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Wally Funk: the female trailblazer who’s the oldest person to go to space

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Earlier today, Wally Funk became the oldest person to ever go to space, aboard the historic New Shepard space flight. But who is Wally Funk?

Earlier today, Wally Funk was among the crew that blasted into space aboard Jeff Bezos’ New Shepard. The Amazon founder was also onboard, alongside his brother Mark and the 18-year old son of Somerset Capital Partner’s CEO. At 82, Funk is the oldest person to ever go to space.

While the focus of the historic flight has mainly been on Bezos as the second billionaire to go to space, it was also a momentous occasion in space travel. More specifically, who is allowed to venture beyond earth.

The much-anticipated trip marked a number of milestones, including the first un-piloted suborbital flight with an all-civilian crew. It was also the first crewed launch for Blue Origin’s New Shepard rocket. As well as the oldest, the crew also included the youngest person to ever reach space.

After landing Funk said, “I’ve been waiting a long time to finally getting up there.”

I loved it,” she said. “I want to go again, fast!”

Wally Funk is the oldest person to ever go to space at 82 years old. She missed out on going to space during the 60s because she’s a woman.

A long-delayed dream

After the flight, Funk described feelings of gratitude for finally seeing her long-delayed dream come true. However, she said that the aircraft didn’t quite go high enough to see the world.

“I saw darkness, I thought I was going to see the world, but we weren’t quite high enough,” she said. However, she didn’t seem too phased by this, saying the flight was “great”.

“I felt like I was just lying down, just lying down — and I was going into space.”

“I’ve done a lot of astronaut training through the world, Russia, America, and I could always beat the guys on what they were doing because I was always stronger, and I have always done everything on my own,” she said.

A lifetime of achievements

By the age of 22, Funk had earned top grades in aviation college and was a certified pilot. She was the first female civilian flight instructor at a US military base at a time when it systematically excluded women.

Funk’s lifetime goal was to become one of the first female astronauts. She was actually one of the was one of the 13 female pilots who trained to go to space in the 60s’, but she missed the chance back then due to her gender. At 24, she was the youngest of these ‘Mercury 13 women’.

She excelled across the board during her training with NASA, sometimes even surpassing the men who were selected. During one test, Funk was placed in a sensory deprivation tank. She remained there for more than 10 hours before the researchers finally brought her out, because they wanted to go home.

Natasha is an Associate Producer at ticker NEWS with a Bachelor of arts from Monash University. She has previously worked at Sky News Australia and Monash University as an Online Content Producer.

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Gold plunges as investors react to Middle East ceasefire

Gold prices fall over 2% to below $4,000, as investors shift from safe-haven assets after Gaza ceasefire news.

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Gold prices fall over 2% to below $4,000, as investors shift from safe-haven assets after Gaza ceasefire news.


Gold prices have fallen sharply, dropping over two per cent to below $4,000 per ounce, as investors took profits following the announcement of a Gaza ceasefire agreement. The deal between Israel and Hamas triggered a shift away from safe-haven assets, with silver and platinum also sliding.

The U.S. dollar strengthened as markets responded to the news, making precious metals more expensive for foreign buyers. Analysts say the pullback is likely temporary, with long-term demand for gold and silver expected to remain strong amid global instability and rising debt levels.

Market experts warn that volatility will continue as geopolitical tensions persist, even as short-term optimism grows around the Middle East peace process.

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Gold and silver prices drop after Gaza ceasefire

Gold dips below $4,000/oz amid profit-taking and Gaza ceasefire; silver also softens from record highs

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Gold dips below $4,000/oz amid profit-taking and Gaza ceasefire; silver also softens from record highs

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In Short:
– Gold prices fell over 2% to below $4,000 per ounce due to a stronger dollar and profit-taking.
– Silver eased to $48.93 per ounce, influenced by market activity and ongoing high demand despite supply issues.
Gold prices fell over 2% on Thursday, dropping below $4,000 per ounce. The decline followed a strong rise earlier in the year and was influenced by a stronger dollar and profit-taking after a ceasefire deal between Israel and Hamas.Spot gold decreased to $3,959.48 per ounce, while U.S. gold futures for December delivery settled at $3,972.6.

Silver also experienced a slight decline, easing from its record high to $48.93 per ounce. The dollar index increased, making gold more expensive for overseas buyers.

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Traders noted increased activity in the market as profit-taking coincided with reduced tensions in a historically volatile region.

An independent metals trader stated that while gold and silver may need to consolidate further, the underlying demand drivers remain intact.

Market Overview

Gold surpassed $4,000 per ounce on Wednesday, reaching $4,059.05, boosted by geopolitical tensions and strong demand from central banks. The asset has gained about 52% this year, reflecting a significant increase due to various economic factors. The U.S. central bank’s decision to cut rates in September also contributed to the rally, with expectations for future cuts in the coming months.

Silver’s price increase of 69% this year is tied closely to similar economic trends impacting gold. Notably, liquidity issues in the silver market are being exacerbated by strong demand and tight supply conditions. Other precious metals, such as platinum and palladium, also saw declines during this period.

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North Korean hackers steal $2 billion in crypto

North Korean hackers steal over $2 billion in cryptocurrency, marking the largest annual total in history

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North Korean hackers steal over $2 billion in cryptocurrency, marking the largest annual total in history

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In Short:
– North Korean hackers stole over $2 billion in cryptocurrency in 2025, nearly tripling last year’s total.
– A shift to social engineering tactics has led to increased targeting of high-net-worth individuals for cyber attacks.
North Korean hackers have reportedly stolen over $2 billion in cryptocurrency assets in 2025, setting a record with three months still left in the year.
Data from blockchain analytics firm Elliptic indicates that this amount nearly triples the total stolen last year, accounting for approximately 13% of North Korea’s estimated GDP and raising the regime’s total crypto theft to over $6 billion since 2017.Banner

A significant portion of the 2025 theft is attributed to the February hack of cryptocurrency exchange Bybit, which amounted to $1.46 billion.

The FBI has linked this breach to state-sponsored North Korean hackers, who exploited weaknesses in Bybit’s wallet management system. More than 30 additional cyber attacks have also been associated with North Korea this year, including notable breaches at LND.fi and WOO X.

Shift In Tactics

A shift in methodology among North Korean hackers has been observed, as they now focus on social engineering rather than technical exploits. According to Elliptic, the primary vulnerability lies with individuals rather than technology.

High-net-worth individuals and corporate executives are increasingly targeted due to their relatively weaker security measures.

The hackers utilise deceptive tactics, including phishing schemes and fake job offers, to access private cryptocurrency wallets. Intelligence reports suggest that the stolen funds are used to finance North Korea’s nuclear programmes.

The regime has also improved its money laundering techniques by employing various cryptocurrencies and mixing methods to obscure fund origins. Blockchain analysts are actively tracking these stolen assets, with notable progress achieved in identifying recoverable funds.


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