By Giancarla Sambo
Edited by Elissa D. Hecker
Below, for your browsing convenience, the categories are divided into: Entertainment, Arts, Sports, Technology/Media, and General News:
Entertainment
Harvey Weinstein’s New York Conviction Is Overturned
The state’s top court ruled that Harvey Weinstein, the disgraced Hollywood producer whose sexual abuse case incited the #MeToo movement, did not receive a fair trial. A separate 16-year sentence in California was not affected.
Britney Spears and Her Father Settle Legal Dispute Over Conservatorship
Terms were not disclosed. The parties had been arguing over the payment of legal fees and James P. Spears’s financial oversight as his daughter’s conservator.
Aerosmith Frontman Steven Tyler Sexual Assault Lawsuit Dismissed
The 76-year-old musician has denied the claims by a former teen model.
Megan Thee Stallion's Former Cameraman Accuses Her Of Harassment In New Lawsuit
Emilio Garcia claimed that the artist had sex with a woman in front of him and others in a moving vehicle.
Actors Access, a Top Casting Site, Hit With Class Action Lawsuit
Actors Access, the leading online platform for film and TV casting, was hit with a class action lawsuit, alleging that it illegally charges performers for access to auditions.
Alec Baldwin Alleges a ‘Stunning Abuse of Prosecutorial Power’ in ‘Rust’ Case
Baldwin is facing a trial in July in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on a felony charge of involuntary manslaughter in the shooting death of “Rust” cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. If convicted, he faces up to 18 months in prison.
Astroworld Victims Want Trial to Be Broadcast Live to the Public: ‘Transparency And Accountability’
Set to start next month, the trial will be the pivotal first clash in billion-dollar litigation over Travis Scott's deadly 2021 festival.
Madonna Sued Again for Late Concerts: ‘A Consumer’s Worst Nightmare’
Plaintiffs also allege that she kept the concert venue uncomfortably hot on purpose and that she lip-synced.
Amazon Studios Hit With ‘Road House' Copyright Infringement Lawsuit Involving AI Abuse Claims
R. Lance Hill, in a lawsuit filed in California federal court, accuses MGM Studios and its parent, Amazon, of copyright infringement for refusing to license his 1986 screenplay after he allegedly clawed back the rights to his work. He seeks a court order blocking the release of the movie.
Texas Man Sues Movie Theater Chain, Alleging ‘deceptive’ Drink Sizes
Shane Waldrop argues that Cinemark engaged in "deceptive and otherwise improper business practices" after he allegedly realized in February that the 24-ounce drink containers being sold at concessions only held 22 ounces of liquid, according to the suit filed in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas.
Oscars Rule Change — More Composers Can Win ‘Best Original Score’
The Academy of Motion Picture Arts & Sciences has announced several rule changes approved for the 97th Oscars. One of these changes impacts the ‘Best Original Score’ category.
Everything Happening Around Hipgnosis
The past week has been a dizzying one for Hipgnosis Songs Fund, which now finds itself in the earliest stages of a bidding war, a legal war, or both. The situation quickly escalated when private equity giant Blackstone outbid Concord with a $1.5 billion all-cash offer, highlighting the immense value of the music rights HSF controls.
Drake Removes ‘Taylor Made Freestyle,’ Featuring AI Tupac Shakur Vocals, From Social Media After Threat of Lawsuit
After Tupac Shakur’s estate threatened to sue him for using the late rapper’s AI vocals on his song “Taylor Made Freestyle,” Drake has removed the track from his social media profiles.
Sacha Baron Cohen Passage in Rebel Wilson’s Memoir Is Redacted in U.K.
The Australian actress and comedian accused Sacha Baron Cohen of inappropriate behavior during filming of a 2016 movie, which he has denied.
Court in Iran Sentences Prominent Rapper to Death, His Lawyer Says
The rapper, Toomaj Salehi, was initially arrested after releasing music in support of the 2022 protests over the death of a young woman in police custody.
Arts
F.T.C. Sues to Block $8.5 Billion Fashion Merger
The deal between Coach’s owner, Tapestry, and the parent of Michael Kors, Capri Holdings, is intended to create a U.S. luxury group to compete with the European industry giants.
A Man Hailed as Cindy Birdsong’s Rescuer Is Accused of Exploiting Her
The son of the former Supreme says in court papers that the man who sought to help his mother after she became incapacitated also took advantage of her financially.
LAPD Foundation Tries To Use Trademark Claim To Shutdown Critical Merch
The LAPD foundation's threat to Cola over "Fuck the LAPD" highlights how rights claims can be used to crush criticism.
LeBron James Tattoo Artist Loses Trial Against 'NBA 2K' Maker Take-Two Interactive
Take-Two Interactive's 2K Games, the maker of the popular 'NBA 2K' basketball video-game series, convinced an Ohio federal jury to reject allegations that its use of LeBron James' tattoos in its games violated the rights of the Cleveland-based artist who inked them.
Chicago Museum Says Investigators Have No Evidence Art Was Looted
In a court filing, the Art Institute of Chicago fought the Manhattan prosecutors’ efforts to seize an important Egon Schiele drawing, denying that the Nazis had stolen it.
Sports
Justice Dept. Reaches $138.7 Million Settlement Over F.B.I.’s Failures in Nassar Case
The settlement likely signifies the end of a yearslong effort by U.S. Olympic gymnasts to seek justice for early failures by the F.B.I. to investigate Lawrence G. Nassar, the team’s doctor.
