Speaker of the House of Commons Anthony Rota resigned on Tuesday following an outcry over his invitation of a World War II veteran, Yaroslav Hunka, to attend a speech by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. It was later revealed that Hunka had fought for the Nazi military unit known as the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, causing outrage from members of the public and the Canadian government. Rota apologized for his “lapse in judgment” and resigned to “protect the dignity of the House of Commons”, sparking a debate in Canada over the proper way to recognize veterans of World War II and the need to ensure that those with Nazi ties are not honored.
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A Philadelphia Municipal Judge has dismissed all charges against former police officer Mark Dial in the shooting death of motorist Eddie Irizarry. Surveillance video and police body camera footage of the incident was played in court on Tuesday, leading to an emotional reaction from Irizarry's family. The ruling has sparked debate over the use of force by police officers and accountability, with Irizarry's family calling for an independent investigation.
Angus Cloud, the late star of HBO's "Euphoria," died of an accidental drug overdose in July. His family has revealed his last words were "I'll see you in the morning," and showrunner Sam Levinson opened up about Cloud's refusal to seek treatment for his drug use. His death has been a reminder of the dangers of drug use and the importance of seeking help and treatment for addiction.
Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey has been indicted on federal bribery charges, prompting fellow Senate Democrats to call for his resignation. Sen. Cory Booker of New Jersey expressed shock at the allegations and noted his close working relationship with Menendez. Menendez has pleaded not guilty to all charges and has said he will not step down, as a conviction could potentially shift the balance of power in the Senate.
Spanish prosecutors have charged pop star Shakira with failing to pay $7.1 million in taxes on her 2018 income, and she is due to be tried in Barcelona on Nov. 20 in a separate case for allegedly failing to pay $15.4 million in taxes. Shakira's lawyer has denied any wrongdoing, claiming that all taxes due in Spain have been paid and that she has always complied with her fiscal obligations. This is not the first time Shakira has been accused of tax evasion.
The FTC and 17 state attorneys general have filed an antitrust case against Amazon, alleging the company has used its market power to maintain higher prices and harm customers and rivals. FTC Chair Lina Khan noted the immediate harm of Amazon's alleged anti-competitive practices, and the lawsuit seeks to hold the company accountable and restore the competitive conditions that existed before its conduct. This case is the latest in a series of antitrust actions taken against tech giants and could have far-reaching implications for the industry.
The Supreme Court has ruled in favor of allowing Alabama to redraw its congressional maps with greater representation for Black voters. This could potentially send another Democrat to Congress, and is a victory for Black voters in Alabama who have long been underrepresented. The ruling orders Alabama to redraw its maps with an additional Black majority district or “something quite close to it”, and Secretary of State John Merrill has submitted three proposals to do so.
The Alabama Supreme Court is considering a request from the state attorney general to set an execution date for Kenneth Eugene Smith using a proposed new execution method of nitrogen hypoxia. Smith's lawyers have argued that this method is "experimental" and that the state has disclosed little information about how it would work, while the state has argued that it is a humane and painless way to carry out executions. If the court approves the request, Smith would become the first person in Alabama to be executed using the nitrogen hypoxia method, otherwise the state will have to find another way to carry out Smith's death sentence.