Category: News

The trial of Sean “Diddy” Combs concerning sex trafficking and racketeering conspiracy reached a critical point this week as both the prosecution and defense rested their cases. The prosecution presented over 30 witnesses, including former employees and male escorts, along with two former girlfriends. These witnesses testified about their involvement in what they referred to as “freak offs,” which were described as drug-fueled sexual encounters directed by Combs. The jury was shown evidence that included photographs of guns and drugs, as well as a video of Combs allegedly attacking one of the women.

On cross-examination, the defense countered by presenting messages that suggested the women had willingly participated in these activities. Following the prosecution’s conclusion, Combs’ defense team moved for acquittal, asserting that the government had not sufficiently proven its case. The presiding judge indicated that he would reserve judgment on this request. Interestingly, the defense opted not to call any witnesses, and Combs himself did not testify.

When questioned by the judge about his well-being and decision not to take the stand, Combs expressed confidence in his legal team and confirmed his choice was personal. Attorney Richard Schoenstein, not part of the defense, speculated that putting Combs on the stand would have risked extensive cross-examination regarding his past actions. Combs, who is 55 and has pleaded not guilty to five counts including racketeering conspiracy, faces the possibility of life in prison if convicted. The charges allege a broad range of misconduct, from sexual coercion to narcotics offenses.

With closing arguments scheduled for Thursday morning, the trial’s future remains uncertain, and deliberations may not commence until early next week. Important developments included the dismissal of a juror whose residence was in question and a brief appearance by musician Ye, formerly known as Kanye West, in court.

Novo Nordisk has decided to terminate its partnership with Hims & Hers Health due to allegations of “deceptive marketing” related to its weight-loss drug, Wegovy. The Danish pharmaceutical company announced on Monday that Wegovy would be removed from Hims & Hers, citing concerns that the San Francisco-based telehealth provider was distributing “illegitimate, knockoff versions” of the drug, which could endanger patient safety.

This decision follows just two months after the companies had established a collaborative effort aimed at making obesity treatments more accessible. Following the announcement, Hims & Hers saw a significant drop in its stock price, falling over $20, or about 31%, to $44.10.

Hims & Hers has not publicly commented on the situation, but the company had projected over $700 million in revenue from weight-loss services this year, a goal that may now be harder to achieve without Wegovy sales. Novo Nordisk began selling Wegovy through telehealth providers, including Hims & Hers, in response to a nationwide drug shortage.

Their intent was to transition patients away from “knock-off, compounded versions” towards the FDA-approved semaglutide drug. This decision came on the heels of an FDA order aimed at limiting compounding pharmacies from selling imitation weight loss drugs.

A spokesperson for Novo Nordisk expressed concern over Hims & Hers’ failure to comply with legal guidelines prohibiting mass production of compounded drugs under the pretext of “personalization.” The spokesperson stated that the marketing practices employed by Hims & Hers were unacceptable as they jeopardized patient safety.

In recent years, demand for GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy has soared, with a growing number of adults in the U.S. utilizing these treatments. Novo Nordisk emphasized its commitment to patient safety, asserting that it would continue to collaborate with other telehealth platforms that adhere to safe practices.

In recent weeks, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) increased its raids across Los Angeles, prompting Julie Ear and her family to make an emotional journey to Tijuana International Airport, just south of the U.S.-Mexico border. Ear’s mother, Regina Higuera, had lived in the United States for 36 years but decided to leave her home and family — all U.S. citizens — to return to her birthplace in Mexico.

This decision was influenced by a broader governmental push encouraging undocumented migrants to self-deport. The Trump administration recently announced initiatives offering free airline tickets and financial incentives for migrants willing to voluntarily leave the U.S.

In Higuera’s case, Ear noted her mother chose to self-deport to regain control over her life. “She didn’t like the uncertainty of somebody coming into her house, or her job,” Ear explained.

Higuera had crossed the border illegally at the age of 15 to work and support her family in Los Angeles’s garment factories. Originally planning a temporary stay, she built a life, including a husband and children.

Despite her contributions to the economy, such as paying taxes every year, Higuera faced the drawbacks of being undocumented — lacking access to pensions, 401(k)s, or welfare. Ear emphasized that many people simply wish to work and contribute.

Now, Higuera finds herself in Guerrero, Mexico, adapting to an unfamiliar environment. She attributes her daughter’s strength to the resilience instilled in her throughout their lives together.

Ear stays in close contact with her mother, speaking and texting daily, though she admits it can be jarring when she realizes how far apart they truly are.

Anthropic has achieved a significant legal victory in a case concerning the use of millions of copyrighted books to train its AI chatbot, Claude. On Tuesday, Judge William Alsup of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of California ruled in favor of Anthropic, asserting that the company’s utilization of legally acquired books did not breach U.S. copyright laws. This judgment could establish a crucial precedent for similar cases in the future. Founded by former executives from OpenAI, the team behind ChatGPT, Anthropic launched Claude in 2023.

