponytail, the 74-year-old was comforted by family and friends outside the funeral in north Dublin.

Chickie died of cancer last Monday after doctors told her earlier this year that she had only months to live.

Dermot O’Neill starred on Mrs Brown’s Boys as Grandad (Credit: BBC)

Mrs Brown’s Boys star Dermot O’Neill attends wife’s funeral

As reported by The Sun, during the service, her son Salvador said his mum had helped organise her own farewell and had even ordered an end-of-life planner. He said it arrived on the day she died with the words, “Sorry it’s your problem now, because I’m dead” on the cover.

Salvador said the family laughed when they saw it, adding that it summed up his mum perfectly.

All four of Chickie’s children paid tribute at the packed service. Sons Salvador and Evan, along with daughters Yolanda and Nicola, spoke about the heartbreak of losing their mum.

They also said the huge turnout showed just how loved she was, and described the world as feeling much quieter since her death.

Dermot was reportedlytoo overcome with emotion to speak during the funeral. But, according to The Sun, he stood to touch her coffin before it passed through the doors at the end of the service.

‘Chickie wanted people to have a good time’

Afterwards, he said Chickie had wanted mourners to enjoy themselves at the reception in nearby Kealy’s bar off Swords Road.

Dermot told The Irish Sun: “Chickie wanted people to have a good time even at her funeral. That was very much her personality. She was a joyful, warm person. I’m so sad she is gone.”

Mrs Brown’s Boys co-star Paddy Houlihan, who attended the funeral, said he had never seen his longtime friend Dermot, known to the cast as Bugsy, so shaken.

Who is Dermot O’Neill in Mrs Brown’s Boys?

Dermot O’Neill is a familiar face to Mrs Brown’s Boys viewers and is known to friends and castmates by the nickname Bugsy. In this story, co-star Paddy Houlihan speaks about supporting him after the death of his wife Patricia “Chickie” O’Neill.

A short background boxout could help readers who know the show but want a quick reminder of who Dermot is and his connection to the wider cast.

Longtime Mrs Brown’s Boys performer
Known within the cast as Bugsy
Supported by castmates including Paddy Houlihan and Brendan O’Carroll
Filming on the show is due to resume in October, according to Paddy

Paddy said: “I’ve known Bugsy for so many years and it’s the first time he doesn’t sound like Bugsy. He’s absolutely devastated. But everyone on Mrs Brown is there to support him.”

He added that Brendan O’Carroll had been calling Dermot from Florida several times over the past few days. He said the cast would remain off until filming on Mrs Brown’s Boys resumes in October.

Rugby player Shane Byrne, who appeared in Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie as a Russian villain and is a longtime friend of the cast, also attended the service.

Dermot O'Neill on Mrs Brown's Boys — The funeral of Dermot’s wife took place today (Credit: BBC)

When did Chickie die?

Chickie, who worked for Dunnes Stores, died on June 1 at St Francis Hospice in Blanchardstown.

The Dublin grandmother only discovered she had cancer after travelling to Spain in January for a hernia operation.

Doctors there told her they could not carry out the procedure after finding several tumours in her stomach.

Chickie wanted people to have a good time even at her funeral.

Chickie previously said that if she had not gone abroad, she might never have learned she had stage 4 cancer. She said doctors in Spain wanted to transfer her to another hospital. But she insisted on returning to Ireland because she feared she might never see her children again.

She also said one of the hardest moments came when she had to tell her sons, Salvador, 39, and Evan, 24, the news from her hospital bed at Beaumont.

Chickie said Dermot placed his hand on her knee while both boys held her hands, and the family hugged and cried together.

Dermot said Chickie received treatment at Beaumont Hospital before moving to St Francis Hospice Blanchardstown in the final days of her life.

He said there was nothing more doctors could do for her because she had a blockage in her heart that could not be cleared and chemotherapy had stopped working.

He added that Chickie knew she did not have long left and had hoped for a few more weeks. In her final days, she was on morphine because she was in severe pain and could only speak in a whisper.

Mourners at the funeral reception were asked to buy a brick donation. This was to help fund a new in-patient unit with 24 single rooms in Raheny, run by St Francis Hospice.

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Bybit Launches IPO Express With Tokenized SpaceX IPO Access – NFT Plazas

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June 8, 2026

Bybit Launches IPO Express With Tokenized SpaceX IPO Access – NFT Plazas

For most retail investors, getting into a high-profile IPO at the offering price has long been the financial equivalent of crashing a private party — you needed the right bank, the right address, and the right connections. Bybit is now attempting to change that. The Dubai-based exchange has launched IPO Express, a new platform feature that gives eligible retail users worldwide the ability to subscribe to tokenized IPO shares at the offering price, with SpaceX as the inaugural offering.

