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Ross Ulbricht, 40, was released from prison after being pardoned by President Donald Trump, ending his 11-year incarceration for creating Silk Road, an online marketplace that prosecutors claimed facilitated $183 million in drug sales using Bitcoin. Sentenced to two life terms plus 40 years in 2015, Ulbricht expressed gratitude in a video message posted on X. "I was doing life without parole... I'm a free man now. So let it be known that Donald Trump is a man of his word," he stated. Ulbricht described the pardon as a "victory for everybody who loves freedom and who cares about second chances," and indicated plans to spend time with his family. Libertarians and cryptocurrency supporters had long argued that Ulbricht's punishment was disproportionate. His lawyers contended that he had handed off site control after a few months and was potentially used […]

The Hughes fire ignited Wednesday morning near Castaic Lake, 45 miles northwest of Los Angeles, rapidly growing to over 10,000 acres. Strong winds and dry brush fueled the blaze, prompting mandatory evacuations for approximately 31,000 residents and warnings for an additional 23,000 people. Los Angeles County fire chief Anthony Marrone reported the fire was 14% contained, noting improved conditions compared to previous devastating fires. Unlike the recent Palisades and Eaton fires, which destroyed over 10,000 properties and killed 28 people, current lower wind speeds are helping firefighting efforts. The area remains under a red flag warning, indicating high fire risk due to strong winds and dry conditions. Climate scientists attribute the increased fire vulnerability to "whiplash" climate patterns creating extensive dry vegetation. Two additional smaller fires near San Diego have been mostly contained. The Lilac fire burned 85 acres, while […]

Masahiro Nakai, a prominent Japanese television host and former boy band leader, announced his retirement on Thursday following a sexual assault allegation that has significantly impacted the entertainment industry. Nakai, who works for Fuji Television, was accused of sexually assaulting a woman at a 2023 dinner party. While he denied using violence and claimed to have settled the matter with the woman, public outrage continued to mount. In his social media statement, Nakai expressed deep apologies, saying he was "truly sorry for causing trouble and losses to so many people." His resignation follows revelations by Fuji Television president Koichi Minato that the company was aware of the scandal for approximately six months before media reporting. The incident triggered substantial corporate response. Major companies including Nissan, Toyota, and Seven & I Holdings (7-Eleven's parent company) withdrew their advertising from Fuji Television. […]

Ukrainian authorities have arrested their military's chief psychiatrist on allegations of illegal enrichment after discovering assets worth over $1 million acquired since Russia's February 2022 invasion. The Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) reported that the suspect served on a commission evaluating individuals' fitness for military service. While the SBU's statement didn't identify the individual, previous records indicate Oleh Druz held the position of chief psychiatrist for the Ukrainian Armed Forces. According to investigators, the detained official's undeclared assets include three apartments in or near Kyiv, one in Odesa, two land plots, and multiple BMW luxury vehicles. A search of his residence uncovered $152,000 and €34,000 in cash. The SBU reports these properties were registered under various family members' names, including his wife, daughter, sons, and other parties. If convicted of illegal enrichment and false declaration charges, the suspect could face […]