Like other generative AI tools, Claude allows users to pose questions in natural language and provides concise, AI-driven responses based on vast amounts of literature, including books and articles. In his ruling, Judge Alsup noted that Anthropic’s use of copyrighted material to develop its language learning model (LLM) was “quintessentially transformative.” He stated that Anthropic’s intent was to generate new content rather than simply replicate existing works. However, the ruling did not entirely absolve Anthropic of legal issues.

Alsup found that the company may have violated copyright laws by downloading millions of pirated books. This matter will be addressed in a separate trial scheduled for December. Internal documents revealed that concerns regarding the legality of using pirated content existed among Anthropic staff, prompting the company to change its strategy and recruit a former Google executive experienced in copyright matters. The lawsuit originated from three authors—Andrea Bartz, Charles Graeber, and Kirk Wallace Johnson—who alleged that Anthropic’s actions constituted “large-scale theft” and that the company was profiting from the creativity embedded in their works.

Other AI firms are similarly facing scrutiny over how they source materials for their models, with cases including a lawsuit from The New York Times against OpenAI and Microsoft regarding the use of its articles.

Starbucks has announced changes to its pricing structure for beverage add-ins, such as matcha and syrups, in a move towards standardizing costs across all its locations. This update comes as part of a broader effort to enhance customer experience under the leadership of CEO Brian Niccol. Starting now, customers will be charged 80 cents for any combination of syrup or sauce added to an unflavored drink, rather than incurring individual charges for each addition. However, if a customer chooses to substitute a sauce or syrup in a drink that is already flavored, like adding vanilla syrup to a Caffè Mocha, there will be no additional charge.

In addition to syrup pricing, Starbucks will implement a fee of $1 for adding matcha powder to non-matcha beverages. For those interested in including dried fruit in their drinks, the cost will be 50 cents. The changes were first reported by Bloomberg News. These pricing adjustments reflect Niccol’s commitment to revamping the Starbucks brand and driving growth within the company.

He aims not only to streamline pricing but also to enhance customer service and create an inviting atmosphere at Starbucks cafes, where patrons feel encouraged to linger. As part of this initiative, Starbucks is also testing a new feature in its app that will provide real-time pricing updates when customers order food or drinks. This feature aims to improve transparency, allowing customers to see how much their selections will cost at checkout. Despite the new pricing for certain add-ins, customers will still be able to enjoy the classic syrup, a liquid sugar similar to simple syrup, at no additional cost with any drink order.

Daniel Park, the suspect involved in the bombing outside a fertility clinic in Palm Springs, California, has died while in federal custody, as confirmed by the Bureau of Prisons on Tuesday. The 32-year-old from Seattle was found unresponsive at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Los Angeles. Bureau officials reported that after staff initiated life-saving measures, he was transported to a nearby hospital, where he was pronounced dead. At this point, the cause of Park’s death remains unclear.

The FBI and the U.S. Marshals Service have been notified, and there were no injuries reported among staff or other inmates at the facility. Park, a U.S. citizen, had been detained at the center since June 13 after being indicted for allegedly maliciously destroying property. His apprehension took place earlier this month in Poland, where he had flown to Warsaw shortly after the bombing on May 17.

Park was accused of sending approximately 180 pounds of ammonium nitrate, a material often used to create homemade explosives, to Guy Bartkus, the bomber who died in the explosion at the fertility clinic. Following the blast, Akil Davis, the FBI’s assistant director in the Los Angeles field office, labeled the act as intentional terrorism. Prosecutors noted that Park and Bartkus held shared nihilistic beliefs, and the criminal complaint against Park suggested that the attack stemmed from ideologies opposing pro-life views, encapsulating the belief that individuals should not be born without consent. Despite the damage inflicted on the clinic, staff members reported that all embryos stored on the premises were unharmed, and operations soon resumed at a temporary location.

Authorities in Washington State have not found any evidence suggesting that 32-year-old Travis Decker, a fugitive accused of murdering his three daughters, is still alive. The search has been ongoing for three weeks in the mountainous region where Decker was last seen, following the discovery of his car and the bodies of his daughters—9-year-old Paityn, 8-year-old Evelyn, and 5-year-old Olivia—near Leavenworth.

Travis Decker became wanted on June 2, when he failed to return his daughters to their mother after a scheduled visit. The Kittitas County Sheriff’s Office has stated that early promising leads have dwindled, raising concerns that Decker may have perished in the wilderness.

Investigators are now reallocating resources toward locating his remains, utilizing specially trained dogs to assist in this effort. The sheriff’s office emphasized that as long as Decker is unaccounted for, he remains a threat to the public.

The U.S. Marshals Service is actively involved in tracking him down, with added patrols in the area.

The region has various backcountry trails that connect to Chelan County, making it feasible for Decker to evade capture in its rugged terrain, where many places could provide concealment. In addition, authorities have called for public assistance to report any suspicious sightings or information.

Earlier, hikers in the Cascade Range reported encountering a person who seemed ill-equipped for the environment and was attempting to avoid others. Attempts were made to track this individual, but the lead eventually went cold.