Bybit, the world’s second-largest cryptocurrency exchange by trading volume, announced the launch of IPO Express on June 7, positioning itself as one of the first centralized crypto exchanges globally to offer tokenized IPOs at the offering price. The service is powered by Payward Services’ xStocks tokenization infrastructure, and users can participate directly through their existing Bybit accounts — no traditional brokerage account required.

The SpaceX Backdrop

The timing of the launch is deliberate. SpaceX’s upcoming public listing is one of the most anticipated market events in years. SpaceX plans to raise at least $75 billion in its initial public offering, valuing the company at more than $1.75 trillion, selling 555,555,555 shares of its Class A stock at $135 per share. Share pricing is expected after market close on June 11, with the first trading day targeted for June 12 on Nasdaq under the ticker SPCX. SpaceX has already attracted roughly $150 billion in investor demand — nearly double the $75 billion it aims to raise — a level of oversubscription that underscores the enormous appetite for this listing among both institutional and retail participants.

How IPO Express Works

The mechanics are straightforward. Eligible retail investors worldwide can subscribe to tokenized representations of SpaceX equity directly through their Bybit accounts, without needing to open a traditional brokerage account or navigate fragmented cross-border financial infrastructure. The subscription and registration window runs June 7 to 11, allocations are distributed on June 11 and 12 on a pro-rata basis, and tokenized SpaceX shares begin trading on Bybit Spot on June 12, 2026. Unused committed funds are automatically refunded after allocation is finalized.

The pro-rata model carries an important caveat: given how heavily oversubscribed the broader SpaceX IPO already is, individual users may receive smaller allocations than requested. Participants should plan accordingly.

Bybit Launches IPO Express With Tokenized SpaceX IPO Access

Tokenized Equity, Not Derivatives

The compliance and custody structure is what separates IPO Express from earlier pre-IPO offerings on other exchanges. Platforms like Binance, Bitget, and Gate previously offered pre-IPO markets structured as derivatives — instruments where investors were betting on price predictions or trading IOUs rather than buying any actual equity.

Bybit’s offering is built differently. Through the xStocks framework, investors who receive an allocation get tokens backed 1:1 by the underlying equity, held in custody by a regulated entity, delivered to their account on listing day. Every token represents a real share of SpaceX sitting in regulated broker-dealer custody — not a synthetic position, not a prediction market. That structural difference matters for investors weighing the nature of their exposure.

IPO Express is powered by Payward Services’ xStocks tokenization technology, a regulated, blockchain-agnostic framework built for onchain interoperability. That design allows tokenized assets to interact with broader DeFi ecosystems, giving holders access to extended trading hours, DeFi composability, and crypto-native settlement — none of which is available through a conventional brokerage.

A Race Between Exchanges

Bybit is not alone in pursuing this space. Kraken also opened SpaceX IPO access to eligible customers in over 110 countries, including the EEA, through the same Payward Services xStocks framework. However, users in the United States, Canada, Australia, and the United Kingdom remain excluded due to regulatory restrictions. Bybit’s offering carries similar geographic eligibility constraints, and users in affected regions should verify their status before registering.

Emily Bao, Head of Spot at Bybit, framed the launch in terms of structural access rather than novelty: “For decades, the most exciting moments in capital markets were reserved for institutions and the well-connected investors. Through our partnership with xStocks, Bybit customers around the world can now invest directly in US-listed IPOs alongside their crypto assets, on equal footing with institutional investors.”

The Broader RWA Shift

The IPO Express launch sits within a larger trend that has accelerated significantly over the past year: the tokenization of real-world assets. What Bybit and Kraken are doing with the SpaceX offering is bringing that macro shift into tangible consumer territory — competing directly for primary market deal flow using regulated, custody-backed infrastructure rather than waiting for institutional frameworks to slowly filter down to retail products.

As Arjun Sethi, Co-CEO of Payward, put it: “For a century, the best IPOs opened behind a velvet rope. IPO Access pulls the rope aside. From today, someone in 110 countries can register for SpaceX from their phone, and the moment it lists they trade it: nights, weekends, no waiting for an opening bell.”

What Investors Should Know

Tokenized IPO assets carry real risks. Price volatility following a public listing can move sharply in either direction, and the crypto trading environment can amplify those swings. Listings may also be subject to adjustment, delay, or cancellation depending on market or regulatory conditions. SpaceX is targeting a $1.75 trillion valuation — well above Morningstar’s independent estimate of $780 billion, based on the company’s core launch and satellite communications businesses. That gap between market enthusiasm and fundamental analysis is worth weighing carefully before committing funds at IPO pricing.

For eligible users, the subscription window on Bybit runs through June 11, with spot trading beginning June 12.

