In a recent development, a federal appeals court in New York has affirmed the civil jury verdict against former President Donald Trump. The court upheld the decision that found him liable for sexually abusing and defaming E. Jean Carroll, and which ordered him to pay $5 million in damages. The three-judge panel’s unanimous ruling stated Trump had not proven any errors from the district court that would warrant a new trial. This decision stems from the May 2023 verdict issued by a jury in Manhattan federal court.
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Following an attack by the Houthis near Yemen, ten people have been rescued from the Red Sea, while several others are believed to be held captive by the rebel group. The Houthis claimed responsibility for the attack on the commercial bulk carrier Eternity C, which resulted in three fatalities and the sinking of the ship. The crew consisted of 21 Filipinos, one Russian, and a three-person security team, with the Houthis asserting they targeted the vessel due to its alleged destination of the Israeli port of Eilat. This attack marks the second sinking this week, fueling concerns of a shipping crisis on a crucial trade route, as the Houthis vow to continue targeting ships with alleged ties to Israel until the conflict in Gaza ends.
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Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian activist, is seeking $20 million in damages from the Trump administration, alleging false imprisonment, malicious prosecution, and defamation. Khalil’s lawyers filed a claim citing his arrest and subsequent detention in an immigration jail, where he was held while awaiting news of his son’s birth. He claims the administration sought to deport him over his pro-Palestinian activism, with a White House spokesperson and the Department of Homeland Security denying the accusations. Khalil aims to send a message against intimidation, potentially using any settlement to support others targeted for their views, or accepting an apology and policy changes.
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An Iranian cleric has reportedly offered a reward for the assassination of former U.S. President Donald Trump, adding to a growing number of threats from Iranian figures. This follows U.S. strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, which Trump claims “obliterated” Tehran’s nuclear program. Additionally, a senior aide to Ayatollah Ali Khamenei made threatening comments, indicating a potential targeting of Trump. These actions come amidst heightened tensions between the U.S. and Iran, and after reports of Iranian plots against Trump.
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The state has been acquitted in a case where seven former residents of the Erritsøhus children’s home each sought 300,000 kroner in compensation for violations of human rights, according to Copenhagen City Court. The former residents sued the Ministry of Social Affairs, Housing and Elderly Affairs last year for failing to intervene during their time at the children’s home between the 1950s and 1970s. Before the trial began, the Ministry of Social Affairs refused to pay compensation, citing a lack of concrete evidence of abuse and neglect.
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Caster Semenya achieved a partial victory at the European Court of Human Rights, after a seven-year legal battle concerning track and field’s sex eligibility rules. The court determined that Switzerland’s Supreme Court violated her right to a fair hearing, but declined to rule on other aspects of the case, including allegations of discrimination. The case will now be sent back to the Swiss federal court. This ruling, which does not overturn World Athletics’ rules, focuses on the Swiss court’s lack of a thorough judicial review in Semenya’s appeal against the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s (CAS) decision.
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In a recent attack in northwest Colombia, an ELN guerilla group used a donkey laden with explosives, resulting in the death of a soldier and injury of two others. The attack occurred in the Antioquia department, prompting criticism of the government’s “total peace” strategy. This incident further highlights the ongoing violence and the breakdown of peace talks with the ELN, which were suspended in January after the group was linked to over a hundred deaths. Despite the government’s efforts for peace, fueled by drug cartels, the ELN has intensified attacks, marking a concerning escalation in Colombia’s security situation.
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Secretary Kristi Noem, speaking at the FEMA Review Council meeting, renewed her call for a complete overhaul of the Federal Emergency Management Agency. Despite FEMA’s ongoing involvement in search and recovery efforts following devastating floods in Texas, Noem advocated for its elimination and replacement with a more responsive agency. She specifically stated that FEMA should shift its operational model to be state and locally driven, departing from its decades-long federal-led approach. This proposed restructuring aims to improve efficiency and effectiveness in disaster response.
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DOJ, FBI sitting on ‘treasure trove’ of Epstein information, victim attorney says. This whole situation is just… a lot. The core question seems to be, why would the Department of Justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation be sitting on a trove of information related to Jeffrey Epstein, the deceased sex offender? And, perhaps more importantly, why aren’t they releasing it? It’s a question that many people are asking, and the implication is pretty serious: are these agencies protecting someone, or a group of people? Are they complicit in a cover-up?
The assertion is that a victim’s attorney is claiming this ‘treasure trove’ of information exists.… Continue reading
On Tuesday, a 67-year-old hiker from Texas died on the South Kaibab Trail in the Grand Canyon, as the area was under an excessive heat warning. Park officials reported that the hiker was found unresponsive and pronounced dead after resuscitation efforts failed. The National Park Service urges hikers to be cautious during the summer months and to avoid hiking between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. due to the dangerous heat, with temperatures in exposed areas potentially exceeding 120°F (49°C).
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John Q. Hosedrinker 
Matt Underwood