Decker, a former Army infantryman with survival training, has drawn attention to his past mental health struggles, which his ex-wife detailed as having worsened over time. Tragically, an autopsy confirmed the girls’ deaths were due to suffocation, as they were bound and had plastic bags over their heads.

A tip line has been made available to collect any information regarding Decker’s whereabouts, with a reward being offered for tips leading to his arrest.

The northern lights, known as the aurora borealis, are expected to be visible in several parts of the United States this Friday night. To get the best view, it’s essential to find a dark location far from artificial lights. Allow your eyes some time to adjust to the darkness, and gaze toward the northern horizon.

Capturing stunning photographs of the northern lights can be enhanced by using your phone’s night mode feature. Here’s a quick guide on how to activate this setting on both iPhone and Android devices. For iPhone users, night mode is typically enabled by default when the camera detects low-light conditions.

When activated, a yellow icon will appear in the top left corner of your screen, indicating its status. A timer next to this icon will inform you of the exposure duration. You can tap the arrow above the viewfinder to adjust the exposure time if needed.

On Android devices, the process may vary based on the model. For Samsung Galaxy users, a yellow moon icon displays in the bottom right corner when night mode is activated. Pixel device users can select ‘Night Light’, then capture images by holding the phone steady for a few seconds.

In the Google Camera app, night mode can be toggled on or off via settings. The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration has released an “Aurora Forecast” for Friday, showing that parts of the U.S. might be able to witness the vibrant auroras. The forecast indicates that northern regions have the highest likelihood of visibility, with a line extending from Washington, D.C. across various states, including Illinois and New York, marking areas where the auroras might be observed.

The northern lights were visible across the country on Thursday night, with impressive displays captured in cities like Pittsburgh, Detroit, and Chicago. The breathtaking colors included greens, purples, reds, and pinks. These light displays are caused by geomagnetic storms, where solar winds send charged particles toward Earth.

As these particles collide with atmospheric molecules, they create the vivid colors that characterize the northern lights.

During a recent visit to Los Angeles, Vice President JD Vance stated that the Trump administration still considers the deployment of military forces in the city to be essential. This visit marks the highest-level engagement from the Trump administration in Los Angeles since widespread protests erupted in response to Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids. Following a tour of the Federal Joint Operations Center and a federal mobile command center, Vance made brief remarks, emphasizing the ongoing need for military support amid community unrest.

President Trump previously federalized thousands of National Guard troops and deployed approximately 700 Marines to safeguard federal properties in Los Angeles due to escalating protests. The president has directed federal immigration authorities to prioritize deportations from cities governed by Democrats, leading to the confrontations in L.A. that sparked the protests. California Governor Gavin Newsom filed a lawsuit against the troop deployment, arguing that military presence could exacerbate tensions.

However, a federal appeals court recently upheld the president’s authority to retain control over the National Guard in the region. Vance asserted that the situation has improved but maintained that military support remains crucial, warning that protests could reignite. He further accused local officials, including Governor Newsom and Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass, of inciting violence during the protests.

In response, Bass condemned Vance’s comments as disrespectful and divisive, highlighting that the vice president should know the name of a senator he has previously served alongside. Adding to the incident, Vance mistakenly referred to Senator Alex Padilla as “José Padilla,” drawing sharp criticism from local leaders. Newsom suggested that the error was deliberate, given Vance’s familiarity with Padilla.

Amid the escalating political tensions, local authorities and federal immigration officers have intensified enforcement actions, aiming for significantly higher arrest numbers that have yet to be realized. Meanwhile, President Trump is focused on international matters but continues to face challenges in the domestic political landscape.

Minnesota Senator John Hoffman’s wife, Yvette Hoffman, provided an update following a shooting incident that injured both her and her husband. This occurred at their home early on Saturday morning. Their family subsequently released a statement after the suspect was apprehended on Sunday night.

U.S. Senator Amy Klobuchar shared a text message she received from Yvette, expressing gratitude for the overwhelming support they have received during this challenging time. In the message, Yvette described how she heroically shielded her daughter, Hope, from the gunfire during the attack.

Despite the traumatic event, Hope remained unharmed. Yvette reported that John was shot nine times while she sustained eight shots herself. She noted, “John is enduring many surgeries right now and is closer every hour to being out of the woods.

We are incredibly lucky to be alive.” She expressed grief over the deaths of Melissa and Mark, stating there is no place for such political violence. Police responded to the shooting at the Hoffmans’ residence in Champlin, Minnesota, shortly after 2 a.m. that Saturday.

Tragically, state Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband were fatally shot at their home in Brooklyn Park, an act Minnesota Governor Tim Walz described as politically motivated. The suspect, Vance Boelter, 57, was identified and initially considered armed and dangerous. He was later arrested near his home and has since been charged in connection to the shooting.

Following his capture, the Hoffman family expressed their deep gratitude to law enforcement and the public for their efforts in bringing the suspect to justice, emphasizing that political violence has no place in society. They reflected on their healing journey and extended their condolences to the victims and their loved ones.