Astrotech Corporation’s 1st Detect TRACER 1000 Receives ECAC Certification for Wand Swabbing | Web3Wire

Web3

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June 8, 2026

Astrotech Corporation’s 1st Detect TRACER 1000 Receives ECAC Certification for Wand Swabbing | Web3Wire

AUSTIN, Texas, June 08, 2026 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) — Astrotech Corporation (Nasdaq: ASTC) (the “Company” or “Astrotech”) announced today that its 1st Detect TRACER 1000 system has received the European Civil Aviation Conference (“ECAC”) certification for wand swabbing, approved for use in screening both passengers and cargo in aviation security operations.

“Wand swabbing certification extends our TRACER 1000 customer base to include airports that require wand swabbing,” said Tom Pickens, Chairman and CEO of Astrotech Corporation. “We believe our technology allows for a less intrusive method of passenger testing, while also reducing bottlenecks, allowing airports to process more passengers without sacrificing security stringency.”

The certification covers the TRACER 1000 for wand-based sampling, enabling checkpoint operators to collect trace samples from passengers and cargo without direct contact. The system satisfies the ECAC Explosives Detection Standard and Standard G1 under Concept of Operations Revision 38. The TRACER 1000 is a field-proven mass spectrometry solution deployed in 16 countries worldwide, providing laboratory-grade molecular identification in environments where no-touch collection is operationally required.

About 1st Detect

Based in Austin, Texas, 1st Detect develops, manufactures, and sells trace detectors for security and detection markets. A subsidiary of Astrotech Corporation, the company’s TRACER 1000 ETD® and TRACER 1000 NTD™ systems deliver laboratory-grade performance in portable designs built for real-world environments.

For more information, visit https://1stdetect.com.

About Astrotech Corporation

Astrotech Corporation is an instrumentation company that that creates, operates, and scales innovative businesses through its wholly owned subsidiaries.

1st Detect develops, manufactures, and markets trace detection systems for explosives and narcotics.AgLAB designs process analyzers tailored to the processing of biomass essential oils.Pro-Control produces solutions using proprietary gas chromatography/mass spec chemical autonomous process control that is ideal for both the moon and earth.EN-SCAN, Inc. delivers portable, ruggedized environmental GC-MS for on-site testing of air, water and soil.

Astrotech is currently evaluating opportunities to identify, develop, and commercialize advanced technologies with applications in space, defense, industrial, and related markets.

Astrotech is headquartered in Austin, Texas. For more information, visit http://www.astrotechcorp.com.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains “forward-looking statements” that are made pursuant to the Safe Harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, trends, and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from the forward-looking statement. These statements may be identified by terms such as “aims,” “anticipates,” “believes,” “contemplates,” “continue,” “could,” “estimates,” “expect,” “forecast,” “guidance,” “intends,” “may,” “plans,” “possible,” “potential,” “predicts,” “preliminary,” “projects,” “seeks,” “should,” “targets,” “will” or “would,” or the negatives of these terms, variations of these terms or other similar expressions. Forward-looking statements are based on current expectations, estimates, forecasts, and projections, as well as management’s current beliefs and assumptions, and are subject to risks, uncertainties, and other factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, the early-stage nature of the lunar initiative; technical, engineering, regulatory, financial, operational, market, and commercial risks; the availability and cost of lunar transportation and launch services; the Company’s ability to secure strategic partners, customers, government support, or financing; the uncertain timing and development of lunar resource markets; risks associated with autonomous lunar operations and advanced technology development; the adverse impact of inflationary pressures, including significant increases in fuel costs, global economic conditions and events related to these conditions, including the ongoing wars in Ukraine and the middle east, the Company’s use of proceeds from the common stock offerings, whether we can successfully complete the development of our new products and proprietary technologies, whether we can obtain the FDA and other regulatory approvals required to market our products under development in the United States or abroad, whether the market will accept our products and services and whether we are successful in identifying, completing and integrating acquisitions, as well as other risk factors and business considerations described in the Company’s Securities and Exchange Commission filings including the Company’s most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q. Any forward-looking statements in this document should be evaluated in light of these important risk factors. While we do not intend to directly harvest, manufacture, distribute or sell cannabis or cannabis products, we may be detrimentally affected by a change in enforcement by federal or state governments and we may be subject to additional risks in connection with the evolving regulatory area and associated uncertainties. Any such effects may give rise to risks and uncertainties that are currently unknown or amplify others mentioned herein. Although the Company believes the expectations reflected in its forward-looking statements are reasonable and are based on reasonable assumptions, no assurance can be given that these assumptions are accurate or that any of these expectations will be achieved (in full or at all) or will prove to have been correct. Moreover, such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of the Company, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements. In addition, any forward-looking statements included in this press release represent the Company’s views only as of the date of its publication and should not be relied upon as representing its views as of any subsequent date. The Company assumes no obligation to correct or update these forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law.

