Three passengers have filed a class action lawsuit against Alaska Airlines, alleging that the airline breached passenger safety when an off-duty pilot allegedly activated the plane's emergency engine shutdown system. The lawsuit claims that the pilot should not have been allowed in the cockpit due to his reported depression and lack of sleep, and the passengers are now suing for emotional distress. Alaska Airlines has not yet commented on the lawsuit, and the case is ongoing.
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U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken has arrived in Israel to press for more humanitarian aid to be allowed into besieged Gaza. Hezbollah, an ally of Hamas, has attacked Israeli military positions in northern Israel, raising fears of a regional conflict. Blinken is providing $130 million in additional aid to the Palestinians, including $40 million to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency, and $15 million in aid to the Gaza Strip.
Former President Donald Trump has asked a federal appeals court to lift a gag order that restricts his speech about potential witnesses, prosecutors, and court staff in the case that accuses him of scheming to overturn his 2020 election loss. Trump's attorneys have argued that the gag order is overly broad and unconstitutional, and have asked the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit to block the gag order ruling while they pursue appeals. If the court denies the request, Trump's attorneys have said they will appeal to the Supreme Court.
The Biden administration is facing increasing pressure to balance its support for Israel with its commitment to human rights and international law, as the death toll among Palestinian civilians continues to rise. Sen. Chris Murphy denounced Israel for its siege on Gaza, and called for an immediate cease-fire, while the White House urges both sides to de-escalate the violence and return to the negotiating table. The administration is reportedly considering a range of diplomatic options, including a possible UN Security Council resolution to end the conflict.
Sam Bankman-Fried, a 31-year-old former cryptocurrency billionaire, has been found guilty of seven counts of fraud, conspiracy and money laundering in a federal jury in New York City. The charges include two counts of wire fraud conspiracy, two counts of wire fraud, one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, one count of conspiracy to commit commodities fraud and one count of conspiracy to commit securities fraud. The maximum sentence for all seven counts is up to 95 years in prison.
Sam Bankman-Fried, founder of FTX, was convicted of fraud in a scheme that cheated customers and investors of at least $10 billion. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Bankman-Fried had committed fraud and had cheated customers and investors, while the defense argued that Bankman-Fried had not intended to commit fraud and had acted in good faith. The jury's decision will now determine Bankman-Fried's fate, bringing to a close a spectacular rise and fall in the cryptocurrency industry.
Steven Tyler, frontman of Aerosmith, is facing a lawsuit from a second woman who claims he sexually assaulted her when she was 17 in the mid-1970s. The suit alleges that Tyler used his power and influence to force the woman into a phone booth, stick his tongue down her throat, and grope her. The woman is seeking unspecified damages for the alleged assault, and Tyler has yet to respond to the lawsuit.
Emily Hampshire, best known for her role in Schitt's Creek, has apologized for her Halloween costume choice, which was inspired by the explosive defamation trial between Johnny Depp and Amber Heard. The costume choice was met with criticism from many, including domestic abuse survivors and advocates, as it was seen as insensitive and trivializing the serious issue of domestic abuse. Hampshire has since apologized and expressed her support for victims of domestic abuse, but her apology has been met with mixed reactions.