Vin Diesel is facing a lawsuit from his former assistant, Asta Jonasson, who alleges sexual battery and wrongful termination. The suit seeks to hold Diesel accountable for his alleged sexual assaults, and his former employer accountable for its unlawful termination and cover up. Diesel's attorney has denied the claims, and the case is likely to be closely watched as it could have far-reaching implications for the entertainment industry.
News Mash
Maine Republican Party leaders Michael McDonald and Jim DeGraffenreid have been indicted on state charges related to the 2020 presidential election, raising questions about the fairness of the upcoming Nevada caucuses and the integrity of the Maine Republican Party's election process. Former New Jersey Governor Chris Christie's campaign has been affected by the indictments, as his appeal of the Maine Secretary of State's decision to not certify his signatures was denied by a Maine Superior Court judge.
Ten Americans who were wrongfully detained in Venezuela have been released and returned to the United States as part of a prisoner exchange between the two countries. The exchange included the release of Leonard Glenn Francis, a fugitive defense contractor at the center of a massive Pentagon bribery scandal, and Savoi Wright, a Californian who had been arrested in October, expressed his joy upon disembarking the plane. The exchange marks a major diplomatic victory for the Biden administration and a step forward in restoring diplomatic relations between the two countries.
Three Washington state police officers were cleared of all criminal charges Thursday in the death of Manuel "Manny" Ellis, a Black man, in 2020. The jury found that the officers were not responsible for Ellis' death, despite the Pierce County medical examiner ruling it a homicide caused by oxygen deprivation. The verdict has been met with disappointment and outrage from Ellis' family and the community, sparking protests in Tacoma and other cities across the state. The Washington State Patrol has launched an internal investigation into the incident.
Ikea has warned of possible product shortages due to the mass diversion of shipping containers from the Red Sea over safety concerns caused by Houthi militants from Yemen. At least $80 billion worth of cargo has been diverted from the waterway which provides access to the Suez Canal, and Ikea is evaluating other options to secure the availability of products. The full impact of the Houthi threat remains to be seen.
President Joe Biden and Mexican President López Obrador held a phone call Thursday to discuss the ongoing crisis at the southern border, with House Speaker Mike Johnson, R-La., sending a letter urging the President to take executive action. Johnson called for the President to end the policy allowing Customs and Border Protection to release migrants without court dates, restrict parole, and pursue agreements with third countries. During the call, the two leaders discussed threats of illicit drugs and ways to expand cooperation between U.S. and Mexican law enforcement. With Congress gone for the year, it remains to be seen what steps President Biden will take to address the issue.
For the past three weeks, the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) has been engaged in an offensive against Hamas in the Gaza Strip. Gershon Baskin, an Israeli who has maintained communications with Hamas, has reported that the group is not interested in releasing any more hostages. This has been confirmed by the decrease in rocket attacks on Israel, indicating that Hamas' operations have been disrupted. However, Israeli casualties have been increasing due to close quarters combat, leaving the future of the conflict uncertain.
Rudy Giuliani, former New York City mayor and current Trump attorney, has declared bankruptcy after a $148 million defamation judgment was awarded against him. He disclosed assets between $1 and $10 million, compared to liabilities of $100 million to $500 million, including the $148 million judgment and over $1.6 million in legal fees. Giuliani also owes the government just beneath $1 million in taxes, and it is unclear how the bankruptcy filing will affect the judgment.