Company Contact: Scott Bartley, Interim Chief Financial Officer, Astrotech Corporation | (512) 485-9530

Investor Contact: Matt Kreps, Managing Director, Darrow Associates | (214) 597-8200 | mkreps@darrowir.com

Bitget Launches Anti-Scam Month 2026, Reports $32.3M In User Fund Recoveries | Metaverse Post

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June 8, 2026

Bitget Launches Anti-Scam Month 2026, Reports .3M In User Fund Recoveries | Metaverse Post

by
Alisa Davidson

Published: June 08, 2026 at 6:52 am Updated: June 08, 2026 at 6:53 am

by Anastasiia O

Edited and fact-checked:
June 08, 2026 at 6:52 am

In Brief

Bitget launches Anti-Scam Month 2026, highlighting 2025 security results including 150M attacks blocked, $32.3M recovered, and expanded fraud prevention across its multi-asset platform.

Bitget Launches Anti-Scam Month 2026, Reports $32.3M In User Fund Recoveries

Cryptocurrency exchange Bitget has launched Anti-Scam Month 2026 under the theme “More Assets, Stronger Shield. Stay Safe in the Multi-Asset Era.” The annual initiative is aimed at supporting users in navigating an increasingly complex security environment as digital asset platforms expand beyond crypto into broader multi-asset ecosystems.

The campaign is accompanied by the publication of key security and fraud prevention metrics from 2025. Over the course of the year, Bitget reported that it intercepted more than 150 million malicious attack requests, identified over 13,000 high-risk malicious IP addresses, and managed 18,135 user protection cases. The company also stated that approximately $32.3 million linked to security incidents and fraudulent activity was recovered for affected users.

“The industry is entering a multi-asset era where users can access a wider range of products and markets through a single platform. As that access expands, security responsibilities increase too,” said Hon Ng, Chief Legal Officer at Bitget in a written statement. “Protecting users requires continuous risk monitoring, rapid response mechanisms, security education, and close cooperation across the industry. Anti-Scam Month reflects the importance of building those protections alongside product innovation,” he added.

Strengthening Platform Security Amid Expanding Multi-Asset Ecosystem Risks

Throughout 2025, Bitget expanded its security infrastructure across areas including account protection, asset custody, fraud prevention, and platform risk management. Enhancements included broader adoption of Passkey authentication based on FIDO2 and WebAuthn standards, improved multi-factor authentication for high-risk actions, strengthened anti-phishing systems, and upgraded device management tools enabling real-time oversight of account access.

The exchange also increased its real-time threat detection capabilities and web security systems during the year. Its infrastructure recorded more than 2.8 billion blocked events through customized protection rules and mitigated over 1.5 billion DDoS-related attempts. Machine learning-based behavioral monitoring was further integrated to detect suspicious activity and emerging threats across multiple layers of the platform.

User education remained a central component of the company’s security approach. Anti-Scam Month initiatives conducted across 2024 and 2025 reportedly reached around 1.38 billion users globally through awareness campaigns, educational content, and community programs. The firm also expanded its Anti-Scam Hub, maintained its public bug bounty program, and introduced interactive initiatives such as the Smarter Eyes Challenge, which engaged nearly 50,000 participants in simulated phishing detection exercises.

Bitget additionally continued partnerships with blockchain security firms including SlowMist and Elliptic to support threat intelligence sharing, fraud prevention research, and broader industry coordination. Through a combination of technical safeguards, user education, and cross-industry collaboration, the exchange stated it remains focused on improving security across digital asset markets.

Disclaimer

In line with the Trust Project guidelines, please note that the information provided on this page is not intended to be and should not be interpreted as legal, tax, investment, financial, or any other form of advice. It is important to only invest what you can afford to lose and to seek independent financial advice if you have any doubts. For further information, we suggest referring to the terms and conditions as well as the help and support pages provided by the issuer or advertiser. MetaversePost is committed to accurate, unbiased reporting, but market conditions are subject to change without notice.

About The Author

Alisa, a dedicated journalist at the MPost, specializes in crypto, AI, investments, and the expansive realm of Web3. With a keen eye for emerging trends and technologies, she delivers comprehensive coverage to inform and engage readers in the ever-evolving landscape of digital finance.

Alien: Isolation 2 is Officially Announced | Metaverse Planet

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June 8, 2026

Alien: Isolation 2 is Officially Announced | Metaverse Planet

I practically jumped out of my chair while watching the Summer Game Fest announcements yesterday. Amidst all the typical cinematic trailers and expected franchise updates, they finally dropped the news I have been waiting a decade for: Alien: Isolation is officially getting a sequel.

If you know me, you know I spend an almost unhealthy amount of time curating classic sci-fi movie lists and dissecting what makes deep-space horror work. I have watched Ridley Scott’s original Alien more times than I can count. When the first Isolation game dropped in 2014, it perfectly captured that claustrophobic, dirty-future aesthetic of the movies. But what really made it a masterpiece—and what makes this sequel announcement so massive—was the sheer, unscripted terror of its artificial intelligence.

