A multi-million dollar class action lawsuit has been filed against Mattel over a link on tie-in merchandise from its blockbuster film “Wicked”. The lawsuit claims that a child was exposed to hardcore pornography after visiting the website linked on the doll’s packaging. The plaintiff, Holly Ricketson, purchased the Wicked Doll for her minor daughter in … Read more
Researchers have discovered that cannabis use may have long-term impacts on brain development, particularly in young adults. The study found that astrocytes, a type of glial cell in the brain, play a crucial role in regulating brain plasticity during early development. The researchers used a mouse model to investigate how CB1 receptors, which are activated … Read more
Campbell’s Company said late Tuesday that CEO Mark Clouse is leaving the company to become president of the NFL’s Washington Commanders. Clouse, who has been CEO since 2019, credits his leadership with turning around the iconic soup maker by focusing on core competencies and making bold decisions, such as selling underperforming businesses. Under his leadership, … Read more
A new study suggests that barbarian warriors in Roman-era Scandinavia, Germany, and Poland snorted stimulants during battle. The researchers found hundreds of small, spoon-shaped objects at archaeological sites, which were likely used to carry and dispense these substances. These spoons were often attached to the end of a warrior’s belt. The study categorised 241 spoon-shaped … Read more
This year’s Thanksgiving weekend saw a slight decrease in shoppers compared to 2023, with an estimated 197 million people shopping during the five-day period, according to a survey by the National Retail Federation. Despite this, spending patterns remained relatively robust. Online sales on Black Friday increased by almost 15% compared to last year, while in-store … Read more
A team at Yale University has found evidence that Russia has abducted over 148 Ukrainian children, forcing them to take Russian identities. The researchers hacked into Russian adoption databases using open-source intelligence and satellite images. They claim that the program was ordered by Vladimir Putin and carried out by top Russian officials. At least 67 … Read more
A US-based website has encountered an error message due to geographical restrictions, preventing users in certain countries from accessing its content. The issue is caused by the website’s geo-restrictive policies, which block access to users from outside the United States. This restriction aims to comply with copyright laws and protect intellectual property rights globally. Source: … Read more
Stalker 2’s developers, GSC Game World, have addressed the controversy surrounding the game’s AI system, A-Life. The company’s CEO, Ievgen Grygorovych, explained that the system requires a larger area to spawn NPCs than what is currently in the game due to optimization issues and memory resource management problems. Grygorovych stated that despite its initial promises, … Read more
BlackRock is acquiring HPS Investment Partners, a leading private credit firm, in a deal expected to close in mid-2025. The transaction creates an integrated private credit franchise with approximately $220 billion in assets, according to BlackRock. The acquisition comes during a boom in the private credit space, with comparable companies such as Blue Owl Capital … Read more
The US has warned that China’s export ban on key minerals such as germanium and gallium is a “necessary step” to mitigate the impact and deter further coercive actions from Beijing. In response to the new controls, the US State Department stated that it will take necessary steps to diversify away from China and strengthen … Read more