Former French president Nicolas Sarkozy has been sentenced to five years in prison, of which three are to be served, for his role in an illicit financing scheme tied to his 2007 presidential campaign. The court found sufficient evidence that as much as 100 million euros flowed from the regime of Muammar Gaddafi to support Sarkozy’s candidacy. Judges determined that multiple intermediaries and complex financial channels were used to funnel the money into France. This ruling comes in addition to a prior conviction: in 2021 Sarkozy was found guilty of corruption and influence peddling in a separate case, underscoring a…
Author: Emily Harper
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Allegations and Settlement Framework Amazon has reached an agreement to pay $2.5 billion to resolve claims by the U.S. Federal Trade Commission that it employed deceptive techniques to enroll consumers into its Prime subscription service without clear consent. Under the settlement, $1 billion is earmarked as a civil penalty, the largest such penalty ever imposed by the FTC in a consumer-protection case. and $1.5 billion is designated for refunds to affected users. The FTC’s complaint contends that Amazon used design features such as ambiguous buttons, pre-checked boxes, and nested menu options during checkout to steer users into enrolling in Prime…
A Fossil Reinterpreted A million-year-old skull discovered in China is rewriting what scientists know about the origins of modern humans. The fossil, known as Yunxian 2, was originally classified as belonging to Homo erectus, a species considered to be a direct ancestor of Homo sapiens. However, new research using advanced digital reconstruction techniques suggests that the skull may instead belong to Homo longi, also called “dragon man,” a species closely related to the mysterious Denisovans. A Radical Revision of Human Evolution If confirmed, the findings would dramatically alter the timeline of human origins. The study suggests that by one million…
Brazilian waste management and environmental services group Ambipar has secured a court order that shields it from immediate debt enforcement actions, marking a significant development in its ongoing dispute with Deutsche Bank. A court in Rio de Janeiro granted a preliminary injunction preventing creditors from demanding accelerated repayment of loans or seizing collateral. The ruling comes after Deutsche Bank, acting as trustee for Ambipar’s green bonds, pressed the company to provide additional guarantees. According to the court filing, Ambipar argued that the bank’s demands posed an “imminent and concrete risk” to its financial stability and operations. The injunction now buys…
Former FBI Director Under Legal Scrutiny Former FBI Director James Comey is expected to be indicted on criminal charges in federal court in Virginia, according to reports from MSNBC. Comey, who was dismissed by former President Donald Trump during his first term, has long been a target of Trump’s criticism and accusations. The potential indictment follows the sudden resignation of Erik Siebert, the interim U.S. attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia, who allegedly resisted pressure to bring charges against Comey. Siebert was replaced by Lindsey Halligan, a lawyer with prior ties to Trump, who took over as interim U.S.…
Millions Displaced Across Asia Nearly two million residents in southern China were evacuated as Typhoon Ragasa battered one of the world’s most densely populated coastlines. The storm, which had already caused deadly flooding in Taiwan and destruction in the Philippines, paralyzed Hong Kong, Macao and parts of Guangdong province before weakening to a severe tropical storm. Authorities in Guangdong confirmed that 1.89 million people had been relocated ahead of landfall. Tens of thousands of fishing vessels were moved to safer waters, while more than 38,000 firefighters were placed on standby. Coastal cities like Zhuhai ordered mandatory evacuations for high-rise residents…
On December 4, 2024, Brian Thompson, the CEO of UnitedHealthcare, was shot and killed outside the New York Hilton Midtown hotel in Manhattan.Authorities say the killing was captured on surveillance footage and that the bullets’ casings bore the words “delay,” “deny,” and “depose”—phrases reminiscent of insurance-industry tactics.In early December, law enforcement arrested Luigi Nicholas Mangione, a 27-year-old man from Maryland, on federal charges in connection with the killing. Mangione has pleaded not guilty to federal murder charges, and prosecutors have signaled their intent to seek the death penalty in the case. In the state courtroom, a judge recently dismissed terrorism…
The 2025 North America Airport Satisfaction Study, conducted by J.D. Power, shows that traveler satisfaction across North American airports rose by an average of 10 points on a 1,000-point scale. The improvement is notable given the sustained high passenger volumes and ongoing flight delays. Gains were reported across all three airport categories—mega, large, and medium—driven mainly by enhanced food, beverage, and retail services, as well as smoother passenger movement through terminals. Overall Increase in Passenger Evaluations By category, the results show an increase of 8 points for mega airports, 15 points for large airports, and 10 points for medium-sized facilities.…
NFL Returns to Ireland The National Football League will make a long-awaited return to Ireland this Sunday when the Minnesota Vikings face the Pittsburgh Steelers at Croke Park in Dublin. Kickoff is scheduled for 14:30 BST, with live text commentary beginning an hour earlier on the BBC Sport website and app. Dublin will become the fourth European city to host a regular-season NFL game, joining London, Frankfurt and Barcelona. The announcement was made earlier this year at the Super Bowl in New Orleans, creating buzz on both sides of the Atlantic. For many Irish fans, it marks the fulfillment of…
A fresh look at Oz Universal has released the last trailer for Wicked: For Good, giving audiences a final taste of the highly anticipated conclusion to the two-part film adaptation. With its release set for November 21, the preview highlights several iconic songs from the second act of the beloved musical, including “Thank Goodness,” “No Good Deed,” and the emotional ballad “For Good.” New twists on familiar moments The trailer reveals glimpses of the “Fab Four” — Dorothy and her companions from The Wizard of Oz — as well as a reimagined version of a pivotal moment involving Nessa Rose. Actress Marissa Bode,…