Let’s break down what we know so far, and why I think this upcoming release is going to redefine horror gaming all over again.

The Legacy of the Ultimate Predator

To understand why this announcement is breaking the internet, we have to look back at what the 2014 original achieved. Alien: Isolation didn’t just give us a scary monster; it gave us a thinking, learning hunter.

The core mechanic that made the game legendary was the unpredictable Xenomorph AI. It wasn’t following a pre-programmed path. It actively listened to your microphone, tracked your movements, and learned from your behavior. If you hid in lockers too often, it would start ripping locker doors off.

The iconic Motion Tracker technology was at the heart of this anxiety. Staring at that little green screen, watching the dot get closer while trying not to breathe in real life, is a gaming experience I will never forget. During the Summer Game Fest presentation, Sega made sure to heavily feature the Motion Tracker again, confirming that this terrifying game of cat-and-mouse will remain the soul of the sequel.

What is Changing: New Blood, New World

While I absolutely loved Amanda Ripley’s journey to uncover what happened to her mother, I was actually relieved to hear that Sega is taking the narrative in a fresh direction. Here is what we are looking at for the sequel:

A Brand New Protagonist: The development team confirmed we are leaving the Ripley family storyline behind. We will be stepping into the shoes of a completely new character, which means we are going into this blind, with no idea who will survive.A Shift in Setting: The first game trapped us on the decaying Sevastopol space station. The sequel is moving the nightmare to a remote colony planet.Upgraded Threat: While they are keeping the core mechanics a secret for now, the jump in gaming technology from 2014 to today means the Xenomorph’s learning algorithms are going to be exponentially more advanced.

My Take: Why a Colony Planet is the Perfect Move

From a storytelling perspective, moving from a metallic space station to a remote, isolated colony planet is a brilliant choice. It immediately reminds me of the atmosphere in Aliens (the movie sequel), specifically the doomed Hadley’s Hope colony.

It opens up entirely new gameplay mechanics. Instead of just crawling through air vents, I imagine we might have to navigate treacherous outdoor planetary environments, deal with extreme weather conditions masking the Xenomorph’s movements, and scavenge through larger, multi-building industrial settlements.

Moreover, as someone who closely follows advancements in artificial intelligence, I am deeply curious to see how the developers utilize modern machine learning tools for the Xenomorph’s behavior. In 2014, the AI was groundbreaking. Today, with the processing power of modern hardware, I expect a creature that doesn’t just hunt you, but actively sets traps and anticipates your long-term strategies.

There is no official release date yet, but just knowing it is in active development is enough to get my adrenaline pumping.

I know I am going to be stress-sweating through every single hour of this game when it finally drops, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. What about you—if you were designing the new setting for this sequel, what kind of horrifying environment would you force players to survive in? Let me know in the comments!

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LA menswear: People and clothes, in that order

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June 8, 2026

LA menswear: People and clothes, in that order

The view from the Chateau

Los Angeles isn’t necessarily the first place you think of when it comes to menswear. There are a handful of good shops – Mohawk, Ghiaia, Denim Doctors – but it probably wouldn’t feature in a top list of destination cities when there’s London, Tokyo, New York and several across Europe.

Yet there are deep menswear roots. California is the origin of denim, after all, and much associated workwear. Western clothing has always been here, and this is where it became mainstream. Sportswear, too, was arguably invented in California, when off-duty fashion first developed after the second world war.

Then there are subcultures like surfing, skateboarding and motorbiking, all of which developed in California and had an outsized influence on the world of menswear. There aren’t many influences left in fact, outside the military and tailoring.

The Permanent Style team spent a great week in Los Angeles recently, speaking to dozens of people about these things – vintage dealers and costume designers, craftsmen and menswear designers. I think it was probably the most productive trip we’ve ever done.

It’s like they captured me in a smoothie

Early on, we identified some key themes.

Vintage, for example, has always been significant. It’s closer to the spirit of the way clothes are developed in LA than the more fashion-oriented approach in New York. There’s a reason the famous Rose Bowl flea market is here, and the higher-end event Inspiration, both of which were on the week we visited.

We managed to interview some great people such as Bob Melet and Zip Stevenson.

Then there’s Hollywood, which has an influence on local fashion, pulls from the vintage scene, and feeds into local makers. We talked to Mark Bridges (Oscar winner for Phantom Thread) and Jenny Eagan (Knives Out and others), and heard in Anto Shirts quite how film budgets match to bespoke shirts.

LA is by far the biggest centre for clothing manufacturing in the US, and it’s how a lot of brands get started here – doing a lot of sampling because the workshops are so accessible. Our best visit in that regard was Lady White, who have always made such a big thing about local production, especially the dye houses.