World Anti-Doping Agency denies double standard in Chinese Doping Scandal, Hits Back at USADA and Asks Independent Prosecutor to Investigate
Citing "no credible evidence of wrongdoing” in the handling of the positive tests of 23 swimmers from China before Tokyo 2021, World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) President Witold Banka referenced the case of Sun Yang, currently serving a 4-year ban, and reprimanded “politically motivated” USADA.
WADA wants a separate prosecutor to investigate the case of the 23 swimmers who failed doping tests and will send a "compliance audit team" to China to evaluate its anti-doping program. USADA considers the action insufficient and calls for another independent investigation.
Meanwhile, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin called reports surrounding the positive tests as "fake news and not factual".
NAACP Urges Student-Athletes to Reconsider Florida Colleges After State Eliminates DEI Programs
Black student-athletes should reconsider attending public colleges and universities in Florida, the NAACP said in a letter to NCAA President Charlie Baker. The letter was in response to the University of Florida and other state schools that have eliminated their diversity, equity, and inclusion programs. It was also addressed to current and prospective student-athletes.
New Study Bolsters Idea of Athletic Differences Between Men and Trans Women
Research financed by the International Olympic Committee introduced new data to the unsettled and fractious debate about bans on transgender athletes.
Why David Beckham Is Suing Mark Wahlberg and F45 for Millions
The former soccer star entered into a promotional agreement with the gym franchise that is co-owned by the actor, but things quickly soured.
Reggie Bush Gets 2005 Heisman Trophy back, Heisman Trust Cites ‘Enormous Changes in College Athletics’Reggie Bush is getting his 2005 Heisman Memorial Trophy back after having to relinquish the award in 2010.
Bribery Conviction of Rio 2016 Organizer Overturned
A Brazilian federal appeals court has overturned a 30-year prison sentence for corruption, racketeering, and other crimes against Carlos Arthur Nuzman, president of the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games organizing committee, on grounds of incompetence.
An Historic Paris 2024: Unprecedented Full Gender Parity
The upcoming Paris 2024 Olympic Games will have an equal number of male and female athletes and full gender parity. The Olympic Broadcasting Services will also have gender parity.
Spanish Government Interferes in the Country's Football, FIFA Looks on With Suspicion
The Spanish government decided to create a commission to "supervise" the country's football federation (RFEF), which has recently been hit by several scandals, amid concerns from FIFA, which could suspend RFEF if the case continues to escalate.
Technology/Media
F.C.C. Votes to Restore Net Neutrality Rules
Commissioners voted along party lines to revive the rules that declare broadband as a utility-like service that could be regulated like phones and water.
Spurred by Teen Girls, States Move to Ban Deepfake Nudes
Legislators in two dozen states are working on bills, or have passed laws, to combat A.I.-generated sexually explicit images of minors.
A.I.-Generated Child Sexual Abuse Material May Overwhelm Tip Line
A report by Stanford researchers cautions that the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children doesn’t have the resources to help fight the new epidemic.
TikTok to Challenge 'Unconstitutional' Ban
TikTok will challenge a new law that could lead to the app being sold or banned in the U.S.
Coalition Celebrates Inclusion of $90 Million Local Media Tax Credit in Final FY 2025 New York State Budget
First-in-the-nation bill incentivizes the retention and hiring of local journalists.
Elon Musk Clashes With Australian Court Over Violent Videos on X
Elon Musk’s defiance over removing content is testing the boundaries of international legal systems.
TikTok Faces E.U. Inquiry Over ‘Addictive’ Features
European officials threatened to fine TikTok and force it to remove some features, the latest regulatory challenge for the Chinese-owned social media app.
‘To the Future’: Saudi Arabia Spends Big to Become an A.I. Superpower
The oil-rich kingdom is plowing money into glitzy events, computing power, and artificial intelligence research, putting it in the middle of an escalating U.S.-China struggle for technological influence.
General News
Conservative Justices Appear Poised to Rule That Ex-Presidents Have Some Level of Immunity
Such a ruling would probably send the case back to a lower court and could delay any trial until after the November election.
F.T.C. Issues Ban on Worker Noncompete Clauses
The rule would prohibit companies from limiting their employees’ ability to work for rivals, a change that could increase competition and boost wages.
Business Groups Sue to Stop F.T.C. From Banning Noncompete Clauses
The lawsuits contend that the F.T.C. does not have the authority to prohibit companies from limiting their employees’ ability to work for rivals.
E.P.A. Severely Limits Pollution From Coal-Burning Power Plants
New regulations could spell the end for plants that burn coal, the fossil fuel that powered the country for more than a century.
Albany Passes Final Budget
Lawmakers in Albany passed the budget nearly 3 weeks after it was due.
Tabloid Publisher Describes Deals to Buy Silence at Trump Trial
Lawyers for Donald J. Trump will continue questioning David Pecker, the former publisher of The National Enquire. He has described buying and burying stories that could have damaged Trump’s 2016 campaign. The tabloid’s parent company was fined for breaking federal election laws after that spending was made public.
Gag Order Hearing Is Heated as Judge Considers Citing Trump for Contempt
Justice Juan M. Merchan, overseeing Trump’s criminal trial, warned the former president’s lawyer that he was losing credibility.
Trump Was Warned to Return Records to Archives, Unsealed Documents Say
“Don’t give them a noble reason to indict you, because they will,” an unnamed associate told. Trump, according to an interview the person gave the F.B.I. in the classified documents case.
New York Court System to Publish Daily Transcripts of Trump’s Trial
A government website will also contain relevant documents for the landmark trial, which is not televised.
Arizona Charges Giuliani and Other Trump Allies in Election Interference Case
Those charged included Boris Epshteyn, a top legal strategist for Trump, and fake electors who acted on Trump’s behalf in Arizona after the 2020 election.
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