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.
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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.
Duane Keith “Keffe D” Davis, a former Southern California street gang leader, pleaded not guilty to murder in the 1996 killing of Tupac Shakur in Las Vegas. The charge was prompted by Davis' own descriptions of orchestrating the drive-by shooting, which was allegedly in retaliation for a brawl involving Shakur and Davis' nephew. Davis is currently being held without bail and is due back in court on August 5th.
House Republicans are pushing forward with a bill to provide $14.3 billion in aid to Israel, paired with $14.3 billion in cuts to IRS funding. Democrats oppose the bill due to the IRS cuts, which they call a "poison pill", and President Biden has vowed to veto it. The House is expected to take up the bill Thursday afternoon, but its passage is uncertain.
Former Memphis police officer Desmond Mills Jr. pled guilty to federal and state charges on Thursday for the beating death of Tyre Nichols. As part of a larger agreement, Mills agreed to plead guilty to excessive force and obstruction of justice, and to act as a cooperating witness in both federal and state investigations. The Shelby County District Attorney's Office released a statement regarding Mills' plea, and the plea agreement is still subject to approval by the court.
Sen. Rick Scott (R-FL) has endorsed former President Donald Trump for the Republican nomination for president in the upcoming election, citing his long-standing relationship with Trump and his belief that the world would be a better place with him as president. His endorsement is likely to be a major boost for Trump's campaign, and it remains to be seen if other Republicans will follow Scott's lead and unite behind Trump.
The Beatles have reunited for one final track, "Now and Then," released Thursday. The song was written by John Lennon in 1978 and completed by Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr last year, featuring an emotional chorus with both of their voices. This marks the end of an era for the Beatles, and is a fitting tribute to their legacy.