And on retail side, we looked particularly at personal shopping. It’s a huge part of the way menswear works here – tailoring brands said up to half of their sales go through personal shoppers.

In fact, in LA it seems a bit of a flex to have a personal shopper, whereas in most of Europe you can’t help feeling it would be a bit of an embarrassment – as in, don’t you know how to dress yourself?

How about LA style? Well a friend of ours, usefully, had just moved to LA from New York, and was in the process of adapting and observing the way friends and colleagues dressed.

“The weather is the most obvious thing,” he said. “You have more sun and milder weather year round – fewer extremes. That makes things quite relaxed and easy, helped by the fact you’re rarely walking anywhere.

“But there’s also something grander than that – the city is open, you have these big skies. It’s a particularly stark contrast to New York, which is so built up and vertical.

“If I had to capture it in one piece of clothing, I’d say I wear 90% blue jeans here, where I wore 90% black jeans in New York. Blue denim feels more natural, laid back and lighter. A T-shirt and jeans feels not just easy but appropriate.”

When we asked a shop manager friend of ours, he picked a different garment – the suede overshirt. “We sell more of that type of garment here than anywhere else, by miles,” he said. “And it makes sense – an LA guy wants a bit of luxury, a bit of cool, but also wants to be super comfortable and relaxed. Suede does that rather than leather, and an overshirt better than a jacket.”

Man, it’s so fun exploring these things. When you travel and interview people, every conversation becomes about what the city’s like, because you’re seeing it for the first time. It’s about where people live and why, where they hang out, whether you’d ever want to live there. It’s the same when people come to London.

I didn’t think I’d like LA at all. I’m a cultural European at heart – I like old cities, old culture, exploring on two feet. LA is the opposite of all that.

But the longer we were there, and the more we saw different parts, the more it grew on me. Reyner Banham, who I’ve been reading, calls it the first post-urban civilisation. Aldous Huxley said the city is “nineteen suburbs in search of a metropolis”.

However you put it, the point is don’t think of it in the same way as a normal, centred city. If you just saw Hollywood and Downtown you’d have a very different impression from if you spent your time in Pasadena or Venice Beach. The problem is that if you’re a tourist, Hollywood and Downtown might actually be where you focus.

Of course, I’d love to hear about all this from readers in LA, although we also spoke to scores of them while we there, at various events and just in the street.

And of course it’s the people that make everything. Yuki from Yuketen conducting an impromptu photo shoot on Redondo Beach. Dan, Wyatt and Max from the Buck Mason design team showing us exactly 27 different types of chambray shirt. Cody Wellema taking us to where his hat shop used to be, but also the brand new (and incredible) restaurant next door, Betsy’s.

It’s about the people, then about the clothes. OK they’re a close second.

I bought a great, knackered old Lee Storm Rider at Rose Bowl. I got some shorts at Buck Mason that I’ve been living in. I ordered a hand-knitted cardigan from Chamula that is definitely not right for the weather, but is sitting proudly in my room as a souvenir.

Over the coming weeks there will be two or three short LA articles on PS, but the main substance is being saved for the magazine in the autumn. It’s going to be very cool.

Thank you to everyone who generously hosted us and put up with us, from all of us. We’re already talking about when we can come back.

The Charlie Chaplin table at Musso & Frank’s

Savannah Guthrie Shares Emotional Message Amid Mom Nancy’s Disappearance: ‘Bring Her Home’

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June 8, 2026

Savannah Guthrie Shares Emotional Message Amid Mom Nancy’s Disappearance: ‘Bring Her Home’

Savannah Guthrie is not giving up hope four months after mom Nancy Guthrie‘s disappearance.

On Sunday, June 7, the Today show cohost shared a picture of a religious painting depicting Christ’s ascension via her Instagram Stories. The image was overlaid with text that reads, “Oh my, my soul, it cries out, soul, it cries out.”

Savannah, 54, added, “Bring her home” alongside a yellow heart emoji.

Police believe that Nancy, 84, was abducted from her home just outside of Tucson, Arizona, in the early hours of February 1. She has yet to be found.

“These cases are difficult,” Pima County Sheriff Chris Nanos said in an update on the case on June 1.

Nanos added to Tucson news station KOLD News 13, “Not just this case. A number of our cases come to us where it requires a lot of work from other people. It’s not just a detective who goes out there, talks to somebody, and we can make an arrest.”

“What really makes it prolonged is we do rely on labs,” said the sheriff. “You don’t want to jeopardize not just the integrity of this case, but the integrity of DNA as a supplement to law enforcement work.”

As the search for Nancy rolls into its fourth month, Savannah has publicly appealed for her mom’s return.

In an emotional Mother’s Day tribute via Instagram in May, she wrote, “Mother, daughter, sister, Nonie, we miss you with every breath. We will never stop looking for you. We will never be at peace until we find you.”

