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Today’s Selected Eight:
Story Number 1
Teen who ate spicy tortilla chip died of high chile consumption and had a heart defect, autopsy says
The “One Chip Challenge” by Paqui, known for its extreme spiciness, has been removed from stores following the death of 14-year-old Harris Wolobah from Massachusetts. The teen’s family believes his death was caused by complications from consuming the chip, which contains some of the world’s hottest peppers, the Carolina Reaper and the Naga Viper. Wolobah reportedly ate the chip at school and later complained of severe stomach pain before losing consciousness at home. He was pronounced dead after being taken to the hospital. Paqui, a subsidiary of The Hershey Company, has expressed deep sorrow over the incident and emphasized that the product is intended for adults only, with clear warnings against consumption by children and those with health issues.
Story Number 2
GameStop Short Sellers Just Lost $2 Billion Amid Meme Stock Rally
GameStop short sellers have faced significant losses in recent times, exceeding $2 billion. This situation highlights the ongoing volatility and challenges faced by those betting against the stock. Over the past 30 days, short sellers have covered more than $2.2 billion worth of GameStop shares, yet the stock remains one of the most heavily shorted in the market. Despite these substantial losses, short sellers continue to maintain positions, reflecting persistent bearish sentiment against the company (Institutional Investor).
Story Number 3
MIT students stole $25M in seconds by exploiting ETH blockchain bug, DOJ says
In a highly sophisticated heist, hackers stole $25 million worth of Ethereum in just 12 seconds, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ). This cyber attack exploited vulnerabilities in the Ethereum blockchain’s transaction process, specifically targeting MEV (Maximum Extractable Value) bots designed to maximize profits from blockchain transactions. MEV bots typically scan upcoming transactions to find profitable opportunities, often through a practice known as “frontrunning.” However, in this incident, the hackers managed to outmaneuver these bots using a “sandwich attack,” a technique where the attacker’s transactions are placed before and after the victim’s transaction, effectively siphoning off value.
Story Number 4
‘Five Nights at Freddy’s’ Sequel Sets December 2025 Release, ‘M3GAN 2.0’ Shifts One Month
The sequel to “Five Nights at Freddy’s” is set for release on December 5, 2025. The announcement follows the success of the first film, which had the highest opening for Blumhouse. Additionally, the release of “M3GAN 2.0” has been pushed from May 16 to June 27, 2025. Other changes in Universal and Blumhouse’s 2025 schedule include moving “The Black Phone 2” to October 17, 2025, and new dates for upcoming thrillers “The Woman in the Yard” and “Drop.”
Story Number 5
3 North Koreans infiltrated US companies in ‘staggering’ alleged telework fraud
The United States Department of Justice (DOJ) has unsealed an indictment against three North Korean military hackers, accusing them of engaging in a wide-ranging scheme to conduct cyberattacks and financial crimes globally. The hackers, identified as Jon Chang Hyok, Kim Il, and Park Jin Hyok, are charged with attempting to steal more than $1.3 billion in money and cryptocurrency. These individuals are part of North Korea’s military intelligence agency, known within the cybersecurity community as the Lazarus Group or APT38. Their alleged activities include a variety of cyber crimes such as the destructive attack on Sony Pictures in 2014, the creation of the WannaCry ransomware in 2017, and numerous attempts to steal money from banks and cryptocurrency exchanges worldwide. The indictment also highlights their involvement in developing and deploying malicious cryptocurrency applications to facilitate further thefts.
Story Number 6
Justice Department formally moves to reclassify marijuana as a less dangerous drug in historic shift
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) is set to reschedule marijuana from a Schedule I to a Schedule III drug. This reclassification acknowledges the medical uses of cannabis and its lower potential for abuse compared to drugs like heroin. This move, which must be reviewed by the White House Office of Management and Budget, does not fully legalize marijuana but is a significant step in U.S. drug policy reform. President Biden and various lawmakers have been pushing for this change to align federal policy with state laws and public opinion.
Story Number 7
CNN’s Jeffrey Toobin Embroiled in New Scandal With Woman Who ‘Wouldn’t’ Abort His Baby
Jeffrey Toobin, a former CNN legal analyst and writer for The New Yorker, became embroiled in a scandal when it was revealed that he had offered money to his lover, Casey Greenfield, to terminate her pregnancy. This controversy is part of a series of personal and professional setbacks for Toobin, including his firing from The New Yorker following a separate incident where he exposed himself during a Zoom call. Despite these issues, Toobin has recently announced his departure from CNN after 20 years of service.
Story Number 8
West Virginia candidate hospitalized after being bitten by snakes while removing campaign signs
Doug Skaff, a candidate for West Virginia Secretary of State, was hospitalized after being bitten by copperhead snakes while removing campaign signs. This incident underscores the potential hazards involved in campaign activities. Skaff was handling the signs when the snake bites occurred, and he is currently receiving medical treatment.
WATCH TODAY’S VIDEO HERE:
ONE DAY OLDER ON MAY 17:
Sugar Ray Leonard (68)
Jim Nantz (65)
Hill Harper (58)
WHAT HAPPENED TODAY:
1985: Bobby Ewing died on the season finale of Dallas. He returned the following season. Spoiler alert: It was all a dream.
2004: Massachusetts became the first state in the United States to legalize same-sex marriage.
2011: The final episode of The Oprah Winfrey Show was recorded in Chicago.
WORD OF THE DAY: burnish / [ bur-nish ]
polish and make shiny
PLUS, TODAY WE CELEBRATE: Pizza Party Day
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