“We need help. Someone knows something that can make the difference. Call 1800CALLFBI. You can be anonymous and the reward remains available. Please keep praying. Bring her home,” she added.

In a March interview on the Today show, Savannah recalled how she first learned about her mom’s suspected kidnapping.

“[My sister, Annie, called], she said, ‘She’s gone,’” she said. “She was in a panic. I was in a panic. I’m like, ‘Call 911.’ She’s like. ‘I did. We called them. They’re here.’ … It was just chaos and disbelief. From the very early moments, Annie and [her husband] were saying [to authorities], ‘This isn’t a case that you are used to where someone wanders off. She can’t wander off.’”

Savannah briefly took a break from the Today show starting in February, returning to cohosting duties on April 6. She also stepped away from fronting NBC’s coverage of the 2026 Winter Olympics in Italy.

Yuga Labs Rescues 68 Blue-Chip NFTs From Flooring Protocol Exploit

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June 8, 2026

Yuga Labs Rescues 68 Blue-Chip NFTs From Flooring Protocol Exploit

Yuga Labs’ CEO Michael Figge led the response to a major NFT vulnerability.

Vice President of Blockchain 0xQuit headed the emergency recovery effort.

Independent researchers initially discovered the flaw in Flooring Protocol’s accounting logic.

Yuga Labs rushed to secure dozens of high-value NFTs after researchers uncovered a vulnerability in Flooring Protocol that exposed digital collectibles to potential theft. The flaw created a risk for several major NFT collections, prompting the company to carry out an emergency white-hat recovery before additional attackers could exploit the weakness.

Chief Executive Officer Michael Figge said on June 8 that Yuga Labs had recovered 68 NFTs that were vulnerable to the exploit. The assets included 29 Bored Ape Yacht Club NFTs, four Mutant Apes, two CryptoPunks and several other collectibles. The recovery effort, led by Yuga Labs Vice President of Blockchain 0xQuit, followed the discovery of a broader security issue that threatened more assets than those affected in the initial attack.

We’ve just finished a whitehat operation on an exploit discovered in Flooring Protocol.

Now safely in the custody of Yuga Labs:

29 bored apes4 mutant apes1 bakc2 cryptopunks1 azuki2 elementals26 captains1 moonbird2 doodles@0xQuit, our VP of Blockchain recovered the…

— figge (@mfigge) June 8, 2026

How the “ghost ownership” exploit unfolded

The crisis began when independent researchers observed on-chain attackers manipulating Flooring Protocol’s core accounting logic. According to technical briefs, the vulnerability allowed an attacker to deposit a nominal amount of Wrapped Ether (WETH) and trick the smart contract into minting an effectively infinite balance of fpTokens, the platform’s fractionalized ERC-20 representations of locked NFTs.

Armed with these artificial balances, malicious actors began systematically draining the protocol’s deep liquidity pools, allowing them to extract underlying premium NFTs.

The exploit path was traced to a severe oversight in Flooring Protocol’s ownership accounting and state verification systems. By forging specific token identifiers, attackers induced a permanent “ghost ownership” state. Inside the contract’s local state, the protocol recognized the attacker as the definitive owner of assets they did not rightfully possess, causing localized accounting desynchronization to spread rapidly to secondary pools.

A Flooring exploit today turned a dust amount of WETH into a near-infinite fpToken balance, allowing the attacker to drain Flooring pools.

This led to a followup opportunist scooping up tokens from the now depleted pools and exchanging them for underlying NFTs.

1/🧵

— Quit (@0xQuit) June 8, 2026

Race to protect vulnerable NFTs

After reviewing the vulnerability, researchers identified another attack path that exposed additional NFT pools. The team moved quickly to act before other attackers could exploit the same weakness.

Developers, researchers, and Yuga Labs coordinated resources to secure vulnerable assets. The operation recovered 29 Bored Ape NFTs, four Mutant Apes, one BAKC NFT, two CryptoPunks, one Azuki, two Elementals, 26 Captains, one Moonbird, and two Doodles. Despite the recovery, 0xQuit said some NFTs remain under attacker control. He also warned users against depositing additional NFTs into Flooring Protocol until developers deploy a fix.

The incident highlights ongoing security risks in NFT finance platforms. It also shows how weaknesses in smart contract systems can expose high-value digital assets before users are aware of any breach.

Also Read: Weekly Wrap: Bitcoin Crashes 50% From ATH, Zcash Emergency Fork Shocks Crypto, Strategy Sells BTC

Disclaimer: The information researched and reported by The Crypto Times is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional financial advice. Investing in crypto assets involves significant risk due to market volatility. Always Do Your Own Research (DYOR) and consult with a qualified Financial Advisor before making any investment decisions.

Q&A with Didier Jardin, General Manager, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

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June 8, 2026

Q&A with Didier Jardin, General Manager, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa

The Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa is one of the nation’s most popular, and rightfully so. Like most in the island nation, the success for guests relies more on just the natural setting and blue sea, but also the people.

Didier Jardin, general manager, Four Seasons Resort Maldives at Kuda Huraa, explains how his team works to constantly refresh what is on offer while delighting repeat guests with surprises. He also shares his take on how world affairs can affect tourism in an instant.

What is one change in the past year that most excites you for guests?

It has to be our beachfront accommodations, particularly the new Sunrise and Sunset Beach Villas with Pool categories, alongside the introduction of the Three-bedroom Kuda Estate category.

Kuda Huraa has always had a very distinct spirit. It feels intimate, warm and deeply connected to the character of a Maldivian village. With this latest evolution, the intention was not to change that personality, but to make the experience more relevant to how guests are traveling today. Guests are staying longer, traveling more often with multi-generational family members, and looking for spaces that feel private.

The Sunrise and Sunset Beach Villas with Pool have gone through a thorough overhaul, with brighter interiors, a softer contemporary palette, larger pools, expanded outdoor living areas, and a stronger connection to the beach and lagoon. The idea was to create villas that feel more residential and relaxed.

The Three-bedroom Kuda Estate takes that further. It was designed for families and multi-generational travelers who want the joy of being together, but with enough space for everyone to have their own rhythm. It gives guests a true home on the island.

For me, the most successful improvements are the ones guests feel instinctively. More space, better flow, greater privacy and that wonderful sense that everything has been considered without feeling overly designed.

Alongside this, we continue to strengthen experiences around surfing, marine discovery, family programming and dining. Kuda Huraa is small in scale, but very rich in personality. That is part of its charm.

What is ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island?

What excites me most about ŪRJĀ Naturopathy Island is that it gives guests a very approachable way into wellness. It is not about telling people how to overhaul their lives overnight. It is about helping them feel better in a way that feels intuitive, personal and deeply restorative.

These naturopathy-led consultations and therapies will resonate strongly, especially with guests who arrive tired, overstimulated or simply in need of recalibration. There is something very powerful about stepping onto a private island dedicated entirely to well-being, surrounded by the rhythm of the ocean, and being guided by practitioners who look at the body as a whole.

What is the most popular room type? And who books it?

Our villas with pools remain among the most popular categories, and for good reason. They capture what guests love most about Kuda Huraa: privacy, ease and that immediate connection to the water or the beach.

The Water Villas with Pool are especially iconic. Guests love the sense of being suspended over the lagoon, with the pool accessed directly from the room’s bay windows. There is something wonderfully effortless about waking up, opening the windows and stepping straight into your private pool with the ocean just beyond. It feels playful, romantic and very Kuda Huraa.

At the same time, our newly renovated Sunrise and Sunset Beach Villas with Pool have become a real favorite, particularly with returning guests. Many of them know the island very well, so when they return and see how the villas have been refreshed, they immediately feel the difference. The new interiors feel brighter and more contemporary, the outdoor spaces are more generous and the connection to the beach feels even more natural.

Couples often gravitate towards the Water Villas with Pool for that classic Maldivian romance, while families and repeat guests love the Beach Villas for their space, comfort and easy access to the sand. For multi-generational travelers or guests staying longer, the Three-bedroom Kuda Estate offers something even more residential.

Geopolitics has affected resorts that rely on airlift via the Middle East. How are you navigating that, and will there be discounts?

The Maldives has always been a remarkably resilient destination, but air connectivity is certainly something we watch very carefully. Many of our guests travel through the Middle East, so when there are disruptions or uncertainty, our role is to stay close to our partners, remain flexible, and support guests with clear, calm guidance.

At Kuda Huraa, we are fortunate to have a very loyal guest base, many of whom return year after year. That said, guests are looking for stronger value without compromising on quality. There may be moments when travelers find more compelling offers, particularly outside peak periods, but we see this less as discounting and more as giving guests a better reason to travel now.

For us, the focus remains on trust. Guests want to know that when they arrive, everything will feel effortless. That is where Four Seasons truly matters.

The hospitality school you created for local students is globally recognized. How does it help you as a general manager in serving your guests?

The apprenticeship program is one of the things we are most proud of, because it is not simply a recruitment initiative. It is a long-term investment in people, in the destination and in the future of Maldivian hospitality.

As a general manager, it is incredibly valuable because our guests do not only come to the Maldives for beautiful views. They come for human connection. When young Maldivians are given the training, confidence and opportunity to grow into guest-facing roles, the experience becomes more authentic. Guests feel the place through the people.

Some of the most moving moments happen when former apprentices welcome guests back years later, now as supervisors, managers, chefs, marine biologists or senior team members. There is a wonderful pride in that interaction. It shows guests that their holiday is part of a much bigger story: one of opportunity, continuity and local talent shaping the future of this industry.